Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s a good spot for a proposal, Rue Servandoni. Just down from the Jardin du Luxembourg, not far from Saint Sulpice. Attractive, but quiet. Not overrun with tourists. The café on the corner is mainly patronised by locals and the odd tourist who’s been prepared to look a little off the beaten track.

Daniel’s not quite sure why he chose it. He thought that they’d been here before but Alice says not. But then Daniel also thinks that it’s the first time he’s proposed here. It’s not.

The quiet young man, sitting tucked away in a discrete corner of the café is confident that Daniel won’t remember won’t remember the last time he was here.

Daniel and Alice don’t notice him, a careful bit of misdirection has ensured that their glances pass him by.

Armand was worried when Daniel picked on the café on Rue Servandoni. Some errant strand of memory that he’s missed – would it lead to more? Armand had also forgotten the waiter. The man looked puzzled when he saw Daniel coming into the café with a woman. He recognised him, but not his companion, surely Daniel was with a man on his previous visit?

That was easy enough to sort out. A quick nudge – the woman was tall, attractive, beautiful even, and had dark curly hair. Simple enough to push the waiter who serves a hundred people a day to think that he’s made a mistake. Armand’s good at this. He can make changes on the fly.

But now, they’re talking. He needs to pay attention. This is important.

Daniel has produced a small box, he’s holding it out to Alice.

Alice laughs.

When Daniel got the ring out and said the words she said no. And laughed.

Armand is horrified. He stares, frozen.

This is not supposed to happen! This is not the plan!

She’s supposed to say yes.

Armand never thought that he would need to prompt Alice.

This is Daniel after all. His fascinating boy. He’s asking her to marry him. How can she possibly say no?

She can and she has.

Alice must say yes. If she doesn’t all of this, everything Armand has done, everything he has sacrificed to reach this point, to enable Daniel to live, will be for nothing. Everything will be meaningless.

He’s come back to Paris after all. Armand has mixed feelings about Paris. Paris has difficult memories for him.

Not all bad. Paris was where he met Louis and fell in love in a way that he thought transcended anything he had ever felt before. For a while back then Armand thought that he was prepared to do anything, go anywhere, sacrifice everything for Louis.

Until it came to the crunch and he realized that he wasn’t. He wasn’t prepared to sacrifice his security. The coven he had led for almost four hundred years, because although he hated the job it was safe. The coven didn’t love him, he was under no illusions as to that point, but they respected him and stuck with him. That was the deal, he kept them safe and in return they gave him something to belong to. Stopped him from being alone.

Armand couldn’t be sure that Louis would feel the same way. Louis, who was so reluctant to make a public statement of commitment, let alone a declaration of love. And once he realized that the phantom of Lestat was always hovering, Armand knew that it wouldn’t work. Armand can’t compete with Lestat.

Claudia was collateral damage. Armand didn’t dislike her, actually. She was smart (he often thinks that he should have handed the theatre accounts over to her) and she was tough. It was the coven who disliked and resented her and Armand certainly didn’t care enough to protect her. She was never going to last much longer anyway. Made far too young. He conveniently forgets that she wasn’t that much younger than he was when he was turned and he’s survived all right – hasn’t he?

And afterwards. He spotted the way things were going. Lestat didn’t give him away (he still doesn’t understand why) and he seized his opportunity. Armand doesn't instigate events. Making things happen is beyond him, but manipulating events to his advantage once they start to happen, that he can do.

He didn’t even have to lie, not really. Louis made assumptions and Armand never corrected him. That’s all.

So he worked the situation to his advantage. And that got him what exactly? Louis and love? Something that looked a bit like it anyway. Maybe not the healthiest dynamic but as relationships go they were functional, at least that’s what they told themselves. It worked until it didn't and until Louis acquired a habit of fucking and eating young drug addicts in San Francisco and one of them turned out to be – fascinating.

Which led Armand to his boy. Daniel Molloy. Daniel, the crazy, morbid romantic.

Armand was in love and if you can’t script a hurricane, you damn sure can’t manipulate one. Daniel wasn’t just a hurricane, he was a thunderclap, the flood waters sweeping down the valley carrying everything along with them. Armand was the shell tossed by the wave, the seaweed tangled in the flotsam. No prospect of resisting the forces that battered him.

Sure, it wasn’t perfect. Daniel was an addict. Armand scraped him up off the floor when he overdosed and fed him his own blood to save him , countless times, too many times. It didn’t work. Daniel became addicted to Armand’s blood and the incessant requests to turn him rose to a howling crescendo.

The constant battering.

"Give it to me! Why won't you give it to me? The one thing - we could be together, forever."

"Daniel, I can't. Ask me for anything and it is yours....but this....no. I will not, I cannot."

Daniel calls it a gift, but Armand knows it's not a gift. It's a curse and it would destroy Daniel.

Daniel's fevered requests become more and more frequent.

"You must give it to me, I'll die if you don't! You don't love me, not like I love you."

Armand sighs.

"I love you, I love you more than anything in the world, more than anything you can conceive of and that is precisely why I will not do it. I will not condemn you."

Finally Armand realized that he was as much an addict as Daniel. He was selfish as any addict and if they stayed together he would destroy Daniel. His beautiful, talented Daniel who deserved the chance to live a full life.

