cwartsyswritingblog

[cwartsyswritingblog]

I do commissions now.

So I’ve been thinking of doing commission writing for a long time. But due to things like, having no idea how to price things, worrying I don’t have a diverse enough portfolio (since basically all I write on here are Al/Bax Fanfics), worrying about how differences in currency will effect my pricing (since I’m British), worrying my skills in editing aren’t good enough, and worrying that my writing might not be good enough for people to pay for in general, I never got round to it. But Christmas is coming up and I do want to get some extra cash in for the holidays so I’m going to try now. I probably chose the worst time due to Tumblr going crazy but I’m going to try anyway.

Here’s what I’ll write;

Original stories 

AU’s

Character diaries (Think Diary of a Wimpy kid and Adrian Mole)

Stories with OC’s 

Fanfics

Here are my prices;

Stories and fanfics: £10 for the first thousand words. Then £5 for every thousand words after that.

Short stories or fanfics between 500 and 900 words: £7.

Drabbles of 500 words or less: £5.

And here are my terms and conditions;

No NSFW stuff. I mean, I’ll hint at it. Like in this fanfic here https://cwartsyswritingblog.tumblr.com/post/180457347483/mornings-with-a-loved-one-another-baxterxalastor but I’m not comfortable writing a detailed NSFW scene yet. That and Tumblr is going full purge mode on every blog they can find with even remotely NSFW content and I don’t want my blog deleted. 

I will probably post commission work on my blog so I can build a portfolio but never without the commissioner’s permission.

I’m happy to watch up to 24 episodes of a series to write a story about it but no super lengthy shows. Definitely no shows that are hundreds of episodes long. I’ll make an exception though if I’ve already seen it or have nearly finished watching it. Don’t be afraid to ask. 

I’ll write about any pilot or animated project currently still in development. Just be sure to send me some info on it so I can write about it properly.

Same thing with OC’s. More than happy to write about them. Just tell me everything about them so I know the character I’m writing about.

Payment can be made through PayPal.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

So Much For the Fearsome Radio Demon (Al/Bax fanfic, now with added Vaggie/Charlie)

When Vaggie found out Alastor was dating Baxter, her general reaction could be summed up in three words;

Oh HELL no.

No way in any of the nine circles of hell was she letting that nefarious, treacherous, conniving, predatory, evil, fucked up psychopath anywhere near anyone she cared about. Especially near anyone like Baxter.

Everyone knows that Baxter has zero experience relationship wise. He was so innocent it was ridiculous. And even worse, it was pretty evident to everyone who knew him that Baxter wasn’t all there. He would go for days without eating, he barely slept, he would work himself to the bone as if he was always trying to distract himself from something. He was twitchy and nervous all the time. Mostly about things that were only in his head. How could someone like Baxter know what red flags are? And how could he spot them in a relationship? How could he know when, or even how, to get out of a relationship if it went bad? Could he get out of a relationship with someone like Alastor? No. Of course he couldn’t.

Vaggie had no idea how Alastor had gotten so close to him. She didn’t know what Alastor had done to get Baxter to trust him. In truth, she knew Alastor would have had to have done a hell of a lot just to get someone as paranoid as Baxter to let him anywhere near him. But Vaggie didn’t give a shit. The idea of someone as dangerous as Alastor being in a relationship with someone as vulnerable as Baxter was horrifying. 

And she was putting a stop to it. Right now. 

First chance she got, she pulled Alastor aside. At first, the radio demon was all smiles and “Why, hello Miss Vaggie. How can I be of assistance today?”. He was still smiling, even when Vaggie shoved him into the wall and pressed a knife against his throat.

“Oh my.” Alastor proclaimed. When he looked at Vaggie’s knife, he had a stupid look on his face that made Vaggie’s blood boil. His eyes had a sort of affectionate look to them that seemed to say, “Oh, how cute.”

“Have I done anything to anger you, my dear?”

“Listen here, you deplorable piece of demon turd.” She growled, pressing the knife deeper into Alastor’s throat to show that she was having none of his shit, “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing with Bax but it ends now. I don’t know who was stupid enough to let you near him but I’ll end you unless you stay the fuck away from him. And if you fucking dare do anything to hurt him, it’ll be the biggest and last mistake you ever make.” 

Vaggie expected him to laugh her off. He always did this with her no matter what she threatened to do to him. From what Vaggie had gathered from their encounters, it took an infuriating amount of effort to get Alastor to take anyone seriously. But what actually happened caught her off guard. His eyes flashed with confusion. His smug grin faltered. 

"Game? Hurt him?” Alastor’s voice rose and displayed something Vaggie never expected to hear from him. Actual emotion.

Vaggie hadn’t expected Alastor to react like this at all and she might have let it show. She was taken aback for a moment. But not a moment more. She wasn’t going to let this distract her from why they were here.

“Well, what else could it be?” she demanded, “When have you ever not played someone? When have you ever not used a person for your own gain? Do you really think I believe you’re here because you actually want to help us? I know that’s bullshit. I’ve heard what you’ve done to people. I know all about how you’ve tricked them, manipulated them and ruined them. You can fuck right off if you think I’m going to let you do any of that shit to Bax.” 

At that moment, Alastor’s eyes went from holding confusion to rage and the ever smiling Radio Demon scowled. That was when Vaggie truly knew this was going to be nothing like the encounters she had with Alastor before. This wasn’t like every other time Vaggie had threatened him. When her words didn’t even phase him. This was very different. For the first time in all the time she had known him, Alastor looked angry. 

He looked beyond done with Vaggie when he pushed her aside. He swatted her knife away, looking at it and her with a look of pure disgust.

"Well, Miss Vaggie. That certainly was an interesting insight on your thoughts regarding my Baxy and me. I must say, it’s nice to know you care about him but I can assure you there is no need for you to worry. I’d say I appreciate your concern but I don’t. What irritates me, Miss Vaggie is that you think I’m only with Baxter because I’ve found something I can use out of him. You seem to distrust me because you can’t think of a possible reason why I would genuinely want to be with someone like him. That’s a complete insult. I asked Baxter to be my partner because I wanted him to be. Because I love him and there are a million things I love about him. There are no ulterior motives. And if you honestly think I would hurt Baxter. If you even think I wouldn’t immediately kill anyone who so much as threatened to hurt Baxter, then you have no idea what our relationship is like.”

At that, Alastor turned to leave. Vaggie, nowhere near done with him yet, began to shout after him. She was about to tell him just what she thought of Alastor’s supposed undying love for Baxter, but then he turned around and one look at his face silenced her.

His eyes were black and his pupils shone like lights. His mouth was twisted into a snarl and strange symbols, red and ominous glowed all around him. When his eyes met hers, fear shot through her. Uncharacteristic and unadmittable but unmistakable fear. 

“If you know nothing of our relationship then you have no right to interfere."  he uttered in a tone of warning. Warning her to dare say anything else. "Good day.”

Vaggie was speechless and Alastor left her that way. He walked away, leaving Vaggie alone, unsure what to think and trying to process what had just happened.

She spent the rest of the afternoon in that state. That was the first time she’d seen Alastor act like an actual human with emotion. The only thing she’d seen from him that was even close to emotion before was the creepy, take-everything-in-my-stride, nothing-phases-me sort of happy go luckiness that was his usual demeanour. Vaggie didn’t think he could even feel emotion, let alone express it. But back then. She found it hard to find words to describe it. That was the most passionate, the most temperamental, the most expressive she had seen anyone get in a while, and she lived with Charlie. What was more, it actually seemed to be genuine. Of course, Vaggie wasn’t stupid. She knew Alastor was a trickster by nature, manipulative to the core. He was probably very skilled at putting on façades and fabricating feelings. But Alastor would had to have been one amazing actor if he was able to fake that.

Vaggie should be perfectly sure what to think, especially regarding Alastor. But she wasn’t. She had never seen Alastor like that before. She never thought she would see Alastor like that ever. Alastor was a deceitful bastard and she knew it. But still, she never thought in a million years he could seem so sincere and impassioned. So after seeing him like that, did she see him differently? Did she trust him now? 

Fuck no. Vaggie decided. He’s the radio demon!

She had to do something about this “relationship” going on between him and Baxter. Clearly, threatening Alastor wasn’t going to do shit. So she resolved to talk some sense into Baxter.

She made her way to Baxter’s room the moment it was decided. She still had no idea what the hell Baxter was thinking. What on this even more fucked up version of earth had possessed him to think dating THE RADIO DEMON was a good idea? He was supposed to be a genius. He should be smarter than this.

She reached Baxter’s door with all of this in mind and not afraid to speak it. She had a whole speech prepared by the time she went to knock Baxter’s door. But she stopped and listened when she heard a strange noise. 

All sorts of weird noises could be heard from Baxter’s room at any given time of the day. The man was a renowned chemistry nerd so hisses, fizzes and the occasional explosion were not uncommon. But this noise was weird even for Baxter’s room. She could hear what she could have sworn sounded like purring.

Did Baxter get a cat? Weird. Vaggie thought Baxter kept mice as pets. Surely he wouldn’t want a cat around if he had those.

Curious, she peeked through the keyhole. A stupid thing to do really. Since she was planning on knocking Baxter’s door anyway. Maybe this was just one of those things people did when their brains stopped working. 

Through the keyhole, she didn’t have a very good view of Baxter’s living space. She could only see the part made up to serve as a living room. She could see a loveseat style sofa. She could see Baxter stretched out across it. But she couldn’t see a cat. With her eye, she tried to follow the source of the sound. It led her vision downwards to where Baxter’s lap was. That was when she saw Alastor. Sprawled out across the sofa with his head in Baxter’s lap. Baxter had a book in one hand but he wasn’t even looking at it. Instead, he was looking at Alastor with a look of pure adoration. Baxter had his other hand behind Alastor’s ear and looked like he was petting it. Alastor had a huge ear to ear smile. Not something Vaggie had never seen before. But what she had never seen before was the way he smiled. His eyes were closed in a way you might see a beloved pet’s when they’re getting affection or given their favourite treat. His smile was composed of what looked like pure happiness and bliss. He was buried as deep into Baxter’s touch as he could go and he was purring.   

He was fucking purring.

Vaggie had to put her hand over her mouth quick to suppress the laugh that almost escaped from her. If Alastor knew she had seen him like this, there’s no way he would let her live to tell the tale. She should be getting out of here right now. But she just couldn’t look away. 

“You really are more of a cat than a deer, aren’t you?” She heard Baxter say, She had never heard him sound so affectionate before, “Should I start calling you my Cheshire kitten?”

Alastor laughed. His smile and look of all round bliss somehow intensified. In response, he reached for Baxter’s hand and, still purring, started nuzzling it. 

He started nuzzling it like an actual. Fucking. Kitten. 

That was it. At this point, Vaggie was biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing and she was pretty sure it was starting to bleed. But after seeing that, she couldn’t keep it in anymore. She practically ran from Baxter’s room, moving as quickly and quietly as she could. Hoping his giggles would muffle the sound of her footsteps.

She made a beeline for the room she shared with her Disney princess of a girlfriend. Charlie just had to hear this.

Charlie was simply minding her own business, watching the news when Vaggie burst in through the door. Poor babe. When she saw Vaggie collapse on the floor, she looked really worried.

“Vaggie? What’s going on? Are you ok?”

Vaggie couldn’t answer. She couldn’t even breathe. She just lay there, crumpled on the floor and making high pitched squeaking sounds as she struggled to intake air.

“Babe.” She just about managed to say between pathetic attempts at inhaling oxygen, “Babe, you. You won’t believe;” She tried to explain but she couldn’t say anything else.

“Won’t believe what? What happened?”

Tears streamed out of Vaggie’s eye. Her fist pounded against the floor.

“What happened!?”

Vaggie still couldn’t answer. Lying on the floor gasping like a fish out of water had paid off and now, finally, she had enough air in her lungs to let out wave after wave of laughter. After at least ten minutes of laughing her ass off, she was finally able to tell Charlie what happened. 

Charlie didn’t laugh herself into hysterics like Vaggie did. She was triumphant. She saw it as one more piece of evidence that what she believed in was right.

“See, Vaggie.” she said, “Inside of every demon there’s a heart.”

“I thought you said rainbow.” Vaggie playfully pointed out.

“It’s both.” Charlie beamed, “Inside of every demon are all the colours you can imagine and every feeling you can feel. Alastor is proof of that." 

God damn Charlie for making Vaggie’s heart melt so much with her dorky, cinnamon roll adorableness. She couldn’t believe she was admitting this, since this was the radio demon they were talking about. But after seeing what she had just seen, she couldn’t disagree.

But sadly, this incredible breakthrough could not be shared with their world. Vaggie had actually whipped her phone out there and then, ready to tell everybody but Charlie insisted she didn’t. Saying they must respect their guests privacy and not share any information about them without their consent.

"So that means you can’t tell anybody.” Charlie made herself perfectly clear.

“Not even Angel Dust?” Vaggie tried her luck.

“Especially not Angel Dust.” Charlie instructed as firm as she could get. 

Vaggie smiled and gave in. Charlie wasn’t that naïve. Even she knew that if she let Vaggie tell only Angel Dust, Vaggie would respect her wishes and only tell Angel Dust. But Angel Dust would do exactly what she wanted to do and tell everybody.

“Ok.” Vaggie promised, giving Charlie a kiss on the cheek, “I won’t tell anybody. Especially not Angel Dust." 

Charlie face visibly beamed on impact as her girlfriend’s lips reached her cheek. Smiling brighter than the sun, already completely trusting in her. She was good like that. Actually, come to think of it. It was pretty crappy of Vaggie as a girlfriend to try and trick Charlie like that. She would have to make it up to her somehow. 

As she was thinking of ways to do just that, she very conveniently got a text from Nifty. Telling her she was running errands and asking if she wanted anything.

"I’ll cook tonight.” Vaggie said to Charlie the moment she read it. 

This did not go unappreciated by Charlie. With her, nothing ever did. Her appreciation was shown this time with a “Thanks, sweetie.” and a kiss on the cheek.

Vaggie returned Charlie’s kiss to show her appreciation was appreciated right back. But she waited until Charlie wasn’t looking to reply to Nifty’s message. She wanted to surprise her.

 In Vaggie’s response, she told Nifty she should have been brought back as an angel and gave her a little list.

The kitchens already had everything she needed to make Charlie’s favourite meal but she could think of a few other things to go with it. Candles, roses, literally any plushie that looked cute. Those things would do nicely. 

Breakfast the next morning was it’s usual chaos. Well almost. Word that Alastor and Baxter were dating had only just got out. So those who had only just found out and those who had not yet got the chance to talk to them swarmed them, and the demon who got the least attention and the one who was avoided the most became the most popular thing in the room.

Everyone asked all sorts of questions. Mostly regarding when and how their relationship happened. 

Baxter was pretty much rushed off his feet with so many people talking to him at once but he still managed to break away and talk to Vaggie.

“Good Morning, Miss Vaggie.” He greeted as he approached her. Formal as always. 

“Morning.” She greeted back. 

There was a moment or two of silence. Baxter wasn’t very good at starting a conversation, or really talking in any conversation. But social awkwardness aside, he didn’t beat around the bush.

“I heard from my partner that you had a bit of a spat with him yesterday.”

 “Oh.” Vaggie said, starting to feel awkward herself, “He told you about that?”

