Thank You, LostSoul09, estelacastro0706, and C48 for commenting. The most comments I've ever gotten on here!
Blitz squirmed in his hospital bed, fighting the urge to pick at his IV as he waited for Stolas to return. The owl had gone to speak to the doctor, but that had been almost half an hour ago.
Sighing, he pulled out his phone, knowing he needed to tell Loona what was happening, but dreading the response he'd get. So, being the coward that he was, Blitz decided to text her instead.
Blitz: Hey sweetie. In hosptal but okya now. baby is fien two. No wories. Love you!
Perfect.
Blitz hit send, and a moment later, his phone was ringing.
Shit.
Blitz braced himself as he answered.
"Heeeey Looney, what-"
"What the fuck kind of text was that?!" His daughter yelled, "Why the fuck are you in the hospital?"
Blitz chuckled nervously as he tried to make light of the situation.
"You know those commercials where the old lady falls and can't get up? It turns out that shit can happen to just about anyone nowadays."
Loona was not amused.
"Can you be serious for five fucking minutes?" She asked.
Blitz sighed, trying a different approach.
"Look, I wasn't feeling too well before, but Stolas got me to a hospital, and I'm good now."
Loona wasn't satisfied with this response either.
"What did the damn doctor say?"
Blitz rolled his eyes, deciding that honesty was his only option.
"I was dehydrated and anemic and should have made a follow-up appointment with them."
"You didn't make a follow-up appointment?!" Loona snapped.
Blitz winced, using his free hand to rub his temple.
"Can you not yell, sweetie," He pleaded, "Daddy's got a headache."
"You're a dumbass; you know that," Loona replied, although she did lower her voice slightly.
Blitz sighed.
"Yeah, I know, I-"
"I shouldn't have left you this morning."
Blitz blinked, stunned at the barely concealed guilt he could hear in his daughter's voice.
"What? No, that's not-" he shook his head, frowning, "This isn't anyone's fault but my own, okay? I fucked up. You have nothing to feel bad about."
"Didn't say I felt bad," Loona muttered unconvincingly before carrying on, "So what's the deal? Are they keeping you overnight or what?"
"I sure as hell ain't spending the night in this shithole," Blitz complained, "The whole place reeks of disinfectant and death. Stolas is asking the doctor now if I can leave."
"Fair enough," Loona replied, her tone again disinterested, "Just text me and let me know what's up."
Blitz smiled as he agreed and said his goodbyes, telling Loona that he loved her, heart soaring when the disgruntle hellhound muttered a faint 'you too' before hanging up.
He slipped his phone back into the pocket of his sweatpants, perking up when the door to his room opened, and Stolas stepped back inside.
"So, what's the verdict?" Blitz asked, "Am I out of here or what?"
Stolas sighed, running a hand through the feathers on his head as he approached the side of Blitz's bed.
"They want you to stay overnight," Blitz groaned at the news, "However," He perked back up, attentive as Stolas continued, "I've convinced them to release you today depending on a few conditions."
Blitz raised an eyebrow, "Such as?"
"You are to be on bed rest for the next two days."
Blitz frowned at that but didn't argue.
"They also requested you eat meals high in iron and take Iron supplements," Stolas continued, "And be kept under a watchful eye from here on out."
That gave the imp pause.
"What? Like a fucking babysitter or some shit?" He asked, not liking the idea.
"I've volunteered myself for the task, actually," The owl replied, looking nervous, "I know this is sudden, but I think it would be in everyone's best interest if you were to move into the palace."
Blitz blinked, mouth gaping for a moment as he processed the words.
"You...want me to move in?"
For a moment, Blitz's mind completely blanked, a mantra of 'too much, too soon' running through his head. Panic quickly set in, his heart racing and breathing becoming labored.
He couldn't do this. He couldn't-
"Blitz? Blitz!"
Stolas's hands suddenly gripped his shoulders, and Blitz stared into his worried red eyes as he gasped for air.
"Darling, breathe," The owl instructed, "It's alright. Come now, deep breath for me."
Shame and embarrassment coiled tight in his stomach, but Blitz closed his eyes and took in as deep a breath as he could.
"That's good, just like that," Stolas encouraged him, "Now another."
Blitz did as instructed and, after a few moments, was able to regain control of his breathing. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Stolas's guilty expression as the owl pulled away from him.
"I am so sorry to have sprung that on you," The Prince apologized, "I know that moving in is ...a big step."
Blitz let out a quick sharp laugh.
"Ya think?" he scoffed, "Shit, Stolas, we've only been dating for a few weeks, and we haven't even been on an actual fucking date yet."
Stolas winced.
"This need not be a permanent arrangement," The owl replied, looking sad, "Once the baby is born, you may go back to occupying your apartment if you like, but for the time being, it seems a wise decision."
Blitz rubbed both hands over his face in frustration.
