Episode 10: “Cat Nap”
1152 Words
[Morning at I.M.P Headquarters]
The office was already buzzing. Moxxie sat at his desk, humming while filling out paperwork. Millie sharpened her axes with a cheerfully ominous smile. Loona leaned against the counter, scrolling her phone with the usual mix of boredom and disdain. Blitz, meanwhile, was pacing across the room in his usual restless, chaotic energy.
On the couch, sprawled out like a big cat, Daniel — the ARCH DARK CRUSADE himself, though no one knew — was snoring quietly, his arms crossed, head tilted back, the faintest scowl still etched into his sleeping face.
Blitz stopped pacing and pointed.
BLITZØ:
"Look at him. Big scary grump demon, sleeps like a housecat after a tuna binge. Doesn’t even drool like Moxxie does."
MOXXIE:
(offended)
"I do not drool!"
MILLIE:
(grinning)
"You totally do, sugarplum. I’ve seen the puddles."
Loona smirked, glancing up from her phone.
LOONA:
"He’s like a cat that hates everything. Sleeps in sunbeams, stares like he’s planning your funeral, and if you touch him without permission he’ll probably take your hand off. Grumpy-ass kitty."
Blitz cackled, slapping his knee.
BLITZØ:
"YES! That’s it! He’s not a bat, he’s a cat. A giant, pissed-off kitty cat who just happens to scare the s**t outta everyone."
Daniel stirred slightly, one eye cracking open, glowing faintly blue.
DANIEL:
(half-asleep growl)
"...I can still hear you."
They froze, then Blitz waved him off.
BLITZØ:
"Shhh, go back to sleep, Mr. Whiskers. Daddy Blitz gave you couch privileges for a reason. You earned it, buddy!"
Daniel grunted but shifted back, closing his eyes again.
---
[Later – Job Done]
After a chaotic contract run where I.M.P blew up half a warehouse to take out a greedy loan shark Human in the Human World, the team returned to the office. Daniel had tagged along — not fighting, just standing like an unmovable wall behind Blitz whenever danger flared. One demon even tried to stab Blitz from behind, only for Daniel’s hand to shoot out, crushing the weapon with a single motion before glaring the attacker into fleeing.
It was… effective. Blitz admitted (silently) that having a bodyguard wasn’t the worst idea.
But after the mission, Daniel was back on the couch, arms folded, head dipping again.
BLITZØ:
(staring at him with hands on hips)
"Alright, enough nap time, Garfield. You’ve earned a day out. And by ‘earned,’ I mean I’m dragging you with us whether you like it or not."
Daniel opened one eye, suspicious.
DANIEL:
"...For what purpose?"
MOXXIE:
(smiling)
"We thought maybe you could use a break. Shop around, maybe get yourself some clothes that aren’t just… y’know…"
LOONA:
"...Depression chic with a hood."
MILLIE:
"Plus, we all need a few new things too! So why not make it a family trip?"
Daniel stared at them. They were all smiling. Blitz grinning like a madman, Millie with genuine sunshine, Moxxie with nervous politeness, and even Loona was smirking like she half-meant it.
For a man who spent his nights lurking in shadows, hunting Hell’s worst… this almost felt alien.
DANIEL:
"...Fine. One trip."
Blitz clapped his hands.
BLITZØ:
"YES! Family shopping day! Oh my Satan, this is gonna be adorable."
---
[Shopping District – Imp City]
Imp City’s shopping district was loud, neon-soaked, and chaotic. Shops screamed with advertisements, and demons hawked cheap knockoffs of enchanted goods.
I.M.P waded through the mess, dragging Daniel reluctantly along.
Loona picked out a spiked collar for herself and rolled her eyes when Blitz tried to force a “cute pastel hoodie” into her arms. Moxxie wandered into a music store and got lost testing demon guitars. Millie kept running into racks of weapons-for-sale disguised as gardening tools.
Blitz, meanwhile, was dead-set on dressing Daniel up.
BLITZØ:
"Come on, just try the leather jacket! You’ll look like a badass nightclub bouncer. No one messes with those guys!"
DANIEL:
(flatly)
"No."
BLITZØ:
"Okay, okay, what about this trench coat? Or — OOH! A Hawaiian shirt! Big grumpy kitty in a Hawaiian shirt, priceless!"
DANIEL:
(stares, unamused)
"...You want me dead, don’t you."
BLITZØ:
(snorting laughter)
"Maybe just my dignity."
---
[The Encounter – Verosika’s Crew]
As they moved between shops, the team stopped at a crosswalk. That’s when they spotted them.
Verosika Mayday, glittering as always, leading her succubus crew down the sidewalk like a runway show. Vortex walked just behind, casual but sharp-eyed, sunglasses reflecting the neon.
Tension hit for a moment. Old wounds between Blitz and Verosika weren’t exactly forgotten… but things had changed.
Verosika paused, glanced over the group — eyes narrowing when she saw Blitz.
Blitz froze.
BLITZØ:
"...Oh shit."
Instead of venom, though, Verosika smirked.
VEROSIKA:
"Well, well, well. Look who’s not drunk and crying for once."
BLITZØ:
(defensive, but softer)
"Yeah, well… been trying to clean up my act. Y’know. For reasons."
Verosika gave a faint chuckle.
VEROSIKA:
"Don’t die of shock, but… it’s nice to see."
Loona blinked, caught off guard. Moxxie and Millie whispered to each other, impressed.
Then Verosika’s gaze landed on Daniel.
The hooded figure, towering and silent, his eyes faintly glowing even in the daylight.
VEROSIKA:
"...And who’s tall, dark, and allergic to smiling?"
Loona snorted.
LOONA:
"That’s Daniel. Our bodyguard-s***h-office-cat."
Vortex tilted his sunglasses, sizing Daniel up like a predator spotting another predator.
VORTEX:
"...Damn. Dude’s got presence. Respect."
Daniel didn’t react, just gave a low grunt, which Blitz immediately translated with a grin.
BLITZØ:
"He says thank you, but also he hates you and wishes you’d stop breathing near him."
DANIEL:
"...I said nothing."
BLITZØ:
"Same difference."
Verosika rolled her eyes, laughing.
VEROSIKA:
"Figures. Only Blitz would hire a bodyguard scarier than his enemies. Good luck with your cat, I guess."
As they passed, Blitz looked back at Daniel.
The guy was still stone-faced. Still silent. Still watching.
But Blitz swore… for just half a second… Daniel’s lips twitched like he almost smirked.
---
[Closing Beat – Back at I.M.P HQ]
The day ended with everyone lugging bags back into the office. Loona was already wearing her new collar. Moxxie carried an amp he definitely didn’t need. Millie had gardening tools that were very clearly battle-axes. Blitz strutted in his “new hat” that looked suspiciously like it came from the kids’ section.
And Daniel? He sat back on the couch. Same hoodie. Same armor hidden beneath. Same expression.
Blitz tossed a bag onto his lap.
BLITZØ:
"Here. One thing. Just for you."
Daniel opened it — a simple black shirt. No flashy symbols. No neon. Just clean. Plain. Practical.
He looked at Blitz, then at the shirt again.
And for the first time that day… he actually put it on.
No words. No comment. Just acceptance.
Loona smirked from her desk.
LOONA:
"...Still a grumpy cat."
Daniel closed his eyes and leaned back into the couch, silent.
But for once, he didn’t mind the noise around him.
---
[End Episode]
- Writer
