Oh poor poor Peter. What's he going to do? And what is Charley's fate have in store? What's Jerry going to do now! Why did that squirrel steal my sandwich?

Anyways..-ahem-

Thanks for all the reviews! Just so you know, I'm not crazy.

The Truce 13

Peter returned a few hours later, carrying a small plastic bag of supplement pills and light snacks for Charley, who was still passed out in the bedroom. He saw that some color returned to the boy's paleness during his absence. Not much, but enough to reassure him that he was getting better and that the vampire didn't have another snack. Jerry was sitting on the far side of the bed just giving him a small devious smirk. The magician set the bag down on the table beside the bed and looked over at him.

"Is he asleep?" He asked carefully, pulling the blanket over the teen hoping he wouldn't wake him.

The vampire blinked slowly and gazed at the sleeping figure. He nodded and sat back looking back at Peter with a small glare. Peter took a breath and swallowed, thinking on what to do with the situation. Doing his best to stay calm.

"I want you to stay away from Charley while your in my house. You have no right to do this to him after what he's done for you. Me, that's a different thing. Sure, but not him." He said sternly and hugged himself as he shook his head in a disappointed way. Nervous now that he was talking so boldly towards him. But he was king in this castle. He took a breath and looked over at the vampire again.

"So that case, I want to revoke my invitation to this room. Starting now. Close the door on your way out, aye?" He said quickly.

Jerry looked surprised momentarily and took a deep breath as he stood up. The magician turned and walked towards the massive living room without another word. Jerry walked through the room with a tense stride, his eyes on Peter's retreating back. He showed no emotion on his face as he left the room. Wincing at the evening sun that bathed the exposed penthouse in an orange light that was slowly fading.

Peter was getting weary as the light faded. Loosing his sense of real safety, wishing now he had kept quiet about remembering what Jerry failed to do to him. But he knew it was the smart thing to voice it. Peter had the upper hand in any case right now. He was only afraid of what was going to happen next.

"Why must you be such a thorn in my side Peter?" The vampire asked tiredly.

Jerry watched carefully as Peter groaned and sat down in a chair facing the window, reaching over into a small box to light one of his smokes. Muttering about how childish this was. The vampire picked up on the faint scent fear the man was feeling, but it was kept at a minimum.

Which surprised Jerry greatly.

Peter was afraid, but not of him. He wasn't scared of being near a vampire anymore. Which was a good thing, but yet bad. He was going to be able to get closer but Peter was going to be on edge and alert. He was curious to why the magician was scared. What was the reason for it? He leaned against the wall in the shade opposite of the living room and turned his eyes to the floor when Peter started talking after he turned his music back on.

"What a beautiful evening." He said as he puffed away, his mind racing as he thought about what to say at the moment. But what the creature said to him earlier was painful and disturbing. Jerry glanced to the side and stayed quiet. Peter took a small uneasy breath before he talked.

"Jerry, do you even know why I can't trust you? Did you ever stop and fucking think about it? Or did you just assume something stupid as you always do." Peter questioned, knowing Jerry could hear his words clearly through the music that was louder than normal. His tone sounded hurt and seriously distasteful. The vampire could imagine the look on Peter's face right now.

Jerry glanced up slowly, grinning because Peter was upset with him and wasn't cowering away as usual. Finally voicing his personal quarrels he always kept silent. He stayed quiet as he studied the ceiling before peeking over into the sun bathed room. Peter leaned forward and glanced back over the side of the chair slowly before he stood up and went to his mini bar. The vampires gaze followed as he turned and moved as close as he could to the sunlight. Peter chuckled briefly as they stared at each other.

"What the fuck did I ever do to you to deserve all of this? First my parents, then almost me and my sanity! What! What did I do?" Peter demanded with a strained voice that he stopped and turned to face him, shaking his hands. That made Jerry frown slightly. Surprised at how hurt he seemed, and wondered if it was real or not.

"I don't get it. You ruin everything...and you just won't stop even when there's nothing left to destroy. What the fuck did I do to deserve this?" Peter asked as he turned away and stormed over to the counter.

Scooping up a bottle and raised it to his mouth with a sigh as he fought back the tears threatening to spill. Taking a long swig to drown the misery that was growing in his chest. Breathing out as the amber liquid burned his throat with intensity then gave a small groan. He dropped his head and rubbed his forehead slowly.

