Disclaimer:
Anything you recognise belongs to the creative genius that is Charlaine Harris and/or Alan Ball. I'm just playing around with their universe(s).
A/N:
Guess who wrote a chapter of Godrin fluff instead of focussing on uni work… But after this, NO MORE BEFORE LATE DECEMBER! This time, I mean it! Yeah.
Ratings-debacle: Seems the general consensus is to go for the M-rating. Excellent! I will change it later on, when it becomes required. For now, it's just a butt-load of fluff. (And yes, Godric's hugs totally fix everything.) Oh, and I wasn't planning on doing the whole Maker-thing in flashbacks, but it will still get sort of descriptive. I'll stick warnings on the individual chapters for the more queasy among us. Thanks everyone for weighing in!
Had a few questions in the reviews so here goes: Yes, Eric will show up at some point, no it won't be a threesome situation (alas), yes Irin has/had a family so she will probably be on the missing person's files and that's all I'm saying on that for the minute. And yeah, she's all-round against shoes. Did I forget anything?
xXx
14
Nimble fingers dancing over his collarbone pulled him out of downtime. The ancient vampire turned his head to the girl currently cuddled up under the duvet she'd insisted they drag into the cubby, smiling a little when all he could see of her was disorderly hair and happy, amethyst eyes; the rest of her was hidden underneath the comforter that she didn't need for warmth but simply seemed to enjoy snuggling up in.
"Where did you go?" She asked, tugging at the collar of his shirt and rolling over so she covered his body with the duvet and a leg. "Your mind was not here, was it?"
"I apologise, little one," he offered, grabbing the elbow she was digging into his solar plexus in her apparent attempt at climbing on top of him to regain his attention. He pulled on it, clasping both arms around her torso so she was immobilised against his side, securing his relaxed body from her sharp joints. "I went into downtime for a moment; you are very relaxing to be around, when you're not behaving like a wild banshee."
Ignoring the banshee-comment she furrowed her brows at him. "What is downtime?"
"It is out way of resting – meditating, you could say." Godric explained. "Sometimes it happens automatically when we are not focussed on anything in particular, other times it is a conscious choice. You must have noticed this?"
Irin shook her head at him. "It hasn't happened to me."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise – downtime was almost as natural a thing for a vampire as aching fangs at the smell of human blood. "That is very unusual."
"Am I… defect?" she whispered, worry suddenly evident I her big eyes.
It probably wasn't very nice of him to chuckle at her concern – and her glare certainly told him that it wasn't appreciated – but in his many years on this Earth he'd rarely come across anyone as vampire as his little stray. The thought that she was not sufficiently in tune with the monster in her was amusing.
"No, kitten, you are not." Blue eyes sparkled at her and then softened. "I assume you have been too frightened and hyper alert to let it happen. Why don't you try it now?"
She shot him a doubtful look. "I don't know how."
"Get comfortable," he instructed, loosening his grip so she could move around.
She immediately climbed fully on top of him, wrapping her arms over his chest and shoulders and pushing her nose into the opening of his shirt.
Godric sighed softly, glancing down at her strawberry hair. He hadn't thought much about her tendency to climb all over him before this evening, before that kiss, but a small part of his mind now struggled to ignore that it most certainly was a female who was currently pressing herself against him.
She lifted her head to smile at him, the adoration and trust in her eyes blindsiding him with its intensity. "Now what?"
A female, who had been so horribly abused by the last male in charge of her wellbeing that she had nearly lost her mind, he reminded himself as he closed his arms around her. Her soft breasts and kisses might suddenly remind him of his normally subdued, primal instincts, but that was easy enough to ignore if the other option was to damage her psyche further. His kitten was to be protected at all costs, even if it was from his own desires.
"Now, you close your eyes and relax." His hands stroked soothingly down her back as she obeyed. "You are safe, you are protected. Still your mind and let it drift away."
The cubby fell quiet for a bit while she tried to obey his instructions, only interrupted by her slow, unnecessary breaths and the sound of his hand smoothing over her spine underneath the duvet in a continuous, comforting gesture.
A few minutes in a soft purr began vibrating from her still form.
