#awkward klaus with his grand gestures

[wholoveseggs]

~Series♡~ {<- masterlist}

18+

Smut ~ Violence ~ Fluff ~ Angst

~Warmth

Part One {5k} ♡♡♡ --- It's your wedding day, but it feels more like being sold off than a celebration. You're about to marry into the most powerful family in history, but it's not by choice—it's all politics. All you can do is hope that the guy waiting for you at the altar is decent and that somehow, you'll survive whatever comes after "I do." Part Two {6k} ♡♡ --- Its day two of your unexpected honeymoon, as trust begins to blossom, the question lingers—will he exceed your expectations or leave you longing for more? Part Three {8k} ♡♡♡ --- Back in the vibrant streets of New Orleans, relishing in your newfound freedom. Life takes an unexpected turn as the shadows of your past life loom large, pulling you back into the life you just escaped. Yet, amidst the haunting echoes, you find strength in a partner who is ready to go to any lengths for you.

~Extraordinary

Part One {5k} ♡♡ --- Just a quick little ménage à trois with the boys. Part Two {7k} ♡♡ --- Just a quick little ménage à trois with the boys... but its round two. Part Three {8.5k} {Holiday Special} ♡♡♡ --- Just a quick little ménage à trois with the boys... but its round three & under the mistletoe.

~Indulgences

Part One {3k} ♡♡ --- Elijah's red door is cracked open and his heart broken, so naturally Klaus takes him to a strip club to cheer him up. Part Two {3.5k} ♡♡ --- Elijah returns to the club, seeking solace in the dimly lit corners. You navigate the allure of his wealth and charm while trapped in the grip of your possessive boyfriend. Part Three {5.5k} ♡♡♡ --- As your relationship with Elijah deepens, conflict arises and you are put in an impossible situation. Part Four {7k} ♡♡♡ --- In the aftermath of violence, you forge new connections and leave behind all the pain that has plagued you for so long.

~Pop Quiz

Part One {7k} ♡♡ --- How can you possibly pay attention in history class when your professor is that hot? Let's hope you don't fail your exam...

Part Two {9.5k} ♡♡♡ --- Its been a few weeks since you last saw your professor, and you are feeling insecure about the nature of your relationship. You decide to make a grand gesture to capture his attention. Hopefully it doesn't blow up in your face...

~Mine

Part One {5k} ♡ --- A drunken hookup with Klaus complicates your friendship with Elijah, leading to an awkward morning after. Part Two {5k} ♡♡♡ --- Rebekah talks some sense into you and you aim to repair your relationship with Elijah.

~Crimson Frost

Part One {6k} ♡♡♡ --- You are to be wed to Niklaus of the Mikaelson clan, but when tragedy strikes and blood is shed in the snowy night, the true strength of family bonds and the power of love are put to the ultimate test.

Part Two {5.5k} ♡♡ --- After the raid on your village you are separated from your little sister and your betrothed Niklaus, not knowing if they are alive or dead. Holed up in a hut with Elijah during a raging snowstorm, you train and prepare to hunt down the Blackthornes. Meanwhile, Niklaus, Kol and Rebekah have found safe haven in a nearby village, the leader Ansel provides all he can.

Part Three {6k} ♡♡♡♡ --- Things heat up between you and Elijah as you prepare to rescue Gerda and Henrik. In the pursuit of your sister things get bloody and an unexpected warrior comes to your aid.

Part Four {5.5k} ♡♡♡ --- Your reunion with Nikaus and Elijah doesn't go as planned and betrayals are revealed. Threatening the peace and safety you fought so hard for.

Part Five {8.5k} ♡♡♡ --- As you prepare for your wedding, secrets come to the surface and your future hangs in the balance.

~Rules

Part One {2k} ♡♡ --- As the little sister of the Salvatores, trouble always finds you. Whether it's from a vampire, werewolf or an original, you are always at the center of it. When the mysterious villain Elijah comes to Mystic Falls, everyone is trying to stop him from hurting Elena. But you? You might be falling in love...

Part Two {4k} ♡♡ --- Its a beautiful day in Mystic Falls, so you decide to put on your favorite dress and grab a drink. Hoping to attract a man {or two} to satisfy your appetites.

Part Three {6k} ♡♡♡ --- You head over to Elijah's place, ready to have a fun night together. But when you don't mind your manners, you end up paying the price.

Part Four {6.4k} ♡♡ --- Tonight is the night of the dinner party and tensions are running high. Caught between the love for your family and your own desires, things take a dramatic turn

Part Five {10.7k} ♡♡♡♡ --- It was never a good idea, falling in love with the enemy. But how were you supposed to know how it would all end up?

~The Gardener

Part One {2k} ♡♡♡ --- The relationship between witches and vampires has always been fraught with complexity— a toxic mix of power and revenge. Raised to preserve nature’s balance, you’ve been taught that vampires are a perversion of life itself. You have a duty and a purpose, to eliminate all vampires. You're willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill it, even if that means falling into bed with the enemy.

Part Two {2k} ♡♡♡ --- Your mission to seduce Elijah continues, and it's becoming harder and harder to separate your feelings for him from your duty. Your ancestors call out to you, warning of death and destruction, and tensions within the coven are high. Your time is running out, and you have to find the white oak ash, and soon.

Part Three {2k} ♡♡♡♡ --- You have fallen into a comfortable routine with Elijah, but the threat of war looms on the horizon. Will you betray him or will you follow your heart?

Part Four {2k} ♡♡♡♡ --- Things come to a head when you decide to confront the Mikaelsons, before your magic consumes you.

~Dark Star

Part One {6.8k} ♡♡ --- Bound by love that defies centuries, Elijah Mikaelson will do whatever it takes to resurrect his lost wife. Even if it means forsaking everything he believes in. Once the north star guiding his family, his shattered heart now leads him down a darker path, transforming him into a version beyond redemption. A damned soul, drawing his family into an abyss they may never escape.

Part Two {8.2k} ♡♡♡ --- In a 13th-century convent, you’re drawn to the mysterious nobleman Elijah Mikaelson, who stirs desires forbidden in both heart and faith. In the present day, the Mikaelson family teeters on the edge, torn over what to do with Elijah, now trapped in torment by Klaus’s dagger. Haunted by memories of love and loss, Elijah relives the past, and his siblings face a grim choice: leave him in despair or risk the havoc he might unleash.

Part Three {6.8k} ♡♡♡ --- Klaus and Marcel hit a dead end searching for your killer. Until Cami offers a fresh perspective that could change everything. Kol uncovers a spell that might resurrect you, but the cost is steep. And centuries ago, under starlit skies, you surrender to a forbidden night with Elijah, binding your fate to his in ways that transcend time.

Moonlight {60k} ♡♡♡♡ --- As Emma navigates a life filled with abuse and darkness, a chance encounter with Klaus and Elijah, who she believes to be demons, sets in motion a tale of forbidden desires, ancient pacts, and the struggle between light and darkness. Will Emma succumb to the darkness or find liberation?

[fandom-strumpet]

Klaus Soulmate AU Part 5

Pairing: Klaus Mikaelson x Reader

Word count: 2,391

Warning(s): implied smut

Klaus’ affection grew over the following days. You still came to visit him while he painted and gradually you even started sitting closer within arms reach. Klaus started to enjoy his mornings more because it meant starting his day with the one he had grown to love. Meal times became more enjoyable as he started showing up. The smile on your face when you talked and laughed was enough to take his mind off all the troubles and traitors he had to deal with.

One morning you woke to a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a note on your bedside table. You opened it to reveal neat cursive handwriting. Your heart skipped a beat at the words on the small piece of paper.

I saw these this morning, love and they were almost as beautiful as you..

Yours truly, Klaus

We really are making progress. You gave a little squeal, the day seeming brighter than it had before.

From that day on you always woke to a treat and a little note from Klaus that brought a smile to your face. Sometimes it was flowers, other times it was a hot coffee or cookies. One morning you woke to only a note,

I have a surprise for you my love, meet me downstairs.

Yours truly, Klaus

You hurried and put your hair in a messy bun, changed into a nice outfit and brushed your teeth. Trying your best not to fly down the stairs, you stepped quickly in anticipation down the solid oak. There Klaus stood proudly in the kitchen. He did a sweeping bow to reveal a table full of food for two.

“My lovely lady,” Klaus grinned with a twinkle in his eye, “Today I am making you breakfast.”

Your mouth dropped open in surprise, joy overwhelming you.

“Oh my gosh! Klaus this is amazing!”

You ran forward, catching Klaus off balance with a hug. Klaus’ arms gradually came down from his grand gesture to return the warm hug. He could hear your heart beat going crazy and it made him smile. You took a step back, sheepishly breaking the hug. Your cheeks were pink with a blush which made Klaus smile even wider.

“Thank you so much for breakfast.”

“Of course, love. You always make breakfast for us and I wanted to return the favor for my lovely lady.”

There it was again. My lovely lady.That phrase and his accent would be ringing in your head forever as you committed it to memory. Klaus guided you to your seat, his hand gracefully touching your back. You felt chills run across your skin at his touch. It was like pure ecstasy. You were so caught up in Klaus’ loving expression you hadn’t even noticed him leading you to your chair until you bumped it.

“Here you go, love.”

“Thank you.”

You grinned and took your seat as Klaus sat in his next to you at the large table. You couldn’t remember the last time you were this awkward or nervous over a meal. If only you could freeze this moment time and never leave, never stop feeling this warmth and love from Klaus. It was blissful, the house was so quiet you were sure that he had cleared everyone out so his surprise breakfast wouldn’t be interrupted. The two of you were quiet for the most of the meal but you couldn’t keep your eyes off each other. Who knew Klaus mikaelson could make eating breakfast look so sexy? Klaus put a spoon in his mouth to lick it clean of his food and never before have you wanted to be a spoon so badly. You didn’t realize you had spaced out on Klaus’ lips for so long until he spoke.

“So, Y/N I was thinking we could go into town to get you a dress picked out today?”

“Huh? Oh- yes” you blushed furiously, “a dress for what?”

“For the Founders Ball of course.”

Klaus took another bite of food before looking up at you with a devilish grin.

“I want my lady to be looking her absolute best when we’re out, I plan on showing you off.”

There he went again calling you his lady- you were sure by now you were the shade of a tomato.

After finishing your food you started to pick up dishes.

“Here let me help you with that.” Klaus mumbled, brushing up against your body as he started picking up plates with you.

Washing the dishes had never been so exciting, it almost seemed like Klaus was slowly pushing his body up against you closer and closer.

You gasp as a splash of soapy dish water in your face catches you by surprise.

“Whoops.” Klaus snickered.

You return the favor with a splash at Klaus, leaving bubbles on his face.

“Whoops” you giggled

God how long had it been since you giggled?

Going back and forth, completely forgetting about the dishes, you and Klaus had a mini water fight in the kitchen.

“Ha ha!” Klaus grabbed your waist and hoisted you over his shoulder.

“Do you concede?”

“Never!”

Klaus tickles your side as you squirm in his arms, laughing so hard you wheeze.

“Do you concede now?” Klaus pauses his tickle attack on your body.

You whisper your answer as you try to catch your breath.

“What was that Y/N?” Klaus grinned, starting to dig his fingers in your side again.

“Never!” You squealed.

Klaus marched into the living room with you over his shoulder, still giggling like a child who had been caught after a chase. Flopping you onto the love seat, Klaus leaned in close to your face. You froze, you could feel his breath on your skin.

“Whatever shall I do with you, Y/N?” Klaus spoke softly

“Kiss me.”

Without missing a beat Klaus clashed his lips against yours, kissing you like a starving man. His tongue pushed your mouth open and you moaned. He pushed his kiss deeper and started to mess with your hair. When he pulled away you whined and he chuckled.

“How about we continue this later?” He touched his forehead to yours and you felt a heat pool in your stomach.

“It’s a date.”

“Now, let’s get you into town and find a dress that you love. We won’t stop until we find you the perfect dress.”

Klaus stood up and held out his hand to help you up. He pulled you up so gracefully you wished his hands should explore your body more.

“Let me go freshen up a bit and then I’ll be ready to go.” You smiled

“Sounds perfect, I’ll bring the car around.” Klaus kissed your cheek before turning to walk away.

—————————-

Looking into the bathroom mirror you touch a hand to your cheek where Klaus kissed.

“ I’m never washing this cheek again,” you muttered.

You fixed your hair as quickly as you could, being flung onto the couch had tangled up your hair but you didn’t regret it one bit.

Stepping out the front door you feel butterflies seeing Klaus sitting in the car, smiling at you.

“Ready, love?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” You grinned, sliding into the passenger seat next to the hybrid.

You took a deep breath in and Klaus’ scent flooded you. How had you never noticed how good he smelled until now? You made a side note to steal one of his shirts later to bring to bed.

Getting onto the main road, Klaus rested his right hand on your thigh. There’s that heat in my stomach again. You leaned over, wrapping your arms around Klaus’ arm and rested your head on his shoulder. Klaus let out a low growl, he liked when you got close to him. He thought you smelled amazing and he didn’t know how he had missed it before. You had a feminine smell, lavender with a hint of cottonwood. Klaus turned and kissed your forehead. The drive to town went quicker than usual, it felt like. Before you knew it, Klaus had parked in front of the dress shop. You sat up and let out a shaky breath.

“You don’t need to be nervous, love. Don’t be afraid to take your time, we have all day just for us.” Klaus gave you a reassuring smile and squeezed your thigh.

“Okay.” You nodded and gave a small smile.

*Ding*

The cashier gave you both a warm smile as you walked in.

“Welcome! What can I help you with today?”

“I have a reservation time to try on dresses under Y/N, Y/L/N.” Klaus politely smiled.

“Of course! Let me get you checked in and we’ll start pulling dresses out for you to try on.” The girl smiled at Klaus for just a beat too long.

She turned to you, “I think the colors that would look best with your skin complexion would be dark greens, ruby reds and some royal blues.”

“Whatever you say.” You nervous laugh.

The girl escorts you and Klaus to a side room where there is a changing room and a little lobby with mirrors and chairs for Klaus to sit on while he waits for you to try on dresses. Only a few shorts minutes later and the girl had already reappeared with dresses for you to try on.

“Start with these and let me know what you think about the styles.”

The girl quickly ushered you inside the changing room. Klaus made himself comfortable on a chair in the cozy lobby, smiling as he watched you step in to change. The first dress you came out in was a deep blue with a nice cut waistline, fish tail bottom and sleeves that dropped down.

“What do you think, Klaus?”

“I think you look stunning my love.” Klaus winked.

“How are you feeling about the dress, Y/N?”

“Well, I like the way the waist and top fit me, I like the idea of the sleeves bring down a little bit but I’m not really a fan of the fishtail.”

“Alright,” the girl hummed, “the waist and top you’re talking about are called the sweetheart and I does make your collar bone look really nice. I’ll go back and find you some more dresses with this style.”

