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Vincent shut the dresser drawer with a smile, finally having finished putting away the day's laundry. Just as he was reaching to pick up the laundry basket and bring it back to the laundry room, he heard what could only be described as Alastor shrieking from another room.
"VINCENT!" He called out with a shrill voice. "I am requesting your assistance!"
Vincent dropped everything immediately and bolted down the hall. Alastor never sounded like that. His heart was pounding as his mind darted between possibilities. A break-in? A house fire?
He skidded into the dining room, eyes wide and jaw clenched. An immediate sweep of the room didn't show any immediate danger. No fire. No intruders.
But Alastor was indeed there, standing beside the kitchen table with a book in hand looking terrified but trying to keep composed.
"What is it? Are you okay?"
Alastor cleared his throat. "Ah, yes, of course, dear," he spoke alarmingly quickly, "I just, eh, g-got to a particularly thrilling point in my novel and I just now realized there's an unhygienic little critter on the dining table. Do be a dear and throw it out." He waved his hand to the table. At first, Vincent couldn't figure out what he was talking about, until his eye finally zeroed in on it.
A tiny little spider. Barely the size of a dime.
Vincent's mouth quirked up into a small smile. Then a grin. There was no way... right?
"Wait... are you scared of-"
Alastor's voice cut through his sentence like a steel blade. "I do not fear anything."
"Really? Cause to me it looks like you're scared of an itty bitty house spider."
"Don't be ridiculous," Alastor scoffed, though the slight quiver in his voice gave it away. "It's merely a health concern for it to be on the table. Now kill it. Or remove it from the home. Something."
Vincent cocked and eyebrow and crossed his arms with a grin. "Oh yeah? Then why don't you take care of it?"
Alastor flinched and slammed his mouth shut.
Vincent couldn't help his maniacal little giggle before raising his hands in a surrender pose. "Alright, alright. Don't worry, babe. Your big strong man has this under control." Vincent's voice was half-comedic, half-proud. Sure 'big strong man' was a bit silly but he couldn't help but feel a tingle of pride at the situation.
Alastor rolled his eyes. "Oh, good lord."
Vincent grabbed a newspaper from the kitchen counter and swept the bug onto it. It began scuttling along the paper looking for an exit from its swift relocation.
Alastor honest to God squealed, scrambling backwards and pointing frantically. "Quickly! Quickly! Get it outside, now!"
Vincent barely was able to smother his laugh as he opened the back door and tossed the creature out before shutting it once more. Al's dramatic sigh of relief got him close to breaking, though.
Vincent turned around, possibly smugger than he'd ever been. "Well, well, seems the great and mighty Alastor isn't completely fearless after all?"
Alastor was slightly flushed in the cheeks as he crossed his arms. "Watch it, Vincent."
Vincent let out some of the chuckles he'd been holding back and hugged Alastor from behind. "I'm just teasing. It was actually kind of nice to be the brave one for once. And don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Alastor sighed, the tension noticeably leaving his shoulders. "You did well. Don't bring it up again."
"I won't." He snickered. "But don't you think I deserve a little reward for my heroic efforts?"
Alastor chuckled, clearly amused by Vincent's theatrics whether he wanted to be or not. "I suppose you do." Alastor turned and cupped Vincent's cheeks, pulling him close to press an intimately soft kiss to his lips. Just as Vincent was about to melt into a happy puddle, Alastor pulled away.
Vincent cursed himself for the stupid stream of goofy giggling that left his flustered mouth in response. He didn't know how but Alastor always managed to turn him into a lovesick teenager no matter how long it had been since they got together.
...
And ever since that day Vincent would always hope another spider would show up so he'd get to play hero again.