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Daniel was probably about to get himself killed.
That was honestly nothing too surprising. Anybody who knew Daniel Molloy could tell you that he had no self-preservation skills and was ready to run into danger head-first like an idiot. He couldn't even deny it because it was true; it was a wonder that he wasn't already six feet under with his talent of waking sleeping bears.
However, this was different.
This time, there was no other way out of his predicament that didn't require a miracle to happen.
So Daniel had to do it the hard way.
He had been saving for top surgery for more than a year now. His hormones were easy enough to get, especially if you had connections like him or a nice enough drug dealer. Surgery was a different beast, though. Only a handful of people in the country were willing to do it. They never advertise it, and getting it would cost you an arm and a leg, so Daniel had invested all his free time into work so that he could hopefully make more money.
It was brutal at times, but once the day would come and he could finally look at his chest without revulsion, he knew it would be worth it.
Luckily, he had someone to distract him from his crushing workload and bring excitement into his life. Someone who didn't mind his appearance and who always treated him like the man he was. For some people, it might be depressing to think about how his ex-stalker and torturer was the person who respected him most. Daniel didn't care about other people's opinions; his relationship with Armand was going great.
Or, well, it had been going great.
Armand had been missing for a couple of months now. They had their usual fight about Daniel's mortality, and the vampire yet again denied him the immortality he craved. The fight ended like all the others, with one of them angrily storming out. Though to be gone for this long was excessive, even for the vampire.
The only thing left to do now so that he wouldn't go crazy in Armand's absence was to concentrate fully on work.
That had been the plan had god or the universe not decided to screw him over once again.
First, he was fired from his job for mainly pursuing stories that the average white American reader would not care about, like stories about queer people or racial issues.
Then, he was kicked out of his apartment by his shitty landlord and had to find another place to stay quickly. The winter months were upon them, and he didn't want to be stuck outside, which left him with an apartment with astronomical rent and a lease he couldn't get out of. Stupid him for not reading the fine print.
By the end of it, he had blown through his savings, leaving him with just enough money for food and rent for the foreseeable future,
His dream of getting top surgery had been postponed indefinitely once again. More time lost, stuck with a body that felt wrong.
That was until an acquaintance of his told him about this doctor. He would do surgeries for everyone, including trans people, for dirt cheap. He was shady and gross as hell, and you definitely didn't want to know what he did with the parts he took from you, but it could be done.
Excitedly, he told his friend to give him the contact info, and only two weeks later, he had his appointment. And Yeah, Daniel could agree with all the bad things said about this guy. He looked like an absolute creeper and smelled like stale beer and piss.
The guy's "clinic", if you could call it that, was in a run-down building on the bad side of town. Daniel had seen cleaner drug dens.
He was led inside a big bathroom by the guy whose name was Gary he learned and was told to lie down on an operating table. The thing creaked under his weight like it was about to fall apart, and Daniel was by no means a heavy guy.
If Daniel hadn't been that desperate to finally get rid of those things on his chest, he would have really started to regret coming here by now.
"No offence, dude, but you're sure you know how to do this?" Daniel asked nervously; after all, he was going to have this man cutting into his flesh and he would at least like to know if he was going to wake up from this.
The man was fidgeting with a cart of operating equipment and waved him off. "Psh, of course! I used to cut people open and sow them back together all the time back in Vietnam. This is a cakewalk!"
Daniel knew this was meant to reassure him, but it did the opposite. But he was already here and paid for this, so he would have to see it through. Not even the clearly used needles in the back corner would keep him from his goal.
Taking off his shirt of his shirt he lay on the cool, slightly sticky metal table.
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment to calm his nerves, and when he opened them again, he saw Gary leaning over him with the scalpel.
"Yoh, what the fuck, man? Never heard of anaesthesia?!" He shot up and held his hand in front of him in order to keep that knife-wielding maniac at bay.
The guy pouted at him like a child, "Oh, come on, do you really need that stuff?"
