A/N - So I got frustrated with this and decided to post what I had.
Lila Hart set aside the ball she'd constructed out of rubber bands with a nonchalant air as she assumed a professional smile for the C who'd just walked through her door.
"Nancy Orion is it?" She asked, checking her diary, which was depressingly full, "Welcome, please have a seat. If you're here to discuss the contract renewal, I can confirm that no terms have changed. A blood contract is just as legal as your previous one, just a little more traditional. About what you'd expect, working here eh?"
Nancy gave the younger female a kind smile. "Been swamped with in-house consultations, haven't you?"
The solicitor's smile gained a pained edge. "You have no idea."
"Well you'll be glad to know I'm familiar with blood contracts. I signed my name to it last week. I'm here about something a little more complicated."
"Thank the stars," Lila blew out a long breath. "Not that I'm complaining, living and working in the Castle means dealing with the minutiae, but I'm used to work a little more challenging."
"Perfect."
Lila grinned, and made a little bring it gesture.
Nancy smirked. "I'm also here on behalf of a third party, your actual client. Before we proceed…" she opened her bag and pulled out a single sheet of paper, two thirds of which was filled with neat red text.
"Familiar with blood contracts indeed," Lila chuckled, reaching for it. It took her less than a minute to scan the document. It was brutally short. When she looked back at Nancy, her eyes were full of suspicion and a healthy dash of intrigue.
"I haven't seen a contract this…archaic since my History of Vampire Law module."
Nancy folded her hands in her lap and said nothing.
"And your records list you as a governess," Lila scolded, amused.
Nancy pulled an old fashioned fountain pen out of her bag, and set it on the desk, perfectly straight.
Lila eyed it silently. "Oh why not," she proclaimed, and snapped her fangs down, slicing the skin on the back of her hand. She dipped the pen into her blood and signed her name along the bottom. It flared with light for an instant, and then burned a darker red onto the page. "At least it won't be boring."
#
The closer they got to the Tower, the more curious Lila became. It would be hard not to when it was clear they were deliberately avoiding everyone on the way. When Nancy finally opened the door, wards parting like a curtain of silk, Lila gaped.
"Kuran-sama."
She curtsied deeply, spreading her hands in lieu of skirts and bowing her head.
"Come in and shut the door. We have a lot to talk about."
Nancy shut the door behind her as she left – going to tend to Yuki and create their alibi should they need it.
"Rise," Kaname allowed and Lila did so, slowly, clearly amazed at being left alone with him – a child – hunger flashed in her eyes for an instant and she actually took a step forward before it was consciously quieted with a little head shake to ward it off.
"Well you're clearly not an idiot," Kaname chuckled. "I do hope you paid attention to the penalties in my little contract."
"Severe pain followed by a very slow death if I reveal anything discussed here, anyone present here or harm you in any fashion. A minor variation on Artorius' Truce if I remember my history."
"You'd be amazed at how many times we had to use it just to get a day's sleep," Kaname replied dryly. There was a reason so many examples had survived to enter her history textbooks. He let his words sink in for a moment, certain she'd get the point. "Doubtlessly you have already surmised that I am older than I look."
Lila made a strangled noise, which made Kaname feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
After all these long years of constant degradation, being afforded the proper respect was quite intoxicating.
He'd have to remember that, and not let it go to his head – but for now, it was good.
"How may I assist, my Lord?" Lila rallied admirably.
"I require legal advice."
"I assumed as much. I do need a few more details, however, if I am to help."
Kaname eyed her warily. This was a risk. He'd minimised it as much as he could, but he was still bringing a complete stranger into the fold. He didn't like it. The dawn take Haruka. If Kaname had had a family he wouldn't need to do this.
"Haruka and Juuri will be dead within five years," Kaname began ruthlessly; he'd made his choice, now he just had to live with it. "I will be orphaned and my guardianship will be fought over viciously. I wish to take steps now to preserve all assets and control."
Lila went grey and as if in slow motion, sank to the floor, making small hitching gasps. Well, at least that proved her intelligence.
"Head between your knees," Kaname advised wryly. "Slow breaths. In two three, out two three, there we go."
Now this was a conspiracy, which made Kaname feel a lot better about the trust he was forced to place in her.
If it ever got out that she'd had even the faintest suspicion of what was about to happen to two purebloods and had done nothing… To reveal him would be to sign her own death warrant.
Stunned or not, Lila's mind was working just fine.
"That was… masterfully coldblooded," she said quietly.
"Thank you," Kaname smiled innocently, pleased at the recognition. He'd never been vain – well, alright, maybe just a little – but this whole baby nonsense was awful for his ego. He liked a good stroke as much as the next vampire.
"You didn't choose to trap me at random," she stated in that same quiet voice. "Why me? The partners have been at their trade for centuries and would serve you far better."
