Doing his best to remain calm, something that was proving rather hard to do since his darling wife was in one of her more deadly moods that even he wasn't completely safe from, Moxxie managed to somehow keep himself from flinching as Millie summarizd all the messy details about their last mission.
"So your telling me that poor little boy was being abused by his so called family"?
At this the white haired Imp could only sadly nod his head.
"I wish I could say otherwise, but that's what it looks like".
And just like that, his wife's mood changed from barely contained murderous rage to the persona that made him recognize the potential she had as a future parent. Even if she sometimes forgot to see the big picture.
"Oh that poor little darling. But that still doesn't explain what Blitz meant about a 'custody battle'".
Fighting the urge to sigh, Moxxie patiently tried to explain their boss's less than informative comment.
"Well, from what Harry said, those...people were the only family he had left. And since Loona and I didn't agree with our boss's solution to that problem, we decided to bring him here. Is...that okay Honey"?
Having grown slightly concerned at Millie's less than happy expression, the bow tie wearing assassin was relieved when his wife snapped out of it.
"What? No no its fine. I completely get why you would want to save him. Your just a big softy at times. But what I cant get is why Loona of all people would care".
Since he was also confused by the Hell Hound's recently acquired sense of decency, for on her best days she could barely be described as dismissive, Moxxie simply gave his wife a shrug".
"Honestly, I have no idea. But since she's not exactly the type to explain herself...".
His words earning a hum of acceptance from the raven haired Imp, Moxxie had to chuckle in slight embarrassment as his wife proceeded to do something that was usually his job.
Staying on target.
You have a point there Sweetie. But we're getting a little off topic here. What are we going to do with Harry"?
Nervously clearing his throat since he was uncertain how Millie would react to his solution to this 'problem, the bow tie wearing killer put on a slightly anxious smile as he answered her question.
"Well...I was thinking, since he doesn't have anywhere to go, and the fact that we have an extra bedroom back at our place...maybe we could let him stay with u...".
"GUYS GET IN HERE! WE HAVE INCOMING".
Sighing in annoyance at their boss's usual habit of interrupting heart to heart moments, though this time it appearance to be purely by accident instead of intentional, Moxxie quickly followed his wife into Blitzo's office.
Wondering what in Hell could have set him off now.
...
Though he had quickly deduced that Blitz's attitude was slightly more...eccentric than most people he had come across, the sight of him suffering a mild panic attack was more than enough to shoot a concerned look at the woman who had previously been teaching him how to break into a locked filing cabinent.
"Uhhhh...is there wrong with him"?
Receiving a snort of amusement from the otherwise bored looking dog woman, Harry felt himself crack a small smile of his own at the answer he received.
"Gonna have to be more specific kid. Theres ALOT wrong with him".
Fighting the urge to laugh at Loona's less than respectful attitude towards the cowering Imp, the raven haired boy turned his attention towards Moxxie as he voiced the list of potential reasons for Blitz's behavior.
"Well, we successfully completed the contract. And it's over 10 months until the cleanse. So that could only mean that...Oh crap".
Frowning in confusion as the kind hearted Imp suddenly sported a look of dawning horror, and trying to figure out what he meant by 'The Cleanse', Harry decided to remain quiet as Loona asked the same question he wanted to ask.
"What's wrong"?
And watching Moxxie turn towards him with a frightened expression, for the first time since he had left the Dursley's Harry felt the familiar sense of dread as the Imp started to give the taller woman instructions.
"Loona, you gotta to hide him. If the boss is acting like this, it can only mean that...".
At this point, Moxxie couldn't go any further. For not only did the unmistakable sound of a door slamming open echo loudly from the other room, a voice that was both sophisticated yet slightly needy loudly announced itself.
"Oooohhhhh Blitzyyy. I know that the full moon isn't for another week. But since my wife has taken my precious little Via on a 2 day trip to Loo-Loo World, I was thinking that perhaps you and I could share a romantic evening at my mansion. Doesn't that sound...delicious"?
Shivering in slight revulsion as the being's tone went from friendly to something that put him in the mind of a starving man presented with a feast of his favorite food, Harry was prevented from thinking further on this as the panicking Imp suddenly seemed to find the necessary strength to take charge.
"Goddam fucking shit. Looney, hide the kid somewhere until I've managed to get Stolas out of here. And you two, remember that NOTHING strange happened on our last job. Got it"?
"Got it".
"Understood sir".
