Chapter Text
By the time Blitz realized he had a spot of blood on his boots, he was three pints of ale down at the tavern and feared that if he were to try to wipe it off, he would fall flat on his face. No one was paying attention anyway, as everyone else was full of more than three pints.
Then again, most of the small village of Liatris Grove spent their nights in the tavern than in their own beds. As a younger imp, Blitz had been part of the rambunctious crowd. He had his fair share of scorned lovers laughing and drinking around him that made him cringe at the memories. He knew he couldn’t keep himself on that path if he wanted to keep a roof over his head and a new pair of boots every few years.
It had been a long day at the butcher shop where Blitz apprenticed under the local butcher, Joe. Blitz was handy with a knife, and the work went fast, but the chilly October air made for dreams of afternoon naps curled under a soft blanket in front of the fire, not surrounded by the smells and sights of meat.
Fizz, his oldest friend, sat beside him at the bar with his sister, Barbie, on his other side. They had shared a loaf of bread with freshly churned butter and found that the heaviness of the wheat did not help with their exhaustion. The trio were tired from their days and spoke little between them. Fizz was an entertainer at a fancy tavern in the big city, but in his plain trousers and simple sweater, he just looked like good ol’ Fizz. Barbie was a seller at a market stall in town, and Blitz knew she had a rough time closing up as she still wore her seller’s apron over her patchwork dress.
All three could feel the incoming cold deep in their bones. Winter was on her way, and the harvest had begun. They would stay busy up to the first snow.
The tavern was loud, and Blitz didn’t even want to be there. The small home the three of them shared was just down the lane a few houses down the village square, and he imagined he would spend much less money just drinking from their own storages, but Fizz had insisted. We haven’t gone out in ages, he had begged, it’s my only night off and then I'm back to the city tomorrow!
Yet here they were, and none of them were having fun.
“I’m sorry, boys, but I’m too damn tired,” Barbie confessed as she set her mug down and threw her shawl over her shoulders. “I’ve got an early morning delivery of produce, so this is the last for me.”
“Yeah, me too,” Fizz sighed, futzing with a loose sweater thread. “I’m sorry I dragged you both down here. I’m ready to go.”
Blitz nodded, drained his mug, and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his long leather coat. “I suppose. You got the tab, Fizz?”
“Fuck no,” Fizz chuckled. “Three-way split.”
“Wait a second,” Barbie pointed at Fizz. “You admitted you dragged our sorry asses down here. Looks like the bill is on you, fancy pants.”
“Do my pants look fancy to you?” Fizz tugged at the plain cotton trousers that were patched in a few places with fabric Blitz had snipped from old blankets.
“I’m talking about the shiny, magical ones in your closet from your stupid boss.” Barbie crossed her arms.
“Mammon isn’t stupid, and my pants aren’t magicked because magic isn’t real!” Fizz stood up. “You are just jealous I have fancy pants and you don’t.”
Blitz groaned as he stood between them. Their nights out usually ended with any combination of the three getting into an argument about something, but that was just the nature of them growing up together and finding a way to survive the world together. It was never crushing or cruel, just three poor imps communicating quickly, as time was never often on their side. They might as well get all the issues out as soon as possible so they can go about their days and nights on friendlier terms.
“How about we-” Blitz was going to suggest drink-and-dash-ing when a ruckus from the back of the tavern caught their attention.
Far too many demons were inside, and it was hard for them to see what was happening. The candles only provided so much light, and much of the large building was in shadows. Liatris Grove mainly consisted of imps, but they had their share of taller folks, like hellhounds and a wandering succubus from time to time, and it was hard to see over them.
They heard another loud ‘No!’ and the inner instinct to save each other from the wrath of a folded belt snapped as the three jumped from their stools to the back of the tavern.
Everyone was too drunk and didn’t care about the tall avian demon pushing himself away from a shark demon.
“Come on, pretty little thing,” The shark demon tried to grab at the avian again. “Why do you have to be like that? It’s just a kiss. Don’t cost you nothing.”
