#gilbert believes there is a cure to be found

[gogandmagog]

Well, I’ve just finished watching ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ with my boss, and I now fully repent ever saying that I didn’t want to see anymore ‘Anne’ adaptions, because if we don’t get ‘Anne of the Island of Zombies’ I’ll absolutely die thinking life was sooooo utterly pointless.

[crimsonlyinglilly]

Welcome

I figured this might be useful to anyone interested in my Fics.

Mostly AUs of the Vampire Dairies to explore Elijah Mikaelson, his issues and his relationships.

Hayley/Jackson/Elijah will likely be found reoccurring in them, or on the flip side Tristan/Elijah

Also appearing sometimes; Sage and the complicated mess that is Elijah and Finn.

More than half of these are thanks to @riderofblackdragons for listening to me ramble about them and telling me to go for it.

The Vampire Dairies and The Originals AU

Stolen Three - Esther attempts to break the deal to save the future firstborns from Dahlia, who keeps her word and returns for Finn and Elijah. The oldest three grow up together under Dahlia, it isn’t pleasant.

Familiar Faces - Elijah Gilbert has been haunted by dreams of other lives as long as he remembers, but now with the appearance of the Salvatore brothers he may finally get some answers.

Lady Elijah - Elijah is born a girl, it changes much and little at the same time. Eylaug Mimisdottir was born in the shadow of her older sister's loss, she will never escape that weight but to those born after her she's the only oldest sister they have.

Soulmarks - Since Celeste's death Elijah had only had her name, reburning itself onto his skin every few years, he took the pain in penance of her death however after her final death he discover the two new names that should have appeared decades ago.

Andréa Labonair and Jackson Kenner.

Inner Child - Esther casts a spell to bring forth a Elijah who believed in her when her first attempts to bring him onto her side fails, when Elijah wakes from his sleep by Klaus, they find a seven year old version. The aftermath leaves more damage than even Esther had planned.

Grandfather Elijah - Elijah makes a different choice in the wake of Tatia's death and flees with the child he orphaned. He makes a promise to the boy that would become his son and keeps it beyond his death and those of his grandchildren.

Reincarnation Woes -On the night Mikael struck down his children, Elijah managed to grab one brother and run, sixteen years later Kol desperately tries to repay the favour and save his brother.

He failed or so he thought until years later he meet the eyes of his son and finds his brother looking back, starting a cycle.

Mother's Son - in the aftermath of losing Freya, Esther uses magic on her unborn child. Years later Dahlia appears to take the child that her magic tells her is hers.

Nature's Spare - A Omegaverse AU; Where nature decides it needs a backup Tribrid, it uses Elijah and Jackson to get that.

Entangled Minds - Sage gets a witch to cast a spell to help her reconnect with Finn, it has other results, Finn’s freed from the darkness of the box to learn the darkness within his brother’s mind and Elijah starts to questions his sanity in isolation, as while he looks for his siblings and questions if Niklaus is redeemable anymore, he starts to hear his older brother’s voice.

Northstar in stone - Elijah manages move at the last moment, saving Finn from Lucien's bite at the cost of taking it himself.

Taste of sin - Kol calls Elijah to help prevent Silas's return instead Elijah falls. A year and half Elijah arrives in New Orleans with a new hunger, powers and a trail of blood. Siren!Elijah

A Lost Coat - in the aftermath of losing Freya, Esther bleeds and Elijah is born of another woman and Mikael, one with her own secrets. Selkie!Elijah

Forgotten - Mikael makes his own version of the daggers and Elijah when he decides to buy Klaus and Rebekah time never leaves New Orleans. When Klaus comes back a century later, Elijah isn't how he last saw him.

Caged Founder - The Strix learn their lives are tied to Elijah and seeing an chance with the recent spilt of the Mikaelson Sibling following New Orleans reclaim their Sire. For safe keeping.

Hollow Bones - Elijah goes missing while looking for a cure to the crescent curse and ends with him a few changes of his own. Raven!Elijah

Lost Gods and Found Memories - Katherine claims the throne of hell and regains her memories of a life long lost, she finds she a far more important concern, Where is her wife? Hades!Katherine and Perserphone!Elijah

Amendments - Elijah escapes being daggered by the Five but ends up dealing with the curse, he escapes being dagger at all for the several centuries leaving the Trinity to be decoys far longer.

Freedom in Fur - Elijah was born sickly and wasn't expected to live to six, Klaus and Elijah had always had a bond, they never would known the truth if not for Esther interference a thousand years later. Hybrid!Elijah Wolf!Elijah

Second Chances - an attempt to break the Crescent curse goes wrong in an unexpected way, leaving the oldest three Mikaelson siblings waking in a different time.

Kitten cat, Vampire cat. -Kol decides to announce his return to the living by repeating an old prank. Elijah wakes up to new additions of ears and a tail and discovers cat instincts and his vampiric nature work a little to well together.

Karma's a bitch - Dahlia in revenge for Klaus' betrayal, manages to undo Esther's spell so Klaus has to face a future where his siblings would leave him like Esther had her.

Adoption the wolf way - Mikael goes too far during training leaving Finn to make a choice for his little brothers survival.

Daughters are a light. - Following the lost of Freya, Mikael and Esther were gifted with four more daughters before the birth of their youngest and second son Henrik.

Left Behind -The Mikaelsons never have a reason to flee together, instead they stay together until Esther’s death from old age. Elijah remains behind with Mikael. It's far too late when Elijah works out it’s a hell with no escape.

Nobody noticed, nobody cared? - Aurora works out a plan to get into the middle of the Mikaelson siblings and convinces Tristan to help. Elijah never makes it to Hayley's wedding and instead is forced to adapt to Aurora's mind as she takes his place.

Crossovers

A Small Break - a Dollhouse crossover, where Elijah after decades of failing to find any evidence against Klaus' claim of throwing their siblings into the ocean meets a man in a bar and takes a chance on human science giving him a escape from his failings.

Viserra's line -a House of the dragon crossover. Princess Viserra Targaryen survives being thrown from her horse on her the 'one last night of laughter' and weds Lord Manderly, they have three children Daehlia, Mikael and Aesther.

Saving Elijah - a Saving Hope crossover. After having his memory wiped instead of meeting Antoinette, Elijah ends up running into a grieving witch and gets a new chance- a new life.

The Hogwarts Sabbatical. - Harry potter crossover. The Mikaelsons wake up, human age thirteen on a train to a magical school in 1993, with no idea how or why.

Other unrelated TVD/TO writings, finished short fics and head canons found here.

Other Fandoms

Shared Custody, Bleach AU - Uryuu Ishida was taken by squad 12 members alongside Souken's soul on the day he was attacked. He ends up growing up shared between Squads Four and Eleven.

Consequences, Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU- Repress, repress, repress. It had been his thing for a long as he could remember. But apparently there was a limit to how much he could press down before it all comes back up. AU set Buffy Season 3, Episode 15

My Original work

Rachelia and Neret -a mortal's grief and a god's power is a poor mix.

Found on Ao3

Broken Promise, Buddy Daddies - Kyuutaro had a little brother, bright, loud and cheerful, either had too much energy running everywhere or clinging to him like octopus.

Spirit Touched, Avatar the last airbender - Zuko dies during the attack on the north pole to save La, the Ocean Spirit.

Centre of the web - Steve Harrington doesn't remember anything before he was eleven, he ignores that, he was a normal kid. Seven remembers everything he was a monster, that's why he made Steve to be the normal child the Harrington's deserved.

Masterlists

[rockclimbinglover12107]

DNI: TVD Edition

You think that Klaroline was the healthiest and most well-written relationship on the show

You think that Matt Donovan was the worst and most annoying character on the show

You say that Bonnie Bennett was unfairly treated but then have the audacity to say that Elena Gilbert, Katherine Pierce, Vicki Donovan and Hayley Marshall weren’t done dirty at all and deserved everything they got

Jeremy Gilbert was genuinely your favourite character

You think that Elijah Mikaelson was a noble and moral person just because he wears suits and talks down to anyone who doesn’t share his blood

You thought that Damon Salvatore’s horrible actions were justified because he stalked and obsessed over a girl who was clearly into his brother

You think that the Mikaelson’s ( mainly Klaus and Elijah’s ) cruelty was completely fine because they pUt FaMiLy fIrSt, when they constantly daggered each other and had an unhealthy obsession with their technically teenage sister’s love life

You think that Vicki Donovan, an extremely troubled young girl with bad family issues and a drug problem, deserved to die at the hands of a 160 year old monster because you found her problems annoying

You don’t think that Katherine Pierce deserved any sympathy, despite her enduring a borderline abusive father, having her child ripped away from her, being banished and sent to an unfamiliar country in disgrace, being taken advantage of by two men who then tried to murder her, having to be on the run for hundreds of years, falling in love with a man who she had to leave, being captured by hunters, having the man who once loved her fall in love with her doppelgänger, having the cure shoved down her throat, being hunted by a 2000 year old psycho, start the agonising process of quick aging, becoming suicidal and trying to jump off a clock tower, having her daughter die in her arms, going to hell whilst Klaus Mikaelson went to heaven and never having anyone truly care about her for an extended period of time unless they wanted to get in bed with her

You hate Elena Gilbert but stan one or both of the Salvatore brothers and/or Caroline Forbes

You think that Rebekah Mikaelson was whiny for wanting love outside of her toxic ass family

You think that post s4 Elena Gilbert was better than s1-s3 Elena Gilbert

You can’t tell the difference between disliking Tyler Lockwood because of his often pig-headed personality but still sympathising with him due to Klaus’ mistreatment of him and believing that his character had no flaws and that Forwood was a great ship with no issues whatsoever.

Hope you agree with at least some of these opinions, might do a part 2 as I have many more views on tvd.

[shoami323]

YEAR 1301

Matilda's pregnancy progressed rather normally and steady after she found out about it. She even made friends with some other girls her age, who were also freshly married and pregnant. They often talked about their husbands, their pregnancies and just how life was. Matilda found the topics a little odd at first, but she soon got used to it. The only thing she still found unusual was that, even though she was younger than most of the girls, her belly was almost twice as big as the regular one... But she brushed it off, thinking that maybe it was just her imagination.

One warm, February evening in 1301, while she was caring for the garden, a sudden pain hit her. It was so strong that she couldn't breath for a moment, almost falling to her knees. She didn't need much thought to know what was happening with her. She was going into labor.

She didn't waste any time, instantly going to her husband and telling him what was going on. Gilbert stayed calm, though it was very hard to do so, comforting his wife in any way that he could.

It wasn't until late at night when the pain was unbearable to the young girl and the contractions were more frequent. Breathing slowly, she changed into her nightgown and awaited the birth.

"Gilbert" - she said, looking straight in her husband's green eyes. "Gilbert, I'm scared. What if something goes wrong?"

The boy only smiled and put a loving kiss on his wife's soft, red cheek.

"My love, you're a strong girl. You'll survive, I just know it. I'm aware of the fact that you're scared - and it's nothing new or weird, as it's your first pregnancy. But believe me when I say that everything will be alright, okay? We're in this together. We'll always be."

Matilda smiled, visibly happier. This guy.... He really could make her calmer in just a few seconds.

The labor progressed through the night, and after a few hours, a sweet little girl was delivered. Matilda was tired, exhausted even, but the sight of a crying newborn made her forget about all the pain she went through. The girl was given was named Eleanor, and she seemed perfectly healthy.

But Matilda still felt an urge to push. And something she had to push out was much bigger than just a placenta. Suddenly, her bigger belly started to make sense.

"Gilbert, wait" - she said, getting stressed again. "I... I think there's more than just one baby in here."

A wave of worry rushed over the teenage boy, but he knew that he couldn't seem like he's freaking out. That wouldn't be good for Matilda and an unborn baby.

"Okay" - he said. "Let's get this baby out of here."

The second baby took a lot less time to get out, and after about half an hour, a second baby girl was delivered. This one was named Lucia Bennett and was just as healthy as her older twin sister.

"I'm so insanely proud of you, songbird" - Gilbert exclaimed, tears forming in his eyes. "We have two baby girls, thanks to you and your strenght. Thank you, thank you so much for this."

"I'm happy, too" - said Matilda. She was too tired to say anything else, but she looked at her newborn daughters with an unconditional love in her warm, brown eyes.

But life is never truly perfect.

TW: DEATH

A few days after giving birth, Matilda started feeling worse and worse. She had a high fever, so high that she often seemed like she was just a wrack of a human - only laying in bed, doing nothing else. Gilbert tried to do what he could, cooking meals, doing gardening and fishing to earn some money. They both hoped that it was just a temporary thing that will soon pass. Unfortunately, when they finally got enough money for a doctor visit, he didn't have good news. Matilda was diagnosed with a childbed fever that was already killing her.

Knowing that there wasn't any cure, Gilbert and Matilda tried to spend as many time as they could with eachother and their newborn children. It was ironic - they were freshly married, only 13 and 15 years old, and yet one of them was going to pass away not even a year after their wedding. But still, they were there for eachother. Until one day, when Gilbert returned from his fishing trip to the nearby sea shore, he found his young wife laying on the floor, lifeless

Matilda Bennett, wife of Gilbert and mother of Eleanor and Lucia Bennett, died of childbed fever in February, 1301. She was only 13 years old. After her death, her husband was left alone with two newborns to care for.

[cruger2984]

The Pretty Cures and its Saints: Delicious Party♡Pretty Cure

It’s been a long time in three years and here we are, I have to make in just a long time, so here are our delicious heroes and their corresponding feast days sharing with their birthdays!

August 31 - Yui Nagomi (Cure Precious)

Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus: Both of these men are appeared in the Holy Bible's New Testament. Joseph (not to be confused with the foster father of Jesus) is from Arimathea, and a respected but wealthy civic leader and a member of the Sanhedrin. More important is the courage Joseph showed in asking Pilate for Jesus’ body. Jesus was a condemned criminal who had been publicly executed. Nicodemus is also a member of the Sanhedrin and a important one like Joseph, and was a Pharisee. He appeared in the Gospel of John when he secretly visits Jesus at night to discuss his teachings, and was impressed by the miracles of Jesus but was not fully convinced that he was the Messiah. Both Joseph and Nicodemus are honored by the Roman Catholic Church on this date, as Joseph is the patron of undertakers and funeral directors while Nicodemus is the patron of curiosity.

March 13 - Kokone Fuwa (Cure Spicy)

St. Roderick: 9th century priest who is formerly a Muslim, and is venerated as one of the Martyrs of Córdoba. Tradition states that he was a Christian priest of Cabra who had two brothers: one was a Muslim, the other irreligious. Once, after his brothers began to fight one another, Roderick attempted to break up the fight. However, they turned on him instead and beat him. When Roderick maintained his loyalty to the Catholic religion, he was accused of apostasy from Islam under Sharia law, and he was imprisoned and then beheaded along with Salomon (Solomon) at Córdoba.

July 11 - Ran Hanamichi (Cure Yum-Yum)

St. Benedict: 5th century abbot, mystic, exorcist, religious and founder of the Order of Saint Benedict (the Benedictine order). He founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, Lazio, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. The Order of Saint Benedict is of later origin and, moreover, not an 'order’ as commonly understood but merely a confederation of autonomous congregations. His main achievement, his ’Rule of Saint Benedict’, contains a set of rules for his monks to follow. Heavily influenced by the writings of John Cassian, it shows strong affinity with the Rule of the Master, but it also has a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness, which persuaded most Christian religious communities founded throughout the Middle Ages to adopt it. As a result, his Rule became one of the most influential religious rules in Western Christendom. He is believed to have died of a fever at Monte Cassino not long after his twin sister, Scholastica, and was buried in the same place as his sister. He was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964, and in 1980, Pope St. John Paul II declared him co-patron of Europe, together with Cyril and Methodius.

November 24 - Amane Kasaki (fka Gentlu) (Cure Finale)

St. Albert of Louvain: 12th century French cardinal and martyr. He is the second of two sons to Duke Godfrey III, Count of Leuven, and his first wife Margareta van Limburg, and was the brother of Henry I, Duke of Brabant. In 1188, he became the Archdeacon of Liège and later received the subdiaconate in 1191. That same year he was elected Bishop of Liège and despite the fact that he had not reached the canonical age of 30, his appointment was widely approved. Gilbert of Mons, chancellor of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut, who attended the election, along with other princes and nobles, described the proceedings as a power struggle between Albert's brother Henry and Baldwin. Albert took the matter to Rome and appealed to Pope Celestine III. In May 1192, Pope Celestine III made Albert a cardinal, and ordained him in Rome as a deacon on 30 May 1192. He was then ordained to the priesthood on 19 September 1192 by Cardinal Guillaume de Champagne. Albert met three German knights in 1192 who persuaded him to ride on horseback with them outside of Reims. Outside of the city they attacked Albert with their swords and struck him on the head which crushed his skull and caused him to fall, where they made sure they killed him prior to making an escape.

