Work Text:
Louis is gone before Daniel knows it. The floor is littered with loose pages. His laptop is beyond salvaging. The fire caught the monitor smoldering. Even as he tries beating at the flames and smothering it with his button-up, he knows it's done for. The keyboard is melted and the hardware is smoking. FUBAR.
Armand crawls to his feet from the crater he left in the wall. The scratches on his face are already healing. His shoulders and head ache. Fractures in his ancient bones will heal. But he is a hollow. He adjusts himself, cracking joints and brakes. He shambles over to Daniel in silence.
"You have no idea what you have destroyed." Daniel pivots to look at him, on his guard again.
"A marriage out of spite and compromise?" He throws his smoky button up on the table in defeat. Daniel nips at his wounds.
"He forgave me. You can't even— you hate me so much that you would condemn me to an eternity of loneliness."
"You're a liar. You hate me for calling it and releasing Louis from your spell." Daniel can't help himself, can he?
Armands jaw is wound, grinding his teeth. Daniel remembers this dusty thing has fangs. And claws. And a half a mind to disobey Louis.
"You heard what Louis said. He'll kill you if—"
"He's gone. And it would be all too easy," Armand burns through him. Daniel can't move. He could easily throw him around like a ragdoll until his bones were soup. Play puppeteer like in that shitty apartment on Divisadero. But he passes Daniel and heads to the dining room.
Daniel watches him round the corner. He should be making a run for it, use the amenities that Louis promised to provide for escape. But Daniel takes step after step to follow Armand to the dining room.
Three chairs on one end of the table. One at the head, and two on either side. Armand has sat to one side of it. Daniel sits at the head. The last martini he downed is still informing his thinking. The high of exposing a liar like Armand dampened his sense of self preservation.
"This was a mistake," Armand admits flatly.
"You two were floundering. He didn't even try to talk about the last 70 years with you. The story began and ended with Lestat." Daniel begins to comfort? Armand. Harsh truths.
"Like I said. Rebound of his life."
Salting the wound.
"It was easy to be with him. I can't possibly be any happier. I couldn't. I can't anymore."
"Seems like you wanted it to be over sooner than later too. Why is that?"
Armand doesn't answer. He stares blankly forward, eyes velvety brown. Daniel looks at the empty table. Armand slowly turns his gaze to Daniel.
"Seems Rashid had no time to prepare the something special for me before he fucked off? Or was I the meal for the happy couple's dinner before your boyfriend left?" Daniel wiggles his shoulders.
"It doesn't matter anymore," a defeated affect. Daniel almost felt bad for him. Almost.
"Spoiled your appetite?" He shouldn't be teasing him. But he can't help himself from poking.
"You are sick and you will die."
"So I'm off the menu? I get to die on hospice in a few years with only a nurse by my side. Thanks."
"There are fates worse than death."
"An eternity of loneliness as a powerful vampire? What do you care, anyways?"
"Louis was going to turn you. You were going to accept it because it's what you always wanted."
"How would you know?" Daniel crosses his arms.
Armand stands up, floats above the table and sits himself in front of Daniel. Legs on either side of his chair. He uses the mind gift to scoot his chair closer. Daniel quirks his brow.
"How would you know what I want? You haven't read my mind in days, and I know you can. If you had, you would have seen how it would end from a mile away." Armand leans back on his hands, glancing away from Daniel.
"I did it out of love."
"Or, you saw this coming too?" Daniel tilts his head.
"Louis said you wondered how I tasted," Armand smiles down at Daniel.
"You could have sewn my mouth shut and puppeteered my exit."
"I don't want to do that to you," Armand leans forward and makes a cut in his neck with a pointed claw. Blood drips from the laceration. He offers his throat to Daniel.
"You said you wouldn't let me near your neck for anything."
"And you're a sweet tooth. We both fibbed."
"For what?"
"Sate your curiosity," Armand leans closer to Daniel's face, handling his shoulders for balance. Slender fingers clutching Daniel.
That's why he was still here and not in a car to the plane out of Dubai. The opportunity for more was in front of him. More? Info? No. Armand can't be trusted to tell the truth. More of that golden brown skin, and the man who has been giving him half-hungry glances finally inviting him to touch it. A breath away from his body. The distance was closing.
Daniel stares at the wound on this pretty young throat. The blood drips onto the collar of the dusty shirt Armand still wore.
“Before it closes, Mr. Molloy,” Armand chides.
Daniel leans in to catch the gush. He licks the wound and tries sucking the blood. It spills into his mouth with little effort, though. Armand sighs. Daniel's hands wander up Armands thighs and his into Daniel's curls. It tastes like blood to be sure, but his mind is flooded with the aroma of syrup and warm beverages, the satisfaction of warmth after being cold. The contradiction of the cold-blood of the vampire entering his warm throat somehow enflaming him. The sharp claws graze his scalp. He starts kissing his throat, sucking on his taut skin.
A flash of Deja Vu. Memories bubble to the surface, all leaking out of the compartments confined in his brain and flash flooding his consciousness.
