The next day, Emma is prepared to get to work on the August case. Coffee in hand, she grabbed all her files on August Booth and spread them out in front of her. It wasn't much to go on and Regina was expecting it to be challenging.

She felt extremely apprehensive about the whole thing the more she read. He was a vampire like Killian, though quite a bit younger, who actually did not have a criminal history. Just a whole lot of nothing until this. Way to skip to the big leagues, she thought. He was seen actually feeding off an unknown witch and reported to the authorities. Something Killian has never been caught doing by anyone. Besides herself, at least. The weird thing is it happened in a werewolf zone. It made the whole situation particularly delicate. Regina and others who are aware of the case were weary of kidnapping or trafficking.

What the hell a vampire was doing in werewolf territory for any reason is a mystery. It's a well-known fact that they can't feed off werewolves due to their blood being deadly to all other magical beings. In addition, racial tensions between vampires and werewolves were at an all-time high. Well, the werewolves were tense with just about everyone at the moment.

The anonymous report about the supposed bite came from outside a bar in the werewolf district. It was in one of the magically expanded zones the immortal council created thousands of years ago to "hide our most vulnerable and obvious members from the non-magical population." For our own safety. Or something. You need an ID to get in and out of a werewolf zone so she is almost certain Booth is still inside. The zone in question is one she has never personally visited. They resemble prisons a lot more than the happy utopias free of humans they were supposed to be.

Looking over the scant report, Emma wonders who the witch is and how she got involved in this. There is no information about her besides "witch being fed off of". She allows herself to hope that if nothing else, they are in the same situation and might have some advice. Either way, she has a lead and she is going to follow it. Emma flicks her wrists and her coffee cup disappeared into the kitchen. She is ready to go.

…To the bar in a werewolf zone. Great.

Passing through the security into a werewolf zone was not fun. The underpaid guards magically everyone's bags for an ever growing list of contraband, ask probing questions about reasons for visiting, and are even more strict on werewolves trying to leave. Even with her badge straight from the council Emma still had a rough time. They wanted to know which businesses she would be visiting and she was reluctant to give them every detail lest it ruin the case.

Security had gotten dramatically stricter in the last 10 years. Vampires were almost never let inside anymore. It's a miracle Booth managed to get in, she thought. He must have been a real smooth talker.

The justification for the high security was werewolves are overly violent and can't control themselves around other races, especially around mortals. They are supposed to stay inside the zones and never leave. For their own protection, of course. Most folks have no contact with them at all anymore. Emma herself did not mind werewolves. When she first started work they could still be found hanging around in bars on the outside on occasion and she made quite a few friends. Every werewolf she has ever met has been pretty normal. A bit hotheaded but so are drunk wizards named Walsh. Or humans named Neal, a tiny voice in her mind supplied before she squashed the thought.

When she finally made it through security and stepped out into the streets she was instantly reminded why she doesn't like coming into their territory. Looking around at the state of the buildings, she thinks it has been at least 50 years since anyone repaired a road or building. She passes a dilapidated pharmacy that had long since shut down, roof caved in and all. And this was the nice part of town.

Roving gangs of males without families run the streets. There are shortages and lots of infighting. The immortals claim they allow in shipments of more than enough food and supplies but that its squandered and destroyed by gangs to create a false shortage for their own profit. The gangs deny this behavior and swear they only steal food out of necessity to get any at all for the worst-off parts of town. Emma isn't sure what she believes but things aren't exactly nice in here. The presence of gangs is one of the biggest reasons the council cites for not allowing werewolves in or out. The tension keeps them all spinning in circles.

The bar she finds herself in front of is little more than a shack with a metal roof from the outside. Loud music and even louder conversation hits Emma at the door. A woman wearing almost all red comes barreling out of the back. She starts to yell "What'll ya have" but stops short. Gives the air a clear sniff and grins. "Well, haven't seen anyone besides werewolves here in a long time! Who are you?"

"Emma Swan. I am uh... looking for someone. Hoping you can help me find him." She didn't want to reveal she was a bounty hunter right now. Let them make their own conclusions. "I'm a witch. Nice atmosphere in here, I like what you've done with the place." Emma wasn't lying. The décor was very chic. Heavy on the red and inspired by fairy tales from all the races.

