The staff of IMP sat around the office. They had just gotten back from a job and were taking a break. Millie and Moxxie were sitting on the couch maintaining their weapons. While Loona sat at her desk with Dante sitting beside her. Suddenly Dante realized that it was way too quiet.
"Hey, where the fuck is Blitz?" Dante asked, his voice filled with worry, not over Blitz's safety mind you but at the trouble, he was most likely causing.
"Oh, he said he was gonna get an iced coffee, he should be back soon," Millie said as she looked up from her axe.
Dante sighed with relief but couldn't help but feel that something was going to go wrong.
In front of the Coffee shop
Blitzo walked out of the coffee shop large, iced coffee in hand, the line was incredibly long, and it took forever to get upfront but luckily, he got his drink. Blitzo sipped happily as he started heading back to the office, but as he did someone bumped into him causing him to spill his coffee all over his suit.
"Ahh, what the fuck, how about you watch where you're going you-" Blitzo stopped all the anger draining from his body when he saw who he had bumped into.
It was a succubus a really really sexy one at that too, she had long wavy back hair that framed a charming face. she wore a very short black dress, emphasis on short, any shorter and Blitzo could have seen her underwear, the dress also had a low neckline showing a fair amount of cleavage.
"Ohh my Satan I'm so sorry!" she said in a sweet innocent tone of voice.
"I should have been watching where I was going, I didn't mean to spill your drink I'm such a clutz I'm sorry, can you please forgive me?" she asked leaning down to be at eye level with Blitz.
Blitz looked down and noticed that this angle gave him a great view of her cleavage. A perverted grin plastered Blitz's face as he stared at her boobs.
Maybe I can get her to sleep with me as an apology! He thought to himself excitedly.
"Hey, no problem accidents happen but if you really want to make it up to me you could always-" Blitz could not finish his sentence as the woman grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug his face buried deep into her tits.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so happy you're not mad it would just make me so sad if you were, oh thank you!" she squealed Blitz thought he could feel her grab his ass. Letting go the Succubus walked off leaving Blitz standing there with a goofy smile.
The lady rounded a corner and ducked into an alleyway, stopping she held up a small key and smiled.
"Phase one complete," she said with a sinister smile as she suddenly began to change form.
Back at IMP
As the crew of IMP waited for their boss to get back from his coffee run, Millie and Moxxie were relaxing on the couch, while Dante sat by Loona with an arm around her shoulder. Dante leaned forward and gave her a peck on the cheek, Loona smiled but that smile quickly shifted into a look of concern, Dante noticed the worried expression on his girlfriend's face.
"What's up, piccola?" Dante asked, squeezing her shoulder.
Loona let out a high-pitched whine while tentatively placing a hand on her stomach, she turned to face Dante.
"Well, you see Dante I'm um... I think I might be-" Loona was interrupted by the sound of Dante's phone going off signaling he had a text. Pulling out his phone he unlocked it and looked at the message.
"Ohh it's Via," Dante said casually, Loona's worried expression quickly turned to a look of anger.
"Why the fuck are you still talking to Octavia?!" Loona yelled glaring at her boyfriend.
"What's the problem, I told you I talked with her she knows nothing is going on between us?" he asked, taken aback by Loona's anger at him still talking with Octavia.
"Yes, you "talked with her" I assumed that afterward, you would never speak to that skinny little slut again," Loona explained, Dante glared.
"Excuse me but I can hang out or spend time with whomever I want," he said with an annoyed tone of voice.
"Not with an annoying little brat who stalked you!" Loona growled baring her fangs, Dante shot up out of his seat.
"You don't get to decide who my FUCKING friends are!" Dante shouted before storming out of the office slamming the door with enough force to shatter the glass.
"Fuck that was awkward," Moxxie said under his breath to Millie.
Millie looked at Loona sitting at her desk pinching the bridge of her snout in frustration, she thought she could see a tear in her eye.
In the hallway
Dante leaned against a wall, reached into his jacket, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Sticking one in his mouth and lighting it, Dante took in a long breath and then blew out a big cloud of smoke.
Dante sighed he couldn't believe Loona, how fucking dare she tell him who the fuck he could hang out with? He doesn't get jealous when other hellhounds hit on her, so she shouldn't get all jealous when he hangs out with another woman.
I mean Gesù Cristo Rose never got like that! Dante thought to himself angrily, before briefly considering it.
Ok yeah, she didn't like it when I hung out with Amelia, but she never outright forbade me from hanging out with her, Dante thought to himself taking another drag from his cigarette.
Finishing his smoke Dante extinguished it on the bottom of his shoe he was about to head back into the office when he saw Blitz come out of the elevator.
"Hey Blitz, what's up, where's your coffee?" Dante asked his boss who seemed surprised to see him there.
"Oh, uhh h-hey uhh Dante, that's right Dante! Well funny thing I was on my way to the cafe to get my coffee when I realized I forgot my wallet," Blitz said sounding kinda nervous, Dante was confused by this weird behavior.
"So yeah, just gonna head back into the office and grab it," Blitz explained, Dante just shrugged.
"Alright," he said still confused.
"Ok see you later Dante, keep up the great work!" he shouted as he headed down the hall towards IMP.
Dante lit another cigarette as he watched Blitz, suddenly Dante's eyes went wide, and the cigarette fell out of his mouth.
Blitz just complimented me, and he didn't say a single swear! Dante thought to himself in complete surprise.
IMP office
After the little spat between Dante and Loona, Moxxie and Millie went back to performing maintenance on their weapons. Moxxie diligently cleaned his favorite sniper rifle making sure it was in the best condition it could be. Millie on the other hand sharpened her favorite ax only half-heartedly the Imp woman couldn't take her eyes off the hellhound sitting across from her. She saw how upset Loona looked, how she was all nervous and fidgety and kept rubbing her belly. Millie's first thought was that she had a stomachache but then another idea came to mind, Millie's eyes went wide, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks at the sudden realization.
"Hey Moxx, could you get me some coffee please?" Millie asked her husband, giving him her best puppy dog eyes.
"Sure, sweety be right back," Moxxie said as he got up and headed for the break room.
Once Moxxie was out of sight Millie got up and headed over to Loona. The Hellhound looked up from her phone and noticed the Imp heading towards her.
"What do you want?" Loona asked in a bored tone.
"Are you expecting?" Millie asked in a serious stern voice. Loona's eyes went wide at that question.
"The fuck no of course not why would you even think that!" Loona said letting out a nervous laugh, but the look on Millie's face made it clear that there was no getting out of this.
"yeah I think I might be," she stated in a defeated tone letting out a deep sigh.
"Have you told Dante yet?" Millie asked, her voice carrying a kind of motherly concern.
"No, not yet I mean how do you even tell your boyfriend you're pregnant?" Loona clutched her stomach apprehensively.
Millie was about to reply when the door opened and turning around, they saw Blitz standing in the doorway.
"Hey everyone, how are you," Blitz asked in a cheerful optimistic tone.
