Mick
Mick spotted Josef's sleek beaty of a car pull around and out of sight.
He knew Josef had seen him. Mick was in plain sight right below the front steps of the mansion. Besides, he'd felt Josef's stare. Mick had pretended to be looking for the right key on Beth's keyring, for her car, but Mick knew he hadn't fooled Josef.
Mick had hoped for a little time to gather his thoughts and perhaps rehearse what he'd planned to say to Josef. But he'd actually arrived scant seconds before Josef's car had pulled through the gates and up the long drive. Mick had used more speed and energy than he'd known he posessed in his effort to arrive in time to intercept the older vampire, and Mick thought wryly that if he'd been any less supernatural than he was, he'd be doubled over in pain and exhaustion, unable to breathe. As it was, he felt fatigued from his wild blur of a running, leaping marathon- a testimonial to the energy he'd expended- and Mick knew that he'd have to top off with a pint or two as soon as he got the chance.
Mick was nervous. He wasn't scared of Josef, per se, just worried about Josef's reaction. Josef felt that in some small way, Mick's actions had been a betrayal. How do you respond to that?
But Mick knew he couldn't just leave things the way they were. Josef had been so angry and hurt. Mick had to fix it. Josef had always said that Mick was the stubbornest person he knew. Time to live up to the reputation and put that stubborness to use.
And judging by the expression on Josef's face as he came around the house and into view, it wasn't going to be easy.
Josef stopped several feet from Mick and on the other side of Beth's parked car. Mick sent a small, timid push, trying to feel his friend's mood, but he was being blocked. He knew he was nowhere near strong enough to penetrate Josef's defenses if Josef didn't want him to, so Mick didn't bother to try again.
Mick looked at Josef across the top of Beth's car, but he was unable to hold Josef's gaze, unable to meet the anger there. He could swear his guilt was being reflected back at him. Instead he stared at the tear in Josef's shirt, ignoring the quick surge of fear at the the realization that it could have been something much more tragic than the demise of an expensive article of clothing. And it would have been Mick's fault.
"We should talk," Mick ventured. He was suprised at the note of uncertainty in his voice. He knew what he was here for, he just wasn't sure about how to accomplish it. He knew he wouldn't get a third chance. He couldn't mess this up.
"Should we?" Josef said flatly. "Seems to me I said everything I needed to say."
"But I didn't."
"Well, I suppose that's more your problem than mine. Isn't it?"
Josef turned from Mick and headed for the ornate from steps of the mansion.
"Josef," Mick called, misery in his voice, then, when Josef didn't respond, "Josef, c'mon. Wait!"
With the last of his sapped energy, Mick was swiftly around the car, up the steps, and had come to a halt directly in front of Josef. Much closer than anyone else would ever dare, in an attempt to confront or stop the older vampire.
Josef stopped short, barely preventing an undignified collision with Mick, and growled under his breath.
But Mick was undeterred, and he held his place.
"Josef, please. I know you're mad and you're hurt, and it's because of me. But please....can't you just listen?"
Josef bared his teeth and leaned forward, inches from Mick's face, a hiss in his throat and a low growl in his chest. "I've listened enough, Mick. Get out of my way."
Mick took a small step back. Something seemed to have changed in Josef, just in that second. His response had been....chilling. The words had been simple enough, but the way he'd said it; He hadn't been Mick's best friend, or his sire, in that moment. Not even an angry best friend or sire.
He'd spoken in a way that Mick had never heard directed at him before, not by Josef. But he'd heard Josef use such a tone with others. Others that hadn't existed long after. Mick began to wonder if there was more than just anger there.
Unsure, Mick stepped to the side, removing himself from Josef's chosen path. Josef skirted past him and opened the door. Just before he shut it behind him, leaving Mick on the outside, Mick stepped forward.
"You said you'd never do this, Josef," he called to Josef's back. Josef stopped in the doorway, but he didn't turn around. He stood there with his back to Mick. Listening.
