A/N: Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for the favs, follows, and reviews! I love them all and you all so much!
Here is the next chapter! Please enjoy! And I welcome all new and returning readers! :D
Eyes fluttering open, Olivia found herself lying under a maroon sky with a glass moon. Tall grass surrounded her from all sides, and the blades tickled her cheeks as they swayed in the breeze.
"Where….am I?" Olivia groaned, sitting up and taking in her surroundings. "What kind of place is this?"
At first, all she could see was tall grass cascading well over the horizon.
Then, one by one, red daffodils began to bloom and Olivia immediately knew where she was.
"Why….?" She leapt up and watched as an ocean of red swirled around her, a pit growing in her stomach. "Why here of all places?!"
In the distance, she spotted something falling from the sky and, without a moment's hesitation, she raced towards it with her hands outstretched.
"It's a…..feather." Olivia whispered as it landed in her cupped palms. It was black with red spots and, as she held it up to the moon, she noticed the feather was uncharacteristically opaque. "What kind of bird does this belong to?"
Then, for some odd reason, a thought ran through her mind, and a chill ran down her spine as she inspected the mysterious feather once again.
'What if the feather doesn't belong to a bird? What if it belongs to—?!'
"Walter…" The name slipped from her lips, and Olivia yelped when the feather started beating like a heart. Memories of when she carried her own heart in her hands and the events leading up to it invaded her mind, and Olivia crumbled to her knees as she finally understood why she had returned to the field.
"Oh God, no…" Black and red pigmentation oozed from the feather like slime, which only served to fuel Olivia's hysterics as she clutched the feather to her chest and screamed, "NOT WALTER! PLEASE, NOT HIM!"
The slime embedded into her skin, consuming her arms, legs, and torso. Yet Olivia continued to cling to the feather and begged for Walter's life.
"PLEASE DON'T LET WALTER DIE!" The slime crept up her neck and towards her jaw. "I CAN'T LOSE HIM TOO! WALTER! WALTER! WALT—!"
A hand slammed over her mouth just as the slime reached her bottom lip and all went still.
The taste of ash and rotting flesh invaded her senses, and Olivia gazed up with wide eyes to find a man covered in third degree burns leering down at her. He was missing his right eye and his teeth jutted out between the burnt flesh, yet Olivia didn't feel an ounce of fear.
Instead, she closed her eyes and whimpered, "Will Walter die because of me?"
The man laughed at her question before moving behind her.
"How pompous….to think everything revolves around you." He slid the hand covering her mouth to the bottom of her jaw before grasping the top of her head with the other. "Worry not, 'Queen of the Night'. That boy signed his own death warrant years ago."
Then, with a flick of his wrist, the man snapped her neck and all went red.
"WALTER!" Olivia sprung up from the medical cot, causing Dr. Trevilian to spit out his tea and the two nurses on staff to drop their trays of medical equipment. "WALTER! WALTER!"
"Calm down, Olivia!" Dr. Trevilian tried to restrain her as she thrashed about, fighting off some unseen entity. "DAMMIT, STAY STILL! YOU'RE GOING TO REOPEN YOUR WOUNDS! YOU TWO, HELP ME HOLD HER DOWN!"
"LET GO OF ME!" Olivia flung him off her and leapt off the bed towards the door. Just as her fingers grazed the door knob, the two nurses tackled her to the floor and pinned her arms behind her back. "LET GO! I NEED TO FIND WALTER!" She shoved them off and went for the door again, only for the nurses to yank her back by her hair and slam her to the floor again.
"GET OFF OF ME!" Olivia elbowed one nurse in the face and bit into the arm of the other, yet the nurses remained relentless. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"
"PLEASE CALM DOWN, LIEUTENANT GENERAL SONG!"
"DOCTOR! HER WOUNDS ARE REOPENING!"
"JUST HOLD HER STILL!" Dr. Trevilian quickly prepared a syringe of Valium and raced over. "FORGIVE ME, OLIVIA, BUT YOU NEED TO CALM—!"
Within a second, he and the nurses were launched to opposite sides of the clinic and Dr. Trevilian found the barrel of a pistol shoved into his mouth before he could even blink.
"Pinning an injured woman down, and drugging her against her will." The entire room was submerged in darkness with Alucard's neon red eyes and barred teeth the only things visible. "Didn't you swear an oath to do no harm to your patients?" The sound of the pistol hammer cocking back echoed, causing Dr. Trevilian and the nurses to break out into a cold sweat. "A pig like you doesn't deserve to serve my master and my wife. Make peace with your God, Doctor, and know your blood will make a fine decoration to this wall."
