Not sure if you welcome questions like this, but since you said you’ve read every fic in the fandom, could you point me to the one where I think Laurent is a book editor living in Alaska and Damen is a sailor who gets stranded there? With his dog, I think? Thanks for your rec lists. ☺️
Heyyy yes i'm more than happy to answer questions like this! Everyone is always more than welcome to answer!! I think this is the one you're thinking of? Or at least the only one that sounds similar to me, but the details are a little different https://archiveofourown.org/works/24811678
I dont think theres anything else like what youre describing on ao3 as far as I remember but tomorrow or the day after i can do a quick check in my saved tags to make sure
There is an editor laurent au but its a proposal au. If you remember any other details feel free to message me again!
And if anyone else knows pls feel free to leave a comment if you think its a different fic!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Here's part two of the capri masterpost rec list. Took me days to complete it. Part 1 is here
Enjoy.
Completed
>50k
One the Other by Ruby_Wednesday (Auguste lives AU where Damen takes Laurent to Ios as his charge)
Along For the Ride by idratherhaveyou (Modern College AU, Laurent hitchhikes a ride from Damen and his friends to go save Nicaise)
Wicked Game by onekingdomonce (Laurent amnesia AU canon time)
Star Power by TurtleTotem (Singer Damen and actor Laurent pretend to date to fix their public image)
When the sun is on again by thickenmyblood (Auguste lives at Marlas AU. Bittersweet fic)
The Same Moon by onekingdomonce (Prison AU where they're all assholes)
Wine and Flowers by magisterpavus (The regent sells Damen and Laurent into slavery)
Sun and Spear, Peach and Petal by SteeleStingray (Game of Thrones AU)
A Traitor's Choice by blackgoliath (Aimeric makes a different choice)
Black Light Red by Entity_Sylvir, goldendraeconis (Dark Noir, a killer is on the loose)
20k-50k
Now Again a Beloved Son by ofsevenseas (In which Marlas evolved differently)
Courts, Crowns, and A Little Game of Chess by waywardwriter (The fix where Damen courts Laurent the way he deserves)
Slow It Down by orphan_account (Laurent finds a sugar daddy to be free of his uncle. Spoiler alert, it's Damen)
Beg my broken heart to beat by VeretianStarburst (In which Laurent visits his brother in jail and that's how he meets Damen)
Thrown for a Loop by Just_Another_Day (Ice Skating AU)
Beyond the Pale by marrieddorks (College AU)
Between Cat Acrobatics by fakexpearls (In which Damen's cat loves the neighbor's balcony)
Catch and Release by barbitone (In which there's a fine line between law and crime. Modern AU berencel)
marble, salt, and prophecies by Graysworks (Damen amnesia AU right after KR. Laurent and Nikandros are trying their best, ok?)
On one's knees by thickenmyblood (This is Kastor/Laurent canon time.)
10k-20k
Detours From the Road to Ruin by Just_Another_Day (omegaverse canon time)
Nikandros Doesn’t Get Paid Enough For This by dragonmage27 (In which Lamen are more innocent than Nikandros thinks)
they're angry, they're sorry, they're worried (you don't care) by Anonymous (In which trusting someone with your whole self is hard. But Laurent is trying. Post canon)
Water of Life by deripmaver (I hate you derip. extremely graphic and traumatic birth, y'all have been warned)
Under The Shade of Trees by nuttinonice (Laurent is still trying his best. He really is)
According to plan by Poteto (Nikandros is also trying hard. His friends don't make his job easy)
Deliverance by EmergencyBroadcastSystem, SEABlRD (Priest Nikandros, Angel Damen and Demon Laurent)
The Best Contract at Court by barbitone (Ancel really does not know what's up. Also Auguste is very straight)
Homeward Bound by Seek_The_Mist (Post canon celebration)
The Stars Go Waltzing Out In Blue And Red by Holly_Golightly (Lazar POV of canon time)
5k-10k
What A Feeling To Be A King Beside You by beautifulmagick (omegaverse post canon)
Four things that didn't happen to Laurent, and one that could have changed everything by st_aurafina (What it says on the tin)
A wreath of laurel by Kirianna_May (Dryad Laurent AU)
after me, the flood by vicariously kingly (pelted) (In which they reincarnate. Again. And again. And again)
Moonsea by Tyranno (In which Damen doesn't survive the whipping. This is a ghost story)
False Cognates by scarlet-kingsnake (high_spring_tide) (Cultural collision. Vere and Akielos are very different)
The Finest Thing (Whatever It Is One Loves) by booksnchocolate (In which Laurent tries to do the wooing.)