And then….Paris. When Daniel got the ring out Armand knew that this was the point of no return.

This is Daniel. Armand cannot afford to make a mistake.

For a long moment he allowed himself to dream, Because Armand is weak and a coward and he needs his Daniel so much. Together, eternally.

He closed his eyes and imagined saying yes, oh yes. He wanted to say yes, every cell, every atomic particle, every drop of blood in his body cleaves to Daniel, to his beautiful, fascinating boy. He longs for this, he stretches the moment like spun sugar, so sweet and shining.

But he clawed together every last bit of courage he possessed. He opened his eyes, looked into Daniel's eyes.

“No.”

But that wasn’t enough. Armand had to make sure to break the addiction. To ensure Daniel wouldn’t come looking for him. So he wiped himself from Daniel’s memories, and re-worked the past.

There’s a name for it now. Retroactive continuity, usually known as retcon. The altering of history in a fictional work. Except that Armand did it in a non fictional work. He thinks that counts as retcon.

But there was still a gap.

So…..Alice.

Daniel is going to need someone. He’ll need someone to pick up the pieces when he falls apart. To scoop him off the pavement when he overdoses again (as he surely will, and Armand can’t put him through rehab now). To make sure that he realizes his potential, that he becomes the amazing, glorious man he can be.

Alice is perfect. Armand didn’t find her, but once Daniel met her (in a bar, Daniel has patterns) he realized what a good fit she’d be. She’s attractive, intelligent and tough, she gives as good as she gets (this is important, his Daniel would not want a doormat). She wants a career, she’s training to be a nurse (a profession Daniel approves of, he would not want a partner pursuing a career in banking).

She even – well – she’s tall. She’s got dark, curly hair. Armand has already made a few judicious substitutions in Daniel’s memories and it’s worked better than he had hoped.

And of course he has no ulterior motive. He’s not setting up a little crack that could be forced open in Daniel’s memory, a little thread that can be pulled loose if necessary. If the time should ever come when that would be appropriate. Which it won’t. And he would never do that.

He pulls himself back to the cafe. Perhaps it’s not as bad as he thinks.

Alice wants to say yes. He can tell. She wants to say yes, but – she doesn’t trust him.

Alice doesn’t trust Daniel.

She has good cause. And Armand is partly to blame. Not wholly, Daniel’s nature has always led him to addiction, whether that be blood, drugs, alcohol, sex, or the thrill of chasing a story,

Hmmmm.

Armand can feel his need to control rushing to the surface and wrestles it down. He is painfully aware that he can’t control Alice and any attempt to do so will lead to disaster. He needs to …..stand back. Wait. And hope.

But a little cautious digging is permissible. Not influencing just digging. After all, Alice is broadcasting her thoughts right now. Any telepath in a hundred mile radius could pick her up, Armand is almost surprised that Daniel can’t hear her.

And Alice is pregnant. There’s going to be a baby in less than three months, she doesn’t want to be a single parent.

“He’s asked, he’s fucking asked me!!!! That has to be a good sign surely? He’s trying to be responsible? Love him, love him so much.”

“Say yes say yes say yes girl, this is what you wanted.”

“He wants the baby, he’s said so. But can he really cope? Can he stop the drugs, and the sex he uses to get them? Will he ever be able to hold a job down?”

“God, Alice you’re barely ready for a baby, you can’t parent Daniel as well. You can’t fix him. You know that.”

“And… does he really want me? Am I the second choice?”

“Can I trust him?”

“No. I don’t trust him.”

But underneath everything

“Love him love him love him love him love him love him.”.

She’s going to say yes. Maybe not today. Maybe not in Paris. But she will say yes.

This is what Armand wants, isn’t it? This is what he planned. Daniel Molloy surviving. Living his full life, out in the world. Armand is prepared to do anything to enable Daniel to live his life as he should live it. Out in the world, magnificent and wonderful.

With Alice.

Without Armand.

Armand screams, “I love him, I love him! I love him more than you do, more than you ever could.” But the words don’t escape his mouth.

He thinks, I love him. I did this out of love for him, surely something done out of love can never be wrong?

He wants to believe that, everyone wants to believe that. He’s not sure if it’s true.

Armand watches and he waits.

Chapter Text

Children puzzle Armand. He has no memory of being a child, certainly no memory of anything approaching a playground. He wonders if he ever experienced anything comparable. It doesn’t seem likely. Even if he was able to remember, childhood as a concept did not really exist in the sixteenth century. Children were small adults, expected to work and to contribute economic value. Playgrounds didn’t figure.

He’s not here to play. He’s here because he has a task, but there’s no harm in taking a short time to watch he tells himself.

Armand is pleased with how his plan has worked. Alice has proved to be very suitable as a partner for Daniel. Capable, practical and not fazed by the need to pick Daniel up, resuscitate him and clean him up when he relapses, which unfortunately is still happening. A nurse was a good choice.

Daniel is alive and functioning. He’s working regularly and even beginning to make a name for himself.

It’s a pleasant afternoon. Late in the year, so the sun is low and not troubling Armand. Lauren is swinging on a climbing frame while her parents watch. They’re chatting together amicably. That’s not always the case.

