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Today Van Helsing found himself contemplating the serious question of what was wrong with Noah Nevernight. Besides the obvious of him being a heretic and Bloodborn anyway.
Would you like to get dinner together sometime?
Sincerely,
Noah Nevernight
Van Helsing contemplated the letter as the one-eyed bat-like creature that brought it recovered from its trip on the windowsill. He had half the mind to ask how it had even found him at this inn.
Eventually he shook his head, setting the letter down on the room’s desk as he headed downstairs to grab some dinner. His response wasn’t likely to change whether he wrote it now or later after all.
What is wrong with you?
From,
Van Helsing
I’m not sure I understand.
Sincerely,
Noah Nevernight
Van Hesling snorted at that, doubtful, before grabbing a pen from his satchel to scribble his response on the back of Noah’s letter against a fallen log. There wasn’t any parchment to be conveniently found in the woods after all.
Playing stupid doesn’t suit you.
You’re a heretic and a Bloodborn and I’m a heretic hunter and a member of the church.
Van Helsing didn’t bother to sign it. It felt redundant at that point.
He passed it off to the bat who took it grumpily before taking off again. Van Helsing watched as it and the letter disappeared into the distance until he could no longer see it.
He let out a breath. Right, back to work then.
I’m flattered you think so highly of me.
And yet you still responded. Doesn’t that mean something?
Sincerely,
Noah
Van Helsing stared at the words, at the frank truth he couldn’t deny, at the less formal sign off from Noah and wondered what he was even doing. As a member of the church he should have simply burned the letters and paid them no mind.
But he hadn’t.
Setting the letter down Van Helsing shooed the bat away without giving it a response. As he should’ve done from the start.
It took a few days for Noah to write him another letter and Van Helsing was still surprised he had bothered.
Van Helsing had been nothing but cutting and dismissive in his letters, spurning all of Noah’s efforts. And yet here was another letter, finding him in another town, in another inn. Silver-Haired really was hopeless.
So about that dinner.
Sincerely,
Noah
Van Helsing shouldn’t respond. If he was as smart as he says he is he would cut off their correspondence here before he fell any deeper. And yet before he could fully process what he was doing he found himself penning back another response.
Maybe Noah wasn’t the only hopeless one between them.
You don’t even need to eat Silver-Haired.
From,
Van Helsing
“Master, what is this?” Selena asked.
“Hm?” Van Helsing said, distracted with reading through his next mission missive. “What is-“
He froze when he looked up, spotting Noah’s latest letter in her hand.
Back to the formalities are we?
Well, yes, but I was trying to be polite. Isn’t dinner normally how these things start?
Sincerely,
Noah
“That’s nothing,” he said brusquely, standing up to snatch the letter back.
It had come while he was working in his office so he’d forgotten to stuff it in his room in the drawer where he kept the rest of Noah’s letters.
Selena gasped. “Master don’t tell me-“
Van Hesling closed his eyes. “Selena I assure I am still loyal to the church-“
“-that you're in a relationship with that Bloodborn!” Selena exclaimed.
Van Helsing stared blankly at her. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding-“
“Don’t worry Master!” Selena exclaimed. “If that Bloodborn breaks your heart I’ll be sure to hunt him down!”
“I can take care of myself-“ Her words fully processed in his head. “Wait, what?”
But Selena had already taken off.
Van Helsing almost groaned aloud, scowling as he read over his latest letter for the tenth time. Maybe Selena was getting to him too much.
Things like what?
Van Helsing
Things like getting to know one another.
Also, is there a reason I got a letter from Selena threatening me with bodily harm?
Sincerely,
Noah
Van Helsing nearly sighed as he shook his head almost fondly. Of course she had.
Don’t worry about it.
Van Helsing
Are you sure? She seemed especially concerned about me ‘breaking your heart’.
Sincerely,
Noah
Ignore that.
Van Helsing
I would hate to be responsible for breaking your heart though.
Selena was rather convincing too. Until I read her letter I had no idea impalement was such a gruesome way to go.
Sincerely,
Noah
Silver-Haired I told you to ignore that.
Now I’ll be forced to silenced you. Not even your pretty face will be able to save you this time.
Van Helsing
You’d have to actually agree to meet with me in order to silence me.
You think my face is pretty?
Sincerely,
Noah
Has anyone told you how annoying you are?
Van Helsing
Not to my memory, no.
Sincerely,
Noah
An oversight clearly.
Van Helsing
“Are you stalking me?” Van Helsing demanded, trying to ignore the relief he definitely wasn’t feeling.
