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Alastor's deer like ears twitched as he heard the running water coming from the kitchen followed by a woman's humming. He groaned inaudibly and shifted subtly in his seat on one of the lobby's couches. Normally it wouldn't bother him that Niffty was washing dishes but today he had a bit of a problem. He really needed to relieve himself and his personal bathrooms in both his room and his radio tower were being worked on. Sure, he could go tell the cyclops woman that he needs her to not do the dishes because he needs the bathroom badly but then he risks sounding vulnerable and he despises vulnerability in himself so instead he chooses to grab a book from a nearby bookshelf to distract himself. The distraction works for about ten minutes then before he knows it he's getting up and heading into the kitchen to confront her.
"Niffty dear, may I speak with you for a moment?" He asks, trying to keep his ears from flattening against his head as the running water comes into view.
"Of course!" She chirps, continuing her washing.
"Might you be done washing the dishes soon?" He asks, trying not to look at the water.
"Probably not for awhile. There's so much to clean. See?" She gestures to a couple of towers made of dirty plates, bowls and cups sitting on the counter. Alastor's deer like ears almost droop.
"Yes, I see that. I was just thinking you'd rather be dusting or even pest hunting instead." He remarks, hoping she'll agree.
Niffty ponders this for a moment then smiles, "Nope!"
Alastor's smile tightens and he begins to walk away as the little cyclops goes back to washing the dishes. He heads to a less noisy part of the hotel, hoping his sensitive ears will lose track of the watery sound. After awhile of traversing the hallway he stops abruptly to squeeze his legs together. His smile twitches and his deer like ears flatten against his head.
"Grr.... damn this body's mortal need." He grumbles, starting to tap his staff rapidly against the floor.
"Well, well, well.... if it isn't my favorite deer." A familiar, sarcastic voice says from behind him.
Alastor's deer like ears snap up and his smile tightens as his head swivels in the direction of the voice, causing his crimson eyes to land on none other than Lucifer himself. Alastor's body twists around so he can properly face the man.
"Why, if it isn't the short king." He remarks, his smile spreading slightly.
Lucifer rolls his eyes, "Oh, clever. Like I haven't heard that one before. So, what are you doing here near my room?" He gestures to his suite's door that has a sign that says 'No Alastors Allowed'.
"It's a free hotel I can roam where I want. That sign means nothing to me." Alastor replies, waving his hand dismissively.
"Uh huh. Why by my room, though?" Lucifer asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Because it's the most deserted place. I wanted some time to myself." Alastor says, trying not to squeeze his legs together as a slight wave of urgency hits him.
"Really? Are you sure you're not up to something or perhaps.... hiding something?" Lucifer asks, his eyebrow quirking at the other man's legs twitching subtly.
Alastor's crimson eyes widen for a split second before returning to normal, causing Lucifer to tilt his head a little.
"What?" Alastor asks, his smile tightening as he tries to subtly squeeze his legs together.
Lucifer's eyes light up in recognition and a wicked grin spreads across his face, causing Alastor to flinch involuntarily.
"Oho! That's what's wrong, huh?" He exclaims, stepping closer to the other man.
"I don't know what you're thinking but you're wrong." Alastor almost growls, his deer like ears flattening against his head.
"Really? Cause to me it seems like you have a certain problem. A rather embarrassing one for a man like you." Lucifer quips, starting to invade Alastor's personal space.
Alastor's smile sharpens at the other man's proximity but he can't help the involuntary flinch.
"Hmm, not so tough when you have to go potty, huh Bambi?" Lucifer taunts.
Alastor's static crackles loudly.
Lucifer hums and he taps his chin in thought for a second before his mouth curls into a wicked grin once more.
"Whoosh! Shhh...." He starts imitating the sound of a toilet flushing and then water running.
Alastor's crimson eyes widen and he immediately crosses his legs, his cheeks turning red as he glares daggers at the laughing Lucifer.
"Aw, did I almost make you have an accident? My bad." Lucifer remarks, his voice laced with taunting and fake apology.
Alastor growls slightly with his eyes glowing faintly then he briskly walks away.