Alice is anxious.

“Lauren, be careful! You’re awfully high up sweetheart, let me help you down.”

Daniel is more laid back. “Don’t fuss Alice. She’s fine, it’s not far if she falls, she won’t hurt herself.”

Armand is watching for an opportunity. The last four years have been quiet. Any vampires who might have been inclined to prove how tough they are by taking out the Vampire Armand’s pet, have lost interest since Armand so obviously broke all connection with Daniel. Armand took back the blood ward he had given to Daniel to protect him when he took his memories. Daniel had no further need for it and leaving it with him would have risked stimulating his curiousity.

But things have changed. Vampire politics isn’t the right term, that would imply organisation and there is no organisation as such. But there is a shift. There is talk of the Great Conversion (whatever that is) and a suggestion (no more) that there are eyes on certain individuals. Talk that the Talamasca is growing their organisation and increasing their interest in vampires.

Armand has little interest in such matters, but he keeps an ear open to the rumours, and he hears whispers that the Talamasca have decided that it’s worth taking an interest in Daniel.

That alone, would not be a matter of concern. The Talamasca watch. They rarely intervene and in any case Daniel is not their primary target. That would be Armand. However, their interest in Daniel might attract others. Others who would be more dangerous.

Others who might deduce (correctly) that harming Daniel and his family would harm Armand.

Armand thinks that it’s time for a little more direct intervention. After all, he’s been very good for the last four years. He’s kept a watchful eye on Daniel (he thinks he’s allowed that), but he’s been careful not to get too close He’s confident that Daniel is oblivious.

He can allow himself to get a little closer, after all it is for Daniel’s benefit.

They’re easy Daniel and Alice, relaxed in their coupledom. Chatting about this and that, inconsequential domestics. A pleasant Sunday afternoon outing.

They haven’t noticed Armand. It’s very easy to stay concealed here, the playground is busy with parents and children. All he has to do is stand back slightly and make himself insignificant. He doesn’t even have to use the Mind Gift.

Oh but, Alice has noticed something...she’s uneasy. Bother.

“Do you feel anything odd?”

Daniel is unconcerned, “No, nothing. What d’you mean?”

“I just feel a bit overlooked. Like someone’s watching.”

“Naw. Your imagination. Who would be watching?”

“I dunno. Maybe you’ve got a fan. One of those crazy stalker types.”

Daniel laughs, “I should be so lucky! I’d take the stalker if they got me more attention.”

Armand needs to take action now. Alice and Daniel are distracted by their conversation, he can take a couple of minutes.

He flicks his hand and the playground freezes.

Apart from one small girl.

She approaches Armand and gazes at him confidently, curiously. She looks like Daniel. The same nose, the same irrepressible curls, the same challenge in her eyes.

Armand feels what’s left of his heart twist in his chest.

Armand has no interest in Lauren in her own right. He hasn’t thought about her other than as an additional initiative for Daniel to live and thrive. But now, he’s confronted by reality. She’s here, in front of him and she’s part of Daniel. In a direct, visceral way that Armand can’t comprehend.

He has no experience of children. In the brothel he was once asked to hold something, dispose of something that he vaguely understood had been a baby. It was very small. And by the time he put it into the oven as instructed, no longer living.

Daniel’s feelings for his daughter, his love, is all consuming. Armand can feel his desire to protect her, to slay giants, to destroy anything that might harm or even slightly upset her. It’s an unselfish love, pure in a way that’s new to Armand and it’s affecting him in a way he had not anticipated.

He’s never had that. Everyone who’s loved (or claimed to love him) has wanted something in return. Marius wanted – what? A companion he could mould and groom into perfection? Lestat wanted his power. Louis? Well Louis wanted something to fill a Lestat shaped hole. Even Daniel wanted the Gift. Is he feeling jealousy? Perhaps.

Being loved and cherished – in the way this child is - that’s completely foreign to Armand and it shakes loose something deep inside. A desperate longing, a yearning that springs from a gap, a space within him that has never been filled and now he suspects never will.

But today he has something to do. No time for philosophical musings.

Armand drags himself back to the present. He needs to complete his task, which is to ensure the protection of Daniel, which will also keep this child safe and by extension, her mother.

He pulls it out of his pocket. The blood ward, the amulet.

He squats. He has a vague idea that this conversation will go better if he’s on a level with Lauren.

“Hello.”

Lauren regards him. She’s unafraid. Good, that’s good.

Armand isn’t sure what to say. She’s very young, will she understand what he needs her to do?

“I know your father,” is what he finally settles for.

“I’ve got something for him, will you give it to him?”

He holds out the amulet.

Lauren contemplates him for a moment. Then she nods vigorously, snatches the amulet and turns to run back to her parents.

Armand breathes a sigh of relief. He stands and unfreezes the playground. The hubbub re-commences. He hadn’t noticed how loud it was before.

The blood ward will protect Daniel. Today as it did in the past.

He ought to leave immediately, but he’s curious.

Alice and Daniel are talking, are they arguing?

Alice is anxious.

“What’s wrong love?”

“Oh nothing….I just feel a bit twitchy.”

Daniel glances up at the sky.

