Chapter 3: Strangers

Notes: Title from Strangers by William Control
We fall, we fall in love with strangers killing time
We fall, we fall in love with strangers in the night

In the seventy-eight years Ian Gallagher has walked the earth, he's never been in love.

He thinks that's pretty sad. Not in a pitiful kind of way, but in a remorseful kind of way. What did it say about someone who'd been around for over three-quarters of a century and never experienced love? But then, he was never really given the opportunity, being turned at such a young age. Maybe it was a good thing, remembering his siblings lack of success with love. The lying and cheating boyfriends Fiona kept, the hearts and spirits of women Lip would so easily crush, the older men Debbie chased in an attempt to grow up too quickly, the junior criminals Carl lost himself in, and Liam who Ian never got to see grow up and find his own paramour. And then there was Frank and Monica, his parents. What a shit-show they were if he ever saw one.

So when he jerked off in his bed after waking up mid-morning to thoughts of a raven haired, blue eyed human, Ian decided whatever he was feeling - it was most certainly not love.

He was just incredibly horny, that's it. It'd been a while since he had a good lay. Just one good fuck, that's all he needed.

Ian forced himself to push all thoughts of Mickey and the previous night out of his head, willing himself back to sleep for the rest of the day.

In the short nineteen years Mickey Milkovich has been alive, he's never been in love.

In fact, he's almost certain such a concept doesn't exist. Not the kind in the romance flicks Mandy likes to watch anyways. Maybe there isn't any other kind of love either. He's never known anyone in love. His parents sure as shit weren't. Mickey's mother passed when he was only ten but he'd been old enough to know there was no love between his parents, if his father's fits of drunken rage and his mother's quiet sobbing when she thought everyone was asleep were any indication. Colin and Iggy kept a close circle of girlfriends they sometimes shared, which Mickey thought was pretty gross to be quite honest, but he'd never known his brothers being in love with any of those girls. And Mandy never kept a steady boyfriend either. Maybe it was just his parents' hateful marriage that fucked them up in the love department.

So when he jerked off in the shower to thoughts of a specific redheaded, arrogant vampire, Mickey decided whatever he was feeling - it was most certainly not love.

He was just incredibly horny, that's it. It'd been a while since he had a good lay. Just one good fuck, that's all he needed.

Mickey forced himself to push all thoughts of Ian and the previous night out of his head, willing himself out of the shower to face the day.

He was just finishing getting dressed when he heard one of his brothers calling for him.

"Get a move on, Mickey!" Iggy yelled through Mickey's bedroom door.

"Alright, jesus!" Mickey yelled back. He yanked the door open, glowering at Iggy for a brief moment before they joined their siblings in the kitchen.

Even after Terry left, the Milkovich siblings didn't eat meals together often. It was nothing personal, just that they didn't really have a routine for anything they did. So when someone was hungry, they made themselves a sandwich, poured themselves a bowl of cereal, ate the last packet of strawberry pop-tarts, didn't really bother to cook full meals for everyone. After last night though, a shared meal seemed like a good idea. Mandy had made eggs and sausage, nothing special, Colin helped though, that was different. None of them ever said it, but they really did like how close they'd all become following Terry's departure. And when something didn't go the way it was supposed to, like say a drug deal where your buyer tries to feed you to a ravenous vampire, they felt a strong need to stick close to each other for at least a little while.

They sat around their small table in the kitchen not really talking, just enjoying each other's company as they silently ate their breakfast. There was a small television set propped up on a stool in the corner of the kitchen. The volume had been lowered so it just became background noise but Mandy turned it up when she heard the word vampire. Vampires intrigued her. She wasn't naive enough to trust any of them, barely trusted humans, but she liked learning about them. Ian seems good enough though, she thinks. He aided her brothers after all, so she didn't feel guilty or uncomfortable coming on to him right off the bat. Though, it wasn't meant to be, Ian's into guys, can't do anything about that. And judging by the little glances he exchanged with Mickey, it seemed Ian had his sights set on a different Milkovich sibling.

