Luke Vranian

“How can you have lived for so long and still not get it? This self obsession, it’s a waste of living. It could be spent on surviving things, appreciating nature, nurturing kindness and friendship. And dancing”

Game of Thrones/Avengers Crossover

I’ll be fine. Spend some time out and about, relax a little. I’ll call you when I’m headed back.

Collin’s words rung around in her head as she stepped out of the apartment they’d leased. Shifting uncomfortably in her aqua blue dress, Natalie resolved herself to have a little fun. Civilian clothes weren’t exactly her forte, but this one was a nice color that made her eyes stand out, and it’s asymmetrical hem showed off her perfectly toned legs in the very best way. She couldn’t help but think of Collin’s face if he’d seen her all done up like this. After all, for years all they’d known of each other was military uniforms. They were still adjusting to this odd civilian-undercover-esque life they’d been told to lead.

The black heels she wore clicked against the stairs as she descended to the ground level and walked out of their apartment building. Rose gold earrings swung back and forth from her ears and mixed into her chocolate hair, which she’d worn down in effort to get used to being “normal”. What she didn’t know, however, was where the fuck one was supposed to go in this town to have fun.

Pursing her lips and glancing around, she decided her best bet was going towards the town square. She’d done research on this town, of course, and knew that it was spotted with restaurants and shopping. But the longer she walked along the sidewalk, the more the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She wasn’t alone anymore. As smoothly and easily as if she were simply searching for her phone, she rifled through the small purse she carried, pulling out her small pistol that was loaded with wooden bullets before turning on her heel and pointing it behind her.

And right into the face of Lucian Vranian.

The color drained out of Natalie’s face. Not because she was afraid, more because a lot of memories were suddenly flooding back to her. Ones of him through that damn vampire mind link being able to know how aroused she’d been after having dreams of him. She still swore up and down that they were only because he’d made her drink his blood. He knew that was a lie.

"Oh, it’s just you," she said, playing it off as much she could. Without stowing her weapon, she lowered her hand. While Luke had been on her radar for a long time, he’d never hurt her; but she knew he’d killed plenty of people with those hands of his. Those hands which she still longed to feel on her own body-

She cleared her throat.

"Had I known you were in town, I would have sent you an invitation to join Collin and I for dinner or something," she said, raising a hand and brushing her hair back from her face. Having to do that - where her hair was normally pulled back into a tight bun - she suddenly recalled what she was wearing. This would be the first time Luke had seen her out of a uniform (at least in the real world. The Luke from her dreams had seen her in much, much less). A blush suddenly touched her face and she longed for her uniform - or a long coat.

He smirked. “I may be the ‘biggest, baddest vampire’ you’ve ever seen,” he said, referencing her turn of phrase before favoring her with a controlled smile. “But that won’t last long, here, I’d wager. I do not represent the Authority in Oxford. They’ve a Queen for that.”

Heedless of her firepower, he strolled past her, stopped, turned to look at her. Luke didn’t feel particularly threatened, in all truth. Granted, not even he could outrun a bullet, but he could certainly outrun her and, in the time it would take her to raise her weapon, he could be gone…But more to the point, Luke didn’t believe she had any real intention of hurting him, just as he had no intention of hurting her. Oh, it amused him to play at it, from time to time, but there was an end to it. Deep down, afterall, Luke knew he couldn’t bring himself to do her damage. Not with that face…

Occasionally he still remembered the undeniable shiver that had run through him when he’d first spotted her across that room five years ago in Britain. For a split second, horror had risen like bile in his throat: here she was, at last she’d come for her revenge…But then he’d realized something. He could hear her heartbeat.

Even now, when Luke looked at Natalie, he felt as if he were lying on his back by that fateful river, thick clots of blood oozing from his grievous wounds, Irina bending over him as he gasped out his last breaths…

“Dinner?” He inquired, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Did you mean to open your vein to me?” Luke’s eyes were set upon the sapphires that were her hues, his breath close on her cheek. Even in military regalia, she’d been a sight to behold, the deep tones of blue playing up the delightful coffee hue of her hair and the sheen in her eye when he read lust there. His lips curved, but he attended to her further questions.

“The same impetus which, I imagine, also propelled you across the waters, naturally. A chance to treat with Her Grace: The Queen of the Damned.” He chuckled softly, head tilting. “You are, afterall, here on assignment, I’m quite certain. Is that what it means to ‘live the job,’ Agent?” He asked, bemusement sparkling in his bright eyes.

tom hiddleston alphabet | d | dancing