She rushed you back into the stall and then disappeared. The girl was like a rabbit with how quickly she left and came back. The hangers for the new dresses clicked on the rack as she squeezed back in with you.

“These dresses have a nice sweetheart line, I’ve grabbed some that are more ball gown style and even a couple with sparkles.”

After trying on almost a dozen dresses, and Klaus commenting how beautiful you looked in all of them, you finally decided on a dress. You and let’s both agreed that the dress that fit you most was a dark green ball gown dress with a sweetheart line and hanging sleeves that made you feel like a fairy tale princess.

Klaus looked you up and down in the dress, his hybrid eyes flashing with the desire to put his hands all over you.

“You look ravishing, Y/N.”

“Thank you, Klaus.” You blush.

——————-

The whole ride home you just wanted the world to freeze and keep you in that moment. Klaus’ hand was on your thigh again and you breathed in his intoxicating scent as you leaned against him.

“Tomorrow you and Rebekah have an appointment at the salon and spa.”

“Awesome.” You smiled and nuzzled his arm.

Klaus rumbled in content at your scent being so close to him.

You arrived at the mansion soon enough, you desperately wished for this moment between you and Klaus to continue. Walking inside, you start to head towards the staircase when Klaus stops you.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Um- my room?” You stammer.

“Last I checked, soulmates sleep in the same room.” Klaus had on a coy smile. “I may have made a phone call while you were changing.”

Klaus picked you up bridal style, eliciting a surprised yelp from you as he ran to his room. Kicking the door shut behind him he looks down at you.

“Klaus!”

You gasp upon seeing the room- you had never been in Klaus’ bedroom before but it was grand and magnificent and just radiating cozy vibes.

“I had Rebekah take all your stuff from your old room and put it in the extra closet in here.” Klaus grinned, “so what do you think, Y/N?”

“I love it!”

Klaus sat you down on the bed, and crawled up to hover over you.

“Good.”

Your heart started to race, Klaus being so close to you was making you want him in more than one way.

“Now, my love, where were we from this morning?”

“Kissing me?” You mewled

Klaus kissed you gently, starting to push deeper he opened your mouth with his tongue, this time he moaned at the taste of you. Pushing you up on the bed he grabbed your legs and wrapped them around his waist without breaking the kiss. You could feel the heat radiating from his member as he grinded against your core making you ache for him. You inhale sharply when Klaus breaks from the kiss and starts working on your neck, kissing your pulse point. He starts nibbling and you can feel him sucking on your skin, knowing he’ll leave his mark for everyone to see you are his.

“Klaus- more- please” you whine

Klaus growls and sits back to yank off your pants, working his pants off at the same time.

————————————-

The next morning

You woke up, slowly arching your back when you feel the heat of someone behind you. Heart racing you turn over to find Klaus staring at you smiling. The night came racing back to your mind and you grinned right back at him.

“Good morning, love.”

“Good morning,” you nuzzled into his chest.

“You look so peaceful when you sleep, I could get used to waking up like this every morning.” Klaus kissed your forehead.

“Mmmmm” you hummed.

Klaus rolled onto his back and pulled you onto his bare chest to snuggle. You close your eyes and take in his scent.

There may be troubles in life but right now everything is just perfect and you wouldn’t change a thing.

[supremeuppityone]

Written for Klaroline Valentine's Day Bingo 2020 @kcvalentinesbingo

Prompt: “His name is NOT ‘Cupid McDimples’!”

Author’s note: This is the much-requested sequel to Chapter 67: The Best Safety Plan, found in my Klaroline series, A Beautiful Symmetry.

Please review here.

           It started with a dozen candy cane sorrels delivered in an exquisite crystal vase.

           “Oxalis versicolors?! Those have to be shipped in from South Africa!”

           Caroline rolled her eyes at Bonnie, doing her best to fight back a silly grin as she read the note from Klaus: Thinking of you. She still wasn’t sure what to think of their encounter with the hot weirdo in the woods who thinks he’s an immortal Viking hybrid something with fangs who buried Damon’s body for them in exchange for a date with her. And he’s probably a psycho killer. And a week ago she was worried her life had become dull.

           And then he sent a platinum and diamond encrusted charm bracelet. From the exclusive Arcadius flame logo, she probably could’ve funded her and Bonnie’s practice for the next year if she pawned it. It was beautifully designed and somehow perfectly tailored to her background and tastes — from the miniature eye chart and glasses charms to the scrolled letter ‘C’, her sapphire birthstone, and, surprisingly, a raven. How the hell did he know “The Raven” was her favorite poem?

           “Cupid McDimples is stepping up his game,” Bonnie teased as she eyed the shiny bracelet. “Can’t wait to see what he has planned for your date. Well, our date since I’m going with you in case he actually is a crazy murderer and we need to get all shovel-happy again.”

           “His name is NOT Cupid McDimples! He’s a random lunatic we ran into and it’s entirely possible he wants to wear our skin. And damn right you’re going with me since you’re the one who suggested I go on the date in the first place AFTER he admitted to being in the woods for a body dump. Come to think of it, shovels might be a good idea.” Letting out along-suffering sigh, she added, “Of course someone that attractive would have some glaring defects.”

           “Not to throw stones, but you two lovelies were traipsing about the woods for the same reason,” Klaus’ amused voice suddenly interrupted, startling them both. With a dimpled smirk, he held out two shovels, cheekily topped by frilly pink bows. “In case you decide to end our date by getting ‘shovel-happy’.”

           Seriously? There was no reason for her heart to be fluttering like this over a pair of shovels. And yet it was. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so charmed. “Are you always so considerate with your dates?”

           “Honestly, I can’t recall the last date I went on,” he remarked, his accented voice warm and inviting. “Does sharing a glass of champagne with one of the chambermaids at Tuileries count as a date? We were having a rather lovely time before the Parisian mob invaded and the royals marked it as a prudent time to flee.”  

           “You’re seriously talking about the French Revolution. Like you were there,” Caroline replied flatly, throwing an exasperated glance at Bonnie.

           Swinging her shovel up until the handle rested on a shoulder, Bonnie muttered, “Why the hell not? Caroline’s last date was convinced a powerful secret society is running the Starbucks franchise, which is why they’re on every corner.”

           Favoring him with a wink, Caroline kept a grip on her shovel while linking her other arm with his. “I do enjoy a good nervous breakdown.”

                                      ______________________

           There was a delicious-looking meal set out in the auditorium. She’d been surprised when Klaus drove them to a community theater, and immediately squealed when she saw they were performing a series of Poe’s works. “Poe is my favorite author! I had no idea this was going on.”

           She could’ve sworn the tips of his ears turned red and his voice was a bit tight as he said, “Yes, well, what a coincidence.” As a handsome man with a blinding white smile stepped out of the shadows, he nodded his head at Bonnie and said, “I brought along Marcel to keep you company. Marcel is a...friend.”

           Bonnie studied the stranger skeptically, but Caroline also noticed a flicker of interest in her friend’s gaze. So, clearly she wasn’t the only one who had terrible taste in men. “And I suppose Marcel’s a werewolf-vampire Viking too?”

           “Actually, I was a plantation slave in Louisiana. Just a little over 200 now,” Marcel replied silkily, with enough of a flirty undertone that Bonnie’s eye twitched.

           Caroline snorted, telling her friend, “See? I told you all the hot ones were crazy.”

           Marcel threw back his head, laughing. “I’ve been perfectly sane for years now. The Quarter Coven isn’t nearly as powerful as they think.”

           As Klaus held out a chair for Caroline, he wryly answered, “Now, let’s not be too hasty — you weren’t under a spell when you summoned my father to try to kill me after you returned from World War I.”

           Seriously?! French Revolution. Werewolf-vampire Viking. Plantation slave. Witch coven. World War I. Caroline exchanged a look with Bonnie, in which they wordlessly weighed the hot-to-crazy ratio of their dates and decided to just roll with it. Besides, the dating pool was far too shallow in their little town to be overly picky. What’s a bit of crazy between friends?

           The antique sconces along the walls began to flash, signaling the performance would begin soon despite the empty theater. Confused, Caroline leaned over to whisper in Klaus’ ear, “Are we early? Where’s the rest of the audience?”

           Marcel gleefully explained, “Klaus bought out the whole place. In fact, he actually hired them to—”

           “Try the saffron crab cakes, Marcel. It seems your mouth needs to be occupied,” Klaus interrupted, cheeks slightly pink as he couldn’t quite meet Caroline’s inquisitive gaze.

           Was Marcel going to reveal that Klaus paid an acting troupe to perform Poe’s works because he was her favorite author? Seriously?! The last date she went on wanted her to reimburse him for the drinks because she ended the date early after he told her that he and his twin sister just loved blondes and ‘shared everything’. “You’re really setting the bar high for our second date,” she told Klaus, enjoying the hopeful gleam in his gray eyes.

           “Second date? That’s quite forward of you, sweetheart,” he teased. “I’ll need a bit more wooing before I agree to a second date.”

           She couldn’t help but return his impish grin. “Then I probably need to figure out your favorite author.”

           “I’m quite fond of Chaucer. Now, he’s heralded as one of the greatest English poets of the Middle Ages, but in his time, kept getting into quarrels with those who believed legitimate literature should be written only in French or Latin. I might’ve had a compelling argument in ensuring his proper burial at Westminster Abbey.”

           Caroline rolled her eyes as she replied, “And after that, you gave Columbus directions and helped Henry VIII hire a divorce lawyer.”

           He chuckled, caressing her hand with his thumb. His voice low and seductive as he murmured, “You are a delight.”

           Nearly identical snorts came from Bonnie and Marcel’s table, but Caroline couldn’t be bothered as her heart did that fluttery thing again while Klaus looked at her. Onstage, the red velvet curtains rose to reveal a cozy fireplace and an actor in a wingback chair. From the ominous bird perched on the bookcase overhead, it looked like she’d be treated to her favorite poem first.

           Since it was Poe, the shrill screams backstage seemed to blend perfectly with the foreboding atmosphere, and it wasn’t until the sounds of furniture breaking and muted thuds against walls reached her ears that Caroline realized something was wrong. The lone actor who’d been sitting in the chair seemed paralyzed with fear as a pale young man strutted onto the stage, a single trail of blood at the corner of his mouth.

           If it wasn’t for the blood, Caroline would’ve dismissed him as another pretty boy who’d never love anyone as much as he loved himself. The supercilious curl of his smile gave her chills — not to mention the black veins that crawled underneath his eyes. Plus, there were fangs. Actual fangs.

           “Klaus, I’ve come for your kingdom — and your head,” he proclaimed with a snarling hiss.

           Wow. Apparently monsters are a thing. Caroline couldn’t help her knee-jerk reaction as she blurted out, “So, werewolf-vampire Viking or plantation slave?”

           Although clearly in shock, Bonnie managed to reply, “Probably not plantation slave.”

           Klaus snickered, seemingly pleased by the women’s ability to keep a sense of humor during this bizarre situation. “Actually, Lucien’s just an upstart stable boy.”

           As Klaus and Marcel both bared their fangs, leaping onto the stage to face off with Lucien in a whoosh of air that was impossible to comprehend, Caroline started thinking that maybe those shovels would come in handy after all.

[nobody-wants-ice-cream]

The Umbrella Academy in: The Triwizard Tournament

Chapter 5.1 Number Five’s Research

Thank you @seven-misfits and @tehmoonofficial for your amazing beta skills!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21340549/chapters/54740578#workskin

Five couldn’t sleep after his encounter with Reginald. It had been 45 years since he had been to private training, but seeing the restraints again had brought back the scared thirteen-year-old he thought the apocalypse had trained out of him. 

Reginald used to tie him in any sort of restraint, like chains or a straightjacket, to an electric chair. If Five couldn’t jump out, he would be electrocuted. It had taken thirty years of drunken conversations with Dolores to finally admit that he and his siblings were abused as children. Being back in that room was terrifying in a way Five had forgotten. Its sudden reintroduction was a blast of ice being poured down his back. 

Instead of sleeping, Five decided to look up a charm to brew coffee- which ended up being Calida Capulus while pointing his wand at a mug with coffee grains in hot water- and then set to work reviewing documents in Reginald’s office. That coffee Allison got him would prove to be very useful. 

Speaking of Allison, her rumor would work in his favor. Reginald couldn’t touch them. More importantly, if Five was caught, then he couldn’t be punished with individual training. He could browse Reginald’s files enough to paint a pretty decent picture of what their lives were like in this universe. 

Just after they turned twelve, the seven of them became superheroes. Vanya and Ben were their heavy hitters. One particular note disturbed Five. “When Number Seven’s powers become too much to contain, I will have to stun her and put her in the isolation chamber. Her powers are essential,” read the disturbing red journal from their toddler years. 

According to 400 Offensive Spells, “The stunning spell should not be used on subjects under 100 pounds or 45 killograms as the magic will overwhelm the castee and may cause permanent damage to the nervous system or magical core”. Vanya was placed under this spell as a very young child over and over again. Five had a small idea that Vanya’s powers prevented the damage from being permanent. He didn’t know how that would be possible, but that irrational hope stopped him from murdering Reginald in cold blood. 

The Commission made him a killer, but he never enjoyed his work. However, after hearing the atrocities Reginald committed on his siblings, he was willing to make an exception. Stunning Vanya was only the tip of the iceberg. The things done to himself and to the version of himself native to this universe were barely a blip in his anger. 

Five skipped around to his section. The book said that this Five’s interest in time travel was a fleeting interest that went away when Reginald brought him books on the runes to create a time-turner. When Five looked up what a time-turner was, he was disappointed in his other self. A device that takes you back or forward a few hours was a party trick compared to what he had the potential to do. At least this version of himself didn’t get himself stuck in the apocalypse. That would have been difficult.

If I time traveled now would I end up appearing here in this universe or would I be stuck in the future in mine? Five mused while moving around some of the papers that surrounded him. 

That was the last bit of semi-coherent thought Five had. He passed out surrounded by books and papers. Specifically, blueprints for a magically expanded Minerva Aircraft, complete with six dorms and a master bedroom. 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

“Five. Five. Five. Wake up. Five, wake up. Five, you can’t keep doing this, man." It was Luther being his personal alarm clock again. 

“Mu, wus goin on? Five more mins, Luth,” Five tried while rolling over. 

“Nope! Get up.” Luther pulled Five up and managed to get him sitting up while slumped against Reginald’s desk. 

“Five, how many times have you fallen asleep here? It’s been months, what more do you possibly have to find?” Luther asked. Five had spent his nights in August and September in Reginald’s study reading his notes and pursuing magazines and newspapers that mentioned the Umbrella Academy in any way. 

“When was the last time you slept in your bed, Five. This isn’t healthy." Luther snapped his fingers in front of Five’s face, “Hey! Focus.”

Five opened his eyes again. He had been up until three in the morning due to a teen magazine bender. Those vapid things were somewhat addictive. Not that he would admit it to anyone. 

