Down below

Chapter 32.

>>TW: drug use<<

Lestat willed himself to the rooftop of his lavish New Orleans house. Nobody was supposed to be there, yet he could hear music and chatter from the inner courtyard. He sniffed into the air and his heart accelerated to the familiar smell, his limbs moving on their own as he was climbing to the edge like a leopard. He looked down and there he was, doing lines with two girls, one of them sitting on his lap, wearing only a silver thong that was in beautiful contrast with her ebony skin and the other one was kneeling before him, pouring champagne into their glasses, the straps of her baby doll slipped down her shoulders, revealing her left breast. Loki looked plastered and high as a kite, sporting a five o'clock shadow, the dark beauty running her fingers through it every once in a while. He also saw two young men entangled in the dark corner of the courtyard, in the middle of their pleasure, not bothered by anything or anyone. Lestat could feel the sunrise getting closer in his bones.

He hopped down in the center of the courtyard, landing on the fountain's ledge, but nobody batted an eyelash, they didn't even notice him. He smiled and cleared his throat just as the Scandinavian model in between Loki's legs was about to give him some oral attention. The woman, sitting on his lap let out a little scream and jumped off Loki, the other one just stared at Lestat stoned.

'Sorry to interrupt.' he said, jumping down to the floor. Loki frowned, squinting with his eyes, trying to focus. 'Mischievous, indeed, breaking into my home.'

'I thought you're in Italy.' Loki said, pulling up his boxers and his jeans.

'Don't hurt yourself on my account, please, carry on.' Lestat grinned as Loki was trying to shove his hard-on into his pants.

'Oh, well.' he said, making a dismissive gesture with his hands that annoyed Lestat.

'Who's your friend?' the dark beauty smiled at Lestat.

'He's a vampire, looking for the sinners of this realm, so watch your step, darling.' Loki slurred and drank from his champagne glass.

'Oh, really?' the girl smiled seductively and gently ran the knuckles of her hand over Lestat's chin. 'I wouldn't mind if you took a bite of me.'

'Quite tempting, but I'm full and it's getting late. I'm afraid I must ask you all to leave.'

'Boo!' Loki said and didn't move, but the others could feel Lestat's silent command and started to grab their stuff and leave.

'That applies to you as well, Monsieur.' Lestat stepped to Loki, staring down at him.

'No chance. Look at me.'

Lestat started to lose his patience. He hasn't seen Loki in two months. He disappeared without a word after he nursed him back to life - well, the doctor and nurse he hired, but that was beside the point -, and now he's here, out of the blue, partying with strangers in his house, drinking his excellent champagne. No, thank you!

'It's not my fault that you can't hold your drinks. Leave, please.'

Loki grinned and sat up in the lounge chair, then did another line, snorting it loudly.

'So polite, but I still have to decline, I'm afraid.'

'Loki!' Lestat growled, and moved so quickly, it seemed he just appeared in front of him, as he towered over him menacingly.

'Lestat!' Loki smiled at him, perfectly unafraid. Gotta give it to him, he had guts.

The Marquis grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him up with ease.

'Take your hands off me, bloodsucker!'

Lestat ignored him, sensing that he was still without his powers, so he dragged him towards the back gate like he was a naughty cat. Loki kicked him, head-butted him - no joy, so he did the only thing he hoped would affect him and pushed his thumbs into his eye sockets. Lestat threw him against the brick wall with such a force, he left a dent in it.

'Putain de merde!' he hissed and blinked, his eyes already healing.

'I warned you.' Loki groaned in pain and then burst into laughter, blood dripping from his forehead.

'You come into my house, uninvited, steal my drinks, eat my food. I should kill you, boy.'

'I'm not a boy. Stop falling for the façade. You should know better, you are also frozen in time, forever nineteen.'

'Twenty and a half.' Lestat corrected him, staring at the trail of blood on his head. It smelled delicious, reminding him when he had to carry Loki, afraid that he was going to bleed out in his hands while fighting the urge to drain him. 'Get up and leave.'

'I have nowhere else to go.' Loki said quietly.

'I don't care. You're not staying here. Fall apart somewhere else.' He knew he was harsh, but he was dead tired and really wasn't in the mood for any guests, especially one, who was clearly having a mental breakdown .

'We both know that the sun is almost up and I'm just going to climb back in even if you throw me out.'

Lestat sighed and turned around, walking back to the house.

'I knew you're not just a pretty face.' he heard Loki and he clenched his fists, letting his nails cut into his skin to prevent himself from smacking him across the mouth.

'Stay for all I care, but keep out of my quarters. You can have the guest room on the south side. That way.' he said, pointing Loki in the correct direction and he left him there.

He climbed into his coffin and closed the lid. He didn't need to sleep in one, but he always loved the theatrics of it: he was undead after all. Of course, his was custom-made, with the finest silk and wood, extremely comfortable and big enough for two in case he was in a salacious mood with a lock on the inside. Not that he would need it in his own house, it was just a precaution. He crossed his hands on his chest and let out a dramatic sigh. The thought of an unstable young god staying under his roof wasn't exactly goodnight sleep material, then again he knew Loki didn't really pose a threat. He was too deep in his own hell of misery and self-pity. Lestat understood his pain, but he was repelled by it as someone who was above these emotions. He was a practical beast, molded into one throughout the centuries through disappointments and various adventures, yet he couldn't help, but see himself in Loki. The young Asgardian was yet to realize that he can only count on himself. He was the vampire Lestat, one of the most powerful of his kind and he was near indestructible (and he should know as he tested the boundaries of his own existence). He felt Loki's strengths as they fought together against Hades' monsters, he experienced it on his own skin. He was an extraordinary specimen: smart, deadly and beautiful - just like Lestat, but he was yet to achieve his own potential and understand the most important lesson: to love yourself, be your own god and don't depend on anyone.

The flight back to their hideout in Italy after they witnessed Elianah reuniting with her husband was grim. He could feel Loki drowning in his own anger and self-doubt, fueled by his broken heart like an unrelenting steam engine. Lestat was used to their sharp-witted repartees, but Loki remained silent most of the journey, not reacting to any of his banters. He wasn't used to a mute Loki, as if his silver tongue turned to lead, his once bright, entrancing light diminished, barely speaking more than a few words.

The situation didn't really improve once they arrived in Palermo. He was healing steadily, but didn't really converse with anyone apart from Gabrielle which was driving Lestat absolutely crazy, because her mother rarely showed interest in anyone. When his curiosity got the better of him, he asked Gabrielle what they were talking about. She just shrugged and smiled impishly, telling him 'Wouldn't you like to know?' - a phrase Lestat always disliked, because clearly he wanted to know, otherwise he wouldn't have asked, but he just pursed his lips and walked away. He wouldn't want to show his annoyance to Gabrielle. If she wanted to play with Loki, fine by him. He didn't have the patience for his star-crossed lovers act anyway. He was sure Hades would avenge that wound he gave him, so he returned to Baltimore to inform David, he was fine and tell him what happened. He didn't tell David about Loki, because he didn't want to give Hades yet another reason to go after him. When they agreed on their strategy, Lestat flew back to Italy to find both Loki and her mother gone. The latter left a curt goodbye note. He did a quick scan through the minds of mortals and caught glimpses of them: Gabrielle was on her way back to the wilderness, far from civilization and Loki was diving head first into the  sins of flesh and oblivion via any means necessary. Lestat was relieved, perhaps feeling slightly annoyed that the young god didn't have the decency to write a post-it or something, thanking him for saving his life. Either way, he thought "Good riddance".