Mandy focused her attention on the television where Steve Newlin, head of a vampire hating church, was arguing with Nan Flanagan, accusing vampires for his father's murder.

"The vampires, as a group, have cheated death. And when death has no meaning, life has no meaning. And when life has no meaning, it is very, very easy to kill."

"Not true, Reverend Newlin. Life has great meaning for us. We've all known the joy of human life, and as several of your kind demonstrated in Louisiana three weeks ago, we most certainly can die. Your assertion is little more than veiled incitement for your supporters to come kill us."

"No amount of political grandstanding can hide the fact that you know who killed my family. Their blood is on your hands."

"That's an outrageous accusation."

"Can you back that up Reverend?" the news anchor asked.

"My father's death was an assassination, pure and simple. A killing meticulously planned, ruthlessly executed. From there, all you have to ask is who stands the most to gain?"

"We're running out of time. Last words, Ms. Flanagan?"

"Clearly Reverend Newlin's grief over the loss of his father has unhindered him from some political grandstanding himself."

"It's a beautiful sunny morning in America, Ms. Flanagan. I wish you were here."

"Give me twelve hours, Reverend. I'll be right there."

"I like her," Mandy states after the debate ended.

Mickey snorts in response as he finishes off his black coffee.

"So, Ian seems alright," Mandy begins, choosing her words carefully. "For a vampire."

"Probably never would have caught those guys last night if it weren't for him," Iggy points out.

"You think he can fly?" Colin asks abruptly.

"Oh my fucking god!" Mickey groans. "You're all just a bunch of wannabe fangbangers!" He hastily gets up from his seat and dumps his dirty dishes in the sink. "I'll be waiting in the car."

As Mickey leaves, Mandy turns to her other brothers. "So, you guys already placed bets on how long it's gonna take for them to bone?"

"Colin's got two weeks, I say one."

"Oh, please!" Mandy cackles. "You're both wrong. I give it five days - tops."

"You're on little sis," Colin says, he and Iggy rising to meet their brother outside.

As they reach the door, they hear Mickey honking the car horn at them.

"How is it that I was the last one to wake up and now I'm the one waiting on you assholes?" Mickey asks as his brothers settle into the car, Iggy at his side and Colin in the back again.

"Just fucking drive," Iggy grumbles. "We wanna get there before anybody learns Darrel is missing and finds our car."

The Milkovich brothers arrived at the garage, left Darrel's convertible and retrieved their own car without any problems. It wasn't a complex endeavor, but something about the operation going so smoothly had Mickey feeling uneasy. He couldn't quite place it, but something was off, he felt it in his gut. Relenting, Mickey lit up a cigarette to calm his nerves. It wasn't that helpful, especially since he was driving past Ian's house at the moment. He stopped the car suddenly when he noticed a moving truck pulling into Ian's driveway.

"Hey, where you headed?" Iggy asks as Mickey parks in the middle of the street and gets out of the car.

"Doesn't take all three of us to take the car back. I'll catch up with you guys later. And start moving that dope."

Iggy pulls a face but moves to the driver's seat anyways, Colin taking Iggy's previous spot.

"Thinking maybe Mandy might be right. Knew I shouldn't have bet two weeks," Colin groused.

"Jesus, our lives must be pretty fucking boring if we have to bet on when our brother's gonna score," Iggy reflects as he drives off.

Mickey waits until his brothers are out of sight until he proceeds towards the man knocking on Ian's door. The guy is about three times the size of Mickey, but he has a soft face. Mickey can tell he's harmless, plus the man is in a mover's uniform, no doubt he's here delivering Ian's belongings.

"Hello? Anyone home?" The man asks through the door as he keeps knocking.

"Hey," Mickey calls to the man from the gate.

"Hey," the man greets, turning around and walking up to Mickey. "You live here?"

"Nah, but I know who does. Won't be able to reach him right now though."

"Oh, yeah, why's that?"

