#though Klaus plays a bit of the fiddle

[socialpoison]

I need to utilize having a musician OC...

I love contriving situations, and who doesn't love a good amv?

[hoefordasmut]

Klaus Mikaelson smut

Warnings : This is pretty dark I wanted to make Klaus a bit yandere. This is porn with plot pretty much, creampie, innocence kink, size kink,Dom Klaus , sub reader, praise kink , spit kink and reader is a bit of a crybaby

fem reader x Klaus Mikaelson

YOU BELONG TO ME

Doe eyes filled with tears, your hands twisting together nervously , fiddling with the dainty rings adorned on your feeble hands. Your eyes felt sore from crying as you watched Klaus animistically rip apart a vampier. First he started with his arms then moved to his legs then bit deep into the mans shoulder who howled in pain.Before ending his misery and pulling his heart out. Wiping his hand on his trousers. You watched as Klaus smirked , eyes bright yellow and venom pouring from his lips, Sharpe canines digging into his flesh as he licked them clean.

Klaus stood up from the withering man and stalked towards you. "oh love come here " he cooed gently wrapping his arms around you, it felt safe and warm even though it was the definition of a wolf playing and devouring a poor naive little lamb.

You shook in his arms , digging your nose into his chest , grasping him tight as if he would slip away from your harsh grasp. " my sweet girl, I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you" he slowly peeled you away from his body to grasp you face, your small dainty cute face in his calloused hands which had caused so much harm, but not on you... no never on you.

"you belong to me don't you honey?" he tailed his finger over you ever so soft pouty bottom lip, it quivers under his touch, you nodded under his heated stare. "I need you nik" you whined nuzzling your face in his hand making him smile. "you need me my love?' he growled as his eyes darkend taking in your appearance.

So small under him, shaking like a fucking leaf, doe watery eyes , pouted lips bitten red, and most importably your pale pink sundress just ending under you ass , paired with a white cardigan and a perfect pink bow settled into your curls. His favourite thing though, was your golden cross that rested on your soft breasts. He loved fucking you in that, only that. It reminded him that not even god could save you from him.

You felt a gush of wind as Klaus pushed you up against a table, not caring of the now dead man a few feet away. " you gonna take your panties off for me sweets?" Klaus mumbled into your neck as he sniffed deeply, inhaling your sweet addictive scent. Honeysuckle, he wanted to fucking drain you dry from your sweet euphoric blood, but no he couldn't, but your cunt tasted just as sweet. If not sweeter.

You whine as Klaus lifted you easily onto of the table, pushing you back so you were laying down flat. Shifting you hips to wiggle off your panties, soft cotton with a pink bow on the front. Klaus groaned as he now saw you fully. Clenching pussy, dripping with arousle , pretty and pink. And all his.

You didn't even get to blink before klaus's mouth was suckling on you pussy, he held a harsh grip on you thighs , that instanly tighten around his head. He ate like a staved man, making sure to circle his tongue around your clit , making you buck up into his mouth moaning.

"so- so good" you clenched to edge of the table with a white knuckle grip, your toes curl in your Mary Janes, Klaus places a rough hand on your stomach pushing you down so you couldn't move. Your hips roll rhythmically again his face, Klaus groaned as you pulled his hair , rolling his hips into the desk, desperately wanting friction on his bulge.

"I'm gonna cum!" you squeal as you feel a coil tightening in your tummy, sweet , hot and euphoric. Your back arches once more as your thighs shake, you pussy clenches in overstimulation as Klaus still hasn't taken his mouth of your clit.

"my pretty girl uhmp?" Klaus hummed as he finally pulled away from your core, slowly kissing up your shaking thighs, before meeting your lips in a harsh kiss, he bit your lip in dominance casing your to whine and open your mouth for him , Klaus trailed his tongue in your mouth. He wanted everything from you , he couldn't help it, you just tasted so fucking sweet, everywhere.

Klaus quickly unbuckled his belt, pulling his boxers down with urgency. He placed his pink tip on your entrance so he wasn't pushing in just yet, teasing you, pushing his cock down on you clit making you squeak. "so tight little love" Klaus grunted as he slowly bottomed out, you cunt squelching from hot wet you were, Klaus placed his heavy hand over your soft tummy feeling his cock bulge from the inside.

"you feel so- so good"you babbled out incorrectly, feeling his heavy thick cock hit every spot, Klaus thrusted deeply into you cunt, a white creamy ring coated the base of his cock, Klaus groaned seeing you milk him dry. "need more- please ink " you whine as you feel his somehow go deeper as he bent down to suckle on your tender neck.

"need more?" Klaus questioned as he placed your legs over his shoulders, his happy tail brushing over you pulsing clit, begging for attention. "greedy girl, huh?" He snickered as he pried open you mouth and shoving two of his thick fingers into your awaiting mouth. Through your bleary eyes you stared up at him as you dribbled over his fingers.

Klaus pulled his fingers out of your mouth before bringing his mouth close you yours, you opened you mouth wider eagerly as he spat into your mouth. "swallow f'me " Klaus groaned as his peak was reaching, his thrust became more messier, his short nails digging into your plush thighs.

"I'm gonna cum!" your eyes rolled back, toes clenching and mouth open in a silent moan.You clenched around Klaus cock making his hips stutter realising his salty seed deep in your cunt. Your legs spammed around his waist as he continued to slowly trust his cock into you, grunting at the aftershock.

Klaus pulled his softening cock out you you're spent pussy, his cum eased out of you, thick and pearl white, Klaus eyed it before mumbling. "gotta keep this in your pretty little cunt huh?" he pushed a thick finger into you pussy, pushing his cum back into you , where it belonged.

Your thighs thighed around his hand as you gasped. " it's too sore " you cry as you try to push away from Klaus , but he held you down continuing to push his seed back into you.

"don't fucking complain, gonna give you my pup's"

[fandom-gt]

Here's another sadistic Five one because he's the one I can really see going out of his way to fulfill his fantasies, like this one. This is is about bondage and sensory deprivation.

Klaus is small for some reason and Five is keeping him to himself- the others either don't know or don't care. Five is, once again, an adult. Five likes the power he has over Klaus and how Klaus has to just deal with however Five sees fit to treat him.

Five keeps Klaus in an enclosure on his desk, and he loves to treat Klaus as though what Klaus wants is insignificant. Five scoffs when Klaus asks for things like specific foods or music for entertainment, or even basic things like conversation or a bath. Five denies almost all of Klaus's basic requests, on the grounds that Klaus is not worth any inconvenience to Five. He likes to not even acknowledge Klaus when he tries to talk. Five lords his own agency over Klaus while flaunting Klaus's.

While Five finds this enjoyable, he quickly wants to escalate the situation to start having some real fun with Klaus. He makes the necessary preparations, and then does this:

Without a word to Klaus, he opens Klaus's enclosure and plucks him up. Klaus is confused and annoyed, asking what Five is doing and snarking at Five about boundaries. Five ignores him and uses the mini bondage gear he made to strap Klaus's arms behind his back.

Klaus is reasonably alarmed by this and Five takes pleasure in not responding to any of Klaus's protests or questions. Five then takes out his custom tiny earplugs and carefully stops both of Klaus's ears, loving manhandling the guy and loving how delicate his little head is. Klaus is still yelling and panicking and Five is throbbing in his pants, but keeps his face looking passive, as though he's stripping away Klaus's senses and bodily autonomy away one by one just on a whim. Like it doesn't matter to Five one bit.

Finally, Five straps a blackout blindfold around Klaus's head and gags him with an O ring. He collars him and chains him to Five's desk. He wants to assault Klaus right away, but that would make him seem too eager and ruin the whole indifferent facade. He lets Klaus believe that he's been bound because he was such a nuisance. He waits several hours or days until the next stage (He feeds Klaus with a syringe through the gag now).

He's at work at his desk, and makes sure Klaus can tell. Klaus can feel the vibrations of the table while Five writes on it and the wind as Five shuffles things around. Then, still working with one hand, he uses the other to start fiddling with Klaus like he's a fidget toy. A fidget toy with a penis.

He toys with Klaus, watching in avid fascination as he writhes and twitches, until he comes. Five is acting as though he's not paying attention to his actions, though, so he keeps playing and playing, loving the fact that Klaus can't stop him as he rubs Klaus vigorously through his oversensitivity. Five loves that he's in control of Klaus's orgasms; not only can he not come without Five, but he will come when Five wants him to. When Five's done "working," he lets go and leaves Klaus like that for the rest of the night.

Five also enjoys talking care of Klaus without Klaus's input or permission, like bathing him (and I guess helping with the bathroom issue), feeding him, and changing his clothes. He loves that he gets to pick what Klaus wears, and after a while he starts to dress Klaus in things like panties and stockings. He likes that Klaus never knows what Five is going to do and that Klaus doesn't know what this own body looks like in the clothes Five puts him in.

It takes a while after the fiddling stage before he starts surprising Klaus by shooting his load onto the blind and deaf tiny, before he starts rubbing off using his little body, before he starts filling the syringe with his cum and pinning Klaus down while he pushes the plunger to force it all down Klaus's throat. But Five is patient and he enjoys every step along the way.

-Eek

for the umbrella academy folks

[lochrannn]

AU-gust: Escaping the Family

Read on AO3

No warnings

prompt no 6: Gaming

Characters: Lila Pitts, Diego Hargreeves, Five Hargreeves, Ben Hargreeves, Vanya Hargreeves, Luther Hargreeves, Allison Hargreeves, Klaus Hargreeves

Relationship: Lila Pitts/Diego Hargreeves

-

This is by far the weirdest birthday Lila has ever had.

She’s in a new city in a foreign country, she’s in an escape room for the first time in her life, and she’s somehow ended up in a team with six bickering adult siblings and their teenage brother, who were apparently all born on the same day as her.

This, she finds completely unbelievable, though why they would lie, just to make use of the promotional free admission to people born on the first of October is entirely beyond her.

They’re all wearing stickers with Hello, my name is _______ and their handwritten name printed on them, though Lila feels it’s a little superfluous, as everyone except for her already knows each other, and she was also instantly annoyed when the little twerp in the pretentious school uniform wrote ‘Five’ on his name badge and his siblings are apparently indulging him.

Whatever, she’s not here to argue with a teenager. She’s really not too sure why she’s here at all.

Maybe she was feeling a little low and lonely when she passed the building and saw the ad for the birthday special, but now she's not too sure why she thought this was a good place to meet new people.

Currently she’s quickly losing her cool watching these complete strangers make an absolute pig’s ear of things.

The boy, Five, apparently, is sitting at an antique looking bureau trying to fiddle with something and swatting his brother Ben away, whenever he’s trying to help or interfere, she’s not entirely certain which.

The two siblings who look like models or influencers or something like that, Allison and Klaus are in another corner of the room and flicking small marbles up against the ceiling, though Lila is completely in the dark as to why, and going off their constant criticising of each other’s aim, they’re not doing a particularly good job.

The remaining three siblings Vanya, Luther, and Diego are huddled together in yet another corner, arguing over a scrap of paper and the presumed meaning of the words written on it, though it’s mostly devolved into hissed threats of bodily harm between the two bigger brothers and exasperated eye-rolling from Vanya.

Nobody has paid any attention to Lila in a solid fifteen minutes.

She’d take it personally if it weren’t for the fact that the only reason they seem to be interacting with each other is so they can make snide remarks about their lack of success with their respective tasks.

Lila decides that she’s had enough.

“Jesus Christ, you people are by far the most dysfunctional family I’ve ever come across and I should know, my parents were murdered in a botched robbery when I was four!”

By the end of her outburst she is shouting and now a pin could be heard if it were dropped.

The little wanker in the knee high socks is the first to break the silence, “Thought this was an escape room not a therapy session for traumatized orphans.”

“Hey, Five, don’t be mean to the nice crazy lady!” Diego, who she’s admittedly has had a bit of an eye on, jumps in, but right now the last thing Lila needs is some arsehole pretty boy white-knighting her, so she levels him with the deadliest glare she can manage and to her satisfaction he withers a little and doesn’t say anything else.

The rest of them just stare at her with differing levels of disbelief.

“Right!” Lila says with a determination that she’s mostly using to cover up the sudden awkwardness, “this might not have occurred to you, but can I suggest that we work together as a team and maybe try and solve the puzzles together?” She tries to keep the sarcasm in her voice to a minimum.

The siblings give each other slightly confused looks as if working together may be the furthest thing from their minds.

In the end Vanya is the first to break and says, “We’ve got a message here and I’m quite certain that it’s in Greek, though Diego says it’s Latin and Luther says it’s Russian. Does anyone have an idea what to do with this?”

Five gets up in a huff, storms over to unceremoniously take the note out of Vanya’s hand and then mumbles, “This is definitely ancient Greek, nice spot Vanya! Give me a minute, I think I can translate it.”

Ben, who has now finally got a chance to look at what Five was fiddling with at the bureau, calls out to the rest of them, “There’s two overlaying circle plaques here with the letters A to G in lower case and capital letters on them. There’s also some random small b’s and hashtags strewn in.”

“Let me see!” Vanya comes over to Ben excitedly, seemingly having had an idea. “Oh yeah, that’s a circle of fifths. Hold on we just have to turn it like this to get the right parallel modes together -”

There’s a click and one of the draws opens and Ben reaches in and presents a key to the rest of the group.

Lila is a bit surprised herself at how effective her little tantrum seems to have been.

“Ooh! Ooh! Do us next!” Klaus says with a little enthusiastic clap, looking expectantly at Lila, as if she’s done anything beyond merely pointing out that they should work together.

Allison, next to him, gives him a look that is mostly just an eyebrow lift, but Lila doesn’t need to have grown up with siblings to know that this is probably a very frequent expression between the two of them. Then Allison turns to the room at large and starts explaining, “There’s a small hole up there in the ceiling and we’re pretty certain there’s another switch inside it and there were these conveniently placed marbles that look like they just about fit through the hole, but we've missed everytime so far. I don’t know, maybe Five could get on Luther’s shoulders and see if he can reach it that way…” Allison trails off looking up at the ceiling.

“Show me?” Diego says slightly hesitantly, having kept quiet since Lila had put him in his place with a look.

He walks over to his brother and sister, takes one of the marbles from Allison, flicks it up at the ceiling without much hesitation, and hits the ceiling just next to the tiny hole in the wood panelling.

Without a word Klaus hands him another marble and Diego flicks this one up as well, manages to hit the hole and there’s another click from one of the draws in the bureau.

Ben reaches in and pulls out another key with a delighted, “Aha!”

-

In the end they get out using the two keys on the locks on the door and punching the code that Five deciphered from the Greek message into the additional keypad.

And then Lila suddenly finds herself out on the cold pavement, her quasi teammates a little way off, apparently arguing over where to go for food, though she’s trying strenuously not to eavesdrop, as now, after she was trying to get away from them as fast as possible, she feels a little forlorn.

She’s pulling the edges of her coat more tightly around herself while she’s wondering whether to try and catch a bus or splash out on a taxi for the occasion of her birthday, when Diego separates from his siblings and wanders over to her, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets.

“We’re… uh… we’re going for some food, d’you wanna come with?” he asks uncertainly, pulling a hand out to point a thumb over his shoulder towards his family.

Lila looks around him to where the five grown-ups and the teenager are apparently in the middle of a heated argument, and though a moment ago she felt oddly lonely, the thought of spending the rest of the evening with their constant bickering feels like a little much after all.

It seems Diego recognises the dilemma playing out on her face because he crosses his arms, looks down at his boot where he’s kicking at nothing on the pavement, and mumbles, “Or I could ditch them and you and I go out for a drink?”

Lila would have probably said yes anyway, but the shy smile on his face when he finally looks back up at her is stupidly irresistible.

“Won’t your siblings miss you for your birthday dinner?” Lila asks sincerely, though she hopes he’ll say they won’t.

“Eh, we meet up every first Sunday of the month, so I’ll see them at the weekend anyway,” he offers with a shrug.

“Well, do you know of anywhere where I can get a decent pint around here, then?” Lila asks with a bright smile on her face and a small flutter in her chest.

[plus-size-reader]

Shopping

Klaus Mikaelson x Plus size!reader

Word Count: 1041 words

Warnings: none 

Summary: Shopping with Rebekah after Klaus wakes her up and as much as he hates to admit it, you look incredible

——————————————————————————————————

Klaus should have known that bringing you along to help get Rebekah more used to the 21st century was a bad idea. 

The only thing worse than one woman obsessed with shoe shopping, would be two. 

However, you were their best option at getting her adapted most quickly. You had gone through it too. Everything she was thinking and feeling, you had thought and felt…

Just sooner. 

“Where’s the rest of it?” she bellowed from behind the closed dressing room curtain. She had been obsessively trying to pull at the hem of the garments from the last hour and it showed no signs of stopping. 

Rebekah was used to floor length gowns, and a lot had changed in a hundred years. Garments like that hadn’t been in fashion for a very long time and she was in for a rude awakening. 

You couldn’t help but laugh, standing from your perch, on the side of Klaus’ arm chair. “Trust me sugar, you’ll be glad for that length soon enough” you teased, ducking behind the curtain to help her zip it. 

If you could say anything for Rebekah, it was that she was stunningly beautiful. She would be breaking hearts all over the place before she even knew what she was doing. 

It was going to be fun. 

It had been far too long since you had a gal pal to hang out with. You loved Niklaus, but he wasn’t good for gossip and shopping...unless he was paying. 

“I look like a prostitute” she huffed, still fiddling with the hem as she left the enclosed space to show off the look to both men. They had already drank two bottles of champagne, and their boredom wasn’t slowing. 

In fact, Stefan got up and left, clearly having had enough of this whole day. 

“It’s sexy ‘Bekah, trust me” you assured, swatting her hand away from her thigh. She really had to get over the length thing. You for one had embraced the change completely. 

You liked it. 

“What do you think, Nik?” you wondered, taking her hand to give her a twirl, showing off the entirety of the dress for him. 

He didn’t really care, of course, he didn’t. This whole shopping thing had been your idea in the first place but if there was one thing being married to you for a thousand years had taught him, it was to not fight it too much. 

“Black is more your color darling, try gold” he suggested, not a care in the world. However, as soon as he said it, your face lit up. 

He was right. 

She looked nice in black but with her complexion and hair color, she should try something gold. It would compliment her fairness excellently and maybe she would feel more at home in that. 

“You’re right, that will be perfect” you hummed, ushering the blonde back into the dressing room before hurrying over to the racks of dresses that lined the walls. 

You should have just asked Klaus in the first place. 

With as many years as you’d been dressing this way, he knew about all this fashion stuff. If there was one thing he paid attention to, it was your body and the things that made it look good. 

Klaus couldn’t help but grin as he watched you. You got so much joy out of all of this, as you always had. 

Even all those years ago, you loved picking the most decadent and expensive fabrics to have your gowns made from. You loved playing with color and fabrics and right now, you were dressing his sister like a doll. 

He knew that if he hadn’t brought you, he would already be bored out of his mind. 

At least you provided some kind of amusement and comfort to him. 

“Do you like this?” You wondered, grabbing a few hangers from the wall, filling your arms with garments. As much as you wanted to help Rebekah find a new wardrobe, it was hard not to do a little shopping for yourself. 

You couldn’t help it. 

Klaus smiled, standing up from his chair casually before hurrying over to you. He had always been a fan of that damn superhuman speed. 

He grinned, taking the hanger from your hand. “I love it” he purred, taking it from you and heading over to his chair once again. You may have made his job easy as far as you were concerned. 

However, it would probably take Rebekah a few more hours to find anything that she actually wanted. 

Klaus could have shopped for you all by himself if he wanted to and everything would fit perfectly and you’d love every bit of it. Though, it just wasn’t the same here. 

Rebekah didn’t even know what kind of style she wanted yet, not to mention the fact that she couldn’t get over the length of anything. 

...If she kept it up, you would make her walk around in jeans. 

Luckily, before you could once again start gathering armfuls of hangers and garments for her-you found something absolutely perfect. 

It was a beautiful dress decorated in gold leaf and wine red fabrics that would be amazing on her. As soon as you saw it, you could hardly contain your excitement, which Klaus could see immediately. 

“That’s a wonderful choice, my love” he mused, resting his chin on your shoulder as he admired the dress hanging from your grasp. 

There was no doubt in his mind that Rebekah would love it but the only way to be completely sure would be to have her try it on, just to be sure.

You were always up to the challenge. 

“You think so? I quite like it but I’m not sure” you hummed, gesturing down to the length of the skirt. It was relatively short but not too bad. 

In your opinion, it was the perfect length to start off with. 

...Before long, she would be flaunting her body all over town without a problem and you couldn’t wait. You had done it, and Rebekah would be no different. 

If anything, she would adapt even better than you had once she got used to everything. 

At least, she would if you had anything to say about it. 

[thebrotherssalvatore321]

Keeping Secrets Ch. 38

Keeping Secrets Masterlist

Pairing: See previous chapters. Warnings: None that I can think of for this chapter.

“So you and Klaus?” Bonnie asked from where she and Caroline sat at a table in the grill.

“It’s nothing serious, but yeah, me and Klaus.” Katie shrugged then took a drink of her coffee. “So what’s the cover story for where I’ve been?”

“You went to stay with your aunt again.” Caroline told her.

“Right, the imaginary aunt.” Katie nodded.

“Caroline compelled you into the school districts homeschooling program before my dad had put vervain in the town’s water supply.” Bonnie told her. “We’ve been tag teaming your work for you.”

Katie couldn’t help but smile. “You guys are awesome.”

“We kind of slacked off when we thought you were going to die, though, so you have a little catching up to do.” Caroline informed her, but Katie waved her off. “I also ordered your cap and gown.”

“I seriously don’t know how to thank you guys.” Katie said as she looked down at her coffee.

