Still in Blitzø's apartment, Balin started regaining his consciousness after fainting in Loona's old smell of a bedroom, and soon woke up back in his living room with I.M.P and the Goetias.
"Oh, thank Satan. He's okay." sighed Via in relief, as she tickled him awake with one of her feathers.
As his vision came back, the boy's eyes went wide to see the animated version of his dream musician, Halsey, on an episode of Scooby-Doo!.
"And just in time too." Blitzø added, pointing to the TV in excitement.
...
FRED - "Well gang, looks like we have a real mystery on our hands."
DAPHNE - "And I can't believe we're in it with..."
MYSTERY, INC. - "Famous singer/Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum, pop maverick, Halsey!"
HALSEY - "Hehehe. Actually, Halsey's my stage name. My name's just Ashley."
...
"Wow..." Balin's eyes sparkled at the sight, as he giggled at the cartoon like a normal kid.
"Always a first hearing them not frying their vocals, ain't it sport?" chuckled Blitzø.
"Uh-huh."
"Hmm... Devo Amy = Halsey." Moxxie thought out loud and snickered, expecting a laugh. But he soon shrugged, admittedly feeling hurt. "Close enough."
"Okay, guys." chuckled Loona, as she carried the kid away from the TV. "Sorry 'bout my room, kiddo. Guess Blitzø was too busy drinking his... soda, to do that."
Blitzø let out a gasp and huffed, pretending to be offended just as a child would.
"So anyway, while they're watching one pop-star," the hellhound continued, holding his phone in her paw. "Another one still wants to know if you're available for... your first singing gig?"
"Umm..."
As Balin tried to make his decision, he looked up to see Neptune and Marijiana, both nodding their heads and panting like the playful hellhound puppies they were.
Soon, the nervous but excited boy responded on the phone to Bee.
"Sure. I'd be happy to perform at your party, Bee."
"YAY!" the other two hellhounds squealed, picking up the boy for a nuzzling hug.
The feeling of their ticklish fur made the little boy giggle as they plopped him on the couch in between them for some more 'Scooby-Doo!' time.
"See you later, Bee!" Balin called out to his phone, still in Loona's hand.
"Later to you too, baby human!" called Bee back, before speaking to Loona. "Thanks for the permit, girlfriend. I'd be happy to return the favour if you'd like."
"Yeah. Well don't." replied Loona, twirling her hair a little anxiously. "I'm just... happy to be your acquaintance, for Tex."
It was true Loona had a secret kind of heart for Vortex, as well as Dylan for now. But her whole life, she was different.
But since meeting Balin, the care in her started showing her how different she was.
She did manage to let out a sigh thinking about all the times she had those strange feelings, from I.M.P to Queen Bee herself. But being the laid-back hellhound she was, she decided not to worry about it too much for a whole longer, and enjoy the moment like the kid did.
Even if that moment was a cartoon night with the gang she wished she was away from, yet came close to being called 'friends.'
...
As the night went on, so did the cartoon marathon.
The entire gang watched an hour-and-a-half of cartoons on Blitzø's apartment TV, such as...
FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS - 'Cookie Dough'
THE JETSONS - 'Las Venus'
In the meanwhile, Loona was now speaking on her phone with someone else.
"So yeah. Looks like we'll be using your assistance after all." she spoke, holding up Ozzie and Fizz's business card. "But only for Bee's party for now. Until we, discuss my terms of this deal. And it'd better be a fair one! I'll see you then."
With excitement, Millie nudged Balin with her shoulder.
"Are you excited for your first show already, donut-hole?" she asked in her ditzy tone. "Or, are you nervous? Ooh! Are you nerve-excited?"
"Honey, that's not a..."
"Aw, stop repeating shit you see on My Little Pony, Moxx." Blitzø interrupted smugly. "It's the kid's first rodeo. Just go with it."
THREE DAYS LATER,
IN GLUTTONY...
As always, the party at Bee's mansion was already buzzing with demons of all breeds. Especially her target audience; hellhounds.
Balin was dressed in a black-and-white t-shirt, a formal version of his usual blue-and-green shirt, as he watched Ozzie carry a whole stage into the lounge room in amazement.
"Wow!" he said in awe at the sin. "How did you do that?"
