#but it will still niggle at him and eat away at his ego

[xcziel]

by the way, please y'all i don't care if you have the political engagement of a turnip and all you want is to point and laugh

PLEASE don't watch, spectate, or otherwise engage with monday's national embarassment

just ignore it, do NOT give clicks or mentions or tags or anything - we'll for sure hear about any and every bit of it from bootlicker media anyway - just pretend nothing is happening

it's the one truly passive-aggressive thing we can do that we know he absolutely hates and takes weirdly to heart

[itsybitsylemonsqueezy]

For the kiss prompts, 14. Happy kiss for Kazumaji?

Hey anon, it has been... a rough night and day. I think this is just the ticket. 💟

14. Happy Kiss 

Majima groaned as he came awake. Everything hurt, but there was a particular throbbing that said “broken bone” coming from his side that hurt the worst. He distantly remembered that ugly crack yesterday as he threw off seven men at once. He’d ignored it and kept on pushing, anything for Kiryu-chan... 

“You’re awake,” Kiryu murmured. 

Majima’s eye shot open. “Kiryu-chan!” he squealed, blinking rapidly in the dim light and trying to sit up in bed, but wincing terribly. 

“Easy, easy!” Kiryu insisted, cradling his shoulder, “You don’t have to get up. You’re home, you’re safe.” 

Majima looked around and realized it was his own apartment, he was in his own bed, and Kiryu was sitting at his bedside, having pulled over his one good chair from the living room. He slowly let Kiryu push him back into bed and squinted at him suspiciously, taking in his quiet, stoic face. 

“Wha’cha doin here, Kiryu-chan? Hovering over my bedside...” He squinted harder at him, then felt his face, realizing he wasn’t wearing his eyepatch. “My...” he gasped, covering his missing eye quickly.  

“They took it off to wash your face,” Kiryu supplied, reaching over Majima to the bedside table and picking it up for him, “I just left it off. I figured...” He caught sight of Majima staring at him, slack-jawed, and Kiryu blushed, looking away. 

Majima took the eyepatch trailing from Kiryu’s fingers, but didn’t move to put it on. Kiryu was... playing nurse to him. Majima swallowed hard. “It gets itchy when I don’t air it out every once in awhile,” he mumbled gruffly, “Many thanks.” 

Kiryu nodded curtly, still looking away. 

“So, how’d I get here anyway?” Majima frowned. “The last thing I remember was laying in the arms of that cute girl of yours, what’s her name...” 

“Sayama,” Kiryu supplied, turning back to him. 

“Right,” Majima nodded, remembering her stern, but concerned face and soft hands. He rubbed his goatee. “Got yourself a real looker there, Kiryu-chan.” 

Kiryu shrugged, muttering, “If you say so.” 

“Think she’d go for a grizzly, scarred, old dog like me?” he asked, grinning up at Kiryu. 

Kiryu frowned heavily and looked away, not answering. 

Majima’s eyebrows rose. “Only kidding!” He waved his hands. “I wasn’t trying to move in on your girl, just a little ego trip.” He tried to smile reassuringly, through all the wounds and cracks on his face. 

“She isn’t my…” Kiryu explained quickly, then groaned, “Nevermind.”

Majima raised an eyebrow, taking in Kiryu’s glare at the ground and his fingers resting just a little too tightly on his knee. Something was eating him but he’d probably ought to leave it alone for now. Majima cleared his throat. “So, anyway, as I was saying… then I was out and I don’t remember a thing until I woke up here with Kiryu-chan tending me.” He tried smiling again up at Kiryu who was staring at the covers now. “How’d ya even get in?” He cocked his head. 

Kiryu squirmed and mumbled. “I called Nishida-san for a spare key.” 

“Ah, that checks.” Majima nodded. “Though, woulda been a nice memento if ya’d broke down the door.” He grinned wide, not caring that his cheek was still swollen and his lips were still cut. 

Even Kiryu smiled a little. “I can break it down when I leave, if you want?” he offered. 

Majima’s eye widened, brightening at that reply, and he giggled. “Ah, Kiryu-chan, ya know just the things to say to make me feel better.” He smiled beneficently up at Kiryu, watching him fidget, trying to hide how pleased he clearly felt too. Not for the first time Majima wondered how to make a smile stick on that stony, impassive face. Then a thought niggled at the back of his brain. 

“Hold on, if ya called Nishida ta let you in, did ya…?” His eye widened and he stared up at Kiryu. Kiryu turned pink, turning his whole body in the chair. 

Majima cursed himself blue inwardly. Of all the times to be fucking unconscious, his traitor body couldn’t even be bothered to wake him up when Kiryu was carrying him to bed! Oh, couldn’t he have woken up for just a second to experience being nestled in those strong arms, to nuzzle closer for a second, maybe feel that strong, warm heart under his cheek… Majima fidgeted in his covers and began to turn pink too, realizing Kiryu had not only deposited him in bed but tucked him in as well. Oh Christ… 

“Well, since you’re awake, I’d probably better be-” Kiryu grumbled suddenly, starting to stand. 

“Wait!” Majima yelped, grabbing his hand. Kiryu stopped. “I… I haven’t thanked ya, I should...” Majima muttered dumbly. 

Kiryu looked back and sat back down slowly. “You don’t need to thank me,” he shook his head, “I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I just wanted to repay you for-” 

Majima waved him off with his free hand. “Forget that, I owed ya one.” 

Kiryu frowned, blinking at him, and pressed a little closer. “That was more than anyone could have asked. I shouldn’t have let you do it alone.” He bit his lip and squeezed Majima’s hand. 

Majima gulped, feeling his throat suddenly go dry. He squeezed back, tightening his fingers as hard as they would go around Kiryu’s hand. “I would’ve done anything for ya,” he whispered at the same time Kiryu murmured, “I should have been with you.” 

They looked at each other for a painful second, something too deep and too unknowable passing between them and Majima worried that, when this moment ended, his heart would break clear in two. But then Kiryu was leaning over him, leaning down, and without thinking, reflexively, Majima tilted his head up and their lips brushed. It was an electric shock that startled them both for a gasp, then Majima couldn’t take it and he grabbed for Kiryu’s lips, lifting his hands and pressing him closer, cupping his face closer. Kiryu made a sound somewhere between a whine and a groan and gave into him, kissing him fiercely, more fiercely than Majima should really allow, but he couldn’t care. Kiryu was heavy and crushing on top of him, but he couldn’t care. Broken bones be damned, he wanted this. 

Breathlessly, Kiryu broke from him. “God, I… oh, you’re still hurt, I shouldn’t be-” His voice sounded wrecked. 

Majima clung to him, pulling him tighter. “Don’t fucking care, I’ve waited too long for this,” he groaned, almost growling, “If you go, this might all turn out to be a delusion I’ve invented.” 

Kiryu chuckled, rough and warm against his skin and Majima shivered with the reality of it. “What if I promise to still be here when you wake up again, will that do?” he murmured in Majima’s ear, already moving back into his chair. 

