Archive of Our Own ^beta

It's been a year since his banishment, and the uphill battle Stolas would guarantee give Sisyphus a run for his money. But this quiet evening right here and now is more than worth it, especially given how very alone he'd been last year. After taking the fall for Blitz and his business (without them knowing, of course) he'd been stripped of his status, power and title for the next ninety-nine years and tossed out of the courtroom without ceremony. Thank Lucifer he found a deserted alleyway where a rat migration trailed near. So he'd been feasting on fresh rats and trying to reach out to Octavia for a full month. 

Of course being off his medication wasn't helping the matter at hand, especially with his banishment being broadcasted and all of Hell kind going out of their way to torment him, not just the upper class. He'd been a primary subject to Stella's endless torment, what's some more from others who don't really matter? Enough was enough and Stolas stormed the gates of his former gilded jail, only to be met with the fucking ice queen himself. The mastermind behind his banishment and the thing standing between him and his daughter. A fight broke out between them, even without his magic, Stolas got a great deal of hits in before Andrealphus attempted to icily skewer him, but failed thanks to Octavia's magic overpowering that pompous asshole. 

Stolas tried embracing her, only for her to yell at him, following up with denouncing him as her father. With her statements on how she understands their facade of a family, he chose the red dickhead, and how Stolas needed medication because of her, she chucked them his way while stating coldly, "Have a great fucking life with him, Dad." 

She then walked back into the palace without looking back as the icy walls block his way and view. Stolas fell apart right there and then as he grasped his happy pills, uncaring about everything right now. Eventually the tears ran out and he had to leave. The trouble being where to go now. So he wandered around Imp City, dodging various objects hurled his way whilst attempting to tune out the noise. The one thing he couldn't ignore was the statement to go fall off a rooftop. 

That made Stolas think for a minute. There were plenty of tall buildings in this place, and he'd already ruined the two relationships that meant the most to him, so no one would mourn him. Stella would rejoice and likely throw the most extravagant party for all the upperclass of Hell, a hate party in his name undoubtedly. Blitz would likely host a similar one for everyone else in Hell to attend. He briefly wondered which party Striker would attend. 

He spotted a taller than average apartment building facing away from Imp City and incorporated a trick he'd learned a while back when he had to relocate alleyways to avoid being propositioned. He'd pressed all the buttons on the side of the door and stated, "I have a pizza order." Amidst the series of colorful curses, he was buzzed in and Stolas made his way up the stairs and onto the rooftop. Everything was clouded and heavy for Stolas in that moment, and he'd been ready to simply step off that ledge and would've in not for what had transpired next. A hand grabbed his wrist tightly, yanking him in upright position. 

Stolas rotated his head around completely and noted the small audience. The young lady latching onto his hand was a succubus with brown shoulder-length hair, an Ace of Spade at the end of her tail and a terrified expression etched on her face. Beside her was a worried, blonde hellhound and a concerned imp with multi-colored streaks throughout her hair. They were all dressed rather festively, and Stolas felt shame well up for ruining another wonderful thing again. 

He steps down and apologizes before heading to the door, only for it to be blocked by the imp. She states, "We're not leaving you alone now. Not after what just happened." 

"Oh, it's really nothing for you all to bother with. It seems like there's better things to get back to." 

The hellhound answers, "Yeah, no. That's not happening right now, bud. Not when you need to not be alone now more than ever." 

"But I don't want to ruin anything else more than I already have." 

The succubus from earlier softly declares, "Not this. You could never ruin anything right now, okay sweetheart?" 

"But you don't even know me, how could I not ruin your plans with my ridiculousness?" 

The imp interjects, "We'll decide what's ridiculous or not, duster." 

The hellhound asks, "What's your name?" 

"I'm Stolas. What of yours, if you don't mind my asking?" 

"Nice to meet you, Stolas. My name's Dixon. This is Katherine and Ella." 

The imp nodded as Ella held out her hand for him to shake, which he did whilst bowing his head to the succubus who saved him. "Thank you all for your kindness, but I really should be heading back to where I'm staying. Hope the rest of your evening festivities resume in better spirits." 

Dixon and Kat refuse to budge from their spots in front of the door. Katherine states, "Like we said, you're not being alone until we know you're safe." 

"Whether that's from others or from yourself, we're not going anywhere, Stol." 

"But why? Why would you do that for a complete stranger? I could be a pompous, rich asshole who doesn't care about anyone else." 

"That kinda person wouldn't apologize for supposedly ruining our Sinsmas plans and attempt to leave us be." 

"What is that?" 

"What, Sinsmas? It's only the best holiday in all of Hell. When everyone basks in the spirit of whatever sin they're from or want to celebrate, honestly." 

"I cannot say I'm familiar with this holiday." 

