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As the Christmas Eve of 1973 rolled its head over into Christmas morning, and children all around New York City lay anxiously awaiting the delights of the presents and feasts that came with the day, Daniel Molloy had found himself, for once, laying in his own bed, in his own apartment, as the clock struck twelve. Though Armand had discovered that the sun had little effect on him anymore with his age, the two had still leaned towards a nocturnal lifestyle, enjoying the nightlife of the city over its busy days. Daniel had learnt to appreciate this, especially now as it let him escape from the constant rush of present-buyers and tourists that swarmed the city.
It was a cold Tuesday morning, as many mornings were during the very centre of winter. Their apartment was on the top floor of a lavish eight-floor building, and from outside the window snow had almost obscured any distinct vision of the world below. The dwindling flickers of seven small candles from Daniel’s Menorah at the window cast a low orange light around the room, mixed with the frosted colours of the oversized fir tree that stood muted below on the streets, its own lights flashing in sync.
Neither Daniel or Armand had any interests in celebrating Christmas, not having grown up catholic like Louis had. Daniel was doing his best to engage in Hanukkah this year, even though he was states away from his family and knew few other Jewish people in New York well enough to celebrate with them. This was little issue though, as Armand was thrilled to learn all he could about the celebration, spending hours in the near-by library reading up on its history and asking Daniel every question that came into his head. In a rare moment of honesty in his past, he had revealed that Louis and he had celebrated Christmas most years, in one way or another, during their time together, but now he was dedicated to celebrating with Daniel. He had even been bringing sufganiyot acquired from a kosher bakery a block away for Daniel for the past few days, watching him eat them in that unsettling way he did with his orange eyes, while informing Daniel of the history of the fried goods.
The two had decided to stay in for the night of Christmas eve, and were now curled up together on Daniels bed in the silence of the night. In the rare times that Armand wasn’t dragging him to every corner of the city, Armand had become more domestic. Had you told Daniel three years ago that he’d be quietly running his hands through the thick black curls of a 465 year old vampire in their shared apartment, he’d probably assume whatever his drug of choice that night had taken a delusional side effect on him. But here he was, being domestic with his immortal lover.
“Would you like to go out for lunch today?” Armand quietly asked from beside him. “Lunch?” Daniel repeated, since Armand had been more hesitant to go outside during the day even now that the sun didn't burn him into dust.
“Yes, lunch. Jewish people living in America will often have meals at Chinese restaurants during Christmas time, do they not? ” Armand's extensive (and obsessive) research was flattering at times, to have someone care enough about you to learn all they could about your festivities and interests.
“Uh, I mean, I guess some of them do. But we don’t have to go out during the day if you don't want to, I know you don't really like the sun even–.”
“ Nonsense .” Armand cut him off and sat himself up to look Daniel in the face. “There is a restaurant just down the street we could go to, and I am sure that the snow will continue throughout the day so there is little worry of the sun bothering me.”
Daniel couldn’t think of an argument against that, or really any reason not to go for lunch. That restaurant did make good food, and he wanted more than anything to continue this domestic streak going with Armand.
“Sure then, it's a date,” he said, smiling upwards. Armand softly grinned back, satisfied to have what he wanted, as always. He gently cupped Daniel's jaw with his hands and brought their faces together, lightly kissing him in the small hours of the night. They stayed like this for a while longer, exchanging delicate kisses and then curling up together again, until slowly Daniel was drawn down by the pull of sleep.
Daniel awoke with the sun, an experience he hadn’t felt for at least a year. Beside him the bed lay empty, but the loud wrrring from the kitchen instantly alerted him to Armand's location so there was no fear that he had been deserted for the hours of the day. The presence of any variety of electronic kitchenware had been a recent staple in their lives, with notable mention to the blender and microwave which had enraptured Armand. Though the joy he saw in his lover at the devices was present, Daniel did not find the same entertainment at what he considered simple machinery.
He walked in his sluggish tiredness to the kitchen, and wrapped his hands around Armand's waist, learning his head over the shorter vampire's shoulder.
“We still on for lunch today?” Daniel asked, coming out as more of a mumble into Armand's collarbones.
Pausing from his blending, Armand lent his head slightly into Daniel's head of curls.
“If you still wish to, I believe that the restaurant opens in a couple hours. Would you like something for breakfast for now?” He offered up the completely unappealing contents of his blender with a sardonic smirk. Daniel blanched at the thought.
“ I’ll make myself something, thanks,” and he detached himself to turn on the coffee machine.
At some point Armand shuffled elegantly over to their expensive record player, putting on a classical piece that Daniel neither recognised nor knew they had owned. Armand turned back to face him, and reached an arm out as he asked “Dance with me?”