"Uh…" Mickey pauses. He knows not everyone has such an easy time wrapping their heads around the fact that vampires exist. And this guy seems ok, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. "He's just a heavy sleeper."

"Right…" The man narrows his eyes suspiciously. "Well, can you sign?"

"Oh! Uh, sure, um…" Mickey trails off, he doesn't see a name tag on the guy's uniform.

"It's Oscar."

"Oscar."

When Mickey hands the clipboard back, Oscar thinks to ask a curious question. "Hey," he begins cautiously. "He's not a vampire is he?"

Mickey shrugs. "Everybody's gotta live somewhere."

"Shit…" Oscar swears under his breath. "Look, you don't mind if the other movers and I just get this done as quickly as possible and hit the road, do you?"

Mickey doesn't bother telling Oscar that it's only two o'clock and that there'll still be light out for several hours. "Yeah, whatever."

"Thanks, man, really." Oscar hastily paces towards the moving crew. "Let's hurry it up, fellas. Fanger lives here."

Mickey rolls his eyes. It's not like vampires aren't dangerous or frightening, but so are humans. And he can't get over the fact that the sun is still out. Mickey doesn't see how anyone can be scared of something when there's no threat present.

The movers finish quickly, like they said they would, eager to get the hell out of there. Mickey helps them carry a few items, if only to speed up the process. And luckily, Ian doesn't seem to be in possession of much. A few furniture pieces, couch and coffee table for the living room, a small dining set for the kitchenette, and a few boxes that probably mostly hold clothes. He did have a rather large dresser and expansive bed. Mickey guessed Ian must have wanted those in one of the larger rooms upstairs, so that's where he tells the movers to place them.

Though, Mickey doesn't remember actually seeing Ian in any of the bedrooms, or anywhere else in the house. He knows Ian will be asleep during the day, but asleep where? Mickey is resting on the couch with a beer in his hand, which he was surprised Ian had in the fridge, when he realizes this. He rises from his seat and goes to investigate further upstairs. He checks the bedrooms - no Ian. He checks the bathroom, the closets - no Ian. He descends from the back stairs and finds another bathroom - still no Ian. Where the fuck is this vampire, Mickey wonders. He was going to check if there was a garage out back or something when his phone rings. It's Mandy.

"Hey, fuckface," she greets when Mickey answers. "What are you up to?"

"Went to get the car, you know that."

"Yeah, but that was this morning. What are you doing now?"

"What's it to you?" Mickey snaps. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"I'm on break, asshole."

"Well, douchebag, is there a reason you called other than to annoy the shit outta me?"

"Yeah, gotta work a later shift today. After dark, think you can swing by?"

Mickey has always been protective of Mandy, and it's not that he doesn't trust her to look after herself, she always carries a shiv and a baton, but since the vampires came out, he isn't taking any chances. It seems there is a body popping up every few weeks, drained dry. So far, the people being killed were the dregs of society so no one really made too much of a fuss out of it. Still, Mickey doesn't want any of his siblings going anywhere alone at night.

"Colin and Iggy have the car but sure."

"Kay, see you in a bit."

"Later," Mickey says and hangs up to meet his sister.

Mickey catches the L to head to the diner Mandy works at. The foreboding feeling in his gut has somewhat settled but it's still there. He chalks it up to the lingering nerves from the previous night.

Gazing out the window to the city and neighborhoods below him, he replays the events in his mind. The drive to the garage, the bright lights blinding his vision for a few seconds, learning they'd been duped, learning they were supposed to die that night. Death isn't something to be taken lightly, Mick. Ian's words reverberate through Mickey's skull. He closes his eyes and tries not to think of Ian. Tries not to think of his deep green eyes, his fiery red hair, the scattered freckles on his face, his smirking lips. He tries not to think of the fact that Ian's a vampire.

"Fuck," Mickey curses under his breath. He can't wait to get off the train, he really needs a cigarette.

