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Alastor stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind with an angered shout.
Vox looked up from the table and tilted his head as he shoved his paperwork out of the way. “Everything okay?” Vox asked with a frown as he got up to approach Alastor.
“Don’t touch me.” Alastor’s eyes glowed a bright red for a second before it vanished and he looked horrified at the terrified expression on Vox’s face.
Vox put his hands up in surrender and backed away slowly. “Okay.” He whispered out in a small voice.
It was dead silent for a minute before Vox looked away. “Do you want to talk about it?” Vox asked as he stared down at his hands.
“I- I got into an argument with a sinner.” Alastor huffed out. “He called me fake.”
“Over what?”
“He said I wasn't a true aroace person because of you.” Alastor hugged himself tightly. “I guess it’s bothering me a lot.”
Vox blinked slowly before he summoned his phone. “I'm going to call Papermint.” Vox narrowed his eyes at his partner. “You two are going to go for a walk.”
Alastor’s jaw opened for a second before he closed it with a loud click. Alastor watched wordlessly as Vox dialed his assistant’s number and walked away.
Alastor felt his ears flattened and his heart rate increased. He had no idea what was going to happen but he was scared.
~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~
“Why haven't you said a word?” Alastor growled out. He had been following Papermint for thirty minutes now and not a single word was uttered.
As expected, Papermint ignored him. Alastor had no idea how Vox could put up with the man.
Papermint led Alastor to a small café in Cannibal Town. One of Alastor's favourites. This whole thing had Vox written all over it. Vox had to have told Papermint where he frequented.
Papermint bowed to the clerk. She looked at Papermint and then Alastor, her soulless eyes searching the two for only a minute before she pointed to a table that had a ‘reserved’ sign on it.
Papermint thanked the clerk before he led Alastor to the table. He pointed at one of the chairs and finally turned to stare at the deer. “Sit.” Papermint ordered with narrowed eyes.
Alastor swallowed and obeyed wordlessly. He watched as Papermint walked around the table before he took a seat across from Alastor. The demon folded his hands together and narrowed his eyes at the overlord, one of his eyes was spiraling slightly, but he wasn't trying to read Alastor's mine. No. He was reading his emotions.
“Alright. What did the sinner tell you?” Papermint asked after a minute of silence.
The waitress rushed over before Alastor could answer. “Hello gentlemen. What can I get you?”
“I'll have hibiscus blood iced tea.” Papermint ordered.
“Oh… I'll have a coffee. No cream or sugar.” Alastor ordered with a wide grin.
The waitress wrote it down quickly before she took the menus away and left the two boys alone. Alastor wanted to ask Papermint if he was a cannibal, he seemed so comfortable with blood and being in Cannibal Town that Alastor couldn't help but wonder, though the look Papermint was giving him made his jaws snap shut.
“Talk.” Papermint tapped his claws against the table with narrowed eyes.
“He was just telling me how excited he was that I was aroace. He thought it was unique. He asked me how I found out and I told him my partner helped me, and he asked me if I meant my ex partner. I told him no and he accused me of being a fake and that I'm a liar. I guess it dug a little deep. Am I a fake? I never really found a label that made sense for me and what I am. For my whole life I thought I was a defect, a failure. When Vox told me about being aromantic and asexual, it was like a piece of me made sense. A part I didn't even know was shoved to the side and shrouded in darkness.” Alastor looked up at the ceiling and inhaled deeply. “I never felt confused about who I was until I was in a relationship. Seeing Vox so confident in who and what he was, despite his trauma, it made me feel like an outcast.”
“Vox is a very chaotic bisexual.” Papermint chuckled darkly as their drinks arrived. Papermint thanks the lady as did Alastor before he looked into his drink before continuing. “I used to think I was the same sexuality as Vox. I thought being bisexual was liking both genders, but I never realized you actually had to be attracted to them.”
“Wait. You're like me?” Alastor gasped out. “You're aroace?”
Papermint grinned. “I am. It’s why Vox wanted me to talk to you. He figured I might help you more than he could.” Papermint took a sip of his drink. “Which I think I can. I've been called every name under the sun and told every saying you can think of.”
“How did you realize?” Alastor asked.
Papermint’s smile turned more genuine. “Asexual or Aromantic? For asexuality, it took a while, but I always knew deep down I was different. People would crave these things, all the movies in Hell would show people willing to do a lot of things for sex, one night stands, friends with benefits, they would just want it so badly, but I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. With how it was portrayed in the world, I assumed I was a defect. People would flirt with me, try to get with me or try to insinuate sex, but I never felt anything for it other than confusion, disgust, and discomfort. I don't know when I realized what I was exactly, I think someone who died from the twenty-first century told me. Someone who was willing to teach me the ways. Vox only knew so much with what he was taught when he was alive, but this person knew endless words and sexualities. It was truly eye-opening. Without them, I don't think I would have ever found out what I was, I would have assumed I was defective for the rest of eternity. My own internal Hell.” Paperming sighed and he used his straw to mix his ice cubes into his drink. “Aromantic was much later and honestly much more easy to understand. My personal favourite too. Having no romantic attraction to people was something I struggled with. For years I thought I had to find the one person who would make me realize what I was missing, that I wasn't living life to the fullest. People told me I just haven't found the right person yet, or once I start dating or have a kid I would understand. I don't know why their solution to everything was dating and kids. All my friends craved romantic relationships while I just never understood what they wanted. It didn't take me long to see I was the outlier in the situation. The sinner told me about aromantic people later on, and it was relieving to hear that I wasn't anything special or broken. Just different. Now, I'm repulsed by both sex and romance, but not everyone's the same.” Papermine chuckled. “Tell me how you feel.”
