A.N. - Wheee, lots of reviews XD Thankyou! I'm just worried this won't live up to your expectations - complaints are welcome, as long as they are constructive, and thankyou for reading!

This was originally supposed to be a one-shot, so it will only be a few chapters long, and the story will move pretty quickly.. . .I think.

You drove the sinner from me

and shone with such glory

touching me softly

my breath torn away

I kept my feelings from you

the heavens divide us

I longed to tell you

all my heart's desire

Angel's Tale

'That young boy, in the words of Douglas Adams, is one of the least benightedly unpleasant organic life forms it has been my profound lack of pleasure not to be able to avoid meeting.'

Hibernius sighed, a smile on his lips as he stretched his tired long legs over his sofa. Vancha grinned, settling himself on a chair opposite the cirque master, yawning and blinking in the dusk's failing light.

'How's he been? What's happened during the day that I've missed?'

'Well, while you were snoring your head off, this place has been turned upside down. He's had this place in an uproar ever since he started working with Evra. He's pounced on Cormac and asked him what happens when he chops off a certain part of his anatomy, he's corrupted Evra with dirty thoughts about washing snakes as well as tried to get him naked, he's dared Rhamus to let him ride him, and he's been nothing but trouble to Truska.'

'Truska?'

'Yes, she's tried to wash him and get him to wear decent clothes, but he runs away every time, using you as an excuse.'

'Me?'

'Yes, Vancha, you. He says that everyone respects you when you are nothing but a scruffy old smelly middle-aged man with bad hair colour and woeful fashion. He argues that he should be allowed to look scruffy as well because you never seem to get in trouble.'

'Why that little brat, I'll . . !'

'He likes you, you know.'

Hibernius interrupted, smiling and watching in amusement as Vancha blinked and held back a surprised hiccup.

'He what. . .?'

'He likes you. He doesn't say that, of course, but he talks about you a lot. How you took him here, Vancha this, Vancha that, . . . you really do have a secret way of attracting people when you look like the least attractive life-form on this planet, don't you?'

'. . . . You're the only person I know who can insult and compliment at the same time, Hibernius.'

Vancha grumbled, cheeks a little redder than the usual shade of sunburnt pink. Hibernius laughed and continued mercilessly:

'He's already asked where your van is. He wants to snuggle into bed with you to pay back his debt for bringing him here.'

'. . . . . . .Huh?'

'I declined, of course, but he's looking all over the place, and wondering why you sleep during the day.'

'. . . . . . .Oh.'

'You'll have to tell him some time.'

'Do you reckon he'll believe me?'

'I don't know. Maybe Evra's already told him about you. Anyway, I have to go and talk to Cormac about our profits and uses before our next move. Go and talk to Harley before he goes to bed, and please, convince him to let Truska clean him up a little. We don't need two Vanchas here.'

'You make me feel so special, Hib, thankyou.'

'You are welcome. Now, if you will excuse me. . . So much to do, and so little time.'

Hibernius stood up, walked to the door, and showed Vancha out of his van into the twilight-blue campsite.

'Vancha!'

Harley's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Vancha - he was in the north end of the camp, walking around with a squealing Evra on his shoulders, whistling an unfamiliar tune. He ran towards Vancha, making Evra scream on his shoulders, but not caring.

'You don't mind me calling you Vancha, do you?'

'Of course not. Did you like your first day here?'

'Kind of.'

Harley said vaguely, but Vancha knew that he was just too shy to admit that he loved it. It was obvious. That adult-ish air, those cold, calculating eyes, everything he'd worn deliberately for the past ten years had been stripped away, and now he was just a child like Evra. Just a child, a little boy who had found, at last, somewhere to call 'home'. Vancha smiled, burping with delight.

'I heard from Hib that you've been avoiding Truska.'

'Heh,' Harley snorted, 'That bitch keeps on trying to get me to bathe! I haven't washed myself since I was. . .'

'Truska isn't a b. . . b'word!'

Evra argued, kicking at Harley with his little scaly legs.

'Shit, stop it, Ev. . . . fuck, ouch!'

Harley winced in pain as Evra kicked his jaw up, and grabbed the snakeboy's legs.

'Sorry, okay? I won't call that bitch a bitch again.'

'You just did!'

Evra pouted, trying to swing his legs free. Harley sighed and grabbed the squirming Evra's hips, and lowered the boy to the ground. Evra then started pounding his fists at Harley's thighs, but Harley just huffed and wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

'I can't imagine having a kid.'

