The good mood Blitz initially had upon arriving at work was completely ruined. He sulked in his office for the first few hours before meeting with a potential client, turning on his charm and confidence as quickly as flipping a switch.
The job was a simple one; revenge against a former neighbor, the two having been rivals for years, and the vengeful demon having died of a heart attack during a heated argument with the guy. Easy kill.
Usually, he would introduce the client to his team, but still feeling hurt and angry over their earlier conversation, Blitz simply sent the client on his way with the promise of having his neighbor killed within the next few days.
When Moxxie had tentatively asked about the job, Blitz quickly replied.
'Don't worry your empty little head about it, Mox. I might just take care of this one on my own.'
He hadn't waited for the others to respond to his words, strolling into the break room for a bottle of water before returning to his office.
Blitz sat back in his chair as he pulled his phone from his pocket, his mood softening when he saw he'd received a text from Stolas nearly an hour prior.
Pretty Bird: Preparing a light lunch for Octavia and me. Hope you're remembering to eat as well, my dear.
Blitz groaned at the reminder, reaching into his desk for some type of sustenance and pulling out a granola bar with a triumphant cry. Although he still didn't have much appetite, Blitz was determined to eat something just so he could tell Stolas he had.
He took a bite as he texted back.
Blitz: eting now. Howd it go wiht ur kid?
He expected a quick reply from the owl, who was usually very prompt in responding to his texts, but Blitz finished the whole granola bar before his phone dinged again. Instead of the lengthy answer he was accustomed to, he received only a sad emoji.
Blitz instantly sat up, frowning. Something had gone wrong, something the usually articulate owl could not or would not put into words. Before he realized it, Blitz was calling him, phone pressed to his ear and foot tapping impatiently as it rang and rang.
Stolas had just texted him; Blitz knew he had his phone, so why wasn't he picking up?
Just when he was about to give up, Stolas answered.
"It's about fuckin time," Blitz found himself saying before he could stop himself.
"I...I'm terribly sorry Blitzy," the Prince replied, his voice low and congested.
Blitz could immediately tell the bird had been crying. In fact, Blitz guessed he had probably spent the time his phone was ringing trying to disguise the fact.
'fuck.'
"What happened?' his voice was suddenly deadly serious.
"It's nothing," Stolas tried to dismiss, still sounding impossibly sad, "I'm fine, my dear."
"Bullshit," Blitz shot back, "Now tell me the truth."
Stolas sighed.
"Things with Octavia did not go as well as I'd hoped," The avian demon admitted.
Blitz winced.
"She's pissed about the baby, huh?' he guessed.
"Oh no," the owl replied, much to his surprise, "She was admittedly taken back by the news, but she did say she was happy for me. We had a nice, quiet lunch together after that."
"The fuck?" Blitz replied, shaking his head, "You're giving me fucking whiplash here, babe. I thought you were just saying it went bad."
"Yes, well, after we were done eating, she-"Stolas choked, voicing suddenly thick with barely controlled emotion, "She said she wanted to move in with Stella. Permanently."
Blitz blinked, leaning back in his chair heavily.
"Oh."
"Oh, Blitzy," The Prince wept, "I don't know what to do."
Blitz winced. He could imagine how heartbroken he'd be if Loona decided to move out, and she wasn't even as young as Octavia was. He also hated hearing Stolas so upset; the sounds of his muffled sobs tugging at his heart.
"Did you tell her you wanted her to stay?" He asked.
"How could I?" The Prince sniffled, "She's had such a difficult time during this separation, and she's old enough to make her own choices. I told her I respected her decision."
"Fuck that," Blit replied, "If Loony said she wanted to move in with someone else, I'd throw a fucking fit. Probably cry like a baby right in front of her too."
"I kept my tears at bay until I reached my bedroom," Stolas said, no longer crying but still down, "I didn't want to make her feel bad."
"Well, I guess that makes you a better person than me," Blitz admitted lightly, "Emotional manipulation is one of my finest parenting tools."
He'd hoped his words would earn him a chuckle from the owl, but Stolas sniffed quietly on the other end, still holding back tears.