When he reaches his stop, Mickey lights up promptly as he exits the train cart. The hit of nicotine doing very little to calm him down. By the time he reaches the diner, Mickey has smoked through two more cigarettes.

Mandy spots her brother immediately and actually smiles at him. A genuinely happy smile. Those were rare once. Mickey can't help but smile back as he takes a seat at the counter.

"Hey," Mandy greets. "You're just in time for dinner. What do you want?"

It was at this moment Mickey's stomach growled loud enough for his sister to hear.

"Jesus, have you not eaten anything yet?"

"Uh…" Had his last meal really been breakfast? "I was busy."

"Hanging out by yourself at Ian's all day?"

"How did you-"

"Iggy," Mandy cut off. "Called him after I talked to you, said you were over there."

Mickey huffs out a sigh, he made a mental note to get his brother back somehow. "Movers were looking for him, thought I'd sign for his stuff. No big deal."

"Ok," Mandy says simply in a not at all convincing tone. She places a plate of the day's special in front of Mickey, though it looks like a standard dish of spaghetti and meatballs with a side of garlic bread.

Mickey wonders if Ian has any aversion to garlic. Then Mickey frowns at his food, still cranky he can't get the damn vampire off his mind. He angrily and unattractively shoveles a forkful of spaghetti into his mouth. "When do you get off?"

"Nine. One of the other waitresses called in sick and there was no one else who could cover her shift."

"Alright, not like I had anything better to do tonight."

"Like waiting for Ian to get up?" Mandy smirks.

"What?" Mickey asks, furrowing his brow. "No, no I wasn't waiting for him." Was I, he wonders.

Mandy's smirk grows wider.

"I wasn't!"

"You could do a lot worse," Mandy says at length.

"We don't even know him."

"What I know is that he helped you out when he didn't have to."

"I don't know, Mands. I don't know if I even really like him. I don't know him."

"Yet, you subconsciously made the choice to wait for him at his place. That's gotta say something."

"He's a," Mickey begins, but looks around to make sure no one is listening in on their conversation. He then leans forward and whispers, "He's a vampire."

And then Mandy actually snorts and rolls her eyes at Mickey.

"Why are you acting like that's not a big deal, doucheface?"

"If he weren't, would this be any easier?"

Mickey pulls a face, pondering if it will be permanently stuck in a scowl. "Fuck, I don't know! I don't know anything!"

Mandy smiles apologetically at her brother and sighs. "I'll get you a beer."

Thankfully, Mandy drops the subject and she and Mickey spend the rest of her shift just shooting the shit, some lighthearted sibling banter thrown in. The hours always seem to go by a lot quicker when she has company. She's just finished serving her last patron and goes to change and clock out when she receives a call from Iggy. When Mandy answers her phone, it's clear there's something that has her brother quite distressed.

"Mandy, are you alright?" Iggy asks in a panicked voice.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Are you ok?"

"Fuck, I tried calling Mickey but he wasn't answering. I thought he was fucking dead!"

"Iggy, what the fuck are you talking about? He's with me at the diner," Mandy informs, confusion and concern steadily rising. Mandy's eyes grow wide with shock. She understands the words Iggy speaks, yet she can't make sense of what he is saying.

"Mandy, whatever you do, don't go over to Ian's. And make sure Mickey stays the hell away from him too!"

Mandy nods but then remembers Iggy wouldn't be able to know that. "Y-yeah," she stammers. "Ok." She hangs up and takes a moment to compose herself before she goes out to meet Mickey.

Mickey is outside smoking a cigarette again and waiting on his sister. He hears the bell on the door chime and turns around, only to find Mandy visibly freaked the fuck out. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Mandy blinks once at her brother and answers. "Darrel and his gang are dead."

Mickey blanched. "What?"

"They were found back at the garage. They were killed."

"We were just there this morning! How is this possible?"

"They're dead, Mickey."

"How?"

"Far as the police can tell, it was a vampire. They all had marks on their necks and wrists, completely drained."