The avian smacked the shark demon’s hand again and turned to leave, but the shark grabbed the avian’s waist and tugged him closer.
All the imps had to do was look at each other to know exactly the plan. Blitz snuck left of the avian while Barb snuck right of the shark. Fizz, on the other hand, moved forward.
“Bobby!” Fizz hollered just loud enough to catch the shark demon’s attention.
The shark demon looked at Fizz, then the avian demon, and then back to Fizz.
“Yeah, you son of a bitch, how are you doing?” Fizz laughed in that horrible stage laugh he did during his shows. “Get over here!”
“Heh,” The shark awkwardly said, pulling the other demon tighter. “I think you got the wrong guy, pal.”
“Oh shit, you are right,” Fizz corrected. “Not Bobby, shit, what was it again…Donny!”
“No,” He said, letting go of the avian. “You know me, Fizz, my name is Chaz-”
That was all they needed because the moment he let go of the poor sod, Blitz grabbed the bird’s hand and pulled him away as Barbie jumped onto the shark demon’s back and pulled him to the floor. Blitz was too focused on getting the poor sap whose hand he held out of the tavern, but he trusted that Fizz was quick to help Barbie get the jackass under control.
Although they didn’t always see eye to eye, the three were family. They only had each other, and that was all Blitz could ever need.
Blitz led the avian demon outside into the crisp autumn night air. The crescent moon was still bright, and the wind was low. He could smell the leaves as they broke down to the earth and the rich smell of fire from the brick houses along the lane. The stars twinkled above them, but they were little help beyond being something for Blitz to look at as he pondered his days.
He had done this routine enough to know to bring the demon behind the tavern while Fizz and Barb pushed the asshole out. He pulled the stranger to the bench overlooking the small garden where Sallie Mae, the tavernkeeper, grew herbs she infused into her spirits. Every now and again, she would give him a bottle for free, but he had a feeling that was more because he had spent so much time at their house since Joe was her father.
“Fuck, that guy was such a dick!” Blitz joked as he motioned for the stranger to sit down.
Now that they were out of the mess, Blitz finally had a chance to examine the poor fella. Avian, or any out-of-town demons for that matter, seldom made their way this far from the city. This was fine with Blitz because most city folk wanted far more of the village than it could offer. This demon, in particular, looked quiet and a bit shocked from the whole scene.
The avian demon appeared owlish, with blue-gray feathers and a large set of brilliant red eyes with a smaller set further up. He wore a golden moon pendant that fell against his soft chest fluff that poofed up from his dress. His hips were wide, and his limbs were long, but the emerald green dress with a checkered overskirt flowed down his body nicely. A small leather purse clung easily from a dark belt around his waist, which Blitz could only see because his heavy wool cardigan drew up as he placed his face in his hands and groaned.
“Hey now, you don’t gotta be embarrassed and shit,” Blitz told the owl. “Assholes like that are always around.”
“You don’t understand,” The owl said in a soft, muffled voice. “I knew better than to accept that horrible man’s offer for a date, yet… oh, I’m so mad at myself!”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it,” Blitz kindly suggested. “Be mad at Chad for being a grade a cunt.”
“Chaz.”
“Might as well be a fucking Chad,” Blitz snickered, and his cheeks grew warm when the stranger let out a small chuckle that grew into a loud hoot.
The owl was cute when he laughed. His eyes crinkled, and he blushed prettily. Blitz knew if he wasn’t careful, he very well could want to make him laugh again. No, this bird was a distraction and a disaster waiting to happen.
“Thank you,” The owl said when he caught his breath. “I am embarrassed I didn’t handle it sooner. I think he just caught me off guard. I will make it up to you and your friends.”
“Don’t mention it,” Blitz said. “We don’t like seeing people taken advantage of is all.”
The owl grinned, and fuck, Blitz did want to make him laugh again. Instead, he held his hand out.
“I’m Blitz, by the way,” Blitz introduced himself.
“You may call me Stolas.”
