Blood Thieving 2.0 (INVITE)

[Lancaster]

As soon as the scream pierced the air, Freddie knew he was going in the right direction. Around the next corner, and he could see the fence that he’d previously heard – someone trying to climb it, overcome it, to get away. Through the fence, a small distance away he could see three figures. One women punched another – Hannah. It cut the scream short and only inspired the vampire’s fury. Freddie launched himself at the fence, his determination to get over it as quick as possible… well. He was like a spring, legs bunching beneath him as he leapt clean over. He didn’t even have to touch it, before he was landing on the hard concrete on the other side, fingers splayed on the ground as he regained his balance.

There was no time for the proper surprise. That one might have been useful, when Hannah asked what else Freddie was capable of. If she could have done it herself, maybe she wouldn’t be in this predicament. Nothing they could do about that now.

A low growl crawled in Freddie’s throat as he stood, rising to his full height. Two against two. Not bad odds. Freddie should have been reticent. Was he a fighter? Or was he just putting himself into the same situation Hannah was? He didn’t feel like he was stuck, though. He didn’t feel like he was in danger. Instead, he felt like he was the dangerous one, power blooming in him like an ink stain over white linen.

”Why don’t you pick on someone your own size, mate?” he said to the one that looked like a walking corpse. The other woman, well – she and Hannah were about the same size, so he clearly was not talking to her. Freddie’s fingers closed into fists – they were his only weapons. This, too, should have worried him. But it didn’t.

”Now you’re gonna let Hannah come with me, and you’re gonna go on your merry way…” he said. Yes, that felt right. Try to persuade with rhetoric, not violence. Always, try that first.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Just like Rocki, a hand came to her nose and covered it. The move shouldn't have been unexpected, but it was. Rocki had been chomping at the bit, so to speak for Hannah to get a broken nose, but Avery seemed to be the one in charge between the two of them. Until Hannah pulled the rug out from under them. Hopefully, Freddie was as close as he thought he was, and not half way across the city.

Everyone seemed to 'freeze,' and divert their attention from the brunette when Freddie's voice was heard. How...Hannah turned to look in his direction surprise coloring her features. She hadn't even heard him climb the fence, but there he was, on her side. And not only that, but he seemed to almost be 'egging' the guy on. At least, at first. When he went to a different tactic, Avery laughed. "No. Don't think so, mate." Avery replied as he grabbed at Hannah's arm. "We're just having some fun with...Hannah?" Either Rocki hadn't told him Hannah's name, or she had, and he didn't care to remember it. But, he remembered it now.

"Look. This is a private party and you weren't invited." As he talked, Rocki decided that Avery was more or less on her own and took off running. Obviously, they weren't close 'business' associates, or she was more worried about getting her face black and blue. Whatever the case, Avery was on his own, and he was more or less using Hannah as a shield/barrier between him and Freddie. Only, Avery was wise enough to also keep Hannah at about an arm's length away, not knowing what clever trick she had up her sleeves.

"I broke your friend's nose. Imagine what I'll do to you." That sounded almost like something Gino would say to someone he wanted to dispatch of. The word still made Hannah narrow her eyes and shudder. Freddie wanted to take one route, while Hannah opted for the road of intimidation, eyes narrowly focused on Avery, waiting for him to make his move.

It was a strange feeling to Hannah. She imagined that with a broken nose, and one hand protectively covering it, that there was no way Hannah looked intimidating, yet she felt as if she could almost take on the world. Avery glanced between Freddie and Hannah, then snorted softly, before laughing nervously. "You hear that, Rocki?" His head turned back to look for her, only to come up empty. "Sorry for the misunderstanding." He mumbled, eyes flicking over Hannah one last time, before he raised both his fists in the air, slammed them into the gravely concrete and broke the earth open at his feet. Steps rushing through water indicated her was below the city and in the sewer system, leaving them as an afterthought.

"Okay--that--was...different." Hannah said with wide eyes, before she turned to face Freddie. "You came." Hannah said quietly, as she stood there, awkwardly debating on giving him a hug, or just remaining there. Her steps made the choice for Hannah, as she moved towards him and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, and sorry. For that."

[Lancaster]

There were plenty of tart replies on Freddie’s lips. Something about being Hannah’s plus one, maybe – something almost jovial, like this guy had no idea what was coming for him. All kinds of images flashed past Freddie’s eyes, however, as this asshole suggested they just wanted to have some ‘fun’ with Hannah. This was the twenty-first century and men, in Freddie’s opinion, had absolutely no reason or right to treat women like they did – or even suggest the things they might do. It was deplorable, it was unacceptable.

