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"Lestat, no."
"Why not?"
"Because you're being ridiculous!"
"And you are being needlessly stubborn. We are evenly matched!"
Lestat's excited smile never lost its luster, but his eyes had become soft and pleading. He looked like an overgrown puppy and well, Louis had a tendency of eating them. Yet his forbidding stare had no effect on his beloved : Lestat was vibrating on the couch, barely containing himself from sweeping Louis in his arms, and holding a blindfold oh so innocently.
"I don't see why I have to be blindfolded," complained Louis.
"Because it's a surprise! How are you supposed to be surprised if you can see the surprise?"
"It's not like I'll know where we'd be going anyway, if you don't tell me beforehand. I don't have an integrated GPS in my brain to figure out our destination mid-flight."
Lestat let out an aggrieved sigh. He left the couch and decided to crowd Louis in his armchair. For a second, Louis hoped that Lestat would simply sit on the armrest, but Lestat plopped down in his lap and snuggled to his chest. Louis' arms instinctively cradled him closer and really, it wasn't fair the way he made Louis shiver just by nuzzling his neck.
Lestat twisted his hands behind his neck, gently tugging on the twists at the back of his head.
"Mon cher," he said, honeyed words flowing from his seductive mouth, "didn't you say you wanted to go on a vacation, a couple of weeks ago? Just the two of us, no tour, no band, no fans?"
"Yes," sighed Louis.
"Didn't you say you wanted to go somewhere you've never been before?"
"I did."
Lestat kissed him on the cheek. "And you do know that for me to be able to pull off a vacation like that, my manager and PR team can't find out about it and we'd have to cut contact with everybody for a few days. It would have to be completely spontaneous."
"I do..."
"Then why won't you let me sweep you off your feet and bring you to a romantic vacation for a few days, mon cher?"
Louis' fingers slipped under his beloved's shirt, tracing patterns on the skin of his lower back, cool and hard and perfect. He managed to maintain a flat tone as he said, "And I assume I have no say in where we'd be going on this romantic vacation, hmm? If we are going, of course."
"Well, no, not on this one. Because it's a surprise, Louis! But you can arrange the next one to any destination of your choosing. You can even kidnap me from the stage and whisk me away, gagged and bound for your pleasure."
Heat coursed down his spine. Louis growled low in his throat and snapped his fangs close to Lestat's neck.
"Don't start what you can't finish," he warned, voice rough.
"Oh, I meant every word I said," purred Lestat, pliant and soft in his arms. "We can try it...during our vacation."
Lestat pressed little kisses along his neck, sucking at the soft skin near his jawline, murmuring "Come on, chéri, say yes" kisses.
Louis stretched his neck to give him better access, enjoying Lestat's brand of begging. Not that he didn't want to go with Lestat on vacation, mind you. He had been wanting that ever since Lestat was sent on a promotional PR tour for his album, and Louis had to be content with seeing him on screen for weeks. Lestat's comings and goings had been hard on both of them, having them cling to each other with ferocity until the last second. Lestat missed a couple of planes just like that.
But when he said he wanted a vacation, he didn't expect Lestat to drop out of the sky, shaking with excitement and saying 'Change your clothes, Louis, we're going on a trip together !' And with a blindfold on top of that. What happened to letting him know beforehand? Lestat and his spontaneity...Maybe Louis wanted to keep him in bed an entire week, did he think about that?
The worst thing about this? Lestat's little innocent seductive charade. Louis had been on the receiving end of Lestat's seduction. He knew he could do better. Lestat wasn't even trying! And still, Louis would say yes. Of course he'd say yes.There's nothing he wanted more than to spend an entire week in Lestat's arms, doing whatever silly adventures he had in mind, discovering a new place together and debating about local art. Just being with Lestat, loving him, was enough.
Lestat started kissing his cheek and his temples, tickling his nose with his long hair. Giggling, he pushed Lestat away. "Okay! Okay, we'll go."
He was rewarded with a blinding smile and a quick peck on his lips. "Parfait! Go get dressed, Louis!"
"Wait. Really, now ?"
"But, of course. It takes some time to fly there, you know."
But, what about sex ? Louis was just getting in the mood, shivering under Lestat's touch.
"Lestat! Aren't you going to do something about this ?" Louis rubbed his half-hard erection against Lestat's ass.
