Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3
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Warnings/Tags: Fluff, references, a brief scene where Reader and Al get beat tf up, a shitty neighborhood, Reader is a female, mentions of Al’s dad, Reader has a little brother, shitty storytelling. Let me know if I missed any!
More Tags: @th3-lady, @deadgirl-walking1989, @jazztato, @sugarcubepop, @minimushroomcow, @milkissesx, @catssss, @nononothiscantbehapp, @keltheartist, @creativasahobby, @krisamu, @sugxryratz
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Synopsis: A job, a beat up, a small date. And it turns out kids can grow up, too. I’m bad at synopsis’
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A/n: Hi, been a while, but here’s the result. I had stopped working on it for a bit, but got back to it! Hope you enjoy!
“Thank you, Mister! A pleasure doing business with you!” You exclaimed, waving at the older man as he walked away with a newspaper, grumbling frustratedly to himself.
Your brows furrowed briefly but you continued anyway. Selling papers with a smile to other strangers. You started walking to the other street, and as you turned the corner, there you saw Alastor, in all his bright charm.
You started rushing closer, smiling as you watched his little show in the crowd. He hadn’t noticed you, continuing his act in a way that wowed everyone. He caused the crowd to laugh and cheer as he always did. And when he did notice you, his smile almost seemed to widen a bit—if that was somehow possible. He hadn’t lasted long before he started handing out a few papers, approaching you whilst giving them away.
“How do you do, (Y/n)! Did you sell any newspapers?”
You laughed, handing out papers as Alastor did the same while conversing, “Yeah. Although, never as much as you, Alastor. Since selling the newspapers, I have the liberty to call what you do cheating!”
Alastor gasped in faux offense, holding a hand to his chest as he paused from selling the papers, “Now you listen here, you defamer, I simply go out of my way to entertain a crowd when needed! And thanks to my flawless nature as a charmer, I amuse them greatly!”
You covered a hand over your mouth, unable to help yourself but giggle at his small outburst, quiet enough for just the two of you to hear. You both went back to handing out newspapers as you continued to speak, “Well, I should be greatly worried if you’re this egocentric now! I wouldn’t be able to fathom it once you’re over the age of eighteen!”
Alastor rolled his eyes before he glared at you. “Well, you’re the one scrounging off my charm! You're selling your own papers to the crowd I entertained!” He chuckled as he approached you, his bag half-empty but weighed with a few coins.
You laughed, shrugging your shoulders as you and Alastor left to sell on a different street, “Who’s to say I can resist a good chance at money? We have to start saving if we plan on leaving this dump!”
To that, he hesitated, his smile remaining. As always. Seeming to be in thought suddenly. You cocked a brow, concern ebbing at you slightly, “Are you alright, Alastor? You look like you’ve been told the biggest riddle,” you tried to joke, but it did nothing to ease his inner confliction.
He scratched the back of his neck, his voice uncertain as he spoke, “(Y/n)… What would you do… If we actually did decide to leave?” He carefully placed his words, looking at you with hesitance.
At his words, you chuckled, and you wrapped an arm around his waist, grinning with a raised eyebrow as you held him close by the side,
“Isn’t it obvious? I’d go with you wherever you decide to go! I’m not leaving your side any time soon, if that’s what you're worried about! The mere thought is ridiculous—almost as ridiculous as getting shot at during hunting season while hunting!”
He laughed, his confliction slightly eased as he sighed afterward.
Over the years, he couldn’t ever get his mother’s words out of his head,
‘You have taken a liking to little (Y/n)!’
He still couldn’t comprehend why he always blushed when he thought of those eight words, even after the many times he’s thought them over and over again, but he just couldn’t help it. Especially as they grew into their teen years, Alastor’s feelings seemed to grow even more. He often found himself red at the thought, but it was true.
He looked down upon you, just analyzing your face for a moment before realizing he was staring and blushed wildly, looking away. The pink dust spreading to his ears. “Well… What would we do if we decided to leave New Orleans?”
You hummed for a moment, considering his question as you looked up to the clouds, your hand on your hip.
