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“No, unfortunately not. I take jobs from people all over the world. If I have t’ travel I usually include expenses into the final payment.” Victor rocked back on his heels as he thought of a way to get them a quick form of transportation. “Actually, I have a guy tha’ should be in town this month. He flies cargo an’ occasionally he’ll fly people. He’s done this kind of thing for me before. So if you’re all set we can head out. He’s a few minutes out from here.”

Summer opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Okay,” she said finally. “I think we’re going to have to talk about this, though. It’s kinda seat-of-your-pants. I do not approve.” She brushed her fingertips over the sword he’d offered, then squared her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

Victor cocked his head in slight confusion, “What’d you mean by ‘seat-of-your-pants’? I can’t say I’ve heard that one before.” Victor patted himself down quickly, running through his mental checklist before grabbing his keys and heading to the door, making sure Summer was following him.

“You’re making it up as you go along.” She followed him out, twining her hair up into a bun and loosening the straps on her cuirasse. Silently, she settled herself into the car, fingers tensing and flexing on her knees. This would be different than her usual work — probably more combat, and definitely facing an enemy she didn’t know much about. With a little luck, though, her talents would give Victor an edge and wind things up very quickly.

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“I never thought to buy a plane though love. It’s quite literally a day’s ride, I suppose I could borrow a plane…” Victor gave her a mischievous grin. 

“That’s entirely up to you — though I don’t think you can do it in time for this trip,” she teased. “If we’re going to drive it, though, I didn’t plan for that. I assumed it would be close by.”

“No, unfortunately not. I take jobs from people all over the world. If I have t’ travel I usually include expenses into the final payment.” Victor rocked back on his heels as he thought of a way to get them a quick form of transportation. “Actually, I have a guy tha’ should be in town this month. He flies cargo an’ occasionally he’ll fly people. He’s done this kind of thing for me before. So if you’re all set we can head out. He’s a few minutes out from here.”

Summer opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Okay,” she said finally. “I think we’re going to have to talk about this, though. It’s kinda seat-of-your-pants. I do not approve.” She brushed her fingertips over the sword he’d offered, then squared her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

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“I do, actually, but I don’t use them for this kind of work. There’s too much out there that could use them against me. It’s better if I stick to what can’t be taken.” Summer cocked an eyebrow. “I assume you’ve heard of Magneto.”

She tapped a fingernail against her cuirasse. “This is bulletproof, in case you’re wondering.” Flexing her fingers, she looked up at Victor. “Let’s do this, if we’re doing it.”

“Bulletproof? Tha’s wonderful, Jeremiah has been known t’ carry a gun with him on occasion. Yeah, I’ve heard of Magneto, an unpleasant fellow I hear.” Victor shrugged then nodded at Summer’s willingness to leave. “The area where the pack mills about is about a day’s drive or, if you have access to a plane that’d be a lot faster.”

“You’re the one with all the money, darlin’,” Summer replied. “I fly myself, not other people. Is this a literal day’s drive, or more like an eight or nine hour drive?”

“I never thought to buy a plane though love. It’s quite literally a day’s ride, I suppose I could borrow a plane…” Victor gave her a mischievous grin. 

“That’s entirely up to you — though I don’t think you can do it in time for this trip,” she teased. “If we’re going to drive it, though, I didn’t plan for that. I assumed it would be close by.”

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Victor was momentarily shocked by the sudden fire, having, just as Summer said, forgotten exactly what she was.

—

Victor was downstairs in his armory when he checked the monitor displaying the various closed circuit cameras around his house, it was close to an hour since he and Summer had parted at the park and she should be arriving any moment. He pulled out his phone, pulled Summer up in his contacts and shot her a text.

[text] Hey love, there’s a key taped to the inside of the door frame. Jus finishing some things up.

Then he continued packing his gear and weapons, waiting for Summer.

It took a minute of searching, but she finally managed to find the key. Stepping inside, she called, “Victor?” Her boots clunked on the floor.

