Title: Coming Around Again
Author: bnomiko
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Trevor x Alucard, Trevor x Sypha x Alucard, Richter x Alucard, Alucard x Maria, minor Soma + Mina
Spoilers: post S4 animation + "best endings" for the referenced games
Disclaimer: "Coming Around Again" is performed and recorded by Carly Simon. Castlevania is the creation and property of Konami. Castlevania (animated series) is the creation and property of Netflix. This is a not-for-profit fanwork and I do not own any of these characters.
Summary: During the events of Grimoire of Souls, Alucard learns that Elgos' catalogues are not the only way to bring back those loved and lost from the distant past. An immortal heart, an eidetic memory, vows of love and friendship, can call forth beloved, brave souls all the same. But once crisis is averted, what happens to those same heroes who have been forgotten even by the annuls of history? A reunion tale combining aspects of various game canons including Symphony of the Night, Aria of Sorrow, Grimoire of Souls, Judgment, plus the original Castlevania animation. May include some minor referencing of other games / source material. Trevor, Sypha and Alucard's relationship based off "Under the Milky Way," my post S4 animation canon based series, but this story can be read as a standalone. Maria and Richter based off Symphony of the Night and Nocturne of Recollection.
Archived at: http://www.phenixsol.com/Miko/FF/

* * *

Coming Around Again

Ch. 12: Hydro Storm vs. Dark Inferno

* * *

Trevor was extremely proud that the cabbage salad turned out perfect, though Maria told him to shut up when he brought it up more than once - it wasn't like he'd done anything other than chop it! Even the dressing had come out of a bottle. So what if her tare sauce had ended up over reduced... Sypha's meatballs were slightly over as well, but Trevor hadn't complained about those, and at least both were edible and homemade.

As the group bickered good naturedly over the meal, Adrian sighed internally; he probably should've been paying more attention to the cooking but had gotten caught up with texting Delilah Yang and Yoko Belnades. While he had full faith in Delilah handling cases without his oversight he still did need to be aware of what she was working on, in case he had to step in or answer for anything. And Yoko... well, she was just a chatterbox in any form of communication. But from what Adrian could glean out of her excess, it sounded like the hunters were wrapping up their mission and would all be back in the office on Wednesday. Trevor and the others were welcome to go train with them at that point. The dhampir interrupted the dinner conversation to share the news with his family.

Trevor was obviously the most excited about the prospect of going to spar again - he'd tried the gym in their apartment building a few times, but mindlessly lifting weights or walking on an endless mechanical walkway was nothing like facing an actual opponent. But they all agreed to give sparring a shot, as everyone was curious to see firsthand just how talented this generation of hunters was.

As something of an extension to the main conversation at the dinner table came the divvying up of chores. It wasn't really an issue - yet - but once they moved to the new apartment it was going to be problematic if some members of the household contributed while certain others did not - and of course Trevor said that while side eyeing Richter.

They agreed that each person was responsible for tidying up their own bedroom - or in Trevor and Sypha's case, their shared room - as well as their respective bathrooms. And for sorting their own laundry. Since Adrian would be sharing closet space with Richter, Trevor figured that that would help keep the younger hunter on track as far as keeping his space clean and organized. And everyone would pitch in with general clean up around the house on Sunday.

Because Adrian liked cooking he'd continue making dinner Saturdays through Wednesdays, unless something urgent came up at work. He'd also tidy up as he cooked, though daily clean up after meals would be done by everyone else. They'd have dinner out on Thursdays. Fridays were up in the air as Adrian usually ate out with either his department or Julius and company.

With plans for the upcoming weeks now more solidified, everyone seemed a little more relaxed, with discussion moving back to future plans. Adrian mentioned he hadn't taken a vacation in years. Maybe they could take a trip together once the harvest matter was resolved, presuming nothing else of urgency popped up. They could tour all over Japan, or visit the Americas, or return to Romania.

The next day was pretty much a mirror image of the one prior, except with Trevor and Sypha going out to meet up with Soma and Mina, and Richter and Maria staying behind to pack. Adrian had set aside the bulk of his clothing for packing since he couldn't see himself wearing most of it within the next couple of weeks; he'd done the same with some of his kitchen tools, though he'd had a harder time sorting through those.