“Well you can start by sticking around and helping us keep Elena from eating anyone.” Bonnie said then took a drink of her coffee.

“Okie dokie.” She told them with a nod.

“So are you planning on coming back to school?” Bonnie asked.

“Yeah your spot is still open on the cheer squad if you want it.” Caroline added.

“I was thinking about homeschooling before everything happened. I’ll stick with it.” Katie said with a shrug.

“But you’ll still come to prom and graduation right?” Caroline asked with wide eyes.

“Definitely. Klaus already picked me out a dress from his creepy trophy case of family collectables. It’s vintage and very glamorous.” Katie answered, making Caroline smile.

“So we’re seriously not going to talk about the fact that you called whatever is going on with you and Klaus nothing serious?” Bonnie asked circling back to the topic Katie had purposely changed the subject from. "When I told him you were dying he started crying and threatened to rip Elijah's spine out for what he had done to you. That's not 'nothing serious'."

"He did?" Katie asked and Bonnie nodded. "Maybe it's heading toward serious, but right now I just want to focus on getting back up on my feet. Part of that is going to be figuring out how to balance my life, you know figuring out how to be with him and not lose you guys like I did before." Katie shrugged. "I know he's the 'bad guy', but he was there for me when I had no one an-"

"You don't have to explain it to us." Caroline interrupted.

"Yeah, we won't make you choose. If he's good to you then he's okay in our book." Bonnie added. "He is good to you, right?"

Katie smiled and bit her lip, "Yeah."

“So, how is he?” Caroline asked with a devious smile and a wiggle of her brows in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Of course you'd ask that, Caroline.” Bonnie laughed.

“Oh come on, even you have to wonder what the bad boys are like in bed.” Caroline told her with an eye roll then looked back at Katie. “So…spill.”

Katie laughed and shook her head. “I’m not going to answer that in the middle of the grill where anyone could overhear.” She answered and jerked her head at Damon, sitting at the bar with a glass of bourbon in his hand and one sitting at the empty stool next to him for the memory of Alaric.

“Right.” Caroline said with a disappointed nod. “But he was good right?”

Katie sighed and let her head fall forward. “She’s not going to stop until you answer her.” Bonnie pointed out.

“Yes, he is really, really, good.” Katie answered reluctantly. “There, happy?”

“No, but it will do until I can get better detail.” Caroline said with a smile. Katie let her believe she would get those details eventually.

~*That Night*~

“So where are we going?” Katie asked Klaus who sat in the armchair in her room watching her look through her wardrobe in just a black lace strapless bra and matching boy shorts panties. Her auburn waves were twisted up into a bun that was secured with a wooden hairstick that had a Celtic knot on the end.

He was wearing a suit and no tie, so she knew she should wear something dressy, but how dressy she didn’t know. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you would it?” he asked and she turned to look at him.

“Something you should know about me…I don’t like surprises.” She told him with a tight smile. “Plus, if you don’t tell me where we’re going I won’t know what to wear.”

He walked over and pulled a little black dress and black lace Louboutin heels out of her wardrobe and set them on the bed. “Problem solved.” She looked at him and took a deep breath. “What, Love?”

“Please tell me where we’re going?” she asked again.

“You’re just going to have to trust me.” he told her as he watched her put on the dress then turn her back to him and he zipped it for her. She put on the heels then walked over to her vanity, opened the jewelry box and grabbed a random necklace then turned around to find him standing right behind her. “Do you trust me?”

She took a deep breath and let it out. Just because she had come back from the dead and managed to get a clean start didn’t mean she trusted easily again, but with him…she was cautiously doing so. “Yes.”

“Good. Are you ready?” he held his arm out for her and she looped hers through it.

TVDTVDTVD

“An art exhibit.” She said with a smile as they walked into the building. “I should have known. I did ask for an art lesson.” She told him as they walked around one of the dividers that paintings hung on.

“This isn’t the lesson, just something I wanted to do with you.” he told her as they walked around looking at the painting’s, sculptures and photos. “See anything that speaks to you?” he was paying more attention to her than the art.

“That one.” She pointed to a landscape painting of a grassy clearing over hung by tree limbs. Blue, purple, orange and pink flowers colored the ground. A waterfall could be seen off in the distance.

“I didn’t take you for the landscape type.” He told her, taking in how her eyes concentrated on the painting.

“It reminds me of home.” She told him and for a second he was confused, then he remembered that she lived in Ireland in the 1800’s. “There was a waterfall behind my parent’s house. My sister and I would run there to get away from Father. He had an irrational fear of water so we knew we’d be safer there, behind the waterfall, at least until night came and we had to go home.”

“Do you want it?” he asked.

She looked away from the painting to see him standing behind her with his hands tucked behind his back. “Is it for sale?”

“Anything is for sale if the price is high enough.” He told her with a devious smile.

She rolled her eyes and gave him a smile. “I want it if the artist is willing to part with it.” she told him pointedly. He gave her a big smile and walked off to find the artist.

When he got done procuring the painting from the more than willing artist and arranging for it to be delivered to the mansion he found Katie staring at a photograph in thought, her fingers fiddling with the necklace that rested on her chest. He stood back looking at her distant eyes that took in thick clear pieces of broken glass spread out over black sand, a dark cloudy sky in the background. “Why does that fascinate you so?” he asked, making her jump, not realizing he had found her.

She looked back at the photo. “I know it’s just broken glass, but…for some reason it makes me feel lost. Like I don’t know who I am and I don’t know what to do about it.” she told him then took a deep breath and looked at him. “So was the artist willing to sell?”

“Yes. Your painting will be delivered to the mansion tomorrow.” He told her with a smile.

“Did you see anything you liked?” she asked.

“Yes, but I believe she is already mine.” He told her, making her smile and blush a little. “Are you ready for dinner?” he held his arm out for her and she took it.

TVDTVDTVD

He brought her to a five star restaurant and got them an intimate table in the corner. “So is medical school still something you wish to pursue?” he asked then took a bite of his stake.

“I don’t know.” She paused to take a bite of her side salad. “I only ever wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to prove to everyone in Mystic Falls that I could make something of myself and be more than the slutty piece of trash they labeled me as.”

“And now?” he asked curiously.

“Now I just want to make it to graduation in one piece.” She answered honestly. “If I still feel like going to college for something by the time summer is over then I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

“We haven’t discussed the cure.” He said, making her tilt her head.

“Yes we have. There’s a cure… everyone but Rebekah agrees Elena should have it.” she stated.

“But would you take it if I got it for you?” he asked, making her stop eating and think.

She had once told Damon that she didn’t want to be a vampire because she didn’t want to watch her friends grow up, start families and move on without her. That she wanted a husband and a family, but so much had changed since then. When she said that, she didn’t remember that she’d already had that life. Now she just wanted to have fun and live freely for a little while. “Do you think I should take it?”

“I don’t want to influence your decision.” He told her with a tilt of his head.

“Have you forgotten who you’re talking to?” she asked with a playful smile. “I know my answer. I just want to know if you would want me to take it.” She told him then took a bite of her salad.

“If I’m being selfish, no, I don’t want you to take it.” he answered. “But I also want you to get all the things you want out of life and if a human man and a human family is what you want then I wouldn’t stop you.” she smiled at him then looked down and played with her salad with her fork. “So are you going to answer me?”

“I don’t want it. Even if there were multiple doses, I wouldn’t take it.” he gave her a look that said he didn’t believe her. “I’ve had a human man and a human family…the human life. Now I’ve been reincarnated and come back from a shattered soul, I didn’t go through all of that just to turn into a pumpkin again.”

Klaus gave her a smile. “I’m glad to hear that.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box with a red bow tied around it. “I know you’ve already received two necklaces from previous suitors and I did not want to be cliché, but I noticed you don’t wear bracelets or earrings often. You also reach for your neck when you’re thinking about something. So…” he placed the box on the table and slid it to her. She picked it up, slid the ribbon off and popped the lid open to see a silver pendant made to look like a wax seal stamped with a phoenix, it’s wings spread as it soared up, a dazzling trillion cut diamond grasped in its talons. It hung off a thin silver Singapore chain. “Happy birthday, Little Phoenix.”

This necklace felt different than the others she’d received. It wasn’t meant to represent them as a couple or protect her like Damon’s had been, it wasn’t a show of how he would love her forever like Elijah’s had been. It was simply something he thought represented her as a person and if she was being honest, she kind of felt as if she had risen from the ashes of her old life. All she had to do now was spread her wings and soar. After a few minutes she heard him clear his throat and when she looked up she realized then that her eyes had watered.

After clearing her throat and blinking back the tears she managed to say, “It’s perfect. Thank you.” As she took it out of the box he got up from the table and took the necklace she was wearing off, put it on the table then took his necklace from her and put it around her neck. When he moved around her to sit back down she caught the front of his jacket and pulled him down for a kiss. When it broke he sat back down and Katie looked around to see people jerk their eyes back down to their plates. “People are staring at us.” she told him with a smile.

“They probably think I’m some kind predator…taking advantage of my sweet, beautiful and innocent date.” he told her then smiled.

“Or that you’re simply too old for me.” She said as she picked up her wine glass and took a drink. “Mmm, no, I got it…” she told him with a smile as she pointed at him still holding her glass in her hand, “They think you’re my sugar daddy.” His jaw dropped and he smiled. “Older guy plying a young girl with a fancy dinner, wine, jewelry…” She finished off her wine then sat her glass down. “So if anything, I’m praying on you mister rich, charming and devilishly handsome.” He laughed making her smile.

TVDTVDTVD

Klaus opened her car door for her then offered her his arm. “You know I remember a time, not long ago, when you refused to take my arm when I offered.” He thought out loud as she slid her arm through his.

“Do you want to go back to that?” she asked with a look up at him through her lashes as they headed to the mansion.

“No, I much prefer to have you willingly at my side as opposed to turning your nose up at me.” he told her as they walked into the house.

“Oh, I can still turn my nose up at you from your side.” she told him with a smile that let him know she was messing with him. “So I have a question.” She stated as they walked into the parlor and she tossed her clutch onto the coffee table.

“I may have an answer.” He replied as he watched her sit down on the couch.

“Tonight was a date right?” she asked as she pulled off the thousand dollar heels. He hummed a positive answer. “So…we're dating?”

He walked over and sat down next to her and pulled his leg up on the couch to face her. “If that is what you want.”

His answer caused a fleeting smile to grace her lips as she looked down and turned to face him, folding her legs modestly to the side in the short dress. “You always make everything about me. You give me whatever I want and if I’m being honest I love how much you dote on me.” her words made a small smile pull at the corners of his lips. “When we first started this I made my intentions clear and you went along with it. Even though I got the feeling that there was something you weren’t saying, I didn’t ask because I was happy and I didn’t want to possibly ruin it. It kind of felt like I was using you and you were letting me, but I don’t want to be selfish anymore. Not with you. So I have to ask, what do you want?”

“What did you think I would have to say that would ruin your happiness?” he asked and her eyes fell to look at her knees.

“Three little words that can do more damage than a nuclear bomb.” She answered then looked back up at him.

“I know you’re not ready for that. You’ve loved too hard too fast and I understand why you are unable to love again so soon.” He told her then grabbed her hand in his. “But you asked me what I want. So I will tell you.” he brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “You gave me an easy out and told me that you wouldn’t tie me down if I wanted Caroline. You didn’t let me say that I never wanted her. She was a distraction while you were with Elijah because I didn’t think I could have you.” Even though she had told herself she was over feeling like she came in second to one friend or the other, his words gave her a sense of pride. No one had ever chosen her over Caroline or Elena. Even Damon had chosen Caroline at first. “Elijah and Damon are your first loves. When you are ready, I want to be your last.” When a tear slipped down her cheek he brushed it away. “I only want you and I want you to only want me, but that does not mean I want to tie you down. You,” he looked down at her necklace then back into her eyes, “Little Phoenix, have risen from the ashes once only to have your wings clipped by the men in your life. You’ve recently risen again and I will not let anyone, myself included, keep you from making the sky yours.”

He wanted to be exclusive yet still let her make her own decisions and be herself. He also wasn’t going to rush her when it came to confessing their love for one another. It made a smile spread over her lips, but she couldn’t find the words to tell him how much he and what he’d just said meant to her. Since she couldn’t find words, she decided to let her actions speak and grabbed his suit jacket and pulled him down for a kiss, pouring her every emotion into it. As they kissed he pulled her into his lap, holding her black cotton covered sides. When the kiss broke she looked him in the eyes then moved her lips close to his ear and whispered, “I only want you, Big Bad Wolf.” She kissed down his jaw line and pecked him on the lips before she looked him in the eyes again. “I’m yours.”

It wasn’t a proclamation of love, but it was one step closer. “And I’m yours.” his hands slid up her back, pulling her closer into him as he started kissing her neck, pulling a sigh from her lips. While his lips placed loving kisses up and down her neck and shoulders, her hands worked on the buttons of the black dress shirt he wore under his suit jacket.

“You look good in a suit, by the way.” She told him as he pulled away from her neck and slid his hands down to grip her thighs.

“You have a thing for guys in suits don’t you?” he asked with lust in his eyes.

“No. I said you look good, not that it’s my favorite look on you.” she corrected him. “If I have a thing for anything it’s men with british accents who are way too old for me.”

“So what is your favorite look on me?” he asked as he slipped his hands up the skirt of her dress.

“Your everyday look.” She answered. “Jeans, a belt and a Henley shirt, preferably a short sleeved one so I can see your arms, but long sleeved is just as sexy.” She pushed his shirt and jacket down his arms.

“You like my arms?” he asked as he pulled them out of the sleeves and wrapped them around her waist.

“Yep, and I like your lips almost as much as your hands.” She pecked him on his lips. “And I like this.” She slipped her hands down his chest and used her pointer fingers to trace the v of muscles that led down into his pants and hooked her fingers under his belt. “There’s not a single part of your body that doesn’t turn me on. I even find your feet attractive which is weird because feet usually gross me out.” She told him with a smile before her eyes turned admiring. “You’re perfect,” she kissed him on the lips, the cheek, “strong,” the ear, “romantic,” a whisper of a laugh left his lips as she kissed his neck, “sweet,” she kissed across his chest, “Sexy,” then cupped one side of his neck in her hand as she kissed up to the other side of his neck, “protective without crossing the line into controlling,” she kissed to his ear, “and really turned on right now.” she whispered then bit his earlobe as she rocked her hips against him.

“It’s no wonder when my gorgeous girlfriend is showering me with affection.” He told her as he slid his hands up her thighs to grab her butt. Klaus calling her his girlfriend made her heart skip and beat and butterflies to kick up in the pit of her stomach. She pulled back and looked him in the eyes with a smile. He smiled back and pulled her into him for a soft kiss that slowly deepened.

Their hands explored each other as they made out. After a while he pulled the hair stick out of her hair letting it spin out of the neat bun she’d twisted it into to fall around her shoulders. He slid his fingers through it and held the back of her head as his other hand grabbed the zipper of her dress and slowly pulled it down. His hands on her bare back pulled a sigh from her as he slid them up, grabbed the straps of the dress and pulled them down her arms revealing the black lace strapless bra she wore underneath.

With the dress out of the way he kissed down her neck and chest to the valley of her breasts. As he did she slipped her fingers through his hair and let her head fall back with a sigh. Not in the mood to bother with the hooks, Klaus grabbed the cups of her bra and pulled, ripping it in the middle then tossed it to the side. A gasp left her lips when he closed his mouth around her nipple. The other breast got cupped in his hand, kneading it before he gave it a pinch pulling a moan from her. His hand replaced his lips as he pulled back and looked into her lust clouded eyes.

Her hands slid down his chest to his belt and started unbuckling it, not breaking eye contact with him as she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans then slid off of the couch and pulled them off of him, catching him in her mouth as soon as he sprang free from the tight confinements of his boxers. A moan left his lips as he let his head fall back onto the couch and put his hand on the back of her head, gently fisting her hair in his hand.

She was having fun finding new ways to pull sighs and grunts of pleasure from him when she felt him give her hair a tug signaling her to stop. “You keep that up and I won’t last much longer.” He told her in a huff and she pulled her head up with a pop causing his body to twitch and a smile to form on her lips.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She stood up and pulled her dress that had gotten bunched up around her waist, over her head while he pulled her red lace cheeky panties down. She was going to straddle him again, but he grabbed her hips, turned her around and pulled her back to sit in his lap and lean back against him. His lips placed kisses and nibbles along her neck while one hand found her breast and the other slid slowly and teasingly down her stomach over her inner thigh pushing her leg to the side before he finally dipped into her core. “Klaus.” Her back arched as one hand grabbed his over her beast and the other reached back and imbedded itself into his hair.

“You like that?” he asked, his voice deep and low in her ear.

“I love it.” she replied, her voice just the opposite as she writhed against him. A laugh left his perfect lips before he growled and bit her neck not breaking the skin. He knew she was getting close. So after a few more seconds he pulled his hand away, offering her his slick fingers. She grabbed his wrist and sucked them into her mouth, tasting herself. He hummed in her ear, “Such a naughty girl.” She just laughed and slid his clean fingers out of her mouth and put his hand on her chest.

She shifted to the side and pulled his lips to hers. As they kissed she slid her hand down and started touching herself. When he realized what she was doing he grabbed her wrist, pulled her hand away and took her fingers into his mouth. She bit her lip as she watched her fingers slip from his mouth. Unable to handle anymore foreplay he grabbed her hips, lined her up with him and slowly lowered her down on him.

She bit her lip and let her head fall back onto his shoulder. He started kissing her neck as he rocked into her. One of his hands played with her breast while the other gripped her outer thigh. When he noticed one of her hands making its way down he grabbed it. “No cheating, Sweetheart.” He threaded his fingers through hers and held her hand against his thigh to keep her from touching herself as he rocked into her. After a few minutes he moved her around to straddle him and she instantly caught his lips with hers. A few minutes later he was getting close and he could tell she was too. This time neither of them said a word as they looked into each other’s eyes and let pure ecstasy consume them.

As they came down from their high, he absentmindedly caressed her back and she kissed his neck and held his sides. “I think I’ve already said it once today, but just in case I haven’t, I’m going to say it again. You’re…amazing.”

“Best you’ve ever had?” he asked, being cocky.

“Definitely top five.” She answered as she pulled back and gave him a smirk. He rolled his eyes knowing she’d only ever been with five different men. “The answer to that question will only do one of two things, give you a big head or hurt your feelings. I’m not looking to do either.”

“At least tell me I’m better than Tyler.” He told her as he wrapped his arms around her and bit her neck playfully.

“You are definitely better than Tyler.” She laughed. “But in his defense we were both still human. Now that he’s a hotshot hybrid I’m sure he’s a lot better.”

“Easy.” He told her in a warning tone.

She laughed. “Jealous?” she asked with an innocent tone.

“Possibly.” He answered and she leaned her head back to look at him.

“You are aware that I’m talking about Tyler Lockwood, right? The douchebag wolf boy turned hybrid that tried to kill you?” she asked.

“The same douchebag that was going to ask you to marry him?” he asked, making her realize that he’d watched the dvd.

“Yeah, but he didn’t.” she turned around and sat on the opposite end of the couch, her legs outstretched on top of his. “Besides, I would’ve said no anyway.”

“Would you have?” he asked, doubting her.

“Yeah, I mean I loved him and I liked being with him, but… my heart wasn’t fully in it and because of that I wasn’t a good girlfriend to him.” she admitted as she picked up his foot and started massaging it.

“How so?” he asked curiously, clearly liking her messaging his foot even though feet grossed her out.

“The background photo of me and Damon kissing that you saw on my phone…” she said and he nodded remembering it all too well. “That was taken while Tyler and I were still together. Then after I turned and before I broke with him I slept with Damon.” She dropped his foot and grabbed the other one. “So I guess you should keep in mind that I have a history of being unfaithful.”

“I should also keep in mind that you cheated on Tyler because you weren’t completely happy with him.” he told her as he grabbed her foot and kissed her big toe before he started massaging it. “I on the other hand know how to make, and keep, you happy.”

“Oh yeah?” she asked with a laugh and took her foot out of his talented hand then leaned forward on her hands and knees to be face to face with him. “What makes you so sure, Big Bad Wolf?” she pecked him on the lips.

“Because I’ve been at it for the past six months and you’re still here.” He pointed out.

“Huh.” He huffed realizing he was right. “Feels more like three months to me, but I see what you’re saying nonetheless.” She pecked him on the lips then stood from the couch and picked up her clothes. When she picked up her bra remembering that he broke it she sighed. “Can you do me a favor and not destroy my bras?” she asked. “It’s hard to find bras that are pretty and actually hold me up.” He gave her a smart ass solute and a closed lipped smile and she threw the bra at him making him laugh.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie woke up to find that she wasn’t tucked into Klaus’s chest like she usually was and his side of his bed was empty. “Klaus?” she groaned as she sat up and looked around, her eyes landed on a note on the bedside table and she picked it up. “I had to leave for a bit. You looked so peaceful I did not want to wake you. –Klaus.” She read his pretty cursive words aloud.

After tucking the note away in her room for safe keeping she threw on a robe and headed down to the kitchen. She was sitting at the bar sipping on a cup of coffee when she heard Klaus come in. “Good morning.” He told her as he turned her around in the barstool then placed his hands on the bar behind her.

“Good morning.” She told him and kissed him back when he pecked her on the lips. “Where’d you go?”

“A wolf friend of Tyler’s needed rescuing. She has information about Katerina that I need. So I helped her, she will be staying here until Katerina’s lackeys are no longer after her or I have the information I need. Whichever comes first.”

“Okay then.” She told him as she wrapped her legs around his.

“You’re not mad that I brought a girl home?” he asked looking into her eyes with a smirk.