"Remember?" Mick continued, his words loud in the cool night air, the only sound. "You promised, Josef, and you never break a promise. You promised you'd never give up on me and you swore that you'd never turn me away from what I need, even if you were angry. Well, I need this. I need to fix this, Josef. Don't shut me out." His words echoed a little off the cavernous porch. His tone was pleading. He knew this was his last chance. He felt the last little bit of his energy drain. He felt weak and exhausted. Almost shaky. The adrenaline was long gone.
Josef turned to face him, staring at him but saying nothing. Mick waited tensely, not speaking for fear of saying something that might make it worse. After what seemed like an eternity, that sense of malice that had been recently present in Josef seemed to disappear, and Mick's old Josef was back. Whether he was Josef the friend or Josef the sire, Mick wasn't sure, but he didn't care. At this point he'd take either or both.
Josef gave a nod, then tipped his head to the side, a signal to follow him into the house. Mick did so gratefully.
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Josef
Something had shifted. Josef had began this little excercise with the intent of teaching Mick a lesson, and apparently it was working. But somewhere along the line, Josef realized, he'd let it take over. He'd let himself fall into the deeper anger he'd been portraying to Mick. He didn't know how it had happened. One minute, he'd been ready to let Mick stew for awhile, and the next, he couldn't look at his friend's face without an overpowering sense of derision for the feelings of betrayal he'd caused. It was a surreal feeling, like he'd stepped outside of himself and watched his shell take over, the shell that was filled with the stronger version of the emotions Josef had tried so hard to downplay. That's been happening alot lately, Josef thought distractedly.
But when he'd turned from Mick and Mick had reminded Josef of his promise in that tone that could only be described as desperate....that had snapped things back into perspective. Mick had almost sounded betrayed, himself, when he'd pleaded not to be shut out.
Josef headed into the house, Mick's presence behind him the whole way. Josef paused at the entrance to the living room, then continued on until he reached the wet bar he'd sat at previously.
He needed a drink. That had been happening a lot lately, too, in his quest to better understand Mick and their new relationship.
Josef gestured toward the high barstools at the counter, and as Mick took a seat, Josef fixed each of them a drink.
All this had taken place in silence, and when Josef turned to face Mick as he put his drink on the bar in front of him, he was speared with a stab of concern. Mick looked wan and worn out, paler than he should've been.
Josef knew he should have noticed it sooner, but his anger had gotten in the way, he hadn't seen or felt anything but his own strong emotions.
"Are you injured?" Josef asked crisply, breaking the silence. It had occurred to him that maybe Mick had lied about his well-being earlier. Josef knew he could usually tell when his friend was being untruthful with him, but you just never know.
Mick, who had been staring into his drink, looked up at Josef. "What? No, of course not."
"Are you sure?" Josef asked, but he'd already felt that Mick was telling the truth. He was paying attention this time. He was sure that Mick wasn't physically injured, but he could feel the exhaustion coming from him in waves.
"I'm fine," Mick insisted.
"You look like crap. How'd you get here so fast?"
Mick gave a small half-smile and in a tone that said everything but 'duh', asked, "How do you think?"
Josef shook his head and gave a long-suffering sigh that wasn't all act. "You seem to have the least sense of self-interest of anyone I know, Mick."
"Some things just take higher priority," Mick hinted, his voice heavy with things unsaid, his lighter mood gone.
"Only to you. You just don't seem to think about how that might affect those that care about you."
"And so we've come full circle," Mick responded wryly.
Josef nodded in acknowledgement. He knew that, regardless of how upset he was at the idea that Mick hadn't been honest with him, he was more upset that Mick had put himself in danger. That seemed to be a costant bone of contention between the two of them, and usually hidden beneath other petty disagreements. Josef marvelled that, for beings that he saw as superior, they couldn't hide their flaws. He'd been alive for four hundred years, for heaven's sake! He should have mastered the art of conversation and confrontation by now. But for some reason, when he and Mick disagreed, they never could manage to adress the real issue head on; they always had to take the roundabout way of getting there.