Quickly finding himself placed behind the Imp's rather oversized desk, and nodding his head to show that he was willing to obey Loona's silent gesture to remain quiet, Harry found himself frowning in slight confusion at Bltiz's further panicked ramblings.
"Great. Now I all I have to do is distract the horny owl and then...".
"And then what Blitzy? Your not trying to hide something from me are you"?
...
Putting on his most charismatic smile as the lanky Owl Demon glided into the room, Blitzo attempted to deflect the rather dangerous question by stating the obvious.
"What? Me? Hiding something? Don't be silly Stolas. I'm just...surprised to see you here. Normally you prefer to just call me up".
And while he was grateful that Stolas seemed to accept his attempt to change the topic, the founder of the Immediate Murder Professionals was less than happy with how the flamboyant Prince of Hell answered his unasked question.
"Normally that's true my little Imp. But since my wife decided to take our darling little owlet on a mini vacation, I've been feeling sooo lonely today. And you do know what happens when I feel lonely Blitzy"?
Fighting the urge to swear since he sadly needed to stay in Stolas's good graces if he wanted to keep accessing the tool that allowed him to do his job in the first place, Blitzo tried to prevent the owl demon from starting his usual rant by pointing at his uncomfortable looking employees.
"Uhh, could you maybe not answer that question. Both my adoptive daughter/receptionist and other employees are here, and they really don't need to hear...".
But like a lot of things in his life, his hopes were quickly dashed.
"When I get lonely, I become hungry. And when I become hungry, I want to choke on that thick red ^$& of yours. $^$#$ your salad before sticking it my # $, and feeling you $ inside all of my $*^&& before licking off the #&$*# and...sniff sniff .
Doing his best to contain his panic as Stolas suddenly broke off from his lust filled rant to sniff the air, the well dressed Imp hesitantly asked a question he had been hoping to avoid.
"If there a...is there something wrong Stolas"?
The answer he received was less than comforting.
"I'm not sure. Tell me Blitzy. On your last little trip up above, did everything go...as planned"?
Gulping as all 4 of the owl Demon's eyes narrowed in slight suspicion, Blitzo tried to keep it cool as he answered the rather dangerous question.
"No no no. Everything went as planned. The client gave us the targets, we went to kill them. And left no witnesses on our return home".
For a moment, Stolas said nothing. But then his beaked face broke into a small smirk that was at the same time both amused yet indulgent.
"You know what I like best about you Blitzy"?
Deciding to be completely truthful for once, the Imp sighed as he answered the question in a dry tone.
"The fact that I lack a gag reflex and have the stamina to keep up with your libido"?
His answer causing the towering prince to momentarily swoon, any feeling that he was in the clear vanished as Stolas proved that he hadn't earned his position through looks alone.
"Hmmm yessss. Those are some of the things I love about you. But I was referring more to the fact that you are willing to do anything to remain alive. Like say, lying to a Prince of Hell".
Nervously laughing as he tried, and failed to keep himself from revealing his rising panic, Blitzo tried to once again lie himself out of trouble.
"I uhh...I uhh don't know what you mean Stolas".
But unlike before, Stolas wasn't in the mood to indulge the Imp.
"Don't take me for a fool Blitzy. I can clearly sense your hiding something from me. Or should I say, someone".
Fighting the very powerful urge to glance in the direction of his desk, the lightly sweating Imp once again tried to deny the accusation.
"Still don't know what your talking about".
And unsurprisingly, the avian Prince of Hell saw through his blatant lies.
"Is that so. Then can you explain why I am sensing the presence of another Overlord in your work space"?
...
She wasn't sure which was more surprising.
The fact that the clingy rich asshole was claiming that the scrawny boy she had found was giving off the same feeling as an Overlord. Or that Blitz was for the first time since she knew him almost completely speechless.
"Excuse me what did you say"?
This of course was the wrong thing to say to the perverted peak cock. Whose tail feathers bristled with annoyance as he answered her adoptive father's question.
"DONT try my patience my sweet little Imp. The feeling is faint, but I can nevertheless still detect the familiar signs of a formerly human soul whose past sins have allowed them to gain power here in Hell".
Though she managed to keep her surprise at this knowledge to herself, even if she wanted to spare a quick glance at the desk that currently hid the undersize human, Millie's gasp of surprise was enough to alert Stolas that his 'precious Blitzy' wasn't the only one he could interrogate.
"Do you have something to say my dear? Perhaps you know of what I speak"?
