Poor Cody was still shaken by that little nightmare and he was still clinging on to Loona for comfort. "It's ok, kid." Loona soothed him still. Vortex went up to them to see if he was alright himself and gently patting the kid's back with a large, beefy hand.
"Are you ok?" he asked her.
"I'm fine." Cody said, wiping some tears from his eyes and mucus from his nose with his own arm.
"You might want to use a tissue, Cody." Moxxie said, handing the boy a tissue to blow his nose. Cody gave a big blow and put the used, disgusting tissue in a nearby trash bin. He walked back and sat on the steps that would give anyone easy stepping inside the pool.
Loona sat next to him and she asked: "Everything's alright. it was just a nightmare."
"It just... came out of nowhere." Cody admitted. "I didn't want it to come to me, but it just happened."
"It's not your fault." Loona said, pulling him closer to her. The fur on her wet legs were so soft, while her own skin was warm. Just sitting next to her already gave the poor boy a warm feeling. "You're just... traumatized, that's all."
"A severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." the boss Imp pointed out.
"Blitzo!" everyone scolded him.
"No, he's right." Cody admitted. "The fire messed up my head. It's making me go crazy."
"Don't say that, Cody." Millie said. "It was no one's fault. We can't help that kind of stuff at all."
"Millie's right." Moxxie said. "it happened out of nowhere. I wish there was something to make you feel better. Or... can I get you anything? Like a smoothie?"
Cody nodded his head a no at the demon sadly.
"Or a soft serve ice cream cone?"
Once again, the kid refused by nodding his head sideways.
"Oh! or maybe something at the Blood Burger?" Millie thought of.
"No." said Cody. "Thanks for the offers, but I don't need anything right now. But probably just a root beer."
"Got it." Loona said, walking over to get the boy the thing he requested. As Cody opened up the can, he took a sip and Loona suggested: "Why don't we get some air?"
"Maybe I can use that." Cody admitted. "OK."
Loona made a smile and said: "I'll be right back, guys." then she held Cody's hand and she opened the gate that barricaded the pool from the outside underworld. "Come on Cody, let's see if there's a good spot for you to get some air." Cody smiled gratefully and they found a nice tree in the park nearby to sit under. They both sat together and looked at their surroundings. "How do you feel?" she asked him softly
"A little better." the boy replied, drinking his root beer. "I wish I didn't experience that nightmare."
"I know, buddy." Loona gently patted his head. "We mostly can't control what we dream about. You want to know what I dreamed about last night?"
"What's that?"
"i was dreaming I was living in a world made entirely of bacon. Don't tell the guys though."
Cody couldn't help but chuckle a little. "I know dogs love bacon."
"Believe it or not, Hellhounds love them too." Loona sounded ashamed. "But hey, I'm still smarter than any dog on earth."
"Yeah, you're like werewolves a little bit."
"Hmm-mm. you'd not believe how many of those humans up there would confuse us with werewolves. Mostly because most of them depict us as monsters walking on four legs instead of two. Although we can run on all fours to go faster."
"Cool." Cody looked away. "Should I get therapy?"
"Well, I hate to break it to you, Cody." Loona admitted, "but there's no therapy in Hell."
"That probably wouldn't surprise me." the kid admitted. "But I shouldn't have nightmares from this. I want to get rid of them forever. But I don't know how."
Loona gave him a sympathetic look, and she said: "I wish I can help you. I mean... normally I wouldn't say this to just anyone, but... I'll do anything I can to help you out."
"Well, I'm flattered." Cody admitted. "I mean, do you mean it?"
"Of course I do. What makes you say that?"
"Because Moxxie and Millie told me about all the... differences you had with them and how you kicked a baby demon in his stroller."
"Oh... that." Loona admitted, remembering that incident. "While i wish they would stop telling you things about me behind my back, you have to understand... I'm just not one to show my feelings most of the times. I'm a girl that prefers to keep them to herself. It doesn't mean i care about nothing. Besides, didn't your parents tell you to look on the inside of people and not the outside?"
"They... they did."
"Plus, work can be so boring all the time. Work, work, work, work your butt off and for what; chump change. That's what."
"Well, is there a way I can get rid of these nightmares? I know I might never be able to see my mom and dad again, but I just want the memories of the fire to go away."
The female hellhound looked unsure and she admitted: "I honestly don't know. But the least you can do is move on with your life."
"True."
"Always remember that it wasn't your fault. You're just a little boy."
"Yeah. I know."
"One thing that can ease my mind is listening to music. It helps soothes a soul."
"Good idea." Cody admitted. "Maybe Slayer, Metallica, or any of those bands would be good."
"That's the spirit." Loona smiled.
A wolf whistle was heard in a distance, and there was a large, male hellhound the color of all white and having an appearance of a bad boy, or a hipster with a backwards cap. "Well, look at what the dog dragged in today." he said in an east coast voice.
"Ugh, Monty." Loona muttered in disgust. "What the fuck do you want?"
"what? A guy can't admire a beautiful babe in a swimsuit? you look sexy as hell. No pun intended of course."
Loona did not look amused at all, and she narrowed her eyes. "Get lost, you fresh pervert." she said with disdain. "Just get back on the ass bus and go home."
"Ooh hoo hoo! tough talk, angel face." Monty said, still acting strong and bold. He then looked at Cody and said: "Ah, who's this piece of meat?"
Loona got angry and got up, snarling at him while barring her teeth. "This kid is not a piece of meat, he is my friend!"
"Ooh! who knew a stone-cold bitch like you would have any friends?"
"Last warning," Loona said. "Get lost now."
"I think I'll do that, right after we kiss."
"Oh I think not." he looked at the kid and in a more gentle voice, she said: "you might want to put some music on, Cody. It can get a little ugly. Look away if you must."
Cody then pulled out his Mp3, and listened to a little Def Leppard as Loona was violently maiming this course and depraved Hellhound. She did many things like gouge his eyes out, and literally tore him limb from limb. It was certainly a good thing Cody was listening to his music while this was happening, for he didn't want to hear any screaming or any sounds that would make him squeamish.
At last, Loona was finished and Monty's corpse laid on the grass. "Tried to warn you, Monty. Should have turned back when you had the chance." she looked at Cody, who was still looking away while on his music player. She walked up and gently patted his shoulder. "Cody? you can stop listening now."
"Oh! good." The kid paused his tunes. He didn't want to look at the mutilated body and put his mp3 player into his pocket.
"Sorry about that. The guy had to learn a thing or two about the meaning of the word no."
"It's ok. He might have eaten me."
"Maybe. But don't forget, not all Hellhounds will feel that way about you. I mean, look at my friends."
"Yeah, I know. But I think I need another minute."
"No problem." Loona pulled him close to her, right in between her legs.
