Work Text:
As the silhouette of the sun rose upon the horizon, Rosie had shifted in her bed- curse the light for being so bright. She really needed to invest in blackout curtains sooner rather than later.
The shades that blocked out most of the daybreak rustled in tandem with the breeze that fluttered softly through the open window Alastor had climbed through the night prior, streams of light filtering through the cracks of blinds that lay undisturbed for most of the dawn. Rosie's exposed shoulders should have been more in tune with the sudden chill, but the overwhelming sense of heat that lay just off to the side of her was comforting enough for her to slowly but surely navigate towards the being residing within the plush sheets of her bed, encapsulating him in a rare, but entirely welcome bout of sleep.
Her breath escaped her with a soft sigh as she lazily reached an arm around and dusted her fingertips across a solid figure- Alastor. Tousled hair and sun-kissed features from the twinkling star that lay low in the Louisiana sky met her hand as her pupils dilated and constricted to adjust to the morning light and the being beside her.
It was a rare moment indeed for Alastor to have fallen asleep in her hold, his acute coffee addiction proved to make her life just a tad bit more difficult in the aspect of allowing him a full 8 hours. Perhaps there was a method behind the madness of the man she adored, the man she pledged herself to. For that reason, she didn't dare jostle him in any way, a soft hand caressing his jarringly lax features with a featherlight softness reserved only for him.
Her parents had been out on business, giving her and the rising radio star some time to themselves without the added worry of her mother barging in on her and causing some very unnecessary grief for having a colored man in her bed- especially an unwed one. Alastor had even gotten to see some of the inner workings of her house- normally, he wouldn't be allowed to go past the confines of her room without running the risk of being caught and potentially shot by her father- hell, even her mother, even if it had been considered unladylike for a woman to obtain and use a firearm.
She was pulled out of her short reverie when she felt the man beside her stir against her frame, to which she leaned her head down to whisper a few soft words in his ear and urge his semi-comatose mind to relax. She held no complaints when he responded with a wordless huff against her neck and pulled the woman closer, burying his nose in the crook of her neck and breathing in her scent, something that had become a staple since the start of their relationship. Lean arms encircled her and she felt the muscles in his hand cord as it trailed up the curvature of her spine, her body instinctively reacting to his touch by leaning back and letting out a soft hum of contempt. The man did things to her that sparked a fire in her stomach that no other man could ever dream of recreating.
“ Darlin’, you’re going to drive a woman crazy and it’s not even 8 in the mornin’ yet.. “
Alastor’s eyes opened at that, slightly squinting in the morning light. Even then, his gaze held a glint of sardonic mirth as his chapped lips curled into the charming smile that she adored. He merely closed his eyes after getting a good look at her, letting the mental image of her invade his mind. He didn’t quite make a move to get up- he was far too comfortable for such a thing, cozied up to the woman he held closest to his heart.
“ My, my.. It seems I’ve ensnared quite the lovely belle. Did you ever consider that might just be the point, my dear? “
As if to further said point, he trailed the hand that had since rested on her upper back to bring it to the back of her head, as if she were as fragile as a doll. Calloused palms glided through her platinum tresses, sending a shiver up her spine and a pleasant burn in her chest as she closed her eyes against him before wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his own. The languid drag behind both movements hinted at the sleepiness clouding their respective minds, Alastor’s labored breath being the only thing to occupy her mind at the moment. Accompanying that was the steady thrum of his heartbeat in his ears as he felt her hands glide over the exposure of his lean torso, his own going to gingerly trail to her hand, clasping it in his own as the pulled apart from each other, one flushed, half-lidded gaze meeting the other in the light of the room. His lips were chapped and chilled from the breeze that wafted in from her open window, but firm and confident in spite of his lack of experience with the fairer sex.
“ Mmm.. stay here, why don’t you? Mama won’t be back until Monday mornin’. Do tell me you don’t have to work today.. “
Her honeyed voice was soft, and his gaze flicked to meet her own, his hand still working on tangling itself in her soft locks as he seemed to debate her words.
