homeless_pard | Ghosts of the Past

Entry tags:

jason au,
starter

Ghosts of the Past

Who: Beryl, Nat, a reporter?
When: Once she's back on the low level MMA circuit, before the looking at buying a place.
What: Being...traced?

She adjusted the tape along her hands and smiled loosening up a touch in her corner. It was good to be back honestly, she'd taken four out of five matches so far and things were doing okay. She was getting her rhythm back, and she could see Nat sitting in the stands, that delicate mix of apprehensive and delighted to watch her. She could get the mixed feelings honestly, they made sense...

...but she was belatedly glad her boy was tall yes. Else she couldn't have picked him out so easily with many of the 'fans' choosing to fill the bleachers near him. She blew him a cheerful kiss before sliding her bite guard back in and ignored the honest to gods flashes going off as she turned her back to eye her opponent. A lot of sports enthusiasts and writers actually went with real cameras instead of cellphones so it could get a little bulb happy out there.

Given where the majority of the crowd was, well, the photography had to be getting great shots of her opponent's form...and her ass. Great, Nat was going to scrapbook the shit out of any magazines she ended up in and it would be nicknamed the 'hot in spandex' book or something by Eric and Lani. It made her snort a laugh, which pissed off her opponent, making him swing just a touch wide so she could bend and lash her heel into his hip, then her knee to his chin ad he buckled. TKO.

She grinned, adrenaline singing through her as she turned to beam at Nat, and caught another faceful of flashbulbs. Bah. "Excuse me, Beryl? Are you Ms. Beryl?"

"Hey, yeah, but I'm busy," she snorted ducking under the ropes to go to Nat for a kiss before hitting the showers! She barely registered the unassuming man muttering an apology and just flashing a few more pics before she was happily padding to the showers. Charles was going to demand she try that move on him again in a few days as they practiced so she didn't bother trying to poke him now. Let him go home and grump about getting old to his teens, who'd reassure him and make him a protein shake before he got a beer. He was a good guy, just competitive as shit.

After Beryl was safely away the man wove carefully through the crowd to smile hesitantly at Nathaniel, "hey, can you spell her name for me? I want to be sure to get things right but she...I guess she doesn't do ringside interviews huh?"

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Nathaniel was still scanning as they drove when he felt the sudden jolt of chaos through their bond. The blood drained from his face as he realized they must have made a move on her. He felt that tug again along with a surge of panic-fueled adrenaline.

"Stop!" he shouted to the cabbie. "Stop here!" He wasn't even waiting: he had the door opened before the car had even stopped and leapt out with unnatural ease. He was turning round, eyes wide as he strained to hear...or see...or sense anything.

It was dark, even the distant runway lights being swallowed up one by one into the distance. Dark but not, not for shifters anyway as the moon seemed closer. Bluer.

Wilder.

The stillness that fell was like a wood before the first fury of a storm, and in that silence there was the grunting and muffled screaming of people locked in a panel van with a VERY ANGRY MMA fighter. Tied up or no.

Gods she was going to hit the ground hard after all this but for now she was going to manage to break at least one arm and a few of her assailant's ribs! Losing fight, she knew it, but if they were hurt they might open a damn door to get more room!

Nathaniel's head snapped in the direction of the sounds and before he'd even fully registered it he was running. He felt the change in the moon and he threw himself open to that too, his body blurring into his half form as he raced towards the sounds of the fight. It was dangerous, shifting in the open like that, but he was well beyond thought. He saw a flash of movement as a vehicle in the shadows rocked suddenly and he launched himself at it with a ragged scream that could never be mistaken for human.

The cabbie kind of...froze a moment then slammed his hand down on teh radio, "dispatch..."

"You're way off from your drop point and..."

"SHUT IT JAMES CONNECT ME TO THE PLACE THAT CALLED THIS IN NOW. EMERGENCY." He snarled until the dispatcher swore and did?

The van rocked again, the door peeling open and one man tumbling out while three more tried (hard) to gab and shift a bound Beryl out, there was blood sheeting down her face but it was NOT likely it was hers given at least two broken noses visible. THEY froze at the snarl...

...Beryl just grinned around a ragged gag, ::BABE.::

Bad for them opening that door: now he didn't need to waste time clawing through from the outside. He saw Beryl and the men wrestling her out of the van and the smell of blood spurred him on. He pounced on the back of the nearest of the three, his claws sinking deep into the flesh of the man's shoulders while his fangs shot for the throat.

The scream was cut short as Nat's powerful jaws crushed and then jerked, snapping the man's neck.

The bruiser (let's be honest what else did you call a six foot plus wall of muscle in a kidnapping?) let out a very short, and then gurgly cry. It wasn't expected, the boyfriend was meek. A pushover really, noted as taking Beryl's lead as a dominant figure. Remove her and he shouldn't have been able to function so of course he wasn't suppose to be here!

