A/N: ?

Chapter One: Say You Love Me (Jessie Ware)

Rating: T+

P.O.V: Landen Kirby

Tags: AU, slight OOC

Landen Kirby shuffled down the corridor of the Salvatore boarding school, dragged the fingertips of his right hand along the rich wood paneling of the wall and contemplated his horrible, no good, very bad day. After returning to the Salvatore boarding school from Fort Valley, Georgia and being allowed to attend the supernatural school as a "case study" and "precaution against Malivore", Landen attempted to make friends of the other Salvatore students for a second time. Who knew that being a supernatural phoenix would be considered too mundane for the other students? Despite his good-natured charm, earnest desire to fit in and open-mindedness, none of the other students truly wanted to be friends with Landen. The headmaster, Alaric, had apparently developed an "honesty is the best policy" attitude and informed the entire school about the revelations about Malivore, what happened there and that Landen would be attending the Salvatore boarding school. Alaric kept the very private and still raw details about their meeting with his birth mother, Seylah, hidden from the student body as a whole but even still Landen was treated as an outsider.

"Oh come on. I know that you can do better than that. Stop being a wimp."

The melodic tone of Hope Mikaelson drew Landen out of his depressing thoughts and he smiled involuntarily. The tribrid's tone had a sharp teasing quality to it and Landen hurried further down the corridor to where her voice came from. Something compelled him to slow down, to not waltz into the room and he peered around the doorway to look inside. Hope stood on a training mat with her gloved hands on her hips, hair back in a high ponytail and sweat dripped down her neck before disappearing down into her cleavage in her maroon training t-shirt. The black yoga pants drew Landen's gaze to how perfectly the material clung to her ass but it was her carefree expression and beautiful, snarky smile that made Landen pause. Hope Mikaelson's reputation of being a stoic, unflappable loner was well earned and whenever she chose to smile or display any other emotions it was a sight worth remembering.

"I have to let you get warmed up first. Don't want you pulling a muscle or something and crying foul like last time."

Landen's best friend and brother Rafael stood three feet across the training mat from Hope and he had his arms crossed across his broad, muscled chest. Landen had remarked upon Rafael's beefed up frame and made a joke about supernatural steroids when the two of them stayed in their shared dorm room. Rafael had laughed it off, mentioning that he hit the weight room and trained with his pack daily.

"I'm the alpha now Landen and I don't want some punk coming up and doing to me what I did to the previous alpha Jed. Size, strength and speed are valued very highly within the werewolf community and I'm going to be the best at all three."

Rafael's dedication and commitment to his previous statement showed in his thickly muscled frame and complete confidence oozed off him. The black tank top clung to his chiseled frame and Landen mentally made a note to start hitting the gym with is best friend because Hope was looking at Rafael like she wanted to eat him. Hope had spent a small amount of time every day with Landen, making sure he transitioned to the Salvatore Boarding school's way of life and curriculum with minimal setbacks but she was…professionally friendly. Any of their previous romantic inclinations seemed to have fallen to the wayside and despite Landen's best efforts he couldn't easily rekindle the simmering passion they once had.

"Are you implying Mr. Waithe that I have to stoop to less honorable methods to beat you than my superior skill, training and technique?"

"I wouldn't say that Miss Mikaelson but you are known for using softer methods to beat your opponents when they match or beat your physical or technical skills."

Landen couldn't help it when he grinned as Hope smirked devilishly and raised a single manicured eyebrow mockingly at Rafael. Knowing Hope like he did, Landen knew that Hope's ultra-competitiveness wouldn't let anyone beat her at anything and she took every challenge seriously. What surprised Landen was the way Rafael easily flirted back with Hope and egged her on. The last time that he and Landen had spoken about Hope, Rafael was pissed at the stunning tribrid for voting to dismiss Landen from the Salvatore Boarding school. Something or many somethings had to have happened for his brother-friend to do a complete one eighty in his interactions with Hope.

"Need I remind you that I am winning our little wager right now Raf?"

"Best out of three remember?"

"Shall we continue then?"

