For any human that was still alive, all the occurrences of Hell would drive that sane person to the point of insanity as a result of all the uncontrolled mayhem Hell contains that stems from both its environment and its inhabitants.
But as for those said inhabitants, they eventually learn to live with it, especially the Hellborn demons.
Sinners take a while since they all were originally from Earth and it's not that easy to come to terms with the fact that they're lives as humans were over and they now had to spend the rest of eternity as demon creatures in Hell. Hellborns have been demons since they were born and their natural habits makes it easy for them to adapt to the chaotic nature of their home. Out of the many examples that live in all the seven rings, the hellhound receptionist named Loona can showcase this, she's about every snarky moody young goth girl taken up to an eleven which is no easy feat. For those like her, she's had to learn how to look out for herself as she didn't have that much family for a long time until a certain horse loving imp took her in.
Even though she was already nearing the age of eighteen.
The point is, Loona made it so that she'd never take shit from anyone and gives plenty amount of shit to others, because...well, fuck it. Every demon in Hell likes to give others shit.
It was basically a requirement.
Case in point being what went on at I.M.P.
"Excuse me. Loona?" She didn't look up from her phone after Moxxie walked to her desk while carrying a huge stack of papers. "I found more gym membership sign up sheets left at my apartment door and I can't help but wonder, did you have a hand in it?"
"If you're saying that I collected a shit ton of gym papers to get you off your fat ass for a change and work that fucking weight off...then you're right." Loona confirmed Moxxie's intuition.
Again with the cracks at his supposed weight problem. "At this point, I can't help but realize you truly believe I somewhat weigh more than the average imp and it's not just you expressing your usual crude behavior."
"You mean as usual, you spitting big fancy words like a nark?" Loona expertly retorts.
Millie then came along, shoving her phone at the receptionist's face. "Loona, why the hell am I getting messages from so many guys? I didn't ask for these damn things and you can bet your furry ass that I would have."
"Messages? For you?" Moxxie asked, jealousy growing.
"Apparently, they're from men who replied to a dating app profile I never made." Millie glared suspiciously at Loona.
"You mean someone used you for a fake dating profile for potential suitors? Why would-" He instantly realized. "Are you trying to set my wife up with other men?!"
"Figured she'd need them." Loona shrugs, seeing her action as a sensible one.
"Why would she ever?!"
"Come on." Loona couldn't believe he'd even ask that. "We both know she can do way better."
Moxxie became more redder than he already is, feeling very insulted, a usual response when dealing with Loona being like an unruly teenager with no respect for any of her peers. "I have you know, I perform my husband duties quite well and I...don't see how that's any of your business!" he retracts himself, knowing he'd just be giving her more power.
"Cool your tits. If you want, you could share those guys, they're not picky. And hey, at least don't damage tha." Loona pointed at a packaged box. "I ordered some new horse things, so I can break them, show them to Blitz, and blame it on you."
Millie was just about ready to do to her what she did to all the other imps back in Wrath during the pain games, until the timely intervention of Lincoln Loud. "Hey, Millie, Moxxie! Just the two imps I was looking for. I reorganized and cleaned all the rifles and knives just like Blitz wanted. You can check to see if I missed any. Cant' be too sure after all."
"Aww, now isn't that our little hard worker?" Millie gushes with an affectionate kiss on the boy's cheek.
"Exemplary hard work as always Lincoln." Moxxie similarly praised and gave Loona a critical frown. "Nice to know even the youngest employee here understands the concept of doing your job."
Loona breaks eye contact with her trusty phone to glare angrily at the male half of M&M. "Moxxie. If you and your bitch even want to try having your own little shit one day, get off my case or else!"
"Oh, just go ahead and try it, bitch!" Millie challenged, ready to defend her partner's honor.
"Guys! Guns! Knives!" Lincoln hastily recalls, not wanting to see any in-fighting between his fellow employees.
Huffing, Moxxie and Millie left and Loona made sure to give them the finger as her sign of farewell. "Asshats."
"It wouldn't kill you to be a little bit nicer, you know." Lincoln said through a frown.
"Actually, I think it would." Loona spoke honestly. "I'm serious. Picture me saying anything remotely nice to those two and at that moment, it'll be like a knife is struck right through my heart...you know, if I had one." She laughs at her own wisecrack, then sees Lincoln's still-present frown and groans. "Oh come on, Linc. Finding something that brings me happiness in Hell's in short supply and talking shit is about the only thing that can do that."
With clenched teeth, Lincoln looks to the side in slight discomfort. "Right, right. Of course. Somehow, I keep forgetting that's basically a common greeting down here."
"Yeah. You do that a lot, don't you?" Loona could never figure out if she should feel impressed or be put off that one single human child hasn't become like every other Sinner in Hell. "Look, it's not like I mean anything by it. I do things my own way at my own pace, alright? The sooner they get that, then maybe I'll think about not talking about them like they're fuck-ups behind their backs."
Lincoln crossed his arms with a humored expression. "And can I really take your word on it?"
The hellhound stopped and stroked her furry chin in deep thought on the chances of her keeping her end of the promise. "Probably not. No."
Her young white haired coworker shook his head with a humorous laugh and that got a rare genuine friendly smile from her. Is this really how real friends act? After that whole giant fish monster petty bet over a parking space between two jilted exes, Loona reflected and slowly started to realize that she really didn't mind Lincoln's presence in her life compared to when she first met him. Sure, he can be a total naive kid most of the time, but it was an endearing and charming quality of his, and was a welcomed change in the workplace. She even started to see that he may very well be the first real friend she's ever had, as depressing as that sounds. Though, at the same time, a small part was still-and she loathed admitting this-nervous. She knows next to nothing about how to act as a friend or what friends do in general, she's more used to doing things on her own.
At least he doesn't get fed up with her like imps, but she did worry if some offhand comment would alienate Lincoln.
Even she is fully aware of how she can be a bit much most of the time.
"Hey, people!" They both jumped at attention when Blitzo stormed in with a jovial grin that just screamed contentment. This could mean he just outbid someone online for a new horse figurine, a pretty safe bet. "I don't know about you, but I feel especially happy today! It's as if beating an uptight skanky bitch and taking back what's rightfully mine just removed so many weights off my poor fragile shoulders! Oh wait, it did!"
Loona sighs. "Are you still on your whole winning the bet high?"
"As high as a kite, Looney! "
Blitzo even drew Verosika on the board in her convertible at a parking space that was far away from the building.
"Why are you still on that, Blitz?" There was a lot about that incident that Lincoln wished he could forget, but like many other misadventures in Hell, that was very hard for him to do. "Almost getting eaten by a fish kaiju beast isn't something I consider a win."
