Chapter Text
Daniel and Armand linger on the front lawn as Petronia departs with the garden lantern containing Raglan James’s ashes and his intact glasses. They stare at the sky overhead until Petronia’s shape is so distant that they can no longer distinguish it from the stars.
“This had better buy us some time,” Daniel says, sagging against Armand. “If the Talamasca sends their next agent while I’m still peckish…”
Armand wraps an arm around Daniel’s shoulders, nuzzling Daniel’s cheek. “Leave them to me. You have better things to worry about.”
Daniel turns his head until his nose bumps Armand’s and their lips brush. “I hate to bring up Marius at a time like this, but…” He hums as Armand kisses him. “Is that asshole the only vampire we know who speaks fondly of those weirdos? I don’t wanna have to talk to him just to make this shit go away. Somehow, he’s got a finger in every single fucking problem we’re currently trying to solve. Drives me up the wall.”
“Marius has a talent for consolidating woes,” Armand sighs in disgust. “He always did. The more we speculate, the more it looks as if he’s made all of vampirekind dependent on him in much the same way as he made the mortals in his household dependent on him.”
“I’m sure this isn’t what you meant by better things to worry about,” Daniel apologizes, sliding his arm around Armand’s waist. “That’s a problem for next time we have Lestat in the room. What we really need to do is check on the horror show in progress upstairs, huh?”
Armand leads Daniel inside the house, locking the door. Upstairs, they find Paige’s bedroom door wide open. Jesse and Ricky look up from where they’re sitting on Paige’s unmade bed with their phones out. The ensuite bathroom door is shut, light filtering from beneath it.
Armand glances from one fledgling to the other, folding his arms. “How is Paige doing?”
“As far as I know, she’s still in the shower,” Ricky answers. “She kicked us out an hour ago.”
“Sounds like something she’d do,” Daniel sighs, and then raises his voice. “Done yet, honey?”
Coughing issues from behind the door, followed by a groan. “No!” Paige wails. “Fuck off!”
“I healed what was left of the gunshot wound,” Jesse says, setting down their phone. “Nasty.”
Rubbing his forehead, Armand approaches the door and leans against it. “Would you like me to make this easier on you?” he offers tentatively.
“What? How?” Paige asks after a few seconds’ hesitation. “Make me forget? Make me sleep? Isn’t that…against the rules or something?”
“Against the rules?” Ricky scoffs loudly, laughing. “Ain’t none! Only if you’re a glutton for punishment like Jesse and your old man!”
Daniel joins Armand at the door, feeling as helpless as Armand looks. “Or he could make you hallucinate something nicer. Lots of options.”
Paige gags, winces, and kicks the shower door, making the glass rattle loudly in its tracks. “No headfuckery! We die like men!” she groans.
Shaking his head, Armand stares up at the ceiling. “The situation was traumatic enough,” he whispers. “Why not let me mitigate this part?”
“Because she’s stubborn,” Daniel replies, setting his hands on Armand’s shoulders. “She feels like this is her fault. Like she deserves this.”
Armand works his jaw, fixing Daniel with a deadpan expression. “Then we’ve both cursed her indeed, my love, but not with the Dark Gift.”
“It’s a great night not to be blood related to y’all,” Ricky remarks cheerfully, which causes Armand to glare over Daniel’s shoulder at her.
“Oh my God,” Jesse mumbles, covering their face.
“You guys are depressing!” Paige yells. “Get out!”
“Okay,” Daniel says, bundling Armand back into the hall. “In the event of an emergency, you know where to find us. There’s blood in the fridge.”
Armand is silently fuming by the time Daniel gets him behind the door of their suite. “She’s going to be difficult. Of course she’s going to be—”’
“Yeah, babe, she is,” Daniel interjects, pointing at the edge of the bed. “Sit.” He kneels as soon as Armand complies, pulling Armand’s boots off his feet. “She’s gonna be difficult because I’m difficult. Because we’re difficult. Hell, even her mom was. Difficult all the way down.”
“Her first proper meal should be fresh, you know that,” Armand says tetchily. “I made sure yours was. I should do her the same favor.”
Daniel massages the insteps of Armand’s feet, sighing. “Far be it for me to deny your makerly instincts, but Petronia can take care of her.”
“Beloved,” Armand says quietly, taking Daniel’s face in his hands, “would you miss our new fledgling’s first kill? We missed Jesse’s.”
Daniel rolls his eyes, leaning into Armand’s touch. “Tonight’s been hard enough. She might not even want to hunt properly till next sunset.”
Running one thumb over Daniel’s lower lip, Armand exhales. “You were about to do something nice for me, weren’t you,” he murmurs.
Daniel catches Armand’s thumb between his teeth, his fangs extending. “Uh-huh.”
Armand gasps as Daniel flicks his tongue over the point of his nail. “Wicked thing.”
Daniel releases Armand’s thumb, licking his lips. “Sure am,” he agrees, unfastening Armand’s fly when it’s obvious he’s not going to meet with any further resistance. He tugs Armand’s jeans down and off his hips, and then his underwear, taking a moment to appreciate the sight of Armand in nothing but Daniel’s old sweater. “I’ll be done with you before Paige is in any shape to leave the house. What do you say, princess?”
“You talk too much,” Armand replies, tangling his fingers roughly in Daniel’s hair, yanking his head down until Daniel’s lips are pressed against his inner thigh. “Have you forgotten how to make yourself useful?” he asks, his voice wavering as Daniel opens his mouth. “Ah.”
Daniel sinks his emerging fangs in Armand’s vein, steadying Armand’s hips as he starts to drink. He shivers at the sound of Armand’s shaky moan, swallowing a cry of his own as Armand presses the ball of his foot against Daniel’s dick trapped beneath the inseam of his jeans.
“Just touch me, please, Daniel, your mouth, please—”
Daniel doesn’t feel coordinated enough to jerk Armand off while he’s drinking from him like this, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try. As it is, Armand is doing an impressive job of rubbing Daniel with his foot; that alone deserves to be rewarded. He comes almost as soon as Daniel wraps a trembling hand around him, his fingers winding so tightly in Daniel’s curls that the shock of pain sends Daniel over the edge.
“Fuck,” Daniel gasps as soon as he can breathe again, resting his head against Armand’s hip. Armand’s fingers are gentle in his hair now, rubbing and scratching his scalp to soothe away the sting. He just wants to crawl onto the bed, curl up with Armand, and lose consciousness.
Armand falls back against the mattress. “Come here, my darling.”
Daniel climbs up and flops half on top of him. “Read my mind.”
“If only,” Armand laughs, sobering. “Speaking of, how is she?”
Hazily, Daniel expands the edges of his consciousness. Paige?
Passed out, Petronia replies. She may sleep till tomorrow night.
“Dead,” Daniel sighs, relieved, just as his phone starts to ring.