#in a MUCH more casual way than klaus is

[wholoveseggs]

Kinktober - {Day Twenty-Three} {<- kinktober masterlist}

18+ ---- {Masterlist} {Tag-List} {Kinktober}

{Klaus Mikaelson x f!Reader} Request {@niklausie}: the squeal i let out when i saw your kinktober post asking for more klaus that’s my man!! shocked that people aren’t requesting a lot of him already but i love to see all the elijah love 🥺 anyway! my request is: 1920s klaus dating a fem!reader who’s in her late 20s and a young upper-class widow whose husband never satisfied her, maybe it was an arranged marriage, and her relationship with klaus is quite scandalous. he’s introducing her to pleasure in a way she never imagined or experienced before. could be him going down on her, which she’s never done before, or just raw passionate bonking in a jazz club like the smitten degenerates they are hehe xx i appreciate it a lot if you decide to write this!

♡♡♡ I just KNOW Klaus made a hobby out of doing this at every speakeasy in the city...♡♡♡

2.5k words - Kinks: 1920s, oral sex, public sex, Klaus being a flirt, jazz music && lots of gin ..

The crumpled note in your hand was the key to the evening, an address to a secret club. Your friend had suggested the place, telling you that you would love the jazz and the atmosphere. It was entirely outside your comfort zone to go to such a place, especially alone.

But your life had changed so much in the past months that you wanted to do something new. So here you were, standing in front of a plain wooden door, with nothing to indicate what was behind. A small window, the kind you would expect to see in a bank, was set in the door. It slid open, revealing a pair of eyes.

“Name?” The voice was low and suspicious.

You swallowed and said the password your friend had given you. “la fee verte.”

The window snapped shut, and for a heartbeat, you thought maybe they wouldn’t let you in. Then the lock clicked, and the door swung open. The man behind it gave a small, amused smirk. “Enjoy the show.”

Inside, it was dark and smoky, the air thick with the mingled scents of tobacco and alcohol. It felt as though you’d stepped into a different world … one where rules didn’t apply. A thrill ran down your spine as you took it all in. The dim light cast long shadows over the room, and in the center, a crowd of people swayed to the lively, infectious tunes of the jazz band on stage.

You moved toward the bar, your steps hesitant but steady. “Gin, please,” you ordered, and the bartender poured a generous amount into your glass. The liquid burned as you took a sip, but you liked it. It was stronger than the polite, watered-down drinks you were used to, stronger, and better. The tension you’d been holding onto since you’d arrived began to slip away.

As you watched the dancers, a spark of envy stirred in your chest. The women moved freely, laughing, spinning, their dresses swirling as they danced with their partners. You wanted that. The freedom, the joy. For once in your life, you wanted to do something just for yourself.

“It’s quite a sight, isn’t it?” A voice broke through your thoughts, smooth and rich like the gin in your glass.

You turned, and the moment your eyes met his, the words caught in your throat. He was gorgeous, all chiseled features, blue eyes that gleamed in the low light, and a smirk that sent a flicker of heat through your chest.

“I’m Klaus,” he said, his gaze never leaving yours.

Your fingers tightened around the glass, and you were suddenly grateful for the dim lighting, so he wouldn’t see the blush rising to your cheeks. “Y/N,” you managed, offering your hand.

Instead of shaking it, Klaus took your hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles. His eyes stayed locked on yours, and your breath hitched, warmth pooling in your stomach at the simple touch.

“What brings you here tonight?” he asked, his voice casual, but the intensity in his gaze told you there was more behind the question.

“My friend told me about the band,” you replied, trying to keep your voice steady. “And I’ve… been wanting to try something different.”

He nodded, glancing toward the stage. “They’re good,” he said, tapping his foot to the rhythm of the music. “I imagine you’ve been to plenty of these places.”

You laughed, a bit nervously. “Not exactly. This is my first time at a place like this.”

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Really? Then I’m honored to be part of your introduction to such debauchery.” His smirk deepened, and your heart skipped a beat. “Where are you from?”

“Here,” you said, “New Orleans. Born and raised.”

“And your husband?” His voice was casual, but you could tell he was paying close attention to your answer.

You hesitated, then took another sip of gin for courage. “He died a few months ago.” The words slipped out more easily than you expected. Maybe it was the alcohol loosening your tongue, or maybe it was the way Klaus was watching you, like he genuinely cared about your answer. “It was an arranged marriage. We never… loved each other.”

A shadow flickered over Klaus’ expression, but it disappeared just as quickly. He nodded, understanding flashing in his eyes. “I see,” he said softly. “And now?”

You looked down, tracing the rim of your glass with your fingertip. “And now, I’m figuring out what it means to live for myself.”

Klaus’ smile was slow, deliberate. “I think you’re off to a good start.”

Your heart raced as he stepped closer, his presence warm and magnetic. His breath ghosted against your ear as he whispered, “Care to dance?”

“I don’t know the steps,” you admitted, glancing at the couples on the floor, their movements effortless, graceful.

Klaus chuckled softly, his breath brushing your skin. “That’s the beauty of it, love. You don’t need to know the steps. Just follow me.”

Before you could protest, his hand was on your waist, guiding you toward the dance floor. The moment his hand touched you, a spark of something electric shot through your body. You let out a shaky breath as he pulled you into the rhythm of the music, his body pressed against yours, leading you with a confidence that made it impossible not to follow.

As the song picked up speed, he spun you around, your dress billowing around your ankles. Laughter bubbled up in your throat as you twirled, dizzy and giddy, caught up in the excitement and the heat of his touch. When the music finally slowed again, you were breathless, flushed and grinning.

Klaus held your gaze, his hand still resting on your waist. Your bodies were close, swaying gently with the music, and you could feel the heat radiating off him. His eyes were dark with desire, and your pulse quickened.

Your husband had been cold and distant, barely sparing a moment for you. But now, here, with Klaus, you felt the desire that had been buried beneath layers of propriety and convention rising up inside you. You wanted him, more than you could ever remember wanting anyone.

"You are far too lovely to be married to a man who never appreciated you," Klaus murmured, his voice low and husky.

Your face burned. "What makes you think I'm lovely?"

Klaus chuckled, spinning you again, your body moving perfectly with his. "You have no idea, do you?" His gaze roamed over your face, your lips, down your body, his eyes filled with lust. "You are intoxicating."

"I'm sure you say that to every single gal who walks in here," you said, the gin loosening your tongue.

His smirk deepened, his thumb rubbing a gentle circle over the curve of your hip. "I'm only interested in the one who is right here, in front of me."

The music ended and the applause startled you both out of the trance you had fallen into. Klaus' eyes lingered on yours for a moment, then he took your hand and led you off the dance floor.

"Let's get another drink, shall we?" he murmured, and you found yourself unable to refuse.

You followed him to a quiet booth, upholstered in soft velvet, tucked away in a secluded corner. He signaled a waiter, and soon, two fresh glasses of gin sat on the table, the liquid ice-cold and refreshing. You sipped it slowly, savoring the tart flavor, as Klaus' eyes studied you.

"So," he said, leaning back, his arm draped over the back of the seat. "Tell me about yourself."

You blushed. "There's not much to tell."

Klaus shook his head, taking a drink. "I doubt that," he said, his gaze intense, making the blood rush to your cheeks.

"Well," you began, unsure where to start. "Same old story, married young, and it wasn't a happy marriage." You didn't elaborate, didn't want to talk about the years of loneliness, the disappointment. "It's a relief, honestly. Now, I can make my own choices, be my own person."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you plan on doing anything with your freedom?"

You took a long sip of gin. "I honestly don't even know where to start..."

Klaus tilted his head, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I might be able to help," he said, a hint of mischief in his voice.

"What did you have in mind?"

He grinned. "You'll see."

Your stomach did a somersault as he slid closer, his thigh brushing yours. The scent of his cologne, crisp and musky, surrounded you, making it hard to focus.

"Let's start with this," he whispered, his lips inches from yours. Before you could ask what, he was kissing you, his mouth hot and demanding, his hands tangling in your hair.

You gasped, your body responding instantly, desire flooding through you as his tongue slid into your mouth. He tasted like gin and sin, and it was everything you wanted. You felt his hand sliding up your leg, under your dress, his fingertips ghosting over the sensitive skin of your inner thigh.

Your heart pounded, your breath coming in shallow gasps as his lips trailed along your jaw, down the side of your neck, his teeth nipping at the soft flesh. You felt a pang of fear, and you didn't know why, but something inside you pushed back.

"No," you gasped, pulling away, your chest heaving.

Klaus paused, his gaze locking with yours, his eyes dark and hungry. "Why not?"

"It's not... proper," you stammered, hating yourself for the words.

Klaus chuckled, his fingers brushing your cheek. "I'll make sure no one sees," he said, his voice low and husky.

You swallowed hard, heat rising in your cheeks. You wanted him, but you were afraid. You'd been taught to be a good girl, to obey, and the thought of someone seeing, knowing, terrified you.

"You don't have to be afraid," Klaus said, as if he could read your thoughts. "Want to know a secret? No one cares what you do. This place, it's about freedom. About living life to the fullest, without the constraints of society holding you back."

Your heart pounded as his hand slid up your thigh, his fingers teasing the edge of your panties. His lips went back to kissing and nibbling at your neck, and you found yourself arching against him, craving more.

"I want you," he murmured against your skin. "Don't you want me?"

"Yes," you breathed, giving in.

You felt him smirk against your skin, and his hand slipped under the fabric of your panties, his fingers stroking over the slick, wet heat between your legs.

You gasped, a jolt of pleasure shooting through you, as his fingers found the swollen bud of nerves, circling and teasing it. You let out a small moan, your hips moving involuntarily, seeking more.

"Did your husband ever do this for you?" Klaus asked, his voice low and raspy.

"Please don't bring him up with your hand between my legs," you moaned.

He laughed. "That's a no, then."

Before you could respond, he was sliding under the table, his hands pushing your dress up to expose the skin of your thighs.

You were suddenly hyper aware of the people around you, the possibility that someone might notice, but the lights were too dim, the crowd too noisy, and Klaus was kissing his way up the inside of your thigh.

You bit back a moan, the feeling of his lips against your skin making it hard to think, the gin still thrumming through your veins.

"What are you doing?" you breathed, gripping the edge of the table as his tongue slid over the sensitive skin.

"Giving you the pleasure that was denied to you," Klaus murmured, his fingers spreading you open.

"Oh, fuck," you whispered as his tongue circled the aching nub of nerves.

He chuckled, his tongue moving in slow, lazy circles, the sensation sending ripples of pleasure through you. Your fingers tangled in his hair as he took his time, drawing out the moment, building the tension.

You had never felt anything like it, the way his warm mouth was making your body respond, the way his tongue flicked over the most sensitive part of you. You were trembling, gasping, a wave of pleasure washing over you as he increased the pressure, his fingers slipping inside you.

You bit your lip, trying to stay quiet, but it was impossible, the pleasure too much.

"Do you like that, love?" he asked, his breath hot against your skin.

"God, yes," you moaned, unable to stop yourself.

He chuckled again, and the vibrations making it all more intense. He was enjoying this, the effect he was having on you, and it turned you on even more.

You closed your eyes, lost in the sensation, your hips rocking against his mouth. The music was loud, the voices around you a steady drone, all the overwhelming sensations building, building, building. You were teetering on the edge, and then Klaus did something with his tongue, a swirl of pressure, and it was too much. A shattered cry ripped from your lips as you came, hard, waves of pleasure crashing over you.

Klaus stayed between your legs, his mouth and tongue working their magic, until you were completely spent, panting, sweaty, and blissed out. He emerged from under the table, a smirk playing on his lips, and kissed you, his tongue sliding into your mouth. You could taste yourself on his lips, salty and sweet, and the idea of him doing such a wicked thing made your core pulse again.

"How was that, love?" he asked, his gaze burning into yours.

"That was incredible," you breathed, your hands curling into his shirt.

He grinned. "I'm glad to hear it."

You blushed, realizing how scandalous this whole thing was. "I've never done anything like that before."

"I can tell," he said, his thumb stroking your cheek. "Your husband was a fool."

You shook your head, but you couldn't deny the flutter of pleasure his words gave you.

"I should go," you said, though the last thing you wanted was to leave.

"Why?" he asked, his eyebrows raising.

You didn't have an answer. Not one that made sense, anyway.

"Freedom, you see, is also about taking what you want, when you want it," Klaus said, his hand trailing over your collarbone, the bare skin exposed by your dress.

You hesitated, his words ringing in your ears. You'd spent so much of your life following the rules, doing what was expected of you, and now, the prospect of being free, of doing whatever you wanted, was dizzying.

"So... What do you want?" he asked, his voice low and seductive.

You looked up, your gaze locking with his. You wanted him, all of him, and the way he was looking at you, the way his fingers were dancing across your skin, made it clear that he wanted you too.

"Take me home," you whispered, and his smirk widened, a glimmer of excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Darling, I'd be delighted."

{<- kinktober masterlist}

[inkspiredwriting]

Clueless

Five Hargreeves x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

Y/n sat on the couch, nervously biting her lip as she watched Five Hargreeves meticulously go over his latest plans on the coffee table. She had been in love with Five for a while now, but he seemed completely unaware of her feelings. She decided to be brave and make her interest a bit more obvious.

“Hey, Five,” Y/n said, trying to sound casual. “Need a break? I was thinking of making some coffee. I know how much you love it.”

Five looked up from his maps, his expression serious. “Coffee? Sure, that sounds good. Thanks, Y/n.”

Y/n smiled, though she couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. Is he really this dense, or is he just pretending? She sighed, getting up to head to the kitchen.

As Y/n brewed the coffee, she mentally prepared herself for another attempt. This time, she’d be more direct. She carefully arranged two cups on a tray and brought them back to the living room, where Five was still engrossed in his work.

She set the tray down and sat beside him, leaning in a bit closer than usual. “So, Five,” she said, her voice soft and hopefully enticing, “what’s your favorite way to relax after a long day of saving the world?”

Five glanced at her, his brow furrowed in thought. “I guess I like to read a book or have a drink. Why do you ask?”

Y/n blinked, feeling her cheeks flush. “Oh, just curious. Maybe we could... read together sometime?”

Five nodded absently, already turning back to his papers. “Sounds good, Y/n.”

Across the room, Klaus watched the exchange with growing amusement. He had a sixth sense for these things, and it was clear as day that Y/n was head over heels for Five. What was also clear was that Five, brilliant as he was, had the emotional awareness of a brick.

Klaus decided it was time to intervene. He sauntered over, plopping down next to Five and flashing Y/n a conspiratorial grin.

“Hey, Five,” Klaus began, his tone light and teasing, “have you noticed how Y/n is looking at you? You know, like she’s... interested?”

Five looked up, puzzled. “Interested? In what?”

Y/n’s eyes widened in horror as she tried to signal Klaus to shut up, but he ignored her.

“In you, you dummy!” Klaus said, giving Five a light shove. “She’s been flirting with you for the past week, and you haven’t noticed?”

Five stared at Klaus, then at Y/n, then back at Klaus. “Flirting? With me?”

Y/n wanted to crawl under the couch and disappear. “Klaus!” she hissed. “Maybe you could be a little less obvious?”

Klaus shrugged, unrepentant. “Hey, someone had to spell it out for him. He’s not exactly Mr. Romantic.”

Five, now looking at Y/n with a mixture of confusion and dawning realization, finally put the pieces together. “Wait, you’re saying Y/n... you like me? Like, likes me likes me?”

Y/n’s face was crimson. She stared down at her hands, feeling like she might burst from embarrassment. “Well, yeah,” she mumbled. “I’ve been trying to show you, but you’re kind of... oblivious.”

Five blinked, his mind racing. He replayed all their recent interactions in his head and finally saw what had been right in front of him. Y/n’s subtle touches, her lingering looks, the way she tried to be close to him. It all made sense now.

A slow smile spread across his face. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I?”

Klaus snorted. “You think?”

Y/n finally dared to look up, her heart pounding. “So... now that you know, what do you think?”

Five leaned in closer, his eyes warm and a little mischievous. “I think,” he said softly, “that I’ve been incredibly blind. And that I’d like to spend a lot more time with you, if you’ll let me.”

Y/n’s breath caught in her throat. “Really?”

“Really,” Five said, reaching out to take her hand. “I might need some help, though. Klaus is right; I’m not exactly a romantic.”

Klaus beamed, clearly pleased with himself. “Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of tips. Step one: stop being so dense.”

Y/n laughed, squeezing Five’s hand. “I think I can manage that.”

Five smiled, his gaze locked on Y/n’s. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out together.”

Over the next few days, Five made a concerted effort to be more aware of his feelings and how to express them. He and Y/n went on a few dates—awkward at first but sweet and full of potential. Klaus, true to his word, offered unsolicited advice, most of which involved more flair than either Five or Y/n could handle.

One evening, as they sat on the couch in the living room, Y/n snuggled up against Five, feeling content and happy. Five wrapped an arm around her, looking more relaxed than she’d ever seen him.

“You know,” Five said, his voice thoughtful, “I’m really glad Klaus decided to butt in.”

Y/n chuckled, nuzzling closer. “Yeah, me too. Who would have thought?”

Five leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Here’s to figuring out this whole romance thing. Together.”

Y/n smiled, closing her eyes as she savored the moment. “Together,” she echoed, feeling a warmth in her heart that she knew would be there for a long, long time.

[annoyinglandmagazine]

You know that whole scene with Klaus reuniting with Punch and Judy/ Adam and Lilith? That already gives me so many emotions but I ended up accidentally making it worse with headcanons about their previous relationship that I hope at some point will make it into a fic:

Bill and Barry never really grasped the way constructs were treated outside of Mechanicsburg. They don’t really get the concept that something like that could matter so much to people, that they would actively view people as less than human for a few stitches or an extra limb. That the insanity of Mechanicsburg could actually be an improvement on the rest of the world that supposedly cared about morals in this one thing that they’d never even questioned before.

They try, they really do, they get righteously furious about it every other week, but they never really get it. They’re more confused than anything when Klaus and Judy tell them they should be the ones to ask for boarding while travelling anonymously because they’re less likely to be turned away.

They don’t notice that Punch and Judy take certain adventures more personally than the rest of them do, the way they went all still when hearing a monologue about constructs taken as ‘spare parts’ by Sparks that insist it doesn’t count because they’re not people anyway. Even worse the supposed ‘heroes’ they work with to take down rogue Sparks and then turn around and insist that the job isn’t finished until they purge the area of the Spark’s creations as well.

They’re complaining about their professors and Klaus explains why he dislikes one of them by casually bringing up that he had a pet theory of a ‘sliding scale of humanity’ and he once derailed a lecture by trying to place Klaus on it. They are horrified and murderous and Klaus becomes the first person to marvel at how sheltered someone was growing up in Mechanicsburg.

So there is always a certain connection between Punch, Judy and Klaus over this in particular because they know that Bill and Barry can’t possibly understand. Not like they do. And it’s important, to Punch and Judy entering an outside world for the first time and having it reject them even as it grows used to and even welcomes the Heterodynes but not them, never fully. Heterodynes can redeem themselves with enough determination but how can you redeem yourself when your only crime to begin with was existing?

It’s important to Klaus who knew relatives and friends who looked like they had to force themselves to say his name without flinching because they didn’t really believe it was him they were talking to. University was a fresh start but it took years for him to break the nervous habit of adjusting his cuffs and collar to cover his skin because it was just exhausting to watch the way people changed once they noticed.

Sometimes they talked about it but most of the time they’re just there for each other and that’s enough. Also they’re all way more willing to get into a fight on someone else’s behalf than their own so it gives them a nice opening to beat the shit out of bigots.

On an unrelated and slightly less angsty note I also think that Punch and Judy were sort of the mom friends of the Heterodyne adventures. They got into the habit of spending a considerable amount of their lives trying to make these insane twenty somethings get some rest every now again and the rest of it complaining (Punch naturally had a sign language that the Boys may have invented specifically for him but communicated perfectly adequately through Looks as well) the constant, stupid risks they took to their own lives.

When it became clear that they couldn’t have children Bill and Barry couldn’t feel more terrible about it, they spent ages trying to come up with a solution but couldn’t imagine one where there was an ironclad guarantee of no amnesia. Klaus suggested adoption since they were so good with the orphans they came across but, though it wasn’t ruled out, Judy half jokingly made comments about how she was busy enough with ‘her boys’ anyway so she didn’t need children for now.

Klaus finds it easiest to talk to Punch sometimes because he really listens and waits until he’s finished speaking to offer input when it’s wanted (it usually isn’t). He’s also exceptionally good at reading non verbal cues which is helpful because Klaus always had some kind of allergy to talking about anything personal.

Judy knows about Lucrezia and Klaus. She’s fairly certain Bill is the only one of them who doesn’t. She personally thinks both of them would be a lot better off with someone else, anyone else really. She distrusts something in Lucrezia’s eyes when she’s around them, calculating and almost predatory, but then both of them had unusual ideas of what constituted romance. She doesn’t like it but she doesn’t say anything. Years later she’ll wish she had.

When Punch and Judy hear that Klaus is back from the dead and annihilating all the warring nobility’s armies that cross his path they think ‘Well something else is clearly going on there but that does sound a little like what Klaus would do if he went off the deep end to be perfectly honest.’

They find out he’s conquering an empire and that sounds a lot less like Klaus. Then Barry returns in a complete panic, holding his niece like a lifeline and talking about how Klaus is working for the Other.

It’s a struggle to even contemplate it, the same Other that killed Bill’s infant son and most likely Bill as well, the Other that destroyed the Wulfenbach barony and massacred its people, including Klaus’ own parents, the Other that ravaged Europa sending it into a state of utter chaos. They know Klaus. They’ve known him since he was reckless eighteen year old who just wanted to make the world a better place. They know him.

But…… A few months ago they would have said the thought of subjugating the continent would never cross Klaus’ mind, that he’d never do something like that. He wasn’t that kind of Spark. On their bad days the boys used to talk about what would happen if either of them ever crossed ‘the line’ and though they’d all reassured them that they never would Klaus had promised in complete sincerity that he wouldn’t let them.

No one had ever thought that Klaus might need to have a line. He never even properly lost control of a fugue, he didn’t forget morals in the heat of the moment, every decision he made he’d stand by years later as the right one. He took things further than the boys sometimes but that was because he’d concluded it was for the best and he didn’t need a strict code the way they, still wrestling and redirecting those Heterodyne urges inside them, did.

They also knew Barry and he wouldn’t ever be able to believe something like that if there’d been any other explanation. Barry had known Klaus too.

Basically I’m never going to get over the tragedy that is this group of people because they were friends! They were probably the first real friends any of them had had! They were so young and optimistic and they decided they were going to start fixing things because no one else would. They thought the world could get better and people deserved second chances and for a while it actually worked and it meant something and then it blew up in their faces.

Everything falls apart worse than it was when they started, they lose everyone close to them and they wonder if the world was ever really going to change at all. When the era of the Heterodyne Boys comes to an end they don’t face it together the way they always thought they would if they failed. It ends with all of them are separated and so disillusioned that they’ll believe that even their closest friends would betray them and humanity in the worst way possible.

[badkitty3000]

☕Love In The Time Of Cholera And Coffee ☕

Part One: Chapters 1-6

Five x Female Reader, Klaus x Female Reader

You and Klaus are in a casual relationship. No ties, just sex. When you start spending a lot of time at his apartment, you somehow manage to break through his brother's prickly outer shell. He seems to like you, or at least tolerate you the best that Five can. When you start to realize that maybe there is more than just mutual friendship between the two of you, it opens up a lot of feelings and unanswered questions. And a lot of problems.

This story contains sexually explicit material! (But also lots of humor and fluff)

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Multi-Chapter Fic, Cross-posted on AO3. Link to my Master List.

This story alternates between the reader's POV and Five's POV. I will update a chapter at a time going forward. If you'd like to read it on AO3's format, here is the Link to story on AO3.

Thank you for reading!

Chapter One: Motivation, Routine, and Caffeine

You have been sort of dating Klaus for several weeks already. Not exactly his girlfriend and not exactly not his girlfriend. You are something in between and you are ok with that. You don’t need a major commitment and you are content with a casual relationship. Maybe not forever, but for right now it suits your needs. Klaus is fun and easygoing, and always makes you feel relaxed. He can be selfish sometimes, that is true, but you are willing to overlook it for the most part. As long as he doesn’t bring his selfishness into the bedroom, which so far he has not, then you could live with it.

The sex is good. Which is probably the real reason you’ve been hanging around so long. Without the sex, there isn’t a whole lot keeping you there. You don’t have a lot in common, except that you both like watching old English-dubbed Samurai movies on TV late at night while passing a joint back and forth. You don’t even like smoking that much, but Klaus has a way of making everything seem alluring and sexy, so you never hesitate when he takes a long hit off a joint and hands it over to you.

You spend a lot of your time at his apartment. You work a lot of hours, and sometimes have to work late, and his apartment is much closer than yours. That’s actually where you had met Klaus, at the bakery and coffee shop that you manage. He had come in for a tea and started making small talk with you. Before you knew it, he had you cracking up when he made a joke about eating your muffin. You weren’t even offended; that’s just part of the magic of Klaus. He can say pretty much anything and get away with it.

It doesn’t hurt that he’s one of the most beautiful men on the planet. Honestly, sometimes you’re jealous of how every single piece of clothing looks amazing on him and he never seems to have a bad hair day. Being with Klaus is like walking around in the company of some ancient Greek sculpture come to life. He draws eyes wherever he goes, from both men and women, and he’s never shy about returning the looks, either.

He likes to go shopping with you to help you pick out clothes, and he always lets you know if they look good on you or not. He’s funny, and sweet, and it’s very easy to fall under his spell. With Klaus you get the best of both worlds; a fun best friend that you can share clothes and gossip with, but who you also get to fuck.

That initial run-in with him eventually led to a few hook ups, and now you are a regular visitor at his place. It works out well. He always stays up late, so it’s no big deal if you swing by on your way out of work at midnight.

You are also working a lot in order to hopefully buy the shop from the current owner. Soon, you’ll have enough cash, along with a loan from the bank, to buy it. And you already run the place, anyway. It has always been a dream of yours to be able to own your own business.

So, between the long hours and financial preparation for the purchase, you don’t have a whole lot of free time. Most of what you do have, you spend with Klaus since it’s convenient and fun. Which, as it turns out, means you are also spending a lot of time with his brother.

You knew from the beginning who Klaus was. You know all about The Umbrella Academy and the Hargreeves family, because everyone does. Not that they’re really a household name anymore, but you know all about their history and their powers. So, when you found Klaus shared an apartment with Number Five, you were intrigued. You knew he had gone missing for a long time, but didn’t really know the whole story. Klaus had filled you in one night, though, and you were left feeling sorry and sad for him. That is, until you met him.

The first time you were there, sitting on the couch with Klaus watching TV, Five had teleported directly into the living room and scared the living shit out of you. After you screamed, he looked at you like you were some sort of flea-ridden possum that had gotten inside the house when someone left the door open.

“Holy shit!” you had shrieked, clutching at your chest and trying to catch your breath.

Without addressing you in any way, or introducing himself, Five glared at you, then turned to Klaus with a scowl. “Keep your feet off the coffee table. And stop leaving the goddamn milk out.”

Then he was gone again, in a swoosh of light, leaving you staring at an empty space.

“Wow, that was intense. Does he always do that?” you had asked Klaus.

Klaus just laughed and nodded, putting his feet back up on the coffee table. “Oh yeah, that’s just Five. You get used to it.”

“He seems kind of scary. And angry.”

“Fivey? Oh no, not at all. My big brother is really just a mushy little teddy bear all dressed up in a three-piece suit. Trust me, his bark is much bigger than his bite.” Then Klaus creased his eyebrows together in thought and pointed his joint at you. “But, maybe try not to piss him off too much. Just in case.”

Because of what you learned about Five’s time travel mishaps, he looked younger than Klaus and a few years younger than you. You were somewhere in between the two of them. But Five definitely had the grumpy, older brother thing down. After you got used to him appearing and disappearing without warning, you started to loosen up around him a little bit. Even though Klaus told you he was really a softy inside, you have a hard time believing it from the way he acts around you. After several weeks straight of being ignored, you decide to call him out on his bullshit.

Five appears out of a portal of blue directly in front of you as you are on your way to the bathroom. As usual, he gives you his signature sneer and is about to walk past you when you grab him by the arm. He looks down at his arm where your hand is and then back at your face; a murderous glint in his eyes.

“What the hell is your problem?” you ask him, doing your very best not to show your nerves.

“My problem? I don’t have a problem, thank you. Now let go of me.”

His voice is hard, but he also hasn’t tried to pull away, and you keep your hand on him. His upper arm is much firmer and solid than you had expected and you can feel his bicep flexing under your fingers.

“Why are you always so rude? I haven’t done anything to you.”

Five rolls his eyes and sighs. “Christ. Look, I’m sorry if I’m not dying to be all buddy-buddy with you. I learned a while ago that it’s not exactly worth getting to know my brother’s flavor of the month.”

You know he’s meaning to insult you, but you end up laughing instead. It’s no secret that Klaus is a total man-whore and you’re fine with that. It’s nothing serious and if another man came along that you were interested in, Klaus wouldn’t mind that, either. In fact, he’d probably want to meet him.

“Look, your mean old man act is wearing a little thin. It wouldn’t kill you to be somewhat nice once in a while. Maybe even get to know me? Most people think I’m a fucking delight.”

Five gives a sarcastic snort of laughter and looks back at your hand on his arm. This time, you let go. “How about this, sweetheart? If you’re still around next week, I’ll consider finding out how much of a fucking delight you are.”

You smile and hold out your hand, ignoring his condescension. “Alright, old man. Deal.”

You notice a tiny twitch of the corner of his mouth, but then it’s gone again. He looks cautiously at your hand, like he’s not sure what to do with it at first, and then he gives it a quick shake with his own before muttering something under his breath and blinking away again.

It is exactly one week later, and you haven’t forgotten Five’s deal. He has been slightly more cordial to you in the past seven days, but he still doesn’t take the time to stick around more than two minutes to talk to you. So, you’re practically beaming with satisfaction that you get to rub it in his face and actually make him talk to you.

You corner him in the kitchen one morning, as he’s pouring a cup of coffee. “Hi!” you exclaim loudly as his back is turned to you, and you laugh when he almost spills his coffee everywhere.

“Fuck!” he yells, before turning around and glaring at you.

You bounce on your toes and clap. “Guess what today is?”

“I can only hope that it’s National Leave Your Boyfriend’s Brother The Fuck Alone Day?”

You give a fake laugh and shake your head. “No, dummy. And he’s not my boyfriend, anyway. It’s been a week and I’m still here, right in your grumpy little face. So, now you have to talk to me.”

“I most certainly do not,” he states dryly before taking a sip of his coffee and then making a face of disgust. “Damn it, Klaus cannot make a decent pot of coffee to save his life.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s what I told him! It’s the worst!”

That seems to pique Five’s interest a little and he gives a small smile. “He buys the cheapest shit ever. Everyone knows the secret to good coffee is –"

“Quality coffee beans.”

He looks stunned that you said exactly what he was going to say and he lowers his mug. “Yeah, that’s right.”

“See? If you had taken the time to know me a little, you would know that I actually manage a café. I know all about good coffee.”

You don’t know him well enough to recognize all of his expressions, but if you could guess, you’d say he looks somewhat impressed.

You continue on. “And, since I know firsthand that Klaus’s coffee is total shit, I have started bringing my own with me. Wait right here.”

You leave, go into Klaus’s bedroom, and pull out a small bag of coffee grounds from the overnight bag you brought with you. When you return to the kitchen, Five is still waiting there, and you hold it up for him to see.

“Now, move out of the way so I can dump that swamp water out and make us something good.”

Five actually does what you say, and moves out of your way, allowing you to clean out the pot and fill the coffee maker up with fresh water and your special grounds. He doesn’t say anything, but he’s watching you intently. It’s slightly unnerving but you try to ignore it.

When you’re done and all you can do is wait for the coffee to brew, the two of you stand on opposite sides of the kitchen, leaning against the countertop. Five has his arms crossed over his chest and you start fidgeting with your hands, picking at your nails and cuticles. Your boldness from just a few minutes ago has faded.

“So, you’re the manager of a café?” Five finally asks, breaking the silence.

“Yes. Soon to be owner, if things go well.”

Five raises his eyebrows and nods his head in approval. “Sounds like a smart move.”

“I hope so. It’s a big step, but I’m ready for it. I want to be my own boss.”

Five nods his head again, but doesn’t say anything. After another minute of silence, the coffee maker beeps. Thankful for something to do, you pull out two new clean mugs and pour each of you a cup. When you hand one to Five, he takes it from you and you notice his hands. They look strong, with taught tendons running down the backs and long, slender fingers. You’ve always had a thing for hands.

“Holy shit,” Five says, his forehead creased with lines.

“What? No good?” you ask, genuinely surprised that he wouldn’t like it.

“No, quite the opposite. This is perfect!”

You laugh and hold up your mug. “And you didn’t want to get to know me.”

Five makes a face that kind of resembles a smile and takes another drink. “Well, if I’d known you made coffee like this…”

You laugh again and shake your head. “Klaus insists you are just a big teddy bear, and maybe I’m beginning to see it. Underneath all that crabbiness, anyway.”

“I’m not crabby,” Five insists, giving you the crabbiest frown ever.

“Oh, ok. Sorry. Curmudgeonly? Would you prefer that?”

To your surprise, he actually laughs. You’ve never heard him laugh before and it catches you off guard. But you like the way his face breaks into a big grin and the sound that rises up out of his chest like it’s been stored in there for a very long time and is finally being released.

“Well, I’ll be damned…did you just make Senor Cinco laugh?”

You and Five both turn and see Klaus sauntering into the kitchen to join you, wearing nothing but a small pair of bright blue underpants. He sidles up to you and throws an arm around your shoulder, leaning down and giving you a kiss on the cheek.

“I did!” you exclaim with a smile, putting your arm around his naked waist.

“That just might be a new record. Usually, it takes at least three months, plus a few thinly-veiled death threats, before you get an honest to goodness laugh out of him.”

Five rolls his eyes and his face returns to its normal seriousness. “Actually, Klaus, I just don’t laugh at anything you have to say. Because you’re a fucking idiot.”

“Aw…I love you too, Fivey,” Klaus responds before he reaches out and ruffles Five’s hair.

Five bristles and runs a hand over the mess Klaus made, trying to restore his normal style.

“Well, as much as I’d love to continue this thrilling conversation, I’ll be taking my leave now. Enjoy your day doing…what do you two do, anyway? Contract various STDs and debate the nuances of Scooby Doo?”

You let out a loud cackle at that, which makes Five smile crookedly in your direction; right before he blinks away, leaving Klaus rolling his eyes and you with an inexplicably warm feeling in your chest.

Another week has passed and you and Klaus are still playing the no-ties dating game. Since you had turned Five on to your coffee making skills, the two of you have developed a bit of a friendship. While Klaus likes to stay up late and sleep in the next day, you are up early. Despite your long work hours, you generally don’t need a lot of sleep to function. You run mostly on motivation, routine, and caffeine. Which, coincidentally, so does Five.

Because you are both up in the early morning hours, you and Five will end up meeting in the kitchen when the sun is barely above the horizon. He will sit quietly at the small kitchen table and watch while you go about making coffee for the two of you. Neither of you say much until the coffee is finished brewing and has been poured. Then you sit down across from Five and he’ll actually engage in conversation.

At first, it was like pulling teeth to get Five to answer any questions, but after a while he warmed up. Now, you’re pretty sure he actually likes sitting down and talking to you. This morning is no different, and you and Five are in the kitchen, comfortably talking and sipping coffee when Klaus wanders in.

He yawns and stretches his sinewy body before flashing you a smile. “Morning, babe. I feel like waffles. You guys want some waffles?”

Five says nothing, but you smile back up at Klaus. “As long as you aren’t suggesting I get up and make them, then yes, I’m up for some waffles. We can go to that diner down the street.”

Klaus comes over and starts running his hands through your hair, massaging your scalp in the process and combing out the tangles with his fingers. It feels nice and relaxing and you close your eyes. When you open them again, your gaze lands on Five and your eyes meet. Something about the way he is looking at you makes your face flush with embarrassment and you gently push Klaus’s hands away, laughing.

“Quit it,” you say lightly, even though under normal circumstances you love it when Klaus plays with your hair.

He takes a step back, unfazed, and goes to pour himself a cup of coffee. Five is still watching you and you have to avert your eyes just to think straight. You scoot your chair back and stand up, turning to Klaus.

“So, are we going or what?”

Klaus shrugs. “Sure, you buying?”

You roll your eyes. “Don’t I always?”

“Yes, you do. And then I pay you back in a much more physical way.”

“You realize that makes you sound like you’re prostituting yourself for breakfast foods.”

“I’ve done a lot worse for a lot less.”

You laugh and then you see Five get up and start to make his way out of the kitchen. “Five wait!”

He stops and turns to you, coffee cup still in hand, and eyes you up. “Yeah?”

“Come with us.”

“I don’t think so. You two toddlers go ahead.”

You frown and jut your hip out. “First of all, stop insulting us. Second, name one good reason you don’t want to come with us. I mean, you do eat, don’t you? Or do you survive solely on black coffee and sarcasm?”

You see that faint smile playing on Five’s lips again. The one that gives you a little flutter in your stomach when you see it; because you know you’re one of the few that can actually get him to break.

“Yes, I do eat. If surviving on coffee and sarcasm were a thing, it would have made my life in the apocalypse much easier.”

He’s kidding, but you still feel bad about your comment and you cringe a little at the mention of his traumatic past. Klaus, though, just waves a hand in the air dramatically.

“Come on, Fivey! What’s not to like about spending time with your favorite brother, while also getting some free waffles?”

“Pleeeaase?” you beg while batting your lashes exaggeratedly in Five’s direction.

After another annoyed eye roll and a huffy sigh, Five relents. “Fine! I will go to your stupid diner and eat your stupid waffles.”

“That a boy!” Klaus goes to slap Five on the back, but he has already blinked out of the kitchen.

“I hope it’s ok that I invited him?” you ask.

“Of course it’s ok. I can’t believe he said yes, though. I’ve been trying to get him out and socializing forever. It’s like you have a special magic touch with him. You’re like the Number Five Whisperer.”

You laugh. “Yeah, right. I think he just wanted breakfast.”

Klaus shakes his head. “No, really. I’ve seen him around you. He actually listens to you and isn’t mean.”

