"He better be okay." Hellboy warned, arms crossed and gold eyes gleaming in the low light. Locke sighed again, idly scratching the back of his neck.
"He's fine, just a bit… -ahem- spent." Locke blushed, grinning sheepishly. Hellboys expression and body language changed in a heartbeat, from borderline rage to childish embarrassment. He didn't say a word, frowning after a bit before Locke moved toward him, making to leave, instead extending his right arm in front of Locke, nearly touching him with it. Locke leapt back suddenly, wings unfurling with his motion, Hellboys frown deepening.
"Okay, and you? You spook worse than my cats when I stand in the morning." He asked, voice lowered more for Abe than anything, concerned by Lockes motion to avoid his arm. Locke eyed the stone arm dubiously, sighing again at length.
"It's more because I'm worried what might happen to you if I touch it right now… My patron… She's not fond of the Ogdru Jahad and tolerates you, albeit barely. I just don't want to inadvertently cause you harm, or worse…" Locke explained, left hand idly going to the bracelet on his right forearm, the skin immediately around it still black and cracked. Hellboy nodded, chuckling a bit.
"Maybe, when we're both more awake, we can test that bracelet against my arm, eh Feathers?" Hellboy jibed, patting Locke's shoulder with his left hand instead. Locke smiled, nodding.
"I would enjoy a sparring match, once things settle back down. I have a meeting to schedule with the Pentagon and White House, now that our 'buffer' is gone." Locke explained, briefly turning back to the hatch he had left open, smile deepening at the remembrance of the exchange that had only minutes prior left him near breathless. He turned back to Hellboy and the two padded as quietly as possible down the stairs and out of the Library.
"By the way… isn't Leon the nickname you used before?" Hellboy asked after an awkward silence, punctuated only by their footfalls. Locke nodded, smiling and chuckling.
"I prefer going by Leon, Locke was simply used to keep Integra from tracking me more easily, and to keep the agents of the Ogdru Jahad from doing the same. Use whichever you prefer." He explained, Hellboy nodding as he stifled a yawn. Leon patted Hellboys' shoulder gently, avoiding the stone arm rather pointedly. "Go get some more sleep, there's nothing planned for the next few days, if any emergencies come up, I'll let you know. Those klaxons just end up ringing in my ears far too long when they go off."
"Alright, I'll see you later, Leon." Hellboy muttered sleepily as he veered off down his own hallway and into his room, where Liz still slept with all their cats. The heavy steel blast door swung closed slowly, as Hellboy pulled it behind him to keep the felines inside. Leon, as he preferred, then turned to go to his new office, where Kate had already prepared a list of tasks and information for him to review. He did so, idly, more worried about what his relationship with Abe would do to the public. Yes, same-sex marriage had become less of a taboo, yet interspecies seemed just another step. Regardless, Integral would likely disown him.
Integra.
The sudden remembrance of his sister set his mind in motion and he turned to his computer, perusing news sites and anything he could find relating to the recent events in Brazil, London, and even the tiny hamlet of Cheddar. Pictures of his Vampiric Sire, wearing a very different suit and actually appearing human, fighting a man in a white suit and hat who seemed to wield cards as weapons, assailed him, a grim reminder of what he would be returning home to. The destruction appeared extensive, yet loss of life remained low outside of the police forces.
"His seals are still intact at least…" Leon muttered to himself, as he saw brief flashes of red from the hands of the defending vampire disguised as a human. Leon paused on one image, the yellow-haired female vampire fighting to help their mutual Sire, seen leaping into the fight, intent on providing a distraction, or so it appeared. Leon sighed, he could only imagine what his sister must have said when she was brought home from the mission to Cheddar.
Hours later, a light knock startled Leon from his information searching, as Kate opened the door and entered, placing a tray with tea and scones on the corner. She raised a brow, peering at his screen.
