illicit

by hazedivy

Summary:

An old flame of Lestat’s past comes looking for him in New Orleans. Instead, he finds Louis. Starving.

Notes:

So, I was in the mood for a fun and *short* "what-if" NOLA loumand(stat) fic and ended up writing more than I intended to and making it a lot deeper than intended. Tags will be probably be updated with every chapter I post, as will the chapter count if I ever get around to proof reading it/organizing it 😭

Chapter 1: Night I

Hunger wasn’t the only thing that burned deep within Louis. Rage simmered deep within the pit of his stomach as he stormed out of their home. 

 

Their home.

 

Their home that Lestat currently occupied with her . Louis could hear the squeal the singer let out even after he slammed the door shut behind him. He could hear the sound of fabric being ripped off their bodies as he rounded the corner of the brightly lit street, and God, did Louis’s stomach burn in rage.

 

The farther he ventured into the night, away from their home, away from them, Louis realized it wasn’t just hunger and rage that burned deep within his stomach.

 

Underneath the anger, the hunger, there was agony… an agony that burned so intensely it made him want to hurl. Had he anything in his stomach, Louis probably might’ve.

 

He found himself in a dimly lit, narrow alleyway, following the sound of faint heart beats. Two large trash bins pressed against the walls on the now vacant buildings, facing one another. Louis heard rustling coming from the bin pressed against the right bricked-building, he could pick apart the metallic scent from the rest of the foul odors that consumed the area. His gums ached.

 

With an inhuman-like speed, he captured the furry creature that had been scavenging through the plastic trash bags, and sank his descending fangs into it. The rat screeched, squirming in his hands as Louis drank its life away, hoping to satiate the burning hunger, rage, and agony.

 

It didn’t take long for the rodent to stop fighting, for the rapid beating of its heart to still, for Louis to drain it of every single drop in its small body. It was a routine he had been used to by now. One, that although did appease the morality ingrained into him since childhood, never appeased the burning hunger that’s haunted him for what felt like his entire life, the burning rage he’s been ignoring for years, and now, the burning agony that had taken root deep in his stomach.

 

The hunger never seemed to end. The rage, though its intensity varied from day to day, never actually went away. And now, the newfound agony of not being enough, only seemed to worsen after fully draining the rat.

 

He wasn’t enough.

 

Louis dropped the lifeless body to the ground, grabbing the second rat that scavenged through the garbage before it could even react, and biting into it, as well. Despite the worsening agony, he was still achingly hungry.

 

Starving, even. Rodents, felines, dogs– no amount of their blood ever seemed to be enough. Lestat would taunt him, patronize him as he reminded Louis that he was choosing to remain hungry.

 

No, he was choosing to spare human life. Someone’s child. Someone’s brother, someone’s sister. Someone’s future father, someone’s future mother. 

 

Life. 

 

Something that easily got taken for granted.

 

Something that was taken from him.

 

Louis had his own life taken from him to accompany the vampiric life of someone else, of a being he ached for so strongly, and now, he wasn’t even enough for him.

 

He dropped the second lifeless rat, quickly reaching for the third and final one he heard scurrying within the trash.

 

God, was he starving.

 

He realized how he must look. Pathetic. No different than the rats, themselves, who had been scavenging through the scraps— weak, starving…

 

Not enough.

 

Louis lied to himself often enough to convince himself he liked the taste, that he didn’t mind the way the thick, bitter liquid made him shiver nor the way it always left him hungry. It was enough, it had to be enough.

 

And yet, it wasn’t.

 

He wasn’t.

 

‘Has your maker not taught you the ways of a proper hunt?’

 

Louis stilled at the sudden invasion in his head, something that hadn’t happened since before Lestat turned him. He detached from the half drained rodent, shadows from the dim lamplight keeping the tall figure’s features hidden.

 

‘I suppose that shouldn’t surprise me. He’s never been good at taking care of what’s his.’

 

The figure’s voice strummed in his head, a calm, velvety tone that had Louis afraid to move once he realized what the figure was.

 

Another one.

 

Like him.

 

Like Lestat.

 

Lestat never spoke much about others like them and Louis never pried, elders and their business was their business. Still, he never figured he’d ever encounter another one… much less experience another one invite himself into his mind with such ease.

 

‘I see he has not taught you to shield your mind, either.’ The figure continued despite Louis’ lack of response. ‘So young, so vulnerable, so…’

 

The stranger trailed off, his accent indicated he was not from around this side of the pond.

 

‘…fragile.’ 

 

Louis had heard plenty of condescending remarks throughout his life to recognize one. He remembered himself, squaring his shoulders as he always did to appear broader, bigger than those that constantly talked down on him. He let the rat drop to the ground with a splat. “You wanna say that up front or are you gonna keep hiding behind that lamppost?”

 

Despite the drop of his voice, Louis knew there was no hiding his fear from this creature. He could tell by the swiftness of his steps as he approached Louis. Almost like he knew Louis would be easy prey.

 

The first thing Louis noticed was that he had to angle his head slightly upward to be able to meet the man’s gaze; a man with skin darker than his, yet who oozed power despite it. He could sense it the closer he got. The air around him prickled.

 

The second thing Louis noted was the rich amber of his eyes, wide and with a curious glint in them as they pinned Louis in place. His attention then flickered to the rest of his features for a brief moment. That was the final thing Louis realized as the stranger came to a stop only a few steps from him.

 

He was beautiful.

 

Not to mention intimidating as hell.

 

So much so he wound up breaking his number one rule around here— never look weak — as he shuffled back in an attempt to put some distance between them.

 

The corner of the man’s lips twitched upward with amusement. “I will not harm you.” It’s the first thing he said aloud to Louis.

 

Louis blinked slowly; again, having to remind himself to speak. “You were following me. Watching me.” It was more of a statement than a question. “Us.” The man also sounded awfully familiar with Lestat, based on his earlier assumptions. It’s a reminder that Lestat had more than a couple decades on him. This could be someone from his past. “Sorry if I find that hard to believe.”

 

“Yes.” The stranger answered, his gaze flickering across Louis’ face, as if drinking him in. He offered no further explanation.

 

Louis scowled. It was such a non answer, especially considering all the questions he asked both aloud and in his head. “For which part?”

 

Once more, a hint of amusement briefly flashed across the stranger’s features. “You not only starve yourself of proper nourishment, but of knowledge as well.” The man observed. “He’s kept it from you.”

 

Again with the non answers. Louis felt a slight irritation bubble within him. “Who are you?” He asked, before adding. “It’s obvious you’re not from around here so something must’a brought you here.” Or someone.

 

“Armand, though given your lack of knowledge, I don’t expect my name rings any bells for you.” The stranger— Armand— said.

 

Louis wasn’t sure if it’s meant to be a jab. He took it as one regardless and it must show on his face, given the quiet laughter that followed from Armand.

 

“You rile easy for a man so obviously lost in his own starvation. If I couldn’t already smell him all over you, that would’ve been enough to prove you are your maker’s fledgling.”

 

Louis recoiled at the word. Fledgling.

 

Lestat used it against him anytime he wanted to prove he knew better. It was a word that often felt so weighted coming out of his companion’s mouth. There’s a similar weight in the way Armand used it, too.

 

Armand’s head tilted to the side, his eyes narrowing on Louis. “I’ve offended you.” He pointed out, sounding genuinely confused. “That was not my intentio—“

 

“What business do you have here?” In his city, in their city.

 

“Your maker—“

 

“He’s got a name.” Louis interjected again. It’s not like he was completely opposed to the whole belonging to one another aspect of his and Lestat’s relationship. It was just weird having it be acknowledged by somebody else after having kept it a secret for so long. Also, with knowing what Lestat was getting up to back in their home, it only made the agony boiling in his stomach worse.

 

“ Lestat and I have some… unfinished business.” Armand corrected. There was something in the way he said Lestat’s name that fueled the agony brewing within Louis. He felt something close to yearning come from the older vampire.

 

“Yeah?” Louis scoffed, more so at the realization of it all rather than at the man himself. “Well, hate to be the one to tell ya. He ain’t available right now. Too busy dealing with his own business.”

 

Memories of Lestat and Antoinette all over each other on their couch in their home flashed through Louis’ mind.

 

And considering Armand seemed to have taken residence in Louis’ head, he appeared to have caught a glimpse of said memories. He hummed. “He has that effect on people.”

 

Yes. He did.

 

The agony in Louis’ stomach fueled.

 

Not enough.

 

“He know you’re here?” Louis wondered if Armand had already reached out telepathically to Lestat and informed him of his presence. How would he react? Would he leave the woman he currently ravished through their couch with for Armand? 

 

Louis sneaked a glance at Armand. The ancient power really did just pour out of him. He could definitely keep up with Lestat. Not to mention he really was handsome, alarmingly so.

 

Would Armand be enough? Had he been enough for Lestat back then?

 

“No.” Armand answered with a sad smile. To which question, though, he didn’t specify. 

 

And Louis didn’t ask.

 

The ache in his stomach returned, a mixture of emotions and sensations blending together into a hammering pain.

 

Armand was quick to notice. “I could teach you how, if he hasn’t. A delicate thing like you shouldn’t go hungry.” He almost sounded eager to.

 

“I don’t eat people.” Louis said. “Can’t really stomach it.” He’s got enough haunting him already—

 

Paul.

 

This idea that lingered in the back of his mind from time to time, that Lestat had been the one responsible for what happened to Paul all along…

 

His maman’s ever present disappointment.

 

The distance he’s had to maintain with Grace, his nieces.

 

The girls at the Azalea under his care, a lot of them who had been younger than his own sister when he first set the place up…

 

Him still seeking to belong in a world that didn’t have a place for him, even before being turned…

 

He could barely handle the weight of that. Eating people would make that weight unbearable. Louis knew he was no saint, knew he had lost his place in a heaven-like afterlife a long time ago. Still, what right did he have to take the life of those still lucky to have one? He didn’t. Not when he already had so much to pay penance for.

 

Armand arched a brow, his gaze lowering onto the collection of drained rats on the ground. “I see.”

 

He returned his attention to Louis’ face, his eyes zoning on something around the lower half of it. Before Louis could even ask, the older vampire took a bold step forward, bringing his thumb up to gently brush against the corner of his mouth.

 

Louis froze, his lips parting with his intake of a hitched breath at Armand’s abrupt touch. 

 

Armand’s eyes flickered to meet Louis’ as his thumb continued to press onto the corner of his lower lip, invoking Louis’ never satiated hunger. “Messy.” Armand tutted, his touch lingering a beat longer than necessary before retreating his thumb back an inch for Louis to see.

 

Louis’ eyelashes fluttered slowly, coming back to himself before glancing down at the smudged blood on the pad of his thumb.

 

“You mustn’t let a single drop go to waste.” Armand chastised and then he was dragging his thumb into Louis’ mouth.

 

And Louis let him.

 

It was his hunger, that’s what Louis told himself as his tongue, seeming to have a mind of its own, graciously welcomed the invasion, swirling around the pad of his thumb, and licking the blood off it.

 

He’s just eating; finishing his meal. His fangs itching to come out could attest to that. Still, there was no fighting the hunger it stirred in Louis. Armand’s gaze holding him hostage only fueled his hunger, especially as the amber in his eyes seemed to heighten.

 

Armand pushed his thumb further into Louis’ mouth, sensing his hunger. Louis felt his cheeks hollow around his thumb, searching for more, needing more. He felt Armand shiver in response. “It’s okay.” He whispered soothingly, the way a parent would in an attempt to coddle a child. “Eat.”

 

Louis had licked all the leftover blood off by now, which meant Armand was offering his own…

 

The realization of that was enough to get Louis to pull away from him, his breathing ragged all of a sudden.

 

He shouldn’t.

 

He can’t.

 

“I should go.” Louis said abruptly, needing to be anywhere but here with him.

 

He didn’t even care if that meant being back home and catching Lestat still with her, so long as it wasn’t here.

 

Armand’s voice stopped him just as Louis was about to walk past him. “The offer still stands, if you ever change your mind… Louis .” He said his name rather pointedly, a name that had not been offered to him in return when Armand had given his, which meant he either pulled it from his mind or he had been around for a lot longer than Louis initially assumed.

 

Again, he shouldn’t, he knew he shouldn’t, yet that didn’t stop Louis from turning his head. He had just eaten, still the weight of his hunger seemed to have spiked as he locked gazes with the beautiful, intimidating stranger.

 

His pull was so enticing, Louis almost felt himself giving in.

 

He had to go.

That night, Louis returned home just as starving, despite the squirrel he seized on his way back to try to soothe the never ending hunger. He returned just as angry and agonized. The turmoil intensified when he realized Lestat hadn’t disposed of her.

 

He could smell her all over him. Evidence of her pleasure still lingered all over his clothes, his hands, his face…

 

Louis’ stomach turned, made him want to throw up the blood he drained from the rodents.

 

He didn’t. Instead, he felt himself sink, hearing Armand’s words from earlier taunt him:

 

Vulnerable.

 

Fragile.

 

Delicate…

 

And he asked, “Aren’t I enough?” which only made his stomach churn even more, made him sick.

 

Then Lestat laughed and Louis felt exactly as Armand had described him: vulnerable, fragile, delicate…

 

Not enough.

 

The scent of her worsened as Lestat pressed against him, eyes sparkling in glee. Louis was sick.

 

“From time to time, I like a little variety.” Lestat said as if it was such a weight off his shoulders to say aloud. As if said weight didn’t crush Louis, in turn.

 

Lestat kissed him and Louis will never not melt into him. Her scent remained on him, though, and Louis wondered if Lestat could smell the presence of another on him, too. It wasn’t like they were in each other’s spaces that long, well, except for the end. He wondered if Lestat’s tongue that teased its way into his mouth could taste where another man had claimed with his thumb.

 

Louis pushed the memory away as Lestat pulled back, eyes soaking in his reaction. Though Lestat can no longer read his mind, Louis did not want to think of his encounter with the other vampire. He wasn’t sure he even wanted to bring it up to Lestat and invite any more variety for him. There had been an implication in Armand’s words that the two of them shared a history, a history Louis didn’t think he could stomach right now.

 

If variety was going to be the new norm for them, then Louis wasn’t too sure he wanted to know about Lestat’s, even if a part of him was… curious about said history between them.

 

Instead, he asked– or more so, confirmed, “So, I can fuck whoever I want.” and watched the light leave from Lestat’s eyes.

Chapter 2: Night II

Summary:

Armand beckons Louis.

Louis struggles against his desires.

It was an unspoken rule. Louis didn’t want to see Lestat’s kills and Lestat didn’t want to see Louis demean himself through his choice of meals. So they didn’t share meals together, but they didn’t need to. It was for the best.

 

The time they did spend together varied: nights at the Azalea Hall, strolling through the city’s lively nightlife, sometimes in places of Lestat’s choosing– certain places where Louis had to debase himself in order to be allowed into said places alongside his companion. It was nights like those specifically where the resentment and anger spiked within Louis. Who was there to vent to, though? His family could barely stomach to look at him these days and human biases were beneath Lestat’s time.

 

So, sometimes, their nights together weren’t always pleasant.

 

Then, there’s the private nights they shared together in the safety of their coffin, filled with sweat, highs, and tangled limbs. These were nights that Louis never imagined having, reaching highs that deep down he knew he could never reach had he lived and possibly married a woman down the line.

 

He wasn’t alive anymore, though. 

 

Had he given up life or had life been taken from him? He often found himself struggling to accept what had happened to him, what he chose and allowed to happen to him.

 

Sometimes Louis would look at Lestat and couldn’t imagine not saying yes to him on that altar.

 

Still, Louis thought about the path not taken sometimes. No, he hadn’t been in a good place during his final moments as a human. There might’ve not even been a life for him to continue had he said no. Maybe there would’ve been no escaping death that night regardless of his choice.

 

He was given a gift, Lestat claimed. A gift that should’ve ended his inner turmoil, the sins that haunted him, his hunger.

 

Except here they remained, weighing him down with every passing day.

They were back at the Azalea Hall the following night after adjusting the rules of their relationship a bit. Despite Lestat obviously not being as open to the idea of having to share Louis as opposed to the idea of Louis having to share him, the agreement was made.

 

And Lestat wasted no time.

 

Louis watched them the entire night; bold touches and wandering hands. He didn’t want to, but it was hard to ignore the flirtatious banter and laughs exchanged between the two of them. It was hard to ignore the off-handed thoughts the humans had about the suddenly very touchy pair that swept the audience away with their performance.

 

Worse, it was hard to ignore the ache that pooled in his stomach the longer the night went on.

 

Lestat had eaten before they got here. Louis would usually sneak away while the clients were having too good a night to notice and either have someone bring an animal to him or he’d head out to hunt for his own.

 

Tonight, he was probably going for the latter. Anything to get away from Lestat and her.

 

He had been about to head out, was about to grab his coat draped on his chair and slip out the doors when the intrusion from last night returned.

 

‘Viens à moi.’

 

Louis’ hand stilled on his chair he had been about to push back into the table. The familiar words were faint at first. So faint that any other night he would’ve brushed it off as his empty stomach playing tricks on him. Because any other night, Louis knew there had been no others around here who could call to him like that.

 

After last night, he knew better.

 

‘Viens à moi.’ 

 

The smooth, velvety voice that had intruded more than his thoughts the night before, spoke again, much clearer.  

 

The music, Lestat’s voice that harmonized with Antoinette’s, the humans and their lucid thoughts were suddenly completely drowned out by Armand’s voice in his head.

 

Louis tried to shake it off, to let the music and the chatter distract him from the alluring call. But as had happened years ago, perhaps at the lowest Louis had ever been, he was being held hostage in his own mind.

 

Just like Lestat, Armand would not let him return back to himself; he would not let him go.

 

‘Do not deny yourself the nurture you need, Louis.’ Armand’s voice was soothing, as if to give the illusion of gentleness.

 

But Louis knew from experience that there was no gentleness to those words. It was no different than the way Louis would sometimes lure birds for himself to catch by leaving seeds by his windows.

 

His stomach rumbled at the memory.

 

‘You surround yourself with humans while being absolutely famished.’ He heard Armand say. ‘Blood pumping in exhilaration all around you…’

 

Suddenly, Louis became acutely aware of the rapid pulse of a bearded gentleman from the table beside him. 

 

‘…it would be so easy for you to lose control right then and there.’

 

Louis shut his eyes. ‘Stop.’ He called back.

 

The older vampire’s mental ambush continued, ignoring his plea. ‘Come to me, Louis.’ Armand persisted.

 

The gentleman downed another glass of whiskey, which only caused his beating heart to accelerate. Louis fought the gravitational pull of his fangs.

 

‘He twirls her around the stage, leaving such a delicacy to fend off his hunger, alone. Come to me, Louis.’

 

Louis’ anger came rushing back upon hearing that. Armand’s voice wasn’t just in his head, he was actively looking through Louis’ eyes and who knew from the eyes of how many other people. ‘I already told you. I don’t eat people.’ Why can’t they ever respect his choice?

 

‘Then don’t.’ Armand said, then Louis saw himself— Armand’s memory from last night as his thumb slithered its way into Louis’ mouth. Louis saw himself draw in a breath, shocked initially by the boldness, before his hunger took over and left him eagerly wrapping his mouth around Armand’s thumb.

 

Louis felt the shiver that had run through Armand as he’d done that last night presently rushing through him. An unexpected warmth followed.

 

Embarrassment…

 

Hunger…

 

‘Let me take care of you.’ Armand added, voice heady as it beckoned him.

 

Desire.

 

Upon recognizing what it was, Louis somehow found the ability to shut it all down— at least he hoped that’s what had occurred as the music and chatter evened out around him. For all he knew, maybe Armand had intentionally released him.

 

Louis didn’t know.

 

What he did know, however, was that he sure as hell wasn’t about to go out and hunt, now. He knew he could possibly run into Armand out there.

 

And Louis wasn’t sure he trusted himself hungry around Armand.

Armand’s beckoning did not stop there. He called for Louis the next night and the night after that.

 

Louis resisted, refusing to allow himself to be tugged on like a puppet on strings.

 

Armand commended his resilience with amusement in his tone, which only made Louis feel like he was being taunted.

 

To avoid any more encounters with the ancient vampire, Louis opted to have his meals brought to him around back at the Azalea during these last three nights. Despite Armand's insistent beckoning,  and despite Louis being alone while he feasted on whatever animal had been brought to him, Armand never showed up around here. Which, don't get him wrong, was a good thing- except, Louis wondered if it was Lestat's presence that the older being was avoiding or if it was something else.

 

Regardless, there was no safe ground for Louis these last three nights. Not in his own head. Not outwardly, where he sat at their usual table at the Azalea, Lestat to his right— and Antoinette on Lestat’s right, the two of them getting lost in simultaneously marveling on themselves and one other.

 

Louis feigned indifference. Had to. Because what reason, to the public eye, would a man have to be infuriated, agonized at the sight of a woman all over his fellow male business partner?

 

He could feel Lestat sneaking glances his way, even as he spoke sweet words at the woman on his right. He cruelly tried to involve Louis into the conversation, specifically taking any compliment the woman threw at him and turning it back to Louis.

 

“My, you certainly have the voice of an angel, Mr. De Lioncourt!” Antoinette would say, batting her long eyelashes up at Lestat as she leaned into his space, feeling up his arm. “Oh, you must sing with me some more tonight!”

 

“I do, don’t I.” Lestat happily accepted the compliment, always soaking them in like a sponge, as he elicited a giggle out of the singer.

 

Louis felt his gaze on him, again while Louis threw his head back to finish his, flavorless glass of whiskey. He refused to look at him.

 

“What do you think, Louis?” Lestat asked when it became apparent that Louis would ignore his glances. “Wouldn’t the mademoiselle and I make a good addition to the catalog?” 

 

“S'long as it keeps the clients happy, don’t matter to me.” Louis kept his gaze straight ahead as he answered, refusing to indulge him, swallowing his resentment.

 

Or at least, he thought he had been keeping it at bay until he heard Lestat chuckle. “Forgive him, ma jolie. My Louis can get a bit sharp when he’s... hungry.” Again, he felt Lestat looking at him as Antoninette giggled, saying something along the lines of how she’s the same way.

 

Still, Louis didn’t take the bait.

 

Then it was time for the two of them to perform and though he should’ve been relieved to finally be away from them, something burned within Louis’ stomach.

 

And he knew he couldn’t be here.

 

Armand’s beckoning had yet to appear in his head tonight and Louis figured he might as well take advantage of his lack of presence. For all he knew, maybe the older vampire took a damn hint and planned to leave Louis the hell alone. Or maybe he had finally grown bored of Louis.

 

Whatever.

 

Louis had enough on his shoulders to be dwelling on that, anyway.

 

So, he stepped out of the Azalea for a bit, whether it was the overwhelming hunger that drew him out or seeing the singer all over Lestat that he couldn’t stomach, Louis won’t acknowledge. Acknowledging it meant giving Lestat exactly what he wanted. So, Louis left to soothe the one ache he knew he could fix, even if only temporarily.

 

He had to fill the never ending void in his stomach.

 

If it wasn’t rodents in empty alleyways, or stray animals in quiet neighborhoods, then it was birds, squirrels, or whatever else Louis could find in the woods; anything that wasn’t human. Tonight, there had been a golden-furred cat on a tree just outside where the woods began, that called to him. He had just about finished draining the squirming feline when Louis realized he would be needing more than this tonight. 

 

It was never enough.

 

“You can’t expect to take your fill off animals alone.” 

 

Louis jumped, the same way the cat he had feasted on had done seconds ago when he grabbed it, and turned towards him. It was alarming how easily the man could creep up on him without Louis knowing. “You gotta stop doing that.” He grumbled at the man who apparently couldn’t take the hint.

 

Though Louis was raised to always be on alert, especially growing up in a place where the color of his skin alone was enough to provoke a reaction out of some folks, he had gotten somewhat comfortable in certain vampiric abilities of his. At least in regard to the fact that he would not be dying by a human’s hand. He wasn’t dealing with a human, though.

 

“Forgive me.” Armand said, stepping into view across from Louis. He was dressed in a gray vest and matching trousers, a white, long sleeved shirt underneath; his dark curls were slicked back surprisingly well for someone near the ever humid bayou. “I have not yet alerted your mak– Lestat – of my presence here in your home, so I’ve been keeping myself hidden for the time being… from him, at least.”

 

Louis had wondered. Despite Armand’s never ending mental ambush on him, Lestat hadn’t mentioned anything in the last few nights since he previously saw Armand. Then again, Lestat hardly mentioned much when it came to his past.

 

“Why haven’t you?” Louis scoffed. “You obviously don’t mind bugging me?” He saw Armand peer down at the lower half of his face again and without thinking, Louis let the cat fall to wipe whatever remains of it he might have left over on his face, not wanting Armand to take that as an invitation to put another finger in his mouth. Louis didn’t trust himself not to bite down if he did so again.

 

Armand’s lips twitched, lightly. “Would you believe me if I said fear?” He replied, only acknowledging Louis’ first question.

 

“You?” Louis asked, incredulously. Anytime the man was near, he could practically feel the ancient power buzzing off him. He shouldn’t ask. He might only end up making himself jealous. A part of him wanted to know, though. “Bad break up?”

 

Silence followed, Armand seeming to contemplate his words for a bit before finally deciding on, “Something like that.”

 

Vague.

 

Why were they always vague?

 

“I also don’t imagine he’d allow me these moments with you if he knew I was around.” Armand added, voice soft like silk.

 

Louis swallowed, suddenly reminded of his hunger. “He ain’t my keeper.” He said, defensively.

 

Armand tilted his head, observing him for a beat. “Isn’t he?”

 

Louis didn’t answer, instead focusing on the second part of what he had said. “‘Sides, I wouldn’t call our two encounters and your constant intrusion in my head moments . So far it’s just been me trying to enjoy my meals and you showing up unannounced or me just going about my business and once again, you showing up unannounced!.”

 

This time, Armand did smile as he invited himself further into Louis’ space, with his hands behind his back. “The word enjoy implies you actually take pleasure in your meals.” Louis backed himself against the tree the closer Armand got, heart pounding and gums itching as they had last time. Armand only stopped once Louis’ back came in contact with the rough tree bark, taking pity on him. “You and I both know that isn’t the case, now is it?”

 

“What’s it to you?” Louis forced his voice to remain even. He was tired of hearing from others about what was or wasn’t good for him. Wasn’t that his choice to make?

 

“You’re starving. It’s obvious in the way you hold yourself.” Armand said, eyes taking in all of Louis from head-to-toe. "So defenseless, so fragile... in desperate need of proper care."

 

Again, Louis swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “That’s sounding like a threat.” Was this how he died? He had grown confident he wouldn’t die at the hands of a human. He wasn’t so sure that would be the case with the alluring vampire that towered over him.

 

“It is merely an observation.” Armand dared another step forward and Louis could feel the warmth from his body. He had fed recently. Fresh, human blood coursed through him. Louis’ fangs descended at the realization before he could stop himself.

 

Armand took another step, leaving Louis trapped between the firmness of his warm body and the tree bark. “Or an invitation, if you will.” He added, rolling up the sleeve from his right arm.

 

“I’m with him.” Louis said abruptly with a gulp. “You know that, don’t you?”

 

A smirk ghosted over Armand’s expression. “I only offer to quench your thirst.” He said, presenting his now exposed wrist up as an offer. “Besides, even if I was offering anything more, are you not allowed variety yourself?”

 

The familiar, pointed words were distracting enough from his hunger for a brief moment. Louis scoffed. Of course he’d been watching them this whole time. It hadn’t just been during the few times he’d call out to Louis. He was naive to think otherwise.

 

His eyes flickered down to the offered wrist, sensing the tantalizing blood swimming underneath his smooth, brown skin. The offense he felt only seconds ago had long vanished the more he zoned into the blood, waiting for him, beckoning him. “Won’t…” He willed himself to maintain control, not wanting to come across as desperate. “Won’t it hurt?” He could hear the slight lisp in his voice as he spoke, whether it was a result of his fangs or salivating mouth, Louis could not tell though.

 

It had hurt for Louis the two and only times Lestat had bitten him. Lestat likely knew that. It’s probably why he hadn’t done it again after turning Louis. And Lestat never offered himself to Louis in that way either. Not even when Louis found himself struggling against his self restraint while leaving dark, love marks on Lestat. So, Louis figured it must hurt.

 

“You have not shared blood with him before?” Armand genuinely sounded confused by the fact, which left Louis even more confused himself. Then, Armand chuckled lightly, more towards himself than at Louis. His other hand came up to cradle Louis around his neck, long, slender fingers stroking the skin underneath Louis’ hairline, making him shiver. “Oh, the wonders he has kept from you,” and Armand guided Louis’ head towards his wrist. “Do not deny yourself any longer.” Armand sighed as Louis’ lips grazed his skin. “Come to me, Louis. Let me take care of you.”

 

Instinct immediately took over just as Louis’ lips brushed against the soft skin, mouth parting as he finally allowed himself to sink his teeth into flesh that didn’t make him want to flinch away in disgust. 

 

Armand’s blood was unlike any he ever had, both human and animal. It was rich, he could taste his strength, his power, his essence. It was overwhelming, yet not enough.

 

Louis took hold of Armand’s wrist, a guttural moan being ripped out of him the more he burrowed himself into the wound he had caused.

 

He felt Armand shudder as he pressed against him. “That’s it.” He sighed for a second time, almost sounding just as content as Louis felt. “Take your fill.”