[stupendouspeanutstarlight]

A Farmer's Charm - Pt. 1

"Maggie!" Where had that girl gone, always leaving you to do the chores by yourself. Looking around across the farm and seeing Maggie no where in sight, releasing a heavy sign and looking at all the chickens you wondered aloud, "Now why do I let this girl get away with all her trouble? You wouldn't happ'n to know now Lucy would you?" Staring back at you with what you can only imagine is how a chicken would disgusted, she turns and walks off. Sighing you decided to finish up the few chores that were left, then head inside for dinner.

Entering your family's small farm house you were surprised to not hear Beth's cheerful signing with her boyfriend as she cooked, or your Dad, Agnes and Otis chatting. Your stepmother humming a tune, or your brother loudly walking around the house upstairs. The only audible noise in the house was the radio cranked above its normal volume blaring in the kitchen. Approaching the kitchen you see all your family and Maggie, who had disappeared from chores some odd twenty minutes ago, listening intently to the radio. "If you're hearing this... It's over, repent, pray, beg if that's what it takes, because god has forsaken us! The world is ending... I- I'm stuck in the station and they've been banging on the window for quite some time. It's the bite that seems to be turn'n people. They aren't in there anymore, it's like they've become shells!" After a long silence a crash can be heard over the radio and low groaning. "They're getting in... I love you Mary if you're listening, and I hope god be with you all through this. Thank you for listening and signing out for the last time!"

"What the hell was that about?"

A couple of weeks had passed since the end of the world had started. You had lost your stepmother and brother to some wandering biters a week or so back, and even as they began to rot and deteriorate your father insisted they be kept in the barn. It was unsettling to see them in that state, eyes glossed over and foaming at the mouth to take a chunk of flesh. As time passed your hope that the rest of your family held for a cure began to diminish. Otis would lure wandering biters into the barn, but never kill them. You weren't even sure how to do it honestly, but the day came when it was necessary.

When out on a small supply run into town, equipped with only a small hunting knife, you were forced to put one down. You weren't able to stop hyperventilating for half an hour, while just walking alongside your horse on the way home. Knowing your family's strong opinions on the biters, you thought it best to keep the situation to yourself. Now if you found a biter you would kill it as humanely as you could, in order to try and free it's spirit. You thought you'd be keeping your family safe and that you and your family were the only survivors for miles until you returned from a two day supply run to discover Otis dead, and a knew group at your home.

Arriving with Gilbert, a beautiful horse that you'd raised from childhood, you couldn't believe that there was other survivors. Looking over at the group in your yard Beth noticed you were back, "Y/n!" Running towards you, expertly you dismounted Gilbert and braced for her to jump at you in a hug. "We were worried sick! What took you so long?" She was now examining you head to toe, checking for and injuries that may be the cause for holding you up.

Laughing and shaking her off you, "Beth, I'm fine! Got held up by a big group of biters and had to take a different route. I also had to go pretty far out, all the nearby places we've cleared almost straight out!"

Scowling Beth crossed her arms and looked at you disappointed, "How many times have we said it y/n! They aint 'biters', they are people! Now get and let dad your home! You've got new people to meet!" Taking Gilbert's reigns from you and shoving you in the direction of the house she headed off. Your arrival had caused a couple turning heads in your direction, and wary looks. You waved at the newcomers and headed to alert your dad of your return. After giving your dad and Agnes a hug, letting her know how sorry you were for Otis you headed outside to search for Maggie.

Walking over to the fire near a rv the newcomers had an older woman and man sat smiling gently at you. "Hey, I'm y/n Greene. I was out a few look'n for supplies, nice to meet ya'll."

"Hi, I'm Carol and this is Dale. It's nice to meet you y/n. The rest of our group is out searching and gun practice off the farm."

Seeing your confused expression Dale elaborated, "Carol's little girl got run off from our group by walkers a couple days back."

Smiling apologetically and placing a hand on Carols, "I'm so sorry you're separated from her, I can't imagine what you're feel'n. I'll work with the rest of your people when they're back and comb the area, I grew up in these woods, we'll find her."

Smiling with watery eyes Carol thanked you and excused herself to the rv for a while. "Y/n, we really appreciate your family's kindness, and I'm happy to finally meet you. Beth has been talking about you an awful lot, girl really looks up to you!"

"Oh Beth probably oversold me! Anyways, you said there are more of y'all?"

"Yeah, our hunter Daryl is out looking for Sophia. We got more out in the field shooting, and Lori and her son Carl should be inside the house right now."

"You got a hunter! Think he might teach me a thing or two? I've got an old bow inside that could use some use. I can easily make my way around the farm, but I'd like to learn some hunting skills!"

"Um.. Well Daryl can be a bit reclusive, and he's not much for people." Seeing your face sink Dale was quick to try and reassure you, "But if you try he might warm up to the idea! Just probably won't be until after Sophia is found, he's pretty occupied with that right now."

"Of course! I'll be going out tomorrow to help search, it's getting late now."

Later that night you had become aquatinted with everyone except Daryl, because he had come back after you'd started cleaning up the dishes. You'd made sure to set aside a large helping of food for him. Hearing everyone set off to bed, and someone yell out Daryl's name you headed outside with his food. Seeing Rick and Daryl part ways and him heading off to his tent you jogged over to intercept him. "Daryl!"

Whipping his head around he eyed you up and down, "Who are you?" Shifting on his heels he tried to get a good read on you. He wasn't sure if maybe you were new, he vaguely remembered hearing about another Greene sibling, but didn't think much of it.

"Nice to meet you, I'm y/n Greene!" Flashing him a grin and presenting the bowl of food to him, "I heard you'd been out look'n for that little girl all day, you must be hungry! I saved you a bowl of Beth's stew." Grabbing the stew from your hands you got a grunt and a nod. With that he headed into his tent and off to bed.

[little-miss-buffy]

Werewolf Buffy Verses

Werewolf Buffy Wolf Pack AU Verse

A large wildfire reunites Buffy with her older sister, Kristen (Ramsey), since she disappeared years ago. Buffy learns that Kristen is not only a werewolf, but she has two nephews and one niece: twins Harlan and Luna and their brother, Baron. All three werewolves, too. Apparently, during a fire eighteen years ago, Kristen had been separated from her children. Harlan and Luna were found and raised by Garrett Briggs and Baron was believed to be dead. Working as arson investigators, Kristen and Buffy manage to find Harlan and Luna and also, not only is Baron alive, but he is trapped in werewolf form and has no idea how to control it. He'd managed to kill people he believed to be threatening his pack and turned two other teenagers: Everett and Blake.

One night, Kristen and Buffy find out that Baron had been stabbed with silver and rushed to the hospital. A firefighter uses Baron to lure Kristen out of the shadows so he could kill her. Garrett and Buffy come to her rescue and they incapacitate the firefighter. After healing Baron, Kristen reveals to Garrett that she wants her family back. At first he thinks that Kristen wants to take Harlan and Luna away from him, but Kristen tells Garrett that he's been a good father to them and she needs him to help her protect "our children," but not as a human. Before Garrett can object, Baron bites and turns him. Buffy is about to leave and go back to her own life, but as she says goodbye to Kristen, Kristen tells her that when she said she wanted her family back, that included Buffy, too and then Baron turns her along with Garrett.

Werewolf Buffy Vampire Diaries AU Verse

Like the regular verse, it's been three years since Sunnydale was destroyed and the Gilberts are the only living family Buffy and Dawn have left. Dawn goes to Whitmore to be closer to them and Jenna has Buffy move in with her and Jeremy and Elena after Miranda and Grayson die. A couple weeks before her cousins' death, *Buffy had to travel 200 years into the future to fight and kill Dark Willow. What she doesn't know is that **the Summers/Sommers family line carries the werewolf gene and although it was 200 years ahead, killing Dark Willow activated Buffy's gene. Of course, Buffy didn't know about this until the full moon after moving to Mystic Falls

Werewolf Buffy The Originals AU Verse

New Orleans has been without a slayer for way too long. Given its Hellmouth-y reputation, rather than send one of her slayers or Scoobies, Buffy decides to go herself. On her first night, Buffy saves Hayley Marshall from being taken by Marcel's lackeys and then both are saved by Rebekah. Buffy befriends the two girls after hearing the situation they and the rest of the Mikaelsons are in, however, this drags her into the family's drama by proxy. The benefit of the situation, though, is that when Klaus takes back the Mikaelson Compound, Hayley's insistence, Buffy moves in with them. Klaus agrees to it, thinking that an alliance with her would be beneficial. At times, Buffy would go with Hayley to the Bayou to visit the Crescents. One day, while they were still cursed and in wolf form, ***Cain, a poacher Buffy went toe-to-toe with back in Sunnydale, shows up. He recognized Buffy. After a brief verbal sparring, Buffy demands that he leave, but instead, he laughs in her face and aims his gun at Jackson. At the last minute, Buffy is able to stop him, by bending the nozzle of the gun upwards. However, she bends it back too far and too fast and Cain winds up shooting himself in the face. Even though Cain pulled the trigger, Buffy still feels guilty and to top it off, her family has the werewolf gene and this was enough to trigger it. However, she doesn't know about any of this until a month later when she goes with Hayley to see if the cure for the Crescents worked. It does, however, this is when Buffy starts turning for the first time. So, while Crescents celebrate their curse being lifted, Buffy if coming to terms with what she is and how to live with it.

* Based on season 8 of the Buffy graphic novel

**Dovetailed from @apex-royalty 's verse

***From Buffy season 2, episode 15: "Phases"

[lionheartedvixens]

name: katherine sophia pierce (katerina sofiya petrova) age: 23 (550+) date of birth: june 5 place of birth: sofia, bulgaria species: vampire status: undead occupation: owner of saints and sinners nightclub face claim: nina dobrev

killed by: herself

turned by: rose marie watson

turned on: april 7

bloodline: niklaus mikaelson

vampire/hybrid sire bond: none active

lapis lazuli: emily bennett

katherine pierce was born as katerina petrova who had been running from the original hybrid for a long time. after giving giving birth to a baby girl deemed illegitimate and being separated from her, she was banished off to england where she met niklaus and elijah mikaelson. after finding out that klaus planned on using her as a sacrifice in order to break the curse that had been placed on him as she was the doppelganger of tatia petrova as a human, she sabotaged his plan by hanging herself and turning herself into a vampire. she also stole the moonstone, which klaus needed in order to break the curse and then ran away. after that, he slaughtered her family in bulgaria and she ran from him for over five centuries. in 1864, katherine met damon and stefan salvatore. their father had taken her into his home, not knowing that she was a vampire. both brothers promised to keep katherine’s true nature a secret and she’d planned to turn them so they could be together forever. when giuseppe salvatore found out that she was a vampire, he spiked the blood of his sons with vervain, knowing she’d feed off of them soon enough. the man captured her, bringing katherine to fell’s church which they planned to burn. though what they didn’t know was that there was a tomb underneath, preventing the vampires from death. before it got that far, she managed to escape while emily bennett let damon and stefan believe katherine was in the tomb. after they found out that she had never been in there, katherine stirred up a lot of chaos in mystic falls. she did save damon from dying of a werewolf bite, bringing him klaus’ blood. she was also in possession of the cure, but it somehow got into stiles stilinski’s system. now she's not able to use it on anyone else, even though she couldn't use it on klaus to begin with. she's not happy that her blood is the one thing needed to turn werewolves into hybrids. it had been elena gilbert before she died, but now that the human doppelganger has passed, katherine’s blood has reactivated.

kyle ancona (ex husband) → katherine was once married to kyle and considers it to be the biggest mistake of her life. she's now considering an alliance with gossip girl to get back on her queen bitch thronr, but not before swiping the cure from the founders council so she can shove it down kyle's throat...

damon salvatore (ex boyfriend) → katherine actually came to deliver the cure to damon when he was dying of a werewolf bite. while he might have thought that she was only ever in love with stefan, that's not at all true...

stefan salvatore (ex boyfriend) → katherine is on decent terms with stefan, though with elena being back as a dark huntress might complicate things.

niklaus mikaelson (enemy) → klaus has hunted katherine down for centuries, before she became a vampire and after she succeeded in taking the moonstone from him. she's still trying to find a way to deactivate her blood to get away from klaus - he'll keep seeking her out whenever he wants to make more hybrids.

[floripire]

re: the mystic falls gang, inspired by @baby-royalty's headcanon

flori only knows elena as doctor gilbert, who has her own practice in town, and is a divorcee because she and mister damon salvatore ultimately did not manage to make it work. doctor gilbert is also a single mother to stefanie salvatore - who is a walking, talking vampire cure.

still, elena went through a lot in life, from losing her loved ones to getting targeted because of her status as a doppleganger, getting turned into a vampire and then getting cured. flori figures that takes a toll on any person.

there are many stories about elena, both good and bad, and flori does see the parallels between them (elena felt something for both salvatore brothers; flori felt something for both carson siblings and they are both resilient) but at the end of the day, flori figures she'll never know her well enough to form an opinion on her other than 'she's the town doctor and she's a survivor'.

jeremy is the one who found flori in grove hill, after she escaped from the triad industries detention facility. he's the one who took her to the salvatore school. she may not talk to him much these days, but she's always gonna be grateful for that and because he got her to the school - and therefore got her to the people she needed in life - he will always be her favorite gilbert and she'll always check in with him whenever he visits the school.

caroline is josie and lizzie's mom, and the headmistress of the school. caroline has her flaws and faults like every person, of course, but she also has her strengths. caroline also seems to be the only positive adult vampire rolemodel around. even if she wasn't, flori would still really look up to her, admire and adore her because caroline has been through so much and she's still standing. every so often, flori sends caroline a message to let her know that she is valued and appreciated as a person and as a vampire.

flori absolutely adores bonnie too and that's not just because she's best friends with bonnie's daughter, loren. bonnie knows what it's like to be a person of color in a predominantly white town. bonnie knows what it's like to live with this discrepancy - to have the world look at people like caroline and elena one way, and look at her in another way. vampires hurt bonnie, hurt bonnie's family and even hurt bonnie's ancestors so why shouldn't she be allowed to retaliate (with a minor aneurysm spell)? bonnie could have done a lot worse, and, quite frankly, should have been allowed to. but of course, flipping the switch and every other variation thereof - like doing malevolent magic - is a white person's luxury so of course she didn't. couldn't. wouldn't. had she done that for real, bonnie never would have heard the end of it, flori is certain.

things are a lot better now, thankfully, yet flori still thinks it's heinously unfair that bonnie barely got a thank you for all the hard work she's done throughout the years - everyone in mystic falls would be dead a thousand times over if it hadn't been for her. which is something that flori wholeheartedly believes in and has definitely ranted about. flori has a tendency to thank bonnie a lot and to let her know that she is appreciated. for the big things and for the small things she's done. for just being herself. flori is really very glad that she gets to exist at the same time as bonnie does and can sit and listen to her talk about spells and magic for hours, even if she herself has no access to any of it.

it's certainly impossible but if caroline gave her the okay and flori could go on a quest with her best friends to resurrect bonnie's past lover(s) (whether that's enzo or nora)? she would. bonnie deserves to be happy and flori wants so desperately to do something, anything, for bonnie to lighten the load.

matt had a long run as the sheriff and then became the mayor of the town. she's not talked to him personally but she heard about him from kaleb. she does commend him for managing to get through everything without dying or turning.

tyler is donovan's dad and is also related to alice so he can't be all that bad. flori's probably kinda tongue tied around him at first, though. when that's over and done with, she'll ask all the questions in regards to how wolf packs work. what? he's interesting and she's sure he's got stories to tell!

flori knows that stefan was many things: a vampire, a brother, a friend, a lover. to her, he's a namesake of her favorite places in the world: the school as a whole because it's her home and the memorial library it houses within. part of her wishes that he was still around. she thinks that the vampires could have used his advice and his presence (even if she'd be tongue tied around him). she holds stefan in higher regard than his older brother.

and flori knows damon as the owner of the mystic grill and other such establishments, a cured vampire, doctor gilbert's ex-husband and stefanie's dad. flori sees him sometimes when she goes to the mystic grill to grab a bite but does her best not to bother him or talk to him. there are stories about him too, of course, but most of those lean towards the positive (considering so many people auditioned for him in the school play) and that's probably because stories about his dynamic with caroline aren't explicitly told (and flori doesn't know about any of this, either). logically, flori knows he has a lot of vampiric wisdom after living for so long and that she should definitely ask about it but she never really does. maybe it's unconscious self protection.

