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Chapter Text

It begins when Louis receives a handwritten letter nearly three years after their stormy reunion in New Orleans, coinciding with Lestat's highly anticipated second album release.

The letter is simply addressed to his penthouse. Still, Louis knows the elegant penmanship well enough that all that could be written is his first name in its dramatic flourish and swoops, and Louis will immediately recognize it as being from Lestat. 

Louis is nervous as he slices the envelope flap with a sharpened nail and gingerly slides the paper out. Unfolding it as carefully as if it's candy floss more than paper, which is too delicate and fragile for his eager hands, his fingers tremble. Louis isn't sure why Lestat has written a physical letter instead of texting, as he's been so accustomed to doing lately, but Louis takes a deep breath and turns the paper over. 

Only a little is written, but what is there leaves enough of an impression that Louis is confused and worried. 

Dearest Louis, 

I am sorry for all I have done to hurt you in our tumultuous past together. 

I am in a reflective and transitional period in this modern day existence and have promised to become a better man, not only for myself but also for you.

I hope that one day you will find it in yourself to forgive me for the dishonor I have done to you and the life we once had when I can finally be that better man. 

Until then, I will not burden you with my constant messages and electronic mail. 

I hope you are well. 

Forever yours, 

Lestat de Lioncourt.

It may be minutes or hours later. Louis stares at the words, burns them into his mind, and then finally decides to call Lestat. 

This goes against what he's said he wants from their current relationship. Emails and text messages are easier than hearing Lestat's voice. 

There is something so terribly vulnerable about the sound of Lestat's voice. It leaves Louis lost to a seduction he knows very well he is not ready to fall beneath once more. This time apart has been seemingly good for them, or at least good for Louis. 

Louis has spent these few years becoming someone he's fought against for most of his vampire existence. He's gotten to know Lestat again and remembers why he fell for his maker in the first place. They actually do enjoy each other's company when there isn't the heavy, sickening weight of resentment looking above them. 

But this letter sounds like goodbye, and it strikes enough fear in him that Louis breaks the rules he has made and snatches his phone from the bedside table. 

The call is answered after one ring, and Louis holds his breath. 

"The vampire Lestat's phone," Daniel's familiar, bored tone drawls. 

Louis deflates, exhaling loudly and roughly. "Daniel, why are you answering Lestat's phone?" Louis asks, immediately full of irritation. He's gone against all he believes, and Lestat can't even have the decency to answer his own phone? 

"Lestat's in meditation right now, Louis," Daniel replies, chuckling. "I know, hard to believe, but the guy is doing the most to better himself. It's not even the drugs at play! He's stone-cold sober, Louis!"

There is a beat of silence, and then Daniel continues. "I take it from your non-response that you got Lestat's letter," he says plainly. "I told him not to send it, but once he makes a decision, it's pretty damn impossible to stop the stubborn son of a bitch."

Louis is pacing by now, one hand holding the phone to his ear while his opposite runs up and down the back of his head. He's trying to make sense of this, of any of it, but he's falling short. 

"You knew about the letter?" Louis finally asks after minutes of being quiet. "Did he have you proofread?" Louis asks a moment later, knowing that this is very likely. 

"Of course I did," Daniel chuckles. "He wanted to make sure there were no grammatical errors, Louis. It's a very serious letter."

"And now he is meditating," Louis murmurs, trying to imagine this yet failing to do so. "Lestat is meditating?"

"It's all part of his new life, thanks to his therapist," Daniel explains, sounding just as amused as he has this entire phone call. "This dude's new age and all about self-reflection and self-healing. He's got Lestat doing yoga, too. He also talks about his misaligned chakras a lot." 

Daniel laughs. "I don't know, buddy. I don't really listen when Lestat is talking about this shit. It's all pretty kumbaya to me, and it's personally nothing I don't think some blow would fix faster."

"Daniel, I'm glad you're enjoying the freedom of vampirism on Lestat's second tour, but I'd like to completely understand what's going on," Louis says. "Lestat is in therapy. My Lestat?"

Louis immediately realizes his mistake and is overcome by a sudden rush of warmth as he becomes aware of his words. It becomes evident that the mere notion of Lestat leaving him alone for eternity is enough to send Louis into a state of mental disarray so powerful that he can barely think with clarity.

"Since when's he your Lestat?" Daniel asks, his amusement growing. Of course, Daniel comments on Louis' choice of words. Of course. "I thought the two of you swore off each other after your sad attempts to be friends with benefits spectacularly failed," Daniel says, clearly not planning to let this go any time soon.

Louis winces as he stands alone, grateful Daniel isn't there to visually witness his reaction. The reminder of their unsuccessful attempts at a no-strings-attached relationship only deepens his sour mood. The fact they even tried is ridiculous; how exactly are two vampire-bonded men going to attempt to have a sexual relationship and not feel every emotion that goes along with it? Especially when their beating hearts synchronize into a perfect melody when they're alone together?

No, the attempt was an absolute dumpster fire, and it's a large part of why Louis has refused to speak to Lestat on the phone for the last half of the year. Still, he's regretting it now that Lestat has decided not to speak to Louis at all!

"Lestat's in therapy, and he's very serious about it," Daniel says, finally beginning to sound serious instead of amused at this messy situation. "One of the band members suggested the guy to Lestat, and he's taken well to him. He's highly renowned for his success rate in celebrities."

Louis gazes at his reflection and scowls, disliking a stranger before even knowing his name. "May I have a name to accompany the massive success?" Louis impatiently asks, his tone giving away the frustration he cannot shake off.

"Nathan Robertson," Daniel responds without missing a beat. "He's been published half a dozen times and has been in the business for over twenty years," Daniel continues. "Lestat has started to call the guy his lord and savior."

Louis rolls his eyes. "That's not very professional," he mutters under his breath.

"Yeah, well, when's Les ever professional?" Daniel reasonably asks. "He's made an existence and now a career out of shock value and sex, Louis. You should know better than anyone how unprofessional Lestat can be. You experienced it firsthand when the two of you were first dating!"

Louis is haunted by memories of long ago, memories he would rather not confront now. Memories of a time when he made absurd excuses while in denial about Lestat's true nature were ongoing, and how he now finds himself repeating those excuses to justify not being with him while inwardly Louis is struggling to accept the opposite truth…

This isn't about their past! This is about their present.

God, if Lestat had even an inkling of his inner turmoil, he would never let Louis hear the end of it, but at least he'd speak to Louis instead of sending him vague and mysterious letters by mail. 

At least he'd answer his phone instead of having Daniel become some sort of snarky clown of a secretary.

"Louis?" Daniel asks, "You still there, man?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm still here," Louis tiredly replies. "Where are you right now, exactly?"

The plan forms rather quickly. Before Daniel answers, before Louis even asks the question, he texts the airport about fueling his jet for an impromptu and unplanned trip.

"Milano!" Daniel answers, putting on an Italian accent. "It's been molto bello here, Louis! The city is alive, and there's dancing in the piazzas at night until near dawn. Did you know?"

"I am aware," Louis distractedly answers, typing away the location to his favorite pilot now. Louis sweetens the deal and secures his employment for the flight with a rather large bonus, and then he rushes through the penthouse to grab his carry-on.

He won't need much for this trip. He doesn't plan on staying longer than necessary to talk to Lestat and remind him that they're better than they were and that there is no need to ruin what they've already managed to fix.

Daniel hums a familiar Italian tune while Louis tosses random clothing into his bag. He recalls Milan and dancing in the darkness of an alley with Armand while the humans all enjoyed themselves in the open to that exact song.

"Lestat wants to perform in Pompei. Isn't that wild?" Daniel suddenly asks as his humming comes to an end. "He's been chatting with his manager to try to make it happen."

"I'm sure Lestat will get what he wants," Louis says, throwing his laptop and wallet into the bag. "He always gets what he wants."

"Not lately," Daniel chuckles. "Louis, I'm about to head out. I've got a date, and I'm starving."

"Good luck with the date and dinner, Daniel," Louis says, then zips his bag up. "I'll call Lestat later and see if he'll answer."

Since when does Louis chase after Lestat? Louis questions this as he walks out of his penthouse door and texts his driver that he's on his way to the garage.

.

Lestat doesn't answer. Louis calls him four times, and Lestat doesn't answer. It burns, and Louis stares at his phone, glaring at it while attempting to will Lestat into calling him back. Louis knows Lestat is aware of the missed calls, and the knowledge of this gnaws at him, causing him to clench his fists so tightly that his nails break the skin, drawing blood.

Over an hour later, when Louis has given up and chooses to catch up on potential work emails, his phone goes off, alerting him to a text message. It's embarrassing how Louis lunges across the plush sofa to get his phone and wakes the screen with a fingerprint tap.

Dearest Louis, amid deep meditation, I found myself thinking of you, and then, as if Lady Luck struck the idea into my mind, I reclaimed my phone and caught wind of your many missed calls. I profusely apologize for the mistake and hope you are not upset? I will soon retire to coffin but be reassured, I will wake upon your reply . - Lestat.

Louis anxiously bites his lip, struggling to contain the smile that creeps across his face as he reads Lestat's text. Lestat is so formal, always writing in such a way, and Louis finds it so disgustingly endearing. Despite his best efforts, he can't resist the overwhelming wave of warmth and affection that washes over him, making his stomach flutter with the sensation of hundreds of butterflies taking flight.

Should he respond, or should he make Lestat wait? Isn't the thrill of the chase what always excites Lestat anyway?

Or does he no longer experience such a rush regarding Louis?

Louis throws his phone across the sofa and refocuses on his laptop. He quickly opens his browser and types' Nathan Robertson therapist ' into the search engine.

Hundreds of articles rapidly appear, and Louis scans them at vampire speed, burning with irritation that the man is indeed very well accomplished and revered and has, in fact, published over twenty articles. His success rate is relatively high, and there are dozens of celebrity endorsements for his particular way of aiding them.

They're all beaming in photos with him, looking renewed, refreshed, and well, and Louis stares at Nathan in every image, disliking this stranger more by the second.

The worst part is that he isn't even hard to look at! No, Nathan Robertson is incredibly handsome, intelligent, and successful, and he's now succeeding in taking Lestat away from him!

Yes, that's quite a leap to make. If Louis were capable of being rational at the moment, he'd instead be pleased that a human somehow possesses the ability to assist Lestat in bettering himself, but now, when this ability is quickly removing Lestat from his life? All rationality swiftly flies out the metaphorical window, and Louis finds himself discarding all reason as he becomes unwaveringly fixated on reclaiming Lestat for himself.

Lestat belongs to him, god dammit, and no one, especially not Nathan Robertson, celebrity therapist, is going to change that!

Louis chooses to ignore Lestat, leaving him in suspense. After all, the mystery is always more thrilling and regularly adds a spicy little layer of excitement to their dynamic.

Louis has found that this approach always works when dealing with Lestat, and he's hopeful it will continue to be effective despite Lestat's new therapist interfering with their vibe.

How does a simple human with an inflated ego, a nice smile, and a collection of self-help books measure up against the profoundly deep connection between two eternal vampiric companion hearts?

It simply does not!

.

"I can't believe you're really here," Daniel laughs, tightly embracing Louis and clapping him on the back. "You're that down bad you had to come and see him for yourself?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Louis says with an air of nonchalance far higher than he can possibly feel when it comes to Lestat. Nothing about how he feels about Lestat de Lioncourt can ever be categorized as nonchalant .

Louis glances around, taking in Lestat's Milan penthouse. It's ostentatious, but he expects it to be. Lestat is a rockstar; of course, he resides in opulence. "Where is he?" Louis asks, attempting to sound less desperate, though he believes he may be failing.

"Still in coffin, or really, in bed," Daniel answers, smiling knowingly at Louis. "You should go and see him, Louis. He'll be thrilled to see you, his most prominent muse."

Louis chooses to ignore that and instead nods. "Where's his room?"

"The farthest room down the hall upstairs," Daniel replies. "He originally wanted to have the largest one to house all his instruments, but now he's got all his meditation and therapy shit in there, too. It's a mess."

Louis nods, silently turning in the direction where Daniel has now told him Lestat's bedroom is. He is silent as he walks up the stairs and down the long hall, listening to the human heartbeats of his bandmates and whoever else currently sleeps in this penthouse.

Lestat's heartbeat is the loudest and clearest of them all, and Louis feels like he is in a dream or coming home after a long journey away. He's warm, his skin feeling lit up with electricity, and his heart immediately begins to sing out to Lestat's in return.

