Archive of Our Own ^beta

Today was a slow day in the Club, to which its three members didn’t mind much. Their last hunt left all of them exhausted, and the torrential downpour outside was forecasted to last in Mega City well into tomorrow. None of them much liked the idea of going out.

That was, of course, for Helsie however, who had just gotten back from work not even a few hours prior and was already getting cabin fever.

“So like… Do you think it would be weird if I did start dating again?” She said, hanging upside down on the couch, kicking her feet in the air while scrolling through her phone.

Lucien looked up and squinted at her between the files he was sorting. “Because of Trip?”

“Well, like yeah it’s still only been, what, 3 months since he’s been missing?”

“Hels, I love you and all, but you knew him for 1.” Lucien sighed, putting down the papers and running a hand through his hair. “I really don’t want to be crass, but you’ve known him more as a guy on a missing poster than as an actual person. For all we know, he’s dead or he ghosted you, it’s probably fine.”

“Death’s nothing to make light of Lucien.” Joni said with a light sing-song, not looking up from whatever she was reading on her laptop.

Lucien rolled his eyes. “Oh come on. Are you telling me that guy deserves respect?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“What?! Come on guys, I kinda liked that one, until he up and dipped.” Helsie sat up halfway, pouting her lip out. “What did he ever do to you?”

“Well.” Lucien huffed, crossing his arms and turning up his chin. “He was a gossip, he was badmouthing other people behind their backs, and every time he came in here he smelled like smoke and alcohol. He was gross!”

Helsie only rolled her eyes. “First off, what are you talking about, he smelled fine. Second, ok? And? You and I gossip all the time!”

“Not like that!” Lucien scowled, gritting his teeth. “But sure. Fine! I’m still pissed at him for just leaving you hanging like that though. No one should get away with treating you like that.”

“Luce, I know you mean well but we don’t even know what happened. You can be mad at him after we find out.” Helsie gently kicked at Lucien from the couch, sticking her tongue out. “Alright, point being, if we never officially broke up, would it be weird if I moved on?”

“No...” Lucien uttered quickly, sparing jokingly with Helsie back. Joni looked up for a moment and shrugged.

“I don’t know a lot about dating, but I think a month isn’t a whole lot of commitment.” She said, tapping her fingers along the edge of the laptop. “Plus, don’t you usually have pretty open relationships? I’m surprised you're even asking us.”

“Alright, cool, I’m downloading my apps again.” Helise said, flopping back down onto the couch. She could feel their definitely silent judgment of her, but she didn’t say a word. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Whatever that was.

She was going to miss Trip though, as brief as he was in her life. Not that the man was a keeper, she didn’t date keepers, but he was lowkey, and that was hard to find. Maybe a little clingy for her tastes, but he was nice and didn’t take things too seriously. She appreciated that.

The three, however, came to a very sudden alert when there came a knocking at their front door.

“No one’s given out our new address yet, right?” Joni said quietly, and the three exchanged a look of utter confusion, silent nerves passing between them.

The ransacking of their last hideout was still in recent memory.

“Do you think it’s Trip?” Helsie whispered with a grimace. Ok, thinking more about it, she really didn’t want to see him again.

“I’ll get it.” Lucien, getting up slowly from where he was, pulled a stake out from one of the many piles they kept in the corner of the room, making his way up to the door. Helsie watched, peering over the couch, as he slipped open the door a crack and began whispering to someone outside.

“Uh, I think we have a… client ?” Lucien called back, his brow scowled.

“...Open the door for them.” Joni called back, now on her feet.

Helsie scrambled upright again, putting away her phone. Oh, this was new, this had to be interesting.

And sure enough, it was.

“Lace?” Helsie yelled out, rushing over to the door and putting a hand on Lucien’s chest and practically pushing him out of the way. “Oh my god, what on earth are you doing out there? It’s pouring!”

The woman in the door had her normally puffy purple hair down, and was covered head to toe in a massive black raincoat, her face bare of any makeup. Her expression was somber, but brightened instantly upon seeing a familiar face. “Helsie? Oh my gosh, are you one of the vampire hunters? Now THAT’S a coincidence and a half.”

With a soft smile as he patted his chest, Lucien slowly shuffled the newcomer in, trying to get her out of the rain. “Ahhh, so I take it you two know each other then?”

“Yeah!” Helsie responded eagerly. “This is Lace.”

“Helsie’s one of my clubbing buddies.” The girl chimed in, trying to shake off her coat. Her voice was low and monotone, but somehow also packed the same, singsong energy that Helsie’s had. “I came here because Miss Saint told me to come here? Said she knew some other hunters who could use some work and might be better suited for the job.”

“Victoria sent you?” Joni asked with interest, approaching the scene with hands behind her back.

“Yes. That’d be the one.” Lace smiled, adjusting her glasses as she closed the door to the cold, wet world outside. “We have a serious vampire problem.”

The three clubmates exchanged a few looks, a wordless excitement passing between all of them.

“Oh my gosh we have actual clients !” Helsie whispered, rocking on her heels. “Hold on, let me get everything set up for this. Sorry Lace! Not used to guests!”