Majima whimpered, but let him go, retaining one hand tightly squeezed. He pouted at Kiryu, watching him settle back. “Ya just like watching me sleep,” he whined. 

Kiryu smiled bashfully and Majima’s eye bugged out. “You are sort of adorable when you’re still and peaceful like that,” he mumbled, glancing at Majima and leaning over him one last time to peck his cheek. 

Majima felt his cheeks heat and he squirmed down into the covers, mumbling, “Who are ya and what did ya do with Kiryu-chan?” 

Kiryu snorted and rolled his eyes. “You can fight me when you’re healed and then we’ll see if you still doubt me.” He smirked. 

Majima couldn’t help grinning at him. “Awww, ya do say the best things…”

[oliverstarked]

where I belong

[PG-13, 3.4k words]

"Buck's not sure of the exact moment that he knew Eddie was it for him, but it’s been that way for so long now it’s become a part of who he is. He used to be good at pretending his feelings didn’t exist, but he’s so tired these days."

A little bit of introspection, a lot of idiots in love.

[read on ao3]

The ocean is so beautiful at dawn. 

Under the soft pink-orange sky the water looks bruise-purple, whitecaps leaving foamy trails on the sand. The sun is only just peeking over the horizon, edging towards another gorgeous LA day. But before that begins, before the hustle and bustle and wailing sirens, Buck sits on the beach on the cold sand and feels caught in a moment so peaceful, so nice, just the squalling of gulls and the gentle crash of the waves for company. 

He pushes stale air out of his lungs and breathes the fresh in deeply. The chill feels good, raises goosebumps on his skin and reminds him that he’s alive. A reminder he’s needed a lot lately. He’s been struggling, even though his leg has healed, even though the tsunami is months behind him, even though his relationship with his 118 family is better than ever and he has no reason to be struggling. Nightmares come and go, cold sweats, little niggling thoughts that burrow their way into his brain throughout the day. 

He tries not to talk about it. There are so many people who have it worse than him and he doesn’t want to become some kind of social… leech around his friends, constantly draining them of energy by going on about his issues. You’re exhausting , Eddie said to him once. Buck knows it’s true, knows he takes inches and runs them into miles. His heart may be in the right place, sure, but he doesn’t know when to shut up, when to slow down. If there’s one thing his lawsuit mistake has taught him, it’s that his actions, his selfishness, has consequences on those around him. 

So what if he has bad dreams occasionally? He’s not a kid, he can look after himself. It’s more important right now that he’s there for his friends: asking Bobby how Michael’s doing, bridging the relationship between Chim and his brother, being there for Maddie always, listening to Hen talk about how Nia is settling in, being whatever Eddie needs to stop him doing stupid things again. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for his own problems.

It doesn’t matter. That’s just what Buck does for the people he loves.

The warmth of the sun creeps onto his face as it rises higher, prickling his skin. Buck squints into it, seeing nothing but gold, then sighs and gets to his feet. He brushes sand off the seat of his pants before slowly turning and making his way back up the beach. 

At least he gets to go to work. 

   Eddie’s getting changed when Buck walks into the locker room, and Buck manfully pretends he can’t see the miles of bare skin on display. Hen is sitting on the bench, laughing at something Eddie must have said, and it’s easy to grin at the two of them and say, “Well, good morning.”

“Hey,” Eddie smiles, shrugging into a t-shirt, thank god. 

“Buck, I have to show you this.” Hen holds her phone out, a video paused on the screen. Buck takes it, taps play. It’s Nia, holding onto Denny’s hands and bouncing up and down in time with her blonde curls, screeching in delight as a catchy pop song plays in the background. 

“That’s pretty damn cute,” Buck says. “When do I get to meet this li’l nugget?”

“Soon,” Hen tells him, slipping her phone back into her pocket. “It’s a lot for her, the social worker says we need to introduce new things and people gradually.”

Eddie, tucking his overshirt into his belt now, says, “Well, whenever you guys need a babysitter, hit us up. Chris and Denny can play and Buck and I will dote on that gorgeous girl.”

Hen snorts, looking between them. “Should you be volunteering Buck for that?”

Honestly, it didn’t even occur to Buck that he wouldn’t be there. The automatic assumption on Eddie’s part too makes him feel warmer than he did five minutes ago. 

“Hey, you know I’m down,” Buck beams, “you just name the day.”

Hen squeezes his arm as she heads towards the door. “Thanks boys, we will definitely take you up on that.”

When she’s gone, Buck finally moves towards his own locker to start getting changed. Eddie is still there, tapping away on his phone. Buck wonders if he’s texting Ana . If they’ve even reached the ‘exchanging numbers’ phase yet. 

“Hey, man, you wanna grab pizza tomorrow night? You, me, Chris and Mario Kart at my place?”

“Sure,” Eddie agrees, hardly glancing up, definitely distracted. “But, uh, Chris won’t be there, he’s got that overnight field trip at the observatory tomorrow.” 

Damn, Buck should have remembered that. Christopher had been chattering excitedly about it for a couple weeks now. Eddie had mentioned it several times too, although decidedly less excitedly and more in worried-dad-mode. 

“Oh yeah, that’s right. Well, in that case you definitely gotta come over. We can drink beer and watch a movie that doesn’t involve some kind of talking animal.”

“Sounds good.”

He’s still typing. What is he doing, writing a goddamn article? Who could he possibly have that much to say to? 

Buck takes a breath, remembers he’s not being a selfish asshole anymore and gets changed quietly. Ana sounds like a nice person, she’d probably be good for Eddie. Buck’s feelings, his stupid feelings that he’s shoved so far down they make him feel a bit queasy more often than not, shouldn’t even factor into it.

“Are you okay?”

Buck startles at Eddie’s question. He’s not on his phone anymore, but looking straight at Buck, a little crease in between his eyebrows.

“Fine… why'd you ask?”

“You look tired.”

“Yeah. I, uh, got up early to go for a run on the beach. Anyway, not even eyebags could ruin this handsome face so you shut your mouth,” Buck blusters with an exaggerated wink and a bit of swagger as he closes his locker. 

It works, and Eddie rolls his eyes. “So glad that your ego remains unaffected.”

They argue playfully back and forth as they head up to the kitchen together and by the time they sit down to plates of Bobby’s French toast, Buck has all but forgotten his weird start to the day. 

Luckily, work keeps them busy. Any downtime they get is spent either stuffing their faces with food, showering the grime and sweat away, or trying to catch a few minutes of sleep. The entire twenty-four hours passes without major incident, unless you count Chimney tripping on a firehose and falling ass over teakettle on the freshly-waxed station floor. They’re still laughing about it as they get changed to go home the following morning, exhaustion making it hard to stop.

By the time he gets back to his apartment and collapses into bed, Buck’s tired enough that falling asleep is the easiest thing in the world.

 He wakes late in the afternoon, hot and sweaty from the sunlight pouring in through the windows. He showers, eats a sandwich, and texts Eddie to ask what time he’s coming over. 