 

Armand continued to gently stroke the back of his throat, further coaxing him into taking more. Louis’ weight grew pliant against Armand’s body, feeling himself let go for once the more and more he drank. Something stirred deep in his stomach and it wasn’t hunger, anger, or agony.

 

It was exhilaration, a sudden drive he hadn’t felt during this recent time that he’d restricted himself to an animal only diet. Louis felt himself tighten around his pants. Out of mindless instinct, Louis’ hips bucked into Armand’s, stealing a gruff gasp out of the other vampire

 

He jumped back upon the realization of the rise in his desire, shame pouring out of him. “I’m sorry.” Louis’ breathing had grown shallow.

 

He must’ve taken a lot, Louis figured by the way Armand took a second to ease his own ragged breathing before asking, “Did you get your fill?” His wide gaze trailed down to where Louis’ pants now tented up.

 

Louis shuffled his pants around slightly, trying to cover his sudden and inappropriate arousal. “Yes.” He cleared his throat, the air around them growing awfully uncomfortable. “Thank you.” He added with a bit of hesitance, not knowing what else he could say. 

 

Armand didn’t respond right away, opting to rather study Louis for a moment. He kept his thoughts locked away, Louis noticed this as the quiet lingered. He should probably try taking a page from his book and doing the same. God knows Armand had probably heard every thought of his from the moment they met.

 

Like last time, Armand brought his thumb towards Louis’ face. Unlike last time, however, he wound up swiping it entirely across his bottom lip making Louis’ breath hitch. Armand’s thumb retreated, looking down at the blood that had remained on Louis’ lip. “So wasteful,” he scolded as he had last time.

 

Louis’ lips parted in anticipation, expecting Armand to drag his thumb inside Louis’ mouth again. The thought of him doing so unexpectedly made Louis’ aching arousal twitch in interest. Immediately, he admonished himself for it.

 

Armand brought his thumb towards his own mouth rather than Louis’, which only sent more blood rushing down Louis’ lower region. Armand allowed his eyes to lull shut for a breath, savoring the taste of his own blood that had lingered on Louis’ mouth. And God, did Louis’ entire body sizzle at the sight.

 

He averted his gaze as Armand withdrew his finger, guilt pouring out of Louis for the thoughts that purged his mind.

 

“You do that often.” Armand said, curious eyes examining him— his mind, more than likely. “Shrink yourself in shame.” He took a tentative step forward. “Does it please you to deny yourself, your desires?”

 

They were not having this conversation with said desires of Louis’ at full display. 

 

Louis cleared his throat, stepping towards his left to avoid being caught in the middle of Armand and the tree again. “You have a good night now,” he said rather than responding to his assumption. He shuffled past him, willing the discomfort between his legs to settle. What could he even say in response to that, especially in the state he was in?

 

“Same time tomorrow?” Armand asked, stopping him in his tracks as he had during the night they met.

 

Still, Louis didn’t say anything as he walked away into the night.

 

Louis found himself with a spike in adrenaline by the time he returned home. Though he stopped to snack on a few squirrels in hopes of warding off any smell the older vampire might’ve left on him, his blood still strummed through him. It had awakened something in him, a liveliness he had been missing for a while now.

 

Like Armand, Louis didn’t think he was ready to tell Lestat about the former’s presence in New Orleans. Armand claimed Lestat wouldn’t allow any further interaction between the two of them would he know and secretly, after tonight’s encounter, Louis found himself craving more moments between the two of them.

 

Craving this high he felt right now, this newfound drive that led him stumbling into Lestat’s arms, ravaging him with an intensity he had been missing.

 

He could smell Antoinette on him and that only made Louis press against him harder, kiss him harder, grind down on him harder trying to get her smell off him.

 

“What was in the squirrels tonight?” Lestat asked breathlessly when they finished their third round, which had been more than Louis was feeling up to these days. Their naked forms were flush against one another, Lestat’s fingers tracing his lips after he finished kissing him.

 

The same lips that had been traced by Armand, that had been on Armand’s skin, that had swam through the sweet nectar that had been Armand’s blood; blood that had roused Louis’ hunger, his desires, and left him craving more.

 

Shame burst through him as he took Lestat’s hands in his, gently kissing each finger to avoid answering.

Notes:

Thank y'all for your lovely comments in the first chapter! I'm just as excited to get this organized and put this out!

I mostly already had the first two chapters proof read and organized. It's really the rest of what I've written that I still have to organize... I'm going to try to fly through them before I lose the motivation, though. (TFW you set out to write something short and it becomes a monstrosity 😭)

Hope you enjoyed the update!

Chapter 3: Night III

Notes:

This one gets a little filthy near the end there, sorry 🫣 (well by my standards lmao).

He expected Armand this time around. Louis wasn’t surprised when he took the empty seat next to him on the park bench as Louis flipped through his book of the night.

 

There was a slim distance between their shoulders. From where he sat, Louis could feel the warmth emitting from him, a clear sign that the older vampire had recently fed. There was a part of Louis that wondered if the timing of his meals were a coincidence or intentional, another way to beckon Louis to him.

 

Louis’ attention remained on his book, letting the silence linger for a few minutes as he tried to ease the thumping of his chest. Though it was probably obvious to the vampire beside him that he made Louis nervous, Louis would still like the illusion of indifference.

 

“I have not had the privilege to read this publication yet.” Armand said, once it became apparent that Louis had no intention of acknowledging him first.

 

“Hm, could be ‘cause it was just published ‘few days ago.” Louis spoke with an ease he did not feel as he turned the page.

 

The weight of Armand’s gaze on him did nothing to soothe his uneasiness. “Tell me about it.” Armand said after a brief pause.

 

That got Louis to turn towards him, caught off guard by his request. He’d been told way too often that the amount of time he spent with his head burrowed in book after book was an impairment to his responsibilities.

 

Not many expressed genuine interest in this aspect of Louis’ life, so he couldn’t tell if the question spurred from authenticity or from some sort of ulterior motive.

 

“Well, it’s unfinished. They say the author died before he could, ‘bout a year ago?” Louis said, allowing his finger to mark his page as he shut the book, bringing it down to his lap. Regardless of what the older man’s intentions were, Louis would never not be eager to talk about his latest read.

 

Armand studied him for a moment. He did that often, Louis noticed. “Stop that.” Louis said, brows furrowing.

 

“Stop what?” Armand asked, as if he couldn’t hear the reason through Louis’ thoughts.

 

“Your staring. You do that a lot.” Louis threw his words from the night before back at him. 

 

Armand hummed, turning his body to face Louis. “It’s impossible not to. You’re quite a strange one. And I can't seem to figure out if it’s the American in you or just something particular to you.”

 

Louis scoffed, feeling the offense settle in. “Yeah? Well, you Frenchmen have your fair share of strangeness. Y’all and your lack of boundaries, for one.”

 

Seriously, who sticks their finger inside the mouth of a stranger they just met?

 

“Who reads a book with no ending?” Armand rebutted, intrigue swimming through the amber of his eyes.

 

“Just ‘cause someone didn’t get the chance to finish what they had to say, don’t mean what they said isn’t important.” Louis challenged with a shrug. “It’s the opposite, actually… like a parting gift to the world you’re never coming back to. He’s dead yet he lives through his words in this book. Dead but alive.” In a way Louis would never be. He lived despite being dead.

 

“Hm. I suppose I never thought of it that way. You’re young, still, Louis…” Armand replied, pulling out a small case from his coat, and flicking the top open to reveal a row of cigarettes. “But the more you see time pass through you, you will see it is nothing but that to us. Ten years. A century. What is time for a vampire if not as insignificant as the air we breathe?”

 

“Yeah.” Louis said after a beat, his shoulders slumping at the reminder as he accepted his offer, and twiddling the paper-wrapped tobacco in between his fingers.

 

Never running out of time.

 

Never getting to grow old.

 

Never getting to have kids of his own.

 

Never getting to die with his loved ones.

 

Never getting to see Paul again, in an afterlife that had been promised to them.

 

Never living again.

 

“Losing those we love to time is inevitable. Vampire or not.” Armand said. Despite the firmness of his words, there was a hint of sadness that lingered in his voice.

 

For a moment, Louis found himself feeling for the ancient being. He didn’t exactly know how old Armand was, just knew he felt a lot older than he and Lestat combined. Louis saw it then. A man alone through time.

 

If Louis was drowning in loneliness with just a few years on him, isolated despite his family being very much alive, he couldn’t imagine what it must be like to outlive everyone he’s ever loved… he dreaded the day that would come. Having nothing but time.

 

“Some gift, huh.” Louis muttered, bitterness unintentionally spilling through.

 

“It is a gift. One you should relish in rather than try to run from.” Armand stated. 

 

Louis huffed. So much for finding common ground with this guy. Before he could voice his distaste, the cigarette in his hand lit itself out of nowhere. Louis looked down at it, brows scrunching together before turning to look at the cigarette Armand held between slender fingers, and watched as his ignited on its own, as well.

 

He watched as the older vampire brought the lit cigarette in between thin lips, inhaling deeply before releasing a cloud of smoke into the air through his nostrils. Louis felt entranced at the sight, only remembering himself as Armand began to speak again.

 

“As you can see, the gift comes with its pleasures.” He said.

 

Louis remained stunned. “How… How’d you do that?”

 

Armand paused for a moment, taking another hit. “Surely, you’ve seen him use one of his gifts?”

 

Soot collected on Louis’ lap, prompting him to tend to his own cigarette. “I’ve seen him stop time…” Louis brought the cigarette to his lips, taking a generous inhale of his own before exhaling deeply. He felt Armand’s piercing gaze on him the entire time. “That’s ‘bout it… didn’t realize there were more.” 

 

Though looking back, it should’ve been obvious, right? Louis felt his lips curl downwards. “I guess that’s on me… I never asked.”

 

“And he never offered.” Armand said the unspoken part for him; the unspoken part that Louis didn’t want to acknowledge.

 

 “Why?” Louis wondered aloud. Maybe it was because Lestat knew Louis, knew that Louis wasn’t the most receptive when it came to vampirism; that he might reject his knowledge as he’s rejected everything else.

 

Maybe.

 

Or maybe Louis was just making excuses for him.

 

It was hard to be rational when it came to Lestat. Louis was self aware enough to acknowledge that, even when it left him looking stupid sometimes

 

It’s why he had agreed to open their relationship, even though the last thing Louis wanted was to share, see her all over him.

 

Armand hummed as he exhaled a cloud of grayish smoke once more. “That, you’d have to ask him. Even those of us able to read Lestat’s mind don’t always understand why he does what he does…”

 

There it was, again. Armand’s yearning. His resentment.

 

Louis didn’t know how to push through Armand’s mental barriers. He often found himself speculating what went on in the ancient vampire’s mind. Yet, whenever their topic of conversation became haunted by Lestat’s presence, Louis was always able to pick up on the whirlwind of emotions coming from the dark-haired vampire.

 

Maybe it was because Louis recognized those whirlwinds in himself. He drew in another drag of his cigarette, trying to soothe the sudden waves of anxiety suffocating the air all around him.

 

“It could be, though…” Armand started again, seemingly having a thought occur to him.

 

“What?” Louis prodded.

 

“Like you said, your hesitance to accept your nature could be what deters him from being open with you. But then again, he has never been the best at respecting boundaries , as you put it. He could’ve easily enlightened you of all the abilities you could inherit if he truly wished to.”

 

Louis felt himself frown. What was he trying to say?

 

“Perhaps his secretiveness is intentional.” Armand elaborated, watering the seeds of doubt Louis had long ago planted when it came to Lestat. He paused his elaboration to take another puff of his cigarette, leaving Louis suffocating in the silence. “Perhaps it is what he deems is best for you. For him.”

 

And that was the last thing Louis wanted to hear.

 

“How fortunate that I am here.” Armand continued, peering over at Louis through long lashes. “Willing to do what he has failed to do for you.” 

 

Eagerness spilled from his voice, an eagerness that left Louis’ stomach lurching out of both fear and lust. He hated acknowledging the latter as much as acknowledging his fear. He hated how giving into either emotion also felt like relenting what little control he barely had in his own life right now.

 

“I really wish people would stop telling me what I should and shouldn’t do, what is and isn’t good for me.” Louis sighed, defeatedly. 

 

At least Armand could find common ground with Lestat if he ever did alert the blonde of his presence. They would both definitely agree that Louis was apparently doing vampirism all wrong!

 

“Someone has to.” Armand responded with a pointed look from behind the smoke that clouded around his face. “Especially when you clearly don’t seem to prioritize your wellbeing.”

 

“I prioritize myself just fine!” Louis protested, speaking too quickly to sound convincing enough.

 

To make matters worse, Louis was hit with a wave of hunger crashing into his stomach only seconds after the words left his mouth. He forced his eyes away, sighing in annoyance at the timing.

 

He didn’t need to be facing Armand, he could sense the small smile that crept up on his face as he spoke. “Should we take this somewhere more private, then?”

 

A shiver ran up his spine at the implication of what was to come. He turned, letting his cigarette fall to the pavement, using this as a guise for the excitement that coursed through him. Louis hated himself for it, for wanting it despite knowing it wasn’t smart to.

 

But, God forgive him , did he want it.

 

Louis stood, suddenly having something to prove regardless of the shame that swept through him whenever he allowed himself to indulge his hunger through Armand. Tucking his book into his coat, Louis took off, pacing himself as if not to appear too eager.

 

The older vampire stood, putting out his nearly finished cigarette, and followed as Louis led them into the privacy of the woods, towards the same tree he had been trapped against the night before. Armand’s presence behind him was sizzling, something that intensified as he turned to find Armand standing a hair away from him. The older vampire seemed to be feeling a lot bolder tonight, likely a result of the two of them crossing that line of personal space the night before. 

 

Armand leaned further into him, nosing up his throat, as he pressed Louis against the bark with his weight. The action was so unexpected that for a second there, Louis wondered if he had misunderstood. Was Armand expecting Louis to return the favor from last night? Louis felt himself grow rigid. He didn’t know if he was ready for that… to be the one fed from.

 

It hurt the last two times Louis had been bitten. He had been at his lowest when it last happened. Louis didn’t want to go back there, again. Not tonight.

 

Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be Armand’s intention. Instead, Louis felt Armand inhale deeply against his neck, shivering as the hot air from his exhale caressed his skin. “You smell just like him.” Armand whispered, breathlessly as he parted Louis’ thighs with his leg, rubbing against a hardness Louis had not realized had been growing. “I wonder if you’ll smell like me too when I return you to him…” He pressed his thigh further into Louis, whispering into Louis’ ear. “…well fed and taken care of.”

 

Louis hissed at the sudden sensation, his fangs sliding out. Before he could even think twice about it, his hands gripped the back of Armand’s shoulders, angling his neck, and sinking his fangs into Armand’s long, tantalizing throat.

 

Armand gasped, further crowding him against the harsh tree bark. “That’s it,” he cooed, his voice like silk caressing Louis’ ear. “Let me take care of you for him.”

 

His hand slithered around Louis’ body, towards the small of his back, and coaxed Louis to grind against his thigh.

 

Louis’ whimpered into Armand’s throat as he chased his pleasure on Armand’s thigh. He didn’t know it would be like this; he hadn’t known that simultaneously soothing his hunger and his arousal would feel so electrifying, so right.

 

Had this been what Lestat felt that first night they shared? Something so intoxicating, so intimate… and yet he had kept it from him.

 

Just like he kept the fire gift and whatever else was out there that Louis didn’t know about.

 

But why ?

 

Louis pulled back, breathing hard as he met Armand’s charged gaze. “He…” Louis struggled to compose himself, still craving more, more blood, more pleasure, more, more, more . “He never…”

 

“I know.” Armand murmured, using his other hand to cup the right side of Louis’ face. “Terribly improper, our Lestat.”

 

Louis felt his bottom lip curl forward into a pout as Armand’s thumb traced the curve of his cheek. He wasn’t sure what bothered him more. The usage of the word our or the fact that Louis felt like he was being patronized. “Why?”

 

Armand spoke of Lestat like he knew him better than the palm of his hand. He had to know why.

 

Armand hummed, his thumb continuing its exploration of Louis’ face, his touch leaving behind a blazing trail on his skin. “The more you learn, the less you’d need him. You’d leave him one day, as he did me…”

 

Louis’ brows furrowed, his deepening pout seemingly like a magnet towards Armand’s fingers that swiped across his lips, collecting the drops of blood he had left behind. “Is that why you’re doing this with me, then? Offering me knowledge?” Louis asked against the push of Armand’s index and middle fingers on his lips. “Tryna get me to leave him so you could swoop in and have him all to yourself?”

 

Then Armand’s fingers were gliding past his lips and into Louis’ mouth. “Is that what you think?” He asked, tilting his head slightly.

 

Louis felt his eyes flutter shut, trying to remain focused. ‘Why not?’ He asked telepathically, as Armand pressing down on his tongue prevented him from speaking aloud. ‘Why else would you come all the way here for, if not?’

 

“Here? As in here with you ?” Slowly, Armand started moving his fingers in and out of Louis’ mouth.

 

A sudden moan choked out of Louis as he licked whatever blood he had missed, momentarily distracted.

 

Armand’s fingers moved to massage his gums, then his teeth, before spreading inside him to massage each one of his fangs. “Here, taking care of you ?” He added as he sliced the pads of his digits on Louis’ fangs.

 

Two steady flows of blood poured into Louis’ mouth, making him groan around the fingers that fed him. He grasped onto Armand’s wrist, desperately trying to take more of him in his mouth, needing to.

 

“Such a delicate thing, starved of knowledge, starved of nourishment.” Armand cooed, reiterating words he had spoken the first night they met.

 

Except, instead of feeling offense as he had that first night, he felt a searing heat pulse through him as Armand fucked his mouth with his bloodied fingers while Louis began to grind his clothed erection into Armand’s thigh, again.

 

Armand’s irises glimmered, his lips parting as they soaked in the sight of Louis pinned between him and the tree, sucking desperately on his fingers, as he allowed Louis to use his body for his own pleasure. 

 

Louis knew there was no denying it after this, how starved he was, how deeply he desired this. Armand would probably use this against him later, but God, he could not bring himself to care right now.

 

Not when he was so close. Louis could feel his relief just seconds away as his hips stuttered once, then twice.

 

Too soon did Armand pull his fingers out of his mouth and retract his thigh, making Louis whine at the sudden loss. Before Louis could find the words to verbally complain, he felt his trousers being undone, and then Armand’s hand slicked with Louis’ spit wrapped itself around Louis’ throbbing ache.

 

“Fuck.” Louis' head rolled back against the tree, panting intensely for air he did not need.

 

“Allow me to show you all the pleasures he has denied you.” Armand said as he began to jerk his hand up and down Louis’ length.

 

He used his free hand to slide up Louis’ back, towards the back of his throat, steering Louis back onto his own neck. Without hesitation, Louis sunk his teeth into him again.

 

And Armand was right. Louis was starving for this, hadn’t realized how much he needed pleasure like this; pleasure he hadn’t known could be.

 

Armand’s hand movements were slow and firm, stealing a hitched breath out of Louis as he rolled his hips forward, consuming Armand’s blood as pleasure consumed him. A pleasure that for once, left no room for any shame.

 

Then, Armand dragged his thumb over the tip, a sharp nail scratching his slit, spreading Louis’ slickness over his length.

 

Louis growled into his throat, digging his own nails into Armand’s shoulder. The older vampire moaned at the pain Louis had without a doubt caused. He crowded Louis further into the tree, Armand’s own clothed hardness twitching as it pressed against Louis’s hip.

 

Interesting.

 

Louis did it again, biting down harder, as well, and felt as Armand’s strokes faltered momentarily before resuming its movement, gradually increasing with every passing second.

 

Too distracted in his own pleasure, Louis stored that information in the back of his head for later. He rutted into Armand’s hand, matching his urgency, as he savored the man’s blood in his mouth.

 

Louis finished with a cry that was muffled into Armand’s throat, his teeth scraping more of his skin as Louis briefly faltered. 

 

“That’s it,” Armand continued to gently stroke Louis’ length with one hand as his other hand drew circles on the skin of the back of his throat. Louis’ weight collapsed against Armand’s hard body and Armand held him tight as his high wore off.

 

After a few quiet moments passed, Louis came back to his senses, particularly taking note of the uncomfortable mess in his pants.

 

Armand released him and Louis pulled his weight off him. Still, Armand’s grip on his throat remained as he leaned in once more to inhale deeply.

 

“Now you smell a little more like me.” He said, almost sounding pleased.

 

Then, Armand brought his sullied hand into his own mouth, cheeks hollowing as he cleaned Louis’ spend off himself. The sight alone was enough for Louis’ cock to perk in interest once more. Louis knew his newfound libido was a result of Armand’s blood swimming in his stomach.

 

Which again begged the question— why had this been kept from him to begin with? Had Armand been right. Was Lestat keeping him in the dark to ensure Louis never left him?

 

Armand pulled his fingers out, “And now, I smell of you.” He said, bringing Louis out of his head and back into this moment.

 

Louis let out a shaky exhale as his gaze trailed down Armand’s form, his length continued to poke out, as evidence of his own desire manifested itself in the form of a dark spot on his beige trousers.

 

He realized that during their last two encounters, Armand never really asked Louis to return the favor. He didn’t ask to feed off Louis, though he could see the reason for that. What use did an ancient being even have for the blood of a vampire so young, or delicate, as put in Armand’s own words?

 

Louis understood that.

 

Still, did he plan to just not do anything about his own ache? When he had Louis right here…

 

Louis stopped the thought before it could finish.

 

For all he knew Armand probably had no interest in him like that. The longing Louis had felt from Armand for Lestat obviously attested to that.

 

It was like Armand said, he was just taking care of him.

 

Louis had only ever met two vampires in his lifetime and based on his experience with said two vampires, they seem to get some sort of gratification of getting him to submit into his so-called nature, his desires.

 

Louis wondered if he would ever get like that, comfortable in his own power to the point of craving to see another submit before him.

 

He heard Armand clear his throat, which made Louis realize he had zoned out while staring at his bulge.

 

Louis looked up to meet Armand’s gaze, the blood he had consumed earlier causing his face to flush in embarrassment at the slight twitch in Armand’s mouth.

 

“You overthink.” Is the only thing Armand needed to say for Louis to know he had, in fact, listened to his inner turmoil. He really had to learn how to protect his mind from invasion.

 

“I did say you could take your fill.” Armand added.

 

And Louis felt a desire scorch through him. He wanted to. He ached to.

 

But just because Louis wanted to, just because it took Louis literally being backed into a corner and forced to surrender to his nature to realize he wanted to, didn’t mean Armand wanted him.

 

Armand was so reserved, his thoughts locked away in an impenetrable vault, so how could Louis know?

 

He heard Armand laugh, lightly. “Unlike your maker, you truly don’t see the effect you have on others.”

 

Louis had to laugh, disbelieved. Yeah, some effect , alright. Because if that were really the case, then why had he not enough to the point that Lestat needed variety to fulfill him?

 

Then, Armand was stepping into his space again, his hands slithering around Louis’ waist with a possessive tug. “I said, don’t overthink.” He scolded.

 

Suddenly, desire and hunger rushed through Louis again. It took him a second to realize it wasn’t his own…

 

Armand’s.

 

It ran so deep, so tantalizing, that Louis felt himself get lost into it as he gripped Armand’s hips, using a strength he didn’t know he could have to flip them around.

 

A gasp was torn out of Armand as Louis shoved him against the tree. Despite the rush that ran through him, despite now knowing this was okay to do, hesitance still lingered.

 

“It’s okay.” Armand said, the calm in his voice did little to hide his simmering excitement. “Take your fill.”

 

Louis dropped to his knees then, rushing to undo the belt of his pants, before finally pulling out Armand’s long length.

 

Armand let out a small gasp as Louis’ eyes flickered up towards him. Armand allowed his hand to cradle the side of Louis’ face, slipping his thumb into Louis’ mouth as if to spread him out. “That’s what you need, isn’t it Louis? Me to fill you.”

 

Unlike the first night when Armand had done this, there was no hesitation in the way Louis wrapped his mouth around his thumb, sucking on him, hunger burning in his stomach.

 

“Let me fill you.” Armand said, pulling his finger out and replacing it with the tip of his length.

 

Louis’ mouth parted eagerly, tongue swirling around the head of his cock. 

 

“Yes. That’s it…” Armand shuddered, using the hand he let slide towards the back of Louis’ throat, to urge Louis’ mouth further onto his hard and heavy length. “You need me to fill you, don’t you Louis?” 

 

Louis felt himself moan the more Armand pushed into him, looking up at him through batted eyelashes.

 

Armand let out a hiss, his hand skimming towards the back of Louis’ neck. “Just look at you... You’re starving for me .” 

 

Louis swallowed his length with an intentional moan, meant to vibrate around the older vampire. 

 

That along with Louis’ nails digging into Armand’s hips invoked an airy gasp out of him. “Yes.” Armand exhaled with a shudder as he thrusted into Louis’ mouth. “Look at you. Mm. Greedy little thing. Still so hungry for me. Desperate for me to fill you. Needing me to keep you full.”

 

A muted groan tore through Louis, a result of Armand’s words and the wet, obscene sounds being made from Armand’s quickening thrusts into his mouth.

 

Yes, Louis was still hungry.

 

So hungry, his fangs plunged out of him once again, scratching an open wound on Armand’s sensitive skin that he soothed with his tongue, causing Armand to finish with a sob as he pulled out, cum landing all over Louis’ face.

 

It was brief, so brief if Louis hadn’t already been looking up at the older vampire he would’ve missed it; but for a moment there he witnessed as the powerful being allowed himself to let go and become undone.

 

As if somehow the heavy weight that was the power Armand carried had been Louis’, even if only for a second. 

 

It was mystical.

 

Intriguing.

 

It didn’t take long for Armand to come back down from his high, redirecting his heated gaze back on Louis. 

 

“Still so messy.” Armand admonished before feeding the spend that had splattered all over Louis’ face, into his mouth with his fingers. “Eat up, now.” 

 

Louis did, keenly lapping at the pinkish spend Armand guided onto his tongue.

 

If he didn’t smell of Armand before, Louis definitely did after this.

It only dawned on Louis on his way back that maybe that had been Armand’s plan all along, his way of subtly alerting Lestat of his presence: by leaving his scent all over Louis.

 

He got home before Lestat, used the time to shower and scrub the scent off. Louis hoped that , along with the stray he had snacked on his way home, had been enough to ward off Armand’s smell.

 

If Armand wanted Lestat to know he was here, then he was going to have to face the blonde vampire himself. Louis refused to be used for whatever push-and-pull type of relationship the two older vampires had with one another.

 

If Lestat sensed Armand all over him, he gave no indication of it as he strolled in, wrapping his arms around Louis from behind, nuzzling into the side of his neck.

 

Louis’ heart stuttered, both because it was Lestat but also because Louis felt as Lestat drew in a deep breath. “You never returned from your hunt.” He murmured into Louis’s neck, planting a kiss on the skin he had just sniffed.

 

His grip around Louis’ waist tightened, which was a usual occurrence... still, Louis felt anxiety bubbling within him. He had to remind himself that he had no reason to, though.

 

Lestat could fuck whoever he wanted to, hell, he wasted no time doing so!

 

They agreed Louis was allowed that same variety.

 

“Needed to clear my head for a bit. Ended up losing track of time.” Louis said, only partially telling the truth. Like any other night, there had only been so much of Lestat and Antoinette he could stomach before he needed a break. That had been the case earlier in the night. Not entirely, though.

 

Louis had also been hoping to run into Armand, aching to be filled as he had said.

 

And filled he had been, in more ways than one. Particularly in a way that always left Louis buzzing at the end, energized in a way he hadn’t been for a while.

 

Lestat hummed into his neck, kissing a trail up towards his jaw. Louis closed his eyes, leaning back to grant him more access. “I missed you.” Lestat said, before latching onto a patch of skin, knowing exactly where Louis’ was at his most sensitive.

 

Louis sighed, bringing his own arms to wrap around where Lestat held him. “Yeah?” he asked, rather bitterly despite the warmth that swelled within him. “Didn’t look that way when I left.” If he remembered correctly, he was pretty sure he had left just as Antoinette had begun nibbling on Lestat’s ear in some corner they had tucked themselves in on the second floor.

 

“Oui.” Lestat replied only to the first part, tugging harder at the sensitive skin of Louis’ neck. “Always.”

 

For a moment there, Louis forgot his jealousy, allowing Lestat to sweep him off his feet yet again. Armand was right. He did have that effect on people.

 

Lestat tugged at his skin again, sending a jolt of pleasure rushing towards Louis.

 

Yes, Louis thought. Do it. Bite me.

 

Was Louis still hesitant at the idea of being bitten again? Yes. But if Lestat did, then he’d be able to bring it up without needing to mention Armand. He’d be able to open a whole can of worms and maybe finally get to ask Lestat every question that’s been plaguing his mind ever since Armand appeared and stirred things up.

 

He had to know why he was keeping so much about being a vampire from him. Was it really because he knew Louis wouldn’t yet be receptive towards his knowledge? Or had Armand been right– was Lestat purposely keeping him stupid?

 

Lestat didn’t bite. He did pull Louis tighter against him, though, pressing his bulge against Louis’ ass as he spoke. “I don’t ever want you to feel left out, mon cher.”

 

“Mm?” Louis’ attention faltered a bit, his desires taking over as he began to grind his ass against his companion.