Where flowers bloom by emaline (Hanahaki disease AU)
eyes like sinking ships by Veraison (Nikandros will be there for the Prince of Vere. He'll do it for Damen)
Out of my league by Anonymous (Football AU)
2k-5k
Whirlwind by shoulderpadutopia (Nikandros helps Laurent get a pet)
A Party of Our Own by DisraeliGears (Nikandros and Laurent bond over not liking parties)
No End of War by Just_Another_Day (Zombie AU)
Lovefool by Kittendiamore (Laurent is an actor Damen hires and brings to a family party)
Marks of a Life Well-Lived by Jinxed_Ink (In which Nicaise is very much alive and thriving)
Before the Veil by Jaydee_Faire (Post canon. Medical issues)
Into You by bowtieowl (Damen is Torveld and Laurent's bodyguard. And then just Laurent's)
The Sun Goes Down Every Night by Kittendiamore (Damen is with Jokaste. He is also with Laurent. This is harder than it should be)
Kidnapped by Josselin (Laurent and their son get kidnapped. Damen has to find them.)
Paraskínia by SEABlRD (Wing fic. There is absolutely nothing nice about this story. Read at own risk)
<2k
In The Veretian Style by IAmANonnieMouse (Nikandros teaches Laurent how to wrestle)
united we stand, divided we fall by baekhyun (baruna) (Ghost Auguste hunts Damen until he doesn't)
A Dozen Marriage Proposals by mfingenius (In which Damen mistakes Laurent for a pet, and Auguste is a big brother)
How Laurent accidentally got himself into a relationship by mfingenius (What it says on the tin)
Meet the 'Boyfriend' by Just_Another_Day (Laurent has a foolproof plan to make Aleron accept Damen. He'll bring Lazar home first.)
ships passing in the night by ciin (Soulmate AU)
Snakebite by Jaydee_Faire (Medical horror post KR. Kastor's blade was poisoned and Laurent has no one left but Damen in the world)
Laurent's one-year secret relationship by mfingenius (In which Auguste has a little brother who is growing up)
dinner until you wrestle it up by baekhyun (baruna) (Laurent wants to meet Damen's family)
Stubborn by JustDrinkTea (Soft Summer Palace fic)
WIP
Sleeping Beauty by Pepperweb (Coma patient Laurent and Damen was his nurse)
The storm who leaves no trace. by Mechanical_Candle (Magic AU)
Written In Runes by Nayona (Magic and science and fighters. Futuristic AU)
The Cast Iron Prince's Romantic Way to Happiness by Anielka (In which Laurent suddenly finds himself the character his favorite book)
words like oil, tongue as a sword by kapteeni (Undercover abolitionist Laurent meets undercover slave owner Damen)
The Freedom of Falling by LadyKyrin (Pacific Rim AU)
with luck, it might even snow for us by marrieddorks (Christmas time chateau in the mountains fic)
Oracle at Delfeur by elesary (Laurent goes bake in time to Marlas and changes everything)
Concordia by Ccainao3 (post olympics AU. not as cute as it sounds)
sanguinary poultice, love charm by Lapin (Laurent and Damen meet in completely different circumstances)
My piece for @capri-bigbang2k21 featuring Damen-cursed-as-a-lion, and a circusmaster Laurent! I’ve been so lucky to be paired with the lovely @dancyon for this assignment. Go read their excellent fic!
I was tagged by @dreamdropxoxo and by @redwritinghood, y’all asked for this
Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors!
