Work Text:
Breakthrough
By PJ
August 2024
"The next song is dedicated to you, my beloved," the velvet voice announced.
Nick looked irritated at the stereo in an attempt to ignore the unexpected sting he felt in his heart. He hadn't been aware that Lacroix had become involved with someone. While he didn't doubt that there was the occasional dalliance, this sounded rather serious. Why do you care, Nick scolded himself. Yet, he wondered if it was a mortal. If so, did Lacroix plan to bring the person across?
A honking car horn brought Nick out of his reverie. Annoyed at himself for getting distracted, he turned the stereo off and passed the intersection before the light switched back to red.
Fifteen minutes later he walked into the morgue. Natalie was at her desk, the radio next to her tuned to CERK. "Hey you," she greeted Nick and turned down the volume. "What happened to him?" she indicated the radio. "He keeps dedicating music to his beloved all night. Any idea who she is?"
Nick shook his head. "I haven't the slightest clue. What makes you think it's a she?"
Natalie looked at him, startled, her eyes bulging. "He's into guys?"
Scolding himself for letting the impulsive question slip, Nick answered solemnly. "It doesn't matter to a vampire. The sharing of blood is where we find bliss and satisfaction."
"Uh-huh. That's all? You mean there's nothing else?"
Catching the disappointment in her voice, Nick grinned broadly. "There can be more if the partners are able to hold back long enough."
Natalie blushed. "Have you ever –– " she stopped herself when Nick's face hardened.
"Actually, I came here for the Johnson report, not to discuss my former and Lacroix's latest conquests," he quipped.
"Sorry, not my business, but you can't blame a girl for being curious." She shifted through papers on her desk and fetched a manila folder from underneath. After scanning the contents briefly, she passed it to him. "The tox report came back negative, but she had abnormally high troponin levels, consistent with heart attack. No indication of foul play."
"Thanks." Nick turned on his heel and strode quickly out of the lab.
* * * *
Instead of driving to the station, Nick remained seated in his car, his thoughts centuries away.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Venice 1520
Nicholas rested comfortably with his back against the chest of his lover, while the gondola floated slowly along the Grand Canal. His hand was intertwined with Lacroix's, their blood mingling where Lacroix had sliced both their wrists with a dagger. Nicholas sighed in contentment as he picked up thoughts and sensations from the elder's blood, a promise of what would follow once they reached more private surroundings.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"My beloved, mon amant." Lacroix had a manner of breathing these words that gave them an extra special meaning. Nick had never felt more cherished than when these titles had been bestowed on him. For once, he had felt on equal grounds with the ancient. Until he had started to search for a way back and rejected any further intimacies between them. While Lacroix had pushed him on many levels to return to his nature, he had never forced a resumption of their intimate relations. For that Nick was grateful. And now the elder had obviously turned his attentions elsewhere. Why did that realization hurt more than any physical torture Lacroix could have devised?
Nick put the car in gear and drove towards the precinct. He refrained from turning on the stereo. However, halfway to the precinct, Nick pulled the wheel around and headed towards the Raven. Lacroix was still doing his show in the broadcast booth when Nick strode into the club. He approached the bar and received a greeting nod from Miklos.
"Hello Nick. Can I get you a drink?"
Nick shook his head. "I have a question, Miklos. Did Lacroix receive any visitors lately?"
"Nick, I like my job here. Don't expect me to give out any information involving him," he nodded towards the sound booth.
"Fine, I'll have that drink after all." Nick settled on a stool at the end of the bar from where he could see the entrance to the sound booth. "You may leave the bottle."
Over the next hours, Nick scanned the patrons. No one came near the door to the sound booth or entered the owner's private quarters. As the night waned away, the club emptied. Still Nick didn't detect anyone waiting for Lacroix.
Eventually, the elder emerged from the sound booth and approached the bar where he received a filled goblet from Miklos. "Nicholas, what brings you here? Another urgent police matter? You appear to be in a mood for hunting. Has a suspect been sighted in my club?" He seated himself on the stool next to Nick.
Nick ignored the questions. "Is it someone I know?" he asked with a frown.
"Who?"
"The recipient of your dedications," Nick spat.
"Ah, that's why you're here? Did you enjoy the selections?"
"I don't know. I turned it off."
"Too bad. I thought you may have liked them." Lacroix continued to sip from his glass. Nick stared a moment at the full sensuous lips and remembered those lips latched on sensitive parts of his body. When his eyes were on the verge of turning yellow, he gulped down the remaining blood in his glass.
