Chapter Text
It had been a bad day for you. You'd had a panic attack this morning, but since then, you'd felt another one building. You thought you could put it off until you got back to your room, but apparently not.
You had barely set foot in the lobby before you were swarmed with the sinners and staff of the hotel. All of them were firing question after question at you. All the voices melded into a loud buzz, overwhelming your mind. Your breathing turned rapid, your heartbeat was pounding out of your chest, and your vision was turning spotty.
You had to get out of there, now. You opened your wings and clumsily flew past the demons and up the stairs. You landed sloppily and tore through the hallways on shaky legs. You stumbled and laid sprawled on the floor, your ears ringing, pulse much too fast, and breathing unstable.
You couldn't get up, your vision was spinning, all you could do was pull yourself towards the wall and curl up, trying to calm yourself down.
"Breath, breath, come on, you're okay," you tried to reassure yourself, even as hot tears streamed down your face. You didn't know how long you stayed there, but you flinched when you heard something approaching your side.
"Come now, my dear. Where's your lovely smile?" Alastor said, kneeling by your side. Fuck, if there was one person you didn't want seeing you like this, it was Alastor. He was known for exploiting weakness, and right now you did not want to deal with that bullshit.
"Go away."
"Not with you in this state." He sat down next to you, his back against the wall, legs crossed in front of him. He allowed you to lean against him slightly, shoulders touching. He looked over at you again.
"Breath, darling. You're going to pass out if you keep that up," he pointed out. You knew he was right, but you couldn't get yourself to slow your breath. You heard him sigh before he took your hand, rubbing circles into he back of your palm.
"Breathe in for five seconds..." You did as instructed. "Hold for six... out for seven." You followed to the best of your ability.
You sat that way for a while until your breathing and heartbeat had slowed to an almost normal pace. You let out a long breath before you took your hand back and uncurled a bit. Your knees and elbows were a bit stiff from being locked in place for so long. You looked at Alastor again.
"What are you doing here?"
"My shadow seemed rather distressed, wouldn't leave me me alone until I followed him. He lead me here." You looked at his shadow lurking against the wall. His ears were laid back and his glowing eyes shone with concern.
"You're still shaking," Alastor pointed out.
"I'm having a fucking panic attack, what do you expect?"
"I thought we'd had that sorted."
"Thats not how that works, love." You sighed, running a hand through your hair. You payed close attention to how shaky you were, now that he'd pointed it out. Tremors ran through your body, but the shaking in your hands was the most noticeable.
"Would you like me to return you to your room?"
"I can do it myself." You stubbornly stood up, immediately stumbling on trembling legs that hadn't yet recovered.
Alastor caught you and held you against him until you could get your footing, holding your shoulders for a bit longer as a precaution.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Shut up." He chuckled as his shadows enveloped you and you were transported to your room. "Thanks," you said curtly, walking to your bed. You were mostly recovered now, still slightly shaky, and your throat was dry, but now you could truly register the level of vulnerability you had just shown to one of the most dangerous demons in Hell.
No one at the hotel really knew how bad your mental state was. The way you'd died fucked you up pretty good, adding to your already severe anxiety. You kept up a pretty good front, usually coming off cold and confident, keeping your guard up. You were in Hell after all, it's not like there were many trustworthy souls around.
"Thank you, Alastor, for everything, but you can leave now."
"If that's what you wish." He turned to leave.
"Alastor?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell anyone about this. Please."
"As you wish." He vanished in a swirl of shadow, as though he'd never been here in the first place.
You sighed shakily and poured yourself a drink.