“What am I, your mother?” she asked with a small laugh. “No. I’m not mad or jealous. Believe it or not… when it comes to us, I trust you.” she slid her hand around to the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “Where is she?”

“Resting.” He answered.

“Good, then she won’t walk in on this.” She pulled him down for a more heated kiss that made him pick her up and carry her to the study.

They were making out on the leather couch when they heard a knock on the door to the room. Katie moved from his lap and straightened her tank top while he answered it. “What an unpleasant surprise.” Klaus said as Damon walked into the room with a stack of papers in his hand.

“So I just came up with a list.” Damon told them then turned his back on Katie where she still sat on the couch to look at Klaus. “It’s called things you suck at.” Klaus just folded his hands in front of him with a small smirk. “Number one: Finding Katherine, ever.” Klaus’s smirk fell to a look of aggravation. “Number two: Covering up your secret phone conversations with that little back stabber Hayley.” Damon waved the papers at him then turned and tossed them on the coffee table. “So where is she and what does she know about Katherine?”

“I should help you?” Klaus asked with a motion between himself and Damon. “After you lot killed my brother and imprisoned me in the Gilbert living room?”

“You might want to prioritize, Klaus, you have much bigger problems.” Damon said, raising his voice. Katie stood up and looked past Damon to Klaus. “Katherine has the cure. My guess is she’s gonna want to cram it down your throat. You help me find Katherine, I’ll get the cure, I’ll give it to Elena, everybody wins. Just let me question Hayley about Katherine.”

Klaus gave Damon a smirk as he walked over to the couch. “Can’t help you mate, Hayley’s off limits.” He sat down and pulled Katie to straddle his lap. “Although I did have a run-in with a vampire who may know where Katerina is.” He slid his hand over Katie’s leg and up to her thigh. “Too bad for you I bit halfway though his bloody neck. He probably won’t have much time for chit-chat.” Katie started kissing his neck, no longer caring that Damon was there. “You can see yourself out.” Damon made a disgusted sound before Katie heard him walk away and the door to the room shut.

After a while of making out Katie looked at the clock in the room. “Not to cut our fun short, but I have to get to the school. Caroline asked me to come to the cheer competition and help keep an eye on Elena who has randomly decided that she wanted my old spot on the cheer team.” she slid off him and stood up. “Plus it will probably be easier for you to get information out of Hayley if I’m not around.” He gave her an interested look. “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” She told him with a smile. “Damon used to flirt info out of women all the time. It never bothered me because I trusted him, and as I said before I trust you. As long as you don’t kiss her or sleep with her we’re good.” She finished with a smile then grabbed her keys off of the table. “And if you decide to use vinegar I won’t be around to see it. As much as I like your diabolical side, I don’t think I’m ready to become a spectator just yet.”

“You will never cease to surprise me.” he told her as he stood up and tucked his hands behind his back.

“And it will never cease to amaze me that I keep surprising you.” she pecked him on the lips then turned her back on him. “See you later.”

TVDTVDTVD

After the competition Elena decided to throw a party at the boarding house, but Katie went home instead. As she was going into the mansion, Hayley was leaving. Neither of them said anything to each other. Katie found Klaus in the parlor with a drink in his hand. “So how did that go?”

“I wined and dined her, got the information I needed then pissed her off when I didn’t put out like he expected.” He told her with a smirk.

“Yeah she looked pissed when we passed.” Katie laughed and flopped down next to him and took the drink out of his hand.

“How was the competition?” he asked watching her take a drink.

“Elena fed on a cheerleader from another school, just as I expected her to. Then when Caroline called her out on it, Elena dropped her during the routine.” Katie told him then took another drink and passed him the glass back. “According to Caroline, Damon tried to use his sire bond to get Elena to behave, but I don’t think they realized that because the sire bond stems from emotions the bond is broken without them. So what they thought was Elena behaving and joining in on school activities was really her finding vervain free bodies to feed on.” Klaus didn’t say anything. “Sorry, I’m sure you could care less about teen gossip.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t care.” He pointed out. “I was just thinking about that one time you got on stage and sang karaoke.” He told her.

“Eesh.” She commented as she moved around to lie on the couch with her head in his lap.

“Not eesh.” He scolded as he started playing with her hair. “You were good. You had the attention of every man in the room, some women too.”

“Stop.” She laughed and smacked him in the chest with the back of her hand.

“Sing for me?” he asked, surprising her.

“I don’t know…” she drawled.

“If you can sing in a room full of strangers you can sing for me.” He pointed out.

“That was when I was fearless.” She pointed out.

“It’s just me, Love, there's nothing to be afraid of.” He told her quietly. “Please?” he looked down at her with puppy dog eyes and his bottom lip poked out the slightest bit.

She couldn’t help but smile at him. “You and those damn eyes and pouty lips.” She sighed. “Fine. What do you want to hear?”

“There was a song on your phone I grew fond of. It was in your top songs list, from some tv show soundtrack.” He told her not being able to remember the song.

“Most likely the Nashville soundtrack.” She commented as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket then started going through her songs.

“It was a duet.” He added.

“When the Right One Comes Along?” Katie asked and he shook his head no. “Fade Into You?”

“That one.” He told her and she smiled a bright judgy smile at him. “What?”

“You’re such a sappy romantic.” She told him and he rolled his eyes with a smile.

“Are you gonna sing it or not?” he asked impatiently.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll sing.” She told him with a wave of her hand then closed her eyes and started singing the slow love song. When he brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek she opened her eyes and looked into his. The look in them caused her heart to skip a beat. When she got to the last line of the song she reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. “There’ll be no trace that one was once two after I fade into you.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” He told her as he took her hand from his cheek and kissed the underside of her wrist. Her eyes slipped closed and reveled in the intimate touch.

TVDTVDTVD

The next morning Klaus and Katie walked into the boarding house, finding Caroline cleaning up the mess from the party last night. Not knowing they were looking Caroline picked up a cup, sniffed it then drank it. “Care, I know we’re vamps and all, but can I just say…ew?”

“Desperate times?” Klaus asked with his hands tucked behind his back.

“What is he doing here?” Caroline asked Katie.

“Not judging you for starters.” Klaus answered for himself. “Although if you are determined to get drunk then perhaps I might recommend something a little more sanitary?” Caroline drank what was left in the cup she had in her hand then threw it away. “Well then, you showed me.” Klaus told her with a smile.

Katie punched him in the shoulder then pointed at him. “Stop it.”

“Yes ma’am.” He told her with a smirk that made Katie roll her eyes.

“Seriously Care, what’s wrong?” Katie asked as she walked over and started helping her clean up.

“Your boyfriend is what’s wrong.” She grabbed a cup and threw it into the trash can aggressively. “Because of him, Tyler gave Matt the deed to his house. He’s not coming back.”

“Oh…” Katie said then started looking around the house feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“Tyler made it his life’s mission to kill me.” Klaus told her as he walked over to the girls. “You can’t hate me for driving him away.”

“Oh I can. And I do. Now if you don’t mind I’d like to get back to spiraling.” Caroline told him. “So go away.”

“We were kind of invited.” Katie spoke up.

“I asked them to be here.” Stefan said as he walked into the room. “We need their help. I think Silas is in Mystic falls.”

“What makes you think that?” Katie asked with a frown.

“Blood has gone missing the Mystic Falls and Grove hills hospitals.” Stefan answered as Klaus walked around to the table behind the couch and poured two drinks.

“So some blood went missing from some hospitals.” He handed one to Katie and she took it and sat down on the arm of the couch. “What about Elena? Vampires with their humanity off tend to overindulge in human blood, or were you the exception?” Klaus turned from the table and looked at Stefan.

“It’s not Elena.” Stefan answered, putting his hand on his hip.

“Well, let’s say for a moment that it was Silas. I’m struggling to see how this affects us.” he sat down on the couch and wrapped his arm around Katie’s waist.

“Look, Silas wants to die and be reunited with his one true love, but he’s supernatural, so if he takes the cure and dies, he gets stuck on the other side.” Stefan explained.

“How Shakespearian.” Klaus commented with a cocky smile then took a sip of his drink.

“But if he destroys the other side all together, he can take the cure, die, and pass on. But in destroying it every dead supernatural being will return to our side.” Stefan’s words brought a frown to Katie’s face and she threw back her drink.

“That means every werewolf, every witch, every vampire. I wonder how many of those you personally killed. Care yet?” Caroline asked Klaus from where she stood behind Stefan.

“My interest is piqued.” Klaus told Caroline then looked at Stefan. “How do we stop him?”

“Bonnie said Silas needs to complete 3 massacres to do this spell.” Stefan answered. “Before professor Shane died, he convinced the pastor to blow up the council. Next he had you kill your hybrids and now he only needs one more massacre. So if he’s here, that’s what he’s doing. We need to find him.”

TVDTVDTVD

“So what are we even looking for?” Caroline asked as the four of them walked into Professor Shane’s apartment.

“Well, if Shane really was working with Silas chances are he was helping him plan his next move.” Stefan answered as they all started walking around, looking at all the random stuff.

“Where, on his evil villain to do list? Steal blood, perform 3 massacres, pick up dry cleaning?” Caroline asked.

“Actually not to nit-pick, but we evil villain’s usually use minions to pick up our dry cleaning, that sort of thing.” Klaus spoke up.

Katie bit her lips closed to keep her snippy comment at Klaus from coming out in front of Stefan and Caroline. “Why is he necessary again?” Caroline asked, making Katie smirk.

“Well, we don’t know what Silas can do. So if we do have to go head to head with him, an original hybrid who can’t die might come in handy.” Stefan answered.

“Besides, Stefan and I work well together, or at least we did in the twenties.” Klaus said as he walked over to the desk chair and sat down on it.

“Well, granted my emotions were off.” Stefan added.

“And that’s why you were more fun.” Klaus said as Katie walked over and pulled herself up to sit on the desk facing him. Normally she would be all for snooping for helpful information, but in this case she had no clue what she’d be looking for. “Just as Damon is probably relishing in Elena’s emotionless company in New York.”

“My brother knows what he’s doing.” Stefan told Klaus in a hard voice.

Katie bit her lips closed and Klaus smirked at her knowing she was fighting hard to keep her comments to herself. “Does he?” Klaus asked. “Don’t underestimate the allure of darkness, Stefan. Even the purest hearts are drawn to it.” Stefan just turned his back on them. “Still, I’m sure it will all be fine.” He placed his fingertips together with a smirk and swayed back and forth in the chair. Katie took in his devious smirk when he looked up at her.

“I think I found something.” Caroline spoke up and walked over to the desk with a book. “Symbolic figures in the dark arts.” She opened the book and put it on the desk. “Didn’t Bonnie talk about expression triangles? Here.” She pointed at a triangular drawing with different symbols at each of the points. Katie slipped off the desk and turned to look at the book.

“In some schools of magic such as expression, human sacrifice can be used as a focus for power. It’s rumored that the addition of two supernatural sacrifices compounds the mystical energy creating an expression triangle.” Stefan read from the book.

“Human’s, that was the council fire.” Caroline pointed at the top symbol, “Demons, Klaus’ hybrid failure.”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it a failure.” Klaus said dropping his clasped hands to wrap one around Katie’s waist. “What’s the third?”

“Oh no.” Caroline said looking at the book.

“What’s oh no?” Katie asked.

“Witches.” Caroline answered.

“Bonnie.” Katie said with a look at Caroline.

“I’ll go call her.” Stefan said as he pulled out his cell phone and headed out of the apartment.

Caroline grabbed a map, ruler and sharpie and laid them out on the desk. “There’s been two massacres. Pastor Young’s farm is here,” she drew an x on the map, “and the old Lockwood cellar, where Klaus spitefully slaughtered 12 of his own hybrids, is here.” She drew another x then connected them. “According to the book, the expression triangle is equilateral, putting it here.” She made a third x and connected it to the first line she drew.

“Or…” Katie hip bumped Klaus and he moved to the side. She moved so that she could stand across from Caroline. She took the ruler and made a mirror image equilateral triangle to the one Caroline had drawn. “here.” Katie pointed at the second location that the witch massacre could happen then looked up at Caroline.

Caroline didn’t get a chance to say anything before Stefan walked in getting their attention. “Hey, what’s going on? Did you find Bonnie?” she asked.

“No, but I talked to her dad. I think I found Silas.” Stefan answered getting Katie and Klaus’ attention. “He said Shane has been helping her learn to control her magic. Bonnie called her mom to get a group of witches down here to perform a ritual to help her…tonight.” They all knew Shane died on the island.

“Okay.” Katie looked out the window to see that the sun was starting to set. “Then I guess we don’t have much time do we?”

TVDTVDTVD

Katie and Klaus walked through the woods headed to the location she’d marked on the map on the cell phone in Klaus’ hand. “So I have a question.” Katie started. “You liked Stefan better with his humanity off and you think Damon likes Elena better with her humanity off. Why didn’t you like me better without my humanity?”

“Because I like you better with it.” He told her simply. “Don’t get me wrong, you were fun and carefree without your humanity, but all the things I like about you were gone.” They came to a stop and he turned off his phone and put it in his pocket.

“And those things are?” she drawled.

“Now who’s fishing for compliments?” he asked her with a smirk and she rolled her eyes and gave him a look that asked him to answer the question. “Your fire, your compassion…everything that makes you who you are.”

“Mkay, second question.” She started. “I told you once that I didn’t know why I was drawn to you. So was that, “don’t underestimate the allure of darkness” comment you made earlier, really aimed at Elena and Damon or were you talking about us?” she asked, trying to mimic his accent.

He smiled at her bad attempt. “Both.” He answered.

“That’s not why I’m drawn to you.” she told him matter-of-factly and he gave her a curious look that she was growing to like. “It’s the man hidden under the monster that pulls me in. The little glimpses of your humanity that I’ve gotten to see. You like my humanity, I like yours.”

He leaned down and kissed her then pulled back and looked around. “We’re here. Although judging by the lack of witches, here is not the correct location.”

“Awesome.” Katie sighed now even more worried about Bonnie.

Seeing her worry he held his hand out to her. “I’m faster than you, Love.”

She ignored his hand and walked around him, placed her hands on his shoulders then jumped and wrapped her legs around his torso. He grabbed her thighs and looked at her over his shoulder. She pecked him on the cheek. “Whisk me away, Big Bad Wolf.”

When they found Stefan, Caroline and the witches Katie saw Bonnie laying in the center of a pentagram with her hands and feet tied to stakes that were hammered into the ground.

“They’re linked, Bonnie’s going to kill them.” Stefan informed them.

“Not if the witches kill her first.” Klaus pinned Stefan to a tree with his hands on his chest.

“Klaus, we can’t let them kill her.” Katie pleaded with him.

“The only way to stop the witches is to kill them and Silas gets what he wants.” Klaus pointed out.

All of their eyes turned to the witch that sat at Bonnie’s head, a knife raised over her head. Katie didn’t know what to do, she couldn’t just let them kill Bonnie, but at the same time it was like Klaus said, the only way to stop them was to kill them. Take one life or twelve? Before anyone could stop her Caroline whooshed over, grabbed the witch’s hands and made her stab herself in the heart. “No!” Katie and Klaus yelled at the same time.

Stefan went to Caroline’s side while Katie stood next to Klaus. “Well, you wouldn’t happen to have a shovel would you?” Katie asked with a sigh.

TVDTVDTVD

By the time Katie and Klaus had dug twelve holes in the middle of the woods the sun had come up. Katie and Klaus did most of the work, Caroline was still in shock at what just happened. “There, twelve graves for twelve witches, like it never happened.” Klaus told Caroline as he rolled his sleeves down. “Only it did happen.” He grabbed his jacket and shrugged it on. “Now Silas has everything he needs to open the gates to hell on earth.”

Katie slammed her shovel into the ground then grabbed her denim jacket off a fallen tree and pulled it on. “You two were just gonna let Bonnie die.” Caroline told them with a glare.

“I know arithmetic isn’t your strong point, but one is still less than twelve.” Klaus told her.

Caroline looked at Katie. “That one, is our best friend.”

“Yeah, Care, but those other twelve witches had best friends and probably families too.” Katie pointed out.

Caroline’s face turned to one of horror. “I just killed twelve people…” she whispered looking like she was about to cry.

“Okay, I’m going to drive Caroline home.” Katie told Klaus who gave her a nod.

Katie spent the night with Caroline, not wanting her to be alone with herself after what she’d done.

TVDTVDTVD

The next morning Katie got a message from Klaus asking her to come home and that it was an emergency.

“Klaus?” Katie called as she walked through the house.

“Go away.” She followed his voice to a room she’d never been in and found him sitting on the floor leaning against the bench of a piano, shirtless and shaking from pain.

“I got your message, what happened?” she asked as she walked into the room.

“I need more time. Stop hounding me!” he yelled at her.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She walked over to him and kneeled down, brushing his sweaty hair out of his face. “What's wrong?” blood was on his back a day fingertips.

“Katie…Is it really you?” he asked shakily.

“Yeah.” she drawled in confusion.

“Prove it to me.” he told her.

“Um, okay.” She sighed not knowing how she was supposed to prove that she was herself. So she simply kissed him then pressed her forehead to his and looked him in the eyes. “Now tell me what happened, please.”

“Silas, he stabbed me with a white oak stake.” He told her motioning to his back and she moved around him to see a bloody spot on his back that looked more like he’d been clawing at it than if he’d been stabbed. “There’s a piece of it stuck inside me.”

She moved back to kneel in front of him and cupped his cheek in her hand. “I’ll see what I can do.” She stood up and held her hand out to him. He took it and let her pull him up. She pulled the piano bench out and motioned for him to sit. So he sat down and leaned forward on the piano. She picked up the bloody trimming shears off the floor, grabbed a wooden chair and set down behind him.

After an hour and a half of digging around in his back and coming up with nothing she tossed the sheers onto of the piano. “You’re giving up.” He observed.

“On those stupid sheers, yes.” She said then started digging around in his back with her fingers.

“Are you using your fingers?” he asked.

“That’s what she said.” She joked and he heaved an aggravated sigh. “Sorry, not the time for jokes. Yes, I’m using my fingers. And if I still don’t find anything then yeah, I’ll give up because there’s nothing in here and I can't keep torturing you.”

“It’s there.” he told her, still in a lot of pain.

“So why did Silas come after you anyway?” she asked while poking and prodding around in his back.

“He wants me to get him the cure.” He answered truthfully.

After another hour of digging in his back she gave up. “Klaus, I swear there’s nothing there.” She told him as she stopped poking around in his back.

“I can feel it!” he yelled as he stood up and turned to her, knocking the piano bench over. She held up her bloody hands and took a step back.

“Do you think I would just stand by and let you die?” she asked with a hard tone.

“Probably.” He answered quietly, not looking at her.

“I flipped my switch because I thought you died!” she yelled at him. “So believe me when I tell you there is no white oak splinter working its way to your heart. You’re imagining it!”

“Do not raise your voice to me!” he told her, taking a step closer to tower over her.

“I will raise my voice at you any time I damn well please you stubborn, egomaniacal douche bag!” she yelled back taking a step closer to him as she glared back at him.

Instead of lashing out at her he frowned and looked at the floor. “It’s gone.”

“Huh?” Katie asked, confused.

“The pain…” He reached back over his shoulder. “The pain is gone.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “It was…It was never there.” He opened his eyes and looked at her, all anger gone from both of them. “You were right, I was imagining it. Silas…” he pointed at his temples with two fingers, “got inside my head.” He cupped her cheek in his hand, kissed her then pressed his forehead to hers. “You took my mind off it. You brought me back, Little Phoenix.”

“Well, then I guess my temper paid off for once.” She said with a small smile that he returned. “So you’re okay?” she asked as she pulled back and rested one hand on his shoulder and cupped his cheek in the other.

“I am. Thanks to you.” he told her then rested his hands on her waist.

“So…do you really think I’d just let you die, or were you just talking out of pain and frustration?” she asked, having been a little hurt by him.

“I didn’t mean it.” he told her honestly. “I apologize.”

“Hmm, how often does that leave your mouth?” she asked jokingly and he rolled his eyes at her. “Restock the fridge with ice cream and all is forgiven. And I’m sorry I called you a douchebag.” She told him with a small smile. He tried to kiss her but she pulled away “You need a shower. Contrary to popular belief a sweaty man is not a sexy one.”

“No?” he asked with a look down at himself, his jeans riding low on his hips.

“No.” she answered with a small laugh and a shake of her head. When a devilish look appeared in his eyes she smiled bigger. “Klaus.” She drawled with a warning tone.

“Katie.” He mimicked her tone as he smiled back.

“Whatever you’re thi-” her words were cut off with a yelp when he picked her up and pressed her to the wall, exaggeratedly rubbing his body against her, wiping his sweat all over her. “Klaus.” She laughed his name while he kissed her neck and she wrapped her arms around him only to stick her hand in the blood and bits of flesh left behind when his back healed. “Okay, okay, you win. I’ll shower with you.”

[octopodeez]

Wasted Time (Elijah Mikaelson x Reader)

Based on this request:  Can I request a Elijah X reader where the reader is good friends with Elijah and Klaus teases her to be in Love with him, and she acts like Elijah knows and might forces him to play along, turning out they both have feelings for each other but didn't admit it? Klaus playing match maker

Your coven warned you to stay away from New Orleans, but you felt you had a pilgrimage to make. The entire city was known to be bursting at the seams with magic, and you’d dreamt of going since the moment you cast your first spell. You longed to tap into that energy. Maybe even pick the brains of some of the local witches to see what they could teach you.

You also admittedly had a curiosity about the very thing you were warned about: the war. Word spread fast about the city’s chaos once the original family made their return. Vampires and werewolves and witches were battling in the shadows, right under the noses of every tourist and townie. It was fascinating, and you figured a little quiet observation wouldn’t hurt anyone. Your naivety was laughable.

