A/N: Thank you all so much for the favs, follows, and reviews! They make me so happy! :D
And, surprise, I changed the cover image for the sake of this chapter and it is also by onisnow! It is Walter and Olivia during The Dawn years! (He got taller than her. ahaha!)
Which of the cover images do you like best? I love them all, but I am having trouble choosing just one to make the permanent one. (lol)
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter! There will be more action in the upcoming chapters! :D
She was drowning.
A pair of invisible hands curled around her neck, plunging her deeper beneath the cruel waves.
'Move your arms!' She cried to herself. 'Don't stay still! Fight back damn it!'
But her body wouldn't heed her orders and she was dragged down further and further.
Then, something broke through the surface, floating along the top.
'It's…a body…' Olivia tried to reach out to it, but the hands tightened their grip and she sunk further down. 'I…know those clothes….I know that hair….Oh God…it's…!'
Suddenly, the water turned red and millions of eyes surrounded her.
'OH GOD! MOVE! MOVE!'
But the more she tried to struggle, the larger the eyes grew.
Then, Olivia felt something crawling up her leg and she peered down to find a centipede curled around her right thigh.
Petrified, she could only watch as the disgusting insect climbed higher until it was face to face with her. Then, a pair of jagged fangs broke out onto its face before uttering something under its breath, the words slithering into Olivia's ears.
"What a fearsome monster you have become."
And then, before she had a chance to blink, the centipede shot forward and buried its fangs into her neck.
With a bloodcurdling scream, Olivia leapt up in bed, her body drenched in sweat and her breath ragged.
A quivering hand flew to her neck, feeling smooth skin and no injuries.
Then, she ripped off her blankets and sheets, finding a mattress and no centipede, eyeballs, or corpse.
"Just a dream.." She whispered, covering her face. "It was just a dream…You are safe, Olivia. Nothing here can harm you."
A loud knock at the door made her fall out of bed and she quickly scrambled underneath the bedframe.
"H-Hello?" Olivia croaked out, hating her voice for cracking. "Who is it?"
"It is Martha. May I come in?"
Heaving a sigh of relief, Olivia made sure to compose herself before replying.
"Oh, yes, of course! Please do!"
Martha slipped inside, her bright, red hair contrasting against the gloomy walls, and gasped at the mess before her.
"Are you alright, Ms. Olivia?!" She scrambled around, throwing aside the discarded sheets and blankets in search for her. "Where are you?!"
'Good God, Olivia! You are a soldier and here you are, hiding under the bed like a frightened child! Crawl out of your cave already!'
Olivia climbed out from under the bed and pasted on her most convincing smile.
"Here I am, Ms. Martha! I'm perfectly fine!" She bounced on her heels, hands bunching up the ends of her nightgown. "I was looking for Emile, that is all!"
Martha turned to her left and stared at the doll sitting on the stool, the same place it was the night prior.
"Come here, Ms. Olivia." Martha sat at the edge of the bed and held a hand out.
Heart beating a mile a minute, Olivia nodded and dragged her feet against the carpet.
Once she was in reachable range, Martha plucked her off her feet and placed Olivia on her lap.
"Why don't you tell me what is really the matter?" Martha brushed Olivia's damp bangs away from her forehead. "You don't seem to be running a temperature, but I've noticed you've been having trouble sleeping as of late."
"Ms. Martha, truly, I am perfectly fi-."
"Don't lie to me. My bedroom is below yours, Ms. Olivia. I can hear you tossing and turning at all hours of the night. My dear girl, what is the matter?"
"It's…" Olivia wringed her nightgown in her hands, her nightmare still fresh in her mind.
'Ever since my meeting with Mr. Alucard last month, I haven't been sleeping properly. But…I've never had a nightmare like this before. What could it mean? Have I let his words affect me that much? Am I that easily swayed?"
"Ms. Olivia?"
