Chapter Text
A short story of the day Alastor discovered he could love such a small, irritating thing.
Okay, how hard could it be to be in charge of a small supernatural being until she could take care of herself?
Definitely much more so than Alastor had believed It could be.
He accepted that deal because, come on, how difficult could it be to take care of a little doll like Charlie was?
And Angel said he had experience in the field of taking care of small and weak beings! But apparently he didn't have that much practice anymore
And the last time Alastor had been in contact with a child was in his childhood.
Maybe, and just maybe, because he wasn't going to admit it to his peers, Alastor had really screwed up this time.
His life went from being routine to at least having something different to do now, although he couldn't really spend as much time with the eccentric little girl as he would like.
Although it wasn't that it would really affect him, the little girl was just another hobby of his. The day he would get bored of all this little circus he got himself into, she would leave, as simple as that
Although for now, he enjoyed some of his little moments with her.
Charlie liked to watch him cook, he would sit in his chair while he drew at the small table in his kitchen, She was clearly not the best artist, but her small color sketches had their charm.
From time to time, he would try to help him prepare food. Not even Alastor had the heart to refuse, although most of the time he ruined the recipe, neither Vox nor Angel were capable of telling her, everyone ate like it was the best food in the world.
Oh, and his doll also liked to help him with his radio scripts. It was a small project that Alastor had, and he appreciated Charlie's attempts to help, she was a very charismatic princess!
There were days when Alastor was too tired to do any of his daily activities, when, for once, He would give Charlie permission to see that horrible and loud device that had enchanted Vox, while they had some "tea party" as Charlie called them, They were a nice break for Alastor from Charlie's energy.
He still wasn't sure if really all kids were like that or it was just that Charlie was a spawn of the devil, whatever it was, it definitely tired Alastor.
And even when Charlie had his "little attacks" in which he once destroyed one of his sofas, things like caring for a being with the claws and fangs of a wild animal. Yes Adding occasionally horns and goat ears— He really wasn't even remotely sure what Charlie really was!
But they were making progress in managing the anger, although it really wasn't too much, it wasn't very good that Charlie was going around showing the world that she wasn't human.
At the moment, he still didn't want to get away from her.
Although deep down he knew it
It wasn't going to be eternal, nothing was.
Although he wouldn't let himself be lied to, the Blondie was quite... nice, as far as she could tell about their time together when Alastor wasn't stuck in a dive bar as a waiter.
She had something in her, I wouldn't know whether to call it charisma, or her energetic and equally courteous personality considering her young age, she had something
that spark
Her eyes were shining, they were so—
Alastor had seen it before
Oh, how could he forget? He was painted in red
He still was
But Alastor was always selfish
He didn't know what he wanted to do with her, once again. It was strange, but he didn't want to extinguish it or sully it. He felt too dirty to even be near her.
Alastor didn’t want to touch it, he didn't want to stain it.
He felt too dirty to even be near her.
But he was always selfish.
And he didn't really know what he wanted,
so for the moment, he'd settle for just being with her, watching It grow every day.
Until one day, Alastor almost didn't come home.
In a dark alley—
Oh the memories
Fuck, concentrate for once in your life Alastor—
He was staggering as he tried to move forward. He wasn't that far away anymore, he was going to be able to get there, right? The cuts on his abdomen burned like shit, f Add to that the fucking bruises, I didn't even know how many he had—
Breathing hurt
Was he really going to last until the apartment?
Although he wasn't sure what to really expect, the other two would probably just panic, Vox would insult him and
"The end of the great altruist, Alastor."
It sounded horrible.
This is why one did not do good things for free.
He crawled up the stairs, every movement hurt, but he was almost there.
Fuck it, men were scum, he was one, he could tell.
It was their fault that he is like this now, a stupid man believed that since Niffty was an employee he could use her however he wanted. What did they expect Alastor to do other than throw the bottle at his head?
Fortunately, the lovely Niffty managed to escape unharmed. he really hoped that none of those trashes would even consider approaching Charlie, he would take care of it himself—
“"W-we have no idea where he is and— Alastor!?"
Anthony?
Angel immediately went to grab him, picked him up as if he were weighed nothing and dragged him to the door of his apartment, re Really, Alastor was not in the best position to protest. He threw him onto the couch and—
“Sei un pezzo di merda dannatamente stupido—“ Oh, here come the shouting in Italian. Alastor must have really screwed up to get to this.
"Do you have any idea how you worried us, ypu fucking jerk!?”
Vox also entered the conversation now! Excellent, now he will have insults in Italian and vulgar sayings. Could this be better?
Wait, did Vox have irritated eyes?
Was Vox cry—
"Al, you can't just disappear for two days and not respond to any fucking texts or calls."
"Was it really two days?" Alastor now realized, he was screwed. Although it wasn't his fault—
Suddenly Alastor heard a sob
He turned his head and found Charlie, his little girl was a mess.
And not the fun mess it used to be.
She was disheveled and still in her pajamas although it was almost noon, didn't the two incompetents take over in he absence? He was going to have to talk about it—
Charlie was crying.
Charlie never cried.
Alastor was in charge of that.
She ran towards Alastor, though she stopped for a moment before lunging at him, Alastor's "No—Touch" rule. Char was so smart for being so little!
Although, anyway, Alastor opened his arms towards her, his whole body hurt but, right now he couldn't deny anything to the pretty doll in front of him
And he didn't think he would ever be able to do it again.
Charlie hugged him and started to cry, she was barely a child, they had already abandoned her once and she didn't want it to happen again.
Alastor heard Charlie's sobs while his little hands clung to his already ruined jacket. How could he gently patted Charlie's back in an attempt to calm her down.
Was he going deaf?
From the looks on Angel and Vox's faces, he had definitely heard right.
Really, that was…
Unexpected, to say the least.
Charlie really just called him “Papa”
“Asshole, she worries about you. And Char is not the only one.” Vox spoke a little angrily, but definitely much calmer than when Alastor arrived.
“You don't need to tell us what happened to you either, just, at least send a message to tell us that you're still alive, you know?”
They almost made him feel a little guilty with their talk.
He listened to them while Charlie was still clinging to his clothes, she didn't want him to go away.
…
Was it really selfish of him if he wanted to stay like this forever?
Alastor will probably stain her red too one day
Alastor knows he shouldn't
He also believes that she deserves much better than him.
Alastor should approach Charlie, he'll stain her spark and he'll ruin her
maybe forever
But once again, Alastor is a selfish person.
He will take care of her and keep her away from everything harmful if necessary.
He has decided that he wants to take care of her.
And not even the devil himself will be able to take it away from him, not even from his cold, dead hands.
Alastor wants to see him try.
…
Alastor moved away from her a little and touched her cheeks with his fingers, gave her one of his best smiles, and as his mother once told to a little fawn;
“Smile, darling, you’re never fully dressed without a smile!”