Work Text:
1985
Daniel sat on the floor of the Paris hotel room he had haunted for the last two weeks, barely moving. Occasionally, he would force himself to take a bite of the food rotting in the corner, but even that stopped after the first two days. He needed to relieve himself every other day, but he refused to get up. He simply wet himself where he sat, consumed by a bitter self-loathing.
The hotel room was nicely made. He knew he would never be able to afford something like this on his own. He was lucky if he could afford a roach infested motel.
Daniel thought of the yellow, scratchy comforter that he felt against his back. He remembered that he and Armand were just making love days ago on the same bedding... god how things change so quickly. He realized on day 4 that he could not remember the last time they kissed. It took another day of panic, tears and rage before he finally realized he would not remember. As the days continued, Daniel wished he had a picture of that specific moment so he could keep it framed for the rest of his life.
Daniel watched the sun rise, set, and rise again. At times, he felt a fleeting sense of peace when the warmth of the yellow planet coated his skin. Yet anger quickly replaced it; he never wanted to see the light again.
He was lucky if he could shut his eyes for more than a few minutes at a time. When sleep did come, he jolted awake screaming, haunted by dreams of the demon who had stolen his heart and shattered it. Chest pains flared unpredictably, but Daniel lacked the energy to dwell on them. The physical ache was merely a cruel reminder that Armand was real.
Two weeks earlier, Armand had finally decided to return to Louis for good. As if to drive the knife in deeper, he broke the news just after Daniel had dropped to one knee. He was holding a beautiful gold and ruby ring he had saved for months to buy. Daniel had been begging Armand over the last 12 years to make him his immortal companion so they could spend eternity together.
"What do you mean, no?" Daniel had gasped. He was sure the gesture would change Armand’s mind; things had been going so well.
"Daniel, get up. You are making a fool of yourself," Armand reprimanded coldness in his tone.
"Don't you want me?"
"Daniel—"
"Wait, you’ve always answered me! Armand, what is this?"
"I have decided that our time together has reached its end."
"What? Come on, boss... is this a new game?"
"No, Daniel. I am returning to Louis full-time."
Daniel felt as if the ventricles of his heart were beating out of order, starving his tissue of blood. "Armand... no..."
"Yes, Daniel."
"You are not to be immortal. You are not to be my companion. I no longer find you fascinating."
Daniel blacked out.
When he woke, he was sitting on the familiar spot on the carpet...the position he would remain in until his body finally gave out. He had no desire to live without Armand, but he lacked the resolve to actively end his life. He would simply let his mortal body wither away, welcoming death with open arms.
In truth, Armand had never wanted to leave Daniel, but he believed he had no choice. Daniel was no longer safe with him. Louis had discovered their relationship and was furious...hypocritical as that was, given that Louis strayed nightly. Yet Armand could not bear to lose Louis, and he believed the only way to appease him was to sever ties with Daniel entirely.
Armand did not mean his harsh words... but that was the only way he knew Daniel would hear him..
Furthermore, Armand knew Daniel was not mentally ready for immortality. He wanted the young man to live a natural life, something impossible while hiding in the shadows at his side. Knowing Daniel would never betray their secrets, Armand assumed walking away would be enough.
Yet after a fortnight, Armand slipped through the shadows of the hotel room, the overwhelming stench striking his vampire senses instantly.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim room, horror seized him. Daniel was sitting in the exact place Armand had left him. The scent of decaying food hung heavy, but worse was the sharp, acidic reek of urine that had soaked through Daniel's clothes and seeped deep into the carpet. When Armand came around and saw Daniel's face, the horror continued. His eyes were swollen and sunken in. Armand could smell the dry, salty tears on his face. His once pink skin was now sallow.
What terrified Armand most, however, was the erratic, faltering beat of Daniel’s heart.
No, no, no, Armand thought.
He gathered Daniel into his arms and rushed him into the bathroom. Daniel didn't flinch. He showed no signs of awareness, though his faint breathing proved he was still alive.
"Come on, beloved. Let’s get you clean," Armand whispered.
As Armand stripped away the soaked clothing, his heart sank. Where the urine had pooled against Daniel's skin, severe breakdown had occurred, leaving raw, sloughing sores.
"Oh, my beautiful boy... oh, I’m so sorry," Armand sobbed. Daniel’s ribs protruded sharply against his skin, laying bare the devastating toll of Armand’s absence.
He lowered Daniel into the warm bathwater. Beneath the surface, Daniel’s heart continued to flutter at a dangerous rate. Armand reached into Daniel’s mind to assess the damage, only to discover the brutal truth.
Daniel was dying of a broken heart.
Panic surged through Armand. "No, there is now way..."
Even with the depth of his own devotion, Armand found it almost terrifying to realize that Daniel’s love was so absolute....that without him, the mortal was literally dying of a broken heart.
He slit his wrist with a fingernail and pressed the wound against Daniel's lips. Daniel needed only a small drop of the ancient blood to mend his failing muscles. Within seconds, the crimson drug-like blood healed the open sores, the gaunt outline of his ribs filled out, and color flushed back into his pale skin.
Just as Daniel’s heartbeat stabilized into a strong, steady rhythm, Armand gently pulled his wrist away.
"'Mand?" Daniel asked weakly, his eyes fluttering open.
"You were dying, Daniel..."
"Why didn't you let me?!" Daniel cried, his voice cracking. "That’s what I wanted!"
"I am a coward," Armand whispered, tears streaking his face. "And I love you too much to let you go."
"Then don't let me go, boss! Please, I’m right here!" Daniel scrambled up onto his knees in the tub, grabbing Armand’s face, searching his dark eyes for a flicker of hope.
"Daniel... I love you too much to strip away your mortality... please..."
"Armand, I’m begging you!" Daniel sobbed, gasping for air.
"Daniel," Armand said, his tone abruptly shifting into a smooth, hypnotic cadence.
Daniel recognized it instantly...the onset of mind manipulation. "No, Armand, no! Please!"
"You will forget the vampire, Armand."
"PLEASE!" Daniel screamed, slamming his hands over his ears as if he could block out the psychic threads weaving through his mind.
"You will forget the vampire, Armand," he repeated, firmer this time.
"I will forget the vampire, Armand," Daniel gasped, overwhelmed.
Resistance was futile; he felt as powerless as he had in San Francisco before Armand first bit him.
"You will forget the love you shared with Armand."
"I will forget the love I shared with Armand..."
"Rest."
Armand gently washed Daniel as the mortal succumbed to sleep. Armand wept so bitterly that his blood-laced tears turned the bathwater a cloudy red. He dressed Daniel in fresh clothes and moved him to a new hotel, adjusting his memories just enough to give him a plausible reason for his trip to Paris.
And for the next fifty-two years, Armand silently watched over Daniel and continued to fall deeper in love.