[apple of my eye] chapter two
AUTHOR: Hermonthis
ANIME: Hellsing
GENRE: alternate universe, action, romance, drama, parody
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY:
[AxI] Integral leaned forward in her chair, a lit cigar dangling from her mouth, and stared at Alucard. ‘You - former world heavyweight champion - want to fight again?’ She emphasized the word ‘former.’ He grinned mischievously. ‘But why?’
Apple of my Eye
Chapter Two: Seven Years
"Good morning, Integra."
"Good morning, Walter."
"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" He watched her zip up her track suit and tie her long hair with a simple elastic band. Bending over to check her shoe laces were tightened enough, Integral stood up, checked her watch, and nodded towards Walter.
"Not yet. I'm going for a longer run today." Checking that she had her keys in one of her pockets, she pressed the security code on the mansion's alarm system and unbolted the kitchen door. Pulling it open a bit, a chilly autumn breeze entered the room. They were going to have an early fall this year.
"Very well. I shall keep some food warm for you when you come back." He bowed.
Integral opened the door and stepped outside to a dark green and brown landscape. It was five-thirty in the morning.
Her platinum blonde hair secured in a low ponytail, she jogged along the perimeter of the Hellsing grounds and on her breathing. She wore an olive green sweatshirt with blue pants, and her glasses started to fog up. The trees were large, looming shapes of black above her, and only when she passed them did they start to resemble their foliage. Most of them were green, but their dark green leaves drooped heavily with mist.
Integral didn’t say hello when Alucard came up beside her, greeting her with a grin. She didn’t acknowledge him.
“Morning, Integra.” He added cheerfully.
“Morning.”
“Beautiful morning for running. The cold air. The dark grounds. Almost gothic.” He broke his stride to sweep one long arm over the path they were on.
“Yes.”
He pouted. He knew she was in a mood. But he was in a mood to play.
“My master does not speak. Why doesn’t my master acknowledge me?”
Integral exhaled, and a large puff of white smoke formed around her. Breathe, just breathe.
“Did I do something wrong? What ails my dear Integra?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously and she spoke without looking at him.
“You brought in a street urchin.”
“My mistress speaks!” The delight in Alucard’s voice disgusted her. All she wanted was to run in peace, was that too much? Up ahead, the path split into two. Smirking to herself; Integral chose the left path and Alucard, following her familiar route, turned to the right. She sped up to gain more distance between them.
“Why does a young girl bother you?” she heard him call out behind her. His footsteps quickened and soon he would be running alongside her again.
Why? She thought. It should be obvious.
“The girl’s promising,” he stated humourlessly, a frown appearing on his face. He didn’t like it when Integral tried to escape him. Which had been increasing in frequency over the past few days. Which he would have to remedy immediately.
There was another crossroad coming up, with one path leading back to the house. Alucard nudged her body with his elbow and persuaded her to move to the right, thus prolonging their morning jog. Integral huffed a little harder, her face grew pinker, and decidedly became more annoyed with his presence.
“You picked her off the streets.” She pushed back her bangs, the strands sticking to her forehead, and thwacked her jogging companion with her ponytail.
“She punched me in the face.” He spluttered, her hair caught in his mouth.
“But you brought her home anyway.”
“I thought you could be friends.”
“She’s not a boxer, Alucard. She’s not staying.”
“So you’re not giving her a chance?”
“No.”
One last crossroad. This time, Integral chose the path and elbowed Alucard in the ribs. She was heading home. Whether he followed her or not was not her concern. She quickened her pace to leave him behind.
“Integral.” He heard her say. She didn’t reply.
He raised an eyebrow. Dare he say it? Was Integral jealous? Over what? Another potential boxer? A female boxer? A girl?
No. Another woman.
And Alucard laughed. He roared with laughter until his sides hurt and he had to stop jogging or else he would have cramps. He watched Integral disappear into the mist and head for the dark silhouette of the Hellsing manor. He was sure she heard him laughing, which most likely hurt her feelings, but the revelation was too amusing.
“Oh Integral,” he chortled, between staggered breaths, “I could never replace you.”
