#[stolas. Sir. I don't think anyone likes your train of thought right now]

[helldustedstories]

While he's not glad that the others have been captured, Stolas has a fleeting moment to think about the fact that this is one of the few times that he and Loona have had together, one-on-one. Which is something that's definitely going to change, when they get back home. He wants to spend more time with her, with both of the girls, to show that he cares, that she can rely on him if she needs to. Stolas wants to be there for her, the way that he is for Via. And he needs her to know just how loved she is, something that he's going to be better about showing. In a way that hopefully won't overwhelm her; he knew he could be a lot, sometimes.

But that's something he can figure out when they're all home safely. Right now, they have a job to do.

Stolas would have absolutely understood if Loona hadn't wanted anything to do with him touching her, had preferred to keep focusing on the task at hand instead of taking a moment, but he was very glad that she hadn't flinched away from him, hadn't completely blown him off and told him to mind his own business or something. Because he really did want to do everything he could to help and support her, even now. And he knew full well what it felt like to be so completely overwhelmed that it was as though nothing he could do would ever be right, would ever be enough. He didn't want her to feel that way, even now, in this moment of crisis.

As Loona closes her eyes, Stolas doesn't move, his hands still on her shoulders, offering her what comfort and strength he can. He knows he's a poor substitute for the rest of them, but he will do as much for her as she'll allow him, the same way he would for Via. And if giving her a moment, holding space for her to take time she needs to in order to feel at least okay? That is something he is more than capable of doing.

A soft smile slips onto his face at her question, and he gives her shoulders another soft, gentle squeeze. "I do," he responds. "We never would have gotten this far without you, Loona. You're one of the most capable people I've ever met, and I'm so proud of you for being so strong." Even if she shouldn't have to be.

It's another moment before Loona opens her eyes, and when she does, when she says the scents split off, Stolas understands. She confirms that she can only follow one scent at a time, and that while she cares about Moxxie and Millie, she'd had to make a choice.

He shakes his head, giving her shoulders one last soft squeeze. "No one is going to blame you for choosing to find your father first, darling," his voice is soft, and it's clear that there's some emotion there, though he's doing his best to stay calm, level-headed. Part of him wonders if they should split up, should try to find all of them at once…, but there are strength in numbers. Not to mention that he couldn't pick out scents the way that Loona could. And while he might be able to find Blitz on his own, if he had a moment to concentrate on the connection between them, could do a spell to help him follow that to him, he wouldn't dream of telling Loona to just trust that he would find Blitz while she went after Moxxie and Millie.

"We'll find Blitz, and when we know he's okay, we'll go after Moxxie and Millie," Stolas said firmly. And after the team was together again, once they knew their loved ones were safe, they would deal with these humans who dared to harm the few people he cared about. This time, none of them would leave alive. And if he had to take them and their blessed weapons on to allow the others to return home, to make sure they were safe? It wouldn't be the first time he'd dealt with holy weapons, and if he wasn't bound he could actually fight back; he'll do whatever it takes to save his family. No matter what.

She doesn't like how quiet it is. Loona's aware that they must be fairly far from where they left the rest of the humans - that it'll take time for them to catch up if they're in pursuit - but the quiet is setting her fur on end. Even the sounds she expects, birds and squirrels and shit, are just ... not there. Her ears are constantly swiveling, trying to pick up on anything that might give her more of a clue, but the only thing that she can keep track of are the scents.

... Scent. Guilt claws up at her, and all Loona wants to do is press her back against a wall and bare her teeth until the problem just fucking goes away. It would be so much easier if she could just solve everything with claws or fangs or a stolen bat.

It takes her a second to realize that Stolas has gone from following behind her to in front of her - and before she can question him, or complain toothlessly, he's looking at her. He's touching her, hands on her shoulders, and her fur bristles down her spine involuntarily. She hears the growl in the back of her throat and fuck, she doesn't mean it - it just happens sometimes. Does he know that she doesn't -

Stolas is ... surprisingly gentle. Which, when she thinks about it, is only half surprising. Like, yeah, she's seen him terrorize the ever loving shit out of humans, and bust down the door of I.M.P. when he needs something - or Blitz has done something stupid - but he does always use the actual door. And if she's honest with herself, his anger has never spilled over to her - or, really, any of them in any meaningful way.

That's pretty fuckin' rare. And she'd seen how gentle he was with Via. Loona hadn't been bullshitting when she'd told her about how much he was trying.

... Is that what he's doing now? Trying? She can't fuckin' imagine why, unless she just looks that pathetic.

But he sounds so confident. Not condescending or shitty or - anything else her raised hackles seem to be expecting. Cautiously, throwing him a suspicious glare first, Loona lets her eyes slip closed. She focuses on the gentle points of contact, the bare breeze, the almost comical panting from one of their shithead hostages.

❝ - You really thing so ? ❞ Fuck, she doesn't mean to search for validation - for a second, it feels like he must have tricked her, somehow, into accepting his support. - But that's stupid, he probably just has practice with that infuriatingly effective Dad voice from Via. Loona's eyes open and she looks down and away, shame starting to curl up through her chest and into her throat.

❝ I - the scents split off. I didn't ... I wasn't trying to lie or anything, I just ... I care about Moxxie and Millie too, I just - I can only follow one at a time. ❞ Frustration leaks into her voice. ❝ I'm hoping they wind up back together but I - I had to. I can't - ❞

I can't lose him.