Chapter Text
“Why did you pull me out of the sun?” Louis asked.
Armand looked up, hands stilling. Louis lay on the bed, chared body half healed. His face was turned towards Armand, neck straining a little. Just a little. He was too weak to spend more energy than he needed to, craning his neck like that.
Armand walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. “What?”
“Why did you pull me out of the sun?” Louis repeated. His head was resting on the pillow now, looking up at him. His voice was soft.
Armand’s brow wrinkled ever so slightly. “I don’t understand.”
Louis started to continue, then coughed delicately. He cleared his throat. “You’ve killed so many vampires for breaking the Rules. I’ve broken so many rules. You’ve seen so many vampires kill themselves, driven mad by the passing of time, or their own vampiric existence. Do you remember…do you remember what you said, about—about Claudia—all those years ago? That she wouldn’t last. That you’ve seen this before.” Louis paused, then repeated softly. “Why did you pull me out of the sun?”
Armand looked down, at his hands carefully folded in his lap.
“It would have been my fault,” Armand said. “I couldn’t live with that.”
Louis was silent. When Armand chanced a glance, Louis’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling, jaw tight.
“I should have saved her,” Armand said. “That’s what you’re thinking.”
“Let’s call Lestat again,” Louis said. “He’ll agree with me.”
Armand’s brow wrinkled. “About what?”
“That you’re a bitch.”
Armand stared at him. He was still, so still. Unnervingly still. Like a statue. Louis wished he would move. Wished he would blink.
“I love you, Louis.”
Sudden tears blurred Louis’s vision. I love you, Louis. How many times had he heard those words? Usually preceded by some pain. I love you, Louis. You were never cruel.
“Maître,” Armands soft voice pulled Louis out of his thoughts. “You should rest.”