Chapter 15. Broken


"Lift," Dundy asked Poch. Everyone was in the lounge room of I.M.P.

Poch lifted his right arm up high.

"Bring it in then out."

Poch bent his elbow before stretching his arm out.

"Slow cycles."

He slowly did a tornado with his arm.

"Ok." Dundy took a hold of his wrist. "Form a fist."

Poch did so.

"Flex the fingies."

"Dundy," Poch groaned.

"Flex."

Poch rolled his eyes and stretched out his fingers, wiggling them.

"Any pain?"

"None."

"Alright! Doctor Dund gives you a clean bill of health!"

"That sounds like a rapper's name," Blitzø commented.

"Finally! Dude those two weeks were long as fuck!" Jack commented.

"Yeah, with the next Cleansing being in three days I was kinda afraid I'd have to go in with one arm," Poch sighed.

"That would've been difficult as fuck, especially if you ended up using your chaos blade and fucking up your other arm. Loona would've had to feed you."

"Ye- wait why me?" Loona asked.

"You're the obvious choice Ms sleepover." Jack smirked.

"That was one night!" Loona defended.

"Only one?"

"Ok two, but it's only cause his guest bed's soft!"

"Uh huh."

"Sure it is," Millie teased.

"Sh-shut up!" Loona barked.

"Loona's blushing aside, we finally got a chance to celebrate our boss takedown from the last cleansing!" Jack said excitedly.

"Since you and Poch took down the boss together, I'm guessing you two are gonna pick?" Solis asked.

"Already picked a place! Get some rest guys, cause tomorrow, we're going to Lucifer world!"

"Lucifer world?" Moxxie asked.

"Lucifer world!?" Millie and Shelly Squealed.

"Lucifer wor-" Jack's mouth got clamped by Poch.

"You're yelling in my ear," Poch told him.

"Sorry." His mouth was unclenched. "Anyways! I already got us all ticket cards!" Jack pulled out eleven yellow plastic cards.

"Wow, you thought ahead!" Millie observed.

Poch counted on his fingers, reaching the number nine. "A little too ahead. You got eleven cards and counting Blitzø, Mox, and Mils, we got two extra."

"I didn't have a choice, it was a good deal," Jack explained.

"If that's the case, could I possibly bring a plus one?" Dundy asked.

"Bringing a girl?"

"Why's that always your first assumption?" Solis asked.

"Actually, yes it is a girl, but not in that way," Dundy answered.

"Oh? Who ya bringing?"

"Someone named Octavia."

"Octavia!?" Blitzø cut in, "as in my boyfr- uh I mean, Stolas's daughter?"

"Yes. I met her one day and we've been friends since, even shared numbers."

"Guess what they say about birds of a feather is true in this case," Millie comments.

"Right you are Mills."

"Well I don't see an issue, in fact it means we all got pairs," Jack said.

"Whaddya mean?" Blitzø asked.

"Oh!" Millie got it, "Moxxie's got me, Shelly's with Solis, Dundys got Octavia,"

"If she agrees to come," Dundy clarified.

"Right. Poch is with Loona, and Blitzø's got Jack,"

"Unless he wants to invite Stolas, aka his bf," Poch smirked.

Blitzø glared then smirked, "I mean if you and Loony are going as a couple then I guess we could add one more so you don't feel lonely on the love rides."

Loona and Poch blushed. "We're not a couple!" They yelled in unison.

"Jack you'd be alone if Blitzø took Stolas," Millie clarified.

"I'm fine with that," Jack answered.

"Well...if you are I guess...it wouldn't hurt to bring him," Blitzø said, trying to hide a blush.

"He's breaking away from the denial stage!"

"Shut up, Jack."

"Well what time should we meet up?" Shelly asked.

"Place doesn't close till like three am so how bout we do it after work? Get some beheading done, get paid, then everyone but me has a date night," Jack said.

"It's not a date for us!" Poch, Loona, and Dundy said in unison.

"I believe that, at least for Dundy."

"Oooh I'm gonna punch him," Poch swore.

"Please. Anyways, how bout you wear that red shirt with skulls we got from stylish?" Loona asked. "That and the black Jean's are the only things I haven't seen you wear aside from when you tried them and they looked pretty good on you."