On Wednesday morning, Arikado opted to drive in to the office - or more precisely, Richter drove, under Arikado's close supervision, as the dhampir was reluctant to procure a driver's license for someone untested. But just as the younger hunter had claimed, he handled it like he'd done it a thousand times before, which alleviated much of Arikado's worry. Arikado further accompanied his family to the hunters' area before heading to his office to begin his workday once more.

* * *

While the dhampir worked in his office, Trevor got his wish. By the time they were done Yoko was muttering about needing to redo the wards again, as they'd torn through them thrice with the sheer output of magic from everyone letting loose, showing off and trying to one up one another. But Julius thought it was worth it. Seeing the originator of the Hydro Storm soak the room was a thrill; afterwards Richter went on to infuse flames into his flips, kicks and strikes. And there'd been no summoner of Maria's ilk since her passing so it felt like something truly special to witness Suzaku taking to the air once more, filling the space with whirling crescents of fire, and Byakko's lightning fueled frenzy as he leapt about, roaring like thunder.

Sypha impressed less in her conjuring of elemental magic and more in her ability to manipulate it - she took Suzaku's barrage of flames and bent them to her will, drawing them into tighter circles as they spun faster, until a tornado of fire gyrated in the center of the space. Then, with a quick gesture of her fingers, it cleared immediately, like the sun burning through clouds after a storm.

It was a shame that Trevor had no ability to wield magic. He was clearly at a disadvantage compared to the others but he didn't complain about it even when he sat on the sidelines, instead assessing their abilities with a critical eye, thinking about strategy - how they best complimented each other, how he could counter or defend himself from said spells, if he were faced with such. He put some of that to practice in the sparring matches he did participate in, and overall was pleased that he could keep up well enough that he didn't feel that he was holding anyone back.

Alucard showed up just before lunchtime. He hadn't intended to join in - it had been years since he'd stepped into a training room - but when Trevor waved him over he couldn't refuse. Despite the lack of practice, nothing in his crisp movements and swift reactions indicated any deterioration of his skills. With the number of combatants evened up they ended up doing some paired matches - Alucard with Trevor versus Julius and Ives, Richter and Maria versus Trevor and Sypha, Ives and Yoko versus Alucard and Sypha, and then a mismatch of both dhampirs against all three Belmont hunters. With Trevor's lack of magic and Julius' age, it was no surprise that Richter carried the fight, infusing flames into every punch and flick of his borrowed practice whip. The whip wasn't going to survive such treatment but Julius reassured him, they had plenty more.

Maria stayed out of most of the matches deliberately. Although she was capable of fighting hand-to-hand - and it had been well worth it to see the shock on Trevor's face a split second before her glowing fist impacted his cheek - she preferred to provide support from the back line, not engage directly with an opponent. But she was glad seeing Richter dragged into this, whether he'd originally wanted it or not, because he'd seemed a bit down after their previous conversation about Adrian, though he'd given her an easy smile and dismissive wave when she'd tried to apologize for getting mad at him. It was hard enough dealing with Adrian's distraction and Trevor being Trevor... adding Richter's doubts to the mix was too much. Maybe he didn't want to be employed as a hunter but it obviously helped clear his mind as he didn't have time to think or mope while dodging Ives lightning fast strikes, too quick for the human eye to track, or Alucard harassing him as a cloud of bats.

The final match ended when Alucard disappeared from the fray in a column of light only to reappear a split second later, several meters away, as he swung out his arm emphatically. Heralded by the sudden scent of brimstone and heat haze distorting the air, a pair of giant molten fireballs coalesced before him, then hurtled towards the fighters.

Ives tsked under his breath as he sped off to find cover alongside the Belmont trio. It didn't help that the room they were in was simply big, empty of any real physical barricades to hide behind. He'd heard tales about this spell before and didn't see a reason to take any risk; he doubted the fireballs differentiated between friend and foe.

Although they weren't active combatants Maria began to summon Genbu, forming a protective boundary of shimmering plates as Sypha's ice wall quickly began forming in front of the hunters. Yoko's magic and even Ives' poured in as well, essentially widening and deepening the blockade as the frozen crystals built off one another. Julius fed holy blessings into the wall, further strengthening it against the incoming attack, while Richter fingered his pocket watch, intent on slowing the fireballs as they impacted to minimize damage. He had considered unleashing another Hydro Storm, knowing he could do quite a lot of damage to the meteor-like projectiles, but Ives had thrown his lot in with theirs, so that was no longer an option.

