10:30, The Day Before Yesterday

Book 2 Chapter III - We Need To Talk

Dedication and shout-out to @Shadowcat_21 and their book, Jupiter's Queen.

Chapter 18 - We Need To Talk

"Let me get this straight. You want me to take in a human - who's supposed to be in hospital because she cut her hand open earlier - and four vampires just because they think some of their enemies could find them where they are."

Leslie nodded happily.

"And at least two more humans are coming with them."

Another nod.

"...Did I miss anything?" And when did my life become a badly-written science fiction story? Claude added silently.

Leslie shook their head.

"So you see, you've got to say yes!" they proclaimed.

Claude looked at them, then at the half-empty bottle of whiskey he'd resorted to before hearing Leslie's "explanation". He was tempted to drink the rest of it before thinking of some response, but no one's judgement was particularly sound when drunk, and he didn't want to make a fool of himself. His alien housemate had far too much blackmail material on him as it was.

He thought about it for a moment. On the one hand, he didn't exactly want a whole crowd in his house, half of whom weren't even human. He had enough trouble coping with Leslie's whims, thank you kindly. On the other hand, he knew enough about InGEN to know that if someone associated with them needed shelter, it was generally for a very good reason, and if the request was turned down, their superiors could make life very unpleasant for the person responsible. And that raised another point (he couldn't say "on another hand", since he wasn't Leslie and only had two); did he really want people who were on the run from something that must be pretty damn terrifying in his house and putting him and his neighbours in danger?

That last one was the one that settled it for him. There was no way he was going to put his life and the lives of everyone around him in danger without a good reason, and this just wasn't a good enough one.

He opened his mouth to tell that to his alien housemate in no uncertain terms, then saw the hopeful look on their face and faltered. Part of him, the part that wasn't fighting to ignore a dozen puppy-dog eyes, wondered why the hell Leslie was so eager to have these people staying, but he dismissed that thought for some other time.

"All right." Claude said, and made a mental note to avail himself of the psychiatric therapy the station provided at the earliest possible opportunity. He clearly needed it.

~~~~

Dani's room was surprisingly silent, considering that there were seven people in it. There was Dani herself, and Helena, Hazel, Lucius, and Dandelion, and then there were Major Konstantinov and Captain Black, who had been drafted as the two InGEN officers who would accompany them.

"So let me get this straight," Black said at last. "You want us to go with you to stay with someone you don't know, and we're waiting for an alien to come and take us there. Is that it?"

"More or less," Hazel muttered.

Dani wondered if he was thinking of how absurd this whole situation was. If he was, she agreed with him.