Max stepped aside and let Stolas into the hotel.
The air in the lobby immediately felt heavier.
Not hostile — just… royal. Like the building itself knew someone important had walked in and didn't quite know how to behave about it.
Octavia slipped in behind her father and shot Max an apologetic look as they sat down.
"So," Max said carefully, folding his hands. "You had something to ask of me? Sir?"
He was trying very hard to be polite.
After last night's anniversary chaos, Stolas appearing at the hotel at sunrise felt like divine punishment.
Stolas crossed his legs elegantly.
"Oh, nothing dire," he said lightly. "I simply wished to see the daughter of Lucifer and her charming little rehabilitation project in person."
His eyes swept the lobby.
"And," he added casually, "I heard there was a party here last night. An anniversary celebration, wasn't it?"
His gaze snapped back to Max.
"Had to make sure nothing… vulgar happened."
Max straightened instantly.
"No no no," he said too fast. "Nothing like that happened, I promise."
The universe chose that exact moment to betray him.
Charlie stumbled down the stairs wrapped in a blanket, hair a complete disaster.
"Damn," she sighed dreamily. "That Max was so big and good—"
Vaggie sprinted after her in a nightgown.
"Charlie, no—!"
Stolas slowly turned his head.
Max felt his soul leave his body.
"No no Dad!" Octavia shouted, jumping between them. "It isn't what it sounds like!"
"She's right," Vaggie said quickly, finally grabbing Charlie. "She drank way too much last night. She's not thinking straight."
Charlie waved lazily. "Worth it…"
Vaggie slapped a hand over her mouth.
Stolas' eye twitched.
"…Then what," he said slowly, "did she mean?"
Max stared at the ceiling.
"Okay," he muttered. "How do I explain this without dying…"
Bee chose that moment to wander in, sipping from a glowing bottle.
"Oh," she said cheerfully. "Ozzie made toys based on him. We all have one."
Silence.
Stolas turned to Octavia.
"…You have one as well?"
Octavia froze.
"Dad! I'm not a little girl anymore!" she blurted. "I can have toys of my boyfriend if I want!"
She immediately covered her mouth.
The lobby went dead quiet.
Even KeeKee stopped moving.
After a long, painful stretch of silence, Stolas inhaled slowly.
"As long as you do not go the full way yet," he said stiffly. "He still requires my permission."
Bee whistled and casually disappeared back upstairs.
Vaggie dragged Charlie into the kitchen for emergency hydration.
Max rubbed his face.
"How did you even know about the party?" he asked weakly.
Stolas held up a phone.
Angel Dust's social feed was open.
There was a blurry photo of decorations and drinks with the caption:
Best party ever 💋
Max groaned.
"Anyway," Stolas said, putting the phone away. "That is not why I'm here."
His expression shifted.
Serious now.
"I have a problem," he said. "And I require you to fix it."
Max straightened.
"Okay," he said. "What do you need?"
Stolas didn't hesitate.
"I need you to kill a god."
Max blinked.
"…Sorry," he said slowly. "Kill God?"
"Not the God," Stolas snapped. "A god. A human pretending to be one."
Max exhaled. That tracked.
"Zeus," he muttered.
Stolas nodded once.
"He's not just powerful," Stolas added. "He's tied to narrative belief."
Max frowned. "Story power?"
"Oh!" Octavia perked up. "I know this one. Dad told me about this ritual humans used centuries ago."
She turned to Max.
"If enough people believe in a story," she explained, "the person embodying it gains power from the belief. Greek gods, Roman myths — none of it actually happened, but the stories became strong enough to grant abilities."
"Exactly," Stolas said. "And Zeus has a lot of stories."
He leaned forward.
"If belief spikes," he continued bluntly, "he could kill me."
Max stared at him.
There it was.
Stolas wasn't asking for heroics.
He was outsourcing survival.
Max exhaled slowly.
"Fine," he said. "I'll handle it."
Then he added:
"But I want a reward."
Stolas raised a brow.
"Even if you are my future father-in-law," Max continued, "I don't do assassination contracts for free."
He paused.
"…Wait," he added, frowning. "If you and Blitz are together, and I'm marrying both your daughters… then…"
He stared into the distance.
"…I'm not unpacking that right now."
Stolas stood smoothly.
"Good," he said. "I expect results sooner rather than later."
And just like that, he left.
The lobby door shut.
Max stood there for a full five seconds.
Then he exhaled.
"This," he muttered, rubbing his temples, "is going to be a very long week."
Octavia squeezed his hand.
"You'll handle it," she said softly.
Max looked at the door Stolas exited through.
"…Yeah," he said.
"I always do."
And somewhere in Pride…
Zeus laughed.
The hunt had begun.
[AN: Sorry for me dancing around explicit or more fun ways of saying things. I totally would if I could but again, my AI refuse to help me in any way if I did. Anyways, enjoy]