The Seldom Seen

AN: Fwee! Reviews. *heartsymbol*

This is actually the beginning of a multi-parter.:D
I have chapter two ready and waiting for enough reviews. ;) Or for enough time to pass. :P

13: Mingling (p1)

"Alucard, you have a mission." Sir Integra's cool voice nearly echoed in the silence of her massive study. Seras looked up curiously, to the side and just behind her Master. They'd been waiting, standing at the other side of the desk, while Sir Integra smoked her cigar and gazed out the window pensively. "I do not like it, but Her Majesty insists. You are to accompany a group of newly 'reformed' vampires under the control of the Americans and watch them hunt. The Americans are attempting to wheedle a promise of teaching from us, but I have refused. Observation only; unless it amuses you." Her last words sounded rather indulgent, and Seras canted her head to the left curiously and peered up at her Master through her bangs. "As you wish, my Master." He replied, face blank and eyes hidden behind his usual yellow glasses.

"You will be leaving by plane tomorrow, and your scheduled return is a week from now." Seras thought it a little odd that the Hellsing woman phrased it that way; 'scheduled return', as though they'd return sooner? "Do try not to draw undue attention, Servant. You are dismissed, Walter has left your mission criteria in folders in your rooms as well as your blood." With that, Sir Integra made a bit of a show of looking over her papers and typing reports into her computer.

Alucard chuckled softly and phased through the floor, leaving Seras to stand there awkwardly for a moment before she saluted the working woman and left through the door. Her Master was a show off…

Seras stirred restlessly, feeling groggy and half starved. Well, feeling half starved wasn't that unusual, she had less revulsion towards the blood packs after a few… incidents, but she didn't like the way they made her feel. And her Master talked to her, if only to scold her for not drinking the blood. Tossing that thought back into the corner it came from, the girl grumbled and rolled over, only to hit a wall. What? Scrunching her nose in distaste, she rolled the other direction, and hit another wall. Claustrophobia gripped her and her eyes snapped open in the darkness of her coffin. Oh god. There was a reason Seras had her four poster coffin – she couldn't stand being locked in such a small space with no room to move, it brought back horrible childhood memories that even years of therapy couldn't fully repress. Pushing on the lid to crawl out of the cramped quarters, it didn't budge. She was locked in.

Whimpering, shoulders hunching, she bit her lip and tried to rock back and forth, but had no room to sit up. The tang of her own blood in her mouth made her jerk and swing her hands up to her head, cradling it and pressing on her forehead painfully. 'Master…' She called weakly, mind fogged with flickering images of pain and blood and screams and, and, and…

'Police Girl?' His voice reached into her head, drawing her partially from the vacuum of her memories. 'Please, please let me out, Master. I'll go mad.' When he didn't reply, she began to panic even further and started beating her fists against the lid desperately. Oh god, let me out, let me out, let me out!

The wood cracked and began to splinter in the middle before a hand shot through the still solid barrier and grasped both her wrists almost painfully. "Stop your thrashing." A masculine voice demanded, and it took her brain a few seconds to realize it was her Master. She relaxed marginally and realized that her breath was rattling in a hideous wheeze from the lack of oxygen in the coffin, and stopped it. "Master, please let me out." She had only just enough air to speak, her blind panic having sucked most of it away into dead lungs. He growled irritably, "We are flying over the ocean, Police Girl, you need to stay in your coffin or it will drain your strength and leave you weak as a new born kitten." Seras wouldn't mind that, it was far preferable to being cooped up in this box any longer. Perhaps reading this in her mind, he growled again. "You do not have enough blood in your system to withstand the remaining journey, Police Girl, and I will not have you embarrass me by looking weak in front of the Americans." Damn him and his infernal pride! The grip on her wrists tightened punishingly for that thought and she winced. 'Please, Master, I can't stand it. I'll go mad.'

'Then sleep, Police Girl. Sleep.' The words echoed with power and darkness consumed her. Blissfully silent darkness, untainted by mortal fears. The last thing she felt before her consciousness was swallowed up was his touch retreating, and she felt a pang of sadness at being left alone again.

"Wake up, Police Girl, we're here." Her eyes fluttered open to stare at her Master, he was kneeling beside her coffin with the lid thrown up out of the way. She blinked, and a groggy smile tweaked her lips, "Oh, hello, good morning Master." His eyes glowed for a moment and his lips parted in an answering smirk, "Good evening. It's time to go, Police Girl."

She sat up with an inhuman ease, and glanced around curiously before clambering obediently from the hateful box and standing at attention, waiting for her Master's guidance or orders. The room they were in was rather large, but blandly decorated in sterile whites and silvers, a single looming door took up quite a bit of the nearest wall, and curious, almost bunk bed like structures, lined the other walls. It resembled a barracks, but there were no beds in those metal frames, only solid containers that reminded her suspiciously of coffins.

…Oh, duh. Of course they were coffins. This must be the facility Sir Integra had mentioned they'd be staying at for the next week. Ugh, there was no way she'd be able to sleep properly here.