How the fuck did Louis really ever think they could be anything less than companions?

Louis reaches the door, and as he reaches down to touch the doorknob, it suddenly turns and–

"You must be Louis," Nathan says, beaming at him. "Lestat has told me all about you!" He holds his hand out, continuing to smile, and Louis tries his best not to lunge and snap his head clean off.

"Not all about me," Louis says, shaking the man's hand. If he squeezes Nathan's hand with more strength than a human should possess, no, he does not! "You can never truly know everything about someone, right?"

"Hm, I know plenty about the two of you," Nathan disagrees, taking his hand back to cradle it against his chest. "You're stronger than you look."

"I ate all my vegetables growing up," Louis jokes, gazing behind Nathan into Lestat's bedroom. It is dark, save for some dim lighting from lamps, and Louis can hear chanting played by a speaker.

"Lestat is busy," Nathan chirps, stepping forward to close the door behind him.

Louis battles with the desire to punch his fist clear through the man's face. The flash of memory of Lestat doing something similar in that sacred church flashes through his mind, and Louis smiles tightly at Nathan.

"I'm sure Lestat wouldn't mind seeing me," Louis says, disagreeing with him. "We haven't seen each other in so long, and we're pretty close. Closer than–"

"Brothers?" Nathan offers, winking. "Lestat will see you when he's finished his meditation and journaling. Louis, this is highly important to his journey with enlightenment and full forgiveness. We wouldn't want to halt his progress, right?"

Louis forces a tight smile and nods in agreement. "Right," he says, feigning cheerfulness. "We wouldn't want anything to interfere with Lestat's progress. Namaste, yeah?"

"Exactly," Nathan happily sighs. "Why don't the two of us chat while Lestat finishes? It'll be over an hour until he's free."

Louis bites his tongue before he says something unsavory, allowing Nathan to lead him back down the hall and downstairs, where Daniel lounges on a leather sofa and watches the news on a massive, flat-screen television that hangs on the wall.

"Back so soon?" Daniel asks, raising his eyebrows at Louis. "Or is he still journaling?"

"He hasn't begun that yet," Louis says, disappointed and too tired to hide it. "Maybe in an hour…"

"Strange to see you coming out here and chasing Lestat around," Daniel chuckles. "How the tables have turned, huh?"

Louis rolls his eyes, stepping away from Nathan for his own safety, honestly, and joins Daniel on the couch instead. Daniel turns towards him, cocks his head to the side, and then reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a blunt. 

"Wanna smoke?" Daniel asks. "It doesn't take the edge off like it used to, but–"

Louis lights it with the fire gift and then holds his hand out expectantly. 

"That's quite a magic trick!" Nathan exclaims from behind them. "Lestat is also skilled in magic. Is that how the two of you met?"

"We met at the circus," Louis replies without an ounce of humor in his tone. "Lestat was the most popular clown around."

"It seems performing has always been important to him then," Nathan says. "What was your role in the circus, Louis?"

Louis smirks. "The lion tamer."

Daniel snorts loudly, and Louis elbows him in the side. "I had many roles," Louis quickly adds. "My favorite was the fire gift, I mean, the fire act at the end of the performance."

"Did you swallow fire?" Nathan asks, sitting down on an armchair near the two vampires. 

"He sure swallowed something unnatural," Daniel chuckles. 

"Am I not understanding?" Nathan asks, raising an eyebrow at the two of them. "Are you both mocking me?"

"No, Lestat was the clown," Louis insists. "He was very good at his role. In fact, he perfected it. He was the star of the show. The Clown Lestat."

"Seems similar to his current persona," Daniel adds, smirking. "There's barely a difference except for the makeup, right, Louis?"

Louis nods, then lifts his phone to check the time. It's nearly been an hour now. Louis glances up at the ceiling, wondering if Lestat will be finished sooner rather than later. He needs to see him, to talk to him, alone. 

"Has Lestat told you about his experience in the desert?" Nathan asks, peering with great interest at Louis and Louis alone. It is uncomfortable, but Louis matches his energy and meets his gaze. Louis finds his mind quickly flooded with images of Lestat in the desert, broken down and sobbing, naked save for a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. 

As Nathan tells Louis of his experience, Louis lives it through the memories that continue to float into his consciousness. Nathan is there, with Lestat in the desert, hesitant to approach, yet does so slowly, almost as if he is coming towards a wounded animal. 

"Iowaska is a hell of an experience," Daniel murmurs beside Louis. "Lestat had the bright idea to try it out to get inspiration for a future album. I don't think he expected his ghosts to come and visit him so rapidly."

"He mentioned Claudia–" Nathan begins to say. 

"Don't speak of her," Louis cuts him off, the fury rushing through his veins. How dare this stranger speak their daughter's name? How dare he attempt to speak of her memory and tell Louis anything about her as if he knows?

"I saw her in the flames," Lestat's soft voice floats into the room. "Claudia was there to visit me and to remind me of my sins."

Louis looks back, his face showing shock, as he makes eye contact with Lestat for the first time in what feels like years. 

Lestat is gorgeous, but he's always gorgeous. He's not dressed in his rockstar persona but in a simple black pair of trousers and a tank top, with a long, flowing maroon cardigan wrapped around his sturdy, broad shoulders. His hair is loosely pulled back into a low ponytail, and when their eyes meet, he offers Louis the smallest of smiles. 

"Hello, Louis," Lestat gently greets him, echoing their reunion in New Orleans. 

"Hello, Lestat," Louis returns with the same gentle tone. "I've been waiting for you to–"

"I was getting Louis up to speed with your self-healing journey," Nathan interrupts, rising from the armchair to walk to Lestat's side. They're around the same height, their eyes easily meeting, and Louis' fingers twitch against the couch cushion. 

Daniel rests his hand on Louis' shoulder. 

"I am surprised you've come to see me so soon," Lestat says, looking at Louis again. "I did not expect your lovely presence to greet me this swiftly. I had thought perhaps my letter would be sufficient correspondence for the both of us to follow."

"Lestat, hey, no," Louis adamantly says and shakes his head quickly, disagreeably. "I don't think going no contact is best for us." He frowns, unable to keep the displeasure he's been experiencing since receiving Lestat's letter to himself. "I'm not sure how you got that idea," Louis adds, softer, revealing more of the storm that brews deep within him.

Louis is out of his element once again, almost as if he's transported back through time, charmed by a stranger from across the sea, with tricks and an accent that leaves all his resolve behind him. This isn't something he's used to feeling anymore, and now that this deep, powerful longing to claim Lestat has been birthed, Louis can't see himself going back on it.

Lestat is his, and seeing him like this now is like seeing an entirely different person than the one Louis has been falling for since the moment he set eyes on him that fateful night. A stranger gazes back at him, insisting they're better off apart and that his new journey of self-reflection and healing is so important that he'd rather spend eternity away from Louis than just talk it out.

"I am at the stage in my journey where I must seek out those I have hurt to gain acceptance in all my faults," Lestat says, sounding like he's repeating something he's read. "Be it that I have hurt you most of all–"

"I don't wanna go no contact," Louis says firmly as he rises from the sofa. He quickly joins Lestat, nudging Nathan out of the way with a shoulder and becoming what Lestat sees instead. He's all up in Lestat's space and feeling some type of way. There's this sudden desperation to steal Lestat's attention from everyone else in the room. 

Louis knows he can achieve that. He's done it all this time, even before Lestat was ever a thought in his head. He's always been able to catch Lestat's attention, be the object of his affection, and be the sole person Lestat wants more than anyone else.

That has stayed the same. Lestat may be misguided and going down the incorrect route of bettering himself, but there's absolutely no way he still doesn't want Louis as he's always wanted Louis!

So Louis goes in for the kill. 

"I really wanna talk to you alone," Louis murmurs, lowering his gaze to see Lestat through his eyelashes while stepping in closer. "I need us to talk, Lestat. We have a lot to say to each other."

"That isn't something I'd advise just yet," Nathan decides to mention as if his opinion matters at all to Louis. The guy may as well be a goddamn insect on the floor that Louis is ready to step on and crush until he's nothing but guts and residue spoiling the hardwood.

"I didn't ask for your opinion," Louis says, keeping his eyes locked on Lestat's. "I want us to talk, Les. Just us. No middle man around to talk shit I'm not interested in."

"Louis, Nathan has been a comfort and a healer to me during this transition," Lestat gently argues, frowning at him. "Have I been wrong to believe you would want me to better myself?"

Louis' frustration peeks through. "You're not bettering yourself by behaving like a mindless fool!" he exclaims, backing away from Lestat. "You're letting some insignificant human get the best of you and turn you into someone you're not!"

Lestat's arms cross over his chest, and he rests his weight on one leg, frowning deeply and his forehead wrinkling at Louis' outburst. "You are calling Nathan an insignificant human? Truly, Louis? You, the most human of our kind, are aghast with frustration and contempt for a man you do not even know?"

"I know enough!" Louis replies, still refusing to look away from Lestat. "I've seen and heard enough, and I've barely been here a few hours now. I know this guy is taking advantage of you, Lestat! Sure, you're vulnerable, and yeah, it's commendable to want to change and be a better version of yourself, but you're talking crazy now!"

"Ah, so now I am crazy," Lestat chuckles. "Nathan, this is exactly what you said–"

"Don't," Louis rasps. "Don't talk to him, Lestat. Don't talk about whatever perceived notion this stranger has about me and about us."

"Us?" Lestat asks, his expression intensely perplexed. "When has there last been an us, Louis? Over ninety years ago?"

"Lestat, that's not fair," Louis replies. "We talked for months, and I thought we were on a great path. Then you chose to become a rockstar, and we tried–"

"And I manipulated you with my lyrics or tried vainly to lure you to come to me," Lestat interrupts, his sorrow ringing his voice. "We came together, but it was a mess, Louis. Despite my insistence and pursuit of you, we were not right for one another. I could not see the truth– the idea of us was an obsession, not something pure and true."

Louis cannot help but step back again, feeling as though his ribs are constricting, causing his breath to catch in his throat. "You never asked me," Louis says softly. "Lestat, you never asked me…"

The sound of Daniel loudly clearing his throat stops Louis from continuing, and he is grateful. Here he is, making a complete idiot of himself in front of not only Lestat but Daniel, Nathan, and the various humans who also inhabit this penthouse. 

"Time has shown me the truth," Lestat sorrowfully declares, "and that truth is that I am not good for you, and it is why I want you to let me go."

The smile that Lestat smiles his way makes Louis' heart shatter.

"I only want you to be happy, Louis," Lestat says. "I want what is best for you, which means I am putting my selfish desires to the side once and for all."

Louis knows when a conversation will not sway in his direction. He is aware of this now and that Lestat is not about to see reason. He's in too deep, and the most significant issue stands near the two of them. His very human heart races and the scent of his blood is so tantalizing that Louis' mouth begins to water.

He cannot murder Lestat's therapist in cold blood.

Louis cannot kill Nathan.

At least, not here, and not yet.

"Fine," Louis says, his voice straining with emotion. He utters the word, struggling with the idea of it and desperately wishing to do the complete opposite. Louis swallows his bloodlust, frustration, and heartbreak. "You want me gone? I'm gone."

With a heavy heart, Louis decides to accept defeat this time while mentally plotting his next move in this now apparent war over Lestat's love and affection.

You are so not normal, Daniel thinks in Louis' mind. You're fantasizing about tearing the guy's head off because you're burning with rage and jealousy, man. This is insane.

"You're leaving?" Lestat asks, sounding surprised. He tucks his hair behind his left ear while his mouth purses.

Louis loves that ridiculous mouth, particularly how his scar becomes more pronounced when he does things like that. "I've got a place to stay," Louis responds as he walks to the door. "After all, we aren't good for each other, remember? It's best if I don't stay here."

"Louis is right, Lestat," Nathan agrees, keeping his tone positive. "You see? It wasn't as hard as you were worrying about!"

Louis vividly envisions himself biting and savoring Nathan to the last drop, smiling at everyone as he looks back at the room. "Have a great night," he says, giving them all a small, amused bow. "I know I will."

.

These are oceans unknown to Louis.

He realizes this early on when he's lying in bed later that night and scrolling through Lestat's social media, checking for any mention of Nathan. Thankfully, there are none, but Louis isn't used to feeling a sort of desperation to gain Lestat's attention and desire once more. That desire has always been, and experiencing Lestat not wanting him has thrown Louis' world upside down.

