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Moxxie took a deep breath as he saw the farm house appear in the distance. This place held nothing but bad memories for the thespian. Come to think of it, most of the Wrath ring held nothing but bad memories. His in-laws didn’t like Moxxie, that much he knew. But for the sake of his wife, he reluctantly agreed to stay over at their place, along with Blitzo and Loona. They had all been invited to attend the Harvest Moon Festival by Prince Stolas, their…patron.
Moxxie was sure that Stolas had nothing but good intentions...well, semi-good intentions, in Blitzo’s case. But that didn’t change the fact that Moxxie really didn’t like going back to the Wrath ring. Truth be told, the freckled imp had always felt ostracised for being different. And nowhere did that feel more apparent than with Millie’s parents. Joe and Lin had looked down on Moxxie from the moment they met him. Perceiving him as weak and ‘sensitive.’ Just like everyone else when he was growing up in wrath. But it felt especially painful because he wanted so badly for them to approve of his and Millie’s relationship. Even if Millie had ensured him she didn’t give a damn about what her parents thought of him, it still stung.
Regardless, they were here now, so Moxxie figured he might as well try to make the best of it. And who knows, maybe he could find a way to impress Joe and Lin.
The van came to a stop near the front of the house, two middle sized imps emerging from the front door.
Millie immediately ran towards her parents to give them both a big hug. The rest of I.M.P. slowly approached the trio as well.
‘’Sir, Miss.’’ Moxxie greeted them with a nervous smile.
The two imps only responded with a disapproving glare. Moxxie averted his eyes, clutching his arm awkwardly.
He should’ve figured he’d been too optimistic
What made it sting even more was how quickly the two middle aged imps seemed to take a liking to Blitzo, seeming instantly smitten by the harlequin’s boasts about his company.
‘’If only they knew how close to bankruptcy we are every month.’’ Moxxie thought as he rolled his eyes. Not wanting to torture himself any further with the awkward social situation, Moxxie blocked out the conversation and took to staring out at the sprawling countryside. Despite how to him, Wrath was synonymous with loneliness and isolation, he had to admit he missed the beautiful landscapes of his home ring.
As he gazed out over the distance, he could see a hell horse approaching from the horizon. At first Moxxie didn’t think much of it, the horse simply being another distraction to focus on. But as it got closer and closer, the horse began to look awfully familiar.
‘’Wait is that-‘’ Moxxie’s thoughts were cut short as the large creature closed the distance much faster than he anticipated, coming to a halt mere inches before his feet, causing the diminutive imp to leap back in shock.
‘’Jesus!’’ Moxxie shrieked in panic.
Everyone looked as the tall figure disembarked from his horse. Moxxie in particular stared up at the man in abject dread.
Oh crumbs…
‘’Ah, there you are!’’ Joe said with a smile.
No, no, no!
The man merely smiled as he walked up next to his employer.
Why here? Why now?!
‘’Everyone, I want you to meet my new farmhand, Striker!’’ Joe introduced the tall rattlesnake-imp hybrid.
‘’It’s a pleasure.’’ The thinly moustached cowboy greeted the group. Moxxie was practically glaring daggers as the tall snake imp walked over to Millie and shook her hand.
‘’You must be Mildred. Yer folks told me a lot about you.’’ He said, laying on the charm thick.
Millie giggled at the man’s formal address, finding it more amusing then anything.
‘’You can just call me Millie. Oh, and this here is my husband, Mox-‘’ Millie began.
‘’Hey there, Moxxie. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?’’
Millie blinked in confusion. She turned around to see the rattlesnake had now turned his attention fully to her husband.
‘’Not long enough.’’ Moxxie replied trough grit teeth. Everyone around them stared at the duo in complete bewilderment.
‘’Moxxie, you know this guy?’’ Blitzo asked, feeling very confused about the whole situation.
‘’Well, of course he knows me!’’ Striker laughed.
‘’I’m his boyfriend.’’
Blitzo, Loona, Millie and even Millie’s folks were standing with their mouths agape.
‘’Ex-boyfriend.’’ Moxxie was quick to correct the tall snake demon. Striker merely grinned at the diminutive red imp.
