Sentimental was not a word Alastor ever thought he'd use to describe himself.
Of course, that was before you had his heart.
You had hand-written him a short love letter, reaffirming your care and devotion for him. Signing it with a kiss print in deep red lipstick, and a light sprits of his favorite perfume that you wore.
It made his heart swell with joy when you gave it to him. He thought the gesture was just the sweetest thing, appreciating the thoughtfulness. He tucked it into his pocket, with the intention of putting it in his wallet later. Planning on keeping it next to the little polaroid photograph he had of you from when you visited New Orleans together.
The night before he had to be present for the exterminations felt so short despite being up late together. The wind whipped and howled outside your bedroom window, sounding like low groans against the walls of your house.
You both spent most of the night in your bed; listening to music, talking, kissing and snuggling. Neither of you wanted the night to end, neither of you wanted him to leave. Soft music filled the room as you lay tangled in each other. Your heavy eyes beginning to close while Alastor planted a few gentle kisses on your forehead.
"Sleepy?" He hummed, gravel in his voice. He looked down at you and smiled gently. You looked so adorable, all curled up to him and tuckered out. Looking so sweet in your pajamas. He curled a strand of your hair around his finger. "My little sleepy sweetheart~." He cooed in a whisper, chuckling softly in spite of himself.
"No." You lied, nestling your face into his chest. "I'm just resting my eyes."
"Oh, I see. My apologies." He hummed with a little amusement.
You hugged him a little tighter, which he took notice off. Squeezing you a little before relaxing his hold. "I don't want to fall asleep." You said. "Because you won't be here when I wake up, and I'll have no idea what's happening with you the whole time you're gone."
"I know you're nervous," he said gently, rubbing your back as he held you. "I am too. Would you feel better if I have my shadow stay behind with you?"
"I'd feel a little better." You said with a gentle yawn.
"He'll be with you until I return. Unless for some reason I need him for the extra reinforcement." He promised. "Sleep, my dear. You need your rest."
"Promise me you'll be careful?" You asked. Listening to the sound of his heart beating in his chest. Slow and steady, like the beating of a drum. It was the best sound in the world, next to the cute little noises he'd make when he dreams.
"I promise. Look, here..." he gently nudged you so you would open your eyes, and you saw him presenting his pinky finger to you. "I pinky promise I'll try to be extra careful."
"A pinky promise?" You reiterated, reaching up and interlocking your pinky with his. "Al this is serious, pinky promise is sacred."
He chuckled quietly, happy that you were at least amused by his efforts. His eyes trailed lower down your body as he held you, his gaze slowly panning to the spots on your neck where he had bitten you. The most recent being a few days old, the imprints of his teeth still clear as day. Would probably leave scars, honestly. The sight of his mark on your silken skin made him fall into a series of thoughts. His ears flattening to his head as he looked. Your eyes fluttered open and noticed his disheartened expression.
"Penny for your thoughts, baby?" You hummed.
"Just thinking." He sighed. "About you. And my work. My hobbies."
"You don't really talk much about work, outside of broadcasting."
"What would you like to know, sweetheart?" He asked, pulling you close to him and holding you by the waist. You nodded, looking up at him with doe eyes.
"What exactly do you do?" You asked. "You mentioned you helped the Princess of Hell, but..."
"I'm helping her with a business idea that she has. A hotel, a rehabilitation for sinners."
You blinked slowly, taking in his answer. "Let me make sure I'm understanding this..." you said, a little baffled. "The literal Princess of Hell, Lucifer's spawn, is-"
"Yes," he interrupted gently. "a place where sinners may check in and attempt to better themselves so they may be reaccepted into Heaven."
"Is that even possible?" You wondered.
"I couldn't tell you, my dear." He answered honesty. "This whole idea of hers is a brand-spanking-new concept, it's never been tried before."
"I see... Well, awfully kind of you to help." You nodded.
"Yes. About that..."
"Oh boy." You chuckled gently.
"I only offered to help because I was bored, and wanted to watch people fail. But, she knows that."
You nodded slowly. Well, at least he's honest.
"If you're helping run a hotel that rehabilitates sinners, why wouldn't you give it a try?" You asked.
His breath stuttered in his chest. He furrowed his brows in thought, a tight smile on his face. "I wont be redeemed." He answered simply. As if it was already set in stone.
"Why not?" You asked.
"I... Have no desire to change my ways, my dear." His ears flattened to his head as he thought. You wanted to speak, but, he looked like he had more to say. Your hunch was correct as he continued.
"I'll admit it, I'm incredibly nervous for when you come to hell with me eventually." He admitted. "Eventually, you're going to see a side of me that you're not used to seeing. And I can't help but feel as though you're not going to look at me the same way when you do."
