Chapter Text
A hot and lonely summer in Chicago. 1745 miles. 6 hours. A hotter and less lonely weekend in Los Angeles. Armand playing tour guide; pretending not to be worried, as if Louis can’t smell it on him. A big house in the hills Louis pays for: three stories, complete with a pool and home theatre.
Candles and rose petals in the master bedroom. Nice.
As they drift off afterwards he catches himself thinking: Maybe I won’t say no, this time.
Then, Armand batting his eyelashes, twisting his hands.
I want to show you something.
A white tiled room in the basement. Jars with briny, sharp-nailed fingers. Hair in labeled bundles. Pages and pages of notes—not all of them in Armand’s handwriting.
Experiments, he says. The shine in those golden eyes only makes it worse.
Louis leaves without giving him the chance to ask.
