"You a sinner?" Loona asked, eyeing Max over the rim of her drink. "So what, you hoping to score a discount with my dad's company?"
She said it casually, but there was a sharp edge underneath. A test. A warning. A dare.
Max shook his head quickly.
"No no no," he said. "I just saw a cute hellhound getting harassed by mutts and thought I'd help a cute one like you."
The moment the words left his mouth he regretted them.
His brain screamed.
Too fast. Too cheesy. Abort mission.
Loona blinked.
She should've been annoyed.
Should've barked back.
Should've told him to screw off.
But instead…
Her ears twitched.
And her cheeks warmed slightly under her fur.
"…Interesting," she muttered, taking a long drink. "Most sinners I meet are horrified by the thought. Humans hate 'furries' or whatever. Stupid as hell."
Max snorted.
"I wanted to join the community once," he said. "Too busy. And they get a bad reputation. People think it's all… weird stuff. Not even close. It's just people being people with extra fluff."
He gestured vaguely at his ears.
"Anyway, I'm rambling. What are you doing in a place like this? Looks like it's held together with duct tape and bad decisions."
Loona stared at the bar.
The cracked counter.
The sticky floor.
The buzzing lights.
"It's quiet," she said after a moment. "And my dad doesn't come here. That's enough."
She turned back to him, studying the scars on his body.
"You look like you died in a lightning storm," she said. "How new are you?"
"A few hours," Max replied. "And yeah, these should heal. Hopefully. If Hell doesn't decide to keep them as decoration."
Loona leaned closer, sniffing faintly.
"You've got wolf traits," she said. "That's… weird for a sinner."
Max laughed softly.
"Yeah," he said. "And apparently that makes everyone treat me like a knockoff hellhound. Like I'm gonna shed on the furniture. So… I don't really have a place to go."
He shrugged.
Tried to make it sound casual.
Loona looked away.
Thought.
Her tail flicked once.
Twice.
"…We've got a spare closet at work," she muttered. "It's crap, but you won't freeze."
Max smiled.
"Sounds perfect," he said. "Plus I get to see you every day."
Loona choked.
"That's corny," she snapped. "Kinda cute— I mean— shut up!"
She slammed her forehead into the table.
Hard.
Max winced.
"You good?" he asked. "Let me buy you something strong."
He walked to the bar and ordered the hardest drink they had.
He did not expect the bartender to slide over Beelzejuice.
Loona downed it in one go.
Max stared.
"…Oh no."
Her pupils dilated instantly.
Her tail wagged like a weapon.
"You're… really cute," she slurred, grabbing his cheeks and squishing his face.
"Okay!" Max said quickly. "We're going home. I forgot how illegal that drink is."
He hauled her upright as she leaned half her weight on him.
She smelled like alcohol and smoke and something warm.
As he walked, a thought crossed his mind.
Millie.
Moxxie.
The future.
A phantom ring appeared in his hand.
Invisible to everyone else.
It pulsed and showed him a vision.
If he won Millie's heart in two months…
Moxxie would still stay at IMP.
He'd just end up engaged to her sister instead.
No heartbreak.
No collapse.
No damage.
Max exhaled slowly.
"…Luck might actually be on my side," he murmured.
"What did you say?" Loona slurred, leaning harder into him.
"Nothing," he said. "Just thinking out loud."
They reached the I.M.P. office.
Max opened the door.
And immediately regretted it.
"WHO THE FUCK IS THAT?!" Blitzø screamed.
Max closed his eyes.
"Fuck," he whispered internally.
Blitzø stood in the center of the room, gun already halfway raised. Moxxie peeked from behind a desk. Millie froze mid-step.
Loona waved lazily.
"Dad," she slurred. "I found a guy."
Silence.
Blitzø looked between Max.
Loona.
Back to Max.
"…You kidnapped my daughter?" he asked calmly.
"No!" Max said instantly. "She kidnapped me emotionally and I just followed."
Millie snorted.
Moxxie coughed to hide a laugh.
Blitzø narrowed his eyes.
"You're sleeping in the closet," he said. "And if you touch anything I own, I shoot you."
"Fair," Max replied.
Loona gave him a lazy thumbs-up.
Then passed out against his shoulder.
Max caught her.
Careful.
Gentle.
The ring on his finger pulsed faintly again. Meaning he is on the right track.
[AN: his rings aren't seen by others, they represent Anchor points. Points in time which can not be changed after they happen. And yes, he is going to get Millie and might even have sex with the girls before present day. Who knows. Anyway if you have suggestions comment them. Enjoy. Also i will not include Cherry Bomb, Rossi, or Lilith. Mostly flor plot reasons and Rossi is dangerous to be with]