EddieXNick Because let's admit it, it's effing adorable. And hot, which surprised me a little at first.
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Official. He had officially joined Nick. He'd gotten threatened, beat up, and then he knew he wanted to stay with Nick. He had never wanted so much in his life to prove himself. Nick trusted him. Nick continually put his faith in Eddie, time and time again.
Of course, Nick was currently insisting on patching Eddie up, and his gentle hands trying to soothe Eddie's pain as Eddie lay docilely on the couch just reinforced the idea that he had made the right decision. Nick wasn't a normal Grimm. He wasn't like the figures of childhood nightmare that haunted Eddie well into adulthood.
Nick talked. Nick reasoned. He might threaten and hurt, maybe even kill, but only when absolutely necessary. Nick didn't want to kill them. He wanted to help them adjust, to fit in and be happy in the modern world. Nick was beautiful.
His eyes widened as that last thought crossed his mind, unbidden. Nick saw. "What are you thinking about?"
"Terrifying things." Eddie murmured, trying to quiet the sudden tumult in his head.
Nick dabbed iodine on a shallow cut in a bruise on his face, and Eddie let out a quiet growl. Nick didn't falter. "What's so scary? The Reapers?"
"Some things are scarier." Eddie said, feeling warm under Nick's scrutiny.
"Well, it won't matter. You're risking a lot for me, you've given up a lot for me, and I haven't forgotten. We're partners. I got your back." Nick assured him.
Warmth blossomed in Eddie, an uncomfortable warmth when he was this close to Nick. "What made you trust me so much after we met?"
"Instincts. Aunt Marie said to trust my instincts. After you leaped out the window and tackled me, then invited me in for a beer, I instinctually knew you were no threat to me. That you were a good person." Nick said, giving him a smile that made Eddie want to melt into a puddle of goo.
"I attack you and you consider me harmless. Grimm instincts are going downhill." Eddie said with a snort.
"But I wasn't wrong, was I?" Nick asked, a tone of haughty superiority put into the words.
"No. But if your instincts start telling you that about other natural predators, Grimms will be going the way of the dodo."
"You're special, Eddie." Nick said. He finished disinfecting a long cut on Eddie's arm and started wrapping it.
Eddie inhaled sharply as he felt something go through him that should NOT be going through him, not for a Grimm. "Too tight?" Nick asked, thinking his bandage had hurt Eddie.
"No. Feels fine." Eddie breathed shallowly in an attempt to not get any more of Nick's scent into his addled head. Because Nick's scent had become suddenly intoxicating, like a door to a room full of blood and booze had been opened in his head. Nick had always smelled very good, but it was like someone had just cranked the volume for Eddie's nose.
"You know, I worry about you being here alone now, Eddie. Even if I come visit a lot, I won't be here all the time. What if someone comes to get you when I'm not here?" Nick asked. Mistaking Eddie's intense look for indignation, he added, "Not that you can't protect yourself, but you're hurt right now, and I'd prefer to back you up anyway, just in case."
"Well what would you suggest?"
"You come stay with me. Or I could come stay here." Nick shrugged.
Eddie stilled completely as his heart rate shot through the roof. "Wouldn't your girlfriend have an issue with that?"
Nick's face became troubled. "She left. A little while ago. We had a talk and she didn't like the fact that I scare the bejeezus out of these seemingly random people. She thinks I'm a dirty cop or have an illegal side job. She said she wanted no part of it and packed her things and left."
Eddie slumped as he saw the sadness on Nick's face. Nick was lonely. That was another reason he was suggesting this arrangement. "Well, Grimms often live a lonely life because of what they do. But hell, you're welcome here for as long as you want."
Nick gave him a small half-smile. "That would be great, Eddie."
"Are you going to stay tonight, or should I expect you tomorrow?"
Nick looked thoughtful. "I think I'll pack my stuff tonight and come over in the morning."
Eddie nodded. "That sounds good. I should probably go to sleep early tonight anyway."
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Nick said, and he got up and moved to the door.
"Night, Nick."
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And Nick did show up early the next morning with two suitcases and a gym bag full of weapons. Eddie felt a bit awkward as he helped Nick with his things. He tried not to think about how, right after Nick left, he had to go take a shower in hopes of calming down, which only ended with him frantically humping his hand and climaxing with Nick's name on his lips. This was so wrong. God, he was fine with helping the Grimm, even befriending the Grimm, but he couldn't let himself fall in love with the Grimm!
And it wasn't about pride or shame, or the fact that his family would disown him...further. It was the fact that Nick wouldn't reciprocate. He had had Juliet, so it was pretty safe to assume that he didn't swing that way with human guys. Let alone with a male blutbad.
"Hey, Eddie?" Nick asked, stirring the blutbad from his reverie. "Is this going to be okay? I mean, this is your territory, and I'm a Grimm, and I don't know what that means about my scent or..."
"As far as territory goes, don't start pissing on my fence and we'll be fine. The scent thing is something I'll have to adjust to. It's just a different problem than you might think." Eddie told him.
"How so?" Nick asked.
Eddie felt warm. "It's kinda personal."
"Oh. Okay." Nick said. "Am I crashing on the couch?"
"There's a guestroom right next to my room. It should be big enough. Unless you'd prefer the couch."
"No, a bed sounds much nicer." Nick said. Eddie led him up the stairs to the bedrooms. "About the scent thing, is there anything I should do or not do that would help you adjust?"
'Stop smelling like someone turned beauty and joy into a cologne?' Eddie thought darkly.
"Look, I suppose it's best to get this out of the way now. My house is going to start smelling like you. I'll adjust. But because your scent will be part of my territory and my house, I'll have feelings of possessiveness towards you. I'll try to claim you and I'll probably run off any girls you bring home. So don't bring girls home. Other than that..." Eddie trailed off lightly, trying to underscore his previous words.
He risked meeting Nick's eyes as they arrived in the guest room, and the Grimm was blushing. Those grey eyes were wide, and Eddie wanted to say the pupils were larger than normal. "Don't bring home dates, check." Nick said, somewhat shakily. "And, well, I came straight here when I woke up...could I shower?"
Eddie groaned internally. Nick had just got here and the first thing he wanted to do was take his clothes off? Not in front of Eddie, sure, but Eddie would know. "Yeah, my room is to the right, bathroom is to the left across the hall."
"Thanks." Nick said, and he quickly shifted through one of his suitcases for clothes. He grabbed some and then went to find the bathroom Eddie had directed him to.
The delicious scent trail he left behind him had Eddie nearly panting. God, he smelled so sweet, so good, so utterly enticing that Eddie knew his rigorous lifestyle was going to be put to a very strenuous test.
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Sorry about the short chapter. Hopefully more in the next update! (If it happens.)