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Marimand week day 2

Written for Marius/Armand appreciation week for the prompt "Made in love and tenderness"

marius/armand, 3k words, teen and up audiences marius and armand find the house they're in set ablaze by vampire hunters and it ends up bringing forth old fears and traumas dacryphilia, age regression, hurt/comfort, cuddling will be cross-posted to AO3 eventually

They are asleep inside the crypts when Marius awakens. He can tell the sun is setting, but it is not yet fully set. He feels beastly and garish, itching for a fight and for causing death — something startled him awake before sundown, and he instantly knows what.

The house is on fire.

Panic shots through him. The house above the crypt is on fire, and they almost slept through it. What happened to his fire alarm system? What happened to his security measures? He feels no immortal presence beyond himself and his fledgling. It cannot be that humans are attacking him. Humans have never been the ones to hurt him!

His heart races, and he steps out of his coffin, searching with his eyes for Amadeo's. His fledgling is still out of it — dead for the sun. Marius panics, looking at him, and a horrible wail is heard before he realises it was his own! Horror, this is a nightmare; he's reliving his worst nightmare!

They had come to his house in Greece and were having a healing moment — he had brought Amadeo to the very residence he once brought Lestat, and it had proved to be more important to his fledgling than Marius had accounted for.

But now his house is on fire — everything is burning, and Amadeo is inside it.

"Armand," he grabs him by the shoulders. He shakes his fledgling, repeating his name over and over, waiting for the right moment the sun is gone, and he might wake him. "Armand… Wake up!"

Suddenly, his brown eyes fly wide, and he's also taken by the same sense of urgency, which is almost a beast-like instinct. "Master!"

"Come, little one, we are under attack."

"What?!" He angrily roars before his whole demeanour changes as he registers it's true. "Fire... No…" His child whimpers, almost jumping into Marius' arms as if he had forgotten what year it was and was also reliving some old fear. "Damned world... Not again…"

"Calm down," Marius says, trying to fight back his speeding heart that seems to have registered only now that Amadeo is right to be afraid — that they both have a deep-seated trauma about their house being set ablaze. The heat is unbearable. He needs to get them both out — to safety. "Calm down, it's alright, I— I will figure it out…"

Suddenly, his child's fear morphs into something else entirely. He sees fury and wrath as Amadeo stands up, not looking like a frail fledgling but like a grown vampire surveying the place, looking around.

"Tell me there is an emergency exit on this crypt. A way out in case the Theatre burns."

Marius gasps, suddenly remembering yes, yes, there is! "A way out…" He scans the rooms, looking for a rock that is only just placed against the stony vault. He pushes it, and a secret passage reveals itself. "This will lead us out!"

His fledgling nods, holding on tightly to Marius like he did in Lestat's dungeon while Rhoshamandes prowled. Armand walks right beside Marius as they cower through a rock tunnel that barely fits one man standing. They come at what seems like a dead end, but it is another heavy rock. Armand tries moving it, but it takes one as old and strong as Marius to bulge it. Marius guides them through sealed rock.

Suddenly, they hear more voices. Mortals. Hunters. They are waiting at the other side of the emergency exit.

Marius feels a burning rage. So this is no mere accident; they are being hunted down! Humans set his house on fire! They dared to blow fire at him while he had his precious fledgling!

Suddenly, a cold, laden fear plunges him, making his heart sink. What if these humans act at the beckoning of a vampire? Or worst — a whole coven of them, hiding their presence like rats in a house's foundation. What if an ancient undead watches them from the sky, waiting for the time when Marius and Amadeo are in the open to strike, kill, and abduct? To snap their neck and put them in iron prisons they cannot escape from… Iron cages underground where no one can hear him scream. What if he cannot keep Amadeo safe—

Marius silences his thoughts.

Marius takes a step back.

Marius pulls Amadeo into an embrace and presses his soft, auburn curls against his chest so that he might hear the soft thrum of his beating, dead heart.

"Let's stay here, cloistered inside the mountain, and summon help."

His fledgling's furiously frightened eyes are huge, like a cornered animal ready to die fighting, which is exactly what Marius seeks to avoid. "Sir, they are right outside the mountain!"

"I know, but we cannot know how many…"

"Human hearts, sire!"

"And what of hidden presences? What if an ancient is lurking, beckoning them?"

