A/N: Sooooo...about the whole 'regular update' thing. That kinda when to shit in a handbasket didnt it?
Ah well I'm back! At least for now, and here is another chapter...which I wrote aaages ago, whoops.
Anyway! Enjoy! I'll try and stick around this time.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hellsing, it's characters, or anything affiliated with it.
Chapter 12
Seras was stirred from her sleep with a start by two fingers prodding sharply at her abdomen. She looked up wearily, searching for the culprit responsible for disturbing her death sleep only to be met by two blue eyes staring down at her from behind a set of all too familiar glasses.
"Sir Integra?" Seras asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes to clear her vision.
"You really are your master's fledgling Seras." Integra sneered. "We've been trying to wake you these past three minutes."
"You have? Why?"
"We've landed, obviously. The jet needs a few hours to refuel and do maintenance checks; we were heading out to stretch out legs around the airport for a bit."
Integra nodded her head towards Alucard and Walter who were standing further down the aisle of the plane; both of them were dressed rather…normally. Seras's eyes widened at the sight before her.
'Master? Is he wearing?'
Indeed he was. Seras's eyes did not deceive her. Lord Alucard was wearing clothes, normal clothes! And they weren't even the ones she'd seen him observing at the shops they had been to. She'd at least expect him to wait until they got to Kumaju before he gave up his beloved attire in favour of more human garments.
And yet here he was, and what a sight did she behold.
Seras felt her body tense.
Alucard was wearing a black long sleeved pull-over shirt, a very tight one at that; with which he wore jet black denim jeans complete with a new pair of boots which had little metal skulls running down the sides. Without those other bleak clothes covering his form Alucard was quite the hottie!
'WaitaminutedidIsayhottie?'
*Flick*
"Ow!"
'Did she just…flick my nose?'
"Answer my question Seras" Integra demanded. "Are you coming with us or not?"
"Huh? Yeah sure, ok." She said aloof, still distracted by her master's unusual appearance.
"Good. You'll need to get changed, I want you to cover as much skin as possible as its daylight. Unlike your master your body won't survive direct contact easily and I don't want the airport staff clearing up a pile of ash."
XXXX
Twenty minutes later the group were disembarking from the plane, luckily for Seras the tunnel connecting the aircraft to the terminal provided her with much needed shelter from the mid-morning sun.
Seras had done as instructed, she wore a blue long-sleeve shirt and a thick pair of jeans, it wasn't the most comfortable of outfits and her bust was already threatening to break the buttons off the shirt. She also wore a pair of long white gloves and carried a small black shade umbrella, all in all she felt confident that any stray rays of sunlight wouldn't hit her skin, and if it did there were no major parts exposed so it would only do limited harm. It would still hurt like a bitch though.
"We will split up into two groups." Integra declared as they exited the tunnel into the large expanse of the airport terminal. "Seras and I shall go and purchase some last minute supplies. Walter, you and Alucard are free to go about as you wish…just make sure he doesn't shoot anything."
"Understood ma'am; and don't worry, I've already disarmed him." Walter smiled coolly.
Alucard muttered something under his breath about where Walter could stick his precious guns, Seras giggled.
XXX
There were a few hours to kill before the jet would be ready for take-off, so naturally Alucard & Walter headed for the nearest wine bar. To Alucard's pleasant relief it was obviously a slow day for the bar, there were only a couple of other patrons sitting down at another table who were no doubt trying to pass the time like he was.
Walter went up and ordered their drinks whilst Alucard sat himself down on one of the comfy sofas that were laid out through the bar. A few moments later the elderly butler returned with two glasses of red wine, Alucard discreetly poured a little bit of blood in his to make it more appealing.
Then there was the awkward silence…
Judging from the grin that was slowly creeping across Walter's thin lips Alucard deduced that Integra had relayed to him their little conversation that was had on the jet. Walter didn't say anything; he simply cocked an eyebrow at the vampire and continued to sip on his merlot, much to Alucards chagrin.
