Tap, tap, tap.

Claude sits at his desk in his office, absentmindedly tapping the tip of his fountain pen on the piece of paper in front of him.

Tap, tap, tap.

The action causes ink splotches to scatter across the page.

Tap, tap, tap.

It's been two weeks since he's seen Alois.

The young man seems to have disappeared from the face of the Earth, never to be heard from again. He waited outside of the Town Hall, nothing. He went to their usual place, the Main Street café, nothing. He even sat in the library annex for hours and still nothing, Alois was nowhere to be found.

He misses him. He needs him. He wishes he was around. More than anything, Claude regrets not taking him in his arms and whisking him away that night of the ball.

It was more than annoying for the older man, as Alois never said where he lived or even what he did when they were not together. In fact, Alois barely divested himself at all – he was a mystery. The thing that baffles Claude the most was Alois' request – to never let him go, no matter what happens.

Without hesitation, Claude swore it.

Dropping the pen, Claude leans back in his chair, and sighs heavily as he takes his glasses off and tosses them onto the desk. Using the base of his palms, he rubs his eyes and runs his hands through his hair.

"Where are you Alois?" He thinks aloud. Before he can speculate any further, there is a quick knock on the door. As it opens, Claude leans forward and collects his glasses, putting them on and sliding them up the bridge of his nose. His golden eyes dart over to the door to only cause him to groan softly as they land on Aleister. "Oh, it's you."

"Now Faustus, what have I done to warrant that greeting." He pouts slightly as enters the office. Claude sits upright and folds his arms across his chest as Aleister moves over to the desk and leans against it. He's wearing a vibrant red rose on his lapel, which he keeps lifting and sniffing in between over the shoulder glances at an annoyed Claude.

"May I ask what brings you here, I'm not really in the mood for a social visit." He states sternly.

"Claude, I'm worried about you. You've been miserable for the last two weeks – you barely come out with me anymore and-"

"Have you ever thought that I don't go out with you because I just don't like you?"

"Aw, Claude, don't be like that chéri – especially as I have come over to invite you to lunch."

"No thank you." He replies curtly.

Aleister slides himself over on the desk so that he is facing Claude. He crosses his legs and leans back onto the paperwork that was scattered across it. He flicks a lock of long blond hair over his shoulder and scans the desk. Picking up the piece of paper Claude was working on before he came in, he starts to read it.

"An application for planning permission near Bourbon Street?" He reads aloud. Claude reaches forward and tries to snatch it from him but he pulls it away quickly.

"Yes." Claudes' voice was sharp as he stands slightly to pull the paper from Aleisters' hands and then sits back down again.

"That isn't one of my projects." Aleister said aloud.

"It is not."

Aleister contemplates this for a moment, it seems he now has developmental competition – this was something he hadn't had to deal with in a while, especially given that he ran everyone else out of business. "I also intend to keep it out of your grubby hands – everything will be done by the book." Claude insists.

Aleister hums to himself as he shrugs nonchalantly, he doesn't want to give his thoughts away by allowing Claude to read his emotions.

"I wasn't suggesting anything of the sort, as I said, I merely came to see if you wanted to have lunch with me."

"And again, no thank you."

"What's bothering you? I can tell that you're more gloomy than usual. What's changed?"

Claude reclines back in his chair. Oh what the hell, he thinks as he tosses the paper back onto the desk.

"Well, if you must know, I have met someone." He says sullenly.

Aleister clasps his hands together in a show of mock glee; he already knows where this is going. "Really? Well surely if your ice cold heart could be melted and was set a flutter, that would be a good thing, non?"

"No. They seem to have disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"Just vanished. I haven't seen or heard from them in two weeks and honestly, I'm really worried."

Aleister is tickled by this. He didn't realize how much of an effect Alois truly had on this man but now, it was clear to see that he had a hold on him. Too bad he has forced him to sever ties or else it would have been amusing, to say the least, to see what would have come of it all.

"You shouldn't worry too much about your missing person Faustus – it's New Orleans, it's not unusual people for people to disappear here." Aleister shirks off Claudes' worry.

"It's unusual for him to have disappeared."

"Hm. Well, I wouldn't dwell on it for too long. How about this, instead of lunch, we have dinner tonight and we can see if we can get you someone else to occupy your mind. A palate cleanser."

"I don't want a palate cleanser and I definitely don't want one of your whores from Storyville."

"Oh the irony." He snorts under his breath.

"What?"

"Absolutely nothing." Aleister shrugs off his last remark with a devilish smile.

The irony indeed.

Especially given that the one Claude longs for the most is in fact one of his whores from Storyville. Aleister thinks about breaking the news to him right then and there, just to see what kind of reaction he was going to receive but no, he thought better of it. Watching Claude suffer, watching him brood and yearn for Alois is delicious satisfaction enough for the time being. Besides, he is still thinking of a way to pay him back for daring to fall in love with his most precious prize.

Aleister slides off the desk and starts to walk towards the door.

"It doesn't matter, it's settled. You're having dinner with me tonight."

"If I refuse?"