Her red-and-gold cuirasse was bulletproof, flameproof, and conductive to electricity. Spaulders and brassarts warded her arms, leaving forearms and elbows protected only by heavy cloth. Matching bulletproof leg guards bound to heavy cloth pants protected her legs, tucked into her knee-high boots, all of it designed matching her cuirass.

The armour gave her the full freedom of movement she needed to use both her fire and her martial arts, while protecting the most important areas. With luck, they would face this rogue vampire in an open area, where she could also take advantage of flight, but she thought it unlikely.

“Victor?”

Victor bounded up the stairs and rounded the corner, coming to a stop at the small table that was not too far in front of Summer. He was dressed in a cotton long sleeve, black and grey mottled shirt that clung to him, yet did not restrain his movements. His shirt was tucked into a pair of matching pants, cinched at his waist with a light utility belt, which housed primarily a variety of knives, and the legs of his pants tucked into his boots and cinched just above his ankles. The boots he wore were a specially tanned leather-soled kind that helped to mute the sound of him walking. There was also a black bandanna hanging loosely from his neck, that he used to help hide his face. Twin short swords lay in their scabbards on his back, the hilts coming almost to his lower back so that he could unsheathe them quickly. A larger, tactical knife was belted to his calf and a hand gun holstered to his left side.

“Hey Summer,” His eyes went wide at her armour, “you definitely look ready.” Victor looked her over and put a sword on the table in front of him. “I didn’t know if you had any decent blades since they’re a bit old fashioned, but it’s a hell of a lot easier t’ decapitate a vampire with a blade than a gun. It’s only if you want t’ use it. Your fire’ll definitely come in handy with the burning of him later though.”

“I do, actually, but I don’t use them for this kind of work. There’s too much out there that could use them against me. It’s better if I stick to what can’t be taken.” Summer cocked an eyebrow. “I assume you’ve heard of Magneto.”

She tapped a fingernail against her cuirasse. “This is bulletproof, in case you’re wondering.” Flexing her fingers, she looked up at Victor. “Let’s do this, if we’re doing it.”

“Bulletproof? Tha’s wonderful, Jeremiah has been known t’ carry a gun with him on occasion. Yeah, I’ve heard of Magneto, an unpleasant fellow I hear.” Victor shrugged then nodded at Summer’s willingness to leave. “The area where the pack mills about is about a day’s drive or, if you have access to a plane that’d be a lot faster.”

“You’re the one with all the money, darlin’,” Summer replied. “I fly myself, not other people. Is this a literal day’s drive, or more like an eight or nine hour drive?”

iamvictor-roth:

iamthefirechild:

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Victor was momentarily shocked by the sudden fire, having, just as Summer said, forgotten exactly what she was.

—

Victor was downstairs in his armory when he checked the monitor displaying the various closed circuit cameras around his house, it was close to an hour since he and Summer had parted at the park and she should be arriving any moment. He pulled out his phone, pulled Summer up in his contacts and shot her a text.

[text] Hey love, there’s a key taped to the inside of the door frame. Jus finishing some things up.

Then he continued packing his gear and weapons, waiting for Summer.

It took a minute of searching, but she finally managed to find the key. Stepping inside, she called, “Victor?” Her boots clunked on the floor.

Her red-and-gold cuirasse was bulletproof, flameproof, and conductive to electricity. Spaulders and brassarts warded her arms, leaving forearms and elbows protected only by heavy cloth. Matching bulletproof leg guards bound to heavy cloth pants protected her legs, tucked into her knee-high boots, all of it designed matching her cuirass.

The armour gave her the full freedom of movement she needed to use both her fire and her martial arts, while protecting the most important areas. With luck, they would face this rogue vampire in an open area, where she could also take advantage of flight, but she thought it unlikely.

“Victor?”

Victor bounded up the stairs and rounded the corner, coming to a stop at the small table that was not too far in front of Summer. He was dressed in a cotton long sleeve, black and grey mottled shirt that clung to him, yet did not restrain his movements. His shirt was tucked into a pair of matching pants, cinched at his waist with a light utility belt, which housed primarily a variety of knives, and the legs of his pants tucked into his boots and cinched just above his ankles. The boots he wore were a specially tanned leather-soled kind that helped to mute the sound of him walking. There was also a black bandanna hanging loosely from his neck, that he used to help hide his face. Twin short swords lay in their scabbards on his back, the hilts coming almost to his lower back so that he could unsheathe them quickly. A larger, tactical knife was belted to his calf and a hand gun holstered to his left side.

