Chapter Text
Despite the wide-brimmed hat he is wearing, the bright light of Pride's red pentagram is hurting Stolas' eyes this morning. The fact that he barely slept last night, too busy replaying in his mind every second of his interactions with a certain gorgeous imp, is no doubt a contributing factor.
Who could have imagined that by taking his daughter to a book signing and reading by her favorite author, Stolas would meet the man of his dreams?
Blitz.
His name is Blitz, he has a daughter too, is very good with children, loves horses and has the most creative mind Stolas has ever encountered. And the most beautiful eyes. These are the only things the owl knows about him. That, and the fact that he is simply magnificent. No wonder Stolas is hopelessly smitten.
He is therefore as nervous as he is impatient to see Vassago. He sent his friend a message as soon as good manners allowed it, and has been waiting for his visit ever since.
When he hears the doorbell, Stolas feels as if he is about to leap out of his own skin. He runs more than he walks to open the door. On the other side is the flamboyant parrot, whose face breaks into a broad smile as soon as he catches sight of the owl.
« Hola Stolas! How are you esta mañana , my friend? »
Although he smiles by reflex, Stolas is so nervous that it looks more like a grimace. Vassago frowns and tilts his head to the side, his eyes studying Stolas in silence for a moment. Then his expression turns sly.
« Have you finalmente met him? El diablillo with eyes of gold and ruby? »
(The fact that Vassago had helped him out of his horrible marriage by prophesying that it was for the greater good was such an unexpected boon that Stolas seized the opportunity without question. But when he asked the other Goetia what he had seen, Vassago replied only that Stolas would know when he saw shining gold and the most beautiful shade of ruby. Which happens to be the exact color of Blitz's bewitching eyes...)
Stolas fears that his furious blush says it all. Vassago claps his hands in delight.
« Perfecto ! You've got to tell me todo about him! »
« I… er... of course... But… But I… um… I need to know… »
The owl takes his friends' hands in his own. In truth, he is both terrified and delighted. In spite of Vassago's eloquent reaction, he does not yet dare to hope that he was destined to meet the gorgeous imp.
And that, perhaps, they will meet again.
« What do you need to know, hermanito ? »
The term of endearment instantly put Stolas at ease. Ever since Andrealphus introduced the two of them all those years ago, Stolas had felt an immediate bond with Vassago. Despite his questionable taste in men, the older Goetia is a rarity among their kin: one of the few people in their stifled, cruel society to be genuinely kind. So it is all the stranger that he should have had a relationship with someone like Andrealphus. But perhaps the icy peacock has a hidden, softer side that he only showed to his lover.
(Not so soft, unfortunately: their breakup was far more vicious and hurtful to poor Vassago than Stolas's divorce from Andrealphus's harpy sister. At least now the two of them are free to pursue healthier relationships with more worthy lovers. Stolas can only hope he himself will be deserving of the one he so desperately wants to be intimate with.)
« Is it… » Stolas pauses, unsure how to best express his doubts.
Fortunately, Via interrupts them by running at full speed towards the pair to wrap her little arms around Vassago's legs. Stolas let go of the other Goetia.
« Uncle Vassago! » his owlette chirps, in an excited voice. « Daddy and I had the best time last night! »
« No tengo the slightest doubt about that », replies Vassago with a small smirk addressed to Stolas, before leaning over to lift Via into his arms and kiss her on both cheeks. « Hola pequeña princesa . Are you happy to see me? »
Via grins and nods vigorously. Vassago is one of her favorite people. (Stolas would have said that he is the one she loves most outside her parents, but after meeting the magnificent Blitz yesterday, he is no longer so sure. He certainly cannot blame her, so confused are his own feelings.) The fact that she regards the parrot as an uncle and undoubtedly loves him far more than her blood relatives is a sore point for both Stella and Andrealphus. But if the peacock did not want his niece to prefer his former paramour, perhaps he should have shown her a little kindness and attention once in a full moon…
« Starfire, I know you can't wait to tell your Uncle Vassago about your meeting with B.... Mr. Buckzo, but I need to talk to him too. Could you play with your dolls for a while? I'll call you when it's time for tea », he adds, when Via's sweet little face twitches in disappointment.
How is Stolas supposed to reconcile his role as a father with listening to his own desires?
Does he have the right?
Will he even have the opportunity?
« Can I show my books to Uncle Vassago? And the drawing I made for Mr. Buckzo? » Via asks, with those big, pleading eyes she knows Stolas is incapable of resisting.
« Tell you what, pequeña », says Vassago with a knowing smile, « you can show me todo esto over tea. ¿ Está de acuerdo ? »
Via ponders this for a few seconds, then her face lights up.
« Okay, Uncle Vassago. I'll go color my drawing! I'm going to make Sunbeam purple because Mr. Buckzo likes purple! »
Stolas cannot help but picture the gorgeous imp lying on the purple sheets of his bed, his red and white skin contrasting with the dark color of the silk. The image is so vivid in his mind that he is fairly certain his face has just turned bright red.
« Good idea, my owlette », he says after clearing his throat. « I am sure Mr. Buckzo will like it very much! »
Via runs away as fast as her short legs will carry her. As soon as she is out of sight, Vassago turns to Stolas, and this time his smile is downright wicked.
« Now, hermanito , tell me everything about el señor Buckzo! »
« Vassago... please... » says Stolas, grabbing his friend by the wrist. « Is this real? Could he be... »
‘Mine’ is the word that comes to mind. And yet, it feels so presumptuous. Not only that, but he doesn't want to ‘own’ the magnificent man. Like the horses in his stories, Blitz Buckzo is destined to be free. If anything, Stolas would love to be owned by him …
By chance, Vassago seems to understand what Stolas cannot bring himself to say. The parrot cups his face with both hands and looks him in his lower set of eyes.
« Sí , Stolas. You were destinado to meet him. »
Stolas' heart starts beating so fast it feels like it might burst.
« But... What now? How am I going to find him? When? Is he... Are we… » he lowers his voice, as if anyone else were there to hear him in the modest cottage. « Will he kiss me? »
Ever since he was a teenager, Stolas has been reading romance novels. The kind of novels where both protagonists are men. Of course, he had to hide them, both from Stella and from his fellow Goetias. Although a handful of them are openly gay, Stolas was never allowed such freedom. His father would never have permitted it. Yet when he read those books and imagined himself in the position of the damsel in distress, his virile lover had no distinguishing marks. Not even a face. Just strong arms and a muscular torso to snuggle up to...
However, Stolas is almost certain that all these faceless heroes will henceforth have the same rugged beauty, manly features and white-and-red coloring as a certain imp with stunning eyes of gold and ruby.
Vassago's expression turns amused.
« Oh, baby, you're adorable cuando estás so flustered. Unfortunately, no puedo responderte that. You and him were destined to meet and, con mucha luck, the two of you could create a bridge between los Goetia and the lower classes of Hellborn... But if you want a happy ending, amigo mío , you'll have to help yourself… Nobody else can do it por ti . »