Alfred paced up and down the library with a thoughtful expression; he wondered what he could do to make Arthur like him. He didn't want him to hate him, not when they first met! Besides, Arthur was like him, and the irritated Englishman was the only person like him who he had met. Alfred wasn't going to leave so easily... if that was what Arthur was trying to do, that is.

Alfred started to get a little thirsty- he hadn't long since fed but all this thinking was making him more peckish than usual. He left the library and walked down the hall in a random direction to see if he could find Arthur.

Alfred tried to remember paintings and features of the different halls he walked down in order to find his way back to the library- from the library he knew his way back to his room but from here, he had no idea. Not yet anyway. The portraits he glanced at held no interest to the blond vampire. He didn't recognise any of them and nor did he care about knowing who they were. He just wanted to find Arthur.

And eventually he did. Fifteen minutes of wandering aimlessly through the long halls, he eventually found a large study and found Arthur had decided to take refuge in there from him. Without bothering to knock, he walked straight into the study and beamed brightly, "Hey Artie!"

Arthur jumped a little, having not expected the younger vampire to just walk in unannounced, "Bloody hell! Don't you know how to knock?"

Alfred tilted his head and looked at Arthur with a blank expression. The older vampire could almost see the cogs turning in the younger's mind as he finally comprehended what he was talking about. He looked to the door, then to the Brit, then nodded slowly, "Oh... sorry... anyway!" he walked up to the desk and rested the palms of his hands on the polished wood so he could lean forward, "Hey! I was wondering if you have any blood around here! I'm getting thirsty again!"

"Unless you want to go outside in the storm, I cannot help you," Arthur said and continued with what he was writing, "I don't have anything here."

"Then how do you feed?" Alfred asked incredulously. Arthur felt like smacking him.

"I hunt just like you, you stupid idiot."

"All right, stop calling me stupid!" Alfred narrowed his eyes slightly but Arthur didn't even spare him a glance. He continued writing and Alfred was getting irritated. What was he writing that was so important that he couldn't even look at him when he was talking?

"I'm only stating the truth," Arthur explained. The younger vampire's lips formed a thin line as the irritation he was feeling started to get stronger.

"You know, you're really stuck up! You're not even nice!"

"You can't get by in the world by being nice," Arthur said and glanced at him before returning to writing.

"Well you don't have to be a jerk. You know, I was thinking of starting fresh but I don't know if I want to now."

"Starting fresh?" Arthur asked and finally stopped writing to look up at him. His emerald eyes held genuine curiosity- as if he really wanted to know what Alfred was getting at. He waited for him to continue.

Alfred was a little shocked that Arthur was finally paying him attention but he continued anyway, "Yeah... because we're the same, you know? I wanted us to be... friends? You might be able to get by alone but I don't know if I can. Not yet anyway. I know I'm a hero and stuff but I have no idea where I am and knowing someone would be great. Knowing someone I like, that is. I'm willing to forget what happened between us and start fresh right here and right now, like we've only just met."

Arthur listened with interest. He could see that the boy meant well. He was only young and he was in a strange new environment of which he needed to get used to. He would be all right after a while, he was sure of it but right now he needed someone to rely on. He could see it was hard for him to admit that, but there wasn't anything he could do.

"All right... let's start over."

Alfred beamed and leant back. He extended his hand to the older vampire and stated, "Hi! I'm Alfred F. Jones! It's nice to meet you!"

Arthur quirked a small smile at the American's optimism and shook his hand, "Pleasure to meet you, Alfred. My name is Arthur," he let go of his hand and stood up, "if you would like to follow me please."

Alfred looked a little confused but he followed Arthur out of the room anyway. The two walked along the halls in silence until Alfred had to inquire about the paintings.

"They're Britain's previous Kings and Queens," he said and explained about each painting as they passed it. Alfred pretended to look interested because he didn't want Arthur to dislike him. He had agreed to put the disastrous first impression behind him and start a fresh- he wasn't going to blow it.

Alfred nodded and spoke when required and he was pleased that Arthur looked happy when he had to explain about Britain's monarchy. He seemed very interested in the subject and was keen to talk about it. Alfred was glad that Arthur was happy.

Alfred just enjoyed listening to Arthur's voice rather than what he was actually saying.

Eventually Arthur led him to a door and he reached into his pocket to reveal a set of keys. After fumbling with them for a moment trying to find the correct one, he finally got the door unlocked and he pushed it open. Alfred looked over his shoulder at the dark descent and shook his head, "No way."

"Excuse me?" Arthur asked and looked at the younger.

Alfred's face had gotten paler- if that was possible- and he looked terrified. Arthur tilted his head and turned to face him, "What's the matter?"