“Well… I never really felt attracted to anyone before, but Vox made me feel special I guess. His personality caught my eye and I fell for him easily. His idiotic ideas were part of the charm. I never really want to have sex with him. If he wants to do it, I'm interested but I just don't feel the urge or need to do it.” Alastor admitted a bit bashfully. “I was told by everyone that I just haven't found the right person yet, I guess it feels like they were all right.”
Papermint's eye twitched a bit before he heaved a heavy sigh. “Some people just need to find the right person and some people don't. Generalizing hurts people a lot more than it does good.” Papermint chuckled a bit as he twirled his drink. “I don't need someone to make me feel happy. Sometimes I feel like I need someone in my life to make me feel fulfilled, but I everytime I try I just make myself more uncomfortable than happy.”
“Vox does make me happy though.” Alastor’s grin was strained. “He doesn't make me uncomfortable.”
“Vox also doesn't have a high sex drive.” Papermint pointed out. “If Vox wanted sex all the time, you wouldn't be happy or comfortable. You would be constantly worried and stressed. Vox and you are compatible because you two have similar drives. You aren't immune to romance or love, none of us are.”
“I don't get it.” Alastor's ears wilted a bit. “So is there a right person for people like us or not?”
“There is no answer to that.” Papermint reached his hand out but didn't touch Alastor's. “Some of us do, some of us don't. That's all there is to it. Aroace people don't feel the need for either, they're happy and content alone, but some asexuals feel the need for a relationship and some aromantic people feel the need for sex.”
“Does that mean I'm not aroace? Am I just asexual?” Alastor asked with a tilt of his head.
“Do you feel the need for a romantic relationship? Did you ever go out searching for one on purpose or did it just happen to fall into your lap?” Papermint asked. “Is Vox not your first relationship? Did you attempt it before because you craved love?”
“I never went searching. I never felt the need or understood why I should.” Alastor answered. “Vox… helped me during a hard time. I found him at his worst and got to watch him rebuild himself. I feel like he's the only person I could love like this.”
“I have five sisters and one brother.” Papermint chuckled. Alastor blinked slowly before he tilted his head, watching curiously as Papermint continued on with what he was saying. “My brother dated a few people before he got married, but one of my sisters had a few hoe phases and dated around a lot. Another tried to find love but it was never the forefront of her mind. Another sister- well she hasn't shown any interest at all. The other two? One dated maybe three people before she found one she really liked and the last dated two people before she settled for being single.”
“I don't understand, Papermint.” Alastor's brows furrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“It's all about experimentation. Think about Vox. How many people has he dated or had sex with?”
“I have no idea.” Alastor admitted. “He dated a few men and women when we were friends, then we separated and he dated Valentino for a while before he dated me.”
“Vox was trying to find that special someone to be with. Vox wanted to be with someone, to be in a relationship because it made him feel good and he felt like it completed him, but you felt like you were whole without Vox. He's just a bonus.” Papermint added with a chuckle.
“How are you so relaxed talking about your boss like this?” Alastor asked.
“He's still my friend. When we're off the clock, he's my friend. On the clock he's my boss. That's all there is to it.” Papermint smiled. “What I'm getting at is that my siblings were hunting. Some still are and some got what they wanted and some realized they were happier without anyone. That's not to say that they might not be like me. Some aren't, obviously, but others are a lot more puzzling on where they stand, but the thing is that you can't tell.”
“I don't understand why people feel the need to push their assumptions onto me.” Alastor growled out.
“Because you're an overlord! You're a powerful figure in the world who represents a small percentage of the world, not to mention a person of colour. You stand as a pillar to their future. They want you to fill in their expectations and their ideas of aroace people, but you can't do that because everyone is different. You're different from me. We're both the same but on different ends of the spectrum. I have a friend who's just asexual, but she wants a romantic partner and she wants to make her partner feel good by having sex with them. She wants to have kids one day too. She isn't any less of an asexual. She doesn't go out seeking sex or feels horny perpetually like Valentino did, or even like Angel Dust. She has sex because she wants to and can, but she doesn't seek it out to fulfill any part of her life, she doesn't feel sexually attracted to people. She doesn't care about that shit. She can look at someone and say they're cute, but she doesn't want to sleep with them. Some people look at others and think 'I would have sex with that person’ or ‘I wouldn't mind tapping that.’ They're searching for someone they're attracted to and want romantically and sexually.” Papermint took another sip of his drink before he grinned. “Life is all about searching and finding out who you are, that includes discovering that you're different and don't feel the same way others do.”