“I need to know what’s going on.” Five did feel lethargic. He worked and worked until he passed out trying to figure out this timeline. If they wanted to stay off the Commission’s radar, they needed to keep the timeline as consistent as possible. Five struggled to keep his head upright. 

“Hey, did you know the seven of us are the only ones Dad adopted? Everybody else is a boarding student.” Five shared. He was starting to feel more alert. He reached for his mug and the Bunsen burner he used to heat up his coffee water. 

“We have thirty minutes before breakfast. You should clean yourself up,” Luther said before leaving the room. 

Five scowled. Luther didn’t have to get him up this early. Five decided that teleporting to the bathroom was a bad idea this early in the morning and decided to walk so he could find an unoccupied one. He stared at the floor and shuffled his feet like a pissed off thirteen year-old the whole time. At least they weren’t required to stick to one bathroom like in his youth.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&

“The elusive old man finally decides to join us! How was your bender? Any wild stories? Amputee hookers? Or were you holed up in Dad’s office the whole time?” Klaus greeted. His bright smile and teasing words were grating. Five scowled at him and picked up the carafe of coffee that Mom had taken to leaving at their table. 

“Well, Klaus. I actually had a wild time. You know teleporting a girl or three in the room wasn’t too difficult,” Five snarked back. Five wasn’t actually interested in the whole sex thing, but Klaus didn’t know that. In fact, nobody except Dolores knew that the idea repulsed him. Besides, Five had a feeling that telling his siblings that he had been up all night reading J-14 and Seventeen would lead to more judgement that he just wasn’t prepared to deal with. 

“Did you actually?” Luther looked green in the face. He put down his knife and fork and gave Five his full attention. 

Five raised his eyebrows and took a sip of coffee. He would neither confirm nor deny. 

“Right, um, moving on. You missed Pogo announcing that we were to report to the foyer for an announcement. One through Twelve. It’s supposed to be super important,” Allison attempted. 

“Who cares? Five, did you-” Ben was cut off by Mom announcing that it was 7:53 A.M. 

“We better go and see what the old man wants.��� Five teleported out of the room and into the foyer. 

He was met with Number Ten who looked up from her book in surprise when Five teleported into the room. 

“Hey, Five. I still get surprised when you do that. Any ideas for what the Headmaster wants to talk about?” Ten must have left breakfast early, “Thirteen and Fourteen were pretty pissed that they aren’t included in whatever this is.”

“I don-”

“You know, he hasn’t really talked to his seven science experiments in a while. Did you guys do something? Maybe Three heard a little rumor?” Ten was starting to piss him off. Her tone was condescending in a way he threw people’s heads through walls for. 

“Se-” He was cut off by everyone else entering the room. He was going to question the nickname ‘seven science experiments.’ As if she had the right to call them that!

“Hey Five, hey Ten,” Number Eleven greeted. Eleven was tall, thin, and very good looking. They were extremely androgynous, hence the neutral pronoun. They wore their uniform with the sort of confidence that Five had only seen in himself, Hazel, or Cha Cha. For a split second, Five wondered if Eleven had ever killed anybody, but then he saw Eleven had uncalloused, delicate hands. Those were not the hands of an assassin.  

“Do you think something went wrong? Maybe the rumor-” Allison whispered. Five gestured towards Ten with pointed expression so Allison would shut up. 

Just as an awkward silence was draping itself around the room, Sir Reginald Hargreeves walked in. He stalked around the room and did not look at Five or any of his siblings. 

“The Triwizard tournament is a grand and noble tradition that has lasted throughout the ages, until modern history. You students are amongst the lucky few with the honor and the privilege of submitting your names to the Goblet of Fire. Do not disappoint me. Report back to breakfast for your schedules!” Classic Reginald Hargreeves. Short, simple, and as cold as possible. 

Immediately, whispers broke out amongst the strangers. Excited curiosity and nerves filled the room. Five hoped that it wouldn’t be him. He had proven himself already. Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve filed back into the kitchen. Diego left with them.

Luther addressed the group with, “We should really plan-”

“Haven’t we planned enough?” Klaus clapped Luther on the shoulder and flounced after Diego. 

“Why is it still a Triwizard tournament if we’re joining as the fourth school?” Ben mused behind him. 

“Well,” Vanya piped up to his left, “Quadwizard tournament sounds pretty stupid.”

“It sounds like lazy writing to me,” Allison twirled her dark hair around her index finger, “Like some poor marketing executive or some bad author didn’t want to come up with a better name.”

&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Several weeks later, the Academy was buzzing in unrelenting energy and unmitigated chaos as numbers One through Twelve packed their belongings in the single, large suitcase they had each been allowed to bring. 

“Ben! Have you seen my left- never mind!” said Allison. 

“Ow! Sorry, Seven,” said an unknown person. The voice was female, so could have been Eight, Ten, or Twelve. Or possibly Eleven. Five didn’t know what they looked or sounded like today yet. 

Diego could be heard sneering, “Watch, where you’re going, Twelve.”

Five calmly packed the basics. The Commission taught him well. It took him two minutes to pack some uniforms, toiletries, and his school supplies. The same could not be said for the others who were frantically putting things in their suitcases. The Minerva would have dorms once they landed, but there was no point in bringing anything to decorate with. Ben would probably bring enough to make the space feel normal. 

They were going to be sharing rooms in number order. One and Two, etc. Five took a moment to feel bad for Vanya, who would be sharing with Number Eight. 

Then a thought occurred to Five. Five had spent months researching how to assimilate into this universe. Why not try to go home? 

As soon as it was there, the thought was gone. This was home. His siblings were here. Right? Five felt disoriented. His thoughts moved through his brain like jello. Then he simply stopped thinking about it. 

What was he doing? Packing for the tournament! According to Ben and Luther, this would be a dangerous ordeal. The goblet would pick the best candidate. If anyone was going to be picked, it would have to be him for his siblings’ sake. He was the oldest and most experienced. 

Then he remembered that he had already proven himself. So why did he feel the overwhelming desire to win this tournament?

&&&&&&&&&&&&&

On the morning of October 30, 1994, twelve children and their Dad/Headmaster boarded the Minerva Aircraft on their way from The Umbrella Academy to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

The plane ride was almost completely silent. There was still chatter, as Reginald was piloting the Minerva.

Allison and Five were poring over a wizarding teen magazine called Witch Weekly, which was distributed worldwide, while speaking in low voices that couldn’t be heard over the plane’s engine. 

“Since when are you the heartthrob?” Allison poked him and then the picture of him surrounded by tiny hearts. 

“I don’t know! That’s weird right? I guess in this universe I didn’t disappear when I was thirteen and now people think I’m attractive or something? I don’t get it. Who was the,” Five put up air quotes, “‘heartthrob’ in our universe?”

“Klaus and Luther had pretty strong followings,” Allison paused to think, “When we were fifteen, Ben had some sort of cult? And I was the only girl so...yeah. Oh, and Diego was popular towards the end, but no one could figure out why.”

Klaus was looking at the magazine in front of Allison and Five with interest. He raised his eyebrow at Five and gave a small wave before going back to his drawing. 

Eight, Nine, and Twelve were playing a card game a few rows above them. They were oblivious, unlike Ten and Eleven, who were talking in hushed voices and looking at Allison every now and then. Eleven’s hair was a bright shade of electric blue today. They had opted for lithe, feminine curves and the female uniform, but a very close cropped pixie cut. Five barely recognized them. Ten was attempting to ask Eleven to grow their hair longer so she could braid it. 

Luther was watching this argument with an apathetic look on his face, while Diego watched with interest. Maybe he thinks it will turn into a fight or something? 

Ben was completely oblivious to all of this and kept his nose stuck in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 

“Please, Eleven! It will look really good,” Ten pleaded. 

“For the last time, no. Piss off, Ten.”

“Fine. Sorry. Eight! Can you deal me in?” Ten demanded.

“Yeah, sure,” Eight started shuffling her cards again. 

Diego looked somewhat disappointed at the de escalation and went back to sharpening his knives. 

“Hey, Three, Five! Can I borrow your Daily Prophet?” Eleven asked from across the aisle. 

Since they had already gone through all of their copies of that newspaper, Five said, “Sure,” and handed them the October 29th copy. It was the most recent thing in the pile. 

The rest of the plane ride passed like that. Eventually, Diego borrowed their magazines as well once he ran out of knives to sharpen. 

The Minerva flew on through the clear sky. 

[hurtcomfortetc]

I was thinking the apocalypse timeline, if that's okay! :) and omg thank you for sending me your fic, I'm so amped to read it!

Original Prompt - vaguely-- 

“since you’re looking for TUA prompts” how about Klaus with pneumonia? the others keep joking about how he needs to quite smoking and shit (and telling him to stop whining when he says he’s not good to go with them on some kind of wild adventure”

Okay, so this was a fun one to write! Hope this was in the realm of what you were looking for! :)

MONDAY(28 days sober)

Klauscan hear the distant sound of glass shattering and what might be abookshelf falling down. The sound surprises him, and he sits up soabruptly that he gives himself a head rush, and a splash of watersluices over onto the tile floor. He sits there, listening for yellsof anguish or gunfire. All he hears for the next minute is the faintcongestion in his breath.

“Vanya-it's okay – look we don't have to stop for today-”

Adoor slams.

Klausrelaxes.  

Heslides his head back under water and goes back to wondering if thisis the normal congestion he's had on and off since his cocaine phasein 2012, or if he's just getting sick.

Thenhe starts craving cocaine again.

Hedebates, for the hundredth time maybe, if Sober Klaus still smokesweed.

“Klaus,you better not have fallen asleep in there!”

TUESDAY(29 days sober)

Klauscreaks open his eyes to a blinding light and a grating voice comingfrom the other side of his door. His eyes manage to come to a focuson his clock. 1:30. Klaus is faintly pleased. It's much easier tostay sober when you're unconscious for most of the day. And he's soclose to actually deserving that thirty day chip.

Thebanging doesn't stop.

“Klaus!It's your turn with Five and Vanya today – please get your ass downhere so he'll get off my ass?” Diego calls, and continues bangingon the door.

Fiveis relentless, Klaus muses. He proceeds to remain unmoving on hisbed.

“Yougonna keep moping in here forever?” Ben asks from somewhere in thecorning of the room.

Klauslets out a loud groan that he draws out for almost twenty seconds.Ben covers his ears after ten, but Klaus has to stop and let out ashort cough before he can make it to a grand finale. Gross.

“Seriously?”Ben asks. Klaus peels himself off his bed and does a quick smell testof his underarms.

“Shhhh-I need to focus on finding a clean shirt so I can go make sure Vanyadoesn't end up murdering my second least favorite brother,” Klaussays. His voice comes out rough. Ben, for his part, looks appeased.

WEDNESDAY(30 days sober)

It'sbeen a good day.  He completed an entire arm wrestling match with atangible Ben (turns out that that in death Ben must have somehowdeveloped killer bicep muscles, but no one needs to know how thatparticular match ended) and, invigorated by his sobriety milestone,Klaus dragged himself out of bed before noon and made eggs foreveryone (they burned remarkably quickly, but Allison did eat a pieceof toast he buttered so overall a win).

Butnow it's almost dinner time, and all he can do is lay bonelessly onthe couch and listen to his siblings bicker over one of Luther's“mandatory debriefs.”

“Theday of the apocalypse is over, can't we all stop treating Vanya likea ticking time bomb?” Allison demands.

“Yousaw what she almost did to Diego a couple of days ago, we can't stopworking on this,” Luther fires back.

“Guys,I'm right here, can you just stop,” Vanya adds. There's an awkwardsilence.

“Istill don't know if the math is right, everyone. Look, the best guessis to keep trying at -”

Therest of the conversation is lost to Klaus, who feels something inhimself snap. He hastily lights a cigarette. His siblings cyclicalnonsense arguments give him a craving for nicotine that simply willnot be ignored. He takes a long drag and then feels something catchnauseatingly in the back of his throat. He sits up and coughs untilsomething slimy seems to dislodge.

Hegoes to try another inhale when he sees that everyone is looking athim. He thumps his chest for dramatic effect.

“Smokingkills, kids,” he announces, and waves a finger at his siblings,accosting. Diego rolls his eyes.

“Keepthat up and you're gonna get an iron lung before you're forty,”Diego says.

“Andwhat a thrill that would be,” Klaus retorts. The bickering carrieson after that, and he spends the rest of it tuning out his siblingsand attempting valiantly not to cough.

Hedrags his way out of the room during a longer pause. In the doorway,Allison grabs his arm and slaps something into his palm. It lookslike a bandaid, and Klaus' brain cannot produce what it is.

“Nicotinepatch. I thought you were cleaning up. It might help,” Allisonsays.

“I'llhave to change my shirt. This beige will clash hideously,” Klausreplies.

“Iordered Chinese for tonight– come down later?” Allison asks himas he continues out.

Hethrows a grateful wave behind him.

Hespends the rest of the night alternately chain smoking and hackinguntil his chest is sore.

THURSDAY(31 days sober)

Today,Klaus starts to wonder distantly if there is something wrong with hisimmune system. This cold just doesn't want to go away.

It'sa nice distraction, he supposes.

FRIDAY(32 days sober)

Klaushas just completed almost entirely turning over his room in order tofind the one sketch pad that he'd stashed away years ago. He used toget high and doodle bats and shit during his goth phase.  “Get ahobby” was something they tell you a lot in rehab.

Ithelps that, honestly, Klaus has no energy to do anything but scribbleabsently today. The mere act of searching through his closet justleft him with a racing heart and feeling out of breath. It isactually nice, in a way. The lethargy makes it very easy to settleinto a blanket puddle on the floor with and feel content to scratchout nonsense pictures with a pencil.

Benisn't anywhere to be seen for some reason, and Klaus actually feelslonely.

Ashadow appears looming over him. He looks up to see Five leaning inhis doorway.

“Getup. We're going on a field trip,” Five announces.

“Pass,”Klaus groans.

“Notasking. What, you'd rather laze around here all day?”

Klausdraws his blanket closer around him by way of answer.

Fivegrits his teeth and looks away. His foot is honest-to-god tapping.

“Getup. We need your help. We're gonna let Vanya loose today, and we needall hands on deck,” Five finally explains. Klaus sits up and giveshim an incredulous look.

“DidVanya okay this?” He asks. Five looks at Klaus like he's a cat thathe's trying to coax out of a bush.

“Ofcourse.” Klaus wonders why he bothered asking, his answer trulydoesn't inspire confidence.

“Andhow do you expect me to be of any use?” Klaus asks. On any otherday, he would bask in any remote bit of confidence in his ability,but today the concept of standing up for more than a minute is makinghim dizzy.

“Iseem to recall that you can summon Ben's ghost from the dead, amongothers. Dead people are great collateral if something goes sideways,”Five says.

