Viktor watched in the rearview mirror as he started the engine. "You seem friendly."
"He's nobody."
Charlie made another small sound, burrowing deeper into Simon's chest. "'M not nobody. I'm Charlie."
"Hi, Charlie." Viktor's tone was carefully neutral. "You look like you've had a rough night."
"Got cooked." Charlie's voice was getting dreamier. "Simon saved me. Came back for me even though I ran away. Even though he's supposed to kill me."
Viktor's eyes found Simon's in the mirror. One eyebrow raised.
"He's confused from drinking too much too fast," Simon said flatly.
"I can see that." Viktor pulled out of the garage and onto the street. "Your blood, from the smell of it."
Simon didn't respond.
What could he say, really? He could hardly deny the other hunter's senses.
"That's interesting." Viktor took a hard turn. "Reuben's favorite is feeding vampires now?"
"It was necessary."
"I'm sure it was." Another turn, tires squealing. Viktor always drove like something was chasing him. "How many times?"
"What?"
"How many times has he fed from you? He reeks of you."
Simon's hand had somehow ended up cupping the back of Charlie's head, keeping him steady through Viktor's driving. "Twice."
"Only twice?" Viktor sounded genuinely surprised. "And he's this—" He gestured vaguely at how Charlie was clinging. "That's unusual."
Charlie mumbled something incoherent against Simon's throat. His breathing was evening out, body going heavier as the blood worked through his system.
"He's passing out." Simon observed. "Finally." This was good. It would take the young vampire's body a few hours to regenerate.
They drove in silence for a few minutes, Charlie's consciousness fading with each passing block. His grip on Simon's jacket slowly loosened, though he didn't let go entirely.
"You're off your suppressants," Viktor said quietly. It wasn't a question.
"How can you tell?"
"Just a guess." His eyes met Simon's in the rearview mirror. "You're holding him like he's yours."
The words hit unexpectedly hard. Simon looked down at Charlie's unconscious form, at his own arms wrapped protectively around him. When had that happened?
"He's the one clinging tome."
"Sure." Viktor pulled into a parking structure Simon didn't recognize. "That's why you're cradling him like something precious instead of dumping him in the back."
That was entirely unfair. Simon wasn't… Simon didn't… "Where are we?" he asked to avoid all the other questions he had no answers to.
"My place. That okay?"
"Didn't know you had a place." Simon shifted Charlie's weight slightly. The vampire had gone completely limp, breath shallow against his neck. Simon really should dump him.
He didn't.
