Choices

C6: Master and Servant

[Disclaimer: Kouta Hirano owns "Hellsing."  I own whatever I write/create.  Don't steal and don't sue.]

Her eyes slowly opened.  After a moment, she reached to her bedside table and picked up her glasses, perching them on her nose.  She lay there for a moment, wondering why she was in her own bed.

"It's nice to see that you're finally awake."

Integra turned her head to see Alucard sitting in a chair next to her bed.  His right leg was propped up on his left knee, and he was sans hat and sunglasses.

"You've been asleep for about three days now." the vampire said, "You've finally gotten some of the rest you need."

"What happened?" Integra asked, her voice tired.

"As you yourself said, the Iscariot organization is no more." Alucard replied, "You had to kill Maxwell."

"How did we get back?"

"The shadows.  As I usually travel."

Integra let out a sigh and sat up.  The sparse light from outside came in through the window, landing on the floor.

"Has anything happened when I was asleep?" she asked.

"Nothing that our new associate couldn't handle." Alucard chuckled, "She enjoys killing the freaks."  He laughed low in his throat for a moment before returning his intent gaze to his master.  "Have you thought about what you want me to do with her?"

"We're still trying to recover from the battle with Incognito." Integra's hand went up to her neck, brushing against the bandage, "For now, we need all the soldiers we can get.  You cannot kill her."

"As you command, my master." Alucard replied softly.  The two were silent with each other for a long time until Integra stood up from her bed and walked to her window.  She stood there in her blue pajamas, staring out into the night.  Her arms crossed under her chest, she looked as though she was sad.

"And what, praytell, could be troubling my master?" Alucard asked in the soft voice he reserved only for her, "There is no danger now."

"What Maxwell said is true." the Hellsing replied, "Hellsing is failing."  It was a moment before she realized that Alucard was standing close behind her.  She let out a soft sigh and leaned back against him hesitantly.

"We've almost no men, and I've been asleep for three days.  And it was only a week ago that her Majesty decided to release me from the Tower.  The Hellsing organization is on the brink of destruction."

"You think so?" Alucard questioned, "Just because of one little incident caused by a maggot and a traitor?"

"Alucard…" Integra sighed, shaking her head, "You believed Set was nothing.  This kind of thing is different to vampires and humans."

"In what regard?"

"I doubt you'll ever die.  I, however, am almost at death's door.  If anything, I am at its threshold.  Walter is still injured from the battle.  All the soldiers we have are frightened that they will be regarded as terrorists.  This is the worst thing to happen to the Hellsing organization since it began."

"I can think of worse things." Alucard chuckled.

"Like what?" Integra challenged him.

"You dying."

"Leaving the Hellsing house without an heir?" Integra sighed.

"Leaving me without my master."  Integra's head lifted a bit in wonder about what her servant had just said.  Alucard's long arms slipped around the woman, pulling her gently closer.  His chin rested atop her head, and he smiled slightly when Integra didn't struggle or yell at him.

And there they stood for a long time, Alucard's arms protectively and possessively around his master.  Integra savored the moment of peace given to her by her most chaotic servant.  She slowly turned about and lay her head down upon his chest.  There was, of course, no heartbeat or rise and fall of breath.  Alucard simply let out a soft, short laugh and lay one gloved hand on the back of his master's head.

"Still the same little girl." he murmured, "Still the same, innocent little girl.  You'll always be that same beautiful girl to me, my master."

And as the words came from his lips, her arms lifted and wrapped round his waist, a smile coming to her face for the first time in a very long time.

"And you'll always be my dark knight in a red coat." she had to laugh at her own words, "Two knights, one holy and the other unholy.  What an interesting pair we make."

Alucard wondered briefly if he should dare…but Integra stood on her toes and kissed him first.

—to be continued—