“He may have ranted to me about it.” Baxter admitted, “Non stop. For I think about, two hours?”

Vaggie couldn’t help but let how suprised she was show. She knew she had pissed Alastor off. But had she really pissed him off that much?

“I think you’re very lucky.” Baxter commented, “I’ve never seen anyone get under his skin like that. And this includes people he’s dismembered.”

Vaggie smiled as awkwardly as she felt and eye contact with Baxter started to get difficult. She didn’t like where this conversation was going. It looked like this was a set up to a confrontation but Baxter was surprisingly calm. Well, a shit ton calmer than Vaggie would be when she confronted someone anyway. 

“Yeah, sorry about that.” She gave an apology, guessing that was what he wanted. Because after all, that was exactly what she would demand if anyone pissed off Charlie. While kicking the shit out of them. Lucky for Vaggie, Baxter didn’t have such a hot temper. “You’re probably pissed about what I said to him.”

“Not really.” Baxter shrugged, “In all honesty Miss Vaggie, I understand why you reacted the way you did. To the news that Alastor and I are now together.”

He averted eye contact with Vaggie for a moment. Cheeks glowing just at the mention of the word "together”. But he still kept his focus. 

“Look, I can see why you would distrust Alastor. The rumours about him hold no exaggeration. He really can be very malicious and he has hurt a lot of people. I didn’t trust him myself at first for the same reasons as you. But the thing with Alastor is, he’s a lot different in private than he is in front of most people.”

“Oh, I bet he is.” Vaggie secretly thought to herself  ”I bet he is.“

"As threatening as he can be.” he continued, “As lacking as he can seem in empathy or just in general, basic human emotion. I know he’s capable of feeling affection. He shows it all the time. You should see how dotty he is over anything with scales, especially the thing he brought home last week. He dotes on it as if it were his child. What I’m trying to say is, Alastor is more than capable of being a loving person. A good person who can make someone else very happy. He makes me very happy. I’m not asking you to get along with Alastor, because I’ve learned from experience that can be very difficult. What I do ask of you though, Miss Vaggie is to have a little bit more trust in him and in myself as well." 

Vaggie felt her heart warm a few decrees. She hoped she wasn’t looking at him the way she saw him but she thought he was being so cute right now. This was actually the sweetest way she had seen someone defend a partner. She smiled at him genuinely this time.

"I guess I can try to trust him.” She promised light heartedly, “Or at least stop giving him death threats." 

"Good.” Baxter smiled, clearly pleased with how well the confrontation went, “Thank you. For understanding.”

“I was going to say the same thing to you.” Vaggie complimented, “If someone offended my girl, I would be too busy beating the crap out of them to think about their side of things. 

"I know.” Baxter chuckled, “There’s footage of you on the internet punching a cameraman in the face. And that awful Killjoy woman had a cast around her neck after your Charlie was on her program. I heard that someone cut the breaks on her car." 

"Well what did she expect, treating Charlie like that?” Vaggie said with a shameless smirk. She could have been arrested for that stunt but aside from disappointing Charlie, she regrets nothing.  

“If I am ever unfortunate enough to end up in the same room as her, she’d better hope that Alastor’s not there. He’s a bit ridiculous with how overprotective he is of me. The last person who offended me, I haven’t seen since. Actually, what am I saying? This would be great.”

Vaggie laughed out loud at that. Baxter could be classic sometimes. For someone so awkward, he was surprisingly witty and could get a laugh out of someone if he intended to or not. She was glad that they were laughing now. She was glad that he wasn’t angry and glad that her incident yesterday with his new boyfriend was what it was. A resolved disagreement between good friends. 

Unfortunately, this nice moment between them would not last. Because Vaggie had not yet registered everything he said. Especially the words regarding scales and something Alastor had brought back. 

“Wait. You said Alastor brought something back to the hotel, right? What did he bring back?” she said suddenly once every word had been taken in. She absolutely dreaded the answer. “It better not be a big snake. I hate snakes.”

It was in that moment Baxter looked like a man who knew he fucked up. He showed on his face that he had said something he shouldn’t have. But it was too late to go back now.

“It’s not a snake,” he hesitated, “but I doubt you’ll react to it much better.”

At this point, Baxter was visibly getting more nervous by the second and looking for a way to get out of the conversation fast. His eyes darted to the clock behind them and took what he could get.

“My! Look at the time. I really must be going to work now. It really is a madhouse here and the guests all seem to be injury prone. Always lots to do. Medicine to make, people to treat. Never a slow day for me. Well. Goodbye for now, Miss Vaggie. See you later." 

At "My. Look at the time.”, Baxter was already walking away from Vaggie and by the time he got the rest of that babbled mess out, he was already halfway out the door. But Vaggie couldn’t let Baxter leave her in the dark about something that was in the same place where she slept and could be just as bad, if not worse, than one of her worst fears. 

“No, Bax. What did he bring back?” She caught up with him and demanded in a desperation she normally never used. 

"Miss Vaggie. Everyone is going to know eventually.“ Baxter deflected, "We can’t hide that thing forever. Please. Let me enjoy the calm before the storm." 

Vaggie wouldn’t leave Baxter alone or let him drop the subject for the rest of the day. But Baxter refused to tell her what Alastor’s new pet was. 

From then on Vaggie did try to trust Alastor a bit more, if for no one else then for Baxter, and her view on Alastor began to get better. There were more than a few snags, even from the get go. Especially when she got the spare key to Alastor’s room and saw for herself what Alastor had brought into the building. And oh, BOY! Was that a story for another trip to the therapist.

She still distrusted Alastor but not in the way she had before. In fact, after she found out what he brought back to the hotel, she found that she couldn’t trust him for a different reason. He was even worse for pulling stunts than Angel Dust. In defiance of all logic, Alastor was allowed to keep his "pet”. But to this day, she still has no idea what the fuck Alastor was thinking bringing a fucking ALLIGATOR into the hotel and could not understand why the fuck Charlie allowed him to keep it. Still, it hadn’t actually harmed anyone yet and she had never seen it get aggressive towards anyone. So she supposed she’d allow it.

That, she supposed, could pretty much sum up how her attitude changed towards Alastor’s presence. She’d allow it. She’d allow him in her home. She’d allow him to mingle with her friends. She would allow him to date someone she cared for.

They were supposed to still be on bad terms. She hadn’t apologised to him for what she said yet and even weeks after the incident, he still wouldn’t speak to her unless she spoke to him. He glared at her whenever he saw her and seemed to purposely be extra affectionate towards Baxter whenever she saw them together. Just to show her. 

He always seemed confused when she didn’t glare right back. Vaggie tried but she couldn’t help it. She just couldn’t find him intimidating anymore. Once the sight of him purring like a kitten is seen, it can not be unseen. No matter how psychopathic or terrifying he looks.

So whenever she saw Alastor now, she smiled.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

Cute. (A Hazbin Hotel Fanfic with Alastor and Baxter, again)

Alastor peeked around the door to Baxter’s room. He didn’t have a key. He didn’t need one and he didn’t need Baxter’s permission to enter. He knew he was more than welcome here.

To his delight, his lover was in. He was sitting with his feet up on his sofa reading a book. Alastor immediately sat beside him. His arms wrapping around Baxter’s waist. His head resting on his shoulder.

Baxter didn’t look his way but Alastor did see him smile. He reached straight for the sweet spot behind Alastor’s ear that made him melt when touched and gave it a good scratch. Alastor instantly settled and curled up on Baxter’s lap with a huge smile on his face. 

That went on for a while. Baxter, still reading, kept the book upright and occasionally turned the pages with one hand and kept scratching Alastor’s ear with the other. The receiver of said head scratch in total bliss. At least he was, until he started to feel something that utterly confused him. 

Alastor was dissatisfied with something. But with what? He was struggling to find an answer. It definitely wasn’t the head scratch, Baxter could keep that up all day. Certainly, the affection he was receiving was most satisfactory. But what wasn’t? Could it be how little they had spoken? It occurred to him that he and Baxter hadn’t spoken a single word to each other the whole time Alastor had been here. He looked at Baxter. His eyes were still on the book. Observant of only the words on the page. He hadn’t even looked at him in the whole time he had been here. Not once. 

Now Alastor knew what was dissatisfying. It wasn’t like Baxter was ignoring him, far from it, but Alastor just wanted him to look at him. He wanted him to put the book down and look at him. Talk to him. Engage with him in a nice conversation. He wanted his attention and sought about how he was going to get it. 

Getting Baxter’s attention was easy as pie. A simple kiss on the cheek would have done. But while Alastor planned on leaving lots of kisses on Baxter’s cheeks, he knew he could be more creative than that. Just then he noticed the light hanging above his head. The light belonged to Baxter and it was a part of his illicium. But it was much more fun to call that his little fishing rod. After looking it up, he discovered the light was called an esca. A pretty name for a pretty light. He focused on it until it blurred spreading a golden glow across his vision. So pretty. 

It gave him an idea. 

He rolled over onto his back and very gently tapped the light so that it swung slowly back and forth. He felt Baxter pause for a moment. Alastor looked up at him in anticipation but then Baxter just went back to reading. 

Disappointed but not deterred, he kept at it. 

Tap tap tap, it took a few good tries before he succeeded. 

Baxter set his book aside and finally looked at him, smiling. 

“What are you doing?” He asked playfully. 

Alastor put on his best charming smile and just as playfully continued to paw at Baxter’s delightful esca. 

Baxter chuckled. “Come here, Cheshire Kitten.” he laughed, tugging him upwards. 

Eager to comply, Alastor sat upright and scooted back onto Baxter’s lap. If this cat thing was making Baxter laugh and smile then he’d play it up for all it was worth. He bumped his head lightly against Baxter’s chin the way he had seen Mimzy’s cats do when they showed affection which made Baxter laugh even more. 

He cupped Alastor’s face in his hands and asked in a playful tone of sarcasm, “Is it just me? Or are you after my attention?”

Alastor nodded. Making a point to put the book out of Baxter’s reach before draping his arms around him. 

“Honestly. I’ve never had a partner demand so much.” Baxter tutted. But it was obvious from the way he looked at Alastor, the way he said it and the way he was caressing his cheeks with both hands that he didn’t mind at all. 

“You’re exes didn’t know what they were missing.” Alastor purred, lavishing the affection. 

“If you say so,” Baxter said, “That might be why they are my exes and you are very, very, very unlikely to end up joining them.”

Alastor pouted. “Very, very, very unlikely? Not impossible?”

“Well, you might get fed up with me.” Baxter sweetly bantered back. 

“That is never going to happen.” Alastor said so seriously that it made Baxter giggle like he was flattered.

“As if I’d be foolish enough to give up all this.” Alastor said placing his hands on him. Baxter huffed. Maybe he thought he was going to trace his hands over his body. But he kept them on his face.

At that, Baxter smiled warmer than Alastor had seen him smile all day and Alastor caressed his cheeks, stroked the precious little fins on his face and ran his fingers through his hair. 

The feel of it instantly told him that Baxter had not used any gel or hair mousse today. Hooray for that. Alastor hated the stuff. They completely masked the lovely smell and feel of Baxter’s natural hair. It really was a crime to let Baxter use either of them. 

Wait a minute. If Baxter wasn’t using gel or mousse, that could only mean one thing. 

“Alastor. Don’t.” Baxter said firmly. He knew his partner all to well. He knew exactly what his partner was thinking before he even reached for his hair tie.

It was no use, Alastor couldn’t resist. He would never be able to resist. 

“Alastor.” Baxter warned. 

Yoink! Poof!

Strands of hair went flying in every direction from Baxter’s head in an explosion of such force it made Baxter’s hat fall off. It bounced off the arm of the sofa before falling to the floor. Neither Alastor or Baxter noticed it. Instead, they looked at each other. Baxter had this ridiculously cute expression that was somewhere between a pout and a glare. Then he closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, and visually decided he was above this petty nonsense. He gave Alastor a disinterested but very unamused look. Alastor couldn’t hide that he was pleased with what he had done. He sat back and admired the sight he tragically didn’t often get to see. This insanely voluminous, unruly, imperfect and therefore in every way perfect, flyaway mess was Baxter’s natural hair. 

“Why must you do this?” Baxter deadpanned. 

“Because it’s adorable.” Alastor chuckled while gently pulling a strand down flat and taking joy in letting it go and watching it spring back into place. 

He’d never forget the first time he saw Baxter’s true hair. It was sometime after they had stopped merely interacting with each other when necessary, or when Alastor felt like picking on Baxter, or when Baxter felt like getting revenge against Alastor for being such a nuisance, and gave each other a chance. Alastor was in Baxter’s room, not quite so welcome at this time, pestering Baxter for entertainment as usual. Just as he was considering listening to Baxter’s fifth or sixth demand for him to get out, it occurred to him that he had never seen Baxter with his hair down. Baxter’s defensive grab for his hair tie and desperate attempts to evade him only made Alastor determined to see it, And when he wrestled the hair tie out of Baxter’s grip and hair and saw it, he couldn’t help but laugh. That was when he discovered Baxter’s cheeks glowed, literally glowed, when he blushed. He was yelling at Alastor when his cheeks shone the same lovely colour as his cute freckles, maybe just a shade darker. It instantly became Alastor’s new favourite colour. He was too shy and afraid to tell Baxter at the time, but his blushing face was the most adorable thing Alastor had ever seen. Instead, he just assured Baxter that he liked the way his hair looked and insisted he shouldn’t be embarrassed by it. And no, he wasn’t just saying that to humour him. He really meant it.

Of course, he was being honest back then but only partially. A lot of things had changed since then. For one they were together now. And now that they were together, it was only right that Baxter knew the whole truth. He told Baxter what he had really thought that night.

"I know that.” Baxter said smiling, “You told me during our first week as a couple. You’ve told me this quite a few times actually.” 

He turned his face away from Alastor as he said this. Averting eye contact but still smiling. Then Alastor saw it. The faint glimmer of blue across Baxter’s cheeks.

Alastor let out an ecstatic gasp when he saw it. He could see Baxter blush every day for the rest of eternity and it would never be any less wonderful than seeing it for the first time.

“What?” Baxter asked, somehow still surprised at this point.

“I think you know what.” Alastor beamed before going in for a kiss attack. 

“What are you doing?” Baxter laughed trying to dodge Alastor’s lips, “Stop it. You’re making me blush.”

“That’s the idea.” Alastor hummed, kissing Baxter on every part of his face he could reach until Baxter was truly glowing. His cheeks shone like jewels. Beautiful. 

“I have to capture this.” Alastor announced spontaneously pulling out his phone and snapping a picture of Baxter and his glowing cheeks. 

Baxter quickly tried to cover his face with his hands. Too late.

“Don’t post it online.” Baxter squeaked, blushing even more at the very thought of anyone else seeing him like this.

“I won’t.” Alastor assured. Lies. The first chance he got, this was going straight on his Instagram page. Which was really just a virtual shrine to his beloved little fishy. He couldn’t wait to caption it. 

His photographic masterpiece taken, Alastor turned his attention back to where it should be. On Baxter. He caressed Baxter’s cheek, smoothing his thumb over the glow, and spoke his mind the moment it had the thought he never hesitated to share.

“You are so beautiful.” He told his beloved, looking him straight in the eye. The way he always made sure to do when he made him a promise. “You really are." 

