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Dylan & Algernon Masterlist
CW: just a bit of tension
Algernon reached the staircase overlooking the entry hall. He paused there for a moment, his eyes fixed on the front door.
He was rather irritated by the unexpected interruption during what had been turning into a strangely... peaceful moment.
Despite the little incident in the attic, Dylan hadn't panicked or retreated into that stubborn silence he sometimes hid behind in situations like this. For once, he and the vampire had been having an actual conversation, without the human looking constantly on the verge of either bolting or falling apart.
But the Peacekeeper set that irritation aside and turned his attention to the problem at hand.
Who the hell would show up at this isolated villa in the middle of the night, with rain pouring down like this?
The most likely explanation was a lost camper—or someone who'd been caught in the storm and was looking for shelter. In that case, Algernon would simply use compulsion to send them on their way. The last thing he wanted was for the surrounding woods to end up crawling with search parties.
Still, he couldn't rule out the possibility that this was a more problematic kind of visitor.
The Peacekeeper glanced toward the library door, wondering whether it was worth retrieving the nylon thread. But when the knocking came a third time, he decided it would be quicker to deal with it as he was and resumed walking toward the entrance.
He moved soundlessly and, on the way, picked up a wooden coat stand. He still wasn't back to full strength, but it wouldn't take much effort to snap the thing in half and drive it through the chest of an unwelcome guest.
However, when he was only a few steps from the door, another sound reached his ears from outside.
A foot tapping against the ground.
A light, rhythmic sound that betrayed a certain impatience.
Then he remembered that there was someone who now knew where the villa was.
So he simply opened the door, making the small figure standing outside jump ever so slightly.
"Eddie," was all he said.
The other vampire stared at him for a moment, wide-eyed—and Algernon mentally congratulated himself on having slipped past her excellent hearing.
Then her gaze drifted to the coat stand he was still holding.
The owner of the house set his improvised weapon beside the door with as much nonchalance as he could manage and asked "What are you doing here?"
Eddie looked back up at him and opened her mouth, but seemed to take a few seconds to decide what words to use.
The Peacekeeper idly noted that tonight she was wearing a green rain jacket—far too big for her, naturally—which hadn't stopped her from getting soaked from head to toe.
"...Are you kidding me?" she finally shot back.
Algernon didn't remember arranging to meet her. Certainly not here at the villa.
No unexpected guests, that was what he'd established.
So he tilted his head slightly.
Eddie looked him up and down before saying carefully "Basil's been going around bragging that he messed you up."
The mere mention of the red-haired vampire was enough to make the irritation rise again.
"Oh. So you came here looking for gossip."
That seemed to annoy her too.
"I came to make sure you were still in one piece, you ungrateful brat," she replied indignantly, folding her arms across her chest.
Algernon raised an eyebrow.
He thought about it for a moment and realized that yes, beyond simple curiosity, Edwina actually did have a good reason to check on him.
Even if she could've just waited until their next meeting and drawn her own conclusions if he failed to show up to collect the groceries she'd bought for Dylan.
"Not even Basil's stupid enough to kill another Peacekeeper," he replied simply.
Eddie's mouth fell open, and her arms dropped to her sides.
"So it's true. He really did hurt you," she said in disbelief, studying the silver-haired vampire with renewed interest "...How?"
With that silver sword he always has on him, he almost answered. But he knew perfectly well that wasn't what she meant. And right now, he wasn't really in the mood to tease her just for the pleasure of watching her pout.
"He attacked me during an assignment," he explained instead, trying to sound more indifferent than he actually felt "He caught me off guard."
"He caught you off guard," Eddie echoed, her skepticism on full display.
"What exactly are you implying?" Algernon asked, frowning.
In response, Eddie rolled her eyes with that exaggerated flair she was so fond of.
"I'm implying," she began, "that it's only natural for Basil to take any opportunity he gets to hurt you."
The Peacekeeper's gaze turned icy.
"So you're saying he had the right to do it?" his voice had gone just as cold.
Her reaction was immediate.
"No! I—" she started, instinctively taking a step back.
Then she fell silent, pressing her lips together.
A long moment passed between them.
Then Eddie subtly shifted one foot farther back, adjusting her stance so that —as became immediately obvious to Algernon— she'd be ready to bolt if necessary.
"I mean... from his point of view."
The silver-haired vampire couldn't have said what annoyed him more in that moment— her attitude or her words.
"Stop it," he said "I'm not going to do anything to you. And I didn't do anything to him."
Eddie pressed her lips together again.
Algernon knew she wanted to object, but then he heard his ticket out of the conversation approaching on bare feet.
So he raised a hand, cutting off whatever reply was about to leave her mouth, then turned his back on her.
"Dylan," he called instead, lifting his gaze toward the staircase on the far side of the entry hall.
A few moments later, the human cautiously appeared at the top.
"It's only Eddie," Algernon told him, stepping aside from the doorway just enough for Dylan to see the woman "And she was just leaving," he concluded, hoping the hint reached its intended recipient loud and clear.
"E-eh...?" Dylan murmured, his gaze moving from the Peacekeeper to the other vampire and back again.
Then, in a tiny voice "But... i-it's raining..."
The silver-haired vampire—who'd been looking for the young man's arm to make sure he'd finished bandaging it—was caught completely off guard and raised his eyebrows.
Then, once he'd actually processed what he'd just heard... he burst out laughing.
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