Y'all know I had to make a lil sumthn for his redesign.

Fawn's POV

Alastor's show was actually extremely interesting and entertaining to watch. He invited me into the booth with him, which I thought was a pretty normal thing for him to do until I saw the shocked stares of the sound workers.

He was prepared with stories and jokes, and not to mention his voice...just like that, he switched on his radio persona, a bright and commanding voice being projected from his lungs.

I couldn't help but stare and smile as he worked. Again I caught myself feeling a bit attracted to him, and I put a stop to the feeling.

He is not someone I need to be attracted to. I wish my brain would understand that.

"Alrighty folks! Looks like that's a wrap for today's afternoon broadcast, thank you all for tuning in and I will be back tomorrow morning!" Alastor signed off, pressing a small black button before he pushed away from the desk that had his microphone on it.

His chair spun leisurely and he sighed.

Then, his eyes landed on me, and his tired smile switch to a smirk.

"Well, darling? How was your very first broadcast?" He asked me cheekily, crossing his arms over his chest confidently.

So, I decided to mess with him.

Shrugging indifferently, I put a poker face on.

"I've heard better," I said casually, and Alastor completely froze. I'm pretty sure I heard one of the sound people gasp.

His eyes were wide and he actually looked nervous suddenly, so I decided to break my act and a smile bloomed across my face.

"I'm joking, Alastor, that was so cool!" I giggled, standing up from my chair to walk over to him. He visibly relaxed, and the tight smile on his face loosened into a grin as he chuckled.

"Oho, darling..." he chuckled, shaking his head, "you gave me a little fright, I thought I underperformed!" He said, and I blew a raspberry from my lips, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"No you didn't, you just didn't like hearing that I didn't like it," I said cheekily, once again joking.

But when a bit of color dusted his cheeks as he gathered his belongings and tossed his coat over his shoulder, I wondered if maybe...maybe that was it.

He wanted me to like it.

How strange someone as arrogant as him would care about what I think. It's probably just because I've never heard one of his broadcasts before, but still.

He ignored the blush on his face, and once he'd gathered all his papers, turned to me.

"Well, I'm glad you liked it..." he said softly, and I scrunched my nose at him.

As we walked out, I noticed some of the workers in the recording studio were eying me suspiciously. However, once Alastor was at my side they all quickly went back to what they were doing.

If I had been able to see the menacing look on his face, I would've understood their strange behavior.

When I looked up at him, he smiled warmly down at me, walking with me through the studio that was beginning to wind down. The only people left were a few reporters, and Niffty.

She was buzzing around the office, cleaning up and tidying everything. Now I guess I know why it's always so clean in here.

"Niffty," Alastor started, causing her to pause and immediately scuttle over to us.

"Yes, sir!" She said, a big smile on her features. She's a sweet thing, but her eyes just look slightly unhinged.

"You may go home for the day," Alastor dismissed her calmly, and she bounced in her spot slightly.

"You got it!" She chirped, and she immediately went back to cleaning. I cocked an eyebrow, about to say something but Alastor simply ushered me out of the room.

Once we were out, he looked down at me.

"I have to dismiss her, but I learned fairly quickly she will only leave after she's finished cleaning," he explained, and I nodded.

Just as we were about to leave, that gravelly voice cut in once again.

"Great shows today, Alastor, as always!" Said the voice, but it was less congratulatory, and almost condescending in a way. It made me irritated.

My lips went from a soft smile to a sour frown, but Alastor stayed smiling as normal. Although, the look in his eyes was less than happy as he sighed and we turned to face the approaching business man.

"Thank you, Henry," Alastor said politely, but with an obvious dryness behind his tone. They shook hands, and then Henry's eyes once again turned to me.

"I see you still have this little babe on your arm, I bet she would look real good all dolled up in a tight little skirt—"

"I do not appreciate you speaking about me like that," I interrupted him calmly, although my blood was boiling. The air in the room stilled, some of the reporters pausing what they were doing to look at me.

Some looked in awe, and others looked at me with pity.

Alastor tensed up slightly, and immediately I felt his hand against my back, but the touch felt almost like a warning.

Henry's eyes landed on me and he narrowed them slightly.

"What was that?" He asked slowly, and I tilted my head.

"Did you not hear me? I said I don't appreciate—"

Suddenly a sharp pain almost knocked me straight off my feet. I stumbled, a searing burn flooding through my cheek. Immediately Alastor's arm was around me, and the air in the room was so thin I could hardly breathe it.

"Henry!" Alastor let out, surprise and rage coating his tone.

Placing my hand over my cheek, I looked up at Henry through teary eyes. That slap was hard enough to automatically activate my tear ducts.

He sneered down at me, "I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear you, doll...speak up," he said condescendingly, and then turned his eyes to Alastor, "keep your slut in line, or I'll be looking for a new radio host," he said bluntly, making my jaw drop.

Holy shit.

Henry walked off, leaving the room to watch in tense silence as he disappeared into the back office. Then all their eyes trained on me.

Before I could even think to be embarrassed, Alastor growled and pressed my face against his chest, hiding me from their stares.

"Didn't your mothers ever teach you any damn manners?!" He snapped, "get back to work!"

Immediately the sound of rustling paper started up, a bit more rushed than before.

Alastor hurried me out of the office and as soon as he had me outside and a good distance away, he pulled away from me and bent down, taking my face up in his hands.