“Um,great idea, but here's the thing – I can't -ahem- get it up all thetime. Apparently it's more common among mediums than you might think– one in ten!” Klaus says, praying that Five will drop it. Fivelooks at him like he's contemplating murder.

“Look,do you want me to get Luther to come persuade you?” Five threatens.

Klausraises his hands in surrender.

“Uncle,uncle! Christ, let's just get this over with,” he sighs. On the wayout, he grabs his most obnoxious faux fur jacket, partially as a lamegesture of rebellion and partially because he's utterly freezing.

“That'sthe spirit,” Five mutters, and leads the way.

----------

Fiveglanced into the rearview mirror of the car. With Luther crammed intothe passenger seat the atmosphere already feels oppressive enough,but a glimpse into the backseat reveals Vanya nervously perched inthe middle seat, Diego sitting cross-armed and surly on the right,and Klaus completely passed out on the left. The car is packed andradiating nervous energy.

Five eases the car down the bumpy dirt path, the final sign that theyare clear away from civilization. That creep Leonard really had theright idea about a remote cabin in the woods. Plenty of isolation andtrees to practice on. So lacking in human contact is this particularcabin that the unkept foliage lining the path creeps towards theroad, untamed and leaning. The cabin itself is barely a thread awayfrom losing any structural integrity. The windows have maybe threeunbroken panes of glass between them. It's perfect.

Fivebrakes violently, and winces when Klaus' forehead makes a audiblewhack on the window as he smacks himself out of his nap. Not the mostgraceful awakening, but effective. He wants everyone alert.

“Alrighteverybody. Follow me,” he says. He steps out of the car and towardsthe back of the cabin, where he has prepared a paper target on a treeabout fifty feet from the small clearing. It's visible, but wellsurrounded by other trees.

“Diego,wanna demo?” Five asks. Diego furrows his brow, but never turns upan opportunity to throw something sharp. He takes one look at themark and pegs the center ring with a hasty flick of his wrist.

“Doyou expect me to do that? That's not exactly in my wheelhouse, Five,”says Vanya, squinting at the target and looking like she'd rather beanywhere than here.

Fivetakes a handful of loose bullets out of his pocket, and places themon a tree stump.

“Woah,”interjects Luther, “we're not expecting Vanya to have to shootpeople-”

“Ofcourse not,” Five grits out. He expected this, but it doesn't makeit any less tiresome. “This is just an exercise in precision andcontrol.” Vanya looks at him, wary, but she picks up one of thelittle silver ovals and turns it around in her fingertips.

---

Ittakes the better part of an hour before Vanya manages to drill a holedirectly into the target. It's a bit left of center, but by thatpoint, Diego and Luther have finally relaxed an inch of tension outof their shoulders. Vanya is a quick study, and actually pulls asmile when the little tap of the bullet making contact sounds throughthe forest.

Klaus,for his part, has been lounging like the Queen of Sheba on a softpile of pine needles. His eyes seem out of focus, but he claps whenVanya succeeds.  

“Whooooo,you show that tree who's boss,” he calls. Vanya smiles again. Fivewonders if Klaus might have been more of a liability than anything,considering how spacey he seems for all his apparent sobriety, but ifanything it makes Vanya more relaxed when he yells out some stupidline of encouragement than if it had just been Tweedledee andTweedledum trading constipated looks and flinching every time a twigsnapped.

Fiveis contemplating dragging one more round out of Vanya when Klaus sitsup suddenly at attention.

“Woah,Vanya that's kind of creepy,” Klaus says, looking at something inthe distance. Five walks over to Klaus as he stands up, clearlyalarmed. There are goosebumps running down his arms.

“Whatare you talking about, Klaus?” Five asks, quietly. He doesn't wanta scene.

“Theway she's moving the branches of the trees like that. They're gettingall twisty. I mean it's tasteful but definitely a touch odd, wouldn'tyou say?” Five doesn't know why he looks over to see what Klaus istalking about, but he does. There isn't so much as a light breezerustling the branches.

Suddenly,Five realizes what must be going on and he's furious.

“Jesus,Klaus what are you playing at? Whatever you're tripping on is notworth risking this entire training session,” Five spits. Diegoperks up at that.

“Ithought you were going sober, man,” he says, looking at themsearchingly. Klaus, pale and sweating, does not look like thatbenchmark for clean living.

Klausdoesn't seem to notice, and continues looking at the forest, eyesfollowing something unseen.

“Unbelievable,”Five turns away, taking ten paces and breathing through his nose.

“Klaus,it's okay – I'm not doing anything,” Vanya says. She walkshesitantly towards Klaus, eyes wide and sympathetic.

“Leaveit, Vanya,” Luther cautions. Vanya reaches out a hand on Klaus'sforearm, to try to get his attention. Klaus clears his throatthickly, and coughs a bit into his fist.

“Don'tworry, Vanya- I like it, very pretty,” he says. Vanya's eyes widen.

“Guys,his skin's on fire,” she says. “Klaus, are you okay?” Shereaches a hand up his cheek, which is also burning. He doesn'tanswer, just shivers convulsively.

“Couldit be an overdose?” Luther strides over to them. Diego stiffens.

“Doesn'tseem like it to me,” Diego says. “Doesn't present the way itusually does with whatever garbage he's on.” Five's mind feelsblank.

“I'llstart the car. We have to get him out of here,” he says.

“Ithink he's just sick,” Vanya says. “He's been sounding reallyrough all week, hasn't he?”

“Shit,”says Diego. He moves to pull gently at Klaus' arm to lead him to thecar. Five takes the lead and starts for the front of the cabin.

“Wow,you can make the ground all spinny. That's a cool trick,” Klaustells Vanya. At that, Diego loops one of Klaus's arms around hisshoulder, and they start to haltingly follow after Five.

“Let'sgo, Klaus,” he says. As they make a shaky path towards the car,Five throws the passenger door open for them to slide in. They do,and it's now imminently obvious just how out of it Klaus is. Hemanages to maneuver into the passenger seat shakily, and immediatelyburies his head in his hands.

Fivewastes no time turning on the ignition and sloppily reversing thecar. He narrowly avoids bottoming out in a muddy patch. The car digsout and he slams on the acceleration as quickly as the dirt path willallow.

“Doesanyone have any water or anything?” Luther asks, and Five isdecently impressed that it's actually not a bad idea. There isrustling from the backseat as they all turn over the car searchingfor any provisions that will last them the entire ride back towardscivilization.

“Here,”Vanya finds a water bottle strewn somewhere beneath the seatcushions.

“That'sfor you,” Diego passes it to Klaus, who removes one eye from behindhis hand to look at it like it's a bomb. “I swear to god, Klaus,just take it,” Diego warns. Klaus extends a shaking hand andaccepts it. He takes a tentative sip, and then grimaces. That setshim off, coughing deeply. For each second he continues seeminglyhacking up a lung, Five's foot presses deeper into the acceleration.When he finally stops, Five meets eyes with Diego in the rearviewmirror. Diego looks panicked, and that's not a look Five is used toseeing.

“Jesus,Klaus, where's that stupid ass coat of yours?” Diego asks. “You'reshaking like a leaf.”

“Igrabbed it,” says Vanya.

“Wait-maybe we should try to keep him cool? Right?” Luther interjects.

“Idon't know- do I look like I went to fucking medical school?” Diegoasks, shooting a murderous look at Luther.

“Damn,how long has he been like this sick?” Luther asks no one inparticular.

“Ugh,right here,” Klaus says, breathlessly. “You should ask Ben, he'dknow.”

Diegothrows up his hands.

“Helpful!”

Suddenly,the car lights up a bright blue and Ben appears crammed betweenLuther and Five, crouched awkwardly on the dashboard.

Five,thrown for a loop, swerves the wheel and almost careens off the road.

“Woah-Five, get it together!” Luther calls. Ben grabs the wheel and pullsthem back on into their lane just in time to avoid hitting a tree.

“Nice,thanks,” Five breaths.

“Ben,”Luther said, dumbstruck.

“Toanswer your question, he's been out of it for a couple of days. Ithink that's why he couldn't see me anymore,” Ben says. Lutherseems unable to process the information, his mouth still gaping open.Ben rolls his eyes.

“I'mjust saying, please can you find some kind of medical professional?Like, ASAP?”

“Nooooo,”Klaus murmers through his hands.

“Klaus,”say Five, Luther and Diego almost simultaneously, all in some variouscombination of desperate frustration and warning.

Vanyareaches over and put a hand on his knee.

“Ithink what they mean is that it's not a debate. You're going to see adoctor.”

[leroiloup]

🎉🎉

Send ’ 🎉 ’ to kiss my muse at midnight on New Years Eve. | selectively accepting

                It wasn’t the usual stuffy black tie affair that Klaus was used to on New Year’s Eve. The Salvatore School’s hosted function reminded him of the few Mystic Falls High dances that he’d attended 【 always against his better judgement 】.  Standing against a far wall, cheap champagne in a plastic flute in hand, the hybrid wondered for the hundredth time that night how he got talked into being one of the chaperones. It probably had something to do with the promise of a certain blonde ex-flame who’d be there. Hope was cunning and devious, traits she absolutely inherited from him, he’d give her that.

He wondered if seeing Caroline again would outweigh the odd glances he continuously got from the students. He was well aware of the things they were taught in their history classes and his sour demeanor didn’t do much to expel the notions of the notorious Great Evil. Not to mention the constant glares he could almost feel from Alaric. Ok, maybe Klaus’s subtle smirks and shifty eyes were put on to only irk the headmaster more. 

Seeing Hope dancing with her awkward and gangly boyfriend made him smile. The countdown to midnight was beginning and he suddenly felt a little impish. Downing the rest of the champagne, he left the wall and sought out the one equal ally he had in the building. He planned to make some grand gesture in kissing Caroline at midnight, mostly to stir up gossip and trouble around the school, but as soon as he was faced with her, it was as though the school no longer existed.

The people around them were chanting, counting down, but Klaus was silent, his eyes locked onto hers. She always managed to do this to him, render his mind confounded and completely losing sight of his goal. His movements seemed subconscious, no longer meant to provoke anyone or cause a stir. Instead, it was though he were magnetically drawn to her, his face moving close to hers, forehead hovering a breath from hers.

When Caroline reciprocated in kind, her face angling up to meet his lips, he moved away and kissed her knuckles instead. The gaze he had locked on her was playful, inviting a rise from her. When he heard her trademarked ❝ Seriously ? ❞ and she turned to leave in annoyance, his hand grabbed her’s. He pulled her back, turning her into his arms as his free hand her to her jaw, bringing her lips to his. There was no hesitation as he kissed her fully, not caring what eyes could be on them in that moment.

[eternityunicorn]

Elijah’s Eternity: New Orleans Part Eight

Author: eternityunicorn 

Genre: Romance/Drama/AU

Pairing: Elijah Mikealson x OC

Warnings: Violance, Smut (*Smut chapters marked +18)

Summary:

NOTE: OC and original elements are from my up and coming novel series!

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Eternity returned to the Mikealson compound by dawn, much to Elijah’s relief. In her absence, his siblings sat around and asked Veren a million different questions about herself and the greater universe, just as they had with Eternity. The dark haired immortal took it all in stride, answering their questions with patience and grace. 

However, eventually Kol had to excuse himself after he received a text from Davina asking him to meet her in the Quarter. Then Rebekah and Freya had made their exits to tend to Hope, whom was playing by herself upstairs. That had left Veren with Elijah, which was fine by him.

They had had a nice conversation about all the adventures and conflicts Eternity and Veren had faced over the past ten years, aside from the one involving Loki. Elijah didn’t understand much of what she told him since he hadn’t ever been to any of the worlds in the greater universe she spoke of. Yet, he was still intrigued to listen to what Eternity had been doing over the years that they had been apart. 

When Eternity finally returned hours later, she looked down at Elijah in surprise. He had been laughing heartily at the story Veren told him that involved a fight at a grand party Eternity had once infiltrated to confront some lowlife villain whom she required information from. Apparently, the man she was seeking was rather flamboyant and loud - a colorful character that was hard to take seriously. 

Elijah was in the middle of laughing when Eternity appeared, worn out from her journey but amused at the sight that greeted her. “Well, it seems all is well,” she said to them with a warm smile. “I am glad for that.”

She went and sat down in the space between them with a tired sigh. She did so rather ungracefully, a rare thing indeed, and laid her head back on the back of the couch, which ended up laying partially on Elijah’s arm as well. Not that he minded any. 

“Are you alright, cousin?” Veren asked Eternity with concern.

“Aye, I’m fine,” she nodded. “It is just exhausting when you are dealing with a lovesick elf king, whom cannot take a hint. I wish you would have told me it was a desperate social call and not one of urgent business, cousin. I might have declined going.”

Veren and Elijah both frowned; though for different reasons. Elijah frowned because of the implication that this elf king she had gone to see was a suitor. He didn’t like the idea of that, always the possessive one. He was a little jealous, but also felt relieved that it didn’t seem that Eternity reciprocated the mystery elf’s affections. Veren, on the other hand, had frowned in concern as if she hadn’t known that was the reason the elf king had wanted an audience.

“Forgive me,” Veren apologized, “The message sent to me had been misleading, if it had not been an urgent matter of state. If I had known the truth, you know, I would have declined it in your stead.”

“It’s quite alright,” smiled Eternity. “It’s not your fault, if you had been misled.” Then she explained what had happened without prompt, “Poor Calithilon meant well. He did have business for me, at first anyway. There was a small conflict with one of his generals that he could have handled quite well on his own. 

“He had invited said general to a mediation dinner to discuss whatever the grievance was. I don’t know what it had been as I barely paid attention to it all, seeing I had walked into something else entirely. In fact, I was too caught up in the fine china and elaborate flower arrangement that made the whole affair feel more like a date than a conflict resolution meeting. I wonder if the elf general felt the same, which is rather amusing to think of.”

She giggled slightly, before continuing, “Either way, the issue was resolved quickly and that was when it truly began to feel like a courtship attempt. I was, of course, polite and patient. Calithilon is a good friend and a most important ally, after all. Then he invited me on a walk around his castle and it was pleased enough, but then he took me down to one of the elvish celebrations in the village outside his home. We danced and mingled there, while I tried to find a clever, but subtle way of leaving.

“Eventually, I simply had to tell him that I had business elsewhere to attempt to that needed my immediate attention. Of course, Cal was crestfallen, but he let me go, as he didn’t have much of a choice. I suppose there is a perk to being of a higher rank.” Eternity grinned at both Veren and Elijah. “It certainly helps when one needs to get out of a awkward situation.”

Elijah was unable to help himself then as he lifted his hand from the back of the couch and began to gently run his fingers through Eternity’s snowy locks. She relaxed even more and hummed in appreciation of his caress. Her eyes fluttered closed momentarily to enjoy his attentions.

