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The scent of alcohol only grew stronger as Vox leaned against Alastor’s arm. “Alastorrr~” Vox drew out the word slowly, gripping onto Alastor’s arm as tight as his hazy mind could manage. “I know, dear. We’re almost home.” Alastor tried to reassure him, like he had been doing the entire walk, but it was barely working. Vox was always impatient, especially when he was drunk, and clearly Vox was very drunk right now. At least he knew not to challenge Alastor to any more drinking competitions.
Vox gripped onto Alastor's arm tighter as he swayed back and forth, trying desperately to stay on the sidewalk with him. “M’head hurts.” Vox whined sweetly, trying to appeal to Alastor’s soft side, thinking maybe he would teleport them home if he asked nicely enough. But Alastor wouldn’t fall for it. “Don’t be a baby, we just have a few more blocks, dearest.” Alastor’s smile softened at the way Vox pouted. Vox tried to think of a way to make Alastor take pity on him, his intoxicated mind scrambling for a plan. Until he remembered something he’d been researching lately, deer noises.
Alastor made small deer noises very occasionally, so quietly that most people didn’t even notice, but Vox noticed. The first time he noticed was after a long night of shots and drunken dancing. Alastor held onto Vox’s waist so softly it made him swoon, and just as he dipped Vox down Alastor let out a small, tiny grunt. Barely noticeable, when Vox got home he immediately started researching.
In that time he’d learned many deer noises, and more importantly, how to mimic them. He hadn’t found an opportunity to make them yet, but he noticed much more often when Alastor made them. Vox wasn’t even sure Alastor noticed.
Once Vox had gotten himself in a fight with another overlord, it wasn’t that Vox couldn’t take on the overlord alone, but Alastor was always there to help Vox during fights. Vox got a particularly bad hit on him when Alastor stepped in, standing in front of Vox confidently, protectively. Under his breath, very quietly, Alastor let out a small exhale sound. Vox felt himself freeze, it was a blow. It meant Alastor was upset for him, angry and startled that he had gotten hurt. Vox felt a tiny smile creep onto his face.
Ever since then Vox had noticed the sounds more and more, a sniff there, a grunt there. He figured it was just second nature for Alastor, that he didn’t even know he was doing it. It worked amazingly in his favour, it was almost like a secret cheat code for him. A way for him to understand Alastor more than anyone else did, he had never used it against Alastor, only in his favour. When Alastor would grunt threatenly at others Vox knew to take his leave and not get caught in the crossfire of a battle. When Alastor sniffed the air too harshly he knew that danger was nearby.
In Vox’s drunken mind this seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally use his mimicry. Ever since he noticed Alastor’s noises he had been practicing, he was embarrassed at first but the opportunity was too good to pass up. He spent nights in front of his bathroom mirror, letting out grunts, sniffs, and snorts until they were perfect.
Vox smiled devilishly to himself, this was his chance. He moved impossibly closer to Alastor’s warm body, savouring the moment for a few seconds. Before he slowly, gently let out the softest, sweetest, high pitched bleat he could manage. Plastering a sad, pained look on his face. The sound was high and sad like a lost fawn.
Alastor instantly froze midstep, his ears pinning against his head and his eyes widening. He looked back at Vox with thinly veiled concern, his eyes staring at him with a mix of confusion and instinctive sadness. Vox clung to his arm more intensely now, nuzzling his head into his arm, really playing up his act.
Vox yelped suddenly as Alastor picked him up, one arm under his torso, and one under his knees. Alastor held him with infinite gentleness, soft tender hands held him firmly but warmly. Vox immediately melted into it, he buried his face into Alastor’s shoulder and let out another small cry, just to see what Alastor would do. Alastor let out a blow, holding onto Vox tighter and starting to walk noticeably faster, taking long strides to get Vox home faster.
Alastor leaned closer to Vox’s head, gently letting out a small gentle sound from his throat. It was low, quiet, Vox immediately recognized it, it was a comforting noise, one meant to reassure a scared fawn or doe. Vox felt himself relax more into Alastor’s arms, he knew that he was safe, his hazy mind relaxing at the reassurance that Alastor would get him home soon.
