[O] Hell's Kitchen

Richard stood in the kitchen, hair tied back with a few wisps framing his face and a red stained apron over his clothes.

With care, the blond opened a bag with the familiar red liquid in it. A metallic aroma hit the air.

Begrudgingly, he liked it.

Turning to the cooker, he poured the blood in the pan, hearing it sizzle and his. Annoyingly, it was also one of the few things he could cook besides toast and microwaved food. He was sure that he may of been banned once or twice in the kitchen.

He never enjoyed cooking it. Though, it was a better alternative to hunting and murdering people. It made his stomach twist. What made it worst he enjoyed the fresh blood and struggle in the heat of the moment. The feeling of power. And in all honesty - fresh blood tasted better then cooked blood.

Chewing on his lip he tossed the empty packet into the bin and began wiping down the surface in case there was any spillage as he waited for the blood to heat up.

Alyosha moaned in dismay as he turned over in bed once again.

Tuzik was laying next to him, his chest rising and falling slowly as sleep overtook him. The Necromancer was jealous that Tuzik had fallen asleep so easily.

This was one of the few rare days that Lyo had thoughts of the past running through his head and couldn't fall asleep for the life of him.

With a soft sigh, the Necromancer pushed himself to sit up and ran his hand through the sleeping Hound's red hair in a tender gesture before pushing himself out of bed.

He pulled on a pair of loose black pyjama pants and slipped his feet into his slippers before heading out of his room.

It took a few minutes for the half-naked Necromancer to get to the kitchen. He'd make himself something to eat and get some vodka down his neck. That would hopefully make him forget his thoughts for long enough to fall asleep.

Scratching his tattooed neck, the Russian man made his way through the kitchen towards the fridge.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor and into the kitchen. Richard turned to the source and stared.

Fuck, he was tall. It made him feel a little self-concious of his own height.

And a lot of tattoo's as well. The taller males chest was blacked out by them, from his chin to mid body. A green, knotted snake accompanied it on the man's back. Rather intimidating, really.

Blue eyes lingered a little longer, fixated by them. His thumb brushed his thigh and- wait, he had a tattoo too.

Hearing the blood bubble over he hissed and spun to turn the cooker off to save his meal.

Alyosha barely took note of the other in the room.

He could feel the staring, but he didn't make a move to make Richard aware that he could feel it.

He hot stares wherever he went. Alyosha was tall; he looked dangerous and intimidating with all his tattoos. He knew that better than anything else. He had the power behind him to be dangerous, too.

The Necromancer gave a soft sigh as he peered into the fridge, looking for something he could eat on the spot or wouldn't take too long to make.

His stomach growled loudly in demand and the man placed a hand on the hard muscles. After a few moments thought, the man lifted a carton of milk out of the fridge and moved to set it down on the counter before heading to the pantry to get eggs and flour.

He heard the growl, but he was too busy make a similar noise out of his mouth. While the majority of it was fine, he burnt the bottom of the pan. It was going to be a pain to clean.

Grabbing a bowl he tipped the blood into it before dumping the pan into the sink. He had put some hot soapy water in it previously to let it soak.

Picking a spoon out of the draw he settled down as the table in the middle of the kitchen. Stirring it to let it cool down.

He still had shame finding it appealing.

Alyosha returned to the kitchen with eggs and flour and bent over to pull a mixing bowl out of the cupboard.

He mixed the ingredients expertly.

One thing Alyosha had always known how to make was Brinna. He could thank his mother for that. It was something that had become quite a staple in his diet when he had been younger.

Soon after he had set up a pan n the stove and started pouring batter into it.

His stomach growled again.

He had a little jealousy watching him cook.

Finally he took a mouthful of blood. He guessed it could be mistaken as soup

He kept an eye on the taller man. Not wanting to be surrounded by mess, or left with it.

Really, some people here had little manners when it came to tidying up after themselves.

As he waited for each of thepancakes to cook, he began cleaning up.

He cleaned the whisk that he used first, setting that in the rack to dry as he returned to cooking.

Not too long later he had a neat stack of thin pancakes on a plate.

Instead of tucking straight into his early morning snack, he cleaned up. The top pancakes were too hot to eat just yet. He'd clean up then eat. That way they'd have cooled down somewhat at least.

He dried his hands on the towel after he'd finished washing up adn set the bowl and pan on the strainter to dry.

He watched with satisfaction and ease as he monitored the taller male. At least he could eat in peace with out wondering will-he-won't-he clean up.

Richard's gaze turned from the man tot he pancakes. They did look good - and smelt good as well, drowning out the metallic smell as well. He felt less guilty enjoying this aroma.

The vampire turned back to his 'soup', taking another couple of spoonfuls.

Alyosha moved to take a seat opposite the Vampire silently.

He ate in his comfortable silence, just enjoying the familiar taste of the pancakes he always ate as a child. There were very few things that were as good as these pancakes.