"Great way to thank me for making sure we won that bet, sport. And don't think I forgot how you actually did a solid for that whore and her groupies. I lost a chance to mock her for getting pigs off, so I hope you're proud of yourself. I have half a mind to deduct your pay."
"You don't even pay me at all."
"And now, I have more reason not to." Blitzo's eyes see the mailed package. "Oh, what's this now?" their boss took the box and looked at where it came from, he easily and was pleasantly surprised. "Intern, did you go and buy me new horse figures just for me?"
"N-No I didn't-"
"Well, good news! Mission accomplished, Lincoln!" Blitzo's rough ruffling turned Lincoln's hair into a mess. "It's that kind of appreciation I wish Moxxie had for me, doesn't even look at my ass when I pass him. Can you believe the disrespect of it all? Makes me feel crappy. Take notes, Mox! The intern's better at worshiping the head honcho than you! Looks like someone's aiming for your employee of the month spot! If you ass buckets need me, I'll be counting money and spending it responsibly." He retreats back into his office, obviously not keeping his promise about being responsible with the company's money.
"But, I never even-"
"Just leave it alone, dude." Loona lazily laid her cheek on her fist, now checking on her computer. "At least this means he won't bug me."
Lincoln looked to Blitzo's office and then to Loona with unease. After all was said and done at the beach, the imp and hellhound never really talked things over and made up after their argument. The unhinged boss getting his parking space seemed to have been enough to erase any hard feelings and Loona played it off, but she had to have felt a little terrible since things were said that'd leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth. "You could've told him you actually bought it. Might have shown him that things are cool between you."
"I don't do ass-kissing, Linc. You should know that by now." She's also speaking in a literal sense. "And I already told you, there's nothing to fix between me and Blitz. He was just here acting like a kid at a petting zoo. In his case, a horse petting zoo. Nothing really fazes him."
"Yeah, but, he could be just putting up a brave face. He really wants us to have a high opinion of him, after all. Point is, are things really okay?" Lincoln pressed on. "If it were me and my dad, I'd try some way to work it out."
"Except he's not my dad!" Loona harshly shouted, making Lincoln flinch in slight fear when she growled a little. Realizing what she was doing, Loona composed herself. "On paper, it says that. My real dad was never around and I got along just fine without him, so why bother with any more father figures?"
"...Well, he actually sticks around for one thing, and keeps doting on you like crazy."
Loona found that was actually hard to argue.
She did, however, have a lot of material to work with in counteracting. "You mean smothering me? Adopting a hellhound is like a human adopting a stray animal and it pisses me off." Although, it's not like she entirely hated the affection Blitzo gives her, but she does find it insulting that he treats her like a little puppy and warm familial feelings aren't her strongest suit. "Look, you really shouldn't worry about it. It'll save you a lot of headaches and it's not really your business."
"Maybe, but you're my friend. I can't help but worry."
'This kid and his...everything!' Loona mentally screamed. Her complicated father-daughter dynamic with Blitzo was bad enough, but Lincoln had to come along and somehow instill in her the capacity to actually think of the kid as a friend. Thus, her awkward stance on how friends should act returned and she did the best thing she could possibly do to get out of this conundrum. Browse online. Nothing like checking up on all the blogs that she follows to distract her from her feelings and one post was impossible for her to ignore and felt that Lincoln should take a look at. "Holy shit. Linc, I tihnk you might wanna see this."
Lincoln went around the desk to see what Loona had to show and blushed heavily.
It was a blog that was run by none other than Verosika Mayday and because of her fame and popularity throughout Hell, it was a blog many demons followed, Loona being one of them. It had links to new music videos, album covers that portrayed the Succubus together uniquely and social media posts on her current activities. One such post was an image of her in a silky black dress in her bedroom, smirking at the camera and it had a single message. "Food for thought, L.L.?!"
There was a heart at the end of it, followed by a bunch of replies on who the mystery L.L. is. Verosika wasn't alone, the other Succubi also made posts with Coco and Apple forming two heart shapes with their hands and in the middle of both hearts were bunny emojis while winking, Kiki making a come hither motion, and Mllky eating vanilla cake, they, too, included bunny emojis. As her posse, they were included with Verosika and all five of them clearly meant for these posts to include subtle messages like their leader. "I'm not supposed to see that!" he covered his eyes with his hands.
"Damn." Loona whistled, a little amazed. "You really left your mark on them. Kudos."
"Kudos?!" Lincoln grabbed his hair. "I didn't help them to get attention! I just thought I owed her one!" This wasn't what he wanted, but man were they fetching. 'No! Bad Lincoln! Think innocent thoughts!'
"I don't know what you're complaining about. Ain't this one of those good karma deals?" All joking aside, Loona could feel Lincoln's distress over it. Maybe there was something else online to take Lincoln's mind off it. An entirely different distraction came when the phone rang and following her role at I.M.P, she picked it up and answered the call. "Hello? I.M.P."
"Yeah, hi. You're the people to go to when you want a fucker still alive on Earth to bite it, right?"
"That about sums it up."
"Good, then I'm at the right place."
Impatient knocking from the door was heard and after curiously staring at each other, Lincoln went to open the door to let in I.M.P's potential newest client, who like all their other clients was a female Sinner Demon. She was about past Blitzo's height and resembled a blue skinned creature with mismatched colored eyes, one having green sclera and the other having red sclera and no hair whatsoever. Her attire was a torn hat and scarf around a simple green hoodie with liquid stains over a simple light green shirt with a middle finger and baggy jeans. "Who's running this shit-show?"
After a beat of silence, Lincoln lets his boss know of the newest arrival. "Blitz! We got a client!"
Always happy to welcome a new client for the big bucks involved, Blitzo allowed the client into his office and he could see by the smell of her scent that she's a fairly new resident in Hell.
New arrivals always smell horrible to him.
"So, you're the head honcho around here?" the Sinner surmised, giving Blitzo a once over and was hardly impressed. "I've only been down here not longer than most, but even I expected someone...more threatening."
Bltizo's right eye twitches, but keeps a cool head, attacking the client instead of the target that the client wanted dead is a poor business model. Contrary to what this Sinner believed, there's more to Blitzo than his height or his kind. "I guarantee you, miss..."
"Jones. Christie Jones." The Sinner sat down across Blitzo's desk. "At least, that's the name I was born with. Since coming here, I took on the name Kole. I hear most demons like me take on new names to fit their new environment or some shit like that. But that crap isn't important. What is important is you settling an old score of mine and as much I'd rather do it myself, that's not really possible right now."
