A/N: Hey, there everybody! It's me, MBAV fan66! And it's time for chapter 5 of TMW (The Mercenary Wizard)! :D
In this chapter, the vamps make their grand entrance and meet Benny for the first time! :D How will their meeting go? Will they like Benny or not? Will they wind up embarrassing the heck out of Ethan in front of him or not? Only reading this chapter will tell! ;D Lol! :P
Uh... well, there's not really much else to say about what to expect in this chapter. So, I'll just leave all to it! Happy reading! :)
But first, shout-outs to these lovely people!:
mist3remu- I don't know if you've been following along with this story or not, but I just want to say thank you for adding me to your follow list as an author. I appreciate it! :D
Austin0425- Thank you for adding this story to your follow list! I very much appreciate it! :D
orionastro- Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the story, so far. :) Yes, their little time together was a bit intimate there for a minute or two, huh? *giggles* ;P If only Benny can try to resist those budding feelings, he has for Ethan in order to do his job properly. Lol! Sometimes, it's hard to fight attraction. But can he, do it? Or will he wind up failing in his mission in favor of love? Only time will tell! But it is obvious, though, that Benny hates having to deceive such a nice (and cute looking, too) guy like Ethan. He knows that in the end, Ethan's gonna wind up hating him once he learns the truth about him and that he was only just using him to get to the Lucifractor. This is probably one of the most hardest jobs/missions that he's ever had to do. Lol!
Bennyweirlover17- Yeah, it is. They're just so cute together! 3 But I wonder if Ethan's friends will agree, as well. ;D *giggles* :P Love is definitely blossoming between those two. But will it last, though? *wink wink* ;) Lol! Anyway, I hope you forward to more cute little moments between the two, though! :D
letterstorule- Thank you for adding this story to your favorites list! I greatly appreciate it! :D
Blazher- Thank you for adding this story to your follow list. As well, as adding my story, "Brother Of Mine" to your follow list and favorite list, too. I very much appreciate it! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own My Babysitter's A Vampire or any of its characters. All I own is this story and any OCs that may appear. Also, credit for the plot goes to my friend on here, Bennyweirlover17.
After spending about 3 hours playing nothing but video games, Benny decided that it was time for him to go. He had spent enough time taking up Ethan's day, already. Of course, Ethan tried to get him to stay for a bit longer and have dinner with him and his family, but Benny kindly refused. He told Ethan that it would be weird having dinner with his family when they hardly even know him. Seeing how disappointed the seer was, Benny then promised that he'll have dinner with his family at a later date and time, once they've gotten used to him being around a bit more.
Ethan understood his reasoning and agreed that perhaps it would be best to wait a little while longer before taking that step in their friendship together. Besides, Ethan knew how on guard his parents always are when it comes to strangers being in their home. Especially, ones of supernatural origin. Sure, they were always nice and polite to their face for show, but Ethan knew that his parents were also watching them like a hawk for any signs of mischievous or suspicious behavior on the inside, though. It usually took them a while to warm up completely to someone they don't know who's in their home before they ever let their guard down finally around them.
So, with that said, Ethan took Benny back to the hotel.
Once Benny got back to his room (after Ethan dropped him off), he lazily collapsed onto his back on the bed with a big, dreamy smile on his face as images of his time spent with Ethan today, flood his mind. He can't remember when the last time was, he's ever had so much fun just hanging out with someone, like that, before. It made him feel... happy. And he loved it, too. He can't wait to do it again sometime with Ethan.
But then his heart sank once he remembered the only reason why he was even hanging out with the guy is so that way he could gain the trust of Ethan's parents more and hopefully be able to move about the house without any suspicion from them, too. So, he can get his hands on the Lucifractor. Remembering all that now made his guilt return, once again. It caused his stomach to want to twist in knots, but he couldn't let it get to him. His feelings didn't matter, right now. What mattered was the job. But... he did notice that with every minute he spent with Ethan, the harder it became in trying to stay focused on that goal, though.
