Wait For Me

Chapter 16 - Home Again

CW: the part of this chapter that involves Mimsy and Alastor might get uncomfortable for some people. It is based off a real-life experience I had as a person who identifies as demisexual. Please keep in mind that it IS all consensual but with varying degrees of coercion/manipulation. The feelings involved are also not reciprocated, which adds to it. Like me a few years ago, Alastor doesn't understand his sexuality (and he won't for a long time, keep in mind this was the 1930's), and so therefore, he doesn't understand why he feels how he does or what he should do about it.

One thing Alastor could not do was keep up with Anthony. After he got over his initial shock of his toes suddenly being crushed under a heavy boot, he realized the blonde had sprinted off. Alastor chased him for several blocks, – though it was with a bit of a limp - calling after him and telling him to wait, but to no avail. His shadow offered to stop him, but Alastor refused. Clearly Anthony still believed his life was in danger, and Alastor didn't want to make matters worse. He accepted defeat, coming to a stop on a side street. He ignored the looks passerby gave him for his running and shouting.

He regretted his actions and the explosive anger that brought them on. He knew he felt something for the younger man, and his gut was telling him to pursue it. Meanwhile, his heart was telling him he royally messed up tonight, and his brain kept reminding him that he completely failed his assignment. He would have to come up with an excuse to give to Lucifer about why he failed, and if he was being honest, he feared what consequences the King of Hell would conjure up.

He then resolved to leave Anthony a letter before he left the next morning. He felt like that was the only way he could attempt to apologize for anything, and with luck, maybe the blonde would write him back. One day. With a heavy sigh, Alastor made his way back to his hotel.

April 1st, 1930

Alastor stepped off the two-toned green locomotive and breathed in the heat and humidity.

He was home.

He looked back and forth at his surroundings. The city taught him that a lot could change in a few months, but he was relieved to find that everything in New Orleans was almost exactly the same. Stepping into the French Quarter, he could see the deli on the corner, and the pâtisserie that sold the most divine beignets and chocolate covered croissants. Both shops were still surviving through the Depression. Alastor was grateful they hadn't closed down while he was away. Seeing them brought him immense comfort.

He walked along the streets with other pedestrians, whistling a tune as he went. He was starving – train food was only good if one could afford it, and Alastor could not -  and he couldn't wait to get home and eat a proper meal. The Italian food in New York was all well and good, but it had been months since he last had a good home-cooked Cajun meal. He had no doubt his mother and Rosie would bombard him with questions about his trip the second they were able to, and he thought it might be nice if he prepared them a bowl as well so they could all eat together while he told his story.

Thirty-one hours on a train made him yearn for his bed and his family. His maman had intended to meet him at the train station, but she got called in to work last minute, and Rosie was apologetic as she also had prior engagements. It was fine though. He would make them all a good meal, talk about his trip, and then go to sleep.

His house by the bayou was about forty-five minutes from the station, so he hopped on a streetcar and let it carry him through familiar streets and sights. After being gone for so long, there was nothing like coming home to your roots. However, on his way to his house, he couldn't help but to think back to a conversation he had with Anthony - forever ago now, it seemed – about the blonde coming to New Orleans one day, and what they would do together if he did. Alastor sighed and slumped further in his seat. He knew he had acted brashly. He knew he had made a big mistake the night of their huge fight. And now the younger man would probably never want anything to do with him ever again.