"Why am I not surprised? Just another thing to add to the pile." Naruto muttered, sitting up on his bed while rubbing his temple.
"You... You are taking this rather well. I thought you would be more upset." Lucifer nervously laughed.
"It's annoying, but I'm not gonna worry about Satan's petty vendetta against me. The moment he makes a move, I'll remind him just who I am. I have more pressing issues to deal with." Naruto let out an exhausted sigh while leaning back.
"That is more important than Satan trying to strip you of your power? Seriously? He may have lost the vote because Asmodeus, Leviathan, and I were against it, but he will try something." Beelzebub questioned with a raised brow before scoffing.
"I know what he's about. Satan continuing his vendetta against me is, as an old friend of mine would say, troublesome. I will deal with him in due time, but I have more pressing matters to focus on. The Almighty has called me, and it feels wrong." Naruto snorted before scowling.
"He picked a peculiar enough time that it can't be ignored. Why, of all times, would Yahweh, after all these years of silence, grant a meeting with you after the announcement of an early extermination? It feels like a ploy, which doesn't sit well with me. It worries me because God does not interfere with the world's affairs after his initial interventions at the beginning of... Everything." Lucifer's face twisted into a snarl.
Naruto nodded, his eyes sharpened with suspicion. "It's all too convenient. If I didn't know better..."
"This is somehow all part of his master plan."
[ X ]
Dammit...
He wasn't ready for today.
What was he supposed to do? He hadn't ever had to do much in the "dating" department.
Was this even a date?
...to Loona it was, regardless of what his original intentions were. He had to appease her at least and make an effort.
Bonus, it was annoying Blitzo.
Naruto released an exhausted sigh, shaking his head as he strolled through the factory, many of the demons working moving out of his way. They knew who he was, why he was here.
"Please tell me you've come in peace. I voted against Satan. We've never had an issue with one another outside of your lack of... Drive." Asmodeus greeted, leaving his desk to meet Naruto as a friend the moment he stepped into his office.
Naruto scowled at the diss. He wasn't interested! He wasn't that way.
Fuck, he only slept with Bee when he was so pissed off after an extermination that he needed something to calm him down. She just so happened to offer...
"Nah, we're good." Naruto waved off Asmodeus' worry. "I came to ask a favor, but if you could give a message for me to that prick, I'll owe you a favor."
"A favor you say?" Asmodeus' eyes shone with unnatural intrigue before he widely grinned. "I shall accept that offer, my friend. You usually don't give those out cheaply."
"I guess I'm kind of in a good mood today." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Oh, do tell. Whatever could pull you from that slump you were in must be marvelous!" Asmodeus gleefully spoke.
"I wasn't depressed," Naruto growled. Asmodeus didn't say it directly, yet the intent was evident.
"Living in that old shithole Bee removed your ass from tells a different story," Asmodeus smirked.
Naruto smoldered and seethed. Did everyone know where he used to live?
"I got a date..." Naruto exhaled after a pause and grumbled, slightly embarrassed by saying it.
He hadn't had a date since...
Hinata.
Well, he hadn't been on a date of this manner since Hinata. He had gone on simple, quiet ones with Bee. He couldn't forget those. Her patience and consideration for his roller coaster of emotions over the past two hundred years was near saintly... And she was one of the seven Sins!
"I will have the reservation made! Seven... No, eight! Best time of the night!" Asmodeus alarmed Naruto with his quick and energetic response. "I will ensure my staff are aware of the changes and prepared for your arrival! The mood will be set... However, you, my friend... Ugh, hideous! Your tattered clothes will ruin the mood!"
Naruto twitched at Asmodeus' enthusiasm and glowered at the insult of his clothing, even if he had a point. They were fairly tattered and ragged.
"I'm meeting with Bee later after she's done shopping with my date and Charlie... She said the same thing and refused to let me dress like this... At least to a fancy dinner." Naruto grumbled while gritting her teeth.
"Excellent! There is no one better to assist you and set ground rules for this date who lusts for you, my friend!" Naruto blandly glared at Asmodeus as he boldly made an assumption
"That's not what this is... Whatever! Believe what you want!" Naruto panickedly gestured before frustratingly growling in his throat. "The next time you see Satan, let him know if he has a problem with me..."
"Stop hiding and come deal with me, face to face."
[ X ]
Loona was nervous.
She was not prepared for this!
The date wasn't the problem. She wanted that. The issue happened to be... She was in one of the highest-end clothing stores, surrounded by women who were close to Naruto!
Then there was Angel, who tagged along, helping find the perfect dress.
Loona had never been so embarrassed! Sure, her Dad always embarrassed her, but she could lash out at him! She couldn't do that here! Not if she wanted...
