Author's Notes: Heyooo. I'm back with a new fandom for now. Hope you don't mind. If you're here and you're like "wtf is Carmilla?" then like... what are you doing here? Go watch it on YouTube. Then come back here. If you DO know what Carmilla is, I hope you'll like this! It takes place after what my idea of what season 3 would be where Carmilla and Laura are trying to start their lives together away from Silas, although their past haunts them. So obviously get ready for a story of sunshine and rainbows. Ha! Haha! Ah.
Disclaimer: I don't own Carmilla BUT the actual owners are much closer to me this time. This is what I call progress.
"Laura, no."
An all too common phrase to the not-as-naïve 23 year-old girl's ears by now.
"Oh come on, Carm. You saw the crime scene. Nothing natural could've caused that. I mean, the blood was glowing. You're a vampire. You know blood. You know the supernatural. You can't deny there's something… other worldly going on."
"I'm not denying anything, Cupcake. In fact, I'm agreeing. Yes, there is obviously some sort of supernatural influence that caused that explosion in the city's centre. All the more reason for you to leave it alone."
Laura gives her girlfriend an exasperated look, leaning over the small marble island of the kitchen in their apartment. Carmilla tries to go back to finishing her morning mug of B+, silently praying that the creampuff would drop it. She should really know better by now.
"But look at this," Laura slides the morning paper towards Carmilla, as if she hasn't been shown thirteen times already. "'A neon glow caused by the reflection of the optics of the nearby LCD lights'? Really? It's utter misconstruction on top of being way too wordy of an article."
"Well, maybe you could've written it if you didn't pitch to your paper that this was probably the work of some exploding radiation demon." Carmilla drawls, taking another sip of the blood. She'll have to remember to add vodka next time something weird happens that throws Laura off the handle.
"I – okay, I admit I may have sounded like a conspiracy theorist, but anybody could've seen that there was more to the story. Even the editor gave me that look like she knew, you know? But she brushed me off anyway." Laura huffs, looking dejected at the memory.
"It's a newspaper. I'm sure all the journalists there have encountered something weird that couldn't be explained with their limited knowledge of the world at some point." Carmilla shrugs, and she flips the paper to the comic section.
"So why isn't it ever talked about? Like, if this kind of thing happens all the time where the supernatural mixes with the natural, why don't we hear about it? Why didn't I find out vampires existed until I went to Silas?" Laura questions, still looking dejected.
"I'm sure you can figure that out on your own, creampuff." Carmilla sighs, scowling at a comic that she deemed not up to par in the humour department. Laura muses for a moment.
"I guess they're told to keep quiet. Maybe someone swoops in all Men In Black style. Maybe the government?" She inquires to herself, but Carmilla can't stop herself from chiming in with her own thoughts. Lauronica Mars' theorizing can be quite infectious.
"Or a cooperation with a more supernatural affiliation, like Corvae."
Carmilla nearly stakes herself when she sees the panicked look that flashes across Laura's face.
"C-Corvae? But, we defeated them. Three years ago. We defeated them, right?" Laura's practically hyperventilating. Carmilla quickly abandons the mediocre comic section and slides around the island to Laura's side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Hey. Yes. Corvae is gone. And any trace of them. I just meant another cooperation. Maybe one not as diabolical. Just one that has an interest in keeping the supernatural hidden from the rest of the world." Carmilla's voice is soft, rubbing soothing circles on Laura's arm. When Laura's breathing doesn't calm down right away, Carmilla makes an effort to meet Laura's eyes and coos out another "Hey."
Laura swallows hard and nods slowly, her breathing slowing. She shakes it off, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Why is there so much secrecy about it?"
"I don't know, maybe they're trying to avoid mass panic and chaos among the mortals?" Carmilla sighs, and though her tone is slightly biting her voice is still soft.
"Shouldn't the people know, though? There was just a massive explosion of supernatural energy that turned fifteen people into melted glow sticks. Isn't it the right of the people to know that the things that go bump in the night are all too real instead of chalking it up to a-" Laura flips the paper back to the story of the explosion, and incredulously tosses the pages into the air, "a gas leak!"
"Hey, I might be biased but I can't really complain." Carmilla leans back against the island again, confident that any dark cloud of the past has passed over Laura now. "It's better the world doesn't know about me. It allows me to walk freely. Visit museums. Order coffee at one of those pretentious cafés. Hold hands with my girlfriend in public."
Laura can't help but blush under her gaze, a small smile forming on her face. "I guess – I guess you're right. I'm just… disappointed, I suppose. On one hand, what happened in the town centre was such a tragedy and those families who lost someone will never know the truth of what happened. And on the other hand, I've been a journalist at this newspaper for a year now and all I've reported on is charity events and one homeless man who ate his left hand. I don't know, maybe peeling back the veil on the underground supernatural culture would help pave the way for me in the industry."