Lacroix turned a raised eyebrow on him. "It's nearly dawn. I suggest you be on your way if you do not wish to be trapped in the trunk of your automobile."
"I thought I'd stay the day," Nick replied on impulse. The lover must be mortal, if he hadn't made an appearance yet, Nick concluded. He probably had a key and came during the day. Nick decided to stay and look out for any arrivals. To prevent the elder from assigning him a room in the basement, Nick grabbed the bottle and strode into Lacroix's quarters, where he took a seat on the couch. "I'm not inconveniencing you, am I?" he asked over his shoulder when Lacroix had followed and stared at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"Why would you?"
"I don't know," Nick shrugged. "Perhaps you're expecting a visitor?"
"It would appear that I already have a visitor. Are you merely occupying my couch or do you wish to engage in conversation before retiring?"
"Are you going to tell me who it is? Your beloved?" Nick hissed the word.
"I don't think I have to," Lacroix replied.
"Then I'll merely occupy your couch." Nick stretched out, determined to stay awake in order to catch any visitor.
"Good night, Nicholas." Lacroix turned on his heel and stepped into his bedroom.
Nick listened if Lacroix made any phone calls, but the apartment remained silent.
* * * *
Nick woke with a start and cursed himself for falling asleep. Had he missed the arrival of Lacroix's lover? He probed his senses until he was certain that no mortal was in the apartment. What if it was a vampire after all? Someone who had already been at the club and stayed in the basement?
Cautiously, Nick tiptoed to the bedroom and opened the door. With some relief he saw that Lacroix was the only occupant in the room. He lay supine on the bed, covered neither by any clothes nor any sheets. Fascinated by the open display, Nick drew closer, taking in every part of the exposed body and remembering well how it had wrapped around his own in delightful ecstasy. The thought that another might now experience the pleasure that body was able to trigger was unbearable.
Nick clenched his fists as he felt himself reacting in response to the sight before him. With effort he drew his eyes away and focused on Lacroix's face only to freeze in shock when two pale blue eyes stared back at him.
"Is there something you need, Nicholas?" Lacroix inquired. He crossed his arms behind his head, exposing his torso even more to Nick's hungry eyes.
"I –– I," Nick began, but he was unable to continue without revealing his inner turmoil about the situation. Turning, he fled from the room. He stopped in front of the fireplace in the parlour and stared into the flames.
"Nicholas?" a soft voice spoke from behind him.
"Why are you doing this to us?" Nick hissed over his shoulder, noting that Lacroix had donned a dark green brocade robe.
Lacroix raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you would care to enlighten me what exactly I am doing that seems to upset you so."
"If you have to take a lover, do you have to announce it to the entire city?"
"Who says that I have taken a lover?" Lacroix crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"You did. You kept dedicating songs to your beloved all night, didn't you?"
"I suppose I did," Lacroix stated with annoying calmness.
"So?" They stood facing each other.
Lacroix exhaled audibly and broke the staring contest. "Think Nicholas. Who is and always has been the recipient of that particular title?"
Nick stood rooted to the spot as realization slowly dawned on him. "Oh." Embarrassed, he turned his eyes to the ground.
Lacroix closed the distance between them. Reaching out, he lifted Nick's face and leaned in to cover his lips in a soft kiss.
Nick was tempted to lean in and respond to the kiss. Instead, he stepped back and put some distance between them. "How do I know you aren't just distracting me from finding out the real identity of your lover."
Lacroix raised an eyebrow. After a moment he slowly reached up and uncovered his shoulder. "You could find the truth here –– or, if you prefer to avoid this kind of intimacy in keeping with your attitude of the last centuries, return with a warrant and request a recording of tonight's broadcast, Detective."
Nick looked startled. Taking Lacroix's blood was tempting, but experience had taught him that it wouldn't end here. Of course, no judge would give him a warrant without major abuse of hypnotism. The mere suggestion was hilarious. Then Nick smiled. He didn't need a warrant. Natalie had listened to the show all night. He could simply ask her which songs Lacroix had played.
He pulled out his cell phone, about to place the call. But then he stopped before hitting dial. If Lacroix had played Nick's favourite music, he doubted that Natalie would be able to name any song unless it happened to be one that made it into the North American charts. Worse, his question could prompt her to figure out the connection between himself and Lacroix, which he wished to avoid under all circumstances.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket. "Damn you," he muttered and launched himself at Lacroix, aiming swiftly for the jugular. Lacroix staggered backwards and let himself fall onto the couch, drawing Nick with him. Nick pulled out the blood and shuddered as the first taste hit his tongue. Hunger, desire, and a fierce passion, all directed at him were the predominant emotions ingrained in the potent essence. Nick's anger vanished as relief flooded his senses. He couldn't get enough of the blood that assured him that he was still Lacroix's chosen one, the lover he cherished above all else. He tore at the wound, eager to enhance the flow by enlarging the bite holes.