Baxter leaned as closely into Alastor’s touch as he could.

"I know you think so.” he said positively. Or at least, tried to say it positively. But it sounded false and he didn’t look Alastor in the eye. 

“I know so.” Alastor insisted.

Baxter didn’t respond and Alastor couldn’t help but sigh at that. Sadly, Baxter didn’t know he was beautiful. He didn’t even think it. Alastor knew that Baxter didn’t really like the way he looked at all. There were many parts of the body he was in that he straight up hated. Saying they looked absolutely stupid. He said that it was no wonder no one took him seriously because he looked so ridiculous.

Well, Alastor was having none of that. He told Baxter every day what he thought of all these features he was so insecure about. Determined to make him feel better about them. Maybe one day, Baxter would even like them as much as Alastor did.

“Darl, you know I love the way you look.” He persisted putting his arms around his lover, “I don’t care what you say, you do not look ridiculous. Ridiculously cute, yes. But not ridiculous.”

Baxter let out a small chuckle before he embraced Alastor as well.

“I love everything about you.” Alastor whispered to the person he loved more than anything in existence like it was a secret. Now that was ridiculous because he would shout it to the world.

“No, you don’t!” Baxter giggled, “You don’t love how cranky, closed off and secretive I can be.”

“Alright smartass, you’ve pointed out you have flaws like every other human being. Well done.” Alastor joked back before getting serious,“But all the good things about you outweigh the bad things by a ton.”

“Well, my love. You will be pleased to know that I can say the exact same thing about you.” Baxter said, tightening his embrace and planting several sweet lingering kisses on Alastor’s cheek. “I love you so.”

“I love you too.” Alastor said right back, returning Baxter’s soft squeeze, “And you really are ridiculously cute.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Baxter said in a positive tone that sounded genuine this time. Alastor was sure he was smiling.

“You’d better.” He grinned before he resumed the kiss attack he’d launched earlier.

He had better believe he was cute because Baxter was cute. His eyes were cute. His smile was cute. His freckles were cute. His hair was cute. His little built-in fishing rod was cute and good god, his blush was cute. Everything about him was cute and much more. He was charming, he was attractive, he was handsome and indeed he was beautiful. And Alastor didn’t care what he had done to end up here, Baxter was beautiful on the inside too.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

Mornings With a Loved One (Another BaxterXAlastor Fanfic)

The alarm clock went off at seven AM. It was obnoxious and persistent. Drilling loudly into the ears of any nearby and assaulting them over and over until the noise became unbearable and a fist slammed against the off button.

Supposedly, that was the whole point of the contraption. To force it’s user to wake by being insufferable. But Baxter thought its purpose was defeated when it also forced its user to start every morning feeling irritated and grumpy. He really needed to replace that damn thing. He felt movement by his side. The sudden movement startled him for a second but then he felt silly. He knew exactly who was next to him. Alastor groaned and rolled onto his stomach. He dragged his pillows over his head and practically smothered himself with them. Baxter didn’t blame him. Alastor worked nights. Baxter could scarcely think of anything worse for someone who had spent all night working than being disturbed a measly hour after falling asleep by what sounded like that awful electronic band Crymini liked, if they were all dropped on their heads as infants. Alastor could have just slept in his own bed and not been disturbed at all. Baxter would tell him this every time he stumbled into his bed at the end of a long working night. And Alastor would always respond with, “Yes. But that bed didn’t have you in it.” 

It made Baxter smile to think about that. Baxter was quick to end their torment and turn the wretched machine off. To his surprise, he didn’t hear Alastor’s usual plea to let him destroy it. Poor thing, he must really be shattered. He stayed under the duvet for just a moment. Baxter had never been the “just five more minutes” type of person when it came to getting up in the morning. Once he was up, he was up and out. But that apparently changes when you have a romantic partner. He should be getting ready to go to work now but all Baxter wanted to do was hold Alastor and soak in the warmth of his body. Even if it was just for a little while. But Baxter knew it wouldn’t be for a little while. If he stayed within Alastor’s reach for much longer, he would latch on to Baxter and refuse to let go. Then Baxter would become oblivious to time and his sense of urgency would slip further and further into the back of his mind, while the clock crept further and further forward. Until before he knew it, he’d be running late. Fighting the temptation away, Baxter begrudgingly got out of bed and started getting ready for the day.

The first order of business was to take his medication. His pills and some water were on his work desk prepared and waiting for him. Something that Baxter had not thought to do. But he knew who had. He had drifted back to sleep. Lying on his back now with his pillows back under his head again. His face now uncovered, there was nothing to hide the massive and utterly uncharacteristic frown that spread across it. He looked so grumpy. Baxter assumed that was because of the terrible wake up call and he took his medication without a second thought. But when he looked at him again, he looked even more sulky. Baxter wondered why that could be. He tried to think of what else could annoy Alastor at this hour. Then blushed and smiled when he could only think of one thing. Alastor usually demanded affection whenever his and Baxter’s working hours overlapped enough for them to spend time together. Especially in the mornings. Usually at this time, Baxter would be trapped in Alastor’s arms and would stay his happy captive for at least twenty minutes. But this morning, Baxter must have managed to get out of bed before Alastor could snake his arms around him. Maybe that was why he looked so grumpy. He couldn’t be sure if that was it but Baxter wanted to think it was. Normally, this was the last thing Baxter did before he left for work and today would be no exception. But all the same, Baxter went over to Alastor’s side of the bed and bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek. And the second Baxter was within grabbing distance, the duvet went flying, Baxter went plummeting, a pair of arms wrapped around his torso and before he knew what was going on, Baxter was on top of Alastor. Locked in a hunter’s trap like embrace. For that was what it was. To Baxter’s total lack of surprise, he had been lured into a trap he should have seen coming a mile away.  “And just where do you think you’re going?” Alastor demanded playfully with a grin. “To work.” Baxter replied smiling right back, “Like always.” “You don’t have to be in work for the best part of an hour. Surely you can spend some of that time with me.” “Hmm.” Baxter teased, “Let’s see if I have a choice.” He attempted to move and all that happened was Alastor held him tighter and pulled the duvet back over them both. “Didn’t think so.” Baxter said settling down onto his lover’s chest and putting his arms around his neck. Of course he was happy to give in to Alastor’s demands for company and cuddles. But only for five minutes, otherwise he would risk being late. Alastor wasn’t planning on releasing him that soon and Baxter knew it. So after what Baxter thought was four minutes, he opted to bargain with his lover. “What’s it going to take for you to let me go?” he asked Alastor.

“Guess.” Alastor challenged his lover So Baxter did and kissed Alastor straight on the lips. Once. Twice. Three times then a few times more. Quick little pecks, each barely lasting a second. After about ten of these fleeting little kisses, Baxter stopped to speak. “I’m assuming I guessed right,” he said to Alastor, knowing for a fact he had, “but was it enough?” Alastor said nothing. He didn’t need to. The look on his face might as well have said, “You’re joking, right?”

“Of course.” was Baxter’s silent answer, “Alright. Alright.” was his vocal one. He started kissing him again. This time Alastor made sure the kisses lasted longer. In no time at all, they became so absorbed in each other everything else faded away. Including Baxter’s sense of time. After who knows how many kisses, Baxter gave Alastor one last extra long and lingering kiss before planting several on his cheek. “That’s for earlier.” he told him, tilting his head to the desk where the now empty glass and pill box were, “You can be so thoughtful when you want to be.” “It was no trouble.” Alastor shrugged. A flirtatious grin completely took over his face as he brought a hand to caress Baxter’s cheek. “It’s no trouble at all thinking about you.” he said, “The real trouble is trying to stop.” He moved closer to Baxter so that their foreheads touched and added, “Motivation being the main issue.” Baxter relished in his partner’s flattery and touch. He was joyously contempt staying put where he was but when he felt Alastor’s other hand on his face, Baxter remembered he was trying to get out of his lover’s clutches and saw a window of opportunity open before him. With Alastor distracted and both of his hands occupied, Baxter was no longer trapped. Now was his chance. A glimmer of mischief flashed in his eyes before he dove for it. He threw the covers aside and made a leap off of Alastor shouting, “Freedom!” “Oh no, you don’t!” Alastor grabbed Baxter once again and had him back on top of him in an instant. The latter laughing and squirming and more interested in play fighting than actually trying to get away. “My dearest.” Alastor warned in a voice that had absolutely no threat to it whatsoever, “I would strongly advise against you trying that again. Remember, it’s your turn to spend the evening at my place.” Alastor may have been joking around but if Baxter knew Alastor, he knew there was a good chance he could be semi serious. He knew what was in Alastor’s room. Or more relevantly, what he had hidden in there. “What I suggest you do instead is be the darling little gourami you are and stay right here with me.” Alastor then started to brush Baxter’s neck with kisses and Baxter tried and failed to contain his giggles. “I want to, love. Really, I do. It’s a shame I have to leave in…” Baxter drifted off when he realised he had lost track of time. He had no idea what the time was now. He looked at the clock. It was now twenty past seven. Twenty minutes had gone by in what felt like five. Now he really needed to get a move on if he wanted to arrive at work on time.

“Alastor, seriously now.” he said gently, “I must get up this minute or I’ll be late.” Alastor made this adorably pathetic, sad puppy whine and clung tighter. “I know. I know.” Baxter said in empathy as he stroked Alastor’s hair, “Believe me. If this was my day off, I’d stay here with you all day. But it’s not my day off so I’ve got to go to work. All Alastor did in response was start nuzzling Baxter. Obviously still not convinced. “Just think of it this way.” Baxter said, trying a different approach, “When my shift ends, I’ll have hours to spend with you.” Alastor seemed pleased with that so Baxter made another attempt to get off of him. At the very least he could move this time but still Alastor didn’t let him go. His arms just moved along with Baxter as he rose to his knees. Loose but still firm. “Come on. Let go now.” said Baxter tugging at Alastor’s arm, “I’m going in the shower.” “Ahh.” Alastor half purred, half growled. His eyes narrowed and his grin widened. Giving him a dangerous, predatory look. Baxter wondered what the hell he had said to get him to look like that. He leaned closer to the young man on top of him until their faces were parallel. His hands slid down his back until they smoothed over his backside. He squeezed it and whispered in a voice dripping with seduction; “Excellent suggestion.”

Baxter gave out a little squeak and shoved Alastor flat onto the mattress. Making Alastor crack up with laughter. “I meant by myself. Jesus!” exclaimed Baxter but he was laughing too. “Well you’re too bashful to be anything but subtle when it comes to that sort of thing.” Alastor defended, even though Baxter was clearly not angry at all, “Forgive me darl but with you I’ve come to take every little thing as a sign. Or rather, hope every little thing is a sign.” “You cannot be serious.” Baxter scoffed, “I have to be in work in forty minutes and as for you, you’ve only had an hour of sleep. Surely, you must be too tired.” Again. Alastor pulled his “you must be joking” face. He didn’t look like he was joking. For once, he looked deadly serious. And just like that. The entire surrounding atmosphere was flipped upside down. The causal essence and even some of the comfort was gone. A second ago, Baxter felt bliss. Now he felt excitement but also nervousness twisting around in his gut. “Well, If you’re really up for it.” Baxter murmured. He avoided eye contact with Alastor and felt embarrassed by how small and quiet his voice sounded. “Only if you are.” Alastor interrupted and his hands went straight for Baxter’s. Baxter interlocked his fingers between the fingers of his lover almost instinctively and in that moment, he felt the old atmosphere slowly come back. Comfort returned and nervousness was on it’s way out. He kissed one of the hands he was holding and said with one hundred percent certainty, “I am, but we can’t be long. We don’t have much time.” “I wish we did.” Alastor whispered. He was trying to be seductive again but Baxter couldn’t miss the hint of longing in his voice. Baxter knew that feeling all too well. He too always felt a little sad whenever they had to part. It was silly really but even if it was only for a few hours, Baxter hated having to be away from Alastor. Him and his companionship and romance and everything else. “So do I.” he sighed, “Still. Never mind. Again. When I get back, We’ll have hours to spend on each other.” At last. Baxter cracked it. He finally got Alastor to release him. Well, for about two seconds. When Baxter got to his feet, Alastor plucked him from the ground and cradled him in his arms. Baxter gave out a yelp of surprise when he was lifted into the air without any warning but he held on tight. Completely trusting and utterly ecstatic to let his loved one kiss him and carry him to the bathroom Now, dear reader. To read this story, or any story, one needs imagination. You’ve used your imagination just now. You’ve used to it picture every last detail of this little written scene and everything that happened in it. You can imagine what happened next.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

Distance. (Alastor/Baxter fanfic)

It was a Thursday night. Alastor’s first night off of the week and the start of a long weekend. It was the highlight of his week because it gave him so much more free time to spend with his friends and Baxter. But let’s be realistic here, he was mostly going to spend it with Baxter. It meant free nights to spend with their friends or just with each other. To devote to elaborate nights out or cosy nights in. But best of all, it meant falling asleep with his partner in his arms.

For all night long. Not just for an hour when his shift ended and Baxter was soon to wake up for his but the whole, glorious night through. It’s was a luxury Alastor’s job only took away from him for four nights a week but good god, Alastor couldn’t get through those nights fast enough. But sadly, instead of doing any of those things, Alastor and Baxter had spent the entire time arguing. 

They argued about everything and nothing. About petty things and deeper things. But regardless they argued and quarrelled, bickered and fought until Baxter was ready to walk out. Only then did Alastor finally get it through to his head that now was the time to take his partner’s hand, say sorry and make up. Now all was forgiven or so it seemed but Alastor lay there in his bed frustrated with both Baxter and himself for wasting the night like this.

And things definitely weren’t all fine and dandy from Baxter’s side of things either. He had been silent ever since Alastor had persuaded him back inside but not in the defiant stubbornness that came with the silent treatment. There was a more meek and fragile demeanour about him. Like he was trying to turn himself invisible by making his presence as small and unnoticeable as possible.

Alastor did think about trying to talk to Baxter but he had not long ago tried to walk out. Maybe he just needed space.

Baxter was asleep already. With his back turned to Alastor and the covers pulled up over his head. Funny, Baxter didn’t normally do that. Still, Alastor went on thinking Baxter really was asleep until he heard something. It was so faint Alastor almost missed it entirely but once he detected it, there was no mistaking it. It was the sound of a sniffle.

Alastor closed his eyes and let out a deep, sad sigh. So, they were doing this again.

“Baxter.” he sighed again. He sat up on his knees and tried to move the covers off from over his partner. Baxter tugged them back. Keeping a firm grip on them while Alastor watched him make quick but subtle movements as he brought an arm up to his face. Alastor had a pretty good idea of what he was doing.

“What?” Baxter said to Alastor when he finally surrendered the covers. Turning around and propping himself up with his elbow to look at him properly. Baxter said this with a straight and neutral face but his voice was broken, his eyes were watery and his pillow had a damp patch, he could not fool Alastor. Alastor took Baxter’s free hand and led it over to Baxter’s pillow until they reached that damp patch. Once Baxter’s fingers touched that soggy material, Alastor spread his own fingers over Baxter’s and felt it too, then he gave Baxter an empathetic and knowing look. 