'Neither can I, but I bet it would be very interesting.'

Vancha chuckled, grabbing Evra around the waist, hugging the little body close, the threw him over his left shoulder. Evra squirmed, trying to escape the vampire's grip around the thighs.

'Neeh! Vanchaaaa! Let go of me! I'll be all smelly!'

'Then how about we all go to Truska and have a bath?'

'Bath? I like baths! Truska makes nice bubbles.'

Evra smiled broadly, the grin showing his scaled dimples. Harley frowned, taking a step backwards.

'. . .You can't make me.'

'Oh yes I can.'

Vancha chuckled and grabbed Harley around the waist, throwing him over his shoulder as if he weighed as much as a hen. Harley gasped, shocked, but started squirming and kicking like the snakeboy on the other shoulder.

'Let! Go! Of! Me!'

'Nope.'

'I don't want a close-up of your arse!'

'Live with it.'

'Let go of my thighs, pervert, or else I'll. . . . fuck, just let go!'

'Sorry, can't. Cirque master's orders.'

'Mr Tall's?'

Evra stopped kicking and squirming, a blush forming at his cheeks. Vancha chuckled.

'Yes, Mr Tall's orders.'

'Aaaaaaah, something definitely there, ain't there, Ev? Your crush?'

Harley stopped squirming also, cocking his head sideways, watching Evra blush furiously. Harley chuckled as no answer came from Evra. Evra pouted, looking away from Harley, kicking at Vancha's chest again. Harley stopped laughing, and slid a teasing finger down Vancha's spine.

'Vancha. . . . '

'What?'

Vancha replied, trying not to let the sliding finger get the better of the calm of his voice. Harley lowered his head and leaned on Vancha's back, his left cheek warming Vancha's shoulder blade.

'Why do you sleep during the day?'

'Well. . . . '

Vancha gulped, unsure where to start. Evra stopped kicking, raising his head and stared at Harley.

'He's a vampire, Harry, didn't you know?'

'Stop calling me Harry, will you? It's Har-ley. Har, L, ee, as in the bike. . . . wait. . . . what the fucking hell did you just say?'

'He's a vampire. And don't swear, I'll tell Truska you said the f-word, and she'll spank you with her beard!'

'He's a what?'

'I'm a vampire, Harley,' Vancha interrupted, chuckling, 'it's not as if you're going to be so surprised, is it? You've seen a beard-growing woman, a limb-growing man, a snakeboy - what's new? A vampire.'

'But. . . but you. . .you're not. . .'

'A blood-sucking monster?'

'Er, well . . . I was thinking more on the lines of beauty. I thought vampires were supposed to be pale and . . . beautiful.'

'Well, sorry to have disappointed you. I'm a bloody individual and loner, and I'm damn proud to be.'

Vancha chuckled, spitting on the ground.

'But I heard people calling you sire, once, Vancha, what does sire mean?'

Evra said, wonder in his voice. Harley snorted, chuckling:

'Sire? You're kidding me. It's not like you're some war-lord or president or prince, is it?'

'Actually, I am.'

'Huh?'

'Sorry to not be blonde, handsome, clad in shimmering armour and riding a silver-white stallion, but I still am one. I'm a vampire Prince.'

'. . . . I think I'm going to get a headache.'

Harley flopped his head on Vancha's back again, sighing. Vancha felt shivers go up his spine as he felt Harley's stomach muscles tense and relax on his shoulder, the boy's slim figure draped over him, soft, warm and just so damn perfect. Vancha shook his head, forced out a burp, and knocked on Truska's van. A tall, slender woman opened the door, and blinked to see a smelly, disgusting mob standing there (well, technically the only one standing was Vancha because the other two were thrown over his shoulders).

'Vancha. What you come for?'

Truska smiled affectionately, touching Vancha's cheek with a slim finger. Vancha's lips loosened into a sloven grin, Evra struggled to turn around, beaming at the woman - and Harley glared at her, more so because she was touching Vancha than the fact that she was going to wash them. Vancha replied in a language Harley did not know - he pointed at Harley and Evra - Truska rolled her eyes, nodded, and showed them inside.

'It's bloody BOILING! Let me OUT!'

'It not hot. Evra was fine in it minute ago! Stop being wuss and be cooperative!'