"My name is Ruby and this is my bar. Glad you like the place, my grandma has run a bar here for as long as I can remember and when she died, I took over. I rebuilt this place with my own hands twice now." A pause, "I wouldn't mind getting to know a witch if you've got time. My grandma knew a few back in the day when things weren't as bad. I have never had the opportunity to meet any. I hope you aren't afraid of a little fur while you're here." She says, but Emma can see the slightly nervous expression on her face. Emma supposes it's a valid fear but she really doesn't 'mind a little fur'. "Sure you don't want a drink?"

"Never said I didn't. Hit me with your best beer." Emma said. She moves towards the seating at the bar and two men give her a sniff before moving over to make space. She doesn't think she will get used to all the sniffing. Killian might rely on his sense of smell but he doesn't do the sniffing thing.

When her beer comes out, its disgustingly strong and tastes like burnt peanuts and garlic for some reason. She tries to choke it down. The man next to her looks impressed.

"So who are you looking for?" Ruby asks before she's even recovered from the first sip of beer. Emma gets the impression she is the gossipy type and exactly who she wants to talk to here. "Maybe I know the wolf. Or not."

"I'm not looking for a werewolf, believe it or not. I'm looking for a vampire. Pretty distinctive." She lets that hang in the air and watches Ruby's face carefully. Her eyes do widen in recognition. Gotcha.

"A vampire. You do know where you are, right?" Ruby ribs her. "You know vampires aren't even really allowed in here anymore. And even if they were, what could they possibly want? The bloodsuckers can't even find prey here." Emma winces slightly and suppresses the urge to correct her that the people vampires feed on aren't prey. At least not all the time.

"You tell me sister. His name is August Booth." Emma supplies a picture, even though she is fairly certain Ruby already knows who she means. "He was last seen with another witch, right near this bar."

Ruby definitely recognizes him, Emma thinks. But she scrunches her nose at the mention of a witch. "I may have heard of a vampire who likes to slum it with the wolves, real broody type, but I have never seen another witch in this bar. What do you want with a guy like this? Sounds like trouble."

"Mainly to talk to him." Emma isn't lying when she says that, she realizes suddenly. August might be the only other person in the world who knows what she is going through. Maybe he is bonded too and they are hiding here. She will have to turn him in eventually, maybe, but for now she just wants to talk. She will figure out how to keep Regina off her back later.

"I don't buy that. They don't let witches in here just to have a chat with mysterious vampires." Ruby supposes, sipping her own beer on the job without a hint of guilt. "I've lived my whole life in this area and I don't particularly like people sniffing around. If there's a vampire around here, I can tell you he isn't hurting anyone and I would appreciate things not getting stirred up."

Interesting. Ruby is defending this man. Emma would have thought the people in here would be falling over themselves to turn in or slander a vampire. She really needs to talk to this guy. She thinks Ruby might do better with the truth, wolves always could smell the nerves on someone. They have that in common at least.

"Look. I will tell you the truth Ruby. I was sent to bring this guy in. He has... he's broken a lot of rules." Emma knows how delicate this situation is and isn't sure how much of the situation Ruby is aware of. "but for very personal reasons, I need to talk to him. Just talk. I don't want to get him in trouble because I think we might be in similar situations. He isn't the only vampire I know." She looks Ruby right in the eyes and really hopes she comes across as sincere. Emma put as much truth as possible into her explanation. Ruby deliberates for a while and makes a decision.

"Similar situation huh? I doubt that, but I do believe that you don't intend to bring him in. I'm pretty good at catching liars." Ruby grins at her. "My wolf would've been a lot more vocal when you walked in if you meant us harm. So for that, I'm going to give you a hint of a place you might be able to talk to Booth. After I make a short house call, of course. You can wait here. You really owe me for this later- maybe a story about this other vampire you know."

Killian is pacing back and forth in his house after his visit to Mary Margaret and David. Bound to a witch! He could cry in frustration at the irony of this situation, after avoiding the bond and everything to do with it for so long. There is absolutely no way they can evade the council for the rest of their lives. At some point they will slip, just like she did, and they will be caught, and killed. Or worse.