* * *
Walter knocked on the door and waited for a few seconds before he turned the knob and entered. As usual, Integral was at her desk reading the morning papers.
“You’re up later,” he commented, “You usually have all the letters read before I bring you tea.” Looking up, she smiled at him and cleared an area of her workplace to make room for the silver tray.
“I know. I slept in a bit.” Walter frowned but she waved it off with a single white glove.
“Not getting overworked, are you?”
“No, just felt like it.”
Smiling, the former prizefighter reached into his vest pocket and drew out a letter, dropping it into her curious hands. She noticed that it had a red seal. Not the cheap, stamped kind the post office used for regular letters. No, this one was made of wax and looked as if it had been stamped with an ornate ring.
“This came in this morning. Naturally, the seal intrigued me so I had to personally give it to you.” Integral chuckled at Walter’s curiosity and turned the letter over in her hands. It looked familiar. Walter’s eyes sparkled mischievously. Rubbing a finger over the raised ridges, she broke the seal and took out the letter.
“Well?” Walter prompted, his anticipation getting the better of him. She could feel the sparks of excitement building in the air.
“Walter,” she started, “Do you know what day it is?”
“Tuesday?” He feigned innocently.
“Yes, Tuesday. But is there something else I should know?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie.”
He chuckled.
“It is your father’s anniversary.” He watched as Integral’s shoulders slumped a little, and knew she was reliving the night her father died, seven years ago.
“But the letter isn’t about that. It’s from an old friend of mine.” But before she could question why it was addressed to her and not to him, Walter held up a finger to his lips and motioned for her to open it.
Pursing her lips, she unfolded the letter, the crisp lines arousing her curiosity even more. Large, flowing lines of inked handwriting blinded her eyes for a moment, and Integral squinted to familiarize herself with the script.
Walter found it most amusing to watch her face. First, she was surprised, then confused. Then her face came closer to the paper to the point of becoming cross-eyed, her nose was pressed up to the page. He heard her mumble to herself, repeating the words 'he' had written for her. Walter closed his eyes, and smirked to himself.
THWACK. Integral smacked the paper down on the desk and stared hard at Walter, wanting his confirmation.
“Is it true?” He nodded. Integral took up the letter again and skimmed it, reading the words Alucard meant for her alone.
I’m coming back.
The heavy wooden doors burst open, and Alucard, dressed in a sleek black suit and the strangest tie she had ever seen, barged in with a the widest grin on his face.
“Hello, Integra.”
She remained in her chair, still holding the letter in her hand. She looked at his long, black hair, his yellow sunglasses, and his eyeball-eye and opened her mouth.
“Bloody hell.”
And just like that, he was back in her life again.
* * *
And within one week, he was giving her headaches.
Inside her bedroom, Integral stripped off her jogging suit and stalked towards her private bathroom. Grabbing a towel from the rack, she tossed her underwear into the laundry basket and placed the towel on top of the hamper. Turning on the hot water, she stepped into the shower and poured shampoo into the palm of her hand, working up a lather to clean her hair.
Just like that. He was becoming a pain.
Integral turned around, the steam rising all around her, and let the water wash over her body.
What did she know about him? Not much, she supposed. Seven years can change a person. She certainly changed over seven years. She was twenty years old now, and a woman. The last time she saw him she was just becoming a teenager, for heaven’s sake! He must be in his mid-forties now. He was so old. Perhaps the years didn’t affect the aged as much as the young, maybe the long years to her was just a bat of the eye to him.
But why was she getting so worked up about him? He was just a friend, a former boxer under her family’s school, and a friend of Walter’s. Why all this attention now?
And her mind rushed to give her seven different answers all at once.
Because he was your father’s best fighter, because he’s handsome, because you knew him, because you liked him, because he came back for you, because he held you the night your father died, because he promised to come back, because you wanted him to come back, because deep down, you wanted to show him just how much you’ve grown, and you want him to fight for you.
Integral groaned.
And now it looked like Alucard returned just for old time’s sake.
But he was right about one thing, the girl he brought in yesterday, Seras, did have promise as an amateur boxer. She was short and well built in the chest area (a rather big disadvantage to female boxers) but she had spirit. She allowed the girl to spar with Alucard and was understandably surprised when she held up her own for several minutes.
