We Couldn't Fix It
Vox wakes up past season 2 and finds himself in the body of his human counterpart and chooses to go chase Alastor in New Orleans to fix their relationship before it was even supposed to start.
Is it stupid to chase the man that drove you to kill yourself? Yes. Is Vox going to do it anyway? I think we all know the answer to that.
Chapter 8: The Slapped Together Therapy Session By Lucus
Friends. The word that ruined everything once before, and yet he dared to use it again.
Alastor looked frozen in shock and something that looked dangerously close to regret, as if the radio host somehow knew how significant this was for Vox.
“Friends…” Alastor began hesitantly. He seemed to be considering something. “Not yet.” That made Vox pause. He half expected Alastor to laugh at him. “But maybe one day…” Al genuinely pushed Vox out of the cabin and wished him farewell before closing the door. Vox heard a soft thump and fabric sliding on wood against the door before reluctantly leaving.
The next few days felt like they were moving in slow motion. Vox's routine hadn't changed, but Alastor had. He seemed to be avoiding Vox, not even meeting his gaze and once not showing up to the bar at all. By the second time Alastor didn't show up, Vox decided to stop wallowing at home and drown himself in alcohol instead like a real man.
Vox was halfway through his second drink when an all too familiar blond man sat beside him with a drink of his own. “Hey, you're Al's coworker, right?” came Lucus’ voice from beside him.
Vox didn't expect Lucus to talk to him at all. “Uh, yeah, Vincent. And you're Lucas."
“You remembered, but I did ask you to call Lu.”
“Right, Lu. Sorry.” Vox didn't actually care, he was just desperate to talk to another person.
“It's alright. It's not like we talk a lot… Do you know what's going on with Al? He's been quiet these last few days.” Lucus sounded genuinely worried and it pissed Vox off a little.
“Shouldn't you know since you're so close with him,” his voice came out more bitter than he intended.
“Well, when I asked him, he just looked at you and huffed, so I'm assuming it has to do with you.”
Vox rolled his eyes, of course Alastor would be a fucking brat about this. Typical. “He's just being pissy because I said we were friends.”
“He's mad because you're friends? That doesn't sound like Al at all.”
“Well, isn't that just lovely for you?”
Lucus paused for a moment before patting Vox's shoulder. “How about we go get some food?” he asked while standing. “You sound hungry.”
Vox blinked slowly and suddenly couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. “Sure, I guess.”
Vox felt like a child following Lucus to a small restaurant down the street from the bar. As they say down, Vox got a better look at the blond and couldn't tell whether Lucus looked like an actual angel or if he was just insanely tired. Probably the latter.
Lucus ordered them some food that Vox didn't pay attention to before turning his blue eyes back to the mix-matched ones. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before Vox broke it.
“What's your deal?”
“Excuse me?” Lucus asked with pure confusion.
“You're always all over Alastor, but now you're trying to be nice to me?”
“Woah, what does Al have to do with this?”
“And that's another thing, why do you get to call him that constantly and everyone else gets a death stare for doing it even once? Is he playing favourites or something?”
“Okay, how about we calm down and-”
“Calm down? Why should I calm down when you're sabotaging my relationship with Alastor?”
“Woah! Back up! Where did you get that idea?”
“Oh please, you're hanging off his arm 24/7 like some kind of pathetic lover!”
“Victor-”
“It's Vincent, and don't even start. I know exactly what you're-”
“I'm married!”
Silence rang between them for an uncomfortable amount of time. “What…?”
“I have a wife. I'm not trying to date Al,” Lucus spoke slowly as if he were approaching a wild animal.
Vox holds back a scoff. “Being in a relationship doesn't prove anything.”
Lucus seemed very offended by that. “Well, it means everything to me!” He slammed his hands on the table while standing to emphasize his point. “I would never betray her like that!” Vox suddenly felt like he shrunk a few feet. Lucus took notice of Vox's shaking hands and took a deep breath, sitting back down. “Sorry, I can lose control of my emotions sometimes, it's something I'm working on.”
Vox nodded slowly, trying to calm his racing heart. It was the first time he had been genuinely terrified since he was a little kid. Vox grabbed his own hand to stop it from shaking, but it just wouldn't. Lucus furrowed his brows and reached across the table to place his hand over Vox's.
“Hey, are you alright?” Lu asked with real concern.
Vox pulled his hand away and glared at the table. “So you get to be married and be Alastor's favourite.” It was said so quietly that he didn't think Lu heard it, but he did.
Lucus was about to speak again when the waiter came back with their food.
Vox hadn't paid attention when it was ordered, but he was pleasantly surprised at the food he saw when he looked down. The kind of unhealthy food he hadn't let himself indulge in for a while to keep up his perfect appearance.
Lucus slid one of the plates closer to Vox and he dug in like he didn't eat for days. Honestly, it had been years since Vox allowed himself to eat out his feelings and it was exactly what he needed.
Then Vox felt a hand on his shoulder.
Lucus wasn't squeezing him or spouting useless pity, just sitting there like a comforting light. It reminded him of when Velvette would sit in his lap while designing new outfits after he had a particularly rough day. How badly he wanted that back. It almost made him cry.
“Why?” Vox needed an answer.
“Why what?” Lu seemed once again confused.
“Why do you care about me?” Vox was expecting a speech like all the other people who pretend to understand others do. He had heard the princess’ many times before. Bullshit wrapped in a bow about how the sinners are her people even though she'll never understand what it's like to be human. But what came out of Lu's mouth was none of that.
“Alastor cares about you, so I do too.”
No pretending, no savoir mentality, just an admission that they both care about Alastor too much to make him choose.
Chapter 7 Chapter 9
