Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen" - Mark Twain
It was 8 o'clock on a chilly December evening in the Hellsing manor, and things seemed calm for the first time in several weeks. With no reports of ghouls or vampires the officers, by the orders of Sir Integra, were given the option of leaving early. Though most, if not all of the soldiers left, the butler of the manor always kept himself constantly busy, not that he mind.
Currently seated at his work station making alterations to Alucards new weapon he poured himself a glass of gin to loosen the mood. Walter enjoyed this time of the day when the sun would set across London, and the manor was quite.
It was something he had to thank Hellsing for. All the years in service to the organization, it was the one thing keeping the man sane.
By always having something to focus on, something new to toy around with, Walter never had the time to think of his morbid memories and of a certain bitterness he developed over the course of decades. But most of all it was his love of the night that Hellsing really blessed him with. For the longest as a young man he never could understand why people disfavored the darkness. It was both intriguing, and exciting to him especially during the winter season when the sun set so early on in the day.
"Walteeeer", chimed a soft feminine voice in a whiny tone.
The old butler snapped out of his thoughts, as the sound of his name rolled off the girls tongue.
It was Seras, Alucards new fledgling. He was pleasantly surprised to find the young vampire seated at the edge of his work desk. How did I not even notice her presence? he thought. There was a time when he could automatically sense a vampires presence and match their movements better than any human could. Now it seems even a newly formed vampire can give him a jump. I must be getting old, old and careless, he mused.
Seras folded her arms on his desk while resting her head down with a pleading look on her face. He chuckled a little at the sight. It was something about the girl that made her different. Different from her master surely, but different from the other vampires he hunted years ago as well. Possibly her foolishness when it came to her refusal to drink blood or maybe the imaginary humanity she clung to. While other vampires were vile, repulsive or seductive, she seemed, for a lack of better words, cute and playful. At times she lived up to being a blond however she was still young and could learn plenty from Hellsing to make her all the wiser. Above all, Walter felt relaxed around the girl.
What are you talking about you old prat it's the alcohol not her he hissed to himself. The young vampire with her head still resting on her arms became tense awaiting the old butler for a response.
"Is there something I could assist you with, Miss Victoria?" He heard her soft voice but couldn't understand a word the girl was saying.
"Beg your pardon, speak up child".
"I said, I'm bored", she whined.
"How unfortunate. Not a single task for a young girl to do. Such a tragedy."
"Easy for you to say. You're all wrapped up in whatever your doing to even notice me here", whined the junior with a sour expression.
"Yes well, would you like me to call Sir Integra? I'm sure she will have something for you to do", he replied.
"And of your master, why not bother him? He could teach you how to be a proper vampire, right?" Trying to cover a faint blush over her face, if even possible, Seras sighed in defeat.
"Your so mean to me Walter", Seras teased. No wonder Alucard kept her around, she was so easily roused.
"Oh I'm only yanking your chain Miss Victoria, you can stay here if you like. I don't mind the company."
" Really? And here I thought you were a cruel old butler who's words could stab through a vampire's heart like a stake", she replied in a hurtful tone. Truly her masters childe, humor and all.
He was glad to see she was finally warmed up to Hellsing, and for her sake he disregarded the "old" comment.
Walter also noticed how comfortable the young girl seemed around him compared to the others. While Integra was the closest to her in age, their mindsets were completely far apart, due in part to their respected responsibilities and mannerisms. Integra herself had grown accustomed to having the girl around after her unexpected arrival a few weeks ago.
She even viewed her as a younger sister. Unfortunately due to her duties as a leader, the relationship between the two constantly stayed delayed. Her colleagues, all men, made no such effort to make acquaintances with her since they couldn't find the logic in respecting a young girl in their ranks; no matter of her strengths or abilities.
Finally, her master. The one who turned her, made her a child of the night. She had little use for him which at first made the butler question why turning her at all.
But then Walter knew Alucard, or at least he thought he did.
Seras was more like a caterpillar that Alucard was waiting for to turn into a butterfly. He wasn't interested in her at her lowly phases of development but he would be in arms reach to protect her if need be. Until then she was on her own to struggle. To fully grow into a truly fearsome vampire that Alucard would respect. Just as he did with Walter and Integra.
"So what are you doing exactly?"
"Well, prior to exchanging a little banter with a certain draculina, I was working on your masters new gun".
"REALLY!" Walter began to regret the invitation. Seras, who snapped her head quickly off of the table pawed at the gun in Walter's possession. "You mean, I will be the first to see masters new gun?"
"Well the second, but I digress child. Though I agree to have you hear, you must try to keep the noise to a minimum, can you do that for me?"
"Oh, sorry Walter", the junior softly apologized. Seras laid her head back down in her arms again like a child being scolded by their parents.