"Think so?"

"Mhm." Loona nodded.

"In that case I wanna see another of your Insta wear."

"Requests are gonna cost ya." She smirked.

"Consider it payback for all the times you stayed at my place for free, oh and the free food too."

"I thought that was out of the goodness of your heart?"

"It was, and hearts ain't cheap, neither is goodness….That should be on a shirt."

"Definitely. Now what is that you request, dear ?"

"That long sleeve sweater that cuts off at your midriff, the one that has the penta on the chest, and that spiked belt with the jeans."

"I think I know what you mean. I still got it so I can def do that."

"Sweet. Guess I'll pick you up after work."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Sounds like a date," Jack butt in. He got punched by Loona. "Ouch!"

"Speaking of which, we should figure out who's carpooling with who," Dundy said.

"Since Loony and Pochy are taking a bike, we can all take the Impmobile!" Blitzø suggested.

"Will we fit?" Moxxie asked.

"Pochy?" Poch was taken back.

"Hm, if we factor in last time, remove Loona, Poch, and Gen, then add two more, then I suppose we'll be fine," Dundy calculated.

"Alright! I'll give Stolas a call," Blitzø said.

"In that case, I guess Blitzø will meet us up here while Poch gets a head start with Loona," Jack surmised.

"I don't mind going with yall. You?" Poch looked towards Loona.

"Fine be me," Loona answered with a shrug.

"Ok! Meet up here tomorrow after work!" Jack clarified.


Poch drove up to the front of Blitzø's place. He was wearing a red short sleeved shirt with an assortment of printed skulls. There were imp skulls, hellhound skulls, spider skulls, etc. He also had a pair of black short jeans.

Loona and Blitzø walked out. Blitzø was wearing a sleeveless black top with black and red shorts that had a chain looped on the left. Loona was wearing a black sweater that cutoff above her stomach, had cuffs, and had a chest window that had a line in the middle that had a devil's triangle in the center. She also had on a pair of short Jean's with a soiled belt.

"Hey Pochy! Wanna race to I.M.P?" Blitzø asked.

"Again with Pochy. No, I don't wanna cause a pile up," Poch answered.

"If you say so!" He got in his van.

Loona got on the bike, wrapping her arms around Poch. "You look good."

"Thanks, you too." Poch told her. As soon as Blitzø drove, Poch revved up his engine and rode behind him.


The crew pulled up in front of Stolas's mansion. Stolas and Octavia were walking to the front gate as soon as they spotted them. Stolas wore a white shirt with a casual pair of khakis. Octavia wore a black dress shirt with a blue jacket and a red skirt.

"Hello Blitzy!" Stolas greeted the imp a little flirtatiously while going in the passenger side. "Thanks again for inviting us!"

Blitzø rolled his eyes but smirked. "Hey Stolas. You're welcome."

"Yeah, thanks," Octavia said while getting in the back with Dundy, "hey Dundy."

"Hello Octavia," Dundy smiled. He was wearing a brown tank top and camo shorts.

"So this is the daughter of Bosses bf." Jack said. He was wearing a punk rock green shirt showing an all cat band called catscratch on the front, and black jean shorts.

"She's cute!" Shelly said, wearing a pink long sleeve shirt and long jeans, "I'm Shelly!" She shook Octavia's hand, "this is my future hubby, Solis!"

"Hiya," Solis waved and smiled, wearing a tank top with an upside down red cross and jean shorts.

"This is Jack!" She pointed to Jack who was between Stolas and Blitzø.

"Yo!" Jack waved.

"And I believe you've met Millie and Moxxie!"

"Nice to see you again!" Millie smiled wildly.

"Pleasure to meet you all," Octavia smiled.

"The two hounds outside on the bike are Poch and Loona! Poch is an exterminator and Loona is his friend who's evolving to be more than just that, but you didn't hear that from me!" Millie winked.

Octavia chuckled. "Right."

"Well, let's head off!" Blitzø slammed the gas.


Everyone arrived at Lucifer world, having entered past the front gates.