He hadn’t heard back from Noah in five days. Normally Van Helsing only needed to wait a day or two for Noah’s responses and, short of storming the Bathory Castle, Van Helsing had no way to contact Noah on his own. But if Noah had been traveling that would explain the delay.
Noah blinked, looking genuinely surprised at the accusation. “Of course not.”
Van Helsing crossed his arms. “Then how do you and your bat keep finding me?”
Noah paused at that, expression turning thoughtful. “You know, I’m not really sure how he does it. I guess I just never really bothered to question it…”
Van Helsing scoffed at the answer, rolling his eyes. Ridiculous. How could someone so smart be so stupid at the same time? “And you?”
“Selena,” Noah answered promptly.
… Of course. Van Helsing didn’t know why he hadn’t guessed that himself.
“She told you?” Van Helsing asked, scowling.
He should really give her another lecture about the church’s missions being confidential and not sharing information with outsiders.
“I think she was worried you were overworking yourself,” Noah offered. “So she sent me the location of your next mission.”
One of these days Van Helsing really needed to figure out how her head worked. Why on earth would she send a Bloodborn, one of their enemies, after him in a mission for the church?
Though, he supposed, Noah was a special case.
“I’m fine,” Van Helsing said, daring Noah to argue with him.
Noah didn’t though, nodding agreeably, which somehow felt more patronizing than if he had argued with him. “I’m sure,” he said. “But now that I’m here there’s no reason I can’t help you with your mission is there?”
Van Helsing crossed his arms. “You mean besides it being a confidential church matter?”
“It can’t really be that confidential if I could just walk into town and find out what the problem is,” Noah pointed out.
Van Helsing hated to admit he had a point. And it wasn’t like working with Noah would be the worst thing. He’d certainly worked with worse people, and the two of them did get along.
“Fine. But you’re following my lead.”
Van Helsing studiously ignored the smile that curled on Noah’s lips. “Of course. And will we be getting dinner afterwards?”
Van Helsing scoffed. He sure was persistent, Van Helsing would give him that. “We’ll see.”
It was admittedly a bit awkward to be the only one eating, especially with Noah watching him so intently.
The job itself had turned out to be simple, especially with Noah and him working together. In fact, the two of them together had probably been overkill considering the simplicity of the task. Still, it had been… enjoyable.
“Are you just going to stare at me the whole time?” Van Helsing asked.
He didn’t miss the way Noah’s red eyes darted down to his lips before slowly traveling back up to his eyes. Van Helsing scowled on reflex.
Noah just smiled a bit, his head propped up by his hand. “Does it bother you?”
“I think it would bother anyone to have a Bloodborn watch them like that,” Van Helsing said.
“Like what?”
Like you’re drinking me in, Van Helsing didn’t say, setting down his cutlery.
“Is there something you want?” He asked dryly instead, blatantly dodging the question.
Noah didn’t comment on it though. “To have dinner with you. Like I’ve mentioned before. Several times now in fact.”
“You don’t eat.”
“So you seem keen to remind me.”
“We’re having dinner right now,” Van Helsing pointed out. Or, well, he was while Noah watched on.
Noah dipped his head in quiet acknowledgment. “Allow me to correct myself then. I want to have dinner with you at the Bathory Family’s Castle.”
“Absolutely not,” Van Helsing said immediately.
Noah seemed to have expected that response—as he should have—but still asked, “Why not?” Like he wanted to hear the reason Van Helsing would give.
What was Silver-Haired playing at?
“Silver-Haired, at some point I have to draw a line. You can’t ask a member of the church to venture into the center of Bloodborn territory.”
Honestly Van Helsing shouldn’t even need to explain that much, not to Noah Nevernight who was quick on his feet and had always been able to keep up with Van Helsing’s thought process.
You may be the one who understands me best, Noah had once said. Van Helsing had tried not to think about if the reverse was also true. He especially didn’t want to think about it now when Noah was sitting across from him.
“But where else am I supposed to cook for you?” Noah asked with that hint of cheekiness that only became apparent at certain moments.
Like when he wanted to rile up Van Helsing, apparently.
Van Helsing could feel his eyebrows rise unbidden. “You can cook?”
“I don’t remember,” Noah answered, somewhat predictably. “And now I suppose we won’t ever know will we?”
Van Helsing crossed his arms. “I’m not the only human you know,” he pointed out.
“But I want to cook for you,” Noah said with that voice that all but bled sincerity.
“I’ll…” Van Helsing grimaced. “Consider it,” he finished stiffly.
