Chapter Text
When Claudia was still young, Louis would take her shopping at least once a week. It was one of those activities that was uniquely theirs, their own little way of bonding. He would bribe shopkeepers and tailors to stay open long into the night and let Claudia get pretty much anything she’d wanted. They would spend hours in front of the mirrors, trying on clothes, until Claudia’s wardrobe was close to bursting. They would come home with bags and bags of everything Claudia hadn’t really needed but Louis wanted to give her all the same.
And every time Lestat would be there to greet them with a roll of his eyes, even when he couldn’t quite hide his fondness. ‘Really, Louis, soon we’re going to need another house, just for the clothes you’re buying her.’, he would say, his lips finding Louis’ for a quick kiss, hand sliding around Louis’ waist and pulling him towards the couch. The next hour or two would be spent with Claudia giggling as she ran up and down the stairs to get changed, showing Lestat everything they bought. Their own little private fashion show. ‘How about this one, Uncle Les?’, she would ask with a wide smile and bright eyes. ‘I think that’s the best one yet. Spin again, cherie , let me see how it moves.’, Lestat would reply without fail, his hand curling more securely around Louis’ shoulders, while Louis snuggled into his side.
He still remembered when it changed. One night, not long after his mother died. Claudia’s shoulders slumping with every new dress Louis suggested, until her lips had curled in disgust, anger shining in her dark eyes, causing Louis to take a step back. ‘I'm not a child.’ She had hissed, shouldering her way past Louis and out of the shop.
He had drained the shopkeeper that night, one wrong word about teenagers these days and Louis was on him, shock and terror clouding his mind as he drunk with full, deep pulls. That was when he’d realised that he was losing his Claudia, that the Claudia he knew, the child he had raised, was turning into someone Louis couldn't recognize, someone he had no idea how to connect with.
A few months later Claudia was gone and Louis had stayed. The next few years he’d spent in limbo. Blaming Lestat for Claudia leaving, trying to punish both himself and Lestat, as he had slowly fallen deeper and deeper into depression, a deep black hole he had no hope of digging himself out of.
But Claudia had returned and, with her, Louis had also returned. And when she’d asked him to run away together he’d convinced her to stay, to give Lestat another chance. To give Louis another chance at making their family right.
She was happy with them, Louis knew she was, just like at the very beginning, when she was still young and looked to them for guidance. But this new Claudia didn't need their guidance. She was no longer a child, even if she would always be a child to them. She was a powerful and capable vampire, cruel and loving, and smarter than both of them combined. An adult, even if her never changing, small frame would never allow her to be seen as one.
Louis hadn’t thought about this particular past time he and Claudia used to have for a long time now, accepting it as something that was a thing of the past. Lost, just like the bright floral dresses and the innocence in Claudia’s eyes.
He hadn't thought about it until the night after Gabrielle’s visit.
He walked downstairs to find Lestat sitting at the piano, playing a melody Louis didn’t recognize. His long fingers were moving over the keys with gentle elegance but his gaze was fixed forward, eyes unfocused. He was wearing the same sweater Louis accidentally put on yesterday, soft and grey. Louis tried not to think about how much the sweater must smell like him, how it was probably the reason Lestat chose to wear it today. Instead he focused on the shape of Lestat’s too straight back and raised shoulders. He felt a pang of regret at seeing the soft contentment from the night before completely gone.
‘I didn’t hear you play this before.’ Louis said as he moved into the living room, keeping his voice quiet. It caused Lestat to startle anyway and they both winced when his finger strayed to play an odd note. ‘Sorry.’ Louis stepped behind him to rest his hands on Lestat’s shoulders and placed an apologetic kiss on his temple.
Lestat relaxed into the touch, the music stopping abruptly as he twisted his head to reach Louis’ mouth. Louis hummed as Lestat’s lips pressed against his gently, their breaths mingling together until Lestat moved back with a quiet sigh.
‘It’s an old one. I wrote it in… Florence, I think?’ He frowned, one hand raising to lightly brush across the keys. ‘ Non , in Rome.’
It wasn't difficult to connect the dots. Not when Lestat's every emotion was so painfully easy to read. He seemed too exhausted to hold them all in and they splayed across his face in a cacophony of hurt, loss and longing.
Louis slid his hands up and down Lestat’s chest, slow and sure, guiding him to lean back and rest his head against Louis’ stomach.
‘You composed it for your mother?’ Lestat gave him an almost imperceivable nod. ‘Did she like it?’
He shrugged, leaning away as much as Louis’ arms would allow. It created barely an inch of space between them, but Lestat didn't seem interested in breaking the hold entirely.
Louis’ hand paused on his collarbone, thumb finding its way underneath the sweater to caress across the sharp bone. He waited for Lestat to bolt, it was sometimes a toss up when he was hurting. Physical touch was always the surest way to soothe him but only when Lestat allowed himself to be soothed.
Lestat pressed even more forward, then leaned back, wavering, until Louis eliminated that last inch of space between them, arms tightening and pressing Lestat's back to his front more securely. That finally settled him. With a soft exhale he replied:
‘Oh, I’ve never played it for her. By the time she came back from another one of her adventures, I completely forgot about it.’
A lie.
Louis wanted to press further, already opening his mouth to question him, before one of Lestat's hands settled on his forearm and squeezed. A silent plea. It was enough to dissuade him, even though deep down he knew that if he insisted Lestat would answer him. But he didn't want to force the truth out of him, whatever he was hiding, he wanted Lestat to tell him whenever he was ready.
‘It's beautiful.’ Louis breathed out instead, leaning down to nuzzle against Lestat's temple.