"I can't afford to get so sentimental over this guy. I have a job to do. But... it's just so gosh darn hard, though. Ethan is like... everything I want in a guy. He's smart, compassionate, good-looking, and a geek like I am. We pretty much have the same interests, even! But... I have to remain strong, though. Even if that means hurting Ethan's feelings in the process. He's a good guy, whereas I'm... not." thought Benny out loud to himself, as he lay there sulking in pity over the situation. He then sighed. "If only things were different and we had met a long time ago." he wistfully said, as he laid there staring up at the ceiling with a sullen/wishful look. He stayed like that for a minute before deciding to turn on the tv in the hopes of finding something to watch to help take his mind off of how he was currently feeling, right now. Thankfully, his favorite movie was on today, Jacuzzi Time Machine. Which seemed of done the trick.
About a couple of weeks have already passed since then and the two had been spending a lot of time hanging out together. Ethan even gave Benny a little tour around Whitechapel to show him where all his favorite places were in town.
Currently, they were both now up in Ethan's room just hanging out together again while looking through some of Ethan's old comic books.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, drawing both Ethan's and Benny's attention towards it. Then soon after, in walked three people. Two girls and a guy. One of the girls was white with blonde hair, whereas the other girl looked to be African American but with a lighter tone to her skin. Like almost a caramel/light brown sort of color. The guy was also white and had blonde hair, too.
"Oh! Sorry, Ethan. We didn't know you already had company over." stated the caramel-skinned girl in surprise.
Ethan fondly shook his head with a small smile to show it was ok. "Nah! It's alright, guys. You all were bound to meet, eventually, anyway. So, why not now?" kindly said Ethan to his friends.
"And just who exactly is this, anyway, dork?" questioned the blonde female suspiciously with a bit of rudeness in her tone while also glaring expectantly at Benny with her arms crossed over her chest and a raised eyebrow. Although, this earned a swift nudge to her side from the other female in the room.
"Be nice!" scolded the caramel-skinned girl to her rude sassy friend beside her.
"Guys, this is my friend Benny." said Ethan politely as he introduced Benny to his friend. "Benny. These are my friends Sarah, Erica, and Rory." he then introduced to Benny while pointing to each one of them respectively as he said their names.
"You were right. Erica is mean." joked Benny comedically into Ethan's ear in a hushed tone. Making Ethan giggle a little at his funny remark.
Thankfully, Erica didn't hear him as she was too busy giving Sarah this awed look of realization on her face. Sarah was also looking at her with the same exact expression, as well. Whereas Rory just stood there with a big smile on his face.
"Nice to meet you, dude! A new bro-migo of Ethan's is a new bro-migo of mine!" openly stated Rory in a cheerful and welcoming manner.
"Um... thanks." replied Benny a bit awkwardly as he was a little put off by the exuberant amount of energy this guy gave off, at first. But he quickly got over it and appreciated the friendly greeting, nonetheless, though.
"So, this is the guy you've been talking our ears off about for the past couple of weeks now. Huh?" teased Sarah in a hinting manner while flashing the seer a knowing smirk. Erica also had the same knowing smirking on her face as she looked at Ethan.
Ethan's cheeks turned red a little as he glared at her.
"So! You've been talking about me none stop behind my back to your friends, eh?" playfully teased Benny to the seer, as he too gave him the same knowing/smug smirk that Erica and Sarah were giving him earlier. "I hope you only had good things to say about me?"
Now, instead of glaring at Sarah, Ethan was looking down at his feet in embarrassment as his cheeks turned an even darker shade of red. He doesn't think he's ever felt so embarrassed in his entire life about something as he does right now at this very moment.
Seeing how shy and embarrassed Ethan got caused Benny to laugh in a lighthearted and friendly manner. "Hahaha! It's cool, man! I get it! I am a pretty great subject to talk about, after all." earnestly stated/joked Benny in a somewhat boastful manner as he hardily clamped a hand down on one of Ethan's shoulders to show he means it. "I'm actually kind of flattered." he then sincerely added with a warm smile.
This made Ethan look back up at the wizard, as the deep blushing color on his face quickly faded. Seeing the kind and earnest look that Benny was giving him, caused Ethan to want to smile, too. "His smile is so infectious." thought Ethan swooningly to himself, then.
"So, you all are Ethan's bloodsucking friends of the night, eh? Well, glad to meet you all!" greeted Benny.
Sarah, Erica, and Rory's faces all paled at what Benny just called them. "Bloodsucking? What on Earth are you even talking about?" nervously stated Sarah.