Some sort of clarity must have crept in while Buck slept, because his head feels a little clearer. Still, he wonders what it means that a clear head feels like some kind of miracle these days. He thinks it means that he might need to talk to Frank again.

Buck grabs his phone and fiddles around on it until he pulls up his contacts. Frank’s name is sitting there right underneath Eddie’s. Before he can think about it too much, he calls and makes an appointment for his next day off. Part of him feels that old anxiety come back, worries that he’s slipping backwards instead of moving forwards, but another part of him is ultimately relieved. He doesn’t have to worry about burdening Frank, it’s his job to listen. He’s not allowed to be exhausted by Buck and his issues. 

By the time Eddie arrives not long after seven, Buck has cleaned his entire apartment, gone grocery shopping to get that beer that Eddie likes, and watched a Nat Geo documentary on bears. It’s been easy, simple, and he’s feeling okay. 

Eddie lets himself in with a smile and a tupperware container, and even though they only parted ways that morning, it’s still good to see him. “Hey, sorry I’m late, Ana called just as I was leaving.”

And just like that, Buck’s stomach sours. 

“She called you?”

“Yeah, I asked her to update me on Chris. She said he’s good, that they’ve just eaten dinner and he’s with his friends.” Eddie pauses, makes a face. “Guess that means I should stop worrying, right?”

“So you guys just talked about Christopher?” Buck asks because he’s an idiot who likes to torture himself. 

Eddie frowns, putting the tupperware on the kitchen counter. “Yeah. What else would we talk about? I emailed the school his overnight care plan this morning and she just wanted to reassure me. Anyway, Abuela made you tamales, shall I put them in the refrigerator or d’you wanna have them with the pizza?”

Buck still doubts that any other parents are getting personal calls from their kid’s teacher, but it makes him feel better knowing that Eddie’s only thought is the well-being of his son. 

Maybe this whole Ana thing is something he should talk to Frank about, too. 

“I’m going back to therapy,” Buck blurts, his brain to mouth filter nonexistent. “I have nightmares. I stopped talking about it because I thought I was being selfish but it’s fucking me up so. Yeah. I’m going back to therapy.”

Eddie’s eyebrows hit his hairline. Buck silently begs him not to make a big deal out of it, and is relieved when all Eddie says is, “Good. Thank you for telling me. The tamales?”

A mildly hysterical laugh bursts out of Buck. He comes forward and wraps his arms around Eddie, so fucking relieved that after everything, he still gets to have this. 

Eddie goes with the moment gracefully, pats him on the back a few times, and when Buck pulls away, Eddie leaves a hand on his shoulder and says, “I’m here for you. I know I haven’t always been great at that before, but I am. You don’t have to do this by yourself unless you want to.”

And Buck knows it’s true, can tell by the fierce determination in Eddie’s eyes, and thinks that maybe this means he’s not so exhausting to deal with after all. That maybe Eddie was exhausted with himself just a little, too. 

“We’re good, Eddie,” Buck says honestly. “I’m gonna call the pizza place, you take those tamales and the beer over to the couch.”

 They’re one and a half movies, two pizzas and half a dozen tamales in when Buck opens his mouth and “So are you and Ana dating?” comes out of it. 

Eddie chokes a little on his beer. “No? I don’t really know.”

It’s not quite the answer Buck was hoping for. “How can you not know, man?”

Shifting uncomfortably, Eddie leans back on the couch until he’s looking up at the ceiling, like he can’t meet Buck’s eye. “She’s nice, and pretty, and good with Chris. I dunno, Buck. It feels like it could go somewhere?”

Buck swallows hard. He knew it. He should definitely have waited to have this conversation until after he’s seen Frank though, because he has no goddamn clue how he’s supposed to be the supportive best friend when every fiber of his being is burning with jealousy. He’s not sure of the exact moment that he knew Eddie was it for him, but it’s been that way for so long now it’s become a part of who he is. He used to be good at pretending his feelings didn’t exist, but he’s so tired these days.

But what he has with Eddie and Christopher right now is the best thing going on in his life — he’s not going to risk losing that. 

“I wouldn’t even know how to ask her out,” Eddie continues, laughing a little at himself. “Out of practice would definitely be an understatement, I have no clue what I’m doing.”

Buck mirrors Eddie’s position, staring up at the beams under the loft. “I think you just say ‘would you like to go out with me’, Eddie. It’s not that hard.”

“Easy for you to say,” Eddie snorts. “I bet no girl has ever turned you down.”

“Ha, you should speak to Joe Levinson from high school,” Buck tells him. God, he thought Joe was so cute. He never told anyone, especially not his parents, and Maddie was off at college, but he used to trail around after Joe like a lovesick puppy. “We’re talking the crush of all teenage crushes here, man. I was so gone on Joe and it was senior year and then prom was coming up, and I—”

“Oh no,” Eddie laughs, “you got turned down?”

“I got humiliated,” Buck grins. “I thought I’d go classic, y’know? A love note in the locker, little hearts doodled on it and ‘I really like you, will you be my prom date?’ written in glitter gel pen. Imagine my surprise when the next morning my note is not just in Joe’s locker, but on the front of every single locker, in the halls, the cafeteria, even the damn teacher’s lounge. He made sure the last few weeks of high school were not good ones.”

“Wait…” Eddie tips his head sideways, confusion written on his face. “Joe was a boy?”

Shit. Buck isn’t ashamed of being bisexual at all, but it occurs to him now that he hasn’t actually told anybody besides his sister. “Uh… yeah?” 

“Did you just come out to me?”

Buck shrugs. “I kinda forgot you didn’t know?”

Their faces are pretty close at this angle, their heads cushioned by the back of the couch. Eddie doesn’t look hostile or disgusted though. He looks thoughtful. 

“That was really brave,” he eventually says, quieter than before. “I can’t even imagine asking a boy out in high school.”

There’s something in the way he says it that gives Buck pause. “Did you want to?” he asks carefully.

“It wasn’t an option.” Eddie doesn’t sound sad, just matter-of-fact. “Besides, I met Shannon in college. And I really loved her, Buck. There were… occasions, while I was in the army, but I never acted on it. I’d made vows, they meant something to me.”

Buck can’t look away from Eddie’s face, pulled in by the wide-eyed openness and the thought that he didn’t know this about Eddie — that they didn’t know this about each other. 

“And now?” he asks, not sure why he’s whispering.

“Now I don’t know,” Eddie says honestly. He licks his lips. Buck couldn’t tell you which of them moved first but all of a sudden their lips are touching, pressing. It’s dry, a little chaste, but most definitely a kiss. Buck shifts, brings his hand up towards Eddie’s face, and barely touches his jaw before Eddie is springing backwards, shock written all over him. 

“Buck, I’m sorry—”

“No, dude, that was all me, I was totally over the line.”

“We just got — caught up in the moment,” Eddie says, and Buck’s not sure which of them he’s trying to convince. 