Dr. Trevilian's muffled screams and the nurses' pleas for mercy filled the room, and Alucard smirked at such lovely sounds before placing his finger on the trigger.
"10….9….8….7….6….5….4….3….2….1—"
"ENOUGH!"
Alucard's finger halted in place, and he turned to face Olivia with a bemused expression.
"Enough…." Olivia's form trembled, tears leaking between her fingers and trailing down her arms. "Just stop it, Alucard…"
She was kneeling on the ground with her back facing him and her face buried in her hands. The hospital gown hung off her elbows, displaying scars on her back both old and new, and the bandages on her feet were soaked in blood.
His eyes dimming slightly, Alucard placed his pistol back in his holster but did not retract his shadows nor release his hold on Dr. Trevilian and the nurses. Instead, he knelt on all fours and licked her blood off the floor.
Fragments of Olivia's nightmare lingered on his palate, and once the floor was clean, he reached out and cradled her feet in his hands.
Olivia lowered her hands at the familiar touch and peered down at him, allowing him to clearly see her. Her face was covered in ugly purple bruises, her bottom lip was split, and she had a black eye.
Oh how he wished that Sir Hellsing hadn't interfered last night.
Realizing he was staring at her, Olivia immediately shielded her face from him.
"Don't look at me…." She whimpered. "Go away. I don't want you to see me like this…"
"You ask the impossible of me." Alucard kissed her feet before scooping her up in his arms and standing up. "My wife's well-being is my priority, so I will spare your life, Doctor." He sauntered over to where Dr. Trevilian hung and stared him dead in the eye. "This little tête-à-tête never happened, correct?"
"C-Correct." He muttered, his eyes becoming red spirals.
"And you, gentlemen?" Alucard craned his neck back, flashing the immobilized nurses a grin. "Don't you agree as well?"
"Y…e….s…." Their eyes had become red as well.
"Then I bid you good day. Olivia will now discharge herself from your care." Alucard phased through the wall, taking Olivia and his shadows with him. "And if you ever hold my wife down against her will again, not even my master can stop me from tearing you to shreds."
The moment they were gone, Dr. Trevilian and the nurses collasped to the ground, unconscious and their memories of the past hour wiped away.
"I have to see if Walter is safe." Olivia uttered, trying to wiggling out of his iron grip. "Take me to him. I need to see his face."
"This is the first time in four years I've been able to hold you freely outside of my dungeon, and all you can talk about is Walter." Alucard scoffed, phasing through the third floor bathroom wall and placing her on the counter. "Never thought I would be jealous of the Angel of Death."
"Alucard, please go back to the basement. I don't want Sir Hellsing to punish you because of—."
"My master gave me permission to be with you for the morning." He removed his outer and inner coat before rolling up his sleeves and walking over to the white cast-iron tub in the middle of the room. "A puzzling act of kindness, but I won't bite the hand that feeds me."
It was strange for Sir Hellsing to be suddenly accommodating, and Olivia felt a pit form in the bottom of her stomach at what this 'random act of kindness' truly meant.
But her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hot water rushing into the tub.
"What are you doing?"
"Preparing your bath. You were out in the pouring rain for hours, and your body temperature is below normal." Steam gradually filled the room, and he shut off the taps when the water filled the tub completely. "There are some bath pearls here too. Which one would you—?"
"Are you absolutely sure Sir Hellsing gave permission for you to be with me?" Olivia blurted out, staring at the floor with a pitched gaze. "Are you sure he gave his true and honest permission without restriction?"
Alucard stared at her for a moment before walking over and tilting her head up with his hand.
"You still don't trust him, do you?" His tone wasn't accusatory or aggressive and his touch was so comforting that she leaned into it without thinking.
"…Not as much as I used to."
She would forever feel those drills tearing in her arm, and the heartbreak she felt that Sir Hellsing used—.
"MY BRACELTES!" Olivia's hand latched onto her wrist, only to feel bare skin. "I HAVE TO GO BACK!"
"Olivia—."
"I PROMISED I WOULDN'T LOSE THEM!"
"Olivia—!"
"WALTER MADE THEM FOR ME! HE MADE THEM FOR ME! I HAVE TO GO! I HAVE TO—!"
"OLIVIA!" Alucard snatched her wrists up, preventing her from digging into her arms further. "ENOUGH! YOU ARE HURTING YOURSELF!"
