It's been two weeks since Elli has arrived down in Hell. But she's been noticing some...odd behaviors about her son. And she's plans on sorting them out.
Chapter 7: Separation Anxiety
Days passed and Elli managed to get used to being in Hell. Her and Lizzie had been talked and started to form a close friendship. She liked working with Rosie and the two had an excellent working relationship. She was even getting along really well with the others at the Hotel. But she was getting a little worried. Not of her safety. But of her son. Alastor had seem to be acting very odd. He wasn't sad or anything. He was very positive and upbeat. He helped the other patrons in the hotel. But she noticed that he stayed by her side as much as he could. Not only that, he's been sleeping in her room since they reunited. It was becoming a bit... concerning. She was currently out shopping and Alastor was right by her side.
She was pushing the cart through the grocery store. Hell was very similar to Earth. With a few...odd food items. But going off the list Charlie had handed her, along with her own personal list, she made sure to get everything that was required. As she shopping she noticed that she passed one of the items that were in a few aisles that they were in earlier. Alastor was looking for a specific brand of coffee. Elli decided that she would run back to get the missing aisle for a moment then be back before he could miss her. She walked away, leaving the cart with him, and went to retrieve the shampoo that she needed. She was surprised to see so many options and started trying to decide which one she should get.
Alastor's eyes scanned the cans of coffee in front of him. Looking for his favorite brand. Every time he came to the store he could never find his brand. It was honestly a bit frustrating. It was the strongest coffee he could find! How could there never be any when he needed it? Deathstroke coffee? No. Inferno? No, He smile got a little tense as he felt his frustration rise. Where was his coffee at? Where in the Nine Circles of Hell was it? His eyes continued to scan the coffee cans until...he saw it. His coffee brand! And it was the last one! Marvelous! He grabbed it and placed it into the cart.
"Okay mother, what is next on the li-" He stopped seeing that she wasn't next to the cart. "M-Mother?"
He looked around, seeing if she was further down on either end of the aisle. She wasn't. He felt panic start to rise in chest. Did someone take her? Did Vox or anyone else who didn't like him figured out that she was important to him and kidnapped her? Was someone torturing her? Ransom her? K-kill her? Static kept getting louder and louder as his panic grew. He had to find her! He couldn't let her get hurt! He wouldn't be able to live with himself if she was taken away from him again! He ran out of the aisle, eyes frantically darting as he searched for her.
Where is she? Where is she!? Not down Aisle 6. Aisle 7? Not there either. 8? 9? 10? She wasn't down any of them! He came to a stop, seeing that he was at the end of the aisles wear the meats were. He scanned the area to see that she was there either. Panic rising. Static got louder. Where could she be!? He moved to go back down the aisles they were at before. Maybe she forgot something? Please let it be so!
Was she in Aisle 5? No. Aisle 4? No. Where could she be!? He took a breath to ensure that he didn't start to hyperventilate and to help calm his nerves. It didn't help at all. Oh he had to find her! What kind of son was he if he couldn't protect her? He made a promise to himself that he wouldn't let anyone hurt her when they reunited. He couldn't break that promise to himself! He had to find her!
As Elli was trying to decide on which shampoo to get, she started hearing static. It was low at first but the longer she was looking, the loud it increased until it became a shrill white noise. Elli winced, lowering her ears. It took her a moment to register. Alastor. Alastor was upset about something! She decided on grabbing the lavender scented shampoo and started to make her way back to where she last left him. As she was going down the aisle, she ended up running into him as he coming out of another aisle. His smile was tense and his eyes were wide with panic. The moment he saw her, he hugged her."Mother! Please do not walk off like that on me!" He pulled away and looked at her, placing a hand on his chest. "You gave me quite the scare! I thought someone took you or seriously hurt or killed you!"
Elli frowned and hugged him.
"'M sorry bebe. I didn't mean ta worry ya. Ah'll let ya know if Ah walk off somewhere next time."
Alastor nodded, his smile and shoulders relaxing a bit. The static quieted down as well, but not all the way. When she first reunited with Alastor, she was a bit surprised how much he sounded like he was on the radio. He explained that was part of his new form. As they made their way through the store, she noticed that he stayed a bit closer to her than he had previously. But she understood. She did accidentally worried him. So when they made their way back to the hotel, she didn't bother bring it back up. She just went into the kitchen and made her son's favorite meal, Jambalaya for dinner.
As dinner was served, Alastor sat next to her. She had went out of her way to add the demon meat to his, cooking it in a separate pan and adding it to his bowl. She was pleased to a genuine smile on his face. Mild chatter took place among the others at the table. The doe-demon looked over at her son, flashing him a smile. He caught her look and swallowed, flashing a grin back at her. He went back to eating. She chuckled. She couldn't blame him. He loved to eat. Especially when it came to her food. She was glad that she was able to make up for her mistake at the store. She was definitely going to keep her promise to him.
After dinner, Alastor was clinging to her side. Well not right by her side. But anywhere that she sat, he would automatically sit next to her. If she went into a room he would act like he had something to do in there too, or hover outside the entrance. She knew this was probably due to the earlier scare that she gave him but the more she thought about it, he had been acting such a way since they reunited. She needed to talk to him. He couldn't stand by her side throughout their afterlife. She had a job. He had a job. He couldn't keep worrying about what was going to happen to her. She was ending it tonight. When she was getting ready for bed, Elli heard a knock on her door.
Right on time... she thought, instantly knowing who it was.
"C'mon in sugah." she called out.
The door opened to reveal Alastor, dressed in pajamas. He flashed her an uneasy smile, his ears slightly lowered.
"Good evening mother. I was uh...hoping if you don't mind if I...stayed with you again tonight?"
Elli went over her bed and pat to the spot next to her.
"Alastor, come sit. We hafta talk."
The Overlord tilted his head but did as he was told.
"Is...something wrong mother?"
"Dat's wat Ah was gunna ask ya. Ali sweetie. Wat's wrong? Ya been sleepin' wit' me ev'ry night since Ah got here. Ya constantly by mahside and it looked like ya had a little panic attack at de store."
Alastor shifted uneasily. After a few moments of silence, a small radio hum being emitted from him, he finally spoke, his ears completely lowered.
"I-I'm sorry mother. I just... we're finally back together and I...I don't want to be apart from you again."
"Oh Alastor," Elli cooed, pulling him into a hug and running her fingers through his hair. "Ah understand ah worried 'bout me down here, but Ah can take care of mahself. Ya Mama ain't helpless bebe."
He was silent then slowly nodded.
"I understand mother. ...can I still sleep with you tonight? This will be the last time. I promise."
She gave him a soft smile and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose.
"So' thing bebe. Jus' tanight."
He smiled and hugged her. He didn't feel all that comfortable with her being out there alone but he knew that she was right. He couldn't keep fretting over every little thing that might happen to her. She was a strong woman. After all she raised him, didn't she? He crawled into bed with her, cuddling against her as she wrapped an arm around him, holding him close.
"I love you mother."
"Ah love ya too Ali."
She placed a kiss on his forehead and they went to sleep.
Alastor's separation anxiety has finally been conquered. And Elli can continue on with her afterlife without her son's constant worrying. Thanks for reading and please review!