‘Not my favourite.’ Lestat dismissed with a wave of his hand and reached to shut the fallboard with a finality that signalled that the topic was closed.
Louis grinned into Lestat's hair, an indulgent smile that he was glad his husband couldn't see. He half expected Lestat to get up then, but only felt him lean even more against Louis’ stomach, as if he was trying to bury himself inside. Suddenly, Louis couldn't think of anything more perfect than having Lestat burrow inside his chest, making a home for him behind his ribcage, where Louis could keep him safe and content.
‘Mmm, Louis, your lips are freezing.’
Lestat's voice broke him away from the thought but the fierce protectiveness he was feeling stayed, making his grip tighten as he nosed at the juncture of Lestat's jaw. Lestat shivered from the cold or pleasure, Louis wasn't sure, but tilted his head to the side anyway, to let Louis continue his path down his neck.
Louis stopped when he reached the place where neck met shoulder, pressing his nose there to breathe in deeply. Lestat didn't bother with wearing perfume tonight and the smell there, skin and sweat and blood, was purely him, waking a wave of molten want inside Louis’ stomach.
Lestat allowed him to stay there, just breathing, for longer than Louis would expect. Still, it felt like too soon when he moved, head turning towards Louis, his lips pressing to his forehead and staying there for a few seconds.
‘Louis… You are cold.’
Louis frowned, leaning away, as Lestat's watchful eyes focused on his face. Was he… taking his temperature? Louis huffed, indignant.
‘It's not that bad.’
He loosened his hold on Lestat, allowing him to turn until he was sitting sideways on the bench, knees bracketing Louis’ legs. Lestat grabbed his hand in both of his, kissing the knuckles with reverence that made Louis’ heart skip a beat.
‘Are you going hunting, mon cher? You are so pale, you need to eat.’
‘Lestat…’ Louis rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the fond smile that was beginning to stretch his lips. ‘I’m eating, don’t worry about it.’
‘You didn’t yesterday.’
‘How do you even–’ Louis paused, shaking his head.
He often forgot how closely Lestat was paying attention to his meals. Even now, over a year after Louis started hunting humans again. It made all sorts of conflicting feelings rise inside of him. One part of Louis rebelled against the idea of being so thoroughly scrutinised, it felt like Lestat didn't trust him enough. But the other part, the part that was winning right now, was soaring at the thought. To be looked after like this, Louis never had that before Lestat, he'd never imagined there would be someone who would care enough to notice, who would worry about him.
Lestat's gaze was still firmly fixed on his face when he spoke, his lips twisted with guilt.
‘ Je suis désolé, mon cœur . I should have offered to give you some of mine yesterday. You shouldn't go hungry.’
‘Lestat.’ Louis laughed, bending to place another kiss on his husband’s lips, trying to chase away their downward tilt. He felt so impossibly fond of him. ‘I'm not going hungry. I've missed one meal.’ Lestat was already opening his mouth to argue. ‘And it's not on you to feed me. I'm not your responsibility.’
Lestat pulled away abruptly, looking almost insulted that Louis would say that.
‘But you are, chéri . I've made you, you will always be my responsibility.’ He said slowly, as if he was willing Louis to understand, words entirely serious and painfully sincere.
‘We are equal in this relationship, you realise that?’ Louis asked, trying for a playful tone, even as he felt overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. He could feel something hard brewing beneath the surface.
Lestat gave him a look as if Louis was the dense one here.
‘Of course we are. And I want us to be equally well-fed and strong.’
Louis wanted to find a wall and hit his head against it. He couldn't even tell if Lestat was being obtuse on purpose or if he really didn't understand what Louis was trying to say. But his eyes were sky blue and shining so brightly that any desire to fight immediately melted away.
‘Equal as in, you may be my maker, but I'm not a child you need to mind.’ He explained slowly, watching as Lestat grew more displeased with every word.
‘So I cannot take care of my love? Is that what it is? Is it not my responsibility to make sure that you are well? The way you make sure that I am?’
‘That's not what you said.’
‘Louis,’ Lestat said his name like it was a prayer. ‘The way you took care of me over the last few days... I know all of that was a lot and I have to apologise. I know I'm still not quite myself.’ He bit his lip and something mischievous flashed across his face. ‘And yet, you are here for me, you are so wonderfully understanding, giving me amazing orgasms–’
‘Stop it.’ Louis groaned, hiding his face in Lestat's hair.
‘Well, they are amazing. There's no need to be modest.’
‘You were making a point?’
‘ The point is , I am your maker and you are my fledgling. There are those feelings, those instincts that I will always have. I will always feel the need to make sure you are well-fed, that you are safe and happy. Your well-being is my responsibility because I made you. And, even more importantly, because I love you.’ Lestat pulled away to gaze into Louis’ eyes. His own were open and honest, a plea in them for Louis to understand.
Louis tried to find in himself the indignation he always felt at hearing that word. Fledgeling. How, whenever Lestat used to call him that, it made him feel like the other was trying to exert his power over him. It felt condescending and demeaning in a way that set Louis’ teeth on edge and provoked him to fight back.
Back then, he hated that he needed Lestat’s guidance and was dependent on what the other vampire shared with him about their nature and power. He hated the way that he’d always felt inferior because of that. And Lestat certainly never made it easier for him, with his overbearing nature and the constant push to have things done his way.
To hear Lestat call him his fledgling now and not feel the insecurities and doubts that always followed, felt strange, liberating in a way. It made Louis realise how much they had grown, how much work had been done between them to get their relationship to this point.