Without a word the two super naturals blurred into movement and resumed what Landen presumed was a sparring session. Landen knew that their speed, durability, strength and stamina were enhanced but he didn't expect Rafael to be as good as he was. Hope had been trained by some of the Originals since childhood and regularly sparred with Alaric which showed in her form. Her strikes were both equally powerful and graceful, no movement was wasted and in contrast Rafael struck with raw power. Rafael had to have picked up some fight training as well and being a natural athlete, his instincts were finely tuned. Hope had a more extensive reservoir of techniques but Rafael had the edge in speed and in a blur of movements Rafael threw Hope of his shoulder and slammed her down onto the training mat.

"Oomph!"

The breath expelled from Hope's chest and Landen swore he could feel the vibration of her hitting the training mat. Rafael seized his opportunity and pinned Hope to the mat with a knee on her throat and fist cocked back as if to deliver the final blow. Landen went to step forward, afraid that Rafael might be losing control but his basic human instincts kept him rooted to the ground. He knew that Hope knew several different ways to escape Rafael's hold but instead she lay flat on her back and rested her arms above her head. Her messy ponytail had come undone and her rich brown tresses formed an almost halo around her. A charged silence settled over the room and Landen was barely breathing.

"Where was this passion and intensity when we were dancing Rafael?"

"Dancing and fighting are two different things Hope."

"Are they?"

Rafael's voice came from low in his chest and rumbled across the room to where Landen hid in the doorway. He had never seen Hope in such a submissive and defenseless position before and almost willingly. Hope teased Rafael at first about another dislike to friendship moment that Landen apparently missed and he shook his head at the mental images of Rafael and Hope slow dancing together. When did that happen? Did the elitist Salvatore Boarding school hold balls or fancy birthdays or something? The moment was over as Rafael relaxed his hold on Hope and pulled her to her feet with one arm. Hope collided with Rafael, their bodies pressing together tightly for a moment and Landen blinked furiously for a few seconds as he could've sworn Hope buried her face in Rafael's chest and shoulder.

"That makes us all even Hope. Next round wins the bet."

Hope stepped back, snorted and swept her hair back up into a ponytail. She rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck. Rafael stepped back as well and swung his arms back and forth.

"I cannot wait until you have to buy the next set of tires for my jeep."

"Oi, what makes you think you're going to win Raf? In all our duels you have only won once and I'm not buying your next set of tires. You have to buy my next three books remember?"

"Pssh. Please. You ready?"

Apparently a lot had happened between Rafael and Hope while Landen had been away and he knew that he needed to talk with Rafael soon about what the hell had happened to the change in dynamics between him and Hope. Without a word the two young super naturals were at each other's throats again and the fight had dialed up in earnest. Rafael's strategy became clear as he tried to trap Hope in various holds and throws utilizing his longer limbs. Hope deftly twisted out of all of them with the grace of a gymnast and it seemed more like a dance than a fight. Several times Rafael and Hope were clinched together so closely a sheet of paper couldn't fit between their bodies or one of them had the other seemingly in a finisher hold on the mat. Landen could hear their heavy, short breaths and jealousy sprang up in his chest. He squashed it ruthlessly and dismissed it almost instantaneously because he knew that Raphael had more respect for their friendship than to make a move on the girl Landen was head over heels for.

"I win in three Raf."

Hope's voice was muffled do her face being pushed into the training mat and Landen didn't know how she would escape Raphael's hold. With incredible flexibility and strength Hope kicked her leg out, wrapped her calf around the werewolf's neck and yanked her leg. Raphael spun with a yelp and Hope sprang to her feet. She smirked at Raphael's surprised look as he unsteadily got back onto his feet and shot her an incredulous look.

"Geesh Hope. Where did that move come from?"

"There's a lot that you don't know about me Raf."

Rafael moved back in again but Hope moved faster. She took a running leap, spun in the air and swept Rafael's guard away with the first kick. She continued her spin and knocked him onto his back with a second powerful kick to his chest. He collapsed with a pained groan and Hope straddled his waist while pinning him to the ground with her hips. She grabbed his throat and drew her fist back.

"Yield Rafael Waithe. Now."

The steel in Hope's voice surprised Landen as he thought the fight to be a playful spar but in an instant it had changed. Hope's voice possessed a slight growl that he had never heard before and he realized that her inner Alpha wolf was coming to the surface. Fear tingled down his spine as he knew that Rafael's alpha wouldn't take that tone well but Rafael weakly nodded. The easy acquiescence surprised Landen and Hope's demeanor changed. She hurriedly yanked Rafael's shirt up and her small hands smoothed over Rafael's six-pack and chest.