"Bacon and eggs." smiled Ozzie. "The most important meal of the day, young one."
Fizzarolli, however, dressed in a baggy black-and-white overcoat for identity purposes, lathered the stage with glitter before he started sanding one of the steps.
"C'mon, Oz!" he playfully pouted to his lusty boyfriend. "You know damn well it's because of those... big, strong, manly chops you call arms."
"Whoa, hush now. Not in front of the child, Fizzy frog." Ozzie replied to his love, sounding serious but still seductive. "You wanna talk dirty in public? Save it for the supermarket."
"Fair enough." shrugged Fizz. "Still. Eat your bacon and eggs, kiddo. It's a healthy meal."
"Okay." replied Balin with a smile. "Fizzarolli? Why are you wearing that suit?"
"Because I'm famous!" the clown demon said. "Gotta keep my identity a secret somehow. You'll understand in half an hour of the party, all those demons watching you out-"
"Fizzy..." Ozzie nudged him to the nervous boy.
"But hey. You're a kid. As your new talent agents, we don't expect you to change a thing about it. Just enjoy being a kid, while you are one."
"Thank you, Mr. Fizz." smiled Balin again.
"...As long as you don't pick any sappy songs to perform." Fizz added. "Rock is where it's at."
"C'mon, Froggy. Let him have fun with this." cooed Ozzie. "You heard the human ballads I swoon to the audiences in Lust, right?"
"That's different! I mean, some that don't have a point. Like, Shut Up and Dance? That kinda shit I can't stand." Fizz continued. "But I guess you're right. Any song it is then. Sappy or otherwise."
"Thank you." replied the sin before he spoke to the boy. "Whatever you've chosen, we wish you your first good luck, Balin."
Soon, the three heard some buzzing approaching them, as well as squealing. Balin then looked up to see it was Bee flying up to him, scooping him in her arms, then kissing him all over his face.
"B-B-Bee! HAHAHAHA!" laughed Balin. "Stop it, tickles!"
"Nope. You didn't say hi to me when you walked through the door." she teased. "So you're getting kisses!"
The Sin of Gluttony continued her barrage of kisses all over the boy's face, making Fizz and Oz giggle in awe at their relationships.
"You ready for tonight, honey?" she asked, finishing with a nuzzle.
"Uh-huh. A little nervous, but-"
"Good. So here's what I'm gonna do." Bee then started whispering an idea of hers into Balin's ear as he listened closely.
...
Meanwhile...
Blitzø stood on the balcony, looking over the ring with some binoculars as Tex came out with a couple of beers.
"Hey, dude!" he called out to the boss.
"Hey there... Barky? I mean, Tex." Blitzø sheepishly greeted him back as he took the bottle. "Yeah, wish I could drink on the job, but-"
"Well, while the night is young." chuckled Tex.
"Point taken. Deal!" the imp snapped his fingers and began guzzling down his beer anyway.
"Any sign of Ms. Fluff-balls?" Tex asked as he drank also.
"Let me check." sighed Blitzø with a little burp.
He then waved a glowing dildo in the air, signalling for the security down bellow; which were Bee's petting zoo animals made of cotton candy, as they gave him an all-clear sign with more glowing dildos.
"Nah, nothing yet." replied Blitzø. "But we'll be ready for her."
...
Back at the party...
As Bee whispered to Balin still, Moxxie walked over to Loona and held his hand out for her.
She then pulled out what appeared to be a guitar case out of her hair, as his present for the boy, and handed it to him as he walked off.
Loona did seem rather hesitant about exchanging favours from 'Fatty', especially in public, but this was Balin they made a deal for. So secretly, she was excited to see what he could do with it.
When Bee put Balin down with a kiss for good luck, she went to get the party started for everyone else while Moxxie and Millie approached him with the gift behind his back.
"Hey Balin?" Moxxie called out. "Aunty Millie and I thought, that we'd surprise you with a little souvenir for you to shine onstage tonight with. I know it's a little last-minute, but..."
Millie then showed him the case and opened it to reveal a little acoustic guitar, making Balin's eyes sparkle.
He loved to play the guitar from time to time. Though he hadn't done it for a while, he was excited about it all the way, wrapping the strap around his shoulders and collar-bone.