"You, uh, gonna be okay?" Blitz asked, not sure what to do from here.
"I'll be fine, my dear," Stola answered, clearing his throat, "In fact, I think I'll take a small nap; I am rather tired, for some reason."
Blitz had to stop himself from pointing out that all the crying had probably exhausted him. He wouldn't call the owl out on it.
"Sure, Stols," He replied, "Just take it easy."
"You as well, Darling," The Bird demon replied, his voice suddenly warm with affection, "Perhaps I can call you later?"
"Sounds good."
"Farewell, My dear."
"Later, Pretty bird."
Blitz hung up, staring thoughtfully at the contact picture still on display. Usually, Blitz let Stolas sort out his own problems, limiting their contact to those full moon nights of passion and telling himself he had no business inserting himself into Stolas's life beyond that. Now, though, the rules had changed. They were having a child together, they were in a newly formed relationship, and Blitz felt obligated to alleviate the sad owl's mood. Even beyond a mere sense of duty, Blitz found that he genuinely wanted to do something to help.
He got up from his desk and exited his office with purpose. Millie and Moxxie were immediately on alert, standing up straight and giving Blitz their full attention. Even Loona lowered her phone to look up at him.
"I'm headed out for the day," He stated, "If any more clients call, just book them for a meeting tomorrow."
Millie and Moxxie exchanged silent looks before the latter spoke up.
"May I ask where it is you're running off to, Sir?"
Blitz gave the imp a sharp smile.
"I believe that would be under the category of none of your damn business," he replied in a falsely cheerful voice.
Moxxie frowned, clearly annoyed with his answer, but Millie stepped forward with a look of concern.
"You're not still sore over this morning, are ya?"
It was harder to be rude towards the female imp, but Blitz leveled her with an unimpressed stare before promptly marching out the door.
For the third day in a row, Blitz parked in front of the Stolas's place.
He walked around towards the palace side, neck craning up toward the balcony. He did a few stretches in preparation for the climb, stepping forward and finding his purchase.
"You can use the front door, you know."
"Shit!" Blitz cursed as his foot slipped, turning around in a defensive crouch.
He blinked at the young owl demon looking back at him, instantly relaxing his stance when he recognized her as Stolas's daughter.
"Fuck, you scared me, kid."
"Aren't you supposed to be some kind of assassin?" She asked, lifting an unimpressed eyebrow.
Blitz felt his face heat up, admittedly embarrassed that the teen had managed to catch him off guard.
"Yeah, well, I'm still working on the eyes in the back of my head thing," he griped, "What are you doing lurking around out here anyway?"
"I came out here for some fresh air," Octavia replied, "Not that it's any of your business."
"Getting one final look at the place before you abandon it and everyone inside?"
Blitz immediately winced at his harsh tone, reminding himself that he was talking to a child. Octavia looked taken back, but she only allowed the surprise to show for a moment before schooling her features back into a neutral setting.
"Dad told you? That didn't take long," her eyes darted down to his stomach and then off to the side, pretending to be uninterested, "I guess he tells you everything now, huh."
Blitz wasn't sure how to take the comment, clearly sensing the teen was upset about something.
"Be honest with me," He said, "Does you moving out have anything to do with me and this kid I'm carrying?"
Octavia refused to look back at him, shoulders hunching as she crossed her arms almost protectively in front of her.
"It does, doesn't it?" Blitz sighed, cursing softly under his breath, bringing his hands up to rub at his temples as a headache started to form.
"It's complicated," The teen finally replied, "You wouldn't understand."
"Understand what? That you feel like you're being replaced?" Blitz guessed.
Octavia snapped her gaze back on him, eyes narrowed.
"It's not that simple," She replied, clearly frustrated, "I'm doing this for him, not me."
Blitz laughed harshly at that, earning him a deep glare from the princess.
"Bullshit," He called her out, "If this was for Stolas, then why was he in tears when I talked to him?"
Octavia's eyes widened, arms falling to her sides, visibly startled by Blitz's words.
"He..he was crying?" Her voice was suddenly small, "But he...he said he respected my decision."