*in the unnamed time travel au/verse, all of this is subject to change + there is absolutely no pressure for you to follow these headcanons if you write any of the characters mentioned above. zero pressure! absolutely none! nada! this is just flori's pov, going off of the info that is (presumably) available to her.

[tvdoriginal]

4x03: We All Knew This Day Was Coming

Oh shit. Right, okay. So I literally forgot that Malivore did something to Ethan because I thought vampire blood cured his injury. He’s acting, um, I wouldn’t necessarily say ‘evil’ but just different. He sees one of his old teammates struggling with football and tells his he is fully recovered with something undetectable. Ethan says that he can get this guy hooked up and takes him to Malivore.

I’m so fucking tired of Hope. Honestly her attitude towards Landon is very Damon-esque. I just hope that they give her more purpose this season than just “save the boy I love” and nothing else.

Lizzie and MG discuss Ethan and who is to blame for all this. MG says it’s his fault since he left Ethan defenseless. Josie tries to talk to Finch, but Finch isn’t interested unless Josie will try to win the Merge.

After Hope kills a monster that was actually a human, she decides it’s time to become the Tribrid. Her and Dr. Saltzman get into an argument over whether she’s ready or not.

AYO WHAT THE HELL we get a guest appearance from Peyton Smith (Rafael Waithe). Hope goes to see him as he knows Landon better than anyone else. The twins help her get there.

“Landon’s my brother. Losing him will never be easy.” - Rafael

Rafael tells Hope that Landon will understand whatever she chooses to do. He believes that Landon has the best chance out of anyone to find peace.

Dorian comes to Ric with a plan he made for the day of the Merge. The first page is ‘People to Call’ and guess who’s on the list? We have: Bonnie Bennett, Freya Mikaelson, Damon & Elena Salvatore, and Jeremy Gilbert. He made it because he knew Ric’s mind would be all over the place the day the Merge comes. He knows Ric will try to prevent the inevitable, just like he’s doing now with Hope.

Cleo takes Landon’s advice and inspires herself. This takes her to the ice cream place that we know all too well. There are dead monsters on the ground that she has to be careful of as she makes her way to the ice cream tub. She makes it to the real world and is found by Jed. She tells him they need to find Hope.

Hope and the school are having a very Mikaelson finale dinner before she dies. She said she’ll miss doing spells if she loses her which side in the transition. The twins take her to do a spell with them which starts to grow a plant.

Cleo didn’t escape the darkness??? The fuck.

Kaleb finds Malivore and decides to make him an offer.

Hope gathers things that might be helpful to her when she wakes up. Ric shows her a drawing she made him when she came to the school and told him she liked art. He tells her that it is in fact him that is not ready for her to become the tribrid. Ric tells her that there is someone who wanted to make it in time to see Hope and it’s Aunt Freya.

Lizzie asks Ric if they can talk about the Merge more so it won’t be so scary anymore. She also asks if either twin becoming a vampire would solve anything. He tells her that they should keep all options on the table.

“For once I want someone to love me enough to stay. To fight.” - Josie

Hope is dead or put to sleep and guess what! Kaleb got infected or taken over by Malivore and took Hope. Until next week, witches!

[watercoloredlie]

Need You(Day 1)

Summary: A now human Katherine finally gets to tell Elijah what he needs to hear.

Gif Credit: icarusasuke

Pairing: Kalijah(Elijah x Katherine)

Setting: Sort of AU. Completely ignores his romance with Hayley aside from some flirtation. Also ignores the side effects of the cure.

Prompt: “I need you.”

Notes: Happy Fictober everyone! I saw someone else doing fictober and the prompt list looked cool so I thought I would give it a try.

After Elijah left her to join Klaus down in New Orleans, Katherine toyed with the idea of going after Stefan and continuing to make her doppelganger miserable. It was after she was fed the cure that she abandoned Mystic Falls. She eventually found her way down to New Orleans. The now human was surprisingly saved by Klaus from Marcel and his minions. 

“Long way from Mystic Falls, aren’t you love? Finally ditch those meddlesome brothers?” He smirked as he helped her up.

Her brown eyes widened as she got to her feet. “I don’t know whether I should be disappointed or impressed that you think I’m Elena.”

“Katerina? No, you’re right. The Gilbert Girl could never pull you off convincingly. So human now huh?” Klaus eyed the doppelganger in surprise.

Katherine scoffed rolling her eyes at him. “Damn right she can’t. Ugh don’t remind me. How is it that I give Elijah the cure to give to you and it somehow stays in Mystic Falls?”

“Okay look, I may have given it to Caroline.” He admitted as they began to walk down the street.

She didn’t seem surprised by that at all. “Well then Blondie either handed it over to Elena or the bitch stole it from her. Because Elena shoved it down my throat.”

“I never thought she’d be capable of getting one over on you. Huh. Well let’s get you back to the compound where you’ll be safe. Can’t have our enemies using you against us.” Klaus chuckled slightly as he grabbed her arm then vampire sped back to the Mikaelson compound.

Katherine glanced around when they stopped still surprised that he had actually brought her there. “Is this a trap?”

“No of course not, love. This is home.” Klaus grinned as he approached Elijah taking an infant from him.

She blinked shocked at the softness that Klaus was now showing. “You really did have a baby.”

“Yes, Hayley and I did. This is Hope.” He kissed the baby’s head and glanced over at Katherine.

The curly haired brunette tensed up. “Congratulations. I.. I shouldn’t be here.”

“Katerina...” Elijah finally spoke up surprised to see her.

She softened a bit as their eyes met. “Elijah.”

“It seems that Katerina here has been fed the cure against her will. She can stay here for the time being until we find a way to properly safe guard her. Why don’t you show her to a room?” Klaus filled his older brother in.

Another woman sped into the room stopping beside Klaus with her eyes blazing gold. “What’s going on?”

“Relax. She means no harm. Hayley, this is Katerina or Katherine. Katerina, this is Hayley, Hope’s mother.” Klaus introduced them as he adjusted the little girl in his arms.

The doppelganger studied her for a moment. “Nice to meet you. Congratulations on the baby.”

“I’ll show her to a room. I believe Hope is due a feeding.” Elijah spoke as the baby began to get fussy.

Katherine glanced around taking in her surroundings as Elijah showed her the room that she would be staying in. “It’s really nice.”

“Thank you, Katerina. It’s mine.” He smiled at her.

She looked at him surprised then rolled her eyes. “I don’t think so. You ditched me in Mystic Falls.”

“My family needed me.”

Her brown eyes glared at him. “I needed you, Elijah. All you had to do was ask me to go with you.”

“I thought you would have said no.” He admitted with a frown.

She softened a little toward him. “I would have said yes.”

“I’m sorry, Katerina. You’ve been through a lot. You should probably rest.” Elijah pressed a kiss to her head before leaving the room.

“Katerina, what is it that you want exactly?” Klaus asked her curiously a few days later.

She considered this for a few moments before letting out a sigh. “I don’t want to be human. I don’t like feeling weak.”

“I could easily condemn you to staying human, but I’m afraid my siblings might shove me in a coffin and toss me in the ocean if I did.”

Katherine huffed at him. “Is there a point to this?”

“Yes there is, love. Rebekah’s going to drain the cure from you. There’s a risk you might die though.” Klaus admitted to her.

“Niklaus, I’m not sure that is a good idea.” Elijah spoke up approaching them.

She frowned at that. “Well it’s not your decision. It’s mine and it is worth the risk. Besides I’m Katherine Pierce. Surviving is what I do.”

“Now that’s the spirit.” Klaus smirked at her.

It was quiet. Hayley was upstairs with Hope in her nursery.  Candles were lit in the parlor. Elijah looked worried while Rebekah looked hopeful. Katherine was eerily calm while Klaus made sure they were all prepared. His sister then vamped out for the final time and sank her fangs into Katherine’s neck.

The curly haired brunette grew weaker the more that the blonde drank until her eyes widened. “Nadia?”

“Alright, that’s enough, Rebekah.” Klaus watched his sister let go fo Katherine and the brunette fell limply only for Elijah to catch her.

Klaus bit into his own wrist and held it to Katherine’s lips letting his blood flow into her mouth. He held it there for a few moments then pulled away as it healed. Rebekah grew light headed only to collapse onto the couch. The brothers tended to the two women making them as comfortable as could be. As time went on, Elijah grew more upset.

“Katerina, please wake up. I need you.” His eyes teared up as he sat beside her body.

It felt like an eternity later when Katherine gasped sitting straight up. “Elijah?”

“Oh Katerina!” Elijah pulled her into a hug then checked her over.

The smell of fresh blood made her eyes darken and her fangs appear. She moved over to where Klaus was holding a random guy then bit into the guy’s neck draining him. Katherine pulled back when she was done and licked her lips satisfied. Rebekah on the other hand was elated when her face remained, well, human.

“Katerina...”

She turned toward Elijah and smiled softly. “I’m okay, Elijah.”

[mismaeve]

♕ Burning Lights ♕

Chapter 1 of the Burning Lights series Pairing: Katherine Pierce x Elijah Mikaelson Warnings: None Summary: Elijah finds Katherine after she has taken the cure.  _________________________________________________

A dream, it must have been a dream... Katherine Pierce was forcing her eyes to remain shut, all the while feeling panic take control over her body. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing shallow. Her entire body ached after the beating she had endured. The cure..Involuntary tears found their way underneath her long lashes and streamed down her cheeks. She knew the predicament she was currently in yet tried her best to ignore it, to shove it aside. Opening her eyes would mean accepting reality, and that was about the last thing Katherine wanted to do. She wanted to, needed to, deny it for as long as she possibly could.  No, no, no.. this wasn’t how her story was supposed to end. Not like this, not at the hands of Little Miss Perfect Elena Gilbert. Her panic made way for anger which she felt was about to consume her whole. If blood could boil, hers was definitely on the verge of it. As the rage within her roared and exploded, Katherine opened her eyes.

ㅤ “Katerina..” A wave of hot and cold went through her body like a lightning bolt. Katherine sat up on the bed she had been placed on and turned her head in the direction of the hushed voice. Her dark brown eyes locked with his almost identical ones. The sight of him crushed every strength her rage for Elena had mustered up, her entire being now overwhelmed by her current state. Katherine opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the only thing to come out was a sob followed by more unwelcome tears that seemed to burn on her skin. In less than a heartbeat she found herself embraced by his arms, her face pressed into his chest. His strong arms held her close as she surrendered herself to her pain, to her new fate, to her humanity. He rocked her gently, never saying a word, only pulling her closer to him as he felt her body tremble with every sob and cry that escaped her lips. He held her as he witnessed this side of her which so reminded him of the vulnerable girl he had met centuries ago. His Katerina. After what felt like forever, Katherine finally felt herself calm down some. She leaned back slightly, her teary face gazing up at the immaculate Mikaelson. Her eyes were red and glassy, yet they had a soft glow to them. Elijah looked down at her and couldn’t help himself but admire the fragile human he was holding in his arms. “How are you here?” she asked him softly yet the confusion in her tone evident. “I didn’t enjoy how we left things, I wished to make sure you would be alright,” Elijah said quietly as he reached out to move a loose curl out of her face, “rest assured, Katerina, I’m currently were relieved I came back seeing the predicament you currently are in.” And there it was. If there was one thing Katherine couldn’t stand, it was pity. She rose to her feet leaving the embrace of the man she knew she would always love, and made her way across the room to the window. “Yes, well, I neither want nor need your pity, Elijah,” she said trying to sound nonchalant. “Pity-?” “You made it extremely clear where you stood with us, there’s no changing it just because I’m human,” she said as she turned around, her eyes locking with his. There was nothing more Katherine wanted than for Elijah to sweep in and rescue her, but she was still Katherine Pierce and she would be damned if she let Elijah know this. Not after how he had left her to pursue his idiotic dream of redeeming Klaus when everyone knew that Klaus Mikaelson was a lost cause if there ever was one. No, he would have to work for it now. “I can assure you, it’s not pity I feel for you,” Elijah answered simply adjusting his tie as he did. “Oh no? Then what?” Katherine crossed her arms over her chest slightly intrigued. She was so sure he’d feel pity for her current state of affairs. Maybe even guilt. “No,” Elijah shook his head slightly, “I must admit, I was concerned, however I cannot help but feel utter awe,” he finished softly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Awe?” Katherine raised her eyebrows not having expected to hear that. “Albeit you don’t see it, you have been given a chance to start over, to start fresh. One might say your slate has been wiped clean,” Elijah got up and made his way over to where his former lover was standing and looking rather dumbfounded. “When Rebekah wanted to take the cure I dismissed it as another one of her whims, but when I look at you now,” his voice trailed off as his hand reached for her cheek, his thumb stroking it gently, “I see the sweet girl I had met five lifetimes ago,” he whispered. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “Elijah, please tell me you’re not being serious.” “Do I give you the impression of not being serious?” he tilted his head as a tiny smile was stealing across his lips. Katherine took his hand off her cheek and brushed past him only to turn around on her heel, her face a mix of disbelief and disgust.  “Don’t be daft, Elijah!”, she exclaimed, “the cure may have removed my immortality and the perks that came along with it but it did not clean any slates and it definitely did not make any improvements,” she spat in irritation. How could he think that? “You’re too upset to see this now but-” Elijah started before Katherine interrupted him mid-sentence. “Oh, I promise you I’m plenty upset! I’m mortal now, do you understand what that actually means? I can get hurt, I can get sick and I can die in a way that is permanent,” she started to feel the same panic she had felt earlier upon her waking, “I have enemies everywhere, and when word gets out that I’m human, they will all come for me. Where is your so called ‘awe’ in that?”

_________________________________________________

[bookworm555]

Angst Ask Meme! 🌸

"You were crying in your sleep" + Spain and Romano (either Chibi!Romano or Adult!Romano, up to you~)

Thank you so much for the ask!! (Sorry for the delay!)

I've actually never written these two characters before, so hopefully this seems all right!

This is set in modern times.

'You were crying in your sleep'

Antonio was walking down the hall for a glass of water when he heard a noise he wasn't expecting.

Tilting his head, he walked closer to the closed door the sounds were coming from.

Romano? The surly Italian arrived a few days before, frowning, of course, saying that he needed some time away from his brother and 'that potato bastard'. Antonio didn't press, but he knew that something was wrong. He had known Romano for a long time, after all, so he picked up on all sorts of things.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he brought his hand up to the door to knock on it, but paused before he could complete the action. He always hates it when I barge in and bother him.

But when the sniffling sound continued, Antonio ignored his inner voice and slowly opened the door.

From the dim light of the hallway, Antonio could see that Romano was curled up on the bed. But when he got closer, it became obvious that he was crying.

"Romano?" Antonio couldn't keep silent any longer.

With a jolt, the younger man sat up, his eyes snapping open.

"What are you doing in here? Watching me sleep? Weirdo!" Romano's tone was sharp, but it lacked the bite it usually had. He seemed more preoccupied with furiously rubbing his eyes, trying to get rid of the tears.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Antonio sat next to him on the bed, now concerned.

"Nothing." Romano turned away, not meeting Antonio's eyes.

"You were crying in your sleep. I know you hate it when I pester you, but it's been so long since you've done that. Something's bothering you, I know it."

"Like you'd care," Romano muttered, curing his legs up to his chest. Once again, his voice lacked its usual sharpness. "But since you asked...I found out from Potato Bastard that Gilbert's healing abilities have slowed. They're not gone for good, but still."

Antonio frowned. Gil never mentioned that to me. But before he could get preoccupied with that, he turned back to Romano. "Well, that just means that Gil needs to be careful, that's all."

"Yeah, whatever." Romano gripped the bed's quilt until his knuckles turned white. "But if his healing slows, what if it stops for good one day? And when that happens, what if that means he'll die permanently?"

Antonio was shocked that Romano cared so much for the elder Beilschmidt brother, and a twinge of jealousy shot through him. But he pushed it aside in favor of patting the Italian on the shoulder.

Romano stiffened at his touch, but did not shake his hand off.

"I never knew Gilbert meant that much to you."

"He's all right." Romano wiped his eyes again. "Better than his brother, that's for sure." His lip curled at the mention of Ludwig. "But that's not the point. If Gilbert is starting to lose his Nationhood, then what about me? Am I next? I'm just the spare, after all."

