Alucard watched the shadows of the lit candles dance along the blank walls; he had tried to wait
patiently for her. When he decided it had been a while he slipped into her thoughts. He knew she
despised it when he did it; but he would not put it past her to decide to change her mind and just deal
with him pestering her. He instead was surprised to discover her attempting to convince herself that
she was not trying to look attractive for him; though her true thoughts told an entirely different story.
He knew she was in a constant war between having feelings for him and the fact that he was the
creature she had been taught to hate and destroy. To admit that she had romantic feelings; even
fantasies about him would be the same as betraying her father and grandfather. He understood at least
part of that thinking; but because she would not admit to her true feelings, she was denying him the
opportunity to swear to her that he would not expect anything to change unless she wished it to. Tonight, he would change all of that.
"Well, clearly I need to fire Walter since he obviously has forgotten to pay the electric bill." She quipped from the doorway. "I suppose you accidentally neglected to mention the candlelit part of this request of yours?" Integra entered the room, attempting to ignore the fact that Alucard was staring at her.
"It is so hard to find good help these days! I did not neglect to mention it; I opted to leave it out of the conversation altogether." Alucard gave her a mischievous grin and walked towards her. He reached out and boldly took her hand in his delighting in the warmth it radiated. "You look beautiful, though that does not surprise me. You are always beautiful, even in that suit you wear trying to hide that fact." He stated while still holding her hand. He caught her other hand midair by the wrist as she swung to slap his face. "The color of that dress brings out your eyes, I knew that it would. You should learn to take a compliment, Integra." He looked her directly into her eyes, holding her gaze and placed a kiss on the top of her hand before letting both of her hands go. "Shall we dine and celebrate?" He offered her the chair next to his.
"What exactly is it that you are celebrating?" She sat down in the chair he pulled out and watched as he took his seat. Instead of his usual red suit; he had some how managed to find one that matched the midnight blue of her dress. He was not wearing the sunglasses that generally hid his eyes from other's gazes. Allowing her to see his red orbs without obstruction. Integra often found herself mesmerized by his eyes, which sometimes had swirls of orange in them. His eyes got wider.
"Your Birthday; of course! You are 21 today; how is it you could possibly forget your own birthday?" He asked incredulously.
"I do not celebrate birthdays; surely by now you have noticed that. I see no reason to celebrate what amounts to the addition of one more year to life. It is just another day; no different than yesterday or the day before." She responded in a huff.
"I have noticed, since you took over the organization. If you would like my opinion; which I know you have not requested, it is a shame. You are young and should be celebrating such things; unlike myself who has been around for far too many years to count them anymore. Tonight we are celebrating." Alucard said confidently while swirling his wine in his glass.
"Why is celebrating my birthday so very important to you?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"How about we stop arguing over the reason and focus on you for once. I know that makes you uncomfortable, being the center of attention. I remember the day you came down to the dungeon; you were wounded so severely, your blood brought me back. I gave you some of mine to heal your wounds and it bound me to you. Do you not feel the connection to me; not know that I love and desire you? How every time you have dreamt of us it has taken every ounce of my being to not come to you? Do not deny it; I know you do and I also know you desperately try to fight it. You think I would make you give up the Hellsing Organization; but why? It is what makes you who you are; it is your family's legacy and will be your legacy." He explained and pleaded with her. Getting out of his chair and dropping to his knees in front of her. He stared into the widened eyes looking at him. "Integra; for you I would continue be your faithful dog. You could continue to run Hellsing; but with the knowledge that at the end of each day you would have me run to. You would finally have someone you could be vulnerable with; who would never share those secrets with another." Alucard told her.