Freddie hadn’t realised how much he was seeing red. Although he felt the itch in his fingertips, he didn’t notice that they had grown into gnarly claws ready to tear this asshole’s face off. Nor did he realise that the exact same power that Hannah adopted was also oozing from him – intimidation in its purest, most threatening guise. It was there in the sharpness of his eyes and the twitch of his upper lip, as if he were about to snarl and gnash, all jovial and pretend pleasantries gone from his mind.

But then the guy was gone. They both were. Between them, he and Hannah had managed to send the cowards running – and Freddie couldn’t pinpoint that feeling in his gut. Disappointment. He blinked the fire from his eyes as Hannah’s voice broke through the smog, her arms wrapping around him. The movement was reciprocated, though Freddie found himself staring, wide-eyed, at the claws his fingers had become.

”Uh…” he cleared his throat. ”You’re telling me,” he said. Different, indeed. The night was full of surprises, and he wondered what might have happened if he’d ben at home rather than at the bank. Would he have made it in time? If they’d got her inside, would he have been able to find her? He swallowed down the horror at the ‘what if’ situation and did his best to banish the possibilities from his mind. The gravity of the whole thing hit him, then, like a ton of bricks and his clawed hands had a hold of Hannah’s shoulders, gentle as he could, so that he could hold her at arm’s distance. So that he could sweep his eyes from head to toe, looking for any fatal injuries.

”Are you okay? What were you doing?!” he asked, tone edged with concern.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

The claws hadn't been missed by Hannah, but Freddie having them didn't bother her, or make her second guess her decision on approaching him. It was very unlikely he planned on using them on her--infact, Hannah could say without a doubt that they weren't intended for her, but for the vampire that did the strangest disappearing act ever.

Freddie agreed that tonight had been 'different,' and Hannah laughed. She felt his hands on her shoulder and felt him stepping back, as he pushed her away. Hannah could feel some of the tips of the claws against her back, but none came close to her skin; not with the coat or her scrub top. “I'm fine. Minus the nose, but it will heal.” She would have to think of the story to tell Adam at work when the two bumped into the other. And all the other members of the staff. Hannah groaned a little, before she thought about Freddie's question.

Hannah thought of some other story-something different. Something more...sane than what she decided to do, and just as she was about to tell the story of seeing a stray cat that went wandering into the abandoned area, the brunette said something entirely different. In fact, she told the truth. “I met Rocki a couple nights ago. She is a blood thief too. A better one. I paid her fifty thousand dollars for the information she knew, because I need to know this information. It's important.” Again, surprise filled her eyes, before Hannah blinked and then just stared at Freddie. That was not what she was going to tell him, but here she was. Telling him the exact truth, as if she didn't have a filter from her brain, to her lips.

[Lancaster]

Freddie couldn’t just see Hannah’s surprise, he could feel it. He could feel the shock as the truth passed her lips and he didn’t know whether to laugh or yell. Fifty thousand dollars?! Who were these people that they would extort others just for information that should be freely given. That Hannah was willing to pay so much, that she stressed the importance of it… Freddie had so many questions. Fifty thousand dollars sounded like a hell of a lot – too much. But what could Freddie say? He, who’d discovered he had so much ******* money that fifty thousand dollars would barely be missed.

”Was it worth it?” he asked, sounding a little harsher than he intended. Realising that Hannah was capable of taking care of herself – he hoped – and that his anger was unjustified, he sighed and put his arm around Hannah’s shoulders. He started to walk them in the direction he hoped would take them back to the street. His fingers had, in the space of a minute or so, gone back to their regular selves – which was a relief.

”I have so many questions, but it looks like you can’t lie. You wanted to, didn’t you?” he asked. That surprise was too familiar. He’d experienced the exact same surprise only half an hour earlier at the bank. He’d meant to tell a lie, but had told the truth instead. Did it bother him, that Hannah had wanted to lie to him? He’d be lying if he said no. But she didn’t owe him the truth. She didn’t owe him anything, and he had to let it go.

”But I’d be taking advantage,” he said with a sigh. And yet, he could not help himself. ”How do you not know things? How did you get into this? Is it something that just…happens? Are you born with it? Shouldn’t there be someone to teach you?” he asked, the questions coming thick and fast. She could choose not to answer them, he supposed. He shook his head, as if to chase them away.

