The Sky Rains Red, Part Five, Leverage (Vamp!Nate), NC-17

[phantisma]

Fandom: Leverage (Vamp!Nate verse)
Title: The Sky Rains Red, Part Five (Index)
Pairings/Characters: Nate/Eliot, Parker, Sophie, Hardison, Ryna (OFC), Sterling
Rating: NC-17 (for a smidgen of sex)
Word Count: 3044
Summary: The team baits Sterling, and Nate is starting to feel better after Eliot feeds him.

A/Ns & Summary: Fifth chapter of at least seven. Bondage of a sort. Excited little girl. Blood!kink (hello, Vampire!).



"I don't like this." Eliot's voice is something of a growl through the comm.

"Noted." Sophie responds, her own voice curt as they both watch Ryna from vantage points on opposite ends of the bus station. "Ryna, honey, you're doing fine. Just like we told you now."

Ryna slides the backpack off and hops up onto the bench beside Sterling. He looks at her, then away, his eyes scanning the room for sight of one of them.

"Hi."

Sterling looks at her, frowning. "Beat it kid, I'm waiting for someone."

Her little feet dangle under the bench. "Yeah, I know. I'm here to negotiate."

Eliot watches Sterling look at her, then lift his eyes to a balcony where there was a young man leaning entirely too casually on the railing. "Parker?"

"I've got it." Eliot nods and turns his eyes back to his daughter.

"I don't negotiate with children." Sterling says.

Ryna hops off the bench. "Okay, nice talking to ya."

"Easy, not too fast." Sophie instructs and Ryna turns to look at him as she lifts her backpack.

"You want Nathan Ford, you talk to me. I'm going over there." Ryna walks away then, slowly, to the end of the row of benches where she sits, setting her backpack beside her. She glances at Eliot now that she's closer to him, and resists the urge to look back to see if Sterling is following.

Sterling stands, adjusting his suit jacket, his eyes darting out to another of his men, this time on a bench on the opposite side of the room. "Hardison?" Eliot says, his eyes skipping from the mark back to Ryna.

"Yeah, I'm on it."

"Okay, Ryna, check your watch. Let him know the offer has a time limit." Sophie says, and Ryna lifts her arm, checking the time on the oversized watch that Parker had given her.

Sterling paces a little, then seems to make up his mind and heads toward Ryna. He sits, leans forward to narrow his eyes at her. "What's it going to be?"

Ryna waits a heartbeat, then crosses her arms. "I don't like your attitude."

Eliot shook his head. "Ryna, don't push him. Just deliver the message."

Ryna huffed. "A million dollars."

Sterling actually laughs and seems to relax, sitting back on the bench and stretching his arms along the back of it. "Oh, is that all? What makes you think he's worth that?"

Eliot could see her bristling, but Sophie's voice was soothing over the comm. "Easy, Ryna. Go on."

"A million dollars by sundown tomorrow. And we'll bring him to you."

Sterling's eyes jump from Ryna to a woman near the turnstile out to buses. "Hardison, that the last of them?" Eliot asks.

"Unless he snuck some in when we weren't looking. Parker, can you tag her?"

"On it."

"Okay, Ryna, honey, time to wrap it up." Sophie says. Ryna pulls a piece of paper out of her pocket as she stands.

She holds it out to Sterling. "Address. Be there at sundown tomorrow. Bring the money."

Sterling hesitates, looking at the paper, then scanning the room again. "I got other people interested, Mr. Sterling." Ryna says, shoving her hand closer. "Sundown."

Sterling takes the paper at last. Ryna grabs her backpack, and Eliot has to smile at the skillful way she bumps Sterling with it, knowing that the paper had been clean, but the backpack is laced with powder that emits a small radioactive signal, and with that kind of impact, it was all over his clothes and skin.

"Walk away, Ryna. He's going to follow you, come right for me and into the ladies room."

Eliot watches Ryna walk down the long row on benches away from him. Sterling stands to follow and after a heartbeat, Eliot follows him. Ryna's pigtails disappear into the bathroom and Sterling stops, talking into his sleeve.