She lacked the footwork, but Integral could see the firepower behind the fists. Hellsing never had a female fighter before, boxing for women was still considered taboo, but here was an opportunity to change tradition.
Integral watched Alucard goad his new street kitten, mocking her, making her punch harder in frustration before she eventually tripped over her feet and fall on her face. He laughed at her some more, hurting her pride and making tears well in her wide, blue eyes.
He turned his gaze over to Integral. “We’ll keep her, shall we? Don’t bother with a trainer, I’ll teach her myself.”
The hot water on her face helped bring Integra back to reality. She worked the soapy sponge over her body and rolled her shoulders back, hoping to relieve some tension there.
That’s right. Two days ago Alucard appeared at her office and requested she interview someone. That someone happened to be a woman about the same age as her, although her friendly smile and dimpled cheeks made her seem younger than she probably was. There were bruises on her arms and some scratches on her face, but other than that, she seemed to be all right. Curious and confused, but fine.
That evening they argued over the fate of Seras Victoria. She lived in a small apartment by herself, and worked at a small diner in one of the shadier parts of London. Alucard happened to be walking past the diner when he heard noises in the adjacent alleyway, and found some miscreants harassing her and making lewd jokes about her breasts while the girl was just trying to throw the trash into the garbage bin.
Later, he told Integral that he was impressed with her punches. That he had gone to help her, and she ended up attacking him as well, thinking he was one of them.
Shutting off the faucet and stepping onto the bath mat, she wrapped the thick, yellow towel around her body and tousled her hair with one hand.
Alucard already expressed his desire to train the girl. He was overjoyed to have a pupil again, his lips curled up menacingly, thinking of all the training exercises and routines he would have to put her though.
Someone knocked on her bedroom door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me,” said Alucard.
“No. I’m busy right now.”
“I want to talk to you.” He urged. The handle squeaked and Integral knew that if she hadn’t locked the door, he would be halfway inside her rooms already.
“Not now, Alucard,” she sighed wearily. “I just got out of the shower.” There was a grateful pause, then,
“Are you dressed?”
Why was he so persistent? “No. I’m in a towel.”
“So let me in.” Screwing her eyes tight, Integral focused on her breathing. She could get though this, she could. He was just a friend - Lord, he was so old! Twice as old as her! - They were just acquaintances and nothing more.
“In a towel, Alucard. Are you deaf?”
“You’re not naked, Integral. Let me in.” The handle rattled with the sounds of Alucard trying to open the door. It shook and creaked and made sounds that a door certainly wasn’t supposed to make. Clutching the towel around her body, she hurried barefoot to the door and held the doorknob from shaking further. If he continued, he’d break it down!
“Are you trying to break down my house?” she shouted.
“Why are you avoiding me?” he answered back, rattling the handle furiously that Integral had to turn her back to the door and push to make sure it stayed closed.
“I’m wet, naked, and mad, that’s why!”
“And I’m tired and sweaty and want to talk!”
“GO AWAY!”
Alucard scrunched up his nose, released the door and took several paces back. Well, if she was going to play stubborn, he’d show her. He wasn’t the jackass of the boxing world for nothing. He could make young girls cry, grown men beg for mercy, and he certainly would not take any crap from this young Hellsing.
“I’M COMING IN.” he bellowed before charging at the door, heaving through it with his shoulder. With a nasty *CRACK*, the lock broke and he stumbled into Integral’s bedroom, falling backwards in surprise as Integral hastily clutched at her towel and hurried away from his outstretched hands.
He fell on his rump in a heap of wood and curses.
“That hurt.” He would have to see Walter later to remove some of those splinters.
“Hello, Alucard.” Integral hovered over him with a stony look on her face. If it wasn’t for her tone of voice, he might have appreciated the view from the ground. But he did note that she had some lovely, defined calf muscles.
“Good morning, Integral.”
“What did you want to speak to me about? Seeing that you broke down my door and my privacy, it must be very very important.” The sarcasm was not lost on him.