Oh. Now Antonio understood. He pulled Romano into a hug, holding him close.

"Hey, it's okay," he said softly, rubbing Romano's back comfortingly. "You're still here. I don't know what to say--so unlike me, am I right?"

Romano snorted at this.

"--But I will try. Gil's not gone yet, and I doubt he will ever disappear. He's too stubborn and annoying to allow himself to die for real. But in all seriousness, there are people who keep Gilbert's identity alive; that's how he's been surviving so long. And of course the same is true for you. I doubt anyone from Naples wants to be confused with a Venetian, right? You are Southern I.taly, just like your brother is the North. You aren't interchangeable. Believe me, you're not. Both on the Nation level, and on a human level."

Antonio looked down again, pulling away from the embrace just enough to see Romano's face. The younger man's lip wobbled, and before Antonio could say or do anything else, Romano hugged him, burying his face into the front of his nightshirt and crying.

The two stayed that way until Romano's tears stopped falling.

-

Hopefully this was all right! (Once again, I am not used to writing these two.) But it was a lot of fun; I love their dynamic!

[wander-over-the-words]

A Train Car Fit for Two (Chapter 2)

Summary: The journey between stations is ample time for communication and upkeep, and a train car beneath the ocean is somehow the ideal place for it - at least, Subject Delta and Augustus Sinclair make it work.

Characters: Augustus Sinclair, Subject Delta, Sofia Lamb, Splicers, Brigid Tenenbaum; mentions of Big Daddies, Little Sisters, Big Sister, Eleanor Lamb, Gilbert Alexander, Andrew Ryan, Prentice Mill, Jack, J.S. Steinman, Atlas, Frank Fontaine, cured Little Sisters, Yi Suchong, Bill McDonagh.

Warnings: description of a person burning, death, gore, murder, blood, firearm usage, tobacco usage; mentions of human experimentation, unethical surgery, alcohol consumption and intoxication.

Notes: Basically a little series of scenes that could take place between each level of the game. I absolutely refuse to believe they never interacted in some kind of way on the train cause there is no fucking way Augustus Sinclair managed to stay quiet for a whole damn train ride (love you, Augustus).

Chapter notes: Okay - now he’s on the train. So we can get to dem bois. 

All material belongs to Irrational Games.

Part 2 of 3 of my BioShock 2 fic series, Wherever Life Takes You.

Link to fic on AO3.

Chapter 2 of 5: Ryan Amusements to Pauper’s Drop.

…

Despite the sheer irony in him relying on an Alpha Series Big Daddy to get him out of Rapture, Sinclair thinks this might be the safest bet he’s ever made, if only the weirdest (besides, of course, moving down to a city beneath the ocean). 

So far, Delta has ploughed through Splicer after Splicer, killed a Big Daddy, has managed to collect ADAM with a Little Sister (he could have gotten more, if he’d listened to Sinclair and harvested her, but it turns out this Tin Man has a heart, which Sinclair will just have to deal with), has spliced up with Incinerate! and has taken down a pissed off Big Sister (and Sinclair has never seen anybody defeat one in battle; it’d felt good, watching Delta trounce that she-devil after what she’d done to Sinclair) - all without slowing down. 

So if being away from Eleanor is affecting Delta’s health, he sure as hell ain’t showing it.

When Delta starts making his way back to the station, Sinclair prepares himself to leave. He flits about his bunker, checking the items he’s collected over his time staying here, deciding what he will take with him, what he can take with him. Most of it, he can’t, since he doesn’t have a lot of space on his person. Not to mention some of the ammo he’d collected had been for weapons he doesn’t even have; honestly, he’d taken it for the sake of it, a sort of ‘what if’ paranoia he’d had in his weakest moments. Maybe holding onto it had brought a comfort, since it meant his enemies would go without. Whatever, it was, it’s useless to him now.

He has to move things around and position things carefully so it can all fit in his available inventory space; he’s got to bring his personal items (his cigarette case, his key, so on and so on), the essentials (the radio, the tech to connect to Delta’s camera), and the emergency items, for safety purposes (one pack of trap rivets, those closed mini turrets he’d found in some rubble out in the park). 

It’s all awkwardly shoved into place, buttoning his pouches becomes tricky once he’s packed them, the leather stretches and struggles, and his pockets - baggy as they are - are stuffed until they prove uncomfortable against his legs and he can no longer sit comfortably so he stands instead, but he makes do, reminding himself that it won’t be for long. He’ll dump his supplies and move his belongings back around when he gets on the train.

Delta comes making his hulking way back into the train station, his footsteps heavy enough that Sinclair can hear them coming from his bunker, and he goes up to the glacier that blocks their way. With one simple thrust of his palm, he shoots flames at the ice, which doesn’t stand a chance against that kind of power. 

It melts immediately, shrinking down and down until it collects with the water already there from where the gate has opened and closed in the past, officially unblocking the exit to Ryan Amusements.

Sinclair grins, relief spreading through his chest, his hands practically shaking in excitement as he breaks the link to Delta’s camera. Victory horns play in his head; finally, he’s getting out of here.

As he connects to Delta’s radio, speaking cheerfully to him, he grabs his chair by the top, lifting it to carry it back to his mattress. 

“Outstandin’, sport. You’re provin’ to be quite a windfall. Now just open the train tunnel from the security booth there, and I’ll come out an’ jump on.”

On the way over to his bed, his foot catches on the tape recorder he’d tossed before and he frowns and puts down the chair so he can pick the tape up, propping it against the collection of little televisions next to his bed. He finishes setting the chair by the corner of the mattress, then brushes his hands on his shirt and ponders.

Sinclair looks around his bunker, checking to make sure he’s got everything he intends to take with him: gun, radio, cigarette holder, cigarettes and matches, handkerchief, reading glasses, gun ammo, one pack of trap rivets and two mini turrets, the tech necessary to connect to Delta’s camera, the deck of cards, the small engineering manual he’ll swipe just in case, money, and, yes, the key to his old house on the surface.

Sinclair won’t bother taking his suitcase or any of the clothes in there; they’re all dirty and torn anyway, and he doesn’t think he’ll need a change of clothes if he’s just going to stay on the train.

So, he’s all set.

Sinclair hears the train tunnel’s gate unlock, then he reaches over and flips the switch to open the door to his bunker.

The door lifts up and Sinclair immediately breaks into a jog, cigarette holder clutched between the index and middle fingers of one hand. He darts over to the platform, turning his head toward the ticket booth as he approaches the small steps; he faces forwards again to ascend them so as to not lose his footing, then looks back at the booth.

And there, staring right back at him, is Subject Delta. 

It’s the first time Sinclair actually sees him in person, and he takes a moment to observe him, shaking his cigarette holder at him in a gesture as he comes to a stop before the booth’s window, shifting his weight onto one hip. 

There he is - with the glowing yellow visor, the drill, the licks of flame from the Incinerate! Plasmid on his glove. Staring at him, taking in the sight of his new ally, observing him as Sinclair does to Delta, the first time Delta is seeing him too.

It really hits Sinclair, then, what he’s been chatting to this entire time: a Big Daddy. Not just any Big Daddy, but an Alpha Series Big Daddy, a lost soul from long ago, a page in the book of Rapture’s history. A page in the book of Augustus Sinclair’s history, too.

How many men had he and Gil Alexander condemned to the fate of eventually becoming tin soldiers for little girls after suffering as human test subjects? As many as there are symbols in the Greek alphabet, he reckons. And now he’s relying on one of those tin soldiers to get him out of Rapture - it makes him want to either return to his laughing fit from earlier or cry himself to sleep, both from the humiliating irony of the situation.

He doesn’t know who Delta must have been before the suit, but it doesn’t matter because he’s an Alpha Series, so Sinclair knows Delta’s one of his. He knows what class of person had been used for the Alpha Series, after all.

Bringing with it a train to ride the rails of Hell itself, one of his condemned tin soldiers has returned to him - and this one is going to help him.

Sinclair can’t begin to predict what’s going to happen next between them, but he knows it’s going to be glorious. 

He lifts the hand that holds his cigarette holder, a casual gesture, and stares right into that glowing porthole.

“I like to look a man in the eye,” he presses his left hand to his chest, leaning forward, “when I give him my word.” He shifts his weight onto his other hip, separates his feet, and uses his cigarette holder to gesture to Delta, then himself. “You and me, kid,” he starts to turn toward the train, “we’re goin’ places!”

Sinclair turns his back on Delta and walks, waving his left hand in the air for him, then finishes his jog into the train car, the doors automatically opening for him.

The doors shut behind him as Sinclair goes further into the car, immediately finding a seat on the end of the bench there. He takes a quick breather, his heart thumping in his chest, then gets to work.

First things first: he’s got to resume the connection to Delta’s camera. It’s not strictly necessary right now - Delta is right there, after all, he’ll know what Delta can see - but he likes having it set up, likes to know everything’s functioning properly, so he quickly goes about grabbing the necessary tools from his inventory.

There are two screens on the wall either side of the doors to the driver’s cabin, used back in the day by Ryan Industries to advertise new Plasmids and play Ryan’s messages about everybody’s purpose in Rapture and what had been and not been allowed in the city. An attempt at a distraction for the longer journeys on the train - hadn’t worked very well.

Still, Sinclair is glad they’re here, if it means he can watch through Delta’s camera again.

Just as he goes to begin setting it up, the screens in the train station flicker to life, including the two in his cabin, and Lamb’s voice is heard.

“I had thought you some golem of Sinclair’s, brought here to hold Rapture’s arms while he rifles through her pockets.” 

Sinclair jumps out of his skin as there comes a banging on the window of his train car, and he looks over to find a Splicer hitting at it with a wrench, grinning savagely. There’s laughter outside too, as a Splicer tries to get to Delta in the booth. 

“But no...You are aware of your plight. Who, I wonder, would be so cruel? To force a mirror on a man with no face…”

Sinclair doesn’t bother thinking about what she says; he’s more focused on the Splicers.

He grabs for his radio and connects to Delta, exclaiming into it, “Lamb was waitin’ for us! Come out shootin’ and start the train!”

Sinclair looks over at the Splicer trying to get at him and jumps again when the man is suddenly set alight, screaming in agony as his flesh is cooked on his bones, and he goes stumbling away from Sinclair’s cabin.

Two seconds later, he slams back into it, as Delta has come over and smacked the Splicer across the face with his drill. His body is briefly pinned against the window, tightly enough that Sinclair can see where his skin is melting from his face even in those fleeting seconds he’s pressed to the glass; he could almost swear the Splicer leaves some skin behind as he comes unstuck and goes sprawling to the floor, and Sinclair’s glad the metallic, salty scent of the train’s interior blocks the smell.

That leaves the Splicer at Delta’s mercy as Delta leans over him and brings his drill down upon his chest, burying it in his ribcage and dicing the poor bugger alive, showering gore all over the floor of the station’s platform. It sprays so hard and so wildly that Sinclair can see droplets of blood flying up into the air, even from where he sits. 

He’s seen a lot of horrible stuff in Rapture, especially in the recent years, but the sight of that man’s burning flesh and the amount of blood that comes out of him when Delta tears him open with his drill brings a wave of nausea over him that he swallows down.

The Splicer that had tried to get to Delta in the booth starts to run up behind him, and Sinclair opens his mouth to call out a warning, but Delta immediately turns around and shoots them with Electro Bolt, paralysing them in place, before approaching them and whacking them aside with his drill, so hard and so suddenly that they don’t get back up.

Sinclair straightens himself, trying to view Delta properly, then snaps out of this bystander mode and reminds himself about the camera in Delta’s helmet. He sets up the connection and watches as Delta turns to observe more Splicers entering the station, hearing him give a pained grunt as a Splicer manages to shoot him, then Delta’s off to deal with this pack of unwanted visitors too.

It does not escape his notice that the first Splicer Delta had targeted had been the one harassing Sinclair, rather than the one loitering outside his own window, and he thinks, humouring himself, So that’s what that feels like.

No wonder the Little Sisters love the big lugs so much - not that Sinclair now loves Delta. Hardly knows the bloke.

The Splicers fall easily to Delta’s strength, one by one, until Delta’s using his drill to do away with the last of them, impaling them and shredding them from the inside, then dropping their body down onto the oil spill that’s already on fire from a dash of Incinerate!.

He turns back toward the train; Sinclair’s empty bunker catches his eye, however, and Delta must be the most curious Big Daddy known to man because he makes his way over there instead of going for the train, just for the sake of exploring. 

It’s not the most luxurious living space, but then Delta hadn’t expected it to be. He spots the tape recorder leant against the televisions and picks it up, clicking it on to listen to.

“Andrew Ryan. He reckoned the free market was some kinda holy spirit gonna lead us all over the rainbow - and I reckon it’s a big fat hooker too dim to spot a wooden nickel. So old Andy went an’ became his own ghost, and I whittled nickels ‘til I made a mint.”

Delta doesn’t really understand what Sinclair had been talking about - doesn’t know much about this Ryan character, aside from his role in Rapture’s creation, courtesy of the audio tour back in the park - and so he calmly goes about his day.

(Over in the train car, Sinclair shuffles uncomfortably, feeling his face colour. So the tape hadn’t broken after all. Well, that’s embarrassing.)

Delta investigates the lockers, finds ammo for weapons that he has that Sinclair doesn’t, so he reckons it’s okay to take it. He goes over to the mattress on the floor, looks into the open suitcase and sees the clothes Sinclair has left behind, and considers whether Sinclair would want him to grab them for him. But then, he supposes if Sinclair had wanted this stuff, he would have taken it with him, and so he leaves it.

There’s nothing else in here of interest, so Delta turns his back on the makeshift home and goes toward their new temporary abode: the Atlantic Express.

He steps up onto the platform, goes into the driver’s cabin and pushes the lever to start the train. The outer doors to the train click locked, keeping the rising water out as the train drifts along the track and descends into the ocean, leaving Ryan Amusements behind.

Delta is about to resume his chosen routine of just standing there, thinking his thoughts, waiting for the train to reach the next station, when his radio whirrs to life, and Sinclair’s voice is in his ear.

“Come on back here with me, chief.”

Delta pauses, thinks on it, then settles for a why not? sort of perspective and turns to the doors separating his cabin from the one Sinclair had claimed.

When he opens them, Sinclair looks up from where he’s sat on the bench seat, closest to the doors. He has one leg crossed over the other, leaning back casually with his cigarette holder held to his mouth, a fresh cigarette burning away, while a pile of supplies lay underneath his chair.

His eyes shine when he looks up at Delta, catching the overhead lights like marbles, and he sets aside his radio and gets to his feet, taking a couple of steps towards Delta.

“You’ll hafta forgive my informalities, son,” he says in the same friendly manner he’s used this whole time, and Delta thinks he’s…alarmingly quick to have gotten used to chatting with a Big Daddy, “but I didn’t get a chance to shake your hand before, what with Lamb breathin’ down our necks.” He transfers his cigarette holder to his left hand, merrily swinging his right fist a little. “What’s say we do that now, huh? Start this partnership the proper way.”

And Sinclair holds out his right hand in offering, smiling at him.

Delta stares down at him, which he’s sure must come across as a bit creepy or intimidating when he has no face for Sinclair to see the expression of, so he has no way of knowing if Delta is accepting of this gesture or not, but Delta takes this moment to feel…he’s not quite sure how to describe it. 

This is the first physical, adult human contact he’s been offered that isn’t being done with the intention of doing harm. The Little Sister had hugged the back of his helmet as he’d carried her on his shoulders, and that’d been nice, he’d appreciated it, but she’d been a child conditioned to love him, while no such thing has happened to Sinclair, he’s doing this entirely by choice. A part of him is so relieved Sinclair is treating him like any other man instead of the scary Big Daddy he must appear to be - is, in a way.

Admittedly, Delta finds he’s already starting to like Augustus Sinclair. He’s appreciated his commentary thus far, finds Sinclair’s voice to be a comfort as he had done Tenenbaum’s, has received his aid in the form of Sinclair sending him some hack darts when he’d run out while trying to hack a door open - although he hadn’t been too impressed by Sinclair’s recommendation to harvest the Little Sister.

In the moment, he’d considered it a strike against Sinclair’s character (Tenenbaum’s - for reference’s sake - had received no strikes at all) and had felt a certain crossness with his new guide, but the more he thought about it on his way back, the more he reckoned it’d been the survival instinct talking, and the survival instinct can make a man do...horrible things. Hell, if it could have been helped, Delta probably wouldn’t have even killed the Splicers; that’s self-defense more than anything. If they’d left him alone, he would’ve left them alone.

