Work Text:
Four symbols.
That was all it took for Blitzo to put on his jacket and slip quietly out of his apartment so as not to wake Loona and Stolas. The fireworks had died down, but the streets were still filled with revelry.
As he climbed the steps of the fire escape, he was still amazed by the many banners bearing his name. In an instant, he had become a hero, an inspiration to the Imps.
When he reached the roof, he wasn't there, just as he'd expected. After all, it was a long way from Lust to Pride, so Blitzo made himself comfortable and sat down on the roof railing.
Time passed, but there was still no one there, and Blitzo slowly began to get restless. He clutched the phone in his hands.
The message was unmistakable, unchanged even after all these years. Their code. Their secret code from their circus days, when neither of them had a phone of their own and no one was supposed to know about it.
When they wanted to keep him away from the circus star, so as not to distract him with someone like him. Someone worthless.
“Phew, I didn’t know there wasn’t an lift here.”
Blitzo slowly turned around and widened his eyes. “You really came?”
“Of course,” replied Fizzarolli, still panting, and clutched his side. “I asked you to come, didn’t I?”
Frog, horse, house, upward arrow = meet on the roof
How many times had they sent each other that emoji combo so they could meet up without being noticed?
Without anyone else being able to interrupt them. So they could feel free.
Fizzarolli had been his best friend and the only one who hadn’t thought of him as a waste of space. The only one who didn’t think he was just a worthless mouth to feed, someone who added no value—as Blizo’s father always said so bluntly.
When this friendship fell apart due to a misunderstanding, burned down like the circus tent, and died like the last bit of happiness in Blitz’s life, it hurt almost more than the burn scars that had marked him ever since.
Without hesitation, Fizzarolli sat down next to Blitzo. Neither of them said a word. The carefree spirit of their shared youth had vanished, and even though they had grown closer again, the long period during which their friendship had been broken still weighed heavily on them.
“Crazy day, huh?” Fizzarolli broke the silence and looked at Blitzo. “Definitely. The craziest part is that I’m still alive,” said Blitzo, looking down at the street. “I never would have thought I’d be this popular. If I’d known that nearly dying would get me this much publicity, I would have tried it a lot sooner.”
Laughing, he spread his arms wide and stood on the roof railing. “I’m swamped with jobs and requests from employees.” He grinned at Fizzarolli. “Not bad for someone who used to be nothing but a waste of air.”
The other guy grimaced. “Don’t say that. You know it’s not true.”
He stood up too and pulled Blitzo down from the railing onto the ground.
“I’m glad you’re still alive,” said Fizzarolli, looking at Blitzo seriously. “I was scared when I saw the trial on TV. I thought Satan was getting serious.”
“Then I’d just be gone—no big deal. Besides—”
“Stop saying that!
Startled, Blitzo looked at Fizzarolli in shock at his outburst. “Fizz, I’m just joking and—”
“That’s not funny, Blitz!” Tears welled up in Fizzarolli’s eyes. “I really thought he was going to kill you! I begged Ozzie to do something because I couldn’t do anything but watch my best friend get punished for something he didn’t even do!”
He bared his teeth. “There’s nothing funny about you dying! So stop joking about it and—”
The rest was lost in the tight embrace he was pulled into. “I’m sorry,” Blitzo whispered, stroking his back. “Please don’t cry because of me.”
The floodgates were now wide open, and Fizzarolli began to sob, “Then stop spouting stuff like that!,” and wrapped his arms around Blitzo as well.
“There are so many people who are glad you’re still here. Me, Ozzie, your coworkers, your daughter, and Stolas! I’ve stood by and watched others talk to you like that before, without doing anything. I won’t let you do it to yourself now!
“You matter, you're wonderful. It's wonderful that you exist and are alive. So stop talking and thinking about yourself that way. There are many people who love you and would be sad if you weren't here anymore, so...”
He paused when he felt something wet on his cheek.
“Blitz?”
“Okay,” Blitzo whispered, his voice thick with tears.
Fizzarolli nodded, pulled him closer, and wrapped protectively around him.
Blitzo hadn’t cried in a long time, but Fizzarolli’s words struck a chord with him and made him incredibly happy at the same time.
“Thanks, Fizz. Thanks for saying that,” he murmured, burying his face deep in the crook of Fizzarolli’s neck.
“You’re welcome,” Fizzarolli said gently, rubbing his cheek against his, just as he used to do. Back in the days when they still had to communicate through secret messages.
Frog, horse, house, upward arrow = I want to see you
Frog, horse, house, upward arrow = I want to be with you
Frog, horse, house, upward arrow = I need you