“He’s mean to me all the time!”

“Well, compared to what the rest of the world gets from him, that’s nothing. He once called me the human version of a shart.”

When you can’t help doubling over with laughter at that, Klaus puts a hand on his hip. “It was very hurtful.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s hilarious. Say what you want, but the man is funny. Whether he intends to be or not.”

“Just you wait. When he starts comparing you to shitting his pants, then we’ll see how funny you think he is.”

Once you are all showered and dressed, the three of you walk over to the diner for breakfast. You are planning on going directly to work from there, so you have your bag slung over your shoulder. The weight of it is evident by the way you’re slumped to one side while you lug it around, and Five eyes it curiously as you slide into a booth. You and Klaus are on one side while Five is across from you.

“What do you have in there? Bricks?” Five asks you as he picks up a menu.

“Yes. I carry around a bag full of bricks. One never knows when one might need to perform an emergency masonry job.”

You see Five’s lips purse together in a failed attempt at trying not to smile, avoiding your eyes by pretending to peruse the menu.

Klaus lets out a loud hoot of laughter and puts his arm around your shoulders. “Looks like you may have met your match in the snide comment department, Fivey.”

Five glances up and flicks a stray piece of hair off his face. “Doubtful. I am, and will always remain, the king of snide comments.”

You and Five exchange amused looks and you peer down at your own menu. A waitress comes to the table to take your orders and Klaus flashes her one of his beautiful smiles and you can see she is instantly smitten by him.

“A round of waffles and coffee for the table, please.” Klaus gestures to all three of you. “And make sure to give the bill to my sugar mama over here.”

The waitress gives you a funny look and you shrug with a smile before she wanders off to put in the order.

“Klaus!” Five hisses, leaning forward.

“What?”

“If you can’t pay for your own breakfast, I will. Don’t make her do it.”

Klaus looks genuinely taken aback. “Why? She offered.”

“Because it’s…” Five pauses and sighs and if you thought he was capable of embarrassment that might have been what he was conveying. “…it’s not gentlemanly.”

You chew on your bottom lip and look down in your lap so that you don’t laugh, but also so that Five doesn’t see how completely shocked you are at this statement.

Klaus frowns at Five. “I forget sometimes that you’re an old coot under that sleek body of yours. Don’t be so old-fashioned, Fivey. The times they are a-changin’.” He turns to you. “Besides, am I nothing but a gentleman?”

They are both looking at you for some sort of response and you laugh nervously. “Yes, you are mostly a gentleman. And I don’t mind paying; I did offer.” Klaus looks smug and Five rolls his eyes. “However,” you point a finger at each of them, “neither one of you offered to carry my bag for me on the way here.”

You watch with satisfaction as both of their mouths hang open for a second before they realize they have nothing to say to that. Just then, the waitress comes by with your coffees and starts to set them down in front of you on the tabletop. As you smirk to yourself, you hear both men utter a soft “sorry” under their breath before taking a sip from their mugs.

Five clears his throat. “You never did answer me. What are you carrying around in there?”

You glance at the overstuffed tote bag next to you. “Well, some extra clothes and toiletries, but also my laptop and a bunch of notebooks and file folders. I’m applying for a large bank loan and need to make sure all of my ducks are in a row.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re planning on buying your café.”

Klaus leans back against the booth. “Yeah, she’s cute and smart. Hey, another thing you two have in common!”

Five takes another drink and mutters over his mug. “I am not cute.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Klaus looks thoughtful as he scans Five up and down. “You’ve got more of that angry, smoldering, sex god look about you.”

“Shut up, Klaus.”

“He’s right,” you hear yourself saying and your cheeks immediately burn when you realize you said it out loud. You notice Five’s face reddens a little as well when he looks at you in surprise.

Klaus is oblivious and he clinks his coffee mug against yours in a toasting gesture. “See? Everyone thinks so. Now, the next step is to share some of that super sexiness with another human being and not just your fist.”

With his face still flushed, Five clenches his jaw even tighter. “Shut. Up. Klaus.”

“I know it’s convenient and doesn’t require you to leave the house, but choking the old chicken doesn’t replace the need for human contact. It’s nice to flog your log once in a while, but you need to branch out. Let someone else take Fivey Junior for a spin. Know what I mean?”

You are certain you are about to witness a murder firsthand as you watch Five pick up his butter knife in a clenched fist, leaning dangerously close to his brother across the table, when the waitress comes back with your food. As she plunks down the plates in front of everyone, Klaus continues to dig his own grave.

“Hey there,” he squints at the waitress’ name tag, “Sandra. What do you think of my brother over here?”

Sandra looks visibly uncomfortable as she glances from Klaus’s beaming face to Five’s murderous one and back again.

“I’m sorry?”

“On a scale of one to ten, with one being you would not bang him if he were the last man on earth, to ten being you want to jump his brittle old bones right here in this diner booth, how would you rate him?”

You sink down in your seat and close your eyes, thinking that maybe if you aren’t actually looking when Five rams that knife through Klaus’s neck, you won’t have to answer too many questions from the cops. You risk opening one eye a slit and you can see Five fuming, nostrils flared and neck veins bulging. The poor waitress is not sure what to do as she stands there awkwardly, so you decide to jump in.

You laugh theatrically. “He’s just kidding! I bet him $20 to say that. I’m sorry…I didn’t think he’d actually do it.”

Sandra relaxes a little and sighs with relief. “Oh, ok. No worries. Enjoy your meal.”

As she walks away, you turn to Klaus with a glare.

“What?” he asks innocently.

“You’re terrible,” you tell him, disapprovingly.

“I’m trying to do the guy a favor and help him get his ex-assassin wiener wet!”

Suddenly, Five’s palm bangs on the table, making the plates and cutlery dance and clatter. You and Klaus both jump in your booth.

“I do not,” seethes Five, “need your help or anyone else’s for that matter.” He relaxes a bit, unclenching his jaw and rolling his shoulders back. His eyes pass over to you as he starts to cut into his waffle. One corner of his mouth curls up as he stabs a piece with his fork. “Fivey Junior is doing just fine, thank you,” he quips before taking a bite and giving you a quick wink.

Your stomach feels warm and fluttery all of a sudden and you let out a snort of laughter. The subject is dropped after that and Klaus eventually moves on to something else that involves his and Five’s apartment. Your mind wanders as you eat your food, staring into space as the two brothers chatter next to you. You didn’t mean for your mind to wander to that, but now that it was brought up, you find it front and center in your brain.

You find yourself wondering exactly what Five’s sexual situation is. You’ve never seen him with a woman, or a man, but he’s certainly good looking enough to get either one. Maybe his surly attitude turns people off? You know all about his unique situation, and so maybe he’s never had the opportunity to be with anyone else in that way. You steal a glance over at him, noticing the way the tendons in his forearms tighten and relax as he gestures while he talks and that warm feeling is back.

I wonder what kind of package he’s working with in those pants of his? He’s not a huge guy, but he sure as hell carries himself like he’s got a giant schlong. I would not be surprised if he was packing some serious equipment in there. I bet it could do some real damage…all that anger has to go somewhere. And I bet he knows how to use it, too. Probably could bang you right through a fucking wall –"

“Think twelve inches is too big?”

You drop your fork onto your plate with a loud clang as Five’s question snaps you out of your perverted daydream. Your face is suddenly very hot.

“What?” you ask in a wide-eyed panic.

Five and Klaus both give you a weird look.

“The shelving unit to put under the bathroom sink, remember I was telling you about them the other day? What do you think about the size?” Klaus explains.

“Oh, right. Uh…I don’t know,” you stammer.

Five turns back to Klaus. “It might be a little tight but I bet I could make it fit. Probably have to shove it in there really good, though.”

At that, you dissolve in a burst of nervous laughter that has the other two looking at you like you’ve lost your mind. You can’t stop laughing, though, and you cover your mouth with your hand while your body shakes uncontrollably.

Five and Klaus exchange confused glances. “Ok…weird,” Klaus says before going back to his waffles.

After a good thirty seconds of hyperventilating, you finally calm down enough and you wipe the tears from your eyes.

Five points a fork at you. “What the hell was that?”

You shake your head, suppressing another round of laughter. “Nothing, I was just thinking of something from earlier. You had to be there.”

“Clearly.”

After a few more minutes of silence, Klaus turns to you. “I know you’ve been worried about this loan and making sure you have everything in order. I’m no good at that kind of thing, but our boy Cinco over here probably is. Maybe he can look things over for you.”

“Oh!” You turn to Five. “Really? You’re good with finances and all that?”

“I’m good at everything, so by default I’m also good at finances,” he answers offhandedly, not looking up from his plate.

“Oh, right, silly me. I forgot, you’re a goddamn genius.”

He looks up and nods without a hint of irony. “Correct. I am.”

You roll your eyes. “Ok, never mind, sorry I asked.”

“Alright, don’t get all huffy. If you want me to look things over, I can do that.”

“Well, if it’s not cutting too much into your time of sucking your own dick, then that would be great.”

Klaus lets out a loud laugh and Five raises one eyebrow as he leans back and drapes his arm over the back of the booth with a smirk. “I think I can pencil you in somewhere.” He picks up his coffee mug, stopping just before he takes a drink. “Incidentally, that would have been another skill I could have used during those solitary years. But, alas, as brilliant as I am, I found I lack the flexibility.”

You bite at the inside of your cheek to stifle your laughter. “There’s a visual I don’t need.”

Klaus nearly chokes on his food. “Holy shit, did you actually try that? I’m not saying I haven’t myself, but I just didn’t think you…well, I guess there were a lot of lonely hours to kill, so like what did you try first? Rolling up in a ball, or –"

You slap a hand over his mouth. “Ok then! I can see this conversation is headed in a very weird direction, so I am just going to excuse myself and head to work now.”

After you gather up your bag, Klaus gets up to let you out of the booth. As you hoist the heavy tote over your shoulder, you address Five. “If you really are serious, I would be glad to have your help.”

“I was serious.”

“Thank you. Would you be available later today around 4? You can come by the café. I’ll even make you some coffee.”

“Sure. See you then.”

You give him a smile and then turn to Klaus. “See you later?”

“Absolutely. I’ll be around.”

Klaus leans down to kiss you, which is nothing out of the ordinary of course, but you feel weird being so affectionate in front of Five and you break the kiss off quicker than normal. You say goodbye to them both and as you go to leave, Klaus gives you a slap on the ass. When you turn to give him a fake scowl, you catch Five looking at you. He’s watching you with that intense look of his that you still have trouble reading the meaning behind. Whatever it is, though, you’re finding that you kind of like it.

Chapter Two: Fivey Junior

As I leave the diner and Klaus goes off to do whatever the hell Klaus does, I stand on the sidewalk outside for a minute or two. My hands in my pants pockets, I lean up against the building and close my eyes, taking a deep breath. What the fuck am I doing?

It’s true I wanted nothing to do with her in the beginning. I’m tired of having to deal with Klaus’s random friends and whatever stray he decides to bring home for a week or two. They usually end up making a mess, drinking all of my good beer, and eating my Grape Nuts cereal. But then they are eventually gone and he moves on to the next one. Men and women. Sometimes both at the same time. It’s exhausting just watching him and I honestly have no idea how he does it. I’m definitely too old for that shit. Meanwhile, though, I have to live with it.

So, when she showed up, I could not have cared less. Just add it to the long line of other free loaders. But then she stuck around longer than usual. She was there most mornings and most nights. I couldn’t turn around without finding another stupid pink hair tie of hers and there was suddenly strawberry scented shampoo in the shower. According to Klaus things were not serious between them, but he liked having her around and apparently she felt the same about him.

Then, that day she grabbed my arm and accused me of being a mean old man, well I may have shifted my opinion of her just slightly. No one ever challenges me and they certainly never grab me like that. Not without a serious death wish, anyway. But when she did it, I don’t know why, but I didn’t mind. I hadn’t spent enough time around her to really study her up close, but once she was in my face, calling me rude, I could see the little speckles in her eyes. And see how pink her lips were and smell that strawberry shampoo. When I shook her hand, it felt soft and warm.

It was like she made it a personal mission of hers to wear me down, and I have to admit it really fucking worked. She’s nice and bubbly and sunshiny all the time, and that should be the most irritating goddamn thing in the world, but for some reason it’s not. She also calls me out on my bullshit, which no one ever does, outside of my family, and so I have to admire her for that.

That morning when she made me coffee for the first time, that sealed the deal. Not because it was damn good coffee, because it was. It was that she genuinely wanted to talk to me. I have no idea why; she wasn’t wrong when she called me rude before. Still, as much as I didn’t mind the company, I wasn’t going to put too much effort in. I figured she’d be gone soon enough.

The days that followed, though, she was still there. And now every morning I meet her in the kitchen and we sit and chat and drink our coffee. And it’s nice. Nice enough that I make sure to get up extra early every day just to have that time with her to myself. She’s intelligent and funny, and almost as much of a sarcastic smart-ass as myself.

She’s beautiful, too. I can’t stop watching her any time she’s around me. Whatever she’s doing, I’m mesmerized and I have to remind myself to stop staring like a creep. I like the way she moves with confidence around me and the way she gestures with her hands when she talks. I like her voice in the morning when it’s still a little raspy from sleep. I try not to look at the rest of her body, because I know she’s technically too young for me and I’m being a gross old man, but fuck, she is sexy. I know why Klaus likes her. She really is fucking delightful.

This morning I really didn’t want to get breakfast. After I saw Klaus stroking her hair like that, the last thing I wanted to do was see more of the two of them shoved in my face. When she berated me for not going, though, I had a hard time saying no again. She seems to be able to do that to me. But then what just happened back there in the diner? Was I flirting ? Did I actually wink at her while talking about my dick? Holy shit, did I just tell her I tried to suck my own dick? Yes. Yes, I did.

I drop my head back on the brick building, hard, and groan. What is wrong with me? I am a grown ass man. I am not some love-struck teenager with a hard on for every girl that looks in my direction. I do not pine for women. And let’s not gloss over the fact that she’s dating Klaus, my actual brother. They might not be serious, but that’s a pretty shitty thing to do. Fuck, I need to get a life.

And now, because Klaus is completely oblivious and also apparently thinks I have too much free time on my hands, I am committed to seeing her again today. Of course I don’t mind helping her and I’m happy to do it, but I’m nervous just thinking about it. Why should I be, though? It’s just us talking over coffee like we have been for several mornings now. The only thing different is that it will be in an outside location. At her coffee shop. Just the two of us, no Klaus. Almost like… I swear to god if you even entertain that idea right now… date.

“God fucking fuck damn it FUCK!” I yell out loud on the street while I kick at the brick wall with my good shoes, scuffing them up in the process.

Several people are looking at me like I’m an insane person and a couple of them are crossing the street to get away from the raving lunatic trying to beat up a building. To avoid the concerned stares, I blink away and reappear a few streets over. I might as well keep walking, maybe that will clear my head and stop with all these ridiculous thoughts.

It’s a nice day, at least, and I end up at a park, taking a seat on a bench as I wallow in my own self-pity. There’s an older man on the bench next to me, reaching into a bag of bread and throwing the crumbs out to the pigeons gathering around his feet. He looks over at me and I give him a nod of approval, thinking that looks like a nice way to pass the time, but have you seen the price of bread these days? I lean forward and put my head in my hands, groaning out loud at myself while my pigeon friend gives me the side eye.

One thing that has started happening since she came along is that I sometimes forget my real age. I was at least able to age myself up by 8 years or so when we arrived in this timeline, thanks to some tricky time-math and a whole lot of luck, but I’m still well older than my body portrays me. It used to shock the hell out of me every time I’d pass by a mirror and see a stranger looking back at me. Then, after a while, I got used to it and I’m not going to complain; trading your broken old body in for a new model definitely has its perks. No more aching bones, tired muscles, or mysterious bruises that seem to appear out of nowhere. And I won’t get started on the new and improved libido, but suffice to say it’s a nice bonus.

Even though I have gotten used to the newer, younger me, I have never felt young mentally. I have remained the same stubborn old man that has resided in my head for decades now. It’s a weird contradiction to have the energy to stay out all night, yet still rather be at home catching up on this season’s Antiques Roadshow. But this is the first time in the last few years that I’ve started to feel more like my younger self. And maybe it’s because I don’t want to feel like a dirty old man, lusting after a woman more than half my age. That is definitely part of it, but the other part is that she just makes me forget. She makes me feel younger.

The hours are dragging by, but I still don’t feel like going home, so I continue to wander around. I come to the conclusion that I am being a selfish, delusional bastard and I just need to cut it out. If I really think about it and start psychoanalyzing myself, there’s a clear reason why I’m having all of these misdirected feelings. It’s obvious that my years of solitude have left me ill equipped when it comes to forming human relationships. In my still-infantile mind, a simple friendship between a man and woman has manifested itself into something more, because it doesn’t know the difference. The chemicals in my brain are confused and don’t know when and how to release themselves at the appropriate times.

I know that dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are produced upon initial attraction to another person, and that oxytocin is released when you presume you are in love. Everyone knows that. So, it’s obvious that I just need to reprogram my brain so that it is not confusing mutual amicability with something more. As usual, if you approach something from a scientific aspect and remove emotions from the equation, problems become much easier to solve. Simple science makes everything so much clearer.

It’s finally close to 4pm when I’m supposed to meet her at the café, so I start making my way over there. I have a new outlook on this meeting now. I am happy to look over her finances and make any suggestions that I see could be helpful. If she asks for my opinion, I’ll give it. Then, I will take my leave, go home, and continue on with my life. No more of this internal longing bullshit.

Then I arrive there and…well, fuck. So much for science.

I am standing outside of the café looking in through the windows and I can see her in there. She’s standing next to one of the tables, talking with another woman who is sitting down with a mug in front of her. I obviously can’t hear her, but I watch as her face breaks into a beautiful smile and she laughs. A laugh I can hear in my mind because I’ve memorized it. She crosses her arms over her chest, which squeezes her breasts together and accentuates her cleavage. When she finishes her conversation and walks back towards the counter at the front, my eyes travel down to her round butt bouncing along in the tight jeans she’s wearing.

“Excuse me.”

I am snapped out of my voyeuristic weirdness by an annoyed voice belonging to a woman behind me. Apparently, I’m blocking the doorway and she would like to enter the building. I open the door for her and she walks past me while I try to get a grip. I follow the woman inside and up to the counter.

When she sees me, she smiles and I automatically shove my hands in my pockets to try and portray an air of casualness.

“Hey there, Fivey,” she says with a big shit-eating grin.

I shake my head and attempt to look mad. “Do not call me that. It’s bad enough Klaus does.”

“It’s so cute, though! It’s like his little pet name for you.”

“I’m not sure why my idiot brother feels the need to make my name even weirder than it already is.”

She snorts out a laugh and then bites her bottom lip, and honestly both of those things are going to send me through the roof, she’s so fucking cute.

“Ok, so no nickname, fair enough. Still willing to help me out?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

She turns away, but not before I see an eyeroll, as she grabs a coffee cup and fills it up, handing it over the counter to me.

“Here you are. One free coffee. As promised.”

“Thanks. I can pay for it though, you don’t really have to give it to me.”

“No please, just take it. I promise I won’t think you are ungentlemanly for it,” she says with a small smile and I can see she’s obviously teasing me about my comment in the diner earlier.

“You make fun of me, but one of the perks of being with an older man is that we know how to take care of our ladies.”

It just came out of my mouth without thinking and I can feel my face getting hot. I’m just praying that she can’t see me blushing. What the hell is going on with me?

“Oh, is that so? I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, then,” she says with a flirty tone.

I have no idea what to say next without sounding like a complete asshole, so I just don’t say anything and instead take a sip of my coffee.

She clears her throat. “Well, let me go grab my stuff and we can sit down at one of the tables.”

She disappears into the back for a minute, returning with her heavy looking tote bag from earlier. I follow her over to a small two-top table and we sit across from one another. As she fishes around in her bag and unloads her laptop and some file folders, I watch as a lock of hair falls in front her face and all I can think about is reaching over and tucking it behind her ear. Obviously, I do not do this.

I look over all of her financial information and everything looks like it’s in order. When I start asking about something I’m reading on her laptop, she gets annoyed that she can’t see the screen well, and so she comes around to my side of the table, sitting directly next to me. I can smell that strawberry shampoo again and our legs brush together. I swallow nervously.

“I think everything looks good here. Your credit scores are high, you have no debts, and you’re asking for a reasonable amount. I don’t really see why they would deny you.”

“Do you think so? I know it’s stupid, but I’m so nervous! The meeting with the bank is tomorrow morning.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“It’s just…if I don’t get this loan I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve put so much into this place, I already feel like it’s my own. But I’m not going to work as a coffee shop manager for the rest of my life. I at least want to be a business owner. You know, something I can be proud of.”

I nod. “I think you should be proud of yourself no matter what.”

She scoffs a little. “Ok, thanks Dad,” she says sarcastically.

Just like that, I come crashing down to reality as I’m reminded who I really am. I am not a 20-something year old. I am old enough to be her actual dad. And while that really has no bearing on anything, considering nothing is going to happen between us anyway, it’s still a kick in the nuts. She must see it on my face, because I see her cringe.

“That was a joke. I don’t actually think of you as a dad.”

“I know.” My voice is clipped as I try to hide my embarrassment.

She leans into me and bumps my shoulder with hers in a friendly gesture. “Thank you. For helping me with this.”

“You didn’t need my help. You’ve got this.”

“Well, thank you anyway. And thank you for putting up with me. I know I annoy you by always hanging around your place.”

"It’s true, you are a giant pain in the ass,” I say with a smile. “But, as giant pains in the asses go, you’re not so bad.”

“Aw…thanks Fivey!”

She laughs at my irritated face, which I am only making to keep up the façade. She can call me anything she wants, really. I don’t mind.

I am sitting at home the next afternoon, when she comes bursting through the door of the apartment. She's absolutely bouncing up and down with glee and when she sees Klaus she runs over to him and he picks her up in a big bear hug. She has on what I assume to be her business attire from her bank meeting, and I can’t stop staring. It’s a tight pencil skirt with a short, fitted blazer on top and black high heels. When Klaus lifts her up, her jacket pulls up in the back and I am treated to a very small window of her bare skin just above the waist of her skirt. I’m not sure if I want to look there, or down a little bit lower to wear the material is hugging her hips and ass.

“I got it!” she shrieks and kisses Klaus before he sets her down again.

“That’s great, babe!” he tells her.

Then she turns to me, as I stand there staring like a dope. Before I know it she has her arms wrapped around me and my face is covered by her hair as she hooks her chin over my shoulder. I don’t know what to do, I’m practically paralyzed with shock. I can’t even bring my arms up to hug her back, so they just stay limply at my sides. I take a breath and close my eyes, inhaling the scent of her hair and skin. She lets go of me and steps back and my immediate impulse is to pull her right back into me again. But I don’t. Instead, I just continue doing nothing.

“I cannot thank you enough, Five. You helped me do this.”

“I…I really didn’t do anything.”

“Well, you gave me the confidence I needed and made me feel like I knew what I was doing before I went in there. So, thank you. Really.”

She is smiling so genuinely and sweetly at me and I just can’t believe she is giving me any credit for anything. But I figure if I keep putting off her compliments she’ll get annoyed, so instead, I get weird and flustered.

“Yeah, well, you’re welcome. No problem.” I look from her to Klaus and back again. “Alright, well I’m going to leave you two dimwits to yourselves. See you later.” Then I blink away before either of them can respond.

It’s the next morning and I wake up early, but I don’t get up to meet her for coffee this time. I can’t keep torturing myself like this and pretending we have some sort of connection is just sad and pathetic. The truth is, she is with Klaus right now. Maybe they aren’t technically in a committed relationship, but she’s here in the apartment because of him, not me. And because they supposedly aren’t serious, that also means they will eventually tire of one another and one day she just won’t be here anymore. And it makes me fucking sick to even think about it.

Instead, I start thinking about her running into Klaus’s arms and kissing him yesterday. I hate how much that bothered me. I hate how much I wanted that to be me. I’m lying here in my bed, alone, and all I can think about is lifting her up in my arms, her body pressed to mine as she kisses me. It’s so fucking pathetic and yet, I can’t stop. I replay it over and over in my mind; her smile and her lips and the adorable way she would squeak if I squeezed her to me.

Soon, my pathetic little daydream has evolved into something much dirtier than a hug and kiss. I think about how her tits would feel pressed up against my chest. About how her firm ass would feel under my hands. And how badly I want her legs wrapped around my waist.

I groan sadly and palm my erection through my underwear. Fuck. Rather than sit and jerk off in my bed, I decide I should just head to the shower and kills two birds with one stone. The bathroom is directly across from my bedroom and I make the quick blink over so that I won’t have the humiliating experience of bumping into the person that’s responsible for my boner problem in the first place.

In the shower, my imagination runs wild. I obviously have never seen her naked, but I can certainly conjure up an image in my head that I decide is probably pretty close. I picture her straddling me, my cock deep inside of her, while she fucks me hard and fast. Those tits that I’ve only seen the outlines of through her t-shirts are bouncing up and down in front of my face and, Jesus Chris, it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. My hand is acting as a sad substitute for her tight cunt as I lean my head on my hand against the wall and close my eyes.

I imagine her moaning my name as she throws her head back and works her hips harder and faster on top of me. I can feel her soft flesh as my fingers dig into her sides and push her down; all the while thrusting my own hips up because I can’t get enough. As a final act of delusion, I throw her off of me and flip her over. I pound into her from behind, listening as she cries and sobs from the intensity of it all. I hear her pleading, telling me she’s sorry for ever wanting anyone else but me; that it will only be me from now on. I urge her on as I penetrate her harder, demanding she fucks only me from now on. She is mine and I’ll be goddamned if anyone else is going to touch her from here on out.

I’m only yours, Five…you’re all I want…all I need. I love—

“Hey, Klaus, have you seen my…Oh shit!”

The sound of her voice in real life has me floundering, trying to remember what the fuck is going on, and I turn around just in time to see her horrified face which mirrors mine. Our eyes lock for what has to be a fraction of a second, but feels like an eternity, and I see her glance briefly downward and then back up again.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” she stammers, before quickly closing the shower curtain with a flourish.

I don’t know what to say or do, and there’s no time to do it anyway, as I stand there with my eyes wide and my dick in my hands. I hear the bathroom door slam shut and I’m left alone again. If I have felt shameful or embarrassed about any of my actions in the past, they are nothing compared with what I’m feeling now.

I want to die. I want to dissolve into liquid form and slip down the drain, washing away with all the other filth and disappearing into the sewers. I quickly contemplate my options. I’m a smart guy, I can come up with something. I could blink away and never return to this apartment ever again. Klaus might wonder what happened to me, but eventually he’d get over it. After all, it’s not the first time I’ve vanished without a trace. I could try some serious time travel again, maybe jumping backwards this time. Give the 1800s a try; live out the rest of my days doing something mundane like a blacksmith or a chimney sweep.

Instead, I just stand there, the shame and embarrassment washing over me. The most fucked up thing is that I’m still hard. I saw her face and her shock and it still didn’t dissuade my traitorous hormones. I need to finish and I’m horrified at the thought. Not horrified enough, though, because I start stroking myself again. I keep picturing her in my mind, even though I know she knows what I am doing and maybe that’s part of why I like it.

In some psychotic part of my brain, I like that she saw me jerking off. She doesn’t know that it was her I was thinking of, but I can start to convince myself that she might like it. She might like that I was fucking my hand to images of her naked body on top of mine. She might actually be flattered that I’m thinking of her riding me hard and fast and violently. That I’m imagining her moaning my name and coming around my cock.

A few more seconds of vigorous self-pleasuring and my hand is stilling as I unleash ropes of cum over my stomach and onto the shower floor. It mixes with the water and rushes down the drain as my eyes clench tightly shut and I groan as quietly as I can through gritted teeth. It’s bad enough she saw me in here, she doesn’t need to hear me, too.

After I am milked dry, and my breathing starts to slow again, I let go of my shrinking dick and wash myself off. I feel like the loser of the century. She’s probably out there right now, telling Klaus all about it and laughing. They’re probably discussing how sad I am and how much I really need to get a life. And they’d be right.

Once I’m cleaned off and dressed again, I listen closely from inside my room, trying to determine if she’s still here or not. After a while, I still haven’t heard signs of anyone else, and I figure the coast is clear. I blink out of my room and head towards the kitchen. I need a fucking drink and I don’t even care that it’s still morning. Anything to help erase this horrifying feeling.

In the kitchen, I’m looking through the cupboard where we keep the booze, trying to decide if it’s a vodka or a whiskey kind of morning, when I hear soft foot-steps and a gentle clearing of a throat. Fuck. Can I just get a fucking break once in a while? My spine stiffens and I think of just blinking out of there without even turning around, but then she starts talking to me.

“Hey, so…I am so sorry for busting in on you like that. Klaus had said he was going to take a shower, so I just assumed that was him in there, and I was looking for my slippers that I thought I left in the bathroom, and that was really stupid of me to just assume that…I am really very sorry, I would never have, if I had known it was you, obviously I wouldn’t have, but like I said, I thought it was Klaus, and…ugh…I’m sorry. I hope this isn’t going to make things weird.”

I almost laugh at her run-on sentence of stammering apologies. Almost. Instead, I grab a bottle of vodka and turn around with a glare.

“So, when exactly are you leaving?”

She hesitates. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, when are you getting the fuck out of here? I realize you and Klaus are having fun playing house or whatever the fuck it is you do around here, but this is my apartment, too. In fact, it’s more mine than his, since I pay the bulk of the rent. And I don’t remember asking for a third roommate.”

I see a brief look of hurt cross her face before she is challenging back. “Look, just because I accidentally walked in on you, doesn’t mean you have to be an asshole about it. You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed? I’m not embarrassed, sweetheart, so don't flatter yourself. And this has nothing to do with that. I’m just wondering when I can look forward to not seeing your face every time I turn around in my own goddamn house!”

She nods, her lips pursed together, and her hands on her hips. “Alright, Five, you win. I thought maybe we were beginning to be friends, but I can see that is not the case. I will do my best to stay out of your way. I’m sorry for any inconveniences I’ve caused you.”

After another few seconds of angry glaring, she turns around and leaves. I take the stopper out of the vodka and tip the entire bottle back, swallowing at least three full gulps before I can’t take the burning in my throat and stomach anymore. I don’t know why I’m like this. I don’t know why I have to be a fucking dick to everyone, especially the people I care about. Well, I guess I should look on the bright side. I won’t have to worry about letting my true feelings out around her. Because now she wants nothing to do with me.

Chapter Three: Crazy Train

It was bad, there was no mistaking it. And it was all your fault; at least the beginning part. You certainly hadn’t meant to walk in on him in the shower. You really had assumed it was Klaus in there. You had been wrong. Very, very wrong. So, yeah, you really fucked that one up.

Things had been going so well, too. You were actually getting along and finding that you really liked spending time with Five. You assumed he liked spending time with you, too, even though he never came right out and said so. Although, with him, you doubted he would ever admit to that. But you knew he did, otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered even speaking to you, let alone hanging out with you.

Even though you’re the one who did the unannounced shower barge-in, you still think he’s overreacting. Sure, you saw him completely naked, but it was only for a couple of seconds and it’s not like you haven’t seen a naked man before. And sure, you are like 99% positive he was banging out some knuckle babies while he was in there, but that part is not your fault. How were you to know there would be some salami slapping going on in there when you opened the curtain?

Now he’s pissed off at you and has gone back to his old, dickish ways. He’s barely acknowledging you anymore and he stopped coming into the kitchen for coffee in the mornings. You understand he’s probably embarrassed, but he should be able to get over it, for fuck’s sake. He’s always claiming he’s the mature one around here, but he sure as hell isn’t acting like it right now.

You definitely think he should be able to move on from that little incident, but you can’t seem to stop thinking about it, either. Although, not for the same reasons. It had only been a couple of seconds if that, but that image has been burned into your brain. And not necessarily in a bad way. In that tiny glimpse that you got, it did not disappoint.

You keep finding yourself staring off, lost in another inappropriate daydream, as you remember exactly what he had looked like. Wet, naked, and clearly aroused, it was enough of a picture to keep you occupied. If men have spank banks, what do you call it for women? Rub hub? Finger vault? Whatever it is, that image is in yours now. And, fuck, it’s a good one.

Klaus has an amazing body, there’s no doubt about that. He’s lithe and toned and has a cinched-in waist that you’re envious of. But when you saw Five’s body…holy shit. He’s a little more solid than Klaus, and his muscles are well-defined but not huge. His chest is smooth and firm, and his abs look like they’re cut from stone, all the way down to the soft line of hair trailing southward to the main event. From the quick peek you had gotten of the goods in his hand, he either somehow used his powers to beef himself up, or that may have been the one thing in his tragic life that he lucked out on. Because, damn. Combine that with a tight ass, the water cascading down his body, and his dark, wet hair pushed off his face, and that is definitely enough to give you some material for the next time you’re double-clicking your mouse.

It's a week after “the incident”, and you have just come back from work and it’s late. You haven’t been over to see Klaus in a few days because you’ve been so busy, but you decide to stop by because you know he’ll still be up. Plus, you’re feeling the need to get some sexual release that isn’t in the form of your hand or vibrator, and you know he’ll be up for that, too.

You don’t see Five anywhere, which is probably a good thing, and you and Klaus hang out in the living room for a while, having a couple of drinks and catching up. When you decide to head to the bedroom, that’s when Five makes his presence known. Loudly.

Mid-make out and partially undressed, the two of you hear the pounding bass and blaring guitar riff of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” coming from Five’s bedroom. He is blasting it at full volume and as much as you like listening to Brian Johnson scream at the top of his lungs, it’s not really setting the mood at the moment. You ignore it for a little while longer, trying to focus on Klaus’s hands working their way down between your legs. When it’s clear you’re not really into it, he stops.

“What’s wrong?”

You huff. “Seriously? Isn’t this annoying you, too?”

Klaus shrugs. “I don’t know, it’s not that bad. I like loud music, and Five has good taste.”

“Well, it’s distracting and you know he’s doing it on purpose. It’s just rude.”

“Just ignore it.”

He pulls you on top of him, and you straddle his waist. But when you lean down to kiss him again, it’s clear you are not going to be able to get your mind in the game; not with the walls shaking from the constant pulse of the mini-rock concert going on down the hall. You let out another frustrated growl.

“I’m going to go say something,” you tell Klaus, pushing yourself off of him.

He props himself up on his elbows. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

You roll your eyes. “Please. What’s he doing to do? I’m not scared of him.”

“Right, no, I know. Me either. But…”

“But, what?”

“You know, he’s just…testy.”

As you’re getting off the bed, you give Klaus an exasperated look. “He’s a big man baby is what he is. And I’m tired of his shit.”

Before Klaus can say anything more, you’re walking out the door and heading to the source of the music. The song has now switched over to “Crazy Train”. You pound on the door to Five’s room, waiting with your arms folded across your chest. That’s when you remember you are not wearing a bra. Or pants. You only have a loose-fitting t-shirt on and some ridiculous underwear with cartoon cats on them because you haven’t done laundry in a while and all your good panties are in the wash. Luckily, the shirt covers up most of your crotch area.

You’re not getting an answer, so you pound the door with your fist again. Mid-pound, the door swings open wide, the blaring music becoming even louder. Five is already in the middle of a rant.

“Klaus, I have told you a thousand fucking times, I do not have your lighter…oh.”

Five stops mid-sentence when he realizes it’s you. He’s standing there shirtless, with only his black pants on, belt unbuckled and hanging open. His hair is disheveled, and he seems to be swaying slightly; holding onto the door for balance. That’s when you notice he has a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand. He looks at you for a second, his hooded eyes slowly moving over your body with his mouth partially open before his face changes and he smirks.

He takes another swig of whiskey from the bottle before addressing you. “Something I can help you with, princess?”

You’re stunned into silence for a beat or two, trying to process the fact that you are once again blessed with another glimpse of his body, as well as the fact that he is drunk. You hesitate with your mouth hanging open like a moron, which Five obviously notices because he has that damn arrogant look on his face again. Finally, you snap out of it.

“Is there a reason you’re blaring your music that loud right now?” you demand.

“Yeah, there is. Because it’s my fucking room and I can do what I want in it.”

“God, you are such a dick! I know you’re doing it on purpose just to piss me off.”

Five shakes his head slowly and takes another drink. “Sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart, but not everything is about you. Pissing you off in the process is a definite perk, though.”

You ball your hands up at your side and grit your teeth. “I’m not buying any of your bullshit, Five. I know you’re mad at me, and that’s fine. But you’re acting like a fucking child right now!”

“I think you’re mistaken. I’m not the one who can’t stand to be alone for more than a few hours. I’m not the one that needs constant attention and validation from someone. So who’s the child now, hmm?”

“What are you talking about? I do not.”

He grins. “Oh yeah? Want to tell me what you’re doing here all the time then? Why you’re here when you have a perfectly good apartment of your own to go to? ‘Cause I bet it’s not because of my brother.”

That throws you off a little and you don’t immediately have a comeback. Five snorts derisively. You narrow your eyes.

“Fuck you!” you spit out.

Five raises an eyebrow and lets out a short laugh. “Ohhh…maybe that’s why you’re always here. Well, sorry, honey. Hate to disappoint you, but you’re not my type.”

With your own sarcastic smile, you shoot back. “I know I’m not, honey. From what I’ve seen, I’m guessing you prefer to take matters into your own hands if you know what I’m saying.” That seems to have shut him up and he stands there, clinging to the door frame with his hair hanging in his face. Before you let him think of another comeback you give him a tiny wave and turn around. “I’ll leave you and Mr. Daniels to it, then. Remember, Fivey, don’t go too hard at it. I hear carpal tunnel is a real bitch.”

As you walk away, you hear the door slam behind you. You’re irritated and pissed off. And now you are horny. How the fuck is that possible? Well, there’s a good solution for that, and it’s waiting in the other room for you. You stalk over to Klaus’s room, making sure to leave the door slightly ajar. Klaus is still on the bed on his back and he’s lit up a joint in the process. When he sees you enter, he sits up.

“Oh, good, you’re alive. How did that go?”

“Great,” you say under your breath.

Then you are pulling your shirt over your head and yanking your underwear off. You immediately climb onto the bed and over the top of Klaus, grabbing the joint and tossing it into the ashtray at the side of the bed. He’s shocked when instead of saying anything, you lean down, grabbing his face in both hands and forcefully kissing him. After a moment his hands are on your hips and he’s smiling against your mouth.

“That’s more like it,” he says before you’re devouring his mouth again.