He's got to make Lestat want him so bad he cracks.

Any progress Lestat has made while under Nathan's guidance will have to disappear, and it will have to fade quickly, too. Louis isn't a patient man now that he's going down this road, and he wants Lestat back sooner rather than later.

The most bizarre part of this mess is that Nathan doesn't even want Lestat this way! Nathan is interested in bettering, guiding, and teaching Lestat how to be the best version of himself, but Louis can't let this fact sway him from his far more sinister and deranged plans.

Lestat is all his, and Louis isn't about to allow some random human to get in the way of their shared heart. He's barely a speck of dirt on the time their companionship has existed, and he'll be some long-lost memory in no time.

Louis smiles at his screen, swiping through the many photos Lestat has shared on his Instagram. He's promoting yoga, and Louis isn't about to deny how good he looks in his outfits. There's not much left to the imagination, and the long, lean lines of Lestat's body do wonderfully warm, delicious things to Louis' insides.

It's been so long since they were intimate.

Louis sighs, feels himself getting hard, and is about to take care of it when his notifications go off.

Lestat is texting him.

I worry we parted on bad terms, Louis. Are you upset with me?

Louis bites his lip, knowing he can make Lestat suffer and not reply, or he can reply and make Lestat crazy.

He chooses the latter: Not upset. I'm just respecting what you said you wanted. Don't worry about it.

Louis watches, delighted by the immediate speech bubbles that pop up on the screen as Lestat types. They appear, then pause, then begin again, and he wonders how many times Lestat types out his thoughts and then decides against them, only to begin again.

I felt that you were unhappy with me. I do not want us to be strangers, Louis. That is not what I have been requesting. I only wish for us to be better than we were. There was far too much toxicity between us to ever be healthy if we continued on as we were.

Louis can't help but roll his eyes and reply: Toxicity, Les? Have you been reading about that lately, too?

Lestat takes less time to respond this time: Why must we argue? I thought this was what you would want for both of us. You said yourself that you did not wish for me to be your companion again.

Louis rolls his eyes and hates how what he once said in the heat of the moment is now coming to bite him in the ass. Yeah, so what if he said it? It was so long ago, and they were in a terrible place! Lestat was drug-fueled and messy, having one scandal after the other, and Louis didn't want to put up with his rockstar shit. That's his right!

And since his hard-on has fully softened and he's now irritated, Louis doesn't hesitate with what he says next: You were busy sleeping around when we weren't hooking up. So yeah, Lestat, I didn't think we'd be the best together! It was obvious you wanted to have your freedom. Who was I to stand in your way?

Lestat quickly replies: Who were you? Louis, you cannot be serious about such a question.

…

…

…

I'm tired. Goodnight, Lestat.

.

Lestat doesn't reply to the last text he sends. 

Louis wakes the following evening, and his only messages are from Daniel, his accountant, and some potential future clients. Not one text message is from Lestat, which burns Louis to his core.

Louis' determination to reignite Lestat's infatuation with him only intensifies. As he lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, Louis mulls over what he can do to regain his estranged husband's attention. There's plenty that may work, but…

The easiest way to get Lestat back is to make him jealous.

Maybe Louis will go and find some handsome Italian man, flaunt him in front of Lestat, and possibly even fuck him somewhere Lestat can hear. That'll get Lestat's blood boiling, and he'll definitely pursue Louis once again. Maybe Lestat will even kill the poor guy in a jealous rage, and then they'll end up together again, covered in blood and feral for each other in the best of ways. Isn't that how it's always destined to be?

This may not be the healthiest mindset to have, but it's the one he's got.

Lestat has always been able to spark an obsessive, possessive, passionate desire within him, and with this newfound denial, these emotions only intensify inside Louis. Lestat never says no to him, and suddenly, he decides to do so? Because of some ridiculous notion that they should cut ties under the guidance of a random human stranger, Lestat wasn't aware existed until a few months prior?

Is this separation really intended to benefit Louis? Is Lestat's absence meant to improve Louis' life in any way?

Louis lets out an audible scoff as he rises from the bed, brings his phone along with him, and makes his way into the adjoining bathroom of his hotel suite. Pausing in front of the mirror, he grins at his reflection and then lifts his camera to take a selfie. This is a far cry from the professional photography of his past that he prides himself on, but it's still decent enough to send to Lestat.

ldpdl: Getting ready for a date. What are you up to?

The fact he doesn't have a date yet doesn't faze Louis; he is confident enough in his ability to secure one before the night is over.

Not even a full minute later, Lestat replies to his text message.

Does Louis know him well or what!

ldl: You look utterly stunning. What date?

ldpdl: Got on grindr last night. So many men are available around Milan, so I thought I'd shoot my shot, and it worked out.

ldl: Where r u goign on the date?

Louis smiles broadly, pleased to see the spelling mistakes. Lestat must be beside himself with jealousy! This is perfectly going to plan!

ldpdl: A popular club in town. If you'd like, I can send you a link? Would you like to come along? I'm sure you'll find someone there to entertain, Lestat.

ldl: send me the lnk pls.

Louis does just that and then sets his phone down on the counter. Lestat continues to text him, but Louis steps into the shower instead and hums merrily to himself, lathering up with soap as he fantasizes about Lestat becoming so jealous he tears a stranger to shreds and then fucks Louis against the nearest wall until they're both coming.

God, he really needs to get laid, but he doesn't think anyone will be as satisfying as Lestat. No one's ever been able to compare, and Louis isn't afraid to admit it. After all, didn't he do just that during the infamous interview?

Now multiply it by miles to the rings of Saturn and back. 

But maybe he can find someone else, someone to get close enough to satiate this ever-growing lust inside of him. Lestat is on his ridiculous journey, and his meddling therapist apparently doesn't have the ability to leave him alone for even a few minutes. Louis definitely won't be able to seduce his ex-husband just yet.

Lestat has to come to him. Lestat has to want Louis more than he wants his apparent humanity so that he may somehow become a better man or whatever the goal is. 

When has Louis even asked that of him? Never!

Louis has accepted Lestat as the messy rockstar he's been since they reunited, and he's never even thought to tell Lestat to change. In Louis' mind, there is no changing Lestat de Lioncourt, only watching as he adapts to this century and learns to live amongst humans instead of lording himself over them. That's it, that's all, that's the end of it. 

Louis is genuinely enamored by Lestat's ego and snark, finding them incredibly attractive. These traits played a significant role in drawing Louis to Lestat in the first place!

That overconfidence and the way Lestat walks around like he's got the biggest dick and knows precisely how to use it to make you come like you've never even known you could. That swagger as he walks into the room, a handsome and sexy grin on his gorgeous face as he flips his head back, and the long, golden waves of his hair perfectly fall past his shoulders.

Louis rests his forehead against the wet tiles of the shower and takes himself in hand, quickly jerking off as he fantasizes about it being Lestat's hand, large and powerful. Lestat's breath against his skin and his deep, husky voice whispering the filthiest things into Louis' ear before making him come so hard that Louis feels weak and needs Lestat to hold him up and firmly against his body. Lestat, chuckling and kissing at his neck, sucking along his pulse as his hands wander across Louis' skin, making Louis shiver and whimper into the crook of Lestat's neck.

The longing grows, and as Louis opens his eyes, he finds himself completely unsatisfied despite having come pretty hard. He's alone, highly aware of this fact, and knocks his head against the shower tiles a few times before he straightens up and washes the disappointment away under the shower's spray.

His reflection meets him once again as he walks across the bathroom, but Louis isn't smirking when he stares at himself. Instead, he rolls his eyes and picks his phone up. With a tap, he wakes the screen, revealing a string of messages from Lestat.

ldl: I'll come to meet you at your hotel.

ldl: Lou?

ldl: Are you busy? Louis?

ldl: I'm coming over. Daniel told me where ur staying.

ldl: Wear something expensive, Louis!!

ldl: eta 12 mins :)

Louis realizes the last text was sent seven minutes ago, giving him far less time to prepare than expected.

With a loud fuck exclaimed in the bathroom to his audience of none, Louis uses vampiric speed to rush into his bedroom and dress as quickly and as nicely as he's able to, given the lack of time he now has. 

He also tries to avoid the annoying reality that he doesn't actually have a date set up for the club and will likely need to mind-gift some handsome Italian stranger into agreeing to spend time with him.

When have you ever had to use the mind gift to get a guy looking like you do? Daniel's amused voice drifts into Louis' currently heavy, cluttered mind. 

"You could have stalled him a while longer," Louis answers out loud, smoothing his hands down his black button-up. "I know you've been listening in, Danny boy."

Louis, listen, I wanted you to know that Lestat's…

But whatever Daniel is about to divulge isn't vital when Louis senses Lestat's presence in the hotel. He forgets all about his irritation, checks himself out in a ceiling-to-floor mirror in the living area, and dreamily smiles, intoxicated by the very thought of Lestat being alone with him anywhere.

The tables really have turned, but Louis doesn't focus on that and instead goes to the door, opening it to–

"Louis, you look perfect," Lestat breathes, his eyes wide, admiring Louis as he steps forward. 

They're close, so close, and Louis laughs softly, shaking his head. "Les, I barely had time to get ready," he confesses. "I was worried–"

"You do look incredibly handsome, Louis," Nathan's unwanted voice interrupts him.

And just like that, Louis' good mood immediately turns sour.

"You invited your therapist?" Louis asks, not even attempting to mask the disdain from his tone. He gazes past Lestat to where Nathan stands behind him, offering Louis a tight-lipped smile. Louis knows that sort of smile quite well, and fuck, he doesn't like Nathan either! At least they're in agreement on the shared dislike now. 

Lestat pats Louis' cheek tenderly, his fingertips gently caressing his skin. As Lestat moves past him, Louis briefly entertains the idea of stopping Nathan from following but ultimately dismisses it, realizing that doing so would disrupt his carefully laid plans for the night. And since said carefully laid plans are quickly being altered with the appearance of this unwelcome human, Louis is unwilling to let the entire night go to waste.

"I hope you are not upset with me," Lestat says. "Nathan believes it will be beneficial if he accompanies me tonight.

"'Course he does," Louis mutters.

"Pardon, Louis?" Lestat asks, smiling warmly when their eyes meet.

Louis bites his lower lip and chooses to shake his head. "I was saying, of course he does. He's so devoted to helping you better yourself, Lestat. His dedication is admirable!"

"We don't want all of Lestat's hard-earned progress in his journey to be jeopardized," Nathan says, puffing his chest with pride as he stands beside Lestat. "Imagine if he falls off the wagon and has a drink? We can't lose our success to something like alcohol tempting Lestat tonight at this club."

"Like alcohol, yes," Louis slowly repeats, staring right into Lestat's eyes now that he understands everything so much better.

"How many days have you been sober again, Lestat?" Louis asks, maintaining a cheery and positive tone. Inside, Louis finds himself incredibly amused by the absurdity of it all.

"Eighty-nine days now," Lestat murmurs, gazing unblinkingly back at Louis.

"Here's to day ninety, then," Louis murmurs back, matching Lestat's unblinking stare.

This just became so much more interesting.

"To day ninety!" Nathan happily echoes.

Lestat is not going to make it to ninety days sober from whatever it is he's been doing these past few months. No, Louis is going to make sure of it, and by the end of this night, he will have Lestat on his knees, desperate for Louis and Louis alone, right where he belongs.

Chapter Text

The club buzzes with energy, but it's not the perfect spot for a night out, especially with the looming presence of an unwelcome third party.

Well, unwelcome by Louis.

Nathan's constant presence is a source of deep irritation for Louis, gnawing at his patience like a relentless itch. Louis fights to maintain a front of composure, even as frustration simmers beneath the surface. The temptation to annihilate the mortal swirls in his mind, but he knows that doing so would undoubtedly ruin any chance of an enjoyable evening out with Lestat.

As much as Louis longs to rid himself of Nathan's aggravating company, he forces himself to hold back, acknowledging the stability of their night out hangs in the balance.

Despite privately acknowledging it, Louis fantasizes about how he could possibly rid himself of Nathan. A few scenarios make him smile, momentarily forgetting how annoying the mortal actually is. These moments don't last as long as he wishes, with Nathan's grating voice forcing Louis back into reality.

