Chapter 153

On to the drain pain train!

Warning: OOC, random craziness, Error past dark abuse, many other troubles if mention, cursing, killing, dark themes, racism mention, stuff children/teen shouldn't do, profanity, self-harm, suicidal moments, cheating, sexual moments mentioned, violence, smoking, drugs, alcohol, guns mention, animal death, cringe, bullying, yandere, musical/singing moments and bad flirts.

Error/Moxxie speaking/speaking/singing

Voices/Text/Flashback/Singing

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Moxxie pacing back and forth. Well, floating back and forth.

Crud why they agreed to this talk? Should have asked maybe tomorrow. The next day? Next week. Next month?

Snap out of it!

You are calmer than this. You're the one with the head on their shoulders right now. Get a grip and suck it up.

Says the one who needs a lot of therapy.

You need to talk to someone.

This isn't healthy.

I'm fine.

You're not fine.

Hello, you're about to talk to Stolas. Which you probably having a sinking feeling about you know what it is. After being snappy two days ago that Striker isn't dead! Way to go former destroyer. You're killing it.

Rip the full mask off. He took a few deep breaths. Barely bothered to make a switch of clothes besides the mask. Like it much matter. Maybe with their look Octavia will just pop in to see Puppet just an imp. Or maybe Loona if she was with her. Oh, that made them feel very annoyed. Breathing began to pick up. No, no, no. We can't have that now. No, air in space. Right now, middle finger to logic. Middle finger to science. For the heck of it middle finger to magic.

Then a big fat one at themselves.

Look back at the mask. Their whole persona as Puppet. Who are they kidding? Besides secrets that are out or still hidden. It was still them. Flaw at least has a better persona on.

Flaw.

Fuck.

How are they going to do this?

Why are they losing their heads with all this?

Float down on the rock. Press their forehead against the mask. It almost felt like a mocking kiss.

A kiss you missed~

A kiss you craved~

Would you mind someone like Blitz kissing you again? Or Stolas? ~

Are you going to be a little cheater? Hmm maybe Striker cheated on you for all you know. Just was pure luck that day to run into you and jus-

Throws the mask far away.

On cue Stolas open the portal. Blink to see the mask on the ground. Reaches down to pick it up. Look at Moxxie direction just sitting down. Head down with their face covered in their palms. A weary frown as he closes the portal behind. Walk over towards. Sit down by them. "Pupp- "

"I don't want to be called that right now." Eyes only covered in their palm.

"All right. All right." Place the mask down. A small sigh. "I went to see Medea today. Your doctor correct?"

A small nod yes.

"He confirmed to me that Outlaw is dead but Striker still alive." A weary chuckle as he took his top hat off. "He good. Really good. Even for Satan to go along with such a plan. To be easily tricked but at the same time not. I do recall you mentioning going far to make sure Striker will survive. Did you have an idea they were a part of this?"

"I was just told to give them faith. Let them deal with it. Not be involved. Even if I wanted to be so badly." Pull their hands away. Head still down. "Maybe if you told me before Medea. Thins would have been very- "

"Messy?"

"Bloody." They corrected with no hesitation.

"Moxxie I can't guarantee if Striker and I will to meet again. But if we do. It won't be." Took a small breath.  Come now just keep talking. "If he doesn't fight and try to kill me. Not kill my daughter. Not kil-Okay that last part difficult. Just you know it won't turn out well. I. Remind me just when and where you met Striker. Please."

A small breath as he explained what had happened a few weeks ago.

It was just a pure accident.

"I see."

"Stolas. Humor me here."

"Moxxie."

"Let say you two somehow able to talk it through. Same with Blitz. It'll be like. Hey. I won't kill you. I won't kill your family. I do my job. You do your job. Maybe we might laugh about this in the future. Maybe better to not bring it up in the next get together." Moxxie trying to laugh. It sounded so pathetic in their ears. So, wrong.

"If such a thing could happen. I would listen to Striker. But that would have to be the same for him."

Stare up at Stolas. Sees how Stolas look very tired.

"Were you going to tell me he was alive? What if things turn differently? What if he ran off from his jailer and came for me? Came for Octavi- "

"No. No. No. "Shook their head fast no and took his hand. "Stolas I may have been really angry, hurt at you when you threaten me. But I wasn't going to let him hurt either of you. Not the others. I wasn't going to allowed that."

"But you didn't tell me. "

"Stolas when you were told that intel of him being dead. Were you happy?"

