Chapter Text
Salty foam melted on Noé's tongue and the sensation was quickly followed by a burst of citrusy freshness that came with the orange glaze. It was like taking a bite out of a warm summer afternoon lounging on a beach. Sea reflected sunshine in his mouth. Noé could cry from sheer delight. He's probably crying a little bit already.
"Are you going to french that cake, Noé? Marry it maybe? You know, I don't think marrying a piece of food is legal in Paris. I guess a passionate, forbidden love affair is still an option though," Vanitas drawled from his seat across the table.
Noé looked up, momentarily distracted from the tasty heaven in front of him by the sound of Vanitas's voice. Vanitas was looking back at him, amusement swirling around in his bright blue eyes.
An ocean to my sunny summer cake, Noé thought to himself, still enjoying the lingering taste of cake on his tongue. He could even imagine Vanitas lounging at Noé's imaginary beach, probably covered head to toe. Vanitas seemed like the type who got sunburns easily.
"It's really quite good," Noé said honestly. "You should try some," he added even though he knew it fell on deaf ears. Vanitas wasn't a fan of sweets.
Predictably, Vanitas's features scrunched in vague disgust as he said, "I'm good, thanks." Then his face split into a theatrical grin as he threw an arm around Jeanne who was sitting right next to him. "My lovely Jeanne is the only sweet I need, after all," he exclaimed merrily.
Jeanne went beet red and muttered, "Vanitas, you're being embarrassing," even though it was obvious to everyone present that she enjoyed the compliment.
"Leave Noé to eat in peace, Vanitas. And I'd appreciate it if you kept your filthy hands away from Jeanne," Dominique said curtly, angling her body protectively over the table, though Noé wasn't sure if she was looking after Jeanne or himself. Both probably. Her guard loosened just a smidge as she glanced back at Noé, affection apparent in every feature. "I quite enjoy Noé's childlike wonder. I find it absolutely precious." She reached over to give Noé a small pat on the cheek and Noé gave her a genuine smile.
"First of all, the two of you disgust me," Vanitas said breezily, "and second of all, I wouldn't call Noé's 'childlike wonder' precious, but definitely useful." Vanitas let go of Jeanne to pour himself more tea. "It's hard to get betrayed by someone whose every emotion is written so clearly on their face."
A somber atmosphere fell over the group, a common occurrence when Vanitas unexpectedly dropped something heavier than his cheerful features tend to indicate.
"I would never betray you, you know that," Noé said immediately, dessert forgotten in front of him. There was no way that Noé could be okay with the fact that Vanitas might doubt that for even a second. Even the thought that someone in the past betrayed him filled him with blinding fury.
Vanitas stared at him for a moment and then his mouth curled into a knowing smile. His eyes, Noé noticed, remained soft around the edges, honest. He'd say appreciative if he didn't know any better.
"I believe you," Vanitas said easily, leaning back in his chair slightly. He gestured towards Noé's face. "An open book. That's why I can trust you."
Noé felt a pang of satisfaction run through him. It was nice to hear that Vanitas trusted him. Maybe a little too nice.
Noé looked away and took another bite of cake to hide the embarrassed blush that started to form on his face, but he must've been not so successful because he heard Vanitas snicker.
"If you're done, I'd like to get back to business," Dominique said abruptly, annoyance dripping from every word. She was still a bit hostile when it came to Noé and Vanitas's partnership. And, honestly, her reasoning was good. She almost died because of Vanitas's brother and Vanitas tried to kill Noé not that long ago. It wasn't water under the bridge for everyone.
"Ah, yes," Vanitas said with an ease of a random participant instead of the person who actually called for the meeting, "maybe I just needed an excuse to see my beautiful Jeanne." He winked at her. Jeanne started stammering and Dominique slammed her hand on the table. Domi started throwing threats Vanitas's way with unusual gusto. Jeanne's flushed face and Vanitas's teasing smile were Noé's prime focus though, as they usually were in these situations. Noé tried to push down that familiar sense of unease and disappointment.
Jeanne's mark of possession wasn't visible from underneath Vanitas's shirt, but Noé could sense its presence, no matter how light. The sweet, ever present smell of Vanitas's blood lingered in the air and Noé inhaled it like an expensive perfume.
Noé still wasn't sure why this influenced him so strongly. Noé knew he was jealous of the fact that Jeanne got to drink Vanitas's blood before him (not that Noé will ever get a chance to have a taste), but it was even more than that. It bothered him too much and it was complicated to piece together why.
Vanitas was his partner. He should be happy that Vanitas has someone who makes him happy. That he was allowing himself to love someone after he so foolishly believed that no one could ever love him.
Noé told himself it was probably because of his own limited knowledge of love. Noé loved a lot, he cared a lot and he wanted the people around him to know they were loved. But the passionate, epic, romantic love everyone seemed to talk about always seemed to escape him.
Many people assumed that he and Dominique would eventually get together if they weren't already, but, try as he might, he could never imagine Dominique as anything but a sister. And the few times he thought he could, moments that filled him with shame to this day, were when she said or did something that reminded him so heavily of Louis that he just couldn't differentiate the two.
Sometimes Noé wondered if he loved Louis. Well, he did love Louis, but he wondered if he was in love with him. Louis with his sharp yellow eyes, smooth dark hair and a fair complexion. He was more beautiful than any woman he's ever laid his eyes on and he occupied his thoughts almost constantly. Louis's home was Noé's universe and after his death, Louis became its center. Love was just another "what if" in the constant stream of guilt and affection he associated with Louis.
Noé focused more intently on Vanitas who was laughing while Jeanne tried to calm Dominique down. His laughter was a familiar chime in his ears.
That had to be it, Noé thought, I'm jealous of what they have.
Then Vanitas did that thing where he took a mental step back from a situation he caused. There was an amused smile on his face. A silent observer of pure madness, congratulating himself on the mayhem he caused. Just a bastard having fun at other people's expense, wrapped up in his own personal bubble.