The blond devil shuddered and ground down on him before he could stop himself. Lestat bit his lip, conflicting thoughts flickering across his face, and for a moment Louis hoped he'd end the night fucking Lestat into the mattress, making him sob in pleasure as Louis took him apart. Lestat kissed his lips, chaste and apologetic, and left his arms.
Louis was gaping at him, looking between Lestat's pleading face and his hard-on. The audacity of this bastard.
Glaring at his lover, he pushed a finger in his chest. "This better be worth it, or you won't see my bed for an entire month."
"Louis, chéri –"
"No, better, I will let you in my bed but you'll only be able to watch for an entire month how I'll fuck myself with our collection of toys. And you'll never be allowed to touch me."
"Now that's cruel, even for you," whined Lestat.
Louis was stripping on the way to the bedroom, yelling after him, "Leaving me high and dry is cruel!"
"Louis, it's not my fault my touch has that effect on you. I was merely kissing you."
Louis wanted to strangle him. "Fuck you!"
"When we get there, of course, darling."
Louis pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing Lestat just loved to rile him up for the sake of it. How did he put it? Your anger makes your beauty even more striking? Well, Louis would get his revenge on this little stunt, if not that night, then the next.
He pulled a warm sweater and took his winter coat off the hanger in their bedroom. Flying with Lestat always proved chillier than he expected.
"What should I pack?"
"You don't need to pack..."
Of course. Why did he even bother?
Louis came back in the living room and shot Lestat a dark look. At least his lover had the grace to look chastised.
"I might have taken the liberty of packing before and bringing them to the hotel..."
Louis felt his face soften into a fond smile and he shook his head at his impossible lover. How he managed to make him smile even when he was annoyed, Louis would never know. He used to think it had to be one of Lestat's ancient powers, the vampire bond, but there was no vampire bond, at least not how he used to talk about it. No, this chord that tied them together was pure and simple love. Love in all its gloriously messy colors, splattered on a canvas made of their memories, twisting and changing and mixing together, creating something new with each spot added to it. Always changing, always in motion yet always there. Always warming Louis' soul. And Louis was once again struck by the enormity of his feelings for this capricious, loving, chaotic man that shared his life.
His husband.
He made his way to Lestat, cupped his face in his hands and kissed him. Really, what more was there to say? Lestat was most likely pissing off his entire team and band just to spend a few quiet days with Louis at his request. And while Lestat went about it with his usual finesse, Louis knew exactly how to reward him and punish him for it. Lestat had always looked so pretty on the verge of desperation, face flushed and bitten lips, moans resembling his name spilling from his lips.
The image made him shiver and Louis couldn't help but smile against his lover's lips.
"You are incorrigible," he whispered.
"Yeah, but you still love me."
The bratty tone usually earned Lestat at least a slap against his chest. But Louis could feel his chest expand with the happiness surrounding them and Lestat's eyes were shining with contentment and Louis had to kiss him again as he said "So much, Lestat, you have no idea."
"I think I do," murmured Lestat against his cheek. Maybe he did. After all, who could love him with that same devastating wonderful intensity other than his companion heart?
"Shall we get going?"
Louis nodded and followed Lestat to the balcony of their Parisian home. The city lights were glittering in the distance, not that he was paying any attention to them, captivated as he was with Lestat putting on the dark blue coat Louis had bought him for his birthday.
And then Lestat opened up his arms for Louis to step in his embrace, and his feet were no longer touching the ground, and Louis wrapped his arms around Lestat's neck and they were soaring through the skies together. For longer flights, Lestat liked to carry him in his arms, a more comfortable and secure position for both of them. Louis relished being cradled to his husband's chest, close to his heart, basking in the easy happiness they shared now. There were still days when he was dumbfounded that he could have this again, that it was better than before, that they had learned to feed the flames of their loves without burning everything around them. Now Louis knew his sun would only shine his gentlest rays upon his skin, a cherished warmth that did not seek to devour him, for Louis was already his : body, blood and soul.
And so was Lestat. I was his and he was mine.
They watched together as Paris disappeared from their sight, flying higher and higher, bypassing the chilly cloud barrier and reaching clear skies. Stars greeted them with playful little winks, their ancient light following after them toward their destination.
Though it wasn't the first time they had flown together since their reunion, Louis was still as awestruck as that night in Paris, when he had danced with Lestat amongst the fireworks. It was at times like this Louis desperately wished he'd know how to paint, if only to capture the wonder in front of his eyes.
