Striker smiled fondly as Moxxie and Millie kept Maria entertained by showing her some of their weapons, the former going on and on about the history, durability, and such about each of them. He then glanced at the desk where Loona was on her phone, as usual. He might as well get this over with right now if not sooner.

He cleared his throat. "Blitz, ya mind if I borrow your office for a moment?"

"Sure thing, Strikes! By the way, hope you don't mind the mess, I haven't exactly-"

"I'd like to speak with Loona... alone."

Blitz blinked in surprise. "Oh? What about?"

Striker gestured him to come closer so he could whisper in his ear; he made sure to keep his voice down so the others didn't hear. Blitz's eyes widened once it clicked.

"Ohhh, I gotcha." He turned to Loona. "Loonie, be a dear and head to the office. Striker says he'd like a word with you."

"A word? What would he wanna talk to me for?"

She looked up and noticed the serious look on Striker's face. Wordlessly, the two of them went into Blitz's office as the three imps on the couch watched, concerned.

"Wonderful! You kids have fun, but not too much, you hear? Say Mox, where'd ya get that one again?"

Striker sighed and shook his head as he closed the door. He then turned to Loona, who was already sitting in the chair, giving her a firm look.

"Okay, I'll bite. What are we really doing here?"

"Loona, I wanna talk to you about what happened up there."

Loona groaned, "Look Striker, if you're gonna lecture me about me taking a little break, I already got enough of that crap from Blitz, so-"

Striker held up his hand, silencing her. "Actually... I mean about what you said to Maria."

Loona opened her mouth, but then closed it when she realized what he meant. She'd noticed Maria wouldn't even look at her when they came back to work this morning, in fact, the impling looked rather scared when she greeted them and her dad just gave her a silent nod.

"When I woke up yesterday to a hangover, no thanks to those damn humans, she told me you said something really shitty to her. Now, I don't know exactly what you and Blitz were arguin' about, but it doesn't give you the right to lash out at her like that!"

"Hey, it wasn't my fault!" Loona snapped. "That little termite shouldn't be sticking her fucking nose in my-"

The slamming of Striker's hands on the desk shut her up immediately.

"That 'little termite' is my daughter." Striker snarled darkly. "And you really hurt her this time. Did you even stop to think about her feelings? Do you ever stop to think about that?" Loona didn't dare make a sound as he paced around the office during his rant. "Ever since Maria and I joined this company, all you've done is insult her, call her names, and treat her like shit. I've let most of it slide before, but this?! This is by far the shittiest thing you've ever done to her!"

"I..." She tried to find the rights word, but all she got out was, "Well... she didn't have to butt in like that!"

Striker groaned but restrained from snapping. "For your information, the only reason she went to check up on you is because I asked her to. Or at least make sure Blitz didn't go ballistic in front of you or the humans. Still, let me ask you this: what do you have against her?" This time, Loona didn't talk back. "You think you're better than her just cause you're older and bigger? You think she's really some annoying little pest you can step on any chance you get? Or... is it cause you're so bitter at everything that you take your frustrations out on those smaller than you?"

The whole time he talked, Loona remained silent and honestly, she was really... stunned. Too stunned to say anything; whatever she wanted to say, it just disappeared. It was as if he somehow saw right through her. She didn't even make any move to argue without pissing him off any further.

"I thought as much." Striker sighed. "Alright, I suggest you think about what I said and what you've done. When you're finished, I expect you to apologize to her."

Loona didn't answer, she watched as he left the office, leaving her with a LOT to think about. But still heard the little talk between Blitz and Striker out the door.

"So... how'd it go, Strikes?"

"I think it went... pretty well."

Sometime later, the adult imps were heading off to take out their latest target; Striker was the last to leave and he looked at Loona, nodding his head towards Maria, who was curled up on the couch. Loona nodded back, letting him know she understood. Once he left and the portal closed, she sat next to Maria. The impling scooted over, clearly not wanting to be here.

"Hey... Maria?"

"What do you want?" Maria asked sourly.

"I... I thought maybe you'd like some company while your dad and the others were gone." She was met with silence as Maria turned away from her, hugging her legs to herself. "C'mon, squirt. You don't gotta sit there and mope. I know you're not happy to see me but... can we talk?"

"Why would you wanna talk to me? I thought you didn't like me. I'm always in your way, remember?"

Loona opened her mouth about to make a remark, but quickly caught herself. She noticed a tear run down Maria's face despite having her back turned.

"Okay, look, about what I said. I... I know it was wrong, I just..." Fuck, why is this so hard?!

"I already know what happened to my mommy if that's you're wondering."

"...You do?"

Maria nodded, sniffling. "Daddy said she had breathing problems and... and..." She couldn't bring herself to finish, it was bad enough just hearing about it.

"Oh... shit." Now, Loona really felt shitty. "That's awful..."

"Uh-huh..."

"Are you okay?"

"Does it look like I'm okay?!" Maria snapped, whirling to her. "I just now found about my mom! And what you said to me that day didn't help anything! Even though daddy said it wasn't my fault..."

Loona placed a hand on her back, rubbing it when she clung to the arm of the couch and started crying. "Hey, hey, it's okay squirt. He's right, y'know. It's not your fault."

"Then why did you say that?"

"I didn't mean it, I was just... I was so mad, I wasn't thinking." Sighing, Loona took a deep breath. "What I'm trying to say is... I'm sorry..."

Maria looked at her again, tearfully. "Wh-what?"

Loona's face softened. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. And I'm sorry for blaming you for... you know... It's not you I was really mad at, I just... I can't stand it when Blitz gets on my case. I totally lost it and... and I took it out on you."

"I wasn't trying to..."

"I know. You were only trying to help and your dad did say he asked you to, but you should've just stayed out of it, especially if it's between me and Blitz." Maria nodded, sniffling. "Still, it's no excuse for how I acted towards you. Can... can you ever forgive me?"

"I... I guess so... but, do you really hate me?"

"Well, you can be kind of annoying sometimes." For the first time, to Maria at least, Loona was legitimately smiling at her. "But you're a good kid, squirt."

Maria now smiled as Loona gave her a tissue, which she used to dry her eyes.

"So... are we friends now? I mean, is that okay with you?"

"Y'know what, yeah, I think so."

Maria couldn't resist giving her a cheeky grin. "Does that mean you'll tell me all your little secrets?"

"Don't push your luck, termite." Loona playfully glared at her, making her giggle.

By the time the adults got back, they were all surprised and delighted to see Maria sound asleep on Loona's lap, the hellhound had one hand on the impling's back while the other held the book. Striker patted Loona on the back, thanking her, before lifting his daughter in his arms to carry her home.

*phew* This was a chore to get through. But hopefully, what I got was good enough.