‘’Yo, what the fuck?! You were fucking this dude?!’’ Blitzo called out with his usual brashness. Moxxie pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Joe looked at his son in-law, then at his new farmhand, then back at his son in-law.
‘’…Yeah, that checks out.’’ He quipped. Millie threw her dad a disapproving glare. Joe held up his hands apologetically.
‘’So, what are you doing here, Mox?’’ Striker asked, eyeing up Moxxie with a dangerous look in his eyes.
‘’I’m here for the festival.’’ Moxxie said, short and to the point, being as stand-offish as he could muster. Striker had to hold back a chuckle as he drank in his ex-lover’s nasty attitude.
‘’Haven’t changed a bit, have you?’’ he smiled.
Behind closed lips, Moxxie grit his teeth so hard they were in danger of cracking. This was absolutely fucking infuriating.
The snake imp continued to exchange small talk with the others, being particularly effective at buttering up Blitzo, praising him for starting his own company. The harlequin naturally lapped up all the praise with the smuggest fucking grin. Moxxie felt like he was going to vomit. He knew exactly what Striker was doing.
After all, he had been at the receiving end of it himself.
Stupid Smooth-talking Snake.
Moxxie was taken out of his thoughts as Striker walked up to him.
‘’Say, Mox. I still got some chores left before the festival. Why don’t you help me round up that hell hog over there? Like old times.’’ Striker grinned at him, gold tooth reflecting sunlight in Moxxie’s face, making him squint.
‘’I know you can do it yourself.’’ The small imp replied, trying his best not to hiss the words at the cowboy.
‘’Come on, Mox! Don’t be a bitch!’’ Blitzo called out from a distance. Moxxie clenched the fabric of his sleeves in frustration.
‘’Fine.’’ Mox muttered as he walked towards the pig pen, Striker following him with a devious grin plastered on his face.
It went about as well as could be expected. The hellish swine easily overpowered Moxxie, forcing the small imp to hang on for dear life as it trashed around wildly. Mox was starting to get dizzy from being swung around like a ragdoll, before a sudden push send him flying face first into the mud.
Looking up, Moxxie saw the face of Striker looking down at him with a wicked grin.
‘’Better sit this one out, hon. I got this.’’ The snake imp winked before running up to the hog.
Moxxie glared daggers at the snake as he effortlessly jumped up on the hog and wrangled it to the ground, tying up its feet and immobilising it.
As the others cheered Striker on, Moxxie felt a knot well up in his stomach. It was an all too familiar feeling, and he didn’t like it one bit. He was brought out of his thoughts however, by Millie, who knelt down beside him, wiping away some of the mud on his face. Moxxie smiled as she helped him up.
‘’Here, come with me for a second.’’ She said as she gently tugged him along by the arm. Moxxie blinked perplexed, but wordlessly obeyed as they walked a decent distance away from the group.
‘’Mox, are you okay?’’ Millie asked, turning to face her husband, concern visible in her big eyes.
‘’Y-yeah, I’m fine. Just surprised is all.’’ Moxxie’s breath was shaky. Millie furrowed her brow.
‘’You never told me you had a boyfriend.’’ She said.
‘’I-…I’d rather not talk about it.’’ Moxxie sighed. Millie looked at him with concern.
‘’Should I be worried? Did he…’’ Millie began, but didn’t finish her sentence. Moxxie looked at his wife and understood what she was trying to ask.
‘’No, its fine. He didn’t hurt me or anything. Its just-…He’s just an asshole. That’s all.’’ Moxxie sighed. Millie gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
‘’If you feel like being around your ex is too much to handle, we can go home if you want.’’
‘’Thank you, but that’s not necessary. I’ll be fine, really.’’ He reassured her. As much as he hated being around the rattlesnake, the last thing he wanted was for Joe and Lin to start talking about how their darling daughter had to leave early to bring her wimpy husband home.
‘’Alright.’’ Millie said hesitantly. As the two of them rejoined the group, Moxxie saw Blitzo and Striker were talking again.
