#my brother saw this and said ''cool vampire'' which I suppose isn't even that wrong

[hivemire]

serpent's counsel

[railingsofsorrow]

Lucky One

[kol mikaelson × reader]

summary: reader is troubled about her future and disappears for a while to think.

pairing: kol mikaelson × fem!vampire!reader

word count: 2.6K

warnings/content: steroline is happy; temporary loss of an engagement ring; siblings counseling ™; caroline is the best friend anyone could ask for; hints of a break up; happy ending!!; a tiny hint at klaroline but you blink & you miss it.

A/N: another one of my WIPS. thinking about making this one a series tbh.

➶ ➷

They haven't been on heated arguments, nor had they've been ignoring each other. They talked normally, but the problem was— why couldn't she hold a conversation with him for more than ten minutes without averting her eyes? Almost as if she couldn't face him.

Kol Mikaelson searched literally and figuratively for what he had done wrong. Yet, nothing came to mind. But by Y/N's reactions he must have. Why couldn't she just say it? Yell at his face, scream, curse, anything but this mad driven silence.

“Why are you moping around, brother? This energy isn't good for a man that is about to get married in two months, is it?” Rebekah strode in the room as if she owned it, a smirk dancing on her lips before it disappeared as she saw Kol's amiss gaze. “Alright, what is it?”

In Kol's hands laid a sparkling ring. Y/N's engagement ring. He stared at it as if the answers were inside the diamond.

“What's that?” Rebekah asked, getting closer to inspect the jewelry.

The corner of his lips tugged downwards. It had been the first sign of emotion he had shown after fifteen minutes. “That, my dear sister,” He began, twirling the ring between his fingers slowly. “... is my fiancé's ring. Which is supposed to be on her fourth finger of her left beautiful hand... and it is right here.”

Rebekah frowned, crossing her arms. She hadn't seen her friend—one that she already considered a sister-in-law—around the compound when she arrived. And by her brother's behaviour she supposed they had an argument so that was the reason.

“Perhaps she needed to cool off. I'd ask what you said to make her do that but I don't wanna get in the middle of a lover's quarrel—”

“I didn't say anything.” Kol interjects, closing his palm around the ring and burying it in his pocket as he got up, “We didn't fight at all these days, Bekah.”

Her eyes softened, “I'm sure it is nothing then, Kol. She might have need some space. Who knows?” She squeezed his shoulder. “Don't fret, Y/N will come back.”

But why, why had she taken off the ring? Was this her way of leaving him? Not a letter, not a goodbye kiss, not even a warning?

Don't fret, Rebekah said. Y/N will come back.

He just hoped his sister was right.

When Y/N turned off the engine, a breath she didn't even know she was holding was let out. Her heart had been on her throat the whole drive from New Orleans to Mystic Falls. She had never felt more anxious in her entire life and the vacancy spot of her fourth finger seemed heavier than ever.

“I'm here.” She sent the message. Desperate for a reply in the form of a hug from the person. She needed them more than anyone else at that moment.

Y/N was almost at the verge of falling apart before the door flew open.

“Y/N?” Stefan Salvatore tilted his head, confused. “Come in. Is everything okay?” He noticed her distraught look as she walked in. He hadn't been told Y/N was visiting, Caroline didn't mention anything, so it was a surprise.

“Yeah, I—”

“You're here!”

Y/N was then engulfed in two arms as blond strands blinded her vision. Her smile was instant, and she hugged her back. Caroline Forbes, her heavenly medicine.

“Hi.”

“Hi. How was the drive? I'm sure you're exhausted.” The blonde gave her a sympathetic expression as she took her hands. “I prepared the spare bedroom just for you—”

“No, Carol—” Y/N held her friend back from leading her to the said room, “I'm not staying the night, I just-- I needed to talk to you.”

Looking around the living room, Y/N realised Stefan was nowhere to be seen. He must've sensed this didn't concerned him so he didn't want to intrude.

“Okay.” Caroline replied softly, “Do you want to go for a walk or stay here?”

Y/N thought it over.

“A walk would be great.”

Caroline grinned, “I know just the place, then. Come.”

A few years back, in their high school days, Y/N often searched for a place where she could be alone and in silence. So she could run away from all the crazy stuff happening in the town.

Inside the cemetery, within trees and a little bungled up for being there too long; there was a small shed. She'd spend her afternoons there, reading books, studying for finals or looking for something in the new plan being executed against the new threat by her group of friends. A group that she had lost contact with, except for Caroline. The girl had always been her shoulder to cry on, her best friend, her sister throughout everything.