'I beg you, beardwoman! I HATE baths! Sweet fucking god, I hate it, I do, and why doesn't the smelliest man in camp have to clean himself?'

'Oh yes he will, right after I finished with you, 'arley. And if I hear your dirty tongue again. . .'

'WHAT?'

Vancha got up from the van floor, shocked. Truska turned around, face dead serious.

'Yes, Vancha, I will clean you. I will ban you from sleeping here forever if you don' smell better than fermented rat vomit.'

'But Truskaaaa. . . .'

'No puppy dog eyes. They don' work on me now, Vancha, you know it. No bath, no sleeping in my van.'

Truska said firmly, scrubbing at Harley (who Vancha couldn't see because the bath had a silk curtain around it) who choked at the shampoo's sweet smell of roses. He poked his head out of the silk curtains and grinned at Vancha, bubbles on his face and head.

'Why don't you come join me, then? The water's a bit hot but the bubbles aren't that bad. . . and I can show you my tattoo?'

Vancha choked and spluttered, flopping back onto the ground with a headache. But before he could accept or decline the offer, Truska glared and pushed Harley back into the curtains.

'You have tattoo? You bad, bad boy! Where? Show me!'

'On my arse, see? Angel wings. 's pretty, huh?'

'How could you? I rip your skin off and rub salt into it, that ought get rid of evil thing like that!'

'You wouldn't dare!'

Harley gasped, swishing around in the bath to guard his backside from a murderously glaring Truska, resulting in splashes of bubbly hot water all over the van floor. Truska kept her stance, grabbing at Harley behind the curtains.

'You not old enough for tattoo! In my country, only pirates have tattoos. Shows you are evil man!'

'I bet in your country there weren't many pirates with wings on their arses, though.'

Harley commented, a smirk in his voice. Truska had lost it. She cursed in her own strange language, grabbed the spiky sponge, and started scrubbing at Harley furiously.

'Ouch, bitch, stop it, dammit, you're gonna make scratches on my perfect arse!'

Harley whacked Truska's arms off, jumped out of the bath, and ran to Vancha, fully naked and covered in bubbles. Vancha fell into a coughing fit again, while Harley hid behind his back and glared at a fuming Truska. Vancha cleared his throat, trying his hardest not to look down at Harley's body - concentrating on the boy's face. That's it, face. Bits of rose-bubbly hair stuck to his face and dripped water down at the floor, his cheeks flushing slightly from the bathing. He bit his lip, clutched onto Vancha's purple furs and glared straight back at Truska who was doing her 'you get back here or else' glare that Vancha knew well. Vancha sighed and whispered to Truska in her language:

'Truska, he's clean enough, let him be.'

'No. Vancha, he is still bubbly. And I need to rub that evil tattoo off his bottom. Now step aside.'

'You know tattoos won't wash off. There's no need to get so stressed about it.'

'You don't understand.'

'What makes you think that?'

'Fine. Protect him if you want.'

Truska sighed, and put the bubbly wet sponge back in the bathtub. She turned to Vancha and Harley again, and spoke in English.

'Both of you get out my van, now. You both banned for week.'

'Fine by me!'

Harley poked his tongue out, grinning cheekily, the bubbles on his head making subtle popping noises as he shook the wet hair out of his face. Truska sighed, picked up Harley's clothes, and. . . . threw them into the bath tub. Harley gasped -

'My clothes!'

'They dirty. Hibernius don' like them anyway. Wear these.'

Truska sighed, throwing over a towel and a bright coloured costume Vancha had never seen before.

'And get out of van before I make you.'

'For fuck's sake, Vancha, I'm NOT wearing this!'

'What, would you rather run around naked, then?'

'Yeah!'

Harley glared back at Vancha levelly, who sighed and sat down next to him. The vampire's temporary tent was a little cold and small, not at all fitting for two people, but they had managed to somehow fit. Vancha couldn't blame Harley. I mean, it's pink. It's frilly. It's one of those frilly-necked pink costumes that clowns wear. It would be hilarious to see him in it, Vancha smirked, but no, he'd never put it on.

'Harlequinn, I heard you've got this place in an uproar - you're corrupting Evra, you've disobeyed Truska, and you're giving the cirque master a headache. And I'm not exactly happy either, because I have now lost my rights to Truska's van.'

'What, are you trying to give me a lecture? And who wants to sleep in that old woman's van, anyway, huh? If you want someone to sleep with, you always have me!'