“Don’t worry about me!” Lace replied, walking further into the hideout, admiring its unique decor.

Lucien blinked, then laughed, elbowing Joni. “Finally getting ourselves into the big leagues, huh?”

Joni smiled, a small look of pride on her face as she watched Helsie drag out a tablecloth. “Not quite the big leagues yet, but it looks like we’ve started to make a name for ourselves.”

“Alright, let’s get this started!” Helsie said with excitement, pulling out a chair for Lace at the big boy planning table.

This had to be good.

Lace had since shed her massive raincoat, brushing herself off dutifully before plopping herself down in a seat as the club gathered around. “Storytime I guess, I didn’t think these guys were real until I saw it happening myself, no offense to you Helsie. I kinda thought you were just really into the emo and alt thing like, full time. Or really into like… larp.”

“None taken bestie, same for a lot of us.” Helsie said, patting her shoulders before moving to sit down herself.

Taking in a long, deep breath, with many patient eyes on her, Lace began. “Alright, so you know how I do part time at The Fishnet, right? So… a couple of people have been passing out and waking up in the alley next to the club. At first no one really thought anything about it, because like, you know, it's a club, but it kept happening for the past two months or so, and then it got worse and worse, and we started seeing folks with the bite marks…”

Helsie bit her lip. “At Fishnets? No… I like that place.”

Lace simply nodded, patting Helsie’s arm in consolation.

“Well, I guess it makes sense that vamps would prey on the nightlife around here.” Joni clicked her tongue in thought. “Surprised we haven’t found more of them.”

“Maybe there is, and no ones found them out yet? I mean, with some of the concerts we’ve been to, if I was a vamp? I think I could get away with feeding on people literally in the crowd.” Helsie shrugged. “Except this guy. This guy sounds stupid. All in the same club?”

“I’ve asked around and everything,” Lace nodded, folding herself into the chair politely. “He also seems to be going after young girls specifically, and is like, leaving little things from them he pickpocketed or stole from them next to them when they’re out. It’s frankly terrifying, and we’ve already had to send a few people to the ER over it, and I’m worried one of these days I’m going to find a body.”

“How often?” Joni asked quickly, an eyebrow raised.

“...At least twice a week now.”

Joni’s normally cool expression twisted inwards, her look souring.

“Oh ew! Overfeeding, sloppy and creepy.” Lucien, grimacing, stuck his tongue out in disgust as he got up. “Betting now this is one of those weirdos who’s a little too happy to end up getting turned.”

Helsie wasn’t sure exactly what all of this meant, but assumed that meant that this vamp was drinking more than his normal fill. But the young girls? That was serial killer shit.

“I’m assuming that that's… bad.” Lace added pointedly, biting her lip.

Joni took a deep, long sigh. “Yeah. It’s bad. Mean’s he’s not doing it for food.”

“Yuck. Dibs on gutting this one. But…” Helsie chimed in, rattling her nails on the table. “Something’s kinda weird though, right? Like this guy’s drawing a heck of a lot of attention to himself by doing this. If even Lace can tell what's going on he’s doing a really bad job of hiding.”

Joni shook her head. “It might just be because he’s a newer vamp. Everything he’s doing reeks of it.”

“I mean, I agree, but I’m kinda with Hels on this one.” Lucien said, gesturing to her as he offered a small bowl of candy to their guest, which Lace was more than happy to sample. “I feel like this guy’s making a point not to hide. We’ve seen vampires not even a week old that are at least trying to be subtle. That’s a little odd.”

“That is a good point, but still. I think what we’re dealing with is primarily someone who lacks experience more than anything else.” Joni scowled, nodding as she tapped her foot. “That being said, the only way to find out more is by taking a look ourselves.”

“At least investigating will be easy, we’ve already got several outfits for this.” Helsie giggled. “Blending in shouldn’t be too much of an issue at all.”

“Ohhh, are you guys gonna go undercover?” Lace asked, excited at the possibility. “Because if that’s the case, I can always help you get in.”

Helsie looked to Joni with eagerness, shaking her hands with excitement.

“Yes, we can go to the club.” Joni smiled at Helsie with fondness. “But we’re working, remember that.”

“YES!”

— — — <◄|| ▚▚ ◥ ▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬ ◤ ▚▚ ||►> — — — 

This might be one of her favorite hunts yet.

Dragging both of her friends by the hand, Helsie led the crew into the club, lights and sound blaring. She was giddy as could be, bouncing all the way up to the entrance.

Lace, now in her full getup, was waiting for them eagerly.

“Heya.” She waved them over, smiling wide. “Just in time for the witching hour. You all look great.”

“Oh thank you!” Helsie squealed. She had picked out her favorite glittery jacket and shorts combo just for this, not knowing when they’d get another hunt to play dress up on. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.”

“Thanks girl.” Lace said, dipping her wrist to her before leading the group inside.

It was dark and all kinds of colorful here, loud music bouncing off of the industrial ceiling and neon lights seemed to grow from the walls. This was one of the smaller joints around the city, but one that Helsie liked to frequent for its more alternative and queer friendly vibes. A lovely little place.