"I hurt you didn't I? Oh gosh I'm so sorry Raf! I don't know what came over me but I couldn't let you win. Stupid! Stupid me and my competitiveness."

"H-Hope relax. B-Breathe."

Despite his pain, Rafael reached up and took Hope's hands in his larger ones. Their fingers weaved together and Hope stopped moving. She sniffled and Rafael wiped her tears away. Landen watched as Hope gently traced the area where she had kicked Rafael and her movements were gentle, a word Landen wouldn't easily associate with the Mikaelson girl.

"I'm aiight Hope. Really. That last move was fricken awesome though. Where'd you learn it?"

"My father taught it to me."

Landen gasped because he never thought Hope would talk about her infamous father that she loved so much willingly. That and the fact that he didn't think that Hope would let someone touch her as intimately as Rafael currently was. His brother-friend's fingers had slipped underneath Hope's t-shirt and he traced the bare skin above her yoga pants. Before he really knew what he was doing Landen moved from his hiding spot and cleared his throat…loudly.

"Hey you two. What's going on?"

"Nothing! We were just sparring!"

"Landen, bro! Hey man…"

Landen plastered a bright, big smile on his face and deliberately kept his tone high and cheerful. He didn't feel bad at all for breaking up the private, cozy moment between his two friends and like they were struck by lightning Rafael and Hope sprang apart. Landen suspected both were blushing furiously but the only one that he could actually tell was Hope as her creamy skin was flushed red. Rafael cleared his throat a couple times and wiped his face with the bottom of his shirt. The movement caught Hope's gaze and she bit her lower lip as she stared. The dark bruise and red marks from her kick must have caught her attention as she stepped forward and traced the marks with her fingers. Landen stood there, annoyed as they seemed to forget about him again.

"Take your shirt off Raf."

"What?"

Rafael looked confused at Hope's brusque tone and Landen wanted to disagree but the young woman in question stared at Rafael with a raised eyebrow. With a huff Rafael took off his sweaty tank top and Hope muttered under her breath. Light green magic swirled about her fingertips and she once again traced the marks on Rafael's torso. Rafael looked nervous at first but then relaxed into Hope's touch and shut his eyes with a low groan.

"A healing spell. It's the least that I can do for taking it too far."

"Stop it Hope. I'm a big boy and I can take it."

Rafael's eyes snapped back open at Hope's self-deprecating tone and he took her hand that rested on his chest. After a long moment Hope sighed but nodded and stepped to stand next to Rafael. Rafael slung his tank top over his shoulder and looked at Landen with apprehensive eyes.

"What's up Landen?"

"Uh, nothing much. Just was ambling about and saw you two trying to kill each other. Pretty entertaining to watch and even more so since Hope kicked your butt."

Rafael laughed, Hope smirked and Landen felt his stomach clench up. Hope jutted her chin to the door and the three of them walked out of the training room, down the corridor and out onto one of the quads. The sun hung high in the sky, warm air blowing about and the sky a clear blue but Landen didn't relax as he kept looking at the closeness between his two friends. They walked side-by-side with a comfortableness and ease that still surprised him.

"I most certainly did and Raf is getting loads better quickly. That's why I pulled out that last move because I was confident he had never seen it before."

"You can say that again but I'm going to win our next wager. You'll see."

The Salvatore sister twins appeared at that moment and Landen saw Lizzie's eyes narrow as she too took in the closeness between Rafael and Hope. And the fact that Rafi remained shirtless didn't help either. Josie stepped forward before her sister could do or say anything overly dramatic and she grinned teasingly at Hope and Rafael.

"I take it that you two just finished yet another sparring session? What is that? The third one this week?"

"I can't help it that Raf is a sucker for losing bets."

"Hey! Easy woman."

Once again Landen was struck with the feeling of missing too many inside jokes and that he was an outside observer to the friendly bickering between the supernatural friends. Josie hooked her arm through Hope's (Landen was surprised Hope let the other witch) and whisked her away citing that she needed help with her spell work in the library. Lizzie followed them and that left Landen and Rafael. Wordlessly the two resumed their walk to their dorm room and Landen waited to speak until after he shut the door.

"So, uh, you and Hope seem pretty close."