Amadeo's eyes grow impossibly large. His son steps away from his embrace, shaking his head as if bargaining with his own fears. He roars softly before growling, turning as if seeking to find another secret passage in the rocks around them. Then, his wrath spurs an agonising scream. Amadeo starts punching the rock walls of the tunnel Marius once dug into the stone face of the mountain. He roars in outrage, beating his fists bloody — and when Marius covers his mouth to silence him, Amadeo bites his hand. He needs to manhandle his son in place for the boy to stop wrestling with dread and scream.

"Listen to me! We need to stay quiet and call for help!"

"They will not take me alive this time!"

"I won't let them take you! Nothing will harm you while I am here!"

"And what if you're gone again?" Amadeo's voice breaks as he roars, frightened tears running free on his melted, furious face.

Marius tightly holds Amadeo, using his mind gift to seal the path they came through with the hidden rocks. He locks them up in the dark of the rocky cavern inside the mountain face.

"I will call for help. I will send out a warning. The fire won't penetrate these walls, and they will not move inside…"

Amadeo nods, tears streaking his face. He hides himself in Marius' chest. The Roman promptly holds him tightly, cocooning his son with his arms and cloistering him in a warm embrace.

They can hear the sound of fire in the distance, the screaming humans. And throughout, Marius begins sending the words: We are under attack. Lestat, we are trapped, Armand and I are trapped. We do not know if it is merely a human party or if an ancient being is at large. Lestat, we are on my Greek island — where I once showed you the truth about the parents.

And with every word, Marius loathes the side of him which is sure — so sure! — that this cannot be just an attack from humans. Humans would never! Surely, it cannot be! How would they know of the tunnels he dug into rock? Has technology advanced to the point where they can create a map of the tunnel complex he created without ever having to venture inside? Was this going to be an era in which humans use technology in their aid to extinguish monsters such as them?

Is he insane to be so fearful, so scared? Is this paranoia justified?

Amadeo seems now wholly quiet in his arms, as if he had no more tears to cry, and his silence despairs Marius. He shifts so he might see his expression, dreading suicidal resignation to have taken hold of his child's funereal heart.

"Amadeo… We will get out of here safely." He reassures him, yet he doesn't feel it because all Marius remembers is that he failed time after time to protect his son in any way.

"Master."

"It's alright, child."

"Master, I don't think I will survive it a fourth time…"

His heart breaks, and he holds his child tightly in his arms. How deeply he loves this little one. How horrible his failings were that he has not been able to keep him safe and protected, that his existence has been for so long-suffering and unbroken horrors despite having made him with so much love and tenderness. Marius thinks much the same. He will not survive knowing he failed his boy another time. It is either now or never — he will keep his Amadeo, his Armand safe, or risk it all for him like it had been with Rhoshamandes. What else did he have to live for if not for him? Hadn't he thought this much in Sonoma not too long ago? He needs his son — a reason to carry on.

"Nothing will harm us." He feels it a bit more strongly now.

"Master," Amadeo says, cupping Marius' face and kissing his lips as if it were he the elder, stronger vampire. Marius promptly kisses him back, feeling the salty tang of the blood tears which stain his face and lips. How many times did Amadeo lick his own tears back in Venice, when Marius would weep for his own vanities and for the price the boy would have to pay... This time, it is he who leans in to run a tongue on soft eyelashes, tasting each droplet of blood with the reverence it deserves. Marius licks his tears and kisses his skin until it is pristine again, and Amadeo moans from the sloppy cleanup. The taste of his delicious blood calms Marius, helping him find his centre. He will do whatever is in his power to protect him.

"Master… I don't want to die…"

"That's a relief. Because I also don't want you to, and will not let you either."

Amadeo seems ready to counter when they hear screams. They hear the sound of burning and exploding, the echoed screams of humans. Marius grimaces, recognising the agonising wails of some of his own mortal servants amidst those killed — whoever came to their aid is not asking questions.

Who is it?

He waits, hearing the screams, until someone volleys back.

There is a nasty party of hunters out here. Don't come. Sevraine is wiping them off.

"Gabrielle!" Amadeo says, and Marius stands, finally.

Are we alone? Are they only human?

Just humans. If anyone was watching, they were gone once they saw Sevraine.

Fury meets wrath as they hear it. Marius and Armand dash out of their enclosure now they have confirmation of who their foe is.

