The Sand and the Waves (Valekin)

[Kate]

Kate parked her mini-cooper at the parking lot and smiled to herself. It would be nice, to just relax on the beach for a day. She stepped out, for once dressed...simple like. A simple jean skirt over a dark green bikini bottom, and the top barely covered by a white jacket. Her white flip flops finished it, with her long blonde hair down.

The blonde made her way to the sand, glad for once that she had worn flip flops. The sand seemed a bit hot today, and considering the sun, that was no wonder why. Setting down her beach towel, Kate quickly looked around. Some teen aged kids to the left, and an older couple to the right. Some five year old playing in the water in front of her...and no one behind her. It would be a little noisy, but her mp3player would drown it out.

She stripped off her jacket and her skirt, then pulled a bottle of SPF30 out of her purse. She was pale, and even this was gunna cut it close for her. But she began to slather the stuff on, a slight little frown on her glossed lips. It'd be nice to just sleep in the sun though, right?

[valekin]

Valekin was revisiting the beach. After all, new people went to the beach everyday. And what he was after, was revenge. The girl he was looking for, was not the girl he found. An old... friend was what he had found. He almost didn't walk to her and cast his shadow over her, thwarting her plan to tan. The Serb was not dressed to swim, or even sunbathe. He wasn't one to open himself up to cancer, Yuri would kill him if Valekin fell to some malignancy. That would be... so out of character.

He said nothing while he towered above her, looking down at the blonde locks, the light skin... the dark green bikini. He was an obvious sight. With all the military training he had, he still did not know how to blend in in a beach environment. To be frank, whom I'm not, Valekin had never before seen a bikini, on anyone. The mere fact that the apple of his eye was wearing one just complicated things.

Anyway, what he wore was of no consequence. But I'm going to make you hear it anyway. The black trench coat of course, his "smoke" combat fatigues, the Serbian Combat Boots, his Panzer-1's, a black belt, and no shirt. Meaning all his scars were bared, just because it was hot out.

[Kate]

Suddenly a shadow loomed over the pale girl, and it took Kate a moment to realize it was coming from behind her. Not to the left, nor the right....where the people were. In fact, the child in front of her had stopped playing, to stare opened mouthed at whomever was behind her. One eyebrow raised, and she lifted her chin, head tilting back to see who it was.

And nearly had a heart attack.

"I...must have heat stroke. There is no way...Valekin...would be standing there. Not on a beach. Vale?"

The words left her mouth, and those big green eyes just stared. This was interesting...and this might cause problems. Kate had a soft spot for him, tucked away in her heart. And yet she was already dating someone. Bitchin right? This would...be... interesting to say the least.

They had met in detention, long ago. And when she had thrown a birthday party, he had come all dressed up. Cute really. He had even cut his lovely hair. And Kate had worn the crown for awhile, before laughing and giving it back, joking that it was too heavy. A walk around New York, getting "stuck" in Vale's apartment in a serious rain storm... so many memories. They made the corners of her mouth slightly turn up just thinking about it.

[valekin]

"Zho, you do remember me." He said with the tell-tale accent. He wouldn't look quite the same anymore. It wouldn't be the new scars, no. It wouldn't be his apparel. Nothing physical, it would be obvious to someone that knew him that he had lost his religion, and his mind was tortured. The memories flashed before his eyes, and then he remembered....

I abandoned them.. I abandoned her..

You left them to die Valekin..

I left them alone. Not to die...

Yes, you abandoned them... to seek revenge.. you're not even human..

"Vhat 'ave you been up to?" He said, masking the heated conversation within himself. The poltergeist had long ago turned against him. Klaus had been Valekin's best friend, and greatest ally in days past. But that's all he really was when you think about it. A fellow soldier. Fighting for the same cause. A cause of genocide, and murder.

I don't even know why you still like the bitch..

What?

She's unclean, can't you tell?

[Kate]

Kate turned, so she could see him without cranking her neck around. Sitting there, it took her several long moments of staring at him before she spoke. Something was different...something was... wrong. Her green eyes looked a bit confused as she tried to puzzle things out.

"Well, ya know...the normal hell of high school."

Her fingers played the edge of the towel, still staring at him as she worked through her thoughts. Where had he gone? If he had stayed...maybe things would have been different. There would have been no Jester... or any of that pain. Hell, maybe she'd still be in New York...a different person because she could have been. Not forced into what she was now, but mistakes made with a trusting personality.

"You went back, right?"

It had been the only thing she could think of. He had gone "home" to settle some things. And why not? Vale...he might have needed it, but it seemed that something was still not right. Kate stood up, and he was still taller. She always felt short at her 5'7".