Not 24 hours into your trip did you end up becoming a pawn passed back and forth between the witches and the vampires. A wildcard for every side to use—new blood in the game. It ended with your coven alienating you. They wanted no part in any of it, especially when the original family was involved, and to offer you safe harbor was to bring the bloodshed to them. The witches of New Orleans gave you a similar answer when you desperately sought refuge with them, though, theirs ended with plans to execute you.  

And then there was Elijah. Elijah who found you labeled as a traitor, about to be sacrificed. Elijah who rescued you and gave you his word that he’d keep you safe.

The living situation wasn’t ideal, and you lost the ability to move freely about the city, but over time, you came to like it. Winning over his siblings wasn’t easy, especially Klaus, but after Elijah reminded him that he was the one to drag you into this, he softened slightly.

You did your best to earn your keep, though Elijah insisted you didn’t have to. You’d happily cast spells upon request, but mostly you found yourself cooking and cleaning. It irritated Rebekah to no end when she came around.

My brothers are over 1,000 years old, if they haven’t learned to pick up after themselves by now then they deserve to live in filth, she chided the first time you met. If you must do something, make it to be that you keep to yourself. The less involved with our family you are, the better. Trust me on that.

You nodded along for her benefit, and even took her advice for a bit while she was there. But the second she left again, you were back to making cookies and disposing of bodies.

Occasionally things would quiet down. Someone would propose a flimsy peace treaty, or a faction would be forced to withdraw as they licked their wounds. It was those times that Klaus was at his most dangerous. Without the distractions of war, he had time to turn his attentions to other things…namely your friendship with Elijah.  

At first, he was relatively quiet about it. He’d shoot smug, knowing glances and take the occasional vague jab in one of your directions. But as time went on and his boredom grew, he became far more vocal about what he’d suspected since day one: you and Elijah were in love.

He was half right. You had it bad for his elder brother, and everyone knew, save for Elijah himself. Or rather—he did know and simply chose not to acknowledge it. The latter was more likely. Few were more perceptive than Elijah, and there was absolutely no way he didn’t catch you staring at him as he read or lighting up whenever he walked within six feet of you. You’d come to terms with it quickly, and decided it was probably for the better he didn’t say anything. He’d quickly become your closest friend, and you’d rather have that than nothing at all.

Klaus decided otherwise.

“Your affections for my brother are exhausting, you know,” he said one day. He was leaning against your doorframe with his arms loosely crossed, watching you change your bedsheets.

You sighed and fiddled with a pillowcase. Ignoring him had never made him go away in the past, but you could sure as hell still try.

He remained persistent. “It’s no secret you fancy our dearest Elijah, and your longing stares after him are losing their humor.”

“So you’ve caught me looking at your brother a few times. What’s the big deal?” You snapped.

Klaus clicked his tongue after finally getting the reaction he wanted out of you.

“It seems I’ve struck a nerve, little witch.”

“No, I’m just tired of having this same conversation. I don’t know what you’re hoping to get out of it. Or are you just jealous?” There was venom in your voice and Klaus looked more delighted by the second.

“You’re not my type, love, but thank you for keeping me in your thoughts,” he replied. His sarcasm made your blood boil. “A quick word of advice—my brother seldom opens his heart to others. If you do choose to grow a spine and act upon your feelings…just know I’ll gladly reach down your throat and rip it right back out, should you ever hurt him.”

***

Klaus’s words stuck with you. They kept you up that night and well into the morning as they played in your mind over and over again. My brother seldom opens his heart to others. My brother seldom opens his heart to others. My brother seldom opens his heart to others. You knew better than to read into it. Hearts could open for friends just as much as for lovers…but could they really?

“You look conflicted.”

Elijah appeared in the kitchen with impeccable timing, as usual. You had just shoved a large spoonful of cereal in your mouth, and now your cheeks were swollen with Cheerios. A dribble of milk dripped down your chin and you nearly choked as you scrambled to wipe it away. He smiled and waited patiently for you to recover.

“What?” You finally managed. It was the first time you spoke since rolling out of bed and the sound was less than pleasant.

“You look conflicted,” he repeated, and then added “did you not sleep well?”

“Oh, no, I slept fine. Or, I guess I had a little trouble falling asleep…woke up a few times, too. But other than that, fine,” you stammered. Each word was clumsier than the next.

“Mm. Perhaps you should take it easy today. Maybe draw yourself a bath later on. You’re welcome to use the tub in my room. I expect it’s a bit nicer than yours.”

You nearly choked again. In all your fantasies and daydreams, you’d somehow never pictured him in the bath until now. Your mind’s eye was practically whirring with excitement as you envisioned him relaxed. Head leaned back. Eyes shut. Breathing deeply as one arm hung lazily over the porcelain’s edge. The other had its fingers wrapped delicately around the stem of a wine glass, filled with an unmistakable shade of deep red liquid. An empty blood bag lay crumpled and discarded on the floor. Nothing sexual. Nothing romantic. Just the wonderful idea of Elijah experiencing a rare moment of bliss.

He must have heard your heart skip a few beats. The clearing of his throat snapped you back to reality.

“Sorry! Maybe I’ll take you up on, uh, that. I’m not really feeling myself today.”

“You don’t say. What happened?”

“Nothing. I just didn’t sleep well.”

Elijah stayed quiet for a beat. He looked at you expectantly. Waiting for you to confirm what he already knew: you were full of shit. You pretended not to notice. You’d sit at this table, stubbornly eating the same bowl of Cheerios for an eternity before you willingly gave up the fact that he was the reason for yet another sleepless night.

“I noticed Niklaus coming from the direction of your room last night…so allow me to ask you again. What happened?” His voice was firm and his eyes were narrowed. Had you not known better, you would have almost thought he was jealous.

“Nothing! Klaus was just being Klaus, I don’t know! He stopped by, bugged me while I was trying to clean my room, then left. No conspiracies. No secret love affairs. Nothing new to report.” You chomped down on another spoonful of cereal. Everything came out harsher than you meant it to, but you had no intentions of apologizing.

“Is that so? Because if I recall the conversation I had with my brother last night as he left your room, the placement of your spine was threatened on my behalf…I suppose the question I should be asking isn’t what happened, but for how long?”

You spent so much time daydreaming about Elijah over the short course of your friendship. You pictured a life together. Maybe even an eternity, if he offered to grant it. You imagined what it would be like to feel him drink from you. The way he’d rest his hand on your waist as you drifted to sleep in a shared bed. The taste of his lips between sips of champagne on some far-off beach.

There was a part of you that felt terribly foolish. If something were to happen, it would have happened. He would have acted upon the tension he damn well knew was there. Your relationship was platonic because that was all he wanted it to be. But then there was another part of you. The same part of you that brought you down to New Orleans to begin with. That voice in the depths of your brain that kept whispering Klaus’s words: My brother seldom opens his heart to others.

“A while,” you finally confessed. It felt anticlimactic. Of the thousands of heartfelt speeches you’d planned over the months knowing him, all you could muster was two miserable words.

“I see. And you said nothing.”

“Right.”

Unable to look at him, you grabbed your empty bowl and moved towards the sink, but only made it halfway before he was in front of you, blocking your path.

The way he studied you made you feel small and exposed, a feeling you’d experienced many times in your life, but never to this degree. His body was close to yours. You could feel his breath lightly on your skin. It rippled over every nook and cranny of your being, making your hairs stand on end. If you wanted to, you could reach out and kiss him—and you did want to, badly--but you remined frozen in time, waiting for him to speak.

He never said a word.

His hand found its way to you neck, and he tangled his fingers in your hair as he kissed you. It was tender, but had an underlying fire to it that made your knees buckle. You wrapped your arms around him for support. To draw him in closer, closer, closer, closer, until you had to come up for air. He allowed you to take a breath, just enough to keep your heart pounding, before kissing you again, somehow with even more fervor than before.

When it was finally done, Elijah smiled and held you against his chest. He kissed the top of your head. The side of your neck. The shell of your ear.

There was so much wasted time to make up for.  

I’m not super crazy with how this one turned out, but matchmaker Klaus was a ton of fun to write! If you like what you see, check out my AO3 and master list :)

[neraidaastrid]

Nothin’ Like You

Kol Mikaelson x reader

Fandom: the vampire diaries/ the originals

Word Count:

Prompt: Nothin’ Like You~ Dan+Shay

Warnings: none

A/N: hope you like it!

I remember when I first met you                                                                             Sippin’ coffee in a corner booth         

Exams were becoming stressful and most of your days were spent studying. The Mystic Grill was the best place for you, Food and  quiet chatter so your didn’t lose complete focus with the silence. You sat in a corner booth with a pile of books for the couses you were taking. Senior year is always stressful since you wanted to to well enough to get a decent job without having to go to college. 

                                                                                                                                  You were twirling your hair                                                                                      And I just had to stair for a minute or two                                                                     I was laughing at your stack of books        

A tick of yours was to play with your hair when bored or anxious. The words of the text was being read, just not processed in your brain, so you ended up reading the same extract again and again. The Grill had suddenly become slightly louder as some people walked in. Two men who you knew were new in town walked in. They were brothers. Nothing important, so you got back to your tasks.

Kol had just entered the Grill with Klaus for a few evening drinks when a girl caught his eye. She had a pile of textbooks to the side of her and she was fiddling with a strand of hair, biting her bottom lip. The original vampire thought she looked gorgeous

                                                                                                                                 Then you shot me that smile                                                                                   Hey beautiful girl in your own little world                                                                                    Let me in it                      

You raised your head from the book to find Kol Mikaelson staring at you with his devilishly handsome smirk. All you could do was return a small smile, tucking the piece of hair you were twisting behind your ear.

                                                                                                                                                    You got all of my attention                                                                                           And you ain’t even trying     

Exams were finally over; you had some time to spend, so you thought why not go out with some friends. Your friends, Tiffany and Imogen, dragged you to a little cafè on the edge of town. The three of you sat on a little table outside of the building, drinking coffee. Kol strolled past and your laughter rung in his ears. Even though you weren’t trying to be noticed by anyone, your pure innocence made his heart skip a beat.

                                                                                                                                                                                              Yeah, you're my kinda different                                                                               And I've never seen                                                                                                                 Nothin’ like you                                               

The original vampire’s chest was your pillow as you slept ontop of him. Arms keeping your body close. Kol couldn’t keep his eyes off of your beauty. Your face alone making the vampire swoon, let alone your personality. The pure kindness in your being. The way your face could light up any room, it made him love you unconditionally.

                                                                                                                                           Shades on, spinning in the summer rain                                                                      Dancing when there ain’t no music        

Rain fell all over your beings. Kol held you by the waist as you swayed, your arms around his neck. Your giggles when he spinned you out and tugged you back into him, echoed in his brain, memorising every moment. He wanted this to last forever, never letting you go or get hurt. Your smile making his stomach form butterflies. It was like he was in heaven.

                                                                                                                          Just the right kind of crazy, baby                                                                                      There’s something ‘bout you                                                                                         Rockin’ that rock and roll t-shirt      

Kol took you to your favourite band’s concert. The original wasn’t a huge fan of the music, but he knew you loved it, so he put up with it. As long as you were happy, he didn’t mind. While music blasted into your ears, Kol pulled you by the hips, lovingly pressing his lips onto yours. You felt giddy with joy, like a thirteen year old girl going on her first date. The both of you grinned through the kiss, you hooking your arms behing his neck, nipping at the back of his hair. This man did magical things to your insides.     

                                                                                                                                  When we party dressed up                                                                                     But you just doing your thing                                                                                         Ain’t nobody ever seen                                                                                           Nothin’ like you        

Your dress swished as Kol twirled you on the dance floor. The Mikaelson’s were having a ball at the moment, and your vampire Boyfriend gave you a blush princess ball gown. Floral lacey bodice, the pattern fading away as it puffed out on the petticoat. It was gorgeous, but Kol would’ve thouht that you looked stunning in anything, maybe even in nothing. 

One of his hands on your waist, while the other one intertwined with yours. Your petite hand laid ontop of his broad shoulder. “You look stunning, darling.” He cooed into your ear. “I think your may have mentioned that to me already, but i’m not sure, maybe you need to say it again.” Kol’s signature smirk played on his lips as you teased him.

                                                                                                                             When your wearing them worn out jeans                                                               Purple untied shoe strings         

You stepped into the Mikaelson’s mansion in ripped jeans and a tank top. You wandered down the hallway, bumping into Rebekah, A.K.A, one of your good friends. Her eyes looked you up and down, her facial expressions practically speaking to you. “We get it Rebekah, you don’t like my fashion.” You loved the vampire but she always commented on your ripped clothing. “Obviously you can rock anything, but it’s nothing amazing.”

“I think she looks fabulous.” The voice you recognised far too well. Kol appeared behing you, so you turned and jumoed into his arms, him catching you by the thighs, kissing your lips. “Ugghhhh. Get a room.”

                                                                                                                                     You’re a light in the dark                                                                                                  And you're stealing my heart like a gypsy      

Kol had gotten into an argument with his familly, and asked you to come over. You stumbled into his room, tripping over your feet. His face held so much frustration, but as soon as your face came into view, he lit up immediantly. “Hey....” You bit your lip walking over to the original. 

                                                                                                                                    I love the way that you kiss me                                                                               In front of everybody                                                                                               So baby come and kiss me                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Never seen nothin’ like you

Kol’s hands pulled your flush to his, stradling his legs. Lips moving simutanously in sync. Your hands cupped his cheeks, deepening the kiss. His hands roamed the surface your body in the heated moment. Him using vamp speed, flipped you over, Kol hovering over your temple of a body. You were his muse and he was yours.

[bowieandqueen11]

Best Friends, Always / Vanya Hargreeves Imagine

Request: Hey there! Can I request an umbrella academy fic where the reader is number 8 and was closest with Vanya growing up? Years then go by and they drift apart. But when they reunite reader wants to be like a sister to Vanya again. Also the reader has the power of pyrokinesis! 

Ahh i keep on meaning to write for Vanya so thank you @billhaderstrashbag​!! <3

Comments are much appreciated!

Swinging your legs off the edge of the tiny beige bed, you can’t help but smile.

The room was small, neatly made, with only a straight backed chair, a small bureau without any mirror, and a desk in the corner by the slit window. There was a pair of drapery curtains, no pictures on the stone walls, but it was nice - stifling, but also familiar. With the two of you in the room, you had made it feel like home.

Vanya kept a few little knick knacks by her bed: a little heart and a silver crane you had made for her, a picture you had snapped of the two of you (although she kept is slightly hidden - if Allison found out that you had stolen her polaroid camera from her drawer you’d never hear the end of it from Luther), a gold necklace you had bought her for her birthday.

It was her favourite possession, the half heart of the best friend locket, the other half which you had hung around your own neck. Well, her favourite except for her violin, of course.

She stood by the foot of the bed, her eyes scanning the notes that rest on the stand, one foot in front of the other. A look of total concentration covers her face, not noticing Klaus run past, ducking as a knife hits the edge of her doorframe.

‘Diego, what the hell, scheisse!’  

‘Well, you better run faster!’

There’s something about the way the violin sings that sets her heart into the deepest of symphonies, deeply harrowing and torrential in the way it encompasses her body. Its slender strings caress her fingers, its curves are tenderly traced under her palm, and to her, nothing in the world can possibly compare to the sense of empowerment which is achieved with the most marvelling mix of notes. 

You close your eyes as you listen, allowing the flames to bounce leisurely along your fingers as you begin to sway to the notes. You don’t even notice she had stopped until you hear Vanya shouting.

‘Y/n! The curtains!’

Glancing to your side, you watch the sunlight stream through the gap in the curtains, bringing the hope of a new afternoon. Though the window is closed you can smell the roses just outside. A smile spreads over your face. It isn't the fragrance of those blooms you detect, but rose perfume on the drapes; Vanya always did like to bring something of nature into her room.

It took you a moment to see the flames, before Vanya had grabbed a blazer from her wardrobe and fanned them down with a panicked expression.

‘Vanya, I’m so sorry! Ohhh Reginald’s going to murder me.’

‘It’s fine... he never comes in here anyway’, she murmurs as she slides down next to you on the duvet, ‘I’ll just ask Grace to get me another pair from the attic. Or I can do without, I enjoy waking up to a rising sun. Makes me feel... less alone, I guess.’

‘You’re not alone, idiot’, you say with a giggle as you bump into her shoulder, ‘I’m right here.’

‘But you’re special.’

‘And you’re not? I don’t know anyone else who can play the violin that well. You don’t need powers to be extraordinary, Vanya.’

You wrap an arm around her shoulder, allowing Vanya to snuggle in. ‘You're the only person I know that gives extreme hugs.’ You snicker in reply,  ‘well, it’s because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.’

In that moment your arms squeezed a fraction tighter and Vanya breathed more slowly, her body melting into yours as every muscle lost its tension to the cold air. This was life, real life. 

She never thought she’d be this happy again.

~

Your umbrella is a splash of colour on this sweet greyscale day, a day when one could feel as if they had walked in an old noir novel. Your hand curls around the handle, and the canopy stretches above you as if it were the blossoms of a rainforest.

You stood there together, you and Vanya, at the front of the funeral. Everyone's heads were down. Maybe it was them showing respect of maybe there were too afraid to look up in case everyone else figured out how nonchalant they were about the whole affair. Vanya was the only one sniffling, although you couldn’t tell if it was due to the rain pelting onto her reddening cheeks, or due to the ashes Luther was dumping onto the damp ground. She looked smaller somehow, hunched, and you felt your stomach lurch as you looked away, You couldn’t bear the thought that this is what she had become when you had left her.

‘I thought there would be more wind’, he adds as he looks around, almost embarrassed. Klaus’ hand reaches out to grab onto your shaky one, until you slap him away. He only shrugs in reply, placing a blunt into his mouth and managing to light it with the tips of his fingers as Five wanders back inside, an awful look of nothingness in his eyes. 

It was done. He was gone.

You managed to make your way over to Vanya, catching her attention with a small cough.

‘I’m sorry Diego was such an ass to you. He’s been a bit cranky the last few days. Luther too.’

‘It’s alright. It’s been a hard time for all of us.’ It's crazy how things can turn upside down. You see the person every day and suddenly, they're gone and when they go, a part of you goes with them too. 

‘Do you want to get out of here, get some breakfast? Maybe go to Griddy’s, like when we used to sneak out of my bedroom window-’

‘Y/n, we’re not kids anymore.’

‘I know-I know, but still...even if we can’t be kids, I want to be sisters again. Except this time, I’ll actually be a good one.’

Vanya shuffles as she glances at the ground, her mouth slightly twitching at the side.

‘Do you still play the violin?’

‘Yeah... I’m part of an orchestra now.’

‘I’m glad! I’m so glad - I hope you’ll let me come see you practice. That always was my favourite part of the day, waking up and hearing the music through the Academy walls...’

You reach out to place a curl of her hair back behind her ear, letting your hand rest on her shoulder. You can see in her eyes  as she tries to make contact with you, that her brain has built some new walls so she didn’t have to feel so alone anymore. 

Her sigh was of a softly deflating; it was as if a tension had lifted yet left her with a melancholy instead of relief. But there was also a glimmer of hope in the spark that flew through her eye.

She reached up to fiddle with her neck, allowing a slightly tarnished locket with the word ‘best’ to land on her rain splashed fingers, finally building up the courage to look you in the eye.

‘Best friends, right?’

‘Always.’

Kofi?

[hypnoticwinter]

Down the Rabbit Hole part 14

As the loud, clanging gunshot rings out again, Elena gives me a sympathetic look and leans in a little closer to me. I gingerly take my hands away from my ears, but when she speaks I still can’t hear her through the earplugs. I reach up and start to take them out but she gives me a look and smacks my hand back down, and then she is tucking my hair back behind my ear and fiddling with the plugs. She presses down gently and the earplugs slip in a tiny bit further and then I truly can’t hear; I guess I just hadn’t inserted them all the way. I flash her a grin and a thumbs-up and she smiles at me a little indulgently. My eyes linger on her a little longer while she crosses her arms again, leans up against the painted brick wall of the firing range.

Ahead of us in the central stall, the robot and the tall, slim man with the joysticked control box are looking for more targets. The robot is holding the biggest rifle I’ve ever seen, one-handed no less, and though the shells it spits out with each trigger-pull have got to be the size of Coke cans – okay, maybe not that big, maybe about the size of a mediumish pill-bottle – it handles the recoil without any strain at all.

Down further the overhead rack whines and sends a dinner-plate sized target whizzing across the line again. The robot’s head tracks it for a moment before with a single swift and precise motion it flicks the barrel of the gun to the left and pulls the trigger. I wince again, less from the sound of it now, thanks to Elena’s help, and more due to the resonating shockwave of it throbbing in my chest.

The man with the joystick toggles something on it and the robot racks the bolt of the rifle, tilts it skyward to check the chamber, and then ejects the massive magazine and puts it on the table before it.

“As you can see,” the man says, looking around at us, “this new model of armature skeleton is the most advanced yet. We’ve put absolutely everything into this bad boy,” he grins, slapping the chest plate of the robot; it doesn’t react. “Gyroscopic stabilizers, redundant systems in practically every area, newest cyborgnetic processors, the works.”

“You said you were from Europe, right?” Ellis asks, and the man nods.

“That’s correct. This is going to be a bit of a joint venture. As I mentioned before, I’m Max Euler, one of the scientists from Anodyne Berlin’s robotics department. We reached out to the administration here,” he says, nodding to Makado, “when we felt that the skeleton was in the final phases of testing and could really do with an…extremely adverse environment to put it through its paces. Then, when we discovered that you were facing a certain…difficulty retrieving an artifact, well, everything seemed serendipitous.”

“You don’t sound very German,” I observe. A few heads twist around to look at me and I can see Makado hide a smile. Euler doesn’t miss a beat, though.