It was silent for a long time and Peter kept drinking. He laughed occasionally as it slowly got darker and darker. The alcohol beginning to hold Peter's mind as he stood there thinking. Jerry finally moved from the corner and stalked towards him now that the sunlight was pretty much gone for the night. Staying silent as his eyes turned black, breathing the air quickly. Smelling different things as he got closer. Mainly misery. He stood not even four feet when Peter sighed deeply.

"I know your behind me Jerry Berry. After a while you kinda get used to being snuck up on all the time and you learn the patterns. Yours, is quiet frankly, very predictable. You Fang Boy are easier to read then the TV guide." Peter slurred in an amused tone as he turned around and grinned at the stunned vampire, setting the glass bottle down hard. Already he was drunk. Jerry raised an eyebrow as his eyes turned normal and he huffed.

"Really now." Jerry asked with amusement.

"Yes. Really." He nodded his head once and chuckled.

"It goes like this. Someone pisses you off, you wait till it's dark, you sneak up...blah blah, this and that. And RAWR!" He shouted with his arms in the air then sighed with a small giggle.

"You're so predictable. And you want to know what's the kicker to this big ass happy go lucky mind fuck?" He shook his head and grabbed the bottle to drink more. Jerry stood there unsure of what was going on at the moment. So he didn't move and let Peter continue his drunken rant.

"I still like you Jerry. It's fucked up, I know! I don't fucking get it! You ruin my bloody life and I still like you. Don't look at me like that, you wipe that god damned smirk from your face." Peter laughed with venom, pointing at him as he scowled. Letting it all fly out and cared very little about it's results. He felt good to say these things out loud rather then let them eat his mind.

He walked up to the vampire as frustrated tears came to his eyes. Poking the vampire in the chest as he pursed his lips together then shook his head again.

"You...you're something. Master manipulator. God, I really want to fucking hit you but you're not a fair fighter. So I won't." He said and put the forgotten smoke to his lips and lit it again. Jerry turned his face away with a small scowl as Peter exhaled a cloud, raising a hand and waved it away with distaste.

"We fought only once." Jerry said as he smiled and crossed his arms. "How am I the unfair fighter?"

"Uhh... Well, for one, I'm skinny as fuck. And two, You cheat!" He giggled and gestured to himself then shot a glare to the floor as he walked back towards his chair, bottle of whiskey in hand and beginning to stagger.

"You had a shot gun. And a weird gun thing that shot stakes." Jerry replied coolly. "You shot me in the shoulder Pete."

"Yeah, so what's your point? You threw a pebble at my fucking head and turned me into a snack for your stupid tribe." Peter said with a careless shrug.

"Not to mention a few other things..." He finished with hate and slumped into the chair and drank more. "Think of it at karma buddy."

Jerry arched a brow as he watched him quietly, considering everything Peter said carefully. They indeed had much to settle, and that meant they were going to have to talk a lot more. He couldn't just get rid of Peter and his devious tricks. Despite the hassle he was, he knew that he wouldn't do it.

Jerry was growing a fond appreciation for Peter, no matter how he acted and talked to him. Because no matter what he told himself Peter Vincent, the Great Vampire Expert was his and no one else's. The only thing he needed to do was get on his good side and stay there till things were smooth.

"So you stupid rat without wings! What are we going to do about our happy little predicament?" Peter sniffed after he set the bottle down in his lap.

"Stop with the name calling already Vincent. I thought you were an adult." He finally said as he walked towards him slowly, keeping his tone flat.

"I am. I just like to because it pisses you off so much. You know?" He said with a smirk. Twitching lightly when Jerry was sitting across from him suddenly. He huffed.

"I'm going to put a freaking bell on you." He grumbled and put the smoke between his teeth.

"You'd never get that close. I'm not a cat." He glared.

"Blah blah blah." Peter said and rolled his eyes.

Jerry sighed in annoyance. Blinking slowly as he sat back against the chair as he kept his eyes on Peter. His instincts telling him to play along and keep it friendly for as long as possible and see what happens. Wanting more of Peter with a growing intensity that it was going to be difficult to do sit still and behave. With Peter's clever idea of poisoning his blood with holy water, Jerry couldn't feed off of him like he wanted. And his growing control with his damn cross like earlier.