Stolas placed his hand in his, and Blitz watched as their hands clasped. Stolas’ fingers were long and thin, and Blitz wondered what they would be like placed against his face, running down Blitz’s hips, scratching down his back…
“Are you new around here?” Blitz asked to take his thoughts off of Stolas’ fingers. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”
“We certainly haven’t,” Stolas said, his hand still clasping Blitz’s. “I would remember someone like you.”
It had been a while since Blitz had someone express their interest so openly, and he was so relieved he picked it up. The owl’s hand was cool in his own, and Blitz could feel his pulse against his wrist. The moon was shining down on them as if encouraging Blitz to go ahead and give it a try.
The three mugs of ale certainly helped with his bravery.
“Aren’t you smooth, birdie,” Blitz teased, bringing his free hand to Stolas’ cheek. “What about me would you remember?”
Stolas looked as though he was about to answer, but Barb's voice, so much like Blitz’s own, rang out the ‘all clear’ signal (it was literally her calling out ‘all clear!’ and Blitz knew they had to get a better codeword.)
“I should be going,” Stolas said as he stood. “I’ve already taken up too much of your night.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck, Blitz really thought this was going somewhere good. He searched his foggy mind for a bit of cleverness he knew he had, but the way the stars sparkled against Stolas’ eyes steered him away from sanity.
“Can I walk you home?” Blitz asked, and the hand still clasped in his tensed.
Shit, too forward.
Blitz tried to cover for his mistake. “It’s just dark out, and you never know what kind of creepers like Chaz are out. Or something even creepier, like ghosts or witches or something. Samhain is right around the corner, you know. Never know what scary shit is out in the woods at night.”
Stolas giggled as though Blitz had said something amusing but quickly composed himself.
“Thank you, but I should be fine,” Stolas said. “Neither I nor the moon fear Chaz or anyone of the sort. Perhaps, though, I shall run into you again soon.”
Blitz personally didn’t think the moon had feelings, but he didn’t bother commenting on that since Stolas said he hoped they met again.
“I’d like that,” Blitz agreed.
Saying fuck to patience, Blitz brought Stolas’ hand to his lips and left a small kiss. It was cheesy as all fuck, but the owl did not pull away. When Blitz looked up at Stolas, his pretty blush was a scarlet red, a shade that went beautifully with his dress.
Stolas took his hand back slowly, placed it to his chest, and waved before turning towards the village center. Blitz watched Stolas walk away, his long tail feathers swaying with each step until he was too far down the lane to be seen. Barbs and Fizz found Blitz shortly after and nearly had to drag his ass back to their little home.
They didn’t ask about Stolas, which was fine with Blitz, as he wasn’t even sure what to say. Fizz would make fun of him for saying that it looked like Stolas’ eyes held the stars they all wished on, and his hands could probably weave the very fibers of this world into something new because Blitz didn’t actually fucking know if that was true. Barb would say he was talking nonsense, but Blitz didn’t care. He needed to know more about Stolas.
***
The next morning, the three imps headed off to work. Barbie threw on her seller’s apron, Blitz pulled on his heavy boots, and Fizz dressed up in a sparkly jacket that glittered against the sun. Fizz made the three of them strong coffee with cream, and they held the clay mugs in their hands to help warm them from the chilly, frosted morning.
They left their little house on the lane to walk to the center of the village, where Blitz would go to the butcher shop, Barb to the market stall, and Fizz to catch a cart to the city. Surrounding the village was a forest alight with autumn colors and, just beyond that, rolling hills and valleys. It was a beautiful little village where nothing strange ever really happened.
Except, speaking of strange, everyone stood in the village center, crowding around something Blitz couldn’t make out until they got closer.
It was a stone statue that hadn’t been there the night before.
“Doesn’t that kind of look like Chaz?” Barbie asked.
It did look like Chaz. It even had his stupid toothy grin. It was certainly an eyesore, and by the end of the day, the village decided to drag the heavy thing out into the woods where no one could see it.
What was even stranger was that no one in the village ever saw Chaz again, and they all hoped he would eventually show up so they could tell him to take his stupid statue somewhere else.