Noé shouldn't find it endearing, he really shouldn't.
Vanitas must've sensed him looking because he turned his eyes towards Noé and gave him a small, amused smile. A smile that said they were in on the same joke. It seemed like Vanitas's bubble wasn't so personal after all. Not when he was willing to share it with Noé.
Vanitas tilted his head slightly and gave Noé an appraising look. As he did so, his fringe fell over his eye and Noé couldn't help but admire the contrast of dark hair on fair skin. Noé wondered what his own hands would look like on Vanitas' skin.
On his hands, on his face, on his neck.
Maybe my jealousy isn't about them at all, Noé thought in defeat, unwilling to admit what he already knew, maybe it's about him.
Jeanne clapped her hands, making Vanitas look away from Noé. She was smiling exasperatedly and Dominique had her arms crossed, but she appeared to be calm.
"I think we can get back to business now if we're all finally in agreement," Jeanne said as she looked towards Vanitas. "That means no more provoking Dominique, Vanitas," she said sternly.
"But I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to see you Jeanne. I always want to see you. I could look at you all day," Vanitas said with dramatic flourish.
"We did have a reason for bringing you here though," Noé said before Vanitas could set Dominique off again. "There had been a string of strange vampire related murders and attacks this week. Those who died did so with an expression of absolute terror on their faces and those who didn't spoke of seeing their worst nightmares come to life," Noé explained as Dominique and Jeanne listened intently. Jeanne's brows were furrowed in distress and Dominique was silent, resting her head on her intertwined fingers.
"We're pretty sure it's a malnomen. A very peculiar one at that," Vanitas said, finally a bit more serious having shifted into his doctor mode.
Dominique finally spoke again, "That's all very horrible, but what do you need us for? Do you need help restraining the vampire who's doing this? Is it someone we know?"
Vanitas shook his head, "We can't be sure of that. As of the offer for help, there's no need. That's what Noé's for."
"Then what is it?" Jeanne asked.
"The vampire in question is targeting people of noble birth. Or better to say, people who associate with those of noble birth," Noé explained.
"Wouldn't that make you and Jeanne possible targets?" Dominique said, her voice laced with worry, eyes shifting between the two of them.
"That is exactly right, ma belle," Vanitas said smoothly.
"Then wouldn't it be better if we made sure they were safe? Why are we even having this meeting? They shouldn't be out in the open like this. If anything, they should lay low for a while."
"I can handle myself, Dominique," Jeanne said immediately, but Dominique already knew that.
"I know you can," Vanitas interjected before Dominique could say anything. "And this meeting was an excellent idea."
"We're painting targets on their backs, Vanitas," Dominique said accusingly..
"Exactly!" Vanitas exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. "The vampire who's doing this is laying low, waiting for their time to strike. We need to lure them out!"
"A bait?" Jeanne asked warily. "I don't think I can afford to do anything that may harm Master Luca. We don't know if the culprit won't decide that nobles are next on his list. And if that happens, his safety would be my top priority."
"Worry not, dear Jeanne. You are way too closely connected to nobility to be a bait. Him, on the other hand." Vanitas gestured towards Noé with flourish and Noé stared back at him with wide eyes.
"Me? I'm the bait?" Vanitas didn't mention this before.
"Of course you are. You're my partner. I'm not going to use some other civilian. Unless you want me to," he added shrewdly, knowing perfectly well that Noé wasn't going to let anyone else be put in potential harm.
"Damn you," Noé said in exasperation as he put his face in his hands. Vanitas, like the bastard he was, started laughing.
"Now, wait just a second. I don't approve of this plan," Dominique argued, but Vanitas ignored her.
—
Vanitas was pacing back and forth on the rooftop, the sound of his boots so consistently loud that it almost drowned out the sound of the city. Noé was there with him, sitting down and tracing his movements with curious eyes, like a cat tracing a string.
The plan was almost in motion, the only step left was to get to the location and they were good to go. The stakes were a bit higher with this mission though. He couldn't afford to mess up, not with Noé's safety on the line.
Vanitas stopped in his tracks and he turned towards Noé. "Let's go through the plan once again. I want to be sure you got it."
"I got it," Noé said in annoyance, but Vanitas ignored him.
"You leave the hotel and go towards the square. Make sure you follow the main, well lit street. We want them to see you."
"I still don't understand why you're so sure this is going to work," Noé sighed.
"Because, Noé," Vanitas said pointedly, "you are way too good of a catch to miss out on. You associate with some of the highest ranking nobility out there. Not to mention that a lot of people think you and Dominique are engaged. And we're putting you in a secluded alleyway. Like dangling candy in front of a baby."
"Fine, alright," Noé said as he leaned over to pet Murr who had just strutted towards them, swinging her tail..
"Now, pay attention Noé. We don't want you to get killed because you couldn't follow simple instructions."
Noé rolled his eyes and dragged Murr into his lap. He started scratching her behind the ear and she started purring as soon as he did so. Noé smiled contently, probably unaware he was even doing it.
It was so wholesome that Vanitas wanted to take his eyes out.
"Go on," Noé urged when Vanitas paused. His lilac eyes were fully focused on him now, looking at him with the usual interest and curiosity.
Vanitas cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed (why, he wasn't sure), and continued, "Right. So you get to the main square. You won't see me, but I'll be close behind. I talked to Dante and he'll be there too. Just in case things turn south."
Noé nodded and Vanitas continued, "After you get to the square, turn into the alleyway we talked about. Be sure not to make it look suspicious. We don't want them to know that this was planned."
"You saying that I need to act less suspicious is just going to make me seem more so," Noé complained and Vanitas scoffed. "Just act natural, Noé, and you'll be fine."
Noé hummed unhappily and Murr raised her head to glare daggers at Vanitas, obviously sensing that he was the cause of Noé's distress. Shrewd cat.
"Anyway, after the vampire attacks you, I pop in with my book, break the curse and we can all be on our merry way."