"Right. Because you're dead and have to stay here for eternity and all that." Blitzo mocks with a cute smile.
Growling, Kole threatened Blitzo. "I can go somewhere else if you piss me off, jackass."
"Oh, so there are other companies dealing with killing humans at the behest of Sinners? Here I thought I was the only impish bitch in Hell with some originality. In that case, go on your merry way and give the boss of that other company a big fat kiss on his ass for me." Blitzo patronizingly said, getting the client more angry. "I kid, I kid. Go ahead and gossip about how unfair it is that your life got cut short and whatever parasite that caused it deserves to kick the bucket instead of you, yadda, yadda, yadda..." Blitzo indifferently requested.
It's always a bore to hear a client's sob story, but more details are very essential.
"Cocksucker."
"Points for flattery. Now, on with the story."
All aggravation aside, Kole did so. "Let's get something straight, first. I knew I wasn't the nicest person in the world, but you know what? I fucking owned it. I had my way of life and everyone else could go fuck themselves. See, I was coming into the modeling scene for magazine covers. I was fresh out of college and was willing to go through whatever I had to do to make my mark on the world." Kole said, unapologetic of her actions. "Framed a bitch or two, spread rumors and lies that tarnished their reputations. I was putting in a lot of work in advancing in my life, okay? Wasn't going to let some competition interfere."
"Ha! Bet you're regretting that now!" Blitzo cackled. "Live a life like that, you stay in Hell rent-free for all time."
"Shut it!"
"Hey, you know I'm right. I'm the boss around here."
Ignoring the imp's insensitive attitude, Kole kept on going. "Eventually, after I fired my last agent when I caught him offering to take on a new face, there came this new hotshot agent. Told me he could make all my dreams come true, ten times better than the last guy. For a bit, he proved that and well, he was good looking, wasn't all talk, an improvement compared to my past exes, and I had a weakness for those types. What can I say? An agent for a boyfriend did help. It was beneficial for both of us. But then, he went and found proof of all of my wrongdoings, including stuff that was...not what you'd call legal. That's when things went to shit from there." she glared scornfully. "Unless I kept him as my agent, all that dirty laundry wouldn't go to the press or the cops. But, no one fucks with me."
Blitzo rubbed his palms, a little more engrossed now. "Ooh! How scandalous! A story this juicy is bound to cost more."
"This isn't some fucking soap opera for your entertainment! This is the story of my death!"
"And in Hell, that's pretty much the case, honey. Now come on, give us some more info and we can seal the deal."
Kole clutched the handles of the chair tightly as the memories played out. "I tried skipping town. It was about the only thing I could do, but dammit! I ended up crashing into a gas station. What was left of me in my car got caught in the resulting explosion and here I am. Stuck forever with other a-holes and massive dipshits forever."
"Hey, buck up, sweetheart." Blitzo motivated. "Come the next Extermination, then it'd be over for good if you're caught in the Exterminators' crosshairs. Here's to hoping!"
"Are you even serious about this?" Kole asked, having second thoughts. "I'm pouring out my heart here, asshole. Not cool."
"And I only care about getting paid." Blitzo played around with his tail. "So, you want us to hunt this douche down and just murderize him."
"If you want the short version of it, yes." Kole nods and pulls up a bag of money. "I managed to scrounge up some cash that should be enough for you guys. Don't ask me how I got it. Just know I used a lot of mouthwash."
"Been there, sister." Blitzo jumped out of his chair with a clap of his hands. "So, a sleazy agent's the target, then. One more and I'll win the company target bingo."
"I want you to do more than just kill that son of a whore." Kole's eyes glowed in the dark menacingly. "I want you take make him beg for his fucking life while you cap off endless ammo before chopping his head off and leaving it for the damn bugs to eat out of."
"...Are you trying to seduce me?" Blitzo asked, perplexed. "That sounds like a pickup line from my dreams."
Outside Blitzo's office, the main workforce of I.M.P patiently waited for their boss to be done with the client so they could get on with their new assignment. "That one seemed a lot more threatening than Ms. Mayberry." Lincoln notes.
"All Sinners are like that, unfortunately." Moxxie informed him. "She most likely was the sort of human that never believed in Heaven and Hell. Upon her death, she sees where her actions in life got her and that's bound to leave a lot of grievances."
"Leaving us to clean up whatever unfinished business bitchy Sinners like her left behind!" Millie polished her knife in preparation.
"I guess it would make anyone a little angry." Lincoln admits. "She's been in there for a while. Do most interviews last this long?"
"Only if she's a horny client." Loona glumly sighs. "In which case, we better whip out the disinfectant spray. Good luck with all the killing and maiming, and my condolences for when Moxxie botches it up again."
Moxxie fumes at the crack of his past mistake. "I'll have you know that I've learned from that incident and fully grasp the point of our business."
"Like how you hesitated to kill a psycho bitch and cried like a Brit h? Very poorly, I might add?"
Hearing more of her wisecracks made Moxxie a sputtering mess, trying to come up with his own clever comeback, but much like his supposed masturbation, that was also a hard task for him. His wife calms him down with a soothing head rubbing that subsided his anger. "Now, sweetie. Don't pay her no mind. She's just the receptionist, she doesn't know the kind of sacrifice and hard work we field workers put in."
Loona didn't like the sound of that. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm sayin' that the four of us bust our rumps and risk our necks while you're mighty content with just answering phones all day." Millie accused. "Back where I'm from, if you don't put in some muscle work, then why the fuck are you even here?"
Lincoln's hand was on Millie's shoulder in less than a second. "Come on, you guys. Personally, I'm sometimes jealous that Loona gets to stay back."
Him coming to her defense made Loona gratefully smile, but it didn't stop the imps.
"Yet, you still find it in you to actually contribute to the company, Lincoln." Moxxie critically glared at Loona. "Unlike some people."
Loona never let what they said bring her down, but there was just something about them talking down at her in front of Lincoln that made Loona want to prove them wrong and the opportunity for that arrived when Blitzo opened his door to let Kole exit. "Don't worry about anything. We'll put the target six feet under in no time. Just remember, we take cash only. Cheques and credit is a crappy move." Watching her leave, Blitzo gets his team to get ready. "Alright, crew! Have all weapons and suicide notes at the ready! Millie, bring as many guns as you want. Moxxie, stop looking like a dumbass and get moving. And intern, we'll need your magic tricks and a big brain."
"Blitz, wait." Loona stood up and grabbed her adoptive father's arm. "Let me come with."
"...What?"
"You heard me. I want to tag along again."