Even at a quarter speed the first one successfully punched through the magical shell Maria had erected before fizzling out. The second began burning through the ice, but finally ran out of steam about a third of the way through the thick, enhanced shielding.

"Well that was cheating, wasn't it?" Alucard asked smugly as the rumbling died down, and multiple pairs of eyes narrowed at him. "Seven against one... or two." Actually he'd meant to conjure a third, but he'd felt an uncomfortable twinge with that extra draw of magic so he'd stopped. But no need to mention it since he was already being glared at.

"Then don't throw Daddy's black magic at us, asshole!" Trevor sniped, which only earned him a toothier grin. He didn't even know that Adrian could do that - back when Trevor's health had begun declining, the blond had only begun toying with offensive spells with Sypha's encouragement. And to create two at once? Even Dracula hadn't done that! "Jesus, fuck, what are we supposed to do other than take cover?"

"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have faith in all of you."

Trevor sighed and shook his head as the group began dispersing from their defensive formation. He couldn't really be mad at the "surprise" given just how pleased Adrian was at the opportunity to show off, and how quickly they'd all pulled together to counter said surprise, proving his point. The older hunter had been the only one without a role to play, but that just meant he'd need to work harder on the things he could do...

He turned to Maria. "Those were some damn good moves," Trevor admitted, grinning broadly. Maria blinked back at him, eyes wide. "Your shield ate one of those hellfire balls all by itself, and I guess I got what I deserved for doubting you because damn, you really have one helluva punch."

Her mouth formed a small "o" as his compliment registered. Sensing that there was nothing insincere in his words, she explained, "Richter said if I was going to insist on hunting at his side, that I learn to fight like a proper Belmont, whether it was with magic or martial arts or a mix of both. Because he didn't have the luxury of babysitting me in the middle of combat just because my owl was injured or I didn't have time to summon."

Trevor gave an approving nod. "Good on you for taking it seriously; it paid off!" He gave her a brief pat on the shoulder, then nodded at Richter as well. "Smart man. I did the same for Sypha and she picked it up more readily than I could have imagined, by mixing in magic like Maria did. Though I never got her to actually punch anyone."

"Stabbing night creatures in the face with ice shards wasn't good enough?" Sypha asked, eyebrow inching upwards.

"Oh, I'm not complaining. That was always impressive."

"Teamwork makes the dream work!" Yoko chirped, practically tackling the two ladies from behind. She even grabbed Maria in a congratulatory hug so tight that it lifted the younger woman off the ground. "You guys should totally apply for positions here. Maybe J could finally retire," she added in a faux whisper, capping it with a wink.

Julius made a face. "Shush, you." He swiped at his brow; in his prime he could've countered one of the giant fireballs by himself without issue, but now that he was older, both physical combat and channeling holy magic were getting progressively more difficult. At least his companions had proven capable... "Been a while since I've had a workout like this - I need a shower. And lunch."

"Me too," muttered Trevor. Not that he wasn't used to sweating like a horse, but with hot showers and soap so readily available, even he saw no point in running around in clammy clothing when he could be fresh and clean instead.

"I guess I'm buying for everyone, then," Alucard volunteered. "I'll have food delivered; what would you all want?"

Ives' head tilted for a moment, then he blurted out, "Gyudon."

"Vegetables won't kill you, you know," Alucard muttered.

"Nor will a carnivore's diet, old man," Ives said with a slight grin, fangs peeking out between his lips.

The elder dhampir sighed. Ives was nearly two hundred at this point, a bit old for a teenager's snappy comebacks, lackluster diet, and awful sleeping schedule, though Alucard had always attributed a portion of that to Ives simply wanting to get a rise out of him. Probably in part because he was the oldest known dhampir alive, so he was viewed as something of an uncle or cousin to the others despite the lack of actual relation. And with Ives in particular, it was Alucard himself who had suggested that Ives train as a hunter under the Demon Hunter's Association, and then had him transferred from Britain when they needed a fill in for Julius' position. Ives in return complained regularly about how he missed meat pies and proper fish and chips, and how impossible it was to connect with his teammates in first person shooters when his downtime matched up with their mornings or vice versa. So maybe he was entitled to a little brattish behavior. At least Alucard had been correct in his assessment that he'd make for an excellent hunter.