"Uhh hello, sir," Moxxie who had just come out of the break room said, finding it odd the Blitz was sounding so polite and didn't say a single swear when greeting them.
"Hey, where's your iced coffee sir?" Millie asked, noticing he didn't have a drink.
Oh, silly me I forgot my wallet, so I came back to get it," Blitz explained heading towards his office, as he passed by Loona's desk, she thought that Blitz had smelled off, she couldn't explain it he just smells… weird.
Probably a side effect of the pregnancy, I mean I've heard being pregnant messes with your sense of smell so maybe that's it, she thought to herself, which just had the effect of making her more nervous as now it seemed like she was pregnant.
Moving quickly Blitz went into his office and closed the door, smiling he headed for his desk and pulled a small key out of his pocket. Sticking it in the top left-hand drawer, Blitz heard an audible click, pulling the drawer open to reveal a large blue book with a complex gold seal on the front. Pulling the book out he stuck it in his jacket and closed and locked the drawer.
"All right got my wallet time to head out, remember to keep up the good work, everyone," Blitz shouted as he headed out the door, with everyone watching him in utter confusion.
"That was… fucking weird right?" Loona asked still not sure what to make of Blitz's strange behavior.
"Yep," replied Moxxie.
"Definitely," Millie said.
In the hallway, by the elevator
Dante had finished his second cigarette and tossed it onto the carpet where he smothered it with his shoe, he was ready to head back to the office when he saw Blitz again, heading this way.
"Hello, Dante keep up the great work," he said, as he got in the elevator, with Dante just staring at him, in utter disbelief.
Lobby
Blitz stepped out of the lobby and was about to head out through the front door when suddenly the real Blitz walked in carrying a new iced coffee. Panicking "Blitz" quickly hid behind a potted plant which did a poor job hiding him, but Blitz didn't even notice as he got into the elevator.
"Thew that was close," "Blitz" said as he stepped out from behind the plant, walking out of the building they turned down a nearby alley, but a different demon altogether walked out.
Tall with a slim figure, this demon had dark grey hair with a white streak running through it. They also possessed long striped pointed horns like an Imps but pink and red instead of black and white. This demon possessed a long red tail with two white rings near the tip, the tip was not a typical spade-like tail of most imps but instead had a more rhombus-like shape. This demon was dressed in a finely tailored black suit, reaching into the pocket of their suit the demon pulled out a monocle and placed it on their right eye. On their back was a small bag that was carrying something big and heavy.
Dusting off their suit this demon walked calmly down the sidewalk, a smile on their face as they felt the weight of the bag on their back.
Back at the IMP building hallway
Dante leaned back against the wall, cigarette number three sitting in the corner of his mouth as he contemplated Blitz's strange behavior. It was just so out of the ordinary for Blitz to be so polite and nice normally he would be shouting expletives or calling Dante a lazy piece of shit, so him saying he was doing a good job, and not cussing or trying to get into his pants was just… weird.
Maybe he hit his head or something? Dante thought to himself as he took a drag from his cigarette, knocking ashes to the filthy carpeted floor.
Suddenly Dante heard the elevator ding, turning his head he saw the door open revealing Blitzo, with an iced coffee in one hand and a large stain on the front of his suit.
"Cazzo, Blitz, how'd you get back so quick?" Dante said in surprise seeing Blitz back from the coffee shop so fast.
"The fuck are you talking about, Dante?" Blitz asked raising an eyebrow as he took a sip of his coffee.
"You were literally just here, I saw you walk into the elevator then suddenly your back with a coffee, Cazzo your quick," Dante said astonished by Blitz's sudden feat of speed, but Blitz just stared at him like he was crazy.
"Are you back on Heroin or something, you were still in the office when I left, I got a coffee then some bitch bumped into me causing me to spill it!" Blitz explained gesturing to the large stain on the front of his suit.
"So, then I had to go back in and get another, and now I'm back," Blitz said, Dante still looked confused.
"But, what about your wallet?" Dante asked.
"What about it?" Blitz replied not sure what he was talking about.
"You said you forgot your wallet and came back to get it," Dante stated unsure how Blitz was able to buy two coffees if he had supposedly left it in his office.
"What are you talking about dumbass, I have my wallet right here, I've had it the whole time!" Blitz yelled pulling his wallet out of his pocket.
"But… I… what?" mumbled in confusion trying to piece everything together, but at this point, Blitz was done with his shit.
"Look Dante stop being a dumbass and let's get back to work all right," Blitz walked down the hall back towards the office, with a confused Dante following just behind.
IMP office
"How the fuck do you tell your boyfriend you might be pregnant?" Loona asked, her voice filled with worry, Millie placed a hand on Loona's.
"Look sweety I know it's difficult, but you got to tell him, you just need to sit him down somewhere quiet and let him know," Millie explained with a warm smile, though it was obvious from the nervous expression on Loona's face that her advice isn't making her feel better.
"Are you sure your even pregnant, have you taken a test yet?" Moxxie asked curious to see if she was pregnant or if she was just overreacting. Loona looked away embarrassed, rubbing the back of her head.
"Well, no not yet, but I just realized I might be ok!" Loona yelled at Moxxie, who shrunk back at the Hellhound's anger.
"He's got a point hun, pick up a test on the way home, take it and see for yourself if you are or not," Millie said getting between Loona and Moxxie.
"I guess," Loona said sitting back down.
"Besides even if you are you can always get an abortion," Moxxie stated, Millie was taken aback that Moxxie would bring up that so casually. Glaring at her husband Moxxie looked nervous and was about to say something when Loona spoke up.
"It's not that I don't want it, I do I'm just worried that Dante won't," she said clutching her stomach, a scared expression on her face.
Millie reached forward to comfort the Hellhound when suddenly the door opened, with Blitz and Dante walking in. the others were stunned by just how quickly Blitz had gotten back with his coffee. Blitz noticed the weird looks everyone was giving him.
"What?" he asked confused at why they were all staring at him.
"How the fuck did you get back here so fast you literally just left?" Moxxie asked dumbfounded, Blitz rolled his eyes.
"Oh, not this shit again I didn't 'just leave' I left like twenty minutes ago, why the fuck are you guys acting like I just left?" he asked confused at everyone's strange behavior.
"Because you did! You left then came back for your wallet then came back again," Moxxie explained.
"For the love of, no I did not forget my wallet I'm not an idiot like you Moxx," Blitz yelled, Moxxie scowled at his boss.
"Ok look how about you all stop being dumb, and we all get back to work ok," Blitz said heading for his office to grab the book.
Reaching into his pocket, Blitz noticed that the key was gonna, quickly checked his other pockets and the key was not there.
"Fuck! God dammit, hey guys do you see the key out there I can't find it?" he shouted out to the rest of the group who began looking around the office for the key.
Dante joined in but then suddenly his eyes went wide, he remembered what Blitz had told him in the hall.
I got a coffee then some bitch bumped into me causing me to spill it!
A sudden realization came over Dante as everything was starting to make sense, Dante quickly rushed into Blitz's office.