Blitzo ran a hand down his face. If this was about another guy that she liked, then he would have to kill two targets today, and if not, then Blitzo would have to once again show how he would never allow her to freely experience the ugly side of Earth. "Looney. Not that I don't love this newfound initiative, but to reiterate, there is no chance in here that I'm letting that happen, kiddo. After that spring break mess, I am not taking any more risks when it comes to you. Taking risks when it comes to the business, that's always on the table."
"Come on, Blitz. Just let me see how things are done. You know, learn from the best."
"Learn? F-From me?" Blitzo's eyes swelled up in proud tears. In every father's life, the time where their children wish to be taught everything the father knows is a sacred and important occasion. This was a moment Blizo's been waiting for and it could prove that contrary to what she said to him during the bet, this could prove his daughter truly does love him. "Sorry, I need a minute. I promised myself I wouldn't cry." Loona was glad him being over-emotional wasn't happening in a public place. After he was done with the water works, Blitzo gave an answer. "Well, if you're so insistent Loona, then fine. I'll go help Moxxie with the prepping by giving words of encouragement. Moxxie, move that lazy ass of yours! Quit reminding me why you suck so much!"
"Loona? Are you really sure about this?" Lincoln was pleasantly surprised to see Loona offer her services again, but felt it was to prove Moxxie and Millie wrong.
"Duh." Loona replied with crossed arms.
"If this is about what Millie said, you don't have to prove anything."
He says that but what if he's equally hyper-critical of her work ethic? He was her friend-her only friend-she didn't want to have her first friend ever to have such a low opinion of her. "Please." she scoffs. "Those little shits think they have me all figured out, just think it'll be freaking hilarious when I make them choke on their words."
She sounded confident, but Lincoln's concern was still ever present.
No one knew how much he wanted this job to go smoothly for once.
"Moxxie, no screw ups this time. Cold feet are no longer a policy.
"Will it ever be necessary to let me live that down?!"
"What? You expect me to actually do that?""
"Once would be damned nice!"
"Then keep holding your breath!"
Hunting down the location of the target was easy as Kole supplied I.M.P with every bit of important information on the target that was named Richard Manning, modeling agent that was always on the prowl for a new face to exploit by promising to make all her dreams come true. His hunting ground was a huge mall with expensive shops and stores, where many a young person was roaming about, the perfect place for him to find his newest mark. Little did he know, he had been marked for termination and the team of I.M.P was going to personally execute him with extreme measure.
For the three imps, they learned from spring break and now were careful enough to don disguises and not blow their cover among the human masses of this living plane of existence.
By using wigs, fake moustaches, and random articles of clothing instead of actually taking on human forms.
"Act natural, guys." Blitzo looked through binoculars to find Manning while fixing his clown wig. "Pretend you're like every other fucking human by whining about life and no one will ever be the wiser."
"Sir, scouring through binoculars isn't what humans usually do." Moxxie wore a brown fedora, monocle on his right eyes and a green scarf around his neck and turtleneck shirt. His wife had a blonde wig with a bob cut style and baggy clothes.
"Not true, Mox. Studies show there's a hundred percent chance of humans looking through windows to see a married couple going at it like animals. I should know, I've done it myself."
"Why does that not surprise me?"
"How can we be sure he'll show up?" Lincoln asked.
"Kole's intel's supposed to be solid." Blitzo adjusted his scope for better views on various crowds of humans. "Let's just hope he's not a deranged cannibal like the job we took for Mayberry. Although, I have been thinking of adding another eye in a jar."
Sipping on a smoothie was the humanized Loona who then started to scratch her feet. "Fuck. I don't know how humans can wear shoes. It's like putting my feet through a BDSM session."
"Tough it out, Loona." Millie flexed her arm. "If you're serious about getting involved, then ya gotta stomach a little pain."
With no sight of the target, Blitzo throws the binoculars away in a huff, oblivious to it hitting a mall cop square in the head and knocking him out."God fucking dammit. Why'd the douche we have to kill had to frequent a big-ass mall? It'll take us hours to search the place for him. Alright, Linc, time to dazzle us with your little planning ahead and it better be good."
Lincoln succeeded in his role in the company as the tactician to drum up one of many backup plans.
"Well, Blitz. Like you said, finding a target in this big mall will be like finding a needle in a really big haystack." Lincoln pulled out a piece of paper that had a sketch of the mall's map, drawn by him thanks to his photographic memory. "So, I mapped out the most probable locations in this mall where he'll be. He goes for young women, right? Each of these locations are where one can find them, so odds are he's somewhere there. And instead of stopping at one at a time as a group, I think it'd be better for us to split up and cover more ground that way. Whoever finds him can call the others and we'll meet up. It'll also be way easier with Loona's nose. Then, you guys can you know...go on with all the killing."
"Can I just express how glad I am we have someone that actually knows the concept of a good plan?" Moxxie proudly complimented.
Blitzo made a comforting gesture. "Aw, don't beat yourself too badly, Moxxie. I don't say this enough, but your know-how about weapons makes up for your tiny dick-sized brain."
"...By Satan, you've actually figured out a way to both mock and compliment me."
"Let it never be said that I don't think of my clients."
Lincoln counted five of them including himself, so they had to be smart on who teams with who. "Okay, so what's the call?"
"Obviously, I'll have Loona be at my side at all times. Her nose and my killing skill will make this as easy as-"
Loona interrupted Blitzo. "Actually, I want to join up with only Lincoln."
"What?!" Blitzo and Millie exclaimed.
"B-But, Looney. I thought you wanted to learn from your old man." Blirzo's lip quivered.
"Missy, there is no fucking chance I am letting Lincoln out of my sight!" Millie stated, keeping a firm hold on her boy who flushed in embarrassment. "You'll have cut my own mitts off!"
"Don't tempt me." Loona keeps trying to make Blitzo see things her way. "I...wanna try to make up for getting distracted at the beach. Show you I am all for killing a skeezy bitch-man all on my own."
Moxxie wasn't convinced. "Please. I highly doubt it."
Blitzo was more gullible than he let on. "That's my girl! Okay, I guess you'll be stuck with babysitting the kid. M&M, it'll be a good old fashioned threesome with us, just the way I like it!"
Moxxie deadpanned at his hard to understand boss. "Must you constantly think with your dick?"
"Is there any other way for me?" That was a legitimate question from Blitzo. "Move out, team!"
Millie wasn't going to leave without imparting instructions to Lincoln, looking him square in the eye with utmost maternal seriousness. "Now, Lincoln. Make sure not to wander off or talk to any strangers. If strangers decide to talk to you, go right for the kill, honey. If you can't hit hard enough, find the bluntest object around, then call for me and I'll come running to just straight up rip their skulls out of their heads and beat them to death with those skulls!"