“It’s about Police Girl,” he started, but stopped when he saw the confused look on her face. “Police Girl - Seras Victoria.” The frown on Integral’s face did not loosen up at all.
“So, two days and you gave her a nickname already?” He shrugged and muttered something about that being a dream of the girl's. It wasn’t his fault if he didn’t happen to have a moniker for Integral, she didn’t like having nicknames as a teenager. It irritated her to no end, so why give her one now?
“What was that?” she pressured him, kicking him in the side with one bath-scented foot.
“I said you never liked nicknames when you were younger,” he growled, picked himself off the ground and dusted the splinters from his arms. Surprised, Integral’s eyes lighted up momentarily at his statement, and he caught it. Hah! So she thought he didn’t remember those little things about her? Rubbish.
“Anyways, before you barged in undignified -”
“I want Seras Victoria to move into the mansion, like a proper student of Hellsing. I want her to quit her job so she can train full time.” He shushed Integral with a finger before continuing, “And I want to move back in too, into my old rooms I had. Walter knows where they are. I can train her, Walter will train her, and Pip Bernadette will train her.” He removed his fingers from her lips just enough for her to say a few words.
“Pip Bernadette?”
“Former student of your father’s. He’s around your age, maybe older. Retired early due to injuries.”
“I remember him,” she retorted. He grinned.
“Deal is she moves in, and I move in.” Integral would have crossed her arms, but remembered her state of undress and only tightened her hold on the towel.
“And why would I do that?”
He smirked. “Why, to be closer to you, my dear Integra. You think that after seven years I haven’t noticed how much you’ve grown? That I haven’t seen how you run this organization with efficiency and pride? Coming back to the Hellsing manor is like coming home after a long journey.” He bowed his head towards her and she scoffed.
“You haven’t changed at all, Count.” Thinking quickly, she added, “How was Wallachia?” Alucard shrugged his shoulders carelessly.
“Fine. The cities changed, the country hasn’t. I thought I would find something there. Find my home. Dig into my family roots, discover who I was.”
“Well, did you?”
And he smirked at her. “Yes and no.”
And Integral was left clutching a towel and staring at a broken bedroom door.
ANIME: Hellsing
GENRE: alternate universe, action, romance, drama, parody
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY:
[AxI] Integral leaned forward in her chair, a lit cigar dangling from her mouth, and stared at Alucard. ‘You - former world heavyweight champion - want to fight again?’ She emphasized the word ‘former.’ He grinned mischievously. ‘But why?’
Apple of my Eye
Chapter Two: Seven Years
"Good morning, Integra."
"Good morning, Walter."
"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" He watched her zip up her track suit and tie her long hair with a simple elastic band. Bending over to check her shoe laces were tightened enough, Integral stood up, checked her watch, and nodded towards Walter.
"Not yet. I'm going for a longer run today." Checking that she had her keys in one of her pockets, she pressed the security code on the mansion's alarm system and unbolted the kitchen door. Pulling it open a bit, a chilly autumn breeze entered the room. They were going to have an early fall this year.
"Very well. I shall keep some food warm for you when you come back." He bowed.
Integral opened the door and stepped outside to a dark green and brown landscape. It was five-thirty in the morning.
Her platinum blonde hair secured in a low ponytail, she jogged along the perimeter of the Hellsing grounds and on her breathing. She wore an olive green sweatshirt with blue pants, and her glasses started to fog up. The trees were large, looming shapes of black above her, and only when she passed them did they start to resemble their foliage. Most of them were green, but their dark green leaves drooped heavily with mist.
Integral didn’t say hello when Alucard came up beside her, greeting her with a grin. She didn’t acknowledge him.
“Morning, Integra.” He added cheerfully.
“Morning.”
“Beautiful morning for running. The cold air. The dark grounds. Almost gothic.” He broke his stride to sweep one long arm over the path they were on.
“Yes.”
He pouted. He knew she was in a mood. But he was in a mood to play.
“My master does not speak. Why doesn’t my master acknowledge me?”
Integral exhaled, and a large puff of white smoke formed around her. Breathe, just breathe.
“Did I do something wrong? What ails my dear Integra?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously and she spoke without looking at him.
