One Fine Day
Helluva Boss and all characters therein are owned by Vivienne Medrano and Spindlehorse.
-x-
"It's still a bit early for phone calls, Stolas. I'm only on my third coffee."
"I'm sorry your still sleepy Blitzy. Can you to come to the palace later today please." Stolas was using his 'cute' voice.
"What for?" Blitzø asks as he flips through a stack of new client paperwork.
"I have some things I need attending to, if you dont mind." More cute.
"Jeez Stolas its only Tuesday. Do you need to be pegged again already?"
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but if your up for another go I wouldn't decline the offer."
"I'll get there when I get there."Blitzø ends the call and pinches between his eyes in frustration.
"Loony, get in here!"
"What do you want" Loona yells from the front room.
"I need help with these damn files"
Loona enters the office. "Those better not be the files I organized last week."
"They're not!" Blitzø lies, scraping them all into a pile and leaning on them."They're different. CameinthismorningGottagoseeStolas Thanksbabyloveyoubye" Blitzø grabs his keys and leaps over his desk, scattering papers everywhere before running out the door.
"Christ what does that pompous bird want now." Blitzø asked himself as he sat in the van and turned the key.
"Well, all I know is that Im not going down today without a fight."
-x-
Blitzø slides the vehicle haphazardly to a stop in front of the palace and climbs out. He walk up the stairs, rings the bell and waits. and waits. He beats his fist on the scrollwork "STOLAS!! OPEN YOUR GAUDY WHORE HOUSE DOOR!
Stolas' tiny butler swung the door wide, ushering Blitzø in.
"Took you long enough. Where is that overfluffed pussy."
"The prince is in the garden room, sir"
"Great" Blitzø snips back and heads to the furthest end of the palace.
"Hoo Hoo Ooo wonderful! Perfect! Thank you so much."
Blitzø can hear Stolas cooing halfway down the corridor.
"STOLAS, you better be dressed in there!!"
A gust of wind blew his coat open and Stolas suddely stood in front of him blocking his path.
"Hello darling, you came so quickly"
"Excuse me?"
"I did not expect you quite so soon."
"You did tell me to come by. Turns out it was going to be a slow day so hear I am. What do you want."
Blitzø hears a strange yet familiar noise coming from the end of the hall and his head snaps to look past Stolas.
"What was that?"
"What was what?" All 4 of Stolas eyes go wide in an effort to look nonplussed.
"That noise"
"I didnt hear anything odd. Why dont you head to the kitchen. Have Impington make you breakfast, and I'll be along shortly." Stolas suggests.
"I'm not a child, I know a food diversion when I see one." Blitzø glares at Stolas. " I'll accept it because I'm starving, but I KNOW you're hiding something down there" Blitzø turns and heads back to the kitchen with his hands in his pockets pondering the sound.
Stolas watches Blitzø round the corner then wooshes back to the garden room.
"That was close can you take it outside. When I bring Blitzy back I want you to bring it through the exterior door as a suprise."
"Of course, sir" answered the hellhound.
-x-
Blitzø sat at the head of Stolas' 12 ft banquet table swinging his legs and eating horse shaped pancakes "Say, Impy.."
"Impington, sir" the little butler corrected.
"Thats what I said. What do you know about this thing Im waiting for. Im a busy man. I have things to do and people to kill. I cant sit around here all day waiting for whatever that bird brain has concocted."
"I'm afraid I am not at liberty to discuss the masters goings on at the moment"
"Really? Care to discuss it with my friend?" Blitzø drew his gun, aiming it slightly above Impington's head.
"Your friend does not have a higher clearance than yourself I'm afraid." Stated the Imp staring Blitzø down. Impington knew Blitzø wouldnt hurt Stolas' staff unless they threatened the royal himself so he held no fear of the hotheaded Imp or his side piece. "The master will reveal himself in his own time"
"That's what I'm trying to avoid." Blitzø holstered his gun, sighed and returned to his pancakes.
"You make a good breakfast Impington." Blitzø licked the last of the syrup from his plate with his thin forked tounge. " But now I have to go."
Blitzø slid off the chair and headed for the door.
"Tell Stolas he was too slow, whatever he thought he needed will have to wait."
"Oh Blitzyyyy" Stolas sauntered into the room.
"Seriously, now you need me? What have you been doing all this time?"
"Paperwork?"
"Paperwork." Blitzø echoed. "Riiiiiight"
"Now if you would follow me, We can get on with the topic I originally requested your presence for."
"This better be good Stolas or Satan help me I'm gonna kick your ass."
The duo made their way back to the Garden Room where Stolas had a myriad of bontanical species on display. Blitzø had never actually been inside this room before so his skepticism was high. It proved true to its name as it was filled with Amorphophallus, Shagbark, Knobweed, Hookers Lips, Horse Balls Trees, and several species Blitzo was unfamiliar with.
"Did you bring all these fucking plants from lust?"
"What? Oh, Im not sure. This was originally Stellas project. But I do enjoy sitting amongst the flora from time to time."
"You do enjoy your 'flora' " mumbled Blitzø.
A large ornate door hung from tracks on the opposite side of the room. Whatever Stolas had planned for him was obviously on the other side.
"Are we there yet?" Asked a disgruntled Blitzø.
"Nearly. Now, Id like you to close your eyes" requested Stolas, handing Blitzø a pink scarf.
"The fuck? What for. I dont like where this is headed."
"Trust me Blitzy. I have a suprise for you."
"No fucking way. I close my eyes and you'll 'suprise me' with my hands tied behind my back and your dick in my ass."
"I promise darling, thats not the case...unless you want it."
Blitzø crossed his arms and glared.
"Now if you please." Stolas held out the pink scarf.