Noah’s eyes seemed to glow under the drab lighting of a cloudy sky as he smiled earnestly. “Thank you. The invitation is always open. You’re welcome to come anytime.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be giving your enemy an open invitation into your home,” Van Helsing pointed out.
Noah smiled, quick silver with a flash of fang that made his stomach clench. “I’ll keep that in mind in the future.”
Van Helsing for once didn’t know what to say so he said nothing, instead turning back to his food.
Van Helsing had been a fool to think it would end there though.
Noah might have tabled the topic of having dinner together but he certainly hadn’t stopped writing Van Helsing. Worse, he’d started including gifts with some of his letters. At this rate Van Helsing’s desk would run out of space. What was he even supposed to do with some of these?
What in the Aeons is this?
Van Helsing
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you mean the necklace I sent you last time.
Sincerely,
Noah
Why would you send me something this useless?
Van Helsing
The stone inlaid in it reminded me of your eyes.
Sincerely,
Noah
Van Helsing stared at Noah’s latest letter to him. The stone was indeed a light green similar to Van Helsing’s eyes, though most people would likely consider the stone to be more beautiful.
Van Helsing had often been told his eyes seemed rather lifeless and cold. It wasn’t something that had ever particularly bothered him. Still, he wondered if Noah understood the indirect compliment he had implied with that statement.
(Knowing him it was likely. Noah offered praise freely like Van Helsing did criticism.)
Hesitantly Van Helsing picked up the necklace—a useless trinket he’d previously thought—and put it on over his head.
He really was far too weak to Silver-Haired.
Ridiculous.
Van Helsing
Even Van Helsing didn’t know who he was addressing it to. Maybe both of them.
“You again,” Van Helsing deadpanned upon finding Noah in a forest to the west.
Trying to avoid meeting Noah would be more trouble than it was worth, especially if it might hinder his missions, so Van Helsing didn’t bother. Noah didn’t show up for all of his missions either. Van Helsing didn’t know exactly what the deciding factor in Noah’s presence was, but if he had to guess he’d say it was whenever Selena was able to get her hands on information about Van Helsing’s whereabouts.
The two of them cahoots—just what he needed.
Noah raised his hands in surrender. “This time it actually is a coincidence,” he promised. “Cain wanted me to gather herbs in this forest for one of his experiments.”
Noah’s position within the Bathory Family was admittedly something of a mystery to Van Helsing. He seemed to function as the Bathory Family’s vassal to some extent, often performing tasks and missions on behalf of the members, and yet seemed to wield considerable influence within the Bathory Family, more than even Empousa seemed to, despite her bearing its name.
Van Helsing sighed, accepting the answer. He paused as he noticed Noah staring at him with eyes wider than normal.
He squinted at him suspiciously. “What?” Van Helsing asked.
“You…” Noah shook his head, gathering up his composure again, a quiet smile barely visible on his lips. “You’re wearing the necklace.”
Van Helsing stiffened. “Don’t get the wrong idea,” he snapped. “I just thought it would be impolite to throw away a gift. Wipe that look off your face.”
“What look?” Noah wondered aloud before shaking his head as if to dismiss the thought. “You, worried about being impolite? How out of character.”
“I don’t have time for this,” Van Helsing decided, turning to continue walking towards his destination a few miles out still.
Noah chuckled warmly, moving to walk next to him. “Alright, alright. I am glad you like the necklace though.”
Van Helsing looked away, his sincerity feeling like too much to bear in the moment.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
“A delay won’t hurt,” Noah said easily. “Besides, I'd rather spend this time with you.”
Van Helsing watched him from the corner of his eye. “I don’t understand you.”
A smile ghosted Noah’s lips as he kept pace with him. Noah, when walking with other people, tended to trail behind them or stand in front of them for protection. With Van Helsing he stood side-by-side though, as if Noah considered them equals.
“You must be slacking then,” Noah said, because he was annoying like that. Before Van Helsing could snap back with a retort Noah added sincerely, “Don’t worry. Since it’s you I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually.”
Sometimes Noah Nevernight really was utterly incomprehensible to him.
Even Van Helsing had his limits though.
“What on earth are you holding?” Van Helsing asked flatly, coming to a stop as soon as he spotted Noah.
This time he’d managed to catch Van Helsing at the tail end of his mission.
Noah, rather unnecessarily, glanced down at the bouquet in his hands, looking mildly amused. “Flowers?”
Van Helsing pinched the bridge of nose. “Why?”
“As a gift?” Noah said obviously, like it was a question even as he held them out to him expectantly.
