Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Good for him? How would a shit-bag like Verosika know what’s good for him?

Blitzø slammed his forehead into the steering wheel. He shouldn’t have come to the party in the first place. Blitzø had never even considered that Stolas could go see someone else whenever he felt like it. Stolas was supposed to be a stupid nerd, he wasn’t supposed to go making out with random guys at parties.

Fuck that stupid owl right in his ass. Blitzø literally apologized, said the words, did the thing, blah blah blah, and now Stolas is off banging some succu-bitch. Yet again another loss for Blitzø. Who even was that guy? Blitzø doesn’t remember. 

What was his name? Was it Steve? No. Braden? No, it was something stupid like Shap…. What kind of fucking name is Shap….

Blitzø groaned as he rubbed his eyes. “What the fuck am I doing…” Blitzø mumbled while he pulled at his horns. He felt like an idiot. It’s not like he’s the boss of Stolas; he can do whatever he wants to. And if making out with randos is something he wants to do then Blitzø can’t stop him.

His lunch of cheese and hot sauce from earlier threatens to come back up his throat. He clutches his stomach and continues to bash his head against the poor steering wheel. 

It had been almost a year since Blitzø slept with someone other than Stolas. Chaz didn’t count. It was definitely something Blitzø noticed, how he had begun to turn away people that approached him after he started seeing Stolas. He used to be a real man-whore, now he was a real lame-whore. Maybe it’s just because he’s getting older. 

It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with his feelings towards Stolas. 

The van rumbled to a start as Blitzø jammed his keys in the ignition. He peeled down the street and opened a portal to a more familiar road. 

The imp yawned as he parked his shitty old van outside of his apartment. It was far past three in the morning; Loona was probably asleep. 

As he entered his shared apartment, Blitzø kicked his boots off and collapsed onto the couch. Fuck this day. Fuck this couch, too. The imp cursed as a loose spring tore a new hole in his jeans. He’ll have to go get a new couch tomorrow. 

Blitzø ripped off his belt and unbuttoned his pants as he laid sprawled out like a slob. He threw a blanket over himself and kicked the TV to turn it on. Stupid box. He needed a new TV too. 

Loona’s bedroom door opened with a creak as she stepped out into the kitchen. She filled herself a glass of water and turned to give her father a skeptical look. 

“You look like shit,” she mumbled as she sipped her glass. 

Blitzø yawned again, flicking through the television channels. “Had a shitty day. How was yours?”

“Fine,” Loona responded slowly, still eying her father. Something about him looked different, but Loona wasn’t sure what it was. Blitzø finally decided to watch My-Little-Hellhorse and tossed the remote on the floor. 

“Blitz?” 

The imp’s eyes stayed focused on the TV as he responded to his daughter lazily. “Yeah, what?”

“Why did Stolas take the book back?” Loona asked carefully, her words drawn out like she was talking to a wild animal. 

Blitzø shifted in his seat and looked up at her for a second before he turned his attention back to the screen. “The crystal works fine enough, don’t worry about it.”

Loona’s eyebrows raised slightly. She could sense his discomfort but prodded again anyway. “Does he not want to see you anymore?”

Her father’s gaze didn’t leave the TV. “Don’t worry about it,” Blitzø repeated, his tone blank and emotionless. His face showed no expression. 

“Fine,” Loona took her glass and retreated back to her room, and shut the door behind her.

Blitzø let out a quick breath, not realizing he had been holding it in. He grabbed a musty pillow off the floor and put it under his head, grabbing his phone while he did so. No texts, only a couple of junk emails. 

As he clicked on Stolas’s contact, his thumbs hovered over the digital keyboard. It took him a minute of staring at Stolas’s contact info to remember that Stolas was out having fun, and that he shouldn’t bother him with his stupid texts. 

Blitzø quickly shut off his phone and tossed it back on the floor. He would throw it against the wall if he could, but he shouldn't make a scene while Loona’s home. The imp was still upset from seeing Stolas with that stupid shit stain at the party.

He kicked the TV off and pulled the blanket up over his head. He forced himself to try and sleep, and finally did.

Blitzø awoke to see his daughter cooking bacon. The stove practically rattled the whole house as she cooked. Piece of shit stove. 

“You’re up early.” Loona called to her father over the hum of the shitty stove.

The imp groaned as he sat up. “Mmhm.” Blitzø rubbed the sleep out of his eyes; his back was absolutely killing him. He needed a shower, too; he smelled like the inside of a rhinoceros's asshole.

Loona finished up her cooking as she flicked off the stove and took the now-cooked bacon out of the pan. “You gonna want some?” She asked her father as she grabbed a plate for herself.

Blitzø peeled himself off of the couch and limped his way to the bathroom, passing Loona on his way. “Yeah, I’ll have some in a bit. Thanks Loonie.”

The bathroom door now closed behind him, Blitzø started running the shower. If his apartment is good for one thing it’s the shower; all these years living here the shower’s never failed to supply hot water.  

The imp tossed his shirt to the floor and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked gross, he always looked gross. How could Stolas have wanted this? How could anyone? Across his face, all the way down to his stomach was a large white scar. 

Blotches of burn marks were scattered across his body like freckles. He looked like Wade Wilson and Freddie Krueger’s love child. 

The shower was scalding hot, just how he liked it. It helped to make him feel a little less crappy about the night before. As he pulled on a new shirt and shorts, Blitzø sauntered back to the living room. He grabbed the plate of bacon that was left for him and jumped back on the couch. 

Today was his last day off, tomorrow’s back to work again. Yippee.

Blitzø checked his phone. Moxxie had texted something about a new client who wanted to meet bright and early the next morning. Moxx says it’s an important client though, a real richy-bitch who’ll pay double to have the deed done in less than an hour. Maybe Blitzø’ll buy a new stove with the extra wad. Or couch. Fuck, or TV. 

Blitzø shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth as he scrolled through his phone. He was just about to text Moxxie back when someone slammed their fist against his front door. 

As he placed the plate down on the floor, Blitzø grabbed the small gun underneath the couch and concealed it in his belt. It could be literally anyone at the door, and Blitzø has to make sure he’s prepared for anything. Whoever’s knocking doesn’t give up their pounding, not even for a second. 

“OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR, BLITZ!” a muffled voice shouted at him. 

“Yeah, yeah—just a sec…” Blitzø mumbled, checking the peephole. Oh no. The door was kicked open.

“YOU LEFT ME ALL ALONE, AND I WAS PREGNANT!” the woman screamed and pointed her finger at him.

Uh oh.

Blitzø began to panic as he waved his hands in the air defensively. He took a step back and tripped over his own feet as the woman stepped closer. It was Cindy.

Blitzø chuckled nervously, sputtering out his words. He felt a wave of guilt spread over his body. “Just wait, I-I can explain—”

“Do you remember what you said? You said you’d stay with me through the birth and you’d help me raise her. You said you’d stay and guess what you did?” The woman's eyes burnt with fury, her fists clenched by her side. 

Blitzø began, “Look, Cindy, I—”

The woman put her hand up. “Don’t give me anymore bullshit, Blitz. I didn’t even WANT the baby! Which is why I’m giving her to you.”

Blitzø’s eyes widened with fear. “Are you crazy?” he shouted. “I can’t raise a baby!”

Cindy moved to pick something up, and turned back to Blitzø cradling what looked to be a very small baby imp in her arms, not even a year old. 

Blitzø’s heart pounded in his ears, fear threatening to knock him off of his balance. Cindy shoved the child into his arms and began to storm away down the hall. 

“Are you insane?” Blitzø yelled as he began walking down the hall after her. “Come back here! I can't raise a fucking baby!” Blitzø shouted. The baby in his arms began to cry.

The stairwell door slammed to a close, signaling Cindy’s leave. Blitzø’s chest heaved and his heart raced in his chest. He looked down at the wailing baby in his arms. 

Shit.

Chapter Text

The mother of the child was Cindy, a lady Blitzø had gone out with some time ago.

What was supposed to be a brief fling rapidly turned into something more, and within a month into their relationship Blitzø broke it off. It ended as quickly as it had started, and then it was gone from Blitzø’s head.

Cindy was one crazy bitch, a wild ride even for Blitzø. She’d used to call Blitzø in the middle of the night to tell him she was dying, tell him she was being stalked, tell him all of hell was after her. She was a crazy woman, an ill one for certain. Cindy had been through hell’s psych ward many times for things she wouldn’t tell Blitzø.

He’d heard no news from her since; to the imp she had simply disappeared. Evaporated like water into smoke and then from smoke into nothing.

Which is why Blitzø was so terribly confused when she showed up at his house with a baby. What had she said, that he had left her when she was pregnant? Sure, Blitzø was a dick, but not that big of a dick. 

“Please stop crying, please stop crying, please stop crying...” Blitzø sat on the couch with the baby in his arms and rocked her back and forth as he begged her to stop screaming. It had almost been an hour now of straight wailing and the baby hadn't let up once. 

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Loona shouted, pacing back and forth while she anxiously pulled at her ears. “What are we supposed to do with a baby? There’s no room for a baby—We can’t—”

“Please, please, please—just shhh. Shhhh,” Blitzø mumbled to the baby. “Fuck. Maybe she’s hungry. We gotta go get baby food n’ shit.”

Loona growled and slammed her fist into the wall. The action only agitated the baby more, and she screamed on at an even higher pitch. 

“How could you abandon a baby, Blitz? I thought I fucking knew you,” Loona spat.

“I didn’t! I swear!” The imp yelled back.

“Yeah?” Loona began angrily. “It sure didn’t seem like that when you talked to her!”

“That’s because I know her! She was a crazy fucking bitch when I went out with her, Loona. She’s ill. I don’t even know whose fucking baby this is, maybe she kidnapped it.”

Loona fumed, pausing to consider him. “Don’t give me bullshit, Blitz. Are you lying to me?”

The imp’s tone was stone cold serious as he responded. “I’m not lying to you. I know I’m an asshole, but I’m not an asshole enough to leave any child of mine.”

He looked down at the screaming baby in his arms. The little girl didn’t resemble him in the slightest, but was still an imp, possibly a hybrid.

“This isn’t my baby. Like I said, she was fucked in the head when I knew her, that’s why I broke it off.”

Blitzø slammed his head back against the wall and groaned, frustrated. What was he going to do? This is a baby, he doesn’t know what the fuck to do with a baby! The small imp, still bundled up in the blanket Cindy had her in, began to squirm and thrash. 

“She’s going to need milk soon, she looks hungry.” Loona snapped. Anxiety was taking over her nervous system—what if they accidentally hurt the baby? Are they going to give her back?

Blitzø rolled his eyes and scoffed. “You want me to breastfeed her? I don’t exactly lactate, sweetie.”

“Stop fucking around, Blitz.” Loona groaned. She sighed, relieved to know her father was still the man she thought he was, but was scared shitless of the creature in his arms. “We can’t just starve her, she looks hungry.”

The baby’s screams seemed to have calmed down, but tears continued to roll down her cheeks and dribble off of her chin. She looked up at Blitzø with big, sad eyes. 

The imp sucked in a shaky breath. This was too much for him right now. Whose baby even was this? Could it actually be Cindy’s?

Blitzø swallowed hard as he noticed the same marking on the baby’s arm that Cindy had. It was definitely not Blitzø’s child, but was Cindy’s.

Loona watched her father, her heart pounding against her ribs. He looked like a pathetic mess as he cradled the small child in his arms. The confusion and fear on Blitzø’s face was almost child-like. 

“I think she’s Cindy’s kid,” Blitzø sighed, wincing. 

The hellhound’s heart was pounding. “Why the fuck would she just…give you her baby?”

“I don’t know! She’s fuckin’ crazy,” the imp groaned.

Loona closed her eyes, her heart beating so fast she could feel it in her throat. Relax, it’s all going to be fine, just breathe , she told herself, repeating the words in her head like a mantra. 

“What are we going to do with her?” she asked quickly.

Blitzø shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. We’ll have to keep her with us for now; like hell I’d ever give her back to that crazy bitch.”

The hellhound shook her head in disbelief. How could someone just… do that? “Fine,” Loona said after a pause.

Blitzø breathed in and out, trying to calm his own racing heart. “You’re right, Loonie, she looks hungry,” the imp said, his eyes focused on the baby.

“She can’t even be a year old; she probably still takes formula,” Loona began. “I’ll hold her, you go and get some from the store.” Loona carefully took the baby from Blitzø’s arms and cradled her in her own. “Get some supplies too, she’ll need a diaper change soon.”

Blitzø rummaged around the kitchen as he searched for his keys. Once he found them, he turned back to Loona. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Loona nodded slowly and gave her father a small smile. “I’ll be fine. Go now, and be quick.”

The front door closed with a soft click and Blitzø sprinted down the stairwell to the van. Once at the car, he hopped in the driver’s seat and jammed the key into the ignition. He twisted his wrist and the car’s engine sputtered.

“Come on, come on, come on…” Blitzø slammed the dashboard with his fist as he twisted the key repeatedly. After a full minute, the car finally kicked to a start. The van squealed down the street, pushing way beyond the speed limit.

The imp ran a red light, burning rubber as he swerved a turn. He finally reached the store parking lot, now all he had to do was find a spot, which will probably take fucking forever. 

He rounded a corner and quickly slammed on the break. A hell-born mother wearing a butt-bag and yoga pants put her hand up to Blitzø and signaled him to stop. She had a tubby little boy on a backpack leash walking beside her; he looked up at Blitzø with a bitchy little face. 

Blitzø slammed on the horn as he motioned to the lady to hurry up. The mother scoffed and tossed her ponytail as she did so. Her eyelashes were so long that they actually blew in the wind. “ Excuse me . There is no need to be racing around the parking lot like a—”

“Oh fuck you sideways, lady. Get going.” Blitzø yelled as he swerved around her. He lucked out and found a spot close to the entrance, and quickly put the van in park. He ran into the store, shoving past anyone in his way and raced to find the baby section. 

It turns out babies are picky little fuckheads because why in hell would a baby need this much selection? Blitzø started to sweat as he looked over the thousands of options for baby food, baby formula, baby water. Never would he have ever guessed he’d be having to buy baby food . Christ on a stick.

What a day. There’s a baby at his house, a real, live baby. Blitzø felt his head flash with white and his stomach churn. He needed to puke, he felt his throat gag. 

But he couldn’t do that, this isn’t about him right now; he needed to focus. He needed to not fuck this up, that’s what he needed to do. Baby formula, he can get some of that, it was doable.

Blitzø grabbed several different boxes, tins and containers, as well as several packages of diapers. Yuck. The baby’s gonna need clothes too… Blitzø’s eyes wandered to the baby clothes and he was completely entranced. Tiny little onesies lined the walls, as well as cute little shirts, pants and shorts in adorable colors.

The baby was definitely gonna need some pajamas—oooh and little booties . Blitzø grabbed everything he saw and stacked the items on top of eachother, balancing it all in his arms. Lastly, he snatched a baby carrier with his tail and dragged it behind him all the way to the till.

Throwing the items onto the conveyor belt, he reached in his pants for his wallet. The cashier rung up all the supplies while Blitzø mentally went through the list of things he needed to get. Formula, a bottle, diapers, a blanket. Blitzø decided what he’s got is good enough for now, he can always come back later. 

Once everything was ringed up, Blitzø shoved the boxes down his shirt, pants and belt to hold it all. He bought a fuck-ton of things, but it’s better to be safe then sorry. 

The cashier eyed him skeptically, watching as Blitzø shoved a large box down his pants. “Would you like a bag, sir?”

“No, no. All good.” Blitzø mumbled with his tongue stuck out in concentration as he grabbed the remaining supplies. No use paying an extra five bucks for a bag when you’ve got pants.

“Alright, that’ll be $102.50, sir.” The cashier said.

Blitzø looked up at the worker, frozen with genuine shock. “ Lucifer’s tit milk , really? That’s expensive…” The imp cursed as he hesitated before he tapped his card on the machine. 

“Have a good day.” The cashier said blankly as Blitzø snatched the receipt. The imp raced back to his van, and dumped all of the items into the backseat. He jammed the baby carrier in the truck, and nearly broke his finger trying to shove it in. 

Once he was all good to go, Blitzø peeled out of the parking lot. The boxes in the back all crashed to one side as he hit a u-turn to get back onto the main road. The car next to him honked and he flipped the finger.

Blitzø took a slow breath as he tried to calm his heart beat down. He has been in full-blown panic mode for hours now, and it was taking a toll to his body. His muscles were tense and sore, and his neck was twitching like crazy. He really should go see that chiropractor again. 

The imp parked the van at the apartment as quickly as he could and raced up the five flights of stairs with the baby supplies. He was panting and sweating like a dog once he finally reached his apartment door. He unlocked it and stepped inside, collapsing on the floor along with all of his purchases. 

Loona’s eyes were wide and she shook her head quickly at her father. “Be quiet.” She whisper-yelled from where she was sitting on the couch. The baby was fast asleep in her arms. 

Blitzø sighed with relief and pressed his face flat against the cold floor. He waited until his breath was back to an acceptable speed before he standed and gathered his things. Blitzø dumped the supplies onto the floor in front of Loona. 

“I got all kinds of baby sauce…” Blitzø whispered as he showed Loona. “This should be good enough for now, right?”

Loona looked down at her father and nodded. “Yeah, that looks good.”

The baby softly cood in Loona’s arms; she looked peaceful. After a couple of minutes in calming silence, Loona spoke up. “What’s going to happen?” 

“With her?” Blitzø asked in a whisper and looked at the baby. 

“Are you going to give her up?” Loona’s expression was worried, something Blitzø hadn't seen on her before. “You know, for adoption?” Loona asked.

Blitzø stared at the small imp in Loona’s arms, then up to look at her again. Blitzø didn’t know much about what adoption was like in hell. He knew that in Loona’s experience, it was a horrible process. And living in hell, Blitzø bet that the foster care is far from suitable for a child. 

Blitzø wouldn’t ever want to put another child through what Loona went through at that place; he wished Loona never had to go there in the first place. But then again, was a baby really safe with him ? Could he raise a baby all by himself?

The imp shook his head to himself. Blitzø’s own father was the shittiest father anyone could ask for, all Blitzø wanted his whole life was to have a loving parent. Just one. Blitzø doesn’t know how well he’ll be able to raise a baby, but he does know that he can love the shit out of it.  

“No. I think she should stay with us, she’s safer here than with her mother.” Blitzø looked up at Loona, searching for a reaction from her.

“Are you sure?” Loona asked, her tone unsteady. Loona couldn’t mask her worry any longer; she’s scared, scared of the baby getting hurt, scared of being replaced . 

Blitzø nodded firmly. “She has to stay with us. I know this is so sudden and I—I’m sorry that this came out of nowhere, Loonie.” Blitzø sighed as he rubbed his eyes. 

He stopped talking, and put his head in his hands. He was unsure of what to say next, words have never done him any good in the past. Blitzø took a moment to gather himself, preparing for his next words.

“So…I sort of have a sister now? Maybe?” Loona asked slowly with a grin, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

Blitzø paused, and then slowly nodded. “Looks like it.” He said. "I doubt her mother'll come back." He sighed, shaking his head.

Loona couldn’t help the grin that crept onto her face, her heart felt much brighter than it had ever before. A couple of years ago, Loona couldn’t have dreamt of ever being able to have a family, let alone a sister. It didn’t matter that the baby wasn’t biologically Blitzø’s, either was the hellhound anyway. 

And if the baby’s birth father showed up looking for her, they’d cross that bridge when it came to them. But knowing Cindy even a little, Blitzø was sure the father was a man just as uninterested in the child as its mother was.

Shockingly enough, Blitzø was Cindy’s nicest and most respectable partner she’d ever had, and that said something HUGE.

“You sure do. Fuck, I guess I have TWO daughters.” Blitzø chuckled, his eyes still weary and his heart still in panic mode. His chest fluttered with nerves and another feeling he was unsure of. “Your old man’s gettin’ old.”

Loona rolled her eyes. “You’re a dumbass.”  A minute passed in silence, the two’s attentions both fixated on the baby in Loona’s arms. 

“So we’re keeping her?” Loona asked again.

Blitzø nodded. “She's definitely Cindy’s, and I'd never let her take the baby back. So I guess that means she’s staying’ with us.”

“Do you think she has a name?” Loona asked curiously, searching the blanket for any kind of identification whatsoever. 

Blitzø shrugged. “We could just name her ourselves.”

Blitzø took a moment as he watched the baby sleep. The dumbass part of him wanted to name the baby something stupid like Jeanis, but the small sliver of maturity he had wanted to name the baby something meaningful. 

Something like Tilla; his mother’s name. But also something new, Blitzø always had thought it was stupid to name someone the exact name of someone else. He wanted to be creative. 

“What about Tilly?” Blitzø asked, his gaze not leaving the baby for a second..

Loona chuckled. “ Tilly ?”

“Yeah. Like the hat. Silly Tilly. But not spelt like the hat, that would be stupid.”

Loona snorted. “Tilly is kind of a stupid name.”