"Do you think-"

"I don't know, Mick," Mandy cut off.

"Shit…"

Ian wakes up at a later time than usual. This is uncommon for vampires, who routinely rise from their slumber as soon as the sun goes down. But Ian was dreaming. And dreaming is far more uncommon for vampires. The last time Ian dreamt was a few years after he'd been turned, and those dreams would be more accurately described as nightmares. This was anything but a nightmare, though it was grim. Despite successfully returning to sleep this morning, Ian dreamt of the events of the previous night. He dreamt of Mickey. And he supposes that he slept in tonight because his mind didn't want to stop dreaming of Mickey. Ian sighs forlornly and compels himself out of his bed. He does in fact sleep in a bed - not a coffin.

He ascends the stairs of the basement hazily. Suddenly, Ian remembers there were movers meant to come earlier and wonders if they'd been kind enough to drop off his belongings. He would have asked Mickey to sign for his things but often found himself losing his train of thought around the human, despite pulling off a debonair facade. He speeds into the living room and indeed finds several boxes containing his clothes and other personal effects. Ian wonders if the movers also delivered his spare bed and goes upstairs to inspect the bedrooms. He finds his bed and dresser neatly set up in what was once Fiona's old bedroom. Ian thinks this has been awfully nice of the movers. He had noticed his living room and kitchen were organized with the correct furniture as well, and wonders if someone other than the movers have been in his home that day.

Ian returns to the living room, surveying the space for any clues. It doesn't take long. He spots a phone on the couch. He picks it up and swipes his thumb across the screen to unlock it. It's Mickey's phone. Ian smiles dumbly for a moment but then notices several missed calls and texts from Iggy. His smile falters. He listens in on a few of the voicemails Iggy left and they all sound urgent and alarming but nothing in the voicemails informs Ian to what has Iggy so panicked. Ian looks through some of the texts, still he learns nothing. Has something happened to Mickey? He was here at some point during the day, otherwise his phone wouldn't be here, but where is he now? Has he been taken? By whom? Ian's mind races with a million and one questions and scenarios, each one worse than the last. He needs to find Mickey now.

He rushes to the Milkovich home. He is grateful for the short distance and his vampiric speed. Quickly, he climbs up the steps and knocks loudly on the door with his fist. But instead of seeing Mickey, he finds a different Milkovich brother answering the door.

"Iggy! Is Mickey-" Ian is abruptly cut off with a swift blow to his face, tattooed knuckles making hard contact with his nose.

"Stay the fuck away from my brother!" Iggy growls.

Caught off his guard, Ian stumbles backwards and falls down the front steps. He composes himself and rises to his feet instantly, his broken nose already healing itself. There is little damage a human can do to a vampire with just their bare hands. Ian notices Colin coming into view from the doorframe behind Iggy, a gun pointed in his direction. "What the fuck is going on? Why did you hit me?"

"Stay away from our brother, fanger!"

"Stay away from all of us," Colin adds.

Iggy cracks his knuckles, showing off similar tattoos to Mickey's.

Ian restrains from rolling his eyes at the lame attempt of bravado. "Where is Mickey?"

As if summoned, Mickey and Mandy hastily make their way towards the commotion taking place in front of their house.

Mandy hurries up the stairs and steals the gun from Colin's hands. "Would you two calm the fuck down! I told you Mickey was with me tonight!"

"C'mon, how are we supposed to defend ourselves!" Colin yells, trying for the gun only to have his hand smacked away.

"Wouldn't do much anyways," Ian scoffs.

"Silver bullets, asshole," Iggy clarifies.

"Ok, everybody chill the fuck out!" Mickey interrupts loudly. He turns to face Ian. "Me and you gotta talk."

"No, fuck that! Mickey, you can't-"

"I got this," Mickey interruptes Iggy, his voice stern.

Iggy roughly takes the gun from Mandy and hands it to Mickey. "Take it."

"Don't need it, man."

"I'm not asking you, I'm telling you," Iggy says as he shoves the gun at Mickey's chest.

