Chapter Text
Truly, David was not sure how the argument had even started. He was accustomed to it by this point. Lestat and Louis were like oil and water. Fighting was common between them, yet so was reconciliation. They blew hot one moment then would cool down once more and return to each other’s arms. It was to be expected after nearly a seven years of dealing with their drama. There were some things that were not brought up between the two. One being the doomed child who still haunted them. The other being a name Louis had never dared bring up before.
Until a delivery was made to Lestat’s home. Lestat had been out at the time and David had brought the box inside to where Louis was reading in the living room. Louis looked up from his book curiously as David set the package on the coffee table.
“What is that?” He asked, closing his book and setting it aside. David shrugged, studying the box curiously.
“Probably Lestat’s leather pants he ordered.” He joked, but in all honesty, Lestat had a pair of black leather trousers on the way. Louis’s lips curved into a smile.
“Let’s see how wonderful these trousers really are.” He suggested and laughing, David cut the tape away from the box. Lestat had always been a snob for fashion. Opening the box, David gently pushed aside the wrapping tape only to come face to face with a black case.
“It’s not pants.” He murmured curiously, gently pulling the case from the box. Louis scooted forward, green eyes bright in the dim lining room light. David unlatched the lid, both him and his brother fledgling inching closer to stare as the lid came off. It was a violin, graceful and antiquated against the case. Louis pulled away instantly and David’s brows furrowed.
“Close it,” Louis murmured. “Lestat would not want us handling this.” He spoke with a rare type of harshness to his voice, obviously not wanting to delve into this mystery.
“This is…” David looked up at Louis as he stood and the raven haired vampire nodded. He did not need to speak the name and there was really no doubt who this violin had belonged to. Nicolas de Lenfent was a ghost that Lestat kept close and Louis was not about to tread into the water. Not now.
“Who sent it?” David asked and Louis picked up the box, studying it. When he found nothing he searched through it before shaking his head.
“There’s no name.” He stated and set the box down. David closed the case on the violin and set it back in the box. Naturally, when Lestat discovered what was in the box, he became frightfully distant. He demanded to know who sent it, but there had truly been no name. It was as if by thin air, the box had been delivered. The Brat Prince had held the violin with such reverence that both Louis and David felt as if they were intruding on something sacred. Later when Lestat asked who opened the box, David easily admitted it was him, not missing how Lestat’s eyes lingered on Louis who watched him with an unreadable expression. David should have known better than to think everything would have ended at that.
Two days later, Louis had been unable to miss that natural curiosity of his and approached Lestat about the violin. David sat at the kitchen table, listening to the two of them in the living room. He sat silently, book in hand, but not reading any of the words, the voices far more interesting than the book. They had been bickering and David had been able to ignore it for the most part, only listening in for a few seconds. Same old fight, same old dance it seemed.
Louis knew his curiosity could be a burden, but with how mysterious and unapproachable Lestat was about the topic, Louis could not help but wonder about him. About who he was to his Maker. Ever since the violin had been delivered, Lestat had been sullen and distant. It was not something Louis was used to and it worried him. Lestat was flamboyant and cocky, always willing to preen about himself and seeing him so closed off was not something Louis found he enjoyed. When he brought it up his Maker had dismissed him with a wave of his hand, barely looking at him.
However, Louis had always been a glutton for punishment and had ignored the warning signs presented in obvious light. He followed Lestat, both concerned and annoyed at the blond’s behavior. What mysteries did Nicolas hold? He had heard of him only in hushed voices. He was the ghost that refused to release his hold on Lestat. Lestat’s greatest regret. The violin was both a mockery and a warning, from who Louis did not know.
“Do not concern yourself.” Lestat had sneered at him as he left their shared room. “It has nothing to do with you. It is in the past." The past never truly died; Lestat knew this as well as Louis. Louis could picture Nicolas’s ghost. What was he to Lestat? Who was he? The biting fear that nipped at Louis’s heels refused to yield his hold. He followed Lestat into the living room, he could hear David in the kitchen.
“And Nicolas?” Louis questioned with reluctance, bright eyes fixed on his Maker who stood tense. “Do you love me as you loved him?” His voice lowered to uncertainty and David returned his attention back to his book, knowing already that Lestat’s affections would always be for Louis, even if he had once been in love with another.
Yet instead there was laughter. Not the light teasing that Lestat usually reserved for his loved fledgling, but harsh and mocking and cruel. The laughter had Louis turning away and moving towards the kitchen. Lestat followed after him, neither paying any mind to David who was now prepared to slink off and allow them to spat it out.
“You think I love you? Whatever gave you such a ludacris idea?” David physically winced at this. Louis did not face Lestat, staring resolutely at the dingy window. After receiving no reply from his fledgling, Lestat moved to leave the kitchen and it seemed Louis was unable to help himself, he faced Lestat’s retreating back, hair whipping back.
“Then what am I, Lestat? What use do I have to you? You can’t even be truthful with yourself. You can’t even admit that you care for me.” Lestat whirled around and David stood from the table, prepared to come between the two if it was needed.
“You were to fill the void he left and you failed to come even close to what he had been to me. You were not meant for anything more than an ornament, a trinket that was meant to be looked at but with little other use.” His words seemed to echo through the kitchen and Louis gave no physical reaction to this, his posture and stare far too steady.
