Hellsing – Creature Comfort (young Integra, Walter, Alucard)
Soundtrack: Secunda - (Skyrim Soundtrack) - Jeremy Soule
**AN: Insert standard disclaimer here – I own nada!
I wrote this in about 3 hours, so it hasn't gone through my usual rigorous testing.
If you see something amiss, let me know or just leave a review! we love those things - good and bad!
Creature Comfort
Going to the bazaar had been a mistake.
A big one.
Walter glanced back uncomfortably to where Integra sat behind him. He could see that her eyes were still puffy and red.
Life wasn't fair, as they say. His little master should have had a life full of privilege, friends and comfort.
Girls her age were attending parties, chatting about school, boys and the latest fashions. She should have been able to have whatever she wanted.
And Walter would have served it up to her on a silver platter.
But as a Hellsing, her life was never truly her own.
Privilege? Undoubtedly. In one of the few countries left in the world that recognized the sanctity of rank, Integra was a prize. A noble of good breeding, honor and, well…integrity.
Friends? 'I hunt and kill vampires' is more likely to start an insanity plea than a friendly conversation. How could Integra trust someone to be honest with her, when she could tell them nothing but lies about herself?
Walter gripped the steering wheel tighter in frustration and checked for oncoming traffic once more.
Normal fourteen year old girls learned that monsters weren't real. They didn't learn twenty different ways to kill them.
Normal fourteen year old girls had puppies for pets. They didn't have an elder vampire living in their basement...
A flicker of movement brought Walter's gaze back to the rear view mirror. He saw Integra frown, hers fingers unconsciously rubbing themselves together.
The butler sighed.
"Stop that."
"Forgive me, my Lady. I just do not like seeing you troubled."
"I'm not troubled."
"Truly?"
Integra glowered through the foggy car window harder.
"Perhaps we could try again at another store? There were several splendid looking-"
"No, thank you," she said, covering a sniffle behind her handkerchief.
"But perhaps-"
"Enough, Walter. I do not wish to discuss it any further."
Unable to argue with her tone, Walter gripped the wheel and focused on driving through the rain.
Silence filled the car like water, yet he heard her mumbled words regardless.
"It is just as well," she said, returning her gaze to the drizzling London streets. "My life is too unstable for such things."
He didn't comment, simply watched her fingers rub together.
..._...
Days later saw Integra's mood lifted less than the rain.
A required (and awkward) social call with a Round Table member didn't improve things but it did afford the Hellsing household a breather from its melancholy mistress.
Walter observed the silver Rolls Royce come to a stop in front of the manor with trepidation, and stepped forward with an umbrella.
"Welcome back, my Lady," He said cordially.
Integra climbed out of the car, looking tired and far older than her years. "Thank you, Walter."
A sharp bark startled her as a huge black dog trotted up from behind the elderly servant.
The girl hesitated, as if indecisive as to whether to draw her pistol or dive back into the safety of the limo. Something familiar about the beast made her stop and look closer.
"Alucard?"
The vampire's ruby eyes sparkled with amusement as he sat primly near her feet. Alucard let an unnaturally long tongue loll free from his doggish grin, clearly enjoying himself.
Integra scowled, not fooled for a moment by the innocent look from her studiously bland Hellsing butler.
After a deep sigh, she relented. Cautiously, Integra ruffled her fingers through the thick fur around Alucard's ears. Though the pelt was longer, it was still as silky as the puppy at the bazaar.
"Well, I guess I already know I'm not allergic to you," she groused. "But you're not sleeping on the bed and if you come up with fleas, you are permanently outside."
Walter kept his lips frozen to hid the tiny triumphant smile. He might not be able to give her a normal life, but a good butler provides what comforts he can.
AN: Think about all the fun Alucard could have on all fours... *evil grin*
I know this isn't in chronological order with the rest of this series, but I came up with this idea later. There are only so many years to play with while Integra is still relatively innocent, so these might shuffle around a bit.