“I actually learned English in America,” he tells me. “That’s why I don’t have an accent when I speak it. Deep-immersion in a culture is the best way to learn, I believe. Now, do we have any other questions about myself or the armature or has its performance spoken for itself?”

To be fair, the thing’s performance was very impressive. Over the past couple of hours we watched him demonstrate its speed, its agility, its coordination…everything that would interest the men and women on the team with ex-military backgrounds, which, from what I gathered from the past couple of days, was the majority. I think only Crookshank and another man I had met only briefly before he’d disappeared again, a short, sinewy, compact individual who introduced himself with a wide, flashing grin as Klaus, just Klaus, weren’t. Well, possibly Elena, actually. Is the Coast Guard part of the military? I don’t know. I think so but I’m not certain. I should ask her if I ever manage to get her alone again.

Alone. That’s a laugh. These past couple of days in the barracks have been a decidedly different experience than what I’m used to. I’m not a particularly shy person and I’m confident enough that I’ve never had any real reservations about my body, but the absolute lack of privacy is something I’ve never really experienced before. I got used to it quickly enough, changing in front of everybody. The first time I was motivated mainly because I knew for certain that if I made a big deal of it I’d be taken even less seriously. Aww, look at the little baby, wants us to turn around while she puts a new shirt on? How cute! She thinks we’ve never seen a pair of tits before!

I guess if I want to psychoanalyze myself I could ask why I want to fit in so badly with these people, but it’s obvious, isn’t it? Being the outsider aches, and even if you can fox-and-grapes yourself into believing that it’s okay because you’re “better” than them, you’re always going to know how much bull that is, somewhere deep down.

As far as becoming part of a team goes, you can either have it built in or have it be something you build up. If I came here and I was a male ex-Marine or even something like a paramedic, or perhaps even a lineman (power line lineman, not football lineman), I’d be much more easily accepted. Not that I think the fact that I’m a woman really has much to do with it; it’s about experiences. What the hell does a reporter know about Real World Things, like how to build a fire or pitch a tent or hide food where a bear can’t get it? Or how to fire a gun, splint an injured leg?

I know how to do some of those things, to be fair. But I don’t have the credentials. Instead I have to build it up, I have to be willing to learn, I have to put in work without complaining, I have to play ball no matter what. Challenging an institution, even a little one like a team like this, is impossible until you get inside of it. You say something like, ‘uh, I think I’d prefer to have all of you not stare at my tits while I change my shirt’ and boom, all the goodwill you’ve built up is gone. You have to play ball, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

“Roan?” Makado asks again, sidling up to me while Euler prattles on about something else up in front. I take another look at him and the robot and flick my eyes over to Makado.

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. What’s up?”

“I want to show you the recording equipment we’ve got for you.”

We slip out of the firing range and head down the hallway, Makado’s heeled footsteps echoing off the tight corridor ceiling. She’s wearing her hair down today, with a broad headband resting high up on her forehead to keep those unruly curls in line. “Makado,” I say after a moment, “can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“How dangerous is this going to be?”

She stops, turns and looks at me. Her lopsided gaze is calculating. “Very, I’d imagine,” she says eventually.

“Mm.”

“Why, are you having second thoughts?”

“No,” I tell her, “not particularly. I just wanted to – mentally prepare myself.”

“You know,” she says after a moment, “I was pretty certain you were going to chicken out.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I assumed, you know, throw you to the wolves for a day or two in the barracks with the team, you’d get scared enough to realize this is a bad idea.”

“They’ve been decent to me, actually.”

“As they would have been to anybody,” she smiles, guiding us around a corner. “But I think you might find that my, and apparently your, definition of ‘decent’ might not match with that of a lot of other twenty-something female reporters.”

“If I quit, who’d work the camera?”

“It’s a camera,” Makado laughs. “How hard can it be?”

“Show me the camera and I’ll tell you.”

She shows me the camera and then blushes after a moment. “Christ,” she says. “Stop laughing, it’s a camera.”

“This is what you’re going to use? Where’d you get this, Walmart?”

“Look, our budget isn’t –“

“How much did this cost? A hundred bucks?”

Makado looks at me for a moment. “Eighty,” she says finally. I knead the bridge of my nose.

“I literally have a four hundred dollar camera in my bag back in the barracks that could take better video than this,” I say, “and that’s my backup SLR.”

“SLR?” Makado frowns. I wave it away.

“It’s a kind of camera. Mine’s digital, it can take stills or video. I have…I think three or four memory cards left? So probably about 60 hours of video, I’d guess. More if you’re okay with thirty frames per second instead of sixty. What’s the video going to be used for?”

“It’s classified,” Makado says. “I can’t –“

“Do you want good video or not?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Look, I really can’t tell you. We just want you to record the operation, that’s all. You don’t need to give it an edge or a slant or an angle or anything, just record it.”

“Mm,” I grunt. “Alright, that’s fair. What’s the deal with the crystal? Why is it so important?”

“Don’t press your luck. This camera you have, how fragile is it?”

I laugh. “About as fragile as this one, relatively,” I point. “Maybe a little more. If it breaks down there I’ll want an assurance that you’ll replace it.”

“If it’s in the budget.”

“A personal assurance, for my personal camera,” I elaborate. She looks at me dubiously.

“You want me to buy you a new camera with my own money?”

“If it breaks.”

“When did this turn into a negotiation?” she asks. Her voice is exasperated but I can tell that she wants to smile. “Fine. How about this? If you break your camera but the footage is usable, I’ll get you a new one. No footage, no camera.”

“Alright.”

“And you’re taking this one as well, as a backup.”

“Fine. I’ll need to get my charger, though.”

“For the batteries? You don’t have it with you?”

“If you recall, I thought I was just going to be coming in and then leaving the same night. I didn’t plan on getting caught up in this adventure of yours. My charger’s back at my motel room in town.”

“Guess we’d better go get it, then.”

And then Makado is putting her arm around my shoulder and ushering me out of the dingy storage closet, and then out of the building entirely.

 * * *

 “You know,” I say as the little Volkswagen powers down the main road and out the gate, Makado giving a cheery wave to the guard in the gatehouse as she passes, “this really isn’t the sort of car I was expecting you’d drive.”

She laughs. “You and everybody else. See, this actually used to be my aunt’s car. She won the lottery, bought herself a new car, gave me this one, and I was like, ‘hey, what the hell, free car, might as well use it’ and from there it grew on me.”

“It’s so tiny.”

“If you turn that into a crack about my height, you’re walking back to the Flesh Pit.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I laugh. “Although you are kind of fulfilling the stereotype by being so touchy about it.”

“That’s it –“

“I’m joking.”

“I know,” she says, flashing me a quick grin.

The world outside is like a bright warm hug. I realized as soon as Makado lead me out of the squat, evil-looking concrete Security building that for the last three days in the barracks I had been suffering from a myopia of purpose; I’d done little more than work out in the gym, hang out with Elena, and play wallflower, listening to the team laugh and joke and riff off each other. If I were to close my eyes, here in the car, with the top down, trailing my hand in the breeze, I’d be asleep in five minutes.

“You look peaceful,” Makado observes, and I crack an eye open, fix her with what I hope is a sardonic gaze.

“Do I not normally look peaceful?”

“Well, considering I’ve known you for about four days now, and about half of those we were both wondering if I was going to have to send you to federal prison, I’d say that generally you haven’t looked very peaceful.”

“Fair point.”

We drive on in silence for a little longer. “You know,” she says, “there’s no shame in backing out.”

“If you didn’t want me to go you shouldn’t have offered,” I tell her. “It’s too late now.”

“If you want the truth, I did it more for Peter than for you.”

“That’s bullshit,” I tell her. She looks at me a little uncertainly.

“He likes you, you know,” she tells me.

I look over at Makado, really look at her. I look at the lines of the tendons in her neck, loose and ropy but ready to spring into life and brace at a moment’s notice. I look at her cheeks and her eye and her lips, at the way she grips the wheel loosely in one hand, the other hand draped over the edge of the rolled-down window. She glances over, catches me staring. “Have you told him yet?”

I let out a little burst of mirthless laughter. “I haven’t even been able to tell my dad yet.”

“Why not?”

“Why haven’t I told my dad or why haven’t I told Pete?”

“I meant Pete.”

I roll the words around on my tongue for a long, long time before I finally say them. “Because Pete might like me, but he still loves you.”

Makado lets out a breath like I’d punched her, and I look over at her incredulously. “Oh, come on,” I say. “You couldn’t tell? Have you seen the way he looks at you?”

“I don’t –“

“I don’t know what happened between the two of you, not exactly, but I know for a fact that he still has feelings for you.”

“I thought you and him…”

“Let’s just say I’m probably not going to be interested in men for a while,” I say. “Maybe for the rest of my life,” I add with a hollow laugh.

“That isn’t funny,” Makado says quickly. “And what do you – oh.”

“Yeah.”

She doesn’t seem to know what to say to that. Hell, if I were in her position I wouldn’t know what to say about it.

It feels good to tell someone.

“Are you scared?” she asks, glancing over again.

“It doesn’t feel real yet,” I tell her. “I got the letter with the results about a week ago. They wanted me to come back in and ‘discuss my options’ but there aren’t any. Once I get sick I’ll be scared, I imagine.”

“I’m sorry,” she says. “You probably don’t want sympathy, but…”

“The only thing I don’t want is someone treating me differently, that’s all. Maybe I’m dying but this is going to be a long slow goodbye. And right now I still feel fine,” I say, wondering if I really believe it.

“I was meaning to tell you,” Makado says after a moment. “I think I can get you some ballast.”

I look at her sharply; she keeps her head still, eye on the road. “You’re serious?” I ask after a moment.

“Dead serious.”

“How?”

“The suits the team wears, the locator is in the helmet. At the end of the first day, you guys will make camp right near a ballast bulb. You do the math.”

I think about that for a moment, then shrug.

“Seems easy enough. Would it even help me?”

“It might. I don’t know, I’m not a scientist. Isn’t it worth a shot?”

“Sure. But what if…I don’t know, what are the side effects?”

Makado laughs. “Well, undiluted ballast…you’ll get really fucking horny. You’ll probably want to drink it right there so you don’t have to worry about hiding a fucking bottle of it from everyone. And it’s going to taste really, really gross.”

“I meant more like physiological stuff.”

“As far as I know it’s mildly addictive but nobody ever figured out if it was actually chemically addictive or if it was a mental thing. Like, the difference between coffee and cigarettes being addictive.”

“Speaking of,” I say. “You smoke?”

“I don’t.”

“Good,” I tell her. “Nasty habit.”

“Okay, miss two-packs-a-day.”

“Ouch. Low blow.”

“Did you always smoke that much?”

She pulls back onto the main road and then turns onto the side street that leads down to the motel. By daylight Gumption looks even sadder than at night. Fewer shadows to hide the cracks.

“No,” I tell her. “I used to smoke about a pack a week or so.”

“Let me guess,” she says. “When you found out you said ‘fuck it’ and started going all in?”

“Seemed like the thing to do,” I say. “I like nicotine, just not a fan of smoking, necessarily. Too concerned about my lungs’ wellbeing.”

“Right,” she agrees. “Alright, we’re here.”

The warm, dry air has sucked all the life out of me. “Alright,” I say, not opening my eyes. “The charger is on the nightstand, you can just run up and get it…”

“Go and get your damn charger.”

I groan, pop the door, stagger out of the low-slung Beetle. “Question for you,” I say, leaning back in.

“Yeah?”

“Why are you personally taking the time to drive me around?”

Makado laughs. “Do you know how busy I am as the Head of Security?”

“Very, I’d imagine.”

“I’m not busy at all. Place runs itself unless there’s an emergency. I do about two hours of phone calls and emails per night sitting in my quarters in my pajamas, rest of the time I just hang around and pretend to do something, anything, that justifies my salary.”

I can’t help but smile at her. “Glad I could give you something to do, then.”

“Go get your charger,” she repeats, reclining the seat backwards. She unclips her seat belt and shuts her eyes. “I’ll be right here.”

 * * *

 I can tell someone’s been in the room the minute I walk in. I’d left the do not disturb sign on the handle, they’ve taken it off, left it on the floor right in front of the door. I stare; then there is a soft, subtle sound from inside the room and I take a step back, reach behind me for the door handle.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Erica Walken tells me, stepping out from the bathroom. She has in her hand a small revolver, held about waist-high, barrel pointed unwaveringly at me.

It isn’t much to look at, that little gun, the barrel glinting in the low, warm light cast by the lamp over on the bedside table. The inside of the barrel seems like it must be the blackest, darkest, heaviest thing I’ve ever seen, and it draws my eyes to it like it were a singularity. Forget movies, forget books, if you have a gun pointed at you there’s no way to be cool, no way to just quip out a one-liner like in a movie. I an feel my hands shaking at my sides and if I don’t get a grip on myself my legs are going to follow suit. But I’ll be damned if I’m not going to at least try a one-liner. When’s the next time I’ll get the chance?

“Put the gun down,” I tell her. My voice almost trembles but I lock it down.

“No,” she says. “Did you come alone?”

“Y-yes. What the hell do you want?”

“You’ve been a hard woman to track down for the last couple of days. Sit down.”

She jerks the gun at the armchair in the corner and I move slowly to it, my back prickling with the knowledge that she’s still holding the gun on me, and sit.

She stares at me for a moment longer. “Are you working for the Company?” she asks me, and something in the way she says it, in the way she’s looking at me, makes me think that this is a capital-letter Very Important Question.

“The Containment Corporation?” I ask, trying hard to keep my voice innocent. She waves an irritated hand.

“The Containment Corp, Anodyne, whoever. You know what I mean.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then why the hell are you back?” she growls. “I know you went with Peter, even though I told you not to, and when you and he disappeared I knew they must have caught you. What the hell are you doing back here?”

“What the hell are you doing in my room?” I snarl back at her. She tosses her head, looks down her nose at me.

“Looking for answers,” she says. “I have a right to know –“

“Lady, I don’t know who you think you are but if you think I’m going to overlook the fact that you broke into my motel room –“

“Answer the question,” she tells me. She moves her thumb and draws the hammer on the revolver back and it locks into place with an ominous click.

“No,” I tell her. “I’m not working for them.”

She stares at me for a long while and I stare back at her, keep my face carefully blasé. “Alright,” she says quietly. “What happened? Why haven’t I been able to get in touch with Peter? When my boy heard the alarms he tried to get out of the Pit. He told me that the ditch had been filled in with concrete, he was trapped in there.”

“Your boy?”

She waves her hand impatiently. “The young man who went in there with you. Marcus.”

“Oh. I didn’t know they’d filled in the ditch,” I say softly.

“Well, they did. He can’t get out.”

“Where is he now?”

“Back in the Pit, of course. He wouldn’t have lasted a day out there on the surface, he’d have been caught in an instant. What happened to Peter? Why can’t I get him on the phone?”

I must be very deliberate now, and choose my words carefully.

“They caught Peter,” I tell her. “I don’t know what happened to him. I only just managed to get away.”

Her eyes narrow. “Bullshit,” she says, the word sounding out of place in her small, elegant mouth. “You’re working for them.”

I can see her knuckles whiten on the grip of the pistol. I feel like I’m going to throw up.

“I can get him out,” I say quickly. “Marcus, I mean.”

“How?” she asks.

Yes, Roan, how? the little voice asks somewhere from the back of my head, and I close my eyes. “They made me a deal,” I say slowly. Maybe it’s pathetic but I feel a little better not being able to see the gun. “I’m going into the Pit. Tomorrow or the next day. I can find him, get him out of there.”

“And turn him right in to the Company?” she snorts. “Fat chance.”

“If you shoot me,” I say with sudden confidence, “you’re never going to see him again. He’s going to die down there and you won’t be able to get him back.”

Erica’s mouth is a tight line. Her eyes are like chips of obsidian. “He’s down there for a reason,” she tells me. “Tell me about this operation they’re pulling. Have they found one of the crystals?” she asks.

My mouth drops open. “You know about those?”

“So that’s a yes?”

I snap my mouth shut. She leans forward, and the muzzle of the revolver snuffles forward. I have to stop myself from cringing back into the chair. If she were to pull the trigger, at this range the bullet would -

“I’m going to blow your fucking brains out,” she says, “if you don’t tell me what you know.”

“Okay,” I say, frantic now, “okay, Jesus Christ, fine, they found a crystal! Is that what you want to know so bad? Yes, they found one. They’re going down to get it and I’m going with. Fuck!”

“Do you know the route?”

“No! Look, I don’t know what the hell you want or what you’re planning, but -”

“Focus,” she says. “They have a crystal. You’re certain? You saw footage of it?”

“Yes,” I say.

Erica blows a breath out. She looks very tired suddenly; she leans back against the counter and the gun finally wavers away from me. “Alright,” she says softly. “It looks like I –“

“Roan? You okay in there?” someone calls from outside the hotel room, and Erica and I both jump. She hurls to her feet, giving me a murderous glare.

“You bitch,” she says. “You brought her with you? I should -“

“Roan, who are you talking to?”

Erica looks as though she doesn’t know what to do. She glances back at the door and then down at me. I can see her start to say something, but before she can get the words out, there is the soft snap of a card fitting into the lock and then the handle turns. My panicked eyes turn to Erica and I can see her raising the gun, mid-snarl. “Hide the gun!” I hiss urgently, and she stares at me for a frozen moment before the door opens all the way and Makado, holding a pistol of her own, a slim black automatic, peeks around the corner. Our eyes meet but she can’t see Erica, the woman is around the corner from her.

Erica is staring at me and I flick my eyes back to her; she hasn’t put the gun away and I try to implore her to with a look, but she’s having none of it. She moves to the wall and the floor creaks. Makado’s aim shifts up and over to the corner as Erica flattens herself against the wall, revolver extended ahead of her, head-height.

I feel as though I’m going to pass out but I know I have to do something, and finally after my anguished nerves have been screaming at me to move, to flex my muscles and move, goddam it, I rise lurchingly, a sudden motion that seems in immediate retrospect to have been a very bad idea. Makado’s gun wavers for a moment but Erica swings around almost immediately and starts to get a bead on me. Makado rushes forward and bursts around the corner, knocking me to the floor in the process. I land hard and lay there for a moment, then I roll over. I see Makado on the ground, Erica on her knees, the two of them struggling over the revolver, Erica trying desperately to stuff her finger back into the trigger guard. I snap out a kick and catch her in the side and she whoops out a breath and lets the gun go for a moment. Makado jerks it away from Erica and I finally, finally see the outline of Makado’s pistol, discarded on the floor right in front of me, blending in with the dark carpet.

Before I can snatch it up Erica bolts to her feet, stepping on Makado’s forearm in the process, a yelp boiling out of Mak’s mouth as she wrenches her arm out from beneath Erica’s shoe, but Erica is already sprinting out the door, slamming it behind her. “Mak,” I say urgently, trying to hand her the gun, but Mak sees it and freezes, and then her eye flicks up to mine, wide and scared, and then I realize I’m pointing it right at her. “Shit,” I say, jerking the barrel away from her. “I didn’t mean to – I’m sorry –“

She reaches out, grabs it and takes it from my nerveless hands. “Grip first,” she says, and then clambers to her feet and rushes out the door after Erica.

By the time I manage to get to my feet and stagger out of the room after her, Roan is there leaning up against the balcony, revolver and pistol both slung away into one pocket or holster or other, watching the big black car roar out of the parking lot fast enough to leave twin streaks of black rubber in its wake.

“You okay?” I ask, breathless still, and Makado glances over, eye wide and limpid.

“Yeah. You?”

“I think so.”

She blows a breath out, inclines her head forward until her forehead rests on the cool metal bar of the balcony. I think about it for a moment before I do it, but then I reach over and gently lay my hand on her back, and I feel her stiffen and then relax. She has a terrible knot of muscle just above her shoulderblade and I work at it with my fingers, run my thumb over it in slow, firm strokes. “That’s nice,” she murmurs after a moment.

“You’re pretty tense,” I observe.

“Well, we both almost died, so…”

“How did you get in?”

“Oh, I made a copy of your keycard when we took your stuff the other night,” she says. “Might have come in handy later.”

“Good thing you did.”

“Never know when you’ll need something like that. We got lucky.”

“Peter told me that Erica’s with the cult,” I say, and Makado nods.

“Yeah,” she says. “What the hell was eating her, did she tell you? She can be a bit of a loose cannon but I’ve never seen her pull a fucking gun on anyone.”

“I don’t know,” I frown. “She - she knew about the crystal somehow, she was asking me if I’d seen it, if we were going down to get it.”

“Ah,” Makado says lightly, “that would do it.”

She does smell like peaches, I realize suddenly, standing this close to her. Her back feels very warm beneath her thin shirt, and her skin has a muscley firmness to it that my fingertips find appealing.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I ask her. Her eye flickers open; I can see her glowering at me from beneath the crook of her arm.

“Mind your own business,” she says.

“This is all about the crystal, isn’t it,” I say thoughtfully. “It was just bad timing, our coming in when we did. You thought we were after it.”

She looks at me bleakly. “Yeah, I did. I didn’t know what to think so I made the call. Beginning to think it was a bad one.”

“Why can’t you tell –“

“Because you don’t need to know!” she snaps. “Because some things are supposed to stay secret.”

I take my hand off of her back. She shuts her eye. “I suppose now you’re going to be mad at me,” she offers, and I blow out a sigh, look out across the parking lot. I can see heat distortion off in the distance, out across the plains beyond the town limits, and in the distance I can see the electric fence.

