I'll Find a Way, Part 3 of 3, Leverage, NC-17
Fandom: Leverage
Title: I'll Find a Way ( Part One and Part Two)
Characters/Pairings: vamp!Nate/Eliot, Parker, Hardison, Sophie, OFC
Rating: NC-17 (for the sex)
Word Count: 3917
Summary: Takes place following Close the Door, Pull the Shades. Eliot and Ryna are held prisoner while Nate and crew try to find them.
A/Ns & Warnings: Kid!Fic. Third chapter in a three chapter arc. Includes blood play because, hello, vampire. Also includes violence. And some post violence sex.
Nate could smell the blood before he got the door open. A lot of blood and gunpowder. The floor of the lobby was littered with glass and debris and bodies. The others were still coming behind him.
He sniffed the air as he moved over the nearest body, a woman. He didn't have to look to know she was dead. He kept moving. There was a pool of blood on the floor, smeared and leading toward the doors. It ended in the still twitching body of the FBI agent that had taken Eliot away.
Neither Eliot nor Ryna were among the dead. But they weren't there either.
Nate squatted beside him, reaching in his pocket for the id. "Agent Tom Brettle. Great." The man's eyes opened. He was bleeding out, probably wouldn't live more than a few minutes. Nate was finding it difficult to care. "Where are they?" Nate asked coldly.
The man opened his mouth, but all that came out was blood. He gurgled, his hands sliding across the bloody floor to point out the doors. Sirens were blaring and if they got caught at the scene it would be hours before they could get hunting for Eliot and Ryna.
He stood, his eyes running over the scene again. At least none of the blood was Eliot's. He headed back toward the stairs, stopping Parker as she was reaching the bottom. "Cops coming, we need to scatter."
Eliot crawled back to consciousness painfully slowly. His head felt thick and his body was stiff and cold. He opened his eyes, memory of the fight flooding into him. Ryna.
He sat up quickly, then regretted it. His vision grayed out and he nearly passed out again, holding his side. He'd fallen fairly hard when the bastard dropped him. He lifted his shirt, sliding a hand over bruised skin. At least none of the glass had cut him. His jaw hurt and he moved it slowly, hoping it would loosen up.
He was alone in what was barely a closet. He could touch all four walls without moving much. He tried standing, leaning on the wall when things got fuzzy again. He obviously had a concussion. He needed to break out of this box and find Ryna. He inched forward to the door. Of course it was locked, he hadn't really expected it not to be.
Eliot was just about to see how sturdy it was when he heard voices and footsteps. He moved to the back of the space, watching the door. It opened and two big hands reached in for him, dragging him out and down the hall. He chose not to fight, the guy had already put him down once, he wasn't going to give him another opportunity. Eliot watched around them instead, mapping the hall, doors and corridors. They were in some sort of industrial building, basement probably. The air was cool as he was shoved into a storage room lined with cans and boxes and produce, so it was probably a restaurant of some kind.
He was pushed into a chair, hands and feet tied down. It was like something out of a bad mob movie with the light shining down on him and the rest of the room in shadow as three guys stepped up, two of them shining brass knuckles.
Eliot resigned himself to taking a beating before he managed to get free. He squinted into the dark at the men. The guy in the middle had to be the man in charge. "You must be Vinnie Capinci." He got back handed for the trouble, metal digging into his cheek and cutting him open.
"You talk when I tell you to talk." Capinci said. "I have a few questions for you."
"I have one for you too." Eliot said. "Where's the girl?"
"She's tucked away safe and sound, don't worry your pretty little head over her."
"I'm not talking until I know she's okay."
"Oh, you'll talk." He nodded to the two guys and Eliot got a stomach full of hard fist and harder metal. He felt a rib crack as he doubled forward as much as the chair allowed. He sucked in air and lifted his head, only to get punched across the jaw again.
"Where's my money?"
"What money?" Eliot spit blood on the floor and tossed his head to get the hair out of his face.
"Funny boy, eh? You think I don't know you got my money? I found out where the broad went. I found out she had a kid. I found the kid and that old woman. The old woman wouldn't give me the money. You know what happened to her?"
"You'll find I'm a little harder to kill than an old woman, Vinnie." Eliot said, tensing for the blow. It was hard enough to knock the chair over, the impact rattling him and knocking the wind out of him.
"Pick him up." When they got Eliot upright again, Vinnie had a picture in his hand. "This is you with the broad who stole from me. You're the asshole that killed my men all those years ago. You took her to Georgia and hid her and the money. I want my money."
"She was carrying all of that?" Parker asked, her eyes lighting up as she knelt on the floor by the coffee table and ran her hand over the stacks of twenties.
Nate sat on the chair in the low rent hotel room, his hands turning over the only other thing he'd found in the suitcase. The door opened and Hardison and Sophie slipped in from the hall.
"We're clear for the moment." Sophie said, dropping bags on the kitchenette counter. "I brought food."
"Hardison." Nate held up the cassette tape. "See what's on this."