Van Helsing dropped his hand to glare at Noah. “I don’t need flowers,” he said contemptuously.
Where most people might take offense to his words Noah was unaffected. “They’re wolfsbane,” he said, still holding them out.
Van Helsing paused, considered what he knew of wolfsbane and its effects on the black blood, and accepted the bouquet, ignoring the look of victory on Noah’s face. It would be wasteful to throw them out at this point. He could always just donate them to the church's research department or infirmary. There was nothing saying he had to keep the flowers even if he had accepted them-
Exactly as Noah had no doubt planned.
“I despise you Bloodborn,” Van Helsing said.
Noah smiled. “What a shame. I find myself having taken quite a liking to you.”
Van Helsing glared and tried to convince himself the heat on his face was from anger, but he’d never been very good at denying the truth when it was right in front of his face.
Van Helsing put the flowers in a vase in his room. Just in case there was an emergency where he needed to use them. Not because he liked them. Or because their white petals reminded him of Noah. Really.
“You seem happier Master,” Selena commented one day.
Van Helsing’s eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. “I do?”
He hadn’t noticed if he was acting any differently from normal.
Serena nodded rapidly though. “I’m glad dating that Bloodborn makes you happy.”
“We’re not-“ Van Helsing paused.
Were they?
The two of them stayed in contact consistently, and not even for investigative purposes. They met up fairly frequently as well, and while Van Helsing was usually working when they did afterwards they would often simply… spend time together. Talk. Noah even sent him gifts. The last time they’d met Noah had quite literally handed him a bouquet of flowers for Aeons sake.
The evidence was, indeed, all there. Van Helsing just hadn’t wanted to see it.
“Master?” Selena asked, concerned.
“It’s nothing,” Van Helsing muttered. “And widen your stance a bit. You can easily be knocked over if you stand like that.”
Are you courting me?
Van Helsing
I have been for the past couple months now but thank you for noticing.
Sincerely,
Noah
You didn’t say anything.
Van Helsing
I was hoping such a decorated member of the Silver Cross like yourself would be able to piece it together on his own but perhaps that was expecting too much.
Also… no, never mind.
Sincerely,
Noah
Also?
Van Helsing
Also… it seemed the easiest route to take that wouldn’t risk outright rejection.
Sincerely,
Noah
Your invitation to dinner is still open right?
Van Helsing
You mean at the Bathory Castle? Of course.
Why?
Sincerely,
Noah
I’m accepting your invitation. I’ll be by for a visit soon so don’t even think about backing down now.
Van Helsing
I wouldn't dream of it.
Sincerely,
Noah
Van Helsing had to wonder what was wrong with him as he stood at the gates of the Bathory Castle.
If a member of the church found out he was here it would probably be enough to declare him a traitor.
And yet.
“You actually came,” he heard Noah say, sounding almost surprised as he came down to greet him.
The jacket Noah typically had draped over his shoulders was conspicuously absent. It made sense, of course, that he wouldn’t wear it in what was technically his home but it still left Van Helsing feeling vaguely off-footed.
Without it Noah’s slight frame became all the more apparent, making him look almost delicate.
Van Helsing nearly scoffed at the thought. That delicate appearance was nothing but a lie. Whether it was due to his nature as a Bloodborn or the black blood Noah was considerably stronger than he looked. Stronger than Van Helsing probably in terms of raw strength.
“I said I would,” Van Helsing said to Noah’s statement.
Again, that barely there smile played at Noah’s lips. “And you’re a man of your word,” he said, like he believed it.
Van Helsing nearly shifted uncomfortably at the clear regard Noah held for him, though it would likely hardly be the only time tonight Van Helsing would be confronted with the depths of Noah’s feelings if things went how he intended.
“Are you going to show me in or not?” Van Helsing demanded.
Noah blinked, something about the way his pale lashes fluttered against his cheek grabbing Van Helsing’s attention. “Right, of course,” he said. “I’ve been a poor host. Let me show you in.”
Noah, as it turned out, could not cook. At least not particularly well. He stared befuddled at his creation, eyebrows furrowed together as he frowned contemplatively.
“That definitely doesn’t look right…” Noah muttered to himself.
“I’m tempted to ask if you’re trying to poison me,” Van Helsing deadpanned, which was perhaps an exaggeration.
The food likely wasn’t inedible, but it didn’t look particularly appealing either.
Noah considered it more, head cocked to the side. Van Helsing tried to convince himself he didn’t think the gesture was cute.