"Bye bye, Al. Try not to ruin the floors!" Lucifer calls out, laughing."
Alastor goes deeper into the hallway then into a secluded corner. He screws his eyes shut and grips himself as he lets out a low groan that sounds more like a whimper, much to his dismay.
"Fuck. I really need to go...."
To let out his frustrations and to keep from stomping his foot, he begins to tap his cane rapidly against the floor and his static crackles intensely.
"Alastor?"
Alastor's crimson eyes snap open and meet with Charlie's concerned ones. He immediately stops his tapping and quiets his static.
"Charlie! Hello. What can I help you with?" He asks, fixing his smile as if he wasn't just throwing a tantrum of sorts.
"Nothing. I just noticed you over here in the corner not acting like yourself so I thought I'd check on you." She replies, noticing the subtle movement of his hand.
"How sweet of you! I don't need checking up on, though." He remarks, subconsciously squeezing his legs together.
"Alastor, I can tell something's wrong." She says, her eyes glancing the man over. "I think I know what, too."
"Nope! Nothing's wrong." He quips, starting to shift on his feet.
"Al, you're practically dancing.... and I saw you remove your hand from a certain area a moment ago." She says knowingly.
"Pervert!" Alastor accuses, his face flushing as his deer like ears flatten against his head.
"Charlie can't help but chuckle at his reaction, "I am not. I just saw the movement out of the corner of my eye. You're not as subtle as you think sometimes."
Alastor's smile twitches as he glares at her.
"You could just go to the bathroom, you know?" She suggests, unfazed.
"I can't...." Alastor huffs.
"Why not?" She asks.
"Both my room bathroom and radio tower bathroom are being worked on." He replies, his smile twitching.
"So? Use one of the hotel's bathrooms. We have plenty." She says, giving a smile.
"No, thanks." He grumbles, shifting on his feet again."
"Why not?" She asks, one of her eyebrows quirking up.
"I prefer my privacy, especially for.... these types of matters." He answers kind of softly as he averts his flushed face.
Charlie's eyes spark with realization, "Oh. Oh! I can help with that still."
"How so, my dear?" He asks, trying not to grip himself again.
"There's a private staff bathroom you can use." She replies.
Alastor's eyes light up, causing Charlie to offer her hand.
"Here. I'll escort you to it." She offers.
Alastor's smile twitches, "I'm not a child, Charlotte."
"I know and I'm not trying to treat you like one. You just seem like you need a friend right now. Just let me help you this once, please?" She asks, giving him a sympathetic smile.
Alastor's crimson eyes widen at the word 'friend'. He hesitates for a moment then slowly takes hold of her hand.
Charlie's smile brightens at the action and she gently starts tugging him forward, "Let's go."
The walk to the staff bathroom is silent much to Alastor's relief and Charlie allows him to stop every now and then when he needs a moment to keep his control. When they get there she opens the door for him and he goes in, closing and locking it. A soft sigh can be heard then after a moment Alastor comes out, looking composed with hints of relief in his posture.
"Feel better?" Charlie asks, having waited for him to make sure he's alright.
"Yes." He replies, rocking back and forth on his feet.
"Good. Next time you shouldn't wait so long to ask for help." She tries to gently scold him.
"I didn't need help." He huffs, dusting off imaginary dirt from his clothes.
"Right. Well, next time you 'don't need help' you can always come to me, okay?" She reassures with a smile.
Alastor gives a deer caught in headlights look for a split second then huffs and starts walking away, heading to his room.
"Rest well, Al!" Charlie calls out, knowing he probably needs to decompress after everything.
Alastor scoffs as he enters his room after a bit and closes the door behind him, locking it. He freezes when he hears soft thumping against it and his eye twitches. He lifts his suit jacket up slightly to find that his fluffy, deer like tail is wagging, much to his dismay. His smile twitches and his deer like ears lower as he comes to a realization.
'Perhaps, Ms. Morningstar is more dangerous to me than I know. Perhaps we could actually become.... friends....'
Alastor huffs and shakes his head at the notion before flopping onto his bed and taking a much needed nap.
