Chapter 26: Do You Like Piña Coladas?
Next chapter will be in two weeks on January 31st 2024. Thank you for your patience.
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Heat rose from the fryer full of oil that bubbled enthusiastically to greet him. A napkin was handed to the man with something long inside. The steam warmed his face as he took the first bite. Crispy fried batter still soft on the inside felt like the joy of a child in his mouth. The sweet taste of cinnamon and sugar on his tongue filled him with glee as he chewed the warm stick of delectable goodness.
"That is absolutely divine!" Trent said after his first bite.
Blitz mouth watered watching him, unsure if he was drooling over the food or the man, "Yeah . . . See I told you!"
"So much yummy food! You can consider me successfully stuffed." Trent smiled gleefully.
Blitz failed to hold back a snort, "Good, I'm glad."
The two chowed down on their churros as they walked with no particular destination. Blitz tried to grab his hand as casually as he could. He didn't dare look up until he was sure Trent wasn't looking at him. When he did, he saw that he had gladly accepted his hand, and brought his attention back to his dessert. He found himself staring at his tall date, and blushed at how surprisingly big his mouth was. He was used to being confident, sexy and seductive, but when he was trying to earn the man's trust and heart, not just his moans and shudders, suddenly he was that same scared teenager again. Oh but to see this succubus scream. . .
"You're looking quite thoughtful." Trent observed, bringing Blitz back to his senses.
"O-oh, do I . . .?" he gave a nervous laugh, "I'm just really into this churro, I guess."
"Mm, I bet that's not the only thing you can get into." Trent fluttered his eyelashes.
Blitz laughed again, heat rising to his face, "Y-yeah . . . I-I bet I could."
Trent stared at him, a surprised look on his face for some reason.
"What?" Blitz asked, glancing up into his big doe eyes, then looking away.
"Nothing . . . It's just. . ." Trent snickered, "You're just absolutely adorable." He whispered quietly mostly to himself, "it's nice to see this side of you."
It wasn't a completely outrageous thing to say, but it was just slightly . . . Odd . . . considering he hadn't seen many sides of him yet. A few things like that had happened, and he wasn't sure when to bring it up. He didn't want to ruin the moment, plus he didn't have any specific accusation or suspicion. What were all these accidental slips adding up to? Maybe if he probbed a little, he could get some answers.
"So . . . I don't think you've told me what you do for work." Blitz observed.
Trent smiled, "I'm a waiter."
Okay, he didn't have to think about it, "Really? You seem more . . . Educated, than most waiters."
That seemed to take him off guard, "R-really? W-well . . . It is just a-a . . . temporary thing, until I find something better."
"Oh, yeah?" Blitz smiled at the crack in his armor, "so um, what's the something better you're looking for?"
"U-um . . ." Trent fidgeted as he scrambled for something to say, "a-a doctor?"
Blitz dropped his hand and began walking backwards in front of him to better see his face, sadistically enjoying watching him be put on the spot for his terrible lying, "That definitely sounds more educated. What kind of doctor?"
"A, um, a therapist?" He asked.
"You sure about that? Cause you don't sound sure." Blitz tilted his head as he examined Trent's face.
He stopped walking and sighed, "No, I'm sorry for deceiving you, but I am neither a waiter or a doctor."
Blitz rolled his eyes, smiling wider, "Oh woooow, I've been sooo deceived." When Trent looked at him confused he added, "You're really bad at lying."
A thick layer of blush bloomed beneath his cheeks as he looked down, "O-oh, really? How troubling."
"Troubling?" Blitz stepped into his line of site, looking up at him, "Were you planning on lying to me more?"
"Wha- no- wha- of course no- what do yo- why wou-" Trent probably would've stumbled on forever, but Blitz interupted.
"Hey, I get it. First date, your new to the dating scene after . . . how many years of marriage? Two? Three?" Blitz asked, stepping a little closer to him.
Trent unconciously took half a step back, "N-nineteen?"
Blitz nodded slowly, before doing a double take, "Ninetee- Nineteen?! Why the f**k did you stay in a beard marriage for nineteen years?! Did it really take you that long to realize you were gay?!"
"Don't judge me!" Trent half turned away, "There was a child involved, remember!"
Blitz took a step back, pushing his hand over his forehead, "WOW, okay, so it's been," He swallowed, "A long time since you've been out in the field." he sighed, looking up at him again, "it would make sense if you wanted to exaggerate a bit. . ."
