AU: Listen to Them, Children of the Night (Sean)

[Joshua Bernstein]

The night was cold. Joshua only knew this because the weather app on his iPhone informed him of this, and the coats and scarves of the people hurrying along the streets of the City under the neon lights confirmed it. He had dressed appropriately, preferring to blend in when possible.

Hunting was so much more difficult when one didn't blend in.

The wind whipped his dark hair into an uncombed mess as he stepped out of the bar, one arm slung around a salt-and-pepper haired man. His companion stumbled across the uneven pavement, face flushed from too much alcohol.

"Your place or mine?" His words slurred the question into one phrase, barely decipherable.

But Josh, no stranger to this line of inquiry, understood perfectly.

"Mine." He said simply, stepping to the curb and hailing a cab. He gave the cabby directions to his apartment, the one that was his alone rather than the warren he shared with his coven.

Somehow being dragged into what was obviously communal living spaces scared off even most inebriated prey.

But his apartment, up one flight of stairs and shared with nobody else, was another matter entirely. It was meant to be inviting.

"You smell delicious," Josh declared, burrowing his face against his companion's neck and listening to the pounding blood. He wondered if he had time to have a light snack, but before he could make a move the taxi pulled up to their destination.

He removed his face from the other man, sliding out of the cab to pay the driver (including a generous tip for helping bring his meal home) before nearly dragging his companion out of the taxi and towards the apartment.

The other man grinned at this display of eagerness. "Can't wait, huh?"

Josh shook his head, leading his prey up the stairs. He fumbled for his key, turning it in the keyhole and shoving the door open the best he could when one arm was once more being used to prop up his intoxicated snack.

"I've never been good at patience."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Joshua Bernstein was a dead man. While this was a factually correct statement, it also had broader meaning in the context of Sean’s views of him at the moment. Because Joshua Bernstein had broken their agreement.

Sean Neville had a sixth sense about these things.

He had a sixth sense about many things, but one of them involved keeping tabs on the supernatural creatures that infested their city. Most of them, he killed without hesitation, without entertaining a second thought. They preyed on children, on the elderly, on mothers and fathers who had done nothing wrong.

But Joshua Bernstein’s coven was off-limits, as per their agreement. Sean had fulfilled his side of the bargain, and yet...

So the coven leader was a dead man.

Clad in his black trench coat, his utility belt, with a Crucifix around his neck, and a crossbow slung over his shoulder, he scaled the outside of the building. Fire escapes made it far easier to access the upper levels (he far preferred hunting in the city to the country for that reason alone), and within moments, he was on what constituted a terrace in this part of New York.

A moment later and he’d kicked open the window. Glass shattered around him, and he drew his coat tightly around his limbs and head, shielding him from the shards. A second after that, he was inside the apartment, and he drew his crossbow as he moved quickly into the living room.

“Get away from him.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh hissed at the sound of shattering glass, fangs bared as he whirled to face the intruder -- only to find that it was someone familiar.

Someone very familiar. From voice to posture to appearance to smell, Josh would never confuse the Hunter for anyone else.

Unfortunately, that meant he had to drop his snack, allowing the drunk man to stumble backwards, expression confused as he took in the weapon aimed at what he had expected to be his lover for the night.

"Should I call the police?" He asked.

Josh ignored him; instead he straightened from the defensive crouch he had dropped to before he had realized which Hunter had invaded his home, throwing his head back regally.

He folded his arms across his chest, eyes narrowed at the interruption. "Tsk tsk, are you jealous? You know I only have eyes for you."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean kept his crossbow trained on Joshua, although his head snapped up at the sound of the question. “That won’t be necessary,” he assured the other man. “But for your safety, I’d suggest leaving.”

He knew that sounded like a threat, sounded like he intended to cause harm to the other man. Nothing was further from the truth, since this was a rescue. Of course, the other man was so drunk that he likely didn’t realize how close he had come to being food.

However, he took in the weapon, the build of the man holding that weapon, and the fact that the man who had picked him up had lost interest (understandably so). Even in his inebriated state, he could make a decision, albeit one that took a moment or two longer than it should. Upon reaching that decision, he turned tail and ran.

That was for the best. If necessary, Sean would track him down later for aftercare.

At the moment, he had another matter to which to attend.

He also narrowed his eyes at the vampire, and his lips drew into a thin line. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t toss you from one end of this room to the other.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh didn't allow his expression to change as his erstwhile meal fled the premise. He was disappointed and hungry, but it would be to his disadvantage to allow that to show. Instead he waited until Sean had spoken again to give any response.

