Vox had been feeling bold that day, the kind of bold that ruled out uncertainty. After countless flirtations that lay thick between him and Alastor, the dapper radio demon with a penchant for chaos, Vox finally decided to lay his feelings bare. The moon hung high above the Hellish skyline as he practiced what to say: "Alastor, I really like you as more than a friend."
As the evening wore on, Vox found his opportunity in a dimly lit corner of the club, laughter and music swirling around them. With a nervous flutter in his chest, he took a deep breath and made his confession. "Alastor, I think we'd make a great couple!"
Alastor paused, the grin on his face unwavering but the glint in his eyes shifted. "Oh, Vox," he said, amusement laced into his smooth voice, "that's adorable, really. But I have to decline."
Just like that, the world around Vox collapsed. He felt the tidal wave of embarrassment wash over him, the sting of rejection sharper than the bass reverberating through the club. He could hardly muster a response. Alastor's laughter faded into the background, replaced by an overwhelming silence that echoed the thoughts racing in his mind.
Dejected, he left the club, his heart heavy and mind a whirlpool of confusion and disappointment. He wasn't ready to go home yet, but the last thing he wanted was to be alone, so he called his friends, Valentino and Velvette. Within mere minutes, they were there, concern etched on their faces.
"What happened?" Velvette asked, her voice sweet but tinged with worry.
"Alastor," Vox muttered, his eyes downcast. "He said he doesn't want to date me."
Valentino scoffed, wrapping an arm around Vox. "That idiot doesn't know what he's missing. Come on, let's go home and have some ice cream. Just you, me, and Velvette."
They quickly whisked Vox away from the painful remnants of the club, laughter and teasing filling the car as they drove to Vox's apartment. Inside, the brightly colored walls and lingering scent of vanilla instantly lifted the mood.
After rummaging through the freezer, they settled on a multitude of ice cream flavors — chocolate fudge, rainbow sherbet, and cookie dough. They sprawled out on the couch, giggling uncontrollably as they clicked on the TV to watch "Baby Shark." The simple tune played, and within moments, they were singing along, all thoughts of rejection falling away with each beat.
As Vox lost himself in the cheerful and repetitive melody, he couldn't help but smile. His friends made everything better. However, just as the chorus blared joyfully from the screen, an unexpected knock sounded at his door.
"Who could that be?" Velvette wondered aloud, shrugging as she padded over to answer it.
To Vox's utter shock, standing at the door was Alastor. His tailored suit immaculate, he had that signature smug grin plastered across his face.
"What do you want?" Vox barked, defending the fragile happiness he had found, still half-hoping the universe might magically resolve all his feelings.
Alastor leaned casually against the door frame, crossing his arms. "Well, I thought I'd stop by to tell you that your forehead is about as big as the Eiffel Tower," he said, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Vox blinked, taken aback. "What?"
"Just kidding," Alastor replied with an exaggerated wink, pushing himself off the doorframe and stepping inside uninvited. "I wanted to see how you were doing. You looked particularly crestfallen earlier."
Vox exchanged glances with Valentino and Velvette, bewildered but surprisedly curious. "And? You think making fun of my forehead is a way to cheer me up?"
Alastor chuckled, striding over to the couch as if it were his own. "Not at all. I just wanted to lighten the mood. I mean, watching 'Baby Shark' while eating ice cream? What is this, a bachelorette party?"
Rolling his eyes, Vox felt a huff of laughter slip through. "It was a desperate distraction from your rejection!"
"Oh please," Alastor said, plopping down theatrically beside Vox. "Rejection is just another form of motivation. You shouldn't take it too personally."
Vox raised his eyebrow, realizing Alastor wasn't being cruel but rather, attempting to genuinely communicate. "What do you mean by that?"
"Date me, don't date me — it doesn't define your worth," Alastor replied with a casual shrug. "The truth is, I find you fascinating, but I'm... not the kind to settle down. Not now, at least. But we can always be friends, right?"
Vox paused, swirling a spoonful of ice cream before answering. Maybe friendship was the better path to pursue, at least for now. "Yeah, I guess we can see where that goes."
Gay
