Alastor X Reader: Blood For Freedom

16. Friends

*** Your POV ***

"Ohhoooo!" Stolas exclaimed his voice briefly sounding more like an owl call, "Its one of those fancy music boxes!" He jumped up like a little kid in a candy store. "Come Y/n, you simply must have a dance with me just like old times."

You had no idea what he could possibly find on there to put on, as you never really perused it yourself. But Stolas immediately spotted a silly little song you used to play to cheer up Via, which he put on with no hesitation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK0M36MANAE

Chicken, nice fried chicken
Barbecued chicken, won't you send it down the line?Say everyone's talking 'bout chicken
Chicken's a popular word
But anywhere you go, you're bound to find
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird!

This rendition had a jazzy swing style to it - probably because it was Alastor who put the jukebox there - but the memories of Via crying, usually because of Stella, then you putting on this song, still flooded your mind. Stolas would usually come running when he heard his little starfire cry and was more than happy to help cheer her up, one day Via was especially upset and Stolas offered you his hand. Confused, you took it and he pulled you into a dance, as you twirled and jumped together Via's tears dissipated until she was bounding along side you.

You couldn't help but laugh as the demon who was supposed to be a prince, acted like an overly mannered man child and started hopping around merrily until he got back to you at the bar offering you a hand, just like then. You took it letting him pull you away from the bar in a happy and very silly dance. He took both of your hands and you went back and forth changing your feet it tandem. Sometimes he would pick you up or twirl you briefly like he was trying to be fancy but the stupidity of the song just made it all maddeningly funny. Leaving both you cracking up hysterically with tears in your eyes by the end.

*** Alastor POV ***

The bird pulled you away from the bar, your melodic laughter echoing in my head. I have seen you laugh at my jokes, or other things but not like that. Not this relieved type of laughter that seemed to fill the room.

And I specifically haven't seen you so much as crack a genuine smile the last few days and I couldn't help but think it was my fault. Or at least my shadow definitely thought so and would take every opportunity to remind me of it with many a scathing word. It was one thing to get called an ignorant bastard by somebody else, it was entirely another to have a piece of you say that to your face. Repeatedly.

I missed you. You were right there, I saw your face every day but since that evening its like you've withdrawn. It was almost fear I saw in your eyes when I tried to talk to you, not the kind where you were scared for your life, but fear of letting yourself go. Not wanting to cause you more distress I stayed away, refraining from coming to your room to ask for the sleep mixture you've been giving me. Part of me hated myself for wanting it. But not only could I sleep in peace without those wretched nightmares and actually feel rested it was a good excuse to come see you and chat. Ask about all the skulls in your room, and the different sketches and herbs. Complain to you about the antics around the hotel.

Somehow despite all the people around me, and despite the fact that I ran at almost 102F due to my deer counterpart, I often felt cold to the bone since then. And I didn't know how to fix it.

I watched the silly dance, unable to not notice that despite the ridiculousness, your elegance showed through. You looked like a dark fairy with your long skirt billowing as the owl twirled you around. Clearly, you knew how to dance and I didn't even know. That realization made my fingers curl tightly around my cane.

"There's nothing going on between them boss." Husker pulled me out of my thoughts, and I snapped my head to him expecting some sort of defiant grin. Instead he was just calmly wiping the counter, not even looking up at me.