“ Trust me dearest, I have no intention of going anywhere. Your presence is nothing less than a godsend and your bed is quite comfortable. While I may be rather wet behind the ears when it comes to.. this, I can tell you with certainty that the buffoons at the station can wait. “
With a touch of finality to his polished Trans-Atlantic tone, he pulled her closer to breathe in her scent as she closed her eyes against him, lips parted as if she were about to argue against it, but- How could she say no? It wasn’t as if she didn’t want to spend the day with him, and with his rising claim to fame in the radio hosting industry, they couldn’t fire him if they wanted to. What could she say? The man had tenure. She found herself falling victim to the dregs of sleep that threatened to claim her, his arms providing her with a sense of protection in the early morning atmosphere.
Alastor had formerly been an enigma to her mind, even before the two had become an item. His desire for touch- or lack thereof- baffled her just a much as it amused her. When Rosie had first met him, he often shied away from any and all physical contact as if it had burned the poor fellow with everyone that met him, and Rosie respected it. It was rather pathetic in his mind. He prided himself on being a master of leading others on to their eventual demise. Feeling decidedly attached to another was not in his plans. However, as his feelings grew, so did his want, his need for her to be around him. He still needed to adjust to his sudden, unfamiliar sense of yearning, however. What started as him pulling her close in private corridors soon turned into his lips on hers whenever they were out of the watchful eyes of New Orleans socialites. His lack of experience still showed on occasion, but he had grown comfortable enough around her to openly indulge in her own bouts of affection. Anything the woman gave him, he’d graciously accept and return tenfold if his mind wasn’t absolutely swimming by the end of it.
Before unconsciousness claimed her, however- she felt Alastor’s labored breathing and his previously corded muscles relaxing against her. How long it had been since she’d closed her eyes, she was unsure- but it didn’t take her long to realize that the man had fallen asleep within that time. She was half-tempted to join him in his sleepy rendezvous, but, alas, she had other things to tend to.. And perhaps she could surprise him. Her body delicately shifted to slip out of his hold, taking care not to accidentally roll over a limb or shake the poor fellow out of his much-needed sleep. She was almost sure she had gotten away with it until she felt a hand encircle her wrist, and she mentally cursed herself for not taking more time and care to get past his sleeping form. Could nothing get past the man?
No words came from Alastor, nor did he open his eyes, but his grip was firm as his fingers wrapped around her thin wrist, and she gave a soft smile before hovering over him just so, using her unoccupied hand to run her fingers through unruly hair as she spoke to him. Listening to the pleased hum that left his throat, she leaned in close to press a sensual kiss to his cheek- slow, sweet. She noticed the faint hue of black her lips left behind thanks to the signature lipstick she wore, but she could tell him about that later when he wasn’t so content on staying within the safety of her sheets.. And her gentle touch.
“ Rest now, sugar. I’ll be back in a moment, simply goin’ to fetch somethin’ from the ice box. “
It wasn’t a lie, she truly was going to go scavenge for something she could make the pair to eat. As his hand reluctantly eased up from around her wrist, she pressed one last chaste kiss to his lips before she slipped from the bed, grabbing her robe from her bathroom and wrapping it around her as she made her way down the stairs two at a time until she landed in the kitchen. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she grabbed a nearby clip on the counter, pinning her hair up with it before fixing on her apron that had since been hanging on the pantry door. Perhaps for Alastor, she could make.. Special arrangements for breakfast. With lithe grace, she glided over to the ice box to begin her search, digging past the frozen vegetables and other meats to meet what would truly appease her appetite.. Human flesh that she had carved herself.
As she pondered what she could do, she supposed she could sear the meat to perfection enough to resemble normal food- That was the only thing that kept her mother and father unsuspicious of her unique tastes. As her mind wandered, she quickly shut the ice box and went to turn the stove on. She occasionally went to check and ensure Alastor was still resting to the best of his ability, not wanting to spoil his surprise despite the utterly delicious smell that wafted through the house as she fixed up breakfast for the two, or rather- breakfast for him. She didn’t make herself anything, however- despite how famished she was, she didn’t feel like eating the meat she prepped. It would make her squeamish. Since she found out he had shared her unique taste, she hadn’t failed in preparing lunch for him on the occasions that she could- she was shocked her parents hadn’t found out about her tastes, but.. They could be quite dense. To be fair, however- meat simply looked like meat. Human or animal, there wasn’t that big of a difference- certainly not to the human eye if cooked right.