"Hey, did you find the ke-" Dante suddenly pushed Blitz out of the way sending him to the floor, heading behind his desk Dante used one of his talons to unlock the drawer and opened it revealing that the book was gone.
"FUCK!" Blitz and Dante shouted in unison as they looked at the empty drawer.
"Where the fuck is the book, why is it not here?!" Blitz shouted as he glared at the empty drawer his eye twitching.
"Because someone stole it that's why dumbass!" Dante said causing Blitz to turn his fury on him.
"Listen Dante don't be a fucking smartass, the book is gone, that means our only ticket to the living world is gone as well! Fuck Stolas is gonna kill me," Blitz pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"Wait the book is gone!?" turning their heads Dante and Blitz saw Millie, Moxxie, and Loona standing in the doorway of his office, with looks of utter disbelief on their faces.
"Yep, it's gone, you guys let a thief sneak in and steal the most important thing to IMP!" Blitz snapped angrily at his employees.
"But that's impossible there's no way a thief could have slipped in here?" Moxxie stated unable to comprehend how IMP got robbed right under their noses.
"You didn't notice because they looked like Blitz when they did it!" Dante yelled pulling the drawer out of the desk and throwing it against the wall causing it to shatter into pieces. The others were taken aback by this outburst, not sure what Dante was saying.
"Wait sweety what do you mean?" Millie asked confused.
"That wasn't Blitz we saw earlier, the real one was out getting coffee this one was an imposter, and they must have stolen the key when the real one wasn't looking," Dante explained to the other, whose eyes went wide at the sudden realization.
"That's why he smelt so off! I thought that he smelt weird, but I just chalked it up to being preg-" Loona stopped mid-sentence when she saw Millie sending her a "cut it out" gesture.
"I mean my nose is really stuffy today," she finished, fidgeting, and giving nervous smile, luckily Dante and Blitz didn't notice.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I'm pretty sure I didn't bump into myself while getting coffee, I distinctly remember bumping into this smoking hot bimbo," Blitz explained, tracing in the air said bimbo's curves with his hands, Dante just smacked his forehead, in annoyance.
"Then it's obvious we're dealing with a shapeshifter here, my guess is either a succubus or maybe a sinner with the ability to change forms," Dante explained to the IMP crew.
"Well then let's find this motherfucker and tear their fucking head off!" Blitz shouted as he headed out the door towards the elevator followed by Millie, then Moxxie, then Dante, and Loona.
Outside the IMP building
The staff of IMP burst out of the building and onto the sidewalk looking up and down the street trying to find the thief disguised as Blitz, but they could not find them.
"Fuck where'd this bastard go!?" Blitz yelled angrily as he continued to scan the street for his double.
"I highly doubt they're still in the area Blitz and I also doubt they still look like you, they've probably already changed their shape by now," Dante explained to his boss.
"Well, how the fuck are we gonna find this bastard?" Millie asked not sure how they were gonna find the thief if they could change shape.
"Simple Loona will find them for us," Dante said, gesturing to Loona who looked at him in surprise.
"What, me?" Loona asked, confused.
"Of course, you Loonie, you said you got the thief's scent, right?" he asked, turning towards his girlfriend, Loona nodded.
"Yeah, I mean I noticed that they didn't smell quite like Blitz, but honestly it was so close I figured that my nose was the issue," she said embarrassed gesturing to her snout.
"That guys is how we're gonna find them Loona will track them," Dante said proudly patting Loona on the shoulder.
"Wait Dante, remember what I said they smelt almost exactly like Blitz, if I try, I'll probably just mix up their scent with Blitz's," Loona stated, Dante, rubbed his chin before snapping his fingers. Turning to Blitz he snatched the iced coffee out of his hand pulled off the top and dumped it over his head.
"What the fuck Dante?!" Blitz yelled, wiping coffee out of his face.
"There now you don't have to worry about mixing up their scents," Dante said, ignoring the angry look from Blitz.
Taking a deep breath, Loona turned her head to her right, having gotten the scent of the thief, and began running down the road, followed closely by the rest of IMP.
Ten minutes later
Loona moved down the street pushing past various other pedestrians trying to stay on the scent of the thief. The rest of IMP trailed behind her focusing intently on the Hellhound, ready to strike when the moment presented itself. Loona continued to follow the scent making sure to take another quick sniff to make sure she didn't lose it, as she moved through the city, she found the scent growing stronger. Quickening her pace, she moved through the crowd of Imps until she spotted the target. No more than six feet ahead of her, was this tall, slender… well Loona wasn't sure what this demon was, they had the red skin and a pointed tail of an Imp, but the slender physique of a succubus and their horns while striped were pink and red instead of black and white or even red and black like a succubus's.
Dammit, it doesn't matter what they are, they're the thief and they need to pay! She thought to herself shaking her head. Turning to the other she pointed at the demon.
"Right there," she said to IMP, the others followed her finger to the demon in question.
"You sure Loonie?" Dante asked eyeing the demon in question. Loona nodded her head, and he could tell by the look in her eye that this was the thief.
"Alright then let's kill this fucker!" Millie shouted pulling out her ax a sadistic smile on her face.
Dante tried to stop her, but Millie rushed past him and charged toward the thief, running up the back of a larger Imp Millie launched herself into the air and dove straight towards the demon ax raised to take off their head.
Turning their head, the demon saw Millie heading straight for them and quickly ducked out of the way, causing Millie to slam head-first into a parked car.
"Dammit, Millie, we need them alive!" Dante shouted towards Millie as she dizzily pulled herself up. Turning around the thief saw the staff of IMP rushing toward her and quickly fled down an alleyway.
Chasing after them IMP followed Loona as she led them through the twisting and turning alleyways of Imp City. stopping in one alley there was no thief, but there was a homeless man.
"Spare some change?" he asked in a meek voice, Loona lifted him sniffed him then slammed him against a wall.
"Not gonna work fucker!" she shouted, the homeless man grimaced, then suddenly change form back to the thief.
"Now you have ten seconds to tell us where the book is before I-" but before Loona could finish her threat there was suddenly a bright flash stunning Loona causing her to drop the thief who ran off down the alley.
Continuing the chase, they eventually came across a succubus hooker.
"Hey, their looking for a" she was interrupted when bullets started whizzing past her, shifting back the thief continued to run until eventually heading into a dead end. Turning around they saw IMP had caught up, weapons drawn and blocking the only way out.
"Give up thief, just give us back the book and we'll let you go," Dante said stepping forward.
"Fuck that let's kill this bitch!" Millie shouted, lifting her ax, and smiling.
"Yeah, and besides there's no way out so just give back the book and we'll make it quick," Blitz said raising his pistol.
The thief on the other hand just smiled then suddenly two large red and white wings, burst from their back and they took off launching themself into the air. The crew of IMP stood utterly dumbfounded.
"What the fuck do we do now?!" Moxxie yelled in despair, suddenly Blitz got an idea.
"Loona toss me!" Blitz shouted to his daughter.
"What?" she asked confused.
