Chapter Text
Day 14 Post Azalea - Arven Picnic Night
Lestat walked into the house, and gasped out loud.
Louis eyed him carefully. “I hope you don’t mind. I redecorated.”
Maharet had told him that Lestat had only been assigned the house when he made Chief-in-training and never had a chance to replace the basic furnishing that the Council provided. With that knowledge, Louis had resolutely packed away the austere furniture, redone the walls in rich, lush colours and brought in statement pieces that had flair and elegance. The place now felt alluring yet still homey and welcoming.
Lestat wandered around in amazement, his fingers hovered over the fabric of the armchairs and the polish of the wooden tables. “This can’t have been the same house. So beautiful... it’s very much your vibe, Louis.”
“I had hopes that it’s your vibe as well. We can change things if you don’t like it.”
“Non, Louis. Très magnifique. I love it.” He took Louis’ hand and kissed it. “You’re talent is limitless.”
“Oh, it’s just new furniture and few colours.”
“It’s why you did it that is important to me. This is a brand new start for me, for us, Louis.”
Louis’ heart banged painfully against his chest. He tugged at Lestat’s hand and whispered. “Come and have a look at upstairs.”
There was little changes in the bedroom. Bookshelves, new armchairs with cushions and a few russet coloured comforters thrown on the bed, all shimmering silk in the dusk light that poured in through the sky roof. And in a comfortable nook, a dog’s bed.
Lestat seemed overcome with emotions.
“I got the bed, so you’ll have to get Mojo’s bowls and toys. But they’d better be colour coordinated.” He chuckled when Lestat glanced at him alarmed. “I’m only joking.”
Louis flung the wardrobe door wide open and showed Lestat their clothes. All neatly arranged in pile, side by side. He waved with flourish and blushed when he saw Lestat’s eyes.
There was something different in them tonight, Louis was almost certain that it meant what he’d been wishing for all along- steps or maybe leaps and bounds into Lestat’s heart? But he had placed the control in Lestat’s hands so he reminded himself to not push hard.
He said cheerfully. “You go on have shower. I’ll have mine after.”
When Lestat disappeared into the bathroom, Louis stormed the wardrobe for clothes he was gonna wear. Noticing his shaky hands, he forced himself to calm down. Louis, he’s already your man. If things happen tonight, it’s not like you haven’t been with him before. Be cool. But he couldn’t be cool when he thought about how much he needed to hold Lestat again.
It felt too soon when Lestat reappeared with a towel around his waist. He was dewy, pink and golden all over under the sky light. And quite naked.
He caught Louis staring and a small smile appeared. “Shower is free, amour.”
Louis blushed fiercely and ran into the bathroom and locked it. Oh, Lord... why are we back here again? The exact same thing happened in this bathroom not that long ago, a lifetime ago- Lestat teasing him from behind the door, while he, Louis, wrinkling in the bath water, had a meltdown, almost too petrified to come out. And here he was thinking that he’d gotten better at being virginal at this sex thing.
It’s fine. It’s fine. He took his time in the shower, half-hoping, half-dreading that by the time he came out, Lestat would’ve gotten dressed and perhaps even be waiting downstairs like last time.
But when he came back out, Lestat was lying on the bed, very much naked. All rational thoughts left Louis’ head as he stared at him, stupefied.
“You sure took your time, mon chéri. Come to me.” He patted the bed space next to him.
“Why are you not dressed?”
“You will just take it all off, why bother?”
“A-aren’t we gonna be late?”
“It’s a picnic, not a life-saving surgery. Also, we have one hour.”
“Are you sure?” Louis watched him carefully. Dimples on cheeks and sparkles in Lestat’s blown-up pupils… He really wanted to believe that his man was alright.
“Yes. Come here so I can show you how sure I am.” Lestat leaned back and between his legs was a tell-tale sign that he couldn’t be more sure. “You seeing this?”
“How can anyone not see that! But just to be certain...” Louis dropped his towel and leapt on him. Lestat promptly rolled them around so he was on top and both his hands were in Louis’ hair. Then he kissed Louis’, a long, searing kiss that was better than any that Louis could remember. It left him breathless, thinking how appropriate it was that Lestat’s fire would burn all the oxygen in his body. But also here he was, breathing life back into Louis with every touch of his mouth.
When he pushed Lestat back, Louis was almost bowled over by the desire in those dark eyes.