Harley grinned - Vancha palmed his forehead, biting his lip.

'That's not what I meant, dammit, just. . . behave.'

'. . . Behave? Make me.'

'I'm begging you.'

'Maybe when I get some decent clothes on.'

'. . . . Neither of us are allowed anywhere near the vicinity of Truska's van, or else we'll both end up with very painful whip marks, or worse - she'll chop off something of ours that we find rather valuable. How do you think we'll get your clothes back?'

'. . . I'm NOT wearing THIS.'

Harley glared, gesturing towards the pink frilly pile. Vancha sighed.

'Alright, Harley, what do you propose we do then?'

'How about. . . .'

He grinned, then lifted up some of Vancha's animal skin, swiftly climbed under and popped his head out next to Vancha's head, snuggling up to him.

'. . .This?'

'HARLEY!'

'What?'

'You know PERFECTLY well what! You are NOT sharing my clothes, I only have one pair, and. . .'

'We only need one pair. I can just stay like this.'

'I repeat, you are not sharing my clothes.'

'You call these clothes? It stinks worse than mine did, and they're not even cloths.'

'Get out of my clothes, brat, you are invading my personal space. . .'

Vancha hissed, only too aware of Harley's completely naked body closer to him than it ever was. Harley paid no attention, only snuggling even closer, his cold, smooth skin silky to the touch.

'. . . . You're so warm. . .'

He mumbled sleepily, before tipping his head onto Vancha's shoulder, and closing his eyelids.

A.N. (cont.) - I swear, that went far too quickly. . . But I still have a few more chapters to go, (that I admit I haven't even written yet), so forgive XD

Inyx

Yes, I posted, and I love you too! (huggle) I'm sure Vancha would appreciate some nice strawberries - AND the company of coughcoughKurdacough another clan-obsessed man. It amuses me to no extent how you love Harley so much XDD I'm so glad you like him, you being the OC-hating girl that you are. And sorry for the non-random-french-ness, just in case you're disappointed XD Harley was innocent mostly totally through this chapter, wasn't he. . (bonks head) I'm so bad at character constructing. Poor Mr Tall is going to have a hard time keeping Harley away from all the men XD I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and please know that I can only write because of the inspiration you give me, my Gannen!

Yayfulness

Eep XDD I hope I didn't disappoint you - but I'm glad you liked the first chapter, and thankyou for the review!

cold-night09

Hopefully it will be a cute heart-warming story... I'll try my best. XD Thankyou for reviewing!

SugarInMyTea

XDD You like manwhores? Me too! (this is such an awkward topic to talk about XDD). I'm hoping I kept at the "keeping characters in character" thing, because you're the only one who thinks I keep the characters in character XDDD Thankyou, you made my day XD

Showjumper916

Warm and fuzzy is what I'm aiming it to be XDD I hope it will work out that way. Thanks for the encouragement!

Kirin the Vampiress

I'm glad you're so happy about it XD Yes, you love Vancha, don't you, I thought you would like it XD but dancing around school computer lab is perhaps not the greatest of ideas if you want people to think you're sane. Eep (hides) it's not so good that you can steal it, but if you want to steal it, you need Inyx's permission because this belongs to her. You got book 9? TT My most LEAST favourite book. (cringes) Hate hate hate hate hate. Here, all the books are out, and the next series by Darren Shan "Lord Loss" is about to come out in June or July. The DS series are all out in Japanese as well. Anyway thanks for the review and the encouragement!

The Freaky Butt Mate

(sings along with you) Unexpecteeed. . . Not my favourite hyde song, but the lyrics seemed apt for the story XD Ooh, I'm sure Vancha will make his dear little face glow too, very soon. . . (grin) My portrayal of Evra comes from Inny's ideas, so it doesn't exactly belong to me... Oh dear. I love those abused little boys too! (huggles them happily) (huggles Socks) Thanks as always for your reviews that make me so happy XD

Salvatore Shan NW

Yay! Another Vancha lover! (huggles you) I'll make Vancha happy, somehow, somewhere through this fic, but maybe not at the end. . . hmm. (loves unhappy endings). Ooh, you have a gay best friend? How AWESOME! Hello! (waves to him) I love you! (cough) Anyway, I hope you both enjoy this, and maybe I will write a Larten/Darren fic for you some day since you love them so much XD Thanks for the review!