ADAM turns the wheels of Rapture, after all, and Delta accepts that he’ll need it if he’s going to get to Eleanor, but...there are better ways of getting it than harvesting a Sister, even if it’s apparently a ‘liability’ to cure them instead - that had been cruel to say. Delta keeps that strike on Sinclair’s character, just for that comment. 

He won’t, however, be letting that one incident shape his overall opinion of Augustus Sinclair. Let the man create his image based on more than one stroke of the brush, Delta says.

Tenenbaum’s tape had told of how she couldn’t trust Sinclair, even if he’d been a valuable ally to her, but she’d never said he couldn’t trust Sinclair. Not on her tape, not when she’d been handing his care over to Augustus, not at all during their contact with each other. He can’t claim to know what kind of relationship Tenenbaum and Sinclair had had, but evidently they’d been less inclined to begin a friendship. They do seem like...very different people, after all.

Delta recognises that Rapture is not the place to just hand over one’s trust, but he’d handed his trust to Tenenbaum and that had worked fine, and Sinclair has been helpful thus far. If he’s going to get to Eleanor, they’ll have to work together, which doesn’t sound so bad to Delta. 

And so Delta is going to hand his trust over to Augustus Sinclair, he is going to recognise him as an ally and a potential friend, and he’s going to believe this won’t bite him back later.

This seems like a good step forward.

Sinclair’s smile doesn’t waver. If anything, it picks up at one side, the same time as he cocks his head and lifts his eyebrow at Delta in amusement, like he reckons Delta is just shy instead of assuming Delta won’t shake his hand at all. 

Remarkably confident in himself, then; Delta supposes that’s a good thing to have in a companion and guide.

Hesitating, Delta lifts his right hand, reaching for Sinclair’s. He wraps his large fingers loosely around it, being mindful not to squeeze too tightly and hurt him; Sinclair’s hand is humorously small compared to his, he can’t wrap his fingers around Delta’s, but at least it’s on him in a friendly gesture.

Their hands bob up and down in the air in slow, careful movements, then Sinclair grins.

“There we are, son,” he says, giving Delta’s hand one last shake. “Official partners now.”

Sinclair’s hand lets go of his and Delta follows suit, breaking the handshake. 

Sinclair’s grin becomes a smile as his left hand gives his right back the cigarette holder, then he waves his left arm to tell Delta to follow as he turns and goes back to his chair, similar to the gesture he’d given Delta when he’d gotten on the train in the first place.

“Come on over an’ sit a spell,” Sinclair says, plopping himself back down in his chosen spot, resting one leg over the other’s knee. “You don’t wanna be on your feet the entire journey, do ya?” A small chuckle shakes his words. “I’m sure even big fellas like you get tired eventually.”

Delta watches, once again fascinated by this behaviour toward him.

“C’mon, now,” Sinclair adds, twice patting the spot beside him, on his left. “I don’t bite.”

Delta stares for a moment more, then slowly makes his thundering way the short distance to the offered chair. He stands before the spot Sinclair has chosen for him, robotically turns to show his back to it, then drops down quite suddenly onto the seat.

The bench screeches immediately at the addition of Delta’s weight as the metal bends and shifts downwards, and Sinclair is instantly toppled and thrown sideways, crashing against Delta’s bicep, legs uncrossing, lips awkwardly closing around his cigarette holder and hands rushing to grasp at anything he can reach in an attempt at stabilising himself. His only option is Delta himself and so his hands awkwardly grab Delta’s forearm and one of the oxygen tanks on his back as he scrambles, his mind going into a brief panic that the bench is going to break straight off.

Luckily for them both, it holds Delta’s weight, albeit now with a crater in it. 

Evidently, Prentice Mill had never anticipated a Big Daddy sitting on one of his trains.

Sinclair’s own comfort has been severely affected, however, as the crater teams up with the power of gravity and keeps him pressed against Delta’s side, tucked uncomfortably in the very edge of the dent Delta’s made, unable to shimmy up the slope so he can return to the end of the bench that hasn’t been crushed under a Big Daddy’s weight.

Delta can’t seem to move his neck in that headgear (maybe he doesn’t have a neck at all), but the helmet does give a little tilt in his direction, and Sinclair thinks this must mean Delta is looking at him.

One of his big hands comes up and slots itself between the two of them, where it presses against Sinclair until he’s sliding along the seat, ungluing him from Delta’s side. It’s alarmingly easy, how Delta can so casually push a fully-grown man away from him like he weighs nothing, and yet Delta is still very gentle with his touch. The push doesn’t hurt and he makes sure to move Sinclair slowly, as to not fling him off of the bench.

Even still, Sinclair, feeling embarrassed, helps in getting himself righted, grabbing at the edge of the seat and pulling himself into a more comfortable position. He manages to perch himself on the end, where it’s still straight enough so gravity won’t pull him down again. Not quite as plush as before, but it’ll do. He wouldn’t want to be rude by changing seats; it would look like he doesn’t want to sit near Delta at all, which isn’t true. Besides, this seat’s closest to the screen showing him Delta’s camera, so the situation itself has claimed this chair as his.

Delta casually places his hands on his knees, content but unsure of what to do now that he’s sat.

Taking his holder from where his lips had trapped it, Sinclair clears his throat, adjusts his tie even though he doesn’t need to, then turns his head to look at Delta.

“…You, ah...comfortable?” Sinclair asks after a moment.

Delta lets out a noise, some growl-like thing that rises at the end.

Sinclair flinches lightly, mainly because Delta has been pretty much mute up until now - save for the grunts when the Splicers and the Big Sister had managed to land hits on him and the noises of discomfort he’d let out when splicing with Incinerate! - so Sinclair honestly hadn’t been expecting a verbal response (or, well, the closest he could get from a man that doesn’t speak an actual word, through no fault of his own). Just made him jump a little, that’s all. 

So Delta can vocalise beyond pain and discomfort; he just hadn’t had a reason to before now. Turns out, Sinclair isn’t going to be talking to a silent wall of metal and cloth. Good. That’ll at least make this trip feel a little more...companionable.

Sinclair has no idea what that noise means, but Delta isn’t adjusting himself or disengaging with the situation, so he reckons that had been a yes.

Sinclair’s head bobs in a few nods as he adjusts to his seat, crossing one leg over the other again. 

“Good,” he says, staring at the window opposite, catching Delta do the same in his peripheral vision. “That’s good, then.”

There’s silence between them for a few moments, and Sinclair hates silence, so of course he’s the first to open the conversation back up.

He tilts his head toward Delta. “I imagine you must be mighty confused about your situation, son,” he says.

Delta’s helmet gives that little tilt again, and this time he turns slightly at the waist, more obviously taking his silent stare from the window to Sinclair.

“An’ I gotta say - it’s a new one on me too,” Sinclair goes on, taking a draw of his cigarette as his own gaze goes back to the window, where the ocean and its plant life pass by silently. “Been in Rapture since the early days, an’ this is the first I’ve heard of a Big Daddy quite like your good self. But - between the two of us - I reckon we’ll find a way through this water-logged coffin no problem, rescue young Eleanor, an’ head on up to where the oxygen ain’t manufactured. Then,” Sinclair chuckles, “then, I’ll see to it that Rapture pays us handsomely for our work. We’ll be set for life, kid.”

He gives Delta a friendly poke on the leg, and Delta’s helmet tilts forward as he looks at that spot, like he’s checking if Sinclair has left anything behind on him. 

Delta looks back to Sinclair and grunts softly, which Sinclair hasn’t any clue how to translate.

He doesn’t bother trying and Delta doesn’t do anything to attempt to get any meaning across, so he thinks Delta just made the noise for the sake of making noise, to let Sinclair know he’s listened or agreed or…something.

They’ll have to work around this language barrier between them; Sinclair doesn’t have a pen or paper handy, and he isn’t sure Delta could even hold a pen in those big fingers of his.

Sinclair’s face falls slowly. “Though - I s’ppose you’re a little...outta touch with Rapture. Things have changed quite a bit since you were walkin’ the halls on duty.”

Delta stares, then looks out the window opposite them. He doesn’t need a face to look thoughtful.

“Well,” Sinclair sits up a little straighter, “fortunately for you, I’ve been around to keep an eye on the place in your absence.” He says it with an upwards lilt, like he and Delta planned for that, just giving his dialogue a dash of humour to keep things light-hearted, despite the subject. He elbows Delta’s arm. “Could getcha up to speed, if you’d like. Fill ya in on what I know.”

Delta’s helmet gives that limited turn toward him and he stares, glowing porthole pointed at Sinclair the best he can get it to, which Sinclair supposes is permission to...just go for it.

So Sinclair sits back and regales to him the story of what Rapture’s been through as of late: about the plane crash by the lighthouse; about the man that had come down to Rapture; about how he’d killed Steinman, that nut that had cut people up and sewn them back together in fun ways, who had once given Sinclair dental treatment (“Before all that Frankenstinian surgery, I assure you - I ain’t that desperate for a set o’ pearls in my gums.”); how he’d traversed through Rapture under Ryan’s watchful gaze and with the advice of a man called Atlas, whom Sinclair had heard about for months, who had gone on to reveal himself as the real Frank Fontaine after the surface-dweller had killed Ryan and taken his genetic key for the control of Rapture. The man from the surface had gone onto team up with Tenenbaum and her cured Little Sisters, and they’d taken down Fontaine together over at the top of Point Prometheus. Then the man had gone back to the surface with Tenenbaum and some girls, and he’d never returned to Rapture.

With Ryan and Fontaine dead, it’d been easy for Lamb to take over. The Splicers had all been running rabid with few survivors left unspliced, everybody trapped at the bottom of the ocean - they’d been putty in Lamb’s hand. When one is lost and has no idea of where to go, they’ll join up with anybody who makes them feel like they have a purpose, which is precisely what Lamb had done.

Sinclair has been in hiding all this time, no longer protected by Ryan’s word or the security of his own businesses, until Tenenbaum had happened upon him through the radio. She’d asked who could hear her and Sinclair had introduced himself much the same as he had with Delta, to which Tenenbaum had given a soft scoff and replied, “Yes, I am aware of who you are.”

“And I’m aware of who you are, doctor,” Sinclair had said, “so we can say we’re even.”

And, well, that’s pretty much where Sinclair finishes the story. Telling Delta all of this kills a decent amount of time, enough that Sinclair’s finished and disposed of his cigarette in the offered ashtray to his right and starts to hanker for a new one, though Delta doesn’t reply to the tale with much more than a thoughtful little noise as he sits back, hands still on his knees.

There comes silence again, and this is not something up with which Sinclair will put, so he lazily tilts his head toward Delta, rolling his now-empty cigarette holder between his fingers.

“There anythin’ you wanna know about myself, barrin’ my life story?” Sinclair asks. “Not to sound like I’m lovin’ myself too dearly, but,” he chuckles, “I don’t suppose you wanna ride the rails with a complete stranger, huh?”

Delta looks toward him again, then the bench groans beneath him as he twists in his seat to face Sinclair better, his hands clasped in his own lap as he stares at him. He’s answering the question, Sinclair realises, by appearing more open to conversation, inviting him to yes, please, tell Delta a bit about himself.

Sinclair is bewildered - for just a moment - by how…polite Delta is. His previous experiences with Big Daddies have involved running like hell the second a Splicer had made one go red and roar, scrambling away whenever one confronted him for accidentally bumping into its respective Sister or being shoved out of the way when he’d been too slow to step aside for one of the big lugs, upon which he would sarcastically call, “Hey, now! I was movin’ aside for ya!” or just “Well, excuse you too, son!” as it would stomp by him.

Delta has yet to lay a finger on Sinclair that Sinclair is uncomfortable with and he seems completely willing to listen to anything Sinclair might say to him, no matter how mundane - which, to a man who enjoys hearing his own voice, is such a fucking relief.

“Well, let’s see here,” Sinclair replies, turning his head away to think about it, automatically raising his holder to his mouth despite it being empty. 

He won’t say anything too personal, keep this on a professional level. He wants to be friendly to the big guy, but this here is still business. Let’s not get too hasty.

He eventually answers with: “I hail from sunny Panama, my favourite flavour of pie is strawberry, I take my coffee with milk an’ two dashes o’ sugar, and if I’m gonna be perfectly transparent with ya, sport,” he looks at Delta bluntly, “I honestly hate long train rides.”

There then comes a shuttering, warbling sort of noise from Delta that makes Sinclair flinch again, if only because he hasn’t heard it from a Big Daddy before, and he’s so hardwired to avoid new noises in Rapture - especially any from a Big Daddy. 

But then he catches the way Delta’s shoulders and chest shake, and it hits him then: Delta is laughing.

He’s absolutely bewildered by this for a few, quick moments, then his mood sharply lifts.

Well, now, he thinks as he grins around the ivory cigarette holder in his mouth, watching Delta closely as the big guy comfortably sits back, laughter finished but shoulders still perked up, looks as though we’re gettin’ somewhere.

After all, how does one get to a man’s heart when his stomach isn’t an option because he doesn’t need to eat anymore? Through his humour - and it’s been too long since Sinclair’s had someone (presumably) closer his age to appreciate his. 

Tenenbaum had been a right stick in the mud. Maybe she’d been kinder to Delta, but she hadn’t laughed, Sinclair hadn’t needed to listen in to know that.

He’d occasionally hear the cured Little Sisters giggling at something he’d said, but it’d rarely been because it was genuinely funny. He’d realised, after a while, they’d laughed at him because they thought his accent silly; he’d once heard one girl murmur “He talks funny,” and Tenenbaum had agreed with her to both humour her and insult Sinclair. 

Sinclair had had to bite his tongue to avoid telling them what he’d thought of that comment. 

It’d been why, during their goodbyes to him, the girls that hadn’t called him Mr. Sinclair had instead referred to him as Funny Man. He’s just glad they hadn’t made any references to cowboys, farmers or hicks, or any other such stereotypes.

“Don’t s’ppose you’ve ever been on a train before, huh, son?” he asks then, sticking to this topic now that he’s found it. “Not that you can remember, anyhow.”

Shoulders falling, Delta lets out a grunt then, which…it doesn’t sound sad, per se, but still sort of…negative. 

Sinclair believes he’s just discovered Delta’s way of saying ‘no’, so he files it away to memory.

“How’re you likin’ it so far?”

Delta looks at the train’s wall, then pats it and looks back to Sinclair.

Sinclair says, nodding once and shrugging a shoulder, “Well - if you’re content with it, chief, then I’ll pipe down about it. I’m sure ol’ Prentice Mill would’ve liked to have known you’re enjoyin’ the ride - he was in charge of the whole operation, after all. But, uh,” he looks down at the huge dent Delta’s made, “I’m not sure how he woulda felt about that, ah, new look you’ve designed for the bench there, son. Mighta crawled on into his grave faster’n he really did if he saw that mess.”

Delta looks down at his seat, shoulders tensing, his hands coming together in a way that make him look sheepish.

“But it suits me just fine, kid,” Sinclair looks back up at him, “so don’t worry about it, alright? Fact is: it’s better we’re takin’ this instead o’ one of them bathyspheres, and not jus’ because Doc Lamb’s shootin’ down every ‘sphere that tries to leave the city. It’s also good because,” his shoulders jump as he gives a sharp chuckle, “I’m not certain we woulda gotten you into one of those things, sport.” 

He looks Delta up and down, sizing him up; it’s been ages since he’s seen a bathysphere, let alone been in one, so it’s hard to accurately imagine Delta sitting down upon the plush interior. 

“Maybe not comfortably, anyway, an’ with me in the mix, too,” he adds. “But - that’s alright. We’ve got more space in here to stretch our legs, anyhow - if we’re lookin’ on the brighter side of things.”

Sinclair demonstrates this, uncrossing his legs and stretching them out before him, heels hovering over the floor, pointing his toes in his shoes and giving his right foot a little wiggle in the air. He does it all just to be silly, to humour them both, and he smiles at Delta to convey this.

He doesn’t, however, expect Delta to copy him, but the big guy goes and does just that, stretching his own huge legs out in front of himself, making the bench creak again as he shifts his weight.

It highlights just how much bigger than him Delta really is - one of his legs is easily the width of two or three of Sinclair’s - and Sinclair laughs as he sets his legs down, crossed at the ankles.

Similarly, Delta goes back to having his feet planted on the floor.

“But private bathyspheres were all the rage back in the day,” Sinclair says, waving his cigarette holder in the air, “real hot stuff - even had a couple o’ my own, at my various locations. Almost seen as fashionable. Sorta made the train obsolete; turns out, most folks don’t favour spendin’ a half hour or more bein’ packed into a train car with strangers, like a bunch o’ sardines. Ruffled Mill’s feathers up, poor fella.” He tips his head back, imparting his wisdom. “But rantin’ and ravin’ does not a business save, son, and so - Hm?”