Loona had to give her co-worker credit for this. Despite knowing that Stolas could do anything to her without suffering any consequences, Millie nonetheless managed to have enough guts to try and lie to the more powerful denizen of Hell.
"N...no I...".
Sb expected numerous outcomes to that reply. Most of them involving displays of violence that ranged from unpleasant to making one beg to be outside during Extermination day.
But never in her wildest dreams could she have predicted this.
"Dont hurt her please".
...
While understandably nervous as he took in the sight of the surprised looking bird demon, Harry's expression nevertheless carried a look of determination as he did the one thing that few people ever did for him.
Taking the blame.
But while he expected the 4 eyed bird to react with surprise at learning of his presence, the raven haired child could only frown in confusion as the giant owl spoke in a manner that strongly reminded him of his aunt whenever his uncle managed to do something she considered...romantic.
"Oh Blitzy. You do know how to surprise me don't you"?
Apparently he was not the only one to be caught off guard by this reaction. For Blitz was currently wearing an expression that was equal parts weary and relieved.
"Your uh...your not mad"?
Jumping a little as the grey feathered being swiftly moved to his side, Harry was uncertain if he should be comforted by the small smile that was being directed at him, or frightened out of his mind.
"Well...I confess that I am a little bit shocked at your decision, especially since we've only been...seeing each other for less than a year. But I suppose we were destined to arrive at this moment eventually, so I shouldn't be too upset that you decided to find a child without my consideration. Rest assured my darling little Imp, despite my current martial situation, I will do my best to be a supportive parent".
Deciding it was probably wiser to remain still as he was being treated like a pet, even if it was somewhat humiliating and nerve wracking to being petted, the green eyed child kept his mouth shut as the male Imps tried to make sense of this situation.
"...uh, I'm sorry you lost me there".
"Pardon the interruption sir but I'm afrfaid there's been a mistake. Harry isn't the adopted son of Blitz. He's...".
"He's ours".
Eyes widening in shock at this announcement, for never before had he head anyone willingly lay claim to him before, Harry turned his surprised, yet nonetheless hopeful expression towards the raven haired Imp as the bird demon voiced his surprise at the same time as the less than pleased dog lady.
"What"?
"WHAT"?
Surprised that Loona would get mad at something like this, Harry found his attention drawn back to the coolly dressed Imp as he hurried to explain the...situation.
"Bout fucking time you mentioned it. I mean, yes that's the truth Stolas. Of course I intended to keep this a secret until our next little...rendezvous. But you crafty son of a bitch, I can't get anything past you".
For a moment, the office was silent as Harry and the rest of the staff of I.M.P. waited to see how Stolas would react to this excuse.
However they didn't have to wait long as the owl demon proceeded to pull the well dressed Imp into his arms for an overly affectionate cuddle.
"No you can't my precious little Blitzy. But it still fills me with delight that you continue to go to such lengths to surprise me. Especially now you have a credible excuse to visit my manor on a more regular basis".
"And uhhhh...what would that be"?
Though understanding why Blitz would be reluctant to spend more time with Stolas, for it was rather obvious that the bird like demon was unpredictable and scary, Harry was caught off guard by the answer.
"Why, to begin his magical education of course. My wife has been complaining that my precious Via isn't progressing as well as she could in her studies. And since the chi...you know, I never got your name young one".
"H...Harry Potter sir".
And if he knew the reaction he would have gotten at truthfully answering this question, Harry would have lied.
For while the Imps and Loona failed to react at his full name, minus Blitzo muttering something about it being too boring, Stolas's reaction was far more...disturbing.
"Ooooooh Blitzy. You truly know how to make things special don't you".
...
ANNNNNNNND, think this is a good place to end it XD.
Believe I managed to capture the...spirit of Stolas quite well, even if the material I have to draw upon is 2 episodes and Instagram posts lol. Had previously played around with the idea of him being Harry's magical tutor, but after reading the reviews that indicated I wasn't the only one, seemed like a good idea XD
After careful consideration, though it isn't set in stone just yet, decided to go with him being adopted by Moxxie and Millie instead of Blitzo or Loona. HOWEVER, not completely ready to give up on having a more parental role for the Hell Hound.
But as for Blitz...more like a cool/crazy uncle/mentor for Harry since he is still at that Impressionable age. And considering the Imp is both an assassin and former circus performer...think its plausible for Harry to view him as somewhat of an idol. Or at least Blitz thinks he should be one for the young Wizard.
Anyways, hopefully this will tide you all over until the next chapter.
Plz review. No flames. Til next time.