And it's carnage. Sevraine came to the burning home, to the fiery remnants of Marius' house where the commotion had most clearly occurred, to wreak havoc on the humans trying to put out the fire and those who kept fanning the flames, making no distinction. On the other side of the island, Marius and Armand meet the very slayers that attacked them.

There is no will for mercy. Marius offers them no chance to set them ablaze with Molotov cocktails and flamethrowers. He bursts and explodes at the first two he lays eyes on, seeing Armand pounce on another so fast that he crushes the body completely when they are pushed against a rock. Marius sets three men on fire while his fledgling carves out another's heart from his chest. The remaining five open fire with machine guns, and Marius uses his fabled speed to tear two of them in the middle before using the machine gun to gun down the remaining three. Silence, then.

He looks around to see Amadeo was shot — he is slumped on the floor. Marius dashes to him, seeing him tense up to expel a bullet. Marius offers him a wrist and his ancient blood aids in the healing. Amadeo winces with a soft, pained moan as he pushes bullets off his body one after the other.

He is still kneeling beside him when the two vampires touch down beside them.

"They're all gone." Sevraine solemnly whispers. "Unfortunately, that means all of them. If any were yours…"

"A tragedy, but…" Marius sighs, unsure of his feelings about having been attacked by mortals. Mortals! Innocents!

"We found no bastard in the sky," Gabrielle rasps. "But you'll forgive me for being paranoid… I don't buy these were bored-ass mortals; surely someone is behind this. It has to be."

"Paranoid…" Marius says and lets out a long breath as if suddenly realising that his own fears are valid and rational. He underestimated how comforting this would be. What a relief. "Yes, I was paranoid, too, much the same."

"Are we safe?" Amadeo blurts suddenly, not looking at anyone, his eyes a mask of unfeeling but streaked by tears that are dried by now.

Sevraine looks at him until she tilts her head and sees Amadeo crouched behind Marius. Sevraine lets out a gentle sigh, nodding with a kind smile. Only then does Marius notice how tightly and almost obsessively his fledgling is holding on to him.

Then, Gabrielle sighs. "Yes, you're both safe… That damn bastard gave us all some nasty scars, hm?" Gabrielle whispers, crossing their lithe arms over their chest, looking away as if deliberately trying to avoid meeting Amadeo's eyes.

Marius can tell Amadeo is out of it. His fledgling seems trapped in his head, mumbling words that make no sense in a number of languages.

He picks his fledgling up, and it's telling he's in a state of shock because he lets himself be carried with no protest or pride. He hugs Marius' neck and hides his face in his hair. Marius rubs his cheek at the top of his vagrant and now dusty curls.

"Sevraine, I understand your domains are for female vampires, but…"

"My golden caves are for all vampires in need. Come, it isn't far… You both need rest."

They are taken to Cappadocia, where Sevraine grants them a private room with stone coffins. They shower, change clothes, they communicate with Lestat and Gregory, who will scout the vampire connection and coven houses after rumours of vampire slayers and hunters. It has been too long since the last attack — way before Akasha, and they, too, refuse to believe mortals would go to such lengths to burn down a vampire home. They send out a warning for every youngling to come to Auvergne and for elders and coven leaders to fortify their bases and hide until second notice. If humans are targeting vampire residences, they will have the advantage of strength in numbers.

He finishes all practical handlings of tonight's mess to come meet his fledgling. Amadeo had not been present for most of the discussions. He had gone from mumbling to absolute silence as he lay on the stone coffin.

Marius comes and touches his face, letting the softness of his skin wash through him and deliver him from worry to calm, just as it always did. Fire, the horrors of a silent shrine, the ice and the reeling sensation of his neck being twisted — are all gone once he touches Amadeo's supple, boyish skin.

His fledgling stares at him unblinking before looking away.

Marius sighs, sitting beside the coffin Amadeo is resting. "Who braided your hair?"

"Gabrielle."

How kind of them, considering it's notoriously known that they don't get along. "They were quite shaken by your crying."

"She always is." Then, he turns his head to face Marius. "Are we safe? Are Benji and Sybelle safe, and my Daniel safe? Who is looking after my Daniel?"