Eyes look down not wanting to see their expression.

It was all Moxxie needed to know. He let go of this hand. Until suddenly they were caught back up to be held again.

"We both messed up badly." Stolas not letting go as he held the smaller one hand. "I'm angry. I'm upset. I'm tired. I have so much going on Moxxie. I thought I had one worry of my back to not hurt my family. You must understand that."

Moxxie clenched his eyes shut tightly as they were back to not staring at him. Being a coward to not see his face. Their voices on the other hand. The raw emotion he is feeling. Understand way too much. "I do...I... I just can't,"

Come on you damn coward talk!

"I don't want to lose anyone else."

You don't want to be responsible of someone else death you couldn't save.

"Moxxie."

Eyes widen when they were suddenly being picked up. Then their face being pressed against feathery chests. Stare at the chest as it soft against their face.

"Your selfless little imp you need to take a break. We all do really. You're so caught up with all of our issues and work. This double life. I truly wonder if you had time to relax." Pet their head as he felt them freeze up. Being calm as he can be and hoping this doesn't trigger them turning feral.

They are so small when they hold them. Yes, Blitzy small too when they hold them. It just really hasn't hit them with Moxxie, Puppet, how small they truly are. Sure, they hugged them before but never held them like this.

The owl took a breathe. Mind went back to Blitz when he talked to them. Of a idea. He was very vocal about it but will only follow. If it actually can work.

"I have a proposition for you Moxxie. I'm doing this for you. I talk to Blitz about it as well. It is his choice what to do. When Striker comes into contact again. I want to talk with him."

"Talk?" Blink.

"I just want to talk. I... I just want to listen. Like you have." Held Moxxie close against him. "I just want to see if we can. Figure something out. To not be destructive towards the other. Stay away but boundaries. At least I can try."

"I. That really Striker choice not mine Stolas." Head down a bit. He actually offering this. It felt nice."I would like that a lot."

"Just tell him. Call him- "

"I don't have his number."

"Oh, then what about a portal to see them?"

Moxxie shook his head no.

"Moxxie? Can't your portal to him?" He thought their portal was advanced compared to his own. Well, at least without a book.

"It doesn't work like that. I would done that so many times by now. Well, not anymore. I can portal to like my home since I'm familiar with the area. When a living being is complicated. I got to know the area. I don't know where he is. If he had a phone on him maybe I could. But I'm can't have that now. I got to just wait. Wait. Wait. Wai-Wait." The long thumbs brushed their cheek; they froze. The wetness on their skin made them wonder if their makeup was coming off or if they were crying. Or both. That seems to be happening a lot lately. But, when they looked up, they saw Stolas's trouble look.

"I worry about you Moxxie. Same with Blitz. There are things I want to tell him. Times I want to asked like Millie questions or advice. But I don't want to break your trust with being Puppet. "Bit the inside of their cheek.

"I told him."

"Told who what?"

"I told Striker I had magic." Felt the hand freeze. "I told him about being Puppet. I just-Stolas he was supposed to know. I just didn't know when. Then everything happens. I was ready to accept nobody not knowing unless it needed to be known."

No, movement.

Moxxie took the hand and lowered it down on their side. That hand shouldn't comfort him. Shouldn't even hold him.

"I want to be upset but I can't be. This is your secret not mine." A low weary sigh. Rest their head on top of their own. "You really don't make this easy sometimes. Of course, I didn't make things easy as well."

Last year if Moxxie told Stolas all this. Probably would have been whining. Maybe a bit snippy about it. Pouting. Then just laughed away wondering what next fun thing will happen. Now Stolas is being serious. Listening. A skill he thought he had down but it seems he needed to be reeducated about it in certain ways.

A painful lesson.

Right now he just wants to rest. It looks they all need this.

"Come now." Stolas stands up as he lifts Moxxie up closer to them. Open a portal. "Let's just go to my home and rest. We can continue later. I think we both need a long, long break."

Moxxie stays still but slowly relaxes against him. Wrap his arms around his neck to hug him. Eyes close for a few seconds.

The prince was taken back. A little bit of a teary eye as he gives them a hug back. It is a start. A start that will not be easy but he can work with this.

Right now, the work to head to the couch for a break.

Octavia munches on popcorn. As she resting on her father side. Glance a bit at Loona on the other side of the couch. The pair texting along with sending the other looks in their eyes.

