Work Text:
Stolas had noticed. He noticed how Blitzø never wanted to look at him. Would turn away. Blindfold him. Pushed him to his stomach.
It hurt.
He was aware he wasn’t much of a looker. Stella had made that clear, but he had hoped Blitzø would be different.
He had hoped for a lot of things.
His moans were muffled by his pillow, talons digging into the sheets as Blitzø took him from behind. Stolas turned his head to glance at the imp, only to have his head feathers grabbed as his face was shoved back down.
Pleasure suddenly mixed with emotional pain and tears sprang to his eyes. Blitzø wouldn't notice. Stolas had cried during sex before.
Stolas choked on a sob as his orgasm washed over him, Blitzø’s hand still holding him down. A few thrusts later, he felt the imp fill him, making Stolas shudder.
Stolas heard the sound of rustling fabric as Blitzø retrieved his pants. Only then did he look at him.
“You okay?” Blitzø asked, wiping a tear track with his thumb.
“I’m perfect, Blitzy,” Stolas lied. He forced a smile, and the imp smirked in return.
“Hmph. Good.” Blitzø continued to gather his clothes. “I have to go tonight, but I’ll be back next month to take your feathered ass again.”
Stolas swallowed. “I look forward to it.”
Blitzø jumped the balcony, and Stolas sighed to himself.
If only he had known that would be their last moon.
***
Ozzie’s solidified everything. Blitzø didn’t want him. He never had.
Stolas sat on the stairs of the palace and sobbed. He knew what he had to do, no matter how much it hurt.
For now, though, he dragged himself inside. Found comfort in the bottom of a bottle until he passed out in his conservatory garden.
When he woke, his vision was blurry, and he groaned, taking a handful of Happy Pills before going to look for a specific book.
He flipped through for what he was looking for. Asmodean crystals.
Stolas threw the book and wandered onto his balcony. His confrontation with Stella did little to help his mood, but at least he was finally able to put his foot down.
He was done. With everyone.
***
The crystal was worse than Ozzie’s. Blitzø taking his confession as a joke hurt more than Striker’s blade.
Blitzø made his true feelings known. He broke whatever remained of Stolas' heart until the prince finally teleported him away.
The garden the next morning just served to shatter him further. Blitzø tore into him further. Stolas understood. He wasn’t wanted.
Blitzø could never look at him. Blitzø felt no remorse. Blitzø clearly hated him, even if he wouldn’t admit it.
He thought the incubus would be a welcome distraction. A way to get over Blitzø.
He was wrong. For once, Stolas was seen, but he felt nothing after.
He only wanted the imp.
***
Being banished had left Stolas numb. He could never regret saving Blitzø, regardless of all that had happened, but the consequence had been severe.
The imp had been kind enough to let him stay with him and Loona. Stolas couldn’t help but feel he was intruding, but where else could he go? He didn’t have any choice but to take the offered kindness.
Even if it hurt.
Yet he still couldn’t help himself when he kissed Blitzø after he rescued him from Andrealphus.
Then he lost Via. He was broken further.
Blitzø did cheer him up a bit with the balcony dance, even if it left Stolas even more confused. He couldn’t read the imp. Couldn’t understand where this care was coming from.
Blitzø was staying close to him. Talking more. Taking care of him.
Stolas felt something in him stitch back together, even if he was constantly waiting for it to shatter once more.
Then it happened.
Stolas had been working at I.M.P. for a few months now. He had become comfortable with everyone. Loona had become friendly. Moxxie and Millie were warm and welcoming. Blitzø...
Well, Blitzø just remained close.
Too close.
Until one night, Stolas was taken off guard when he kissed him after hours. They had been doing paperwork late, the company drowning in new contracts.
He was so shocked he pulled back almost immediately.
Blitzø froze in place, then folded into himself. “I’m sorry. I just... fuck.” Blitzø looked away.
“Blitzø...” Stolas sighed. “I can’t do this again.”
Blitzø deflated further. “I understand. I’ll just... be in my office.”
Blitzø slinked off, tail dragging behind him. Stolas sat there a long moment, just staring after him. What was happening?
What was he doing?
“Blitzø,” he called. His only response was a watery, glowing yellow eye peeking from the doorway. “I... come back,” he barely whispered.
Slowly, Blitzø did, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry. I just thought... never mind. That was a dumb thing to do.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” Stolas shook his head. “Talk to me, Blitzø.”
Blitzø took a shaky breath. “You... I... I miss you,” Blitzø admitted softly.