“C’mon, let’s get home. Can feel thunder coming up.” He feels it, he doesn’t want to linger.

“Yeah, feels threatening, don’t want to get caught out.” It’s a cloudless afternoon.

Armand stands looking after them. He’s not going to follow, that would be stupid. Daniel’s memory is holding firm, there’s no sense in taking unnecessary risks. He occasionally walks past Daniel’s apartment building and if he sometimes happens to pass Daniel or Alice on the street, well that does no harm. All they see is a young man in dark glasses, nothing extraordinary.

So no, he’s not going to follow them. He will drop past later this evening though. Check that everything is OK.

Later, after dusk has fallen Armand finds himself outside the building which hosts the Molloy apartment. Technically it’s his apartment. The property management company which owns the building belongs to Armand and Louis, Lemaitre Property Holdings. Louis likes his little joke.

Armand does most of the work, looks after the tax, insurance, legal matters. The boring administrative details which allow him to make sure that Daniel benefits from a below market average rent. He’s not sure if Louis even knows that they’re Daniel’s landlords. Probably not. He probably wouldn’t be interested.

He keeps an eye on the building. Tells himself that it’s part of being a responsible landlord. Funny how that doesn’t apply to any of the other buildings they own.

It’s a quiet neighbourhood by Brooklyn standards and there’s not a lot of action on the street.

Except there’s a man. Standing on the sidewalk.

Opposite the building, but looking up towards Daniel’s windows. A man who looks as though he’s at the wrong end of middle aged. A grey man, wearing heavy, dark framed glasses.

Definitely human, but he’s shielding his thoughts. Armand could probably get through if he had to, but he’s more worried about the implications of his presence than what the man might be thinking. He’s Talamasca.

Armand focuses, he pulls out Daniel’s voice, rom the murmers surrounding him. He’s talking to Alice, they’re discussing the amulet.

“This was in the park?” Daniel is unconcerned.

“I don’t like it. It’s not suitable for a child and it worries me. Fuck, what kind of person would give that to a little kid?”

Armand is slightly hurt. He meant no harm! Alice doesn’t understand.

Daniel is looking at it, “There’s just something familiar?…...is that an initial there?”

Oh this is not good.

It gets worse.

“Dunno. Could be an A maybe?”

“Looks old. Like on of those Egyptian amulets. Feels like I might have seen something in a museum or a picture somewhere?” Daniel sounds unconfident, disturbed.

“Nah, forget it. My imagination.”

The grey man is talking on his phone. “Mmmmm sounds like they’ve got it then…..did you get a description? Well, if it fits the description that answers one question.”

A pause.

“No, we’ll need to go in and get it…..no, not tonight. We’ll need someone who can “persuade” them and that takes time. Yes…..try him. He owes us after the Paris debacle. About time we collected.”

Armand is horrified. He has potentially provided the Talamasca with motive for contacting Daniel. They want the amulet and in getting it they may lead others to Daniel. This was a misstep, a rare error of judgement, caused by his desperate desire to protect (to control?). He needs to take the amulet back, which means going into the apartment tonight.

Getting in is not difficult. Armand waits until the early hours and slips through the doors. It’s easy when you don’t need keys to open locks.

He locates the amulet without problem. His blood calls to him, he could track it across the world, a drawer in a room he’s standing in is no problem. He grasps it and turns to leave.

But then he pauses.

Looks towards a closed door. Daniel’s bedroom.

He’ll be in there now….with Alice.

Armand wants to open that door. He wants to see Daniel. Oh how desperately he wants to see Daniel. He wants to fling the door open, and…….then what?

Does he really want to see what’s behind that door? Daniel and Alice? In bed? Making love? In the bed he had once shared with Daniel?

No.

Arnand wants to be in that bed. He wants to be next to Daniel, tangled in the sheets that smell of Daniel, he wants the taste of him, the feel of him in his mouth, inside him, his blood….

But he can’t. He mustn’t. This was his choice after all. When he pushed Daniel away. Told him to go, to be happily married to Alice, and to live. To have a full life.

Things Armand will never do.

He stands outside Daniel’s building. He has the amulet and if the Talamasca come asking questions Daniel and Alice know nothing. They’ll be safe and Alice will be only too pleased to forget the whole incident. The threat has been averted.

Armand thinks that he shouldn’t interfere again. It’s selfish, born out of his desperate desire to be close to Daniel. No good will come of it.

Armand has never been good at taking his own advice.

Chapter Text

Daniel’s having a good time. A very good time.

He feels a draft of guilt brush the edges of his mind (Alice at home with Lauren) but he sweeps it aside. It’s been a while since he did a night like this, he deserves to kick loose a bit.

It’s not a big deal. Barely even deserving of the description “night out”. Drinks with a few colleagues. Chance to catch up with friends he hasn’t seen in a while and some who aren’t friends, but well….chance to catch up anyway.

And it’s not as if Daniel is going to get wasted. He’s watching his alcohol intake and there are no drugs available. No drugs that he knows about yet anyway. Besides he promised Alice he’ll stay (more or less) sober (and if he crossed his fingers as he promised she didn’t need to see that).

So, just an evening with a few colleagues, a few drinks, home by midnight. He’s so fucking responsible these days.