Somewhat odd that a vamp seemed to want to target here in particular , Helsie thought, something about this felt like it must be more personal to him.

“I still can’t believe you hunt vampires.” Lace whispered over her shoulder. “That’s actually so cool, and here I thought you were just a bobarista.”

“Oh that's my day job. Hunting runs in my blood, baby.” Helsie smiled wide and pointed to herself. “5 generations going now.”

Lace’s mouth hung open as she placed a hand over it. “Oh wow… you must be the most experienced person here. That’s amazing!”

“Uh, well-” Helsie trailed off, her confidence fading a bit. “I’m certainly in the running for our best fighter if you ask me.”

“I’ll confirm that.” Walking by, Lucien put a hand on Helsie’s shoulder. “Not to mention we wouldn't have half our equipment without her, that's for sure.”

Helsie laughed nervously. Lucien was trying to be nice but…

“Eyes up everyone.” Joni cut through the conversation, demanding their utmost attention. “Lucien, I want you as eyes and ears, keep watch of the room and keep an eye on potential victims, Helsie, I want you to mingle. Ask questions, see if anyone here knows more. Act natural, have fun, but I want us all on high alert. Make sure this guy doesn’t get the chance to bite someone else.”

“Yes ma’am.” Helsie sang and Lucien nodded, both of them smiling and attentive before beginning to disperse.

Leaning in towards Lace and away from the rest of the group, Helsie lowered her voice. “Ok, so, anyone here I need to avoid?”

“Uhh… depends?” Lace asked, walking over to the bar to begin setting some things up for the shift change. “Trip’s not around still if that’s what you’re asking. But I think one of your ex’s has been around? You dated the girl with the pink highlights right?”

“Who?”

“Oh, nevermind then. You’re probably good.” Lace shrugged with a smile. “I’m going to be honest, Helsie, I don’t really remember them all. You pull like crazy . You even nearly pulled me for a bit.”

“Yeah… yeah I’m hot shit alright.” Helsie sighed, taking a quick glance over at the bar.

…Lace didn’t even know, and there were familiar faces there. People who probably didn't want to see her again.

“I’ll come back if I need anything.” She said quickly, turning briskly the other way. “You stay safe tonight, alright boo?”

“Oh? Uh, sure thing Helsie.” Lace smiled awkwardly, waving as the huntress left.

There was a pit building in Helsie’s stomach, now was not the night for dealing with this.

— — — <◄|| ▚▚ ◥ ▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬ ◤ ▚▚ ||►> — — — 

“Hels, are you good?”

Helsie looked up, bleary eyed and half awake, watching the colorful blobs of Mega City dance over Lucien’s windshield.

“I’m fine.” She said curtly, drawing herself back into her legs.

“If someone was mean to you I’ll make sure they won’t do it again.” Lucien said flatly, eyes focused on the road.

“No, no it’s not that.” She whispered. She already felt bad enough that Lucien had to come out and bring her home again. “I messed up. I think.”

“Oh Hels, I’m sure it’s not as bad as it feels.” Lucien said, trying to be as reassuring as he could. He had that tinge of pity in his eyes and in his voice, though, and as much as he meant well, Helsie couldn't help but hate it. “It’s past midnight. No one should trust how they feel about themselves after the sun sets.”

“Even if someone screamed at me?” She asked sheepishly. “For buying their partner some fries? And then kissing them?”

Lucien bit his lip, twisting his lip ring around in his mouth a few times. “Well… Did you know they weren’t single?”

“No…”

“Not your fault then.” He shrugged with confidence.

“I was gonna ask them out. I thought we were flirting? I mean, I think we were, I just-” Helsie held her face in her hands, tearing up for the second time tonight.

Lucien, quietly, took one of his hands off of the wheel to put a hand on Helsie’s shoulder, rubbing his thumb back and forth. “It’s ok Helsie. You’ve had a long night, let’s just get you home.”

— — — <◄|| ▚▚ ◥ ▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬ ◤ ▚▚ ||►> — — — 

Helsie had, even though her behaviour wouldn't suggest it, had done an excellent job of staying on mission. It wasn’t her fault that that mission involved talking to other pretty boys and girls her age.

It had, very genuinely, gotten her a lot of information. More than one of the girls had seen a guy vaguely stalking them, or at least had the impression they were being followed. It was, sadly, a bit hard to nail him down, however. Creeps like that around this side of the city were a dime a dozen, and looking for him was going to be a challenge and a half.

He was, however, starting to make his presence known.

Not a lot of people knew he was a vamp. Or, at least, that calling him “the vampire” was more than a nickname. It was a miracle that Lace was able to deduce that on her own, because in the club it wasn’t much more than a rumor run amok.

Barely anyone thought these things were real, anyways.

But seeing the bite wound from one of his victims was enough to know for sure.

“Dusty?” Helsie gasped a little, brushing the woman's hair from behind as she approached.

Dusty bristled a bit at the unexpected contact, shooting a glare before she relaxed, realizing who she was looking at. “Oh looks like someone finally found you to get the memo over.”