"Well how about you join us and tell us whatever you think we ought to know about you, okay Stolas?" 

"Only if you're absolutely certain if it's what you want." 

"Alrighty. Let's go."

That night, with loads of prompting and a small device from Envy that projects memories, Stolas reveals everything to this group of demons, partially in hopes that they'd leave him alone but to also see if they'd hate him like everyone else in his life does. To his absolute astonishment, they don't. If anything, Katherine becomes gentle with him and even insists that he call her Kat. Dixon welcomes him to their group with open arms, "Join the club, we've got jackets." 

"And what might this club's name be, anyway?" 

"Hell's Most Hated, sweetheart." 

"Thank you for your kindness. Hopefully my small place is still untouched after I left rather abruptly." 

"I'll come with you." 

"Oh no, that's truly unnecessary. I don't wish to inconvenience you all more than I already have." 

"Hey, let us decide that for ourselves, birdbrain." 

"Yeah, and we want to help you with this, come what may."

"That was a good musical." 

"Which one?"

"Moulin Rogue."

"Dontcha mean, Mulan Rouge?"

"Well, I was told that French people tend to be offended at the mispronunciation of the first word, so I made it a point to know how to properly phrase everything I can."

Stolas glances at his audience and starts apologizing, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so strange to you all."

"You kidding me, Stol? Your strangeness blends in near perfectly with all of ours. I'm Hell's most cheerful hellhound, Kat's a massive introvert in her sociable species, and Ella's an aro-ace succubus. You fit in just fine." 

"Truly?"

"Yes, why'd you ask?"

"Well, it's just that-um you see. I've just-I've never had a friend before. At least, known anyone who wanted to be my friend for the sake of it."

"In that case, I'll be your friend if you'd like."

"Me too."

"Same here."

This time, Stolas' tear ducts reset to spilling out tears of joy, if only for a moment. For the first time in the longest time. He had friends, who wanted to be his friends. 

Then the rest of the year had been both the most challenging yet wonderful time of Stolas' life in Hell. It took a while, but he eventually found a rhythm to balance three part time jobs that helped him cover rent, utilities, clothes, meals and hobbies. Two of them are curtesy of Ella and Kat for their respective businesses. 

Kat inherited her father's restaurant bar upon his passing called The Low Bar, where Stolas handles the paperwork and accounting while Kat and a handful of her employees do everything else. He properly learned how to socialize on this side of Hell and Kat was kind enough to let him know all that was and wasn't okay to address or treat imps. She talked him out of shame spiraling, explaining how he couldn't have known if no one bothered correcting him until now. So now all he can do now is make it a point to do and be better. Damn the naysayers.

Ella managed to secure not only a proper living space for him but a job working at her second coffee shop on Earth called Hellish Brew, which is also located in Imp City. He received an Asmodean crystal in the shape of a comet to wear as a necklace, which made his heart sing upon receiving it. He then learned how to clean and bake and make somewhat good coffee orders. He didn't understand the needlessly complicated ones as much, so he left those with Ella's more experienced crew members. 

His third part time job came when he aided a private investigator with his finances whilst he drowned in his sorrows at Kat's bar one night. The incubus' name was Colt and hired Stolas on the spot upon seeing multiple financial plans pinned together with paperclips next to his original document about filing for bankruptcy. Although she was suspicious, Kat gave her okay signal to take the job offer when Stolas turned to her for guidance. Six months later, he gained yet another friend to share life experiences with as well as literature and fashionable tastes.

Stolas finds himself enjoying visiting Dixon during his lunch breaks at the gas station he practically lives at. Even though Stolas has been to Dixon's apartment several times for sleepover purposes, he sees him more at the gas station than whatnot. If not either of those places, then at one of the many parties he gets invited to because he knows somebody. Stolas’ first hound party was unlike any other party he attended, and the crystal disguising him as a hound definitely helped him fit in better, so he could show that Dixon had someone who wanted to be with him. 

Altogether, these four demons who wanted to be in his life and wanted him to be in theirs made living in Hell more bearable. It also helps that they taught him how to defend himself from all kinds of attackers. Dixon teaches him hand to hand combat. Kat teaches him to use weapons while Colt teaches him fire arms. Meanwhile Ella shows him more of the magic of the Asmodean Crystal. 

His life has stated to be amazing even though Octavia and Blitz want nothing to do with him. The sting of their respective rejections stung some days more than others, but the pain gets manageable by the day. As long as their hearts were still beating in their own worlds, that’s all that matters to him.

His phone buzzed, making Stolas glance at the screen, smiling at the background photo of his new family celebrating his birthday with a galaxy cake beaming at the camera. Then he sees the text from Ella asking if he needs help with cooking his Sinsmas dish for the party or if he’s got this. 

Smiling, Stolas texts back that he’s got this, and he does. In more ways than one.