Chapter Text
Memories flashed back as he saw Death coming in the form of Adam’s holy light guitar. Alastor wasn’t a fan of ‘life flashes upon death’ theory, but it was as true as it could get here at the moment. The second death was something he didn't account for, not yet. He had many things he wanted to do, some prepared for but didn’t get to do.
It all stemmed from some lingering hope from the past that he couldn't quite give up. Alastor remembered a soft smile, gentle but firm hands that held him still and protected him from what was the brutal, grim reality. (His guardian angel, Azrael.)
Alastor saw each frame of memories rolling in to recreate the scenes deeply etched to his core and felt every single second of it. Alastor felt his past self sinking to the floor if not for steady heads grounding him and giving him some strength. Alastor realized this was the moment that would forever change his life.
His Maman lying flat on the ground with his father hovering over with maniacal but guilt ridden eyes that burned equally with rage. Upon Alastor's untimely arrival, his father cursed and spewed out bitter, malicious words of a spurned spouse.
If only she hadn’t turned away as if to run away, He wouldn’t have done it. He thought she was running away from Him, and that was something He would never forgive. His pride couldn’t take it. To even accept such a concept of a colored woman leaving Him when she should be always grateful for any of His attention.
Alastor was deadly quiet all throughout his father’s stupid monologue. His eyes focused only on his poor Maman bleeding out cold on the ground.
Alastor hasn’t shed tears or frowned in a long time ever since his mother taught him how to smile through the day no matter how hard. Now, his eyes burned not with tears but with shimmering fire that threatened to perish everything in its wake.
With silent steps, Alastor creeped forward and tenderly caught an axe on the rack near the right wall. Then, with no warning, he lunged at his father like a rabid beast.
He first brought down the axe on his head, then raised it to bring it down on his shoulder blades, then again and again in different parts of the body, wrecking the form that was no longer recognizable.
His fury didn’t die out for a long time until he finally let himself sag down, limbs numb and unmoving as if a puppet got its strings violently severed and is feeling the empty aftermath of it.
No semblance of control.
Alastor heard quiet footsteps approaching, gentle words and arms around him. Then–
PAIN
The carefully curated world blurred and cracked. He was back on the roof of the hotel, with a large gash on his front and a broken microphone. ‘Ah, what’s this?’ Alastor scoffed to himself silently. This wasn’t a time to reminisce but, apparently, it seemed he never got rid of this feeble part of himself.
+++
Alastor looked down to see his staff broken in half. Green static energy seeped from the edge of its cracks that slowly gave way to glittering gold glow. Alastor creased his brows in confusion at the strange form of energy leaking from his broken staff. In a matter of seconds, gold shimmering light turned into a blinding radiance, exploding along the seams of the broken staff and overtaking everyone's vision in the vicinity.
“Fuck! What was that? What did you do, you red prick?!”
Eyes closed, Alastor heard Adam’s furious shout much closer to him than expected. Blinking a few times, Alastor tried to upright his disoriented body before he could put more distance between him and Adam.
“What the fuck just happened–,” he muttered under his breathe before he sensed a new strike swinging towards him. But Alastor was unprepared for Adam’s abrupt attack without a weapon, his broken staff failing him as a shield or a power channel. He winced, knowing exactly what would happen when the giant axe came crashing down.
As Alastor braced for more pain, time seemed to slow and still to a stop just as the axe nearly grazed the open front of his coat, inches from his fresh wound left by the previous strike. One confused moment later, he felt the air move again and noticed that he was above in the air, being held onto a bridal carry.