Blitzø closed his eyes and allowed Stolas to tie the scarf over them. He heard Stolas "hoo hoo hoo" excitedly and scamper away. He heard the exterior door to the estate slide open. The next sound he heard left him dumbstruck.
Clup Clup Clup clupclup.
Blitzø stood, mouth agape. He smelled the light sents of copper and sulfer infusing the breeze that came into the room. He slowly lifted the fabric up above one eye. Standing in the entry to the gardens was a horse. A beautiful pale horse with a glowing green mane.
Pale horses were rare in Hell. Lucifer was rumored to have one. They were native to the Pride ring, but were elusive. He had never seen one before.
Blitzo pulled the scarf off his head freeing both eyes.
He forgot how to word.
"How...Where...When...What??
"The Why" offered Stolas "Is because I was given the opportunity. One of our..my fellow goetia is visiting this ring and asked If I could house their steed. I asked what the limitations of my use was with him and they gave none. I interpereted that as I may share his presence and time with you as I see fit."
Old habits die hard and Blitzø, dropping his eyes, found himself shuffling through his pockets for a gift for the creature. The Hellhound looked suprised. This Imp knew his shit. He dropped the lead and approached Blitzø. He handed the Imp a handfull of white ghost peppers and whispered. "They're his favorite. Name is Quietus" he slapped Blitzo on the shoulder and stepped away.
"Hey Quietus, I'm Blitzo. The O is silent."
Blitzø followed the same protocol he had learned as a kid at the circus. Eyes down, palm out, gift readily available. No sudden moves.
Quietus accepted the pepper eagerly and nuzzled Blitzø's horns in thanks.
"Now, that we're all friends I'd like to try a little experiment" declared Stolas.
Stolas signals the Hellhound who comes back to provide a leg up for Blitzo to mount the ashen horse.
"You ok bareback?" The hound asked?
Blitzø smiled a huge smile, "Bitch, I grew up bareback. I got this."
Once seated atop the steed Blitzø pats its neck and takes the reins. He clicked and Quietus responded. They turned and walked out onto the grounds of Stolas' Grand Estate.
Stolas drew up a chaise and watched Blitzø trot around the yard. Blitzø would pause and give some instruction to the horse that he couldnt hear, feed it a pepper, and continue with a patterned movement. Was he trying to teach it something? Stolas saw the hellhound attendant standing on the ballroom balcony, nodding his head and taking it all in. He clearly recognized something Stolas did not. After an hour of this, Blitzø had Quietus walking a smooth gait in a figure 8 in the yard.
Blitzø brought the horse to a halt. He sat thinking then stretchd and cracked his knckles. Once again he spoke to Quietus, then carefully placed his feet on his back and balanced himself.
"You ok there, buddy?" Blitzø whispered.
Quietus nodded.
"Perfect, now, go"
Quietus began slowly, feeling Blitzø adjust to his movements.
Blitzø slowly stood in a balanced stance as Quietus continued his path.
A bubbly noise escaped Blitzø.
Stolas was astonished. Did Blitzø just giggle?
The horse kept its even pace as Blitzø set his hands and began riding in a handstand for several rotations, then in one smooth movement turned and sat in a backwards mount, reclining along the pale back.
Stolas clapped his hands and hooted joyously as he watched Blitzø's performance.
Blitzø clicked and the horse slowed his pace stopping to graze on the soft grass.
Blitzø closed his eyes and lived in the moment, feeling Quietus breathe beneath him. Blitzø could not he happier.
"I cant believe he did this for me." Blitzø thought. "No fucking way some random royal agreed to leave this horse in his backyard during a business trip. Well, If he brought it here. He's gomna ride it."
Blitzø sat up. He wrapped his tail arround the horses middle and slid under his legs coming around the other side to sit forward again. He spoke soft words to Quietus and the horse walked slowly over to Stolas.
"Come on" Blitzø extended a hand to Stolas.
Stolas looked unsure.
"Have you ever ridden one?"
"No, but this is your gift. Not mine. Stolas replied.
"Some gifts were ment to he shared. Hey, Quietus, can Stolas ride with us?" He asked the horse respectfully.
Quietus, turned to Stolas with an indifferent expression.
"That's not a no. Now, get up here."
Stolas sat behind Blitzø and curled his bird legs up against the horses' ribs.
"Am I doing this right?"
Blitz glanced back and chuckled. "Its fine, we're not going to do anything crazy. I'm done showing off. Ok Q, lets go."
The horse once again began its gentle walk and Stolas wrapped his hands around Blitzø's waist. Stolas had never seen the Imp so calm. He looked around as they swayed in rhythm with the equid. The hellhound trainer had fallen asleep on the balcony. "He must feel Blitzø is quite trustworthy with the beast to do so." thought Stolas.
Blitzø directed them out of the main yard and down to the pond located at the back of the estate. Blitzø dismounted and motioned Stolas to do the same. He spoke once again to the horse and then sat in the grass beside the acidic waters. Stolas settled in beside him.
"I have never seen you so happy." reflected Stolas.
"I'm always happy around horses. Thank you for this."
"You're welcome, Blitzy."
"You know, I came over here today expecting to fix something or to be humped. Neither of which I was in the mood to do. I never in my wildest dreams expected to see a pale horse. Or any horse."
Stolas and Blitzø sat quietly together, not speaking, listening to the peaceful sounds around them. "I want to do something for you." Blitzo broke the silence. "...and I know exactly what that is."
Stolas looked at Blitzo with a quizzically raised eyebrow.
"And since I'll be the evil villian in this fantasy," Blitzø continued, pulling the pink scarf from his pocket, "I expect you outta tie me up, cowboy."
Stolas blushes, his feathers fluffing. "Oh, Myyy!"