You don’t want to talk and you don’t need any more foreplay. You just want to fuck. Hard and rough, and loud. Luckily, Klaus is already pretty fired up and you can feel him hard underneath you as you straddle him. He still has his briefs on, so you hastily tug them off. If he’s wondering why you’re all of a sudden trying to mount him like a wild dog in heat, he doesn’t say anything. He seems pretty happy when you line yourself up and sink onto his dick, letting it fill you up in one shove. You let out a whine before looking down at him.

“I want to fuck. Hard,” you tell him in between gasping breaths.

“Yeah, baby, fuck me as hard as you want,” he rasps before smacking your ass and giving you a sly smile.

“Don’t talk. Just fuck,” you instruct him.

He obviously doesn’t care that you’re ordering him around, because his hands are on your tits as you start riding him fast and hard. You don’t even work up to it, you’re just pounding yourself onto his cock and you can already feel the beads of sweat starting to form on your skin. You’ve never been this worked up in your life, and you have no idea why. That’s not true; you know exactly why. You just don’t want to admit it, even to yourself.

You squeeze your eyes shut as you work as hard as you can, thrusting your hips back and forth and grunting with the effort. Throwing your head back, you cry out as loudly as you can, practically screaming at the top of your lungs. If the neighbors can hear you, it probably sounds like you’re being murdered to the soundtrack of Ozzy Osbourne right now. You’re making as much noise as possible; crying, wailing, and begging for more. And it’s all on purpose because you want a certain someone to know what he’s missing out on. Klaus is either shocked into submission by your sudden change in demeanor, or he’s in heaven. Either way, he’s not saying anything.

With your eyes closed, and no voice attached to the body you’re penetrating yourself with, you start to imagine what you’ve been trying to push out of your mind. You might hate him at the moment and think he’s a total asshole, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to climb on top of him like a spider monkey and fuck his brains out.

In your mind, it’s not Klaus anymore, it’s Five. And you want more of him, even though that’s not physically possible. You run your hands down his perfect chest and abdomen, clutching at his thighs as you lean back to get a different angle. He’s watching you with those piercing eyes, looking up at you with that damn smirk of his.

“That’s right baby, fuck Daddy hard.”

Whoa, Daddy? Where the fuck did that come from? Shit, I have some real problems.

There’s no time to dwell on that psychological component because you just can’t get enough. His hands are on your hips and then on your ass, long fingers gripping tightly into you and pushing you even further down onto his cock. You’re still crying out, moaning loudly while you lean down to kiss him. You can feel his hand in your hair and his lips pressed against yours as you continue to rock into him.

“You feel so good, sweetheart. Don’t stop,” he’s saying in that husky voice of his.

“I need more,” you’re pleading and he laughs at you.

“Tell Daddy what you want, darling.”

Fuck, what is happening to me?

You don’t know what’s happening to you, other than you’re so fucking wet, you feel like you’re going to slide right off of Klaus’s dick and onto the floor. You open your eyes, stop your crazy thrusts, and abruptly climb off. Klaus lets out a hiss at the sudden loss of your warm, wet walls clenched around him.

“Fuck me from behind,” you pant, even as you’re already getting into position on your hands and knees.

“Shit,” he’s murmuring under his breath, but he doesn’t argue.

You feel him behind you and the anticipation is driving you crazy. When he slams into you, hips smacking against your ass and his hands pulling you backward hard and fast, you let out a sound that might be close to a sob. Your fists clench the bedsheets and from this angle, you don’t have to keep your eyes closed to slip back into your imaginary sex fantasy.

Five is behind you, plowing you so forcibly that it’s hard to keep yourself steady. It feels so fucking good, and everything you’ve been wanting. You don’t know how he’s weaseled his way into your head like this, but it probably has something to do with that goddamn body of his. Or his impossibly handsome face. Or those hands. Fuck, you want those hands on you and in you, and doing whatever else he pleases with them.

“Tell me,” he demands as he rams into you over and over again. “Tell me what you want. Let me give it to you.”

“Oh god…please…don’t stop fucking me!”

You’re not even sure if you said that out loud or not, but it doesn’t matter. His hand comes around to finger you while he rails you as hard as possible. You’re going to lose it any second now, you can feel it. His fingers are pressing against your clit and he continues talking to you inside your head; telling you everything you are dying to hear.

“You like it when Daddy fucks you like this, don’t you? When I fuck you so hard you can’t think straight?”

“Yes…yes,” you’re whining over and over again.

His hands are working their magic while his impressive cock is driving into your pussy. No one has made your body react like this before and you want to cry from the sheer overload of emotions.

“Let me hear you, sweet girl. You know what you want.”

“I want you! Oh fuck…you’re going to make me come,” you whimper.

“Say it again,” he snarls. “Say it again and scream my name when I make you come.”

“I want you! I want you so fucking badly. Please…keep fucking me…I need…oh god yes! Fii—fff-fuck!”

You catch yourself right at the last second as your orgasm rips through you, creating shocks of pleasure all throughout your body. Your muscles are contracting and your skin is hot and tingling. You are moaning like you are in pain and the sheets underneath you are balled tightly in your fists. There is a layer of sweat over your entire body and your breaths are coming out in ragged gasps. You are vaguely aware of Klaus behind you, gripping your hips while he lets loose with his own climax.

Several seconds pass while neither of you move. After a while, he pulls out and you fall onto your stomach, sprawled out and completely spent.

“Holy. Shit,” Klaus breathes out as he runs a hand down your back. “Where the hell did that come from?”

You laugh softly and push your hair out of your face. “I don’t know. I guess I was just a little wound up.”

“A little wound up? Shit, babe, I’m fairly certain the authorities have been alerted by several people in this building. In which case, I should probably hide some shit.”

You move your tired body and sit up, your legs shaking. You feel bad that you went a little crazy on him, especially considering the entire smutty movie that had been playing in your head the entire time. The one that didn’t involve Klaus in any way. You smile and shrug, then start moving off the bed to gather up your clothes.

“I know, that was a little over the top. Sorry.”

Klaus shakes his head and picks up the joint out of the ashtray you had thrown it in and takes a hit. After exhaling a cloud of smoke into the air, he studies you with creased eyebrows.

“Do not apologize for that. Ever.” Then he pauses before that sly grin starts spreading over his face. “Wait a minute, I know what was different. What probably lit a fire in your kitty cat panties. Old Fivey in there!”

You are in the process of tugging your shirt back over your head and your face isn’t visible to him, which is a damn good thing because it is probably beet red at the moment. You take an extra long time to pull it down over your head and you try and keep your composure.

“That’s ridiculous! I am not hot for Five!”

Klaus lets out a small giggle and shakes his head. “No, no, not like that. I meant I bet it was that crazy sexy hard rock he’s been pumping out of his room. Gets you all pumped up, too, doesn’t it? I don’t blame you though, fucking to loud music with a pounding bassline like that is amazing.”

You let out a sigh of relief and then laugh. “Yeah, you’re right, it does kind of get me going. That must have been it. Not to mention I haven’t been over in a while. I needed to let off some pent-up sexual frustration.”

Klaus bows and it’s hilarious because he’s still naked with a joint in his hand. “Glad to be of service, madam.”

You walk over and pat him on the butt. “Thank you. As always, you know how to deliver.”

“Do you want to stay here tonight?”

It had been your intention to head home for the rest of the night, but now that you’re here and Klaus is offering, you don’t really want to go back to your apartment alone. You like staying here in Klaus’s bed, with his body heat warming you up as you lie next to him, quietly chatting together until you drift off to sleep. Sometimes you’ll be on the very edge of sleep and he’ll whisper something so stupid and off the wall that you can’t help laughing and you’re awake again, with no hope of sleep after that.

But if you stay, that means Five was right about you. You really do come over because you don’t like being alone. You don’t need constant attention from anyone, that part is not true, but you like the companionship. Even if you and Klaus stopped having sex, you’d still want to come over all the time. You like hanging out with him and even on the occasions he’s not there, the apartment feels cozier and more lived in than yours. You have thought about getting a roommate, but all of your current friends are either in serious relationships or prefer to live alone. The thought of trying to advertise for a stranger to move in and then interview people to decide if you want to share your space with them seems exhausting. So, you’d rather just stay here as often as you can.

Even though you just mind-fucked him like crazy, you internally curse Five for reading you so correctly.

“Yeah, I’d like to if that’s ok.”

Klaus pulls on his underwear before flopping back on the bed. “Of course! You’re always welcome here, you know that.”

“Yeah, well, tell that to your brother. He’s been giving me a ration of shit lately about being around here so much,” you grumble as you crawl in next to him.

“I thought you two were getting along.”

“Well, we were, but then…” you almost let slip that you walked in on Five in the shower. You hadn’t told Klaus about that because you already felt bad for embarrassing the guy, you didn’t need to get anyone else involved. “I don’t know, I guess he changed his mind or something. Because now he definitely is not a fan of mine.”

Klaus frowns. “Hmm..well, that sucks. We should be the three amigos!”

“Pretty sure he does not want to be mi amigo at the moment.”

“Alright, I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Tell him to stop being such a grouch.”

“It’s ok, you don’t have to do that,” you protest.

“No, no, I want to. It’s important to me that he can get along with you. Five may be a scary, unhinged assassin who once threatened to kill me by describing in excruciating detail all of the steps he was going to take to do it. Like, he literally wrote them out on a yellow legal pad with graphics next to each one and handed it to me. I don’t remember the full list, but it involved a step ladder, some Elmer’s glue, and a toaster oven. Anyway, he may be scary like that, but he’s not all bad. He just needs to lighten up a little. Don’t worry, I’ll fix it.”

You laugh. “What did you do to piss him off that time?”

Klaus rolls his eyes and sighs. “Oh, I don’t know. It wasn’t a big deal. I may have accidentally eaten a large number of mushrooms and decided to strip naked and crawl into bed with him in the middle of the night.”

“I mean, that’s pretty funny but it doesn’t sound that bad.”

“Well, no, that part isn’t. It was when I started violently humping him from behind and licking his neck that he kind of got a little uppity about it.”

You start laughing harder. “You humped him and licked his neck?!”

“Yeah. I don’t really remember a lot of it, but apparently, I had him in a pretty good death grip while calling him “Alberto” and demanding to speak with his manager. I guess he was able to blink away just in time before I unloaded my high fructose porn syrup all over his superhero jammies.”

You are laughing so hard at that image that tears are rolling down your cheeks. “Ok, I understand why he wanted to kill you, now. You kind of had it coming.”

Klaus waves a hand flippantly in the air. “Now you sound just like him.”

The next morning, you get up before Klaus, just like always. As you make your way to the kitchen, you can hear rattling around in there and you pause. You think about heading back to the bedroom just to avoid any confrontation, but then you change your mind. You’re not going to hide from him. As you walk in, there is Five, busy making coffee. He looks like shit and you smile a little to yourself. Good, serves you right.

“’ Morning, sunshine!” you exclaim cheerily, just to piss him off. “You’re up early. I figured you’d be sleeping the day away after your little one-man frat party last night.”

He turns to you with a look that you know is intended to intimidate, but is not quite working considering he looks like death warmed over. His eyes are bloodshot, his hair is a tangled mess, and he’s still wearing the rumpled pants you had seen him in last night. And of course, he has not bothered to put on a shirt again. Jesus, will this guy put some clothes on and give me a fucking break?

“Oh, good, it’s you. I was worried maybe you had decided to fuck off and leave me alone. But, nope, here you are again.”

You give a snort and sit down at the kitchen table. You’re not really sure why you’re still there, but you don’t want him to think he’s scared you off so you stand your ground. Instead, you say nothing but start humming Pink’s “U + Ur Hand” under your breath. You know Five hears you because you can see his shoulders tense and his hands flex. You smile to yourself.

When he turns to you again, his arms crossed over his bare chest and his hair in his face, he leans against the counter and eyes you up with a malicious grin. You really wish he weren’t so damn good-looking because it’s very hard to keep up your little show when all you are really thinking about is jumping on top of him.

“That was a nice little performance you gave last night, by the way. I had assumed you were the type to just lie there and have someone else do all the work, but good to know my brother is at least getting something out of it.”

You straighten up in your seat. “You’re welcome. I figured the least I could do is give you some material to work with.”

Five nods with a smirk, not taking the bait. He uncrosses his arms and grabs onto the edge of the countertop behind him, leaning back casually. You are immediately drawn to his sculpted chest and abs and your eyes drift over the many faded scars scattered over his body.

“I could say the same to you, love,” he says.

He throws you off your game with that statement. You’re mostly sure he’s just trying to be an asshole and get under your skin, but what if he does know? What if you yelled something out while you were imagining him fucking you so hard your teeth rattled in your head? When you were calling him Daddy and riding him like he was Sea Biscuit? You feel caught and your face must betray you because suddenly he’s not looking so smug anymore.

You are both staring at one another, not saying a word, but the passive-aggressive tension in the air has changed to something else. The look between you seems to last forever, and you can feel the warmth spreading up your neck and onto your face. And maybe a little between your legs, as well. Just then, the coffee that Five had been making is done and the machine beeps loudly, startling you both.

He looks away first and pulls down a mug from the cabinet. You are surprised to see him grab a second one. He fills them both and then sets one down on the table, sliding it over to you with a push so that it sloshes over the side.

“Thanks,” you mumble, as you pick it up.

“Sure,” he responds grudgingly, and you can tell it’s killing him to be even moderately polite right now.

After a minute or so of neither of you talking, it is starting to get awkward. Someone needs to say something or leave. Instead, you just sip your hot coffee and pretend the tabletop is incredibly interesting. You decide to chance it and you clear your throat, but you don’t look up.

“Look, I’m sorry, ok?” you say quietly.

It takes a few seconds, but he finally responds. “Yeah, I’m sorry, too.”

You nod and glance up, meeting his eyes as he watches you with that all-encompassing intensity of his. His stare bores right through you and once again you feel frozen in time and for a minute you think he’s somehow doing that, but in reality, it’s just your mind playing tricks on you. He just has that hold over you somehow and you pray that he can’t see it. You watch as he looks away, closes his eyes, and pushes his hair back with one hand, giving you a good look at the tight muscles in his arms. Fuck. You cross your legs and take a sip of your coffee to try and hide the fact that you are on the verge of passing out right now.

At that exact moment, the weird energy in the room is broken by Klaus’s appearance. He floats in, wearing some sort of ugly satin robe that barely covers anything, but somehow he manages to pull off the look. He stops in the doorway and looks from you to Five and back again. Then he claps his hands and smiles.

“Yay! So, you guys are buddies again? Is that what I’m seeing here?”

Five rolls his eyes and sighs. You shrug your shoulders. “I guess so. Tolerating each other again, anyway,” you tell him.

Five gives a tight-lipped smile and holds his coffee mug up towards you in a toasting gesture and you do the same with yours. Neither of you say anything else on the subject.

“Well, let me tell you, that is a relief,” Klaus exhales. “I was not really looking forward to having to put the hammer down on you, Fivey.”

Five raises his eyebrows at Klaus. “Is that right? And how exactly were you planning on doing that?”

“By giving you a very stern warning, of course,” Klaus says with a smile, shaking his finger at Five. Then he walks over to get his own coffee. He looks Five up and down and then gives his arm a squeeze. “Damn, Cinco, you been working out or what? Looking pretty fine there, I must say.”

Five frowns and swats his hand away. “You’re so weird.”

You giggle into your mug and Five looks at you with a crooked smile. Then he snatches the full coffee pot out of Klaus’s hand. “As much as I’d love to spend the rest of my day in the company of you two intellectuals, I must take my leave. See you later.”

Klaus lets out a cry of protest as Five disappears in a flash, taking the coffee with him, and leaving his brother with an empty mug.

You try to hide your laughter as Klaus looks at you in disbelief.

“Well, that was rude,” he says in a huff.

With a shrug, you get up and pour some of your coffee into his cup. “Yeah, but I’ve come to realize that rude is Five’s love language.”

Klaus pouts. “He must love us a lot, then.”

With a smile, you think to yourself how much that statement is probably true. If Five doesn’t care about you, he’s not going to waste his time and energy to speak to you, even if it is in the form of an insult. It makes you feel good inside to know that he probably really does like you, at least a little bit. If not, he just wouldn’t bother with you at all; he’d avoid you like the plague. And you like knowing that. You like it a lot, actually.

Once again, you find your mind drifting off. And once again, it’s filled with images and scenarios starring one very sexy, teleporting ex-assassin.

Chapter Four: Love In The Time Of Cholera

“Jesus, what’s the matter with you?”

Five walks into the apartment to find you huddled on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and shivering.

“Nothing. It’s just a cold I think,” you answer between chattering teeth.

Five strides over to the couch and leans in to peer down at you, squinting slightly. He stands up straight and crosses his arms over his chest, flicking the hair out of his eyes with a superior shake of his head.

“I don’t think that’s just a cold. You look like shit.”

“Gosh, thanks, Five. Charming, as always,” you snap back. Or at least, it would have been a snap had you not just started coughing violently, your entire body shaking with the effort.

Five’s eyebrows furrow together. “Have you taken your temperature?”

You shrug. “No.”

With a heavy sigh, Five leaves the room, returning a minute later with a thermometer in hand. He presses the button and when it beeps, he holds it out for you. You eye it and him suspiciously.

Five jabs it towards you again when you don’t reach for it. “Take it.”

“How do I know you or Klaus haven’t used that to take your temperature in other ways besides orally?”

Five rolls his eyes. “I keep this in my room, away from Klaus for just that reason, and I can assure you it has never been used in my or anyone else’s ass.”

After another sigh from Five and another dubious look at the thermometer, you relent and take it from him. You place it under your tongue and you both wait in silence for what seems to take forever before you hear the beep again. Before you can take it out, Five reaches down and removes it from your mouth for you, frowning at the digital display.

“104.3. You’re burning up.”

You shiver again, wrapping the blanket around you tighter. “Great.”

Five is quiet for a moment, and then he glances around the room. “Where’s Klaus?”

You shrug again, and it reminds you how much your muscles are aching. “I don’t know. I came here right from work since it was closer than my place and I was feeling pretty crappy. I texted him to let him know I’d be here, but so far I haven’t seen him. He didn’t answer my text, either.”

You figure Five is probably more than annoyed with having you here without Klaus, and spreading your germs around his apartment in the process. With a guilty look, you start to stand up.

“Sorry, I’ll go. I’ve rested a bit, so I should be ok to walk home.”

As you stand, you are overwhelmed by a bout of dizziness and you sway on your feet, your vision blurring. Five reaches out to catch you around your waist and you let him take most of your weight. When your vision returns and you can stand, you look up at him to find he actually looks concerned rather than his usual expression of deep irritation. His facial features are softer and his hair is in his face again. His eyes scan over your face, lingering on your lips before meeting your eyes. Your legs are bearing your full weight now, but he still has his arms around you.

You clear your throat. “Or…I can get a cab.”

“Don’t be stupid,” he says, although it’s missing the usual snark he reserves for you. “You obviously are too sick to go anywhere.”

Five lets you go and you both stand there awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.

“So…you want me to stay here?” you ask weakly.

“Well, I wouldn’t say I want you to stay here, but I’m also not sending you off on your own while you’re half dead.” He manages a small smile that appears genuine. “You need someone to look after you.”

You try to hide your shock but your eyebrows raise. “And you’re going to look after me?”

He looks away briefly before sighing dramatically again. “Until Klaus comes back. Then you’re his problem.”

A slight smile twitches at the corner of your mouth. You can’t believe Mr. Crab Ass is being this soft. Soft for him, anyway. And you can’t believe he’s willing to take care of you. You’re trying to picture him as a caregiver, though, and it’s like your brain isn’t computing.

“Ok,” you say softly. “Thank you.”

“Come on,” he says, holding out his hand. “I need to get you into bed.”

Despite the pounding headache in your skull, you start giggling as Five realizes what he said, and his face flushes.

“That’s not…you know what I mean,” he stammers. “You can lie down in Klaus’s bed.”

You nod, still smiling and take his hand. It’s warm and dry against your clammy one, but he doesn’t seem to care. Even though your head feels like it’s filled with mashed potatoes, you still feel a little zing through your body at the sensation of his touch. You know he’s strong and he can kill a man with these same hands if he needed to, but he holds yours gently.

He gets you situated in Klaus’s bed, with an extra blanket thrown over the comforter to keep you warm against your chills. He brings you medicine to bring down the fever, and a glass of water to keep next to the bed. He places a cold compress on your forehead and dims the lights so you can rest, slipping quietly out of the room after he makes sure you’re comfortable.

As he leaves, you notice he hesitates near the door and takes a look back at you before he goes. You’re not quite sure how to interpret the look, mostly because you’ve never seen him like that before. He looks…sad? Concerned? You’re not sure, but whatever the meaning behind it has your heart racing just a little faster.

Even with Five’s continued care, your fever remains and you somehow manage to feel even shittier as the day goes on. Your entire body aches, right down to your bones, and you’re so exhausted you can hardly keep your eyes open. You’re sweaty and shivering and every time you cough it feels like fire in your lungs. You might even be hallucinating, because each time you wake up and open your eyes, Five is there. He usually has some amused look on his face, like you just said something interesting or funny, but you’re pretty sure you’ve only been sleeping.

At one point you wake and he’s not in the chair across from the bed like he has been, but you can hear him out in the hall. He’s talking to someone and he does not sound happy. He sounds like you’re used to him sounding. All frustration and rage.

“What do you mean you’re not coming home?” he spits out. There’s a pause. “And like I told you , she’s sick.” Pause. “No, dickhead, like really sick! You need to get your ass back here and act like a fucking adult—” Pause. “Because she’s your girlfriend!” he yells, and you can practically hear his jaw clenching from the other room.

There’s another long pause and you can hear him pacing back and forth. He laughs sarcastically at whatever has been said to him on the other end.

“Yeah, great idea…you stay there and enjoy yourself. I’ll take care of her. Just like I take care of everything else around here.”

He must have hung up because you hear him muttering angrily to himself. “Fucking, self-absorbed asshole! I’m not sure why I expected anything different. Fuck!”

After a minute or two, Five comes back into the room. He’s obviously still upset but is trying to cover it up. Seeing that you’re awake, he comes to stand next to the bed, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“So, I got ahold of Klaus finally,” he tells you.

“Yeah, I figured that part out.” You smile weakly up at him. “And it also sounds like he’s not coming home?”

Five rubs the back of his neck. “It appears not. Not for a couple of days, anyway. Seems like he went with a random group of people he met at a club last night and he somehow ended up in Toronto, the fucking jackass. Without a valid passport! Only Klaus would somehow figure out how to cross international borders on charm alone. Either that, or he blew the border guard.” His voice softens and he looks down at you. “I’m sorry he’s not here.”

“That’s ok. I think I’d rather have you here taking care of me, anyway. Klaus is usually much more interested in taking care of Klaus.”

Five gives a short laugh and shakes his head. “What the hell do you two have in common, anyway?”

“Well…” you smile knowingly, even though just that motion of moving your cheek muscles hurts.

“Ok, no, please don’t finish that sentence. I’m sorry I asked.”

Throughout the next day and night, Five continues to care for you. You’re not really sure why he’s so invested in making sure you’re ok, but you never question him. Instead, you let him fix your covers, and take your temperature, and bring you cold drinks. He makes you soup and watches to make sure you eat all of it. It’s absolutely hilarious to see him like a mother hen, fussing over you and scolding you when you don’t take his directions.

Even though you’re not well enough to leave yet, you are starting to feel a little better. Enough that you’re able to get up and take a hot shower. While you’re in there, Five takes the opportunity to change the sheets on the bed and he helps you back in when you’re clean and feeling more like a human again. Once you are all set up in bed again, you are able to sit up and stay awake, which is more than you’ve been able to do over the past 24 hours. Five stands there at the side of the bed awkwardly.

“I’m really sorry for all of this,” you tell him. “Thank you for taking care of me, though. I had no idea you made such a good nurse.”

Five scoffs, but there’s a small smile there. “Yeah, well…you shouldn’t be. I’m good at everything, remember? Also, I’m not that heartless.”

“I never thought you were heartless. Maybe a little bitchy, but never heartless,” you say with a smile.

“Well, you’re about the only one, so thanks I guess. Although, I’m not sure being described as bitchy is any better.”

You start to laugh, but it turns into a racking cough, and Five looks at you with concern.

“All right, enough talking. You should really go back to sleep.”

You shake your head as you wipe at your watery eyes. “I’m sick of sleeping. Entertain me.”

“Entertain you? Jesus, here I am busting my ass to make you better and now I have to entertain you, too?”

He’s trying to sound aggravated, but he’s not quite pulling it off.

“But I’m borrreddd,” you whine dramatically.

“Christ, fine, I will find something to entertain you, as long as you stop fucking whining like that.”

You smile with satisfaction since you got your way and Five tries his best to look unamused.

“I have lots of books; do you want to read?”

You nod. “What do you have?”

“Fuck, I don’t know, I’m not going to list off an entire library of titles for you. What do you like to read?”

After thinking for a minute, you answer, “I doubt you have any, but I like classic romances.”

Five smiles slowly. “Well, then you’re in luck because I happen to also like classic romances.”

You almost start coughing again with surprise. “What? You? Number Five ‘Hard-Ass’ Hargreeves loves romance novels?”

“I am a very romantic person, I can’t believe you’ve never noticed,” he says with a hand on his chest.

“Oh my god, well now I���ve heard everything. Alright, then, Mr. Romance; what do you have for me to read?”

He leaves for a few minutes, returning with a paperback novel in his hand. He holds it up for you to see the cover.

“Love In The Time of Cholera?” you read.

“It’s fitting, don’t you think?” he answers with a smirk.

“I don’t think I have cholera.”

“Well, maybe not but you have something just as disgusting. The plague, maybe. But this was the only book I have that includes both a deadly disease and romance.”

“I haven’t read that one, but wasn’t it written in the 1980s or something? Is that considered a classic already?”

“Look, do you want to read the fucking book or not?”

You nod with a smile. “Yes, please.”

Five steps closer to the bed and holds out the book for you to take it, but you don’t move. Instead, you look up at him with the saddest expression you can manage and poke out your bottom lip.

“I don’t know if my eyes will be able to read such small print in my weakened state. Will you read it to me?” You bat your eyelashes dramatically.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Five sighs. “Read to you? Are you a child?”

“Please? Come on, what else are you doing? Nothing.”

After another huff and a sigh that isn’t very convincing, Five throws his hands up. “Fine! I’ll read you the stupid book. But you better sit there and be quiet and not interrupt.”

You nod obediently and then pat the empty side of the bed next to you. You were halfway kidding, but after a look at the bed and then back to the chair and then back to the bed again, Five walks around to the other side and climbs in, propping himself up beside you. If his heart is pounding just a little faster from the proximity like yours is, he hides it well.

“Will you do different voices for the characters?” you giggle.

“Shut up. Also, you have a booger hanging out of your nose and it’s making me sick. Get a tissue,” he grumbles.

After blowing your nose and using the hand sanitizer that Five holds out to you, you settle into the covers. But not before you take your index finger and poke him right in his cheek dimple. “I’m ready now.”

He bats your hand away with a scowl as you snort from trying to hold in a laugh with your stuffed-up nose.

“You are such an idiot,” he tells you with a shake of his head, trying to hide a smile.

Five turns to the book and starts reading while you lie next to him. Pretty soon the sound of his voice has you closing your eyes and you sink deeper into the covers. When you hear him stop, you open your eyes and peer up at him.

“Why did you stop?” you ask blearily.

“You were sleeping.”

You close your eyes again and sigh. “Keep reading, even if I fall asleep. I like listening to your voice. It’s nice.”

Even though you can’t see him, you think you hear a breathy little laugh. “Ok,” he says softly, before continuing on with the story.

You doze off again, and when you wake up the sun is lower in the sky and the room is dim. Your eyes adjust to the darkness and you see Five is still there. The book is closed and lying to the side and he is asleep on his back next to you. Then you see that your arm is flung over his stomach and you freeze. He’s still sleeping soundly, so you slowly take your hand back, but not before making sure you get a good feel of his hard abs under your palm. You look at his face and see that it’s softer, his forehead uncreased, with his dark lashes fanned over the tops of his cheeks. His lips are parted just slightly while he breathes deeply and for a very brief moment, you think about running your fingers over them to see if they’re as soft as they look. Instead, you clear your throat and he stirs.

When Five looks over at you, you smile shyly at him. “I think we both fell asleep.”

He runs a hand down his face and looks around him. “Yeah, I guess we did.” He turns back to you. “How are you feeling?”

You nod. “Better, actually, thank you. And thank you for reading to me. I missed some of it, but I liked what I heard of it so far. And I get the gist that this guy in the book is going to start whoring his way around the world because of his unrequited love?”

Five laughs. “Pretty much, yes.”

“Guys are disgusting no matter what time period they live in, I guess.”

Five raises one eyebrow at you. “You do realize whose bed you are currently sleeping in, right? Probably the most disgusting one of them all.”

You frown. “Klaus isn’t that disgusting. He’s just…free.”

Five gives a snort of derision. “Is that what you call fucking your way through several different timelines, including, but not limited to, an entire congregation of his own cult members?”

You feel your face turning red from embarrassment at being one of the many in Klaus’s little trail of conquests, but you already knew that and hadn’t cared before. So, why is it bothering you now? Why do you care what Five thinks? Instead, you change the subject.

“So, you asked me what I have in common with Klaus, but what about you? Why do you live together if he seems to be a constant source of irritation for you?”

Five is quiet for a minute and he sits up in the bed and for a second you think he’s going to leave. But he just leans against the headboard and looks back down at you with a sad smile.

“You’re right, he drives me fucking crazy and I would most definitely prefer to live on my own.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because Klaus is a hazard to himself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even when we were kids, he was constantly getting into trouble. Whether he was getting bullied by some dickheads on the subway or being used by my father in some horrible way, he was always getting hurt. Both physically and mentally. He’s just too damn trusting. When I was there, I would stand up for him. If I saw him getting pushed around or harassed in some way, then you could bet that whoever was responsible was getting their ass kicked. At home, there wasn’t much I could do about that, but he would come to my room when he was scared or upset and I’d let him hang out as long as he wanted, just to let him talk and calm down. When I left, among a million other things that haunted me during those years, I felt terrible that I had left Klaus unprotected.”

You stare up him, and you can see the hurt on his face as he’s remembering all of this.

“After I came back, I couldn’t believe how far he’d fallen. I know you can’t blame yourself for someone else’s choices, but I kept thinking maybe he would have been ok if I hadn’t jumped. Then, almost right off the bat, he gets kidnapped and tortured by people that were looking for me and then accidentally fucks off to Vietnam to earn himself some more trauma and heartache. Instead of protecting him, I was causing him more pain and suffering and I’d hardly been back in his life for more than a couple of days. So, after a few more screw-ups and a grand old time in the 1960s, here we are again. I know what he’s been through and it’s a lot.”

“So, you decided to live with him to watch out for him? To try and protect him again?”

Five nods. “I know Klaus isn’t stupid. And he’s a survivalist, just like me, so I’m not saying he can’t get along without me. I just feel that I owe him something, at least. And the only thing I can really offer him these days is to try and look out for him. Maybe stop him from making mistakes that will end up causing him more harm in the end. Like taking too many drugs, sleeping with dangerous people, or getting stranded in Canada with strangers. So, as you can see, I’m doing a real bang-up job.”

You smile up at him. “I don’t think that’s your fault.”

Five frowns. “Well, anyway, there you have it. He drives me fucking crazy and makes me want to put his head through a wall most days, but if I’m here then at least I can keep an eye on him.”

“So, am I one of these dangerous people you want to keep him from sleeping with?” you ask just to be a smart-ass and maybe a little flirty.

He gives you a look you don’t know how to interpret. “You are most definitely dangerous, but not in the way you might think.”

You’re not sure how to answer that as you feel your cheeks blush. “You’re a good big brother.”

“Not really.”

You rest your hand on top of Five’s, giving it a light squeeze and he looks down at it. “No, I mean it, Five. You’re a really good brother to him.” And you do mean it.

He swallows hard and looks you in the eyes, holding your gaze for a long time. He gently strokes his thumb against the side of your hand, and it’s the most contact you’ve ever gotten from him. It’s only an instant before he’s taking his back again.

He shakes his head and his voice is almost a whisper when he speaks. “You don’t understand. I’m really not.”

After another awkward moment, he clears his throat and moves off the bed. He pauses in the doorway and turns back to you.

“I’ll bring you something to eat, ok?”

You nod. “Thank you.”

Then he’s gone and you’re left lying there wondering what the hell just happened between you two.

************************************

I thought I had finally gotten my shit together. After that little setback when she caught me beating my meat in the shower and I turned into a giant asshole, we had been back on friendly terms. And I had told myself to stop being a delusional creep and fantasizing about things that weren’t ever going to happen. So far, I have been doing pretty well. Then she got sick.

Normally, the only reason I would care whether or not someone was sick would be so that I could stay away from them. I have dealt with more than my fair share of horrible illnesses and injuries in my life and managed to come out of them mostly unscathed and with no one else’s help. So it’s hard for me to feel too much sympathy for folks with access to advanced medical care and simple things like aspirin or Neosporin. I lost track of how many times I would have killed just for some Imodium and a bottle of Gatorade after eating some not-so-great canned food.

As soon as I saw her all miserable and shivering from a fever like that, though, my heart couldn’t stand it. All I wanted to do was make her feel better and I didn’t care if I was exposed to her germs or not. I would have taken all of them if it meant she’d feel well again. That’s how much she’s gotten to me.

My first instinct was to bring her into my bed, but I quickly changed my mind. I didn’t want it to seem like I was hinting at anything or being a weirdo, so I opted for the better choice of Klaus’s bed. Even though the thought of her being in there, no matter the purpose, leaves me with a gnawing feeling in my stomach. But that’s ok, the only thing that mattered was that she was cared for.

Those first 24 hours were interesting, to say the least. I’m still not quite sure what to think about it. She was feverish and exhausted, and she started hallucinating and talking in her sleep. At first, I didn’t think much of it. It’s not abnormal for people with high fevers to experience these things. But when I didn’t leave her side except to get her more medicine or anything else she needed, she must have realized I was there even if she wasn’t totally in her right mind. She started talking to me, but it didn’t make sense. At least, I told myself it didn’t make sense. Because I don’t want to acknowledge the very unrealistic notion that it may have been her true feelings.

“It’s you,” she had said weakly, her eyes barely open as I sat in the chair across from her.

“Yeah, it’s me. Did you need something?”

She shook her head very slowly and her eyes closed again. “No…I mean…it’s you, Five. It’s always you.”

I didn’t how to take that or how to respond, so I didn’t say anything and she drifted back into a sound sleep.

It had turned dark outside and I hadn’t bothered to turn on a light in the room, but I was still sitting there and I had almost fallen asleep myself. Then I heard her speak again.

“Five?”

I got up and went to her side, and even in the dark, I could tell that she wasn’t completely awake or lucid. She had a sheen of sweat on her forehead from the fever and I placed my hand on her head, hoping the coolness of my skin would feel good. She sighed and smiled.

“You’re hot,” I told her, obviously meaning the temperature of her forehead.

She had laughed dreamily, her eyes still closed. “So are you.”

I took my hand away and smiled down at her, deciding to go ahead and tease her even though I knew she wasn’t with it. “Oh yeah? I think you’re just saying that so I’ll continue waiting on you hand and foot.”

“Nooo…like soooo hot. Can you not be so hot all the time? It’s not fair. With no shirt…"

It was like talking to a drunk person, which I have lots of experience in, from both points of view, and I laughed again. “Ok. Go back to sleep.”

She had turned over on her side and curled up, facing away from me, but she was still mumbling out loud.

“Ok…I’ll do whatever you say, Daddy,” she giggled.

After that, she was back into a deep sleep and I just stood there, frozen in place and trying not to read too much into that. The logical explanation was that she was dreaming about her father in a completely innocent way. However, the other, less plausible one would be that she meant it in a totally different and very naughty way. A way that if I thought about it too much was going to cause me some major problems in the crotch department of my pants. And she had said I was hot, too. Which again, I chocked up to her fever, but still. I didn’t mind hearing it.

The third such incident had happened in the middle of the night. I was asleep and had been for some time. She seemed to be resting peacefully, but I still didn’t want to leave the room just in case she needed something if she woke up. I was still in the chair when I was awoken by her nonsensical ramblings again.

“Why don’t you?”

I rubbed my eyes and got up, standing next to her to make sure she was ok and was going to fall back asleep again. In the dark, she must have sensed me, because she reached out and took my hand and pulled me towards her. She hardly had any strength, so I didn’t have to move, but I did anyway and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Why don’t you?” she asked again, her voice thick with sleep and her hand still latched onto mine.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t like me,” she answered softly.

I didn’t really know if she was talking to me or not inside of her head, but I decided to answer her. “I do like you.”

“Good,” she murmured, and then she was quiet again. I was about to get up and go back to my chair when she started talking again. “I like it when you call me that, you know.”

I frowned. I had no idea what she was talking about. “Call you what?”

“Sweetheart,” she whispered and in the dark I could make out a smile on her face.

My heart just about jumped out of my chest. But then again, maybe she hadn’t even meant that for me. Maybe she was talking about Klaus, or someone else. Maybe it was all a weird dream and it didn’t mean anything rational at all.

I couldn’t resist, though. I took my hand from hers and touched the side of her face, running my thumb over her warm cheek. “Ok, sweetheart,” I said softly and my voice cracked. It was the first time I had said that without being a sarcastic jerk.

She smiled again and then burrowed deeper into the covers with a sigh. “Five…”

I wanted to die right there on the spot. I hated that I was letting myself create this little fantasy world for the two of us. All of these things she was saying meant nothing. She was delusional and not in her normal mindset. These things were most likely complete gibberish and had no bearing on anything. She was probably saying my name because I was right there and she had heard my voice. Or, more likely, she was telling me off in some dream she was having where I was being my usual pleasant self.

But that tiny little possibility for any of that to be true…that was all I could think about. And damn, it was driving me crazy.

When she had fallen asleep while I was reading to her, I kept going for a while because she had said she liked hearing my voice. But when I was sure she was deep enough asleep that she wouldn’t notice, I stopped. I should have left then, but I didn’t. Instead, I watched her sleeping for a while; noticing the rise and fall of her chest and the way her lips were slightly parted as she breathed in a steady rhythm. I wanted to pull her next to me and hold her. I wanted to stroke her hair and kiss her forehead. I didn’t do those things, but I did stay where I was. I laid there next to her, comfortable and warm and I didn’t want that moment to end. I loved it.

