#Striker/Original Character | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

drades-lair · 24 days ago

Text

Murder Mystery Ball

Fandom: HelluvaBoss

Rating: T

Pairing(s): Striker/OC, Millie/Moxxie, Stolas/Blitzo

Note: This was a prompt from Twitter from the amazing @Mouse87Mouse

Striker basked in the rare serenity of an evening, leaning back on a pair of plush pillows against the head rest of the master bed he shared with Calus. The Dracony came striding into the room with a pair of mugs filled with coffee, passing one to Striker before joining him on the bed.

“So…when is that party…thing…happenin’ again?” Striker inquired after taking a sip of hot coffee.

“Hm? Oh, you mean the murder mystery ball being held by Stolas?” Calus questioned in turn.

“Yeah, that.” Striker confirmed.

“Um…in two days…why?” Calus confirmed in turn.

“Nothin’ I was just wonderin’ why Ya bother goin’ ta all this shit, I know it’s the bird but still…” Striker trailed off with an irritated expression on his features.

“It’s a formality mostly, often I get invited after doing jobs for my noble clients as a form of thank you. I decide to go because these parties are good places to round up new clients or at the least more jobs,” Calus explained.

“Humph, guess that makes sense…still Ya ever get tired of it?” Striker wondered.

“Sometimes, mostly I hate the attention I get at the damn things. I can’t exactly hide the fact that I’m a Dracony thus I attract a lot of unwanted attention,” Calus responded, sipping his own coffee.

“Guess I can relate ta that,” Striker chuckled softly.

“You know, if you don’t want to come you don’t have to,” Calus offered.

“Huh? W-well…I’m not excited about goin’ ta this blue-blooded hoe down but…I can’t very well let Ya go alone,” Striker smirked up at Calus.

“Alright, as long as you’re sure,” Calus chuckled in turn.

Two Days Later…

Calus pulled absently at his black button down’s sleeves, fiddling with the cufflinks before straightening his neck piece when Striker emerged from the on-suite bathroom. Striker’s fit was like his original out fit except it was black in color with red accents instantly drawing Calus’ eyes from Striker’s head all the way to his toes with a smirk that said they may need to either show up late or leave the party early.

“Mm, you look good,” Calus complimented.

“Thanks, we ready to go to this thing?” Striker retorted.

“Yeah, I think we should get going before I change my mind,” Calus confirmed looking Striker from head to toe one last time.

…

Upon arriving at Stolas’ palace, a crowd of people were already filing inside increasing Striker’s dislike of this whole thing. Calus nudged Striker along encouragingly with a gentle hand on the imp’s back, filing them inside with the other people till they got to the palace’s ball room where tables of food had been placed along every wall and a massive open bar at the far end which Striker was already making a B-line for much to Calus’ amusement. Music radiated through the theater style ball room to mingle with the various voices of nobility some of which Calus recognized from doing jobs for them in the past. After grabbing a glass of champagne Calus did his do diligence of mingling before returning to Striker’s side at the bar, leaning against the bar top when Stolas came into view casually mingling his way through the crowd with Blitz at his side. Nudging Striker with an elbow Calus gestured towards the duo prompting Striker slip from his bar stool and follow Calus over to the prince and crimson imp.

“Hey Stolas, Blitz,” Calus greeted cheerily.

“Oh, Calus, I’m glad you could make it,” Stolas greeted in turn, hugging Calus.

“Hey Bossman,” Striker greeted his crimson counter part.

“Hey yourself, cowboy,” Blitz returned, shaking Striker’s hand.

“Quite the turn out,” Calus commented gesturing to the busy ballroom.

“Yes, it’s been a success so far and the evening is just getting started,” Stolas confirmed.

“Don’t worry Stolas, if I know Moxxie, he’ll put on a fuck of a show,” Blitz confidently boasted.

“Humph, Ya got the pipsqueak ta do this bullshit,” Striker huffed, curling a lip in slight disgust towards the mention of Moxxie.

“It’s his specialty,” Stolas interjected with a smile.