“I can't be aroace though. I have a partner and I love him with all my heart. Maybe Vox was wrong about me.”
“I think out of every person I've ever met, you are the most obvious aroace person ever.” Papermint laughed. “Being in love doesn't mean you're any less aromantic. You don't look at someone and think ‘I can date that person.’ It was just a coincidence you fell for someone. Romance and sex are never in your mind, Alastor. Just because you can have those things doesn't make you any less or an asexual or aromantic.”
Alastor looked down at the ground before he looked into his cup of coffee. The dark liquid swallowed any light that surrounded him.
“As someone who is sex-repulsed and romance-repulsed.” Papermint gently grasped Alastor’s hand. “I accept you and am honoured to have you be a part of my community, and thank you for making Vox happy.”
~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~
Vox looked up from his work when he heard the door open and close. Vox looked away and pulled out different contracts again, his eyes low as he tried to look away from Alastor. Angel and Husk exchanged a worried glance but neither said anything, Charlie and Vaggie were sitting beside Vox trying to help him but no one said a word to Alastor.
He stood in the doorway awkwardly Before he inhaled deeply.
“I'm sorry for yelling at you, Vox.” Alastor apologized, ignoring the shocked glances he got from everyone else. “I spoke to Papermint about my struggles. You were right. He was able to help me a lot more than you could.”
Vox raised a brow and pushed his work away and turned to stare at Alastor. “It went well I take it?”
“It did.” Alastor looked to everyone in inhaled deeply before continuing, his ears lowered a bit. “I've been struggling with who I am for years. I've been faced with uncertainties and I've been told for years that I would be different when I get married, I haven't found the right person, once I saw how beautiful love and relationships were, I would crave it.”
“Are you breaking up with Vox, publically?” Vaggie sounded pissed.
“Heavens no. Vox is mine for the end of time.” Alastor chuckled. “Now that I have what everyone looks for, I see now that I still don't crave it. I don't see what they want and what they need so desperately. I would never get rid of what I have with Vox, I love him, but I can't hide that I'm different.”
Niffty's eye widened and she stopped dusting to stand in front of Alastor. Her eye sparkled with curiosity and understanding.
Charlie moved to cover her mouth with her hand while Husl, Vaggie, and Angel exchanged confused glances. Emily walked from downstairs and looked a bit puzzled by the group of demons gathered around the room, But she walked up to stand in the doorway, her short hair tied back and her wings pressed firmly against her back.
“I… am aromantic and asexual.” Alastor stared at his friends before looking at Vox. “I don't experience the same emotions you all do, but I am still learning about myself. I might need some guidance here and there, and I hope you can accept me for who I am despite not being quite what the stereotype of asexuals and aromantics are.”
An excited gasp left Emily as she flew over to Alastor and pulled him into a tight hug. “Oh my gosh!” Emily gleefully smiled. “I'm so happy for you! I'll help you out anyway I can!”
Charlie rushed over to Alastor as well and joined in on the hug, Niffty crawling up Alastor's back to hug his neck as his three girls gushed over him.
Vox smiled as he came up to Alastor. Emily and Charlie separated from the man to give his partner room to approach him.
Alastor's grin turned more genuine before he gripped either side of Vox's face and pulled him into a kiss. Vox's arms rested around Alastor's middle while Niffty climb over Alastor to cling to Vox.
Giggles left Emily and Charlie as they chattered excitedly.
“We have to throw a coming out party for Alastor!” Emily was saying to Charlie. “This is a huge deal!”
“I know it is! We'll have to ask Alastor once he comes down from the high of coming out!” Charlie clapped her hands together.
Vaggie couldn't hide the soft smile on her face as she watched Alastor be flocked with support. Even if he was a jackass, she was happy to see him receive the support he clearly needed. It was the first step for Alastor becoming a tolerable human.
Husk and Angel were both still just shocked. Husk knew Alastor wasn't straight, but he had never known Alastor was aroace, better yet, never knew Alastor to actively seek support from the people in the hotel.
“This is a huge deal.” Vaggie’s voice scared Angel and Husk as she came up beside them. “Even if we don't like Alastor, we should support him through this. He’s clearly facing a lot of criticism from dating Vox as an aroace person, he would have never spoken like that if he wasn't. He wants reassurance that he’s making the right choice by keeping Vox.” Vaggie laughed a bit as she spoke. “I hate him, don't get me wrong, but just because we don't like him doesn't mean we should be cruel to him for going through this difficult phase. Try to be nice to him.” Vaggie patted Angel’s shoulder before she wandered over to Emily and Charlie who were chatting excitedly still.
Husk narrowed his eyes a bit before his eyes softened and he smiled. “She’s right. Alastor might be going through the scariest and hardest part of his life.” Husk gently grabbed Angel’s hand. “Let’s make it clear we support his sexuality. It’s nor just about him. It’s about showing we support all people with the same sexuality as him.”