Eliot doesn't quite hear what he says, and when he hears Sophie give the all clear, he reluctantly walks away, leaving Sterling to wonder how long a little girl can take in the bathroom.



He sees their faces in his mind, even though he never knew them. Their smell fills his nose, the taste of their blood slick and hot on his tongue. Young blood, sweet, tender…the skin breaks so easily, the fire burns so bright…and the older, thicker blood, filled with life experience, with the spice of emotions fully realized…it arouses him even as it repulses him.

The animal mind and the human war within him and he shakes in the chains that keep him on the small bed. He can smell Eliot's approach, even through the iron door and the cement walls. His stomach gurgles and his fangs descend.

Eliot opens the door, letting in a flood of light that makes Nate cringe and close his eyes. "Sorry." Eliot murmurs and shoves the door mostly closed. "I brought you food." He holds up a bag. Nate can smell the blood inside it and licks his lips. "We had it tested to make sure it's clean."

He feels Eliot's eyes, knows he needs to speak, needs to assure Eliot he's okay. "Hungry." Nate manages, his eyes widening as Eliot steps closer.

He's nodding, putting the bag down. "A little at a time. There's plenty. And me…once you've taken the edge off."

That edge is razor sharp and Nate can't swear he wouldn't have already had Eliot nearly drained if he was loose. The pounding of his heart echoes in the space, beckoning Nate to feed…to take what is offered and slake his thirst at long last. Eliot seems to understand, easing to his knees by the bed. His hand dips into the bag and comes out with a container, taking off the lid and letting the smell of blood fill the room. "Let's get you up a little."

His free hand slides behind Nate's head, holds him up as he brings the container up to Nate's mouth. It's barely warm, stale, nothing like the rush of warm, fresh, living blood, but it's something…and it slides into his mouth, fills him with lust for more and he swallows at it greedily, gulping it down until Eliot pulls the container away.

"Easy." Eliot murmurs, wiping at Nate's mouth.

It would be so easy to bite that hand, take everything he needs. Nate closes his eyes and concentrates on control, on feeling the blood moving through him, warming him.

His fingers flex, curling against the mattress under him, testing the strength of the iron that holds him. Eliot is watching him and Nate blinks up at him, nodding slowly. "Better." His voice sounds like he swallowed glass, but it seems to relieve Eliot who lifts the container again.

"More?"

Nate nods, lifts his head to accept the container, swallowing rapidly. When it's empty, Eliot pulls away, digging in his pocket and coming out with a set of keys. A thrill of fear, of panic runs through him, right alongside craving and desire. "No." Nate shakes his head, pulls back as much as he can.

Eliot doesn't let it stop him though, unlocking one wrist from the restraints and reaching for the second.

"Eliot."

He looks Nate in the eye and lifts a second container. "I ain't gonna sit and feed you when you can do it yourself, Nate."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Then don't." Eliot puts the container in Nate's hands and sits back.

The blood in this one is fresher, the smell of it strong. Nate lifts it and gulps it down, faster than before, closing his eyes as he starts to feel the strength returning.

Eliot unlocks Nate's ankles, rubbing them lightly where the skin is chaffed. "I brought you a change of clothes. Shower's going to have to wait until we get home."

Nate can feel himself shaking his head before those words even sink in. "No, I can't…"

Eliot's hands slide up over his legs. "You can. You are coming home."

Nate closes his eyes, trying to shut out the heat and smell of Eliot. It's too much and he trembles with the effort. When he opens them again, Eliot is right there, in his face. "I'm not letting you wallow in this." Eliot says sternly. "This isn't your fault."

"I killed them, Eliot…I could have killed Ryna."

Eliot's eyes narrow and he nods tightly. "Yes, you did and yes you could have. But it wasn't something you chose to do." Eliot guides his legs to the floor. "Can you stand?"

Nate lets Eliot help him up, wobbling a little as the blood works its way into him. Eliot's hand is on the small of his back, a small point of heat in an otherwise cold room. "I could kill you."

