Heartlessly Humane
By wired2damoon
Chapter 4: Invitation And Imagination
A/N: Thanks again to everyone for all the reviews! This is DEDICATED TO : gwencooper for her wonderful support! Hope you all enjoy! ~wired2damoon~
- Mitchell's POV -
"Are you sure about this Mitchell?" Annie asked for the fifth time in the last ten minutes, troubled concern lacing her tone. I paused for a moment, one arm in my leather jacket, turning around to face her.
"Yeah Annie, I'm sure…look, I'm just goin' for the interview, it's broad daylight outside, and ye know, I'm a tall, dark and scary kinda guy, I'll be fine," I finished, grinnin' at her cheekily as I zipped up my jacket and shoved my hands in my pockets.
She frowned at me, not looking one bit impressed at my poor attempt at humour. "Mitchell, I'm serious. It's not all that safe for any of us right now…do you really think you should be venturing out barely two days after Herrick's been killed? Broad daylight or not?"
I stepped towards her, takin' my hands outta my pockets, reachin' out and grippin' her shoulders, lookin' down into her eyes sincerely, "George did-"
"Yes, and I wasn't very happy about that either!" she interrupted, poking me in the chest.
"…And he got back alright," I continued, "look, after essentially loosin' their leader/boss, whatever, the vampires will be too preoccupied about what to do to stay afloat than what I'm up to, at least for the time being. So yeah, I'll be okay, don't worry about me…" I trailed off softly, still lookin' into her shinnin' brown eyes.
She bit her lip, which instantly drew my attention, but I hurriedly snapped my gaze back up to her eyes and shook my head. I've been gettin' odd urges like that a lot lately…dunno why.
"How can I not worry about you Mitchell? You nearly died a few days ago for Christ's sake! And now you're just going out on your own-"
"-Annie, you're the one that said I should look for that bartendin' job down at the pub…" I reminded her as she now gripped my forearms.
"I know, I know, but…can't-can't I go with you? Or George? You know, just so we can see that you got there alright and-"
"-Annie. Stop." I murmured, not realisin' that I'd reached up and placed my finger to her lips until it was too late.
Her eyes widened at the intimate nature of the action but I decided to push on through the slight awkwardness.
"Look, I appreciate your concern, I really, really do, but there's one thing you have to remember. I'm a grown man…a vampire. And when I mean grown, I mean, I'm older than your grandfather, but I have the agility of a fella in his twenties and the strength of ten. Really, Annie, I swear, I'll be fine…"
I was unaware that throughout my little speech that I'd drawn ever so closer to her, our noses barely an inch apart, my index finger still restin' lightly on her lips. Her eyes were still shimmering with concern but there was something else there, in her gaze…something that I just couldn't place.
My confusion must of shown on my face because it caused Annie to frown also, and step back, shaking her head, affectively breaking whatever weird staring match we entered into. There was a beat of silence in which she looked at a spot on the floor as I busied myself with takin' a cigarette outta my pocket.
"What-what if they ambush you?" she asked, her voice trembling a little. "There-there could be loads of them, waiting around any corner, they could-"
"-If it makes you feel better, I'll give ye a ring when I get there, and on the way home I'll stay on the phone and talk to ye until I'm back here…" I smiled softly, knowing that it sounded ridiculous, but if it put her mind at ease, then I'd gladly do it.
She smiled softly, her eyes adverted, "yes, that-that would make me feel much better. Are you going now or wait until George gets out of the shower?"
I could sense that she maybe wanted me to hang on and wait to see what George thought. But I gritted my teeth, trying not to bring up the fact that George seemed to able to come and go as he pleased and yet I had to be interrogated whenever I wanted to step outside the door.
I would not say anything to upset Annie. But, if I waited until George came down from his shower and he started giving me the third degree…well, I wouldn't want to be snippy with him either but…for Christ's sake I'm old enough to both his and Annie great-grandfather and yet he'd probably want to accompany me like I were a two year old.
Nina said I had to come alone…
I didn't like lying to Annie about where I was goin', but I know that she'd understand, I just don't know how George would react. After all, he thinks Nina's already left for Yorkshire, what would he think if he knew that she'd obviously lied and now asked me to come and meet her in private to talk about something she had obviously not told him?
At that thought, I shivered and almost backed out from goin' to see Nina, but, I knew, deep down, that this was very important, and she wouldn't ask me to go behind my friends' backs and do so otherwise.
"Nah, it's alright, I should be headin' down to the pub now, the interview is at six. Just tell him that I'll be back in less than an hour, and like I said, I'll ring you and talk to ye all the way home," I smiled, giving her a little wave and opening the door.
