"Yeah, it was a good movie."
"Only good? Not great? Not the best movie you've ever seen?"
"Um. No."
Blitzo's ecstatic face vanished. Stolas couldn't help the small chuckle he let out at the imp's crestfallen expression. He patted Blitzo on the shoulder comfortingly while Octavia merely rolled her eyes.
"You're lucky you're not eighteen yet," Blitzo growled, pointing at her with a claw.
"Or you'd what?"
There was a long pause as Octavia and Blitzo stared each other down. Stolas, eyes wide, was about to intervene when Blitzo suddenly tapped Octavia on the forehead and bolted down a tunnel of their fort, yelling, "You're it!"
It took the two owls no less than five seconds to exchange confused glances before Stolas laughed, "You heard him, Via!" He turned and quickly scrambled down another tunnel.
Octavia couldn't help the laugh that escaped her; it'd been ages since she played a game with her dad, or even played a game that wasn't on her phone.
She followed after Stolas; he'd be much easier to catch in the confined tunnels of the fort. Honestly, she wasn't sure how he managed to navigate it without knocking it all over with his long tail. But apparently, he was surprisingly hard to catch up with as he scurried along. The fort was big, as big as the room, but the inside was still confined and only a certain size.
Her father's tail vanished around a corner where it forked into three different branches.
Okay, why is this fort genuinely impressive? Octavia thought as she randomly picked the middle tunnel. It feels way bigger than it actually is. She saw a flash of crimson and whipped her head toward it. Smirking, she followed, determined to one-up the imp.
This particular tunnel ran parallel up the length of the bed toward the nightstand. She slowly peeked underneath the bed; Blitzo's sharp yellow grin met her from the darkness there, and she laughed as she pounced. He was quick though, and before she could even get halfway to him, he was turned around and on the other side.
"Damn, you're like a snake," Octavia admitted as she backed out from under the bed. She heard Blitzo laugh maniacally from somewhere on the opposite side of the fort.
The princess picked the tunnel that led down the foot of the bed after she circled back to the intersection. She was surprised that she was actually . . . having fun.
Between the movie, where she'd laid comfortably next to her dad in the nest, Blitzo on the other side, and this game of tag/hide-and-seek? She'd never known Stolas to play these sorts of games with her; when she was younger, they'd read and draw and do intellectual games of sorts, but not physical activities such as these. Loo Loo Land may have been the only exception, and her mother had always despised it. Every time they'd gone (the handful of times she had begrudgingly come along), she'd refused to partake in any of the food, games, or rides.
Stolas, on the other hand, had always loved taking Octavia there. He didn't ride most of the rides, but he'd always wave and smile whenever they made eye contact when she'd seen him during.
But now, here, screwing around with her dad and his boyfriend, she was having a good time? It seemed absurd. Laughable, if she was being even a sliver honest. She shouldn't even be here in the room, and yet.
She was.
And it wasn't terrible. Octavia had not seen her dad this happy in a long time. He'd always been somewhat of a goof (she could hear him giggling as Blitzo shushed him somewhere within the blankety walls), but this was something she'd not seen before. It was almost . . . familial? Parents who loved each other would clearly be happier together.
Parents, huh? Hers would never.
But one and his affair were apparently willing to go the extra mile. To Octavia, it was a foreign concept.
But the crashing of the door being slammed open was not. She nearly jumped out of her skin as the décor on the walls rattled, some falling to the floor with loud thumps, and the owl was on her feet in an instant. She heard a startled hoot from her dad as he too surfaced from the sea of blankets that had now fallen in various states to the carpet. Octavia was aware of Blitzo standing only a meter away from her, much closer to her than Stolas. Her heart raced in her chest, limbs shaking at the sudden intrusion.
"Oh, what in the fuck is all this?!" Stella shouted from the doorway. She was visibly seething, her hands clenched into fists and shoulders tensed.
"St-Stella! Um, it's," Stolas began, or at least tried; Stella was quick to cut him off even if he had managed to come up with some sort of explanation.
"This is what you've been doing instead of your duties? Seriously? Fucking around with, with this little grunt?!" Stella appeared absolutely disgusted, her face twisted into a deep scowl.
"What? No, it was just—"
"Stop! Screwing that mongrel is one thing, but letting it near our daughter? Abhorrent! Octavia, get away from it!"
The princess glanced over at Blitzo, who had his arms crossed, claws digging into his skin, and a glare so red that Octavia was surprised her mother hadn't burst into flames as his tail lashed and twitched with barely suppressed fury.
"Octavia!" Stella snapped again.
"He's not an it," Octavia said, and the words surprised her as they flew from her mouth. They had the same effect on her mother as well, for the older demon's pink eyes widened.
