Season Four

[onceaviking]

She opens the door behind her and walk him back inside with her, still kissing him.

She is kissing him.

Just one kiss and he promised her that he would be happy. And now they are raining down on him like the sweetest dew and she is moving back toward the couch (kicking off her slippers on the way) and his hand is touching the soft fabric of her dress and - yes. Yes he is happy.

They settle on the couch and he touches her, almost hesitantly.
Sookie is far more resolute, as she grabs hold of the hem of his top and pulls it off him, grinning a little.

It's the sweetest thing he has ever seen.

Her dress goes too and she lies there in her underwear, all beautiful and radiant and warm and alive.

He leans down and kisses her rib cage.
Then her belly.

Sookie lets her head fall back and moans -

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[dobadthings]

At vampire speed, it does not take very long for Bill to cross the cemetery that sprawls between his mansion and Sookie's house.

For all this time, all this time, Eric Northman had been right under his nose. And both Pam and Sookie lied to him. How could she? How dare she!

Bill bursts through Sookie's front door, fangs bared, snarling in rage as he finds Eric on top of her on the couch.

[onceaviking]

Sookie screams and curls up against the armrest of the couch, partially hiding behind a throw pillow.
Eric gets to his feet and turns to face the intruder, fangs bared.

It's a small, male vampire.
He is going down.

[dobadthings]

Bill knows full well that Eric is stronger than him, but in his moment of blind anger he rushes at him with vampire speed. In a blur of grappling, he manages to pin Eric to the wall and punches him in the face.

[onceaviking]

Eric's face moves with the punch and then he pushes away from the wall, grabbing the other vampire's arms and slamming him against the opposite wall, snarling in his face as he takes hold of his throat and lifts him up.

And then he - almost casually - throws him to the side, across the room, face first.

[dobadthings]

Bill chokes in Eric's grip--

--and then he's flung face first against the stone fireplace.

He lands with a crash, stunned.

(Maybe he should have brought backup.)

[onceaviking]

Eric hurls himself after the vampire, grabbing hold of a poker, and raises it above his head, gleefully anticipating the sound of cold flesh turning to dust.

"Eric! Stop!"

Sookie's voice is filled with something he can't place. Doesn't understand.

"What is this vampire to me?" he asks her, because he has learned that much in Milliways. That when he doesn't understand people, he has to ask.

And she answers, her voice shaking. "Your King. He is your King."

[dobadthings]

Bill gapes up at Eric, bracing himself-- he really doesn't know him? Doesn't recognize him?

He looks at Eric's face, into his eyes, searching for the arrogance and the willful defiance that was once there.

[onceaviking]

Eric stares down at the vampire. At Bill.
His King.

The poker falls from his hand and hits the floor with a loud clang.

Sookie is clutching the pillow, staring at the two vampires.

Emcee told him to be careful.
To respect the rules.

To recognize the authority of those in power.

He withdraws his fangs and slowly sinks to one knee, bowing his head.

"My liege. Forgive me."

[dobadthings]

This...this is not what Bill expected.

Wait, is Eric being sarcastic? Because he's done this shit before, all the while rolling his eyes at him.

But...no. He actually seems sincere.

Slowly, Bill scoots back a little and gets to his feet, still extremely wary, as if at any moment Eric would lunge at him.

He must admit, though. It is pretty satisfying to have Eric kneeling before him. And he's not going to ask him to rise just yet.

Bill straightens out his jacket and tie.

"Eric Northman, as your King, I am hereby placing you under arrest."

As he takes out his cellphone to call for security, he levels a glare at Sookie. Indicating that she ought to put some clothes on.

[onceaviking]

Well, he can get a glare right back.

Sookie drops the throw pillow and asks, loudly (because you do not barge in like that, and you do not get on the phone without at least an excuse me), "Eric, are you okay?"

Poor thing. Looking at the ground like a scolded child. Half-naked.

When he nods (the tiniest, little nod) she resolutely picks up his top and walks toward him, ignoring Bill.

[dobadthings]

Bill is about to tell Sookie to step away from Eric when the head of security answers his call.

"Yes, I have Eric Northman in custody. I'm going to need a security detail at Miss Stackhouse's home immediately -- fully armed," he adds, enunciating clearly with a pointed look at Eric and Sookie. Meaning with rifles loaded with silver-encased bullets. "And also, arrest Miss De Beaufort as well."