"Sounds simple enough," Noé said. Vanitas thought Noé might've been sarcastic, but he wasn't really sure.
"It is simple enough. As long as you don't mess it up."
Noé glared at him, "Why do you assume I'll mess it up and not you?"
"Because I am the brilliant owner of the book of Vanitas. And a doctor. Flawless in every way," Vanitas flipped his ponytail behind his shoulder, "and you're you."
Noé snorted, obviously not in agreement.
"Worry not," Vanitas exclaimed, "I'll be there to look out for you." He then unceremoniously sat right next to Noé to enjoy the sunset falling over the city before he had to jump into action.
Murr meowed and bumped her head to Vanitas's knee from her spot in Noé's lap. Vanitas gave her a quick pat, "Not mad at me anymore, ha?"
"Hmm?" Noé looked at him quizzically. He wasn't wearing his hat, Vanitas noticed. Must've left it downstairs.
"Not you," Vanitas said, "I was talking to the cat."
"Oh," Noé said, his face flushing slightly. Vanitas didn't really see why Noé should be embarrassed about that, but he wasn't complaining. Noé, looking to the side, with his sand colored cheeks stained a pleasant shade of red, wasn't something he minded seeing.
An awful thought that this might be the last time he sees that expression crossed his mind. Vanitas has been having an uneasy feeling ever since the attacks started happening. According to the previous victims (the alive ones), they seemed to remember an out of reality experience. One moment they were doing whatever it was they were doing and in the next they were someplace completely different. The space felt like it was between the waking world and a dreaming one. Or a nightmare one if you were to believe the victims, which Vanitas did. One man they interviewed was so out of it that he could barely form sentences and when he was finished with telling them what happened he promptly threw up.
This wasn't something that a simple malnomen could cause.
Illusions, his father said, Rare. Powerful. An illusion can be worse than any physical harm you may experience. It takes your mind and uses it against you. A battle against yourself.
Using Noé as bait was an excellent idea. The best logical solution. Vanitas doesn't regret it.
Yet a part of him was still worried about Noé. An annoyingly loud part of him. He's not worried that Noé might not be up to the task. Noé is powerful, he's seen him in action. He fought him. He knows exactly what he's capable of.
But he also knows what his weakness was. Noé was too kind for his own good. He couldn't seriously hurt Vanitas even when he was actively trying to kill him.
"Listen, Noé," Vanitas said, getting Noé's attention, "You need to be careful. If you see any sign of things starting to get out of control, you need to get out of there. This is a powerful malnomen we're dealing with."
Noé tilted his head and smiled lightly, "I already know all of that, Vanitas."
Vanitas raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Do you? This thing preys on your worst fears, Noé. Are you prepared for that?" He paused, considering. "What is your worst fear anyway?"
A million possibilities crossed his mind. Would his fears be similar to his own? Or would they be completely different? What could Noé be afraid of? If his reaction to Dominique jumping from the ferris wheel was anything to go by, it was probably loss. Or does he have other regrets? Maybe something related to that Louis guy.
Unexpectedly, Noé smiled sheepishly and scratched his chin. "Well, I've never been a huge fan of snakes."
… "Ha?"
Noé went beet red. "Snakes are horrid, Vanitas. Scaly and wiggly and if they bite you, they can kill you," Noé argued.
"So can vampires!" Vanitas said in disbelief.
Noé's face turned serious and he looked quite annoyed, "That's not the same at all. Don't joke about that, Vanitas."
Vanitas stared at him for a few seconds more in complete confusion and the ridiculousness of what Noé was saying finally hit him and he started laughing. And laughing. And laughing some more.
Noé did not look amused.
When the kick of it calmed down a little bit, Vanitas wiped the corners of his eyes and gave Noé a hard pat on the shoulder, making him flinch. "You're an idiot if you think I'm not keeping this information for later."
Noé sighed, "Vanitas, you- Wait, how would you even use that information? Are you going to leave a snake in my bed or something?"
Vanitas grinned wickedly and Noé gave a full body shiver.
Vanitas hummed approvingly and wrapped his arms around his knees so he could rest his head a bit. Noé looked vaguely troubled about the potential threat Vanitas presented, so Vanitas immediately said, "Nevermind that. Keep your focus on the mission. Try not to get swallowed up by a giant snake. It would be troublesome if you died."
Noé paused for a second and it appeared as if he might say something in equal measure pushy, invasive and deeply caring, but his face morphed into a wicked grin instead. "You know, Dominique is going to kill you if anything happens to me. She was very against you using me as bait."
Vanitas laughed, "I'm not worried. Jeanne would protect me."
Noé considered it, but only for the briefest moment. "I'm sure she would," he said lightly, a small smile on his face and he turned away towards the city again. The smile was still stuck in the same position. His eyes gave away that he was lost in thought.
Vanitas wasn't stupid. He was perfectly capable of noticing when someone's taken an interest in him. He noticed the way Noé looked at him occasionally. A soft, happy look filled with affection. He tried to ignore it as much as he could, tried to disencourage it.
He wasn't always sure that Noé cared about him. At least not like that. But that "what is love" question that came out of the blue really clued him in.
So Vanitas tried to set up some firm boundaries - I don't love anyone who loves me. He wasn't lying when he said it. He couldn't stomach the thought that someone might love him. Him.
After all, he's…
Anyway, Jeanne coming in with her pretty smile and unexpectedly cute personality really threw Vanitas off balance. And they had plenty of chemistry obviously. Accepting that he loves Jeanne was no easy task, but eventually he managed to deal with it. Maybe it's okay to love someone who loves him. Jeanne loved him. Even though she never explicitly stated it, he knew. It was very obvious.
He also knew that Jeanne loved the best parts of him. She hasn't seen what he's done, what he was, what he's capable of. And she never will know. Even if she finds out about his past, she won't understand what he is. Not truly. She'll be fooled by the person he's become. A persona he built from the bottom up to fool everyone and especially himself.