As soon as the words left his mouth Landen wanted to take them back and he resisted the urge to face palm himself. Rafael shuffled about and took longer to grab a clean set of clothes than he should have. He turned around and shrugged his shoulders with a conflicted expression on his face.

"The headmaster dude apparently told Hope that she needed to make more friends if she wanted certain liberties and Hope started speaking to a few of us. At first it was that Josie chick and M.G but Penelope and I were included a little while later. Hope complained a few times that she needed a proper sparring partner and I took her up on it. Wanted to learn some of those karate kid moves ya know?"

Rafael attempted some humor by making theatrical kung fu moves and Landen smiled thinly. He couldn't really fault his brother-friend as Rafael was just doing as Landen had asked him to and started making friends. Rafael cleared his throat and walked to their adjoined bathroom but stopped in the doorway.

"Look man. Landen. I know that you have the hots for Hope and I'm not going to move in on your girl. We're too close for that. It's just she doesn't make friends easy and once you get to know her, she's…"

"She's Hope Mikaelson. I get it man. Go take a shower cause you reek."

Both young men laughed and Rafael closed the bathroom door behind him. Landon waited a minute until he heard the shower turn on and then with a heavy sigh he flopped down onto his back on his bed. He knew that Hope was beyond pretty and was quite the girl once she let you in past her defenses. Still, Landen never felt his minimal supernatural status more than at this moment and he knew that he needed to make a concentrated effort or Hope would pass him by for someone more like her.

The bright rays of the noontime sun made Landen squint even behind his sunglasses and he shielded his eyes with his hand as he looked out upon the chaotic pool grounds in the sprawling back yard of the Salvatore Boarding school. Loud music blasted out across the pool area, shrieks of laughter and a multitude of voices gave the area a lively atmosphere as the supernatural students partied up the end of the spring semester. They all breathed sighs of relief now that their standardized testing and supernatural exams were done and graded. The warm weather and it being a beautiful day had motivated the students to celebrate by throwing a pool party and Landen stood just outside the pool area as he observed the lively atmosphere.

"Oi you gonna stare at the party or join it Landen?"

"Just waiting for you to make your fashionably late entrance Rafi."

Landen turned around and grinned as his best friend moseyed down the brick pathway to stand next to him. Once again Rafael wore a tank top and boardshorts and Landen saw many young female super naturals eyeing up his best friend. Not as many of the same ladies gave him anything beyond a cursory glance and Landen felt his ego deflate a little. He grinned at Landen and poked his bare arm.

"I'm beginning to think that you wear nothing but shorts and tank tops nowadays bro."

"I run a higher body temperature than you do. Besides, it's warm out today."

Landen rolled his eyes and looked around for Hope. A week had passed since Landen watched Rafael and Hope's sparring session and he noticed that his two friends spent quite a bit of time together. He was drawn out of his musings when Rafael wrapped an arm around his neck and gave him a noogie.

"Seriously, come on man. Let's go join the party."

"Hey! Watch the hair."

Rafael just laughed Landen's annoyed cry off and they walked into the crowded pool area. Rafael bumped fists with and hugged those that greeted him and easily cut a path through the pool deck. Landen didn't know where they would find a seat as it seemed that every single student was out to enjoy the beautiful day and pool.

"Raf! Raf! Over here man!"

A tall, stocky boy that Landen knew to be a werewolf stood on top of a pool chair and waved his hand. Rafael waved back, grinned and hurried over. The werewolf pack all sat together and had grabbed several chairs and umbrella covered tables. Two chairs freed up and the boys set their belongings down. Rafael greeted his pack and grinned over at a bombshell of a girl in a large blue sunhat. He strolled over to her and stood in front of the sun so his shadow loomed over her. The girl looked up and Landon's jaw dropped when he recognized the bombshell of a girl to be Hope Mikaelson.

"Well it's about time that you got here Raf."

"I'm happy that you're here Hope."

Hope stood up and took off her sunhat and glasses. She bent over, rummaged in her bag and pulled out a tube of sunscreen. She handed the sunscreen to Rafael, wiggled out of her cut-off jean shorts and pulled her tank top off. Landen stood mesmerized, eyes drinking in the smooth creamy skin and enticing curves all held together in a navy-blue bikini. Landen gulped, closed his mouth and saw Rafael shaking himself out of his own stupor just as Hope turned around to face him. She crossed her arms underneath her breasts and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Hurry up and get that shirt off. You do me and I'll do you."

