PAIRING : Alastor x qpp!gn!reader
NOTES : spreading the aromantic agenda with my silly little queer-platonic partner reader!! :3 ALSO !! I based the relationship between them with my own aroace experiences. I personally still say โI love youโ whenever im in a qpr because I still love them, just in different way yknow?? Just a heads up that any form of love portrayed in this fic isnโt romantic in nature :)
CONTENT : angst, hurt/comfort, happy ending, gender neutral reader, aroace!alastor
[Name] walked up to the door of the infamous โHazbin Hotelโ, a sour expression on their face as they knocked on the large door. A happy face poked through, her face lighting up at the appearance of a person as she swung the door open excitedly. โHi! Iโm Charlie, are you here to-โ
โNo, sorry, Iโm not here for your hotel,โ [Name] said, looking at Charlie for a moment before looking over her shoulder. โIs Alastor here?โ They asked, looking at Charlie as they spoke in a rushed manor. Their hands clenched into fists and unclenched repeatedly as they waited impatiently for the princess to respond. โOh! Thatโs fine, I guess, but-โ
โHow may I be of service!โ
Charlie frowned at being interrupted again but stood out the way while her grip fell from the doorknob. Alastor stood behind Charlie, a wide smile as he looked at the person who called his name.
โOh, [Name]. Hello again,โ the Radio Demon said as his posture visibly straightened upon seeing them. His smile looked strained as his gaze remained on [Name]. The tension grew thick as the pair of partners looked at each other, unspoken words pouring like a fountain into the air between them. [Name]โs jaw clenched as they raised their hands and shoved Alastor. Charlieโs eyes grew wide and was about to intervene before the stranger began pointing a finger and yelling at Alastor, who stumbled backwards and held onto his staff to keep his balance.
โYou absolute asshole! You left for seven years! You leave me for seven fucking years, and you reappear at some crappy rehabilitation hotel without telling me?!โ [Name] complained harshly, stepping toward Alastor and shoving a finger in his chest as they stared him down. Their gaze was filled with anger, hurt and disbelief. Their eyes held tears that they refused to shed, noting the slight satisfaction in Alastorโs gaze. โI canโt believe you! You absolute douche!โ [Name] spat, which Alastor responded with by gripping their wrist and pulling it away slightly. Alastor stared them down, laughing sourly as he glanced over at Charlie. She closed the door, awkwardly glancing between the pair as she debated whether to intervene or not.
โNow, now, my dear! Letโs be civilised, there are people watching,โ Alastor spoke calmly, though the threat in his voice was no secret. He looked [Name] up and down, almost drinking in the fact they really were there and that he wasnโt dreaming of their existence. โDonโt give me that bullshit!โ [Name] growled, pulling their hand out of Alastorโs grip as they spoke with a dangerous tone.
โAl, whatโs going on?โ Charlie asked, an awkward smile on her face as she stood next to Alastor. She looked over at [Name] and then at Alastor, concern flooding her eyes. Something was very clearly wrong, and Charlie being the sweetheart she was felt the need to try and fix it. Alastor turned to Charlie sharply, his everlasting smile growing wider than usual. โNothing you need to concern yourself with, Charlie! If you will?โ Alastor tilted his head off to the side, silently asking Charlie to leave the two alone in the entrance of the hotel. Charlie looked between them one last time before nodding slowly, walking away before quickly speeding up as she ran to talk to Vaggie about the strange encounter.
Alastor turned back to [Name] after Charlie left with furrowed eyebrows and a mildly frustrated look despite the smile.
โWhere were you?โ [Name] questioned, raising a brow while straightening their posture to match Alastor.
โIโm afraid I cannot tell you that, my dear-โ
โRight, of course you canโt. You never could, could you?โ
โNo, Alastor!โ [Name] yelled out, their hands clenched into fists tightly until the knuckles of their hands turned pale. Their breath was heavy as they panted, almost out of breath from the travel over and the yelling. โYou canโt disappear without a word and just show up like nothing happened! Were you even- were you even going to tell me you were back?โ [Name] continued, their harsh voice going softer toward the end of their sentence as they felt their hurt bubbling up. Alastor remained quiet, his gaze on [Name] never changing until they glared at him. He cleared his throat, his grip on his staff tightening.