That's why Noé was dangerous. Just a few gulps of his blood and Noé would know everything.
See everything.
Beware of Archivistes, Luna warned him, serene but serious, they are the most dangerous kind. They'll bite into you and reveal all that you try to keep hidden. And there are things you must keep hidden at all cost, Vanitas.
Noé already knew something about Vanitas's past thanks to Misha. Definitely more than anyone else did. They didn't discuss it. Vanitas knew that Noé was just dying to ask, but Vanitas dodged it enough times for Noé to finally get the hint. He didn't know what Noé knew, how much he got to see. He didn't see the worst of it, Vanitas knew that much. Misha didn't see the worst. He didn't see what the doctor did when he was away, what Vanitas did. He didn't see him kill Luna. The memory was still fresh in Vanitas's mind. He could still feel the stickiness of blue blood on his hands.
He couldn't let Noé know. Vanitas knew that losing Noé was inevitable, that's just how things worked for him. But he was planning to selfishly keep him around as much as he could. And Noé, for some definitely unfounded reason, believed in him. He trusted him. Vanitas was uncomfortable with even the thought of seeing that disappointed look on his face.
Watching the betrayal bloom on his face, searching Vanitas's face, beginning him to tell him he didn't see what he's just seen.
The person with the most faith in him finally giving up.
(And there was a part of him that told him that Noé was just the kind of gentle hearted idiot who'd love him anyway. Who'd say something ridiculous about how none of it was his fault.)
So no, he was not letting Noé anyway near his blood.
He focused on Noé again who was yapping about one thing or another, furiously stroking Murr's fur. Vanitas reached over towards Murr and gently scratched her chin as he knew that the cat enjoyed the feeling of his long nails. He tried to tune back in, listen to whatever entertaining nonsense Noé was spouting. Must be something interesting if it got him so animated.
Unfortunately, focusing on Noé's mouth wasn't the best way to concentrate. Noé's fangs were peaking out just the slightest bit as he spoke. Nothing you would've noticed if you weren't paying attention.
Just because Vanitas had no intention of letting Noé drink his blood didn't mean he never imagined it.
Vanitas always wondered how it would feel to get his blood sucked by a vampire. It was only natural in his line of business. He's certainly seen enough people addicted to it that he knew it felt good. He didn't actually consider it though. A vampire doctor addicted to bites wasn't a good look.
Still, he wondered.
When Vanitas found out that Noé has the ability to read memories through blood, he felt an odd sense of loss. He knew it was ridiculous, but there was just something so disappointing about the fact that even if he did want for Noé to bite him, he couldn't. And when he heard Noé drink from Dominique, he found himself imagining what it would be like to be in her place.
He never knew drinking could be so...intimate. Dominique's soft murmurings, her gasp. But more importantly, Noé with his broken demeanor, openly vulnerable. Like he was the one whose blood was being drawn. Vanitas wondered how it would feel for someone with that amount of gentleness to trace their lips against his throat. He remembered clenching his coat so tightly in his fists at the sound of Noé with Dominique that he was sure that his hands turned a bloodless white underneath his gloves. There was a silent conversation going on between them, most likely through Noé's ability and Vanitas was struck that someone as open as Noé had things in his life that Vanitas hadn't figured out. Outlandish thought considering they knew each other for a short period of time, but something about Noé struck him the first time he met him. Maybe it was his unique appearance or the way he threw himself in front of a dangerous woman he just met or maybe it was that out of place innocence he radiated with his flashy hat and a silly cat.
When Jeanne and Vanitas were at the ball and her eyes turned red and she shook with the urge for blood, Vanitas made an easy, impulsive offer. Jeanne barely hesitated, too wrapped up in her frenzy and Vanitas understood why people became addicted. It felt heavenly. A sharp bite of teeth followed my moments of complete bliss. It left him undone and craving for more. And it definitely helped that Jeanne looked absolutely beautiful.
So Vanitas was happy with loving Jeanne as long as he kept a reasonable distance.
"Vanitas, are you even listening to me," Vanitas saw the movement of it on Noé's lips before he even heard it. His eyes snapped towards Noé's who was looking mildly annoyed.
"Nevermind all that," Vanitas said as he got up and shook off his coat, "the sun is setting." And it was. The rooftop was covered in pink hues and the daylight was dimming.
"We need to leave. Don't forget your hat," Vanitas said as he headed toward the window. He heard Murr meow unhappily behind him, probably displeased that she has to abandon Noé's comfortable lap.
—-
The main street was busy with activity. Gentlemen and ladies were out on their nightly strolls or they were making their way around the city, maybe to get to a friendly dinner or the latest production that was showing in the theater.
Noé was walking at a steady pace, occasionally smiling at a familiar face, trying to appear as normal as possible. He knew that somewhere on the rooftops Vanitas was following him. He wasn't exactly sure where Dante was, but he had to be nearby as well. Noé still wasn't exactly sure why he was willingly walking himself into a trap, but it was most definitely Vanitas's fault. The man could be very persuasive.
Noé would be lying if he said that this didn't make him nervous. They dealt with malnomen of all kinds, some more dangerous than others. This didn't seem as big of a threat as Chloé was, yet Noé had a very bad feeling about the whole thing. Something about the way victims looked when they died. Noé was forced to look away each time.
He was nearing the main square. It was still early enough in the night that there were children chasing each other around, playing games Noé remembered from his youth. Noé's personal favorite was hide and seek. He preferred to be a seeker though. Finding someone used to give him such a thrill and Louis was always very good at hiding. It always took Noé almost an hour to find him.
The square was bathed in bright orange lights and happy chatter. The entire scene gave off an illusion of warmth and safety Noé knew he'd have to shed soon. He subtly looked around, trying to see the alleyway he and Vanitas chose for the mission.
He took off his hat, pretending to brush something off of it and with that signaling Vanitas that he was going into the alleyway. He lingered long enough to be sure Vanitas was able to spot him.