This isn't fair, Louis thinks as he sits on a leather sofa and listens to Nathan ramble on at his side about Lestat's progress and how proud they must all be of him. Lestat has come leaps and bounds ahead of the disaster Nathan initially found him in, and he very well may be Nathan's most successful patient.

"Lestat is my greatest accomplishment," Nathan says, puffing his chest out in pride as he beams at Louis. "He's clean and sober," Nathan rambles on, pausing to sip his room-temperature water. Louis isn't human—he hasn't been for over a century—but he's still aware that there's obviously something wrong in Nathan's head for him to prefer and request room-temperature water.

It's tap water.

The man's got serious issues.

"You would expect someone of his standing in this industry to give into the drugs and the drinking and the debauchery, but Lestat has remained steadfast in his determination for recovery," Nathan continues, sighing proudly again. "I never once doubted Lestat's strength, but it is marvelous and moving to see Lestat finally stop doubting himself as well."

"That's great," Louis distractedly murmurs. His eyes roam the club, looking through the surrounding human's minds to search for Lestat. He is on the dancefloor, having an exciting conversation about his upcoming album release with a fan. Well, at least Lestat's happy. Louis can't fault him for that . One of them should be happy tonight.

"Lestat mentioned you've been separated for years now," Nathan says casually. "So, tell me, are you thriving in this new chapter of your life, Louis?"

"I'm doing amazing," Louis answers, gritting his teeth together. He flashes Nathan a strained, closed-mouthed smile and sets his glass of whiskey down. The ice cubes rattle and chime against the glass, and Louis has to consciously remind himself to relax his grip; he can feel the cool, sleek surface of the glass pressing into his palm, threatening to slip from his hands if he doesn't ease up.

"You genuinely care for Lestat," Nathan observes, a knowing look in his eyes. "Deep down, you want nothing but the best for him."

"Obviously," Louis hisses through clenched teeth, his frustration bubbling below the surface. This human—a persistent thorn in his side—dares to state the blindingly obvious, igniting a fire of irritation within Louis. He doesn't want Lestat's new-age therapist to be here! He glances around the bustling club, neon lights casting playful shadows, and feels a wave of annoyance wash over him. Nathan doesn't belong here. The entire point of this club adventure is to spark a flicker of jealousy in Lestat. One that is enough, he snaps –because he will snap– and reclaim Louis as his companion.

Not that Louis even calls Lestat his companion, but they're meant to be together.

Aren't they?

Daniel's book fans ship Louis and Lestat! They fill online forums and social media with their own little stories about the allegedly fictional couple. How many times have Louis and Lestat reunited by now? Thousands of times! In the online fictional world of that fandom, Louis and Lestat eternally live together, happily ever after. They're endgame, or whatever they say on the World Wide Web.

So why is this seemingly unstoppable hitch happening in Louis' real life? Why can't he conquer the metaphorical Mount Nathan? What stops him from racing to Lestat's side and making him see that being apart is not the right solution to their problems?

They need to be together to improve whatever Lestat is convinced needs improving.

Lestat can't simply decide he's no good for Louis; that's Louis' decision to make! Louis doesn't want Lestat to improve; he wants Lestat just as he is—or as he was!

Louis barely recognizes his maker in this new persona, which Lestat stubbornly insists is the most authentic version of himself. Then again, sitting here and mulling over all his problems isn't going to get Lestat back.

No, Louis needs to take the initiative and set this all into motion. By the end of this night, Lestat will be going home with him, and they will be in bed together, as they're meant to be. 

Louis decides to finally take matters into his own hands. "I'm going to dance," he abruptly announces with a sudden burst of energy, cutting through Nathan's droning conversation like a knife. He doesn't bother to glance back, instead plunging himself into the throng of bodies swaying to the pulsing rhythm of the music.

As Louis walks through the sea of humans, he hones in on the mind which radiates the most attention and interest in him.

This will be easy. No mind tricks are needed!

"Hello," Louis murmurs as he approaches the man. He's handsome, with warm olive skin and hazel eyes flecked with hints of gold. Dark facial hair frames his face, carefully groomed to emphasize the sharp angles of his jawline and pronounced high cheekbones. His lips are plum, full, and glistening, adorned with the remnants of whatever rich liquor he's been savoring. As Louis draws nearer, he is intrigued by the man's intoxicating aroma, breathing his scent in deeply.

The rich smell of expensive cologne mingled with the crisp aroma of lemon soap and the ever-present metallic hint of blood creates a heady combination that makes Louis' mouth water. A second later, he checks himself and smiles, gazing up at the human through his own lashes, making sure to be as flirtatious as possible.

"You are not from here," the man says, raising an eyebrow at Louis. "I have been watching you since you arrived. You are with that man, the rockstar?"

Louis slowly nods, brushing his chest against the human's. "What's your name?" Louis drawls, allowing his vampirism to further attract this handsome stranger.

"Giuseppe," he replies, his Italian accent strong on the latter part of his name. "And you are?"

"I'm Louis," he says, his voice smooth and inviting as he flashes Giuseppe a sultry smile with a hint of mischief. "But I can be whoever you want if you want me. Do you?" Louis bites his lip, raises his hands, and rests them on Giuseppe's muscled chest. "I think you do, though."

“Hm, I do,” Giuseppe nods. “You are, ah, sei troppo bello, Louis. Lo sapevi?”

"No, not many tell me," Louis lies, beginning to move with his new friend to the rhythmic beat of the music. It's not like he's been called one of the most beautiful vampires or had an entire album written about how much another vampire is in love with him. Not at all! "Haven't really been out much since I left my man."

"Ah, a fool to have caused you to leave," Giuseppe says. Louis' got to hand it to this guy; he's brave. His hands rest on Louis' waist, pulling Louis closer so their hips press together while they dance. If Louis wasn't so head over heels for Lestat, he thinks this man would have an actual chance at getting with him for longer than Louis currently needs him for.

"He was a real fool," Louis agrees and wistfully sighs. "My heart's pretty broken, and I was wondering if you were interested in temporarily mending it for the night?"

Louis licks his lips again and flashes Giuseppe a toothy grin this time. 

"I would be a fool to say no," Giuseppe replies. “Vediamo dove ci porta questa notte dalle mille stelle, si?”

Italian's close enough to Spanish that Louis can understand, but translating thoughts to spoken words is a bit wild. It helps that Giuseppe is a visual thinker, quite visual, and Louis watches in interest as they fuck in his human mind. He's beautiful, but Louis has to stifle a laugh as he leans in very close and rests his forehead onto Giuseppe's.

This is all quite literally falling into the palm of Louis' hand. 

Giuseppe's grasp on his waist tightens, and he breathes out his following words so tantalizingly that Louis shivers. “Ti voglio così tanto. Andiamo in un posto dove possiamo stare più soli.”

He's giving Lestat a run for his money here. Maybe it's an Italian thing? After all, Lestat's half Italian and loves to remind Louis about that fact whenever anything related to Italy is brought up. Ugh, he's so charming, even when he's annoying.

Louis wants Lestat back so bad.

"Yeah," Louis finally whispers, nodding his head quickly. "Yeah, let's go somewhere more secluded."

They find a nearly unoccupied corner, and Louis ends up with his back to the wall. Giuseppe crowds him in as their mouths find each other. It's been a while since he's been kissed, and Louis hums appreciatively into it, burying his fingers in Giuseppe's thick, black curls while their tongues make contact. He tastes of liquor and anise and healthy blood. Louis moans now, allowing himself to be touched, to be practically fucked outside his clothes as the music blares around them.

The lust coming from Giuseppe is palpable, and Louis is tempted to take a little drink now while he's got this gorgeous man under his vampiric spell. He nibbles at those soft, pliable lips with his teeth, and just as he's about to draw blood with a fang, Giuseppe is suddenly not kissing him, suddenly not touching him, but sprawled on the club floor, his eyes wide and confused as he stares up at a visibly infuriated and growling Lestat.

This is so much better than what Louis dared to dream could happen.

"Lestat! What the hell!" Louis exclaims, immediately playing his role well. "What are you doing? Leave him alone!"

"Sei pazzo!" Giuseppe sputters, scrambling up from the floor. “Ma che diavolo ti prende?”

"Esci da qui prima che perda la testa," Lestat growls, standing before Louis to block him from Giuseppe's sight. Louis can smell the possessiveness flaring up inside of Lestat. This is it! This is what Louis needs! Lestat's got to go crazy over him!

When Giuseppe remains frozen in place, Lestat lunges forward, baring his fangs, and hisses menacingly down at him.

"Les, the fuck?" Louis roughly asks, gripping his shoulder to force him back. He's grateful Lestat isn't immediately facing him, giving him the time to wipe the satisfied smirk from his face. He cannot believe Lestat has reacted accordingly, and his shoulders are trembling beneath Louis' grip. 

Lestat waits until Giuseppe has left the vicinity before he turns around and cups Louis' face, cradling it in his hands as he searches his eyes. "Are you all right?" Lestat asks, deep worry settling in his expression. When Louis does not answer him, Lestat huffs at him. "He was taking advantage of you, Louis!"

Louis' jaw drops. He's absolutely not expecting Lestat to come to such a ridiculous conclusion. For fuck's sake, he's a grown-ass man. No one's taking advantage of him. No one even can. This part of his plan isn't working out like he wants it to.

Louis doesn't need Lestat to come and save him from a supposed assault! No, he needs Lestat to see that he's willing to find someone to be with because Lestat won't be with him! God dammit!

"Lestat, what is the meaning of this?" Nathan's irritating voice cuts through their bubble of chaos. "The club owners are asking us to leave. They told me you attacked a patron!"

"I lost my temper," Lestat says, sounding just as angry. "Someone was going to harm Louis."

"Now that ain't true!" Louis argues, shoving Lestat's hands away from his face. "No one's gonna be doing that, Les. What the hell is wrong with your head?"

"Lestat, come with me to calm down," Nathan insists, gently resting his hand on Lestat's shoulder. "We will do your breathing exercises together."

Lestat's shoulders drop defeatedly.

"I'm sorry," Lestat rasps, eyeing Louis guiltily. "I should be able to control myself better than this by now, Louis. I am sorry to have ruined our night out."

"No, Lestat, just wait," Louis pleads, his frustration at the situation and misunderstanding bleeding through his words. "We can talk–"

"No, that is not what is best for Lestat right now," Nathan interrupts, frowning at Louis. "This is a threat to his treatment, Louis! We must do what is best for Lestat, and what is best right now is to return to the penthouse and get him settled so he may meditate."

"I am sorry, Louis," Lestat repeats, sounding utterly broken. "This is why I have told you I am no good for you. I cannot control myself, even on a night out as friends. I have ruined everything."

"Lestat, stop," Louis begs, shaking his head. He takes a step closer, but Nathan slides himself between them.

Louis is so close to slicing his throat with a claw.

"I know what is best for my patient," Nathan calmly states, his tone firm. "Lestat and I will be returning to the penthouse. Louis, I assume you'll be able to find your own ride back to your hotel? I don't think it's best that you join us on the drive back."

"Of course," Louis mutters, knowing this is a losing battle. Louis knows that he will only look bad if he continues to argue with Nathan while Lestat is in such a state of upset. The guilt is written across his face, and Louis longs to gather Lestat into his arms and make it better again. All he yearns for is to murder Nathan and serve his head up on a golden platter to Lestat to show him his true devotion and commitment to their future together.

But he can't.

Louis can't, and instead, he helplessly watches as Lestat, no longer the invincible maker Louis recalls, is led away by a human of all people. 

So much for getting his estranged husband back into his bed tonight.

.

They go days without speaking after that. 

Louis can barely put together a text expressing his feelings with how awkward it is between them right now. He is hyper-aware of Lestat's online presence, stalking his social media accounts and watching every single video he uploads to them.

Lestat radiates confidence, his golden curls flowing gracefully past his shoulders, catching the ring light as he excitedly shares his enthusiasm for his upcoming concert. Booking the venue is nothing short of a miracle. The ancient Roman amphitheater nestled within the haunting ruins of Pompeii will set the stage for Lestat's biggest concert since his first years ago in the desert.

Lestat always finds a way to make the impossible possible.

Louis wishes such an ability could transfer over to him. His pursuit of Lestat is not exactly going well, and he's left lonely every night, longing for Lestat's arms and the feel of his firm, flawless body against his. No one compares, and so Louis hardly seeks the comfort of another while alone in his hotel room and then out on the streets of Italy late at night.