"We have our own quarters." Her Master's voice interrupted her thoughts, "but they insisted upon storing your coffin here to keep up appearances." Clearly he was no less pleased with this assignment than she was to have flown here. Though it did sound nice to meet vampires she wouldn't have to kill… He snorted and began walking towards the door, and she followed quickly, not wanting to be left behind.

They entered what appeared to be a cafeteria and the smell of medical blood – distinctified by the sting of disinfectant, plastic, and old pennies – filled Seras' senses, making her teeth ache to pierce flesh. The blonde flicked her gaze to her Master, recalling his comments about not embarrassing him; silently seeking permission before wandering off for her own 'lunch'. His arched brow made her smother a grimace and she stayed obediently at his side, watching a trio of vampires approach them with neutral and somewhat inviting expressions. She noticed, then, that all the undead in the room – Hellsing operatives excluded – wore the same bland uniform and black belts with silvery writing scrawled across their length. How odd. Perhaps it was like her Master's gloves? Well, it's a good thing vampires don't need to use the loo… Alucard's amusement washed over her mind and she flushed slightly, her Master was skimming her thoughts again, apparently. 'Police Girl, remind me to teach you mental shielding at some point.' He confirmed her theory with a quiet chuckle.

The apparent leader of the trio – a tall raven haired man with black eyes – spoke first, "You're Alucard, I take it? The vampire sent from England to watch us and report how obedient we are to our orders when not under human supervision. But who is your companion? We were not informed of two visitors." His voice seemed… irritating somehow, as though he were trying too hard to appeal to her senses; it sent warning bells clanging in her head that he was one to watch carefully. His pretense of discreetness at leering over her figure didn't help, either.

Her Master seemed to agree for he curled his lip and clapped a hand possessively on her shoulder, "She is my fledgling, and not to be touched by you or yours." The menace in his voice was clear and she suppressed a shiver of feminine appreciation. The two vampires with the unnamed spokesperson had no such reservations, and their eyes raked hungrily over her Sire's form. Their disrespectful ogling bothered her, and she barely resisted the urge to growl and bare her fangs in warning. Perhaps meeting vampires she wasn't supposed to kill wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

"May we have a name for this fledgling? Calling her such seems rather unnecessary when we already know yours, Alucard." Apparently her Master's curtness meant he dropped the 'nice guy' act, for his tone was rather challenging, without being openly provocative, and he offered none of the honorifics due a nosferatu of her creator's age and power. Seras didn't like him.

"You may address her as Officer Victoria and nothing more."

Well this meeting was getting off to a great start… Not.

"You know," Seras piped up, a cheerful, but vicious smile on her lips, "It's considered polite to offer your own name when asking another's. Unless you want us to say 'hey you' to get your attention. It may get confusing, though, with how many of you there are." Her words dripped saccharine sweetness as she folded her hands together at her stomach, affecting a casual, but attentive pose at the red clad male's side. She noticed then, absently, that her usual uniform of a mid sleeved jacket and miniskirt had been replaced by an ensemble not dissimilar to her Sire's, only in the familiar gold color of Hellsing, the badge on her left shoulder. Huh.

"Fine, Officer Victoria." The other sneered, "you may address me as…" She zoned out, ignoring the introductions around the room. She was sure her Master was doing the same. 'Blah blah blah. Are you sure I can't kill them Master? They annoy me,'

'Ah, Seras…' He purred, enjoying her darkness. "Use the excuse of being on the field.' She got the Impression of sharp teeth bared in a wolfish grin and his consent to her violent urges sent a thrill through her.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered where this aggression came from, she wasn't usually this hostile to people she just met. Shrugging it off once the sham of pleasantry was over with, she sauntered over to the ice chest, picked out a bag, sent a subtle glance over her shoulder to her Master, and retrieved two extra. Plopping herself down at an empty table and setting the extra to one side, Seras bit into the bag ravenously, draining it in seconds. Her Master's presence loomed at her back, and she picked up one of the spares to offer it up over her shoulder for him to take. He did. The fledgling eyed the last bag consideringly before shrugging and offering that up as well. If she was still hungry she could get another easily enough.

"Sooo… Officer Victoria." A voice drawled as a much smaller presence dropped itself opposite her at the table, her blue eyes turned that way curiously. "How long've you been a va-…excuse me, a fledgling?" A brown haired, black eyed, and still lingeringly tanned male that looked to be in his early twenties asked.

Seras' brow twitched slightly and she half turned her gaze back to her Master, before shrugging, "I think about six months give or take." To be honest she hadn't been keeping much track of the time. It seemed fruitless when it no longer held meaning to her; she was eternal unless someone killed her. Not to mention her beginning as a vampire seemed both eons back and as close as yesterday, it got confusing sometimes.

"Six months? What are you, stupid or something?" The male guffawed rudely, "I was out from under my maker's wing in two." He bared his teeth, and she noted with a hint of smugness that her dainty little fledgling fangs were longer.

"Only fools rush in and take a crash course in immortality." Alucard replied for her, sneering. "And judging by the smell of you, your maker was barely past a fledgling themselves. Weakness is passed through the blood."

