Archive of Our Own ^beta

Elias Bouchard owned everything the world had to offer.

Mommy and Daddy Bouchard didn’t care about little Elias but that never bothered him. No, he knew from a young age that one tear, one whispered word was enough to get what he so desperately wanted. That’s how he was raised, a little Prince whose fate it was to rule the world with his cunning mouth and charming smile. One snap of his finger and the world bowed to him. He thought it was almost boring how easily everyone seemed to give in to him until at one point he decided to make a game out of it.

His hubris was Elias’ final downfall.

First he acquired a strange book that resulted in his friend’s death, then he was called to the Magnus Institute in London and offered a job. He could feel it in his veins, this was a place he was destined to be. And then Peter Lukas came into his life. He was a lonely old man, following him around, being his shadow while he worked. Elias ignored him at first. Until he became such a prominent feature in his life that whenever Peter Lukas appeared the young man got goosebumps all over. He could feel the cold and smell the salty air of the sea even before he saw the other man.

“I might have to file a complaint if you’re not willing to show yourself and explain why you’re following me.”

He turned around, his eyes examining Peter as the old sailor reluctantly pushed himself out of the shadows as if he were emerging from a different world.

“You noticed.”

Elias dragged his gaze over the tall figure standing in the dark corner across him.

“There’s little that goes unnoticed by me.”

“Ah,” he made a small pause and nodded. “I see why he chose you.”

Peter Lukas stood in the corner as if he was unable to come any closer. As though being near to other people physically pained him.

James Wright, head of the Magnus Institute had mentioned the old man before. Peter Lukas’ family funded the Institute though Elias suspected that Peter and James shared more than a professional relationship.

“You’ve been watching me for a while, does Mr. Wright know about your misadventures into the Archive’s artefact storage?”

Elias leaned against the shelves. As much as Peter Lukas had been watching him, so had Elias been watching him as well. He noticed Peter when the man tried to stay hidden, he researched his fairly odd family, finding out about their connection to several missing person cases.

He was more than intrigued.

“Mr. Wright is very well informed about my visits to the Institute. He’s a… keen observer .”

“Quite so.”

Elias agreed and stepped closer. His fingers tugged on the older man’s tie and dragged him into the light.

“I would appreciate it if you revealed your intentions with me, Mr. Lukas.”

“My intentions?”

“One does not wander the darkest corridors, watching another man at work for hours if he did not have ulterior motives, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Mr. Wright has been worried about you is all, he asked me to keep an eye on you.”

Elias huffed a laugh.

“I’m sure if Mr. Wright would like to keep his pretty eyes on me, he would have done so himself. He is a busy man, yes, but I cannot imagine he would miss out on the opportunity of watching someone else do all this dreadfully bureaucratic work.”

His fingers grazed Peter’s cold wrists.

“You believe that Mr. Wright’s eyes are pretty?”

It was not the reply Elias had expected but he played along with Peter’s strange curiosity. He gave the older man a short nod and inched closer.

“Don’t you? I’ve seen you look at him, Mr. Lukas. I’m quite observant.”

The sailor straightened his back and dragged his gaze towards the ground.

“Your intentions with me, Mr. Lukas.”

Elias brought the conversation back, while carefully guiding Peter’s face with his fingers, forcing the other man to look into the eyes he was so desperately trying to avoid.

“Mr. Wright considers you as his successor. If I saw you fit for the duty, he would initialise the process.”

Elias’ grip on Peter’s chin loosened.

“Mr. Wright is still young and able to do the job himself. I don’t see the need for me to step up as his successor.”

“You would accept the offer?”

He let go of Peter with a sigh, his fingers trailing a path down Peter’s arms and chest until they were hooked around his belt loops.

“That depends, Mr. Lukas.”

The man showed no reaction to his touch. His voice stayed firm, his body cold and withdrawn, utterly unaffected by Elias’ teasing. Peter Luaks was a challenge for him.

“I’m aware of the close relations you and the head of the Institute hold. Were I to inherit these relations I do not see a justifiable reason to reject Mr. Wright’s kind offer.”

Peter’s face showed the slightest of reactions. A mix of surprise and pity.

“I see. Mr. Wright will be rather delighted to hear about your decision.”

“I can’t imagine Mr. Wright to be delighted with anything, if I’m honest with you Mr. Lukas. Just as well as I cannot imagine that man being a decent lover.”