He tossed it and Hardison caught it. "With what? Do I look like a tape player?"
Nate scowled at him and he'd swear Hardison paled. "Do it."
Parker looked up at him, eyes narrowing. "How long has it been?"
"What?" Nate switched his focus.
"You, feeding. How long?"
"None of your business." Nate growled, standing to pace.
"It is if you're going to get all…growly at us because you haven't."
"In case you hadn't noticed, Eliot isn't here."
"No, but I brought you this." Sophie pulled a smaller bag out of the bigger bag. "Took some doing…" She tossed it to him, and he could smell it as he caught it.
Blood. Not a lot, and not completely fresh, but blood. He opened the bag. "This came from the blood bank."
She nodded. "You wouldn't believe the security at that place. You'd think there were a lot of people trying to steal blood."
Nate scowled at her, but it wasn't that he was angry. He was worried. He was irritated. He wanted to find the men who had touched Eliot and hurt them. A lot. "Thank you." He took the bag and withdrew into the bathroom where they wouldn't have to watch him. He didn't usually feed on cold blood, but he wasn't going to microwave it with them watching. It still freaked Hardison out when he did it at the office.
Feeding would help him gain a little control, a little perspective, which he was going to need if they were going to find Eliot and the girl. He finished off the blood as fast as he could, tossing the bag before heading back out.
Hardison was set up at the rickety table with his laptop, the cassette laying beside him. "Okay, near as I can tell, Capinci and his crew are probably laying low in one of these three places." His long finger pointed at three dots on his computer screen. "This one is a warehouse owned by a holding company, owned by a subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company, which is owned by various members of the Petrelli family. This is a restaurant supply company owned by a local guy with ties to Capinci. Last one is an actual restaurant, owned by Capinci's cousin."
"That's the one." Nate said, convinced they would use the building most clearly under their control for keeping Eliot. "I'll scout it out. You find out what's on that tape. Parker, you're with me."
Eliot was beginning to think that this wasn't really about the money. It wasn't enough to have someone like Capinci this riled up. And he was riled up.
He held Ryna by the arm, squeezing. She'd been crying, Eliot could tell, but as soon as she saw Eliot she'd calmed down, focused on him. Eliot licked his split lip and shifted his eyes back up to Capinci. "You really don't want to do that." Eliot said.
He was going to leave bruises on the girl's arm. His hands tightened on the chair, weakened from the slamming on the floor. Someone new came into the room, leaning in to whisper in Capinci's ear. Capinci glanced behind Eliot, then back to the new man. "Well, get rid of them. Eddie, go with him."
That was just what Eliot needed. Somehow, he knew it would be Nate, could almost feel him. Now that he had back up, he just needed to deal with Capinci and the heavyweight.
He caught Ryna's eye, hoping she understood when he nodded to her. She nodded back and Eliot took a slow, deep breath before yanking his arms up, the chair splintering under him as he kicked his legs free and swung his arm out, catching the big guy in the throat with the wood of the chair arm. He made an odd, gurgling sound, blood spurting out as Eliot pulled free.
Ryna stomped her little foot down on Capinci's, ducking as Eliot swung his way. She wrenched her arm free and ducked behind some boxes. Capinci tried to bring his gun around, but Eliot knocked it free.
He finally got loose of the last of the ropes and wood pieces, kicking the gun off into the shadows. "Ryna!"
She was at his side instantly and Eliot pushed her toward the door. "Did you see anything coming in?" Eliot asked as they got to the hallway and he looked around.
"Stairs over there." Ryna pointed and they ran toward them. Capinci wouldn't be far behind them, but if he could just get Ryna to Nate, he could handle Capinci.
"Parker?"
"I'm in. Give me a few minutes."
Nate adjusted the comm. piece in his ear and headed into the restaurant. It was closed for renovations of some sort and just getting in the front door he could smell Eliot. This time he was bleeding.
"Sorry, sir, we're closed." The man was in a nice suit, but the man with him had blood on his hand. Eliot's blood.
Nate felt his control slipping.
"I'm here to see Mr. Capinci." Nate said, closing the gap.
"I'm sorry sir, there's no here by that name. Eddie, see the man out."
"I wouldn't, Eddie." Nate said, cracking his neck. Eddie reached for him and Nate ducked away, letting his fangs descend and grabbing for the big, beefy man. He dropped him to the ground, wrenching the hand with the blood up behind him. "You should know better than to touch things that don't belong to you." He heard the satisfying crunch of the breaking arm and licked at Eliot's blood on his knuckles. It was cold, thick.
When he looked up the other man was gone. "Now that's rude." Nate said. He shoved Eddie's face into the floor, knocking him out cold. He sniffed the air, following the scent of fear.
"Found them." Parker's voice said in his ear. "They've got company."
"Where?"
"Behind the kitchen, meeting room."
"On my way." Nate hurried through the kitchen, catching the guy in the suit just as he opened the door and Nate could smell Eliot and Ryna both.