‘’Hey there little one~’’ Striker cooed as he turned his attention to Moxxie. The short imp flinched upon hearing his old nickname.
‘’Me and bossman were just talking about signing up for the Pain Games. Care to join us?’’
‘’Well, I don’t really see the need-‘’ Moxxie hesitated.
‘’Ah, forget it Striker. Moxxie is probably too afraid he’ll fail miserably.’’ Blitzo taunted his employee. Striker looked at Blitzo with a wide grin. Moxxie could tell the two of them were getting along just fine, much to his chagrin.
‘’Hey! I’ll have you know that I’m just as capable as the likes of you!’’ Moxxie protested.
‘’Oh yeah? Then prove it.’’ Blitzo smirked.
‘’I will! I’m joining that stupid game!’’
Striker’s grin grew sickeningly wide upon hearing his old beau was joining in on the fun.
Oh, this was going to be great~<3
The first event was an obstacle course. Striker, Blitzo and Moxxie were lined up, alongside several dozen other imps. Moxxie swallowed a lump in his throat as he anxiously awaited the start sign.
He flinched as he felt a tail brush against his own.
‘’You gonna give me a kiss when I win, Mox?’’ Striker whispered with a low growl. Moxxie hissed as he averted his eyes, trying to hide his blush, or at least avoiding Striker’s smug grin.
‘’I wouldn’t count on it.’’ He retorted. Striker’s smile only grew wider.
‘’Oh, I’m going to enjoy this, little one~’’
Moxxie balled his claws into fists as he concentrated on the course ahead, trying to ignore the obnoxious rattlesnake standing beside him.
Soon, the start shot sounded, and all the imps made a mad dash across the course.
To say that it went poorly for Moxxie was an understatement. There wasn’t a single obstacle he wasn’t struggling with. Meanwhile, his boss and his ex-boyfriend were blazing across the field with no trouble whatsoever.
He didn’t fare much better at the other events. He got absolutely pummelled in the wrestling competition, and he failed spectacularly at the tug of war. When the games were finally over, Moxxie was bruised and battered all over, his whole body feeling sore.
Millie gave her husband a concerned look when he sat down next to her on the bleachers.
‘’You did great Mox.’’ She smiled at him. He gave her a weak smile in return, but it was clear his ego had been bruised even harder than his body.
It came as no surprise when Striker was announced to be the winner. Technically, he tied with Blitzo, but Moxxie saw no consolation in this.
‘’To celebrate my victory, I’d like to sing a little song I just came up with.’’ Striker grinned as he took center stage.
Mox’s eyes went wide as Striker pulled out a guitar and started playing. A chill ran up his spine as the rattlesnake began to sing. The lyrics weren’t anything particularly impressive, but it hardly mattered to Moxxie. All he could concentrate on was Striker’s singing voice.
That voice
That smooth, enthralling voice
That voice that had once been used to serenade him, now self-aggrandising and mocking
Mocking him
Moxxie hit his breaking point. Tears welled up in his eyes a Striker looked at him with that damned grin, still singing with that voice that had once soothed him in his time of need.
He got up and stormed off, not wanting to be anywhere near the rattlesnake. Not wanting to hear his voice any longer. Not wanting his wife to see him like this.
Millie looked at him concerned, wanting to raise a hand to stop him, but he was already off. She let out a sympathetic sigh as her hand fell back down on her lap.
Moxxie stormed into the house. Thankfully, Millie’s family were all at the festival too. They were the last people he wanted to see right now.
As he shakily walked through the hallway, the memories started to hit him all at once. Like a floodgate had burst open and an ocean of feelings began to drown his mind.
The feeling of a pair of strong arms wrapping themselves around his body
His skin shielded from the cold by an overwhelming warmth
The feeling of a thin moustache gently brushing against his neck
Of hot breaths breezing against his collarbone
Sweet nothings whispered into his ear
Riding on the back of a horse, clinging onto the muscular body in front of him as the wind swept through his hair.