“I miss you, Louis.”
“I miss you, too, my love.”
“Thank you for coming to Arven to find me.” Lestat sounded rather polite, as if giving a speech. And then his mouth found Louis’ nipple and sucked hard... So much for polite.
“Thank you for defending and staying in Arven for me. It couldn’t have been an easy decision.” He switched his attention to the other nipple and Louis gripped the sheet helplessly.
“Thank you for the chocolates.” He bit Louis’ hip and ignored the twitching hard cock next to his face. “And the puppies, the coffee, the champagne, the music and the library.” Kisses were planted generously to his thighs, knees, calves and feet.
Louis kept his fist clenched and his eyes open as Lestat’s golden head slowly came back up again. Every single one of Louis’ senses had never felt more alive in anticipation of what was to come.
Lestat's voice was now hoarse with lust. “And thank you for always being in my corner, all patient and loving, Louis.”
Fuck.... Louis loved Lestat’s mouth so much, especially when it swallowed his whole length down without any constraint. And the way his tongue glided inside that always turned Louis’ bones into mass of wobbling jelly. Whatever, bones are overrated anyway. Right now, Louis couldn’t remember a single instance when he needed them.
Aside from the heightened sensation of being boneless, he was also reduced into a mewling being as he came into his lover’s mouth. And Louis had never mewled before in his life... The ripple of his climax lasting longer and further when he saw Lestat’s pleased smirk between his thighs.
Lestat had resurfaced, kissing all the way up back onto his lips. “Mmm, Louis de Lioncourt... What does that mean, mon cœur?”
He managed a weak whisper. “It means I love you, brat.”
“Louis, you do so much for me... Am I worth it?”
Louis lifted their entangled hands and kissed Lestat's. “Too late for buyer’s remorse now, 'cause there’s no return policy. But, fuck yes, baby, of course you are.”
“Mmm.” Lestat watched Louis squirm as he inserted a well-lubed finger in. “You have the fate of the portal and lives of millions of people in your hands tonight, Louis.”
“Don’t forget Maharet also has a remote.”
“But she’s not the one I’m about to fuck, is she?”
Ugh, he could always make Louis shiver uncontrollably with just words, but in this case, it might have been what his finger was doing, no, make that plural, fingers...
“You're the most powerful man on this side of the galaxy, mon chéri Louis.”
“Oh, you like it that I got that kind of power, huh? Oh, holy hell! What's that you're doing?” His back arched up, his eyes stared at the sky roof, quite literally seeing stars. Those insistent clever fingers soon had Louis whining. “No, no, don’t stop, please.”
“This power play mmmhh, qu'est-ce que t'es sexy...” Lestat again was sucking and biting his nipples swollen that Louis never realised there were even more fingers opening him now. “And what does that make the man who fucks you, huh?” His lips nibbling on Louis’ ear now.
“Brave? Presumptuous?”
“The alpha, amour. I’m taking control back into my hands.” Lestat kissed him again, while his fingers bent and made Louis’ eyes water as he teetered at the edge of the same cliff he was at just a few moments ago. Surely, he couldn’t be back there again so soon, but the fingers kept going and Louis was shuddering… and he came... again.
“Baby, we’re running out of time.” Louis laid there, exhausted, as Lestat resumed kissing and licking. “Please, can you just stick it in already?” He had never been so sexually content and frustrated at the same time.
His obstinate man huffed and continued his work. “Stick it in? Mon tresor, prélude is very important, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Lestat, you have preluded twice. Pease just fuck me.”
His beloved finally relented and sat up, his hands placed underneath Louis’ buttocks, lifting them up in line to his cock. As the sky darkened behind him, Lestat’s eyes, dark blue in this lighting, were hyperfocused, like a wolf looking at his prey.
Then he began sinking into Louis, slowly and gently.
Despite the pauses, Louis trembled at the overwhelming stretch and burn. Lestat rubbed his side comfortingly. “Alright, amour? I know, I know… I’m sorry... . Un peu plus.”
He stared back at Lestat, belatedly caught on that his lover was sweating and shaking. How much control must he be exerting right now to not straight up slam into him, to not hurt him.
It made him babble incoherently. “I love you, Lestat. You’re the only one. There’s ever only you. For me.”
