As soon as the couple entered their large penthouse Vivika took Thomas straight upstairs into the bedroom and sat him down at his vanity so she could flick the lights on. It had amused her when they'd first moved in to have their vanity tables side by side but now it just seemed normal and hardly registered.
With the added light she could see the fire damage to his face. Some of his prosthetics were silicone so had survived Dutch's little barbecue intact though had become brittle, other parts were latex which had melted then dried to his skin. Easily Vivika removed his wig but pulled a face at the smell of burnt, fake hair.
"Well, this has seen its last day."
Without a second thought she tossed the wig into the trash can between their vanity tables knowing he had others, then bended down to slowly start the task of pealing his destroyed prosthetics off of him.
"Just rip it, the pain will be nothing compared to the actual fire." He told her with a bite of irritation.
She shook her head. "If I do that then you'll end up with scraps left over and they'll be even harder to get off you. Just let me do this slowly."
Eichhorst didn't answer which seemed to be an agreement, so she carried on. Vivika went for the nose first thinking that it would probably be easiest to take off, it took a few moments of careful peeling and the use of her long nails but finally she managed to prise it away and separate the silicone from her husband's face. Long, finicky work but soon she got it off of him and tossed it into the garbage along with his wig.
"Better?" Vivika asked with a soft smile.
"Much better, thank you, Vivika."
Thomas spoke more calmly but didn't bother to so much as look up at his bride as he pulled away his burnt tie and opened the top three buttons of his tattered shirt. He thought better of it all then and just took the entire shirt off along with his suit jacket which he let fall to the floor to give Vivika full access to his neck piece.
"Shit, this is worse."
Of course it was worse, the neck prosthetic was latex which melted unlike silicone. Quietly she crouched down to repeat the same technique of carefully scraping at the edges to remove it all. Vivika started from the left and moved slowly to the right only pausing when she took a little bit of damaged skin with her. Eventually she ended up knelt between his legs so she could work the underside free at his suprasternal notch, a spot the raven-hair woman soon learned was really rather sensitive on a Strigoi when she pulled just a little too hard and his stinger shot out towards the mirror missing her only by centimetres. Thomas retracted it just as quickly to the safety of his throat while Vivika just stared at him in what he assumed was as close to shock as she was capable of getting.
"What the hell was that?"
Eichhorst sighed. "Forgive me, my love, it is akin to a … gag reflex."
Oh didn't that make his wife chuckle darkly before she returned to work.
"Well one of us should have one." The half-naked man rolled his eyes. "What? Good old-fashioned your wife is a whore joke there for you."
Vivika managed to get the fake neck away and shuffled around – surprising on such high heels – and moved to hunch at the right side as she pulled the last of it free so it could join the rest in the trash.
"There." Vivika kissed his cheek. "Clean your face off, I'll get you a new suit out."
He thanked his bride for her diligence – getting all of that off on his own would have been an almost unending nightmare – and set about wiping blood, burnt skin and make up away as best he could.
Meanwhile Vivika went to a frankly gargantuan closet they shared and set about getting him some clean clothes out. He was pissed, she knew that, years he'd wanted Setrakian dead and then he'd been cheated out of it just as she had been with Duck. Well, it had been their own fault, next time they had them there would be no longing conversations providing time to worm their way out of it all, no, they'd kill them and get it fucking over with. Vivika had learned her lesson.
The green-eyed goddess of a woman wasted no time picking out a new suit which she then lay out on the bed for him neatly. When she looked back to Thomas had almost fixed his make-up, he could be surprisingly fast when he needed to be; all he missed was a replacement wig and was half way through getting his prosthetic neck on. With his suit set out with all the care Thomas always showed his suits Vivika returned to the closet to get him a pair of shoes, when she returned for a second time Eichhorst was stood at the foot of the bed looking at her choice.
"Navy?" He questioned.
Vivika nodded without much concern. "You always wear black or gray so dark it's practically black. Besides, I'm choosing. Don't worry, you still have some black."
She gestured to the tie only to quickly grab him by the belt when he followed her gesture. His pants were ruined by fire damage but his belt had been virtually untouched. She opened it with skilled hands as she kissed her husband.