“Exactly.” Blitzø paused and looked up at Loona. “What, you wanna name her something dumb like Rebecca? Sarah? No. Nobody wants to be named Sarah, Loona. That’s like the most fucking stupid name that exists in the history of names. ”

Loona rolled her eyes again. She chuckled and shook her head as she held the baby in her arms. “Alright then. We’ll call her Tilly.”

Chapter Text

The morning after Verosika’s party, Stolas was insanely hungover. His head was pounding, rattling his skull. The sunlight that poked through his window nearly blinded him in all four of his eyes. His bedroom was a mess, clothes were strewn across the floor from the night before.

Fortunately, he sat up to see that he was all alone in bed.

Stolas vaguely remembered dancing with some succubus guy last night, and he was glad he didn’t make the mistake of sleeping with him. Not that the guy was ugly or rude, he was actually very polite, but Stolas wasn’t exactly ready to sleep with someone else.

Stolas dragged himself out of bed, purposefully avoiding the mirror as he walked past his closet and into the bathroom. He felt like shit and was sure he looked like it too. He was still wearing his stupid little outfit he wore to the party last night. Fuck, he even still had his shoes on. 

After showering and changing into new clothes, Stolas dragged himself to the kitchen and forced himself to eat something. He decided on a freezer-burnt rat and shoved it in his mouth. The taste was foul, and he gagged trying to swallow it down. His stomach felt like it was on the brink of explosion.

He was feeling absolutely miserable, and absolutely alone. 

The palace was dead silent, most of the furniture was covered up by plastic film. It was the silence that bothered Stolas the most, though. Stella had taken most of the house staff when she had moved out all those weeks ago. That stupid woman finally left to go live with her brother.

Stolas hated that stupid bitch of a wife he had, but he couldn’t ignore how odd it felt to have silence take over her presence. She was always yelling, always making noise always loud and upset. It was almost eerie to wake up without it. 

Stolas sighed, lazily browsing his cupboards. He was in the middle of one of the worst hangovers he's ever had. 

It wasn’t like Stolas hadn’t drank before, he had many times, but last night he really wasted himself. He was completely gone last night. He probably looked like a fool doing so, too. He couldn’t remember anything he did or said during the party. Great. 

Stolas groaned and pulled at his feathers as he slouched leaning against the counter. He shouldn’t have gone to that party, he wasn’t even sure why he went in the first place. 

Oh yeah, because Blitzø was being a dick. 

Why couldn't he just not be a dick? Could be just be half dick? Stolas was more than happy to deal with half dick. The prince recalled the hours before Verosika’s party, when Blitzø showed up at his palace out of nowhere, talking complete nonsense. Blitzø wanted to earn his way to the human world? What the fuck did that even mean?

Stolas tried his best to let Blitzø talk, tried to give him space and time to say the right words yesterday. Blitzø almost did say the right words, he was so close. But Blitzø had to go digging himself an even deeper hole with a grand finale of a big old, “Fuck you, Stolas!” 

​Oddly enough, Stolas wasn’t mad anymore, not even a little. He honestly just felt the need to cry, the need to break down and sob right on the floor. But he decided he had things to do before he could cave in on his self-pity; plants needed to be watered and Helluva-Novela episodes needed to be watched. He could wallow in his sadness later.

But before anything, he'd need a bit of a break. The prince opened his freezer, searching for his favorite stash of ice cream. He snatched himself a large spoon and took the container with him to the couch, along with a blanket and a pillow. The clock above his oven read noon; he had slept in late.

Via was with her mother for the next couple of days visiting with her uncle Andrealphus, and wouldn't be home for a little while, so Stolas had the whole empty palace to himself. 

-----

Blitzø had begun to learn that babies, as cute as they are, are a shit ton of work that Blitzø was very, very unprepared for. 

Tilly, propped up in a chair on the counter screamed at the top of her lungs. Just let it rip. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her tail smacked against the wall. She refused the first two brands of formula, and nearly snapped the baby bottle in half when Blitzø tried to give it to her.

Bratty little fucker.

The imp had spent the night researching everything he could about babies, what to do with them, what not to do with them. By the time it reached five in the morning, Blitzø had figured out how to properly change a diaper. 

He’d learnt what brand of diapers were the best, what brands were off limits and how to dispose of them. He watched a video on how to make baby formula, he’d also learnt that pretty soon the baby wasn’t going to need to drink formula anymore and would move on to soft foods. 

The imp was taking the job seriously of keeping a baby safe in his care, Loona had never seen him so focused and determined. 

Loona grumbled as she opened her bedroom door. She didn’t get much sleep last night at all; the baby was sobbing all night.

“Come on…That’s it, see? Just like this.” Blitzø pretended to drink out of the bottle, then held it out for Tilly. She paused her screaming to take a sniff of the milk, then decided it was not up to her standards and began to sob again. 

Blitzø groaned. “Fuck…”

“Mornin’.” Loona greeted her father, giving the screaming baby a little head pat as she walked past. 

“Did she keep you up?” Blitzø coughed out, his eyes bloodshot and red with exhaustion. Loona responded with a quick, “No.” not wanting Blitzø to have another thing to worry about. 

Her father nodded slowly, lazily mixing up some formula. “Good, good.” He mumbled. Once the disgusting looking baby smoothie was done, Blitzø poured it into the bottle.

“Okay Tilly, you’re gonna drink this and it’s going to be so good. Are you ready?” Blitzø said in the most positive-sounding voice he could manage. Tilly sniffled, ready to try again and gave grabby hands towards the bottle. 

“Good girl! Here you go…” Blitzø held the bottle to her mouth, and to his relief she started drinking it. 

Blitzø jumped up and shrieked with joy. “YES!” It only took him all night to figure out how to mix the shit, how to give it to her, find which one she liked and now she was doing it!

Tilly burped and clapped her hands together happily. “FUCK YES!” Blitzø shouted and watched as Tilly threw half the bottle back. Tilly shrieked with laughter in response, her small face twisted into a dimply smile.

“Loona are you seeing this? She’s drinkin’ it! Look at her go, she’s a fucking machine!” Blitzø’s eyes remained laser-focused on Tilly as he called to the hellhound. 

Loona looked up from her phone and nodded in approval. “Wow. She’s actually doing it.” Her tone was sarcastic, but in reality she was happy Tilly was finally complying.

“Now for the gross part,” Blitzø began, his tone darkening. “The dreaded diaper change.” Tilly made a squeak that sounded a lot like an, “Uh oh.” She giggled, kicking her feet up in the air.

Blitzø tossed the empty baby bottle in the sink and lifted Tilly into his arms. He then placed her down on her assigned changing blanket.

“We’re gonna need one of those rack things.” The imp added aloud. He scrunched up his face as he ripped the diaper off of Tilly. The smell was so potent that Blitzø nearly puked when he accidentally got a whiff. 

“Stinky girl.” Blitzø remarked quietly as he chuckled.

Loona raised her eyebrow. “A rack? Do you mean a baby changing table?” 

“Yeah, that. And we need a crib. And more diapers. And a lot of other shit.” Blitzø sighed as he rolled up the diaper and plopped it into the trash. He slapped another diaper onto Tilly and stepped back to examine his work. 

Blitzø’s diaper job looked pretty damn close to those YouTube videos he spent hours watching. But frustratingly enough, it still didn’t look quite right on her. He needed help.

Help from someone who had real experience with babies. There’s no way he’ll be able to do this all on his own, with zero knowledge of babies and YouTube as his only guidance coach. 

This is an imp’s life in his hands, he shouldn’t be YouTubing shit. He sighed again, Blitzø needed to NOT fuck this up, he couldn’t fuck this up. If he was going to potentially be the father of this child, he needed to make sure he would do a good job at it.

Blitzø washed his hands and walked to the kitchen, searching for his phone. Millie and Moxxie might know how to help. “Loonie, can you watch Tilly for a second—”

Loona nodded, moving to kneel down beside her. Tilly, with support from Loona, successfully sat up. Her hands made grabby motions towards Blitzø’s direction; she was upset he walked away from her.

Dialing Moxxie's number, Blitzø put the phone between his shoulder and ear. He rinsed out the baby bottle and began preparing a new batch of baby formula. Tilly whined and stretched her arms out to the imp. “It’s okay, he’s just going to make a quick call.” Loona cooed to the baby in a calm voice. 

Tilly didn’t appreciate the quick call Blitzø was taking at all and began another screaming fit. Tears streamed down her red cheeks as she tried with all her might to reach him. 

The hellhound panicked, holding her steady and as gently as she could while Tilly kicked and screamed. “Shhh—it’s okay, it’s okay. He’ll be right back.”

What was the imp going to do about his work? Blitzø was going to need a babysitter, the imp thought to himself while he waited for Moxxie to answer. He couldn’t ask Loona to do the job, that would be putting way too much on her plate. He couldn't ask her that. 

Moxxie answered after a couple of rings. “Hello?”

“Heyyy Moxx. I can’t come into work today…Uh, things have kind of happened and I sorta have a baby.” Blitzø chuckled nervously, trying to sound calm.

Moxxie’s casual tone raised to a high pitched scream. “You have a WHAT?!”

“I can explain later—do you think Mills knows anything about babies? I kind of have no idea what I’m doing with this thing.”

“Well I—” Moxxie sounded very alarmed and Blitzø could hear him shout to Millie in the background. Millie responded with a yell, and Moxxie quickly returned to the phone.

“We can be there in ten.” Moxxie spat out quickly.

“Greaaat. Thanks.” Blitzø responded before he hung up the phone and rushed back to a screaming Tilly. 

The imp gently picked her up and rocked her slowly in his arms. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’m here.” Tilly continued to shout and kick, squirming like a worm. Loona watched with a worried face, her hands stroked the baby’s horns to try to calm her.

Blitzø carried the baby with him as he walked back into the kitchen. He still needed to finish the formula he started making. As he seated Tilly on the counter, she began to wail once again.

“Fuck, please stop crying,” Blitzø begged her as he paced around the kitchen. “Loonie, can you fill this up for me?” 

Loona nodded, quickly standing to join her father in the kitchen. She took the container from his hands and filled it up with water, while Blitzø attempted to soothe Tilly by putting her back in his arms. He mumbled shushes to her, pleading for her to be quiet.

Someone, presumably M & M, knock on the front door. The sound really pissed Tilly off; she let out a loud shriek and squirmed, kicking against Blitzø.

With the screaming baby in his arms, Blitzø rushed to open the door.

Moxxie’s face dropped to red-hot fear when the door swung open, his eyes widened as he looked at his boss. “WHAT. THE. FUCK. BLITZ?!” Tilly took one look at Millie and Moxxie before she resumed her crying. “Oh she’s adorable, Blitz! Let me hold her—” Millie exclaimed, stepping inside and taking Tilly from Blitzø’s arms. 

Moxxie pressed forward to Blitzø and jammed a finger towards him. “WHAT HAPPENED?!” He shouted. Blitzø raised his hands defensively as he stepped back. 

“A crazy ex-girlfriend, that’s what happened.” Blitzø said with a sigh. Moxxie raised an accusing eyebrow. “What is that supposed to mean? You can’t raise a baby! Why—”

Millie, who was holding a crying Tilly in her arms, put her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Moxx, darlin’, relax. Breathe.”

Moxxie looked immensely worried as he swallowed, placing at his wife. “I can’t just relax, Mills! How are you not with me on this? Blitzø doesn’t know how to handle a baby, he can’t even handle a relationship—”

“Okay wow,” Blitzø raised a finger in protest, fully prepared to enter a debate. “Pump the hate break breaks, Moxx, I am very capable of—”

Moxxie began to really shout. “HOW DID YOU EVEN GET A BABY—"

Tilly screeched louder, upset at all of the screaming. Her tail whipped underneath her while Millie held her. Blitzø began again, “I’ll have you know, Moxx, that I can handle a relationship just fine, as well as—”

A sharp sound ripped through the air, it was Loona. She growled and bared her teeth. “SHUT THE FUCK UP. Both of you!” Loona barked. Tilly wailed as the room suddenly fell silent. 

“Both of you need to calm the fuck down. Let Blitz explain.” Loona snapped.

Millie moved to sit on the couch with the baby. “Loona’s right. Y'all both are making the baby upset.” Millie frowned, her tone quiet and gentle. 

“Hon, just come and sit down, give Blitz time to explain.” Millie gave Moxxie a small smile and patted the couch space beside her. Moxxie let out a sharp breath and eyed his boss before he sat down beside his wife. “Fine. This better be a good explanation, Blitz.”

Blitzø sighed and wiped his forehead with his arm, preparing himself. He was going to have to tell them everything.

Chapter Text

“So you were dating a mentally insane woman, who you’d broken up with a while ago..and then she just showed up here and gave you a baby that’s not yours?” Moxxie questioned, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.

Blitzø nodded casually. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it all up.” He mumbled. 

“Jesus…” Moxxie cursed as he drifted away in thought. “That’s… that’s—”

“Super fucking crazy?” Blitzø added. “Yeah, believe me I know .”

Moxxie was still deeply confused as he asked, “So then who’s baby is it?”

“I think it’s hers, the baby has the same birthmark as her mother does,” Blitzø announced, motioning for Millie to check the baby’s arm. On Tilly’s left arm was a small, light pink circle with a heart inside of it. MIllie ran a soft finger over it, making sure it was real.

“She must’ve had the baby with some other guy. Bet the guy took off ‘n she didn’t know what to do.” Blitzø guessed, dazed as watched the baby lay in Millie’s lap.

Moxxie sighed and rubbed his temples. He was worried for his boss, for his friend. Moxxie didn’t know jack squat about babies. 

Millie shook her head sadly. The baby in her arms stopped her wailing but was still steadily crying. “I don’t know how you’re going to be able to do this, Blitzø. You know I have faith in you, I always have, but this is…this is a baby.”

“What’ll happen if the father shows up wanting her back? Or the mother..?” Millie asked worriedly. 

Blitzø paused, before he answered her question. He had come this far, he didn’t want to think about that possibility.

“I’ll figure it out if the time comes. For now, I can keep her safe.” The imp finally stated. 

Moxxie looked at Blitzø with a nervous frown. “Are you sure you can take care of her, Blitz? What about work?”

A wave of uncertainty washed over Blitzø as he began to sweat. What was he going to do about work?

 “I—I can get help, I can figure out what to do,” Blitzø sputtered out. “I can keep her safe.” He stated again, voice much firmer than in his last remark; his confidence regained. He was going to keep Tilly safe if it meant his life, he’d already decided. 

Tilly was abandoned by the two people who were meant to love her; she was one of them, now. If her parents didn’t want her then fuck them. Blitzø was already prepared to go to war for Tilly; he was already attached to her, it was too late. 

Blitzø and the baby shared being left behind, being unwanted. Loona and her shared being given up, being unwanted .

The imp would rather cut off his leg than have to see this poor baby go through the same pain he and Loona did and still to go through each day. 

He was going to make Tilly feel special, he was going to make her never have to experience being unwanted. And in fact, maybe she could even grow up and never have to know about her parents leaving her at all. Blitzø could give her a life full of love , he could give her a life where she’d never have to feel unworthy.

Blitzø decided at that moment that he was fully ready to be there for the baby; be there with her. A child should never under any circumstances everhave to grow up believing they were undeserving of a parent’s love. 

Tilly was going to have a good life; a better life. Blitzø was going to make sure of it, no matter what happened.

M & M both looked down at the baby and couldn’t help but admire her. She was certainly beautiful, but equally as strange looking. Her skin was a perfect shade of pinkish red and her eyes glowed with bright green. She was definitely a hybrid, no doubt, possibly hellborn-imp. 

Her tail was short and cute and unlike most imp tails, on the end was a small heart. It whipped against the couch in a steady rhythm as she looked up at the couple who looked down at her. 

“We could try to help out by babysitting here and there, Blitzø, but that’s really all we can do. I have no experience with little ones.” Millie told Blitzø with a frown. “I wish I knew how to help you right now, B.”

Blitzø nodded slowly, quickly coming up with a new plan. “I think I’ll have to take this week off, I need to figure shit out. I’ll find someone to watch her when I go back to work. While I’m gone, you can just take over for me, Moxx, right?” Blitzø asked and his voice cracked. 

Moxxie looked his boss up and down; he looked like he hadn’t slept in a week, he probably hadn’t. 

It was going to be hard to take his spot at work, but it was doable. Moxxie shook his head slowly, his stomach gurgled with anxiousness. This wasn’t his first time taking the reins at work, but it made him nervous nevertheless. “Yeah, I can. But we’re going to need you back next week, Blitz.”

Blitzø nodded quickly, regaining some spunk to his attitude. He was beyond grateful for Moxxie agreeing to step up for him, he wasn’t sure what he would have done if he’d refused. 

“I know. I’m gonna figure it out. I’ll be back before ‘ya know it.” Blitzø promised. Tilly had let up her crying, and now laid content in Millie’s lap. “What’s her name?” Millie asked, smiling down at the little girl. 

“Tilly. After my mom.” Blitzø answered with a proud smile. 

Millie sighed, a soft smile spreading across her face. She couldn’t help it, the baby was absolutely enchanting and Millie was a complete sucker for cute babies.“

“She’s lovely, Blitzø…” Millie gushed, holding Tilly’s hand in her own. Tilly wrapped her tiny hand around Millie’s finger and giggled.

“She sure is a cutie. A real terror when she wants to be, though.” Loona chimed in, joining the group in the living room. 

Millie beamed down at Tilly.  “She’s so interesting…I’ve never seen a hybrid imp like her before.”

“Yeah, she’s a real doll.” Blitzø mused, smiling still. “I wasn’t prepared for how fucking awful her shit smells though, holy FUCK. You’d think she was a grown man, her shits are INSANE.” 

Moxxie rolled his eyes. “Aww.” Millie giggled, pinching Tilly’s feet playfully. 

Blitzø took a slow breath and found himself relaxing a little. He felt better in the presence of his friends, he was glad they had his back.

“I just don’t know who to ask for help, I don’t want to give her the wrong food or baby juice…And I don’t think I got the right diapers, either.” Blitzø mumbled, thinking.

Moxxie looked up at Blitzø. “You could always ask Stolas.”

“I—uh, don’t think that’s such a good idea, Moxx.” Blitzø swallowed, suddenly feeling tense again. He hoped Moxxie would drop the subject because Blitzø really didn’t have the brain capacity to be thinking, let alone talking about Stolas so nonchalantly right now. 

Not after everything at the party. 

“He did raise a baby, he’d probably know how to help, Blitz.” Moxxie could tell the topic was making Blitzø uncomfortable, but kept pushing it. He knew the two’s relationship was rocky at the moment and wasn’t great. But Moxxie had met the prince a couple of times and that was enough for him to see that Stolas would probably give Blitzø his whole palace if he asked for it.

He must be able to help Blitzø, Moxxie thought.

“I’m not asking Stolas for help,” Blitzø’s tone was firm. The imp was now feeling just as anxious as he was before, and his legs felt restless. He walked into the kitchen, giving an unsaid signal that the conversation of Stolas was over. The imp wouldn’t dare ask Stolas for help. 

Blitzø could do it on his own, he doesn’t need his help. It would only be a bother to Stolas showing up at his palace again, and this time with a baby. And who knows, maybe Stolas’s going out with that succubus guy from the party and has forgotten about Blitzø altogether. 

Blitzø doesn’t need help from anyone, he can raise Tilly just fine by himself, thank you very much. 

Moxxie sighed, “I know you, Blitzø, and I know you don’t want help because of your…ego or whatever, but I think you’ll need it. You don’t know how to raise her, as much as you wish you did. And if it’s not Stolas you ask for help then it has to be someone else because you won’t be able to do this on your own.”

—----

Stolas spent the day after the party puttering around the empty palace, doing some chores and reading the book he was on. All of the furniture in the house was covered with a plastic film, half of his book collection was already in boxes.

He spent the night to himself, staying up until the sun came up, watching the new season of his favorite show. Once he finally passed out at five in the morning, he slept until the late afternoon. 

When he awoke sprawled out on the couch, he checked his phone. No new messages from Blitzø, the tab still showed the stupid memes the imp had sent not long ago. Stolas wasn’t going to lie, he thought they were kind of funny even in their stupidity, but he never responded to them, as much as he wanted to.

The afternoon sun gleamed against the floor in front of him. The sky outside was a perfect dark red, but as it passed through Stolas’s window it casted a purple glow on his floor instead. Stolas’s bowl from yesterday laid on the floor beside him, he’d need to clean that up later.

He wanted to text Blitzø back, he wanted to say something , anything. In truth, Stolas missed him greatly and wanted nothing more than to hear from him. Just a quick hello, something about how he’s doing or what he’s doing. Something easy, so Blitzø would respond to it. 

But what would he say if he was to text Blitzø? Would it be weird if he just asked how Blitzø was doing? Should he even text the imp at all? After all, at the last encounter that Stolas can remember with Blitzø, he was yelling and screaming; the imp was angry. 