After inhaling his third pancake, his blue gaze flickered up to Richard.

"Alyosha," he murmured softly.

"Huh? Oh, Richard."

He offered a small smile before taking another sip of his soup.

Should he continue the conversation, or let him eat his pancakes? Aloysha seemed pretty hungry.

He took another sip.

"Bit early for breakfast?"

Alyosha gave a little nod of his head when Dick gave his name.

He'd remember it. Chances were they'd robably be seeing each other again at some point if Richard lived here, too.

"Late midnight snack."

His words revealed his thick Russian accent. Alyosha hadn't been out of his home country for long. His voice still held the tell-tale signs of being new to speaking English full time.

"Oh."

He picked up on his accent. Russian. That just added to his intimidating factor.

Then again, he does know Gacinto - and she is no harmless butterfly.

Maybe the man just seemed intimidating but was really soft inside. That would be a little cute, but who knew?

He looked down at his meal, half way through it.

"Much on mind." His lips curled upwards slightly. "Food helps."

Alyosha was known for being sweet despite his intimidating appearance. Many people he knew would tell people that he was a kind person.

Though he had once been a very dangerous person. He'dbeen part of the Mafia once upon a time.

A bad boy turned good.

"Yeah, I guess it does."

Not that he ate much any more. When he did, he could barely manage a sandwich - let alone a whole stack of pancakes.

He did kind of miss food. But smelling it became good enough. He guessed maybe that was the upside to him not cooking - he rarely had to eat his own food.

"Walking also helps."

"Might walk in garden soon."

Going for a walk did sound nice. It was definitely something he would do if food and alcohol didn't do the trick for him.

He contemplated waking Tuzik up to cuddle with him but decided against it.

The Hound needed his rest.

He hummed, finishing the last of the blood.

If he was not in company, he would of dipped his finger in it to get the remaining contents. Though, it was a little tempting.

Quickly getting up, he washed the bowl before setting it on the strainer with the other pans, bowls and utensils.

Great, now he had the joy of washing the burnt pan.

"You can dump your plate in here if you want, I don;t mind washing it up."

He was half lying, but he did not particularly having someone hovering behind him. He liked to take his time - cleaning the pan perfectly so there was not a chard in sight.

"Thank you."

Alyosha smiled at the Vampire when he was given the offer.

It was small acts of kindness like this that made Alyosha happy he'd left the Mafia. He didn't get this kindness when he had been back in Moscow.

Alyosha wasn't anywhere near done with his pancakes yet, though.

"You're welcome."

Picking up a silver scrub he inspected the soaking pan. Maybe it was not as bad as he previously thought? Though he knew he should of picked up the new one - rather then the older one. It used to be non stick when it was first brought, but it was soon torn away (may or may of not been his fault). Then again, he did not want the same fate to happen to the newer one...

Carefully he began his work from the centre, using firm circular motions.

Alyosha took his time finishing his pancakes.

His mind continued to run over what had been keeping him up all night and he gave a soft sigh.

He hated these nights. He hated remembering those parts of his past and not being able to let go of them.

The Necromancer stood, leaving his still unfinished pancakes on the table as he headed towards the alcohol store. He returned with a bottle of vodka and an average size glass.

He filled the glass and knocked back a large gulp of the alcohol.

Hearing the chair scrape across the floor, he turned to grab the plate... full of pancakes?

"Have you finished?"

He waited for him to answer, watching him fill a glass of vodka and knock it back. He stood in amazement.

How can someone just down vodka like that?

"... Didn't you just wake up?"

"No." He hadn't finished eating quite yet.

Alyosha had been young once. He'd been young and rebellious and had access to a lot of alcohol in his youth.

With how often he drank, Alyosha had gotten to the point where he could drink vodka like it was water.

"No," he repeated for the second question. He'd been awake all day and night. He hadn't been able to get to sleep at all.

Blue eyes lingered on the glass as he shook his head. If he had done something like that, he would probably of been (embarrassingly) drunk by the end of it. Vampire or not, he was a light weight when it came to spirits and wines.

"Okay, just put it in here then when you are done then."

He turned back to his pan and slipped into his own curious thoughts. Biting his lip a little, slowing the circular motions down.

What was keeping this man up that he needed to eat and drink to think?

Alyosha nodded in response.

He tipped up the glass and drained the rest as he sat back down at the table.

He poured more vodka into the glass then turned back to his pancakes, devouring them with gusto.

He'd have another glass or two of vodka, finish his pancakes then go for a walk.

Lifting the pan it was spotless in the middle. Now to work on the edges.

He wondered if he had some dramatic relationship problem? A break up? An ex-partner? Some he loves in a not too good state?

Maybe money problem? Can't afford one thing or another?

Could be he was thinking of moving away?

Or, he broke up with his partner because he can't support them so now he was thinking of moving?

Who knew.