I’ll tag @deersnake @veretianstarburst @dearanemone and @kurakaw if you haven’t done this already.
i cant be alone (with all thats on my mind) [will be published in a couple months, omegaverse longfic]
The early morning light filtered by the open window, curtains drawn to the side and cool air washing the room in small, lazy snowflakes.
call me friend (but keep me closer)
They win Marlas.
The Innocence of Youth
After hours of complaints, whining, and being a general nuisance, the kid had finally fallen asleep.
Cut the Thread
The scratching started a week after they left Nesson, Laurent’s pretty face turned down into a frown.
Heart on a Canvas
The room was green and yellow, sun and spring-young leaves tracing waves and life on the walls as people looked at his creation.
Empty Kiss (Filling the Void Remix)
Neil sometimes wonders where it all went wrong.
the lion will eat you!
Before the day their youngest had been ripped from their hands, turning their world to ash and dust, the Bennett’s had turned their zoo visits into a monthly event, the children’s voices excited and loud as they run around laughing.
paint my skin in painful truths
People like Neil wear their nightmares on their skin, haunting and beautiful.
my heart in your hands, it’s yours now
Neil remembers the snow in England, soft and white and slower than the one that hit them in Canada that one time they weren’t able to find shelter, the cold creeping into their fingers and freezing the car, scaring them half to death when they realized they couldn’t get away this time.
the sound of my love, in your hands
Jean had never thought of Jeremy as soft.
the gods took them back (the problem with having a heart)
Prince Kevin didn’t know when things changed.
How to take in strays
“There’s magic in every breath you and I take, Abram.” his mother had said right before they caught up with her and raised her battered body on a pyre.
House of Truths
Nathaniel felt the heat spread along his fingers as light tendrils danced from one tip to another, catching the shadows in the dark bedroom.
Since I have read every single fic in the fandom, I decided to make a rec list with some of the fics that have impacted me the most.
This process was brutal, i legit cried as I tried to narrow it down to ONLY 10 fics for every section, because there’s so many fics that I just adore, but the rules I set for myself said that it was only 10 fics for every section, so that’s what I did.
Completed
>50k
Étude by xlydiadeetz (The grieving process and coming to terms with life)
The Oath by LaLaCat1 (Laurent throws himself between Auguste and Damen at Marlas, and the future changes)
The Veretian Flytrap by Just_Another_Day (omegaverse extra long fic set in canon :))) )
Right Now, You're Smitten by idratherhaveyou (fake dating, one of my fave ever)
Follow the Heartlines by fakexpearls (Damen loses his memory after canon)
Touch You by SteeleStingray (Damen is hired to be Laurent’s bodyguard)
Artes Academy by onekingdomonce (high school au)
Beyond The End of the Stars by Becky_J_1022 (Canon divergence book 2)
Capture Every Minute by orphan_account (Deaf Damen set in canon time)
Astray by liesmyth (The fic where they sleep together all throughout book 2)
20k-50k
The Heir by shinchiisanakyojin (They find a baby and get an heir :)) Kid Fic)
Hey, Look Up by Ruby_Wednesday (Nicaise is alive, idk what y’all are on about)
Anything For You by DisraeliGears (Damen just wants Nik and Laurent to be friends)
Weighed and Measured by Kittendiamore (The cave fic where Laurent gets another chance with Auguste)
Summer Fruit by Kirianna_May (Omegaverse post canon, i would die for this fic)
an ocean full of change by tumsa (The social media au where they’re actors)
On a bed of white flowers by sunshiner (Laurent’s pov)
A Kansas City Shuffle by niniblack (Con artist Laurent, agent Damen)
Blood, Bones, Voice, Ghost by sunsmasher (Damen is poisoned after canon)
