Penwood panicked as he strode about the foyer, worrying hopelessly about the small Hellsing girl.
Where on Earth could she be? The man thought pacing the hall.
He, Walter, and even Alucard were completely oblivious to where the little Hellsing could be and it perplexed them all. The servants of the house seared high and low for the girl, some donning their best rain gear and heading to the school in order to see if she was there. Others when into the town in order to find her. Penwood sighed as he continued to panic, his brain entering into a complete overload of possibilities as to where the young Hellsing could be. A young lady of her caliber could be anywhere. What if she was kidnapped? What if she was killed? Penwood started to pace the hall faster at the mental image of a lifeless Integra laying in some cold abandoned street, her body violated and vitality depleted completely.
"Penwood." Walter called from the doorway. "There's a man at the door who would like to see you."
"Ah… Not now!" The man said rushing along with the butler. "I simply don't have the time to chit-chat with our neighbors! The Hellsing heir is missing, Walter!"
Walter shook his head.
"I found her, sir." He said leading the way. "Or rather, that man found her."
Walter pointed over to a man with bluish hair dressed in a professional suit. Next to the man stood two boys, ones that Penwood immediately recognized as the ones Integra wandered with. Then, from behind the man, a certain blonde-haired girl stepped out, eyes just as stone cold as ever.
"Integra!" Penwood said.
Alucard, who was sulking on the staircase, quickly pricked up at the sight of his little master returning to the manner. He let out a few demonic barks, earning the attention of all three Joestars. Dio looked specifically at Integra after examining the dog.
"Are you sure that's a normal mongrel?" He asked with a sneer. "He looks more like cerberus than any dog I've ever seen."
Jonathan found himself backing away a bit from the large black dog, wincing every time it let out its horrid bark.
"You dog is… unique, Integra." Jonathan chuckled nervously. "It certainly has character…"
The large black hound then leaped from the top step onto the ground floor, sprinting towards it master with great speed. Jonathan found himself getting in front of Integra, fearing that the dog might just ram her to the floor. Integra scoffed at the action and walked in front of JoJo.
"It's nothing to worry about, JoJo." Integra said with a smile. "He's just Alucard, my dog."
The pooch smirked as his master stroked his head in a sickeningly sweet manner. She'd never do this to him in his human form, so getting this treatment made turning into this form all the more enjoyable.
"My my… You missed me didn't you, Alucard?" She said petting the pooch's head. "No need to be so nervous. "I'm back."
The dog barked once in a monotone voice, earning a large smile from Integra.
"Such a cute puppy…" She said petting the dog softly.
Dio and Jonathan looked at each other, wondering how in the world Integra could even call a demonic being like her dog, Alucard, cute. Penwood rushed up to the young lady, scolding her as she turned towards him.
"Where on Earth were you!?" He yelled, grabbing ahold of her shoulders, forcing her to look directly in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how worried the rest of us were about you!?"
Integra sighed.
"I apologize, Penwood." She said bowing (once again earning a scowl from Jonathan. Dio at this point was more concerned with her dog still.).
The elderly man was going to continue, but having heard the ever rebellious Integra apologize threw him off a bit, especially considering the circumstances of people being around to witness it. Did she really mean that apology? Was she truly sorry about making him worry?
"...I just hope that this doesn't happen again. I can't have the head of the house go missing, now can I?" He said patting the girl's head, ruffling her blonde hair. "Do you understand, young lady?"
Integra, though she thought that her departure was okay, nodded. She was fully aware that Penwood, as well as Walter and Alucard, were deeply worried about her. She was just a child to them after all. Walter nodded to the young lady as she wandered past him. She acknowledged him, giving a small nod back. Penwood glared back at Mr. Joestar, giving a warm smile to the man.
"Many thanks for returning Integra home." He said shaking the man's hand. "Heaven knows she's one for causing trouble."
Mr. Joestar returned a smile, grasping the man's hand firmly.
"No no. I should be thanking you." He said with a small chuckle. "Your daughter led my son home in the middle of last night's storm. She's quite the woman."
Penwood glared down at Integra, who was pushing Alucard towards Jonathan and Dio. Jonathan hesitantly patted the dog's head while Dio simply scoffed at the pooch. Never in his life did Penwood believe that Integra would meet people she truly did care about. With an awkward straighten of his jacket, Penwood turned his attention back to Mr. Joestar, a small smile curving onto his face.
"...Ah." He retorted weakly. "She did?"
Mr. Joestar gave a sympathetic smile to Mr. Penwood, patting the man's shoulder. Then, he pointed towards the children.
"Isn't that cute?" He asked.