 

“Never.” Lestat insisted, starting his trail of open-mouthed kisses up Louis’ throat once more, speaking in between them. One of his hands started snaking under the hem of Louis’ pajama pants, slithering around his cock that had already been aching and taken care of multiple times in one night, yet that still craved more. “You could join us, you know.”

 

Louis bucked into his hand. “Hm?” He asked, only partially paying attention as Lestat jerked him off.

 

“You join us.” Lestat reiterated, panting in his ear as he rubbed his own erection against Louis’ clothed ass. “La dame is curious about us, about you, as I’m sure you are about her and I.”

 

This time, Louis did hear him clearly; a cruel pull back to reality. Louis jumped out of Lestat’s hold, spinning to look him in the eye. No way he was serious. “What?” he asked, disbelieved.

 

Lestat chased after him, his hands cupping Louis’ neck and dragging him into a searing kiss. “You could watch or she could…” His fingers caressed the bruises he left on Louis’ throat. “You’re so warm tonight,” He sighed, speaking with his lips still pressed against Louis’.  “Mm, what is in the animals these days, mon cher?”

 

Louis drew his head back, still stuck on Lestat’s proposition, unable to tell if he was being serious or trying to poke a reaction out of Louis. Did he not know what seeing her with him did to Louis? Did he not know of Louis’ preferences by now?

 

Was he being obtuse or just plain cruel?

 

Louis didn’t know. “I’m tired.” Is what Louis said instead of asking for clarification. He’d rather sit with it, let it quietly simmer deep within him, than give into whatever game Lestat was playing at– if any at all. “Think I’m gonna head to bed.”

 

Lestat smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes as he pulled Louis in for another kiss, knowing Louis could never say no to him when it came to that, no matter how upset he was with him. “Oui. Sleep on it, we can discuss more tomorrow.”

Notes:

I realized as I was trying to proofread (emphasis on *trying*) this chapter that I had both Armand and Lestat sniff Louis and for some reason that feels #canon to me idk.

Thank you for all the love in the last chapter, will try to update soon!

Chapter 4: Night IV, Night V...

Notes:

This one's a little longer, sorry it took me a bit to proof read and edit

And we also have a tentative(?) chapter count now, progress!!

Louis rarely saw children out and about, which made sense; most children were likely already tucked in their beds and fast asleep by the time Louis was able to venture into the world. On the rare nights that he did see children out with their parents were the nights he and Lestat would go see any of the new moving pictures or when he’d see a few out with their families during parades and other celebrations.

 

Sometimes he’d be reminded of Grace and the family of her own she’s started to build. He’d think of the moments he will miss out on, not just as an uncle but of moments no longer possible for him; being a parent.

 

Louis liked to watch people during some of his nights out with Lestat. Tonight, his companion sat beside him, nose buried into a large newspaper detailing the ongoings of the seemingly never ending war, while Louis just watched.

 

He watched a little girl, maybe around five or six, skipping along the sidewalk with her parents trailing behind her. Her dark curls bounced with every skip as she tried her hardest not to step on any crack on the pavement. 

 

Louis smiled fondly at himself, hearing as the little girl chanted, “Don’t step on a crack, don’t step on a crack, don’t step on a crack,” continuously in her head. He frowned when she tripped on a rock, stumbling forward, and landing on her hands and knees. The baby’s crying aside, Louis could tell by the coppery scent that filled his nose that she had scraped her skin.

 

Lestat hummed from beside him as he flipped the page. “Le petit démon should be more careful, one never knows what hungry monsters linger in the shadows, waiting to pounce.” He chortled.

 

Honestly, it wasn’t even the blood that troubled Louis at that moment. Yes, his stomach churned, but it wasn’t necessarily because of his ever present hunger. While hunger could be satiated, this was something that Louis knew couldn’t.

 

He watched as the girl’s mother knelt beside her, wiping her baby’s tears away as she pressed gentle kisses on her hands until the girl was no longer crying, but giggling instead. “Stop, it tickles, mama!” he heard the child say.

 

Then, the girl’s father swooped down and picked her up, promising to tend to her wounds as soon as they got home. Louis watched as the girl laid her head to rest on her father’s shoulders as he kissed the top of her head.

 

No, it wasn’t hunger Louis felt.

 

It was longing.

 

He was never going to have that, was he?

 

He felt as Lestat’s hand subtly slid around his waist, forcing Louis to tear his attention from the happy family. Lestat didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. The simple caress of his thumb across his hip bone and the light smile he gave Louis said enough. 

 

It was Lestat’s reminder that Louis had no need for any of that; Lestat was his family now.

 

That didn’t stop Louis from wanting what he knew he could never have.

Lestat didn’t bring up his proposal from the other day for the rest of that night or the night that followed. It was obvious that he was trying to include Louis more and more into his interactions with the singer, though.

 

Never being able to read Lestat’s mind was something Louis would forever mourn, which made him feel a bit ridiculous. How could he mourn something that he had never been able to do to begin with?

 

Yet, he did.

 

Because maybe if Louis could read Lestat’s mind, he’d understand the why .

 

Why did he insist on flaunting his relationship with the singer in front of him? Why try to get Louis an even closer look into their relationship? Having to see them in public was bad enough, why ask him to see how they were behind closed doors, too?

 

Was this punishment, for not being vampire enough, for not being loving enough, for simply not being enough?

 

Or was this just who Lestat was? Someone who just couldn’t understand Louis. Maybe he mourned not being able to read Louis’ mind, too?

 

Louis didn’t know, but that was normal. There apparently was a lot that Louis didn’t know.

 

‘Is it safe to assume you will not be joining me tonight, either?’ Louis felt himself straighten in his seat at the sudden invasion of his mind. He still wasn’t used to that.

 

His eyes darted towards Lestat, who seemed momentarily distracted by the crowd around him that he entertained, always the life of the party. Though Louis knew Lestat could not infiltrate his mind and that Armand continued to shield himself from him, there was still a part of him that was uncomfortable talking to Armand like this.

 

It could be guilt, Louis figured.

 

Unlike Lestat, he wasn’t used to all this. Hell, he was barely becoming accustomed to being with and loving a man. Being with two men at the same time, however? Now, that was a whole other thing Louis needed to make peace with. Seriously, he didn’t know how Lestat made it look so easy. He always seemed eager to offer his love to whoever reciprocated. 

 

‘Are you avoiding me, Louis?’ Armand asked a few seconds later, following Louis’ lack of response.

 

‘Some of us got other business to attend to, you know.’ Louis answered back, but not before sparing another glance Lestat’s way just to make sure his companion’s attention remained occupied elsewhere.

 

‘There you are.’ Louis felt Armand’s delight at finally being acknowledged flood through him. ‘I was beginning to think you’d let your shame get the best of you.’

 

Louis scoffed. ‘Shame? What shame? I told you, some of us just got other business to tend to.’

 

He heard Armand hum. ‘Ah, yes. Human business. Human business that you’ve decided to prioritize over your vampiric business.’

 

‘Thought we established that I prioritize myself just fine the other night.’ Louis responded.

 

‘Yes.’ He heard Armand let out a satisfied sigh. ‘Such a wondrous night, wasn’t it?’ Out of nowhere, Louis’ mind was being flooded with images from that night from Armand’s perspective.

 

Louis pressed against the tree bark, sucking needily and desperately on Armand’s fingers as ground on Armand’s offered thigh.

 

Then, Louis on his knees before Armand, mouth, again, occupied with his length as glistening green eyes looked up at Armand with batted long eyelashes.

 

‘Stop.’ Louis said, shutting his eyes in an attempt to block the tantalizing memories.

 

And finally, Louis, still on his knees, but with pinkish spend decorating his plush lips that was followed by the image of Armand feeding him his release with his fingers.

 

‘Armand.’ Louis said with an edge to his voice, squeezing his thighs together as he felt excitement swirl within him.

 

‘Just look at yourself, Louis.’ Armand sighed, longingly. ‘How lovely you look as I take care of you. Mm. Truly a sight to behold.’

 

Louis felt himself flush, downing his glass to conceal the fact. ‘You’ve made your point.’

 

‘Evidently, I have not. Not when you remain so far, uncared for and neglected.’

 

‘Don’t I get a say when I want to be ‘cared’ for?’ Louis rebutted.

 

‘Louis.’ Armand chuckled, before allowing his voice to drop. ‘Do you want me to beg? Because I promise I can think of better ways you can get me to do that.’

 

Louis felt his pants tighten. ‘God, you’re insufferable.’ He huffed out, annoyed. That didn’t stop him from excusing himself from whatever conversation the men at his table were having and reaching for his coat.

 

‘I’ll be waiting’ He felt Armand smile.

   

Armand led him pretty far out, seemingly to the place where he was staying. It surprised Louis how far away his abode was, considering how often he seemed to be watching them, especially.

 

Armand opened the door before Louis could even knock, a slight smirk on his face as he did. Louis couldn’t even bring himself to be angry, not when all he craved, all he wanted was standing before him, ready to be devoured.

 

Just as Louis prepared to do that, hands aiming to grasp at Armand’s neck, he’s stopped by Armand’s hands taking his mid air, pushing him back a bit. “Eager, aren’t we?” He said, as if he wasn’t the one pestering Louis until he finally relented and came to him.

 

Louis scowled, trying to pull his hands free from Armand’s hold, only to be met with resistance. “Let go.”

 

Delight consumed Armand’s expression. “You were the one who reached for me?”

 

“Yeah, that was before when I thought…” Louis trailed off, suddenly feeling too subconscious to finish his rebuttal.

 

“Thought what, Louis?” Armand questioned with a slight tilt of his head, his thumbs caressing Louis’ own hands that remained captive in his.

 

Louis averted his gaze, unable to look the older man in the face; unable to bring himself to respond out of fear of sounding stupid. He felt pretty stupid already.  

 

“Thought you’d come in and immediately get taken care of?” Armand’s smirk widened into a grin as Louis still refused to meet his gaze. “Don’t worry, that is still my intention. Come in.” He tugged Louis into his place.

 

As Armand led him further into his home, Louis took in the sight. It was a dimly lit space; the bedroom, living area, and kitchen all sort of melted into one big doorless room. The only door there seemed to be was for what Louis assumed was a bathroom. Near the bed, there was a wooden divider that hid a large coffin behind it.

 

Louis felt himself burn, resembling an emotion close to shyness. He had never been within the walls of another man’s bedroom, not since Lestat.

 

He was led towards a two-chaired, round dining table draped with a white table cloth, at the center of it was a white, unlit wax candle. Armand brought Louis to a stop by the chair facing away from the door, towards the kitchen. “Sit.” He said, releasing Louis’ hands to pull the chair out for him.

 

Louis faltered for a second, again feeling himself burn hot despite the ever present coldness of his nature. It’s ridiculous, Louis honestly felt mortified for even letting the sensation rush through him, but he couldn’t help the thumping of his heart at the action, one that Louis had done himself, as a gentleman, for countless ladies, now being done for him in turn.

 

He cleared his throat as he took a seat, warding off those humiliating thoughts as Armand pushed his chair closer towards the table. He had to get himself together. God knows Armand was definitely listening to his thoughts and that was even more moritifying.

 

Louis took a second or two to collect himself. By the time Armand had returned towards the table, two round bowls in hand that oozed a mouthwatering scent, Louis had calmed himself.

 

“What’s all this?” Louis asked, brows furrowed as Armand placed one of the blood-filled bowls before him, then doing the same for himself and taking the seat across from Louis.

 

“Dinner.” Armand responded, as if it was obvious. “I thought we could try it out, considering how often you like to play human.” He unfolded the cloth that wrapped around a silver spoon just as an orange flame began to dance on the slender, wax candle between them.

 

Louis marveled at it for a moment, astonished at the way Armand was able to ignite it without even looking at it, before the weight of Armand’s words settled in.

 

“Dinner?” He asked, feeling a slight disappointment swelling within him at the realization that he would apparently not be feeding directly from Armand tonight.

 

Armand’s lips twitched upward. “I’ve noticed you tend to run off as soon as you take your fill from me, sometimes so freaked out that you’ll spend a night or two avoiding me as punishment. We are trying something new to see if we can amend that.” Armand admonished, or at least tried to; there was no hiding his amusement from his voice.

 

“I don’t run .” Louis muttered, his bottom lip curling outward. He very much quickly paced away. There was a difference.

 

A pregnant pause followed, forcing Louis to return his gaze towards the vampire sitting across from him, catching Armand peering down at the lower half of his face with half lidded eyes.

 

Louis swallowed, averting his eyes from the intensity of Armand’s stare and started unfolding his own spoon from the white cloth. His nose crinkled, taking in the scent of the bowl before him. “What… what is this?” he asked tentatively. It didn’t smell like any animal or Armand’s blood, which worried Louis.

 

Armand didn’t respond right away, as if contemplating on what to say. “A couple of night joggers–”

 

The protest was already building in Louis, when Armand held a hand up to prevent Louis from cutting him off. “They live .” He quickly added, using his spoon to stir the blood in his bowl. “They’re probably on their way to the hospital right now, believing they must’ve gotten caught up in some brawl which would explain their sudden blood loss.”

 

Louis glanced down at his own bowl, still unsure as Armand continued. “I suppose I can understand your decision to not kill humans, but there are ways you may continue to feed from them without having to kill them. I will warn you that it does take quite a toll on us, should we choose to feast this way every night, but perhaps with time, the stronger you become, this might one day be an option for you.”

 

Time, huh. It was a good thing Louis had nothing but that, now.

 

He dipped his spoon into his bowl, following Armand’s suit and stirring the blood, as well. Hunger clawed its way through Louis’ stomach, begging him to just eat, but it had been a while since he last had human blood. 

 

“I have a proposition.” Armand spoke upon Louis’ visible hesitance, silver spoon clashing against the bowl as he stirred. “You eat and I’ll let you have dessert straight from the source.” Armand ran his fingers across the curve of his neck, clarifying what exactly he meant by dessert.

 

Louis willed his fangs to remain in place, not wanting to come across as desperate.

 

He looked down at the syrupy liquid in his bowl, tentatively scooping a crimson spoonful, and bringing it towards his mouth. His eyes shut immediately as the metallic, sweet flavor blessed his taste buds.

 

God, Louis hated this. Hated that the sweetest things that life had to offer came at the expense of others.

 

It wasn’t just blood. 

 

Wealth, more often than not, came at the expense of others. The wealth he managed to accumulate in a society that set him up to fail could attest to that. 

 

Maybe that’s the reason Louis did what he did.

 

He didn’t eat people, to make himself feel less like the monster he’s become.

 

He gave his girls a decent cut and partial say in his business to make himself feel less like the monster he had always been.

 

There would be no blissful afterlife for him, nowhere Louis could make amends with the family he could no longer be around later on.

 

There would be nothing but eternal damnation for him and it would be well deserved.

 

“You’re not going to hell, Louis.” Armand said, breaking Louis free from the heaviness of his thoughts. “Now eat, quickly, before the blood loses its warmth.”

 

“Yeah? You know that for sure?” Louis asked, despite Armand’s attempt at dismissal. He dragged another spoonful into his mouth, sighing as the liquid rushed down his throat.

 

Armand took a second for himself, seeming pleased as he watched as Louis listened and fed, before speaking. “Well, assuming its existence were real, I believe entrance to such a realm would first require one’s passing, which considering our immortality, won’t be happening.” 

 

“Why not?” Louis persisted, suddenly fueled by the verbal battle that was brewing. “You saying vampires can’t die? Give the sun a couple hours to come back then you tell me we can’t die.”

 

“I didn’t say it was impossible .” Armand interjected, outwardly thrilled at the verbal clash. “Just not as easy.”

 

“So, you agree then?” Louis said, feeling his heart thumping in exhilaration, sensing his argument’s victory. “There’s a chance I will be cursed into external damnation?”

 

Armand laughed. Louis couldn’t tell if it’s in amusement or in incredulity. “Oh Louis, Louis.” He shook his head, deep, amber eyes glistening in the muted light of his abode. “I very much doubt your God would waste space sending you there when there are much crueler men, vampires out there.”

 

“I’ve killed people.” Louis responded, a slight shrug accompanying his words. “Don’t like that I did, but it’s true. I’ve used his name in vain. I’ve lied with the devil. Multiple times. Stolen. Used people for my own gain. Failed to honor my parents in their eyes. Please enlighten me on how that doesn’t make me evil in the eyes of God?”

 

“What you perceive as sin, I see as a means of survival. Should one not do what it takes to survive?” Armand countered, leaning forward the more he spoke. “Why would God create us vampires if we are not meant to kill, control, and survive? Have you ever considered that perhaps these commandments you allow to weigh you down do not apply to creatures like us?" He paused then, as if a distant memory flashed before him before adding. "Trust me, I speak from experience. That is not the way to live."

 

Louis found the implication of that alone appalling. “You saying we are above God’s law?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So, what? We’re just gonna spend the rest of our eternal lives being lawless creatures, then?” Louis questioned. 

 

“Not necessarily. We have what we refer to as Great Laws. Great Laws for great creatures.” He responded, watching as Louis’ brows furrowed in confusion before adding. “But, knowing who your maker is, I’m safe to assume you have no clue what I’m talking about?” Armand chuckled lightly.

 

Louis snorted, unable to help it. “Does he look like the type of guy who follows any so-called laws?”

 

A smile ghosted across Armand’s lips. “Our Lestat has always been an untameable one. Despite your rigidness, I see some of that in you. You both also share an affinity for humanity, though you go about it in separate ways. I’ve always considered it an extremely irritating trait in him, but it’s… endearing in you. I can see why he was drawn to you.”

 

Louis couldn’t even dwell too long on the usage of the word our , again, suddenly far too fazed by the warmth of the blood he fed on making him flush at Armand’s words.

 

He felt himself swallow. He had to get it together. “What are these Great Laws of yours, anyway?” Louis diverted the conversation.

 

“The rules that we as vampires should abide by, rather than wasting time torturing ourselves with religions of our human past.” 

 

Armand then elaborated on these supposed five laws. Louis was stunned at some of them, particularly those he had never even considered— such as the idea of granting a child the dark gift. Then again, it was hard to consider the possibility of a vampire child when he had only ever interacted with one vampire for most of his vampiric life.

 

The second thing that left Louis stunned was the irony. “You talk about God’s laws as if they are beneath us, so therefore I shouldn’t worry about a Judgment Day as someone who has killed… unless if who I kill happens to be another vampire, which gets me into another type of Judgment Day?”

 

“Precisely.”

 

“How is that any different?”

 

“We are not creatures of God, Louis.” Armand pointed out, the amusement remaining evident in his expression despite the heated debate.

 

“Were we not human once? Humans that sinned?” Louis countered.

 

“And did your God not send his own son to die for the sinner?” Armand challenged.

 

“That may be, but there’s something you’re forgetting.” Louis leaned forward, no longer keeping track of the number of spoonfuls he was on as he continued. “All those who died in mortal sin will drown in an endless lake of fire. I stood before him, chose to die in sin, chose to become what I am instead of following his light. You expect punishment for breaking the Great Laws, why shouldn’t God expect the same from the human that once was?”

 

Louis had not only laid with the devil. When given the opportunity to repent, he didn’t. He chose the devil.

 

Became like him, even.

 

And now, Louis sat before another; another, that like the first, also lured him into temptation and Louis was just too weak. He always ended up giving in, didn’t he?

 

The older vampire smiled, the way a parent would when entertaining a child’s imagination. “As I’ve said, Louis: there are worse sinners out there, both human and vampire alike.” There was no convincing him. 

 

Louis frowned. “You speak from experience?”

 

Armand didn’t say anything in response, seemingly only taking a spoonful into his mouth to avoid answering.

 

“You know, for a guy that keeps saying he wants to show me all the ‘wonders’ I’m apparently missing out on, you sure are secretive.” 

 

Maybe just as secretive as Lestat, Louis thought to himself. Not just about the good, but the bad, as well. 

 

Armand seemed to take mild offense at that. “Oh? Have I not taught you the wonders of blood sharing, something he has kept from you.”

 

The dancing flame on the waxed candle fueled, seemingly at Armand’s command. “Have I not enlightened you on the gifts you could one day possess with time?” Suddenly, the spoon in Louis’ hand started to hold its own weight, as it began to stir his nearly empty bowl.

 

Louis gawked down at it. Well, that was new.

 

“I could take you flying, even.”

 

That time, Louis wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. “Flying?” He nearly sputtered.

 

His renewed interest was met with a satisfied expression from the older vampire. “Your city is much too lively at night.” Armand elaborated before pausing for a moment, eyes soaking in Louis as he appeared to consider something. “But maybe sometime down the line, if we ever find ourselves somewhere away from humanity…” he trailed off.

 

Louis felt himself come to a brief halt, as well. What did he mean by that? Louis had no plans to ever leave—

 

He stopped the thought before he could finish it, which sprung an idea in him. “Can you teach me how to shield my mind?”

 

Armand stilled for a moment, seemingly surprised by Louis’ request. “Why would you want to do that?”

 

This time, it was Louis who couldn’t help but laugh. “It ain’t obvious? You’re always in my head!” Not to mention it might be easier to win a debate against him without Armand already expecting what type of argument he’d be making.

 

“I like being in your head.” Armand stated, as if the reason alone was substantial. “I’m particularly fond of how it feels like to be inside your head while I’m taking care of you.”

 

Louis burned, as he had earlier. Only this time, with the added heat from feeding. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well some of us don’t like to be pestered.”

 

“Yet, here you are.” Armand was quick to catch him in his lie, another downside of having his mind at full display. “Allowing yourself to be pestered…” Armand’s gaze grew heated suddenly as it traced Louis’ from across him. “Shall I reward you for your tolerance of me, Louis?”

 

The air around them spiked with electricity. Louis found himself pinned in place.

 

Armand scooted his chair back from the table, his gaze holding Louis hostage. The older man didn’t stand, only continued looking at Louis expectantly. “Shall we get started with dessert?” He asked, lips quirking upward. “It’s the least I could do for you, isn’t it?”

 

A scorching heat rushed through Louis. It was getting embarrassing at this point how easily Armand could get him like this, hot and wanting. Armand patted his palm against his lap in invitation which only fueled his want.

 

Louis felt his mouth part as he exhaled a trembling breath. God, he wanted this so bad, he wanted Armand so bad, and he hated being on display like this.

 

Hated how easily he gave into temptation when taunted with it.

 

He couldn’t be the only one like this.

 

Louis rose to his feet, still not exactly sure if it would be best to just walk out that door or to take the invitation offered to him.

 

Except, he knew what he wanted to do.

 

Louis made his way around the table, stopping a step or two from where Armand sat. The older vampire looked up at him, orange-brown specks shimmering in need, in longing.

 

Heat swirled within Louis, as he brought a tentative hand to caress the cool skin of Armand’s face, watching curiously as the powerful man allowed for his eyes to shut with a shiver. 

 

Yes.

 

That was what Louis wanted; not to be alone in his desperation; in his temptation.

 

To be wanted with the same intensity as he wanted.

 

He didn’t know if this was performance or real, it didn’t matter.

 

It was working.

 

“My snake in the garden,” Louis murmured, fingers tracing along his smooth, brown skin towards his gelled back curls. 

 

Armand exhaled into a smile. “Yes, take a bite Louis.” His breath hitching as Louis tugged on a handful of curls. “Come to me. See the world in color.”

 

Louis took the offer, moving to swiftly sit on the older vampire’s lap facing him, one thigh hanging off either side of him, as Louis rested his hands on hard shoulders to steady himself.

 

Armand tracked his every moment, looking up at Louis with intent as he allowed for his large hands to settle on his hips, while gentle thumbs caressed the hem of Louis’ trousers.

 

The action alone was enough for Louis’ to feel himself tighten a bit. “About you teaching me how to shield my mind again?” He asked, his hands wandering up from his shoulders towards the slope of Armand’s neck on each side.

 

“I certainly have no intention of doing that right now.” The older man smiled lightly, as he allowed for his own hands to wander, as well, both up Louis’ lower back then back down to the swell of his ass. Louis gasped at the abrupt contact, jerking forward against Armand’s rock, hard body.

 

“When?” Louis asked, voice barely above a whisper.

 

He felt as Armand’s hands skimmed around his lower back, gently urging Louis’ hips against him again. Louis whined as small sparks of pleasure began to course through him.

 

“Suppose your God is real, Louis.” Armand started, instead of answering Louis’ question, voice gruff as he appeared to reel in the sensation of Louis slowly rocking on him while he buried his hands in Armand’s curls. “Suppose his laws apply to us, too. You will not be alone in your eternal damnation.”

 

Armand’s hand encouraged Louis, again. Doing so this time prompted Louis’ pace to quicken. “I will be right there with you. What… what was that last commandment, again?” Armand’s voice became airy as he spoke. “Thou shall not covet his neighbor’s wife?”

 

Louis lost all self control right then and there. His hands slid back down to cradle Armand’s offered neck, before finally diving in. Armand’s blood yielded into Louis so easily, pulling a small whimper from him as Louis chased the taste of sweet temptation “I think I’ve done much more than covet, wouldn’t you agree, Louis?” Armand continued, voice strained.

 

Louis groaned into his throat, allowing his hips to grind against the hardening bulge he sat on while his own ached for more friction.

 

Armand moved to undo the belt of Louis’ trousers, waiting until Louis shifted his hips upwards to tug the fabric down, exposing the tightness in his undergarments. He palmed Louis through his briefs, evoking a deep, low sound from him.

 

‘Yes.’ Louis thought. Whether it was in response to the older vampire’s question or in affirmation of his fondling, Louis did not clarify.

 

Couldn’t clarify.

 

His mind was swimming in pleasure. A deep, white pleasure that left Louis feeling like he was floating.

 

“Is this what you seek to deny me, Louis?” Armand asked, as he continued to fondle Louis’ cock through his soaked briefs. “The waves of pleasure that flood your mind? How complete you feel when you take from me?”

 

Louis rutted into Armand’s palm, biting down on his neck harder the way Louis knew left the older man faltering in his ministrations. 

 

As expected, Armand’s movements did stumble, retreating his hand from Louis’ ache. A moment later, Louis hears the sound of a zipper being pulled down. Louis shifted his weight upward, allowing Armand the chance to tug his own pants downwards.

 

Louis groaned when he settled back down on his lap as he rubbed against Armand’s bulge through their undergarments. He pulled away from Armand’s neck, opting to meet the older vampire’s intense stare as he ground down on Armand’s erection feverously.

 

Armand’s dilated pupils lowered onto Louis’ mouth as his hips bucked upward, meeting Louis’ with equal measure. Louis didn’t need to be able to read the man’s mind to know that he wanted to kiss him. The knowledge of that alone was exhilarating.

 

Yes, Louis sought to deny Armand. To have him feeling as desperate, as needy as he had Louis feeling during every one of their interactions.

 

Louis didn’t kiss him. Perhaps it was because doing that made this real, made this into something precious like he shared with Lestat… and he wasn’t sure if he was ready for that.

 

Perhaps, it was also a punishment in a way. The way Eve should’ve been allowed to punish the serpent for leading her astray, for cursing her into a life of pain and submission when she was promised enlightenment.

 

So, no, Louis did not kiss Armand.

 

Instead, he brought his hands around Armand’s neck, thumbing the puncture he had caused on the left side. Armand hissed as Louis picked at the wound, his grip on Louis’ ass tightening as he urged him closer.

 

“Teach me how to shield my mind from you.” Louis said again, chest heaving as he shifted his hips forward, pressing his throbbing bulge against Armand’s abdomen.

 

“Louis,” Armand exhaled out in reverence, eyes wide and dewy as he chased Louis’ movements in fluid motion.

 

“Teach me,” Louis shuddered as he felt the dampness in Armand’s briefs soak through his own on his ass.

 

Then, he added pressure onto his hands wrapped around Armand’s throat and felt as the man twitched underneath him, choking out a whimper.

 

‘Yes.’ He heard Armand say telepathically.

 

“Yes, you’ll teach me?” Louis asked.

 

‘Yes, keep going.’ Armand clarified. ‘Let me have you like this, Louis.’ As if to emphasize what he meant, Armand rubbed his clothed cock more firmly against Louis’ ass. He then traced the length of Louis’ arm, towards the back of his hand that wrapped around Armand’s neck, as if coaxing Louis to add even more pressure. ‘Just like this, Louis.’

 

Louis felt his lips part, eyes fluttering shut as he moved his hips against Armand with more urgency. 

 

‘Use me, Louis.’

 

“You gonna teach me?” Louis asked, breathlessly as he partially obliged to Armand’s desires, pressing harder on his jugular. Armand moaned, a sound mixed in pain and pleasure.

 

He wondered what it would be like to bite him there. Louis’ fangs ached to find out.

 

‘Yes.’ Armand relented, ‘Whatever you want Louis, just please…’

 

Louis’ grip tightened, rolling his hips forward and backward, the bubbling pleasure and tension within him needing to be released.

 

Armand whined beneath him, bucking his hips more urgently against Louis’ ass as if sensing how close Louis was, ‘No, please.’ Armand begged, desperately. ‘ Let me fuck you, Louis. Let me be what you need. Please.’

 

Hearing someone as powerful as Armand like this had Louis insanely hot. No longer was Louis the one pathetic and desperate. Not here.

 

Here, Louis held the power.

 

With a final thrust of his hips, Louis came in his briefs, panting heavily as he reached his high.

 

He could feel Armand underneath him, still hard and aching.

 

‘Louis.’ He heard Armand call to him as Louis came back to himself. 