And cook it right she did. The woman was raised from birth to be a housewife that catered to her husband’s every whim, but she truly did have a knack for preparing food. She even rivaled some local chefs in the area. She had mastered certain dishes and had quickly conquered others, dominating the kitchen in a way that would take a normal person years to master. It was a talent she possessed at a young age, and one she didn’t plan on giving up anytime soon. If all else failed, perhaps she’d stand a chance in a restaurant.. Maybe even be an entrepreneur for something entirely new in the food industry. A girl could dream.
By the time she had finished making Alastor breakfast, she had prepared a small tray for him. A biscuit with the meat inside looking just like some sort of sausage you’d pick up at a present-day delii, hiding what it truly was with quite the deceiving poker face, along with a small cup of gravy to complement the biscuits that were accompanied with a few strips of “ bacon “ fried to a crisp, scrambled eggs, and fresh strawberries from Sal’s. She fixed up a cup of coffee for him as well, black- just how the man liked it- before smiling at her handiwork and picking it up, making her way up the stairs back to the bedroom. If her mother caught her taking food up to her room to eat, she surely would have had a conniption. She entered the room almost silently, only the soft creak of the door signifying her presence and the overwhelming smell of breakfast.
The moment Alastor had heard the door creak, his eyes opened on instinct- and his gaze immediately fell on Rosie. With a keen hunter’s eye, he noticed the way she stiffened- as if she had been caught in the act of doing something dastardly. The corners of his eyes crinkled in mirth as he righted himself, stretching and abling himself to lean back against her padded headboard like a limber feline as she brought the tray over to him and stripped herself of the apron she had adorned earlier to take her place beside him. He reached a hand over to take it from her, admiring the food plastered on the tray. He had grown accustomed to the smell of the seared meat from making it himself- and upon recognizing that she had indeed fixed it to meet his unique taste, his perpetual grin widened.
“ Thoughts? “ The woman gave a soft smile as she positioned his cup of coffee neatly on her nightstand.
He paused where he was, every last ingrained gentlemanly manner screaming at him for some decorum to his words, though all he managed to get out was-
“ You’re magnificent, dove. “
If the only true way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, Rosie would have had every male in New Orleans vying for her hand in marriage. For once the man forwent without some complicated speech as he forked up a generous portion of biscuits and gravy, indulging in the way they practically melted in his mouth, with the addition of the flavor of the not-so-mystery meat. He swore that there was nothing the woman couldn’t make and master- a true jack of all trades in the kitchen, if you asked him.
“ I was talkin’ about the food, sweetheart. “
As silly as Alastor could be.. Some of his actions left the woman with seemingly endless fits of anxiety. Her entire life, anxiety was never taught or understood to be a good thing, but with him, it was. It confused her to hell and back, but- Alastor was a confusing man, being muddled up in mystery from head to toe was something he prided himself on. Even if she was his partner, she knew there were still secrets left to uncover. Secrets that she wanted to spend her life uncovering; secrets that revealed the true man behind the madness that had become more and more present to her as time went on and Alastor had long since gotten more open and honest with the woman.. And a part of her that wouldn’t dare admit it to him, found everything about the man alluring and intriguing.
Alastor’s current reverie wasn’t nearly as serious as Rosie’s in the moment, but he also couldn’t deny the fact that the woman threw him for loops, intentionally or not. His gaze tore away from her face to linger over her form, assuming he could find something to disrupt the oh-so boring and deafening silence that accompanied the room. She was seemingly off in her own little world when he pondered, which gave him more time to recognize that she didn’t come up with a plate of her own upon her arrival.
That simply wouldn’t do now, would it?
A deft hand encircled Rosie’s waist, having already moved the tray a safe distance that didn’t risk collision. Her eyes immediately shot to his own, and she gave a soft gasp upon being pressed flush against his body as he reached for a fork. His unoccupied arm stayed wrapped around her as he grinned, taking a piece of a sliced strawberry from the plate and offering it to her. She deadpanned for a moment, and she started to speak.