His head leaning against a strong shoulder
The two imps sitting on a bed, the taller one showing the smaller how to play the guitar
The two of them sitting on the beach, the rattlesnake serenading him, singing to him with that beautiful voice
A gentle kiss planted on his horn
Moxxie collapsed to the ground, breaking down in tears. The hallway filled with loud sobbing as tears streamed down his face, his eyes hidden behind trembling hands, claws tugging at his hair.
‘’God, I hate him!’’
‘’I hate him so fucking much!’’
‘’Why do I miss him so much?!’’
‘’Why do I still love him…’’ Moxxie sniffed, cursing himself for letting the rattlesnake affect him, even after all these years.
‘’Come on! Give it back!’’ a small imp screeched in frustration as he tried to jump up and grab the bag that the taller imp was holding up high above his head.
‘’Go ahead and grab it, pipsqueak!’’ the portly imp laughed boisterously as he looked down at his diminutive victim.
‘’What’s wrong, can’t reach?!’’ a lanky imp joined in on the mocking.
‘’I think we need to give him a boost up!’’ a third imp grinned as he grabbed their small victim by the tail and hoisted him up.
‘’Hey! Let me down!’’ the little imp growled as he swung upside down in the brute’s grasp.
The three imps laughed as they kept tormenting him.
‘’Let him down.’’ A voice called out, calm, yet demanding.
‘’What did you say?!’’ the fat one growled as he turned around.
A tall, well dressed imp stood before them, a large cowboy hat resting between his horns.
The imp spat out the wheat strand which rested between his lips. Using his thumb, he pressed his hat up, revealing his ringed eyes, which were glaring at the trio of troublemakers.
‘’You heard me. Put him down.’’ He said once again, in the same calm yet demanding tone.
‘’Piss off, Striker! You can’t tell us what to do!’’ the imp holding the pipsqueak shouted.
The tall imp observed them for a moment, a sneer of contempt on his face. In the blink of an eye, the rattlesnake-like imp had unholstered his revolver and fired a shot.
The imp holding the little man squeaked in terror as the tip of his left horn fell down to the ground. With a yelp of fear he dropped the smaller imp to the ground and ran off. The portly imp did the same with the bag and the three of them ran off as fast as their legs could carry them.
The smaller imp groaned as he pushed himself up from the floor. He looked up surprised when a hand was offered to him.
‘’You alright?’’ the tall, handsome demon asked.
‘’Y-yes, thank you.’’ The smaller imp smiled as he accepted the hand, the taller imp helping him up.
The cowboy imp bend over and picked up the bag, seeing a record sleeve inside.
‘’You like music?’’ he asked as he handed over the bag.
‘’Yes…what about you?’’ the diminutive imp asked.
‘’Sure. I play a bit on the guitar.’’
‘’That’s cool…’’ the small imp smiled, awkwardly brushing a lock of hair to the side.
‘’What’s your name?’’ the cowboy asked.
‘’M-moxxie.’’
‘’Moxxie, eh? It suits you.’’ The rattlesnake winked. The smaller imp blushed a bright shade of pink.
‘’Ehehe, t-thank you…’’ he chuckled awkwardly, averting his gaze.
‘’Name’s Marshal. But most people call me Striker.’’
‘’It’s nice to meet you, Striker.’’
‘’Likewise, little one.’’ Striker grinned.
Moxxie rubbed his eyes as he gingerly got up from the ground, his legs shaking underneath him.
‘’God, I must look like a mess.’’ Moxxie thought to himself, claws combing through his frazzled hair.
He made his way up the stairs, planning to spend the rest of the day sulking in his and Millie’s room. However, as he made his way down the attic’s hallway, he noticed the door to Striker’s room was slightly ajar, and a bright light was shining through it.
Curiosity overtaking him, Moxxie gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.
On a medium sized dresser sat an open rifle case, containing a large glowing sniper rifle.
Moxxie’s eyes widened as he recognised the angelic weapon, muttering the gun’s make and its every minute detail to himself. He was utterly confused as to what the gun was doing here.
‘’Why would he have this?’’ he asked out loud.
‘’Why don’t you ask me?’’ a voice spoke up from behind him.
