Chapter Text
The last rays of the sun disappeared over the reddish buildings that crowned the sky above the Pride ring. Blitzo drummed his foot on the elegant marble steps that presided the entrance to the palace.
His father was late. Again.
That didn’t worry him as much as it should. He was used to finding himself rather low on Cash Buckzo's priority list. Most of the time, he came right after cleaning the horseshit out of the stables.
He sighed, resigned, and rested his chin on his palm. His father told him he had to spend the afternoon with one of the Goetia princes, but he didn't say exactly how long that would be. Blitzo asked when he could come home just as his father was collecting the payment from the imp butler.
“Shut your mouth and do as you're told. Entertain the small shitter and take as much stuff as you can,” Cash growled between his teeth, digging his claws painfully into his son’s wrist. Blitzo knew better than to argue with his father when money was involved. He yanked his arm out of the man’s grip, shaking with pent-up anger.
After he left, the butler just guided him to the young prince’s quarters. He had spent the last five hours scampering through the halls of the huge palace that loomed behind him, stealing anything he could find of value while the Goetia chick tried to keep up.
It wasn’t so bad, Blitzo thought. The prince was a sweet little featherball who blushed easily and did everything he told him to. Stolas, Blitzo remembered. His faceplate had flushed beet red when the imp had shaken his tiny hand, stammering as he introduced himself.
Blitzo thought he was kind of a weirdo, especially at first, and he couldn’t help but get bored when the kid kept going on and on about plants and books. But as soon as Blitzo suggested playing treasure hunt, the prince jumped right in. He had to admit that it had been fun. It couldn't compare to the afternoons playing with Barbie and Fizz, or the time he spent with the hellhorses after the circus closed each night, but it hadn't been bad at all. Especially when the imp servant brought them a tray full of fruit and chocolate cookies, enough for Blitzo to stuff his mouth full three times over. Hed wanted to keep going, but his stomach was ready to burst.. Stolas offered for him to take some home and ordered a box with a selection of sweets to be prepared for him. Blitzo couldn't wait to show his mother and sister.
And speaking of getting home, his father was nowhere to be seen. He stood up from the stairs and looked out the front gate. Still nothing.
Suddenly, he heard hurried steps behind him and a soft voice calling his name.
“Blitzo! Wait!” Stolas huffed. He was running down the stairs as fast as his stubby legs would take him. Blitzo turned around. What was he doing there? They had already said their goodbyes. The owlet was supposed to be enjoying his fancy dinner in his fancy ass bedroom, unless...Blitzo’s heart skipped a beat. He fidgeted nervously.
Maybe… Stolas found out that Blitzo had robbed him blind? His pulse quickened. Better see what he wants before doing anything stupid.
“Yeah?” Blitzo squinted his eyes, confused. The young prince raised a hand, trying to catch his breath. Stolas huffed so deeply the imp thought he was about to pass out. After a few moments, he just extended his little talon. He was clutching a familiar plush horse in it.
“Y…you…forgot it…!” He gasped.
Blitzo blinked at that hand for a minute, not really grasping what was happening.
They had been playing with their toys for a bit, Stolas showing him the small mountain of trinkets and plushes in his playroom, which was bigger than Blitzo’s family tent in the circus. Blitzo had just shyly taken out his favourite horse plush, Staple. He always carried it with him. It was a worn out piece of rag put together clumsily in a vague shape of a horse, but he had made it himself. He’d explained to Stolas how he had sewed the pieces together with the help of his mother.
“That is amazing, Blitzo!” Stolas exclaimed. Blitzo felt his face grow hot, a mix of bashfulness and pride reddening his cheeks.
“W…well, it’s not such a big deal. The stitches are uneven and the stuffing is lumpy all over. Plus, my mom had to do a lot of the work, so…”
“But you did it with your own hands, and that makes it unique,” Stolas said sweetly, smiling up at him. “I may have a lot of toys, but none of them are as special as this one. You should be proud.”
Blitzo’s heart had skipped a beat, and if someone asked him, he wouldn’t be able to explain why. But when Stolas asked for permission to play with Staple, for the first time in his life, the imp allowed it.. Not even Fizz had ever managed to pry Staple away from Blitzo.
After that, they’d started playing around in the palace, and Blitzo forgot he had left the toy in Stolas’s room.
He extended his hand to get it back, but thought better about it.