Gods the council. The immortals that rule them cannot run a proper society out of a paper bag, but they sure know how to punish criminals. Once you go into prison for something like this no one ever sees you come out. They have support and servants that have been loyal to them for countless generations. They have seen things no one alive can even dream of. The oldest vampire alive at 1129 looks like a simple child to the oldest immortal. They call the first immortal Gold and they say he was there when humans crawled out of their caves, only finding (and some rumors say creating) the other immortals from some mysterious origin thousands of years later.

He is all too familiar with Gold and knows they stand no chance against him if he ever catches wind of this.

Killian tries to force his thoughts in a different direction. He sits on the plump couch in his sitting room and tries to consider if anything his old friends said was helpful. He almost barks a laugh when he realizes the only useful thing he got out of that conversation was confirmation that he is doomed to a miserable existence of sharing thoughts with someone who wants nothing to do with him.

Not that he wants anything to do with the fiery bounty hunter either. He may have slightly enjoyed teasing her the last 10 years... but he would never consider this. Yeah, you would only consider fucking her silly, drinking from her, and spending the night at her house, his mind unhelpfully supplies.

Gods. He really did this to himself. And when he thinks about Emma for too long, this horrible longing fills his chest. He thinks its just the bond pulling on him, because he really can't be sure it isn't spillover emotion or some sign of danger or whether it's his own hopeless mind. It's only been a day since he saw her but it is already a struggle.

Which gets him thinking about the short term. Goals he can work with and focus on rather than drowning in thoughts about the future. Lest he go insane from bond withdrawal, he is supposed to be meeting with her regularly through their now shared familiar spirit. He tries to focus and give summoning a try.

"Uh, hey! Henry? Can you hear me? I'd like to have a little chat." He feels silly talking to his empty apartment. He waits a bit and tries again, eyes closed. "Henry. Come here. I summon you." Still nothing... if he was expecting some flash of light or sign there is still none. He sighs and figures he needs to head to the blood bank soon for his assigned ration. He is running low and the rations have been very tight recently, leaving very little margin. He stands up and heads towards the bedroom to get his point card-

Mreow. Henry sits in the doorway, looking for all the world as if he has been there the entire time. It worked! He really has switched his alignment. Familiars are such fascinating spirits. "Henry! My furry stepchild, I am glad you have graced me with your presence." He rushes to rub him behind the ears. Henry only looks up at him expectantly and Killian realizes he has made a grave error. He has no cat friendly snacks in his apartment.

"Henry, my deepest apologies. I don't eat food. I will correct this immediately and procure a supply of cat-spirit appropriate snacks after this." Henry flicks his tail and hops up to Kilian's bed to touch his nose to his hand. Killian figures he best send him on his way before Emma notices he left or he offends the creature. He writes out a quick note and attaches it to Henry's collar, smiling to himself. He gives him a final pat and says "Alright then. Off you go! Feel free to stop by anytime. Tell your mom hullo for me."

Ruby, after disappearing for more than an hour and leaving Emma to make awkward small talk with all the wolves in the bar, sent Emma to one of the many collapsed buildings on a busy street. She assumed it was to hide wherever August lived and give him the ability to slip away again. It was evening by the time she got there.

She waited on a bench just outside it that had seen better days. Watched all the passing people... werewolves. So unlike vampires, and yet the same. They had complicated mating rituals that Emma did not fully understand, but what she did know is certain members of their race went into literal heat and others into rut. Any pairs that formed during this time were mates for life. Their lack of control during their mating rituals is yet another cited reason for the council's choices. The council seemingly had their "reasons" for every race to stay isolated and pointed to the fact that everyone was incompatible, non-human, and prone to violent infighting as the biggest one.

Emma's thoughts wandered back to Killian as they were prone to do these days if she wasn't busy. She thinks she can feel vaguely what direction he is in. Or indigestion, that beer still wasn't agreeing with her. It's only been a short time, but she doesn't feel right unless he is in the room.

"Excuse me, are you Emma Swan?" She looked up to see the vampire August Booth had snuck up on her.

