Today would be the end of his first month down here. He had lost count of how many People he had killed. He no longer has nightmares; it makes him wonder if he can ever go back to his old life. As far as I.M.P is concerned the Training is paying off.
Damien and Loona stood outside a House in a suburban neighborhood as the summer sun blazed directly overhead. Checking the Half marked out list Mephistopheles gave him he confirmed it was the right address.
"What were you able to find out about these Two?" he asked.
Loona Checked her phone, "Scientists at some research lab so No reason to expect resistance. The Lady of the house's darling husband turned out to have a Side piece. Wasn't hard to manipulate the situation from there. They're expecting a Divorce lawyer, think you can Play the Part?"
As she spoke, He felt a familiar sensation prompting him to close his eyes. Mendes was sending information through his mind in real time of what the layout of the house was and who was inside at the moment. The magical equivalent of drone footage he had called it much to the dismay of Mendes who said he was superior in every way to those mortal trinkets.
'Thank you, Mendes.' Damien Picked up the briefcase at his foot turning his attention back to loona, "Your scary with that social media shit you know that?"
At that the hellhound smirked, "Feels good to Finally have someone in this office that Respects My internet Sleuthing skills. Speaking of when are you going to make a sinstagram? I could always use another Follower."
"Probably never Now that I Know what Your capable of."
Damien started up the driveway Ready to do what must be done. Mendes sat in waiting on the doorstep eager to feed.
A Woman sat locked away in her home office typing on her laptop. Hearing the doorbell ring she got up reluctantly. going to the screen door she could see a young man in an expensive suit with shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes.
"Can I help you sir?"
"Is this the Nelson residence?"
"Oh goody! You must be the divorce lawyer!" she could barely contain her anger, "come on in, i guess. he'll probably want to go fuck his whore as soon as your done here!"
She let him in and guided him to the kitchen.
"Coffee?" she offered with a forced smile.
"Black nothing added if you will." Damien said Emotionless.
Mrs. nelson poured him a cup and set it on the table.
"I'll go get him."
she slunk off mumbling to herself.
a middle-aged man came into the kitchen looking ragged. Loona's methods seemed to be Very effective. Damien was surprised at just how much she was able to put together in just twenty-four hours. Normally they Play it by Ear but Since Blitz is testing them, she brought her a game for this one.
Damien silently leveled the sawed off shot gun. The results were instant. one second the kitchen was spotless the next everything inside was dashed with splotches of red. Rushing to investigate the Wife barged in and screamed at the sight of her dead husband.
Damien toggled the switch ejecting the spent shells before replacing them and snapping the action shut. the woman began to shiver as his shadow rose like a fine mist and crept towards the fresh body. Not wanting to give her the chance to run he Leveled the gun again this time at the Woman.
"Wai- "
Her words were cut short as the gun went off again.
the mist got to work drinking the blood from every surface. anywhere his familiar would pass over became spotless and soon the entire kitchen and Damien's suit were clean once more. after which it retreated back from where it came.
Damien picked up the mug and noticed a Business card with a Logo he had seen before pinned upon the side of the fridge. He plucked the card from under the magnet and flipped it over.
'Dhorks.' He Pocketed the pad feeling weary.
he was Curious as to Why Dhorks seemingly popped up wherever this list took him. He was told that the people on this list were somehow tied to rebel angels. Could it be the demon hunters themselves?
He shook the thoughts from his mind and went to regroup with Loona.
Blitz Brought up a clip board and angrily jotted something down, "I can't fucking believe knocking actually worked! Did you just pretend to be A greenhorn for the past month?! Where was Loonie during all of this?"
Damien saw the Look of Annoyance on Loonas face.
"The only reason it went so well is because Loona Did a lot behind the scenes. You were Wanting her to Show that she could Plan accordingly and for me to demonstrate ruthlessness. And id Say we Did just that."
"Well, I Guess you don't us me to babysit your ass anymore. The M's have definitely been rubbing one off to you."
Damien felt his rising impatience with the imp, 'Looks like someone was banking on one of these hits to go sideways so Daddy could save the Day.'
Loona sighed at Blitz's mix up, "This just proves we never did Blitz. Also, its rubbing off on. What you said is something else completely."
"I meant what I said. Those two are always talking about your training during missions. And Millies the worst about it" Blitz made a dopey expression while going into an exaggerated version of Millie's Wrathian accent, "You should have seen him today blitz! Damie Managed to block three of my attacks instead of getting folded instantly like he usually does!"