Furniture crashed as Nate threw the suit-guy into the room. Two guys were circling Eliot at the far end. "Go to Nate." Eliot shoved Ryna toward Nate and she ran for him, grabbing his legs.
"Eliot."
Eliot warned him off with a hand, which he then pulled through his hair. "I got this." His face was bruised and bloody, and he was favoring the one side a little.
Nate growled in frustration, but he had a frightened little heart pounding against his leg and two arms wrapped around him.
Eliot smiled. Fucking smiled at the bastard nearest him and Nate wondered if he realized he's about to die. Bloody. Painful.
"Parker, can you get Ryna out?"
"Get her up to me, I'm behind you."
Nate pried the little girl's arms loose from his leg and lifted her. "Eliot--" She dove and almost got free, but Nate reeled her in.
"He's going to be fine. You need to go with Parker so I can help Eliot."
He lifted Ryna as the vent cover opened. Parker's hands grabbed the girl's wrists and Nate could feel her leave his arms, turning back to Eliot who is whirling on the second man, foot swinging through the air.
His boot heel smashed into the man's jaw, sending blood spattering out around him. From across the room Nate could hear the crunch and knew the man's jaw was broken.
Before he'd even hit the ground, Eliot hauled the first guy off the floor and shoved him against the wall. His voice was low, growling into the man's ear.
Nate couldn't quite hear what he said, but he knew...he just knew what Eliot was about to do and he couldn't get there fast enough to stop him.
The man fell, his eyes open and staring. Eliot stepped back, looking down at his hands. It wasn't the first time he'd killed, Nate knows that. "He hurt my little girl." Eliot said, though Nate wasn't sure he was speaking to him.
"I know, Eliot."
Eliot's breathing was tight, and Nate knew from the way his left hand held his middle that the there was rib on the right that was probably broken again.
"No one hurts my little girl, Nate." Eliot said, looking up at him, his eyes bright.
"I know. It's okay."
Eliot nodded slowly, still looking at his hands. A low moan drew his attention back to the second man. Nate intercepted him half way there. "She's my little girl now too," he said softly. Eliot's hands clenched as Nate turned to the man who was trying to crawl away. Nate swooped down, squatting over him.
He could drink, bleed him dry, but somehow the idea made him feel dirty. Eliot hadn't reacted well the last time Nate killed that way. Like Eliot, Nate put his hands on the man's head, pulled and turned and snapped the man's neck. His hands felt strangely cold, even as he stood and pulled Eliot to him, holding him close. "She's okay, Eliot. She's okay."
"Close your eyes."
"I'm not tired."
"Yes you are, you just don't know it yet. Close your eyes." Eliot's voice was soft, low and soothing. Ryna fussed with her blankets, fidgeted and Eliot sat beside her waiting. When she finally did what he wanted, those impossibly blue eyes sliding closed, Eliot brushed a finger over her face, gently brushing hair from her skin.
Nate knew the touch was more than that. It was a connection, a gentle reminder that he was there, that he has got her, that she was safe. She sighed softly and Nate could sense her shift into sleep. Eliot sat a little longer before he eased his hand away and stood, pressing a kiss to her forehead and slipping out of the living room.
Nate drew him in, arms circling around him. Eliot was only degrees away from falling apart and Nate knew. He kissed Eliot's forehead and directed him toward the bedroom. He undressed Eliot, despite the raised eyebrow and his attempt to pull away and do it himself. "Lay down."
Nate soothed the blankets up over him and sat beside him. "Close your eyes."
"Nate--"
He pressed a finger to Eliot's mouth. "Shh...close your eyes."
Eliot huffed, but his eyes slide closed. Nate reached for his face, one finger tracing over his brow, which eased and relaxed under him. "I'm here. I'm not leaving."
"Nate-"
Again, he pressed a finger to Eliot's lips. "I saw you tonight. Saw what you did. I see you for who you are."
Eliot's face tightened, but he doesn't pull away. His hands lifted to Nate's, pulling them away from his face and sitting up. His kiss tasted vaguely of guilt and desperation, but his eyes were clear when he opened them.
They had killed together, and act of deliberation. It was a first for them. Eliot slid over in the bed, holding the blankets. "Come to bed."
Nate nodded, rising long enough to strip out of his clothes and slide into the bed. He closed his eyes as Eliot lay beside him, and felt the weight of what they'd done lift just a little. There was still a lot to clean up, and a long road until Ryna was theirs forever, but for now it was enough that both Ryna and Eliot were safe.
Nate slid into the empty chair at the table opposite a man he might have once considered a friend. He put the CD on the table and slipped it across the table.
"Been a while."
Nate inclined his head.
"Hear you aren't exactly the knight in shining armor anymore."
"I still get the job done." Nate said. The restaurant around them was bustling, one of the reasons he'd chosen it. "You willing to help?"
"What is this?"
"Evidence. Voice recordings of Vinnie Capicino and various other members of the Petrelli crime organization. Enough to get convictions of conspiracy, murder, racketeering."
"And what is it you want in exchange?"
Nate put an envelope on top of the CD. "Not a lot. Just one little girl's future with her father."