Stolas had been relatively relaxed, reading his novel in his backyard that morning days ago. Then, out of nowhere, with no warning, Blitzø hopped over the fence and jumped back into his life. Why did he even come back? Stolas wasn’t forcing him to anymore, he had no reason to be coming back. It was clear that the imp didn’t actually want to see Stolas anyway. 

When Blitzø snuck into Stolas’s garden that day, he didn’t acknowledge what happened on the full moon at all, and simply told Stolas he wanted to earn his access to the human world. Blitzø said he wanted to fuck him, nothing else. 

Blitzø really, truly thought that Stolas would want that, after everything Stolas told him about how he felt. Perhaps Blitzø wasn’t listening, or perhaps he didn’t care to listen. The prince told him he didn’t want whatever they had to be some weird and fucked-up casual sex deal anymore. 

But now, it’s even more confusing. Stolas isn’t asking for anything from Blitzø, he isn’t suggesting sex or even alluding to anything of that nature at all, yet the imp came all the way to his home, on his own will, looking for sex. What does that mean? Stolas wondered, repeating the question over and over in his head until it stung. 

Was the situation really as simple as it sounded, all Blitzø wanted was a casual fuck? Was it really true that sex was all Blitzø wanted from him? Because it obviously wasn’t the book. 

Stolas knew that sex wasn’t all that he wanted from Blitzø. He wanted to see him, he wanted to hear from him and listen to him and be around him and be next to him. It hadn’t even been that long since Blitzø was at the palace, but the thought that Blitzø was out there somewhere angry and possibly still hurting made the prince feel sick. 

Stolas sighed once again and rubbed at his eyes. Why did he have to overthink everything immediately after waking up? Couldn’t his brain wait just a couple more hours?

He had to try, Stolas had to text the imp. And if that got him nowhere then he… He wasn’t sure what he'd do. Stolas grabbed his phone, opening Blitzø’s contact. The prince typed a short message and tapped send. 

How are you?

—-----

The clock on the stove read 5:35pm. Millie and Moxxie both went home a couple of hours ago, and Tilly finally went down for a nap.

Loona was out for a bit, she went to the store to run a couple of errands. Blitzø sighed and closed his eyes, basking in the silence. It had been what seemed like forever since he’s had pure, uninterrupted silence.

Tilly was adorable, it was true, but she was a handful and a half. Blitzø was exhausted out of his mind and it hadn’t even been a week, not even close. The imp was sure he’d cut off his left hand to have a full night's rest in peace and quiet.

He couldn’t imagine what he'd want to cut off after a month of this. 

But knew he had to push through, though. He’d already promised himself he’d give the baby a good life and Blitzø was a man who stuck to his promises. He was one hundred percent certain he would be able to do it, however that doesn’t mean it won’t be difficult. 

Blitzø carefully laid Tilly down on her makeshift bed that consisted of a thin mattress surrounded by padding. He’d created the bed the night before, carefully following instructions he found online while he waited to buy a regular crib. His foot asleep, the imp limped to the kitchen and opened the fridge. 

His stomach was growling for a burger and fries, but he knew that wouldn't be possible with Tilly. He’d have to get her a carseat soon, then he could. 

The baby’s formula had taken over the majority of the fridge space; Blitzø had to push around to find the regular food. He made himself a half-assed sandwich and plopped back down on the couch, satisfied enough with his food work. 

He would have committed unspeakable crimes for a beer right about now, but he knew that move was off-limits while he had Tilly in his care. That was a Cash Buckzo move; completely off-limits.

His phone buzzed from its position on the floor. Curious, Blitzø leaned over and grabbed it. It was a text from Stolas. 

How are you? The text read. 

What was Stolas doing texting Blitzø? He had got to have something better to do. Blitzø debated if he should respond or not. A part of him wanted to spill and tell Stolas everything that had happened. 

But that would seem desperate wouldn’t it? He doesn't need Stolas’s help after all. And maybe Stolas had begun moving on from him and this was just some pity text.

fin. u? 

Blitzø responded, way too quickly. After he tapped sent, he regretted it immediately. Fuck, he should have waited a couple hours to reply, now he seemed desperate. It takes Stolas half a second to reply. 

All the prince wrote back was, I’m fine as well. 

That’s it? What was Blitzø supposed to do with that? Should he leave it at that, or say something else? He really wanted to tell Stolas about Tilly. 

Blitzø’s thumbs lingered over the digital keyboard as he struggled with what to do next. It felt like there was a civil war going on in his head; should he be a bother and tell Stolas about his struggles with Tilly or just leave it at what was already said? He shouldn’t overshare, he would just be annoying the prince.

But maybe Moxxie was right, maybe Stolas would know how to help him with Tilly. He could ask Stolas for coffee and explain everything to him there. It was worth a shot to try.

Yeah, that’s what he’d do, the imp decided. And if Stolas rejected him, then that would be fine, he’d figure something else out. 

cn we mete 4 cofe tmrrow? Blitzø typed out quickly, hitting send before he could change his mind. He anxiously waited for Stolas to respond. He was going to refuse, wasn't he?

Sure. Can I send you the directions to a cafe? I’ve been wanting to try the place for quite some time now. 

Blitzø let out a sharp breath he didn’t realize was holding in. He responded with a quick k , and shut his phone off. Rubbing his face and groaning, Blitzø cursed at himself. 

Blitzø was scared shitless to see Stolas again after the party, but at the same time he felt an odd sense of relief in knowing he was going to tell Stolas what was going on. Stress was eating at him, and it felt strangely good when he told M&M. Perhaps it would feel even better telling Stolas.

The imp prayed to Lucifer that his words wouldn’t fuck him over again, and that he would be able to fix whatever happened with him and Stolas. And if he was lucky, to get some help from Stolas or even just advice; Blitzø would be so grateful.

Chapter Text

Blitzø woke up bright and early the next morning to the wonderful sound of Tilly screeching. 

The imp had fallen asleep at four in the morning, and awoke again at six. He was feeling horrible , but he powered through his morning as well as he could and early into the afternoon. 

He fed the baby, made lunch for Loona and himself, had a quick shower and prepared to see Stolas for their planned time at four. The imp thought it was weird that the prince chose such an odd time to meet but he didn’t question him.

Once three-thirty came around, Blitzø began to get dressed out of his pajamas he’d been lounging around the house in. The imp put on a pair of new boxers and picked out a shirt that didn’t have a stain or something lewd on it. He pulled on a pair of black jeans and brushed his teeth. The bathroom was still steamy from Blitzø’s shower and a complete mess just like the rest of the house. 

Tilly, accompanied by Loona, sat on her play mat and screamed for Blitzø with open arms. 

“Be there in a sec, Tilly, just give me a moment—” Blitzø called from the bathroom. Tilly was bouncing up and down angrily, slapping her tail against the hardwood floor. She clapped her hands together; she was hungry again.

When Tilly got hungry, she clapped her hands together and let out a loud shriek. The action would appear almost cute to anyone who didn’t have to deal with it every single time she felt the urge to snack. Tilly wailed like an ogre, frustrated.

“Yeah, yeah—give me a second.” The eyeliner Blitzø was putting on stabbed his eyeball and he cursed out a loud, “FUCK!” and walked right into the doorframe. 

Tilly erupted with laughter as she watched him, clapping her hands together and jumping up and down.

“Oh you little BRAT.” Blitzø yelled to her, wincing while he rubbed his eye. Tilly squeaked, and fell back on her butt as she giggled. 

Blitzø quickly did up his belt and tucked his t-shirt into the side of his pants.“How do I look, Loonie?” He asked his daughter. Or...Now eldest daughter? Tilly was his daughter too now, right? Well, Blitzø certainly accepted her family now, she was a castaway just like them. It wasn’t her fault, it was just how it went sometimes. 

Loona, seated on the couch while munching on her late lunch, looked over at her father and laughed. Blitzø’s self-confidence took a sky-dive and his face looked hurt. “What—I’m being serious, Loonie. Do I look okay?”

The hellhound chuckled. “I guess you look… Fine.” Blitzø groaned in response and turned back to look at himself in the mirror. He fixed his makeup and gave himself a once-over with extra deodorant. Finally satisfied with his work, Blitzø exited the bathroom and grabbed his wallet and keys. 

The imp stopped and crouched down beside Tilly to give her a pat on the head as he made his way to the door. She let up her screaming, but just for an instant before she resumed again.

“Don’t be a bitch for Loona, ‘kay?” Blitzø mumbled to her in a baby-voice. Tilly sniffled back her tears and frowned, her lower lip pouting out. The imp gave her a small hug before he stood to leave. “Thanks Loonie for watching her; I shouldn’t be long.”

Blitzø had neglected to tell Loona who he was going out for coffee with, but the hellhound knew it was Stolas. For anyone else, Blitzø wouldn't have given two shits about what he looked like. For this meeting, the imp was actually nervous about his appearance. 

“Yeah, okay. See ya.” Loona mumbled as her father closed the door. 

Outside in the parking lot, Blitzø started the van. His stomach was absolutely aching with nervousness but he ignored it and pushed it out of his thoughts. His mind raced, playing scenes of all the things that could go wrong, things that might go wrong.

It was such an odd feeling for him, something he was not used to at all. He hadn’t ever felt nervous to see Stolas before, except for the full moon and Verosika’s party and well… right now. Why is he so anxious? 

Before he pulled into the cafe parking lot, Blitzø quickly checked to see if his pit sweat was visible. He was sure it was, he was sweating like a fucking dog. He could actually see his hands shake as he gripped the steering wheel.

There’s nothing to be nervous about, The imp reminded himself. It’s the same old stupid owl, Blitzø sucked in a breath. Same old stupid owl he had seen a million times. Nothing to freak out over.

As Blitzø entered the coffee place, he immediately saw Stolas. He was looking down at something, perhaps his phone, and failed to notice Blitzø standing there like a dork, staring at him. 

The coffee shop looked stupid and cheesy, in the imp’s opinion. The person running it was probably some little old lady who lived all alone with… a cat. Or maybe with one of those ugly skin-walker-looking rat dogs. 

The place was a complete cheese-fest, antique paintings of flowers lined the ugly wallpapered walls. It looked like something straight out of a romance novel set in the 1800 s; it looked like something Stolas would like.

How did places like this even exist in hell? Who had the time and energy to put effort into making a place like this. 

This is so stupid, Blitzø thought to himself as he stood in the doorway. So stupid and gay. 

For a moment, Blitzø considered just bolting the fuck out there. Stolas hadn’t seen him yet, it’s not like he’d know if Blitzø just took off.

Stolas looked up from whatever he was looking at, and looked straight at Blitzø. Well there goes the option of leaving. The imp awkwardly wandered over to the table and sat down across from the prince, avoiding eye contact.

Stolas wasn’t wearing the stupid royal jumper he usually wore, not the cape either; he was wearing a normal-looking knitted sweater and plain shorts. His feathers look rumpled and a couple of them hung over his face. He was looking at Blitzø with an expression the imp couldn’t read, completely silent.

Blitzø swallowed. “Thanks for uh, coming.” He mumbled quickly, looking at one of the menu pamphlets to avoid Stolas’s gaze. 

Stolas frowned, all four of his eyes focused on the imp. “Why did you ask me for lunch?” He asked quietly. Blitzø picked at his nails under the table as he began to sweat. 

“I just…wanted to see how things were going. After the party, and all that. You seemed a little off when I saw you there, I probably should have stuck around longer…” Blitzø said, not wanting to bring up the big news yet. He needed more time to work up some confidence. He needed some more confidence, or some alcohol. He wondered if a little coffee shop like this one would even sell drinks…

“You were at the party?” Stolas sounded shocked, his eyes widened into full circles. 

“Yeah, I was. You were pretty wasted when I got there. Guess you didn’t remember.” Blitzø mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant. Stolas had no recollection of their conversation at the party. That means that Blitzø will have to say it all again. Fuck. 

Stolas covered his mouth with his hand, embarrassed. His eyes were still wide. “Did I do anything foolish I should know about? I have barely any recollection of that night at all.” Stolas asked worriedly. 

Blitzø shook his head. “Nah you were fine.” The imp cleared his throat and swallowed. “Are you going to get something to eat?” He asked Stolas, hoping to move the conversation away from Verosika’s hate party.

“I’m not very hungry. I’ll probably get a coffee, though.” Stolas replied as he looked over the options of drinks. Stolas was acting…odd. Definitely odd since the last interaction they’d had. 

Blitzø’s knee bounced under the table as he tried to psych himself up for telling Stolas about the baby. Should he even tell him at all? Should he just spit it out? Did he have to wait…Should he wait? Wait for what, though..

An overly polite waitress came by and took their orders. Stolas ordered a latte and Blitzø got an overpriced iced coffee. Their orders were done a minute later and were delivered to their table.

Once the waitress strolled away, Blitzø spoke up. “I’m sorry for being a, ya know. Bitch. Dick. Whatever you wanna call it.” Stolas remained silent as he listened.

“I’m officially not a fuckhead anymore. Or, I’m trying not to be.” Blitzø continued. “So yeah. I wanted to apologize to you. Well technically I already did apologize to you at the party, but I assume you don’t remember any of that. Whatever, that’s not what's important.”

“I’m sorry.” Blitzø repeated. Unsure of what to do next, he sipped his coffee awkwardly. Stupid expensive iced coffee; it tasted like cold diarrhea served in a cup. 

Stolas sighed and gave the imp a small smile. “I forgive you, I know I was mad, but I forgive you. And I’m sorry as well. I won’t rant on about it, I know you don’t enjoy that, but I hope you know that I’m sorry too.”

“Why… is this so easy?” Blitzø asked skeptically. Maybe Stolas was on drugs. Why was everything just..working out? It was certainly odd for the imp; after all Stolas didn’t have to apologize, Stolas didn’t even have to meet him for coffee but he did. It was all confusing the imp. 

Stolas sighed, “I want this to work, I don’t want it to go back to what it was between you and me. I want to cut all the bullshit now , I don’t want to have to wait any longer. I like you, I like seeing you. That’s what I want. Is that what you want?”

Blitzø paused, before nodding slowly; this all was still very new to him. It was hard, but he knew he had to work through it. After everything he still wanted to see Stolas, be around him, talk with him and have fun with him. He didn’t want what they had to end, but who knows, now with the baby.

“I know this might feel odd, trust me it does for me too, but I just..I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I literally hate being angry at you.” Stolas finished, his face forming a small smile.

“Yeah. ‘Sucks bein’ mad at you.” Blitzø said, biting at the inside of his cheek. That was all his body would let him say on the subject for now, the rest of him was sort of..shutting down.

He’d have time to think about it all later, and Stolas seemed happy to give him all the time he needed. After all, things were moving fast; Stolas would have to be patient, not everybody was ready to jump into a relationship like he was. That was the curse in being a hopeless romantic.

“I have a baby.” The imp blurted out awkwardly, his words stuttering as they left his mouth. He couldn’t keep the secret any longer, he was already feeling more vulnerable than ever and decided it couldn’t get any worse. He watched as Stolas’s eyes briefly widened, before returning back to their normal shape. 

The prince attempted the calmest voice he could manage, but underneath he was completely shocked. “You do? When did this happen?” He asked quickly. 

Blitzø sighed, taking a second to think. “I dated this crazy chick a long time ago, I had thought she was just a real piece of work, nothing too crazy. But now that I look back, I’m ninety-percent sure she’s mentally insane. Anyway, she dropped off a baby at my place a couple days ago.. Talking all weird ‘n shit. I think she was on something,” Blitzø grimaced.

The imp carefully watched for Stolas’s reaction. The prince was very concerned, his eyebrows raised in worry as he listened.

“Anyway, she just kind of dropped off a baby…She’s not mine, I’m sure of it. I was with her so long ago, if I had been the father the baby would have been much older, I'm sure of it.” The imp sighed. “I’ve decided to take care of the baby, at least for now, I just don’t know how to do it. I was hoping you’d know.”

Stolas started to say something but paused, taking a second to pause. Before he could say anything,  Blitzø interrupted him. “I’m sorry, I know this is a lot. You don’t have to help me, I just wanted to know if you’d … I don’t know. I know this is too much, I don’t—” The imp cut himself off and rubbed his eyes. He was beyond overstimulated; his skin felt too tight and his back began to sweat. 

“That’s...Wow. I’m sorry this is happening all so fast for you, I couldn’t imagine what the stress of it’s like.” Stolas’s voice was heavy with sympathy, and it made Blitzø feel itchy and uncomfortable all over. He knew he didn’t deserve it.

This was too much, right now. Why was Stolas acting this way? Blitzø had screamed at him, was furious at him not even a week ago and he was just…Taking him back? Just like that? Blitzø didn’t understand his choices at all.

“I’m glad you told me, Blitz. I wouldn't want you to have to go through all of this alone.” Here Stolas went again, why was he doing that? Blitzø’s chest felt funny; like there was an itch at the back of his ribs that he couldn't quite reach. His mind began to fog over, his thoughts of why Stolas might be doing all this racing through his head. 

Pity? Maybe. 

Because his situation is pathetic? Stolas feels obligated to help Blitzø as some kind of welfare? Charity? 

Donating to the poor? 

“Can I meet her?” The prince asked quickly, his eyes abnormally wide with the new information still fresh in his head. Unlike Blitzø, it had been a slow week for Stolas, and he was more than happy to jump back into excitement. He was more than happy to jump right into what they had before, he was more than ready. 

All his life was spent waiting, waiting for the time to come, waiting for a relationship, waiting for love, waiting for his life to happen; for him to finally start living. Perhaps the time was now. 

“You’d like to?” Blitzø asked, his frown lighting up into a smile. The question was unexpected, and snapped him out of his whirlwind of self-hatred and pity. If Stolas was good for one thing, it was for his ability to pull the imp out of his own head; that’s one of the things Blitzø liked about him most. 

The prince nodded quickly; he was so excited to meet her. He was excited to start . “Yes, of course, I’d love to meet her.”

If Stolas had forgiven Blitzø too quickly and was being overly enthusiastic, he didn’t give two shits, three shits, red shits OR blue shits. At first he was overjoyed to be asked out for lunch by the very imp that had been on his mind since he’d last seen him, and now he was getting to be a part of his life again. It felt like the greatest achievement Stolas had ever gotten. 

It was actually everything and more Stolas was hoping to get out of this coffee “date”; it was far beyond what he thought was going to happen. Maybe that was one of the reasons he was so excited; things were changing. 

Blitzø slowly began to relax, or atleast was trying to. It was okay now, Stolas said it was okay, so it was okay . Everything was going to be okay. The tension in Blitzø’s back loosened and he took another sip of his coffee. He’d forgotten it tasted like cow shit and made a gag face after taking a drink. 

“Off topic, but this coffee is disgusting .” Blitzø gagged, pushing the cup towards Stolas for him to take a sip. Stolas lifted the drink  to his mouth and his face scrunched up almost immediately. Blitzø grinned as he watched him.

“It’s not the best I’ve ever had.” Stolas said with a sly smile. After a moment, his smile turned softer as he spoke again. 

“I raised Via all by myself, you know.” The prince said as he watched the cars drive past outside the window. “Her mother didn’t help me at all. I didn’t want Via to grow up raised by the house staff like I did, so I raised her all by myself.”

“I did it, of course, but I couldn't stand to watch you go through all of it alone. It was… very difficult, and I consider myself to be a patient person.” Stolas paused, looking down at Blitzø. “The least I can do is offer you my help, Blitz.”

“You don’t have to do that, Stolas.” Blitzø mumbled. He felt undeserving of Stolas’s help, of Stolas’s kindness to him. It didn’t seem fair that Blitzø was receiving such treatment; it wasn’t fair.

“I’d like to. When Via was an owlette, I was so nervous; I read hundreds of books on babies. I’m pretty much an expert.” Stolas offered as he smiled gently. 

“Are you sure? The baby’s not exactly well-behaved.” Blitzø stated cautiously, giving Stolas a warning. The prince nodded and a large smile took over his face. “I’m sure. Can I meet her today?” He asked again, excitedly. He was so ready, his leg was bouncing with energy. Stolas couldn’t remember the last time he felt this excited, maybe it was the day Via had agreed to go to that horror film with him. 

Blitzø nodded slowly, still in disbelief at Stolas’s kindness and generosity. The imp chose to ignore most of it for now; if he didn’t he was sure his head would explode with all the racing thoughts. 

“Right now?” The imp asked.

Stolas nodded, “Yes, if that’s alright with you.”

The imp felt his body relax, all the way from his neck down to his boots. It felt like a weight had been lifted off of his chest; this coffee date had been easier than he had expected it to be. He was so happy that Stolas forgave him, and that he was willing to offer his help with Tilly.

How would he ever be able to repay him? 

Blitzø tried to ignore the destructive thoughts that flooded his mind, and tried to focus on Stolas and only Stolas. 

“Alright.” Blitzø said, pulling out his wallet to pay for their drinks. Stolas thanked him, even though he very much didn’t need to. “Her name’s Tilly, by the way.” 

“Tilly?” Stolas repeated softly, the smile not leaving his face. He was so beautiful, even in his disheveled appearance. His red eyes glowed with happiness as he waited for Blitzø to respond.