"They're in Auvergne with Lestat and Thorne, Cyril, Gregory, and Santh… Louis is keeping Daniel company. They'll be safe, and we are, too…"

"I wish we could always be," His Amadeo whispers with the wisdom and melancholy he has grown used to seeing in his Armand. "I wish fear wasn't merely sensibility, and paranoia wasn't wisdom…"

"The past teaches us to be wise… So we don't repeat the same mistakes." Then he sags his shoulder, and his hair seems to shield him from the world, but in turn, it feels like he is trapped with himself, and Marius often wonders which is worse. "Why would humans do this..."

"It isn't unheard of — vampire hunters and vampire slayers have always existed. I dealt with a few in Paris."

"But why?"

"For the same reasons that I seek to exterminate the replimoids for. We are a threat to every human, and I don't resent them for attacking us like I don't resent Garekyn for attacking Eleni and killing Killer. I just hate him and want him dead, but I do not resent him."

Marius hears all which he says, but not only does it feel like it isn't his son who says it, but he also feels he can't handle what he is implying with his words. But he heard them and will remember them.

"I am heartbroken... To have been attacked by mortals..."

"Do you think we can salvage your home?"

The blonde blinks, glad to switch the subject because he doesn't think he will process tonight anytime soon and needs more time to come to any rational decision.

"What does that house matter? It is attached to horrible memories of lonesome years. Besides the brief moment it had Lestat inside, that island has offered me no comfort. I am not eager to return to any of my residences if that puts you at risk. It would be best if we were all at Court for a while."

His child nods, sighing. "That's sensible. But..."

"Yes?"

"I was so excited to be finally invited to one of your shrine residences... I— I wanted to put a coffin that is solely mine in all of your houses… Why can't I— Why—"

"Breathe. Breathe and tell me."

"Why can't I ever have my way? What did I do? Why must something always happen?"

His voice sounds so small then, like such a childish plea that it hurts Marius — this isn't his bold, feisty and cunning Amadeo either. He was never this frail, and he feels a horrible sense of guilt for his own hand in his misery that caused such a child-like regression.

"Can I lie with you? Are you happy for us to squeeze into one coffin?"

The mask of unfeeling and apathy melts into trembling eyelids and quivering lips. "Yes, master. I would like that very much. Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Can you take your clothes off before you do? Can I feel your skin against mine?"

Marius is halfway through climbing into the coffin and stops to process such a request. He feels some shame over how relieved the idea of having Amadeo's naked body near calms him. He also needs to feel him everywhere.

They're both naked when he pulls the stone cover of the coffin and seals them away from the world. He caresses his child's side and palms his ass and thighs while Armand peppers little kisses on his neck and chest. Their legs tangle up, and Marius delights himself in their tragic size difference — whether he admits it or not, it soothes his need to feel useful because he always feels bigger and more protective of Amadeo when he has him in his arms. He grips his fledgling almost possessively. He cannot show frailty now, not when his son is so shaken — Amadeo needs him now. But to choke on such a burning despair is maddening.

"Forget them tonight, cherub, we can rest easy and safe…" He says, perhaps for his own sake more than for his fledgling's.

"One night… Even if it's for one single night, let me have my way."

"Of course, if you wish." Relief washes over him that his fears be so perfectly matched with Amadeo's, that his own failings don't show. How can unfairness feel so gentle?

Amadeo takes his hand and licks his fingertips, suckling on each of his fingers, starting with his thumb all the way to his pinkie. He moans as he suckles on, eyelids and soft expression translating relief. Marius finds himself shivering. His fledgling makes his way back to Marius' thumb when he bites into his skin to suck on blood, making a perfect vacuum with his mouth and lapping his tongue at the cut until it heals, and he needs to do it again and again.

Slowly, every muscle in his body starts to relax. "Have as much as you need. All of it, if you must."

"Good, because I just might…"

"I got you, son... I have you in my arms... You're here with me."

Marius pulls him close, letting Armand use his thumb like a babe seeking to self-soothe and pacify himself as he hums a soft lullaby for him. He kisses and kisses the auburn curls he loves so much.

Their hearts slowly come down from the high of tonight's mess until they are beating in thrum.

Slowly, calm returns to them, and they both fall down into a silent peace.

Sleep takes them away from tonight's incensed but past trauma of being torn apart — and back into the healing present where they can be together like they always hoped to be.

#oooooooooooooohhhhhh #wump Armand✅#protective daddy Marius ✅#cuddling ✅#tvc #marimand week #marius/armand #armand/marius #fic

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