Baxter looked back at Alastor for a moment but turned his face away when new tears started to flow. Still trying to hide. That was enough of that. Alastor gently took Baxter’s face in his hand and made him look at him again. With his index finger he wiped one of Baxter’s tears away before he let go. He opened his arms for his partner and said “Come here”.

Baxter practically flung himself into Alastor’s embrace. He wrapped his arms tight around Alastor’s waist and started openly crying into his torso. Alastor held Baxter gently and began stroking his back. 

“I’m sorry.” Alastor apologised for the second time that night. But this time he meant it even more than he had before. 

“I’m sorry too” Baxter wept.

“I wasn’t a very good lover to you tonight, was I?“ Alastor said, voicing is guilt “I was so mean to you.”

“I was worse.” Baxter said.

“No you weren’t.” Alastor told his partner gently yet firmly “I’m not the one who’s crying.”

“You’re not the one who’s a weak fool." Baxter answered back in a tone that was painful for Alastor to hear.

"Now, stop that.” Alastor told him, “You can’t be blamed for getting so upset. I was horrible to you tonight. No wonder you walked out." 

"I was surprised you wanted me to come back." Baxter confessed.

"Of course I wanted you to come back.” Alastor hugged Baxter tight and held him close. He stopped stroking his back only to start stroking his hair. 

“Baxter.’, he whispered to his dear partner, "My sweet, silly Baxter. You always do this." 

"Do what?” Baxter asked him. The poor thing sounded worried. Alastor hoped he didn’t think he had done anything wrong. 

“When you’re upset you always hide from me.” Alastor explained. I’m not having another dig at you. It’s just;”

He paused for a few moments to think about the best way to word what he wanted to say to Baxter. He wanted to find the perfect words so Baxter would know exactly what he meant. 

"I wish you wouldn’t keep all your feelings bottled up all the time. I wish you would tell me how you feel. I want to know how you feel, Baxter. I need to know. I want to make you feel better when you're down. I want to help you with your problems. I can’t do that if I don’t know what’s going on in here” he told Baxter, tapping lightly against Baxter’s head. 

“Please don’t be afraid to tell me how you feel. I’m your partner, you can tell me anything.”

“Not really.” Baxter argued, although thankfully in a much more passive way than before, “I was more than open with you earlier and all that did was escalate tonight’s fiasco" 

"That was different, Bax.” Alastor disagreed strongly, “I was being snappy and nasty with you for no reason. Of course you would fight back and in the long run, it was a good thing you did. The things you said made me think about what I was doing and they made me see that I was wrong.”

“We both were.” Baxter admitted “Please don’t think too much about what I said. I didn’t mean any of it." 

"I think you did mean some of it.” Alastor contradicted, “Like when you said I was being unreasonable and unfair? You were right of course.”

“Alright, maybe I did mean some of the things I said.” Baxter admitted, “But not any of the awful things.”

“I know.” Alastor said “I didn’t mean the awful things I said either. I really am sorry I blew up at you. I’ve just been stressed lately. But that’s no excuse. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you”.

“It’s alright.” Baxter forgave, “There’s still a lot going on with me. With my mind. I’ve been trying my best to deal with it but, let’s just say, I also took out my frustrations on you. Wrongfully so of course. How about next time, we do as you said? Instead of shouting at each other, we just simply talk to each other?”

“That would be wonderful.” Alastor smiled, planting a kiss onto Baxter’s head. 

They stayed in comfortable silence for a little while. All that needed to be said had been said. Well, except for maybe one thing.

“Baxter, can I ask you something?" 

"Of course”

“Why is it that you feel the need to hide your feelings, rather than talk about them?" 

"You ask me that a lot.” Baxter said apologetically, “I really would tell you if I knew. I truly wish I had an answer for you but I don’t. I just don’t know.”

Alastor nodded in understanding, even though Baxter couldn’t really see it from where he was. This was the response he always had from Baxter but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying. He certainly wasn’t going to leave it indefinitely but he was willing to leave the subject alone for tonight.

Alastor didn’t want to think about how many times Baxter cried and no one knew. He didn’t want that to happen again. Maybe, if he could just find the reason why Baxter lived this way, they could work on building Baxter’s confidence towards feeling comfortable sharing his emotions.

But now was not the time for enquiries or investigations. Right now, Baxter needed comfort and security. 

“That’s okay.” Alastor told him “There’s no rush but I really do think it would help you if we knew the reason. How about we get some sleep now and tomorrow, focus on finding it together?”

“Fine by me.” Baxter said happily. He dislodged himself from his position on Alastor’s lap so they could both settle down back into bed.

“Oh. And Alastor,” he added, “The next time you’re stressed, let me know.”

He reached for the sweet spot behind Alastor’s ear only he knew about and gave it a good scratch.

“I know just how to calm you down.”

Baxter was certainly right about that. Alastor automatically started purring like a cat. He tilted his head sideways, leaning closer into Baxter’s touch. 

“Oh no! what have I done?” Baxter laughed, “Now I’m going to have to do this for hours.”

Alastor laughed too and held his partner close. His beloved Baxter sounded so happy it was obvious he wouldn’t mind petting him for a millennia. 

They held each other the moment they were under the covers. The comfort of Baxter’s embrace tiring Alastor out quicker than he thought it would. And apparently, it had the same affect on Baxter.

“Goodnight, Alastor.” He said in no time at all.

“Goodnight, my little gourami”. Alastor said back “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Alastor watched over his partner until he was sure he was sound asleep. Then fell he asleep himself with his beloved in his arms and a smile on his face. His final thoughts before sleep took over were most satisfactory. 

“Tomorrow will be much better.”

[cwartsyswritingblog]

It’s The Thought That Count’s: Part Three.

While they waited for Molly, Baxter and Alastor sat huddled up together at the end of Baxter’s bed. Alastor had looked so unsure of himself since that phone call ended. He just sat by Baxter’s side and held him as if he didn’t know what else to do. It was worrying to see him like this and Baxter also found that he couldn’t do anything more than hug his partner and hold him until Molly came.

Time seemed to pause in that moment and nothing existed to Baxter except for his poor, worried partner.

A knock at the door snapped them both back into reality. Alastor went to answer it and in came molly. Still in her pyjamas and sporting quite an impressive bed head. The only thing indicating she was a medical professional was the stethoscope protruding slightly out of the open bag she must have hastily thrown it into.

“You should have phoned me, dumbass.” Molly sighed to Baxter as he entered his room.

Baxter gave her a weak smile as Alastor went straight back to his side and resumed his dutiful position as Baxter’s cuddle dispenser. Molly looked at them as if they were a pair of snuggling puppies, which was pretty embarrassing for Baxter. But nowhere near embarrassing enough to stop him from putting his arms around Alastor.

But of course, he had to let go so Molly could check him over properly. Which he did with great reluctance.

Molly took his temperature, checked his breathing and the state of his throat. All of which were standard of a medical check-up for his illness. But when she started checking his heartbeat and his pulse, he knew something was up. These things weren’t of any necessity and Molly was professional enough to know this. The only reason Baxter could think of for Molly’s sudden over thoroughness was that she was doing this for show to make Alastor feel better. Baxter could not have been more thankful for Molly’s good thinking.

“How are you feeling?” she asked him.

“Apart from the blood and tiredness, not too bad.” he answered in total honesty.

“Did you get any sleep while I was gone?” Alastor cut in.

“I tried to,” Baxter told him truthfully, “But I had the same problems I did before and then when I started coughing up blood, I couldn’t get back to sleep at all.”

Baxter didn’t realise how thoughtless he had been saying that until he saw Alastor’s face. The poor thing looked pained with guilt.

“I could have phoned you at any time.” Baxter reminded him, “I just chose not to. Silly, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was.” Alastor said, “I don’t know what to do with you sometimes”.

“He’s a terrible patient, isn’t he?” commented Molly.

“The worst.” Alastor agreed.

“Hey now.” Baxter defended, “I haven’t been that bad today, have I?

“No.” Alastor agreed with narrowed eyes, “Not after I caught you sneaking off to work.” 

He shook his head and said to Molly, “He’d drop dead without me, I swear. He treats himself like a machine.”

Hearing these words only added to the pang of guilt that kept stabbing at Baxter from inside his chest. He was still used to his decisions affecting himself and only himself. It never felt any better when he was reminded that wasn’t the case anymore. Cuddling up to Alastor once more was his way of saying sorry for his lack of consideration.

“Besides from coughing up blood, have you been experiencing any other new symptoms?” Molly asked.

“No. None at all.” He answered.

“How are you on pain?” She asked him another question. It went without saying that this one was of great interest to Alastor.

“It’s come and gone but overall, it hasn’t been too bad.” Baxter said, “As of yet, I haven’t felt the need to take any medication.”

Molly seemed satisfied with the information she had gathered. “Everything seems to be normal, chest infection wise.” She said in a conclusion that was much more aimed towards Alastor than it was Baxter as she reached for something in her bag.

“I think we can both agree that you’re not in a bad enough condition to need these. But I’ll leave them with you just in case you get worse.” She said to Baxter, handing him a box of pills. Which turned out, as Baxter expected, to be amoxicillin 500mg.

“That’s about all I can do for him.” She said to Alastor, “I’d say take care of him but I know you will.” 

“And as for you,” She turned to Baxter, “rest and let me know how you are tomorrow. I gotta get going”.

Baxter thanked her for everything and almost said goodbye but questioned the point. Even though she had done all she could and there was no more reason for her to be here, she probably wasn’t going right now. Not if Alastor had anything to say about it. He looked at his partner. As he predicted, Alastor was appalled by the briefness of Molly’s visit.

“But what about the blood?” He protested, “Can’t we do anything about that?” 

“That will clear up on its own, Alastor. Like everything else.” Baxter told him gently.

“He’s right.” Molly confirmed, “He’ll get better by himself, Al. You’ll see. ”

Alastor wasn’t entirely convinced, “You said that medicine you gave him is for if he gets worse but surely, there’s something we can give him now?”

Then Alastor’s eyes lit up as if he just remembered something. He darted towards the other shopping bag he brought in. Of which, the contents were still unknown to Baxter. He fished some items out of it and promptly brought them to Baxter.

“Here, darl.” he said, handing him a cough medicine and a spoon. He probably got the spoon from the kitchens but Baxter wouldn’t put it past his partner that he’d bought it while out for this specific purpose “Take some of this. That’ll help, right?”

“You are good to me.” Baxter praised before breaking the reality to him, “But Medicine isn’t going to help me recover any faster. Especially not cough medicine. As good as it was of you to get it for me, the coughing I’m experiencing is actually helping me clear the infection. All I need are the painkillers and the Amoxicillin if I get worse.”

“Oh.” Alastor said disheartened, “I got you some stuff for your throat too. Would that help?”

“Oh yes. Definitely.” Baxter said immediately. Hoping the knowledge that Alastor had indeed got him something useful would make him feel better.

It did but sadly, only slightly. He went back to where the bag was and retrieved everything else he had gotten to help Baxter with his illness. Apparently, Alastor hadn’t been sure which brand of throat sweets would work the best, so he bought the lot. That would explain why Baxter now had a dozen different brands of sweets to choose from. He had also gotten him tea with honey and lemons to go with it.

“There was a lot of stuff labelled honey and lemon in packets but I figured the real stuff would work better.” Alastor explained.

“How thoughtful.” Molly complimented.

“He has been marvellous.” Baxter said, “You should see all the other things he got for me and what he made for me earlier.”

He then told Molly all about everything Alastor had done for him thus far. Molly found it all to be impressive and adorably sweet so he encouraged her to talk about it like mad. He thought all the compliments and praise would do Alastor’s esteem wonders but when he turned to his beloved partner, he was sorry to see that he looked just as uncertain and anxious as he had when he called Molly to come over.

“Alastor” he soothed, taking his partner’s hand, “I can see you’re still worried about me but there really is no need to be. If there was anything seriously wrong with me, Molly would know right away. I would know right away. I know I’m ill but I’m not suffering. I’m not even in that much pain and I am going to be better very soon. I’m going to be just fine.”

At last, Alastor was looking a little happier. He smiled for the first time since he found out Baxter was coughing up blood. But of course, Baxter had to go and mess it all up.

“In fact. From the way I’m feeling right now, I’m certain I will be able to go back to work tomorrow.”

Alastor looked at Baxter as if he was mad.

“Yeah.” Molly agreed with a smile, “If you get enough rest today, I don’t see why you can’t come back in tomorrow.”

But when Molly was unfortunate enough to get a glance at the look on Alastor’s face, she immediately rephrased herself. No hypnosis needed. His glare was more than enough to do the job.

“Or,” She said nervously, “if Bax is still ill then maybe, three days?

Alastor clung to Baxter and pulled him behind him as if he thought he was going to be snatched away at any moment. “Three days?” He cried out stupefied “He’s coughing up blood! He’s not going anywhere until that stops.”

“That might not be for another week, Alastor.” Baxter told him gently, “I can’t afford to take that much time off work.”

“You can’t help being ill, Baxter.” Alastor proclaimed, “Molly will just have to manage. You can manage, can’t you?”

“Yeah, but only for so long.” Molly said, “It’s been getting really busy lately, even more than usual. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had a slow day.”

“That’s because we’ve never had a slow day.” Baxter corrected, “At least not since the hotel took off anyway”.

“Exactly.” Molly said, “And I’m definitely going to need you over the weekend.”

“But of course.” Baxter said in empathy, “I wouldn’t dream of leaving you to face the nightlife nightmare alone.”

“I think I’d rather risk life and limb trying to haul you away from Al.” she chuckled light-heartedly to herself before getting serious, “Seriously though, Al. It’s obvious seeing Baxter cough up blood scared you but he really his going to be fine. It’s likely that he’ll stop in a few days and then he’ll get better from there.”

Alastor didn’t answer. He just kept clinging on to Baxter

“I’ll tell you what.” Molly compromised, “I’ll let you take care of him for five days. In that time, you should start seeing improvements in his health. That’ll make you feel better, won’t it?”

“But Molly,” Baxter objected, “That’s not fair on you”.

Molly didn’t say anything back. She just looked at him and then at Alastor. Making him follow her eyes up to meet his partner’s. He saw how relieved and grateful Alastor looked and he couldn’t protest any further. He just wrapped his arms around him and mouthed at Molly, “Thank you.”

She gave him a warm smile in return and went on with her discussion with Alastor as if their interaction hadn’t happened. As if it was a secret between them.

“But after those five days, Al, I’m going to have to start fighting for him.”

“Good luck.” Alastor said to her jokingly.

“Thanks. I’ll need it.” she joked back.

It was good fun to see Alastor and Molly share a moment of silliness. But it crossed Baxter’s mind that there wasn’t much time left until Molly’s shift started. He wondered how much time there was to go. Apparently Molly wondered the same thing. Because in that exact same moment, she took a glance at Baxter’s alarm clock and jumped back when she read the time.

“And it’s half seven and I am nowhere near ready.” She said, making a swift exit, “Now I’ve really got to go. I’ll see you two later. Any problems call me.”

They all exchanged goodbyes and just like that, Molly was gone. When she shut the door behind her, the sound echoed through the room and then it suddenly became dead quiet. Now that it was just the two of them, the silence was overbearing to the point where Baxter started noticing sounds he never noticed. Like the water in the radiator or the breezy whirring of the electrics in his mini fridge. He felt like he should break the silence but he didn’t quite know how, and he guessed that Alastor had the same problem. Neither of them were sure of what to say to the other.

