Chapter 3: Striker's Past

Bombproof picked up a blanket from the living room and tucked his owner in with it.

"Thanks, Bombproof," Striker said, petting his muzzle and yawning. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, snoring within minutes.

…

A slender figure stepped into the house, lit a candle, and shook a bell, startling him awake.

"Wha?" Striker gasped.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but Blitzo and Kaitlin sent me," a female voice informed him, tapping him on the shoulder. She had a white gown and long golden hair. "I'm Charlie."

"Can't you wait until morning? I'm trying to sleep." He covered his head with a pillow, only for the same demon to uncover him and take the pillow out of his grasp.

"No, Striker, it's time we discover your past and the real reason you hate Christmas." Charlie pulled him out of the couch and saw a beautiful horse. "Hey, you have a pretty horse. May I pet him?"

"I don't give a rat's ass."

Charlie pet the horse's head and muzzle. "Hey, there," she cooed, "You're so beautiful." Then she climbed on the horse. "Take my hand. I'll show you your past."
Striker was hesitant at first, but then he realized that Kaitlin and Blitzo sent her to his house to visit him. He sighed. "Alright, let's go." He grabbed her hand and she pulled him up, even though he was capable of climbing up on Bombproof himself, he decided to let her assist him. Then, the two fled off to discover the cowboy's past.

…

Charlie and Striker came to the house he grew up in with his mother, Amelia in the Wrath ring.

"This is your mother, Striker and you as a baby," Charlie said, gesturing towards the scene.

"I couldn't breathe," Striker recalled sadly.

"She thought you were stillborn, but she never gave up. So she warmed you up until you took your first breath and she called you Clayton after her grandfather."

"I was happy back then with Mammy. She was the only one who loved me before I met Jane. Amelia invited her over and we celebrated Christmas together. Later, my mammy got killed by exterminators and I was stolen by Bathory, who brought me to the orphanage. She did way worse: She..."

"She what?"

"R-r-raped me." Striker snarled as if scolding himself for stuttering.

"That's terrible."

"I took a bunch of killing jobs for her, so I could pay for freedom, which was 1,000 souls. One day, I saw a baby horse, who was weak, but I secretly took care of him and he became my friend since then. Like me, he also lost his family."

"That's you, Bombproof," Charlie cooed affectionately, petting Bombproof, making him neigh with contentment.

"I was an adult when I could afford freedom."

"That was before you-"

"Let me finish, little lady," Striker cut her off, "That was when I saw Jane again. Years later, I found out we were having a baby. She took a drug, which got her pregnant. At first, I didn't want to have a kid, thinking they'd be a hindrance."

Charlie glared at him, remembering Kaitlin's and Blitzo's angry words. "Just like right now. Kaitlin doesn't like people who aren't nice to kids or women."

"We didn't talk for months until she texted me, saying she needed me with her for an ultrasound. Before this happened, I was making stuff for the baby and I apologized to her."

"True."

"When Jake was born, his mother was injured by exterminators. She told me to take our son out of her womb, even if it meant killing her. I cut her stomach since she was dying and pulled out my son."

"Then years later, you came to love something else. You were hired by Stella to murder the Goetia Prince of Hell."

"Who is their only ticket to earth, so they could use him for the book and he hosts the Harvest Moon Festival every year. I know."

"Not to mention, you ridiculed Moxxie in song form and strangled him just like earlier."

Striker sat down and buried his face in his knees. "Please, I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"You may not want to talk about it, but that doesn't mean you can avoid it. Just apologize to Moxxie, Kaitlin, and Jake tomorrow and you'll be fine." Charlie put her hand on his shoulder.

Striker lifted up his head, looking up at her. "Can you bring me home?"

"Certainly." She picked him up and the two sat on Bombproof before creating a portal to his cabin. Once inside the portal, they were gone.

…

Striker was back on the couch, crying with Bombproof comforting him with nuzzles.

"I was so stupid, Bombproof. I lost everything that is important to me: My son, my second wife, Blitzo, everyone!"

Bombproof continued rubbing against him to let him know he was still there for him.

AN: Jake, Amelia, Bathory, and Jane belong to LadyAnaconda.