"Got curious about all the plane reroutes?" She asked, taking a sip of tea before going to sit in the chair on the other side of the desk. Leon sighed, sitting back and moving to take a cup of tea as well, sipping on it and thinking a moment before speaking.
"Yes, I knew Integral had something to do with it, but I had no idea how bad this was until I received that phone call from the family retainer." He explained, closing his eyes for a moment as he inhaled the scent of the tea. Herbal, green tea he assumed, he also didn't need to add sugar or cream, he enjoyed his green tea plain, now that he could enjoy it again without issue. Kate remained silent for a moment, able to tell he was calmer without him mentioning anything. He turned his attention to the folders on his desk, especially the one labelled 'White House' in which a communication from the President expressed his interest in meeting the new acting Administrator of the BPRD. Leon groaned, looking to Kate.
"Not my fault Trevor left it to you and big Red." She smirked around the edge of her teacup before taking a sip.
"True, yet I can't help but feel like you are enjoying watching me squirm." Leon mused, swallowing another mouthful of tea.
"I am, however you know I can take some responsibilities off you."
"You're already doing so much Kate, I can't expect you to run this place for me. Besides, I was supposed to do all this for Hellsing, though admittedly that may have been easier in the long run, at least they aren't public… Yet." Leon smiled, flipping through the information that the President had requested to see along with the general meeting with him and the Pentagon. So much concern for a group that had been little more than an Urban Legend for decades, now the center of media scrutiny and Government concern following the very large incident with a nature elemental some weeks previous.
"I can go to the Pentagon, if you name me Assistant General Administrator. That way you can monitor what's going on overseas and not be away when whatever is going to happen, happens. I can tell it's concerning you, so I'll go." Kate smiled, reaching across the desk to take Leon's free hand in hers. He set the teacup down after quickly swallowing the remaining mouthful and clasped his other hand over hers, staring at them for a moment before looking her in the eye.
"I'd very much like that Kate, if only to keep my image and name from mainstream Media, for the time being. Make certain you take your gun and that dagger I gave you, if the Letzes Battalion make a move, the president will be a target." Leon frowned a bit, he didn't want Kate going anywhere dangerous without him, yet he often had to forcibly remind himself, like now, that she could easily handle herself. Kate gently squeezed his hands with hers, able to see his wings quivering lightly from stress and likely anxiety.
"We'll get through this." She stated simply. Leon nodded, yet still didn't seem to calm, giving his hands another gentle squeeze. "It's been nearly a full fifteen years now, hasn't it?"
"Indeed, which makes things even more difficult…" Leon muttered, blushing a bit as he thought of Abe. Kate's eyes went wide a moment and a grin stretched across her face.
"You did it, didn't you?" She nearly giggled like a little girl, his face going red as he sat up a bit and stiffened, leaning forward a bit as she whispered. "Did he return the favour?"
"Kate, you're horrible. Yes, of course, he… It was amazing. It's like, we were closer than simple touch. I could feel what he felt, and I'm certain he felt me as well…" Leon blushed furiously, wings stilling but the feathers rising with his happiness. Kate smiled, gently squeezing his hands again before letting them go.
"I'm glad you've gotten him to open up again, he seemed so depressed after… Anyway, I'll go get things together and take a few agents with me to the Pentagon. Will you be okay with the rest?" Kate asked as she stood to leave. Leon looked over the files again before closing the folder and handing it to her.
"I'm certain you are more than capable, I however, will manage." He smiled, returning the light wave as she departed. Abe soon poking his head around the edge of the door, seeming refreshed, already geared up and ready to go, as necessary. Leon waved for him to come inside, and they made small talk for a few hours before Leon's phone rang long-distance. Both frowned, Leon taking a deep breath before answering.
"BPRD Administration, this is Locke." He answered, Abe reaching over to grasp his free hand, which had clenched and shook lightly before Abe had touched him.
"Leon, you need to move, now." Said an elderly male voice with a heavy British accent.