Refraining from comment herself, Seras recalled that incident in the hospital with Anderson… Her Master had offered her freedom almost too quickly himself, but something had kept her from accepting, perhaps knowing she'd never survive a day without him as new as she was.

The male spluttered and snarled, dark eyes smoldering like coals, "You think you're so much better than I am?!" Blustering with false confidence, he sneered, signing his death warrant, "I challenge you, you bastard. I'm the strongest in my coven!"

Alucard snorted. "Challenge accepted." With a flick of his wrist the stupid male's head was separated from his shoulders. "Your opponent was too strong and now you're dead. What a pity." He sounded bored, and truthfully, Seras felt the same.

The body spurted a quick geyser of blood, slumped over onto the table, and began disintegrating.

Shocked silence filled the cafeteria and Seras got up, fetched another blood bag, drained it, and turned to her Sire with a pleasantly neutral look on her face, "So, Master." She began calmly, "When do we start our observations of these … reformed vampires?"

The silence swelled with black muttering, and one of the females stepped forward. "How could you do that to him?" She demanded, looking stricken, "You're supposed to be impartial witnesses!"

Seras felt a tug at her heartstrings, but pushed the reaction back. Human emotions were considered a sign of weakness – the softer ones anyways – and she was determined to mirror her Sire's attitude – though probably not the 'bat shit crazy at the drop of a hat' – and do him proud in front of these strange vampires. They rubbed her the wrong way, the lot of them. She couldn't quite put her finger on why, either.

When the girl began to cry salt water tears, not the blood she'd half expected, Seras' heart clenched in sympathy. But she wasn't here to be their friend, no, she couldn't be their friend; there was just something about them that repulsed her and prevented such a bonding.

'They are made from inferior stock. Weakness begets weakness. They are nearly on the same level as the FREAKS we hunt. As my Childe, you are rightfully prejudiced against these diluted mockeries of unlife.' Her Master's voice lectured, and she felt almost queasy for a moment before it passed. Seras didn't like this situation, how these surroundings made her feel and act, but she'd stick to her mission and observe them in action. And kill any of them that looked at her Master that way again.

"Sir Integra ordered us to join them on their hunts, Police Girl." Alucard answered, ignoring the lesser creature's outburst, "We begin our observations on the field."

One of the other males began to stalk forward with a furious expression on his face, but was held back by his friends. The sound of their tussling and the crying girl were the only noises in the otherwise silent room, and her Master turned to leave. She followed him.

There didn't seem to be any hunt tonight.

Seras stared at the single room, recalling that they didn't expect two of them… but still! Sir Integra must have said something, right? But there was only one bed. Come to think of it, why was it a bed when the barracks were filled with coffins? There was an adjoining bathroom, too. Maybe this was a room for the humans who held the various leashes in the institute? She kind of wanted a shower, but had no spare clothes, and didn't feel fully comfortable being in the same room as her Master wearing only a towel.

Shifting from foot to foot, she made a bee line for the couch against the far wall opposite the bed and flung herself on it to claim as her bed for the day and prevent any… incidents with sharing the king sized mattress with Alucard. He chuckled and dropped himself into the cushy chair at the office desk close to the bathroom door, propping his feet up on the wooden surface.

Glancing at him suspiciously from the corner of her eye, Seras stretched her arms up behind her head to act as a cradle against the arm rest, and sighed. She didn't feel tired in the least. Where's the… Oh. The tv she'd been looking for was situated opposite the bed, much like a hotel room. Glancing again at her Master, she wrinkled her nose before getting up, snatching the remote from the bed, and swiftly returning to her claimed spot. Flipping the idiot box on, she scrolled mindlessly through the channels for something to watch. Finally she settled on a cartoon channel, amusing herself with the animated depiction of vampires. Heh.

Time passed and she felt her eyelids growing slowly heavier, though it felt no where near dawn. Yawning, the remote fell from her limp grip and clattered to the floor.

Floating in a sea of fog, she felt vaguely the sensation of being picked up and carried, and set down into glorious softness. Mmm…

Warmth settled beside her, and she rolled to wrap an arm possessively around it, burying her face into her oddly firm pillow. Sighing, she drifted deeper into the numb sensation, a purr resonating in her bones when she felt a stroking sensation along her hair.

Dimly, so dimly she was surprised she noticed, she heard the tv still playing. 'Master must be watching…' The thought faded like her senses and she fell peacefully into darkness, feeling warm and comforted.

Alucard smirked as he petted his cuddling Childe, amused at her possessive hold around his waist. Her cheek was pillowed on his thigh quite pleasantly.

He enjoyed their closeness, and rewarded her obedience with dreamless sleep. Midians and dreams were a terrible combination.

Only half watching the mindless blathering program on the screen, the elder vampire settled quite comfortably into the padded headrest of the large bed, amused when Seras curled closer still to entangle her legs with his. Continuing his rhythmic petting of her sunshine bright locks, he found himself content to wait the remainder of the night and day away like this until the next rise of the moon brought some action into their tedious mission of diplomacy.