The alleyway was just dark, secluded and long enough for it to be a perfect baiting spot. The number of people in the area decreased as he walked towards it and he was completely alone by the time he finally stepped into it.
The knowledge that he wasn't completely alone was comforting. He knew Vanitas was lurking nearby, keeping an eye on him. Curiously, that reminded Noé of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice he read about once in the past. A beautiful story of a man going to retrieve the soul of his love from the Underworld. The condition to get his love back was to not turn around to check if she was following him on their way back. In the end, he turned around and she was lost forever. Noé decided that he shouldn't turn around just in case.
It was dead silent in the alleyway and Noé's every step echoed loudly between the buildings. Maybe the plan was naive, after all. No one could actually believe that he'd walk through here without some hidden intention.
Noé was interrupted in that thought by a strange noise coming from around the corner. Noé tensed and pricked his ears, trying to concentrate on the noise. Was that the vampire they were looking for? Or was it just a cat or a rat?
Noé stood very still trying to make out any changes in the air, but all was still. He was about to relax his stance, thinking it was nothing after all, when a high pitched scream broke the quiet. Something about the scream was familiar.
His suspicions were confirmed when he heard a very clear, "Noé!" No, not again.
"Dominique!" Noé yelled as he ran towards her voice.
What are you doing?! This is obviously a trap, a voice in his head, sounding suspiciously like Vanitas, said.
But Noé couldn't risk it. Not with Dominique.
Noé almost slammed himself into the wall in his hurry, but he finally reached the source of the scream and froze.
At first he couldn't even see her, but then he looked up and there she was. Dominique, standing on the edge of a balcone of some sort. She looked perfectly serene, like she wasn't even quite awake, and Noé remembered the blank look she had on her face when she was on top of the ferris wheel.
Noé's mind was racing. Was Mikhail somehow involved in these incidents? But he was still hurt the last time he saw him. Was it his teacher? He put Dominique in danger once already. Why not again?
"Domi!" he yelled trying to get her attention.
Thankfully, Dominique seemed to be able to hear him and she turned to look at him. The moment their eyes made contact (a good feat considering how high up she was - was the balcony originally that high?), Dominique's face twisted into a grimace of disgust.
"Why are you here?" she asked cooly, making him flinch. Her voice was clear and she was lucid.
This wasn't Mikhail after all.
"Me? Domi, you're not supposed to be here. Vanitas and I-"
"Vanitas, Vanitas," she mocked, "Always with Vanitas. First it was my brother, now it's him."
"Domi, what are you talking about? You need to get out of here," Noé said urgently.
Noé wasn't sure why Dominique was here if she wasn't kidnapped and what exactly was going on, but he was pretty sure that the plan was ruined now. No one was going to attack him with Domi here. Or at least he hoped not. Better to get her out of there, just to be sure.
"I'm never going to be good enough for you, am I?" she almost sobbed. Noé noticed she was standing dangerously close to the edge of the balcony.
"Domi, you already are good enough. More than good enough. You're one of the people I care about the most in the world." Her leaning over made him uneasy. "Domi, please just get down." Where was Vanitas? Why isn't he stopping this? Does he still think they could catch the culprit?
"Liar!" Dominique screamed, baring her fangs. "I was just your replacement for Louis! You don't even want to drink my blood. You only ever drink it when you want to see him."
"You're not a replacement," Noé said weakly, guilt gnawing at him. She wasn't lying and they both knew it.
It's not that he didn't appreciate Dominique's blood. He loved her and the act itself made him feel closer to her, but in those quiet moments of desperation when he was missing Louis, he needed a glimpse of him that wasn't just from his memories. He needed to make sure Louis was real. Or at least that he used to be.
And Dominique understood that. She was the first one to offer it, after all. When he was sick and tired in his bed, with puffy eyes and drowning in guilt. Noé didn't know it bothered her.
Until now.
"I'm not stupid," Dominique said and then paused. "Or maybe I am stupid for even caring for someone who had me witness my brother's beheading because he was too weak to help when needed."
Her words cut into Noé's skin like needles. The memory came forth violently, blood splattering and Louis's head flying off his body in slow motion. Louis barely had time to register what was happening to him.
And Dominique was right. It was all because of Noé.
"I am so sorry, Dominique," Noé said desperately, "I'm so sorry you had to see that. I'm sorry I didn't do anything about it. Just," he was choking on the words, his throat felt like it was filled with sand. Dominique never looked more out of reach.
"Come down, Dominique." There was a tense pause. Noé noticed that his arms were outstretched upwards, reaching for Domi. He wasn't sure when he did that. His gloved fingers were trembling slightly.
Dominique gave him a dead eyed look. "Your sorrys are useless," she said in a voice so unlike herself that Noé barely recognized it.
And then she stepped over the balcony's edge.
"Dominique!" Noé yelled as he leapt forward. He needed to catch her.
The time seemed to go both really slow and really fast at the same time. On one hand, she was falling so fast Noé wasn't sure if he'll be able to catch her in time.
On the other, he could see Dominique so clearly, as if she was a painting of a person caught in motion. Her black hair was whipping all around her, her clothes trembling with the wind. Her eyes still sported that same dead eyed look.
This is all my fault.
It seemed as if he'd make it just in time if he leapt for it and so he did. But instead of colliding with Dominique's falling form, he felt himself go right through the empty air. He fell to the floor, his knees digging into the gravely ground below.
No. Wait.
There was a sickeningly loud thud behind him.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
He felt himself inhale sharply, fighting for breath, trying not to throw up.
Domi, he thought, agony ripping his chest apart. He should look, to see if she was alive, but it was as if someone glued him to the ground.
"Looks like you didn't manage to catch her," he heard a voice say from behind him.
The voice made a nostalgic feeling wash over Noé. It was immediately followed by dread.
He shouldn't be hearing this voice.
Noé slowly looked over his shoulder, afraid of what he'll see, and there he was. Dark hair and magnificent yellow eyes, sitting right on top of his sister's still body.