She stood tall, arms crossed, with a fairly striped back getup for her as far as Helsie knew her, but a backwards cap and steel knuckled gloves left her pretty distinct. She was someone Helsie saw a lot around here, and always wanted to get closer to, but unlike her, Dusty was adamant to keep strangers at arms length.

Which if anything, meant she kept trying to pester her.

“Did he get you too? Why are you still here?” Helsie asked, pivoting around to her front, to which Dusty let out an exasperated huff.

“Coward got me by surprise.” Dusty scoffed, taking a sip from her drink. “And I’m back, because if he tries again, I’m knocking his skull in.”

“Wow, that's crazy. We’re like, almost here for the same thing.” Helsie tucked her hair behind her ear with a smirk. “Not to force you to talk to me more, but what do you know about him?”

Dusty rolled her eyes, sighing before giving Helsie a smile. “If I do, you promise to beat the shit out of him.”

“Literally my job, babe.” Helsie grinned as Dusty beckoned her to come with, to a more private corner of the venue, to which Helsie happily followed.

“You’re looking for a dude, bout’ yay tall, light skin, short dark hair, wears a lot of different things but what I saw him in was a dark green motor jacket.” Dusty said as they walked. “Which I know could be anyone, but at least that’ll narrow down your pool a bit.”

“Sure does!” Helsie skipped across the floor, arriving at a small nook, perfect for little chats like this. “Beats the rest of the nothing descriptions I got from everyone else.”

“Most of the people here don’t think he’s a big deal.” Dusty shrugged, leaning on a nearby pillar, arms crossed. “But he’s a special kind of creep, I’ll tell you that.”

“Oh we know, Lace has been telling me all about it.” Helsie grinned, flicking one of her earrings as they spoke.

“Did she tell the fucking serial killer shit he’s doing?” Dusty asked, and Helsie leaned in near immediately.

“I mean, like, he’s been leaving mementos right? Like things he pickpocketed?”

“You remember that like… little capsule thing you gave me when we first met?” Dusty asked, her voice a little quieter.

“Oh? The little mouse dude gashapon? ...Why?” Helsie sucked her lip in, eyes widening.

“Well. I lost it. Maybe weeks ago, and it was in a little pile he left next to me. Along with one of my trading cards I lost and a bubble gum wrapper I threw out.” Dusty’s expression was dark, her brow deeply scowled as she breathed through her teeth. “I haven’t chewed anything in a hot minute either. And not around here.”

“Oh so he’s been like, stalking stalking people.” Helsie breathed quietly.

“Yeah.” Nodded Dusty, who clenched her fist tight. “For all I know this guy knows where I’m staying, as well as a bunch of other girls here. It’s why I came out. I wanted to kick him where he felt safe.”

“Amen to that.” Helsie said, marinating in the following silence for a bit.

Frequently, the club came face to face with awful people of all descriptions. It wasn’t unusual to see all varieties of freaks of nature and nurture come out of the woodwork once they’d been hit with vampirism. But it was something else to see one that wasn’t larger than life.

It was something else to see a more… normal sort of criminal and creep. It felt more real, in a way.

“Anything else?” Helsie asked, looking up at Dusty, her normally bubbly demeanor dampened for a moment.

“S’bout it.” Dusty sighed. “Not much else to do but teach him a lesson he’ll never forget.”

Helsie nodded. She already had every reason to catch this guy, she didn’t need another, but it helped.

“Oh! Also, been meaning to ask, how have you been since the, like, y’know, big thing ?” She asked as she turned to leave.

Dusty raised an eyebrow as she relaxed against the pillar, huffing out a breath through her nose. “I’ve been here and there.” She said simply. “Figured I could go home if I wanted, but no point in heading off to whatever fractured bits of a zombie infested wasteland that the zero point held onto when everyone I care about is here anyways.”

“Well, you’re always welcome in our little fracture!” Helsie giggled, holding her hands out for a moment. “Sorry about our little monsters though.”

Dusty shrugged with a smirk. “Nowhere’s perfect.”

— — — <◄|| ▚▚ ◥ ▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬ ◤ ▚▚ ||►> — — — 

“I’ve got something.”

Joni looked up from her wall flowering position, propped up against the quieter corners of the room.

Helsie, bringing up a pair of drinks, gently set one in her hand. “The noise finally getting to you?”

“It’s not exactly… mmm.” Their leader held her chin up high, trying to remain composed. “It’s not my night, I think.”

“It’s ok if you're overwhelmed chief, take a load off, I’ve done the hard part.” Helsie smiled, settling in next to her. “I’ve got a vague description and some more of the working methodology of the creep.”

Joni sighed softly in relief. “Good. Lay it on me.”

“ Well.” Helsie rustled her shoulders. “First off, I was right. He’s got major serial killer vibes. Major actual stalker we’re dealing with. Apparently been grabbing things from victims weeks in advance before leaving them behind. And second? Light skinned, average build, and dark hair. Which I know is not a lot-”

“-But it's something.” Joni finished, already scanning the room. “Thanks Helsie.”

“Don’t even mention it. What would you do without me?” Helsie said joyfully, taking a sip of her colorful drink.