“I’m not mad at you,” I say so softly that she has to ask me to repeat myself. I look down at her and give her a faint smile. “I’m not mad at you. I’m not – I’m not mad at anything, I guess, not the Pit, not the Corporation, not anything. I wish Rey didn’t have to die but if this crystal is so damn important then what else could you have done? He’d have thrown himself down that elevator shaft if you’d let him. Probably wouldn’t have done any damage, but -”

“A couple of years ago,” Makado says, straightening up, hands on her hips, twisting her back left and right, coaxing a deep crack from her spine like something heavy slotting into place, “we had someone get in with a bomb. He was schizophrenic. Convinced that the Pit was going to swallow the world whole. He sprinted for the orifice and if we didn’t put him down he would have dropped that bomb down there and it would have wrecked the gantry, would have hurt the Pit like fuck, maybe even gotten another choke response out of it. As it was it cracked the fuck out of the concrete exclusion plate, we had to put in a new one.”

I can see ghosts swimming in her eye when she looks at me. “I can’t let that happen again. Even if it’s, fuck, ten times less severe than 2007, there’s eight guys down there in that control room in the monitoring station at all times who are counting on me not to let something like that happen.”

“You did the right thing, then,” I tell her, wondering if I’m lying.

“I – what?”

“You did the right thing,” I repeat. “I don’t know if I would have done anything different if I was in the same position, because you’re right, you can’t risk it. You don’t know what Rey wanted to do, you don’t know who he was or whatever he was carrying. You made the call. As long as you make a decision you’re doing something right, even if it turns out to be the wrong decision. The wrong decision is better than no decision.”

Makado nods after a moment. “Yeah,” she says. She’s looking out in the same direction I am but I can tell from the way she’s staring off across the dusty plains that whatever she sees out there lives mostly inside her head.

“Now, to be fair, I don’t know how I’d live with myself afterwards, but in the moment I’d still make the same call.”

Her eye flicks over to me and then her lips split in a slow lazy smile. “Well aren’t you just a ray of fucking sunshine.”

I grin back, nod to the car. “You’re really not going to call the cops on her?”

“What’s the damn point? She’ll be out of the county by now. Tell you what, do you know her phone number?”

I start to say I don’t, but then I think about it and lead Makado back into the motel room, fiddle with the room phone until I can find a call history. “There,” I say, pointing to one entry. “That’s her. She called me about three days ago, before I came to the Pit. Told me not to go.”

Makado nods, takes her phone out, punches the number in. It rings and rings and then goes to voicemail. “Erica,” she says, once the tinny beep sounds, “this is Makado Veret. Look, I’m not calling the cops on you. I know you probably don’t believe me but as far as I’m concerned this is no harm no foul, alright?”

Her eyes meet mine. “We know about your guy in the Pit. Roan told me you were asking questions about the crystal. I’m only going to warn you once. Whatever you’re planning, call it off.”

Makado’s eye flickers over to me, then away again. I can see her throat bob as she swallows, then she continues. “You probably can’t reach him by phone but if you do get ahold of him, tell him to head to the main gullet and up to the monitoring station. I can’t promise immunity but I’d rather get him out of there alive than dead, and I swear to you I will try to get him off property without any federal charges. Call it good faith. But if you pull the shit you just pulled again,” she says, her voice cooling so quickly I can practically hear the snap, “or if you try to interfere with my operation, you’re going to be coming back out in a bodybag. Oh, and I have your gun. Call me back.” She rattles off her number and then hangs up, blows a breath out.

“Think she’ll call you?”

“Maybe,” Makado shrugs. She reaches into her pocket, pulls the revolver out, examines it. “Free gun, though, if she doesn’t.”

“I don’t think that’s how that works.”

“That was a joke,” she explains, and when I start giggling I can’t suppress it even though as far as jokes go that was fairly lame, but I realize that it’s just all the adrenaline from the fight flooding out of me belatedly in one long relieved flow and even as Makado cuffs me playfully behind the ears and tells me it wasn’t that funny, I manage to make her smile, and I suppose that ought to be enough.

When we get back, charger and a couple of extra half-full SD cards tucked carefully into my pocket, Elena is the only one who noticed that I’d been gone for long, but when she asks where I’ve been, rolling over on her stomach to peer at me from her messy cot, I just shrug. “Out,” I tell her, and content myself with a mysterious smile while she shakes her head and returns to her magazine, muttering something about fucking admin under her breath, but it’s with a crooked smile that I know is meant for me, and when I flop onto the cot next to her nobody gives me a second glance and I feel, for just a moment, like I am starting to belong.

Continue with Part 15

Back to Table of Contents

[misssophiachase]

Free Fall

Klaroline AU Week - Day 7 - Trope x Trope - Wolf Mates x Rockstars/Musicians

From opposing packs, Klaus and Caroline had a connection from an early age. However, their parents forced them apart five years earlier through lies and deceit, and now they’re coming face-to-face after all these years. (Points of view will alternate.) 

Fox and Hound Bar, Memphis, TN - 

Klaus

“Do you think this is a good idea right now?” Lucien asked, keeping his voice low.

“We need a backing singer, Lucien,” he growled, finishing off the last of his beer and placing it back on the bar.

“You know what I mean,” he muttered. “Given current tensions between our packs, putting the call out might attract our enemies.”

“Would that be such a bad thing?”

“I know you love a good fight, Mikaelson, but you’re Alpha now. That risky logic could get, not only you, but the whole pack slaughtered.”

“Were you always this much of a wet blanket when we were younger or has it just been too long, Luc?” Klaus patted his friend on the back affectionately. 

He and Lucien were raised together in the Appalachians and roamed together as pups. Theirs was the most formidable pack in North-Eastern America during that time. Although they weren’t without their enemies, the Forbes Pack being their biggest rivals. 

“What’s really going on here, mate? You return from London after five years away and insist on getting the band back together, even though you should have far more pressing things on your schedule.”

“You know music has always relaxed me,” he murmured, thinking back to when she’d serenade him as they lay in fields of wildflowers bathed in moonlight. “It’s also the perfect way to signal my return to the States.”

“Trust me, I think everyone already knows you’re back.” Klaus momentarily wondered whether she knew by now and if she was on her way as he’d predicted when he advertised for a singer.

“I think getting back on the road will be good, Lucien, not just for my rusty singing pipes and guitar skills but so we can do a little reconnaissance.”

“You know every square inch of these territories, we’ve roamed them together for years. What more information could you possibly need?” 

“You forget I haven’t been here for five years, things can change. Plus it is the perfect cover story.”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with...”

“Don’t say it,” he hissed, knowing that if he uttered her name Klaus would struggle to regain his composure. “This is about staying ahead of the enemy. We’ve allowed the pack’s power to diminish for too long.”

“You’ve changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“You couldn’t care less about rivalries and power back then, it’s why you escaped to England in the first place. Well, that and because of...”

“What did I tell you about mentioning that?” He emitted a low growl and Lucien could tell he’d overstepped the boundaries.

“Okay, so then what happened in London, Klaus?” A lot, he thought, but there was no way he was willing to divulge that just yet, he didn’t want to endanger his friend unless it was absolutely necessary. 

“I had a much-needed rest from my domineering father,” he muttered, knowing that part at least was true. Mikael Mikaelson had recently been taken ill which is why Klaus had begrudgingly returned to take over as Alpha.

He was actually surprised he was chosen given their problematic relationship. Although given Elijah had left the pack to live a ‘normal’ life in New York City, as he liked to call it, and Kol was considered far too immature it wasn’t altogether out of the realms of possibility in hindsight. 

“He won’t like this.”

“I couldn’t give a damn, Lucien,” he growled. “He’s not in charge right now, he gave up that right when he named me Alpha of this pack. I have no desire to run things like he did. The fear and intimidation only gets you so far and the fact Bill Forbes has taken back much of the land we claimed shows his methods aren’t working.”

“Even so, how do you expect to gain their trust?”

“I have my ways,” he murmured mysteriously. “What Mikael has never understood is that It isn’t always about the attack. Knowing your enemies is the most important strategy in defeating them.”   

“But...”

“Has anyone ever told you that you ask too many questions?” He chuckled. “Now, how about we get these auditions underway?”

“Last time I checked, I was manager of this band, or did you decide to dump me during your London sojourn?”

“Sister, always a pleasure.”

“Don’t lie, Niklaus, it’s not very becoming on you,” she murmured, peering at him critically. 

Klaus knew she was still angry about being looked over as Alpha but Mikael was far too sexist to ever make that decision. It wasn’t right, it was just how things were. But Klaus had every intention of using her power and strength to his advantage.

“Rebekah,” Lucien greeted her lazily. “I’d say it’s a pleasure but you know I’d be lying.” 

“You know, Lucien, there is a thing called a razor, you might want to use it sometime, facial hair does absolutely nothing for you.”

“Okay, children, enough!” 

Caroline...

“I could think of at least fifty other things I’d prefer to be doing right now,” Enzo complained. 

Caroline just shook her head. They’d been best friends and roommates for a while now and his whining knew no bounds. 

She looked at the Fox and Hound Bar looming ahead wondering if she was doing the right thing. Caroline considered herself to be level-headed for the most part. She executed everything she did with calm consideration but, unfortunately, when it came to a certain wolf things had a tendency to fly out the window, even after all these years. 

She wasn’t sure why he still had that effect on her. He had no right to invade her thoughts after running away and leaving her but yet here she was. It was five years ago now and Caroline had been living and studying at College far away in California so it shouldn’t matter anymore. But it did. 

“Do we think that pulling the fake boyfriend thing to make someone jealous is a little To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before?”

“You’ve been watching far too much Netflix,” she muttered. “When we get back to LA I’m cutting you off for your own good, Lorenzo.”

“What exactly is the plan? And just so you know, I’m not kissing you,” he muttered, his disgusted expression saying it all.

“Wow, way to make a girl feel good about herself,” she shot back nervously, looking down at her outfit and fiddling with her golden waves that were cascading down her back. She’d decided on the perfect make your ex regret he ever messed with you ensemble. 

Translation; black, leather pants fitted like a second skin and a cropped, Rolling Stones t-shirt. The pants were to make him wish her legs were wrapped around his waist in an entirely non-PG way and the t-shirt because she knew he preferred the Beatles. It was the perfect combination of sexy and sassy. 

“You look gorgeous, darling,” he replied, reaching out and squeezing her hand comfortingly. “But are you sure this is a good idea? You’ve spent the past five years trying to get over this guy and failed.”

“I date,” she stuttered. 

“Your teddy bear doesn’t count, Forbes,” he replied sarcastically. “Anyway, what is your plan? We both know your singing is off the charts but what happens after you ace the audition?” 

Caroline knew what was next and it wasn’t just a little bit of jealous payback. She had been waiting for the day that he returned to the States so she could put her plan in motion.

Her father and the pack were on the precipice of dominating the Mikaelsons but the strategy to appoint a new Alpha had put a rather large dent in their plans. Mikael was predictable in combat, Klaus completely dangerous because he was the absolute opposite.

As soon as Bill had told her, Caroline knew it was time to return to the family fold. She knew he’d put out the call to entice her for his own purposes but Caroline was going to play the Alpha at his own game. 

“We call a truce.”

“How does that fit into the revenge plan, darling?” 

“Patience, Enzo, all in good time.” 

Caroline straightened her t-shirt and powered ahead, nervous but at the same time exhilarated for what was to come. Klaus Mikaelson wouldn’t know what hit him. 

TBC?

[unfortunate-stranger-losers]

All Those Things They Couldn’t Say - A Runaway Baudelaires AU

{ao3} {tumblr} {masterlist}

Chapter Forty-Five - Splitting Up is Never a Good Idea

The employees headed out very quickly. Colette got the gas, and the children ran them to the car helping them carry their bags. On the walk, they did their best to assure them that yes they deserved happiness and no they did not deserve to get eaten by lions. Once Kevin got in the driver’s seat, Violet gave them all a hug, and then passed them as much money as she’d gotten together. 

“Good luck out there.” she said. 

Duncan passed them the box of food. “Puttanesca is in there for the trip, so you don’t have to stop and get the extra food from the back that fast. And this box is the hot chocolate, we steadied it as best we could.” 

Isadora handed the box to Colette, and then said, “Go find your own adventure, yeah?” 

Colette beamed over at them, blinking away tears. “Thank you so much. We don’t know how to repay you.” 

“You can repay us by getting out and living your best life.” Klaus said. 

“Luck!” Sunny wished, blowing a kiss. 

Once the car drove away, they raced back to the carnival, and Violet edged to Lulu’s tent, sneaking past the sparse guests still wandering and excitedly talking about tomorrow’s show. 

When they reached the tent, she turned and said, “We’ll be in here for only a little bit, to see if there’s somewhere she could have hidden our parents. Just stand here, and if someone comes near, come inside and tell us, we’ll break out the back.” 

They nodded, and Klaus shouldered Sunny, gave them a wave, and then the Baudelaires raced inside. 

“Okay,” Violet said quickly, as she observed the tent, “Look for hiding places.” 

Klaus put Sunny on the floor, and then ran to the nearest chest. “Locked.” 

“I got it, you check under the table for a trapdoor.” 

Klaus nodded, and as Violet started picking the lock on the chest, he lifted a tablecloth, careful not to jostle the crystal ball on top. “Hey, Vi, there’s a little library down here. Lots of paper and shit.” 

“Yeah, see? It’s just like San Fernando.” Violet nodded. She opened the chest, and shook her head. “Just costumes. I’ll dig through, though, in case there’s a switch or false bottom, but I doubt it.” 

Sunny ran to Klaus. “Mesa.” “I got the table, you check the curtains.” 

He nodded and let her crawl under before running to the curtains and pushing them aside. “A bunch of levers and gears.” 

“Cool! Dibs!” Violet called. “You get the trunk.” 

“Are we just playing hot potato with everything in this tent?” 

“Yeah, pretty much.” 

Klaus sighed and went back to the truck, and Violet pulled her ribbon and scanned the levers. “It looks like it’s just the lighting system we used in Red Acres, unfortunately. There’s the mirrors, the fan belt… except she doesn’t have a flashlight, just a hole in the tent. Probably why she seems to only tell fortunes in the morning, that’s where the sun’ll shine through.” 

Sunny crawled out from under the table, shaking paper off of herself. “Idde.” “No trapdoors or levers.” 

“There’s gotta be something.” Violet murmured, stepping back and kneeling by the bottom of the pulley system. “You’d think Olaf would trust her enough to hide someone here.” 

Klaus hesitated, before glancing up from the trunk, where he was digging through clothes, and said, “Violet?” 

“Hmm?” 

“Do you think… do you think that he’ll feed our parents to the lions?” 

Violet shut her eyes, and Sunny crawled over to him and hugged his leg, whimpering a little. 

“Do- do you remember they told us that they used to train lions? Maybe- maybe he thinks it’ll be- be funny, to feed them to-” 

“He’s been pretty insistent on killing us first.” Violet shivered. “If anything, he’ll probably want to feed us to them first, if he can find us.” 

“Hold on.” Klaus felt something light at the bottom of the trunk, and pulled it out, spreading it on the floor. Violet came over, and said, “That looks like a map.” 

“I’d say it’s of the Hinterlands.” Klaus said. “See, there’s the carnival here, and that’s Mount Fraught-” 

“Spill.” Sunny said, pointing at a brown splotch. 

“You see, Sunny,” Violet said, smiling a little as she focused, “That may look like a splotch, but considering the size, shape, and color-” 

“That’s a note of VFD headquarters.” Klaus said. 

“Pretty nearby, interesting.” Violet hmmed. “Makes sense that Lulu’s in VFD, she has the costumes and fortune-telling training and the Eye, and I bet she got most of those papers from the cult itself.” 

“Do you think Olaf knows?” 

“She’s got the eye on her tent, but he’s also an idiot, so…” 

“That’s- wait, shut up.” 

Violet quieted, and she heard what he had. 

Footsteps, getting closer. 

“The Quagmires-” he began, moving for the flap, but she grabbed his arm. 

“They’re probably not there if they’re not alerting us.” she hissed. “Come on, let’s move.” 

“But then- where-” 

“We have to get out of here first, get Sunny.” 

Klaus raced for his sister and lifted her up, and Violet grabbed his arm again and dragged him to the curtain that hid the mechanics. She shut it behind them, and they stood still a second as the tent flap opened. They heard a sigh and footsteps enter the tent; Violet signed quickly that she thought it was probably Lulu, it didn’t sound like anyone else. Klaus nodded, though he kept his eyes boring into the curtain in front of them, as if he could set it on fire and burn Madame Lulu from there, and they slowly backed up, moving their way around the wall and looking for a flap to slip under. 

They heard the woman stop outside, muttering something, and Klaus shut his eyes. They’d left the map on the floor, the chest open. Fuck. 

“Who is there, please?” 

She sounded furious. Violet edged towards the wall, but sighed when she found it wasn’t enough to slip under. Klaus clutched onto Sunny, his glare intensifying even more. 

“Who dares disturb Madame Lulu’s tent? The spirits are angry, please-” 

Violet and Klaus shared a look, and then she nodded, and tossed her smokebomb just outside. Lulu shouted as it erupted, and the children burst through the smoke, rushing past her and racing outside. Once they got out, they ran for the nearest caravan, which thank God happened to be empty, ducking inside just as Lulu came out, shouting and cursing. 

They sank to the floor of the caravan, and turned to each other. 

Klaus looked a bit distracted, staring at the door and reaching to fiddle with his jacket. “Should we have captured and interrogated her?” 

“Olaf would notice she was gone.” 

“We…” Klaus shut his eyes. “Really could’ve gotten information out of her.”

“We can try that later, maybe, but for now…”

Klaus hugged onto Sunny, and then he asked, “And where are the Quagmires?” 

Isadora bounced on her feet for the first minute or so, trying to pay attention to the bleak area around them. Her attention was then distracted when Duncan started stepping away. 

“Where are you going?” she hissed. 

“I thought I saw someone over there.” he gestured to the side of Lulu’s caravan. 

“And nobody’s coming, so we’re in the clear.” 

“I just…” he crept away. “I’ll check it out.” 

“Duncan!” 

He shrugged at her, and then strode to the side of the caravan, peering over the side. 

When an arm grabbed his and yanked him behind the caravan, then, Isadora didn’t even think, instead immediately taking off, running as fast as she could and grabbing her knife from her pocket. She slid to the side of the caravan, raising her weapon, and immediately said, “Hands off my brother!” 

She recoiled, raising the knife higher, as she locked eyes with Esme Squalor, who had a hand over a terrified Duncan’s mouth to muffle his shouts. 

“Now, now, no need for that.” Esme said. Then, to Isadora’s surprise, she lifted her hands, and Duncan stumbled out of her reach, running to Isadora’s side and grabbing her arm. “We don’t need to fight here.” 

“Pretty sure we do.” Isadora said. 

Esme sighed and moved around, circling the children. Isadora pushed Duncan behind her, backing up until they were basically against the outer caravan wall. “Of course we don’t. We don’t really have much of a problem with you two.” 

“You hurt our friends.” Duncan said, shoving a hand into his own pocket to look for a weapon. “You hurt their parents. We’re not going to let that slide, bitch.” 

Esme scoffed, putting a hand on her hip. “Really? Your friends? What have they ever done for you?” 

“It doesn’t matter. Back the fuck up or we’ll throw a knife into your head.” Isadora said. 

“Oh, please.” Esme threw up her hands, rolling her eyes. “I’m unarmed. I just want to talk.” They eyed her suspiciously. “You can pat me down if it makes you feel better.” 

Isadora hesitantly lowered the knife, though she still kept it in hand. “What do you even want, then?” 

“I want to make a deal.” Esme said. She stepped closer, and Isadora again pushed Duncan behind her. “I think we have a common interest.” 

“The hell we do.” Duncan spat. 

“Of course we do.” Esme lowered herself slightly, so she was at eye-level with the teenagers. “I suspected you all might be here, you know, but it’s nice to see I was right, like always. I’m sure you’ve heard of our little show tomorrow?” 

“Where you’re going to toss innocent, exploited people to starving lions?” Duncan hissed. 

“Yes, it’ll be grand.” Esme smiled wickedly. “But here’s the thing; the freaks need not die. There are other people I’d much rather toss to these lions.” 

“Like Lulu?” Isadora guessed. “Or the Baudelaires?” 

Esme scowled. “I will be dealing with Lulu myself. Was going to conscript the freaks to do it, but they seem to be playing hooky. But I think we can make a deal. I can ensure that Beatrice and her boytoy are watching the pit, watching their charming lions driven to eating people they like, and you-” 

“If you think we’re going to strike any kind of deal with you,” Isadora hissed, “You’re dead wrong, we’d much rather kill you right here and take off than let you manipulate our lives.” 

Esme smirked, then, very darkly. “Oh, you haven’t even heard my deal yet.” 

“You have five seconds,” Isadora said, raising the knife again, “To convince us not to kill you right here.” 

“Alright, then. I’ll make this simple.” Esme said. “If you do what I say, and help me feed these horrible, troublesome children to the lion pit, then I will give you back your brother.” 

The knife dropped to the ground. 

Isadora and Duncan were frozen an instant, breathing slow and staring hard at the smirking woman. Duncan shook, clinging to Isadora’s arm tighter and widening his eyes. Isadora, meanwhile, shook her head. 

“No.” she said. “N-no. You’re lying. You’re bluffing. Our brother died in the fire and you know that. You don’t-” 

“Well, then,” Esme said, and then she reached into a pocket and tossed something to the ground. “Guess he won’t need this.” 

Duncan and Isadora stared down at the dirt, where an unmistakable, purple commonplace book skidded in their direction. 

Isadora started to shake, and Duncan dropped to the ground, kneeling in front of the book and staring at it, as if he didn’t dare pick it up. 

“Wh-” Isadora breathed. 

“Silly boy was being loud, so we took this as a warning.” Esme shrugged, looking down at her nails instead of the distraught triplets before her. “Then he kept misbehaving, so we had to-” 

“Where is he?” Isadora’s voice broke, and she looked at Esme with such a fire in her eyes that if she’d been looking at anyone else in that moment, they likely would’ve retreated instantly. “What did you do to him?” 

