Chapter 16: Desperation

Warning: Extremely suggestive themes (You can just skip the end of Millie and Moxxie scene)

Spoilers for season 2 episode 6 Oops

Sitting and talking with Blitz normally again had felt like a dream, but it had turned into yet another nightmare. Stolas had had enough of being wounded by Blitz. Listening to him slander Stolas as if he wasn't even there, was just too much. He may as well be back with Stella at this point. If this was how Blitz really saw him, there was no point in staying here any longer. Making a portal, he turned back one more time, thinking he should at least say goodbye.

Blitz continued insulting him to Fizzarolli, "-and is weirdly clingy with his daughter 'cause she's the only good thing in his life."

He couldn't take it anymore; holding back tears, he stepped through the portal, not looking back.

Appearing outside the front of the building, the tears started flowing down his cheeks despite his best efforts, and he let out a sad hoot.

"Dad! Are you okay. . .?" Via came running from around the corner.

"O-oh! Starfire! I'm fine. I just saw the morgue tree, and the fruits looked so much like severed heads, and it was sad, you know?" He wiped his eyes and waved off her hand as she reached out to him.

"Oh g**, what did that *sshole say to you?! I'm gonna kill you, Blitz!" Via started towards the portal.

"No! I'm fine!" He caught her by the shoulder, "Hang on, how do you know he was here?"

She looked back at him over her shoulder, "Oh, u-uh, well . . . I may have been watching with Loona through the window. I'm sorry. I thought that maybe-"

Stolas took a deep breath and interrupted her "We can talk about this later, right now we need to get home. Do you-"

"Stolas!" Blitz jumped through the portal.

Stolas sighed, "Here, sweetheart. You head on home; I'll be there in a moment." He closed the portal from inside the building, and opened a new one leading home.

Via turned to the new portal, then turned back to him, "But-"

"Please, darling? I'll be right behind you." He reassured.

Via went through the portal and stared at her dad as it closed behind her. Stolas sighed, turning back to Blitz.

"Stolas, please listen. I-" He said desperately.

"No, you listen" Stolas bent over to stare him in the face, and repeatedly poked his chest, accusingly. "I have had enough of your insults, your hot and cold behavior, your immature whining instead of talking like adults, your stupid face popping into my mind everywhere I go."

He stood up straight again, crossing his arms, "Did you even read my letter? You never mentioned it. You didn't, did you. That's almost worse, actually. You want all the attention a person could possibly give, but the moment someone deigns to ask for an acknowledgement of their existence as a person in your life, they get silence! Ignored! And- and the middle finger!" He gave Blitz the bird as an example, but quickly put it away, embarrassed to have used such an ungenteel hand gesture.

"I-It's not like I meant to-" Blitz started.

"You're just a scared little boy, aren't you? Hurting everyone else before they have the chance to hurt you."

"That's not-" Blitz couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Stolas closed his eyes and clenched his fists, "No, I don't want to hear your excuses anymore. In fact, I think it's only fair I get to remind you of all your worst qualities. You're a hypocrite, a fraud, a-and . . ." He sighed, and turned away from Blitz, "and it doesn't matter what I call you, because it will never cut you as deeply as you've cut me, because you've never given a rat's *ss about me." Stolas was crying again, but he had to say the words, "But it doesn't matter now, because I'm done. I'm done being treated like disposable sh*t. I won't stand for it! Not anymore! Not from you, not from my wife, not from anyone in or out of hell! I don't deserve much, but I deserve better than this! Go back to ignoring me to your heart's content, I won't be trying to win it anymore."

"No, wait, please!" Blitz begged as Stolas made another portal.

"I think I've waited long enough, Blitz." He went through the portal, and didn't look back.

Once again, Blitz was standing left alone on the pavement, watching someone he loved dearly walk away from him. The consequences of his own actions catching up to him, and leaving him in the dust.

"Blitz! What the f**k happened?!" Loona ran over but came to a fast halt when she got close to Blitz's accusing finger.

"What the f**k, me?! What the f**k, you! I can't believe my own daughter would betray me like this!" Blitz quickly turned his despair to outrage, taking an angry stance.

"Hey! I didn't set any of this up." She put her hands up and took a step.

"So you had no idea what was going on in there, the whole time?" He crossed his arms and leaned back, looking down on her while looking up at her.

"Well, no, but I-" she started.

"It's funny, I don't seem to remember hearing anyone try the door." He sarcastically acted like he was trying to recall.

"Blitz-" she tried.

"Oh, did you have trouble finding the bathroom sweetie?" He patronized, "Because I know for a fact that not even your biggest sh*ts take that long!"

"Why would you-" she cringed.

"Did you want a royal step sugar daddy to pay for all your expensive *ss eyeliner? I've told you a thousand times that drugstore brands work just as well!" He didn't even know what he was yelling about anymore, he just felt the need to scream.

"Blitz!" She screamed, and clamped both hands on his shoulders, and finally he looked her in the eyes, "I'm. . . sorry."