“Keep it.” The words left his mouth before he could think them through. Stolas’ eyes widened, surprised.
“Oh, no, but I couldn’t! It is yours.” He tried to give it back to Blitzo, but the imp stopped him.
“Nah, take it as a birthday present. I didn’t give you anything, so…keep it.” Blitzo smiled, pulling his hands in his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet. “Plus, you liked it, and I can make another one. I could practice more that way,” he added with a smile.
Stolas looked at him, and then back at the plush in his hand. Suddenly, he hugged the toy tight against his chest. Although Blitzo adored Staples, the look on Stolas’ face was worth it. Beaming so happily, the owl gently held his hands out and hooted.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” he whispered. “I will treasure it forever.”
His red eyes turned watery when he raised his head to look at Blitzo.
“Woah, hey, are you crying? For real?” Blitzo was a little taken aback.
“Oh! Don’t worry, it’s a happy crying!” He sniffed, wiping the tears from his eyes. “This is the best birthday present I’ve ever had.”
The imp looked at him, wide eyed. Blitzo found it hard to believe that a prince of Hell would consider a tattered, secondhand stuffed animal to be the best gift of his life. He didn't know whether to be uncomfortable, skeptical or flattered. He didn't have time to analyze it much further either because suddenly, the owlet grabbed his hands with an excited hoot.
“I want to give you something in return! Let me go back to my room and give you one of my toys,” he said, squeezing his hands. Blitzo blinked a couple of times, surprised.
The thought of taking advantage of the opportunity to grab something of value crossed Blitzo’s mind, but an ugly feeling pulsed in his stomach almost instantly. He was his father's son, but he wouldn’t stoop as low as him.
He shook his head, patting the owl’s hands before releasing them.
“No need, you already gave me the sweets. Plus, I’m getting a little too old for toys anyway.” Blitzo didn’t say that his father would probably sell it out as soon as he saw it.
Stolas’s expression fell a little at that, but then a big smile spread across his face. Then, without warning, he raised his hand and simply plucked a feather from his head, squawking a little.
“Here!” Stolas said, offering it to him, his face all bright as if he’d just gotten the brightest idea of his life. “I want you to keep this, to remember me!”
When Blitzo took it, their hands brushed slightly, and Stolas’ feathers puffed a bit, pink dusting his cheeks. Blitzo didn’t notice. He turned the feather between his fingers. It was a beautiful bluish colour that glowed in purple hues when the imp turned it to the light.
“Thank you,” Blitzo said, a little moved. He put it in his pocket.
“That way, come what may, you know that you have a friend in me,” Stolas said with a sweet smile.
“Come what may, huh?” Blitzo grinned.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Stolas asked, tilting his head in confusion.
“Nah, nah, it’s just…”
A half smile tugged at Blitzo’s mouth, softening his features. The face of his mother suddenly appeared in his mind, warm arms circling him.
Come what may, my love. I will always be with you.
He shook his head and looked at the owlet with a broad smile. “It’s just something my mom says too.
A sudden honk startled them both, making them jump in surprise. Cash’s old van screeched to a halt, turning the corner of the street.
“Come on, boy! What are you doing there?! Get off your ass and get in the car!” Blitzo’s father screamed.
“Well, that’s my cue to leave, I guess,” he groaned as Cash honked like a madman.
“Oh, well, I…I suppose this is goodbye,” Stolas said sadly.
Blitzo opened his mouth to say something. He wished he could invite him to his home, but he didn’t think a circus tent would be a good enough place for a prince. Plus, the circus moved around through all the rings of Hell. It’s not as if they were going to be friends, right?
Still, the owlet had such a sad expression that Blitzo felt his heart sink. He didn't want to go when Stolas looked like that.
“We’ll see each other again,” Blitzo said finally.
Stolas raised his head, big eyes twinkling.
“Really?” The prince said, hopeful. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Blitzo grinned wide.
“Sure! We’ll meet again, you’ll see. Also, I’ll have to check up on Staple at some point, so make sure to take good care of him for me.”
Looking from the horse to Blitzo, eyes bright and grateful, Stolas let out a relieved breath.. He nodded, clutching the horse to his chest. “ Promise?”
Blitzo felt a sudden warmth spreading from his chest through his limbs, a feeling he only ever got with his mother.
He smiled and nodded.
“Come what may.”