 

He loosened his hold on Armand’s throat, much to the older man’s visible dismay. Before the older vampire could say anything, though, Louis latched onto his neck for a moment, lapping the sweet blood he missed as the wound began to heal.

 

Armand sighed, his hand tracing up his spine towards his neck before coming to a stop at the back of Louis’ throat, in an apparent attempt to keep Louis in place for longer as he started rutting into the fabric of Louis’ briefs that dipped in between his ass cheeks.

 

There he was again, trying to lead Louis into temptation.

 

Any other night, Louis might’ve let himself be led. He had done it before, after all.

 

A part of him was still high off the power of his release, though.

 

Not only that, but Louis was curious, too; curious how much he could get away with denying Armand.

 

Louis lifted his weight off Armand, abruptly putting an end to his attempt of persuading Louis into giving in.

 

Neither of them said anything as Louis pulled his trousers up, over his ruined briefs. He felt Armand watching him, though, eyes burning into him.

 

“Thank you, for dinner.” Louis said once he collected himself, briefly glancing at the panting man. 

 

Louis left the powerful being there, aching and throbbing for him as he walked into the night, vigorous and buzzing.

He went straight home and showered, warding off any smell the older vampire might’ve left on him. When that didn’t feel like enough, Louis took the extra step of burning the clothes he wore earlier in their incinerator.

 

Thoughts of Armand clouded him for the rest of the night. He didn’t attempt to stop Louis when he left him there, even though everything about his heated expression wanted Louis to stay. Nor has he complained to Louis telepathically, since he left hours ago.

 

It left Louis wondering if the older vampire still sat there, aching to fill him.

 

The thought of that being true thrilled Louis.

 

Not as much as thinking about how Armand would react, though.

Louis opted to spend his evening to himself the following night.

 

“It kills me to leave you here all alone, mon cher.” Lestat leaned down from behind the couch where Louis laid, book resting on his chest. He placed a kiss on Louis’ neck, then another on his cheek, leaving Louis’ skin blazing at the contact. “Boring yourself to death with these things, when we could enjoy the scenic night, maybe even enjoy a performance or two?”

 

Enjoy was debatable, usually depending on the type of places Lestat wished to attend and the type of rules they had. Louis wasn’t really in the mood to deal with those types of places, either.

 

“You could always stay with me?” Louis peered up at him, smiling softly. “Make a night out of it. Just me and you?”

 

“Mm.” This time Lestat leaned down to kiss him fully on the lips. “A tempting offer.” He kissed him again. “Not as tempting as mine, though.”

 

Louis hummed into their kiss before breaking it to answer. “Nah. Not really in the mood for music tonight.”

 

“I meant the one I made you the other night.” Lestat reached to cup Louis’ chin, angling him up to kiss him more efficiently. “You never did give me an answer to Antoinette’s proposition. Did you ever take the time to think about it?”

 

He tried for another kiss, but Louis turned, no longer feeling the inner heat that came with kissing Lestat. “What’s there to think about?” Louis asked, there was a slight irritation in his tone. “I don’t have any interest in watching you two.” Watching her with Lestat, in particular.

 

Lestat sighed, defeatedly, caressing Louis’ face. “A shame. La dame était très excitée, but do not worry Saint Louis. Perhaps with time, you will become more comfortable with the idea.”

 

Louis inhaled deeply, not wanting to allow this to ruin what was supposed to be a peaceful night in for him. “Don’t you got a performance to catch?” He changed the subject, not wanting to discuss the matter ever again.

 

“Oui!” Lestat perked, but not before leaning down for another kiss. One, that Louis begrudgingly granted him. Even when the man pissed him off to no end, hurt him like no other, there would never be a doubt that Louis’ heart beated for him. Lestat parted, his face lingering close to Louis’ as he stared at him for a moment too long, wearing an expression Louis could not decipher.

 

Oh, how badly did he long to read his mind.

 

“I will always come home to you, my Louis.” Lestat said, voice quiet and somber as he cradled Louis’ cheek with his large fingers, using them to turn Louis’ face to look directly into darkening, blue eyes. “Always come home to me, too.”

 

The words felt loaded. For a moment, Louis wasn’t sure if it was his guilty conscience trying to make something out of nothing, or if his companion somehow knew something he wasn’t supposed to.

 

Except, he couldn’t.

 

Armand would have told him if he had gone to Lestat already, wouldn’t he?

 

Lestat kissed him goodbye for the night. “Until later, mon cher.”

 

Then Louis was alone, away from the noise, the cruelties of the world, away from any temptation.

 

Just Louis, in the comfort of his home, his thoughts, and a book. 

 

At least, for about half an hour, because then, the world seemed to come knocking at his front door.

 

Louis looked up from his book, scowling. They weren’t expecting company tonight nor had Louis called upon anyone to bring him an animal for dinner, either. He had actually been planning on catching a few birds for tonight.

 

He also could not hear any nearby thoughts. The closest he heard were groups of late night strollers, already far too drunk off their asses considering how early in the night they were still in.

 

Strange.

 

Another knock came, louder this time.

 

Louis threw his feet over the couch, rising up to see just who was knocking on his door.

 

He should’ve expected it.

 

Really, he should’ve.

 

That didn’t stop him from being thrown off as he opened his door, heart accelerating at the sight that awaited him.

 

Armand.

 

Here.

 

In his and Lestat’s home.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and for all the love <3

Chapter 5: Night V

Summary:

Louis and Armand "lounge around" Rue Royal.

Lestat has some realizations.

Notes:

The tentative 7 chapters might become 8 chapters at the rate I am going... TBD.

Another attempt at proof reading, can't guarantee I didn't miss a few errors here and there though!

Also, tag updates in anticipation for the ending 🫣

Armand brought him flowers, a bouquet ranging from pink, orange, and yellow petals. Warmth spread within Louis, one that appeased a part of him he hardly ever let flourish; the soft, gentle part of him that yearned to be treated with tenderness, a part of him that he buried away to protect himself from the prying eyes of an ever prejudiced society.

 

“What are you doing?” Louis blurted out, rather than acknowledging the warmth that fuzzed all over his body at the gesture. After all, it was a part of him that had been buried for so long and old habits die hard. 

 

“Visiting a friend, is that not allowed?” The Armand that stood before him was composed, confident in his words; a complete contrast to the panting, writhing mess Louis had made of him the night before. 

 

The playing field seemed to have shifted back, now leaving Louis being the one to squirm under the intensity of his stare. “Wouldn’t exactly call us that.” He mumbled.

 

Armand visibly perked. “Is there something else you’d prefer to call us?” He asked, expectantly.

 

The options Louis’ mind supplied only added fuel to flame. He really had to learn how to shield his mind soon. “And those?” Louis redirected the conversation, hoping Armand did not manage to pluck the word paramours from his mind earlier.

 

Something about the way Armand smiled, however, told Louis he definitely caught on to Louis’ treacherous thoughts. “For you.” He answered, thankfully taking mercy on him.

 

Not too much mercy though, given the way Louis’ heart slammed against his chest. “You know I can’t have those here.”

 

Armand did not let the excuse deter him. “Then shall we take them to my place? I could prepare dinner for us like last night, maybe even show you how it is I go about it?”

 

Louis cleared his throat, pushing away the sweet memories from the night before: Armand thrusting desperately underneath him, begging for relief. “I’m supposed to stay in tonight.”

 

“Oh? Are we having this conversation again? About the proprieties of the world? What we are supposed to and not supposed to do? The properness and improperness of one’s behavior?” Armand’s blooming gaze took a predatory glint.

 

Louis hadn’t even realized he was being backed into his own home, Armand seeming to be the only vampire not requiring an invitation as he welcomed himself into Louis’ home.

 

Louis and Lestat’s home.

 

“Because if that’s what we’re doing tonight, I’d like to discuss your cruelty from last night,” Armand stood in Louis’ space, the bouquet of flowers seeming to be the only thing that kept the gap between them in check. Armand peered down at him with blazing eyes. “Is that what you like, Louis? Denying us both something we need.”

 

“Ain’t that what you like?” Louis scoffed, willing his feet to remain in place. He refused to be intimidated in his own home.

 

Armand hummed. “Would you like to put this theory of yours to a test and find out?”

 

It was atrocious. The way all it took was Armand lowering his voice and implying the most sinful of things to get Louis going.

 

He had to get a grip.

 

Louis cleared his throat, immediately reaching for the flowers, curling his fingers around the dried stem– anything to put some distance between them. “These probably need water.” And he sprinted towards the kitchen sink. “Wouldn’t want them to die so quickly.”

 

“I can keep them alive for all eternity if you wish.” Louis heard Armand say, as footsteps followed behind him.

 

“Oh yeah? Is gardening one of these so-called gifts I gotta look out for?” Louis called back, trying his best to sound as if his heart was not practically clawing its way out of his throat.

 

“Not necessarily…” Armand sounded closer. “A vampire’s mind can be very powerful, enough to compel the living to our will, in some cases.”

 

Louis huffed out a nervous laugh. “So, you’re just gonna waste your power on keeping a little ol’ bouquet of flowers alive, then?” Louis kept his back to him as he turned to faucet on, filling the first crystal-vase he found. 

 

His breath hitched as he felt a firmness settle behind him. Louis stilled, body electric as Armand’s arms slithered around his waist and tugged him against his chest. “Louis,” Armand spoke in a velvety tone against his ear, enough to render Louis immobile. “I would keep an endless garden of flowers alive for multiple lifetimes if it pleases you.”

 

Louis felt himself shudder at his words. Such a powerful being like Armand, someone who could easily kill him without messing up a single strand of hair, offering himself— his servitude— for Louis, it was…

 

Frightening..

 

Overwhelming.. yet,

 

Exhilarating.

 

The vase began to overfill, the flowers floating in much more water than necessary, but that was the least of Louis’ concerns because then, Armand’s chin nuzzled against the curve of his neck, inhaling deeply.

 

Louis allowed his eyes to lull shut for a beat, as Armand hummed contently into his neck. He allowed himself a moment of this, of being held before remembering himself. “What are you doing?” Louis asked, voice quiet. 

 

Lestat had only just left not too long ago. And he seemed to think he knew something. Something Louis wasn’t ready for him to know.

 

Armand let out a small chuckle, his breath gently tickling the skin of his throat. “Do you really imagine I would be here right now, in one piece, if he had any inkling that I was here… touching what’s his.”

 

“He’s been weird.” Louis insisted.

 

“He wouldn’t be our dear Lestat, if he wasn’t.” Armand responded, half-heartedly, his attention seemingly much more invested in wandering up Louis’ stomach.

 

Louis shivered again, fighting to keep his focus. “How… do I know you haven’t told him?” He just couldn’t shake the feeling.

 

Another light chuckle grazed Louis’ neck as Armand’s hands moved up his chest. “And risk losing this? Do you take me for an idiot, Louis?” 

 

“You’re sneaky. I take you for a guy with ulterior motives, despite claiming otherwise.”

 

Louis gasped, jolting forward into the counter as he felt Armand nip at the back of his throat. Armand’s pelvis followed behind him, refusing to grant Louis any space as it pressed further against his ass.

 

“You’re right. My motives for tonight’s visit aren’t so innocent. But then again, you should’ve expected that Louis, after the state you left me in last night.”

 

Another nip on his sensitive skin followed, one that had Louis clamping down on his bottom lip as Armand’s mouth wrapped around the patch of skin and tugged. “Not very saintly of you, Louis.” He spoke into his skin before moving on to suckle on another patch of skin.

 

Louis wondered if this was it. Was this when Armand would finally come to reap what Louis had been taking from him night after night, would he take a bite?

 

He still wasn’t sure if he wanted him to or not. The fear of being hurt remained, but curiosity also brewed deep within him. Armand didn’t seem to mind the pain; the opposite, actually, he seemed to crave it… but then again that felt more partial to his preferences. For all Louis knew, the biting simply did just hurt as it had in his experience.

 

Regardless, Armand didn’t bite, not with his fangs nor hard enough to draw blood at least. The older vampire had other priorities, ones he made abundantly clear as he started clawing at Louis’ clothes like an animal gone feral, until Louis’ pants and undergarments were crumpled at his feet. Louis expected it this time, moaning in relief as Armand moved to wrap his right arm around his shoulder, slithering three fingers into Louis’ expecting mouth.

 

He had to know at this point how much Louis loved to suckle on his fingers. The needy noises Louis let out as Armand fucked his mouth was proof of that. God, Louis had even loved it the first night he had done it, even if he had been initially thrown off by it.

 

Louis felt his fangs rip out of him, expecting to be fed this way.

 

Armand chuckled, breath hot in his ear. “Not yet, sweet one. Not yet.” He cooed as he moved his clothed groin in circular motions around Louis’ now bare ass.

 

‘Please.’ Louis mentally begged, hollowing his cheeks around his fingers. He could taste the warmth of his blood through his skin. It was so hard not to simply bite down. ‘Please, Armand. I need it.’

 

Armand’s breath drew sharp from behind him, “Yes.” he exhaled, hips hunching with more force against Louis’ ass. “I’m what you need, Louis.” Then he finally nicked his fingers on Louis’ fangs, but before Louis could relish in the sweet, tantalizing taste, Armand was pulling his fingers out, leaving Louis whining after the taste. “Me.” Armand added, fingers soaked in Louis’ saliva and Armand’s own blood teasing Louis’ entrance. “You shouldn’t have tried to keep me from you.”

 

Louis’ mouth fell slack as Armand’s slicked fingers slowly entered his heat. His hands gripped on the counter, grinding down against the eager fingers that opened him up.

 

“Ar.. Armand.” Louis stammered out.

 

“Mm?” The older vampire took his left ear lobe in between his teeth.

 

Louis suddenly could not find the words, rather drowning in the small sparks of pleasure that came from Armand’s digits pumping in and out of him. 

 

“What is it, Louis? Are you going to keep denying me?” He asked, following Louis’ lack of response. “Hm? Denying yourself from the pleasures I could give you?”

 

Louis’ hips chased his fingers, needing him to keep brushing up against that sensitive spot that had his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

 

The older vampire’s steady rhythm slowed and the distance between them grew farther as Armand stepped back a bit, making Louis vocalize his disappointment. He took the abrupt pause to catch his breath, to release his tight grip on the counter, and to put some distance between his hardened length and the way it uncomfortably pressed against one of the bottom cabinet drawers.

 

When Armand amended the distance, Louis realized his trousers were now undone as he cornered him back against the counter. His hole fluttered as the tip of his cock now teased his entrance. “Don’t deny us what we need any longer, Louis.” 

 

Armand’s whisper came out sounding more like a plea, the underlying desperation of his voice causing Louis’ arousal to spiral.

 

It was something that did not go unnoticed by him as his large hands reached to grip Louis by his hips, pulling the swell of Louis’ ass flush against his cock. 

 

Louis gasped at the sensation, at the sound of skin slapping against each other as the head of Armand’s throbbing length kept teasing his entrance with every buck of his hips. “Do you need me to beg, Louis?” Armand breathed into his ear, breath hot. “That’s what you like, isn’t it? Me begging?”

 

Heat pooled within him at Armand’s words.

 

God, Louis was going insane.

 

“Please.” Armand whispered against his neck, the way a common man would when pleading for mercy before a God. 

 

The image of that alone had Louis soaring.

 

“Please, Louis.” Armand said, voice strained as he continued to hump against him. “Let me be what you need.”

 

Armand was right.

 

He did like to hear him beg.

 

After spending the last few weeks not feeling like he was enough, after years of an endless hunger, Louis liked having someone want him, starve for him for a change.

 

Even if it was just for this moment.

 

“Fine…” Louis strained out, the need for once subduing the guilt. “Fuck, okay.”

 

What did it matter in the end? He already had his fair share of sins, what was one more to the list?

 

Armand wasted no time, his breathing becoming ragged as he eased his way into Louis.

 

Louis sighed as he adjusted to his stretch, rolling his hips back against his length a second later once he was ready.

 

The older vampire grunted, taking Louis’ invitation in full force as he started thrusting into him.

 

“Fuck,” Louis cursed, gripping the counter once more as pleasure shot through him. 

 

“Mm.” Armand moaned into his ear, taking his pleasure from Louis’ tight heat. “Chose douce,” his lips traced against the skin where his throat and jaw met. “You like me desperate for you, don’t you? Because you’re just as desperate for me, hm?” Armand plucked the thought right out of his mind.

 

Louis felt himself flush. God, he had to learn how to shield his mind already. “Teach me.. fuck, teach me how to shield my mind.” 

 

“I’ll teach you whatever you want, sweet one. Mm. But only … only under the condition that you keep yourself open to me when I have you like this.” For emphasis, Armand increased the speed of his thrusts. “I love hearing how much you need me to fill you.”

 

“Need?” Louis attempted a scoff, one that transformed into a sudden gasp halfway as Armand buried himself deep with him. “Fuck.”

 

“Mm. Yes.” As if to make his point, Armand detached one of his hands from Louis’ hips, bringing his wrist up in offering. Louis didn’t even hesitate before sinking into the warm sweetness. He felt Armand smile against his skin. “Greedy little thing, aren’t you?”

 

The sweet metallic flavor that flooded his mouth only heightened the pleasure that sprung through him with every thrust. “Tell me, Louis… are you this hungry for everyone else or is it only me?”

 

His length hit Louis’ prostate, nearly sending Louis over the edge. 

 

He whined at the contact, he was so close, he could feel his own throbbing ache teetering upon its release.

 

But then, Armand slowed his movements, pulling out just as Louis was about to finish.  “Tell me.” He clearly had no intention of letting Louis finish before he got what he wanted.

 

Louis whimpered into the open wound, his hips chasing the length that now left him empty and unfulfilled. “Armand.” He groaned, pausing momentarily from his feast.

 

“Say you only need me to fill you like this, Louis. Say you need me…” He panted, easing his way back into Louis at a torturously slow pace. Like Louis, Armand seemed to crave Louis’ desperation. Except, while Louis wanted to be wanted, Armand needed to be needed.

 

“Fuck, Armand.” Louis urged, needing him to get on with it, needing him to fill him, needing him…

 

Fuck.

 

Armand seemed to have heard the thought, shivering as he fucked into Louis slowly, way too slowly. “Tell me.” He pleaded, quietly, needing to hear it aloud apparently. 

 

“Armand…” Louis panted, “Please.”

 

“Please what?” Armand gently thrusted in and out of him.

 

Louis clamped his eyes shut, “Need.. need you.. faster, please.”

 

Armand returned his hand back on his hips, yanking Louis back onto his cock with a strength that had Louis whimpering with every thrust. “Say it again.” Armand begged.

 

“Fuck. Need you… mm… need you harder…deeper.” 

 

“Again,” Armand pleaded.

 

“Need… need you, fuck. Need you, Armand. Need… need you so bad, please.” Louis rambled, feeling himself getting pressed over the counter, face flush against the cool sink as Armand drilled into him until he had Louis’ vision blurring with tears.

 

Armand finished in him with a sob, twitching inside him as he continued to thrust deeply into Louis as his release followed.

 

Realistically, Louis knew it was probably only a few seconds, but it felt like time slowed as his breathing soothed and he no longer saw stars blurring his sight.

 

Already knowing what to expect from Louis, Armand eased out of him, quick to distract him with his end of their bargain before the guilt began to settle in.

 

“So.” Armand’s gaze peered down towards Louis’ mouth for a beat before flickering to meet his eyes. He sounded far too composed, far more than Louis, himself, felt. There was a gleam in his own eyes, a color that Louis now realized seemed to resemble one the shades of the flowers in his bouquet…

 

His bouquet.

 

Louis glanced back and saw the faucet had turned off on its own. Returning his gaze towards Armand only confirmed that had been his doing.  

 

“You want to learn how to shield your mind?” He asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Before relenting, Louis looked over at the grandfather clock peeking from the living room. The large hand stood directly on the eight while the smaller one stood past the number twelve.

 

What the hell, the night was still young.

“It is as simple as flicking a switch.” Armand elaborated. They found themselves back on the couch Louis had been lounging on before the older vampire’s unexpected appearance. Despite having already crossed the line tonight, in his own home, Louis made sure to keep a respectable distance between them– something that Armand seemingly found endearing if the thought Louis caught from him could be trusted.

 

“Imagine building a fortress around your mind.” He added.

 

So, Louis tried. Sealed his thoughts the way he sealed himself from the world.

 

They had been nursing their own cigarettes during their lesson, too. Like alcohol, the tobacco did nothing against their vampiric abilities, but Louis was never one to turn down a smoke. Besides, it gave him something to focus on, and hopefully did for Armand, as well. Louis didn’t want him noticing his slight discomfort.

 

He still can’t believe he let that happen.

 

In his home.

 

His and Lestat’s home.

 

Now, he felt no different than his maker who had the singer on one of their couches nearly two weeks ago.

 

“It working?” Louis asked as he withheld.

 

Armand took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke through his nostrils. The sight shouldn’t be getting to Louis, yet it was. He flushed at the thought. Now, he really hoped he had succeeded in shielding his mind. 

 

“You’re a quick learner, Louis.” Armand replied and Louis felt himself smile at the confirmation. “Such a shame, though. I truly did like being in your head.”

 

“Mm. You mean you liked being a creeper?” Louis found himself teasing the older man. Maybe it was a result of the lightness that came from succeeding in something, in not feeling completely inadequate as a vampire.

 

Armand visibly relished in the lightness, shifting to turn his body to face Louis. “You didn’t seem to be complaining a few moments ago…”

 

Louis cleared his throat, steering the conversation away from his embarrassment. “Now I’m really glad you can’t hear my thoughts, otherwise you’d be hearing some very unkind words right about now.”

 

The older man chuckled. “Unless I break through your fortress, that is.”

 

Louis’ head tilted slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

Armand inhaled another smoke, speaking as he exhaled. “Well, no mind is impenetrable, Louis. It would take me some effort and quite the strength, but I can’t think of a single vampire out there whose mind I can’t eventually break past.” He shrugged. “Power comes with age.”

 

Louis choked mid drag. “So, you’re telling me this was all pointless? Regardless, you could just break my mind with your ‘ ancient power’ if you felt like it.” He scoffed.

 

“Not pointless.” Armand said, auburn eyes zoning in on him. “I told you I would not harm you.”

 

Another promise from the serpent. Will this one lead Louis to eternal damnation, too? He grimaced.

 

“You do not believe me.” Armand said, observing him. Before Louis could call him out, he spoke again. “I’m not reading your mind, your face told me that all on its own.”

 

Louis sighed, a cloud of smoke briefly blocking the man beside him. “You blame me? I mean, aren’t you here to take what’s mine?” 

 

What’s his and Antoinette’s apparently. Louis’ mood further soured at the internal reminder.

 

Armand blinked, seemingly faltering for a second before regaining his composure. “I don’t recall ever claiming to be here to take what’s yours , Louis.” There was a slight edge to his voice.

 

“Then why are you here?” Louis asked, inspecting the cigarette he twiddled between his fingers before taking another hit. “You never did elaborate what you meant by ‘unfinished business’.”

 

A pregnant pause followed, one that appeared to drag out for far longer than the time that actually passed. Louis felt himself tense, wondering if his prying had pushed the older man too far.

 

The sound of Armand smacking his lips together lightly drew Louis’ attention back to him. “What is time to a vampire?” Armand reiterated words he had previously shared with Louis, adding new meaning to them as he continued. “But loneliness.”

 

Louis felt the weight of his words haul him down, only confirming what he feared, what he dreaded.  “There… there aren’t no others where you’re from?” Louis asked, hesitantly.

 

Armand’s scoff was gentle, blending with the sound of incredulous laughter. “There are. More than enough. All under my care, even. I am needed there, have made myself belong there.” He watched as Armand’s chest rose with an exhale. “And yet…”

 

“It ain’t enough.” Louis finished for him, averting his gaze towards his lap. Though he had pulled his pants back up after their exchange from earlier, the fabric had become wrinkled.

 

“It’s funny. I had hoped to find him miserable, thought maybe I would make myself feel better seeing him far worse off after he left me.” Louis felt as Armand beckoned him to meet his gaze, his hand gently guiding Louis’ chin up towards him. He shivered as Armand caressed his jaw, “But how could one be miserable when having you?”

 

Louis’ eyes screwed shut as Armand moved to properly cup his cheek. He leaned into his tender touch, feeling himself be lured in despite the words he didn’t quite believe. “Ask him, he seems plenty miserable to me sometimes.” Especially when Louis refused to conform to what Lestat expected from him.

 

“Then he is as foolish now as he was then.” Armand said, his eyes searching Louis’ face, drinking him in with such an intensity it scared him. “He has no idea how lucky he is to be yours, to belong to you.”

 

And Antoinette, Louis’ mind offered, cruelly.

 

And who knew who else, considering Lestat’s desire for variety

 

“Are you… ever going to tell him you’re here?” Louis couldn’t help but ask. He didn’t even want to think of how Lestat would react if he knew what Louis had been getting up to with him.

 

Armand shrugged, retracting his hand and leaving Louis’ face cold. “Inevitably, I know I must go back. I have neglected my responsibilities far longer than expected by now.”

 

The thought of him leaving made Louis’ stomach drop. But it was as he said. It was inevitable. “Are you… planning to, soon?” He couldn’t help but ask.

 

An amused expression took over Armand’s, replacing the sadness his features once held. “Eager to rid yourself of me so soon?”

 

“No, I mean…” Louis’ stumbling came to an abrupt end as Armand scooted closer, whether it was to put his cigarette out on the tray on the coffee table directly in front of Louis or to narrow the space between them, Louis didn’t know.

 

“When you still have so much to learn from me?” Armand’s voice dropped, scooting even further until their knees pressed together.

 

Louis swallowed, nodding slowly. “Yeah. So much.” He agreed as a large hand came to rest on his thigh.

 

“For instance, we have not quite finished exploring how you appear to enjoy bending those much more powerful than you to your will, hm?” Armand’s hand moved up, brushing against Louis’ growing erection. “Would you like to see what that’s like, Louis?”

 

Armand gripped his length through his trousers, tearing a gasp out of Louis as he squeezed. “Me on my knees for you?”

 

Louis had no self control.

 

It should’ve been embarrassing at this point, the quickness in which he nodded.

 

It might’ve, actually, if only Armand’s warm mouth didn’t feel so good around him as he took the entirety of Louis’ length, up to the hilt.

 

He hallowed around Louis’ cock, taking him until Louis was fucking into his throat. When Louis came in his mouth with a guttural sound, hands buried in Armand’s dark curls, Armand suckled around the head of his cock, refusing to release him until Louis emptied himself out in him.

 

That and their earlier exchange should’ve been more than enough to satiate them both. Yet, when Louis finally found the strength to lift his head off the couch to look down at the mess he left on the man before him, he found Armand achingly hard himself, staring up at Louis with a hunger that mirrored his own– which of course, ended up with Louis straddling him as Armand laid sprawled on the hard floor.

 

Louis rocked back and forth, riding his cock with his head thrown back as his hands explored the curly hairs of his firm chest.

 

“It thrills you, having me like this.” Armand’s voice was strained as he looked up at Louis, eyes sparkling in nothing but pure reverence. “A creature as powerful as me, as dangerous, bent to your will, at your mercy.”

 

Armand’s hands grasped at Louis’ hips, urging his movements as Armand’s own jerked up to meet his every grind. Louis moaned, shifting his hips in a circular motion around Armand’s cock that had the older man’ breath hitching. “Yes. Use… Use me..”

 

Louis recalled the night before, how Armand was becoming undone with Louis’ tightening hold around his throat.

 

He recreated the scene, watching as the older man’s copper eyes dilated, until his dark pupils drowned out the color of his irises. Louis squeezed, feeling as Armand struggled to swallow between the weight of his hands. 

 

“Fuck.” Louis groaned, squeezing tighter as he bounced on the man’s leaking length. Armand let out a strangled noise, his hips thrusting with even more urgency. “This how you wanted me last night, hm?” Louis spoke, the unfamiliarity of his own words turning him on even more. Armand choking out a whine beneath him only motivates him further. “Fucking myself on you, using you for my own pleasure?”

 

“Yes,” Armand struggled to speak out, paining him to, even. That didn’t stop him from trying. “Use me… suffocate me… drink me.” He heaved, eyes glimmering brighter than Louis had ever seen them. “Do whatever you want to me, ma déesse, just… just have me.”

 

Armand’s choice of pet name sent something sizzling rushing through Louis, his orgasm ripping through him, spluttering all over the man beneath him, who remained erect within him.

 

Louis released his grip on the man’s throat, riding out his aftershocks as his fangs took root in the swelling on his neck he had left behind. Armand came upon contact, trembling as he filled Louis in more than one way for the second time tonight.

 

Louis gently rocked on him, feeling the soft vibrations from Armand’s grunting as he lapped at the blood on his throat as the puncture sealed far too quickly for his liking. He felt as Armand brought his hand to the back of his throat, stroking his skin. 

 

When he attempted to retreat, Armand’s hold on his throat kept him from moving too far. The older vampire held his gaze for a beat, before Louis watched it shift towards his mouth. He watched as Armand swallowed, his eyes glistening in hunger.

 

There it was, again.

 

The ancient being’s visible desire to kiss him.

 

Louis’ stomach lurched at the realization. For a moment, he considered it; wondered what it would be like to kiss someone who wasn’t Lestat, who’d been the only other he had kissed in these last couple of years,

 

The thought of his companion broke the spell.

 

Louis wasn’t like Lestat. Not really. He didn’t know how the older man was able to make kissing someone else but him look so easy.

 

But Louis couldn’t. He just couldn’t bring himself to. 