"What? Octavia, don't argue with me. You're not allowed to interact with commoners like these, and they most certainly don't need you to defend them."
"I'm just saying."
"You—young lady, get over here. Now." Stella snappily pointed to the spot next to her, her other hand on her hip.
"Oh, stop treating her like a child, Stella," Stolas said sharply. "Just leave her out of this."
Stella scoffed, feathers fluffing up in indignation. "You're one to talk. This whole mess in here, some sort of child's foolish quest? Don't you dare lecture me on how to raise my daughter."
"Our daughter. Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"What you always do. This whole, 'Octavia belongs to me' schtick. I'm tired of it," Stolas continued, clearly frustrated.
"Well, if you weren't such a terrible father and husband, maybe I wouldn't—"
"Okay, lady, that's fucking enough," Blitzo suddenly interrupted. Stella gaped at the imp, clearly about to rip his head off verbally (maybe literally), but he kept talking. "Look, I get that you're upset that Stolas here likes my dick more, but holy fuck, I thought my employee had the biggest stick up his ass! But no, fucking no one can compare with the massive tree trunk of a fucking stick up yours."
Stella's face was red with anger and indignation. She sputtered out, "Excuse me?!"
"Blitzo," Stolas said softly, the words edged with warning. The two locked eyes for a fleeting moment; Stolas was clearly hoping for the imp to not fight with Stella.
"So how about you let him off the hook, alright? At least he's happy with me; I'd be sad too if I had to deal with a stuck-up bitch like you," Blitzo continued despite Stolas' pleading look, giving Stella the bird with both hands. Behind him, Stolas' beak fell open in astonishment, his white pupils showing briefly.
One of Stella's eyes twitched. She said nothing for a very long moment. The silence in the room was deafening.
"Octavia," Stella finally said, her voice losing most of its anger and dissolving into fatigue. "Come here, please."
Octavia glanced between her parents, clearly torn. Stolas nodded at her minutely, and it gave her the understanding she needed to pick her way over the fallen blanket fort toward her mother. Stella still appeared tense, her back straight as a rod, but when Octavia approached her, she relaxed slightly.
"Come along, Octavia," Stella said, gesturing to the open door. The princess walked out, followed by her mother. The soft tapping of the ladies' footsteps faded, and it was only after that did either of the two remaining demons move.
Stolas let out a long, exhausted sigh. He took several steps to the bed and collapsed atop it. A handful of feathers scattered onto the bare mattress and floor.
"You couldn't be any more dramatic if you tried," Blitzo commented as he walked over. He took a good look at his weary lover. Stolas sat quietly on the edge of the bed, eyes downcast.
"You okay?" Blitzo asked softly. He rubbed a thumb along Stolas' knee.
"I'm fine, Blitzy, just. Tired," Stolas replied just as quietly. "I didn't expect such an interaction. I failed to properly distance our relationship from her presence."
"It's okay, Big Bird. She's the one who barged in without knocking."
"Not to mention I've upset Octavia as well."
"She was doing fine with us—"
"Yet Stella made her feel estranged, as if she had to pick a side. I've never wanted that."
Blitzo hopped up on the bed to sit next to him. "It's not like you made her. This whole thing was fucked from the beginning."
Stolas sighed again. "I wish this was all easier." He burrowed his head in his hands.
"Me too. But hey, we'll figure it out, right? You'll talk to your kid, tell her what's up, and make sure she knows she's okay, huh?" Blitzo ran a hand up and down Stolas' back.
"Ah, I suppose," the owl said as he pulled himself up from his hunched position. He looked down at Blitzo. "Thank you for defending me. Even if your way was . . . harsher than I prefer."
Blitzo grinned, absolutely unabashed by his actions. "No problem, babe. Your wife's gotta chill the fuck out, honestly."
"She has a valid reason to be upset, Blitzo. You are her competition—immoral competition at that." Stolas ran his fingers through his hair. "Stella is just . . . she's so hard to talk to sometimes. I doubt she'd let me get a word in during a discussion about you. I just . . . I don't know. There'd be lots of dodging; that's the only certainty."
Blitzo frowned. "Throwing things at your spouse is shitty."
"I don't think she cares, to be honest. I'm more surprised she didn't throw anything this time."
"Well. Unless it's in the name of a kink, I'd never throw anything at you."
Stolas smiled, a small laugh escaping him despite his mood.
"Thank you, Blitzy. I know you'd never hurt me," the prince said. He leaned down, and Blitzo met him halfway to slot their mouths together.
"It's getting late, darling," Stolas murmured after they'd parted. A glance at the open curtains confirmed that statement, the sky turning purple. "Even though this final part was foul, I enjoyed our time together immensely."