Now it’s two days later and my stupid ass brother still hasn’t shown up. Not that I’m really complaining, but I’m sure she wishes he were here. I meant it when I said I know I’m not a good brother to him. I’ve let him down many times in the past and now I’m lusting after his “non-girlfriend.” Pretty shitty if you ask me. Still, he should be here. Leave it to Klaus to up and abandon her when she needs him the most. Although, she had said she was happy I was here for her.

She is feeling better, at least, and is up and around more. We have developed a kind of routine and have fallen into a comfortable companionship. I know she likes chicken and rice soup and not chicken and noodle. She prefers Sprite over ginger ale and her favorite tea is chamomile. She loves the movie Grease and hates any and all sports movies. And of course, she loves classic romance novels.

I’ve continued reading the book to her, even though she’s well enough to continue reading it herself. She said she likes listening to me and I like doing anything that makes her happy. She still can’t get over the fact that the main character in the book ends up banging 622 women during his decades-long fuck-a-thon.

We are nearing the end of the book today and I’m sitting on the couch with my feet on the coffee table (I know…hypocrisy at its finest). She is sitting next to me when she scoots over and lays her head on my shoulder.

“What’s this?” I ask, trying to act annoyed, when of course I couldn’t be happier.

“I want to see the pages while you read. Make sure you’re not skipping anything to get to the end faster.”

I roll my eyes. “I promise I am not skipping anything. What do you take me for?”

“A cynical bastard?”

She looks up at me with a grin and I do my best to look irritated. “Do you want to finish this damn book or not?”

“Yes, darling.”

It’s heavy with sarcasm, obviously, but I still get a little rush when I hear her say it. I want so badly to lean my cheek against her head, feeling the softness of her hair against my skin. Instead, I sigh heavily and open the book.

“Hey, wait, so we’re almost to the end now and Florentino has been whoring around for a long time. I forget, how long has it been exactly?”

“51 years, 9 months, and 4 days.”

“Damn,” she says with a chuckle. “That’s a really fucking long time to wait around. Even if you are banging a bunch of people along the way. I mean think about it. That’s like…5 decades just…putting your life on pause. Can you imagine? God, I’d go insane.”

I’m suddenly very uncomfortable since that statement hit a little too close to home. I shift in my seat and the movement makes her lift her head and look up at me. I don’t meet her eyes, though.

“Oh, shit,” she gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. “I am so sorry, Five. I didn’t mean—"

“It’s fine.”

“No. No, I just forgot and that was a really insensitive thing for me to say, and…god dammit, I always do stupid shit like this. I’m always just blurting things out without thinking about what I’m saying.”

“Really. It’s ok,” I assure her.

She lets out a frustrated exhale and she’s starting to mess with her fingernails like she always does when she gets nervous. 

“Hey,” I say, putting my hand on her leg. “You don’t have to feel bad. I’m not offended. And it’s true, you would go insane. I can vouch for that.”

She looks down at my hand on her leg and I quickly take it back. When she looks at me, her eyebrows are drawn together in concern.

“Can I ask you something, then?”

“Sure.”

“So, I know all about your ‘accident’ or whatever you want to call it. Klaus told me everything and it’s just so awful, Five. The fact that you are here and functioning and not locked up in a looney bin somewhere is nothing short of amazing.”

I let out a short laugh. “Thanks, I guess? Although some days I feel like I should be locked up. But that usually just has to do with having to deal with my moronic family.”

She doesn’t laugh at my joke to deflect, and instead, she continues looking at my face with not exactly pity, but something close to it. It makes me uneasy.

“Ok, well, anyway, there’s something I’ve wanted to know. Have you…have you ever been in a relationship with anyone? Like romantically?”

Well, if I felt uneasy before it’s nothing to how I’m feeling now. I would like to sink down in between these couch cushions and smother myself to death. How am I supposed to answer that without sounding like a fucking lunatic? Then again, if anyone would understand, it’s probably her.

I clear my throat and rub the back of my neck. “That’s kind of a loaded question.”

“Is it?”

"Well, the short answer is yes. I was in a serious relationship for a very long time. Decades, in fact. But that ended a few years back.”

“Oh…I thought you were alone that whole time. So you had a partner?”

“Yes, you could say that. Dolores was more than my partner, though. She was all of the things I needed when I wanted to give up. She was my rationality, my calm in a storm, my teacher and my friend. She taught me love, patience, and perseverance above all odds. She was my entire world and the main reason I’m still standing here today. She was my everything and the love of my life.” I pause and I look her directly in the eyes. “And she was made up entirely of my imagination and a department store mannequin. But she was very real to me.”

She blinks a few times and I can tell she is trying to process all of that. And I can’t blame her. What is the appropriate response to that? If you’re a dick, you laugh. If you’re some sappy, bleeding heart with no control over your emotions, you cry. But if you are a normal, sympathetic person with actual brains, then it gets complicated.

“Five, I…I don’t know what to say. That’s…”

“Sad? Disturbing? The most fucked up thing you’ve ever heard?”

“Beautiful.”

I look at her in disbelief. “What?”

“If she was all of those things to you, then that means you are all of those things. You are the reason you persevered and survived all those years. Because you made sure of it in the only way you knew how. And Dolores was the vessel that helped you compartmentalize everything, letting you deal with the horrors of your reality while still maintaining all of the good parts that are inside of you. It’s brilliant, actually. And hopelessly romantic.”

“No one has ever interpreted it in that way before. Although to be honest, I haven’t really told many people. In fact, come to think of it, outside of my siblings, you are the only one I’ve told.”

“Wow, really? Thank you.”

She sounds sincere and I know she is not judging me. I am very protective of Dolores and if she had said something flippant or thoughtless, I would have defended my lady love. But she didn’t. She understands. Which just makes me want her more.

“You’re welcome.”

“Ok, so other than Dolores, have there been other women in your life?”

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Yes, there have been. Not many, but a few. And none of them were relationships to speak of.”

She smiles. “Ah, I see. A slew of one-night stands to make up for lost time?”

I chuckle and shake my head. “More like a select few professional dancers.”

She makes a cringey face. “Yikes. I guess that can be fun in its own way, though. Bringing home some hot strippers maybe isn’t a bad way to spend a Friday night.”

“Oh, no, I never brought them home. Or even left the club, actually.” Her raised eyebrows have me laughing. “It is in my personal experience that the adage of ‘there’s no sex in the champagne room’ is not entirely true.”

She draws in a dramatic gasp with a big grin on her face. Then she slaps me on the arm. “Five Hargreeves, you are a giant slut! I can’t believe you give Klaus shit all the time when you’re going around banging strippers in the back of the clubs. What did they do, lure you back there with lap dances? How much does it cost to bone a stripper these days?”

“I never said I paid for it,” I say with a smirk.

“Whoa whoa whoa…hold on. Let me see if I’m understanding this correctly. You go to a strip club, probably buy a couple of drinks, maybe get a couple of dances, and they just magically take you into the champagne room and let you rail them?”

I shrug and drape my arms across the back of the couch. “That’s pretty close, yeah.”

Her mouth is hanging open and I know I’m acting like an arrogant prick, but I don’t care. Her reaction is too funny. It’s also all true.

“Holy shit.” She shakes her head with a smile. “Well, I hope you know that is not the normal experience for most guys. And the fact that it sounds like this has happened more than once leads me to believe you must be doing something extremely right in that room because girls like to talk.”

“Is that right?” I say with one eyebrow raised.

She nods. “I’m not entirely surprised. After I was able to get a quick preview of what you’re working with down there, I have no doubt you left these ladies with some major organ damage and a big smile on their faces.”

Now my mouth is hanging open in shock, but before I can stammer out some words, she starts laughing. It’s immediately contagious and I join her, and I haven’t laughed that hard in a very long time. It feels good and it almost erases the crushing feeling inside when I think about how I never want this time with her to end. Almost.

Chapter Five: Bizarre Love Triangle

The next day you are back to feeling normal again, and you should be going. You’ve missed a few days of work and you really need to get back there. But you don’t; you stay. You like the little infirmary Five has created for you. You feel safe and cared for, and if you leave that feeling will be gone.

Klaus decides to return sometime during the afternoon. He breezes in, smelling of cigarettes and unwashed clothes, with a smile on his face and seemingly not a care in the world. You are annoyed, sure, but you secretly don’t even care that he’s been gone. And it’s just so hard to stay mad at him because it’s Klaus. He is who he is and it’s no surprise, really.

Five, however, finds nothing amusing about it. You stand there and watch as he loses his ever-loving shit.

Barely two minutes after Klaus is in the door, Five is appearing in front of him in an angry swirl of light, already leaning in with bared teeth and clenched fists.

“Where the fuck have you been?” he growls in Klaus’s face.

Klaus, always immune to his brother’s rage, raises a hand to his head and closes his eyes. “Shhh…Fivey…please, can you keep the screaming to a dull roar? My skull feels like it’s breaking in two.”

“It is going to be breaking in two when I’m through with you. What the fuck is wrong with you? Don’t you have any decency? She has been on death’s door for the past two days and you don’t bother to come home or even call to check in?”

Five is gesturing to you while you stand off to the side, not sure whether you should be jumping in or not. You don’t really appreciate being talked about like you aren’t there, but you’ve never seen Five this worked up before and it’s intimidating, to say the least.

Klaus sighs dramatically and looks over to you. “I’m sorry. You’re ok now, though, right?”

“Uh, yeah, I am…”

“See? She’s ok, so no harm done,” he tells Five.

“Yeah, she is ok, thanks to me. That’s not even the point, though! You need to stop thinking about only yourself all the time. Grow the fuck up and act like an adult.” Five is still yelling loudly and Klaus is flinching with each word thrown in his face. “God, you’re so fucking useless sometimes!”

“Hey!” you interject. “Five, stop. I know you’re mad but you don’t have to be mean.”

He whips his head in your direction and the ire is still there. “Mean? I’m being mean? You do realize he just up and abandoned you, right?”

You stand up straight and raise your chin. “I think abandoned is a strong word. And I’m an adult, too, you know. I appreciate everything you did for me, but I think I could have survived without either of you.”

Five is silent, but his eyes don’t leave yours. He’s still angry, but there’s something else there. Hurt.

“Fine,” he concedes and his shoulders slump a little. “Forget I even said anything. You two dumbasses really do deserve each other.”

After that, he’s gone. Disappeared again before your eyes and you know he’s not in the apartment anymore. You doubt you’ll see him back here again anytime soon. You fucked things up again, and you don’t know how to fix it this time. You look at Klaus.

“Why didn’t you come back? It would have been the decent thing to do. I thought you cared a little more about me than that.”

Klaus massages his temples with his hands and lets out a loud exhale. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be gone that long, and it was a little tricky to get back into the country without documentation. Especially when the guards on duty that day are all alpha males with no sense of humor.” He looks at you with concern. “I really am sorry.”

“Thank you.”

“You seem back to normal, now, so that’s good. I’m glad at least Five was here.”

You nod. “Me too.” You look towards the door, even though that’s not the way he left. “I don’t think he’s going to want to have anything to do with me again, though.”

Klaus is already on his way to the bathroom and he waves a hand in the air dismissively. “Nah, don’t worry about him. He’ll get over it. He always does. Come on, want to join me in the shower?”

“No, thanks,” you answer with a pinched smile. You may not be that angry with Klaus, but you are pretty annoyed. And certainly not in the mood for anything more than chit-chat right now.

It’s later that night, and why the hell you’re still here you have no idea. You should have left hours ago. You just can’t help but want to see Five again and to maybe try and smooth things over. And you’re worried about him, too. Obviously, he can take care of himself, but that doesn’t mean he won’t do something stupid just because he’s pissed off and not thinking clearly. So, while Klaus is in his room sleeping off his three-day bender, you lie down on the couch. You can’t sleep though so you’re staring up at the ceiling in the dark when you hear a familiar whooshing noise and brief flash of blue light coming from the kitchen. You get up and enter the kitchen quietly.

Five stops short when he sees you, his eyes wide for half a second before he corrects himself and he adopts his signature glare. You watch him as he walks to the sink, grabs a glass out of the cabinet, and fills it with water from the tap. You notice how he swayed a little when he walked and the way his eyes were momentarily unfocused. He turns his back to you as he takes a long drink of water.

“What are you still doing here?” he asks after he swallows.

“Are you drunk?” you ask, ignoring his question.

He gives a short and haughty noise, half snort, half laugh, and he swallows down another gulp of water.

“Hardly,” he answers, still turned away from you. He is deliberately not looking at you, probably waiting for you to give up and leave first.

“Yes, you are,” you insist.

Five turns, spinning abruptly around and facing you head-on. He slams the empty water glass on the counter behind him.

“And what if I was? What the fuck does it matter to you?” he barks, his face hard and angry.

You aren’t going to let him win this one. You aren’t going to let him chase you out of there.

“Where were you anyway?”

He puts his hands in his pockets and leans back against the counter. His hair is disheveled and hanging in his eyes again. His shirt, although slightly wrinkled, is unbuttoned just far enough that you can make out the hard line of his collarbone and the outline of his pecs. He is all tense joints and sinew, skin tight and smooth over rippling muscles; everything coiled tight. He notices you staring at his body and he smirks.

“Aw, did you miss me tending to your every need, princess? Not getting enough attention from my dear brother in there?” He nods his head toward Klaus’s room.

You cross your arms defensively over your chest, staring him down. “Don’t you dare fucking talk to me like that, Five. We are past that.”

He gives another sarcastic huff and turns his back on you again. “Go back to your boyfriend. Leave me alone.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” you answer flatly, although that’s hardly relevant.

Five doesn’t say anything in response at first and you think you’ve won this weird little game you two are playing. Then you see his shoulders slump and his head hangs down.

“Then what are you doing with him?” he asks quietly.

You pause, blinking into the dim light of the kitchen, watching the muscles in his back flex through his shirt as he presses his palms harder into the countertop.

“What do you mean?” you ask with a tremble in your voice.

Five turns around to face you, the softness you had heard for just a moment gone again. He takes a menacing step toward you and you instinctively back up.

“I mean, what are you doing with Klaus? Why are you with him?”

Five continues to slowly make his way into your personal space. His eyes are dark and he’s breathing hard with anger or drunkenness, or both. You back up, but you find yourself trapped against the wall. Five pauses for a moment, like he’s unsure he wants to follow through on whatever he’s thinking. But then he’s taking another step toward you, and another, until he’s so close you can see the tiny flecks of brown in his otherwise clear green eyes.

You take a shaking breath in and you can smell the whiskey on his breath, and the leathery scent of the soap you recognize from the shower. You can hear the squeak of his leather dress shoe on the floor and the way the fabric of his pants brushes softly between his legs as he moves in.

When you don’t answer, he asks again, his voice low and demanding. “Why are you with him?”

You swallow hard and try to look away, but his stare is too intense. “I…I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. Tell me.”

He’s leaning in, trapping you between his forearms as they are pressed against the wall next to your head, his lips just inches from yours as he waits for your answer. You have a feeling he’s not going anywhere until he hears what he wants to hear.

Your voice is barely a whisper when it comes out. “Because I don’t like being alone.”

One half of Five’s mouth curls up in a self-satisfied smirk. When he closes the already small gap between you and him, he rests his hand on your hip as your thigh grazes against his groin. You can feel the firm bulge starting to form in his perfectly fitted pants as you hold your breath.

“Fuck,” he murmurs painfully.

Before you can react, his mouth is on yours, hungry and rushed, like he’s trying to get as much of you as he can before he changes his mind again. But he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he presses further into you, flattening you against the wall, his hands clutching firmly to your hips. The weight of his entire body is pressed upon you, your breasts pushed against his chest and your groin flush with his. You take in a gulp of air between open-mouth kisses, half-resisting and half-responding to his touch.

If he senses any hesitation from you, he ignores it. Instead, he moans pitifully in his throat, raising both of his hands to bunch your hair into his fists. The feeling of his fingers against your scalp is like a spark; igniting the rest of your body so that you find yourself grabbing the back of his shirt and pushing your lower body into him.

His hands release from your hair, only to trail down the sides of your face and onto your neck. Hot and insistent, you feel his fingers tracing over the tendons on either side, across your jugular, and dipping into the hollow curve above your collarbone. His mouth leaves yours and follows the same route of his fingers; kissing softly but urgently in a linear pattern.

You are still grasping handfuls of his shirt on his back and then his chest. “Five.”

You don’t know what the meaning behind you saying his name is. You don’t want him to stop, but you can’t think clearly so it’s the only thing that comes out.

“It’s not fair,” he growls into your skin, moving to the other side of your neck. “Not fucking fair.”

A whine escapes your throat and you find yourself arching into him. Into his kisses and into his body. You want more and you don’t care that he’s drunk or that he all but forced himself on you. You’re not going to push him away and you stop kidding yourself that you were even thinking about it in the first place. It feels good. He feels good. And it feels right.

His kisses abruptly stop and when you open your eyes, you’re met with his intense gaze again. His mouth is parted as he labors for breath, chest heaving against yours. His hands are on your neck again. This time, they are encircling it, his palms warm against your skin and his thumbs on your chin, holding you in place and forcing you to look at him.

Five’s eyes are searching your face, taking in every detail.

“I want you. And I don’t fucking care about Klaus or anyone else. I want you,” he states quietly and breathlessly. “But if you want me to stop, tell me and I will. I’ll leave and you can go back to him.”

You frown, your eyebrows drawing together, as you take in the sharp angles of his face and the evident pain and longing that is written all over it. You could end this right now. He would step back, remove his hands from your body, and let you go. But that’s not what you want.

You shake your head slowly. “No. Don’t leave.”

“Fuck,” he breathes out again as if he’s disappointed in your answer.

There’s no time to contemplate that, however, because you are being hoisted up in one boost, Five’s strength more than enough to lift you easily off the ground. On instinct, you wrap your arms around his shoulders and your legs around his waist. You can feel how hard he is as you pass over his groin and he gives a little grunt at the feeling.

It’s all a delirious haze as you cling to him, kissing his face and neck and winding your fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. All while he is carrying you down the short hallway to his bedroom, bumping into the doorjamb on the way in, and closing the door behind him with a kick of his foot.

He walks over to the bed, dropping you down a bit ungracefully. Not that you care. You’re too busy trying desperately to shed your clothes as he does the same, the room filling with the sound of your loud and ragged breathing.

Since you were only wearing a t-shirt and shorts, you’re finished before he is and you lie back, watching as he fumbles with his belt buckle and shoves his pants hurriedly down. His shirt is off already, and you take in the hardness of his chest and the way his shoulders and biceps flex and relax with each movement. The tight boxer briefs he is wearing are damp where his hard cock has been leaking into them.

It’s all happening so fast, and he’s on top of you in a matter of seconds, pinning you down to the mattress, both of you naked and clawing at one another. He is grabbing and kneading your ass with one hand while the other one is on your breast, squeezing almost to the point of pain. But it feels so fucking good, and you’re just as forceful; digging your fingers into his hip and raking your nails roughly down the smooth skin of his back.

“Five,” you whine, unable to say anything else as he bites and sucks at your chest.

He’s groaning and gasping against your skin, like he’s drowning; like he can’t get enough. His mouth is everywhere. Your tits, your stomach, your neck.

He lets out a frustrated growl, even as he takes everything he wants and you let him.

“I hate it…” he mumbles, words cut off as he drags a tongue across your hardened nipple.

“What?” you ask after inhaling a sharp breath, your fist tangled in his dark hair.

Five doesn’t stop, even as he answers you, moving further down your body.

“I hate that he kisses you. I hate that he touches you,” he moans, his lips grazing over you and the words hot against your skin.

He pushes your legs apart and you pull in a deep breath, your hips rising off the bed in response. His mouth is on your inner thigh, pressed against it while his words vibrate over and through you.

“I hate that he makes you wet, and knows how you taste.”

Five is on his knees, face buried between your legs as he licks at your pussy, tongue lapping up the continual flow of your arousal and spreading it up through your aching folds. He’s holding you by your waist with both hands, steadying you as you thrust up into him. His mouth is hot and wet as it engulfs you in messy kisses and licks, the tip of his tongue darting over your clit as he drinks in your wetness and swallows it down.

The accuracy is tortuous, as he hits his target each time, leaving you writhing desperately beneath him, biting your bottom lip as you try in vain to quiet the noises he’s eliciting from you.

“Fi-ive…,”you whine pathetically before inhaling another loud breath.

His mouth is off of you again, leaving you soaking wet and desperate for more. Five is back to kissing up your body, going back over the trail he left on the way down. When he gets to your mouth, he kisses you hard and deep. You can taste your own sex on his tongue as it slips past your lips and inside, colliding with yours. As he bites and pulls at your lips with his teeth, you can feel his cock pressing against the inside of your thigh as he moves his hips rhythmically against you.

“I hate that he fucks you. I hate that he makes you come.” He pauses as he lets out another quiet moan. “And I hate that I hate it.”

He has pulled away from you, green eyes boring into you as he looks into yours. He hasn’t bothered with asking if anything he is doing is ok, probably taking your moans and involuntary hip jerks as proof that you were ok with everything. But now, he seems to be waiting for something. An acknowledgment of what he said. A sign that you want what he wants.

“Don’t you know?” you ask him, panting, as you look back at him. “When I close my eyes, it’s always you.”

One corner of his mouth is turned up, more than satisfied with your answer, as he is repositioning himself and shoving inside of you. You cry out, not even trying to hold it back, as your head falls backward and you clutch onto his shoulders. Five’s own loud groans are punctuated by each slow thrust of his hips as he holds himself over you on his forearms. Your eyes meet again, his face hovering over yours, dark hair hanging in messy strands off his forehead.

“Fuuck…I’ve wanted this for so long,” he breathes out, not breaking eye contact.

He’s slamming into you, his more than sizeable dick filling you up with each push. And it’s like nothing you’ve ever felt before. The way his body fits into yours. The way he looks at you. The intensity mixed with need and want. This is how fucking should feel. And you want to feel this way forever.

He has lowered himself so that your faces are closer; lips just an inch apart. He hasn’t changed his pace, though, still penetrating you over and over again in the perfect rhythm. Your hands run over the tight muscles of his rounded shoulders, nails raking red lines down his back as you lift your legs higher and angle your hips up.

“Look at me,” he demands and you open your eyes immediately in response. “I want you all to myself. I want you to fuck me. Scream for me. Come for me.”

There was no question posed, but you find yourself nodding along, agreeing with each word he says; arching into him and pulling him closer.

It’s not long before the tension is building, the heat spreading out through your groin until it’s no longer bearable. He’s pounding into you with precision and just enough force that you know you’ll be sore tomorrow. But that thought is far back in your mind, and you focus on his loud breathing against your skin, the feral look in his eyes, the way his body moves so perfectly in time with yours.

You come for him, just like he wanted, and you’re loud and desperate; thrashing underneath him, clutching tightly to his sweat-dampened skin. When you moan his name, long and pleading, his thrusts stop as his hips slam into you one more time, his cock unloading inside of you as he shudders and buries his face into the crook of your neck; a painful-sounding growl mixing with his stuttering breath.

Five stays like this, breathing in the scent of your skin and hair, for a minute or two before he lifts himself off of you, lying next to you on his back. He’s still breathing hard, but you can already see the wheels turning in his head; the regret and shame washing over him. You don’t want him to feel like that, though. There’s no reason for him to feel that way.

“Five?” you ask hesitantly.

He turns his head toward you, slowly, hands resting on his chest. You’re not really sure what to say. You want to tell him it’s ok. That you were just as much of a part in this as he is. But you know that will probably make him angry.

“Do you want…” your voice breaks as you look at him, realizing this passionate moment is most likely coming to an end. “Never mind. I can go.”

You sit up and start to maneuver off the bed when you feel his hand on top of yours. When you look back, his face is different. It’s more resolved now, like he’s figured something out.

“No,” he says softly. “Stay.”

“But…” You glance at the closed door of his bedroom, and he knows what you’re thinking because he’s probably thinking the same thing. Klaus. There’s also zero chance that Klaus hadn’t heard your loud cries of his brother’s name and the bed slamming against the wall.

“I don’t care. Stay.” When you look back at him, he smiles just a little. “Please,” he adds.

You return the smile, pushing the covers down so that you can both get underneath. He draws you to him with an arm around your middle and you nestle into his chest. He’s warm and his arm around you is strong, and it feels good.

Neither of you say anything more as you give in to your tiredness, drifting off while Five trails soft lines up and down your arms with his fingers.

Sometime during the night, you feel Five behind you, pressing himself against you and pulling you closer. He’s hard again and lightly kissing your shoulder, running his hand down your arm and then your thigh. You smile sleepily, not even opening your eyes, and push back into him, wordlessly letting him know you want him again.

You’re both caught in that hazy delirium of not being fully awake and Five thrusts into you slowly, rubbing his cheek softly against your hair. It’s passionate and pure, and you might have thought it was a dream if the words he was saying to you weren’t so real.

“I want this,” he whispers into the darkness. “I want this with you. Not just tonight, every night. Please.”

You sigh contentedly, pressing your backside into him as he fucks you perfectly.

“I want this, too. It’s always you, Five,” you answer, reaching your arm back to cradle his head in your hand.

He’s groaning low and desperately, his forehead pressed into your neck.

“I’ll take care of you like you deserve,” he’s pleading as he thrusts harder into you and his hand moves between your legs, urging you on. “Whatever you need, I’ll give to you. I’ll make you happy.”

You whine quietly, already feeling the need for release. “I know you will…I know…” You gasp when he gives one forceful thrust, fingers pressing hard against your clit. “You’re all I need.”

“Please,” he’s murmuring against your neck. “Please let me. I’m all yours, sweetheart. Please,” he keeps repeating, right before you’re both shuddering and moaning as everything builds and you reach your apices together.

The post-orgasmic high you are feeling is mixing with your emotions and your exhaustion, and you blink into the darkness of the room, feeling Five pull out; the hot cum he just pumped into you seeping out and sticking between your bodies. It doesn’t matter, though. He still has you in his arms as you both sink further into the mattress again.

He doesn’t say anything more, and neither do you. You feel him nuzzle into your neck and your hair, his lips pressed against you and you sigh happily. Who knows what the morning will bring, but that is still several hours away, and no matter what, you belong to each other now. You interlace your fingers with his and settle into the perfect curve of his body as you fall back into a peaceful sleep. 

When you wake up, the sunlight is streaming through the window and across Five’s bed, and you are alone. But it doesn’t take long to figure out what woke you up in the first place. Loud voices are arguing, sounding like they are coming from the kitchen, and growing louder by the second.

“You are a massive asshole!”

“Oh, get over yourself, Klaus! You’re only mad because it’s a blow to your fragile ego.”

Klaus gives a sarcastic snort. “Uh, no, actually, I’m mad because my own BROTHER fucked my GIRLFRIEND!”

“She’s not your girlfriend! You’ve made that perfectly clear.”

“What-fucking-ever! It’s still fucked up. It’s still a betrayal!”

You hear Five laugh dangerously and you can picture his stance; body strung tight as a bow, jaw set in defiance, fists clenched.

“You don’t even care about her, Klaus. Admit it.”

There’s a pause as neither one of them say anything. You listen carefully for Klaus’s answer, if he gives one. Finally, he speaks. It’s quiet, but you can just make it out.

“Maybe not. Not in the way that I should, anyway.” He pauses. “But here’s the thing, Five. I cared about you. You know, you’re always reminding me to be careful all the time and not to be so trusting of everyone. Well, you were right; I trusted you and look how that turned out. You’re not my brother. Go fuck yourself.”

You hear footsteps and then the door slams. There’s silence again.

You don’t know what to do, so you stay put. You’re still naked, though, so you scramble off the bed and gather up your underwear and the t-shirt you were wearing. As you yank it over your head, Five opens the door and walks in. He’s carrying two mugs of hot coffee and he hands one silently over to you.

You say thank you as you accept the mug, but your smile of appreciation goes unreturned as Five crosses back the way he came and stands in the open doorway. His face is impassive. Uncaring. The opposite of the passion you saw in his eyes just hours earlier. You frown over your coffee as you take a small sip.

“I heard you and Klaus and I’m so sorry. I know this is hard, but…” you start to say, but Five cuts you off.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Look, I have a lot of things to do today, though, so you should probably get going.”

You flinch at his abruptness and you can’t even pretend to hide your hurt. You see a faint flicker of some emotion in his eyes before it’s gone again. Blank.

“What do you mean? I thought we…” your voice trails off, unable to finish the sentence as the words catch in your throat. You swallow and try again. “You said…”

Five jumps in again before you can finish. “I was drunk, I didn’t know what I was saying,” he replies, his voice flat and unmoving. “I’m sorry if I misled you. Obviously, this was a mistake.”

He says nothing more; just turns around and walks out, leaving you sitting on his bed, coffee cup in hand, and a sick feeling in your stomach. Your chest is tight and it’s hard to breathe. You can’t believe what’s happening right now. How he’s treating you. Your heart is breaking into a million pieces and it’s humiliating.

After you gather your things, pull on your clothes, and pack your bag with the few toiletries and other things you’ve been leaving there, you head out to the living room. Five is there, dressed in his normal black slacks and white button-down, sitting in one of the chairs. He has a newspaper in his lap and he doesn’t look up when you enter. You stand there, staring, until he reluctantly meets your eyes.

You are trying desperately to hold back tears, and for the most part you are doing a good job. But they are there, threatening to spill over at any second. You try to steady your voice.

“I get it if this is hard for you, Five. It’s hard for me, too. I didn’t want to come between you and your brother. But pretending that this was a mistake? That what you said last night didn’t mean anything? That’s bullshit and you know it!”

He cocks his head to the side and crosses one leg over another as he gives you a condescending smirk.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Never heard of a one-night stand?” he sneers.

“Fuck you,” you spit out, your voice hitching in your throat.

You turn away and head for the door before he can see you cry. On your way out, you stop and turn back. He’s still sitting there, looking after you, the same non-expression on his face.

“One last thing before I go. You did this, Five, not me. You pushed me away. So, if you wake up one day and you’re all alone…you only have yourself to blame. Because this could have been something really good.”

You turn and close the door behind you, not even bothering to look back again.

Chapter Six: My Own Worst Enemy

I’ve dealt with a lot of regret in my life. Times when I’ve wanted to kick my own ass and beat the living shit out of me. A couple of times I’ve been successful in rewinding time by a few minutes to fix my mistakes. Other times, not so much. But none of those times, barring that little snafu when I ended up living in a barren wasteland for 45 years, have come close to how much I hate myself right now.

After she slams the door shut, I blink myself over there. My hand is on the doorknob, mid-turn, when I stop myself again. I can’t think straight and I don’t even know what is right or what is wrong anymore. All I know is that all of this is my fault. If I had just kept to myself and kept my dick in my pants, I wouldn’t be standing here like this now. I rest my forehead against the door and squeeze my eyes shut. I briefly think about going back and changing this. I only need a few minutes, not long. I can tell her I’m sorry and that I don’t want her to leave. I can tell her I did mean everything I said before. I can try and fix it. But I don’t.

I slam my fist against the door and kick it at the same time. “FUCK!”

That’s all there is to say in this situation because I may have just lost the two most important people in my life. All because of my stupid, thoughtless actions. I feel bad about Klaus, but I know he’ll eventually get over it. He might not forgive me, but I know he’ll be ok. But her…that look in her eyes when I told her I didn’t mean any of it…I don’t think I can fix that. I wouldn’t even know how, because I don’t think I’ve ever hurt someone that badly and that viciously before. If I have, I hadn’t cared until now.

I had panicked. I thought I had made peace with everything and then Klaus had said what he did to me. You’re not my brother. And he was right. Not only am I not even his biological brother, but I have been on my high horse pretending I can protect him, when really all I do is make shit worse. What kind of a brother, adopted or not, does that?

The thing is, if I had just gone about this in a completely different way, it probably would have turned out just fine. I could have gone to him, told him I had feelings for her and that I thought maybe she felt the same way, and apologize. Maybe he would have been a little mad, but in all reality, he probably would have been fine with it. It’s the way that it happened that really threw a monkey wrench into the whole thing.

I know he wasn’t all that into her, and vice versa. But to take the same girl that your brother has been sleeping with on a regular basis and fuck her (loudly), right down the hall from him without so much as a heads-up-pre-coitus email…that’s probably some sort of code violation right there. Granted, I’m sometimes oblivious to social norms and things other people might describe as “tact”, but I do know this is a pretty blatant faux pas.

I shouldn’t have gotten so pissed. I shouldn’t have gone off to drink my feelings away. I shouldn’t have stayed in the kitchen talking to her. I shouldn’t have done a lot of things.

I was mad at Klaus for not stepping up when he should have, but I was mostly just mad at him for having her in the first place. And then when she came to his defense…that was too much. I had to get out of there before I said or did something even worse. So, I did what I usually do when things get too scrambled in my brain; I went to find some booze.

The bar I chose was the first one I had come across while I was storming down the sidewalk, and I found an empty barstool where I could sit and wallow in self-pity. The place was a total dive, but it was dark and crowded and the bartender had no issue serving me as many shots of whiskey that I asked for. I think I was on my fourth when I noticed the girl on the other end of the bar eye-fucking me. She was cute, with dark brown hair and a minuscule top that didn’t do much to hide her impressive rack. In my drunken state, I found myself staring back at her, which she took as an invitation.

I can hold my liquor, but after five shots, even I’m going to get a little sloppy. Everything was a blur. It was dark, loud, and my senses were all screwed up. She was standing between my legs, leaning in to talk to me, and I could smell her perfume which I didn’t particularly like. I don’t even know what she was saying to me. Her hand was on my thigh and she was purposefully pressing her tits against me as she talked close to my ear. I could feel her hand moving higher up my leg, and she was saying something about leaving together and going back to her place. It sounded like a good idea, but something was off.

I felt her lips brush against my cheek and that’s when I had a moment of clarity. Her voice was all wrong, her perfume was giving me a headache, and if I was paying attention to what she had been saying, I’m sure I would have found her boring. More importantly, she wasn’t her. And if it wasn’t her, I didn’t really give a shit. Grabbing the woman’s wrist with my hand, she stopped her kiss and pulled back, confused.

“Stop,” I said, gradually snapping out of the trance I had been in. When she questioned me, obviously irritated that I would be turning her advances down, I let go of her hand, pushing it off of me. “Go shove your tits in someone else’s face. I’m not interested.”

With a glare, she turned around, but not before she flipped me off and called me an asshole. That’s when I figured I should get out of there before I drank enough that I wouldn’t be able to find my way out. I also figured it would be safe to go home because she would have left the apartment hours before that. Wrong again.

When I saw her there, I just couldn’t keep it up anymore. I couldn’t see the point. And if she had slapped me across the face, or asked me to stop, I would have. I would have been humiliated, but I would have stopped. But she didn’t want me to.

God, I can still feel her body against mine and hear her moaning my name. I can still taste her on my tongue and smell the sweat on her skin. She invaded all of my senses and she’s still clinging to me. I have never begged anyone for anything in my entire life, and yet there I was, pleading with her to be with me. She had said she wanted to, and I could feel how much she meant it. We were going to be happy together; I had promised her I would take care of her like she deserves. It was all right there for me. All of the things I had been dreaming of and wanting for so long. Then I went and fucked it all up.

She was right, too. I will wake up all alone one day, and I will have no one to blame but myself.

It’s a week later, and I’m busy packing up all of my shit into boxes since I plan on moving out tomorrow. I haven’t seen much of Klaus because he hasn’t been around a lot and when he is, he avoids me and locks himself in his room. I had immediately started looking for a new place and I found one that is ok and will be fine short term. It’s also fairly close to her coffee shop, which had not been intentional, but it’s not my fault that’s where it’s located. I’m packing up some books when Klaus comes and stands in the doorway. I look up, startled. He’s holding a bottle of vodka in one hand and two shot glasses in the other.

“Mind if I come in?” he asks.

“Sure, come on in.”

He walks in and sits down on the edge of my bed. He puts the shot glasses on the side table and pours vodka into each of them, filling them to the top before he sets the bottle down. He hands one over to me and I take it from him even though I’m confused as hell right now.

“What’s this for?” I ask.

Klaus shrugs. “I don’t know, but I feel like we should have one more drink together before you move out.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, so I just follow his lead and hold my glass up in a toast before slinging it back. It burns on the way down but it tastes good.

“You don’t have to leave, you know,” Klaus says after a long pause.

“Yes, I do.”

He sighs and looks around my room. “Look, I know this is a weird situation, and I am still mad at you, but that doesn’t mean I want you to leave.”

“You told me I wasn’t your brother and to go fuck myself,” I remind him.

“Ah, yes, well…perhaps I was a bit over-dramatic. I was just a tad hungover still and you were yelling just so loudly. Really, Five, your voice just pierces right into the brain sometimes and makes people say things just to get you to stop.” I shake my head. “No, you were the appropriate amount of dramatic and I don’t blame you. You’re right, I’m a shitty brother and I messed up big time. Which is why I need to leave.”

“Look, Five, I didn’t mean all of that, ok? Yes, I was pissed. And yes, maybe what you did was not the greatest thing ever. But you were also right.”

“About what?”

“About not caring about her. I realize that regardless of our status, I still was a pretty shitty friend to her. I’m glad she had you here. Even if you did rail her hard enough I think even I could feel it.”

I cringe. “Klaus, I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t begin to cover it, but I truly am sorry.”

He nods thoughtfully. “So…how long have you been in love with her?”

I stare, open-mouthed and wide-eyed; dumbstruck. Klaus laughs.

“You think you’re so smart and slick all of the time, but I got news for you Fivey…you ain’t.”

“What are you talking about?” I sputter out, even though it’s about the worst acting anyone’s ever done.

Klaus rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “It’s ok, you can admit it. I’m not dumb or blind. Or deaf, as it turns out. I know how you operate around people, and I have never seen you like you are when you’re with her. You are one smitten kitten and you know what? Good for you.”

I am about to protest again, but when I go to deny it, I realize I just don’t have the heart or the energy for it. “Ok, you’re right, I love her. I’m sorry, but I do. I have for a while now.”

He nods and smiles, not shocked by this information. “Like I said, good for you. You deserve love and happiness in your life, Five. Would I have preferred it to be with someone I hadn’t also bumped uglies with? Probably. But hey, love works in mysterious ways, right? I mean, look at me! I fell in love with someone I met after falling out of the sky in the middle of a fucking war zone. Talk about bad timing! I guess we Hargreeves are good at bad timing, though, aren’t we?”

