Disclaimer: I don't own Hellsing, only this poor boy called Nathan.

When Worlds Collide

Chapter Four: Collision

Two figures walked quickly along the alleyway, their footsteps ringing off its damp walls. The place was littered with rubbish and other debris, testament to the filth that was the inevitable consequence of having too many people living so close together. It was the bane of living in a large city like London, and indeed in many others around the world. Another common characteristic were such alleyways that stretched for miles between buildings. Benign as they were during the day, they were the dwellings of petty criminals and other undesirable characters by night. Some of which were more sinister than others…

Integra's senses were on full alert as she walked next to Nathan in the dim light from the apartment windows above, her Hellsing training kicking in. Her sharp blue eyes scanned the pathway ahead and behind, even as she tried hard to appear relaxed. Nathan was his usual confident self, jabbering away as they hurried along. He was unfazed and unafraid, having taken this path numerous times before.

"I'm sorry about just now. I had no idea you weren't into the club scene." He spoke to her, sounding contrite. His concerned brown eyes studied the Hellsing's face.

"It's alright. You didn't know. Besides, it was a real eye-opener for me," she replied, smiling slightly. Her mind flashed back to the images of the discotheque she had been in just a few minutes ago.

The huge crowd of gyrating people on the dance floor, pulsating like an immense super-organism.

The multi-coloured lasers that flashed above them, in tandem with the flashy strobe lights that coloured the people various shades or red, blue, white and green.

The loud techno music which had bombarded her sensitive ears, used to the delicate strains of orchestral pieces that she loved.

Worse of all, the smell of stale smoke that clung to the air. Feeling an overwhelming urge to light up a cigar, she had actually dug through her bag for her cigar case. Integra only just managed to stop herself in time, remembering that Nathan had no idea that she smoked. She didn't want to destroy the clean image of her in his mind.

"Are you usually this uptight, Meredith?"

She stopped walking, and he halted as well. Her blue gaze met his brown ones. She was suddenly nervous. The alleyway was too dark and quiet for her liking. She had the nagging feeling that they were being followed. Her hand slid into her bag, its fingers brushing against cold steel.

"What makes you say that?" Her tone was light and casual, even as she strained to listen for the fall of footsteps. Her fingers curled around the handle of her gun, one finger resting on the trigger.

"Well, for one thing, you never seem to relax. You're always so, so poised and controlled. I never know what you're thinking." He was studying her face, trying to understand the mind that lurked behind it.

"I'm just not an emotional person, that's all." Her gaze roamed the dark alleyway. Squinting through the semi-twilight, she tried to look out for any signs of movement. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand. There was something out there. The muscles of her gun hand began to tighten in anticipation of what was to come.

Just as she was considering seeking out the creature herself, her attention was broken as an arm curled around her waist. She could feel Nathan's breath on her cheeks as he pulled her to him. She looked into his face, now just inches from her own. It made her heartbeat quicken slightly. However, the cool logic of her mind interrupted any amorous thoughts. They were in a life or death situation. She was not sure if she could protect Nathan as well as herself.

"Look, Nathan. I think you're a nice person, but really, this is not the right place," she glared at him, allowing the icy tone to creep into her voice. He wrapped another arm around her even as she tried to step back from him. Damn, she thought. Was this man a fool? They could very well be killed if he continued with this nonsense.

"I just want to get to know you better," he spoke breezily before his lips made contact with hers. She was so surprised that she froze, not knowing what to do or how to respond.

Forcing her body to relax, she clamped her mouth shut and set her lips in a grim line. There was a vampire stalking them out there, and she would have to kill it before it attacked them. She was a Hellsing, a vampire slayer, and her duty was to protect the innocent from the Undead. At the same time, Integra knew she would not want to die in such an undignified manner. A perfect death for her would be one in the line of duty, not because of some cad who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

"Stop. That is an order, Nathan." Her voice had dropped to the tone she used while leading a mission. It was one that bristled with authority, a voice that a grizzled veteran General would develop after commanding armies for long periods of time on the front-line.