Daniel shot him a look of pure disbelief.
Letting out a loud whine, Gary walked over to his operating card of horrors and pulled out a syringe and a bottle of liquid.
When the syringe was full, he walked over to Daniel. He leaned down and moved towards his neck to inject him with what he hoped was amnestic and not horse tranquillizer.
Holding his breath, he waited for the sharp, familiar pain of an injection; however, the "doctor" suddenly stopped and let out a whimper.
Cracking open his eyes just a smidge, Daniel could see Gray hover over him, completely paralyzed and mid-motion but frantically moving his eyes as if to call for help.
Daniel was momentarily confused, but then he spotted the figure silently standing in the doorway.
"Hello, beloved."
Armand was dressed just as sharply as always. The only thing out of place was his wind-swept curls. He looked strange standing here in this dilapidated bathroom.
Like a fine painting hung up in some ran down shitty bar.
Any other time, finally seeing the vampire again would have inspired a feeling of relief; he would have run up to the vampire, kissed the living daylight out of him, and been happy that Armand had finally come back to him.
Now he was just pissed.
"You really couldn't have chosen some other time to walz into my life? Or at least announce yourself like a normal fucking person." He leaned up on his elbows to get a better look at the vampire. He didn't care that he was still shirtless; Armand had seen him in more revealing positions.
Slowly, the vampire stepped up and stood behind the still-paralyzed Gary.
"You didn't think I would let some disgusting butcher carve you up, did you?"
Daniel growled at his companion. "What gives you the right to do that? It's my body, so if I want some creepo guy to cut me up, that's my fucking business."
Armand's face was briefly stricken by his words before returning to a more neutral state.
"Your body belongs to you, and you may do with it as you see fit; however, I object when you do something rash and dangerous. This man may give you what you want, but it would come at a cost. Infections of the wounds, scars that are big and would constantly ache, bad stitches that would leave you in pain." The vampire gently explained what could go wrong to him, like he was talking to an upset child.
In the back of his mind, he knew that Armand was right; this could only end badly for him. Daniel wouldn't have it, though.
"I don't care, man, I just want to have this done. The last few months have been hell; I've lost all my savings, and my job prospects are zero; if everything else in my life is going to shit, at least let me have this."
Daniel was starting to get upset over this. How could he get Armand to understand why he needed this so much?
"I understand, Daniel, but this charlatan would only harm you. We can arrange money, maybe not immediately, but it can be done. You must be reasonable and give it some more time; wait a little longer; I promise you will be happier that way."
"But I can't wait any longer! I just can't! I know it's easy for you to say to give it time since you have nothing but time on your hands, but time isn't endless for me. I'm not getting younger, and I just can't live like this any more. I'm wasting my life here!" At the end of his rant, he was panting with tears in his eyes.
Armand just stared at him for a moment before leaning down towards Gray and whispering "Rest" in his ear. The man fell to the ground like a lifeless doll, and Armand made no attempts at breaking his fall.
The vampire walked closer and gently caressed his face with his cold hand, his thumb drawing circles over his cheek.
"Okay", he breathed out; his eyes were always softer when he looked at his boy.
"Okay? What is okay? You tend to forget that I'm not the mind reader in this relationship, boss." Daniel replied sarcastically, trying to play off his small breakdown.
Armand smiled at him, "We will get that surgery done for you, beloved; you will not have to suffer any longer."
Daniel started moving off the operating table and put his shirt back on. It had taken on the smell of this place, so he would probably have to burn it.
"Yeah, unless you can pull cash out of your ass now, that's still going to take a hot minute."
Armand's smile widened to the point that anybody else would be unsettled, his fangs visible.
"I don't plan on using money."
Daniel looked at him, confused; it had taken a moment before the meaning registered.
"Are you saying you want to mind-control a doctor to take my tits off?" That was a crazy idea, but then again, his immortal stalker/lover was a crazy guy.
"I would not have phrased it like that, but yes, I do."