Ice Kings by Iggysassou (Ice skating au :)))) )
10k-20k
The Fate of the Unnamed Pet by floss (What it says on the tin)
Alone, Without Friends by NoBaggage (The time between end of kr and beginning of summer palace)
and living well by uptillthree (Nicaise is alive, idk what y’all are on about)
well I rose, and I rose by liesmyth (Theomedes is alive and unimpressed)
the Aftermath is Secondary by vicariously kingly (pelted) (The one where they have wings)
Mother, Make Me by Kittendiamore (Hennike runs away with Laurent)
A Beast Of A Burden by Kittendiamore, moridad (Laurent declares war on Akielos the moment he becomes King)
Alpha Nicaise AU by Behind_The_Hood (What it says on the tin :))) )
You spin my head (right round) by boybeaulieu (Step Up au that gives me life)
Song of Us by Winmance (Musicians au, Laurent is a faceless YouTube singer)
5k-10k
For Better, for Worse by itallends (No one believes Laurent when he says he’s married)
Breath of Life by Kittendiamore (Groundhog Day au of canon)
shivering gold by onekingdomonce (Laurent plays a pet again like in book 2)
Breaking News by mfingenius (Modern AU, Auguste takes custody of Laurent)
ask to be unbroken by marrieddorks (Modern au post breakup and finding each other again)
Lonely Boys, Sons of Men by narie (Laurent’s conversation with the regent before the trial)
a thing of cream and stars by laurxnts (soft summer palace fic)
run all the lights by Fahye (fast cars :)))) )
The Last Hunt by timelymeanwhile (15yo Laurent)
Kingdom Come by nuttinonice (Sex is complicated for Laurent)
2k-5k
From Eden by Kittendiamore (Laurent’s isn’t doing anything with his life until Damen comes along with a gun and fun)
Business and Pleasure by VeretianStarburst (Laurent in a skirt)
Sweet Comic Valentine by covertius (Damen takes his stepmom out and Laurent misunderstands)
Pets and Princes by mfingenius (Damen mistakes Laurent for Auguste’s pet)
Bloom by Calenderyear (Herode’s pov of Laurent post KR)
Softly, Gently by deripmaver (Omegaverse au post canon)
and we could dive in blind by sunshiner (Fraternity rivalry au)
As I Am Now by shadowsapiens (Omegaverse au in canon time)
Again by thorvaenn (Time Travel au, Laurent goes back to book 1)
What I've Tasted Of Desire by Holly_Golightly (Halvik’s pov in book 2)
<2k
in the impetus of its fire by Jinxed_Ink (Hennike’s life)
First Impressions by IAmANonnieMouse (Nik’s pov of Laurent)
and your enemies closer by girlguidejones (Nik keeps Laurent company)
and kiss your fingers forevermore by uptillthree (Laurent and Damen talk)
Choices by tokaku (Three people and the fall of the regent)
tooth for an eye by Creberrime (On Damen’s scars)
By Any Other Name by Jinxed_Ink (Soulmate au)
Commit to memory by EmergencyBroadcastSystem (Damen with memory issues since childhood)
i'd take every blow without armor by uptillthree (Laurent’s trial after the execution of the regent in an Auguste lives au)
Wash the Echoes Out by Just_Another_Day (Laurent has a praise kink)
WIP
Sunblind by Folfar (Auguste comes back to life post canon)
there are things unbearable by vannes (nurse Laurent and fbi Damen)
gold switch blade by onekingdomonce (Auguste lives and Laurent has a spy network)
The Enemy of My Enemy by fjshbones (Mafia au)
Too Fondly to be Fearful by Jinxed_Ink (Witch Laurent)
In the Absence of a King by itallends (Fake Dating au)
The Mannequin Gallery by marrieddorks (Model Laurent)
Tempered by Comatosejoy (Thief Laurent and Prince Damen)
Proof by A_Beautiful_Irony (Canon divergence book 2, Damen is trying his best to keep Laurent safe, and viceversa)
a good heart is the sun and moon by fairy___milly (Assassin Laurent, Auguste lives au)
I'm opening up my askbox. Y'all feel free to send me prompts about anything you can think about. If it's not something I think I can do I will let you know, but other than that, anything is game.