"I DESERVE IT!" She wept, all evidence of anger and pain billowing out in the steam around them. "HOW DARE I JUDGE SIR HELLSING WHEN I AM NO DIFFERENT?! I BROKE WALTER'S HEART! I BROKE HIS TRUST! WALTER—THE FIRST PERSON WHO EVER BEFRIENDED ME! WALTER, MY PARTNER, MY BROTHER! WALTER, WHO HAS NEVER HURT ME! AND BECAUSE OF MY COWARDICE HE MIGHT—!" Her nightmare flashed through her mind and she collapsed against Alucard in tears. "Not again…..please…..I can't lose him too…."
Silent as stone, Alucard held her as she cried, knowing his wife did not need words but actions right now. Minding her injuries, he removed the hospital gown before peeling the blood-soaked bandages off her limbs and feet.
"How pitiful you must think I am." Olivia whimpered, clinging to his shirt as he cradled her in his arms. "I am not worthy to be your wi—."
"If you don't shut up, I'm going to drop you in the tub." Alucard growled, his fierce gaze meeting her tearful one.
"….I'm sorry." She buried her face in his neck. "Please don't leave me alone."
"Where else would I be but here*?" He bent over and slowly eased her into the tub, pausing whenever she winced in discomfort. "Is it too hot?"
"No, it's fine." She released her hold on him and drew her knees up to her chest, her hair splayed out on the water around her. "Thank you, Alucard." The water irritated her injuries slightly, but the warmth was also like a comforting blanket and, as she rested her head on her knees, she felt herself dozing off.
That was, until she heard the sound of clothes ruffling.
"What are you—" Olivia peered up to find Alucard unbuttoning his shirt, and her mouth went bone dry. "W-W-What on Earth are you doing?!"
"You make that bath look so inviting, so I thought I would join you." He shrugged off his shirt and started to unbutton his pants.
Olivia practically launched herself to the opposite side of the tub and covered her eyes, much to Alucard's immense pleasure.
"Oh ho! What is this?!" He cackled, thrilled to see her blushing after so long. "We have shared a bed before, my blushing bride! Why so shy?"
"We weren't completely naked on our wedding night, you twit!" Olivia squeaked when she heard his belt hit the floor. "Do you really have to do this?!"
"Would you rather I bathe with my clothes on?" He puffed against her ear, his smirk growing at her squeal of surprise. "And yes, if I can take my wife's mind off her sorrows for a moment, then I will do anything."
"…..Just hurry up and get in." Olivia mumbled, lowering her hands and staring at her knees.
The water rippled as he eased inside, and she gasped when she felt his feet brush against her lower back.
While the bathtub was rather large, Alucard was larger so no matter where Olivia moved, some part of him would be touching her.
"The point of a bath is to help you relax." Alucard rested his arms on the tub's rims and traced his right toe up and down Olivia's spine. "So why don't you turn around and let me help you. Allow me to ease your woes." He leaned forward and kissed the junction between her neck and shoulder, earning a shiver from her. "You had a nightmare about Walter's death, didn't you? I could taste it on your blood."
Rubbing her arms, Olivia stared at her haggard reflection in the bath water before nodding.
"Yesterday, Walter told me he wishes we never met. When we were kids, Walter and I always bickered over smallest things. But that is how we connected. We would 'talk' by fighting and everything was fine afterwards. And, foolishly, I thought the same would happen yesterday. However, I forgot we are not children anymore." Olivia closed her eyes and sighed, the pit in her stomach growing. "I always thought Walter would eventually outgrow his feelings for me, and it was by that ignorance on my part that—." She flinched as she bit her lip, forgetting it was split. "….You know, in all the years I've known him, I have never seen Walter cry. Not when we were children, not during Martha's funeral, and not even when we parted ways at Paddington Station four years ago. But, yesterday, he cried like I've never seen before. And….it's because I forgot even the great Angel of Death is human. Then, this morning, I had that nightmare…!" Olivia smacked at the water and buried her face in her hands. "I don't know what it all means, but every time I see that damn field, I lose something precious by my own hand!" Water sloshed out of the tub as she spun around and faced her stone eyed husband with pleading eyes. "Not again, Alucard! I refuse to let the past repeat itself!"
Still ever silent, Alucard brushed Olivia's hair away from her face before grabbing the bath pail hanging on the side of the tub and scoop up some water.
"So, what do you plan to do about it?" He gently poured the water over her head, placing a hand over her eyes to keep water from leaking into them. "I am anxious to know your next course of action."