He tsk'd, brushing his thumb over the tender skin on my cheekbone while wiping the tears away that had built up in my eyes. He shook his head, and sighed.

"I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am...I should have warned you to keep quiet, but it's not your fault..." he said, sounding like he was beating himself up over it.

After he was finished wiping my face, he took my chin between his fingers and made me look at him.

"From now on, mouth shut if Henry is talking..." he said firmly, still sounding upset, "I know his words are disrespectful, but just ignore them. They mean nothing about you, or your character...understand?" He asked me softly, and reluctantly I nodded, looking down.

He sighed, lifting my chin back up, "and I'll have none of that. Put a smile back on your face, show them how strong you are."

The way he said this made my eyes widen and my lips parted. His voice was tight, and he sounded almost like he's said these words a million times.

Slowly I smiled, and his tense grin softened as he patted my uninjured cheek.

"That's a good girl...now, let's get a move on!" He exclaimed, the serious air turning casual once more. He looped his arm through mine and started dragging me.

I giggled and tried to keep up with his fast pace, people on the sidewalk stepped aside for us, giving him and I curious looks.

"Alastor! Where are you dragging me?" I giggled, and he glanced at me.

"This weekend you'll need a pretty dress! So naturally, we're going to the best of the best!" He said, and I looked up as we approached the same clothing store we went to the other day.

Rolling my eyes, I tried to ignore the ache in my cheek and smiled softly as he forced me into the store. The bell overhead rang, announcing our arrival.

Edith popped up from behind the counter, a smile spreading across her kind face when she spotted Alastor and I.

"Why, hello! What a pleasant surprise, two visits in one week?" She said, making her way over to us. Her lips parted as she started to speak again, but when her eyes landed on me her expression fell.

"Oh, my dear, what happened to your pretty face?" She asked, immediately taking my face up in her chilled hands. Her delicate fingers gently caressed my flesh, the skin still hot from being struck.

I'm sure the spot has welted by now.

She observed the slap, and narrowed her eyes. I was worried that she was going to blame Alastor, but she simply looked up at him, "Al, sweetie, who did this to her poor face?"

Alastor sighed, and Edith lowered her hands to step back and look at both of us.

"She mouthed off to Henry...he was commenting on her appearance, and she stood up for herself...impressive as it was, she paid for it, unfortunately. I wish I would've known he was going to hit her, I would have prevented it..." he said, his voice growing darker.

Edith sighed, and tsk'd as she shook her head.

"That Henry's a nasty, nasty egg..." her eyes trained on me, "but I am damn proud of you for sticking it to him."

A bit of pride swelled in my chest and I smiled bigger.

Edith observed us for a moment longer, looking between Alastor and I before her smile widened. She motioned for me to follow her.

"Come on to the back with me, babygirl, I can whip you up a little something that will help the swelling," she offered, and I blinked, looking to Alastor.

He shrugged, nodding to Edith, "don't look at me, she's talking to you," he said with a big smile and I quickly looked back to her.

"Ok," I said softly, letting her take my hand and lead me into the back. I shot Alastor a glance and he gave me a small wave as he chuckled.

Then we disappeared behind a curtain and my eyes widened.

The entire room was set up like something out of a movie...colors, food sacrifices and books everywhere. I recognized it immediately, having grown up in Louisiana.

Voodoo.

"Now, normally when mama Edith is in the house, she asks for a price darlin," the witch started, giving me a grin, "but any friend of Alastor's is a friend of mine. He's a sweet boy, and I've already noticed he's lookin at you with soft eyes...you see the power you got, baby? You have a man whipped and he barely knows ya!" She chuckled, sifting through many different vials.

"Wh-whipped?" I asked, sitting in a chair that was by some sort of fortune table. My eyes landed on the tarot cards laying there, and then looked around the room. There were symbols painted on the walls, and bones hanging from the ceiling.

Edith turned to face me, a big smile on her face as she walked over with several different vials in between her fingers. With the snap of her fingers, a cauldron appeared between us and I gasped.

"Yes, baby!" She laughed and threw the vials into the large pot, the sound of shattering glass immediately following, "he's giving you googoo eyes, dollbaby, and not to mention him bringing you to me so I can heal your eye," she hummed.

My cheeks heated up at that revelation.

Mama Edith stirred the pot and hummed a small tune. She looked up at me, and gave me a sly smile.

"Now, I know his little story about you being an outta towner is a bunch of baloney..." she nearly whispered, "you got magic in your soul, baby, this old woman has been around long enough to see that much..."

Again my eyes widened, and I stuttered slightly.

"Uh...n-no I'm just passing through," I chuckled nervously and she nodded slowly.

"Right..." she smirked and then plunged her hand into the pot, pulling it out with a bit of clear goop on her fingers.

"Well, bring me that pretty face of yours, and let mama fix you up!" She chirped, and I leaned forward so that she could reach me.

The substance was cool, and felt weird against my skin. Then, almost immediately, the pain faded and a cooling sensation settled on my eye.

I sighed, and smiled in relief, and Edith hummed. Using a napkin, she wiped away the excess healing goop, and clapped her hands, standing up.

"Well, dollbaby, let's getcha back out there, I heard Alastor's takin you to a little shindig this weekend, you'll need a dress!" She sang, making me look at her in confusion.

"How did you—"

"Mama knows lots of things, darlin," she got me up and threw me a wink, walking me back towards the main shop.

"Lots of things."