Fandoms are in the tags, I'm mostly in CaPri right now, but if I feel like writing a prompt for another fandom and I get inspired I'd totally be down.
guys omFg @theshardsofmyheart made this for me and it is absoLUTELY AMAZING OMG I HAVE NOW ORDSSSS ITS SO GOOD I CRI
my prompt was lamen in the summer palace and damen tried to teach laurent how to swim but laurent cant learn, AT ALL, he goes down like a freaking cannon ball, can barely float w a lot of work, so damen, shocked and concerned that the water wont hold laurent up, ends up holding him up himself wherever they go when they swim together (or when damen swims and laurent clings to him so he doesnt freaking drown).
but OMG op u OUTDID ALL MY EXPECTATIONS look at how BUEATIFUL this is???? the water??the fish??? laurent pointing a demandign finger?? bc hes a bossy lil shit? what are they hunting for op?? i need to knowwww
deI got tagged by my love @veretianstarburst, ily babes
name: Dani
nickname(s): still Dani lol
starsign: Aries
gender: Female
height: like 156-157cm
sexual orientation: Ace <3
color: lighter shades of blue, specifically aquamarine
current time: 10:48pm
current location: My bedroom
average hours of sleep: 4-5 usually
lucky number(s): 7
last thing i googled: "are north and south capitalized” (yes im stoopid)
number of blankets i sleep with: 3ish
favorite fictional characters: changes a lot depending on what fandom im obsessing over. my bean neil josten, laurent damen and nicaise, draco malfoy, ruby from The darkest minds, murtagh and saphira from eragon, literally everyone in Mr Sunshine, i would die for all of them, Lan Zhan and everyone else from mdzs etc etc
favorite musical artist(s): changes a lot depending on my mood. lately its been a lot of Panic @ the disco, fall out boy, the civil wars, stromae, imagine dragons, marco mengoni, irama, ultimo, maitre gims etc
dream job: something where i can travel a lot and possibly in the medical field (alternatively cat lady)
random fact: i love cute shoes and dresses and i can burn thru my fave candle in a week but at least my whole house smells like eucalyptus and tea.
do you have any other blogs?: sorta. i have them but i barely check them
when did your blog reach its peak?: mmm probably a couple years ago when i was v active in the aftg fandom
what made you decide to get tumblr?: I was like 15 and i wanted a place for all my poetry and writing so it became my personal diary sorta
why did you choose your url?: I genuinely can’t remember. i’ve been dancyon so long online that i have no idea. might have been a fusion of “alcyon” like the star from back when i was obsessed w the Black family from hp and Dani. can’t remember my thought process tho.
imma tag my babes @deripmaver, @thickenmyblood @redwritinghood and @marrieddorks hehehhehe
A list of some fics that I’ve really enjoyed. These are all completed, but I definitely will make another list with WIP fics! Please be sure to read the tags first.
“You cannot mean to tell me you would trust my brother on your throne with your son. And as it were, I am not in the market of selling my only living relative.”
“Ah,” Theomedes said. “But you misunderstand me. Your blood will never sit on my throne. I would never let your brother marry my heir. I have two sons.”
***
A royal death during battle was a sign. Years later, Laurent’s features soft with sleep beside Damen, he would think of that as well. He would pull Laurent closer, face buried in the crook of his shoulder and breathing in his omega’s scent mixed with his own. He would think about how their destinies had intertwined that day at Marlas and the world had changed for the both of them.
“The heart has a melody. Once you discover it, there’s no going back.”
Present day, Auguste is dead. The Golden Pianist is gone, and Laurent finds himself completely alone in the world. Haunted by the ghost of the promise he never accomplished, he goes through the stages of grief as he remembers his brother and deals with the return of a high school crush who makes him start to believe once again in the beauty of music.
After a drunken night out Nik had sex with his two best friends. Convinced that this fundamentally changed their friendship, he confronts them by telling them that they shouldn’t repeat it. The talk doesn’t go as Nik had in mind - Turns out his best friends have other plans.
Damen had come to the night club expecting a lead, but instead met a beautiful blond there. He forgot that sometimes, beautiful things could be dangerous.
fire & blood. by fairy___milly
Relationship: Damen/Laurent, Auguste & Laurent, Damen & Kastor | Rating: Not Rated | Words: 31k
Akielos gives Auguste three dragon eggs as a coronation gift, seemingly fossilized for the past 500 years.
in which Auguste is a king, Damen is a knight in shining armor, and Laurent has dragons.
wanna bet? by MrsAmber
Relationship: Damen/Laurent | Rating: Teen | Words: 1k
Their friends dare them to kiss a stranger at midnight and they are just tipsy enough to actually do it.