"Just do it!' he yelled jumping into her arms, Loona shrugged and tossed him at the thief. Flying through the air Blitz grabbed onto the thief who let out a yelp of surprise.
"Let go of me!" they shouted as they wrestled with the Imp, as they struggled Blitz reached behind the thief's back and pressed both his index fingers into the small of their back right between their wings.
"Gahh!" they yelled as their wings suddenly went limp and stopped working (a little trick Blitz picked up during his relationship with Verosika).
The two plummeted to the ground screaming, acting quickly Dante reached out his arms. The thief landed in Dante's arms, as Blitz crashed down into Moxxie causing a loud cracking sound to echo through the alleyway.
"Ohh my hero," the thief said looking up at Dante batting their eyelashes and wrapping their arms around his neck. Dante looked very uncomfortable then suddenly Loona rushed forward and knocked them unconscious.
"That'll work," Dante stated as he slung their unconscious body over his shoulder.
IMP conference room
Blitz, Dante, Millie, and Moxxie all stared at the demon whose name they learned was Ritz, tied up in one of the conference room chairs, but despite being tied up and at the mercy of four very angry Imps Ritz didn't seem to mind. They just sat there smiling, seemingly unphased by IMPs' attempts to extract information on the book's location. IMP had been grilling them for about an hour, but no progress whatsoever, not because they were strong or pain resistant, no it was because they kept flirting and hitting on them whenever they tried to get an answer from them.
"Listen here pal, you're going to tell us where the fucking book is or I'm gonna tear your spine out through your ass!" Blitz growled grabbing them by the collar and pulling them in close, Ritz just smiled.
"You know you have lovely eyes," they said sultry tone, Blitz was taken aback by this statement letting go of Ritz and blushing.
"I… what… will you just…err," Blitz stuttered, the blush spreading to the rest of his face. It was at this moment that Moxxie stepped forward towards the thief.
"Listen up, this is only gonna go bad for you if you don't tell us, so spit it out and maybe we'll let you live," Moxxie said sternly, pistol in his hand showing he meant business.
"Ohh come on handsome don't be like that, you wouldn't want to hurt little old me, how about we forget about the book and grab a coffee, or see a movie, I can already tell by the nice suit of yours you've got excellent tastes," Ritz said in a flirty tone.
"Ohh well thank you it's nice to meet someone who appreciates good taste," Moxxie said rubbing the back of his head and blushing, Millie, on the other hand, did not look amused.
"Back off my husband you bitch!" Millie yelled possessively grabbing Moxxie and scowling at Ritz who let out a soft whistle.
"Wow, she's your wife, I must say, you are one lucky man she's gorgeous," Ritz stated, the scowl on Millie's face instantly vanished, replaced instead with a smile.
"Ok, this is fucking ridiculous you better stop with the fuck flirting and tell us where you fucking hid the fucking book, or I swear to Satan I will!" Blitz raised his hand and was prepared to smack Ritz, who flinched in fear when suddenly Dante grabbed his arm.
"Whoa Blitz take it easy, listen, why don't you guys wait outside for a few minutes to cool off while I deal with them all right?" Dante asked, letting go of Blitz, who begrudgingly agreed and left the room with Millie and Moxxie. Once they were gone, Dante locked the door and sat down right across from Ritz.
"Don't bother handsome, I'm not telling you where the book is," Ritz said confidently.
"I know, I've met your type before and you're definitely not gonna talk," Dante said, raising his hands defensively.
"Then why are you here, if you know I'm not gonna talk?" Ritz asked, confused at why he was continuing the interrogation when he knew it was pointless.
"I just want to talk," he replied, Ritz stared at him utterly confused.
"Seriously?" They asked dumbfounded, Dante nodded completely serious.
"Unless you got a problem with it?" He asked, leaning forward.
"Not as long as I can keep looking at the pretty face of yours?" Ritz asked, leaning in closer, a smile on her face.
"That you can sweetheart that you can," Dante replied, returning their smile. Ritz leaned back, satisfied.
"So, what do you want to talk about," Ritz asked.
"Well for one why did you swipe the book, money, power?" Dante asked, Ritz, let out a laugh.
"Sorry gorgeous but I can't tell ya," they said with a smirk, Dante shrugged.
"Are you a former client? Did we mess up your contract or something?" Dante asked, wondering if they were a client whom they disappointed and tried to take matters into their own hands.
"Nope, sorry but I'm not some disgruntled client, keep trying," they said, Dante sat back and continued to ponder why they had taken the book, suddenly Dante's eyes went wide with a sudden realization.
"Ohh, I know you're working for that stuck-up bitch Stella aren't you!?" Dante asked, it was obvious, Stella couldn't stand the idea of her husband sleeping with some lowly Imp, so obviously she hired Ritz to take the book and without its only way to the living world IMP would go under and Stolas would get in trouble for losing the book.
"What no! Satan no! Yuck, I hate all those stuck-up nobles!" Ritz replied sounding like the idea of her working with the nobility of Hell made them physically ill.
"Preaching to the choir here sister, I hate all those worthless greedy fucks," Dante said his tone matching hers.
"They don't care about anybody but themselves, they go around acting all important as if they're so essential to Hell's stability when it's people like us, Imps, Hellhounds, and succubi who do all the work," Dante finished slamming his fist down on the table.
"Exactly! Those bastards don't care whom they hurt or whom they step on!" Ritz said with a certain amount of bitterness, Dante noticed this change in their tone.
"You sound like you know from experience?" He asked looking directly at the tied-up thief who looked away with an unhappy expression on their face.
"That I do," they said quietly the confidence and certainty fading from their voice.
"Do you mind telling me your story?" He asked gently.
"Only if you tell yours," Ritz replied Dante nodded in agreement.
"I'll go first," he said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a flask. Opening it he quickly downed the contents, before putting it back in his jacket.
"When I was about five years old a man broke into my home and murdered my parents, I don't know why my family wasn't rich we didn't have much, but he did I saw every moment of it, the sight of my parent's deaths and their broken corpses is eternally burned into my memory," he explained tightening his grip on the table his talons digging into the lacquered surface.
"For some reason, he let me live, half the time I wish he had just killed me, but I survived, and I ended up living in the streets and alleys of Ro- Uhh Pentagram City for nine years eating trash and begging for money. While living on the streets, I saw people, young kids starving from not having enough to eat, I witnessed homeless and the downtrodden being abused and suffering horribly, and worst of all I watched as the wealthy elites and nobles moved about wasting their cash on pointless frivolous things instead of helping those beneath them," his tone became more bitter, his grip on the table tightening to the point the wood was beginning to crack.
"But what was worse was that they treated me like a burden as if my mere existence was an insult as if being poor and homeless was somehow offensive," a loud crack echoed through the room, Dante looked down and saw that he had ripped a chunk out of the table. Tossing it aside he looked over at Ritz and saw their eyes filled with sympathy and sadness. Dante quickly got himself back together and cleared his throat.