Mickey takes the gun reluctantly, understanding nothing less will appease his brother. He tucks it into the waist of his jeans and motions for Ian to follow him. He leads Ian to the alleyway next to the house. He paces back and forth nervously a few times before finally facing Ian. Mickey is silent, unsure of how to begin. He bites his bottom lip anxiously.

"You gonna tell me what this is all about?" Ian asks.

Mickey decides it's best to just get it over with. "Darrel and his gang were killed tonight. Police are saying it was a vampire."

"And you think it was me?" Ian questions, clearly offended.

Mickey rubs a thumb on his chin apprehensively, trying to shake off his nerves. He looks away from Ian briefly and thinks he could really use a cigarette right about now. He wonders just how much his nicotine intake has increased since meeting the vampire. He makes a mental note to steal a pack from one of his siblings later. At length Mickey speaks, "No… but I think it's a pretty big fucking coincidence some other fanger killed those guys after you helped us out."

"Well, your brothers sure seem to think it was me."

"You ain't exactly off the hook with Mandy either so don't get your hopes up."

Ian chuckles pathetically before speaking again. "I think you're right."

Mickey looks at Ian expectantly.

"I think whoever did this wanted you to think it was me."

"Don't suppose you got any ideas who?"

"Vampires live for hundreds of years. I haven't been around as long but still have countless enemies, could be anyone."

"Jesus…"

"Have there been other killings?"

"Yeah, but no one anybody knew or cared about."

"Maybe it's not the same vampire," Ian surmises.

"You sayin' there's more than one fanger out here killing us off?"

"It's possible, yes."

"Fuck me, man."

Ian wants to make a joke there but doesn't need to when he notices Mickey's face flushes red with embarrassment, realizing what he's just said. He bites back his laughter with a sly grin and waits for Mickey to speak again.

"I just meant-"

"I know," Ian interrupts.

A brief silence passes between the vampire and human, tension quickly filling the atmosphere around them. It seems the air grows hotter and more humid. They ponder for a moment if this has anything to do with the summer season - probably not.

"I should get back before my brothers and Mandy think I became your dinner or some shit."

Ian laughs heartily. "Alright." He smiles and bites his bottom lip as he watches Mickey leave. "Oh, wait!" he calls out and catches Mickey by his wrist.

Mickey spins around, facing Ian.

"Your phone," Ian says, handing it to Mickey. "You left it at my place. Thanks for signing for my stuff by the way."

"Sure, no problem."

Ian's hands are cool against Mickey's skin, but where the vampire's fingers wrap around Mickey's wrist it feels like fire. Mickey realizes how close they're standing, and at this distance is able to make out the light freckles dusting Ian's face. He has really green eyes too, Mickey thinks. He then notices Ian's chest begin steadily rising and falling, and wonders what he looks like shirtless. Mickey begins breathing a little harder as well, as if he's attempting to stop the air from being sucked out of his lungs. Mickey tries to gulp down the nerves caught in his throat.

Ian glances down at Mickey's pink lips, waiting for a clear indication to proceed. Unfortunately, he does not receive one. He feels Mickey pulling his hand back lightly. Ian didn't realize he was still holding on to Mickey and immediately releases him. Embarrassed, Ian is quick to apologize but speaks at the same moment Mickey does.

"I'm sorry." "Gotta get back."

"Uh, I really should go," Mickey says sheepishly.

"Yeah." Ian watches Mickey leave again before he calls out to him once more. "Mickey."

"What is it now, Gallagher?"

Ian grins smugly. "I took the liberty of putting my number in your phone."

Of course you did.

"I'll text you."

"Whatever," Mickey says, smiling despite his best efforts to be nonchalant. Finally, he turns on his heel and heads inside his house.

Ian stands in thought for a few moments after Mickey leaves, contemplating what his next move should be. He sighs and decides to call Svetlana. His phone rings a while, she's probably pissed at him. Eventually, she picks up on the sixth ring.