โI wonโt say it was exactly a plan of mine to tell you, no,โ Alastor replied, staring at the hurt expression on [Name]โs face. Half of him enjoyed seeing the pain and suffering he seemingly put [Name] through, but the other half felt guilty. He felt guilty for feeling such satisfaction out of their misery, and felt guilty for having put them through that misery in the first place. โYou must forgive me, my darling [Name]. I understand that this must all be troubling news for you, but please do note that this has nothing to do with you.โ
โDo you really understand, though? How it feels to have your partner disappear from your hands for seven years without the acknowledgment of if they were even alive?โ [Name] questioned, their tense shoulders falling as they looked at Alastor. Their gaze scanned every inch of Alastor as if they were searching for a sign of injury. Despite their anger and hurt, they still cared for his well-being. They felt relieved when they noticed no injury, before looking back in his eyes with a cold gaze.
โ[Name], I promise if I could tell you where I was or that I was even leaving; I wouldโve told you in a heartbeat. My love, I didnโt want you to be roped into another one of my messes,โ Alastor spoke sweetly, raising a hand from his staff to hold [Name]โs face. His expression and voice was altered to seem sweet, but [Name] knew him all too well. Alastor simply wished to not cause a scene in front of the hotel staff if any of them waltzed even near them. And though there was a hint of truth to his words, it wasnโt all true. Resisting the urge to melt into Alastorโs touch, they took a step back as their eyes brimmed with tears once more. โStop that, Alastor.โ
โWhat do you mean, my dear?โ
โStop- stop acting like you didnโt expect this to happen eventually.โ
Alastorโs hand hovered over the spot [Name] removed themself from before it slowly returned to his staff. He knew that the minute he returned, they would find out and confront him. Heโs known for the last seven years. He gave out a reluctant sigh, clicking his tongue as he smiled. He knew it was time to face the consequences of his actions, he prepared for this. He was ready for them to take their leave. To leave him as he did them, except this time taking away the only connection they had to each other.
โIโve never been great at telling the full truth, but dear, I do promise that if I could then I would tell you why I left,โ Alastor said quietly, having the slightest hope that he could keep them tied to him. He really did love them, and sure their love was odd to most, he cared for them in a way he never cared for anyone before. It hurt him to leave, knowing he would be hurting his partner for something so selfish.
โIโm mad at you, and dear Satan do I hate what youโve done, but Iโm not leaving you.โ
For once in his life, Alastor felt speechless from his surprise. They werenโt leaving? He looked at [Name], searching for a sign that they were lying. And though he saw their anger and hurt present, he saw no sign of a lie. They bit the inside of their cheek as they raised the hand and pinched their temple.
โI donโt forgive you, Alastor. But I trust you, and I love you. You are my friend and my partner and I am putting some faith in you that you do truly have a good reason for leaving for so long. And that you will tell me when you can,โ [Name] spoke slowly, carefully picking out their words as they looked up at Alastor. They knew Alastor got into deals often and that sometimes they ended horribly, so they assumed that it was connected to that. Alastorโs expression softened as he reached his hand out to hold [Name]โs cheek. He analysed their face, gently stroking his thumb over their cheek as he gazed at them with a sense of gratitude.
โI missed you, mon amour,โ Alastor said softly, bringing his forehead to theirs and pressed them together gently. Alastor closed his eyes and breathed softly, enjoying feeling them being near him again. โSo, so much. I promise Iโll make up the years I missed with you till the end of this afterlife and the next,โ Alastor added on quietly, feeling them lean into his warm touch.
โI missed you, too, lovely,โ [Name] sighed, raising their hand to hover over the hand that held their face before raising their other hand and holding Alastorโs face in their hand.
They remained peacefully in each other presence, fearful that if they let each other away from their grasp the other would part from them in the blink of an eye. Charlie watched from around a corner, tearful but also overjoyed for Alastor while Vaggie watched carefully, not fully trusting the whole ordeal in the slightest.
