Thanks again for all the reviews and positive support, and all the hits of those who didn't leave a comment, but probably read anyway. Something a little different this time, focus is still on Alucard at the moment... but... shameless... can't... spoil. Go ahead and read. Please don't kick me too hard.

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Chapter Three: A Shot at the Past

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Walter carefully lifted the cannon up to his work table with some effort, dropping it a little more heavily upon the surface than he'd meant to, letting out the long breath he was holding as he leaned against it. It was time for the Harkkonnen's weekly maintenance, but these days he was wondering if he should teach Seras how to do it on her own. Because honestly, it was beginning to be back breaking.

He took a quick sip of iced tea from his glass, then stood back to look at the project before him. Beautiful piece of work, definitely one of his best, and perhaps his proudest. He patted down his pockets, trying to remember where he'd left his newly acquired pack of cigarettes. Ah, the usual, old place... he tore into the fresh package and pulled out a nail, sticking it in his mouth. Now where did he leave his lighter...?

"Smoking again?" a quite familiar presence said from behind him. Walter smirked, half turning.

"One guilty pleasure I allow myself only once a year." he held his arms up, shrugging.

"Ah." Alucard returned the smirk, holding out the lighter in his hand, flicking it on, "You left this on the other bench." Walter leaned forward, lighting the cigarette, and stepped back, turning to work on the cannon. Alucard leaned on his shoulder, still smiling.

"You know she hates it, don't you?" he asked, staring down at the large Harkkonnen that dwarfed poor little police girl even more, as Walter began to disassemble and clean it.

"Yes... but... I figure they'll grow on one another, eventually." Walter let out some smoke, continuing to work, "Rather like you and your Casull."

"Speaking of..." Alucard pulled the gun from his coat with a slight frown, "It's become a little rickety."

"I had assumed you would've grown out of the first gun I've ever built for you... but I've been wrong about you before. Let me have a look." he took the pistol out of his hands, moving over to the other bench to work on it, Alucard looming close behind, "I've found that you grow rather attached to certain things in your old age..."

"It's my gun. We've been through a lot together." he chuckled, staring down at the floor, then closed his eyes, listening to the house. It was approaching the evening hours, and becoming more and more active. Almost like a sleeping beast, stirring from its sleep, almost ready to hunt.

"Mmm-hmm..." Walter backed away from the bench, cleaning it just a bit, "That should do, for now at least."

"Thanks, Walter." and he meant it too, as he took the gun back and returned it to its proper place.

"Although, I was talking more about your habits, not your weapons." he leaned against the bench and removed the cigarette from his mouth, twirling it in his fingers, "Like, collecting women."

"Walter..." Alucard's smile fell from his face, knowing full well what he was talking about, "It's not like that."

"Perhaps you should enlighten me, then?" the puff of smoke escaping from his lips likened him to a dragon. That, made Alucard smile once more, he always did admire Walter's aggressiveness. And how well he hid it. Walter shook his head slowly.

"You've had your sights on Integra for the longest time, ever since she toppled into your lap." his face was almost hard to read in the dark, somewhere between a concerned father and loyal servant. He remembered that night well... and how much it hurt Walter for being absent when he was needed the most. Thankfully, she chose the right room to stumble into.

"She was strong, but she was young. She needed guidance and someone to look up to. And besides you, I was the only other role model. So who can blame me for doing my best to ensure the security of the Hellsing family." he frowned.

"You could've left it to me, and remained in the foreground, yet you continuously involved yourself at every turn." Walter moved back over to the other bench, taking a long drink from his glass. "And now, as you see it, you seek to reap the benefits of all your work."

"Hah, who can blame me for being attracted to such a strong woman? As far as I see it, she owes me..."

"I don't care..." Walter's tone lost a little more of its cool, "That you saved her... she owes you nothing. I watched, all these years as you molded her into the woman she is today; you made her hard, cold, calculating... just like you."

"A Monster? Hardly." he waved his hand nonchalantly, "For the better. The Organization needed a strong head at the wheel." Alucard was a little taken aback at his tone.

"Don't give me that crap, I know as well as you do-"

"DON'T..." Alucard moved forward at breakneck speed, pressing flat against the butler, pinning his arms back on the desk, his face uncomfortably close to Walter's, "... tell me what I know, Angel of Death."

Walter felt like a boy again, cigarette drooped in his mouth as the vampire stared him down. As the vampire pinned him to a table. Baring down on him with anger and teeth...

"From the moment I tasted her blood, I knew... she would, some day... let me have it again." and as the anger slowly lifted, so too did his grin. And then he began to laugh, moving in just a little closer, as if that were possible. A lump formed in Walter's throat as Alucard invaded all personal space, moving his hands down his hips.

"Almost like old times..." he watched the cigarette smoke flitter up towards the ceiling, then straight back into Walter's shaken eyes, "Pushing me to the edge as always... getting my blood to boil over nothing..." and like that, he was gone, laughter lingering in the air. Was he ever there at all? Walter pulled his cigarette out of his mouth. Damn him. It wasn't even lit.

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Almost all the paperwork had been done yesterday, there were no meetings or appointments to be met today, and there was not a single freak report on the radar. It was one of those rare days that never appeared they would happen. She finally had a day off. And how was she spending it? Outside, lounging on a sunny beach? Hardly.

Integra shifted in her chair by the low burning fire, moving the book into the dim reading light so she could see a little bit better. The sun was setting outside, and she'd spent most of the day in her favorite book. She hadn't even touched a single cigar. It was a world record. She closed the book, leaning back in the chair, basking in the warmth that was solitude. Today had been perfect. She could only hope tomorrow was as uneventful.

But, as un-stressful as today had been, she now wanted that cigar. Slowly, she stood up and leaned against the cool glass of the window, looking out over the grounds as soldiers patrolled and changed watch. Though, perhaps, since it was now becoming dark, the freak activity would pick up... and she'd have to risk her soldiers yet again, like some crude chess game. Make a move, prepare for consequence.

She lit up the cigar without a moments hesitation as the stress rolled right back.

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Alucard watched her quietly, in the shadows. His thoughts still turned over and over about his encounter with Walter, and how displeased he was about his intentions towards Integra. And yet he still thought them nowhere near sinister. He only wanted to share with her what he felt, give her something so extraordinary, something she deserved. Something he thought he'd made her ready for.

But perhaps he was wrong. At every turn, she refused him and his affections. Yet, last night... she had buckled, just a little. But perhaps that was all the leverage he would need. A foothold. A start.

Yes, perhaps this night could end a little differently... perhaps this time...

She would say yes.