Daniel's mouth opened as if he was going to speak but nothing came out. All he could do was watch Armand. The way he moved closer to him sent shivers down his spine. But it wasn't out of fear. No, it was desire and excitement.

Now his heart was racing as he felt himself dropping to his knees without even thinking twice about it. His bright blue eyes looked up at Armand as he felt his heart skipping a beat.

" D----Don't... " Daniel started to say. Yes he wanted Armand's love and his blood. "Yes... " A simple answer yes but it got the point acrossed.

Heart racing now as he felt as if he was going to lose consciousness at any given time. "Who am I kidding? You have denied me all these years why would I ever think you would give me the very thing I long for? What makes it different now? Because I am old and you dont want to see me die? No that can't be right."

armand exhales sharply as daniel falls to his knees in front of him. chin lifts, elongating him further as he looks down his nose at him. the man who lit the fuse, who carried the detonator the whole time — he can hear his own blood pounding in his head, a reminder of the frustration building until he thinks he might explode into flames spontaneously. he could never be this angry at someone he loathed nor someone he was apathetic towards. those were the ones that could wrong him with little to no emotional weight. daniel mattered. years passed and daniel was still embedded inside of him.

( he can't dig him out. he had never been able to dig him out )

daniel's heartbeat is almost as loud as his voice. his fangs extract against his will, but he holds his jaw shut for a moment longer. he's not answering him. he's letting the seconds pass by when he says yes. to hear him ask for it pulls a shudder down his spine. he dragged him out of time and place with those words. he'd always said no. always. and now, he doesn't know if he wants to give it to him so he'll live or because he wants it to hurt. he's wavering in place.

❝ up! ❞ the command comes with a gesture of his hand, using the mind gift to pull daniel back to his feet, to close the distance and grab his chin with his hand. it's rough but his eyes are swimming with uncertainty, with desperation, fear, every emotion building inside of him to this moment. ❝ i denied you to save you. to let you have your life — i'm not the keeper of some great gift. ❞ he inhales a shaky breath, voice lowering to almost a whisper, ❝ i'll give it to you, daniel. i'll give it to you, but your promises won't last as long as you think. ❞

" I understand why you did it. Am I thrilled about it ? Fuck no. But I understand. " Daniel said. "I was pumped with so many drugs, so much alcohol. No wonder why you turned me away each time." He added. "But still, to think of what that life would have been. What we could have been together....Do you, did you ever think about it?" His eyes softened a bit as he spoke. "Did you ever think about me?"

There was a part of him that wanted to ask if he had ever watched him as he got older, because there was always a part of him that felt as if he was being watched. But he always brushed that off thinking he was some druggie he owed money to or something.

The way Armand spoke his name made Daniel feel weak just like when he was younger all those years ago. But now it was for a different reason. Because throughout this time they spent together this time Armand had only called him by his last name so hearing his first name sent chills down his back.

" Armand...I am not that kid anymore. I am a adult and I know what I want...I want to be with you. To walk the ends of the erath with you. " Fuck he sounded so needy and weak but since things were getting laid out on the table, Daniel mine as well be all weak and needy right?

Armand swayed his head, turning his head into the fingers that traced his lips. Then his chin was lifted and those deep amber and red eyes of his stared up at him in such a kittenish fashion. His eyes were certainly one of his finer features.

“ I believe you know I can handle that. “ He cooed, but was quickly dragged by his collar. They’d been lovers a hundred or more years ago, and sometimes it felt like those days had been yesterday. But this was now, the modern age of mankind.

Like it was nothing he was thrown over his knee, spanked, and Armand didn’t even let out a moan. Instead it was a false sigh of disappointment, and he tried to rest his head on folded arms. He knew just what to say to get him a little angry, a little more aggressive.

“ Shame. My maker Marius would beat me with a whip, even when I was human, and it was much stronger than this. “ He smirked into his arms.

Removing his fangs from his neck, Lestat moved his lips to Armand's throat and kissed down it slowly. Then he spoke the words, he wanted more and so he moved his bloody lips to Armand's lips and kissed him deeply. As he did so, Lestat wrapped his arms around him, pulling his gremlin closer to his own body as soft whimpers and moans slipped from his lips.