Joni patted Helsie’s shoulder, taking a sip of her own drink.

…Helsie’s not sure what that meant, but the silence kinda stung.

“Um, anyways.” Helsie shuffled a bit against the wall, trying to shake out the tension she felt. “What are you thinking? Stake-out and stake-in?”

“Something like that…” Joni muttered, pinching her teeth along the rim of her cup. “Don’t want to scare him off, so back off on the questions for now, but let’s see if we can’t catch him in the act before it happens, I’ll get Lucien up to speed and have him hover the entrance for people matching your description.”

“And what are we? Bait?” Helsie laughed.

“Armed bait.” Joni said flatly, frowning as Helsie didn’t seem to appreciate that idea much. “Ah, um, that was meant to be a joke.”

“It’s ok.” Helsie patted their leader’s back. “You’re getting better at those.”

Clearing her throat, Joni centered herself again. “Anyways, in all seriousness, tail anyone you think might be a target, I’ll be doing the same. If he makes a move, take him out.”

“Yes ma’am,” Helsie smiled. 

— — — <◄|| ▚▚ ◥ ▬▬▬ ◆ ▬▬▬ ◤ ▚▚ ||►> — — — 

Helsie ended up flitting to and fro different groups, making small talk with a lot of different girls, trying to shadow them as nicely as she could, but in the end, she ended up back with Lace.

“Soooo… How are things?” The girl asked, her smile tapering down as Helsie flopped into the chair in front of her. “That bad huh?”

“Lotta info and not a lot else.” Helsie stuck her tongue out. “I came here to kick ass, this guy’s not making a move, and I’m on the clock! So, I can’t do anything fun .”

“Oh is that so? On the clock? In a club?” Lace looked at her with amusement from behind the bar, her voice in a mocking tone. “Gee, wonder what that’s like.”

“...Yeah that's fair. I deserved that.” Helsie popped her lip, pointing to a soda in the small minifridge behind the counter. “Since you're so busy, can I have another one of those?”

“Can you ask nicely?”

“Pleeeaaassse?”

“Atta girl.” Lace laughed, tossing the can her way, which Helsie grabbed out of mid air. She wasted no time at all getting the thing open, giving it a swift chug. 

“So, how are things going on with you? Besides the whole vampire thing. It’s been a little bit since I’ve seen you.” Lace said, sliding her finger around the rim of an empty cup.

“Oh, uh, mostly busy with work and other work.” Helsie shrugged, leaning over the counter. “I haven’t really had the heart to come here since Trip well… y'know ? But I’m done crying over that.”

Lace nodded knowingly. “No, I know! Trip was a good one, but I haven’t seen his bike around in forever. I hate to say this, but he really might have skipped town.”

“Yeah… I know.” Helsie sighed, taking a long sip of her soda. Tapping her fingers along the side of the can, she looked up at Lace. “You don’t think it was like, something that I did or something?”

“Oh no, no no.” Lace shook her head. “I mean, I feel bad saying this but he might have just not thought you’d take it that hard. Might have just thought it was an extended hookup or something..”

“But it wasn’t!” Helsie scowled, biting her tongue for a moment. Well, it wasn’t like they were serious, but after all those late night talks… “I dunno, like, it kinda was? But not really? Like we weren't even doing anything saucy, and he was fine with that. And I thought at least we’d stay friends! And he’d tell me if he wasn’t interested in lovey dovey stuff anymore! He was super chill with a lot. He like, got me. We were on the same wavelength y'know?”

Helsie sighed with a pouted lip, playing with the soda tab. Feeling a buzz on her phone, and then another, she brought it out, having to squint at the bright screen in the low light of the club. “Luceeeee I’m having an emotional moment, fuck off.” She sniffled, waving away a dozen or so notifications. Whatever he was trying to get her attention for right now, it wasn’t worth it.

If it was an emergency, he’d be yelling or calling.

“I mean, have you talked to your folks, Helsie?” Lace asked with a raised brow, mixing together a new order. “You talk about them like family, surely they know more than I do.”

Helsie took a very long, very deep breath.

“Look, I love my guys, I love them so, so much.” She said, taking a long swig from her soda.  “But they don’t get it. They just don’t. Lucien hasn’t dated more than his actual monster of an ex a few years back, and I’m honestly not even sure if Joni knows what sex is. I’d honestly believe it if she told me she thought it was a sparring technique.”

Lace chuckled, pulling a hand over her mouth for a moment. “Oh, they are like… oh my gosh. It can’t be that bad!”

“They don’t fall in love like I do!” Throwing up her hands in dramatics, Helsie blew a raspberry as she slumped back down into her chair. “Or… latch onto people like I do. Ugh, I don’t know what it is anymore.”

“You want connection, girlie. Nothing wrong with that.” Lace shrugged with a small smile, running her nails along the counter. “And here I was thinking they were kinda cute… Oh well.”

“Eww! That’s like you dating my brother or sister!” Helsie smiled as she stuck her tongue out. “I mean you can shoot your shot if you want, Joni has said she wants some more experiences, but I don't know if Lucien even likes girls, so good luck.”