With their communication struggling, they found themselves returning to as they were when they were waiting for Molly to arrive. Alastor held Baxter as tight as he could without cutting off his air supply and rested his chin on Baxter’s shoulder. Baxter was too short to reach the top of Alastor’s shoulder, so he settled on leaning into his chest. Listening to his heart beat.

It was clear to Baxter that Alastor was still shaken up. He had to do something. His partner needed something that would make his fear go away. Or at the very least, distract him from it. He thought back to the events of this morning and remembered how happy Alastor was seeing him react to everything he had done for him. Of course. The other bag was still stuffed with purchases, it was a solution in plain sight.

“What else is in that bag you brought back?” He casually asked his lover.

“Nothing important.” Alastor said.  

“Oh, come on now.” Baxter insisted, “Everything you got for me today, you got to make my day as comfortable and pleasant as possible. That is important to me, Alastor. It shows me just how much you care.”

All Baxter got from Alastor in response was painful silence.

“Look. I really hope you don’t feel guilty for being out and getting me all these lovely things while a nasty symptom of my infection just so happened to pop up. I was fine.”

“You must have been frightened.” Alastor lamented, “And thanks to me, you were all alone, trapped and in the dark.”

“You didn’t know what was happening!” Baxter consoled, “And when it was happening, I knew you were just a phone call away. All I had to do was give you a call and you’d be there. But I chose not to because I wanted to spare you from stress. I thought that If I could keep you from knowing about the blood until Molly got here and could confirm that I was going to be alright, maybe you wouldn’t worry so. But it all went wrong and I just ended up making things worse, didn’t I?”

Alastor gripped Baxter by the shoulders and pushed him out of his embrace so that he could face him. He opened his mouth and strangled sounds of protest came out but no actual words formed. Baxter couldn’t possibly guess every word he was trying to say but clearly, he strongly disagreed with something Baxter had said.

“You don’t think I should be blaming myself, do you?” he guessed with confidence.

“No!” Alastor finally managed to blurt out.

“I don’t think this is a situation where either of us can be blamed.” Baxter addressed, “But all the same, I’ll try to be more honest with you from now on. If anything like this happens again, I’ll let you know. I promise.”

Baxter was ecstatic when he saw a small smile spread across Alastor’s face. At last he was getting somewhere with him.

“Alright.” he said giving Baxter a small kiss, “Wait here a moment.”

He went over to the remaining shopping bag and retrieved its contents.

“I’m afraid this one isn’t as exciting as the other one.” He said sheepishly, “It’s mostly just tea. I got you the ones I know you like and some I thought you might.”

Baxter hadn’t expected Alastor to be subtle here. Obviously not, subtlety was something Alastor just did not do. But he still managed to surprise Baxter when he saw him come back towards him with his arms loaded with god only knew how many different types of tea.

“Were there any you didn’t buy?” He laughed out of shock.

“Not really.” Alastor admitted with another small smile.

It was clear that Alastor’s little shopping trip had been made entirely with Baxter in mind. But Baxter suspected without an ounce of judgement his partner thought of himself just a little bit when he bought all this. He couldn’t help but grin like an idiot at the thought of Alastor’s excitement upon discovering so many new varieties of tea to try. He would loved to have seen that for himself. Baxter may have liked tea quite a bit but Alastor adored it. 

Baxter spotted the ones he liked, classic, green and chamomile and again, he was flattered Alastor had remembered his favourites. But what really caught his eye were the ones he had bought for him to try. Jasmine, mint green, peppermint, green tea with pomegranate, gingerbread and even Bakewell tart. How on earth Alastor had managed to find a box of Bakewell tart flavoured tea, Baxter didn’t know.

“These all look fantastic.” he gave his partner some much needed praise, “I can’t drink too many hot drinks when I’ve got this infection but even so, I’m looking forward to trying all these. Thank you, darling.”

“I’ll make you a cup now, if you want.” Alastor offered.

“Thank you, Alastor. That would be lovely.” Baxter gratefully accepted, “Now then. Which one to try first? I feel like I should have the normal one with honey and lemon to help my throat but I’m curious to try the flavoured ones. Especially the;”

“Bakewell tart?” Alastor guessed.

“The Bakewell tart.” Baxter nodded.

“I got you some actual Bakewell tarts too.” Alastor announced retrieving two boxes of them from the bag, “And as a very special treat because you’re sick, don’t get used to it, I got you this.”

Baxter was then stunned when Alastor placed a pot of caramel coffee in his hand. It was a small pot, and instant but nevertheless;

“You got me coffee?” he marvelled, “Real coffee?”

He inspected the label and sure enough, it wasn’t decaf. 

“But you can’t stand me drinking coffee.” he said flabbergasted.

“I’m advised that one cup a day can’t harm you.” Alastor said, “But just because I bought you some, don’t think I’m going to let you go back to getting through four entire pots a day.”

“Never again, love.” he promised and meant every word.

“I hope so.” Alastor said, “How is your throat? Is it really hurting?”

“It is getting a bit difficult to swallow.” Baxter admitted, popping a cherry Soother into his mouth.

Alastor nodded in acknowledgement. “How about ordinary tea with honey and lemon for you, chamomile for me and we’ll share a cup of Bakewell. Just to try it?” he suggested.

“Sounds like a good idea to me.” Baxter agreed.

Alastor had the teas made in the time it takes to boil a kettle and slice up a lemon. With a scalpel due to the lack of knives in the room.

While he did this, Baxter thought about opening one of the boxes of Bakewell tarts. But it just seemed odd to have them with the same thing in the form of flavoured tea. So, he opted to dig out some fruit and chocolate out of the first bag instead. Choosing the strawberries and the Turkish delight filled bar of Cadbury’s chocolate, knowing how much Alastor loved the stuff.

Alastor used the same tray he’d carried breakfast on to serve the teas and with the fruit and chocolate, it all looked wonderful. It should have been a happy moment for them both, when they were sitting together with tea and treats. But Alastor’s heart just wasn’t in it the way it was during breakfast or when he gave Baxter the first bag of things he had bought just for him. Alastor looked happier than he had a minute or two ago but Baxter could still see that something was on his mind. How he wished he knew what it was.

“Baxter?” Alastor suddenly spoke.

“Yes, Alastor?” Baxter immediately responded. Hopeful his wish was about to be granted.

"I want to apologise for earlier.” he proclaimed, “You had to comfort me back there when I should have been comforting you.”

“Oh, Alastor.” Baxter put his cup of tea down to give Alastor the hug he needed. “You’ve been comforting me all morning and how you reacted was perfectly understandable. Listen. I think I know why we both got so frightened. When you first saw me cough up blood, what was the first thing that came into your mind?”

“TB.” Alastor answered, “That’s what I thought of right away.”

“Yes, precisely!” Baxter said, “I didn’t admit it to myself at first but when I started coughing up blood, tuberculosis was on the back of my mind as well. Even though I knew I didn’t have it. I think that was because coughing up blood is a symptom associated with far worse illnesses than what I’ve got. That would have certainly been the case in your time and especially in mine. So, no wonder we immediately assumed the worst. It must be the reason why I jumped to conclusions. Despite having the medical knowledge to know better. And why, when you saw me coughing up blood, you;”

“Panicked.” Alastor finished for him.

Baxter nodded. “You reacted exactly the way I expected. And I expected you to react that way because I know how protective you are over me and;”

He averted eye contact with Alastor but blushed and smiled when he said,

“Because I know how much you love me.” 

Alastor’s cheeks turned redder than the strawberries. Then he finally smiled a genuinely warm and happy smile before tilting Baxter’s chin up for a kiss.

“That’s right.” Baxter beamed. Holding Alastor’s face in his hands and smoothing over the adorable dimples his smile created, “No more frowning now. It doesn’t suit you. Let’s start enjoying the day again. Starting with this unusual tea.”

He picked up the Bakewell tart tea and sampled it. Unfortunately, this was an action his taste buds would come to detest him for.

Baxter theorised that this tea existed for the same reason Alastor bought it. People like tea and they like Bakewell tarts, so why not put the two together? That sounds like a great idea. It was a good idea in theory but unfortunately, in practice Bakewell tart flavouring turned out to be the same as banana flavouring. In the sense that everything it touched instantly turned terrible. But course, Baxter was going to find a kinder way to word that to his partner.

“This is… um…. well.” he stammered, trying to find the right words to describe the taste. But Alastor took the tea from him and sampled it himself, saving him the bother.

“Disgusting.” Alastor spoke for him, “Way too sweet. Maybe, I shouldn’t have put sugar in it.”

“I don’t think leaving it out would have made much difference” Baxter said honestly, “Such a shame, if done right it could really work and Alastor,”

“I know. I know.” Alastor read him like an open book, “You appreciate that I got it anyway.” He looked away from Baxter for a moment before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Now Alastor’s demeanour as was perky and cheerful as it should be. But Baxter detected an aura of mischief around him as well.

He caught him stealing glances towards the bag all the tea was once in. Come to think of it, why did Alastor keep going back to it to retrieve things? Why hadn’t he simply brought the bag to Baxter, like he had the other one? And if it was empty, why hadn’t he thrown it away? Upon closer inspection, Baxter could see that it wasn’t.

“Baxter.” Alastor said.

“Yes.” Baxter answered suspiciously.

“I did get you one more thing.” His partner confessed.

Baxter took one look at the gleam in Alastor’s eyes and the smirk across his face and he knew exactly what was up.

“Oh lord.” Baxter smirked back and made no attempt to hide it, “I know that look. You’ve gotten something ludicrous for me to wear again, haven’t you?”

No words from Alastor were needed. It was obvious.

"Let’s see it.” Baxter mock sighed, “I’ve already seen the worst you’re taste gets. No matter what, it can’t possibly be any worse than the Christmas jumper you had made for me last year.”

“What was wrong with it?” Alastor played dumb, knowing full well with great amusement why Baxter refused to wear it in public.

"Alastor. It read, "Kiss me under the mistletoe and my lover will have your guts for tinsel.” And if that wasn’t bad enough, when I refused to wear it you had one made for yourself that had an arrow on it pointing to the left, which you always made sure was pointing to me, and it read, “Kiss him under the mistletoe and I’ll have your guts for tinsel.”

“I don’t see what’s wrong with that.” Alastor pretended to pout.

“Because you’re nuts. And if anyone saw me wear it, they’d have thought I was nuts too.”

"You still kept it.” 

“Well of course I kept it. You had it made for me. I couldn’t throw it away, even if it was of hideous taste”.

“You like it really.” Alastor cooed, “I know it as well as I know you’ll like this;” 

He brought the bag over to Baxter and pulled out a perfectly folded square of sapphire blue, plush fabric. He unfolded it in a single motion. Showing it off the way a magician would show off his magic and when Baxter saw what it was, he burst into peals of laughter.

"What is that?” he cackled uncontrollably.

“Something I thought would suit you very well.” Alastor said, smirk raised in anticipation for the banter they both knew was to come.

“You thought that would suit me? You must be joking. It looks like an adult sized pair of baby grows.”

It really did. All that was missing where the feet and a hood had been added instead. Apparently whoever designed the thing didn’t think it looked ridiculous enough.

“I am not wearing that.” Baxter giggled, “I’d look like a right prat.”

“You’d look adorable.” Alastor insisted.

“Like a baby.” Baxter argued playfully.

“No, like the cutest thing ever to bless this hotel with his presence.” Alastor said, brushing his finger along Baxter’s jawline and up to his cheek, “That you are but when I saw this, I knew it was just the thing to bring out that cuteness. And anyway, I bought it mainly because of its comfort. Feel how soft it is.”

Alastor rubbed the hood of the garment lightly against Baxter’s cheek and he could immediately see where Alastor was coming from. It had a fluffy texture, making it very, very soft. Yet the material was light, so Baxter wasn’t likely to overheat if he wore it. Although it looked absolutely stupid, Alastor couldn’t have chosen a better thing for a sick person to wear.

“Alright. You’ve convinced me to try it on. But,” Baxter said, giving Alastor a death glare and jabbing a finger into his chest “if you take a picture of me wearing it and post it onto social media, I. Will. End you.”

Alastor laughed and said, "Not to worry, darl. You in this little number will be strictly for my eyes only.”

Baxter rolled his eyes and huffed at Alastor but he couldn’t help smiling.

A little while later, the couple were cuddled up together in bed. Baxter wearing his gift from Alastor and Alastor wearing nightclothes of his own. Which since he slept here so often, Baxter always kept in his wardrobe for him. For some reason Alastor seemed insistent on keeping Baxter’s hood up. He hadn’t taken a picture of Baxter yet, he seemed to be far too busy cuddling him. He was probably waiting for him to fall asleep. That reminded Baxter.

“You really should get some sleep now, Alastor. You’ve been working all night”.

“I’ll fall asleep when you fall asleep.”

“That won’t be long, I can tell you. How am I suddenly this tired?”

“Because you’re ill and you’ve had no sleep.”

“Probably.” Baxter yawned, snuggling further into Alastor’s embrace. "You’ve been so good to me today, Alastor. So considerate and thoughtful, even this was a good idea.” he praised his partner, tugging at the fluffy blue mockery. “But as far as the others know, it doesn’t exist, and I have never worn it”.

Alastor chuckled and leaned further into Baxter’s touch. ‘Today’s been good so far, hasn’t it? And you wanted to go to work.”

“I must go to work tomorrow.” Baxter said, “I’ve caused enough bother just by staying in today.”

“You’ll go to work when you’re better and only when you’re better.” Alastor said firmly but with plenty of affection. 

Baxter was in no mood to argue. It just wasn’t the right mood to have an argument in general and besides, he was too tired for it. Funny how last night he couldn’t get to sleep no matter how hard he tried and now he was struggling to stay awake. Maybe it was the comfort of the blankets and the all in one pyjama thing or it was the added feeling of safety that came with being held by someone but he was fighting to keep his eyes open and slowly surrendering. In his hazy state of mind, he settled on the conclusion that it was both. Certainly both. He would try to convince Alastor to let him go to work tomorrow without any fuss. But secretly, he hoped he would stay just as stubborn and uncooperative as ever. He could spend the whole week like this.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

It’s the Thought That Counts: Part Two.

Baxter still thought Alastor was being absurd but he did try to get some sleep for his partner. He found it just as difficult as he had before. Despite being very tired. Every time he got close to achieving some form of rest, a terribly timed coughing fit woke him up again. Still he kept trying. That is until he started coughing up blood. 

Oh dear. This was a sign that his illness might be a bit worse than he thought. He notified Molly immediately in the form of a text message but wasn’t sure when she would receive it. The time on his phone read half past six. Alastor had been gone for nearly an hour, where could he be? Molly was likely to be asleep for the next half hour. He could phone her but Baxter didn’t think it was that urgent. He’d live to see seven AM. And despite really wanting to, he wasn’t going to phone Alastor either. Knowing that his partner was coughing up blood would only frighten him.

Baxter was feeling frightened himself. As irrational and foolish as that was. He knew what was wrong with him. He knew it wasn’t serious. Well, he knew it wasn’t that serious. He knew he’d recover. This was just one of the symptoms for the illness he had. He had known coughing up blood was a possibility, he had been half expecting it to happen. So why was he feeling so scared? Baxter didn’t know but after coughing up blood, he had to settle for pretending he had gotten some sleep when his partner finally came back.