Blitz watched Trent's mouth form a line as he held back tears, ". . . But that's not what's going on, is it . . .?"
Trent shook his head, breathing shakily.
"There's something more going on here, . . . isn't there?"
Trent nodded, hot tears running down his face.
At first it looked like he was crying through white mascara, until Blitz reached up to his face, wiping the tears away, smearing more of the pink succubus face, revealing the white was underneath.
"You've been trying to tell me something this whole time . . ." Blitz looked at him with understanding, "haven't you, Stolas."
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Stolas took a step back, eyes wide, "Wha-what?!"
"Oh, I was right! Honestly, I still wasn't entirely sure, but based on the look on your face, I must be smarter than Loona gives me credit for." Blitz smiled, though he seemed a bit worried and guarded.
Blast his face! No matter what it looked like, it always gave him away. Stolas put it in his hands and hung his head in shame. He truly wished he could crawl into a hole and die.
"What's with the tear thing, anyway?" Blitz asked.
"The what?" Stolas looked up, and tilted his head.
"Your tears," Blitz pointed at his own face, to show what he meant, "when you cried, the pink went away and just left white streaks on your face."
Stolas's hand flew up to where Blitz had suggested the marks were, "O-oh. My grimoire always said that water was the one downfall to the disguise spells; that it could wash it away. I didn't realize that included . . . my own tears." He looked away as he said the final words.
There was an awkward moment of silence where neither looked at the other, until Blitz spoke up, "Soooo, what now?"
"Hmm?" Stolas looked surprised.
"I mean . . . Are you gonna stay like that or . . .? I-I just feel like it would be easier to talk to you if you were . . . you know." Blitz rubbed the back of his neck.
"oh . . . Oh, right!" With a flash of light, Stolas returned to his usual form.
Blitz stared at him for a little longer than necessary than quickly turned away. Stolas wasn't sure if him being himself was actually going to easier for him after all.
"I'm-"
"I-" they both spoke at once.
"Oh, you go first." Stolas forced a smile.
"Stolas, I swear to Satan-"
"Hey, I went first as Trent, earlier. It's your turn to talk first."
Blitz looked a little surprised, "Ah. . . I- . . . I guess you're right." He cleared his throat, "I know why you weren't there yesterday."
"O-oh?" Stolas swallowed, "Y-you do?"
"Yeah, um . . ." Blitz fidgeted an looked away, "M & M aren't exactly good at keeping secrets. Heh. . ."
"O-oh, right." He sighed and smiled, "Of course they would-"
He was cut off by Blitz, sounding irritated, "What I want to know is why you didn't immediately come tell me! You knew I waited for you! You knew I was upset!" The poor sweet man looked hurt, and absolutely confounded, "Why did you tell them not to tell me? Why did you tell them to make sure I had a good life?!"
Stolas took a step back, feeling tears prick at his eyes. Partially to hide this fact, and also because it just felt like the right thing to do, he bowed deeply. He swept his arm across himself, and bent at the waist, head nearly touching the ground. "I am so sorry!" He watched two of his tears fall to the pavement, and he hoped Blitz didn't notice. He raised his head back up, and quickly wiped his eyes, "I-I-I don't know what to say. . . I just. . ." he sniffed.
Stolas sighed, looking down at his hands, "I just was so looking forward to this date." He forced himself to look him in the eyes, noticing the awkward amount of distance between them now, "I . . . I still love you . . . but so much has happened . . . and you seem to still see me as a goetian prince who holds some sort of authority over you and Bluez was . . ." He looked away again, smiling, but unsure of his words, "So easy to talk to. So funny, and understood me so well . . . I was hopeful that maybe . . . he could see me for me . . . and not as someone to gain something from, . . . as you and I have both viewed each other. . . I was just hoping for someone I could have a fresh start with."
It was impossible; Stolas couldn't hold back the tears, they fell down his face, "I was planning to talk to you after this date. I wanted to know if Bluez and I had any chance together. I was going to reveal my true identity at the end of the date. Afterall, there was still a chance that the power dynamic would be a problem with him, too. Then, after seeing how that went . . . I'd hopefully know what to say to you. Maybe I was avoiding talking to you, because I was nervous. And maybe I would've avoided this conversation forever . . . I'd like to think not, but . . . here we are. And you are Bluez, and Bluez is you." He said, as if still processing it, "The two people I love are the same person. This is truly . . ." He wiped tears from his eyes, smiling, "so wonderful . . .!"
Blitz started to reach out to him, but rubbed his own arm instead, "So you didn't talk to me because you liked me better . . . I'm not sure how to feel about that."