“Yeah, all that talk about dating and my tragic high school trauma. Woulda been weird if you hadn’t wanted to kiss me,” he smirks, aiming for cool and cocky and probably missing by several miles. 

Eddie lets out a bark of laughter that’s more panic than amusement. They’re quiet for a minute. Eddie’s knee is still pressed against Buck’s, warm and solid. Buck doesn’t know what’s happening here but he knows he really liked kissing Eddie, can still feel his lips tingling. He knows he’s not going to lose Eddie over this though, can’t lose him. He’ll do whatever it takes for that not to happen.

“It was a moment,” Buck concludes, for both their sake. “Moment’s over.”

Eddie’s throat visibly bobs when he swallows. “Right. Y’know, I should probably take off. Before—”

He cuts himself off. The tips of his ears go bright red. It takes every ounce of willpower Buck has not to ask him ‘before what?’

He follows Eddie across the apartment to the door, but he really doesn’t want this to be weird when they get to the station in the morning. He lays his hand on Eddie’s forearm and asks, “We’re okay, aren’t we, Eddie?”

To his relief, Eddie smiles and it seems real. “Of course, Buck. Nothing’s changed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As he lets himself out, the door closing softly behind him, Buck can’t help thinking what a bad liar Eddie is. Of course something has changed. Everything has changed. That kiss will hang over them for the rest of their days as partners — as friends. You don’t just ‘accidentally’ kiss your best friend and then act like it didn’t happen. 

Buck wanders into the kitchen, fists his hand in his hair, scrapes them over his face, repeatedly bangs his forehead into the cupboard door. Stupid stupid stupid . 

Restless, he clears away pizza boxes. Drops empty beer bottles into the recycling. Seals the lid on the tupperware and puts the remaining tamales in the refrigerator. Shuts off the TV — how didn’t he notice the movie was still playing? 

He’s wiping down the kitchen counters when there’s a knock on the door. 

Eddie’s standing there on the other side, looking just as wide-eyed as he was when he left. 

“Hey,” Buck says uncertainly, ignoring the swoop in his stomach. “You forget something?”

“Yes,” Eddie says and he takes a step forward, holds Buck’s face in his hands, and crashes their mouths together. 

This kiss is nothing like their last. 

Eddie is demanding, relentless, tongue tracing the seam of Buck’s lips straight away until Buck opens up for him and everything gets hotter and wetter and so much more amazing. His own hands, which had been floundering in surprise, land on Eddie’s waist and Buck walks him backwards until his back hits the open door and closes it with a bang. He leans into Eddie with all his weight, pushes him against the wood, shoves their hips together and groans the filthiest sound he’s ever made into Eddie’s mouth.

It’s incredible, feels absolutely perfect. Buck moves his hands, slips them under the soft fabric of Eddie’s shirt, finding warm skin and hard muscles and a stomach that trembles when his thumb flicks over a nipple. 

With a gasp, Eddie pulls back and smacks his head against the door. Buck removes a hand and places it gently behind Eddie’s head to cushion it, kissing a lush apology to his lips. 

“You feel so good,” Eddie mumbles. “Buck.”

Buck kisses down Eddie’s neck, their stubble rasping, his lips fluttering over Eddie’s thundering pulse. He shoves their hips together some more — once, twice, and again because he can’t stop — and he can feel Eddie’s dick through their jeans and he’s so turned on he can hardly breathe. 

“We should talk,” he says to Eddie, breathlessly, “but first we should fuck.”

“Best idea you’ve ever had, Buckley.”

A grin spreads across Eddie’s face and Buck copies it, kissing him again because he just can’t help it and grabbing his hand, dragging him away from the door and up the steps to the loft.

Two orgasms, one set of clean sheets and one shower later, Buck feels brave enough to say, “I want this every day forever.”

Eddie’s nearly asleep, head right next to Buck’s on the pillow, one arm slung across Buck’s stomach. He cracks open an eye and presses a tiny kiss to the corner of Buck’s mouth. 

“Guess we’re on the same page then.”

“I don’t want you to date Ana.”

The other eye pops open, trademark Eddie Diaz exasperation all over his face. “Buck.”

“Just checking!” Buck laughs, drawing patterns on Eddie’s arm. “Y’know, I’m still gonna need therapy.”

“I’d be worried if you didn’t. Unless sex really is a magic cure.”

Buck tries to smile but instead finds himself softly saying, “I might have a nightmare.”

Eddie kisses him again, for longer this time, then shifts closer and nuzzles his nose into Buck’s temple, his hair. “I’m not going anywhere. Go to sleep, Buck.”

They settle in, warm under the blankets, and Buck closes his eyes, falling asleep quick and easy, between one breath and the next. 

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt.79

Running late to pick Curtis and Shiro up, Lance blamed Kosmo. The puppy making off with one of his shoes, while he was trying to find his missing pants. Curtis had sounded drunk, Shiro even more so. Lance hadn’t expected them to get plastered on their date, but with a rare night to themselves, he felt both of them totally deserved to relax. Promising to wait for them out the front of the hotel whose restaurant was where they’d gone for their date, neither of them were waiting out the front thanks to the light drizzling rain.

Heading into the lobby with his boyfriend, Keith unimpressed they were walking around in their “pyjamas” in such a rich looking place. They’d fallen into a doze cuddling after doing a little physical making up more than once. Lance’s hips were sore and his smile gentle towards his annoyed boyfriend. The vampire really loved it when Keith he’d him by his hips, and he really loved making up with his boyfriend. So that gentle smile was purely for Keith. Wearing sweats, he’d had to borrow because lord only knew where his pants, and oversized shirt in a hotel lobby made him feel like a dork. They were clearly underdressed when compared to the ornate Art Deco feel of the place. Sighing, Keith pulled out his phone, both of them moving out of the main thoroughfare to stand closer to the wall

“I’m gonna try calling Curtis again”

Lance nodded. The place really didn’t seem like they should walk further in. He wouldn’t be surprised if the receptionist had already called the cops on them, but all the money that went into such a fancy place didn’t really show on the outside with the rain coming in under the fronts plastic roofing. As Keith talked to Curtis, Lance’s smile started to waver. Not completely sure why, something pricked at his senses. The feeling annoying, as there seemed nothing wrong with their surrounds, and extra annoying as he couldn’t figure out why he was annoyed.

“They’re on their way. They went and sat in the lounge to wait for us thanks to the rain”

Lance almost thanked god out loud

“Babe?”

Humming, Lance pushed his smile back into place

“Sorry. I was totally zoning out”

Keith slipped his phone back in his pocket, Lance trying not to look as the small amount of weight tugged down Keith’s sweats. They’d already fooled around enough that now the couch and the bathroom were christened. He didn’t feel like he was in heat, but he could definitely appreciate Keith’s body, especially this hips showing above the hem of his sweats

“They could have at least texted”

Lance nodded, casting a glance around as he wondered where the hotel lounge was

“Babe?”