The vampire stiffened suddenly. He took a quick breath and glanced around the room littered with the cursed object. He turned his eyes to Peter and turned black. The magician sat there giving him a challenging look. Jerry started to growl and move towards him when Peter shook his head as he sat up and leaned towards him.

"I told you I'm not an idiot." Peter stated and looked at the crosses. Setting the bottle on the table with a small sigh.

"Your in my lair, Snacker. When your here, there's nothing you can do to me my friend." He grinned and looked out the window.

"What makes you so sure?" Jerry asked darkly.

"You really wanna know?" Peter asked as his words paused for a brief second and turned his attention back to the vampire with a raised eye brow. He turned his glossy brown eyes around the walls.

"I really don't think you want to know. It will hurt like a bitch, for you anyways."

Jerry studied him and narrowed his eyes as he slowly sat back. Wondering if he would dare to take the risk and call his bluff. But by the look in Peter's eyes, he wasn't kidding. Jerry looked away and stayed quiet as he sunk back into the chair. Peter was in control of the situation. He was defeated for once in every aspect, here in his home anyways. He crossed his arms as he narrowed his eyes.

"Okay. You win." He said softly, hiding the anger he felt.

"Yes. Yes I do." Peter said and sat back, completely relaxed.

"You know I really do want to trust you, but you're always up to something. Some evil plot always floats around in that fucking head of yours. So I think we need to settle our differences." He said as he butted out the smoke.

"I don't have much of a choice at the moment, so what do you want to settle first?" He asked flatly.

"Start with my mum and dad. I want you to apologize to me and mean it." Peter said as he looked at the floor sadly.

"That won't change what I did Peter."

"It would bring me peace in my heart. If you can do that and seriously mean it, then I will start trusting you as a friend should. Maybe." Peter said slowly. His tears building up as he stared at the floor. His chest filling with a miserable ache and he took a shaky breath.

Jerry looked out the window quietly. Trying to ignore how unbelievably pitiful Peter looked at the moment. Knowing that he was asking something meaningful, but Jerry didn't want to say it. Even if it meant the world to him, the vampire wouldn't say it. He was a cold hearted killer. He didn't need to apologize for anything. He sighed as his mind worked around what to do. Because he didn't know what to think exactly.

Peter considered him a friend despite everything he had done to him during his life. Which was an odd thing. He was looking for comfort from a vampire, just as Charley was. He swallowed a lump that suddenly formed in his throat. What was he to do?

Looking at Peter again and watched him light another smoke. Tilting his head and observed how tormented he looked by this subject. After knowing Peter and seeing his memories, he deserved that much from him at least. He stood up slowly and moved towards the suffering man in front of him. His eyes searched him as Peter stared blankly at the floor, probably lost in his own drunken thoughts. Jerry knelt down in front of him and stayed quiet. Peter didn't even notice he moved as his eyes stared distantly at the floor.

"I'm sorry for destroying your life. For making you into this...mess of a human you are now. It almost makes me feel bad." He said reluctantly, but meaning it. Seeing Peter suffer like this wasn't pleasant, it wasn't the right kind of torment he wanted to see. He liked it, but it wasn't right. This kind of misery was a life long thing.

Peter blinked and looked at him slowly. Trying to see if this was just another trick or not, but the vampire showed nothing but a small amount of remorse in his old cruel eyes. This shocked Peter. Jerry grinned and he tilted his head with a small smirk.

"Bet you didn't see that one coming." Jerry said with an amused look. He patted the magicians leg and stood up slowly. "I'll see you later."

Peter was too shocked to process the last sentence as Jerry walked away. He shook his head and took a breath as he turned his gaze towards the vampire.

"Where are you going?" He asked quickly.

"I'm hungry. I'm not allowed to eat here so I'm going to find someone to eat. Preferably someone bad, I'm in the mood for a taste of evil tonight." He said casually over his shoulder, waving with his fingers and he vanished.

Peter stood up quickly and ran into the room he just vanished from. He rubbed his face and let a breath out.

"Oh shit..."

XX

TBC!