Loona pulled him close and leaned down to give him a hug. Blitz was taken by surprise; he tried not to breathe for as long as he could, but the moment he inhaled her warm puppy scent, he started letting out little sobs. He clinged to her fur for dear life and cried.

"Come on, let's take you home" she picked him up, and cradled him as she walked to the van.

— — —

It was late in the evening and there were energy drinks and dirty coffee mugs all over the apartment. Millie was sprawled out on the couch sleeping with her mouth open, as Moxxie paced around, holding a paper inches from his face.

He chuckled creepily as he stopped in front of the couch, "I've done it, Millie!"

Millie made a weird noise out of her nose as she woke up startled, "Where are the brutes?! I kill 'em!"

"No, brutes honey. Just a dream." He told her, then started again, shoving the paper in her face, "I did it! I forged the letter from Blitz in his exact writing!"

"Nyuuugh . . . That's wonderful honey!" Millie stretched and yawned, "Now can we go to bed-"

"Oh crumbs, I spelled hospital correctly! Do you think he would use two t's or an 'le' at the end?" Moxxie began pacing again.

"I don't know, Mox. I'm pretty sure it'll be wrong either way." She sat up.

"No! It has to be perfect! That's it, I'm starting over!" He started to rip the paper, but found it snatched out of his hands, "Millie?"

She stomped over with it to the desk in the corner, and pulled an envelope out of the drawer, "I don't know why you are so determined to finish this tonight, but I am not dealing with a grouchy, exhausted husband tomorrow. This is the final version. End. Of. Story."

"No! The prince is going to know!" Moxxie tried to grab it from her, but she stopped him with one hand on his face, and he swung his arms uselessly.

"Why are you so freaked out about this?" She said and he stepped back.

"I just. . ." he sighed, and pulled out his phone, "I just saw this in the news earlier today."

Millie took the phone from him, and saw a picture of Blitz and that celebrity clown, Fizzarolli, making out outside of a seedy bar, "Oh, sh*t. That's bad."

Moxxie took his phone back, pocketing it, "Yeah, the article talks about the imps that were sneaking into the higher ranks being in cahoots for some kind of scheme. I don't know how they expect us to corrupt the inherently corrupted, but there are some crazy theories going around. I don't know who is going to be after Blitz first, the Fizz Fans, the Press, the Goetias, or Asmodeus himself, but something is coming, and him getting back together with Stolas is the best chance he's got." He sat down on the couch, rubbing his temples, "Or at least getting back into his favor."

"Oh, hun." Millie sat next to him, putting the letter down on the side table, and held his hand, "That's not your responsibility. I understand being worried for Blitz, but you can't control his actions, or foresee the future. Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"We were already planning on doing this, so I thought I'd just push through getting it done today. I just . . . I didn't want to worry you." Moxxie looked down at their entangled fingers.

"Babe. What have we said about the communicating thing? You can't take on all this stress on your own!" Millie scolded him sweetly, and motioned for him to lean on her, and he complied.

"I know, I know. I asked for help with my laundry today." He offered, looking up at Millie, seeing her face upside down.

"Yes, good job, but you still don't talk to me about things you consider to be a big deal." She said as she combed her fingers through his hair.

"I know, I'm just- I'm just not used to having someone I can talk to about the difficult stuff, and I've been told all my life that no one wants to hear my whining . . . I guess I'm still worried that if I open up about the things that are bothering me, you'll see me as selfish, or attention seeking, or a-a big baby, and you'll leave me."

"Aw, sweetie, look at me." she said, and he tilted his head up at her, "You absolutely are a big baby."

". . . what?" He sat up blushing.

"And you desperately crave attention, and sometimes, especially when it comes to what music we listen too, you can be a little bit selfish." she saw the tears welling up in his eyes, and grabbed his chin so he'd look at her, "And I couldn't love you more. I knew all those things when we got married. Nobody's perfect, baby. You know how messy, irrational, and impulsive I can be, but would you trade me for someone without those flaws."

Moxxie chuckled, grabbing her cheek and touching their foreheads together, "No, never."

"Exactly. I can handle you at your worst, and it's worth it to get to be with you at your best. I love every part of you, and I wouldn't trade you for the world." she kissed his nose and he giggled.

Moxxie sighed, "Same, although, it wouldn't hurt if you cleaned up after yourself every once in awhile." he knocked over an empty energy drink can with his tail.

She laughed, "Okay, okay. I'll try if you try."

He held both her hands and kissed them, "We'll try to be better, together. . . speaking of being together. . . " He pulled her closer and wrapped his tail around hers.

Millie laughed, "What a smooth segway."

"It's not my fault I'm not as naturally seductive as you." he cooed as he layed a kiss on her neck.

"Should I get out the toys? Whatcha thinking? The black one or the pink one?" she said, leaning into the kisses.

He held her waist and whispered, "Red."

Millie looked at him concerned, "Are you sure? I like it, but last time-"

"I can handle it." He said, licking her throat.