"Get dressed. I'm going to go get something to eat."
One more kiss, a delicate brush of soft lips, and she was gone, the only indications he'd ever been there was the soft footfalls Thomas could hear as she descended the back staircase to the kitchen. Vivika wandered through the kitchen to the fridge to search its contents. With a victorious grin she grabbed the leftover chicken noodle soup she'd eaten the night before. Didn't take her long to warm it and then sit at the breakfast bar to fill her hungry stomach. The green-eyed woman got roughly half way through her bowl in a calm quietude before she heard Thomas approach her from behind.
"Feeling better?" She asked after another mouthful but didn't cast him a glance.
"Much," he admitted "thank you. We must go to the master."
That finally got her to look at him, her full attention firmly on her Thomas.
"What, now?" She enquired.
The Strigoi nodded and Vivika quickly finished her soup. When one heard they were going to see their master food could have been put on the back burner for days at a time. She got up as soon as she was finished to properly look at her recently injured husband, there were lines on his face around his chin and nose where he'd not fully healed but put make-up on anyway, his tie still hung loose around his neck and his collar was up; of course it was, he only had one hand and Vivika always did his tie for him. She wasted no time moving closer so she could do up his tie and fold his collar back down so he looked as perfectly put together as always … well, more or less. Happy, she kissed him then extended her wrist up to his mouth invitingly.
"Go on, you'll heal faster." She encouraged without a second thought.
Thomas didn't need telling twice, he latched onto her supple skin and bit down hard with his Stinger which ripped a mew from her throat because it just hurt so good. Eichhorst didn't drink much of her crimson, just enough to repair the internal damage. His face would take quite some time to heal but he could feel it starting.
"There, you'll soon be handsome again."
That got a devilish smirk from the elder man before he took his bride into his arms again for a deeper kiss. Thomas didn't let it last very long though, he'd not risk keeping his Lord and Master waiting. Thomas' face still burnt in areas and there was a deep mark on his cheek that he had no doubt would linger for a while after everything else had healed, but he ignored all of it to obey The Master.
Vivika drove, she usually did, and they made good time since there was very little traffic nowadays. When they stepped out of the car Vivika looped her arm with her darling husband's and they headed up to see The Master, she even rested her head lovingly against his shoulder as the elevator made its way upwards; so warm.
"I love you. Don't worry, The Master won't be angry with you – us … I hope."
"Stay calm, Vivika, all will be well."
Both knew Setrakian's death didn't just mean the end of a feud for Thomas it meant an end to the old man messing with The Master's plans. Finally the elevator doors rolled open and Thomas squeezed his wife's hand softly in comfort as they entered the large room. One of the two Strigoi guards, the one closer to The Master's coffin, launched forwards towards Vivika as they walked until it was much too close for her liking.
"Get out of my face." She ordered and the thing quickly shuffled backwards so they could continue up the narrow metal steps.
Eichhorst let the semi-immortal go first like a gentleman though she suspected it was more down to him enjoying the view of her backside. When they reached the top though they found their master looking out the windows at the world down below, Vivika took little notice though, much more interested in what lay inside the small, medical grade case beside him.
"Good evening, Master." She greeted with a smile even though he didn't see it.
Thomas set straight to work. "The first baby has been born, Master, a well controlled birth which we will be able to repeat successfully." He paused for just a moment. "Though, the Jew has escaped along with Miss Velders."
Finally their dark Lord turned fully to face the Eichhorsts and fixed Thomas with a firm glare after he'd gone to the case and clicked it open; an awkward action with only one hand. Vivika knew Thomas would be blamed for this and she'd not let that happen; she stepped forwards.
"It is my fault, Master. They were using fake identification, I should have spotted it much sooner. I'll be making improvements to my records and checks."
The Master observed her for a moment as if looking for something only to nod curtly a moment later. "See that you do, Vivika, see that you do. Perhaps you are not deserving."
Vivika's brow furrowed in confusion, she had no idea what The Master was talking about but Thomas' eyes widened and he left the case he'd gone to open. He turned to the master seeming genuinely seems concerned.