Whoops. He didn’t want Keith to worry over some niggling feeling he didn’t know how to explain

“I’m fine. Just tired”

“Are you sure? I mean...”

“I’m fine. Not even that sore... I mean, I’m not sore, but you know...”

Lance was blushing now. He could almost feel Keith’s hands on his hips. Maybe it was a kink? Yet, he only wanted Keith to do it, so he wasn’t sure it counted

“I know it’s harder on you than it is on me”

“Vampire stamina, babe. I’m okay. This place looks nice”

Keith frowned at the topic change, but went along with it

“It looks expensive”

“I don’t know how people feel comfortable in a place like this. I like the hotel we went to better”

“Mmm. Me too. Curtis did want things to be special. Their dinner probably cost what I make in a week”

Did Keith worry about that with him? That he couldn’t impress Lance with a low budget? Lance had his own money. He’d prefer something casual

“I don’t think I could do that. Spend that much on a meal. I’d rather get a room and room service”

“Do you want to do something like that for your birthday?”

Lance bit down his sigh. He didn’t want to discuss his birthday

“Can I think about it?”

“Sure... I get that you don’t like it, but... I want to do something with you”

Pidge and Hunk would probably want to do something

“I know. Please no 18 again parties. If Pidge and Hunk start on it, can you loop me in so I can not be there. Oh, there’s Shiro”

Curtis and Shiro were a welcome distraction. They were sober enough to walk straight, which was a relief

“Sorry! The rain started and Shiro was getting wet”

Curtis looked good. Both of them were suited up. Curtis had styled his hair a little differently thanks to his horn. The look suited him. The few flakes of dandruff on his shoulder were barely noticeable when you looked at Curtis as a whole being

“It’s fine. Can we go now?”

Ruffling Keith’s hair, Shiro laughing at Keith’s huffy tone

“You’ve got to get used to places like this one day. You can’t just take Lance to cheap hotels”

Keith deflated, Lance wrapping his arm around his boyfriend’s waist

“Actually, he can. I really don’t mind where we go”

“Still. You do have a birthday coming up...”

“Lance would rather not talk about his birthday. It’s a sensitive subject when he doesn’t age”

Lance supposed he deserved that for confiding in Curtis. Shiro’s happiness didn’t waver, the hunter nodding understandingly

“I suppose after a while it gets repetitive. We always baked a cake for Keith’s birthday when I could. He always ate it. No matter how much he disliked it”

“Fuck off”

His little anger loaf wasn’t impressed. Lance keeping his arm around him as they moved towards the door.

That was because Shiro had made it his cake for him, Keith would always eat it like it was the best cake ever made. Lance knew those feelings well. This year Hunk would want to bake a cake for Keith, so Lance’d have to let him know not to. As Shiro brushed past him, Lance caught a whiff of vampire clinging to him. That certain undeadness with hints of blood... Now he knew what’d been bugging him. The feeling like he’d been being watched from far away. Stumbling his steps as he tried to look over his shoulder, Keith kept him upright

“Babe?”

Lance couldn’t bring up the topic now. Not if they were being watched and listened to

“It’s fine. Just making sure they didn’t call security on us”

A little white lie wouldn’t cause any drama. Maybe the vampire worked here as something like a waiter. Shiro’s neck showed, no vampire bites obvious. Confidently, Shiro bought his mistruth

“They’d hardly call security on us. Though you two are underdressed. I hope we didn’t disturb anything...”

The way Shiro said “anything” meant sex... Grumpy Keith didn’t appreciate his brother’s comment

“It’s the middle of the night. We were tying to sleep. Don’t be gross”

“You knew you had to pick us up”

“I didn’t think it’d be in the middle of the fucking night...”

Oh dear. Keith was only getting crankier. Pulling Keith closer, Keith leaned into him, Lance enjoying feeling like he was supporting his sleepy boyfriend

“It’s fine. We were cuddled up in bed. He didn’t have any coffee before we left. Are we headed back to the apartment or VOLTRON?”

“Lotor had a meeting with Allura. That should be over now. She was worried about his scent sending you into a fresh heat when now is not an opportune time. Then there’s the affect of your scent on his ego. Allura was quite unsure what the meeting was about. Lotor seemed quite keen on dating her”

Trust Curtis to know what was up. Lance hadn’t met Lotor yet. The vampire less snoopy now the Blades had sent a team. There were probably a lot of supernaturals that felt they couldn’t go to VOLTRON for help until the hunters had left. Things were fine with Coran running the show. He didn’t simply send someone after you. But the Blades didn’t play by his rules. Antok hadn’t seemed to care when he carried out his mission. He was going to have to find Allura and ask her what she made of Lotor now they’d spent more time together. They never had had to go out... and though Lance disliked going to clubs, he didn’t want Allura to miss out on the chance to get out and about. He didn’t want to third wheel on Allura’s dating life, yet he wasn’t sure he was up for Allura going out alone with Lotor, if she’d decided he was worth her time. If they went out, met in a public space, then that’d be a different thing. Allura could experience what being human was like, without the heaviness of it being a date. Not that dating was heavy. But there was a certain expectation of things to run smoothly. Lotor hurting Allura went against things running smoothly and he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her... even if meant third wheeling. Tomorrow he’d talk to Allura. Or today... He wasn’t exactly sure what the time was, only that he was out past his bedtime and he wanted to get as far away from the hotel vampire as soon as he could.

*

When Lance went looking for Allura in the morning, the last thing he expected was to be running into Krolia. Walking through the halls, Krolia and Kolivan were talking with Coran. Lance knew he wasn’t supposed to hear what they were saying, but he definitely caught “Sendak needs to come in and testify that he wasn’t involved in the incident at the shipping yard, or we’ll be forced to hunt him down. If you can get Lotor to agree on a meeting with us personally, we’ll be in a much better position....” before the three of them noticed him and promptly shut up. He’d heard more, but he really had tried to ignore their words by thinking about Keith. In front of everyone else the Blades made it a point to tell the world they didn’t need Coran’s help. Now they were sneaking around and meeting with him like the dodgy snakes they were.

“Lance, my boy. What are you doing here?”

Coran sounded ruffled. Being caught would do that. Sliding his hands into his jeans, Lance shrugged, pretending this wasn’t awkward, and he didn’t feel like prey with the three of them walking towards him

“I just came up to talk to Allura. Is she around?”

“She’s in her office, I believe”

“Great. Well... I’m gonna go... yep... gonna go find Allura...”

And now he was overjustifying. Kolivan stared down at him, crossing his arms with a savage frown on his lips. Lance nearly found himself dropping down and begging for his life. The man was fucking scary

“Can I ask why you wish to see Allura? I was under the impression you’d be leaving by now”

Ouch. He was currently stuck. Things half packed

“I’m not exactly here because I want to be. No offence, Coran. I... well... I was going to ask Allura if she wanted to go out for a drink and a catch up”

Coran nervously twirled his moustache

“Sorry, my boy... Allura needs to stay here today. Why don’t you call Pidge and Hunk?”