‘That doesn't take away from the fact that we are equal.’ Lestat continued, oblivious to Louis’ thoughts. He reached to put his hands around Louis’ hips, like he wanted to pull him closer but wasn’t quite sure if he was allowed. ‘I was hoping that by now I've proved that I see us as such.’
Lestat’s eyes darted downwards just as his whole face fell. He looked distressed, his hands moving up and down Louis’ waist with frantic energy, like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself. Louis hated seeing him like that.
‘You did.’ He rushed to reassure, not realising how true the words were until he said them. ‘And I do feel like that. Really, Lestat.’
Louis cradled Lestat's head in both of his hands, thumbs running soothingly across his cheeks, as he tilted his face up. Their eyes met and Lestat immediately melted into his hold.
Louis thought about the last two days, about how Lestat needed him and how easy it was to provide that, how natural it felt. He couldn't fault Lestat for doing the same thing when Louis knew his own fierce protectiveness and how any sign of Lestat being in distress awakened the need to claw at the threat, to do whatever it took to make Lestat happy. Wasn't he the one ready to bleed dry everyone who ever hurt Lestat just yesterday? The one who wanted to hide Lestat away and never let him see the light of the moon again, if it would ensure keeping him away from harm?
‘I guess I can understand that instinct.’ He admitted softly, his eyes moving to the side and then back to Lestat just in time to watch Lestat's own eyes widen. ‘Thank you. For telling me all of this.’
Lestat's smile, when it appeared, was wide and brilliant. His hands gripped Louis tighter and pulled him, sure and strong, until he was close enough for Lestat to bury his face into Louis’ stomach. Louis smiled too, watching as Lestat nuzzled into the soft fabric of his cardigan.
He reached to cart his fingers through Lestat's soft, blond locks, scratching gently at his scalp, revelling in the contentment radiating from Lestat's whole form. He wondered briefly if it was the same with fledglings, this instinct to protect their maker. Maybe not, maybe it was just his love for Lestat that made him feel that way. Or maybe, like Lestat said, it was both. This unique blend of both their bond and their love that made their happiness so intertwined.
‘I like taking care of you, too, you know.’ Louis whispered into the quiet between them, pulling gently at Lestat's hair, so he would look at him. ‘You don't have to apologise for needing that.’
Lestat's face twisted at the words and he started blinking rapidly, red appearing at the corners of his eyes.
‘Les…’ Louis sighed fondly, hands smoothing down his shoulders to pull him up and against Louis.
Lestat went gratefully, almost boneless, wrapped tightly in Louis’ arms. His face landed in the crook of Louis’ neck and he immediately started planting kisses there, covering all the skin he could reach with small, quick pecks, making Louis giggle with delight.
When he finally leaned back, there were no signs of tears in his eyes. They were clear, if not for the widened pupils, and full of adoration.
‘ Je t'aime , Louis.’
‘ Je t'aime aussi, mon amour. ’ Louis repeated back, watching Lestat beam at him. ‘And I wouldn't be opposed to giving you one of those amazing orgasms right now.’ He added with a wide smile, leaning in to kiss him.
Much to his surprise he was unceremoniously pushed away by Lestat's hands on his chest, his head shaking violently.
‘ Non, non, non. No orgasms for anyone until you eat something.’
Louis looked at him with disbelief mixed with amusement but Lestat's hard gaze did not waver.
‘So I can't even kiss you...’ He teased, moving back into Lestat's space, watching as the other vampire clenched his jaw.
‘As much as it pains me, non . I know how you are, chéri .’ Lestat took a step back, flailing his hands dramatically. Louis bit his cheek and moved closer again. He watched, delighted, as Lestat's eyes narrowed and he took another step away from Louis, keeping the distance between them
‘How I am? You're gonna blame me?’
‘Hunting first, then I might let you kiss me.’
Lestat's back was now dangerously close to the bookcase. Louis took another slow, deliberate step, his gaze firmly fixed on him.
‘How generous of you.’ He purred.
‘I'm in a very charitable mood tonight it seems. Oh.’ Lestat let out a surprised sound when his back finally hit the shelves and Louis was on him not even a second later, slotting his lips over Lestat's eager ones, deepening the kiss almost immediately.
Lestat hummed, opening himself up for Louis, hands dancing over his sides, as if he wasn't sure if he wanted to pull Louis closer or push him away. He didn't do either, and Louis let himself get lost in the slow drag of their tongues together, exploring Lestat's mouth thoroughly, licking into every crevice, until he had Lestat moaning beneath the ministrations.
‘ Louis… ’ Lestat groaned when Louis finally let him go, his expression caught somewhere between determination and arousal. Louis laughed and pecked his lips again.
‘I know, I know. I'm going now.’ He said, satisfied that Lestat looked a little torn at his agreement.
But he recovered quickly, pushing Louis away with a finality of a decision made, his arms stretching between them to keep the distance. Louis let him, feeling the dull pang of hunger somewhere deep inside of him. He really needed to feed.
‘Have you seen Claudia? I thought she might come with me.’ He asked, stepping back from Lestat with barely concealed disappointment.
As much as hunting was something Lestat and Claudia bonded over the most, Louis liked to take her with him occasionally. They didn't have a lot of opportunities to spend time together, only the two of them, nowadays. Claudia liked to go by herself more often, never really explaining where she was going or what she was doing. And Lestat never seemed to begrudge him that, especially if it meant that Louis returned to him warm and pulsing with fresh blood.
‘Gabrielle took her shopping.’ Lestat replied with a shrug that was too nonchalant, watching Louis’ face carefully.
‘What?’ Louis frowned. ‘How did that happen?’