"I-It's….It's nothing." Olivia sighed, rubbing her arms now. "I've just been overworking myself. I apologize for making you worry, Ms. Martha."
Martha sighed and kissed her forehead before running a soothing hand through Olivia's long, black hair.
"It is a hard life here, isn't it? But just know you are doing great and as long as you keep your chin high, everything will be alright."
Hearing Martha address her without the title and cradeling her like her mother used to, Olivia closed her eyes and clung to Martha's sleeves.
"Thank you, Ms. Martha." She breathed, shoving the horrific images to the back of her mind. "I'll keep that in mind."
'I have to be overthinking this. I am not a monster. I will never be a monster. I am a human who protects other humans. That will never change.' Olivia peered over Martha's shoulder at her bow perched on the dresser. 'I can't change that easily…right?'
Once Martha had helped to fix her bed and left, Olivia quickly got dressed and hurried down to the kitchen where Walter was preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Walter." She grinned, hopping over to his side. "And how are you doing this fine morning?"
"I was doing fine until you came in." He replied evenly, placing the platters of eggs, toast, sausage, and scones on a silver tray without missing a beat.
Olivia glared down at him, and Walter, feeling her eyes burning holes into his back, eventually spun around to match her expression.
There was a moment of silence, both children refusing to back down. On the far side of the kitchen, a tea spoon wobbled precariously close to the edge of the counter. It tipped back and forth until gravity finally took hold and the spoon plummeted to the ground. And the moment the spoon clattered against the wooden floor, Olivia and Walter leapt back, whipping out their weapons: Walter's wires from his gloves and Olivia's bow from her belt along with an arrow concealed in her sleeve. Within seconds, a pair of wires were at Olivia's neck and the point of a silver arrow brushed against Walter's forehead.
The two of them continue to leer at the other, daring the other to make the first move.
Then, a small grin bloomed across Olivia's face followed by a smirk from Walter, and the two stepped away, lowering their weapons.
"What do you think?" Olivia pumped her fist in the air and bounced on her heels. "My reaction time is improving, right?"
"It is adequate." Walter murmured, picking up the fallen spoon and placing it in the sink. "Now, are you done playing games, Olivia? I have other chores to deal with and I would rather not let Sir Hellsing's breakfast get cold."
"Always such a busy bee, Walter." She sighed, retracting her bow and arrow. "But I see your point. I have lots of training and studying to catch up on if I want to be a master vampire hunter."
"Is that why you sneak down to the basement for hours on end? To learn how to be a 'master vampire hunter'?"
His comment had come completely out of left field and Olivia froze in place, both at Walter's icy stare and that fact that someone knew she had been sneaking down to the basement.
"How did you found out?" She whispered, looking around to make sure they were alone.
"I am the butler of the Hellsing family and the Angel of Death. Very little gets past me."
"Have you told Sir Hellsing?"
"No," He crossed his arms. "I wanted to know your reasons for affiliating with that mongrel first."
Olivia curled her hands into fists at that jab.
"Don't say such things, Walter. I visit him because I don't think it's fair to isolate him when he is one of—if not the most—loyal and powerful to the organization. Besides, he is just giving me pointers on battle strategy, nothing more."
"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong, Olivia. And what makes you think he is so powerful? You've barely seen him on the battlefield!"
"Oh, and you think you are so strong?"
"You've worked with me more than you have with him, haven't you?"
"That is because every time I ask Sir Hellsing to let Mr. Alucard go on a mission with us, he denies it! Mr. Alucard isn't just a weapon he can whip out every once in a while when the need suits him! That isn't fair!"
"You are not the master of this house! You are a soldier and you will listen to Sir Hellsing's orders!" Walter slammed his fist against the bottom cabinet. "I'm sick of hearing you talk about him every waking second! Every time we are out on the field, it's "I wish Mr. Alucard was here" this and "I hope my skills will impress Mr. Alucard" that! You idolize that monster like a god!"
"He is my family, Walter! Just like you, Sir Hellsing, and Ms. Martha are! I love all of you!"