Kaname clambered gracelessly down from his chair and padded over to her, tumbling into a seated position in front of her. Lowering himself to her level would show that he wasn't all cruelty.
If she was surprised at his gesture, she didn't show it.
"I've heard it's a bad idea to lie to your lawyer, so I shall be blunt," he explained frankly. "I needed a solicitor. They had to be smart, educated, experienced and well rounded. Your interest in the Old Ways and history was also a point in your favour."
"But?"
Kaname summoned a photograph from his desk, 'calling' it to him – it only wobbled a bit, so his practice was paying off.
Lila accepted it silently and glanced down.
"Ah."
Kaname hummed in agreement.
"Leverage," she said pointlessly. "You needed someone with a weakness."
"Yep."
She laughed, and it was a mixture of resignation, sadness, and fury.
"So is this the carrot or the stick?"
Kaname smiled. "Both."
There was a long moment of silence, which Lila was clearly not about to break first. She twisted her legs to sit properly on the ground, and crossed her arms over her chest, watching him with absolute focus, waiting for the guillotine to drop.
"You're in love with a 'D."
She flinched. Kaname pressed on, taking the photo back from her numb fingers he gave it a faux-idle once over. "David, wasn't it? If I'm any judge, he's one of Haruka's cast-offs. He's always favoured blondes. Oh, and he's got about six months left before you're forced to put him down. Did you know?"
Lila closed her eyes briefly – the mixture of hopeless love and loss already eating her alive.
Kaname tilted his head. "That's the stick."
Her mouth twisted. "Your carrot?"
"I can save him."
"How?" she asked sharply. "Do not think me so foolish as to believe you'd ever offer your blood, or that of Haruka-sama. I won't be strung along on false promises."
"There are other ways."
"No there are not. Why bother to torment me with hope? You know I will do anything you want. This," she waved the photograph, "is enough to kill my career and social standing. You need no carrot."
Kaname pursed his lips.
"I am not cruel, Lila-chan. I do not demand your services without fair recompense. That is not my way. I am old. It is because I am old that I can save your David without the blood. You're quite right that I'd never offer it to save a 'D who was worthless to me, and do I will not. Yet I promise I can save him still."
She tilted her head, a sly gleam coming to her eyes. She did not believe him.
"Would you be willing to sign a blood contract to that effect, Kuran-sama."
Kaname made sure his answering smile was toxically sweet. "I already have one prepared." He called it over with another 'pull.'
The sly gleam faded, replaced with confusion as she read the document over, even going so far as to sniff the ink and scrap at the paper it was written on. The ink contained a few drops of his blood, and the paper had been washed in a special solution, left to dry in the light of a full moon.
"This is a real contract."
Kaname didn't deign to answer.
"This binds you as well as me."
Kaname sighed. "Serve me honestly, and to the best of your ability and I will keep your lover sane, for as long as he is your lover."
"What about when I say something that angers you? Will you kill him? If I physically can't do what you ask, will you let him go mad?" She listed rapidly, already scanning the document.
They were valid concerns, and Kaname felt reassured about his choice of solicitor. He preferred it when his people had both sense and a spine.
"I am a reasonable vampire. I promise that if you ever give me genuine cause to punish you, it will be you, not him."
"That is not written here."
"Nor will it be. No contract is perfect and the longer they are the more complex the magic becomes. You'll just have to take my word for it. It is the only offer you will get."
"I need time to consider – "
"No. You will leave this room only with your signature on that contract, or your mind wiped blank of the past hour."
Lila eyed him, cold and steady. He knew what she was thinking. He was tiny- she could take him.
It grated, but she probably could – if Kaname hadn't chosen the battlefield and been preparing for this meeting for weeks. He was also the only person who would help her, and she knew that too.
She was also smart enough to know that just because he wiped her memory, it didn't mean she wouldn't be having an accident in a week's time. Kaname hadn't made it to his age by being soft.
"I agree," she said simply, and promptly stuck a finger in her mouth to slice open on a discreet fang, dipping Kaname's proffered pen into it, she signed her name on the bottom.
Kaname could have cheered, but restrained himself to a perfectly blank expression, as he took the contract back from her.
With a gesture, he cast the mild Smoker charm, twisting his power just so. He did not trust Lila enough to bleed in front of her without it.
Then he bit his thumb, and pressed it onto the paper, his Seal forming instantly – the Kuran rose. More stylised than their current crest, but recognisable all the same.
Kaname promptly rolled it up and tossed it back onto his desk.
"Now that that is finally out of the way, let's get back to my original question. Haruka and Juuri will be dead within a few years. Let's talk asset protection."
"David…"
"Sane from this moment forth. You can go and check on him after we've talked."
"OK, am I allowed to take notes?"
Kaname looked at her and she sighed.
"Well it was worth asking. Do they have a Will and have you seen a copy?"