“Calithilon is a very stubborn elf, I have to give him that,” Veren commented. “I doubt anything could deter him from pursuing his heart’s desire.”

“No, I think not as well,” Eternity agreed. “He has been at this endeavor for millennia after all.”

There was a brief quiet between them. Then Veren abruptly rose to her feet and bade both Elijah and Eternity a good evening, before taking her leave of them. Like her cousin, she had duties to attend to or so that was what she had quickly explained, right before vanishing before Elijah’s very eyes. 

Immediately upon Veren’s departure, Elijah pulled Eternity to him. He tucked her into his side on the couch, wrapping his arm around her, while she contentedly laid her head on his shoulder. The pale immortal didn’t even act surprised by his actions. In fact, she seemed to welcome them. Elijah was glad for that, content in her willingness to be near him. 

“I missed you,” he murmured to her, kissing the top of her head, before settling against the couch again.

“I missed you as well,” she replied without hesitation. “I hated to be away from you, despite all my reservations. I wanted to be here with you, all the while I was with Cal and especially before that, during our ten years apart. I haven’t felt so desperate to be with someone since my courtship with Loki, millennia ago. I know I have my fears about moving forward, but what lays here between us is certainly something not to be dismissed lightly or at all. I don’t know what comes next, but I am glad Niklaus has reason to call upon me.”

Elijah was just about to reply, to tell her he felt the same, to persuade her to return to his side officially, when Niklaus and Hayley came stumbling in, looking worse for wear. They were both covered in dirt and dried blood. Their clothes torn and tattered in places. 

Immediately, he was on his feet with Eternity following suit. He was deeply concerned for them, though whatever had occurred, must have been a victorious endeavor. They seemed to be alit with the afterglow of a successful battle.

“A rough night, Niklaus?” Elijah asked his brother, as they drew near.

“Not at all,” the hybrid replied with a smug grin. “It was quite easy to subdue the upstarts in the bayou, especially with my wifey by my side.” He gave a proud glance to Hayley, who smirked in response. “Yes, we made a great team; the king and his queen.”

Elijah rolled his eyes, “As egotistical as ever, I see.”

“Oh, you should have seen him in the bayou,” Hayley chimed in with amusement. “His ego was out of control there, which was why we ended up looking like this.” She gestured to her dirty, tattered form, before turning to her husband, “You just couldn’t resist provoking those rogue wolves, could you Klaus?”

Niklaus frowned at her, “If I hadn’t done what I did, those pups would have reigned chaos down upon the Crescent Wolves. You should be thanking me for my diligent efforts to restore order to your pack, love.”

“Technically, it’s our pack, because we are married,” Hayley corrected him, “but yes, Klaus, you did well asserting dominance in the bayou. Gold star, A+ to you. Now can we please get some sleep? I’m beat.”

A lecherous grin spread upon Nicklaus’s lips then, “And who said I was about to allow you to sleep at all tonight, my little wolf? I am feeling rather ravenous.” 

Hayley blushed under his gaze and then rolled her eyes exasperatedly, but she didn’t say anything for or against his suggestive comment. Instead, she simply grinned and did her best to ignore him, pretending he hadn’t said what he had. 

“Actually, Niklaus,” Elijah stepped in. “Eternity and I would like to discuss something of great importance with you both.”

The grin upon his brother’s lips turned innocently playful then as his attention fell upon Elijah. “Oh? And what would that be?” He said with a teasing tone, gesturing between his big brother and Eternity. “Have you two decided to rekindle your romance? Or perhaps a step further and you’ve decided you can’t live without each other and you have chosen to elope? If it’s either of those things, I heavily approve.”

Elijah smiled at his little brother, while Eternity moved to stand beside him and placed her hand in his affectionately. He looked at her adoringly and then turned back to his brother to say, “No, not quite that. It is an urgent matter that has to do with young Hope.”

Immediately, the playful teasing was wiped from Nicklaus’s face. Both Hayley and he grew deadly serious as they drew closer to them. “What of my daughter?” Elijah’s brother quietly demanded. “What has happened?”

“Nothing,” he replied immediately to set his brother and sister-in-law to ease. “Eternity has merely come up with a solution to protecting Hope from the danger that she faces.”

Niklaus’s gaze fell to the shining immortal beside Elijah, “And what solution would that be?”

“There is a place I know, located here on Earth, that can protect your daughter against any threat from my wicked brother,” Eternity answered. “I can guarantee that the young one would be safe there, until the threat has passed.”

“This is a joke, right?” Niklaus stubbornly responded, looking between Elijah and Eternity. “Send my daughter away? That is your grand suggestion? Hell would have to freeze over before I would ever send my daughter away! No, out of the question!”

Eternity stepped forward a little with a stern expression. “Then you could potentially be sentencing your daughter to her death,” she said firmly. “Now is not the time for prideful stubbornness. This is a matter of life and death. I cannot remain here like some sort of sentinel forever. I have duties to attend to, as do my closet companions. We cannot be here to guard young Hope at all times. Bruno could attack at any moment. You must consider what is best for your child.”

“The only thing that is best for Hope is to be where I can protect her,” Niklaus ground out. 

Hayley approached then, grabbing onto her husband’s arm, catching his attention.

“What? Don’t tell me you are actually considering this nonsense?” He said to her in agitated disbelief. “We are her parents, Hayley. She belongs with us, where we can keep her safe.”

“But we can’t keep her safe, Klaus,” the female hybrid replied gently. “This isn’t a threat from a wolf or a witch or a vampire. This is something we just are not capable of defeating. It’s beyond us. I think we should consider what Eternity is suggesting.”

“If it is being away from your child that you are so concerned about, Niklaus, I can assure you that separating you from her and her from you was never my intention,” Eternity interjected in an attempt to ease Elijah’s brother. “I wish to send you two there with her, so that you can look after Hope as you’ve always done, while her safety is maintained.”

Elijah watched as Niklaus settled a bit. His shoulders relaxed and he sighed deeply, as he considered the warrior queen. “And to where do you plan on sending us exactly?” He asked quietly, defeatedly.

“It is a secret organization, one that I helped found some time ago,” Eternity answered him readily. “It’s called the Underground Agency. It is the most secure place on Earth, run by super humans, as well as members of the supernatural community. Fortified like Fort Knox, it cannot be penetrated by anyone, especially not Bruno. Hope will be safe there.”

“And what of the rest of my family? What will become of them while we’re away, especially if your brother does come to call and finds Hope missing?” Niklaus demanded to know. “Shall I go and leave my family to die? Leave them to their fates? I think not.”

Eternity smiled reassuringly as she explained, “I admire your commitment to your family, but I highly doubt Bruno will attack here, if Hope is absent. We of the immortal classes have a special talent for sensing the life forces of others. If he cannot sense her here, then he will seek it elsewhere. However, to ensure that my brother doesn’t attack, I will simply have to devise a decoy to lead him astray. Your family will be safe in your absence, I promise.”

Niklaus was quiet for a time, looking down in contemplation. Then he looked between Hayley, Eternity, and Elijah. Finally, with a huff of defeat, he said, “Very well. At midday tomorrow, we shall go to this agency you suggest. We should let Hope say her goodbyes to her aunts and uncles.”

Elijah sighed a breath of relief, as did Hayley and Eternity. Each was glad that Niklaus saw reason in this. He watched as his younger brother took Hayley by the hand and lead her up the stairs, to their bedroom assumingely.

This left Elijah alone with Eternity once more. He wondered where to go from there. Now that they spoke sense into Niklaus, there wasn’t any reason to stay up. Their mission for the night had been completed. Yet, he didn’t want to part from Eternity. Through he knew that they were not quite ready to resume the physical aspect of their relationship, of course, having barely begun to reestablish their relationship on a whole, he wasn’t quite ready to say goodnight to her.

Then Eternity turned to him then with a soft smile and kissed his lips with willing sweetness, taking him by pleasant surprise. “I have to go,” she murmured to him reluctantly, with a knowing look in her eyes as if she had read his thoughts. “I must make preparations at the Underground Agency for our little family’s arrival,” Eternity explained, “but I shall return before midday. I’ll come back to you soon.”

Elijah didn’t like how she was coming and going so much, but knew that he had let her do what she must. So, with reluctance to see her go, he threaded his fingers through the hair framing her face and then cupped the back of her head, pulling her in for a more passionate kiss than the one she had given him before. 

“Don’t keep me waiting for too long, Sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips, before parting from her completely. 

She grinned at him, “I promise to be swift.”

Then Eternity vanished, leaving Elijah standing alone in the courtyard.

To Be Continued....

[misssophiachase]

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Happy 25 Days of Klaroline! Day 2 + Endgame

Feeling somewhat despondent about his teenage daughter growing into a woman, Klaus decides to throw her a Cotillion Ball in New Orleans, secretly hoping that Caroline will attend and continue their dancing tradition. 

I don’t watch the Originals (until season 5 starts of course) so the whole Hollow storyline doesn’t factor into my endgame drabble.

Southern Oaks Plantation, New Orleans LA – 1400 hours

All along it was a fever….

“Last time I checked, flowers went in vases. And here I thought this was a supposedly a professional establishment,” Klaus scoffed, gesturing to the pink peonies strewn across the table impatiently. 

Before the flustered event coordinator could manage a response, Klaus was already making his way purposefully across the other side of the grand ballroom. This night had to be absolutely perfect and Klaus had every intention of making it that way, even if he had to berate every last person in the process.  

“When you sent me this invitation, I thought it was an early Halloween trick,” Rebekah said, her eyes roaming around the expansive venue while the staff worked hurriedly to prepare for tonight’s event under the critical eye of the debutant’s father. “Or that Kol had hacked your mailing lists.”

“Give me a little credit,” Klaus uttered, snatching it from her grasp unexpectedly and pointing at the invitation. “Would Kol have chosen such immaculate stationary or cursive font?”

“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m speaking with Caroline Forbes about a decade dance during my misguided attempt at high school?”

Klaus faltered, not expecting his sister to mention the woman he loved so deeply who regularly haunted his dreams. The same woman he’d imagined when Klaus had planned this very event, not that he’d admit that to Rebekah of all people.

“This is about Hope,” he answered strategically, hoping she would desist in mentioning the C word which was enough to throw his emotions completely out of whack.

“Desperately trying to hold onto whatever innocence she supposedly still has, right?” The annoyance from her appearance had suddenly skyrocketed, threatening to break free in all it’s darkened glory.

“What?” He growled, his protective wolf coming out with full force. “I’m going to kill that bloody excuse for a teenage vampire. If he’s even misplaced a strand of hair on her pretty, little head…”

“Relax, grouchy. I was only having a little fun. You know getting into the party atmosphere ahead of tonight.”

“You call that fun, Rebekah?”

“Given your frustrated expression, gritted teeth and completely predictable reaction, I definitely consider this fun,” she joked, poking him in the chest as he emitted a low and adversarial growl by way of response to her unnecessary teasing. 

“Relax,” she drawled, consulting the state of her manicure as she said it. “As much as I love messing with you, I have no intention of dealing with your dogged wrath. It has a tendency to ruin my day and you know how much I hate that.”

“Speak for yourself,” a cheeky and familiar voice chuckled.

“Since when are you invited?”

“That’s not very nice, Niklaus,” Elijah chided, as only he could.  Klaus turned to face his brothers quizzically. “That standard of invitation deserves optimal attendance.”

“Beautiful font usage by the way, Nik,” Kol admired, holding up one of his prized invitations. 

“Have you been eavesdropping?” Rebekah asked, her eyes narrowing in disbelief.

“That’s not my style,” Elijah baulked. “Kol, on the other hand…”

“Is a bloody angel.” 

“Even I know that’s not true,” Hope responded, surprising them all from the terrace door. “Angel is probably the last explanation I would use to describe you, Uncle Kol.”

“She’s certainly your daughter, Niklaus,” Elijah offered, a telling smile tugging at the corners of his usually serious mouth. “No one can apply that much venom while simultaneously smirking.”

“Excuse me…”

“You’re excused,” Kol chuckled. “Nothing wrong with a healthy sense of humour, big brother.”

“Last time I checked, the relationship I share with my child had nothing to do with your pathetic attempts at humour.” Klaus had been planning this Cotillion for months and the fact his siblings had decided to come in and make it about them as usual frustrated him immensely.

But as soon as they’d appeared they’d subsequently scattered to inspect the impressive property without much explanation. Klaus liked to think they were scared of him or his ire was too much for their precious constitutions to handle but he wasn’t quite so sure it was either. His eyes flickered to his daughter inquisitively.

“Hope.” She didn’t respond immediately, which was a telling sign, so he continued. “I have to say your magic is certainly coming along nicely, you know given that impromptu exit.”

Hope was just as beautiful as he’d imagined all those years ago when he’d cradled her as a baby, her brown locks cascading down her back and those intense, blue eyes regarding him curiously before a rogue eyebrow lifted.

“You so owe me,” she replied gruffly. Klaus certainly hadn’t seen that manipulative maneuver coming but was extremely proud as only a blood thirsty, Original hybrid could be of his only child. “Uncle Kol and Elijah I can handle but Aunt Rebekah is another story.  She has this high pitched squeal that is extremely painful to my sensitive ears.”

“Like father, like daughter,” he chuckled. “That screech is all kinds of disturbing.”

“So, she’s coming, right?” Klaus momentarily closed his eyes knowing exactly who she was asking about, and it wasn’t Rebekah, but he had no desire of discussing Caroline with his teenage daughter. 

“The screaming banshee will be here in full voice, don’t worry.”

“Stop avoiding the subject,” she chided. Klaus immediately felt like he was the child and Hope the parent in this role reversal scenario.

“Miss Forbes needs to be here.” The truth was he’d agonized over whether to send an invite on the slight chance she’d attend but after their last encounter he doubted she would. Another rejection from Caroline would have been too much to take.  

“Miss Forbes is the principal of a very busy and demanding magic school which I think you might have heard of, dearest daughter. It’s in this sleepy little town called Mystic Falls…”

“Has Marcel been teaching you some sarcasm since I last visited?”

“I resent that,” he argued. “After one thousand years on this earth, I have acquired plenty on my own, especially when it comes to dealing with your aunt and uncles.”

“It just wouldn’t be right without her,” she pouted, her bottom lip well and truly extended for extra effect, her blue orbs and long eyelashes downcast.

“Nice try,” Klaus grinned, pulling her into his arms greedily. He always missed her during their lengthy absences but even though she was challenging his authority he wouldn’t have Hope any other way.

Not that he’d admit it to his daughter, the last time he and Caroline had met hadn’t gone exactly the way he planned and seeing her again would have been decidedly awkward. His mind drifted back to that particular night.

3 months earlier - Mystic Falls Grill – 2300 hours

Round and around and around and around we go….

“Someone told me you were wreaking havoc in the local establishment,” her tart accusation was enough for Klaus to turn around lazily. He’d had a few too many whiskeys and although he could see three of her, Klaus couldn’t miss just how gorgeous she looked with her blonde waves cascading around her shoulders and those bright, blue eyes blazing in his direction.

