Belong to You prt 4
Rated M for naughty bits including lemons and language.
Random Darkness owns nothing. Very poor.
Begins at the end of 9 Crimes. Spoilers up until then.
- Eric has gotten himself so tangled in politics that there may be no way out. To save him, and herself, Sookie comes up with a plan that will go down in history... one way or another.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Sookie half stood, spilling hot coffee on herself and swearing, "Damn it, ouch. Fuck, that's him! That's him!" She brushed at her leg's angrily, these weren't even her clothes!
"Are you burnt?" Eric, reached out to touch her leg but pulled his hand back when she flinched.
"Oh... no. No, more shocked than anything... Eric, I'm sorry I didn't mean that. It was just a reflex," She bit her bottom lip not sure what to say. It was true, she hadn't meant to pull back, she didn't really think he was trying to cop a feel, he was worried about her and she'd basically spat on his concern.
"I can try to feel you up, if you prefer?" He said it lightly, but there was a distance on it, in his tone, that told her he was pulling himself away.
"Please don't do that..." he knew exactly which 'that' she meant and it had little to do with his hand on her leg. "I'm nervous OK, an' I don't know what to think anymore. Last week I... God forget last week, a few days ago I thought I was gonna get married to someone turns out was OK with abandonin' me at a moments notice! I'm sorry, I know I'm bein' difficult but in fairness I am difficult so if you can't handle it now you might as well jus' give up."
"Do you feel better now?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Little bit... Leg smarts some. I feel stupid... Anyway, that's him, there." She pointed at the computer screen. "Russell Edgington. You know him?"
"I know of him." Eric nodded towards the door, "Down the corridor on the left you'll find a spare bedroom. You should see if you can find some clothing that fits. You already smelt like wolves and whisky, with the coffee added in you're positively fragrant. When you get back I'll explain how screwed we are."
"There are women's clothes here?" Sookie asked, surprised.
"Unlikely, but as there is no one here to impress I imagine a shirt and sweats would be more comfortable than... that." He gestured vaguely at her outfit.
"You really don't like me like this do you? Here I thought you'd love it, all stupid leather and skank."
"You're not one of them Sookie, don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Go. Change... I am hoping that by glaring at his face while you are gone something will come to me." He kept his eyes pointedly turned away.
"Oh go on, you know you want too," Sookie said in exasperated amusement and laughed as Eric turned his more lecherous smile on her. "See, you play nice, an' sometimes you get a get out of jail free card." She said over her shoulder as she left the room.
Eric stared after her for a moment, convinced that women had not changed at all in a thousand years... and he still didn't really understand them. Not real women anyway, oh he understood the fawning, simpering head-cases who grovelled at his feet on a nightly basis looking for something to spice up their pointless lives, but they weren't women. He'd been completely confused by the feminist movement in America, suddenly it seemed to him, every woman in the country had completely forgotten that she was in control. In an attempt to be 'equal' they'd given up their right to dictate terms... now look where they were? Sookie wouldn't let him express to her how sexy she was. She wouldn't let him open doors or chastise her enemies.
Of course all that would have to wait right now anyway... As Eric stared at the face of the king of Mississippi he felt a sinking in his stomach. That bastard was looking at a takeover, and he had an army of hopped up werewolves itching to go crazy in the streets of Louisiana.
He could get the evidence all right, that wasn't the problem. The problem was going to be the full scale war that erupted when he did. He couldn't protect Sookie, and bring down the King at the same time. Shit.
"Godric must have really liked over-sized clothes, this thing is huge," Sookie was saying as she walked through the door wearing a comically over-sized black sweater and sweatpants that bulged and only stayed up because she'd tied the drawstring. Eric smiled, then coughed and tried to cover it. Sookie looked at him suspiciously. "What?"
"Those are not Godric's," he said keeping his voice carefully neutral. "Those are mine."
Without a word, Sookie turned to the right and donked her forehead against the door-jab. Eric chuckled softly and beckoned her over. "I can control myself... if only because we're in an incredible amount of shit."
"OK, start talking..."She looked at him seriously, "About the problem, Eric."
"Edgington is the King of Mississippi. A very powerful and very old vampire. If he's setting me up for a fall and he's poached Bill Compton then I would guess that you were right. He's priming for a take-over." He handed her the half full cup of coffee and she took it wordlessly and sat beside him. "With Pam and I out of the picture... there would be no one to coordinate a response. He could roll an army of juiced up werewolves into Louisiana and take the state by force. By the time anyone realised what was happening, he could say whatever he liked and his age and prestige would protect him."
"Why take Bill? Why would Bill agree to go?" She couldn't help asking.
"To lure you out, perhaps? Make you follow, though that seems unlikely. He could just as easily have taken you, more so, really." Eric scratched his chin and lent back in the chair looking thoughtful. "He wants Bill for something... What do you know about what he was doing before he moved to Bon Temps?"