"You may even have a separate room from me," Stolas added- as if trying to soften a blow.
Blitz looked back up, seeing how defeated the owl appeared and realizing he was taking Blitz's reaction to heart.
He sighed.
"This isn't fucking personal," Blitz replied, "I just...don't handle change well."
Stolas's gaze turned more hopeful.
"I'm just getting used to the idea of being pregnant, of being in an actual fucking relationship with you, and-" Blitz sighed, rubbing the bridge between his eyes as his headache mounted, "It's just a fuck ton of change, is all."
Stolas made a slight sound as he cleared his throat, and Blitz looked up to find the owl tentatively holding up a hand, the tips of his fingers glowing with familiar magic.
"May I?"
Blitz gave a silent nod, and Stolas wasted no time bringing both his hands to the imps temples. The cooling sensation was not as jarring as it had been the first time, and Blitz hummed appreciatively as he brought his hands up to grip the owl's thin wrists. Blitz felt his eyes slip closed as Stolas's magic did its job, the owl's fingers gently massaging the sides of his head until the pain faded away.
The owl's hands then slid down to lay on either side of his face, and Blitz blinked his eyes open. Stolas's face was much closer than before, gaze soft and adoring. After everything that had transpired, Blitz wondered how the prince could still look at him like that. Shouldn't he be angry? Stolas had been worried about Blitz's health from the start, and the lesser demon had blatantly tossed that concern aside.
Blitz gently pulled the owl's hands off his face, looking off to the side.
"You should be telling me 'I told you so,' not healing my fucking headaches," He muttered.
Stolas blinked, clearly caught off guard by Blitz's voice and words.
"Now, why in hell would I do that?" he asked softly.
"Because you were fucking right," Blitz looked back up at him, his anger at himself making his voice come out stern, "I don't know what 'fine' is, and I put both myself and the baby at risk cause I didn't see a fucking doctor sooner."
"And you clearly realize the error of your ways," Stolas added softly, "I see no reason to make you feel any worse over the matter. And I will always do whatever it is in my power to ease your pain, my dear."
An emotion he was too terrified to identify stirred inside Blitz, making him feel warm all over. The kindness and care, both in Stolas's voice and gaze, was something he so desperately craved, and yet, at the same time...
'I don't deserve it.' he thought, but didn't say, 'I don't deserve you.'
Blitz pushed those thoughts away, closing the distance between them. Stolas let out a surprised sound in his throat as their mouths connected but quickly melted into the kiss, beak opening so their tongues could brush against one another teasingly.
When Blitz pulled back, Stolas let out a slight protesting whine that caused the imp to chuckle.
"Thanks for not being a dick about it," The imp said.
Stolas sighed, a weak smile gracing his features.
"I know I'm asking a lot of you," The owl said, "But it would certainly ease my mind to have you near me."
Blitz frowned, another worry coming to mind.
"What about Loona?" he asked, "I can't just leave her."
Stolas's eyes widened.
"Of course not," The prince replied, "The offer extends to her, too. After all, there's plenty of empty rooms available."
"You'd seriously take us both in?" Blitz asked, clearly skeptical.
"I'm certainly not going to ask you to leave your daughter behind, Blitzy," Stolas replied, looking affronted.
"And what about your daughter?" Blitz raised an eyebrow, "How's she going to feel about Loona and me just moving in on her?"
"You needn't worry about that," Stolas replied, "I spoke to Via over the phone about the arrangement prior to bringing it up with you. Initially, she was hesitant but agreed that it was the safer option. She also seemed eager to meet your daughter; apparently, the two have been chatting on Sinstagram for weeks."
"No shit?" Blitz grinned, "Figured those two would get along."
"I was glad to hear it as well," Stolas replied, "I often worry that Via isn't getting enough social interaction."
It was quiet for a bit, and Blitz sighed.
"Look, how about this," The imp began, "I stay with you for the next few days while I'm on bedrest and then talk to Loona about moving in. If she's okay with it, we'll go from there."
Stolas smiled and nodded.
"That is perfectly reasonable."
"So, does that mean we can leave now or what?" Blitz asked, "Because I can't fucking stand places like this."
Stolas chuckled.
"Yes, my dear," He replied, "I'll get a doctor to disconnect your I.V."
"Oh, no need- I got this," Blitz then proceeded to rip the I.V. from his arm with a wince, ignoring the shocked cry of protest from the owl.
Blitz shot him a sharp-toothed grin as Stolas covered his face with one hand and sighed.
"I'll retrieve your pills, and we can be on our way," he said after he composed himself, "Can you behave yourself until then?"
"No promises, Pretty bird," Blitz winked, and the blush that graced Stolas's face as he turned to leave let him know that all was forgiven.
"Oh, and Stolas?"
The bird paused at the door to look back at him.
"No separate rooms, okay?"
The prince seemed to take a moment to process the words before a bright smile lit up his face.