Suddenly there was a dramatic gasp followed by an equally dramatic coughing fit in the middle of the ball room. Stolas excitedly clapped as the quadruplet group headed in that direction bringing Moxxie into view, slumped over with an empty champagne flute in hand.

“Oh…oh no…I’ve been poisoned…someone…I can’t…” Moxxie dramatically stammered, clutching his chest as he fell to his knees then fell forwards causing the flute to skitter across the marble floor.

“Moxxie…NO!” Millie exclaimed coming from the crowd to kneel dramatically next to Moxxie’s ‘dead’ body.

“Well, he definitely was the right pick for the part,” Calus whispered with a chuckle to Striker who rolled his eyes in response.

Just as the scene appeared to be preparing to change a series of screams resounded from an area just off the ballroom. Calus glanced to Stolas with a questioning gaze which was returned with confusion meaning this wasn’t part of the nights festivities, the group including Moxxie who’d broke character hurried into the small foyer off the main ballroom. Laying in the middle of the small room was the body of the imp butler who often held the phone for Stolas or Stella when she lived in the palace, a pool of blood surrounding him.

“What the fuck?” Striker questioned, furrowing his brow.

“This isn’t part of the murder ball, is it?” Calus inquired to Stolas.

“No, who would do this? Alfred doesn’t deserve this,” Stolas tentatively answered.

“I don’t know but whomever it was, they turned this murder mystery ball into the real deal,” Calus commented, moving to kneel by the imp’s body.

“At least we know the butler didn’t do it,” Blitz added earning a disapproving groan, eye roll combo from both Striker as well as Moxxie.

“Is it even worth looking for the culprit?” Moxxie wondered with a doubtful expression.

“Ya a coward? An imp is killed in a palace full of blue bloods and Yer not gonna help find his killer,” Striker stated earning him a growl from the smaller imp.

“I want to find who did this, after all they did it in my house, to someone I knew,” Stolas added, stern expression on his features.

“Well then, no one’s going anywhere till we get to the bottom of this,” Calus stated.

Once everyone was settled back into the ballroom Calus completed his look over the body, coming out while wiping his hands on a towel. The group had been hanging around the bar while Calus investigated the body only perking upon seeing the Dracony come back out into the ballroom.

“Whatchya find?” Striker inquired as Calus joined the group.

“He was killed by a long sharp object, a blade that could be easily concealed in a crowd like this one.” Calus explained simply, glancing around the ball room.

“Why would someone kill Alfred though?” Stolas wondered, voice breaking slightly in despair.

“Looks like he was serving food and beverage, walking in possibly on whatever he did before being silenced,” Calus responded, continuing his explanation.

“What’s that area back there?” Striker inquired of Stolas.

“It’s the lounge area, if people wish to have a more private discussion they can go back there or if they wish to get away from the overcrowded ball room, things like that,” Stolas explained.

“Should we fan out and ask who’s gone back there this evening?” Moxxie suggested.

“Nah, probably everyone at one point has been back there,” Striker retorted, eyeing everyone in the ballroom suspiciously.

“However, we can canvas the ballroom, mingle with the royals here to see if any act or say something shady,” Calus suggested in turn.

“Right!” Moxxie agreed enthusiastically earning him a small smile from Millie.

With that the group broke apart to move around the ball room, making small talk with various nobles while keeping their eyes peeled for anything that maybe a clue to who did this. Striker located a swipe of blood on the wall near the lounge at about hip height suggesting the culprit had blood on their outfit somewhere, facts he relayed to the others. IMP did their part although they were far less sleuth about it, but there was no doubt they got answers including nobles claiming they’d over heard conversations about possible robbery of the palace. Calus took the liberty to go investigate the rest of the palace in hopes of finding anything out of place and he found it, upon reaching Stolas’ office Calus found that the door had been broken open from something being shoved into the lock however when he investigated the room Calus didn’t find anything missing. Returning to the ball room Calus informed the group what he’d discovered prompting surprised faces all around.

