Home / Fan Fiction / V(cough) C(cough) fic / Stand Alone Stories / Simplicity

DISCLAIMER: The following stories are all non-profit, amateur efforts not intended to infringe on the rights of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, David Geffen, Warner Brothers, Geffen Pictures, Knopf, Randomhouse, the city of New Orleans, the U.S. Constitution, any copyright holders that I might not have thought of or even a certain author who shall remain nameless but who has a set of initials which are, coincidentally enough, just one letter off from spelling "B.S."

Simplicity
by The Brat Queen

Dedicated to: Cindy Daniel, who is slowly allowing me to buy back my soul after helping with my move.
Timeframe: Sometime after TotBT
Characters: Louis and Lestat
Spoilers: Eh, not really
Recommended Soundtrack: Cole Porter
Plot: Yeah right.
Starting: Now.

Immortality Awards: Winner: Best Louis/Lestat '97-'98

Reader's Choice:
Winner: Best Louis/Lestat '97-'98

"Lestat, why do you love Louis?"

It’s a myth that I don’t read my fan mail. I do read it, occasionally. By no means do I make a habit of it but I do browse it from time to time.

You’re reading this so I’m sure you can guess the content of it.

"Lestat, will you make me a vampire?"

"Lestat, are you real?"

"Lestat, where can I get your CD?"

It’s a sea, in the end. A blur of comments from those trying to understand me, each of them attempting to find a small piece of information to claim as their own.

Silently, I answer.

Used CD stores.

Yes, obviously.

No, not now.

Why? Well…

"Mon Lestat?"

Louis has a voice like none other. Higher than most males speak, but by no means does he reach an alto or even a tenor. Soft, because outwardly Louis always presents himself as soft, unobtrusive, and always accented with that slight French that these days only he and I speak anymore.

"Oui?" I look up at him from my desk, smiling just a little. Not too much, that would offset him. Just a little. Enough to let him know I want him closer.

My smile grows wider when I can see him as he comes into the light. He’s excited about something, I can tell. His eyes gleam and he even reaches to take my hand even though his body language clearly proclaims the fact that he’ll leave in an instant if he’s bothering me, for he doesn’t wish to do so.

"Come see," he says softly, tugging at my shirt and motioning me to be quiet. I follow, wondering if he has any idea how passionately I wish to kiss him at this moment.

It’s a game, now. We sneak up, making a show of being very quiet so as to not disturb whatever it is that Louis has discovered. I take a chance and slip my hand into his, squeezing it gently as I obediently allow myself to be led.

"Look," he whispers, tapping his fingertip lightly on the screened window which faces the courtyard. I obey, letting my gaze fall where he points. Below, by the fountain, is a small striped cat. A stray, perhaps from as far as the church garden or as close as our nearest neighbors. A female, as far as I can tell, and not very old yet. She’s sitting crouched on the lip of the basin, peering as intently into the water as we’re peering at her and dipping one tiny paw in. Underneath, in the water, the fish I’ve placed in there dance out of her reach and all the while the water ripples, flashing golden fish from below and white silver moon from above.

Together, my hand in his, we watch saying, simply, nothing.

"Lestat sit still!" It’s not often that Louis’ voice is this sharp.

"Louis – " I protest, unable to complete the sentence or look at him. My body is tense, coiled so tightly that it’s painful to me moreso, even, than the dozens of shards of crystal that are now embedded under my skin.

Louis stands beside me with a pocketknife in one hand and mine in the other. His grip is strong, though I could break it, of course. The look in his eyes keeps me from trying, however.

"Hold still and I can take them out," Louis says again, his voice gentle this time, patient. My mind instantly begins debating whether this patience is for or in spite of me. "Mon Lestat, please. You need to take care of yourself."

His voice was even softer then. Silently I let him touch me, working out each piece of the wickedly sharp stones inside of me with a tenderness that almost keeps the procedure from being painful. From under my hair I watch him, gradually finding myself mesmerized by the look of quiet concentration on his face. His absolute determination that he will not do it wrong.

"I’m sorry I broke your statue," I whisper, feeling a tremor go through my arm with the fear that I might have done something to truly upset him.

He sighs, softly, then looks up at me. "Darling, that doesn’t matter. You’re more important. I just wish you’d stop hurting yourself."

I try for a patented grin. "What can I say? I’m clumsy."

"No you’re not," when his eyes meet mine I’m reminded of how powerful Louis truly is. "You are not, Lestat, and I will not hear you say such things." With one fine hand he caresses my shoulder. "You just need time." The smile that he fixes upon me is the most tender thing I’ve ever seen. "You just forget your own strength sometimes, that’s all."

I relax, finally, moving closer to him so that I can smell his hair. It occurs to me to tell him several things but in the end the one I choose is, simply, "Thank you, beautiful one."

"Why look," I say, entering into the parlour, "there’s a mortal in my house."

Louis grins, positively proud of himself as he looks up from his book. He’s wearing an outfit designed to catch my attention – faded blue jeans and a white shirt open at the collar just enough that I can see the curve of his neck.

With a predatory grin I move forward, walking slowly so that Louis can admire the view of me as I approach. "Do you know what happens to mortals who find themselves in a vampire’s house?"

Louis is laughing now, but keeping a straight face for the purpose of fantasy. "Oh no, Monsieur Big Bad Vampire, what?"

I move forward so that my lips are inches from his. I treat him with a dramatic swagger of my eyebrows as I respond. "They get… eaten."

He laughs aloud now, kissing me and pulling me closer. "You, monsieur, are too far away."

"Am I?"

"Oui."

I nibble his lips, biting one hard enough to make him gasp. "There’s ways of fixing that, you know."

"Oh good."

I laugh now, kissing him happily and sliding my hands down his body.

"Louis?" I ask him, some time later.

"Hmm… oui?" he responds, snuggling into my shoulder.

"Are you aware that you’re perfect?"

"No," he says, nuzzling my ear. "That’s you."

I pull him closer, kissing him lightly anywhere I can reach. "Non, that’s us."

"Oui," he smiles. "Louis and Lestat."

"Lestat, why do you love Louis?"

Why? It’s simplicity itself.