Chapter 4: Striker's Present

Striker's thoughts were interrupted by an obnoxious ringing of the bell. He moaned as he covered his ears with a pillow.

"What's going on?" Striker demanded tersely.

"Cut the shit, I'm on a tight schedule," a male voice replied bluntly.

"Blitzo?"

"Come on, we gotta go and we are riding Bombproof."

"Fine, whatever." He followed Blitzo outside.

"Hold onto my robe."

Striker scoffed. "Why?"

"Just do it. It's going to be a bumpy ride."

The cowboy clutched onto Blitzo's robe as tightly as he could throughout the ride.

…

First, Blitzo showed Striker his apartment, where Jake and Kaitlin stayed with Loona, Riva, and Curly.

"Kaitlin and Jake seem happy with Loona, Curly, and Riva," Striker observed.

"Yeah, away from you," Blitzo snarked.

"What?"

"Oh, like you even care about them. She wants to divorce you and take Jake with her."

"She wha- No! Is she serious?"

"Duh! They're still angry with you over you yelling at Jake when it was me that was looking through your personal items, including your wife!" (See Helluva Dad Vol 5: Mom)

"Dammit, Blitzo! Thanks to you, they would not let that go! That bitch can't do that to me!"

"Careful. I didn't bring it up, she did. I listened to her, knowing it still bothered her, unlike you. What you said to them earlier reminded her of that incident."

"Ugh! I can't believe any of you."

"Your attitude towards her reminds her of mine towards Verosika since you are soon to be an ex-married couple. I didn't want to admit I hurt her at first, but when I dated Stolas at Ozzie's in the Lust ring, I finally saw why she hated me."

Striker rolled his eyes, refusing to admit that his relationship with Kaitlin was to end up like Blitzo's relationship with Verosika. Then he sighed with shame.

Blitzo showed Striker Moxxie's house.

"Are those girls Moxxie's and Millie's daughters?"

"Yes, and Mandy has a broken arm. She's supposed to get her operation done soon."

"Oh, how come I didn't hear about that?"

"I don't know," Blitzo sneered sarcastically, "Maybe because you were nibbling on Moxxie's pencil, which you say has 'girly handwriting'." He used his fingers to indicate quotes.

"Okay. When are you going to stop being mad at me?"

"Ugh! Would you two stop it?! I don't want to hear it anymore! Why don't you celebrate Christmas at Blitzo's house for all I care?!"

"Did you just repeat what I said? I'm serious, when are you going to stop being mad at me?"

"When you start caring about other people's feelings, dick." Blitzo flipped Striker off. "What if this was her last Christmas, hmm?"

"Oh, no. You're right. I should've listened to you guys."

"Yeah."

"If Mandy dies, then it's my fault."

"Exactly." Then he remembered something. "The Ghosts of Christmas Future will be here shortly."

This caught Striker off-guard, upon hearing there was more than one Ghost of Christmas Future. "Ghosts of Christmas Future?"

"Yes. You'll find out who they are in just a second. Remember, Striker, if you don't come to your senses, this could be Mandy's… very... last ...Christmas." The last three words echoed in the background.

AN: Mandy, Curly, and Riva belong to JamieTheFandomGirl.