Loona shook her head. This was just a date. It was clear from how he acted that he didn't want anything serious. And that was okay with her! She wasn't looking for a relationship like that either! She just...
She was just looking for something. A spark. Something to make her feel alive.
And if it led to something, well, she'd deal with that when the time came.
"How about this one? I think it is in your size and it's quite lovely!" Charlie held out a bright and poppy dress.
Loona scrunched her muzzle and glared at it. Not only was it too bright, but it was a long-sleeved, flowing turtle-neck dress. It would cover everything.
"Not slutty enough," Angel commented, taking the dress from Charlie and putting it away, and scowling at Charlie. "This is a date at Ozzie's! You can't dress like that there!"
"It's too conservative, girl." Beelzebub shook her head, searching for racks to find the perfect dress. "And the colors don't suit her as they do for you. You want something dark or grey to match her aesthetic."
"I don't want it to be that way..." Charlie glowered and hissed at Angel Dust but hung her head at Beelzebub's response.
"Charlie, he's right. This is the first date. You want to be a little more revealing and show off some assets. Do you not remember what I wore on our first date?" Vaggie reasoned with Charlie.
Charlie hunched over in an attempt to hide her flushed features. Oh, she remembered what Vaggie wore...
How it curved around her waist and her pronounced hips...
Scandalous!
...And it was a lovely dress...
"But that isn't a bad thing. We need that conservative opinion if we are to catch his eye." Beelzebub added with a hum, stopping in the rack, turning and measuring Loona with her eyes.
"It's only a date." Loona simply growled. It felt almost as if she was trying to set them up together.
"Maybe to you it is," Beelzebub said, pulling out a black sleeveless dress, holding it up before Loona, and continuing to measure by eye.
"What does that mean? I'm not looking for anything serious, and I don't think he is either." Loona hissed and squinted.
"He never has... And that's the problem. He's fighting a hell of a battle, no, a war without having support." Beelzebub glowered while Charlie recoiled.
Loona scowled. What did that mean? Fighting a war without support? Ugh! She wished they would just come out and say what they meant!
She knew he was lonely! That was obvious by how he lived! Couldn't they just say that!
"What do you think? She'll need to try it on, but this looks perfect." Beelzebub glanced down at Loona again before handing the dress to Angel for his opinion. "What do you think?"
"Oh, it's almost perfect! Just let me..." Angel enthusiastically responded before pulling out a pair of scissors and began clipping jagged cuts on the hems. As soon as he was finished, Angel promptly pushed it toward Loona. "Here! Try it on!"
Loona tilted her head, gazing at the dress. Huh? This dress...
"Fine," Loona rolled her eyes, walking over and entering the changing room.
It looked like her style: tight on the hips and stopping at the thighs. It didn't have sleeves and was strapless, hugging her chest. And the cuts Angel made...
The dress was almost a perfect representation of who she was... How the fuck?
"Oh... That's... Wow." Charlie blinked, shocked as Loona exited the changing room.
"Hell yeah! She looks great! She looks ready for a shoot!" Angel menacingly laughed before grunting in agony after an elbow to his ribs.
"You look good." Vaggie smiled after she gave a warning glance toward Angel.
Charlie wasn't so kind and continued to give him a withering gaze that made him uncomfortable.
"Almost perfect. Here. This should pull the look together." Beelzebub handed a pair of thigh-high stockings and black sleeves with a devious smile. "And if it does..."
"Tonight will go wonderfully."
[ X ]
He really did it. He got reservations at Ozzie's?
Fuck.
Blitzo shouldn't have been surprised. Naruto had connections with several of the Seven Deadly Sins. A little too many...
He swore if he had to deal with Mammon again after having worked for the bastard...
"Skulking around? I never thought you would sink so low to seek Death, Blitzo." Blitzo froze before snarling at the fact that the person purposely pronounced the O.
That voice...
"Fizz? The fuck are you doing here?!" Blitzo turned to face Fizzarolli, shocked at seeing him.
"That's the first thing you say? We haven't seen each other in years!" Fizzarolli playfully poked his brother and grinned. "And I am part-owner of this factory. Why do you think there are so many exotic toys?"
"It's a Sex Factory, of course, there is gonna be exotic... Part owner? The fuck?! I thought you were still working with Mammon?" Blitzo retorted before raising his eyebrow in suspicion.
"I still am, unfortunately," Fizzarolli muttered before his eyes slitted. "Why are you in my boyfriend's factory, sneaking around and keeping eyes on the Embodiment of Death? Are you trying to get killed, dear brother? I can help hasten that process."
"What? Fuck no! My daughter's got the hots for him and they have a... The fuck you mean your boyfriend?" Blitzo glowered before shock enveloped him, and he loudly exclaimed.