Lace clicked her tongue in disappointment. “Is what it is… well, I suppose I can keep looking out for eligible parties for both of us then.”

“How do you know I’m back in the market?” Helsie asked with a small scowl, her mouth now a long, thin line.

Lace blinked at her for a moment, blinking slowly as she leaned over the counter.

“Because I know you, Helsie. You need some sort of something going on or you can’t function. ” She said in a slow drawl.

Helsie only frowned. “You’re right but you don’t have to say it like that.”

Lace shrugged with a smile, turning to go about her work, pouring out a few drinks and sending them down the line.

There was that buzzing again, and Helsie looked down to her pocket again with a squint.

“Geez, ok, I should probably go figure out what this is about. I’ll be back, Lace.” She muttered, leaving the bar and taking her soda with her, only to run into Dusty again. Headfirst.

In moments, there was soda all over the floor, and the both of them as well, and Helsie shrieked in immediate horror.

“No! Oh no, oh my gosh I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry.” She sputtered, Dusty remaining ambivalent, blinking slowly as the sickeningly sweet syrup dripped off of her.

“You’re… fine.” Dusty said slowly, shaking off as much as she could, very much bewildered.

Lace merely offered some towels from behind the bar, giggling a bit in amusement.

“I was. Not looking where I was going at all. Gosh.” Helsie took the towels, frantically exchanging them between herself and Dusty, trying to get as much as possible, trying not to linger on how close Dusty was standing next to her. “You're ok?”

“I’m more than ok, it’s soda. Are you ok?” Picking up one of the towels with one hand, Dusty went over herself top to bottom. “No offence, but you look like you're about to cry.”

“I am!” Helsie yelled, nearly dropping her towel. “Ohh, your cute outfit…”

“My… clothes?”

“I feel bad ok?!”

Dusty’s expression stayed static a moment, before she smiled, starting to laugh. “You’re so dramatic.” She said with fondness, taking Helsie’s towel out of her hands, wiping the rest off herself. “It’s just clothes. They make a lot of those.”

Helsie found herself shutting up quickly, holding in her breath as Dusty got most of the liquid off in minutes in a series of firm pats with the towel.

“Wow. Aha… um.” The huntress stuttered, looking at the floor. “ Thank you for that, I appreciate it .”

“Don’t mention it, just be careful next time.” Dusty said, looking down with a wink and a small smile. “I know you’re more graceful than that.”

Frozen, Helsie was practically vibrating on the spot before Lace pushed her from behind with the back end of a bottle.

“Heyyy… Why don’t you too go wash up in the backroom together or something, and get me a mop for the floor, yeah?” Lace giggled again as she kept prodding Helsie forwards with a smirk. Helsie only scoffed.

“Ok, ok! Fine!” She pouted, floundering as a hand came from behind her, Dusty guiding her away.

“You know where that is?” Dusty asked.

Helsie gave a loud huff. “Of course I do! I’ve been here like, a million times!” The huntress spouted, reaching around and grabbing Dusty by the arm, to which Dusty laughed, finding it amusing. “Come on, I don’t wanna waste time.”

“Alright then.” Dusty snickered. “Lead the way, huntress.”

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“You know, I kinda thought that you like, hated me or something.” Helsie said, leaning over a stack of boxes. Their search for this mop was starting to get dire. One would think that they put it somewhere convenient, but this place was huge, and a maze at that… “But now I’m not so sure.”

“Friends and such weren’t something I used to be able to afford. Not in a world where more people often meant more liabilities.” Dusty shrugged, heaving a few cartons of supplies out of their way to reach a nearby shelf. “I’m getting better at that. And, you are annoyingly persistent.”

“It’s one of my special skills!” Helsie pinched her cheeks into a smile.

“It’s endearing, too.” Dusty said, in her same casual, flat tone.

It took a minute for Helsie’s brain to catch up. “Wait, do you like… y’know?” She said, flicking her wrist out before pointing to herself.

“A bit.” A wry smile came over Dusty’s face. “Lace said you were sometimes down for casual sort of things, but maybe not since you were still getting over something, but I thought I’d ask. That is actually what I came over for, but… well, y’know.”

Dusty gestured around them both, to which Helsie’s mouth hung open.

“I- I mean. Like. Yeah! Wow, holy shit I’d be down for that!” Helsie bounced up and down for a moment, nearly tripping before righting herself. “I’m, uh, all kinds of busy tonight, but like, tomorrow my place? I’ve got a bunch of old movies we could watch too and stuff, I keep my own milk tea stuff at home too if you’d like and…”

Reaching over, Dusty held a hand on Helsie’s shoulder to steady her, before reaching down to peck her cheek. “Sounds like a date?”

“Uh… aha. Yeah!” Helsie sputtered, her face growing bright red as her train of thought quickly derailed, leaving her standing as an awkwardly melting mess. “That sounds… yes. Wow.”

“Great.” Dusty smiled, reaching behind the huntress and retrieving a mop. “I’ll make sure to get you my number before I leave. You look like you need a minute, make sure to go wash up, ok?”

