Finally, after days of travel and the tiring explanations-their pit stop on the way from the train station taking less than five minutes- they were home. Well, Ivan was home. And he was proud of that fact. Natalya had settled them into her spare/storage room, and while Alfred complained, he eventually got used to sleeping on the air mattress. Ivan could have sworn he even started using the Christmas decorations as a pillow. They were forced to share a bathroom, and Natalya often turned up her nose at cooking for them, but the arrangement seemed to function, which was the point. Ivan would drive her to work in the mornings, then look for any work of his own, whether it be a sign propped in a shop window or an ad in the paper. When the day ended, he would pick Natalya up again, driving them back home to find Alfred hunched over Natalya's laptop.
They conversed little, aside from Ivan and Natalya's curt conversations in Russian and Alfred's ramblings over dinner. While he wasn't the most technologically savant person for the job, he managed to keep ahead of the news channels, and eagerly reported that none of the international broadcasts were yet calling for Ivan Braginsky or Alfred Jones. His excitement, though easily prompted, proved contagious, and Ivan was surprised to see Natalya hide a smile while Alfred chattered. However, it was the third night, over a small meal of meat and potatoes, that the American eventually turned to more serious matters, focusing his attention on Natalya.
"So. Ivan tells me you're….well, that we share similar interests."
Natalya glanced at her brother, pausing. "No need to be so hesitant. Vanya and I used to do examinations together."
"Examinations, huh? We just call it the hunt." Alfred grinned, jabbing a fork into his potato. "Makes it more-"
"Brutal is the word you want." Ivan interrupted. "Natalya and I take a more introspective viewpoint of your little game."
"Our little game, 'Vanya'. We could have been famous, had we tried."
Natalya suddenly slammed one hand against the table, staring at Alfred. "Only I call him Vanya. You, you are some stranger, and you have no right-"
"Natalya." Ivan glanced at her, eyes hard. "Do not." She glanced at him, about to retaliate, then slowly relaxed, picking up her fork again. Alfred looked to the siblings in apprehension, eyes wide, before returning to his own meal.
"So, um-got any good stories? I mean, have you even gone out since the two of you…parted ways?"
Natalya shrugged, thinking. "I have kept it up. The set is in the closet."
"The set?" Alfred raised an eyebrow.
"She prefers knives. And was quite good."
"Still am, brother."
"Right. Well, she has her methods….are they the same?"
Natalya shook her head. "I was forced to buy a new set. Sharpening only lasts so long."
"Ah. Yes. So, Alfred's question remains…any stories?"
Frowning, Natalya slowly shook her head. "It has been straightforward. I once managed to seduce a man before examining his heart….but otherwise it has been the usual."
"Right…." Alfred examined her, standing to take his plate to the kitchen. "So-you don't have a boyfriend? Would their schedules clash with your examinations, or are all Russian men just boring?"
She rolled her eyes, moving to follow him. "You are sleeping with my brother. I think you would be better suited to answer that question than I."
Alfred blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"
"You just confirmed it." She smiled faintly, taking his plate. "There is a way he looks at you. And I doubt he would have put up with you long otherwise."
"What?" Suddenly somber, Alfred leaned against the counter. "You mean…what do you mean?"
"I mean he only takes an interest in people who are important." She quieted suddenly, turning her attention to the dishes as Ivan entered. He handed her his plate, nodding once, then glanced to Alfred.
"Were you planning on inviting her, Alfred?"
"Hm?" Suddenly snapping to attention, Alfred glanced at the taller man. "Oh. Um, sure, I guess. I mean, now that we're settled…I was hoping she-Natalya, I was hoping you could show us some of the better places to try. We always went for bums-"
"There is a school." Natalya nodded. "A number of shelters cluster around it-I usually go there. You can also try the clubs, although that is more risky."
"Great! So, ah….would you come with?"
She hesitated. "Yes. I can come. Three people will be more easily noticed, but a woman makes a good cover story." Ivan nodded, folding his arms.
"You have played that trick?"
"Once or twice. You would be surprised how dumb people can be when it comes to a woman."