He’s about to continue talking about the late Prentice Mill’s folly, but cuts himself off when he catches sight of Delta apparently staring at something over his head. He’s far from an expert on Delta’s body language, though, so he turns to find out if he’s right and - if he is - what’s gotten Delta distracted. When he sees what it is, he quickly understands why Delta had stopped to stare.

“Ah-ha - yup,” Sinclair says, smiling at the screen showing the view of Delta’s helmet camera, “that’s how I’m gonna be keepin’ an eye on you from now on, kid. Had the same sorta set-up in my li’l temporary home, back in Ryan Amusements.”

Delta is tilting himself back and forth at the waist to move his helmet, since he doesn’t have a neck, and watching the feed follow his camera’s gaze. He tilts it at Sinclair, up at the wall, then back to Sinclair, who waves at the screen, then turns to Delta and repeats the motion. 

That warbling noise comes from under Delta’s helmet; he’s chuckling.

“Set it up all by myself,” Sinclair adds proudly, turning to rest his back against the wall. He taps his temple with his left index finger, winking at Delta. “More up here than just the latest popular business practice, kid. Those Vita-Chambers you’ve seen around? Well, they were my little side project,” he prods himself in the chest with a thumb, “a collaboration with a fella named Gil Alexander. Ya see, sport, that’s one of the reasons why Andrew Ryan brought me down ta Rapture so early in its development, besides my eye for trade: I got an interest in the sciences. Read every issue of Popular Science and Mechanics, front to back. And I ask you, chief: what’s a better mix than a businessman and a scientist, huh?” 

He doesn’t receive an answer, just more staring, so he continues on no problem. 

“So, ya see, with the Vita-Chambers, I had the smarts to help Gil with the technical stuff - the buildin’ and the operatin’, makin’ sure they worked - and a pretty penny to pass his way when he needed it. And,” Sinclair puts a hand to his chest, head tilted back in self-righteousness, “I personally fashioned the name ‘Vita-Chamber’ myself! Gil wanted to call ‘em ‘Resurrection Stations’, which is...a name alright, chief, but I told him, ‘Gil, if there’s one thing that makes everybody turn their heads an’ whip out their wallets, it’s a name with a foreign-soundin’ language tagged on, an’ Latin is just about a favourite amongst the masses’.”

He drops his hand and crosses that arm over his chest, tucking his left hand under his right elbow, his right hand poised with his cigarette holder up in the air. 

“Fella name o’ Suchong insisted it was all a load o’ hogwash (well, he used much unkinder phrasin’ than that, but I’ll spare ya of the ungentlemanly language, chief) an’ Andy went an’ made sure all the Vita-Chambers were tuned to his genetic frequencies for the testin’, so only he and the branches of his family tree could use ‘em. But, well,” he gives a light titter, “they’re up an’ runnin’ to this day - thank the good Lord in your case, huh? - and we made a profit from ‘em back then, especially from the Adonis Luxury Resort, so,” he shrugs, “I guess it all worked out in the end, huh, kid?” 

Sinclair grins up at him.

Delta stares in silence. 

He has absolutely no idea of half the stuff Sinclair’s just gone on about - the names Alexander and Suchong don’t ring any bells, and he only knows so much about Andrew Ryan - but Sinclair seems awfully proud of himself, and Delta feels better knowing his companion has expertise in engineering and science. Never know when that’ll come in handy.

And so Delta lets out a crooning noise, meant to be of awe, which he hopes doesn’t come across as patronising because he is genuinely impressed with what Sinclair’s accomplished. Hell, if Sinclair co-invented the Vita-Chamber, then that means he’d had a hand in bringing Delta back to life - put together that Chamber he’d woken up in front of with his own two hands - and that makes him even more of a valued companion.

Sinclair seems to pick up on his noise’s meaning, for his grin widens and his eyes light up, his straightening posture showing his glee.

Sinclair gives a hearty laugh as he nudges Delta with his elbow. “Ya see, son? I knew I’d found an agreeable sorta gentleman,” he wags his finger at him, “second I laid eyes on you.” He turns his head to the window opposite, tipping it back proudly again as he folds his arms and shuts his eyes. “Now I’m even surer that this journey’s gonna go smoothly, since you an’ I are gonna get along jus’ fine, kid.”

Lips pulled up in a wide, easy smile, he opens his left eye to see what Delta does in response; Delta doesn’t vocalise, but his shoulders do shift upwards as his back straightens, his body language perked. He’s happy, Sinclair can tell as he makes another mental note that when Delta lifts and holds his shoulders like that, like he’s trying to contain himself, it means he’s in a good mood. Sort of like his equivalent of smiling. It makes Sinclair’s smile split into a grin.

Sinclair considers lighting up another cigarette, then falters and drops his grin, opening both eyes in surprise at himself.

“Oh - now, I musta went an’ left my manners behind at the station!” He digs his free hand into his pocket and gets out his rectangular cigarette case, opening it with the nail of his thumb so that he can hold it out for Delta. “Did you want one o’ these, kid?”

He’s not even sure if Delta...can smoke, or if it’d be good for him (who is it good for, really?), but it doesn’t hurt to ask, he reckons. Delta’s helmet can be removed, as far as he knows, so...perhaps he’s got lips under there to hold a cigarette between. Who knows!

Delta looks down at the contents of the case, then uses one large hand to gently push it back toward Sinclair, declining the offer.

“That a no?” Sinclair says, just to check. He tilts his head downwards, looking at Delta from under his lashes. “Is a square not your favourite shape?”

Delta drops his hand to his lap and stares at him, makes no movement to indicate changing his mind. 

Deciding he too will go without for now, Sinclair bobs his head in understanding and flicks the case closed, pocketing it again. He crosses that arm over his chest, propping his other elbow on it.

“Fair enough; it’s your call, chief,” he says. “Didn’t used to be my favourite, either. But you do business as long as I have, son, an’ you end up pickin’ up a vice or two. You’d think I’d take up the bottle, considerin’ I owned a chain of bars, but no. Didn’t sit right with me. Preferred to strike a match than pop a cap myself.” 

Delta stares silently. 

Sinclair seems to be a pretty well-managed man, he thinks, if he’s got both the invention of the Vita-Chambers and a public business such as bar ownership under his belt (his metaphorical belt - he doesn’t seem to be wearing one, what with the braces). No wonder Tenenbuam had described him as a valuable ally; if he’s this accomplished in Rapture, then he must know the city well. Seems to, thus far.

Regardless, Delta likes him and accepts his company, thinks he’s funny and kinda charming, so that alone makes him a prized partner. He’s stepped beyond the ‘uncertain of’ area in Delta’s mind, somewhat redeeming himself from earlier, and is swiftly becoming someone Delta is content to call a friend.

Delta lets out his awed crooning again, catching Sinclair’s attention.

He looks up at him with an arched eyebrow and wide eyes, caught off guard by the noise and not quite understanding, and Delta points at him to try and indicate his previous topic.

“What?” Sinclair looks at Delta’s finger, then looks back up at him.

Delta points at Sinclair’s mouth, another attempt, and Sinclair’s expression gets even more confused as he edges back to avoid his personal bubble being invaded. He looks Delta up and down.

“Uh,” he mutters, trying to suss out what Delta means. Why would Delta indicate his mouth? Is he asking him to repeat himself? “What?...My bars?”

Delta gives an affirmative grunt and drops his hand.

Sinclair’s expression relaxes then. Delta’s just asking about his venture into the booze industry. How nice of him, asking about Sinclair’s favourite topic: his businesses.

Sinclair sits back in his chair, arms folded casually, to tell Delta about Sinclair Spirits, which somehow evolves into him regaling a story about a dinner party Ryan had hosted that he’d been invited to (for appearance's sake, mainly, and to keep professional relationships stable; Ryan hadn’t liked him and he hadn’t liked Ryan, which had been his reason for attending: to bug him), where a fella by the name of Bill McDonagh had gotten absolutely plastered thanks to the booze Sinclair had humbly brought from his bar chain. He’d had to be helped out of the party by three men at once - all while Ryan had glared at Sinclair for bringing the much more potent stuff to what was supposed to be a quaint event.

Sinclair, on the other hand, had just jokingly suggested Bill had been easily done in by the drink; how could he have known McDonagh would apparently be such a darn lightweight?

“I got a very interestin’ message on a tape recorder left on my desk the very next mornin’,” Sinclair says, chest vibrating with chuckles. “But I’ll spare ya of yet more ungentlemanly language, sport. Let’s just say - I wasn’t invited back for a while, an’ Andy didn’t like to stop to chat when we saw each other in the halls.”

Delta’s laughter echoes within his helmet, making Sinclair grin.

Eventually, the train approaches the next station on the line, and Sinclair looks toward the driver’s cabin. 

“Should be approachin’ ol’ Pauper’s Drop right about now.” He turns his nose up and faces Delta. “Worst neighbourhood in Rapture, kid, even before the war - named after a suicide, in point o’ fact. They used to say all the world’s weepin’ collects down here. I used to run some business around these parts - real estate - so you may hear some folks sayin’ my name in regards to the place. If ya do, well...we ain’t stoppin’ for a chat, an’ they ain’t invited for one.”

Delta looks at him, then out the window.

As they’re breaching the entry gate for the station, there comes a BANG followed by the loud rumbling of rubble being moved, the clang of something metallic being thrown and a distinctly furious roar that definitely doesn’t belong to a Big Daddy, and both Sinclair and Delta jump in their seats, the former due to shock and the latter due to the instinct to fight.

“What in the fresh hell was that?” Sinclair asks nobody in particular.

He pushes himself off of his seat slightly to try and see out the window, only to jump out of his skin and fall back down on his arse when Delta suddenly gets up, his hand out in front of Sinclair’s chest, dissuading him from moving any further from his chair. 

Sinclair’s never seen Delta move so quickly and it throws him for just a moment; he looks up at him in surprise, then settles when Delta doesn’t move again, statuesque, with his hand in front of Sinclair’s chest.

Delta continues to stand in front of him, blocking his way. He stares, makes sure Sinclair isn’t going to move anymore, and pushes his palm out at Sinclair twice, fingers splayed.

Sinclair understands the gesture immediately for once: Stay here. Safe here.

Sinclair nods twice, bewildered and still getting used to Delta wanting to protect him - to anybody wanting to protect him. 

When was the last time anybody had cared about his health and safety? Not even Tenenbaum had - not this much, anyhow. Maybe her girls had, but they couldn’t have done anything about it if he’d been in danger, through no fault of their own. Delta, on the other hand, seems quite determined to stand between him and trouble - and that’s nice. 

He hadn’t had any intention at all of actually going out there, but he doesn’t have a chance to tell Delta that, for Delta is moving quickly back into the driver’s cabin, shutting the doors behind him.

Sinclair immediately directs his gaze to the screen on the wall to watch through Delta’s camera.

As the train officially makes it into the station, Delta stares out the train’s front window, trying to tilt himself to view the platform - luckily for him, the source of the noise shows itself.

A Splicer comes stumbling in front of the train, followed quickly by a man who is larger than anybody Delta has seen that isn’t a Big Daddy. He looks like he could rival Delta in the width of his shoulders and arms.

Sinclair’s jaw drops at the sight of the man, eyebrows shooting up practically into his hair.

“Good Lord Almighty,” he mutters. “It takes a whole lot o’ ADAM to get that big - he’s spliced ta hell an’ back!”

The regular Splicer shoots at the man, who doesn’t seem bothered by the bullets in the slightest, and he wastes no time in bringing his abnormally large fists down upon the regular Splicer in a hammer blow, killing them with one strike to the head. Their body disappears in the leftover water that floods the indention in the floor.

The big man turns to the train and lets out a copy of the roar they’d heard when coming in, then jumps up onto the track above them, out of sight.

The train slows to a stop with a hiss; the exit gate never even budges open, which...shouldn’t happen, right? 

An alarm begins blaring over them.

“Attention,” comes Lamb’s voice through the speaker system.

Cautious, Delta raises his hands, one handling his drill, the other allowing small flames of Incinerate! to smoulder over its fingers and palm.  

“Subject Delta is now trapped in Pauper’s Drop. All railcar travel is suspended until he is found. Remember - the enemy is alone. We are the Family.”

Alone, huh? Sinclair thinks, frowning and raising an eyebrow, then he brings the radio to his lips.

“Lamb’s tryin’ to box us in, kid - this is a god-damned city-wide lockdown! To keep the train movin’, you need the security override key from the local ‘governor’...Grace Holloway.” His lower lip sticks out a little. “She kicked me out of my own hotel down here - The Sinclair Deluxe. Find her, an’ get that key.”

Delta immediately storms off of the train, off into Pauper’s Drop, and Sinclair sits back to watch his progress. 

[samantha-thewinchester]

We Pulled A Barry Allen, Bloody Hell.

|| Hope's Point of View ||

I shoot up, gasping for breath and immedately looking at my surroundings.

We're in Mystic Falls. The big oak tree to be exact... I remember it from when Lizzie had the Oni in her and was slowly going insane. "Good times". I continue to look around, before realizing how dark it is. Is it night time? School was just happening. What the hell made us pass out? I stand up, embers floating around all three of us.

I walk towards Lizzie and Josie, and see if their awake. At my touch Lizzie startles awake, hand rushing up to her chest as she looks at me.

"Hope! You gave me a damn heart attack!" She is taking deep breaths, calming down, before looking around. "Wait, where are we?"

"We are in the park, in the middle of town Lizzie. Now, stop hitting me and help me wake your sister."

Lizzie reluctanly stood up, and walk over to her sisters sleeping body. We wake Josie up, who was by far less startled. As soon as Josie stands up, we hear a scream.

That was suddenly cut off.

"Fuck..." I whisper, before taking off towards the source of the scream, Lizzie and Josie running right after me.

We slowly approach the source, we found two-probably dead-bodies. One male and One female. One was on top of the hood of the car and the other was a bit further down the road. Both with two teeth marks in their necks.

The teeth marks of a vampire.

"Crap..." Josies says.

"When can I get these mudy clothes off?"

"Lizzie!" Me and Josie shout.

|| 2 hours later ||

We walked to the old mill, figuring that the old mill would be a safe enough place to sleep for a while. I take watch first so I watch as the two sleep. I hear movement in the distance, so with one last look back at the girls, I walk towards the movement to see what it was.

I see a man with raven hair and a blue ring on his finger.

"Who the hell are you?" The raven haired man asks.

"The better question is who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing out here."

"Oh, you know. Just walking around. Looking for a bite to eat. Maybe a place to stay for the night. Where are you staying"

"Tell me your name and then we can talk, Raven Boy."

"If you must know, my name is Damon. Damon Salvatore."

"Like the founding family?"

"Yep. Exactly like them. Your turn girly. Whats your name?"

"Hope."

"What a cliche name. I mean Hope?"

"Quiet, Raven Damon."

"Hey! I give the nicknames!"

"Would you rather me call you "vampire"?"

That makes him stop dead in his tracks. He isn't doing anything but looking straight at me. All the humor drained from his face.

"What... in the hell... did you just say to me?"

"I said that you were a vampire. I mean come on, in all black, walking around at night. The night we- I found two dead bodys with two holes, bite marks, in the necks, drained of blood."

"Who are you? No wait. What, the hell are you?"

He takes a few steps towards me, glaring. I bring my hand up and start to give him an anuerysm. He grips his head in pain.

"Witch Bitch... good to know."

"Now, are you so sure you want to eat me?" Hold up... He said his name was Damon. Damon Salvatore. Meaning the very human, married, with children, Damon. Salvatore.

"What day is it?"

"Sebtember 10th. 2009. Why, don't you know your dates Hopey?"

Think Hope, think. You've read his brother's journels. You should know what's happening now. This was just a little bit before Dad came to town. I've read these journels a million times...

Katherine Pierce.

Damon Salvatore is in love with her. He think she's in the tomb. He's going to try and get her out... I can use that to my advantage.

"Not the point. So are you going to kill me , or would you rather have my help to get the love of your life Katherine out?"

"How the fucking hell do you know about that?"

"Did you forget that I'm a witch, or are you just an idiot?"

"Alright fine. I'll make you a deal. I won't kill you, and you help me find Kathrine. Deal?"

"Only if you don't kill my friends either."

"You have friends. Shocker."

"A least I have more then you. Deal or no deal?"

"Deal Hopey. Are your friends by chance witches, or warlocks I don't descrimiate, too?"