“Mhmm!” Heslsie nodded, watching as Dusty left, leaving her alone in the room.

Helsie took a moment to sit down in the storage space, moving some tablecloths out of the way so she had a place to plop down, the darkness of the room comforting, and maybe the first breath of silence she’d had all night.

Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Or, she thought so. Until the shadows began to move.

Sitting up straighter, Helsie whipped around, hearing the soft whistle of movement by her head. “Hey, w-”

Before she knew it, her head was pinned in cardboard.

A hand was grasped around her face, and Helsie responded instantly, delivering a swift and hearty kick to the stranger's chest, rolling to the side, in case of another blow. A good call, as a blur of a clawed hand launched towards her and lodged itself in the cardboard, now missing her head.

A telltale hiss drew her to attention immediately, and she knew all too well what she was up against.

“Get off of me, you fucking tick!” She screamed, grabbing a nearby broom and going for a large swing. There was a distinctive crack noise as the force of the blow caused the shaft of the thing to break in two, sending the figure flying against the opposing wall, giving her plenty of space to recover.

The figure groaned in pain, slumping some and grabbing its side.

Helsie smiled with glee.

“What? Not so impressive now after your surprise attack? Ooooo, look at you, little cowaaaard.” She sang, holding the splintered end of the broom as she stood up and waltzed forwards. “I’m going to enjoy kicking your shit in.”

The figure was wearing the outfit that Dusty had described alright, and this guy looked battered to shit and back before Helsie could properly get her hands on him. His pants were torn in a decidedly more disheveled than punkish look, and his jacket had seen better days.

A jacket that was… oddly familiar. One she hadn’t seen in a long, long while.

Her face scrunched up for a moment, Helsie grabbed the man’s collar, throwing him up against the wall, ready to question him before her mouth dropped agape.

“...Trip?” Helsie nearly dropped his collar, but her fingers were locked and frozen along with the rest of her.

The man gave a sheepish, half lidded smile, punctuated with the glint of fangs.

“Hiya Helsie…” Trip muttered with a strained breath. He looked nearly the same as she remembered and barely a strand of hair different, but his skin now bearing that tell-tale pallor the rest of her prey did.

What… happened?

Helsie stood still for a while, simply staring at the man in confusion before raising him up by the collar and slamming him against the wall again.

“Trip, what the FUCK?!” She spit out, her face balled and running red. There was nothing she could think or feel but shock and anger. Trip merely stood and took it, smiling and giggling all the while.

“I’m sorry Bells, I know you're mad, but I’m here now.” He smiled, his voice sweet.

Disgusting.

“How does that make it better!” Dropping him with force, Helsie took a few steps back and brushed her hair away from her eyes, staring at the man in front of her. “You left with no note! No nothing-”

“Hard to do when you don't expect to die.” Trip smiled. His eyes almost glazed over, shimmering with something unnatural. The more he talked the more Helsie felt like she was looking at a puppet wearing his skin, speaking in his voice without saying his words. “I got a little lost…”

“Lost in girls' necks? And what the hell do you mean? You know where I live! Did your brain shrivel up when you turned too?!” Helsie kicked one of the nearby boxes, denting it inwards.

“I had to be careful, Bells… You keep dangerous friends…”

“I liked you! Why are you being a fucking creep!”

Trip looked on, with the same vacant smile that hadn't left him, still slumped and sitting on the floor.

“You’re still so gorgeous.” He muttered, his eyes wide and pleading. “Do you know how lonely it is, Bells? To live like this?”

“Yeah, I bet it’s lonely. I bet whoever bit you? Left you in the gutter you crawled out of, you… you…” Helsie stuttered, already regretting insulting him already. This was Trip. She liked Trip. She…

She couldn’t help but see him as pathetic like this. It was her fault, probably, that he got turned to begin with, how could it not be? Anyone she touched was at risk, no doubt, with how she led her life.

If this was an attack, it was working. She sure felt weak right now.

“All I wanted, this whole time was to find you again, I’m sorry it took so long.” Trip slowly got up, each word as sickly sweet as the last. “I kept trying to find someone like you, with your fire, your passion, but nothing’s the same.”

“What the fuck are you talking about.” Helsie stepped back, eyeing Trip with confusion.

“I love you, Bells, don’t you get that?”

Helsie was going to be sick.

“Trip wouldn’t say that.” She said firmly. “We weren’t like that. It wasn’t that serious .”

“Do you really think that?” Trip said, his expression changing for the first time, lowering into a slight frown as he came closer. “We’re kindred spirits, you and I. You cried into my arms long and hard about the ways that no one else understands. They don’t get how hard it is to find people, to be close when you learn no one wants you.”

“Trip, cut this shit out.” Helsie hissed out through gritted teeth, bunching in her shoulders. “I can help you, just stop being fucking weird.”

“Remember? We even bonded over the whole foster kid thing. You know what it’s like… having no one. We don’t have to use people anymore.” Trip merely blinked for a moment, his head cocking to the side as his bangs followed, brushing his face. “I’m here to help you, Bells. I can fix that.”

“What are you-” Sputtered Helsie.