“Well… We could still sell papers. Maybe even get real, cool jobs! Make more money!” You said, turning to Alastor before your expression softened sympathetically, placing a reassuring arm on his shoulder. “Alastor, trust me, there are more things we can do than you realize.”
He softened at that, looking down at you with a smile.
As you both walked side by side, a man suddenly appeared from behind you, swiftly grabbing Alastor’s bag.
He just kept walking like it was nothing, like he hadn’t just stolen from a boy years younger than him.
Alastor didn’t stop smiling. If anything, you’d say it widened before he called out to the man, “Excuse me, Sir, but that’s my bag!”
The man just looked back as he paused his steps, scowling at Alastor with a raised brow, “Shut it, Kid, maybe don’t be so easy to take from.”
Then another one passed by, probably a friend of the man’s as he stole yours, too. Stepping along with the stranger now. “Hey, give that back!” You yelled as you stepped forward a bit, “You can’t just steal from us like that! Both of you are just sad bums if you're living off of stealing from teenagers!”
Maybe you should’ve kept your mouth shut. People have told you that before.
But two of the strangers turned, their expressions even more irritated before they stepped back toward you both, dragging you two to the nearest alleyway. You both struggled as they held you each by the collar of your shirts. “Sad bums, eh? Well, let’s see if ya keep talkin’ once we’re done with the both of you.”
Alastor let out a pained noise as the first man landed a punch across his face, the other doing the same to you.
Both of the grown men continued for what seemed like an eternity until they dropped you both, looking down at you with annoyance. The friend spat on the ground before they walked away, “Maybe that’ll teach ya a lesson to keep yer damn mouths shut.”
After they left the alley, you eventually sat up with a groan, crawling and checking on Alastor worriedly, “Alastor? Are you okay? Wait, stupid question, sorry… I’m sorry, Alastor, I didn’t think they’d pick a fight.”
Alastor sat up with a groan, too. Looking to you and observing your features. You sported a black eye with a bruised cheek, dirt dusted a bit on your face, and it seemed your eyebrow was torn a bit. No doubt he looked the same.
He shook his head, standing as he dusted himself off, “No, it’s fine. It was bound to happen anyway, I don’t blame you.” He extended a hand toward you, offering to help you stand with his small smile. You frowned as you noticed Alastor’s glasses were cracked a bit in the light, still feeling awful despite his words.
“What matters is that you are okay.” He continued.
You reached for his hand, standing straight as you dusted yourself the same way Alastor did. “Stupid bums. I tell ya, they're gonna get what’s coming to them soon. I just wish someone would deal with those kinds of people and do everyone a favor. They're the reason this place is an absolute nightmare to live in.” You ranted, dusting yourself a bit more until you turned to Alastor.
You noticed that, possibly from your words, he paused in thought. Alastor always did that, losing himself in his own world spontaneously. It actually concerned his mother a bit, but she let him be.
But to you, it was one of the things you liked about him.
“Hey, Alastor, snap out of it, you boxhead!” You laughed, waving your hand in front of him, pulling him from his own mind.
“What’s wrong? Watch’cha thinking about?”
He shook his head, his eyes wide before he let out a sheepish chuckle, taking your hand in his as he started to walk. Causing a small blush on your face. “Nothing, let’s just go before anyone else gets to beat us to a pulp. And we already look bad as it is,”
You chuckled, letting him drag you out of the alley before heading down the street and toward his house.
The walk was normal, besides the looks a few people gave you two from your bruised faces—some pitiful, some concerned, some just questioning, while others didn’t even glance. Truthfully, the incident made you both cautious, but you made it back safely… Well, as safe as one could be after getting beaten.
Once arriving, Alastor stilled for a moment, staring at the front door. He seemed deep in his thoughts again. But before you could snap him out, he looked down at your still-interlocked hands. His face turned red suddenly, and he quickly retracted his hand as if he had just been burned by it, looking toward you sheepishly with an awkward chuckle before stepping forward. He opened the door, letting you in first before sauntering inside after.
“Alastor? Is that you, Little Fawn?” His mother, Daisy, called out as the radio played the song she loved so much.