"Fucked, that slipped! ...Keep it down, would you? I don't want many people to know..." Fizzarolli cursed and scowled.
"Then why tell me? You know I don't keep shit like that secret. You know I'll use that shit against you." Blitzo manically grinned despite the knowing glare from his brother.
"Says the one who has a secret relationship with a Goetic Prince." Fizzarolli sharply stared at Blitzo.
"Fuck you." Blitzo met his gaze with a growl. "The fuck do you want? I'm busy!"
"Are you serious? I told you! This is my factory!" Fizzarolli hissed before glancing down as Naruto exited Asmodeus' office. "Hold on, when did you get a daughter... Oh! So that's who his date is! Wonderful!"
Blitzo's eyes flicked fearfully. He said too much. And now...
"Don't you dare." Blitzo snarled, his hands twitching.
Oh, he would burn this place to the ground to stop him. He would do anything to protect Loona. Even if that meant...
"Don't you worry about it! I know all too well to avoid upsetting Death, Blitzo, as should you. All I wish is to make his night a thrilling bang." Fizzarolli smuggly smirked before turning his back on Blitzo. "Now, excuse me, I have a dining experience of a lifetime to prepare!"
Blitzo gnashed his teeth, watching his former friend leave the rafters. His fingers danced around the handle of his beloved pistol. He wanted to cap Fizz...
But he knew better. He needed a new plan—a way to keep the two in sight during the date.
The question was, how did he infiltrate Ozzie's? He could sneak in, but if he made a scene—and he knew his luck, some dumb ass incident would occur—he stood to lose everything.
Blitzo needed a legit way to get into the restaurant.
"Shit." Blitzo bit his lip, reaching for his phone. He really didn't want to be further in debt to him...
But this was an emergency, dammit!
"Pick up, you feathery bottom. I need you right now."
[ X ]
It was so dark and cold... Horridly lonely.
His home felt empty. His wife had left. Took his dearest Octavia with her.
That hurt. Although he may not have ever genuinely loved her, his world revolved around his daughter. She was the light of his life—always had been.
For her not to be here stung. The pain worsened at the thought that he could only see her occasionally...
Stolas pitifully exhaled, staring into the fridge. He knew he should eat. He hadn't for days. Nothing looked edible. Could fill the empty void inside him.
"This should be fine..." Stolas muttered through a thinned gaze, picking up a gallon of milk before walking to the cupboard for a box of cereal and a bowl.
But his words were hollow. There wasn't anything that could fill this void he felt inside.
Well, there was one other thing...
And how did he want to call him? Come up with something to spend time with him! Perhaps he could use something about needing the book...
No. They had a deal. It would be wrong of him to break that trust. He didn't want to ruin another relationship... Not with someone he genuinely had feelings for. Possibly loved...
Not again. He already hurt Octavia in ways he never meant to.
Stolas' heart skipped a beat. That ringtone?
Blitzo was calling?!
"Oh, hello, dear Blitzy. I was just thinking about you. Whatever do you need?" Stolas twirled his finger while trying not to sound too desperate.
"Funny you should ask... I... I need a favor from you." Blitzo exhaled.
Stolas stiffened and stood straight. Something was off with Blitzo's tone. This wasn't the usual brash and cocky Blitzo he knew.
His Blitzy was in trouble!
"Whatever you need! As long as it is in my power, I will do what I can for you!" Stolas responded exuberantly, with a hint of concern laced underneath.
"I... Fuck this is difficult... Loony has a date at Ozzie..." Blitzo struggled to find the words.
"Oh? How truly magnificent! How lucky she is that she has someone who can get reservations there! The atmosphere there is to die for." Stolas whimsically whistled.
"Ugh... Yeah, whatever. That's not the point! I'm worried about her. I might trust who Loony is on a date with to keep her safe, but I don't trust anyone else!" Blitzo bit his lip and hissed. Stolas frowned and noted Blitzo's tone softened, sounding... Desperate. "I have made my share of enemies. I'm not ashamed of that... But I don't want to drag Loony into my business... And I'm worried I may have."
Stolas' heart sank. His stomach turned and twisted.
He understood that grief. It was what was swallowing him whole.
And his dear Blitzy was suffering through the same pain. No, that wouldn't do.
"Do you know the time?" Stolas asked, his voice deepening as he reached for a pad and pen... A sense of resolve filled him.
He might have failed to protect his dearest Octavia... He would not fail Blitzo.
"I believe they said eight. Everything is a bit hazy after my run-in with an old friend." Blitzo answered, Stolas hearing his grimace through the line.
"The reservations will be made for our lovely date." Stolas began to scribble notes on the pad. "I'll have everything prepared. We'll have a wonderful evening together..."
"And keep your daughter safe. You have my word."