You’ll never be able to repay him. 

He’ll get tired of you. 

The imp took a breath and threw on his coat as he got ready to leave. “Sure is.” Blitzø said, pressing a smile on his face. Stolas didn’t seem to notice Blitzø’s shift in mood, and the imp was grateful for that. The prince stood gracefully; his tail swept behind him as he stepped out of the booth.

“That’s a wonderful name.” Stolas’s tone was soft as he praised.

Enjoy it while it lasts. 

“I hope you don’t mind, my place is SUPER fucking messy right now.” Blitzø warned as the pair walked outside to the van together. 

Stolas chuckled. “Oh that’s quite alright, I don’t mind.” 

Chapter Text

Loona was sitting on the floor playing with Tilly when Blitzø and Stolas entered through the front door. She was surprised, shocked even to see the prince. Loona slowly stood up. “Hi..?” She mumbled to Stolas.

Stolas gave her a small smile and an awkward wave. “Hello, Loona.” 

The hellhound turned to her father. “I, uh—I’m going to go out for a bit with some friends. That's okay?” She asked, her eyes skeptically flicking between the two.

Blitzø gave her a quick nod in response as he picked Tilly up off the floor. “Yeah, of course, you’re good. Thanks for watching her, Loons.”

Tilly began to cry again, now in Blitzø’s arms. “Was she crying the whole time?” The imp asked with a sigh.

Loona grabbed the van keys off the table and zipped her boots up. “Yeah pretty much. She stopped for a minute but it looks like she’s back at it again.”

“Alright, I’ll see you later. Good luck.”  Loona said as she opened the door and stepped into the hall.

“Yeah. Be safe.” Blitzø called back to her as Tilly began to sob. Stolas was about to bid Loona goodbye, but she was too quick and the door slammed behind her. 

Tilly shrieked and kicked, slapping her tail right across Blitzø’s face. “Ow—fuck!” The imp groaned.

“Can I hold her?” Stolas asked quickly, his arms readily open. Blitzø yelped when Tilly bit down hard on his arm. “Fuck. Yeah, sure, you can try. She’s a real fighter, though. Beware.”

Stolas lifted the baby from Blitzø’s arms and into his own, holding her like she was a bag of gold. Like magic, Tilly stopped crying. She went completely silent, not a peep left her lips. A stray tear streaked her cheek, but that was it.

Blitzø almost collapsed on the spot with relief. He hadn’t been able to get Tilly to be quiet for more than an hour ever since she was dropped off.

“Oh my…” Stolas mumbled, admiring the small imp in his arms. For some reason, Tilly seemed to really like Stolas; she stopped kicking altogether and went completely still in his hold.  

“She’s beautiful…” Stolas murmured, completely entranced. Tilly looked up at Stolas with big, curious eyes.

“Fuck, Stolas, you’re a goddamn saint . Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get her to shut up? I’ve never seen her this calm.” Blitzø groaned as he plopped down on the couch. His head was pounding and his arms were sore from the weight of holding Tilly all night.  Blitzø closed his eyes, basking in the silence. 

Tilly reached up to touch Stolas’s face, her small hands running over his beak and between his eyes. She looked up at him with the same amount of amazement as he looked down at her with. 

Minutes passed of Stolas holding Tilly close to his chest, watching her in awe as she examined every inch of him she could reach. Stolas was so focused on the baby that he didn’t realize Blitzø had passed out asleep on the couch. 

He must be so tired. Stolas frowned, recalling all the sleepless nights he'd spent alone with a screaming Via. 

Still holding Tilly carefully, he lay a blanket over Blitzø. He moved Blitzø’s legs over and sat down on the couch with him, making sure Tilly was still comfortable in his arms. 

Stolas has always considered himself exceptionally good with babies; for some reason they seem to like him and are calmed by his presence. Perhaps babies and small children can sense his magic abilities. 

Clutching a fistful of Stolas’s feathers, Tilly smiled up at him and playfully kicked her feet. After a moment,  Tilly stirred, now laying against Stolas in his lap. Her small head against his chest; Stolas made sure to hold her neck. She was completely quiet, her breath steady and calm. 

She grabbed his hand, running her fingers over his talons. Stolas waved his other hand slowly in front of her face, the purple glow of his magic creating a patch of stars above her. Tilly’s eyes glowed as she watches the sparkles appear right in front of her eyes. 

She slapped her hands together and bursted into giggles, bouncing up and down excitedly as she tried to reach up and touch the stars 

“Shh. We have to be quiet, dear, your father’s sleeping.” Stolas smiled, pointing to a snoring Blitzø beside them. Tilly looked over at him, then back to Stolas. She smiled, giving Stolas grabby hands.

“What is it?” Stolas whispered playfully. A very cute look of distress washed over Tilly’s features. She wobbled a little, her fists clenched. “Eeeee.” Tilly tried to speak. She looked up at Stolas again, making a face.

“Are you hungry?” Stolas reached out his hand and levitated her bottle into his hand. He extended it to Tilly, offering it. 

She clapped her hands together with a loud smack of approval, and downed the bottle. Once she was done, she chucked the bottle behind her and giggled. Stolas smiled at her as she grabbed his hand again. 

Tilly lifted his finger, pointing it towards her stuffy that was on the ground. She then looked up at Stolas and squeaked. “Do you want me to get that for you?” Stolas asked. A purple haze surrounded the stuffy, and then it was brought to Stolas’s hand. 

Tilly giggled again and smiled brightly. “It’s cool, right?” Stolas whispered with a grin. When he first showed Via his magic, she reacted the same. She was so amazed, her eyes were full of the same wonder Tilly’s eyes had.

As the prince looked over at Blitzø, he saw the sleeping imp stir and roll over. Stolas realized that this was his very first time being inside of Blitzø’s apartment. He’d heard about it many times, even seen a couple of photos but had never actually been inside before. 

Several large picture frames lined one wall, all showing photos of the people in Blitzø’s life. Millie and Moxxie, Loona and a couple of old family photos Stolas didn’t recognise. In each photo was a face that was scribbled out with black sharpie. 

The face was Blitzø’s own; Stolas could see bits of his horns poking out from under the vandalism over top. The prince frowned. He would never be able to understand how someone could hate Blitzø so much. Verosika hated him, she despised him. Blitzø also hated himself, and despised himself even more. 

It was something so odd for Stolas, he couldn’t imagine ever hating someone like that. He felt deeply sad for Blitzø. If only the imp could see himself how Stolas saw him.

He sighed. The prince’s stomach gurgled, he had just only now realized it was around dinner time.

Still holding Tilly, Stolas stood and walked into the kitchen. As Blitzø had warned him earlier, the house was indeed a complete and utter mess . Empty boxes of baby formula layed scattered across the counter-top; Tilly’s toys were all over the floor. 

It looked like she had been sleeping in a baby carrier, her blanket was carefully wrapped around it and a small stuffy lay in her place. Stolas was going to have to go with Blitzø and get a proper crib for her. He’d also need some bins for all of Tilly’s toys.

The prince carefully set the baby on the table and held her to make sure she was sat. He then used his magic to slowly lift her into the air and sit her on a small floating cloud of purple. Stolas moved her cloud to his side and made sure she wasn’t too scared up there. 

Tilly was more than happy, her eyes wide in wonder as she slowly floated through the air. Stolas used to do this with his own daughter when he needed to clean the house; she was more than safe in the hands of his magic. 

The baby imp sat in mid air beside Stolas’s head and carefully ran her hands over his feathers. She was still quiet, no longer upset in the slightest. 

Now that Tilly was safely out of the way, Stolas began to pick up the empty boxes and tossed them into the recycling bin. Many stray dishes were placed on the counter, table, and beside the couch. He grabbed them all and piled them into the sink to wash later. 

When Stolas moved away from where Tilly was floating, she made a nervous sound of fear. Stolas picked up her stuffy bunny that was in her carrier, and placed it down beside her on the cloud. “Don’t worry, you’re safe up there I promise.” Stolas hummed to her as he turned back to the table to collect the wrappers and boxes. 

Tilly hugged her bunny and playfully pulled at its ears. Stolas decided to quickly organize Blitzø’s cupboard for him, to make room for all of the extra baby formula. Once Stolas was done with the shelves, they were perfectly organized and neat.

Stolas rinsed a rag and pumped some soap onto it before he used it to wash off the table. A shocking amount of dirt and grime came off of the rag when he was finally done. After a good ten minutes, the counter was finally cleared and washed clean.

He started on the dishes, beginning with washing and rinsing the plates. Stolas was done in a matter of minutes, he was very used to doing dishes for his family. The staff at the palace had always offered to clean the dishes for him, but Stolas felt weird about not just doing them himself. 

“Are you hungry again, Tilly?” Stolas smiled at her as he placed a bowl into the dying rack. Tilly was silent, and began to pet at Stolas’s head feathers again. “No? Alright then."

Tilly giggled and tapped her tail against Stolas’s arm. She seemed content enough, so Stolas decided not to feed her again just yet. 

“I bet your father will be hungry when he wakes up. Should we make him something to eat?” Tilly watched as Stolas opened the fridge. He pulled some ingredients out and laid them neatly on the counter. 

When he flicked on the stove, he was weary of the sound it made. The machine kicked and squealed like an animal as he turned it on. Why hadn’t Blitzø told him he needed a new stove? Stolas could get him one with the wave of his hand. The prince made a mental note to get a new one for him installed. 

Stolas filled up a pot and placed it on the stove. He cut open a pack of spaghetti noodles Blitzø had lying around while he waited for the water to boil. 

As Stolas puttered around the kitchen preparing the meal, he felt a pair of small eyes follow him around. He smiled, making sure to talk to Tilly or let her pass him a tomato every once in a while so she felt included.

One of the first things Stolas learned about babies is how much they desire to feel like they're a part of whatever you’re doing. At least that’s what Stolas first learned about Via. Whether he was reading, watering the plants or making breakfast, Stolas made sure to include her in some way. It always made her smile, made her feel special. 

Stolas opened a portal to a grocery store, reached his hand in and snatched some ground beef. He cooked it to completion and added it into the sauce. 

Stolas and his family usually didn’t eat food of this nature, most of the time they ate rats and rodents cooked in different ways. But Stolas learned how to make common food in the case of one day Via having a friend over, or if Blitzø ever wanted.

The tomatoes, now diced and ready to be put into the sauce, were still on the cutting board. On her small cloud of magic, Tilly pushed the tomatoes off of the board and into the saucepan. She smiled, and Stolas smiled back proudly.

Once the noodles were cooked and mixed with the sauce, he grabbed two plates for Blitzø and himself. Stolas made sure to cook extra to leave some for Loona. 

He used his magic to carefully move and set Tilly down on her playmat on the floor. Stolas gestured to Blitzø as he plated the spaghetti. “Go wake up your father for dinner, dear.” 

Chapter Text

Tilly crawled her way to her father and yanked on his horn. Blitzø shrieked and jolted awake, rolling over to see the baby smiling at him. Tilly fell back on her butt and exploded into laughter, kicking her feet.

“Jesus, kid.” Blitzø grumbled, rubbing his eyes as he slowly sat up. A delicious smell wafted from the kitchen and he looked up to see Stolas dishing out something from a pot. 

The prince, who was way too tall to be inside of the imp’s tiny apartment, let alone cooking in it, began walking over to him with a plate full of spaghetti. 

“Holy shit.” Blitzø crooned as he took the plate from Stolas’s offering hands. The smell was making his mouth water. “Did you… make me dinner?” The imp asked as he tilted his head, confused. 

Stolas nodded casually before he moved to sit on the armchair. He had his own plate full of dinner; he stabbed a fork into the noodles and twisted them around it. “I did. I hope you like it, I haven’t made this recipe in a while.” 

Blitzø shoved a large forkful of burning hot noodles into his mouth and groaned. Blitzø couldn’t remember the last time someone had made him a home cooked meal. 

“You didn’t have to make me dinner.” The imp mumbled as he ate. He was a little annoyed, not at Stolas’s kind gesture but the fact that the prince did it out of his own will made Blitzø feel funny. He didn’t have to make the imp food; he shouldn’t have and was certainly not obligated to. 

“I know.” Stolas said quietly with a smile, which only confused the imp even more. Blitzø decided to wait until later to try and decipher what the hell Stolas was doing with all this, and continued to eat his food. 

After a minute or so in silence, the imp spoke up with a loud groan. “Fuck, Stolas, that was so good .” After no longer than five minutes, Blitzø’s whole plate was cleared clean. The imp was licking his lips as his eyes wandered over to the pot, still full of spaghetti. 

“Would you like some more, dear? I made lots.” Stolas asked, still working on his own plate. “Yeah, that sounds great .” Blitzø said quickly. The prince began to stand, motioning to the imp that he’d take his plate for him. 

Blitzø shook his head and jumped up. “No it’s okay, I’ll get it myself.” He wandered into the kitchen and refilled his plate. 

Tilly was happily seated on her mat, her attention taken by her toys. Just to be safe, Stolas created a small magic boundary around her play area. It was a spell Stolas had used with Via when she was a baby, it served as a harmless boundary, like a crib. 

The imp scooped himself some more spaghetti out of the pot and plopped it onto his plate. “Sorry I kinda passed out there on ya there, Stols, I haven’t slept in fucking forever .” Blitzø said with a sigh.

Tilly was silent; eerily silent and calm as he played. 

“I don’t know what kind of voodoo you’re doing, Stols, because I’ve never seen Tilly this calm. But keep it the fuck up.” Blitzø praised, before he plopped back down on the couch with his now full plate.

Stolas chuckled lightly. “I’m glad I could help.” The prince watched as Blitzø began devouring another plate full. 

“Thank ya, Stols for this...” Blitzø began awkwardly once he was finished. “Like I said, you don’t have to go makin’ me dinner n’ shit.” 

Stolas smiled and tilted his head. “But what if I want to make you dinner?” The prince prodded carefully. Blitzø swallowed and looked back to his plate with a chuckle, unsure of what else to do in reaction.

“Then I guess I’ll have to allow it.” He finally said with a reluctant grin. 

After the two had finished eating, Blitzø did the dishes even though Stolas had insisted on doing them for him. Obviously Blitzø declined the offer, and was now finishing up the dishes on his own. 

The prince sat happily on the floor as he played with Tilly, looking at her toys with her. “Have you gotten her a car seat yet?” Stolas called to Blitzø gently. You’re going to need a crib, too.” The prince said with a smile as Tilly grabbed his hand with a giggle. 

“Yeah, I know.” Blitzø sighed. “I need to go shopping for a bunch a’ shit tomorrow.” He called back to the prince. “I got a list started.” 

Blitzø took a while to finish cleaning, he was exhausted and was dragging it on. After he was done, he prepared to feed Tilly her dinner of more soupy formula. Stolas offered to feed her, Blitzø agreed since he seemed to be so good with her. 

Sure enough, Tilly complied immediately with Stolas feeding her and drank the whole bottle down easily. Once he was done, Stolas placed Tilly back down on her mat and went to the kitchen to wash out the bottle. He lingered in the kitchen, watching Blitzø from afar. 

The sky outside was growing dark signaling the late evening had come. 

The imp stood up and stretched, taking a few stray cups into the kitchen and tossing them in the sink. The kitchen was spotless, the cupboards were Martha Stewart-level organized. 

“Thanks for cleaning up the kitchen, too.” Blitzø said quietly, his gaze fixated on the counter instead of the prince standing beside him. “I was serious earlier, Stolas, you don’t have to do shit for me. I can do it myself—” 

Stolas grinned and playfully put his hand over Blitzø’s mouth, shutting him up. The prince shushed him with a gentle smile. 

“I know you can do everything yourself, Blitz, you’re very capable. Much more capable than I’ll ever be. But I want to help you,” Stolas said calmly and removed his hand. “I want to help you.”

“And you’ll allow it, I’d like to join you in shopping for Tilly tomorrow. I think I could be of help.” Stolas smiled softly, looking down at the imp. His eyes were weary and tired, almost an exact replica of how Blitzø’s own looked. The prince ran his hand across Blitzø’s horns gently and rested his hand between the two as he waited for the imp to respond.

Instinctively, Blitzø shook Stolas’s hand off of him. Stolas’s smile dropped instantly and his hand quickly retreated. He sputtered out, “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked.” He’d forgotten how sensitive Blitzø was to his touch. 

Stolas felt bad, his face contorting into a worried look. “I’m sorry.” He repeated. This was something Stolas wanted to work on, he wanted to be a better listener, that was part of his new goal. He’d had a lot of time alone to think about everything over the past couple of days, and decided that he wanted to do better, that he was going to do better.

When Blitzø had told Stolas he’d wanted to be asked first before engaging in intimate situations, Stolas was going to listen to that. When Via told Stolas she wasn’t having fun or she wanted to leave somewhere for whatever reason, Stolas was going to listen ; that was his new goal. 

Blitzø’s mouth pressed into an awkward smile. “It’s okay,” He mumbled. “This has just been a lot, everything has been a lot recently, I’m very…” The imp’s train of thought trailed off. 

“Overwhelmed? Exhausted?” Stolas asked with a frown. 

“Yeah, that.” Blitzø sighed. His head was starting to hurt and the room around him seemed to spin a little. The imp took a moment to gather himself, Stolas seemed to notice he wasn’t feeling too great and guided him back to the couch. 

The prince sat down beside Blitzø, but far enough away that they’re knees weren’t touching. “I’m sorry. I’m acting weird, aren’t I?” Blitzø asked wearily. Stolas paused, then shook his head quickly.

“No, no… You’re not acting weird at all, Blitz, I actually think you’re handling all of this very well. You’re handling it better than I did when I first had Via.” Stolas said softly, with a smile. 

The imp still wasn’t giving up just yet. “Well I didn’t mean to embarrass you, or anything.” He mumbled nervously, he’d felt guilty for avoiding Stolas’s touch; the prince was just trying to be nice and Blitzø had rejected him. 

“You didn’t embarrass me at all. In fact, please, do tell me if something I do makes you uncomfortable.” Stolas said gently. “I don’t want a repeat of what happened…” The prince thought back to the full moon and his chest suddenly felt heavy. “I want to do better. Please, tell me if I’m doing something you don’t like, okay?” Stolas looked at Blitzø, trying to make eye contact with him. 

Blitzø thought for a moment, before he nodded slowly. He looked down at his hands, still avoiding Stolas’s watchful eyes.

“Okay.” The imp finally said. “Just, give me a heads up before you, ya know. Just give me a heads up.” Blitzø mumbled awkwardly, feeling more vulnerable than he had in a long time, maybe even more so than on the full moon. Because now, Stolas was really listening and the imp could feel it in the way he looked at him. Stolas wanted whatever they had to work, and he was trying to make it happen. 

The prince nodded in return. “Okay.” He said softly. 

A minute went by, the two both sitting beside each other in silence while they watched Tilly play. Blitzø looked over to Stolas, who was looking at Tilly with such awe and wonder. Suddenly the space between the two on the couch felt like it was farther than necessary. Stolas had said he wanted this to work, Stolas wanted it. 

The imp had to hold himself back from sliding closer to him; he had an overwhelming urge to be next to Stolas, to be closer to him. 

That’s weird. The imp thought to himself, still staring at Stolas. Why was he thinking that? He’d never thought anything like that before. 

Stolas’s eyes drifted from Tilly and back to Blitzø, who quickly looked away once their eyes met. “Would you still like me to come shopping with you tomorrow?” Stolas asked.

The imp nodded slowly. “Sure.” He took a shaky breath, trying to snap out of his own thoughts. “I don’t know how in fuck I’m going to be able to afford all of it, though.” Blitzø mumbled to himself, but Stolas heard anyway. Fuck his stupid bird hearing. 

“I could pay for it,” Stolas offered, watching as Blitzø froze in his seat. 

There was no way Blitzø could allow Stolas to do that for him, that was too much. It was overwhelming enough that Stolas agreed to go for lunch with him, and it was just a bonus that he forgave him too. Stolas cooking him dinner and cleaning his house was already way over what Blitzø deserved. Fuck, Stolas even wanting to continue seeing him was already beyond what he deserved. 

It all was too much. The imp’s head began to spin again and the ground suddenly felt like it was shaking. 

Blitzø quickly shook his head and spat out a quick, “No.” 

Stolas started, “Please, Blitz I could—” 

“I already said no.” The imp snapped. Tilly jumped at Blitzø’s tone from where she sat on her mat. “Fuck, I just…” Blitzø watched Tilly, avoiding Stolas’s gaze. “I can’t accept that from you, Stolas. Not in a million years would I ever deserve shit like that from you. Plus I don’t need it, I’m not a fucking charity case.”

“I understand this is hard, but please reconsider it, Blitz.” Stolas’s tone was gentle but firm. It was hard for the prince to see Blitzø degrade himself, put himself down and cave in on his negative thoughts like he so often did. 

In Stolas’s eyes, Blitzø was the one who deserved to have the palace, have all the money and gifts that Stolas had just for being a royal. If it was up to Stolas, he would give him everything he owned and then some because in Stolas’s eyes Blitzø deserved it all.

