Haunted (Alastor X Reader)

Chapter 43

(Smut warning)
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"My dear, you have magic hands." He sighed happily. Relaxing, sinking into the bed as you sat behind him rubbing his back and shoulders.

"I'm happy I can help." You hummed with a gentle smile. "You really are tense. It's really tight in your left shoulder... So, what's got you so stressed?"

"There's something I must attend to back in Hell in a few days." He sighed, his smile still present on his face however insincere and subtle. "I won't be here for at least a day."

"Okay," you said, tilting your head a little as you looked at him. "Work related?"

"Yes and no."

He pursed his lips and turned to look at you, his eyes not quite as lively as they normally were. You stopped rubbing his back as he turned, now instead gently reaching for one of his hands and holding it.

"Every year, there's a cleanse." He stated, sensing your curiosity. "Exterminator angels are sent down to help with Hell's overpopulation problem. I have to stay and help my colleagues protect the place and keep everyone safe."

"Exterminations?" You wondered. Not at all trying to hide the bewilderment on your face.

"Sent to erase demons." He said almost numbly. "In essence, darling, death for the dead."

Your eyes widened for a moment as you took in the severity of the stakes here. Feeling a slight twinge in your stomach, already starting to worry about him a little. "Lights out?" You reiterated. He nodded.

"Lights out."

"That sounds... scary..." you said softly.

"It's no walk in the park." He admitted. He took a quiet deep breath and smiled a little wider, trying not to stress you out too badly. "Fear not, sweetheart, I made it through almost a hundred years of cleanses, and I'm going to make it through a hundred more."

"You better." You said, forcing a small smile. Trying to take comfort in his reassurance. "I'll be damned if something happens to you."

"Dear, you're damned anyway." He chuckled. "I'll be alright. I have too much to look forward to with you to let anything happen."

Your smile widened slightly and you reached over and hugged him, feeling him wrap his arms around you and rub your back. "I'll be thinking about you." You said softly. Feeling his chest rise and fall as he took a deep breath and gently sighed.

"I know." He answered. "I'll be thinking about you too."

He pulled away from the embrace and swept a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "Everything will be okay. But I'm afraid I have to do this."

"I just don't want to lose you..."

"You won't."

"How do you know?" You asked dismally. "You can't promise something like that."

"You're right, I can't." He said with a tight smile. "But I can promise that I'll try my best to be safe. Besides, I'll be alongside the Princess of Hell. Her powers combined with my own," he chuckled softly as he cupped your cheek. Caressing you sweetly with his thumb. "Everything will be fine."

"Okay." You said softly. You draped your arms around his shoulders and nestled your face into his chest as you leaned against him. He hummed and wrapped his arms around you, holding you close to him. "When does it happen?"

"A week from today." He answered. He gently pulled away from you a small ways and tilted your chin to meet his gaze, his expression was gentle and kind. "No need in stressing about it right now, my love. If you stress yourself out about something that hasn't happened yet, you're basically putting yourself through it twice."