"Alright everyone," Blitzø announced, "we meet back here in a few hours! Have fun, stay safe, and don't be afraid of the high rides, looking at you Moxxie! Oh and Pochy," Blitzø got close to Poch, "take good care of my Loony like always!"

Poch rolled his eyes. "She'll be fine with me."

"Alright! Break!" Blitzø took Stolas's arm. "Now let's go try that haunted house!"

"Ooh! I thought you'd never ask!" Stolas nearly squealed.

"Any ride you'd like to try, Octavia?" Dundy asked Octavia while splitting from the group with her. Moxxie and Millie went with Solis and Shelly, Poch was with Loona, and Jack went alone.

"Well, I do one of those rides that take you up high then drop you down," Octavia answered.

"I think that's a few meters away from us."

"We can try some other rides and games on our way there."

"Sounds good, I do wanna try those rides that spin you so fast you're practically glued to the wall."

"Never tried those. Sounds exciting."

"Shall we then?"

"Lead the way."

They tried the ride Dundy mentioned, a roller coaster where you're hanged from the top, another where it's short but you take multiple runs through, and even did a classic attraction where you had to hit the bell, which Dundy did with ease, before they eventually did the high drop one.

"Whew!" Octavia fixed her hair, having just come off the ride. "That was exciting!"

"It was quite a drop," Dundy chuckled.

"These must be nothing compared to fighting off angels."

"Hah! I will admit there is a tinge of excitement and blood rush when fighting them, but these are still quite fun. My friend, Echo, would like to visit here."

"Oh right, I remember you mentioning that this Echo person loved amusement parks."

"Hmhm yes he does. He says it's a nice form of excitement that isn't life or death like fighting angels."

"He's an exterminator as well?"

"Yes. We became exterminators at the same time and for similar reasons, so we got along quite well. He's not here at the moment, so sadly you can't meet him, at least not yet."

"What's he like?"

"He's...brave and strong. I said he went through similar circumstances as me but arguably he's gone through more...I lost a father...lost a wife and child."

"Oh no!" Octavia gasped.

"He didn't let that break him however...he stood tall after falling, and used the experience to motivate him...to become a slayer of angels…he and I tend to visit our loved ones' graves together at times. When we became exterminators together we made a vow to stay strong and never break...for us...and for them."

"Sounds rough."

"It is but...he never let the roughness show, especially in battle, unless he was around someone close."

"How does he fight? Fisticuffs like you?"

"Haha! No no. He uses a gun and sword. The gun is a ppsh-41 with a drum magazine," he saw the confusion on Octavia's face, "a type of AR in a sense. He also has a knight's sword with two small blades sticking out the side from the bottom of the sword. It's able to be set ablaze with blue flames, and he's able to launch said flames. He only uses it when the enemy gets close."

"Cool."

"The gun has tracer rounds but they're slower than a normal bullet albeit stronger. He saves those till they're needed since he doesn't have many."

"Is he a better shooter than Shelly?"

"Well, it's hard to compare them since they use different guns, but in terms of fighting prowess I'd say...Shelly."

"Cause of her shadow demon?"

"Not quite, but he does have a slight advantage with his unique shadow demon."

"Does he now? What is it?"

"It's a totem that has three alternate forms. He can only use one at a time tho."

"I see."

Dundy noticed a game with prizes. "Would you like a prize?"

"Besides the keychain you got me?"

"Another couldn't hurt."

"Hmmm I guess not. Go for it."

"As you wish, Milady!" He said with mock royalty salute, making Octavia laugh.


Stolas and Blitzø were riding in a love tunnel together.

"I'm surprised, Blitzy! I never thought you could be so…. romantic!" Stolas gushed.

"Yeah dont push it, I just thought it'd be nice to do," Blitzø said with a small smile.

As Stolas looked up at the heart sparklers and starry sky, he couldn't help but smile warmly. "I really am glad you invited me...things at home have been...bothersome to say the least."

"Something wrong with old wifey?" Blitzø joked.

"Yes….very much so….I'm afraid she...might try to divorce and take Octavia with her."

"Oh...oh shit." Blitzø began to look concerned.