Lestat broke the silence. "I've flown hundreds of times and I never get tired of the view. I don't think I ever will." His iridescent eyes were following the stars with childlike wonder, almost as if he'd like to catch one in his hands. He was beautiful.
"I know the feeling," he said, gazing at his own sun.
Louis snuggled closer to Lestat, stretching a bit to kiss his lover's neck once in a while. Moderation was key, lest Lestat lose focus and send them crashing to the ground. Still, they couldn't deny themselves a few soft, delighted kisses, sharing the joy with each other with every press of their lips.
Louis took no notice of the duration of their flight, until Lestat stopped flying all together. They were suspended in the air. He tightened his hold on Lestat's neck as his lover released his grip on his legs. A strong arm wrapped around his waist in a secure hold.
Louis frowned. "Lestat, did something hap–"
The damned blindfold appeared in front of his face.
"Really?"
"Come on, we've come so far. Humor me."
Grumbling, Louis awkwardly tied it over his eyes. If he focused, he could still see through the cloth but he understood the meaning behind Lestat's offer. Let yourself be surprised for once.
Lestat turned him around carefully, until his back was pressed to his lover's chest. A quick kiss on his cheek and off they went. His heart stuttered for a few beats as he realized that only Lestat's tight hold in his waist separated him from oblivion. But here, cocooned in his husband's arms, Louis knew he had nothing to fear. He let himself enjoy the floating sensation, smiling as Lestat nuzzled his cheek.
Soon, Louis realized they were flying downward.
"Ok, now you can take off the blindfold."
"Finally."
He ripped the offending piece of cloth off his face. The words on his tongue dried out, a simple gasp escaping from his lips.
"Do you like it?"
City lights blinded him for a moment as tears welled up in his eyes. His heart gave a painful lurch, almost jumping out of his chest under the weight of his emotions. He let out a ragged breath.
In front of him, millions of tiny lights coalesced to form streets, hurried cars, warm homes and old monuments. Like an impressionist painting, the view from a couple hundred feet in the air made the amalgam of lights seem lifelike, drawing up a beautiful city he had only seen on screen. Even from this distance, he could distinguish the oval shape of the Colosseum, the wedding cake silhouette of the Altare della patria, and…that had to be the Vatican, just to his left!
Rome.
Lestat had brought him to Rome. Like he had promised to do, during one of their last nights together before Mardi Gras, tangled together, hearts aching and soaring with unspoken feelings. A tongue in cheek joke that had ended up becoming a fantasy of Louis during the long years of cold silence when he longed for the closeness of their early years. Dreams of Lestat smiling in Italy, sitting on an ancient boulder and telling an animated tale of his vampiric youth, haunted his waking hours as the sound of his laughter faded from the townhouse. It became an anguished regret in the last days in New Orleans, of a happiness he could never have again.
Louis hadn't set foot in the city in the 80 years that had separated him from Lestat. Not even at his daughter's request. The fantasies he had built inside his head, based only on pictures and the feel of Lestat's hand in his, could only pale when compared to reality.
The closest he had come to it was in 1953, when Louis had left Armand for the night to watch Roman Holiday at the cinema, his curiosity getting the better of him. He hadn't been able to finish the movie. The grief had choked the life out of him, muffled behind his hand as he scrambled for his handkerchief to hide the bloody tears on his face, the only thought haunting his mind 'we could have had this' .
They couldn't have had it then. But now, oh now. Now the world was full of possibilities. Now, they had all the time in the world. Now, this wish of his, impossible for decades, was coming true right before his eyes.
Now, his husband was flying with him above the city of Rome, marveling together at the beauty in front of them.
His heart was overflowing and he was certain it was the love pouring out of them that kept them floating above ground.
"Turn me over, Lestat," he said, voice ragged.
And then he was face to face with his beloved, face open and tender, letting him see all the entangled emotions twirling in his heart. But above all, showing Lestat the full extent of his love for him.
No words were needed between them. Suspended in the air among the lights, holding each other tightly, they both understood the meaning of the gesture.
Louis kissed him then, slow and deep, pushing his tongue into Lestat's mouth, claiming his beloved once more. Because Lestat was his, for all eternity. He had come back to him, another miracle in his life, and Louis was determined not to waste another second together. Hints of gratitude could be found in the little moans he gasped, apologies and relief sliding a fang against his tongue, bringing blood into their mouths.
Yet as the sweet taste of blood overwhelmed their senses, Louis could taste only hope .