He laughs, even though it’s more sad than funny and I stand there for a minute in thought. Then I come to a conclusion.

“There’s only one way I’m going to feel better about this and be able to move on with a reasonably clear conscience.”

“What’s that?”

“You have to hit me.”

Klaus looks at me in disbelief. “Uh…yeah, ok, Five. I’m not falling for that.”

I shake my head and roll my shoulders back, facing him head-on. “No, I mean it. I want you to punch me directly in the face. I won’t hit back or defend myself.”

“Five, I don’t want to hit you…”

“Come on! I’m sure you’ve thought about it on several occasions before. Well, now here’s your chance. For the second time in your life, you can hit me in the face without any backlash. I promise.”

He chuckles. “Oh yeah, that was a fun day. But seriously, even if I did want to hit you, which I don’t, I’m not even good at it, you know that. I never have been. I’m like one of those guys in old cartoons where they swing and miss and just spin around in a circle.”

“Klaus, for fucks sake, stand up and punch me in the fucking face!”

After another pause, he stands up in front of me. He’s still taller than me, despite me being at my full height now. He looks down on me nervously and I see his fists clench and unclench.

“Really? You really want me to do this?”

I nod. “I really do.” Then I hold my finger up. “However, just remember this is one hit.”

He shrugs and lifts his fist up, pulling it back and I close my eyes to brace myself. WHAM! He gets me right in the jaw and he is a big fucking liar because he is good at it and it hurts like a motherfucker.

“Son of a…Fuck!” I yell, holding my face. I swear I can already feel a bruise forming and I run my tongue over my teeth to make sure they are all still accounted for.

“Oh my god, Five, are you ok? Shit, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I actually did that!” Klaus is panicking at first but after a couple of seconds, he starts laughing. “I can’t believe I actually did that. And you haven’t killed me or even maimed me! Man, I got you good, too.”

“Yeah,” I mumble, still rubbing my throbbing jaw. “Turns out it hurts a whole lot more when you know it’s coming.” Klaus continues to laugh at my pain, and even though it hurts to move my face, I grin up at him. “This was a one-time offer, by the way. So, don’t be thinking you’re hot shit, because I will drop you without a second thought.”

Klaus gives a sarcastic salute. “Message received, big bro.” He purses his lips together and gestures to the boxes around my room. “So, are you still leaving?”

I nod. “Yes, I’m still leaving. And it’s not even all because of that. I don’t think it’s doing either of us any good to be living together like this. I have realized that I was using you as an excuse not to move on with my life. I told myself I was doing you a favor when in reality, I was just looking for a purpose. Any purpose. But I need to figure that out for myself.”

“Ok, but you’re just going to leave me all alone here?”

I shrug. “Maybe Luther wants to move in.”

Klaus looks horrified. “Good lord, no thank you! You skipped out on the grosser years of having to live with that barn animal and let me tell you, it’s no picnic. I don’t need giant pairs of tighty whities thrown around my bathroom, or having boxes of my favorite cereal eaten up in two days.”

I grin and clap him on the shoulder. “You’ll figure it out, Klaus. You always do. And you don’t need me to help you do it, either.”

“Thanks, Fivey,” he says softly, before catching me off guard and pulling me in for a bear hug, trapping me against his chest.

“Ah! My face! Let go, you stupid asshole!” He lets me go and I rub at my jaw again, glaring up at him. He is unfazed so I just shake my head. Klaus will always be Klaus, and I meant what I said. He’ll be just fine without me here.

*********************************************************************

“Feet. Off. The coffee table,” I say as I whack at Klaus with a rolled-up newspaper like he’s a cat on a kitchen counter.

“Hey! Geez, alright…keep your shirt on, old man,” he protests as he tries to guard himself with his hands while removing his feet from where they were propped. “What’s got your little assassin bonnet full of bees today?”

“Nothing! Maybe I just don’t want your disgusting feet all over my furniture.”

Klaus tilts his head to the side, looking up at me. “No…I don’t think that’s it. You seem even more murderous lately than normal.” Then his face lights up. “I know! I bet you haven’t been laid in a while, that’s got to be it. That’s an easy fix, too, because I bet if I go outside right now and made an announcement that the infamous and very sexy Number Five Hargreeves was looking for some action, you’d have a stampede of pretty ladies and probably some pretty men breaking down your door.”

“Klaus,” I start to say before he interrupts.

“Wait! Here’s a better idea. Me and you, we go on the prowl tonight. I’ll take you to some great clubs where you can meet someone that’s suitable for banging. Well, they’re not clubs as much as warehouses full of people tripping on acid, but still. I guarantee I can get you laid by the end of the night.”

“Klaus.”

“Yeah?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

When he manages to look like a kicked puppy, I roll my eyes and sigh. “Thank you for your concern over my sex life, but I do not need to get laid. I’m fine.”

He eyes me up and when I look away guiltily, he gasps with a hand on his chest. “Hang on. Do not tell me the last time you put your banana in a fruit salad was with…”

My silence is the only answer he needs and he gives another dramatic gasp, which makes me grit my teeth together.

“Holy shit, Fivey! Well, no fucking wonder you’ve got your man panties in a wad lately.”

“Again, and I say this with the utmost love and respect…shut the fuck up.”

He stands up. “No, no, no…I will not shut up! So, you’re telling me that over the past six months , you’ve been carrying a torch for her? Wow, that is some romantic shit right there. But still, that shouldn’t stop you from driving the ol’ Pope mobile into some lucky lady’s Vatican now and then.”

“What is wrong with you?”

“We don’t have time to get into all of that right now. Besides, this is about you. I’m serious, Five, you can’t go on re-living your virgin years just because you’re a little hung up on one person.”

I shake my head and put my hands in my pockets. “I’m not just hung up on her. She’s all I think about. All day, all night. I still love her, Klaus.”

I don’t know why I let my walls down just now and told him the truth, but the fact is we have actually been getting along much better now that we aren’t under the same roof anymore. I’m starting to feel a little more comfortable talking about things with him. And the nice thing about Klaus is that he’s done so many weird and fucked up things in his life, he never judges.

“Oh, Five,” he says sadly. “I had no idea. You never mentioned it so I just assumed you’d moved on.”

“Yeah, well…it’s fine. I’ll get over it eventually.”

“You know, the easy solution to this is to walk your cute buns over to that coffee place of hers and tell her what you just told me. Confess your undying love. Sweep her off her feet.”

I laugh and run a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I don’t think that would work. Pretty sure she hates my guts. And for good reason.”

“Listen, as someone who had a very close seat to the ‘Five Hargreeves Fuck-tacular’ show, I’m going to bet she doesn’t hate your guts. No one sounds like that while getting their naughty bits plowed into oblivion and then just forgets about it.”

Ignoring that little comment, I shake my head. “You don’t understand. I really fucked this one up and I don’t think there’s any way to come back from it.”

“Well, all you can do is try. If she hates you, then it’s as you suspected and you can move on. If not, then you two can sail off into the sunset together. There’s really nothing to lose here.”

He has a point, but the thought of just walking in there to try and talk to her is terrifying. I’m not sure I have the balls for it.

“Want me to go talk to her for you?” he asks.

“What? No!” When I see him smile mischievously, I jab my finger at him. “I’m warning you, Klaus, if you go over there and so much as even mention my name, I swear to god I will blink you to Antarctica and leave you there.”

Klaus waves his hand at me. “Please…you’ve been threatening that since we were kids. You really need to come up with something new. But, fine, I won’t go over there.”

When I nod my approval, I assume this conversation is done. It’s not, apparently, and Klaus grins at me again.

“In the meantime, how about I set you up on some casual dates? You don’t want to be out of practice if your lady decides to take you back. What do you think? You up for a game of pelvic pinochle? Burying the weasel? Filling the cream donut? Launching the meat missile?”

I massage my temples with my fingers, trying to fight off the headache I can feel forming behind my eyes. “For the love of all that is holy, Klaus, can you please shut the fuck up? I am begging you.”

He gives his annoying little Klaus giggle. “Sure thing, Fivey. Whatever you say.”

“Thank you.”

Four days later I’m whacking at him with the newspaper again. This time for a different reason.

“Ow! I didn’t mention your name, just like you told me, I swear! Ow!”

“You talked to her and gave her my address!” I yell, whacking at him harder around the head.

“Damnit, cut it out! You said don’t mention your name and I didn’t. She just happened to know who I was talking about. OW!”

I stop my assault and stand there, breathing hard through my nose as I glare at my stupid ass brother. “Why? Why the fuck did you do that?”

“Listen, Fivey, I love you and all but you are really your own worst enemy. I’m trying to move things along for you; help you out. You can’t stay here, all pent-up with sexual energy and moping around the house for the rest of your life. Don’t you want to get out there and live? Don’t you want someone to share your life with?”

I sigh and flop down into an armchair. He’s right, of course, even if I don’t want to admit it. “Maybe,” I mutter.

“Of course you do! That’s what everyone wants in life. And you, old timer, have been given the gift of time and the chance to start over. That’s like everyone’s dream! So, don’t just sit here and waste a gift like that. Not when you could be out there spreading a little of that teleporting-genius-infused DNA around with your special man sauce.”

I make a face. “Gross. Please don’t say ‘man sauce’ again.”

“Anyway…she didn’t say she wanted you dead and she accepted the piece of paper I gave her, so…I don’t know, those are both good things, right?”

“I guess. Did she say anything else?” I ask, trying not to get my hopes up.

Klaus shakes his head. “No, sorry.”

I wasn’t expecting anything, but it still feels like a bit of a blow. I nod, and then I look at Klaus suspiciously. “Did you say anything else?”

He puts a hand to his chest. “Who, moi ? Of course not. Well, I did apologize for everything that went down, but like I said, your name didn’t come up.”

“Hmm…why do I get the feeling that’s not the full truth?”

Klaus shrugs innocently. “I have no idea, but trust me. I bet any day now she’ll come knocking on your door wanting some more of that sweet, sweet loving from you. Just you wait.”

As if his prophecy was about to be fulfilled at that precise moment, I glance towards the door. What would I even say if she really did show up here? I had been avoiding her place like the plague, even though that meant taking much longer routes to certain places. Except for those few times when I couldn’t help myself and I watched through the windows from across the street and then blinked away before she could spot me. Otherwise, the thought of having to face her again makes my stomach churn. So, maybe Klaus did do me a favor. Maybe she really will hunt me down and knock on my door one day soon. If she does, I’m sure it will be just for the opportunity to chew me out. But, even so, the thought of seeing her standing in front of me again makes my pulse race just a little faster.

Link to the next few chapters here!

@baileebear

[remeberm3]

"my inner aesthetician" | k.m

⎯⎯In a warm, candlelit sanctuary, two souls share playful banter as they engage in a soothing skincare ritual.

warnings: fluff

The bathroom was a sanctuary, an oasis of calm wrapped in the dim light of flickering candles. You found yourself there, face illuminated by the soft glow, ready to indulge in your much-needed skincare routine. As you gathered your products, you heard the unmistakable sound of Klaus entering the space. A rush of anticipation coursed through you, an electric pulse heightened by the proximity of the enticing vampire.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, with an impish grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “Are you quite done playing with your potions and serums, love, or should I sit back and enjoy the show?”

“Very funny, Klaus,” you retorted, trying to keep your voice light while your heart raced. “I didn’t invite you in to gawk, you know.”

“Ah, but to witness you pampering yourself is surely a treat,” he replied, stepping further into the room, letting the door close softly behind him. “After all, one could scarcely blame me for wanting to see you at your most… radiant.”

You felt your cheeks heat at his compliment, a flurry of emotions swirling within you. While there was a playful teasing inherent in his tone, the sincerity behind it made your heart flutter. “If you must stay, you could at least lend a hand. I’m all about multitasking,” you said, trying to sound casual, even as excitement bloomed within you.

“Multitasking?” he echoed, arching an eyebrow. “Are we about to engage in a glamor session, or do I get to witness your entire beauty regimen? Because I must warn you, love—if you’re counting on me for much assistance, you might find yourself disappointed."

“Oh, please,” you replied, feigning indignation as you squeezed a dollop of cleanser into your palm. “You’re just scared you might accidentally make my skin more radiant than yours.”

Klaus chuckled, a low, rich sound that reverberated off the tiles, sending a shiver of delight through you. “Is that so? I suppose I’ll have to put those fears aside and take my chances then.”

With a smile that betrayed your playful competition, you turned away to splash some water on your face. The refreshing sensation brought you back to reality, yet each moment felt charged with potential, the air thick with unspoken words and hidden desires. You glanced at him over your shoulder as you began to work the cleanser into your skin, noting the way he observed you, intrigue shimmering in his gaze.

“Don’t just stand there; come here,” you urged, gesturing toward the other side of the sink. “I’m attempting to unleash my inner aesthetician, and I could use a second pair of hands—or a mirror, at the very least.”

“Very well,” Klaus acquiesced, stepping closer, his presence warming the small space. He leaned against the counter, close enough that you could almost feel the heat radiating off him, yet keeping a playful distance as if keeping an invisible line between you.

You poured a few drops of toner onto a cotton pad, the soothing scent wafting through the air as you delicately dabbed it onto your skin. As you focused on your reflection, you could feel his gaze on you, igniting a warmth that curled through your stomach. “What do you think? Am I glowing yet?” you asked, a hint of teasing lacing your tone.

“Tell me—how could you possibly glow even brighter?” he replied, voice smooth like silk. “It’s as if the mere act of shifting your attention breathes life into the atmosphere around you. If only we could bottle it up and sell it.”

“Careful,” you quipped, trying to hide your smile. “I might just take that as an invitation next time I want to do a self-care night—and charge you for it.”

“Ah, but I’m not made of money, darling,” he said, mock sincerity draping every word. “If this is going to cost me, I might be better off sticking to my own skin, painful as that may be.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Klaus,” you replied playfully, unable to suppress a laugh. “You may not need my skincare secrets, but that doesn’t mean I’ll turn you down if you ask nicely.”

“Ask nicely?” He feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. “How utterly beneath me. But for you, I might be persuaded…”

You shook your head, chuckling at his exaggerated bravado. Klaus had an irresistible charm that made it all too easy to forget the fact that you were not yet lovers. The tension between you felt like the air before a storm—charged, electric, and teetering on the edge.

You set the toner down and began applying your moisturizer, the rich cream gliding over your skin. “You could actually take notes, you know,” you teased, arching an eyebrow playfully. “I mean, all the beautiful women you’ve seduced might appreciate a little more enthusiasm in skincare; perhaps it would be on brand for the mighty Klaus Mikaelson to add a bit of softness to that hard exterior.”

“Softness? Oh, love,” he purred, leaning closer, his face just inches from yours, “if you think I’d fall for such malarkey, you underestimate me. But I won’t deny that merely standing here, absorbing the glow of your presence, is its own form of luxury.”

The air between you crackled, a charged anticipation as you both stood so close, the mutual longing tempered with playful barbs and fleeting glances. Thinking quickly, you grabbed a small jade roller from your collection. “Here, I’ll show you a trick,” you said, intrigued by the thought of sharing this moment with him.

With a delicate touch, you began to roll the cool jade along the contours of your face, the gentle pressure soothing your skin. As you did, you glanced at Klaus, who appeared captivated, his eyes transfixed on your movement.

“See how it awakens the skin?” You held it out toward him, an inviting smile curled on your lips. “Care to give it a try?”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before accepting the roller. “You expect me to use this contraption?” he asked, amusement clear in his voice. “I’m hardly the pampering type, you know.”

“Trust me,” you coaxed playfully. “Close your eyes. Just relax.”

With a reluctant nod and a teasing glance, he complied, letting his eyes flutter shut, the candlelight casting a warm glow around him. Watching him, you felt your heart race, a gentle flutter of excitement blooming within as you placed the roller gently on his skin, guiding it along his cheekbone.

“Not so bad, is it?” you asked, grinning softly, enjoying the intimate moment. His features were relaxed, a flicker of vulnerability slipping through his carefully crafted exterior.

“Not bad,” he agreed, a hint of vulnerability breaking through, “if only for the company.”

You chuckled, and the warmth of the moment enveloped you both, the gentle rhythm of your hands moving across his skin as you continued the massage. Each sweep of the roller brought you closer together, the tension thickening, boundless and helpless.

“Perhaps you should teach me more of these rituals,” he murmured, allowing himself to sink further into the moment. “After all, who knows? I might just find a taste for this softness after all.”

You felt a thrill course through you at his willingness to abandon his usual bravado, even if just for this brief moment. “I’d willingly share them with you, Klaus,” you said sincerely, careful to keep your voice steady. “If you promise to keep your soft side a secret.”

“I promise nothing, my dear,” he replied, his eyes still closed, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “But it seems we might just be creating our own secrets here tonight.”

The words sent shivers down your spine, the meaning of them echoing in the silence between you. It was an acknowledgment that hung heavy in the air, a possible shift in the fabric of your relationship.

As you finished, you set the roller aside, watching as Klaus’s eyes fluttered open, revealing the warmth and depth that resided within. “Thank you,” he said softly, genuine appreciation illuminated in his gaze. “This was… unexpected.”

“Unexpected good or unexpected bad?” you teased, not wanting the moment to feel too heavy too quickly.

“Unexpectedly delightful,” he replied, his tone laced with a warmth that sent your heart racing once more. “I do enjoy the positioning of this… shared sanctuary of skin and spirit.”

You couldn’t help but laugh softly at his poetic nature, the way he always seemed to capture a moment with his words, layering meaning onto the mundane. “It’s nice to find a little joy in the ordinary,” you mused, allowing a moment of quiet to settle between you, the unspoken connection thick enough to slice through.

With a shared chuckle, you both lingered in the moment, understanding that tonight was not merely about creams and gels, but an exploration of the emotions that had been growing stronger between you.

[chronic-escapixt]

Garden of Eden AU: Klaus is literally the devil and Bonnie is Lilith

She laid out beneath the shade of her favorite tree, like she always had around this time of day, only this instance, Adam was nowhere in sight. 

The slithering serpent decided to make his move, proposing his most generous offer to the desperate mortal, who so badly wanted a way out of the life that was chosen for her - made of the same soil as Adam, yet cursed to live as just an extension of him as his wife. Klaus didn’t desire a subordinate, he had enough of those already, he wanted a Queen to rule his dominion at his side - and who better than the first woman?

The lovely creature was too busy tending to a patch of lotus flowers at the bank of their little pond to notice when he ascended from the tree. She turned at the sound of his footsteps getting closer and confronted him in his truest form. She recognized him instantly, the sulfuric soot from Hell’s embers stained his perfect skin. But she didn’t startle, eyes widened just a little in pure curiosity of the only other living being she had encountered. 

He was awfully beautiful for a demon with his blushed lips that looked soft to the touch, sparkling skin that was speckled with freckles and beauty marks and tousells of blonde hair to frame his face. But after all, he was a fallen angel. 

Without a word, he reached up and grabbed the ripest pomegranate from his father’s tree. The very tree that was forbidden to consume from. The very tree she constantly preferred to sit beneath, as if toying with the idea of temptation. Now, temptation has confronted her in human form, holding the picked fruit in his hand. 

She rose to her feet. 

That Fruit is Forbidden.

He continued, fingers prodding the fruit, digging into the husk before slowly tearing it apart. 

You will live eternally and prosper within the confines of this garden in so far as you spend your countless days conforming to the plans everyone else has set forth for you - your husband, my father. Your destiny will be determined by others who will dictate who you will be for all of eternity.

She watched with bated breath as he took a bite, so casually breaking the only rule set forth for them. 

But there is more than just this garden. This is a whole universe, bountiful in opportunity, worlds beyond this one where we can create our own stories with our choices. You do not have to be a prop in my father’s garden, not when you can choose free will.

Her eyes flickered up to his blues, fiery with passion. 

And what will become of me if I take it? 

Though she always fantasized about that very thing, she was afraid. For all she knew she could turn back to the heap of dust she was created from.

He smiled, dipping into the flesh to collect the dark red juice on his fingers before raising them to her lips. 

You will embark on the greatest adventure of all, becoming my queen.

She shouldn’t have considered it. She should have pushed him away, called for her husband but she didn’t. The temptation to take what was right in front of her was too much to resist. She did not want to be a puppet to the creator and the wife of the first man. She wanted to choose.. 

Just a bit of the juice dripped from the corner of his mouth, staining his glistening skin crimson all the way down his jaw. 

She wanted to sin. 

She took hold of his hand, pulling him down to her level and licking the sweet juice from his lip. He grinned, watching the flavor invigorate her, fill her mind with power and desire. The most lovely flower in his father’s garden was his at last. 

Thunder cracked overhead, storm clouds swelling and swirling, a sign that his almighty father had learned the news. Klaus pulled her close and whisked her away to his subterranean kingdom where they'd rule together.

[reina-petrova]

With My Blood, I Vow・❥・Elejah

(Part 2 of You Have My Word)

"Okay, don't hate me." "Bonnie, what is it?" "I may have overlooked a second part of the ritual spell..." "You mean there's something else Elijah and I have to do?" "Impurity of body and blood, Elena... It needs you to bloodshare with Elijah."

↳AU where Elena discovers that Klaus’s hybrid ritual requires a virgin doppelgänger sacrifice and her virgin blood. Now her only hope is a certain Original. ↳Set around season 3 during ripper!stefan and pining!Damon, post Elijah!haircut and post Elena's 18th birthday. ↳11.5k words ↳Smut, blood sharing/blood drinkingvirgin kink, dirty talk, angst, fluff.

(A/N: Merry Christmas to all my lovely, kind readers! Here is the sequel as promised. Quick disclaimer per usual, this is merely a vehicle for smut and an AU so canon details/timeline may be off. Enjoy!)

・❥・

Elena stared at the rose between Damon's fingers. He twirled it casually, the petals a soft blur as they spun around. She huffed in annoyance as she glanced up at his triumphant grin, frustration bubbling beneath for not remembering that small but glaring detail. I thought I was so careful.

She extended her hand to reach for it, but Damon pulled back easily, his fingers touching the petals lightly, tauntingly.

"Very pretty, Elena. Secret admirer?"

She stuck her hand out insistently. "It's nothing, Damon."

"If it's nothing, then you can tell me who it's from." He pointed out, using the stem to point the flower towards Elena's face. She raised her hand to snatch it back, but his fingers were faster.

"Damon!"

"Spill, Elena. I don't think Stefan's out buying gas station roses during his murder tour of the US of A." He raised his eye brows, a smirk tracing his lips, but she could tell from his eyes: he really wanted to know.

"It's from a friend." She settled, but the moment it left her lips, it felt hollow. Damon would latch onto that immediately.

"Of course it is. And does this unnamed friend have anything to do with your recent plan?"

"I'll tell you who doesn't have anything to do with it."

Damon chuckled, lowering his hand slightly, and Elena took her chance to snatch the flower back. As she replaced it onto the dresser, perhaps more carefully than she meant to, she turned around to face Damon again, who suddenly appeared much closer than she'd realized.

She took a half step back at the surprise, bumping her spine back against the dresser. He wore his signature smirk for when he was scheming something, and she felt a small ball of anxiety in her chest as she thought about any other loose ends she'd forgotten about. It took some effort to resist glancing around the room and stay focused on his eyes. He already had her on the back foot, literally, but she couldn't give him any other clues.

"Fine, don't tell me. But you know I'll find out. I always do."

Elena fought the urge to push her hair over the crown of her head, a tell-tale sign of unease that Damon was sure to recognize. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if he half-expected her to crack right then and there. She breathed out her best exasperated sigh.

"Goodbye, Damon."

Elena pressed her back against her bedroom door, hearing Damon's steps fade away down the stairs and out the front door. Knowing she'd won the battle but not the war, her thoughts should've been focused on keeping Damon at bay, but...

All she could think about was what she'd done.

What they'd done.

Elena absentmindedly lifted her hand and gingerly traced her lips with her fingertips, remembering how intently his lips met hers, how sure his fingers felt against her ribs. In that moment, it was no longer about what parts they had to play in the ritual. It was the deep, dark need that neither had truly recognized before. The telltale pang of desire echoed in her lower stomach as she remembered where else his fingers had traced along her skin, with his mouth mirroring each gentle gesture.

She remembered the way it felt just moments before he slid himself inside of her for the first time, how his soft gaze darkened as she parted her legs, and the way he sounded as he pressed his hips between her thighs until their stomachs met.

Elena hummed quietly, dazedly getting ready for school as the warmth of the memories swirled around in her head. The morning sun's rays had begun to break through her window.

・❥・

The morning passed quickly, most of her classes over and done with before she'd even noticed. She'd spent most of them lost in her own thoughts, and there was no shortage of them. The ritual, Damon finding out, Stefan finding out. Even Caroline, who up until this point, was never the last to know anything - and Klaus. If Klaus found out... they were all done for.

Tried as she might to worry about the literal life and death consequences of her actions, she couldn't ignore how Elijah's face continued to appear in front of her eyes. Questions seem to swarm her mind like the inside of a hive. Would she hear from Elijah again? If he'd heard anything about Klaus, would he tell her? After all, how sure could they be any of it worked?

A sudden buzz in her pocket broke her out of her thoughts. With deft fingers and a cursory glance to make sure the teacher wasn't looking, Elena quickly pulled the phone out as it buzzed persistently a second time in her hand.

Bonnie's name flash across the screen.

[Bonnie: 10:12am] - We need to talk.

[Bonnie: 10:12am] - Parking lot @ lunch.

Elena's brow furrowed as she looked over her shoulder at Bonnie's seat. The witch's eyes lifted from her own phone and she met Elena's gaze, unease painted over her features. Anxiety spiked inside of Elena's chest as she nodded, then glanced over at the clock on the wall. The memories didn't return for the rest of class.

・❥・

“Okay, don’t hate me.” The witch began rapidly, and Elena tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Tucked behind the wall connecting the school and the parking lot, Bonnie and Elena stood in the narrow spot of shade underneath the afternoon sun as other students passed by them unseeing. Bonnie's words sat anxiously in her chest.

“Bonnie, what is it?”

Bonnie slowly reached into her purse and pulled a book out from her bag. Elena instantly recognized it as the grimore that she’d read the virgin passage from and felt her heart begin to sink. Bonnie's face was apprehensive as she opened the ancient tome, the spine creaking with age. Elena glanced around their surroundings quickly, but none of the other students lingered closely enough to see.

“I was flipping through back through the grimoire because I've been copying out some of the older spells, and I realized that…. I missed something." She winced, glancing up to gauge Elena's reaction. "A second part of the failsafe that I didn’t see.” 

“What do you mean, a second part? Like there’s something else to be done?”

Bonnie nodded slowly, pressing her lips into a line.

“So, the part about the ‘virginal doppelgänger’, all of that was true and necessary," Bonnie assured her, tracing her fingers over the first passage, then quickly flipping the page to begin reading the top of the next. The writing had been smudged and the page crinkled as though it had been dog-eared a hundred times before. Elena had to narrow her eyes to try and read the bleeding ink in the sun. As Bonnie's eyes flitted over the book, they flickered back up to meet Elena's as she spoke.

“I don't understand, what else could there possibly be? We kind of did the ‘loss of purity' thing." Elena shook her head incredulously, combing her hair back from her face over the crown of her head.

“Yeah, but your body isn’t the only component involved in this, Elena. The ritual Klaus wants to do is a blood ritual after all.” Bonnie's eyes returned to the grimoire as she read, smoothing out the creases to expose the hidden writing with the pad of her finger. "Virginalis corporis, her virginal body; et sanguinis virginalis... and her virginal blood."

"Virginal blood?"

Bonnie turned her body to Elena so she could see, pointing to the page in the grimoire as she repeated the lines. Elena's eyes followed her finger; it was difficult to make out, but once she saw it, there was no denying it. It was right there.

"Oh my god." Elena murmured. "So, my blood has to become… impure?”

“It means Elijah has to drink from you, but also, that you have to drink from him. It's called bloodsharing.” The witch explained.

“Bloodsharing?” 

“It creates a sort of loop. If you have Mikaelson blood in your system, your doppelgänger blood is considered tainted. Corrupted, even."

"But not regular vampire blood?"

"No. For the same reason why it had to be an Original for the.... first part," Bonnie dropped her eyes momentarily. "The Originals are the first vampires, the most abominable creatures as far as nature is concerned."

"But won't his blood leave my system anyway?"

"It's different because it's happening in conjunction with the body component, and because of his nature as an Original and yours as a doppelgänger. It'll be like a permanent marker in your blood and your soul. You need both for it to work."

Elena sighed quietly, readjusting her bag on her shoulder. Like there wasn't enough pressure the first time.

The witch slowly reached her hand over and clasped Elena’s as it hung by her side. She returned the squeeze, feeling her friend’s concern in each of her fingers. She herself felt the concern rising up in her chest, but she couldn’t deny one other feeling… a flurry of anticipation that seemed to spark deep in her stomach.

“I’m sorry I missed reading it the first time, Elena.” 

“No, Bonnie, it’s not your fault. It doesn’t change anything... I just wonder if I'm pushing my luck."

“So, you think you're going to do it?"

“I mean, we've come this far, right? Text me a picture of the grimoire so I can show him and I'll see if he'll meet with me today. Maybe he'll know how this whole bloodsharing thing works."

“I guess so.” Bonnie hummed as she pulled out her phone to snap a quick photo of the yellowed page. A small smirk slowly spread over her lips as she hit send, and her tone became coy and knowing. “Sooo- how was it?” 

Elena felt a flush creep up over her neck, and she cleared her throat, bending her neck so her hair would cover most of the redness. She busied herself with checking that the photo came in from Bonnie's phone. “He was very… considerate.” 

“Oh, considerate! Now that’s sexy.” Bonnie giggled. Elena laughed, scrolling through her phone to find Elijah's texts.

“Okay! Okay, he…” Elena clicked her tongue against her teeth as her words continued to evade her. She could feel Bonnie waiting expectantly beside her as she scrolled in her texts until she saw his name.

How to describe it? Involuntarily, she saw glimpses of their bodies tangled between the sheets, and the hot feeling of his hands on her body seemed to sear her skin even at the memory of it. 

Truly, only one word came to mind, but it weighed on Elena's heart to even think on it. When she and Stefan spoke at the party at the Falls the year before about how she and Matt loved each other but ultimately broke up, and Stefan seemed to understand why. She could hear his voice so clearly though it felt like a lifetime ago.

"Anyway, me and Matt, I don't know, it wasn't...." "- Passionate". "No. No, it wasn't passionate."

She looked up at Bonnie from her phone, and gave a soft smile.

"He showed me what passionate meant."

Bonnie gave Elena's hand another squeeze as the night of the Falls played back in their minds. As their fingers unlaced, Bonnie placed the grimoire back in her bag while Elena finished typing a quick text to Elijah asking if they could talk. She ignored the little jolt of excitement followed by the quickening of her guilt as she pressed send, then slipped her phone back into her pocket. It seemed she was firmly in the business of asking increasingly intimate favours from Elijah.

“Stefan will understand, Elena.” Bonnie murmured as she pulled her back back onto the shoulder.

Elena stilled for a moment at the sound of his name, then shook her head.

“Will he? When he and Damon find out-"

“Damon doesn't know?“ Bonnie lifted her head from Elena's shoulder. Elena shook her head.

"Not yet, I think I've managed to cover most of my tracks, except one." Elena admitted, picturing the rose on her dresser. "But it won't take him long, you know how he is when he's left out."

"Do I ever." Bonnie muttered. "Don't worry about Damon, Elena. With Klaus on the loose, he's the least of your problems."

"Not if he puts the failsafe into jeopardy. I might've told him before, but now he'd go insane if he knew I was basically giving my blood up to a Mikaelson. For now, it's between us. You, me, and Matt- Oh, god, Matt."

・❥・

Damon was already sitting in her living room when Elena arrived home. Her ceaseless anxiety had actually been right, and she spent the rest of the lunch hour looking for Matt all over the school. Everybody that she'd talked to said they hadn't seen him since that morning, until she'd asked one of his football teammates who said he'd left for an earlier shift at the Grill. By then, she knew she was too late.

Elena stepped into her house, tossing her keys and bag aside as she spotted Damon's shaggy black hair peeking overtop the couch. Damon was reclining comfortably, boots crossed on the coffee table. His head lifted from the couch and turned towards her. Her eyes met his, his gaze stoic, but she could feel the scolding that was simmering beneath his cool facade. She crossed her arms over her torso as she took a step towards him, preparing for his cutting words.

"Well, well, look who it is. The martyr of Mystic Falls." Damon grunted quietly as he got up from the couch and languidly walked over to where Elena was standing, that same triumphant smirk reappearing on his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. She could easily see what he was really masking - anger, fear.

When Elena didn't give into his quip, he continued.

"So, a little birdie told me about your plan."

"What did you do to Matt, Damon?"

Damon feigned surprise, lifting his hands in mock defence. "Hey, I didn't do a single thing. He sang like a canary the second I showed up, all about your little rendezvous with Elijah at the Grill. Guess he knew it's best to cooperate." Damon threw in a smug smile, and Elena resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Alright, I might've threatened to hang him from the rafters by his thumbs. Now - he told me his half, so it's your turn. Spill."

Damon inclined his head to the side pointedly, and Elena groaned in frustration.

"Yes, okay! Bonnie found a grimoire where Klaus' ritual was mentioned."

Damon gestured impatiently. “And this grimoire said…?”

“We had to… sleep together.” Elena murmured.

“Oh! The grimoire told you to sleep with Elijah. I see." Damon clicked his tongue against his teeth. "Was it by chance co-written by him four centuries ago?”

“You’re being ridiculous.” 

“And I had to find out from Donovan! Thank god he didn’t get one more football to the cranium and he was able to string the sentence together.” 

“Damon-“

His eyes fixed on her in a flash of blue.

“I said not to do anything stupid, Elena. This redefines the word stupid. What were you thinking?”

“That I had an opportunity, and I took it! I appreciate everything you and Stefan are doing to protect me but ultimately, it’s my choice.”

“Ah, yes. Speaking of Stefan,” Damon’s eyes narrowed, and his usual facade of a smirk grew on his lips. “My equally martyred younger brother. How do you think he’ll take it?”

Elena's eyes fell, and she shrugged a shoulder at the question. She could tell her deception bothered him too, but this was how he always deflected. Pushing the hurt and pain on someone else. She didn't want to think about Stefan.  

“That…” She trailed off, uncertainty clear in her voice. The question was more complicated than Damon could’ve ever guessed; he had no idea that the attraction she’d felt to Elijah that night was the real thing she’d have to face one day. That that was what she was truly afraid would come out.

“That I did it for the greater good. To save everybody I love, especially him. He’s done questionable things to protect me too.”

“Not sure any of them included jumping into bed with a Mikaelson, but I suppose the twenties were a bit of a blur for him.” 

“Just-" Elena took a step towards him, feeling the fear begin to rise inside of her. "Promise me you won’t do anything to Elijah. At least until we find out if it worked.”

The one assurance she had was that Damon knew nothing of the second part of the failsafe; nobody knew except her and Bonnie. It felt wrong to keep it hidden, but it felt like an intimate secret she wanted to hold onto a little longer, regardless of the ritual. As far as Damon was concerned, the damage was done and this was the end of it. There was no reason it couldn't seem like that.

“I'm sorry, I think I missed the part where I agreed to play a part in this plan. I think that usually comes at the beginning."

“It was my plan, Damon. All he did was agree to it - not to mention agree to help us kill Klaus in the process!"

“Yes, I’m sure he was very torn up about his decision when he learned what part he had to play in this little plan of yours. The rose was certainly a gesture of lamentation.” He responded sardonically, rolling his blue eyes at her.

Elena shook her head. “I don’t regret it, Damon.” 

His eyes locked on hers again sharply.

“Let’s find out if it worked first, hm? Then we can talk about regrets.” 

Elena stared up at Damon's face, resisting the urge to tell him what had just occurred to her. I don't care if it works.

・❥・

Elijah texted back a few hours later, explaining that he'd left town to take care of some business, and that he would call her that evening on his way back to Mystic Falls.

Elena tried not to get too in her head about it, but still managed to spend the evening glancing at her phone, even whilst cooking dinner, towelling off after showering, and preparing for bed. His call came at 9:03pm, his name flashing across the screen insistently. She felt her heart skip at the sight of it.

"Hello?" Elena pressed the phone to her ear.

"Hello, Elena." His voice was as soft as satin through the phone, though he sounded a bit distant, and she realized he must've been calling her through his car's bluetooth.

"Thanks for calling me, Elijah." Elena turned over onto her back on her bed, staring up at her ceiling. It felt strange to be chatting so casually with an Original like this, as though she were talking to a high school sweetheart. A small smile appeared on her lips at the thought.

"I must confess, Elena, I would not have expected to speak to you again so soon after our encounter."

Elena cleared her throat quietly. "Actually, that's what I need to talk to you about, Elijah."

There was a pause. She heard the car's engine thrumming over the line, broken by the deep timbre of his voice. "Yes?"

"It turns out that Bonnie and I had overlooked something. The plan will still work-" She added quickly. "It's just that there's... something else to be done."

Elijah's voice was genuinely curious on the other end. "Something else? I had thought I was quite thorough."

Elena felt herself flush at his words.

"You were- I mean, you did-" Elena shook her head, shutting her eyes for a moment as she tried again. She placed her fingers between her brows as she regained her words. "It's just that - that was only part of it. It turns out there's a second component to the whole thing."

She took a small breath into her lungs, hoping he would once more ascertain her meaning before she said it. When he was silent on the other end once more, her voice came through nearly as a whisper.

"Body and blood."

Another pause. Elena swallowed dryly.

"Mm." She heard him murmur on the other end of the line as though he were tasting the very idea of it. "Body and blood. Witches do love their symmetry."

"Yes, symmetry. You drink from me... and I drink from you."

"Bloodsharing?" Came his immediate response as he clarified. "It requires us to bloodshare?"

Elena hesitated at first, uncertain as to his reaction towards the information. "Yes."

But then she heard his low chuckle echo through the phone line. She also heard his turn signal and the click of the steering wheel on the other end.

"What's funny about that?" Elena sat up in the bed, her brows furrowing gently.

"In truth, nothing, but I think perhaps the gravity of the request may be lost on you, Elena, as a human. If the Salvatores have not yet explained it to you, it proves my point indeed."

Elena raised her brows quizzically as she waited for him to continue. He elaborated without prompting.

"Bloodsharing is the most sacred gesture for a vampire, whether between vampire and vampire or vampire and human. More so than sex. It's intentional, and intimate. Symbolic. In truth, it makes perfect sense that the ritual would require it.”

