buyer’s remorse
Pairing: Eric Northman/Sookie Stackhouse
For: @lucdarling
Prompt: Sookie takes a job at Fangtasia instead of Merlotte’s AU“I don’t really care for the terminology at all…” Sookie said with an abrupt eye roll. "I don’t belong to anyone.“
Eric sighed heavily. Not for lack of air, just in exasperation. She exasperated him.
“Obviously, I would hold no legal ownership over you, Sookie…” He ran his tongue over the tips of his fangs. "But if you were mine, I wouldn’t have to worry about every single other vampire in this bar smelling you and sucking you dry.“ Bill Compton had been sniffing around with exactly those intentions. Or perhaps something even more nefarious.
"You don’t worry about this with Ginger,” she said, her tone almost accusatory.
Pam rolled her eyes. "Nobody’s clamoring for a bite of Ginger, I can tell ya that much.“
"But they want a bite of me?” Sookie snorted. "You really expect me to believe that? How do I know this isn’t some kind of vamp trick to get me to pledge myself to you or somethin’? I don’t wanna wake up tomorrow married to you, Eric Northman.“
Pam chuckled, rolling her eyes again. Those muscles were getting quite a workout. Eric turned towards his progeny and tilted his head towards the door. "Leave us.”
She did, not without a glare in his direction.
“Let me say you’re mine…and…I can offer you my protection,” he repeated. "You need protection in a place like this.“
"Is this why you hired me?” she asked. "Because I didn’t take the job at Merlotte’s because Sam was havin’ some pretty similar thoughts.“
"I’m sure Sam wanted to impregnate you with his shifter pups. This is different. I can’t have children. So there’s no worry about that.” He arched an eyebrow to punctuate.
“No, no. I wouldn’t get knocked up, but I might end up anemic.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do you honestly think a vampire my age wouldn’t know when to stop?”
“If I’m as aromatic as you say I am, maybe you couldn’t stop?” she smirked, looking like she’d won the argument. He was a far more formidable opponent than most she’d bested, he’d wager.
“I’m not a taker, Sookie. I give as good as good as I get. Some say I give better.”
Judging by the way that made her pause, how her throat moved as she gulped, he’d struck a chord. He moved in closer, cursing the fact that he couldn’t just glamour her. The one time he’d tried it, she’d laughed in his face. "Just allow me to formally announce that you are mine…” this next part was going to sting. "I won’t bite you unless you specifically ask me to…"
She scoffed. “Fat chance of that happening, Eric.”
He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. "And then, you will have my protection. And that of my maker. No harm will ever come to you, Sookie Stackhouse.“
She purse her lips in thought. "Isn’t this a conflict of interest? Since I’m working for you?”
“I don’t know the answer to that. I can have many simultaneous points of interest. I suppose this puts ‘the ball in your court’ to put it in human terms.“
"So I have all the power?”
“Every single bit,” he said quietly, almost hating to admit it.
She smiled. “Okay then. I guess I’m yours, Eric Northman.” She held out her hand and he stared at it for a second before shaking it. "I honestly expected you to cop a feel or something.“
"I did too. I think I’m having buyer’s remorse…” he muttered under his breath.