"Al, I've already told you-"
"Darling I don't think you understand." He interrupted. "I still murder, I still am a frequent indulger of cannibalism. Fuck, I once broadcasted my mass slaughters to all of Hell, just because I wanted everyone to know how powerful I was and how much fun I was having doing it. I'm offering my help to a rehabilitation center for sinners, solely to watch people fail as they try to get better. Y/n, I am not a nice person..."
He paused and peered into you. "Is that something you're willing to deal with?"
Your brows furrowed and your lips formed a soft pout as his words began to weigh heavier.
"Hearing me tell it to you is different than seeing it for yourself." He explained. "Y/n, I'm notoriously avoided and feared. You have to understand that I didn't just get that reputation out of nowhere. This is why I think I don't deserve you... You're too good, and I'm too far gone..."
You leaned in closer to him. Kissing his lips, slowly and sweetly; while petting his hair and running your fingers through the soft strands. Feeling his ears flatten to his head as he melted into your affection. After a moment of sweetness you pulled away from the kiss, reaching to hold his hand in yours.
"I can't guarantee how I'll react." You said honestly. "My initial reaction could be to feel shocked or scared. Sure, I can anticipate it, knowing you do what you do, but I'm not used to seeing it like you are..."
"You don't have to answer right away. Give it some time. Think about who you'll be spending your afterlife with. Who you'll be marrying..."
You nodded slowly, feeling unsure of what to say or feel. You merely nestled your face into his chest once more, finding a sense of comfort in the affection. Breathing in his sweet scent (it bewildered you how he almost always smelt like he was by a campfire all night long, but you weren't complaining). He reciprocated the affection by combing his fingers through your hair, gently entwining his digits in the soft strands.
"But... If it makes you feel any better, it's not like I'm killing innocent people." Al suddenly offered, chuckling sheepishly. "It's Hell! Plenty of nefarious folks worth disposing of."
"The idea of how many pedos, rapists and abusers that got slaughtered by you, even if it was a mere coincidence that they were that heinous; is kind of comforting in it's own morbid way."
He smiled faintly and kissed the top of your head, continuing to hold you as his eyes began to grow heavy. His body relaxing little by little as he tuned into the feeling of your body against him. Feeling your breathing slow as you also began to feel sleepy. It was only when he heard your voice again that he perked up.
"Alastor?"
"Yes my love?" He hummed.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course sweetheart. You can ask me anything."
"Have you killed any living people since we met?" You wondered. Anticipating any answer he could give you as you mentally braced yourself.
"Do you promise not to yell at me if I give you an honest answer?"
You let out a short chuckle. The way he said that reminded you of a kid when they don't want to get in trouble. In a way he had basically already answered your question. "Yes, I promise not to yell at you."
"... Yes. I have." He said quietly. "But you might forgive me when I tell you who it was."
"I know them...?" You asked, pulling away and looking up at him. His red eyes glowed so dimly as they looked back at you. He inhaled deeply and pursed his lips.
"Ex/n."
You felt your heart skip a beat in your chest. You didn't know why, it certainly wasn't out of sympathy for your ex that was for damn sure; but you still felt a twinge of some odd remorse. Almost like second-hand guilt.
"Ex/n is dead?" You reiterated. "How... When?"
"That night he came over, and I saw his hands around your throat when I showed up..." he started, his eyes narrowing in distaste as he recalled the way that brute manhandled you. Saddened by the idea that if he hadn't heard you rasp his name that day, you might have not made it through that incident. "I took him deep into the woods. Dragging him through the snow. And I made sure he would never bother you again."
"What did you do?" You asked half rhetorically. "Bury him alive or something?"
"No but that's not a bad idea," he commented. "He was actually eaten alive."
"Oh my g-" you murmured, having to stifle yourself. What a mental image.
Y/n, think about this, you thought to yourself. Ex/n was a horrible person who literally tried to kill you. He wasn't going to learn, he wasn't going to change, Alastor said he was going to protect you and he made sure he did exactly that.
"Thank you for saving me..." you said quietly. Taking a little longer to reply than you meant, which he noticed.
"I understand that's a lot to take in." He sighed. "Y/n he deserved what happened to him. I know it sounds harsh but this way he can't be a problem for you anymore. And when -and I do mean when, I find him in Hell; he is going to learn a new meaning of suffering. I'll broadcast his howls of pain and his pleas for mercy, just so every demon will hear his screams and take them as a warning." His hold on you tightened a little as his eyes flickered. Revealing radio dials for pupils for a second and distortion weighing in his voice.
"Everyone will know not to touch what's m̵̧̛̤̭͇̯̝͕̹͔̊̅̀̎̀̀i̵̦̩̟̗̲̠͈͉̱͌͋̇̈́͒̃̆́̕̚n̶̡͙͓͈̺͈̬̿̏̈́̽͘e̵̛̪̬͖͚̯̦̮̟̩̟̊͐́̂̑̏̒͐͘..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Blocked off all the rooms and exits?" Charlie asked. "Doors and windows are locked and boarded up?"