"Yeah! We're just your average teenagers, here! Nothing weird about us!" added Rory awkwardly, letting out a nervous chuckle at the end before then being swiftly elbowed in the side by Sarah with a scolding glare.
Benny laughed. "Guys! It's alright! I already know that you all are vampires! Ethan told me." genuinely informed Benny in amusement.
"You told him?!" harshly exclaimed Sarah to Ethan, but she wasn't really all that mad at him, though. If anything, she was shocked and confused as to why he would tell a stranger so easily about their little secret. Meanwhile, Erica and Rory just stood there with stunned expressions on their faces.
Ethan flinched a little at Sarah's response. "Well... yeah. After that vision I had about him being a wizard and then confronting him about it, I just thought it was only right if I told him about my little secret, as well." he meekly admitted to her.
"What?!" exclaimed Sarah in surprise as she looked at Ethan and then at Benny with her mouth slightly gaped open in astonishment.
Although Rory had a completely different reaction to what Ethan just said. "You're a wizard?! No way, dude! That is so awesome!" said Rory in amazement, as he raised a hand for a high-five. Benny not being able to help himself (and not liking to leave someone hanging on a good old-fashion high-five, either), returned the gesture by slapping the palm of his hand to Rory's to complete the high-five.
"Way to go, dork, in keeping important secrets to yourself." commented Erica sarcastically to Ethan.
"Hey! I'm sorry, alright!" fired back Ethan heatedly to the blonde vampire, who only scoffed at him in return with an eye roll following soon afterward. "Besides, it'll be nice to have another friend join our little ragtag group of supernatural friends. Especially, one who can do magic." he then pointed out to his friends.
"You're just saying that in the hopes that I'll use my magic to do your bidding whenever you need something to be done. Aren't you?" suspiciously implied Benny, but in a teasing way as he grinned mischievously/knowingly at the seer.
Ethan didn't say anything. Instead, he just looked down with a bashful blush on his face. He knew that Benny was just messing with him, but he still got all shy and embarrassed, anyway. Maybe it was the way he was looking at him when he said it that was causing him to feel this way? Well, whatever the reason was, he wished it wouldn't. At least, not in front of the girls, that is. They'll never let it go if they find out that he was crushing on the guy. Especially, Erica! She was a big romantic when it comes to matters of the heart and no doubt, she'd try to get him to confess his feelings to Benny in some...big and over-the-top romantic gesture of some sort. Like in the movies or her favorite romance novels.
Benny smiled as he slung an arm over Ethan's shoulders. "Awe, I'm just messing with ya, E! I can tell you're the kind of guy who doesn't like to take advantage of people for your own gain." he genuinely declared exuberantly in a friendly manner. Ethan's blush darkened even more at being so close to Benny like that. He could even smell his cologne a little.
Erica and Sarah took note of this and saw the way their seer friend reacted to the friendly gesture. Not to mention, they heard the little nickname he just called him, too. The girls both looked at each other as a knowing smile appeared on their faces.
"E, huh?" slyly said Sarah in amusement, as she smiled mockingly at the two humans.
"Well, yeah. It's the nickname I gave him. He calls me B in return." happily explained Benny with a cheery smile.
"Aw! Isn't that so cute?! They have little nicknames for each other, already!" gushed Erica mockingly to the two.
Benny looked at her in confusion, not getting why she said that in that sort of tone. Meanwhile, Ethan's face had gone even redder. If he didn't stop all this unnecessary blushing soon then he was afraid that his face just might stay red permanently! Although, he was just overreacting. Of course, his face wouldn't stay red permanently from blushing too much. That was just ridiculous! But still, though... he was getting tired of all the blushing he's done in the past 10 minutes, already.
"No way, dude! I call him that, too!" exclaimed Rory in amazement.
"You do?" said a baffled Benny.
Rory proudly nodded. "Ever since we were kids!" he informed happily.
Benny then slid his arm from around Ethan's shoulders and turned to look at him in surprise. "You never told me that! I thought I was the only one who got to call you E!" he said scandalously in surprise.
Ethan looked away bashfully and just shrugged. "I didn't think it really mattered. Besides, Rory's the only one who ever calls me that, anyway. And um... I don't know. I just thought it'd be nice if you did, too, I guess." he admitted. "I hope you're not mad?"