‘’Shit!’’ Moxxie cursed as he spun around in a panic, seeing Striker leaning against the door frame.
‘’Geez, Moxxie. You thirsting after me so much you’re sneaking into my room? Trying to steal my underwear or something?’’ the rattlesnake taunted.
‘’N-no!’’ Moxxie blushed, annoyed, confused, and just a little bit scared about the whole situation.
Striker simply grinned as he dug his claws into the wooden door and slammed it shut. Moxxie stepped back apprehensively as the snake demon approached.
‘’Why do you have this gun? That thing can-‘’
‘’Kill demon royalty? Yeah, that’s kind of the point.’’ Striker smiled, his expression positively wicked.
Moxxie’s eyes went wide as everything started to click into place. The festival, Striker taking a job at the farm, the gun, Prince Stolas’ speech.
‘’You’re an assassin…’’ Moxxie muttered in shocked realisation.
‘’Bingo! You can add that to the list of things that I’m better at than you.’’ Striker chuckled as he closed in on his old flame.
Upon hearing that, Moxxie’s eyes went from wide with shock, to narrow with disdain.
‘’This.’’
‘’Huh?’’ Striker stopped in his tracks.
‘’Precisely this.’’ Moxxie growled.
Striker looked at him confused.
‘’This is exactly why I broke up with you!’’ Moxxie shouted.
‘’This-this…constant need of you to one up me at everything!’’
Striker glared at Moxxie in shock.
‘’You could never just let me have my moment! Not even for the briefest second!’’ tears of anger were beginning to well up in the thespian’s eyes.
‘’I looked up to you! I wanted to be like you, to make you proud! But you just couldn’t allow that, could you? Always showing off, always condescending, always making a fool out of me in front of everyone, and then whisking me away from the mocking laughter and the judging eyes like you were my knight in shining armour! Like you weren’t the one that set me up to fail!’’ Moxxie shouted, fangs bared in anguish. Striker cocked an eyebrow, left eyelid twitching, before letting out a spine chilling chuckle.
‘’Oh Moxxie, come now. Don’t go blaming me for your insecurities.’’ He grinned that disgusting grin again.
God, Moxxie hated that fucking grin.
The tall cowboy stepped forward and leaned in way too close for comfort, causing Moxxie to back up into the dresser.
‘’I taught you how to play the guitar. I taught you how to shoot. Now you’re bitching that you weren’t as good as me? Don’t be foolish. It’s only natural for the student to be inferior to the master.’’ The snake licked his lips.
‘’You were mine. That should have been something to be proud of in and of itself.’’ He cooed.
‘’That’s all you wanted me to ever be, wasn’t it? Your possession. You could never just let me be my own man. I could never be ‘Moxxie, the aspiring actor’ or ‘Moxxie the song writer.’ No, it always had to be ‘Moxxie, Striker’s boyfriend!’’’ Moxxie sneered back.
‘’Was that not enough?’’ Striker smiled, treating him like a spoiled child.
‘’No. Because it never was enough for you.’’ Moxxie glared back. Striker’s smile wavered. A wicked sneer took its place.
‘’Alright Moxxie. We had our little heart to heart. Now that you got that all out of your system, it’s time for me to go back to work.’’
‘’I’m not letting you kill prince Stolas.’’ Moxxie said defiantly, stepping in-between Striker and the rifle case.
‘’Moxxie, get out of my way.’’ Striker growled as he reached out his hands towards his former lover.
‘’Don’t fucking touch me.’’ Moxxie sneered. Striker’s grin returned as he let out a vicious laugh.
‘’Or what?! What are you going to do? You weak, pathetic little possum-‘’ Striker spat before Moxxie’s fist hit him square in the jaw. The room went completely still, safe for the soft ‘clinking’ noise of a gold tooth bouncing on the floor.
‘’I told you a hundred times not to call me that.’’ Moxxie panted, fist still clenched.
Striker slowly raised his hand up to his sore cheek, face still frozen in bewilderment as a small trickle of blood ran down from his mouth.
‘’Moxxie.’’ He said, his voice sending a cold shiver down the other’s spine.
