Work Text:
Daniel spent so long looking for Armand that it didn’t even occur to him that he would find him first. Standing in the small alleyway, Daniel wiped the back of his hand over his mouth, pausing when he felt a presence from behind him. He turned slowly, prepared to attack if he had to, only to stop when he met Armand’s glowing eyes.
He was dressed in a dark suit, his hair combed away from his face and stood with his hands behind his back. He looked good. Daniel didn’t know why that annoyed him so much, but it did. It wasn’t like he expected Armand to be miserable without him, but that didn’t mean he had to walk around looking like a model either.
“You made a mess,” Armand said. It was the first words he had spoken to him in over a year. Daniel didn’t know what he had wanted Armand to say, but…somehow this seemed right.
Armand pulled off his jacket and tossed it over the top of the dumpster. He unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and began rolling his sleeves up to the elbow, sighing like a disappointed parent as he walked closer to Daniel.
“I’ll help you clean up,” He said.
Daniel didn’t bother arguing. For once.
They took care of the body quickly. Armand’s practiced efficiency making it easier than it had been before. When they were done, standing a foot apart or so, Daniel had tried to think of what to say. Anything would have been better than nothing. It was strange. He had spent so long planning what he would do and say to Armand when he saw him again, but now that he was here, all he could do was watch him.
Armand picked up his jacket, hitting his hand against the back twice, before slinging it over his arm. He let his other hand fall to his side, the pad of his thumb rubbing along the side of his index finger. He was nervous, or thinking, or angry. Daniel didn’t know exactly what the gesture meant. He just knew that it was familiar now.
“Where are you staying?” He doesn’t realise it’s his voice until Armand looks back at him. His eyes are wide, surprisingly revealing, with the sudden surprise overtaking them before his usual disguise returns.
“The Four Seasons,” Armand said.
Daniel scoffed. “Of course you are,” He muttered. He kicked his foot against the ground, sending a stray rock skipping across the damp ground.
“Trouble with my accommodations?” Armand pushed, the corner of his lip curling to a smirk.
“Just predictable,” Daniel said. “How’d you sneak a coffin in there? Or do they think you got a really weird carry-on?”
“Juvenile humour,” Armand said with a tut. “Just as predictable,”
Daniel rolled his eyes.
“And you?” Armand asked. “I assume you haven’t relocated to every city on your book tour,”
“Nah,” Daniel said. “Air B&B thing,” He said. “Easier to hide stuff and no one unlocks your door to drop off fresh towels while you’re stuck in a coffin,”
Armand gives a slight laugh and looks away. Somehow, he is both younger and older at this moment. His eyes are lost, emotions dancing through them quickly, while his stance is confident and proud. He’s part child and part man. An odd amalgamation of the two colliding together as each side fights for dominance over his identity. It took a while to settle in, but Daniel figured that was always the point. Armand doesn’t know who he is unless someone tells him.
“Hey, uh,” Daniel paused, shifting awkwardly as a voice at the back of his head screamed that he was an idiot. “If you feel like slumming it…” He trails off because he can’t bring himself to say it. That he wants Armand to come back with him, that he wants to be around him, that he wants…him. He could blame it on the bond or journalistic intrigue, but he knows deep down that it’s because there’s something between them. He doesn’t know what it is, but he knows it’s been there since the beginning. Since they first locked eyes at Polynesian Mary’s.
Daniel doesn’t trust the feeling but pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.
Armand chews on his lip, similarly to when he had played Rashid, standing over his prayer mat as Daniel prodded for information about where he came from. He clears his throat and nods his head. He waits for Daniel to start walking first and then joins him at his side.
It’s quiet as they walk and, for once, Daniel doesn’t mind the silence.