The Ripper

William Jack Holloway

As the Hunter replicated the gesture that his companion had made at the rock wall, William found himself entirely confused as to why Vhalla might have burst into laughter. His brows furrowed in confusion, unsure of exactly what it might have been that prompted that reaction. When the girl spoke, he tilted his head to the side as he took in her words. The dirtiest, foulest thing he could say to another? An impish grin spread across his features as he nodded. "Oh, I think I could come up with some better words than a gesture, kitten," He commented, shaking his head at her warning. "Besides, I'm always trying to pick a fight." The sleepy man nuzzled his nose against the woman's shoulder as he leaned into her side. He wanted to be close to her. He wanted to touch her and hold her and kiss her, but instead he merely let out a few sentences of the British lyrics he so frequently used amongst his vampire companion. At the girl's prompting, the man chuckled and explained his words. He expected a laugh from the woman, but remained entirely surprised by the way her gaze locked with his and the girl used such firm language with him.

"And I would never leave you, Vhalla," The Hunter replied, his words remaining almost breathless. There had not been a single soul - outside of Sebastian - that he had ever thought it possible to promise such a thing. But somehow, with Vhalla, that seemed to be the only reasonable thing to say. It was true. He wouldn't leave her. Somehow in all of this, his soul had become bound to hers. It all seemed too sudden, too quick, and yet there was not even a twinge of regret within the boy at making the promise. Yes, he would not leave her. At least, not yet. The Hunter was almost... grateful... when she pulled away to stand, his own hand raking through his hair as he fought to control his suddenly irregular breathing. The touch, then, that he offered along the girl's bare abdomen was decidedly improper for the gentleman, and yet he found he hardly cared. Still, it only took seconds before those Victorian teachings flooded back to him and he pulled his hand back, commenting on how completely stunning she was.

Instead of an answer, he found the girl prodding at the wounds on his back before he was dragged once more to his feet and up those metal stairs. With every step they ascended, William's body seemed to protest and ache. By the time they were at the top, Will could barely breathe and his legs threatened to give out. Still, the man offered no complaints, just took the offered chair and let himself struggle to control his breathing. At the prompting, William remained entirely hopefully that he could have tea, and his brow furrowed almost immediately at the girl saying she didn't have tea. What kind of house didn't have tea? "You Americans," He chuckled, shaking his head. "Thinking that coffee is actually a bloody good alternative to tea." His tone was teasing, and yet the fact she didn't have any still made him sulky. As for the eggs... "I think I'd like to see this. I'm not so sure, Hannah was a fine cook."

Her insistence on taking care of him made the Hunter's heart flutter slightly within his chest. He was finding so quickly that he enjoyed the way the young woman wanted to take care of him. "Okay," He sighed softly, moving to lean his body half across the counter so that she might have better access to his form. "They should be healing by now. I don't understand..." He mumbled as she returned. He fully prepared himself for pain as the bandages were removed, but luckily for him the wounds were still fresh and the linens only stuck slightly to his back. He let out a soft hiss as her fingers moved across the wound. She was applying something to them, and yet it felt more akin to fire down his back. Still, the Hunter merely clenched his jaw and allowed her to finish.

"Thank you," William said weakly as she washed her hands and he struggled to regulate his breathing once more. It was true that he should have been healing by now. Normally a wound like this would have scabbed over already, if not be turning merely to bruises and faint scarring. This was certainly unusual, and William was content to ponder it until the woman began to hum. His attention snapped up to her with that smile brightly on his features. God, she was beautiful, and he was smitten. "Something to show me?" He inquired, reaching up to run a hand through his messy hair. "I hope it's those brilliant eggs that you're bragging about, love." His voice was teasing, though he wouldn't deny that he was positively famished from his attempts at healing. He falls silent as she cooks, content to just watch the way she moved about her kitchen. God, she was lovely.

Still, even his ability to admire her was lost as the plate of food was deposited on his plate. The smell of bacon and eggs made his mouth water, and with an devilish grin, he regarded her. "Bacon too? Bloody hell, Vhalla, if you keep feeding me like this I'm going to fall in love with you." It was a tease, and William chuckled immediately. "Coffee, please?" He asked sweetly as he began to eat. Immediately after the first bite touched his tongue, he let out a pleased noise. "Brilliant, Vhalla." He sighed happily. "As for not feeding you, I think I'll manage, I can think of other things I would like to do to you." Immediately after the words left his lips, William seemed to realize what it was that he had just said and color rushed to his cheeks as he quickly looked down at his plate and fell silent as he devoured the omelette and bacon.

It was only when he was done did he look up, pushing the plate away from him as he regarded her. The blush was still present in his cheeks, and yet it was the truth, was it not? She was certainly beautiful and intelligent and wonderful, and he wouldn't deny his urges to touch her and kiss her and be with her. And yet voicing it like that had been so improper that his Victorian upbringing cringed. "So," He said finally, clearing his throat as he ran a hand through his hair - an action that was quickly becoming his nervous habit around the girl. "You had something to show me?"

But darling -- it's only human nature.