Alastor couldn’t have been gone for more than another half hour. But to Baxter, it felt like an it eternity. He had spent the whole time prepared for Alastor’s return, which he had expected to be at any moment. Lying in wait with his back turned to the door to hide the fact that he wasn’t asleep. Knowing his partner, Alastor would probably just appear in the room without so much as a sound. Baxter was right of course. He didn’t even know Alastor was back until he wondered why the air suddenly carried a scent of sausages and bacon. He kept his relief hidden from Alastor as well as he had hidden the blood stained tissues he had accumulated since Alastor’s absence. This was made easy when Baxter saw Alastor.

Alastor was not a man who half did things. Everything he did was over the top and eccentric and if anything was proof of that now, it was the tray full of food he was carrying and the additional shopping bags hanging from his arms.

“I thought I’d get us some breakfast.” He announced.

“I should think that’s for both of us.” Baxter said with a smile that, thanks to Alastor’s lovable eccentricity, was actually genuine, “I don’t even think I could eat a quarter of all that.“

“Well sorry.” Alastor teased, “But I think you need more than two slices of toast  to start the day.”

“So that’s why you keep showing up with food at my workplace every time I choose that for breakfast.” Baxter said, “The question is, how do you know?”

Alastor flashed Baxter an utterly shameless smile and said, “Sources.”

Baxter groaned at Alastor and his stalkerish behaviour which was really, too well meaning for him to be even slightly annoyed at.

“Just let me out of this blanket trap, will you?” he sighed, “I need to use the bathroom.”

With a snap of Alastor’s fingers, Baxter was free again. What he told Alastor was true enough. But the main reason he was heading to the bathroom was to dispose of the bloody tissues he had hidden up his sleeve. Undoubtedly, the only thing that kept Alastor from smelling the blood on them was the stronger smell of the cooked food. That wouldn’t last so down the toilet the tissues went. Baxter knew doing this would only delay the inevitable. But that was precisely Baxter’s goal. He didn’t want Alastor to know he was coughing up blood until Molly came with confirmed assurance that he was going to be alright.

He went back to the main room to find that Alastor had set the tray down on the bed. Now Baxter could see what Alastor had prepared. He really had gone all out. Full English breakfasts with black pudding, baked beans and everything.

“Alastor, you’ll never cease to surprise me.” was all he could think to say.

“Never intend to.” Alastor said smugly, “Where would be the fun in that?”

“How did you get black pudding?” Baxter asked him, “I didn’t think it was sold anywhere near here.”.

“I have my ways.” Alastor shrugged.

“Alastor.” Baxter queried, “You didn’t go up to the surface for this, did you?”

“No.” Alastor said. Sounding intentionally unconvincing.

“Alastor.” Baxter objected, “We’re not supposed to go up to the surface unless you have an important reason.”

“You don’t seem to be mad about it.” Alastor pointed out.

“I’m not.” Baxter said

“So you appreciate it really.” Alastor declared.

“Of course I do.” Baxter said, giving Alastor a kiss to prove it, “I just don’t want you getting into trouble for me.”

“I was careful.” Alastor assured, “I’ve been up there a thousand times without Charlie or the surface dwellers being any the wiser. And what’s the worst that could happen even if I was caught? Charlie would just give me a slap on the wrist and you know no mortal could lay a scratch on me.”

“It could affect us all if any of us gets caught.” Baxter lectured, “Just promise me you won’t get cocky, alright?”

“Promise.” Alastor vowed.

“I can’t believe you made all of this for me.” Baxter said, turning the discussion back to how amazed he was at Alastor’s latest grand gesture.

“I thought I’d make you something homely” Alastor said “and I thought I’d try something you might have enjoyed when you were alive”

“What a sweet thought.” Baxter praised. Smiling as he thought of Alastor preparing all this, thinking that it might bring back good memories. Of taverns in early mornings or eating heartily for busy days or simply enjoying life. “But to be honest with you, Alastor. I didn’t really eat meals like this when I was alive.”

“Really?” Baxter felt bad when he heard the slight disappointment in Alastor’s voice.

“Only the wealthy could afford to eat these things on a regular basis in my time.” Baxter explained, “I’m not sure when a meal like this became readily available to everyone but it certainly wasn’t my time.”

Baxter was saying this to be honest, not to put Alastor down. So to avoid doing that, he kept being honest.

“Not that any of that matters,” he praised, “I love all the effort you put into this. Thank you,”

And then he gave him another kiss.

“This is really impressive, Alastor.” Baxter declared. Now the time for honesty was well and truly over. So he made sure he came across as purely interested and not at all nervous when he asked, “Did you cook it all by yourself?”

“God no. Nifty helped me cook it.” Alastor told him as if he could read his mind, “I wasn’t going to tackle this by myself. You’re ill enough as it is.”

Baxter did his best to conceal the wave of relief that washed over him when Alastor said that. “You’re not that bad a cook.” he lied, knowing full well he was.

Baxter was not one to focus primarily on his partner’s flaws. But even he had to acknowledge it was a miracle Alastor’s coking hadn’t killed anyone yet.

He was still a little nervous to eat the breakfast Alastor had made but he didn’t care. Alastor had cooked this especially for him and Baxter was going to eat all of it. Even if it did kill him. But when he started eating, Baxter was pleasantly surprised. It turned out that with the right amount of help and motivation, Alastor could cook a meal that was actually edible. Enjoyable even.

“This is great.” He complemented to a righteously proud looking Alastor, “Well done, you.”

Baxter ate nearly everything on his plate with an appetite he hardly ever had. He even started eating the black pudding. Baxter had never found what was basically dried pigs blood appealing but there was no way in hell he was telling Alastor that.

“You don’t seem to be enjoying that.” Alastor observed.

“Oh, no. It’s fine.” Baxter insisted. 

Alastor gave Baxter a little peck on the cheek and naturally, Baxter gazed into his eyes.  A classic Mistake.

“Now be honest.” Alastor commanded.

Damn it. Baxter fell for that every time. Under Alastor’s spell, he couldn’t stop himself from telling him that he never really liked black pudding but didn’t want to say, because Alastor had gone through so much trouble to get it for him.

“You little sweetheart.” Alastor smiled, caressing Baxter’s cheek. “It’s Okay. You appreciate that I got it. That’s all I need.”

“Still, I feel guilty about it going to waste.” Baxter admitted.

"That might not be so.” Alastor said brightly, “I haven’t tried it yet”.

He popped a piece of black pudding into his mouth and when he did, it was magic for Baxter to see. Alastor looked like he had discovered the holy grail. His eyes lit up and he started chewing very slowly. Savouring the flavour of every bite.

“Where has this stuff been all my life?” he breathed as if his breath had been taken away.

Seeing Alastor enjoying it so much cheered Baxter right up. “Now I know what to treat you with next time you fall ill.” he laughed, “Here, have mine.“

He scraped his black pudding onto Alastor’s plate with his knife and it didn’t stay there very long. With the last of the breakfasts eaten, Alastor took the tray away. He searched around for a place to put it before deciding on Baxter’s desk. By placing it there, Baxter could guess that he planned to take it back to the kitchen later rather than sooner. He seemed to be focused on something else at the moment.

"Speaking of treats.” he said, “Guess what else I got for you?”

“I couldn’t possibly Imagine.” Baxter teased. He could help loving this. Being Alastor’s top priority.

“I think you’ll find that I was a bit more accurate when choosing things you like this time.” Alastor said as he presented Baxter with one of the shopping bags. 

It turned out to be full of fruit and sweets and accuracy wasn’t even the word when it came to Alastor’s choices here.

“You remembered all my favourites.” Baxter said completely sappy with sentimentality.

The bag was bursting with strawberries, blackberries, cherries, pomegranates, grapes of every kind and sweets straight out of Baxter’s childhood. Pear drops, liquorice allsorts and every Cadbury’s chocolate bar in existence. Including ones Baxter had no idea existed.

I haven’t had some of these since I was alive.” he said astounded. He was so wrapped up in the past he almost said “when I was a boy.” But who on earth stops eating chocolate when they reach adulthood. “You must have put so much thought into this.”

“It was nothing really.” Alastor shrugged, “Choosing a bag of goodies for you was easy. I may not know every detail about you but I know you well enough.”

Baxter chortled as soon as those last few words entered his mind. That had to be sarcastic. 

“You don’t know everything about me?” he responded with a raised eyebrow and a huge grin, “Alastor, my love. I know for a fact that’s a damn lie.”

He grabbed his wonderful partner’s face and caresses it with both hands.

“You’re my personal stalker and I love it. Well, most of the time. I especially love it now. Thank you so much for this, darling.”

Baxter couldn’t think of better to do to show his gratitude than to pelt Alastor with kisses.

The affection was greatly received. Alastor put his arms around Baxter and Baxter put his arms around him. They stayed in that embrace for a golden moment.

It was such a perfect moment. Of course it had to be ruined.

Baxter started coughing again. He had been fighting to keep them at bay the whole time Alastor had been here. He knew he couldn’t keep it up forever but Baxter so wished he had been able to hold out a little bit longer.

Alastor went to retrieve the water, medicine and tissues and was back at his side at once. Ready to provide any support and comfort he could. Baxter took one of the tissues and began coughing into it as he was overcome by an all out fit. All Baxter could do was keep coughing and hope Alastor didn’t notice.

“Why can I smell blood?” Alastor gasped, his voice full of worry and dread.

“The black pudding.” Baxter rasped in a vain attempt to throw Alastor off.

“No. I can smell fresh blood.” Alastor fretted, “Coming from you.”

“Baxter quickly bunched up the tissue he was holding in his hand. Keeping it from Alastor’s sight so that he might have a chance to dispose of it. But Alastor had already identified it as the source of the scent. He grabbed Baxter’s hand, prised it open and his fears were confirmed.

He just looked in horror for a few seconds at the tissue dotted with red. Completely stunned silent.

“Oh, Alastor.” Baxter whispered.

Hearing Baxter’s voice seemed to break Alastor out of his trance. “We’re going to see Molly. Now.” He commanded, tugging Baxter onto his feet.

“Alastor;” Baxter tried to comfort him, or at least reassure him but Alastor cut him off immediately.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” Alastor shouted at Baxter, clearly much more upset than angry.

“I didn’t want to frighten you.” Baxter begged, “Please don’t fret so. I’m alright, I assure you. This is just one of the symptoms.”

“I wouldn’t have left you alone if I had known this. I left you all alone.”

“Alastor. Look at me.” Baxter caught hold of Alastor’s face and brought it to his own.

“I am not in danger. The blood is just a symptom of a worse, but not harmful, type of chest infection than I thought I had. That’s all it is. That’s. All. It. Is.” he said to Alastor slowly and clearly so it would break through his panic.

“Then why is it that you look scared too?” Alastor whispered.

Baxter faltered at these words. He hadn’t realised his own fear was showing through. This wasn’t good. There was no way he could keep Alastor calm if he was showing fear as well. But to calm Alastor down, he realised he had to calm himself down first. Regardless of how real it seemed, his fear was completely irrational. And the sooner he got that into his head, the sooner he could get it into Alastor’s.

“Irrational nonsense, that’s why.” Baxter assured, “I know what’s wrong with me and I know I’m going to get better. And look, I’ve already told Molly. See?”

He showed Alastor the message he had sent to her on his phone. “She’s going to check me over, just in case.”

“Then where is she?” Alastor asked.

“That’s a good question.” Baxter admitted as he pondered for and answer, “Ah. Look. It’s still a few minutes shy of seven o'clock. She wakes up for work at the same time as me. She probably hasn’t seen my message yet.

“What good is that?” Alastor exclaimed “How is she supposed to help you if she doesn’t know what’s going on?”

He phoned Molly that instant and told Baxter she was on her way.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

It’s The Thought That Counts: Part One.

Baxter hadn’t gotten much sleep. His coughing combined with his high temperature had kept him up for most of the night. And now that it was getting closer to the time he should be up, he abandoned the idea of sleep altogether. 

It was obvious he had come down with an illness of some kind. His machine of a mind automatically listed every symptom and matched them with an illness. The coughing, coughing up mucus, wheezing, high temperature, chest pain and aching muscles all pointed to a chest infection. Most Likely, acute bronchitis. 

He was not happy with his conclusion. He was confident that he was right, he just wasn’t happy with the diagnosis itself. Chest infections are nasty blighters, Baxter had gotten them enough times to know, and he knew having one meant he was going to be like this for at least a week.

But while it would be no picnic to deal with and there was a chance it could worsen, it shouldn’t be bad enough to affect his day to day life too much. He should be able to do normal things today, like go to work. Just like any other. That is of course, if it wasn’t for one giant obstacle. His partner, Alastor.

If Baxter so much as coughed in Alastor’s presence, whether it turned out to be common flu or pneumonia, Alastor would confine him to his room for days. All the while, Baxter would be lucky if Alastor let him get out of bed to get a glass of water. 

That was why Baxter had pretended to be asleep every time Alastor had come to check on him during the night. If Baxter was going to get to do his job today, his overbearing partner had to have absolutely no idea he was ill.

There was no way Baxter could keep Alastor in the dark for the entire duration of his illness. But he knew that having time off work would be a major inconvenience to Molly. The only other person in the building who had the qualifications, experience and overall public trust needed to provide medical care to this insane asylum of a hotel. Not to mention the patients he was supposed to be treating. Baxter wanted to spare them all that for as long as possible. Even if realistically that meant until Alastor saw him next. And even if there was the possibility that during the day his illness would take a turn for the worse and he wouldn’t be able to do his job, Baxter felt obliged to at least try. 

So it was decided. Baxter was going to leave for work early before Alastor got here and noticed Baxter was ill.

He had plenty of time. It was only five in the morning now. He had an hour before Alastor’s shift ended and he arrived at Baxter’s door. So Baxter went through his usual morning routine. Although be it two hours early. Although just in case, he made sure he was ready with a good half hour to spare.

He would have to find a believable explanation for why he left for work so early or Alastor would be onto him. That was easy. He quickly started writing a note for Alastor to read when he arrived.

“Had to leave early. Emergency at work. Sorry you couldn’t see me before I left. DON’T come to see me at work. You need your rest. I’ll see you when I get back.”

There. That was perfectly believable. He was called in on emergency all the time. Baxter would just tell Alastor some idiot had overdosed or something.

But still, something wasn’t quite right about this note. It seemed a little, distant. Something was missing. What could it be?

Of course. It was clear to him now. He jotted down to the essential words:

“Love you.”

Much better. Baxter placed his note on his bedside table and got the last of his things together. Going through a mental list of everything he needed.

He shouldn’t have any trouble getting to his place of work. Part of Alastor’s job was to provide extra security for the hotel. Mainly to keep the residents from robbing, assaulting or killing each other while the majority of the hotel’s inhabitants slept. 

The floor he was assigned to patrol changed with each shift and although Baxter couldn’t be sure which floor Alastor was on now, he was fairly sure it wasn’t the same floor he was on.

If he was, Alastor would have checked in on Baxter every fifteen minutes as he passed his door. Instead of every few hours during his breaks.

All Baxter would have to do is take the lift straight to his office floor and any chances of them bumping into each other would be eliminated.

