Helluva Deal

27. Trigger Points

"Blitz!" the relief in the smaller imp's voice is audible, "Thank Satan you're here! How are you holding up? We could really use your help if you're well enough... And no, I didn't use warm water!"

"I'm well enough and I know you didn't," Blitz smiles softly at him, then he looks at Millie, "Thanks for sending Loona away. Could you please take care of her hands for me? Alastor... You're an idiot. My daughter is right about that."

"Blitz... I'm sorry..." the radio demon's eyes are glassy, a proof of his severe blood loss, "I shouldn't have..."

"...shredded your ears like that? Agreed. Everything else – yes, you should and I still am in your debt for this. But we'll talk about that later. Now I need you to do something hard for you again and get into the bathtub once more."

"Cold water to reduce the blood pressure! Of course!" Moxxie jumps up to fill the tub with cold water, "Why didn't I think about that?!"

"Experience, Mox. Next time, you will for sure," Blitz smiles softly at him, then he takes a closer look at Alastor's ears, "Fuck, Al... You did that with your own claws?! Are you more resistant to pain than me?!" he carefully cups Alastor's face, "Or are you back in the phase where you last send your own shadow to kill you?"

The radio demon looks into the imp's eyes and swallows hard but doesn't say anything.

For Blitz that's answer enough and he gently caresses the other's face and shortly leans his forehead against his, murmuring, "It's okay. We'll drag you back out of this. But first we'll save your cute ears."

The radio demon nods weakly.

"Good," Blitz places a quick, soft kiss on his forehead, then he looks at his second adoptive daughter, "Via, when Alastor gets out of the bathtub again, we'll need blankets to cuddle him warm again so he won't get a cold. Could you get us some?"

"On it, Mom!" she disappears at once, leaving Blitz once more with a happy, fuzzy feeling in his heart.

But the imp quickly focuses again and feels Alastor's pulse and checks on his eyes, murmuring, "You truly are your own worst enemy... Was it your plan to let yourself bleed out or was this merely a pleasant side effect to the urge to punish yourself?"

"I don't know... A little bit of both maybe?" the sinner shivers and hugs himself, his eyes moving to the bathtub and he whispers, "Blitz... I don't know...whether I can do this..."

"You can. I'm here. All of us are, Alastor. And we won't let you drown, I promise. You trust us. We won't hurt you. Hold on to that thought for me. Okay?"

"Blitz, the tub is ready."

The radio demon winces at Moxxie's words.

"Okay, Alastor?" Blitz steps into his line of sight, blocking his view on the bathtub and cupping his face again, "Alastor."

The radio demon nods weakly, focusing on Blitz and leans his head against the other's shoulder when the imp now picks him up in his arms and carries him over to the tub.

"Blitz! You shouldn't carry so much weight anymore when you're this heavily pregnant!" rebukes Millie him at once.

"Look at Al's waistline. How heavy do you think he is?!" Blitz grins at her, but he does notice that it's quite difficult to carry the radio demon because of his baby bump and promises, "It was the last time today, I promise."

"Hrmpf," Millie gives a short nod, finishing her work on Loona's hands.

Moxxie helps Blitz to carefully, slowly lower the radio demon into the tub now, but leaving it up to Blitz to carefully undress him, once he's inside.