"Louis," Noé breathed out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Hello, Noé," he smiled fondly. Something about the image didn't sit right with him.
Noé, still on his knees, scrambled to turn around, to see if that really was Louis.
Louis let out a melodic laugh, "No need to scatter around. We're all friends here." He looked down at his sister, "Or were friends, at least."
Noé finally managed to get up and get a better look. There he was. Louis. Looking perfectly alive. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness surrounding him. Only him and Dominique's blood were visible in the dark.
Noé inhaled sharply. Dominique.
"Is she..?" Noé struggled to get the words out.
"Dead?" Louis supplied helpfully, his eyebrows raised. "Looks pretty dead to me, don't you think?"
"Why are you-? How are you-?" Noé choked out. None of this made any sense, Louis wasn't supposed to be here. Noé looked at Dominique again. Her dark hair was sticking to her face and her arm was sticking out at a wrong angle. It was making Noé sick.
"Oh," realization dawned on Louis, "you mean how I'm not..," he made a throat cutting motion with his thumb. "That's a secret. More importantly, I think we should talk about how you just killed my dear sister."
"I didn't-"
"Oh, but you did. You heard her. This is all your fault. You failed to save her just like you failed to save me." Louis's features were suddenly filled with bitterness. "I asked you to kill me and you couldn't even do that for me."
There was static in Noé's head, he was trembling. What was happening? Where was Vanitas?
Wait. Vanitas. That's it. They were after a malnomen infected vampire.
"You're not real. None of this is real," Noé muttered. Of course! How could Noé be so stupid? Vanitas and he were after a malnomen who made nightmares come to life. The plan must've worked. He must be in an illusion right now. They were using Louis and Dominique against him as the perfect nightmare scenario. It was both brilliant and cruel.
Noé let out a shaky laugh of relief. "This is all an illusion," he said with certainty.
Louis cocked his head. "Are you quite sure?"
"Yes," Noé said, even though Louis's question made him falter slightly.
"I don't think I'm an illusion," Louis said wonderingly.
In the next moment, too quick for Noé to process, Louis was standing right in front of him.
Every mark on Louis's skin was the same as it was when he was alive. Before Noé knew what was happening, Louis was reaching out and cupping Noé's cheek. It was a gesture so familiar that it made Noé's heart ache.
"I don't feel like an illusion," Louis said with a small smile, his hand warm and solid on Noé's skin.
This was just an illusion.
But if it was, why did Louis feel so real?
"This isn't-" Noé started, trying to reassure himself.
"Believe what you wish," Louis said, but Noé didn't know what to believe. A part of him wanted to believe that it was real, that Louis has miraculously come back to life. Noé wanted to grab him and cling to him and cry with relief until there were no more tears left to fall.
But if this was real, then Dominique was truly gone and Noé couldn't have that.
"You're not real," Noé pushed him away, stopping himself from holding on, "This is a malnomen. Vanitas is going to come and cure the vampire who's doing this."
"Really?" Louis theatrically looked around, "I don't see him."
Noé hesitated, Louis had a point. Where was Vanitas?
"Maybe it's for the best," Louis sighed. "If he comes he'll just use that book and take one more step towards becoming a monster."
Louis lifted his hand to cover up a laugh, "I heard he wants you to kill him and we both know you won't be able to deliver." He let out a content sigh, "Maybe he'll get beheaded by my uncle just as I was. Wouldn't that be interesting?"
"Vanitas is going to be fine," Noé said forcefully. "I'll find a way to help him."
Noé was more and more sure this was an illusion by the second. Louis would never say something so cruel.
Louis smiled at him, but it just sent chills down his spine. "You always did like looking at the blue moon," Louis said, "Well, I do hope you find a way to save him."
Noé stared at Louis's shrewd face. He wasn't moving but there was a sense of finality to what he just said.
"Noé!" someone suddenly yelled from his side. A voice he was actually hoping to hear this time.
Vanitas.
His head immediately snapped up and he absentmindedly noticed that Louis wasn't there anymore. Dominique was gone too. The alleyway was empty.
Noé began to turn towards the voice, "Vanitas! Where have you-," but he froze when his eyes finally landed on Vanitas.
Vanitas's face was pinched in pain, but what really struck Noé was the giant bloody stain covering his chest. His coat was gone and his ribbon looked almost crimson from all the blood soaking it. Noé couldn't tell if the blood came from Vanitas or some other source. If the blood really was Vanitas's, Noé was amazed that he was still standing.
"Vanitas! Are you okay? What happened?" Noé said quickly, rushing towards him. How did this happen? Was he okay? Noé needed to see where the blood was coming from.
As soon as Noé stepped forward and tried to touch him, Vanitas recoiled from him. "Get away from me," he hissed through his teeth.
Noé clasped his hands together to keep from reaching out again. Something was wrong and Noé needed to tread carefully. "Did you cure the malnomen?" he asked tentatively.
Finally, he noticed that it wasn't just Vanitas's cheat that was covered in blood. Red wrapped around Vanitas's neck like a gruesome, slick scarf. Noé noticed a very clear bite mark on his neck and was immediately alarmed. It was Vanitas's blood after all.
"Did the vampire we were looking for bite you?" he asked, his voice stained with anger. It was one thing for Jeanne to bite Vanitas, but it was unacceptable that anyone else might force himself on him. He tore his eyes away from the bitemark to notice that Vanitas was looking at him in bewilderment.
"Are you joking?" Vanitas said, his voice filled with disbelief. "You bit me, damn you."
"I didn't bite you, Vanitas," Noé said, suddenly confused.
"Oh, you didn't?" Vanitas asked him, sarcastically glancing down at Noé's front.
Noé followed his eyes and he paused in shock.
His white coat was almost as drenched with blood as Vanitas's was. He slowly raised his hands and examined them. The tips of his fingers were black and claw-like and when he reached for his mouth, the back of his hand made contact with familiar, warm moisture. Surely, when he looked at his hand again, it had a trace of blood on it.