Blitzø shook his head, he couldn’t comprehend what Stolas was getting at or saying. The words coming out of Stolas’s mouth were beautiful but incomprehensible. “Why would you want to help me?” The imp asked, his voice shaking and on the verge of breaking in two. 

He genuinely couldn’t understand why Stolas would ever want to help him, it’s not like he gained something from doing it. Stolas got absolutely nothing from putting effort into Blitzø’s life, from helping him with all of his baggage. 

“I want to help you because I like you, I like you alot, and I don’t want you to have to do this alone.” Stolas said slowly, his tone relaxing as he took a breath. 

He made it sound as simple as that, but Blitzø was sure it wasn’t. There had to be something Stolas gained from helping him, from treating so kind and gentle like this. Because why else would he do it? It would be completely pointless.

“What do you get out of helping me? What do you gain? I don’t get it.” Blitzø groaned, looking for Stolas’s answer in his expression. 

“It makes me happy when I can help you, I don’t want you to struggle. Before you say it is, I can assure you it is not a ‘kink’ thing, it never has been. I enjoy helping you simply because I do.” Stolas said carefully, thinking about each word before it was said. 

“Yeah, okay, enough with the gay shit. What do you gain from helping me?” The imp repeated, frustrated that he wasn’t getting the answer he wanted. 

Stolas paused as he thought. “I don’t physically gain anything from helping you.”

“Then why the fuck are you doing it?” Blitzø’s voice raised to a shout.

“I want to help you, because I want you to be happy.” Stolas replied, stating his words like they were facts from a textbook.

Blitzø was getting very frustrated, his voice was full of pure anger when he spoke again. “Why would you care about that?”

“Because I like you.” Stolas repeated, just as calm as he was before. He didn’t seem taken aback at how Blitzø was reacting at all, in fact he was being as patient as he could with him. It only bewildered poor Blitzø even more. 

“I know that it’s hard for you to understand, I wish it wasn’t. I like you, and I want to help you, and that’s it .” Stolas said with a small smile. Blitzø remained silent as stared at the floor; he was deep in thought as he debated what to say next.

“You don’t need to respond, Blitz. I know it’s a lot and I’m sorry it is. But let me help you tomorrow, yes?” Stolas asked quietly.

After a minute, Blitzø nodded slowly. “Okay.” He leaned his head back against the couch and tried to relax. “Okay.” The imp repeated. “Thank you.”

Stolas smiled. “Of course.”

Blitzø sat up and squirmed, while he stretched his back out. He took a couple minutes to shake off the emotions and in less than five he was ready to return to his usual demeanor. 

“Fuck I am pooped .” The imp groaned as he rubbed at his eyes. He yawned, stretching himself out like a cat.  

Stolas accepted Blitzø’s words to be a silent signal that the imp was done with the serious conversations for now. The prince was more than happy to move on, and grinned as he watched the imp lay down beside him. 

“Do you wanna stay for longer? We could watch a movie. Tilly seems pretty tired too, I’m sure she’ll go down long enough for one.” Blitzø asked, his usual nonchalant tone returning in place of his nervous one. 

“That sounds wonderful.” Stolas responded, watching Blitzø slowly lift up a very sleepy Tilly and lay her down on her small mattress beside the couch. With a wave of his hand Stolas put back the magic boundary around where her bed was.

“What does that do?” Blitzø asked calmly. He wasn’t nervous in the slightest, he trusted Stolas completely with Tilly. 

“It’s a harmless spell, I used to use it with Octavia when she was a baby. It’s just a boundary; so if she tries to leave it’ll stop her.” Stolas answered. “You can turn it off anytime by just tapping that button on it.”

Blitzø nodded. “Cool.”

The imp laid down on the couch and stretched his legs to rest on Stolas’s lap. The prince was surprised, but he chuckled cooly and shifted so Blitzø’s legs could rest better over himself. 

This was new.

Blitzø picked out The Never Ending Story to watch and pressed play as he shoved a pillow behind his head. He offered a blanket to Stolas, which the prince gratefully accepted. “If I start crying don’t you dare make fun of me, there’s this one scene where Artax the horse—”

The imp launched into a graphic description of some horse in the movie dying or something while Stolas tried his best to follow along. 

  He was overjoyed that Blitzø had worked through their conversation and that the imp was now feeling better about it; he hadn’t left part way through out of fear this time, he’d stayed with Stolas through it. It was definitely something Stolas noticed, and was proud that the imp trusted him enough to stay. 

Stolas was beyond giddy that Blitzø had so casually laid across him like he was doing. Maybe Blitzø didn’t know, but this was the very first time he’d ever initiated contact with Stolas like this. 

The movie played, and by the end of it Blitzø was definitely NOT crying. It was a sad character death, okay, fuck all the way off, a man’s allowed to cry. Stolas pretended not to notice and yawned, stretching out his arms when the movie finally ended. Blitzø regained his composure soon after and yawned too. 

Once the imp had shut off the TV, Stolas took the time as an opportunity to check up on him. “How are you feeling? About everything we talked about today?” Stolas asked gently, not wanting to make Blitzø upset again by rushing him back into the earlier conversation.

Blitzø took a second before he answered with a quick, “Fine. You?” 

Stolas smiled, “I’m good.” was all he replied back. Blitzø was grateful that he didn’t try to push any further with the conversation and was happy that Stolas was content with where things were currently at.

The sky was now black with the night, and scars were strewn across it. It was late; far past ten and Stolas’s eyes were aching. Blitzø sat up, releasing Stolas from underneath the weight of his legs. The prince stood and stretched himself out.

“I should head home, I’m nearly about to pass out.” Stolas chuckled with a smile. “Thank you for inviting me over, Blitz. I enjoyed seeing you again.”

“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow?” Blitzø asked and Stolas nodded. “Yes of course. Text me in the morning.” Stolas said with a smile. He opened a portal that led into the hallway of his palace, but before stepping through he turned back to the imp.

“Goodnight, Blitz.” Stolas bid him. 

Blitzø gave him a small smile. “Yeah…Okay. Bye.” The imp watched as Stolas stepped through the portal, and closed it behind himself. 

Sighing, Blitzø kicked his feet back up on the couch and fully laid down. He looked over at Tilly, who had awoken when Stolas had left. To Blitzø’s relief, she remained calm and stared back up at him with curious eyes. 

The feeling in Blitzø’s chest was unknown to him, he felt nervous but also…relaxed? Happy? Content? He wasn’t sure the feeling, but he knew it felt really fucking good. 

Chapter Text

Blitzø had stayed awake with Tilly until his eyes couldn’t take it anymore. 

Before he’d dozed off, he’d made sure that Stolas’s magic boundary thingy would remain in place and that Tilly was safe and secure inside of it.  A couple hours spent worrying and a few phone calls to Stolas later, Blitzø finally allowed himself to fall sleep knowing Tilly would be perfectly fine.

The imp had slept for longer than he had in a long time, but it was still not nearly enough for him to function properly. 

Tilly sobbed in Blitzø’s arms. Her small head rested on his shoulder as she pouted, her arms lazily flopped down to her sides. She’d woken up extra early at 5:30 in the morning; a perfect little screaming, crying gift for Blitzø. It was now seven, and she hadn’t let up her pouting once.

Tilly had missed the owl, she didn’t like him leaving at all. Something about him was interesting to her, or maybe it was how he looked she found so fascinating.

“Shhhh…” Blitzø mumbled over and over again, whining like a beat up puppy. He rubbed her back in slow circles in an attempt to soothe her while she slobbered tears and snot all over his pajama shirt. 

“How about we play, hmm?” The imp offered pathetically with his eyes half open; he was so fucking tired. He slouched on the couch, trying his best to hold Tilly carefully against him.

“We could play a game,” The imp began, his eyes now fully closed. “…A game called You Stop Crying, and then I Get to Have a Nap. Doesn’t that sound fun, Tilly?” Blitzø cracked open one eye and shot her a toothy grin.

Tilly gave him one disapproving look before exploding into loud wails. Blitzø whined again, rubbing her back and mumbling hushes to her. “Please, Tilly, please, honey—-shhhhh. Shhhh.” The baby sobbed as her snot bubbles smudged all over Blitzø. 

The imp only whined louder in response, too tired to do anything else about it. “Please, baby. You’re okay…Shhhh…”

The door to Loona’s bedroom cracked open as the hellhound stepped out. She had come home not too late last night, she had said she hadn't had a good time and would have rathered to be at home. 

She hobbled her way into the kitchen and filled up a glass of water. Dark circles had formed under her eyes and she looked not far from a zombie. Blitzø felt guilt and concern creep up his back.

“I’m so sorry, Loonie, I’m trying to get her to be quiet, I swear…” The imp pleaded, his half lidded eyes full of worry as he looked to his eldest daughter.

Loona shook her head, lazily holding her hand out to shut up her father. It was too early for his pity BS. She downed the glass and filled it up again before wobbling her way over to join Blitzø and Tilly in the living room. 

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Loona grumbled, annoyed, her morning crankiness showing itself once again as it did every morning. That crankiness depleted once her glance landed on the sad little baby in her father’s arms. The only thing Loona felt then was admiration with a pang of sleep deprivation, but that could be ignored for now.

Tilly lay limp against Blitzø like a wet noodle, her body mirroring her pouty attitude. Her bottom lip was stuck out, and her eyes were full of tears. Yeah, her screaming was fucking annoying, but her cute little face made up for most of it.  

Blitzø’s voice cracked as he tried to speak. “Did you get much sleep…?” He asked the hellhound. Loona nodded slowly, her eyes closed as she curled up on the recliner. 

“Better than the night before.” She mumbled. “Yeah, me too.” Blitzø hummed back as Tilly’s sobs thankfully started quieting down; she must be tired of screaming.  

A moment passed, the two adults feeling more tired than they’d ever felt before. Even talking felt like an excruciating amount of effort.

“So you’re talking to Stolas, again, huh?” Loona mumbled with a smirk, her head in her hands and her eyes lidded. “That was a quick fight you two had.”

“Yeah, really. I wasn’t expecting him to take me back so quickly.” Blitzø said quietly. “He even said he’s willing to help us with Tilly.”

Loona shook her head slowly, grinning from ear to ear. “You should be fucking counting your lucky stars, Blitz.” She chuckled, lazily moving to lift her glass to her lips.

“I know. I am.” Blitzø stated with a sigh as he closed his eyes again. He was serious; he was in fact thanking every god or demon out there for making this all happen, and so fast. And so easily too, it’s almost like the universe was giving him a goddamn present wrapped in a big bow.

Can't be this good for  very much longer.

“So what are you guys, then? Are you dating?” Loona questioned with an eyebrow raised. Blitzø would have strongly preferred her  not t o have asked that question; he was highly unprepared for it. The imp stuttered, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as he struggled to find an answer. 

“No..we’re just on better terms now.” Blitzø said stumbled out. “Look, Loonie it’s way too early for th—”

“But you said he told you that he liked you.” Loona interrupted as she pushed, she was curious and had been for some time now about the two. It seemed like the perfect moment to finally get an answer out of Blitzø since the imp was too exhausted to fight back or refuse as he usually was. 

Blitzø mumbled, trying to sound casual but he didn't fool Loona one bit. “Yeah, he did. So what?” 

“And you like him, too, right?” Loona added with another smirk. Blitzø slammed his horns back against the wall and groaned loudly. Tilly watched him, drool spilling down her chin and tears still steadily streaming down her cheeks. 

“Can we please not have this conversation right now?” The imp whined out, rubbing his eyes with one hand. “I’m running on three and a half hours of sleep and four red bulls, please don’t do this.” He pleaded, his cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

Loona’s smirk widened, as did her eyes. She’d never seen her father acting like this, acting like he had feelings. “I knew you liked him. You’re a shitty liar, Blitz.” 

“Seriously Loonie, stop .” Blitzø begged, praying she’d drop the conversation. That same itchy feeling he’d felt the day before when meeting Stolas was coming back, climbing up his throat and making his hands feel jittery. His face burned a dark scarlet red.

Loona raised her hands defensively. “Alright, alright.” She had then decided the information she had gotten out of him was good enough for now, she could sneak the rest out of him later.

Tilly had let up her screaming and began to calm down, thank Satan . She was still cutely frustrated though, and demanded to be fed again by slapping her tail harshly against the floor. Her small hands balled into fists and her nose scrunched up in anger; it was undeniably adorable. 

With a deep sigh and a grunt of pain, Blitzø carried Tilly to the kitchen to grab her bottle out of the fridge. When they returned to the couch, Tilly eagerly drank down her formula; finally quiet and content for the moment. 

“When are you going to get a crib and stuff? Like go shopping?” Loona asked, starting to evolve out a zombie and into a functional person again. She was gaining focus and sat up, her eyes no longer lidded. 

“I’m going today with Stolas,” The imp began slowly, ignoring Loona’s smirk that returned yet again. “I’ve started a list of what I need to get, it’s on the fridge.” 

Loona stood up and grabbed a paper and pen, taking the list off of the fridge. If Blitzø was going to do this raising a baby thing, Loona was going to make sure he was doing it right. Tilly was her sister now, she was family. Loona was going to make sure they had everything they needed to give her the best life they could. 

Loona jumped back down into the chair with the papers all strewn out, ready to get her head in the game. As for her father…Well, he was still waking up as he frog-blinked at his eldest daughter, his brain already at maximum capacity for the day and it wasn't even eight am. 

The hellhound looked over Blitzø’s list: a crib, litle air jordans (bc cute) an a hornse.  That was  all that was scribbled down on the paper. 

“The horse is for when we get a big house one day, Tilly’s gonna need a horse.” Blitzø added confidently. Loona raised an eyebrow, but decided not to jump down the rabbit hole with her father of why a baby would need a horse. 

“Okay, well, this is a start..” The hellhound tried to sound positive as she crumpled up the old list and threw it behind her. The imp’s face fell; he’d worked real hard on that list, he’d even looked up how to spell jordans right. 

“But we can start a new one.” She said on a lighter note. 

Blitzø sighed, his arm getting sore from holding the bottle for Tilly. He was unbelievably overwhelmed, and needed a couple more hours before he could begin all this serious-business stuff. “Can we do that in a bit,” The imp whined for what felt like the thousandth time this morning. 

“No, we’re doing it now. You’ll be going with Stolas in a bit ,” Blitzø’s daughter decided for him in a firm tone that the imp was too lazy to argue with. 

Loona began neatly writing down all of the most important things they’d need. “Oh yeah, n' Stols said that you ‘n Tills can go to his place while we’re out. ‘Said he has a bunch of food he prepared for ya, ‘n space for Tilly.”

Loona’s eyebrows furrowed.

“He’s got all th’ good TV channels, and he said he made ya cookies. He’s tryna be nice, Loonie, please just stay at his house while we’re out.” Blitzø pleaded with her. 

The imp gave her a hopeful smile. “Come on, you’ll love it over there he’s got all the fuckin’ snacks you could imagine, trust me. It’ll be good to get out of the house with Tilly, too. And Tilly LOVES Stolas, so she’ll probably be calm at his house.” 

The hellhound paused as she considered, then slowly nodded her head. It would be good for Tilly to have a change of scenery, and who was Loona to turn down free food? 

“Is Octavia going to be home, too?” Loona asked, hoping for the answer to be a yes. She’d actually missed the princess and had been meaning to check in on her, but just hadn’t gotten around to shooting her a text. 

Blitzø shook his head, “She’s with her cunt of a mother for a while.” Damn, maybe next time, Loona thought to herself. She would enjoy seeing Octavia again, perhaps they could hangout when she got back. 

“Alright. Well let’s get on with this list, then.” Loona began, her tone dead serious.

After a half an hour, Loona and Blitzø had come up with a viable shopping list containing the most important items, as well as some fun ones to Blitzø’s requests. 

The list was long; it was likely going to take the imp and the prince all day. Luckily for Loona, Stolas had quickly made her a lasagna the night before and freezed it, just in the case where they’d be out past dinner and Loona got hungry. Sweet.

But in reality, it would be near impossible for anyone to go hungry at Stolas’s, the palace was definitely a snack household rather than an ingredient one, and Blitzø was always grateful for that.

Once the list was ready and ten in the morning rolled around, Blitzø began preparing himself for the chaos and rushing around town the day would bring.

Chapter Text

“Okay, so I have the list, Loonie do you have everything for Tilly?” 

Loona nodded, grabbing the bags she and her father had packed. “Yep.”

“Here-I can help you with those,” Stolas offered, reaching down to relieve Loona of some of her bags. The prince took them and stepped back through the portal to place them down in his living room.

Everything was almost ready for the day. Stolas had been ready bright and early when Blitzø had called in the morning, instruction him to come over at eleven.

To Blitzø’s suggestion, the two were going to take the van instead of simply teleporting into the city. Blitzø had ranted about how it would be better because they didn't want to draw too much attention to themselves and blah blah blah. Teleporting from store to store and mall to mall meant less time together for just the two of them. 

Once Loona with Tilly, Blitzø and Stolas stepped through the portal, the prince shut it and began wandering the palace. 

"..so this is the bathroom, and here is the third kitchen, but you can use the first one; it's the main one." Said Stolas, pointing out rooms to the three following behind him. 

"I bought a bunch of food, just in case of, well, I don't know. But you can have it..." Stolas opened the cupboards and fridge, explaining to Loona all the things he'd boughten for her. 

The night before after Stolas had left Blitzø’s apartment, he’d gone to the grocery store and bought nearly everything there. Yes, he bought it, he did NOT steal it. Stealing was only for one-items only. He'd boughten candy, drinks, chips, chocolate, a whole cooked turkey, a whole cooked chicken, bread, fruit, a flat of Coke, he'd boughten enough food to feed a whole town. He wanted Loona to be comfortable while they were out.

Stolas had shown Loona the main living room and how to work the TV, he’d also shown her how to put up Tilly’s magic crib thing and explained how to remove the spell if needed. 

“And if you ever need to contact me or Blitz, you can just call one of us. If it’s an emergency, you can immediately summon me with this…” Stolas explained to Loona how to access him quicker in case of an emergency. He gave her a small pendant with his demon seal on it, and described how she could use it to summon him. 

The whole time this was all going on, Blitzø had followed them around the palace with wide eyes. He was amazed, to say the least, at how efficient Stolas was with all of this. If it weren’t for him, Blitzø was sure he wouldn’t have been able to come this far, organize everything. 

It was only when they had returned to the living room that Blitzø noticed Stolas’s outfit. The prince yet again was not wearing one of his usual overly fancy outfits but he was wearing much more casual crewneck and dark pleated pants that fit him perfectly. 

“Alright, do you have any questions, Loona?” Asked Stolas with a smile once they’d toured the palace to its extent. 

Loona shook her head slowly. No wonder her father was always over at his house, the guy’s mansion was insane. The place was antiquely decorated and lit with an intricate purple glow. The palace emanated the great power and wealth that Loona had completely forgotten Stolas had. 

“No, I think I've got it. Thanks.” Loona said slowly, her eyes wandering around the beautiful room. It was funny, everything was the exact opposite of her father’s aesthetic yet the two enjoyed each other.

“Of course,” Stolas added with a smile. He turned back to Blitzø, who was in the same state of awe as his daughter was. 

Stolas raised an eyebrow at the imp, trying to read his expression. “I think we’re ready to go..?” Asked the prince softly.

Blitzø snapped out of his daze and nodded. “Yeah. Ready.” The imp mumbled with a small smile. 

Stolas and Blitzø bid Loona and Tilly goodbye before stepping through the portal once again back to the apartment. Once there, the two readied themselves with their list and bags and began the walk down to the van. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to portal there? It would be much faster.” Offered Stolas with a smile as the two approached the vehicle. 

That small little sentence was enough to send the imp into a sinkhole of doubt. Fuck, Stolas didn’t want to spend time with him, did he? What was he thinking? He was right, it’d be much faster if the two just portaled. 

“I mean, yeah, I guess. If you want to.” Mumbled Blitzø, trying to look nonchalant and bored. 

Stolas shook his head. Thankfully he had quickly caught on to Blitzø’s quick shift mood, and understood what he’d said could have been taken the wrong way.

“No, no. I’d love to drive with you, I was just wondering which option you had preferred. I’m happy to drive with you.” The prince said quickly, watching the imp with careful eyes. 

“Because ya know, we don’t have to drive—” The imp began, his eyes wandering to the ground. Stolas shook his head again and opened the passenger door and hopped in, interrupting Blitzø’s train of thoughts. Stolas ignored the fact that he had to hunch over to fit in the van, and shut the door behind him. 

The imp grinned slowly, and joined Stolas in the van. “Alright then.” Blitzø chuckled as he swung his own door closed. He started the van with a kick and pulled out of the apartment’s parking lot. 

“So me ‘n Loonie made a list of what to get,” Blitzø began, cranking up the radio and rolling the windows down. The imp stretched one arm to reach the back seat, and revealed a piece of paper containing a very long list. 

