Infernal Rivalry - The Clash Of Vox And Alastor

Chapter 42 : I Love You

(Alastor's POV)

As Vox's words hung in the air, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of confusion. Hadn't we already acknowledged the bond between us? Hadn't we already expressed how much we missed each other when we were apart?. "Vox" I began, my voice cautious as I tried to make sense of his confession. "We've already established that there's something special between us. We've talked about how much we care for each other". But he seemed hesitant, his gaze flickering away from mine as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. "I know" he admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But... but what I'm trying to say is... it's more than just caring, Alastor. It's... it's something deeper. Something... I don't know... more". I furrowed my brow, trying to decipher his meaning. "More than just caring?" I echoed, my tone questioning. "What do you mean, Vox? What are you trying to tell me?". But his response was evasive, his words trailing off as he seemed to retreat into himself. It was clear that whatever he was trying to confess, it was something he was struggling to put into words. And as I watched him grapple with his emotions, a sense of unease settled over me, leaving me wondering what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of our relationship.

"I need to tell you this, I've been putting it off for... well for years", he says, starting intently at me. As his words hung in the air, I sensed a tension building between us, an unspoken anticipation of what was to come. And then, with a sudden burst of courage, he reached out and pulled me close, his lips meeting mine in a desperate kiss. For a moment, I was lost in the intensity of the moment, the warmth of his touch igniting a flurry of emotions within me. But as he pulled back, his gaze searching mine with a mixture of apprehension and longing, I felt a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. "I... I love you" he blurted out, his words echoing in the silence that followed. My mind reeled at his confession, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what he had just said. "What?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper as I searched his face for any sign of doubt or hesitation. But all I found was a raw vulnerability, a flicker of hope shining in his eyes as he waited for my response.

"I love you" Vox repeated, his voice filled with a fervent determination. "I've been wanting to tell you for so long, but I just didn't know how. Every time I'm with you, Alastor, I feel like... like I'm home. And I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. I want to be with you, to share my life with you". His words washed over me in a tidal wave of emotions, leaving me stunned and speechless. How could I respond to such a declaration? How could I make sense of the tangled mess of feelings swirling inside me? "And I know you feel it too," Vox continued, his voice trembling with emotion. "I remember that night we kissed, the way you looked at me, the way you held me... And all those times we've spent together, just the two of us, laughing and talking and... and being together. It's more than friendship, Alastor. It's... it's love".  "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Alastor" Vox continued, his voice trembling with emotion. "I want to wake up next to you every morning, to see your smile and feel your touch. I want to be there for you, through the good times and the bad, to support you and love you unconditionally". His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and laden with expectation. He spoke of a future filled with love and laughter, a future where we were together, side by side, through every trial and tribulation.  But still, I said nothing. The weight of his words bore down on me, suffocating me with their intensity. He reached out and held my hand.

Vox's expression faltered, hurt flashing in his eyes as I withdrew my hand from his grasp. "Alastor...you kissed me...you must feel the same...." His words cut through the air like a knife, each syllable carrying the weight of his disappointment. But still, I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze, my own emotions swirling in a maelstrom of confusion and uncertainty. "That night, I was drunk" I insisted, my voice barely above a whisper. "It was a mistake, Vox. I thought we agreed it was just the alcohol talking". But he wouldn't be dissuaded so easily. He reached out once more, his hand hovering in the space between us, a silent plea for connection. He shook his head, his expression pained yet determined. "It wasn't just the drink, Alastor" he insisted, his voice tinged with desperation. "It was Valentino's cigarette. It's like a drug, it shows your true intentions. And that night... that kiss... it meant something, Alastor. It meant everything to me".