After one last check that he wasn’t forgetting anything, he was off. As he reached the door, it dawned on him how ridiculous this situation was. He had just planned an escape route just to get to his job. He started laughing quietly to himself. But unfortunately, that laughter turned to coughing and soon he was  coughing up a lung.

Hacking and spluttering, he opened the door. And saw Alastor standing on the other side.

Baxter nearly jumped out of his skin. No matter how much time passed by. No matter how well he got to know his partner, he would never get used to Alastor appearing from out of nowhere.

What was he even doing here? He should still be working for the next half hour.  Baxter remembered something. Something that made him curse himself for forgetting.

Even with all of his planning, Baxter had failed to take one thing into account. Alastor’s random tenancy to get someone to cover for him for a few minutes while he checked on Baxter. Just to make sure he was still breathing or something just as nonsensical.

And now he was standing right in front of Baxter and glaring at him very suspiciously.

“Alastor.” Baxter greeted as if the last few moments had never happened, “I’d ask you what you’re doing here at this hour but I can’t stop. I;”

He tried to get past his partner but ended up walking straight into Alastor’s outstretched arm. He hooked it around Baxter’s waist and kept him firmly in place, making sure he wasn’t going anywhere. He placed a hand across Baxter’s forehead and scowled.

Baxter was back in bed within seconds. Alastor had ordered him to bed as if he was a misbehaving child. And when he refused, Alastor threatened he’d make him go to bed. Oh the joys of having a partner with hypnotic powers.

“Alright” Baxter said in defiance, “I’ll appease you for the next hour or so but then I’m going to work"

“You are ill. You are going nowhere.” Alastor said sternly.

“Alastor, I’m certain all I have is a chest infection. It’s not contagious and it’s not physically straining enough to deem me bedridden. Why do we have to have this argument every time I come down with an illness? Even if it’s as minor as this?”

“Because you always insist on overworking yourself and making yourself worse!” Alastor said indignantly. 

“Alastor.” Baxter started but Alastor just gagged him with his hand. He was hearing no more of what he clearly thought was nonsense.

With his free hand he got out his phone and started dialling. Baxter knew protesting would be pointless but he tried anyway. Alastor of course, completely ignored him. One phone call, an apology and an explanation later, Alastor had gotten whoever he had suckered into covering for him to continue covering for him for the rest of his shift. Then he was on the phone to someone else and Baxter knew exactly who.

“Alastor, you don’t have to phone Molly now.” Baxter again protested and again, Alastor ignored him. Even from where he was, Baxter could hear Molly’s;

“You’d better have a damn good reason for waking me up this early!”

“Oh, I do" Alastor responded. His posture straitened and his tone was firm, like someone making a demand and determined not to back down or take no for an answer. Because in retrospect, in this moment that was exactly what Alastor was. “I’m calling to tell you that Baxter is not coming into work today because he is ill.”

There was silence for a few seconds as Alastor listened to Molly on the other end. Then he frowned and reluctantly handed Baxter his phone.

“She want’s to talk to you.” he said.

Baxter was relieved at that. Finally, he could bring some sense into the situation.

“Molly, go back to sleep.“ He told her apologetically, “It’s nothing to worry about. Alastor’s just being daft. I’ve just got a chest infection. That’s all. I’ll be in work usual time.”

“No, you won’t!” Alastor butted in before Baxter could even apologise to Molly properly for the inconvenience they caused.

“Yes I will.” Baxter answered back and then apologised to Molly. Mainly on Alastor’s behalf

“You sure it’s a chest infection?“ Molly asked. 

“Yes, I’m quite sure it’s acute bronchitis. 

“What?” Alastor, bless him, suddenly became very concerned. 

“It’s one of the nicer types of chest infections. Don’t worry” Baxter clarified to his partner.

This made him calm down a little but he still started pacing around the room. 

“What symptoms have you ben experiencing?” Molly asked Baxter and he listed them all there and then. 

“Sounds like a chest infection to me.” she agreed, “But what about tiredness? Have you been experiencing that too?”

“Yes.” Baxter replied honestly, “But I’m not sure if that’s a symptom or if it’s due to;”

Baxter stopped himself right there before he said too much. But it was already too late. 

“Due to what?” Both Molly and Alastor asked Baxter this at the same time. Molly was polite and casual when she asked. But Alastor was so demanding and suspecting, Baxter could almost hear him also ask, “What else are you trying to hide from me?”

In hopes that only Molly would be able to hear him, Baxter said as quietly as possible, “Lack of sleep.”

He wasn’t quiet enough. The sharp sound of a slap went through the air as Alastor brought both hands to his face and Baxter tried his best to ignore his ranting about how he couldn’t believe Baxter. How he couldn’t believe someone so intelligent could be so senseless. How he couldn’t believe Baxter could be so careless about his own health that he would try to go and work a twelve hour shift, two hours early, while ill and having gotten next to no sleep. How he dreaded to think where he’d be without him and that was it. Baxter may as well end his conversation with Molly now because no matter what she said, he refused to let Baxter walk out that door. As if he had ever been willing to let Baxter leave in the first place. 

It would have helped if Molly had said something to distract him. But she stayed completely silent as Alastor went on and on. Turns out she was listening.

“He kinda has a point.” Molly told him gently. 

“Excuse me?” Baxter asked baffled. Not even he could find any sense in Alastor’s ramblings. 

“Well, one of the symptoms for a chest infection is disorientation. You might not be feeling it now but it might affect you later on. And disorientation mixed with tiredness isn’t going to go down well in any work setting. Least of all one like ours”. 

Baxter saw what she meant and of course, she was absolutely right. 

“But what about you though.’ he protested, “I don’t want you to have to manage all by yourself.” 

“I’ll be fine. And let’s be realistic here, Bax. It would be way easier for me to cover for you today than it would be to try and prise you out of Alastor’s grip. I’d probably have a better time trying to steal a fish from a grizzly bear.” Baxter had to hold in a laugh when she said that. 

“Stay in and rest today, Baxy and we’ll see how you are tomorrow. I’ll come over to check on you when I can.”

“Thank you, Molly but that won’t be necessary.” Baxter said, “I can look after myself.” 

Molly let out something that sounded crossed between a laugh and a sigh. 

“Typical Bax.” she said, “It’s mostly to keep Alastor happy. You know how he is. He’ll want me to come over every five minutes just to make sure you’re not dying or something. And talk of the devil, pass me back to him. I’ve got to go over some things with him. I’ll see you soon. 

“Alright. Goodbye Molly.”

“Bye.”

The phone was passed back to Alastor and after a few minutes of conversation he said goodbye and hung up.

“Thank goodness for that!” he exclaimed “At least one of you has sense.” 

“One of them, you mean.” Baxter tried an attempt at humour to lighten Alastor’s mood.

"At least Angel knows when to take a day off.” Alastor grumbled as he sat down on the edge of Baxter’s bed. Only then did he finally notice the note Baxter left for him before all this palaver started. 

“What’s this?” he asked. 

“A note that was supposed to explain my absence.” Baxter answered. 

“And I’m assuming it’s all lies.” Alastor said with a bitter tone as he started reading.

“Except for the last bit.” Baxter admitted. 

Alastor’s eyes darted to the last sentence on the page and visibly softened when he read those two words.

“You know just how to get to all my soft spots, don’t you?” Alastor said as if he thought Baxter knew the effect his note would have on him. As if it had been planned all along.

Baxter kissed Alastor on the cheek in response. After all, it was always fun to keep his partner on his toes. The older demon blushed and let out a heavy sigh.

“You’re lucky you’re too cute to stay mad at.” He said pinching Baxter’s cheek.

“Molly says that for a chest infection, you need;”

“To drink plenty of water, take painkillers if needed and to get plenty of rest.” Baxter finished for him, “I know.”

“So, why didn’t you get some rest instead of trying this nonsense?” Alastor asked, waving the note in front of Baxter’s face.

“I would have gotten some rest after work.” Baxter said. 

Alastor sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes at him. “I’m going to go and get you everything you need.”

“I’ve got all those things here.” Baxter said, “I’ll get them now.” 

“No. You stay.” Alastor said quickly, pushing Baxter back onto the mattress when he tried to move. “I’ll get them.”

This time, it was Baxter’s turn to sigh and roll his eyes. “There’s some bottled water in the fridge and some ibuprofen and paracetamol on my desk.”

Alastor found all the items and brought them over to his bedside table. 

“I can still think of a few things you could do with,” he said.

"Like what?” Baxter asked.

“You’ll see.” he told his lover, tucking him in. “I’m going to go and get them now. You stay here and rest.”

He gave Baxter the kiss goodbye he would have wanted from him, had this been a normal day, and headed out. But before he went, he made sure that Baxter’s phone was within his reach and as he got to the door, he snapped his fingers.

“What did you do?” Baxter demanded wearily. Instantly suspicious.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” was Alastor’s answer.

Baxter’s immediate thoughts were with finding out what Alastor had done to what object or objects in his room, before they came to torment him. But when he tried to get out of bed, he found that he couldn’t. At most he could move enough to reach the things on his bedside table but any more than that and sheets stuck to him tight like clingfilm. Trapping him where he was. And then it hit him.

“Oh come on!” he shouted to his partner, “Is this really necessary?”

“Well, you tried to get out of bed so yes!“

“You’re ridiculous!” Baxter called after him.

“Love you too. And call me if you need me.” Alastor called back and then he was gone.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

And again now that I've got this new blog.

“Molly was a nurse during WW2”

-Submitted by cwartsy

[cwartsyswritingblog]

Stay. (Alastor x Baxter)

“Go to blazes!” Baxter shouted as he slammed the door in Alastor’s face.

“Cute.” Alastor thought to himself. Baxter must have been so frustrated he forgot a door would do nothing to keep him out. He was in Baxter’s room in less than a second. But did not have much longer to persuade his partner not to throw him back out again.

“Out!” yelled said partner pointing to the door. His mind already made up. Alastor couldn’t help but smile at him. God, he was adorable when he was like this.

“Oh come on, darl.” he said gently, “Don’t be mad at me. All I did was have a few words with your new friend.”

“You must really think I’m a fool.” Baxter growled, “I’m not deaf, Alastor. I heard every word you said to him.

“I just told him pursuing a friendship with you was fine with me. But if he had any other, less innocent, intentions with you then I would have a problem.” Alastor defended, “What’s so bad about that?”

“You threatened him!” Baxter shouted indignantly, “Don’t you dare try to deny it, Alastor! You threatened him because you couldn’t handle it that someone had the audacity to want to be around me.”

“I know! The nerve of that bastard.” Alastor hissed. The air in his mouth turned sour at the memory of seeing this utter sleaze eyeing up his Baxter while sweet, innocent Baxy was completely oblivious.

“Alastor, if anyone should be able to detect sarcasm it’s you.” Baxter said coldly, “Why do you have to be so possessive? What’s wrong with me having a friend outside of our dysfunctional circle of nutcases?”

“All of whom, you love and you know it.” Alastor argued playfully, avoiding the question entirely.

“Yes I do but they’re all barking mad and you know it. And I’m in a relationship with the maddest one of the lot, God help me.” Baxter argued back not so playfully, “I just need a break from the insanity of this place sometimes. I enjoy spending time with Jack because he’s sensible and mellow. With him, I can take a break from, this;

With that said, Baxter shoved his phone in front of Alastor’s eyes. It revealed Baxter had recorded one of today’s earlier events of anarchy. Angel was high as hell, as was Nifty because someone had been daft enough to let her near caffeine again and the rest of the group were fighting with each other. Evidently over who the fuck let Nifty near caffeine, they know what happens. It was the usual madness that went on in the hotel they called home every single day.

This should have made Alastor see where Baxter was coming from. Instead, all he saw was that his Baxter had sent the video to Jack, with a message saying, “Save me”. He slipped the phone out of Baxter’s hand. Pretending he wanted a better look when really, he was looking at the other messages the two had sent to each other.

His mood darkened a little when his suspicions of this asshole were confirmed. Every message he had sent to Baxter clearly showed he was flirting with him. It was almost annoying Baxter couldn’t see it but it wasn’t at all surprising. Since Baxter was pure and good. And faithful too. He hadn’t been flirtatious once, not that Alastor ever thought he would. This was why Alastor wasn’t angry with Baxter at all. He hadn’t done anything wrong. The poor thing couldn’t help it if he was to innocent for his own good.

Alastor didn’t want to tell Baxter who he could and couldn’t see. So he opted to convince Baxter he didn’t need this creep.

“Vaggie is both of those things. So is Arachnis and, to some degree, Husk. Why don’t you spend more time with them?” he debated.

“Alastor, Vaggie is joined at the hip with Angel Dust. One of the main causes of mayhem here. And also, if you think Vaggie is mellow then you‘ve never experienced how short her temper is.” Baxter responded, “As for Arachnis and Husk, I’ll be honest, I don’t think either of them like me very much.”

“Well neither of those two seem to like anyone very much. They’re cold to everyone and shut them out, even the people they care about. I know a certain stubborn someone who has the same terrible habit. How he made a new friend at all is a mystery.” Alastor argued, not realising how mean-spirited his words sounded.

“Look. If you’re not actually sorry, why don’t you fuck off!?” Baxter suddenly snapped, stopping Alastor in his tracks.

Hearing Baxter swear caught Alastor off guard every time. It was so rare and out of character for him to use such language. Alastor learned long ago that Baxter only swore when he was extremely upset or furious. Remembering this made him realise he could be in deep trouble if he didn’t take immediate action.

“Oh dear. Looks like I’ve got a real snappy little piranha on my hands this time.” Alastor cooed, talking to his beloved as a parent would to their pouting child. “Fortunately for me, I know just how to deal with him. Come here, you.”

Alastor made a grab for Baxter but Baxter wasn’t having any of it.

“Alastor, I swear to God. If you think I’m going to let you in my bed after what you did tonight, you won’t be going out the door. You’ll be going out the window!” he shouted but Alastor merely chuckled

“No need to fret, dear pet. I wouldn’t expect anything like that from you when you’re in a mood like this. It’s just that, I know if I don’t do something to warm you up now you’ll be frigid with me all week.” Alastor assured him, nuzzling him affectionately only to receive hisses from his partner in response.

“I have a feeling a few kisses will turn you back into my loving little gourami. And there’s only one way to find out if I’m right.”  

And with that, Alastor ensnared Baxter in his embrace and began pelting him with kisses.

“Alastor, please.” Baxter groaned, trying to push Alastor away. Alastor pretended he didn’t hear him. This always worked with Baxter. Shower him in affection and no matter how mad he would be, he would never be able to stay that way. It had worked every time before, so Alastor continued placing kisses along Baxter’s jawline and cheekbones with confidence.

“Alastor.” Baxter said again, louder and stern. But this attempt to get his lover’s attention was just as futile as the last. All Alastor did was move his lips down to Baxter’s neck. Any second now, he’d be smiling and laughing. Like always. Then Alastor would say he was sorry and Baxter would believe him and this feud would finally be over.

“Alastor, for God’s sake! Could you please actually listen to me for one moment, like you actually give a damn!?” Baxter screamed with a desperation in his voice Alastor had never heard before.

Alastor’s smile dropped. He stopped kissing Baxter and he was shoved away with such force he was nearly knocked to the ground.

