It was cold back in the real world. Leo had been so accustomed to lying around a chilly, damp cellar that he had imagined the outside world was much warmer around this time of Fall. But the cold air bit at his skin just as it did underground. Leo pulled the coat closer to his body and regarded the man who was walking beside him.

He had said his name was Hal. Leo couldn't decide if it fitted him or not. And yet he couldn't help but compare the man's short name to his equally short temper. The vampire had easily changeable moods as well, something Leo used to have ring-side seats for. One moment Hal would laugh and berate him and the rest of the werewolves, and the next he would babble about change. About the idea of being saved. Any other man who acted like him would have sounded like a lunatic, but Leo knew there was more to Hal than met the eye. No one could live over five centuries and not develop intricacies.

And now Leo had tied his life to this vampire for the foreseeable future. Had it been a wrong move to make? Maybe. But the werewolf had lacked options when he had been shackled in that cellar. He had to do this if it meant he would have a chance at the long, human life he imagined. The hard-worked days in the barber shop. The sign on the door. A beer at the end of the day.

Leo would get to experience all of these. Somehow.

And in the pale light of September, he smiled as soon as he heard the familiar sounds of the city. It suddenly didn't matter that a part of his past was walking right next to him. Leo was just happy that he was almost home.

The sights of the city absolutely enthralled Leo, Hal noticed. The young werewolf told him that he had spent only a few months living there and working at a small barber shop, but he would still marvel at how busy the streets were.

The clicking of heels, chatter, and smell cigarette smoke was ubiquitous. But it all felt unnatural to Hal. Now, after being used to the sounds of cellars and dogfights, he had been thrown head-first back into society. Into civilization. And he was supposed to behave. How was he supposed to keep in control of himself when they were ambling among so many people? Hal took a deep breath and hoped he'd be able to keep himself in check until they reached Leo's flat.

He'd been around people before, of course, but it had been quite a while since Hal had had to struggle for control. It was more than fifty years ago since he'd done that, and now he was attempting it yet again. Was there a point to even try when he knew that vampires were cursed to keep falling for temptation? Hal glanced at Leo from the corner of his eye. He seemed determined. In control. Maybe with his help Hal could learn to keep his other self in check all over again. But this time for good.

Hal curled his left hand into a fist and dug the nails into his palm, hoping that the pain would keep him distracted. They pressed on towards Leo's flat, aware that it was getting dark.

They soon reached Southend-on-Sea. Even the name sounded peaceful. But in Hal's head it was anything but. Voices and intrusive thoughts swarmed him, pocking and prodding for answers about what he had done. He'd actively betrayed his own species – by aligning with a werewolf, no less – and for what? A small chance of happiness that made no sense for him to even aspire to.

This wouldn't work. It couldn't work. He had been such an idiot for running away with Leo, a man he had a hand in abusing for such a long time. The werewolf couldn't save him, because Hal wouldn't be able to himself.

And now to walk the streets he had once seen run with blood so many years ago... The images flashing in his mind burned hotter than any spill of werewolf blood. Hal didn't even realize that his hands were shaking.

"You can relax now, Hal" Leo said, as soon as they entered the small flat.

Hal frowned. "I can't. This place unearths memories I thought would never haunt me." He shook his head as if to chase away the images conjuring up in his mind. "An old friend of mine - Fergus - he and I cut a bloody path through here a long time ago. The memory of it all is still very much alive in my mind."

Leo shrugged off his coat. "Maybe this is a good thing. It can serve as a reminder of the man you once were. It's something that can push you in the right direction."

"What if I can't, Leo?" Hal asked, moving towards the window. "Change." He let out a bitter laugh. "It sounds ridiculous to even say out loud."

"I still intend to keep my promise. I want to help you greet him properly."

"How?" the vampire asked incredulous, "What are we even doing in this- this shack?"

Leo should have felt hurt by his words, but he knew Hal was taking out his frustrations out on anything in front of him.

"Order" Leo said simply.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Order is an integral part of anyone's life, but you've been lacking it. I think that what you need is a strict schedule, everything planned ahead of time. A schedule that you must follow every day."

"That sounds like the life of a prisoner. I am a free man, Leo."

Leo shook his head. "You are no freer than the grasp your condition has over you."

Hal took a deep breath. He didn't want to admit the werewolf was right. "So then, a schedule? How would it work, exactly?"

"You are free to draft one yourself" Leo said "if you think you're able to discern what's best for keeping the ruthless man in control."

"I thought the whole purpose of us running was that you could be the one to greet him" Hal said, staring out the window.

Leo considered his words, and then took a few steps towards him. He placed a tentative hand on Hal's shoulder. The vampire looked at it like he could possibly set the hand on fire with his mind.

"Sooner or later, Hal, you will have to face him as well. Face what he's done."

Hal took a deep breath to steady himself. "And what if I can't? What then?"

"Then we keep trying. Until you can learn to control him properly."