"Nothing really. He said that with the laws changin' he could take over the house again seein' as there were no living descendants. I..." She looked slightly ashamed and confused, "I don't really know anything about what he did after he died."
"That is not surprising..." Eric didn't really want to make her feel better about it, he wanted her to hate Bill Compton, not forgive him but out it came anyway, "He is young. Most vampires go through an... exuberant phase. He would not have wanted to show you such a dark part of himself."
"I didn't even ask... I never even noticed that I don't really know anything about him." She looked down into her coffee, "I hate feelin' stupid like this. My whole life I was so careful, avoidin' attachments, I'd just wind up hearin' somethin' upsettin' anyhow. I didn't even think it was weird not to know about him, how could I have not noticed that?"
"There is nothing for it now," He put a hand on her shoulder. "Survive today, and tomorrow, sort it out after that."
Sookie nodded and sniffed, blinking back the tears that were threatening again. Bill had never lied to her or evaded questions about his past, she was sure, she'd just never asked any. Why hadn't she asked any? How could she not know where he lived before or what he did?
"What do we do now?"
"Our choices are limited." He confessed. "You are not a suitable witness for the Magister, but I could easily arrange for a few werewolves who were at that meeting to be presented. The Magister might be able to torture the truth out of them. The problem is Edgington, if he suspects he may simply enact his plan."
"Is that really that bad? What I mean is, wouldn't that be all the proof you need? Just get the Magister to be someplace where he'll see for himself what's going on, forget witnesses all together."
"Sookie... for that to happen, I'd have to actually let him invade Louisiana." He rocked on the chair slowly, shaking his head. "It's too risky. The first thing he'll do is come for you."
"Me? Why me?"
"We've discussed this. When will you understand that you are the most valuable human on this continent as far as we're aware?" He turned her chair and forced her to face him. "Vampires are ruthless Sookie. We don't care about humans. It's all the worse for you because you can't be glamoured, that means to control you, he'll have to break you. And he will. With his own blood to restore you, he can all but kill you, as many times as it takes, but in the end you will do whatever he says. You're strong..." He put his hands on her shoulders and stared intently into her face, "too strong for your own good. But he has forever, and eventually... you will give in."
Sookie's eyes teared up and she trembled violently, her bottom lip quivering. "I'm scared..." she whispered, her throat dry and raspy.
"I will protect you, as best I can, but you must trust me."
"... I do. I know you will," A few silent tears trickled down her cheek but she raised her chin defiantly, pulling herself together.
"Good girl." He tapped the tip of her nose lightly with one long, cold finger. "I should admit at this time that I have no idea how I'm going to do it though."
"Just like I said. We get the King to invade Louisiana,"
Eric sighed, "No, not like you said, that's dangerous and I can't protect you from a whole pack of werewolves!"
"Stop thinkin' like a vampire!" She scooted closer and started ticking things off on her fingers, a process Eric found fascinating as she seemed to actually think clearer when she did it. "One, you are not alone anymore. Call Isabel and spill your guts, tell her everything. She loved Godric and she owes me. You tell her to do whatever she has to, but get that TV vampire lady's attention and then get up here with as many vampires as she can. Two, I warn Bon Temps, those people have seen enough strange shit in the past year, they'll listen. If the King wants me, he'll have to come to Bon Temps to get me, and then three, when he arrives, we'll have enough live camera crew's there that he won' be able to find a channel in Russia that don't have his face on it!" She said triumphantly. Eric watched in awe as she stood and started pacing, continuing to tick things off on her fingers. "Think about it, Eric. For Mississippi it'll be a PR nightmare and mean old TV Vamp-Lady is gonna make sure he gets tore a new one. Even better, You, Pam, our local Vamps and the nest from Dallas all over national TV saving humans! After that, TV Vamp-Lady will have to make sure you're left alone, you'll be her little PR darlin'!"
Eric blinked at her helplessly, "I think you're about to hit me." He said deceptively calmly.
"What?" Sookie stopped mid-step and stared at him. "Why?"
"That was the fucking sexiest thing I have ever seen." He was up, one arm around her waist, pinning her to him, the other hand tangling in her unnaturally dark hair. He kissed her, hungrily and with wild abandon to the point that she wasn't even able to think about doing anything about it. "You are a fucking genius," he mumbled into her neck, his tone even more than the compliment making her shiver. "You can not put on a show like that, in front of me, and expect me not to want to fuck you."
"What show?" she gasped, "I'm wearin' baggy old sweats!"
Eric pulled back, holding onto her shoulders and looked at her, his eyes burning, "I don't care if you're covered in silver. That was genius,"
"You... you think I'm smart?" She stammered helplessly.