Okay. This was weird. Why was it that he felt Coran wanted Allura staying at VOLTRON because he was scared for her? Lotor better not have hurt her already

“Nah. It’s fine. I wanted to see how she was. I’ll message Keith or something”

“Ah. Yes. Well. Shiro and Keith will be required later too. Sorry. Lotor wishes to meet with them and we believe Allura may be able to obtain information pertinent to the investigation...”

“That’s enough. Anything else is to be saved for the briefing”

Coran tugged lightly on the end of his moustache

“I’m sorry, Lance. He is quite right. Maybe today’s the day to go for a nice drive? You’ll find something to do. Only I ask that you please avoid the main floor. We don’t know what time we should expect Lotor’s arrival”

“Coran, you don’t need to explain. It’s okay. I’ll visit Garrison, and catch up with Allura another time”

Heading back to his room. Lance gathered up his things. Lotor was coming on board to work with the Blades, meaning his presence here would potentially cause issues if the two of them were to bump into each other. Coran had promised to work on something for his scent and pheromones but these things took time and the man now had enough of his plate that Lance understood he didn’t really have time to be coming up with something like that. It’d suck not being able to say goodbye to Keith, but Keith had work and that needed to come first. Plus they’d made up yesterday. He’d overstayed his welcome. Not helpful in the current situation. Packing up and moving home was best for everyone... except Keith. He was being pathetic. He’d been spoiled being able to see Keith almost everyday. Mami was right. They were definitely in their honeymoon phase. He wanted to spend as much time with Keith as possible, but already had made his working life hard because his boyfriend had to take care of him during his heats. Putting it that way didn’t sound noble. It kind of sounded like he was running away from his problems. He should just call Keith and explain... but hearing his voice... he’d want to see him, and then he’d want to stay and he couldn’t stay. Ugh. Being in love was exhausting... Don’t get him wrong, he adored Keith, but if he wasn’t thinking about him then he probably would have gone back earlier.

Taking the cowards way out, he shot keith a text. Well. A series of texts explaining that for now he thought it’d be best. He knew Keith had abandonment issues and he’d really wanted to help with this “Krolia Keith issue”. But he was just one vampire head over-heels for his boyfriend. He thought maybe he get them to talk, yet if he was confined to the lower levels of VOLTRON he didn’t see how that was going to happen. With his things packed, it took two trips to his car. Keith hadn’t replied to messages, making him feel even worse about just leaving him in Platt. Keith had mentioned he wanted him to be able to go back to Garrison, where he’d be relatively safe... Matt and Rieva wouldn’t have returned there is it wasn’t... and with the three of them they’d put up a fair fight if anything happened.

*

Blue kept him company for the drive. Clipping her lead to the passenger headrest, his precious princess curled up on the front seat, happy to be in the sun. Her legs stretched out, toe beans pointing towards him. She was just too cute. She’d made a friend in Kosmo and now Lance felt mean separating the pair of them. Maybe he should get another cat? If things were settling down for him, it’d be good for Blue to have some company... Though the house and grounds were her domain so an intruder might not be looked upon so nicely. Plus, she’d have to share her cat tree... and watch another cat eat wet food... Maybe another cat wasn’t such a good idea... Especially when Blue liked to “play” with him as a bat. He was likely to end up dead with a second feline there to help Blue. As Keith would say, he was overthinking things again.

Reaching his house, he didn’t feel better about coming home. Hunk’s car was in the drive, him and Pidge probably already inside. After his craptastic day, part of him felt petty. Pidge wasn’t fine with sleeping over when it came to him. But she was apparently fine with two werewolves... It stung. Like maybe he wasn’t welcome in his own house anymore, like he wasn’t exactly welcome at VOLTRON. Now he was sitting in front of his house, he realised he’d left without picking up blood bags. He should have some still, from when he was going to move back before, but after skulking away, he felt foolish. His metaphoric tail tucked between his legs because the adults didn’t have time for him. Totally fucking lame. He’d stripped his room completely. Everything packed and in the back of his bronco. All that came now was pasting a fake smile on his face and greeting his friends again.

Matt and Rieva had heard him coming, Lance opening the door to the pair of them. As they wrapped their arms around him, it was the best he’d felt all day

“You’re back!”

Matt sounded happy. At least someone was happy to see him... Nope. No. No being petty. They were home and staying there now

“Yep. Back for good”

“We missed you, man! Come in already! We’ve been dying here. Hunk’s cooking is the only thing keep us alive”

Lance snorted

“You’ve missed me because you can’t cook”

“Rieva can cook... but there’s just something not the same without you in the kitchen”

Matt was careless with his words. Rieva letting go of Lance and grabbing her boyfriend by the earlobe, Matt yelping

“What was that?”

Matt grabbed his girlfriend’s wrist

“Okay! I said it wrong! You can cook! You can cook! Stop tearing my ear off!”

Rieva grinned at Lance

“Hear that? He’s volunteered for two weeks of dishwashing and drying. Now, if only I could get him so enthused about doing his washing”

Lance raised an eyebrow

“You haven’t trained him yet?”

“At this stage he’s surviving on his good looks alone”

“Then how is he still alive?”

Matt frowned, Rieva letting go of his ear as she laughed. Crossing his arms, the werewolf put on an overly hurt tone

“Man. That hurt. I thought we were buds?”

“We are. Can I blame that on my ego?”

“Only if you don’t get too mad about your living room”

“What did you do to my house?”

“Well... about that...”

It took naught-point-two seconds for Lance to wish he was buried out the back in his grave soil. His living room transformed. Now there were investigation boards up for Lotor. Rieva hadn’t given up on Lotor being bad... she’d just shifted her investigation here... roping in Hunk and Pidge from the look of it. He’d left Platt and now Platt seemed determined to mock him

“What. The. Fuck?!”

“Don’t freak out...”

Matt could go jump if he thought Lance would be cool with this

“You can’t just... What were you thinking?”

This right here was why vampires lived longer than werewolves! Rieva took him by the hand

“I know this is hard for you, but we couldn’t let it go. Lotor’s bad news. His family is bad news. Please, Lance. This is the only safe place where we can work this out”

From the sofa, Pidge looked up from her laptop

“Rieva, ignore him. He worries too much”

No. He worried just the right amount!

“Of course I worry! You guys are mostly human! I didn’t come home to be caught up in an investigation that’d make me even more dead if the Blades found out!”

“That’s why they can’t know. Shiro and Keith...”

“I’m not lying to Keith. Both of them were booted from the investigation for a good reason. I can home to get away from this!”

Hunk came running from the kitchen. Oven mitts still on his hand

“What’s all the... Lance?! You’re back?”

Why did it feel like Hunk wasn’t happy to see him?

“I am. And I see you guys have been busy”

“Uh. Yeah. Uh, bud... you see... the thing is...”