"Walter, what's going on?" Leon asked sternly, eyes going wide as he became suddenly tense and lightly shaking.
"They attacked an air carrier and painted a massive swastika on the hull. Nothing can get close, there's some form of weaponry being used that can take out all approaching aircraft below thirty thousand feet. They are scrambling a jet to fly Alucard over it, in a kamikaze mission." Walter explained, he sounded panicked, as though he had minimal time to talk.
"Integra doesn't know you're telling me, does she?"
"No, I can't stay, but if Alucard does this, he will be stuck off the mainland. I know this is a trap, but we have no other option."
"Alright, I have things in motion to do what I can to protect the President here, I'm bringing help, protect her as long as you can." Leon explained, Abe already standing and moving to tell the others to gear up. "And Walter, you stay alive. I want to see you home, you hear me?" Leon frowned a bit, already feeling dread for the coming events and the bracelet on his arm seemed to shudder slightly.
"I understand. Safe flight." Walter stated simply before hanging up. Leon hung up the receiver, took in a deep breath, and moved to the microphone for the PA system in the complex. He pushed down the button and began to speak.
"To all available personnel, this is your new Administrator LeonLocke. We've been called to assist in London after learning of an imminent attack on the populace. All available personnel who are not attending the Pentagon meeting, I want you to gather your gear, only what you can carry, and assemble in the main hangar. Again, all non-dispatched personnel; please gear up and assemble in the main hangar." He announced, released the push-to-talk button, and took a deep breath, looking to Abe who nodded and headed off to finish gathering the last of his equipment. He then dialed a contact within the army dispatch and requested a pair of helicopters and a Chinook, skeleton-crew, for overseas dispatch utilizing the call codes that had been left to him by Manning, who had received them from Trevor Bruttenholm. They confirmed the location, advised they'd be topside in approximately twenty minutes and will await his orders, another Chinook for troop transport for Kate and her team added on for quick travel to the White House.
As he finished the call with the military, he swiftly closed and locked his office door, phased through the floors to his room, packed his coffin into his magicked duffel bag, which would make it easier to move for a normal human, or simply less awkward for Leon himself. He ordered Aureiahnna to stay in the building as he changed clothes, the phoenix unhappy about being left to guard the compound, but would do so gladly for him as a favour. He caressed her head and back gently, the owl-like phoenix lightly mouthing his hand with her beak in farewell as he left the room he'd called home for nearly a year now, quickly grabbing and carefully folding the seal diagram with its note to Integra and hiding it away in his coat.
As he entered the main hangar, thirty two agents, not including Abe, Hellboy, Liz and Kate, were gathered and ready for orders. Half were to go with Kate, the rest were a support force for him and the main crew. Leon nodded to the assembly, all eyes slowly turning to him. He cleared his throat, as Hellboy took a moment longer to stop talking, before speaking.
"As you've all heard, there was a recent attack in Brazil with Vampire sightings. This is part of a group the Hellsing Organization, now commanded by my younger sister, has engaged previously during the second World War, and again, on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the Atlantic. They've sent their strongest asset to this ship to answer the massive Swastika painted on the hull. Kate, my assistant and fellow agent, will take one group to the Pentagon with her to meet the President and go over our state of affairs, as well as protect him should there be, as I suspect there will be, Nazi conspirators inside the Pentagon and White House. The rest will accompany Red, Blue and I to London to, hopefully, assist when the attack occurs. This is not an 'if' or 'maybe', I know this attack is coming, it's been brewing for fifty years and is targeted mainly at London and Hellsing. However I'm certain they will have other groups in other government agencies around the world as distractions. If you want to back out, now's your only chance, you're either with my group, or Kates. We have Helicopters coming topside, let's go!" He announced, minimal confusion and murmuring through the gathered agents as he spoke. Of the gathered, a Dozen followed along with Hellboy, Abe, and Liz, the remainder went with Kate. Leon smirked, he never expected to have the chance to lead an organization, not after his sacrifice for Integra, and here he was leading a partner organization.
