Hello all,

What you are about to read is a selection of oneshots I wrote several years ago for old writing friends that I rediscovered recently when going through some of my old work. This plot and world was a concept inspired by the first Underworld film that bounced around in my head for a bit before setting it aside, and I'm not sure whether I will do anything more than what you see here, but I liked these stories and wanted to share them. They were written before Netherlands and Belgium were given roles in the anime, I think, so I apologize in advance for their out-of-character personalities in this chapter.

I have edited these a bit (mostly the second chapter) from their original format to make them feel a bit more publishable, but other than that, welcome to my younger, more gullible and romantic writerly self.

Enjoy!


Coexist

Wind bristled the blonde fur on Ludwig's back as he ran, the pungent tangs of dozens of scents passing his nose every second. Silver moonlight illuminated the path in front of him, and within it Ludwig saw bugs scatter from his approach, glimpsed the dirt fly up beside his head as he stomped in it, leaving behind enormous paw prints.

The moon wasn't full yet. It was the night before, the only time when he had the ability to change form at will. Usually, Ludwig preferred jogging through the woods on two legs, mostly for the sake of keeping his secret hidden and having better agility, but tonight he felt exhilarated, and the only way to use that energy was by running on four legs.

Ludwig paused a short distance away from the encampment to change form, his paws thinning into fingers, his spine straightening out, his limbs snapping and popping as they shifted into an altogether different position. When he was human again, and clothed, he rolled his shoulders and cricked his neck. Then he headed for the firelight.

The pack he belonged to had always been a rowdy bunch, and tonight was no exception. A festival was being held in honor of their last night of two-legged freedom for a week. Ludwig remained on the outskirts, making it seem as if he had been there all along. He doubted his people would've noticed that he had wandered off; they were too busy enjoying themselves, dancing along to hypnotizing rhythms played by the pack's musicians.

A bonfire blazed in the center of the camp, its scarlet flames stretching towards the sky. Someone had added vampire's blood to it. To a wolf, vampire's blood cast them into a state of induced bliss. It was normally used to ease pain or sedate their wounded, but every once in a while someone would slip a vial into the bonfire, where its heady, sweet scent would ooze into everyone's senses as it evaporated and intoxicate them all.

Covering his mouth with the collar of his dark t-shirt, Ludwig squeezed his way through the crowd to his hut, where he found someone already there waiting.

"Took you long enough to get back," said Tim de Smet, quirking an eyebrow at him. "Thought I might have to come out there and get you." He smirked. "And we all know how well that would've gone with Sis."

Ludwig rolled his eyes. "As if you would risk your life for me."

"For Sis, maybe," he said, lighting one of his hand-rolled cigarettes. He took a drag and smoke curled out from his lips. Ludwig caught the sharp scent of tobacco and coughed.

"How can you smoke that trash?" he asked, annoyed.

Tim shrugged, plopping down into the one chair his packmate kept in the hut. "I don't handle stress as well as you." He let out another breath of smoke and added, "Sis is getting impatient."

"I told you, I'm not interested," Ludwig replied, digging through his travel bag for his necklace. He always took it off before changing form. It was the only thing he had left of his father's.

"Looking for this?"

Ludwig spun around, finding the iron cross pendant clasped in Tim's fingers. He grabbed for it, but Tim's reflexes were as quick as his, keeping Ludwig in place with his boot and holding the necklace out of reach. "All I'm asking is that you take her out on one date. That's all."

"And suddenly it becomes three dates, then ten," Ludwig growled, reaching for his necklace again.

And again, Tim pulled it out of reach, his boot digging deeper into Ludwig's firm stomach. "Does that mean you're interested?"

Ludwig scowled and turned his head to watch the festival outside his hut, still flowing with activity. He spotted Tim's sister, Bella, amongst the throngs directly across, on the other side of the bonfire, dancing with some of her friends. She moved more provocatively than some of the men and women, he noticed, and she kept sneaking candy-sweet glances at him through the folds of canvas.

"No," he concluded. Before Tim could interrogate him further, he snatched the necklace out of his hand and clasped it around his neck.

Tim frowned but didn't argue, taking another drag of his cigarette. "You shouldn't have taken off like that. Ivan's getting paranoid. Who knows what he would've done if he saw you coming out of the woods tonight."