"Well, that's my story, what's yours?" He asked the thief; Ritz closed their eyes and took a deep breath.
"My family was originally jewelry makers, some of the best, in fact, our work was desired by everyone from Pride to Sloth," Ritz said, their voice filled with pride.
our customers ranged from common hellborns to overlords, and even members of the Ars Goetia, hell of my dad's creations was even purchased by Lucifer himself as a gift for his wife!" Dante was surprised, to say the least, Ritz family must have been good if they got even Lucifer's attention.
"I've noticed you've been talking in the past tense," Dante said, the smile on Ritz's face faded, and their eyes fell to the table.
"Everything went downhill when this one noble, started spreading rumors about our business, saying that our jewelry was shotty, that the gems were fake, that we were overpriced," Ritz explained, their voice filling with anger.
After that business went under, we couldn't find any customers and the bank foreclosed we had to sell off everything at prices that weren't even half the jewelry's value, and guess who bought up most of it," Ritz's tone was filled with bitterness, and anger as they recounted the injustices, they and their family faced at the hands of Hells upper class.
"Why did this noble fuck up your family's business did they mess up an order or something?" Dante asked, wondering why this noble put so much effort into ruining a family of jewelry makers especially when they were so popular.
"Honestly I think that he just couldn't stand the idea of lesser demons being successful on their own," Ritz said, voice dripping with malice.
"Was this noble Stolas is that why you stole the book to get back at him?" Dante asked, Ritz, shook their head.
"No, this guy was a peacock I think, he was blue and white, kinda had a snow motif going on," they explained, Dante pondered for a moment on who this person could be but couldn't think of who this demon could be.
"Do you remember their name?" he asked, but Ritz shook their head.
Dante sat back in his chair, they had both shared their stories, both had suffered at the hands of the wealthy elites, and both had seen the injustices that the lower classes had to face and the inactions and cruelty of the rich.
"So, I'm guessing that the theft of the book wasn't for money or power, this your way of getting back at the nobles who ruined your family wasn't it?" Dante asked, Ritz, rolled their eyes but then they began to think and ponder on the question. Ritz turned to Dante looking somewhat conflicted.
"In a way yes, I steal from the nobility not just to keep myself alive but also as a way of getting back at them for their cruelty for their mistreatment of lesser demons like us," they explained, Dante smiled, he could respect that, hell he admired this kind of thinking he had similar ideas himself, stealing from the rich pricks who rule over Hell and using their money to help the downtrodden whether they are sinners or Hellborns.
"That's a noble idea, in your shoes I'd have done the same thing," Dante said, Ritz, brightened at hearing Dante's words.
"So, are you gonna let me go then?" Ritz asked, a smile on their face.
"Fuck no," Dante replied, Ritz's smile immediately shifting into a frown.
"What ohh come on you just said you agreed with what I was doing and earlier you said you knew I wasn't gonna tell so why I am still here and tied up do you have a crush on me or something?" Ritz asked sounding annoyed yet also a little curious.
"Sorry but no I don't have a thing for you," Dante replied with a smirk.
"Ohh," Ritz said sounding somewhat disappointed.
"Then why am I still tied up?" they asked looking down at the ropes, annoyance clear on their face.
"Because IMP needs the book to survive, and as much as I admire your motives if we lose it was fucked," Dante explained, Ritz on the other hand just rolled their eyes.
"I'm sure you'll be fine without it, so your boss's deal with that worthless Prince will be broken big deal, besides with the book gone he'll probably get in a lot of trouble as well serves him right for forcing Blitz into such a perverse deal," they said bitterness filling their voice.
"Ahh, so you know about Blitz's little deal with feathers huh?" Dante asked, he wasn't surprised, it wasn't like Stolas was subtle about his relationship with Blitz, and the fact that Blitz waved around the book which clearly showed Stolas' seal it would make sense that people would figure it out.
"Of course, I know everyone in Hell knows about how Stolas is taking advantage of Blitz forcing him to sleep with him in exchange for being his benefactor, I feel bad that Blitz has to degrade himself for that feathery bastard," Ritz explained it was clear that they didn't like Stolas any more than Dante did. He had to admit that Stolas was taking advantage of Blitz forcing him into that sexual contract to keep the book, but if he was being honest, he didn't think Blitz minds, and let's not forget that Blitz started this when he decided to seduce Stolas to steal the book instead of just knocking him out or incapacitating him.
"I get that you don't like Stolas hell I don't like the skinny bastard either, but we still need you to give the book back," Dante stated Ritz glared.
"Why so your rich master doesn't get in trouble?" Ritz asked angrily, Dante slammed his hand down on the table.
"No not for him but for us for Blitz, for Millie, for Moxxie, for Loona, and for me, we need that book to survive IMP needs that book, don't you see we're like your family," Ritz looked at him confused.
"How so?"
"Because like your family we are our own business, we don't work for anyone but ourselves, we are not owned by some outside group higher up on Hells hierarchy not by a sinner, higher hell-born, like a succubus or leviathans, nor is IMP owned by any noble in the Ars Goetia," he explained.
"What about Stolas?" Ritz asked.
"He just gives us the book, he doesn't own IMP or have any stock in it, IMP is Blitz's and Blitz's alone, we work for ourselves were proving to the rest of Hell that Imps and Hellhounds can make it on their own that were more than just servants and bodyguards, but without the book, we can't do that and we'll end up having to submit to the whims of some highborn," Dante finished Ritz looked at him thoughtfully, the fact that he took such pride in IMP not specifically in their work but more in how that they were setting a standard they were proving to everyone that they Imps and other so-called "lesser" Hellborns could make it on their own that they didn't have to submit to the rule of those above them in Hell's hierarchy, just like her parents tried to do.
"So please give us back the book, hell I'll even help you steal it later when no one is likely to notice it's gone," Dante offered leaning in closer to Ritz.
"You promise?" Ritz asked.
"I promise," Dante replied.
"All right fine, I'll take you to the book," they said with a sigh.
"Thank you," Dante said, reaching over and placing a hand on Ritz's shoulder.
"But no killing me after you get it all right," Ritz demanded, Dante nodded in agreement.
Later in an alleyway
IMP walked through a dark filthy alley, leading them was Ritz still tied up wings hanging limp at the sides. Behind Ritz holding a gun in one hand and the end of the rope used to tie them up was Dante, to their left was Millie holding an axe ready to chop off Ritz's head if they even so much as flinch, and to their right was Moxxie shotgun at the ready to blast Ritz to bits. Blitz and Loona were there as well, Blitz stood to Dante's right his pistol trained on the thief's back and Loona stood at Dante's left, albeit a little too close for comfort, never taking her eyes off the thief.
"You know you didn't have to bring your friends along," Ritz yelled back to Dante, looking at the two Imps at their sides.
"Sorry pal but my coworkers here were interested in seeing where you hid the book," Dante replied with a shrug, suddenly Ritz stopped and turned to face Dante with a smile on their face.
"It's just it would have been much more romantic if it was just the two of us," Ritz stated batting their eyelashes, suddenly Loona rushed forward and pushed Ritz, causing them to fall back into Moxxie.
