All is Fair in Love and War (Alastor x Reader)

Chapter 62

"Excuse me?"

For the first time since you had known of Alastor's existence, his face went pale as a ghost. Viola was visibly shaken as she delivered the news, dreading the inevitable anger from her son that would ensue. She didn't blame him. But what she didn't expect was the unmistakable fear that lingered within him. Bubbling, sweltering up to the surface to join his wrath. Images of all the marks William had left on him, all the violent words echoed in his head like he was hearing them firsthand, his heart began to race in his chest and soon his hands felt tingly and almost numb. Recalling every night he lay awake in the dark, waiting for the aching in his bones to subside as he listened to music from the radio in his room; almost as if he was reliving each night all over again. The fear. The anger. The guilt. All of it, all at once. The room around him didn't even feel real anymore to him.

He felt pathetic, although he'd never dare admit it. Despite how powerful he knew he was, the thought of encountering his father made him feel like a scared child all over again.

"Hun?" You called out to him cautiously, watching as he seemed to be desperately holding on to the thin thread that was keeping his composure together.

"I need some air. I'm sorry..." He said quietly. Then immediately turned on his heels and scurried off somewhere. The room was silent for a moment, one could have heard a pin drop in the next room it was so quiet. The air was thick and heavy with tension, weighing on all of you as you sat and tried to process everything that was going on right now.

"Well shit..." You heard Angel mutter.

"Is he okay?" Molly asked.

"Y/n should we check on him?" Charlie asked, walking over to Viola as they both looked over to you. You pursed your lips and thought for a moment. The man's probably seeing red right now, but admittedly you were worried he may be having a panic attack or something similar. But you knew that he knew himself well enough, and that if he needed someone with him he would've asked you or someone to run along with him.

"He'll be okay..." you said quietly. "Give him a minute. I think he just relived his past right in front of us a minute ago."

"I'm terribly sorry I had to bare such bad news..." Viola said quietly, a heavy burden on her back knowing she probably just turned her sons world completely upside down. But what else could she do? No one else knew but her, and she couldn't just sit by idly and do nothing.

"You did the right thing." Charlie affirmed quietly.

You nodded solemnly in agreement. "You'll have to forgive him..." you added, looking back over at Viola. "For the past hundred some odd years he... thought you were in Heaven. And then to find out his dad still has an active vendetta against him, well..."

She nodded, coming back over to one of the couches and sat down, holding her chin in her hand. "Sloth as a deadly sin has more than just the popular definition attached to it..."

You furrowed your brows and looked over at Charlie and the others, exchanging equally bewildered and confused expressions as you awaited for Viola to continue. "Pray tell?" Vaggie pried on behalf of the rest of you.

His mother sighed heavily, clasping her hands together as she spoke. "I never acted upon the circumstances we were in during life. I was passive and afraid, I never stood up to his father. I didn't try to leave and save Alastor by taking him with me. I was afraid, and in turn it made me complacent in the torment I endured. In the eyes of the angels, that complacency and fear looked like laziness by technicality. To them I willingly endangered myself and my son."

"That's fucked up..." you muttered. "Why punish you for being afraid?" You could feel your face flushing with agitation as you spoke. You knew the judgement system was old and unjust, your suspicions were confirmed with Molly when she told you why she thought she was down here. But this was fucking ridiculous. These souls already suffered. They'd been through enough.