Priceless (Alastor X Reader)

Goodmorning, Heartache Pt 1

The skies were grey today.

So grey in fact, that instead of making color in the world more vivid by comparison, it overpowered them. Muting them, making them dull. It had rained the night prior which added to the dim atmosphere, making the air feel thick with humidity. A thin layer of fog choked the sidewalks and streets, further saturating the town in an almost lifeless atmosphere.

Cloudy and heavy; much like Alastor's psyche.

You couldn't blame him for being so quiet this morning. And you didn't press him to engage in much conversation, either. One could imagine that even with time for mental preparation, it's still challenging to cope with a loss such as this; even if given the chance to say goodbye.

That morning he ate only a morsel of food. Just enough to ensure he wouldn't feel faint until he would eat again later. The poor man had virtually no appetite since he heard the news, which in a way wasn't very surprising. While some would over indulge in sustenance to try and cope with their intense emotions, Alastor's hunger dwindled to a minimum. While you worried and gently insisted he eat something (which he mostly only did to ease your own nerves), he simply wasn't in the mood.

Even the ride to his mothers was quiet. Silence instead of the radio on in the car, less children and adults walking the streets than usual.

It was almost as if the world were on pause, mourning along side him.

You blinked out of a slight daze when you heard Alastor take in a deep breath beside you and then heave a heavy sigh. Looking over at him, you saw his glazed over expression. Watching the road ahead as the driver took you both to your destination, but not taking in any of the scenery. Like his body was just going through motions although his mind was somewhere far away.

Reaching over, you took his hand and held it tight. A small, sympathetic smile tugged at your mouth when you felt him squeeze your hand in return; the action seeming to pull his thoughts down from orbit long enough to capture a moment of his attention.

His eyes met yours, and your heart practically caved in on itself. Not a line in his face would have depicted that his thoughts were heavy but his eyes harbored so much sadness. There was no hiding his grief. His heart was heavy like an anchor and even just sitting next to him you could feel the weight pulling him down.

The shift in pavement to dirt under the wheels had caused both your attention to be redirected, noticing the large white house (which was in need of a fresh coat of paint) coming into view.

Several chickens wandered around the grounds, eyeing the approaching vehicle as you approached the old manor. Any other day, you would have laughed and smiled at how cute they were. You wondered if they were livestock or just pets, although you were fairly sure it was the former and not the latter.

Looking out the window closest to you, you stared up at the large home as the motorcar was finally put into park. Not realizing you were daydreaming a little until you heard the car door next to you open and shut. Alastor walked around and opened your door for you, taking your hand in his as he helped you out and onto your feet. Such a gentleman, even when distressed.

You squeezed his hand again gently and gave him a slight nod, silently reassuring him that it was going to be okay. He gave you a tight smile, appreciating your presence and your efforts. And almost in synced steps, you walked toward the front door. Bracing yourself as Alastor reached for the gold door knockers and hit the metal against the door three times.

A moment of nothing felt like several minutes, but your presence was acknowledged quickly and the sound of the locks being undone on the other side was heard.