"But you won't." Eliot says confidently, stepping in front of Nate. His heart is pounding, belaying the calmness in his voice. Eliot's blue eyes skip over his face, up to Nate's eyes and slowly, he tilts his head, offering his neck. "You know I trust you."

Nate wants to pull away, wants to deny the craving because the control he feels is fleeting and the blood he's had isn't nearly enough and this is Eliot…the fangs descend on their own, and Eliot's hand snakes into Nate's hair, pulling him closer, pressing his face into the crook of Eliot's neck where he can all but taste the hot, sweet rush.

"Go on." Eliot growls at him.

"No." Nate growls back, trying to push away.

"You need it." Eliot insists. His hand is tight in Nate's hair, pulling him in until Nate's mouth is on Eliot's skin. "I want it. I miss you."

The vulnerability in Eliot's voice is what does him in, and Nate bites, clinging to Eliot as the hot, thick blood fills his mouth. The roar of hunger inside him is deafening, drowning out the steady beat of Eliot's heart.

Eliot's hand loosens in his hair, the strong column of him wavers and Nate knows he needs to stop. He pulls back, Eliot limp in his arms. "Fuck." Nate gets them turned, lays Eliot on the bed. "Eliot?"

The groan is enough to at least tell Nate that Eliot is okay, even if he is drained. The blood thunders through him, restoring him quickly. It still isn't enough, his hunger only barely slaked. Nate dives for the bag, draining carton after carton of blood until his starts to feel sated. He can't remember ever being this hungry, not since that first time, when he woke after the change.

There are clothes in the bag, wrapped up in another bag and under them, a bottle of Jack. Nate lifts the Jack, downing half the small bottle quickly, feeling the familiar burn as it flows into him, dulling the edges and easing him back into his skin.

Nate dresses and looks back at Eliot. If he cares for the man at all, he should leave. He knows now that this was just pretend, that he can't be trusted with human life…and maybe Eliot will never forgive him, but Nate can't keep doing this now.

He gets out the door, into the hall. It's dark and cold and he can hear Eliot trying to get up now inside. Three steps in one direction, he's facing Sophie, her arms crossed, her eyebrow lifted.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sophie asks, her tone terse.

"Let me by Sophie." Nate says.

"No. You want out, you have to earn it."

"Don't make me hurt you."

"You mean like you're planning to hurt Eliot?"

"I have to get away from him, Sophie, before I do anymore damage."

Sophie takes a few steps closer to him. "Do you have any idea the damage you will do to him if you leave? To Ryna? I never knew you were a coward, Nate."

Her voice is low, it doesn't carry beyond them. Her eyes lift up to his. "He loves you, Nate, like he's never cared for anyone before. You and that little girl."

Nate can hear the voice on her comm., even without one of his own. Parker. "Oh, this is not good."

"Parker? What is it?"

"The muscle is all in one place. Security is tight, top of the line. I see…five snipers on the roof."

"What about Sterling?"

Hardison's voice takes the place of Parker's. "He's in his apartment. Hasn't moved since he got there."

"Sterling?" Nate steps closer to Sophie and she holds up a hand.

"Parker, where are you?"

"Just outside the city, big mansion. Now that's weird."

"What?" Hardison asks.

"They have cats. Big cats."

"Lots of people have cats—"

"Panthers, Hardison. No one has panthers."

"Okay, children, focus please." Sophie interrupts. "Parker, can you tell who the house belongs to?"

"Not seeing much inside. Oh, I think I got made."

"Get her out of there." Nate growls and Sophie turns away, one hand on her ear.

"Parker?"

"Talk later, running now."

"Sophie? Nate!"

Before he has time to react, he has an armful of Ryna, hugging him and babbling excitedly. The scent of her skin is warm and so much like Eliot. The hunger that he's barely taken the edge off of bubbles under the surface…it would be so easy…so…hot and fresh…Just like that little girl in the alley.

That's enough to snap him back to the moment, to Ryna in his arms talking a mile a minute. "Why is she here?" Nate asks Sophie when Ryna takes a breath.

"We didn't have time to take her home. She was sleeping."