 

Rather, he let his forehead gently press against the man that laid beneath him, their noses bumping into a tender caress as they breathed each other’s air.

 

He didn’t keep track of how long they laid like that. It could’ve been forever and Louis just might’ve been okay with that.

 

However, Louis didn’t promise Armand forever.

 

The one he promised forever to would be coming home soon, forcing Louis to tear himself away despite the thumping of his heart that begged him to stay right here, like this.

Louis made Armand take the bouquet with him. As much as he had secretly relished at the gesture, they couldn’t be here by the time Lestat got back. 

 

Armand told him they’d be waiting for him in his abode, for when Louis needed something to smile about.

 

Lestat found Louis where he left him, closer to four in the morning. Except, Louis had showered and changed into his nightwear. 

 

His companion leaned down to greet him with a kiss, before pausing at the slope of his neck and planting another kiss where the skin of his shoulder was exposed. Lestat then brushed his nose against Louis’ skin, inhaling deeply.

 

“You’ve been bathing more than usual, mon cher.” Lestat spoke in a gruff voice. With his proximity, Louis was also able to get a good whiff of him, frowning at the familiar scent.

 

Unlike Louis, Lestat made no effort to hide who he had just spent the night with. He could smell her all over him.

 

“Messy hunts.” Louis replied, not offering any more elaboration than necessary.

 

Lestat did not relent that easy. The Frenchman hummed, nibbling on the exposed patch of skin. “What was it tonight, chérie? Squirrels, felines, birds?”

 

“A little bit of squirrel. Some birds.” Louis lied, feeling terrible for doing so despite knowing how often Lestat did the same. “Needed some air, so I stepped out.”

 

“Hm.” Lestat said, maneuvering his head to nuzzle against Louis’ cheek. Louis allowed his eyes to close, savoring his affection despite his unease at this interaction. “Do you find it fair, mon cher?” He then spoke.

 

“What?” Louis asked, semi dazed. After everything that went on tonight, he was feeling a bit worn out.

 

Lestat began tracing the features of Louis’ face, starting with his cheekbones, then onto his eyelids, before tracing the bridge of his nose… the same nose he had pressed upon another in yearning. “I’ve allowed you the right to see who I let warm my bed, other than you. Why do you not offer me the same courtesy?”

 

Louis’ eyes nearly jumped out of his sockets. He jolted away from Lestat’s touch, heart throbbing. “W-what?” he stammered.

 

This was not happening.

 

Not like this.

 

He met Lestat’s gaze. Despite the calmness he carried in his voice, there were blizzards taking place in those icy blue eyes of his.

 

“You’ve met Antoinette, haven’t you, chérie? Shared several glasses of some of your finest, with her even!” A laugh tore through Lestat. It was a laughter that carried no humor within it, though. It was one that neared the edge of a spiral. “Why have I not been offered the same, my Louis?”

 

Louis felt himself tense, guilt brewing within him. “What’re you on about?” Louis tried to deflect, keeping his voice calm despite the hurricane within him.

 

Lestat’s left eye twitched slightly. “Hm. You are lying to me now.” His voice raised slightly the more he spoke. “Who is this person, Louis… what have they done to you to make you like this with me?”

 

Louis scoffed, unable to hold back now. “Yeah, ‘cause I never lied to you before ‘til I started fucking someone else?”

 

Lestat stood with a huff, the same lackluster laughter followed. “Ah! So, you admit there is someone else!”

 

“And what of it, Lestat?” Louis rebutted, his ever present simmering rage gnawed at him, begging to be let rein free. “ You said I could fuck whoever I wanted just like you, so I have yet to see what the problem here is to begin with!”

 

Lestat’s laughter continued, consuming him more and more. “Problème, quel problème? There’s no problem, mon cher, everything is just splendid!” His companion’s tone was overly cheery, a complete contrast to the bulging of his eyes. “Everything is splendid!”

 

Louis sighed, his chest deflating. What even was there to say? Lestat often complained about his inability to let go of his humanity, of not living in a similar style as he did. Yet, now that Louis was behaving a little more like him, suddenly there was a problem? Damn if he did, damn if he didn’t, right?

 

“Who is this person?” Lestat continued to pry, evidently not planning to let this go.

 

“What does it matter?” Louis sighed. “I didn’t do anything wrong!”

 

“It matters plenty!” Lestat exclaimed. “Especially when you are so obviously feeding from them! It puts the life we’ve built here at risk, Louis!

 

This time it was Louis’ turn to laugh, incredulously. “Oh, so you’re saying you haven’t fed from your little singer, not once?”

 

Lestat didn’t say anything for a moment, then he smiled, jaw clenching slightly. “It is not the same, mon cher.”

 

“Not the same?” Now Louis was really getting mad. “Please, tell me how it ain’t the same?”

 

“Louis, Louis.” Lestat began, exasperated. “I have been a vampire for far longer than you have, I have experience with these things… meanwhile, you’re still young, mon cher, merely a fledg–”

 

“Don’t.” Louis cut him off, before he could even finish the word. He knew, Lestat knew how much Louis hated when he used that word against him, hated the clear line it drew between them; a constant reminder of the power Louis lacked in this world, power Lestat would always have.

 

Lestat sighed, the anger briefly absolving. “I am simply worried for you, mon cher. Is that so wro–” Lestat cut himself short abruptly, glancing at the empty spot next to Louis on their couch. He stepped away from Louis, leaning closer to the vacant space and just staring at it.

 

He frowned, confused. “Les…?”

 

“Louis…” Lestat spoke after a moment of contemplative silence. “Were you home the entire night?”

 

Louis froze, taken aback by the question. “Erm…” He remembered his lie he spoke earlier, how he went out for squirrels. “No. Stepped out for a bite, remember?” He said, slowly.

 

Lestat didn’t say anything for a moment, which left Louis growing increasingly worried. “Lestat?” he drew his companion’s attention back towards him. “What is it?”

 

The older vampire did not answer. Instead, he masked his worry and his anger with a tight smile. “Nothing, mon cher. Let us… discuss this matter tomorrow.” He came around the couch, offered Louis a hand for him to take to help him stand. “Let us go to coffin, I do not like going to sleep angry.”

 

Despite the sudden calm demeanor in Lestat, Louis could not meet him halfway. Not as he took Lestat’s hand, not as his companion placed his hand on the small of his back, guiding him upstairs, and not as he kissed him goodnight, leaving Louis to the safety of his coffin.

 

He just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, especially not with the way Lestat had kept his gaze glued onto the section of the couch Armand had lounged beside him, earlier that night.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and for kind comments <3

Chapter 6: Night VI

Summary:

Louis decides.

Armand wants.

Lestat knows.

Notes:

So, an extra chapter was added to the chapter count because I can't help myself and write more than I initially set out to.

This chapter was kind of rushed, since I will be traveling for the entire week starting tomorrow, so I apologize for any errors and the lack of proof reading.

Also, disclaimer: It is not described in detail nor spoken of directly, but past CSA is alluded to in this chapter, I will bold the first and last few words of where the section starts and ends just in case anyone wants to skip it.

Lestat’s gaze followed Louis wherever he went. An action that would normally set Louis’ skin ablaze, now had him wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

 

He watched Louis like a hawk, eyes sharp and unblinking. It was unnerving.

 

“You gonna do that all night?” Louis asked, his own attention focused on the pianist, his upbeat melodies being the only thing that kept Louis from drowning in the intensity of his companion’s endless staring.

 

Lestat hummed from beside him, using his middle finger to stir the beverage he had been neglecting in favor of watching Louis. “Quoi? Does my staring bother you, mon cher?” He feigned indifference, as if Louis couldn’t sense his simmering fury the entire night.

 

Upon waking for the night, Louis had opened the lid of his coffin to find Lestat waiting for him, his head resting against the edge of his own coffin, blue orbs piercing into him. “Sleep well, chérie?” He had greeted him with an even voice. Despite the cool facade Lestat tried to maintain, his eyes always gave him away.

 

“Yeah, it kinda does.” Louis presently replied, speaking over the rim of his own glass of whiskey. Truth is, Louis hadn’t slept well. He had been uneasy from the moment Lestat led them to coffin, had tossed and turned the entire morning, wondering what it had been that stopped Lestat in his tracks mid confrontation.. 

 

Had he picked up on Armand’s scent in their home? Worse, all over Louis?

 

Or was he overthinking?

 

Louis didn’t know. What he did know is that he had been on edge ever since.   

 

Again, Lestat hummed, feigning nonchalance. “You’ll have to forgive me, my Louis. I have to ensure you don’t wander off, seeing as you have made going behind my back a new habit of yours.”

 

And Louis knew he shouldn’t; he knew it would only add fuel to flame, but really, he couldn’t help it. He laughed. “There it is.” He shook his head, glancing down at the ice cubes in his glass, watching as they clashed against one another as he lightly shifted it in his hand.

 

“Quoi?” Lestat questioned once more, posture rigid.

 

“You’re mad ‘cause I fucked someone else, even though you were the one who started it, the one who said it was okay for me to do so!” Though Louis’ disbelief was genuine, a part of him was also fishing, trying to see what exactly it was that Lestat was visibly mad about. Was it only because Louis stepped out of their relationship? Or was it because he knew who he had stepped out with?

 

“Mad? Who is mad? I am merely disappointed, Louis, there is a difference!” Lestat scoffed. “You know, I was very open with you about who I fraternized with yet you have kept me in the dark this entire time!” His grip on his glass tightened.

 

The piano man quickened his press of the keys, an upbeat, lighthearted contrast to the low, pounding drums in Louis’ chest. “‘Scuse me for not wanting to shove my private life down your throat.” Louis whispered, harshly.

 

“Private life? Louis we are going to be together for lifetimes upon lifetimes. Your private life is mine, as mine is yours.” Lestat dismissed.

 

“Oh, is it, now?” Louis spoke, incredulous. “In that case, anything you’d like to share?”

 

Be honest with me, Louis silently pleaded of him. Tell me there’s another here. Tell me what you know.

 

Lestat observed him for a moment, eyes narrowing with every passing moment. “Is there something you would like to share, mon cher?”

 

Louis shook his head, disbelieved. Unfortunately, he could no longer read Louis’ mind. Would Lestat even be honest with him if he could? “I’m not doing this here.” He said, before rising to his feet. 

 

“By all means!” He heard Lestat say, hearing as he rose up, as well. “Let us do this outside, back home, even!” Louis felt Lestat’s presence trail behind. While Louis excused his way through the crowd, unsettled by the thought of how they’re probably being perceived right now, he heard as Lestat pushed through the crowd, shoving those blocking his path out of the way.

 

The cool night air greeted Louis as he stormed outside, shutting his eyes and inhaling deeply to savor the quiet for a second, before the door behind him swung open.

 

“Better yet, why do we not have this conversation with your illicit lover, hm?” Just like that, his quiet solitude had vanished.

 

Lestat stepped in front of Louis, head tilting as his piercing gaze held him in place. If they were in the privacy of their own home, this would be the part where Lestat’s large hands would cradle Louis’ neck in an attempt to keep their eyes locked. “It would be an absolute pleasure to meet the person who has been occupying your attention, mon cher.” Though his words said one thing, the tone of his voice and the tightness of his jaw indicated otherwise.

 

Louis averted his eyes, taking a step back to put some distance between them as an older gentleman approached, side eyeing them as he walked around them to head into the Azalea Hall. Louis felt himself grow rigid, having caught the stray thought from the man, something about how the whispers about Louis and Lestat were seemingly true.

 

Lestat, on the other hand, remained unfazed. Rather, he attempted to trap Louis’ attention, once again. “Who is this person who has gotten you to do what I couldn’t? Cet homme ou cette dame…” Lestat trailed off, amending the distance Louis attempted to put between them. “...Must be truly special if they can get you, of all vampires, to embrace your nature.” The older man laughed in a far too overstated manner, which gave away its insincerity. “Am I not special enough for you, St. Louis?”

 

“Stop.” Louis brushed him off, having grown uncomfortable and disgraced with himself the longer this conversation went on. “You know that’s not it.”

 

“Then what is it, hm?” The usual lightness in Lestat’s eyes had been consumed by darkness, Louis could tell it was taking him a lot of effort to maintain his composure. “Explain to me why it took another to get you to embrace who you are! Why were my attempts not enough, why was I not–” Lestat stopped himself before he could finish.

 

This was the part where Louis should deescalate, kill the flame before it spread out of control, and yet he couldn’t. The incredulity of this whole situation wouldn’t let him; he knew how Lestat was like, someone who soaked up all the love he could get, relished in it, needed it like a wilting flower needed sunlight; the memories of Lestat departing to see her with an ‘I love you’ , one that Louis never returned, the words often getting stuck deep in his throat, unable to be pushed out no matter how deeply he felt them– it was all of these things combined that wouldn’t let Louis extinguish the flame.

 

He shrugged. “Guess I just needed a little bit of variety.” Louis’ words were petty, they were meant to be a heavy blow, unfortunately that didn’t stop the contrition from twisting in his stomach, especially not as hurt briefly flashed through Lestat’s feature. It was an emotion that was quickly flushed out by his anger, given the clenching of both his jaw and fists. 

 

“I’m tired.” Louis sighed. He was exhausted, everything was exhausting. “I’m gonna head home.”

 

“As you wish, it is not like I could stop if I wanted to!” Lestat continued to poke, trailing behind Louis. “Seeing as you’d rather listen to anyone but me, hm?” 

 

His poking and prodding died about halfway on their walk home. Instead, Lestat continued to linger behind him, silently watching Louis for the remainder of the walk back.

 

Now that Lestat knew that Louis had stepped out, he clearly had no intention of letting him out of his sight.

‘Armand.’ Louis reached out once he was in the privacy of his own coffin. The rest of the night had been tense, with Lestat looming over him, insisting for Louis to disclose the identity of the person he had been seeing.

 

A pregnant silence followed before a response came. ‘This is a first.’ Armand’s tone carried a teasing weight. ‘This usually occurs the other way around, don’t tell me you’ve missed me, Louis?’  

 

‘Does he know?’ Louis avoids beating around the bush, not allowing himself to get swept away by the older vampire’s charm.

 

‘Does who know what?’ Armand answered, playing dense which only infuriated Louis more.

 

‘Armand.’ Louis huffed. Who else would he be talking about?

 

Another tortuous silence followed, one that left Louis’ skin prickling in discomfort the longer it lingered.

 

‘Yes.’ Armand then answered, not elaborating further.

 

Louis screwed his eyes shut as something ugly dropped in his stomach. ‘How long?’

 

‘How long, what?’

 

‘How long has he known, have you known that he knows?’ How long had Louis been in the dark about this?

 

Armand spoke tentatively in his mind. ‘He called to me last night, minutes before the sun would rise.’

 

‘You didn’t think to tell me?’

 

‘It’s like I said, it was close to sunrise, I assumed you were likely already deep in slumber given how worn out you must’ve been last night.’ There it was again, the playful tone in his voice, not taking into consideration how serious this all was!

 

‘Okay, what about earlier this evening when you knew I’d be up, hm?’

 

‘If I’m recalling correctly, I do believe you expressed distaste with my constant pestering while you attend to your business, as you put it?’

 

‘Armand.’

 

Another pause for silence stretched between them. With every passing second, Louis grew more uneasy. ‘Say something.’ He called to him again, unable to stand the quiet for another moment. 

 

‘I… I apologize. I suppose I wanted to prolong this part…’ Hesitence lingered in Armand’s voice.

 

Louis scowled. ‘What do you mean?’

 

‘You have questions about this whole situation… and I unfortunately do not have any answers for you right now. I have not responded to any of his attempted beckonings.’ Armand elaborated.

 

Louis felt the anger within him temporarily extinguish, feeling his heart drop for some reason. ‘Oh.’ He responded, letting the weight of Armand’s words sit with him for a minute or two, bracing himself before asking. ‘Why haven’t you?’

 

He remembered Armand mentioning in one of their earlier encounters, that it was fear that kept him from reaching out to Lestat. Was that what was happening here? ‘Are you… afraid of seeing him?’ Louis offered, the twisting in his stomach returning.

 

Louis brought his palms up to his chest, gently using his fingers to massage himself through the soft fabric of his nightwear, in an attempt to soothe the simultaneous spike in his heart and his nerves. 

 

‘No. Not of seeing him… it is the uncertainty of what happens after that frightens me.’ Armand spoke softly.

 

Clamping his eyes shut, Louis exhaled a stuttering breath as dread pooled deep within his stomach. ‘When… when he called out to you, how did he sound?’ Louis forced his voice to sound even.

 

He felt Armand’s slight confusion. ‘What do you mean?’

 

‘Did he sound like… like he knew… about me and you?’ About us. Did he sound like he missed you , are the parts Louis wished to ask, but didn’t out of his own fear of what the answer might be.

 

‘I’m not sure.’ Armand said, taking a contemplative pause. ‘I couldn’t get a good read on him during these last couple of attempts he has made.’

 

Louis paused his gentle ministrations on his chest. ‘There’s been a couple of attempts?’

 

‘Yes.’

 

Lestat was not one to be dissuaded. If he was being persistent, there had to be a reason… a reason Louis wasn’t sure if he was prepared to deal with yet. Nor was he ready to deal with what a Lestat and Armand reunion might mean for himself and his relationships with each of the older vampires.

 

The choice should be obvious. Whether willingly or not, Louis had promised Lestat forever. 

 

Not to mention that Armand did not come here for Louis; the ancient vampire had crossed an entire ocean to see Lestat.

 

Louis knew what he needed to do. That didn’t prevent the piercing pain from taking root within his chest as he came to the realization.

 

‘Should we… call it?’ Louis then asked, clutching at his own chest that grew heavier with every passing second.

 

A sullen silence followed, one that seemingly passed slower than the rest. It left Louis questioning if he had even asked the question at all.

 

‘Is…’ Armand’s voice then appeared in his mind, sounding hesitant. ‘Is that what you want?’

 

No.

 

It was incredible, how Louis had gone from wanting to be left alone by Armand to now dreading the fact that they had to put an end to… whatever it was that they’ve been doing.

 

‘ I…’ Louis wanted to say no, wished he could. Yet, the words could not come out. Even telepathically, Louis still struggled to say the words that begged to come out of him…

 

He just couldn’t.

 

‘It’s what you wanted.’ Louis said instead, because at least that part he knew to be true. ‘I mean, he is the reason you came all the way out here, right?’

 

It never really was about him, right? What he and Armand had was… accidental, maybe something that wouldn’t have happened had Louis not been scavenging for rats in an alleyway that night Lestat brought Antoinette over. Logically, it made sense when Louis thought about it: Lestat had been busy that night… and maybe, like Louis, the thought of seeing the one he loved with another was too painful for Armand, so he sought Louis out as a distraction because what else was Armand supposed to do in the meantime?

 

Regardless of what this whole thing had meant for Armand, this choice was for the best, anyway. If saying goodbye after knowing each other for merely two weeks was already painful enough as it was for Louis right now, then it was better to cut this short and spare himself an even greater pain later on. Louis could barely handle what he felt for Lestat all on its own, he couldn’t imagine having to deal with what he did or did not feel for Armand in addition to that.

 

‘He’s calling to me, again.’ Armand said, rather than responding to Louis.

 

Then it happened, Louis felt his heart plummet. ‘Oh.’ He said, attempting to self-soothe himself once more by continuing to stroke his heaving chest.

 

‘He sounds extremely vexed.’ Armand offered.

 

Yes, Louis was able to figure that after spending the entire night under his companion’s impenetrable gaze. ‘Are you going to see him?’

 

Worse, if Lestat already didn’t know, was he going to tell him?

 

‘I suppose I should.’ Armand responded after a beat. ‘It’s like you said, Louis, I did come here for him.’

 

‘If you do, wait until I’m asleep.’ Louis said, before shutting himself off. If the inevitable was going to happen, then Louis would rather not stay up the entire day tossing and turning again, worrying.

Lestat’s behavior remained the same the following night; his gaze was unrelenting and his petty jabs were constant. He was a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

 

He didn’t mention whether or not he had seen Armand yet, but then again, that was no surprise. It wasn’t like Louis genuinely believed he’d start being honest overnight.

 

Louis didn’t reach out to Armand to ask nor did the older man reach out to let him know. Louis had to repeatedly remind himself that all of this was for the best and that it was probably better if he didn’t know. What he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.

 

The tension brewing within their home, however, seemed to worsen with every passing night. Now that he didn’t have Armand to occupy his thoughts when he was feeling low within the confinement that was his life, Louis was reminded of how lonely immortality was.

 

He ached for his sister’s comfort, to be welcomed back into his maman’s home, to hear Paul’s laughter once more; Louis ached for his family.

 

There was a hole in his aching heart, an emptiness not just within it, but within the pit of his stomach as Louis returned to feasting on animals. 

 

He found himself right where he started. 

 

Louis had expected the simmering tension between them to go on until he finally gave in and was upfront about who he had been seeing, but surprisingly that didn’t end up being the case.

 

By the fourth night, something had shifted in his companion. Lestat’s stormy gaze had become light, his tense shoulders had visibly relaxed, and he even went back to mingling with the crowd while at the Azalea Hall and back to singing on stage with Antoinette again. Louis wasn’t sure if he should be relieved, especially because it seemed like everything was going back to normal– a normal that Louis wasn’t particularly fond of, especially since it left him alone, back to watching Lestat with her.

 

Well, at least Louis wouldn’t feel like he was walking on eggshells for tonight.

He spoke too soon.

 

‘I understand that you do not wish to be bothered by me any longer.’ Louis stilled at the abrupt invasion in his head. He internally cursed at himself for the way his heart rate quickened upon hearing his voice.

 

God, he had missed the sound of his voice.

 

‘But I am to set sail for Paris tonight and…’ Armand’s voice sounded small, which was something Louis wasn’t used to hearing from the ancient and powerful vampire. ‘I would like to say goodbye before I do, if that is alright with you.’

 

Dread settled within him as the inevitable seemed to be catching up to them.

 

It wasn’t smart to, Louis knew that, especially now that he and Lestat seemed to be putting this whole ordeal behind them and yet, Louis couldn’t help himself. ‘Where are you?’

The bayou wasn’t the most pleasant of places to be around. Too humid, too sticky, too many bugs. It was secluded, which was probably the intention, Louis figured as he shuffled through muddy terrain until he found the slightly taller man standing ahead, golden lights flashed on and off all around.

 

Armand didn’t react as Louis approached, nor did he say anything as Louis came to stand beside him. Instead, a pair of sunset orbs stared off into the distance, sparkling in awe as the swarm of fireflies lit up the shadowy night.

 

Louis couldn’t fight off the fond smile that took over his features. “Quite a sight, huh?” He's the first to break the silence.

 

“Breathtaking.” Armand agreed as he turned to meet Louis’ gaze. “As are the lampyridae.” The corner of his mouth twitched upward.

 

He swallowed, feeling no different than the buzzing bugs around them as Louis’ own body hummed. “Always the smooth talker,” Louis chuckled in an attempt to settle his nerves. “You guys get any of these over there?”

 

“Not this many.” Armand said, returning his attention to the sparkling lights. Louis turned and did the same, basking in the moment. “It’s calming, they have the same hypnotic effect the stars do…”

 

Louis returned his attention to the man beside him, watching how the lightning bugs painted a youthful glow on the ancient being. “You said you could fly. You ever gone high enough to be one with them?”

 

Armand laughed, lightly. “No, never quite high enough. Still, I don’t exactly believe that one has to fly to be one with the stars, though.”

 

“Yeah? How do you figure?” Louis asked, curious.

 

Armand didn’t say anything right away, instead he appeared lost in a memory, lost through time as he observed the fireflies all around.

 

“There was a boy, whose name I cannot say for sure I remember, he often found himself counting the twinkles of every star in his line of vision. The boy would stare up at the night sky, counting them repeatedly, until all he could visualize was being up there. It was… soothing, being one with the stars.” Armand began, vaguely. “He believed that being up there meant he wouldn’t be stuck on earth, surrounded by wandering hands, some gentle, but most cruel.”

 

Louis felt something vile stir in his stomach, the remains of the rats he had feasted on earlier, more than likely. 

 

“It worked for a few years, but childlike illusions aren’t meant to be permanent.” Armand continued, there was a slight quiver as he spoke. “What once had succeeded in drowning out the cruelty of one’s touch, stopped working the older the boy got… and then, the boy came crashing back down onto earth… trapped in an endless routine of cruelty… until cruelty became all the boy knew.”

 

Louis felt the need to reach for him, wanted to reach for him, yet didn’t… couldn’t . What right did he have, with all the damage caused by his own hands? He thought back to their previous nights together, how Armand insisted there were those more deserving of eternal damnation than Louis. He hadn’t believed him then, when he said that, and now, more than ever, Louis knew for certain where he’d end up should he ever meet his demise and it would be more than deserved.

 

“One day, the boy managed to find himself among the stars again. Not in a literal sense, but he had been rescued by a being that resembled divinity in his eyes. His merciful God, so far above him, the boy would’ve believed if you told him the being created the stars himself. It wasn’t… perfect, but he was lucky to belong.”

 

Armand held out his hand. They both watched as a firefly landed on his open palm, the bug’s abdomen flickering on before taking off into the air. “The boy would become a man, his God would bestow the greatest gift he could ever want… but then, his maker would be no more… and the man would be given responsibilities and there, he’d find him.”

 

The memory was shared with Louis; Lestat as he made the stage his own and a doting and loving audience eating off the palm of his hand.  

 

There it was, a glimpse into the history Louis had been curious about, yet couldn’t bring himself to ask about. “Why are you telling… showing me this?”

 

“Because I am to return to Paris, to a job I do not believe I ever truly wanted…and…and I don’t think I’ve wanted in so long, Louis.” Armand said, turning his body to face him. Copper eyes glistened along with the sparkling bugs, so wide and so innocent that Louis couldn’t help but ache for them.

 

“Isn’t that why you came here?” Louis asked, tentatively. “In search of that? Or is there something else you want?” God, how Louis wished to give the man the boy had become whatever he wanted.

 

Armand blinked once, then twice. “I think… I think I want you.”

 

Louis laughed, incredulously, ignoring the way heat swelled within his hammering heart. “You came for Lestat.” Louis said, not just as a reminder for Armand, but for himself, as well, in an attempt to calm his beating heart. “You want him.”

 

“Perhaps I did…” Armand trailed off, contemplating for a moment before continuing. “Do,” he amended. “And always will, I am no different than you, after all… but I want you, Louis.”

 

Louis shook his head. “You don’t.” The glistening lights of the fireflies seemed to grow in intensity, paralleling the increasing beat of Louis’ heart. “You can’t.” 

 

Despite their arrangement, despite the pleasures they brought to one another these last couple of nights, and despite the ache in Louis’ heart, Louis was spoken for.

 

Not to mention, Louis was unsure of his own wants, too. He’d be no good for Armand, no good for the man the boy grew up to be.

 

“And yet, I do.” Armand inched closer, dewy eyed and heart on his sleeve. “I want you, Louis. I want you more than anything in the world…”

 

Louis shuddered at the words, his entire body hummed, basking in the weight of them. To be wanted with such an intensity, it was frightening; it was everything.

 

“But, I know I cannot have you, that you cannot have me, and since I am leaving for Paris…” Armand said, stepping into Louis’ space until they were nearly breathing the same air.

 

He inhaled sharply, the proximity leaving Louis momentarily buzzing as he processed what Armand said. 

 

That’s right. Armand was leaving. The reminder was like a shotgun shot straight through his heart. 

 

Louis looked up at him, blood collecting in the corner of his glistening eyes.

 

“I am leaving for Paris...” Armand reiterated, tentatively bringing his hands to cradle Louis’ face.

 

Against his will, Louis felt his eyes lull shut as Armand’s thumbs explored the skin on his face, tracing up and down along his cheekbones. 

 

When he opened his eyes, Louis found his gaze searching all over his own. It dawned on him that this was what Armand wanted, a sign that this was okay.

 

Louis felt himself nod, allowing his eyes to flutter shut as Armand’s grip on his face tightened ever so slightly, guiding Louis’ face against his own.

 

Timid lips met Louis’ with a deep inhale. Armand kissed him slowly, a contrast to the quickening beats of their hearts that harmonized together.

 

Kissing Armand made the flickering lights around the bayou brighter somehow, made the buzzing of the fireflies sound like music to his ears. It was dizzying, it was electrifying, it was…

 

Right. 

 

Louis moved to wrap his arms around the small of his back and hunger seemingly took over the older vampire. Armand deepened the kiss, his hands slid down towards the back of Louis’ neck and drew him closer. 

 

As Louis pulled away, he felt Armand chase after him, gasping when Louis met him equal with desire.

 

They lingered in each other’s spaces as they hesitantly pulled away. Armand’s hands traced their way back up to Louis’ face, swallowing before continuing. “...and I wanted to do that, at least once, before I left.”

 

Then, his hands retreated. Louis immediately missed his tender touch as the older man stepped back, sparing Louis one last glance before he turned away from him completely.

 

This was it.

 

This was goodbye.

 

This was what was supposed to happen.

 

This was the right thing to do.

 

This was…

 

“Armand.” For once, the words managed to break out of Louis somehow.

 

Armand, who was already a few meters away, slowly turned towards him. His brows furrowed slightly, frozen in place as they stared at one another for a few seconds, minutes, hours– who knew?

 

All Louis knew was that this was wrong.

 

It was almost over, he should let this end and return back to the life that waited for him.

 

But Louis also knew that he didn’t want Armand to go.