“Read it, ‘n tell me if there’s anything I need ‘ta add.” The imp said as he turned onto the main highway, now headed in the direction for the city. 

Stolas nodded as he began to read over the list. Blitzø had organized the list into things they absolutely needed like a crib and a highchair, and others that were just 'wants' like more toys and for her as well as a cute pair of shoes. Baby Jordans for the win. 

The prince was impressed as he finished reading the last items on the list. It was evident that Blitzø was really putting effort into this, and that this was really important to him. It was admirable. 

“This is great,” said Stolas. “I think you’ve got everything on here.” 

The imp nodded as he turned onto a road. The events from the night before lingered in Blitzø’s mind as he remained silent. Could he really allow Stolas to pay for it all? Did Stolas even want to do that anymore?

“Uh, about last night, I can pay for most of the stuff, you don’t have to uh, pay for it.” Blitzø said nervously, as he gripped the steering wheel, wanting to get the conversation out of the way as soon as possible. 

In his heart, Stolas sighed but on his face he only smiled softly. He’d wanted to pay, he’d wanted to help Blitzø but if he didn’t want that then he’d have to respect that. He’d have to listen to that. 

“Okay. But just, if you change your mind, I’m more than happy to help.” Stolas said softly. The imp nodded in response. 

The two drove in silence, apart from the steady hum of the radio. It wasn’t awkward; they were just taking time to prepare for what was to come. Blitzø was grateful Stolas didn’t press another conversation on. 

Once the Imp City Mall was in sight, Blitzø raced to find a parking spot. Even though it was still early in the morning, a surprising amount of people were already shopping. The imp found a spot and put the van in park, turning to Stolas.

“You ready?” He said, checking up on the prince. Stolas nodded, “Yep. Just uh, be prepared for the staring.” The prince added nervously with a chuckle. “I don’t usually go out in public and you’ll see why.” 

Blitzø opened the van door. “Don’t worry I’ll kill ‘em if they try anything.” He said as he hopped out and grabbed the bags he’d broughten as well as the list. 

Stolas laughed. “I’m sure you would.” He responded with a grin. 

Lucky for the two, the Imp’s-R-Us wasn’t busy at all. It was only a couple workers inside, who all stared open-mouthed at Stolas like some kind of freaks. It was upsetting for Blitzø, but he chose to ignore it for now, not wanting to make a scene quite yet.

The pair found the baby section, and Blitzø was even more overwhelmed than when he’d shopped for baby formula. Thousands of different brands and options for everything to do with babies lined the shelves and filled the walkways. Blitzø gulped. 

“Okay, so we need a crib first. That’s the most important thing right now.” said the imp, walking past the hundreds of large boxes. Stolas’s eyes wandered over the selection; he was much more calm than Blitzø was. 

“Oh this one is so cute…” crooned Stolas with a smile, running the tips of his talons along a light blue crib that was lined with yellow stars. The crib was so him, it reminded Blitzø of Stolas.

“Okay we’ll get that one.” Blitzø said quickly ignoring the pricetag, and already looking for the box that contained that specific one. He found it; the box was massive and super fucking heavy. Stolas offered to carry it, and Blitzø reluctantly compiled. 

“I’ll check it off th’ list..” The imp mumbled as he scribbled out where he’d written 'crib'. “Now we need a highchair.” Said Blitzø, already wandering off down the next aisle. Stolas casually followed behind as he looked over the selection. 

There were several different highchairs, wooden ones, plastic ones, fancy ones, ugly ones. Blitzø walked past, searching for one that looked sturdy enough. 

“How about this one?” Blitzø asked Stolas as his eyes landed on a purple highchair with wooden legs. It looked nice, maybe a little too nice.

Stolas examined it, before turning to the imp. “It looks good, you like it?” He asked. Blitzø nodded quickly. 

The prince began searching the shelves for the box. He shook his head and frowned. “I don’t think they have any in stock.”

Blitzø began to wander off again, his eyes scanning for a new one. He landed upon a hard plastic one, this one was dark blue and much cuter than the last one. “Try this one.” Blitzø said to Stolas. The prince began searching for it in the shelves above, and sure enough found one. 

“Niiiice.” Said Blitzø as he put the box under his arm.

The two wandered along together, grabbing boxes and items as they went. They checked lots of things off of their list, but the rest they couldn't find at the current store. Content with all of the things they’d found, Stolas and Blitzø headed to the register. 

When Stolas began placing the boxes down on in front of the cashier, the worker looked up at Stolas, mouth hanging open. The worker’s face twisted into a dark grin as he looked between Stolas and Blitzø.

The worker chuckled, eyes narrowed. “Moved on quickly from the divorce, huh?” He taunted to Stolas. 

Blitzø growled, and nearly jumped at the guy before Stolas stopped him. The imp looked to the prince, confused why he’d declined him. Stolas just shook his head at Blitzø and continued placing the items down. 

Blitzø hesitated, but eventually did the same and slowly placed a box down. 

“Did you divorce her for him?” mumbled the worker. “I’d heard you cheated on the poor woman, it was with him, wasn’t it? You two startin’ a new family now? You leavin' that daughter of yours?”

Blitzø sprung at the guy, throwing him back against the counter and pinning his head down against the wall. The imp held the tip of his blade to the guy’s cheek, just brushing the skin. 

The imp grinned, “Not so talkative now, hmm?”

Stolas sighed, standing there awkwardly and picking at his fingers. “Blitz, please get off of him.” 

The worker groaned as Blitzø slammed his head against the counter, pinning him harshly against it. A couple of workers around them froze, all staring. “I think that's good enough, darling.” Stolas pleaded with a nervous chuckle, eyes wide. 

“Why? He could use it. Talking like that, he was basically asking for it.” The imp didn’t let up, the worker underneath his grip whined apologies, trying to surrender. 

“Blitz.” Stolas said firmly. Blitzø looked up at Stolas and slowly retreated from the worker. Eyeing the guy, Blitzø slid his knife back into his pocket and stood beside Stolas again. 

Stolas chuckled nervously, waving his hands defensively as he called to the surrounding workers, “Sorry about that, haha. Don’t worry, he’s..fine.” The prince said, his words stumbling out of his mouth. 

Stolas made a pissy face at the imp, before moving to pull out his wallet. 

“Y-you could just keep it, don’t worry about paying, Your Highness–” The worker said quickly. He was already backing up slowly; he’d nearly shat his pants from fear. 

The prince raised his hand in protest. “No, I insist. Apologies for that mishap.” As Stolas said the last word he shot Blitzø another look of disapproval. 

With the tap of his card, the items were paid for. Blitzø had no time to refuse Stolas's offer to pay, he was too invested in making this worker guy feel unsafe for the next several months of his life. Maybe the imp could find out where he lived. He wondered if his manager would give it to him...

Once the two had left the store with bags full of purchases, Stolas narrowed his eyes at Blitzø. “You can’t just do that, not in a store.” He said, angrily. 

The imp scoffed. “Did you not hear what he was saying?” Blitzø nearly shouted, shocked that Stolas was mad at him. “He fuckin’ deserved it!” 

“Blitz, I know you were trying to do the right thing but just please, listen to me. Things like that happen all the time, all of hell knows who I am, there are bound to be people who don’t like me, it’s just how it goes.” Stolas said, regaining some calm to his voice. 

“Yeah but that doesn’t mean, they should say shit like that, it's not like you did anything.” Said Blitzø. How could anyone hate Stolas like that? The imp couldn’t understand.

“I know they shouldn’t, but they do and it just is what it is. But just next time, please, take a breath before you go beating up workers at a children's store, okay?” Stolas said with a small smile. He was no longer angry, he couldn’t be. Whatever that guy in the store had said meant absolutely nothing to Stolas, in fact it didn’t affect him at all. 

Blitzø was the father of two now, he couldn’t just beat up anyone he deemed beat-up-able. But it was a little hot that he tried, at least in Stolas’s mind it was. Just a little. 

The imp sighed, the anger that had boiled in his chest was now simmering and cooling. “Fine. Okay.” He pushed out, even though it went against literally everything he believed. But if Stolas wanted it, then fine. Whatever. 

“Now that that’s all out of the way, where are we headed next?” Stolas asked with a grin.

Chapter Text

The two had been walking through the mall for almost an hour now, stopping at baby stores as well as other random ones because they’d gotten sidetracked. 

Blitzø now had a crib, highchair, plastic baby plates and cups, as well as a large milkshake and a rainbow lava lamp that had a horse on it. The horse was like a green alien horse, it was too fucking cool not to buy it, you can’t blame him. 

Now they were headed back to the van to set out for the next mall over. They’d sorted through the rest of the current mall's baby shops and children's stores, which were very few unfortunately, and had decided it was time to move on. 

The imp chucked all the boxes into the backseat, and Stolas helped him pack it all in. “Okay, so at the next place we need clothes for her, more diapers, a changing table aaaand…” Blitzø paused, reading over the list. “Aaaaand a fuck ton of other things. This is gonna take all day.” He groaned, hopping in the driver’s seat. 

Stolas climbed in on the opposite side, pulling up his phone for directions. “We could get the diapers at the grocery store on the way back.” The prince suggested as he typed the location of the next mall into his phone’s GPS. 

Blitzø nodded, pulling out of the parking lot. “Yeah that sounds good. I also need to pick up a couple groceries when we’re there, so that should work out great.” 

“Fuck this is a lot." moaned the imp.  Before all this, he hadn’t bothered to grocery shop too often; he’d just buy shit from fast food joints and gas stations. Now he had a whole list and everything, of soft foods Tilly would begin to eat and items for her like wipes and diapers. 

He’d forgotten how overwhelmed he was, he was too focused on shopping and had forgotten up until now. “I know.” Stolas said, taking a slow breath of his own. The prince was still in disbelief himself over everything that was happening; he couldn’t imagine what Blitzø was going through. 

“You’re handling this so well.” Stolas mumbled quietly, not wanting to make the imp uncomfortable yet again with his words. If it was up to him, Stolas would ramble on for hours about how much he admired Blitzø for taking this baby in and caring for it, and choosing to raise it. He was in awe at the imp, he hadn’t realized just how loyal and soft Blitzø really was. 

It was becoming clearer and clearer now, everything that he and Blitzø had gone through and why the imp had acted the way he did. It made more sense now, Stolas could understand it better. But this, this was a child Blitzø had chosen to help, it was truly commendable that he was agreeing to take the task on. It showed Stolas a new side of Blitzø that he had only glimpsed of before. 

Seeing the imp with the baby, seeing how devoted he was to her was truly amazing. Stolas was so grateful that he was now starting to see Blitzø like this, like who he really was inside this whole time. It was like seeing him in the flesh, spread open and beating heart revealed only to him; Stolas was in awe . 

Blitzø sighed, his fingers squeezing and then loosening on the steering wheel. He would need a minute before he’d be able to talk again, so he drove quietly listening to the radio as he went. 

When the turn for the mall was coming up, Stolas directed Blitzø to take the turn off of the highway. He complied, turning at the road and could now see the new mall in sight up ahead. 

“I looked it up, this mall has three potentially good baby stores—I’ll show you where to park so we’re the closest to them..” Stolas said, his eyes flicking from the map on his phone to the mall infront of him. 

Blitzø had somehow figured out how to calm himself down, just a bit, and was now ready for the next mission with the image of Tilly floating in his mind. This was all for her , his own problems were currently meaningless until he could figure everything out for her.

The thought gave the imp a new sense of determination, and he parked the van where Stolas had directed him to. 

Once the pair entered the store, they set off for more supplies. Blitzø had done much better than he had at the previous mall; he’d only bought a total of two unnecessary things. They’d checked off more major items they had needed, and returned once again back to the van. 

The backseat was near full, stacks and piles of bags and boxes were shoved back there. There was still more things they hadn’t gotten yet, though. 

“Ughhhh.” Blitzø let out a long groan. A headache was beginning to form and he was quickly getting tired of all of this shopping and bright store lights. It was messing with him, not to mention all of the totally inappropriate stares shot at the two. 

But those fuckheads weren’t the probelm, they weren’t the focus, Tilly was the focus. 

“How about we take a break, hmm?” Stolas suggested. He could clearly tell the imp was getting close to crashing out and wanted to save him from depleting. He was doing so well, it would be sad to see it all fall now. 

“Maybe lunch?” Stolas asked. 

“I guess. No more fancy places, though. I’m sick of that bullshit.” Blitzø mumbled as he slouched in the seat and crossed his arms. His stomach gurgled and his mouth felt drier than an old woman’s puss.

“Sure! Hah, wherever you’d like to go–of course.” Stolas rambled, his heart beginning to pump faster in his chest. His shirt suddenly felt too tight.  

He was boring Blitzø already, wasn’t he? 

Blitzø cracked a confused glance at Stolas, before starting up the van. The two drove in silence; Blitzø seemed to have decided on a place and was already headed there. 

What should he say? 

Stolas wondered frantically. Was he really boring Blitzø? The prince’s mind raced, he sorted through the past couple of hours they’d spent together trying to find where he went wrong. Was Blitzø upset? Upset at him? Did he do something? 

“I, uh. Heh. Um, am I bothering you?” Stolas spat out quickly.

Blitzø’s head slowly turned to look at Stolas. “ What the fuck ?” The imp said with a chuckle, his frown turning up into a grin. 

Sweat began to clam up Stolas’s hands. “Sorry?” He said, his voice fragile. 

“What do you mean, am I bothering you ?” Blitzø said, his eyes narrowing and the grin still shown on his face. 

Stolas swallowed and looked down at his hands briefly. “Well, am I?” He asked. 

“Fuck, no, you’re not bothering me.” Blitzø grinned, chuckling. Why would Stolas even ask such a crazy question? “But if it helps ya, I’ll let you know if you are.”

“Are you sure?” said Stolas, his confidence faltering and crackling like a fragile leaf. “I want you to tell me if I’m annoying you in any way.” 

Still grinning, the imp nodded. “Okay birdbrain, I’ll let you know if you’re bothering me.” Stolas slowly smiled in response, he felt much more at ease at the imp's words. Blitzø wasn’t currently annoyed with him, that was a start.

“I don’t know if you know ‘r whatever, but it’s gonna be different now, with Tilly and everything. We can’t do all the crazy shit we did before, at least not for a little while.” Blitzø paused, contemplating. “I have to focus on Tilly, and that’s great if ya wanna help, but I can’t guarantee I can… I don’t know, give you me being fully present or whatever with ya all th’ time anymore.” 

Stolas nodded quickly, his hands folded neatly in his lap. “I understand.” answered the prince. 

“Y’ sure?” Blitzø said quietly as he grasped the steering wheel. 

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m trying to work on things, I’m still learning; hopefully I can stop being so clingy, haha.” The prince chuckled nervously, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. “But if it’s alright with you, I’d love to just come along for the ride and of course help you when I can.” 

The imp swallowed, practicing his slow breathing once again. His legs resting on the petals were feeling jittery again and it was making him feel itchy all over. 

Tilly. Think about Tilly, she needs you, you can’t fail it now. 

Blitzø sighed, avoiding eye contact with Stolas. “I’m hoping that…” Stolas began slowly, carefully watching for the imp’s reaction. “I was hoping that we could, you know, be more open with each other? I think we weren’t before, and that was what was really hard...Just let me know how you’re feeling, or if you need to stop the conversation because it’s too much, just let me know.” Stolas said. 

Drive him home, it’s not like this is going to work.  “Kay, I need this conversation to stop now.” The imp grinded his teeth, stretching out his back. His headache began to pound steadily through his ears and behind his eyes, leaving him feeling drained after every pump. Stolas’s words had begun to all sound like mush; words Blitzø’s head wouldn’t let him process. 

“Okay.” Was all that Stolas said, before turning to look back out the window. Blitzø’s whole body sighed, the weight and power in his legs returned. His vision cleared and a layer of the fog inside his head was swept away. 

Blitzø quickly looked over at Stolas. “Thanks.” 

The prince gave him a small smile and a nod in return, having completely dropped the subject all together. Stolas sighed as well, a weight of his own had been lifted off of his back. Clear and directness was what attracted Stolas, was what he wanted. So when Blitzø was clear about how he felt, that felt like a language Stolas could understand. 

After a long drive in silence, they arrived at a small, mediocre dinner that most likely served mediocre food as well. The two ate together and had small talk, to which Blitzø was relieved to have. They discussed the rest of the list, Via’s new odd hobby of taxidermy and much more simpler topics that the one they discussed in the car. 

They ate shitty food and drank shitty pop, and after, returned back to the van with full stomachs. “Fuuuuuck I’m gonna shit myself.” Blitzø burped, holding his stomach like a baby was in there. “Why did you let me drink that milkshake—you shoulda stopped me.” The imp gagged, struggling to start the car. 

Stolas laughed as he buckled up his seatbelt. “But you were enjoying it! I didn’t want to ruin your fun.” 

Blitzø groaned and shook his head. “Next time, you better fuckin’ stop me.” 

The prince giggled, watching the imp beside him. Next time . There’d be a next time. 

The pair, in a much happier mood drove onto the next mall and shopped until Blitzø literally dropped, right in the middle of the mall. Stolas wished this was a joke; he had to carry the imp and the bags all the way back to the van. 

He opened the van door and gently placed Blitzø on the seat. The imp slumped over, his eyes closing as he tried to sit up. They’d had a good three and a half hour shopping session, and the imp was ready to pass right the fuck out. 

“Stoluuussss. Can you drive, I’m so sleeeepyyyuhh.” Blitzø moaned, pouting as he went completely limp against the steering wheel. 

Stolas gave him a sympathetic smile, which the imp did NOT enjoy. “I could always just teleport us back, Blitz.” Stolas said. 

“But then we don’t get as much timmeeuhhh.” said the imp with a sad frown. “Plus I’m hungry again, I want McDonalds.” 

The prince chuckled, “That’s not healthy for you, I can make you something back at my house.” 

“Bitch, do you think I care if it’s healthy? I want it .” Blitzø whined. The remaining piece of his energy was dead focused on getting himself a burger and fry, no matter if he had to break all four of his limbs to get it.

“Okay, okay. But I don’t think I can drive, I can barely fit in this car as is.” Stolas said with a frown. Only now had Blitzø really noticed how cramped up Stolas was in the van. The imp snorted out a laugh; Stolas looked funny as fuck crunched over like that. Fuckin’ stick bird. 

“Kay I got it. I can drive.” Blitzø said, lifting himself up to sit properly. He was going to get his fucking burger and fries, being tired could wait. 

Stolas frowned once again, that stupid smart frown he often did when Blitzø was being a dumbass. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want you to—”

He began to drive, pulling out of the parking lot and getting onto the main road. “Hush now, birdy. Have no fear, I will NOT be crashing this van.” The imp said with a proud grin. 

He crashed the van. 

“Blitz I TOLD you—” “Oh be quiet it’s just a little dent—look, see?” The imp revved the engine, turning the key. The van kicked and fought back; it wouldn’t start. 

The imp groaned and slammed his head against the steering wheel. 

“I can’t fucking deal with this right now I just wanted a fucking McChicken and a fucking large fry.” Blitzø whined pathetically. He’d driven full speed into a lightpost, and the front of the van was squashed like a crumpled piece of paper. 

Stolas was rambling on about something, anxiously, as Blitzø tuned him out. Stolas had lifted the imp out of the now damaged van and onto the road; cleaning up the mess using his powers. 

The prince couldn’t care less if people saw; his priority was to get this imp a burger and get him the fuck home, no more bullshit. Stolas picked up the broken van using magic and teleported it directly back to the palace grounds. He then picked up a very limp and defeated Blitzø into his arms and then teleported them to the nearest McDonalds.

Chapter Text

“Good girl, Tilly.” Loona smiled, holding the bottle up to the baby’s mouth. Tilly smiled back and giggled, squirming in her seat excitedly. “You’ve been so good today, haven’t you? You little silly.” 

“UGHH.” Blitzø, followed by Stolas, stumbled through the portal and into the living room. The imp burped, clutching a McDonald’s bag in one fist and a drink in the other. 

Loona cocked a questioning glance. “Where’s all the stuff?” 

“In th’ car.” Blitzø mumbled lazily, his eyes already closing. The imp limped over to the couch and collapsed down on it with a large sigh.

“Okay…well you just teleported here, so where’s the car?” Loona asked, moreso to Stolas since her father had seemed to have given up. 

Blitzø burped and groaned immediately after, clutching his stomach. “I crashed it.” 

Loona’s head snapped up and she dropped the bottle. “You WHAT?”

“It’s not that bad, it’ll probably be fixable,” Stolas intervened with a nervous chuckle. 

“PROBABLY?” the hellhound shouted. 

Stolas gave her a weak smile. “Most likely, yes. Luckily, Blitz didn’t fully break it, he just—”

“Crashed it into a pole,” Blitzø finished casually, burying his face into Stolas’s soft couch cushions and stretching out his sore legs. 

“I swear to fuck, Blitz,” Loona groaned. Meanwhile, Tilly giggled happily as she watched the three interact. “You’re so dumb.”