"O-oh, well- . . . I didn't mean-"
"Eh, it's fine. It's not like I have room to talk. I mean-" Blitz laughed a little, a soft blush appearing on his face, "That's kind of why I didn't immediately come talk to you after Mox and Mills talked to me. . . I really wanted to go on this date, too . . ."
Stolas couldn't help but let a goofy, sheepish smile, sprawl across his face, "Heh. He he he! Is that so?" He started giggling little hoots.
Blitz seemed to let out a sigh of relief, "It's been so long since I heard that sound."
Stolas immediately stopped, "Oh-! I'm sorry."
"No, no, no!" Blitz closed the space between them, and grabbed his hand, "I meant . . . that I missed it."
Stolas's heart flipped, and he looked down at their hands. He tangled their fingers together and he watched as Blitz squeezed his hand. Then Stolas gasped, released his hand, and turned away.
"Wha-?"
"I forgot, I'm still mad at you!" Stolas said over his shoulder as he pouted.
Blitz was silent, then laughed, "Pfft- wha-what?! You forgot?!"
"It's not my fault. You were too charming! You charmed me!"
Blitz laughed some more, a delightful sound, "I see~ Does that mean I could charm you into not being mad anymore?~"
Stolas jumped a little as he felt Blitz stroke his tail feathers, and he had to really concentrate to say what he wanted to say, "Probably, though I'd prefer an apology."
Blitz sighed, though there was still a smile in his voice, "Alright, what sh*tty thing did I do this time?"
Stolas turned back around, "You called me a binge drinking, kinky *ss doormat who couldn't call someone daddy without thinking of his own neglectful father. And you said I'm weirdly clingy with my daughter because she's the only good thing in my life."
Blitz inhaled sharply, "Did I say that?"
Stolas crossed his arms, "Yes. Back at the date we were set up on by Asmodeus and his little frog fellow."
"Wha-? Frog what?"
"Oh, sorry. I saw Fizzarolli's name in Asmodeus's phone was Froggie. A fitting name, I think." Stolas paused, "And you've distracted me again!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Blitz smiled, then sighed, "And . . . Sorry. I was really more talking about myself than you. . . And just after I insulted you, I uh-" he swallowed, "kinda admitted how I felt about you."
Stolas let his arms fall, and stepped forward, "Oh~? And how do you feel about me?~"
He expected a sarcastic return, a witty comback, or at best, a flirtatious remark. He was not expecting for Blitz to grab his cardigan, and tug him down, and kiss him roughly.
Blitz pulled back after a moment but didn't let go of him, pressing their foreheads together, "I love everything about you, Stolas. I love your creepy bird mouth and the way you laugh. I love listening you talk about your stupid hyperfixations on plants and toads and constellations. I love how much you worry over your daughter and how a simple text from her can make your day. I love how you are somehow so shy and sweet, and somehow the k*nkiest motherf**ker alive and that you know what you and chase after it. I love to listen to you sing in the shower and watch you gaze at the sky. I love you so much, Stolas." He let go of his shirt and cupped his face in his hands, and pulled back to get a better look at him, "and that's why I've been so scared to hurt you. And I know being with me would mean a lot of hard decisions, public ridicule, and general trouble for you. Not to mention my tendency to be the worst of bad luck charms."
"Blitz-"
"But if you really do think for some crazy, insane reason, that I'm worth all that, then . . ." He nuzzled him and smiled, "why the f**k not?"
Stolas stared into his eyes, stunned. He reached up and pinched Blitz's cheek.
"Ow!" He shouted, but didn't let go of his face, "what the f**k was that for?!"
"I had to check if I was dreaming." Stolas blinked.
Blitz laughed, "You're supposed to pinch yourself to prove it."
"Oh, that's right." Stolas grinned.
"Dumb*ss." Blitz chuckled, and the two fell into another kiss. There tongues tied together in a familiar fashion, the sweet taste of renewed love and churros on their lips. It was also so completely different from their kisses of the past. Before everything was hot, passionate and fast, but this was a tender, honest kiss. A purity in it that neither had ever had before.
Stolas felt a sharp pain, and pulled away suddenly. Standing at his full height, he reached his hand down to rub his butt where it hurt, "Ouch!"
He looked down at Blitz who was grinning mischievously, "So? Is it a dream?"
It took him a moment to realize what had happened, but when he did, he burst out laughing.
". . . It wasn't that funny." Blitz smiled, eyebrows drawn together.