“You brought in a street urchin.”
“My mistress speaks!” The delight in Alucard’s voice disgusted her. All she wanted was to run in peace, was that too much? Up ahead, the path split into two. Smirking to herself; Integral chose the left path and Alucard, following her familiar route, turned to the right. She sped up to gain more distance between them.
“Why does a young girl bother you?” she heard him call out behind her. His footsteps quickened and soon he would be running alongside her again.
Why? She thought. It should be obvious.
“The girl’s promising,” he stated humourlessly, a frown appearing on his face. He didn’t like it when Integral tried to escape him. Which had been increasing in frequency over the past few days. Which he would have to remedy immediately.
There was another crossroad coming up, with one path leading back to the house. Alucard nudged her body with his elbow and persuaded her to move to the right, thus prolonging their morning jog. Integral huffed a little harder, her face grew pinker, and decidedly became more annoyed with his presence.
“You picked her off the streets.” She pushed back her bangs, the strands sticking to her forehead, and thwacked her jogging companion with her ponytail.
“She punched me in the face.” He spluttered, her hair caught in his mouth.
“But you brought her home anyway.”
“I thought you could be friends.”
“She’s not a boxer, Alucard. She’s not staying.”
“So you’re not giving her a chance?”
“No.”
One last crossroad. This time, Integral chose the path and elbowed Alucard in the ribs. She was heading home. Whether he followed her or not was not her concern. She quickened her pace to leave him behind.
“Integral.” He heard her say. She didn’t reply.
He raised an eyebrow. Dare he say it? Was Integral jealous? Over what? Another potential boxer? A female boxer? A girl?
No. Another woman.
And Alucard laughed. He roared with laughter until his sides hurt and he had to stop jogging or else he would have cramps. He watched Integral disappear into the mist and head for the dark silhouette of the Hellsing manor. He was sure she heard him laughing, which most likely hurt her feelings, but the revelation was too amusing.
“Oh Integral,” he chortled, between staggered breaths, “I could never replace you.”
* * *
Walter knocked on the door and waited for a few seconds before he turned the knob and entered. As usual, Integral was at her desk reading the morning papers.
“You’re up later,” he commented, “You usually have all the letters read before I bring you tea.” Looking up, she smiled at him and cleared an area of her workplace to make room for the silver tray.
“I know. I slept in a bit.” Walter frowned but she waved it off with a single white glove.
“Not getting overworked, are you?”
“No, just felt like it.”
Smiling, the former prizefighter reached into his vest pocket and drew out a letter, dropping it into her curious hands. She noticed that it had a red seal. Not the cheap, stamped kind the post office used for regular letters. No, this one was made of wax and looked as if it had been stamped with an ornate ring.
“This came in this morning. Naturally, the seal intrigued me so I had to personally give it to you.” Integral chuckled at Walter’s curiosity and turned the letter over in her hands. It looked familiar. Walter’s eyes sparkled mischievously. Rubbing a finger over the raised ridges, she broke the seal and took out the letter.
“Well?” Walter prompted, his anticipation getting the better of him. She could feel the sparks of excitement building in the air.
“Walter,” she started, “Do you know what day it is?”
“Tuesday?” He feigned innocently.
“Yes, Tuesday. But is there something else I should know?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie.”
He chuckled.
“It is your father’s anniversary.” He watched as Integral’s shoulders slumped a little, and knew she was reliving the night her father died, seven years ago.
“But the letter isn’t about that. It’s from an old friend of mine.” But before she could question why it was addressed to her and not to him, Walter held up a finger to his lips and motioned for her to open it.
Pursing her lips, she unfolded the letter, the crisp lines arousing her curiosity even more. Large, flowing lines of inked handwriting blinded her eyes for a moment, and Integral squinted to familiarize herself with the script.
Walter found it most amusing to watch her face. First, she was surprised, then confused. Then her face came closer to the paper to the point of becoming cross-eyed, her nose was pressed up to the page. He heard her mumble to herself, repeating the words 'he' had written for her. Walter closed his eyes, and smirked to himself.
THWACK. Integral smacked the paper down on the desk and stared hard at Walter, wanting his confirmation.
