All Good Things Must Come to an End
"So are you excited!",Anthony coos while fluffing up your soft hair.
You laugh gently as you stare into your vanity,"I'm a bit nervous."
Anthony refused to let you get ready for the date with Alastor on your own. And you accepted his offer to help you get ready with eagerness. You needed as much time with him as possible before Sunday evening.
Now Saturday night Anthony and you had spent the entire morning out and shopping. You laughed and had fun with your best friend yet had to refrain from crying every minute.
He was completely oblivious.
"Well you're lookin' like a knockout so you don't need to worry.",Anthony picked up the brush for one final brush through. You inhaled deeply and flinched when the brush hit the back of your head.
Anthony looked down at you in worry,"Oh crap, did I accidentally pull a hair?" Your head began to pound as he accidentally struck the place Velvet had pistol whipped you. With a weak laugh you nodded,"Yeah but its okay."
Anthony apologized quickly before putting the brush back down and turning you to face him.
His eyes fell over your beautiful features and the new dress he had chosen for you. The neckline plunged to show enough cleavage to get any man drooling but not enough to expose the girls. And a black choker with a small rose and a bit of makeup hid the love bites Alastor had left.
And the color was a crimson red. Anthony grinned at his work of art.
You felt yourself grow shy underneath his gaze,"Do I look good?" You smiled up at him through your curled lashes. He thought for a moment, his fingers stroking his chin. Then a grin spread across his glossy lips.
"Shit, I'd nail you if I liked ladybits."
You both erupt into laughter and you smack his chest,"Jeez thanks." You continue to laugh softly. You watch as his eyes shut and a happy smile is across his features. You stop laughing and stand up to pull him into a tight hug. He stops abruptly a bit surprised by the sudden embrace. Yet he returns it with an awkward chuckle,"Whats this for?"
You inhale his scent of strawberrys and cigarettes,"For being here for me. For being my best friend and brother. I couldn’t thank you enough.” Anthony can sense the sadness in your voice and his brows furrow as he holds you closer.
Why does she sound like this is goodbye?...
"Ehh no problem, toots..."
A soft knock comes from the living room and you both turn to its direction. Pulling away from the hug you give an excited smile,"Bye, Tony."
Anthony nods and lets you leave the room after he plants a soft kiss against your cheek. He listens to the muffles of you and Alastor interacting, then the sound of the door shutting.
Anthony smiles gently while beginning to gather his makeup and hair products together. He brushes off the bad feeling of your strange sentimental moment.
"I hope she stays just as happy as she is now...",Anthony mumbles aloud softly.
«»
Alastor couldn't believe how stunning you looked. Red truly was your color.
He almost couldn't keep his eyes off of you while on the road.
"Alastor!",you laughed while nudging his arm,"Eyes on the road."
Alastor looked handsome. That was an understatement. He was dressed semi-casual in a black dress shirt and red tie, along with black slacks and of course his oval-rimmed cheaters. You smiled brightly upon realizing you two had unintentionally matched.
"I'm sorry, darling but you look absolutely beautiful.",Alastor complimented you while his hands gripped the wheel. You felt warmth within your heart and you smiled while looking out of the window,"You look quite handsome yourself."
The scenery begins to grow unfamiliar as you continue to drive, you grow curious and excited as the streets grow livelier. Lights are strewn up on homes and business. Live music litters the streets and many are walking and enjoying themselves. Laughing, stopping to dance, and conversing.
"Alastor where are we?",you question while listening to the muffle music coming from outside the vehicle. Alastor glances to you and he feels butterflies within his stomach at the sight of you in awe.
"This is the heart of New Orleans my dear! I believe you have yet to see it so I thought it best we come here and stop by one of my favorite restaurants!",Alastor speaks with pride and enthusiasm. You coo and your eyes sparkle as you continue to admire the many decorations and murals littering this lively part of New Orleans.
Alastor pulls into the parking lot of a lit up two story restaurant. You look up and notice its inviting aura and feel.
Alastor steps out of the car and rounds it to your side. Opening the door he offers his hand with a smile,"Shall we?"
With a nod and wide smile you take his hand. Linking your arms you both make your way inside the establishment. The smell of spices and delectable dishes immediately fills your senses. The scents are so incredible you nearly start salivating.
Alastor speaks to the hostess as you look around the joint. Its a fancy looking place and its nearly filled with people. They all look to be enjoying themselves as well. Chatter and laughter fills the room and across is a stage with live music.
This place fills you with comfort and ease. For a moment you forget all the bad shit in the world.
The hostess guides you upstairs and to a table by the windows which overlook the bright streets. You feel butterflies bounce around in your stomach as Alastor pulls your seat out and pushes you in.
“Your server will be over in a while, apologies but we are quite busy.”,the silver haired woman gives a nod and professional smile while placing down the menus in front of you.
Once she leaves you look to Alastor with a bright and happy expression,”Al...this is amazing! The view is absolutely stunning, how did you find this place?”
Alastor offers a smile as his eyes skim over the view then fall to you,”As you know I lived in East LA for a portion of my childhood. But my mother brought me here to New Orleans when I was around twelve. I fell in love with this place and especially this lively and bright part of this wondrous place.”
You can’t help but smile fondly at the look of contentment on Alastors tanned features as he speaks of the place he calls home. Your eyes fall down to the open menu yet you continue the conversation.
“Is there a reason you moved here?”
Alastors hands grip the menu when your soft voice asks the innocent question. He’s silent for a few moments and you look up from the delicious dishes. You notice the far-away look in his eyes as his gaze is trained on the dishes in front of you.
Reaching across the table you gently push down the menu,”Alastor...” He blinks back and he clears his throat, letting the menu rest on the table he laughs bitterly and pushes up his glasses.
