There was nothing much different going on that day than any other.  In fact, being in the business of hunting evil down, Halloween was kind of an easy day.  Unlike what most people tended to think, there was no difference between that day and any other when it came to spirit or demon activity.  Halloween, after all, was a manmade concept that had grown and changed a lot after its initial conception.  However, because of the custom of costuming, it was too difficult to tell the difference between a true threat and an idiot masquerading as something foul.  It was the season of tricksters and prankers, of reckless kids.  That was why Valentin had long had a policy of not working on that final day in October, and he was extremely cautious for several days prior and after.<br/><br/>He was in the business of exterminating the evil that plagued the Earth for personal reasons.  Demons happened to be his specialty, and they were far more common than most would think.  Hell, he himself was part of that darkness, but he had been fortunate enough to know his humanity and turn from the evil nature that other half breeds all too easily fell victim to.  Even so, it wasn’t always easy, and Val knew he would never be free of the shadows creeping in his soul, but at least he<i>had</i>one.<br/><br/>Thanks to his profession, Valentin had amassed a nice chunk of wealth.  (The Vatican was particularly generous when they needed his assistance.)  He didn’t always flaunt it in extravagant ways, though he did have a house (mansion, really) that was too large for just him and his butler, a fast car, a hefty truck, and a frightening arsenal.  But most of that wasn’t flaunting, that was just being prepared.<br/><br/>Having the day off, so to speak, didn’t mean there was nothing to do.  It was a good day to go over paperwork, to take care of his equipment, and plan ahead.  Work consumed much of his day, even if he didn’t leave the house.  That didn’t mean a beer was out of the question, though.  Unfortunately, he didn’t have a single drop left, and he didn’t want to send Bernard out for it.  The option of going to a bar sounded like a bad idea, so Val instead headed out to pick up something to take home.<br/><br/>And why the hell was traffic terrible?<br/><br/>People were heading to parties, of course.  Children were being transported.  And then there were groups of people walking around, lingering in the street.  It was fucking irritating.  It was at times like that when Val often wondered why he bothered saving so many people when they held so very little regard for personal safety.  Or, in this case, courtesy.<br/><br/>Regardless of obstacles, Val made it to the nearest liquor store and made his purchase, which now also included a bottle of whiskey for good measure, and was heading back as the sun was dipping down.  It was getting darker than what he liked, considering he honestly would’ve preferred not being out at all.  That was what made him decide to take a shortcut that would get him home a little bit faster, not to mention a little closer to enjoying his drinks.<br/><br/>Stopped at another stop light.  Val rolled down the window and lit a cigarette, tapping his fingertips against the steering wheel.  He could hear what sounded like screaming and sighed.  Halloween was truly ridiculous.<br/><br/>The light turned green and he moved along.  He hadn’t even gotten up to any decent speed before he noticed the group a block down on the corner.  At first he thought they were just messing around like typical boys, but then he realized that it was a little too violent.  Who were they tugging and pushing around on, anyway?  Someone much smaller.  Was it just a kid?<br/><br/>He shouldn’t have paid that much attention, and he cursed himself for doing so, but there was no way he could just turn his back on that.  Sure, he had more important things to be worrying about than some kid getting bullied, but something about the scene just turned his stomach on end.  Valentin pulled over on the side of the road and got out, at first not drawing out the attention that he normally received.<br/><br/>It was a casual day, so he wore heavy black boots and black jeans, a heather grey t-shirt stretched attractively tight across a broad chest.  Without the usual addition of a jacket or a coat, the tattoos above his elbows were easily seen, even if the strange symbols and writings disappeared under the sleeves of his shirt.  The rest of him could also be imposing, thanks to a tall stature and pale grey eyes that peered out from behind messy, dark hair.<br/><br/>Stepping around to the corner, cigarette still between his fingers, he stopped just a few feet shy of where the teenagers were picking on the kid.<br/><br/>“I’m going to say this once.<i>Only</i>once,” he began in a low rumble that was calm yet demanding.  “Leave him alone.”<br/><br/>The interruption was not well received, and the teenagers turned to look at him as if he wasn’t at all intimidating.<br/><br/>“Yeah?  What’re you gonna do about it?” the one holding the taser scoffed, brandishing the thing like it was any threat.<br/><br/>“Fuck off, loser!” another piped up.  Some of the others didn’t even bother to stop long enough to assess the situation.<br/><br/>Val sighed.  In a flash, he went from seeming nonchalant about it all to a man of action, gripping the thick material covering the first teenager’s shoulder and jerking him forward.  His other hand fastened around the wrist holding that little weapon.  Then he dealt a reasonable headbutt, not enough to cause serious damage, but more than enough to stun the kid.  The taser dropped to the ground, and before one of the others could think to grab it, Valentin slammed the heel of his boot down onto it.<br/><br/>Stunned that someone actually attacked, and seemed to know what he was doing, the others were less eager to step forward.<br/><br/>“Go,” Val warned.  “And if I see you doing this again, that,” he said, indicating the crumbling electronic at his feet, “will be your heads.”<br/><br/>That seemed like enough motivation to the little gang of misfits, and they ran off down the sidewalk and made a clumsy turn around the block.<br/><br/>“Hey, kid… are you alright?” he asked, his tone gentler now.  With a clearer view of the victim, it was even more tragic.  He wasn’t a kid they’d jumped in the middle of trying to get home with his bag of goodies.  It was someone older, though Val found it hard to pin an age on him due to his height.  He was downright tiny, especially to someone of Valentin’s size.  The rest of what he could see made it apparent that the guy didn’t even have a home to go to, and judging by the nearby nest set up on the corner, that was all he had.<br/><br/>The coffee was everywhere.  The bag of food was spilt.<br/><br/>It made no sense that people treated each other like that, taking from those that had so little, making them miserable.  There were bigger problems in the world to deal with without creating more trouble.<br/><br/>He sighed again, turning to look toward the distantly setting sun.  It would be night soon, and it was getting cooler.  He wanted to get home, but he’d already gotten this involved, there was no way he could just walk away now.<br/><br/>“I think I have a change of clothes in my trunk…”