“Yes, Momma, it’s me! And (Y/n)’s here, too!”
“Ooh, perfect! Come over to the kitchen, I’m cooking a stew I need my favorite taste testers on!”
You both turned to each other, your faces grimacing at the awkward situation. Both of your faces were still bruised and beaten up, and both of you were a bit worried about what Daisy’s reaction might be... “Uhh… I actually wanted to show (Y/n) something,” Alastor replied lamely, hoping his mother would let him go.
“Oh, it can’t be that important. Just for a second!”
You both sighed, knowing you couldn’t escape the situation from Daisy’s stubbornness. You reluctantly trekked to the kitchen, both of you nervous about how she’ll react. As you entered, she turned to you with a smile before it faded at the sight of your conditions. “Alastor, (Y/n)!” She cried out before coming closer to observe both your faces, taking your chins to move your heads around. She sighed, her face a sympathetic worry, “Another one took money again, huh? Do you know who it was?” She spoke as she released your faces.
You both shook your heads with your eyes down, your own hands fidgeting a bit.
She sighed again through her nose as she closed her eyes, internally furious at the stranger. But she needed to be strong for both of you, so she did what she knew best and pushed her emotions down. Daisy reopened them, smiling at two of you, “As long as you're fine. Like I always tell Alastor since he was a child: just smile, and everything will be fine. Everyone loves a smile, right? It’ll turn this world upside down.”
She hugged both of you close, pressing a kiss on the top of both of your heads before walking over to the radio to turn the song up. She stepped to the stove again and grabbed a large wooden spoon to scoop some of the stew. Daisy held it out to you and Alastor as she smiled softly. “Here, taste test it for me now. Is it good?”
You already knew the answer before you tried it, taking a sip after Alastor, and hummed at the taste, “It’s amazing, Ms. Hartfelt. You always make the best food in all of Louisiana.” You complimented with a smile.
She chuckled at your words, standing to stir the stew a bit more, “You're too kind, (Y/n). Alastor, can you go fetch the medkit, please?”
He nodded before he wandered off, grabbing it quickly from one of the living room cabinets. He returned, holding it up to her as she turned off the stove and took it from Alastor before gesturing for you both to sit at the dinner table. Daisy opened the small bag as you two sat down, and she pulled out a cotton ball and applied a substance you didn’t know the name of. First, she started with Alastor, pressing on the cut on his forehead. He winced at the sting with a hiss, but let her clean and mend his facial wounds without another sound.
She then turned to you, using another damp cotton ball, and put it against your face. You had a similar reaction to Alastor’s, except you kept flinching as she cared for your wounds. After she finished cleaning and patching your injuries, she threw away what she needed to and put the supplies back into the little, leather bag before handing it to Alastor, “Here, put it back, will you, Alastor?”
After he ran to put it back and returned, Daisy walked toward the stew and scooped two bowls for you and Alastor, handing them to you each with a soft smile, “Eat up, maybe my food will heal you two right up!”
You both grinned, taking the bowls before heading to the dinner table.
A few hours passed before your mother came with your little brother in hand to pick you up, knocking on the front door before Daisy opened it. You came down, happily smiling as you hugged her and your sibling, Alastor coming halfway down the staircase. You waved at Alastor and his mother, grinning happily, “Bye! See you tomorrow, Al!”
His smile widened and he waved back, “Bye! I’ll be on Frenchmen Street tomorrow!”
Daisy closed the door, and as you and your mother were about to walk down the sidewalk, Alastor’s father passed by you both. His torn hat was low on his head, and his coat was dirty and disheveled. He briefly glanced at you and your mother, his hands in his pockets, before continuing inside the cabin.
You never felt at ease with that man. He always seemed annoyed or irritated, and he always reeked of some type of alcohol or liquor. And there were times you’d find or notice a bruise on Alastor, and he’d either brush it off or say it was from people who decided to steal from him.
But you had a feeling, deep down, that it was deeper than that. That his father was possibly at fault. You were aware of his… Uncaring behavior.
But you never pushed Alastor, and let him be. If he didn’t want to talk about it, now or ever, that was up to him. The last thing you wanted was to make your best friend upset.