‘’I’m going to hurt you.’’ Striker growled as he jumped at the smaller imp. Moxxie groaned in pain as Striker’s fist hit him in the stomach. Scrambling off the floor, the thespian tried to make a beeline for the door, only to be hoisted up by the same strong arms that had once comforted him in one of his darker moments.
‘’You’re feisty, I’ll give you that.’’ Striker huffed, quickly subduing his small prey.
‘’Its why I liked you. But right now, I need you to stay put.’’ He snarled as he wrapped his arm around Moxxie’s throat. Moxxie’s cries of desperation were muffled as Striker placed his hand over his mouth, completely cutting him off from any air.
‘’That’s it. Go to sleep for me. I’ll be with you once I’m done with my job. I’m gonna be rich.’’ Striker grinned, as Moxxie desperately tried to wriggle himself free from his grasp.
‘’Heh. You know, even after everything, I still think you’re absolutely adorable. I think I’ll keep you. Would you like to get married? You’ll get to live in the big ass mansion I’m gonna buy with the money I’ll get from this gig. I’ll even take you to those stupid operas you love so much. You’ll get to watch them from your own private box. How does that sound?’’ Striker whispered into Moxxie’s ear as the imp let out muffled protests.
‘’D’awww, are you worried about that broad of yours? Don’t be, sweetheart. I’ll marry her too. Hell, with how her stupid yokel parents are fawning over me, they’ll practically sell her to me!’’ he let out a vicious laugh. Panic grew in Moxxie’s heart as his vision started to fade, his mind becoming cloudy, his kicks growing weaker.
‘’I wonder if she’ll be as tight as you- FUCK!’’ Striker roared in pain as a body threw itself at his back and imbedded a knife into his shoulder.
‘’Keep your hands off my husband, you fucking bitch!’’ Millie growled like a rabid animal as she continuously stabbed the knife into Striker’s shoulder.
‘’Fucking whore!’’ the tall imp spat in pain and frustration as he threw Moxxie onto the ground and slammed his back into the wall, knocking Millie off of him. With a kick to her stomach, and another kick to knock the knife far away, the rattlesnake disarmed her. He picked up the two smaller imps, growling menacingly.
‘’Clearly you two need some time to cool off.’’
Moxxie groaned in pain as he was thrown onto the hard basement floor. Millie followed soon after, falling ankle first into a bear trap her parents had set up in the basement to catch vermin.
‘’You two lovebirds just sit tight while I take care of business. I’ll be back.’’ Striker sneered as he locked the basement door.
Moxxie growled in frustration as he got up, going over to his wife to try to free her from the iron jaws holding her leg.
‘’Millie, I’m so sorry. I screwed everything up.’’ Moxxie said in anguish as he tried and failed to open the bear trap.
‘’Moxxie…’’
‘’Striker’s right. I’m a fucking failure. Always have been, always will be.’’ tears welled up in his eyes.
‘’Moxxie, listen to me.’’ Millie pulled on her husband’s collar, urging him closer.
‘’You are not a failure. You stood up to your piece of shit ex. You’re so much braver than you give yourself credit for. I know you can stop him. I believe in you.’’ She said. Moxxie stared at her in shock. The two of them smiled at each other, a quick kiss shared between them.
‘’What about you?’’ he asked concerned. She shook her head.
‘’I’ll be fine. You just hurry up and stop that asshole before he shoots the prince.’’ She urged him.
‘’Alright…I love you.’’
‘’I love you too, hun.’’
Moxxie turned around and walked up to the locked door. He pulled a gun from his jacket, shooting the rusty old lock off the door. He then looked down at the gun.
‘’Probably should have pulled this out earlier, huh?’’ he chuckled awkwardly.
‘’Moxxie, please just fucking go…’’ Millie said weakly.
‘’Hehe…right.’’
With that, Moxxie ran off.
Striker wasted no time setting the rifle on the windowsill, aiming down the scope at the, for the moment, empty stage.
After adjusting the sightline he patiently waited for the prince to walk on stage.
‘’Come on you feathered fuck. You know you wanna get on that stage and look down on all the rabble. You were literally born for it.’’ He sneered as he watched his target get into position.