"Check." Alastor hummed, folding his hands behind his back.
"Weapons?"
"Check." Vaggie answered.
"First aid kits?"
"Check." Niffty said.
"Backup generator is working," Vaggie added. "In case the power cuts out."
"Great," Charlie sighed, nervously folding her hands together and twiddling her thumbs. "Great."
Everyone had gathered in the lobby of the hotel, running through precautions to ensure the sanctity within the hotel. Alastor had arrived about two hours ago, anxious as he left the comfort of your warm bed. He was grateful he managed to get up and ready to leave without waking you, knowing how hard that little goodbye would have been. His shadow staying behind as promised to be with you until he could return. Seemingly he arrived right on time; as they'd just finished securing everything it begun to sound as if literally all hell broke loose outside.
They winced a little, some feeling their hearts drop to the pits of their stomach as they heard the familiar screams and cries from outside the building. Even Alastor suppressed a wince at the sounds of distress. Echoing through the walls as everybody in the lobby went silent for a moment.
"We'll be okay." Vaggie quietly reassured her lover. Coming up next to her and wrapping her arm around her as a form of comfort.
"We will." Charlie said with a gentle smile. "I'm really glad to have the help here that I do. Al thank you again for being here, I know you have territory to look after but it means a lot."
"Of course, my dear." Hummed. "It's nothing, I'm happy to help."
"Definitely a surprise you're not conveniently busy." Vaggie mumbled under her breath. Charlie's expression scrunched for a moment, wishing her girlfriend wouldn't choose to stir the pot right now. She knew Vaggie's attitude and protectiveness stemmed out of care and concern, but this wasn't the time or place to be egging Al on.
"I told you, what I do outside of my work here is no ones business but my own." Alastor said almost smugly, with an air of annoyance at being pestered.
"Kay' well, you know what? It becomes our business when it's interfering with your work."
"Vaggie please, not now..." Charlie asked.
"No, I'm tired of playing dumb." Vaggie replied. Staring daggers into the stag before her as she took a step toward him. He narrowed his eyes, full of agitation despite his painfully wide smile. "What is so fucking important that you are constantly late, leaving early, taking all this time off with no way to reach you, disappearing sometimes in the middle of the day?"
"Forgive me if my personal life interferes with my attendance but I promise you this is none of your concern." He said lowly. Fire beginning to spark within his eyes.
"If it's really none of our concern why are you so damn secretive?" She pried, taking another step closer.
"Vaggie, fucking can it." Husk intervened. "Now is not the time."
"There's never a good time, but I brought it up so it might as well be now."
"I need you to stop looking for answers." Alastor said. Not trying to hide the aura of something forbidding that seemed to roll off of him in waves. He stepped forward gazing down at the moth demon, not feeling a piece of paper fall out of his back pocket and onto the floor as he stepped.
The note you had written had fallen out.
Alastor noticed this and reached down to grab it back but Charlie, trying to he helpful, beat him to it. Not being nosey or trying to peak, but couldn't help but notice the kiss print on the paper as she went to hand it to him. Staring for a second in bewilderment, looking like a deer in headlights as it dawned on her that she wasn't meant to see it. Angel had been looking over her shoulder and noticed to, further instigating the situation.
"Oh ho, shit! Smiles is getting love notes!" Angel teased.
"Charlie," Al said lowly. "Give me that back."
"Oh and it smells fucking good, too!" Angel teased, taking the note from Charlie. Alastor's blood was boiling. His fists clenched and he clenched his jaw.
"This from that little friend you've been talking to Husk about?" Angel asked, holding the note between his two fingers and presenting it in front of Alastor to take. The stag glared in their direction, his smile twitching at the corners, and calmly took the note back and tucked it into his pocket.
"Alastor...?" Charlie asked, weary of Al's unusually calm demeanor. Not liking the air of quiet tension radiating off of him in waves. Husk and Niffty, both aware of his situation, stared wide-eyed at the deer. Honestly feeling sorry for him, knowing how severe the steaks were. Charlie finding out he was in love with a human and sneaking off to the human realm was the least of his problems. Lucifer and the other lords of Hell, now that was a bigger problem.
He sighed heavily, thinking for a moment. His heart pounding in his chest as he tried to think of some explanation that would satisfy them and still keep him out of trouble. Deciding ultimately to tell them just a snippet of the truth in hopes he may try and shut this conversation down early. For now, anyway.
"I've been romantically involved with someone for quite a while now..." He said. "You wondered why I've been distracted, well, there you go."
He felt all eyes on him staring intently. Husk and Niffty looked upon him wearily, not daring to breath a word until Alastor was finished. Charlie, Vaggie and Angel stood there bewildered as well. Either wide-eyed, slack-jawed or both. Unable to believe that such a demon notorious for such vicious acts of cruelty even had the capacity to harbor romantic feelings. Alastor offered a tight smile and a shrug as if to say they caught him.
"Her name is Y/n."