"No, please, Master. Vivika is deserving, I assure you. We still need the experiment."
She looked between the two of them. "What are you talking about?"
"Please, Master, do not deprive her of this."
Those dazzling greet eyes flicked back and forth between her husband and her Lord rich with questions she clearly wasn't getting an answer to. Thomas being honestly concerned had Vivika growing worried; she really didn't like this. Finally The Master turned back to Eichhorst and nodded which had Thomas visually relax which was unusual for him. Thomas returned to the case.
"Vivika, my love, as you know we have found ourselves having issues with the Mongrels." Thomas took something out of the case but Vivika couldn't quite see what. "We have been trying to find some way of combating their controllable ferocity but so far have not had any success as you know. Then you gave me an idea and I'm pleased to say we started to move forwards. However, we still need a proof of concept test." He approached her again, slowly. "So I spoke with The Master and he agreed that we should use you as our test."
Vivika's eyebrows shot up. "Use me? For fucking what?"
Suddenly she was stabbed low down by Thomas and it fucking hurt, she let out a high-pitched yelp and shoved him away harshly. She looks down expecting a knife but found, instead, a very thin and small needle. Thomas pulls it back out of her and she looked up at him, those green eyes asking why he'd done whatever he'd just done. He tosses the needle back into the case behind him then moved all his attention back to Vivika.
"What the hell did you do?" She demanded though didn't yell, didn't sound angry.
"You suggested a Born to increase the control but Born are immune to worms. I decided to investigate and came up with a solution. What if the infant was infected before conception rather than being infected by the mother post bite." Thomas explained though left his wife hardly any the wiser. "We do not fully understand the Born and this is to be our test to ensure we can control reproduction this way. I asked our master to allow myself to be the infecter."
Vivika's brow furrowed deeper. "Thomas, what are you saying?"
He flashed her that loving smile that only she ever got to see. "Well, you did want a baby."
For a long time Vivika just stood there staring at him as she tried to process what the fuck was going on; The Master just watched as if trying to read her mind.
"A-are you serious? Are you saying you just got me pregnant?!" That was a yell, but not an angry one.
"I have told you before, my darling wife, if you desire something I will get it for you. The Master required more controllable Mongrels and you provided the idea of how to accomplish that."
Suddenly Vivika threw herself at Thomas, arms wrapped around him tightly, nails dug into his body as she just clung to him. Eichhorst held her lovingly as was his preferred way with her and petted the top of her head.
"You must be prepared that this may not work, as I said this is a proof of concept."
She nodded but didn't look up, was too happy just holding on to him.
"You have made your bride very happy, Thomas." Said The Master in that slow way of his.
Thomas couldn't argue there. "Thank you for allowing it, Master. I assure you we will capture Setrakian, Goodweather and the others, they will die and nothing will be left to stand in your way."
Setrakian really had been allowed to linger much too long, he'd had his fun trying to put a stop to them but now it was time for him to be removed.
"You had better." The Master warned. "They have been allowed to exist far too long. Kill them all, drain them if you can."
Thomas nodded in understanding as he continued to hold his bride. "Yes, mein Meister."
Vivika still clung to her perfect Thomas, wouldn't let go so he lifted her into his arms for easier mobility.
"Take your wife home, our experiment must have every chance of succeeding." Ordered The Master.
Thomas would obey, of course he would. With Vivika secure in his arms he carried her away to the elevator as if she weighed nothing. It was only once they were safely back in the elevator that Eichhorst realized his Vivika was crying softly against his chest. He shushed her.
"Hush my love. No need for tears even happy ones."
She still didn't speak just held onto Thomas; he was certain she'd completely forgotten about him hitting her now. A boon for him.
"I need you to be prepared for this not to work," he said again, "I need you to know that. This isn't exact science, it is still an experiment, I asked for us to be the first test because of what you said months ago on your birthday."
She leaned back just enough so their eyes could meet and looked at him, he supported her with his handless arm while his thumb wipes away the tears on her cheeks.
"I Love you. I love you so much."