"Oh."

“Though," Came his velvety voice, "I do suppose one intimate act begets another, doesn't it?"

Elena felt herself flush at the insinuation. “You mean… you agree? You haven’t changed your mind?”

Elena's heart began to beat steadily in her chest, and she noticed her palms had become clammy against the soft fabric of her duvet during their call.

Though she knew how she felt about the plan, there was still a purpose to why they'd even begun enacting this failsafe in the first place. Without this last part of the plan, it would all amount to nothing.

The problem was, she couldn't seem to ignore her selfish motives of seeing him again.

His words were soft but came through clearly on the line. “Yes, Elena. It would be my privilege.”

Elena’s blood roared in her ears after that. It was as though she could hear every drop as it flowed through her veins, awakened and begging to be devoured by the Original.

She swallowed thickly, regaining control of her voice.

“How will we do it?”

“Come to my home tonight. We won’t have to worry about prying eyes or relying on others' discretion.”

“You have a home now?”

“I am still in the process of constructing something more permanent, but in the meantime, I’ve taken over a large foreclosure on Covington street. I'm almost back in Mystic Falls, can you be there in thirty minutes?”

Elena nodded, then realized he couldn't see her. "Y-yes. I'll be there."

"I'll be waiting, Elena."

・❥・

Thirty minutes later and a hasty excuse given to Jenna about forgetting homework at Bonnie's, Elena stared up at the large house on Covington. It was stately to say the least, similar to her own home in its build: a two storey with a wrap-around porch, painted a light grey and covered with a black roof. The major difference was the large turret on the side of it jutting into the sky with its matching pointed roof, the sheer size of the house itself, and the seemingly endless freshly tarred driveway where her car was parked. It was nothing short of royal, as befitting an Original.

A large brass knocker hanging on the front door met her as she walked up shaped like a cherub. The one giveaway that the house wasn't his. She lifted the ring of the brass knocker and knocked two times, pulling her jacket closer around her shoulders as a cool breeze wafted by.

After a few moments, the door opened slowly, and Elena couldn't help but smile at the sight of Elijah in front of her, dressed in a black suit jacket that was buttoned at his waist, a grey button down dress shirt and black trousers with a black belt with a silver buckle. She saw a smile flicker across his lips in turn, and the warmth in his eyes at seeing her. He stepped to the side, gesturing into the warmly lit house.

"Elena. Always a pleasure. Come in."

She couldn't help but wonder about the intentional irony of his word choice considering it seemed the latest of their run-ins involved pleasure, and once she stepped inside, it was a difficult thought to shake.

Anticipation thrummed in her veins. Snippets of what was to come - or what she realized she'd hoped to come, flickered in her mind. Brief glimpses of desperate fingers embedded in hair, hot kisses and the redness of their blood as it swam together in twin crimson rivulets along sweaty skin.

She tried to hide her flush so as not to betray exactly how explicit they were, but her blood seemingly wanted nothing more than to be devoured by the vampire in front of her. It suddenly didn't feel like a sacrifice to do this. It felt indulgent.

"Allow me." Elijah appeared behind her and gently pulled her jacket from her shoulders. Elena relaxed her shoulders and allowed it to fall off her frame. He carefully hung it on a nearby hook which was notably empty. Vampires didn't really feel the cold.

"Would you like to sit?" Elijah asked, extending a gallant arm as he walked through the foyer towards the living room. Elena swallowed.

"Here?" Elena realized how forward the question sounded the second it left her mouth. "I mean-"

Elijah chuckled softly. "What about a drink?"

"Yes, let's do that."

Elijah went ahead and uncorked a bottle of red (again, claiming he meant no such innuendo), and poured a generous amount for both of them in the kitchen. Elena delicately picked hers up by the stem of the glass and tipped the wine into her mouth, savouring the dryness of it. Elijah watched her drink, enjoying the way the ruby liquid disappeared between her pink lips.

"I saw the photo you sent of the grimoire. Tell me, how did the Bennett witch overlook such a detail?"

Elena ran her tongue along her bottom lip as she rolled the wine in her glass gently. "Bonnie was the one who realized she missed something; the ink had bled and faded so much, it was easy to not see it."

"And you decided to finish what you started."

"Well, I think you have a part to play in this as well." Elena teased. Elijah laughed softly.

"I suppose I do."

After they drank the first pours, chatting lightly around the marble island, he refilled his glass and hers and went into the living room. Two small lamps were lit but their lights were soft and warm, and easily gave way to the darkness in the room. In fact, the darkness seemed to overtake everything that night.

"Shall we?"

Elena followed, lingering awkwardly with her glass as Elijah sat down on the armchair, using one hand to unbutton his jacket with ease. He looked up at her as he smoothly pushed aside the right side of his jacket.

Elijah's hand tapped his thigh lightly. Elena raised a brow.

"Come now, Elena. Surely you've done worse with me." A small smile appeared on Elijah's lips.

Biting her lip shyly, she took another drink of her wine before setting it on the table nearby, then closed the distance between them. Elena perched herself onto Elijah's thigh, silently marvelling at how steady and hard the muscles felt beneath her. Elijah experimentally lifted one of his hands to brush her hair away from her neck, exposing the gentle column of her throat. Her skin was illuminated from the moonlight that shined through the windows above.

The gravity of what was to happen next seemed to settle over her, sobering her as she turned her head to meet his eyes.

"Will it hurt?" She heard herself ask quietly. His fingers trailed through the length of her hair gently.

"No more than our night together."

Elena nodded, angling her head once more as he'd positioned her, at the most vulnerable angle. She wondered if he could see her pulse beneath her skin, or if he could feel the way her breath seemed to catch every time he touched her hair.

Elijah hummed under his breath as he took in the sight of her, then flicked his wrist to pull up the sleeve of his shirt to expose the strong width of his forearm. He brought his wrist to his mouth, and within a single moment, his vampiric features came to life before her eyes.

His teeth tore into the delicate skin of his wrist, shredding through the blue and purple veins marbling beneath. Bright red blood instantly pooled in the wound, staining his lips as he pulled away. Wordlessly, he offered his wrist to her, and Elena tentatively reached forward for it, staring at the gash in his otherwise unmarred skin. Heavy drops of blood slowly dripped from it. There were only a few moments left before the wound closed.

She drank from Stefan before, and she'd even drank from Damon before - though that time was less than intentional on her end - but not from an Original. She wondered if it would taste differently, if it would feel differently swimming in her veins. She thought about the impurity that the grimoire spoke of, if she would feel once she had become 'fully' corrupted. All she knew was that she desperately wanted to find out.

Elena placed her mouth against the gash, the coppery blood instantly filling her mouth, coating her teeth. It was metallic and warm against her tongue, but there was something else in the taste of it. Something addictive. Elena pressed Elijah's wrist intently against her lips, each swallow deeper and longer than the last.

Elijah watched as she drank for a moment or two, and once he was sure she was handling it well, he took it as a sign to proceed. With gentle hands, he brushed the hair that had fallen over her neck back once more, and leaned his head down, his fangs bared. Elena felt a chill invade her skin.

The very tip of his fangs traced against her olive skin for barely a moment before they sank in smoothly. Elena shuddered at the feeling against his wrist, allowing a quiet wince to pass through her lips as the sharpness of his teeth broke through her skin. Blood filled Elijah's mouth, but he controlled the flow easily, expertly, so as not to drink faster from her than she was from him.

The moment their blood was shared, she saw it happening. Like ink on paper, every crimson drop stained another part of her soul. Like the way fire consumed the forest, she felt the edges of her soul singe. Each swallow marred her irreparably.

The flow of his blood in her, and hers in his... It was what was missing all along. She knew now what Elijah had been describing before. Intimate, symbolic. A perfectly symbiotic relationship, joined together in perpetuity. As Elena found herself selfishly enjoying the moment, not a single thought was spared for Klaus, the ritual, or why they were doing this.

A moan escaped her lips as he adjusted his bite, greedily sinking deeper in as he relished in the feeling of her pure blood on his tongue.

Desire began to pool between her thighs as his hand skimmed over her waist, then lifted itself to press against her neck, pulling her closer against his mouth. Elena released another groan as she felt his hand on her, moving her to position her exactly how he pleased. The feeling of him pulling her blood from her body was nothing short of bliss, bordering on a high as she felt the vampire blood instantaneously healing her at the same time. Elena swallowed another mouthful of his addicting blood.

Elijah's hand left her neck and slowly slipped down the length of her body until it met the warmth between her thighs. Elena's legs slowly parted as his emboldened hand reached for her core, his fingers gently pressing against the material of her jeans. He knew exactly when to keep his touch featherlight, at times so discreet she could barely feel it, and when to press the pads of his fingers against her warmth insistently. With his fangs still buried in her neck, Elena was kept in place, unable to squirm under his touch as she might've before.

Elijah's hand disappeared from between her thighs and moments later, she felt his fangs begin to dislodge from her neck. She gasped at the feeling, her head instantly lifting from his wrist, the blood connection between them severed as the wound began to close in front of her eyes. Elijah gripped her waist to reposition her so that she was straddling his hips, her core now pressed against the bulge that had formed in his trousers. Elena hummed quietly in her throat the the feeling, then instinctively lifted her hand to touch the bite marks on her neck.

His hand clasped her wrist, stopping her, and instead, he pulled her down towards him to press his tongue against the length of her throat, licking the dripping beads of crimson that stained her neck.

Elena groaned at the feeling, her fingers pressing into his neck as she allowed him to guide her hips downwards in the process, fitting against his hips more perfectly.

She felt his fangs trace over the healed skin once more, as much of a promise as it was a threat.

"I left no mark behind. Though I wish I could."

Elena pushed herself up using the arms of the chair, delighting in the friction it caused as her pelvis brushed against his. Her skin was flushed with desire, her eyes dark and wanting as she stared down at him. Though he was seemingly as collected as ever, she knew he wanted her just as badly. His pupils were dilated, his breathing became deeper as she moved atop him. Plus, there was...

Elena crossed her arms and pulled her shirt up over her head, leaving her only clad in her bra. Elijah's eyes raked over her body appreciatively, and Elena, emboldened under his gaze, rolled her hips against his. Elijah growled quietly beneath his breath.

"I want you to." She challenged. "Mark me where no one can see."

"Elena." Elijah's voice was low, a warning. "Are you quite certain you know what you're asking for?"

"Yes. For once." She admitted with a small smirk. Elijah chuckled in response, sitting up abruptly to capture her lips with his. Elena met his lips with equal force.

Any lingering uncertainty between them was gone. Even the delicacy with which he handled her seemed to burn away with each desperate touch. For every time Elijah's hands gripped her body, Elena's returned the favour, and their touches growing desperate and rough as they quickly rid each other of their clothes, tearing seams in the process. Elijah made good on his promise, intent on leaving love bites on every new inch of skin that Elena unveiled. Where he could not bite or kiss in the moment, his fingers left behind imprints on her skin, ones that Elena knew she would feel even days later. She revelled in in it; the thought that only they would know what lingered beneath her clothes.

Once they were both unclothed, Elijah stayed sitting in the armchair and Elena was on her feet. He stared up at her in wonder, admiring the curves of her perfect breasts and the swell of her hips and thighs. A gestured perfectly mirrored, he lightly pat the skin of his thigh once more. Elena smirked and moved to straddle him, sitting atop his hips once more.

"You're a vision, Elena. I can't decide if I like the sight of you on top of me or underneath me more."

"I know which one I like best." Elena returned.

Elijah raised a brow. "Oh? Then we'll see if you can't earn it."

Elena moved to position him towards her entrance, but he pushed her hand away, and instead pressed two fingers against her slick entrance, his thumb ghosting delicately over her clit. Elena instantly felt her strength leave her as pleasure cascaded over her body, her nerve endings immediately catching fire at the heat of his touch.

"You're already so wet for me, darling. Did you like me drinking from you that much?"

Elena nodded, her eyes fluttering closed as she gripped the arms of the armchair. She swallowed thickly as one of his fingers slipped inside of her with ease, the wetness beginning to collect between her thighs, and threatening to drip down onto his skin underneath her. His eyes glanced down, seemingly amused at how wet she'd become.

"Answer me, Elena." Elijah's finger pressed against her clit, slowly, teasingly rubbing it in circles. Elena's breath hitched in her throat as she lowered her head to meet his eyes. She loved how powerful he looked beneath her, his muscled chest on display for her, the broad expanse of his frame and the strength of his forearm as it flexed between her thighs.

"Yes, Elijah, I loved it," She whined quietly as a second finger slipped inside, and she felt herself stretch to accommodate the digit.

"How much?" He asked tauntingly, as though he didn't have the damn answer literally in the palm of his hand.

"I thought about you all day. I wanted to know what your fangs- ah!" Elijah's fingers curled inside of her, rubbing against that sweet spot deep inside of her. Her brow furrowed as she tried to remember her train of thought, and simultaneously tried to ignore how smug he looked in that moment.

"-What your fangs would feel like inside of me. What your blood would feel like inside of me."

Elijah hummed beneath her, seemingly content with the answer. Elena could feel her muscles in her stomach tighten, the pleasure becoming tightly coiled inside of her. She could feel her orgasm coming, and it seemed, so did Elijah as he cruelly pulled his fingers out from inside her. Elena whined at the loss, until she felt him pull her towards him, pressing a kiss to her lips, and his cock rubbing at her entrance.

"You wanted me inside of you, hm?"

Elena felt her thighs squeezing his hips as she silently begged for him. Her eyes were blown out with desire, and his with darkness, as though he wanted nothing more than to devour her wholly.

"In every way." She whispered.

Elijah positioned himself perfectly at her entrance, but it was Elena who took the lead this time. She adjusted her hips and sank down onto his length, both of them groaning in pleasure. Elijah, at the feeling of her so warm and wet, stretching to accommodate his length, and Elena at the feeling of him filling her completely to the very hilt.

Once more, all thoughts of gentleness disappeared as Elena set the pace. Her hips rolled over his, slowly at first, then faster as she rode him, his cock slipping in and out of her as quickly as she could manage.

Her hands gripped his shoulders and neck, her fingers toying with the hair at the nape of his neck as she bounced over his hips, with Elijah bucking his hips upwards in response. She groaned at the feeling of him taking control even beneath her, and half-wondered if she'd earned what she really wanted just yet.

"I know what you want, Elena." Elijah murmured as his hands gripped her hips, sitting up so that his chest was pressed against hers. His head dipped down to press a kiss to her neck, her clavicle, and down to her breasts. She shuddered at the feeling of his lips clasping her nipple, his tongue flicking against it teasingly. His other hand gently cupped her other breast, his thumb and index finger rolling over her other nipple in tandem.

"What is it I want, Elijah?" She asked breathily. In this close position, she was unable to ride him as quickly, but she bucked her hips against his periodically, involuntarily, desperate to feel the friction of his cock inside of her again. Elijah noticed her impatience but kept her in place atop his hips, continuing to kiss and roll her nipples between his fingers, the left, then the right, then the left again.

"You said it yourself, darling, you want to be underneath me. Trapped, writhing, squirming from my cock and my fingers inside of you. Desperately, don't you? Even now, you can't stop yourself."

Elena stopped rolling her hips against his, and he chuckled against her skin. She glanced down to find her sternum and chest littered with pink-purple marks.

"You're nothing if not a man of his word." Elena remarked.

"And it will be my downfall where you're concerned."

Elijah stood from the chair, collecting her in his arms in the process, and moved towards the couch, lying her down delicately. Elena noted the gentleness because it had seemingly been absent tonight; it seemed he couldn't help himself either when it came to her.

He brushed her hair away from her face, pressing another kiss to her lips, then peppering several more down along her throat as his cock slipped back inside of her with ease. Elena moaned at the feeling, his teeth nipping against her skin gently at the same moment. Her legs wrapped around his waist as their bodies met once more, Elijah giving her just what she'd been promised.

Pleasure rocked through from her hips all the way up to the tips of her fingers as his hips set a brutal pace against her, his fingers digging into her waist. Elena's head fell back against the cushions, her back arching as her orgasm threatened to spill itself over once more. Elijah held her in place as best he could, so she was indeed trapped, and could only take the pleasure he gave her.

She looked up in time to see him swipe his fingers along his tongue before reaching between her thighs to where she needed him most. His fingers met her clit and she keened in pleasure, her moans slipping from between her lips involuntarily. "Elijah, please, I'm so close."

Elijah grunted above her, feeling her pussy clench around him as his fingers rubbed against her clit in an equally fast past.

It was getting to be too much - his cock pounding in and out of her, the sight of him coming undone above her, and the feeling of his fingers expertly circling and toying with her clit - she felt her orgasm coming, and quickly.

"Elijah, I can't- I can't, I'm going to cum-" She prayed he'd hear the desperation in her voice, as she knew she wouldn't be able to hold her orgasm back, not even for him.

He leaned down to bite the soft skin of her breast, and Elena yelped in surprise. "Cum for me, Elena. I want you to cum for me like a good girl."

The sharp sear of pain from his bite lingered on her skin as she came. Her pussy and thighs became soaked from her release, as did his as he continued pounding in and out of her, riding her through her orgasm. Elena whined and panted as he hit her g-spot deep inside of her over and over again, his fingers tweaking her clit until it became too much, and she tried to pull away. Mercifully, his hand pulled away, but his hands gripped her body to pull her up towards him.

"Come on, darling. Over the couch for me."

Elena's body felt shattered and weak from the orgasm still radiating through her nerves, but she acquiesced, with his help. Elijah stood her up, then gently bent her over the armrest of the couch, with her elbows resting against one of the cushions. Greedy to feel him inside of her once more, she wiggled her hips teasingly.

Elijah slid back in, and Elena instinctively pushed her hips back against him at the feeling, panting at the feeling of being so full once more. He wasn't far off either; the feeling of her so soaked on his cock, bent over and so desperate, it was enough to finish him.

He thrust inside of her a few more times, his hips pressing hers harshly against the armrest, and Elena hissing in pleasure at the sting, before he came inside of her. The last few stuttering thrusts of his hips, he leaned over her, covering her back with his chest.

Elena's chest was heavy with pants, and she gingerly collected her arms beneath herself to try and push herself up off the couch as Elijah stood, pulling out from inside her. Elena hummed at the feeling, turning around to lean against the armrest as she collected herself.

Elijah’s chest rose and fell with equal deep breaths, and Elena couldn’t help but be impressed with the state of themselves. Skin streaked with sweat and dried blood, bite marks and finger imprints all over their bodies.

Elena stood from the armrest and collapsed onto the couch. Elijah followed suit, draping his arm over the back of the couch and her shoulders. Elena leaned into his touch, sighing at the feeling.

“Is that really the end of it?” Elena whispered.

“Do you feel any different?” He asked, his fingers tracing through the locks of her hair. “Thoroughly corrupted?” He leaned down to press another kiss to her shoulder. “Fully impure?”

“Whatever I feel, I know I'll feel it even more so in the morning.”

Elena smiled softly as Elijah raised his hand to thread his fingers softly through Elena's hair. His voice was light as a feather when he spoke, though his words reverberated deeply in her chest.

"I wonder how many more rituals we could use as a pretence for us to see each other again."

Elena raised her head from the back of the couch, with Elijah's hand lingering in her hair before it slowly fell away as well. They looked at each other in the dark of the room, their chests rising and falling softly.

"You'll see me around town." Elena murmured quietly, suddenly overtaken with the emotion in his words. She placed a hand over her breasts and pressed her legs together, trying to ignore the slickness between her thighs that lingered.

"You know what I mean." Elijah said quietly.

"How can we truly, Elijah? I-I did this to save my town, my friends' lives, not to mention Ste-" Elena stopped speaking, but Elijah had caught enough. Elena couldn't look him in the eye after that, and stood slowly from the couch, her legs wavering slightly in the process.

She began to collect her clothes from the ground. She pulled on her underwear and bra, while Elijah replaced his own undergarments and trousers, though they remained undone. She didn't see his face fall slightly while she dressed, his eyes growing stoic in the evening.

"I did it to get Stefan back." She repeated softly. "I can't forget that."

"Are you telling me or reminding yourself?" Elijah nodded solemnly when Elena didn't respond. "I suppose that was clear from the start."

"I'm sorry-"

"No, I apologize. For complicating what should've been straightforward."

"Straightforward? Nothing about this is straightforward, Elijah! Look at what we're doing - nullifying an ancient blood ritual by sleeping together. Not even the instructions were straightforward." Elena ran her fingers over the crown of her head as she shook out her shirt, found the right way up, then pulled it over her head.

"I disagree. It is straightforward, Elena, because it's now done with." Elijah said curtly. His eyes glinted like steel in the moonlight, and Elena felt a chill pass through her bones at his tone.

She lifted her head to look him in the eye again after pulling on and buttoning her jeans again. There was a heavy pause in the air before either spoke again. A muscle worked in Elijah's jaw, and Elena's chest felt heavy with everything she didn't have the courage to say.

"Yes, it's done. I guess we'll see if it was worth it, won't we?" She grabbed her jacket from the hook. "Goodnight, Elijah."

She pulled open the door and closed it shut behind her. Her car's lights flickered in the darkness, with the outdoor lights triggering at her movements as she walked each silent step to her car.

She spared a glance towards the house, to the living room window, but he wasn't there. She knew he wouldn't be.

But even as she sat herself into the car and shut the door behind her, she felt him around her. She ignored the way her muscles seemed to resist her putting the car into park, the way her body still ached deliciously from his hands on her, and instead focused on backing the car out of the driveway and into the night.

・❥・

It was still true; she didn't regret it.

Neither the first time nor the second time. Not the bloodsharing either. What she regretted was everything that came after that.

Elena sat cross-legged on her bed staring down at her diary. The blank pages stared back at her, mocking her. It wasn't any easier to write what she would've wanted to say to Elijah rather than telling him last night. There was no simple way to put how she felt, nor how torn about it she felt.

Her phone buzzed on the bed next to her leg.

“Hello?”

"Elena, where are you?" Bonnie's hurried voice sounded on the other line. A crease immediately appeared between Elena's thin brows.

"I'm at home, why? What's going on?"

"I just ran into Caroline at the Grill, she asked me what was going on with you lately, and she wore me down. I told her, I'm sorry-"

"Bonnie, it's okay. Caroline was bound to find out anyway."

"No, Elena, listen. I told Caroline everything, about the first part of the grimoire's instructions and the second part - the bloodsharing." Bonnie's voice lowered to a whisper, and Elena could hear the din of the Grill behind her, but she felt the panic in her voice. "He was drinking at the bar, I-I didn't see him there."

"Who, Bonnie?"

"Damon! He's going after Elijah!"

Elena's blood ran cold. Elijah was a patient man but even he had his limits. After what she said to him that evening, there was a chance he wouldn't feel so forgiving. Elena jolted out of bed and quickly reached for her jeans and a jacket, transferring her phone to her shoulder, pinned by her cheek, as she quickly changed her clothes.

"I'm heading over there right now."

Elena snapped the phone shut and grabbed her car keys, taking the stairs down two at a time as she bounded out of the house, nearly slamming the door behind her.

The drive to the foreclosure on Covington felt as much like an eternity as it did a blink. Her thoughts swam with panic and fear, and a hard pit of dread in her stomach. Damon had warned her. He would find out in the end. She naively thought she could get away with only telling him half the story. Even Elijah had warned her. The bloodsharing was the final straw, and she knew it.

Elena's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the night, but it wasn't long before she spotted the first glint of the outdoor lights leading up Elijah's driveway. There was Damon's car, parked proudly among them.

Elena quickly pulled into park, then hopped out of the car and jogged her way up to the front door. There was no need to knock, as the door had been left ajar, and she could hear the two men's voices echoing inside.

"Are you certain you've thought this through?" Elijah's voice was the first she heard - dignified, curt, powerful. "Though I suppose the Salvatores are know for being impulsive."

Damon's voice came second - sardonic, smooth and blunt. "Don't play coy, it doesn't suit a man of your advanced age. I asked you a question." He repeated it slowly, patronizing the Original. "What. did. you do. to. Elena?"

There was a pause, and as Elena placed her hand on the door, she heard Elijah's response.

"Nothing she didn't ask of me."

By the time she pushed the door open, she saw the two figures collide, and she screamed at the fray.

"Stop!"

Damon swung recklessly and missed, with Elijah's hand immediately wrapping around Damon's throat, and effectively throwing his body across the room as though he weighed nothing. Elena winced as his body crashed into the china cabinet, the glass doors shattering into a thousand pieces. The glittering fragments seemed to hang in the air like tiny icicles.

Elijah's eyes met hers, and she could see the displeasure in his eyes at this debacle. Though he took no great pride in hurting someone she cared for, she'd also hurt him more than she thought she had the power to. Elena's eyes snapped back towards Damon as she heard him grunt in pain.

"Damon!"

Elena's sneakers crushed the glass beneath her feet as she stepped towards the younger vampire, but he waved away her help. Some shards were embedded in clothes, the smaller ones having pricked tiny trails of blood on his pale skin. The finer dust coated his hair.

"Don't, Elena." Damon coughed from the impact. "This is between me and him."

"No, Damon, it's between me and him!" Elena insisted, raising her hands to try and stop the man from regaining his feet. She wasn't certain how far Damon was willing to go, nor how much Elijah wanted to destroy his new home.

The glass continued to crunch under Damon's body as he pushed himself from the floor, blood trickling and smearing on the floor as he stood. The cuts had already healed, but the mess remained.

"You have zero idea what he's done to you, Elena." Damon bit through his teeth, his eyes flickering hatefully towards Elijah.

"You're the one who has no regard for her knowing her own mind, Damon."

Elena glanced over her shoulder at Elijah who stood coolly in the midst of the disarray. His eyes stayed focused on Damon, ascertaining whether the Salvatore meant to attack again.

"Oh, spare me with what you think you know of her."

"Damon, please, just stop."

"He took advantage of you, Elena. Don't you think it's an awful coincidental that a grimoire turns up out of the blue with very specific instructions just weeks after he blows into town?"

"You must hold a high opinion of my influence, Damon. I don't know where the grimoire came from nor who wrote it, but the idea that I planted it centuries ago is absurd even for you. All I did was help her. Perhaps that's what's making you so angry. The fact that you couldn't."

"I'll help her right now by running you out of town. Then you can personally go tell your psychotic brother to go to hell."

Elijah chucked softly. "After all the trouble I went through?"

"Elijah- Damon!"

Damon's form blinked in front of her eyes as he shot towards Elijah. He managed a hit to Elijah's jaw, but the Original quickly recovered, landing a solid blow to Damon's abdomen. He folded in half, grunting at the pain, but managed to stay on his feet. Elijah sighed in annoyance at his perseverance, placing his fingers to his jaw where Damon's fist had landed. Elena stood firmly between the two before either could move again.

"Damon, listen to me! I know exactly what I did. I told you before, I don't regret it, and you can regret it for me all you want, but it won't change anything!"

Damon's eyes finally fell from Elijah to Elena, and she gripped the material of his leather jacket if at least to get him to focus.

"I know you don't want to hear it, but he's right. You're angry with me because it couldn't be you... and it couldn't have been Stefan. It had to be him. This wouldn't have worked without him."

After centuries of perfecting it, Damon's true feelings were nearly impossible to read on his face, but with the misunderstood connection that she and Damon had always shared, she saw the hurt roil in his blue eyes as easily as the ocean waves in a storm.

"The only reason he's still breathing is because he might have saved your life." Damon's eyes flickered back up to Elijah, and Elena saw the hate seethe. Elijah was right; was it truly jealousy?

Elena released her grip on Damon's jacket, ignoring the tiny stings from the shards that remained embedded in the leather. Both vampires noticed but pointedly ignored the rising smell of her blood as it smeared on her fingertips.

"Then let it be enough, Damon. Let my life be enough - and let me be."

The tension in the room hung thick with anticipation, but with a curt nod from Damon, Elena released a shaky breath of relief. She wasn't naive enough to think that Damon wouldn't try something again, but at least seeing if the failsafe worked was enough to keep the vampires at bay.

"I hope you know what you're doing." Damon murmured quietly, before turning away. The crackling of the glass faded underneath his shoes as he disappeared through the door, and his Camaro rumbled to life before also disappearing into the night.

"You fight your battles valiantly." Elijah mused. "And with compassion."

"Someone once told me it's a gift of mine."

"That person sounds very wise."

"He is."

Elena shifted her weight from one foot to the other, pushing her hair over the crown of head.

"I tried not to get Damon involved. I knew he would do something like this."

"The Salvatores care for you, Elena. I cannot fault them for it, however recklessly they show it. Nor can anybody fault you for your good intentions. Remember that."

Elena frowned. "My good intentions?"

Elijah gave a soft smile, but Elena could see the reservation in his face. "Good night, Elena."

・❥・

Elena turned over Elijah's words like a ragged rock being smoothed into a precious gem. She knew from the beginning what her intended intentions were, as he did he. It was somewhere in the middle when things started to get cloudy, to the point where sometimes it felt like she could no longer clearly point to her destination. Elijah was the dark cloud, the sudden twist that obfuscated everything she'd planned in a thrilling darkness. The way every part of her wanted him, craved him... she'd never felt it before.

I did it for Stefan.

The guilt seared through her heart like a thunderbolt as her own words came back to her. Elijah couldn't fault her good intentions, but she could. She knew the pain came from the knowledge that she'd somehow lost her good intentions along the way. Of course she was happy in knowing that the failsafe could save Stefan's life - and all of their lives, it was why she agreed to the ridiculous plan in the first place. But... what if she dared to want more? Elijah was a discovery she could not hope to forget, and an experience she never could.

Are you telling me or reminding yourself?

・❥・

The week finished, and Saturday came and went. She did not hear from Elijah. It was late, or early Sunday morning, days after her 'encounter' with him, and she'd been lying around in bed, pondering the state of her soul. Caroline had finally gotten the full picture explained to her, and Bonnie reviewed the grimoire for a third time to ensure no other details were missed. For all intents and purposes, the failsafe was fulfilled, and she could rest peacefully. So why is it that peace evaded her?

Elena sighed quietly, glancing over at her nightstand to read the clock. 10:17pm. Perhaps she’d feel better after a hot shower. She pulled her body from the warmth of the bed and walked towards her en suite bathroom, turning on the shower to allow it to warm up. As she turned back and headed towards her room to grab fresh pajamas, she heard the buzzing of her phone on the dresser.

She reached for it slowly, half-expecting to see Bonnie's or Caroline's name. Instead, Unknown Caller flashed across the screen. Her brow furrowed slightly as she swiped to accept the call, and put the phone up to her ear.

"Hello?"

No one answered, except for the crackle of the line on the other end. She took in a deep breath, pressing the phone tighter to her cheek.

"Stefan?" The silence answered her, and hope flooded her chest. "Stefan, if this is you... you'll be okay. I promise."

She lingered on the call, feeling his quiet presence through the phone. Her teeth caught her bottom lip gently. Perhaps this was her chance.

"I just hope you can forgive me."

The line started to crackle more then, and perhaps she wanted to hear it above anything else, but she could have sworn she heard a very gentle, very low word.

"Always."

・❥・

Elena drove to the foreclosure on Covington that night. Her heart at once unburdened and hopeful, she felt elated at the thought of seeing Elijah again. After all the second-guessing and guilt and uncertainty, she had never felt more confident than when she 'heard' Stefan on the other line that night. He would always have her love, and her his... perhaps that would be her redemption.

As she pulled up the lengthy driveway for the third time, her nervousness began to take over instead. With fumbling fingers, she pulled the key out of the car and pushed them into her pocket as she stepped back up to the house. The door was closed this time, and she gave a quiet knock.

It was late, and the neighbourhood silent. Elena swallowed, digging her fingernails in her palm as Elijah appeared in the doorway.

Still clad in the same clothes, Elena couldn't help but notice the grey shirt remained unbuttoned at his throat and his silver belt missing from his trousers. She thought of him unbuckling it just hours before...

He genuinely looked surprised to see her.

"Elena. What brings you here? Is there a tertiary component to the failsafe?" Elijah's smooth voice murmured with a touch of irony. Elena couldn't help but choke out a small laugh at his unexpected humour.

"I'm not sure there are any other ways you could corrupt me, Elijah."

"I'm sure I could think of a few."

Her breath caught in her throat before she could respond, and he gallantly moved aside to invite her inside, seemingly satisfied with having left her speechless. "Come in."

Elena stepped into the warm home, noting the immediate embrace of his cologne. It was delicate but spiced, a heady scent that seemed to overtake her senses. She glanced over to where the glass cabinet shattered, but every shard was meticulously cleaned, and all that was left was an empty space of where it once stood. If she hadn't witnessed it herself, she could never have guessed the damage that had occurred earlier that night.

"You continue to surprise me, Elena, but I cannot dare to guess what brings you here."

"I needed to ask you something." Elena dropped her arms to her side, her eyes clear with childlike hope as she stared up at him. "Do you believe in it? The corruption of a soul?"

A muscle worked in Elijah's jaw, and he nodded slowly. His hands slipped into the pockets of his trousers, a gesture almost too casual for him. She wondered if he was having as much trouble keeping his hands to himself as she was.

"In a sense. I believe anything can be corrupted. But after so many centuries, I am not sure how much I believe in redemption."

"I think I did become corrupted that night, in every possible manner, and I can only hope to be forgiven. But what if I'm just fooling myself into thinking I will be?"

Elijah nodded soberly.

"I told you I cannot fault you for your good intentions, and it's because I myself never had any. I agreed to help you dismantle a ritual to weaken and ultimately kill my brother, and in doing so, I destroyed your virtue and your soul. One cannot argue the faultlessness of my intentions simple because it is not possible. In any of them."

"There was more than one?" Elena stepped forward in the foyer.

Elijah's jaw lifted slightly, and his eyes glinted in the light as they regarded her. "There was. I wanted you."

She'd known that, but to hear it... She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. Elijah dropped his head fully, stepping back further into the house towards the living room. Like a moth to a flame, she followed him, refusing to glance towards the chair where they had been together earlier.

He continued, his voice soft as satin, but his words full of fire.

"The worst of it is how much I relished in it. I devoured every innocent piece of you, Elena, and I would gladly do it again." He half leaned against the arm of the armchair, his body long and lean as he reclined. His arms strained the fabric of the shirt slightly, the pose accentuating the slope of his strong shoulders. Elena's eyes drank him in as he spoke, the pool of desire her lower belly growing with every word.

"Perhaps my one vindication for redemption was the fact that, for a moment, I was torn when you asked for my help. I could not bear to think of the moments Niklaus and I had as brothers. As humans, as vampires. For all his faults, he is still my brother, and we have been through a thousand lifetimes together. But that kind of power cannot exist in one man, but I did not yet know what I could do to stop him. Then you were there in front of me, innocence personified. Untouched and wanting. Naked like a vision, and I wanted so badly to ruin you."

Elena could barely breathe. Elijah seemed to notice, watching her with amusement in his eyes. She wondered if he could read how badly she wanted to relive those moments.

"So, Elena, do you think I could be forgiven?"

Elena thought for a moment, but no other answer truly came to mind. He was the most noble man she knew, her soul never truly felt forfeited in his arms.

“Yes.”

Elijah chuckled lowly. “You may be the first to think so.”

His expression sobered slightly, and he stood from the armchair to close the distance between them. Elena gasped quietly as his hands came upon her cheeks softly, and he lifted her face to look into her eyes. She saw nothing but desire and tenderness in the depths of them. Passion.

Elena placed her hands atop his, curling her fingers around his.

"I want you, Elijah. I've tried to guilt everything inside of me to cooperate, but I realized it doesn't work like that. I can't hate myself into loving Stefan the way I used to any more than I can forget the way I feel about you."

"There's love for you, Elena, never doubt that. From all those around you, including Stefan, I know. I am merely offering you mine among them.”

She thought back to that day in the Mystic Grill, when she stood from the table, ready to bolt from the restaurant, when he caught her hand gently and with warmth flooding from his eyes and his lips, he gave her his word. She knew all along.

“I will never doubt any of it again, Elijah.”

Elijah's eyes searched hers, teasing out every vulnerability he could. She felt herself opening up to him in his arms, the strength of them as they wrapped around her body.

Elena's hands skimmed over his chest, feeling the soft fabric of the suit jacket he wore. Her fingers gently touched the lapels of the coat, her knuckles bending into the fabric to lightly pull him closer.

"Nor I. For with my blood, I vowed."

She felt the certainty of his words, as certain as she was that her heart would keep pumping his blood within her veins. As each drop flowed through her, the solemness of his promise spread through each and every vein. She pressed her lips to his in a deep kiss, savouring the feeling of his body against hers. She felt the flames of desire stoking in her stomach as his hands slid over her hips and back.

"As did I."

Never before had she been so sure.

・❥・

Fin.

@umaficwriter @piscesbae7 @n0t-vzin1s @ashesandbone @iceplanetbarbarianwhore

[5lut4ghouls]

Vampire!Adler hcs

❀ He reminds me of elijah from tvd

❀ The way he looks so perfect while killing ppl

❀ Id let him tear my throat out tbh

❀ He’s the kinda vamp that no one knows is a vamp

❀ And then he’ll threaten to tear someone's throat out and everyone is like ???

❀ It's not like its a secret, he just doesnt bring it up

❀ He probably doesn't flash fang much, doesn't feel the need to remind people of what hes capable of

❀ When he does it's so casual you don't even question it until a few hours later

❀ “Did he have fangs???” While lying awake at 3am

❀ No one ever sees him feed, never in the field, and no one ever sees any evidence of blood bags

❀ He just puts blood from a bag into a coffee mug or a bottle, but still

❀ He does occasionally drink from a blood bag, never bites into it tho

❀ Oh my god the scene in the originals where klaus has a girl bleed into a wine glass but with adler

❀ he drinks more than the average vamp- mainly just bc of his job

❀ He would probably bite his partner after being with them for at least a year

❀ It’d start off with the with like the wrist (this sparked a whole convo on where would hurt the least, we voted on ankle)

❀ You would have to be the one to ask, he wouldn't ever bring it up otherwise

❀ After you got used to the wrist he would move onto the neck, anywhere else would come after

❀ He doesnt bite hard or take more than he planned on, has a pretty good handle on his cravings

❀ He wouldn't bite frequently, his cravings aren't that bad

[tua-five]

Season 3 Episode 1!!

I am so excited for this season. Especially today's episode.

⚠️⚠️ If you haven't watched any of this season, I'd advise not to read any of my posts in the next 10 days. Get to it! ⚠️⚠️

I am very much so sorry about how long this is. There is a lot to say today. I wish I could've added more gifs, but of course, it limits me to 10.