Alastor knew he had messed up when he saw the look on his partner’s face. Baxter looked like he was fighting back tears when he exploded at him.

“You never take me seriously when I’m angry! Every time I get upset with you, you try to charm me into shutting up! You just don’t seem to see that there’s a problem. And even if you did, you wouldn’t care enough to try and solve it. Would you?” Alastor wasn’t sure if that was a rhetorical question or not but he thought it would be best not to answer. His everything wanted him to listen, so that was what he was going to do.

“And do you want to know something else, Alastor? Tonight has taught me that you’re like a selfish child. You don’t like anyone else playing with your toys!”

At this point, Alastor was very confused and starting to get upset himself. The harsh words stung but he couldn’t make any sense out of them.   

“What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded Baxter give an explanation.

Baxter took a step back and collapsed onto the edge of his bed, as if getting all of this out was taking all of his energy out of him. He avoided eye contact with Alastor now. He stared at the floor and took a deep breath in like he was mentally preparing himself to say what was really on his mind.

“I’m starting to think that you don’t take me seriously in general. That you don’t care about how I feel. For a while now, I’ve noticed that you often take an interest in something and then eventually, you abandon it. You get bored with it and move onto something else. Is that what’s going to happen to you and me? How do you really see our relationship, Alastor? Is it important to you? Is it meaningful? Or do you just see it as an elaborate game you can play and discard once you get tired of it?!” 

Baxter had struggled to get these confessions out and now, he was curled up in a little ball with his face hidden. Undoubtedly to hide those tears he couldn’t keep at bay anymore. Finally, he ended with a pained whisper;

“Am I just something for you to play with and throw away?”

Alastor just stood there shocked for a moment. He had no idea Baxter felt that way. He couldn’t believe the man he loved thought he meant so little to him. Alastor loved him more than anything. How could Baxter doubt he even cared for him? And who knew how long he had been bottling up these feelings. It was horrible to realise it, but it was clear as day. Baxter was despairingly unhappy. And he may have been unhappy for a long time.

Alastor’s first instinct was to comfort Baxter. He rushed over to him but Baxter just pushed him away. He tried to tell his partner that everything he had just said could not possibly be more wrong. That he had no idea where any of it was coming from and that it hurt to know Baxter thought such terrible things. That he loved him and thought the world of him. But before he could say anything, Baxter cut him off. He pierced Alastor’s soul with watery eyes and said.

“Alastor, I think it’s time we split up.”

Alastor woke up with a start. He sat there in the dark bolt upright, panting and trying to figure out what was happening.

It was night. He was in bed. So clearly, he had been asleep. Alastor immediately checked the space beside him and there was Baxter right next to him. Oh thank God. It was all just a horrid dream.

Baxter woke up the second he felt his partner all but spring out of bed. When he saw Alastor, he became quite worried. He hadn’t seen him look like that since Crymini moved in. Obviously, something was wrong.

“What’s the matter?“ he asked Alastor concerned.

“Nothing.” said Alastor “Just had a bad dream, that’s all.”

Baxter, bless him, was quick to comfort Alastor. 

“It must have been bad for you to wake up like that.” he said with genuine sympathy, “You poor thing.” 

He put his arms around Alastor. Unaware he was falling into a living trap until it was too late. The second Baxter came into contact, Alastor latched onto him and clung so tightly he half crushed him.

If Baxter hadn’t already known something was wrong, he would have now. Whatever Alastor dreamt must have been horrible. Baxter had lost count of all the times Alastor gave up sleep to comfort him after frequent night terrors. Now he could do the same for Alastor.

Luckily, as clueless and awkward Baxter was when comforting most people, he was an expert on comforting Alastor. He knew Alastor was a cuddle monster and stroking him behind his ear practically sent him to sleep. So he provided both for his partner and let him lean on his shoulder so he could speak softly directly into the ear he was caressing.

“It’s alright. he said, “It was just a dream. It wasn’t real. Unless you dreamt about the past, like I sometimes do. If so, it was the past. It’s over and whatever it was, it will not happen to you again. I wouldn’t let it. You’re safe in the hotel with me. I’m here for you.”

Alastor thanked whatever higher power was up there for Baxter. Thoughtful, caring, loving Baxter. Surely he didn’t deserve him.

“Baxter, how you became a demon I will never know.” Alastor told his beloved. “I love you. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“And you wouldn’t ever leave me, would you? Promise me you won’t.”

‘Why would I do that?” Baxter said, as if Alastor had said something silly. But then he got it.   

“Hold on.” he said. Squirming out of Alastor’s bear hug just enough so that he could look at him. “This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with your dream now, would it?”

Alastor solemnly nodded.

“That was your nightmare?” Baxter laughed, making Alastor blush in embarrassment, “Oh Al, that’s adorable. Do you really love me that much?”

“Yes!” Alastor said indignantly, “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I’m sorry for laughing.” Baxter apologised when he noticed how mortified Alastor looked, “I couldn’t help it. This is just precious to me. Now look at me.” 

He held his lover’s face in his hands and made him look him in the eye.

“Alastor, I promise you. I have no intentions of leaving.” he assured, “I love you and I’m very happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time. I wouldn’t leave you for anything.”

And to show Alastor he meant it, Baxter gave him a kiss. He had meant it to be a quick, reassuring peck on the lips. But once their lips met, Alastor couldn’t let them part.

When Baxter tried to pull away, Alastor pulled him back for another kiss. And then another. And then the next thing either knew, they were locked in a kiss that could only be compared with their first.

When Alastor finally plucked up the courage to tell Baxter how he felt, he had poured out all his feelings to him. Bared his soul to him and yet Baxter still had trouble believing what was happening. So Alastor tried to get all his feelings through to Baxter with a kiss.

Tender, passionate and loving. It was a kiss to show Baxter just how much he loved him. And now, Alastor tried to improve on that kiss. To show his little ocean gem that he loved him more than ever.

The kiss only ended when their pesky lungs demanded air. Alastor lay back down again but he still refused to let go of Baxter. He merely gently pulled him down with him. He held him close, stroking his hair and kissing the top of his head while Baxter settled down onto his chest. They stayed like that for a few moments before Baxter spoke again.

“Why would you think I would want to leave you anyway?” he asked.

“Because I’m a callous, inconsiderate psychopath who you think has no respect for you or your feelings? And you think I take you for a plaything and I’ll ditch you as soon as I get bored?” Alastor babbled before he could stop himself.

Baxter looked up at him horrified. “Why on earth would you think that?”

“Half of it comes from your own words.” Alastor admitted. “The rest came from the dream.”

Alastor thought he might have made a mistake telling Baxter this when he saw his reaction. He looked shocked and for some reason, sad. A moment later, Alastor knew why.

“I made you see yourself that way?” asked poor Baxter.

“No! That’s not what I meant at all!” Alastor responded immediately, cursing himself for making Baxter feel awful over a senseless dream. “I meant I think my dream was based on arguments we’ve had before when I was in the wrong.

“But some of it still came from the things I’ve said.” Baxter said, hugging Alastor hard, “I’ve said some horrible things to you but I don’t mean them. Maybe I did once but not anymore. Not after getting to know who you really are. I’m sorry.’

“Hey, stop that. You know I can’t stand it when you beat yourself up.” Alastor said, hugging Baxter back. “That was a long time ago, Bax and I was no better. We haven’t always treated each other nicely, but it’s different now. Of course we still fight, just like every other couple ever to exist. But wouldn’t you say things between us are a lot better?”

“There can be no doubt about that.” Baxter said, “Our relationship would never have happened otherwise. Please don’t think such awful things, Alastor. None of them are true. Well, some of it to a small degree admittedly is. You can be callous but only to people you think deserve it. Never to anyone you care for and certainly not to me. When you are inconsiderate, you soon or at least eventually realise it and then you do you’re best to make up for it. We both know you’re not perfectly sane but you are not a psychopath and having a mental disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a lot more common than people think. Nearly everyone here has some kind of problem or another. God knows I do. That’s why this hotel has a hospital in it. Help is here for you and so am I. And Alastor, none of these things make me love you any less.”

Alastor listened closely to Baxter’s words. The more he heard the better he felt. Bless him, bless him, bless him. He always knew just what to say.

“The rest of what you said however,” Baxter continued “is complete nonsense. I have no idea what I could have done or said to make you think that was how I saw you.”

“You haven’t done anything.” Alastor insisted, “I’m not sure where those thoughts came from either. I think it was nothing more than fabricated dream folly.”

“Maybe,” Baxter said uncertain, “but I would like you to bring this up next time you see one of the doctors. Just in case. I have a feeling it might hold a deeper meaning”

Alastor agreed but didn’t mention it in case Baxter went back to thinking he was at fault. He just said he would do as Baxter requested .

“But know this now.” Baxter said to him, “If I really thought you were only using me, I would have ended this relationship long ago. But I’m still here and do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve never thought that. Even from the beginning, I knew how important our relationship is to you. I couldn’t possibly think otherwise after all you’ve done for me. You’ve shown me time and time again how much I mean to you and I know my feelings are just as important to you as yours are to me. You love to see me happy and hate to see me upset. When I am upset, you’re determined to find out why. And once you do, you go out of your way to make it better for me. You’re always performing these ridiculous grand gestures, just to make me smile. You can be a handful sometimes, Alastor but at the end of the day. With you, I can’t help but feel loved

This, right here was why Alastor felt more alive now than he did when he was actually alive. During his final years, he didn’t have someone to make him feel anything except despair and a thirst for vengeance. Everyone he had loved, he had long since lost. But Baxter, he would always be with Alastor as long as he was there to protect him. And he made him feel everything. Alastor was sorry to see Baxter in a place like this. Him and all the other misfits. But as despicable as it might be, he was thankful they were here. To have someone to love again, death and damnation were a small price.

“And you always find out if something is bothering me no matter what. Even if it means hypnotizing it out of me.” he added. Jabbing Alastor playfully.

“I wouldn’t have to if you would just tell me what was wrong to begin with. When will you learn that it’s much better to actually talk to people instead of bottling everything up?” he bantered back, “You know for someone who claims to be terrible at talking to people, you are quite a wonder to talk to. You don’t deny people have flaws. You acknowledge them. You’re honest about them and yet you can still find a way to make one feel better about the flaws they have.

“Do you really think so?” Baxter asked.

“I know so.” Alastor praised, “That’s exactly what you’ve done for me now. Thank you, darl.”

Alastor found himself staring at the face in front of him. God, he lived to see that face. His captivating eyes, his adorable freckles, his sweet smile, even his more peculiar features. like those precious little fins on his face and his cute little fishing rod. Every detail of Baxter’s face had Alastor’s hand caressing it as if it had a mind of it’s own.

“I am so lucky to have someone like you.” Alastor whispered, “I want to keep you forever.”

“Then I will happily be yours until this place freezes over.” Baxter said, still smiling. “You’ll get no complaints from me”

And then, because everything within him told him it was the perfect moment, and because he could, Alastor kissed Baxter again. In the back of his mind, he knew this discussion wasn’t over. There were parts of his dream he couldn’t make sense of. But he knew other parts had been reminders of problems they really did have and needed to talk about.

For now though, the reassurance he had already received was all he needed. He would take the time to sit down and talk with Baxter tomorrow. He knew Baxter would listen and he indulged in the knowledge that he would spend many more nights with the man he loved in his arms.

[cwartsyswritingblog]

Dear Martina (Hazbin Hotel)

 Way back in 1940, Angel Dust and Molly were alive, human and were called Martin and Martina. Around this time, Martina had decided to leave her home and her family to train as a much needed nurse for The Army Nurse Corps. It was the first time the twins were really separated. Soon after Martina departed, Martin wrote her a letter. 

Dear Martina 

Living without you is weird. I keep turning around expecting to see you by my side but you’re never there. Every time I come home, I expect to see you but I never do. It feels like there’s a massive void in my life. An empty space everywhere I go where you should be. It almost feels as if you were dead. I don’t like it at all. Momma says it’s only natural for me to feel this way about you leaving. After all, you are my twin. Ever since the day we were born, we’ve spent nearly every waking moment of our lives together. Through everything, no matter what, you’ve always been there. So now that you’re not here anymore, of course that’s going to be tough for me. Don’t tell Pops but I think Momma’s the real brains out of the two. She’s got more wisdom than he does, that’s for sure. There’s not really much else to write about our family. They’re all doing fine. Well, as fine as they can be. Considering what our family is like. Jonathan is being a grumpy little killjoy, as usual. Momma’s being stern but helpful, as usual. Pops is being an asshole as usual and home life is chaotic and dysfunctional. As usual. Old Uncle Sam will probably expect Jon and me to go to war for him soon. Pops says he’ll sell his soul to the devil before he’ll let that happen. I of course asked him, what soul? You can imagine how well that went. Seriously though, you don’t have to worry about us going to war. You know our parents. They’ll find a way to keep us off the battlefield. They’ve got us out of every other sticky situation. They’ll get us out of this. We’ll be fine. I know you’ll be fine too. Even if the others don’t seem to think so. They were all worried about how you’ll cope being on your own and so far away from us all. To tell you the truth I am too just a little bit but I know it’s dumb. You can take care of yourself. Hell, if employment hadn’t been dead when we grew up, all of us “kids” would have managed on our own just fine back then. What’s really bothering me is how long you’ll be away. The last world war lasted for four years. I hope to God this one won’t last nearly that long. How the hell am I going to cope without you for years? You’ve only been gone a week and I’m struggling to cope now! Though, they’ll probably send you home to see us eventually. They won’t keep you separated from us for too long, right? I really hope not. I’m not sure how long I can stay out of trouble without my partner in crime. I can’t really complain too much, though. Out of everyone, I was the most enthusiastic and the most encouraging when you told us you wanted to leave home to train as a nurse. I couldn’t get you packed and out the door fast enough. That’s why I’m writing to you now to be honest. I’m worried that I came across as too eager and that you thought I was trying to push you away. This is going to sound awful but maybe I was. I know. It’s sounds horrible but hear me out. Or maybe, read me out since I’m writing to you and not talking. I don’t want to push you away but I want to keep you away from the kind of lifestyle our family leads. I can’t write about the reasons why in case someone other than you reads this letter. But you know what they are and you know they’re things no loving brother would want his sister to be anywhere near. I’ve been so scared for you for so long and I can’t find the words to describe how relieved I am now that you’re finally away from all these awful things and I don’t have to worry so much about you anymore. Being away from you is painful but I’ll deal with that pain if it means keeping you safe. What’s more, is that you have been given an opportunity I feared you would never get. You’ve always had the potential, the talent and the intelligence to make your own way in the world and have a successful career. It’s just that after we spent a decade trying to make a career for ourselves in a country that’s gone to shit, I lost hope that you would ever get the chance. But now you’ve got a chance at last. So take it! Grab it with both hands! Take it for all it’s worth! Don’t just make something out of yourself with it, make something great! Incredible! Extraordinary! Something that will make this world a better place. You will be fantastic. If I could describe you as anything, it would be a beacon of light against the darkness. A ray of hope extinguishing the hopelessness of a bleak, cruel world and that is going to help so many people when you become a nurse. Make me even prouder of you than I already am, little sis. And no. I will never let you forget that I’m older than you by fifteen minutes. I miss you so much but I know we both did the right thing when we said goodbye. 

Your brother.

Martin.