"For God's sake, Olivia, how many times do I have to say this?! I am not your little brother, so stop thinking of me as an inferior! We are not your family, we are soldiers and foolish emotions like love don't have a place here! Sir Hellsing said so himself, 'We are the monsters who kill-!'"
"SHUT UP!" Olivia's fist collided with Walter's cheek, sending him flying back into the counter.
Her mind catching up with her body, Olivia stumbled back and covered her mouth, realizing what she had just done.
"Oh My God….Walter, I…I didn't mean..!" She reached out to him but he swatted her hands away, his eyes cruel and a trail of blood dripped from his mouth.
"Feel better now?" He scoffed, standing up and wiping the blood away. "You defended your golden idol, Olivia. Congratulations."
"Walter.." Olivia winced, tears streaming down her cheeks as she dug her nails into the accursed fist that harmed him.
'What the hell is wrong with me?! How could I hit Walter?! How could I willingly hurt him?!'
Her nightmare and the voice flashed through her mind and her eyes widened in terror.
'No….No…No! It was just a dream! I'm not a monster! I fight to protect! I fight to protect! I don't fight to harm…'
The purple bruise on Walter's cheek said otherwise.
Olivia crumbled to the ground, nails digging into her face.
The water full of blood.
The hands dragging her down.
The body drifting towards her.
The body that had Walter's hair and clothes…..
'What a fearsome monster you have become.'
"OLIVIA!"
She was zapped back to reality by Walter tearing her nails away from her face.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! You look like you just-!"
"Walter?" Martha's voice drifted from over the counter and Walter sprung to his feet, a mask of indifference on his face.
"Yes? How can I be of service, Martha?"
"What are you doing on the floor? And who are you talking to?"
"Nobody. Now, what is it? Have you come for Sir Hellsing's breakfast? If so, here." He swiftly placed a pot of tea and a cup on the silver tray before holding it out to Martha. "Now run along. I am a busy person."
"Alright, alright." Martha huffed, balancing the tray on one hand. "And have you seen Ms. Olivia? She should've been in his office by now, but Sir Hellsing informed me that she never showed up."
"She wasn't feeling well, so I told her to go back to sleep. I refuse to let her get all of Hellsing ill with whatever she has." Walter placed a hand over his heart and bowed at the waist. "If Sir Hellsing is upset, I will take full responsibility."
"No, no." Martha sighed, waving his words away. "I agree with you. Ms. Olivia hasn't been herself so I think a nap in the daytime might be the thing she needs. Well, I'll be off then. By the way…. what happened to your cheek?"
"Training accident. Nothing more. Now be gone."
"Temper, temper.." Martha grumbled, waltzing out of the room with the tray in hand.
"You lied for me…" Olivia murmured, peering up at him with puffy eyes. "Why? I hit you and-."
"Shut up. It's bad enough I allowed someone like you to hit me in the first place, let alone a bumbling crybaby who falls apart over a simple punch. Now, get up. Have some pride as a soldier."
"It's not a simple punch! I hit my little bro-."
Walter slammed a hand over her mouth, instantly silencing her.
"Do you really want to make it up to me?" He muttered, his breath tickling her cheeks.
Olivia nodded, desiring nothing more than to erase that bruise on his cheek.
"Stop worshiping Alucard like a god."
"But I'm not-!"
"If you're going to keep sneaking off to the basement, be more aware of your surroundings because if you get caught, I'm not rushing off to defend you. Got it?"
Olivia wasn't in a position to protest considering Walter was the victim, so she slowly nodded instead.
Walter gazed at her for a moment before reaching into his vest pocket and holding out a handkerchief.
"Wh…"
"As an English gentleman, it would be rude to let a lady cry without offering her some comfort."
Olivia took the handkerchief and chuckled weakly.
"You are no English gentleman, Walter C. Dornez. You are an obnoxious, prideful brat who doesn't know the first thing about love."