He had a cloak on that was drenched in werewolf scent so strong even she could smell it, she supposes to hide for a brief time from the many sniffers out on the street. She introduced herself and followed him inside, nervous about how this would go.

After only a few minutes she concluded August was not what she expected at all. He had a mysterious writer vibe and was hard to figure out. He was treating her like they were old friends, not as if she was the bounty hunter sent to bring him in. He was also clearly not afraid to walk the streets of a werewolf zone. He is very deliberate with his words, and soon after introductions asks her, "So tell me Emma, what do you know about the council?" She was supposed to be investigating him. But from the moment he arrived, he had started deflecting. "I hear you work for them." He finished conversationally, as if talking only of the weather.

"I know what everyone knows. They are the only true immortals and have been around since the dawn of humanity and uh, un-humanity. They are the leaders of the magical world and their methods are only controversial because we can't understand their long perspectives." Emma said. The canned words felt wrong on her tongue even though she was undeniably their dog.

"And what powers do they possess?" August probed, his expression a cross between mild amusement and boredom.

"Uh, they created and maintain the big magical habitat zones that provide havens from the humans. They are so powerful they cannot be killed by any known injury or substance. They are well known to have more magical power than any witch, wizard, fairy, or otherwise." She lists off the basic facts, getting frustrated with this game. A quiz on the council isn't what she had in mind for this meeting.

"And have you ever seen proof of that? Witnessed a council-member demonstrate their power? Any recent magical zone creation?"

"Well of course-", she started, then stopped when she realized she actually hadn't seen it. She supposes she has never seen a direct use of magical power. They don't get out much and are surrounded by staff when they do. Their staff have surely seen them use it though. Who else could have made the zones that bend space? And who else would be maintaining them? "No I guess I haven't personally. I don't see how this is relevant. I don't follow the council around testing their magical limits and asking for a parlor trick." she scoffed. "I think it's time I ask YOU a question, the entire reason I came here. Where is your witch girlfriend?" No more messing around.

August looks surprised for a brief moment at the last bit. "Hmm... my witch... girlfriend. Interesting choices of words, given you are the only witch I have spoken too in several months, and not many other people would describe my supposed 'crimes' as romantic in nature at all. What do you think I have done?"

"You know what you did. You were seen, feeding on a female witch, right here in werewolf district. And uh- I don't- I didn't peg you as the predatory type."

August really grins at some some secret joke. "What would a witch be doing with a vampire in a werewolf MEZ?"

Emma explodes, "You tell me, buddy! I'm tired of twenty questions." She NEEDS to know if there is a bond involved or what the fuck he is up to if not. "Did you feed off of and get bonded to a witch or not?" She could have been more subtle, but she's pissed off at his smug ass grin and all-knowing attitude.

"No Emma, of course I am not bonded to a witch." He chooses his words carefully and Emma tries not to look disappointed that it rings true. "Inter-species blood bonding is not possible, right?"

"I guess it is not possible." She sputters. Emma's blood pressure is rapidly rising, but she feels like she is on the edge of a revelation. "Speaking of feeding, where are you even getting enough blood? I doubt there are blood banks in operation in this area."

"Thanks for your concern Emma, but there is no need. I am quite content. There is plenty of blood here if you know where to look." August looks at her and is calculating something. "Though, if I can't feed off werewolves, I wonder why the council wouldn't want me in here. What possible threat could I pose them?"

He can't possibly be feeding off a werewolf like he is hinting. What possible reason for a potentially thousands of years long conspiracy about the deadly nature of werewolf blood to all other magical beings would there be? That wouldn't benefit anyone. Not even the council. If werewolf blood is the same as any other, why would that even matter? Emma doesn't respond immediately because she has no idea what to make of this guy and his cryptic non-answers. Though if the person he was spotted with was a werewolf, it would explain Ruby's response to her questioning AND an anonymous tipster could have just guessed it was a witch knowing the impossibility of another option… her head is spinning.

August starts again, softly, "I think, if you are looking for answers, you should start with your parents." Emma's whole body stiffens.

"What in the hell do you know about my parents?"

