Together Forever (Hiddles x vampire!OC) Chapter 1

A/N: This first one is a bit boring, but I promise it will be better later! And I know it’s painfully obvious to the reader what Alice is, and Thomas is just being oblivious, but that’s just because he’s sweet and doesn’t like to judge. Be sweet and don’t judge me ;_; please enjoy~!

Thomas William Hiddleston had arrived in London about two days ago, and had been staying at a small inn towards the center of the city. It had been a few years since he had been to such a large city; he would need to adjust a bit. However he wouldn’t be there long, if he could help it. He had a job to do. Once it had been done, he planned to move on. You see, Thomas was a hunter, but not of ordinary beasts such as bears or foxes or deer. His prey was much, much more dangerous…

He was a vampire hunter. He had been hired by an older gentleman to investigate the city, as he believed that there may be one, or perhaps several, vampires hiding in London. Bodies had been turning up one after the other, all of them drained of blood, yet without hardly a drop of it spilt in the area that they died. There were also little puncture wounds in various places, mainly where large arteries were located.

Unfortunately, London had plenty of area to cover, and vampires were rather good at hiding, especially the older ones. They could blend right in with humans. The sun didn’t kill them, but was just rather uncomfortable. This allowed them to walk during the day just like everyone else…

Thomas had been so caught up in his thoughts about where he should investigate next, that he almost missed the yelp and thud from across the street. He glanced over and saw a mess of purple on the ground. It seems that a girl had tripped and fallen, her lavender parasol lightly hitting the ground beside her.

He frowned and made his way across the street to help her up, as others passed by without giving her as much as a glance. Once he reached her, he offered his hand to her, “Are you alright miss?” he asked kindly.

She looked up at him and blinked her big, soft brown eyes at him, though he could only see one since the other was covered by dark brown hair. The fact that she let her hair fall rather than having it up was interesting as well. How odd… he thought. It wasn’t a very common hair style at all. It did look rather nice on her though.

Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red, standing out quite a bit against her pale skin, “Y-yes, I’m alright,” she reached up and placed her hand in his.

“Are you quite sure, my lady?” he asked as he carefully helped her to her feet, “That was quite the stumble.” He then released her hand and reached down to pick up her parasol for her.

Her cheeks reddened further, “Y-yes sir, I’m sure,” she replied as he handed the parasol to her. She took it in both hands and held it over her shoulder to block the sun.

He gave her a charming smile, “I am glad. I would hate to see such a lovely young lady be injured.” He tried to be as sweet and charismatic as he could. He thought if he could lower her guard and get her comfortable, he could ask her about the strange deaths in the city and see if she could offer any useful information, or direct him to someone who could.

Her blush only became even deeper, and she looked away from him in a poor attempt to hide it, “I-I’m sorry sir,” she stammered, “I am such a clumsy girl. I trip over my own dress so often that no one cares to help me anymore. You really didn’t need to.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, “Oh? So I get no thanks then?”

She returned her bashful gaze to him and stuttered, “I-I did not mean to sound ungrateful. Please forgive me sir.”

He simply chuckled, “I was only jesting, my lady. I know you are grateful, and I was more than happy to assist you.”

She gave him a shy smile, “Thank you very much sir.”

He gave her that ever so charming smile once again, “You are very welcome miss. Might I have the pleasure of learning your name?”

The blush never left the shy girl’s face. “Alice Patel.”

He gently took one of her hands from her parasol, earning little resistance, and kissed the back of it, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Alice. My name is Thomas William Hiddleston.”

She smiled, her cheeks still burning, “The pleasure is all mine sir.” No one had ever treated her in such a way. She was often treated as a child by those around her. She had become accustomed to it, so this whole experience was rather odd for her.

He continued to gently hold her hand as he smiled at her, looking directly into her revealed eye. He just knew that he had her in the palm of his hand. He believed that with just a bit more charm, he could earn the answers he sought. “I do hope this isn’t too forward, Miss Alice. But would you allow me to treat you to lunch?” He was sure that he would be able to get her to loosen up during the meal and tell him all she knew on the matter he was interested in.

Her eyes absolutely lit up, “Yes!” she then realized that was an inappropriate response, and bowed her head a bit, cheeks crimson, “I-I mean, of course sir. I would be honored.”

Such a response made him a bit curious about the girl. It was as if she hadn’t eaten in days, she seemed so excited. Or perhaps she was desperate for companionship? Hm… He ignored it and continued his charming little show, “It is my honor and pleasure to treat such a lovely young lady to lunch.” He was always a gentleman, but he was playing it up a bit now, “Though I am afraid I am not very familiar with the area, as I just arrived in this city two days ago. Perhaps you could lead the way to your favorite place to eat?”