He hangs up.

"Sookie, put a robe on," he tells her coldly. "They'll be here any minute."

[onceaviking]

Sookie looks up from trying to coax Eric into the borrowed hooded tank top and hisses ,"Don't you dare telling me what to do in my own home, Bill Compton. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Eric quickly looks up at her, a radient Angel coming to his defence, and shakes his head minutely.

[dobadthings]

"That has nothing to do with the matter at hand," he says unapologetically. "This is vampire business, Sookie. It's best that you stay out of it."

Bill doesn't want to argue with Sookie in front of Eric. But he does keep a close eye on the both of them -- however much it pains him.

[onceaviking]

Eric manages to get the hooded top on without looking up from the floor.
His fumbling is as far removed from his usual self as the subservient position he is still in.

And it somehow, to her own surprise, breaks Sookie's heart.

"You have no right to do this," she tells Bill who is just standing there, staring at them.

[dobadthings]

"I have every right," Bill insists, lording it over them. "I am his King."

The sound of heavy boots on Sookie's driveway and then her front porch precedes the four large men in tactical gear who tromp through the door without an invitation. Having human guards working for you is useful that way.

"Arrest him," Bill commands, and two of them grab Eric under his arms while the other two point their high-powered rifles at him.

Bill is not waiting for Sookie to put her dress on as he signals for the guards to march Eric away.

[onceaviking]

She grabs her dress and pulls it over her head, as she follows them.

"Well, you're not mine," she retorts as she hurries after him, slipping her feet into her sandals on the way.

[dobadthings]

And Bill does not even afford Eric the luxury of flip flops as the guards escort him outside.

Bill follows as they proceed along the path through the cemetery, only glancing over his shoulder at Sookie.

"Yes, you made that abundantly clear when you lied to my face," he says, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

[onceaviking]

"You've got a hell of a nerve lecturing me on lying," Sookie snaps in a tone of voice that makes Eric start and look back at her.

[dobadthings]

Well. That stings.

Bill clenches his jaw. Ignoring her for now.

"Keep walking, Northman."

[onceaviking]

Eric keeps up the pace but looks at his King, beseechingly.

"Your Majesty. Whatever I am guilty of, Sookie had nothing to do with it," he says earnestly.
"She was only trying to protect me."

He knows it'd be better to keep his mouth shut but he cannot let her take any heat simply on account of the fact that she is a good person.

Surely the King can see that.
He cares about Sookie. That much is obvious.

[dobadthings]

Frankly, Eric's admittance doesn't make Bill feel any better.

"How touching," he mutters dryly.

"Silver him."

Upon his command, one of the guards holding Eric slips a pair of silver handcuffs onto his wrists.

[onceaviking]

Eric grunts and presses his lips together, to keep his fangs from coming down.

"He isn't resisting," Sookie says loudly. "You don't have to hurt him."

[dobadthings]

Eric is under the spell of a witch. He's dangerous. Even more dangerous than usual. Logically, Bill shouldn't be taking any chances.

But he hears the way Sookie pleads for mercy on Eric's behalf. And it tears him in two.

Still, he says nothing.

The guards march Eric across the lawn toward the mansion and up the stairs.

[onceaviking]

Sookie rushes after, right on Bill's heels.
"Where are you taking him?"

Bill's silence is beginning to frighten her. He seems so - resolute.
And Pam did say he had sent Eric off, knowing it might be dangerous.

"Sookie, stop," Eric says softly, lifting his face to look at her.

"You don't have to do this. You've done so much for me already."

[dobadthings]

Once inside, once of the armed guards presses a button on a panel. A reinforced door slides open to reveal a metal staircase leading down to the holding cells.

Bill shoots Sookie a look.

"Yes, you certainly have."

Why? Why would she go out of her way to protect someone like Eric? A liar, a manipulator, who would do anything to make Sookie his own.

...Or is he?

Never mind. Bill decides to keep Eric under observation until he contacts the AVL. Nan Flanagan. She'll have the final say.

Strictly vampire business.

"Put him with his progeny," Bill instructs the guards. A small mercy?

With Eric still in handcuffs, they urge him down the stairs.