“Maybe I’m just rusty?” He murmured thoughtfully to himself. “It’s not like I’ve had ample opportunity to practice.”
“Or maybe you can’t cook Silver-Haired,” Van Helsing said dryly.
Noah laughed lightly, the sound gentle and warm like a summer’s breeze. “That is also a possibility. I suppose I’ll need to practice more.”
Van Helsing sighed exasperatedly. “And I assume that means I’ll need to visit more?”
Noah seemed to be trying to hold back his amusement. “If you don’t mind.”
Van Helsing shook his head. “Why does it feel like everything is going according to your plan?” He asked rhetorically. “Sure though, let me just be your personal guinea pig,” he added sarcastically.
Noah’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Well, since dinner seems to be a bust do you want tea instead?”
“That depends,” Van Helsing said dryly, raising his eyebrow. “Are your tea making skills any better than your cooking skills?”
“Err…”
Shaking his head, Van Helsing picked up the food. “This will do for now. But be prepared to suffer through all 45 of my complaints about it.”
Noah’s eyebrows raised as he led Van Helsing to a smaller dining room. “45?” He repeated incredulously as if he couldn’t imagine anyone coming up with that many things to critique about something. “Now this I have to hear.”
The meal truly wasn’t terrible all things considered. Less because of the food and more because of the company.
The food itself was dry and somewhat tasteless, Van Helsing saying as much to Noah who looked more amused than offended, hiding his smile behind his wine glass.
Whether the liquid inside was truly wine Van Helsing had his doubts.
Finally Van Helsing set down his cutlery and looked at Noah seriously. “You should know this is a bad idea Silver-Haired,” he said because Van Helsing was a lot of things—but not a coward.
He didn’t need to elaborate on what was.
Noah looked down. “Yes, I’m aware.” His smile was parts bitter and sad. “I know what happens to people that try to stand between me and the church. I suppose that was also part of why I was reticent to be forward with you about it.”
Van Helsing considered that. “You mentioned you were afraid of being rejected outright,” he brought up.
Noah let out a huff of breath, almost a laugh at his frankness and said, “Yes, that would be the other part.”
“You were that concerned I would reject you?” He asked plainly.
“Well..” Noah hesitated, as if he was debating how to phrase it. “Less of the rejection itself and more that you would reject me simply because of your duty to the church.” He smiled a bit helplessly now. “It’s one thing for you to reject me because of, well, me, and another for you to reject me because I’m a Bloodborn.”
Van Helsing dropped his eyes to the table, clenching his hands. “I understand,” he said flatly.
He did. And perhaps even a couple months ago that might have been the case. But here, now, as he was, Van Helsing couldn’t find it in himself to pull away as his duty demanded of him.
More terrifying was how much Van Helsing didn’t want to.
“This is going to end badly,” Van Helsing said frankly, Noah staring at him in surprise. “So, when things inevitably go to hell, I expect you to take responsibility.”
Noah, reading the acceptance Van Helsing had just given, smiled the widest he’d ever seen, standing up to move towards him. “Of course,” he murmured quietly, coming to a stop behind him, hand hesitantly reaching out for Van Helsing’s.
Van Helsing sucked in a quiet breath as he turned his palm upwards to accept Noah’s touch. As to be expected Noah’s hand was cooler than a normal human's, Van Helsing shivering at the light touch, but it didn’t hinder the warmth Van Helsing felt in his chest.
“I’d hate to catch Selena’s ire after all,” Noah murmured humorously, interlacing their fingers. “Is this alright?” He asked quietly.
“It’s a bit late to ask that now,” Van Helsing shot back, tone harsher than he intended.
Noah just laughed quietly, so close Van Helsing could almost feel the vibrations of it. He wondered how it would feel with Noah pressed fully against his back, his joy vibrating in his chest.
Van Helsing nearly grimaced at his own thoughts. Only this far in and he was already this sappy. This was definitely a mistake. And yet he had no will to untangle his hand from Noah’s or pull away.
Probably Van Helsing should have felt in danger in such a vulnerable position, with a Bloodborn inches away from his neck. He only felt at peace though as he closed his eyes and soaked in Noah’s familiar calming presence.
“No more gifts though,” Van Helsing stipulated. “I’m running out of room. I don’t even know of anyone that would need so many trinkets.”
“So you did keep them,” Noah said, sounding quietly pleased. “But how else am I meant to show my affection for you then?” He wondered, half teasing, and Van Helsing could hear the smile in his voice.
Van Helsing scoffed, tightening his grip on Noah’s hand. “I’m sure you can figure it out Silver-Haired.”