Cody was looking at the reddish moon, thinking about all that has happened to him in recent events. From the fire, to his parents' death, to meeting Tommy again, to being with his new friend in Hell.
After all that has happened, Cody, while still traumatized, was getting more acquainted to being down here.
He's made some good friends since he lost his own parents to that tragic event. Maybe good friends can come from the most insane and out-of-place regions of the Earth. While he wanted to remain with Loona, Cody couldn't stop thinking about Tommy, and he hoped that he can see his big brother one of these days. For now; he can enjoy being with his closest new friend down here under the earth. Cody had his hands behind his head as he was reclining on the balcony outside the apartment flat.
Faint sounds of car horns honking were heard every once in a while in the valley below. Normally, the child was used to seeing the black night sky while in the living world.
Down here, the sky was still black, but it was reddish instead of blueish in color. Not to mention the moon was very pale red while it was full. "I'm glad to have met Loona," he thought in his brain. "Yeah. But I hope mom and dad know that I'm alright while they're in heaven."
It was no surprise that he was still thinking about his folks right now. After all, a child's body with his parents is one that can be special and inseparable, depending on how close they are.
Loona was texting Vortex, telling him thanks for helping her get Cody out of Verosika's clutches. She really wished that Vortex was hers. After all; what was not to like about that gentle giant?
Despite this, she went to her room and couldn't find Cody anywhere in the flat. "Cody?" sue said, starting to worry a little. For a moment, it looked like she was about to suffer a panic attack from losing her new human friend. She was about to freak out, but she didn't want to lose her composure, especially since Blitzo was in the residence. That; and she almost forgotten about her very keen sense of smell like all canids or in this case; canine-like demons would have. Yes, Loona can smell any target she wanted to kill or any friend she wanted to be with for at least ten-thousand miles. A very intriguing gift for a Hellhound to possess in their lives.
"Relax Loony," said Blitz, taking some bourbon with him from the fridge. "The boy's at the patio out there."
"Alone?" Loona asked, sounding a little worried. "What if a fucking Onoskelis snags him from the sky?"
"Oh, that's crazy talk for fuck's sake." Blitz nodded his head sideways while chuckling. "I understand that you're becoming a mother to the kid, but-"
"What?" said Loona, interrupting him. "Don't be stupid. I'm not a new mom to him. He's just... my friend."
"Ok, ok." Blitz said. "sorry."
Loona just rolled her eyes sideways, looking annoyed. "whatever" she simply said before she waved her right hand as she turned around and went out in the patio.
She opened the glass door and sat next to him on the second recliner. "Hey, whatcha doing out here?" she asked him.
"Just... thought I'd look at the moon." Cody said. "It's beautiful out here at night. Even if it's not a full moon." he crossed his hands behind his head again in relaxation.
Loona smiled at him. "good. You cold?"
"No. I'm OK. besides, I thought it's supposed to be very hot down here?"
"Well there is a cold ring in hell, with nothing but a bunch of snow and ice. Many demons can't handle that kind of cold, but Hellhounds like me can."
"Because of the fur?"
"Yep." she chuckled.
"I thought so." it was quiet for a moment and Cody finally broke the silence when he asked: "Loona, Verosika said that you might eat me."
What he said caused the Hellhound to spit out her red wine. "Come on." she said, looking like she was about to guffaw at what he said. "We've been over this, Cody. I will never eat you. I promise. Verosika is one to get under people's skin. She's very manipulating and conniving. What she told you is a big, fat lie."
Cody smiled. "I know."
"Besides, I let you stay here for at least a day, and let you sleep here. I didn't lay one bad claw on you, right?"
"Right. I'm sorry I doubted you."
"No, don't be sorry." Loona said. "Verosika knows how to lie to people."
"I got that. So what do you think of my brother and Celeste?"
"Well, he was OK. I mean, I can like him, but not be completely fond of him. For Celeste, I kinda think he can do better than that. But, I don't judge."
"Good. It's too bad Tex got fired."
"Like he said before, Cody." Loona pointed, "he'll find a new job."
"OK." Cody took another sip of his water and he looked to the opposite side of Loona, at some buildings and other apartment buildings that were in the Wrath ring. "If it's none of my business, I understand, but... what happened to your real parents?"
The hellhound was silent and looked rather sad and uncertain. "Well... I don't like to talk about it. and... I don't even like to think about it. Don't tell Blitz or anyone else," Loona flatly stated, "just thinking about it makes me cry. Granted, I was almost eighteen when Blitz adopted me, but it almost felt like a long time ago."
