Chapter Text
The day had gone okay. Daniel kept an arm around Armand's waist as they wandered the compound, and even though he didn't fuck Armand against the wall like he was hoping, they shared enough kisses and just-noticeable-enough groping to send the message pretty clearly.
You're being fucking insufferable, Louis had spoken in Daniel's head. Not just cause it's him, you're acting like a couple of teenagers.
Are you just jealous cause your boyfriend went off without you?
Silence.
Daniel had sighed. He'd been too caught up in Armand–which he didn't mind, he loved being caught up in his love–that he had neglected to talk to Louis. Louis who was floundering perhaps the worst of them all.
Daniel told Armand, "Hey, kid, I gotta go talk to Louis real quick. You'll be alright, yeah?"
"Yes, beloved, go," Armand said with a nod.
The day had gone okay until Daniel left and Armand wandered the compound by himself. Until he turned a corner and saw Marius.
Marius talking to Santino. Santino who had taken Armand from the palazzo in Venice, who had killed his beloved Riccardo, had tried to kill his master.
And Marius was smiling and speaking to him like they were old friends.
It was as if a rope was pulled tight around Armand's chest, his dead heart, constricting the blood flow through his cold body.
He turned around and numbly walked back to the room he shared with Daniel, sat against the side of the coffin, and clutched his head in his hands.
You were supposed to protect me. Why didn't you come to save me? Why are you talking to him? It's like nothing happened. Nothing that meant anything to you.
His fingernails pricked his scalp, his body shook, his lungs taking deep, gasping breaths he did not need that rattled his chest.
Why did you leave me there?
After everything you told me in Venice?
Did you grow tired of me?
Were you glad to be rid of me?
Did I mean nothing to you in the end?
The door creaked open. Rushed footsteps.
"Armand? Armand."
Daniel crouched next to Armand, "Baby, what happened?"
Armand reached out and balled his hands in Daniel's shirt, sharp nails piercing through the fabric. "I saw him. And I saw—"
Armand pounded a fist against Daniel's chest. "Like the fire had never happened. Daniel—"
"Kid, you're not making any sense. Who? Marius and who? What fire?"
Armand let out a sob and drove another fist against Daniel's chest. And another. "I can't—daddy," he croaked out. "Please, I can't—"
A pattering of blows onto Daniel's chest.
Daniel grabbed Armand's wrists. "Easy, kiddo. Quit that."
Armand shuddered and jerked against Daniel.
Please, he thought, please.
He did not know what he was pleading for.
"Easy. Easy," Daniel repeated and grabbed onto Armand more firmly.
"Daddy, please, I need you—"
"I know," Daniel whispered, clutching Armand to his chest. "Hey, I've got you."
Armand nodded, shaking, wrists still in Daniel's firm grasp as Daniel manhandled him so Armand's back was against his chest. Pinning him there. Solid, comforting.
Daniel was wrapping a length of rope—where did he get that? Armand wondered dimly—around Armand's wrists, then around his neck like a collar. Bent his legs at the knee and bound them firmly.
Then rocked the now-limp Armand on his lap as Armand bawled.
"Shh, shh. Daddy's gotcha. I'm so sorry, kiddo. Those fuckers don't deserve you in the first place." He pressed a kiss against Armand's temple. "That's it, let it out. Don't worry, kid. I've got you now."
Armand cried, "Was I bad kid?"
"Doesn't matter. No kid deserves that."
Armand shuddered and let himself melt into Daniel's embrace. "I'm sorry, daddy."
"Got nothing to be sorry for." A pause. "Well, about that, at least. Other things—"
Armand let out a small laugh, wet from his tears.
"But you're not a bad kid. You're my kid. That's what matters."
Reaching out with bound hands, Armand caressed Daniel's face. "Daddy? Kiss me?"
Daniel lovingly obliged, kissing Armand's cheek, forehead, nose, the shell of his ear, his eyelid, and finally, his soft lips. Armand sighed, content with being tied up and unable to do anything but feel his love's lips on his body.
"I'm glad I get to be your kid," he mumbled quietly as Daniel propped his chin atop Armand's head.
"Yeah, well," Daniel kissed his dark, curly hair, "I'm glad I get to be your daddy."