Chapter Summary: Alucard tries to drink sorrows away, as he awaits for Seras' answer, however, life never does go the way we want it, does it? And as such, He has to constantly deal with people who he thought were long, long dead.

A/N: I wanted to headcanon that Alucard's family always had a history or at least a deep connection with vampirism, and at the same time I think it would be hilarious for Alucard to suddenly be in a situation, where he'd be forced to interact with people he hated a long time ago and blissfully thought they were dead, only for said people come up outta of nowhere knocking on his front door, like nothing ever happened.

This is a major canon divergence.

Old Acquaintances

Chapter Two

People don't change, the phrase repeatedly raced through his mind on an infinite loop.

People don't change. People don't change. People don't change. Heaven above, it was like a broken record, constantly skidding and skipping through his thoughts and don't even get him started on the scratching.

It was bad enough his mind felt buzzed from the Everclear, which to his surprise was quite strong, strong as it was like lighting a fire down his throat with each sip.

It burned and scorched his esophagus raw, however the feeling was welcoming, yet at the same time, despite his vision being somewhat spotty and his shoulders slumped he doesn't feel any more tired than he did earlier.

Glancing around the bar, it was nearly empty, except for a few stragglers, who like himself are busying themselves with the goal of trying to drown their miseries in an ocean full of booze.

As, he drank he occasionally gazed out one of the two windows that the bar had, the third one didn't count, for the life of him he couldn't figure out whether it was a broken window with boards nailed to it or because it was the entrance to a secret room, or something else, but whatever it is, Igor didn't appreciate it when people lingered near it for too long. Alucard was starting to wonder if perhaps he was hiding something in it, something he didn't want anyone to find. Well, if it was, it's a pretty lousy hiding spot in his opinion.

The night was a gorgeous one, if he could say, so himself. The moon was high, round and full and the stars fluttered with just as much enthusiasm, as their light was reflected off the drizzling snow illuminating the darkness. It wasn't heavy or thick, this evening, it seemed the snowflakes were lazy in their flight, as they coated the icy ground.

Watching the snow fall, for him at least reminded him of Romania's harsh winters and the nights of endless blizzards, for, others it signaled the yuletide cheer

And by, no means was he a fan of Christmas, or any holiday in particular, to him it was just a sorry excuse for people to buy and flaunt expensive gifts and feast to their hearts content.

Another reason why he hated it

Was because he felt like the people around him suddenly became more obnoxious once the holidays surfaced. Everyone wants to invite him to parties, encouraging him to join in on the festivities, such as drinking eggnog, playing secret Santa, decorating the Christmas tree, or worse Christmas caroling, absolutely ridiculous, him singing. Did they really think he was going to destroy his reputation by singing merry melodies to complete strangers, fixating on it now, he wondered if his co-workers, if he could call them that, we're kicked in the head as a child, possibly dropped head first as an infant. It was plausible because they were all bloody insane.

He downed another swig before pouring more in his shot glass, to the brim and repeated the same tiresome process, well it would have been just another tiresome process if it weren't for the arm that suddenly slung itself across his shoulders.

He was on the verge of breaking whoever arm it was, until he picked up their scent, which filled him with the regret of not mindlessly lashing out.

" Sup, Bro!" the feeling of fire was prickling under his skin, it was annoying and itchy and he forcibly submerged the desire to rip someone's throat out in a gory, bloody display. And because of this his previous train of thought was overthrown and kicked down the a steep , rocky hill with the unwelcome intrusion of the last person on earth he wanted to see let alone talk to.

" What do you want." he hissed, unable to contain the utter contempt in his voice. Radu was definitely the last person in this entire universe that he ever wanted to meet again and he bet it was fate's sick joke and accompanied with the world's twisted sense of humor that kept his traitorous little brother, unfortunately, alive and breathing.

"Someone's touchy?" Thankfully he removed his offending appendage, but on the other hand took a seat beside him. Involuntarily he ran his eyes over his smaller, form. He was still wearing that ridiculous mask that covered his eyes and nose, he was also wearing a loose black, tank top and baggy sweat pants along with worn down rain boots.

He shook his head, rustling out the snow that was clinging to his long, dark-brown curls.

" Yo, Igor, I'll have what he's having" he waved, before turning to him.

Igor lifted a brow, but carried out the order without, so much of as a word.

" So, why the long face. Having woman troubles, I ran into Seras on the way in. She looked pretty down, you didn't do anything weird to her did you?"

" You better be grateful that I barely tolerate your presence." He sneered.

Radu waved a dismissive hand " Yeah,yeah that's what you always say, yet am still alive, Admit it you still love me."

" They'll never find your body."

"Awww." he cooed, almost mockingly" I still love you too, Vlady, still after all these years, even after burning my face off." He tapped a finger against the white, porcelain mask that was strapped to his face.

" First off, don't ever call me by that name ever again. Second, I did many, and I mean many things to your body, but I don't recall ever searing your stupid face off." which was the truth, he did indeed mutilate his scrawny little body in the most horrendous ways, but deep frying him, wasn't one of them. His memory may not be the best, spotted in some areas, static in others, but he'd definitely remember barbecuing another person's face off, especially if said person was a close family member.

" You don't remember a lot things. Sometimes I think you have a selective memory."

"And what's that supposed to mean? "

" What do you think?"

" Enlighten me." It was meant to be rhetorical.

" Well, for starters you were a huge cry baby as a kid. I mean you cried about everything."

" I did no such thing."

" You also had that phase where you were afraid of the dark too.

" Are you sure it wasn't yourself."