"Like they're supposed to?" Damien looked Down at the imp his patience finally spent, "You Gave them the job of teaching me, of course they're going to give you updates. If you don't like that then ill just fucking leave and complete my hits alone so your Business doesn't get any of the Money your promised."
"OH Pshhh, Whatever! Like you would actually do that! I've seen the way you let Millie pet your ears like a little momma's boy." Blitz Waved him off before heading back into the office to grab his Keys.
"Well, its preferable to her pinching them and She's NOT my MOM. Fucks sake!" Damien Huffed flopping down on the couch, "Annoying asshole! I can't believe there's still 11 months to go."
Loona waited till blitz was out of earshot then gave Damien 'What the fuck' look, "You're not about to jump ship right when I'm getting used to you are you?"
"The Only reason I'm still here and not Looking for a way to end my contract by force is because it wouldn't be fair for Moxxie and Millie not to get the money for training me." Damien Took a deep breath, "That and it will take me at least another two months to save up for a single holy bullet. Fucking Carmine priced it like that on purpose!"
"Nah I think It's because of your bff Loona." She said trying to change the subject, "why else would you Be texting me?"
"I only text You about Work-related Things, friend"
"That counts! And either way after today we're no longer Going to have a third Wheel. It'll be just us two."
Damien gave a reluctant nod, "I'll admit Doesn't sound too bad considering You Haven't Been as much of a Pain as the first Day we met."
"So, what do you say we go out to celebrate! Finally hang out together off the clock where we can let loose."
"Off the clock huh? And why would you want to hang out with me?"
"Because Blitz is my dad, Moxxie's a prude and Millies an old lady. Your closer to my age and easier to get along with, Friend. Consider it Team building! I heard Verosika Mayday is doing an album signing tonight at the record store. We can meet up with my friend vortex and go from there."
Damien glanced at her sideways, "a record store you say?"
At the record store there was a giant line of demons wrapped around the corner and halfway across the block. instantly Damien felt a twinge of apprehension as when he was scanning the line he noticed three familiar hellhounds. To his surprise Loona spoke up before he did.
"Fuck, Its Vicky and her two ditzs." Loona mumbled pulling into the Parking lot.
"you know them?" Damien reached for the recline lever only to find it was busted after a couple quick jerks.
loona snorted pulled into a Parking spot that was unfortunately in direct line of sight, "you've hed a run in with them too i take it?"
"They've been stalking me at the gym. I have reason to suspect The Dalmatian likes me. she likes to talk at me while im trying to focus. "
Loonaa thoughts wandered imagining Damien being able to lift anything even remotely heavy While Ruffete creeped on him. she doesn't know why but it makes her feel a bit agitated although she doesn't know why. she normally finds other peoples woes entertaining.
"Ruffete?" Loona frowned, "just tell her to fuck off."
"I already tried, subtly First then a bit bore blunt ." Damien rubbed his ear at the thought of Millie pinching it, "but Millie thinks i should be nice to her for some odd reason. I wish she would stop acting like I'm her unruly kid."
Loona shrugged, "well i know you weren't there when it happened but a couple months ago Millie was asking if Moxxie if the could adopt a hellhound from the Pound. Didn't happen so maybe she conspired with blitz in regards to your recruitment."
"I Find that really fucked up. Your telling me that fully conscious beings are put in a Dog pound to be adopted?!"
" What do you mean, weren't you adopted too. blitz found me right before i turned 18 must a been lucky and got a family earlier than I did, or your from a farm or some shit."
"That is not how adoption works where im from."
"So no cages?"
"No!"
"No violent roommates?"
"Well," Damien suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, "That was me. Only if provoked though."
"I got my first serious fight at 12."
She got a distant look in her eye. And for Damien A lot of things started to click into place about why Loona was the way she was.
"it was Someone i knew in the pound, they hurt him bad trying to make it so he wouldn't get adopted. I confronted the shitbag that did it, things got violent. Everything changed after that. I was no longer a cute little pup ready to take home, just another attack dog who'd bite anything that came close."
After that the van was deathly silent. Damien knew she wasn't lying, but holy shit, what kind of fucked up orphanage Did Loona Live at!? The worst he had to deal with was people who would try to push him around And people who only pretended to care. It sounds like she was in a literal prison.
The tension dissipated when they heard something tapping on one of the windows.
"Heyyy Damien!"