“Wreaking havoc? I think the locals need to get a life if they consider this a disruption. I forgot just how small this bloody town is,” he raised his voice, looking around at the curious glances from fellow patrons. “Let me guess, it was Jeremy? He always did despise me.”

“Probably because you turned his doppelganger sister into your personal blood bag amongst other questionable things,” Caroline hissed. “And keep your voice down.”  

“And here I thought we’d moved past those days when you detested me so much,” Klaus huffed, throwing his dart at the board but completely missing the target.

“Nice shot,” she teased. “But just so you know Matt alerted me to your presence.”

“The quarterback? I really should have known.”

“Don’t you mean Sheriff? He took the liberty of telling me before he took any action.” 

“The human taking action against yours truly? Now that I would pay to see,” he chuckled. “So, what exactly did he think you could do about my attempts at disturbing the peace?”

“Just when I thought you’d matured then you have to go and prove me wrong,” she accused.  

“I’m not sure why you’re surprised.” 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Caroline inquired, hands now firmly on those shapely hips he knew from past experience.

“Well, according to Principal Forbes, I’m just a terrible father,” Klaus growled, aiming another dart, this time it flew straight past the board and landed dangerously close to an unsuspecting patron at the bar. Klaus was a little disappointed he hadn’t made contact given his current mood.

“Were we both at the same meeting? I don’t recall saying that during the parent teacher interview this afternoon.” 

Klaus had ventured to Mystic Falls in an effort to prove himself as a parent. It was about his dedication to his daughter but Klaus had secretly hoped to impress Caroline at the same time. He truly believed he’d grown up just as his daughter had over the years and wanted her to see that too. Things obviously hadn’t gone to plan. A few heated and throwaway lines had ended with him storming out of her office and to the Grill for a much needed whiskey or twenty.

“You might as well have.”

“Well, please explain it to me professor, this should be very interesting.”

“You said she is easily distracted.”

“A short attention span isn’t completely unheard of in a teenager but there are ways to combat such tendencies.”

“Yes, you mentioned that pearl of wisdom. Apparently she needs some solid structure in her life.” 

“There’s nothing wrong with structure.” 

“Oh, you mean your helpful suggestion that I be more present in Hope’s life. Last time I checked you run a boarding school, sans parents.”

“I said,” she huffed in frustration. “That parental interaction, no matter the distance, is vital.”    

“I wasn’t aware you were monitoring our interaction or apparent lack of as you like to believe,” she attempted to respond before he interrupted. “I sent her to your school because not only was it a way for her to escape the tumultuous, Mikaelson drama but because I knew you were the only person, outside my family, that I trusted to nurture and influence my daughter.” 

The prolonged silence and her down cast eyes was enough for Klaus to realise he’d made his point, he just wished that it didn’t hurt so much to deliver.  Then she found her voice.   

“The reason she’s distracted is because of that tumultuous, Mikaelson drama. Your safety is always on her mind, which is why contacting her more often may allay some of those anxieties.”

“And her safety is always on mine which is why I need to keep my distance. This is the only way.” He insisted stubbornly, attempting to throw another dart before her hand found its way to his bare forearm. He stilled, her vanilla scent and the effect her touch always had on him was an intoxicating and dangerous combination. 

“I’m getting tired of this wounded, wolf act, Mikaelson,” she accused, her blue eyes searching his curiously.   

“Well, I’m a little sick of not living up to your expectations, love,” he rasped.

He held her gaze unflinchingly and could swear he saw something resembling remorse in them. Klaus figured that given his poor record, he’d probably misjudged that reaction too. The tension between them lingered. If there were other people in the bar anymore, Klaus hadn’t noticed.

“I…” she murmured. For someone who was usually so composed, it was obvious she was struggling with their close proximity. Klaus wanted to comfort her, he wanted to pull her into his arms but knew she wouldn’t return his gesture. Klaus made his way towards the exit without a backwards glance.

“So, you’re just going to leave like this?” She bit out.        

“It’s what we do, isn’t it?” He was gone before she could even muster a whimper of reply.

Of course he’d regretted it. Klaus had travelled to Mystic Falls to prove he’d grown but had instead illustrated the very opposite.  His insecure side felt she’d provoked him on purpose. Anyone else who dared to earn his ire would have found a stake in their chest but Caroline was a challenge he’d never managed to resolve, even after all this time.

Route 11, New Orleans LA, 1500 hours 

Oh now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know…. 

Caroline had lost her bearings momentarily and almost missed the turn off into New Orleans before moving the steering wheel abruptly to the left, the memories causing her feelings to resurface.

She’d shelved them when she thought he was an evil maniac, then when he’d offered her gifts and unexpected solace but now after so many years apart she was struggling with her feelings for the Original hybrid.

Their last meeting in Mystic Falls should have closed the book on their problematic relationship but as much as Caroline thought he was being difficult she secretly knew she was too and wasn’t proud of her actions that day.

She always considered herself professional with students and in turn their parents but for some reason her emotions had betrayed her that afternoon. Klaus had acted out. Knowing the Original Hybrid and his temper, this wasn’t an unusual reaction but she began to question why she chose to push that particular issue.   

Caroline’s cell chimed signaling a text, breaking her from her trance, she glanced over briefly to check the screen. It was Hope sending the address for the venue, not that she was surprised. She was the very reason Caroline had made her way to New Orleans, against her better judgment.

Apparently she was anxious about the impromptu cotillion her father was planning in New Orleans. Not because she didn’t want it but because she seriously doubted his event planning skills. Caroline had to concur. Usually he sat back and let his minions go wild and even she knew that was a recipe for disaster.

Given their last interaction in Mystic Falls, this decision was completely crazy but her obsessive compulsive side had taken over and there was no way she could sit by while Hope’s entrance into womanhood was held hostage to an amateur, event planning hybrid. The fact she hadn’t received an invite was also a bone of contention but after his outburst in Mystic Falls she wasn’t surprised he’d be so childish. She pressed her foot to the accelerator, knowing she had limited time to fix this hot mess before leaving town as quickly as she’d arrived.

“Hope Mikaelson,” Caroline chided, making her way swiftly into the plantation’s ballroom forty-five minutes later. “You have some explaining to do, young lady.”

“Miss Forbes,” she squeaked, appearing from around the corner, her body language guilty as hell. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Why exactly? To deal with this event that was going to be the biggest disaster since the Titanic? And before you try to deny that, those were the exact words you uttered in my office last week.”

“I suppose I may have overreacted slightly,” she murmured, sheepishly.

“Slightly? This venue is beautiful,” she gestured around the room, then made her way over to one of the tables for closer inspection. “Peonies? Are you kidding me? These flowers are gorgeous, not to mention seasonal. These candelabra, table centerpieces are stunning, the Wedgewood crockery is immaculate, this menu is equal parts modern and traditional. And these invitations…”

“I know, the stationary and font is all wrong.”

“They are perfect,” Caroline sighed. “My standards are high but whichever minion planned this is absolutely brilliant. Just don’t tell them I admitted that.”

“It was him.”

“What?”

“Dad planned this whole event unassisted,” she admitted, taking a seat on a nearby chair. Caroline was rendered speechless momentarily. “He’s been an absolute control freak about everything, if you must know.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Caroline drawled, knowing she was frequently guilty of the same thing.

“He’s been desperate to make this absolutely perfect.”

“Knowing your father, I’m not surprised about that. But I’m still curious as to why I’m even here given he seems to have everything well and truly in hand.”  Hope paused, trying to articulate what she felt but also keep Caroline in town as long as possible.

“If you must know, it’s my outfit.”

“I’m struggling to believe that, Hope,” she insisted, her eyebrows rising dubiously in the brunette’s direction. “That’s one area your father has no problems with whatsoever.” Their past and the outfits and jewelry he’d gifted her in that time had convinced Caroline just how impeccable his taste was and would always remain.

“It’s high neck and long sleeves,” she groaned. “Dad wants every male in the room and in my future life to know that I’m going to be celibate forever. I think a nun’s habit is more revealing than his choice.” At that point Caroline knew she may have a point given his overwhelming and protective nature. 

“Fine, where is this outfit exactly?” 

“The compound.” 

“I can’t go there,” she shook her head decisively. Caroline’s plan had always been to arrive like an event planning fairy godmother then high tail it out of New Orleans before he even knew she’d been there. “That’s not part of our agreement.”

“We have a window of opportunity,” Hope assured Caroline. “He’s meeting with Marcel and my uncles about a recent disturbance in the Quarter.” Caroline was dubious but the fact Hope might not have the perfect outfit for her cotillion was weighing upon her heavily.

“Fine, but if you’re lying I will have no qualms in putting you on detention all year.” Hope nodded solemnly, secretly happy that her plan was coming into full effect.

Southern Oaks Plantation – New Orleans, LA – 2000 hours

Not really sure how to feel about it. Something in the way you move…

Klaus had been nervous all day, something completely unheard of for the Original Hybrid but if it meant his daughter had the best cotillion ever it was worth it.

He’d entered the ballroom an hour earlier, straightening his black tie compulsively. Hope had been extremely private, insisting that he leave the compound while she finished getting ready with Rebekah. Klaus knew she’d look stunning but at the same time it would have been nice to ride with her in the limousine to the Cotillion he’d planned so meticulously.

Instead he’d been blessed with the presence of his brothers en route. The only thing calming his nerves were the few glasses of Moet he’d downed on the way, mainly to block out Kol’s incessant yammering. He was hoping the rest of the night would fare slightly better.

Josh’ dulcet tones made their way over the speaker system as the guests waited in anticipation for the arrival of his beautiful and accomplished daughter. “And now, let’s welcome the guest of honour, Hope Mikaelson.”

All eyes in the ballroom made their way towards the entrance, including his. Klaus didn’t think he’d ever felt more nervous in his life and given the challenges he’d faced over his lifetime, that was saying something. Roman stood there expectantly like him, Klaus had threatened him with sudden death earlier if his hands found their way any lower than her back during the dance so Klaus assumed that part of proceedings was at least under control.  

Hope emerged, stunning in gold, not at all what he’d planned for the evening. But who threw him off completely was standing right behind his daughter, an absolute vision in white silk. He knew the intricate beading on that dress almost as well as he knew the curves of the woman wearing it.  Her blonde waves were tied back, exposing the creamy length of her neck. A neck he’d explored in great detail during their time in the woods. But why was she here and wearing that particular dress?  

“You might want to stop gaping, Niklaus,” Rebekah scoffed, making her way by his side. “It’s not an attractive look.”

“What is she doing here? Did you…” 

“I know your immediate reflex is to blame me for everything but you might want to consult the daughter you think is so innocent before accusing me of anything.”

“I should have known,” he growled, just as Josh was calling him to the dance floor for the traditional father-daughter dance with Hope. At least he’d have chance to ask his daughter why she’d betrayed him tonight.

“I know what you’re going to say,” she mumbled, the smile still plastered on her face for the rest of the guests’ benefit. 

“Do you?”

“I kind of asked Miss Forbes to help pick another dress. The one you suggested was just a little safe,” she offered, tactfully. Klaus was immediately offended, not because she didn’t like her dress but because Caroline’s appearance had nothing to do with him.

“It was timeless and elegant...”

“No, it was dated, boring and designed for someone much older than me. You know, I am going to grow up dad, I’m not going to be your little girl forever.” Klaus wasn’t one to show emotion but right now he was struggling, the lump in his throat not doing much to facilitate speaking. 

“But what you’ve done in planning this amazing event is perfect, I couldn’t ask for a better introduction into society,” Hope smiled gratefully. “Do you, uh, like my dress at least?”

“Queen Victoria would be proud of just how well you wear it,” he sighed, looking at the golden creation that fit Hope like a second skin. “Someone’s obviously been rummaging around in the attic.”

“It was Caroline’s idea,” she admitted. “Apparently she knows all about your…” 

“Creepy trophy case of collectables,” he finished, a stray smile crossing his face as he reminisced the night of her Prom in Mystic Falls before realising just what that particular discovery meant. She knew everything. 

Luckily Roman did his duty and took Hope off his hands as per cotillion protocol. He needed to speak to her now. His eyes darted around the room but Klaus couldn’t place her. Had she already left?    

Makes me feel like I can't live without you. It takes me all the way...

Caroline thought she could handle this but her emotions were telling her something completely different. Watching Klaus dancing with Hope had brought back so many memories. All those times they’d danced before she’d resented him but seeing him tonight, and after what she’d discovered in the attic, Caroline only felt one thing and it was life changing.  

She’d made a speedy exit towards the outdoor terrace. Although she was a vampire, suddenly fresh air seemed vital. Her hands found the railings, glad to have something to hold onto. 

“You came?” His familiar and low voice was enough to send ripples through her entire body.

“For Hope,” she managed to get out, rooted to the spot and unable to turn around given she would betray her true feelings. “Someone needed to get her out of that nun’s habit.” 

He chuckled, surprising Caroline slightly but also glad he’d lightened the tense atmosphere. “My fatherly instincts obviously need some tweaking.” Now he was next to her, his aftershave infiltrating her nostrils as his hands grasped onto the same railing. “I’m grateful for your assistance, love.” 

“But you couldn’t even muster an invitation?” She asked, unable to help herself. It had been something eating at her for weeks.

“I didn’t think you’d want to come after the way we left things in Mystic Falls,” he admitted, his blue eyes now fully focused on the ground.

“You mean when you immaturely stormed out on me without trying to deal with the situation? Oh yes, I remember it well. Klaus Mikaelson not getting his way so he acts out childishly.” 

“I have character flaws, it’s not something I’ve ever denied to you, Caroline,” he murmured quietly. “Yes, I could have handled things better but I didn’t. It’s something you bring out in me and I’m powerless to stop it.”

“Powerless? Coming from the Original Hybrid and most powerful creature on earth, that is surprising.” Caroline felt her faltering courage return, turning to face him. She needed to see this through.

“Every artist has their muse, every King their Queen and every superhero has their kryptonite, you just happen to be mine,” he uttered. “I’ve never denied that.”

“But yet you keep things locked away in a special chest without giving me the opportunity to…” 

“To what?” He growled, his crimson lips tight. “To reject me yet again? I can only take so much, Caroline.”

“So, this chest was supposed to languish in your attic, just like the rest of your life? Lonely and untouched?”

“Yes.” So much emotion displayed in one short response. Caroline could make out the tears brimming in his blue eyes, suddenly wanting to comfort him. She extended her hand wiping away the few stray tears that had fallen.

“As much as I adore Hope, what pulled me here today was you,” she conceded. “I think I’ve always loved you, it just took me way too long to see just how much. I’ll admit, I was unfairly harsh during that parent teacher interview. I think it was because I missed you just as much as Hope did. But it wasn’t until I opened that chest this afternoon that it all fell into place.”

