Helluva Boss X Reader

Stolas Part 3 (Rewritten): Cut Off

This chapter is a rewritten version of the original Stolas Part 3. The original chapter is available on Tumblr via a post now unlinked. You'll have to search by the tag "Stolas x Reader" on my Tumblr profile to find it.

It took a while to get used to. Talking to Stolas over the phone, that is. It turns out a conversation can be lacking when you can't see the other person's face or minute expressions. Though, you weren't trembling in terror at the sight of him, so maybe that was a good thing. Though the first time calling him was terrifying in its own right. You said you would call, but he had called you first, so maybe he intended to, and it was just the way the conversation went that made it seem that way? You had shaken your head to yourself. Of course not. You had to be the one to reach out.

This was how the first conversation (first as in the first of the organized ones) went:

Bring up Stolas's number. You still needed to add him to your contacts, so you did. Wait several minutes, gathering courage, hoping he wouldn't be busy with something. Then call him, holding your breath from anxiety.

The phone rang twice, then was answered.

"Hello?" his curious voice asked. "(Y/N)?"

Moment of panic. You hadn't planned on saying anything specific.

"Yup. This is they(/he/she)."

Internally scream. That was so fucking stupid. Acting so casual after the last time you talked?

"I'm pleased that you were serious about calling me. I thought about calling you, thinking about how the conversation we had might've just been how it went, and I could call, but I told myself: No. They will call you; that is what they said."

You laughed.

"That is exactly what was going through my head when I was about to call. I thought if I should wait until you called, but decided against it."

Stolas's laugh was that of an animal. That animal, of course, being an owl. You were surprised to hear it, especially after how he had cried his heart out to you the night previous.

After that rough beginning, you found yourself asking for details about what had happened when Striker had kidnapped him, and the details Stolas gave horrified you. He tried to play it off, acting cool as he recalled the dirty things he said to Striker, but you remembered him saying that he had been brave because he had thought Blitzø was coming for him. Sure, M&M came for him, but that didn't mean Stolas wasn't still terrified. You wanted to demand the truth from him, but the last time the truth was spoken it didn't turn out so well for either of you. So you played along.

Maybe if you fed into the idea of his bravery, by some miracle he would become brave, and would have an easier time putting the whole ordeal behind him.

Your eyes then drifted to the empty chair across from you. Now that you had a voice to listen to, the mirage of him that you imagined was clearer, and lacked contempt. Stolas wasn't lonely anymore; he had you to talk to. For the nights, at least. You still had work.

Again, it had taken some getting used to speaking with Stolas only over the phone. No expressions or movements to be communicated, no body language to pick up on. You could only rely on his tone of voice. That was enough, thankfully. You learned to pick up micro expressions from his vocalizations alone, and he did the same.

You slowly earned his friendship back over the next few weeks, each call a tribute to the altar of trust. Eventually, he felt comfortable enough to talk about Blitzø with you again, and he declared that he was done with the imp. Romantically, at least. He hoped they could still be friends. He would wait until he could tell Blitzø in person, but until then would lend the grimoire for his business. He would research and find an alternative way for his company to access the mortal world while he was in the hospital. You thanked Stolas for his generosity, as you wouldn't be out of a job. He gave a happy "Hmph!" and you could tell he had just nodded authoritatively.