“Oh, quite a bit, though I admit Olaf does most of the work.” Esme said. “Don’t worry, though, he knows all about your little stunt in the hospital. Well, no, he doesn’t, but I’m sure he knows we had a reason for his latest punishment.” 

“You… you…” Isadora gasped. Her hand reached for her knife, before remembering it was on the ground, beside Duncan. 

“But here’s the thing. We only have him for your little fortune. And I’m already fabulously wealthy.” Esme said. “I’m sure we could stand to see him go, but, well, we’ll need something in return, won’t we?” 

Isadora stared at her, shaking with fury and terror, and felt like her world was closing in around her. 

“Of course, if nothing unusual happens tomorrow, I’m sure Olaf would love to know you’re all here. But if something exciting goes down, he’ll be most thankful that our little problem is solved, so thankful that I bet he wouldn’t notice one little boy going missing.” She smirked, then stepped forwards. Isadora stood her ground, and then gasped, tears springing to her eyes, as Esme stepped on the commonplace book, grinding it harder into the dirt with her heel. Duncan, eyes still glued on the notebook, didn’t move. 

“And if you try anything before then,” Esme’s voice grew dark. “Not only will we deal with all of you, but we’ll be fair. Everything you do to us gets done to your brother. And maybe a little extra just for how mouthy he can be.” 

“You…” Isadora tried to speak again. 

Esme reached over and patted her on the head; Isadora couldn’t even recoil, shock still coursing through her. “Oh, don’t worry, little one. You won’t even be doing anything bad. Just getting rid of some children who shouldn’t even be here. They’ve done horrible things, too, you know. They’ve killed and destroyed.” 

“They-” 

“They uprooted your lives, darling. If it weren’t for them, you’d be safe.” Esme smirked. “Besides, they aren’t even telling you the whole truth.” 

“Yes, they are.” Isadora whimpered. 

“Of course they aren’t. Didn’t Violet tell you she got to see your little brother at that charming hospital, or does she just not want you distracted?” 

Isadora froze over, her breath catching in her throat. 

“I’m sure you’ll be in the crowd tomorrow. After the lions eat, you can meet me behind Lulu’s tent, and I’ll hand over your prize before me and my Olaf leave to set fire to some annoying volunteer headquarters. See you then.” 

She stalked away, and Isadora stood still, staring after her. 

“She… she has to be lying somehow. There’s- she can’t- we-” Isadora stuttered. 

Then she looked down, to Duncan, still kneeling in front of the commonplace book. Slowly, she knelt beside him. “She… Duncan, she- she can’t-” 

Duncan reached forwards and picked up the book. He brushed dirt off the cover, and then hugged it to his chest and began to weep.

[moon-beam95]

Loving him was red

By: Moon-Beam95

Fandom: The Umbrella Academy

Pairing: Ben Hargreeves x Reader

Ben was your favourite among your siblings, he was quiet and saw things others didn't. He spent most of his time with Klaus, guiding him, helping him, protecting him. He saw something in Klaus others didn't. Our other siblings thought less of Klaus, that his powers weren't as useful, not as active for the field. You knew that wasn't true Klaus had potential but what could you do, you were the ordinary surrounded by the extraordinary. So you supported Ben, sweet quiet Ben who so clearly loved his brother.

You were siblings but shared no blood ties, and you knew that at this age what you felt was slightly more than platonic. Just as you knew that eventually they would evolve into something more. How could they not?

His powers saw others shy away from him, scared of the horrors within. But that's what made him extraordinary, let me clarify not his powers but how he uses them. The others let their gifts go to their heads. Luthor with his strength believes himself to be the best, invincible. Allison who uses her powers to get whatever she wants. Diego who became arrogant, rushing in constantly trying to take charge, Number Five is who knows where and Klaus who runs from his, spending his days in a drug filled haze.

But Ben, Ben was humble and didn't let his powers define him, he hated hurting others, wanted to get in and out on missions. He was, you believed, fundamentally a good person.

As you grew, you stayed in the shadows, unimportant, unseen helping Dad in anyway possible to make sure the team ran smoothly. Also helping Mom around the house, bake and other such things.

Well you did have a hidden agenda on learning to bake. You wanted to make something for Ben. Lately you began to have more than platonic feelings, you caught your self looking for him when you entered a room. Smiling when he was helping Klaus. A crush Mom said, all data pointed to a crush and so she suggested making him something. So here I was learning to make his favourite biscuits.

You stood covered in flour, marvelling at how easy Mom made this all seem. You looked on mournfully at the slightly burnt biscuits, what did it say that these were the best batch? You heard footsteps, and turned gulping when you saw the object of your affections,

His nose crinkles at the sight of the usually pristine kitchen upturned, ingredients covering the counters. "What happened here"

You move to stand in front of the biscuits and laugh nervously waving his question off rather frantically. "Oh you know, just helping Mom."

He raised an eyebrow, amused at your flustered behaviour, it was rather cute. He walked closer peering over your shoulder at the plate of biscuits. Your shoulders slumped, and you let out a sigh.

"They were supposed to be Ginger Snap biscuits"

A smile tugged at his lips as you continued "They were supposed to be for you."

"For me?"

You sigh, hands playing with fiddling with your apron before turning and starting to clean the back tops. So he couldn't see the tears that began to sting your eyes.

He froze at your admission, touched at the gesture. He was often forgotten by his siblings, and in the background when it came to spending time with Mom. So this, this was unexpected, but it filled him with a warmth that you took the time to do this for him. Seeing your shoulders began to tremble he stepped forwards and placed a hand on your shoulder before steeling himself and brushing his lips against your cheek, blushing all the while.

This time it was your turn to freeze, and a blush spread across your face at the feel of him, you slowly turned around a silly grin on your face but unable to meet his eyes. He stretched past you to take a biscuit ignoring your protests. It was a bit burnt but gave a rather crisp snap as he nibbled on it but the effort made it all the more sweeter.

After that you two started to spend more time together, it had the added affect of you getting to know Klaus more, it was strange having someone who actually acted like a brother. He teased you and Ben but gratefully gave you two time two yourself and covered when you both would slip away for a moment. It wasn't much, just time spent in each others presence, a graze of hands when you past one another, twining fingers together under the dinner table. It was sweet, the perfect romance.

There were downsides to your new relationship of course, worry. Every time he went out on a mission you worried, he was reckless when it came to protecting Klaus, but you really couldn't blame him, none of the others care. Not to mention he was the one who got stuck fighting with multiple assailants due to his numerous tentacles. You did like what came after the missions though, you'd peer around the med-bay door and silently watch Pogo patch him up and then you’d both retire to one of your rooms and just lie on the bed, bodies pressed against each other sharing caresses, basking in his presence, just reassuring yourself he was here and he was safe.

Your first kiss was bittersweet. The mission alarm rang and the house was a flurry of activity as you stood beside Dad ready to leave. As the rest filed out Dad at the helm, you reached up to finish closing his zipper and smoothing your hands across his shoulders removing non existing lint. As you looked up, your eyes were caught by his, locked in a moment. His head bent towards yours and your eyes fluttered close as his lips touched yours, tentatively. You sigh into him encouragingly, as  your mouths moved against each other, exploring. You broke apart lightly panting, foreheads pressed against each other smiling.

"I have to go" he said.

You nodded suddenly reluctant to let him leave and he pressed another brief kiss to your lips.

You followed Dad to a nearby building so as to watch how the mission played out. It was a usual tasks you helped Dad record what happened so as to go over how to improve for the next time they were called out. Yet this time it all went wrong, you leaned against the edge of the rooftop building peering through your binoculars when it happened. You could not say for sure exactly what happened only that one moment they were winning and the next they were not and there was a sea of red. A scream wrenched itself from your throat as you saw him fall, knuckles whitening from tension as you clutched the binoculars. The screams kept coming as he didn't get back up and you saw another of your siblings check him and start to cry.

You felt weightless numb, the world began to spin and you became vaguely aware of your Dad tugging you away from rapidly the approaching edge.

You had longed for years for any show of love from Dad but now, here,it left a sour taste, and you tried to frantically beat your hands on his chest. You collapsed to the ground with heart wrenching walls as his arms circled you, trying to muffle the sound, it wouldn't do for anyone to find you up here.

But you couldn't care, all you could see was the boy you loved drowning in blood, never again to kiss you, to hold you, to tell you that he finds you beyond extraordinary.

He was gone before you truly began. All those plans you had made, nights curled up in the library, making a future, gone. And now every memory would be tainted by his last. For once his name was apt. The Horror.

End.

[in-tua-deep]

The Luther au has me both loving how cute it is & dreading angst ideas but I feel like that's normal for anything Five related tbh. The others have been away & had time to realize Reg did not treat them normally but Five has no frame of reference so if he ever messes up he expects Bad Shit™ from them but is ? When they don't act like Reg. But on the other had Five actually acting like a teen about New Future Things™ like getting excited and generally not as aloof as canon Five. I'm distressed.

WOO more responsible luther au from here, here, here, and here

Honestly all I’m thinking about right now for the responsible Luther au is the absolute hilarity of Hazel and Cha-Cha having to deal with a child. Like an actual child, not a 58-year-old in a child’s body. I mean can you imagine Hazel and Cha-Cha dealing with a child that they aren’t allowed to kill?? 

Just Hazel squinting and being all, “What the fuck do kids like? Do we offer him candy? Ice cream? We can’t just knock him out because head wounds are iffy and we could accidentally kill him, right?”

Can you picture Cha-Cha trying to interact with Five at like, a park or something?? Trying to talk to him and giving off those serious “I have never spoken to a human child in my life also the stranger danger vibes I am giving off can probably be sensed from the next state over.”

Oh man though the one (1) way they would probably be able to get Five to go with them even a little bit willingly (because how else are you supposed to kidnap a teleporting kid with combat experience and a healthy wariness of strangers) is if they had some sort of collateral (or maybe drugging him??). I’m thinking,,, they grab Klaus. The least combative sibling, would hang out with Five while Luther is at work, lanky and skinny and an easy target. 

Because the best way to get a superpowered kid to go with you is to say “If you don’t come with us, we hurt your brother.” Because I can’t think of any other real way to get Five, who is exceptionally traumatized by the very idea of restraints, to agree to be restrained in any way which you KNOW Hazel and Cha-Cha would probably insist on

But yeah Diego and Luther would totally bust in and rescue them because you know Luther is the helicopter parent brother who insists Klaus and Five text him every few hours so Five and Klaus miss a check in and Luther immediately calls Diego all “Yeah no I don’t care if you were doing vigilante shit I need you to check on Five he isn’t answering his phone and neither is Klaus. No, I don’t care if you think I’m overreacting just go and check on them.” and so they find out pretty quick that they’re missing (Diego finds Mr. Pennycrumb first, actually - Five told him to stay because he wanted to keep the dog safe) and go and rescue them (maybe with the help of Detective Patch??)

so they go get Five and Klaus back and Luther is so relieved and they’re all so relieved except Five basically has a breakdown and won’t let anyone touch him and is absolutely freaking out because he went off with strangers and they wanted him so he got Klaus kidnapped as well and even though Luther has been nothing but gentle and accommodating (because he’s fully aware his brother is Super Traumatized thanks) Five assumes he’s going to get into trouble

(because if you think Reginald didn’t punish the kids every time they made a mistake on a missions - I wouldn’t be surprised if Reginald obtained any tapes of the kids missions and would replay them looking for errors and then drill the kids until they were aware of all the mistakes they made and knew that they should never make them again)

(but also can you imagine a kid thinking he’s going to get in trouble for being kidnapped like that’s such a tragedy and all of the siblings are there now and they’re all horrified because they remember the debrief after every mission, and if Luther is right and Five’s punishments often involved restraints - then this is their baby brother thinking that they’re going to lock him up to punish him)

Eventually, eventually, Five calms down enough to allow one of the siblings close enough for comfort. Maybe Klaus, who was also kidnapped. Just both of them grabbing onto one another while the others swear it won’t happen again.

“They said they were working for Dad.” Five finally imparts, scrubbing at his face. There’s a hot second as they all process that before Luther just starts swearing and everyone is looking mildly incredulous because Luther is the one who scolds them about their language and frowns when songs with swear words play on the radio. 

“What if,” Klaus says, pausing for dramatic effect, “We kill Dad.”

Vanya looks thoughtful and Diego is nodding and his fingers are just that much too close to his knives and Luther very tellingly isn’t saying anything against the idea. It’s Five who smacks Klaus on the arm, “You guys can’t kill Dad.” He tells them very seriously, “If you all get charged with murder then who’s going to walk me to therapy? And don’t say Mr. Pennycrumb. Plus, I’m not going into the system.”

“Allison could take you in.” Klaus shrugs. Five pulls a face. It makes Vanya laugh just a little.

“Allison has a child!” Luther defends her automatically, making Diego roll his eyes exaggeratedly and Five hides his snicker in Klaus’s shirt. “She’s a good mother! Stop looking at me like that, guys.”

“I don’t want to live with a baby, anyway.” Five declares loudly.

 “And yet you live with Klaus.” Diego grins, ignoring Klaus’s squawk of offense with practiced ease and making Five laugh again. Which was the goal in the first place so, success.

“Okay, okay time to go home.” Luther says gently because they probably didn’t make it back to the apartment before this freak out they’re probably all scrunched down in an alley where Five ran to hunker down

and then later when Five is settled down with Mr. Pennycrumb on the couch and also squeezed next to Luther, asleep because it’s been a traumatic day for just about everyone, Luther is just like “Okay so Diego, can you… can you stay with Five when I’m at work? Or - Or I can start taking him to work with me again, and you can watch Klaus?”

“I’m not a child!” Klaus protests.

“You told us they got you first to threaten Five with.” Diego points out, only a little reluctantly. “You don’t need to deal with that. I’ll come over during the day, keep an eye on both these knuckleheads.”

“Ben keeps an eye on me.” Klaus pouts, crossing his arms.

“I will be someone corporeal who can keep an eye on you.” Diego deadpans.

Klaus scrunches his face up and turns to the side to show the full force of the face he was pulling to thin air, presumably a Ben who was definitely agreeing with Diego. 

“But why is Dad coming after Five?” Vanya asks, fiddling with her hands and looking nervous. 

“Yeah, and why now?” Luther demands, bringing up a protective hand to card through Five’s hair. Mr. Pennycrumb whuffles gently and leans over to give Luther’s hand a lick of appreciation. “We ran away ages ago, and Dad decides to care now? What changed?”

Everyone’s eyes turn to Klaus. His shoulders hitch up around his ears at the attention, but is a good sport who frowns in thought. “I dunno. The big guy - Hazel - he kept complaining about… I don’t know. Budget cuts or something. Dental plans being cut. Shit like that.”

“Dad gives dental plans to hired goons?” Vanya asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Well they weren’t your average hired goons.” Diego says defensively, rubbing at his shoulder that is going to be very bruised where he was smashed into a door. Luther winces in sympathy, feeling vaguely bad because his durability means he doesn’t bruise like the rest of his siblings.

“Shh!” Klaus hisses at them, flapping a hand and looking off to the side, focusing intensely. The rest of them wait patiently. “Uh, Ben says he heard them refer a couple of time to someplace they called the Commission?”

“The Commission? What, a company for hiring all your weird kidnapper needs?” Vanya asks, skeptical. “I mean, not that I doubt Dad’s ability to get some seriously skeevy people on his side but I’m just confused about this whole thing. Why would Dad want Five back in the first place? Enough he was willing to hire people to kidnap him?”

“She has a point.” Diego admits grudgingly. He and Vanya get along better these days, but there’s still some shaky ground between them even after she apologized about the book. “Dad didn’t even bother looking after Five ran away when we were actually thirteen. And he didn’t look after Luther and Five ditched until now. So, what changed?”

“And why this shady way?” Vanya continues, “I mean, he’s got the law on his side technically. I mean, Luther isn’t exactly Five’s legal guardian. He could accuse Luther of being a kidnapper.”

“Hey!” Luther objects.

“She’s just saying what Dad could say.” Klaus rolls his eyes. “But I mean, we could argue that chronologically Five is, you know, twenty-five but I bet Dad would try declare incompetence even if that flew, which I mean. Look at him. It wouldn’t.”

Everyone’s heads swivel to the kid curled up on the couch, fast asleep with bruises already forming on his face. No doubt from when he mouthed off to his kidnappers - Cha-Cha has a temper after all and Five was practically conditioned to mouth off even in the face of fear and terror.

“He thought he was going to get in trouble.” Klaus says, very softly after a moment of silence. “Because he went with them, and he only went with them because he didn’t want me to get hurt.”

“I’m pretty sure Dad would have locked him up again. And you if that meant keeping him under control.” Diego points out, frowning harder at the thought of their father locking up not one but two of his brothers. “Maybe that’s why he didn’t go through official channels - because he knew he’d need collateral to keep Five cooperating with whatever insane plan he has cooked up. No way would the law be on his side for keeping Klaus at the very least.”

“No no,” Klaus shakes his head dismissively, then pauses. “Well, okay yeah I could see him doing something that level of creepy but that’s not what I meant. I meant he thought he was going to get in trouble with us.”

“It’s not his fault Dad’s a fucking psycho.” Vanya points out. Diego nods appreciatively. The biggest common ground keeping Diego and Vanya on civil terms was their mutual willingness to insult Reginald together.”

Klaus waves his hand in the air again, “Yeah, I know. But like, think about it. The only parent figure Five ever had was Dad and you know what he was like. He fucked us all up, but it’s a whole helluva lot fresher for Five. He doesn’t - he doesn’t know shit.”

“He’s been doing okay.” Luther says, just a little bit defensively. “He has some bad days, but therapy is helping. Plus Mr. Pennycrumb is as well. He’s trying really hard, you know how worried he is about the apocalypse.”

“I’m not commenting on your parenting skills bro.” Klaus placates, “You’re doing really good. Like, really good. Way way better than I ever thought you’d be capable of. But I mean. You stepped up when none of the rest of us did, and you basically became his father figure.”

“I’m not - I’m not Five’s dad.” Luther scoffs, but none of the others speak up either. He looks around a little more puzzled, “C’mon guys. It’s not like you aren’t here as well.”

“We’re not the ones setting boundaries,” Diego admits, looking at the floor. “We didn’t rescue him, or build him a life, and even you can’t ignore that he looks to you for comfort first before the rest of us. He looks to you before Vanya, dude. That’s not exactly what happened when we were kids, man.”

Vanya shifts, almost uncomfortably. “He didn’t really, uh, seek me out for comfort anyway. Mostly when I was having a bad day. I just. I just made him sandwiches when he looked like he was having a tough time is all. He’d never admit it.”

Luther sighs deeply. “He can have peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches tomorrow I guess. Comfort food. Show him he’s not in trouble. But that still doesn’t mean that Five sees me as a dad.”

They all mutually agree to drop it seeing how defensive Luther is.

“Well I for one am going to spend all day tomorrow cuddling Five on the couch.” Klaus declares loudly, not even trying to hide the change of subject. “It’s a disney movie marathon sort of a day, me thinks.”

“I already took the day off.” Luther admits. “I told Sam that Five was having issues and he told me he understood and I could take time as needed.”

“I have nowhere else to be, tomorrow.” Diego shrugs, clearly planning on spending the day with them as well.

“I have practice but I can come by after? I’ll stop by the store for the ingredients of that potato dish I know Five likes as well. For dinner.” Vanya offers, receiving nods all around. Everyone appreciated Vanya’s cooking since exactly none of them were especially skilled in the culinary arts, though none of them were entirely hopeless.

Luther just sighs deeply, leaning back on the couch. “He’s just - he’s so young. Were we ever that young?”

They all sit in silence at that, contemplating. Because they had been that young, and it was only now looking back that they all realized how messed up it had been. Well, they realized it was even more messed up than they thought it had been, especially back when they were actually kids.

But also honestly picturing all the squad convincing Five to let loose and be a kid again while also convincing Five to not worry so much about the apocalypse happening in four years because he can’t just put his life on hold for four entire years.

Five being secretly happy and curious about things and excited but trying to hide it because he’s supposed to be focused on stopping the apocalypse and all that but he’s not nearly as difficult to convince to get off track as canon old man Five

I need to sleep heck

i just want a whole bunch of protective siblings is that too much to ask for and protective Five right back just a circle of protectiveness about everyone bless

[dashesofink]

What’s a Stupid Little Crush?

Drabble: "If you don’t write romantic 5 fics that’s like totally cool and you could honestly write this for Klaus if you won’t write it for 5 but could you do one where the reader has known 5 for a few years and had a big crush on him and every time they look at him they’re heart just gets heavy with longing and they’re hanging out and just watching him do stuff and 5 asks why they’re always looking at him like that and they confess and kiss and it’s just cute idk if that makes sense but thank you!”

Pairing: older!Five x older!Reader

Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings: none

A/N: I wrote this sort of in the future?? Like Five is older here... is what I mean... enjoy :))

Ever get the feeling that your heart is going to beat out of your chest? Or that the anxiety of not being near the one you so desperately love is almost too much, and you feel your nerves beginning to almost hurt? Of course, it’s always a good pain. It’s a pain that tells you you still care for that particular person. It’s a pain that, even though your head and your heart is hurting, even though you feel as though you can’t breathe because of the butterflies that erupted in your stomach, it’s a pain that you’ve associated to being in love with him/her.

That’s just how you felt as you watched Five doing the most mundane things. You couldn’t help the painful feeling in your lungs each time he turned to look at you, or the fluttering of your stomach as he laughed at something stupid Klaus had done. Like today, it wasn’t anything special. You two were hanging out as you had always done for the past six years, and most would even claim that where one of you would go, the other was close to follow behind. Five was lounging across his bed as he was scrolling on his phone, his mouth moving as he rambled off about something that Diego had told him Klaus had done. You saw the movement of his mouth, and the expressions that contorted his face as he spoke, but no sound came out.