Yoko simply shrugged, used to her partner's preferences. "I'm down with beef bowls."

Alucard rolled his eyes but pulled out his phone to start an order.

* * *

The ladies and gents split off into their respective locker rooms, all except the two dhampirs who really hadn't broken a sweat. As usual Trevor began peeling off his clothes before the door had even closed behind them. Nudity meant nothing to him; he figured the faster he got into the shower, the faster he'd be done and ready to continue his day.

"Ahh," Trevor sighed, tilting his head back as he appreciated the hot water pouring down from above. Already he could feel aching muscles releasing their strain and relaxing. Wiping off his face to clear his vision, he pumped some soap into his hand and started lathering up just as Richter entered the space as well, positioning himself at the adjacent showerhead.

Trevor took a quick look around. Julius wasn't there; he could see a glimpse of his arm and shoulder outside though. Apparently he was waiting his turn even though there was more than enough space for them to fit two to a showerhead, or all three in the overall space. Was it that awkward? Adrian had told Trevor that a popular attraction in this country were numerous natural bathing pools that stayed steaming hot year round, but maybe those worked differently than he imagined...

The older hunter couldn't help but glance over at Richter again. Maybe it was poor manners, but he was curious... Adrian had said Richter reminded him of Trevor. They certainly weren't similar in personality, so had he meant physically?

The younger man had his head bowed under the streaming water. Then he threw it back, long hair slapping wetly on his skin as he turned his face upward like Trevor had done earlier. His profile looked like one that might be idealized on a classical statue: a strong brow, prominent nose, an angled jaw. Weighed down by water, his normally wavy hair streamed down his back all the way to his waist, like a sheet of molten dark chocolate. His skin had a light, healthy tan, with sparse body hair evenly distributed across limbs and torso.

Trevor's eyes finished sweeping up and down, then he turned back to face the tiled wall with a grunt. Richter was working with decent equipment so he couldn't fault Adrian for going for it, though Trevor bet the other hunter wasn't half as fun as he was in the sack.

He'd already noted that Richter was built very much like Adrian: though he wasn't as willowy as the blond his muscles ran in similar long, lean lines, unlike Trevor's own bulkier build. And that was interesting, wasn't it... Trevor hadn't thought about it until now, but he was pretty sure he was heavier and healthier overall than he'd been when he'd first met Adrian in Gresit. A bit of his husband's preference sneaking in to alter their new reality? Sypha too was curvier, softer, more filled out - not boyishly thin as she'd been on their initial meeting.

Maybe there was a little of that going on with Richter too, or perhaps he'd always been a good-looking kid in peak physical condition. He'd probably had the luxury of taking care of himself: while it was expected that a Belmont hunter would pick up his share of scars over the years, the ones Trevor had caught sight of all looked to have been treated properly, unlike his own jumble of jagged old wounds. Trevor had done what he could back then, but when he was a teen he'd rarely had the means to do more than wrap up an injury with some cloth and hoped it'd heal up enough to let him function decently well. No way did he have the energy to worry about if it scarred badly or not.

If he were a lesser man maybe he would've found that distressing, but instead he caught himself hiding a grin. So what if Richter seemed to have everything together? Trevor's shoddy condition, his lack of money and education and manners, even his excommunication... none of that had stopped him from gaining both an amazing wife and extraordinary husband, or taking back his ancestral lands. So things hadn't worked out too badly for him in the long run. And it even seemed the Belmonts had been granted absolution by the Church at some point, as both Richter and Julius used holy magic with ease. So even excommunication no longer stained the family name.

Trevor's hands moved downward as he continued washing up. He glanced down at his legs, then turned the right one outward and bent down a little further. He had convinced Adrian to bite him before bed last night. The dhampir had refused to leave the mark on his neck, saying that that was in bad taste when he was going to spend the day in the company of hunters, but had finally acquiesced to a bite on the inner thigh - too bad, because Trevor of course had wanted to parade it around, a visible reminder of his bond with Adrian. But by the time Trevor woke up he'd noticed it was mostly healed up, with just a bit of minor puffiness and discoloration at the location. And now... it was completely gone, as if it hadn't been there at all.