Soon, he felt Lestat flushed against him. Closing his eyes, his legs constricted around Lestat’s waist and he felt kisses on his temple and ear. “Tu es l’étoile de ma vie, Louis. Je t’aime tellement.”
After what felt like an eternity, Lestat began the long pull out and slow thrust in, and there was no kiss, no matter how good could distract Louis from that. All his emotions and senses seemed to be suspended in thick, hot molasses that Lestat had enveloped him in. He was made to feel safe and cherished. He could do nothing but let go of himself, trusting that Lestat would take them to over the edge and land them safely on the other side.
He had Lestat’s hair in his hands and in his mouth. Being the receptacle of that much love had bared all his nerves open, he was overstimulated, aching and raw, but at the same time, he was grateful that he could feel so much, because here was Lestat's great big love, being poured into him again and again.
He sobbed from the immensity of it all and Lestat licked his tears and continued to love him. He didn’t know if he could take anymore but he would die if Lestat stopped. Yes, yes, give me all of you...
He arched into Lestat, as if there was any more gap to close between their bodies, but his beloved was simply not close enough.
Louis wanted to deplete their bodies of all air and fluid, compact their entangled limbs, pulverise them into one unidentifiable mess. So that when the future archeologist unearth them, no one could figure out that they were two separate persons. Because they were not. Louis and Lestat were one.
Lestat’s lips moved on top of his. “Come, mon ange. I’ve got you.”
That was what Louis needed to fall off the edge. He cried out and went limp, only vaguely aware of the swell and release of Lestat’s cock inside him.
They stayed immobile for a long time, just breathing and hanging on to each other in bliss. He'd only realised he had tears on his cheeks when Lestat wiped them with concern. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine... more than fine. I’m amazing.” He laughed. “Holy shit...”
“You’re still talking, I must not have done a good enough job.” Lestat smiled and threw his leg over on Louis. They kissed and rolled around in bed for a while.
“You should take control more often in the future, baby. That was something else.”
"My hack-therapist said that I should start by making one someone happy and their happy dust would rub on me."
"Did he mean this though specifically?"
"Oh, yeah. He said sex with Louis is a good start."
Louis opened his eyes. “Remind me to send Armand flowers.” He stroked Lestat’s face. “Well, did you get sprinkled by my happy dust, my love? ”
“Oui, amour. I got sprinkled by something for sure."
“Shut up.” Louis blushed fiercely.
"Your face, the noises you made when you came was natural antidepressant, really.”
After a while, Lestat said to Louis' neck. "It's not just because of his advice. I wanted to, Louis. I needed you to know how much I love you."
"I always know." They kissed again. “Hey, I thought about something else you could take control of. How about if you press the button tonight?”
Lestat said breathless. “Wow, yeah, that’d be amazing... It’s like turning off the light in a corner of the universe.”
Louis cupped his face. “Ah, you look beautiful when power drunk. Are you going back to the Farm tonight or-?”
“I’d like stay over, if you’ll have me.”
They indulged in more kissing when suddenly a loud ringing started from the pile of clothes on the armchair. They were groaning in synch when Louis suddenly jumped, realising that it was the ansible.
Pressing the button and Merrick immediately screeched into the room. “Lou! We cleared the portal barely five minutes ago and I got stream of messages from David. Listen, Santino began transit in SS Venezia shortly after Azalea entered the portal! Louis, their sole mission is to keep the portal open then defend it and they are about twenty minutes from your end. You have to close the gate now or it’s all over for Arven!”
Louis felt icy cold water down his spine. “Fuck!” He should’ve known Sol would not take this lying down. But, for Raglan James to be able to dispatch a warship within such a short time was admittedly quite an extraordinary feat. Sol must have been desperate. Arguably, Santino didn’t have to do much, just take out the reactors near the gate, then wait for backup.
He pulled pants and shirt on and saw that Lestat was doing the same. They ran downstairs and out the door in record time. The Épervier rose as Lestat talked into his sonn.
“I know, I know! Louis has just got the message. We’re coming over now. Three minutes.”
Turning to Louis, he said. “Maharet gave Rhosh an ansible, and he’s just told her the same thing. She’s at the picnic, waiting for us.”
They flew towards the lake. Both were quiet, brain working on overdrive. Soon, they saw it. The lights, the festive food and drinks, the music and the merry people.
“Guess no one told these guys yet.” Louis said drily.