"Wha- hey!" they shouted as they and Moxxie fell to the ground.
"Back of my man bitch!" Loona growled, Dante, rushed forward and helped Ritz back to their feet.
"My man?" Ritz asked looking at both Dante and Loona before a sudden realization came over them.
"Ohh wait are you two dating?" they asked surprised, while they had seen many hybrids and mixed species couples, they'd never seen a Hellhound and Imp.
"Yep, go ahead make your jokes, fling your insults I've heard them all," Dante said rolling his eyes and preparing for the upcoming barrage of slurs and insults he was about to receive.
Pervert, freak, weirdo, hound fucker, how original, Dante thought to himself, recalling the different insults he's heard.
"What no no, I don't have a problem with it, none at all!" Ritz said frantically, but the looks on Dante's and Loona's faces made it clear they didn't believe them. Ritz noticed this.
"I'm serious, trust me I know what you're going through, I'm the product of a hybrid relationship myself," Ritz said trying to reassure them that they're not judging them.
"Really?" Dante asked his curiosity peaked.
"Yeah, my father was an Imp my mother was a Succubus, they used to get harassed all the time, especially my mother since most succubi like the idea of sleeping with Imps but found the idea of one of their own marrying one abhorrent," Ritz explained looking towards the ground.
"They also saw my siblings and me as freaks, mutants, they loved to treat us like crap any chance they got," bitterness and anger dripped from every word coming out of their mouth.
Loona let out a soft whine as she took in Ritz's words, placing a hand on her stomach she worried what would happen if she and Dante had a child, would it suffer the same fate, would their classmates and neighbors torture and bully them any chance they got. Loona's whining got louder as the negative thoughts got stronger. Loona was thankfully taken out of her dark fantasies by Dante who placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You all right Loonie?" he asked noticing her cries. Loona smiled at him and was about to reply when suddenly they were interrupted by Blitz.
"Ok we all shared our feelings so can we get back to getting back IMP's only way to the living world?" he asked sarcastically.
Twenty minutes later
The group stood in front of the entrance to an abandoned building, the building was in terrible shape, the windows were boarded up and the walls were beginning to crumble.
Just like every other building in Imp City, Dante thought to himself glumly, really taking notice of the terrible condition of the city.
"So, it's in there?" Blitz asked Ritz pointing to the crumbling building in front of them, Ritz nodded.
"Yep, it's in there in a safe in one of the back rooms," Ritz explained, gesturing with their head in the direction they needed to go.
"All right then let's go get it!" Millie shouted rushing forward and pushing past Ritz to get through the door, Dante noticed a smirk on Ritz's face.
"Millie wait!" Dante shouted but it was too late, the minute Millie stepped through the threshold she stepped on a tripwire.
Suddenly a paint can tied to a robe swung down from the ceiling and smashed right into Millie sending her flying through the doorway, Millie slammed right into Dante sending them both into a pile of trash.
"Dante!" Loona shouted as she rushed over to help her boyfriend.
"Millie!" Moxxie shouted, turning to face Ritz with a look of complete and utter fury upon his face, the fact that Ritz just stood there smiling made him angrier.
Raising his shotgun Moxxie aimed right for the thief's head and pulled the trigger, only for confetti to blast from the barrel and cover them. Moxxie looked at the thief completely stunned before looking down at his shotgun, pulling out one of the buck shots, and opening it he saw bright-colored paper fall out. Looking back up from his weapon he saw that Ritz had somehow untied themself.
"Oh crumbs," was all Moxxie could say before Ritz tied him up with the rope and tossed him at Blitz knocking him down and taking off down an alleyway.
"God dammit!" Blitz shouted as he pushed Moxxie off him, lifting his pistol, he fired only for pinkish gunk to ooze out.
"The fuck?" Blitz asked as he looked closer at his now damaged pistol and sniffed.
"Is this gum? How the fuck did they do this!?" he shouted utterly confused about how Ritz was able to do this.
Meanwhile, Loona was helping Dante up and checking him for any injuries, regaining his composure Dante looked around and saw that Ritz was nowhere in sight.
"Fuck where they'd go!?" he asked frantically looking around for any sight of them.
"She went down there," Blitz said pointing towards an alleyway.
"Blitz tend to Millie and Moxxie then catch up with me and Loona we're gonna track down Ritz1" he shouted grabbing Loona's hand and running down the alley after Ritz.
"Hey! you don't tell me what… to… do…" Blitz stopped when he noticed that Dante was already gone, scowling Blitz moved to look after his two remaining employees.
Dante and Loona's pov
Dante and Loona ran down the alleyways of Imp City their footsteps echoing off the walls, as they chased after Ritz. the two were trailing behind and no matter how many twists or turns they made, they were starting to catch up. Looking over their shoulder to check their progress Ritz accidentally tripped over a rusty piece of scrap metal left lying in the middle of the alleyway. Tumbling to the ground they looked up and saw Dante and Loona standing over them.
"Sorry Ritz it's over," he said his tone serious, Loona stood by him cracking her knuckles ready to beat some answers out of them.
"Sorry but I'm not done yet," Ritz said as they reached into their pocket and pulled out a small red ball which they tossed at the two.
The ball hit Loona in the face and burst covering her snout in red fluid. Loona scream and began holding her nose in pain falling to her knees with tears streaming down her face.
"Loona!" Dante shouted in concern as he knelt beside her, ignoring Ritz who used this time to escape down the alley.
"It burns," Loona moaned as she tried to wipe the red fluid off her snout, Dante reached forwards and wiped a dab of it off her face. Holding it up to his nose he took a whiff and then a taste.
"Hot sauce?" he muttered to himself, then he noticed that Ritz was gone.
Certo! With this shit all up in Loona's nose, we won't be able to track them!" Dante stood up and looked out at the direction in which Ritz most likely went.
"Loona wait here and try to get that crap off your face," Dante said, Loona looked up at him with watery eyes and nodded in agreement
Well, if they think Loona is the only one with tracking skills, they got another thing coming, he thought to himself as he carefully analyzed the alleyway and saw some footprints matching Ritz's size in some dirt.
"All right their still on foot so that means their wings are still paralyzed from earlier so that's good," Dante muttered to himself as he continued to move down the alley looking for more clues.
Looking around he noticed a knocked-over trash can, looking at the scattered trash he was able to determine that Ritz went down the leftmost alleyway. Following the trail Dante noticed some graffiti painted on one of the walls, taking a closer look he noticed that it was still wet and saw some of the paint was smudged by what looked like a hand.
"Gotcha," Dante said to himself as he continued to move down the alleyway and then stopped, this was sloppy, way too sloppy. From all accounts, Ritz is an accomplished thief, and it doesn't make sense that they would make so many mistakes even in a rush.
"Dammit it's a red herring, the little rat is trying to throw me off their trail," he said punching the wall in anger, stopping he considered the clues that he had found and determined that Ritz began setting him off the tail at the trash can, then they ran down this alley smudged some paint, then immediately backtracked in the opposite direction making sure to not leave any clues.