“That dress too much to resist?” His left eyebrow cocked curiously.

“When I said I wanted to look like ‘Princess Grace of Monaco hot’ at prom I didn’t expect you to save me her dress from To Catch a Thief.”   

“Only the best for you, sweetheart,” he smirked, playing with the bracelet on her wrist that he’d gifted to her all those years ago. 

“But it was the journal inside that really moved me,” she whispered, moving into his arms slowly. “Every time we met was documented, every emotion and feeling shared on those pages.” 

“Even if we were never together, I wanted you to know how I felt on all those occasions,” he murmured, his arms encircling her tiny waist while nuzzling into her hair, inhaling her scent at the same time.   

“I know what my bedtime story is going to be for very long time,” she cooed, squeezing his shoulders affectionately and losing herself in his embrace.

“Do you think it would be rude to leave early?” He said huskily into her hair, Caroline could feel the growing bulge in his suit pants and knew exactly what he had in mind.  

“Finally, I’ve found a weakness in your event planning,” she grinned triumphantly, pulling away briefly to place a lingering kiss on his temple. “The organiser is always the last to leave, especially when he’s the guest of honour’s father.”

“Really,” he complained, his lips finding her neck and covering the length of it with kisses.

“Really.” She insisted, pushing him away, albeit reluctantly. “But after the last drink is poured you are mine forever.”

“I intend on holding you to that,” he smiled, pulling her closer and placing his lips upon hers greedily. Caroline didn’t think she would ever tire of that feeling. 

“We need to discuss a few other things too, like that outrageous cheque that’s burning a hole in my pocket and the wedding dress,” she offered, while pulling him towards the ballroom. Klaus had secured part of Princess Grace’s wardrobe, including that stunning and very famous look.

“It’s a classic.” Klaus offered choosing to ignore her cheque comment for obvious reasons.

“Yes, but I fully intend on designing my own wedding dress,” she argued, always the event planner. 

“I didn’t think I’d even asked yet?” Klaus responded cheekily. Caroline turned around briefly to deliver a wicked grin.

“After tonight, you will never want to let me go.”

I want you to stay...

On my Beginning of Another Story Drabbles on FF HERE

[tempportal]

@theseancekid​​ said: 15. What is your muse’s primary love language? ( words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, or physical touch )

Quality time. Okay, to be absolutely fair, we could argue that quality time only wins out because everything else on the list is a hard no - Five doesn’t like to receive physical affection except under very specific circumstances and/or from very specific people, gifts just leave him feeling awkward and/or suspicious (because this must be a poorly-concealed murder attempt or, worse, this is a poorly-concealed attempt from his siblings to butter him up before they drop a new apocalypse, or similar temporal issue, in his lap and just expect him to fix it) while words of affirmation just kind of slide right off him - the only time he even truly notices that he’s just received praise is when he receives praise on good qualities he honestly doesn’t have, or honestly doesn’t believe he has. 

And acts of service just irritate him - he’s so determinedly independent and self-reliant that, when other people do anything for him, even when he knows they’ve got their heart in the right place or even when he’s physically incapable of doing that task for himself, it just gets under his skin. He feels like he’s being coddled, like he’s being babied, like they think he’s actually the child he appears to be, and he hates it. 

But quality time is also just genuinely his favorite way to give and receive affection! He really likes to just exist near other people. He likes to read a book on the sofa while Allison sits beside him and scrolls her phone. He likes to read the local news in the morning paper at the kitchen table while Luther reads the sports section. He likes to go out for coffee with Klaus and just watch the world outside the window while Klaus chatters on about everything and anything. He likes to go out for long car rides with Diego. He just likes to be close to his family, even if he doesn’t know how to put that into words, and even if he’s not doing anything special with them. It’s the quiet, uncomplicated, ordinary moments he loves the most. 

And, on the other side of the coin, that’s the way he prefers to give affection, too - he’ll go over to Vanya’s and just listen to her when she plays, and he’ll be the first one there at all her concerts. He’ll go to all Diego’s boxing matches down at the gym. He’ll go to the thrift shops with Klaus and wait outside the dressing room to see (and criticize) all the crazy outfits Klaus throws together. He reads every single book that Ben ever so much as mentions. He goes to Allison’s movie premieres and plays. 

Five doesn’t so well with words or big, grand gestures, not when it comes to affection. The only way he really knows how to give or receive love is this - so quietly and so subtly, most people don’t ever even notice it’s there.

[peopleandrhythm]

Episode Nine: Chasing Old Ideas

Vincent stumbles through the dank tunnels beneath New Orleans, tripping his way into a large, dimly lit cavern. He brushes a hand roughly along the sleeve of his jacket. “Damn, Marcel. You sure know how to make a guy feel…” He trails off, spotting Theo LeRoy chained to the wall. “Special.”

Marcel’s lounging against the far wall of the cavern. “She’s not talking.”

Vincent doesn’t look at the vampire. “Yeah, I bet.” He slowly approaches Theo, who glares back. “What the hell are you up to?”

“You mean you don’t know?”

Vincent finally shoots Marcel a disparaging look. “You think I’d authorize some of my witches to torture a teenage girl?”

In a quiet, rough voice, Theo scoffs, “Your witches.”

The men’s eyes snap to her. “That’s right,” Vincent says. He crouches low, looking Theo dead in the eye. “My witches. Y’all elected me your regent after realizing that some kid from the Ninth Ward wasn’t gonna cut it.”

“We elected you regent because the position became meaningless,” Theo spits, teeth bared. “After you betrayed us by eliminating our connection to our ancestors, the regent’s power came only from politics, and none of us could be bothered to fix what you broke. So yeah, we elected you regent, and let you and Marcel have your fun playing kings while the rest of us did the real work behind the scenes.”

A small smirk plays across Vincent’s face as he rubs his hands together. “She’ll talk to me. But you gotta go.”

“No way,” Marcel says, pushing off the wall. “I’m staying for every minute of this.”

“Either you trust me to get the information or you don’t, but I’m tellin’ you now, she ain’t gonna talk with you here.”

Marcel’s nostrils flare as he narrows his eyes at Theo. “Fine. I’ll be up at my place. Just…” He gestures vaguely as he turns to disappear into the tunnels. “…figure out what the hell is going on.”

“Don’t worry.” Vincent cocks his head to the side, regarding Theo shrewdly. “I will.”

Hope pads down the stairs into the courtyard, still dressed in her pajamas. Her father stands with her back to her. “Hey.”

He turns, face lighting up. “Good morning, luv.” He steps to the side to reveal a table covered in pastries. “Breakfast is here.”

With a laugh, Hope approaches the mountain of baked goods. “That is…a lot of food.”

“I wanted you to taste the best New Orleans has to offer.” He snags a pastry off of a tray. “Have you ever had a beignet?” Hope shakes her head. “Well you’ll never have one quite like the ones in this city.”

“Not even in France?” Hope asks skeptically, taking the beignet.

Klaus scoffs. “Forget the French. New Orleans is the true birthplace of the beignet.”

Hope takes a bite. Her eyes slide shut and she moans, “Crap.”

“Told you.” He holds out a tray laden with the pastries. “I thought you might like to take some up to your girlfriend.” Hope opens her eyes, surprised. “How is she?”

Taking the tray, Hope says, “She’s still asleep. Had a couple of nightmares during the night. She seems to be mostly healed now, though.”

Klaus nods. “I’m glad.” Swallowing thickly, he looks away, awkward. “You best return to her. I imagine she…could use your support. And you should eat up, too.”

“Eat quickly.” Father and daughter turn to see Hayley striding into the courtyard, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. “We’re leaving.”

Klaus and Hope exchange a confused look. “Leaving?” Hope asks.

“Yep. We’re getting out of this city before Marcel or the witches or anyone else decides to remove us.”

Klaus squares himself. “I’m not leaving until the witches answer for what they have done.”

The duffel bag hits the floor. “Are you out of your mind, Klaus? Forget revenge, I’m trying to keep everyone safe.”

“Mom, he’s right.” Hayley glares at her daughter. “Look, we don’t even know what the witches really want from me—”

“And we’re not going to find out.”

“Listen to your mother.” Hope’s jaw drops as she regards her father with a look of betrayal. “One night in this city and they tried to hurt you, succeeded in hurting someone you care about.” Klaus nods to Hayley. “Your mother will take you and River far away from here. I will follow once I have eliminated the threat to you.”

“No.”

“Hope—”

“No. I am not running away. Something is going on in this city and I’m not leaving until I figure out what it is.” She whips around and stalks back up the stairs. “And I’d like to see you try and stop me.”

Vincent’s sitting on the dirt floor of the cavern, arms resting on his knees. Eyes narrowed, he asks, “What did you want with Hope Mikaelson?” No answer. “Marcel told me about your little ritual down at the cemetery. Didn’t seem like you wanted her dead, and yet…” Two pieces of the puzzle connect in his mind. “Were you the one who told Alistair Duquesne that Hope was in town?” No answer, but Theo’s eyes slide away to the floor.

Nodding, Vincent muses, “So you tried to have her killed. That didn’t work. So why not kill her when you lured her to the City of the Dead? Why go through some ritual when you could have consecrated her power?”

Gritting her teeth, Theo looks back up at Vincent. “Killing her was only Plan A. But you know witches. We always have a Plan B in our back pocket.”

“What was the ritual?”

Theo’s face cracks open into a smile. “Does it bother you at all that witches from every coven in New Orleans have been organizing behind your back for the past five years? How does it feel to know that we have been plotting to overthrow you and the rest of this mockery of a peace right under your nose, and you never had a clue?”

Letting himself be pulled off-topic, Vincent snaps, “What did y’all expect from me? Those ancestors were ruining our lives.”

“They gave us power!”

“There was no power with them!” Vincent’s voice echoes off the brick walls. “They had all the power! They told us what to do, and if we didn’t listen, they killed us, or got some vampires to do the dirty work for ‘em! The ancestors had to go if we were to be a free people.”

“And are we free, Vincent? Our magical abilities are a fraction of what they used to be, and Marcel Gerard still calls the shots in this city. Tell me how we’re better off now than we were fifteen years ago.”

“Tell you how—how about the fact that there’s not open war in the streets? How about our children not being sacrificed and slaughtered? How about the fact that with the Mikaelsons gone—”

“But the Mikaelsons aren’t gone, Vincent! You brought them back here!”

Vincent tips his head back against the brick, loosing a frustrated groan. “I brought Hope back so that she would finally free New Orleans of Klaus Mikaelson’s presence. I had no idea they all would come back after the fact.”

“Is that supposed to make it better?”

“No.” Vincent sighs. “I guess not.” They sit in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of pipes rattling in the walls. Eventually Vincent asks, “What’s the grand plan, Theo?”

Theo rolls her eyes. “What do you think the grand plan is? We only have one option, one action we can take to reclaim our former glory.”

Vincent’s faces drops as realization washes over him. “No.”

“Yes, Vincent. After five years of meticulous planning and preparation, we finally have all of the pieces in place to reestablish the connection with our ancestors, making the witches once again the most formidable force in all of New Orleans.”

River awakens to a delicious smell. Sitting up slowly, she looks around. There’s a plate of some kind of pastry at the foot of the bed, and the doors to the outer balcony are open, a light breeze wafting in to the room. Excited, River takes a pastry off of the plate, her fingers instantly coated in powdered sugar, and pops it into her mouth. “Damn,” she says to herself, the word barely audible around the food.

“Good, huh?” Hope walks into the room from the bathroom, toothbrush in hand. “Beignets, from my dad.”

“He made these?”

“God no,” Hope laughs. “Probably compelled some poor pastry chef to make them for him. But I guess it’s the thought that counts.” She tosses her toothbrush into her bag and then sits on the edge of the bed with a sigh. “How are you feeling?”

River shrugs, and then winces. “I’m okay. Sore, more than anything. Still kind of tripped out on wolfsbane, I think.” She reaches for another beignet. “Are we planning on heading home soon?”

Hope thinks on that question for a minute. As much as she wants to stay and get to the bottom of whatever the witches are scheming, she knows that River never signed up to be bait, never volunteered to join her family’s dangerous world. Hope would like more than anything to stay by River’s side, but if River wants to leave…

“Whenever you’re ready,” Hope finally answers. “Whenever you’re ready, we can get you back to Tallahassee.”

River looks confused. “Why does that sounds like you won’t be coming with me?”

“Because…” Hope sighs. “Because there are things I need to do here, things that you shouldn’t have to sit through. Your parents are probably freaking out—”

“Forget my parents, I’m not just going to walk away from you.”

“This isn’t your fight!”

“Well it’s not yours either!”

“But it is!” Hope pushes herself off the bed, starts pacing around the room. “I know it doesn’t make sense. I only spent a fraction of my life here, years I can’t even remember, but no matter where I go or how long I’m gone for, this city is always going to be a part of me. And right now…it’s in trouble. And maybe I can help.”

“And what if these—these witches want to sacrifice you?”

“It won’t come to that.”

“And what makes you say that?”

“Because they had the chance to and they didn’t?” Hope sighs. “I don’t know what they want. I don’t know what’s going on, that’s why I need to stay and figure it out. And maybe…maybe the witches aren’t the bad guys in all this.”

River looks like she’s been slapped. “They drugged and kidnapped me in the middle of the night.”

“I know, I know, it’s just…” Hope sits back on the bed and grabs River’s hand. “If they really are trying to regain the power that they lost fifteen years ago…can I blame them? I can’t imagine suddenly losing all of the power I’ve lived with for my entire life. The trauma of it…”

River rests back against the headboard, contemplative. “Okay. So we stay.”

“We—”

“If you’re in this, I’m in this. I’m a wolf, remember? I’m not running away with my tail between my legs.”

Hope bites her lip and smiles. “I’m glad I have you on my team.”

“Me too.”

“Oh!” Hope digs in her pocket. “I almost forgot.” She removes a thin leather cord. “This fell off when we were in the cemetery. My mom saved it.” She hands the necklace to River.

River accepts the jewelry. “Thank you.” She fingers the pendant, a small, black river rock with a hole bored into the top for the cord to slide through. “My parents gave this to me. It’s a rock from the Rio. My dad picked it up the day I was born.” She smiles pensively. “I know what it’s like to miss the place you’re from.”

Hope’s answering smile is soft, but quickly turns into a frown. “Oh no.” She lifts the cord to inspect it. “It’s torn. Don’t want it to break.” Hope wraps her hand around the tear in the leather and closes her eyes. After a few moments, she opens them and reveals the cord, completely fixed.

River’s jaw drops as she stares in awe at the cord. “Okay, I am never going to get used to that.” She looks up at her girlfriend to thank her, but before she can speak, her expression turns to horror. “Hope!”

Shocked by River’s outburst, Hope touches her face in surprise, and pulls her hand away to see a spot of blood. “Oh.” She darts away from the bed, grabbing a towel and pressing it to her nose. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about it?” River starts to push herself out of bed, but Hope shoos her back in. “Hope, you’ve got a nosebleed.”