Caroline knew about the safe spot Y/N had. Sometimes she'd go make her some company even if she thought it was quite creepy.

“I can't believe you still remember this place.” Y/N mumbled, holding onto a nearby tree so she could pass above a high branch.

Caroline hummed, following her steps, “I remember everything. You just don't give me enough credit for it.”

Y/N rolled her eyes.

Finally entering the shed, Y/N smiled a little. “Half of the time I had in a week was spend here...”

“Books and pens all around you.” Her best friend completed, admitting a soft expression.

Caroline sat down with a sigh, cringing at the old wood creaking under her. “So, let's talk. What's bugging this little head of yours?”

Caroline Forbes was an observant person. She wasn't stupid. She could see the empty finger on Y/N's left hand since the girl had stepped on her doorstep. Besides, her tone in the phone call was unnerving and Caroline knew her best friend. She was struggling, probably because of her relationship.

A bitter smile creaked her lips open and she let out a sigh, “I don't know, Carol... It's just-- I should be happy, shouldn't I?” The exchanged a look, “Why aren't I?”

“Is this about the wedding?”

The silence responded for her.

“Are you having doubts—”

“No.” Y/N cuts her off quickly, “Absolutely not. I love him; I am in love with him. Or else I wouldn't have said yes.”

“Then, what is it, honey?”

Y/N's shoulders fell as she shook her head, a hopeless expression of agony took over her features.

“What if- What if I don't like it? What if I'm just not cut out for all of this? Falling in love... Getting married. What if I screw it up, Caroline? And make him hate me and regret everything we ever had?”

“Tell me you are joking, Y/N.” Caroline gave her a appalled look. Y/N didn't say anything. “Look, if anything this should be the other way around because—”

Y/N groaned, hiding her face between her hands, “Don't even start, Caroline.”

“—he's a Mikaelson.” She carried on, “But we're not here to talk about that. How could you even think he'd regret being with you? How could anyone think that, Y/N?” Caroline reached for her hand and she looked up eyes glistening with the tears she had been holding. “You're amazing. You're so much more than what you think you are. And the way he looks at you?” The blonde vampire shook her head, pretending disbelief. “It's like you're the only one in the room even with a thousand others around. That man is head over heels for you and I'm sure he will always be. Isn't that their memo? Always and Forever or something?”

That made Y/N smile, drying her cheeks. “Yes. And I know how you figured that out.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows, and Y/N smile instantly died. She cleaned her throat.

“The point is: he loves you. He is in love with you. I'm certain there's nothing you could possibly do to make him hate you or anything like that, honey.”

Y/N breathed out, a weight seemed to have been lifted off of her shoulders. That's what she needed. Her best friend's words. Maybe, deep down, Y/N was just homesick.

“What about you? I get what cold feet is, Y/N. I've had it. But do you want to get married?”

A crease formed on Y/N's forehead; she was thinking. It wasn't a bad question that her friend had asked, in fact, that's precisely why she needed Caroline: she was always sincere.

Y/N had been there to talk down Caroline of the crazy thoughts she had at her wedding with Stefan, right before she walked down the aisle. It was only fair Caroline was there for her now.

She left that night with a made up mind, assured that her doubts would be gone as soon as she reached her final destination.

Y/N felt her heart up in her throat when she didn't find the ring inside her bedside table. She was one hundred percent certain that she had left it there right before she decided to leave for Mystic Falls. Now, where the hell was it—

“You're back.”

Her neck cracked when she turned around quickly to see who it was. Nevermind, that voice she'd recognise even hearing it through fifty thousand hard walls. “Kol,” She smiled softly, walking towards her fiancé and pressing her lips to his as if they had been away from each other for a century.

He grinned through her mouth, leaning back a bit to stare at her with a contemplating gaze, “Hi, darling. Everything okay?”

Suddenly her shoulders tensed up as the question brought the ring back to her mind instantly. She caressed the empty spot in her finger subconsciously.

“Love.” Kol traveled his hands from her neck till her cheeks, lifting her face so she could meet his eyes. There was something thumping painfully inside his ribcage. “Is there something you want to talk about?”

Y/N wrapped her arms around his neck so he wouldn't notice the missing jewelry, “What?”