"Look who finally calls," Svetlana answers.

"Hey."

"Do not 'hey' me. Do you know how rare is O negative human? And you ask for two."

Different blood types have different healing abilities. O negative is one of the strongest, and comes in short supply, also making it very valuable.

"I'm sorry. It was an emergency. I could have died!" Ian exaggerates. He was hurt badly but not quite near death.

"You are already dead!"

"Minor technicality."

"What is it you want? I know you have reason for calling, and is not to say thank you."

Ian adopts his most placating tone to speak again. "Thank you, Svetlana, for saving my life."

"You should be thanking Nika. If not for her, I let you meet true death long ago."

"Now you're just being mean, you know you love me. But speaking of which, how is my sister?"

"See, I knew you had, what is called? Ulterior motives…"

"Call it whatever you want. Something bad's happened, or is happening, I don't know yet. Tell her I need to speak with her."

"You can see her tonight. She will be here shortly."

"I don't know if that's good or bad," Ian says more to himself than Svetlana. "Alright, where are you living now? I'll be right over."

Ian arrives promptly at Svetlana's apartment building and is buzzed up to her floor. The building looks a bit rundown from the outside, it has a few busted windows, but is a bit more welcoming inside. And Ian is glad that it is at least located on a safer part of town. When Ian reaches Svetlana's door, she's already waiting for him in the doorway. She stands between the threshold, giving the vampire a once over.

"You look good," she says, turning around and walking further into her apartment.

"Seriously?" Ian whines. "I haven't been here yet."

Svetlana knows very well that vampires cannot enter a person's home without being invited first, she's just making Ian suffer a little. She looks over her shoulder at Ian. "You may come in."

Ian briskly walks in. "Nika here yet?"

"Hello Lana, how are you? Oh, I am fine, thank you for asking. I am sorry for not taking you with me to California. Is fine, I get over it." Svetlana is carrying on a conversation with herself, the kind where one pretends to be speaking with another person, and that person is responding exactly how you would want them to.

"I was hoping we could avoid that discussion."

Svetlana shakes her head disapprovingly at Ian. She hasn't seen him in eight years, not since she was seventeen. They were around the same age then, or looked like they were the same age anyway.

"You left me…"

"I couldn't take you with me. Besides, Nika looked after you. I'd say that turned out well for the both of you."

Svetlana crosses her arms angrily, remaining silent, and willing her heated tears to stay at bay.

"Don't do that, I hate it when you do that." Ian steadily walks forward so as to not spook his long lost friend. Slowly he brings his arms up, pulling Svetlana into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry."

Svetlana eases into Ian's arms and allows a few tears to fall, but she doesn't make a sound. Her lips slowly turn up into a smile as she feels Ian place a kiss on her forehead. "I am not little girl Ian."

"That's what you always said." Ian responds, smiling back. "But I've lived a lifetime, you'll always be younger than me."

Svetlana chuckles and is about to reply when she notices another vampire she is quite attached to watching from the doorway. She smiles fondly at her girlfriend.

"Am I interrupting little reunion?" Nika asks playfully.

"You were spying!"

"I am not spy, I live here too."

"Nika!" Ian calls out, happy to see his vampire sister. He releases Svetlana and quickly encases Nika in his long arms.

"Long time no see, brother," she says, returning the hug. "What mess have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Ian parts from Nika and breathes a heavy sigh. He walks into their living room and takes a seat on the couch. Nika and Svetlana make room for themselves on the love seat, though there is plenty of room next to the redhead. Ian notes to tease them later but for now there are more pressing matters at hand. He tells them of the other night he returned to his old neighborhood, of being beaten and kidnapped, meeting the Milkoviches, but he says little of Mickey. He tells them of teaming up with the human family and going after the men who attacked him, then learning tonight those same men had been killed supposedly by vampire. And he tells them there have been other killings, possibly committed by a different vampire entirely. When Ian is finished with his account, Svetlana and Nika fall into a long, pensive silence.

