Helluva Deal

61. How To Declutter Fear

No.

No!

Blitz shakes his head to himself, pushing himself away from the tub and turning on the hot water now, grabbing the bottle that makes the best bubbles.

He SAVED Stolas.

As much as his self-depriving mind still tries to fight this, it's only thanks to HIM that the prince didn't kill himself – purposely or accidentally by any kind of overdose. Yes, Blitz often hurt him – both of them – with his attempt of keeping distance and actually trying to prevent both of them from getting hurt. And yes, worrying for Blitz' life is something that will very likely always cause Stolas to experience small fits like today then and now after eventful or dangerous days. That's just the way the other is. And he also loves him for it. Because Stolas IS so incredible soft and caring and simply...Stolas.

Blitz exhales slowly, adding far too much bubble-soap to the water but not caring about it.

Everything is going to be okay. They both knew before that the past day left marks on them that will only be revealed with some time, simply because of adrenaline lowering and realization slowly setting in about how close and absurd everything that happened has actually been. The imp himself knows that he hasn't seen the last of his own demons about this as well.

But the important thing is that he knows how to console and calm Stolas own again.

And that's exactly what he's going to do now.

Steadying himself and making sure there are no traces of his own distress left on his face, the imp finishes his work and returns to their bedroom, a soft smile playing on his lips, the moment he sees Stolas lying on his back, holding Astrea in the air, pulling funny faces at her, making her giggle cutely.

"You're good with kids. Ever thought about becoming a father?" Blitz grinning leans against the pole of the bed.

Stolas chuckles softly, "Maybe. But I'd need a good mother for that... Any idea, where I'd get one of those, Handsome?"

"Hm. I'd need to think about that..." Blitz furrows his brows, "But maybe in the meantime let me change that cutie's diaper? I'm pretty sure, she's got that angel-chasing-off-bomb-stank from her father, by the way."

"Ey!" Stolas laughs out, "It's not THAT bad!"

"If you tell me now that Via was worse as a baby, we know it DEFINITELY comes from the bird-side of the family!" the imp laughs and gently takes the still giggling hybrid in his own arms now, lovingly booping her nose, before using his tail to drag the slightly blushing and shrugging Stolas close to him, kissing him gently, before whispering, "Feel any better?"

The owl-demon, his eyes still closed in bliss because of the kiss now nods and nuzzles his face against Blitz', murmuring, "Much. Thank you. That's really been one of the worst nightmares I ever had..."

"I know how those feel... And that they often linger in the back of your head for far too long..." Blitz kisses his forehead, "It's good that it's over now. But you'll still take that bath. To get warm and rid of that tension in your muscles."

Stolas nods, his voice finally sounding like himself again when he now whispers with a soft smile in his voice and a hand caressing the imp's side, "Join me?"

"Right after changing Astrea's diaper," Blitz returns the smile, nudging his head lightly against Stolas', "What I'll do now, before I get knocked out by the bird-poop in it."

"You REALLY make this worse than it is!" Stolas laughs fullhearted now, "Do full-imp-babies actually smell better?"

"I've got a sensitive nose, okay! And how the heck should I know?! She's my first baby at all!" Blitz laughs as well, nuzzling their daughter tenderly, "A smelly little one, are you? Yes, you are! A little stinker, just like your dad..."