"Of course, not!" replied Benny reassuringly with a smile. "I don't mind sharing the nickname for you with Rory, at all. I'm just flattered that you're allowing me to call you by your childhood nickname, as well." beamed Benny sincerely which made Ethan happy to know that he wasn't mad at him.
"Hey! You don't mind if I call you B, too?! Huh, Benny?!" asked Rory excitedly.
"Uh... of course, not. Go ahead." replied Benny.
"Awesome!" cheered Rory happily.
Even though Benny permitted Rory to call him B too, the nickname will always hold a special meaning to him whenever Ethan calls me that. Mainly because it was Ethan who came up with it and started to call him that, first.
"So, you're a wizard, eh?" suspiciously asked Erica to Benny, then. To which Benny answered with a nod. "Prove it!" she then blurted challengingly to him.
Benny smiled respectably at her then. "As you wish, milady." he said charmingly to her while also bowing gracefully like a gentleman. When he straightened back up again, he kept one of his hands behind his back as he just smiled at her. Then with a snap of his fingers, a lovely bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared in his hand. When he whipped his hand back around in front of himself again, he presented the flowers to the girls with an endearing smile. "Flowers for the lovely ladies?" he said charmingly to them.
Erica stood there looking not at all impressed by his little magic trick. Even though it did just answer her question because she already knew that he didn't have any flowers in his hand, earlier. Or that weren't any flowers anywhere in the room, either. The reason why she looked unimpressed was because she thought surely, he could've done something better to show off his magic skills other than just... summoning a bouquet of flowers. It was so... cliche, if you will.
"How original." quipped Erica flatly.
Sarah, on the other hand, was flattered by the kind gesture, but... she kind of felt a little bit awkward taking flowers from a guy she just met. Especially, from a guy she had no physical attraction towards, either. Don't get her wrong, though! Benny was a nice-looking guy and all, but he just wasn't her type, is all. Not that she's looking to date anyone just yet, that is. Right now, she was more focused on herself than finding love. Especially, considering how hard it is to find someone who will be so understanding about her being a bloodsucking vampire and all. She's pretty sure that for most guys that would be a deal breaker for them.
"Uh... thanks? But um... I hardly even know you. So, uh... no thanks." awkwardly stated Sarah as she politely as possible turned down his offering of flowers to her.
Not really bothered by the girls not accepting his kind offering of flowers to them, Benny just shrugged it off instead. Then with another snap of his fingers, the flowers disappeared. Rory, however, was a little bit disappointed that he made them disappear, though. Even though none of the girls wanted the flowers, he sure wanted them. Although he didn't get the flowers, Rory still thought it was a pretty neat trick, though!
"So, uh... what brings you guys by, anyway?" curiously asked Ethan to his fanged friends after realizing that they must have a reason for stopping by.
"Oh! Um... nothing. We just wanted to see what you were up to, is all." immediately answered Sarah.
"And now we know." added Erica teasingly with a smirk, as her eyes went from Ethan to Benny. Ethan knew what she was getting at, with that comment and blushed a little.
"Also, the Vampire Council wanted us to make sure that everything is still kosher with the Lucifrac-. Ow!" started Rory idiotically without thinking before being rudely interrupted by a swift hard nudge to the side by Sarah to get him to shut up. When turned to look at her, he saw her shooting him this stern warning-like glare real quick before she then looked away to put on this polite (fake) smile at the two humans before them. Seeing the scary look Sarah had given him a second ago was enough for him to get the message.
Benny just looked at the two in bewilderment and intrigue. "The Lu-ci-frac what?" questioned Benny in confusion at what he just heard, as he tried to properly pronounce the unfinished word that Rory just said a moment ago. Although, he already had a pretty good idea what the word was, anyway. But it was best to play dumb for now, though.
"Oh! Um... it's nothing! Nothing at all! Rory's just being uh... Rory, is all! He's always spouting off a bunch of nonsense sometimes." quickly responded Sarah with a cover story while Rory just stood there anxiously nodding along to agree with her.
"Yeah, and not to mention being a complete idiot most of the time, too." rudely sassed Erica in a spiteful sort of way, as she added her two cents in, as well, while having this annoyed look about her.