"Hmmm." He squinted at the Hunter, taking in his expression and tone and posture, as well as the crossbow that was still aimed at his chest. "If you put the pointy things down that could be fun..." He mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But you don't look much in the mood for fun, unless running off my snack is your idea of a good time."

A raised eyebrow challenged the Hunter to make good on his threat. He knew Sean's reputation well; all the creatures of the night did. And yet he still was confident that the Hunter wouldn't actually harm him.

Maybe due to that arrangement he had been about to violate.

"But it's too bad. You're so sexy when you're angry."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Due to their agreement, Sean had not been in a situation where he had to assert himself with the vampire. However, he had been trained in hand-to-hand combat, and he was physically larger than Joshua. While he might not enjoy it, he was quite capable of hefting the undead man and making good on that threat by tossing him into a corner, perhaps all four corners of the room. But that would involve setting the crossbow down.

Instead, the hunter held his crossbow steady, aimed carefully, and fired off an arrow that whizzed by Joshua’s head and struck the wall. It was a warning shot.

The next one wouldn’t miss; Sean’s aim was impeccable.

With that, he advanced on the vampire and leaned in so that their faces were almost touching.

“This is the absolute stupidest manifestation of your masochism, yet,” the hunter growled. “Do you think this is some sort of kinky game? Does your word mean nothing to you?”

His expression was – as had once been dubbed by someone he had rescued – as his death glare. “Do you think my word means nothing?”

The question wasn’t hypothetical and implied that there was, in fact, a correct answer to be given.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Perhaps it was the arrow sticking from his wall that helped, but Josh's expression shifted from one of arrogance to one that was closer to sulking than remorseful.

He rarely dealt with anyone more powerful than himself, either in age or in skills, and he disliked having to be submissive outside of the bedroom. On the other hand, it would be a shame to be killed by someone he actually liked.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding here. He came with me of his own volition. I didn't even hypnotize him!"

In fact, there were certain aspects of his agreement with Sean that didn't sit well with him; for instance, having to get his food's permission. The predatory aspects of vampirism were what made eating fun, what distinguished it from eating solely for sustenance. As a human he would have been disgusted to think he would enjoy stalking people and ripping out their throats while they begged for mercy, but there was no escaping the predatory nature that took over when one was turned.

"Anyway, what are you doing here? Did you follow us from the bar? Because as much as I enjoy your company that makes me feel like you don't trust me."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean’s frown deepened at the vampire’s protest. It wasn’t technically a lie, but it was also obfuscation. As was his attempt to shift the conversation from Joshua’s misdeeds to a matter of trust.

“Expecting to get laid isn’t the same as expecting to be food,” he countered, although it was likely futile. He knew that Joshua knew that already, but he also didn’t care. The vampire lord had undoubtedly done this because he thought that he could get away with doing so, not due to any misunderstanding about the terms of their agreement.

That rubbed the hunter the wrong way.

However, Joshua was correct in one sense; Sean didn’t actually want to hurt the vampire. To that end, he let the crossbow slip from his hands, allowing it to fall back along the strap to rest against his back.

That didn’t mean that the vampire would get out of this unscathed.

“I have better things to do than stalk you at a bar. Although if we’re going to get into a matter of trust, what the Hell do you think this is?” He gestured at the door through which the older man had disappeared a moment ago. “Do you think that’s trustworthy behavior? Do you think that I’m motivated by something as absurd as jealousy?”

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh narrowed cold blue eyes at his lover. It was utterly unfair that he could look so enticing while making threats.

"If I kissed you right now, you would stake me." He determined mournfully before gesturing to the glass covered couch. "I would offer you a place to sit, Liebling, but..."

He left that statement hanging a moment before suggesting, "perhaps we can discuss this someplace more comfortable. The kitchen , the bedroom...?@

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean had no interest in making himself on the sofa, were it even possible to do so given the current condition of the living room. No, he was upset with Joshua for breaking their agreement, and his body was alive with the adrenaline rush that came from rescue operations. He was also quite irritated with the vampire for treating this encounter as though it was an elaborate game of foreplay.

Sean was quite capable of establishing foreplay when he was in the mood.

He was not in the mood.

However, the hunter was also a long-term planner. He knew how to make a point, even if it would take a bit longer than was ideal.

As such, he heaved a sigh, his nose flaring in irritation at the request. “Everything’s a game to you.” However, he looked around the living room at the scattered shards, and then at the broken window that would invariably cause a draft. Joshua wouldn’t notice, of course, and Sean would be fine if he kept his coat on.

That was fine, as he had no intention of divesting it.

“But fine. Get me a glass of wine, and I’ll meet you in the bedroom. But we aren’t finished here.”

