For the_dawnster

[vikingly]

It had started because Dawn smells amazing. Different from Sookie (in every way) and her faerie blood, but amazing in her own right. That she's a pretty little thing hadn't hurt either. It had progressed further because in a place that is as hellish as any Eric had ever been in, Dawn is a piece of sunshine. Eric's had a weakness for sunshine since Godric turned him and he couldn't walk out in the sunlight. Of course, that's different here and it still feels wrong. He still hesitates before stepping out of the shadows and into the sun.

In any case, it matters little why or how this thing between them started. It only matters that it's new and good, at least for Eric. He wouldn't presume to think that he's a good influence (in fact, he's probably the opposite) or piece of Dawn's life. He's a force of destruction, but that works for him here. He's not even bothered by the fact that this thing between them is secret for now. It's not the first secret relationship he's had in the millennium that he's been alive.

Today, he's meeting her in the woods near the barrier. They're going to have a picnic (her idea) which Eric finds both fascinating and ridiculous. He's literally never had a picnic in his life. He hangs back in the shadows, watching and waiting for Dawn. There's a brief moment where Eric and a pony sized creature have a showdown; Eric bares his teeth, growls and comes up the bigger monster, but that's over and done with by the time he smells Dawn coming. He's back to pretending human and the immediate area is clear of all other monsters by the time he glimpses Dawn picking her way toward him, crossbow in hand.

Comments

[the_dawnster]

New and good is exactly what this is. Dawn gets why they have to keep it secret right now. Buffy would stake Eric. Eric is a bad ass. But Dawn knows from experience that Buffy would not stop, never stops, until she wins. So until Dawn can figure out a way to carefully break the news to her sister, (can you ever carefully break the news of Eric Northman?) they must remain a secret.

She breaks through with her crossbow in hands, quiver strapped to her back and her book bag filled with makeshift picnic stuff. She spots him standing there and once again wonders what the crap he sees in her. Guys like Eric don't usually go for her. Guys like him go for Buffy. Always. But hey, Dawn isn't complaining, unless he ever ever ever makes eyes at Buffy. She's hoping that never happens.

Right now, it seems like he only has eyes for her and she kind of likes that a lot. Her smile says so. Even a horrific place like Den can't stop Dawn from smiling. "Well hello to you too, tall, dark and... tall. Sorry I'm late. Getting away from Buffy is like this whole game of sleight of hand. I should actually be a professional by now. But even professionalism takes time."