Chapter 3

That damn vampire.

Matthew sat with his knuckles indenting his cheeks. Work was more dull than usual, customers surly attitudes went straight over his head and his manager's bad attitude was lost on him. Nothing seemed to impress itself upon him as being significant or important … unless it was a specific blonde vampire.

Like he said, that damn vampire.

He had even dreamed about him not once, but twice. Usually when one wakes up after dreaming about someone and then go back to sleep, they don't dream for the rest of the night. However, Matthew seemed to be in the minority. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the vampire stood smiling at him, a seductive smile gracing his lips as his emerald eyes call out to him. Matthew always played along in these fantasies. He always walked up to the vampire, drawn to him like a magnet, his eyes running up and down the vampires lithe body as the vampire's pearl white fangs were on display while he smiled. Matthew felt his heart speed up several knots and his breathe catch in his throat with that smile. He would stop in front of the vampire and find himself captivated by his presence alone. The vampire would look up at him, his nest like blonde hair falling away from his face, revealing milk white skin. The vampire would then raise his hand and caress his cheek before leaning in close.

That was usually the time when someone snatched him back to the harsh reality that he wasn't with the vampire that had captured his heart, but instead in a dead end job with no prospects and a angry customer usually in front of him, hitting him over the head with what ever they had in their hands at the time. His head still hurt from being clubbed with a walking stick.

That damn vampire and his damn body.

Was this why people always went to the vampire despite the audience deeming them morons in the movies?

Errm … yeah ... more or less.

Matthew grabbed a glass of water and chucked it over his face. Luke warm. Damn. Damn. And damn again.

This was going to be a long day.

To reiterate; that damn vampire.

…

"Arthur?" A thick German accented voice asked.

"Errmmm?" The blonde vampire didn't turn his eyes away from the London twilight scene outside the window.

"Arthur!" His name sounded sharper. Arthur shook himself reluctantly from his thoughts. "Would you please forget about that kid!"

Arthur couldn't deny it to himself. His mind had spun around the young man during his every waking moment since Ludwig had taken him back and healed him properly. (A lot of blood had been required, though it never crossed his mind to care). He knew exactly what had caught him off guard. It was the fact that Matthew had helped him. Normally people try to kill him or run away screaming and tearing at their hair. Not Matthew though. Matthew had knelt down next to him and had tried to help him. He couldn't forget the softness of Matthew's face and eyes when he told him his name.

He didn't quite know what he was feeling, but he was most certainly intrigued by the young Canadian.

"The kid has a name, and it's Matthew." Arthur replied.

"Regardless; it's safer to forget, for both of you. You do remember we're being hunted?" Ludwig folded his arms across his chest.

"Of course I remember. How do you think I got injured in the first place." Arthur asked, still only half listening.

"ARTHUR!" Ludwig bellowed. Arthur raised his head only and looked at the German while he remained lounging in the chair with his legs crossed.

"Yes?" He asked innocently.

"Don't you think that you have done enough damage to yourself for one week?"

Arthur mulled the question over. Ludwig might be on to something there. He had been quite reckless as of late, enough so that he had nearly got killed (if that was possible for someone who's heart didn't beat anyway). That thought just lead back to Matthew though. It was his apartment and his kindness that was the most likely reason he was still alive to tell the story.

Arthur simply couldn't get out of his mind the image of the Canadian. His blonde, silk like hair (though he had never touched it); big eyes that expressed everything that he felt; perfect, unblemished skin; a beautiful mind and personality that had yet to be corrupted by the modern world to name but a few. Again, Arthur wouldn't deny it to himself; this lad was a one in a million find. There were only but a few who had the same qualities that amounted to being beautiful, innocent and naive all in one package.

Arthur silently vowed to talk with the young man again. He knew he was leaving London that night, but he wanted to speak to him, even if it was for the last time. He had never said thank you to him for his help.

There was his reason! It was also the nice thing to do, though Arthur only focused on the former.

A smile crossed his lips. "I insist on thanking him none the less."

Ludwig exhaled hard in frustration. "Fine, but I insist on coming with you, especially after last time."

Arthur waved his hand and dismissed the comment, though he felt a little insulted that Ludwig thought that he needed a babysitter. However, he knew from experience that when Ludwig made up his mind to do something, all the devil's minions in hell couldn't stop him.

God help anyone who got in his way.

…

Matthew once more walked with Feliciano down the street after his shift had ended. Shivering because of the cold, he pulled his coat tighter across his chest with his hand while he noticed his breath turn to vapour in front of his face. He had forgotten his scarf that morning and now he was experiencing the consequences of his neglect.