Annie shuffled forward, "okay, well, just call me as soon as you get there and…be careful," she said softly, holding onto the door and looking down at me as I stepped out and put on my sunglasses.
I turned and threw her another hopefully reassuring smile, "will do, Annie…see ye later…"
She nodded, still looking nervous, "yeah, see you later…"
I could feel her eyes on my back as I walked all the way down the road, and sighed as I finally turned the corner, out of sight.
This better be worth worrying Annie over, because if it's not, Nina has me to answer to…
"Yep, yeah, I just walked in, shouldn't be more than an hour…yeah okay, see ye then, bye." I hung up the phone, my eyes searching the dimly lit, half-full pub.
"Who was that?" a familiar voice came from behind me. I recognised the scent immediately, but something about it was…different. I turned, and found Nina standing right behind me, hands on her hips, staring up at me.
"Uh…that was Annie…" I mumbled, shifting a little uncomfortably.
"Oh right. So, are you and her, you know…?"
I didn't.
I frowned deeply, "are we what?" I asked slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. She rolled her eyes then, mumbling something like 'typical' under her breath.
"Are you and her, together? You know, a couple? " she asked, sounding like she were tryin' to explain somethin' to an impudent, small child.
My mouth dropped open, no sound omitting from it.
"You know, 'cause that's the feeling I got anyway, you seem-"
"No, no, me and her aren't…no…she-she's just a friend…" I interrupted feverishly. Oh Christ. What the hell is wrong with me? Did I just impersonate George with his high-pitched, rambling, stuttering, voice?
"O…kay," Nina said slowly, a weird little smirk on her face. "Right then, Mr. Bachelor, let's go…" she called, already turnin' her back on me and walkin' away at a surprisin' speed.
"Wow, Nina, wait, where are you goin'?" I asked, racin' around her, blockin' her way and feelin' a little confused, "I thought we were gonna talk?"
She folded her arms, obviously not impressed, "we are, just…not here."
I raised my eyebrows, "why not?"
She let out a little, soft sigh, but it didn't go unheard by my over-sensitive hearing, "let's just say this isn't exactly the type of conversation we want to be overheard…"
I nodded, a part of my suspicions confirmed.
"Alright then. Lead the way…"
"What, are you waiting for an invitation or something?" Nina asked, once she realised that I had stopped at her front door as she walked through the hall.
"Uh…yeah actually," I replied, a smug smirk on my face.
She frowned, turning on the hall light and looking at me with interest. "What do you mean?"
I bowed my head, rubbing my hands together. I had to explain quickly, it was bloody freezin' out! "Vampires can't cross a threshold to someone's home without their permission."
"Why?"
Jesus this woman asks a lot of questions…
"To keep us mannerly, I suppose…"
She snorted with disbelief. "Right, manners. Does that mean that they ask nicely before biting you, say sorry when you're in agony and dying and say thank you when you're dead?" she asked, a hint of menace in her tone.
Yeah, I wonder how exactly George explained to her what I was. I never got to explain stuff myself.
"Well, only the over-mannerly do that…" I mumbled, feelin' a little uncomfortable at how the conversation had turned. I really wasn't in the mood to explain my lifestyle right now.
"Who the hell made that rule up?" she continued, folding her arms and leaning against the doorframe. Alright, now I know she's only doin' it to annoy me.
"I dunno, probably the same arsehole who said werewolves should transform under every full moon and thought that dead people should still have to pay taxes…so, if you're done interrogatin' me, can I come in now, please?" I asked, my voice straining with politeness as I could of sworn I felt the temperature drop a degree.
"Just one more thing, plainly out of interest. What would happen if I said no?" she asked, her head tilted to the side.
I sighed, "then I wouldn't be able to come in…simple as that."
She nodded, finding my reply satisfactory, "alright then. John Mitchell, I hereby invite you to enter my humble abode…happy?"
I bowed, throwing her a sarcastic grin, "yes, thank you, milady."
- Annie's POV -
"Annie, where's Mitchell?" George asked, walking into the kitchen, rubbing his dripping hair with a towel.
"He's gone for a job interview down the pub," I mumbled distractedly, twirling my hair around my fingers. I had been a nervous wreck ever since he left, I kept having these horror images of when Herrick staked him and when he was in hospital and when I thought he was going to sacrifice himself so that Herrick would leave us alone…
"Oh. He didn't mention a job interview…I mean, he told me he more than likely wasn't going to be working in the hospital anymore, but, he didn't say he'd already started looking…wait…he-he's gone out now?" George trailed off and I could hear the tell-tale sign of nervousness as his voice grew a little higher.