Daniel is younger and sucking someone's throat. Not just once. Not just like this. On his back, over the body. But the same throat. Sometimes the wrist, the thigh. All parts from one form. Sable curls and amber eyes. Holding his face just to look at him. Lets Armand sink his teeth in. And the wound closes.
Armand looks down on him, wide and unblinking. His brow is pinched in the middle. His lips are parted and his tiny fangs poke below his top lip.
Daniel is confused. Parsing the details and fragments. He looks away.
"Daniel."
"What the hell have you done to me? It wasn't just San Francisco. You wiped me clean. You. You—"
"You would have killed yourself a long time ago if I hadn't. You brought yourself to illness on benders hoping I would clean you up and make you what I am." Armand runs his thumbs across Daniel's cheeks, curling fingers through his hair with this reply. Defensive words and covetous touch.
"And what, I'm still not good enough for you to turn? Good enough for Maitre, but not for Arun? For someone so submissive you do like having an awful lot of control. The truth is that you're an ugly liar." He realizes he's still bracing himself on Armand's thighs.
Armand places his hands on Daniel's and moves them over his waist, sliding them under his shirt.
"Fine. I am a liar. But I know you aren't so repulsed by me," Daniel caresses up Armand's back.
"And aren't you curious to know more?"
Armand scratches a cut into his exposed midriff, just above his belly button.
He had his chance with me and he blew it. Fuck this, Daniel thinks.
Armand tilts his head. He knows what he's thinking. And he knows Daniel will concede. The blood drips down Armand's happy-trail. He pushes down on Daniel's head. Daniel licks up the trickle of blood and tongues into his gash. His syrupy nectarine taste gushes into his mouth. Armand roughs up his silver hair. Daniel massages his hands up Armand's back. He arches his stomach into Daniel's hungry sucking lips.
Daniel recollects the dance. The heart racing, hair raising chase that excited him 50 years go. The spine-tingling feeling of someone watching. The sinking feeling of seeing someone who should not be there. Armand found him over and over again. For some reason this handsome monster always caught him. And released him. And found him. Chose him.
The seam of the cut heals over, covered in Daniel's slobber.
"You're a creep.”
Armand huffs. Daniel's saliva and his blood dribbled down his chin. He pulls up his shirt over his chest and scores into his left pec.
“You're a mess.”
Daniel stands up, maintaining eye contact, before pressing his face into the meat of Armand's chest. He bites into it, lips dragging and teeth chewing on his invulnerable skin. Armand winces. Daniel palms his chest. Armand hooks his arm under Daniel's shoulder and holds Daniel's hand to his chest, petting him.
Daniel drinks of him again. Effervescent swell of euphoria and lust. Armand and him live together. He bathes him and dresses him. He brushes his teeth and feeds him his blood. He combs his fingers through his curls. Nightlife in the heat of the Miami nights. He watches Armand's eyes shift from brown to amber to brown.
The scratches close. Daniel unlatches. Armand tilts Daniel to face him. He's slack jawed and dreamy-eyed. He sobers in a blink. Daniel straightens up, face to face with Armand. Armand guides Daniel's hand to his cheek. They linger on each other's mouths. Armand's brows knit. Daniel hesitates, looking for Armand's fangs. Armand hums and smiles. He pecks Daniel's messy mouth and pulls away, licking his lips.
Daniel holds Armand’s neck and kisses him back. Armand’s mouth tastes clean and neutral, aside from his own blood on his lips. His prying tongue is accepted by the vampire. Daniel wonders if this is a good idea for a split second. Will Armand bite his tongue? Get him all hot and bothered and vulnerable just to bite his tongue off?
Armand scoffs a giggle into his mouth. Daniel tastes like the evening's martinis, the hours between the last time he brushed his teeth and the things he's eaten. The ferric taste of his own blood. Small soft lips. Nose rubbing into his cheek.
Armand hugs around Daniel scooting forward to squeeze him closer, pressing their bodies together. Daniel pushes Armand to the table. He winces and whines scratching Daniel's back, digging his claws in.
“Fuck,” Daniel grunts in pain.
Armand lets go of Daniel bringing his bloody claws to his mouth, and licks Daniel's blood off his nails. Daniel's jaw slacked. Armand sticks an index and middle finger into Daniel's mouth, prodding his tongue. The soft wet muscle pulsates and squirms, tasting them. He grins when Daniel moans. And he pulls them out.
“Armand…” Daniel sighs.
Armand grabs Daniel by the mandible, licking his tongue up his chin, rough with stubble. Swiping around the corner of his mouth, over the upper lip. Tonguing the philtrum, ending with a flick of the tongue on his nose.
“You wanted me this bad the whole time?” Daniel grinds their groins together. Armand doesn't answer. He pulls Daniel down, meets his mouth again. Reciprocating the motion, he rolls into Daniel.
Armand inhales out of the kiss.
“Say it again. Say my name one more time.”
