Blitz stared at the wall against the absence of sunlight. As a stream of consciousness met his mind, his arms wrapped around his soundly sleeping partner he held close. Glowing amber eyes faced the distant shape of Stan, who was cooing quietly in his sleep. The imp found it amusing and began to wonder what birds dreamed of: Other birds? Chasing helpless hellhounds? Murder? The last one seemed the most likely to Blitz after the midday events that unfolded. He sighed as he felt a shift in the bed, hearing a groggy expression of dissatisfaction from Styx.

"Blitz?" Styx called out in a hoarse tone.

"Yeah?" Blitz asked quietly.

"Have you been awake this whole time?"

The imp paused. "Yeah."

"Tell me what's wrong." Styx demanded, still waking up as they wiggled out of the embrace and sat up in the bed. Blitz followed suit and was quietly relieved at the chance to stop finding comfortable positions for the spines on his back.

"No." Blitz said.

"Blitz." Styx retaliated.

"Yeah?"

"Ask me for help or I'm gonna tell Stan." The sinner threatened.

Silence fell. Styx noticed that Erosa and Polter were still mysteriously absent, but made nothing of it. They were too focused on the imp in front of them, and too foggy in the mind to care about anything else. They leaned against Blitz's shoulder, who was more than happy to allow such an act of affection.

"It's just... everything hurts." Blitz said solemnly. "My fucking sides, my arms, my head - All fucked up to shit. Sleep isn't gonna happen for me. Can you help with that?"

"Hm... I dunno." Styx amusingly pondered while shifting closer, holding the imp's hand. "Would a cuddle while you open up to me help?"

"Can't we just fuck or something?" Blitz asked outright.

Styx frowned. "Again? We've done it three times today."

"Yeah and you took my dick each time."

"Blitz, I'm serious." Styx stated harshly , brushing hair out of their eyes as the consequences of being awoken suddenly began to take affect. Their eyes remained halfway open, however the sinner remained vigilant. "This is how relationships work: If the other person is upset, you comfort them and ask them what's wrong. If you're unhappy, I'm unhappy."

"My problems aren't your problems." Blitz said factually. Don't worry about it."

"Do I have to go get Stan?" Styx asked.

"He's a fucking bird." Blitz deadpanned.

"So am I." Styx retorted.

"Not the same thing, babe."

"I'm going to call him over if you don't tell me what's wrong." Styx repeated.

"Call the fucking bird." Blitz said harshly.

Styx crossed their arms, removing their hand from the warmth of the imp, much to Blitz's dissatisfaction, though he assumed he deserved it.

"Fine." Styx said. "Stan, come fix your man."

Stan cooed louder. Before long Blitz heard the flapping of feathers and a light weight on his leg. The bird has flown over quickly, and stared down the imp with the same eyes as his partner currently did next to him. Blitz quickly cupped him into his hands, admiring the plumage and open eyes of such a small and relatively insignificant creature, much like himself. Nothing was insignificant anymore, and everything held a purpose in their own hands... except for Blitz.

"There." Styx said. "Now you have to talk to me and Stan."

Blitz almost produced a halfhearted exhale of laughter, but found his mind beginning to race with returning feelings of burning and choking behind his throat, his hands only steady by the reassurance of Stan. He sighed shakily as his already sore eyes began to fight against the emotions.

"Life's a lot easier when you're just a fuckin bird, huh?" The imp smiled. "Fancy bitches in the big castles are birds, Stan shits on people because he's a bird. You ended up being a bird for some fuckin reason, and you're actually happy with your life. I'm a fucking imp with nothing. I'm nothing."

Styx watched. They noticed the twitches in his fake smile, the false reassurance that everything was fine, and secretly enjoyed that the imp was finally beginning to open up like they had before. A kiss found it's way on to Blitz's cheek, and his smile because genuine as the tears began to fall. A soft hand gently intertwined with his, and Styx rested atop their partner with a faint noise of satisfaction. The two soon forgot about their original pain, and found themselves unable to separate as Styx began to cry alongside their partner. They silently wept, the two hungering for attention from the world around them and sharing their hearts in a desperate cry for needing one another. Stan cooed softly as the crying faded into silent affection and the occasional sniffles.

"I know it's hard to see how much you're worth when you only notice the mistakes." Styx said lovingly. "Trust me, my life was never happy to begin with. Just complacent."

"The fuck is cum placemat?" Blitz asked, his voice rough from the choking of his throat.

Styx gave a small laugh, wiping tears from their eyes. "Complacent. It means you're just dealing with whatever you have. Not great, not terrible, just... okay."

"Story of my fucking shit life." Blitz said.

"Not anymore." Styx reassured him as the sinner leaned in close. "You have me, you have Stan, you have a new life. Does that sound like something made from someone who's nothing?"

Blitz pondered. "...Guess not."

Styx smiled wider. "I don't have to guess. I know what I have, and I don't care if we have to go across the entire world to find our place. I just know me and my imp... and his bird... will be there."

Blitz was speechless. He could feel his eyes beginning to well up again as Stan looked at him as if to reassure the imp that everything will be okay. For a brief moment in his life of unfairness and survival, a small amount of hope surfaced, and the tears that fell were that of happiness.

"I... I love you." The imp managed to get out.

"I love you, too, Blitz." Styx said affectionately before taking Stan into their own hands and turning around so that their back rested against the imp. "Hey, wanna watch something on the awful local TV? Get your mind off things?"

"Can it be the show about horses?" Blitz asked.

"I dunno." Styx said as they kissed the hand Blitz rested over their thigh. "You might have to ask Stan about that."