"And I love you." He assured softly. "Why else would I take a complete impossibility and think a way around it?"
The raven-haired beauty beamed up at him. "We're going to have a baby!"
Thomas still wasn't entirely convinced, never had been when it came to having children but the look on her face showed just how excited she was. He hoped this plan worked because if it doesn't she would completely lose her shit. The things he does to indulge his wife.
"You won't be releasing me any time soon, will you?" Thomas enquired quietly.
In answer his young bride just wrapped around him similar to how one would hold a sleepy young child. Her arms found a home around his neck as her cheek returned to his shoulder.
"No." She muttered. "You gave us a baby, Thomas. A baby."
Thomas sighed. "As I keep saying you have to be prepared for this to fail."
Vivika only gripped him all the tighter. "It will work. It will. Thank you." Suddenly lips were on his for a deep kiss, he could taste her tears ever so slightly and delighted in the hellcat he called a wife. "I love you so much."
She paused then in her smiles and squeezes to just look him square in the eye as if asking questions silently, then her face softened and she deflated slightly. Thomas found warning bells sound in his brain.
"I didn't think you wanted to be a father." Her voice was quiet and gentle.
"I didn't want a wife either and yet here I am unable to be without you." Fortunately his Lord had made it so he wouldn't have to.
That must have given her what she wanted because she gripped hold of him, buried her face in his shoulder as they neared the ground floor.
"Our baby is going to grow up in a perfect world, The Master's world, isn't he? They'll never have to see the humans fight over which religion is more peaceful, never have to wonder why one kills another for little more than a different skin color. It'll be a utopia for our baby, Thomas."
Thomas nodded. Though he'd been a Nazi he'd been in it for the power and the ability to make a name for himself, he'd not really assigned himself to their twisted beliefs not truly. Humans were humans didn't matter if they had dark or light skin, if they were a Jew, a Catholic or Muslim. Eichhorst honestly didn't care then or now, in fact he only tormented Setrakian by calling him 'the Jew' for the same reason he used his number, to elicit a painful memory and a reaction from the man.
He took Vivika home once they reached the parking garage and eventually managed to get her to sleep, all that excitement had kept her awake much longer than he should have allowed. Once she was out though and she was fast asleep Thomas sat on the edge of their bed. His prosthetics itched where he still healed, slow progress despite the White in Vivika's blood. That night he would have rather liked to sleep beside her but he had work to do. Still, that didn't mean he couldn't spare a few minutes to be with his wife. He sat there with the covers pulled down and her tank top pushed up to expose her flat stomach. There wasn't so much as a bruise where he'd inseminated her thanks to the White. It hadn't been a very wise method of impregnating her but her body could take it and Thomas had wanted to do it himself rather than some doctor in a sterile room; besides, his bride had always liked it rough. Softly he trailed his fingers over her belly. If this worked then they could use it on other human women, create a whole army of these Born-Mongrels if they needed. Still getting the babies born was probably the easy part, negating the part of their creation which made them impervious to the worms would be far more difficult. Then again, as he'd told Vivika, this baby was the experiment to prove a Born could be made without turning the mother. They'd not have to lose any of their blood supply then. He'd not set out with the idea of bringing about her fantasy, Eichhorst originally had no intention of trying to give her the baby they'd discussed months earlier; none whatsoever. However, as his scientists had approached a testing phase and they'd started to search for viable mothers he'd noticed something, Vivika avoided the pregnancy facility and it hadn't taken him more than a second of thought to figure out precisely why. After that he'd gone to the master, had explained and asked for Vivika to be the first mother and for him to be the infecter. The Master had laughed at him but understood why, understood that Thomas would do anything to make her happy, understood she brought out a whole other side of him and had allowed it. Now there they were waiting for signs his bride was pregnant with a child he'd never wanted or thought could exist and yet had gone massively out of his way create. This was either the best or the worst decision of his life.
Now wasn't the time to think of that, no, he needed to go in search of the damn half-breed and Fet. That was how he found himself covering his wife over with the soft sheets and leaving her all alone for the night, his face still not fully healed.