"What are we gonna do about this?" Mick asked. Josef wasn't sure if the question was rhetorical or not. "I mean, I could say I'd change, but I'd be lying. I couldn't make that promise and keep it."
"I know," Josef nodded. "And I don't want you to change, Mick. We've been over that, and anyway, you wouldn't be you if you changed. I just....I wish you'd be more careful, Mick."
"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Mick asked increduously.
"Maybe," Josef smirked with a quick thought of some of their past escapades, "but when I do something that I know is risky, it's usually my last recourse. And I always....fine, usually" he amended at Mick's look "-I usually think it through before I proceed. I usually have a plan, or at least a fairly sure idea of what I'm doing and that I can come out of it in one piece. But Mick, you don't seem to even think! You just jump right in, risk be damned."
"Well..." here Mick paused, seemingly unsure of what to say, then went with lighthearted as Josef had thought he would. "....it's worked so far." At least he had the grace to look sheepish.
"You're the only best friend I have, Mick," Josef said seriously, in a moment of weakness forgetting that he didn't do sentimental. But then he remembered himself. "Do you know how much trouble it would be to find another one if something happens to you? I'm much too busy for that. It'd be much easier to just keep you."
Mick huffed a quiet chuckle, obviously relieved that Josef hadn't turned this litltle tete e' tete into a Hallmark moment. "I guess it wouldn't be out of the realm of reality to promise that I can try to be more careful in the future," Mick offered tentatively.
Josef nodded. He knew that was the best his friend could honestly offer. Anything more would be a false promise. "At least stop and think of your friends before you make some of these risky decisions," Josef suggested. Decisions was stretching it a bit, he thought to himself, knowing that Mick usually didn't think when he was set on a course of action. Best not to mention that again, though. "If the idea of putting yourself in danger so regularly doesn't bother you, then think what it would do to your friends if something were to happen to you. How do you think Beth would feel?" Josef felt the need to add that last part as another mush deterrent.
Mick nodded, but said nothing. Josef hoped what he was saying was making an impact, because he didn't want to have to go through it again. He was seriously starting to sound like a parent giving a lecture, and that wasn't good for his image.
"If nothing else," Josef continued with an intense glare, deciding one last 'suggestion' was in order, "think of having to face your friends. Because I know of a couple that might not be so easy to deal with the next time they have to worry about your safety just because you didn't."
Mick nodded, his expression a combination of sheepish, amused and slightly worried, and Josef knew he understood the veiled threat. Josef had no doubt he could recruit Beth onto his side in this matter, should he need a reinforcement.
At that moment Mick's cell phone trilled.
"Beth must've found her phone," Mick said in suprise after looking at the ID screen. Josef just shook his head in an attitude of long-suffering at Mick's almost excited smile as he answered the phone. You'd think the guy was sixteen instead of over eighty, Josef thought.
Josef sat back to sip his drink as Mick answered. He knew he wouldn't have his young friend's attention for awhile.
"Beth," Mick greeted, his smile evident in his voice.
But seconds later, "Who is this?"
Josef sat up straight, his attention caught by the flat, angry tone of Mick's voice. He focused his hearing to listen in.
"I have her" answered a male voice on the other end of the phone.
"What do you want with her?" Mick asked fiercely. There was no question who 'her' was, and neither did Mick waste time with pointless queries or threats. His eyes were blazing and his jaw was set, and he'd asked the obvious question without preamble.
"We want nothing with her," the voice answered calmly, seemingly unconcerned about Mick's obvious anger. "It's you we want, St. John. Surely that doesn't suprise you. She is simply the means to an end. If you want her back, come and get her. Kostan has the location. We'll be waiting. But don't take too long. I might get hungry."
The call was ended and both heard dead air. Mick pressed the 'off' button on his phone. He lifted his head, his eyes accusing and a snarl on his lips, and stared at Josef.
Josef took a startled step backward as Mick advanced. "Where is she," Mick demanded, a growl building in his chest. "Where's Beth!"
