Title: A love that'll cradle you
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: Interview with the vampire (TV)
Pairing: Armand/Daniel Molloy
Rating: PG
Category: ficlet
Summary: As soon as he saw Armand walk in, Daniel knew something was wrong.
A/N: Set during episode 7 of The Vampire Lestat
Interview with the vampire and all Vampire Chronicles characters are property of Anne Rice. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
Daniel was seething.
Fuck Raglan James. Fuck the Talamasca. Fuck Louis and Lestat and the whole goddamn circus he had been dragged into. Sure, he had enjoyed the rock'n'roll tour life for a while, but he was just too fucking old for this vampire apocalypse bullshit.
He sprang to his feet and grabbed the packet of cigarettes lying on the table. He knew they would do nothing for his nerves, but he needed a distraction.
'I should go out and find a junkie,' he thought. 'Get high outta my mind.'
He was stubbing the cigarette butt out on the balcony railing when he heard the door open. He threw the crushed remains of his cigarette down towards the street and stepped back inside.
As soon as he saw Armand walk in, he knew something was wrong. His maker was moving slowly, as if his limbs were made of lead and he had to employ all his supernatural strength to put one foot in front of the other. His expression was vacant, eyes unfocused and cast to the floor. He reached the sofa and sat down heavily on it.
"What happened?" asked Daniel.
Armand took a long breath before he answered.
"He apologized."
For once in his life, Daniel bit down on the caustic reply that was sitting on the tip of his tongue.
"That's... good?" he added instead.
Armand closed his eyes.
In that moment, Daniel felt something in his gut, something raw and visceral and impossible to ignore: his maker was hurting. He had to do something.
He slowly approached the sofa, careful not to startle Armand, and sat down next to him. He studied him in silence for a while, then wrapped his arms around him and gently pulled him against his chest.
Armand stiffened.
"You don't have to do this," he said, voice low and raspy.
"I know," Daniel replied, but didn't let go.
Armand reluctantly accepted the embrace and gradually relaxed in his fledgling's arms. Daniel brought a hand up to the back of Armand's head and buried his fingers in the messy black curls, gently massaging his scalp. Armand moaned and pressed his face against the side of Daniel's neck, all the tension he had been carrying finally leaving his body.
"Feeling better?" Daniel eventually asked.
Armand nodded. He withdrew slightly and sat up, amber eyes scanning over Daniel's face.
"You should avoid sunlight for a while. Your skin is an alarming shade of red."
Daniel scoffed.
"Yes, dad," he said, pulling him back into his arms.
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July 2026