Armand swayed his head, turning his head into the fingers that traced his lips. Then his chin was lifted and those deep amber and red eyes of his stared up at him in such a kittenish fashion. His eyes were certainly one of his finer features.

“ I believe you know I can handle that. “ He cooed, but was quickly dragged by his collar. They’d been lovers a hundred or more years ago, and sometimes it felt like those days had been yesterday. But this was now, the modern age of mankind.

Like it was nothing he was thrown over his knee, spanked, and Armand didn’t even let out a moan. Instead it was a false sigh of disappointment, and he tried to rest his head on folded arms. He knew just what to say to get him a little angry, a little more aggressive.

“ Shame. My maker Marius would beat me with a whip, even when I was human, and it was much stronger than this. “ He smirked into his arms.

Slowly Lestat pushed himself off the chair he was sitting in and moved over to a table and poured himself a glass of blood, acting as if he wasn't going to pay two minds to Armand. But as soon as he had his guard down Lestat rushed behind Armand and wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him closer to his own body.

He let his chin be lifted and head turned as he leaned back into his taller kin. “ Louis did that damn interview, and of course I was present in an effort to maybe control all the stories he wanted to tell the world. He had Molloy write it to find you. We both know that. “ He fluttered his eyelashes prettily, offering more of that throat. “ And we both know Louis drew more attention than just you. “

He opened his eyes then, settling an arm atop one of his, enjoying this embrace. Maybe he was pathetic for loving what he probably couldn’t have, but here he was. Ever so slowly he turned in those arms and those large eyes of his were a mix of worry, sadness and love. He reached up with a ringed hand to softly cup his cheek. “ And I know that even though Louis used and abused us both, that part of the reason you’ve become this openly vampire rockstar is to steal other vampires attention off Louis and onto you. “

His thumb caressed his cheek, being mindful of his claw. “ I know too how self destructive you can be when you feel vulnerable emotionally. So yes, my beloved — “ He held his face with both hands, lowering that forehead so he could touch it with his own. He always did love he was shorter than Lestat. He was Lestat-sized, in his mind. “ I have great worry for you, for all those reasons. And I will not leave you to take on.. possibly covens of vampires alone. “

Not because I love Louis, but because I love you.

" Mon amour... " Lestat whispered softly as he turned his head to kiss the inside of Armand's hand. "Oui...Je t'aime aussi..." His voice so soft as he spoke, it was rare for anyone to hear this sweet and softness. There was only two people in his life that got to hear that softness Niki and Louis and now Armand.

Soon a tear rolled down his cheek as he leaned over and pressed his lips against Armand's kissing him softly and deeply.

Armand swayed his head, turning his head into the fingers that traced his lips. Then his chin was lifted and those deep amber and red eyes of his stared up at him in such a kittenish fashion. His eyes were certainly one of his finer features.

“ I believe you know I can handle that. “ He cooed, but was quickly dragged by his collar. They’d been lovers a hundred or more years ago, and sometimes it felt like those days had been yesterday. But this was now, the modern age of mankind.

Like it was nothing he was thrown over his knee, spanked, and Armand didn’t even let out a moan. Instead it was a false sigh of disappointment, and he tried to rest his head on folded arms. He knew just what to say to get him a little angry, a little more aggressive.

“ Shame. My maker Marius would beat me with a whip, even when I was human, and it was much stronger than this. “ He smirked into his arms.

Slowly Lestat pushed himself off the chair he was sitting in and moved over to a table and poured himself a glass of blood, acting as if he wasn't going to pay two minds to Armand. But as soon as he had his guard down Lestat rushed behind Armand and wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him closer to his own body.

Oh, how it pained Armand to see Daniel. He knew he was having a hard time adjusting to his new life and yes, he was to blame for this, for he should have been there for him. But just as everyone said Armand was a cruel and wicked devil who seems to always do bad things no matter how much he wanted to be good.

" Do you wish for me to leave you...Daniel ? "

"Fucking christ." The beautiful boy muttered just barely loud enough to be heard as he ran his fingers through his hair. Trying to stare at the sky just to avoid his maker's piercing gaze. "What do you want armand?" This was one of the times that him not being able to read his fledgling's mind came in handy. Daniel was happy to intentionally dodge his questioning. Not wanting to him give the satisfaction.

" Claudia, Claudia...Where are you my Claudia ? "