Disappointing, but interesting. Did that mean they'd "inherited" Adrian's enhanced healing ability? Come to think of it, he'd landed on his shoulder awkwardly while sparring, and even now it already felt better, like he'd rested it a good week or so; he'd taken an errant lash across a forearm too but there was barely any swelling or redness, like it hadn't happened at all. Could they be permanently wounded or even killed in this state, or no, because they were no longer actually alive, having passed on hundreds of years prior? Did that mean their bodies were undead? What about their souls? But Richter had just been playing with holy water with no ill effect; they got hungry at mealtimes and sleepy at the end of the day. Sparring sped up their heart rates and made them sore and sweaty. So...?

On a less serious note, he'd been planning on growing out his hair again... was that a no go too?

Rinsing off the last of the soap, the older hunter shook off some of the loose water droplets though the questions stubbornly remained. He'd talk to Sypha about it later, to see if she'd noticed anything different about her own body. In the meantime Julius was waiting his turn so Trevor grabbed a towel and quickly vacated.

Richter meanwhile barely even noticed Trevor's departure, or Julius stepping in for his turn. He was thinking of their earlier matches and what he'd seen from the newest generation of hunters. Thank goodness Alucard had managed to talk some sense into him back in the day and helped him properly complete Albrecht's training - although Richter had held on to the Vampire Killer until his death he had passed the Morning Star to his surviving son once he'd reached maturity. Naturally talented, Albrecht had done exactly what his father had hoped he wouldn't, throwing himself headlong into the family business and becoming an accomplished monster hunter himself, though he'd done so under Great-Grandfather Maxim's surname, Kischine, as did his son Josef. In retrospect Richter supposed it had been bound to happen... regardless of what name they used, hunting wasn't just a profession to their clan, but a crucial aspect of their lives, embedded into their blood. To keep up with apex predators they themselves had become apex predators. A peaceful life just didn't suit them.

Ultimately it was Josef's son Michael who revived the family name and, in accordance with his great-grandfather's will, delivered the Vampire Killer to Quincy Morris.

He wasn't sure how to feel about seeing firsthand reminder that the legendary weapon had made its way back into Belmont hands, even though it had been foretold by Speaker prophecy. At least the old hunter wasn't inclined to let it out of his possession, not even to his ancestors. Because as eager as Trevor seemed to be to return to being a hunter, Richter was equally set on not doing so again. Being a hunter - being a Belmont - had only ever brought him the false sanctuary of pride, and too much grief...

The sound of the shower next to him turning off startled him out of his melancholy. Somehow he'd ended up in there longer than intended, to the point that even Julius had finished and was stepping out.

Not wanting to field any questions about what he was thinking about or why he was taking so long, he waited until Julius departed, then pasted a practiced, pleasant expression on his face in the mirror before he shuffled out shortly after.

* * *

After lunch the Agency hunters still had work to do so Richter offered to drive everyone else home, to get out of their hair. He and Maria would go check in with Soma and Mina; Trevor and Sypha could continue packing, not that there was much left to do on that front.

So instead of staring at more cardboard boxes Trevor and Sypha ended up going to a local library - Sypha's pick of course - then brought back dinner ingredients as well, to save Adrian the trip. Still, the brunet remained in a good mood. Yoko had voiced what he'd been hoping for, that the others would eventually come around to embracing their heritage as hunters once again. Though no one had jumped up and said they'd apply, he figured if he gave them some time, he could try nudging the group in that direction once again. For now, they still had a move to think about, and a new life to continue adjusting to...

Then the day came to an end. Trevor had known it was coming; he'd agreed to it as everyone else had - but it was still hard to bid good night to Adrian and head to the bedroom with only Sypha by his side, as Adrian moved back to the sofa to join Richter for the night.

It was equally awkward for Richter, who insisted once again that it was better for Adrian to spend the night with his spouses or his girlfriend, but the blond just plunked himself on the futon without attempting to argue back, letting his presence serve as the answer.

With a sigh, Richter went and brushed his teeth, then came back, turned off the lights, and slid under the covers, carefully positioning himself so he wasn't pressed up against Adrian, but far enough in that he wouldn't fall out of bed if he suddenly rolled over either.

They lay there in silence for a minute. Thinking that he'd done enough to escape scrutiny for the night, Richter let his eyes slide shut, his thoughts becoming slightly fuzzy around the edges as he began drifting towards slumber, but then Adrian's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Did I force this on you, Richter?" the dhampir asked, soft enough that Richter could simply feign like he was asleep if he'd rather ignore the question until the next day, the next week, the next month...