Surprisingly, he knew the chords to tonight's songs by head and heart.
"Alright everybody!" Bee called out to her guests. "How's my favourite bitches doin'?! Need a drink? Need a bite? Keepin' cool? Havin' fun? Say... do y'all like music?"
"I dabble!" one hellhound called from the crowd.
"Then may I direct you, all of y'all, to a young rising musician a lot of us may know." she continued. "He made his debut act at Ozzie's just recently, and for those who've been to a few parties of mine in the past, he's a fan favourite that you'll be shocked to hear perform this live. So without further ado, coming back here with his musical first, let me introduce to y'all, the little human boy wonder, baby BALIN JOHNSON!"
Everyone in the party clapped and cheered for him as he shuffled onstage with his guitar and straight to his microphone, waddling like a penguin.
"G-G-G'day. Everyone." smiled Balin with a flush, before looking down at M&M and Loona.
The hellhound gave him a brief thumbs-up, standing next to the imp couple as the tip of her tail wagged, then to Tex who stood as his bodyguard, then finally up at Bee who sat on a disco ball on the ceiling.
"I hope you like hearing me sing." he continued. "I'm sorry if I make anyone sad, because it's a sad song. One that I relate to personally, so don't hate me for this one. This is 'Too Good at Goodbyes', by one of my favourite singers. Sam Smith."
The I.M.P gang's hearts melted, their faces showing a little concern as well as support as they smiled at his courageous little look on his face.
To both their surprise, some demons even murmured it was one of their favourite songs too, before letting out a few claps.
For support, Tex decided to perform on the piano for him while he strummed his guitar, even invited a few hellhounds to be his choir as well.
So with a deep breath, Balin started singing his first song of the night:
...
BALIN:
You must think that I'm stupid.
You must think that I'm a fool.
You must think that I'm new to this.
But I have seen this all before.
I'm never gonna let you close to me.
Even though you mean the most to me.
'Cause every time I open up, it hurts.
I'm never gonna get too close to you.
Even when I mean the most to you.
In case you go and leave me in the dirt.
'Cause every time you hurt me, the less that I cry.
And every time you leave me, the quicker these tears dry.
And every time you walk out, the less I love you.
Baby, we don't stand a chance.
It's sad but it's true.
BALIN: I'm way too good at goodbyes! (CHOIR: I'm way too good at goodbyes.)
BALIN: I'm way too good at goodbyes! (CHOIR: I'm way too good at goodbyes.)
BALIN: No way that you'll see me cry! (CHOIR: No way that you'll see me cry.)
BALIN: I'm way too good at goodbyes! (CHOIR: I'm way too good at goodbyes.) No...!
Hearing the song, a lot of the demons in the room fell silent at how amazing his voice was, but started getting into the emotions and the groove once it started getting more up-tempo.
"WOO-HOO!" Millie cheered loudly for him, while Moxxie placed three fingers on his chest and lifted his other hand in the air.
BALIN:
'Cause every time you hurt me, the less that I cry.
And every time you leave me, the quicker these tears dry.
And every time you walk out, the less I love you.
Baby, we don't stand a chance.
It's sad but it's true.
Soon, the music dropped and the audience fell silent, as Balin held up his finger and continued to sing the end. But in ACAPELLA!
BALIN: I'm way too good at goodbyes! (CHOIR: I'm way too good at goodbyes.)
BALIN: I'm way too good at goodbyes! (CHOIR: I'm way too good at goodbyes.)
BALIN: No way that you'll see me cry! (CHOIR: No way that you'll see me cry.)
BALIN: I'm way too good at goodbyes! (CHOIR: I'm way too good at goodbyes.)
"Thank you everybody." he spoke into the mic at the end.
Soon, everyone in the crowd cheered loudly over the clapping for this little guy's performance. Loona was admittedly about to cry as she watched and recorded that song, but still sniffed a lot of tears coming from Neptune's eyes as Marijiana patted her back lightly.
Balin wasn't really expecting this much of a reaction from this crowd, but still smiled nonetheless. Even if he knew this wasn't the only song he was singing tonight.
But that one's for another chapter.
A/N: See y'all in the next chapter.