Landen looked at Hope with wide eyes, Hope's cheeks turned pink and Rafael grinned crookedly. Hope smacked his chest (Landen thought out of reflex) but Rafael took off his shirt and motioned for Hope to turn around. The tribrid did so with a huff, swept her hair over her shoulder and bared her back to Rafael. That same pang of jealousy from a week ago roared in Landen's chest but he was helpless to look away and watched as Rafael quickly but gently rubbed sunscreen from the base of Hope's neck to just above the cute dimples in her lower back.

"Mmm…I do love me some hands-on time. You look quite happy there Hope."

Landen's attention turned to Penelope as the witch sauntered over and stood devilishly in her red bikini with her arms crossed and hip jutting out. Landen couldn't see Hope's face but he watched her shoulders tense and back muscles tighten. Rafael gripped her shoulders and ran his hands down her arms.

"Easy there Money Penny. Retract those claws of yours and play nice. The weather is too nice for you and Hope to poke at each other."

Penelope's eyes flashed and Landen backed up as if preparing for a b…witch going into one of her mood-swings. Hope's shoulders shook and Landen was surprised that Hope was laughing right now. Penelope flipped her hair but her stance didn't soften and Hope turned around to face Rafael.

"You're going to have to sit down as I'm not tall enough to reach your shoulders. Down boy."

"Just because you're a midget…"

Rafael yelped when Hope pinched his side but sat down in a nearby pool chair and Hope began to cover his back in sunscreen. Penelope moved to stand in front of Rafael and smirked.

"For friends you two seem awfully comfortable with each other. Are you sure that-?"

In two flicks of her wrist Hope had summoned Penelope's cellphone from the other witch and magically pushed Penelope into the pool. The wolves laughed loudly and Penelope sputtered as she stood up in the waist deep water. Hope gave a saccharine smile, widened her eyes comically and gasped.

"Oh, I'm sorry Penelope! There was this huge bee buzzing about your head and I reacted. Aren't you cooled off now though?"

The ending of Hope's comment turned slightly frosty and both witches had a conversation with their eyes. Penelope pulled herself out of the pool, summoned her towel and dried off. Hope gave Penelope back her phone and the other witch laid down on a pool chair lounger next to where Hope sat.

"You're right, the water feels good drying off on my skin. I think I'll tan for a little bit."

"Good idea and I'll join you."

The possible fight that didn't happen confused Landen as he thought that Hope and Penelope didn't like each and never missed an opportunity to take pot-shots at one another. He shook his head, chalked it up to the fact that girls were weird and that he had been away for a couple months. Just like Hope's interactions with Rafi had changed, apparently Hope and Penelope's relationship had changed and Landen surmised many other things changed as well.

"Oh no you don't. This sun is baking my skin and we are at a pool party. Up we go."

"Raf don't you dare!"

Rafael bent down and scooped up Hope's small frame in his muscled arms. Rafael's solid six-foot frame dwarfed Hope's curvy just over five feet frame and Hope struggled fruitlessly in Rafael's grasp. Penelope leaped to her feet and plucked Hope's phone out of Hope's hands. With a whoop and running leap, Rafael jumped into the deep end of the pool with Hope in his arms. Both stayed under the water for several long minutes and then Hope quite suddenly launched out of the water screaming. Rafael popped up, treaded water and laughed uncontrollably. Hope landed with a splash amidst many of the student onlookers. Penelope's dramatic sigh drew Landen's attention back to the witch and she looked at him with a sneer over her sunglasses.

"Carrying a torch for someone so deeply in love with someone else is so last semester. Man up and get over her Phoenix-boy because she is so totes into the alpha wolfie."

"What? Hope and Rafi? Nah, you're wrong."

"Whatevs and if you're going to come crying to me later you better bring better booze."

Penelope's comments threw Landen for a loop and when he started to make sense of them Penelope had laid back in her chair. Landen scoffed and looked back out over the pool. Rafael had made up with Hope it seemed and students were pairing up in the shallow section of the pool. A game of chicken was developing and Landen watched as Rafael dove under the water behind Hope and stood up with her on his shoulders. Her strong legs locked underneath his shoulders and Rafael put his hands up beckoning for challengers. Landen put on his own sunglasses, turned up the music on his phone and laid back in his chair. He didn't want to see any more of Hope and Rafael's shenanigans at the moment.