The hunter glanced over. Despite the fact that it was quite dark with the blinds drawn, it was impossible to ignore the glimmer of unnatural golden eyes patiently studying him in return. Richter turned away before trying to hide his uncertainties with a scoff. "You've never forced anything on me."

"... You must've found peace again with Annette, your little ones. Your whole family."

Richter's eyebrows drew together in thought. Wasn't that the assumption, that heaven was a honeyed paradise or eternal bliss? Surely he'd been happier there, though... he couldn't quite remember what the afterlife had been like. He only had the faintest recollection of a tug, an urge, a push, that had thrust him back into the world of the living. Maybe that was the price for returning, to forget what one had walked away from...

Richter shook off the fog and refocused on the original question. "I told you - whenever you need me, I'll come. Always. That's all it was."

"Is that so? Then why have you been avoiding me at almost every turn?"

"I haven't... I'm here, aren't I?"

Adrian scooted over and closed the distance between them, bumping his shoulder against Richter's. The brunet twitched, though he didn't push the other man away. Instead, he weakly joked, "This isn't like our days in the back of the wagon. If you're that cold, you could always turn up the thermostat."

Adrian sighed and took the hint to move away slightly. "Why do I need an excuse to be close to you?"

Richter's lips tightened. Did they always have such a hard time communicating? "I can't understand why you wouldn't rather spend your time with Maria or Sypha or Trevor?"

"I already have been. I want to be with you as well."

"Why?"

Adrian sighed again. In retrospect, he probably deserved this. He hadn't handled his relationship with Richter well. They'd spent over three decades by one another's side but had never really talked about how they felt about one another or defined their relationship other than the vague, nebulous cloud of "family." It didn't help that what had kicked it all off was the both of them losing their respective lovers. It was an understatement that Adrian did not handle loss well. Richter hadn't been much better though that was understandable, given that he was left with four children, the youngest being barely two years old, and zero desire to remarry despite his family pushing hard for him to do so.

Adrian shouldn't have suggested to Richter that they try to leave their grief behind in the manor that no longer felt like home once Annette, Herrick and Maria were gone; he shouldn't have turned to Richter for comfort when the nights grew cold and his memories of those loved and lost gripped at his heart. He should have loved Richter properly, like he'd deserved. Like they both deserved. How differently things might've turned out if he'd been more honest and forthcoming...

"I'm just saying, it's silly to dally with me when Maria is just down the hall," Richter added, taking umbrage at Adrian's silence.

"I am NOT dallying with you. This was never a dalliance - is that how you saw it?!" Adrian snapped, now also offended.

"We both desired a moment's comfort from time to time. And my children were fond of you. What else was it supposed to have been?"

The dhampir blinked. Had Richter only taken him along as a nanny? "'Fond' of me..." he huffed, voice low. For a while, Richter and his two youngest had been Adrian's whole universe. And as they traveled together, the blond learned to see the world once again, through their eyes and their experiences - together. "I loved them as if they were my own. And... I felt the same for you."

The sudden silence was painful. Adrian could almost hear Richter's brain screeching to a halt. "You... what?" Another long, uncomfortable pause. "... You never told me that."

"How could I? You made it clear: you would not remarry, you would not fall in love again. The only way for me to remain by your side was to stay silent and hope that one day, you'd look at me and understand why I was there."

Richter's brows beetled. He tried to remember all those days and nights on the road and then the years after in the little cottage outside of Jova, one that was still filled with furniture and trinkets that Maria had chosen. What had he seen back then when he looked at Alucard, other than observing the fact that he remained flawless and ageless, even as Richter's children grew up and Richter himself grew old and frail? Certainly the blond had been a constant and steadfast companion; a friend, a brother, a savior. He'd supported the Belmonts in every aspect of their lives, never complaining that anything was beneath him despite his legendary status. Even Richter's eldest daughter Odilia had joked that Uncle Alucard's cooking and help around the house put most wives to shame; on the flip side, he easily kept up with young Herrick and Albrecht while sparring. Richter had even caught his father and grandfather - both twice widowers themselves - talking about it, with Henri saying to Juste that if Richter wouldn't take another wife, having Alucard and Maria there was probably the next best thing.

He'd known his friend felt guilty over having locked himself away in his depression, leaving the clan he'd allied himself with to fight the darkness without his aid or guidance. He'd figured that was why Alucard had attached himself to his hip, to make up for that. How was he supposed to have known that there was anything else, when the man himself hadn't said a word?

