Show and tell (𝓡𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓬 // 𝔸𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣 𝕩 𝕍𝕠𝕩)

Part 3: The past unfolds

Charlie's eyes were bubbly and sparkling. Alastor cleared his throat and moved himself to his bed. The floor had become quite uncomfortable. "Well, that photo was taken without me knowing, you know." Charlie gasped and climbed quickly onto the bed as well. "Wait, what, who dared do that to... you?"she asked, shocked. "And you just let it happen?" "Let me explain, dear."Alastor said, looking a little annoyed by her impatience. "It all started when..."

•   ~  •

Alastor was waiting for him to come at their meeting spot. He said he had a little surprise for him yesterday, and Alastor, without realizing, he had developed a feeling of... excitement for today, even some expectations. He was already a little underwhelmed, though. Vox had already been twelve minutes late. He checked his pocket watch. No, fourteen minutes late. Alastor closed it with a frustrated click and put it deep into his pocket again. He had regretted he overdressed. Today was literally the hottest day of the summer.

He put his hand into his other pocket to take out his handkerchief, to wipe his sweaty face, but he couldn't find it. Instead, he took out a string. He sighed. Nothing was going his way today. But at least that string could come in use. He pulled his hair back and tied it clumsily. He had never done so before. Now, the heat was bearable anyway.

"S-sorry I'm late, Al-l". Alastor almost jumped. Vox was standing right behind him, resting his body on his knees, fighting for breath. "I j-just had some last things t-to take...." he took a break so that he could catch his breath again. He coughed and straightened up. "To take care of before you visit." He finally finished as if nothing had happened. He smiled brightly at Alastor. Al could almost feel his eyes burn, and he couldn't tell if it was because of the sun or Vox's face. "I hope you didn't wait thaaat long, I'm pretty sure I was as speedy as..." he was saying while checking his modern wrist watch. "...oh, fuck. I'm so sorry, Al, honestly. I thought I had more time to... well, that's not an excuse. I didn't mean to let you wait for so long, my... dear." Alastor looked at him, his arms crossed. He had already developed a headache because of the sun and the suffocating atmosphere.

"And, the... the heat is unbearable today, too... although I see you found your way with it... kinda," he said, pointing at Alastor's ponytail. He was trying desperately to start a conversation with him, to make sure that he wasn't super mad. "What I mean to say is that... I..." he looked down and blushed. "I like your hair."he managed to say slowly and very quietly. Alastor immediately uncrossed his arms and just stood there, processing. His hair was messy as ever, and Vox liked it? What a peculiar man, indeed, what a strange and charming man, he thought. "Why, thanks," he said, straightening up proudly as if he had been working on that hairstyle for hours.

Vox giggled and stared deeply into Alastor's eyes. He examined his beautiful face very carefully. His hair was just the tip of the iceberg. All of Alastor's features blending together were the most perfect mix of all. Vox cherished his beauty a little longer before noticing his flawless face getting sweatier and sweatier. Alastor was looking at him too, but his vision became a little blurry out of nowhere. He felt his knees bending and his head heavier than ever.

Vox gasped and caught him as he was passing out, right in front of him. "Oh my Satan, Al? Al, do you hear me?". He was panicking now. He put his hand on his sweaty forehead to wipe his hair out of the way and felt it very hot. "Oh my, you're burning!" he gasped. "Don't worry, my sweet, it will be okay." he then whispered as he lifted him onto his arms.

He had never seen Alastor, so... weak. 'He must've had a heat stroke or something. But he would be okay', thought Vox. 'I won't leave him until he betters. Besides, it's my fucking fault... what a dump bitch I am..' Vox sighed at his stupidity. And now Alastor was unconscious because he wanted to make sure every little thing was in order in his new house. He didn't want Al to see how sloppy he was, so he had to deep clean every single thing. Only that had taken... more than his small brain had anticipated.

Luckily, the very house that he spent all his day organizing was really really close to their meeting point, and he shouldn't have any trouble getting there. He was hoping for a romantic walk though, but, oh well. The house was very close to the beach, and it had a nice view. Although it was fairly big, it was also well-hidden, and Alastor would love it. Vox knew that Al was living in his radio tower for a long time, and this new place would be perfect for him. Although Alastor kept telling Vox that he didn't need a home, he preferred his tower, he viewed it as his actual home, even if it didn't have a kitchen or a bathroom. Just a mattress on the floor, which Al was strangely very fond of.

Vox smiled to himself and looked down at Al, who was now breathing steadily and holding tight Vox's shirt. Vox tried to hold him better, more comfortably, and also rested his back a little.

Once they got to the beach house, Vox carried Alastor to the bedroom and laid him on his bed. He brushed the hair out of Al's face yet again and kissed him on the forehead, which was still very hot. Vox unbuttoned Alastor's shirt to help his body cool faster and untied his bow tie as well. He then went to the bathroom, wetted some towels with cold water, and came back to gently place them onto Alastor's head and belly.

'Al, love, I'm truly an idiot. No wonder you call me a dump picture box. That's exactly what I am. I'm sorry,' he lowered his head and felt his throat sore. 'I wonder how a demon like you ever even turned to look at me. It is a matter of time until you get bored of me, dear.  I know it. But until then, I will cherish you as much as I can.' He smiled at his lie. He wished that was true, but it wasn't. He had to look at the future. He knew that Alastor wouldn't be there forever, he couldn't count at somebody's love for him. He knew very well that this 'love' only lasts a little while. Alastor's, though, had lasted a lot longer than expected, but Vox still dreaded the day that he won't love him anymore. He knew that was inevitable. And that was part of the reason he had made that decision. The reason he had invited him over.

He sighed and sat at the side of the bed. He took Alastor's hand and kissed it very gently. One tear fell down his eye and wetted the freshly cleaned sheets. He really loved him. He had never cared for anyone that much, dead or alive. He couldn't lose him. He couldn't bear Alastor losing interest in him. He was terrified.

•   ~  •

"What? You fainted??" gasped Charlie. "Actually, I did not faint, exactly, I was just... a little under the weather, " replied Alastor quickly, correcting her. "But you literally said that he complimented you for your 'neat hair', you suddenly felt dizzy, and then you don't remember what happened," said Charlie, confused. "Yes, and that is because I don't. But, you know, it was a really long time ago, so I guess I just forgot," explained Alastor, convincing himself that he could not have shown a sign of weakness so inexcusable.

"Al, it's okay if you did faint, I told you, no need to be embarrassed about such small things." Charlie held his hand and smiled sympathetically, like a mother teaching her child why it's okay to not be able to build that sand castle at first try. Alastor sighed. "Perhaps, but I find it very unlikely," he kind of admitted it finally. "What I do remember though, very clearly too, is that I woke up in a bed, at a random house, with his face into mine, like he was the butter and I was the bread. Quite rude, if you ask me," shrugged Alastor, pissed even at the thought of Vox. "But what stuck to me, though, was what he told me next..." he sighed, and even though his smile never left his face, his eyes were telling all the truth. It was a painful memory, apparently.