Beware: The Chibis Have Taken Control!

((GOOD GRIEF.))

"I'm still loyal."

Still loyal. Hal dared to look into Fergus's eyes then, dared to plumb their depths for the true meaning of that statement. And what he saw humbled him. Fergus was loyal. Fergus was loyal enough to step back, to walk away, to allow Hal another year, another five... another fifty-five, if that was what he needed, what he wanted. He was even willing to play the villain... to allow Hal a chance to be the hero. He was willing to do whatever it took to give Hal a chance at whatever happiness he could create for himself... or steal for himself. Hal had no illusions about that. This happiness... a vampire didn't deserve this happiness. This was Tom's happiness and Annie's, Pearl's and Leo's. It was stolen happiness, stolen warmth -- just like everything else in a vampire's life, it wasn't truly Hal's to claim. And that wasn't Fergus's fault.

Hal bit out the words to start this in motion, to let Fergus know his innermost desires -- "Then forget you saw me." -- and released him. And as Fergus turned away, bent over, gasping for air, Hal was again overwhelmed with a long-forgotten desire. The curve of that back, bare skin at the nape of the neck just barely exposed underneath a turned up collar... the sudden need to cover what was presented, to mark it and lay claim, to let everyone know that this magnificent specimen was his... G-d. He had to get Fergus away or he would embarrass himself right here in this filthy alley.

...as if this would be the first dirty alley in which Fergus had dropped to his knees for Hal.

No. No. He didn't want that, couldn't want that. Fortunately for his sanity, Fergus had straightened by then, resumed talking. Hal was so intently focused on watching his mouth move that he missed entirely what was being said until he caught a set of words... words that froze him in his tracks.