Benny eyed the three vampires in the room suspiciously at first but ultimately decided to drop it with a shrug and pretended to buy their little excuse. "If you say so." he said credulously with a shrug. "Anyway, I probably should be going, anyway. I've taken up enough of E's time today, as is." he then stated in a lighthearted manner while lazily pointing his thumb back in the direction of the doorway before ending the action with a kind smile. "I'll leave him to you three, now." he chuckled amusingly.
"But how are you going to get back home, when I was your ride here?" asked Ethan curiously with concern.
Benny just shrugged. "I'll either walk back or just call me a cab to come and pick me up." he said easily, not too bothered by the solution. "Probably, the second one since I really don't feel like walking that far, anyway." he then added after some thought. "Besides, your friends are here. I'd hate to take away their time with you after they came here just to see you, E." explained Benny to Ethan.
"Well... perhaps one of us could fly you back?" suggested Sarah to Benny.
Benny shook his head. "Nah! And no offense here, but... flying in a plane is one thing. But flying by vampire is a completely different thing." he answered with a somewhat uneasy-looking expression on his face.
Sarah chuckled. "That's ok. No offense taken." she said to the wizard with sincerity.
Benny smiled gratefully at her reply.
"Ooh! We could run you there since you don't want to go by air!" exclaimed Rory enthusiastically, then.
"Uh..." drawled Benny out with uncertainty on how to answer that.
"Um, Rory. I don't think Benny wants to get there by vamp speed, either." gently supplied Sarah to her friend.
"Yeah, dude... I'm a little hungry anyway and I don't think speeding around on an empty stomach is such a good idea, man." awkwardly explained Benny to the blonde, but in a kind and gentle manner. He felt a little bad when he saw the sad look on Rory's face, then. "But I do appreciate the offer, though! So, um... maybe next time, then?" he then quickly stated in reassurance to the guy, although you could clearly hear the unease in his voice, though. But Rory didn't care, as Benny's reassuring comment at the end made him happy again.
"Ok!" exclaimed Rory back enthusiastically with a beaming smile on his face.
Seeing Rory not so upset over his refusal to get home at vamp speed made Benny feel better again, knowing that the guy didn't hold it against him. "Anyway, I better be going now. It was nice meeting you all. Hopefully, we can all hang out together some time to get to know one another better." stated Benny genuinely to Ethan's friends. He then looked over at Ethan with a playful little smirk at what he was about to say next. "I'm sure Ethan would love that. Wouldn't you?" he teased smugly before chuckling a little at the end.
Ethan didn't say anything as he just stood there with a flustered/embarrassed look about him and a blush that said it all, making the girls lightly giggle to themselves. They weren't idiots, after all. They could tell that their friend had the hots for his new friend and probably vice versa too, after that little playful comment he gave that was more directed at Ethan than them at the end.
A fond and kind smile then appeared on the young wizard's face at Ethan's response. Ethan's flustered silence and red cheeks were exactly the response he was going for, anyway. He loved it when Ethan would blush. Especially, if it's because of him. Every time he would see Ethan blush it just made his heart want to skip a beat. "Well, I'll be seeing ya, E! Bye!" he then said, as he waved goodbye and exited Ethan's room.
"Bye!" replied Ethan with a little wave of his own while smiling back at him as he watched him go.
The moment Benny had left, that's when Sarah sprang into action.
"Ok, Ethan! Spill! You totally have the hots for this guy, don't you?!" interrogated Sarah a bit demandingly, but also eager to hear the scoop, as well.
This took Ethan by surprise as his eyes went wide and his mouth fell open a little. "Sarah!" exclaimed Ethan scandalously at first with a small blush on his face. He then quickly crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away from her in defense. "I don't know what you mean." he then denied stubbornly.
Sarah just rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, Ethan! You can't fool us!" countered Sarah stubbornly, as well.
"Except for maybe Rory." mumbled Erica sarcastically in amusement, but everyone chose to ignore it, though.
"I know you like him! All the signs are there! You blush like crazy whenever he's around or interacts with you. You won't shut up about him to us. You get this strange look in your eyes whenever you look at him. Not to mention, you can't seem to keep your eyes off of him, either!" explained Sarah, as she started to list off everything, she's noticed not in only the past few days but also just recently today, as well, about Ethan when it came to Benny.