"Why?"

"We need all the help we can get." Oh, so he doesn't believe I could do it myself. Rude.

"Yeah. Their witches."

"Great. Now, where are we sleeping?"

After I look into the back of my head because of how hard I rolled my eyes, I gathered the strength to reply. "Follow me. It's not the best, but it's the best we could do on the sort notice we had."

"What did you just magically apper in town?"

"Something like that."

"Ok. Cryptic girl. Anything else?"

" We are all underage girls. Lay a hand on anyone of us we will kill you ."

"I won't unless they want me to."

"No, you won't at all, because then I will kill you." I warn, giving him a sweet smile.

We just continue to walk in silence. When we get to the mill, I raise my hand and put a finger over my lips. He just rolls his eyes.

What is it about him that makes me want to kick him in the face? Or drop him off a building? Or just kill him?

We quietly walk inside, finding Josie sitting there by her sister, who was still sleeping soundly.

"Hey Jo... This is Damon Salvatore..." I whisper to her.

"What? How did you find him? Why did you bring him here? Why-" To quickly cut her off, I put a hand over her mouth.

"So. You both know who I am now, who are your friends Hopey?"

"Friends." was all I said.

I walk over to wake Lizzie up. Again, she didn't want to wake up. Again, she started attacking me with her eyes closed.

"Lizzie. Up. Please."

She grumbles, slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes to wake up. When she see Damon her eyes widened.

"Quiet" I whisper to her. "I'll explain later."

"What are you two whispering about? You know it isn't polite."

"Shut up."

"Well then, I can see you don't have a house, unless you try and convince me this run down mill is a home. And your minors, I remember you telling me that for a fact Hopey, so shouldn't your asses be in school?"

"Yeah, but we don't have transcripts or anything so we can't go. And we don't have any damn money for a house or apartment." Lizzie states, just staring at Damon in confusion.

"Well ladies, that the beautie of compulsion. I can have you in school and get you a house by the morning. As long, of course, you follow up on your part of the deal."

"Wow. Thanks." I say, rolling my eyes for the fifth time today.

|| The Next Day ||

I slowly open my eyes, feeling comfy and warm in a bed. I really should thank Damon.

But will I?

Nope! But, compulsion is now my new favorite thing. And this bed is so damn soft, I could never leave.

Unfortuantely, I already hear Lizzie and Josie up downstairs so, slowly I get up. I get dress in a new outfit Damon had kindly gotten us as well.

Damon had also kindley gotten us backpack and school supplies, I can already see some humanity left in Damon even he suppositly turn it off. I guess Stefan's journels were right.

I slowly walk downstairs, seeing the girls just eating fruit at the counter. I grab an apple and look at them.

"Well, we should get to school, shouldn't we?" I suggest, eating a few more bites.

"Ladies first." Lizzie says, standing up and walking out the door. I hear Jo laugh as I shake my head, before we follow her outside.

As soon as we got to the school, we saw the Elena Gilbert and The Bonnie Bennett standing in front of the office. I snuck a peack inside and saw The Stefan Salvatore. Then I herad Elena and Bonnie start to talk with my werewolf hearing, me and the girls just standing by a locker..

"Hold up. Who's this?" Bonnie asks.

"All I see is back." Elena responds.

"It's a hot back."

They stand there watching for a minute, then Bonnie decides to speak up.

"I'm sensing Seattle, and he plays the guitar."

Elena scoffs. "You're really going to run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?"

"Pretty much"

"What are they saying?!" Lizzie says, snapping me out of my consentration to listen to them.

"Shut up, I'm trying to listen."

Thats when I spot Jeremey Gilbert heading into the boys bathroom after a kid had told him, "Jermey, good batch man."

"I'll be right back" Elena says and follow Jeremy into the bathroom.

After Elena left Bonnie mumbled "Please be hot." at Stefan.

"What did your mom see in these people?" I ask sarcastrically.

"What happened?!" Lizzie demands.

"Okay, yes, I want to know too--" Josie agrees.

"Well, first Elena and Bonnie made comments about Stefan and how he was hot. Then, Elena went after her brother because someone told him he made good drugs and such."

"Okay, yeah, I agree with you." Lizzie says, Josie laughing beside her.

"Quiet, both of you. We have to get our schedules." Josies says, getting us to focus again.

"Yeah, sorry."

We walk into the office, talking to the lady at the desk to get our schedules. We all only have one class together each. History with the infamous Mr. Tanner. Again, I remember him from Stefan's journels. Yay. This will be so fun. We go about our days until it is finally time for lunch. Then we all sit down at the table together and start to talk about a game plan and what the hell happened.

"So where are we. I mean our mom's like 17 and our dad hasen't even moved to town yet." Josie spoke first, writing things down in a notebook.

"Last night, I asked Damon what date it was, because he is a vampire and we know for a fact that isn't the case because he took the cure to be with Elena, and now have kids. So , you know, I thought about how shitty our lives are and it clicked, so I asked him what the date was. He replied that it was 2009. That means time travel. And we're probably the Barry Allens of this story. But, also, let's not Nora ourselves out of existance."

"And that wasn't even the craziest thing to happen last night."

"What happened Lizze?" Josie asked worry evident in her voice. I look over at Lizzie too, watching her face which only shows horror.

"I got mud on my awesome outfit! I would never do that!"

"What the hell Lizzie! We're in fucking 2009 and all you can think about is the fact that your outfit had mud on it?" I stare at her, debating hurting her, as I grit my teeth. I mean we fucking time traveled and she only cares about her damn outfit! What the hell kinda person is that?

"Yeah, well maybe some of us don't usually have as big of damn problems as you!"

"Alright! Enough! Stop fighting please, and just head to class."

|| A little while later || Mr. Tanner's class ||

We were all heading for the same classroom. I still was determined not to talk to Lizzie so when we bump into each other trying to get through the door, we just glare at each other. Josie walks ahead of us and opens the door, walking in first.

"Ahh, more little devils for this period. And you three are?"

"I'm Josie, and my sister's are Hope and Lizzie." Josie speaks up.

"Would you happen to have a last name, girls?"

"Marshall." I quickly say, cutting off Lizzie who tried to speak before me.

"Marshall. Alright Marshalls, sit down in empty seats."

We all head to three diffrent seats. But knowing my luck, I got put closer to Lizzie then I would like at this time.

"Marshall?" Lizzie whispers over to me, eye still showing anger.

"Yeah, that way, when our familys move to town we won't be asked about our names."

"Isn't it still your mom's name?"

"Yeah, but it's more likely to be a coincidence then if we were Mikaelson's or Saltzman's. It's a more common last name."

"Fine."

After that Stefan Salvatore walks into the class room. He, surprisly didn't get as many questions from Mr. Tanner as we did.  He just walked to his seat without any questions. Lucky.

Then Mr. Tanner started to drone on about the civil war. I would enjoy learning about this, but with everything going on, I'm not so intrested. That and I already learned everything there is to know about this. Thats why it helps to have a 1,000 year old family.

"Once our home state of Virgina joined the Confederacy in 1861, it created a tremendous amout of tension within the state People in Virginia's northwest region had diffrent ideals than those for the traditional deep south. Then Virginia divided in 1863--" Time to ignore him and think about my problems instead.

Ha, maybe this won't be as different from the Salvatore school as I thought.

I start to look around the room, trying to find out more. Stefan's journels only had his point of view. This way, I can learn more about... everything. I looked over at the famous Elena Gilbert, who was looking at the other famous Stefan Salavtore. He also looked at her. What a damn 'Love at first sight' story this is.

Thats when Bonnie takes out her phone, and starts to type something into it. Not too long after, Elena's phone goes off. So Bonnie was texting her. How fun. How the hell would you even work one of those phones. I'm guessing that they started to gosip about Stefan Salvatore. I swear, it's like this is a damn TV show version of Twilight. At least for the 'love at first sight' aspect. Vampires, thank god, don't sparkle.

After a lot more of civil war talk, and the bell rings. At that we all get up and head to the next class. And then the rest of the day goes by like any normal school day. Or what would be a normal school day if I didn't have to sit through classes with people that we were taught at school about and was owned and taught us about all of this. Isn't awkward at all.

When the final bell rings, I run out of the room to find Lizzie and Josie who are by their lockers. I grab them and start walking away. Lucky for me, I don't have to stop at my locker so I just start dragging them home. I ignore the fact that Lizzie is complaining the whole way, as I was planning her death in my head instead of paying attention.

When we get there I sit them down on the couch.

"Alright. We need a game plan. We are Fre-emies to Damon. We help him, he helps us. We are going to high school, with your mom and her friends, and that's about it. Now that we recaped, we need to talk about what we have to do."

"How about, we look into ways to time travel, that might actually work and are real, while also looking for monsters that might have the ability to time travel. Maybe find Malivore and see if it is spiting out any monsters now?" Josie suggests.

"That sounds great. We can search the library during our free periods." I say.

"Sounds great. Now I'm going to go anywhere else. Like literally anywhere else." Lizzie says before walking out.

"Lizzie we need more of a plan--"

"And I need a break. Bye-bye!" Lizzie tells me, walking up the stairs of the house and disapearing from view.

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. "So, Jo, what do you want to do?"

"How about we go to the grill? Get the milkshake you always like. What was it?"

"Peanut-Butter Blast with whip cream on the bottom."

"Yeah! Thats it. Lets go. Lizzie can have some time to herself, and we could get delicious milkshakes."

|| At Mystic Grill ||

Me and Josie were sitting down at a table, just chatting about random things as we wait to order.

Our waitress, as luck would have it, would be Vicki Donovan.

"What would you guys like to drink?"

"We will have two Peant-Butter Blasts with whip cream on the bottom." Josie says.

"Coming right up."

"Was that who I think it was?" Josie whispers over, while watching Vicki who just brought drinks over to Matt, her brother, Donovan and Tyler Woofwood, sorry Lockwood.

"Yeah. The Vicki Donovan. Doesn't she die in a few days?"

"Yeah. Damon kill's her I'm  pretty sure."

"No, it was Stefan to save Elena's life. I remember reading about it in his journal. Stake through the heart. I feel bad for her... Although, Damon does kill her to turn her."

Still watching Vicki we see Jeremy walk over and start talking to her. Not long after that conversation finishes, Caroline and Bonnie walk in. I point them out to Josie, and start listening into their conversation. It helped that they were talking so loud. I mean they are acting ike their on a TV show.

"His name is Stefan Salvatore. He lives with his uncle at the old Salvatore Boarding house. He hasn't lived here since he was a kid. Military family, so they moved around a lot.  He's a Gemini, and his favorite color is blue."

"You got all that in one day?" Bonnie replies.

"Oh, please, I got that between third and fourth period. We're planning a June Wedding." Hah, they did have a June wedding. To bad, he also died the same day.

At that Caroline walks off, Bonnie following a few minutes later.

Then after that there was just gossip, so we stopped eavesdropping.

"June wedding huh." I say to Josie, laughing a little.

"Shhhhhhh. We don't wanna talk about that."

"But she just predicted what would happen in the future. It's kinda funny."

"No because Stefan dies the same day!"

"You don't think I know that? That wasn't what was funny. Don't worry."

After that we sat there talking and drinking our shakes. Vicki came back a little later and we got some fries. That when I heard Matt Donovan say something that peaked my intrest so I pointed over to them and I started listening in again, using my werewolf hearing.

"How's Elena doing?" Matt asks. Poor love sick teenage boy.

"Her mom and dad died. How do you think?" Bonnie points out to Matt.

"She's putting on a good face but it's only been four months."

"Has she said anything about me?" Poor, poor forever human, Matt Donovan.

"Oh, no. So not getting in the middle. You can pick up the phone and call her."

"I feel weird calling her. She broke up with me."

"Give it more time, Matt."

"What's happening?" Jo asks me.

"Matt Donovan is love sick over Elena and Bonnie isn't getting in the middle of it."

And again, with perfect timing, Elena and Stefan walk into the Grill. I swear they were on a TV show.

Everyone turns around and looks at them when they walk into the Grill.

"More time, huh?" Poor Matt. He never stood a chance with the girl when Stefan moved to town, especially when Stefan's brother followed.

After that Matt stands up and walks away from Bonnie and toward the couple of the hour, Stefan and Elena.

"Hey, I'm Matt, nice to meet you."

"Hi. Stefan." He says while they shake hands.

"Hey."

"Hey."

That wasn't awkward at all. The two of them (Elena and Stefan) walk over to where Caroline and Bonnie were.

"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline asks.

"Mm-hmm. And moved when I was still young." If by young you mean before you were over a hundred, then yeah. I'd agree.

"Parents?" Bonnie asked.

"My parents passed away." Didn't he kill his dad? And his mother is alive in a prison world? I mean he thought she was dead, but still. Passed away doesn't even begin to explain it.

"I'm sorry." Elena says. "Any siblings?"

"None that I talk to." I forgot how bad of brothers they were at this point. "I live with my uncle."

"So, Stefan, if you're new you don't know about the party tomorrow." Wow. I can't ever see Headmistress Caroline as a partier.

"It's a back to school thing at The Falls." Bonnie adds.

"Are you going?" Stefan asks Elena. Wow. This really was a 'love at first sight' thing. To much for my liking. What is this, a TV show?

"Of course she is." Bonnie replies for Elena. What a good friend.

Lizzie than walks into the grill and comes to sit at our table.

"There is nothing to do in this town. I miss The Salvatore school."

"Don't we all." Josie responds.

"So, I heard that there was a party. It's a back to school thing-"

At that I cut Lizzie off.

"We know."

"Ok, well great. We're all going. Because it's the only thing to do in this town. And no Hope, your coming too."

I just sigh and 'lay' down in my seat. This was going to be a long night. Scratch that. A long time before we get home.

|| The Next Day, At School, In History||

"The battle of willow creek took place right qat te end of the war in our very own Mystic falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle? Ms. Bennett?"

"Um... A lot? I'm not sure. Like a whole lot.

"Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett.  Mr. Donovan. Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your rmbrddrd jock stereotype?"

"It's ok, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it."

"Hmm. Elena? Surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?"

"I'm sorry, I-- I don't know."

"I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reason, Elena, but the personal excuses ended with summer break." I inhale quickly, trying not to light something on fire.

"Four months isn't enough time for someone to grieve. Get your head out of your ass, and let someone who lost not one, but two people on the same day, deal with it." I glare at him. Four months is definetly not enough time to get better after one lose, let alone two. I should know, I lost three within... a month? Two?

After I went on my little rant I heard a few cheers while Mr. Tanner glares right back at me. Then Stefan speaks up.

"There were 346 casualties, unless you're counting local civilians."

"That's correct. Mister...?"

"Salvatore."

"Salavtore. Any relation to the original settlers here in Mystic Falls?"

"Distant."

"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."

"Actually, there were 27, sir. Confederate soldiers, they fired on the church,believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss. The founder's archives are, uh, stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts. Mr. Tanner."

Before he even finishes the whole class is pretty much chuckling about him showing up the teacher.

All Mr. Tanner could say to that was an "Hmm."

Good for you Stefan.

|| Later at the party ||

All three of us arive at the party, Lizzie the most excited. Everyone was already there, because we arrived a little late, so we just grabed a beer and started our separate ways. I start walking toward a tree stump on the ground by the entrence. We see Stefan start to walk up to the party. He's looking around for someone, probably Elena.

Before he walks away though he notices me.

"Hey, your the girl who stood up for Elena right?"

"Wouldn't exactly call it standing up for her, as I was sitting down, but yeah... My name's Hope."

"Stefan. I just wanted to say that I thought what you did was really cool. You know standin-- sitting for Elena." He smiles, before sitting down next to me.

"Well, I mean she only lost her parents four months ago. He was speaking like it was ten years ago. I know I wasn't over my parents deaths four months later."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. My parents died a while ago too."

"I'm sorry for your loss then."

"You too..." We sit there in a comfortable silence for a little while, Stefan looking around the party. Not too long later, he spots Elena, or probably listens for her, and finds her with Bonnie.

"Go on Lover-Boy. Go get your dream girl."

"I wasn't- I-"

"Go! You don't want to miss her."

With that he looks over at me, smiles, before standing up and walking over to her. Josie comes and sits next to me.

"Was that you talking to him?"

I noded, smiling at her.

"Cool. I only meet him a few times and I don't remember most of them, so you meet a walking Legend. Awesome."

We both look up and see Stefan and Caroline talking.

"You wanna do more eavesdropping?" I suggest.

"No, no, no. We shouldn't." Jo says, but I smirk at her, standing up and walking towards the two, hearing on.