The vampire kept his eyes on the window but secretly marveled at how optimistic Leo was. In his experience, optimists were nothing more than idiots, but there was something about this werewolf. Something about his determination.

"Alright" Hal said, stepping away from the window. "Where do we begin?"

"With small steps."

Hal raised a curios eyebrow.

Leo walked over to his desk and opened a drawer. After digging inside it for a moment, he pulled out a box of matches.

"I already smoke, Leo" Hal asked "in any instance, trading one addiction for another would hardly be a good idea."

"That's not what I had in mind."

Leo opened the box and turned it upside down onto the desk. The matches spilled onto the surface and scattered.

"I want you to line them up, side by side."

Hal waited for Leo to continue, as if the werewolf had some sort of magnificent idea in his sleeve. But he stayed quiet.

"This is... ridiculous" Hal said, almost laughing. He turned away and shook his head. "Jesus, why did I even let myself leave that damn cellar with you? It was a mistake to even think of running away from— I've actively betrayed my brethren and here you ask me to play with matches?!"

"It's meant as a distraction, Hal. A distraction from the man within you who is trying to take over."

"It doesn't work that way, a simple distraction won't be able to change who I am. This is utter nonsense!"

"Hal-"

"No, I need to go back before it's too late, before they realize what I've done!"

He headed for the door, but Leo blocked his path. Hal paused for a moment, and took a deep breath.

"Get out of my way, Leo, or you will regret it."

Leo shook his head. "If you leave now, you'll betray the man I spoke to that night. The man who wanted to do the right thing, no matter the cost."

"It can't be done, and I was an idiot to think otherwise. Now move, or I'm going to have to make you get out of my way."

The werewolf stood his ground. And without another word, Hal swung his right fist into Leo's jaw. The hit sent him staggering to the side, and Hal wasted no time getting the door open and rushing out.

This was good, Hal thought. With any luck, he'd be able to get back to the others and convince them that the only reason he'd left at all was because he had heard Leo escape. It was a flimsy excuse at best, but it was something. William and Cutler wouldn't care much to investigate these sorts of things; they'd just be excited at the prospect of celebrating something with a pint or two of blood. And Hal had to admit that he was starting to feel antsy at the very thought.

He'd been blood-free ever since he'd left with Leo, which was over a day ago. And he was already starting to feel the panicky symptoms of withdrawal. Hal tried to keep his nerves in check while he ran through the building corridors. In his mad dash, he almost tripped over his own feet.

"My goodness, young man, are you alright?"

Hal had to blink twice before he realized who was talking. An elderly woman who'd walked out from her flat was sitting in front of him. He realized she was talking, but the words didn't register in his head. There was only a steady heartbeat ringing in Hal's ears.

She'd be such an easy kill. The corridor wasn't the safest place to feed, but he could always just force the woman back inside the flat. Everything about this promised such lack of effort that Hal couldn't understand why he was wavering. He was a vampire, and feeding was the natural thing to do. Hal tried to blink away the hesitation while he stared at the veins he could almost see beneath her skin.

Because of this chaos swirling in his head, Hal didn't even notice Leo had walked up behind him. The werewolf placed a steady hand on his arm.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Brighton" Leo said, "my friend is new in town and a little confused. I hope he didn't frighten you."

"Oh, it's no trouble, really" the old woman said, "I was just about to pop out for a bit, enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. Would you boys like to accompany me?"

"Some other time" Leo said, attempting a smile. He gently pulled Hal by the elbow as he headed back into the flat. Hal appeared to be stuck in some sort of dream state.

Leo closed the door as soon as they were back inside. He locked it behind him and placed the door's safety chain. The werewolf turned to look at Hal, who still seemed a million miles away.

"Hal?"

"I could almost see the veins beneath her skin."

Leo regarded him. "I'm grateful that you didn't act on it."

Hal frowned. "I hesitated. I never hesitate. It's... it's been a while since I've had to hold back. Not since the last time I attempted to go cold turkey."

"But you managed to hold back. You took a first step today, Hal."

That had been his first step towards redeeming himself. Hal wondered if that would be enough. If sparing one insignificant life would make a difference in the long run.

"There's still hope for you" Leo went on, "there is still a side of you that wants to do good. All you have to do is let it overpower the other man within you."

It sounded so simple when he said it, but Hal doubted his words. Struggling with Lord Harry was something he'd done ever since he had been turned. He'd done it all before. That's why he needed something else to drive him forward.

"Then I propose we make a pact" Hal said.

Leo frowned. "What kind?"

"One that will promise either my salvation... or my death. It was a close call out there in the corridor, Leo, and I can't let myself get to that point again. That's why you must promise me something. That if I am ever in danger of killing or even harming someone... you should be there to stop me. By any means."

Leo almost wanted to shake his head. "Hal, you can't ask me to-"

"By any means" Hal said. "Please."

Leo stood speechless as Hal extended his right arm. A pact between a werewolf and a vampire. Leo tried to shake off the oddity of the moment as he reached to shake Hal's hand.

There was no going back now.