"You don't?"
Random Darkness owns nothing. Very poor.
Begins at the end of 9 Crimes. Spoilers up until then.
- Eric has gotten himself so tangled in politics that there may be no way out. To save him, and herself, Sookie comes up with a plan that will go down in history... one way or another.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Sookie half stood, spilling hot coffee on herself and swearing, "Damn it, ouch. Fuck, that's him! That's him!" She brushed at her leg's angrily, these weren't even her clothes!
"Are you burnt?" Eric, reached out to touch her leg but pulled his hand back when she flinched.
"Oh... no. No, more shocked than anything... Eric, I'm sorry I didn't mean that. It was just a reflex," She bit her bottom lip not sure what to say. It was true, she hadn't meant to pull back, she didn't really think he was trying to cop a feel, he was worried about her and she'd basically spat on his concern.
"I can try to feel you up, if you prefer?" He said it lightly, but there was a distance on it, in his tone, that told her he was pulling himself away.
"Please don't do that..." he knew exactly which 'that' she meant and it had little to do with his hand on her leg. "I'm nervous OK, an' I don't know what to think anymore. Last week I... God forget last week, a few days ago I thought I was gonna get married to someone turns out was OK with abandonin' me at a moments notice! I'm sorry, I know I'm bein' difficult but in fairness I am difficult so if you can't handle it now you might as well jus' give up."
"Do you feel better now?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Little bit... Leg smarts some. I feel stupid... Anyway, that's him, there." She pointed at the computer screen. "Russell Edgington. You know him?"
"I know of him." Eric nodded towards the door, "Down the corridor on the left you'll find a spare bedroom. You should see if you can find some clothing that fits. You already smelt like wolves and whisky, with the coffee added in you're positively fragrant. When you get back I'll explain how screwed we are."
"There are women's clothes here?" Sookie asked, surprised.
"Unlikely, but as there is no one here to impress I imagine a shirt and sweats would be more comfortable than... that." He gestured vaguely at her outfit.
"You really don't like me like this do you? Here I thought you'd love it, all stupid leather and skank."
"You're not one of them Sookie, don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Go. Change... I am hoping that by glaring at his face while you are gone something will come to me." He kept his eyes pointedly turned away.
"Oh go on, you know you want too," Sookie said in exasperated amusement and laughed as Eric turned his more lecherous smile on her. "See, you play nice, an' sometimes you get a get out of jail free card." She said over her shoulder as she left the room.
Eric stared after her for a moment, convinced that women had not changed at all in a thousand years... and he still didn't really understand them. Not real women anyway, oh he understood the fawning, simpering head-cases who grovelled at his feet on a nightly basis looking for something to spice up their pointless lives, but they weren't women. He'd been completely confused by the feminist movement in America, suddenly it seemed to him, every woman in the country had completely forgotten that she was in control. In an attempt to be 'equal' they'd given up their right to dictate terms... now look where they were? Sookie wouldn't let him express to her how sexy she was. She wouldn't let him open doors or chastise her enemies.
Of course all that would have to wait right now anyway... As Eric stared at the face of the king of Mississippi he felt a sinking in his stomach. That bastard was looking at a takeover, and he had an army of hopped up werewolves itching to go crazy in the streets of Louisiana.
He could get the evidence all right, that wasn't the problem. The problem was going to be the full scale war that erupted when he did. He couldn't protect Sookie, and bring down the King at the same time. Shit.
"Godric must have really liked over-sized clothes, this thing is huge," Sookie was saying as she walked through the door wearing a comically over-sized black sweater and sweatpants that bulged and only stayed up because she'd tied the drawstring. Eric smiled, then coughed and tried to cover it. Sookie looked at him suspiciously. "What?"
"Those are not Godric's," he said keeping his voice carefully neutral. "Those are mine."
Without a word, Sookie turned to the right and donked her forehead against the door-jab. Eric chuckled softly and beckoned her over. "I can control myself... if only because we're in an incredible amount of shit."
"OK, start talking..."She looked at him seriously, "About the problem, Eric."
"Edgington is the King of Mississippi. A very powerful and very old vampire. If he's setting me up for a fall and he's poached Bill Compton then I would guess that you were right. He's priming for a take-over." He handed her the half full cup of coffee and she took it wordlessly and sat beside him. "With Pam and I out of the picture... there would be no one to coordinate a response. He could roll an army of juiced up werewolves into Louisiana and take the state by force. By the time anyone realised what was happening, he could say whatever he liked and his age and prestige would protect him."
"Why take Bill? Why would Bill agree to go?" She couldn't help asking.
"To lure you out, perhaps? Make you follow, though that seems unlikely. He could just as easily have taken you, more so, really." Eric scratched his chin and lent back in the chair looking thoughtful. "He wants Bill for something... What do you know about what he was doing before he moved to Bon Temps?"