The remaining anger drained out of him. Armand was impossible. Of course, he would do something like this. It was immoral and fucked up, but it endeared Daniel like nothing else. The vampire was sweet and caring in his own strange ways.
"Okay, let's do it your way. When do you think we should do it."
"Now about right now, let's not waste any more time," the vampire said, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the door.
"Wait now?! Armand, wait-"
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It was a warm summer evening on Night Island.
They hadn't been living on the island for long; Armand had purchased it for Daniel with money that had recently come into his possession. That is to say, he stole money from somewhere.
This place already felt like home.
Armand lay on their bed watching Time Bandits for the millionth time while Daniel was admiring his flat chest in front of the mirror.
It had been a few months since the night that Armand had dragged him into the hospital and practically held an entire operating room hostage with his mind powers. The results were spectacular. He was thankful that Armand had stopped him when he did.
There was some puffiness and sores around the scars that hadn't gone away yet, and he still needed to make sure nothing ripped or got infected, but it got better every day.
He was so entranced in his mirror image that he didn't notice Armand walking up behind him and running his hands over his bare chest.
"I have the perfect idea of how to spend such a lovely evening, my beloved boy." Kisses were pressed to the side of his neck.
Turning his head, he kissed the older man's cheek. "What did you have in mind, boss?"
Armand turned him around and crossed his arms behind his back, drawing their faces closer together. "How about we go for a night swim."
The idea did sound good; however, there was a problem.
"Armand, I can't go swimming yet, and definitely not in the ocean; I'll just get my scars infected. Weren't you the one hounding me to take care of myself." He was pouting while he said it. The idea did sound fun, to finally go to the beach without a shirt on and enjoy the cold water against his bare chest.
The vampire seemed to consider it for a moment, and he could practically see the lightbulb over his dead as an idea struck Armand.
He reached down and sliced a cut into his arm and gave it to Daniel. They had done this often enough that Daniel instinctively took the arm and began to drink.
It was the best drug he's ever had.
While Daniel was dark from his arm, Armand made another cut in the palm of his other hand and poured the red liquid directly onto the scar tissue. He rubbed it into the skin like some kind of lotion, making sure every inch of his scars was covered.
If he hadn't been otherwise occupied, he would have complained about how unhygienic this was. But the blood felt strangely good on his skin, so he kept his mouth shut.
At first, he did Daniel's right side before switching.
When he had drunk enough, Daniel drew away from sucking at the wound and looked down to see the grotesque artwork Armand made of his pecks.
"Ew, gross, man." Daniel made a face of disgust that just got worse since once he could feel it starting to dry.
Armanmd just let out an amused breath. "Just now, you were eagerly drinking my blood, and now you complain when it paints your skin."
"That's different, you know that's different."
"Well, if it is truly so repulsive, I must do something about that." The vampire leaned down to lick his blood from Daniel's chest. Daniel buried his hand in Armand's curls and held his head from continuing.
"Boss, stop it!" He yelped in indignation.
That got a burst of genuine laughter from the older man, a beautiful sound.
"Okay, I will stop, but did the blood help?"
It did indeed help.
Daniel no longer felt any soreness, and the skin appeared as if the surgery was at least a year old. There should be no worries about any kind of infection now.
Vampire blood truly was a marvel.
"So ready for the beach?" Armand replied, holding out his hand.
A big, goofy grin spread across his face. "Let's do it."
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Daniel put the photo back down.
It had been taken that night at the beach with a ridiculously expensive camera Armand had instead they get. The sun had been down, but the moon that night had been so bright that he could still make out what was happening.
In the picture, Armand and him.
Both wore swim trunks, and their hair was wild and particularly curled from swimming in salt water. Both were smiling like crazy and bare-chested. Daniel especially pushed his out, showing his scars and looking never more confident.
It made him smile.
Instinctively, he rubbed what remained of the scars through his shirt. You could barely see them now faded with age and covered by hair, but whenever he caught a glimpse of them in the mirror, he couldn't help the surge of pride.
