Priceless (Alastor X Reader)

Ambivalence

Days went by.

Days turned into weeks.

A few weeks turned into a month.

The relationship between the two of you remained peaceful. Forming a routine fairly quickly. Most days when you woke up, Alastor was long gone to work already. Usually leaving you a little note with your list of chores on it that he would slide under your door. Sometimes you would wake up early and enjoy breakfast together. Sometimes when you woke up, there would be no list at your door. And the two of you would spend the day out on the town or doing something together around the house.

Alastor grew fond of your company; accepting it with ease as you became a new part of his routines. He greeted you each day with a smile. Always making a point to ask you how your day was and you would do the same. You would help him in the kitchen when he would make dinner. Sometimes you went your separate ways for the evening but usually you'd end up doing something together, even if it was nothing noteworthy.

Your feelings towards Alastor remained conflicted. However, less for the same reasons as before. You didn't resent him like you first had. He had been nothing but kind and true to his word. You no longer felt afraid of him so long as you didn't provoke him. Regardless, you felt strange opening up to him still. You enjoyed your time spent together and found him overall pleasant to be around -when he wasn't in a weird mood, that is. You'd hesitate to admit it but you felt guilty for still feeling apprehensive about him. As if he didn't deserve your apprehension; despite the premise of your odd relationship. It felt like it would have been the more normal thing to treat him as a friend. You couldn't deny it was a strange conflict of emotions.

You had warmed up to him, little by little. Laughing at his jokes. Making him laugh at yours. Having conversations that didn't revolve around cynical sarcasm. Not only that, but... You were sleeping more soundly at night. Enjoying the inviting cushion of the soft mattress and blankets. As days went on you found it easier to smile again. You started singing again while you would do your daily tasks (Alastor had yet to catch you doing so; but his shadows would awe and fawn when they heard you, and later tell him about it.).

You were beginning to feel a sense of normalcy in your situation; almost as if you were used to it.

Alastor spared no expenses when it came to you. Fancy dinners, lively events, pretty outfits, sparkling jewelry of only the most luxurious of materials; if you had not a good head on your shoulders, he would have spoiled you rotten already. And on the plus side you weren't being visited by strange silhouettes anymore.

You missed your old life, your former routine. Your parents. Your friends. Coworkers. Normalcy... However, you'd be lying if you said that those expensive outfits didn't feel comfier now than they first did a month ago. That your bed may even feel cozier. That feeling full of food felt more satisfying. Music maybe even sounded sweeter. Stories were envisioned more vividly.

His smile was warmer now, and more welcoming. Or perhaps... Just less threatening.

Maybe you were just getting used to things.

Just as he had planned you were almost the perfect pawn. He didn't need you to adore him exactly, he just needed you to be comfortable enough to be weary about returning to your old ways. To trust him. To feel safe and maybe even a little dependent on him. He could see that you were becoming more comfortable. And with his growing fondness, he saw less and less of a reason to rid himself of you each day that passed by.

Of course, that didn't mean the intrusive thoughts didn't come and go... At times he would linger on the thought of toying with you. The mental image of crimson streams dripping down your body. Admiring features of you, like a pinky to add to the collection or skull for the mantel. Maybe even keep your teeth or fingernails, a lock of your hair; as a sordid souvenir of you once the rest of your body begins to rot. Wondering if you would scream in your final breath, wondering if you would fight back and give him a challenge before the inevitable... But, he was quick to push those thoughts away when they came.