Chapter Text
A Venture For Communication
Chapter 1:
Tilla was allowed to leave after three weeks, during which Stolas did visit, but Blitzø didn’t talk to him about what happened between them, and if Via was going to blame him for prioritizing his mother’s recovery over getting distracted by his situation with Stolas, then she was free to do so.
After that Tilla stayed at Ozzie’s palace with a physician and three nurses available for if and when she needed them. She spent her time watching TV, reading, chatting with Ozzie, Millie, Moxxie, Loona, and Via once every while she visited, and avoiding Blitzø, Barbie and Fizz.
Blitzø knew from personal experience that it was because she blamed herself for the stuff that happened. He had blamed himself for the fire for fifteen years after all. He would have never stopped blaming or hating himself if he hadn’t found out the truth.
Actually, he wasn’t sure if he had stopped, or if he ever really would.
He knew how hard it was going to be to convince her otherwise, but he sure as Hell was gonna try.
Today, however, his mother was officially done with her physical therapy, back on her feet, and had explicitly stated that she was fine, and wanted to continue the lessons she’d apparently been giving Via.
And Blitzø, who still couldn’t believe that his mother had picked up fighting skills over the last decade -last year specifically- in fear of his c*ckbag father. To be able to protect herself.
And he understood the desire to teach Via. A young vulnerable girl, when without magic that is, his mom wanted to give Via what she didn’t have until it was too late: the ability to protect herself.
And obviously he got that, that was why after he adopted her, he taught Loona how to properly fight. She hadn’t s*ck at it, but what she knew back then wasn’t enough for the life outside that goddamned “foundation”.
But still… ‘‘Are you absolutely sure you’ll be okay?’’ Blitzø asked for the millionth time as he drove to Stolas’s palace.
‘‘I’ll be fine, Blitzo. I- I mean Blitzø.’’
‘‘It’s okay when you say it, mom.’’
‘‘A-alright.’’
‘‘And you still want this?’’
‘‘Yes, I do.’’
‘‘Okay.’’ And there went his excuse for not talking to Stolas.
>>> A little later at Stolas’s
‘‘Miss Tilla!’’ Via hugged her tight.
‘‘Hey, Sweetie.’’ She hugged her back.
‘‘It’s nice to see you up on your feet, Tilla.’’
‘‘Thank you, Stolas. It’s nice to see you too.’’
‘‘Let’s go inside, get you settled. You’re here for the whole weekend after all.’’ Tilla let herself be dragged inside.
‘‘I’ll text you later, Blitzo.’’
‘‘See you later, mom.’’
Aaaaaand the awkward silence set in.
‘‘Ummm…’’
‘‘Maybe we should move this to the backyard?’’
‘‘That’s not what you call a “backyard”, Stols, it’s a whole a** garden.’’
*sigh* ‘‘Would you like to talk in the “whole a** garden”?’’
F*ck it, ‘‘why not?’’
>>>
‘‘How have you been?’’ Stolas asked.
‘‘You want the “me” kinda answer or the honest answer?’’
‘‘You don’t usually ask.’’
‘‘I don’t usually ask the person I’m talking to, to be honest either.’’
‘‘I. Wasn’t. Lying. When. I. Told. You. I. Care. About. You.’’
‘‘Of course not. You were just fooling yourself.’’
‘‘Wha-’’
‘‘Stolas, I know you weren’t trying to hurt me. Or her.’’
‘‘Then why-’’
‘‘Because the cr*p that you do, whether you mean it or not, has consequences! And I know that sounds wise, mature, and extremely out of character coming out of my mouth, but it’s the one thing life taught me for real, okay?’’
The prince wasn’t about to argue and say it didn’t sound out of character. Because it did tremendously.
‘‘Look, I usually… I-I…’’ *deep breath* ‘‘I usually end sh*t before it gets serious. I don’t do relationships-’’
*cackle* ‘‘So I’ve been told.’’
‘‘What? What are you talking about?’’
‘‘I got an invite to this anti-Blitzo party, an honorary invite for being your freshest ex.’’
‘‘Anti-Blitzo party, who the f*ck’s behind this?!’’
‘‘Oh, it’s entirely immature. I’d never indulge this nonsense, it’s silly.’’
‘‘Real silly. Real fucking classy.’’
‘‘Kind of them to invite me, though. It might be rude not to make an appearance.’’ He handed the invitation to Blitzø.
Who opened it to see: ‘‘Verosika!? Of course, that fucking b*tch.’’
‘‘I will say, it’s rather concerning you have an entire party devoted to hating you though, Blitzø. Makes one wonder what you could’ve done to make that many people hate you to death.’’
The imp’s silence, continuing longer than a few seconds, confused the owl demon. Is he actually going to answer tha-
‘‘You’d be surprized how easy it is to break people’s hearts when you don’t care.’’
‘‘So, you’re used to being the one who crushes others’ feelings, hm?’’
Yeah, when I don’t care. I care about you… As much as I’d like to claim otherwise.
‘‘Blitzø, I’m sorry about what happened to Tilla, you know I am.’’
Yes, I do.
‘‘But I don’t understand why you’re still mad. I helped you save her, you know I… I don’t want to use the word “care”, because you won’t believe me, but I do, and… You know I feel bad.’’
‘‘I-I do.’’
‘‘So, what are we doing here then?’’
‘‘I don’t know!’’
‘‘I’m tired of this. I’m not trying to invalidate your feelings, but I’m unable to understand why you’re dragging this on. Tilla’s fine-’’
‘‘Well, maybe I’M NOT FINE!’’
That took both of them by surprize.
‘‘Maybe I’m still hurt. I know I’ve done a whole lotta selfish stuff, but I genuinely think I didn’t deserve this!’’
‘‘Deserve what?’’
‘‘You telling me you care when you don’t!’’
Oh, for f*cks sake. Stolas didn’t know what he had to do to make the other believe him.
‘‘You’re going pretend you give a sh*t what happens to me? That all of this wasn’t just a fantasy of yours. That you don’t get off to getting plowed by people you look down on.’’
‘‘I don’t look down on you! How many times do I ha- When have I ever!?’’ *frustrated growl* ‘‘I’m uncomfortable with how you’re speaking to me now. You speak just like that vile Striker friend of yours. The one who tried to kill me, remember him?’’
‘‘Hey look- I do not sound like- I- and I didn’t know he was capable, I- I stopped him the first time, didn’t I?’’
Wait-what? ‘‘The first time?’’
‘‘Yeah, the- oh. Oops. I- uh- no, who said tha- I.’’
‘‘You knew someone was trying to assassinate me?’’