"Oh yes, my dear," Stolas leaned down and picked Blitz up, letting him sit on his arm, so he could face him, "Yes, it was."
Blitz snorted, "You have such a weird sense of humor."
Stolas giggled, "You're the one who made the joke!"
"I know what I said and I stand by it." Blitz nodded.
Stolas laughed again.
"Hey, so um . . ." Blitz seemed nervous again for some reason, ". . . is it true that you like Hell-a-Novela? Like you said you did as Trent?"
"Yes! I love it! I've watched the first season at least three times." Stolas smiled.
Blitz beamed, "Really? F**k yeah! I would've sworn you were too classy for that."
"Well, I didn't know you liked it either. Or that you also had a terrible father, or smoked weed, or half a dozen other things I got to know about you as Bluez." Stolas said.
Blitz threw his head back and laughed, "Ha ha! We're that one song!"
Stolas cocked his head confused, "What song?"
"You know! The Piña Colada song!" He began singing, "Do you like Piña Coladas? And getting caught in the rain? You know, that song! It came out in the late 70s in the living world. It's a classic!"
"Sorry, I don't know that one. But I'd love for you to sing me more of it." Stolas adjusted Blitz in his arms to be more comfortable, sad that Hell's business as usual police sirens had made it difficult to hear him the first time.
Blitz laughed, "Tough luck. The point is, the man in the song is married, but just not feeling it anymore, and he sees an ad in the newspaper. The ad was placed by someone looking for a date who also likes Piña Coladas and a bunch of other sh*t. The dude answers and they meet up only to find out that the person who made the ad was his wife. They realize that they both didn't know as much about each other as they thought. It ends with them staying together and getting to know each other all over again."
Stolas nodded thoughtfully, "That sounds nice. Perhaps . . . Perhaps we should consider this a chance to start over again."
Blitz smiled, "I like the sound of that."
"Freeze!" An unknown voice shouted. They both turned their heads to see a big police van had parked beside them, partially on the curb of the sidewalk. Two hellhounds came out of the back and a shark demon police officer came out of the driver's seat. It seemed like it had been her who had spoken.
"Hello, officer! How can we help you this evening?" Stolas smiled sweetly, though he seemed guarded.
Blitz squirmed in Stolas's arms, but to no avail. Blushing, he whispered, "F**k, Stolas. Put me down! Do you know how humiliating it is to be carried like a baby in front of the police?!"
He hissed the words, but he felt himself only be pulled closer. Blitz realized that the red glow of Stolas's eyes was intensifying. His breathing was becoming unsteady and he looked almost . . . angry. It was kinda hot, but now was clearly not the time.
The hellhounds stepped closer.
"I don't know what you think you're doing, but if you want to take this man, you'll have to go through me first." Stolas shifted Blitz to hold him on his hip, freeing his other arm so that the half of him that wasn't holding him could turn into that mass of black and red. The demonic bird was terrifying, but Blitz could tell that Stolas was in full control of it; only using it to intimidate them, at least for now.
"That works out great, actually, because" the police officer raised her hand, "you're the one we want."
She snapped her fingers and the hellhounds were on Stolas in a flash. He tried to shake them off his legs, but ended up tumbling to the ground, dropping Blitz in the process. Blitz sat up to see the black bird fully unleashed, taking large clumps of fur out of the hellhound's heads, and clawing at the ground with his free hand to try and get away. He squawked in distress as they managed to turn him onto his stomach and get his free arm behind his back. In a blink, Stolas was back to his normal form, a pair of blessed handcuffs around his wrists.
"Hey-" Blitz whispered, dumbfounded, then louder, "Hey, what the f**k do you think you're doing?! He's a prince, d*mnit. Let him go!"
"This has nothing to do with you, Sir. Please go about your business." The officer said, voice completely monotone.
"Nothing to do with- . . . That *ss is my business. And I said let him go!" He pulled out his gun and leveled it on the officer.
"Blitz, NO!" Stolas screamed.
The cop was fast; lightning fast. Before Blitz could move, she was behind him, taking the gun from him, and twisting his arm behind his back as she held his own gun to his head, "Do not test me, d**chebag. I've killed a hundred imps before over less. Do you hear me?!" She shouted directly into his ear.
She seemed to be waiting for a response. Well, if she wanted that she chose the wrong f**king imp-
"Blitz, please!" Stolas cried. He was being roughly pulled up off the ground, knee dripping blood, but all he could do was stare at Blitz, a pleading in his eyes.