“My office? Why would anyone…? Wait, could someone be looking for my Grimoire?” Stolas wondered, eyes growing wide in realization.

“Is that where you keep it?” Calus wondered.

“I used too, but now I keep it in my bedroom,” Stolas answered simply.

“Good bet then that’s what their after,” Striker agreed.

“Not like that helps us, it could be any one of these fuckers,” Blitz interjected.

“Maybe not, Calus, I found out from a couple of the nobility that upon the last meeting there’d been some discourse,” Moxxie added, puffing his chest out confidently as he presented the information he’d gathered.

“What sort of discourse? And between whom?” Calus inquired.

“Apparently several of the council got into a hefty argument with Andrealphus and Stella Goetia regarding rumors of sabotage,” Moxxie explained.

“Humph, great suspects…if they were here,” Striker huffed, crossing his arms in an unimpressed fashion.

“I know they’re not here! However, the single Goetia who stood up for them is, Aamon,” Moxxie barked back irritably.

“Aamon? Are you certain about that?” Stolas inquired in surprise.

“Yes, apparently he was the only one to stand up for Stella and Andrealphus against the council,” Moxxie repeated in confirmation.

“Hmm, perhaps he’s on their payroll,” Calus guessed, rubbing his chin.

“Should we find him?” Millie inquired with a quick glance around the ball room.

“It’s the only lead we’ve got,” Calus agreed.

Once more the group scattered in search of Aamon once Stolas gave them a description, shuffling through the guests. After a moderate amount of time passed the group regrouped having not found any sign of Aamon even from asking the other guests. There was a possibility that Aamon had made his escape before they found the body of the butler however the palace was massive meaning there was a good chance he was still somewhere waiting for everything to die down so he could find Stolas’ grimoire again. Stolas was just beginning to put together a list of places the demon could be hiding when a tall female demon shrieked, her drink had been dumped down the front of her dress while Aamon was currently running full speed out of the ballroom.

“Well, that was easier then expected,” Millie stated with a shrug.

IMP, Striker and Calus took off after Aamon discovering him heading to the top of the spiral staircase in the main foyer. Millie vaulted using her axe to the top landing promptly stopping Aamon from going any further and allowing Calus along with the others to catch up. Striker’s keen eye caught sight of the blood stain on Aamon’s tailcoat, pointing it out to Calus who also spotted it afterwards. Drawing a blessed rope Striker lassoed the noble causing him to recoil in shocked surprise.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Fucking imps,” Aamon asked, irritation lacing his annoyed tone.

“The ones who are going to turn you in for murder,” Striker answered.

“Wait, you’re a Dracony!” Aamon exclaimed as Calus came up the stairs to stand beside Striker.

“I’m aware, so tell us why did you kill the butler?” Calus retorted with a heavy sigh, he hated when that was the first thing people noticed about him.

“N-No reason…I-I mean…who?” Aamon stammered.

“Stop playing stupid, we know you’ve been sniffing around the palace looking for Stolas’ grimoire and that Andrealphus and Stella Goetia are somehow involved, confess already!” Blitz barked irritably, getting into Aamon’s face with his pistol drawn.

“W-Wait, you know about all that?” Aamon asked nervously, recoiling from the barrel of Blitz’s pistol.

“Fuck right we do!” Blitz declared again, acting as though he’d solved the whole thing on his own.

“Shit!” Aamon cursed under his breath, averting his gaze to the side clearly seeking his mind for a way out of this.

“Why did you agree to this?” Calus persisted, leaning against the railing of the stairs.

“Ugh, fine. They paid me a shit tone of money to steal the grimoire of prince Stolas plus they’ve been helping me out with some other problems of mine,” Aamon finally confessed.

“Why do they want the grimoire?” Calus pressed.

“I don’t know, I swear!” Aamon insisted, fear flashing across his features.

“Alright, then why did you kill Alfred, the butler?” Calus continued to question.

“He…walked in on me snooping for the grimoire so I…silenced him,” Aamon continued to explain.

