A/N: The title is inspired by the song playing in the background during the almost kiss scene. (1x09) (Promises - The Boxer Rebellion)
I can excite your soul ~
P.S - I Hope you enjoy your read! :)
Excite My Soul
Chapter 1: Unravelling Denial
Hayley gazed at the evening sky, the wind gently rustling through her soft chocolate hair and couldn't help but sigh. She then leaned carefully on the shadow black metal balcony for support and thought of the numerous things which ran through her unsettled mind.
"Are the werewolves in the bayou safe?" she tapped nervously on the railing for a second before coming to halt.
"Is Elijah safe?" she then wondered, her heart knocking just a little too hard.
Hayley shook her head but her concerns did not disappear.
"What have I got myself into this time?" she asked herself, contemplating about her time in New Orleans so far.
"What the hell am supposed to do?" she then questioned confused.
The concepts floated in her mind as she pressed her hands ever so lightly on her stomach. She'd never thought of being a mother, and here she was carrying her unborn daughter after a drunken one night stand.
It was scary but then again wonderful all at the same time. Part of her was terrified of the new responsibilities, of messing things up but then again another part of her was glad to have been given this chance.
It had strangely come quite naturally, the motherly stuff that is. She couldn't help but love the life inside of her, regardless of how she had come into being. It was a primal instinct for her to protect her baby and she promised she always would. She didn't want her child to suffer what she had, but she sensed life wasn't going to be as stable as she wished for it to be.
"It never is." she thought, her face sombre but then just as this thought drifted, swiftly, Hayley's senses heightened.
She felt the presence of someone else appear in the atmosphere and the hairs on the back of her neck prickled as a sharp whoosh of wind justified she was not alone.
This didn't startle her, she was quite perceptive that way and the scent which engulfed her was so very familiar...
"Elijah." her mind soon recalled with relief before she even turned around to acknowledge him. Of course it was no other than him. She turned her head slowly to face him, her captivating eyes eventually resting on his.
He stood tall and firm about a metre away from her, as still as a statue. The collar of his dark coat was high and a button was left open so that it formed a jagged flap.
"It suits him." Hayley mused unconsciously fighting the urge to become completely distracted and scolding her lips for wanting to pout.
She still continued to watch him however as he similarly continued to stare. It was like he wasn't breathing. She wondered whether she should speak but whenever she was around him, she felt like standing in silence was enough in itself.
Elijah gazed at the woman carrying his brother's child. As much as he tried to deny it she made him catch his breath. His eyes focused on hers but he couldn't help but notice her every detail. The way her wavy brunette hair laid about her shoulders, the way her hazel eyes followed his.
Her lilac cardigan hung off her shoulder. "Isn't she cold?" he thought concerned.
He then realised how he could live this moment for hours. Being around her was so...filling.
After a few seconds, he noticed worry sprawl onto her beautiful face and his heart stirred despite knowing what she would ask.
"Are they?" she enquired softly.
"They're safe." Elijah replied promptly like the tension was making them restless.
He couldn't help but slightly smile, had she really thought he couldn't handle it?
Hayley's eyes flickered away at his smile. She tried to hide the fact that she had been worried about him for she did not show her concerns so very often.
"Of course he'd be alright." she scolded herself as if she had never doubted it at all.
His smile grew as he read what she was trying to do.
"All of them." he added just to increase the affect.
Hayley looked away, knowing he knew. Yet not too long after, she was over their little silent exchange.
She felt relief flood her and gratitude bloom and then impulsively strode over to him, her arms opening and then locking around his neck. His scent calmed her down instantly and she professed her appreciation, glad also that he had not recoiled.
Elijah held her, stroking her hair gently. His whole body felt a sudden urge to sigh and just be engulfed in her embrace but he blinked numerously trying to calm his heart and fought to retain his cool persona. He was afraid to give too much of his feelings away.
"Thank You." Hayley spoke, her tone grateful. She then reappeared from the crook of his neck and looked him in the eye.
"What you did Elijah, it means a lot." she articulated wanting him to know that she meant every word. There weren't many she could rely on and she wished to hold on to her very few.
Elijah examined her expression and found it was hard to remain impassive when around her. Even now his eyes found themselves drawn to her lips.
"Soft and pink, screaming for a... "He realised his gaze had just wondered and hurriedly attempted to cover up his actions.
"You should keep this covered." he told her, covering her crescent mark by lightly tugging her thin cardigan.
"I will." she replied firmly. Her responses were as quick as his.
"Maybe she feels it too." He mused though brought himself back to the issue of her birthmark once gain.
About which he was still not convinced.