"I may have been small at the time, but I wasn't that stupid to not have remembered, you crawling into my bed every night."

" At least you acknowledge your own incompetence."

Igor placed Radu's glass of Everclear in front of him, out of eagerness the imbecile gulps it down before his eyes appears as if they were going to pop out their sockets, sure enough gagging follows, and spurting of curses " hot damn, what the hell is this stuff!"

A moment of harsh coughing, and cries of bloody murder ensures and the beating his fist against his chest.

" Will you shut up already."

" Have you no compassion? "

" You had no business drinking something you're not use to."

" You could have warned me."

" Why should I? "

"You really are a cold hearted bastard, y'know ."

" So, I've been told."

"I'll never understand why Seras lets you get in her bed.

It was his turn choke " What?"

" Don't tell me you're embarrassed. You of all people."

" Hey, Igor do you have any soda?" to which he pointed at the paper menu that was taped to the chalk board, full of various refreshments.

" Thanks."

" Seras and I aren't sleeping together."

" Really!? You're joking right."

He leered at him.

" Damn, now I owe Sorin 50 bucks." he snapped his fingers.

" What?"

" You sure you're not lying?"

" Why would I, and where did you even get the notion that we sleeping together ."

" You're kidding me right. I see the way you two at each other, bed room eyes and all.

….

" Ohh, come on, you're not very subtle, bro, you drool over her like she's a hot serving of prime cut roast beef."

He didn't like that implication nor the euphemism.

" Not that I blame you, though, I mean she's got nice thighs, pretty blue eyes, a cute face, a shapely butt, big ti-

" Are you prepared to have your tongue cut from your very mouth, if you such much as finish that sentence?"

" No. But, it can't be worse than having hot sauce poured down your throat."

" No one told you to drink a whole bottle of extra spicy hot sauce."

" It was a bet! I couldn't back down from a challenge."

" I hardly consider downing a bottle of spicy liquid a challenge.

Radu seemed on the brink of retorting, but from the squint in his eyes, Alucard assumed whatever stupid thing he was going to say, caused his brain to temporarily misfire.

And so, a miraculous period of quiet ensured, with the crunching sound of peanut shells cracking and munching and repeat, as Radu noisy shoved the salty snacks, that resided within a bowl upon the bar table, into his mouth.

He didn't move no matter how annoyed he was, there wasn't any other place he wanted to visit nor did he want to go ho- the place where he was currently living.

He sighed beside himself, as felt his thoughts become a bit more hazy, it was as if he was having an out of body experience, he felt completely detached from his surroundings, words were muted, people blurred by him, the T.V was like static to his ears. He was aware, yet unaware, as if his whole body was numb, as if he wasn't actually sitting here, but where, somewhere, yet not here.

This sensation made it difficult to carry on any complicated conversation within the realm of his own thinking.

Simply, enough only one person, a certain draculina stayed focused, blurred around the edges, but clear as day, despite the fact that seeing her somber, smiling face, hurt both him in all kinds of places and in many different ways that he was too cowardly to admit it.

She was hesitant, he could see it her eyes, apprehension uncertainty.

She did not want to be with him. Whatever amorous longing she had for him long ago, perhaps dissipated, after getting a rude awakening to who he really was, to see firsthand the person that he was that existed behind the madness.

Could he blame her?

No. Of course not, how could he.

What was he doing asking her to be with him. How could he be, so willing to ruin her. Hasn't his malice tainted her innocence enough, hasn't he done enough by dragging her into this world mired in blood and illuminated by darkness.

So, much pain was inflicted upon her because of him, either it was due to the fact that she was associated with him or because his past had caught off with him, embroiling both him and Seras.

Unintentionally, tangling her up in his ocean of personal issues.

He tired and tried to keep her a bay, in the dark, but knowing her and her bottomless empathy remained, stubbornly, by his side wishing to to help him in whatever why she could.

It angered him, rightfully so, stupid, stupid, girl, he was trying to protect her, to keep her safe and sound, yet she defied him over and over again, and for what?!

" I want to help. "

" Am I an Invalid, no! I can take care of this on my own! I do not need you!"

" Why are you so impossible! Don't you get it I want to help you, not because I have to, but because I want to!

" I do not want your pity!"

" I am not pitying you, jackass! I'm trying to help. You don't have to do this on your own. You don't have to bare the weight of the world on your shoulders all the time. You can share, I'm strong, I can bear some of the weight. What happen to not wanting to walk the night alone, I'm here, I'm right here, please, please don't ignore me. I want to help because I care about you, not as my master, not because I indebted to you, not because of some detached loyalty, but because I care about you, just you, don't you understand I love you, so please don't push me away." he couldn't remember the last time he felt skin on skin. Her hands were warm, and soft, and oh so welcoming, the need to just press his face into her palm was overwhelming, he was just tired, and weary, his shoulders slumped under the weight and heaviness of his past. Feeling her skin, just, but a moment, made him feel lighter, more human, more vulnerable, to her and to her only, she was the only witness to his weakness, and for some reason it was okay, he was okay with that.

" … Hello? Earth to Vlad!"

His attention snapped back to reality, he rubbed his face with the palm of his hand.

" You spaced out there." he said before taking a sip for what seemed to be a root-beer float.

" You really got it bad don't ya."

He didn't answer, peering up to the clock that hang up over the front door, it was 3:ooam, he groaned. He gave up drinking and just face planted his head between crooks of his arms, as he leaned over the table.

His body ached.

" Now, that I look at you, you look awful, when's the last time you slept?"

" I …." he had to pause "don't remember."

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