Kol analysed her eyes for a long second before he stepped back, eyes drifting to his shoes as he sighed. Y/N frowned, “What is it?” He couldn't have noticed... right?

Every thought disappeared as quickly as it came when the diamond appeared right in front of her. On his outreached hand. That was when Y/N truly realised how much of a fool she actually had been in thinking she could've hidden it from Kol Mikaelson. Her doubts. Her assurances. Most of it came from him. How could he not see anything? Something that was happening right under his nose?

“Is that what you were looking for?”

As she stared at the wedding band in his open palm an unknown feeling begin to creep up from bellow her neck.

“Kol, I can explain.” Y/N begin to reason but he shook his head with a soft gaze in her direction. She stopped talking when he approached, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear. Staring into his eyes she could see he carried a whirlwind of emotions.

“You don't have to,”

Her forehead creased.

“Y/N... I love you.” He whispered after leaving a lingering kiss on her cheek. And when his hands left her face she felt the spot turn cold immediately. “You know that, don't you, darling?”

“Of course,” Her voice was shaky and she couldn't stop thinking this conversation wouldn't end well. “Look, the only reason I took it off was because—”

“Just, listen to me for a second, alright?” He cut her off and she frowned frustrated. “You're it for me, darling. I have no doubt in that. But, if you are regretting something, then know that I won't hold a grudge if you don't wanna do this anymore.”

Y/N studied his eyes for a long second before a disbelief look took charge of her expression.

“You doubt that I love you?” She stepped back and he lowered his hands, holding the ring firmly. “Why do you think I said yes in the first place, Kol?”

“That's all that you heard, Y/N?”

Her defensive demeanour switched to a guilty one quickly. If she were in his place and her significant other had left like she did... she would've thought the same.

“I'm sorry, my love.” Y/N apologized. Kol stood with a contained expression. “I didn't mean to leave I just-- Kol. I was scared. But that does not mean I don't love you. You're it for me, too.”

“Then, why...”

She inhaled deeply, her cheek might bleed any minute now cause she was biting it down from anxiety.

“I was scared you'd regret marrying me.”

Kol lost the focus for a while and when he came back, he thought he heard voices and must've mistaken what his girlfriend just said.

“You already are regretting it, aren't you?”

That got the Original Vampire on the move. He opened his mouth like a fish many times before something actually came out. Tipping her chin up with his pointing finger, he felt his ribcage contract at the sight of tears falling like a waterfall on her cheeks.

“Who put these foolish ideas in your head, darling?” Kol dried her tears softly. Her breathing faultering and she latched onto his arms as he would somehow make her breath better. He did. He always did. “How could I ever regret marrying you? The love of my life? The reason of my desire to be a better person every day?” His played with her hair as she cried on his chest. “Believe me,” He pulled away a bit so he could stare at her eyes as he assured her, “This could never happen.”

“Yeah?” She sniffled, breathing properly again. Kol smiled fondly, nodding in afirmation. “You'll handle my bad mood on Mondays and insomniac nights? Cause, that's a thing. You need to know—”

Rolling his eyes, Kol pulled her up in his arms by her waist and she cried out his name.

“I know all of this, darling.” Kol says, putting her down after spinning her around. “Insomniac nights, terrible Mondays, those missing Caroline Forbs' days...”

Y/N blushed, burying her face on his neck. He chuckled.

“I love you. I love all of you, Y/N. Not despite, not except, but because.”

She huffed, shaking her head as she analysed the man in front of her. He tilted his head to the side in curiosity. She thought he looked like a puppy.

“I can't believe I got to have you all to myself. It's insane how incredibly lucky I got...” Y/N mumbles to herself as she travel her fingers through his sharp jawline. Kol smirks. And as he is one for the dramatics—Klaus' words—he pulls her down by her neck, holding her in place as if in a dance move. Y/N yelps, widened eyes in surprise.

“I'm the lucky one, my love. Trust me.”

After a long and meaningful kiss that left them both breathless, Y/N mumbled against his mouth.

“Give me... my ring... back.”

“If you ask nicely,”

Pushing him to the wall, almost causing a hole, she locked his wrists on top of his head with both of her hands. A mischievous grin grew on her lips when she saw his eyes darken.

“Is that nice enough for you?”

It was no news that an Original had ten times the power of a regular vampire; but Kol didn't move an inch. He let her have control. He quite enjoyed when she did it actually.

“It will be when you come closer...”

There is no need to say that the night was quite eventful, is there?