... And why hadn't Richter known about this already when something as random as the ability to drive or speak a foreign language, did? Or had Adrian held it that tightly to his chest?

"For how long?" the hunter finally asked.

"For how long what?"

"When did you come to the realization that... you had an interest in me?"

Adrian sighed yet again. He wasn't sure if he should admit the truth, even now. Because if he was being completely honest, his eyes had sought out Richter first, not Maria, as he joined them out in the light of day as his father's corrupted castle collapsed back into the darkness it had spawned from. He'd told himself at the time it was only because he wanted to be sure the Belmont was okay. But as he'd walked away, intending to return to his solitary, eternal slumber, it was Maria who had doggedly chased after him. There were hints of Sypha in her stubborn persistence, shades of Ann in her kindness and Mary in her sass. As much as he hadn't wanted to pull another pure soul into his sad orbit Alucard hadn't stood a chance against her as she committed herself to coaxing him back into the world of the living.

He'd been happy to see Richter doing well and living happily with his family when Maria eventually brought him along to meet the whole clan. By then Alucard's gaze was fixed on the vibrant, determined young lady by his side, a woman so pure of spirit that even celestial beasts answered her call; as she had devoted herself to him so had he strove to mirror her dedication as best he could. So why had his attention turned back to Richter as soon as she was gone? Yes he'd been terribly depressed and feeling like a complete failure, the rug pulled out from under his universe once again. He'd found himself questioning if he'd made her happy, if he'd done enough for her. Maybe if he'd spent less time wallowing in self-pity over events long past he'd have noticed her declining health in time to save her.

Richter understood that. He'd sympathized. He'd been tagging along on a hunt when Annette had passed during childbirth. It didn't matter that there was nothing he himself could have done. He hadn't been there. He hadn't been present either when Herrick was overwhelmed and killed by Mud Men while in pursuit of a Were-Panther. The youngster had been sixteen, on his second solo mission... a child by modern standards but old enough by long standing Belmont tradition to have already graduated to being a full-fledged hunter. All his grief stricken family could do was recover his body and the Vampire Killer, then finish the job he'd started, wiping the area of fiends. Richter rightfully felt guilty that he hadn't been there to save his son, but even worse, he saw Herrick's death as proof that he hadn't done enough to adequately pass on his knowledge to his heir. If he hadn't fallen victim to his own hubris and succumbed to Shaft's spell, he wouldn't have been reluctant to wholeheartedly devote himself to Herrick's training - and that was a failing of the worst sort for a Belmont and a father.

"... Adrian?"

The dhampir blinked and looked back over, suddenly back in the present.

"How long?" Richter pressed, and Adrian realized he'd never answered. He could lie, but when had lying ever done anyone any good? More than that, when had he ever been able to lie to Maria or Richter?

"You... caught my attention from the start: a Belmont hunter, straight out of Trevor's mold. I recognized you by blood alone. Even if Maria hadn't asked me to look for you, I would've done it on my own."

In the dark, it would've been impossible for a human to see the surprise on Richter's face, but it was no problem for Adrian. Still, he waited for the man to process his words, to judge him for it if he must.

"Corrupted or not, I was your foe," the brunet finally breathed.

"Trevor fought me minutes after accidentally waking me, so it wouldn't be the first time. Though he was at least doing it of his own free will..." Adrian countered, a smile ghosting across his face. Sypha said it had to be one of the worst first meetings of all time - but he'd always been fond of the memory. It helped immensely that Trevor had ended up pinned beneath him, bravado warring with fear in his eyes, sweat beading in the hollow of his throat, his broad chest heaving with exertion...

"But it was Maria whom you..." Richter trailed off as he squinted in Adrian's direction. "No, she went after you. And then you returned with her."

"Yes. And you returned to your family, and things were, for a time, as they ought to be." Too bad that relative tranquility hadn't lasted long.

"Surely, you must have come to care for her."

"I did. I loved her."

"But it was not even a year after she passed that you were by my side, trekking across the countryside as if we could outrun the past," Richter said, still trying to puzzle it out. "I cannot fathom how you could switch your affections so quickly."

"You were my friend and my family, Richter. And as I've admitted, you had my attention from the start. So it only felt natural..."