“Dance?” Daniel said, an incredulous note in his voice. “ You know I can't do that kind of dancing.” Even so, Daniel placed his mug on the counter top and walked over to his lover.
“Don’t worry, I'll lead.” and Armand placed one of his slender clawed hands onto Daniel's hip, the other snaking around his neck. “Just trust me.”
And Daniel did.
They glided around the open space of the room, neither wanting to even breath so loud as to disturb the dance. For his lack of training, Daniel caught onto the beat quickly and started worrying less if he was out of step or going to trip on Armand's feet. They spun and spun and spun, and suddenly there was nothing else. Any thoughts of vampires and death and the outside world fell away, and for a wonderful, solitary moment it was just them, alone in the world but for the company of the other.
“I love you, you know that right?” Daniel said, looking into the flaming pits of Armand's eyes. There was no way that he couldn’t know, for right now it was the only thought running through Daniels head. Every vampire this side of the equator probably knew by now, the intensity of the thought projecting loud and wide and full of hopeless joy.
At that, Armand pulled Daniel closer into a hug more vulnerable than usually possible for the ancient thing he was.
“Of course I know that Daniel, but it never hurts to hear you say it again.” He replied, voice full of the demonic softness he possessed. “ And I love you too, my dearest darling beloved. I'd tell you that every day if you wished to hear it.”
Daniel grinned ardently and pulled Armand to him for a kiss. The song had long since faded out and was being quickly replaced by the noises of New York City coming to life outside the window.
“Shall we get ready for lunch?” Armand asked, pulling back slightly from their embrace.
Though they had not noticed any effects of the sun as of yet, Armand still took to applying a liberal layer of sunscreen any time he went out in the sunlight, as well as wearing a seasonally inappropriate sunhat, with a brim so wide it looked comical. Daniel begged the vampire to just wear a beanie or a cap as to avoid unnecessary attention, but his pleas were in vain and the hat once again left the apartment with them.
Departing their apartment via the elevator that always thrilled Armand in its mechanical processes, the two stepped out onto the busy street and were almost instantly met with a group of drunk Santa Clauses stampeding down the street. Had it been night-time, Armand wouldn’t have hesitated from pulling one from the group and draining their blood, an easy meal and enough alcohol in the blood to give him a delightful buzz to make the night a little more fun. Daniel could see the thought pass through Armand's head beside him and promptly grabbed his wrists and started walking towards the restaurant.
“ Please don’t kill a Santa.” He quipped, though there was no serious nature to his voice and he knew that he would likely see Armand drain one of the red-and-white hatted people swarming the city by the night's end. Armand said nothing, only tugging his arm away from Daniels grip and speeding ahead with glee.
They arrived at the restaurant within minutes, Daniel quickly hustling into the store to escape the cold outside, followed by Armand who was indifferent to the weather but equally interested in getting inside as to hide from the sun. It was already populated by a family, three couples and an elderly man each on their respective tables, and a kind looking waiter ushered Daniel and Armand towards a table near the back, placing two menus down with them and departing with a smile.
Daniel opened the menu eagerly and perused through the dishes while Armand took a quick glance at the drinks menu before deciding on a cup of tea to warm his hands (Daniel was incredibly pleased to notice that the stupid sunhat had been removed now that they were indoors).
“What do you think about a fried rice? Maybe some dumplings or a plate of vegetables?” Daniel asked for Armand's' approval of his choices even if he wasn’t going to eat it.
“The fried rice has prawns in it, does it not? Shellfish are not kosher Daniel.” Armand said, looking slightly confused in a nice but mocking way. Daniel ignored his judgement.
“I can just get the vegetarian one, that's fine. Look, there's even a sign at the counter saying that they use kosher ingredients. These restaurants know their customers Armand, you don’t have to worry for me. ”
Armand grinned, satisfied that Daniel had passed some kind of mental quiz he was giving him. The waitress from earlier came back over, still with the same smile but now equipped with a small notepad and pen.
“What can I get for you boys today?”
Daniel quickly shared his dishes and Armand politely asked for his tea, and the waitress was speeding off again, paying no mind to them beyond their orders. They were unmistakably not brothers, and though the 70s had brought with them a wave of movement towards queer rights, Daniel knew that there were still many restaurants that they would get dirty looks and the side eye for attending. It was rather comforting to be somewhere where none of that mattered, to these people they were just two boys having lunch.
They chattered quietly while they awaited the food, about nothing at all in the grand scheme of things. For all his eternity, Armand found moments like this incomparable to anything else. In his years he’d known love and loss and every emotion between that at every extreme, but for once he didn’t need to be or do anything other than himself. He was allowed to just smile and gaze and love his Daniel and that was enough for today.