"Well, 'talking' to him didn't help, and he made it clear that he hates me." Olivia winced as she involuntarily bit her lip again. "But…I can't leave him alone, even if my presence repulses him. I lost all my loved ones because I abandoned them when they needed me the most. I….I can't—no, I will not repeat the same mistake. Even if Walter will never look at me again, I will protect and guard him from all harm. And…if…if the cost of ensuring his safety is losing his friendship, then….I suppose that is a fitting punishment for breaking his heart." She rubbed her wrist, missing the familiar comfort of her bracelets. But, at the same time, Olivia felt an odd sense of security as she vocalized her feelings to Alucard's listening ear while he gently washed her hair. Such a simple action numbed her wounds and made her feel like everything was going to be okay.
Despite the entire situation being far from 'okay'.
"Or you can take my advice and extract vengeance for the injuries he gave you." Alucard offered, lathering her hair with shampoo. "Speaking of which, why didn't you fight back? You should've easily overpowered him with how lackluster his skills have become."
"…..Perhaps I was punishing myself for lying to him." She smiled slightly and leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. "Thank you, Alucard. I feel much better now."
"Good." He refilled the bath pail and placed a hand over her eyes once more. "Now close your eyes if you don't want soap to get into them."
"Yes, regale meu." Olivia hummed, doing as he requested and exhaling softly as Alucard rinsed the suds out of her hair. "I still think you should consider becoming a hairdresser."
"Only for you, regina mea." Alucard was about to toss the bath pail aside when Olivia stopped him.
"Wait, let me wash your hair too." She gently pried the pail from his hand, smiling slightly at his bemused expression. "I confess, this has always been a dream of mine, and now that I know you can take baths, I came make it into a reality."
Then she smiled with a blush, reminding Alucard of how she looked during their wedding.
"Ouch!" Olivia flinched, touching her split lip gingerly. "I keep forgetting about th—Mmph?!"
Alucard seized her lips with his, holding her wrist with one hand and cupping the back of her head with the other.
If, fourteen years ago, Alucard was told the smile of the girl he found would one day thrill him to submission, he would have laughed in that person's face for conjuring up such an inane lie.
But now, at the sight of Olivia smiling so genuinely over something as silly as washing his hair, Alucard would gladly fling himself across hot coals for her to step on if it meant she would grace him—and him alone—with her smile.
Perhaps that mortal saying had merit and absence truly did make the heart fonder. For four years, he had sat in his dungeon like a good dog with only Olivia's secret visits keeping him from slipping further into insanity. But even then, Alucard couldn't be with her as he wished, and it was pure agony to watch her sneak out of his dungeon when her place was at his side.
Sir Arthur Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing was truly a cold, iron hearted master to allow Alucard the taste of happiness before yanking it away from him.
However, his master had granted him a rare kindness on this day, and Alucard wasn't about to let this chance slip through his fingers.
He deepened the kiss, begging for a response. Despite how Alucard desired her, he wouldn't make another move until Olivia reciprocated.
Luckily, he didn't have to wait for long. The moment Olivia wiggled her wrist free and threw her arms around his neck, all restraint shattered as they slid under the water.
No one knew they were up here, and no one would be aware of their absence for a while. So both of them could lose themselves in the sensations brought by the other.
And Alucard was nearly driven to the edge when Olivia pinned his arms above his head and French kissed him with such ferocity that made fire spread to his lower body.
He could easily free himself from her grip and change their positions, but Alucard rather liked being Olivia's 'prisoner'.
Their bodies were flush against each other, and her lip was bleeding so he was getting a snack too—a win/win situation.
Besides, it wasn't like he had only two arms.
"EEAAHH!" Olivia resurfaced at a breakneck speed, panting heavily and covering her chest. "ALUCARD! DID I MARRY AN OCTOPUS OR A VAMPIRE?!"
"You sound upset." Alucard resurfaced as well, sweeping his hair back from his face with a cheeky grin. "Why did you stop? I was enjoying being at your mercy."
The tendril that poked her breast caressed her thigh, and he threw his head back in uproarious laughter when she smacked it away.
"You shouldn't tease an injured person, Alucard!" Olivia scowled with a blush bright enough to stop traffic. "The bathwater is getting cold anyways. Lean forward so I can wash your hair."
"As you wish." Alucard bent down and licked the excess blood off her lip, earning a punch to the chest.
"I see four years has done nothing but make you all the more lubricious." Olivia puffed her cheeks out, a smile fighting its way across her face. Then she smiled fully and kissed his knuckles, her wedding ring warm against his skin and his cold against hers. "I love you."
"Say it again." Alucard whispered, giving her that rare look of utter endearment that never failed to make her heart skip a beat.