Nathan let go of her and stepped back, surprised at her sudden change. The mysterious girl in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by something authoritative and unfamiliar. Confusion clouded his mind as he strove to make sense of how he had elicited such a response from her. She continued to stare angrily at him, her lips turned down in a frown of impatience.

"But, Meredith I --- ahhhhhh!"

Nathan's head was suddenly jerked backwards as something pulled his hair, exposing his neck. His eyes rolled about in pain and panic, trying in vain to see who was attacking him. At the same time, his arms were pulled roughly behind in a secure arm-lock. All he could do was struggle, but all of it was in vain. There was a strange smell that drifted through the dark alley. It was a pungent mixture of jasmine and something else. Integra's eyes widened when she realized what it was.

The tangy scent of blood.

A face slid out from behind his, one that was heavily made up with painted lips, mascara and purple eye-shadow. Thick dark brown curls tumbled around the sides of the pale face. Red eyes glittered back at Integra as the female vampire smiled slyly. She hissed and bared her fangs at her, her blood-stained lips close to the curve of Nathan's neck. She had fed recently, though Integra guessed the vampire had been interrupted before she could drink her fill.

"I'll just take him, if you don't mind," she spoke and then laughed. As if Nathan weighed no heavier than a rag doll, she hoisted him by the back of his sweater and pushed him up against the opposite wall with one arm, her back to Integra. She leaned forward and studied the face of her prey closely. Nathan flinched under her gaze.

"Mmm… I bagged myself a pretty boy this time," she breathed into his ear. A long tongue, coated with crimson liquid, slid out of her mouth and licked his chin. He recoiled in terror and disgust. The vampire cackled wildly before speaking.

"What's the matter? Am I not good-looking enough. Or do you prefer blondes?"

Paralyzed with fear, Nathan did not move as she lowered him to the ground. His mind was strangely empty, the vampire's scarlet gaze seemingly hypnotizing him into submission. Try as he might, he could not pull his eyes away from her face. He suddenly felt himself relax as she leaned closer. Goose pimples rose on his skin as her sharp fangs brushed his delicate neck. He couldn't hear anything but his own breathing and the rapid throbbing of his heart. Slowly, his eyelids felt heavy. Gradually, they began to close…

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

He abruptly toppled to the ground as the vampire let go of him, his back slamming against the wall. His eyes snapping open, he watched as the she vampire's face twisted in pain, a silent cry escaping her lips. All of a sudden, the pale pink of her skin and the multi-coloured hues of her made up face began to fade to a dull grey. Her form seemed to ripple and collapse. Just inches from him, the vampire began to crumble, breaking up into smaller pieces as her body disintegrated into dust. The shrinking grey form thrashed wildly, as if the vampire was trying to fight what was to be an inevitable outcome.

Soon, she was nothing more than a small grey mound, one that began to disappear as a slight breeze rose to blow the fine particles away. Her clothes lay in a heap on top of it, the strapless black dress lying there like a deflated balloon.

Nathan looked from the strange object at his feet to the girl that stood behind it. Integra was still holding out the gun at arm's length, her face devoid of expression. It reminded him of the face of an assassin, a mercenary killer who took lives without mercy or regret. She met his gaze and concern flooded her face, softening her now familiar features. Lowering her arm and slipping the gun into her bag, she crossed over the mound and extended a hand to help him up.

"You alright?"

"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" he gasped as he clutched her hand. He got to his feet, wincing slightly because of his injured back. Integra's eyes were studying him, checking for any injuries. She had been lucky. The vampire had forgotten about her when she was in the thrall of bloodlust. After watching Alucard feed on numerous occasions, she observed that vampires usually went into a kind of stupor when they were about to drain blood from a victim. It was at this time that they were most vulnerable, and now her deduction had been proven to be correct.

She was sure that the vampire she slain had been a true Nosferatu, albeit an overconfident one without the regenerative powers of Alucard. A young one newly turned. Even so, true vampires were perfectly capable of lulling their victims into a daze to keep them from struggling, regardless of age. She remembered she was the master of one as well, and silently gave thanks that the power of the seals made her immune to his mental machinations.

Once she was satisfied that her date was not seriously injured, she asked him instead.

"It's been a long night. Can we go home now?"