Armand stands by the bar, his gaze passing over the increasingly convivial crowd. He looks like any young, hipster, media type, he’s taken care to blend in. Skin tight black levis, dark red t-shirt, under a black jacket and Doc Martens. A deeply golden, cashmere scarf (his one indulgence – a bit too expensive for the character he’s playing). A careful balance, not so out there that he couldn’t pass muster in a corporate setting, but sufficiently en mode to show he’s in touch with current trends. No-one watching would tell that his interest is focused on one person.

Daniel.

Armand thinks that his boy is looking particularly magnificent tonight. (Daniel is no longer a boy by human standards, but Armand is not constrained by human standards and to him, Daniel will always be his boy.)

Daniel is on form, he moves from group to group, cracking jokes, recounting stories.

“Yeah, you remember that time in Moscow and I was trying to get an interview with the ex KGB guy linked to the Litvinenko poisoning and the fuckin' KGB came after me and the embassy had to get me out…..”

He always has an audience. Daniel knows how to entertain, keep attention. He’s good at it.

Armand wants his attention. He wants to be Daniel’s only audience.

He eases away from the bar and approaches a woman he’s been observing. She’s already noticed him, this should be easy.

The woman gives him an appraising, appreciative look.

“Well hello. Who do we have here?”

“Um hi. Er...I’m Armand. I’m an intern on Musée.” He smiles, self-deprecating. Young, not so confident, wanting to ingratiate.

“Armand, what a coincidence, “ Celeste drawls the name. “Are you French by any chance? I’m Celeste, French descent. Theatre critic.”

Armand smiles. He already knows this of course. Just as he knows that Celeste is wondering how she can get him into bed.

“That is a coincidence. I lived for a while in Paris and I knew a Celeste. She worked in theatre too.”

“But actually, I was wondering if you could introduce me to the man over there. The journalist. Daniel Molloy isn’t it? I believe you know him well?”

Her answer is acerbic. “Our Danny boy? Oh yes, I know him, darling. Are you sure? I’d like to buy you a drink and I can assure you that I’m a much better proposition than Daniel Molloy. I’m not stoned and I stay conscious throughout.”

Armand tries to sound apologetic, “Oh that would be lovely, honestly, I wish I could. Unfortunately I need to talk to Mr Molloy. It’s a work thing.”

Celeste sighs. “As you will darling. Fucking me would get you further than fucking Daniel Molloy though. At least I remember who I’ve screwed.”

She twists and shouts over her shoulder.

“Oy Danny! Got someone here wants to meet you. Can’t think why when I’ve offered.”

And suddenly. There he is. Daniel Molloy. His boy. The beloved, fascinating boy.

“So, what have we here? A fan? Prepare for disappointment.”

He doesn’t recognise Armand. He has no idea who he is. Armand dies a little more.

This is as it should be though. How it must be.

He pulls himself together. “An admirer of your work, yes. Particularly A Shadow On the Skin. I’m doing a doctorate and my research is on literature prompted by the AIDS crisis? Especially based in personal experience? I wondered if I could talk to you, I’ve got a some questions I’d like to ask to inform my thesis.”

This is crazy. He should not be doing this.

Daniel is intrigued.

“Yeah, sure we can talk. You wanna fix a date? “

His thoughts are very loud. He’s more than a little drunk, no matter what he’s telling himself.

“Shit, the kid is gorgeous. Can I? No, no promised Alice, crazy to take risks, but still. It’s not ethical, it’d be like fucking a student. Shit, wonder what he looks like naked?”

Armand can work with this. It’s a chance, an opportunity and he needs to seize his opportunities when he can.

“I was wondering if now would be convenient? I’m staying nearby, we could chat at my hotel?”

That sounds so obvious and cliched. God, it’s not going to work, he should have planned something, thought this through.

But Daniel is intrigued. Maybe something resonates with a loosened strand of memory?

“Shit, why not? I was bored anyway. Load of tossers.”

He’s broadcasting his thoughts.

“My lucky night, And Alice doesn’t need to know, she’ll never find out, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her…...”

It’s working. This is going to happen. It’s not wise, but it’s going to happen.

Daniel blinks when they arrive at the St Regis. He’s not surprised when they head straight for the elevator (he got a little handsy in the taxi which Armand may, or may not have helped along).

He is surprised when Armand swings open the door to the Dior suite.

“Shit! How are literature post grads making money these days? No, don’t answer that.”

Armand meant let things develop slowly, organically. Maybe even start with a conversation about the thesis. Test things out, see how Daniel reacts, that would be the sensible thing to do. It would give him options to back out.

Armand can no longer be sensible.

He grabs Daniel, he holds his head and stares into his eyes, those gorgeous violet eyes.

“Remember.”

And Daniel remembers.

“Fuck me.”

So Armand does.

It goes as it always does, as it always did. They talk. They shout, they argue. They make each other laugh and they love.

They’ve known each other for a long time. It’s muscle memory, like riding a bike, or learning how to swim. You never really forget. They fit together like jigsaw pieces, making the picture whole.

And, just for a short time, they make each other whole again.

Later, they lie together tangled in the sheets. The sheets which are now stained red.

Armand’s eyes devour Daniel. He can’t get enough of his boy, here again, back where he belongs, his.