Let's all be real. We ALL thought the dance off was real. 100%. It's definitely something they would do.

Okay, I'll jump back a bit now. It's a nice touch that they showed Ben being birthed this time. Since the 10-second clip at the end of the last episode, Ben is the biggest anomaly.

And then there's the matter of 16 rather than 43. Which we'll find out why in a couple of episodes. I do wonder, however, if this time, Reginald told the Sparrows about the other 9 powered kids.

Then the next big difference is the Sparrow Academy being introduced as their names and then Aka #1 or etc. It makes me wonder if Grace still named them or if Reginald did it this time.

Also, can we talk about Marcus?? What are his powers? Okay. So, after a quick Google search, he has Superhuman Strength and Enhanced Resilience. But that is the exact same powers as Luther, and somewhere along the way, I believed that that was not possible.

Actually, I want to talk about all of them, so maybe I'll make a separate post for that.

Anyhoo, Ben saying "cute hat Sundance" was really funny.

But Klaus checking to see if everyone could see Ben too was cute, but it was actually sad. He had to make sure they could see him because Klaus didn't believe that he was actually alive. He just thought that Ben was back. That maybe even though (their) Ben is gone, that maybe he came back when they came home.

Luther's love at first sight moment is just like "ugh, again". But it is cute.

I also want to talk about Grace, but that is far too long, and it will veer too far off from today's episode.

Yeah, so the first time around, I definitely thought that the whole footloose scene was real and was definitely gravely disappointed that it wasn't. Luther saying "Protecting our honor, bro" was definitely weird, but I mean... that's the whole show, so.

Speaking of this scene... Jayme's powers.. She has hallucinogenic spit, which first she spits on Diego and then later Five. It is assumed that the spit makes you hallucinate what you desire most, so for Five, it was obviously his "love" Delores. Which then transformed into a human, and of course, he started making out with it. Diego, however, hallucinated a dance off?? I mean, obviously, I could definitely see him wanting that. My point here, though, is that Five acted out his desires/with it. Diego is sweating when he comes out of his delusions, so if it wasn't so bizarre, you could imagine him actually acting it out, running around the house dancing. Although, it didn't actually happen, and he didn't act it out. Because if he did, everyone would be looking at him weird, not only Jayme looking at him. But it's funny to think about him running around dancing to seemingly nothing while the others just watch in astonishment.

Viktor being the one to want to talk it out is so real. He was never one for violence until it was forced out of him. Quite literally.

Also, "Ben-er-ino's" haircut is pretty bad. Klaus wasn't lying.

So much just happened in 3 seconds. Diego calling Christopher a litter box, Diego understanding it?? How?? And him saying his hair is nice and was era appropriate 😭

Even though it's so simple, this will always be one of my favorite lines"

"You're alive, that's great. Or possibly horrible, I'm not really sure yet."

"Is that some kind of weird smack talk?"

"It's more of an existential problem, really, Ben." *Flips hair casually like he's not fighting his supposed to be dead brother.*

Diego is definitely the most unhinged Hargreeves. And that's saying a lot. "Who's your daddy? I'm your daddy! Who's. Your. Daddy?"

There's a lot of great little lines in here, and none of them are appreciated. Like Jayme saying, "Hey short pants... what's up?" In a sing songy voice.

And Marcus and Luther.

"See, bigger isn't always better."

"Is that what you tell your girlfriends?"

Marcus does have a temper tantrum, though. He literally stomps his foot like a little kid on Luther's chest. Makes me want to say "aww, are you a wittle angy? 🥺"

"I'm not your father, young man. Not anymore. Biscuit?" Reggie says it so ominously and then so sweetly, "Biscuit? 🤠"

"I don't know.. I've just never had my ass handed to me like that before. It's like, here you go 🤲 it's your ass 🤲🍑"

I feel bad for Five. Which I've said before, but I'm saying it again. It's always on him. They just got back from being demolished by the Sparrow Academy, and Allison is like, "Shouldn't you know?" Like, no. Not all the time. How is he supposed to know? Yeah, five, it's going to take you more than 20 minutes and a dramatic brain injury to figure things out. Diego is mocking him and how his powers are so hard, and Allison is like, Five, where the hell is the briefcase. Like, how is he supposed to know?? Not everything is his fault.

Grace being infatuated with "God" in the basement will always be weird to me.

Klaus will always be Klaus, though. "I missed you you slutty ol' dame. Absorb her, absorb her into your bosom."

I'd hate to be Patrick, though. Like.. some random lady calls and tells him to tell a Claire that mommy misses her.. and then that random lady breaks into his house. Like um... yikes.

Also, can we talk about the Sparrows running on treadmills and Christopher pretends to, just floating in the air spinning?? What???

Marcus telling Reginald to sit like a dog is crazy though. I do feel bad for him. They've got him hopped up on pills and everything. Even though he turns out to still be manipulative.

"I kissed Sissy goodbye a few hours ago. Give or take 50 years." Viktor 😭 sweetie 😭😭

Viktor went from being sweet and innocent with that little talk with Marcus, to straight-up threatening him. "Because your team is good. Better than mine, maybe. But I don't think you're better than me, Marcus. I ended the world, twice. And you? You're just meat in spandex." Like, dang!! Okay, pop off, I guess.

Also, I love how the siblings make sure Five doesn't feel like a kid even though he looks like one. Or, at least Luther and Diego the most. Luther, on countless occasions, has called Five "old man," and Diego just said, "So sput it out, Boomer!" That was funny, I'll admit.

"So if you ever see your other self—"

"Kill them." Of course, Diego would say this.

"Sleep with them." Klaus???

"😦🫥... Avoid them." Exactly. The only obvious answer??

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I agree, Luther.

"Oh, come on. As if you wouldn't climb Luther-Mountain." No, Klaus. Luther would not do that to himself. That is just crazy.

Lila dropping Stanley on Diego is bizarre, by the way. And claiming he's their son. I can't believe I even believed that. I mean, he's not even the same ethnicity as either of them. Diego was right when he kept saying "alleged son."

I'm really sad that they killed Mr. Pennycrumb in the first episode, though. But at least he made his show from the comics.

It's also sad that Five truly believes that the apocalypse is over. You, my old sir, did not win. Sorry to say.

Gif collection

Okay, I'm going to waste my last 5 gifs on this because it was hilarious, and everyone must relive it again. Moments like these show that they're siblings.

[selmasemlan]

The Queen of New Orleans

Summary: As Elijah tries to make peace across the supernatural community of New Orleans, an important factor joins the game.

Pairing: Marcel Gerard x Luna Salvatore (OFC)

Author note: Yes, I'm back with another part to this fic. I was too excited to not post another.

Warning: nothing just soft fluff

Word count: 703

Series Masterlist

The Queen of New Orleans

The grand hall of the Mikaelson compound was abuzz with tension and anticipation. Supernatural beings from every corner of New Orleans had gathered, summoned by Elijah Mikaelson in a last-ditch effort to broker peace among the warring factions. Witches, vampires, werewolves, and other mystical entities filled the room, their whispered conversations creating a low hum of unease.

Elijah stood at the head of the room, his regal presence commanding attention. Beside him, Klaus Mikaelson lounged with an air of casual disinterest, though his eyes were sharp and watchful. The Mikaelsons knew that this meeting could determine the future of their city.

“Elijah, do you really think this will work?” Klaus asked, his voice a low murmur meant only for his brother’s ears.

“We must try,” Elijah replied evenly. “New Orleans cannot endure eternal conflict. If we are to thrive, we must find a way to coexist.”

Before Klaus could respond, the heavy doors of the hall swung open, and a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned toward the entrance as a woman stepped gracefully into the room. Luna Salvatore, adopted sister to Damon and Stefan Salvatore, and an evolved witch of extraordinary power, had arrived. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her presence seemed to light up the room.

A ripple of excitement and reverence spread through the crowd. Luna was not just another powerful witch; she was seen as the queen of New Orleans, a beacon of hope and a master diplomat who had earned the respect of all supernatural factions.

Marcel Gerard, the charismatic and formidable leader of the vampires, was the first to reach her. He broke through the crowd with a broad smile and enveloped her in a tight embrace, lifting her off her feet. “Luna,” he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy. He kissed her deeply, a display of affection that took a few by surprise. But the rest of New Orleans knew how much this woman ment to the king.

Luna laughed softly, her arms wrapped around Marcel’s neck. “Marcel,” she responded warmly. As he set her down, she turned to greet the other supernatural beings, who approached her with smiles and nods of respect. It was clear that Luna held a special place in their hearts.

Klaus watched the scene unfold with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Eliijah leaned toward him, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. “Who exactly is this woman? I know she’s a Salvatore, but why does she command such devotion?”

Klaus’s gaze remained fixed on Luna as she moved through the crowd, her smile never wavering. “Luna Salvatore,” he began, “was saved by Damon from an abusive stepfather when she was just six years old. She was adopted by the Salvatores and grew up alongside Damon and Stefan. Unlike most witches, Luna’s power has evolved beyond anything we’ve seen—even more potent than Bonnie Bennett’s. She’s become a skilled diplomat and is deeply respected for her honesty and loyalty.”

Elijah nodded, his interest piqued. “And Marcel? How does he fit into her story?”

Klaus’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Interesting. I was unaware Marcel had someone so significant in his life.”

As Luna approached the Mikaelsons, Marcel by her side, she greeted Klaus with a warm smile. “Klaus,” she said, her voice steady and familiar.

Klaus nodded in acknowledgment, offering her a charming smile in return. “Luna.”

She then extended a hand to Elijah. “Elijah, it’s great that you’re organizing this meeting. I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

Elijah took her hand and bowed slightly, his respect evident. “Luna, your presence here is more than welcome. It’s essential.”

Marcel remained close by, his eyes filled with admiration as he glanced at Luna. The crowd’s energy shifted from uncertainty to hope, inspired by Luna’s calm and commanding presence. As the night progressed, discussions began in earnest, with Luna mediating and guiding the conversations. Her influence and Marcel’s unwavering support made the possibility of peace seem not just attainable, but inevitable.

The Mikaelson brothers exchanged a glance, both silently acknowledging that Luna Salvatore, the queen of New Orleans, might just be the key to a new era of harmony in their city.

[wholoveseggs]

hey girl! i was wondering if you could write some angst - maybe like an unrequited love? like the reader is in love with Elijah but is too shy to tell him, and he doesn’t know about her feelings towards him because he’s too focused on Hayley? pretty please 🫶🏻

Crush

18+ ---- {Masterlist} {Tag-List}

You have quite the crush on Rebekah's big brother, and you find yourself lost in the tangled web of unreciprocated feelings, yearning for a love that may never be yours.

♡♡ Thanks for the request @msveronicag, I may have gone a little off topic with this one ♡♡

6.7k words - Warnings: angst, masturbation, smut, corsets, Elijah being a history nerd and using it to flirt, Rebekah being the best (as always)

{Moodboard->}

You were excited to meet Rebekah’s infamous family. You thought Klaus, as notorious as he was, would intrigue you the most. However, the moment you laid eyes on him you knew you were doomed. Elijah. His charming smile, his piercing dark eyes and his strong hands. It took all your self-control not to blush and look away like some schoolgirl.

He was the first person who greeted you, his hand lingered in yours a moment longer than what could be considered polite and it sent butterflies straight into your stomach.

You were so gone, it was almost embarrassing. You couldn't help it, you were sure that anyone else would fall head over heels for him too.

But there was only one small problem: Elijah had eyes for another, Hayley Marshall. You tried not to be bitter, after all, they were just friends. However, you couldn't help but notice the way he looked at her, or the way she leaned into his touch. They way they would sometimes have entire conversations with their eyes. You couldn't stand it.

You had been so sure you had a chance. He had been flirting with you, right? But then you noticed that he was that way will everyone. He would flirt and smile, then gaze at you in a way that just oozed sex appeal.

You were staying in the compound with Rebekah and going to school full time. You enjoyed spending your free time reading, the Mikaelsons had an incredible collection of books and you had read a lot of them.

You were sitting at the table, a large book on medieval history in front of you. You were working on a research paper on romanticism in the middle ages. It was difficult, especially because there wasn't much written about that subject from this time period.

You considered asking Rebekah about it, but you knew it was a sore subject for her, so you decided against it.

You were getting ready to give up and start a new project when Elijah entered the room. You blushed at the sight of him, he was wearing a black T-shirt, and jeans. Looking the most casual you had ever seen him.

He gave you a friendly nod and headed to the bookshelf. He looked through the books for a moment, before taking one from the shelf. He placed it on the table before sitting across from you and beginning to read.

The two of you sat in silence for a while, both of you reading and not making a sound. You were surprised that you weren't more uncomfortable. The only sounds were the occasional page turn and the occasional noise from the city outside.

You got lost in your work again and came across an interesting paragraph about how poetry was used often to court potential partners. You wondered if Elijah had done that back then. He seemed like the kind of guy who would have.

The thought of Elijah reading you poetry made your heart skip a beat. You imagined him leaning in, his breath warm against your ear as he whispered words of affection and lust.

Your eyes glanced up, and your breath hitched when you realized he was staring at you. You flushed, quickly looking back at your work.

He chuckled softly and reached out, tapping the top of your textbook.

"Interesting choice of reading material." He said.

You gave him a small smile, "I'm trying to write a research paper on the Middle Ages." You replied. "About romance and poetry."

"Ah, yes." He said with a smirk, "I remember that time period fondly."

You giggled, "Of course you do. You were probably the biggest player around."

He gave you an odd look, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair. His eyes looked you up and down, and you could see a flash of something indecipherable cross them. You were surprised by how intense his gaze was, and felt your cheeks growing hot, regretting opening your mouth.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked, his tone teasing.

"I... uh..." You stammered, not sure how to respond. "You just seem like the type who'd have his pick of women."

Elijah smirked, his dark eyes meeting yours. "And why would you think that?" He asked, his voice low and dangerous.

You swallowed nervously, and his eyes narrowed slightly. You realized he was toying with you, and that he could hear your heartbeat quickening. You weren't going to let him win.

"I think you know why." You said, your voice surprisingly steady.

Elijah chuckled, his eyes roaming over your body once again. He put his hand on this chin and looked at you thoughtfully. "In the middle ages I was actually quite solitary." He said, a smirk still playing on his lips.

"What was it like back then?" You asked, trying to steer the conversation away from your previous comment.

Elijah's expression softened slightly, and his gaze seemed far away. "It was a different time." He said wistfully.

You couldn't help but stare at him. His eyes were filled with such pain and sadness. You knew he'd experienced terrible things, and that it must've been difficult for him. But somehow he'd managed to survive and maintain his humanity, something that very few vampires could say.

"What was it like to date -sorry- court someone back then? You asked, hoping to get a better understanding of him.

"Women were often married off when they were very young." Elijah said, a grim expression on his face. "They had no say in the matter. But there were ways around it."

He paused, his eyes meeting yours, and a slow smile spread across his lips. "It wasn't easy to be alone with a woman, not even for a moment. If you wanted to seduce her, you had to be creative."

Your face turned a deep shade of crimson, and you were suddenly thankful for the dim lighting. You shifted in your seat uncomfortably, and he chuckled softly, clearly amused by your discomfort.

"What we are doing right now, alone in this room," he said, his voice low and seductive, "it wouldn't be allowed. Not without a chaperone. And if we were discovered, the consequences would be severe."

His eyes flashed with desire, and you found yourself unable to look away.

"What would they do?" You asked, your voice barely a whisper.

"Well," he said, his tone mischievous, "you'd have to marry me, of course."

Your eyes widened in shock, and he laughed loudly, enjoying the reaction he'd gotten from you.

You felt flustered and embarrassed, but also oddly flattered. You couldn't believe he'd actually suggested that, and the thought of it made your heart race.

You wondered if he was joking, but you didn't dare ask. You weren't sure you could handle the answer.

The two of you sat quietly for a moment, before Hayley walked in holding Hope. She gave Elijah a questioning look and he stood, walking over to her. You watched as he placed a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead.

"Can you watch her for a few hours? They need me in the bayou," she asked him, her eyes wide and pleading.

"Of course." He replied, giving her a small smile.

She smiled gratefully, placing a hand on his cheek. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft and affectionate.

Elijah took Hope from Hayley's arms and cradled her gently. Giving her a wide smile and making funny faces, causing her to giggle. You couldn't help but smile. He was so sweet with her.

Hayley looked from you to Elijah, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "See you later." She said, before walking away.

Elijah nodded, his gaze lingering on her a moment before turning back to you. You looked down at your textbook, feeling guilty and jealous all at once.

He walked over to the couch and sat down, Hope still in his arms. You couldn't help but stare at the two of them. Elijah held his niece with such tenderness, and Hope seemed completely content in his arms. He was rocking her back and forth, humming a soft tune under his breath.

You'd never seen anything more beautiful.

Hope's eyes slowly started to droop, and Elijah smiled down at her. He continued to hum and rock her until her eyes finally closed, and she was asleep.

"You are so good with her." You said, unable to hold back the compliment.

He smiled, and his eyes met yours. You felt your heart skip a beat, and you quickly looked away, embarrassed.

You were sure he could hear it.

"Thank you," he said, not taking his eyes off Hope.

You tried to focus on your work, but it was difficult. Your mind kept wandering, and you found yourself glancing over at him more and more.

"I better go put her down, have a nice night." He said, standing up with Hope in his arms and heading towards the nursery.

"You too," you replied, smiling up at him.

Once he was gone, you let out a sigh and sank back into the couch. Your heart was still racing, and you were sure your face was still bright red.

It was the first time the two of you had been alone together. The first time you'd gotten a glimpse of his softer side.

And it made you want him even more.

Over the next few weeks you kept finding yourself alone with him. In the kitchen, in the library, on the balcony. It was getting harder and harder to hide your feelings, and you weren't sure how much longer you could keep it up.

He would ask you questions about your paper, and the two of you would talk for hours. He would listen to your ideas and tell you of his own experiences in the Middle Ages.

You loved how passionate he was about everything. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he enjoyed.

You wondered if he could see how you were falling for him, if he noticed how you blushed whenever he touched you. You were sure he did.

You knew it was foolish, but you couldn't help it. Every time you were around him, you couldn't stop yourself from imagining what it would be like to kiss him, to touch him. To be with him.

But he didn't seem interested, he didn't look at you the way he looked at Hayley.

One night, the two of you were sitting on the balcony, watching the stars. He was telling you a story of how he courted a woman who was to be wed to another, he would compel her betrothed to forget that he was around her.

"I don't miss much about those times, everything smelled terrible and fanaticism ran rampant, but there was something about the secrecy and the scandal that made it all..." He paused, looking for the right word, "exciting."

You chuckled, "I'm sure. But the fact that a lady could be forced to marry a man she didn't want... that sounds horrible."

"It was," Elijah agreed, "but not everyone was unhappy. Some women preferred it."

"Why?" You asked, your brows furrowing.

"Some liked the idea of being taken care of, of not having to make decisions or choices." He shrugged. "Others simply liked the security."

"What do you think?" You asked.

He turned to look at you, his eyes studying your face intently. "I think it was wrong. No woman should be forced into a marriage she doesn't want. No one should have that much power over another person."

You smiled, glad that he held similar opinions to your own. 

"But I do miss the corsets, the anticipation when taking one off, pulling the ribbons and slowly revealing the soft, delicate skin underneath," his eyes met yours, his gaze intense. "It was like unwrapping a gift, a treasure."

You couldn't stop yourself from blushing, his words making your heart race.

He chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He took a sip of his bourbon and leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving yours.

"Do you have enough information for your paper now?" He asked.

You smiled and nodded, "yes, but I don't know how to credit my sources," you chuckled. "I can't tell my professor that I'm writing a paper on the middle ages based on the first hand account of a vampire I know," you grinned.

"Hmmm, yes, I suppose that would be difficult." He said, his tone teasing. "How about you quote a 'unique source' that has a vast knowledge of the subject and a passion for it?"

You laughed, "That might work."

"Good," he said, offering you his hand. "Shall we?"

You looked at him quizzically, "where are we going?"

He smirked, "to the 14th century, of course."

"What?" You said, staring at him in disbelief.

"First hand experience is far more educational than anything written down," he said, taking your hand in his.

"You ready?" He asked, his expression serious.

You bit your lip nervously, unsure of what was about to happen, but you trusted him.

"Ready."

You were immediately plunged into his memories. He was standing in a large stone hall, surrounded by people in period clothing. There was laughter and music, and the scent of roasted meat and wine filled the air.

You watched as Elijah walked through the crowd, smiling and greeting people as he passed. He was dressed in a dark red tunic, and his hair was slicked back into a ponytail. It was an amusing haircut for him, but it was the fashion back then.

You followed him as he made his way towards a woman standing in a corner. She was beautiful, her dark hair was braided into a crown on her head, and she was wearing a yellow gown with red embroidery.

Elijah stood next to her, his hand resting on her arm. She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with longing. A feeling you knew well.

"My Lady," he said, bowing his head.

"Sir," she said, her voice soft and sensual.

"Would you care to dance?" He asked, offering her his hand.

She hesitated, her gaze shifting towards a man who was watching them intently.

"I don't think my husband would approve."

"You worry too much," Elijah said, taking her hand and leading her onto the dance floor.

They began to move together, their bodies swaying in perfect sync. You couldn't tear your eyes away, watching the two of them. They moved with such grace and elegance, it was like watching a dance meant only for the two of them.

A sudden movement caught your eye, and you saw the woman's husband storming towards the couple. His eyes were filled with rage, and his jaw was clenched tightly.

"Elijah," you said, hoping he could hear you.

But he didn't respond, instead he continued to dance with the woman, ignoring her husband's fury. When the husband reached them, Elijah simply grabbed the man and compelled him.

"I'm going to take a walk with your wife, she will be back before the sun comes up."

He let go of the man, who immediately walked away, not saying a word. Elijah offered his hand to the woman, and she took it, a small smile playing on her lips.

They walked out of the castle together, and you found yourself following behind. You watched as they strolled through the gardens, their hands entwined. They stopped under a large oak tree, and Elijah pulled her close, kissing her deeply.

You were mesmerized by the scene, your heart aching for the man you had grown to love. You wished it was you in her place. You wished he would kiss you like that.

You heard Elijah's voice, but it wasn't coming from the version in front of you. "I courted her for months, sneaking into her chambers, bringing her flowers and trinkets," he chuckled. "It was rather clandestine and exciting."

"What happened?" You asked, wanting to know the ending.

"She became pregnant with her husband's child." He said, his voice low and full of regret.

Your heart ached for him, and for the woman who had been forced to marry another man. The memory faded and you returned to the present, still holding Elijah's hand.

"I'm sorry," you said, not knowing what else to say.

He smiled, "It's alright, it was a long time ago."

"It's lonely isn't it? Being a vampire?" You asked.

He was quiet for a moment, before answering. "Yes. I think it's why I value my family so much," his gaze shifted to yours, and he gave your hand a gentle squeeze. "And why I treasure our friendship."

"Me too," you said softly, smiling up at him.

You both sat in silence for a while, watching the stars and enjoying each other's company. After a while, Elijah stood, fixing his suit jacket and giving you a smile. "I hope you get an A on your paper."

You grinned, "Thanks for the help, Elijah. Goodnight."

You went to your room, lying awake in the dark. Your thoughts consumed with him, the way he spoke to you, the way he looked at you. The memory he had shared with you, it was so personal, and yet he didn't mind that you were there.

Your mind wandered to the way he was kissing that woman in the garden. His lips pressing against hers, his hands gripping her waist, his body flush against hers. You could see the way her head fell back, her eyes fluttering shut. You could feel the heat between them.

Your skin began to flush, and you felt a warmth between your legs. You had never felt such an intense desire for someone before, but there was no denying it.

You wanted him, you wanted to experience that kind of passion, that kind of intimacy.

Your hand trailed down your body, slowly slipping under the waistband of your panties. Your fingers brushing against your most sensitive spot. You gasped at the sensation, biting your lip as you started to circle your finger slowly.

Your eyes fluttered shut and you pictured him above you, his body pressed against yours as he kissed your neck and shoulders. Your hand moving faster as you imagined what his mouth would feel like on your skin, what it would feel like to have his lips pressed against yours.

You gasped, arching your back as you felt yourself coming undone, his name on your lips as you imagined him touching you.

Your chest was rising and falling rapidly, and you felt the aftershocks of your orgasm ripple through you. It was a satisfying release, but it left you wanting more.

You were determined to have him, to taste him, to feel him inside of you. You were going to make him yours.

You practically skipped into the compound, giddy and excited to share your A+ grade on your paper. Elijah had been so helpful, and you couldn't wait to show him.

You heard voices coming from the courtyard, and you hurried past the gate, hoping to find him. You stopped dead in your tracks when you saw him, his arms wrapped around Hayley.

Her hand was tangled in his hair, and her body was pressed against his. Their eyes were closed, and their lips were locked in a passionate kiss.

You couldn't move. Your heart was shattered. You'd been foolish, thinking you had a chance with him. He was just being nice in his typical flirty way, and you were dumb enough to think it meant more. You'd just been reading into things.

You felt tears sting your eyes, and you quickly walked past them and up to your room. You collapsed onto the bed, your heart broken.

You cried, unable to hold back the pain.

You felt so stupid.

He didn't like you, he was just being friendly. And you'd fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. How could you possibly believe someone like him could ever like someone like you?

You heard a quiet knock at your door and Rebekah walked in, she had heard you crying and came to check on you.

"Hey, are you alright?" She asked, sitting down on the bed beside you.

"I'm fine." You said, your voice hoarse.

"Just crying for fun then?" She said, giving you a knowing look.

You sighed and sat up, wiping the tears from your face. "I'm just being silly," you said, shaking your head.

She sat down next to you and pulled you into a hug, which caused you to cry even more. She rubbed your back, trying to comfort you.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

"No, I just need to get over it." You said, your voice breaking.

"Get over what darling?" Rebekah asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"Elijah." You said, wiping away your tears.

She looked at you, confusion written all over her face.

"I may have a bit of a crush on your brother." You confessed.

She laughed, "Oh is that all? I thought you were going to say something terrible."

"What? You aren't surprised?" You asked, staring at her in disbelief.

"You're not exactly subtle, darling." She chuckled. "Your heart beats faster, making your cheeks flush, whenever he's near. And your eyes light up like Christmas morning whenever he talks to you. It's rather obvious."

You couldn't believe she had noticed all that. Damn vampires and their heightened senses, you were mortified. If Rebekah noticed then Elijah definitely did as well.

You buried your face in your hands, your cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"So why the tears?" Rebekah asked, patting you on the shoulder.

"Because I just saw him kissing Hayley."

Rebekah was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. She put her arm around your shoulders.

"That might not mean anything, they're just friends. They have a complicated history," she explained.

You shook your head, "No, I saw the way he looked at her, the way she kissed him. There's definitely something between them, and it's more than just friendship."

Rebekah sighed and hugged you again."He's an idiot, always been that way around women. Sometimes I think it's more of a blind spot for him than Klaus," she said, her voice soothing.

You chuckled and wiped away your tears.

"He'll come around eventually," she said, smiling softly. "He just needs time to figure it out."

"Figure what out?" You asked, sniffling.

"That you're the perfect girl for him," she said, giving you an affectionate smile.

You smiled back and hugged her, thankful for her support. You felt a little better, and you were glad that she didn't judge you.

"I have an idea, a way for you to make him see what a catch you are," Rebekah said, her eyes glinting.

"Really?" You asked, excited at the prospect.

"Yes and it will be a chance for you to get him alone, away from Hayley," she smirked.

"I don't want to be that girl..," you started, not sure if you should meddle.

"I am," she grinned.

You chuckled, and Rebekah began telling you the plan. You listened intently, feeling better already. You were excited, and nervous.

But mostly excited.

Rebekah's idea was to have a costume party, she loved any excuse to throw one. It also gave you a reason to dress up, to catch Elijah's eye.

You went shopping with Rebekah, she wanted to make sure you got something that would suit your figure. She asked you what sort of theme it should be and you couldn't resist choosing one that you knew well: a medieval theme.

You found a beautiful, off the shoulder, forest green dress, with a tight laced corset that had gold threading, and long, flowing, bell sleeves. It was the perfect combination of modern and historical and it made your tits look fantastic.

Rebekah had gone with a blue version of the same dress, and the two of you were having a blast getting ready. She helped you style your hair for the night and even did your makeup, making sure that your look would draw Elijah's eye.

"Ready?" She asked, as the two of you looked at yourselves in the mirror.

"Yes," you said, trying to mask your nerves.

The two of you made your way down to the courtyard, where the party was in full swing.

Everyone was dressed in costumes from various time periods, and the atmosphere was electric. The music was loud, and people were dancing, laughing, and having a good time.

You saw Hayley and Klaus talking to some guests, and your eyes wandered around the room, looking for Elijah.

He was standing by the bar, his eyes scanning the crowd. He looked incredible, his dark hair perfectly styled, wearing a black velvet suit jacket with a high collar, a blue cravat and a white dress shirt.

Hayley walked up to you and Rebekah, and complimented the both of you on your dresses. She was dressed in a Victorian era gown, complete with a corset and a large bustle.

"So, where's Elijah tonight?" Rebekah asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Oh, he's around here somewhere," Hayley said bitterly, glancing around the room.

You felt a twinge of excitement. She sounded irritated by him. Maybe she wasn't happy in their relationship.

"What's wrong ?" Rebekah asked her, squeezing your hand subtly. You loved how sneaky she could be sometimes.

"It's just," Hayley paused, her eyes narrowing as she thought about her answer. "I don't think he's very interested in a relationship with me, he's been avoiding me all night."

Rebekah and you shared a look, a smirk playing on your lips.

"He's a hard one to read, that's for sure," you said, trying to sound sympathetic.

"I'm sorry to hear that darling, but perhaps its for the best," Rebekah added.

"Maybe, I just thought we were on the same page, I thought we had something," Hayley said, a pout forming on her lips.

You could see the pain in her eyes, and you couldn't help but feel sorry for her. You knew exactly how she felt.

"You're a gorgeous woman, and any man would be lucky to have you," Rebekah said, her voice genuine.

"Thanks," Hayley said, a sad smile on her face. "There is this guy here, his name is Jack, we've been flirting all night and he wants to dance with me," she said, looking over at a tall, handsome man in a knight costume.

"Then go," Rebekah said, smiling at her.

"Yeah, you deserve some fun," you said, trying not to sound too happy that Elijah might be single.

"Alright, I'm gonna do it," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

She walked off, and Rebekah turned to you, her face breaking into a wide grin.

"How unfortunate for Hayley, how fortunate for you," she smirked.

You couldn't help but smile.

"Go, now's your chance, he's all alone." Rebekah said, her eyes scanning the room.

"I'm not going to make a fool of myself," you said, shaking your head.

"You're not going to make a fool of yourself darling, you're going to have a wonderful time," she said, giving you a little shove.

You took a deep breath and headed toward Elijah, your heart racing. He looked very similar to how he dressed in the memory he shared with you, and you felt butterflies in your stomach.

He was standing alone by the bar, his gaze distant. You walked up to him and smiled, trying to ignore the lump in your throat.

"Hey," you said, trying to sound casual. "Nice outfit, all you are missing is the ponytail,” you added, grinning at him.

"Some things are better left in the past," he teased, his eyes wandering over your dress. "You look lovely," he added, a small smile on his face.

"You like the corset?" You asked, biting your lip and giving him a twirl. You always felt so giddy around him, it made you do silly things, like this.

His eyes widened, and a smirk spread across his face. "Yes, it's quite flattering," he said, his gaze lingering on your breasts.

You blushed but maintained your composure, Elijah liked confident women, and you were going to show him what he was missing.

"Does it remind you of the era?" You asked, a flirty tone in your voice.

"No, it's far too revealing for the time period," he smirked.

"Oh, really? You didn't think this was sexy in the middle ages?" You asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I didn't say that," he chuckled.

"Good," you smiled, "I worked hard on this outfit."

He looked at you, his face full of curiosity.

"You are definitely thorough in your research," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"I forgot to tell you I got an A+ on the paper, thank you for your help," you said, smiling brightly.

"It was a purely selfish reason, I wanted an excuse to spend time with you," he said, his words catching you off guard.

"Oh, I," you stammered, not sure how to respond.

"You are always very easy to be around," he said, giving you a gentle smile.

You smiled and nodded, his compliment filling your heart with joy.

"Care to dance?" He asked, offering you his hand.

Your heart raced, and your breath caught in your throat. You nodded, unable to form words. He took your hand and led you to the dance floor, his grip firm and possessive.

You looked up at him, your heart pounding. He was so handsome, and the way he was looking at you made you weak in the knees.

You closed your eyes and let him lead, the feel of his hands on your body making your blood run hot. You couldn't believe this was happening, it felt surreal.

"I have a confession," he said, his voice barely audible above the music.

"What is it?" you asked, looking into his eyes.

"You make me nervous," he stuttered, his words causing your heart to flutter.

You let out a louder laugh than you meant too, then turned bright red and some people glanced at you. You didn't want him to think you were laughing at him, but you couldn't stop.

"Me? Nervous? How do I make you nervous?" You asked, genuinely curious.

He tilted his head in confusion, a wide smile forming on his face.

"I mean, look at you," he said, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair away from your face. "You're breathtaking."

You blushed, not used to receiving such compliments. "You make me nervous too," you confessed, smiling shyly.

"I know," he smirked, causing you to blush deeper.

You gazed up at him, his brown eyes full of warmth and admiration. He truly was an incredible man.

You rested your head against his chest and closed your eyes, letting the music and the feeling of his arms around you wash over you. It felt like the most natural thing in the world, like you were made for each other. Your heart soared, you felt like you were dreaming.

He leaned down and whispered in your ear, "Do you want to go somewhere quieter?"

Your eyes snapped open and your heart raced, his question sending a rush of heat to your core.

He wanted you.

You nodded, unable to form words. He took your hand, a smirk forming on his lips as he led you toward a balcony. You followed him eagerly, your heart hammering in your chest.

The cool air hit your face, and he led you to a secluded area, away from the other party guests. You gazed at him, your desire for him overwhelming.

He placed his hands on your waist and pressed you up against the wall. His lips were mere inches from yours, his eyes burning into you.

His fingers brushed against the side of your face, then he leaned in and kissed you. It was slow and passionate, his lips soft against yours. You let out a quiet moan as you melted into his kiss.

He pulled away and looked at you, his eyes full of desire. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this," he breathed.

"Then why were you kissing Hayley?" You blurted out before you could stop yourself. You felt terrible for even saying it, it made you seem jealous and possessive. You knew it wasn't fair for you to get upset at him, you had no right to. But you couldn't help it.

His eyes widened and a smirk spread across his face. "So you are jealous?"

You blushed and averted your gaze.

"It was a mistake, she caught me by surprise," he explained, his fingers brushing your hair back. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

You nodded and looked up at him. He smiled and kissed you again, this time harder and more passionate.

He broke the kiss and whispered, "I've been drawn to you from the moment I met you."

Your heart soared at his words, your desire for him overwhelming. You wanted to feel his skin against yours, you needed him.

"Do you want to see my room? I have some books to share with you," you asked, knowing neither of you were doing any reading tonight.

He raised an eyebrow, "Lead the way," he said, his eyes twinkling.

Your heart pounded with excitement, and you took his hand in yours, leading him up to your room. You couldn't believe this was happening.

He closed the door behind him and kissed you, leading you backwards towards your bed. The back of your legs hit the edge and you fell down on the bed, your chest rising and falling rapidly. The corset making it difficult to breath, you tried to keep calm as you looked up at him. The reality was better than any fantasy you could ever dream of.

He placed his knee on the bed and leaned down to kiss you, his hands moving over your body, his fingers tugging at the laces of the corset. He did it slowly, each pull causing your breasts to spill out a little more.

He hummed softy, leaning down and kissing your neck and collarbone as your corset fell to the ground. He was so gentle with you, treating you with care, his movements deliberate and confident.

He unlaced the front of your dress, exposing your breasts. He gazed down at you, a look of wonder in his eyes. You couldn't help but blush at his reaction.

"Did you wear this in the hope I would take it off?" He asked, his voice husky.

"Maybe," you blushed.

He chuckled, leaning down and taking one of your breasts into his mouth. You let out a soft moan as he licked and sucked your nipple, his hands kneading your breast. You ran your hands through his hair, pulling him closer, needing more.

He pulled back and smiled down at you, then began to undo his cravat. You watched him eagerly, biting your lip as he pulled it off and began unbuttoning his shirt. You reached out and helped him, your hands brushing against his toned chest.

He smiled and took your hand, pressing his lips to the inside of your wrist. "I've dreamt of this moment for so long," he murmured.

He reached out and pulled your dress up over your head, leaving you in just your panties and stockings. His gaze was filled with desire as he looked down at you.

You felt confident under his gaze, he made you feel beautiful. He leaned down and kissed you again, his fingers running up your thighs, playfully pulling on your stocking and letting it snap back into place. You giggled at his teasing.

He smiled against your lips and tugged your panties off. His eyes raked over your body, his gaze filled with desire.

You reached out and helped him remove the rest of his clothes, your heart racing.

He lowered himself down on the bed beside you and pulled you into his arms, kissing you softly. His hand lifted your thigh around his hips, and he ran his fingers along your thigh and between your legs, a groan escaping his throat at the feel of how wet you were for him. You blushed at his reaction and looked away, feeling shy all of a sudden.

"Are you nervous?" He asked, looking down at you, his gaze tender and warm.

"A little, you're the first vampire I've been with," you admitted.

He chuckled, a wide smile on his face. "I promise I won't bite," he whispered, a hint of humor in his voice.

You couldn't help but giggle.

You ran your hand up and down his chest, then slowly down to his hard length. You took his shaft in your hand and began to stroke him, a low groan escaping his lips.

Your eyes locked, his gaze filled with desire as he watched you pleasure him. You increased the pressure of your strokes, rubbing the tip of him in your hand.

"You feel nice," you whispered, your lips inches from his own.

He smiled and pulled you on top of him, your breasts against his chest as he kissed you deeply, his hands gripping your ass. You grinded on him slowly, the feel of his cock against your pussy making you gasp.

You sat up and slowly sank down onto him, the feel of him inside of you making your breath catch in your throat. He felt so good.

"You're perfect," he whispered as he reached up and ran his fingers through your hair, gently tugging you back down to him, kissing you deeply. You began to rock on top of him, the friction causing you to moan softly. He ran his hands over your back, groaning into your ear as you rode him, taking him deeper.