It's like before, during the courting months. It's like Lestat is all up in his head, his roots deep inside Louis, planted firm and unbreakable. Louis thinks of Lestat night and day, even the sweetness of death sleep managing to evade him and leaving Louis exhausted and nearly delirious.

On one particularly exhausting and chilly night in the city, Louis realizes the only way to get Lestat back is to act as drastically as possible. That's the only way he'll be able to show Lestat he means it when he says that going no contact and being apart is not the correct choice for their life.

And when he thinks drastic, Louis thinks...

Murder.

What's more of a declaration of love than killing for your companion heart? Isn't that how Lestat had seen it before Nathan ever existed in their life? Isn't that why Lestat still views their last night after the Mardis Gras ball as one of their past's most romantically memorable moments?

Louis will kill for Lestat, even if it means that the victim will have to be his beloved yet incredibly toxic and unprofessional therapist.

Nathan's simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's not up to Louis but fate. Who is Louis to fight against fate herself, especially in the name of love?

Besides, they have an eternity to live out however they please. Offing Lestat's therapist will barely resonate in ten years' time.

Louis smiles to himself and then finds it in himself to text Lestat.

ldpdl : Is Nathan free tomorrow night? I want to try to get it right this time, Lestat. I see that my behavior towards him has been rude and unfair, and I'd like to take him out to apologize.

ldl : This warms my heart to know, mon cher. I will ask him once he returns from the markets.

ldpdl : Are you okay, Les? We didn't part on the best terms.

ldl : I am well, Louis. I am truthfully sorry for my abhorrent conduct. I should not have allowed my past behavior into this new life I have been working towards creating.

ldpdl : No hard feelings. I promise. Besides, I don't think I was into that guy anyway.

ldl : No?

Louis bites his lip, feeling warm and tingly inside. He can see Lestat, visualizing him sitting in his bedroom with hopeful eyes, waiting for Louis' answer.

ldpdl : I don't think I could handle a full blooded Italian. I need something else mixed in to balance.

ldl : Oh?

His phone rings, and Louis grins, swiping up to see Lestat staring at him through the screen.

"Hey," Louis says happily, "I'm glad you called."

"What sort of man are you interested in?" Lestat immediately asks, ignoring Louis' greeting. "What cultures do you find yourself drawn to?"

"Les, we are not doing this," Louis says, laughing at the absurdity. "Maybe I'll be celibate, like you, huh?"

"Who told you that?" Lestat demands, frowning.

What's another little white lie?

"Well, Nathan, of course."

Chapter Text

Louis decides to spend the rest of the night contemplating his ideas and whether he truly wants to proceed with what appears to be the best approach to his Nathan problem.

And then he invites Daniel over early the following evening.

Daniel takes one step into his hotel room and stares blankly at Louis. "You can't be serious," he says, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're actually determined to kill Lestat's therapist."

"It doesn't sound nearly as brilliant when you use that tone with me," Louis grumbles, his brow furrowing as he settles deeper into the plush cushions of the sofa. His tablet rests lazily on his lap, flickering with the colorful images of Lestat's social media as he scrolls through them, his fingers swiping absentmindedly. "But it's the only guaranteed solution I have to the problem, Danny."

"Talking it out like two wise centurion vampires would be a far better approach," Daniel says, lowering himself onto the plush sofa beside Louis. He glances at Louis, amusement dancing in his bright eyes despite what he's saying. "But then again, only someone in their right mind would consider that, and it's evident that you've long since waved farewell to any semblance of sanity, Louis."

"I thought you'd understand most since you've gotten to know Lestat as well as you have while on tour with him," Louis says, his eyes fixed on the glow of his tablet screen. "You know Lestat isn't acting like himself, and it's all stemming from Nathan's misguided and obviously sinister influence over him."

Daniel lets out a loud, exasperated sigh and swiftly snatches the tablet from Louis' lap. He refuses to return it when Louis immediately follows and attempts to pull it from his grasp. It seems Armand's blood has heightened Daniel's strength to levels Louis frankly has not thought about. Daniel holds firmly onto it, shaking his head at Louis in refusal.

"Come on," Louis whines once more, his voice dripping with exasperation, reminiscent of a child begging for cookies before dinner. "You have to see that I'm in the right here! Nathan is destructive to him! He's preying on Lestat's vulnerabilities, twisting his trust to make Lestat his ticket to fame! He's exploiting him, Daniel!"

"Lestat is a big boy," Daniel says loudly and evenly, then flings the tablet across the room.

Louis has speed on his side and instantly reacts, sprinting across the room to catch it before it shatters on the hardwood floor. He clutches the tablet protectively to his chest and scowls deeply at Daniel, feeling and looking as betrayed as he feels. 

"You can pout until the cows come home, but I won't agree with you," Daniel says. "You're a mess, Louis. This isn't like you. You're so far past this sort of juvenile behavior."

"Lestat is mine!" Louis exclaims, knowing he sounds ridiculously immature. He can't stop himself! Lestat belongs to him, and Louis wants him back! He wants Lestat back to the man he fell in love with so long ago, far before Nathan was ever even a possibility. "He's mine," Louis repeats softly now, feeling less confident as he speaks. "He doesn't get to take away my agency and make decisions for me. He doesn't get to decide we don't belong together, or he doesn't love me anymore."

"That's what you're worried about?" Daniel asks with an incredulous laugh. "You think Lestat doesn't love you, Louis? Lestat? The man who has written an entire album about being in love with you? The Lestat that has, up until very recently, acted like a lovesick puppy whenever you're around? Who cries when he gets overwhelmed talking about how he saw you for the very first time? The Lestat who has talked about you way too much in my documentary, so we had to ban him from mentioning your name again, or we threatened to stop filming? You think that Lestat doesn't love you anymore?"

Louis is silent.

Daniel scoffs and rises from the sofa, making a beeline right to stand before him. "You're so clueless, Louis. You've got no idea–"

"Then why," Louis interrupts, sounding too hysterical for his taste. "Why isn't he coming to me, Daniel? Why isn't he coming around anymore?"

"Seems you got too used to Lestat sniffing around you," Daniel says, grinning widely. "You love it when he's obsessed with you. Don't you?"

Louis rolls his eyes and turns away, trying to hide the smile that begins to bloom. He can't help it! Thinking about Lestat wanting him so badly that he goes insane and obsessively does all he can to get Louis back is actually very thrilling.

"I can hear you," Daniel sings out amusingly. "You love it, Louis! You love it, and now you're mad because some crackpot therapist is distracting Lestat from doing it! You're acting like a little boy whose favorite toy got taken away."

"I am over a hundred years old," Louis mutters, still facing away from Daniel. It doesn't matter, though. Daniel has the advantage of hearing his thoughts; Louis has never been good at hiding them, whether from vampires or humans. If it's not the vampires hearing him, it's giving himself away with a look alone.

This is exhausting. Louis knows he's behaving irrationally here, but…

"Lestat likes big declarations," Louis says. "He likes a show. He likes to know that he's wanted. Well, I want him, and what better way to let him know than to get rid of the one thing that's keeping us apart?"

It sounds right when he says it out loud. Louis isn't really sure why Daniel isn't on board.

"Because it's cold-blooded murder, man," Daniel answers his musings out loud. "He's some innocent guy caught in between two psychosexual vampires who get hard-ons when they're playing hard to get with each other."

"Nathan is not innocent," Louis says, spinning around to glare at Daniel. "I meant it when I said Nathan is taking advantage of Lestat's vulnerability, Daniel! That man is always on the hunt for his next big achievement. The next celebrity who's going to get him promo and attention from all around Hollywood. He's using Lestat's incessant and misaligned desire to be good against him, and he knows I'm the only one who can snap Lestat out of it."

"Do you hear yourself?" Daniel asks, shaking his head. "Louis, this is crazy. You're just trying to justify this."

"I'm right about this," Louis disagrees with a shake of his own head at Daniel. "I am right, Daniel, and you'll see. Lestat has to get this ridiculous idea about getting better out of his head. He doesn't need to get better! He's fine as he is."

Daniel whistles low and shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Whatever you gotta say to make yourself feel better, Lou," Daniel says. "All I'm hearing is, I'm dick-starved, horny, and ready to commit crimes to get my ex-husband back so he can finally fuck me again."

Louis rolls his eyes at Daniel's vulgarity and finally walks by, bumping his elbow against the younger vampire's side. "If I didn't like you so much, you'd be dead. I hope you know that," Louis says, sitting down once again. The tablet screen illuminates his face, and Louis returns to scrolling through Lestat's social media. "Besides, I thought you'd be happy for me," Louis mentions softly. "You've been hoping for us to get back together the entire time. You've suddenly changed your tune?" 

The sofa sags, Daniel sitting beside him again, but Louis doesn't look up. He's focused on a recent upload Lestat has shared of himself trying on various outfits, one more extravagant than the last, as his music plays in the background. Louis can't help it and smiles– he really adores this idiot of a man. 

He misses Lestat. Louis really, really misses him. 

"You know, I think you're both morons who can't ever get it right," Daniel says. "And if this is it, if this is the time when it's gonna happen and you're finally gonna end up together, do you really want it to be eclipsed by you murdering Lestat's therapist?"

"All's fair in love and war?" Louis offers but immediately begins to chuckle. He cannot take it seriously. 

"Jeez, guess I'll wish you luck on this heroic endeavor then," Daniel says. "Since there's no talking you out of it."

"I still hear a little hope in there, Danny," Louis laughs. "I've made up my mind. You know I'm not changing it now."

Daniel lets out the loudest, heaviest, most exhausted sigh and rests his hand on Louis' shoulder, squeezing it. "Fine," he begrudgingly gives in, squeezing at Louis' shoulder once again. "Fine, Louis, but you don't get to come running to me, upset when this doesn't work out how you're fantasizing it will. Lestat seems to have a soft spot for his therapist, and I have a feeling he won't react to your plan the way you seem to think he will."

"I appreciate the support," Louis says, tracing his fingernail around Lestat's paused face on his tablet, "but I think I know Lestat better than anyone, and this will work out like I want it to. Lestat will lose his mind, and it won't be for anything other than his realization that I want him so badly that I'm willing to eliminate anything that keeps us apart."

"Jesus Christ," Daniel rasps, whistling immediately afterward. "Yeah, yeah, you know, you're right. All's fair in love and war, and you're both insane enough that this may very well end up being the way your happily ever after finally begins."

.

Louis makes sure to look his best, dressed in black jeans and chelsea boots, a maroon button-down, and a camel-toned leather jacket that hits the length of his knees just right. He gazes at his reflection in the mirror once, then smiles, eager to begin the rest of the evening by taking Nathan out to a highly recommended bar in the city, where they will be seen by plenty, and some will most definitely recognize Louis as the maybe ex-boyfriend of The Vampire Lestat.

Social media works wonders in this day and age, and Louis hopes Lestat sees him tonight, looking as good as he does, while he takes Lestat's therapist out to make amends.

Or, that's how it will all look.

Louis opts to meet Nathan there, hoping to spend the least amount of time possible with him before he takes care of business and then goes to find Lestat. The city is, as always, buzzing with life and light, and Louis gracefully leaves the car, telling his driver not to expect a call tonight. He has plans and won't need a driving service later.

"Louis," Nathan calls out by the bar's entrance. "There you are!"

Louis plasters on his widest, fakest smile and offers Nathan a hopefully kind wave before jogging over at a human's pace. "Hello, Nathan, you look well," Louis says as nicely as he can, considering he's murdered the man in his head over a dozen times now. "Why don't we go inside?" Louis then suggests, nodding his head at the doorman. "I've made sure we're in the VIP section. Only the best for us, hm?"

Nathan smirks, his mind filled with delighted sensations. It's apparent Nathan likes the best the world can offer, and he clings to those who can supply that to him.

Louis loathes him more and more by the second.

"I must say I was surprised when Lestat told me you wanted to spend an evening alone with me," Nathan says the moment they are sitting at their private booth. "You haven't seemed to like my suggestions for my care plan with him–"

"A difference in opinion," Louis interrupts with a wave of his head. "I realized you're the professional here, and I'm not. Of course, you'd want the best for your patient, and you would know exactly how to offer it to him."

Nathan nods, pursing his lips together as he hangs onto every word Louis speaks to him. All the while, he wonders if Louis means it. It seems that Louis isn't putting his best acting out yet. He'll need to remedy that, and soon, too.

