HairThis spec is dedicated to a few people that pushed me to complete it. To the lovely Ralza for all of your support and to DarkAngel for your nagging. Part One-Louis- Lestat has always had a thing for my hair. Even in the early years of our living together in disharmony he would find a way of tangling his fingers through my black hair. As the years passed on and Claudia was borne and raised in our home, Lestat's obsession with my hair grew and grew that some nights I threatened to shave it all off, if he did not stop. Which would usually send Claudia into a heap of laughter, because Lestat's reaction would always be the same. "Cher, please do not do such a thing." He would start with wild theatrics, waving his arms in the air. "O woe, o woe, my love will not let me touch his hair. What is to become of me?" At this time he would fall on the floor beside Claudia and clutched her little hands as he feigned to cry out loud over his despair. If Claudia did not happen to be there he would usually ignore my constant refusal of him touching it by saying that "One day you are going to miss my playing with your hair, Louis, so be quiet." That one-day did come, years after he had been burned and dead in my heart. Claudia had also disappeared and I was left alone with Armand. I loved Armand and still do, but it was never the same. Once when we were in Boston, the weather was bad and so we decided to stay indoors for the night. I sat in the leather couch reading the evening paper and Armand was sitting beside me on the armchair. He started absent-mindedly playing with my hair, twirling it in his fingers and staring out onto the window, he did not notice that I was crying until and few moments later. "Why are you crying, Louis?" "I miss him..."Was all I could say in between the sobs that came out of my soul. He held my head close to him and let me cry for the whole night. That was the last time Armand touched my hair. Half a century later, I am now sitting in a bus, with Lestat's right arm draped beautifully over my shoulder playing with my hair the way he used to in the old days. Lestat does this unconsciously; unaware of what his hand is doing, as though it had a mind of its own. His left hand rested on my own as we held hands over my leg. I leaned my head on his shoulder and he gave me a kiss on top of my head. Suddenly he started laughing, which I loved to hear rumbling from his body. “What is so funny?” “Oh nothing Louis. I was just thinking how bizarre it is for the Vampire Lestat to be in a bus holding your hand.” I pull away from him and look into his eyes, “What do you mean with that.” I tried to be serious, but was failing miserably. “Nothing, love, nothing.” “Huh.” I lean my head back on his shoulder and relax back to my wary thoughts of the past. While Lestat’s hand is back in my hair playing with it gently as we slowly approach our stop. However, our tranquility is broken when both of us are startled by angry catcalls from some men in the front of the bus. Part Two-Louis- Most of the people on the bus didn’t pay attention to us. However, there were a few men who could not take their eyes off us. “There jealous of our love, chere.” “I do not like the way they’re looking at us, Lestat. Maybe if we let go of each other they will stop looking at us.” “Oh Louis, stop being such a sour puss. What in the world can they do to us?” Lestat looked me in the eye smiling at my doubtful face. “We’re vampires, love. Nothing they can do will harm us.” With that he gave me a chaste kiss on the lips and got up to leave. “You fucking faggots are the reason that the world is in such a terrible place.” I heard a particular obese man state to us as we passed by him to leave the bus. “Really!” Lestat stopped walking and raised an eyebrow at the man. “I actually agree with you good man. For if it were not for our display of affection you would not delude yourself with the illusion that you are heterosexual, instead of facing the truth that you want to make love to us in every imaginable position known to man.” He spat these words at the middle-aged man with such ferocity that the older man both trembled and blushed at Lestat’s words. “Come on Louis, let’s go.” Grabbing my hand we left the stunned audience a stop early. The anger that Lestat felt radiated from him and it was good that the decided to walk the rest home. It would mean that David and I would not have to hear his denunciation of the human race. I know for certain, that if it were not for the fact that we were in a public place, he would have had that man for dinner in an instant. Not that I would ever stop him! As we were about to cross the street I heard a loud crackling sound coming from the bus. A gunshot! Lestat stopped suddenly in his tracks, as we both looked down at his bleeding shoulder and abdomen that had been hit three times. The look of shock on his face was frightening, however, he still stood there looking at the wounds and then at me as I fell down to the floor. For you see, I had not been as lucky as Lestat. Three more gunshots were heard an instant later and they all hit some vital part of my body. I believe that the first one went through my brain, then another near my heart, and the last one I don’t know what happened to the last one. I think he shot himself with it. I do not know and I don’t care. All I do know is that I fell down hearing Lestat scream my name and a thousand other voices saying it with him. Nevertheless, darkness came upon my soul as I closed my eyes in Lestat’s arms. Part Three-Louis- When we were living together in the early years after Claudia’s birth, Lestat and myself loved taking our little daughter through the neighborhoods of New Orleans on a little patrol. It would be at these times that he would teach her the do’s and do not’s of being a vampire. This would also be the time that Lestat would love to show off his taste of fashion and dress up in women’s clothing. I do not know why this memory has came to me at this time, but I guess it all fit in with the course of the night. All though, I d not