”Next time, let me know, yeah? Don’t go alone. Do your research, first. Make sure you have the upper hand…” Because, in the end, Freddie's anger was justified -- only insomuch that he cared for Hannah. And, in caring, he worried.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Hannah didn't answer Freddie's question at first; the one asking if it was worth it. Instead, she started with, "You don't understand." Of course he didn't. How could he? There was literally a whole other life Hannah was part of that no one knew about, other than her, the Serpents and Gino. Maybe Levi; it was hard to tell since he vanished into thin air. "It wasn't the best executed plan, no. But it was something I needed to do."

They walked in silence for a few seconds, Hannah all too aware of Freddie's opinion of the situation, given how sharp his tone had been. She slowly nodded. "Some things...opening one door leads to another, then another. There are things, Freddie." Hannah sighed, feeling a sense of defensiveness start to creep in. She knew what she was part of was wrong-but she didn't have much choice. Her family was safe from the Serpents, per Gino's agreement and that was what mattered the most. "So yes, I wanted to lie. I'm sorry." She was; Hannah didn't like lying, but there were some things she just couldn't tell people. Which was why her friends knew some things about her, while other things were never talked about, or brought up. For all purposes, they knew Hannah who worked at the hospital and some of her quirks. Some of the things she liked to do. Truthfully, Hannah wasn't overly close with anyone in Harper Rock for them to know more than the basics.

It seemed as if Freddie were going to let things drop, but then he didn't. He circled back to the things no one had really ever asked. The things no one knew about-the exception of being Judah and even he had received a watered down version of how things turned out this way. She copied Freddie when he sighed and then thought about the things she could answer; the things that wouldn't explain so much. "No. I wasn't born this way and I don't think you can be. I don't know, actually." Hannah slowed her steps, then turned to look at him. "I chose to be this. As crazy as that sounds." She laughed nervously and then shook her head. "And no, I have no teacher or mentor."

"The city isn't safe. You have to know that." She said, as if that were her sole reason for being a blood thief. It was, and yet, it wasn't. "I-ran with the wrong group of people. It's not something-look. I'm trying to change that. Please don't push this anymore. Not now. I won't do something like this again." Hannah concluded, the sensation of worry and concern washing over her. She might have died-could have, but she hadn't. And while there was worry, there was also relief within her. Relief that she had gotten the information she needed and could hopefully use it to her advantage to get away from Gino.

[Lancaster]

Freddie couldn’t get his head around it. This was something that Hannah had chosen for herself, it was not something she was born with. So how did one go about achieving it? As far as he knew, feeding a vampire’s blood to a human should turn them, right? So how did one learn how to ingest it and only gain some of its power? How did one ingest it and stay human? Did she just google it? Why jump into something without knowing everything there was to know? The frown that creased Freddie’s brow was deep, and he clearly had more questions. But he was biting his tongue. Hannah didn’t want him to push it, she didn’t want to divulge all the information that he had asked for. It bothered him. Not because he felt rejected, no. He didn’t believe himself to be that sensitive. It bothered him because it sounded as if this was something she was dealing with alone. And it was dangerous. She shouldn’t be doing it alone.

”You don’t have to do it alone, Hannah. What would have happened if I wasn’t around? If you’d never met me, you’d still be in a predicament. I’m not going to push you, and you don’t have to tell me any more than you already have. But I’m here, okay? If you need help. If you want to talk to someone about it. You can trust me. Who am I going to tell? I don’t know anyone…” he said, and he even managed a laugh. He didn’t like the idea of Hannah going up against this bad crowd she’d mentioned on her own, and he wondered how bad it really was.

Eventually they reached the public street and Freddie turned them in the direction of home. With his arm still looped around Hannah’s shoulders, he tugged her into a quick sideways hug. His head dipped as if he were going to press a kiss to the crown of her head but he paused, stopped. Were they there yet? Sure, yes, they had spent a good half an hour half naked next to each other in his bed, but they hadn’t yet been on their date. That was the next night. Had they reached that level of intimacy yet? He let it pass.

”First thing’s first… are we going back to the hospital to tend to that nose of yours, or are we going home to put ice on it?” he asked.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

As they walked, there was a feeling...almost as if one was being excluded or shunned that hit her, causing Hannah's arms to ripple with goosebumps. She exhaled slowly, trying to shove it away, but it stayed there while Freddie talked. He had good points. All of them were. “I try not to think about it.” She admitted with a small open mouthed laugh, before shrugging her shoulders. “I don't know how or what might have ended up. Hopefully in my favor, but you're right.” She conceded, before her upper teeth pressed down on her lower lip in thought.