‘Claudia said they made plans yesterday.’ Lestat's tone was soft and quiet and he kept looking at Louis as if he was a wild animal about to get spooked.
Louis couldn’t understand why, until he tried to move towards Lestat and had to stop himself, because his legs were suddenly very unstable. He didn't even notice when Lestat stepped closer to him and his arms winded up around Louis’ waist, their hold secure around him.
‘Again, what?’
‘Yesterday, when she left, it seems that she lied about going hunting.’
‘I knew that.’ Louis snapped, impatient to hurry the explanation, and immediately felt guilty, but Lestat still continued calmly.
‘Well, she went to Gabrielle's hotel and, as she said, they talked. And bonded.’ Lestat's face twisted into a grimace, which made Louis relax a little, knowing that he wasn't the only one unhappy about this development.
Still, he felt a pang deep inside his chest at the thought of Claudia and Gabrielle doing the one thing that Louis used to do with her. She hadn't let Louis go with her for years now but Gabrielle, who she knew for less than a day… Louis gritted his teeth against the jealousy raising its ugly, green head.
‘And now they are going shopping together?’
Lestat knew him better than anyone else ever would, so of course he recognized the emotions battling inside Louis and made it his responsibility to alleviate the hurt.
‘ Je suis désolé, mon cher .’ He murmured, pressing their foreheads together briefly and then leaning back, scanning Louis’ expression.
‘Why would you apologise?’
‘I know you aren't a fan of my mother and how she appeared so suddenly in our lives. And now she's spending time with Claudia–’
Louis shook his head, effectively stopping whatever Lestat was going to say next. For the better, too, because the way Lestat was talking, it would seem that he was trying to take the blame for the things that were utterly out of his control. And Louis had enough of his apologies for one night.
‘I don’t like the way you’re hurting whenever you talk about her. It’s not her fault and certainly not yours.’ He brushed his thumb across Lestat's cheek, smiling at the way his husband leaned, almost unconsciously, into the touch. ‘Stop apologising for things that aren't your fault.’
Lestat was silent for a long time, seemingly lost in his thoughts, a faraway look bleeding into his gaze. Louis waited patiently, still caressing his face, until he finally snapped back. His eyes focused back on Louis and he nodded, still pensive, but definitely back from wherever he went for a moment.
Louis grinned at him and leaned in to leave a kiss at the corner of his mouth.
‘Since Claudia is too busy bonding with your mother,’ He ignored the way his stomach twisted at the thought. ‘Do you want to hunt with me?’
Lestat’s lips stretched into a brilliant smile. ‘You know I would never refuse that offer. Especially when you so rarely give me this opportunity.’
He was already turning away, a spring in his step, as he went to grab both of their coats, presenting Louis with his own.
‘Wouldn’t be special if I offered it every day.’ Louis shrugged, opening the door to let Lestat go through first.
Before he did, Lestat stopped in front of him, scoffing in disbelief. He met Louis’ gaze with his own piercing one, the one that made Louis feel as if he was staring straight into his soul.
‘What ridiculous ideas you have sometimes, cheri. Utterly absurd.’
When Louis composed himself enough to follow, Lestat was already on the other side of the street.
*
Walking the streets of New Orleans, knowing that soon they would be leaving the city for good, felt strange. Like every step Louis took was somehow counting down until the last one, like he needed to make every one of them meaningful. Every street, every alley, became something worth exploring and remembering, burning into his memory so he would be able to recall their exact shape, smell, noise, wherever he was.
Sometimes he caught himself just staring at a random house or a shop sign, standing in front of it for far too long, completely motionless, like a statue. A ghost hunting the city that was once his, hoping against hope that it would still be the same when he'd come back. In years, decades, maybe centuries, he didn't know. One thing he was certain of is that he would be back. He and Lestat both loved this city too much to stay away forever. It ran in their veins, pulsing together with the blood of all the people that fed them here, working through them, shaping them into who they were today. All the good and all the bad.
‘How about him?’ Lestat's voice brought him back to the present.
Louis followed his gaze until he saw a man sitting alone on one of the benches. He didn't look like much and the quick scan of his thoughts showed them equally uninteresting. Lestat never chose boring victims, not when they were hunting together.
‘A bit plain, don't you think?’ Louis raised his eyebrows, feeling as if he was missing something when Lestat turned towards him, a playful smile dancing on his lips.
‘But Louis,’ Lestat's voice went giddy with barely contained laughter, his arm looping around Louis’ waist and pulling him towards the bench. ‘This man is a tractor salesman.’ He whispered into Louis’ ear then bit gently at his earlobe, fangs already out. When he leaned back his face was a picture of mischievous glee.
Louis snorted, elbowing his side, feigning enough exasperation as not to inflate Lestat's ego too much. But he knew Lestat saw right through him, saw that Louis was sufficiently intrigued.
‘How did you even find him?’
‘I didn't! That's the best part. He's just there. It's, comme tu dis , a stroke of luck, fate bringing the three of us together.’ Lestat laughed and Louis found it very difficult to keep a straight face.
‘Uh huh.’
‘Isn't it poetic, Louis?’
‘It's certainly something, that's for sure.’ He smirked, watching Lestat roll his eyes. ‘We're gonna eat now or write a poem about it?’
‘The art of romance is lost on you, you incorrigible creature.’ Lestat sighed dramatically, still leading Louis towards their victim. The man sat there, his back turned to them, not suspecting a thing.
‘You want to drain him out in the open, under the streetlamp?’ Louis murmured. ‘That's reckless.’ Even so, Louis could already feel his own fangs extending, hunger quickening his step.