‘’There you are.’’ He grinned, now missing his golden tooth, which sat in a glass beside him on the dresser.
‘’Night-night.’’ He smiled as he pulled the trigger.
In an instant, the gun went flying from his hands, dropping down to the ground.
‘’The fuck?!’’ Striker turned around. Seeing Moxxie standing on the other end of the room, smoking gun in hand.
‘’You little shit! You just don’t learn do you?’’ he growled at the small imp.
‘’And you don’t listen, it seems. I told you I wouldn’t let you kill Stolas.’’ Moxxie quipped. Striker chuckled.
‘’You know? I’m almost beginning to like this new you.’’ He teased.
‘’There’s nothing new about it. You were just too blind to see it before.’’ Moxxie shot back. Striker’s smile dropped down into a frown once again.
‘’You’re gonna kill me, little one?’’
‘’I will if I have to.’’ Moxxie confirmed. Striker just laughed.
‘’If you have to.’’ He snorted.
‘’Typical. You were always too soft for your own good.’’ He grinned. In the flash of an eye, Striker had pulled out his own pistol, aiming it down at Moxxie’s head. The small imp gulped, but did not allow his hands to shake.
‘’The fact that you haven’t shot me yet is proof of that.’’ Striker smiled, staring down at his prey with wicked glee.
‘’And what does you not shooting me the moment you pulled out your gun proof?’’ Moxxie quipped back.
‘’That I like to toy with my prey.’’ Striker chuckled.
‘’Could be the last mistake you ever make.’’ Moxxie said, his heart pounding like crazy, but trying his damnedest not to let it show. Striker raised an eyebrow. An idea popped in his head.
‘’You know what?’’ he purred as he put his gun back in its holster, much to Moxxie’s confusion.
‘’Let’s make it a competition.’’ He smirked.
‘’What?’’ Moxxie asked bewildered.
‘’A classic duel. First one to draw and shoot wins.’’ The snake offered.
‘’Are you out of your goddamn mind?!’’ Moxxie screamed.
‘’What’s the matter? Scared?’’ Striker scoffed. Moxxie grit his teeth.
Against his better judgement, something compelled him to lower his gun. Something that had been eating away at him for ages. Mentally kicking himself for his idiotic behaviour, Moxxie lowered the gun into his holster, making sure not to take his eyes off of Striker for a single moment. Striker’s shit eating grin grew possibly the widest it had ever been. Both gunmen stood still, hands over their holsters. Striker’s eyes wondered over to the old clock hanging on the nearby wall. Watching the smallest of its hands, counting down the seconds.
‘’Alright, the second that clock hits a new minute, we draw. Sound good?’’
Moxxie continued to glare in silence.
‘’Goooood.’’ Striker cooed.
The two of them stood still for seconds that felt like hours. The tension in the air was thicker than the garbage filled lakes in the Sloth ring. Sweat dripped down Moxxie’s brow as he watched Striker like a hawk, keeping his eyes fixed on the gunman’s right hand. The only thing that broke the silence was the ticking of the clock, its rhythmic motions nearly deafening in the small imp’s mind.
30 seconds
Moxxie swallowed some saliva that had been building up in his mouth
20 seconds
Striker continued to stare at his opponent with unwavering concentration
15 seconds
10 seconds
5 seco-
Striker pulled the gun from its leather holster, while at the same time, his tail, which had covertly slipped behind the dresser, tossed the glass containing his gold tooth towards the diminutive imp. In the split second all of this happened, the snake demon could already taste his victory. He knew Moxxie too well. The good little boy would wait the full 60 seconds, not pulling his gun until the last second. And being too distracted by the glass hurling towards his head, Moxxie would have no time to react to the bullet that would pierce his body.
Then Striker’s gun hit the wall behind him, its barrel containing a smouldering hole where Moxxie’s bullet had impacted it.
Striker stood frozen in place, his hand still outstretched as if holding his gun.
He stared at the small imp at the other side of the room. In his right hand, he was wielding the smoking gun that had bested his own, and in his left, he was holding the now empty glass, paying no mind to the water that had splashed over his shirt, or the gold tooth lying at his feet.