Last line i wrote is part of a long fic I’m writing, it’s coming along and I’ll start publishing it on AO3 once it’s all finished, probs sometime around May/June.
And Laurent could do nothing but stand speechless under the night sky as Damen held his pale hand in his own, bowing over it and kissing the knuckles gently.
I tag @crazywineaunt , @jane-dorne and @redwritinghood
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Fandom Captive Prince (C. S. Pacat)
Characters Damen & Laurent
Summary He remembered how shocking it had been when he had first been dragged into the Prince’s chambers and, instead of a cold, fully grown menace, he had found a half grown boy with a permanent pout and an angry scowl. The resemblance to Nicaise had made him uncomfortable, but he hadn’t had the time to dwell on it between fighting off three armed assassins and making sure that the kid was safe.
The kid, as it turned out when he gutted one of the assassins himself with a glare and a huff, was more than safe. The kid was also, apparently, Prince Laurent of Vere.
Damen has been taught by the best tutors in Akielos, but he has absolutely no idea how to take care of a child.
Words 2354
Warnings Implied/Referenced Child Abuse
This is for Winter and Carolus, have some deaged Laurent
and here https://anch0ram.tumblr.com/post/637245093958565888/home-away-companion-fic-x is carolus’ art! It’s amazing and you should all go look at it!
I just want you to know that I think about From Eden at least once a week and I've lost count of how many times I've reread it. If you ever wanna share what comes next amd what other ideas you had for that universe i'm here to listen op 👀
Thank you, I love you! When I first wrote that fic, I had two other parts (at least) that I wanted to go with it, and since they’re partially written I’m happy to share those bits with you:
From Eden Part 2
“It’s just unfair, you know,” the girl said. Her words were slightly slurred. To be fair, they were in a nightclub after midnight. Everyone was slurring. “I was there for him, and I paid his bills while he went through college and now! He has a real job and he dumped me for his secretary.” She started sobbing.
Damen, who was six foot three, strongly built, and also carrying a loaded weapon, took her hands and made a sympathetic noise. “Lykaios,” he said, because he --unlike Laurent-- had actually listened when she’d introduced herself. “I think the best thing for you now is to forget about him. He didn’t deserve you.”
Lykaios sniffled. “You think so?”
“Of course I do,” Damen said. “I’ve only known you for a few minutes and I already can see that you’re incredible. Right, babe?”
“Right,” Laurent deadpanned. He glanced at his watch. “It’s quarter to.”
Damen nodded. Still holding Lykaios’ hands, he turned to Laurent. “Security?”
“Just the two.”
“Great.” He looked back to Lykaois. “Listen, doll, we’ve got to get down to business, but I want you to remember what I said, okay? You’re worth a lot more than that guy gave you. And your mascara is running a little. Maybe you should go fix it up in the bathroom and wipe your tears?”
“Okay,” Lykaois sniffed. “Thank you.” She left.
Damen gave Laurent a grin, the crooked, teeth-baring one that appeared whenever they were about to do a job. “Ready?”
“You never call me doll.”
“Do you want me to?”
“Try it sometime and see.”
Damen yanked him in by the jacket and kissed him, slowly and bordering on indecent. “Alright,” he said, after he pulled back. “Show time.”
As Damen disappeared into the crowd, Laurent grasped his --still full-- drink, turned, and threw its contents at the roughest looking guy in the place.
“Hey, what the hell?” The guy squared his shoulders; he was intimidating even covered in lemonade.
“Fuck you,” Laurent replied.
At this point, three months of travelling and stealing and, most importantly, Damen, Laurent had become pretty efficient at inciting fights. He didn’t need to see the punch coming to know that it was, he just sidestepped and let the man stumble into the back of another patron. It took less than thirty seconds before half the clientele were involved in an all out brawl.
The two security guards rushed in, and were immediately overwhelmed enough that the only bartender -- a youngish lad with a crooked nose -- had to join in to get everything under control. Laurent punched him.