Carmilla eyes Laura compassionately. She had seen Laura day after day sticking her neck out and over exhausting herself to try and break the story, no matter how mundane it was. Typical Hollis.
"For the record, I liked that story you wrote about the homeless man." Carmilla smirks, receiving a small shove from Laura in response. "Look, I get it. Part of the reason I can continue being so apathetic is that you exude enough effort for the both of us." She jokes. Laura mutters something under her breath about unwashed dishes. "Just be patient. You'll get your chance – and it's not going to have anything to do with the boogie-man."
"Not even a little exposé? Make 'Interview with the Vampire' a reality?" Laura smiles, stepping close to Carmilla, who grasps her at the hips with a teasing look in her eyes.
"You'll have to talk to my agent." Carmilla says in her low, raspy voice. Then her smirk drops and she steps back from Laura. "Seriously Laura. Promise me you won't pursue this… publication of the paranormal. It's bad enough going up against some unknown entity, but if there really is another corporation keeping it all hush hush then," Carmilla bites her lips, and she knows she's going to regret bringing it up again, "we've faced both before, and although we ultimately succeeded, I don't think I need to remind you we didn't come out… unscathed."
Laura's hand instinctively lays flat against her own chest and she looks away from Carmilla, the guilt and horror filling her features. Carmilla sighs. Yeah, she definitely regrets it.
"I'm sorry. I know we don't… discuss about that time often, but I just felt the need to address my concerns about your general enthusiasm to uncover the truth – which I usually love about you, but in this case I think we've already learned to leave well enough alone." Carmilla continues, her hand travelling up the cup Laura's face. Laura's eyes eventually meet Carmilla's for a moment before finding the floor again.
"Yeah. Okay, Carm. You win. I'll let it go." Laura sighs, and she doesn't even seem conflicted about the decision. She's experienced defeat before, and the days of feeling like an unbeatable 19 year-old are over for Laura Hollis.
Carmilla smiles softly and pulls Laura up against her. "Good. Because I want to be the only supernatural being in your life anyway." She states, and this causes Laura to snap up to look at her with a smile.
"Ah, was that your objective all along Miss Karnstein?" Laura teases, and Carmilla inwardly breathes a sigh of relief.
"Sometimes I just can't help the possessive vampire crap, Cupcake." Carmilla chuckles, resting her forehead against Laura's.
"Hmm, I still think you could work on your 17th century idea of game." Laura coos, and Carmilla's teeth flash into a full smile – the kind only Laura can get from her.
"Oh really? Well tell me how you feel about it now…"
Carmilla leans in and captures Laura's lips in hers, and Laura practically sighs out her contentment. Another day of keeping Laura's inquisitive nature in check, another day longer she goes unharmed. Carmilla figures her idea of game is working just fine.
Besides, it's all worth it for moments like this.
At least, until they get interrupted by Laura's cell phone buzzing. Three years and being interrupted is still a common theme in their lives, much to Carmilla's chagrin.
"I regret snapping your flip phone now. This smart phone is much more vexing." Carmilla grumbles after Laura pulls away, but she keeps her close just in case Laura miraculously decides to ignore her phone this time. Please, for the love of god, ignore it.
"And whose fault is that?" Laura smirks, pulling away. Damnit.
"One of these days I'm going to just go full out pyrokinesis on the city's cell towers." Carmilla mutters, but Laura merely giggles at her girlfriend's displeasure as she checks her phone.
"Oh joy. A school is having a bake sale. What a riveting feature this will make." Laura sighs sarcastically. "I have to go. The paper wants me to cover it."
"Alright, count me in." Carmilla states, grabbing her leather jacket by the door and pulling it on.
"Carm, it's just a bake sale. You don't need to look out for me." Laura rolls her eyes.
"I know that. But how could I ever give up the opportunity for you to generously buy my a dozen cupcakes? It's for charity after all, buttercup." Carmilla affirms with her usual dry wit. Laura's eyes roll again as she pulls her jacket on, then loops her arm in Carmilla's.
"Alright. Come on, you stupid vampire." Laura leads them out as Carmilla chuckles, and as much as Carmilla is now looking forward to the high-glucose pastries made by some prepubescent snot rags, she has to admit she knows deep down she's going to look out for Laura too. She just can't bring herself to leave Laura alone on any case, even if there's seemingly no danger. She can't risk it.
Not after what happened to all of them three years ago.
Author's Notes: A little shorter than usual, I know. The chapters will get longer as we go along though, don't you worry. I hope you enjoyed this little taste. There's more to come!