"Eliot Spencer?"
Eliot looked up, frowning lightly. "Yeah?"
"Delivery. Sign here?"
Eliot looked the kid over, but signed, taking the envelope and opening it before the kid was gone from the conference room door. He frowned harder as he read it. "Hardison? What did you do?"
Hardison looked confused as he turned from his computer. "What?"
"This is a letter from the state of Georgia granting me custody of Ryna. It says the formal paperwork will follow in a few days. I thought you said you couldn't-"
"He didn't." Nate said with a smirk, leaning on the doorframe. "Well, not by himself anyway."
"How?" Eliot frowned at him. "I mean, is this for real?"
"Care of the FBI and their organized crime group. We gave them…a little leverage."
"A little leverage?" Eliot crossed the room, dropping the letter on the table as he got to Nate, his hands fisting in Nate's lapel to drag him closer.
"Ah…really? Here? In front of me?" Hardison squeaked.
Eliot didn't look away. "Hardison, beat it." He didn't check to see if Hardison left, just leaned in, kissing Nate hard as he turned him toward the table and kicked the doors closed.
"What? Here?" Nate asked, smirking.
"Now." Eliot growled. His hands let go of Nate's jacket to pull on his belt, getting it loose and digging in to his zipper. "Right now."
"Okay." Nate grinned as Eliot got his pants down, and slid to one knee to lick and suck at his cock, coaxing it to full erection before Eliot stood, undoing his own pants.
It had been a while and Eliot was moving fast, his jeans on the floor as he kissed Nate again, turning them until Eliot was the one against the table, laying back and drawing Nate to him.
"You know Hardison probably has cameras…"
Eliot grinned as Nate sank into him. "Let 'em watch." He lifted his hands up over his head, grabbing onto the table, lifting his hips to meet Nate's thrust.
"Kinky." Nate murmured as he leaned in, cock buried inside Eliot, tongue licking over his tight nipples. "I got something kinkier." Eliot lifted his head to look Nate in the eye, just as Nate's fangs dropped, his eyes glittering dark and dangerous. He bite around Eliot's nipple and Eliot fought to orgasm as long as he could, tumbling over the edge when Nate's cock pressed against his prostate and his mouth pulled blood from Eliot's chest.
Come smeared under his shirt as Nate grinned down at him and thrust harder into him. It only took a few strokes to get him to the edge himself. Eliot lifted up on his elbows as Nate stepped back. "Thank you."
Nate smiled and bent to retrieve Eliot's pants. "Oh, I'm not done yet." Nate said with a smirk. He went to Hardison's computer while Eliot got his pants back on. He taped a couple of keys and the screen lit up, pictures of a house filling it.
"What's this?"
"I bought it yesterday." Nate said. "Five bedrooms, two office spaces, a gourmet kitchen, maid's quarters, play area, swimming pool, a small gym, hot tub, rec room…"
"Are you asking me to move in with you, Nate?" Eliot asked, crossing his arms.
"I'm asking you and Ryna to come live with me, to be my family." Nate said.
"Family." Eliot moved closer, his heart pounding. "Like an old married couple?"
"Well, I didn't say married." Nate responded. "But yeah, like that."
Eliot thought he saw uncertainty in Nate's eyes. In fact, he wasn't really certain either, but he hadn't had family in a long, long time. "I get my own room."
Nate nodded.
"And rule over the kitchen."
Nate grinned. "You expecting me to argue? It's not like I can cook."
"Okay." Eliot agreed, uncrossing his arms. "We can try it. See how it goes."
"We are not helping you move." Hardison's voice said from the speakers in the walls.
Eliot shook his head and let Nate kiss him. "Told you." Nate whispered.
"That isn't cameras." Eliot argued. Two seconds later the house was gone and the screen was filled with Nate and Eliot and thrusting and biting. "I'm going to kill him."
"You're the one that said let 'em watch." Nate reminded.
"Watching is one thing, recording is another." Eliot stared at the place he assumed the camera would be. "Hear me Hardison? That better disappear or I will kill you." The screen went dead. Eliot grinned. "So, really? You, me, Ryna…you're okay with that?"
"I get you. I get to watch you with her. I don't see a down side."
"Then what say you and me go rescue her from Sophie and let her know?"
"Sophie?"
Eliot shrugged. "Something about shopping and girls and hair…I didn't follow the whole thing."
"Then we definitely need to rescue her."
"And get pizza." Eliot added as they opened the door.
"Pizza is good." Nate agreed.
"What, that's it?" Hardison asked, popping his head out of his office as they passed. "No I love you or something? Just pizza?"
They stopped, stared at him until he shrugged. "Okay, pizza. I could eat."
Eliot glared.
"Just saying." Hardison took a step back. "My bad."
Eliot could feel Nate's eyes and groaned. "You're not."
Nate frowned and shook his head. "No, of course not."
"Good."
"Good."
"That it?"
Nate nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
"Okay. We should go then."
"Right. Pizza?"