"So, if we're caught, we just say we were…escorting her home, or something?" Alfred straightened, nodding. "And if they're still annoyed, you just tell them you're her brother! That's-that's actually kinda brilliant."
"Thank you." The siblings answered in unison. Natalya glanced back at Ivan, hesitating, then nodded to the hall closet.
"You will have to search for your own utensils. The knives, as I said, are in the closet." Ivan took the hint, turning to go, then pointed to Alfred.
"Come help me look."
"He is drying." Suddenly interrupting him, Natalya threw a dishtowel into Alfred's hands. "He should stay here." Ivan paused, but shrugged, leaving the two of them in the kitchen.
"So, um…" Moving to take the wet dishes from her, Alfred carefully began toweling them off. "I'm…important?"
"You take an interest in what he-what we do. You share that. It is not just about the sex." She nodded, handing him another plate. "My brother is not a man easily understood. He is confusing. Varied. One might say deep. You compliment him well."
"Did you just call me shallow?" Alfred smirked. "Thanks."
"No, no-I mean…." She trailed off, frustrated. "You are unique. You share the bloodlust, although stronger." She paused, concentrating on the plate, then suddenly spoke again. "Do you know why I never took a boyfriend?"
"Well, no, I…oh." Alfred thought for a moment, nodding. "They wouldn't understand."
"Exactly. I need no partner for my excursions-but to date or intimately know someone who…who does not know what I do-it would be the worst kind of secrecy. The utter effort expended to hide it would be insurmountable."
"What is it like for you?" Alfred questioned, watching her carefully. "Is the blood-does it make you happy? Excited? Fulfilled? Ivan always does it with such precision, but…there's still this gleam in his eye. He loves the art of it. Me, well-" He shrugged. "I get off on it. I think it annoys him, but the blood, the body, all of it-it makes me horny."
"Which explains how he started, then." Natalya commented. "I suppose I do what Ivan does. I watch them die. The beauty is fascinating. And then, if you cut right, they make no noise, and so they struggle fruitlessly while you hold their life in your hands. I become God. The power, the beauty-" She sighed briefly, thinking. "It is something to behold."
"So I'm the only one who…y'know…" Alfred shrugged uncomfortably. "Gets a hard-on whenever he watches guts fall on the pavement? I mean, sure, yeah, it's pretty and all, but…it just feels good, really."
Natalya shrugged, mirroring him. "My excursions take away the need-no, the desire for such things. I am still capable of sex-but the examinations take away my desire for it."
"So you're blood-sexual, huh?" Alfred smirked. "So I'm not all that strange. It's just that blood doesn't do it for me totally. I still really, really like doing it."
"Doing it?" Natalya questioned.
"Um, yeah, ah…getting down. Doing the dirty. Fucking, basically."
"Ah. Right." Natalya nodded, moving to stack the plates before putting them away. "I never thought Ivan would be into that."
"Well, I did have to beg. He wasn't gay…when you knew him?"
She scoffed, turning her back. "Gay is not a fad. But yes, he did seem more interested in girls. What of you?"
Alfred shrugged. "Not sure. I mean, I like both flavors….it's just that Ivan's the best one available at the moment." He watched her for a moment, thinking. "What if I slept with you?"
"What of it?" She turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, my preferences? I do not care. I have not given it much thought. If I met a woman who shared my-our-love of the hunt, and could satisfy me…I would welcome her. As I would with a man."
"I…see." Alfred straightened. "So, I, as a man, share your love of the hunt…and I'm pretty sure I can satisfy."
She held up a hand to stop him. "You are sleeping with my brother."
"Yeah, but we're not in a relationship. We're just…friends."
"Who end up having sex."
"Basically, yeah. Ivan was my best option at the time. Now…" Alfred shrugged. "That could change."
Natalya rolled her eyes, walking out of the kitchen. "Wait for the actual hunt, Casanova. And if you are certain Ivan will not retaliate…we could try." She raised a hand to wave him off, leaving him staring after her as she disappeared. Alfred hesitated, slightly confused, then slowly let a smile steal over his expression, silently congratulating himself.