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Daniel gulped down his fourth drink of the night as he watched Louis and Lestat slow dance together. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned his top shirt’s button, the collar becoming too restrictive. He’d gotten a suit for the occasion and though it cost him a few weeks’ wages, it isn’t everyday you get invited to your ex-fling’s wedding. He’d put on his brightest smile the entire service, acting the perfectly happy ex, which he always claimed to be. He even managed to hide his disdain for Lestat.
Sighing, he looked at the other guests around the room and his eyes landed on a handsome stranger, sitting alone staring at the dancing couple with a small frown on his face. “So, how long do you give it?” Daniel asked, pulling out the chair next to him.
The man glanced at him, confused, “Excuse me?”
“How long do you give it?” Daniel repeated, gesturing to Louis and Lestat on the dancefloor, “You know, until they fight and break up again.” It was a risky question, though anyone who knew the couple knew how rocky their relationship was—it was practically a miracle they managed to make it till the wedding.
“Oh,” the stranger exhaled through his nose and a small smile spread on his face, “Not even a week.”
Daniel harked a laugh, delighted, “Couldn’t agree more,” then he outstretched his hand to be shaken, “I’m Daniel Molloy.”
“Armand,” he replied, shaking Daniel’s hand firmly.
“ You’re Armand?” Daniel’s face lit up in recognition, Louis had told him stories of an ex that both he and Lestat had dated. He’d found it hilarious at the time, but looking at the man now he understood—he was breathtaking.
Armand tilted his head, “You’ve heard of me?”
“I’m a friend of Louis’,” he replied, then paused, realising something, “And I’m surprised he invited you.”
Armand shrugged, “He didn’t.”
Daniel’s smile widened, his delight mixing with excitement, “Have they noticed you yet?”
“No.”
“Perfect.” Immediately, he stood up and outstretched his hand again, Armand looked at it confused, “Let’s dance.”
“Why would I do that?”
“C’mon, imagine the look on their faces!” The image was like that from one of the telenovelas Daniel loved to watch.
Armand contemplated, his eyes shifting from Daniel to Louis and Lestat, then after a couple of seconds, he took Daniel’s hand, “Alright.”
Daniel’s mind rushed while they walked hand in hand to the dancefloor, anticipation tingling through his body. When they got to the dancefloor and Armand placed a hand on his waist, Daniel realised he hadn’t thought far ahead. A flush spread across his face at the delicate touch. He hooked his arms around Armand’s neck and swayed in time with him, trying to seem casual as he glanced over to the newly married couple. He got to watch the full range of emotions pass across the pairs’ faces: confusion, realisation, surprise and anger. Lestat stepped forward, clearly intending to talk to them, but Louis grabbed his arm and whispered something in his ear. Daniel desperately wanted to know what it was, especially since it made Lestat cross his arms and stop approaching them.
Daniel turned his head back to face Armand, a comment on his tongue that died the moment he saw his face—melancholic and yet tranquil. Daniel realised that he had been too caught up in his own entertainment that he forgot the human feelings behind everything.
Without warning he moved a hand to Armand’s back and dipped him, almost dropping him in the process, but his goal of distracting the man seemed to work as his face immediately shifted to shock and anxiety. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” Daniel said like he didn’t almost lose his grip.
When Daniel pulled Armand back up, he was fully expecting him to get upset or stop dancing, instead he dipped Daniel with more poise and elegance that Daniel could ever muster in his lifetime, “That is how you’re supposed to do it,” Armand teased in response.
“Maybe you could give me some lessons,” Daniel replied, his mouth running quicker than his brain could keep up.
Armand’s eyes travelled up and down his body, as he raised him to continue their dance, Daniel tried to ignore his rising nerves. “You are an interesting man, Daniel Molloy.” He would’ve interpreted that as an insult, if not for the smile on Armand’s face and for the hand on the small of Daniel’s back sliding incrementally further down.
“Says the one who crashed his ex’s wedding.”
Armand hummed, his eyes drifting to Daniel’s lips, suddenly making him aware of how close they’d drifted together, “I’m glad I did,” his voice suggestive and seductive.
Daniel was fairly certain Armand was only using him as some kind of move against Louis and/or Lestat, likely to make them jealous, yet Daniel couldn’t bring himself to care, not when such a handsome man was showing interest in him. “You know… I have a hotel room not far from here,” he responded, instilled with fake confidence.
Armand’s smile widened, his eyes glistening with intrigue, “Very interesting…”