"I don't care if she divorces me but I do care about Octavia. I'm afraid of how shell treat her."

"Well, that's her daughter, it's not like shes gonna-"

"You don't understand Blitzy...Stella...cares more about her status and the family name. She wants Octavia to be a proper lady of royalty so as not to embarrass her or be seen as not fit for her title….she constantly gripes about her choices of music, style, and other such things, it's like she doesn't see Octavia as Octavia...more so she sees her as something to continue the name...its all she cares about...and I hate it...its like she never learned how to truly be a mother."

"Im… I'm sorry."

Stolas sighed. "It's fine. I won't let anyone take Octavia from me...besides as long as I have my grimoire I don't think she'll try anything...but still I can't be complacent."

"...I guess the I.M.P. crew could help any time ya need it...for a price."

Stolas looked at Blitzø shockingly before making a small smile. "Thank you, Blitzy."

"Don't mention it, seriously don't, I got an image to uphold."

Stolas chuckled. "Right."

They got off the ride. "So, wanna get some-"

Loona ran up to them. "Blitzø!"

"Loona? What are you-?"

"Please tell me you brought the book!"

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"Where is it!?"

"Loona, what's going on!?"

"Poch had another panic attack and gated home! I need to get to him!"

"Oh shit! Stolas, can you call your grimoire!?"

Stolas shook his head. "I'm too far from it, but I do know it's in the passenger side of the van, right under the seat. Hurry!"

Loona nodded and ran off. "Thanks!"

"Wonder what happened?"

Loona ran and pushed past all the demons in her way, making her way out to the van. She got to the passenger side and yanked the door open. Solis and Shelly were in the back seat, Shelly on top of Solis, making out with him, as they both reached into the other's clothes. They froze when Loona opened the door. She saw them but shook her head. "Don't have time!" She grabbed the book and left.

Solis and Shelly looked at each other before shrugging and continuing.


Earlier.

Loona was looking through her phone at a bench, she was looking at her recent instagram pics, the ones of her and Poch on different rides and reading the comments. She didn't know why, but some of the flirty comments about Poch bothered her.

Poch walked up to her holding two sticks of Cotton candy. One blue one red. "Blue or red?"

"I'll take blue," Loona answered, putting her phone away.

Poch handed her the blue candy and sat next to her, eating the red. "Cotton candy. A must at any amusement park."

"That, and pretzels."

"Yeah!... So what were you looking at?"

"Hm? Oh I was looking through my insta, looking at all the comments."

"Ah...y'know I've been wondering. Why am I your first friend? I know you said followers aren't friends but have you ever tried reaching out or responding to some of the comments? One or some could've been potential buds."

"Maybe but...I don't know...remember how I told you about where I grew up?"

"Yeah?"

"Well I guess that experience made me...not much of an outgoer...I may post pics of me in different outfits but honestly that's all they're used for, posting. I just do it when I'm bored and it gives me an excuse not to have to go out somewhere or mingle...I guess I'm just...afraid to because of where I grew up… you're different because you're easy to trust...dont ask me how, you just are...that's why your my first friend."

"Oh...well sorry to bring it up."

"It's fine. I'm kinda glad you asked...feels good to tell someone that...just don't tell anyone."

"Of course. Secrets between us, stay between us." Poch smiled.

"Thanks. C'mon let's walk around, see if we can find anything good," Loona got up.

"Sounds good!"

The two walked around, trying a few booths and prize areas, Poch winning her a small figurine of a headless monster. They eventually got to a fortune booth.

"You there!" The shrouded lady at the booth called out to them.

"Hm?" Poch turned. "Us?"

"Yes you! Brown hellhound! Come closer!"

Poch looked at Loona. She shrugged so he did too and walked up to her. "Lemme guess, want to see hands?" He asked while sitting down in front of the table.

"No, not that." She set down a sheet of paper and placed a small pebble of lead under it. "Put your hands on the side of the sheet! I see a glimpse of something but I need a clearer image!"

"Ok." Poch did so.