“Mass hysteria won't help our case.”
They parked haphazardly and jumped out, and were immediately surrounded by members of the Arven Council.
Mael, a tall, serious looking man was talking. “Didn’t I say we should’ve detonated it two weeks ago? If we did that then, we wouldn’t be here now.”
Marius said solemnly. “Majority of us voted against that, Mael. It was a humane decision.”
Khayman grunted. “You had compassion for them. Do you think they’d extend the same courtesy to us?”
Louis cut into their conversation. “Look, guys, there’s not much time. It’s twelve minutes until they emerge at our end. What is it gonna be, councillors?”
“Press the button.” Maharet said. A few others mumbled their agreement.
Akasha yelled, “Press it!”
Louis turned to Lestat and offered his comm. “Here you go.”
Lestat looked around at all of them. “Are we really okay with this? Killing a ship full of humans? I mean, how many people are in there?”
“Give or take thirty to forty.” Daniel replied. “Santino is a a little shit and so are his crew. They are bad news. I always tried to stay far away from them.”
Seth objected. “But they are still people. Perhaps they could be persuaded to defect. If we don’t have to kill, we shouldn’t.”
Fareed concurred. “It’s our duty to try do no harm.”
Louis exhaled. “Listen, their objective is to keep the damn gate open. They won’t be coming down for a cup of tea and a chat and be sweet-talked to. Within seconds of their exit, they’ll disable the reactors with EMP weapons, and we lose all control of the situation. They’ll stay by the gate, defend it if necessary and wait for the armada to arrive.”
“We took Azalea’s weapons. We can take them on.” Armand said. “Right, babe?”
Daniel smiled. “I love your enthusiasm, Boss, but we have two Landers and two Explorers. We are not equipped for any sort of battle with The Venezia.”
Louis gritted his teeth. “We should’ve moved faster with the ship design.”
“Should’ve, would’ve are useless words.” Maharet said calmly. “Lestat, the Council has decided. You know that I have the remote too, but I want you to press the button.”
They all stared at Lestat, whose hand gripped Louis’ comm. He was biting his lip.
“Five minutes, Lestat.” Daniel warned.
The blonde was breathing slowly. Sweat trickled down his forehead.
“Listen, baby, I don’t like to do this either, but it’s entirely their fault for ignoring my warning.”
Lestat nodded and exhaled, his fingers hovered over the remote. He looked at everyone and they all nodded encouragingly at him.
A blinding flash briefly turned the sky into day time. The crowds surrounding the lake, completely unaware of the drama on the hill where the councillors stood, gasped aloud. Their excited faces all lifted towards the night in anticipation.
“Good.” Maharet smiled.
Daniel grinned at Lestat. “Well done.”
Armand chuckled and pat Lestat’s back. “Looking of the state of their clothes, I’m sure that wasn’t the only thing he did well.” He laughed again when Louis blushed. "Enjoy the rest of the party."
The council members slowly dissipated, one by one joining their friends and family amongst the crowd.
Louis only just noticed that Lestat was still looking at the comm in his hand with a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“I didn’t press the button, Louis. I was about to, but I didn’t get a chance.”
“What? But Maharet didn’t do it. She didn’t have the remote in her hand when it happened.”
They both looked at each other bewildered, and then their gazes slowly went to the faraway blue mountain.
“Oh yeah, that makes sense.” Louis smiled.
Lestat was laughing now. “She would always out-Alpha all of us, honestly.” He said quietly towards the direction of Belgium. “Thanks, Mekare.”
Louis intertwined their fingers together. “I’m glad you didn’t have to, baby. But, now let's see you press the button for the real thang.”
Knowing that the actual destruction of the gate in the orbit would be too underwhelming for the picnic goers, the Council had actually installed real fireworks on-ground to launch right after it. Lestat clicked onto a different remote and pressed the button with gusto. "Eat this!"
This time there were flickering lights and brilliant flashes. Dramatic bangs, wheezing and crackling as fireballs shot up to the sky and exploded, scattering into fire-blooms and thousands of sprinkling stars.
The crowd whooped and cheered louder than before and the music got even more livelier.
“Must we go down there and join them?”
“Yeah, otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it from Bricks. She wanted to show me her dress.”
“Okay, but before that...” Lestat leaned in to kiss Louis and felt his lover smile throughout it.
The End