“Hey Summer,” His eyes went wide at her armour, “you definitely look ready.” Victor looked her over and put a sword on the table in front of him. “I didn’t know if you had any decent blades since they’re a bit old fashioned, but it’s a hell of a lot easier t’ decapitate a vampire with a blade than a gun. It’s only if you want t’ use it. Your fire’ll definitely come in handy with the burning of him later though.”

“I do, actually, but I don’t use them for this kind of work. There’s too much out there that could use them against me. It’s better if I stick to what can’t be taken.” Summer cocked an eyebrow. “I assume you’ve heard of Magneto.”

She tapped a fingernail against her cuirasse. “This is bulletproof, in case you’re wondering.” Flexing her fingers, she looked up at Victor. “Let’s do this, if we’re doing it.”

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Victor was suddenly flustered, “I-well…I mean, I would’ve told you I had a job, y’know? I guess I’m just sort of used to going solo on jobs, no matter how dangerous it is.” He turned so that he was facing her a bit more. “If you really want to come….I’d worry something would happen, but I won’t stop you, love.”

Still muffled, she shook her head a little bit. “That’s not even the point. The point is that you might die, on one of these jobs, and I know almost nothing. You mostly just … vanish. And, you know, if you’re claiming me, then I have a right to be worried. Or maybe not, because neither of us has any real measure at all of the other one’s combat ability.”

Victor scrubbed his face, “You’re right, an’ I’m sorry. It’s like I said, I’m not used t’ havin’ someone t’ worry like that. Tha’s a good point though, love, we’ve never seen th’ other fight. If you come with though, we’re goin’ back t’ my place an’ I’m giving you some o’ my gear.” He cocked his head for a moment before asking, “Have you ever gone after one o’ my kind before love?”

Summer dropped her hands to give him a very flat look. “I have my own gear, Victor. I don’t need your weaponry.” She brushed her hands through her hair, then stood up. “You forget what I am, I think. Same as I forget what you are.” She lit one finger like a torch, then made the fire spread down over her hand and arm before she dismissed it. “I’ll meet you at your house in an hour.”

Victor was momentarily shocked by the sudden fire, having, just as Summer said, forgotten exactly what she was.

—

Victor was downstairs in his armory when he checked the monitor displaying the various closed circuit cameras around his house, it was close to an hour since he and Summer had parted at the park and she should be arriving any moment. He pulled out his phone, pulled Summer up in his contacts and shot her a text.

[text] Hey love, there’s a key taped to the inside of the door frame. Jus finishing some things up.

Then he continued packing his gear and weapons, waiting for Summer.

It took a minute of searching, but she finally managed to find the key. Stepping inside, she called, “Victor?” Her boots clunked on the floor.

Her red-and-gold cuirass was bulletproof, flameproof, and conductive to electricity. Spaulders and brassarts warded her arms, leaving forearms and elbows protected only by heavy cloth. Matching bulletproof leg guards bound to heavy cloth pants protected her legs, tucked into her knee-high boots, all of it designed matching her cuirass.

The armour gave her the full freedom of movement she needed to use both her fire and her martial arts, while protecting the most important areas. With luck, they would face this rogue vampire in an open area, where she could also take advantage of flight, but she thought it unlikely.

“Victor?”

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She waited until the shifter had walked away, throwing uneasy glances over his shoulder. His eyes lingered on her for a second, but she ignored that. Swinging her legs off the bench, she eyed Victor, hands braced on either side of her knees.

“Take me home, hmm? I like how you didn’t ask if that was what I wanted.”

Victor whirled around and faced her. “I-you’ve never showed any interest in my job, let alone a want t’ join me.” He sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair. “I never wanted to drag you into my work love.”