"Hey! You made it!"

"I did."

"Well let's get you a drink."

"Well, I'm--"

"Oh, come on."

After they walk off, I look around and spot Lizzie. I look over at Jo and motion towards her sister, before slowly walking over to her.

"Hey, you ok?"

"Yep." She says before walking off.

"What's up with her?" I mouth to Josie, Josie just shrugging.

|| Josie's POV ||

I walk over toward Lizzie who is sitting down on the ground, her head inbetween her knees. Even over the loud music from the party, you could hear sniffles.

"Hey Liz. You ok?"

"Yup. Just fine."

"Wanna tell me what's wrong?"

"No."

"Lizzieeeeeeeeeeeee..." I say walking over to sit down next to her, criss cross apple sauce.

"No Jo. Not now."

"Lizzieeeeeeeeeeeee..." I say again.

"Jo, you can't help me."

"Sometime's talking about it helps."

"No Jo."

"Lizzie, you know you can tell me anything right? I will know how you feel. I've felt it before too."

"Do you know how I feel Jo? What this feeling is like? I feel like I'm going to go screw things up. I saw mom a lot today, and I wanted to go talk with her, but I was so scared that I would do something wrong, and mess up any chances I have to talk to her. And that's the best thing of all the downsides. I could have made it so we were never born!" She says tears streaming down her face.

"I could have made it so you were never born." She whispers.

"Oh, Lizzie..." I hug her from here she sits on the ground. "It's ok. You won't screw things up."

"You don't know that."

"I do. I trust you. And I know you have so much more potential to do good, and that you could go up and talk to mom and become her favorite person, even without her knowing that your her daughter. And that she won't love anyone more when she does."

"Thanks Jo." She sniffles, hugging me tighter.

|| Meanwhile || Hope's POV ||

I was walking around the party, beer in hand, when I hears Caroline, Matt, and Bonnie talking, while they look up on the bridge where Elena and Stefan are. Caroline spots me and runs over to me, grabing my hand to stop me from moving.

"Hey your one of the new girls right?"

"Yeah. That would be me."

"You're Hope, right? I'm Caroline. You seem to be all alone, which is no way to spend a party. Want to hang out with me and my friends?"

"I- um- I wouldn't-" Before I could even finish the sentence, she grabs my arm and brings me over to her friends, and I decide not to complain or anything. Easiest way to easedrop, be around the people. I feel like a spy.

"Hey Matt! Bonnie! This is Hope. She's one of the new girls!" Caroline introduces me, as I just smile at the two.

"Oh! Cool! Your in our History class right?" Bonnie asks.

"Yeah, she is because she gave Tanner that sass comment about Elena. That was awesome by the way. Not a lot of people would stand up for someone like that." Matt says before I could respond to Bonnie.

"Thanks. I just never like when teachers think that they are more important than what  is going on in the kids life. They could be having a really hard time, and not able to do most of the stuff they ask. And four months isn't enough time to grieve."

"Wow. You must be, like, a really good person." Caroline says.

"That is definitely debatable..." I laugh to myself, looking down at my beer.

After that we have just a bunch of chit-chat and small talk until after long Matt walks off, the Caroline. And... I can see she walked over to Stefan.

"That's not going to go well." I mumble

"Definitely not." Bonnie adds.

After a while, Caroline walked back over and immedately started to complain about the interaction with Stefan, saying how guys never go for her, but she gets cut off when Jeremy and Elena come running up from the woods, with Vicki in Jermey's hands. With a bite mark on her kneck.

The bite mark of a vampire.

Stefan quickly rushes a way, before the police show up.

And, eventually, the police show up with an ambulence for Vicki. Matt get's in the back with her, not wanting to leave his sister's side. I look around for Lizzie and Josie and I find them still sitting where Lizzie walked off to before. I look at them and they look at me, all three sharing the knowing look.

I'm heading with Caroline and Bonnie to the grill to get some coffee and wait for news on Vicki, trying to see if us being here changes anything.

Me, Bonnie, and Caroline get to the grill and I use the 'new' phone Damon got me and attempted to text the twins, with a little help from Bonnie who thankfully didn't ask as to why I didn't know how to use the phone.

|| A little while later || At the Grill ||

Me, Bonnie, and Caroline all are still at the grill in silence, sipping on our drinks every now and then, when I see Lizzie and Josie walk in. They grab a table by us and I just stare at the and try to comunicate without words, when Bonnie speaks up, and snaps me out of my consentration.

"Are you sober yet?"

"No"

"Keep drinking. I gotta get you home. I gotta get Hope home. I gotta get me home."

"Why didn't he go for me? You know, how come the guys that I want never want me?"

"I'm not touching that." Bonnie says, Caroline looking at me.

"Oh, nope not talking about that." I quickly say, Caroline looking frustrated.

"I'm inappropriate. I always say the wrong thing. And Elena always says the right thing. She doesn't even try! An he just picks her.  And she's always the one that everyone picks, for everything. And I try so hard, and i'm never the one ."

"It's not a competition, Caroline." Bonnie and I say at the same time, both trying to help Caroline.

"Yeah, it is."

At that we all just go back to sitting in silence. A little while later Bonnie had to go, and I gollowed soon after meeting Josie outside.

"Hey Jo. Where's Lizzie?"

"She'll be out in a minute."

|| Lizzie's POV ||

I look over where Mom was sitting. I see her send a small-- Nevermind. A big smile towards Damon Salvatore. Before they could even start talking, I sat down at Mom's table.

"Caroline, just because you don't get all the guys, doesn't mean your a failure. It just means not everything is working out for you. And if a guy turns you down, then he's the one with a problem. Not you. Your one of the best people there is out there. And if they can't see that, screw them. Most guy's are douches anyway." I say before I walk off towards Jo and Hope.

That felt really good. I got to talk to her... A teenage mom. I got to help her, or at least attempt to help her as she has many times before for me a Jo. Let's just hope that, you know, me and Josie are still born...

[hyperion-moonbabe-art3mis]

Caught in Between 26. Fallen Friend

Summary: Athena Dumont has finally found a place to call home after many years of foster homes and traveling. She had finally tamed her supernatural side and just wanted to live a normal teenage life. She quickly discovers that there is nothing normal about her hometown, Mystic Falls and gets sucked right back into the supernatural world.

Post Date: 12.15.20

Word count: 2k

Based off: 04x06 “We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes”

I wake up the next morning to find multiple calls from Elena. I call her back and she answers and starts speaking so quickly I couldn’t understand.

“Ok. Ok. Just calm down,” I say.

“Can you just get here as soon as possible?” She asks frantically.

“Yeh, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I say and hang up. 

I get ready as fast as I could and headed to Elena’s. As I made my way into her house, I find her walking back and forth freaking out. As I make it further into her house I find Jeremy laying on the couch, although it does not look like he’s asleep, more like unconscious. Damon comes in almost as soon as I make my way to Elena.

“What happened?” I ask ignoring that Damon had arrived.

“I uh couldn’t sleep so I came down to get some milk. And um I saw the hunter and next thing I know I stab Jeremy in the neck with a knife,” Elena explains.

“Ok well, at least he still has the Gilbert ring,” I respond.

“I can’t believe this happened. What--what am I going to say to him?” Elena says freaking out.

“Thanks for not ditching the family ring after it drove Ric crazy?” Damon suggests.

“Damon…” I say and look at him annoyed. 

“You should have called Stefan,” Damon says, clearly unsure of why he was there.

“I don’t want to talk to him. He’s been lying to me and hiding things from me. He compelled Jeremy to forget god knows what,” Elena explains.

“In all fairness, I mean, I think you killing him kind of trumps that. I mean, you should have called Stefan,” Damon suggests once more.

“I don’t trust him right now, Damon,” Elena says.

And just like on cue, “Hey,” Stefan says walking into Elena’s house.

“P.S. I called Stefan,” Damon says as I roll my eyes.

“What happened? Why didn’t you call me?” Stefan asks.

“I just--I need to go upstairs and shower. Clean all the blood off my hands,” Elena says and walks off.

“Could any of you listen to Elena, once?” I ask before Jeremy wakes up.

“Welcome back. How you feeling?” Stefan asks. 

“What happened?” Jeremy asks.

“Long story. Buy the E-book,” Damon says and walks to the kitchen. I head into the kitchen after Damon and help him clean up the blood staining the floor. 

“You know you could be a little more sensitive right?” I tell him.

“Ehhh…” Damon says.

“Damon… it’s her brother,” I give him an annoyed look.

“Where’d Jeremy go?” Damon asks as Stefan walks in.

“School. Bonnie has him volunteering for some occult exhibit,” Stefan explains.

“Or maybe he didn’t want to linger in a house where his sister just jammed a knife in his neck,” Damon says.

“It’s Klaus,” Stefan says looking down at his ringing phone.

“Ooh, time to face the music, pay the piper, dance with the devil,” Damon says.

“You know, I’m glad you find this amusing. If he finds out I told you about the cure, he’ll kill both of us,” Stefan says confusing me.

“Quit avoiding him. You’re being shady. Shady people get outed,” Damon says as Stefan answers his phone.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Stefan says.

“Well, I can’t imagine why what with you ruining all my plans for a hybrid-filled future,” Klaus says.

“Well, it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t sworn me to secrecy,” Stefan says.

“Life’s full of ifs, Stefan. Let’s extenuate the positives, shall we? The hunter was one of the five. We’ll find another. It may take centuries, but we’ve got nothing but time, right?” Klaus says.

“You’re using your calm voice today. Who’s getting killed?” Stefan asks.

“Not you, if that’s what you’re worried about. But I am concerned about your beloved. Have the hallucinations started yet?” Klaus says as the three of us exchange looks. 

“What do you know about that?” Stefan asks.

“I’ll tell you. Where are you?” Klaus asks back.

“I’m at her house,” Stefan says.

“How convenient. So am I,” Klaus says before we hear a knock on the door. Stefan quickly moves and heads outside. 

A few minutes later Elena comes down looking like she saw a ghost. “No!” She says before running outside. 

Damon and I follow her but we find that she had been whisked away by Klaus and Stefan was standing alone on the sidewalk. Stefan explained to Damon and me about the hunter’s curse, and about the cure to me. I call Bonnie knowing that she was our only luck in finding Elena. Once she arrived we explain what happened.

“You lost her?!” Bonnie asks.

“Well, ‘lost’ is a very strong word. We technically don’t know where she is,” Damon says.

“We do know that Klaus took her,” I say.

“I’m more worried about what Klaus said about the hunter’s curse,” Stefan says.

“How does Klaus even know about this?” Bonnie asks.

“How does Klaus know anything? The guy’s like a billion years old,” Damon says.

“He said it was a witch’s curse,” Stefan says.

“You know if I could do anything to help I would, But I--,” Bonnie says.

“But nothing. Wave your magic wand, hocus pocus, be gone, hunter, ghostess,  whatever,” Damon says.

“The spirits won’t let me do the magic I need to break the curse. But I can ask Shane for help. He knows everything about everything,” Bonnie explains.

“Great. You two do your thing,” Stefan says.

“Where you going?” I ask Stefan while he walks away.

“I’m gonna get her back,” Stefan says.

“I’ll come with you. Maybe he’ll listen to me for once,” I say and follow Stefan outside.

“I don’t need help getting Elena back,” Stefan says sitting on his motorcycle.

“Maybe not. But I am good back up. At least if he listens to me. We might have a better chance, than if you go by yourself,” I explain. 

Stefan takes some time to think, “Alright hop on,” Stefan says and starts his motorcycle. He stops just past the town clock tower and makes a call to Caroline. We then make our way to Tyler so they can explain what’s going on. 

“Haley is the one that helped me break the sire bond. She showed me what to do. How to help. When she showed up here, I thought it was just a coincidence but it turns out she’s been helping one of them. Her friend Chris. And she came to help us get the rest of them out from under Klaus,” Tyler explains.

“Including me,” I say waving my hand.

“So...Are you telling me that Chris and you aren’t sired anymore?” Stefan asks looking at me.

“That’s exactly what he’s telling you,” Caroline confirms. We all then come up with a plan and of course, I’m the one who goes to talk to Klaus, but what did I expect. Stefan, Tyler, and Caroline head out as I head to the Mystic Grill where Klaus was.

“Place looks pretty good considering your hybrid got blown up in it,” I say walking up behind Klaus whose drinking at the bar.

“Athena. To what do I owe the pleasure? You never seek me out on your own, I tend to have to come to you, even if you’re staying with me,” Klaus says.

“I want you to give Elena back,” I say standing by the bar.

“Ahh. They sent you to sweet talk me. Well, good form, But I’m afraid I can’t do it,” Klaus responds.

“Why not?” I ask.

“She needs my help,” Klaus says as I scoff at his statement. “Look, I’m not going to burden you with the gory details. I know you’d rather be doing other things, painting or hanging out with your friends,” Klaus says.

“Can’t do that, if Elena isn’t around,” I respond.

“Can I at least offer you a drink?” Klaus asks. 

“Yeah, thanks,” I say knowing it’ll keep him out of his house longer.

“How uh… was your trip to Italy? I assume it was for business, Klaus Michaelson doesn’t do vacations,” I say.

“It was very productive. I’d be glad to tell you what I’ve been up to, soon though,” He says as I feel a buzz from my phone. I look down to find a text from Tyler sayings that Elena had escaped. And another text from Damon saying that Jeremy is the key to stopping the hallucinations.

“So here’s the thing. I didn’t just come here to try to get you to release Elena,” I say.

“You don’t say,” Klaus says with a smile plastered on his face.

“I came here to distract you so that Stefan could go to your house and break her out,” I start as his smile falls. “Which he did and don’t get mad, but then he lost her,” I finish and Klaus doesn’t hesitate one moment to move from his seat. “Klaus!” I say.

“Athena. You’re beautiful and the love of my life. But if you don’t stop talking, I will kill you,” Klaus says surprising me.

“They figured out how to stop the hallucinations,” I say stopping Klaus in his tracks.

“Ok. You have 10 seconds to tell me,” Klaus says with haste in his voice.

“You have to find a potential hunter and have them kill another vampire. The catch is...it’s little Gilbert,” I explain.

“Well, this leaves us no choice. Let’s find us a little Gilbert and a  hybrid,” Klaus says.

“Damon already contacted him. We’ll meet them at Tyler’s,” I say.

“Well, let’s not waste any time,” Klaus says taking my hand in his and pulling me with him. We make it to Tyler’s house and go over the plan. 

I watch as Klaus walks into Tylers and the next thing I hear is Klaus yelling. As the hybrid was starting to make his way out of Tylers, Stefan rushes in, staking him. And soon after Jeremy follows in and finishes the hybrid off. I follow in after and see Jeremy standing over the body, Klaus with a big smile on his face, and Tyler and Haley standing in shock. 

“Alright, let’s go home,” Klaus says grabbing my arm.

“No, I’m staying here,” I tug my arm away. Klaus doesn’t try to stop me, but instead just leaves.

The next morning I wake up to find Haley asleep on the couch and Tyler sitting there with a bottle in hand. 

“Tyler?” I ask walking into the room.

“It’s just us. Paying our respects to Chris,” He says and takes a sip of the alcohol.

“We didn’t have a choice,” I explain, sitting in the chair next to him.

“I told him we had his back. I told him if he helped us, he’d be free,” Tyler explains.

“We needed to help our friend,” I say.

“Yeah, we helped our friend by handing over another friend,” Tyler says. I sat in silence not knowing how to respond. “Chris was a friend. He’s like us. Part of my pack. All he wanted to do was be unsired by that disgusting, piece of...How did you even get Klaus to agree to give up one of his hybrids?” Tyler asks. 

“Well, I didn’t have much to offer nor do I want anything to really do with him but…” I say.

“I agreed to go on a date with him,” Caroline says walking into the room. Tyler stands up facing Caroline. “I just thought that it might help keep up the ruse between you and Haley,” Caroline explains. Tyler doesn’t respond but instead, he throws the alcohol bottle against the wall, scaring both Caroline and me.

“What the hell is going on?” Haley asks waking up.

“Nothing. Nothing at all. Just celebrating the life of a fallen hybrid friend,” Tyler says shifting his eyes between Caroline and me.

I decided to leave Hayley and Tyler alone for the rest of the day and go check up on Elena. 

“Hey, how are you feeling?” I ask her as we walk into the kitchen. 

“Better now that the hunter is gone. Thank you for your help,” Elena says.

“No problem. I’d hate to lose you too,” I say.

A/N: This is just a filler, I hope you all enjoyed! Thanks for reading.

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