One Helluva Ride

Chapter 14: A Gift

          Splice shot up as a knock on the door sounded. "I'll get it!" Blitzø's voice called from the living room. Splice let out a deep sigh, trying to shake off the dream they'd had. "Oh, shit!" Blitzø shouted. Splice flinched, before rushing to make sure their boss was okay.

          "What?! Are you okay?" Splice asked worriedly, looking at Blitzø with a concerned expression. Blitzø pointed to the object on the other side of the door. "... that's a plant, you dumbass," Splice muttered. Blitzø grabbed them by the shoulders. "Don't you know who that's from?" He asked gravely. Splice glanced at it and shrugged. "It's from Stolas! Only he sends weird shit like that." Blitzø explained.

          Splice's expression lit up with a smile. "Really? Let me-" They started excitedly. Blitzø stood in front of the plant protectively. "No. I'll take care of it." He said, slowly drawing his pistol from his suit jacket. Splice's eyes widened. "Wh- dude, what the fuck are you doing?!" They asked.

          Blitzø looked between the succulent and Splice. ".. getting rid of this thing, obviously." He replied. Splice ducked under his arm and quickly scooped up the plant. "No! It's a gift, Blitzø." They scolded, gingerly carrying the succulent toward their room. Blitzø huffed. "Yeah, from that perverted bird. Knowing him, he probably just wants to fuck you!" He replied.

          Splice shook their head. "That's not true." They muttered, carefully placing the succulent on their bedside table. Blitzø rolled his eyes. "You don't know the guy. Literally all he thinks about is sex." He argued, walking up behind Splice. The smaller imp let out a chuckle, looking over their shoulder at their boss. "What, and you're any better?" They asked with a smug grin.

          Blitzø's eyes widened. "Wh-" He spluttered. "I think about other things!" Splice couldn't help but laugh. They sat on the edge of their bed. "Oh, yeah? Like what?" They questioned. Blitzø huffed. "Like... Horses! I think about horses." He answered. Splice broke into a fit of giggles. "Really? Horses?" They managed to ask.

          "What's wrong with horses?" Blitzø asked offendedly. Splice waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing, nothing.. just not what I thought you'd be into." They answered with an amused smile. Blitzø flipped them off. "Oh, piss off, prude." He said, turning and walking into the living room. Splice shook their head affectionately, their attention being called to the succulent on their nightstand.

          Splice's gaze was caught by the shimmering gift tag attached to the pot. They carefully took hold of it, observing the gold constellations carefully printed onto the back of the tag. They turned it over in their hands.

'I have a feeling you'll keep this one alive.

Love, Stolas'

          Splice felt their heart leap in their chest. They smiled softly, letting the tag slip through their fingers. They wandered over to the doorway, leaning on it as they looked into their living room. Blitzø was spread across the couch, absentmindedly watching the television.

          "Find anything good?" Splice asked, walking over and draping themself over the arm of their couch. Blitzø glanced over. "Nah. You know they don't play anything decent here." He replied, flipping through a few channels. Splice huffed. "Boo." They muttered.

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          After a few hours, Splice was left alone and bored in their living room as Blitzø retreated into their bedroom for a nap. They sunk into their couch, flicking through channel after channel.

          Splice was startled by a knock on their door. They slowly rose from the couch, walking over to the door and swinging it open. They froze up. In their doorway stood Apple and Coco, two of Verosika's succubi friends. "Oh- uh- hey." Splice greeted with a somewhat confused smile.

          "So you answer the door for them, but not for me? Rude.." The silken voice of Verosika called as she stepped between Coco and Apple. Splice tensed up. "Shit.." They muttered softly. Apparently, this commotion was enough to wake Blitzø, who groggily peered through the doorway to Splice's bedroom. "What's going on here..?" He asked sleepily. Verosika tensed up, staring offendedly at Blitzø.

          "I think I should be asking the same question." Verosika answered, stepping forward into the apartment and placing her hands on her hips. Splice chuckled nervously, taking a small step back. "Oh, calm your tits, jackass. I'm their boss." Blitzø said, now fully awake as he stepped into the living room. Verosika scoffed. "Yeah, right. Their boss is sleeping in their apartment?" She asked in an accusatory manner.

          It was quiet for a moment. Verosika rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I was stopping by to see if you were busy. Maybe you'd be interested in.. getting reacquainted~" She flirted, draping her arms over Splice's shoulders. Blitzø shoved her away. "Absolutely not. There's no way I'm letting you and your sluts give my employee an std." He defended, stepping in front of Splice to be between them and Verosika.

          The succubus crossed her arms over her chest. "Excuse me? I'll have you know I'm clean." She spat. Blitzø laughed. "Yeah, right. I bet that busted pussy of yours is an amusement park for infection!" He shouted.

          Splice took a hesitant step backward. They didn't want to be here while the two were arguing. "Oh, please! You wouldn't know a good pussy if one suffocated you." Verosika insulted. Blitzø gasped offendedly. "Maybe I haven't had a good one yet." He replied, crossing his arms. The succubus glared down at him. "Excuse me?"

          Splice slipped into their bedroom, closing the door behind themself. They let out a soft sigh. They wanted to get out of here before things escalated. Knowing that they couldn't leave through the front door, Splice pushed open their window. They clambered down the fire exit and onto the sidewalk.

          Splice made their way to a small-time club. It was nothing special, but it wasn't run by Vees. That's what mattered. Splice pulled the door open, stepping inside as they were hit with the strong smell of booze. They walked over to the bar, climbing up onto a barstool. "What can I get for you?" The bartender asked.

          Her voice rang bells in Splice's mind. "Shit- Dess?" Splice asked. The bartender, Desdemona, smiled. "What, you didn't think I'd be in Envy forever, did you?" She said playfully. Splice leaned onto the bar. "I never thought I'd see you all the way in Pride." They replied. Desdemona brushed a strand of hair out of her face, working on a drink for one of the other patrons. "There's more business here." She explained.

          Splice chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Gotta say, I'm impressed. Trying to run any kind of business in Pride sucks. The entire market is flooded by overlords." They said, leaning their head into their hand. Desdemona shook her head. "Ain't that the truth." She replied with a bitter chuckle.

          A vast shelf of bottles stood behind Desdemona. ".. do you have any Beelzejuice?" Splice asked. Desdemona slid a glass to another patron and took out a bottle from beneath the bar. "Of course I do. Straight from Gluttony." She said with a small smile. A grin grew on Splice's face. "You devil." They replied playfully. "I'll take the bottle."