The pool party wound down as the sky darkened and the stars came out. Students had largely left the pool area and headed back to their dorms or off to other more secluded places to hang out in smaller groups. Landen had largely spent his day in the middle of the wolf pack, Rafael, Hope and the Salvatore twins. Even in the middle of all those people and personalities he still felt like an outsider and he was painfully reminded yet again about the two months he was away from everything and…everyone.

Hope and Rafael stayed within arms reach of each other all day, sitting on the same lounge chair and picking food off each other's plates. No one seemed to bat an eye at their closeness and their interactions seemed to be the norm.

Even now they were laughing quietly, swimming around each other in the pool and gently splashing each other. This was far more innocent than some of the other people still in the pool who were making out and Landen knew that they were just enjoying a stress-free environment.

"Hope! Raf! Get out of the pool before you turn into prunes. It's getting cold."

Josie stood on the edge of the pool in front of Landen, wrapped up in a light white sweatshirt and she held out two towels. Both Rafael and Hope swam over to the pool's edge, got out and took the offered towels from Josie. The siphoning witch merely smiled, shook her head and leaned into a sideways hug from Lizzie. Landen had heard all about the rough patch the two sisters went through after learning about the merge and he was happy that they were no longer fighting.

"Uck, you two look like wet dogs. Chop chop time to get moving."

Lizzie clapped her hands and Hope stuck her tongue out at the other witch. Rafael laughed and the group moved back over to where Landen sat with their belongings. The brother-friends fist bumped and Rafael pulled on his shirt and pocketed his phone. Landen enjoyed the reverse strip tease as Hope re-dressed in her shorts and tank top and he stood up when she finished. She smiled up at him and Landen went to ask her if she wanted to go to a nearby bonfire but Josie grabbed Hope's arm.

"Please tell me that you're still coming to the slumber party?"

"Of course Josie. I just need to shower first and change but I'll be there. Promise."

Josie grinned and latched onto Hope's arm with her head resting on Hope's shoulder. Hope turned to Landen and Raphael and smiled.

"I guess I'll see you two sometime tomorrow. I'm not sure how much sleep us girls are going to get tonight."

"I'll save you a breakfast plate if you miss breakfast tomorrow Hope. Have fun and see you girls later."

Rafael winked down at Hope, squeezed her hand and saluted the girls as they walked away giggling. Hope looked back over her shoulder and grinned. Landen wasn't sure if she was grinning at him or Raphael but he selfishly hoped that her grin was for him. Rafael jutted his chin towards the nearby bonfire and the two boys fell in step side-by-side as they walked. Landen cleared his throat and grinned up at Raphael.

"You seemed to enjoy yourself today."

"Yeah man, this pool party thing was exactly what we needed. You had fun too right?"

Rafael looked down at Landen, concern in his eyes and Landen grinned. Rafael's kind nature always made him feel secure in their friendship and he nodded.

"Yeah man. I was just leading up to that I haven't seen you this happy in a while. After everything with Cassie's second…err. You doing all right man?"

A beat of silence stretched between the two boys but Landen knew Rafael was just processing the emotions that came whenever Cassie was mentioned. He felt terrible that he wasn't here when Cassie was brought back by the Necromonger monster and he checked in with Rafael's emotional and mental state at least once a week since he returned. Rafael laughed quietly and grinned.

"Yeah, seeing Emma and Alaric about her definitely helps. Hope helps me too and we talk about family sometimes."

Landen nodded along with Rafael's statement until he mentioned Hope and he looked up at Rafael in surprise. Rafael caught his look and chuckled again.

"Everyone knows at least a little bit about Hope's complicated family history and everyone knows how deeply Hope misses her parents. Every once in a while, we talk ya know? Or sometimes we just sit in silence somewhere and don't talk."

"Oh, I didn't know that Hope and you were that close. That's…good."

Rafael didn't seem to notice Landen's strained tone or his stutter. Penelope's words from earlier echoed back in his mind and Landen grit his teeth.

"Carrying a torch for someone so deeply in love with someone else… Get over her Phoenix-boy because she is so totes into the alpha wolfie…"