"And you are no lady, Olivia Emese Song. You are a gullible, cowardly crybaby who allows herself to drown in love that she is blind to everything else."
The two of them laughed, the air between them lighter.
"Dry your face. You look hideous when you cry."
"That's the Walter I know." Olivia giggled, wiping her face. "I guess I should leave you alone. You are probably behind schedule now."
Olivia rose to her feet and made her way towards the door when something tugged on her wrist. She glanced down and saw a wire wrapped around it.
"I haven't eaten and neither have you." He didn't say anymore nor did he face her, but the implications were clear to Olivia.
"…Yeah. Let's go have some breakfast then, Walter."
In the morning light, the two of them sat on a bench overlooking the River Thames, sharing a fruit tart and watching the ships come by.
"Thank you for the treat, Walter."
"Why are you thanking me?" He munched. "You paid for it."
"That is true." She sighed, placing her coin purse back into her coat pocket. "But, that's not what I meant. I only get to leave the manor for missions, so I haven't been able to soak in the London air like a civilian before. So, I am thanking you for bringing me here."
"Don't read too much into it." He replied, peering at her from the corner of his eyes. "I just wanted something to eat, that is all."
Olivia smiled and nodded, knowing this was his roundabout way of an apology and to comfort her.
And, for a while, there was peace as they continued to eat and take in the new surroundings.
But, soon, it was Olivia who broke the silence.
"Walter," Olivia stared at her lap, twiddling her thumbs. "I'm sorry for hitting you. Regardless of my reason or lack of reason, I should've kept my emotions in check."
Walter continued to stare ahead.
"Both you and Mr. Alucard have told me I know very little about Hellsing and what it truly means to walk this path, which is true. I wasn't groomed for battle like you were or enjoy fighting like Mr. Alucard does. I came here to avenge my family's deaths and to ensure that never happened again. I fight to protect, but…" She trailed off, thinking back on her nightmare. "I'm starting to worry if I will be able to keep my sanity and morals, despite my vow to never become the very thing I am hunting." Olivia felt Walter turn to face her but kept going. "Trust me, if I ever met Mr. Alucard in any other circumstances, I would run as far away from him as possible. But, in an odd way, he inspires me. You may call that worship, especially since he saved me, but I don't see it as that. Every time I see him, I am reminded of the chance he gave me and I want to show him his time wasn't wasted. And when we talk, he isn't warm or comforting but he makes me feel important. Like, he sees some hidden potential in me, and I want to bring that out while proving to him that I can be a master vampire hunter without losing who I am. I realize you and Sir Hellsing have known Mr. Alucard for years and there is a reason his situation is the way it is but….Agh!" With a weary sigh, Olivia buried her face into her hands. "It's all so vexing, Walter. You may say I am stupid, Mr. Alucard has told me several times, but I refuse to lose my humanity because that is all I have left now. If I lose it, then….Mr. Alucard will be right…and I'll be no different from those bloodthirsty monsters."
Heaving another sigh, Olivia faced Walter with a heavy heart.
"If I…if I become the cause of your death, I would never for-."Walter's fist connected with her cheek, sending her tumbling off the bench and onto the wet, dewy grass. "WALTER, WHAT THE HELL?!"
"You were ruining my moment of peace with your moping. And now we are even."
Olivia sneered and rubbed her cheek, wincing at how it stung under her touch.
"Hey." She looked up to find him holding at hand out to her. "I don't know what you are killing yourself over. A dimwitted girl like you could never become a monster, and what makes you think you could kill me? I am called 'The Angel of Death' for a reason."
"Pompous brat." Olivia snorted, taking his hand and letting him hoist her up. "Thank you, Walter."
"I have no idea why-HEY!"
She yanked him into her arms and nuzzled her cheek against his hair.
Even with his crude way of speaking, Walter had eased her fears and made her nightmare nothing more than a bad dream.
All he did was listen to her, without any pitiful glances or scathing remarks.