He holds his hands up. "I know only that you were found with humans. The one case in thousands of years of a magical being slipping under the council's radar. and you weren't found until you were 19! You don't think there is a good story there? And perhaps, it relates to the council, my reasons for being here in a werewolf magically expanded zone, AND to blood bonds, which you seem to be accusing me of. One has to wonder how a witch even knows how those are formed…"

"Where I came from is supposed to be a secret. I don't know how you think you know my history and my business but I do not think ANY of that relates to your crimes." Her own lie detector hasn't gone off once this conversation and she is disturbed that he is either so insane he believes it all or could possibly be telling the truth. Its freaking her out, and he is not even listening at this point. His eyes are focused somewhere else and he hasn't reacted at all to her words. She has the strong urge to hit him.

August has a faraway look in his eyes and only responds, "I'm sorry Emma, but I must take my leave. It was a nice chat. Think about everything I have told you. I am not currently nor have I ever fed from a witch." He said pointedly, as if speaking directly to her lie detector. "I wish you luck. Thanks for not arresting me." He looks somewhere into the distance over her shoulder. Like he is listening to something... or someone... far away. Emma is so SURE there is a bond but he won't admit anything either way.

"Fine. I'm probably going to be a heap of trouble for this, you know. I better not hear a peep out of you. I want you off the map Booth or I'm not going to be able to sell this to my boss."

"I will try my best not to disappoint." He turns to leave and looks back with one final warning, "But be careful, Emma. Especially of Gold." Then he is gone. Disappeared into the night crowd. Stupid fucking vampires, Emma thinks. She has had enough for one lifetime.

And what the hell does he mean about Gold?

It is nearly midnight when she gets back through security and manages to teleport back to her apartment. Very little was answered today. August Booth was adamant about not having a blood blond. Or was he? He was only specific about not being bonded to a witch and her senses couldn't sort out which parts were truth and which were half-truths.

She almost laughs when she considers the absurd idea that he is bonded to and fed off a werewolf. How would that even work? Vampires can't go into rut or whatever it is werewolves do and a single taste of their blood would kill him. It would nicely explain why he's hanging around in the werewolf district and where he is getting fed... but it is so insane that she refuses to think about it more. If werewolf blood isn't toxic someone would have noticed by now. She does resolve to ask Killian about any freak cases later.

Killian. Just the thought pushes him to the forefront of her mind. She just saw him the day before. She irrationally wishes he were here right now like a clingy housewife and chalks it up to the bond acting up. She pushes into her bedroom to get some sleep and sees Henry lying on the bed, looking at her as if to ask "What took so long?"

She immediately notices he has a paper tied to his collar. She ignores it for a while, whipping her nightclothes out of the closet and crawling into bed herself. The sheets pull back automatically and only after mentally preparing herself for the note that only Killian could have sent does she reach for Henry's collar.

"Hullo love,

'im not your love,' she mentally corrects.

I hope you had a wonderful day. Henry here successfully made it to my apartment, though he was deeply upset at me for not providing snacks. You will have to help me rectify this at your earliest opportunity so I don't offend him. I thought I could stop by at precisely 11 tomorrow. I have to run some errands in the morning of the bloody kind, but I will endeavor to be alone in my apartment and awaiting your summons at that time. Do you mind a teleport? To get Henry some treats for my apartment, of course. I could also be persuaded to take my lunch with you.

Killian Jones."

It was written in an elegant, looping script she could barely read that had fallen out of style a century ago. It was in stark contrast to the office approved and modern sticky note it was written on. The man was incorrigible. Something jumps inside her when she considers what he means by lunch with her and she tries not to read into it.

Shaking it off, she can't suppress a smile at the idea of her familiar spirit in Killian's apartment, devoid of food or cat beds and probably devoid of life. She's not really sure what a vampire's apartment looks like but Henry will be quick to get what he wants out of the man, up to and including home remodeling.

She assures herself it's only out of necessity to the bond that forces her to scribble a note back, confirming his time. And it's only the bond that makes her chest feel lighter at the idea.

.

.

AN/

I have been updating this on ao3 but I thought id do it here too for the last holdouts whp dont use ao3! I dont like FFN much and this fic is against its TOS so im worried itll get taken down eventually anyway. If you want for sure updates, find it on ao3