Alfred had backed away a few paces and looked at the older vampire with wide eyes, "I'm not going down there!"

"Why not?" Arthur asked, "If you want blood, then you'll have to."

"Huh?"

"I lied earlier. I do have blood here; I just didn't want you to have any."

Alfred pouted, "Nice."

"Indeed. Anyway, if you do wish to have some then you will have to accompany me down there," he nodded to the dark passage way. Alfred whined and shifted his weight. He looked extremely conflicted.

"All right... all right, but I'm clinging to you!" he declared and without warning, he attached himself to Arthur's arm. The older vampire froze a little and attempted to tug his arm free.

"Alfred... let go."

"No way, I'm not going down there unless I can stay like this," the other insisted and looked at Arthur with a pout and his infamous 'kicked puppy look'. Eventually the British vampire gave up and sighed.

"Fine... just don't hold on too tightly," he said, "and watch your footing, the steps can be a little dangerous. Hold on to this too," he lit a torch and handed it to Alfred. The younger vampire took it with a shaky hand but was able to help light up the stairway.

Arthur didn't approve the way Alfred was holding on to him; the stairs were narrow and if he slipped, both of them would suffer for it. He didn't want any accidents. He decided to take it slow in order to guarantee both their safety. With his free hand he held on to the railing tightly and started to make the descent. Beside him, Alfred was whining and whimpering and when Arthur looked at him he noticed that the other had his eyes closed. Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"Alfred! Open your eyes and look where you're going! You're going to get us both hurt if you slip!"

"No way! I'm not looking at those ghosts!"

Ghosts? So this was what this was all about, "Oh Alfred... there are no ghosts down here, I assure you."

"How do you know? You can't see them!"

What a huge lie. Arthur saw things that others couldn't all the time, but not wanting to scare the boy any further he sighed, "And you can?"

"Uh... maybe!"

Arthur chuckled, "Alfred, I absolutely promise you there are no ghosts down here. Now stop being silly."

Alfred looked at him with a sceptical look and eventually nodded. His grip on Arthur's arm loosened a little (but he didn't completely let go) and he held the torch as still as he could.

The two finally got to the bottom and Arthur unlocked another door. Alfred immediately started to shiver when he stepped into the new room. He held the torch and moved it around so he could see the room better. It was a large circular room with a high ceiling. Around the room were tables but he couldn't see what was on them.

"You said blood was down here, right?"

"Correct," Arthur said and walked further into the room, bringing Alfred with him so he had the light. He took the torch from him and after a few moments he handed the younger a cup full of red liquid. Alfred sniffed it and raised his eyebrows.

"Human blood?"

"Yes," he said then frowned, "You do drink it... don't you?"

"Not very often," he said and took a large swig of the blood. He didn't really like killing humans because he was the hero, but now and then he had no choice. Arthur saw he drank it without any problems so he said nothing more about it.

"How did you get it?"

"From visitors," Arthur said, "Peter leads them down here and I get their blood. We store it so we don't have to venture out often."

"Right," Alfred nodded and finished the cup quicker than he would have liked but he felt replenished nonetheless. Arthur took the cup from him and led the way back up the stairs. He locked the doors behind him and when they reached the hall again, Alfred shuddered and looked at Arthur, "That place is so creepy!"

"Yes, yes..." Arthur regarded him with a lazy expression and put the keys back in his pocket. He looked over at Alfred and noticed the other still had a little blood at the corner of his mouth. Arthur moved forward and without warning he licked the blood away with a tiny smirk.

Alfred's eyes widened at Arthur's actions and he was too stunned to protest. He watched the older vampire smirk a little as he licked the blood away and he felt as though electricity was surging through him when Arthur's lips and tongue touched his skin. The older vampire pulled away and said, "Did you enjoy your treat? I don't let many people have it."

"Y-yeah..." he said weakly and Arthur nodded. The Brit stepped back a few paces and turned on his heel to walk back down the hall. Alfred touched the corner of his mouth where Arthur's lips had been and if he could blush he would be the colour of red roses by now.

He didn't know what had happened, and he didn't know how to feel about it. All he knew was that he wanted to be with Arthur and that was why he was following him back down the hall.

Alfred caught up with Arthur and walked along side him in silence. He could feel his lips tug upwards in a small smile; the scene of what just happened played over and over in his mind.

It was wrong, and he knew it. He knew it was wrong in every single way, but call him a liar if he said it didn't feel so right.

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long! I know it sounds stupid but I hit a wall with this just after two chapters. However inspiration hit me and I made it my mission to get this up xD

And would you look at that! Relationship development! :O

(I still don't know how long this is going to be xD)