"You were Maria's lover, Alucard. Surely she deserved more than a few months of consideration before you pursued a new target!" Richter hissed back, irritated that the blond had put him in a difficult spot.

Gold eyes widened, then blinked rapidly, before turning away.

Richter huffed, frustrated but also regretful for having snapped like that. It took two to tango, so the saying went. Hadn't he relented and gone along with it? Really, he'd been no better than the other man. "Adrian... sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"No, I deserve it. I did this to myself. I promised Maria I would not return to the grave but I didn't know how to continue living either. So I turned to you. But I was not honest with you nor myself; I loved you, but I never told you." He drew in a slow breath. "It's never been easy for me to talk about my feelings. It became impossible after Sypha and Ann passed. I thought... it was enough that I knew how I felt. I convinced myself I was satisfied with that. I took care of you, and followed you, and let you believe whatever you wanted, as long as that allowed me to stay by your side." He grimaced, though the hunter couldn't see it. "In the end, I used you, Richter."

"How was that using me? Did the children and I not benefit from it? Wasn't I 'using' you as well?"

"I didn't entrust my feelings to you. My lack of faith in you... is appalling."

"You may have made the right call, though. I doubt I would've heard you out back then, at least at the start."

"... And now?" Adrian asked hesitantly.

Richter was silent for a good minute, before answering with the same amount of trepidation. "I... I think I need some time, Adrian. Is that all right? I need to think about it."

Adrian took in a breath, relieved that Richter hadn't outright rejected him. He'd already been sitting on his feelings for hundreds of years - what was another few days or weeks or months in the long run? "I understand. Take as much time as you need. And if this," and he lifted the sheets slightly, rustling them, "truly makes you uncomfortable, I can move back in with Trevor and Sypha for the night."

It helped Richter relax, knowing there was an out, if he wanted it. "No, it's all right. Stay." A pause, then, "I bet Trevor doesn't let you get a lick of sleep, does he?"

Adrian made a slightly strangled sound, though he choked down most of it. "We are not having that discussion."

Richter chuckled softly, deep and rumbling. "Fair enough; I don't want to know anyhow." He reached out blindly and managed to find a shoulder, patting it lightly. "Good night, Adrian?"

The blond sunk into the bedding, accepting the offer of a truce. "Good night, Richter."

* * *

Author's Notes:

- I swear I'm not trying to dump on Richter but given the sparse Belmont story line post-SotN up to the modern era, I felt like there was a lot of potential for creativity in explaining how Richter went from Shaft's possession to the Belmonts disappearing entirely for almost 200 years.

Other game references and notes:

- Lots of game references in this!

Richter's attacks / spells based on the following: Hydro Storm (Holy Water Item Crash) (SotN), the fire infused physical attacks (MR), Stopwatch (various - I don't have a visual effect here). Also while I said Richter was the originator of the Hydro Storm, that would technically only be true in the chronological order that the games were made (in this case Rondo of Blood (RoB)). It was later given to Juste as well in HoD, as well as other characters. Certainly Richter is the most famous for it, so I like the idea of him originating it as well.

Alucard's attacks / spells based on the following: Teleport + Dark Inferno (SotN). Waboosh...

Maria's attacks / spells based on the following: Vermilion Mars II (GoS) + Cardinal Item Crash (The Dracula X Chronicles (DXC) ver. SotN), Cat Item Crash (DXC), Guardians Knuckle (Sega Saturn ver. SotN), Genbu Guard (GoS).

With Ives, I did the best I could picking apart the content in MR development videos but it looks like the majority of his attacks are based on swift sword strikes and ice based magic.

- Maxim Kischine wasn't mentioned by name earlier in the story but as anyone familiar with HoD could've guessed he was the third leg in the relationship with Juste and Lydie. Since the Belmonts "vanished" from history after Richter, I figured the family might have continued working under a different surname for a time, even as the Belmont name faded from history.

- Michael R. Belmont is a descendant of Richter's according to the in-house fax posted on the Castlevania Wiki, though it doesn't specify how many generations removed he was. He doesn't have any in-game appearance, however he possibly was the one who delivered the Vampire Killer to the Morris clan and the Alucard Spear to Eric Lecarde (ancestor of Hermina), so I felt that deserved mention here.

- Thanks to Nenya85 for beta work. Reviews are appreciated!

April 24, 2026