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The bright lights of the city below shown bright, red eyes scanned the citizens walking underneath. They scanned down then looked back up bitterly at his current living conditions. Trapped in a brightly lit building, large shark tanks surrounding him, with his greatest rival front and center. It was times like these where he really could use a-
“ how about a drink?” Vox asked, as if reading his mind.
Alastor hummed. “I suppose one couldn’t hurt.” He played it off, professionally hiding his surprise.
Vox’s smile widened at his acceptance. He reached down to grab a bottle Alastor didn’t even know he’d hidden in the room. His long clawed fingers placed down two glasses.
“You’re okay with the brand?” He said, looking hesitantly back at Alastor for reassurance. They’d known eachother for so long and yet he was still so eager to please. He supposed some things never changed.
“Sure.” Really it was his favorite, he was surprised he remembered such a detail. Admitting that fact would get to Vox’s already massive head however. So instead he said nothing and watched him pour their drinks.
Circling his finger around the rim of the cup. His eyes dilated, already getting comfortable.
The two sat with eachother, quietly taking sips of their drinks. Not much was said between them as the bottle began to empty. It wouldn’t be long before the whole thing would be drained. Neither seemed very concerned about that though. It seemed they both needed a break like this.
——————
He couldn’t remember when but after a while Alastor’s vision began to move in and out of focus. Vox’s words began to noticeably slur as they both started to talk more. The alcohol loosened a lot of the tension between them and they didn’t seem as bothered to talk about touchier subjects.
Alastor, giving into his impulses, gently grabbed the side of Vox’s face, the tips of his fingering collecting static. “You know I missed the old box head you used to drag your body around with.” He said almost wistfully. “It must’ve been so heavy but it was so very charming.” He added, as if recounting a pleasant memory.
“I know, it was quite a look, wasn’t it?” He laughed nervously, trying to process Alastor’s previous compliment.
“But I had to change it,” he said. “Yknow to be,” he gestured with his hands lazily. “More modern.” He finished. “I can never stay stuck in the same spot, I need to soar.”
“Yes, as you always said.” He said with a sigh. “Shame though, isn’t it?”
“Would you want me to change it back?” His rival suggested. He phrased it like a joke but Alastor could tell he was fully serious.
“No, the novelty would be worn by now.” He spoke honestly. The alcohol wearing down his defenses.
“Besides,” “I like that your current one’s a lot more fragile.” Static loudly collected around their faces as he said that.
“Yeah?” He challenged. “And why’s that?” He added, giving him an expectant look.
“I think you know why.” Was all he replied.
There was a moment between them where the two of them just stared at one another. An intense look that was hard for both of them to decipher. Stares between them weren’t a foreign concept, but this version definitely was.
——————
Somewhere during all of this Vox, and he supposed he himself also had started to edge closer and closer together. A step there, an arm closer here. Lingering eyes, until they were so close Vox was able to reach for his ears and gently rubs his fingers against them. Normally Alastor would protest even the thought, but the alcohol numbed his senses, he found himself having less reservations on it all.
“You know you’re not supposed to touch those,” Alastor said absentmindedly. Not bothering to try to push his hands off.
“Right,” Vox agreed, not moving his claws from Alastor’s ears.
His radio tuned near to the pitch of a purr as he continued to rub his ears. They’d begun to heat up due to overexposure. He’d started to lean into the touch as Vox continued the same gentle, back and forth motion.
“Why’d you leave for so long?” Vox eventually asked, still rubbing his ears.
“I’m not allowed to say,” Alastor sighed, taking a moment to close his eyes and lean more into his touch. It took a moment before either of them said anything else, time was a tricky thing when it came to alcohol.
“Does it have to do with me?” Vox eventually mumbled, hesitantly.
“Goodness no dear,” he said, gently shaking his head so as not to disrupt Vox’s petting. “If it were up to me I would’ve never left.” He spoke without thinking, his hands reaching back to the edges of Vox’s screen, his thumb rubbing against the sides. Static sparked at him erratically at the motion.
He vaguely recounted their past events, about how devestated he’d been while Rosie told him he couldn’t continue his regular activities. Activities that largely included bothering Vox. It had been such an awful day.
“So it wasn’t my fault?” Vox didn’t seem to be letting this go. It nearly caused Alastor to frown at that.
“No, it wasn’t.” He said simply.
“Well whose was it then?” He asked frustratedly. And there it was, Vox’s signature raging anger. Even through Alastor’s foggy vision he recognized it, almost like an old friend.
“I can’t say.” He said, repeating what he’d said earlier.
“But why?” he whined. Frustrated with not getting answers. He really pitied him.
He put Vox’s head on his shoulder, wiping his growing tears. “I can’t tell you.” Was all he let himself say.
“Why’d they take you away from me?” He said, tears leaking out of his screen like a leaky pipe. “Do you have any idea how hard it was doing this all without you?” He weakly whispered, eyes growing heavy. Alastor was barely sure he heard him right, it was disorienting being as intoxicated as he was.
“Not a clue.” Alastor eventually replied, attempting a tease. He’d noticed his own eyes following Vox’s suit.
With Vox leaned against his shoulder Alastor took this as opportunity to play with his antennas. He sprung them against his fingers playfully, watching them position themselves back in place. He’d realized there was a lot of Vox he’d been restraining himself from touching. Strange.
“You won’t leave this time, will you?” Vox asked hopefully, close to losing consciousness.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Alastor replied. And in that moment he meant every word of it.
With that the two drifted off, collapsing onto eachother in a heap. It looked incredibly uncomfortable, as they’d fallen asleep both still sitting on office chairs, but looking at the two of them you’d be fooled into thinking they were clouds. But it wasn’t all silence. Due to their demon components occasionally one of them would spark, static noises emitting between them. It was never truly quiet when they were together, not even in sleep. But at least for now it was calm.