You were much too focused on the way his lips bobbed up and down as he went from smiling to laughing all in a quick second. Your heart clenched as you watched the corners of his eyes crinkle in amusement as he laughed again, something about Klaus almost getting run over falling past his pink lips. Little scars dotted his face from previous fights that his dad had put him through as a child, but you grew too fond of them, and often you found yourself dreaming of tracing the divots in his skin as you both laid together in contentment. But that would never happen.

“Y/n? Hello? Earth to y/n!”

Leave it to you to forget about everything because you were to focused on Five. His hand was waving rapidly in front of your face, his phone forgotten on the bed as he crouched down in front of you. You felt your face heat up at the sudden closeness of him, and you turned your head away as you gave a small laugh. “Oh, u-uh, sorry.” Rubbing the back of your neck sheepishly, you slowly turned your eyes towards Five again as you laced your fingers together before clearing your throat. “W-what did you just say?”

“Why do you always look at me like that?” Oh, how you felt your blood turn to ice as he tilted his head in confusion. Your heart suddenly stopped as you looked to him, the heat in your cheeks lingering as he sat on the ground in front of you. “I know you don’t think I do, but I notice every time you stare at me.” Damn it! Of course he does!

“W-what do you mean?” You tried to laugh your nervousness off, and you hoped that the smile you gave him would at least distract him some bit as you waved his statement off. You tried your hardest to keep it cool on the outside, however your emotions came through as the blush on your cheeks darkened and your eyes darted around the room to avoid looking at him. “Y-yeah, I stare at you, but I’m supposed to when we talk!” You couldn’t think of anything better to say?! You mentally cursed yourself for having been caught staring, but you couldn’t help it.

“No.” Five almost immediately denied your claim as he tried to scoot closer to you, but the back of the chair blocked him from coming any closer. For that, you were thankful. “No, you have this look in your eyes each time I catch you. I can’t put my finger on it… and it’s really confusing to me.” Five pointed to his eyes for a moment as he crossed his ankles, and once again his head tilted to the side as he looked up to you. Don’t do that. Don’t do that! God, why are you so damn cute?!

“I uh… well I…” Once again you were looking anywhere but him. Your heart was heavy as you fiddled with the top of the chair nervously, your palms suddenly becoming sweaty when you finally met his eyes. Just say it! “I kinda.. I kinda like you, a-a lot.” Your eyes fell to the floor as you mumbled the words out, but Five narrowed his eyes as he arched an eyebrow in confusion. Your words may have sounded deafening to you, but to Five all he heard was a quiet word.

“Can you say that again?”

“I like you!”

Your eyes were squeezed shut as you blurted out those cursed words, your blood pumping loudly in your ears as you buried your face into your hands. You didn’t dare look for Five’s reaction as you opened your mouth to explain, your emotions whirling around in your stomach as you eyes prickled with tears. “I-i have for a while now, a-and I didn’t want to tell you because— what if I ruined our friendship because of a-a stupid little crush?! I-I couldn’t do that to you! I promise I didn’t mean to stare but you… you’re just.. god dammit.” You cursed under your breath as you wiped away a few tears to look to the ceiling, your gaze once again avoiding his stare for as long as possible.

Aside from your heavy breathing, the room went silent as you let Five mull over your rushed confession. I should've never said anything. Immediate regret replaced the love in your heart when Five never responded, and you let out a small sniffle before standing up from your chair. “I-I’ll just leave you be now. Sorry if I made things awkward.” You refused to look in his direction as you went to grab your phone from off of his desk behind you, but before you could turn leave, a hand quickly grabbed a hold of your wrist.

“Having a crush isn’t stupid, y/n.”

Fives kind voice froze you in your place as he kept a tight grip on your wrist, not tight enough to hurt, but tight enough to keep you from escaping him as he stood to his feet. Tears still stained your cheeks as you finally turned to face him, and you were shocked to find a smile, not a frown as you had expected, playing at his lips. “Especially if it’s on me.” A gasp fell past your lips when Five suddenly pulled you close, his arms wrapping around your body gently as you stood in shock. “If it makes you feel any better, I have a crush on you too.”

“W-what?” Stupid! Hug him back! It only took a few seconds for you to finally wrap your arms around him, your face going into his shoulder as you let out another sniffle. You felt a chuckle rumble in Five’s chest as he ran his fingers down your back, and he pressed a small kiss against the top of your hair before he pulled away. “You do?”

“Well, Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” Five gave a shrug as he cupped your face gently, the pad of his thumb running gently across your cheek as he smiled down to you. Your fist had grabbed a hold of the front of his shirt during the embrace, and your lips trembled when he suddenly placed his forehead against your own. You stood there for a moment in silence, scared that if you were to move, your legs would give out from the closeness of him.

“Can I kiss you?”

All you had to do was nod, and you felt his warm breath fan across your lips for half a second before something soft was pressed against your lips. You weren’t quite sure how to respond at first, your eyes tightly shut and your body still in shock at the revelation that he liked you back, but when you felt him suddenly pull back a bit, you wrapped your arms around his neck before pulling him closer to you. Your lips moved in unison as you held each other, and you moved one of your hands to cup his jaw before you both pulled back for air.

“Thanks for letting me do that.” Five let out a chuckle as he leaned his forehead against yours again, his hands now resting in your hips as he smiled at you with his now red and slightly swollen lips. You couldn’t help the blush that settled on your cheeks as you buried your head into his shoulder again, this time with your heart racing with excitement and not fear.

“C-can we do that again?”

Five couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled in his chest at your question, and he pushed your back a bit to press a quick kiss to your lips before he nodded. “You don’t even have to ask.”

[s-ultry]

please me - a tom holland fanfic

CHAPTER THREE

A/N: so i decided that i’d move my fanfic from wattpad to tumblr! just to give me a bit of a boost to continue it, i hope you guys enjoy!

chapter one | chapter two | chapter four | chapter five | chapter six

SUMMARY: when the billionaire meets the microbiologist.

sugardaddy!tom

Previously on Please Me

"Don't do that Belle," he audibly mumbled closing his eyes.

"Do what Mr. Holland?"

"Have a seat Ms. Lorems"

***

(warning: lowkey fifty shades of grey but who cares right?)

Her heart started beating fast, she didn't even know why. Belle was that type of girl who was lectured a lot, you may think she's used to it, but she isn't. Having her own father sitting with his boss to talk about her made her panic, she gulped her fears and sat down on Mr. Holland's left.

"Don't be scared, love. You're not in trouble," the boss sincerely glanced at her making all her nerves go away, while her father sat in confusion as to how they bonded so quickly even though they barely knew each other.

Her father cleared his throat catching both parties' attention. "Bellatrix, Mr. Holland and I have come to an agreement," he announced making sure he had her full attention. "Dad, may I ask what's this about?"

"You'll know now, now hush," he fakely smiled opening a folder that had many documents in it.

"Now, Belle. I personally talked to your father, we both have come to an agreement that we would like you to work for Holland Industries as my personal assistant. You will be paid regularly since your father is a huge part of this company my three assistants that you met earlier will be transferred to his command," Mr. Holland said, eyes piercing into hers as her breathing became heavier and heavier by the second.

"Bellatrix, I would persuade you but I feel like I already know your answer," her father spoke in a demanding tone forcing her to take the deal.

"Uh, um. May I look at the documents first?"

"Of course. Demitri, I'd like to speak to your daughter alone. You may proceed back to your office where your new assistants will be needing your help," Mr. Holland demanded which made Demitri walk out of the door.

It was only them now, and knowing how far his office is from everyone else's she started to panic. What if he killed her? Oh, come on Belle don't be stupid. No, but seriously! Would he? Belle's head was turning round and round when she finally blocked it all out.

"Let's go through the documents," he announced starting with the first contract. Throughout the contracts she really saw his business side, explaining every single sentence to her making sure she knew what she was getting into.

They also discussed when she would start working, she offered to start now. But, he refused immediately as she needed the proper work clothes and to read some sheets that he'd be giving her. Belle nodded in approval lowkey excited that she has some reading and homework to do.

There was one contract left, his eyes sparkled looking at it in which she didn't comprehend. But she had a feeling it would be something personal, by the looks of it.

"Belle, you are 19 years of age, correct?" He questioned making her nod in uncertainty as she leaned back in the chair.

"Do you trust me?"

"I met you last week, do you really think I would trus-"

"Just answer me."

"Yeah sure, all you've been is nice to me," she mumbled cracking her fingers.

"Are you gonna fight me?" He questioned with a smirk plastered on his rich face making her look down trying to calm her self before she actually does.

"Stop stalling, what's the contract about."

Mr. Holland then flipped to the first page, deeply taking a breath he focused on her brown globes trying to find what's hidden behind them. She focused on him, how his brown eyes sparkled but soon turned dark, almost lustful. The tension rising between them both.

"Belle Lorems, I am intrigued by you. I want to spend time with you, get to know you better. Take you to balls and parties, meet my friends and family. In exchange for your company, I'll be paying you. It seems that your father doesn't spend much on you even though I give him a huge salary, so I want to do it instead. I need you closer to me, so I introduced the idea of you being my assistant to your father. If you say yes, you can ask anything you want. If you say no, I still respect your decision," he declared in a serious tone.

Belle sat there shocked, she didn't believe what she just heard. Her mouth slightly open she blinked her eyes a couple of times to sink in the information she just received. Pinching herself slightly she knew this wasn't a dream.

"S-So, you want me to be your sugar baby?"

"Technically," the man nodded hoping for an honest opinion. He was a very strong leader, very ambitious. But, Mr. Holland did care about Belle dearly. Even though he hasn't known her for long, her records show everything he needed to know. She needed somebody to love her, she's too selfless, which can be a good thing, but he wanted to make her feel like a princess.

"Do I have to give you my decision now?" The brunette hesitantly asked in which he shook his head is disapproval.

"No, love. Tell me your answer whenever you feel comfortable. You're free to leave if you want to," he smiled standing up as he slithered his arm around her little waist.

"But Mr. Holland, I don't have a ride back home," Belle stuttered as she fiddled with her fingers yet again.

"Have a driver's license?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Take one of my cars, I'll come by later anyways to talk to your father so I can pick it up." Mr. Holland stated walking out of the elevator into his private parking lot.

"No way! No chance in hell! What if I wreck your car? What if I crash! What if someone steals it and it'll be all my fault-"

"Belle," he gently grasped both of her wrists averting her attention to his. Belle was panting, she was tired of the bad thoughts that flowed into her brain.

"It's okay, I promise. Take whatever you desire," the Britt grinned as he showcased his luxurious cars to the shy girl in which her eyes widened at the sight. Different sport, luxury, and most expensive cars were displayed in front of her. Different colours, different styles, and structure.

"So?"

"You choose," she whispered. She wanted him to choose so he would pick a car that he used often for her to drive, Belle didn't want to drive something brand new as she would wreck it. Although, she knew she was a good driver and was very confident of herself.

"Take the Porsche Cayenne, love." Mr. Holland announced unlocking the safe box where all of the keys were stored, he walked back to her and put the keys into her grip. "Are you sure, Mr. Holland? I can take a taxi," she explained but his large hand covered her mouth making her stop talking.

"Hush, kitten. I told you it's alright. Now, go enjoy," his emotion shifted from dominance to happiness in seconds which baffled her. Belle shyly walked up to the dark purple car, unlocking it and seating herself in the driver's seat. She closed the door, rolling down the window as he walked up to it.

"Drive safe, love. Everything is there for you," he declared in which she nodded. He then opened the garage gate by pressing the button and bid her a goodbye, she reversed as she saw his figure disappearing as the elevator doors closed.

As she drove home, she got used to the car immediately, which surprised her. Pulling up the driveway to her lovely family quarters, she saw her whole family was there, looking out of the living room window to be exact. Belle huffed in annoyance as she had to explain how she got such a car, or why she was driving it.

Unlocking the door she hopped out to unlock the back seat's door, under the dozens of contracts she found a box with a lavender bow on it. She grabbed all of her stuff locking the car behind her. Belle cursed when she caught her family's gaze from the living room.

"Who's car is that for, Bellatrix?" Everyone asked simultaneously leading her to lick her lips in nervousness.

"Um, uh. Mr. Holland gave it to me in order to drive home safely to read all the documents for my job with him." Belle spoke straightforward leading them to nod their heads.

"You got the job?" Her father asked, even though he saw her earlier.

"No, I want to re-read through the documents again."

"Have fun with that, loser!" Her older brother Klaus screamed as he played with his football.

Belle raced upstairs to her bedroom, locking the door behind her she changed from her sweats into a very large graphic tee, leaving her warm-toned legs on display, and untying her hair leaving her straight hair cascade onto her back. She plopped down onto her bed unwrapping the big box she had received. A gasp escaped her lips as she saw a MacBook Pro displayed in front of her, she then lifted the card with a beautiful handwriting.

"To Belle, I hope that your new phone and laptop suit you. You can contact me further on the contract on either device, my contact is listed. Mr. Holland," the words escaped her lips so smoothly. She searched through the box and saw the latest iPhone paired with her laptop, she felt guilty that he had spent so much on her already.

As she was walking downstairs to get her a few snacks to accompany her whilst reading the files she saw that her phone was already set and ready to go, with all social media and emails that have been transferred to her.

"Is that a new phone?" Her older siblings scared her making her squeal in fright, she believed that they were those twins in the horror movies.

"Yeah, why."

"Who got it for you," her sister Luna interrogated her grabbing one of her mom's delicious confections of the countertop. Belle rummaged through the pantry to find some chips, fruit, and coconut water.

"M-Mr. Holland," she stuttered pouring the coconut water into the blender as she was creating her all-time favourite berry smoothie.

"Sounds like a sugar daddy to me," Klaus chuckled with Luna. But soon he realised that her face turned bright red, his expression was as shocking as anything. He turned to his sister and whispered what he had just realised, Luna put her hand to her mouth with eyes wide.

"He is your sugar daddy! That's why you have that car outside, and a new phone," he screeched making Belle scrunch her eyebrows. She took her snacks and headed for her bedroom yet again, the only place she loved as much as the lab.

2 hours in and Belle already finished all the contracts for her job, but now it was the only contract that she knew took time. The Contract, she cringed at the words engraved on the paper but soon would get used to it.

"Rule no. 1: Be honest and tell whatever is on your mind, be open with Mr. Holland," she read in which she didn't mind. As she read through the rules they were all okay until she reached the very intimate and sexual bit, she took a deep breath and began.

"Rule no. 23: Do not force yourself to do anything you are not comfortable with to please Mr. Holland," she scrunched her nose as she re-read it over and over. Yes, she was smart with a 4.0 GPA but she didn't quite understand it.

Belle then decided to call Mr. Holland to ask him about the rule, she picked up her phone and pressed his contact number. Just as she was about to close, she heard his voice. Placing the phone to her ear she heard him panting.

"Mr. Holland, are you okay?"

"Yes, love. Just on the treadmill," she then heard beeping noises indicating that he turned off his treadmill and left the room.

"Um, Mr. Holland I have a question," she asked shyly playing with her necklace she pulled up one leg to place her head on her knee.

"Yes."

"Rule no. 23, I don't quite comprehend it," The brown eyed girl whispered making sure that her family didn't hear her.

"Oh, basically if we were to ever have sex, I wouldn't want you to force yourself to do something you're not comfortable with just to please me." His raspy British accent seeped through the phone allowing a red tint to erupt on her cheeks.

"And Rule no. 28?"

"That's a bit self-explanatory, love. You either call me one of the names that are listed," he explained making her smile.

"So, you like it when I call you Daddy?" She smirked trying to muffle her chuckles, Belle then heard him groan on the other side of the phone making her gasp followed by a deep breath.

"Belle, don't joke with me."

"What's wrong Daddy?" Belle then roared with laughter as she can imagine Mr. Holland on the other side growling and growing angry.

"I definitely use that for jokes, don't expect me to use it for anything else," she smiled flipping through the pages of the contract making sure she didn't miss anything else.

"So, have you made your decision?"

"Yes, come to collect the contracts Mr. Holland," Belle sassily replied closing the phone. There was no going back now, her signature was already plastered on the official paper. She didn't know why she even did it, but she wanted to enjoy the thrill of it. Belle wanted to enjoy being loved by someone, not for attention but for affection.

The brunette made sure she signed most of the contracts, after that she ate her snacks whilst watching some shows she missed out on. An hour into her all-time favourite show Sherlock, she heard a knock on her door. "Come in!"

The door then unlocked to reveal a handsome man who she had seen earlier, his eyes scanning every part of her body as she tried to cover herself. "How are you, doll?" Mr. Holland questioned her making her fake pout.

"What?"

"I was watching Sherlock!"

"Benedict would be happy that you said that, love." He smiled grabbing her hand gently placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. "You know him!" Belle squealed loudly in excitement.

"We worked on a business agreement together, you seem excited to see him more than me?"

"Of course I'm excited to see you, but how he played him made me who I am today," the brunette smiled sincerely remembering how she taught herself the Mind Palace Technique, or how she dressed up as Sherlock way before the shows, but the books.

"Get changed, I'm taking you shopping," Mr. Holland snapped her out of her daydream making her eyes broaden and her cheeks tint themselves again.

"Rule no. 4, I can spend as much money on you as I please. Now, get your arse to your closet to get dressed. I'll be downstairs having a nice chat with your father," he got up from the bed fixing his tie and checking his watch to see it's half past 4.

"Why do I have a feeling that you'll be lecturing him?" She screamed from her bathroom whilst she was changing.

"Don't you worry, love. I won't be long, meet me downstairs!"

After their small conversation, Belle applied a light amount of makeup with a soft winged liner to give it a natural look. She chose her high waisted light blue skinny jeans, a mustard yellow top, and some flats.

Belle proceeded down the stairs where she saw Mr. Holland and her father having a serious conversation, but they soon stopped when they saw Belle at the end of the steps. She looked sun-kissed, natural and not cakey like other girls.

"Shall we?"

"We shall," she beamed as she took his hand as they walked off the patio and to the car she was driving earlier. During the drive, they stopped to get coffee on their way to a fancy area for fashion and rich people.

"How did the pop squad take in your news?" Belle chuckled at the thought of them squealing, she never really was fond of their behaviour during her days at the lab. She's actually quite shocked that they took the same major as her, but she will never judge a book by its cover.

"Who?"

"Your former assistants, Erika and her friends. Sir," the brunette informed him trying out the words that she has to call him. Although, she will be calling him Sir as he is now her boss.

"Oh, they really call themselves that?" Mr. Holland chuckled entering the fancy area where she saw rich people walk with their poodles and butlers. "They took it quite harshly, but I told them they'd be more relaxed under your father's control and focus more on their studies."

"So I won't be relaxed working for you?" Belle quickfire making him shake his head with a smirk laced around his lips.

"I know what I'm about to give you will be easy for you, spoke with your Professor. He told me that you finish all his assignments for the next week in class, quite impressive," Mr. Holland admitted taking a glance at her than focusing on the road.

"Thank you, Sir."

They both then sat in awkward silence as he looked for where the parking is, Mr. Holland may seem as very demanding, but in reality he hated people parking his car for him. Them standing out in the sun, taking in the harshness of spoiled brats is already enough, they didn't need his hell.

As they parked, they both jumped out and Belle was shocked as to how no paparazzi were bombarding them. "It's an enclosed area. love," he spoke making her nod her head in comprehension.

They enter a store for the shall we say work environment, the lady of course welcomed them and offered some champagne in which Mr. Holland accepted but Belle refused. "Okay, love. I've already picked out some clothes for you, try them out," he smiled ushering her to the fitting room where she saw multiple outfits.

Belle walked out with the first outfit, a plain white top with a pencil skirt in which he nodded too. After countless amounts of outfits, Mr. Holland went to the cashier where Belle tried to take out her money in which he refused instantly.

"Remember rule no. 5? I pay for everything that you desire."

"Oh, can I at least pay for our dinner."

"No."

"Pleaaaassseee??" Belle begged to unleash her puppy face making him stare at her in confusion, but soon he gave up and agreed. But, he reminded her that only this once she has the chance to pay for something in which she thanked him for.

They made their way into yet again another fancy store, but he dragged her to the lingerie section making her blush greet her cheeks yet again. "What am I doing here," she whispered looking around to see only a few couples around.

"I booked a room for you, chose a few things. Try them on," Mr. Holland slid his arms around her waist pulling her close. "You don't need to show me," he continued. His lips then moved to her ear making her shocked and unable to speak.

"Make sure they look nice, can't wait to see them soon," Mr. Holland seductively whispered in her ear making her muffle her scream, what a fucking tease.

Belle tried on many sets of it, making sure she doesn't show him because she's shy and that's not what you show to a guy that you met a week ago.

"How is everything, kitten?"

"Good, I think I'm ready to go."

They made their way out of the store heading to their car they placed all of the bags in the back of the car. She huffed in relief as he revved the engine and made his way to the main road, "oh you fucking jerk."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you! I'm almost home and I was supposed to buy you dinner!"

Mr. Holland chuckled pulling up to the driveway of her home, he parked and then glanced at her with lust in his eyes, how the moonlight kissed her face and how she looked down and blush drove him to insanity. With all of the bags in her hand she bid him a goodnight making her way up to her room, she looked from her window and he signalled her to call him in which she agreed to do.

As he drove away she beamed, she finally knew how it felt to be cared for and loved by someone with just one intimate moment. Belle changed into her graphic tee and placed all the bags in her closet, she then made herself comfortable on her bed when she then heard that she received a message on her phone.

"Oh, no."

***

cliffhanger yet again ;)

- a