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The days were starting to blur again, that familiar fuzzy artificial obsession filling Daniel. He wouldn’t cave this time, no matter how much Armand spoke in his head or how much his skin ached for just a taste of him. Damn Armand for getting him addicted. It was like his first bout of withdrawals but tenfold. It would have been so easy to cave Armand would be there in an instant.
Stop doing that.
Their connection was getting abused. He knew that. Every time he left after Armand was fed up with his so-called fits Daniel felt this deep pull in his chest to run back to Night Island. He wouldn’t cave this time, not after their argument.
Beloved I said I was sorry this is silly, come home.
He fucking hated that, Armand’s moral superiority. Daniel was always being silly or overreacting, their arguments always ended the same way, with Daniel running back to him. And wasn’t it so nice? Being back in Armand’s arms, back home and safe with him.
Armand fucking stop that.
He had lasted a month this time. One measly month, that was like a blink to an immortal like Armand. He knew he would cave soon, and if he was he was going out with a bang. A full bender, boys, girls, enough coke to have him seeing God, and an egregious amount of alcohol that the speed in which his liver would kill him would definitely not be slow.
The hour after he walked to the nearest gay bar, which was pretty close considering he found himself back in his old stomping grounds of San Francisco, was fairly lucid. A scoff as he looked up at the sign of Polynesian Mary’s because of course he did. Looking stupid at the bar until a guy bought him a drink. Then one drink turned to four, then kissing in the bathroom, doing a line with him, and then that familiar numbness took over him. Armand’s burning anger finally left him alone. The guy wasn’t even his type, too brutish. He had grown used to the simple elegance that was Armand, with his deep skin, dark hair, and voice that haunted Daniel’s every waking thought.
It was strange when he did drugs now, the burn wasn’t as intense as the burn of Armand’s blood. Nothing could quite capture that burn anymore. Daniel did enjoy one thing about coke more than Armand’s blood though, it finally shut up Armand’s voice in his head, something about his brain being too muddled to reach. Their only connection being the blood locket he wore around his neck.
He was definitely too muddled to reach now. He existed outside of himself. He knew he was leaving the bar but not to where, he knew he was being kissed, bitten, pushed against a wall, or was it down into a bed? He was too fucked up to know. Armand would kill this guy for leaving marks on him, of that he knew. He was Armand’s even when he wasn’t, even when another guy was taking Daniel how he wanted he was Armand’s. It was strangely poetic depending on how you looked at it.
He couldn’t remember anything, he didn’t even remember falling asleep or even if it was only the next morning, just that his head hurt and that he could sense Armand was back in his mind. A cloud of fear, anger and something darker Daniel couldn’t name.
Arms were around him and they felt wrong, too rough, too tight. He wanted to go home. He shouldn’t have left, shouldn’t have hurt himself for the sake of hurting Armand.
“Boss you there?” he called out. His throat was so dry he sounded pathetic, but if Armand was there, he’d answer. He always did no matter what. No matter how mad or pathetic or fucked up Daniel was he was there.
Say the word my beloved and I’ll rip his throat from his body. There’s a car already waiting for you.
That was all he needed. Armand was there waiting for him. He had never stumbled out of a bed faster. Grabbing his abandoned unwashed clothes and stumbling out t=of the apartment before this stranger even noticed his absence. Stumbling into the cool night. Their car waiting, their driver holding the door for him.
And there was Armand, sculpted in bronze seething, but loving. Holding Daniel close to him, nothing else mattered. He had been stupid to run like he always was. Wasting their precious moments because Armand wouldn’t turn him. Destroying his body over something so petty. He would never leave again. He didn’t know if those thoughts were his own but that didn’t scare him anymore.
Rest
And his body was limp against Armand, he was right where he wanted to be. Especially when Armand dug his nails into his own arm and pressed the wound against Daniel’s mouth. Daniel drank, he would drink until Armand was dry if Armand allowed it. He loved that burn, that clarity, that drinking Armand’s blood provided him. Blame his addictive tendencies but this was better than any other high. He all but whined as Armand pulled his arm away. That was his least favorite part.
Armand chuckled and wiped some of his blood from Daniel’s chin. Calling out to the driver to take them to the airport. They were going back to Night Island where they belonged.
“You’re messy tonight huh beloved? Rest. We’ll be back home before you know it Daniel. Rest. Just relax. Rest.”
And Daniel did, he rested. He would do anything Armand commanded, even if he hadn’t used his power.
When he awoke, he was safe and in their bed, Armand looking over him. He had been cleaned, his stubble gone, clean close replaced his ratty ones.
And he was right where he wanted to be.