Title: Golden Dragon 10
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG-13
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
Wc: 2297
Golden Dragon 10:
The drive to Henry's condo was comparatively fast, even if it seemed longer than normal to the vampire.
Time and again his eyes drifted to the silent mortal at his side.
The other man never once so much as blinked. Henry was starting to question the strength of his compulsion powers as he waited for the moment when the blond would finally wake from his trance and give Henry hell for daring to use his 'vampire mojo' on him.
But that reaction never came. All the man did was look blindly out of the car's window.
When they finally stopped in the underground parking lot, Mike simply got out of the car and mindlessly, almost zombie-like, followed Henry upstairs.
Finally the duo arrived at Henry's home.
Once inside, Mike immediately went to one of the vampire's couches and sat down, finally reacting by bowing his head and burying his hands in his still damp hair.
Henry's heart ached at the sight. He slowly walked closer until he stood beside the cop and clasped a strong hand on a slumped shoulder, symbolically conveying his sympathy and support.
It was then that Henry realized that the other male was shaking, which was no shock considering Mike's clothes were soaked through.
Henry wordlessly went and fetched a towel that he silently offered to the stricken mortal.
The surprised blond accepted it, and after Mike finally made eye contact, Henry couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Michael, you should take a hot shower. You are so cold that even your lips are turning blue."
Far too docile for the vampire's taste, Mike simply nodded and wandered off in the direction of the bathroom. A short time later Henry heard the water start and he presumed the cop was doing as told, which in itself was a reason to worry.
Using the time, he quickly called Vicki to ask if they had discovered anything new.
It turned out that Dr Sagara had found a text on Asian dragons but they were still scanning it for significant information.
After a short update from his side, they hung up and Henry once again focused on the man in his apartment.
The shower had been shut off and Henry waited for what was to come, though the loud shout that suddenly disturbed the tension-filled silence was not what Henry had expected.
"FITZROY!"
Following a loud bang, the blond man stormed into the room.
Henry's first reaction was a silent, thankful prayer to the Almighty that Celluci had FINALLY come out of his apathy, but the moment he saw the angry man stomping toward him, completely unaware of his near-naked state, his thoughts began running in an entirely different direction.
The man was a piece of art comprised of long, beautifully proportioned limbs, solid muscles, and beautiful, cream-colored skin. And winding from one broad shoulder across a powerful chest and around the man's torso was the mentioned dragon tattoo. Henry had to force his eyes away from the man's stomach where the golden scales almost teasingly led further down under the towel to reemerge winding around the cop's left leg. Luckily the man was too enraged to realize that the vampire had admired his physique.
"YOU BIT ME! AGAIN!"
At first Henry didn't know how to answer. Coreen might have thrown a 'duh!' in, but that was far beneath him. However, remembering that Mike had not been entirely himself and tended to not remember what he did when the dragon took over control, he soothingly tried to explain:
"Michael, all I did was try to get through to you-"
"Yeah! Through my skin!"
"Detective! I believe you are aware of Vicki's position on the ground when you regained your senses? Or did your subconscious chose to repress those memories, too?"
The moment the words left the vampire's mouth, he regretted saying them, but the blond had a habit of always rubbing him the wrong way. The suddenly silent room coupled with the empty expression in Mike's eyes reinforced to him that his words had been a low blow.
In an effort to placate the detective, Henry took a step closer and continued in a softer voice:
"You weren't reacting and I saw no other way. I apologize for the repeated attack upon your person. A vampire's bite isn't normally a forced occurrence."
With these words he carefully touched the still prominent puncture marks on the human's throat, which allowed said man take a few steps back and eye the vampire suspiciously.
"I won't force you again. But –"
"BUT?!"
Henry rolled his eyes at Mike's tone.
"The wound is still fresh. I could erase any traces of the bite if you'd let me."
"You - what?"
"Vampire saliva contains a healing agent so that after I've finished feeding, any traces of the vampire vanish."
Mike looked at him dumbstruck. When Henry took a step closer to the other man, Mike raised a halting hand.
"Wait. Let me get this straight. You want to LICK me?"
"Basically –"
"LICK - ME?!"
Now the vampire had to take a deep breath to calm his slowly emerging temper.
"I don't know about you, but last time I checked I wasn't a popsicle, and let's just say we aren't really that close –"
"Detective!"
"What?! It's my throat we are talking about! I appreciate the offer, I really do, but – hey, when you are able to heal bite wounds, why didn't you do it the last time?" Mike eyed Henry almost accusingly.
A deep breath later Henry replied:
"Because, believe it or not, last time I wasn't exactly in complete control of my nature –"
Mike snorted.
"No kidding there!"
"- and afterwards I wasn't exactly in a charitable mood, seeing that it was you who brought me into that situation."
It was harsh but it was the truth and the cop knew it too.
"Henry, I-"
"No apologies are needed. I am aware of your misled motivations and I understand. You were only concerned. And...maybe a little jealous?"
The last part was spoken with a little smirk and the human seemed to recognize the out Henry had given him.
"Yeah, you wish!"
Henry's glance didn't waver, and soon the other man smiled back.
"Alright, you got me. I was. Happy now?"
"Ecstatic."
A sudden silence spread over the two of them. Mike sheepishly looked down for a few minutes and then finally looked shyly at the vampire.
"Just lick?"
Surprised, Henry focused his whole attention on the squirming man.
"I might have to reopen the wound but after wards it will be gone completely. "
Hearing this Mike swallowed, but hesitated only a few moments before he nodded his agreement.
"Alright, but just that. No other – stuff."