Something pulled warmly in his stomach at her involuntary display of pleasure over the intimate embrace. It was hard to imagine that less than two weeks ago she had been so feral that he couldn't even touch her. Now she was his, maybe even more so than his other Children, who though they had shared their love willingly with him had also always strived towards independence. Irin seemed to yearn to melt into his very essence, and while he knew she would be less dependent when her deep scars had been mended, he found himself hoping that she would never asked to be set free like Nora had.
The thought of his wilful Daughter made him reach for the remaining, bright thread inside of him that linked him firmly to his Son, opening up the connection that he usually kept quiet. He felt it flare up immediately, and a curios jolt shoot through it when Eric noticed his attention. He pushed the love he always felt when thinking about his Children through the bond at the Viking, and felt overwhelming joy return. And curiosity. He had kept the bond quiet for decades, realising that a direct link to his pained conscience would only worry the warrior he had sired, and Eric was obviously wondering what had caused the sudden change.
Godric sighed, letting his fingertips slip through his youngest' silky hair, which only increased the purring. "You are not letting your mind slip, kitten. Don't focus on anything, just let go."
He stilled his caresses as to not distract her, and a few moments later her breathing stopped.
A small sense of pride at her success went through him, which resulted in another jolt of curiosity through his makers-bond to Eric. His Viking had never been patient. He smiled, sending happiness and calm to his Son before shutting down the bond again, though he left a small opening this time. With the way things were headed, he would prefer to have instant knowledge of any dangers to his eldest.
That brought his thoughts back to the visit to the King's court, and he frowned as he looked down at the redhead. "Irin."
She jolted in his arms, blinked in confusion – and then lit up. "I did it! Didn't I?"
"You did," he confirmed, trying to contain the suddenly lively armful of baby vampire as elbows and knees once again dug into varies parts of his body.
"I feel lots better," she smiled, squirming against his hold until he gave up, biting back groans while she scurried around over him. "Energised. It's like a vampire power-nap!"
"Hm." He wasn't sure that an 'energised' Irin was what he needed right now, at least not in such a confined space as the cubby. "Do I need to let you out for a run around the house before you settle down again?" It wasn't entirely a joke.
She flopped heavily on top of him, eyes sparkling. "No, I want to stay right here."
"Then please refrain from climbing the walls. Or me. I am not a steed."
"You mean a horse?" She prodded his chest playfully. "When you talk like that you sound like a great-grandfather."
That 'nap' had sure perked her up. He raised an eyebrow at her mocking. "I am way too lenient with you."
She smiled, nuzzling against his chest in reply.
"I need you to behave when we are with the King."
An exaggerated sigh brushed over his shirt. "Yeah, yeah. Isabel already told me. Plenty."
He imagined she had. "What I mean, kitten" He grabbed her chin and turned her head up so he could catch her eyes "is that I need you to obey me when we are there. Completely and immediately, with no comments. If you do not, it would be expected that I use a Maker's Command over you, and when I do not… Rumours will spread. If it becomes known that you are not my blood, someone might try to take you from me."
Her eyes had grown wide with fear, all traces of mirth wiped from her lovely face.
"Do you understand?"
Irin nodded quickly, digging her fingers into his arms.
"Good." He stroked a soothing hand down her back. "This also means that it is important that you fight any teleportation mishaps. I know you don't have much control, but it would be difficult for me to explain this ability without making it obvious that I never tasted your human blood."
"You mean, because my Mas…" She breathed deeply. "Because he could do it, someone might realise that I was his first?"
Godric blinked. "Your original maker could teleport?"
"Yes, I… think so." She shuddered against him, and he resisted the urge to press for more information, wanting to save her from having to bring back any more dark memories.
It made sense. Flying was his lineage's special ability, as well as a few others, and not one many vampires obtained, though it was a lot more common than teleportation – he'd never heard of anyone able to do that. His eyes narrowed. However, when he did, he would be that much closer to finding the monster. And now he had the first clue.
"Absolutely no teleportation at the court, then," he repeated, letting go of her chin and wrapping his arms tighter around her to make her forget the mention of the vampire who turned her. "Stay by my side at all times and obey my every command."
She nodded into his chest. "Is it very dangerous? This trip?" It was a nervous whisper.
His lips ghosted over her hair." No. As long as you do as you are told I can keep you safe."
xXx
A/N:
Yes, because this baby vampire *always* does what she's told.