"I love you." Olivia repeated, her hands moving to caress his face. "I love you." Her fingers danced over his eyelids.
"I love you."
Over his nose.
"I love you."
Over his lips.
"I love you."
Olivia's touch truly was an oasis in the heart of a desert and, like a drowning man, he leaned into it in the hopes of becoming one with the beautiful sensation. He could hear the clock in the hallway strike eleven, but he buried his head into her neck and clung to her in retaliation.
"I love you." Alucard sucked at her neck, his fangs poking at her skin and Olivia shivered as she wrapped her arms around his back.
Just one more hour and morning would be gone.
By his contract with Hellsing, Alucard would have to return to his dungeon and remain there indefinitely.
However, by his contract with Olivia, he could stay in her arms forever if she commanded him to.
But, Olivia wouldn't dare to challenge Sir Hellsing's orders to such a degree. Not when her desires would only harm Alucard in the end.
Olivia was made of love, that is what Alucard believed.
Her love for her deceased family prompted her to join Hellsing; her love for Martha led her to slaughter that assassin and his family; her love for Sir Hellsing kept her at his side despite how he hurt her; her love for Walter made her fear telling him the truth and caused her to cry so fiercely for him, and her love for Alucard caused her to place his well-being above her own time and time again.
In life and death, Alucard was robbed of experiencing love in all its forms. A monster like him didn't deserve such a blessing.
Yet he had been given a chance to love and be loved in return, and he guarded it so preciously.
Alucard both feared and respected the Hellsing family, but his love for Olivia outweighed it all.
Love…what a beautifully agonizing emotion it was.
"Thank you for choosing me." He nuzzled against her chest like a child seeking their mother's protection. "Please, never leave my side."
"Where else would I be but here*?" Olivia kissed his head as she stroked his hair. "We will be together from now on until the end of eternity."
"From eternity and beyond." Alucard gazed up, seeing his reflection in her eyes before pulling her down for another kiss as they slipped under the water once more.
One story directly below, Arthur sat at his desk with his hands clasped together and a distraught expression on his face.
'Did I make the wrong decision?'
That question had become a daily mantra over the past four years, and Arthur was still just as confused as before.
A large part of him chanted, "Alucard cannot be trusted! Once a tyrant, always a tyrant", yet a smaller part screamed, "He chose you over her."
Arthur sincerely thought Alucard would defy his orders and rush into the night after Olivia. By that, Arthur would have solid confirmation that the contract meant nothing to Alucard and that his dream was really a premonition.
Yet, the family pet stayed put and Arthur felt like the intricate castle he spent years building had crumbled to pieces.
Had he really wasted four years being paranoid over a nightmare, or was this only a fragment of a bigger picture?
"Fuck." Arthur ran a hand down his face. "And because the dog obeyed the master, I rewarded him with a treat…."
The large part of him still insisted out that Alucard might be deceiving him with good behavior, while the small part of him argued that Alucard was faithful to Hellsing and not even Olivia could change that.
"Fuck!" Arthur grabbed a bottle of whiskey from his desk drawer and took a swing, combating his stress induced headache with an alcohol induced one.
Once the bottle was empty, he tossed in into the rubbish bin with the other bottles.
"You are going to drink yourself to death." He chuckled, reciting what Dr. Trevilian had told him during his weekly check-ups. "Whiskey and women are the only things keeping me from going off the deep end, Doctor. You can't run this organization without succumbing to some 'bad habits'."
"Sir Hellsing?" Walter's voice drifted from the other side of the door. "The post has arrived. May I come in?"
"Enter." Arthur sighed, standing up as Walter stepped into the room with a small stack of envelopes in his hand. "Thank you, Walter. I—."
Arthur's hand froze in mid-air as he noticed both of Walter's knuckles were wrapped in bandages. He had been too preoccupied with Alucard and Olivia that he didn't notice Walter was also injured.
"Sir Hellsing?" Walter waved the stack in his face, snapping him out of his daze. "The post?"
"Oh, right. Sorry." He took the mail and placed it on his desk. "I apologize for not taking notice of your injuries earlier. Did you go to the clinic this morning?"
"Yes. Right before I cooked your breakfast."
"I see. And…did you see Olivia while you were there?"
"Dr. Trevilian said she had discharged herself an hour prior to my arrival." Walter answered with an indifferent shrug. "I assume she must be in her room now."
'Or with Alucard.' Arthur thought before coughing and sitting back down. "I want you to be honest with me, Walter. Are you really alright? I know you are pretending to be unbothered when really—."