The gun was already finished, all it needed was the inscriptions, Jesus Christ is in Heaven Now. Such a sense of humor Alucard had.
"So, how did you become so good at this?" The vampire questioned while looking up at the butler curiously.
"Well, after working for the Hellsing family for so many years their are just certain things I have picked up here and there".
"Just exactly how long have you been working here?" She blushed a little while breaking gaze with him. "If you don't mind me asking."
Walter held off from finishing the gun to entertain the girls questions.
"I have been a butler to the Hellsing organization for fifty five years if you can imagine. Arthur, Integra's father took me in as a lad and taught me the art of hunting vampires along with other things."
"That's pretty cool Walter. How could you convince your parents about your line of work, I mean the public still believes that vampires are a myth." Seras slightly giggled.
"They probably would think you were batty, I known mine would… if they were still around." He could practically feel the girls remorse at the mention of her parents.
"Well, I didn't have much trouble since my mother was long deceased and my father was a drunk."
"Oh I'm sorry Walter, I should have never brought that up.. it was stupid of me."
"It's quite alright Miss Victoria time has long past mended that wound. I will admit while in my younger days I was angry. Angry at myself, angry at my father and -"
"At the world for putting you in such a situation while others around you seemed happy", she sighed. He could tell the wounds were still fresh on her mind. She still had her head down and focusing on the gun now, but staring at her long enough caught her attention to look up at the elder.
"Yes. That's exactly how it felt. Hmph I was all mouth and very arrogant as a young bloke. I'd imagine if Arthur wasn't there to straighten me out I would have ended up in prison."
They took a minute to humor the idea. Seras flashed a toothy grin at the thought of the polite man being a criminal. "Well if you were a criminal, then I guess that would make you my enemy seeing as I was a police officer."
"But my dear, I turned out to be a vampire hunter instead, and you a vampire so we still are on quite polar ends", chuckled Walter at the realization of their tragic relationship.
" Well one of us will have to switch professions so we can keep having such unusual conversations at night." They both gave a warm smile to one another before Walter roamed his eyes around the room in search for something. Slowly lifting from the seat, the butler made his way over to a shelf. "I think I have a photo album of those times. Its been ages but it still should be in the same place."
" I've always wanted to collect photos but the only ones I had are all gone now."
Still browsing through the shelf, Walter could sense her sudden sadness.
"Don't worry yourself, you will have many years to create photos and keep more memories to try to make up for the times you will forget. Ah ha here it is."
The album collected massive wear and tear, but the photos were guaranteed lively hood. He dragged his chair closer to Seras so they both could have a better look at the photos as he sat down and opened the book. "Ah I remember this one", he pointed. Seras stretched her head to look at the image of Walter, who had to be no more than fourteen in the picture. He was wearing a collard shirt with a tie and vest, with dark shaggy hair that hung down in his face.
He had a sour look on his face while standing next to an older gentleman and a young girl. "This was you Walter? You were gorgeous! I mean, not that you aren't handsome now. I mean - "Why Seras, look at you trying to flatter an old man."
Vampires weren't really supposed to blush. Maybe after drinking an access of blood. But a vampire who refused to drink blood at all should not even have the possibility. However the case, it was still quite a sight that Walter enjoyed. It was also quite comforting that Seras thought such of the man. It must be the alcohol talking, he sighed. "Who were the other two in the photo? If I had to guess, the older man was Integra's father right?"
"Oh yes that's Arthur alright. It was his idea in the first place for us to have group photos even though I used to despise the idea. I'm surprised you cannot guess who the girl is, well that's your master back during that era."
"What! That's him?" She took a closer look at the young girl in the photo with a long white coat on and a devilish grin on her face. "Yes, he can take any form really. The form you currently known him to wear is not his real one. In fact I have yet to see it, if ever."
"I bet he took that form to throw everyone off", she smiled barring her fangs. "I assumed that he did it to mess with me and Arthur he still has yet to tell me truly why he choose it.'
They sat there for awhile looking through the photos as Walter told Seras of his adventure at Hellsing.
Suddenly the phone rang.
Walter knew who it was and prepared himself for the next task at hand.
"Good evening sir.'
Seras looked over in Walter's directions to try to make out the conversation. The room was deathly silent while he was listening.
"Understood, I'm on my way sir", he finished while hanging up the phone. He gave Seras a warm smile before getting up to meet Integra. "You can keep looking at the photo album if you like Miss Victoria. I may be awhile but you are more than welcomed to stay here if you like."
"Okay, thanks Walter" she chimed.
While making his way up to Integra's office, a part of the elder felt a warmth within him diminishing. He couldn't place the source or the reason, but he hoped that Seras would still be at that table waiting for him when he returns.
A.N. This first chapter feels like a one shot but I hope to make a full story out of it. If enough people enjoy it I will sooo please review. Thanks for reading.