"She's right, ya know." stated Erica, who agreed with Sarah. "And from the sounds of it, you have it down bad for the guy, too."
Ethan tried to remain strong in his rebuttal against the girls' claims, but ultimately, he caved and relented to their accusations in defeat as his standoffish posture deflated before them with a sigh. "Yeah, alright. I have the hots for Benny." he admitted in defeat and shame, deciding to give up on his earlier reservations that he had about telling them. He knows how perceptive they can be at times and how they probably won't let it go until he does tell them, anyway. So, he might as well get it over with now. Besides, maybe they can help him navigate through these feelings he's having towards Benny, anyway? It couldn't hurt to get a little girl advice on the subject now, could it?
"I knew it!" exclaimed Sarah joyously.
"Dude! That is so awesome! My old best bro is crushing on my new best bro! Congratulations, man!" cheered Rory excitedly for his seer friend. "So, when are you going to ask him out?" he then asked Ethan with big shining eyes as he stared at him expectantly.
"W-what?! Ask him out?!" exclaimed Ethan in shock as he looked at him disbelievingly as if he was nuts or something. To which Rory simply nodded to. "Never!" he then appallingly exclaimed to the blonde in horror as his voice went up an octave just a little bit.
"Oh, come on! Why not? You clearly like him and it's obvious that he likes you, too. So, why not ask him out?" supportively stated Erica in slight irritation.
"Wait. You think he likes me?" replied Ethan distractedly in a hopeful/surprised sort of way as he got caught off guard by her mention of Benny possibly liking him back. Realizing his error, Ethan then quickly shook his head to get his mind back on track again. "N-never mind that!" he suddenly said soon afterward.
Erica saw the little spark of hope in his eyes at what she said to him earlier and smirked.
"Look you guys. I just can't, alright?" sighed Ethan pitifully.
"How come, Ethan?" asked Sarah curiously in a gentle and supportive manner, as opposed to being pushy and aggressive like Erica was currently being about the subject.
Ethan couldn't look at her due to shame, as he just shrugged at her before giving his answer. "I don't know. I guess because... I'm not even sure if he likes me back." he meekly said to her, but before Erica could comment on how obvious it was that Benny liked him too again, Ethan shot her a serious glare first before speaking up. "For sure, Erica." he said sternly to the blonde vampire, to which she simply just rolled her eyes at.
"Well, there's only one way to know for sure and that's by asking him out, dork." rudely retorted Erica back at him, as if it was obvious.
Ethan stubbornly shook his head no. "I'm too scared to. What if I'm wrong and he doesn't like me? What if he's not even gay or at the very least is into guys? I don't think I can handle the rejection. Especially, when our friendship is still so new. I don't want to ruin this thing we got going between us by making it awkward all because I asked him out." rambled Ethan timidly/sullenly, as he expressed his fears about asking Benny out to his friends.
Erica then closed her eyes for a split second and let out an exasperated sigh. "Guess it's time for nice Erica to come out, again." A side of her that she rarely ever let be seen much, anymore. Unless it really calls for it with her friends, that is. Like now, for example. It was obvious to her that Ethan needed some encouragement and sound advice on what to do here. She can see how much Ethan really likes this guy and after their short time spent with Benny, she could also see that he likes him back, too. She still doesn't know Benny very well yet, so there's no telling why he hasn't made the first move yet. But she does know Ethan, though. And sometimes he tends to let his doubts and fears get in the way of going after what he wants most. Someone pretty much always has to talk him into going for it. So, it was her turn to be that confidence booster that he needs, if ever hopes to snag his man!
