Title: Legacy (part IX)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
Summary: Clothes and cleanups
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
WK: 1084

Hi everybody! I wanted to thank all of you, who kept reading so faithfully! I really hope you are enjoying my story so far! But sadly to say, I can't be certain, since only very few of you reviewed. Therefore, PLEASE, humor me and drop a line, or even only a word. I would greatly appreciate it!


Legacy IX:

Obviously, the prospect of speaking with their friend troubled the detective a lot, but he also seemed to realize that it was necessary.

After the last call Henry had had with Vicki, he knew that the way things played out last night really bothered her, even if she would not admit it.

Mike was very important to her. That was something Henry had realized from the start but, until yesterday, he had never really understood just how important. Mike was her family and until recently he had been the only normal constant in a world where all things started to spin out of proportions. This whole change must be as frightening to her as it was to the blond, although Henry was relieved to see that the taller man seemed to have embraced his new side. But had he accepted it?

This time it was Mike waiting for him with a look of conflicted feelings; something between the wish to flee and the wish to quickly get the needed telephone call behind him.

Now, the vampire had to do something about Mike's still sparely dressed state. Even though Mike did not seem to feel the cold and therefore did not really need the clothes in the conventional sense - and Henry certainly found the view quite enjoyable - the blond needed to cover up all the same. All that smooth skin and sinewy muscle called to the vampire and kindled a hunger in him he did not even want to think about.

No. Mike would have a heart attack and on second thought, Henry would too, if the man ever caught wind of his thoughts. Just because he liked to look at the man did not mean anything! Did it? NO! After all this was Celluci!

Henry shook his head at the strange direction his thoughts had taken and quickly concentrated on the tasks at hand.

First task: find the man something to dress in. Then, get Mike and Vicki to talk things through.

Henry felt almost sorry for them. Only a few months back he would have done everything in his power to cause a rift in their relationship, but now he only saw the consequences. Vicki without Mike somehow did not work and he got the impression it was the same the other way around.

So if he wanted his Vicki to be happy he had to see Mike happy too, right? That was the only motivation for why he was doing this. For Vicki! Not because he was intrigued to have met an elf. No, not at all!

Noticing Mike's curious glance, Henry hurried to the half elf's side and led him to the bathroom so that the blond could clean up.

While the detective took a bath, - Henry had been surprised at Mike's question at seeing the big tub – the vampire searched for some clothes. Problem was he had not been here for a long while and everything in the mansion was old fashioned or even from another time. Still, they would have to do. He found Mike a nice white shirt with wide arms and strings to lace at the neck. At least this way it would fit the other man who was, after all, built bigger than Henry. Underwear was no problem. The challenge was the pants. Mike simply had never-ending legs and no matter what Henry did none of his would fit the man… unless…

Grinning evilly, Henry ran into another room and retrieved a pair of pants whose legs were only three-quarters. God, you got to love the late 18th century, he grinned. Those, combined with the shirt, would make Mike look like a figure who had escaped from a romance novel.

Still grinning, he entered the bathroom after a short knock. The sight that greeted him wiped the grin from his face and allowed astonishment to take over. He was completely caught by surprise at the picture he beheld. There, lying in total relaxation, was the man and, contrary to the last time, he was not in pain nor was he unconscious. One arm rested behind his head, showing off impressive biceps, and one knee stuck out of the water. But the most curious thing was that on said knee a little bird sat, happily chirping as if it was talking to the blond.

Henry had to blink twice to convince himself that he was not imaging things and he wished that he had a pen and paper to catch this touching picture.

Suddenly - the vampire did not know for how long he had stared - a pair of glowing blue eyes looked his way.

"You planning a second career as a flycatcher?"

Henry swiftly closed his apparently open mouth and put the clothes on the toilet seat.

"Not really. Here are your clothes and don't think dallying in the tub will spare you from the call you still have to make. After last night, you owe her that much!"

This extinguished the playful light in those striking blue orbs and Mike swiftly looked straight ahead, nodding once.

"Don't worry. I'll be out shortly, your highness!"

Regret for his words immediately appeared at the tone the other had taken on. Head held high Henry answered:

"See to it that you are!" before he swiftly vacated the room.

When the door closed, Mike let out a disappointed sigh and looked at the little robin:

"Isn't he simply irritating?! I swear, sometimes I want to throttle him!"

Hearing this, the bird jumped once and fluttered its wings. When it landed again, its feathers were all fluffed up and it appeared almost twice its size.

Mike had to smile at the gesture that so clearly stated the animal's allegiance to him.

"Thanks my friend, but I will handle the little vampire on my own. Now you better get going. I have a friend to apologize to."

One glance and a last trill and the robin flew off.

"I can't believe I talk to birds!" Mike said as an afterthought before he stood to get ready for the inevitable.

In another room of the house Henry had sat down and was grimly drawing sketch after sketch of hellhounds attacking a blond human, who just coincidently looked like the plague residing in his house, when a loud

"FITZ-ROY!"

could be heard all through the house.

Henry only smirked, thinking:

'Oh, he found the clothes. Good!'

before he continued drawing, his face now graced by an angelic smile.


Please don't forget to review! Feedback is important! Thanks in advance!