“Um…” Alice seemed to be thinking. Master told me a lady should never lead a man. But this man did just ask me to lead him… She looked up at him and smiled, cheeks still pink, “As you wish sir.”

He smiled and gently kissed the back of her hand once more before releasing it. She was about to put her hand on her parasol again, but he linked their arms, in the fashion a couple would, before she was able to. Her blush became brighter, and Thomas almost thought it was annoying how easily the girl became flustered. Had she never interacted with a man before? He couldn’t help but think it was at least slightly cute though…

Thomas allowed her to lead him down the street. During their walk, he asked her casual questions about herself and the city in an attempt to break through her shyness, and she seemed to loosen up just a bit. Which was a good thing; he didn’t want her stammering and hiding her face all through lunch.

Alice was actually quite terrified though. She hadn’t had much recent interaction with other people, unless her Master was with her. She was afraid she would speak out of turn or act in a way that was inappropriate for a lady. She had only lived here in this big city for about two years, and was still currently learning proper etiquette and literacy from tutors her Master had hired. She was a fast learner, but she still had a very long way to go…

When they arrived at the restaurant, Thomas stopped and held the door for Alice like a true gentleman. She gave him a smile and stepped inside, closing her parasol as she did so. Thomas followed her in, and they were approached by a waiter.  He led them to a table near a window, which allowed plenty of sunlight to shine in on it.

Alice looked a bit uncomfortable now. The sun felt awful on her rather pale skin, and she was unable to count on her parasol’s protection when indoors. She fidgeted a bit, and opened her mouth to say something, but remained silent despite this.

Thomas noticed her discomfort and raised an eyebrow, “Are you quite alright miss?”

“Y-yes,” she started, unsure of how to make her request, “But, would it be possible for us to have a table away from the windows?”

“Of course my lady,” he answered, and instructed the waiter to show them to a table in a corner, away from all the windows. He did so, and Thomas pulled out the chair for Alice before she sat. Then he pushed it in slightly, before going to the other side of the table to take his own seat. They ordered their drinks, and Thomas was then given a menu before the waiter walked away.

“May I ask, Miss Alice, why you dislike the tables near the windows?” he asked her curiously.

“Ah…” she took a moment to think up a response, “My skin is rather sensitive and burns quite easily. I avoid sunlight as much as possible.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie.

Thomas nodded. He knew there was more to it, and was starting to get a bit suspicious of the girl, but he held his thoughts on the matter. Instead, he asked, “Now, what would you like to eat? Shall I read the menu to you?” he assumed that she did not know how to read, as many women could not. However she could, though her skill was only at about the level of a young boy in his first or second year of education.

“There is no need,” she responded, “I come here often, and already know what I want.” That was a lie. She had only been here three times before, with her Master. But she could still remember what she had had the last time.

He nodded again and looked through the menu himself to choose what he wanted. Once he had, he decided now would be the time to try to get some information from his new lady friend. He needed to get her comfortable speaking first though, and so he asked about her, “I do hope this isn’t too personal, miss. But I am rather curious, how did you get that scar on your nose?”

There was a thin but obvious scar across her nose. It was rather odd for a lady to have such a mark, and he was genuinely curious.

She blinked a couple times, surprised by the question, “I got it when I was a child,” she started, “One of the other children in the orphanage got his hands on a shard of glass from the street, and he was scaring the other girls and I…”

Thomas raised an eyebrow, “Orphanage?” this was perfect. He was getting her to open up. Hopefully she would answer his later questions with no trouble.

“Oh, yes. I was in an orphanage in the United States of America until I was about six. But I’m sorry; I doubt you want to hear about that.” She lowered her head, embarrassed.

He smiled, “I am interested in you, Miss Alice. Please, I would like to hear about it. If you are willing to tell me, of course.” He was only slightly curious at this point. He was more interested in getting her comfortable with him.

She hesitated, but she agreed to share. She told him all about the orphanage and how that one boy cut her nose with the glass shard. He hadn’t meant to, apparently. He had only meant to scare her and the other girls, but he tripped. She then began to tell Thomas about the man who had adopted her.

There was a short pause in her story when the waiter came with their drinks. Then she continued on, after encouragement from Thomas.

She continued her story and told him of the man who adopted her at age six. He took her to his rather large home to live with him, but they only stayed there for about two years. They began moving all around the world for the years after that; France, China, Italy, Japan, Germany… They only stayed in each country for a short time though. They finally came to settle in London about two years ago. That was when she began her proper education, as they planned on staying in this city from now on and wouldn’t need to switch tutors.