Noé shook his head in disbelief. "I don't remember doing this."
"Well, you did," Vanitas said bitterly. "Apparently, the moment you knew I wouldn't kill you was the moment you decided to pounce."
Noé shook his head slowly. He had no recollection of biting Vanitas. When could he have possibly done it? Not to mention that he would never do it unless Vanitas explicitly allowed it.
"I couldn't have drank from you, Vanitas. If I did, I should be able to recall your memories, but I can't."
Vanitas laughed humorlessly, "I guess it didn't work then. Lucky me."
He raised both of his hands and pushed at Noé. Since Noé wasn't prepared for it, he almost stumbled to the ground. He watched as Vanitas took out a dagger and pointed it directly at him. The sharp edge was only inches away from Noé's face.
"I may not have killed you then, but I have an overwhelming urge to kill you now, " Vanitas said hotly.
"This time-," he paused, his words stuck in his throat and with an anguished expression on his face. Noé just wanted to reach out, comfort him, make the expression go away. He doubted it would've been welcomed.
"This time," Vanitas started again, "you weren't forced to do it. You just did it. Bit me while my guard was down. Bit me when I trusted that you wouldn't." His hands were shaking and the dagger twitched in his arms.
"Vanitas, I didn't," Noé tried.
"Shut up!" Vanitas yelled, "I don't know why you're pretending like you don't remember it, but I'll need you to stop."
Is this another illusion? Noé wondered. Or did I do something while I was under one? The thought of losing Vanitas's trust was certainly nightmarish enough, but if there was a possibility that this might be real...
Noé flicked his fangs with his tongue. They were definitely a bit more prominent and there was a lingering unfamiliar taste on his tongue. Could that be Vanitas's blood? He thought it would taste sweeter.
"Vanitas," Noé said slowly.
Vanitas clenched his dagger tighter, but remained silent, his eyes boring into Noé's. Noé reached out with a careful hand and Vanitas flinched at the motion, but didn't do anything. It was unbearable to think Vanitas could react to him like that. Noé carefully reached past the dagger and gently wrapped his hand around Vanitas's wrist. Surprisingly, Vanitas didn't resist as Noé guided his hand down, moving the dagger away from sight. Vanitas's arm was shaking in his hand.
When Noé tried to put another hand on Vanitas's shoulder, Vanitas finally broke from his trance. He tore his arm free from Noé and frantically begane saying, "Wh-,Why are you doing this? How DARE you be doing this? After you, after you- I will kill you this time, Noé." Vanitas's voice broke in the middle of saying this and Noé was shocked to find that there were angry, hurt tears streaming from Vanitas's eyes.
Did I do this? Noé asked himself, his heart tearing itself into pieces.
No, he couldn't have. He would never purposefully hurt him.
Noé closed his eyes, trying to concentrate on anything that might reveal this situation as another illusion.
Think, think, Noé thought, but his thoughts were too scattered to do so properly. It was hard to think when he knew Vanitas was right there and in pain.
Surprisingly, concentrating on Vanitas was the thing that helped him, because Noé suddenly became aware of the fact that he couldn't actually feel Vanitas's presence. Other than the fact that he could see him, there was nothing else coming from him. Strange considering Vanitas was drenched with blood. Usually, even a small scratch on Vanitas's skin was enough to completely overwhelm him.
That might mean this was another illusion. Noé clung to it like a lifeline.
Noé's eyes snapped open to find Vanitas where he was, as he was. It was strange he didn't do or say anything while Noé's eyes were closed. Like he was waiting for him.
More proof that this all might be another lie.
"This is another illusion, isn't it?" Noé asked loudly.
"What are you talking about?" Vanitas asked.
"What's wrong with you? This isn't an illusion," Vanitas further exposed the bitemark to prove his point, "this is very much real."
Noé looked away. If this really was an illusion, he should ignore it. Even if he knew it wasn't real, it was still painful for him to see Vanitas look at him the way he did.
"You will face me Noé Archiviste!" Vanitas yelled. "I will hurt you the way you hurt me."
Suddenly, there was a sound of pages flipping and Noé froze. His head snapped back towards Vanitas. He held his book in his hand, its pages flipping rapidly.
"I will corrupt your name. I will have you dead," Vanitas said sternly, his eyes full of rage.
"Vanitas..," Noé said, his voice filled with pity. Would real Vanitas feel forced to do this to him? It didn't cross his mind to kill him with the book before.
"Do not pity me!" Vanitas shouted. "You're the one who needs pity right now!"
The pages started glowing a faint blue as they flipped more rapidly and Vanitas was frantically repeating, "I'll kill you," over and over again. Noé would've torn the book away from Vanitas if it weren't chained to him.
Suddenly, Vanitas let out one last desperate "I'll kill you" when dark smoke started pouring from the book. Noé thought that Vanitas must've found what he was looking for, but then Vanitas let out the most blood curdling scream Noé has ever heard. Vanitas doubled over in pain, book still in hand, black smoke curling all around him.
Vanitas's screams were continuous, filled with pain. His eyes were glowing, but the most chilling thing about the scene were the black marks spreading all over Vanitas's body, reaching from the book over his arms and towards his neck and torso. They were shadowy things that reminded Noé of corruption and death.
It was exactly like what happened to Mikhail, only this time it wasn't happening to someone who tried to kill his friend. It was happening to Vanitas and Noé's heart constricted in fear.
This is not real, this is not real, Noé repeated to himself, but it felt real. Vanitas's pain felt real, his own pain felt real.
"Noé," Vanitas suddenly croaked. His voice was contorted, every syllable coming from his mouth pained. Noé wanted to run towards him, tear the damn book to shreds. He wanted to save him, he wanted to hold him close until his screams stopped.
An illusion, Noé repeated.
"Noé," Vanitas repeated a few more times as if it were a mantra and then, quietly and brokenly, Noé heard, "Kill me."