“ ..Cariño, I hardly think this is nece- “
“ Hush, cher. Did you eat when you were downstairs, or did you simply think you could slip that little bit past me without me noticing? “
His eyes twinkled in amusement- he found the situation much more amusing than she did, but.. Thinking about it, he cared about her. He was trying to ensure that she ate something during the day, despite going out of his way to keep from admitting it. She couldn’t be upset with him even if she wanted to. She slowly opened her mouth, allowing him to fork the sliced strawberry to her as she handed him his coffee, which he graciously accepted. If that’s one thing the man couldn’t live without, it’d be coffee.
Throughout their breakfast, Alastor would dote on about something, and Rosie would tell the man about the day prior- even gossiping about Susan, the latest resident across the road who had no idea about the antics this place consisted of. Oh that would surely be fun to partake in.
As Alastor spoke, he’d often fork feed her his strawberries from the tray- he was never a big fan of sweet things.. As ironic as that was, his partner was probably the sweetest woman in all of New Orleans, despite the controversial hobbies she chose to partake in. Not to mention it gave him the excuse to take care of her, finding a twinge of joy in caring for another- especially when the other in question was Rosie, something the morbid part of him found truly amusing. Never in his life did he expect to draw joy out of such capricious things.
“ Tell me, How did you manage to sneak such a feast in without drawing the attention of your parents? Quite the skill, darling. “
He forked up another piece of “ sausage “ at the mention, eyes trained on her from behind the rims of his glasses. His curiosity piqued as it normally did with the woman- she always found a way to keep the hostess on his toes. Her eyes trailed to his own, and she gave a sly grin- ever the clever minx she was, he thought.
“ Does it not resemble that of the meat of a cow? Of a pig, perhaps? They wouldn’t know the difference; if the meat were a snake, it would have bit them already. “
She gave a light huff, taking another strawberry he so graciously offered her. He chuckled, a glint of grim mirth twinkling in his eyes as he adjusted to sit his plate off on the nightstand, finishing his food with a soft nod as thanks to Rosie. Once he had settled down, unoccupied, Rosie turned to face him, dainty arms going to wrap around his neck as she pulled him in for a chaste kiss. He seemed a bit shocked by the movement, still being caught off guard by her bouts of affection at times, before he seemed to relax as he moved his hand to rest against the small of her back, eyes half lidded and gazing at her until she parted, even if the distance put between the two was miniscule. His tongue ran along his bottom lip- he could taste the faint hints of strawberry.
Electric blues gazed at his lips for a moment, stifling a titter and instead giving a soft hum against him. Her hand moved up to run through unruly hair that had lost the natural slick of pomade since his arrival, revealing the dark brown tresses she so loved to card her fingers through. Her lips tilted up towards his own, reveling in the way he looked at her as if she were nothing less than a divine goddess in his arms.
“ So the breakfast was the cat’s pajamas, I take it? “
As she grinned against his lips, he gave a soft shake of his head as his ever-present smile widened before he gave a soft twist of his body, before simply falling back on the bed- and dragging her with him. She didn’t gasp this time, merely eyed him as she hovered over top of the man. He looked up at her with an expectant look as she reached up to take his glasses off, already knowing what he had in mind.
“ It was heavenly, ma belle. Much like yourself, I must say. “
She gave a soft roll of her eyes as she sat his glasses on the edge of the nightstand before drawing her gaze back to him, a hand going to rest against his chest as he drew her closer, grabbing the fabric of her sheets before pulling them over the two and lying down against him, listening to the soft drawl of his breathing. He had grown accustomed to her touch rather quickly compared to how he was within the first few months of their relationship, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Rosie.
“ Quite the scoundrel today, aren’t we? “
He said nothing in response, only giving a soft huff- as if him being dubbed as a scoundrel was something he took great offense to.. Even if it had been entirely true. She laid on top of him, her head resting in the juncture of his neck and his chest. All seemed to be well in the world as Alastor rubbed gentle circles into her back, instinctively closing her eyes as she let the tension from her earlier tasks melt away in his touch. She glanced up to meet his gaze, and when she was met with a smug grin, she simply stared up at him for a moment.
“ Comfortable, aren’t we? “
Ah, that also simply wouldn’t do. He wasn’t getting the upper hand on her that easily- it had been a back-and-forth game that they partook in on occasion, and both of them indulged in seeing the other red-faced and rendered without coherent thought.. It didn’t help that they were both competitive, and in Alastor’s case- persistent and stubborn.