The lady grabbed a mug and added something to it to make it foggy. She then poured it onto the paper, the liquids turning into mist as soon as it made contact. She twirled her hand around the fog, making it change to green as it became a small twister. "Hmmmmm!" She hummed as the mist became thicker and turned to red. She stopped twirling her hands and hovered them above. The twister spun faster before gaining a purple hue. She clapped her hands around the top before pushing down on the rest, the fog seemingly getting absorbed by the paper. "Alright, remove your hands."

Poch took his hands off the sheet. "That was pretty cool, not gonna lie."

She flipped the paper over and there was an arrangement of words in some language. "Oh my."

"What is all this?" Poch looked around, not recognizing the language being written until he saw one word he knew. "Wait, that's-!"

"A word that resembles a calling, yes. I do not know what it calls but from what I read, whatever is called will fail to protect you from something fatal."

"What do you mean?"

"In your future I see death but with a line of life, meaning that something fatal shall come to you but it seems as though you'll barely live. Be careful, young exterminator."

"Yeah ri- wait, how'd you know I was a-?"

"Royalty are not the only ones who know." She got up and walked back into her hut.

"Wait!" Poch got up and opened the curtains, revealing no one there. "The hell?"

"Ok, that was spooky," Loona commented.

"Yeah...hey how bout we try that haunted house?" Poch pointed to a nearby haunted house titled, Fear vision.

"Sure."

They walked up to the entrance where a snake demon stood to explain things. "Gretingsss. Will you two enter asss a pair?"

"Yeah, that ok?"

"Yesss but whose fear will be ssshown?"

"Does it have to be one of us?"

"If so, we could flip a coin for it," Poch said.

"Sssadly it's not my choicccce," the snake said, "Whoeversss fear will be ssshown is randomizzzed by the cloudss of fear when more than one enterssss."

"Really? Well wanna go in together or one at a time?"

"Why not go together. If it's my fear I got a tough exterminator to protect me." Loona smirked.

"Sure, I'll just add it to your fee." Poch scanned his ticket card.

"Cheapskate." Loona scanned her card as well.

"Enjoy!" The snake told them, opening the doors to the place.

They walked in. "There wasn't a big line to this place so i'm guessing it's cheap shit," Poch surmised.

"Wouldn't doubt it."

As they got deeper into the dark hallways, a green fog came out of the darkness. Even with their night vision it was hard to see due to the mist.

"Oh, green fog, so scary," Poch said, feigning fright.

"Sure hope there's no jumpscare of my fright," Loona commented with sarcasm.

"I can handle my own, so I don't need you and I never will!" Pochs voice echoed around her.

"Whoa, where'd that come from Poch?"

"What?" Poch looked at her confused.

"What you just said."

"I didn't say anything." The fog became thicker.

"I want it! Please just give it to me!" The voice of Poch shouted.

"Give you what?" Loona asked him, looking where she thought she saw him.

"What? Loona, what'd you say?" There was a ringing going on in Poch's ear that made it hard to hear Loona.

"Poch?" The fog got thicker, making it hard for her to see the other hellhound.

"I don't need it….I don't need it…" Poch's voice shakily said.

Poch heard this one. "Oh no. Loona!? Where are you!?" He shouted.

Loona couldn't hear him. "Poch?... Poch!?" In front of her she saw Poch in a blue long sleeved shirt and long white pants, huddled on the ground. "Poch?" She got closer and saw that his eyes were glassy and unfocused, looking forward to nothing. He had on a red collar that had an opening on the side for injections, and beside him were empty vials with needles. Concerned, she reached out to grab him only for him to fade away. "What the-?"

Poch looked around for Loona and spotted her getting closer to another him, a him that he recognizes. "No!" He ran to her only for a veil of fog to blow up and dissipate to an actual wall that blocked him. "What!?"

"If you do well in this fight, I'll give you some oral meds." A voice Poch knew and hated said in a melodious way.

"R-really?" A tired and slightly raspy voice of Poch said.

"Oh no, no, no!" Poch exasperated, desperately Looking around for Loona.

Loona didn't hear Poch but heard the voices of him and another person. The sound of cheers and fighting echoed around her, startling her. "What the hell?" She could hear Poch grunting and crying out as if he was fighting. "Poch?" She went deeper into the mist. The fighting sounds ended with a yell from Poch.