Lacroix grunted. With effort he shoved the silk shirt from Nick's shoulder and bit down to replenish what his greedy lover had taken from him.
With the completion of the cycle, Nick's own desire reawakened. He let go of Lacroix's neck, reared back his head, his eyes glowing, and bit down again in ecstatic ferocity. Lacroix pierced his shoulder anew. After a while Nick sat up, straddling Lacroix. He cast off his shirt and pushed Lacroix's robe apart to expose his chest. Bending down he attacked the skin with nips and kisses.
"Lacroix?" he breathed when he had reached the left clavicle.
"Hm?"
"Your couch is too narrow."
"We've managed in closer confines," the elder reminded him.
"True," Nick mumbled while he suckled on the spot between Lacroix's neck and shoulder. "But there's an unused bed in the next room ––"
Lacroix sighed. "Hold on." He tightened his arms around Nicholas and flew them into the bedroom, settling them softly in the same position on the mattress.
"Much better," Nick mumbled and gave himself over to a passion he hadn't indulged in for centuries.
* * * *
Nick woke in the early evening. He was lying sprawled across Lacroix, his head on the elder's chest and his arms wrapped tightly around the other's torso. His eyes felt moist from the tears he had shed after his body had been sated and his mind processed the emotions that had overwhelmed him. He hadn't been aware that he still craved the other so much. Only when he thought there was a rival did his long-suppressed desire break through. The realization that this desire was still mutual had triggered tears of relief.
"Nicholas?" Lacroix's soft voice brought him out of his reverie.
Nick turned his head and looked down on his lover. "I don't want this."
The body underneath him tightened imperceptibly. "Your blood says otherwise."
Realizing what Lacroix thought he was referring to, he quickly reassured him, "No, I don't mean this." He indicated between himself and Lacroix. "When I thought you had taken someone else, I felt miserable all night and I asked myself, why does it still matter to me what you do? My unexpected feelings contradicted everything I thought I wanted. I feel torn in two opposite directions."
Lacroix raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking for my advice?"
Nick shook his head. "It's pretty obvious what your advice will be."
"Then ask yourself what it is you value most in your life, do a ranking, and analyse what you cannot live without and what may be dropped."
Nick sorted out his thoughts. "I need us to be lovers. I also need to atone. I want to continue my job at Metro Police, refrain from killing and keep drinking human blood to a minimum. Can you accept that?"
"In exchange for having you share my bed?" Lacroix asked, almost incredulous. "I believe I can accept those terms. Will that be all?"
Nick remained silent for a while. There was still the matter of the cure, which hadn't made any progress lately. He knew that any attempt at a cure Natalie might devise was futile if he kept ingesting Lacroix's blood on a regular basis. "For now," he stated eventually. "The ranking may change in the future, depending on a shift in certain variables."
"A fair prospect, I believe." Lacroix drew his finger along the contours of Nick's lips. "So, I suppose I can expect you before dawn?"
Nick grinned, sucked the digit into his mouth and pierced it playfully. "You can bet on it," he promised hoarsely after licking the surfacing blood away. Then he rose and gathered his discarded clothes. "Now I need to swing by the loft to change before heading to work."
Lacroix tuned on his side, resting his head on one hand, and watched with a hint of amusement on his face as his lover tried to cover the tears at the top of his silk shirt with a scarf.
"Lacroix?"
"Hm?"
"When you proposed that ranking, you knew what I would rate as top ranking. What if I had decided on something else?"
Lacroix said up and donned his robe. "That was unlikely. I do pay attention to your blood, your thoughts and your emotions. I am pleased that you eventually realized yourself what your needs are."
Nick nodded. Lacroix accompanied him to the door. After a final kiss Nick slipped out into the night.
* * * *
"Bon soir, mes amis. Once more tonight's music is dedicated to my beloved."
Nick grinned broadly as a violin tune from Beethoven sounded from the car's speakers. When he walked into the morgue, he found Natalie typing a report, while the radio was playing in the background, turned to a jazz station.
"He's still dedicating songs to his beloved," she remarked, sketching quotation marks in the air. "But the music wasn't fit to keep me awake at night. Have you figured out who it is?"
"Yes," Nick smiled and put on his most innocent expression. "No one of consequence."
FIN