“Armand,” Daniel sighs. He pecks a kiss to his mouth. “Armand,” littering kisses on his cheek, his jaw. A whisper in his ear. “Armand.”
Daniel started on Armand's slacks, regretfully with his shaky hand. His fingers fumble the button and his wrist shakes before he gives up. They both pause. The reminder of his mortality and the disease that will end his life someday. He curls his fingers into a fist and leans on it against the table.
“Why are we doing this?”
Armand sits up on his elbows.
“Why did you give all of that back to me? I could have died not knowing. I would rather die not knowing.”
“Don't say that.”
Daniel stands up straight. Armand scoots off the table and tugs Daniel's belt loops to keep them close. Stomach to stomach.
“You spent the last 40 years with Louis and now that he's dumped you, you think I'll just come back to you?”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“Why did you take it away in the first place? Why couldn't—” Daniel fails to finish his thought.
They examine the shared pain in their faces. Armand is the exact same after all this time, not a line out of place, no extra wrinkles or blemishes. Guilt? Regret? The lines of Daniel's furrowed brow and his frown carve into his old skin. Tears water in Daniel's eyes. He leans his head on Armand's shoulder.
Armand wades through his mind.
Sorting the chronology of their relationship, the last 2 weeks he's spent in the penthouse. Filing Louis' recollections versus the truth of Armand's betrayal.
I love him. I want him. I need to leave. I'm going to die alone. I can't be with him. He can't be trusted. If I had known all this time would I be here now? He burned his boyfriend's daughter alive. He loves me too. His love isn't worth the pain. Not what I feel…
At the same time, Armand feels his familiar physiology. His blood sliding through his innards, in his veins and through his strong heart. Muscles twitching with imprecision. Armand couldn't hear the misfiring nerves in Daniel's body through the hum of his own nervous system. Draughts and drops of his ancient blood could heal flesh wounds, but they could not cure his disease.
Armand takes Daniel's shaking hand in his own.
“I’ve always loved you as you are. Even now I do. I never wanted you to die. I never wanted you to be like me. But I am afraid…”
Daniel looks up from his shoulder. Armand thumbs Daniel's cheek wiping away a tear. His face is agonized. I love him. But I hate him for leaving me. For letting me become this.
“You only want me because you don't have anyone else.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Have I lost you for good this time? No matter how I choose…”
“You never believed me.”
“I still don't. But I'm a coward. I will lose you forever if I don't.”
Armand wraps his other arm tightly around Daniel, squeezing their bodies together. He nuzzles his nose into his wrinkled neck.
He wouldn't. He won't.
“Armand—”
“Will you never forgive me? Is it impossible?”
Armand sinks his teeth into the soft flesh of Daniel's neck. He groans in pain and instinctively pulls away. Armand bids him to stay with his unyielding hold.
Armand swallows purposeful and reverent drinks. Mouthfuls of Daniel's hot blood burns in his stomach. He feels his fear and disbelief racing through his mind. Armand gives him everything back in return. The details and events of their years together, breaking the dam of memories before he can no longer access his mind.
Daniel's left arm is pinned against him by Armand's embrace. Slowly, he feels warmth leave his extremities. A rhythmic chill marching up his limbs to the thing on his neck. If it weren't for the grip on his right hand it would be trembling. He could not stand without Armand holding him upright. Daniel feels what Louis described. Two hearts beating in the same rhythm, pulsating in his ears, his circulatory system in time with Armand's metronome.
Armand cannot stop even when he wavers in his confidence. Hearing Daniel's heart weaken, his choking grunts, feeling his trembling hand. He was stubborn, still struggling under his arms. Armand lowers them to the floor laying Daniel down.
Daniel was dying. Armand was covered in his blood, dripping from his chin. He kneels over him and nicks a cut into his wrist.
Like this? Daniel thinks. Does he want me like this?
“Drink. Take it from me Daniel,” Armand directs his head to his wrist.
Daniel curls his mouth over the opening. Armand is an oasis, the only water for miles. His fountain. Huffing and sucking into his wrist. He holds it to him. The blood flows into him again in the same rhythm. Two hearts as one pulsating with shared vitality.
Armand's eyes are wide open. He watches the desperate hunger in Daniel's entire body. His body comes back to life, squirming and half-full of his blood. Daniel holds his wrist tight with his left hand. His right hand grasps for more of Armand, steady and even. He holds him just below his shoulder, tries pulling him closer. He won't move.
Armand lets Daniel drink his fill, and then beyond that. He stays where he kneels even as Daniel's feeding tires him. Even as he wants to be closer to him.
Daniel stops chewing on Armand's forearm. Slavers up his arm trying to find his skin and neck and lips and more and more—
Armand pulls away and goes beyond his reach.
“You cannot forgive me. I know that. So I'll leave you. You have all that you wanted.”
“Armand…” Daniel struggles to his feet.
“I believe Louis’ testimony of his turning will be sufficient education. I'm leaving you to yourself.”
“Don't leave me like this.”
Armand disappears. The fire is dead. Daniel feels his mortal death in his guts.