The Trouble With Slaying

The Trouble with Celebrations

Liam started drinking before everyone else, saying he had to get a head start or else everyone else would be passed out by the time he got tipsy. It seemed he was a good judge of not only his limits but everyone elses, because with him pouring the drinks everyone was feeling really good all at the same time. He even managed to figure out Lissi's drinking tolerance, despite the fact that she was drinking sugar water rather than alcohol.

I tore into my fourth piece of pepperoni pizza with gusto and snorted for no real good reason when everyone started laughing. Liam dug a handful of popcorn out of the bowl and started tossing kernels into his mouth as he eyed me. "Didn't miss it that much did'ja?"

I just moaned in bliss as I swallowed. "You live off salad for a week. Then we'll see how much you crave meat."

Shaw grunted as he swallowed the mouthful of soda he had taken and shook his head. "No. Bad idea. Werewolf with no meat equals lunatic."

Sawamura chuckled. "More so than usual." He laughed and caught the kernel of popcorn Liam threw at him in his mouth.

I waved a hand at Sawamura, gaining his attention. "And you. I've been meaning to ask. You stand the sun pretty well because you're half Vampire?"

Sawamura nodded. "Yup. I'm not as strong or fast, but the blood cravings and sunlight sensitivity are less." He reached into the pile of junk food spread out on the floor where we had set out our celebration since there wasn't enough room on the table. He pulled out a few cookies and chomped into one. "How about you? What made you hate Vampires so much?"

I shook my head.

Sawamura waggled his brows. "You tell me or I'll make you streak around the building."

I choked a little and had to chug some soda. "What, are we playing truth or dare?"

"We are now."

I sighed. "It's a tragedy." Sawamura just leaned forward in greater interest, popping another cookie between his fangs. I shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Okay. So, I never knew my dad 'cause mom didn't know my dad. She couldn't tell much of anything besides how eager she was for her next bite. I kinda got an education on the things hiding in the dark early on, though she tried to hide me from it. Any time she invited a Vamp back to our place, she'd stuff me in the closet and lock me in. All I could do was sit in the dark and listen to what was going on, terrified every time I heard things get rough 'cause if the leech killed her I was dead too."

Sawamura frowned. "That's why you're claustrophobic."

I nodded. "I guess. Anyways, I knew it was destroying her. She was so caught up in her addiction to the bite she couldn't function. I was fifteen when I'd had enough. I told her she had to stop. Threatened I was going to leave and never come back. That I'd hate her forever if she didn't stop. She promised me, but she still went out to get a bite."

Sawamura opened his mouth and I shook my head, already knowing what he was going to say. "I didn't know she couldn't stop cold then. It wasn't until much later that I looked back and realized she really was trying to quit. That she was toning it back and waiting until she honestly couldn't stand it anymore before going and getting a bite. I was stupid and took things into my own hands."

I blew out a breath as I remembered, running my fingers through my hair uncomfortably. I looked up and smirked when Liam handed me another shot. I tossed it back and felt the burn down my throat as I picked up again.

"Next time she brought over a Vamp, I staked him. She started screaming at me, telling me I didn't understand. That I was going to make things worse. He started to come back around and I went to stab him again. Mom tried to stop me and I shoved her off. I killed the Vamp a second time and then realized things were too quiet. When I had shoved her, she had tripped and hit the back of her head. She never woke up."

I swallowed, dragging my knees up to my chest and absently brushing away the tears. "I killed my own mother.  Out of my own ignorance, I murdered my mother. A couple guys came looking for me after that. I guess they recognized a leech and his blood whore when they heard about it on the news and came to investigate. I didn't tell them I had been the one to kill my mother, not the Vamp. In my desperation for a place to belong and anyone besides myself to blame, I joined them to kill Vampires."

Sawamura shifted uncomfortably when I went silent. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize... And then you lost them too. To Vampires no less. No wonder you were so hostile when you got here."

I shook my head and forced a smirk. "I wasn't actually thinking of them. They weren't family or anything. Just a means to revenge. Which was beginning to feel pretty hollow actually. I didn't have anything worthwhile before I got here."

Shaw raised a brow in interest. "Really?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You guys were tough on me, but, you still cared. Cared about each other and me and wanted to teach me there were better things out there than chasing revenge. Unattainable revenge, no less. No one ever bothered to show me things like respect and humility. It's been good living with you guys. Working as a part of a team, instead of just a pack of killers. I... I like being here. It's been a really good time. Better than I ever thought it would be."

Shaw slowly smiled. Liam poured another round of drinks, gruffly trying to lighten the mood again. "Well, here's to good times then."

There was a chorus of agreement and we all tipped back our drinks. I straightened a little and eyed Liam. "Okay, you next. How is it a Werewolf came to be such good friends with a Vampire, half or otherwise."

Sawamura groaned. "Oh no. Nobody wants to hear that story. It's boring. Incredibly simple too. Pick something else."

I grinned and shook my head. "Nuh uh. That just makes me even more curious. Come on, I wanna know!" Sawamura just kept shaking his head as I wheedled. "Come on, tell me. I told you mine. Is it embarrassing? Tell me, Ryu-chan. Or let Liam tell-" I cut off and bit my lip when Sawamura and Liam stiffened. Shaw froze. Lissi and Aria looked around, confused. Then I realized what I had said. "I- I didn't mean- I mean I- Sawamura!"

He got to his feet with inhuman speed and stalked out the door. Liam was quick to jump up and go after him. I swallowed and looked at Shaw. "I fucked up."

Shaw slowly turned his gaze from the door and eyed me. He abruptly shook his head and poured himself another drink. "Actually, you may have done them both a favor." He lifted his glass to me. "To the good times ahead."

I winced when Lissi started singing 'Celebrate Good Times'.