"Yeah, he went about twenty minutes ago, he said he shouldn't be more than an hour away," I mumbled distractedly, before resuming my quiet contemplating and staring at the kitchen wall.
I couldn't help but fear the worst, after the conversation the three of us had the other day, about how Mitchell said that maybe this was as safe as we were going to get…well, it didn't reassure me any. I remember, Mitchell also saying that there any hordes of vampires about, lurking everywhere, and now with Herrick dead, I can't put my mind at rest that they won't go after Mitchell or George for their participation.
I don't care about myself, but I do know that losing the boys will be the end of me…what will I do without them? They're the ones that are keeping me sane, grounded, bound to earth so I don't float mindlessly around the atmosphere. They are the ones that put a smile on my face and don't make me miss my old life but enjoy what I have now.
George he - he's like my brother. I argue with him, have feverish, mental, stupid fights that annoy the hell out of me, and yet, make me smile as it reminds me of when I used to fight with my sisters and cousins when I was alive. We would scream and kick and swear one minute, and hug and laugh and have fun the next. He reminds me of family, of home. George is my big, goofy, annoying - but lovable brother.
Mitchell, he is…Mitchell. I've come to find it harder and harder to establish my relationship with him. At the start, when I was finding my feet as a ghost and as a dead girl living with not only two male housemates but a vampire and a werewolf, he was my protector, my almost…guardian, you could say. He watched over me, made sure I was alright. Hugged me when I got upset after Tully made a pass at me (the kiss was accidental, of course) kissed my forehead when I found out that my fiancé murdered me…but I find, as time has gone on, things have…changed between us, subtly, but definitely changed.
I find myself rethinking those earlier moments, the strong, gripping hug as I bounded out of the alley and practically threw myself on him with fear at what Tully had done, the kiss on the forehead as he wrapped his arms around me, my head on his shoulder as the reality of what Owen had done, set in…
The accidental kiss, even though it were accidental, I can't help remember what he said, "it was a bit cold, a bit…tingly…it was like…it was like kissin' someone whose just come in from outside…but it was nice. Did you feel anything?" and what I, in return replied, "yeah, I felt…something…"
Something, although maybe not then, but now, something struck me. My words may have held a double meaning, unbeknownst to myself. Maybe I did feel a little something I couldn't register. But I'm afraid to think such things, especially now, especially when I know I'm just being a stupid, big, girl about this, making a mountain out of a molehill but there's just something in his eyes when he held my cheek, telling me the about his life, about all the people he killed and how he can remember every one, who cried, who fought back…there was just something there, at that moment, which I was entirely aware of, but confused by.
But long story short, George is my brother and Mitchell, well, he changes from my protector, to my best friend to…
"Annie, ANNIE!" George shouted, making me jump violently in my seat, utterly startled, hand on my chest. If I had a heart beat, it would have been pumping a million miles a second.
"George! Don't shout like that! Are you trying to give me a heart attack!?" I yelled, glaring at him. He had the decency to look sheepish, before rolling his eyes.
"I can't give you a heart attack, you're already dead. And I was shouting at you because I've been talking to you for the last ten minutes and you've been just staring off into space, not listening to a word I'm saying…"
"Sorry, I'm just lost in my thoughts that's all. What were you saying?" I asked, shaking my head, trying desperately to rid myself of such ridiculous, ravenous, ramblings, boiling it down to my over active imagination and hopeless romantic syndrome.
"I was saying, that I was going to pop around to the shops and asked was there anything we needed?" George said clearly, arms folded.
I looked up at him, "oh no, George, please, wait until Mitchell comes back to go out. I don't like the idea of the two of you being out in different parts on your own…please, just wait a little while longer, okay?" I practically begged, standing up and gripping his shoulders.
He looked a little startled at my intensity, but smiled softly, "alright, yeah, I'll wait. C'mon let's watch some telly and wait for him to come in and tell us he charmed the trousers off everyone and got the job, like he always does…"
I grinned as he said that. Typical Mitchell. Natural charmer.
I glanced at the clock.
He should be back soon…
A/N: I'm not crazy about the ending, but I decided that I'd end it here and have Mitchell and Nina's conversation as a separate chapter, because it's a big deal and deserves a chapter of it's own. I hope Annie was still in character, I wanted to try and convey some of the confusion she's dealing with - more will come up in later chapters, also, I felt that she deserved a little more monologue to herself, hopefully it worked out. Oh and don't worry, there will be loads of George to come too! Please let me know what you thought! ~wired2damoon~