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When you'd been dating for as long as Angel and Alastor had, you typically picked up on things that other's wouldn't. They knew eachother well and they knew when something was wrong.
Angel was sensing that something was wrong.
Over the past few days, he noticed the way that Alastor hadn't really seemed himself. They were subtle changed of course, how he would subtly wince if Charlie got a little too loud, the way he stayed further away when standing next to the others than usual.
Alastor was usually a lot more... Lively than this, always getting a kick out of lovingly getting on everybody's nerves. That's how Angel liked it, he liked the joking even if it was a little much sometimes. But now that it was almost entirely absent? He really missed it.
Though, one thing that was starting to upset him was with how much Alastor had been acting odd and distant to everyone, he'd also started being distant towards Angel. Making him believe that could it be intentional?
He didn't like being ignored, that was one of his big things. The way he'd have to call Alastor's name a few times to get his focus, or even walk right upto his boyfriend.
It was a little annoying. The Hotel seemed quiet today, this was when it really started feeling like something was off. No waking up to the cheerful knocks of his lover, saying it was time to start the day.
Even everyone in the Hotel seemed less lively than normal. He knew it wasn't any different, it was just Alastor. Something was up, he wasn't sure what.
It was lunch time now, he'd been in the kitchen making up some food, usually by now Alastor would've been down already. He'd seen him for breakfast, but he'd left quickly after that. It was... Strange, he tried to ignore the feeling of hurt.
Everyone needed their space sometimes, so he pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind. Everything was fine, surely.
Sitting on the couch as he ate his sandwich, he frowned. He wanted to see his boyfriend, he wanted this weird feeling of how the past few days had been to just vanish. He didn't know what was up, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.
Finishing the sandwich he glanced at the table, biting back a sigh as he saw the food he'd put on a plate for Alastor. He'd wanted to eat with him, he'd expected him to come down and he just hadn't.
As he walked to the bottom of the staircase, he called out loudly. Foot tapping with a steady pace, a mix of anxiety and impatient.
"Alastor, are ya' gonna come down or what?" He called out rather loudly, nails tapping as they fidgeted against the railing.
With no response yet again, Angel huffed in frustration. He was getting a little sick of this. He loved Alastor a lot, but the whole ignoring thing was getting ridiculous. Walking up the stairs, seeing the door shut from down the Hall.
"Are ya' gonna quit ignoring me?" He snapped, regretting it slightly at the silence in response. He sighed, was he being ignored?
"Alastor!" He yelled, loudly. Crossing his arms with a huff. As he mentally decided to just forget about it and go back downstairs, he paused as he heard a clattering sound followed by what sounded to be... A whine?
Angel gasped with a hiss as he suddenly covered his ears, the loud sounds of static coming from Alastor's room, clenching his eyes shut as he held his hands there.
"Fuck-" He winced, that wasn't good.
His expression of annoyance quickly turning into concern as he sprinted towards Alastor's door, standing infront of it for a moment as he knocked on it with the back of his knuckles.
"Babe... Baby? Can I come in please?" Tone laced with worry, Pushing the door open before getting an answer.
He really hadn't expected the sight he was greeted with, shutting the door behind him. Alastor was on his bed, curled up on his side with his knees to his chest. Usually by now he'd already be out of his pajamas. Yet there they were, middle of the day, his hands grasping at his ears as he shook slightly, breath shuddering.
Angel had never seen him like this, quickly moving towards him as he approached the bed, hovering a hand but not quite touching him just incase.
He didn't get a response, only whimpering softly. Concern and a softened expression as he noticed the way Alastor's eyes were glassy, watering silently as he breathed out small sobs. "Hey- Hey, hey. What happened?" He frowned.
He got onto the bed softly, careful not to disrupt his lover as all prior irritation he had just melted away, carefully putting a hand on Alastor's back as he sat next to him, rubbing small circles into it.
"I'm here, baby. It's okay- What happened?" He asked, gently pulling the other into his arms, Alastor sniffling as he weakly leaned against Angels chest, quietly crying.
"I'm s-sorry, my Dear. It's so unpleasant-" "What is, Doll?" He looked, gently running a hand softly through Alastors matted locks. "It's- My ears.. It won't stop-" His hands hovering over his ears as they twitched, not daring to touch them.
The static was loud and sharp sounding, he could practically feel his heart break at the helplessness in Alastor's voice. He tried to sooth, stroking Alastor's hair as he shifted him on his lap, running a hand through it.
The fact Alastor was crying from this definitely meant it was bad. Angel slipping his phone out as he pressed Alastor's head against the fur on his chest, shielding his eyes as he turned his devices flashlight on. "Keep you're eyes closed for me a sec, babe." Warning lightly as he turned it on to its maximum brightness.
He was using his bottom set of arms to sooth Alastor's back as he got a good lock at them, gently using his fingers as he peered in, it was really red, definitely infected.
Alastor whimpered at the touch again, immediately softening his touch. "Sorry, sorry..." "Ugh, what's wrong with me?" He sneered at himself with a hiss, ear flickering in upsetness, wincing at his own pain from doing so.
Angel wasn't good with any of this medical shit, but he didn't think they needed a Doctor to work this one out.
"I think- You've got an ear infection, babe. This is really inflamed." He muttered, keeping his voice low not to bother him.
Alastor only seemed more upset at that, whimpering as he gently shook in Angel's arms, he tried to push back the concern seeing him so weak like this.
Turning the flashlight on his phone off, he slipped his phone away as he shifted on Alastor's bed, leaning back against the headboard with him leaned against his chest.
He hated seeing him like this, it hurt. "Can I touch your ears? I'll be gentle, I promise."
It took a moment, but he felt the shaky nod against his chest, that was permission enough for him. His hand slipping up Alastor's hair, gently moving to the base of his ear's, using his thumbs as he gently rubbed circles into it.
Alastor made a slight whine, static audio sparking as it hissed, Angel continuing to be calm and gentle, softly hushing. "Shh, I've got you."
He felt the shuddery sob into his chest as he used his thumb to wipe away some of the tears. "I got ya', nobody's coming in. Nobody's gonna see ya' like this, I promise."
They stayed like that for a while, Alastor cuddled into Angel's fur as Angel softly rubbed at his ears, bottom set of arms rubbing at his back gently in circles. His lovers shudders starting to fade as it went on, the loud static starting to finally die down.
Gradually the sofly shuddered sobs quieted too, his breathing evening as he winced weakly, mumbling. "I'm sorry..." his voice muffled against him. "I didn't mean for me to end up ignoring you... I just couldn't- stand all the noise, the pain of it-"
"Don't be sorry, Babe." He cut him off, "I had a feeling something was wrong. I should've known ya' weren't doing alright."
Alastor sniffled quietly. "T-Thank you, Angel. For still being here..." He smiled, gently tilting his boyfriends head up as he pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"Always, Al. I ain't going anywhere."