‘There's no one around.’ Lestat stopped and turned toward Louis with a charming smile. ‘Which side do you prefer?’
‘I'm gonna go left.’ He decided with a little shrug, giving Lestat a brief kiss before he was stepping closer and circling the bench. Lestat was mirroring him step for step.
‘ Bonjour .’ Lestat sprawled himself on the bench, startling the man enough to make him flinch. ‘My husband here,’ He pointed his chin towards Louis who already slipped noiselessly to sit beside the man. ‘Is really interested in tractors , is that something you can help us with?’
‘Your husband?’ The man squeaked, jumping away from Louis, shocked to suddenly see him there, and colliding with Lestat, who was already putting one arm around his chest to hold him in place, covering his mouth with the other.
Louis felt hunger spread through his veins, making his gums itch with the need to bite. He caught Lestat's gaze and held it as he flashed his fangs. Lestat's eyes darken and he groaned softly. The word was playing inside his mind over and over again, like a broken record.
Husband , Louis repeated in his head, eyes not leaving Lestat as he lowered his head to the man's neck. Husband, he closed his eyes briefly as he bit into the flesh, then opened them again almost immediately, to see Lestat watching him back. Husband, as he drank deeply, the blood rich and sweet on his tongue. He could feel Lestat there, while they shared the blood between them. The constant chorus of his love and want was infusing the blood, making Louis moan under the onslaught of sensation.
It was over too quickly, both of them left panting, splayed heavily on the bench, the body of their victim silent and unmoving between them. Louis turned his head towards Lestat, still breathing heavily, but warm and sated. And happy. So fucking elated he could burst with it.
‘Husband, huh? That's a first.’
Lestat bit his lip, suddenly bashful, and Louis wanted to laugh, wanted to take him into his arms and never let go. He just needed a moment to catch his breath before all of that.
‘You seemed to enjoy it.’ Lestat shrugged, gaining confidence as he spoke, but there was still something apprehensive in his eyes. ‘And he seemed perfectly scandalised in his last moments. It's funny, what they choose to focus on, ne c'est pa s?’
‘I did enjoy it.’ Louis agreed, his smile too wide to be contained, not that he wanted it to be. ‘ Husband. ’ He repeated slowly, rolling the word on his tongue, as if he had spoken it for the first time. In some sense he did. At least for the first time aloud when talking about Lestat. And he liked how it sounded aloud even more than when he thought it. How it weighed on his tongue, a certain type of reassurance coming with it, a possessiveness he welcomed. ‘I like it.’
Louis watched Lestat melt, eyes hot and pupils wide, a flush on his cheeks that wasn't only from the blood. He outstretched his hand and Lestat immediately tangled their fingers together, squeezing so hard, Louis could hear his bones cracking.
‘Let's go.’
Louis stood up, pulling Lestat with him. He sighed contentedly at the way Lestat immediately plastered himself to his side, peppering his neck and jaw with kisses, until Louis tilted his head to offer his lips.
Lestat dived in hungrily, licking into Louis’ mouth, pressing him so close there was no room between them to breath. And Louis met him with matching fervour, not caring that they were still in public and barely a few feet away from a dead body.
It felt exhilarating to do this in the open, not hidden by the shadow of a building, or pressed against an alley wall. He grabbed Lestat's ass with both hands, thrilled by the simple fact that he could, pulling him impossibly closer.
Lestat hummed encouragingly, still busy with devouring every inch of Louis’ mouth. He tangled his fingers into Louis’ hair to keep him firmly in place and Louis let him do what he wanted, overwhelmed by Lestat's hot puffs of breath against his lips, seeming even more scorching because of the cool, night air.
They had to look utterly indecent, wrapped around each other as if they were trying to crawl under each other's skin, their hips grinding together slowly, sensually, the air filing with wet, obscene noises and breathy moans as their lips slid together.
Part of Louis, the one still able to form a coherent thought, was imagining someone walking by, seeing them writhing together. He felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought and, even if he knew that Lestat would never allow that, for a moment he wished that someone would see. The realisation was startling, but it was accompanied by an unexpected spark of arousal and Louis couldn't be bothered wondering what it said about him. Not when Lestat bit at his lips hard enough to draw blood then sucked it into his own mouth with a hungry growl.
It was much too soon before Lestat, to Louis’ dismay, was breaking the kiss, ignoring Louis’ protesting noises, ignoring the fact that Louis was willing to fuck right here, right next to a corpse they had drained minutes ago.
‘As much as I hate to say this,’ Lestat pulled away barely an inch, pressing the words against Louis’ pouting lips. His mouth brushed Louis’ chin, leaving a series of apologetic kisses there. ‘We need to go.’
‘Are you just set on teasing me tonight?’ Louis groaned, resting his head against Lestat's shoulder, as he tried to regain his breathing.
‘It wasn't my intention, chéri . You just look especially delectable tonight.’ Lestat grabbed his hand, walking them slowly away from the body on the bench, while Louis tried to force his legs to cooperate. ‘And you let me call you my husband. How could I resist?’
‘Next time you kiss me like that, I expect you to finish the job, understood?’
‘ Bien sûr , mon mari .’
‘You're gonna be insufferable about this, aren't you?’
Lestat sent him a cheeky grin, but didn't answer. Louis squeezed his hand tighter.
They walked slowly, not heading back to the townhouse yet, just wandering around. Louis followed Lestat as the other vampire led them, seemingly without any set destination in mind. From time to time Louis glanced towards Lestat, finding him with the same far away look from the evening. He seemed more lost in thought the longer they walked and Louis stayed quiet, loath to disturb whatever was going on inside his head. He was sure that he would find out sooner or later.