"Well?" Ian presses. "How bad is it? What do you think?"

Nika speaks first. "I think you should have killed the ones you were trapped with."

"Nika!" Svetlana chastises.

"Would have been easier."

Ian rolls his eyes. "Ok, one, you don't mean that, not really. And two, it wasn't their fault."

Nika shakes her head in exasperation. "I do not know what this means, Ian. This is bad."

"What do you mean you don't know? You're more involved in the vampire world than I'll ever be. What's the AVL been up to these days?"

Several decades before vampires came out, a group of vampires joined together in the hopes of one day making their presence known to the public. They made allies with vampires and humans alike with different skills and knowledge of various subjects, and with anyone who was willing to help. Nika was a member of this group. She had left her sadistic maker as soon as he released her. She believed that in helping this group and through mainstreaming, Nika might be able to right some of the wrongs she had committed, to do good. Unfortunately, she made the difficult choice to leave when she learned her maker turned another human - Ian. And when Ian left for California, Nika wanted to re-enter the group, though she found it had changed drastically.

"The AVL would not know anything about this. They are too busy talking politics to take heads out of own asses."

"Then what good are they if they're not gonna actually help people?"

"Sometimes I wonder. They do not care about humans like they want everyone to think. We will have to deal with this ourselves."

"Fucking fabulous!" Ian replies sarcastically.

"Maybe stop being hero and there will be no mess to clean up, huh?"

"He didn't deserve to die."

"He?" Svetlana asks suspiciously.

Ian blushes at his slip. "I meant they…"

"Of course this is about boy. Was he the one who call for you?"

Ian sighs. "His name's Mickey. And no, this isn't about him. Not entirely anyways."

Nika scoffs.

"Anyway," Ian begins, eager to change the subject. "I think you and the members of the oldest profession shouldn't work for a while, Lana."

"And how do we make money?"

"Nika and I both have more than enough to take care of you, all of you."

"No, I tell you before, I work for my money."

"Now's not the time to be prideful."

"He is right, Svetlana," Nika adds. "You cannot work. At least, find other job, something safer."

Svetlana huffs in exasperation. "Fucking vampires…"

Ian and Nika stare at Svetlana expectantly.

"Fine," she concedes. "I tell others tomorrow."

Mickey is lying awake in his bed. Everything that has happened in the past two nights is keeping him up. He tries to rest his eyes but all he keeps seeing as soon as his eyelids close is Ian. Ian, Ian, Ian. That damn redheaded fanger. Despite all the grim events that have transpired, his thoughts keep returning to him. Each phenomenon he's witnessed, and even been a part of, has been a warning to stay away from the vampire, but he just can't help himself. Christ, he could kick himself right now. He's acting like a middle school girl with a crush, marking up her notebook with scattered little hearts. A crush, Mickey thinks. Does he have a crush on Ian? Crushes are cute and innocent. This feels… nauseating. It vexes Mickey further that he is unable to discern these new, complex, fucked up feelings he's experiencing.

He repositions himself on his bed, trying to relax. And then because he doesn't know what else to do, Mickey reaches for his phone. He swipes his thumb over the screen and checks his messages. There is nothing new. He searches for Ian's name in his contacts. Mickey stares at Ian's name on his phone, as if he's willing Ian to text him. He has convinced himself he only wants to hear from Ian to learn any recent information he might have gathered, no other reason. Mickey wrestles with his thoughts some more before shutting his phone off and tossing it somewhere else on his bed. He turns on his side, away from the direction he threw his phone in, and yanks the covers over his head. He remains in hiding for about forty-five seconds until he throws the covers back and retrieves his phone. He turns it back on and places it on the nightstand next to his bed. At some point during the night, Mickey is finally able to fall asleep.

Mickey's phone vibrates but he can't hear it, he's already out cold.

Notes: Mainstreaming: refers to a social movement within the vampire race, in which vampires attempt to integrate themselves into everyday human society.
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