"I care for Lestat," Louis says, softer, with that care threading around his words. "He's the most important person in my life. I'll never care for someone the way I do him."

"You love him," Nathan states, his stare full of knowing. Nathan is awfully good at reading everything else for someone who cannot read minds. "You're in love with him. Why not say it?"

"It's complicated," Louis says with an awkward laugh. He brushes his fingertips across his cheeks and hopefully looks as sheepish as he hopes to while he purposefully averts his eyes from Nathan's.

"Love is not complicated, not when you really get down to it," Nathan disagrees with more confidence than he should have. "If you cared about Lestat as much as you say you do, then you would have agreed with my suggestions from the moment we met. It is not that you want the best for him, Louis. What you want is to command him, to keep his focus on you when Lestat is meant for far bigger things in life. He is meant for more than solely being yours ."

If the leather seat beneath him were not available to dig his claws into, Louis is very sure they'd be digging into Nathan's skull instead. The nerve of this human! The nerve of this stranger to suggest they can even skim the surface of the love Louis shares with Lestat? It is impossible! No one, especially not an unimportant human, can ever begin to understand the connection the two of them share! The audacity of this entire conversation shakes Louis to his core!

"That's your opinion," Louis manages to reply, his jaw clenching while he fights the urge to launch himself across the small table, providing a much-needed barrier between them. 

"My professional opinion," Nathan corrects him smugly, "and I have rarely ever been wrong."

"That's quite a bold statement to make," Louis murmurs. "You got enough to back that up?"

"Your hold on Lestat is unnatural," Nathan says, ignoring the question, "and you must let him go. Lestat will never succeed in life or his dreams until you can finally admit this and let him go, Louis. You must stop your selfishness."

"My selfishness," Louis repeats in a whisper. "My selfishness, Nathan? Mine?"

"Yes," Nathan answers, gently touching the table. "Are you able to admit it, Louis? You may admit it all to me. I will not breathe a word of it to Lestat. Think of this as… a patient and doctor confidentiality agreement."

Louis cannot stop it– he bursts out laughing. Oh, Louis throws his head back, and the loudest of laughs escape him. He is many things and can play many roles, but God, is this guy serious? Louis nearly cries from how hard he laughs, and as he slowly begins to settle once more, the server delivers their drinks, and Louis sniffles, wiping at the corners of his eyes.

"Forgive me, that was rude," Louis says, chuckling despite the apology. "I just couldn't handle the bullshit you were spitting out so confidently, considering you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Jesus Christ, you really think highly of yourself, huh?"

Nathan's lips press firmly together into a thin line, pushing himself up from the table. "I see you did not invite me out to discuss the issue at hand," Nathan says lowly, his voice grave and uncomfortable to the ears. "You are evidently incapable of confessing the truth–"

"Which you know nothing of," Louis snaps.

"And with that, I will say goodnight," Nathan continues as if Louis has not said anything. "It is now obvious that you are more worried about yourself and getting what you desire than worrying for Lestat and his well-being."

Louis scoffs, snatches his whiskey sour from the table, and downs it in one gulp. "Oh please," Louis says, setting the glass down gently, far calmer than when he grabbed it, "stop acting like you give a shit about Lestat's well-being. I've met hundreds of men like you, Nate. What you want is to take. You're a taker. It's all you're good at doing."

"Goodbye, Louis," Nathan loudly says.

"No," Louis says far too calmly and reaches out through his mind, using the gifts he so rarely does. He concentrates, picturing himself stopping Nathan from leaving, and then watches as Nathan abruptly sits back down and rests his hands on the table again. Nathan's eyes have a glassy look, but it quickly fades as Louis slowly leaves Nathan's mind.

"No, we're gonna talk, and we're gonna talk it all out," Louis informs him. "I've got a lot to say, and you're gonna listen."

"And if I don't?" Nathan whispers, blinking quickly, looking like he's having difficulty staying focused. It seems the mind gift is more powerful than Louis anticipates it to be, but damn , Nathan is really good at getting on his nerves!

"You will," Louis says with a simple shrug. "You're smart, and you know it's about damn time we finally had this discussion. It's been a long time coming."

Nathan licks his lips, and Louis waves at the untouched drink before him. "Have a drink, Nathan, and I'll order us another round. I'm parched, and I have a feeling you'll need another, too."

When Nathan makes no move to touch his glass, Louis rolls his eyes. "Drink," he insists. "It's not poisoned."

"Forgive my wariness, considering your behavior," Nathan replies. "You can't blame me."

"No, but the drinks are expensive, and it'd be a shame if they went to waste," Louis says. "So go on, have a drink, and then we'll have another. I was thinking we could talk in a more private place. I don't know how I feel about having this discussion in public."

Nathan finishes his drink and holds it as he looks at Louis curiously. "And where exactly do you wish to talk?"

Louis doesn't miss the nervous way he swallows, follows his Adam's apple, and meets Nathan's eyes once again. "Back to my place, if that's alright with you."

Nathan seems to consider this suggestion. Well , Louis is aware of the consideration as Nathan's mind fills with it. He weighs pros and cons, wonders if he should text Lestat to mention Louis' outburst and rudeness, and then decides against it as he looks at Louis again. There's no danger here. That is what Nathan decides, and Louis flashes him an encouraging smile. Perfect. 

"A private space would indeed be a better choice for this conversation," Nathan finally agrees. "It's loud here, and we have everyone staring."

"Do we?" Louis asks, feigning surprise as he looks around with wide, surprised eyes at all the humans watching them. It seems he's underestimated how many patrons here are Lestat fans. 

His phone goes off, and Louis glances down at the screen. It's Lestat, and Louis knows he must reply. 

ldl : how is your evening with Nathan going? All is well? 

ldpdl : It's going great! We're out for drinks now.

ldl : :( Do not brag, Louis! Now I wish I had been invited as well! To know the two of you are out, sharing drinks…

ldl : :( :’( :( :’(

ldpdl : Nothing to cry over, Les. :P

ldl : I thought perhaps we would see one another before my concert in a few days. Would you be interested? Or will the two of you be out late? 

ldpdl : Not too too late. I think Nathan and I are gonna have a nightcap, and then I'll be free to meet up. You wanna come to my place? I could come over to yours if that's better. Maybe I'll help tend to your zen garden?

ldl : I will take care of my zen garden alone, thank you! 

ldpdl : I wasn't talking about the actual zen garden– 

But Louis pauses mid-typing, deleting the response. Now is not the time for flirtations. He's got to remain focused on his plan, and if he wishes to see it all play out, he can't sit here and flirtatiously text Lestat. With a nod, Louis resumes typing a new message. 

ldpdl : I'll text you when I'm free. 

It's short and to the point, and Louis pockets his phone, then looks at Nathan again. They stare at each other, and then Louis flashes him a friendly grin and finally stands. 

"I got a whole bar at my place, with whatever drink you want," Louis brags, knowing this is the flaunting of wealth that Nathan appreciates. "It's all paid for, and it's paid for plenty, too."

Nathan remains silent, contemplating Louis' offer, but it seems expensive drinks he doesn't have to pay for are too good an offer to refuse, and Nathan stands as well, then reaches for his wallet.

Louis audibly scoffs again, waving a hand dismissively at Nathan, although he is entirely aware that Nathan has no intention of actually paying. It's all a show, just like everything else the man does, and Louis motions for a server to come over. "Charge my card, thank you," Louis says, warm and with a genuine smile. "Make sure to add fifty percent–"

"Fifty?" Nathan gasps, his eyes widening. "Louis, we've had… two drinks!"

Louis quirks an eyebrow up, then returns his attention to the server. "As I was saying, make sure to add fifty percent to your tip. Thank you for the impeccable service tonight."

"A fifty percent tip," Nathan mumbles as they leave. "What do you tip when they really take care of you? A hundred?"

"It's only money," Louis answers, keeping the lead while they walk out of the bar. "Besides, I make it all back and then some in minutes with all my investments. It's really nothing, Nathan."

"You live a dream life, Louis," Nathan says, not attempting to hide the bitterness from his tone. "You, Lestat, and the strange friends that pop up now and again while I am with him. You're practically living in a different universe than the rest of us."

It is true, yet Louis will not confirm Nathan's theories. Not now, not so publicly. No, first they'll return to his hotel, and Nathan will enjoy the bar, and then Louis will enjoy a drink, too.

"Let's take an Uber," Louis suggests. "I gave my driver the rest of the night off. He deserved it after shuttling me around the last few days."

Louis orders that Uber, and while they wait, he rechecks his phone.

ldl : Enjoy your evening together. I'll be here… all by my lonesome… without any enjoyment that the two of you will likely be experiencing.

Soon , Louis thinks with a private smile. Soon, he'll be alone with Lestat again, and nothing, especially not Lestat's joke of a swindling, lying narcissist of a therapist, will be there to come between them again.

.

"Nice place you got here," Nathan says as they enter the hotel room. "Can't say I'm that surprised considering how you spend your money on something as simple as drinks."

"Thank you," Louis says, locking the door. "Please, make yourself at home," Louis insists, facing Nathan. "I'll make our drinks. Whatever you want, Nathan. After all, this is a special night."

As Louis walks to the drink cart, he finds himself thinking of a time long ago, back in New Orleans, when he showed up at the Alderman Fenwick's home and took care of business as well. It was a turning point in their life, and so much loss came from it, yet the biggest gain did as well.

Claudia, their Claudia, lost in the smoke and the flames, and Louis, risking it all to jump through the fire and save her. 

Where would she be now if she were still alive? Would she and Madeleine be happy? Would they be far, or would Claudia and Lestat finally make amends, and they could all be together as a family? Would Lestat and Claudia play piano once again while Madeleine spoke to Louis of the many countries she and Claudia had visited? Would they all laugh, be happy, and make memories together?

Would Claudia be proud of Louis and what he has become? Or would she be ashamed and disappointed in him for returning to Lestat and giving into his feelings for their maker once more? Would she despise him? Would the thought of Louis alone sicken her? Would she insist that she and Madeleine stay so far away, never to return? 

Would she assist in this plan of his? Would she be delighted to see Louis give into his vampire nature? Would she lick her fingers clean after the two of them were finished with Nathan?

"I'll take that drink now," Nathan's irritating voice interrupts Louis' introspective thoughts. The sound annoys him enough that he doesn't think and holds the glass tightly, resulting in it shattering in his palm. Louis hisses, gazing down, and watches as he relaxes his hold, and the sparkling shards fall to the floor, casting shimmers against the hardwood. 

"My apologies," Louis chuckles, turning and waving his bloody palm at Nathan. "I often forget my own strength."

Nathan's eyes are wide, full of doubt and the inability to understand what is happening.

That's fine. That's completely fine. Louis barely wants him to think at all. 

"You, you cut yourself," Nathan stutters.

Louis grins. "I've never heard you stutter before, Nate. That's odd. A confident, intelligent man like yourself? A life coach? A therapist? What's there to be worried about?"

"I," Nathan begins, his voice trembling.

"It seems that you're quickly realizing this isn't going to be the nightcap you envisioned for us," Louis says, his smile growing. The blood drips down his palm to his wrist. "I guess I won't be giving in, agreeing to let Lestat go so you can make a mockery of us and take advantage of his vulnerability any longer."

"I did not," Nathan attempts again.

"But you did," Louis says slowly, the predator in him rising through. "You took advantage, Nathan. You tried to understand something your simple, human mind could never even begin to grasp . You got in between something so much bigger than you realize."

Nathan pushes back on the sofa where he's been waiting, reaching for something, anything. Across from him, Louis can't help but chuckle at the sight. "It would've been better if you just left when I came here," Louis says, kneeling down on the sofa. "You could've just accepted that Lestat would never want you as more than what you are, a charlatan, a liar–"

"Lestat will never forgive you!" Nathan shouts, scrambling to get off the couch.

But Louis closes in on him, grasps him by the shoulders, and shakes his head. "Lestat will always forgive me, Nathan, just like I'll always forgive him."

"You won't get away with this," Nathan insists, shaking his head, fighting, kicking his legs up against Louis'.

"I already have," Louis replies, his tone likely too relaxed. His fangs emerge as he speaks, gleaming with a razor-sharp brilliance that hopefully catches the light, adding to this long-awaited moment between them.