"Good job!" The voice from before, praised. A sound of something small like pebbles falling to the ground rang out followed by shuffling and panting.

Another apparition formed beside Loona. It showed a scuffed up Poch, wearing what he did from the last vision, scooping up pills from the ground and eating them from his palms like a desperate child. She was shocked at what she saw.

Poch was near her when it was shown, seeing her look at the vision, filling himself with dread. He desperately rushed to her, wanting to get out of the place but another wall blocked him. "DAMMIT!"

The illusion disappeared. Loona was ready to leave too but she didn't know where Poch was so she continued, hoping to find the real him.

"Hahahahaha!" The laughter of someone new bellowed out. "You trained this pup well! Such a loyal dog!"

Another illusion appeared. It was Poch, covered in blood, holding his red dagger, standing up straight, with empty, lazy eyes.

"Yes, just a loyal dog on a loyal leash!" Laughed the voice from before.

"What is all this?" Loona asked herself. The apparition went away and she continued forward. The next sound she heard scared her.

The sound of someone choking and coughing up something was coming from behind her.

"No no! Please! Stay with me Celis!" Poch yelled out desperately.

Loona turned and saw Poch kneeling on the ground, crying furiously, holding up a white hellhound. The white hellhound had his neck slit open and blood was gushing out of it while he was gasping for air.

"Celis please! I...I'm so sorry...I didn't want this to-" illusion Poch was cut off when the white hellhound handed him a blue dagger.

"I...hate you," The white hellhound told him before going limp.

Poch froze, eyes wide with shock and despair, holding his dead brother. He grit his teeth and tightened his eyes, getting filled with rage. "RrrRAAAAAGH!" He screamed out to the sky.

"RAGH!" The real Poch busted through a wall with his chaos blade wielded, he leapt to the illusion and slammed his sword down on it, forcing it to disappear. He was hyperventilating, standing there with his blade slammed into the ground.

Loona hesitated and took small steps toward him. A crack in the ceiling formed from where he broke though and a light swung in on a wire, coming straight for Poch. "Look out!"

Poch turned to see the lamp but before he even thought of doing anything, Klarna appeared and cut the light away. As Poch laid eyes on the shadow demon, his anger boiled and his body shook. "Why….why...why do you keep-!" Before he could finish, his cheeks puffed up. He was about to puke. He tried to hold it in but his bike just kept rising. He quickly cut a gate and went through.

He came to his penthouse, on his balcony, stumbling to the trash can. "HLUURG!" He barfed into the can, keeping a shaky grip as he puked more, emptying his stomach for a solid seven minutes. He panted as it finished, falling down on his hands beside it. His vision was impaired and unbalanced and his ears were ringing. Behind him however, he could feel a presence. He knew what it was. "Why do you keep showing up?...I get it...it's my fault he's gone...so why...do you have to torment me so often!" He glared behind him, straight at Klarna. "Every time I don't need your help, you come! Every time somethings about to hurt me, you appear!...don't you want me hurt or better yet dead!? I'm the reason your original user is dead!"

Klarna just looked at him, standing silently.

"...maybe that's it…" Poch got up, "maybe...that's what I need to do…" he gave a wry smile and wrote for Shiva, "the reason your tormenting me is cause he's dead and you're not...shiva…" the bone fragments came and it turned into a large arm and hand. The hand gripped itself around Klarna's neck. "If I just kill you...it'll be over...right?"

"Yeah! Kill him!" His inner voice yelled.

"Get rid of him!" Another said.

"End this suffering!" Came a third.

"Yeah...yeah!...YEAH!" His smile grew wider and more sadistic, tightening Shiva's grip.

"Yes….kill your brother again." Came a voice he hated to his core.

His smile dropped once he heard that and his arm trembled. He started to hyperventilate again.

"...Poch?" Loona's voice came from beside him at the entrance to the balcony.

Poch looked to the side and saw her looking at him, afraid but mostly worried. He looked forward and saw what he was doing. "What am I… " He let go and dismissed both Shiva and Klarna before collapsing to his knees. "...what am I doing!?" He held his head in his hands and started to cry.