“I’m sorry my dear that question just carried a bit more weight than you’d think.”,he confesses while attempting to keep a smile on his lips.
You shake your head gently,”You don’t have to answer it if you—“
“It’s quite alright. I-...”,he stops himself short as your hand gently rests over his. He sighs shakily and looks up at you with a smile,”I want to tell you.”
His thumb gently traces circles along the back of your hand and he looks out onto the streets. He watches as people throw beads and streamers and dance around.
“My father was not the best man.”,he starts quietly and you watch his expression closely and listen to his words carefully.
“He wasn’t even a drunk or addict. But he did beat my mother and I mercilessly. Whether we did everything right and with caution or we made one mistake we would get punished.”,his jaw tightens and your eyes fall to his dress shirt. The scars littered across his body reflected in your mind.
“He’s the one who disfigured my body. Anytime I tried to intervene and help my mother he’d hold me down and—and—“
Alastor had never spoken any of this aloud. He had never told another soul what had happened in his childhood. Telling you was proving to be more difficult than he thought it would be.
Watching him begin to stammer over his words you gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. His gaze drifted back to you and you gave him a reassuring smile.
“It’s okay, Alastor.”,your voice was soft and he was relived to not see any pity in your eyes. Just that same look of acknowledgment and care. He smiled weakly at you and inhaled softly before continuing into his troubled life leading to this moment.
“Eventually my mother gathered up enough money to get as far away from him as possible. So she went where she was raised. New Orleans. Despite living paycheck to paycheck we were happy...free. Then...she was killed in a home invasion. I walked in and...saw the man over her body.”
You couldn’t believe the tragedy that was Alastors life. He’s suffered so much...
“That was the first time I killed someone.”
You couldn’t help the sharp exhale that left your lips,”I’ll spare you the details but I thought my life was over. Especially when a drunken man walked in and mistook our apartment for his.” Alastor chuckled for the first time in his telling,”That’s how I met Husker.”
You blinked back and he pulled his hand from yours to run it through his hair,”From there he helped me...get rid of the bodies. Then he took me under his wing and introduced me to Rosie and Nifty. With a few connections in just a year I became one of the most famous radio hosts around.”
Alastor had laid all his cards out.
He told you nearly his entire life story. He told you what he has never told a single soul before. He grew more and more anxious with your silence.
He opened up to you. He was at his most vulnerable, here and now in front of you. He might as well push in the whole pot.
“I-...”,your gaze which was on the table in front of you fell up at the sound of his voice.
“My entire life I’ve only felt love with my mother. When she died, I never thought I’d feel love again.”,you stilled as he said this,”But I have.”
He reached across the table and cups your cheeks gently,”I’ve found you. Not just once but twice. You are a light in the sick and twisted dark cavern of my heart. I don’t think I deserve you, but I selfishly want you. All of you. And I’d give you all of me to even catch a glimpse of that warm and hypnotizing smile. I’d do anything to keep the light in your eyes and to keep that smile on your beautiful face. You have made me irretrievably and hopelessly lovesick.”
He runs his thumb over the rosy apple of your cheek as his almond brown eyes stare deeply into yours.
“I love you, (Y/N).”
Hearing him say this your eyes widen and mouth parts slightly in surprise. Your entire heart warms up and you feel tears sting your eyes. You couldn’t believe the way he had just completely made himself vulnerable and open to you.
You felt guilt and sorrow sink your heart into your stomach remembering what had to be done. To protect him. To assure he wouldn’t be hurt.
The gravity of your situation caved in. You were going to leave without a word. You were leaving him and Anthony to be caged and locked away.
You loved them both to the deepest crevices of your heart and soul and they’d both said they’d do anything to keep you safe. And they both have proven it.
They both opened up to you and show you love in every aspect. You have done the same. So as you sat here with Alastor, for the last time, hearing his confession brought you immense pain. Immense heartache and despair.
As selfish as it was you considered staying and playing Velvets bluff. But remembering what Anthony had spoken last night and upon hearing Alastors tragical life you realized neither of them deserved anymore pain.
You couldn’t bare to see them anything but happy or content. And if that meant signing your life away in a loveless relationship and giving up your aspirations and goals then so be it.
Alastors face fell to concern as a tear slipped from your soft eyes,”Oh no...I’m sorry—“
The table clatters as you pull him in for a tight hug and breathe in his comforting scent,”I love you too.”
Which is why leaving is going to be so hard...
«»
You and Alastor had an amazing rest of the night. For the first time in what seemed to be decades he was happy. He felt loved and he felt love. You and him roamed the streets of New Orleans. Enjoying the lively music and patrons of the glorious city. You forgot all your worries and problems.
But all good things must come to an end.
Standing outside of your apartment door he smiled down at you lovingly,”This has been a night I’ll never forget, my dear. Thank you for accompanying me.”
You smiled up at him and with a heavy heart you pulled him close.
“Thank you, Alastor...”,you breathed out into his neck as his arms wrapped around your waist to pull you close,”For everything.”
You held back tears as your hands bunched in his dress shirt. Alastor felt his brows furrow and a bad feeling prod at his stomach, yet he shook it as his own self-doubt.
“I should be the one thanking you, (Y/N)...”,pulling away from the hug you lean up and plant a soft kiss against his lips. With glossy eyes and a heavy heart you give him a longing look before stepping into the apartment,”Bye, Alastor.”
With that you shut the door and lean your head against the door. Your eyes fall to the clock across the room.
12:00 am
Looking down you feel a small lick against your bare ankle. The tiny dogs tail wags and you feel your bottom lip quiver as you scoop him up into your arms and pet him.
“Time to get things ready..”