A/N: Okay, looks like I need to explain some things. First up, I've moved the entire Hellsing timeline forward into the Gundam Era. The queen is now the former (read, last) queen of England before the unification of the world government. I'll figure out what to do with Walter and Alucard's old partnership later if need be. Also, for those who missed it, Duo and Wufei are in a pre-established relationship in this fic. That's about it for now I think, so I hope you enjoy the chapter. Read and reivew!

"Violet Turned Red"

Chapter Three

Welcome to Hellsing

Wufei had the news on when there was a knock on the door; he was filled with dread by the sound of it. The anchorman said that a Preventer was dead, and Duo wouldn't knock.

The dull thud repeated in a stiff two beats. No more than necessary to be sure that the occupant had heard them, but he couldn't move.

After a third set was ignored, the door swung open.

"Wufei."

"Lie to me, Yuy," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Say that he's fine and just tied up in paperwork."

Heero didn't enter further than a few feet, shutting the door behind him. "Would you truly have me dishonor him in such a way?"

Wufei turned to look at him, trying to school his face into not showing his raw grief. "No. Never. I will honor his memory as I do Meiran's."

Stepping forward to lay a hand on the other's man's shoulder, Heero whispered, "I'll call the others to let them know."

"Thank you," Wufei said quietly, posture sagging. "But- I'm not ready for- I need to be alone for a bit."

"I'll tell them," Heero said, understanding. "Do you want to see him?"

Wufei shook his head. If Heero had already identified the body (he mentally winced at the term), then he wouldn't taint his last memories of Duo's smiling face.

They'd all agreed long ago to go quietly when they died: cremation, disposal of the ashes, and a small good bye without any fanfare. Originally, it was because none of them expected to survive the war and anything else would be noticeable and therefore dangerous. None of pilots felt the need to change their plans once peace had arrived. Let the living remnants of the war fade into the night.

-

Seras had been right. She'd been sent to Integra's office immediately after reporting in, without even time to settle the new vampire into a basement room to finish healing. Instead, she had to leave him with Pip and a few armed soldiers.

Walter opened the office door for her before she could land a second knock, stepping aside so that she could enter.

"Seras Victoria, what were you thinking?" Integra demanded, her chair still facing the window behind her desk.

Red eyes looked down. "Pip- er, Captain Bernadotte knew him, and he really didn't want to die, and he seemed like a good person, and-"

"And if he had become a ghoul?" Integra cut in, turning her chair around.

Seras went silent for a moment. "Then I'd have done what we do to all ghouls we encounter. If that'd been the case, he would have died either way. His lungs and lower torso were crushed; he could not have survived left human."

Integra stared at her for a moment before blue eyes softened. "Very well. See that he's briefed on the situation and given a room in the lower levels with you and your master. However, if he proves to be a danger, it will be your responsibility to correct the problem, understood?"

"Yes sir," Seras said, nodding quickly.

She was about to leave when Integra spoke again. "And Seras, see if you can find out the exact history between our captain and your fledgling. It isn't every day that you get Preventers and mercenaries as old friends."

-

Duo hurt. That bit was the first thing that told him that something was wrong. He should not have been hurting. He'd died, right?

"Am I in hell?" he asked the chill air. Funny, he'd always thought hell was supposed to be hot.

"You're one syllable off, Kid," Solo's voice said from above him. "Welcome back to the world of the living."

Duo frowned, listening. His hearing seemed better than he remembered. He was able to hear the movement of at least four men, and an equal number of heartbeats. One was missing though.

His own.

Pip tried to hide a wince as crimson eyes snapped open, latching onto his face immediately as the boy sat up. The kid had always had the most amazing irises, now changed forever to save his life and damn his soul.

"Solo, what happened to me?" Duo asked, eyes wide in fright. "I can't hear my heart beating, but I can hear yours. I can hear your very pulse! I'm supposed to be dead! You're supposed to be dead. What the hell is happening?"

"Kid, I need you to calm down," Pip said, hands raised. He didn't want a newbie vampire defending himself on instinct and hurting someone. Namely him. "To put it in easy terms, I'm not dead, but you kinda are now."

"Kinda? How can I be kinda-" Duo broke off, staring at the handle bar he'd gripped in his panic. The bar that was now molded around his hand where he'd squeezed. "I swear, Solo, if you've turned me into fucking Frankenstein's monster, I'm coming after you for the parts to make my bride."

Pip smirked, shaking his head. "Right idea, wrong monster. You get three brides, and they usually come pre-assembled."

Duo swallowed, noticing a coppery flavor in his mouth. Trying to find the source of the blood, he froze as his tongue encountered his canines, sharper and longer than before.

Solo opened a cooler and pulled out what was easily recognizable as a bag of medical blood, handing it to him. "You'll be wanting this. Our girl's pretty young herself, and could only spare so much."

"I'm a vampire?" Duo said, voice high in disbelief.

"Judging by your grandsire, you're gonna be a powerful one too," the taller man said with a nod.

"Thank you for the vote on my capabilities."

Seras entered the room, a fresh uniform replacing the bloodstained one. If Duo hadn't bee in such a state of shock, he would have been disappointed that she used the door instead of walking through the wall or coming in through a window (not that there were any) as a bat.

"Seras?" he asked, eyes wide. "You're a vampire? And you made me like you?"

The blonde smiled feebly. "You wondered what Hellsing does that we don't want the Preventers to see, right? Well, you're going to get to find out first hand. Welcome to Hellsing."