 

His feet were moving before he even realized, it was too late to stop himself anyway, nor did he want to.

 

Louis’ hands burrowed themselves deep in Armand’s curls at the same time as Armand’s arms encased Louis around his waist, giving into their wants as they kissed each other once more.

Notes:

Again, sorry for any errors. I will proof read this entire thing once it is completed.

Also, I am planning for the last chapter to be told from Armand's perspective, so any Armand and Lestat interaction that might've occurred during this chapter will be shown there.

Thank you for reading <3

Chapter 7: One Last Night

Notes:

I keep adding chapters, I need to be stopped.

This for sure should be the final chapter count now lol.

Armand kissed him as if he were a man starved, he grasped onto Louis, pressing onto him like he wanted to mesh their bodies into one. Louis welcomed the kissing with hunger of his own, craving to ravish and to be ravished.

 

The world around them stopped. Time, though it was something they had forever of, no longer mattered. It did not exist in this moment. What mattered was them entangled in one another; how two souls lost in their own hunger, forever trapped in their hauntings, became one.

 

After all, what were they but two starving immortal beings feeding from each other, taking from one another to feel a semblance of wholeness, of belonging.

 

That wasn’t all there was, though. Louis could acknowledge that.

 

There was warmth.

 

A warmth that spread through him like wildfire as Louis pulled away, suddenly too overwhelmed with emotion, only for Armand to not let him get far. His grip on Louis’ waist tightened, attempting to draw him impossibly closer while he kissed along Louis’ jaw in growing heat.

 

Louis’ mouth parted with a sharp exhale, offering his neck for Armand to trail his lips down. Armand showered his neck in open mouthed kisses with an intensity that left Louis dizzy.

 

“Let me…” Armand spoke into his skin, continuing his peppering as if Louis would disappear if he stopped. “Let me take you home.”

 

Then, Armand tugged a patch of skin into his mouth, briefly causing Louis to short circuit with a gasp. His skin scorched everywhere Armand’s lips touched.

 

“You said,” Louis felt his eyes shut, struggling to get the words out. His fists tightened around the older man’s gelled curls, causing him to moan into his skin as he pulled. “You were leaving…” 

 

Rather than answering, Armand found his lips instead. Louis didn’t stop him, letting himself be lured into temptation. Armand kissed Louis like he could do it for an entire lifetime and beyond for as long as Louis would allow him to.

 

Louis broke the kiss, once more, overwhelmed by the thought of that, by the implications of this… of kissing another, feeling like this for another. He didn’t pull away, though, not entirely. He continued to breathe Armand’s air in as he brought their foreheads close, their noses brushing in a tender caress.

 

Armand’s hands moved up from his waist towards his shoulders, exploring the flesh that hid underneath his layers of clothing. “Please,” Armand spoke in a voice merely above a whisper. “Let me take you home, Louis.”

 

This was a bad idea.

 

Louis knew it wouldn’t be long before Lestat realized he had disappeared, if he hadn’t already. Things were finally starting to return to how they were before. Armand was leaving.

 

Ideally, he should let Armand leave. He should go back to Lestat and continue through life the way he had been…

 

Drowning in his love for him, but also isolated– away from his family.

 

Angry with the man he loved, resentful, even. Aching for the life that had been stolen from him; the life that Louis abandoned.

 

Outcasted…

 

Never enough…

 

Hungry.

 

It was the right thing to do. He knew it was best to end it all before things spiraled even further out of control. 

 

Still, Louis held onto Armand. He gazed deeply into his big, doe eyes that beckoned him the same way Armand’s call had when they first met… the same way Lestat had all those years ago. It was wrong, yes… but what was Louis supposed to do? Louis needed something for himself, craved it, even. Was he not allowed something for himself? 

 

Even if only for one more night…

 

Lestat was going to be angry, this time for much longer than a couple of days, yet that didn’t stop Louis from nodding, from giving into his desires.

Two luggages made of brown leather rested by the front door of where Armand had been staying. The large coffin that had previously been hidden behind the room divider was no longer there, likely already on its way back overseas. It was all a cruel reminder of the older vampire’s impending goodbye as Louis stepped through the door of what had been his place during his time in New Orleans.

 

Louis stood rigid in the dimly lit area, unsure of what to do with himself as he heard the door shut and lock behind him. The walk from the bayou to Armand’s place had been lengthy, giving Louis plenty of time to dwell in his doubts. 

 

This really wasn’t a good idea. Lestat definitely had to have noticed he was gone by now. Was Lestat looking for him right now? Unless he had allowed himself to be distracted by his fellow lounge singer… Louis couldn’t be sure. Especially, not with how he had been monitoring Louis as if he were a child. 

 

What was he doing right now? Was he with her? Or was he searching for Louis?

 

Strong arms slithered around Louis’ waist from behind as Armand nuzzled into his neck, pulling Louis out of his own head.

 

Louis sighed, relaxing only a fraction as he felt Armand begin to kiss along the slope of his neck, allowing himself all the liberty now that Louis had caved and finally granted him permission to do so. “Are you hungry?” Armand’s voice caressed the back of his neck. “You must be… it’s been a few days since I last saw you.” 

 

He had gone back to eating rodents, birds, and strays, convincing himself they were enough to fill him since he had ended things with Armand. Louis didn’t trust himself to stop were he to attempt to feed from humans indirectly, the way Armand had suggested, so he made due with what was familiar, with what made him feel less guilty. 

 

“How will you ever manage, Louis?” Armand’s mouth puckered around Louis’ skin, sucking the sensitive area with intent. “Without me here to take care of you?”

 

Louis whimpered, his back arching ever so slightly. His gums itched suddenly at the reminder. He was starving, famished even. He had missed the way Armand tasted, the way his blood coursed down Louis’ throat, humming in all its power as he consumed him.

 

Acting purely out of vampiric instinct, Louis spun to face him, Armand’s arms only loosening a bit to allow him to do so before encasing him once more. Then, Louis launched himself at the older man’s neck, his fangs extracting in time as he sunk deeply into him.

 

Armand gasped, stumbling back a bit from Louis’ abruptness. Still, his arms remained tightly wrapped around the small of Louis’ back, dragging him along with him and refusing to let him go. As if Louis would let him get away, not when he finally had him like this again.

 

Warm, syrupy blood flowed through him, making his brain fuzzy with every desperate gulp. God, Armand was right; he didn’t know how he was ever going to manage either.

 

He felt Armand lean forward, Louis mindlessly allowing himself to be backed until the back of his knees bumped against the bed. Once there, he was gently detached from the older vampire’s neck and guided into sitting on the mattress.

 

Louis panted, a little disorientated, as he looked up at the man who stood before him, his intense gaze never straying from Louis as he removed his large coat painfully slow. Once that article of clothing was discarded, Armand began to unbutton his white dress shirt at a similar pace. Louis couldn’t stand it, especially not as the sight of his firm, hairy, plump chest became exposed to Louis. Armand had only managed to unbutton halfway through his shirt when Louis suddenly jumped towards him, reaching for the open collar of his shirt, and pulling Armand down with him into another searing kiss.

 

There must’ve been blood still on his mouth, given the way Armand’s tongue lapped at him greedily before teasing his way into Louis’ mouth. Louis’ fangs scraped across his tongue, drawing a whimper out of the older man as Louis’ cheeks hollowed around the tongue that now fed him. He sucked on Armand’s tongue hungrily, feeling the vibrations of Armand’s moaning brush against him.

 

It was exhilarating, the weight of Armand on top of him, the way his thigh wedged in between Louis, making him hyper aware of his straining ache that pressed against his trousers while he consumed from the man that pawed at him desperately in an attempt to rid Louis of his own clothing.

 

Against Louis’ wishes, Armand pulled back, seemingly to remove his own shirt completely while Louis slid out the layers Armand managed to unclasped. They wasted no time meshing into one, their bare chests pressed against each other, skin on skin. The hairs on Armand’s chest tickled Louis briefly. Not that he could pay much attention to that anyway, as Louis immediately became distracted with the delicious sensation of their erect nipples rubbing against one another as Armand moved on top of him. Jolts of excitement rushed through Louis, one he tried to not let show.

 

“We had a deal Louis,” Armand murmured against his lips, before resuming kissing him. He couldn’t get enough of kissing Louis, it seemed. “I taught you to shield your mind under the condition that you’d keep yourself open to me when we were like this.” He angled Louis’ face to his liking with slender fingers, kissing him again. “Open yourself to me, Louis,” He kissed him once more. “Let our pleasures be one.”

 

Louis whined, both as pleasure flickered through him while he rolled his hips against the thigh wedged between him, chasing the friction, and as slight embarrassment consumed him. He didn’t even want to imagine how he must look right now: already hard and panting, mouth agape with his fangs poking out only after a couple minutes of feasting, kissing, and groping.

 

Armand withdrew his body, his hand trailing down Louis’ chest, sending an electric sensation along the skin he touched, before shuffling to undo Louis’ trousers. “Do not hide yourself, Louis.” He tugged Louis’ pants halfway down his legs, the pads of his fingers teasing along the hem of Louis’ briefs. “Not from me.”

 

“Fuck.” Louis cursed as Armand’s large hand slid into his briefs, playing with his testicles, before coming to wrap around Louis’ aching cock. Dilated eyes peered down at Louis as Armand began jerking him off. Louis felt his lips part again, his hips thrusting after the pleasure that the steady and firm pace Armand’s hand was bringing him.

 

With that, Louis felt the barriers of his mind dismantle, watching as Armand briefly closed his eyes with a deep inhale as soon as Louis granted him access. Armand then circled his thumb around the head of his cock, smearing Louis’ arousal around him as he continued his ministrations. 

 

Louis clamped down on his bottom lip, his fangs breaking skin upon the pleasure that was being pumped out of him. Armand’s heated gaze zoned down on his bloody lips, leaning down to capture Louis’ once more, unable to help himself. He groaned as Louis’ taste filled his mouth. 

 

“Mm. Such precious blood.” Armand spoke once he finished cleaning him. “You shouldn’t let any of it go to waste, not when you’re already so… fragile.” Then he licked into Louis’ mouth, tugging at his cock hard enough to make Louis arch into him.

 

With the added weight of Armand on him, Louis brought his hands to Armand’s back, clawing at his shoulders in an attempt to quicken his thrusting into Armand’s palm, needing Armand to speed up. Louis was so close, he could feel his release approaching. And then, Armand pulled his hand away much to Louis’ disappointment.

 

“Armand,” Louis complained as the older vampire sat up, his tongue wetting his lips before speaking.

 

“So impatient,” Armand admonished, shifting his weight off Louis to undo his own pants. Louis sat up on his elbows and watched hungrily as Armand exposed his own aching cock, the last of both of their clothing being kicked off to the ground. 

 

His mouth dried at the sight of the man before him, swallowing hard as Armand invaded his space once more. “If this is to be our last time,” Armand continued, he crawled over Louis, hovering above him as Louis laid back down, heart racing. “I must do this properly.” Then he slid his three middle fingers into his mouth, coating them with Louis’ saliva and his own blood as Louis was unable to help but bite down.

 

Louis moaned around his fingers, savoring the sweet metallic taste as Armand pressed further into him. A jolt of pleasure ran through Louis as he felt Armand’s aching cock brush against his own the more he leaned over Louis.

 

He rolled his hips upward, chasing the friction that had been denied to him earlier, another muffled moan being ripped out of him as he felt Armand’s throbbing cock rub against his own.

 

Armand’s lips parted with a gasp, “Louis,” he scolded, again, with a whisper. Despite his reproach, Louis knew he’d be allowed to get away with this, so he jerked his hips into Armand’s cock again, and again until Armand’s eyes lulled shut momentarily and a quiet moan escaped his lips.

 

Armand retrieved his fingers from Louis’ mouth and pinned his hips in place with an incredible strength just as Louis had been about to do it again. “I see the resemblance.” Armand muttered, chuckling lightly.

 

Before Louis could dwell on what he meant by that, Armand’s slicked fingers found his heat and began to work him open. Louis’ mind became foggy in pleasure as Armand pumped into him.

 

“Yes.” Louis shuddered, his body rolling against Armand’s fingers.

 

“Yes, what?” Armand coaxed, watching Louis with intent.

 

“Keep…” Louis felt himself burn as he locked eyes with Armand, realizing the older vampire was soaking in his every reaction. God, this was so embarrassing, yet he couldn’t bring himself to stop fucking himself on Armand’s fingers… not when it felt so good, not when he needed to reach completion. “Keep going.”

 

Armand hummed, slowing his pumps. “And have you finish so soon?”

 

Louis let out a frustrated whine, jerking his hips with more fervor. “Armand…”

 

Armand’s fingers brushed against an overly sensitive patch of skin inside him. Louis swirled his hips around his slowing fingers, trying to get him to touch him there, again. “Armand.” He tried again, demanding.

 

“Do you not want me to fuck you, Louis?” Armand pondered aloud, in a very infuriatingly haughty tone.

 

Louis shut his eyes, nodding, hoping the answer would be enough. He didn’t have the will to be embarrassed anymore, not when his cock ached for release. 

 

“Tell me, Louis.” Armand urged, quickening his pace for a brief moment before slowing down again, torturously. “Tell me you need me to fuck you.”

 

“Armand…” Louis complained.

 

Like last time, the older vampire would not relent until Louis said the words he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear he was needed.

 

“Need you…” Louis huffed, semi annoyed yet overwhelmed with the intensity of his arousal. “Need you to fuck me… now .”

 

Louis gasped at the emptiness that followed as Armand retreated his fingers, leaning down to kiss him for a beat. “As you wish, sweet Louis.” He said, sounding worshipful.

 

Then, Armand slowly thrusted into him, heat spreading through Louis as the emptiness began to fill again. Armand inched deeper into him with every thrust, grunting the more of Louis he filled. Louis exhaled shakingly, taking a beat to adjust to his stretch with parted lips before nodding in permission.

 

Armand wasted no time, rocking into Louis with that same frustrating slowness that left Louis whining. “Arm…Armand.” He couldn’t be teased like this any longer. Louis thought he might actually go insane if he did.

 

The older vampire smirked, smugly. “Do you need me to go faster, Louis?”

 

Louis nodded, mouth agape as he struggled to speak. “Yes.” Sparks of pleasure began to shoot through him as Armand picked his pace up ever so slightly, causing the bed underneath to gently creek. “Mm. Yes, keep… keep going.”

 

Armand’s gaze grew impossibly darker, the muscles of his throat contracting as he swallowed. “Like this?” he quickened his thrusts, his cock finally touching him there, in that one spot that had Louis arching upward in the bed again.

 

“Mm, fuck, yes…” Louis moved his hips fluidly, meeting Armand’s thrusts in equal measure. Armand’s cock grazed against the spot over and over. “Right there… oh fuck, right there!”

 

“Oh Louis,” Armand murmured, his own voice now sounding strained the harder he sunk into Louis. "Sweet, beautiful Louis. Who will tend to you like this when I’m gone?”

 

All Louis could manage out were sounds of pleasure as the mattress moved underneath them, the sound of the bed’s headboard pounding against the wall blended with the obscene sounds of skin slapping against skin.

 

“Who will… who will fill you like me?” Armand heaved as he pounded into Louis. “Serve you like me?”

 

Again, when all Louis could respond with was gibberish, Armand coaxed him further, wrapping his hand around his cock for more encouragement. “Tell me.” He tugged.

 

“ Fuck.” Louis’ eyes rolled into the back of his head, nearing his limit. A thick layer of sweat covered his body, but he could not bring himself to care… not when he was so close. “No… no one.”

 

“That’s right.” Armand released him. Once more, Armand’s thumb was being pushed into his mouth, muffling his pleasured sounds. Louis wasted no time, tongue swirling around the man’s finger as he sucked on it with a moan.

 

“Who else will take care of you like me?” Armand exhaled.

 

Louis shook his head, whining pathetically around Around’s thumb as he rolled his hips with more urgency.

 

It didn’t take long after that. Louis finished as he bit down on the man’s thumb, his vision blurring as he rode his high off with the gentle whirl of his hips around Armand’s cock. Armand choked at his actions, spilling into him immediately after with a groan.

 

Armand collapsed atop of him a few moments later, soft kitten licks caressing Louis’ chest as he rode off his own high by softly rocking into Louis.

 

When the feeling passed, he rolled off Louis, the two of them laying naked side-by-side with heaving chests, staring as the ceiling fan spun above them.

 

He felt Armand’s gaze turn to him a few seconds later. Still in a daze, Louis couldn’t help but look back. Which apparently, was all the invitation Armand needed to pull him in for a gentle kiss; one that Louis happily returned.

 

Though their breathing eased, the sound of their blending heartbeats didn’t, pounding harder with every passing moment.

 

When Louis pulled his head back a bit, he felt the room spinning. His drumming heart started to ache once more, knowing what was to come.

 

Armand looked at him in reverence, cold hands moving up to stroke Louis’ face. 

 

His soft touch was a lot, too much, a cruel reminder that they were not each other’s… not really. Louis was Lestat’s.

 

Lestat.

 

Guilt immediately poured through him at the reminder of his companion despite knowing better than to. He felt as if he’d betrayed him by coming back here.

 

Would Lestat know he was here, laying in another’s arms? Having finished being touched by another?

 

“He knows, doesn’t he?” Louis had to ask, dread settling in his stomach as he did.

 

Armand let out a heavy exhale as he continued to draw stars along Louis’ cheeks. “Yes.” He admitted. “Not initially, he truly did believe you had taken on a human companion.”

 

Louis’ brows furrowed. “Did you tell him, then?” He felt himself grow tense.

 

“No, I didn’t need to.” Armand chuckled lightly. “Lestat and I may have spent a century apart, but he knows me. He knows me well enough to know I wouldn’t be able to help myself with you.” Then, Armand drew closer, his lips brushing against Louis’, kissing him with delicacy before continuing. “I mean, just look at you.”

 

Louis sighed at Armand’s words, his tenderness. He allowed himself to be pulled closer, slotting a thigh in between Armand in the process, his soft cock pressing against him as Armand continued to kiss him.

 

“So you saw him.” Louis asked, only to confirm what he already suspected. “How… How’d that go?” Though he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know, he was unable to stop himself from asking.

 

Armand’s head tilted slightly, looking at Louis with a curious, almost amused gaze. “I could tell you but…” The corner of lips quirked upward as his hand’s exploration of Louis’ face shifted towards the back of his neck, down his spine, pulling Louis flush against him. “I’m afraid you will try to pull away if I do.”

 

Louis scowled again, attempting to do exactly as Armand predicted, and would’ve been able to had the older vampire’s hands not been wrapped around him and holding him in place. “What’s that s’pposed to mean?”

 

His slender fingers then moved back to Louis’ face, soothing the crinkle in between his eyes, above the bridge of his nose, not offering anything in response other than a content hum.

 

“You’re infuriating,” Louis huffed in annoyance when Armand remained vague and mindlessly feeling him up.

 

“Am I?” Armand feigned innocence as he began to leisurely rub himself on Louis’ thigh.

 

Louis’ breath got caught in his throat at the feeling of Armand’s building arousal the longer he ground himself on Louis.

 

“Yes.” Louis’ nostrils flared slightly, unable to help the way his own hands wandered towards Armand’s lower back, urging his actions as he took in the sight of Armand’s sudden dazed expression. “So…” Louis started to thrust along with him, his own hardening cock seeking relief from Armand’s bare skin, as well. “Damn… infuriating.”

 

Before getting too far, Louis rolled himself on top of him, a sudden surge coming over him as he did. Armand looked up at him, wide copper eyes swimming in excitement. “From the moment I met you…” Louis’ hand trailed down his abs, down his stomach, before engulfing Armand’s leaking cock in between his fist. Exhilaration coursed through him at the way Armand’s hips automatically thrusted into his fist just at his touch alone, a whine escaping from his parted lips. “You’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass.”

 

Louis started stroking his cock, matching the same tortuous pace Armand had set for him minutes ago. “Making me stray from the light.” He looked down at the squirming man beneath him, the intensity of it all going straight to his head, to his cock. “Leaving me hungry for you.”

 

He pumped Armand, thumb circling across his tip, nail scratching along his slit, making the older vampire jolt upward as the mixture of pain and pleasure settled within him. “Leavin’ me no choice but to give in to you, to have you…”

 

His hand twisted around Armand’s long, leaking dick, watching in awe as Armand moved in circular motion into his palm. “Someone ought’a put you in your place.”

 

Armand nodded, probably quicker than he intended to. “Yes, Louis.” His pelvis thrust upward with a speeding intensity. “Whatever… whatever you want, have me… consume me… punish me.” He was practically sobbing, his movements desperate. Something about the sight sent Louis spiralling, just as he had when he rode Armand’s cock to completion as he strangled him a few nights ago, and just as he had when he left Armand unsatisfied, panting and aching for him the last time he was invited to his temporary home. 

 

Louis paused his ministrations, using the eager slickness Armand’s cock had painted his hand with to slither into his hole, evoking a sharp gasp from the older vampire. His reaction went straight to Louis’ dick the more he drove into him.

 

“Yes,” Armand encouraged, rolling his ass against Louis’ fingers. “I’m yours… yours for you to do whatever you please, Lous… ah!” 

 

Louis then managed to flip Armand onto his stomach, the older, powerful vampire suddenly becoming pliant in Louis’ hands. He recalled what Armand had done to him a few nights ago, how he rubbed his cock along his ass in temptation, and mirrored his actions.

 

Armand sobbed into the mattress, pushing back against Louis as his cock teased his entrance. “Please.” The ancient being begged, having been right when he said Louis loved the way he pleaded for him. “I… I want you, Louis. Want you… want you more than anything in the world.”

 

He really knew how to get Louis going.

 

Louis didn’t do this often, wasn’t sure if what little experience he had would be enough to satisfy the older being, but he allowed himself to slide into him, grunting as Armand’s tight walls embraced him. “Fuck.” Louis groaned as he started moving inside Armand.

 

Armand whined with every thrust Louis drove into him. “Mm, yes… have me, Louis. Make me yours.”

 

His fingers found Armand’s now messy hair, tugging the strands as he fucked him. “Uh…uh…uhh…” Armand’s pleasured sounds found a rhythm with the moving mattress.

 

Louis cursed, feeling his cock twitch as Armand encased him. 

 

“Let me see you, Louis.” Armand’s head rose slightly, attempting to turn to face him. “Let me watch you while you fill me in, Louis, please!”

 

Maybe if this had been another time, Louis would’ve. But he meant when he said he intended to punish Armand. So, he pushed Armand’s face back down onto the mattress, hands tightening around his hair, and quickening his thrusts.

 

“No…” Armand’s whines muffled into the crumpled sheets. “No… no, Louis, let me see you, plea– ah!”

 

Louis came in him, without granting him his wish. His vision whitened as his cock emptied itself in Armand. Judging by the way Armand started humping into the mattress and the way he had stopped speaking mid begging, he had finished too.

 

He stumbled off him, his eyes lulling shut in exhaustion. Armand invaded his space after a few seconds passed. He planted a kiss on the side of Louis’ throat. “So cruel…” Then another. “Still denying me…”

 

At some point, Louis felt the bed shift, Armand disappearing briefly one moment and then returning the next. Louis felt a rough texture dabbing at him. Louis opened his eyes a peek, catching a glimpse of Armand wiping them down with a towel, still tending to Louis even after being denied.

 

Cool sheets then engulfed him as he felt Armand settle next to him once more. Louis’ skin hummed at the feeling of Armand tracing his features. He didn’t need to open his eyes to know Armand was watching him intently, Louis could tell just by the way his hands began to explore his body. Nimble fingers trailed down his neck, circling his nipples a few times, before continuing their downward descension. Louis allowed the exploration, allowed for Armand to run his hands from top to bottom of his body.

 

“Beautiful Louis,” He heard Armand whisper against his cheek before his lips formed a kiss around it. “My Louis.”

 

Louis’ heart nearly gave out as he heard those last two words uttered, merely above a whisper– but loud enough that he had still caught them. Had sleep not been calling to him, pulling him deeper, Louis might’ve reacted to the familiar words that were typically spoken to him by his companion…

 

“How am I supposed to let you go…” was the last thing Louis heard before slumber and exhaustion consumed him, pulling him into quiet, peaceful darkness.

The sound of loud knocking yanked Louis back to reality. He groaned, the knocking growing more intense with every passing beat. Still, he could not peel his eyes open, slumber still clinging to him with great intensity.

 

He felt the bed shift beside him in abruptness. That should’ve been the first sign that something was off, that should’ve been enough to pull Louis from his exhaustion.

 

It wasn’t.

 

The sudden slam of the door against the wall as it was flung open, however, was enough for Louis to jump up, scaring his sleep away.

 

The first thing Louis took note of was that he wasn’t in his coffin, he was in a bed… a bed that was not his, in a home that wasn’t his. He’s reminded of the way he allowed himself to fall into Armand’s bed earlier in the night, reminded of the way he gave himself to the older vampire completely, reminded of how he didn’t come home…

 

Oh God, he didn’t come home.

 

The second thing Louis noticed was that dawn was approaching. Patches of orange were beginning to crack through the dark skies… he hadn’t gone home!

 

God, this was bad… this was so bad…

 

Finally, Louis’ wide eyes darted towards the door that had just been seemingly kicked open. As his vision adjusted, he came face-to-face with the familiar angry face of his companion.

 

Lestat.

Notes:

Thank you for reading <3

(I'm going to go repent now).

Chapter 8: Morning

Notes:

Please accept these over 12k words as an apology for my absence 🤲

There were times that Louis wished he could become one with the earth; times in which life would become too heavy to endure that he knew he would inevitably wind up crushed underneath the weight of it all. He had various memories of these moments:

 

Giving into his desires for the first time with the younger boy he grew up sitting two rows down every Sunday morning; dealing with the turmoil of what those stolen kisses and hesitant touches meant for years to come; taking charge of his family after losing his father and making sure they never had to worry about skipping a meal and being left out in the cold; smiling in people’s faces, having to bite his tongue at their constant disparage towards him…

 

Paul.

 

Losing Paul.

 

Not being able to save Paul.

 

Everything that came with Louis not being able to save Paul.

 

Paul was his light, his heart. And not only had Louis lost his light and heart, he had lost his will to go on. He remembered how he was the night Lestat turned him– drowning in his guilt for not being able to save him; for having given into those sinful desires again as he had done so once as a boy. Louis had failed. He had failed to take care of his family. He had let the devil have him. And that night, he wanted nothing more than to succumb to the weight that had been hauling him down and end it.

 

He might’ve ended it had Lestat not offered him what he called a gift. For Louis, however, it was a gift that more often than not felt like a curse.

 

He never thought anything else would ever compare to what he felt that night. He had hoped nothing ever did.

 

Here, right now, as dread pooled deep into his stomach while taking in the sight of his companion’s shifty glare, might just come close enough, though.

 

“Well, it looks like I’ve missed all the fun!” Lestat strode in as if he owned the place. His eyes were sizzling, shifting from Armand to Louis, making the younger vampire suddenly feel small as his heart sought to crawl its way out of his chest. 

 

His hair was disheveled, which was an unusual sight considering Lestat always concerned himself with his appearance. 

 

Louis sat up on the bed, white sheets crumpled in his fists as he attempted to wrap them around his naked form. He didn’t know why he bothered, Lestat had seen it all by this point and probably knew his body better than anyone. Still, shame coursed through him.

 

He watched as Armand, who seemed to have managed enough time to cover himself in a patterned, black robe, exhaled. “They will be charging me for the damage to the door, now.” He glanced at the large fist-sized hole that caved into the door.

 

Lestat’s head snapped towards the older vampire, eyes blazing as he laughed and laughed. There was no humor in his laughter, though; Louis could tell based on how his brows were scrunched into a scowl, the way his eyes looked like they were about to burst out of his sockets, and the way his clenched fists spasmed.

 

Then, they both watched as Lestat sped towards the door, gripping it on each side, before yanking it off the frame, and sending it flying into the living room area across the bed. The door landed over the couch, ripping the fabric as it slid down onto the small coffee table in front of it. Louis flinched at the harsh sound of it shattering.

 

Armand inhaled a deep breath, taking in the mess the broken door had made in his abode. His tongue clicked in response. “How childish.” He spoke coolly. “Now, you’ll let the sun in.” 

 

Lestat turned back to face Armand, chest heaving, as he drew closer to the older vampire, practically goading him to do something about it.

 

Based on the way Armand’s head tilted, eyes narrowing on the blonde man that approached him, it almost looked like he was tempted to. Armand withheld himself despite the obvious bait Lestat had laid out for him. With every passing second, however, Armand’s self control seemed to waiver. It unsettled Louis.

 

The air around them prickled with tension. Louis scrambled to his feet before any more parts of the room or furniture was destroyed. Or worse, before Lestat attempted to fling Armand into some of the furniture. Not that Armand seemed like an easy throw. Still, judging by Lestat’s visible fury, one could never be too sure.

 

His companion’s eyes looked past Armand, darting towards Louis. This prompted Armand to follow suit, turning his body to face him, as well. 

 

Louis opened his mouth as if to speak, but felt as the words died halfway out his throat. His mind was spinning, his heart felt like it could give out at any moment, and under the weight of both of their gazes– one angry and the latter much softer than the former– Louis prayed the earth would actually swallow him whole this time around. 

 

“No, no.” Lestat spoke, there was a slight slur to his words, his accent becoming thicker the way it usually would when he was angry. “Do not get up on my account. You looked so comfortable laying bare under the sheets of another!”