"Clever, I'm honestly impressed, pissed to no end, but impressed," he muttered to himself taking in Ritz's genius.
But this didn't last long as Dante quickly rushed back down the alleyway in the direction, he was certain they had gone. Continuing down several alleys he soon came upon an abandoned warehouse and was rewarded by the sight of a diamond-tipped tail peeking out of the entryway into the warehouse.
"Gotcha," Dante muttered with a smile on his face as he quietly followed Ritz into the building.
Top floor office
Ritz knelt down being careful not to let their suit touch the filthy dusty floor, as they carefully typed in the combination on the safe. Hearing a satisfying click Ritz opened the safe and pulled out the Grimoire. Standing up Ritz took a moment to admire the Grimoire through the dim city lights pouring through shattered windows. It really was a work of art, the gold illustrations shone nicely against the dark blue of the cover, and combined with the gilded edges, it was truly a work of art. On its own, this book would probably fetch a hefty price on its own, just for the intricate design if not for the power within, but honestly, that was not why they had taken it. Walking to one of the busted-up windows Ritz opened one causing dust and dirt to scatter through the air. Taking a moment to look back at their wings Ritz gave them a little flex, they twitched but nothing more.
"Feelings coming back that's good, but still not enough to fly out of here," Ritz let out a sigh, walked over to the desk sitting at the edge of the office, carefully dusted off a spot then sat down.
"Ohh well I guess he'll just have to wait," Ritz muttered to themself as they looked at the book in their lap.
"So, you are working for someone," a familiar voice said causing Ritz to jump up startled, looking to the doorway of the office Ritz saw a figure walk into view, even in the darkness of the room Ritz could easily tell who it was.
"Huh so you found me, I'm honestly surprised I figured I had thrown you all off the trail," Ritz said Dante noticed that they were trying to sound calm, but he could detect a hint of surprise in their voice.
It was perfect how was he able to find me the false clues I left should have sent them in circles! Ritz thought to themself as they couldn't figure out where they messed up, they never mess up!
"I'll admit your attempts at leaving fake tracks and clues almost worked, hell they did work for a moment, but well I'm more clever than most other demons and I was able to see through your little tricks," Dante said proudly, Ritz took a step back towards the window, but Dante pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at them.
"Don't fucking move I don't want to kill you, but I won't hesitate if you piss me off, now hand over the book" Dante stated holding out his hand, Ritz could tell by his tone of voice that he was serious about not hesitating to kill them.
"Come on Dante just let me take it, tell the others I was gone when you got here, please?" Ritz asked Dante but the look in his eyes made it clear that it was no sale.
"No, I'm sorry Ritz but we need that book you're just gonna have to tell your employer that you couldn't get it, I'm sure he's paying you a lot, but what good is money when you're a corpse," Dante said leveling the gun, so it was aimed directly at their head.
"It's not about money," Ritz stated, Dante raised an eyebrow not believing them.
"It's not it's not an employer who wants this it's a colleague, a guy I occasionally do business with he wants the book but not for power or money he wants to use it to help others," Ritz said their tone taking on a kind of conviction that made Dante believe them.
"How so?" He asked keeping his gun trained on the demon in front of him.
"He wants to fight against the tyranny of the noble elites, he wants to fight against the corrupt system and oppression, and to do that he needs this book," Ritz explained holding up the grimoire for Dante to see.
"Why though?" Dante asked, Ritz, blinked and looked to the floor not meeting Dante's gaze.
"That's confidential, but why don't you join him I can take you to him you hate the nobles as much as we do, join us and we can take down the vile aristocracy of the Ars Goetia and free Hell from their evil," Ritz's voice once again filled with conviction, they truly believed that this partner of theirs wanted to change the status quo.
Dante considered it for a moment he liked what Ritz was saying and by their voice, they truly believed that they wanted to help the poor downtrodden of Hell. Dante genuinely considered taking Ritz up on their offer, but something just didn't sit right with him, why did they want this book specifically there had to be others, and while powerful there were other books that were even more powerful than Stolas'.
"Sorry but I'm gonna have to decline for right now, so how about you give me the book before I blow your brains out?" Dante asked once again holding out his hand. Ritz let out a deep sigh and walked over towards Dante holding out the book for Dante.
Suddenly out of the blink of an eye Ritz swung the book knocking the gun out of Dante's hand and sending it to the other end of the room. Reacting quickly Dante blocked Ritz's second swing with his forearm and then delivered a punch straight to the demon's face, colliding with their right cheek Ritz was sent back dropping the book to the floor. Reaching for the book Ritz, with a sweeping kick knocked Dante to the floor before jumping on top of him and began delivering a series of blows to his face. Dante grabbed both of Ritz's arms and then through kicking them in the gut sending them flying across the room. Sitting up Dante reached for the book but before he could even touch it, he heard a gun cocking. Looking in the direction of the noise he saw Ritz sitting on the floor Dante's gun in hand pointed directly at him.
"Step away from the book," Ritz said as they leveled the gun at Dante, but Dante did not move a muscle.
"You want this book then your gonna have to fucking kill me," Dante stated his voice calm not showing a hint of fear, unlike Ritz whose voice gave away their discomfort.
The two locked eyes both waiting for the other to make a move Dante sat by the book waiting for Ritz to pull the trigger, in which case he would make his move and disarm them, he would probably have to kill them, but he thought somewhat remorsefully but it's what had to be done. As he waited, he noticed Ritz's hands were starting to shake, and a nervous expression had fallen upon their face.
They can't do it, can they? Dante thought to himself, seeing his chance Dante's right hand soon became enveloped with blackish-purple flames, he was gonna incinerate them reduce them to dust but just as he was about to raise his hand to strike the rest of IMP came rushing into the office.
"Dante we're here don't worry!" Blitz shouted as he and the others aimed their guns at Ritz. seeing no other choice and suddenly feeling a jolt of sensation in their wings Ritz quickly reached into their pocket and pulled out a small black ball.
Tossing it to the floor bursting into a cloud of thick oily smoke, by the time the smoke cleared up the Ritz was gone having taken off out the window.
"Satan fucking dammit!" Blitz shouted slamming his foot on the floor.
"Calm down Blitz I got the book that's all that matters," Dante said holding up the book for everyone to see. The rest of IMP let out a collective sigh of relief as Dante got up off the floor and handed it to Blitz.
"How about we get a better safe for it all right," Dante said.
"Way ahead of you kid," Blitz said reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone showing Dante a new combination locks safe he had just purchased.
"Good now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home I'm exhausted," the other nodded in agreement as they left the abandoned warehouse.
EPILOGUE
Later that night, Dante's apartment
Dante laid back on his bed exhausted, today was a long day and he was so glad that it was over, dealing with that thief was a pain in the ass, but Dante admired them. They were skilled and quite talented they nearly got away with the book if quick thinking on Dante's part hadn't saved them. Hearing the door open he saw Loona come into his room after the incident Loona decided to spend the night with Dante, which he happily obliged, she was currently in her sleep clothes a black crop top, and red shorts. Looking up he noticed a worried expression on her face.