"And beer." Eliot agreed.
"A whole lot of beer."
Title: I'll Find a Way ( Part One and Part Two)
Characters/Pairings: vamp!Nate/Eliot, Parker, Hardison, Sophie, OFC
Rating: NC-17 (for the sex)
Word Count: 3917
Summary: Takes place following Close the Door, Pull the Shades. Eliot and Ryna are held prisoner while Nate and crew try to find them.
A/Ns & Warnings: Kid!Fic. Third chapter in a three chapter arc. Includes blood play because, hello, vampire. Also includes violence. And some post violence sex.
Nate could smell the blood before he got the door open. A lot of blood and gunpowder. The floor of the lobby was littered with glass and debris and bodies. The others were still coming behind him.
He sniffed the air as he moved over the nearest body, a woman. He didn't have to look to know she was dead. He kept moving. There was a pool of blood on the floor, smeared and leading toward the doors. It ended in the still twitching body of the FBI agent that had taken Eliot away.
Neither Eliot nor Ryna were among the dead. But they weren't there either.
Nate squatted beside him, reaching in his pocket for the id. "Agent Tom Brettle. Great." The man's eyes opened. He was bleeding out, probably wouldn't live more than a few minutes. Nate was finding it difficult to care. "Where are they?" Nate asked coldly.
The man opened his mouth, but all that came out was blood. He gurgled, his hands sliding across the bloody floor to point out the doors. Sirens were blaring and if they got caught at the scene it would be hours before they could get hunting for Eliot and Ryna.
He stood, his eyes running over the scene again. At least none of the blood was Eliot's. He headed back toward the stairs, stopping Parker as she was reaching the bottom. "Cops coming, we need to scatter."
Eliot crawled back to consciousness painfully slowly. His head felt thick and his body was stiff and cold. He opened his eyes, memory of the fight flooding into him. Ryna.
He sat up quickly, then regretted it. His vision grayed out and he nearly passed out again, holding his side. He'd fallen fairly hard when the bastard dropped him. He lifted his shirt, sliding a hand over bruised skin. At least none of the glass had cut him. His jaw hurt and he moved it slowly, hoping it would loosen up.
He was alone in what was barely a closet. He could touch all four walls without moving much. He tried standing, leaning on the wall when things got fuzzy again. He obviously had a concussion. He needed to break out of this box and find Ryna. He inched forward to the door. Of course it was locked, he hadn't really expected it not to be.
Eliot was just about to see how sturdy it was when he heard voices and footsteps. He moved to the back of the space, watching the door. It opened and two big hands reached in for him, dragging him out and down the hall. He chose not to fight, the guy had already put him down once, he wasn't going to give him another opportunity. Eliot watched around them instead, mapping the hall, doors and corridors. They were in some sort of industrial building, basement probably. The air was cool as he was shoved into a storage room lined with cans and boxes and produce, so it was probably a restaurant of some kind.
He was pushed into a chair, hands and feet tied down. It was like something out of a bad mob movie with the light shining down on him and the rest of the room in shadow as three guys stepped up, two of them shining brass knuckles.
Eliot resigned himself to taking a beating before he managed to get free. He squinted into the dark at the men. The guy in the middle had to be the man in charge. "You must be Vinnie Capinci." He got back handed for the trouble, metal digging into his cheek and cutting him open.
"You talk when I tell you to talk." Capinci said. "I have a few questions for you."
"I have one for you too." Eliot said. "Where's the girl?"
"She's tucked away safe and sound, don't worry your pretty little head over her."
"I'm not talking until I know she's okay."
"Oh, you'll talk." He nodded to the two guys and Eliot got a stomach full of hard fist and harder metal. He felt a rib crack as he doubled forward as much as the chair allowed. He sucked in air and lifted his head, only to get punched across the jaw again.
"Where's my money?"
"What money?" Eliot spit blood on the floor and tossed his head to get the hair out of his face.
"Funny boy, eh? You think I don't know you got my money? I found out where the broad went. I found out she had a kid. I found the kid and that old woman. The old woman wouldn't give me the money. You know what happened to her?"
"You'll find I'm a little harder to kill than an old woman, Vinnie." Eliot said, tensing for the blow. It was hard enough to knock the chair over, the impact rattling him and knocking the wind out of him.
"Pick him up." When they got Eliot upright again, Vinnie had a picture in his hand. "This is you with the broad who stole from me. You're the asshole that killed my men all those years ago. You took her to Georgia and hid her and the money. I want my money."
"She was carrying all of that?" Parker asked, her eyes lighting up as she knelt on the floor by the coffee table and ran her hand over the stacks of twenties.
Nate sat on the chair in the low rent hotel room, his hands turning over the only other thing he'd found in the suitcase. The door opened and Hardison and Sophie slipped in from the hall.
"We're clear for the moment." Sophie said, dropping bags on the kitchenette counter. "I brought food."
"Hardison." Nate held up the cassette tape. "See what's on this."
He tossed it and Hardison caught it. "With what? Do I look like a tape player?"
