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It was the right decision, Armand thinks, to reveal his true nature when he did. Acting as Rashid was tiresome after a while; the initial thrill of being able to slip in and out of Daniel’s field of view, inhale his hungry, ashamed, wanton thoughts, had worn off quickly. Now he can look his fill without worrying he’ll overstep his character, let his eyes flash when Daniel’s needling insolence reaches a fever pitch.
Today, to his own surprise, he’s actually enjoying the interview. They’re in Paris, Louis regaling Daniel with tales of their early courtship, and the genuine warmth in his voice is enough to soften the long-crystallized edges of Armand’s dead heart.
“…and, of course,” Louis is saying now, with a soft half-smile, “it had been a long time since I’d allowed myself to feel … smitten. Darkened trysts in a smoky park were one thing, but, well. Drinking tisanes and watching the passersby from a little table on the Rue Cler under moonlight- that was quite another.”
“Uh-huh,” Daniel says, unimpressed as usual. He’s so jaded, now, compared to the boy Armand had known and loved so many years ago, all fearless, thoughtless bravado and zest for life. Armand is surprised, really, at how much he likes today’s Daniel. He supposes he shouldn’t be; they were made to be each other’s, after all.
Daniel flips to a new page on his legal pad. “So. Romantic coffee-and-murder dates, art acquisitions, Paris reborn. You were happy.”
“I was-“ Thoughtful, now, his Louis, chin in his hand, kyanite eyes narrowed. “I was finding myself. It was- Daniel?” He’s rising from his seat, and Armand stares in horror as he looks back at Daniel and sees him twitching, the pad and pen dropping to the floor, a horrible guttural sound coming from his half-open mouth.
Louis swears. “I left my phone in the dining room. Stay with him.” He’s gone at preternatural speed, and Armand is alone with Daniel’s spasming empty-eyed form as the panic hits. It’s all-consuming. No. No no no no no no no no Daniel Daniel DANIEL-
He rushes over, cradles Daniel’s cheek in his hand, feeling in his mind. Armand realizes with a distant sense of horror that his fangs are already out. It’s going to make such a mess, doing it here. Daniel deserved a beautiful turning, a candlelit ceremony where Armand would have given him the Gift under vaulted ceilings, easy and painless and slow. He won’t be able to be slow now, there won’t be time, not if-
In a momentary lull of his terror, Armand registers a steady pulse, a familiar flutter of neural activity. Daniel is stable. He’s breathing, his heart is beating, he is alive. He is alive.
“It’s all right, beloved,” Armand tells him, nestling close, inhaling his human scent. “It’s all right. You won’t die. I won’t let you.” Daniel shifts in his arms, a soft groan puffing from his slack mouth. He’s so warm, it’s been such a long time since Armand held him like this, he’d forgotten-
“Armand?”
No. How long has Louis been standing there? Concern on his face, and confusion. “Fareed is still in town, he’ll be here in five minutes. Are you- what did you just call-“
“Rest.” Louis stands still. “We are in luck. Fareed is still in town. He’ll be here in five minutes. You found me sitting across from Daniel on the sofa.”
“We’re in luck,” Louis repeats, as Armand moves back into the living room. “Fareed is still in town. He’ll be here in five minutes. I found you sitting across from Daniel on the sofa.”
Armand unclenches his fist, and Louis’s eyes uncloud and he resumes his stride across the room. So much easier, to erase memories before they form. More thorough, too.
“Excellent,” Armand says. “That’s very fortunate.”
Louis nods. He still looks concerned, but it’s for Daniel now. No hint of perplexed suspicion. Good.
“I believe it may be a form of seizure. They occur in Parkinson’s patients occasionally.” Armand unfolds the neatly creased blanket on the back of the sofa and drapes it over him. “His vitals appear stable, but he will likely need rest. Fluids, perhaps.”
“Good,” Louis says, looking soft, uncertain. “That’s good, right? He’s okay?”
Curious, his concern. Perhaps Louis’s care for Daniel is less prickled with resentment than Armand had understood. Curious.
“Yes, love. He’s all right. He’ll be just fine.”
“Good.” Relief, now, and gratitude, on Louis’s face. Armand is always so happy to be the cause of that expression. “Good, that’s good. I’ll ask Fareed to recommend a nurse, perhaps, for the daytime.”
“Yes,” Armand says. “I’m sure he knows someone.”
“Sickness,” Louis says, thoughtful, eyes somewhere far away. “I’d forgotten- well. It’s shocking, the fragility of the mortal form, isn’t it?”
Armand stands and walks over to him, sliding a comforting arm around his waist. “Frightening, I think. To see a mind, so fierce, entrapped in a failing body. It’s really quite humbling.”
“We should offer him the Gift,” Louis says, with a start. Perfect, Armand thinks, this will be so much easier if Louis thinks it’s his own idea. “Not casually, like I did last week. Lay everything out, at the end of the interview. Offer to make him our companion, in one form or another.”
His voice goes nervous and soft on the last sentence, though there’s no need. “Yes,” Armand says, giving Louis’s waist a fond squeeze. “Yes. That’s a good thought, darling.” He kisses the top of Louis’s cheekbone. “I know you’re fond of him.”
Louis stiffens slightly, but then he shrugs and softens back into Armand. “I hate to see such a clever consciousness wasted.”
“Of course,” Armand reassures him. “It’s a wonderful idea, to turn him. We could do it in a formal way, very civilized. It’s not like he doesn’t know the costs.”
Louis laughs, soft. Armand does love his laugh so dearly. “Yes,” Louis says. “Perhaps the only mortal to be properly educated before the offer is made.”
On the couch, Daniel shifts and groans again. His beautiful moss-green eyes flicker open and he looks between the two of them, confused. “What- what’s happening, did I-“
“It’s perfectly all right,” Armand says, returning to his side on the cushions. Louis sits opposite, resting a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “You’re just fine. You’re going to be fine.”
“Yes,” Louis says, his free hand crossing Daniel’s lap to link with Armand’s. Armand smiles, fond, pleased in the knowledge that he’ll be able to keep them both, keep them safe. “Yeah. You’re okay, Danny. Everything’s fine.”