Despite what Louis assumed, it looked like Lestat did have a destination in mind, and it became clear the moment they started approaching Jackson Square. There were a few people walking around at this hour, a far cry from the privacy of before, but Lestat's hand was still firmly in his and Louis found himself having no desire to break the hold.
‘Louis, come sit with me.’ Lestat asked and Louis was momentarily startled by how fragile his voice sounded. He bit his lip and nodded, even though Lestat was already guiding them towards a bench.
‘Another bench?’ Louis teased, hoping to chase away the distant look in Lestat's eyes.
‘Our bench.’
Louis smiled but didn't comment further, letting Lestat gather himself and find the words he was so obviously searching for. Minutes passed, while they sat in silence, surrounded by the memories of all the times they had spent here exactly like this. Louis knew that, from all of New Orleans, he would miss this place the most when they leave.
‘Louis… What you said earlier about my mother, how you don't like…’ Lestat started haltingly, eyeing Louis with hesitance.
‘How I hate how her being here hurts you?’ Louis finished for him. Lestat flinched, at his words or the hard tone, he couldn't tell.
‘Yes. I was… I've been thinking about it a lot, even before you said anything.’ Lestat’s voice was soft, unsure. He was afraid, Louis thought suddenly, the realisation settling heavily in his stomach. There wasn’t much that could scare Lestat and yet, when Louis reached to hold his hand in between both of his, Lestat was trembling. He heard Lestat take a deep breath. ‘I wanted to talk to you, chéri , about what I feel for her. If you will allow me.’
Louis was nodding before Lestat managed to finish the sentence. It made Lestat let out a shaky laugh, even if his eyes were still wide and their crystal blue colour was misted red.
‘Of course.’ Louis said gently, trying to hide the uneasiness he was feeling. There was something in the way that Lestat’s gaze dropped like he was too nervous to look at Louis, in how his whole body was now wrecked by tremors, that made dread rise inside him. But it wasn’t about him. Lestat needed to talk, so Louis exhaled slowly, trying for a calm and reassuring tone. ‘Talk to me, Les.’
Lestat still kept his gaze down but his fingers laced with Louis’ and squeezed them with gratitude.
‘My mother and I, what we had… Louis, I don’t think it was healthy.’
Louis’ mind flashed to yesterday, to the red lipstick at the corner of Lestat’s mouth, to Lestat’s flushed face. He could feel his stomach turning but he didn’t say anything, letting Lestat fall into another long silence.
‘I was so lonely at the time. I don’t think I can even explain to you how it felt. After what Magnus did, I had no one. But suddenly, she was right there.’ Lestat shook his head, the strands of his blond hair falling from behind his ears and hiding his face from Louis’ eyes. Louis wanted to reach and fix them but found himself hesitant to do so.
‘Those first years with you, and then later with Claudia, that was my first glimpse of how family should be.’ Lestat spoke again, leaving Louis confused at the change of subject. ‘And I know we weren’t perfect, still aren't, but it is the first true family I had.’
Louis knew that. Maybe Lestat never said it out loud, but it wasn’t difficult to put together from what he had said. But knowing it and hearing it said in Lestat’s too fragile voice was different.
‘The point is that I never knew, Louis, and it didn’t feel wrong at the time. And then I didn’t let myself think about it for a long time, not until she came back.’
The weight was back in Louis’ stomach, heavier than before. He swallowed, feeling nauseous. The blood he drank barely an hour ago was fighting its way back to his throat. He was suddenly glad Lestat couldn’t see his expression because the truth, even if he somehow already suspected it, was slowly materialising as reality before him, and Louis couldn’t control the way his face contorted into revulsion.
He wished that Lestat would already say it, that he would get this over with, but Lestat seemed to clam up again, gripping Louis’ hand now with a quiet desperation, as if he was afraid that Louis would walk away if Lestat loosened his hold even a little bit.
‘What are you trying to say?’ Louis forced himself to ask. Lestat exhaled shakily, and this time he did raise his gaze to Louis. Whatever Louis was feeling before disappeared the instant their eyes met. The utter devastation on Lestat’s face was enough to erase everything other than the need to comfort him. Lestat searched his expression, his eyes almost violet now, rimmed with tears that were beginning to spill. What he saw there seemed to reassure him though, because his shoulders slumped in exhaustion and the words finally came, spilling out in a rush.
‘I don’t think Gabrielle has ever treated me like her son. And I called her my mother but she wasn’t really that. Not only that. For a long time she was everything. My mother, my friend, the only person to ever understand me. She never had much affection for me but what she gave me was all I had. When I became a vampire and my whole world crumbled, I felt so lonely. And there she was again, just like every other time I thought my life had ended. My everything. It felt only natural when I… when I kissed her.’ Lestat’s breath hitched, his eyes, round and ashamed, were staring straight at Louis. ‘When she became my lover as well.‘
Lestat’s grip loosened, letting his hand hang limply in Louis’ hold. Louis could feel him pulling away, emotionally and physically. But before he could do any of that Louis was letting go of Lestat’s hand, seeing the way Lestat’s expression already began to crumble in the second it took him to gather Lestat into his arms and hug him tightly. It seemed like the whole world quieted around them. There was only Lestat, clinging to him as if Louis was the only thing keeping him from drowning, his tears wetting Louis’ neck and painting his collar red.
Louis held him, murmuring reassurances into his ear until Lestat’s sobs subsided, turning into whimpers, then shaky exhales. Finally, he seemed to calm down, no longer trembling in Louis’ arms, his heartbeat steadying, copying Louis’ rhythm. Louis let him have another few minutes of silence before his lips moved to Lestat’s ear, kissing it gently.
