If I Left You In A Graveyard
"So, um, what's with the dashing tux?" Annie asked casually, standing at the mini bar in the living room.
Toby sat on the middle stool on the opposite side in front of her, a permanent, but rather handsome smile across his thin lips as he glanced down at his attire and then back to the female ghost. "Car crash on the way to my brother's wedding. 1992." He explained in that charming American accent. "Nothing epic, I'm afraid." He added with an up-lifting grin, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"Oh, I'm so sorry -" Annie began softly.
Toby waved the matter off with another friendly smile. "How about you?" He asked casually.
"Oh, me?" Annie asked, sometimes still feeling a little anxious on the topic. "My fiancee pushed me down the stairs, cracking the back of my head open." She explained rather calmly.
"Holy - cow." Toby whispered awkwardly, a look of concern spreading across his face.
Annie waved the matter off just as he had previously. "I'm over it." She said, smiling as brightly as usual.
Toby nodded, deciding to move the conversation along. "How come you're still here? Revenge not the answer?" He asked, refering to why she hadn't passed on.
Annie smiled sadly. "Not exactly. I, I just missed my chance..." Her thoughts momentarily flashed back to that time, the night that Herrick tried to kill Mitchell and nearly succeeded. She smiled to herself, knowing that she wouldn't change what happened for the world. "You?" She asked, noticing Toby staring in concern at her.
Toby shrugged a little too casually. "I've never tried. Not really all that bothered about any unfinished business and besides; I like it here."
Something told Annie that he wasn't being entirely honest, but she left it for the time being. She already had a theory that the topic was a little touchy, rather than him trying to hide anything on purpose. He didn't seem all that evil to her, but she had been wrong in the past and it had almost cost her her entire family.
-x-x-x-x-
"Wanna make another bet?" Tom asked Hal as they walked home side by side.
"Not particularly." Hal grumgled under his breath with a tired sigh. He'd had enough of rude and horrid customers all day, he just wanted some peace and quiet.
"Why not?" Tom asked childishly.
Hal huffed, knowing that he wasn't going to let it drop. Tom never let anything drop, especially with Hal for some reason. "Fine. What did you have in mind?" Hal asked, giving in quickly this time.
Tom grinned excitedly. "First one to get Leah's number, -"
"Absolutely not." Hal said a little too quickly, shaking his head.
"Wins." Tom finished, ignoring his interruption.
"No." Hal insisted, raising his brows at the wolf. "I'm serious. We're not doing that." He frowned slightly, knowing how that may have sounded. "Well, you can, but I will have no part in it." He added quickly.
"What's ya problem with 'er? I think she's dead nice." Tom said, smiling as he imagined her pretty face.
Hal rolled his eyes, scoffing quite bitterly. "We don't know her. Tom, Eve is reason we have to be this careful. There are a lot of very bad, people, among other things - that are after her and us, because we are the only thing standing in their way. Oh and not to mention that you going round staking every vampire you see. You've put a target on your own head."
Tom frowned, knowing that was true, but not wanting to agree. "But -"
"Tom!" Hal yelled, instantly regretting. His expression became a little softer, the apology clear in his gaze. "Look, I know you like helping people. It's what makes you different from the bad guys, but sometimes you need to help yourself as well. The way you are with vampires; on guard all the time... You're going to need that with everyone now that we have Eve to protect." Hal glanced over at Tom, noticing that he had been talking to himself. He stopped walking and turned around to see the wolf sniffing the air with a curious look on his face. That was enough to stop Hal from ranting angrily from being left to have an entire conversation with himself. "What is it?" He asked in a hushed tone, walking slowly over to him.
"I fink it's blood, but it smells funneh." Tom informed him, watching the vampire sniffing the air with him now. "How did YOU not notice that?" He asked, raising his brow.
Hal glared at him. "I have SOME self control." He grunted bitterly. "And you're right, it's blood, but it's not human, so why would I notice that?" He asked sarcastically.
Tom rolled his eyes, smirking slightly. "Alrigh', don't get shirteh." He muttered, trying to hold back a grin.
Hal glared at him again. "I'm not getting shirtey." He grunted. "What does that even mean?" He asked, though his tone suggested that he didn't actually care. He glanced over and noticed that yet again Tom had left him talking to himself as he wondered off back down the street.
-x-x-x-x-
"A graveyard. How original." Hal muttered sarcastically to himself as he followed Tom.
"Shut up, Hal." Tom whined back, sighing in frustration. "You could've gone 'ome, y'know. Y'didn't 'av to come with meh." He stated as he tread careful through the graves and their stones.
"And leave you with all the fun?" Hal asked, still in a rather sarcastic and bitter mood. "Annie would stake me if I left you alone in a graveyard at mid night." He stated.
"Stop stroppin' off and help meh then." Tom said, though it sounded more like a demand.
Hal glanced down, noticing they'd stopped walking only to see a very old-looking stone coffin, placed above ground and the vampire did not look impressed.