"Alright, big man." She smiled, "You asked for it."

— — —

Bonus scene:

Outside of the abandoned expo center, Loona and Via were crouched, listening in on the date Blitz and Stolas had been unknowingly set up on.

" . . . C***** on a stick, they led us right into a horny prison, didn't they." Blitz's voice sounded crackly through the speaker of the walkie talkie.

"Those two would be given a life sentence." Via smirked at Loona, who was now happily hogging all the popcorn.

Loona munched as she talked, "Absolutely! They are by far the horniest people I know."

"Well, you've clearly never been to Lust." Ozzie said as he approached from around the corner.

"Oh, the chicken's back-" Loona started.

"Lord Asmodeus!" Via stood up suddenly, dusting herself off. She started, to curtsey, realized she wasn't in a long dress, fumbled a bit, and ended up bending slightly at the waist, hoping it would suffice.

"Asmo-wha . . .?" Loona mumbled.

Ozzie smiled at Via's attempt at being proper and ruffled her hair and beanie, "Octavia! I haven't seen you since you still had down! How you been?"

Via took off her hat to adjust her hair, then put it back on, "I, Uh- I'm fine."

Loona stood up and leaned on Via's shoulder, "You mind catching me up on what's going on here."

"Oh, uh, Loona this is Asmodeus, the embodiment of lust. And Asmodeus, this is Loona, Blitz's . . . roommate?" Via trailed off.

"And receptionist. Good to meet you properly." Loona stuck out her hand, and Via tried not to visibly cringe at the incorrect social conduct.

Ozzie took the handshake without missing a beat, "Charmed! Are you young ladies enjoying the show?"

"Yeah, where'd you guys go earlier?" Loona leaned fully onto Via's head, who pushed her off, only mildly annoyed.

"Oh, we're just on the other side of the building, prepping some things." He smiled knowingly, "Just wanted to say hi to Stolas's pride and joy. Still can't believe how tall you are now. You training with the astro magic . . . Doohickey?"

"Yeah, the grimoire . . . Dad's teaching me some things. . ." Via rubbed her arm nervously.

The walkie talkie changed channels, and Fizzarolli's voice came through, "Ozzzzzie! Come baaaaack! I'm boooorrreed!"

Asmodeus sighed, and crouched down to eye level to the Via, "Sorry, I've got to go, but listen, I can't imagine how rough your family life is right now. I'm honestly surprised you're cool with all this. And I know you don't really know me, or I you, but if there's ever anything I can do for you, call me, okay?"

Ozzie produced a small business card, and Via took it, looking the artistic details on both sides, which looked like beautiful design at a glance, but upon closer inspection, included d*cks in the intricate designs.

"Ozzzzzzzzziiiiiiieeeee! I can't trash talk Blitz by myself, I need an audience! Come laugh at my jooookkkesss!" Fizz's voice whined.

"Alright, I'd better get back, before I upset the Misses." Asmodeus bowed to them both, and turned into a blue flame, floating away.

The two stood there in silence for a moment, before Loona said, " . . . Wow . . . I called a deadly sin a deep-fried, feathered d*ckhead."

Author's Notes:

ViktheViking here. The bonus scene is not really canon, because it adds just a little bit more complexity to the situation. Maybe it will be canon though, if I write Via's next scene and it makes sense to add in? I don't know, I'm typing out of my *ss half the time. I wrote it mostly because I thought it would be fun to see Octavia's reaction to Ozzie being here.I imagined her relationship with him to be that of like a great uncle or your dad's cousin's husband. Someone you might see at extended family reunions, and maybe hear about in family stories, but you've only actually met in person like 4 times, and 2 of those was before you were old enough to remember. But they remember fondly being there when you were 2 and played in a toilet that one time, so you've gotta accept their love for you; even if you know more about your local underpaid baristas who you see briefly occasionally, than them.

I'm gonna feel really awkward if other people are like "Vik, what are you talking about? I love my great uncle. You just don't care about your family." Because I do! I just don't know every single one of them that well, because many live out of state over 2,000 miles (about 3,200 km) away. I'm pretty sure this is at least a thing for most Americans, so if it's not normal in your part of the world, just ignore the metaphor.

I wrote the first scene and wasn't sure which scene should come next, so I read it to my dear editor so they could help me figure it out. I finished reading the scene to them, and asked for their thoughts and they just said, "You're trying to ask me if it was good when you just hurt me? You ripped my heart out!" or something along those lines. It was very funny, and I love getting to see their reactions because in that scene, I was trying to evoke those kinds of emotions in my readers, but I don't know for sure if it'll work, and my dear editor happens to be one of those people who has the biggest reactions, which helps me be more confident it putting my work out there.

We figured out the order of the next few scenes, and I continued writing, and got back with them a few days later with the rest of the chapter drafted up. I reread the last paragraph of the last scene, just to remind them of where we were and show them the edit I had made to it, and they said, "You hurt me again!" I love them so much, they're so goofy.

See y'all next week!