Alastor didn’t know what to think, he knew that Vox’s cries weren’t completely genuine, he didn’t have the instinct to make them. Yet he still gripped Vox with gentle hands and nudged his head softly as he walked. Every instinct in his body flared up at the cries, it made him want to comfort, to hold, to protect. Whatever he could to make sure Vox was okay. He nearly started panicking when Vox’s body went limp in his arms, but he quickly realized Vox had only fallen asleep.
Alastor moved Vox’s head so that it would rest on his shoulder, he barely knew why, but the constant warmth and quiet static admitted from him was so comforting he couldn’t help but want him closer. Vox looked so sweet, he hadn’t yet fully shut off so his screen still displayed his face. It was a strange thought, that a murderer could look so soft, but Alastor couldn’t help it. His eyes were closed softly, his face free of any stress or pain, Alastor didn’t even think before leaning his forehead against his screen.
Ever since he had met Vox he had been drawn to him, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why. In all regards, Vox was a nuisance, he followed him around like a puppy, he endlessly yapped in his ear, and he was extremely loud at all times. Yet Alastor felt like his very soul was being pulled towards him at all times, despite everything he had grown quite fond of him. It was shameful, pathetic, but he couldn’t help it.
The original plan had been to take Vox back to his place, but Alastor wanted to get him out of the street faster, so he turned in the direction of his house.
The next thing Vox knew he was being wrapped up in several warm, fluffy blankets. He had been changed into soft pyjamas, and was being tucked into a red bed that wasn’t his own. Alastor’s hands were soft as they wrapped him up, so gentle, so tender.
He couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched him so gently, with such fondness and affection. He had barely noticed the absence until he was presented with it again. Alastor’s hand came up to rub the top of his screen,Vox didn’t realize he was crying until Alastor's warm hand started to wipe his tears away. He hadn’t had anyone wipe his tears since he was a child.
He let out another high pitched bleat without even meaning to. Alastor leaned down and got under the blankets with him, he pulled him back into his arms once more. Vox stiffened for only a second before quickly relaxing into the warmth and safety of the embrace. Alastor started to let out tiny comforting noises again, Vox’s throat began to burn with longing, tears wouldn’t stop falling from his eyes.
Every time Alastor squeezed him or wiped a stray tear he let out another bleat. The comforting presence was nearly too much, it was so foreign. Alastor shushed him in between comforting low grunts, his instincts were screaming at him to keep Vox safe, to hold him tighter. Every bleat felt like a failure, but he continued, he continued as tears streamed endlessly down Vox’s poor face, as he bleated over and over into his chest.
Alastor laid them both down, nearly cradling Vox in his arms. Vox’s smooth skin was peaking out from his skirt, Alastor’s hands seemingly drifted on their own and found Vox’s soft waist. Vox bleated loudly at that touch, not because he didn’t like it, far from it, but because it was overtly affectionate he felt a hole form in his chest.
After a long few minutes, Vox finally stopped crying, his screen finally cleared up, and his pained bleats were turned to gentle occasional whines that Alastor shushed quietly. Alastor didn’t pull away, even if he did Vox would pull him back just as fast, so he stayed.
He stayed with the constant warmth of Vox’s screen, he could feel his eyes growing more and more droopy but he was so comfortable he didn’t wanna fall asleep. When he woke up he would have to pull away, remove Vox from his arms and lie that he slept on the couch.
Vox yawned every few minutes, barely able to keep his eyes open, they both tangled their legs together nearly unconsciously. Tiredness clinging to their minds as they somehow snuggled closer. Alastor couldn’t help the way his tail wagged slowly behind him, and Vox couldn’t stop the way his head nuzzled against Alastor’s chest every few seconds.
Vox didn’t know how long they stayed like that, but he knew he was safe, for one of the first times in hell, he was completely safe and taken care of, someone had his back, someone would protect him if anything went wrong.
Alastor would have to leave in the morning, he’d have to pull away and pretend nothing ever happened between them. But for now it was enough, it was more than enough. Vox finally fell asleep against Alastor, finally knowing he was loved for the first time in a long, long time.