The imp mumbled through the couch, “Shh, it’s fine. I’ll fix it, chillax.” Stolas offered Loona another weak smile, trying to lighten the mood. 

“Well did you guys at least get the stuff? It’s almost seven, you guys were out for hours,” Loona asked, picking up the bottle and feeding Tilly with it again. 

Stolas nodded. “Yes, we got everything, it’s all in the van outside.”

Loona yawned, looking at her father. “We goin’ home?” she asked. Blitzø groaned and kicked his feet like a toddler having a fit.

“Don’t wanna,” he whined, rolling over into a slouched seating position. “Stols, can I stay over?” Blitzø asked, his annoyed tone letting up a little as he looked at the prince. 

Stolas’s eyes widened briefly and his breath quickened. It took him a second to regain his composure. “Yes, yeah, o-of course,” he stammered out. “We could set up Tilly’s crib here; you could stay for sure.” Stolas smiled brightly. 

“Yeah—Loonie, me ‘n Tills can stay here and you can go back to the house and get some peace and quiet, hmm? That sound okay?” Blitzø said quickly, a bright grin of his own forming. 

Loona slowly grinned. “That sounds fucking awesome. Thanks, Blitz.” She stood and stretched out, turning to Stolas. “I’ll help you bring the things inside, yeah?” Loona mumbled to Stolas, who nodded quickly in reply. 

“Yes, that’d be great.” Stolas said politely, joining the hellhound as she made her way down the hall to the entryway. 

The prince, accompanied by Loona, took a couple trips to the van and back, carrying the items while Blitzø sat on the floor playing with Tilly. The imp flicked on a cartoon channel and took a big sip of his diet coke. 

It wasn’t long before the two had emptied the broken van of its contents and scattered the boxes across Stolas’s living room floor. 

“Jesus Christ,” moaned Loona. “You two really did buy everything.” 

“We sure did,” Blitzø said with a mouthful of fries, offering his eldest daughter some. Stolas moved to join the imp on the floor and hovered over the boxes in search of the crib. 

Loona yawned, standing leaning up against the wall. “You two gonna need more help, or…?” 

Blitzø shook his head quickly, moving to help Stolas sort through the boxes and find what they needed. “No, no, Loonie, you're good to go home. Thanks for your help, kid,” the imp said, shooting her a smile before getting back to what he was doing. 

Loona grinned, excited to have a night’s rest in silence. “Kay, cool. I’m gonna need a portal home, though, since you fucked up the van.”

“Oh yeah, right, ‘kay—” Blitzø jumped up, having suddenly found a renewed sense of energy. The imp used the crystal to open a portal for his daughter, who stepped on through, back to the apartment. After giving her a quick wave goodbye, Blitzø shut the portal behind her. 

“I found the box—Blitz, go into that drawer and get the screwdriver, will you?” Stolas called to him as he carefully removed the tape from the large box. Blitzø hurried back, screwdriver in hand and ready to help. He kneeled down beside the prince, watching him remove the large wooden pieces. 

Tilly giggled and began to crawl her way over to them. “Put that magic thing back up, she’s wanderin’ again.” Blitzø said to Stolas as he carefully put Tilly back where she was. With a wave of Stolas’s hand, the boundary was back up. Tilly pouted and let out a lazy whine.

“Okay, so the instructions say we need the frame pieces first…” Stolas began, holding the instructions close to his face and squinting his eyes. The prince gave up and reached behind him to grab his reading glasses off of the counter. As he put them on and began reading the pamphlet, Blitzø grinned.

“I didn’t know you needed glasses,” the imp said playfully with a teasing chuckle. 

“Yes, yes, I need glasses to see. Very funny,” Stolas said, rolling his eyes with a grin. 

It took the pair an hour and a half, as well as several different YouTube tutorials, to figure out how to properly assemble the crib. Once it was done, and the bedding was securely placed inside, Blitzø jumped inside it and wiggled around. 

“It’s sturdy,” The imp stated in a serious tone. Stolas chuckled, quickly snapping a photo of Blitzø’s horsing around. “Hey! You bitch—” Blitzø leapt out of the crib, wrestling Stolas for the phone. The prince shrieked with laughter, holding the phone high above the imp’s head and attempting to sit up. Tilly also erupted into laughter, slapping her tail. 

Blitzø shot Stolas a grouchy face before retreating and stepping back to look at the crib. “You better delete that fucking photo if you know what’s good for you,” the imp spat.

Stolas grinned. “Oh, I’m so scared .” 

The imp narrowed his eyes, but chose to ignore Stolas’s snarky remark. “Seriously, does the crib look good, though?” Blitzø asked, eying the crib. 

Stolas nodded with a grin. “Yes, it looks great, Blitz.”

Tilly squirmed, reaching her hands out to Blitzø. The imp walked over and picked her up, gently placing her down in the crib. Blitzø bit his lip as he stood back to watch her carefully; he then double checked the wooden poles to make sure they were secured and properly in place. 

Giggling once again, Tilly smiled a bright smile as her eyes wandered around the inside of the crib. She reached out and ran her small hands over the mattress, feeling the wooden base. Tilly clapped her hands excitedly. 

Blitzø let out a relieved sigh, putting his hands on his hips and looking to Stolas. The prince looked equally as proud as the imp felt, looking at Tilly and the work they’d done. 

The two spent some time clearing the living room of the still unopened boxes, pushing them all into a pile on one side. Once they were done, the pair yawned in unison. 

Blitzø plopped himself down on the couch, watching Tilly lay happily in her crib. The sky outside was growing dark, as was the inside of the palace. He had missed the comfort of the palace; the too-comfy couch, the warm atmosphere and beautiful lighting, and, of course, the stupid owl who lived there. 

The imp yawned again. “So. I’ll sleep out here then?” he asked. He wasn’t sure if he was allowed in Stolas’s bed anymore. Was he? Would that be allowed? 

Stolas nodded slowly. “Sure, if you want to. Or… you could sleep in my room. With me. We could move Tilly’s crib into there, if you wanted,” the prince offered quietly, he himself also unsure of what to do. What he did know was that he didn’t want to part from Blitzø. But was it odd for them to share a bed? Even after everything, was it still okay? 

“Yeah, sure.” Blitzø began to stand, awkwardly moving over to Tilly’s crib. “I mean, if you want to as well then that’d be fine, I guess.” Stolas smiled brightly once again. “No funny business, though, ‘kay? You’re not cuddling me or anything.” The imp said the words with a sly chuckle but the prince knew he was being dead serious. 

“Fine by me,” Stolas said with a small smile. “You wanna go now?” he asked softly. 

“Yeah. I’m so fucking tired, it’s like I’m literally gonna pass out right here,” the imp groaned, rubbing at his eyes. 

Stolas chuckled lightly. “Well we wouldn’t want that, would we? I can get Tilly’s crib to my room—go to the cupboard and get some more blankets,” Stolas directed him as he levitated the crib through the dimly lit halls. Tilly was in awe as she watched the hallway pass, giggling with joy. 

Blitzø wandered his way through the kitchen and to the closet cupboard, grabbing a pile of blankets and his favorite pillow that Stolas had always stored just for him. Stupid fucking-nice-beautiful-dumbass bird. On his way back, Blitzø snatched a sleeve of saltines and a bag of chips. 

As the imp reached Stolas’s bedroom, he saw the prince carefully setting Tilly’s crib down beside his large bed. 

Blitzø swallowed nervously; the last time he’d been in here was on the full moon. He felt his palms begin to sweat as he jumped up on Stolas’s bed, dumping the blankets into one big pile. 

The imp tossed his snacks down by his legs and fell back against the soft pillows. Stolas’s room smelled of lavender and perfume, just as he remembered it to. The room was softly lit with the purple glow from the large window and the dim yellow of the lights hung on the wall. Stolas’s bedroom was just as carefully decorated and enchanting as always; he must’ve cleaned it before the imp came over. 

That was awfully, unnecessarily thoughtful of him. 

Once Stolas had situated Tilly and made sure she was happy and safe in the crib, he joined Blitzø on the bed and sat with his back rested against the frame. 

The room was silent, the two adults lost in peaceful thought as they glanced around the room. Blitzø rolled over lazily to look out the window at the perfectly manicured palace grounds. It was like a painting, a beautiful portrait of the gardens and the night sky reflecting off of them. 

“Thanks for helping me today,” Blitzø said quietly, his back to Stolas. 

The prince smiled softly, closing his eyes. “You’re welcome,” he said softly, his tone no louder than a whisper. 

“No, seriously. You didn’t have to do shit for me, I was nothing but a dick to you. So thanks,” the imp mumbled, his gaze remaining fixated on the gardens below. 

Stolas cracked open an eye. “You weren’t a dick to me.” 

Blitzø rolled over and sat up, visible confusion shown on his face. He opened his mouth to retort, but Stolas was quicker. “Sure, you were a little… silly. But I was silly too. The whole thing was silly,” Stolas said with a small smile, looking back at Blitzø.

“But what is this? What is this now ? What are we doing?” The imp said, his tone exasperated. The words he’d wanted to ask for so long were finally slipping out of his mouth.

Stolas thought a moment before responding. “What would you like to do now?” Stolas asked. 

The question as a response to his own question caught Blitzø off guard. What would he like to do now? Well that was an easy question to answer, he supposed. “I wanna see you. It’s fun seein’ you,” Blitzø said. 

“I want to see you too. Tilly as well,” Stolas said with a tired but genuine smile. “So is that not enough? What we’re doing is seeing other, and that’s what we want to do; that’s it,” the prince said simply. 

Blitzø paused to think. But they weren’t dating, were they? Did they have to be dating? Did they have to put a label on it? No, Stolas said they could just… see each other. The idea was new to Blitzø, but all the while exciting. Stolas wasn’t pressuring him at all; it felt good to be understood by the prince. It’s almost like Stolas knew exactly what Blitzø wanted to hear. Maybe he did. 

“I think I like that,” Blitzø said slowly, his confused face turning into a small smile. 

“And if we want to change it to something else one day, then we can. Does that sound alright?” Stolas asked softly. 

“Yeah, yeah I like that.” The imp nodded, taking a long sigh. “I like that.” 

Stolas smiled, stretching out to lay down with his face towards the ceiling. “I like that too,” Stolas said quietly. A moment of calm silence passed, the two content just being next to each other. 

Blitzø leaned up to grab at his snack stash, munching on the chips quietly. The prince sighed, trying to relax his shoulders into the bed. 

Tilly was silent as she lay in her crib. She was tired from the day spent with her sister and was ready to go to sleep.

Groaning, Blitzø tossed his snacks onto the floor and jumped back into the pillows. He too was exhausted, both mentally and physically. 

“‘M gonna pass out. G’night,” the imp mumbled, his eyes now closed. Stolas watched him for a few seconds before leaning over to grab his book. 

“Goodnight.” he said quietly as he busied himself with his reading. 

Chapter Text

“Oh—good morning.” Stolas smiled and rubbed his eyes as he walked into the kitchen. He tightened the belt on his loose robe slightly as he yawned. 

Tilly giggled, reaching her hands out to Stolas. Blitzø yawned as well, leaning against the kitchen counter lazily. Tilly was sitting up on the table with one of her new toys clutched in her hand. 

Stolas looked at the clock; it read ten in the morning. “When did you guys wake up?” the prince asked, joining the two in the kitchen.

“Fuck, like five hours ago,” the imp chuckled, rubbing at his own eyes. “Still, had a good sleep though. I forgot how fuckin’ amazing your bed is, Stols.” 

Stolas cracked a grin before stretching out to give Tilly a little pat. She giggled happily, reaching up and touching Stolas’s beak playfully. 

Rain tapped against the kitchen windows and roof as the dark clouds shaded the room. It seemed as though the sun wouldn't be making an appearance that day. 

“Loonie’s probably still asleep, so d’ya think I could stay here for a bit longer?” Blitzø asked. “I wanna let her sleep in a bit.”

The prince almost laughed, before he stopped himself and instead responded with a smile. “Of course, you can stay as long as you’d like,” Stolas said, his eyes now fixed on the imp in front of him. 

You don’t deserve it. 

Blitzø swallowed and quickly looked down at Tilly as he tried to ignore the voices that filled his head. The imp slowly lifted her up from where Stolas had moved her and back to her original spot. She complied, but her eyes didn’t leave the prince.

Stolas wandered to the cupboards, grazing the fridge as he went. “No, no, no. I’m making breakfast.” The imp stopped him, rushing over to him. “Let me do it,” Blitzø said. “You made me dinner, I make you breakfast. It’s only fair.” 

The prince smiled, slowly retreating back to the table. “Alright, alright,” Stolas complied. He sat down on the stool, resting his head in his hands as he gazed down at Tilly. The baby imp looked up at him with a big smile, reaching out to him. 

Stolas gently moved her closer again, shooting Blitzø a grin as he examined her new toy with her. 

“I’m thinking when Loona’s awake, I’ll take all Tilly’s new shit to the apartment and then unpack it all there.” The prince looked up at Blitzø, who had begun to putter around the kitchen, opening and closing cupboards.

“Where is Tilly going to go when you’re at work?” Stolas asked gently with a frown as he stroked Tilly’s horns. 

Blitzø stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to Stolas. He paused before mumbling out an answer. “Well, I, uh, haven’t thought much about it.” The imp swallowed, sucking in a breath. “I was thinking I’d just take her to work with me.” 

“While you kill people?” Stolas pressed, now looking up at him. Blitzø met his eyes for a moment, then quickly looked away once again. 

“I mean, it’s not all killing… there’s paperwork some days…” Blitzø trailed off, his heart beginning to pound. “I could just take to her to work—”

Stolas interrupted Blitzø. “I could watch her the days you’re out in the human world. Then, when it’s just paperwork, you could take her.” 

Blitzø shook his head. “I’m not letting you—”

“Please. It’s fine; I’ll take her for half the week and then she can go with you for the other half.” Stolas said firmly. He was growing tired of Blitzø rejecting his help just because of his ego; the imp needed help and Stolas was willing to give it. End of story. 

The imp took a slow breath. “Okay,” he said quickly. Blitzø gripped the table, looking down at it and avoiding Stolas’s gaze. 

Don’t need it, don’t deserve it. 

“Why are you—” Blitzø tried. 

“Because I like you. That’s it. Remember that,” Stolas said quickly, repeating his words from the day before. “Just remember that,” he said again firmly. 

“Fuck. You’re… I… I like you, Stolas. So much. Thanks,” the imp mumbled, his tone no louder than a whisper as he stared at the counter. Blitzø’s chest was heaving and his eyes began to glaze over. Why was this so hard?

Stolas slowly smiled, his head still in his hands. He decided not to say anything more; what had already been said was enough. 

Blitzø went about his way again, puttering around and making some breakfast for the two in near-silence; the only thing that could be heard besides the cooking food was the sound of the rain outside. After a couple minutes, he’d made a decent batch of eggs and only semi-burnt toast. 

The imp slid Stolas his own plate, to which the prince thanked him for gratefully. 

The two ate right there in the kitchen, watching Tilly with equal awe and caution as she sat happily. She was still calm, freakishly calm. 

Once the pair had finished eating, Stolas excused himself to the bathroom. 

“Good girl…” Blitzø hummed to Tilly as she drank down her own breakfast. “That’s it.” Tilly looked up at the imp with bright eyes as she finished her bottle. Blitzø gave her a large grin of approval and handed her stuffie back to her. 

The entry door suddenly swung open with a loud crash. Blitzø’s neck snapped to the door, his eyes wide and body prepared for a threat as loud footsteps thudded up the stairs; then, Blitzø saw her. 

She froze in fear. Octavia, laden with several bags, stared at the imp and the baby on her kitchen counter. Her mouth hung open and her eyes formed perfect circles. She saw several large boxes piled all around, and bags that were packed. 

Her father was going to leave her; it was finally happening.

Octavia burst into tears. She dropped her bags at the top of the stairs, and sprinted down the hallway to her room, and slammed her bedroom door shut with a loud bang .

Chapter Text

“Octavia?” Stolas called, opening her bedroom door a crack. He could see his daughter, curled up on her bed and hiding her face. 

“Go away,” she mumbled between sobs. Octavia’s back was pressed tight against her headboard and her head was between her knees. 

Stolas frowned, concerned. “Please, Via, just for a moment?” he asked.

“Fine,” she said quietly. Her voice shook and her arms were drawn tightly around herself. Stolas stepped in and quietly shut the door behind himself. He then slowly approached Via’s bed and sat on the corner opposite of her. 

“Via, darling… what’s wrong?” Stolas asked softly with a frown. 

Via stayed quiet, trying to muffle her crying as much as she could. She wrapped her arms tighter around her knees and hoped it was all a dream. Maybe if she pinched herself she’d wake up. 

Stolas sighed and picked at his hands worriedly. “Please, tell me what’s wrong,” he asked again.

“You’re leaving me, aren’t you?” Octavia’s head snapped up, her eyes full of anger and fear directed towards her father. 

Stolas lifted his gaze from the bed, eyebrows knitted together. “What… no! No—”

Not even if an entire town’s army came for him would Stolas ever leave his daughter. How could he? She was his whole world, his life; she was everything. The thought of leaving Octavia had never once crossed his mind, had never made an appearance ever since she was born. It was either Stolas would stay with her until she grew old, or Stolas would be dead, killed, and gone. He’d have to die in order to part from the reason he was still in this god-forsaken, red, undead, underground shithole they called Hell. 

“You were going to leave me while I was away with Mom. You were going to leave me for that… that guy. And a baby?” Octavia’s eyes began to flood with tears once again. She couldn’t sustain her anger for much longer; sadness was beginning to seep through the cracks of her mask. It had become harder and harder for the princess to hide behind her usual angry facade as each day further wore down the protective shell she’d worked so hard to create, unveiling her true emotions and revealing her hurt and pain to the entire world.

The prince’s eyes widened slowly as he took a moment to process what his daughter was saying. “No, no, Via, darling, I’m not leaving you—I’m never going to leave you. What in Hell made you think that?” His tone came out more pressing than he had intended it to be, but he was beyond puzzled at what his daughter had said. 

“The boxes everywhere? That imp guy in the kitchen?” Via felt the small sparks of anger deep in her chest begin to bubble up again, begin to show themselves again. It felt good. 

“No, Octavia. I’m just helping him—those are all his boxes. I’m not leaving you, Via,” repeated Stolas, his tone firmer than before. 

“Have I honestly made you believe that… that I’d leave you?” stammered Stolas, his tone full of worry and his firmness from earlier disintegrating into raw concern and fear. All of his toughness, all of his parental superiority vanished and in its place sat a sad, scared owl prince who’d been married at eighteen to a woman who hated him and forced into having a child he didn’t know how to raise; beneath it all was a man forced into a life that wasn’t his. 

Sobs gurgled up her throat and pricked her eyes with stinging pain. A loud bawl escaped her chest as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Octavia threaded both hands through her feathers aggressively as she moaned into her knees. 

Stolas' pulse began to race as he watched his daughter’s reaction. His brow began to sweat as he watched Octavia come apart, the atmosphere filled with her tears and terrible screams of heartache. 

“Via—darling, please don’t cry; I’d never leave you, I promise. I’m never going to leave you,” Stolas rambled on, worried that he had said something wrong. He let the stammered apologies flow with abandon, too dismayed over his daughter’s distress to properly formulate his attempts at comfort. He hoped that Via would find his reassurances to be a solace and not just dismiss them as meaningless. 

“I’m never going to leave you, darling; not for him, not for the baby, not for anyone . I promise, Via. Please believe me,” begged Stolas, mouth parted in worry. His hands lingered in the air awkwardly and his heart raced so fast it felt like it could power a lightbulb.

Octavia’s sobs slowly silenced. She continued to hide her face between her knees and bunched her shoulders up to her neck in an attempt to further curl in on herself. All she wanted in that moment was to turn invisible, to be in another room, another town, as far away as she possibly could be, relaxing on a beach where she wouldn’t have to deal with this mess. Anywhere would be better than where she currently was. 

“Please talk to me,” Stolas pleaded after a minute of silence had passed. Via continued to give him the silent treatment in response, ignoring his presence altogether as she sat curled up on her bed. Her knees shook slightly and it took considerable effort to hide how fast her chest was heaving up and down.  

Stolas wanted to reach out towards his daughter, wanted to comfort her with his presence, but quickly realized that perhaps this wasn’t the best time for that. As much as Stolas desired that the action would improve the tense, tear-filled situation, he knew that was just wishful thinking. 

“Please,”he repeated, sounding more desperate than Via had ever heard. Yet, the silence persisted, the only sounds in the room being the rain on the window and the hiccuping sobs Octavia couldn’t manage to hold in. Stolas directed his gaze outside, watching raindrops race down glass panes and gather at the edge of the surface in a pool that grew steadily as the seconds passed by.

“Why can’t things ever stay the same?” began Octavia quietly, her voice no louder than a whisper. “Every time I come back home something new has happened; you’ve always gone off and done something else to break us apart.

“There’s always something new, it’s never just…normal,” Via ended, squeezing her knees around her head tightly as if the pressure would turn off her thoughts. 

