quickly tried to dismiss his hunter mentality. This wasn’t about hurting vampires. It was meant to cure
them, something he knew Frankie longed for desperately.
Frankie’s spirits were still rather damp by the time they finally left, and he didn’t seem much better
when they returned to the apartment and were getting ready to head out. Frankie avoided Snod for a
little while, taking longer in the bathroom than he usually did before emerging.
“Frankie,” Snod asked carefully, “are you all right?”
“Fine,” Frankie replied in a tone that indicated he was anything but. He looked human, broken and
hurting.
Snod gently wrapped his arms around Frankie’s waist, kissing his cheek and asking more firmly,
“What is wrong?”
“I’m... upset,” Frankie replied after a moment. “I really thought this was going to be it, that I’d have a
cure. I got my hopes up. It was foolish.”
“It’s never foolish to have hope,” Snod said softly.
“You really believe that?” Frankie asked, peering up at him.
“I do.”
“Hmmm. What do you hope for, Obadiah Snod?” Frankie asked with a teasing little smile.
“To be happy,” Snod answered as honestly as he could. He hoped for many things; never returning
home, to not be afraid to fall in love... to finally and truly be happy.
Even without the bond, Frankie seemed to sense something was off in Snod’s reply. He looked
concerned, but before he could ask anything further, there was a very hyper series of loud knocks at
the door.
“Lorenzo?” Snod grumbled.
“Yup!” Frankie laughed, shaking his head. He kissed Snod’s cheek and gently pried himself out of his
arms as he said, “Time to party!”
It was indeed Lorenzo at the door, bouncing on his toes and ready to go. Frankie seemed to cheer up
as Lorenzo got him pumped to adventure out into the world.
Or at least he was faking it very well, Snod thought with a frown. It was hard to be sure, especially
now not being to detect a single fraction of Frankie’s emotions.
The ride over to Cheap Trills was upbeat, and Snod was begrudgingly looking forward to spending
the evening out. He would tolerate Lorenzo as long as there was ample alcohol to help, and it was
