Chapter Text
Well, I don't believe in fate
I believe in destiny
My destiny is swerving in the road in front me, drunkenly
When you take responsibility for your own divinity
True love is not magic
It's certainty
And what comes after certainty?
Bill Callahan, What Comes After Certainty
It was quiet inside of the Rolls Royce as it sped along a winding country road. The dull, gray clouds above were powdering the mountains, hills, and valleys of Northern Wales with a heavy blanket of fresh snow. While scenic, it was beginning to turn the otherwise picturesque journey back to London into a precarious feat.
Integra navigated the roads with care, but the napping vampire sitting in the passenger seat next to her was still being jostled to and fro from the sharp turns. Alucard didn’t mind it so much during the early morning drive to the mission checkpoint seeing as he had slept most of the trip. It was almost soothing, akin to being rocked to sleep like a newborn. Now that the cloud-shrouded sun was dipping beneath the horizon, his senses began to sharpen and the erratic movements were becoming irksome and nausea inducing.
Alucard stretched his long limbs the best he could given the cramped space and glanced out of window, finding that the snowfall had become denser since they departed from Caerwys. The car suddenly lurched toward the guardrail and forced his forehead to smack against the passenger window. He already had a quip on the tip of his tongue as he turned to Integra to tease her about her driving skills, but thought better of it when he remembered the foul mood she was in.
Of which, he couldn’t really blame her. This little “mission” had been a complete waste of their time. Local authorities in Caerwys had reported sightings of a mysterious creature stalking residents in the night, stirring up a fuss and scaring the villagers out of their wits. No deaths had been reported. No one had spotted a single ghoul. In fact, there was nothing about this case that was indicative of vampire activity. Yet, with the recent attack at the hands of the Valentine brothers and the increase in micro-chipped vampires running rampant, no stone could be left unturned. Anything and everything needed to be scrutinized much closer than normal, and Hellsing couldn’t afford to ignore any leads.
Upon closer investigation, they discovered that the supposed creature terrorizing the village was actually a bunch of hoodlum teenagers traipsing around in a Mari Lwyd costume to prank their unsuspecting neighbors and cause a bit of property damage. Alucard could see the exact moment the final straw snapped for Integra whenever he delivered his findings. For the sake of his eardrums, Alucard had to slip out of the police station and retreat to the car whenever she gave the Constable an earful of venom for his incompetence.
It was a shame, really. Alucard had been looking forward to this particular mission. It was the first time in months that he and Integra had an opportunity to be alone with one another. She had been standoffish recently, and Alucard suspected it was due in part to Walter’s meddling. The Angel of Death had been keeping close to Integra (or at least closer than usual) to offer his suggestions and guidance during the current chaos. Walter had also been known to feed Integra all sorts of thinly veiled, malevolent “advice” in regards to “dealing with” her vampire servant from time to time.
Nevertheless, Alucard hoped that after Integra simmered down, they could eventually laugh about the outcome of this Mari Lwyd boondoggle. He couldn’t recall the last time he heard a genuine laugh leave her lips. He missed the sound of it.
The car swayed once more, fishtailing before straightening out again. Alucard gave Integra a subtle glance to gauge her mood before speaking. “Master, it appears that the roadway has become treacherous. Perhaps you would like for me to drive? My enhanced vision would be helpful in these conditions.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she answered stiffly. Integra’s eyes were glued to the road in front of her as she kept a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel.
“Master, please reconsider.” Alucard attempted again a few minutes later whenever the roadway became completely obscured by snow. “I think—“
Integra’s jaw tensed. “Did I ask for your opinion, servant?”
Alucard suppressed a groan at her obstinacy. “No, master. But I —“
Just as the car rounded a tight corner, the road suddenly dropped off in a steep decline down a large hill. Within seconds, they were careening down the slope at an alarming speed. Integra tried with all her might to keep the car straight. But in a moment of panic, she stomped on the brakes, sending the car swerving out of control. Alucard flung his arm out to brace Integra as they came to an abrupt, teeth-rattling halt whenever the car crashed into a tree.
Integra appeared unharmed, though shaken. Alucard was not so lucky; his head slammed into the windshield with such force that it busted a hole through the glass and left a deep gash above his right eye. It was already in the process of healing whenever he turned to check on his master.
“Are you injured?” he asked while looking Integra over. He was grateful that the only blood he could smell was his own.
Integra did not answer him. She only sat there stone-faced for a minute or two, noxiously silent in the fading daylight.
Alucard snapped his fingers in front of her face, worried that she was perhaps in shock. “Integra, are you alright?” He asked again with no success. “Master, please answer me...have you been hurt?”
Instead of offering a response, Integra lowered her head. Alucard raised his hands as if to take her by her shoulders and give her a gentle shake, but only hovered near her with unease. Humans were delicate things, and the vampire didn’t want to chance injuring her further if there was an unseen wound.
With no warning, she tossed her head back and began to laugh madly, not unlike Alucard usually did whenever manic with bloodlust. He leaned away from her in bewilderment. It was disturbing for him to see Integra acting so erratic considering her usual calm and collected demeanor.
She eventually stopped cackling, to Alucard’s immense relief. Integra focused her attention on the comms radio, uselessly fiddling with the dials to see if anything would work. Alucard watched her closely, growing more unsettled at her odd behavior. Integra gave up on the busted radio and retrieved a cigar from the crumpled box in her coat. She held it up in front of her face, inspecting the bent up end before letting out a wry huff and lit it. Integra took a puff or two, opened the car door without explanation, and began to walk up the hill from which they had just plummeted. Alucard stared at her retreating back from the car’s back window in short-lived disbelief before phasing into a shadow and darting through the snow to chase after her.
“We passed by a hotel about a mile ago,” Integra finally spoke as she reached the top of the hill.
The shadows at her feet morphed and formed a solid body behind her. “Are you going to call for an extraction?” Alucard questioned innocently enough.
Integra halted in her tracks and turned on her heel to face him. Though it was now fully dark, her eyes were bright and a little too wide as she stared up at him.
“And who exactly do you suggest I call, Alucard? Walter, perhaps? He’s busy keeping an eye on the new mercenaries that we’ve had to hire and seeing that they are properly trained. Or shall I try Seras? Oh, but no, that won’t do…your fledgling is practically useless since she refuses to drink blood and is undergoing remedial training with the mercenaries. And even if those Valentine bastards had not destroyed the helipad, practically all of my men are six feet under. So no, Alucard, I am not calling for an extraction because there is no one else to contact. What I am going to do is walk to this hotel. I am going to call Walter to let him know that we won’t be making it home tonight. I am going to get a room, and I am going to attempt to sleep. I will call a mechanic tomorrow.”
Integra swiftly turned from him and resumed walking. Her terse, waspish little rant prompted Alucard to venture past the point of worry and land solidly in a state of frustration. It was moments like these that reminded him of her age – she was still green, still maturing. And clearly still young enough to throw a proper temper tantrum. Though, Alucard doubted she would ever outgrow her temper. He didn’t think he wanted her to, either. It usually made for great entertainment. But in this instance, it was starting to grate on his nerves.
Alucard attempted to offer her his coat and hat several times to keep Integra warm and dry during the long walk, and each time she either ignored him or refused.
“Master, allow me to carry you,” Alucard suggested halfway into the journey. “The legs of your trousers are soaked through with snow. You could fall ill.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted through clenched, chattering teeth.