Thomas blinked, “That is quite amazing Miss Alice,” he started, “Not many can say they have visited so many countries, let alone lived in them.”

She blushed a bit, “It isn’t so amazing. We only stayed in each country for about a year, and I wasn’t allowed to explore very much. Despite living in so many places, I was hardly able to experience them.” Her Master had made her stay in their homes during their stays and didn’t allow her to go out very much. The few times he did, he had been with her and kept her from wandering too far.

Thomas smiled, “It seems we are in a rather similar situation. I travel quite often as well, though I do not stay as long as a year. I spend a few months in each place before having to move on, but I am able to learn quite a bit about each place during my stays. It really is quite interesting.” Alice’s eyes lit up when he mentioned his own travels, and he knew he had captured her interest. His smile shrank a bit though, “Yes, quite interesting… Though it is also rather sad, when I think about it.”

She cocked her head to the side, “How so?”

“I have no place to call home. I don’t often stay in one place long enough to get very close to anyone. I am always staying in cheap inns and carrying nothing but a single bag. It is a rather lonely life.” His smile had completely vanished by now. He had forgotten just how much he hated all of this.

She frowned, “I-I am sorry…”

He blinked and smiled, “Please do not apologize. It is my fault for allowing myself to think on it too much.”

There was a small pause in the conversation, before Alice finally spoke, “May I ask, if you dislike travelling so much, why do you do it?” her tone was so innocent.

He let out a small sigh, “I am afraid it is required of me for my occupation.”

“What is your occupation?” her voice still held so much curiosity.

“I am a hunter, of sorts,” he started, “I was actually hired by someone in the city to hunt a rather dangerous animal.” This couldn’t be more perfect, he thought, I can bring it up easily now without sounding odd, “I was actually hoping you could provide me with some information on the matter.”

She cocked her head to the other side now, “I know nothing on that subject, I’m afraid. Perhaps you should ask someone else…” she sounded a bit disheartened, disappointed that she was unable to help him.

Before he could ask her any specific questions though, namely about the strange deaths, the waiter returned with their meals. Thomas was rather frustrated, but he hid this and gave Alice a charming smile, “Shall we continue this conversation after lunch?”

She nodded, and they began their meal. It was quite good. When they finished, the waiter came with the bill, which Thomas paid of course.

He now stood, “Shall we go, my lady?” he asked, giving her that same charming smile.

Alice stood as well, picking up her parasol, “I am terribly sorry sir…” she looked to the floor rather than at him, “but I’m afraid I need to be going home soon.” She sounded so sad… “My Master wants me to check back with him every few hours. He gets worried about me. I hadn’t noticed the time until just now…”

“Master?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

“A-ah…” she seemed to only realize now that she shouldn’t have said that, “U-um, he is the one who adopted me.”

“I see…” he was a bit more suspicious now. He had often heard vampires refer to those that had turned them as ‘Master’.

“H-He’s asked me to call him Master,” she suddenly explained, “He adopted me but did not want me to think of him as my father, because he isn’t. He asked me to call him Master instead, he likes it much better.” She truly hoped he would believe her…

Thomas relaxed a bit, “Ah. That is rather odd, Miss Alice. It can make people think rather interesting things of you, hearing you call someone ‘Master’ in such a way.” Of course he was still a bit suspicious, but something in his mind made it hard for him to believe that such a sweet young girl could be a dangerous creature like a vampire.

She blushed and kept her face lowered, “Y-yes sir. Please forgive me.”

He sighed. She was falling back into her shyness. He then gave her a reassuring smile, “Please do not apologize.”

She nodded and looked up at him shyly, cheeks red. “I do need to go now sir, b-but…” she stammered, “U-Um, could I see you again? Please?”

He wanted to say no. He should be using his time to investigate and hunt, rather than spend it with random girls. But the look of hope and perhaps even desperation on her face made it rather difficult for him to say no.

“Of course,” he smiled charmingly, “Where and when shall we meet again, my lady?”

She smiled brightly, “There is a small party at Baroque hall tonight that I will be attending. Perhaps we could meet there?” she sounded so very hopeful.

“Of course Miss Alice,” he gently took her hand and kissed the back of it, “I will wait eagerly until then.”

Her blush became brighter, but she kept smiling. “It is at seven o’clock. I look forward to it.”

“As do I.” He smiled and released her hand. She kept smiling at him, perhaps for a bit too long, before she made her way over to the door, opening her lavender parasol as she left.

Thomas just now realized… He never actually got to ask her about the ‘animal’ in London… He sighed, “I will have to ask her tonight I suppose.”