"A cord binds Lestat and me, one you cannot see," Louis continues in that same relaxed manner, pressing his fingertips along the side of Nathan's neck, guiding his head to rest on his shoulder. "But it's real and powerful, and no one, especially not you, is going to threaten it again."

The crunch of Nathan's neck beneath his hold is loud and welcome, but Louis' fangs sink into his skin, and soon the sweetness of blood fills his mouth. Louis revels in the pleasure of the kill, remembering that, yes, sometimes, sometimes it is remarkable to be a vampire and experience life as it leaves a human's veins and fills your own.

.

ldpdl : Come over. I've got a surprise for you. I can't wait for you to see it. :)

.

Afterward, Louis settles into an armchair by the nearest window, absently tapping his nails against the tumbler of whiskey he nurses, his legs crossed, his body comfortable and content. He licks his lips, pleased with how the night has gone, and finds himself full of pride, happiness, and excitement.

The thrill of the hunt, followed by the pleasure of the kill and giving into what he is while fighting for what he loves.

He looks at his phone as it lights up, and Lestat's message pops up on the screen, causing him to grin.

ldl : Flying to get there faster. I cannot wait for my surprise, Louis!

The lights from the outside filter through the glass as he lifts his glass to his lips. Louis feels warmed by the whiskey he sips, which mirrors the warmth now rushing through his veins from his meal.

Louis hums and closes his eyes.

You really did it, Daniel's voice floats through his mind. This will either be the best reaction from your ex or the worst, and he's never going to want to see you again.

"Keep out of my head for the rest of the night, Danny," Louis murmurs. "I'd appreciate the privacy."

I'm already outlining my next book in the vampire series, Daniel replies. I'm gonna make a fortune with the booktok girls this time around. I can see it now, Lou! Author Daniel Molloy releases his most thrilling book yet! A dark, gothic, unhinged sensual thriller where true love meets true crime!

"Goodnight, Daniel," Louis says, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.

A metaphorical door quietly shuts between their minds, sealing off any lingering connection. Louis raises the glass to his lips, savoring the last rich notes of whiskey before setting it down. He then rises from the comfort of his armchair to study his reflection in the mirror closest to him.

Despite what's happened, he looks well, save for the blood on his hands and his face.

Then again, Lestat has always liked him a little bit messy. Something about their true nature and Louis giving in gets him going. Louis hopes that tonight is no different.

They've waited so long to get here finally. It's about time-

However, Louis does not reflect on anything else as he feels Lestat land on the balcony.

Chapter Text

It's all like a fairytale, really it is.

After Louis slays the dragon, his true love arrives, using the cloud gift to see him, and lands on his balcony. Louis eagerly waits as the glass door opens, and they finally meet face to face after such a long, terribly drawn-out, and unfair time spent apart.

Sure, the dragon in this fairytale is Lestat's human therapist, and yes, Lestat is a prince to him, but really, he's a confused rockstar who is much too used to the decades he's been spending alone and in silence, punishing himself for all his mistakes and their mistakes and the loss of their child…

But it's still a fairytale, and they've got true love, and they're finally here, finally together again after the war.

In reality, Louis is covered in Nathan's blood, and Lestat appears unhappy to see him. This entire reunion isn't going the way Louis has fantasized about while waiting for Lestat to arrive. Louis doesn't appreciate how Lestat's eyes glaze over him, concentrating on his blood-stained shirt and then back up to meet his eyes again.

Lestat opens his mouth, then closes it.

Louis opts to break the silence. "You got here in record time. The sky was clear? Thought I heard some rumbling of a storm announcing itself."

"What has happened?" Lestat finally asks, his voice cracking. "Louis? What has happened?"

"I know it's probably not the surprise you were expecting," Louis says, "but I figure it'd be better. A complete and total surprise, just for you, from me."

"A surprise," Lestat slowly repeats.

Louis nods.

"A surprise," Lestat says again, stepping closer, one foot after the other–

"You're not happy to see me?" Louis asks, wondering if he sounds hurt. The truth is, he's beginning to feel less confident and doesn't appreciate it at all. He's worked long and hard to get them to this moment! He's busted his ass dealing with Nathan's bullshit and Lestat's evident inability to see it! 

"Of course I am," Lestat says, sighing loudly, "but what has happened? Where is Nathan?"

Louis can't help it– he rolls his eyes and rolls them with meaning, too. "Nathan's gone," he answers relatively simply, licking his lips. "You want a drink?"

"Louis," Lestat softly says.

"Lestat," Louis replies in kind, gazing at him with a smugness he can't seem to shake off. And why should he? Louis has done it! He's gone through with his plan, got rid of Nathan, and done it in a way that's so utterly perfect he can't begin to pretend he isn't proud. He's pleased, and it rolls off him in waves.

This is uncharted territory between them. Their roles have been swapped, and Lestat doesn't take to it as naturally as Louis.

"Louis, what have you done?" Lestat asks a second time.

Louis sighs, rolls his eyes, and turns on his heel to walk over to the drink cart. He fills his glass again, then turns and lifts an empty glass at Lestat in the offering.

Lestat shakes his head.

Louis shrugs. It's expensive and good, but if Lestat would go without it instead, that's fine.

"Louis," Lestat repeats.

Louis laughs this time, sets his glass back down on the cart, and turns once more to face his estranged husband-maker-lover-soulmate-person he desires most in the world. "Lestat, what is it?" Louis can't help but ask in a pointy, edged tone. "You gotta quit acting like you don't know."

"I wish to hear you say it," Lestat says, staring at Louis like he's something interesting, like some famous art exhibit or some constellation he's ready to drone on to try to sound more scholarly and intelligent. Some bullshit tone that's supposed to draw Louis in, make him all starry-eyed at Lestat and how deep he can sometimes be, moved by his likes and so ready and eager to share them with Louis.

"I ate your therapist," Louis states, smiling about it as he reminisces with the memory of Nathan's last breaths. "I sucked him nearly dry, too, Lestat. His blood wasn't the best, but damn if it wasn't satisfying to finish his sorry excuse of a life finally."

Lestat remains motionless, his gaze unblinking, and Louis keeps it momentarily, then turns to take his glass from the cart again. He quickly brings it to his lips, drinks the whiskey, and then smacks his lips together, humming from how delicious it is to cleanse his mouth now. There's frankly nothing better than quality liquor to wash away the remnants of a nasty would-be enemy.

"You mad about it?" Louis can't help asking a moment later.  

Lestat is suddenly there, right in front of him, all up in his space, and Louis tries not to swoon over how amazing Lestat smells. No one smells as excellent, as alluring, as sexy, and Louis doesn't hide it as he takes a deep breath in, and his body sways in towards Lestat. 

"I am mad about it." 

The metaphorical glass shatters, sending shards all around, cutting Louis up in ways preternatural skin cannot save him from. 

Louis doesn't feel as warm, as floaty, and his gaze sharply refocuses, seeing Lestat crystal clear and in real light, right there in his face, and if it weren't for the vampire vision, he'd be seeing Lestat in double and at any other time he'd welcome such a thing– two Lestat's! – but not now, not when Lestat looks pissed off and not at all excited and in love with Louis like he's been daydreaming about for hours. 

What the fuck? 

"You're mad?" Louis asks, sounding as in disbelief as he feels. "Why?" He presses, his own anger beginning to bubble up to the tense surface between them. "Cause I killed Nathan? Huh? That's why?" And then, because Louis can always hurt himself more than anyone else can, he asks— "You in love with him, Lestat? Is that it?"

It's an answer Louis truthfully doesn't want to hear, yet he asks it and waits at the precipice, just about ready to dive off and really make an irreparable mess for them to deal with. It's absurd, really, to even ask such a thing, yet Louis does it, and Lestat watches him as he does, the way that really gets under Louis' skin and causes him to make choices a clear-headed person wouldn't but like he's so often done in the past. Lestat makes him crazy, makes him lose his goddamn mind, and damn if Louis is ever able to catch himself and stop it before he acts out! 

And then, the worst thing that can perhaps happen, does. 

Lestat laughs. 

Lestat laughs at Louis' question, laughing and laughing quite loudly, too. 

Lestat laughs and wraps his arms around his middle, clutching at himself while his laughter continues. 

Lestat laughs as tears spring to his eyes. He gasps loudly, looking absolutely insane as he laughs and cries, and can hardly breathe from the extent of that laughter. 

Louis fumes. 

"Don't laugh!" Louis warns, all the anger, jealousy, and possessiveness riling him up inside. "Don't fucking laugh at me, Lestat!"

"Louis!" Lestat gasps. "Oh, Louis, you are a fool! The most lovely of fools, but a fool nonetheless!" 

"Now you're calling me names?" Louis asks, taken aback by this man's audacity. "Are you serious, Lestat? This is how we end?"

"End?" Lestat echoes, stepping close and raising his hands. Louis doesn't move and watches in confusion as Lestat cups his face and draws him close. "End, mon cher? No, my love, this is not the end of us, but merely the new beginning."

Lestat kisses him. 

Lestat kisses him, and Louis finds that it is dizzying and warm and splendid and infuriating and—

He gasps loudly and shoves Lestat away, his eyes widening, his chest heaving as he tries to make sense of this. Just as he opens his mouth to curse his ex out, Lestat returns to him and once again kisses him, hard and deep this time, the two of them stumbling back until Louis makes contact with a wall.

His hands fly up, grab Lestat's hair, and Louis yanks it back. Lestat laughs— he laughs! 

"You're fucking crazy!" Louis declares, yet makes no move to push Lestat away this time.

"No, no, that would be you, mon amour," Lestat gleefully disagrees. In seconds, his hands are sliding between them, and Louis throws his head back, groaning when Lestat's palm makes contact with the front of his pants, where he is very much straining and hard against them. "Louis, my Saint Louis," Lestat coos, rubbing his palm with firm intention against Louis' hard-on. "You are insane, mon cher, and how I love you for it! For every ounce of your insanity!"

"Lestat, Les," Louis tries, swallowing. He's overwhelmed and confused and so horny, and he wants this so desperately. This is all he's wanted the entire time, and now Lestat keeps kissing him and making advances and touching all up on him, and Louis wants more! He needs more!

"You killed for me," Lestat breathes raggedly against his lips. "Oh, my sweet Louis, you killed in cold blood for me. You murdered a man for me! You wanted me this badly, mon cher?"

"I wanted him dead," Louis growls, gripping Lestat's shoulders tightly. He presses his hips forward, presses himself against Lestat's giving hand. "You're mine, all mine, Lestat. He had to fucking learn!"

"And what a lesson you gave him, my angel," Lestat agrees huskily, panting with Louis as the two grind against each other. "A lesson deserved, I may add," Lestat continues, his fingers deftly unzipping Louis' pants. "How I adore you, Louis. How I have yearned for you!"

"You bastard," Louis hisses, yet makes no move to get himself out of Lestat's arms. And why would he? This is honestly all Louis has wanted since he arrived. Lestat is all his, and Louis has made this clear with the blood that stains his hands and his skin. "You wanted me to lash out."

"Non," Lestat replies, slipping his hand down the front of Louis' pants. The soft skin of his palm makes contact with Louis' cock, and Louis doesn't mask his whimper of relief. "I never dreamed you would kill for me," Lestat croons, gazing adoringly into Louis' eyes. "My love, I could not dare to fantasize about it! That you, my sweet, logical, good Louis, would kill to have me back."

Lestat's eyes fill with tears, and Louis surges forward, biting down on his lip hard. He draws blood, and Lestat moans loudly against his mouth, nodding eagerly and stroking Louis quickly between their grinding pelvises. 

"Did you set me up?" Louis gasps, rolling his hips. He licks his lips, tastes Lestat's ancient blood, and feels like he's done ten lines of coke. "Did you, Lestat? Did you plan all of this?"

"I set it in motion," Lestat confesses, rubbing his thumb along the head of Louis' cock. 

Louis shudders and digs his nails into Lestat's shoulders, drawing blood there as well.

"But I did not intentionally get you to this point," Lestat declares earnestly. "I did not, Louis! Oh, Louis! Who knew the passion that brewed beneath the surface of your lovely face? The most lovely, most beautiful…"

Lestat kisses him, and Louis moans, his hips jerking as he comes. He goes lax against Lestat, and his legs feel boneless and heavy. Lestat grips him by the waist and heaves him up into his arms.