“It’s fine,” Hope says dismissively. She checks her nose; the bleeding has stopped. “Don’t worry about me. You…get some rest. I’m going to go see if I can steal some more beginets from my dad.” Before River can argue, Hope’s out the door.

Vincent paces the length of the cavern as Theo watches, almost bored. “This is a terrible plan.”

“We’re not stupid, Vincent.” Theo rolls her eyes. “Asking Davina Claire to blow up the channels that connected us to our ancestors may have been the most reckless and inconceivable thing you have ever done, but you weren’t wrong. The ancestors’ control over our decisions was unsustainable. The dead had more of a say than the living, and you were right to want to change that. So we’ve made some…adjustments.”

Vincent stops pacing. “What adjustments?” Theo only responds with a mysterious smile. “Seriously, Theo? Tell me what you’re planning.”

“Well I can’t give away all of our secrets, can I?” Theo stretches her legs, trying to get more comfortable. “Maybe if you let me out…”

“Maybe I’ll let you out if you tell me what you’re planning.”

“The details are irrelevant. What I’m planning is security, a way to ensure that the witches don’t just survive, but thrive. We are tired, Vincent. Tired of bowing to vampires, to the Mikaelsons, to regents, hell, to our own ancestors. The witches of New Orleans aren’t just looking for freedom. We’re looking to rule.”

Vincent’s eyebrows fly up in surprise. “To rule? And let me guess, you’ll be queen.”

“Well…” Theo gives an amused, self-deprecating shrug. “It’s been proposed.”

“No.” Vincent tosses his hand up. “No, this is insane. These covens are a community, you can’t just unilaterally—”

Theo barks out a laugh. “You’re really going to lecture me on decisions made unilaterally?” Vincent falls silent. “And besides, there are dozens of us. We’re not some small faction, we are representative of every coven in the city.” She looks Vincent dead in the eye. “Change is coming, Vincent. It’s time for you to make a choice. Will you stand with your witches as they seek to regain control of their city—or will you die defending the status quo?”

Vincent stares at her for a long while, both of their faces unreadable. Then, without a word, he turns on his heel and vanishes into the tunnels, leaving Theo in her prison.

Elijah steps into the library to find Klaus tearing it apart. He leans against the door nonchalantly, a hand sliding into his pocket. “Do you need assistance, Niklaus?”

Digging through a pile of junk heaped into a corner, Klaus snarks, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, some help would be appreciated, but fret not, brother.” He shoots an impetuous look at Elijah. “I am quite used to being the sole defender of his family.”

Elijah’s face blossoms into a raised-eyebrow expression of disbelief. “Is that what you believe, brother? Is that how you would speak of the past fifteen years, during which the mother of your child single-handedly pieced this family back together?”

“Spare me your lecture, Elijah.” Klaus tugs a long dagger from the pile and tosses it into an open duffel bag beside him. “I have witches to kill.”

“Must you be so reckless so soon after your return to the world?” Elijah asks.

“They came for my child, Elijah!” Klaus thunders, appearing suddenly before his brother. “Do not ask me to look the other way while they lure her into a trap! What if the next time they don’t want to take her power, but her life?”

Extending a hand toward his brother, Elijah says, “And what of your child, Niklaus? What will she think of you when she learns you have gone on a killing spree, murdering witches just like her?”

“These witches are not like her!” Klaus spits. “And she will think that her father is her stalwart defender, ready and willing to eliminate any threat to her safety.”

Dragging his finger along the broken desk, Elijah muses, “Yes, that worked wonderfully with Rebekah, didn’t it?”

Klaus’s expression sours. “Listen to me—”

“No, you listen to me!” Elijah brings his face inches from Klaus’s. “You have, not for the first time in your endless life, the opportunity to decide exactly the sort of man you wish to be. More importantly, you have the opportunity to decide the sort of man you wish your daughter to know. If your first instinct is always to seek revenge, that is what Hope will learn from you, and not only will it ruin her, it just might get her killed.” With that, Elijah spins on his heel and stalks from the room, leaving a speechless and humbled Klaus in his wake.

There’s a long, narrow crypt made of crumbling stone on the east side of Lafayette Cemetery. Over the entrance is carved a name: LeRoy. Vincent pushes open the heavy door, revealing a tiny work table covered in parchments, candles, and other evidence of magic. “Let’s see what Theo’s been up to.”

Marcel stands in the doorway, watching Vincent rummage through Theo’s belongings. “What exactly are you looking for?”

“We know that Theo’s looking to reconnect to the ancestors,” Vincent explains. “But I don’t know how she plans on keeping them in check.”

“Well you said she was gonna be in charge at the end of all this, yeah?”

“Yeah, and I don’t know about you, but she’s not exactly the kind of person I’m lookin’ for in a leader.” He holds a piece of parchment up to the light streaming in from a small round window in the stone. “This is beyond me, man. The magic she’s trying to do ain’t been done before. It’s not going to be so easily recognizable. I need help.” He sighs and looks out the window.

Then an idea strikes him. “I know where to go.”

Brow furrowed, Marcel asks, “There’s someone in this city who’s gonna know when you don’t?”

“There is.” Vincent turns to look at him. “But you ain’t gonna like it.”

Klaus is storming toward the exit of the compound when he pulls up short, his duffel bag full of weapons and dark objects clanging at his side. “To what do we owe this unwelcome surprise?”

Vincent and Marcel block his path out. “We need to talk to Hope,” Vincent says.

“Absolutely not.” Klaus squares his shoulders. “Your witches tried to steal my daughter’s power, you’re not going anywhere near her.”

“Klaus, you gotta believe, I had no idea that they were going to do this, otherwise I would’ve warned you.”

“So I should just take you at your word, let you have access to my child?”

Marcel rolls his eyes. “We’re trying to help Hope, Klaus. Whatever Theo and the others were up to when they took her, they’re still trying to complete their mission. We need her help to stop them.”

“You can’t expect—”

“Dad.”

All three men look up to see Hope leaning against the balcony, watching them. She nods to her father. “I want to help.”

Everyone gathers around the grand staircase, the family scattered along the steps, facing Vincent and Marcel. From his place on the landing above, Klaus calls down, “Tell us what you know.”

Nodding, Vincent begins. “We know that Theo LeRoy, the witch who kidnapped Hope’s girlfriend and used her as bait, is leading a faction of witches who are seeking to reestablish the connection to the ancestors.”

“She told me that much,” Hope agrees, sitting about halfway up the left staircase, River a step above her. “I don’t really know what that means.”

“Well that’s what I was hoping to learn from you,” Vincent says. “Did she anything about how she was gonna do it?”

Hope shakes her head. “That wasn’t really what we talked about. She was less concerned about the covens’ connection with the ancestors and more concerned with mine.”

“What do you mean?”

“She means that this witch tried to get Hope to reject her connection to the ancestors,” Hayley snarls.

Vincent bring a fist to his lips as he contemplates this revelation. Hope tentatively offers, “She seemed…I don’t know. She seemed to think I was some kind of threat? She wouldn’t say why, just that I’m a Mikaelson and a Mikaelson shouldn’t have access to the ancestors.”

With a small nod of understanding, Vincent murmurs, “She has a point,” but then, seeing glares of disapproval, says quickly, “She has to think that you specifically have the ability to throw some kind of wrench in her plans.”

“Here.” Marcel approaches Hope, reaching up to hand her a small stack of parchments. “These are Theo’s. Take a look, see if anything looks significant.”

Hope takes the parchment and scans each page. They’re covered in runes and chicken-scratch. “This is for the ritual?”

“We think so,” Marcel answers.

Freya climbs the stairs to peer over Hope’s shoulder. Hope points at something. “This is the incantation she was using when she tried to unlink me from the ancestors.”

Freya examines that page more closely. “All of this is about the connection, linking and unlinking. But this here—” She pulls a sheet with a complicated diagram on it out from the stack. “It’s a linking spell, but something I’ve never seen before.” She looks up at Vincent. “Could she be trying to link someone to the ancestors?”

“I think she’s trying to link all of us to the ancestors,” Vincent answers dryly.

“Here’s a thought.” Everyone turns to look at Kol, who’s lounging at the very top of the right staircase. “Why don’t we just leave this shitty town in our rearview, avoid this mess altogether?”

“For once, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, I agree with Kol,” Hayley says. “This is New Orleans witch business, and we shouldn’t be a part of it.”

Hope starts to argue, “I’m a New Orleans witch, Mom!” but Vincent lifts a hand to stem her tirade. “I understand that you have no reason to help us, but if this doesn’t go right, our people could be in serious trouble.”

Hayley opens her mouth, but Elijah cuts in smoothly, “Why don’t you let us discuss this matter as a family?”

Vincent looks as if he wants to argue, but Marcel nods. “Yeah, alright. Take some time. But know this: if you don’t help us take these witches down, I will make sure your asses are out of my city before nightfall tomorrow.” He looks at Vincent and jerks his head toward the door, and the two of them leave.

Later, surrounded by bowls (and pots and mugs) of crawfish étouffée, the family is once again gathered on the staircase. Hayley stabs at her food angrily. “We’re not staying.”

“Mom, you heard Vincent. He needs our help.”

“And I feel bad for him. But my job is to keep you safe, and you aren’t safe here. And neither is your girlfriend.”

“We owe Vincent,” Hope insists. “He helped me rescue Dad!”

Rebekah hums. “Maybe not the best argument in favor of helping him.” She smiles at the nasty look Klaus shoots her.

“Theo knows something we don’t know,” Hope says. “In some way or another, I’m important to her plans. If we can figure out why she’s so threatened by me, maybe we can figure out how to stop her from reconnecting with the ancestors.”

“Wouldn’t it make you more powerful, though?” River asks around a mouthful of crawfish. She swallows. “If this ancestral connection is…reconnected, wouldn’t you get that power, too?”

“I think that’s part of the problem,” Hope says. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t need more power.”

River doesn’t miss how Hope unconsciously touches just below her nose, as if checking for blood.

“You’re being uncharacteristically quiet, Niklaus,” Elijah calls. “Any thoughts on the matter?”

Klaus leans his head back against the metal banister with a put-upon sigh. “I do abhor giving the witches of this city any assistance. However, the ancestors have caused quite enough trouble in our lives, I should think.”

“They can’t cause us any more trouble if we’re not here,” Hayley argues.

“Hayley’s right,” Rebekah says. “Forget this city, forget these witches. Isn’t time we left this madness behind us, spent time with the family that was torn apart for fifteen years?”

Klaus locks eyes with his daughter, who’s sitting opposite him on the other half of the staircase. She silently pleads with him, and he knows that this is important to her. “We’re staying.”

Hope’s face lights up, and Hayley’s shoulders sag. “Klaus—”

“Hope knows better than any of us the threat that these witches pose, and the even bigger threat that the ancestors do. If she is asking me to stay and fight…well what kind of father would I be if I didn’t go into battle for my daughter?”

Hope’s smile is one of sweet disbelief. Thank you, she mouths to her father, and he nods back.

“Well you all have fun.” Kol drops his bowl onto the top landing and stands up. “I think I’ll be leaving now.”

Klaus rolls his eyes. “Sit down, Kol, we’re too tired for your antics tonight.”

“These aren’t antics, brother. I simply…can’t stay.”

Rebekah pulls herself to her feet. “Kol. You’re not serious.”

“I am.” He smiles softly. “I’ve spent the day thinking on it. There are reasons I do wish to remain with you lot—not only to better know the niece I…may have mistreated.” Hope blinks up at him in surprise. “But this city…this city took everything from me. Things I cannot get back. I need…” He trails off, unable to finish his thought.

Rebekah slowly climbs the stairs to be beside her brother. She kisses his cheek. “Time. You need time. Take as much of it as you need. You know we’ll be here for you.”

“Always and forever,” Klaus says, a half-smirk on his face.

Kol descends the steps to crouch just above Hope. “Hope Mikaelson. You know, I never much cared for children.” Hope gives a little frown and squints, unsure if she’s being insulted. “But you…you’ve got that Mikaelson tenacity that is impossible to ignore. I like that about you.” He looks down. “I apologize for my behavior toward you. Both of you,” he adds, nodding to River. “I hope that one day I can be a proper uncle to you. I have a rather impressive stash of magical artifacts that I think you’d be keen on.”

He nods to Freya. “Listen to your aunt. She’s the only one here who’s got half a clue what she’s doing. She’ll be able to help you.” He gives her a significant look, and a thought flashes in Hope’s mind: He knows. “I’ll be back, baby Mikaelson. And when I do, I expect to find the most powerful witch in the world waiting for me.” He gives a melancholic smile. To the room he says, “Try not to have too much fun without me,” and then he’s gone, leaving his siblings to once again adjust to his absence.

[icebluecyanide]

Marcel elijah fic

It’s another fic document that’s sort of a dumping ground for a lot of headcanons and small fragments I thought of to do with Marcel growing up around the original family, but it’s also the ‘Marcel had a teenage crush on Elijah and it made everything SO AWKWARD’ fic. Also includes my headcanon that Elijah stopped playing the piano for a long while after he rejected Marcel because the whole affair didn’t leave him unaffected and after the piano lessons he gave Marcel he couldn’t play without being reminded of it.

A snippet:

The grand piano still stands in the music room, but no one has touched its keys in weeks. If not for the servants, it would be gathering dust. At first, Marcellus wonders if music was just a phase for Elijah, if the man had played only because he had to teach the poor young ward his brother took in. But it doesn’t add up. Elijah had seemed to genuinely enjoy playing the piano. Once, Marcellus would have sworn the man had enjoyed teaching him as well, but then he was wrong on that. Perhaps he was wrong on Elijah loving music too. He’s certainly not playing anymore these days. The first hint he gets that something strange might be up is when he hears Rebekah asking Elijah why he’s not playing anymore. Rebekah always was more direct in daring to question her brothers.

(Also for the elijah/marcel awkwardness:

Klaus hears of it, somehow, and he grins, pats Marcellus on the shoulder, and claims he’s on the path to manhood. Marcellus would enjoy the display of fatherly affection, if he weren’t so mortified. Klaus also tells him to hold off on chasing girls for now and Marcel just nods quickly, not at all willing to admit that it wasn’t some girl he was dreaming of, but the man’s brother. Even dreams about Rebekah would have been less embarrassing than this. Eventually, Elijah tells Klaus to “leave the poor boy alone” in a disinterested tone, and Klaus rolls his eyes but lets the subject drop. Marcellus has a rare moment of gratefulness towards Elijah before he remembers his dream. Across from him at the breakfast table, Elijah lifts his cup of tea to his mouth in a familiar, elegant gesture. He catches Marcellus looking at him and raises an eyebrow, but Marcellus is already averting his eyes, face absolutely red. He avoids looking at Elijah all throughout breakfast.)