Henry had to fight hard to keep a straight expression on his face.
"Why, Michael, are you afraid for your virtue?"
Mike huffed in response.
"Hardly."
"Good. Now if you please."
He led the blond to the sofa and together they sat down. Once seated, Henry slowly bent his head but stopped when he saw Mike fidgeting.
"Changed your mind?" he asked softly.
Blue eyes found his.
"No. I simply feel a little underdressed," the blond stated deadpan and carefully readjusted his towel. Then he started laughing. Henry quickly joined in.
"I promise, I will try my hardest to restrain myself," he chuckled.
"Too kind, Your Highness."
Henry gave him a small bow and a wink before he asked:
"Alright?!"
Mike took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Alright. Go ahead."
Henry carefully laid a hand on the blond's nape and after one last glance at the cop's braced face, his eyes wandered to the fresh wound. It beckoned him and when the pulse under his fingertips sped up, nothing in the world could have stopped him.
Or so he thought because just as he felt his teeth elongate, ready to sink them back into Mike's delicious flesh, something started to move under his hand.
Completely spooked, he drew back and looked at the man's neck and shoulder, but saw nothing but the golden-colored skin.
Shaking his head, Henry again moved closer, but this time the hunger did not take over. Carefully, he tilted Mike's head a little bit to the side to bare the appetizing throat for better access. Then he closed the distance to the man and bowed his head to the wound. The scent was delicious and made his mouth water, but he refused to let his nature take over and follow the traitorous voice that urged him to take what he wanted.
No, not again.
Slowly, his tongue darted out and caught the first traces of what he was about to taste, this time freely offered.
Both men trembled at the touch. And the vampire heard the man take a deep breath. Soothingly, Henry let his hand wander over the warm, broad shoulders and after he felt the cop relax, he start to softly suck at the puncture marks.
In the background he heard the surprised and only half-stifled moan that escaped the blond and took it as encouragement to up the ante.
One slight push and Mike leaned against the headrest, while Henry moved even closer. Almost of their own volition, the vampire's hands moved into position to hold the man steady before he finally sank his fangs into the already existing marks.
Lord, the taste!
It was overwhelming! Henry again felt the deep sorrow, but this time the anger, along with the intoxicating power he had felt the first time, was dulled and muted. In a way Henry felt relieved because subconsciously he had feared not being able to overcome the temptation that power would have been. But now he felt ambushed by an entirely different urge.
Experiencing the blond's pain nearly first hand woke something inside of him. He knew Vicki would sooner order an exorcist than believe it, but Henry wanted nothing more than to have the old pig-headed Mike back and help him cope with his loss in anyway he could.
While realizing that honest desire and admitting it to himself, Henry felt a sudden change occur. Like a breeze of warm wind in summer, golden light surrounded him suddenly and just like last time that light took a corporeal form in mere seconds and he was once again pushed out of Mike's mind.
This time however the shove didn't seem malicious and while he was still reeling from it, Henry felt a sharp bite to his own wrist. As his eyes focused on the pain's origin, he withdrew his fangs from Mike's neck and nearly gasped in surprise because, staring right back at him were shining golden eyes and a voice in his mind hissed:
"Good!"
Then his wrist was released and, after one quick last lick, it dropped from the strong grip that had held it.
Blinking lazily now once-again blue eyes looked at him with a dazed expression that soon morphed into something entirely different as the tall man's cheeks started to blush.
Said blush lent the often so stern features such a boyish charm that Henry was tempted to either say something entirely improper or show the man what else Henry's bite could trigger in his body. But he feared that might prove to be too much for the detective's tender sensibilities for one night. Pity!
So Henry reined in his sensual side and let Vicki's ex go without even the tiniest tease. Instead he rose from his sitting position and fetched the man his dressing gown.
The blond thankfully accepted it and quickly put it on, but not before Henry had a nice view of what the towel had hidden and he had to admit Celluci was truly a very well proportioned man!
Putting these thoughts aside, the vampire now clearly saw the man's fatigue and, without having been asked, led him to the bedroom and motioned for Mike to lie down.
After only a brief hesitation, the man complied and was nearly dead to the world when his head hit the pillow. Nearly, because when Henry bent to check Mike's neck, a raspy voice asked:
"Did it work?"
"Yes, it did," the vampire replied in a soft voice and was answered by a,
"Thanks!" before the man completely surrendered to sleep.
Oddly touched, Henry whispered the expected reply before he left the room to stare thoughtfully at the skyline of his city while he unconsciously traced his thumb along the patch of newly healed skin where he had been bitten.
He wasn't quite sure what it had meant, but he was certain that this night had somehow changed his life significantly. He only hoped it would be for the better rather than the worse!
***
Standing at another window looking out of Dr. Sagara's apartment, Vicki was also pondering the night's happenings while the other two women sat hunched over a couple of thick, old books.
Her thoughts were just wandering to her two male friends and what they might be doing when her cell phone rang. It was Dr. Mohadevan.
"Oh, Vicki, I hate to bring bad news, but there is one fact the autopsy revealed today. I – ah –." She took a deep breath before stating, "Kim Tanaka was ten weeks pregnant."
"Thanks, Rajani," were the only words Vicki could utter before she closed the phone and dropped it to the floor.
Behind her, she heard Coreen hesitantly move closer, but before the question could be asked, she whispered:
"Mike was going to be a dad."
With these words, her eyes grew glassy and something inside of her constricted. Vicki knew how much Mike had wanted to be a father someday and it hurt her even more imagining what this additional loss would do to him.
***
tbc