"Matthew." Came a soft whisper on the breeze. Matthew froze, his eyes widening. He blinked, thinking he had only heard the wind. "Matthew." His name sounded again. Matthew spun around in the direction his name came from to see the blonde vampire stood in the shadows of the ally.

Matthew could make out the features and profile of the vampire, despite the shadow he decided to stand in. Slender frame, light glittering in his eyes (though where that light came from was anyone's guess), blonde hair standing in stark contrast to the dark and shadows. It was only after a few seconds that Matthew then spotted Ludwig standing not to far behind him, even deeper in the shadows. Matthew could make out a not too pleased expression written across his face.

"Matthew?" Feliciano whispered as he pressed himself up behind him, scared of the blonde vampire. He had yet to see Ludwig.

"Ludwig, why don't you see that Matthew's friend gets home safely. We wouldn't want anything happening to him now do we?" The blonde vampire spoke clearly. He never looked over his shoulder to see Ludwig's expression. He already knew what it was. A piercing stare as cold as ice and an expression of restrained anger. By not looking around, Arthur didn't take up the challenge that the stare laid down.

As Ludwig walked past him, he whispered something to Arthur that was inaudible to both Matthew and Feliciano. Arthur simply smiled, his emerald eyes bright with amusement. His eyes followed Ludwig's progress as he moved towards Feliciano. Now Feliciano had seen him, he stepped out from behind Matthew, (much to Matthew's surprise), and stood captivated once more by the German vampire.

"I'm to walk you home ... ja?"

"S … s … si." Feliciano stuttered.

Matthew watched Ludwig walk down the street with Feliciano. He didn't fear for Feliciano. Okay … maybe just a little, but that was mostly because the vampire towered over his dear Italian friend. Feliciano didn't seem to mind though. Matthew saw that he loved the vampire's company (even if the German vampire … didn't his vampire friend say his name was Ludwig … didn't notice anything amiss at all). Yes, watching them, Matthew could see that Feliciano loved the vampires company ...

… much the same as himself loving the company of the blonde vampire.

When they rounded the corner, the vampire began to talk.

"You fascinate me." The vampire spoke as he walked out the shadows and came to stand in front of Matthew, his smile never wavering. "A human that doesn't run but instead helps a vampire in need. I must say, that's a first."

Matthew's cheeks tinted pink. He would have said that anybody would have done it, but the vampire's words would have proved that modest statement a contradiction. He hated his modesty. He eventually settled on, "you had done nothing to me, so why should I have harmed you?" The vampire nearly reminded him that he broke into his apartment and, in more ways than one, committed the act of theft. Then he decided it would be a bad idea and left it at that.

"What's your name?" Matthew asked.

The vampire kept his gaze level as he answered. "Arthur. Arthur Kirkland."

"Arthur." Matthew repeated back, just the same as Arthur had done when he had told him his name. He liked the name. It had connotations of bravery and nobility; King Arthur and Sir Arthur Wellesley to name but a few that gave him the idea.

Arthur smiled at him as he continued to study the Canadian closely with his emerald eyes instead of working from memory as he had done some hours before. Shoulder length, silk blonde hair; tall; thin but appearing to be naturally like that; wide curious eyes; perfect skin that women envied; he had found someone who not only looked like an angel, but also had the personality to match, (only if angels were viewed as being nice though. Arthur had days when he thought they were nothing but mean bastards with a hair up their ass about something. He wouldn't know though, he'd never had the misfortune to meet one).

"What are you looking at?" Matthew asked as he watched the vampire's emerald eyes travelling over his body.

Arthur smiled innocently. "I'm a believer that one should admire beauty." Matthew's cheeks flushed red. "Additionally, I would like to thank you." Matthew looked at him after dragging his gaze up from his feet, a look of curiosity across his face. A vampire saying thank you? "Ignore what the films say, we vampires are very noble." Arthur purred. "Though, it does depend upon who you come across."

Matthew nodded, captivated by the vampires words. His couldn't help but let his eyes slip slightly down to watch the vampire's lips forming the words as he spoke.

That was when he realised he was truly head over heels.

Oh shit. That couldn't be good.

Arthur could see that Matthew was under his charm. He didn't want to relinquish the hold he had over him either. If Matthew had caught his interest, then he at least wanted the Canadian to have some interest in him. Looking at Matthew though, he knew it was more than interest that he was witnessing.

He was old enough to be able to tell the difference between curiosity and lust.

Just as he was about to start to speak again, Arthur's emerald eyes turned feral and his smile disappeared. Matthew felt fear sink it's claws into him. He quickly realised though it wasn't the vampire he was scared off.

"Arthur, we meet again, da?"

A/N: Oh wow! Thank you so much guys! I love my stats page. Lots of reviews, alerts and favourites. ^o^ It's wonderful to know that what I do for a bit of fun actually entertains others.