Summer gave an uneasy shrug. “I didn’t want to intrude. But from the sound of it, you shouldn’t be doing this alone. If this Jeremiah makes even you afraid — ” She shrugged again. “Do you have someone you usually call for backup?”

“Me an’ him got into it a while back, an’ right now, putting us anywhere near each other is guaranteeing one of us won’t come back alive.” Victor sighed, looked around, then sat down. “I don’t usually work with other people because I usually can’t trust ‘em.”

Summer put her hands over her face. “Let me get this straight. You would have taken this job if I hadn’t happened to be here with you, wouldn’t you? And I wouldn’t’ve known anything about it — except you might not have come back.”

Victor was suddenly flustered, “I-well…I mean, I would’ve told you I had a job, y’know? I guess I’m just sort of used to going solo on jobs, no matter how dangerous it is.” He turned so that he was facing her a bit more. “If you really want to come….I’d worry something would happen, but I won’t stop you, love.”

Still muffled, she shook her head a little bit. “That’s not even the point. The point is that you might die, on one of these jobs, and I know almost nothing. You mostly just … vanish. And, you know, if you’re claiming me, then I have a right to be worried. Or maybe not, because neither of us has any real measure at all of the other one’s combat ability.”

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She waited until the shifter had walked away, throwing uneasy glances over his shoulder. His eyes lingered on her for a second, but she ignored that. Swinging her legs off the bench, she eyed Victor, hands braced on either side of her knees.

“Take me home, hmm? I like how you didn’t ask if that was what I wanted.”

Victor whirled around and faced her. “I-you’ve never showed any interest in my job, let alone a want t’ join me.” He sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair. “I never wanted to drag you into my work love.”

Summer gave an uneasy shrug. “I didn’t want to intrude. But from the sound of it, you shouldn’t be doing this alone. If this Jeremiah makes even you afraid — ” She shrugged again. “Do you have someone you usually call for backup?”

“Me an’ him got into it a while back, an’ right now, putting us anywhere near each other is guaranteeing one of us won’t come back alive.” Victor sighed, looked around, then sat down. “I don’t usually work with other people because I usually can’t trust ‘em.”

Summer put her hands over her face. “Let me get this straight. You would have taken this job if I hadn’t happened to be here with you, wouldn’t you? And I wouldn’t’ve known anything about it — except you might not have come back.”

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Summer reached out to brush Victor’s elbow. “Hear him out, before he draws attention to us.” They would have to talk about his protectiveness some other time. Right now, she just wanted this intruder to go away, and the fastest way to make that happen was to find out what he wanted.

Victor eyed the man and motioned with his head to continue. “This rogue’s been attacking our pack for half a year now. Normally, we can get rid of the leech pests without too many problems.” The other man’s eyes flicked down from Victor’s gaze at the use of the derogatory name he’d used. “Anyhow, this rogue has cut us in half an’ our only options left are to either recruit or merge into another pack.” 

Victor sighed, moved out from in front of Summer, glancing at her, his own apprehension drifting off of him. He definitely wasn’t happy with Summer being dragged into his profession. “Alright, so what’s this rogue’s name?”

“Daniel Jeremiah.” The name, a whisper from the man’s lips, stung Victor. “Daniel Jeremiah? No wonder Erick sent you to me,” Victor sighed and adjusted his shirt collar. “Alright, you know my price yeah? I’ll do it, jus’ let me take my companion here home an’ I’ll get on the job.”

The other man nodded quickly, then handed Victor an envelope, which Victor put inside his jacket pocket.

She waited until the shifter had walked away, throwing uneasy glances over his shoulder. His eyes lingered on her for a second, but she ignored that. Swinging her legs off the bench, she eyed Victor, hands braced on either side of her knees.

“Take me home, hmm? I like how you didn’t ask if that was what I wanted.”

Victor whirled around and faced her. “I-you’ve never showed any interest in my job, let alone a want t’ join me.” He sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair. “I never wanted to drag you into my work love.”

Summer gave an uneasy shrug. “I didn’t want to intrude. But from the sound of it, you shouldn’t be doing this alone. If this Jeremiah makes even you afraid — ” She shrugged again. “Do yo have someone you usually call for backup?”