TBC
Mick spotted Josef's sleek beaty of a car pull around and out of sight.
He knew Josef had seen him. Mick was in plain sight right below the front steps of the mansion. Besides, he'd felt Josef's stare. Mick had pretended to be looking for the right key on Beth's keyring, for her car, but Mick knew he hadn't fooled Josef.
Mick had hoped for a little time to gather his thoughts and perhaps rehearse what he'd planned to say to Josef. But he'd actually arrived scant seconds before Josef's car had pulled through the gates and up the long drive. Mick had used more speed and energy than he'd known he posessed in his effort to arrive in time to intercept the older vampire, and Mick thought wryly that if he'd been any less supernatural than he was, he'd be doubled over in pain and exhaustion, unable to breathe. As it was, he felt fatigued from his wild blur of a running, leaping marathon- a testimonial to the energy he'd expended- and Mick knew that he'd have to top off with a pint or two as soon as he got the chance.
Mick was nervous. He wasn't scared of Josef, per se, just worried about Josef's reaction. Josef felt that in some small way, Mick's actions had been a betrayal. How do you respond to that?
But Mick knew he couldn't just leave things the way they were. Josef had been so angry and hurt. Mick had to fix it. Josef had always said that Mick was the stubbornest person he knew. Time to live up to the reputation and put that stubborness to use.
And judging by the expression on Josef's face as he came around the house and into view, it wasn't going to be easy.
Josef stopped several feet from Mick and on the other side of Beth's parked car. Mick sent a small, timid push, trying to feel his friend's mood, but he was being blocked. He knew he was nowhere near strong enough to penetrate Josef's defenses if Josef didn't want him to, so Mick didn't bother to try again.
Mick looked at Josef across the top of Beth's car, but he was unable to hold Josef's gaze, unable to meet the anger there. He could swear his guilt was being reflected back at him. Instead he stared at the tear in Josef's shirt, ignoring the quick surge of fear at the the realization that it could have been something much more tragic than the demise of an expensive article of clothing. And it would have been Mick's fault.
"We should talk," Mick ventured. He was suprised at the note of uncertainty in his voice. He knew what he was here for, he just wasn't sure about how to accomplish it. He knew he wouldn't get a third chance. He couldn't mess this up.
"Should we?" Josef said flatly. "Seems to me I said everything I needed to say."
"But I didn't."
"Well, I suppose that's more your problem than mine. Isn't it?"
Josef turned from Mick and headed for the ornate from steps of the mansion.
"Josef," Mick called, misery in his voice, then, when Josef didn't respond, "Josef, c'mon. Wait!"
With the last of his sapped energy, Mick was swiftly around the car, up the steps, and had come to a halt directly in front of Josef. Much closer than anyone else would ever dare, in an attempt to confront or stop the older vampire.
Josef stopped short, barely preventing an undignified collision with Mick, and growled under his breath.
But Mick was undeterred, and he held his place.
"Josef, please. I know you're mad and you're hurt, and it's because of me. But please....can't you just listen?"
Josef bared his teeth and leaned forward, inches from Mick's face, a hiss in his throat and a low growl in his chest. "I've listened enough, Mick. Get out of my way."
Mick took a small step back. Something seemed to have changed in Josef, just in that second. His response had been....chilling. The words had been simple enough, but the way he'd said it; He hadn't been Mick's best friend, or his sire, in that moment. Not even an angry best friend or sire.
He'd spoken in a way that Mick had never heard directed at him before, not by Josef. But he'd heard Josef use such a tone with others. Others that hadn't existed long after. Mick began to wonder if there was more than just anger there.
Unsure, Mick stepped to the side, removing himself from Josef's chosen path. Josef skirted past him and opened the door. Just before he shut it behind him, leaving Mick on the outside, Mick stepped forward.
"You said you'd never do this, Josef," he called to Josef's back. Josef stopped in the doorway, but he didn't turn around. He stood there with his back to Mick. Listening.