Fridays lately when there time and no plans. The four have been doing this movie night. It was optional. It was all right. Besides a few movie choices. Tonight was different with a new addition watch movie night. Still, have no clue what is going on. Yet, no complaint.

Stolas hums as if he was in relaxing clothes. Blitz complaining about the show. The pair are close to each other. Blitz has on leg over Stolas other leg. The pair, close and relaxing. In the middle, well being held still by Stolas, was Moxxie. Just in Stolas lap but their legs were over Blitz. Complain at first but the IMP boss did not bother to move it. The smaller of the three not really paying attention to the tv. Just seem content. Relax. Nibble on some chocolate.

Yep, it was very odd for the two girls. A lot of questions.

But no one seems to care about asking at the moment.

"This movie horrid."

"See dad I told you."

"Now, now Blitzy picked it."

"That makes so much sense."

"Hey none of you stop me! I picked the movie. We are watching this stupid shit."

Still, questions all around. But right questions about the stupid movie.

"Your positive."

"Yes, that's him." Glance back at the body. A sneer on their face. Fist clenched up as his spiral eyes glare at the corpse. "Would have broken his neck just enough to not fully snap. So, he would have suffered but not bad who ever done this."

"You're not making this case better for you." Look back at them. "The photos?"

"Two of them. I recognize the family. The other was the whole town." A look of sorrow, regret but then push back as he tilt his head down. Stare back at the photo they were holding. That was theirs and taken. "Only one of me. What will you do with the photo album?"

"Make copies. Check to see if we can find names. Send the original photos back. If we can't find any living relatives it'll stay back in the album. After that. Will just lock it up."

"How noble."

"Don't mock me, Striker." Medea hums as he pushes the body back in the wall. "As for this one after examination and last look. Will be gone."

A small growl.

"No, Butcher can't have it. Besides since when are you one to steal other kills." Look at the hunter curled up in the ground in the corner. Eyes train on them both.

"Maybe laziness." Striker ducked down when a scalpel was thrown. "Asshole."

Got a snort from the hunter.

A deep breath as he looks at the two of them. The question he needed to know. "What now?"

"You can do what you want. The offer still stands if you want to stay to be part of the division. If you need time to think about it you can." Medea stared at the notes.

"I will keep that in mind."

"Besides that, your free."

A very pleasant smile crossed his lips. His gold tooth shining.

"But remember what I said along with him"

"Still in my head." Glance at Butcher. Walk on over to him. "Going to miss me?"

A small huff as he gets up. Stare down at them. Then glance away.

"I knew you were beginning to like meHISS!" A low hiss getting their arm smack by their tail. "Jeez your probably worse than Critter. I might stay down a little longer to finished a few thing firs-"

"Oh, and Stolas came by a few days ago. He knows you're alive."

"What? How?" Striker snarled.

"Maybe if a certain somebody not interacted with their partner."

Stare as his tail began to rattle. "It was pure luck I even saw them."

"You needed to stay under cover."

"You had no damn idea how happy he was to see me." How happy he was just to hold them. Be around their attitude. Just to see each other again. Look back at Butcher staring at his claws.

"I bet very happy. The both of you. Good thing it didn't seem to ruin this investigation. Instead, Stolas was ready, with a few others, to see if Moxxie will need to see a mental shrink." Turn back to look at them. "So, yes, I told him Outlaw dead but you're alive. Alive but a warning."

"Wow thank you. Job well done."

"Care to keep going down the sarcasm train." Eyes open up. "Things got out of hand the last few minutes at the end. It's taken care of now. The next part is everyone else. Okay?"

Striker tense up. Tail stop rattling. Look at them but also at Butcher. Eyes watching them closely. A wrong move. Ready to stop him.

Stop him how is the challenging part.

He took a small deep breath as he stayed calm. Better than this. Need to not snap. Need to not lose it. Need to remember the pair of them done so much for him. "Yeah Doc."

In a snap the eye lids close and the smile back in place. Pulls out a bowl of candy. "Here you two can have one! No, spoiling as I bet, you'll go hunting before coming back."

Note to self.

Kill the Doctor. They are too overpowering. Along with having his favorite treat on the spot.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Done!

How does everyone feel about all interactions?

The couch movie cuddles?

The three talking about Striker next step?

Will things start to come along soon?

Got to learn a bit about Moxxie magic side on the portal side lately. Ups and downs.

Will anyone have a break?

Any questions?

Until next time.

Bye, bye!