Daniel looks up at him. Slightly woozy, overcome by drink and sex. Smeared with blood and sprawled over the bed, beneath Armand. He looks wanton and beautiful and Armand wants so much to keep him.

He reaches up to touch Armand’s face.

“You. You again. How could I forget? God, you’re so beautiful. Want you so much. Love you so much.”

His words sink little claws into Armand. For a minute he allows himself to dream.

Maybe there’s a way to make this work. Maybe Daniel can go back to Alice and Lauren, but they can continue to meet up occasionally. Plenty of mortal couples work this way after all and it isn’t always a disaster. Maybe this time, they can make it work.

It won’t work. Daniel will always want more. Armand will always want more, they are neither of them prepared to share their loves. Eventually the requests will begin again and this time Armand might not be able to refuse.

No, there is no other way out. Armand knows what he must do now, and if he so, so doesn’t want to do it, well that’s not a good enough reason.

Armand leans in, he holds Daniel’s head and locks onto his eyes.

“Sleep.”

Armand sits in the reception area of the St Regis, tucked behind a pillar, but with a direct line of view to where he has deposited Daniel in a chair to one side of the reception desk. He won’t leave until he knows that Daniel is safely on his way home.

Daniel is semi-conscious, drowsy and confused. Oddly he looks completely at home, in his jeans and old leather jacket, sitting by the enormous marble reception desk. But that is one of Daniel’s gifts, the ability to make himself at home ability. To make any environment fit him like a skin he pulls off and on as the whim takes him.

Alice strides in. She looks angry and Armand can’t blame her. Then she sees Daniel and comes to a halt.

Daniel gazes up at her, bewildered, as if he can’t quite remember where he is, or who she is. Alice’s face softens.

“Come on. I’m taking you home, asshole.”

She grasps his arm and pulls him to his feet. Daniel follows her to the waiting taxi in a daze. He’s barely conscious.

There is so much love in her expression and so much affection when she reaches out to Daniel that Armand breaks apart a little. He moves to the centre of the lobby, and watches them go down the steps, Alice supporting Daniel and helping him into the taxi.

Daniel will be fine. He’ll remember that he met a young man at the bar, that they went off to discuss his thesis. He drank a lot. There was possibly some coke involved and well, one thing led to another. He won’t remember the young man’s name.

Alice won’t be suspicious. This has happened before, Daniel going too far and passing out. It happens less often now, but it’s not unusual. Armand has been careful. Celeste will remember that Daniel left with a young man (a twink, Armand rolls his eyes at the term) but she won’t remember any details. The St Regis has been paid (including the extra laundry bill) and the reservation and payment were in Daniel’s name. The staff will recall Daniel, but no details of his young companion. Alice may wonder how Daniel could afford it, but that’s a dead end.

The only remaining issue is Raglan James. In one way he’s done Armand a favour, calling Alice and telling her to collect Daniel from the St Regis. (Armand had something planned but it would have involved him calling Alice himself and he’s quite pleased to avoid that.)

Raglan knew what was going on. That means that the Talamasca have eyes on Daniel. Armand had hoped that they’d lost interest, decided Daniel was no longer worth their while. After all he’s been very careful, so very careful. But it seems not.

This is a complication he could do without. The Talamasca watch, they don’t do. But they may attract others less benevolent.

Armand sighs. It will be a long time before he can risk anything like this again. Years, maybe. But better that than risk any harm coming to Daniel. It’s a deeply selfish desire and no good will come of it.

Armand has no-one to blame for this. He’s the one who sends Daniel away time after time. Erases his memory and sends him off to be happily married and alive.

Two things Armand will never be.

Chapter Text

The night is dark and full of terrors.

Well….one terror to be precise. And right now Armand doesn’t feel particularly terrifying. Where does that even come from anyway? Some TV series he thinks. Armand rarely watches TV other than the occasional documentary, but Louis enjoys dramas and will sometimes prevail upon Armand to watch with him. He thinks this was one of those programmes. A long running sort of historical drama (if human history includes dragons which seems unlikely). Not Armand’s taste, but he’s watched along with Louis because it made Louis happy and it seems that the odd phase has stuck.

Armand prefers science fiction. He enjoys the Alien films, although he thinks that the aliens’ hunting methods are sadly unsophisticated.  Watching on your own is never as much fun as watching with a companion. You need someone to debate plot points and argue with over the finer points of interpretation, such as the demonization of others as represented in Aliens and parallels with vampire existence. Louis is uninterested in such debates.

“It’s a film about aliens eating people Armand! It’s not exactly deep!”

Daniel got Armand’s taste in films. He would happily watch Blade Runner numerous times, while Armand regaled him with interesting facts about the production. Louis falls asleep.

Another of Armand’s favourites is Time Bandits. He remembers watching this one with Daniel and how much they laughed at the Napoleon scene.

Armand hasn’t laughed like that over a film (or anything else) since.

Armand sighs and pulls his concentration back to the task in hand. He needs to eat, it’s been over a month since his last meal and he’s starting to feel the effects. A little tired, cold, his reactions not quite where they should be, a little less sure. He’s found this happening more and more often recently. It’s not that he doesn’t want to eat, it’s just that it seems such a lot of fuss. Not worth the bother.