‘Alright, love?’
Lestat nodded against his neck, then sighed and started to pull away from him. Louis let him have some space but still kept his arms loosely around his waist in case Lestat wanted to get too far away.
‘Forgive me, Louis.’ Lestat said, his voice was hoarse, and his face pale and smudged with red, eyes huge and bloodshot. He was looking like a macabre painting. He was the most beautiful creature in the world.
‘Ain't no shame in crying.’
Lestat’s face twisted with regret.
‘I mean, for what I told you.’
Louis sighed, gathering Lestat’s face in his hands, his thumbs trying to wipe away the blood from under his eyes, but succeeding only in smearing it further. Lestat’s eyes were fixed on him, unblinking.
‘I’m glad you told me. And it doesn’t change anything between us. We’re good, Les. I love you.’
It was as if Lestat was granted an absolution, which was ridiculous because Lestat never cared about being absolved of anything. But the way his whole body sagged, his smile turning huge and brilliant, like it hadn't been since the day that damned letter arrived, made Louis think that even if Lestat didn't need to be redeemed in God's eyes, maybe he needed to be in Louis’. Which felt both exalting and irreverent, so infuriatingly like Lestat, putting Louis’ forgiveness higher than that of any living thing or assumed deity.
Not that Louis felt any need to forgive him.
He couldn't pretend to understand it and he couldn't think about it too much without feeling revolted, but he wouldn't judge him. Not when he kept learning more about the physical and emotional abuse Lestat went through when he was a child, or the trauma he suffered when being turned into a vampire. It all made a twisted sort of sense. Louis felt regret for the boy Lestat once had been. But it made him adore the man Lestat became even more.
He let out a surprised sound when Lestat kissed him. The gratitude and relief was unmistakable in the way Lestat's lips touched his, brushing against them with reverence, enough for Louis to taste the tears and chase them with his tongue. Long, broad licks across Lestat's mouth and chin that made Lestat laugh breathlessly.
‘Do I look presentable now?’ He hummed, fingers playing with Louis’ hair, as Louis started to lick across his cheeks and under his eyes, changing from one side to the other without much thought, other than to chase the spots where the taste still lingered strong.
Finally, he pulled back, looking critically over Lestat's face, stopping on his too bright eyes that looked back at him, amused and fond.
‘That's the best I can do.’ Louis nodded, licking over his front teeth to catch the last of Lestat's blood, then grinned widely.
Lestat followed the movement with his eyes, before his gaze darted to the side and back. Louis frowned at the knowing smirk that slowly stretched his mouth.
‘Perhaps you can unfreeze them now?’
He stared at Lestat, unsure what he meant, until Lestat's hand slid from his hair to cradle his jaw and, with a gentle grip and a playful expression, guided him to look to the square. Louis gasped.
‘I'm doing this?’ He asked, amazed, watching the people suspended mid-move, like statues, the quiet that was suddenly so obvious but he missed it entirely. The whole square was frozen, except for him and Lestat.
‘Well, it's certainly not me.’ Lestat answered with a raised eyebrow and a giddy smile.
Louis would roll his eyes at him if he wasn’t so preoccupied with the fact that the whole of Jackson Square was still unmoving and Louis had no idea how he did it or even when it happened.
‘How do I undo it?’ He glanced at Lestat, worrying his lip. Lestat looked totally unconcerned. His thumb was brushing across the skin of Louis’ neck absentmindedly, his pupils were blown wide, while he watched Louis with intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. Lestat was getting turned on by Louis’ discovering his power. Louis would lie if he said it wasn’t thrilling, that it didn’t make him want to preen under Lestat’s adoring gaze. But he was starting to feel more freaked out by the second and it quickly dampened his desire. ‘Les, how do I unfreeze them?’
‘I suspect the same way you froze them. But in reverse.’ Lestat shrugged, flat and entirely unhelpful.
‘Lestat!’
He let out a long suffering sigh, like Louis was the unreasonable one here but didn’t try to argue. Instead, he let his hands fall from Louis’ face and leaned back on the bench, draping one arm around his shoulders. Louis felt him leave a kiss in his hair, before pressing lips against his ear.
‘Relax, mon cher .’ He whispered and Louis’ body immediately obeyed. Lestat waited a moment longer than hummed approvingly. ‘Good. Now find the connection to their minds.’ Louis focused, searching. And, sure enough, it was there. An invisible thread connecting his mind to the people around him. He breathed out in relief. ‘You have it? Now let them go. There , perfect. ’
Louis let out a disbelieving laugh because, suddenly, all around them life returned to normal, everyone started moving, behaving like no time passed at all.
‘I don't even know how I did that.’ He grinned at Lestat, incredulous, not even noticing that they were still sitting so close together. Too close, now that anyone could see them. Lestat's fingers started playing with his hair, as he considered Louis for a moment.
‘We can work on that.’ He waved his other hand dismissively, his gaze not leaving Louis. ‘That was magnificent, mon cher. ’ Louis shuddered at the adoration on Lestat’s face, the pride shining in his eyes. Something inside him was opening up at the praise, taking it in, finding it almost as delicious, as pleasurable, as drinking blood or having Lestat move inside him. ‘What a remarkable vampire you’ve turned out to be.’ Louis’s eyelids fluttered closed as he groaned, overwhelmed. ‘A truly wonderful companion. Far more than I could have ever imagined. My Saint Louis.’
