Jack stood in my haven, looking around at the beaten mattress and boarded up windows. I stood in the small kitchenette, heating a couple blood bags in the ancient microwave. I offered one to Jack, who took it, his vest falling open more as he lifted his arm up. I smiled. Jack would never tell me what he was in life, though I knew he was a few centuries old. I could guess that he was once a pirate, or blacksmith, or something of the like from the build of him and the way he was. He didn't give a damn if you liked him, he had shit to do. He sat in the computer chair, resting his arm on the desk and spreading his legs to get comfortable. He eyed me critically for a moment, then took a careful drink from the bag.
"You look good, kid," he said. "How are things?"
"I've only been here for a few nights," I pointed out.
"And you've survived, which is a miracle," he returned. "So, what's up?"
"Not much," I said, taking a seat on the bed and curling my legs underneath me. "I'm getting a little sick of running errands for everyone."
Jack snorted.
"Gettin' pushed around by anyone with a week of seniority?" he asked, scratching his chin.
"Exactly," I said. He tossed his head back and laughed, a deep raspy laugh.
"Ah, welcome to unlife, kiddo," he said. Jack wasn't like other vampires, and for that I was glad. He could have been a biker, though not for a very hard gang. Jack more or less was content to go about his business and let everyone else do that same. He was like a favorite uncle or a less than conventional father. He was a hard man and expected you to tough it out, but wasn't above showing sympathy in his own way or lending an ear. I was very fond of him and gave him a smile that showed it. He returned it and leaned over to ruffle my hair.
"You'll do alright, kiddo," he said. "You'll do alright."
"The man who spoke up for me at the theater…" I began, looking down at the blood bag in my hands.
"Nines," Jack said, nodding, "What about 'em?"
"I…I wanted to thank him," I explained, raising my eyes to look at my surrogate sire. Jack tugged at his beard thoughtfully.
"Well, he usually stays downtown, but he may be comin' up here to stock up on blood for some of the younger kindred, maybe you'll see him," he said. I nodded.
"Wanna give 'em a big ole' kiss?" Jack teased, that rasping laugh following the jest. I rolled my eyes and swatted at him.
"Oh yeah," I said, sarcasm lacing my every word, "I wanna totally jump him undead bones and ride him around town." Jack howled with laughter, slapping his knee.
"Ah, kid," he sighed, patting his bare chest. "I knew there was a reason I liked ya."