"Remember?" Mick continued, his words loud in the cool night air, the only sound. "You promised, Josef, and you never break a promise. You promised you'd never give up on me and you swore that you'd never turn me away from what I need, even if you were angry. Well, I need this. I need to fix this, Josef. Don't shut me out." His words echoed a little off the cavernous porch. His tone was pleading. He knew this was his last chance. He felt the last little bit of his energy drain. He felt weak and exhausted. Almost shaky. The adrenaline was long gone.
Josef turned to face him, staring at him but saying nothing. Mick waited tensely, not speaking for fear of saying something that might make it worse. After what seemed like an eternity, that sense of malice that had been recently present in Josef seemed to disappear, and Mick's old Josef was back. Whether he was Josef the friend or Josef the sire, Mick wasn't sure, but he didn't care. At this point he'd take either or both.
Josef gave a nod, then tipped his head to the side, a signal to follow him into the house. Mick did so gratefully.
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Josef
Something had shifted. Josef had began this little excercise with the intent of teaching Mick a lesson, and apparently it was working. But somewhere along the line, Josef realized, he'd let it take over. He'd let himself fall into the deeper anger he'd been portraying to Mick. He didn't know how it had happened. One minute, he'd been ready to let Mick stew for awhile, and the next, he couldn't look at his friend's face without an overpowering sense of derision for the feelings of betrayal he'd caused. It was a surreal feeling, like he'd stepped outside of himself and watched his shell take over, the shell that was filled with the stronger version of the emotions Josef had tried so hard to downplay. That's been happening alot lately, Josef thought distractedly.
But when he'd turned from Mick and Mick had reminded Josef of his promise in that tone that could only be described as desperate....that had snapped things back into perspective. Mick had almost sounded betrayed, himself, when he'd pleaded not to be shut out.
Josef headed into the house, Mick's presence behind him the whole way. Josef paused at the entrance to the living room, then continued on until he reached the wet bar he'd sat at previously.
He needed a drink. That had been happening a lot lately, too, in his quest to better understand Mick and their new relationship.
Josef gestured toward the high barstools at the counter, and as Mick took a seat, Josef fixed each of them a drink.
All this had taken place in silence, and when Josef turned to face Mick as he put his drink on the bar in front of him, he was speared with a stab of concern. Mick looked wan and worn out, paler than he should've been.
Josef knew he should have noticed it sooner, but his anger had gotten in the way, he hadn't seen or felt anything but his own strong emotions.
"Are you injured?" Josef asked crisply, breaking the silence. It had occurred to him that maybe Mick had lied about his well-being earlier. Josef knew he could usually tell when his friend was being untruthful with him, but you just never know.
Mick, who had been staring into his drink, looked up at Josef. "What? No, of course not."
"Are you sure?" Josef asked, but he'd already felt that Mick was telling the truth. He was paying attention this time. He was sure that Mick wasn't physically injured, but he could feel the exhaustion coming from him in waves.
"I'm fine," Mick insisted.
"You look like crap. How'd you get here so fast?"
Mick gave a small half-smile and in a tone that said everything but 'duh', asked, "How do you think?"
Josef shook his head and gave a long-suffering sigh that wasn't all act. "You seem to have the least sense of self-interest of anyone I know, Mick."
"Some things just take higher priority," Mick hinted, his voice heavy with things unsaid, his lighter mood gone.
"Only to you. You just don't seem to think about how that might affect those that care about you."
"And so we've come full circle," Mick responded wryly.
Josef nodded in acknowledgement. He knew that, regardless of how upset he was at the idea that Mick hadn't been honest with him, he was more upset that Mick had put himself in danger. That seemed to be a costant bone of contention between the two of them, and usually hidden beneath other petty disagreements. Josef marvelled that, for beings that he saw as superior, they couldn't hide their flaws. He'd been alive for four hundred years, for heaven's sake! He should have mastered the art of conversation and confrontation by now. But for some reason, when he and Mick disagreed, they never could manage to adress the real issue head on; they always had to take the roundabout way of getting there.