"Spit it out Walter. I'm sure you must be dying to say something" Alucard mumbled.
"A butler such as myself would never gossip." Walter retorted.
"Uh-huh."
"However…seeing as I'm technically off-duty I suppose I can bite at the niggling question."
'Oh joy, here we go.'
"Are you considering Seras as a future companion?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Natural curiosity."
'I call bullshit.'
"Hm, I'm not buying it."
"Ok, fine…" Walter paused to take another sip of wine. "I've grown rather fond of Miss Victoria, and I'd rest easier knowing whether or not you're going to simply taunt the poor girl or show some genuine affection."
"Are you…are you giving me the 'dad' talk?" Alucard asked incredulously.
"She's an orphan; someone has to look out for her in these matters."
"And you qualify for this how?"
"I'm the oldest, I'm the wisest, oh and I'm also the only person who doesn't scare the living daylights out of her on a daily basis."
Ok, Alucard couldn't argue with that.
"Hmph, I suppose you have a point." Alucard grunted. "However your concerns are misplaced, I have no intention of causing Seras any harm."
"So Integra was right, you are going to court her?"
"Perhaps…perhaps not. It is a difficult matter, and a deeply personal one."
"The same could be said for human relationships." Walter argued.
"Nosferatu also have the added complication of vampire instinct" Alucard reminded him. "That instinct is what pulls two vampires together, however instinct can also cloud ones judgement."
"So you think Miss Victoria isn't good enough for you?" Walter asked, a little annoyed.
"I didn't say that." Alucard waved a finger as he sipped from his wine. "Instinct creates lust, however true vampires share a connection far deeper than that, it is fragile and built over time. Vampires cannot allow base instincts to rule them, lest they risk breaking the connections they hold dearest."
"And you feel that your connection with Miss Victoria is too fragile?"
"I am unsure still of the nature of our connection. Is it still founded on the fact that were are master and childe? Or is it founded on stronger emotions? We are currently sitting in a dangerous 'grey' area."
"Ah I see" Walter exclaimed. "That's why you're still keeping your distance."
"Correct. That and I can't stand being a puppet in my Master's stupid little match-making fantasy."
"Do you remember the time when she tried to set you up with her nanny all those years ago?"
"Dear lord, I had forgotten about that." Alucard shuddered. Walter laughed at his grimacing
"Shall we order some more wine?"
"Might as well. I'll need it to erase those memories you so kindly brought up."
XXX
Seras was struggling, really struggling.
Her mind was awash with images. Very, very disturbing images.
Ok, so they weren't that disturbing. Sordid would be a better term; sordid and erotic.
Seras had thankfully found several good excuses to leave Integra's side, citing a need to purchase some extra underwear for the trip, an endeavour Integra had no interest in. Thankfully.
For the past two hours Seras had been pacing the airport terminal back and forth, her mind racing at a million miles an hour as it flashed a great many things before here eyes.
From the moment she saw Alucard in those clothes…
XXX
It wasn't long before the Hellsing jet was on its way again. Integra was pleased that the stopover had passed quickly, and the fact that there were no reports of a violent massacre caused by a certain, irritating someone.
The brief stay at the airport had been productive though. Integra used the time to buy a few more swimsuits, having realised that bringing only two to a tropical island may have been a slight lapse of judgement. They weren't anything flashy, just two simple one-pieces; Integra was never one to draw attention to herself, especially the attention of men who she considered to be lesser beings, ruled solely by the incredibly kickable loins dangling between their legs.
"Hopefully these will do…" She muttered as she eyed one of the swimsuits; it was blue with some simple dark patterning.
Integra stowed it away into one of her suitcases along with the other, a plain black one-piece. She walked over to the soft queen-size bed in her cabin and allowed herself to drop into the comfortable mattress with a sigh. Although the day hadn't been trying the effects of jetlag were already making their presence know.
It wasn't long before he eyes drifted shut and her mind quieted.