3. The Confrontation
Hayley sat behind Klaus's desk, trawling the internet. She still wasn't a hundred percent sure what Sabine had uttered in her 'voodoo trance' thingy, but it bothered her enough to try and find out what it meant. She hadn't told anyone about it. It might be nothing. Or it might be more frikken drama. She sighed. Why is this my life?
She felt, rather than saw someone watching her. It was the universal feeling of uneasiness that science couldn't quite explain. Intuition. Looking up from the laptop, she saw Klaus standing in the doorway. His expression was unreadable.
She just arched a brow in his direction; sure he would eventually give voice to whatever his problem was.
"I see the way you track my brother's movements when you think no one is watching."
Hayley frowned; startled at his abrupt admission. Her heart-rate tripped a bit. Dammit. He could hear that. "Well, hello to you too."
She chose to ignore him and opened ebay - just in case he decided to check what she was up to. Safer for him to assume she was shopping for baby bargains online than start asking questions about something she didn't quite understand herself.
He stepped into the room and up to the front of the desk. It was impossible to ignore him so she gave him her attention.
"What the hell are you on about?"
"Elijah is a man of the world." He was moody, his voice flat, but carried its usual mocking derision. Somehow the impeccable English accent only made his taunts sound more upsetting. "Do not be fooled by whispered words and the Lancelot act he loves so very much. You are not the first girl he's swept up onto his white horse." That hurt, but she kept her face impassive. "And you won't be the last. He is every bit the Original. Don't waste your time using those lonely eyes. You mistake his kindness for affection."
Hayley winced. He was throwing her words back at her.
You hardly know him. And yet you miss him. What is it about my brother that always inspires such instant admiration?
He was kind to me.
Her anger rose to choke her. "Seriously? Go to hell. You're in no position to lecture me about inappropriate hook-ups." She looked back at the laptop screen but didn't see anything. It's like he saw into her brain and used the information there to purposefully hurt her. Dick.
Klaus slammed his hands onto the desk and she jumped. He leaned in towards her. "Just a cautionary tale. Besides, that was the scotch, love. And look at where it got us."
"Is that what it was? I thought you were just pretending for a moment that I was blonde and into teen drama." She saw his lips disappear into a thin line, his cheekbones becoming more prominent. For a moment, she was afraid. But then she straightened her spine. Fuck it.
"Watch yourself, little wolf," he cautioned. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
"No, you watch yourself!" She rose and rounded the desk to stand in front of him, jabbing her finger into his chest. "I am not your god damn punching bag. Find someone else to bully."
He grabbed her arm, his grip firm. Hayley tried to twist away from him, but his grasp was too strong.
"He is not interested Hayley," he bit out. "And even if he was, it will not do. You are carrying my child-"
"And that is pretty much the extent of our involvement. Now, let. Me. Go!" She tugged.
"A pretty significant bond wouldn't you say. Elijah has... what do all those vexing psychology textbooks say? A rescuer complex. He saves things. And he sees you as the salvation of this family."
Hayley felt tears spring into her eyes and she hated her weakness, especially in front of him. She tugged harder. Would she never be wanted for herself? And would the reminder of her reason for being in this family always be a weapon to hurt her? Always the outsider.
"Niklaus!" Elijah's voice reverberated around the room. In an instant, she was free and Elijah had Klaus up against the wall, both his hands wrapped around his brother's windpipe.
"Elijah! No, it's ok." She didn't know why she was even defending Klaus. But it wasn't as if he was lying. The problem was, the truth hurt.
"She is with child brother. Your child. I urge you recall that fact."
Elijah turned to look at her briefly and she nodded. He let go.
"To hell with both of you," Klaus spat. "See if I care."
They heard the slam of the front door from where they stood. Hayley winced as the sound echoed through the empty mansion. She wrapped her arms around herself. She was trembling.
"Are you alright?" Elijah removed his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. In an instant, his smell surrounded her, his heat. I'm overwhelmed.
He reached for her arm and stroked the flesh where Klaus's fingers had just been. He examined the area, his long fingers brushing lightly over the soft skin of her forearm. She shivered again.
"He has hurt you." His eyes were soft and she was drawn towards him. Dammit. Get a hold of yourself!
"No, no he hasn't. Despite his threats, he didn't hurt me." At least not physically. She gently extricated her arm from his touch. It was too hard to be this close to him.
Elijah stuffed his hands into his pockets and took a step back from her. She was grateful for the space. Respiration became easier.
"Niklaus picked a fight. You were arguing. About me." He cocked his head to the side in a way she found endearing.
Hayley's eyes flicked up to his and turned away, embarrassed. She knew he'd heard everything.
"Why is he acting like he's jealous. Oh god, is he jealous?" The question was incredulous.
"Niklaus?" Elijah shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "No. It's just that old habits die hard."
"He thinks I…" she cleared her throat, licked her suddenly dry lips and tried again. "He accused me of misreading your kindness as some epic love connection." She laughed, trying to make light of the moment. "Of course, it's not true-" she rushed on.
"Rebekah accused me of the same thing," he interrupted. "The accusation was slightly different but I think the idea was similar."
Her head snapped up. She was speechless. "That's… awkward I guess? Must be something in the New Orleans air that's driving your siblings to draw ridiculous conclusions. We barely know each other, to accuse... to assume."
"These things do not always have a schedule." Elijah looked to the floor, his hands still buried deep in his pockets. He can't look at me. "And in most cases, attraction is always inconvenient. At least, this has been my experience."
Attraction. Did he just say attraction? Hayley held her breath.
"What are you saying?" She drew his jacket closer around her.
He was quiet for a long time. So long in fact that she thought she had dreamed the entire exchange. Eventually, he pulled a face – half smile, half apologetic grimace. For no reason, the expression broke her heart.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
She felt her eyes prickle again and blinked rapidly. I will not cry in front of him. Stupid, stupid Hayley.
"I was actually in the middle of something." She gestured towards the laptop and moved behind the desk, the distance making her feel safer, the furniture a tangible barrier between them.
"Sometimes Hayley, what we want is not necessarily the right thing. Or it's not about being right or wrong. It's about timing." He stepped towards the door but did not look back at her. "I do not have to tell you that things with Niklaus - with my family - are… tenuous at best. I cannot do anything to jeopardise what little accord we have. I could not be more sorry for it. Even when I wish it could be different."
Hayley blinked and he was gone. She lowered herself to the chair slowly and rested her head in her hands.
I'm falling in love with an original vampire I can never have.
a/n: A thousand thank you's to all of you. This is fun and I'm glad that the parking lot is filled with lots of Haylijah shippers. Bring your picnic baskets! :)
Chapter 2&3 has been swooped around for better reading.
In this little treatise, for continuities sake, Elijah has been released/undaggered by Marcel.
Oh, and I love Klaus. So even if he is being a bastard in my story, it's not an indication of my feelings towards the character.
These drabbles may at times relate to another or be completely separate.
Coming up: A Private Party and The Lesson