"...That doesn't seem physically possible, Millie."
"Shh...Don't question it." Millie hugged him tightly and sent an 'I'm watching you' gesture to Loona. "You make sure nothing happens to him, ya hear? Or else Blitz will have to look for a new hellhound."
"Don't need to tell me." Loona barked back, Lincoln getting hurt was the last thing she wanted to see.
"Okay, now break!"
With Blitzo, Moxxie, and Millie going their own way with a photocopy of Lincoln's map of the mall, Lincoln found himself forming an unlikely duo with Loona, the company's hellhound and receptionist. The boy originally had mixed feelings about Loona, she was so hostile and offensive to everyone that things between them got off to a rocky start, but with time, Lincoln got a softer side of her. For Loona, there was just something about his innate child-like innocence and sense of loyalty and compassion that both confused and intrigued her. He's not completely perfect, but he's nowhere near as bad as a large number of human souls.
For a hellborn demon, such traits are unusual and at the same time, a little endearing when it pertains to Lincoln.
Those traits are why she began to see him as her first real friend.
"Got anything, Loona?"
Both of them have been following Loona's nose when it started to pick up the scent of the soon-to-be murder victim and Lincoln already crossed a perfume shop.
"Nothing yet." Loona answers to his dismay. "There's a lot of smelly perfume rich bitches like to coat themselves with, but that's not much to throw me off. I fucking swear, there's a place here that even puts in some implants or pads."
Lincoln hung his head low. "Maybe we should've just stuck together. I might overthink things with the splitting up."
"Don't have second thoughts on me, Linc. I'm glad you thought of that, Blitz would've taken me to those lame kiddie rides."
Lincoln chuckled a bit at the image, making Loona crack a smirk. "I'm sure he wouldn't go that far."
"I beg to differ, little man." Loona recalled the first week after Blitzo adopted her. "First thing he did after taking me in was buying me a bunch of stuffed animals, the only good they were to me were chew toys. And oh man, one thing I would literally kill to erase from my mind is the time he actually left a baby monitor in my room. No shit, an honest to god fucking baby monitor. So insulting."
"Okay, yeah, I'll take it back."
To think that Lincoln used to think Clyde's parents were way too vigilant when it came to his best friend's safety.
"And don't even get me started with all his 'thoughtful' gifts." Loona still managed to find a few leftover spiders in her fur. "Is it any wonder why he gets me so riled up? Just because he adopted me doesn't mean I'll just roll over and let him pet my stomach. Because not only is that degrading, I also would rather tell Moxxie he's a capable lover to Millie."
"Do you just have these insults of Moxxie on standby or something? If I ask you to reach into your pockets, will there be actual notes of ways to diss Moxxie?"
Loona blankly stared at the kid before slyly smiling and showed him just that, right from her pockets. "Boom."
"Huh. I won't lie, I'm a little impressed." Lincoln can appreciate the dedication.
"Now you know why I'm the only cool employee at I.M.P." Loona smugly said, ignorant of the transfixed people that stopped and stared when she passed them. "You spend most of your time learning from imps when you should really take a few cues from me. If anyone knows how to survive Hell at a young age with family whatsoever, it's yours truly."
"Strange thing to be proud of."
"Dude, come on. You've seen how much Hell can be. Anyone that can survive it deserves some credit." Loona defended. "And it's proof that I never needed something like a 'family' to help. They made that pretty obvious when I got left at that shithole of an orphanage."
Lincoln frowned in sympathy. His experiences in Hell have taught him that while he's been living comfortably surrounded by a family, not everyone else on Earth or down in Hell are so fortunate. Lately, he's been introduced to a lot of grim realities of the world but that did little to make him cynical or jaded, he had his coworkers at I.M.P to thank for that, Loona included. "I'm sorry. That must've been hard."
Kid had no idea how true that was. She was just a defenseless little and forced to grow up with no one to tell her they loved her, or nurture her, or reassure her that she wasn't alone. If Blitzo really wanted her to think of him as her dad, then he should have adopted her before reaching eighteen years of age, it was at that point that Loona felt it was too late for a father figure to enter her life. "Don't worry about it." Loona tells him. "Just wish Blitz would get the memo already."
"Still, I wouldn't discount how much he adores you." Lincoln chuckles with nostalgia. "My dad can be the same way with me and my sisters. He makes sure to remind us to be more careful, was all in tears when my oldest sisters left for college, tried convincing all of us he didn't play favorites even though we already knew it, and all the delicious food he makes for us is unbelievable. You'd love his cooking." he laughs then becomes more melancholy. "What I would give to taste it again and to see him and everyone else..."
Loona rubbed her hair with a wince.
Hearing her gripe about her dad unintentionally brought up some memories of his own father. "Yeah...so I never asked and it might be a little too late, but I gotta ask. You really miss your family, don't you?"
Sighing, Lincoln depressingly nods. "I can't even begin to describe it. You may not think it means much, but having someone to give a lot of love like that, they're very hard to come by and well, you don't have to listen to me, but you should appreciate that you have someone in your life that cares."
Not only was Loona actually showing some sympathy for him, but she couldn't ignore his very sound argument. In Hell, one of the main reasons for a demon ever treating another demon nicely was because they wanted something from that demon. She grew up thinking she can only ever count on herself, but then Blitzo came along and for the first time, she got a dose of fatherly affection she never had for as long as she could remember. But it's just so out of place and too over the top, she reacted the only way she ever knew how.
With extreme hostility.
Guess she has a lot of walls up due to her rough past.
Before this little heart to heart can continue, she started sniffing wildly. "Hang on. I got something. Follow me." Loona's nose never failed her before and she didn't expect it to now, but when they reached where it was leading them to, some doubts came.
"An arcade?" Lincoln quizzically gazed. "This wasn't on the map."
Loona was just as confused, but a hellhound's nose is hardly ever inaccurate and it was telling her the mark was in there. "Oh, he's in there alright." She pulled Lincoln by the arm and went in. "Don't know why he's here of all places, but the nose fucking knows." Looking at all the video games that were laid out, it seemed like too good of a chance and the inner slacker in her just couldn't resist and judging by Lincoln's longing look at the games, the avid player of video games also had trouble giving in. His coworkers hadn't bought him any video games and he just missed the feeling of a controller. "You know...I promised Blitz I wouldn't get distracted by a guy...I never said anything about video games."
"...That is very true." Lincoln nods. "Bet you I could rack more high scores."
"Oh-ho! Someone's brave! Game on, kid!"
Every parent can never bear it when they're too far from their kids. It is their duty to watch them 24/7 and make sure, no harm comes to them and kill, maim, or torture anyone brazen enough to threaten them.