Loona rushed to his side, knelt down, and embraced him. "Hey hey hey, it's ok...it's ok, I'm here." She felt him cry on her chest. Her fur and sweater got soaked but she didn't care. She just wanted him to calm down so she let him cry it out on him.

"...h...how much did you see?" He asked after his tears slowed.

"...not much."

"...don't lie…"

"...the part where you were yelling at Klarna," Loona admitted.

"...damnit…"

"Hey, I'm sure it's no big deal."

"It is...and you saw those visions at the house...you saw that past."

"Past?...that was your-"

"Yeah...it was...that white hound at the end...that was my brother."

"I...kinda figured...but...at least you didn't see his killer," she tried to cheer him up.

"...I did."

"What?"

"I did...and so did you."

"All I saw was you."

"Exactly."

"What!?"

"...I killed him...I'm my brother's killer." He held onto her. "The last words he ever said to me was...I hate you...some brother I am huh?...now you know."

"I...i…" Loona was at a loss for words.

"...can you promise me something?"

"...what is it?"

"...I never told anyone what happened to him...that I killed him…I'd like to keep it that way...especially with Jack and the others...can you do that for me?"

"Sure...no problem."

"Thanks...mind if we stay like this for a bit? You're a good tear soaker." Poch made a small chuckle.

Loona chortled. "Heh. Sure, but I'm showering after this."

"Thanks…"

They held onto each other for a while, in total silence.


The next day, Poch was on the roof of the building, pulling out arrows from the ground and walls and filling the holes with toothpaste. Blitzø had tried out Moxxie's new crossbow. It didn't go too well.

The elevator opened and Jack walked out. "Hey dude."

"Hey," Poch greeted back.

"How's it going?"

"Going alright. There's a lot of holes to fill. Blitzø ain't too good with a crossbow," Poch chuckled.

"Yeah...so how was last night? Besides the whole panic thing."

"It was fun. Had my fortune read too and honestly the way they did it was pretty neat."

"I bet. Wanna know something? Apparently while we were having our fun, Shelly and Solis were having their own fun in the van."

"No way! You mean they-?"

"Yep! Caught them cleaning up!"

"Wow! Sly hounds!"

"Yeah...so uh…"

"Something up?"

"Kinda...I just...was wondering something."

"What's up?"

"...how come...how come you never told us you killed Celis?"

Poch froze. "...wh-what are you-?"

"Don't play dumb...Loona told me."

"She did!?" Poch said with a hint of betrayal.

"Yeah a few minutes ago. I haven't told the others yet but-" he was cut off by Pochs growling. "Uh, dude?"

"One...sec." Poch got up and stomped to the elevator.


Poch kicked the front door open and saw Loona at the desk, looking at him surprised and guilty.

"You told him!?" He yelled at her, getting closer.

"N-now hold on," Loona backed up a bit.

"Hold on? For what!? So you can tell the others!?"

"No, I wasn't gonna tell them, I-"

"So you were only gonna tell Jack!?" He slammed his hands on the desk, making her flinch. "Does Millie know? How about mox? Oh don't tell me, you told dear old dad too!?"

"N-no I didn't tell them." Loona shriveled back.

"How am I supposed to know that!? I thought you'd keep your promise!"

"I-m sorry, it was a slip,"

"A slip!? How did that slip!? Loona you promised you'd keep that between us! You told me you wouldn't tell anyone, and it hasn't even been a day since then! "

His words stung. "W-well...he's your friend...he should've known," she realised too late what she said was a mistake.

Poch looked at her in disbelief before growling. "Yeah...you're right...he is a friend...something you're clearly not!"

Loona looked at him shocked. "What?"

"...don't talk to me...ever!" He walked off, leaving the place, leaving Loona there stunned.

She felt as though she was pierced in the heart. She slumped into her chair, tears welling up in her eyes. Blitzø, Millie, and Moxxie, peaked their heads out the door.

"...guess that means he won't be working today," Blitzø commented before Loona started to sob. "Oh sweety!" He rushed to her side.

"Should we try something?" Moxxie asked his wife.

"I don't think we can do anything," Millie admitted.


End.

Next chapter. Reforged