 

“Lestat…” Louis swallowed, trying to find the words only to fail once again. 

 

His body burned with embarrassment as Lestat’s eyes trailed down his form from head to toe before letting out a disgruntled sound . “Are you proud of yourself, Saint Louis?” 

 

Louis’ brows furrowed slightly in confusion. “What?” He clutched onto the sheets even tighter.

 

“Do you feel satisfied now, hm?” His companion continued, prowling closer towards him. “Now, that you’ve allowed yourself to be tarnished?”

 

Anger simmered within him. Louis would probably bite back right now, would tell him he was absolutely full of it, if only he wasn’t feeling extremely vulnerable in his naked form. Without the layers of his clothing, the broader shape they added to his shoulders, Louis felt… small in comparison, powerless— especially when standing in the same room as Armand and Lestat.

 

In the past, all it took was puffing his chest and lowering his voice inflection to assert power for himself in a world that tried to render him powerless. It was just the way things were around here. Standing in this room, with two ancient beings who acted like they were above man and man made systems, Louis knew that this front he had taken up would not help him here.

 

He did not like feeling this.

 

The sound of a throat being cleared pulled Louis’ attention. Armand’s gaze shifted from Louis towards Lestat. “Perhaps this conversation can wait until Louis has collected himself.” Armand spoke, concerning himself with Louis’ modesty. Lestat’s head jerked towards him, looking at Armand as if he had gone mad. Armand did not let that deter him as he continued, making his way towards Lestat and trying to get him to turn his attention from where Louis stood. “In the meantime, why don’t you help me readjust the door before the sun comes out?”

 

Lestat swatted Armand’s hand that attempted to redirect him away, nostrils flaring. He laughed, again sounding more maniacal than humorous. “The devil himself masquerades as the saint’s knight in shining armor, now? My, I have seen it all!” He spoke in faux- fascination.

 

He didn’t allow Armand the chance to rebuttal, instantly returning his daggered eyes towards Louis. “Are you proud of yourself, Saint Louis?” Lestat poked, stepping around Armand to hover above Louis. “Years of denying your nature, denying the gift I’ve bestowed upon you in fear of retribution from a God that does not exist, yet you accept it from another! From the devil, himself!”

 

Louis flinched at the sudden rise in volume of his voice. It was the night of his turning all over again; getting reprimanded as he battled with his guilt, anger, sorrow… his shame. He wanted to apologize, to shout back, to say something– anything! Except Louis couldn’t speak. His fingers curled around the bed sheets, trying to form the words but all he could focus on was the two pairs of eyes on him and the thin sheet that protected what little dignity he had left.

 

“Lestat.” Armand pressed, firmer this time as he probably sensed Louis’ panic over his vulnerable state. “If we could allow Louis a moment to dress himself, maybe–”

 

Lestat cut him off as his scrutinizing gaze refused to spare Louis. “Do not concern yourself, Gremlin. Louis is my companion, it is nothing I haven’t already seen!” He huffed, a sneer taking over his face as he added. “And clearly, it is nothing you haven’t seen either, so I am failing to see the problem here! Go on, Louis!”

 

Louis swallowed, knowing Lestat well enough to know there was no winning against him on this. He moved to gather his clothing, his briefs and pants on the floor a few feet away from him while his shirt had been flung on the other side of the bed. Louis scooted past Lestat, who watched him like a hawk as he shuffled to pick his shirt up. Armand averted his gaze, a contrast to Lestat who remained persistent in watching Louis’ every move. Louis turned to give himself the illusion of privacy as he allowed the sheet to fall off his body and began to quickly dress himself. He could feel the heavy glare of his companion on his back as he did so. 

 

Once Louis had collected himself, he took a second to inhale deeply, mentally preparing himself for the hurricane that was set to hit land, and then he turned around. His eyes shifted from Lestat to Armand, who offered him an apologetic expression. ‘I am sorry this has happened, Louis’. He heard Armand speak to him. 

 

“Don’t!” His companion pointed a trembling and accusatory finger at him before Louis could even reply. “Do not look at him! Do not speak to him where I cannot hear!”

 

By this point, Louis had had enough of his yelling. Now that he was semi-decent, having dressed himself in his wrinkled clothing from the night before, Louis’ own rage poured out of him. “Can’t be human, can’t eat animals, can’t fuck who I want, can’t do anything! Tell me, what can I do, Lestat, hm? ‘Cause apparently, you’re the only one who can do whatever the hell he wants ‘round here!” Louis huffed, feeling himself become angrier with every passing breath.

 

“Oh, so he speaks!” Lestat narrowed down on him, resembling a predator stalking its prey. “Quel miracle! Truly! I was afraid you’d be cowering, that you’d get on your knees before your useless divinity and repent as you were the night I turned you, only this time you have a much longer list of sins to your name, don’t you Saint Louis?” 

 

Louis felt himself grow rigid as Lestat’s large hands settled on his shoulders, memories of the night of his turning flooding back to him as he shrugged them off. “Oh, fuck you!”

 

Lestat’s lips curled back into its sneer. “No, but you let him!” He shouted, stomping his foot the way a child throwing a tantrum would while his index finger flung behind him, pointing at Armand. Then, his head turned towards the older vampire. “And you! You were supposed to be gone by now!”

 

Armand’s shoulders rose as he inhaled an unnecessary breath, seemingly more for the effect. “No, I believe you demanded I’d be on my way back. While I agreed that I had obviously overstayed my welcome and neglected my duties long enough, I never did say exactly when I would return.” He spoke nonchalantly, as if Lestat was not a hurricane waiting for landfall. Armand knew this, though. From their previous conversations, Armand had made it perfectly clear just how well he knew Lestat, which could only mean one thing.

 

He was goading Lestat, poking the bear for no other reason than it thrilled Armand to do so.

 

Louis watched Lestat redirect his attention towards Armand, inspecting him from head to toe. Lestat straightened his posture suddenly as if that would make him appear taller than Armand. They were already practically the same height, so there wasn’t much of a difference in their stance to begin with. Lestat was petty enough to let that slight difference bother him, though; Louis knew him well enough, too, to recognize that.

 

“Nous avions un accord.” Lestat said, now prowling towards Armand. We had an agreement.

 

Armand laughed, lightly. “He does this quite often, Louis.” Armand looked past Lestat to speak to him, which evidently further enraged his companion. Then, his glare returned towards Lestat as he continued to speak, pointedly. “Avoids responsibility for the consequences his actions have…”

 

Lestat began to curse at him in French, attempting to shout over him. Armand remained unfazed, his usual glimmering, copper eyes were drowned out by the darkness of his pupils directed at Lestat as he continued. “Followed by the repetitive failure of taking care of what is his, always leaving me no choice but to pick up where he has failed to do so.”

 

“Mensonges!” Lestat exclaimed. Lies!

 

Armand continued, despite Lestat’s shouting. “He claims me a liar but cannot tell you otherwise. Cannot tell you how he drove the one before you mad then left him to die.”

 

Lestat snapped first. He sped towards Armand, shoving him hard enough that he flew against one of the windows, shattering the glass upon contact. His shouts and curses became muddled. “You take from me and tarnish it!” is what little Louis could make out. Louis frowned, for multiple reasons: the painful tension in the room, the yelling, being referred to as ‘tarnished’ . What got to him the most is that even with what he had learned from Armand these last few weeks, Louis was once again reminded that there was so much he did not know. Not about his companion. Not about the man he just spent the last few weeks getting to know.

 

Armand steadied off the broken window with a heavy exhale. Lestat approached him, seemingly aiming to shove him back against it, except then his companion was practically hauled down to his knees.

 

Louis jumped, taken aback. Armand had elaborated on the mind gift’s abilities, and had even shown Louis up close… never to this extent, though. Armand’s head tilted ever so slightly, then Lestat was sliding back on the floor until he was shoved against the shattered coffee table and broken door he had previously thrown.

 

“Is he as much of a brat with you, Louis? I truly don’t understand how you can put up with him?” Armand asked as if he did not travel thousands of miles in search of Lestat to begin with.

 

Lestat’s laughter was harsh and strained. His knees remained glued to the floor. “I could ask the same question,” he turned towards Louis, jaw clenched. “Is this what does it for you, mon cher? Surely there must’ve been others that caught your eye, you know, one not as dull that he feels the need to overcompensate with the gifts his bloodline passed on to him.”

 

Louis scowled. This was the closest Lestat ever got to talking about vampirism and the gifts that came with it with him. Louis never asked but Lestat never offered either. He thought back to his first sunrise as a vampire, the first time he tried to flee from his nature— as Lestat put it— how his skin burned, turning into ash as it sizzled off the bone. His ignorance had harmed him. His ignorance sent him running back into the expecting arms of his companion that morning. Which led him to the conclusion that maybe Armand had been right, maybe his ignorance had kept him with Lestat.

 

Armand seemed to tighten whatever telekinetic hold he had on Lestat, as the blonde vampire lost his upper body strength and was slammed completely onto the ground. Lestat grunted in pain, his pale face flushing red suddenly.

 

The corners of his mouth stretched downwards. Louis may be upset with Lestat but this… this was taking it too far, now. He stepped towards Armand.

 

“Alright, enough. Enough!” One hand gripped Armand’s shoulder, pulling him back slightly while Louis’ other palm pressed on the soft fabric of Armand’s robe, the pads of his fingers lightly grazing the exposed, cool skin of his chest. He could feel the painful haul of the approaching sunrise. If they kept shoving each other into any more furniture, they were all screwed.   

 

Armand’s fuming gaze flickered towards Louis, faltering as he seemingly contemplated whether to abide by Louis’ request or not.

 

It was like being caught between a rock and a hard place. This tension, this anger between them predated him; it had absolutely nothing to do with Louis, yet at the same time, it felt like it had everything to do with him.

 

Louis called out to him again, in a tone that told him that he wasn’t asking. “ Armand .” 

 

Despite the elder’s hesitance, Armand released him to Louis’ relief, leaning into Louis’ touch. To further add salt to the wound, he added. “Dull, yet that did not stop you from shoving your hand down my pants the other night.”

 

Louis’ ears began to ring. He turned towards Lestat, disbelief ridden. Lestat grunted, scrambling to his feet. There was visible anger in his expression, other than that, there was no indication that what Armand said was a lie.

 

Louis huffed out a laugh. “God, you’re unbelievable, you know that!”

 

“No. Mm-mm.” Lestat wagged his finger. “You will not turn this around on me!”

 

“Turn this—“ Louis shook his head, the incredulity of it only made the ringing in his ear intensify. “When you talk, do you hear yourself?” He pointed at his ear. “Because I’on think you're grasping what you’re saying!”

 

“Did I or did I not find you in bed with another man!” Lestat exploded, his eyes zoning in on where Louis held Armand back. “And then you still have the audacity to touch him in front of me!”

 

“Oh my— you fucked him too!” Louis did not initially realize his hand had remained resting on Armand’s chest. He’d remove it, but honestly, he could care less about how it made Lestat feel right now.

 

“Oh, please! The Gremlin would be so lucky!”

 

“Oh? What’s this I hear about you having your hand down his pants, then? Were you pickin’ his pockets, hm? Accidentally stuck your hand through the wrong hole?” Louis mocked.

 

“The Gremlin’s hand was just as deep in my pants as mine was in his!” Lestat pointed an accusatory finger at Armand, resembling a child attempting to deflect blame off himself. “Yet, I don’t see you yelling at him as you do me!”

 

Louis turned towards Armand, brows in the air. “Let me guess. Somethin’ you forgot to mention, too?” He removed his hand from Armand’s chest, putting distance between, as well. His pettiness could go both ways. Armand’s lips turned upside down in response.

 

“Oh!” Lestat clutched his imaginary pearls. “So, he lies to you as well, it seems!” He laughed, cruelly this time before he clasped his hands together, the sound echoing through Armand’s abode. “Go on then, Saint Louis. Punish him with your glares, with your silence, with your cruel words as you do me!” His voice grew progressively louder with every word.

 

Armand stepped forward, aiming to retrieve Louis’ attention. “I… apologize for not being forthcoming about it before we...” Armand trailed off, not acknowledging what Lestat had said; Armand was seemingly already used to his outbursts enough to tune him out as he spoke to Louis, softly. “I was far too lost in the moment to think properly.”

 

Louis snorted, disbelieved. This whole thing was just ridiculous at this point. “With who? Him or me?”

 

Armand’s brows scrunched together, attempting to amend the distance Louis put between them with another step forward. “Louis…”

 

“Oh pour l'amour de Dieu!” Lestat cut him off as he moved in on them, evidently not liking when the attention wasn’t on him. “So dramatic! It was a quick work of the hand, a lousy one, might I add!”

 

His goal was achieved, given the way both Louis and Armand turned towards him, the latter throwing daggers with his gaze at Lestat as he continued. “Finished in mere seconds, honestly Louis, I don’t see how you kept coming back for more!” Lestat puffed in annoyance.

 

Armand scoffed, Lestat’s jab being enough for his mask of demure to begin slipping. Anger flashed through his amber eyes. This was probably the first time he saw the eldest vampire express anger. “The way I remember it, you weren’t that far behind me. In fact, you initiated it after slamming me up against a wall in the midst of one of your tantrums, similar to as you did moments ago.” Armand then came to stand directly behind Louis, his cheek a hair away from his own as he spoke into his ear. “You see, Louis, he’s always been like this. Selfish.” Against his better judgment, Louis shivered as Armand’s breath caressed the side of his face.

 

Lestat’s eyes rounded at the interaction, his self control hanging on by a thin thread.

 

Adding fuel to fire, Armand’s fingers curled around Louis’ chin, redirecting his attention from the blonde towards himself. “How do you tolerate it?” Armand’s thumb traced along his skin as he gently spoke to Louis. Louis was reminded how much he hated the way his body had a mind of its own, how it relaxed in Armand’s touch despite the tension in the room.

 

“Stop touching him!” Lestat practically yanked Armand off Louis.

 

Lestat’s outburst simultaneously made Louis jump away from Armand’s touch, as well. Then, he remembered himself, pettiness and anger rushing back to him. “God, this was your idea! You started all this!” Louis felt like a broken record. Yet, no matter how much they circled this topic, there seemed to be no getting through to his companion. He would forever avoid acknowledging his hypocrisy.  “I mean, you fuck me, you fucked your mistress, you fucked him, I fucked him!” Now Louis was laughing, too, resembling the over exaggerated way Lestat did whenever he was pissed. “God, we all fucked each other! What’s the problem now?”

 

“You didn’t come home!” Lestat exploded, the vein on his temple nearly popping out as distress flashed through his eyes.

 

Louis deflated. Despite knowing he had no reason to feel for him, the guilt from earlier all came rushing back.

 

Fuck.

 

He hated the turmoil Lestat caused within him. One moment Louis hated his guts, the next his heart ached for him.

 

“As long as…” There was a slight tremble in his voice. “As long as you came home to me , we agreed. You didn’t come home.”

 

It felt as if someone were crushing his heart. Louis didn’t know what to say. Lestat had broken promises without remorse before. Louis wished to do the same, and yet here he was: deflating, stuck on wanting to apologize while simultaneously wanting to tell him to go to hell. 

 

Sometimes it got to Louis, the times he’d look at Lestat and feel so much. 

 

Rage.

 

Resentment.

 

Love, God, so much love he hated him for it. Sometimes it didn’t feel equally reciprocated. Especially when he’d learn how easy it was for him to be with other people.

 

No matter how much he loved his companion, though, the words could never be formed aloud. It was a feeling he couldn’t share with him. Maybe it would be easier if Lestat could read his mind. 

 

Next to them, Armand cleared his throat. Louis’ head jerked towards him, the urge to apologize growing stronger upon taking in Armand’s expression. While Lestat could not read his mind, Armand very much could. Louis still wasn’t used to having to shield his mind, especially not in moments of distress.

 

“Well, it seems like this conversation no longer requires my input.” Armand spoke, slipping a hand into his robe’s pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

 

Louis’ brows furrowed, confused as he glanced between Armand and the sky that peeked through the broken front entrance, the sky that now had more color than darkness in it. His skin prickled as the sun’s pull became more powerful with every passing second.

 

“Yes, frankly, I don’t know why you’re still here!” Lestat answered before Louis could reply. 

 

“I should probably do something to cover the entrance,” Armand gave a tight smile, his eyes squinting as they fell on Lestat. “Seeing as your carelessness has not only left you vulnerable, but Louis especially.” With one final glare, Armand began to make his way towards the entrance, pulling a cigarette out from the package before slipping it back into his pocket.

 

Without thinking, Louis chased after him and reached for Armand’s wrist. “Wait!” Armand turned back to face him, his gaze flickering towards where Louis’ thumb subconsciously began tracing circles atop the skin of his vein. “The sun.”  Louis explained, ceasing his movements immediately as he felt something resembling heat course through him at his actions. Still, he held onto Armand before he could go any further. “You’ll get hurt.” 

 

The sun’s violent rays had barely started to peek through and Louis already felt his body ache, and that’s with him being indoors and a reasonable distance away from any shattered windows or broken doors. Louis also knew what it felt like for his skin to disintegrate under the sun’s touch. Armand couldn’t just walk out into the sun like this.

 

Armand met his gaze, the orange in his eyes flooded with warmth and fondness, almost resembling the sunrise itself. He smiled at him and Louis felt some of that warmth spread through him. With his free hand, Armand took hold of his and gently squeezed it. “Oh, Louis.” Unlike Louis, there was no shame in the way Armand’s cool thumb caressed the top of his hand. “When you live to be as old as I am, you’ll come to find the sun slowly begins to lose its power over us.”

 

Louis took that information in, surprised. He remembered the agony during his first morning as a vampire. He didn’t think he’d ever get to experience it again… the beauty of the sunrise: the warm rays on his skin, brushing away the night’s cold. His impossible sunlight that he lost way before he was even turned, when Paul let himself fall off that roof… when he let Paul fall off that roof. 

 

Because of the agony he experienced during his first morning as a vampire and on the morning he lost Paul, Louis didn’t think he could ever trust the sunrise again. Maybe that’s what made him grip onto Armand’s hand a little tighter.

 

Armand brought Louis’ hand up, placing a soothing kiss atop of Louis’ hand. “It’s alright. It cannot hurt me. But it can hurt you, so please allow me to sun-proof the house.” Then, he heard Armand’s voice speak in his mind. ‘I did say I will not harm you and that promise includes not letting any harm come your way, either.’

 

A smile began to ghost its way on Louis’ expression in response.  

 

A second later, the moment was broken as Louis registered Lestat seething. He heard the blonde gag in disgust behind them. “No, no. Please allow the sun to come in, anything is better than being forced to continue watching this !”

 

Armand looked over Louis’ shoulders, flashing Lestat an unamused expression before returning his attention towards Louis. ‘I make no promises about him, though.’ He joked before placing another quick kiss on Louis’ hand and then releasing him.

 

Louis watched him exit, his cigarette lighting in his mouth as he did. Despite Armand’s reassurance, Louis still expected the sound of sizzling skin and groans of agony to follow. Only after a minute passed and none of his worries played out could Louis ease said concern.

 

Behind him, Lestat cleared his throat a bit too aggressively. “Am I worthy of your attention now, Saint Louis?” He drawled, his annoyance made explicitly clear through his tone.

 

With a heavy sigh, Louis turned his body around, coming face-to-face with his maker. “I don’t know what you want me to say Lestat.” At this point, what could he say to make any of this better? No matter what, Lestat would continue to be angry as if this whole mess couldn’t have been prevented if he would’ve just been honest with Louis; if Louis had only been enough for him…

 

Lestat scoffed out a laugh, causing a few strands of golden hair to briefly dance in the air. “You don’t even have the decency to feign remorse!”

 

Louis frowned. Was Lestat really that oblivious? “I am sorry, okay!” Louis exclaimed, anger simmering deep within him. “I’m sorry I didn’t come home, I’ll own up to that. Everything else, though?” Louis shook his head, the ringing in his ears returning. “I haven’t done anything you and I didn’t agree to!’

 

The blue in Lestat’s eyes expanded, threatening to burst out of his sockets. “Oh, so this is my fault, then?” He began to clap, slowly and pointedly. “Ouah! Way to take accountability for your sins, Saint Louis!”

 

“Accountability?” Louis was seeing red at this point, unable to stop himself from shouting. “Did you or did you not sleep with Antoinette first? Hell, didn’t even wait for me to get out of my own damn house before you did!”

 

Lestat returned the shouting, louder and with more force. “Antoinette is different, she’s–”

 

“She’s what? A pretty, white dame you can take wherever you want?” Louis started, feeling the heavy pressure that’s been building up over the last few weeks slowly begin to dissipate. “Someone who can hold your hand in public? Who doesn’t have to pose as your help to be let into all those fancy places you just love going to? Who you can slow dance with and kiss at the end of the song?”

 

Lestat’s jaw clenched. “Human.” He then answered after allowing a beat of silence to linger between them. “She is human, Louis. Entertainment. Insignificant in the long run of our eternal lives.” He proceeded with his deflection. He strode into Louis’ space, wrapping his long fingers underneath his jaw. “As are these insipid human standards you continue to hold yourself to.” His thumbs caressed along his jawline. “We are vampires, Louis. We are above all of this insignificance." 

 

Louis felt himself deflate. “You’re not hearing me.” He sighed, shaking his head. Honestly, he should’ve expected this. When has Lestat ever bothered to really listen to him, especially about this kind of stuff? His companion's skin color allowed him to be above all of this so-called human insignificance. His more fluid mannerisms were charming in the eyes of society and could be condoned by his French background. Even his partial homosexualness allowed him some sort of respect around here, especially when he paraded a pretty, white girl around like he did with Antoinette. As for Louis, he may no longer be human, yet his own skin color, his own fluid mannerisms– and according to his maman, his apparent homosexualness– were all still perceived by humans and their prejudice. “You never hear me! Not about this, not about my family, not about anything!” Louis pulled away from his hold, attempting to walk off the brewing steam inside him. 

  

He watched as Lestat’s expression soured, evidently taking Louis' retreat as rejection. “And what of Armand then, hm? Is he a much better listener than me? Does he understand you where I don’t?” The blonde vampire fumed, stomping his leg for extra measure. “Please, enlighten me, Louis! Tell me how he is any better when it is so obvious he is just here to get back at me!”

 

“You think I don’t know that? At least he’s been honest about that part, can’t say the same ‘bout you!” Louis shot back, petty.

 

“Oh, so now we’re adding ‘liar’ to my endless list of sins, hm?” Lestat scoffed.

 

“Don’t forget to add lack of accountability to that list, too!” Louis retorted.

 

“Lack of accountability?” Lestat appeared appalled. “I am asking you to tell me how he is any better than me, as you claim?”

 

Louis didn’t say anything about anyone being better than anyone, but of course that’s what Lestat got out of this. Still Louis, himself, wasn’t any less of an ass to correct him. “Well, for one you never bother to tell me about him. Your past. The others. What he taught you.”

 

Some emotion Louis couldn’t quite place rushed through Lestat’s dark gaze. When he didn’t say anything, Louis continued. “When he threw you earlier…”

 

Lestat cut him off with an incredulous laugh, “Please, I’d hardly call that throwing!”

 

Louis pushed through despite his interruption. “Can you do that? Can I?” He wondered, brows furrowing as he recalled the rare instances in which Lestat has displayed his gifts before Louis. How he made time still. “I know… you can stop time, I think? But can you fly? He says he can. Feel like I’ve seen you do it, during our first night… don’t know if I’m misremembering but… that was you flying, right?”

 

His companion appeared to contemplate for a moment, his icy, blue glare scanning Louis’ face. “You’re either born with it or you're not.” Lestat then answered, speaking carefully.

 

Louis laughed in disbelief, crossing his arms. “That’s not what Armand told me.”

 

Saying Armand’s name aloud returned the fury to his now dilating eyes. “So, not only do you let him defile you, but now you take his word over mine! Oh, mon cher, you are so gullible it is almost endearing.”

 

“Armand’s gotta theory,” Louis said rather than let the jab get to him. “Says you lie to me for a reason.”

 

Again, Lestat’s eye twitched ever so slightly at the mention of Armand’s name. “Oh, I see there has been a lot of conversation about me among the two of you.” Lestat chuckled, pompously as he strode towards Louis once more. “You two must be incredibly boring together, seeing as there was so much time for me to be the topic of your discussions.” Lestat wore his vanity with a smirk, the same smirk he wore when he held his night with Antoinette over him. If there was anything Louis had learned about his companion, it was that he loved to pick and prod at Louis with the goal of getting a reaction out of him.

 

Louis hummed, “Nothin’ boring about the way he fucked me.” He rebuttaled, knowing better than to give him the reaction he wanted. Two could play it that game. “Or I him.’

 

The sound of glass shattering made Louis jump. He looked around, expecting to find that Lestat had telepathically shattered another one of Armand’s windows. When Louis learned that wasn’t the case, his gaze wandered until they landed on the dining table he had damn near fucked himself on Armand a couple of nights ago. Shattered on the round table, Louis found the vase that once held the flowers Armand had gifted him. A few of them floated along the spilled water that pooled on the table, while the rest of them scattered onto the floor.

 

“Oh, I bet!” Lestat yelled, his eyes practically bulging out.

 

Despite the mess his companion had made of them, Louis couldn’t help but notice the flowers remained alive, Not only that, but the orange petals that reminded him of Armand’s eyes, remained vibrant as ever. His heart warmed slightly, remembering Armand’s promise to keep them alive for all eternity, if it was what Louis desired.

 

“In my own house, too, I hear!” Lestat continued, the volume of his voice increasing in an apparent attempt to get Louis’ attention back on him and away from the flowers. When that didn’t work, Louis watched as his flowers were then set aflame, the vibrant colors turning to dark ash. “Very unclassy, Saint Louis.”

 

Louis’ eyes shot back at him, meeting Lestat’s daunting smile. “Almost as unclassy and cheap as those flowers. Very hideous, too, I will add.”

 

“You’re one to talk ‘bout class, seeing how it took a whole week for Antoinette’s scent to get out of my house– oh I’m sorry, I mean your house!”

 

Lestat exhaled, exasperated. “Again with her? We are talking about you and how you invited that demon into my home, into our lives!”

 

“Oh my G–, he came here for you!” By this point, all this talking in circles was finally starting to irritate Louis.

 

“And yet you let him have you! You let him touch you! Worse, let your heart swoon over those dreadful flowers he gave you right in front of me!” Lestat’s shouts were ear piercing.

 

The silence that followed was rigid, the only thing that could be heard was their heavy breathing and the faint sounds of birds chirping. He could also hear the low humming of an automobile in the distance.

 

It was morning. Louis wondered where Armand had gone. Surely, he wasn’t out for a morning stroll at this time? There was a slight ache in his body at the sun’s pull. He tried not to show it. 

 

He sighed. “You know what he told me?” Louis broke the silence, unable to tell if his sudden weakness was due to the sun or his exhaustion over all of this. “That you intentionally lied to me… said you want me stupid.”

 

There was a slight furrow to Lestat’s brows. “I want you with me, Louis.” He replied, firmly. “Forever and always.”

 

“Forever.” Louis couldn’t help but laugh, dryly. That’s all they had now, right? Forever. “Is that why you keep me stupid, so I never leave you? Because deep down, you know we can never work…”

 

Panic immediately flooded Lestat’s eyes at the words “leave you”. His jaw clenched and Louis could hear how his heart accelerated in fear. “Is that what you intend to do?” Lestat asked with slight alarm, rather than confirm what Louis had claimed. “Leave me?” His voice was strained as he spoke.

 

Louis paused, uncertainty dwelling within him. He’d be lying if he said the thought never crossed his mind once or twice; leaving Lestat, returning home crawling on his knees to his maman, his sister– pleading to be welcomed back. He never entertained the thought long, though. Louis knew better; he knew his family would never take him back. They saw him for the monster he was, now.

 

Before Louis could answer, though, he could sense Armand’s presence just as the low humming of the motor automobile ceased. A few seconds later, he was walking through the door, carrying a thick-layered fabric in his arms. “Lestat.” Armand wasted no time. “Take responsibility for your mess for once and help me cover the door. Stay to my right, though there’s less sun on that side.”

 

Surprisingly, Lestat had no snarky retort. Instead, he walked towards where Armand was attempting to unfold the drape, his heavy gaze not leaving Louis until he reached where Armand stood.

 

Louis’ eyes widened slightly as Armand levitated about a foot from the ground, holding part of the drape in one hand along with a hammer and a nail in the other. So, that’s what flying looked like.

 

Louis couldn’t help but stare in slight amazement. He wondered how it would feel to be miles up in the sky, to feel the wind dancing among his limbs as he soared high in the air.

 

“No, no! You’re doing it wrong!” Lestat complained, as he held the right side of the drape. “Step aside and let me handle this, before your incompetence gets Louis and I hurt!”

 

Then, Lestat rose off the ground to match Armand’s height, tugging at the thick fabric.

 

Armand sneered, slightly. “If I step aside, you will quite literally be the one getting hurt. And Louis, by default because for whatever reason, he is very fond of you. Now, stay to my right as I’ve instructed.”

 

Lestat, of course, was never one to follow orders. His insistence to remain up there alongside him evidently annoyed Armand who then commented off handedly. “Your cloud gift could use some work.”

 

The blonde huffed in annoyance, snatching the hammer out of Armand’s hand. “Épargnez-moi la leçon.” Spare me the lesson.

