A Man for Himself (Norton X Eli) [Identity V] *UNEDITED*

Chapter 10 - Weakened

I want all of you.

Those were the same words Norton had used the first time he had confessed to him. They had the same weight and effect. They frightened him, but the way the prospector looked into his eyes created a contradictory feeling in his chest. He was being compelled into submission.

And it was working.

Those void-like eyes were enough of a distraction that he didn't realize that Norton was already nuzzling his cheek. When he finally got to his senses, Eli turned his face away and attempted to push the prospector again.

Norton finally got the message. Chuckling, he got himself off of Eli and stood up.

"My bad," he said in a casual tone. "Can't help myself." Then he offered his hand to the seer.

As much as Norton's behavior confused him, Eli was relieved that the prospector finally decided to drop the act. He didn't want to be awkward around Norton. He was a good person to work with, and Eli would hate for that to be ruined by whatever feeling Norton had for him.

"Please stop doing this," Eli murmured. "It's not going to work out."

Taking a deep breath, he took Norton's hand and let the stronger male pull him up on his feet. The force was enough to help him stand up. But due to the sudden movement, he wasn't able to keep his balance and had to lean against the prospector to keep himself from falling. Next thing he knew, Norton already had his arms around him, holding him close against the taller male's body.

"I hate how you make me crazy about you, Eli Clark," the prospector whispered into his ear. "I hate how perfect you are."

The sound of his heart pounding was deafening. Or at least Eli thought it was his until he realized that his face was buried in the prospector's chest. This would've been nice had Norton never changed the way he behaved towards Eli. He wouldn't have found the miner's presence overwhelming. He could've savored the comfort being offered to him because he really needed it at the moment after the torture that he'd gone through.

"Norton, let me go," Eli breathed. "We need to finish decoding."

He raised his head to look at Norton's reaction to his request; but before he knew it, the prospector had already clasped Eli's face with his hands, holding him still as he pressed their lips together. Eli's eyes were wide, his body frozen at the sudden course of action. He was stunned, his mind stuck at the moment when their lips connected. He wouldn't have come out of his daze if it weren't for the sudden pain that came from his bottom lip. Norton had bitten him, the salty and metallic taste of blood invading his mouth.

"What are you doing?" Eli pulled away and took a few steps back until his back touched the wall. "This isn't funny anymore." It was never funny to begin with.

Norton smirked, his tongue licking Eli's blood off his own lips. The look on his face was feral, focused. Like he didn't want to give Eli any chance to escape.

But the seer didn't have the energy to deal with him.

He's so confused and exhausted. Everything was painful. He wanted to go back to the manor and rest. Harassing him when he's in a weakened state like this was unfair. He didn't have the strength to retaliate.

"Norton, I'm injured. I have no time for—"

Eli wasn't able to finish his sentence when all of a sudden, the prospector dropped to his knees before him. His mind was a total mess from the pain and fatigue that it took him a while to realize what Norton was trying to do. Everything was so fast. Before Eli could protest, the prospector had already pulled up his robe, exposing his underwear.