"Nothing really. He said that with the laws changin' he could take over the house again seein' as there were no living descendants. I..." She looked slightly ashamed and confused, "I don't really know anything about what he did after he died."
"That is not surprising..." Eric didn't really want to make her feel better about it, he wanted her to hate Bill Compton, not forgive him but out it came anyway, "He is young. Most vampires go through an... exuberant phase. He would not have wanted to show you such a dark part of himself."
"I didn't even ask... I never even noticed that I don't really know anything about him." She looked down into her coffee, "I hate feelin' stupid like this. My whole life I was so careful, avoidin' attachments, I'd just wind up hearin' somethin' upsettin' anyhow. I didn't even think it was weird not to know about him, how could I have not noticed that?"
"There is nothing for it now," He put a hand on her shoulder. "Survive today, and tomorrow, sort it out after that."
Sookie nodded and sniffed, blinking back the tears that were threatening again. Bill had never lied to her or evaded questions about his past, she was sure, she'd just never asked any. Why hadn't she asked any? How could she not know where he lived before or what he did?
"What do we do now?"
"Our choices are limited." He confessed. "You are not a suitable witness for the Magister, but I could easily arrange for a few werewolves who were at that meeting to be presented. The Magister might be able to torture the truth out of them. The problem is Edgington, if he suspects he may simply enact his plan."
"Is that really that bad? What I mean is, wouldn't that be all the proof you need? Just get the Magister to be someplace where he'll see for himself what's going on, forget witnesses all together."
"Sookie... for that to happen, I'd have to actually let him invade Louisiana." He rocked on the chair slowly, shaking his head. "It's too risky. The first thing he'll do is come for you."
"Me? Why me?"
"We've discussed this. When will you understand that you are the most valuable human on this continent as far as we're aware?" He turned her chair and forced her to face him. "Vampires are ruthless Sookie. We don't care about humans. It's all the worse for you because you can't be glamoured, that means to control you, he'll have to break you. And he will. With his own blood to restore you, he can all but kill you, as many times as it takes, but in the end you will do whatever he says. You're strong..." He put his hands on her shoulders and stared intently into her face, "too strong for your own good. But he has forever, and eventually... you will give in."
Sookie's eyes teared up and she trembled violently, her bottom lip quivering. "I'm scared..." she whispered, her throat dry and raspy.
"I will protect you, as best I can, but you must trust me."
"... I do. I know you will," A few silent tears trickled down her cheek but she raised her chin defiantly, pulling herself together.
"Good girl." He tapped the tip of her nose lightly with one long, cold finger. "I should admit at this time that I have no idea how I'm going to do it though."
"Just like I said. We get the King to invade Louisiana,"
Eric sighed, "No, not like you said, that's dangerous and I can't protect you from a whole pack of werewolves!"
"Stop thinkin' like a vampire!" She scooted closer and started ticking things off on her fingers, a process Eric found fascinating as she seemed to actually think clearer when she did it. "One, you are not alone anymore. Call Isabel and spill your guts, tell her everything. She loved Godric and she owes me. You tell her to do whatever she has to, but get that TV vampire lady's attention and then get up here with as many vampires as she can. Two, I warn Bon Temps, those people have seen enough strange shit in the past year, they'll listen. If the King wants me, he'll have to come to Bon Temps to get me, and then three, when he arrives, we'll have enough live camera crew's there that he won' be able to find a channel in Russia that don't have his face on it!" She said triumphantly. Eric watched in awe as she stood and started pacing, continuing to tick things off on her fingers. "Think about it, Eric. For Mississippi it'll be a PR nightmare and mean old TV Vamp-Lady is gonna make sure he gets tore a new one. Even better, You, Pam, our local Vamps and the nest from Dallas all over national TV saving humans! After that, TV Vamp-Lady will have to make sure you're left alone, you'll be her little PR darlin'!"
Eric blinked at her helplessly, "I think you're about to hit me." He said deceptively calmly.
"What?" Sookie stopped mid-step and stared at him. "Why?"
"That was the fucking sexiest thing I have ever seen." He was up, one arm around her waist, pinning her to him, the other hand tangling in her unnaturally dark hair. He kissed her, hungrily and with wild abandon to the point that she wasn't even able to think about doing anything about it. "You are a fucking genius," he mumbled into her neck, his tone even more than the compliment making her shiver. "You can not put on a show like that, in front of me, and expect me not to want to fuck you."
"What show?" she gasped, "I'm wearin' baggy old sweats!"
Eric pulled back, holding onto her shoulders and looked at her, his eyes burning, "I don't care if you're covered in silver. That was genius,"
"You... you think I'm smart?" She stammered helplessly.
"You don't?"