‘’You really thought I would be fooled by your old tricks? After you used them on me for three years? You really are too arrogant for your own good, Slithers~’’ Moxxie smirked, cooing Striker’s old nickname.
‘’Wha-‘’
‘’How?’’
‘’How?!’’ Striker screeched with petulant indignation.
‘’Turns out not having you around did wonders for me improving my skills. That, and having a supportive wife.’’ Moxxie taunted his opponent.
‘’Idiot! You’re still too soft! You could’ve killed me right then and there! Why didn’t you, you arrogant little shit?!’’ the snake screeched out like a kid throwing a tantrum.
‘’You’re disarmed. Surrender now and I won’t kill you.’’ Moxxie said sternly. Striker glared at him with all the fury of hell.
‘’You honestly believe you disarmed me?! I don’t need a gun to kill your sorry ass!’’ Striker bared his fangs, one hand slipping behind his back to grasp the knife he kept there.
‘’I won’t hesitate.’’ Moxxie replied, keeping his finger ready on the trigger. Striker glared at his former lover with murderous fury.
However, before either could make a move, the door to the room opened, slamming Moxxie right in the face.
‘’What the hell is going on here?!’’ Blitzo shouted as he entered the room. He blinked as he saw striker standing there, along with the angelic rifle lying on the floor.
‘’The fuck?! Are you the one who fired at the sign above the stage?’’ Blitzo glared accusingly.
Striker didn’t speak a word, instead turning around and jumping out of the open window.
‘’Goddammit! He’s getting away!’’ Moxxie shouted as he pushed the door off of him, bumping it into Blitzo’s side, earning him an indignant ‘fuck you!’ from the tall imp.
Moxxie ran up to the window, watching solemnly as Striker ran for the hills. The snake took one last look over his shoulder, his ringed eyes meeting those of his little one. The two imps glared at each other for a brief moment, both silently making a promise to the other.
As Striker disappeared from view, Moxxie fell to his knees and sighed, his body exhausted, his mind weary, but his heart somehow feeling lighter. He looked down at his gun, the object that had saved his life, and smiled.
‘’The hell was that all about?’’ Blitzo asked.
As the festival came to a close, the I.M.P. crew stuffed their luggage back into the van. Moxxie was helping Millie walk over to the car, the southern imp girl avoiding putting too much pressure on her recently bandaged ankle.
As he opened the door for her and helped her sit down in the van, Joe approached the two of them.
‘’Oh, hello sir. Thank you for your hospitality. I…apologise about the mess in the guest room.’’ Moxxie rubbed the back of his head nervously. Joe looked at Moxxie for a moment.
Then he nodded and walked off.
‘’…whu- what was that? Was that good?’’ Moxxie asked Millie uncertain.
‘’It’s better than anything he’s said to you before so I recon he’s starting to like you.’’ Millie smiled reassuringly. Moxxie smiled back and joined her in the van.
The drive back home was going to be a long and uneventful one. Moxxie stared out the window, looking over the sprawling countryside of Wrath. He pulled his hand out of his pocket, retrieving a golden tooth. He stared at it pensively, a small frown on his face. He felt Millie’s hand on his knee.
‘’You alright, hon?’’ she asked.
‘’Yeah, I got you now, after all.’’ He smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. As he did, he threw the tooth out of the window, letting it be swept away by the winds and the sands.
‘’I don’t care how you do it, as long as you do it!’’ the shrill voice of the Goetia matriarch sounded trough the other end of the phone.
‘’And if those imps intervene again?’’ Striker asked, eyes focussed on a picture he held in his hand.
‘’Deal with them however you want. As long as you kill that good for nothing cheating sleazebag!’’ the voice shouted.
Striker grinned, a new gold tooth set in his mouth.
‘’Gladly. I got a score of my own to settle.’’ He said as he looked at an old photograph. It depicted Striker sitting at a campfire, Moxxie curled up in his lap, looking up at him with a loving gaze.
‘’Isnt that right, my little one~’’