The Shadow of New Orleans | Human Alastor x Fem Reader

note: Just realised that none of the "cover" pics I was adding to each chapter were showing so I spent an hour re-adding them from desktop, fingers crossed you can now see them :,) The covers are the 20th chapter special haha! 🎉  Also, I added some pics for this part, lemme know if it gets annoying! (I edited them so kinda proud :3)

Thank you so so much for reading and enjoy! <3
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As you wake, it takes a moment to recognise where you are and remember what happened. You sit up a bit startled, looking around; classic-looking, tasteful furniture, not many personal belongings. Everything is in order, only the uneven pillows in the armchair gives away that someone else was here. You remember your talk, and you smile to yourself. He promised he would take you to the theatre to see some of the shows he enjoyed, so that was hopeful at least. Maybe he won't act so cold with you again, and maybe the two of you can be good friends again.

You realise it must be very late and get up in a hurry. Just as you do, you notice that there is a piece of paper on the bedside table. Picking it up, you read it quickly:

"Darling,
You slept so peacefully when it was time to leave for work that I didn't have the heart to wake you. Worry not, I will excuse you for today. Feel free to stay and rest, I will be back after work.
- Alastor"

Oh, his handwriting is so fancy - is your first thought. But you don't really feel like waiting around; you owe him enough as it is. It would be far too embarrassing to stay in his empty apartment and wait for him to get home like a good housewife. You make the bed the best you can, then go to find your clothes from yesterday. They are hung neatly, all dry now, so you change into them. You can smell some food faintly, so you curiously check in the kitchen, where he left some breakfast on the stove for you, covered. Or at least you think it is for you; regardless, you are quite hungry, so decide to help yourself to a serving.

It's just some scrambled eggs and toast, but it really hits the spot, being as hungry as you are. You devour everything you had on your plate, then clean up after yourself. As you are about to leave, you see a framed picture in the living room on one of the shelves. It is a little odd, as a vase is placed in front of the picture, blocking out almost the whole thing. All that can be seen is a beautiful woman smiling. You cannot help but move the vase to see the whole thing.

The glass is smashed across, so it is hard to make out the rest of the picture, but you recognise a young Alastor and an older man in the middle. It's probably a family portrait from a while back.
You wonder for a moment about the whole thing; they might be estranged. Too bad, his supposed parents look very sweet, or at least his mother definitely does.

It is a strange feeling to be alone at his place, and seeing pieces of his life, but it does make you feel closer to him in a way. You place back the picture and the vase carefully the same way they were, hoping he won't notice how nosey you were. With that, you leave; thankfully, the door is unlocked, so you just walk right out to go home wondering about your mysterious co-worker.

Alastor's POV

It was oddly comforting to have you around. Watching you sleep and then preparing breakfast for you felt natural, making his chest fill with an oddly warm, content feeling. But he didn't want to stick around and spook you in the morning or wake you, so he decided to just leave a note and go to work. As he tiptoed back to the bedroom to place it so would notice it right after waking up, he couldn't help but look at you for a moment. "Sweet dreams, dear." He whispered, smiling, and then he left for work.

At work, he explains your absence with ease, saying you accidentally met him yesterday and you were getting sick. The boss really liked him, so he immediately accepted this explanation, coming from Alastor. Thankfully, for the slime, the sound guy also "got sick." It seems like he will need to deal with him later, he thinks. Waiting for the day to end with impatience, he then hurries home, only to find you are gone. He frowns. It seems like you were still angry with him after his mean streak.

Having nothing better to do, he lays down on the couch with a sigh, getting his current read in hand. After a little while, he gives up; he feels way too fidgety, so he just puts the book back on the coffee table. As he does, he notices the odd-looking book you had on you last night; it seems like you left it accidentally. Well, at least he will have an innocent reason to maybe visit you soon...

Picking it up, he flips through the pages, seeing strange illustrations and even foreign-looking words on each page. What an odd read you chose. There are some historic explanations related to magic and witchcraft, and even mentions of rituals with detailed descriptions. He finds himself reading it for a good while, only the doorbell ringing is able to shake him back to reality.