"I am perfectly fine." Walter interrupted, taking a step forward. "Please, don't worry about my affairs, Sir Hellsing. I can take care of myself."
"I know that but you are still only human."
Walter suddenly smiled at him, and Arthur thought it looked a little strained.
"I am well aware of that, Sir Hellsing. Again, please don't worry about me. Instead," Walter glanced at the overflowing rubbish bin and the messy ashtray. "I should be the one asking if you are well."
"Oh….it's a long story." Arthur slumped forward in his chair with one hand covering his face and the other reaching for a cigarette. "I have spent the past four years thinking and rethinking this situation again and again."
"Does this have to do with what you said yesterday?" Walter picked up a lighter from the desk and lit the cigarette between Arthur's lips. "About your nightmare and how you want me to keep an eye on Olivia so it doesn't come true?"
"I guess I should start off by apologizing about that. I shouldn't have expected you to jump at the idea, especially when you just learned the truth." Arthur took a long drag of his cigarette before exhaling slowly and turning his firm gaze on Walter. "By the way, I want to ask about your behavior. Why did you insist Alucard take care of Olivia? Why were you suddenly so complacent? It's unlike you, Walter."
"Do you really think Alucard would've allowed me to take Olivia to the clinic after what I did to her?" Walter retorted evenly. "You know how monsters can lose control at any given moment, no matter how trustworthy they act."
"….What?" Arthur slowly pulled the cigarette from his mouth, the room temperature dropping several degrees. "What are you talking abo—?"
"Just thinking aloud, Sir Hellsing. Don't mind me." Walter smiled warmly and bowed at the waist. "Please rest easy. You have my word your nightmare will remain just that—a nightmare."
The knot in Arthur's stomach demanded that he question Walter further. Why was he acting so closed off? What did he mean monsters cannot be trusted?
Yet, it was Walter, the Angel of Death, saying this to him.
Walter, the boy who has served him since he could walk.
Walter, his loyal butler and the one person he could rely on in this world.
So, Arthur decided to ignore the knot in his stomach and trust the reassuring smile Walter was giving him.
"Thank you, Walter." Arthur placed the cigarette back between his lips and sighed in relief. "I can always rely on you."
"I am always at your service, Sir Hellsing." Walter bowed once more before taking a step back. "I will take my leave now. Good day, my lord."
Once the door closed behind him, Arthur began sorting through the letters, finding a majority of them were from the Round Table with the occasional bill thrown in.
However, it was the final letter that caught his attention.
The sky blue envelope was sealed with a wax emblem that he did not recognize, and he flipped over the envelope to read the sender's name.
"Acelie Smith….." Arthur read aloud before muttering it again to himself. "Acelie Smith….why does that name sound familiar?"
Back in the third floor bathroom, Olivia sat back on the counter while Alucard re-bandaged her feet.
He had wrapped her in a large towel and brushed her hair, much like what he did on their wedding night. Alucard was also in a state of partial undress, wearing only his pants, his shirt—unbuttoned, and a towel tossed over his shoulders.
If it weren't for the blood stained bandages in the rubbish bin, the scene would be the picture perfect image of domestic bliss.
'We have been married for four years, and this is our first time bathing together.' Olivia pondered as she watched her husband with a thoughtful expression. 'If we were like the average couple, how different would our relationship be?'
Olivia knew she did not marry a normal man. Her husband was an arrogant monster who thrived off slaying his enemies and devouring their blood from their eviscerated corpses; she would be a fool to deny that part of him.
But, her husband was also a man who had his light taken from him at an early age and that molded him into what he was now.
To others, they would say Alucard was made of death and destruction, but Olivia knew the truth.
Vlad Dracul, the No Life King and her love, was made of tears.
Tears of a child who was robbed of his innocence, and tears of a man who abhorred his own existence.
Of all the things Olivia would apologize to Walter for, this would never be one of them.
Even if circumstances had been different, she would choose Alucard time and time again, and anyone who dared to harm him would have to kill her first.
Olivia snapped out of her daze when Alucard fastened her bandages in place, and she smiled when his eyes met hers.
"Not too tight?"
"Not at all. You truly have the magic touch." She moved the towel from around his neck and placed it over his wet hair. "Here, let me dry your hair off so you don't catch a cold."
"Vampires don't catch colds, my dear." Alucard teased, running his hands down her calves as she towel dried his hair.
"Shhh. Just let me pretend." Olivia removed the towel and she erupted into laughter at the sight before her. "Your hair! Oh my gosh, you look like a sheep!"