"Hey, so this is it, what Walter warned you about the other day?" Abe asked, quickly padding up to him. Leon simply nodded. "Aren't you nervous?"
"Terrified. I just hope Walter's last warning was quick enough." Leon replied in a low voice, flicking a wing once nervously. Hellboy trotted over with his new munitions case, Liz walking alongside in full gear.
"No, absolutely not, I want you safe Liz."
"Since when can you order me to do anything Red." Leon and Abe both turned to them as they argued a bit while the group walked out of the compound. Leon sighed.
"Red, Liz is a necessity for this mission. Fire is a bane to vampires, so she's more than okay to follow. The twins will be fine, I will not let her in the front lines, so cool it." Leon snapped, frowning.
"Sorry Feathers but I can't let-"
"Can't, or won't? Red, it's as she says, we can't order her to do or not do anything. Are you going to tie her in a flame-retardant blanket and sit on her to keep her here? No, so she's coming with." Leon interrupted, Hellboy visibly fuming at being told off by someone less than half his age. Leon's green cat-like eyes met Hellboy's golden ones evenly, a momentary silence stretching before Hellboy sighed and nodded, defeated.
"Fine. If anything happens to her…" Hellboy all but growled.
"My responsibility Red, I accept that." Leon agreed, smiling lightly before turning to duck and head towards one of the landing helicopters. The massive dual-turbine Chinook military craft had only just touched the grass as Leon walked up the lowered ramp and inside, going quickly through the cargo area to take the co-pilot seat and putting on the headset. The pilot listened as Leon briefed him on their destination, the rest of the BPRD away team piling into the massive craft, thankful that the pilot had been on a mission with the BPRD previously. Once all were inside, Abe tapped the button on the panel near the cargo door, which at once raised it into the closed position and notified the cockpit of the action. The craft rose and headed East with as much haste as they could muster, two smaller weapon-ready helicopters flanking the larger as escort. Leon briefly left the cockpit to see Abe, who remained a bit unsettled with the suddenness of their departure. They embraced, Leon even wrapping his wings around Abe, nuzzling the top of his head, causing Abe to flatten his blushing gills inside his gill-collar.
"It'll be fine, with Alucard off shore, we can get in without too much issue. When he reaches land, however, I'm hoping the majority of the fighting will be done and Integra can order him to stand down." Leon explained, slowly letting go of Abe.
"And if the fighting isn't over? If she's away from you, what will he do? What will you do?" Abe seemed worried more at this moment; he could sense that there was something Leon still wasn't saying. Leon sighed, kissing Abe gently before mentioning his family line and how Alucard had been bound to them over a hundred years ago.
"Alucard's seals, the markings on the gloves on his hands, were designed by Abraham van Hellsing, when he was first captured. Those seals, contain a fatal flaw, should the Hellsing family heir become a vampire under Alucard, they will weaken. If he fights me openly, he might break them completely." Leon shuddered, wings quivering. Abe nodded, remembering a bit from a previous conversation, Hellboy frowning from nearby.
"So if those seals open, what happens?" Liz asked, Leon blushing a bit as he realized that they, and all the agents with them, had seen his interaction with Abe.
*No one seems to mind, perhaps Integra will also be more open to our relationship?* Abe mused in thought-speech to Leon, who smirked and gently nudged him in thanks for the reassurance.
"He's loose, completely. He can use all the souls he's captured, all the strength he's gathered, throughout the centuries, from when he first turned until now. All of it. I have a way of remaking those seals, it's something my father and mother had warned me of when I was a child and gave me access to everything from our family documentation of the experimentation performed on Alucard to make him the most complete and powerful Vampire in existence, prior to my being sired of course." Leon explained at length, visibly concerned and fidgeting with his bracelet idly.
"If it comes to that, what can we do to help?" Liz asked after a lengthy silence.
"Run. Don't look back, just run." Leon stated.