BOND THE STARS (MxM)

4o(〃＾▽＾〃)o

Another day of rummaging through old books and scrolls. Sypha was keeping to the magic spells, trying to find more information on Dracula's castle. Trevor was going through every weapon he could see lying around and collecting dust, testing it in his hands, then putting it back when he considered it useless.

At some point Zaros had sparred with the man at the bottom of the staircase to the Hold. Sypha had chased them out there after Zaros almost caused a bookcase to topple over.

Adrian was giving him the cold shoulder again, but at least this time he looked at him when Zaros talked. He wasn't all too happy about it, but it was improvement. Zaros had agreed to wait, he promised he would understand.

Slamming Trevor repeatedly on the stairs was becoming his favorite past time, especially after feeling like he was suffocating in that fucking Hold, with all the skulls of vampires put on display.

"Someone would think you are trying to kill me." Trevor groaned, letting his head hit the ground, refusing to get up again.

"The bishop of Gresit did pay me for your head after all."

Zaros extended his gloved hand to the man in silent invitation.

"And here I thought you were starting to like me," Trevor accepted the hand, allowing Zaros to pull him to his feet. "I know you have your own motives for helping us out, but I don't understand why you are still here."

Zaros didn't respond at first, stepping back and picking up Trevor's whip. The Morning Star was a powerful weapon, one that generations of Belmonts had tried to use to their full potential. He doubted Trevor was the one to wield it correctly, but on the other hand the man found it just yesterday and Zaros had a horrible streak of getting surprised recently.

"Because of Adrian." Was his answer as he tossed the handle of the whip towards Belmont.

"Alucard?"

"Yes Alucard," Zaros rolled his eyes. "Lisa hated it when people called him that. She didn't want them to associate him with his father, because Adrian was his own person. She loved them both too much."

"Seems like Dracula loved her just as much to condemn Wallachia."

Zaros didn't respond. Vlad loved Lisa, loved his little family, maybe too much, maybe not enough. Nobody could tell now when he had lost his mind.

"Vlad has never been one to sit down and process his feelings, revenge was always the answer in his books."

"You calling him by his name makes it sound like he is human." Trevor grunted, collecting his whip and fastening it to his waist.

"He was becoming one," Zaros ran a hand through his hair. "At heart."

Silence stretched between them, comfortable yet awkward.

"Why are you here, Belmont?"

Trevor looked at him with a raised eyebrow at the question. Zaros rolled his eyes back.

"I meant, why are you standing in the middle of the ruins of the Belmont mansion? Isn't it hard?"

"My motivation to stop the horror Dracula is spreading is stronger than my grief."

Zaros nodded, looking up towards the ceiling of the tall staircase. What a strange thing those humans were. If he was in Trevor's place, he would want to get away from the painful memories of this place. Get away from the bounty hunter that ruined his life, even if not by his own hands.

Then it hit him. Trevor didn't know about his role in the burning of the mansion. They looked at each other, strange understanding passing between them. They were both warriors. They both survived this long, fought this hard. Trevor deserved to know the truth, just like Adrian. They were humans, he owed them this much.