Like any parent of Blitzo's and Millie's respective calibers.
"What if he gets lost? What if some perverts try to get him into their van? What is a new imp family trying to take him as one of their own?! Oooh, I knew I should've told him to stay behind at the office. Something in my maternal instincts told me it was dangerous to let him come along." Millie fretfully pulled at her tail. She was tempted to go to Lincoln and keep him close to her person for the duration of the day.
"There will be victims, there is no doubt about that." Blitzo agreed, then told Millie that it wasn't entirely hopeless for their kids. "But, don't you worry about a thing, Mills. I got my own paternal instincts and when I detect some ass-hat wanting to get down and dirty on my little girl, they better pray whatever god they serve that there's a nearby gun shop to fight back."
Moxxie sighed with contained annoyance. "You two are both being paranoid. While I can't say much for Loona, I for one believe with the prince's grimoire, Lincoln can muster up a suitable defense to whatever trouble that comes their way. Besides, if they do end up finding the target, they'll contact us."
"God, Moxxie. Do you realize how unreasonable you sound?" Blitzo wanted to bitch slap him right there. "I thought you of all people would understand, what with the whole dad thing you got going on with the intern."
"What? What on Earth are you talking about?"
"Don't play your usual slow act. Like with your dom wife acting like the kid's new mommy. You followed suit in being his new pops."
Millie huffed. "I am his mommy, thank you very much."
"Okay, let me make this clear. I'm not trying act a surrogate father to Lincoln." Moxxie clarifies. "I don't really see the point as his father is neither dead nor out of his life and Lincoln has every intention of returning to him and the rest of his family someday."
Blitzo wasn't convinced. "Uh-huh. You like giving him advice, constantly praising his brain-smarts, and giving him words of encouragement. Need I go on?"
"I'm just being a considerate coworker and when taking into account his predicament, I feel it would help things if he had a positive influence. That's all."
Mollie wanted him to know that there was no issue.
"Now, sweetie-peach, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Newsflash, I'm your sexy wife and I know how you work. We both couldn't help but let that boy into our hearts and now, we're enjoying the joys of parenthood! We're even in the same line of work with him!"
Moxxie didn't argue any further, because he knew both his boss and his wife would just keep making comebacks. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that in a strange way, he couldn't help but feel some paternal affection towards Lincoln. Part of it was due to the fact that he's a youngster that showed Moxxie respect for once, rather than belittle or insult him. A very welcomed change compared to the workdays that passed by before they ever met him. However, he reminded himself that Lincoln's no orphan and a part of Moxxie felt a little responsible for putting Lincoln in this mess in the first place. Maybe if he and the others had shown up earlier, the kid of white hair could've been saved from being cursed.
Him going so far for Lincoln could be seen as a way of making up for that.
But to see him as a son.
And thinking of himself as his father.
The very notion was ridiculous, but not that bad an idea.
"Heads up!" Moxxie bumped into Blitzo's extended arm. "This is on Lincoln's map."
A swimsuit shop for the purpose of a woman flaunting their impressive assets at the beach. "How can we be certain that he's here? This most likely isn't the mall's only retail store dealing with swimwear."
"Gotta start somewhere." Blitzo went through a lot of crazy ideas in his head and settled for one that seemed perfect for this job. "And I know the best way to weed the guy out."
One makeover later.
"...This is never gonna work." Moxxie rubs his temple with a shake of the head.
At first, he thought Blitzo was going to make Millie do it, but nope. Blitzo decided that he himself was to be the one who will use one of the extra disguises to pose as an impressionable valley girl, looking for a modeling job. Ditching his old disguise for a pink frilly dress and big brown wig and an absurd amount of makeup, had a stolen handbag as an accessory to really pass off. "Jealousy doesn't suit you Moxxie. But don't worry, on the next job, you'll get to put on a dress with me."
"I for one, think you look fuckable, Blitz." Millie praises.
"See? Your wife knows a hot piece of ass when she sees it." Blitzo started clearing his throat and mentally prepared himself for the role. "Oh, my word! I am like, totally unsupervised and vulnerable. I'd trust just about anyone right now without suspecting any ulterior motives whatsoever."
Subtle.
Real subtle.
Lynn may have been the most competitive in the Loud family, but give Lincoln a game controller and he surprises his opponent with how driven he is to winning the game at all costs. "I got you now, Loona!" he grinned, a little more smug than he intended. Both were currently playing a shooting game for more than a few minutes, Lincoln just hasn't played a video game in such a long time, he's missed it with a passion.
The scent of the target was still fresh in the air and that gave her much reason to keep herself and her young friend to continue gaming, they had already played through many of them already.
"Sure about that, Linc?"
His hellhound coworker in human form found it adorable that he thought he could score a win over her, but he's never played against a young goth chick that played the more advanced video games of Hell. "Hey, how are you-" Before Lincoln's eyes, Loona managed to rack up more scores in record time, faster than anyone Lincoln's ever played and she won the game, earning the new high score. "No way! How are you so good at this?" Instead of acting like a sore loser, Lincoln was really impressed.
"You think Blitz didn't teach me how to handle a gun? Plus, a hellhound's senses are a bit more supercharged compared to humans." Loona tousled Lincoln's hair. "But you did pretty good. Even though I totally owned you. Afraid I'm leagues above your school friends, little man."
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." Lincoln really welcomed this kind of change. With his older sisters, not many of them share his love for video games and here he was, enjoying them with Loona. It really started to feel like the old days before the curse was cast on him. "I don't know why I'm so calm right now. Blitz will be furious if he finds out we wasted time playing games."
"We only came here to find the target, remember? Just let me say we got sidetracked. He'll eat it all up." Loona's ears and nose then acted wildly. "Whoa. Linc. Don't look now, but I-I think the dude's close."
"He is?" Lincoln looked back and forth. "W-Where?"
Pressing a hand to his mouth, Loona signals him to keep quiet and she gets him to follow her lead as they hide behind a game and they hear the sound of an arrogant sounding adult male. "Come on, boys. Sure you're not up for a round or two? You're never too old for games." Taking a look, they saw their target in all his self-entitled glory, a healthy young brunette man wearing a business suit accompanied by imposing men with shades. "It's the only thing worth doing after a day of hits and misses. Not one unique specimen at all today. Off days are the fucking worst. Almost makes me miss that one girl-what was her name? Crystal? Chrissie? Something with a C. After this, I might consider ditching this mall. Things are going way too slow for my tastes."
Loona and Lincoln both glowered at the man with distaste.
The bastard doesn't even remember the name of his victim.
The hellhound did have an idea.