"Yeah, me too," Blitzo said with a smile. He found Stolas' hand and laid his over it, fingers curling between his.
"Unfortunately, however, I think this means you must return to your own abode. I must get back to my royal duties tomorrow. I have lots of work to make up."
Blitzo nodded. "Right. Gotcha. I'm sure I'll have quite a few calls to return myself."
"One being mine." Stolas caressed the imp's cheek with his free hand. "I'll be sure to make time for our usual chat."
"Sounds good."
They both stood, and Stolas fetched Blitzo's backpack and assorted other items from around the room with his magic, gathering them together to slip the bag over the imp's shoulders.
"That should be all your belongings, my dear," Stolas said, bending and smoothing his hands over Blitzo's shoulders. They shared a kiss before the prince straightened up to full height and summoned a portal. "I love you. See you soon."
Blitzo glanced between the portal and Stolas. It felt like his world was again changing in a bad way.
"This isn't a goodbye, Blitzy," Stolas said with a light chuckle, seeming to read the imp's hesitation easily. A slim hand traced over the heart on his forehead. "I'm sorry this evening ended so abruptly, but I promise you, it doesn't change anything."
Blitzo swallowed the nagging feeling of abandonment, allowing Stolas' words to seep into his mind.
"Yeah, I knew that," Blitzo replied instead, trying and failing to make his voice level. "Love you too. Night."
"Goodnight, darling."
Loona wasn't home when Blitzo stepped out of the portal into the living room. He checked his phone for a text, but she hadn't left him one.
He didn't blame her; he hadn't even been sure when he'd be back. Blitzo sent her a quick message to let him know where she was before he settled down on the couch to watch tv.
The imp's mind drifted as he flipped through channels. Images of Stolas throughout the last two days came quickly to the forefront. He blushed at the thought of their sexual encounters, feeling a tingle in his lower abdomen, and his heart fluttered in his chest when he remembered kissing the prince and hearing those words.
Once again, the thought of I've got it so fucking bad crossed his mind.
Blitzo pushed himself to his feet, unable to shake the fuzz from his head. He went to get himself a drink from the freezer. Pulling out a bottle of vodka, he snaked a shot glass from the shelf with his tail and poured himself a hit of alcohol.
His phone vibrated; Blitzo saw the text from Loona stating she was out with a friend at a local bar and wouldn't be home until late.
Blitzo responded, Don't b too l8, work tomorrow
Loonie: Ugh really? Couldn't just bone the guy again and give us another day off? 💀
Blitzo: No ❤️ ha ve fun, Loonie
Switching from that conversation to the group chat he had with all three of his employees, he texted, Meetnig 9am tomorrow
With that, Blitzo poured two more shots, downing one and then the other in rapid succession. He left the dirty shot glass on the counter and returned the alcohol to the freezer. He padded off to his bedroom, stripped down to his underwear, and flopped onto the bed.
Staring at the dark ceiling, Blitzo ran again through his time with Stolas. His mind was blurrier now, stifling most of the disconcerting and anxious thoughts about it all. Stolas moaning and trembling in ecstasy surfaced at the front of his mind, and Blitzo smiled lazily as he slid a hand down the front of his body.
He was already half hard thinking about the prince. He slipped his cock out of his briefs with one hand and reached for the nightstand with his other. He retrieved a bottle of lotion and a couple of tissues before closing his eyes and letting his imagination run wild.
Blitzo's brain flicked through images of Stolas riding him. He focused on the way the prince's hips move, the sounds he makes, the way he goes from a lustful smile to throwing his head back with a cry. Blitzo rubbed over his tip, bucking his hips at the sensation.
The Stolas from his horny mind moaned as he bounced up and down on Blitzo's cock.
Fuck. Blitzo pumped his erection hard and fast, one arm draped across his eyes. His toes curled, tail twitched, biting his lip as he worked himself over.
'Oh, Blitzy, I love you!'
Blitzo gasped as he came harder and sooner than he expected all over his hand and abdomen. He attempted a few strokes to milk it, but his body quickly rejected that idea. He squirmed at the overstimulation and left his hand on the base of his cock. Warmth dripped down his wrist, cooling rapidly on his skin. After taking a few deep breaths, head still spinning with flashes of Stolas' touch, the imp took a crumpled handful of tissues and wiped himself off.
Blitzo tugged his underwear back up and readjusted his position. He was damp with sweat, but he didn't even want to bother to get up or take a piss. The only thing he did before he closed his eyes was set his alarm for the next morning. After that, he fell asleep peacefully.