Not by a long shot.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh's lips curled into a satisfied smile as Sean agreed to use the bedroom as the site of their conversation.

"Of course."

He shut the front door on the way to the kitchen, where he rummaged about for a wine glass and one of the open bottles of wine in his fridge from previous visits the hunter had paid him; although the vampire himself didn't drink (being dead put a stop to that) he did want to accommodate his paramour.

After a moment's hesitation he also grabbed a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints to bring along with the wine. It wasn't perhaps the fanciest of desserts, but he had learned from human blood taking practices that cookies were a good thing to have on hand should his meals have trouble after he extracted blood from them.

He didn't particularly care for their own sake, but he was aware that Sean cared.

He waltzed into the bedroom with wine and cookies, offering the glass of red liquid to his lover and then perching himself on the side of the bed, toying with the openings of the cookie box.

"If you trust me enough to drink my wine here it is. Would you like a cookie while we talk?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean waited until the vampire had entered the kitchen before turning his back on the other man. He took a moment to survey the living room again; if this wasn’t Joshua’s apartment, he might call a repairman on behalf of the owner. Since the mess was the direct result of the vampire Lord breaking his promise, the hunter felt no such obligation. He didn’t even feel the inclination to be helpful, because he was irritated.

Instead, he entered the bedroom and sat at the top of the bed, using one of the pillows for back support. The hunter made no attempt to undress, not even to divest himself of his boots or the crossbow slung around his back (and now his side as he was reclining).

Upon Joshua’s entrance, he looked over and took the wine glass. Sean gave it a brief sniff, although he didn’t actually expect that the vampire would lace his beverages. As unconventional as their relationship was, they did have a basic level of trust that involved not poisoning one another.

Then, at the offer of a cookie, he inclined his head a single time. “Yes.”

Even though he wasn’t particularly hungry, he liked Thin Mints, and he often could use the additional glucose.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Joshua opened the box of cookies, ripping through the plastic wrapping of one stack and handing the entire thing over to the hunter.

He was disappointed that his companion remained dressed, but there was time enough to convince him to shed his burdensome clothing. For now he had promised a discussion.

Although something needed to be done about that crossbow; he didn't appreciate weaponry in his bed.

"You don't have to keep that on," He nodded to the crossbow curtly. "There's nothing to shoot in here unless you want to ruin my furniture on top of the windows."

He kicked off his own shoes before swinging his legs onto the bed so that he could rest beside Sean.

"I hope that you know I haven't killed a single mortal since we met. I wanted a light snack, not a dead body."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean took the sleeve of cookies and pulled one out, nibbling on it idly. He had to wonder about the girl scouts assigned to this neighborhood; perhaps they earned special badges for selling to creatures of the night. Assuming that any of them had the gift of Sight enough to seek them out. Any girl scout who did had stronger constitution than many of the adults than the hunter had known in his time.

“A bit of destruction can be appreciated as a warning,” Sean replied, adjusting himself against the pillow. He became thoughtful for a moment, before unstrapping the crossbow and placing it gingerly on the floor beside the bed. If necessary, he could have it in his hands, aimed, and loaded quickly enough. Moreover, he still wore his utility belt, and that would remain on throughout the night. He wasn’t in the mood otherwise.

“That’s mildly encouraging,” he replied to the vampire, before picking up his wine glass again. He emphasized mildly, because that was part and parcel of their agreement. No more killing and no more unwilling victims. “At the same time, you also promised that you would stick with fetishists or other willing victims. We have a saying about sex that applies here too: enthusiastic consent or none at all.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

The vampire didn't think Sean quite appreciated the fact that he no longer killed his prey. The killing wasn't necessary for his sustenance, at least not since he had been turned. For fledglings the act of draining was impulsive, fueled by a desperate need. For vampires of Josh's age, however, killing was more sport than need.

But he had made the agreement and kept all of his people to it as best he could. There had been a few heads ripped off to make the point that he was serious, a few defectors who hadn't appreciated the new curb on their appetites. But also there had been a few defectors from other covens joining his, glad of a reprieve from being targets of someone as notorious as Sean Neville.

"Tsk. Did he seem unwilling to you? Yes, yes, getting laid isn't being bitten, but some people get off on that you know. But I won't know now because I never got to ask before you ran him off."

Sometimes dating mortals was a pain. They had such pesky morals getting in the way of everything.

The vampire rolled onto his side, staring intently at his lover. "But very well, you got your way. He's no longer here and arguing about it isn't going to bring him back. So perhaps we can think of something to do to make up for the fact that my plans have been derailed."

He raised one eyebrow meaningfully.