Louis goes willingly, the hazy warmth of orgasm rushing through and flooding his body. He moans quietly, pressing his mouth to Lestat's throat, licking against his adam's apple as Lestat swallows and kicks the bedroom door open.

"My love," Lestat says passionately, lowering Louis onto the bed. In a moment, he crawls between Louis' legs and leans over him, kissing Louis until he sees stars. It's blindingly vibrant behind his closed eyes, and Louis slips a hand beneath Lestat's shirt, stroking his nails along his prominent abdominal muscles.

"My heart," Lestat continues his devotionals. "My true companion of the dark gift," Lestat says, the pride evident in his deep, quivering voice. "You are all I knew you would be and endlessly more."

"Fuck me," Louis demands, thrusting his hips up. Their bodies make delicious contact, and Lestat curses loudly, all the poetic waxing ceasing as pure, unbridled lust slices through. "Fuck me, Lestat!" Louis continues demanding, reaching down to grip Lestat's hips and keep them close. "Show me that you're all mine! Show me I'm still yours!"

"Only mine," Lestat vows, yanking Louis' pants down. "I am only yours," he adds slowly, his chest vibrating against Louis'. A moment later, Louis tears the shirt clear off of Lestat, and Lestat chuckles, returning the favor.

"God, but I want you so bad," Louis confesses, relief rushing over when the cool air touches his bare skin. "Been thinking about this for so long…"

"No more daydreams," Lestat purrs, pressing soft, short kisses along the length of Louis' neck. "No more wanting, my Louis. I will give you what you have been yearning for, the same I have longed for. To have you, mon cher, is something holy, something akin to worshiping at the altar—"

"The altar," Louis murmurs, lifting his legs and sighing as Lestat wraps them around his lithe waist. "Always been fond of altars," Louis drawls while nuzzling his nose with Lestat's.

"I worship at your sacred altar," Lestat replies positively, raking his teeth down against Louis' racing pulse. "The only idol I worship."

Lestat's fingers stroke beneath him, and Louis smells fresh blood as Lestat slices his own finger. He teases at Louis' rim, and Louis sucks in a sharp breath and arches against the bed. His eyelashes flutter, and Louis feels like he's been sprinting for miles, which is impressive considering he's contentedly flat on his back, legs spread and ass pushing against Lestat's long, thick fingers, ready to be fucked so hard he forgets his own name.

"Do you wish to touch heaven, mon cher?" Lestat murmurs against his fluttering pulse. His fingers slip inside Louis, and Louis sighs in response, his head tipping back and his hands gripping the bed sheets, unintelligible words breaking through as his mouth moves. 

Louis nods, licks his lips, and rocks with Lestat's fingers, thoroughly appreciating the satisfying burn from the blood used instead of lubricant and the initial sensation of something he's not had in so long. It's better than any dream and fantasy he's had, but it's always better than what his mind can conjure up. Lestat knows Louis so intimately that despite their many separations, he's easily able and willing to repeatedly bring Louis to completion in hot, deliciously short successions. 

It's been years, so many, since they first reunited, and it's better now; it feels more passionate and gives Louis more pleasure as Lestat confidently and quickly begins to thrust his fingers inside, his fingertips making contact with that sweet spot deep inside Louis.

It's no surprise when Louis comes again minutes later, screaming out in release, wonder, and contentment. His body lowers, his face feels numb, his tongue heavy, and all the bones have somehow disappeared from inside him again, leaving Louis a happy, warm, and satisfied blob on the bed.

"Yes," Lestat sighs, rocking against Louis, creating friction. Louis isn't sure if they're even on the bed or floating above it. His orgasm is still swirling inside, making him so blissfully fulfilled. 

Louis is unsure if he can handle a third orgasm at this point. He whimpers in both desire and his unsureness. Yet, as Lestat begins grinding, Louis thinks that, yes, there's a possibility, an outstanding possibility, that he can handle a third go.

"You bloom like a rose," Lestat whispers along the underside of Louis' jawline. "Opening for me, taking me as sunlight takes to a flower. So willing to enjoy what I can give, over and over and over…"

"Yes," Louis hisses, smiling dumbly, full of that desire that remains. It won't go. Louis is sure. He is sure of this, of what he wants, and what Louis wants is Lestat. What he needs is Lestat. He is infatuated, deeply in love, and desperately yearns for Lestat.

"You take me so well, even after all this time," Lestat says so complimentary that Louis laughs, finding such a thing genuinely precious. The head of Lestat's cock pushes in, and Louis bites his lip, waiting until Lestat bottoms out inside of him.

He's thick, and so hard, and it's all terribly familiar and romantic and so distinctly perfect that Louis holds his breath and waits, waits, waits for Lestat's skin to touch his once more. And when it happens, when Lestat is finally inside of Louis, after so long, after wanting this, after losing his mind in frustration and fear and worry, after murdering a man to get this back, Louis presses his hands down onto the small of Lestat's back and meets his eyes.

They glow, rings of bright light around the black of his pupils. The grey, swirling rings are iridescent, like moonlight reflecting onto the ocean. 

Louis gasps, shakily exhales the breath he's been holding, and lifts his head. Lestat meets him, and they kiss, bloody and passionately. Louis lets out a loud, satisfying moan as Lestat rocks himself inside his body.

"Is this what you wanted?" Lestat asks, pressing his hands up beneath Louis, angling him upward. Lestat sinks in at this angle, and Louis makes a high, breathy noise.

"Tell me," Lestat insists, his hips tipping back and pressing forward, barely leaving Louis, keeping him this deep. Louis shivers and can barely catch his breath. His thighs tremble against Lestat's middle, and Lestat draws his hips back further, only to sink deeply inside him with a swiftness that makes Louis shout in his pleasure.

Louis can then only moan, can only slide his hands down and squeeze at Lestat's backside, trying to make it make sense, but how do words work when Lestat is this proficient at seduction?

"This is what you wanted," Lestat huskily whispers, beginning to thrust. Every stroke inside ignites the fire that is newly kindled by their desire. "You killed for this, for me," Lestat continues passionately.

There are drops of blood upon Louis' cheeks, and when he looks up at Lestat again, he realizes the blood is Lestat's tears, not his own. Louis swallows and nods, sliding his legs further up, and he's relieved when Lestat suddenly presses his fingertips behind Louis' knee, pressing his leg back to get the angle deeper again.

"Say it," Lestat pleads, rhythmically thrusting himself inside Louis, stoking that fire with every press of his cock to Louis' prostate. "Please,  Louis, mon cher, mon ange, say it, say it!"

"Yes!" Louis moans, scratching his nails up Lestat's back. The scent of his blood hits Louis' senses again, and Louis spirals out into what he assumes heaven must be like. Such bright, warm light, heating his skin, making him so perfectly complete. "Yes, I killed for you," Louis groans, grasping Lestat's face between his bloody hands: Lestat's blood and Nathan's stain Louis' skin. "I did, and I would again," he breathlessly goes on in his lust. 'Fuck me, fuck me, god, yeah," Louis demands, their mouths brushing together while they gasp and moan. "You're mine, mine, all mine!"

Lestat falls apart in his arms, and Louis falls apart around him, squeezing both his legs back around Lestat's waist, refusing to let up and let go. He's not going to let go, no way, not happening. And Lestat comes, Louis moaning at the sensation of finally having that, of experiencing that again. It's a desire, something Louis often wants. Lestat's coming deep inside, keeping himself there, making himself part of Louis even after, when they're both lying against one another, unable to even speak other than to say each other's names.

And even then, Louis barely gets Lestat's name out. 

"Louis," Lestat whispers minutes or hours later. "Louis, Louis, mon cher," he continues, kissing his face and cheeks and brushing his lips. "Louis, I need—"

"Need you," Louis mumbles, dragging his fingers back through Lestat's messy, bloody hair. God, they're a fucking mess, and Louis doesn't want them to be any other way. "Don't think you can keep up with how bad I need you."

Lestat smiles against Louis' cheek, and Louis has his hand between them again, stroking his lover-ex husband-companion heart-soulmate again, finding deep satisfaction in how quickly Lestat hardens once more. 

"Mm, lemme just…" Louis murmurs, letting go, rolling out from under him. Lestat sounds terribly lost, and Louis smirks down at him, then turns, his hands moving down near Lestat's feet. Lestat gets the picture and turns onto his side, and Louis gasps once he feels Lestat's breath against his thighs.

"Here," Louis whispers, pressing his mouth against Lestat's inner thigh. His fangs sink in, and Lestat quickly follows, biting into Louis' skin, taking deep, long pulls of his blood. Louis drinks Lestat down, enjoying how it feels to have Lestat drinking from the same spot, and the two moan together until Louis lifts and laps at Lestat's cock, wrapping his hand around him to quickly bring him to orgasm again.

Lestat follows, stroking Louis quickly as well, and they're a mess of moans and a mess of limbs, the smell of blood and spend making Louis' head spin, and he closes his eyes, unable to stay tethered to reality with how powerful the swoon is. Lestat's blood rushes through his veins, and when Louis comes to, he's lying flat on his back and smiling up at the ceiling, watching the tiles swirl and dance, all of this better than any drug high ever could be.

At some point, Lestat maneuvers them to lie together, and Louis rests comfortably atop him, his cheek resting over Lestat's heart while their fingers lace together.  Louis nuzzles his cheek onto Lestat's skin, appreciating the familiar and comforting beat of Lestat's mirroring heartbeat.

"I did not believe you could want me, after all I did," Lestat softly confesses, holding Louis tighter. "I thought if I could become better and find more in life, I would be enough for you."

"I don't want you to be better," Louis murmurs, lifting his head. His chin rests on Lestat's chest, and he meets those eyes, those gorgeous, glimmering eyes. The grey is back, and Louis smiles adoringly at his companion heart. "I just want you, Lestat."

"I just want you, too," Lestat returns, so softly, his words full of the love Louis knows Lestat feels for him. 

"And maybe it won't be perfect, but at least it's real," Louis says, stretching his neck so Lestat hopefully takes the hint.

Lestat does, and Louis moans against Lestat's lips. The kiss is just what he needs, and then Louis is laughing with Lestat as he's pushed over and happily placed between Lestat's firm, perfect body and the very comfortable mattress.

"I do not think I will move past the murder for quite a while," Lestat confesses, settling himself between Louis' legs. Louis bends his knees and cradles Lestat's face between his hands. He rubs his thumbs against Lestat's cheeks and smiles up at him.

"I figure you'll mention it for a decade," Louis teases. "Maybe even write it into whatever new book you're working on?"

Lestat laughs, his own smile quite wide and bright, and he nods down at Louis. "I am working on a new novel," Lestat reveals, "and I must confess, I am tempted to add this to it. To write of you, my sweet Saint Louis, killing a man to claim me as yours again after feeling threatened by his existence!"

Their hearts beat the same, and Louis draws Lestat back to his lips. The slow way in which they kiss is utterly satisfying, enough that Louis won't argue about actually adding this chapter to Lestat's new work in progress.

"I'll fact check it," Louis whispers into the kiss. "Make sure you get every detail right."

"Mm, shall I add this in as well?" Lestat asks sultrily, rocking their bodies together. "Shall I describe, in detail, how gorgeous your body is and how right I feel when I bury myself deep inside you, mon cher? Shall I tell the dear reader exactly what it is like to experience the honor of making love to you?"

"Best not," Louis gasps, his eyelashes fluttering as he fights to keep his eyes open. "Then you'll have thousands of your readers pounding at my door, trying to get some of this."

"Nonsense," Lestat purrs, his tongue tracing the shape of Louis' bottom lip. "I'll kill every last one of them. It is as simple as that."

"Are we in our murder phase?" Louis chuckles, wrapping his arms around Lestat's neck. "We still have to get rid of the body," he recalls, sighing. "Not yet, though."

"Let the cleaners take care of such a task," Lestat disagrees, sinking into Louis' body. They both breathe sharply, and Louis grips the back of Lestat's hair. "We are busy," Lestat reminds him, rocking himself inside Louis again. "We have so much time to make up for."

"Yesss," Louis hisses, nodding enthusiastically in agreement. Lestat begins a new, slow, decadent rhythm, and Louis knows nothing but the blissful ecstasy of claiming Lestat once more as his and giving himself back to Lestat in return.

They are a storm, something akin to a tornado, but in the remnants of debris they find their foundation still stands firm and strong.

The little bit of murder is inconsequential as long as the two of them end up happily together.

And they will.

They have.