Penwood watched in silence as Integra accused Dio of being afraid of Alucard, to which he ignored her and reluctantly patted the dog's back. Jonathan soon grew attached to the pooch, affectionately rubbing the black fur on his head. Alucard, though he didn't know Jonathan, allowed him to. After all, he was one of his master's friends, so it wouldn't be any harm unless she said so. Integra looked happy that the two enjoyed Alucard's company, and Jonathan was glad to see her happy. Dio was too, but he seemed far to snobby too admit it, though a light blush appeared on his face as he looked away from the two.
Penwood stared on at the children in silence, as if they were some strange beings, but moreover, he seemed to be much more concerned with how Integra seemed completely overjoyed with the company of the two other children. It wasn't like her to act so warm towards others, let alone any other children. Hell, even he found it difficult to make the young Hellsing smile sometimes, so to see that these two boys could make her smile just by being there was almost too hard to believe. Walter, who couldn't help the small smile that curved onto his face as he watched the always stoic Integra have fun for once, started off towards the children.
"Sir, I wasn't sure when you intended to return, but it's about time for tea." The butler started off towards the dining room, motioning the small girl towards his direction. "Your little companions can accompany you too if they like."
Integra stopped petting Alucard abruptly, having come down from her blissfully playful mood and brought back to reality. With a quick turn of her feet, the Hellsing started off towards the dining room after her butler, Alucard following close after. When she reached the doorway, her head slowly craned back, a blank yet lovable face taking over her features.
"...Are you coming?"
Jonathan nodded quickly, starting after Integra as she stood waiting in the doorway. "Of course!"
The two disappeared into the hallway with Alucard, the sound of their rushing feet echoing and getting further away with every passing moment. It took a moment, but Dio, with a sharp click of his tongue, started to saunter towards the doorway after the three, shoving his hands within his pockets as he swayed side to side with every drop of his feet. "You'd better have some good tea."
Penwood stood there, unconsciously breaking into a cold sweat, until Mr. Joestar gently nudged the man, gaining his attention. His brown eyes watched as Lord Joestar's blue orbs gestured back over to his step-son. Penwood, as confused, concerned, and unsure of what to feel as he was, steadily turned his head back, making sure to pay special attention to the blonde boy. To him, Dio was just walking over there, albeit slowly. He didn't really understand what the other man was trying to show hi-
"...Make haste, Dio!"
Integra came back through the hallway with a bit more spring in her step. She looked like she was still on her lingering happiness high, which wasn't at all a bad look for her.
"You're tea will get could if you continue to dawdle here like an imbecile." Her harsh words were enough to make Dio scoff in a flustered sort of manner.
"Who ever said I wanted your wretched tea in the first place?" With a hand placed on his hip, Dio made sure to look as condescending as possible. Integra seemed however not to care, bounding forward without fail to clasp Dio's hand within her own. As soon as she started touched his hand, Dio's blush worsened just a bit.
"H-hey!" Dio found himself being rushed down the hallway by the young Hellsing, his feet kissing the velvet carpet below rapidly. Soon, the two disappeared within the hallway, only a light (and somewhat mischievous sounding) chuckle from the blonde girl's mouth escaping into the empty space. As the sound rang against his ears, Penwood's mouth fell agape.
...This can't be the same little girl, can it? Penwood shook his head to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. He was more concerned when he realize that he in fact wasn't. She actually laughed?! That's just… not normal, even for a Hellsing's standards… Not to mention that boy... he seemed far too flustered when she grabbed his hand…
Penwood was taken from his thoughts as Lord Joestar prodded him once more, this time flashing a rosy smile. "I believe my sons have taken a liking to your daughter. Isn't that cute?"
Penwood struggled to come up with a response. Never in his life did he ever believe that he'd call the young Hellsing's actions cute.
...But, it wasn't exactly a bad feeling. "I suppose so…"
Lord Joestar held his piece for a moment seeming to forget something important.
"Oh! How could I forget?" The blue-haired man extended his arm towards the shorter.
"Lord Joestar of the Joestar estate," George took a moment to flash the man a smile as he extended his arm to his fullest extent, "or George Joestar. Whichever you prefer."
Penwood sighed while looking down at the man's burly hand, wondering just what the hell just happened. Of course, he was the one who told Integra to make nice with other children, but he would've never expected her to go on and meet people she'd be friendly towards.
Perhaps I misjudged her…
Penwood glared towards Lord Joestar's hand, then with a swift motion of his arm, firmly grasped the hand within his own.
"Alright then, Lord Joestar." He said shaking man's hand. "As for me, I am Lord Penwood of the Hellsing estate, but you may call me Penwood."