think that no one in the coven is aware of this little character trait that Lestat has had for a few centuries, other than his mother and myself. Nevertheless, most of the coven must suspect it anyway, especially when they see a beautiful blonde woman kissing me in public. ………… Why do I feel pain? “…..No David please don’t do that.” Lestat pleads sobbingly holding my head. “Lestat, it’s the only way he’ll survive. Do you wish for Louis to live with a bullet embedded in him for eternity….” “….No, please no. I beg you David please don’t do it.” “Lestat its only hair….” What are you talking about David? What do you mean a bullet is inside of me? Oh god, why can’t you hear me? Why can I not move? Lestat, love, help me. …………. When Lestat first did this, I thought that my maker had completely gone out of his mind. Dressing in women’s clothing, no real man would ever do that. Certainly not myself. Yet, after his explanation that it would not raise any eyebrows and we could walk as though we were a real family. It made sense of him wanting to dress up. One particular night that comes to mind, was the first night Claudia started hunting on her own. Lestat being himself wailed and cried out loud, like a mother, when she disappeared into the harbor to find her meal. His theatrics did not cease, though, and I was left with a very uncomfortable position of having to comfort her, I mean him, or being looked down upon by the people passing us. Putting my arm around his shoulder and bringing him closer to me I asked him to quite down and face the fact that she was growing up. When he heard this, his wailed louder and put his arms around me for support. He suddenly stopped wailing and sniffed me a few times near my neck. “You smell good Louis.” He exclaimed at last. Rubbing his nose against my neck and kissing my jugular. Moving up to the jaw line he never stopped kissing me until he reached my mouth and tried to force his tongue through my lips. After many failed attempts he pulled his head away and looked me in the eye. “If this is the reason why you are wearing women’s clothing Lestat, then it is a very poor excuse.” “Fine Louis. If that is what you want than I will never wear women’s fashion near you.” Lestat hissed near my ear. “Now will you please take your dirty hands of my body or I shall have to call on my husband to arrest you.” Pushing me away he said the last part a bit too loud and attracted quite a crowd around us. Claudia came running in looking to see what the problem had been, only to have Lestat pick her up saying that they were going home. “But why, the night is still young!” Claudia stated, clearly annoyed that neither of us cared of her night’s event. “Because, my love, Louis does not want to play any more.” …………. “.…But David why all of it. Please don’t shave all of his hair.” Lestat was still crying holding my head cradling it softly, so to not cause much pain. “Lestat let David extract the bullets. We must do the same with you.” There was a new voice in the background. It sounded like Marius. “Nooooo.” I felt something wet fall on my face. “I’m fine. Really I am Marius. Please help Louis.” I realized that it was Lestat’s tears. Please don’t cry Lestat I’ll survive. We’re vampires, remember, nothing can harm us. ………… It was only in the twentieth century that I saw him again in women’s clothing. It was shortly after the whole concert and Akasha controversy had been done with and we were left alone again to our own muses. Lestat and myself finally agreed to live together for a while, to test the waters, in my house in the Garden District. We had also agreed to spend some time together going out and enjoying each other’s company for what it was worth. On this night we had agreed to see a play at the theater. “Louis are you ready?” I heard Lestat’s voice from his bedroom. “Yes Lestat. I have been ready for the past half hour.” I looked down at my watch, “and if you don’t hurry up we are going to miss the first act of the play.” Finally I heard footsteps coming down the stairs, however they were not the sound of normal men’s shoes. Those sounded like high-heels… I could not formulate words at the sight before me. Lestat had on a Christian Dior dress that fit his body perfectly. The top was extremely tight so that some cleavage could be seen and his tight mini-skirt rounded his hips and waist beautifully, accentuating the long loveliness of his legs. Lestat had make-up on from head to toe, so to hide the parlor of his skin and his hair was cut at an ear length, being slightly wavy and full as it were the style of the times. “Well, how do I look?” Was that nervousness I heard in Lestat’s voice? I could not help myself from laughing at his question, though. “It is nice to see that some things have not changed.” Lestat smiled at this and moved his hand through my hair. “As shall be with your hair, Louis.” He scowled me in his best female voice. “Never again will you cut it short, understand young man.” “Oui mere….” ………….. “….Mean he’s still alive. That bastard isn’t dead yet.” “He is in the New Orleans General Hospital, Lestat. It seems that the last gunshot nicked his head and killed some lady behind him.” David said very calmly to Lestat, so to not get him too excited. “I’m going to kill him.” Lestat finally said very slowly, “and he is going to help in the recovery of my husband.” With that Lestat put my head gently on the pillow and stormed out of the room, slamming the door on his way out. “Armand, go with Lestat. He has not fully recovered from his own wounds.” Marius ordered the youngest looking of the group. “Why do I get the feeling that it’s not the physical wounds you’re talking about.” Armand said this as he left the room. I only sensed two vampires with me, which I presumed to be David and Marius. “Have you ever done this before, Marius?” David asked. “Yes. Oh, how it was awful then with out the proper equipment….” “…..Is the still conscious?” I believe it was David who spoke next, or was it Marius. “…..Believe so….” “And now?……” I finally went into the blessed darkness.