“Is it true?” He nodded. Integral took up the letter again and skimmed it, reading the words Alucard meant for her alone.
I’m coming back.
The heavy wooden doors burst open, and Alucard, dressed in a sleek black suit and the strangest tie she had ever seen, barged in with a the widest grin on his face.
“Hello, Integra.”
She remained in her chair, still holding the letter in her hand. She looked at his long, black hair, his yellow sunglasses, and his eyeball-eye and opened her mouth.
“Bloody hell.”
And just like that, he was back in her life again.
* * *
And within one week, he was giving her headaches.
Inside her bedroom, Integral stripped off her jogging suit and stalked towards her private bathroom. Grabbing a towel from the rack, she tossed her underwear into the laundry basket and placed the towel on top of the hamper. Turning on the hot water, she stepped into the shower and poured shampoo into the palm of her hand, working up a lather to clean her hair.
Just like that. He was becoming a pain.
Integral turned around, the steam rising all around her, and let the water wash over her body.
What did she know about him? Not much, she supposed. Seven years can change a person. She certainly changed over seven years. She was twenty years old now, and a woman. The last time she saw him she was just becoming a teenager, for heaven’s sake! He must be in his mid-forties now. He was so old. Perhaps the years didn’t affect the aged as much as the young, maybe the long years to her was just a bat of the eye to him.
But why was she getting so worked up about him? He was just a friend, a former boxer under her family’s school, and a friend of Walter’s. Why all this attention now?
And her mind rushed to give her seven different answers all at once.
Because he was your father’s best fighter, because he’s handsome, because you knew him, because you liked him, because he came back for you, because he held you the night your father died, because he promised to come back, because you wanted him to come back, because deep down, you wanted to show him just how much you’ve grown, and you want him to fight for you.
Integral groaned.
And now it looked like Alucard returned just for old time’s sake.
But he was right about one thing, the girl he brought in yesterday, Seras, did have promise as an amateur boxer. She was short and well built in the chest area (a rather big disadvantage to female boxers) but she had spirit. She allowed the girl to spar with Alucard and was understandably surprised when she held up her own for several minutes.
She lacked the footwork, but Integral could see the firepower behind the fists. Hellsing never had a female fighter before, boxing for women was still considered taboo, but here was an opportunity to change tradition.
Integral watched Alucard goad his new street kitten, mocking her, making her punch harder in frustration before she eventually tripped over her feet and fall on her face. He laughed at her some more, hurting her pride and making tears well in her wide, blue eyes.
He turned his gaze over to Integral. “We’ll keep her, shall we? Don’t bother with a trainer, I’ll teach her myself.”
The hot water on her face helped bring Integra back to reality. She worked the soapy sponge over her body and rolled her shoulders back, hoping to relieve some tension there.
That’s right. Two days ago Alucard appeared at her office and requested she interview someone. That someone happened to be a woman about the same age as her, although her friendly smile and dimpled cheeks made her seem younger than she probably was. There were bruises on her arms and some scratches on her face, but other than that, she seemed to be all right. Curious and confused, but fine.
That evening they argued over the fate of Seras Victoria. She lived in a small apartment by herself, and worked at a small diner in one of the shadier parts of London. Alucard happened to be walking past the diner when he heard noises in the adjacent alleyway, and found some miscreants harassing her and making lewd jokes about her breasts while the girl was just trying to throw the trash into the garbage bin.
Later, he told Integral that he was impressed with her punches. That he had gone to help her, and she ended up attacking him as well, thinking he was one of them.
Shutting off the faucet and stepping onto the bath mat, she wrapped the thick, yellow towel around her body and tousled her hair with one hand.
Alucard already expressed his desire to train the girl. He was overjoyed to have a pupil again, his lips curled up menacingly, thinking of all the training exercises and routines he would have to put her though.
Someone knocked on her bedroom door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me,” said Alucard.
“No. I’m busy right now.”
“I want to talk to you.” He urged. The handle squeaked and Integral knew that if she hadn’t locked the door, he would be halfway inside her rooms already.
“Not now, Alucard,” she sighed wearily. “I just got out of the shower.” There was a grateful pause, then,
“Are you dressed?”