"Chéri you know it's futile, so just give in already." He sighs, exasperatedly. Claude isn't sure if that is a threat or a promise but he nods his assent. At the very least, it will make Aleister leave faster. "Wonderful. I must be off, I have to visit a dear sick patient at the hospital but I shall send an automobile for you at, say, seven?" Claude nods again. Aleister smiles at his acknowledgement, his eyes reflect a sinister glint as he looks back at Claude before he leaves the room, closing the door with a soft click.

Claude sits and stares at the door for a moment. Scooting the chair back over to the desk, it hits him – the hospital! When they first met, Alois had told him that he spends most of his time at the hospital visiting his brother. Surely that's where he must be! Claude wonders. Pulling his pocket watch out of his waistcoat pocket, he notes the time – it is still too early for him to leave but once it is his lunch time, he is headed straight to Charity Hospital and going to comb every inch of that place until he finds Alois.

He can't move, he just lays on his back.

Dressed in his favorite red silk robe, Alois is sprawled out on the top of his bed. His drapes are closed, as always, not one speck of light enters as he lays in the darkness, letting it surround him like a blanket – covering him completely.

Everyday he has been like this.

Whenever he is not performing or with a client in a 'sitting' Alois will come back to his room and lay out on his bed. He spends his time daydreaming, thinking, and wishing that the next knock on his door will be Claude.

Never any such luck.

Today, as he lies out, he lets his hand trace the opening of his robe, to the skin underneath. He breathes out, closing his eyes as the pads of his fingers lightly touch the supple skin of his thigh. He draws his hand upward, just stopping on the inside of his upper thigh.

He sighs as his hand lingers, "Darkness." He mutters to himself, "Darkness envelops me, but it's only you I desire. Claude, I desire you, I miss you." He whispers to himself. He wants to cry but he is unable, he hasn't shed a tear since the day Aleister forbad him from seeing Claude again, he cried all day and night after that but now, he is completely cried out, almost numb.

He lets his hand go limp and drop to his side. There is a soft knock on the door and it opens. Hannah pops her head in through the crack and then enters. She walks over to the window and pulls the curtains open with an over exaggerated push.

She starts to loop the tie backs into bows as she glances over her shoulder at Alois, who didn't flinch at the sudden onset of light that pours through the windows.

"Why won't you tell me what's bothering you? You have been sulking for the last two weeks."

"Has it affected my work?" Alois asks as he rolls his eyes towards the ceiling. He spots a spider's web in the corner with a large black spider suspended in the middle. He smiles wryly as he remembers being bitten by a spider when he first took Claude to the library annex.

Hannah slowly walks over to the bed and sits down on the edge, near his head.

"No, it hasn't affected your work but that's not the point." Her indigo eyes follow the direction of Alois'. "A spider, I can have one of the triplet's remove that for you?" She offers. Alois' turns his head sharply towards her.

"No, don't please. I like it there, I like spiders." He pauses as his head falls back into its previous position, back towards the arachnid. "It's peaceful to watch." He insists.

"Okay, I'll leave it there." She smiles at him. Bending over, she gently places both of her hands on either side of his face and pulls his head onto her lap. She carefully strokes the hair from his forehead and hums quietly as she closes her eyes. "Are you going to see Luka today?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Good, that's good. It should cheer you up to see your brother." Her voice is so soft and soothing.

Alois' eyes travel from the spider's web to Hannah as she continues to stroke his head with her eyes closed. The motion is so comforting that he too closes his eyes and Hannah can start to feel his body relax. She starts to hum a little louder and finally, she sings delicately and slowly as she can hear Alois' breathing become heavier.

"Huna blentyn ar fy mynwes. Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon. Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat, cariad mam sy dan fy mron. Ni chaiff dim amharu'th gyntun, ni wna undyn â thi gam…" She watches as his face starts to relax and he now seems to be at peace. "Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn, huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam…"

As she sings to him, she wonders what could have possibly upset him this much but she assumes that it has something to do with Aleister. Because of her relationship with him, how he constantly ensures her brothel is the most frequented in all Storyville – she knows her hands are tied, all she can do is not ask any questions and to comfort Alois the best that she can.

"Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu, arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon. Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno, huno'n dawel ar fy mron…"

Later that day, Alois heads down to the hospital to visit his brother.

He turns the corner and walks down the busy corridor towards Lukas' room. Alois' face is emotionless as he strolls, he wonders if Hannah is right, if visiting Luka would make him feel better. Probably not. He's been in this coma for years now with no sign of improvement or even change. Alois can still remember the incident like it was yesterday but now – he chooses not to think about it, to try to put a bright smile on his face, even though he knows Luka can't see it, and work hard to be positive.

As he arrives at the door to Lukas' room, he hears a familiar voice. Going in he sees Aleister, sat on a chair pulled right up to Lukas' bed.

In that moment, Alois forgot himself, he isn't a chouchoute at Beaux Rêve, he is a brother who is mad.

"What are you doing here?" He blurts out as he storms into the room. Aleister turns slightly as he smiles broadly.

"Why my little songbird, what brings you here so early?"

"Don't fuck with me – what are you doing here?"

Aleister scowls at the remark.