Nate scowled at him and he'd swear Hardison paled. "Do it."
Parker looked up at him, eyes narrowing. "How long has it been?"
"What?" Nate switched his focus.
"You, feeding. How long?"
"None of your business." Nate growled, standing to pace.
"It is if you're going to get all…growly at us because you haven't."
"In case you hadn't noticed, Eliot isn't here."
"No, but I brought you this." Sophie pulled a smaller bag out of the bigger bag. "Took some doing…" She tossed it to him, and he could smell it as he caught it.
Blood. Not a lot, and not completely fresh, but blood. He opened the bag. "This came from the blood bank."
She nodded. "You wouldn't believe the security at that place. You'd think there were a lot of people trying to steal blood."
Nate scowled at her, but it wasn't that he was angry. He was worried. He was irritated. He wanted to find the men who had touched Eliot and hurt them. A lot. "Thank you." He took the bag and withdrew into the bathroom where they wouldn't have to watch him. He didn't usually feed on cold blood, but he wasn't going to microwave it with them watching. It still freaked Hardison out when he did it at the office.
Feeding would help him gain a little control, a little perspective, which he was going to need if they were going to find Eliot and the girl. He finished off the blood as fast as he could, tossing the bag before heading back out.
Hardison was set up at the rickety table with his laptop, the cassette laying beside him. "Okay, near as I can tell, Capinci and his crew are probably laying low in one of these three places." His long finger pointed at three dots on his computer screen. "This one is a warehouse owned by a holding company, owned by a subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company, which is owned by various members of the Petrelli family. This is a restaurant supply company owned by a local guy with ties to Capinci. Last one is an actual restaurant, owned by Capinci's cousin."
"That's the one." Nate said, convinced they would use the building most clearly under their control for keeping Eliot. "I'll scout it out. You find out what's on that tape. Parker, you're with me."
Eliot was beginning to think that this wasn't really about the money. It wasn't enough to have someone like Capinci this riled up. And he was riled up.
He held Ryna by the arm, squeezing. She'd been crying, Eliot could tell, but as soon as she saw Eliot she'd calmed down, focused on him. Eliot licked his split lip and shifted his eyes back up to Capinci. "You really don't want to do that." Eliot said.
He was going to leave bruises on the girl's arm. His hands tightened on the chair, weakened from the slamming on the floor. Someone new came into the room, leaning in to whisper in Capinci's ear. Capinci glanced behind Eliot, then back to the new man. "Well, get rid of them. Eddie, go with him."
That was just what Eliot needed. Somehow, he knew it would be Nate, could almost feel him. Now that he had back up, he just needed to deal with Capinci and the heavyweight.
He caught Ryna's eye, hoping she understood when he nodded to her. She nodded back and Eliot took a slow, deep breath before yanking his arms up, the chair splintering under him as he kicked his legs free and swung his arm out, catching the big guy in the throat with the wood of the chair arm. He made an odd, gurgling sound, blood spurting out as Eliot pulled free.
Ryna stomped her little foot down on Capinci's, ducking as Eliot swung his way. She wrenched her arm free and ducked behind some boxes. Capinci tried to bring his gun around, but Eliot knocked it free.
He finally got loose of the last of the ropes and wood pieces, kicking the gun off into the shadows. "Ryna!"
She was at his side instantly and Eliot pushed her toward the door. "Did you see anything coming in?" Eliot asked as they got to the hallway and he looked around.
"Stairs over there." Ryna pointed and they ran toward them. Capinci wouldn't be far behind them, but if he could just get Ryna to Nate, he could handle Capinci.
"Parker?"
"I'm in. Give me a few minutes."
Nate adjusted the comm. piece in his ear and headed into the restaurant. It was closed for renovations of some sort and just getting in the front door he could smell Eliot. This time he was bleeding.
"Sorry, sir, we're closed." The man was in a nice suit, but the man with him had blood on his hand. Eliot's blood.
Nate felt his control slipping.
"I'm here to see Mr. Capinci." Nate said, closing the gap.
"I'm sorry sir, there's no here by that name. Eddie, see the man out."
"I wouldn't, Eddie." Nate said, cracking his neck. Eddie reached for him and Nate ducked away, letting his fangs descend and grabbing for the big, beefy man. He dropped him to the ground, wrenching the hand with the blood up behind him. "You should know better than to touch things that don't belong to you." He heard the satisfying crunch of the breaking arm and licked at Eliot's blood on his knuckles. It was cold, thick.
When he looked up the other man was gone. "Now that's rude." Nate said. He shoved Eddie's face into the floor, knocking him out cold. He sniffed the air, following the scent of fear.
"Found them." Parker's voice said in his ear. "They've got company."
"Where?"
"Behind the kitchen, meeting room."
"On my way." Nate hurried through the kitchen, catching the guy in the suit just as he opened the door and Nate could smell Eliot and Ryna both.
Furniture crashed as Nate threw the suit-guy into the room. Two guys were circling Eliot at the far end. "Go to Nate." Eliot shoved Ryna toward Nate and she ran for him, grabbing his legs.