"What are we gonna do about this?" Mick asked. Josef wasn't sure if the question was rhetorical or not. "I mean, I could say I'd change, but I'd be lying. I couldn't make that promise and keep it."
"I know," Josef nodded. "And I don't want you to change, Mick. We've been over that, and anyway, you wouldn't be you if you changed. I just....I wish you'd be more careful, Mick."
"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Mick asked increduously.
"Maybe," Josef smirked with a quick thought of some of their past escapades, "but when I do something that I know is risky, it's usually my last recourse. And I always....fine, usually" he amended at Mick's look "-I usually think it through before I proceed. I usually have a plan, or at least a fairly sure idea of what I'm doing and that I can come out of it in one piece. But Mick, you don't seem to even think! You just jump right in, risk be damned."
"Well..." here Mick paused, seemingly unsure of what to say, then went with lighthearted as Josef had thought he would. "....it's worked so far." At least he had the grace to look sheepish.
"You're the only best friend I have, Mick," Josef said seriously, in a moment of weakness forgetting that he didn't do sentimental. But then he remembered himself. "Do you know how much trouble it would be to find another one if something happens to you? I'm much too busy for that. It'd be much easier to just keep you."
Mick huffed a quiet chuckle, obviously relieved that Josef hadn't turned this litltle tete e' tete into a Hallmark moment. "I guess it wouldn't be out of the realm of reality to promise that I can try to be more careful in the future," Mick offered tentatively.
Josef nodded. He knew that was the best his friend could honestly offer. Anything more would be a false promise. "At least stop and think of your friends before you make some of these risky decisions," Josef suggested. Decisions was stretching it a bit, he thought to himself, knowing that Mick usually didn't think when he was set on a course of action. Best not to mention that again, though. "If the idea of putting yourself in danger so regularly doesn't bother you, then think what it would do to your friends if something were to happen to you. How do you think Beth would feel?" Josef felt the need to add that last part as another mush deterrent.
Mick nodded, but said nothing. Josef hoped what he was saying was making an impact, because he didn't want to have to go through it again. He was seriously starting to sound like a parent giving a lecture, and that wasn't good for his image.
"If nothing else," Josef continued with an intense glare, deciding one last 'suggestion' was in order, "think of having to face your friends. Because I know of a couple that might not be so easy to deal with the next time they have to worry about your safety just because you didn't."
Mick nodded, his expression a combination of sheepish, amused and slightly worried, and Josef knew he understood the veiled threat. Josef had no doubt he could recruit Beth onto his side in this matter, should he need a reinforcement.
At that moment Mick's cell phone trilled.
"Beth must've found her phone," Mick said in suprise after looking at the ID screen. Josef just shook his head in an attitude of long-suffering at Mick's almost excited smile as he answered the phone. You'd think the guy was sixteen instead of over eighty, Josef thought.
Josef sat back to sip his drink as Mick answered. He knew he wouldn't have his young friend's attention for awhile.
"Beth," Mick greeted, his smile evident in his voice.
But seconds later, "Who is this?"
Josef sat up straight, his attention caught by the flat, angry tone of Mick's voice. He focused his hearing to listen in.
"I have her" answered a male voice on the other end of the phone.
"What do you want with her?" Mick asked fiercely. There was no question who 'her' was, and neither did Mick waste time with pointless queries or threats. His eyes were blazing and his jaw was set, and he'd asked the obvious question without preamble.
"We want nothing with her," the voice answered calmly, seemingly unconcerned about Mick's obvious anger. "It's you we want, St. John. Surely that doesn't suprise you. She is simply the means to an end. If you want her back, come and get her. Kostan has the location. We'll be waiting. But don't take too long. I might get hungry."
The call was ended and both heard dead air. Mick pressed the 'off' button on his phone. He lifted his head, his eyes accusing and a snarl on his lips, and stared at Josef.
Josef took a startled step backward as Mick advanced. "Where is she," Mick demanded, a growl building in his chest. "Where's Beth!"
TBC