"Now, now, language pet, you're in a sanctuary for healing. Besides, I came to check on the patient, it's been a while since I've seen how little Luka was doing. I just wanted to make sure that the room I pay for is of a standard, and the staff I have waiting on him are treating him well." He retorts snidely.

"No, you were checking up on me, making sure I'm where I say I am. Well congratulations, I'm here – you win."

Aleister stands and moves right in front of him.

"I win?"

"Yes, you win. I haven't seen Claude in two weeks."

"Oh, I know." He steps closer to Alois, closing the gap between them.

"You… know?" Alois calms down within an instant and hangs his head to avoid Aleisters' gaze.

"I saw him today and he looks just as miserable as you do." He pauses a moment to watch Alois' reacting to his comment. Alois reacts in the way he assumes he would – his face falls, his cheeks redden and he bites his lower lip anxiously. He knows Alois wants to ask him how Claude is feeling and what he's doing – all of which infuriates Aleister. Alois belongs to him and him alone – how dare Claude attempt to take what was his.

Aleister wants to punish Alois as well but he thinks better of it. He knows it is only a matter of time until he forgets all about Claude, and things will go back to the way they were – at least, this is what he hopes. He reaches out and slides his hands down Alois' arms, causing the young man to shiver slightly.

"Will you be at my performance tonight?" It was the only thing Alois could think to say in order to break the uncomfortable silence between the two of them. Aleister grins and lightly touches the tip of Alois' nose.

"Not tonight, I have other plans. I suspect Hannah has you booked for the evening?"

"Yes." Truthfully, as she is feeling sorry for him, she'd given Alois the night off, knowing that all he would do is sit in his room and mope – if he were to do that, he may as well do it in private.

Aleister shrugs and releases him, walking towards the door.

"Well then. I'll see you tomorrow night. Watch that attitude of yours mon petit chou, it's unbecoming in a beauty such as yourself." He warns with a grin as he walks out of the door and into the hallway.

After an hour of sitting and divulging all of his inner most secrets to his brother, and feeling slightly lighter as though he had just been to confession, Alois feels it is time to leave – it is lunch time and he is starting to feel a little hungry – which he takes to be a good sign, as he hasn't really eaten in days.

He places a light peck on top of Lukas' forehead, whispers his good-byes and leaves the room. Walking down the hall, he turns the corner towards the stairs.

"Alois?" A familiar voice calls him from behind, causing him to stop dead. He can feel his heart race and the back of his ears burn but he stays silent. "Alois, where have you been? Why won't you look at me?" Claude asks from behind.

No – he can't turn around - he mustn't turn around.

"I'm sorry, I can't." He mutters nervously as he balls his hands into fists and shoves them into his coat pockets and starts to head back down the corridor. As he makes his way, he's halted as a hand grabs one of his arms forcefully and pulls into a nearby empty room. Claude tosses him over to the bed as he slams the door behind him and locks it swiftly.

Alois rubs his arm as he looks apprehensively at Claude who looks as though he's going to devour him whole. Claude approaches slowly, hovering just above him. Alois swallows hard, feeling his mouth go dry as his eyes are locked into Claudes' determined stare. Then, Claude grabs him, thrusting his slender body into his chest and holds him there tightly, stroking his hair and burying his face into Alois' neck breathing him in.

"I've missed you." He exhales, sounding completely relieved. Alois returns the sentiment and hugs him back.

"Claude, I-"

"No, don't say anything. I don't want to know, I'm just glad that you're all right."

"I'm sorry you were worried."

"I've never cared for anyone, in all my life, I've always been…" He drifts off as he holds him tighter. Alois bends his head down and nuzzles Claudes' head as it starts to look up at him and he lets him go, moving his right hand from Alois' waist to his face, touching his cheek gently. Alois blinks nervously and Claude leans in, kissing him. Alois breathes out into his mouth as his whole body relaxes and starts to mold into Claudes'. They were such a good fit – Alois' small frame joined with Claudes' boxer like build perfectly, as though they were pieces that were always destined to come together.

They break apart for a moment, Claudes' eyes unwavering from Alois'.

"We can't stay here I don't – I don't want to get caught." Alois confesses uneasily.

Claude nods. "Okay, then tonight, let me see you tonight."

"Yes, fine – all right. What time?" Alois smiles anxiously. He knows what the consequences maybe but at this moment, he just doesn't care, he is going to find a way to be with Claude.

"Any time."

Alois thinks for a moment. "Okay, um, right – Midnight, I'll meet you at the Town Hall at-"

"No, I'll get you, where do you-" Claude insists.

"For this to work, you can't know where I live, just – please understand, I can't be seen with you or else we'll both be in trouble."

Trouble; there was that word again. Claude tries not to focus on it but instead decides to go with his request – after all of his searching, he's finally found him and this time, he was not letting him go.

The pair go their separate ways for the time being. One, trying to figure out how he is going to escape from Beaux Rêve in the middle of the night without getting caught, especially given that that's the time when all of Storyville is in full swing, whilst the other tries to figure out how he can keep him and do as he promised – never let him go.

Authors' Note: The Song Hannah sings to Alois is Suo Gân – a Welsh lullaby.