"Eliot."
Eliot warned him off with a hand, which he then pulled through his hair. "I got this." His face was bruised and bloody, and he was favoring the one side a little.
Nate growled in frustration, but he had a frightened little heart pounding against his leg and two arms wrapped around him.
Eliot smiled. Fucking smiled at the bastard nearest him and Nate wondered if he realized he's about to die. Bloody. Painful.
"Parker, can you get Ryna out?"
"Get her up to me, I'm behind you."
Nate pried the little girl's arms loose from his leg and lifted her. "Eliot--" She dove and almost got free, but Nate reeled her in.
"He's going to be fine. You need to go with Parker so I can help Eliot."
He lifted Ryna as the vent cover opened. Parker's hands grabbed the girl's wrists and Nate could feel her leave his arms, turning back to Eliot who is whirling on the second man, foot swinging through the air.
His boot heel smashed into the man's jaw, sending blood spattering out around him. From across the room Nate could hear the crunch and knew the man's jaw was broken.
Before he'd even hit the ground, Eliot hauled the first guy off the floor and shoved him against the wall. His voice was low, growling into the man's ear.
Nate couldn't quite hear what he said, but he knew...he just knew what Eliot was about to do and he couldn't get there fast enough to stop him.
The man fell, his eyes open and staring. Eliot stepped back, looking down at his hands. It wasn't the first time he'd killed, Nate knows that. "He hurt my little girl." Eliot said, though Nate wasn't sure he was speaking to him.
"I know, Eliot."
Eliot's breathing was tight, and Nate knew from the way his left hand held his middle that the there was rib on the right that was probably broken again.
"No one hurts my little girl, Nate." Eliot said, looking up at him, his eyes bright.
"I know. It's okay."
Eliot nodded slowly, still looking at his hands. A low moan drew his attention back to the second man. Nate intercepted him half way there. "She's my little girl now too," he said softly. Eliot's hands clenched as Nate turned to the man who was trying to crawl away. Nate swooped down, squatting over him.
He could drink, bleed him dry, but somehow the idea made him feel dirty. Eliot hadn't reacted well the last time Nate killed that way. Like Eliot, Nate put his hands on the man's head, pulled and turned and snapped the man's neck. His hands felt strangely cold, even as he stood and pulled Eliot to him, holding him close. "She's okay, Eliot. She's okay."
"Close your eyes."
"I'm not tired."
"Yes you are, you just don't know it yet. Close your eyes." Eliot's voice was soft, low and soothing. Ryna fussed with her blankets, fidgeted and Eliot sat beside her waiting. When she finally did what he wanted, those impossibly blue eyes sliding closed, Eliot brushed a finger over her face, gently brushing hair from her skin.
Nate knew the touch was more than that. It was a connection, a gentle reminder that he was there, that he has got her, that she was safe. She sighed softly and Nate could sense her shift into sleep. Eliot sat a little longer before he eased his hand away and stood, pressing a kiss to her forehead and slipping out of the living room.
Nate drew him in, arms circling around him. Eliot was only degrees away from falling apart and Nate knew. He kissed Eliot's forehead and directed him toward the bedroom. He undressed Eliot, despite the raised eyebrow and his attempt to pull away and do it himself. "Lay down."
Nate soothed the blankets up over him and sat beside him. "Close your eyes."
"Nate--"
He pressed a finger to Eliot's mouth. "Shh...close your eyes."
Eliot huffed, but his eyes slide closed. Nate reached for his face, one finger tracing over his brow, which eased and relaxed under him. "I'm here. I'm not leaving."
"Nate-"
Again, he pressed a finger to Eliot's lips. "I saw you tonight. Saw what you did. I see you for who you are."
Eliot's face tightened, but he doesn't pull away. His hands lifted to Nate's, pulling them away from his face and sitting up. His kiss tasted vaguely of guilt and desperation, but his eyes were clear when he opened them.
They had killed together, and act of deliberation. It was a first for them. Eliot slid over in the bed, holding the blankets. "Come to bed."
Nate nodded, rising long enough to strip out of his clothes and slide into the bed. He closed his eyes as Eliot lay beside him, and felt the weight of what they'd done lift just a little. There was still a lot to clean up, and a long road until Ryna was theirs forever, but for now it was enough that both Ryna and Eliot were safe.
Nate slid into the empty chair at the table opposite a man he might have once considered a friend. He put the CD on the table and slipped it across the table.
"Been a while."
Nate inclined his head.
"Hear you aren't exactly the knight in shining armor anymore."
"I still get the job done." Nate said. The restaurant around them was bustling, one of the reasons he'd chosen it. "You willing to help?"
"What is this?"
"Evidence. Voice recordings of Vinnie Capicino and various other members of the Petrelli crime organization. Enough to get convictions of conspiracy, murder, racketeering."
"And what is it you want in exchange?"
Nate put an envelope on top of the CD. "Not a lot. Just one little girl's future with her father."