He couldn't remember how he got his top surgery done for a long time. He had thought it was lost due to the drugs, like his other memories of the 70s and '80s. He was happy that he had gotten it done somehow, but a part of him always wondered how.
The scars looked too good for surgery to have been done by anyone but a professional, and he spent most of his youth too broke to afford one.
In the end, he had gotten those cherished memories back.
Once Armand had turned him, they just flooded back in as if they had never left, and with the return of his memories, he had taken his place at the vampire's side.
Where he belonged.
It had taken time to adjust. Both of them had changed in the 50 years they had been apart, but sooner rather than later, they had found a dynamic that worked for them. It was not the same as it had been before, but new and improved, their bond stronger than ever before.
They even moved back into their house on Night Island.
That was why he was in the attic, searching through boxes filled with the belongings of their past lives.
Perhaps he should take the photo with him downstairs and display it. They had been looking for just the right pieces to decorate the mantel of their fireplace. The pair had already picked out some of their favourite trinkets to display. Armand wanted it to showcase their love for anyone who would come into their home and see it.
The image might not be of high quality or anything, but it showed one of their happiest moments.
The boy in the picture would never have expected the turns his life would take. So different from what he had pictured in his youth and naivety. He had wanted it all, even if he never considered that his desires might conflict with each other.
Daniel wanted to change; his life really started when he left his parents' house and started to transition. He wanted to do everything he could to make himself into the man he was inside, to finally live life to the fullest now that he no longer had to be chained down by the circumstances of his birth.
On the flip side, he also wanted to be immortal; he had felt robbed of his teen years when his peer got to explore himself. He felt too sacred and uncomfortable in his own skin to do so. Transitioning had given him a life, but it also made him afraid of the passage of time. It had taken so long to get to a point where he didn't actively hate himself, but he lost so much time getting there, and now, how long would he get to have until he was worm food? It was simply unfair!
In hindsight, he could realize that turning him so young would have been a shitshow. He never would have gotten the chance to be the man he is now since vampires are incapable of changing in the way he needed to.
A prence had entered the attic, and Daniel didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Have you found something that piqued your interest, beloved?" Armand said, gently sitting down next to him. Wordlessly, he handed his maker the picture he found. A smile lit up those fiery eyes. "You looked so beautiful that day, my boy, radiant almost. Not that you're any less stunning now."
Daniel glanced at his companion and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Armand."
Armand looked at him, bemused and intrigued. "For what, my love? For helping you live your life as you were always meant to? I told you I would do anything for you; you just have to ask." His hand moved up and ran through his fledglings grey curls.
He chuckled and took Artmand's cheek in his hand, lovingly gazing into eyes that now mirrored his own "That wasn't what I meant boss, but while we're at it, thank you for that too."
Tilting his head, Armand looked at him expectantly.
"Thank you for not turning me all those times I asked you. I look at that picture, and while I'm to the moon, it still took over a decade to finally feel comfortable in my skin. And now, with age and maturity and all that shit, I can say that I would have been miserable pretty quickly. Eternity would have sucked if I was stuck being that 20-year-old kid."
Armand moved closer to him, straddling his lap. "And now beloved?"
"Now I'm going to enjoy my undead life to the fullest. With you in it, of course." Daniel said with a smile, putting his hands on Armads hips.
His companion placed two fingers under his chin and carefully drew his head up into a kiss. It was feathery light, but it still managed to make Daniel lose himself in it.
"How about we honour the memories of that day and go for a swim," Armand whispered the words against his lips, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Instead of saying anything, Daniel put his hand in Armad's hair and pulled him back into a kiss filled with passion and desire.
Yes, the picture would fit perfectly on their mantle, a perfect display of their love. Perhaps they could even make a new one to join it, to show how much 50 years had changed.
But there was one thing that would always remain the same, and Daniel was more than okay with that.