If Mr. Manning was so engrossed in finding a new pretty face to mold, then she'll happily oblige...so that he'll end up in the morgue. "I got this. She whispered, then slowly walked. As the target continued complaining about today's failures, he saw the punkish goth young woman, eyes briefly meeting and sent a small smirk his way.
"Hold that thought, gentlemen."
"Sucker." Loona triumphantly snickered, then looked back at Lincoln and she nodded her head towards the men. Nodding in understanding, Lincoln checked the grimoire for spells that won't make too much noise.
She leaned on a game with an expression of stoicism and texted on her phone, giving off a mysterious vibe that drew in the target. "Hey there." the man greets with a suave green.
'Douche.' Loona internally gagged, but didn't express it. "'Sup?"
"Looking awfully lonely there. Separated from your friends?"
She shrugs carelessly. "Came in solo. Prefer it that way. Less bitches to give me shit."
"Ah. The loner type." he recognized and was amused. "Well, I don't mean to judge you on your life choices or anything, but I think it pays to have a lot of friends. Especially the right kind."
"You one of them?" Loona asked.
He chuckled, slipping out a card from his sleeve and handing it to Loona. "Just how I roll, babe. Gotta say, not a lot of ladies can make the whole punk/goth look work, but you. You are obviously an exception."
Loona just couldn't contain an eye roll. "So glad I met your approval."
"Hey, I'm just giving my honest opinion here. You know, no one really does appreciate more unique tastes like your own. I am a more open minded person who feels everyone else should also have the same outlook." This guy had a lot of charisma going for him. "If folks were to just take a minute and actually admire an aesthetic like yours, they might sing a different tune."
"Like I give a rat's ass what other people think of me." Loona retorted
"Understandable. But what about the ones with faces plastered in every billboard you see while driving?" Richie said with a daring expression. "They wouldn't spare you a second look, but if you show them up, they'll want to be just like you. Everyone will want to be your friend."
Loona was starting to see why Kole fell so hard for this guy's words.
Apparently, his tongue was better than his good looks.
But she wasn't some gullible Sinner, and played along with his game for the time being. "I'm supposed to take your word for it just like that?"
"Give a test run chance. You'll see. Stick with me and all your dreams will come true." He snapped his fingers. "Boys, let's head out!" his men didn't show up. "Boys? Where the hell are they? Oh, well. I can always hire new ones. Come along, my dear. Let's get to know each other a little better." he wraps an arm around her shoulder and ushers her along.
She spotted Lincoln with a thumbs up as the two men were restrained and gagged by plant vines.
Loona nodded in approval and he silently went after them and remembered the part of his plan of telling the other group that they found the target which Loona took care of.
Things usually went smoothly for the I.M.P team, or as smoothly as things can go when it comes to their line of work. Seeing as they had yet to find their mark, the only productive thing they were doing was causing a lot of ruckus in the shopping mall. Despite having very unconvincing disguises, no one managed to see through their deception, but they garnered attention anyway when Blitzo got into a spat with a patron of the mall. It seemed like they could never go through one job without creating a spectacle, which reflected poorly on their affinity for keeping a low profile.
A rule all demons allowed to enter Earth are supposed to adhere to no matter the circumstances. Obviously, Lucifer never imagined an ambitious imp making a deal with Goetia royalty and utilizing a tome of ancient magical power to start up his business. Additionally, given this imp was Blitzo, he can't help but just trade words to make a scene in front of everyone.
Most assassins tend to be less loud while on the job.
But none of them was Blitzo.
"Leave me the hell alone already!"
"I saw you staring!"
"Piss off!"
"Don't act like you weren't interested, I could see it in your eyes! You know what you wanted, buster! There's a bathroom stall with our name on it, so are we gonna make something of this or what?!"
"Fucking drag show..."
"Fine then. Just pout! What's your name, Justin? I'm sure your wife will want to hear about this fun spat! I'd love to have brunch with her!"
"Okay, sir. That's quite enough." Moxxie prevents Blitzo from continuing the argument with the male shopper that tried a pickup line on the undercover imp, and his boss just started up a whole altercation that was bound to attract the attention of mall security. "We're looking to assassinate today's target, not scream at every random human that looks your way."
This little scene had been recorded by a few onlookers and that was a major problem that Moxxie felt they should avoid
Blitzo laughed. "Hey, he had the wandering eyes, Mox. Besides, I was just going to knock him out in the bathroom, then steal all his stuff. I just wish I used that idea for Stolas. That and I was getting bored. This is the fifth dress shop we scouted and we got zip."
Millie used a marker to cross it off the map. "Dammit. This slippery son of a bitch just refuses to be found." Of her many hobbies, it was the hobby of the need to stab her targets that needed to be taken care of.
The three then heard Blitzo's vibrate and he reads the text sent by his daughter. "It's from Loona. She and Linc found him!"
"Hot damn!" Millie dropped the map, having no need of it anymore. "The hell are we waiting for, boys?!"
Loona's text was where she was being led to by Richard Manning and Blitzo felt both pride andt fatherly instincts acting up. Loona can keep telling him not to excessively dote on her all she wants, it won't stop him from being a father.
Manning and Loona were out at the parking lot where his very expensive and very fancy limousine was parked and Loona was all kinds of confident that by the time Blitz and M&M arrive, she'd already murdered him. "Not too shabby, is it?" He patted the hood of the limo, proud of himself for owning one. "Plenty of room for two friends." he lets her exit first.
"God, try to be less obvious." The hidden demon muttered quietly to herself. Loona didn't know why the happily married imps made such a fuss about these jobs. This has been disappointingly easy so far, and dear lord, was she going to snap some pics of them fuming in envy.
Both sat next to each other and he chuckled. "It just occurred to me. I never asked for your name."
Right, because God forbid he didn't ask on purpose to further charm Loona to lower defenses. A guy like him doesn't deserve to know her name, but to get the job complete, Loona gave it. "It's Loona."
"Just Loona?"
"Don't give out too much to just anyone."
"You just keep getting more and more mysterious." He hums in fascination. "I like that in a woman." He leans in closer to Loona's face who suppresses the urge to sock him across the face.
"Aren't you the bold one?" Loona lowers her eyelids. "You always move this fast?"
Manning's snickering fills the inside of the limo. "It's the only way I know how." he closes his eyes and she does the same, lips inching closer together.
"Really. Well, I do have a soft spot for the bold ones."