Erica walked up to Ethan and took one of his hands in hers while her other hand was placed firmly, but comfortingly on his shoulder. She gazed at Ethan with kindness and sincerity in her eyes, as a warm and gentle smile spread across her face. "Ethan. You'll never know the answers to those questions until you actually do ask him. You can't let your insecurities cloud your mind on something that you want. Or else you'll never get it or find the answers that you seek, Ethan. Trust me. It's as clear as day that Benny likes you, too." she said softly and sweetly to Ethan. "Why he hasn't said anything yet, is beyond me. I barely know the guy." she then added with a playful mix of annoyance and sarcasm at the thought of it, which made Ethan giggle a little as he continued to listen to her. "Unlike you." she then said fondly in earnest to him, as her gentle smile returned to her face once again. "You've spent way more time with him than we have. So, I'm sure you've seen it too. You're just too scared to realize it, is all. Who knows, maybe the reason why he hasn't said anything to you yet is because of the same reasons why you haven't yet. Only... he probably doesn't have anybody to help give him the support and confidence boost that he needs to do it, like you do. So, why not make be the one to make the first move, hm? I know how brave of a person you truly are, Ethan. I mean, you fight monsters for a living, pretty much!" reassured Erica sweetly to Ethan, with a short amused-like giggle near the end of her inspiring words to him, as she comically overstated that last part to him.
"What I'm saying is... I know you can do it, Ethan. All you have to do is stop listening to your head and start listening with your heart, instead. Save all that... brain power and thinking for when you're fighting monsters. Ok? And start using that big heart of yours for when you're fighting for love, instead." finished Erica fondly and tenderly to her friend.
Ethan looked up at Erica to give a small rueful smile before looking back down at the floor with a frown, as a certain question tugged at the forefront of his mind. However, before he could get the words out, Erica beat him to the punch with her reply.
"And, if he does reject your proposal to go out on a date with you and be boyfriends, then we'll be there to help you pick up the broken pieces of your heart and help put you back together again." firmly reassured Erica then, but in a kind and supportive manner, though, as she briefly gestured to Sarah and Rory behind her with the hand that rested on Ethan's shoulder, to emphasize her point, before placing it back on his shoulder again. The other two vampires in the room both nodded along in agreement to what she had said about helping him recover from his broken heart, should it come that.
This caused Ethan to look back up at her again, as he studied her face for a brief second. He saw how earnest and genuine she was being, right now. Which made him smile back at her with kindness and gratitude towards her encouraging and supportive words. He then gave her hand a tiny little squeeze first, before suddenly rushing forward to envelop her in a hug, with both his arms wrapped securely around her neck.
"Thanks, Erica." he then said to her out of gratitude while hugging her.
This brought a heartwarming smile to Erica's face, as she hugged him back, knowing that her words of encouragement had worked. She was glad that she could help.
"Anytime, geek." she said fondly back at him while hugging him. She then took a step back as they ended the hug and smirked at him. "So! When can we expect the big reveal? That way we can all be prepared to be there to comfort and hold you in your time of need while you cry like a big baby." snarked Erica teasingly to the seer.
Ethan just rolled his eyes at her lame remark. "For your information, I'll probably do it tomorrow. Or the day after that, if I'm too busy doing other things around here tomorrow." replied Ethan earnestly with a hint of sarcasm thrown in, as well.
Erica didn't give him any grief after that. Instead, she just smiled at him and took his word for it.
"Now, that that's settled. Let's get back to the real reason why we're here. The one that Rory was about to blurt out to a total stranger." playfully sassed Sarah, getting back to the business at hand.
"Let me guess. The Vampire Council sent you guys here to make sure all is well with the Lucifractor because they have major trust issues and are letting their paranoia get the best of them, again?" correctly guessed Ethan cheekily.
Sarah nodded her confirmation back at him.
"More like demanded, really." off-handedly sassed Erica with her hands on her hips and an annoyed look on her face, as well. "Out of all of her other lackeys she could send, Anastasia always has to have us to go check on the thing. It's so annoying." she irritably complained.
"That's only because she knows we know the Morgans personally and we're probably the only vampires in town who they even trust to have in their home." pointed out Sarah reasonably. "Besides, you're just mad because they had summoned you right before getting your nails done at the salon." she then mocked lightheartedly to the blonde.
Erica just rolled her eyes. "That's because now I have to wait another week just to get my nails done. The salon is booked and won't have any available openings until then." she stated with a bit of attitude.
"Then why not just go to another nail salon, then?" asked Sarah suggestively.
"Are you crazy?! Maria's Fancy Nails nail salon is the best in town! Why would I go anywhere else?! To get crappy nails?!" gawked Erica shockingly in offense. "I might as well just do them myself. Or let Ethan or Rory just do them for me, in that case." she then sarcastically huffed in defense.