“That was my use to you? To act as a replacement for your failed lover?” Louis voice was steady and David could not help but be proud of him for it. To be able to speak to his Maker so calmly after facing such barbed words. Lestat sneered, violet eyes practically glowing at the mention of Nicolas and David was certain he was going to lash out and strike Louis. The blonde looked his fledgling up in down as if disgusted.
“Exactly so. You are weak, Louis. The weakest fledgling I’ve made and quite possibly the weakest in existence. Quite a feat I must say. You can’t read minds, you can’t ensnare mortals…you might as well be one at this point What other use could you possibly be to me, but an ornament for me to admire.”
“You seem quite sure of that. Yet you’ve always been a liar, Lestat.” He uttered softly almost as if hoping that Lestat would take his words back and apologize. David himself hoped that Lestat would stop his cruelty and lies. Louis could not handle this. Lestat knew this, he could not possibly continue on. Yet that was not to happen and Lestat bared his teeth at his fledgling.
“Do not delude yourself,” Lestat spit out advancing towards Louis who pressed his back against the counter. “You are nothing compared to Nicolas. He was my original. He was my everything! If he had not been lost to me I never would have bothered setting my gaze on you and you would be just another corpse as you always wished to be.” David stared in stunned horror at Lestat. The fight left Louis at this and Lestat held his stare for a long while, waiting for the other to reply. When Louis said nothing, David knew the argument was finally over and their Maker snorted, turning towards the door.
“David, shall we hunt?” Lestat offered and David shook his head, avoiding Lestat’s eyes and looking at the cabinets as if he found them deeply fascinating.
“I am fine, thank you.” David replied softly, voice feeling all too loud in the kitchen. Louis had not looked up, eyes fixed on his feet and Lestat sauntered towards the door with a little shrug, adjusting the collar on his shirt.
“Suit yourself.” And he was gone. Louis all but deflated against the counter as he heard the door slam shut, sliding down to the floor and at once David was on his feet.
“Louis,” David breathed in sympathy swiftly moving to Louis’s side. “He does not mean what he says.” David spoke in a hushed kind tone, stroking hiss thumb over Louis’s cheek as he tried to get the other vampire to look at him. Louis, however continued to resolutely stare on ahead as if through David. Louis was dry eyed but there was no doubt that a heaviness now weighed down on his heart. He looked away from David, eyes illuminated and ancient.
“I am sorry to have disturbed your reading.” He finally spoke with a clinical voice, slowly getting to his feet. David’s hand lingered to support Louis’s elbow, but Louis did not lean into it. He stepped away from David and the damned concern that seemed to permeate from his skin. He dismissed himself, ignoring David’s soft pleas for him to stay and all but fled to his and Lestat’s shared bedroom.
‘You were not meant for anything more than an ornament, a trinket that was meant to be looked at but with little other use…’
‘You are nothing compared to Nicolas.’
‘If he had not been lost to me I never would have bothered setting my gaze on you…’
How could Louis ever hope to compete with Nicolas? He was ever only a replacement. Louis strode across their room and quickly began to shove his clothes into the messenger bag next to the nightstand. Was it childish and weak of him to run? Possibly. But was that not just what he was?
Weak…too weak to be of use to Lestat.
He closed the bag and walked out of his room, ingnoring his books that lay in wait on the shelves, needing to get away. His silently strode down the stairs, fingers tightening over the handle of the bag. David met him at the door as he attempted to make his escape, he moved to block the raven’s path, eyes saddened as he looked over his brother fledgling.
“You are going to run?” His cultured voice was filled with as much sadness as his dark eyes and Louis avoided looking at them.
“I cannot stay here, David.” Louis shifted the bag onto his shoulder and David rubbed the bridge of his nose, releasing a long sigh.
“He will not be happy with you.” David pointed out, the light overhead flickered eerily and cast shadows over the other vampire’s features.
“Has he ever?” Louis countered and when David offered no reply, Louis moved to walk by him, only for David to gently take his arm and hold him back.
“Louis-“ He began.
“Please David.” Louis finally met his eyes, expression filled with such sorrow. “Let me pass.” For a long moment they simply stared at each other, neither willing to bow down. There must have been something in Louis’s eyes, because David’s own expression hardened resolutely and he nodded grimly, throat bobbing. David stepped aside with great reluctance, allowing Louis to walk by. Louis stepped into the night, looking up at the blackened sky.
“Where will you go?” David called after him.
“Away. I know not where.” Louis admitted. Lestat could be gone for hours or be on his way back by now and Louis did not want to be caught running. He could not face his Maker now.
“Will you contact me when you are somewhere safe at least?” David implored. “I couldn’t live with myself if you were hurt.”
“I will.” Louis promised solemnly, looking back at David who held out a hand to him imploringly. Louis moved back up the steps and David swiftly enveloped him in a tight hug, burying his nose against the long dark locks. Louis hugged back just as hard, cheek resting against David’s sturdy shoulder.
“Be safe, Louis.” He whispered, voice tickling his ear. They separated and David cupped Louis’s cheek as the Creole offered him a warm smile that seemed more human than vampire and David understood exactly what had drawn the likes of Lestat and Armand to him.
“Take care of him?” Louis replied, voice hopeful. There was no need to specify who he was.
“As always my friend.” He promised solemnly. Louis thanked him with a tilt of his lips and in an instant was swallowed up into the night, leaving David staring out after him and wondering how he was going to face Lestat after this. As he returned to his room, David swore he could hear a violin playing terribly and distant mad laughter that echoed through the walls and bit at David's ankles with dark promises.