Why was he so persistent? “No. I’m in a towel.”
“So let me in.” Screwing her eyes tight, Integral focused on her breathing. She could get though this, she could. He was just a friend - Lord, he was so old! Twice as old as her! - They were just acquaintances and nothing more.
“In a towel, Alucard. Are you deaf?”
“You’re not naked, Integral. Let me in.” The handle rattled with the sounds of Alucard trying to open the door. It shook and creaked and made sounds that a door certainly wasn’t supposed to make. Clutching the towel around her body, she hurried barefoot to the door and held the doorknob from shaking further. If he continued, he’d break it down!
“Are you trying to break down my house?” she shouted.
“Why are you avoiding me?” he answered back, rattling the handle furiously that Integral had to turn her back to the door and push to make sure it stayed closed.
“I’m wet, naked, and mad, that’s why!”
“And I’m tired and sweaty and want to talk!”
“GO AWAY!”
Alucard scrunched up his nose, released the door and took several paces back. Well, if she was going to play stubborn, he’d show her. He wasn’t the jackass of the boxing world for nothing. He could make young girls cry, grown men beg for mercy, and he certainly would not take any crap from this young Hellsing.
“I’M COMING IN.” he bellowed before charging at the door, heaving through it with his shoulder. With a nasty *CRACK*, the lock broke and he stumbled into Integral’s bedroom, falling backwards in surprise as Integral hastily clutched at her towel and hurried away from his outstretched hands.
He fell on his rump in a heap of wood and curses.
“That hurt.” He would have to see Walter later to remove some of those splinters.
“Hello, Alucard.” Integral hovered over him with a stony look on her face. If it wasn’t for her tone of voice, he might have appreciated the view from the ground. But he did note that she had some lovely, defined calf muscles.
“Good morning, Integral.”
“What did you want to speak to me about? Seeing that you broke down my door and my privacy, it must be very very important.” The sarcasm was not lost on him.
“It’s about Police Girl,” he started, but stopped when he saw the confused look on her face. “Police Girl - Seras Victoria.” The frown on Integral’s face did not loosen up at all.
“So, two days and you gave her a nickname already?” He shrugged and muttered something about that being a dream of the girl's. It wasn’t his fault if he didn’t happen to have a moniker for Integral, she didn’t like having nicknames as a teenager. It irritated her to no end, so why give her one now?
“What was that?” she pressured him, kicking him in the side with one bath-scented foot.
“I said you never liked nicknames when you were younger,” he growled, picked himself off the ground and dusted the splinters from his arms. Surprised, Integral’s eyes lighted up momentarily at his statement, and he caught it. Hah! So she thought he didn’t remember those little things about her? Rubbish.
“Anyways, before you barged in undignified -”
“I want Seras Victoria to move into the mansion, like a proper student of Hellsing. I want her to quit her job so she can train full time.” He shushed Integral with a finger before continuing, “And I want to move back in too, into my old rooms I had. Walter knows where they are. I can train her, Walter will train her, and Pip Bernadette will train her.” He removed his fingers from her lips just enough for her to say a few words.
“Pip Bernadette?”
“Former student of your father’s. He’s around your age, maybe older. Retired early due to injuries.”
“I remember him,” she retorted. He grinned.
“Deal is she moves in, and I move in.” Integral would have crossed her arms, but remembered her state of undress and only tightened her hold on the towel.
“And why would I do that?”
He smirked. “Why, to be closer to you, my dear Integra. You think that after seven years I haven’t noticed how much you’ve grown? That I haven’t seen how you run this organization with efficiency and pride? Coming back to the Hellsing manor is like coming home after a long journey.” He bowed his head towards her and she scoffed.
“You haven’t changed at all, Count.” Thinking quickly, she added, “How was Wallachia?” Alucard shrugged his shoulders carelessly.
“Fine. The cities changed, the country hasn’t. I thought I would find something there. Find my home. Dig into my family roots, discover who I was.”
“Well, did you?”
And he smirked at her. “Yes and no.”
And Integral was left clutching a towel and staring at a broken bedroom door.