And that was all Olivia needed.
"I love you, Walter." She smiled, moving to kiss his forehead. "You really are an angel."
"Of Death!" He hissed, glaring daggers into her face.
"Yes," She chuckled, drawing him close for another hug. "A fearsome Angel of Death."
Walter grumbled under his breath, but he didn't move away. Neither did he reciprocate the hug, but him not pushing her away made Olivia's heart sing.
'I didn't realize how I was treating you, Walter. Another thing I hope you will forgive me for, but I won't make that mistake again.'
"You are a clever and mighty warrior; a dutiful and organized butler, and a wonderful friend." Olivia hummed into his ear, noticing how stiff he'd become. "Never let anyone make you think you are inferior, not even me. Alright?"
He didn't reply, and she feared he may have fallen asleep, when he suddenly pushed her back and stomped away.
"Cut the sappy shit already, Olivia!" He growled, baring his teeth. "Come on, you've wasted enough of my time with your ramblings!"
But Olivia didn't miss how red his ears had become and how there was a tiny glimmer in his eyes.
Laughing to herself, she hurried to catch up to him.
"But I'm just repaying the favor, Walter! You made me feel better, so let me do the same for you!"
"Shut up, shut up!" Walter covered his ears and tore down the sidewalk at record speed.
But Olivia just grinned and gave chase, the storm plaguing her mind finally cleared.
'I have nothing to fear. I am in charge of my own future, and I want my future to have you in it, Walter. Let us continue to support each other, on and off the battlefield. I will never let anything harm you, and if my nightmare holds any truth, I won't let it come to pass. I'll prove to you, Mr. Alucard, and everyone else what I am made of. In return, I just ask one thing of you.'
Olivia giggled as she caught up with Walter, finding him still pouting with flushed cheeks.
'Never leave me behind.. .'
A/N: Olivia's nightmare will make sense in a few chapters. It is not what you think it is~! And Olivia has kept her fears and worries bottled up, because she is trying to be strong but she can't just flip a switch and be a super soldier. No, she will have to accept and learn that her lifestyle isn't what she thought it was and deal with it calmly and with strength. (What Alucard was mainly asking her in the last chapter was if she would prevail in preserving her humanity or crumble under the pain of being human and give up.) Anyways, some bonding between Olivia and Walter! I feel like I've left him out a lot because Arthur or Alucard are hogging Olivia's attention. LOL. But Walter listening to her was just what she needed! And, watching Walter in the end of the series, I felt even as a child, the seed of wanting to beat Alucard and fear of being forgotten had already been planted in him. And Olivia wasn't helping since all she went on about was Alucard and she would refer to Walter as a Little Brother. That is the reason why he brought her with him to the Thames, to make her feel better and to apologize for lashing out at her. I mean, they are the only two kids in that entire manor. All they have is each other, and even if Walter brushes Olivia aside and talks rudely to her, he does care for her. (andhemighthavebeenatinybitjealousthatoliviacomplimentsalucardbutneverhimlolol)
And The Dawn segment will happen soon, but I want to write about two important missions Olivia goes on before then. These two missions actually affect the main storyline in Hellsing~ And Olivia and Walter need to grow up some, but I don't want to do a huge time skip. So please wait a while longer~!
And Olivia's request of Walter...think about what happens in Hellsing. lol. But who knows?
And her dynamics with each of the Hellsing group will become more obvious once she is older and known them longer.
Oh, and back to my ramblings about Olivia dragging Alucard to a concert in the 90s, imagine him at a Spice Girls concert! Ahaha! Or an Aqua concert! And, just another fun thing, Olivia would be big on doing challenges like the 'U Name It!' challenge from last year. Sorry, I'm having too much fun with this. But it would be pretty funny to imagine Olivia dancing around on Vine or Snapchat with the Hellsing group watching her in the background with various looks of confusion. Hehehe!
Please leave a review and look forward to the next chapter~! :D