The one closest to the bitten man jerked when there was arterial spray and snarled, "SHIFTER!"

"Pick up pick up pick up..." The cabbie hummed worriedly.

Nathaniel snarled and dropped the body, scrambling over it to swipe a clawed hand at the one who yelled 'shifter'. If he wasn't moving so inhumanely fast, they might have gotten a better look at his eyes. This wasn't a hunter's eyes: this was the look of a panicked animal lashing out in pure desperation.

The second screamed and swatted at the animal, silver laced brass knuckles scraping down the half-leopard's side? Oh gods...

...the others gave up on wrestling Beryl to fe the new threat, leaving the driving, one reporter/investigator to sigh and pull Beryl back into the Van, gun to her head as he just...waited.

Even in her drugged state she recognized that feel, eyes rolling groggily to stare at him.

"Don't please," Daniel sighed. "I don't want to do this shit any more than you guys wanted it done okay? I just...can't die here."

Nathaniel's jaws widened in a fanged, bloody grin as the silver gouged at his side. His hand darted out to catch the brass knuckled hand and squeezed. The silver burned but he squeezed harder, feeling the bones beneath shatter.

Unfortunately he wasn't ready for the third man with the silver laced chain that came whipping down over his neck and shoulder. He yowled and wheeled pulling the second man with him and hurling him into side of the van with a loud thud. It was enough time for the fourth man to join in, swinging a metal pipe at him while the third was trying to get the chain tightened around Nathaniel's neck. Nathaniel let himself fall back, the chain looping around his neck and tightening. Fine by him: the fourth man had come closer, confident with that chain around his throat and ready to land more directed blows. Instead of reaching for the chain, he snatched at the fourth man and began kicking, his clawed feet ripping open the man's belly.

"MY. NATHANIEL." Beryl growled, turning against the feel of the gun at her temple to headbutt Daniel, a move that caught him by surprise. Good, because she was fading fast, "BY LAWS OF THE HUNT I BIND YOU!" She spat, that headbutt having cut her cheek against her teeth due to angle. At least she wasn't spitting teeth?

"TAKE THEM BABE!" All those still fighting, she was curled on the van floor, muscle control gone as adrenaline trickled out, but Daniel wasn't going anywhere, moonlight tight bonds keeping him pinned immobile.

Her voice was as invigorating as the blood soaking him from the fight. His smile widened despite the silver chain now cutting harshly into his throat. His arm snaked up behind his head and wrapped around the taut chain, pulling back against the third man trying to choke him out. The silver was enough to burn and weaken him substantially, but he was no stranger to being bound and weakened. Using his grip on the chain he threw himself to the side, which further wrapped the chain around his throat, but let him get to his knees enough to launch himself at the third man. The screams lasted longer this time, and when he stood, chain still wrapped around his neck, his muzzle and claws were dripping with blood.

He turned, eyes blazing with...worry. Worry, and pain, and rage. Beryl was nearly motionless in the van, but he could still feel her. And standing impossibly still in vaguely shimmering bonds was Dan. Dan, who had lied to them. Who had tried to take away his person. Dan, with a gun in his hand. Nathaniel spat out a hiss and inched forward to stand over Beryl.

Edited 2024-04-15 07:51 (UTC)

::Look at you...:: Beryl purred, even down as she was she could admit her Nat was glorious right now. He had many forms of glory, admittedly, but gods, he was breathtaking!

Dan just...looked quietly resigned. "Article is still going through," he admitted quietly. "I'm not an asshole, I'm just blackmailed with my daughter's life." IMPORTANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE SOONEST WITH WHATEVER THE FUCK WAS HOLDING HIM!

He gave her a worried look. "Are you ok?"

Nathaniel blinked at Dan's admission. He didn't want to understand a reason for this horrible thing he'd tried to do. But still, a father in front of him willing to do anything for his child...that hit him hard. "Who?" he growled, energy still crackling off of him with high emotion.

::Going to pass out,:: she admitted, spitting another glob of blood. Fucking bleeding cheeks! ::Soon probably, used resources I don't have fighting this...:: But he was here which meant it was okay!

:;Still sexiest man I know.:: Hundred percent. If she wasn't drugged she'd be petting that blood soaked fur!

"Don't know," he admitted simply. "Someone better than me. I can find anyone...except my daughter, I get pictures and no one ever saw them there by time I trace it."

He couldn't help but turn his attention to that glob of blood she'd spit out: she was hurt. He closed his eyes tight, trying to block out the sudden urge to lash out at the thing that hurt her...

"NOT HER!" he found himself snapping with a feral snarl. "Who was trying to take Beryl?!"

"I thought that was obvious," Dan admitted calmly, not flinching when he snarled. "Only one after her even with her background is her family." Simple as that really.