Blitz sighed, "I hear you." He said the words to appease the cop but meant it more for Stolas.
"Good." She said, throwing his gun to the side, and shoving him to the ground, "F**king scum."
Stolas stood, being held in place by the two hellhounds, watching the cop carefully, clearly with no idea as to what was going on. "Get him in the car." She said and the hellhounds began shoving him in.
"Blitz-!" He yelled just before the van door shut.
"Stolas!" Blitz cried back as he watched the van speed away, leaving him alone on the dirty street.
Author's Note:
Vik here! I WILL NOT BE PUBLISHING A CHAPTER NEXT WEEK! January 24th 2024 there will be no new chapter. It's called a cliffhanger, sweetheart. Don't hate the player, hate the game. (lol who am I? A sadist, apparently.)
I will be testing out new ideas for my next Fanfic this week, so it's not even really a break for me. Just gotta figure out what I'll be doing after this. I've narrowed it down to either a Fizzarolli x Asmodeus fanfic or a Good Omens ineffable husbands fanfic. If you want to vote, head to my Tumblr Page viktheviking1 for a poll. Obviously, I still will be the one to ultimately decide, but I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions!
This chapter did not entirely go to plan. There were lots of moments that I thought I would be adding in, but didn't, and moments that I hadn't planned but just felt right. For weeks, when thinking about this chapter, I planned for Stolas to end up revealing himself to Blitz at the end. But my dear editor came up with the idea, just off hand that maybe the disguise has some sort of flaw, like water, that could make him change back suddenly. I liked it, and thought I might add it in, but still thought Stolas would decide to reveal himself. But as I wrote in Blitz's voice, it just started to feel like he would know, and that he wouldn't immediately run away.
I feel like I could've written the first half better. I do think that Blitz would question him until the truth came out, but I'm not sure if the job route was the way to go . . . but I kinda ran out of time to rewrite it, and my editor thought it was fine, so we're going with it.
Originally, Blitz was still not going to know why Stolas didn't come to the meeting, but I felt it would make more sense this way. Not only because Moxxie and Millie would totally spill the beans, but also for Blitz to not be so angry that when he sees that it's Stolas, he doesn't have a huge grudge (just a small one). I checked to make sure I didn't write anything that would directly counter this, I am a big fan of continuity afterall, and I didn't find anything. But if there was something that I missed I do apologize. Please leave a comment with who you think was the one to let the cat out of the bag and tell Blitz what happened: Moxxie or Millie?
There are some chapters where my dear editor is very good at their job. They are able to both listen to the story, and give excellent critiques. And then there are chapters where I guess I'm a bit too good at my job. Chapters where I have to pause occasionally and ask if they have any input to give, and they have nothing because they are too invested in listening to the story. At one point, I paused during the confession scene to ask if they had any notes and they just said, "It's just so emotional right now." And made me keep going.
I had already told my dear editor about how I was planning to have Stolas get arrested. But I may have neglected to mention when it was going to happen. This is what they said after I mentioned a cop car driving up.
"Wait. . . Is it happening right now?!" my editor said.
". . . No." I lied
"Then what's happening?"
". . ."
"Vik, what's happening?"
"Let me keep reading!"
"No, what's happening?!"
I began to read again, and they listened carefully.
I finish reading.
"So, what did you think? Any notes?" I asked.
"I'm not talking to you. . ."
"Yeah, but was it good?"
". . . (The silent treatment)"
"Do I need to change anything?"
". . . (angrily keeps crocheting)"
"Do you have any input at all?"
". . . (bombastic side eye)"
". . ." I return her silence.
". . . You were supposed to wait, but no! You had to ruin it!" she shouts at me.
"You remember how I said I won't be posting a chapter next week? I planned that on purpose. I made sure this chapter would come out just before that."
Her jaw dropped, ". . . You monster."
Author's note and everything included, this is probably the longest chapter I've written, so at least there's that. I hope you all aren't so mad at me you don't come back. With the major plot FINALLY resolved, there has to be something to keep the tension up. Plus, I asked if you guys wanted a short, happy ending, or if I should drag it out a bit longer, and you guys wanted more. So really, you only have yourself, and your fellow readers to blame. Is it victim blaming if the only trauma going on is beloved fictional characters being separated by a plot twist?
Please let me know how you felt about this chapter in the comments! See you in two weeks!
— — —
VikTheViking on Ao3 Quotev and ko-fi
VikTheViking1 on Tumblr and Wattpad
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