"If anything happens to her." he thought feeling a sudden shot of anger. His heart clenched at the idea and he just about managed to force his teeth not to grit.
"If any of the others saw this." He then found himself speaking out loud though in a much calmer state than what had brewed internally. He shook his head in worry.
"Elijah, I promise." she told him, her beautiful eyes vowing to him, before he could continue to heighten his concern any further.
The sound of his name escaping her mouth felt so very right.
Elijah shook his head to eradicate this thought to him which felt like a sin.
Yes as hard as he tried he found himself fixated on her lips once again but this time Hayley's eyes similarly lowered, her eye lashes fluttering faintly.
This didn't help.
Her face then neared his, slicing the distance between them by the second as both their pulses increased.
Elijah's hands balled into fists which he hid at his sides.
Both their pupils also dilated but they were too distracted to notice.
Nevertheless as quickly as it had started...
...the moment was over.
"I should go." Elijah abruptly turned to leave, trying to hide the fact that once again he was catching his breath and inside his emotions were making things far beyond painful. The frustration inside him wished to boil over.
He caught a look of disappointment of her so ever-perfect face and his irritation only grew. He wanted to explain, to make her understand but there was nothing he could say or do.
"I need to go." He thought afraid that temptation and desire who overthrow his nobility.
Hayley turned not wanting him to notice the disappointment bubbling inside her. She was afraid he'd notice. She was afraid he'd notice what she felt, since she was oblivious to the fact he felt exactly the same.
"This is silly." She told herself though her words were empty. She did care and far too much.
Denial, she was in denial.
Hayley now faced the other side of the balcony since she didn't think she'd be able to watch him leave. She scrunched up her eyes waiting for the sound that would signify his exit and waited to notice the steady aftermath of his scent disappearing from the air.
Elijah looked at her one last time hating to see her alone and cold. He wished to wrap his arms around her but he couldn't.
"I can't." He thought one last time and then the wind hissed and he was gone.
Hayley folded her arms and rubbed her shoulder a little not knowing what to think or do.
She then sighed deeply pivoting towards the door, ready to harden herself for the next few days. This wasn't like her but she was struggling to blame it on the hormones.
She took a few steps forwards but just then, her feet automatically stilled and...
... her senses accentuated.
Her whole body seemed to awake as a hiss swum to her ears.
Hayley immediately turned around her eyes searching wildly forgetting any need to conceal.
It was him.
Her heart jumped powerfully.
Elijah stood in the same spot away from her once again, however this time he was not cool nor calm and nor fighting those feelings within him. Instead those very feelings raged through his blood demanding to be let out.
He was fidgety and restless; his teeth grit his flawless body tense.
Hayley watched in surprised her mouth opening to speak but before any words could come out...
A whistle sounded once again and she found herself flying backwards and soon leaning against the balcony, a strong hand firmly around her waist, preventing the metal from pressing into her skin.
She looked up and there he was, and it really was him, his eyes darting over her face eager and almost vulnerable and desperate as if asking for permission.
She didn't need to speak to let him know.
It was all so obvious now, when they stopped denying it.
Hayley's lips parted as she felt Elijah's soft skin press against them hard. Their senses stressed to a limit they were both not used to, their hearts pounding madly at the taste of this forbidden touch. Their lips moved softly at first but soon at most passionate pace as they absorbed each other wholly.
They realised how long they'd needed this for. They craved each other ardently.
Hayley found her hands curling around his neck once again, though this time her fingers ran and twisted through his hair.
Elijah held her protectively, possessively, in turn becoming conscious of how much he felt for the girl. In his mind it had felt so wrong but it reality it felt nothing but right.
He realised his want for her.
He wanted her to be his.
Hayley's heated cheek moved away as she recovered her steady breath trembling in his grasp by the emotions that had just overwhelmed her. Elijah tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and stroked her heated cheek unable to breathe himself, just yet. His face was stern and she discovered he was still trying to maintain control.
Hayley suddenly feared that he would let her go but thankfully he did the opposite and drew her closer, in turn, supporting her frame with himself.
He placed his forehead upon hers and she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against his cool palm gutted but understanding he needed to leave.
She then felt a chaste kiss press upon her now slightly swollen lips, a rapid breeze and when her eyes opened he was nowhere to be scene.
Hayley stumbled away from the balcony and took the deepest breath she could and tried to recover.
He had just disappeared and part of her could have sworn nothing had happened; that this was all just a daydream and an extremely hot one too.
The only thing that proved her wrong was his scent which now only lingered in the air and she thanked the heavens for its presence.
Hayley then after taking one more look at the view in a disorientated disbelief walked inside finally appending the truth when sinking into her chair.
"I just kissed the hell out of Elijah Mikaelson."