You were with your little brother inside your room. He was playing with his toys while you read a book, invested deeply in what the story held.
“(Y/n)!” Your mother called, and you huffed in annoyance before you yelled out, “What, Mom?!”
“Alastor’s here! And he wants to speak with you!”
You immediately got up, causing your little brother to look up at you in confusion before shrugging it off, continuing with his little figures and other playthings.
As you stepped out of the hallway, you surely saw Alastor standing in your living room, with his seemingly permanent smile. You immediately rushed toward him, grinning as you hugged him close, “Alastor! I missed you!”
He chuckled, patting your back, “I saw you earlier while we were selling our newspapers.” He commented with a smirk.
You blushed, stepping back a bit as you fidgeted your hands a bit, “Well.. Y’know, I just… So! What did you want to tell me?”
Your mother giggled quietly in the kitchen, your obvious awkwardness and changing the subject greatly amusing her. She listened nearby, eavesdropping on her daughter‘s conversation with her male friend.
“I was just here to say I saw the diner nearby, and... Would you like to come with, and… Accompany me?” Alastor shyly inquired.
You happily grinned, nodding eagerly, “Oh, of course! Just let me get my coat!”
You ran and got your coat from the rack nearby and trekked along with Alastor, waving to your mother, “Bye, Mom! I’ll see you in a bit!”
You two trekked inside the small, homey diner, the atmosphere welcoming despite the neighborhood it lived in. You stood in front of the counter, scanning the options until you ordered what you wanted and sat in a booth, you and Alastor chatting lively. Even as both of your foods came, you both still spoke with a grin; mostly you, whilst Alastor listened intently.
After your lunch, you both drifted to the park near the diner after paying. As you and Alastor approached the nearest available bench, the scenery caught your attention.
Children played, ran, screamed, and laughed. It almost reminded you of how you and Alastor used to be when you two were little children, carefree and wild—whether it be playing in the forest or doodling on paper inside. Parents sat on wooden benches, chatting happily about whatever they were discussing.
It was beautiful. It made the problematic world outside this park fade and drift into a better one. A scene you could only dream of how New Orleans could’ve been. All of Louisiana in fact.
Alastor just gazed down at you, a brow raised at your state of thought. A small, soft smile graced his lips, a genuine one that only ever came when he was with you. He watched you gaze out at the scene that differed from the place you two called home before giving your hand a light tug, watching as you gawked up at him in surprise. Alastor chuckled before pulling you to the bench, watching as you suddenly turned sheepish.
“Sorry about that! I got lost in thought, I suppose!”
Alastor merely shrugged, tugging you along to the nearest available bench before sitting down with you, gaping out at the scenery as well. “It’s fine, (Y/n). I find it adorable when you’re lost in thought. But make sure you make some room to be present for me, hm? ‘Can’t have my dearest friend fall into the complex galaxy that’s your head,” Alastor laughed gently as you scoffed, landing a small smack on his arm,
“How dare you?! You’re one to talk! I see you in your thoughts, too! If not more!” You exclaimed but couldn’t help but grin as you stared up into Alastor’s caramel orbs. You chuckled before you placed your arms on the table, resting your cheek on your palm with a soft smile as you watched him laugh out, grinning down at you with that signature smile of his.
You never saw him without it. Not once.
“Touché, ma chérie. You hit quite hard, though,” Alastor remarked. You rolled your eyes, shaking your head with your hand still against your cheek,
“You’re such a wimp, Al. I barely used even half of my strength,”
“And that felt like more than half.”
You laughed out, and Alastor felt swirls deep in his chest at the sound. You always hated the way you sounded, but he loved all your laughs.
In that moment, he’d forgotten all the problems in life. His father, all those backwards men, everything. It was a habit of yours to make him speechless, even when you didn’t intend it. Around you, everything felt light, and everything felt possible. Even at his worst, you were still there for him.
For very small, very brief moments, he would feel… Complete. All his worries would vanish.
He hoped, dreamed even… That he had the same effect on you.
Little did he know… Yes. Yes, he did.
A/n: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!!
Comments and reblogs are appreciated!