"How old are you now?" Cody realized that he remembered that it wasn't really polite to just ask for someone's age. "What am I saying? I shouldn't have asked you that." he beat himself up.
"No, no, it's fine." Loona let out another chuckle. "I'm twenty-five now. And I know that Blitz is so annoying and weird at times, but... he's one of the only people I'm ever close to."
Cody then asked, looking at her again, and sitting up. "what about me? do you like me or think I'm cool? Not like a relationship thing, but you know."
"Of course." Loona replied. "You got good music taste. You are adorable and innocent. Look at you! you are a very cool boy."
These kind of words make Cody smile and feel very flattered. Sure, Loona may have a bad attitude, but she does know how to care about others. "Thank you. Do you really think I'm cool?"
"Yeah, how can I not? And you remember what i told you before? if I wanted to eat you, then-"
"I know. I know." Cody smiled. "Then you would eat me right now."
"Exactly."
"Well, Blitz seems to like me."
"Uh-huh. He knows how to make friends, both in high or low places. Did you know he used to be a clown?"
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. His first job he ever made was a clown selling balloons at Loo Loo Land. The park i told you before."
"And he didn't like it?"
"Didn't like it?" Loona chortled. "Cody, he hated it so much eth a burning passion. He said he never wants to do something like that again for as long as he lived. He used to work with Fizzaroli too. Let me tell you; they never saw eye to eye."
"At least he is living a good life."
"Yeah, in a way he is. The Immediate Murder Professionals is working well for him. He can get in trouble, but this is Hell, and no one really cares here after all. What can you do?"
"Right. As long as you guys care about me, I'm ok with it."
"Of course we care about you. i care about you, Blitz cares about you, Moxxie and Millie care about you, Stolas and Octavia care about you Vortex cares about you, and I care about you."
Loona couldn't help but hug Cody in her arms. She, indeed, cared about him very much. Even if she had known him for a little while, she is getting close to this poor child.
Blitzo caught sight of that through the window while trying to contact Moxxie and Millie on his cell. He thought it was so precious seeing Loona being so close to that kid, and pulled the phone on to camera mode.
The female hellhound caught sight of that while still hugging Cody. "Hey! Blitz!"
"Sorry! Couldn't help it!" Blitz called out to her.
"Turn that off!"
Cody was a little spooked at how loud Loona's voice was, especially since he was on her chest right now. Good thing it didn't break his eardrums. One can say that Loona is quite a big "barker".
"Sorry, Cody." Loona gently said to him. "Blitz was being embarrassing again."
"He's weird."
"Yep. I know." Loona rolled her eyes. "Never ask him to buy clothes for you."
"You don't wanna know, Cody. Trust me: you do not want to know."
"OK." Loona gently put him down and they both continued looking at the moon some more. "weird, it kinda looks like a dying moon."
"It does actually. Maybe even a dying sun." Loona speculated. "Well come on, time to go to bed."
"Aw. Do I have to?" Cody asked
"You and I both know the answer to that, Cody. Besides, little boys like you can get tired fast. It's... like a small metabolism thing in kids. You sleep more deeply than grownups."
"Well I'm not tired, i... I mean." he let out a yawn. "Ok, i admit, I'm tired."
"No shame in it. And tomorrow, you wanna take a dip in the pool together?"
"sure, but I don't have a swimsuit."
"I'll get you one. I promise." Loona said. "Now come on, I'll get you in bed now." she picked up Cody, who was trying to hard to keep his eyes open, but he was already starting to fall asleep already.
Loona decided to have him sleep in her bed again and she tucked him in.
"Goodnight, Cody." Loona said. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Loona." At last, the boy was out of it.
As he got out of her bedroom, and scowled at Blitzo. "Blitz I'm fucking tired of you sticking your nose up my ass like that."
"Come on. You are a blossom." Blitz said.
"Blossom? Blossom?! What makes you think I am a blossom, dumbass?"
"OK. OK. I mean, soft as a marshmallow then." Those words similar to what Moxxie said before made Loons grab Blitz by his arms and gave him a menacing look while showing her teeth.
"What did you say about me?" she snarled.
"Nothing! Nothing! I didn't say anything like that!" Blitz looked really intimidated by Loona now.
Loona just scowled and put him down. "Whatever." she narrowed her eyes.
