The Boy Next Door

The Test

TW: discussion of death and grieving, also mention of abuse

Anthony was lying awake, Alastor passed out against him as he stared at the ceiling. For the first time in a while, he felt okay. It had been a few days since he'd been able to wander the house, and everything felt alright. Glancing to his side, he carefully moved the man off of him. Standing up, he walked over to Alastor's desk. Even if he felt better, sleep often wouldn't come. And he found himself remaining restless the entire night. Sitting down, he took out a pen and simply fiddled with it for a second. To put it simply, he was bored. There was a moment where he just sat there staring at the wall, just trying to think of anything to do. Glancing to his side, he still saw nothing but more dimly lit walls. Eyes falling on a folded piece of paper on the dresser, he perked up. Standing himself, he walked over to pick it up. Unfolding the paper and holding it under the light to see it.

Alastor,
The-

"Anthony?" The blonde quickly looked up at the sound of Alastor's voice. "Oh- sorry Smiles, did I wake ya up?" He asked quietly. "Not really, why are you awake? What time is it?" The brunette asked, sitting up to glance at the clock. "It's like- two. Sorry, I just couldn't sleep so I got up." There was a brief silence between the two, Alastor pushing himself to sit up a bit. "Come back to bed?" He offered, moving to his side again. Anthony gave a soft smile in return, folding the paper and putting it back down. "Fine, but only if there's cuddles involved. Or else I ain't doin' shit." Alastor huffed a quiet laugh at his words and opened his arms for the blonde. "Of course, of course."

Elisabeth woke up early like she did most mornings, getting dressed and going downstairs. Upon arriving in the kitchen, she immediately noted... the shadow. It was just staring out the window. The woman standing in the doorway watching for a moment, before announcing herself. Clearing her throat as she stepped forward. "It's nice to see you again." She said quietly. The shadow glanced at her, before it suddenly appeared directly in front of her. The cold of it's presence sending a chill up her spine. It said nothing, just staring down at her. "....well, I'm going to make myself some tea.. you, do whatever you were-" The entity cut her off, pushing a piece of paper into her hand and vanishing. Elisabeth stood quietly for a moment, before glancing down at the paper. It was....a letter?

And written messily in ink at the very top

"FOR ANTHONY"

Folding the paper in half and setting it on the counter, she gave the room a once over, just in case the shadow was still lurking somewhere. Before going on with her morning.

Alastor was dead silent, awake, but silent. That terrible sinking feeling was there. He felt cold, almost numb in a way. And was becoming hard to tell whether he was even breathing at times. Time felt fast, yet painfully slow. The room was spinning, no...shrinking. There's no room, nowhere to go. Trapped. Familiar, it's too familiar. Death was constantly at his door, yet at the same time so far away. And there is nowhere left to run. There was one thing he could tell himself, but it didn't seem to work. "It's not your time yet." That sentence repeated like a broken record. Over and over and over again. Everything felt so still. Too still. Why was it so quiet?!

Luckily something- or rather...someone cut through that quiet. Anthony's hand tracing circles on his chest as the blonde slowly woke up. Alastor let out a shaky exhale, suddenly back to reality. While still a little stiff that is. Anthony sighed as he adjusted himself to sit up as much as he could. "Good morning... my love." He muttered, before lying down next to him again. Not wanted to move more than that. Alastor glanced down at him, small smile pulling at his lips. "Good morning to you." Anthony brought a hand up to rub his eyes, all while waking himself up fully. "You workin' today?" He asked quietly. The brunette shook his head. "No, I don't until tomorrow." Anthony smiled at that. "Perfect, ya all mine for now." He muttered, now pushing himself to sit up a bit, enough to look down at the man next to him. Bringing a hand to cup his cheek. Immediately pulling it back when the brunette flinched. There was a brief silence, Anthony only catching up with what had just happened. The smile on his face faltering when it finally clicked. "...Al, are you okay?" He asked quietly. Alastor sighed, sitting up as well. "Yes Anthony, I'm alright." What was originally a concerned expression turned to a frown. "What happened to not lying to each other? What's. wrong." Alastor looked at him. And for a split second, considered actually telling him. Not just about the letter....about everything.