"Eliot Spencer?"
Eliot looked up, frowning lightly. "Yeah?"
"Delivery. Sign here?"
Eliot looked the kid over, but signed, taking the envelope and opening it before the kid was gone from the conference room door. He frowned harder as he read it. "Hardison? What did you do?"
Hardison looked confused as he turned from his computer. "What?"
"This is a letter from the state of Georgia granting me custody of Ryna. It says the formal paperwork will follow in a few days. I thought you said you couldn't-"
"He didn't." Nate said with a smirk, leaning on the doorframe. "Well, not by himself anyway."
"How?" Eliot frowned at him. "I mean, is this for real?"
"Care of the FBI and their organized crime group. We gave them…a little leverage."
"A little leverage?" Eliot crossed the room, dropping the letter on the table as he got to Nate, his hands fisting in Nate's lapel to drag him closer.
"Ah…really? Here? In front of me?" Hardison squeaked.
Eliot didn't look away. "Hardison, beat it." He didn't check to see if Hardison left, just leaned in, kissing Nate hard as he turned him toward the table and kicked the doors closed.
"What? Here?" Nate asked, smirking.
"Now." Eliot growled. His hands let go of Nate's jacket to pull on his belt, getting it loose and digging in to his zipper. "Right now."
"Okay." Nate grinned as Eliot got his pants down, and slid to one knee to lick and suck at his cock, coaxing it to full erection before Eliot stood, undoing his own pants.
It had been a while and Eliot was moving fast, his jeans on the floor as he kissed Nate again, turning them until Eliot was the one against the table, laying back and drawing Nate to him.
"You know Hardison probably has cameras…"
Eliot grinned as Nate sank into him. "Let 'em watch." He lifted his hands up over his head, grabbing onto the table, lifting his hips to meet Nate's thrust.
"Kinky." Nate murmured as he leaned in, cock buried inside Eliot, tongue licking over his tight nipples. "I got something kinkier." Eliot lifted his head to look Nate in the eye, just as Nate's fangs dropped, his eyes glittering dark and dangerous. He bite around Eliot's nipple and Eliot fought to orgasm as long as he could, tumbling over the edge when Nate's cock pressed against his prostate and his mouth pulled blood from Eliot's chest.
Come smeared under his shirt as Nate grinned down at him and thrust harder into him. It only took a few strokes to get him to the edge himself. Eliot lifted up on his elbows as Nate stepped back. "Thank you."
Nate smiled and bent to retrieve Eliot's pants. "Oh, I'm not done yet." Nate said with a smirk. He went to Hardison's computer while Eliot got his pants back on. He taped a couple of keys and the screen lit up, pictures of a house filling it.
"What's this?"
"I bought it yesterday." Nate said. "Five bedrooms, two office spaces, a gourmet kitchen, maid's quarters, play area, swimming pool, a small gym, hot tub, rec room…"
"Are you asking me to move in with you, Nate?" Eliot asked, crossing his arms.
"I'm asking you and Ryna to come live with me, to be my family." Nate said.
"Family." Eliot moved closer, his heart pounding. "Like an old married couple?"
"Well, I didn't say married." Nate responded. "But yeah, like that."
Eliot thought he saw uncertainty in Nate's eyes. In fact, he wasn't really certain either, but he hadn't had family in a long, long time. "I get my own room."
Nate nodded.
"And rule over the kitchen."
Nate grinned. "You expecting me to argue? It's not like I can cook."
"Okay." Eliot agreed, uncrossing his arms. "We can try it. See how it goes."
"We are not helping you move." Hardison's voice said from the speakers in the walls.
Eliot shook his head and let Nate kiss him. "Told you." Nate whispered.
"That isn't cameras." Eliot argued. Two seconds later the house was gone and the screen was filled with Nate and Eliot and thrusting and biting. "I'm going to kill him."
"You're the one that said let 'em watch." Nate reminded.
"Watching is one thing, recording is another." Eliot stared at the place he assumed the camera would be. "Hear me Hardison? That better disappear or I will kill you." The screen went dead. Eliot grinned. "So, really? You, me, Ryna…you're okay with that?"
"I get you. I get to watch you with her. I don't see a down side."
"Then what say you and me go rescue her from Sophie and let her know?"
"Sophie?"
Eliot shrugged. "Something about shopping and girls and hair…I didn't follow the whole thing."
"Then we definitely need to rescue her."
"And get pizza." Eliot added as they opened the door.
"Pizza is good." Nate agreed.
"What, that's it?" Hardison asked, popping his head out of his office as they passed. "No I love you or something? Just pizza?"
They stopped, stared at him until he shrugged. "Okay, pizza. I could eat."
Eliot glared.
"Just saying." Hardison took a step back. "My bad."
Eliot could feel Nate's eyes and groaned. "You're not."
Nate frowned and shook his head. "No, of course not."
"Good."
"Good."
"That it?"
Nate nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
"Okay. We should go then."
"Right. Pizza?"
"And beer." Eliot agreed.
"A whole lot of beer."