A/N: Super, super short one-shot for the Saga of Darren Shan. Set pre-book (WAY pre-book). No spoilers that I am aware of. Spawned from cerberus15-fiveofthree's first chapter to their fanfic The Life of Larten Crepsley. R&R if you please. I may write more.
"Bounjour, Larten. Ca va?"
"Bien Gavner, Et toi?"
"Bien."
"I see your French has improved, my friend," Larten said. He took a sip from his coffee cup.
"I have had a while to learn since we last met, but it is going remarkably well," Gavner replied sullenly. He hadn't been the same boisterous and upbeat Gavner Purl he was ten years ago.
"What troubles you?" Larten asked finally.
"I'm a vampire," Gavner blurted out. Immediately he cursed himself in silence. That wasn't exactly how it had played out in his head.
Larten spluttered some of his coffee onto the table.
"I'm sorry?"
"Forget it. You wouldn't believe me," Gavner sighed. Larten ignored him.
"Did you just say you are a vampire?"
"A half-vampire," he muttered darkly, and they both went silent for a long time. A very long, awkward time.
"And who blooded you?" Larten finally asked, as casual as possible.
"Pa--..."
Gavner stopped short, looking at Larten in sheer disbelief. His mouth moved up and down like a fish for a few moments before he found his voice again.
"You got...?"
"Yes."
"And you're a...?"
"Indeed."
Gavner was silent as he waited for reality to settle in. It didn't take very long.
"You devil! You dirty, sneaky little devil! Larten, you dog!" Gavner roared with laughter, and Larten couldn't help but partake in chuckling at the irony of it all. Several people inside the resturaunt glared out at the noisy men, their merryment so loud it spread through closed doors.
Gavner finally calmed down after a few minutes.
"Ten years," he said finally.
"Ten years," Larten repeated, nodding, "And you have been blooded for how long?"
"Three, by Paris Skyle, the greatest vampire to have ever lived. Fairly old, too," Gavner replied, "And you?"
"Five," Larten said smugly, then added, "And blooded by Seba Nile."
"Cocky bastard," Gavner grumbled, glaring at his cup of mineral water. Larten always won.
"Let's not be sore," Larten concieved, smiling a rare smile.
"Right-o," Gavner sighed, and he picked up his menu, remembering he was hungry.
"Iwasalwaysbetterthanyouanyway," Larten mumbled quickly as he, too, picked up his menu to hide his face and began reviewing what he wanted for lunch.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, debating.
"I think I'll have the veal," Gavner said finally. He peered over his menu at Larten, who was grinning back at him, and then added, "Extra rare."
# Bobbie Socks