Loona's already picturing the look on his face when he sees he just got stabbed with-hold on. Confused, Loona swore she kept a hidden switchblade inside her pocket, she was going to use it to stab him through the eyes, then slit his throat to show that she knows how to do her job. Then, he was starting to chuckle, only unlike before where it was more amused, it was a dark kind of laugh that unnerved her. her red eyes widened when she saw him hold her weapon, fiddling around with it like he had just found a new toy to play with. "I knew there was something special about you." Manning mused. "Takes a considerable amount of guts to make a go at my life. Seriously, babe, you're every bit as unique as I expected. Just one problem..." In a dash, he pressed the knife close to Loona's neck. "I only hate it when it pisses me off." His suave was replaced with contained sadistic fury. "Now, what's really your story, huh?"
"None of your damn business, cocksucker!" Loona gritted.
He feigns being offended by her harsh tone. "Don't be like that. We had a good vibe going there. What? You related to someone I used to work for? Like...uh...Crystal? Or whatever? I don't see why you're even bothering, that bitch was hardly a saint. Framed a rival of hers stealing that got her canned from the modeling gig forever. Last I heard, she's drowning her sorrows at local pubs. Sure good old what's her name, Kyla's worth getting revenge for?"
"It's nothing really personal."
"Oh, wow. So, you tried for the hell of it. Talk about ruthless." The model agent kept being more fascinated. "It's always gotta be the hot ones that have to be the crazy ones at the same time. To think, we could've had so much fun together."
"And I would've hung myself, because God's a lazy-ass to strike me down himself. Don't think you're hot shit right now."
"Um, last I checked, I'm the one with the knife."
Loona smirked. "Some things are better than a knife."
Out of the blue, the limo began to shake uncontrollably.
"What the fuck?!"
Loona laughs at his stumped expression. "Surprise, motherfucker!" She opened one of the doors and jumped out and saw Lincoln levitating the limo through magic, but was clearly straining from the stress.
Seeing Loona exit made him release his hold on the limo and it slammed hard on the ground, making the human male tumble out. "Your ten minutes were up." Lincoln told Loona through tired pants.
"I know, I know." Loona helped him stand. "Let's hurry up and kill this dick until the others get here."
A third imposing man then came, lifting Lincoln up. "Why does this keep happening to me?!" Lincoln cried out.
Loona glared hatefully over the handling of her friend, feeling the instinct to protect him. "Hey!"
"Don't you move an inch!" Manning slowly stood up. "Now, I don't know what the shit is going on here! But you and this little shit right here! You both need to learn your place and that is being-"
"The kids you shouldn't be trying to kill in front of their parents, shit-heel."
Shotgun rounds capped one of the men's knees, and he ended up dropping Lincoln who was caught by Loona. Moxxie tossed the shotgun away before loading his machine pistol to fire off finishing rounds at the crippled thug, and his wife handled the other one. Millie's dagger got into the second bodyguard's side before she got all the way up to the face to headbutt the guy hard before slicing across his face. "No one hurts my baby." Millie declared.
"Or mine." Hearing a gun clicking, Richard turned to see Blitzo still disguised and was shot in the leg.
"Fuck this!" Their cowering target limped to the car and drove to get out while he still called. A futile effort, Moxxie's expert aim struck at the two back tires, and the car spiraled out of control and crashed into a nearby gas station, and the airbag activated. Gas oil spilled out, it made contact with a match lit by Blitzo, making a loud explosion, launching the limo back back to the parking lot, and the shoppers outside ran away from the chaos. The fire department sirens signified their approach.
"Ha! So much for Mr. Smooth." Loona mocked.
"Young lady!" Blitzo tried to act the part of the stern parent, but his disguise made it look more humorous. "Care to explain why you let that conceited ass lead you away? I'm pretty sure you were supposed to let us know at the exact moment you and the intern found him!"
"What? He's dead, isn't he?"
"And could've killed you!"
"Not to mention Lincoln almost got hurt!" Millie adds. "Just look at him, it's like he was forced to run a mile!"
Frowning, Loona conceded that her overconfidence nearly made Lincoln pay for it and she hated that fact. "Look, I thought I could handle it myself, alright? Off days happen."
"Well, I just hope this off day taught you why I never bring you along for a job! It's a whole dangerous world up here and I'll be damned if I'm gonna lose you to any of Earth's fuckers!" Blitzo didn't want it to come to this, but he might just have to ground her.
Lincoln's words from before replayed in Loona's mind and instead of making this into an argument like before, she relented. "I-I know, Blitz. I'm not like you or them, I guess I still need you to teach me some more."
Blitzo's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, excuse me?"
"I...need you?"
She needs him.
His daughter needs him.
"Oh, Looney!" Doing a 180, Blitzo jumped a hug onto Loona. "It's alright! All is forgiven! Just knowing that you need your daddy is plenty enough for me!" He released her and headed back to the mall. "You know what this calls for? Snacks! We'll take some for the road!"
"Guess you were right." Lincoln said, bewildered, but relieved. "He does get over it fast."
"Honestly, I think he just wanted to hear that from me." Loona didn't want Blitzo to get his hopes up. "Still got a long way to go."
Lincoln caught that. "So there is a chance?"
Loona chortles and ruffles his hair. "Shut up. And hey, sorry for this whole trouble. Guess I really should stick with what I know and that's just waiting for a call. You were also right, I didn't want to look bad in front of my friend. My only friend."
Smiling, Lincoln lets her know he didn't think any less of her. "It's fine, Loona. Helping or not, you have your own style and you don't have to force yourself to do something when it's not entirely for you."
"This whole friend thing is new to me." Loona shamefully said. "Another thing I need to learn about."
""And I'll help however I can and it wasn't all bad." Lincoln nodded. "Yeah, could've done without the lifting, but working with you was pretty fun, Loona. Wouldn't mind if you came with us more often. But only if you really want to, of course."
"I hope you now realize how important this job really is." Moxxie said, still ever so critical.
Loona growls, but Lincoln nudged at her leg and she backtracks reluctantly. "Whatever, Moxxie. ...But, I gotta admit, you're not completely useless when you're carrying around a piece and Millie could cool it with anger, but she's still a pretty badass brawler."
Moxxie and Millie both stared at each other with wide eyed expressions.
They never heard Loona say something remotely positive about them.
"Well, that's...kind of you to say, Loona." Moxxie awkwardly replies. "I suppose it was admirable that you wanted to prove your mettle in the field even if it did nearly lead to a disastrous outcome." Loona's deadpan glare prompted him to shut up.
"Now was that so hard?" Lincoln teased.
Loona shook her head with a smile as the I.M.P team went to get those snacks as the fire department arrived.
She never had a father and it might take a long while before she would ever see Blitzo in that light.
But when it came to her personal thoughts about Lincoln, it was special. She already considered her to be a friend, but she was now starting to wonder if this is what it was like to have a little brother.