They both snapped their heads to the passenger window where a certain Dalmatian was excitedly looking in at Damien. Then her and loona had a brief staring contest before ruffete gestured for him to roll down the window.
he did so and she leaned in.
"So like what are you doing in the same car as Lunatic Loona? Are you two a thing?"
"No ruffette, Loona is my coworker."
"oh, thank Dog, i was worried for a second. A cute guy like you on a date with a psycho like her, ew."
Loona growled, "we'll id be a way better date than some airheaded college cheerleader."
The dalmatian pulled her head back when Loona slammed on the window button.
"Your just jelly cause i can actually talk to a guy without sounding like a complete dork," The Dalmatian put a finger to hee chin, " You know i think Andys already inside maybe i should warn him your here so he has a chance to run."
Loona put her head on the steering wheel while Damien got out of the van .
"Ruffete could you not?"
"Excuse me?! Why are you actually defending her. Shes not a nice person!" Ruffete leaned in to whisper l, "Dont you know she killed like every roommate she had when she was in the adoption center? I came over incase you needed help."
Loona barely lifted her head to give her a glare, "that's just a fuckin rumor!"
Damien adjusted the strap on his messenger bag, "you heard me. If you cant be civil then let's give her some space and let sleeping dogs lie for now."
Loona went from feeling anger to amusement seeing the conflicted look on Ruffetes face as damien dragged her away to wait in line.
"thanks Damien." She breathed a sigh of relief now that she could check her make up and work up the courage to talk to Andrew now that she knew he was here.
Damien sorted through the catalog of bands he had never heard before intensely. There were alot of cool sounding bands and when hed find a title that interested him enough hed look them up on his phone with one earbud in to give them a listen.
He was in the middle of a track when he felt someone brush up along his side trying see what he was listening to. He didn't even have to look up to know who it was. Ruffet was standing next to him wagging her tail. He didn't mind though after all he was more or less used to people invading his personal space at this point and she wouldn't be interrupting anything.
"This is the guy Pinklie!"
Damien Looked up wondering who exactly would have such a ridiculous name and found there was another hellhound with her. This hound was male and even taller than most he had met up to this point. Something he was used to by now. The build and general vibe of the man screamed jock without him even having open his mouth. Damian felt disdain but this is who Loona was begging him to gather useful info from.
"Hey there, names Andrew Pinklie! Feel free to use either."
Andrew went for a handshake but found Damien wasn't doing the same.
"Damien. Not to be rude but i don't do hand shakes."
"Oh, i see. well how's this one?"
Andrew closed his hand switching to a fist bump.
Thinking a fist bump wouldn't hurt Damien was ready to play along and went for it. Just before their knuckles connected however Andrew quickly slipped his hand under making a piece Sign.
"snailed!" He exclaimed before chuckling to himself.
Damien almost felt a smile creep over his face involuntarily . Andrew noticed.
"Snail never fails." Andrew leaned on Ruffettes shoulder, "see, Maybe hes just not the talkative type."
"Well it doesn't help that when she is trying to talk to me at the gym im technically on the clock." He put the cd back knowing that Ruffete must have been under the impression that he actively dislikes her now.
"Oh okay I understand." Ruffet said dejectedly, "But maybe you can spare some time after work? me and Pinklie are hanging out tonight."
Damian thought about the fact that he doesn't really do much outside of work. He's also already going out anyway.
"I suppose I could do something besides work, sleep, and eat. But only if i can bring a plus one"
Ruffetes smile wavered, "I guess you can bring a friend."
"Hell Yeah! Bring all your friends if you can." Andrew licked his lips in anticipation, "were going to the Best place to go if you want to eat a steak as big as the dinner table."
'I like steak' he heard from the back of his mind.
'of course the only thing that wakes you is the mention of food.' damiens stomach rumbled, ' yet that sounds like a slice of heaven right now.'
"Im down!" He gave Pinklie another fist bump
Loona watched from a distance as the three of them talked. She could feel the anger rising each second The dalmatian stayed.
'That bitch is ruining everything!'
She then jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand touch her shoulder.
"C'mon girl what are you doing watching them from a distance?"
She turned to see vortex standing there.
"At this rate your annoying coworker is going to have a better shot at a date with him."
"Thanks for the totally not helpful thought there tex!"
She saw ruffets tail start wagging excitedly as the dalmatian looked between the two who first bumped again Ruffette left with Andrew barking excitedly.
'Damnit i never got to talk to him!'
A/N: not the end of the chapter. Sorry its taking so long though i figured its at least something for now.