Kill me.
Noé was rooted to the spot.
"Kill me!" Vanitas repeated louder.
Nononono.
A memory of Louis asking him to kill him played over in his head. Not again. Not again.
"Kill me, Noé!" Vanitas shouted. There were tears dripping down Vanitas's cheeks. The black shadow was covering most of his body now. Noé's vision started snapping between what was happening in front of him and his own memories of Vanitas.
Vanitas with his elegant and dramatic movements. Vanitas with his snarky attitude and a kind heart. Vanitas who didn't love himself, so he didn't let himself love others. Vanitas with his shrewd mind and startling beauty. Vanitas who was lying on top of him in tears saying he couldn't kill him. Vanitas who was there in front of him twitching in pain and begging for Noé to kill him.
Noé felt himself double over as he dry heaved. His fingers dug into his own hair as he quietly muttered, "I can't, I can't. Not Vanitas, never him."
An illusion, Noé thought weakly.
Was Noé going to get killed? What a horrible way to die, he thought weakly, but at least he won't have to listen to Vanitas's agonized screams anymore.
There was a hand on his back, but Noé didn't really feel it until Vanitas's screams stopped. Noé's eyes snapped towards Vanitas, but he was still there, mouth open in a silent scream. Noé couldn't hide the confusion that overtook him.
"Poor little Noé," a distorted face behind him said as he finally became aware of the light hand on his back. He quickly turned around and he came face to face with a familiar shadow.
Charlatan was hovering in front of him, an inky person-like shape with a broad, distorted grin.
"You!" Noé said accusingly. He should've known it was them. All terrible things lead to them.
"Is this your doing?" he asked sharply and Charlatan cackled, a sound that reminded Noé of a dying clown.
"One of my vampires did this, yes. Another poor boy, too sick of the power the nobility had over him."
"Why are you here?" Noé spat out.
"For you, my dear Noé." They reached out with their sharp fingered, shadowy hand and stroked his cheek. "I came for your name."
"You can't have it," Noé said immediately.
"Can't I?" they said and all of a sudden, Vanitas's screams started again. Just as chilling as they were before.
"Stop it!" Noé yelled, "This is just an illusion. You already admitted it."
"It is an illusion," Charlatan said easily, "for now."
Noé's heart sank as Charlatan continued, "This is only a matter of time. I just gave you a little glimpse of it." They traced a finger over his chin, forcing him to look directly into the pit that were their eyes. "You were even more powerless than I could possibly imagine." They gave him a savage looking grin and Noé hated that they were speaking the truth.
This was a test and Noé failed.
Vanitas's screams were a quiet echo in the background now. Low enough so Charlatan could speak to him, but still loud enough to cause Noé uneasiness.
"I'll save him," Noé said firmly. He'll find a way. He and Vanitas are going to find a way. Together.
"So you've said, " Charlatan said. "I could help you with that."
Noé knew he shouldn't have, but he still asked, "How?"
Charlatan's inhuman face contorted into something akin to glee. "A wish," they said. A wish.
"In exchange for my name, I presume," Noé said unhappily.
"That's right!" Charlatan said ecstatically. "You know I can make it happen. You've seen me help Chloé."
Noé did indeed. But he also saw the danger Chloé posed with her name taken away. Vampires with a corrupted name become only a shell of themselves. Their primary objective was to drink blood and cause mindless harm. Even if he was unaware he was causing it, Noé couldn't bear the thought of hurting a loved one.
"I can't. I won't. I'm not hurting anyone." This must've not pleased them because Vanitas's screams came back full force, all consuming and seemingly coming from all directions. It was too much and Noé covered his ears in desperation.
"Is this what you want, Noé Archiviste?" Charlatan's voice rang clearly in his head. "You have a way of preventing this from happening yet you choose not to."
It was hard to think. Noé bit his tongue in order to distract himself from the screams, but it was no use.
"Do you not care for your beloved? Do you wish him to suffer?" Charlatan continued.
"Of course I don't want him to suffer," Noé yelled, but it was drowned out by Vanitas's screams. "I don't want him to suffer," he repeated more quietly, for himself.
The sad part was that Noé knew Charlatan was right. Noé had the power to stop what was going to happen to Vanitas. The only thing stopping him was the fear of hurting others.
But Vanitas and the rest of them were able to stop Chloé when she was on a rampage and she was a lot more powerful than he was. Could he count on Vanitas to stop him? Would it even work?
"Charlatan," he said calmly and the screaming stopped momentarily. Charlatan was right in front of him, barely a breath away.
"My wish. Does it still apply if someone cures me?" Noé asked.
"No," Charlatan replied easily. "Are you trying to trick me? How adorable."
Noé paused for a second and then exhaled through his nose and asked, "And if I die?" Charlatan tilted their head so far it was almost upside down.
"Does the wish still apply if I die?" Noé repeated more clearly.
Noé knew how capable Vaniats was, he's seen him in action. At the end of it all, if Noé's name became corrupted, Vanitas would either cure him or kill him if he's too far gone. He's seen him do it to children, so he certainly wouldn't hesitate with Noé. Vanitas wasn't like him. If you told him to kill you, he would. He viewed it as an act of mercy.
Noé suddenly wondered if young Vanitas had to beg to be killed during the doctor's experiments only to be put through more of them. Noé felt even more wretched for not having the strength to kill him if he asked.
Charlatan started laughing again, highly amused. "I knew you were going to be interesting," they said, cupping his cheeks. "No," they said, their voice even more distorted than before. "The wish doesn't go away if you die."
Their hold on his face got firmer, more painful. Noé found it strange considering they were more smoke than person. "Do we have a deal Noé Archiviste? Your name for Vanitas of the Blue Moon remaining human?"
Noé closed his eyes for a second and took a calming breath. This is going to work. Vanitas deserves to remain as he is now.
Noé opened his eyes and firmly said, "It's a deal."