He wonders if this is what humans call depression. He supposes that it might be. Vampires are not immune to mood disorders, Armand know this very well living with Louis. Perhaps he should suggest a change of scene, a trip. Namibia maybe. They’ve never been and Armand has a yen to see the Skeleton Coast. Shipwrecks are one of his interests, though he doubts there’ll be much profit in these.

However, he has no intention of giving in to….anything….and so tonight he is hunting.

He’s identified a victim. The man is perfect, he’s not exactly the Zodiac Killer, but he’s raped and murdered three young women over the past five years. The police have had their suspicions but have been unable to find anything concrete. Armand will be doing the world a favour, which is exactly how he prefers to hunt.

The fact that Frederick Jarvis happens to live adjacent to Daniel’s neighbourhood has nothing to do with anything. It’s a total coincidence.

Armand has been very good recently. Over the last three years he has limited contact to a few peeks at Daniel and his family, mostly when they’ve been out in public. He observed them at a Christmas Market, and he’s watched them on a couple of cinema trips (children’s films, Lauren’s taste is better than Louis’s). He’s confident that Daniel and Alice are oblivious to his presence.

He’s picked up on a couple of things .

It’s clear that things are not good between Daniel and Alice. They’re arguing more and more. It’s no longer primarily the drugs/drinks problem. Daniel is (mostly) staying clean and behaving well on that count.

No, it’s the bright young reporter with a point of view problem. Daniel continues to put his work ahead of everything, including his family.

“There are stories out there and I have to tell them.”

Armand should have known this would happen. When he tampered with Daniel’s memory he reinforced Daniel’s journalistic instincts. He did this to save Daniel and to keep him safe. He thought that as long as Daniel was committed to his career he’d he’d never go too far, he’d stay professional. He hadn’t anticipated that family was one of the things that might get in Daniel’s way. That he’d need to jettison them.

On top of that the Talamasca are still around. Not actively watching, but keeping an eye on Daniel.

Raglan James pops up in unexpected places. A few nights ago Daniel and Alice were having a supposedly romantic meal (it wasn’t romantic, Armand was tucked discretely in the corner).

They were arguing about whether it was OK for Lauren to go to a friend’s sleepover. Alice was worried, Daniel thought that it was fine.

“Fuck, Daniel, last time Lauren was there they watched Interview With The Vampire. It’s not age appropriate!”

“Hell Alice, she’s fine. It’s not like it’s going to do her any permanent harm.”

“So she’ll watch some horror film and it’ll traumatise her, and I’ll have to pick up the pieces as usual, because you’re never around. But it’s fine, it’s all fine, Lauren’s fine, you’re fine, we’re all fine.”

“Except we’re not fine, Daniel. We’re not fine. You might be fine, but I’m very much not fine.”

Alice was close to tears.

“You’re off all the time….doing whatever you do. I swear to god half the time I don’t know if it’s work or not any more. And me and Lauren….we’re just the things you leave behind.”

“And one day you’re going to do just that. Leave us behind.”

Alice had pushed her chair back and rushed out of the restaurant. Daniel rose and followed her.

Armand had sighed. This was getting to be a regular occurrence. He looked around for the waiter, intending to settle his bill, but what he saw made him freeze.

Raglan James was sitting a few tables away. He was alone, sideways to the table where Daniel and Alice had been sitting, but he would have been in a perfect position to overhear their conversation and observe what had happened.

He stood up, tossed some notes down onto the table and strolled out.

What was he doing there? Why are the Talamasca still interested in Daniel?

Armand doesn’t know the answer to either question, but he’s worrying over them as he waits for his intended prey.

He’s on the sidewalk outside Jarvis’s home. He’ll be coming out soon. He’s just realising that he’s out of beer and he needs to go down to the corner store to get some more.

Armand is positioned ten yards down the road. One of the streetlights is out, creating a useful pool of shadow. As Jarvis turns to go towards the corner he’ll go past Armand and Armand will call to him.

But it doesn’t go to plan.

Jarvis steps out onto the side walk, but instead of turning towards Armand he opens his car. He’s too lazy to walk the half mile to the shop, he’s going to drive.

Damn!

This had not occurred to Armand as a possibility, it should have done, the man is indolent. Still it’s not a problem. Maybe he’ll let him get his beer, get him on his way home.

But then there’s a further complication.

Armand hears it first. Fast moving steps, the steady beat of a runner coming towards them. A woman, he can tell from the weight of the footsteps. She’s moving fast, soon she’ll be on top of them.

Jarvis hears her too. Immediately he’s alert. He straightens up, staring into the dark, almost sniffing the air. Hell, he’s not startled, he sees an opportunity. Clumsily, he lurches towards the car and drags the door open.

Armand, caught off balance, barely has time to realize what’s going on before the woman is on them.  And there’s another complication.

It’s Alice.

What happens next happens swiftly.

Jarvis leaps out and grabs Alice. He tries to drag her into his car.

Alice fights. She’s strong, she’s biting and kicking, but she’s no match for a full-grown man.

He’s nearly got her in the car….Alice is screaming but no-one is coming.

Armand moves in, his fangs drop. He snarls.