"I needed to get out and exhaust my energy before the moon sets, otherwise I'll be up through dawn," Ludwig said distractedly, but Tim was right. Their pack's alpha didn't like his wolves wandering the woods at night anymore, particularly during a new moon cycle, when they were stuck as humans. Credit was due to the vampires, who seemed to be sharpening their fangs. Already two of their pack had been found bled dry in the forest over the past week, and Ivan was becoming anxious. Some thought he was planning to move their camp soon; Ludwig didn't blame him, but he wouldn't be happy about the decision. It smacked of cowardice to him. Wolves were supposed to protect their territory, not flee it with their tails between their legs.

"Isn't that what our festivals are for?" Tim remarked, standing and grinding his expended cigarette under his sole.

"The festivals mean keeping an eye on my brother to make sure he doesn't do anything idiotic," retorted Ludwig sourly. He loved his brother—he was the only family he had left—but there were times when he wanted to murder Gilbert, particularly during these events, when he seemed to lose all control of his senses and risk overdosing on the immortals' blood.

Tim sighed. "You're hopeless. Hey!" He seized Ludwig's shoulder, jerking him back from the hut entrance. "Where are you going? Are you going out there again?"

"I'm just going for a walk," Ludwig explained, shrugging off Tim's hand.

"And taking your bag with you?" said Tim dubiously. He quirked an eyebrow, creasing the long, thin scar on his tall forehead.

"In case I don't make it back till morning." He smiled at Tim, flashing sharp canines, and without another word disappeared yet again from the camp.

xxxxxx

Ludwig smelled her before he saw her.

The tang of copper lingered in her wake, mingling with her unique scent of lemon and lavender. It was so strong at times that he thought she bathed in it, but she was as normal as any other person.

With the exception, of course, that she was a vampire.

He pressed himself along the wall of the building, peering around the corner, into the alley, to make absolutely sure it was her. The vampire had her back to him, her shoulder against the stone and her leg crossed over the other. Her shorn hair barely kissed the nape of her neck, and the muscles in her arms gleamed with the same cold sweat he often accumulated when sprinting.

Ludwig slipped around the edge, wondering if he might be able to sneak up on her. He paused, though, to take her in some more. The dark tank top she wore exposed much of her back and complemented her pale skin tone exquisitely. Skintight jeans hugged the curves of her hips, and Ludwig fought the urge to pull her against him and not let go until morning.

But the hours were wasting, and he would have his sweet time—until dawn, at least, when she had to retreat back into the shadows.

He took a step, his boot grinding into the gravel, and she spun, barring her fangs and hissing. When she saw that it was Ludwig, however, she faltered and smiled.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come," she said smoothly.

Ludwig dropped his bag and stepped closer, having to stare down to meet her eyes. "As if I could stay away."

Sarah smirked and wrapped her strong arms around his neck, one of them resting over a set of jagged scars he accumulated from a fight several years ago. He carried others all over his body. She had kissed every single one, and she kissed the small one his cheekbone now, lingering there. Ludwig tilted his head and captured her mouth with his, greeted with the metallic taste of blood. He hoped she hadn't sacrificed a civilian to get her fill tonight; she normally didn't touch them unless she was desperate. The boundaries of the treaty forbid it.

It was just a pity that the rest of her clan didn't seem to be following the rules.

Sarah's fingers mussed his hair, felling the fine, flaxen strands over his face to tickle her nose. Ludwig hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms tightening a little more to hold herself in place. One of her fangs prodded his lip but didn't puncture—playing with him, as she so often did. He returned with a tug of her lip, and she pulled away, her slender fingers balling in his hair and tugging his head to the side, where two small scars were barely visible in the pale light.

It was the mark of how they met, when she had saved him from dying altogether. He had gotten himself into a fight with another pack, overpowered by so many of their members that by the time they were finished with him, he could barely move, much less breathe. He'd laid there in the wooded clearing while they sauntered away, on the verge of losing consciousness and wondering if the end had come, but then Sarah had stepped into the moonlight. He still remembered the pressure of her fangs against his neck, and then their puncture into his skin. He'd lost consciousness then, but when he awoke, she was still there, her lips red with his blood and her burnt umber eyes bright.

Ludwig had never met another vampire like her, willing to risk her life to save another's. That was one of the things he loved most.

She simply kissed the mark now, her eyes glittering in the dark. "One day we'll show the world we can coexist in harmony."

He chuckled, but it came out as more of a growl. "One day, but for now it's just you and me."