Stolas blinked. “I’m right here.”
“No, I mean, I miss before. I miss kissing you. Touching you.” Blitzø sighed. “It’s dumb. I just thought... I don’t know.”
Stolas’ stomach clenched. He was confused. Excited. Terrified. Hurt still.
Still, the ex-prince found himself kissing him.
Blitzø froze this time, before happily returning it. Blitzø pulled back and took Stolas’ hand, leading him to the couch. He carefully laid Stolas down before crawling over him and kissing him again.
Stolas rested his hand on the back of Blitzø’s neck, the other gently tracing a back spike.
Blitzø purred.
Stolas melted.
Soon, the owl found his hands wandering until they slipped under Blitzø’s jacket, peeling the article back.
Blitzø broke the kiss. “Stols?”
“I miss you too,” Stolas whispered.
Blitzø’s breath hitched. “Are you sure?”
“More than anything.” Stolas stroked his cheek.
Blitzø’s chest rumbled again as he shrugged his coat to the floor, then pulled his sweater off. Stolas’ eyes traced the imp’s chest. The muscles. The scars.
Stolas had missed seeing him.
Clothes rustled as Blitzø undressed Stolas. As the imp’s pants hit the floor.
Stolas waited for the inevitable. For Blitzø to look away. Push Stolas to his stomach. Make it so he didn’t have to actually see him. Still, he would take what Blitzø gave, at least for tonight.
When Blitzø positioned himself and pressed inside, he held Stolas' eyes. It was completely out of character. Stolas loved it, but he knew better.
Stolas looked away. Maybe if he kept his face turned Blitzø would let them keep this position.
A tear slid down Stolas’ cheek at the thought.
Then there was a hand on his cheek, turning him to face Blitzø again. “Stols? Are you okay?” Blitzø’s hips stilled.
Stolas’ lip wobbled. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t like to look at me. That I’m not...”
“Whoa, hey, hey, what are you on about?” Blitzø wiped a tear away.
“I know I’m not much to look at. I know you’ve noticed. You never... never wanted to look at me. Never wanted to see my eyes. I get it.” More tears fell. “You don’t have to force yourself to now.”
Blitzø was frozen, looking horrified. “Stols, that’s not... you’re beautiful.”
“Don’t lie to me, Blitzø.”
“I’m not.” Blitzø’s eyes began to water as well. “Stolas, I never turned you away because I didn’t want to look at you. I did it because I was scared. Because I did want to. It was too much, too intimate. I... I didn’t want to catch feelings.” Blitzø looked away. “Not that it helped in the end.”
Stolas’ eyes widened. “What?”
“I care about you, Stols. I was just too scared to admit it, even to myself.” Blitzø’s eyes met his again. “I’m sorry I made you feel like that. I didn’t think you would notice.”
“Blitzø...” Stolas folded himself down, putting the flexibility Blitzø teased him about to good use as he kissed him, reigniting the fire between them.
Blitzø groaned, then slowly began moving again. Stolas leaned back again, and Blitzø held his gaze. “Beautiful,” the imp whispered.
Stolas gasped. That one word broke something in him, and he snapped suddenly, coming unexpectedly early.
Blitzø’s eyes widened, then he laughed. “Wow, birdie. I wish I’d known a little eye contact is all it took to make you come undone. I’d have been blowing your mind.”
Stolas panted, but managed a playful glare. “Fuck you.”
Blitzø snapped his hips forward, and the owl gasped. “That’s what I’m doing, isn’t it?” Blitzø teased.
Stolas couldn’t help but laugh.
When Blitzø came, he didn’t look away, eyes studying Stolas’ face intently. “Fuck,” he gasped.
The two lay curled together for a long time, Stolas stroking one of Blitzø’s horns while Blitzø played with his chest feathers.
Finally, Blitzø spoke. “I’ll never look away again.”
Stolas’ free hand pulled him closer. “I'll hold you to that.”
Blitzø had never wanted to look at Stolas. Stolas had noticed, but he had completely misunderstood. That didn’t make the past hurt less, but at least he could look to the future now.
Blitzø didn’t look away because Stolas was unattractive to him, but the opposite. He hadn’t hated intimacy; he feared it.
Stolas suddenly felt vulnerable. Scared. Then he whispered three words he had thought for months. “I love you.”
Blitzø’s breath hitched, then he looked up at Stolas with a small smile.
“I love you, too. I’ll do my best to remind you every day.”
Stolas believed him.