"I had a dream. I woke up." She cranes her neck, looking around them. "Where's Eliot?"

"Eliot is…resting." Nate says, setting her down. "Like you should be."

"Not tired now."

Nate's head is spinning, it's all too much and he needs a drink, but he left the bottle in the room where Eliot is and that's too much to face. Ryna squirms in his arms until he puts her down. Eliot is moving now and Nate feels trapped, caught between his need to get away and his need to believe that he can escape what he's done…what he's become.

"I lost them." Parker's voice in Sophie's ear says and Nate sags a little into the wall. The rush of blood and the strength it gave him is waning. He's going to need to feed well before he's strong enough.

Eliot's holding the door frame, leaning into it, his eyes dark as they track to Nate's.

"I think maybe now is a good time for you to fill me in on what's going on." Nate says. Eliot nods slowly and reaches for him, using Nate's shoulder to pull himself upright. "Get Parker and Hardison back to the office. Eliot and I will meet you there. Take Ryna with you." Nate says to Sophie.

"I want to ride with you and Eliot!"

Eliot's eyes don't leave Nate's. "Ryna, go with Sophie."

There's a whole different kind of hunger building now in Nate's stomach, one that has little to do with blood, and everything to do with the way Eliot is watching him, with the smell of arousal and the taste of left over fear. Nate almost doesn't notice when Sophie leaves, but for the protesting sounds of a little girl getting dragged away.

He steps in, pressing Eliot into the wall. "I thought we lost you, man." Eliot says, his voice husky and deep.

"Nearly did." Nate responds before licking over the still oozing wound. "Maybe should have."

Eliot's head shakes, but at first the only sound is a low moan as Nate nuzzles his neck and moves his thigh between Eliot's legs. Eliot moves to accommodate him, his left leg hooking around Nate's hip to bring him closer. "No." Eliot growls out finally. "Never."

His hands fist in Nate's shirt, tugging him close, his lips on Nate's, his tongue demanding. Nate opens his mouth and takes him in, tasting the urgency of his arousal. "Too long…" Eliot murmurs as he pulls back.

"We should go." Nate says, even as his hand joins his thigh in pressing in on Eliot's cock. Eliot rocks against him, his eyes closing. "They'll be waiting."

Eliot's hands move to Nate's stomach, sliding down until he's cupping Nate's cock, urging it to hardness. "Let them wait." Eliot tightens his hand, tilts his hips forward on Nate's. "Want you."

He knows they shouldn't, that Eliot's still weak from the feeding, that Nate's needs are far from controlled, but he can't seem to stop himself from ripping Eliot's zipper open, turning him and shoving him face first into the wall.

It will be dirty, messy, and there's nothing to ease the way, just the frantic need pounding through him now, as Eliot pulls his jeans down past his ass and leans into the wall. Nate's own zipper is stubborn and he nearly rips the pants in an effort to get it open, then he's pushing hard into Eliot's tight body.

Eliot's a tense line against the wall, his forehead pressing into the cold stone, his hands braced on the surface, his ass pushing back at Nate. Nate hisses into the skin at his neck, one hand on Eliot's hip, holding him as he pulls back and thrusts back in. Eliot's hand fists against the wall, pounding against it as Nate quickens the pace.

Nate's free hand moves under Eliot, stroking his cock in counterpoint. Eliot groans when Nate's teeth graze his shoulder. He shouldn't feed, not so soon, but he can't stop himself from biting down, the rich copper taste flooding his mouth as Eliot spills over his hand. Nate growls as he comes too, pressing Eliot further into the wall until he can get his knees solid again.

Eliot's panting as he pulls up his jeans. "Feel better?" He grins as he turns, wiping at the new wound.

Nate swallows the guilt and looks away. "You okay?"

Eliot grabs his arm and pulls him back. "I'm fine."

When Nate doesn't respond, Eliot pulls harder, yanking him into an embrace. His kiss is softer than before, almost gentle. "You hear me?"

Nate nods. "Yeah, I hear you."

"Then let's get moving. Now that you're back in the game, we've got an advantage."