‘Lestat.’ Louis whined, blindly finding his hand just to hold onto something. ‘We need to go home. Now.’
Lestat’s laugh was pure and loud, probably attracting the attention of every human still around. ‘ Eh bien, allons-y. ’
Their way home was much quicker. They kept to human speed but barely, fingers still tangled together. It seemed that once they started holding hands in public, once that invisible barrier was broken, they couldn't stop. If Louis were a little bit more clear-minded, he would probably worry about how they looked to the passerby, but at the moment all he could focus on was the warmth of Lestat's skin as his thumb caressed Louis with tenderness. No one paid them any mind though, rather the opposite, people seemed to ostentatiously look the other way as they walked by. He was almost certain that Lestat had something to do with that but couldn't bother to ask.
Once the door closed behind them and Lestat let him go to take off his coat, he felt the loss almost like losing his own limb.
‘Claudia, we're home!’ Lestat announced, loud and cheerful, only to frown when he was met with no response. ‘Claudia?’ He tried again. Louis watched as he focused, eyes becoming distant, while he searched for Claudia's heartbeat. ‘She isn't far.’ He said finally, but he still looked concerned. ‘Will you try to contact her?’
Louis nodded, trying not to let himself be too worried. It wasn't long until dawn, Claudia should have already been home.
Claudia? He tired, almost sagging with relief when the response was immediate.
Lou? Everything's alright?
We're fine. Where are you?
I was trying to contact you earlier but couldn't reach you. Claudia thought back and Louis could feel her. She was happy, almost vibrating with excitement through their connection. Beside him, Lestat was looking at him questingly.
‘She's fine.’
‘Where is she?’ Lestat asked, still frowning.
It's almost dawn. Where are you?
Don't be mad, Louis. She started hesitantly and Louis was worried again, especially when the excitement suddenly became mixed with guilt.
Why would I be mad?
Gabrielle offered that I could stay with her today.
What? Claudia! Louis projected too loudly, but he was too bewildered to keep his thoughts in check. What do you mean she offered you could stay with her?
I will be back tomorrow, I promise.
Claudia, you don't even know–
I love you both. See you!
And just like that the connection was broken and Louis was left with a whirlwind of thoughts running through his head and a painful twinge somewhere deep in his heart. He looked helplessly towards Lestat, whose eyes turned cold, lips pressed into a thin line.
‘She's staying with Gabrielle, isn't she?’
Louis nodded, swallowing hard.
‘I'm going to get her.’ Lestat looked determined, his voice shaking with fury that didn't bode well for that encounter.
Louis was grabbing him before he could take more than one step. It was enough to freeze Lestat in place, waiting, even as his whole body was vibrating with the urgency to go.
‘Don't.’ Louis said, startled by the way his own tone went quiet and shaky. He squeezed Lestat's biceps, trying to ground himself, feeling a little bit of his confidence returning as Lestat turned to him.
‘I can have us both back here before sunrise.’ Lestat assured, as if that was the issue.
‘I'm not letting you drag her back here by force.’ Louis shook his head. No matter how tempting the thought was, he knew they couldn't do it to Claudia.
‘She should be home with us. I can't believe Gabrielle would–’’
‘Lestat.’ Louis’ sharp tone made Lestat press his lips even harder together, but he didn't try to say anything else. Instead he watched Louis, his gaze intense and attentive, making Louis feel like a lion tamer, like his words were the only thing holding the beast at bay. ‘Tell me you know that we can't do that.’
For a moment it looked like Lestat would rebel. He was already opening his mouth to argue but something in Louis’ expression made him shut them again, his teeth clicking together audibly. His lips curled in disdain.
‘I know.’ He drawled through clenched teeth. It was painfully easy to see the lie, but Louis felt too tired to call him out on it. The only important thing right now was that Lestat wasn't trying to storm out in search of Claudia. Even if he was doing it only to appease him, Louis would take that as a win.
Lestat's arms wrapped around him, slowly at first, as if he was unsure if it was allowed, until Louis sighed and Lestat, confidence returned, gathered him into a tight embrace. Louis let himself breathe him in, hoping his familiar smell would ease the pain slowly growing in his chest. But even as he nuzzled into Lestat's neck he couldn't stop the uneasiness he felt. The sense of foreboding that Gabrielle brought with her yesterday grew stronger, until Louis was clutching to Lestat's sides with a strength that made Lestat hiss in pain.
He quickly apologised but Lestat's attention was already back on his face. Louis had no idea what Lestat could read from his expression but Lestat's own twisted into something hard and determined, even as his hands cupped Louis’ jaw gently, as if he was a fragile thing. It felt good, safe, and Louis let himself get lost in those eyes that were so familiar and comforting.
He tried to distract himself from thinking about Claudia, especially from thinking about how it was the first night she had spent away from home since she returned to them. Instead, he reached out, just as Lestat taught him once.
Claudia’s mind was closed to him but he was able to find her heartbeat, steady and strong. It was still beating in sync with his own. His hand went to Lestat's heart without thinking, finding the same rhythm there. Lestat looked down, immediately catching onto what Louis was trying to do. He slid his hand down from Louis’ jaw, mirroring him, his palm settling over Louis’ own heart.
Louis found himself finally able to breathe again, feeling their connection thrumming just underneath his skin. It pulsed, alive and solid, in his veins. Their family. Lestat's eyes softened and his lips relaxed into a tender smile and Louis knew that he was thinking the same thing.
The uneasy feeling was still there but Claudia was safe and happy and that was everything Louis ever needed to know. And tomorrow… Tomorrow he would hug his daughter and ask her what she'd bought. Maybe she would even agree to give them a show.