“The thing is you’re going to end up getting yourselves killed chasing this. I can’t believe you guys! You find out vampires are real and now you’re targeting one of the nastiest around? Seriously?! Do you know what you’re doing?! Allura is like a hair away from dating Lotor. Keith’s stressed out. Shiro and Curtis are finally dating. We’re all banned pretty much from going to VOLTRON while the Blades investigate this. And you bring it home?! This isn’t fun and games! People end up dead or they end up as something fucking worse. Pidge, you were scared and you haven’t even seen the worst of it! I told you I didn’t want her caught up in this! She’s your sister, Matt!”

Matt sighed

“Look. I know you care about Pidge. But I care about keeping us all safe. Lotor is bad news...”

“I know! Well I don’t know, but I know enough!”

“You’re not a hunter...”

Matt started to speak, Lance snapping mid sentence

“You guys aren’t either! You want to be turned into pets? Is that it? You want to be fed on? You want to be tortured? Why?! Why would you do this?”

Pidge stood up, yelling

“Our parents know hunters! They know. They know about things!”

“Then figure out how to help Curtis with his goddamn curse! Not how to bring down Lotor and get us all killed in the process!”

Pidge’s parents knowing hunters kind of gut punched him. Pidge must have either forced them to talk to her or snooped. Probably snooped. Colleen was scary

“You’re not our boss, Lance. We can’t let people get hurt! Or is your precious ego so fragile you don’t actually care about helping people?”

Lance wanted to shake sense into Pidge. What happened to his always dependable ray of sunshine stopping her from being stupid?!

“Of course I care! But we’re banned from investigating! You guys were knocked out by the Blades once. Kolivan isn’t going to be so kind the next time around!”

“What does it matter if it stops people getting hurt?!”

“Because you could die!”

“And I could come back as a vampire! This is bigger than us”

Pidge didn’t get it. She didn’t get what being a vampire was like at all. Pidge turning into a vampire was the stuff of nightmares for him. Why were his friends so fucking stupid?!

“I can’t... I can’t even look at you guys right now. Being a vampire isn’t a joke. It’s the worst existence you could think of. For 26 years I’ve looked 18. I’ve watched my family grow old. I tore my family apart. My sister Rachel became a drug addict because she couldn’t cope. I’ve left people behind. I’ve had to change my name and move. Everything you enjoy about being human is gone. Your precious coffee, drink that and you’ll be throwing it back up half an hour later. No caffeine buzz. No alcohol buzz. We go insane. That’s our fate. Our fate is loose our minds and turn into monsters. That’s if you even survive turning and you’re not hunted down and decapitated first. Our blood is so dangerous that even a hickey can turn our partners if they suck too hard. Fuck this. I’ll be in my grave my soil”

No matter which way he looked at it. He’d be the first to sign up for experimental time travel because today had sucked so hard that not even Keith calling him could make up for it.

[misssophiachase]

Meet the Mikaelsons (formerly called Reality Bites) Chapter 5 - We Are Family

On FF and AO3

Playa Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo

"He’s so frustrating, do you think if I killed him and buried his body in the woods anyone would notice?”

“Given he’s Klaus Mikaelson I think so, Care,” Bonnie offered through the phone speaker.

“So, did you see him naked in the shower at least?” 

Caroline had to stop for a moment, not because she’d seen him naked or in the shower given she was too busy sabotaging his hot water supply but because there was a small, niggling feeling at the back of her mind that wasn’t averse to seeing him in that way. Not that she'd ever admit it aloud.

“Of course that would be your initial response, Kat,” she muttered wryly, once she'd recovered from those rogue visuals. “He is driving me crazy. First, he orchestrates the seat allocation change on the flight, then the accommodation and now dinner with the Addams Family.”

“You work with them every day, it can’t be that difficult.”

“Not all at once, Bonnie, and I usually have a whole crew of buffers to stop me from killing them but tonight it will just be us.”

“Like one big happy family.”

“Not helping, Katherine,” she growled.

“Look, I’d be more than happy to play buffer with Elijah Mikaelson,” Katherine purred. “My buffering skills are second to none.”

“I think you’re onto something,” Caroline murmured, wondering why she hadn’t thought of it sooner. “How would you both like to come to dinner? I’ll invite Enzo too. Klaus Mikaelson thinks he can mess with my life, well I’m going to do the same thing and play him at his own game.”

"You realize he's your boss, right?"

"The network is my boss and last time I checked he's co-producer," she muttered, still annoyed he'd taken half her job. "Anyway, in a few more weeks I won't have anything to do with him or his crazy-ass family so quite frankly I'm going to do what I like. Now, are you in?"

"Caroline?" She heard him call through the door. "We need to leave for dinner."

"Keep your panties on, Mikaelson," she replied.

"Stop thinking about my knickers and get your cute, little butt out here, Forbes."

"Are you sure you two aren't getting it on?" Katherine asked through the phone, reminding Caroline they were still on the line. "Because if you're not that's as close to foreplay as two people can get."

"Collect Enzo and get your asses to this dinner otherwise I can't be responsible for my actions," she growled then disconnected the call.

Caroline smoothed down her dress, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes momentarily to regain her composure. Just because she wasn't used to big, family dinners didn't mean she couldn't do this. She did work with them all at varying times so it should be easy enough.

Her eyes fluttered open, Caroline telling herself that it was only a couple of hours then it would be all over.

Opening the door, Caroline wasn't expecting him to look quite so handsome in a white, linen shirt buttoned low on his toned chest and fitting, khaki pants. Obviously the cold shower didn't dampen any of his appeal or her attraction to it. Why did he have to look like that? And smell like that? His spicy aftershave was infiltrating her nostrils and she was struggling to concentrate on what she was supposed to do next.

"Wow, you look.." she finally focused on Klaus, catching his dazed expression. 

"It's a dress," she replied, knowing full well she chose this white one on purpose because of how well it fitted her and highlighted her Californian tan. 

Not that she was trying to impress him but if she was forced to eat with the Mikaelsons then she had to look at least mildly presentable amongst all of their designer clothing. 

"It's beautiful," he murmured, the intensity in his eyes making her blush mildly. 

"Well, it's not designer but it'll have to do."

"I've always thought designer clothes were overrated," he admitted. "This shirt is actually from the Gap." She gave him a look which clearly said she knew he was lying. "You can, uh, check the tag if you like?"

"I'll pass on that," she shot back sarcastically. "You obviously haven't been to the Gap lately, but nice try to make me feel included, Mikaelson."

"Just because I haven't been shopping there lately doesn't mean I don't want to go there, Forbes," he chuckled. "Now, let's get going before my mother tells us off for being late and missing Grace." 

"You say Grace?"

"No, but I got you," he laughed. She rolled her eyes in his direction and then they set off for his mother's private villa.

"So, just in case you were wondering, my mother hates coriander, I think you call it cilantro, she’s incredibly paranoid it’s in the food even if it isn’t. Elijah’s pet peeve is anyone who doesn’t observe proper decorum when it comes to table manners and cutlery placement. Rebekah is incredibly fussy about food.”