“I have to do something-I just don't know what. Yet.” Her words were thoughtful and determined at that same time. “Maybe something we can worry about another night.” We implied that Hannah might be up for talking some more about this aspect of her life-assured mostly by Freddie's words and guarantee. It was still quite the can of worms, and not one she wanted to throw Freddie into. Yet.

At the tug, Hannah moved into Freddie's proximity and pressed the side of her head against his arm while they walked. A groan passed through her lips as Hannah rubbed at her temple. “Home. I do not want to try and explain this right now.” Her arm furthest from Freddie wrapped around the front of his body, as Hannah tried to all but disappear into Freddie in an attempt to stay unrecognized from anyone she might know from the hospital who might see her. “Please.” She followed with, as Hannah pushed against Freddie, trying to veer them away from the hospital. “I...” She frowned while Hannah turned her head a little more in his direction. “Can't smell you.” Her words hinted at disappointment, as they slowly formed and escaped her. “I hope that didn't sound as creepy as I think it did-just now.” Hannah's tongue darted against her left 'fang,' before changing the subject. “I hope the swelling goes down before tomorrow...” Hannah dipped her head meekly, before throwing Freddie an apologetic look.

[Lancaster]

Hannah’s words sounded ominous. She had to do something, but she didn’t know what. Do something about what? About who? What had she gotten herself into? The word yet implied that she didn’t want to talk about it right now – that, along with the suggestion that they could discuss it another night. Tonight was not the night. The topic was dismissed and changed, the answer as to where they would go an easy segue into something easier, something lighter, more optimistic. Freddie snorted, Hannah still in his grasp. She felt so good against him – and not in a lustful way. It was a basic desire to want to be touched by another, wasn’t it? Even if that touch was as innocent as a hug, a warm embrace. They could go home and get Hannah cleaned up, wrap up some ice or find a pack of peas or a cold steak to press to Hannah’s nose, and they could curl up on the couch.

”And what do I smell like?” he asked, curious and allowing the change of topic. He’d said he wasn’t going to pry, and so he would stop prying – even if the concern still did weigh him down. Was this what he’d always been like, caring so much for the wellbeing of others? It was almost as if he were in pain because he wanted to help Hannah, but he didn’t know how. He couldn’t know how, unless she revealed to him the fullness of her situation.

”I know we agreed on karaoke but will you be able to sing with a broken nose? We’d have to get you really drunk so you’re not aware of how bad it sounds…” he said, grinning and nudging at Hannah’s hip with his own to show he was teasing. ”We’ll assess the damage when we get home, it might not be as bad as it feels…” he said. Plans could always be changed. They could take a raincheck on the karaoke.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

There was a welcomed feeling that swept over Hannah as they walked side by side. One of comfort and even warmth. Even if the body next to her lacked the latter. When he asked the brunette what he smelled like, Hannah groaned and then laughed softly. She had opened that invitation, it would be ridiculous to think Freddie wouldn't ask something exactly like he had. “Salty.” Hannah said before her forehead pressed against Freddie's arm. “Salty earth...and something else. I can't place it yet. But give me time.” Hannah turned so that the side of her face came to rest on Freddie's arm.

“And I don't know. But, you can still sing.” Hannah pointed out as they turned the corner, her head shaking. “I don't think my nose will have anything to do with how horrible I would sound.” Hannah confessed, laughing at herself-or more so her lack of singing abilities. “After two glasses of wine, it won't really matter. Probably.” Hannah joked, before a hand moved to her nose and pressed the bridge of it lightly. “Oww.” The fingers dropped to her side, as Hannah kept talking. “I've never had one of these before.” An open mouthed sigh came from her lips, as the blocks grew shorter.

“What would be a really useful vampire power would be able to be invincible. Or, at least able to heal.” Hannah confessed, with a small sound of complaint to those words. “But speaking of useful vampire powers...how did you just...show up back there? I didn't hear you climb the fence...how did you do it?” Hannah asked, as they stopped at the curb of another block, waiting for a car to drive past. “Did you fly? Do you think you could?” Hannah suddenly felt awkward for asking something that was probably next to impossible. “Sorry. I'm just-The whole night was really out there. In so many ways. You have claws-who knew?”