Cody was feeling quite better after having some time alone with Loona and he just needed to get his head together after having that terrible, Hellish nightmare about being in the fire with his parents, but not being able to save them. He needed to realize that; no one can save everybody, and shit like that can happen out of nowhere. No one ever means for shit like that to happen in the first place, and it certainly wasn't his fault.
Still, he was happy to have spent his time with Loona to comfort him after his PTSD nightmare. Normally, Loona wouldn't really do this with anyone, but she is slowly forming a very close bond with Cody after all. She was glad that this boy was ok. She hated how sad and afraid this kid was after all he had been through recently.
Two hours passed and Cody was in the shower to get all the chorine off of him in the pool within Loona and Blitzo's apartment. He had a good swim with his new friends, including the chicken-fighting against Moxxie and Millie and being given a lift by Loona on her soft, furry shoulders. It was nice that he got a swim with them and this was, perhaps, one of the best times he had since that terrible fire had happened to him in the first place. He got out of the bathroom and changed to different jeans and a Megadeth t-shirt that Loona bought for him personally. His jeans were a darker color blue and he began blushing his semi-long hair.
Deep down, he wished that his big brother and Celeste was there, especially with the chicken-fighting against Moxxie and Millie. Still, there was always another time to happen, and the pool was not going anywhere anytime soon. He smelled like hibiscus and cinnamon combined as his scent, and it was a really nice smell on him. It wouldn't surprise Cody, however, if there was feces-smelling soap or shampoo, or ones that smelled like dead, rotting skin, or roadkill, or skunks, or even dead skunks (Which Loona and Blitzo did not have at all).
He went into the living room and he was watching a little TV while Loona sat next to him. "You doing ok, kiddo?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." Cody said.
"Good."
"So that Monty, have you guys met before?"
"Ugh, yeah. that sleazebag had his eye on me for a while. He thinks he's a girl magnet, but he's more of a girl repellent."
"Wait, Monty tried to make a move on you again?" asked Blitzo in a worried expression. "Tell me he didn't try to access any of your holes, Loony!"
"Calm down, drama queen." Loona said. "God, you are so paranoid. Yes, he tried to make a move on me, but I killed him off."
"Oh." Blitzo's expression turned from shock to joy, and he hugged her tightly. "That's my girl. You're quite a killer."
"Oh shut up, Blitz." Loona pushed him off. "Plus, he was going to make Cody into a snack, but I saved him."
"Yeah, she did." Cody smiled. "She saved me again and... you care about me, Loona?"
"Well... yes." Loona admitted.
"Oh of course she does. She's like a mother or a big sister to you now. She has the biggest heart anyone can ever dream of."
Loona then strangled him with her right hand, suffocating him. "Blitzo, you do not know how close you are, you know that? You don't know!" then she let him go, realizing that Cody was right there. "Oh! Sorry Cody." she sighed, "You would not believe how much Blitzo drives me crazy."
"When have I ever driven you crazy, Loona?" asked Blitzo.
"Oh let's see... SINCE ALWAYS!"
"Look, let's just drop this. I don't want to scare the kid."
"Right." the hellhound took a deep breath. "Whatcha watching anyway, Cody?"
"Three Stooges." the boy replied while watching Curly, Moe, and Larry on the TV screen in black and white colors.
"Ah yes." Loona said. "Slapstick comedy. one of my favorite kinds."
"Why is it your favorite?" Cody asked her curiously.
"Because I always love watching people get hurt like this." They were both watching the three funny men do what they do best: making everyone laugh with their nonsense.
Later
Cody was hanging out with Octavia once again because IMP got a new client and Loona went with them this time, again. Still, he was out with it, because he really loved the company of Octavia, and her parents.
"So Cody," said Stolas, "Blitzy told me about what happened a few hours earlier."
Cody frowned and slightly looked away in shame.
"Are you feeling OK?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. I didn't mean to dream of something like that. it just happened
"Of course. of course it was not your fault." Stolas said. "Would you like anything?"
"Maybe some lemonade."
"Perfect! I will fetch a nice glass for you. Same with my darling princess here."
Octavia groaned in embarrassment. "Dad!" she tilted her hat in front of her eyes. "Look, Cody, why don't I show you my room?"
"Sure. that sounds fun." the human boy smiled. He followed Octavia, while she was holding his hand and she opened her bedroom door. It was a little messy but not really messy. There were some doodles on her wall that she created when she was a child.
"Here we are." said Octavia. "My own sleeping quarters."
"Wow. it looks so cool in here. The windows look very cool too."
"Thank you, Cody." Octavia smiled. "I grew up in this house and I have had this bedroom ever since I was a little girl. Back when my mum and dad didn't hate each other."
she frowned, and then Cody frowned after "Oh Octavia." said the kid. "I know those are... bad memories, but Loona told me that you can't change the past."
"Yeah. I know." Octavia sighed in a depressing breath. "I am certain they might get a divorce however." she looked at her large picture of her and her folks when she was an owlette. The memories were painful and she just wanted to let go of the past.
Suddenly, Stella came walking in the room and she said: "Ah, there you are, Cody. I've been looking all over for you."
"Mum, now is not a good time."
"relax, my dear." Stella said. "I only wish to have a talk with him. Like a little stroll around the house."
"I don't know." Cody said.
"Come on now," Stella gently pleaded with him. "If you can trust my husband and my daughter, you can trust me too."
"Fair enough." said Cody
"Well, ok mum." Octavia said. "Just make sure he doesn't get hurt."
"Of course! I know this castle with the eyes in the back of my head." Stella said, gently holding his hand. She was walking around the area with Cody and having some small conversations with him.
"So, I don't mean to sound rude, your highness," Cody said, "But your husband is a little... weird."
Stella couldn't help but chuckle. "No, I agree with you fully, Cody. The wealth and money goes to his head. Power can make people do unusual things, depending on how much money they make, or how much power they have."
"That's true." Cody admitted. "I'm sorry if he cheated on you."
"Oh there is no need for you to apologize. we both know who really is to blame." she stopped in her and Stolas' bedroom, and the child was in awe as he was looking at how fancy and amazing this bedroom was in this mansion. "Me and my husband's little quarters, Cody. It's beautiful, ain't it."
"Yeah. very beautiful." said Cody. He went up to the balcony window and saw the world of Hell below him, and it was a nice, yet twisted view. He could he stay up here for all eternity just to look at this scenery. Little did he know thay there was someone else in the room. "It must be nice to have a mansion like this. Very nice.
Cody walked up to Stella and stood in front of her with his usual smile then Stella said: "Before you go back i would like to say I am terribly sorry about what you have experienced."
"Thanks, your majesty."
"And-" Stella barked. "And I would like to introduce you to an acquaintance of mine."
"Who?" asked Cody. He noticed that Stella was looking at someone behind him and turned around to see an imp the size of Blitzo and having a serpentine look on him, like a snake with limbs.
He was holding Cody at gunpoint and looked like he was about to shoot him down. Cody was about to scream and panic when he was gently shushed by Stella, who gently placed a finger over his mouth.
"Shhhh, shh, shh, shh, shhhhh. No need to scream."
"Forgive me if I frightened you, little man." this imp spoke in a western accent. Just relax and listen to what my boss has to say to you."
"Who are you?"
"Name's Striker, the best mercenary in all of Hell."
Cody gulped and knew he is in trouble right now.