The conference room went silent when Blitzo and Loona walked in. The last vestiges of nervous (mostly Moxxie) chatter between husband and wife cut off. Loona entered first, followed by Blitzo, who had the Grimoire under his arm and an unusually serious looking frown on his face.
"Good morning, Sir," Moxxie said meekly as Blitzo made his way to the head of the table.
"Don't be such a pussy, Mox, it's not like I'm here to kill you," the taller imp retorted with a snort and roll of his eyes.
"R-right. Well, I'd just like to say—"
"Zip it."
"Y-yes, Sir." Moxxie went red in the face and sunk down in his chair. Millie put a hand on his shoulder but didn't say anything, carefully watching their boss as he silently set the Grimoire down and erased the scribbles on the whiteboard from the previous week.
Blitzo turned around and swept his gaze over his three employees. Moxxie looked nervous, Millie subdued, and Loona indifferent.
"So, you guys really had to stick your fucking noses into my business, huh?" Blitzo finally said, breaking the silence.
"Would you have rather we didn't? So you could sabotage I.M.P. and wallow in your own misery?" Loona asked directly, clearly over it already.
Blitzo shrugged. "I mean, I'm not. Angry that you wanted to help Stolas and I—it's really just the shitty way you went about it." He scowled. "Staging a kidnapping?"
Millie quickly spoke up. "We wanted y'all to get together because you wanted to."
"How does that make any sense? You still forced us into a fucky situation."
"Stolas didn't have to rescue you," Loona deadpanned. Blitzo fell silent, his lips pressed into a tight frown.
"Speak your mind, B. We know you're upset, and you have reason to be," Millie said.
Blitzo thought for a long moment. "Did you tell Stolas to come get me?"
"No."
"Then how?"
Millie took the lead in explaining their plan and how it had all gone down. Blitzo listened carefully, eyebrows furrowed. He showed little reaction to most of it, briefly humming at the mention of Octavia's involvement, but besides that, he stayed quiet.
". . . And that's when the prince came to rescue you. Like a knight in shinin' armor!" Millie finished with a beaming smile and flutter of long eyelashes.
Blitzo couldn't help but roll his eyes at that.
"An interesting story," he said plainly. Three sets of eyes watched his reaction.
"You're not too mad, are you?" Moxxie asked. "We only did it to help you guys. M-maybe we overstepped, but doesn't the outcome make up for that?" He shot a tentative smile at their boss.
Blitzo sighed, pinching the bridge of his snout, and said, "Fuck me. You guys really did all that just to get us together?"
There was a chorus of yeses.
"Fucking—dammit. I mean, fucking Hell, I know why you did it, but the drugging shit was really a bitch move!" Blitzo snapped, pointing an accusatory claw at the others. His anger quickly receded again, replaced by a resigned weariness. Begrudgingly he continued, "But, honestly I probably would've done the same thing if had to deal with someone like me. And . . . And I do appreciate that you all cared enough to get help us out. If you hadn't, I guess we wouldn't be—" He cut himself off, flustered, as his face turned pink. His workers were very aware of this and all three gave him knowing smirks.
"Just. Don't do it again," Blitzo finished quickly, crossing his arms. "Or you fuckers aren't getting your holiday bonuses."
"You give us bonuses?" Moxxie asked.
Blitzo froze at the slip. "I was gonna! Er, fuck, will! As long as you don't fake kidnap me again!" He huffed loudly and relaxed his shoulders. "Anyway. Enough of that serious shit. We're still in business, bitches, so we've got some work to do."
"Hell yeah! Good endin'!" Millie declared. She made to push herself up from her seat.
"You're—wait, that's it? No screaming, no punches, no firing? You're okay now?" Moxxie asked before anyone could get up. "Not even blaming me?"
Blitzo raised an eyebrow at the smaller imp. "What? You want me to freak out and shove you off the roof or something?"
Moxxie shook his head rapidly. "No, no! I was just, eh, expecting a storm, I suppose." He leveled his boss with a skeptical look.
"I suppose you have Stolas to thank for that."
"Bird pussy too good," Loona 'whispered' to Millie and Moxxie, a hand up to hide her mouth moving.
"Hey!" Blitzo snapped, earning a barrage of giggles from the bunch. He set his hands on his hips. "That's not—that's not the main reason!" He snorted, scowling halfheartedly at them for a moment. "He convinced me to go easy on you all. I was fucking pissed, to say the least. But Stolas, like, explained I should 'look at your intentions.'" He made air quotes with his fingers, somewhat mimicking the prince's voice. "So I gave it some more thought and figured you guys were just happily misguided."
Blitzo made eye contact with Moxxie. "That good enough?"
"Yes, Sir," the smaller imp replied, relieved.
"Good. Now, as I said, I'm sick of all this emotional shit. Let's go kill something."