"Only one still alive anyway." He had his suspicions about the college boyfriend in his research.

"They can't have her." He felt those tremors starting again, but hopefully in his shifted form it would come across as threatening. "They can't."

He hadn't pushed for a lot of information, but she'd told him before what they wanted from her and he couldn't bear the thought of them having her under their control.

"I'm not letting you take her."

"I did pick up on that sentiment," he sighed slightly. "But they apparently have money so they will send others, or my leash holder will insist I try again." Just saying?

"You may want to ask her about options to shut them down."

Try again?

His hair raised along his spine as another hiss spat from his throat.

He was not going to let that happen. Not to his person. They could send whoever they wanted...but he wasn't going to make it easy for them to send someone who already knew so much about them.

He didn't react when he heard the air whoosh behind him, he was still so intent on the man who was a threat to his Beryl.

"Nathaniel." Asher's voice was cautiously commanding from the open van door. When Nathaniel didn't show any response, he repeated himself, just as commanding but with a softness to it that hadn't been there before. "Nathaniel, please; be still."

Nathaniel shook, his unblinking eyes not leaving Dan for a second. "No...I can't..."

Asher practically flowed into the van, gently reaching out a hand to brush Nathaniel's shoulder. "Yes you can. Let me help you."

Dan just...waited? Hands on his head still, there was almost an eerie calm in fact. Sure, he'd die, but there were dead drops to the rare professionals he trusted with all of his assets (barring one trust fund) listed for liquidation and used to find his daughter. Fair trade really.

Then there was a vampire.

Shit.

"I'm sorry, it's just the truth," he sighed. "That's why I suggested you discuss how to resolve her family once she's awake." They'd see where this went.

Nathaniel tried unsuccessfully to mask the shudder in his breath. "You don't understand," he cried out.

"I understand that this man is currently not a threat, but not without information. The other men, however, are dead, with a human witness outside and you standing in here in fur and covered in blood." Asher squeezed his shoulder a bit more firmly. "Pause and think."

Nathaniel's face crumpled, but he didn't answer: his shoulders just shook silently.

Asher coolly studied the human kneeling on the floor. "Take her away from here and make sure she is not injured. I will see to it that everything here is dealt with."

"I understand," Dan admitted quietly. "It's okay." Not that he expected HIS words to matter here but hey, two cents worth. Staying with a vampire, not exactly his favorite activity, but he'd manage!

The cabbie was VERY FIRMLY sitting in the cab and waiting yes. YUP. Just waiting!

Beryl was a warm weight against Nat's ankles, and the wind outside the van shifted, bringing with it the scent of ripening grain.

He still hesitated another moment, but at last he eased back and crouched next to Beryl, his eyes still locked on Dan. Despite his current form and temperament, he was surprisingly gentle as he scooped her limp form into his arms. Asher remained unwaveringly cool as he watched Nathaniel...somewhat back down. "Thank you, Nathaniel. Take her home and I will contact you tomorrow."

Dan was given one final glare and a silent hiss as Nathaniel ducked out of the van, clutching Beryl close to his chest. The moment he was out of the van, he felt the shaking grow stronger. Beryl was unconscious, her own blood still on her lips. And around them...oh god...those bodies; what had he done? He choked out a sob, and with that breath he sensed that ripening grain in the air. He paused, breathing it in deeply while pressing his cheek to Beryl's. "I'm so sorry," he sobbed under his breath.

Dan watched him, looking away would be a disservice, and only when the boy had made it out of the van did his gaze shift back to Asher's...shoulder. "They won't be missed. Disposable muscle, I ensure that." Since he had to work for terrible people.

* * *

"Shhhhh child it's alright," Gunnora whispered on the wind. "Come, rest a moment and you can tend to your injured warrior."

The Cabbie was looking around, feeling odd a moment, then felt safe enough to get out of the cab? He was standing by the hood in a moment or two, "need help kid?"

Asher smiled; it was hardly a comforting sight. "Wonderful. They will not be found, either." He bent forward with little concern for the human in front of him and picked up the gun from the floor. "As for yourself, I am certain you understand we have...quite a bit to discuss once I am not occupied with cleaning up this mess. You will excuse me?"

There was no question in his tone: he was not asking, not in any sense. He turned his attention to his phone, fingers deftly tapping out messages.

* * *

Nathaniel found himself breathing deeply despite the wracking sobs threatening just under the surface. "I won't let them take her," he whispered to Gunnora against Beryl's hair. "Even if they get me for...this. As long as they don't take her."

Nathaniel didn't realize he'd already made it to the cab. He should have been a terrifying sight with the blood beginning to dry in his fur. Should have been. Another deep breath of that warm scent wrapped around him and his form wavered, shifting him easily back into human form; it didn't make him feel any less monstrous, though. "Can you drive us home, please?" he rasped softly.

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