“Trust me we’ve seen that particular trait daily on-set,” she murmured knowingly, feeling bad for the catering team all over again.

“She has a thing about separate food items touching. Fruit salad is case in point,” Caroline couldn’t help but giggle at that point.

“Defeats the purpose of calling it a salad I suppose,” she observed. “And Kol?”

“Kol has this horrible habit of licking his knife and talking with his mouth full. Henrik is the one you have to look out for though.”

“Innocent, little Henrik?”

“Don’t let him fool you, love. While being the nicest of all the Mikaelsons, many family meals have ended with at least someone throwing food at someone else." 

“Who knew Henrik could be so mischievous? And you?”

“I don’t like peas.”

“Everyone hates peas, that is nothing,” she snorted. 

“Okay, you’ve got me.” 

“Let me guess you help Henrik do the throwing?”

“Not every time,” he admitted. “Just when Elijah is being pompous and Rebekah precious and Kol immature.”

“So, most times then?” He smirked at her knowingly. “Are these all jokes too?”

"All truth, I couldn’t come up with all of those quirks if I tried. Plus, I swear on my Gap shirt," he teased. Caroline liked the fact that the Mikaelsons seemed like a normal family even if they didn’t let anyone see it publicly. 

"So, why did you feel the need to tell me that? Worried about my white dress getting dirty because of a rogue, food fight you may or may not have started?"

"Well, that," he began, sending her a small smile as they walked. "And because I felt a little bad about crashing your flight and making you stay at the villa.” 

“So, you admit you were wrong?”

“Easy tiger, I never said I was wrong. Klaus Mikaelson is never wrong.”

“Oh, puh-lease, enough with the ego and the use of the third person,” she complained.

“But I thought it would be helpful with our work. Also, I’m a little worried you’ll try that cold water trick on me again or dagger me in my sleep tonight.”

“I suggest you sleep with one eye open if that’s the case,” she said, only half-jokingly.  “I’m curious about this supposed work we’ll be doing. I mean the location team has been here for the past week setting up, the pre-production work is done, the crew has their instructions, the cast has their scripts, even if some don’t like to use them,” she raised her eyebrows at him accusingly.

“You never know when something will come up,” he replied mysteriously.

“If that’s your attempt to talk dirty…”

“I can’t help it if you misconstrue everything I say,” he teased. “I heard you used to work in research before you went into producing.”

“I did,” she confirmed. “What kind of research do we need exactly?”

“Well actually…”

“If it isn’t my two favorite producers in the whole world,” Kol singsonged, patting his brother on the back affectionately as they walked up the front path together.

“Maybe because we are the only two you know, knucklehead,” Klaus growled. 

Caroline was used to his younger brother’s weird sense of humour and she was busily trying to work out what Klaus needed and why it included her. Maybe it had something to do with the bride-to-be but, for some reason, it seemed more personal than even that. 

“Shouldn’t you be kissing in a tree with sweet Caroline by now, brother?”

“Shouldn’t you be acting your age by now, Kol?” 

“I don’t kiss in trees just for your information, Kol. I much prefer places that are comfortable and clean,” she offered. Kol’s eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of his head at her brazen response. 

“What a coincidence, love,” Klaus growled, his heated expression not lost on her. “Me too.”

As they walked inside and approached the rest of the family, Caroline realised she was going to have to find out later about this mysterious research project. 

First, she had to get through dinner with the Mikaelsons.

30 minutes later..

“Are you sure there’s no cilantro in this?” Esther asked the waiter, inspecting the plate of food suspiciously. Caroline noticed Klaus smirking in her direction and had to stifle a laugh. 

“We’ve been through this already, mother, it hasn’t touched anything, trust me I asked for all ingredients before we ate,” Rebekah drawled, knocking her head on the table in frustration. 

“Manners, Rebekah,” Elijah chided. “And, Kol, I’m taking away your knife if you’re going to do that. And Henrik,” he admonished, before the young boy could even speak. “Don’t you even think about starting a fight, this is a $5,000, Armani suit.”

Caroline couldn’t believe just how accurate his observations of his family were. Having said that though, Klaus had been relatively quiet until now. She thought it was due to the fact the other Mikaelsons were taking centre stage but something didn’t seem right given just how chatty he’d been with her earlier. 

“I’m sorry we’re late.” She looked up to see Enzo, Kat, and Bonnie being ushered in by the villa staff. “Someone had to change their outfit ten times.” Caroline eyed Katherine knowing who the guilty party was. 

“Of course not, sit down,” Esther fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Waiter, get these three some drinks and whatever this food is supposed to be. I hope none of you are allergic to cilantro.”

“And keep the drinks coming,” Rebekah muttered tapping her glass impatiently, her attention squarely focused on Enzo. Caroline wasn’t sure what Enzo had done to Princess Rebekah but obviously it required extra alcohol.

“Thank you for inviting us,” Bonnie smiled sweetly. Kol who’d been busy inspecting his facial features in the reflection of his butter knife stopped short, perusing their new dining companions curiously. 

“Of course, anything for Caroline,” Esther said, patting the chair next to her for Enzo. He gave her a brief look which meant ‘you owe me.’ 

She could feel Klaus staring intently in her direction, his crimson lips pursed tightly.  Maybe inviting them behind his back was immature but she’d been so worked up about his constant need to interfere with her plans. 

“Nice suit, Armani right?” Katherine asked, placing herself next to him. When she said she’d buffer she really meant it. 

“Yes,” he answered. “And who might you be?”

“Katherine Pierce,” she sent him a dazzling smile. “It’s lovely to finally meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms Pierce,” he replied stoically. Caroline never knew anyone who could be so immune to flirting as Elijah. But knowing Katherine’s persistence he would soon know.  

“Who do we have here?” Kol asked, sidling over to Bonnie. “Are you a friend of our sweet Caroline?”

“Yes, I’m Bonnie,” she replied simply. 

“Well, I’m Kol,” he said confidently. “Although, I’m sure you’ve heard of me already.”

“Yes, your reputation precedes you,” she murmured quietly. Caroline could tell by Kol’s puzzled look he wasn’t sure if she meant that in a good or bad way. Maybe being kept on his toes like that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. 

“Can you pass the salt,” Enzo asked Rebekah politely after their meals had been delivered. She didn’t respond at first, just finished the rest of her drink in one go. Enzo gave Caroline another look which clearly meant ‘seriously?’

“Here,” she pushed it toward him her gaze purposely not meeting his. 

“Well, that would be great if I wanted pepper,” he muttered. “There is a difference.”

“Rebekah don’t be rude to the good doctor,” Esther chided. “I’m sorry about my children, they have everything they could ever want except for manners. Their father and I tried but obviously you can’t have everything.”

Klaus remained quiet, his gaze now downward. Caroline wondered if it was still because of her surprise guests or if it was something more. She didn’t want to care but, at the same time, for some reason she really wanted to know.