And before she knew it, Trip was up in her space, a hand around her chin, pushing her up and away, exposing her throat.

“You and I are the only people we have Hells-bells…” Trip sang, letting his cold, empty breath skirt around her throat before opening his maw. “...and now, we don’t ever have to lose eachother again. Now we can be- ”

His expression changed in an instant, and Helsie could feel the cold trickle of vampiric sludge hit her throat as the vampire coughed, stumbling back.

Looking down at himself, Trip shrieked, seeing the splintered end of the broomstick lodged in his chest, dark red dribbling down his shirt.

“You! What have you done. We were perfect! We-” He sputtered, and Helsie wasted little time kicking the man, sending him up against the wall again.

“Rot in hell.” Her eyes were cold, wiping the blood off of her neck and shaking it off in the creature's direction as it writhed and coiled in pain. In moments, his skin began to crumble inwards, slowly flecking off into dust.

Trip, or whatever was wearing his face, was gone.

Helsie shivered, biting her lip.

She wanted to go home now.

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The rest of the club did not argue with her.

With a blanket over her shoulders, Helsie sat alone in the backseat of Lucien's car, buried in the mountain of plushies he kept back there. Lil Louie sat comfortably at her side, a comforting, protective presence after everything that happened.

She needed it now.

“So… Did you guys have fun while I was getting traumatized?” She asked in a lighthearted tone. Or, the best she could manage. Her voice was still sniffly from the small cry she had before getting in the car.

“I thought about trying to learn how to ‘break it down’, but didn’t quite get there.” Joni smiled, turning to look at her from the passenger seat. “I don’t think I know how to dance very well.”

“I was trying to tell you I’d seen him! I sent you like, a dozen texts!” Lucien said through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry, I knew I should have ran over or something and I didn’t and-”

“Hey now. What did we say about blaming ourselves?” Joni reminded him, to which Lucien let out a long sigh. “That goes for you too, mister.”

Lucien gave out a loud huff, tapping his fingers along the wheel. “I know, I know, I’m sorry. I’m just… mad. I’m mad he hurt you, Hels.”

“It’s ok, Luce, he’s gone. I kicked his shit in, it’s ok.” Helsie smiled as best she could, whipping her face a bit and smudging her makeup even more. “I’m surprised you aren’t celebrating to be honest. Thought you’d feel vindicated about being right.”

There was an awkward silence that came over the car, and even Joni turned to look at their diver, who let out a small sigh.

“No… Joni and I talked about it a bit before all this went down.” Lucien admitted, hunching over a bit in embarrassment. “I uh, care about you guys a lot, and that's good! But I need to stop using my own baggage as reference material for your relationships… And respect your judgment more.”

“Aww! Very sweet of you Luce.” Cooed Helsie, sniffing a little more. “And I would appreciate that, yeah.”

“Trip did turn out shitty though, and I wish I was there to kick his ass in.” He huffed, to which Helsie laughed.

“Sorry I got the drop on him first. Slow ass.” She smiled slyly from under her blankets.

“You beat up my shitty ex! It’s only fair!” Lucien snickered.

This was better. She was laughing and smiling again already.

Things weren't great, but they’d be ok.

“Oh, before I forget…” Joni piped in for a moment, reaching into a pocket and producing a napkin. “Lace wanted me to hand this to you?”

Helsie reached for it as Joni stretched an arm to her, plucking it with delicate curiosity.

“Oh! It’s… it’s Dusty’s number.” Helsie muttered, running her fingers over the ink, gently so as to not smudge it. She’d forgotten to get this on the way out, but it seems fate wanted it in her hands anyways.

“Oh? Dusty?” Lucien uttered with a rising curiosity. “Dusty’s pretty chill. Doesn’t she hunt zombies or something?”

“Well, uh, yeah…” Helsie nodded, her face scrunching up a moment.

Joni looked back at her, head cocking to the side. “You don’t seem very enthused.”

Biting her lip, Heslie looked down. That wasn’t right. Like, she did wanna do stuff with Dusty! Dusty was cool.

And hot.

But…

“I am, I’m just thinking that… maybe I need some me time for a little bit.” Helsie shrugged, stuffing the napkin in her pocket for the time being. “I might wait a little before jumping on something else. I need space from… dating I think. Just for a bit.”

For a moment, the car was silent, her clubmates apparently taking a minute to process that news.

“I think that's a good idea.” Joni offered with a smile, after some thought. “I honestly don’t know how you do it, it seems very exhausting.”

Heslie shrugged. “It’s not when you’ve got the right people. I just… think that maybe I’m not doing it for the right reasons.”

“Are there right reasons?” Lucien asked, tapping his thumb on the wheel.

Helsie pouted her lip in thought.

“Well, no, but I think the thing I’m looking for isn’t there right now is all.” She said, shuffling under her blanket. “I think… I just wanna be with the fam for a little while.”

“Well, don’t you worry. We won't be going anywhere.” Joni said with a small smile. Helsie caught a glimpse of Lucien too, grinning in the rear mirror.

She, too, smiled in kind. “Wouldn't have it any other way.”

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