“Humph, another fuckin’ blue blood who thinks he can just do whatever he pleases because we’re imps,” Striker growled, yanking the blessed rope making it tighter causing Aamon to groan in pain.

“Easy Striker,” Calus whispered softly.

“What do we do wit him now?” Millie inquired, eagerly holding her axe.

“Easy, we cap him,” Blitz nonchalantly stated, pressing his flint Locke against Aamon’s temple.

“Whoa! Whoa! No, Blitz. We take him to Stolas,” Calus corrected, grabbing Blitz by the shoulder to stop him.

Begrudgingly Blitz withdrew allowing Calus to shove Aamon down the staircase, back towards the ballroom. Calus presented Aamon to Stolas with the full explanation of what had happened, Stolas glared angrily at Aamon with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I cannot believe you decided to work with my ex-wife and ex brother-in-law,” Stolas stated, irritation lacing his overly calm voice.

“Oh please, as if you’re going to be able to convince the entire council that imps can be our equals. We are demon royalty and what you and even the Dracony here are doing is unnatural, not to mention disgusting,” Aamon pompously declared in a venomous tone.

“I’ve heard enough from you, guards! Take him to the dungeons,” Stolas declared, waving his guard hell hounds over.

The hounds came over to take Aamon away as Stolas pinched the bridge of his beak with an exasperated sigh. Blitz had been scowling at Aamon however that changed upon seeing Stolas’ reaction, getting close to the prince as his tail entwined around Stolas’ thigh. Calus watched Aamon being hauled off before turning to Striker who was seething on a bar stool with a whiskey in hand. Gingerly taking a seat next to Striker, Calus gave a soft sigh as Striker swirled his whisky with a small snarl.

“Hey, Ya okay?” Calus inquired gently.

“Fine,” Striker simply replied, swigging his Whisky.

“You sure? I know how stuff like that bothers you,” Calus persisted, bracing his arms on the bar top to lean forwards slightly.

“I’ll be fine, just hate pricks like that. Another imp lost there life simply because some noble asshole thought it was their right ta take it,” Striker growled out, tail beginning to rattle irritably.

“I know…” Calus trailed off softly, looking to the bar top.

“Can we go home?” Striker whispered in turn.

“Yeah, let’s go home,” Calus agreed.

Downing the last of his drink Striker stood up with Calus, said a quick farewell to Stolas as well as Blitz, Millie and Moxxie then headed out the door. After arriving home, the duo got comfortable, laying in bed to unwind from the stressful evening that had transgressed however Calus noticed that Striker was being offish.

“You sure you’re, okay?” Calus inquired, trying to not pester Striker.

“I told Ya, I’m fine,” Striker reiterated keeping his eyes firmly glued to his phone screen.

“You’ve been offish since we got home,” Calus abscently commented.

“It’s…ugh…I just…I can’t help but feel like a hypocrite,” Striker caved with a heavy sigh, placing his phone on the bedside table.

“A hypocrite? Why?” Calus asked arching a brow in confusion.

“Because of you! I bitch about how nobles don’t give two shits about us imps and boast about how we need to stand up for ourselves against them…how they should all pay for their sins…yet I’m…” Striker ranted, gesturing to Calus in between promptly taking the Dracony off guard.

“Striker…look I understand what you’re saying, and you know that I agree with your opinion on the matter…that doesn’t make you a hypocrite, if anything it makes you revolutionary,” Calus said trying to make Striker feel better.

“How so?” Striker curiously asked, arching his own brow now in curious confusion.

“You, me, Blitz and Stolas, fuck! Even Fizz and Ozzy, we’re all proving those other nobles wrong. We’re all proving that no matter who you are, or your station love is love,” Calus explained.

Striker grew quiet for a bit clearly contemplating what Calus had told him when suddenly he started scooting towards Calus’ side of the bed. Gently raising his arm Calus allowed Striker to curl up to his side, embracing the imp around his shoulders as Striker laid his head on the Dracony’s chest and nuzzled into it.