But she was sad, because something had happened to him. Had changed him. He had been so...sweet. Kate didn't like the fact that he had changed so much. He seemed harsh...and cold now. Like if she touched him, he'd feel like ice. But all she did was cross her arms, and force a smile on her lips, as her eyes still tried to figure out what was really going on with him.

[valekin]

"Vent back? Not at first. I went to hunt down Nicholai, zhen Maria, zhen I vent back to look vor Mishka, vhich breengz me 'ere." He said, putting his hands in his pockets. Yes, he was colder, and sharper. If she touched him, she'd cut herself. It wasn't like he was at first. No, first he was sweet, but tempered by war. Now he was dominated by war, sorrow, and pain. He was in his own head way too much.

What are you talking about?

She's unclean, and it's your fault...

No...

Yes it is... why can't you see it? I do...

"High zkool? Zhat's not hell." He was right to a degree. He lived in hell for most of his life. But high school was a different kind of hell. Not as bad. But it was different. He wouldn't be able to empathize, he had almost no experience of it.

[Kate]

She chuckled slightly, shaking her head. So many things had happened since he had left. Her hands itched to rub her back...where the scars were. RoB carved into her skin, marked for the rest of her life. School had been hell just because that's where they all seemingly went. Cheer leading practice with a drunken coach... a gang that fell to pieces and left her cold, when all she wanted was to feel warm.

But she still felt cold. Hiroko was suppose to make her feel warm...but nothing was really working. The moment things were done...she was back to feeling like ice. Her right hand slid up her left arm, before resting on her shoulder. Her scar...itched. That was the only word for it. Tingled...but nothing she could do would change that. Her bones had healed, and her hair had grown back... but nothing would change the scars she had on her skin...and in her soul. Once again, the thought of Damien's touch made her shiver in the heat.

"Maybe High School itself isn't hell, but the people inside make it hell." She smiled softly, but pressed on, not wanting to focus on herself. " So Vale...or wait, Valekin right? I always did chop your name up. The person you're looking for is here in Cali? I hope you find whoever it is..." But chances were, if he did... what was keeping him... who he was would die. Revenge was never a pretty thing...Kate had let it go before and been better for it.

[valekin]

"You 'ope I vind 'er. A zmall part ov me doezn't. Zhe zame part zhat vants me to leeve a normal live. Or maybe az cloze to normal az my live could be. But vhat She and 'er family did to my zizterz... iz unforgivable. I don't know vhat to do about it..." He had pulled out the Talon from it's sheathe on his lower back, and started cleaning his nails with it. The Gold hued blade glittered in the light. It was a long weapon, and one he knew that Kate knew he'd never use against her.

That small part of you is wrong Valekin....

What's wrong with turning the other cheek?

You remember what they did to your sisters... Anna, and Katya.. I don't even have to remind you....

.....

That's why it's wrong to turn the other cheek brother... they didn't just kill them..

"I juzt don't know anymore." He said in a whisper. Shaking his head, he put the knife away, and pulled the stray locks of sable hair from his face. Yuri wasn't around to even give him guidance anymore, he was still in New York, taking care of business. Valekin wasn't even there anymore, he was in his own head. He walked around like a Lich, and behaved like a demon. Klaus was right, he wasn't human anymore. He didn't even deserve of taking human shape at the time.

[Kate]

And there it was, making Kate's heart twinge. It took her several moments, as she was unsure of this Valekin. Her hand slowly reached out, stopped, then continued until it rested on his shoulder. On that trench coat she remembered so well.

"Do what you have to."

Whether that was to forgive, or chase them down...do what you have to. Kate had lived that way herself for awhile, trying to survive at 552 where everyone was stronger...faster... better than herself. Where everyone had morals, and she had just stayed up at night, staring at the ceiling in between her weeping. After all that crying, and trying to figure out a way to get her revenge...she had just given up. Been numb and cold with very few ways to feel alive. One was vodka, enough of that and she just didn't give a damn... the other was sex. There was no way she could feel cold during that...but it always returned afterward, when the heat and passion died away. Kate felt...dirty almost, her other hand wrapped around her waist, as if to cover her stomach up.

The blonde bent down, letting her arm fall, to pull her jacket on , and slide the mini-skirt back onto her hips. There was like an ooze on her skin. One she couldn't clean off even if she tried. Kate remembered how... religious Valekin had been. It only made the dirtiness...the ooze...worse.

[valekin]

"I don't know vhat it eez that I 'ave to do. I'm zo convused." He frowned. Then remembered that she was half-naked in the bikini before she put the skirt and jacket back on. He flushed a little, then returned to his own head. She touched his shoulder, he remembered how they had been friends. Now things were uneasy. Not only had he lost his religion, but he had lost most of his sanity, and nearly all of his morals. What he had left in his head, no one could ever take away, rampant emotions, and violent capabilities.