Eventually, the fight got calmed down enough for fingers to point to Laurent and the lemonade clad man as the inciters, and guards hauled them both out into the parking lot.
“Let me go!” Lemonade guy yelled. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“You can try,” Laurent said, a lot more willing to be subdued by the guard that had him by the arms.
“Don’t make us call the police, man,” his guard complained. “The both of you can go your separate ways, come on.”
The door behind them opened.
“Sweetheart,” Damen said, chidingly. “I step away for two minutes and you get yourself into trouble.”
---
They go back to a motel after this and Damen reveals the money he stole from the tills while Laurent was being a distraction. Sexy times ensue. Damen eventually falls asleep and Laurent stays awake with the tv on. The news comes on and an interview is shown with Lykaios being interviewed about the robbery at the bar -- she gives a completely inaccurate description of what Damen looked like, and Laurent reflects on how easy it is for Damen to charm people to taking his side.
From Eden Part 3
Their most recent car was a much older model. The aircon was busted and they had to wind down the windows themselves, but at least the radio worked. It was hot, despite it being a couple of hours past sunset.
Damen was singing with the radio. He wasn’t going to win any awards, but his voice was deep and he had a nice enough sense of the music. He grinned at Laurent. He was always happy. It was part of what made him so magnetic.
Laurent smiled back. After two years with Damen, the expression felt natural.
Except for them, the road was empty. Damen reached over and took Laurent’s hand in his.
“Watch the road,” Laurent said.
Damen laughed. “But you’re my favourite view.”
“I won’t be happy if you kill us in a car wreck.”
Obediently, Damen looked back to the road. And then, because it was Damen, the car sped up.
Laurent’s hair flew about chaotically, longer than it had ever been when his uncle had been keeping a hand of Laurent’s appearance. It needed a trim, but as much as Laurent trusted Damen, he didn’t trust him to do that. Damen had offered to take him to a salon, somewhere quiet where there was no chance he’d be recognised, but Laurent wasn’t fond of the idea of being trapped in a chair like that. He was too used to freedom by now.
-
“Left here,” Laurent instructed.
They’d had to slow down once the got near the town. It was best to avoid anyone’s attention for as long as possible. (An admittedly difficult feat when traveling with someone like Damen).
They drove a little way past the house, until they found an obscure little dirt road to park down. It wouldn’t do for someone to see the car. They grabbed their things, and looped back to the house on foot.
Quietly, Damen was still singing.
“Stop it,” Laurent said.
“You love it,” he replied. “This is your birthday present, baby, at least look like you’re having fun.”
“This is literally the worst place we could get caught.”
“No it isn’t,” Damen replied. “I checked out the police station last time I was here. Breaking out of the cells would be too easy.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“There were no lights on when we drove by. No one is home.”
That was true. And they’d timed it perfectly, assuming schedules hadn’t changed in the last two years. The house was silent when they got to it, not a light in sight as promised.
Laurent took a deep breath.
“Chin up,” Damen said. “Let’s go rob your uncle.”
-
The spare key wasn’t where uncle used to keep it, so they went around the back and Damen fucked with the lock until it opened. It was almost hard to walk into the house, full of so many bad memories, except it had never truly been Laurent’s home and he could just tell himself this was another job.
“The study,” Laurent said, leading the way.
They crept up the stairs together, torches on their lowest settings.
The study was a formidable room with the big, mahogany desk, and the shelves of books that existed solely to make visitors feel stupid. “Look at this,” Laurent said, pulling out one of the books. “War and Peace in Russian. He doesn’t even know Russian.”
Damen reached past him, and nonchalantly, tipped a stack of books off the shelf. They clattered noisily onto the floor. “Oops,” Damen said. He turned away. “Where’s the safe?”
“Under the desk,” Laurent replied. He was busy searching through the books, finding any early editions to pilfer. They’d probably be able to sell them to an antique store for a bit of quick cash.
Damen worked away at the safe for a bit, guessing potential codes Laurent had told him about. “None of these are working, sweetheart.” The safe made a beeping noise. “Oh, wait. Got it. Wow, he really deserves to be robbed.”