Rosie smiled, and mumbled a quiet ‘ quite, ‘ before she shifted to gracefully roll off of him. He nearly made a move to grab her in fear of her rolling off the bed once he realized what she was doing, but- she was rather quick in her movements. He went to watch her, but before he could entirely process what exactly she’d done, he felt himself being pulled back against her, and he grabbed a hold of the sheets, his eyes slightly widening.
“ Dearest, I yield- “
..Oh dear, he hadn’t anticipated being the little spoon. Her arms wrapped around Alastor’s midsection as she gave a pleased hum, her head tilting down to meet his shoulder. Despite his admittance to surrender so quickly.. She showed no sign of returning back to the earlier position they were in.As a dusted, rosy hue appeared on his darkened skin, She opened her eyes just slightly and gave a characteristic grin against his jawline, tilting her head up against him.
“ So soon? But we were just gettin’ started.. “
The words were practically purred in his ear, and she felt him swallow as she pressed a kiss to the soft skin of his neck, instinctively mapping out his jugular with a polished nail as she did as such. He felt his skin burning under his touch, though- his smile didn’t falter. He looked as if he were about to make some sort of move to turn the tables, give her a taste of her own medicine, but- before he had much of a chance to do as such, her leg hitched up to rest against his hip- and he froze like a deer in headlights before his gaze snapped back to her.
“ Rosie- “
“ Alastor. “
She audibly laughed when the man was rendered near speechless, an even bigger rarity- he seemed to never shut up. Even if he was out of sorts, however- he registered her laugh like honey for the ears- sweet, featherlight. His smile stretched thin- he was supposed to be the one making her go weak at the knees, the infuriating woman! He couldn’t find it in him to be irritated at her for too long, however- if anything, the rosy hue on his cheeks said all that needed to be said. He was secretly enjoying their game as much as she was, despite the fact that he loathed losing.. He supposed he could set aside his masculine pride for a moment or two. She was quite the cozy thing if he did say so himself.
“ Mmh.. As much as I’d love to waste the day away with you, slot time is a valuable thing, my dear. I can give you until ten. “
“ Ten-thirty..? “
“ Ten, darling. “
“ ..Eleven? “
“ You’re infuriating. Eleven it is. “
She grinned against him- oh how she could make him fold at her fingertips. She pressed a soft kiss to his jaw, and he let out a close-lipped hum at the affection. He figured he’d be awake for quite some time, but.. Who knows? Rosie may just lure him into sleep once more. As he relaxed in her hold, his mind drifted elsewhere. Rosie had shared secrets with him that were for his ears alone, had devoted herself to him, and left her exposed with the trust that he would never hurt her.. And he was trying his damnedest to live up to her expectations. When he felt her relax, he carefully rotated to face the weary woman, his smile softening just so as he placed a chaste peck on her lips. It was quick, but- affectionate.
“ Rest well, dove. “
She said nothing in response, though he noticed how her lips curved upward in a smile as she pulled him close, his head slowly being drawn to her chest as she did. A hand carded through his dark locks, tangling there and giving his head soft scratches with pristine nails- something he had grown to love as time went on.
Unbeknownst to Rosie, she had actually managed to lure the man to sleep a bit too well, and for much longer than expected. By the time Alastor had stirred again, the sun was once again lighting up the room... Though, instead of seeing the morning light of the sun peek into the shades- when he sluggishly put his glasses on to glance out of her window, he saw the infamous star in the distance setting- making room for the new light of the twinkling stars that were steadily being revealed as the minutes passed.
His first instinct was an internalized bout of panic- he had missed his slot time. Someone else had to cover for him unannounced, and that would likely come back to bite him within the next few days. As he looked at the sleeping woman wrapped securely in his arms, however.. something in his mind seemed to relax. If nothing else.. It was worth it to be in her arms. What he would give to act as if nothing else mattered as if the only thing he had to worry about was her, and her alone..
.. and that was exactly what he decided to do. Without a word, the radio host resumed his earlier position, snuggling into his lover and letting the rhythmic, soft thrums of her beating heart lull him back into his drowsy state. He allowed the worries that plagued him to melt away with his consciousness, focusing solely on Rosie until he had long since been claimed by the dregs of sleep that overtook him.