"Hey what's wrong Piccola?" Dante asked noticing how uncomfortable Loona looked.
"Um well, I… I think I might be… pregnant," she squeaked out, looking down at her feet, hands clutching her stomach. Dante's eyes went wide in shock before he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ha ha good one Loona you had me going for a minute," he said through his laughter, which stopped when he noticed Loona's annoyed expression.
"Wait your serious?" he asked, confused.
"Yes, I'm serious!" Loona yelled not happy with her boyfriend's reaction to her potential pregnancy, but much to her surprise and fury he just started laughing more, falling to the floor in laughter.
"What the fuck is so funny?!" she yelled glaring down and growling at Dante, yet Dante continued to laugh his ass off.
"What's funny is the fact that you think you're pregnant," he said sitting up and fighting back tears.
"And why the fuck is that funny?" she asked exasperated, Dante stood up and looked her dead in the eyes a smile on his face.
"Because Imps and Hellhounds are incompatible that's why," he stated, Loona's eyes went wide at the statement.
"Wait really?" she asked wanting to make sure she was hearing him correctly.
"Yep, Imps and Hellhounds cannot have children, it's impossible, hell why do you think I never use a condom?" he asked, finding it hard to believe she didn't know this obvious fact.
"Honestly, I just assumed you knew I was on birth control," she said rubbing the back of her head embarrassed.
"Nope, I honestly didn't even know you were on the pill," he replied nonchalantly, this lax attitude towards protection made Loona a little uncomfortable.
"Well just in case I bought a test and I'm gonna go take it," Loona started heading towards the bathroom, Dante wanted to tell her it was pointless but decided against it feeling she needed proof that she wasn't, so he followed her into the bathroom.
Dante leaned against the sink as Loona sat on the toilet pregnancy test in hand waiting for the results. Nervous whines emanate from the Hellhound as she waited for the test to finish but Dante was fine just calmly playing on his phone, much to Loona's chagrin.
He could at least pretend to be worried! She thought angrily, finding his casual attitude to be very insensitive.
Looking down at the test she saw that it was finally done and saw one line, negative, Loona was not pregnant. Looking down at the test Dante saw it was negative.
"Told you you weren't pregnant," he said with a smug smile, that smile quickly faded when he noticed Loona's ears were flat against her head and emitting soft whimpers.
"What's up you're acting like you wanted to get pregnant?" he asked placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not that I wanted to it's just that I was hoping you wouldn't be so callous about it," Loona explained sounding upset and hurt, Dante looked to the floor feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry it's not that I wouldn't want to start a family with you, it's just that I know we can't," he said softly squeezing her shoulder.
"Because we're incompatible I get it," she said glumly.
"Well, that but even if we were I hate to tell ya, but I shoot blanks," he said shrugging, Loona looked up at him surprised.
"Seriously?" she asked Dante nodded.
"Yep, me and Rose tried for a time to have a child, but nothing worked, later I went to a doctor and they told me I have a sperm count of zero," Dante explained making a zero with his hand.
"Wait you and Rose tried to have a kid!?" she shouted standing up, grabbing Dante, and pulling him close so that their faces were touching.
"That's right and no matter what we did we got nothing, so we just gave up," he explained sounding sad, Loona let go of him and he left the bathroom heading back to the bedroom, with Loona following close behind.
Climbing into bed Loona as per usual when they slept together latched right onto him and quickly began to nuzzle him while she slept, Dante giggled normally Loona acted mean and sour and couldn't stand the idea of being touched, but here in bed, she proved that she was a total cuddler. As she slept Loona dreamt of a life where she and Dante were older, happily married for years with a small pup. She dreamt that they all sat together on the couch cuddling both smiling down upon their sleeping child with wonder and joy. Dante noticed Loona's breathing becoming calmer and steadier and a smile forming on her lips.
Dante usually spent most nights awake unable to sleep, due to all the pressure and stress he felt on a regular basis, but tonight Dante was able to go to sleep and even dream, he dreamt that he was spending time with his wife and three children two sons named Domenico and Giovanni and his youngest child a girl named Sophia. He wrestled with his sons while his wife held Sophia in her arms, her little green eyes staring in wonder at the sight before her, gently pulling his sons off Dante stood up and walked over to his wife wrapping his arm around her waist he pulled her close and kissed her on the lips. Breaking the kiss, he looked down at his beautiful wife, her lovely red hair framing her gorgeous face.
"Ti Amo Rose," he said as he pulled her in for another kiss.
A small house in the Wrath Ring
Ritz sat on a couch ice pack in hand nursing the large bruise on their cheek, standing in front of them was a tall Imp demon with a more pinkish tan complexion than the typical red. This demon was facing a wall that was covered in pictures of various demons both low and high born all connected by pieces of red string.
"Sorry I couldn't get the book Striker," Ritz said their voice filled with both embarrassment and remorse at having failed to acquire the Grimoire.
"I warned you not to underestimate them, I know the smaller ones Millie and Moxxie are pretty weak not even worth a second glance, but Blitz, I told you would be a challenge, I'm not surprised he got the better of you," the Imp said, his accent thick as he brushed his fingers over a photo of Blitz pinned to the wall.
"It wasn't Blitz who got the better of me," Ritz stated, Striker stiffened turning around to face them his striped, yellow eyes glowing in the dim light of the room.
"What?" he asked surprised.
"It was the new guy Dante, the one with the black eyes," Ritz explained wincing as if just saying his name caused them pain.
Turning back towards the wall Striker looked at the picture he had up of Dante, now looking at him Striker didn't think much of Dante he just assumed he was another cocky little shit who thought they were all that but the fact that they were able to get the better of Ritz is just.
"How did they do it?" Striker asked turning back to Ritz.
"Huh?" Ritz asked confused.
"How did this Dante kid get the better of you?" he asked wanting more details.
"He was able to see through my tricks, he knew the decoy warehouse I brought them to was a fake before the others did, he was able to track me without the help of the Hellhound even seeing through the false clues I left to throw them off, he's good he was able to see through my tricks… he has the experience," Ritz finished putting the icepack back to their bruised, swollen cheek.
Turning back to the wall Striker once again analyzed the picture of Dante, he was gonna have to change up his strategies if he was gonna take out Stolas especially if this kid is as skilled as Ritz says he is. Reaching out he plucked a picture off the wall walked over to the couch and sat down, right next to Ritz.
"Don't fret darlin I got other means of achieving what I want," he said staring down at a photo of Octavia a sadistic smile spreading across his face.
END
Another chapter down! Sorry for the wait everyone but life tends to get in the way sometimes, anyway I hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter, Ritz belongs to Dramokin an artist I follow on Instagram who graciously let me use them for this story. Go follow them on Instagram they are Amazing! Their art is breathtaking and the characters they create are awesome. Anyway, thank you all for reading, and let me know what you all think.