“I’m sure he thought I’d never come back here.”
Damen made a vaguely angry noise. He didn’t like reminders of what had happened to Laurent in this house. He’d even tried to convince Laurent that they could just murder his uncle while they were here. Laurent wasn’t sure he wanted to add cold-blooded murder to their repertoire just yet though. However tempting.
Damen stood up, suddenly. Hands full of Laurent’s uncle’s emergency cash. He grinned.
“Happy birthday - to - you,” he crooned.
Laurent couldn’t help it. He laughed. “I love you, you beautiful fucking bastard.”
Abandoning the books, Laurent moved in and kissed him. Carefully, Damen put the money down on the desk so that he could cup Laurent’s face in his hands. It was always intoxicating to kiss Damen. There was something about him that made Laurent forget himself until there was only the press of their lips.
“I love you too,” Damen whispered, pulling back a little. He’d stopped smiling; it was a moment of complete genuine emotion. He did that sometimes, always out of the blue, and it always made Laurent want to clutch him tighter and maybe cry.
“Let’s finish up here,” Laurent said, “and then we can go find somewhere nice and fuck under the stars.”
“You always know just what to say to seduce me,” Damen said.
They bagged the money, and the books Laurent had picked, and then they made their way down the stairs again.
“Wait,” Damen said.
“What?”
“I’m hungry.” He turned into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Oh hey, chocolate.”
Actually, that was an idea. Laurent followed him into the kitchen and went straight for the pretentious temperature controlled wine fridge. “Pinot noir or Shiraz?”
“Whatever is more expensive,” Damen replied. He was adding strawberries and oranges to the bag as well. Cream?”
“It’ll go warm too fast.”
“I feel like we should unplug the fridge before we go, at least,” Damen added. “If you’re still against me putting bleach in the milk.”
“Wouldn’t that make it curdle?”
Damen shrugged. “I don’t know. I had a cement mixer in a bar once but that was lime juice.”
“You can unplug the fridge. If he dies from food poisoning, that’s on him.”
Damen started to look for the cord to the fridge.
“Wait,” Laurent whispered. “Did you hear that?”
They froze, listening.
There it was. The soft sound of the stairs creaking. Fuck. Silently, Laurent gestured towards the back door. Damen nodded. He was carefully reaching over to the knife stand.
“Renaud?” came a small voice.
A young boy, no more than thirteen, stepped into the kitchen. He was wiping at one eye sleepily in a childlike gesture. Less childlike were the bruises on his arms. Laurent knew he and Damen had matching expressions of horror.
The boy’s eyes widened as he took them in. “Who are you?” he said.
Damen’s expression was one of barely concealed fury. He looked at Laurent. “I’m not leaving until that man is in a shallow grave.”
“Don’t scare the boy,” Laurent admonished. He turned to the child and tried to look as non-intimidating as a late-night home invader could possibly look. “What’s your name?”
“Well,” he straightened up, suddenly hostile. “You’re not allowed to come back. He doesn’t want you anymore; I’m better.”
“Where are your parents?” Damen asked.
“We’re not giving him back to parents who-”
“They’re dead,” the boy said. He didn’t sound upset.
--
The boy is obviously Nicaise. They hear a car in the driveway and Laurent locks Nicaise in the pantry. Laurent’s protective instinct rears up and he insists they kill the uncle now. Damen is fully down for it. Murder ensues. They let Nicaise out and keep him away from finding out that the uncle is dead in the next room. They tell Nicaise to pack a back and discuss what to do with him. Damen suggests dropping him off at a hospital or somewhere like that where someone can get help for him (since they can’t exactly go to the cops).
Nicaise overhears and says that he doesn’t want to have a new foster parent; at least his current one has a big house. Laurent hearing that feels too wary to risk Nicaise getting another bad household. Damen is like, well I guess we can keep him if you want??? Laurent agrees. They go get in the car and drive away.
-
Anyway this AU was directly inspired by the film clip for Hozier’s ‘From Eden’, you should watch it bc that’s the story I intended to write
dededos
romaincrisis
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
titsay
stormborns
kaledo-art