It was slow, hot and sticky, the two of you getting to know each other's bodies, exploring and teasing. Your orgasm slowly built, your moans becoming more and more intense. You felt his grip on you tighten, his breathing becoming ragged.

Your heart pounded against his as he gazed up at you, a smile on his lips. His hands gripped your hips and he took control, guiding your movements, rocking you back and forth. You gazed into each other's eyes, a silent understanding passing between the two of you. You felt a connection beyond lust or attraction, something deep and beautiful, and you knew he felt it too.

You rocked together, lost in one another, and you let yourself fall apart on top of him. Your body spasming, a long moan escaping your throat as your orgasm crashed into you, your muscles clenching around him.

He gazed up at you, his eyes filled with love and desire. "That's my girl," he whispered.

He gently rolled you on to your side, keeping your bodies connected. His fingers digging into your thigh as he held it against his hip, kissing and nuzzling your neck. He took you slowly, drawing out your pleasure as long as possible. His eyes never left yours, the love you felt for each other in that moment, palpable in the room.

Your fingers tangled into his hair, you tugged his head towards yours as you kissed him. He kissed you back, his movements becoming more frantic, his thrusts deep and rough.

His eyebrows arched upwards, the muscles in his neck and shoulders tensing. Your clung to his shoulders, moaning his name as he found his release deep inside of you. He held you close as he came down, the two of you a tangle of limbs and sweaty bodies.

He kept kissing you, soft and unhurried, his hand stroking your thigh, keeping you connected and still wrapped around him. You both caught your breath as you held each other close, neither wanting the moment to end.

"I've had a crush on you since the first day I saw you," you murmured into his ear, causing him to pull away and smile.

He leaned down and kissed your forehead, "And I, you."

He gently slipped out of you and pulled the sheets over your naked bodies, his arms encircling you in his embrace. You fell asleep in each other's arms, content and happy, dreaming of more nights just like this.

{Moodboard->}

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[chibivesicle]

Trigun directly informs the character designs for Kekkai Sensen/Blood Blockade Battlefront

I’ve been thinking about a fun little meta for awhile about how much of the vibes and character style from Trigun translated over to Kekkai Sensen/Blood Blockade Battlefront.  Taking my brain off of hardcore Trigun for a bit let’s have some fun with Yasuhiro Nightow’s character design and how he likes to recycle and reform them.

The Japanese DVD box set volume 3 shows my three favorite charas in a  Norman Rockwell The Saturday Evening Post parody.  Steven drives a car while Chain snacks and K.K. screams excitedly.

The fact that the animation creative team went in this direction meant they were really having fun with the anime, but let’s dig into how Trigun translated more to Blood Blockade Battlefront.

Characters from Trigun and how they relate to Blood Blockade Battlefront

Vash the Stampede = K. K.

That’s right, our pacifist gunslinger is re imagined as the Bratatat Mom, code name K. K.

The character design has the same red duster jacket with tight black clothing underneath.  K.K. even has some finger less gloves for her ease of operating either her sniper rifle or her handgun.  She can also use two handguns at the same time while fighting.  They are tall and lanky, have blonde hair and both can be bubbly at times to cover up how they are really feeling.  Vash’s unique sunglasses became an eye patch for K. K. and she will also cover her eyes with sunglasses to not attract attention to the right eye as well.  Unlike Vash, K.K. is willing to kill a target if necessary and has the most awesome husband ever and two sons.  I very much like her character and wish she were a more involved member of the B3 cast but by her nature, is a bit more of a loner but seen as quite powerful.  She is critical of the patriarchy and has a real axe to grind with Steven who is closest to her and still different from her; this is due to the fact that they are the two senior members of the team over thirty and made different choices in their personal/private lives.

Meryl Stryfe = Leonardo Watch

The very detail oriented and short fused insurance adjuster Meryl is now Leonardo a budding journalist who by sheer luck joins Libra. Considering that Meryl ended the manga as a reporter it makes sense for this to be Leo’s starting place.

Both characters can be quick to snap out a remark of shock or annoyance, are the shortest adult member of the cast and have short dark hair.  Meryl’s hair was black with a purple undertone and so is Leo’s with more purple.  By B3 Back 2 Back, Leo’s hair picks up a more red tone which eventually translates into the anime adaption.  These characters frequently point out how absurd the events around them are while the rest of the cast calmly accepts things at face value.  Unlike Meryl in the manga, Leo is the reader’s entry point into the city and plays a role very similar to the anime version of her.  Like Vash, Leo is not the type of character to take a life and instead serves as support for the rest of the team early on in his time with Libra.  Both respect life and even though we know that Meryl has shot individuals in the manga and implied to have in the anime, she takes it very seriously and treats it with due respect.

Milly Thompson = Klaus V. Reinherz

The somewhat ditzy, honest and emotionally mature Milly is now seen in the character of Klaus; a true gentleman and total tank of a character.  Klaus towers over Leo, the same way as Milly is considerably taller than Meryl.

Klaus, gives zero fucks what others think about him, has no bias based on gender, species, affiliation, race etc etc.  He’s one of the most genuine characters who could crush opponents and enjoys a fine cup of tea just like Milly.  They both have more casual looks with ties, suspenders/vest and dark pants.  At first, Klaus was a decent character in my opinion but as the anime progressed, he grew on me and grew on me until realizing that I really do like him and his well balanced approach to life.  He enjoys simple pleasures in life like taking the subway, playing chess and/or prosfair and watering all the plants at the Libra main office.  Klaus is always there to accept Leo and encourage him along the way.  He never takes his strength for granted and can’t say no to others.

Also like Milly, Klaus is emotionally mature and works to help others calm down in sticky situations or encourage them when stuck.  He is frequently paired with Leo who greatly respects him and learns from him.  He also does not appear to have a driver’s license meaning he either ends up in the same car as Leo or trying to fit himself on Leo’s small motorbike.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood = Chain Sumeragi

The amazing werewolf of Libra, Chain is the first version of Wolfwood in B3.  Her character design is female Wolfwood other than her black vs tan shoes.

She occasionally has a small firearm, but was a terrible shot to not become an elite assassin and instead wanted to remain in intelligence.  Chain has the some of Wolfwood’s more juvenile pranks or remarks especially when Zapp is involved with her.  Chain is sarcastic, but it is targeted at one individual - Zapp Renfro and only Zapp.  It appears since Zapp and Leo are frequently together along with Zed, she’ll tease Leo a little but does not hurt him when she lands on him or sits on his head, instead only giving out pain to Zapp.  She has a high alcohol tolerance and will help out characters but doesn’t like for them to realize it at the time.  Like when Leo’s wallet got stolen from him in ‘Day In Day Out’ but she sticks it in his shirt collar as opposed to giving it back to him.  Chain is the sort of character who doesn’t want to be recognized and instead hang back and do things quietly.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood = Steven A. Starphase

The names alone show that these two characters are directly related.  Yet, Steven has a real middle name, Alan, as opposed to the D being whatever Yasuhiro Nightow felt it should be when interviewed in the moment.

Early on in the first volume of the manga, Steven also goes without his characteristic yellow tie with a dark blue dress shirt making him look even more like Wolfwood.  They both frequently are shown with a hand or two in their pockets and can be quite charismatic and friendly.  They have foodie tastes and respect well prepared meals.  Both men also have to deal with darker situations which their partner[Vash]/boss [Klaus] would not deal with.  Wolfwood did not hesitate to kill opponents of Vash to prevent further damage while, Steven will make sure that certain problems disappear before they reach the rest of Libra.  One could say they move in the shadows, but Wolfwood is more of a character who deals with things directly, while Steven has the right person or party on speed dial.    Wolfwood worked within the system of the Eye of Michael making him somewhat legit while Steven is the direct contact to the HLPD, FBI, governmental bodies, and likely organizations that straddle grey areas.  The fact that Steven will go through proper channels indicates a greater respect for the rule of law and civil society only moving into shady areas when absolutely necessary.

Therefore, with the basic character design and personalities it is pretty logical that we get certain pairings to generate enjoyable dynamics.

Meryl & Milly - Leo & Klaus.  The small hardworking realist with a quick temper is teamed up with the honest, occasionally ditzy giant.  Neither character looks down on the other and they are able to learn about themselves and others through their interactions.  Without Leo, Klaus would be unable to seal Blood Breeds.  Without Klaus, Leo would not learn to accept his guilt and gain confidence in himself and helping others.  Leo frequently doesn’t see his own strength since it is through his relationships and not physical force like Klaus demonstrates.

The size difference alone is exactly like Meryl and Milly here!  Leo is the one who is more than aware of what Zapp is planning to do quickly as events unfold but Klaus never even realizes that he’d been played by Zapp.  The two have genuine hearts and respect of all life (that isn’t trying to kill them at least).

One color panel for the manga which really captures B3 well and how close Klaus and Leo are is the following.  They are likely relaxing or killing time at the office enjoying the quiet.  Leo and Klaus are playing video games while Sonic watches next to them.  Meanwhile, the Luddite that he is, Steven loosens his tie while reading the daily paper.

Steven isn’t even paying attention to what they are doing. But Sonic is.  It is clear that Leo and Klaus are having fun and building on their relationship with each other.

Vash & Wolfwood = K.K. & Steven.  The two senior members of Libra frequently are teamed up together even though K.K. is annoyed by Steven (likely because he never lets her take time off to be with her family).  Steven frequently tries to play it cool with his calm demeanor while K. K. likes to tease him due to his rather academic approach to things ‘Dr. Steven-sensei’.  Despite their vocal bickering, the two work quite well together.

In Trigun, it is Wolfwood who is annoyed that he’s assigned to deal with Vash.  In B3 it is K. K. who always scoffs at her partner Steven.  It sort of makes sense, Steven with his Esmeralda Blood Freeze is cold and calculating in his actions but frequently must get relatively close to his opponent.

In contrast, K. K. literally shoots electrified bullets and will do support for Steven.  Their tension also likely comes from the fact that K. K. has a ‘typical’ family life with her husband and two sons to protect and take care of.  The opposite is the bachelor life of Steven in his lonely loft apartment with a great kitchen, stylish decor and no actual friends outside of work besides his housekeeper.  However, they are incredibly similar, angry at themselves for enjoying things in a brief instant related to their family or friends which ended poorly.

Wolfwood & Milly = Steven & Klaus

The Trigun anime really makes this a more important aspect of their character than the manga; Wolfwood and Milly work together more than once to help people out of a tight spot, think of the episode ‘Escape from Pain’ or the entire manga battle between Wolfwood and Midvalley when Milly steps in to help Wolfwood out.  However, the partnership between Steven & Klaus is much deeper than Wolfwood & Milly.  Klaus 100% trusts Steven to get all their ducks in a row and to make sure all of the logistics of Libra are working.  At the same time Steven understands the pressure that Klaus puts on himself and tries to lighten his load even if Klaus is oblivious to it.

The two play chess when Steven is first introduced and Klaus listens to Steven’s concerns about having Leo join Libra.

When Leo is kidnapped, it is Steven who immediately is worried about Klaus.

I like how these two characters have such great rapport and trust between each other.  Steven comments on how Klaus made a joke, something he’d likely say with his quick wit and dry sense of humor.

We seen in ‘Bloodline Fever’ that Steven completely trusts that Klaus will arrive on time to seal the Elder Blood Breed that he and K. K. only had to hold for four minutes.  It also shows that K. K. trusts Klaus as she was his escort to meet the Alterworld mafia don and based on her comments, she’s done this many times for Klaus. 

Steven trusts that Klaus can hold out against the one vampire from the missing hospital long enough for Leo to determine his name and result in his sealing.

The fact that the two of them can communicate when all they need is a single quip from Steven in reply to Leo’s answer and demolish an opponent is incredible.

What I find most refreshing about their relationship is that Steven, the older individual does not mind to be the second in command.  He’s a social enough person with ample skills to network and manage people effectively and does have more experience in the matter.  However, he also knows that he is not the right leader for Libra and finds purpose in his role on the team.  Klaus is too likely to be led on or lied to by others and Steven is streetwise enough to avoid or to use those people for their own benefit.  Klaus is the all to trusting Dad while Steven is the Mom making sure the kids don’t fight at dinner.

I also like the fact that when their main office needed security upgrades, the two of them accidentally invaded, Leo, Zapp (and Zed’s) sacred diner space.

Nothing like finding your bosses in your home away from home Leo!

Honestly, I could go on about this for way longer but I’ll stop it here.  Klaus and Steven are great and I love them.

Wolfwood & Wolfwood = Chain & Zapp? & unrequited crush on Steven

The one character who I have a harder time pairing in a sort of Trigun fashion is Chain Sumeragi.  Even though she is female Wolfwood, the character who she has the most dynamics with is Zapp Renfro.  Which would make her a sort of positive Wolfwood traits meets all negative Wolfwood traits plus manwhore.  Zapp smokes, drinks, gambles and fucks as much as possible.  He has the vices that Wolfwood had (save for the sex) and definitely exists to be a foil with Leo, Zed and well, most of the cast.  Yes, she has a crush on Steven, but the man is absolutely out to lunch on the matter.  In the anime, he’s oblivious to the entire protocol to undilute Chain and how it relates to him.  Then again, if someone screamed and threw a chair at you resulting in injury, it would be hard to call that attraction or affection.  Terrifying would be the most accurate word.  I’ve only read the first two volumes of the manga in English and it is clear that she has eyes for him, but again, he gives off the vibes that work comes first.

Since Zapp hangs out with Leo frequently, Chain ends up in their mischief as well, wanting to help them out but seeming too cool for school.  I don’t know if the anime upped the petty fights between Chain and Zapp more, but it def has that enemies to friends (?) dynamic going on.  I’m curious to see how things unfold in the manga as I read it.

 The fact that B3 Back 2 Back has the following covers seems to indicate a stronger Klaus & Steven, Chain & Zapp, and K. K. & Steven dynamics.

Furthermore, there is only the B3 volume 10 cover where Chain and Steven are next to each other, but Steven’s back is to her.  It seems any potential Chain and Steven relationship is likely not in the cards.  In group covers, Steven and K. K. are next to each other most frequently based on their skills as a two person team.

All in all, I love how elements of Trigun made their way into B3.  It is fun to look at all the angles, from the physical character design, to their personalities and their relationships with each other.  I’ve been a fan of Trigun for over twenty years, so it is hard to say if B3 is better than it - but, I do appreciate the realistic adult relationships, doubts, fears and goals of it more so that Trigun.  The sitcom feel to B3 really feels relaxing and I enjoy the rambling stroll through the city with this quirky cast of characters.

With my disappointment in Stampede, I can at least laugh and cry at how the B3 anime and manga really capture the elements that made Trigun so likable to me in the first place.  And that is all I can ask for - another zany series with lovable characters that you can’t help but root for.

[behindthesemasks]

17

Chapter 16

Mel wants answers, but the one that comes changes everything...

TW: violence, guns, hitting, threats, someone has a gun aimed at them

During the ride back to the hotel, Case and Mel had changed their whole dynamic.    He found she wasn’t nearly the princess that he had believed her to be; and she found he wasn’t nearly as serious and dour as she’d thought him to be.  By the time that they pulled into the underground garage to park, they were laughing and cutting up like they’d been friends for years.  Case never lost sight of the fact that someone had just tried to kill everyone in the last SUV he had driven, and was ever vigilant now that their means of escape was greatly reduced.  

After assessing the area and deeming it safe, he let Mel out her side, casually draping an arm around her slim shoulders and pulling her in close like they were lovers.  Looking down at her, he gave her a grin and a wink as he started to lead her towards the doors into the hotel.  Her arm looped around his waist as she hip bumped him.  He had to give her credit, she picked up on non-verbal cues a lot better than most he’d had to guard over the years.   And the fact that she had shot Andreas, and had a bead on Donovan at the dig site, gave him a healthy respect for her skills and also the strength of character she possessed.

All the way up to the top floor, the two looked like a couple returning to their room for the night.  He considered walking that way in to see Erik and Cam, but decided that he didn’t feel like getting shot by Erik.  Lord knew that he was as twitchy as Klaus right now, since it was Andreas that they were trying to get information out of, and who was part of this whole plot to take out Alexander.

Once they had reached their floor, they went straight to the room that Erik, Cam, and Andreas were in.   Case noticed the way Mel visibly tensed as her hand landed on the doorknob; she had not been nearly as relaxed as she’d acted.  Damn, she was good.  They could use her on some of the missions they went on, that was if Ambrose wouldn’t lose his mind in the process.  Hell, might be more fun if he did.

Erik and Cam were over by one wall talking when Case and Mel walked in. Andreas’s eyes went wide seeing the petite female again.  It was clear he remembered their previous conversation and was in no hurry for a repeat.  Before Case could stop her, she was before the male again with her gun drawn and pointing firmly at his manhood.

“I just got back from what had to be the least enjoyable car ride I’ve ever had.  I am getting seriously tired of being fucking shot at Andreas.  SERIOUSLY. FUCKING. TIRED.  Now you are going to tell me who the fuck ordered this, and you’re going to do it now; because my patience ended somewhere between here and the dig site while I was in the back of that SUV.”  The distinctive click of the safety being turned off was heard and none of the other men moved.  They had to hand it to her, the woman knew how to make an entrance and a statement…all at the same time.

“They…they weren’t supposed to shoot at you.  You’re not even supposed to be here.  No one wants to piss off Ambrose, they’d be stupid to.”  Andreas was stuttering and stumbling over words in his haste to get them out.  He wasn’t so much afraid of dying; however, his cousin and Cam had been inflicting pain on him already, but nothing like she was about to.

“A name, Andreas.  NOW!”  He felt the gun move slightly, and another click sounded, which was the hammer being pulled back.  Now all that separated him from pain he’d wish he’d be dead from, was a twitch of her finger.  “I don’t think you’re getting how tired I am of games.”   The other men glanced at each other, they all had to remember not to piss her off in the future.

“Oglesby.  It was Oglesby.  He doesn’t want the relics coming out of that dig site.  Dear god, don’t kill me!  It was Oglesby.”  Tears started to form at the corners of his eyes.  

“WHO is Oglesby?”  She pressed the gun further against his groin.

“You LIE!”  Erik growled and his fist struck the side of Andreas’s face making a sickening thud and a crunch that may mean that Andreas’s jaw was broken.

Mel stepped back and looked at Erik, gun now at her side. “Who is Oglesby, Erik?”  

“Get out Mel.”  

“WHO. IS. HE?”  Her teeth were clenched, and she was not backing down.  She was done being pushed around.

In a flash, Erik had taken the weapon, and the barrel was up against her forehead.  “GET. OUT!  Cam…Case…get her the fuck out of here, and stay out too.  I will deal with this.”  

Mel stood frozen.  Tears of betrayal and anger stung at her eyes, but she couldn’t even force herself to move.  She felt male hands grab her shoulders; slowly and gently they began to pull her back. 

Erik’s face was a mask of rage as Case slowly guided Mel away from him.  Whatever that name meant, Erik might have just signed his own death warrant.  One twitch and Mel was too close for it to be anything but a kill shot.  She seemed in shock though, and he was afraid if he pulled her backwards any faster, she’d fall.  Thankfully as soon as they were far enough away, Cam stepped in between the gun and Mel, meaning he’d take a chest shot instead of  one to the head.

“I hope you know what you’re doing Erik.  Ambrose will hear about this,”  Cam said calmly as he kept himself between Mel and the gun till they were out of the room and the door closed.

Mel leaned up against the wall across the hallway, bent at the waist with her hands on her knees.  She was fighting panic.  One of the men she trusted most had just put the barrel of a gun, with the safety off, and hammer back, against her forehead.  The look he had in his eyes said he would have pulled the trigger too.  After a few deep breaths, she pulled her phone out and dialed Klaus.

As she listened to the soft ringing in her ear, she saw Case and Cam discussing something, and verifying they both had their weapons.  Klaus’s answer told her that he was irritated, but he should know she wouldn’t just call for anything.  “Klaus, Erik just had a gun to my head.  Who the fuck is Oglesby.”  A curt reply and he hung up.  She stared at the phone in disbelief.  She dialed him again but it went straight to voicemail.  Hanging up, she threw her phone against the opposite wall, then walked towards the suite.

Case and Cam had both pulled out their phones to call Nic and Ambrose when Mel’s crashed into the wall and shattered.  Phone calls were forgotten for the moment as they followed Mel.  They had to make sure she got into the suite okay.  After what had just happened, they weren’t sure she was going to stay in the hotel, and now she wasn’t armed anymore.  If something happened to her. they would both be dead, but at least their deaths would be quick. Erik was going to suffer first, and she might not even have to be dead first for it.

Melania walked through the doors to the suite after sliding her card, and the men stayed outside.  After being shot at in the SUV, and now having a gun to her head, they thought she might like some space.  They weren’t going to leave from outside that door though.  If Erik decided he wanted to make his point more clearly, they were going to stop him.  This whole trip had gone massively sideways in an instant.

While they were waiting, they repeatedly called Nic and Ambrose, even calling Klaus a few times. No one was answering.  They did get a hold of Alexander, Cade and Dez.  All was quiet at the hospital, Sasha had been moved to a private, posh room, and that’s where they were all held up as well.  As soon as it was dark and quiet, they’d slip out and be on their way back.  All three were shocked to hear what Erik had done, but none knew who Oglesby was, or why Erik would react like that.  

After they hung up, all three at the hospital were ready to head back to the hotel whether it was dark or not.  None of them doubted that Cam and Case had it well in hand back at the hotel, but if Erik had lost his mind, there could still be bloodshed.  They also wanted to beat Ambrose, Nic, and Klaus back to at least keep Erik alive long enough to find out what the fuck was going on.  It wasn’t like the man to go off half-cocked, and for him to have literally put a gun against Mel’s head, he had to have completely lost his mind.

Hours passed, more phone calls to Ambrose, Nic, and Klaus were made with no answer, and the interior of the suite remained eerily quiet.  Finally Case and Cam decided they were tired of waiting in the hall.  Knocking on the door first, Cam slid his copy of the master key for the floor through the locking mechanism and heard the soft click of the door unlocking.  Slowly pushing it open he called out for Mel.  Silence greeted him like an adversary.

Neither man liked the cold feel of stale air and the lack of sound that enveloped them like a thick blanket as they entered.  The feeling of dread grew in the pit of their stomachs. as if someone were adding stones one by one to the bottom of the well, as they searched all rooms to find them empty.  There was no sign of Mel or how she’d gotten out.  They were truly and royally fucked now.  They blew up the voicemail and text messages of Ambrose and Nic, this was not good.  Case called the guys at the hospital and found out that they were just getting ready to leave since the doctor had made the last check of the night on Sasha.  Word was passed on of what had happened, and they promised to be on the lookout for Mel as they headed back to the hotel.  

Finally Cam’s phone sounded the familiar chime of an incoming call.  Unfortunately the usually lively tune sounded as if a death dirge this time, and when he looked down he saw Ambrose’s number.  The weight in his stomach only seemed to grow when he hit the green button to answer, then put the man on speaker phone so they could both talk to him.  “Yeah boss, we got a problem…a big one.  Mel is missing.”  Cam replied to his boss’s first words. Case’s eyes closed at the pure rage that radiated out of the phone with Ambrose’s reply.  “Boss, Erik went off the rails when Mel got the name Oglesby out of Andreas as being who’s behind this.  He damn well put a fucking gun to her head and told her to get out of the room.  Boss, Cam had to step in between them because he didn’t lower the damn thing the whole time we were getting her out of the room.  Head shot boss, he would have taken a head shot.”  Case was alternating between pissed as hell and worried for the woman.  She was unarmed as far as he knew and missing with someone out there that was after their team.  If she had been kidnapped, she would be leveraged to get them to hand over at least Alexander.   

“FUCK!”  The word almost made Cam’s phone vibrate in his hand.  “Oglesby is who killed Erik and Klaus’s parents.  Get your asses out there and find her.” Ambrose’s voice vibrated through the small speaker on the phone, then got quieter. “If ANYTHING happens to my granddaughter because your brother couldn’t contain his fucking goddamned temper, I’m going to kill him my own damn self.”  Cam and Case looked at each other, shit had just gotten worse.  Ambrose’s voice came back loud again. “Find her.  That isn’t a nice request, that’s a goddamned order.  We’re on our way back.”

dividers/banners : @cafekitsune

[riderofblackdragons]

Day 30: Flashbacks

Ok this one is a bit late, and for that I'm sorry. I accidentally wrecked my computer, so I had to wait and borrow a computer from another family member to put this out. Rest assured, it has been done since yesterday lol. But Day 31 might also take some time bc of this

Today's is a return to An Original Mother, wherein Elijah tries to decide how much she really hates her brother. Also, another 2 of her children are revealed! I do have favourites of Elijah's children in this tbh

Enjoy!

Elijah mostly tuned out Klaus’ rant, if she was perfectly honest. Ask her what it had been about later, and despite how interested she’d looked, she could not recall anything besides the fact that Marcel had a way to track when witches in the city were doing magic.

Just another reason not to bring Lukas here, she supposed. Her son enjoyed playing with his magic, even after he’d lost his usual playmate to his uncle.

It was one of many, Elijah knew. Lukas’ grudge against Klaus, for the death of said brother, was the main one, of course. Her brother required some very powerful magic to kill, even when he was at his weakest, and whilst she had no doubt that her son would be able to gather it, channelling all the other members of their family coven, and his mother as an Original vampire, Elijah wasn’t willing to risk Lukas’ life.

No matter how much she disliked her brother at the time.

“We all swore the same vow,” She reminded Klaus, tuning back into the conversation, and the words she was actually saying. Something about Rebekah hating their brother at the moment? Elijah couldn’t honestly blame her for it.

The words felt ironic in her mouth as she said them. That vow, as Kol had once said, haunted her, more than their father had ever done. She kept her vows, and she wasn’t about to stop, but she had been willing to break it, when she’d thought it was just them, and her remaining children, left in the world.

Elijah’s brother had murdered two of her sons, and she was still there for him, all for a vow that clearly meant nothing to him. But her word was everything to her, was how she made her way in life, through honouring her deals and her bargains.

If it wasn’t more likely to kill him than Klaus, she would be quietly encouraging Lukas on his journey of vengeance. In the meanwhile, setting him up in Zurich, sending him off to university there, was the best she could do.

“I hope she stays far away,” Klaus admitted, although he acted as though he didn’t care. He took a drink from his glass of whiskey, and Elijah wondered if he thought she should’ve stayed away as well.

After all, Elijah was only here because someone was angling for Klaus, and she needed to find out if they would be a threat to the rest of their family as well. Just a baby, that neither of its parents seemed to actually want. She may have promised her protection to Hayley, but Elijah wasn’t truly expecting there to be a foetus a few months from now.

“In my desire to reclaim this town as mine, to take it back from Marcel, I have realised one massive vulnerability,” Klaus continued, unaware of Elijah’s racing thoughts. “One weakness that, if Marcel realises as well, he could exploit,”

He stepped around the table, walking over to Elijah. She felt her insides freeze, her instincts screaming at her to run, but she carefully didn’t let it show. Something had changed, some slight difference in Klaus’ body movements, it had slipped from casual conversation to a hunter stalking its prey, and it set all the instincts in Elijah’s body screaming.

“And what is it?” She asked, the curiosity getting the better of her. If she’d had a drink also, she would have sipped it, but her brother hadn’t bothered to even offer her one.

“You,”

Before Elijah could fully register what he’d said, she felt Klaus slip a hidden dagger into her chest. A gasp escaped her, her mouth forming a curse that died upon her  lips, as Elijah’s eyes flew wide in surprise. For all that she was cautious, she hadn’t expected him to dagger her again.

And for all her anger, she couldn’t deny the curl of satisfaction in her chest, hearing that she was his weakness. It was something, alright, to hear the confirmation that she was his favourite sibling, at least at the moment. It didn’t make up for how he’d daggered her, but it was something, at least.

Didn’t make her any less upset, or any more willing to forgive him for what he’d done to her and her children over the years, but it was something. Maybe, if he hadn’t involved her children, Elijah would have eventually forgiven him for everything, and continued staying by his side.

But this was the icing on the cake, and Elijah was not a fool. As soon as she was undaggered, she did not care by whom, she was leaving.

“Forgive me, my sister,” Klaus whispered, gently guiding her body to the ground. As if it would do anything, when she was glaring daggers at him with what little she had left in her. “But I know of your little meetings with Marcel, and I cannot have you revealing anything to him.

“Your love for him makes you weak, Elijah. If he had these daggers, he would do the same, to ensure you couldn’t help me. Love makes you weak. Family makes you weak. Your mercy, your forgiveness, is what makes you weak.

“If I am to reclaim New Orleans, I must do it without you.”

If she could have, Elijah would have laughed in Klaus’ face. Love made her weak? Family made her weak? He’d clearly forgotten all the work she’d done for him throughout the centuries, the ways she’d propped up his various empires, all in the name of family.

Maybe if she’d known that he would continue thinking like this, thinking that caring made them weak, she would’ve left him to rule alone, and not given her help even if he’d asked. But it was too late for regrets now, she supposed.

The darkness stole her away from him, thankfully, leaving Elijah floating in a sea of nothingness. Nothing but her thoughts, and her memories, accompanied her here, regrets and happiness wandering through in equal turns.

She hung there indefinitely, letting it all pass by. Time was always so difficult to tell, under the dagger. A century could feel like seconds, whilst a day felt like a millennium. At least when she was living, Elijah had the bonus of night and day to keep track by.

At one point, her thoughts turned to Marcel. Oh, her little Marcellus. Her adoring nephew had done so well for himself in her absence, taking over New Orleans. Turning it into a vampire sanctuary.

Elijah could still remember the day they’d gotten him – the way Klaus had strutted up to her, a waif of a boy following after him with stars in his eyes. She’d known, even then, that her brother would inevitably crush those stars out, one way or another. Elijah had hated it, but it hadn’t stopped her from knowing.

“This is Marcellus,” Klaus had introduced, proud as ever. “My new son,”

He’s stared her down then, as though daring Elijah to object to it. She hadn’t planned on it, at the time, although she did think that picking up a son at the funeral of a man that he’d killed was rather distasteful. Although, maybe raising a child of his own would be what was needed for Klaus to stop disregarding Elijah’s own? She’d hoped, anyways.

And she’d stuck around for Marcellus’ childhood, no matter her arguments with his new father. Elijah didn’t want to see Marcellus become a new Eirikur, after all, and Marcellus would actually understand what was going on. If there was one blessing from her first son’s death, Elijah knew, it was that the four-year-old hadn’t been alive long enough to truly realise that his uncle was going to kill him, and wasn’t just going to play.

Still, even though she remained on standby, just in case, Elijah had hoped that Klaus would do the majority of the raising of Marcellus. It was his son, after all, his choice to pick the boy up. And Elijah had still been grieving at the time – her daughter, Greta, had died 15 years beforehand, but for a vampire of their years, it was not that long before. A new child to look after was a most unwelcome gift, in her eyes.

Thankfully, it hadn’t been entirely up to her. She’d forced Klaus to be involved with Marcellus, despite his complaints of how the women of the household typically did the raising of children -honestly, Elijah would be surprised if she didn’t have to force him into the life of this biological child to be, as well.

But her son Magnus, Greta’s twin, had returned during Marcellus’ teen years, Elijah recalled fondly. Her poor boy, turned into a vampire far too young, he and Greta had clung to each other from the moment they were born, only forming completely distinct identities after Magnus had died.

And now, in the present, trapped in a prison world, all alone. If Elijah ever caught up to the ones who’d done it, well… Well. Neither of her twins would have wanted her to kill for them, she knew. Still, Elijah couldn’t help it if the culprits had died in a mysterious fire, leaving their families and loved ones behind.

She had faith that they’d catch up to her, one day. And when they did, Elijah knew that she’d use their blood to free her son, releasing him into the world once again.

Magnus had adored his little cousin when they’d met, Elijah remembered. He’d surely be happy to know how well Marcel was doing now, as king of New Orleans. It’d been one of the things she’d dreaded most, when she’d thought Marcel was dead. She loved the child, of course she did, and she’d been devastated by his loss in her own right, but the thought of her freeing her son, and knowing that his cousin had died without him knowing… It would break him.

Honestly, Magnus had been more excited by his new cousin than his mother was, Elijah had reckoned. He definitely enjoyed being around Marcellus more, but Elijah had always chalked that up to Magnus still being so young, and still operating on human schedules, as opposed to vampire ones.

As far as Elijah knew, Marcel still cared for Magnus as well, although he hadn’t mentioned him when they’d last spoke. Which was fair, she had to admit. After all, she never spoke of her son either – it was one thing to speak of her late children, that she had expected to lose, although maybe not as soon as she had, it was another to speak of her trapped child, who she still held out hope that she could get to someday.

But Marcel had definitely liked Magnus when he was younger, even if Elijah wasn’t sure on his thoughts on their family now. Magnus had been in the prison world since the late 1800’s, it wouldn’t be impossible for Marcel to think over the time he’d spent with Elijah’s son, and decide that he’d soured on the former siphon witch.

Outside her mind, Elijah suddenly felt something happen. A weight lifted off her chest… The dagger had been pulled out. And not by Klaus, she realised, as the weight fell back on but the darkness receded. The dagger was back in her body, but there was no ash on it. Nothing to keep her locked in her mind, trapped with her thoughts.

So her brother had given her away, she realised. Klaus wouldn’t have made such a novice mistake as this, but then the question remained, who did he trust enough to give his siblings to? And which of them would be dumb enough to pull the dagger from her chest?

A familiar (well, semi-familiar. A century of not talking made her not quite certain of it) voice came to her ears. Marcel. Of course, Elijah realised. They’d never fully explained what the white oak ash Klaus carried with him truly did. He’d probably assume that the dagger did all the work.

Which was partially true. The dagger slowed down the healing, made it take far longer than it otherwise would to wake up after being stabbed. But they would wake up, eventually. The white oak ash ensured that they could stay in there for centuries, unable to wake, hence why Klaus preferred it.

But the fact remained, Elijah was aware, that Klaus had given her over to Marcel after he’d daggered her. He’d given her to the person he said he was protecting her from, like he hadn’t expected her to discover that it was bullshit as soon as she’d woken up.

Sometimes Elijah despaired from her brother’s lack of forethought, honestly.

She heard someone talking to Marcel, outside of her coffin. A younger voice, female. A young girl? Elijah was about to be furious with her nephew – what was he doing with such a young girl? A minor? She barely sounded grown enough to wash her own laundry, let alone get into a relationship with him.

And then Elijah listened a little longer, and settled herself. Of course Marcel wasn’t getting strange with a teenager. From the sounds of it, he was protecting her from the coven of witches, although Elijah picked up the sounds of paternal concern in his voice.

A great-niece, then. She looked forward to meeting this girl, that Marcel had taken under his wing, and made his daughter. In her own time, however. Elijah hadn’t had a break for years, and her children weren’t in any danger at the moment – she was going to take some ‘me time’ before she threw herself back into it!

[livlepretre]

“Rebekah scans the room. “I spy at least two dozen cellphones, and the blood hasn’t even started flowing yet. What happens when the video makes its way onto that blasted internet?”

i never even thought about this being a possibility. 🤣 like now that I think about it, surely the world finding out about vampires would be inevitable?? there’s no way someone wouldn’t end up eventually posting a video online exposing the fact that vampires exist, or maybe even witches or werewolves. klaus and rebekah can’t be there every time someone films some random vampire like they were with stefan, there’s just too many of them to keep track of. in tvd i remember them saying that kol alone dying killed thousands of vampires across the world. so the originals sire lines combined would be an even bigger amount. anyways, i LOVED this chapter so much! i knew kol was gonna be in this one but it still caught me off guard lol and that ending with him and elena omgggg!! him offering her his hand had me screaming like wtf how dare you write them so perfectly. i can’t wait to see what you have in store next!

honestly I have to assume people think it's all some sort of fake footage when it does get online? and only people who know what they are looking for even really take note? like, I have really wondered about this as well. we have to just believe in the casual ability of the uninitiated to ignore vampires, I guess? it's a huge plot hole, although, to be fair, it was probably a much smaller plot hole in 2009 when this show started ha. Like, youtube was still new

and 💙💙💙💙💙💙 thank you! I am enjoying Kol far more than I expected-- I was super anxious to write for him, but he's starting to write himself more and more, and suddenly I'm a few thousand words into the next chapter??

[irresistiibles]

was that justin h. min? oh no no, that was just ben hargreeves, a canon character from the umbrella academy. they are thirty years old and are aware that they are not actually from washington dc. too bad they can’t stray from this city for long.

how long has your character been here

like two weeks

what is your character’s job

he's working part time at a movie theater but it's not like he's committed to the job, he mostly just wants to be able to see movies for cheap

where has your character been pulled from in their fandom

the end of season two after the scene with viktor. i am playing an umbrella academy ben rather than sparrow ben, so he remembers dying as a teenager and then sticking around klaus as a ghost for years

has any magic affected your character

he's alive again so that's something

any other info!

i did not watch season four but i do know how ben actually died and hello??? dude deserved much better

honestly ben is a chill nice dude, but he's also a little weirdo. he's way too used to being a ghost.

it definitely makes unintentionally awkward social situations for him. like ben will just stop and blatantly listen to other people's conversations, and give his input when eavesdropping forgetting that other people can hear him

can absolutely be a sarcastic little shit.

has tentacles he can summon for combat but he's not really fond of them and he definitely has some bad memories associated with them

living with his mom and some of his family as he gets settled

potential plots:

friends of all sorts. please give him some. he needs people to talk to, and go to the movies with, and try restaurants with or just be quiet reading friends with

honestly he should join a book club

casual dates, guys or girls cause idk how to write straight people. he doesn't really have an experience or idea what he's doing in that department but he would like to try lol

a bad influence maybe. listen he's not gonna get too crazy, he's seen klaus do way too much stupid shit to get there, but he's also a little naïve and over eager and could be talked into some dumb shit. i think he should be allowed to get stupid drunk at least once.

any coworkers or frequent movie goers he could know from work

anyone to help him adjust to the world of the living who will be patient with him being a little weirdo

late night friends. i feel like ben is not used to being perceived and sometimes prefers to do things late when there aren't many people, so he can hang out with the insomniacs or people who don't sleep well

an accidental enemy or fight? like i said ben does speak up when he shouldn't and listen in on convos so he could definitely get some bad vibes going by mistake.

some other people with some more destructive powers that he could vibe with.

i'm also just happy to brainstorm he's easy to get along with