Broken Radio | Alastor x Reader

Alastor looks slightly surprised by my critique, but he chuckles nonetheless. "More spice, huh?" He goes over to the spice rack, grabbing a few more seasonings before returning and adding them to the pot. He dips the spoon back into it and holds it up to my lips again. "Try it now."

My eyes light up as I take the second bite. "Perfect." Alastor smiles, seemingly satisfied with my response. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. You've got a good palate." He takes a spoon of the jambalaya himself, testing the new balance of spices. He hums in satisfaction. "You were right. That is much better."

"I know I was right." I say playfully. Alastor lets out a low laugh, shaking his head. "Confident, aren't we?" He teases, a smirk on his face. He turns back to the pot before glancing over at me again, his expression turning more serious. "So, when are you leaving?"

I lean against the counter crossing my arms. "Very confident." I say before pausing for a moment. "Tomorrow." Alastor's expression remains impassive as he continues stirring the pot. "Tomorrow? That soon?"

His tone is nonchalant, but there's a hint of something else beneath it. Displeasure perhaps. I observe him for a moment. "Too soon? I thought you'd be happy to be rid of me." I joke.

Alastor laughs at my joke, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and some other emotion that I can't quite place. "Oh, darling, don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic that I'll finally have some peace and quiet."

His tone is light-hearted but his expression tells a different story. I continue to stare at him trying to figure him out. He's never been easy to read, especially with that smile always plastered on his face.

Alastor continues stirring the pot, still wearing that inscrutable smile on his face. He seems aware of the fact that I'm trying to read him but he doesn't give anything away. He glances over at me again, his smile never faltering. "You're staring, darling."

"I know." I say as I squint slightly at him. Alastor chuckles softly, his smile growing wider. "And why, pray tell, are you squinting at me like that?" His words are playful but there's an almost defensive undertone to them.

"You don't want me to leave do you? You like me more than you'd care to admit." I hope I'm wrong. I honestly don't know what I'd do if that were the case.

Alastor's smile falters slightly as he absorbs my words, and I can see him tense up. He quickly recovers though, trying to maintain his usual nonchalant demeanor. "You're getting awfully bold with your assumptions, darling." He counters.

"Am I getting bold or am I just stating a fact?" I counter. Alastor's smile falters again, his defenses starting to crumble ever so slightly. His eyes narrow as they lock with mine, as if trying to figure out if I'm bluffing to get a confession out of him.

After a moment of silence, he finally breaks eye contact with me as he returns to the pot, his movements a bit more tense than before. "You're a frustrating woman, you know that?"

I smile at him. A genuine smile. "You're avoiding my question but thanks for the compliment." Alastor's back is still turned to me but I can practically hear the irritation in his voice. "I'm not avoiding your question. I'm simply choosing not to answer it."

He pauses for a moment, the tension in the air thick between us. He then sighs in defeat. "Yes, I do enjoy your company, more than I should if I'm being honest."

"What happened to choosing not to answer my question?" I tease. Alastor lets out a scoff, his irritation becoming more obvious. "You are relentless, you know that?"

He turns back around to face me, crossing his arms defensively over his chest. "Alright, fine, you've got me. I admit it, I'll miss you, okay? Are you happy now?"

My smile drops slightly as I begin to feel sad. "Too bad I have to leave then." Alastor's expression softens slightly as he notices my change in mood. He takes a step closer to me, his arms dropping to his sides.

"Why do you have to leave? Staying isn't an option?" He asks quietly, a hint of something that sounded like resignation in his voice. "Staying is an option but not a definite one. If Vox says I need to come back then I can't really argue." I replied.

Alastor's brow furrows at the mention of Vox's name. "Vox? Why does he have any say in whether you stay or not? You're not his secretary anymore." His tone is slightly disapproving but more protective. I sigh as I glance at the jambalaya on the stove. "My soul contact is still in effect. He never ended my contract when he promoted me."

Alastor's expression hardens into a look of disdain at my words, his eyes narrowed into slits. "He never ended the contract? So he still has control over you?" His voice is a mixture of anger and disgust.

"Technically speaking, yes. He's never ordered me to do anything since he promoted me but he still can if he really wants to." I say glancing back at him.

Alastor clenches his jaw, his knuckles turning white at his sides. "That damned tv-headed bastard. Locking you into a contract like that, even after he promoted you..."

His face is a mask of barely controlled anger, and his eyes gleam red with anger for a split second. "Don't show all your emotions at once." I joke trying to ease up the growing tension.

Alastor's anger starts to ease slightly as I speak, and he gives me an unamused look. "Oh, ha ha, darling. Very funny." He huffs, although I can see the corners of his mouth twitch as he tries to suppress a smirk.

I then point towards the pot. "That's going to boil over if you keep ignoring it." Alastor's eyes widen as he finally seems to remember the pot behind him. He quickly whirls around and lowers the heat, stirring the jambalaya with more concentration now.

"Right, right." He mutters, shaking his head slightly as if trying to force his mind to focus on something other than his anger at Vox. We stand in silence for a while, neither of us wanting to break it.

The only sound that fills the kitchen is the occasional bubble coming from the pot and the stirring of the food within it.

The silence between us becomes almost deafening as neither of us break it. I can see the tension in Alastor's shoulders and the way his hands grip the spoon, and I know he's fighting hard to suppress something. After several moments of unbearable silence, Alastor finally speaks up, breaking the tension. "The jambalaya is almost done."

"That's good." I hum out in the middle of trying to think of a way to break my contract. I could just ask Vox to end it. He might get suspicious if I ask him to do that though.

Alastor glances over at me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. He can tell something is on my mind. "What are you thinking about over there?" He asks, his voice slightly suspicious.

"If I tell you then you'll just get huffy." I say glancing at him. Alastor shoots me a sideways glare, obviously not pleased by my response. "Well, now I'm curious. What could you possibly be thinking about that would make me 'get huffy', as you put it?" His voice is laced with a hint of annoyance.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out." I smile at him as I stand up straight. Alastor rolls his eyes at my response, but I can see a hint of amusement in his expression.

"You are insufferable, you know that?" He mutters, returning his attention to the jambalaya with a grumble. "See you're being huffy right now." I continue to tease as I grab some bowls for everyone.

Alastor lets out a huff, his annoyance growing as I continue to tease him. "I'm not being huffy. I'm simply expressing my disdain for your stubbornness." He says with a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Hmm alright. Whatever you say." I reply as I place the bowls on the counter next to him, making it easier for him to fill them all up. "Don't think that being helpful is going to get you out of being annoying." He mumbles as he begins to fill the bowls with the jambalaya.