We Are Bulletproof

Thank you. :) I'll be there tonight and I'll bring him with me.

Yes.
Um. I need an address.

It's quite all right.
I know one person can't save the world.

Not too long. They're still pretty young. It's just that circumstances changed at home so I need to find them safe homes quickly.

I know it's a bit late and unorthodox... I don't have much time during the day.

I start work at 8:45. That's why I said 8, depending on your time.
Otherwise, I get off my shift at 5am. :(

I've been working the night shift lately so do you mind if it's a bit late? After work? Maybe before work would be better. Is 8pm too late for you?

He's 9 weeks old and he's been hand raised so he's friendly and quite vocal. :3
Yes, I'd like to conduct a home visit, if you don't mind?

This is him.

Yes, he is! Would you like to see him?

[chirp=http://www.raaseltine.com/rafiles/lay-36.png]Hello! I have three kittens left up for adoption. All I ask is that you allow me to meet you first and a small fee of fifteen dollars to ensure the kitten is going to a good home. I have 1 male and 2 females. Contact for images! (Leaves number)[/chirp]

Ivy expected them to come inside as well and stepped aside but apparently they were in a hurry. It was just as well, since Ivy was currently dealing with something troublesome. Deep down inside, the repercussions of his actions out there were starting to reverberate. He was nervous, afraid for his future. He looked from one boy to the next. They looked so healthy and whole. And he could feel it--the rhythm of their hearts. The rush of their blood. He could hear it, almost drowning out thought. He lowered his head and clasped his hands around the collar of his shirt before clearing his throat.

Actually, he was relieved they couldn't come inside. He was afraid of what might happen if they did. Never in his life had steadfast Ivy felt so... unstable.

"I'll get you that potion right now." He smiled reassuringly at the boys, glanced at Adrian. He won't do anything to them. Slowly, he stepped back and away from the door and padded over to the cupboards in the green room off the kitchen, where he kept his potions and ingredients. Luckily for the boys, Ivy kept many potions for emergencies just like this. That was how the boy knew about him, after all! Boy. He thought of the boys at the door and a pang throbbed in his chest.

Would he ever be able to go back to work again? There was no such thing as a night preschool teacher. Trying not to dwell on it, he trailed his fingers over the tops of the bottles in front of him, reading the carefully written labels until he found the right one. Plucking it off the shelf, he brought it out and cradled it. Would something like this work on a vampiric bite, he wondered. No time for that. Somebody else needed it at the moment and he had time to experiment later.

When he came back, the boys' faces were still etched in concern for their friend. With another attempt at a smile to soothe their frayed nerves, Ivy handed the bottle over to Tim.

"This should do the trick."

"Ah, no... I don't suppose they have."

He saw the kitten dart behind a chair, the last thing he spotted was her fuzzy tail, all fanned out. Even he had to smile in the face of that, despite the frightening turn of events. If Adrian said they would grow used to them, he believed him. It soothed a worry in his heart. Adrian didn't look at the kitten like it was a walking chicken leg. In fact, he seemed to look at her with fondness, which soothed Ivy's heart even more. Slowly, he relaxed, not even aware of how tightly wound up he had been until just then.

Lightly, he ran a hand over his own chest, over his heart. It still seemed to beat, albeit much too slowly and strangely. Not what he was used to. Not liking what he felt there, he quickly dropped his hand to his lap instead.

"I... I will," he said, standing. He still felt a little faint and unwell but to lock the door, he had to get up and follow Adrian to it.

There was a way. Relief filled him from head to toe. Nobody had to die. Nothing had to die. Just the thought of having to do something terrible to some helpless animal like the countless ones he'd been helping just didn't sit well with him. Somewhere in his bedroom, he could hear his bird, Lumi, making small noises. She was probably wondering what was going on, why he hadn't come to see her, why he hadn't gone to feed her treats after the kittens were fat and content. The kittens were still all scattered and hiding and every now and again, Ivy heard one of them hiss or growl.

His heart fell, thinking about them. Maybe he should lock them up. Maybe he should... somebody... he couldn't risk hurting them. His eyes met Adrian's and he felt a heavy mixture of concern and fear, dappled with hope. Nothing else would die. Adrian promised. There was no reason to fret. After a few seconds of searching Adrian's gaze, Ivy nodded.

The dining area dimmed in and out of focus for a moment and he shivered again. Never in his life did he feel this cold. He didn't like it, but he was trying--trying so hard--to roll with the punches. That was how he always lived his life; going with the flow, relaxing into the waves that life sent him rather than fighting against them. Now seemed like the time to fight, though, and he shook his head out to try and dislodge his messy thoughts.

He felt a hand at his temple and then at his jaw and he tipped his head upward to look into the worried eyes of Adrian. This was almost a little funny. Usually it was Ivy who worried over others. Now he was the one worrying somebody else. He didn't laugh, though. His heart lurched in his chest. At least it still seemed to work, albeit in a weirdly slow, sluggish way.

As Adrian drew closer, Ivy inexplicably parted his lips. He didn't know why, exactly. Maybe he thought they were going to... kiss. But they didn't. His head tilted forward and a kiss was laid upon his forehead. Slowly, Ivy reached out to wrap his arms around Adrian.

"Please, I..." He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to harm anybody or anything. He didn't even eat that much meat--only as much as was necessary for his diet. And he never ate baby anything. It was against his principles! The thought of Adrian hunting some unknown prey to bring it back, to be eaten by him... or drunk by him... "Is there... there has to be a way to do it without... killing anybody or anything... right?"