If I had killed him, he wouldn't have been able to hurt you.
That's not something Daniel is going to be able to hear. Louis' regrets are his own. He lets them slip away, leaving some space for fondness to warm his expression as he looks back at Daniel.
"No," Louis tells him. "Optimistic, but not childish."
What does healing look like for Louis? Taking the relief and understanding Daniel gifted to him and parlaying it into something else, a way he could move through the world, that is something Louis has no guidance for.
And Armand—
"I'm not going back to him, Daniel. But if he wants my attention, I'd sooner he have that than yours."
"You say that, but it was pretty unsettling watching him have your attention for two weeks."
Was Armand editing Louis' brain in realtime, right in front of him? So many odd moments. Loud arguments followed by serene evenings. A ruinous reveal transitioning into Louis being on the verge of forgiving Armand. Daniel has gone around in circles trying to decide if his own memory of those days in Dubai are all real—
And they seem to be, which is just fucking bizarre. He's had to decide that he thinks Armand simply didn't see him as a threat, because what else is the explanation, there. It seems unlikely that Armand enjoyed their hostile back and forths.
"But I'll lay off. I know you can handle yourself. Just... try to go on day by day, huh? Night by night, rather."
In the wake of this offering, Louis reaches over to catch Daniel's hand. Lace their fingers together.
"I ain't asking you to lay off. I don't think you're capable of it."
Louis had given Daniel a kind of gift, hadn't he? But the need to know is intrinsic. It had been there from the start. Daniel and his tape recorder, curious enough to accept Louis' invitation home.
Daniel will ask his questions. Louis has no desire to stop him.
"Just promise me you aren't going to try to placate him on your own. Please."
It's cute when his accent comes out. Even if makes Daniel thinks he is still very much spoiling for a fight. Nevertheless, what Louis says makes him laugh, because no. He probably isn't capable of laying off.
He squeezes Louis' hand, and then reaches out with his other to touch the side of his face. Holding there for a moment, looking at him.
"No placating. No fighting. Deal?"
is this bow territory or is there a little more gas in the tank?
Is this a habit forming? It's a welcome little touch, Daniel's fingers at his face. Prompts a slight smile, a loosening of tension in his body. Satisfied with the holding pattern they've established, that it will see them to the next stop on Daniel's tour at the very least.
"Yes," Louis acquiesces, the slight tip of his head into Daniel's fingers as he confirms, "Deal."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
If I had killed him, he wouldn't have been able to hurt you.
That's not something Daniel is going to be able to hear. Louis' regrets are his own. He lets them slip away, leaving some space for fondness to warm his expression as he looks back at Daniel.
"No," Louis tells him. "Optimistic, but not childish."
What does healing look like for Louis? Taking the relief and understanding Daniel gifted to him and parlaying it into something else, a way he could move through the world, that is something Louis has no guidance for.
And Armand—
"I'm not going back to him, Daniel. But if he wants my attention, I'd sooner he have that than yours."
no subject
Was Armand editing Louis' brain in realtime, right in front of him? So many odd moments. Loud arguments followed by serene evenings. A ruinous reveal transitioning into Louis being on the verge of forgiving Armand. Daniel has gone around in circles trying to decide if his own memory of those days in Dubai are all real—
And they seem to be, which is just fucking bizarre. He's had to decide that he thinks Armand simply didn't see him as a threat, because what else is the explanation, there. It seems unlikely that Armand enjoyed their hostile back and forths.
"But I'll lay off. I know you can handle yourself. Just... try to go on day by day, huh? Night by night, rather."
no subject
"I ain't asking you to lay off. I don't think you're capable of it."
Louis had given Daniel a kind of gift, hadn't he? But the need to know is intrinsic. It had been there from the start. Daniel and his tape recorder, curious enough to accept Louis' invitation home.
Daniel will ask his questions. Louis has no desire to stop him.
"Just promise me you aren't going to try to placate him on your own. Please."
no subject
He squeezes Louis' hand, and then reaches out with his other to touch the side of his face. Holding there for a moment, looking at him.
"No placating. No fighting. Deal?"
is this bow territory or is there a little more gas in the tank?
"Yes," Louis acquiesces, the slight tip of his head into Daniel's fingers as he confirms, "Deal."
🎀