Jarvis sees him, he immediately freezes, mind already falling apart at the ancient, eldritch horror that confronts him coming out of the dark. He releases Alice.

“Run. Run now.”

Armand doesn’t need to repeat himself. Alice is already away, flying down the street as if she has vampiric speed.

He confronts Jarvis, terrified, cowering. Armand takes pleasure in his terror, relishes the frozen nerves, the overloading brain “can’t be, doesn’t exist, nightmare, please nightmare, let me wake up please please PLEASE!” This isn’t an easeful death, but Jarvis doesn’t deserve it. He deserves to die in dread, pain, agony.

Armand drains him. He’s messier than usual, greedy even. Only dropping Jarvis a second before his heart beats its last, almost ripping his head off in the process. He would not normally allow himself to be so uncontrolled.

He doesn’t care. This man was attacking Daniel’s Alice. He meant Alice harm, and therefore by extension, he meant Daniel harm. Anyone, anything that means harm to Daniel will not be allowed to live.

Armand isn’t feeding. He’s devouring.  He’s destroying.  His fury is all encompassing and he is allowing it to spin out in a way that he hasn’t for a long, long time.

He pulls back, throwing the body down.  He makes no attempt to clean up or to hide it, he wants this, this execrable thing seen.

This is revenge, a warning.  This is a statement.  No-one harms Daniel Molloy.

He’s shaking as he steps back, pulls himself back within himself and returns from the crimson caverns he’s dived into. It’s been a long time. And it felt good.

Armand isn’t going to dispose of the body. It can stay where it is, a monument to his fury.  He ought to check on Alice, check she got home safely.

Actually, he oughtn’t.  He doesn’t really give a damn about Alice other than in relation to Daniel and he’s confident that she got away safely.  Beyond that well, the most dangerous creature on the streets tonight killed the second most dangerous so not much left to worry about.  But Armand can’t pass up an opportunity to stroll past Daniel’s building and the only person he is lying to is himself, so where’s the harm?

The harm is to him.  Of course just walking past isn’t enough.  Of course it’s not.

Armand reaches out, identifies Daniel’s mind and, ever so gently strokes the surface.

They’re in the middle of sleepy make-up sex, Daniel and Alice.  They’d rowed earlier, about a trip Daniel’s making to Florida.  That’s why Alice was running, working off stress.  She’d been distracted and gone too far, not realized it was getting dark.

When she returned she was distressed and Daniel….comforted her.  The comforting led on and now they’re in bed.  Oh they’re not ripping the sheets, this isn’t high passion.  It’s two people who know each other very well being good to each other.

Armand sighs. He has absolutely no right to feel jealous, this was what he planned and wanted.

He’s never felt more lonely.

He returns home to Louis and a discussion on the merits of investing in an office development in Huston, or an exclusive residential block in Sausolito.

Armand couldn’t care less.

A couple of weeks later Armand hears on the networks that the Talamasca have paid Alice a visit.  Raglan James, no less, asking questions about her encounter with Frederick Jarvis.

Armand is sufficiently disturbed to reach out to someone he’d rather not talk to.

“Maitre, always a pleasure, it’s been too long. What can I do for you?”

Armand sighs. He has plenty to hold against Sam, but Sam has grudges too. They’re old scores and truth be told he always appreciated Sam’s writing.

“I have a question Sam. If you don’t want to answer I won’t force you, but please don’t lie to me. Don’t insult my intelligence.”

A pause. They both know that Armand could probably get the information out of Sam by force if he wanted to. Sam digests what this approach means.

“Fair enough. I never had anything against you Maitre. Well apart from the time you turned the rats loose on me because I’d not cleaned up thoroughly. Ask away. If I can answer I will.”

“Why are the Talamasca watching Daniel Molloy? I severed all contact with Daniel nine years ago. He has no knowledge of interest to them.”

A longer pause. Sam is assessing his response.

“Well now. Far be it from me to contradict you, Maitre, but we both know that’s not entirely true, don’t we? There’s been a few – fleeting contacts shall we call them?”

“Extremely fleeting and you can call them what you like. The fact remains. Daniel has no knowledge that could possibly interest the Talamasca.”

Sam sighs. “You know that, I know that, but Raglan James….well he thinks that Daniel will lead him to you and ….”

“And what! What does Raglan James want with me!” Armand spits the name out.

“Look, to be honest Maitre, I don’t know. He’s got a bee in his bonnet about the supposedly rising number of vampires, but I don’t know what he thinks you’ll give him.”

“I will give him precisely nothing Sam, because there is nothing to give. This so-called “Great Conversion” is a figment of Raglan’s imagination.”

Armand pauses, and gathers himself.

“But you can tell Raglan James from me, if he continues to harass the Molloy family I will give him an extremely prolonged and painful death. Do you hear me?”

“Clear as a bell Maitre and I’ll take some pleasure in the telling. Between ourselves the man’s a proper arsehole.”

Armand breaks the connection. He hopes that his threat will be sufficient to keep Raglan away from Daniel. He needs to be more careful, he will have to wait a few years before he risks any contact again.

He’s done it before and he can do it again. If it’s to preserve Daniel's safety and his happiness Armand can do far more difficult things than this.