His hair was so puffed out and fluffy that it covered his eyes, leaving only his annoyed scowl in plain sight.
"You dare call me a sheep?" Olivia could feel the heat of his obstructed glare burning into her face, but it only succeeded in making her laugh harder. "Hmph. I demand reparation for this insult."
"Alright, you drama king." She wiped her eyes and leaned down to kiss him, the wound on her lip healed from their earlier kiss. "Better?"
"Mmmm." He rested his chin on her knees, a pleased smile on his face. "I can think of something better. Something that involves testing the acoustics of this room."
"Put that tongue back in your mouth!" Olivia chopped him on the forehead with a blush and grin. "I am not taking any chances, Alucard. Sorry."
"Spoilsport." Alucard pouted before standing up and pecking her on the cheek. "But I desist…for now." He chuckled when she punched his arm, and he kissed her once more before helping her off the counter. "Are you sure your bandages are secure enough?"
"Yes, my wounds don't hurt as much thanks to you."
"Mission accomplished then." Alucard placed his red overcoat on her shoulders, adjust it so it fit on her comfortably. "You always look so ravishing in red. It is a shame you don't wear the color more often."
"I will make sure to buy a red dress just for you then."
"How's this instead?" He whipped the coat off her, and Olivia found herself wearing a red dress designed identically to the white one Martha had made for her.
"Oh Alucard…" Olivia beamed, the dress skirt flaring out as she spun around. "It's beautiful."
"Consider it a belated anniversary gift." He cupped her face in his hands, caressing her cheeks with that rare breathtaking gleam in his eyes. "I await your visit tonight."
"I'll be there." Olivia stood on her toes and kissed him, just as the clock struck noon. "Now go."
When they pulled away, Alucard was dressed completely and his hair was in its normal state.
"Until tonight, my love." Alucard kissed the back of her cursed hand before vanishing through the wall, leaving Olivia alone.
Without his presence to distract her, Olivia felt her anxieties sinking their ugly claws into her once more.
But she had to be brave.
Besides, her husband had forged armor for her.
Taking one last look in the mirror, Olivia sighed and nodded at her reflection before marching out the door.
Walter had just finished washing the dishes when he felt a presence lingering behind him. He turned around and found Olivia standing in the doorway with a first aid kit in her hands.
For a moment, they just stared at each other until Olivia finally cleared her throat and stepped forward.
"I…didn't know if you had been to the clinic or not." She placed the kit on the table and took another step forward. "Are your hands alright?"
Walter said nothing as he continued to blankly stare at her. He took in her battered face and bandaged limbs before wiping his hands on the dishrag. Then he grabbed a handful of ice cubes from the ice bucket and placed them in a cloth bag before walking over to her.
"….In better condition than you are." He held the bag out. "Put it against your face so it doesn't swell up."
"…Alright. Thank you." She took the bag from his hand and placed it against her cheek, wincing at the cold sensation.
Silence descended upon the room again as they entered another staring contest until Walter spoke up.
"Are you hungry?" He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked towards the fridge. "I can make you a—."
He stumbled forward when Olivia suddenly threw her arms around his waist and held him still.
"What are you—?"
"If you never want to speak me again, then I can accept that. I deserve it for breaking your trust, but I do love you, Walter. I love you so much, and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you! You are an intelligent, strong, funny, and beautiful man, and the world is better for having you in it!"
Walter felt something wet leaking through his vest and shirt, and he tried to turn around but Olivia held him in place.
"Olivia, are you—?"
"You cannot die!" Her voice cracked, and Walter found himself at lost for words. "Yes, I am a selfish woman! I desire everything and pray for the impossible! Yes, I am a coward! I chose to ignore your feelings in favor of my own! But I still want you by my side! I still want your friendship and companionship! I want us together, serving Sir Hellsing until we are old and gray. So please!" Olivia bit her lip, causing the wound to reopen. "Allow me to remain by your side….that is my final selfish request to you."
Walter listened to and felt her sobs before grabbing her arms and untangling himself from her grip.
"Wal—?"
"I know why did what you did, so I cannot blame you for everything. I was selfish too, coveting feelings that would never be reciprocated, and making you feel like there had to be an ultimatum in your relationship with him and me." Olivia's tearful eyes met his, and Walter wiped off the blood dripping down her chin."If it had been anyone else, my pride wouldn't be able to take it, but since it is Alucard…I guess I can accept it. I am sorry for how I acted yesterday. So," He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her with a sheepish grin. "Is the spot as your brother and partner still open?"
"Always!" Olivia nodded rapidly, her smile bright enough to rival the sun. "Forever and ever!"