Peter Lukas did not react but his eyes were on Elias. He was gazing down at the smaller man with the same mix of surprise and pity but the longer their eyes stayed connected the more his face softened. Elias had seen this on many faces before, he knew the meaning. Peter was giving in to the boy whether he’d wanted to or not. Elias was winning him over.

“Perhaps, since we determined I’ll inherit Mr. Wright’s relations with you, I should make an effort to improve them.”

“Mr. Bouchard.”

“Mr. Lukas, my name is Elias and I would prefer, if you referred to me as such.”

“ Elias .”

Peter’s voice was as rough as his hands when he spoke Elias’ name and for the slightest of moments he shuddered at the unfamiliar sound of it.

“Mr. Lukas – Peter, if I may,” he was not interrupted so Elias continued with a sharp inhale.

“The corners of this storage room are dark for a reason. These artefacts, as strange as they may be, hold no sinister consciousness, if we were to indulge in the lingering feelings we both certainly share I would not know of any consequences that could be bestowed on us.”

“Mr.– Elias, I doubt Mr. Wright would be very happy about you slacking off during work hours.”

“Mr. Wright rarely leaves his office. If it’s your own consciousness you’re worried about however, you should have considered that before stalking me like a hunter may watch his prey before tearing it apart in a burst of primal urge.”

Elias kissed him then, slowly and deep because if he was to wrap the old man around his finger he needed to be confident and quick. His voice was barely a whisper when he withdrew himself.

“You cannot deny you’re attracted to me, Peter. You see in me a way to flee from the loneliness you surround yourself with.”

His eyes widened ever so shortly before he narrowed them on Elias.

“If I tell you to run and never look back, to leave everything behind and reject Mr. Wright’s offer, would you dare to escape, Mr. Bouchard?”

“My apologies, but I believe I like it better when you use your lips otherwise.”

“Perhaps.”

Peter hummed then drew Elias closer by his waist.

“Neither of us are worth saving.”

Ignoring Peter’s comment, Elias ran his fingers along his cheek and neck, carefully dragging them over his skin as if he were a precious porcelain vase. Contrary to his careful approach, the sailor’s hands were holding tightly onto Elias’ small figure, his grip rouch and strong.

It was Elias’ call to initiate more so he grabbed a handful of Peter’s hair and led his mouth towards his own, catching his lower lip between his teeth and tugging at it until Peter gave him a sharp exhale, the first reaction he’s ever shown.

It was enough for now, enough to work with, enough to wrap him around his finger.

Their affair lasted a few years, between secret meetings in the artefact storage and short trips together on the Tundra, Elias came to the realisation that he was falling in love with Peter.

1996, the fatal year, the year of their planned wedding, Elias was called into James Wright’s office just days before the couple would seal their promise of eternal love with a kiss.

“Congratulations, Mr. Bouchard.”

“We are not married yet, Mr. Wright. Early congratulations are said to bring misfortune to the couple.”

The head of the Institute gave him a playful smile before gesturing for Elias to sit down.

“I was congratulating you on your promotion. I have decided to retire.”

“You’re retiring already? Are you unwell?”

“Rather than me being unwell, I have made the decision to retire to make sure you will benefit from it. A wedding is rather expensive–”

“My fiancé is wealthy enough for the both of us, Mr. Wright. I’m sure you’re well aware of that.”

“Quite.”

James Wright let out a sigh while slowly getting up from his seat.

“One more thing before your promotion, Mr. Bouchard.”

“Yes, Mr. Wright?”

“Being head of the Archives has certain requirements.”

The door to his office opened and Peter Lukas stepped inside, wearing the formal attire that was meant for the wedding. When Elias looked back at James he was approaching him with a  kitchen knife clutched in his left hand.

“Mr. Wright–”

James grabbed him and pulled him out of the chair, tossing Elias’ body to the ground as if he weighed nothing. Peter immediately reached for his fiancè and held him in his arms. All feelings of safety and comfort were short-lived when Elias realised that Peter was keeping him in place so that he was unable to escape from James.

“Your eyes, I fear, don’t see enough, Mr. Bouchard. I hope you’ll understand.”

Elias Bouchard was dead before he could read his vows at the wedding. Peter Luaks cradled his body in his arms for several hours before he surrendered it to James.

“I expect a gift of gratitude. I can only imagine the amount of pleasure this must give you, Peter.”

The old man glanced at the engagement ring with a sad smile.

“I’ve never felt lonelier. It’s quite beautiful.”