Blitz rolled his eyes.
"Well, that's cause you're both full of shit," he replied before sighing, softening his tone as he continued, "He didn't want to make you feel guilty."
Octavia blinked, tilting her head toward the balcony and her father's room.
"I thought...," She paused, visibly swallowing back her emotions, "I thought I'd be in the way and...and if I left, he could finally have the family he's always wanted. "
"You thought he didn't want you?" It was Blitz's turn to be surprised.
Octavia looked back down at him, eyes suddenly misty.
Blitz shook his head, taking a few steps towards her.
"Look, I don't know what's going on in that head of yours," The imp said, "But your dad is crazy about you."
"Really?"
she sounded impossibly young and vulnerable at that moment, and Blitz was quick to reply.
"Fuck yeah," he answered, "You should hear the way he talks about you."
Octavia's eyebrows lifted, "He talks about me?"
"All the fucking time," Blitz exclaimed, "At least when he's not being a horny bastard."
The young owl scrunched up her face in disgust, and Blitz chuckled.
"You remind me of my Loona when you make that face," he said.
Octavia's magenta eyes widened, "You have a daughter? Seriously?"
Blitz pulled out his phone, quickly bringing up a picture of him and Loona, the latter looking like she'd rather be doing anything other than standing in the photo. He stood beside the young owl, beaming as he held out his phone for her to see.
"That's my looney poo, right there," He pointed out, "I adopted her when she was about your age."
The princess blinked at the photo.
"She looks like she's going to bite your head off."
Blitz's grin never faltered, "That's my girl! Full of spirit!"
Octavia chuckled.
"It's hard to picture you as a dad," she admitted, "I guess I only thought of you as, well-"
"The weird guy fucking your dad?" Blitz finished.
"Pretty much."
"Yeah, well," Blitz put away his phone, "Now I'm the weird guy dating your dad."
"And having his baby," Octavia added, glancing again at Blitz's stomach.
"That too," he conceded, tilting his head questioningly, "Does that bother you?"
Octavia shrugged.
"It's just weird," she paused before continuing, "But I always wanted to be a big sister."
"Yeah, your dad told me," At her surprised glance, he replied, "I told you, he talks about you. He said the day you were born was the happiest day of his life."
The teen looked teary-eyed again.
"I don't want to move in with my mum," She blurted out.
Blitz had figured as much. Even when the Prince had first told him the news, a part of him had been baffled that anyone could have chosen that bitch over Stolas.
"It's not that I don't love my mum," Octavia hurried to explain, her sudden nervousness reminding him of Stolas, "It's just that she can be...difficult sometimes. And she's always yelling about dad and, I just-"
"Whoa, hey, I get it," Blitz replied, placing a gentle hand on the princess's shoulder, "You don't have to explain it to me, but I think your dad would be interested in knowing how you feel."
Octavia sniffed, discreetly wiping away a tear.
"Didn't have you pegged for the emotionally honest type," She replied.
"Oh, fuck no," Blitz scoffed, "I'm an emotionally stunted hypocrite."
He was pleasantly surprised when that earned him even a weak chuckle.
"Look, I came here today to try and cheer your dad up, but I think what he really needs is to hear from you."
Octavia looked at him wide-eyed again, "You're leaving?"
"You want me to stay?" Blitz challenged jokingly.
He sobered quickly when Octavia looked away, tugging self-consciously at her sleeve.
"I mean, I could," Blitz said, feeling out of his depth, "If you want?"
"Maybe just walk me to his room?" She asked, "So I don't lose my nerve."
Blitz was reminded once again how young the princess was.
"Sure thing, sweetie."
"My name is Octavia," She brushed some feathered bangs from her face, "In case you didn't know."
"Got it, Octapie!" Blitz grinned, purposely mispronouncing her name, which caused the teen to groan in annoyance.
"That name better not stick," She complained, "And we're using the front door; there's no way I'm scaling this wall."
Blitz gave her a mock bow.
"Lead the way, Princess."
Octavia rolled her eyes, but even Blitz could spot the small smile she sported as she walked past.