Chapter Text
It's a cold day in mid-November.
People bustle about, wrapped up in scarves and winter coats.
Blitzø, though—he's got on a light jacket and fingerless gloves. No need to bend to the weather.
That day was cold, too.
He shakes his head. Focus. Current mission: coffee to warm him up.
Coffee goes without incident. Just what he ordered: mocha, nothing added.
Successful sip follows successful sip.
And then…
He's turning to leave the warm air of the coffee shop, mind buzzing as he catalogs everything he has to do before he can settle into his new apartment.
Something smacks straight into Blitzø.
…What the fuck?
"Hey, watch it, asshole."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Posh British dickbags, walking around like they own the place. This is BLITZØ'S…
Well, no, it's not HIS town anymore. Not since he left.
But it's sure as shit not THAT guy's, either.
And who drinks an iced coffee in THIS weather? Blitzø likes an iced coffee as much as the next guy… but it can't be hotter than 37 out there. Picked a warm coffee himself, so his fingers don't fall off.
No job yet. Already paid the month's rent before he got here. Boxes piled in his entryway.
Loona's got his old apartment to herself. She's never lived by herself before.
Yeah, she's 22… but she's still his baby girl.
He barely waits until he's back in the new apartment to check up on her. (It's been barely 24 hours since he's seen her.)
She picks up the phone on the third ring.
"Heyyy, Loony," Blitzø says. Sets his coffee on the table just inside the door. Kicks off his shoes.
"Hi, dad." Audible eyeroll.
Blitzø's instinct is to collapse onto the couch. (There is no couch yet. He'd left Loona his old one, and furniture's expensive.)
Instead, he picks up the coffee again. Takes a sip—doesn't burn his mouth, so by Blitzø's standards, it's cool enough to drink.
"So…" he starts. "How are things?"
"It's been a day!" Loona sighs. "I'm fine, Blitzø."
(She's not mad.)
"And? Lotta shit can happen in a day."
"I'm fine," she says again, quieter. "You?" Casual.
"Fine."
(She doesn't believe him.)
"Well, okay. If we're both fine… I need to get to work. You gonna be…?"
"Yeah," Blitzø says. "Love you, sweetie."
"Love you, dad." She hangs up.
Blitzø looks around his empty apartment.
What NOW?
Not like he's got any friends here. Everybody he knew probably still blames him. Can't just ask 'Can I come over?' without getting laughed out of the call.
Only person he used to know…
Well, how's Blitzø even supposed to know if she's still in town? It's been 25 years. Hell, if she's still here, she wouldn't remember him.
(He can't even remember her name.)
Something about birds.
Can't stay here.
Shopping square's as good a spot as any.
Blitzø almost forgets his coffee. Halfway down the hallway—has to go back for it.
There's a nice sunny spot on a particular bench. (Blitzø almost remembers this bench. Waiting with Barbie while their mother did the shopping…)
All that's gone now.
Bench is still here.
Blitzø reminds himself of a cat, in the sunny spot. Watches people go by. Shrugs off his coat. (He's always run warm anyway.)
"Oh, it's you!"
It's… who?
British guy. Shit. Asshole from the coffee shop. Freezing his fingers off.
"Yeah?" Blitzø tilts his head back to really look behind him.
Tall guy. Young, but graying hair. Cartoonishly blue eyes.
He's attractive enough. That's not gonna make Blitzø put his guard down. Plenty of hot people are dicks.
"I'm sorry about earlier," the man says. "I wasn't watching where I was going…"
"With your iced coffee, in 30 degree weather?" Blitzø snorts.
Guy turns red. (So he's one of those people. Easy to mess with.) "Er. Yes. Well. I usually drink tea, but I needed to focus today…" He trails off. Maybe he'll leave. "I'm, my name is Stolas. I like your tattoos."
Or not.
Blitzø follows Stolas' eyes—his arm, resting on top of the bench. "Blitzø. Thanks, I got this sleeve to cover up my scars."
"Oh." Stolas' face falls. "I'm sorry—"
"Long time ago," Blitzø interrupts. "Don't ask, and you'll be fine."
Stolas nods.
Blitzø sighs, turning away. "C'mere." Pats the bench lazily.
"Oh." Stolas sounds surprised. Joins Blitzø, leaving space between.
"I got bored, so I'm here." Blitzø doesn't look over. "You shopping for something? Getting your girlfriend a last-minute birthday gift?"
"Boyfriend, actually. And, er… no, I'm single. I was…" Pauses. "Bored, too, I suppose."
That tracks.
"So, what, we're gonna just be bored together?" Blitzø snorts.
"I suppose so," Stolas says.
Weird guy.
Blitzø doesn't have a bed yet.
Unpacks just the bedding, throws it on the floor, and settles down for the night.
Sleep's about as fast as it always has been (not fast at all).
Blitzo smiles at her. She smiles too.
She doesn't have a single clue as he robs her blind. (Probably figures it out after. Nobody comes to get it back.)
Trusting. Big eyes… gray? Hazel? Blue? Long dark hair.
Playing together. Her showing him her home. (His home is small. Her home is not.)
She likes him. He likes her too, he thinks.
It's just an afternoon. They don't keep in touch.
…something about birds.
Blitzø wakes up.
Okay, that's more than coincidence. (He's back in town.) Fate's not real, but people are.
Maybe he should find her again.