"Then," Walter cleared his throat before holding his arms out. "Can we redo my welcome home greeting then?"
Olivia practically launched herself into his arms, nearly sending the two of them teetering backwards. As she held him close, a small voice in Olivia's mind questioned the entire situation.
'This is too easy,' The voice said. 'What happened to all the rage from last night? Why is he acting so forgiving?'
But Olivia silenced the voice and just held onto her dearest friend.
"You mentioned serving Hellsing until we are old and gray." Walter recalled, rubbing circles on her back. "Aren't you…going to let him turn you?"
Olivia noticeably flinched at his question, but she reminded herself that she needed to be honest from now on.
"We promised to wait until I am older, and then he would officially ask me. But I have already decided on my answer," She took a deep breath before pulling away and staring him in the eye. "When that time comes, I am going to say yes."
"Then….." Walter ran a hand down her cheek before smiling and pulling away. "We better make the most of our time together. Besides, we are even now."
"What do you mean even?" Olivia narrowed her eyes slightly, that voice screaming at the top of its lungs now. "What have you done to me?"
"Besides kick your ass?" Walter smirked, giving her a playful punch to the arm as he stepped away. "You are a Lieutenant General, are you not? If the Round Table saw your moves yesterday, they would petition to strip you of your rank!"
"Big talk for someone who has yet to be promoted!" Olivia stuck her tongue out with a grin, silencing that voice again. "How about a fair rematch once the training grounds dry off? Deal?"
Walter snorted before nodding and clasping their hands together in agreement.
"Deal."
Later that night, Walter sat on the edge of his bed with the transmitter in his hand.
Sir Hellsing's fears, Olivia's marriage and plans to become a vampire, every single thing they trusted him with was reported to Millennium without a shred of hesitation.
"Perhaps I should've been a theatre major." Walter took a drag of his cigarette before exhaling through his nose. "I'd say I gave two Academy Award winning performances today, wouldn't you agree?"
Once the connection was severed, Walter hid the transmitter in a concealed shelf under his bed before walking over to his desk where all the gifts and letters Olivia sent to him lay.
Her letters, the rabbit doll, the muffler, he gathered them up in his arms and dumped them into the rubbish bin outside the kitchen door.
"No attachments, no problem." Walter slammed the lid shut and waltzed back into the manor with his hands in his pockets. "That junk means nothing to me now anyways."
Twenty minutes later, Arthur heard a loud bang outside his office window and parted the drapes to investigate.
"What the—?!" Arthur watched as Walter dug around inside the tipped over rubbish bin, grabbing crumpled scraps of paper with a blue muffler around his neck and a doll nestled on his lap. "What is he—you know what?" Arthur let the drapes fall back into place and walked away with his hands in the air. "Walter's business is his own. I'm too drunk to deal with this."
A/N:
*Olivia has always said that to Alucard when he was in his lowest points and needed her love; it is time for Alucard to bring it full circle now. I'M SORRY BUT I LOVE IT WHEN OLIVIA AND ALUCARD PICK UP ON EACH OTHER'S PHRASES.
Remember Alucard called his wedding to Olivia a contract. However, it is a contract he willingly agreed to unlike the Hellsing one. Many of you probably already know this, but it is the fact that Alucard has technically two masters now that leads to the upcoming events. Even though Olivia's 'contract' demands they are equals and not master and servant. And a bathtub is not a flowing stream of water, so Alucard can enter one. :D Look, I rarely cross into this territory, so let me have this. The shit is about to hit the ceiling soon, so I need to get all the Aluvia in that I can get. And yes, that is the ship name. Olivia + Alucard= Aluvia. Also given how Alucard can wander freely around Hellsing manor in the main storyline, I would say Integra is the first master to show Alucard any kindness and care beyond a master/service dynamic. And I'm sorry but the thought of Arthur having a crisis while his servant is getting major action directly above is what gave me life during this chapter. Hey, at least Aluvia wasn't dicking down….yet. And that tendril scene, a certain Tumblr post has haunted me since I've first seen it and I am not apologizing. :D
Anyways, Walter is going to use Arthur and Olivia's trust in him to manipulate them, and knowing Arthur's fear about Alucard, Walter is going to contribute to the events that lead to Alucard's imprisonment!
And avatarange, here is the first mention of you in the story! I am sorry it took so long, but she will play a part in the upcoming arc! And FayValentine, be on the look out for the part you play as well~! :D
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review! I love them all and you all so much!
Thank you again for reading, and I will see you in the next chapter! :D