Stolas waited a moment before speaking again, taking time to process what Octavia was saying. 

“I’m sorry it’s not normal,” whispered Stolas, looking down at his daughter’s bed and feeling the fabric under his talons. It was soft; the blanket was the star printed one he’d bought for her during the previous Sinsmas. He sucked in a weary breath as he looked back up at her. “I wish it was normal for you, Via.”

Octavia sucked in a shaky breath. “Can’t you just try to make it normal?” she pleaded, her voice on the verge of breaking again. Behind her eyes tears ached to fall, but she denied herself that relief. She’d already broken down enough; any more would be humiliating.

Her father sighed, looking at the wall behind her head as his mind searched for a decent answer to Octavia’s question. Unfortunately, the answer eluded him; the question seemed impossible to answer. Nothing was “normal living”— how could it be, considering the way in which they lived and the status that they held? No, a life of normalcy was the one thing that could never be attained by a Goetia, despite—or, rather, due to —the power and status of the Goetian line. 

Stolas had wished for a normal life ever since he was old enough to realize just how different his life was than the lives of the rest of Hell’s inhabitants. It was the sole thought that never left his mind, despite the decades that had passed since its formation.Why couldn’t ten-year-old Stolas go to the toy store? Why couldn’t he play at the park all the other kids played at? Why couldn’t he go to school with all the other kids? 

It was all because he couldn’t be normal, because he was “Goetian royalty.”. His father’s voice echoed in his mind: “Don't bow to that one! He bows to us, idiot.” I’ll never be like them, the voice inside Stolas’ mind lamented. The thought came from a raw feeling of not belonging in a place so vast and full of people. Not fitting in anywhere, of having people not like you for you but rather for the giant wad of cash sitting in your family bank account and stupid golden sculptures that lined your driveway. 

Not having anyone to complain about it all to either; after all, a wealthy prince with a lavish palace and endless cash supply wasn’t allowed to complain about the state of his life! Stolas groaned internally; if only people could see what went on behind all the photoshopped magazine images and fabricated “exposé” pieces designed to feed the public an image of perfect superiority.. If only they could see the actual truth that lay behind the filters and editing, then they might understand. 

“I’ve been trying my whole life, Via. As heartbreaking as it is, normal just isn’t an option for us,” Stolas began softly. “It wasn’t for me and it isn’t for you,” he continued. “But that’s not a bad thing or a punishment; it’s because you’re you. You’re so much better than normal—I see it now. You’re beyond normalcy, Via; you’re my everything. You don’t need normal. All you need is you because you are enough.”

Her tears could no longer be contained; they began to stream down her face like a river. Octavia’s chest ached with pain and all she wanted was for it to be gone. 

“I’m so, so sorry, Via, for everything—I wish it were easier for you. I’d do anything for you to be happy,” Stolas said quietly,his head tilted downwards. “I’d do anything for you.”

Silence fell over the room. Stolas slowly looked around, seeing the stars on the roof, eyes wandering from the bookshelf to her desk to her window, pausing to linger on the many pictures  of the two she had displayed.. 

“I love you, Via. I’m so sorry this is all happening to you, but please know I’ll always be here. I’m not going anywhere unless I have you with me,” her father said softly, looking at her with a mixture of deep sadness and love in his eyes. 

“Promise?” Octavia sniffled, tilting her head to look up at her father. 

Stolas nodded firmly. “I promise. Via, you’re my everything… I’m deeply sorry if I’ve ever made you feel like you’re not.” His tone was more serious than Octavia had heard it be in a long time. It was refreshing, and felt good. Secure. 

“You have to promise me one thing, though,” Stolas began. “If it ever becomes too much again, or everything feels overwhelming and you need help, come to me first. Tell me, no matter what it is. Okay?” He looked at her, unblinking and determined. 

Octavia slowly nodded. “Okay.” She took in a big sigh, her eyes now aching from the amount of tears that had been spilt. 

“Can I give you a hug?” Stolas asked hopefully, a small smile returning on his face.

Via slowly shook her head. Stolas continued to smile anyways. “Okay.” 

“Is that his baby out there?” Octavia asked quietly, her voice still shaky and fragile like glass. 

“No. It’s a complicated story, but the baby’s not biologically Blitz’s. He’s taking care of her though,” Stolas said calmly. 

Via slowly looked up at her father. “Her?” 

He nodded. “Yes, her name’s Tilly. I’m helping Blitz out with her, since he’s not… familiar with children,” Stolas said quietly. 

Octavia nodded slowly. “Okay.” 

“Is that alright with you? Because if it’s not—” Stolas began. 

“No, it's fine, I get it. Just… don’t forget about me?” she said in a near-whisper. 

“Never. Via, I could never. I love you more than life itself and everyone in it; I could never, dear,” Stolas said, his serious tone from earlier returning again. 

Octavia sniffled whilst nodding slowly again. “Okay. Love you, Dad,” she whispered, the sound almost inaudible as she avoided eye contact with her father. 

“I love you, too,” murmured Stolas. He looked to his daughter with a sorrowful expression as his eyes gazed back down to his hands. 

“Things have just been so… weird. Different. I don’t know. It’s a lot,” Via said in a shaky voice. Thoughts raced through her mind like flashing images, all fluttering past her eyes far too quickly for her to make out what they depicted. Sighing, Octavia rested her chin on her knees. 

Her heart pounded slowly in her chest and she felt the vibrations travel throughout her body. She was exhausted physically, though her mind was more awake than it had been in a long time. Legs restless, hands shaking, and stomach aching, her nerves were no match for the simultaneous pain Via felt. It was as though someone had struck a match against her back, had lit her shirt ablaze, and there was no way to put the flames out. It was an all-consuming affliction, yet she somehow managed to push through it. 

“I’m so sorry, Via,” whispered Stolas, his eyes searching for those of his daughter as she looked down at her legs once again. “I’m so sorry.” 

Octavia pressed her mouth into a forced smile, awkwardly wiggling her feet as she drummed her fingers against one of her legs. 

“Is there anything I can do to make it better, at least for right now?” Stolas asked, offering her a weak, fragile smile. 

His daughter shook her head slowly, looking up at him with sleepy eyes. “No.” 

Stolas' face fell as his heart squeezed with pressure. “Okay,” he whispered softly. “I love you, Octavia.” 

“Love you too,” mumbled Via with a small smile. 

Chapter Text

“So I was sorta thinkin’ that maybe I could stay another night? If you guys are okay with that, of course…?” asked Blitzø.

Octavia had joined them out in the kitchen, slightly shy but overall in a better mood. She was contentedly munching on the late breakfast Stolas had made for her as she sat at the table with everyone else. 

Stolas shot a quick glance at his daughter, searching for a reaction from her. She nodded subtly and gave him a small smile before turning her attention back to her plate. 

“Sure,” smiled Stolas. 

“Is Loona coming?” Octavia piped in quietly after a moment had passed. 

Blitzø nodded slowly, picking up his phone. “I could ask. She’ll probably want to come over once she’s awake.” 

Octavia smiled as she picked at her food with her fork. “Cool,” she mumbled happily, turning to look up at Tilly. “Can I ask why you have a baby?” the princess questioned, curious as to how all this had happened. 

“Well,” Blitzø began. “I had this crazy bitch of an ex-girlfriend—” 

“Language, Blitz,” interrupted Stolas. Octavia rolled her eyes, not bothering to even look her father’s way. Blitzø rolled his eyes too, and continued to speak.

“My bad, I meant to say my batshit-crazy, stupid cunt, avocado-fucker of an ex-girlfriend dropped off a baby at my house about a week ago and she’s for sure not mine. I don’t why she did it, but it happened and now… this is how it’s going,” said the imp with an all too casual shrug.

Via cocked a brow. “Seriously?” she asked, finding it hard to believe his story. 

“Yes, I swear, that’s exactly how it went. Loona’s my witness,” said Blitzø. 

“Wow,” said Octavia, stunned. She glanced out the window behind Blitzø's head as she processed what he had just told her. 

Blitzø let out a tired chuckle. “Yeah. Pretty fucked, right?” 

Octavia nodded slowly, lost in her own head. “So what are you going to do? Don’t you have work and stuff? And what about all these boxes…” Octavia trailed off as her eyes went to the many boxes scattered about the room. 

The imp looked up to Stolas, who looked back down at him. Their eyes met for a moment before Blitzø spoke again. “I’m going to take her to my work, and your dad’s gonna help me with her on the days she won’t be able to come with me. Like when I’m on missions ‘n shit,” Blitzø said wearily, glancing back up at Stolas once he’d finished speaking. 

Stolas only looked back at him with a small smile and nod to which the imp returned a reluctant grin. 

“Oh. So all this stuff’s going to your house then?” asked the princess. 

Blitzø nodded firmly. “Yeah. I was hoping Stols would help me move it all but yeah, I’m gonna set everything up back at my place tomorrow.”

Octavia let out a hum of approval as she watched Tilly with a wistful expression. The princess was already tired, despite the early hour; her face felt stained by the tears she’d let out earlier and her eyes ached and burned from the sheer amount that she had sobbed. 

She was glad the horrible weekend she’d spent with her mother and uncle was finally over. What she had thought was going to be a dull, eventless weekend quickly turned into a fight between her and her mother, and her uncle had sided with his sister, despite the whole thing being her fault to begin with. 

Octavia couldn’t understand why her mother hated her father so intensely, so deeply that she wanted to inflict endless pain and hurt upon him. The only pain her mother actually caused, though, was pain upon her own daughter. Whether Stella was doing it intentionally or not was irrelevant—Via had been deeply hurt by the ugly words that had been spat out of her mother’s beak. 

The disgusting, vile words Stella so often yelled never failed to upset the princess internally, even though she tried her best to outwardly seem unaffected by the verbal abuse. Unlike her father, Octavia hadn’t yet been able to desensitize herself to the harsh phrases and demeaning comments her mother so commonly let out, the teenager was still affected by them to this day. 

Why was she always so angry? Octavia had sought the answer to that question for what felt like forever. It puzzled her—her mother had a daughter, a house, endless wealth, and a husband who was never rude or mean—what more could she want? What more did she long for? What else could possibly be needed in order to make her happy? 

Was Octavia not enough for her? Was Stella’s entire life not enough for her? She must not be enough for her mother, Octavia thought resignedly. 

But her father… she was enough for her father. She’d always been more than enough for Stolas, more than anything he could have ever asked for in a daughter. He expressed  these feelings towards her often, and showered his daughter with love and affection as often as she would allow him to. 

Today had been the first time Octavia had gotten to see that love up close and personal, to hear the thoughtful and caring words her father always said internally towards her but rarely vocalized. The opportunity, though wrought with sadness and pain in the moment, led Via to understand her father much better than she had ever before. She knew that Stolas loved her, from now until the end of time. She was content in knowing that she had at least one person who really loved her, who accepted her just as she was, and that was enough. 

Later that evening Loona came to join the group at the palace. The two teenagers went out for a walk in the gardens and had a long talk, for which the princess was grateful. The two talked about life and stupid things and babies and everything that was going on. The older woman gave the younger insight on topics Via didn’t know she needed advice on, and afterwards she felt refreshed and reinvigorated. 

Blitzø had offered to make dinner, and ended up making way too much food for the four—well, five, now—of them. Tilly drank her formula while the adults and teenager ate around the table, the pattering of the rain and the dimming light from the setting sun giving the room a comfortable ambiance. 

After dinner, Loona and Octavia went up to the princess’s room, eating candy and shitty junk food as they talked. Eventually, Loona said her goodbyes and went back home for the night. 

Octavia mumbled goodnight to her father, who returned her half-assed side hug with a big smile. Stolas offered to take Octavia to bed, to which the almost-adult princess kindly declined with a small chuckle and shake of her head. 

The palace became quiet as everyone inside began to wind down for the night. Octavia climbed into bed and pulled out her phone to shoot Loona a quick text, thanking her for their earlier talk. Stolas, Blitzø, and Tilly were all in Stolas’ bathroom, first getting Tilly ready for bed and then themselves. Once they were all set they made their way to bed, Stolas carrying Tilly. 

Blitzø took Tilly from Stolas’ arms and moved to sit on the bed with her. Stolas smiled as he quietly closed the bedroom door and strode over to his bookshelf. 

“I got this book from the human world,” said Stolas as he picked out a book with a smile. 

Blitzø grinned. “Did you steal it?” 

“No, Blitz,” sighed Stolas. “I bought it, why—” 

“Just get the book and come over here,” interrupted the imp with a smirk as he sat waiting for him. Tilly looked between the two and giggled, clapping in amusement. 

The prince gracefully swept over to the bed and propped himself up with a few pillows. Blitzø let Stolas have the honor of Tilly sitting in his lap with one of her new blankets around her. Tilly relaxed in the care of Stolas and sprawled her legs out, reaching towards Blitzø and babbling. 

Blitzø watched the two with a smile for a minute before jumping over to join them. He plopped himself down right beside Stolas and looked at the book he had chosen. It looked like a kid’s book, with a bright and colorful cover unlike most books in hell.  

“Goodnight Moon,” began Stolas in a soft voice. 

Blitzø lay beside Stolas, his body facing Stolas' side as they lay together. The imp tucked a fluffy pillow under his head and squished in closer to him. Tilly continued to sit cuddled in Stolas' lap, and the prince rested with his back up against the bed’s large headboard. 

“In the great green room,” Stolas read, pointing at the items as he listed them off. “There was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of—” The prince paused briefly as he turned the page.

“The cow jumping over the moon.” The page showed a framed drawing of a white cow jumping over a crescent moon. Stolas dragged his finger along the page, mapping out the cow’s path for Tilly. “And there were three little bears sitting on chairs, and two little kittens and a pair of mittens.”

“And a little toyhouse and a young mouse,” Stolas read in that calm, soothing voice of his. Blitzø and Tilly were quiet, both giving their undivided attention to the storybook. 

“And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush, and a quiet old lady who was whispering ‘hush,’” read Stolas. He flicked off the main lights with a wave of his hand, then turned on the much softer side table lamp with another. The imp next to him radiated heat as he lay there quietly, waiting for Stolas to continue. Blitzø’s breath slowed and his tail gently tapped the bed beside him in a slow rhythm. 

“Goodnight room, goodnight moon, goodnight cow jumping over the moon,” whispered Stolas. The baby in his lap yawned as her eyelids began to droop. The heater cuddled up to his side was also having to fight to keep his eyes open. Stolas smirked a little to himself, but soon replaced it with a soft smile. 

It was certainly a wonderful thing to see Blitzø like this. It meant progress, didn’t it? They’d come all this way in only a matter of days. The way the imp yawned, then stretched out only to relax against Stolas once again, his head against his side, was an image that the prince was sure he’d never forget. He’d etch that picture into his mind if he could, frame it like an expensive piece of art. 

“Goodnight light and the red balloon, goodnight bears, good night chairs. Goodnight kittens, and goodnight mittens. Goodnight clocks and goodnight socks, goodnight little house and goodnight mouse,” Tilly tried to blink away the sleep that kept creeping up on her; she was eager to finish the story. 

“Goodnight comb and goodnight brush, goodnight nobody, goodnight mush. And goodnight the old lady whispering ‘hush,’” continued the prince. Blitzø yawned, his eyes barely open a crack as he too struggled to stay awake. The soft lighting in the room combined with Stolas' gentle voice was more than enough to send the imp into a whole other realm of peaceful slumber. 

“Goodnight stars, goodnight air.” The sky outside the window was pitch black, and a variety of stars speckled the sky, adding to the calming essence of the room. Blitzø pushed his face against Stolas' arm as he squished himself closer.

“Goodnight noises everywhere,” finished Stolas. After a moment the prince slowly shut the book and laid it gently on the side table. He looked down at the baby in his lap and the imp curled up beside him and smiled. 

Tilly lay softly snoring in his lap, bundled up in her blanket like a little burrito. Blitzø too was fast asleep, pressed right up against Stolas' side like he was glued there. The room fell into a peaceful silence, the only noise the sound of soft breathing coming from the people in the room. 

Stolas rose carefully so as to not wake Tilly, the baby imp still cradled in his arms. Blitzø tossed in his sleep and groaned, frustrated and confused as to why Stolas had left his side. 

The prince walked to where Tilly’s crib was set up and gently laid the sleeping baby girl down in it. He placed her stuffie down by her bag and wrapped her safely into her blanket before returning back to the now cranky, still-sleeping imp. 

Once he’d laid back down, Blitzø quickly scooched over to Stolas' side and pressed up firmly against him. Stolas watched him with a tired smile for a moment before flicking off the lamp, drowning the room in relaxing darkness. Soft purple light filtered through the large windows, the starry sky reflecting its beautiful glow against the floor and walls. 

Tomorrow would be a busy day, but for now, sleep was calling for Stolas to join Tilly and Blitzø in their slumbers. He allowed himself to take a breath and relax, clearing his mind of everything in it. Stolas stroked Blitzø’s horn with a gentle hand before closing his eyes and falling fast into a deep, deep sleep. 

Chapter Text

The next few months went by in a blur, Stolas and Blitzø trying to balance the responsibilities of Tilly, work, and whatever else came their way. They made an effort to spend more quality time with their elder daughters, as well as take time off to be alone together. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, Stolas would take Tilly and watch her; the rest of the baby imp’s time was spent with her father, who she had begun to refer to as “Ba-ba,” (the first time she had called him that, Blitzø was elated beyond words and spent the rest of the afternoon trying to get her to repeat herself, this time on video). 

Tilly’s birth parents hadn’t yet made an appearance, and had shown no sign of wanting to see their daughter. Blitzø was often angry about this, confused that they had no desire to see their own child, but Stolas would always calm him down, reminding him that Tilly was loved and in good care with him, and that he shouldn’t let the anger take over his attention for her.

Millie and Moxxie had grown to love Tilly, and even Fizzarolli had gotten a chance to meet her. The clown had adored the little girl ever since the moment he laid eyes on her, immediately beginning to rant to Blitzø how she should become part of the performance industry since she was so beautiful. 

In what seemed like a blink of an eye, a whole year passed since Tilly had sprung into Blitzø‘s life. On the anniversary of that precious day, Blitzø called for everyone to come over to his apartment to celebrate Tilly’s very first birthday as Blitzø’s daughter. 

—

“Get the camera, get the camera!” shouted Millie with a bright smile. Moxxie rushed over to the counter and snatched the digital camera before running back over to the group. 

Somehow, Loona, Moxxie, Millie, Stolas, Blitzø and Octavia had all managed to fit inside the imp’s small apartment and were now huddled around Tilly’s highchair with big smiles on their faces. 

Tilly giggled as she sat in her chair, her birthday bib hanging proudly from her neck. A single small cupcake with a little ‘1’-shaped candle sat in front of her. 

“Wait, wait, wait I need a light—” said Blitzø as he jumped over the counter to reach into the cupboard above the stove. He pulled out a lighter and quickly returned to the group. 

“Are you sure you should be giving her a lit candle—” Moxxie began nervously, but was quickly shut up by Blitzø. 

“Don’t poop on the party, Moxx. She’ll be fine, and we practiced this, ain’t that right, Tilly?” said Blitzø with a toothy grin. 

Stolas smiled brightly, helping to fix the tiny party hat that was seated on Tilly’s head. She looked absolutely adorable. 

“Okay, okay, now go set up the camera, Moxx— make sure you put the timer on,” ushered Blitzø as he got ready to light the candle. Moxxie hurried to do so, placing the device on the kitchen table and positioning it carefully to ensure that it would catch everyone in the photo. 

Stolas hunched over to fit in frame, Blitzø stuck his tongue out in concentration as he tried to get the lighter to work, Loona and Octavia stood beside Stolas as they chatted with each other, and Millie stood behind Blitzø with a big smile as she watched Tilly. 

“Okay…” said Moxxie as he pressed the ten second timer on the camera. “Okay, it’s going!” 

Moxxie rushed over to the group and squished in beside Millie with a big smile. Blitzø finally lit the candle and Tilly watched the small flame with awe. Everyone smiled brightly as the camera clicked, signaling that the photo had been taken. 

“‘Kay Tilly, time to make a wish,” smiled Blitzø as he watched Tilly. 

Tilly giggled and grinned as she extended her hand towards the flame, almost touching the candle before Blitzø quickly yanked her arm away. “NO!” he shrieked. Tilly burst into giggles, grabbing at her stomach as she laughed. 

Loona and Octavia grinned with amusement as Moxxie stood around looking worried. 

“Remember Tilly, you gotta blow out the candle. You can do it, girl,” encouraged Blitzø as he let go of his daughter’s arm. 

Tilly turned her head to look up at all the people around her. Each and every one of them looked back at her with happy smiles and bright eyes. Her heart warmed in her small chest as she smiled, big dimples appearing on her cheeks. 

Tilly turned back to the small pink cupcake that sat in front of her. She closed her eyes in concentration and slowly sucked in a breath. She then breathed a big breath out towards the candle, her heart feeling full and her chest illuminating with light.

The candle blew out with a flash.