Sarah just rolled her eyes and shook her head at her best friend's response. "Anyway, can we see it to make sure it's actually still safe?" she then said in a friendly tone to Ethan.
"You guys actually want to see it?" replied Ethan curiously out of confusion, knowing how it affects vampires.
Sarah knew what he meant and decided to clarify it for him. "At a safe distance, of course." she stated simply, answering Ethan's unasked question. "Anastasia's orders." she then added afterward with an unamused look on her face while answering his said question.
Ethan didn't say anything to Sarah's answer. Instead, he just nodded in understanding. It was no secret that none of them liked Anastasia very well. Even he didn't like her! She was too... bossy and demanding all of the time. And she loved to use threats and violence to get her point across, too. She always liked to act like little Miss High and Mighty, all the time which just really irked him a lot. Especially, since he's human and she loves to throw that little fact in his face a lot, too! In Anastasia's twisted little mind, vampires are so much better than humans and are the apex predators of Whitechapel. Sure, Erica was the same way, but she's not as bad as Anastasia and the rest of her fellow councilmen are, though. Maybe it has something to do with being practically ancient, is why they act the way they do? Who knows?! But Ethan did wish they would be a little bit more nicer to him and his friends sometimes, though. Rather than always demanding them to do things or else suffer the painful consequences if they don't.
"So, can we see it?" asked Rory.
"Yeah, sure. But I'll have to let Mom and Dad know, first." replied Ethan. "Although... I don't get why the Council has suddenly been so interested in the thing, lately. It seems they've been wanting to check up on it more than usual for some reason?" wondered Ethan curiously.
"My guess is that it has something to do with that stranger who visited your house a while back, asking about it. I guess it must have Anastasia and her fellow councilmen a bit on edge, just knowing that there is someone out there looking for the Lucifractor. So, they're having us check on it a lot more often than usual." explained Sarah thoughtfully.
"Oh, yeah. I remember Dad telling me about that. I wasn't home at the time when the guy showed up, but Dad told me and Jane that if he ever showed up again to not answer the door or talk to him." recalled Ethan.
"Hey, you don't think the stranger asking about it was Benny, do you?" asked Rory perplexingly out of curiosity.
Ethan shook his head. "No. I'm positive it wasn't Benny." answered Ethan in earnest. "Dad said it was an older gentleman with grey hair, who wore a suit and eyeglasses. So, there's no way it could've been Benny." he then informed them. "And besides, they would've flipped the moment they saw Benny if he was the guy, they saw asking about the Lucifractor a few days ago. A huge fight would've broken out then." he concluded logically.
"Yeah... you're right." agreed Sarah thoughtfully. "How did they react when they first saw him, though?" she then asked him out of curiosity.
Ethan gave a little shrug before answering. "A bit cautious and wary-like to me. But that's probably because of the super powerful and ancient artifact that we keep hidden in our house, is why, though."
Sarah lightly giggled at that. "Yeah, you're probably right." she stated softly in agreement with a smile. "I'd be wary about strangers coming to my home, too, if I was entrusted with guarding something so powerful and destructive." she stated in a kind and earnest tone while giving a friendly little smile.
"Come on. Let's go find my parents and let them know why you're all here." said Ethan as he led the way out of his room to search for his mom and dad.
"Finally! The sooner we can get this over with, the sooner we can go back to our day!" dramatically groaned Erica in relief and exasperation, as she followed along behind the seer.
Sarah just shook her head in disbelief at Erica's comment, as she followed along behind her to exit the bedroom. Whereas Rory, on the other hand, just shrugged and left the room with a big happy grin on his face, not really caring.
A/N: And that's it for this chapter! :D
So, what did you think?
Turns out that Ethan's friends approve of Benny, and it seems that they're not blind to what's in front of them, as well. Meaning, the budding romance that seems to be blossoming between the two of them. *giggles* :P You know I just had to have them give Ethan flack about his little crush on Benny. *giggle* ;P But at least, they're supportive about it, though. So, there's that. :) Including, Erica! I thought I'd throw in some soft Erica for all of you who love the whole Ethan/Erica friendship dynamic thing between the of them. So, there you ya go! A little heart-to-heart Erica time with Ethan! :D Lol!
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and thank you for reading it! :D Until next time, I'll be seeing you all around! Bye! ;D