 

Armand let out a chuckle. “Si je me souviens bien, tu me demandais mon savoir.” The way I remember it, you used to beg for my knowledge.

 

Louis stood back, watching the two of them work together to get the drape up. There was the occasional shoving, scolding, and insult thrown by the two elder vampires at one another as they got the task done.

 

There was a slight discomfort brewing deep within Louis’ stomach as he quietly watched from a distance. The more time Louis spent with Lestat and Armand, watching them interact with one another, the more insight he got into their dynamic. There was evident attraction between the two of them, perhaps something deeper; hell, there was history there! History that didn’t involve Louis at all. There was also anger, resentment, maybe even hatred. It was an interesting dynamic, one that left Louis green with jealousy… over who, though, he didn’t want to think about too much… After this whole thing, along with the sun’s drainful pull, he was beyond exhausted by this point.

 

It wasn’t just jealousy, though.

 

No, there was something else that shot through Louis the longer he watched the two older vampires maneuver around one another. Yes, there was jealousy, so much of it that it made him sick, but there was also… curiosity .

 

Curiosity over how they would be like under less angry and resentful circumstances. Curiosity of how they’d all be like–

 

He shook his head, stopping his mind from wandering somewhere indecent. There was no reason to be thinking of that , especially right now.

 

He looked up to find the two subjects of said indecent thoughts looking at him, discontent still very obvious on his companion’s expression. Underneath said discontent, there was concern; concern that Armand expressed, too.

 

“Louis?”

 

“Are you alright, Louis?” 

 

Lestat and Armand asked at the same time, each taking a step forward.

 

Louis felt himself nod, though everything around him started feeling foggy. While the entrance had already been successfully covered, the windows remained exposed, not to mention the one Lestat broke when he shoved Armand towards it.

 

He heard Armand huff. “You see the problems you cause!” He directed towards Lestat as he approached Louis. “He is far too young to be out of his coffin at this time.”

 

“This wouldn’t even be a problem had you left like you were meant to!” Lestat snarled, before looking around. “What about your coffin? Where even is it?!”

 

“I had already arranged for it to be shipped back overseas.” Armand’s hands gently landed on Louis’ shoulders, walking him back and away from the windows’ vicinity where sunlight now began to peek through. He hadn’t even realized.

 

Lestat rushed towards them, yanking Armand’s hands off Louis. “He can walk for himself, thank you!” He huffed. Rather than follow his own advice, Lestat’s hands simply replaced where Armand’s once rested on Louis’ shoulders. 

 

He led Louis towards the undone bed, his expression souring as Louis sat down. “Just disgraceful!” Lestat seemed to be gearing up for a second round.

 

Despite his sudden weakness, Louis managed to be able to roll his eyes. “Don’t.” He muttered, feeling his body fall back until he was laying on the tangled mess he and Armand had made of the bed the night before.

 

“Oh, so now I’m to pretend I am okay with this?” Lestat replied.

 

“Lestat.” Armand called out to him with a fixed tone. “You had your time to say your piece. Enough of that already and come help me cover the windows, now.”

 

Lestat sneered. “You don’t tell me what to do!”

 

Armand sighed. “Nobody ever does.” He said, there was a slight annoyance in his tone as he spoke. “Are you going to help me take care of your fledgling or not?”

 

Louis felt a retort building up within him at being referred to as that word, something they both knew he did not like, yet it didn’t seem to make it past his throat. He realized a second later that his vision had blurred and that his eyes had grown heavy, which meant they were no longer talking to him.

 

He knew the sun’s pull had gotten to him when their voices began to sound distant and when the dark spots took over his blurry vision.

 

At different points throughout the morning, he felt the weight on the bed shift. Then later, he heard Armand and Lestat’s voices, sometimes in the form of whispers, and other times in the form of almost shouts.

 

The almost shouts particularly came after Louis’ eyes fluttered open for a brief second, after feeling cool hands gently caressing his cheeks, and saw Armand’s face hovering over him before sleep dragged him back into deep unconsciousness.

 

He’s awoken by the sensation of the back of someone’s curled fingers tracing along the bone structure of his face. Louis jolted up with a hitched intake of breath, the hand retreating as his body pulsated in ache. He groaned, bringing his own hand up to his face in an attempt to ward some of the exhaustion away.

 

“As you can see, the consequences of a fledgling not returning to his coffin, to his home, can be quite painful.” Lestat spoke, pointedly.

 

Louis didn’t respond. He let himself sit in silence for a moment, willing the pain to die down as he squeezed his eyes shut. He was in no mood to resume last night’s mess.

 

Again, he felt Lestat’s hand cup the side of his face, tilting Louis’ face to one side and then the other in inspection. “Not to mention exhausting,” he added, tracing underneath Louis’ eyes.

 

Louis opened his eyes and was met with vibrant blue ones staring back at him. Anger remained within them, but Louis could tell he was trying to reel it in. 

 

“Come.” Lestat spoke when Louis offered nothing in response. His hand retreated from Louis’ face, instead hanging in the air in offer. “Let us go home.”

 

His gaze flickered down towards his offered hand, then back up to meet his gaze. He still had a lot to say about last night… probably a lot he won’t say right now, but that he’ll bottle up for a later time. Lestat was likely doing the same, anyway. Louis scooted forward on the mattress and accepted Lestat’s help in getting up. 

 

Upon standing, he looked around. The broken door, rather than thrown on the coffee table, now laid resting against the wall. The entrance and windows were covered in the thick drapes they had set up last night. Louis no longer felt the painful pull from the sun, which meant night had come.

 

“Where’s Armand?” he asked, once he realized the eldest vampire was the only thing missing from the mess he had fallen asleep to during the morning.

 

Lestat then yanked his hand with a scoff. “Why is he the first thing you speak of to me?”

 

Louis shrugged. “Considering this is his place…” he trailed off. It was odd to not find Armand here. Would he really up and leave without a word? After everything that happened?

 

“Well, I didn’t do anything to him if that is what you’re implying.” He huffed.

 

“Thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.” Louis responded. “Especially not after what I saw last night.”

 

Louis had gotten an up close look at some of the vampiric gifts. Armand’s ability to control the limbs of another. Armand and Lestat’s gift of flight.

 

Lestat sneered. “The Gremlin cheats. Take away his gifts and I can take him with my eyes closed!”

 

“Oh, I’m sure.” Louis hummed. “According to him, you two took each other quite well the other night.”

 

The tension from this past morning returned as a beat of silence followed. He watched as Lestat’s chest rose with a deep exhale before speaking. “Are we going to keep wasting time discussing him? I, for one, have grown quite irritated by it. Not as irritated as looking at you in your soiled attire from yesterday.”

 

Louis sighed, too. “Okay. Let’s go home, then.” He’d reach out to Armand later, see if he was even still in the area or if he had, in fact, left without saying goodbye.

 

Somehow, the usage of the word ‘home’ made Lestat’s shoulders grow even more rigid. Thankfully, he maintained his composure as he led them through the dark drape where the front door once stood.

 

They walked in silence for the most part. It wasn’t that comfortable silence that had come with the few years of their companionship. Rather, there was an edge to it. It was unbearable. At some point, Louis wound up breaking the silence to ask. “We probably should talk about it.”

 

“Hm, talk about what?” Lestat’s attention remained forward, on the pathway that led towards the streetcar. 

 

So, he was going to be difficult. Louis should’ve expected that. “This. This… agreement we had. Clearly we both ain’t happy with it.” Louis knew he definitely wasn’t, especially where Antoinette was involved.

 

Lestat hummed, indifference lingering in his tone. “We should probably pick up our pace before the streetcoach leaves us behind.” He said, quickening his steps rather than acknowledging what Louis said.

 

Again, Louis’ chest deflated.

The first thing Louis did upon returning home was shower, changing into fresh clothing immediately. Lestat waited in the living area, his fingers producing beautiful tunes as they wandered all around the piano keys.

 

He stopped upon Louis’ descendance down the stairs. “You’re dressed.” He acknowledged. “I’m surprised you’re not sleeping in tonight, given your exhaustion.”

 

Louis shrugged as he tightened his tie around his neck. “Figured I’d check on how things were going on with the Azalea.” Things had been getting a bit tricky there.

 

“Hm, yes, you have been quite neglectful of your responsibilities as of late.” Lestat muttered, bitterly. “Always leaving so abruptly. At least now I know why.”

 

Louis laughed. “Please. As if you noticed.” Every time he did leave ‘ abruptly’ as Lestat put it, his companion was always too preoccupied with the lounge singer.

 

“I always notice you.” Lestat said.

 

Which honestly, just made it worse.

 

Then, Lestat stood. “I think I will join you.”

 

“Fine.”

Things had thankfully been running smoothly during his near twenty-four hour absence. That was one less thing Louis had to worry about, for now at least.

 

Upon their arrival, Antoinette squealed as she greeted Lestat with open arms, gushing about how boring last night had been without him after he left early. Lestat, of course, did not put a stop to her affection. He did the opposite, actually; welcoming her into his arms, kissing her cheek as he maintained eye contact with Louis the entire time. Which only set the cycle up all over again. 

 

Louis wandered away. Lestat was going to do what Lestat was going to do. He didn’t want to have to witness it up close, though.

 

Once he put a good distance between himself and the overly affectionate singers, Louis headed to a corner and called to him.

 

‘Armand.’

 

The response was almost immediate, as if he had been waiting for Louis to call to him. ‘Yes, Louis?’

 

Relief swelled within Louis upon hearing his voice infiltrate his head. He almost had to laugh; he never thought he’d be saying those words. ‘You’re still here.’

 

Armand’s gentle laughter followed. ‘I thought last night had made it quite obvious that I’m not one to leave without a proper goodbye.’

 

Despite the lack of blood in his system, Louis felt a hot flush course through him. ‘Do I even wanna know how your goodbye with Lestat went after I knocked out, then?’ He rebuttalled, partially in an attempt to deflect. A part of Louis was also not stupid. They couldn’t keep their hands off one another that other night they were alone, who was to say last night was any different for them?

 

The slight humor in Armand’s voice faltered. ‘No.’ He replied. ‘I am sorry I wasn’t upfront about the other night with him, though.’

 

‘Does it even matter now?’ 

 

‘If it bothers you, then it does.’

 

Louis snorted into his glass of whiskey. ‘I’m used to it.’ His eyes found where Lestat and Antoinette continued to orbit around each other.

 

He couldn’t see Armand, but Louis felt as the older vampire frowned before speaking. ‘Well, even so, I am sorry. I feel as if I’ve let you down.’  

 

Louis shook his head. ‘Like I said, does it even matter now?’

 

Armand sighed. ‘May I see you before I go?’

 

Again, Louis glanced to where his companion danced with his mistress, remembering how he claimed to always be aware of Louis even while with her. After what happened this previous night, Louis actually believed him.

 

‘I can’t stay out long this time.’

 

‘You won’t.’

 

‘He might follow me.’

 

‘He won’t.’ Armand sounded almost certain.

 

Even if Louis didn’t believe that to be so, he snuck out the Azalea Hall for the last time.

Armand led him somewhere nearby this time around. Way too near, actually, about a block away from Rue Royale, behind one of the taller buildings next to some of the townhouses. 

 

“This is new.” Louis said in the form of greeting.

 

Armand smiled, cheeky. He was dressed in a long trench coat, his hair gelled back as usual. “Yes, I was afraid I would not be able to help myself if I led you out any farther.”

 

Louis huffed out a laugh. “The way I remember it, that didn’t seem to stop you back when you showed up unannounced.”

 

The older vampire’s teeth flashed as he breathed out another smile, before averting his gaze downward. It then registered that usually this happened the other way. Usually, it was Louis who looked away, flushing over whatever out of pocket thing Armand had said to him.

 

This was… new.

 

Interesting.

 

Louis looked around, making sure nobody was around, before taking a bold step into Armand’s space. Their noses nearly brushed against one another, “You wanted to see me?”

 

Armand’s eyes filled with its coppery color as they widened. “Yes.” He nodded, his voice sounding slightly strained as his gaze lingered on Louis’ mouth.

 

He hummed, moving ever so slightly towards him. “Well, you’re seeing me.”

 

“Mhm.” Armand nodded once more, sounding dazed as his attention remained trained on Louis’ lips.

 

“So…” Louis dragged, enjoying the way Armand responded towards his teasing, the way he mindlessly leaned forward. 

 

Louis felt a thrilling rush course through him as Armand’s tongue came out to wet his own mouth. “Right. I–”

 

Before Armand could finish that thought, Louis’ hand came up to bury itself underneath Armand’s stiff curls, cutting him off with a kiss. 

 

“Mm.” Louis hummed into the kiss. He was supposed to be upset with him, he remembered perhaps a little too late. He supposed it didn’t really matter, not when this might be their last few moments together.

 

Armand was quick to respond, his own hands trailing up Louis’ spine and gripping onto his upper back, pulling him closer.

 

Louis pulled away first, amused as Armand chased after him with a heaving chest, only to be held back by Louis’ hand on him.

 

They stared at each other for a second or two, savoring the feeling of being in each other’s space while it lasted.

 

“You… are making this next part very difficult for me.” Armand finally spoke, his heart hammering heavy against Louis’ palm pressed on his chest.

 

His own heart clenched.

 

Because Armand could continue, Louis leaned in for another kiss, one that Armand was eager to reciprocate. Louis’ entire body hummed at the sensation of all of Armand being pressed against him: his lips, his firm body, their pelvises with slow grinds against one another as Louis backed him against the brick wall of the building. They receded briefly, reangling their heads to deepen the kiss. Armand let out muted pleased noises as his grip on Louis’ shirt tightened.

 

“Come with me.” Armand blurted when Louis pulled away for the second time.

 

His words caught him off guard. “Oh.” He said.

 

Louis had not been expecting that.

 

This was supposed to be their goodbye, Armand had even said so. 

 

A sense of awkwardness and discomfort filtered the air between them as Louis took a step back, removing his weight off the taller vampire.

 

“I’m sorry.” Armand cleared his throat. His eyes were slightly rounded with alarm. “I startled you, that was not my intention.”

 

“S’Okay.” Louis said, rubbing a soothing hand on the curve of Armand’s neck, feeling his pulse thumping underneath his fingers. Armand shivered. “Wasn’t expecting that, that’s all.” 

 

He could tell Armand remained unsettled by the sudden falter of his self control, though. “It’s okay.” Louis insisted, despite feeling unsettled by the question himself. “Really.”

 

As if to prove it, Louis leaned into Armand’s space once more, pulling the older vampire down for another kiss.

 

Armand licked his lips as they pulled away, his eyes avoiding Louis’ as he appeared to contemplate something for a moment. “Do you trust me?” He then asked.

 

Louis blinked, again, taken aback.

 

That was a… heavy question.

 

If Armand had asked him that a few weeks ago when they first met, hell maybe even a few nights ago, Louis’ answer would’ve been an immediate no.

 

But then, after this past night, thinking about how Armand had opened up to him; how he had offered Louis his vulnerability, a peek into his past– something of which Lestat had yet to do willingly… maybe Louis could trust Armand. If not that, at the very least, grow into trusting him. Maybe if they had more time together, he would’ve.

 

“Depends.”

 

The answer seemed to suffice for Armand, who held out a hand for Louis to take. “Will you allow me to show you something?” he asked, earnestly.

 

Louis hesitated. This most recent time he let Armand take him somewhere resulted in such a mess.

 

“It won’t be long. I promise.” Armand reassured.

 

So Louis took his hand. Before he could even question where he was being taken, he was pulled flush against Armand’s body as an arm wrapped itself protectively around Louis’ waist. Now, it was Armand’s turn to make Louis choke on his own breath.

 

He leaned in, Armand’s lips lightly grazing Louis’ in an almost peck. “Just look at me.” Armand whispered against his mouth.

 

The gesture served as a good distraction. It took Louis a good second or two for him to realize he was suddenly weightless. He gasped when he looked down and found himself high above the ground, his shoes dangling underneath. He tightened his hold around Armand in response.

 

Louis had wondered what it would be like to fly. He hadn’t anticipated finding out what it felt like so soon, though. His hands clutched onto Armand’s shoulders with urgency until they swiftly landed on the rooftop of the building. Only then, could Louis’ heart stop palpating.

 

“That was…”

 

Exhilarating.

 

Scary as hell.

 

“Something.” Louis settled on, not exactly knowing how he felt about the concept of flying yet.

 

Armand’s smile looked dejected as he released Louis from his hold. Then, he brought a hand up to caress the right side of Louis’ face. “Oh, Louis.” He sighed, his thumb tracing along his cheekbone. “What I’d give to see you flourish into the vampire you are meant to be.”

 

Louis puffed out a breath in disbelief. “You saying I’m a lousy vampire?”

 

“I’m saying I could be of use to you.” Armand was so earnest about it, too. 

 

“Armand.” Louis grimaced. He never considered it, leaving New Orleans, even before being turned. His family was here, Paul was here. His whole life. Lestat.

 

They didn’t work. Louis knew that. Yet, even in the times where he considered leaving him, now that he was being offered the opportunity to do so, Louis felt sick to his stomach at just the thought of it. He felt as if a fist were wrapped around his heart, threatening to yank it out.

 

“Louis.” Armand mirrored Louis’ tone, his hand trailed down towards his jaw, wrapping securely around the side of his throat.

 

“You got some nerve.” Louis said. Armand’s proximity rendered any conviction he should have, useless. “Asking me this knowing you’re doing this just to spite him.” If this morning showed Louis anything, it was how deep the obsession the elder vampires had towards one another. Armand had called it love. Lestat acted as if it was nothing but pure hatred. He could see both versions being true.

 

With his free hand, Armand reached for Louis’ own, guiding it towards the right side of his chest and pressing it firmly there. “And yet that does not stop my heart from beating for you.”

 

Louis gripped his shirt, reeling him in to kiss him. What else was he supposed to do in response? He could hear his own heart harmonizing with his. 

 

Louis had known his heart was Lestat’s since the night he turned him; it scared him at the time, still did. Having his heart beat for another, now that was mortifying. It filled him with guilt, as well, feeling as if acknowledging the fact was the biggest betrayal he could ever do to his companion.

 

He pulled away, lingering in Armand’s space, placing a soft kiss on the bridge of his nose, and breathing in each other’s air for a moment before inevitably saying. “I can’t.”

 

He couldn’t leave his family, his companion… his home.

 

Armand closed his eyes, allowing their noses to come together in a caress. “I was afraid that would be your answer.”

 

“I’m sorry.” Louis said, his chest aching.

 

Armand’s lips thinned into a grimace. “Don’t be.” Louis could hear the detachment in Armand’s tone that would suggest otherwise.

 

Before he could comment on it, Armand was speaking again. “I was hoping to watch the stars with you for a moment.” He said, head tilting up towards the dark sky. 

 

Louis followed suit. “Not as bright around here as they are out by the bayou.” He said, attempting to sound casual. He swallowed away his ache, not wanting to offend Armand any further.

 

“No, they are not.” Armand agreed with a hum, the two of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they took in the sparkling view in the sky.

 

He thought back to what Armand had told him the night before, how he had initially found comfort in the stars when living through unspeakable things. Louis’ vision began to blur the longer they stood in silence. Part of his heart shattered knowing that with every passing second that they stood here, was one second closer to Armand going away for good. He tried blinking them away.

 

There was a low rumble in his stomach, one that Armand instantly picked up on. “You haven’t eaten.” He stated more-so than asked.

 

Louis cringed. Now was not the time. “It’s okay. I’ll get something on my way back.”

 

It was an answer that he knew was not good enough for Armand who turned to face him once more and started rolling up his sleeve.

 

Louis reached for his wrist to stop him. “You don’t have to.” The last thing he wanted to do was keep using Armand for this after he had basically already rejected him.

 

Armand smiled, softly. “I want to.”

 

“Armand.” Louis sighed, guilt swarming through him.

 

The older vampire chuckled, lightly. “There is no better parting gift you can give me than this.” He insisted, gently coaxing Louis’ hand off him as he finished rolling up his sleeve.

 

Whatever protest Louis had was killed by Armand’s gentle shushing. “Don’t think about it too hard.” He whispered, his other hand moving to draw circles on the back of Louis’ neck. “Just look at the stars.” Then Armand was guiding him towards the exposed skin on his wrist.

 

Before Louis knew it, his fangs were sinking down on the offered skin. Armand’s hot, syrupy blood was always a wonder on his tongue. He loved the way it filled his stomach, how it left him feeling full, something so difficult to accomplish for him.

 

There was something different about it this time. Visions flashed before his closed eyelids. Memories, vague and too quick to decipher, played before him. They were not his, either. Louis had never experienced this at any point in which he fed from Armand. This was… new.

 

When he caught a glimpse of twinkling stars in a dark night, in a less lively setting, Louis knew what he was seeing. Bits and pieces of Armand were being offered to him. Louis grew rigid at the realization. He was seeing the world through the eyes of the boy Armand described to him the previous night. He saw the man with the weight of the world on his shoulders that the boy was now. 

 

Louis saw him .

 

He swallowed one final gulp, yanking himself away. His chest heaved, heart rapidly beating once more, but for an entirely different reason. He turned towards Armand, startled. “What was that?”

 

As he did on their first meeting and every night after that, Armand brushed the corner of Louis’ lips with his thumb. “Forgive me. I…” the older vampire trailed off, seemingly at a loss at what to say.

 

“Armand?” Louis questioned.

 

The older man surprised him when he lurched forward to capture Louis’ lips into a gentle kiss as Armand’s hands cupped the back of his neck, attempting to draw Louis impossibly close towards him. Despite his confusion, Louis couldn’t not give into him. His eyes fluttered shut, pressing further into Armand, and just enjoying the feeling of kissing him while it lasted.

 

Then, for the first time, it was Armand who pulled back. His thumbs drew stars on Louis’ skin while he licked his lips, as if savoring their kiss. Armand sighed, appearing defeated. “I suppose I wanted you to see me… really see me… before I am forced to do this.”

 

Armand’s amber eyes became glossy, blood collecting at the bottom of his eyelids.

 

Louis blinked, confused. “Forced to do what?”

 

Armand did not elaborate. Instead, he leaned forward once again, kissing Louis. While his heart accelerated, it wasn’t for its usual reasons. Louis grew anxious, especially as he felt Armand’s damp face against his while his hold on Louis’ throat tightened ever so slightly. 

 

“I truly am sorry.” Armand spoke against his lips.

 

Louis’ brows furrowed, pulling his head back to look at him. “Armand?” He spoke with urgency. Now, he was worried.

 

His thumbs continued to stroke along his skin as he added, sadly. “You were a wonderful experience.”

 

Red tears streamed down Armand’s face. Before Louis could voice his concerns, suddenly Armand’s auburn, hypnotizing gaze was peering deep into his. “Rest.” 

 

The word was like a siren call, one that relaxed the tension in Louis’ shoulders and made his brain fuzzy. 

 

Louis lost his balance, feeling himself falling forward only to be caught by a strong grip on his shoulders.

 

“Armand…” Louis spoke, though he sounded unsure.

 

“Rest.”

 

Where was he again?

 

Who…?

 

“Rest.” Was the last thing he heard.

 

Then there was nothing.

Hunger wasn’t the only thing that burned deep within Louis when he woke up the following night. He was no stranger to it, already used to it at this point. It didn’t burn half as bad as the rage did right now. Rage simmered deep within the pit of his stomach as he recalled last night’s events.

 

It didn’t help when the subject of said rage greeted him when Louis pushed his coffin open. 

 

Lestat smiled down at him, warm. He sat on the floor, right beside his coffin, as if he had been waiting for Louis to wake. “Sleep well, mon cher?” He spoke tenderly, wrapping an arm around Louis in greeting. Louis fought back the urge to recoil, especially when thinking about Lestat’s words from last night.

 

“From time to time, I like a little variety.” He had said, eager like a child on Christmas morning.

 

The only semblance of satisfaction Louis had was watching as the light had faded from his companion’s eyes when Louis matched his energy. 

 

“So I can fuck whoever I want?” Louis had challenged, enjoying the visible agony the thought of it alone brought Lestat. Served him right!

 

“Like a baby.” Louis retorted, dryly. In all actuality, it had been the opposite. That had been the worst sleep of his life. He didn’t even know what made it so. It couldn’t have been the dream, seeing as he didn’t remember dreaming at all. Maybe coffins were like mattresses, in which they needed to be replaced every couple of years. Perhaps Louis was due for a new coffin soon.

 

Lestat’s smile widened as he rose to his feet, quick to help Louis out of his coffin, and pulling him in for a deep kiss.

 

Louis hated how Lestat did it. How a kiss alone was enough to render him weak, to make him forget about whatever shit he had done to piss him off this time around. His companion hummed, contentedly into the kiss before pulling away. 

 

“Let’s have a night out together, just the two of us!” He suggested, tapping Louis on the chest. “I even picked out an outfit for you already!” Lestat practically skipped over towards their wardrobe, holding up a burgundy pant suit, with dark patterns sewed into the fabric that hung off the hanger.

 

Maybe this was his way of making amends for inviting Antoinette over last night.

 

Louis sighed, willing the rage simmering in his stomach to cool. “What’d you have in mind?” He opted to keep the peace, ignoring the noise, the crisis that continued to brew deep within.

He was startled to learn they were nearing the end of the month already. When he brought it up, Lestat smiled fondly at him, and told Louis he had been working too hard. Could he blame him, though? There was a lot going on.

Louis didn’t intend to follow through with his part of their agreement. He couldn’t see himself opening up to anyone the way he had to Lestat.

 

Yet when a man, who he recognized from when he was a boy, came looking for him, with the same stars in his eyes that he had looked at eighteen-year-old Louis back when the man was sixteen… it made sense to.

 

Reliving the intimacy of stolen kisses, stolen touches, and dancing hearts almost had given Louis a semblance of the life he had left behind. That semblance was quickly destroyed as he struggled to contain himself from burying his teeth into Jonah’s neck and drinking him dry. Which is why Louis didn’t let things escalate, not trusting himself to be able to stop himself.

 

Something clicked for Louis after his rendezvous with Jonah, though. If he had any doubts before, tonight definitely solidified something for him: Louis was never meant for normality. Yes, deep down, Louis still ached for that family with a picket fence… but not with a wife. It was never going to be a wife, was it?

 

Fitting that it was Jonah who initially sparked the curiosity, but also the one who solidified it.

Learning Lestat had creeped on them during such an intimate moment shouldn’t have surprised Louis, yet it did. The noise, the chaos, the crisis… it all suffocated him. The group of drunk, white military men in his home, their rash behavior encouraged by his companion along with his own, made his ears ring. 

 

Not to mention the interference with his business… it was all becoming too much. 

 

“Get them out of here.” Louis demanded.

 

“Well, now that I know that you have a type, I thought you’d be pleased.” Despite the calm inflection of Lestat’s voice, there was an underlying meaning hidden within his words. 

 

“Lestat.”

 

Louis’ rage, his hunger, the noise, the chaos, the crisis… it was slowly eating at him, consuming him.

 

Lestat used his mind gift to get rid of them. It was a new trick of Lestat’s he discovered in that moment, one Louis brushed off way too quickly, as he had other matters to concern himself with.

At some point, Louis had almost let himself get crushed by the weight of it all.

 

The feeling of her hand wrapped tightly around his as she hopped in a circle, dragging Louis and Lestat around a joint dance, was everything. He realized that the noise, the chaos, the crisis, his hunger– none of it mattered anymore.

 

All that mattered was that little spark in the dark that quieted the never ending turmoil around him with a gesture as simple as her hand in his.

 

Louis couldn’t see how something this beautiful could ever go wrong.

 

At the funeral home, after having arranged for Claudia’s coffin to be delivered to their home and after the remains of the owner have been discarded, the three of them were drawn to the vibrant display of flowers before the exit.

 

Claudia skipped towards the display. “Oh! Look Daddy Lou! Uncle Les! Pretty flowers!” Her curious hands immediately reached for the orange flower with small petals that curved slightly upward. She gasped immediately upon picking up the flower, retracting her hand and letting it fall.

 

Louis immediately went to soothe her as Lestat knelt down to pick up the culprit behind the slight prickle on Claudia’s skin, which now left a trail of maroon on her finger.

 

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” Lestat admonished, twirling the auburn petals in his hand, pointedly avoiding the large thorn on the stem. “Let this be a lesson to both you and Louis, ma petite.”

 

A heavy sense of deja vu suddenly struck Louis, the closer he inspected the flower in his companion’s hands. Something stirred within him, his heart accelerating for a reason Louis could not place.

 

“Beauty can be deceiving.” Lestat continued, his thumb brushing against the thorn that had just nicked Claudia. 

 

There was just something about the flower. The longer Louis looked at it, he was filled with warmth, yet a chilling feeling all at once. 

 

Lestat slid his thumb against the thorn, tearing his skin open. “It is often the most beautiful things that hurt the most.”

 

As his blood trailed down his thumb, a flash of glossy, auburn eyes and a tear of blood played through Louis’ mind, almost like a memory. He blinked repeatedly, trying to place the would-be memory but failing to.

 

Then, Louis watched as the orange petals turned into ash in Lestat’s hand.

 

Notes:

Next chapter will be from Armand's POV mostly. I think I'll wait until then to update the lesmand tag, too.

Again, sorry for the nearly 3 month wait. Life and writer's block happened. Also because of the word count, it did take me longer to reread everything. Aaah can't believe I wrote over 12k words, that's crazy, how did that happen 😭

Sorry about the French translations, speaking from experience with it, I know it’s not the most accurate at times.

Thank you for reading!