AVA, A different Radioapple fanfiction

I shouldn't have yelled.

After dinner, the playful atmosphere continued as Vox and Ava spent some time drawing together at the table. Laughter echoed around the room as Ava excitedly colored in her pictures, her little fingers flying across the page. But soon enough, her eyelids grew heavy, and the spark in her energy began to fade.

"Okay, Ava, it's time for bed," Alastor said gently, knowing that she needed her rest.

"But I don't want to go to bed!" she protested, her voice thick with fatigue.

Alastor chuckled softly, ruffling her hair. "I know, but you need to sleep. You had a big day at the park!"

Ava's face scrunched up in determination, and she shook her head vehemently, despite looking like a zombie with her half-closed eyes and dazed expression. "No! I'm not tired!"

As Alastor approached her to lift her off the floor, Ava kicked out in protest, landing a hit on his leg. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, taken aback.

"Ava, that's not okay!" he said, raising his voice without meaning to, the shock of the moment taking over.

The suddenness of his tone startled her, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm sorry!" she cried, scrambling to her feet and bolting to her room, her little heart pounding in fear.

Alastor stood frozen in shock, the realization of what had just happened hitting him like a freight train. He had just yelled at her. The sweet little girl who had been so full of joy just moments before was now in tears, running away from him. His heart sank as he felt the weight of his words.

He had tried so hard to create a safe space for her, to nurture her through her trauma, and now it felt like he had just undid weeks, if not months, of progress. Alastor rubbed his face in frustration, feeling guilt wash over him. "What have I done?" he whispered to himself, his heart aching at the thought of Ava feeling scared of him.

Without wasting another moment, Alastor quickly made his way to her room, knocking gently on the door. "Ava?" he called softly. "Can I come in?"

There was no answer, just the soft sound of muffled sobs from the other side. "Please, Ava, I need to talk to you," he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper.

After a moment, the door creaked open just enough for her to peek out, her face stained with tears. Alastor knelt down to her level, his heart breaking at the sight of her small frame trembling.

"Ava, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice filled with remorse. "I shouldn't have yelled. I got frustrated, but that doesn't excuse how I treated you. Hitting isn't okay, but I shouldn't have raised my voice."

Ava's lip quivered as she wiped her eyes. "You... you scared me," she said, her voice small.

"I know, and I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Alastor replied, his tone gentle and sincere. "You're my special girl, and I would never want to hurt you. Can we talk about it?"

After a moment of hesitation, Ava nodded and opened the door wider. Alastor stepped inside, sitting down on the edge of her bed. He could see the remnants of her fear still in her eyes, but he was determined to help her feel safe again.

"I love you, Ava," he said softly. "And I want you to know that it's okay to feel frustrated sometimes. It's okay to be tired, and it's okay to not want to go to bed. I get that, but we need to find ways to express those feelings without hitting, okay?"

Ava sniffled and nodded, her little heart slowly beginning to calm. "Okay," she said quietly.

"I promise I'll do better," Alastor vowed, his eyes earnest. "Can we try again? Maybe we can read a story together before bed?"

Ava's expression softened, and she climbed onto her bed, hugging her favorite stuffed animal close. "I'd like that," she said, a small smile breaking through her tears.

With a sense of relief, Alastor settled beside her, pulling out a book from the shelf. As he read to her, he felt a flicker of hope that they could mend the moment he had broken, reminding himself that progress wasn't always a straight path. Together, they would navigate the ups and downs, one story at a time.