Chapter Text
Lestat stared at his lover with a feeling of hopelessness. Louis lounged on the couch half covered in newspapers as he read one, occasionally reaching out to snatch a rat to eat. Their home was a disaster, their love life non-existent. It was a year to the day that Claudia had left. Maybe Lestat had been a tad harsh but he hadn’t expected her absence to do this to Louis and he had no way to bring her back.
*Lestat.*
Both Louis and Lestat jerked their heads to look at each other as a husky female voice crooned in their heads.
“Who is that?” Louis asked.
“Finally, a statement not about Claudia,” Lestat snipped and then immediately regretted it as Louis’ face grew harsh.
“Sorry, I’m worried about our daughter. One of us has to be. She’s out there all alone.” Louis shouted, pushing the newspaper off his legs to stand up.
*Oi! Lestat!* This male voice, distinctly British, snapped in their minds.
Louis looked concerned as he asked, “I thought you said there were no vampires in America.”
“Yes, well. Last I knew these two were in Romania.” Lestat said and then closed his eyes. He sent out the reply aimed only at two vampires rather than broadcast it. *New Orleans.*
*Yeah, mate. We know that. Which bloody house is yours? They all look the same.*
Lestat’s eyes snapped open.
Louis gave him an accusatory look, “I thought you said all vampires are assholes. That we would never want to meet them. Are you talking to them?”
“All vampires are assholes, mon cher. You’ve met me, haven’t you,” Lestat said as he strode to the door and flung it open. He barely managed to keep his jaw from dropping. In the middle of the road, four doors down, stood Drusilla and William. “Mes amis,” he called while leaning out the door. He heard Louis repeat him and then the crunch of newspapers as he must have retaken his seat on the couch.
Drusilla murmured, “Lestat.” and he felt a tiny weight lift off his heart.
William placed an arm around her waist and led her into the house. Lestat closed the door behind them and Drusilla rushed into his arms.
A loud squeaking caused them to look at Louis as he snuffed out a rat’s life, drinking down its blood before tossing it into a corner.
Drusilla turned on Louis and her face became fierce as she gazed at him. “Are you the reason I can feel my Lestat’s heart breaking across the ocean?”
“Drusilla-” Lestat started to admonish her but William stopped him.
“We just spent two weeks trying to get here, one of those weeks being stuck in a bloody coffin aboard a cargo ship. You should let her speak.”
“Who are you?” Louis asked, looking taken aback.
Drusilla’s gaze fell on the rat and she turned back to William and Lestat. “Is he broken, like Daddy? Is that why you are sad, Lestat? He won’t kill with you beneath the stars?”
Lestat shook his head, “Louis has never had a strong drive to kill humans. What’s wrong with Angelus?”
“Don’t talk like I’m not here.” Louis demanded.
“You shouldn’t eat rats if you won't eat humans.” Drusilla scolded him walking further into the room. “Spike, take Lestat and get some puppies. I must speak to your heart.”
Louis glared at her, “My name is Louis.”
Drusilla ignored his ire and sat down next to him. She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Tell me your story, Louis, heart of Lestat.”
William grabbed Lestat’s arm and dragged him out of the townhouse. “She’s not going to hurt him. Let’s go find her some puppies,” he said. They wandered the streets listening for the barks of stray dogs.
“What’s wrong with Angelus?” Lestat asked again.
William shook his head. “Bloody well lost his nerve or some rot. He don’t want eat human, fuck, or just have fun. Something happened in Romania. He left us and then Darla went after him.”
“Mon dieu,” Lestat gasped with a little extra flair than necessary. “I hope it’s not catching.” He reached out and grabbed a small dog hiding behind a trashcan. For a moment the dog began to thrash but settled under his hands.
“You and me both, mate.”
A few minutes passed before Lestat had another question. “Did Drusilla call you Spike?”
William smirked. “I’m trying something new out.”
“Let me know if you still like it in two decades, otherwise you are still William to me.”
“Of course Lestat, wouldn’t expect you to go changing a name without at least 25 years to consider.”
They both laughed and walked in companionable silence for several minutes. Passing by several dogs that William insisted would not qualify as a puppy for Drusilla.
“Do you think he will be okay?” Lestat asked suddenly. “My Louis? She’s not going to hurt him is she?”
“Nah, mate. She’s got a way about her. She’ll get him figured out. We just need to give her time,” William said.
Lestat shot him a knowing look. “And the truth comes out. Those last dogs have been fine. You have just been stalling.” He released the dog he had been holding and said, “Let’s get a bite and then get the dogs.”
William smiled and the two ran into the night searching for prey.
An hour later found them back at Lestat’s doorstep, each holding a large puppy. Lestat turned to William and whispered, “I don’t know if my heart can handle the hope.” He took a deep breath and turned the doorknob. They walked into the house to see the hallway and sitting room cleared of all newspapers and clutter. Lestat put a hand to his heart. “She is an angel.”
Louis came down the stairs with a pile of clutter in his hand. He gave Lestat a small smile. “Hello.”
Drusilla came from the kitchen with more clutter in her own hands. She dropped it and clapped her hands. “Perfect. The puppies are here. Louis, eat.” She pointed a finger at him. “No more rats or else.”
“Yes ma’am.” Louis said moving towards the men to immediately eat both dogs. He let out a sigh of release and tension noticeable left his frame. “I didn’t realize there was a weight requirement.”
Lestat light put his hand on Louis’ back and carefully said, “Hello, mon coeur." His lover merely smiled back at him.
“Come,” Drusilla said standing next to William. “We need to find the little dark moon.”
“What?” Lestat asked. “You just got here.”
“We are going to find your Claudia and then return.”
William groaned, “Can’t we be done travelling, pet? Just for a little bit?”
Drusilla glared and stuck a finger in his face. “I can’t fix Daddy but I can fix Lestat and you will not stop me.”
“Alright, luv.” William caved, holding his hands up.
“Good, let’s go collect Miss Edith and see if Claudia would like to play.”