It is mentioned that Nathaniel was such a bottom that he had a keeper who was killed right before he met Gabriel (can't remember the name, but its mentioned in ID/CS, too tired and lazy to figure out precisely which book. Having met someone as broken as Nathaniel, yes he is lacking to some extent a 'street vibe', but, not as much as you imply. He was ALWAYS a vic, and to that extent, he is as he would be on the street. It also wasn't until AFTER he was with Gabriel he was infected, not before, so the care of his beast, didn't arrive til later.