"Vhat 'appened to our friendship?" He mumbled to himself, then he straightened and pulled a card out of his pocket and held it out to her. It had his current address on it, and his cell phone number. Something told him to give it to her. Maybe his conscience, maybe it was God. But it was something powerful.

"Eef you need zomeone you trust to talk to, or a safe haven." He said before starting to turn away from her. Pain jabbed at his head, and blood rushed through his ears. He stopped with his back to her, to look over his shoulder at her again.

[Kate]

He might have been leaving, but Kate had caught the mumble. What happened to their friendship? The blonde had wanted more than to be just friends...and he had left. It wasn't something she liked...the leaving that everyone seemingly did. In fact, she hated it. But when he handed her the card, she tucked it away carefully into her purse.

Valekin began to walk away, then stopped. What did he want? Her bright green eyes stared at him, and she felt like crying. Why the hell did she feel like crying? Her feet moved her ahead, toward him. And then, she was standing right behind him. Her pale arms encircled as much of him as she could in a hug. Squeezing her arms lightly around all the bulk of the trench coat and such, Kate just stood there.

He might not like the hug, but oh damned well. She needed this. Her cheek rested on his back, her bright eyes closing for a moment as she just held on. Then...she let go, her pale arms dropping to her sides. Kate wouldn't apologize, even if he had been uncomfortable. There had been a time they had cuddled on a couch once, and it was one of her favorite memories.

Maybe she just had too many memories. How did people go about loosing them? Dying or smacking themselves in the head enough to forget? Trauma? Maybe she should think on that. It'd be interesting to say the least.

[valekin]

She hugged him from behind. He could feel the warmth spread from her into him even if she thought she had none. He did remember all those times and thought to himself why had he almost forgotten? Maybe his quest for vengeance was the problem. Maybe he was the problem. Maybe the problem was that he thought he always had to do something about everything, when he didn't. He could just let things go, couldn't he?

"Zho, you've mizzed me." That's all he said, that's all he needed to say. He wanted her to say the rest. Klaus was boiling in anger at him, ready to tear him apart, and cause him to go staggering into the land of Nod.

The unclean bitch is touching you...

I don't care...

Yes you do, you know you do...

No, I don't care.. she's my friend..

You abandoned her...

Are you my friend?

I'm looking out for you...

You're looking out for yourself Klaus, not me, not anyone else...[/color]

[Kate]

She listened to the accent, and smirked slightly. Kate had loved that voice, it had always made her smile, even if he couldn't help it. Her hands tugged on her own hair, a thing she did often now.

"You made me cry."

It was a fact. When he had left, she had cried. Just like when her father had disappeared and sent her to New York. Just like...no, she had stopped crying when most of them had left. And why not? Why would anyone want to stay with her? She was...dirty.

"But yes, I missed you Valekin."

Her fingers let go of her blonde locks before she shoved her hands into her pockets. Sure, now she felt weird. All these emotions running through her. Kate was with Hiroko. The big giant man whore servant guy, but maybe her old feelings for Valekin were there. And that tore her up. Oh well, she'd leave things the way they were. Friends were always good...right?

[valekin]

"I'm zorry I 'ad left. I do regret eet." He said. Yes, friends were always good. He'd stay her friend, through and through. Like molasses, or peanut butter. Or something thicker! He turned on his heel, and faced her, then placed a gloved hand under her chin gently and lifted her head up. He frowned at her, no.. at himself. He did abandon her.

"I 'ope you can forgeeve me vor abandoneeng you." He said quietly. Klaus was silent. Which was rare in these situations. Klaus usually would turn against him and tell him how wrong he was, or how he should be acting. But Valekin knew it was all his fault. The suffering he had caused had to solely be placed on HIS shoulders. No one else's. Could he live with that? He lived with so many other battle scars, why not one more?

"I von't abandon you again." He remembered something. He had abandoned his comrades in Serbia. Klaus, and Stalin's little helper. He had left them to die all those years ago. He was still blaming himself for that. It was luck. Sheer dumb luck that Kate hadn't died because he abandoned her.

[Kate]

Well, that shocked her. Her bright eyes went wide, staring up at him with his fingers under her chin. Yeah, he had left...but it seemed to be something that he needed to do.

"I won't hold it against you."

And there it was. That smirk, the twinkle in the eyes. A little bit of the old Kate come back. She had always been so playful with nearly everyone, laughing and joking. Back in the day. How old that made her sound? Kate felt years older than she was.

"You had better not! I'll hunt you do and hang you by your toes."

Just jokes, applied with a smile that almost reached her eyes. Almost. They were still cold, even if there was a slight twinkle. She meant every bit of that smile, and yet... her eyes would be cold for a good while. Always were now.