A/N 1.0: This is a few days removed, I sowwy. but. Is it January yet? /flails and screams and cries.

PS- [whispers] the werewolves are coming. all the werewolves are coming. Klaus' wolfy family is coming. and Hayley's wolfy family is already sorta kinda here. I sense wolfy bonding coming. they shall be werewolf royalty together and unite their packs. 'tis happening.

SOON. /pets fellow klayley shippers

Disclaimer: I don't own The Originals.

In an instant your predator hands reached to the throat
I knew you were waiting to die the whole time
Your legs they swung for hours in semi-spires

~ Fangs | Little Red Lung ~

1x09: reigning pain in new orleans

Some days are better than others, that's a lesson Klaus has had drilled into his head after living through more than his fair share of trying times. But then there are the days he can never quite label between all the emotional ups and downs. There are a lot more of them than he'd prefer and he'd much rather work his way through a bottle of bourbon or five, much like now. And the only thing standing between him and the nearest decanter is an incredibly disgruntled and pregnant to boot wolf-girl.

"Excuse me, your Highness," she spits, froth all but dripping from her bared teeth as she levels him with cold, narrowed eyes. "Next time I'll make sure to remove my lowly werewolf-self from your path."

He bites his tongue to keep from lashing out at her. She may be pregnant with his baby, she may be upset with him even though they both know the wolves are safe, she may have sworn revenge for his dodgy behavior but there's only so much contempt even he can take especially when, not a month ago, she was at least accepting of his presence.

But that was before the noble brother strode back in and erased everything, wiped it all away as if three months of cohabitation and whatever tentative relationship they'd been building had never happened or developed. It bothers him more than it should, it hurts him more than he'd admit- if he'd ever do such a weak thing.

He releases her arms from where he'd steadied her as she ran straight into him, reeking of citrus and cinnamon, sage and musk- reeking of his brother. "Perhaps you should keep your eyes up instead of on your phone lest I throw it through the nearest wall, little wolf," he growls, matching her icy gaze.

"Go ahead," she challenges. "I'm surprised you haven't done that already."

It's what she wants, for him to lose it, to snap, to give in and prove whatever lies Elijah has whispered in her ear right. She may want it and he may be all too ready to unleash his frustrations concerning her spiteful attitude but that's one satisfaction the hybrid refuses to give her. He has no intentions of doing so.

Klaus simply stands there, drawing himself to his full height. "Oh, how I would love nothing more. But then how would you reach the noble Elijah if you had need of, say..., rescuing from the big bad, despicable wolf holding you against your will?" he asks, peering down at her in mock pity, contempt hiding behind the look in his eyes.

Her gaze turns from hatred to fear and she takes the smallest of steps backwards and he smirks, nasty and wicked.

Oh, yes, little wolf. He knows all about that foolish errand. He knows all about the request to save the werewolves, a request he, not Elijah, honored in the end, if not for nothing other than his own selfish reasons.

"What did you do?"

It'd be all too easy to walk away and leave her guessing, punish her for challenging his authority, for questioning his motives.

But he can't.

"I invited both he and Rebekah to join us here."

She shoves him in the chest. "You think it's funny to taunt your family in my face when you took mine away?!"

"I did no such thing and we both know that!"

She backs down again, shoulders slumping a bit. "Because Elijah saved them."

"Just because Elijah's sickening bout of White Knight syndrome acquiesced to your request doesn't mean they're protected." He lowers his voice a considerable amount before speaking again. "I did that."

"What?"

"You heard me, little wolf." Perhaps if there wasn't so much animosity between them, he would divulge information he wishes to keep locked away simply because they're a lot alike, because she, of all people, would understand. Perhaps one day he will but as of now there's no need to explain himself, he doesn't owe her that much. She doesn't respond and he casts a glance at her, eyes roving up and down her body, lingering on the growing swell of her belly before meeting her gaze again, far less contemptuous than it had been mere seconds ago. "I cannot speak for Rebekah but I suspect Elijah will be joining us tomorrow." He moves around her to continue on his way- bottles of bourbon calling his name, singing him a sweet lullaby with the promise of a blissfully numb, drunken stupor.

"They keep me going. When I feel like it's me against the world and there's nothing left to fight for." The words stop him in his tracks, not bothering to look back at her. "Don't expect a thank you."

He wouldn't dare.

A/N 2.0: wah. angst. i can't. a slow burn i can handle it but in order to do so I need Elijah to back the eff off. like the judgement on his face, the way he tries to appease klaus with white oak stakes (tvd 4x19) and stories about 'his true family' and apologies that don't even address the biggest issue (cough cough 'my child, my blood will grow up to call you father' cough). UGH. I loved the scene cause wah klelijahhh just hug it out please but then I'm all *anger*. and can we please talk about how it's been 4279847239 years since we got a soft, nice scene between Hayley and Klaus were there's nobody but them and no fingering pointing and accusations no matter how much of a right Hayley has to throw them to influence their interaction?

ggrrrr Elijah. homeslice, you wanted Klaus to care and, guess what, he does. so let him.

*takes deep breath*

okay, I'm done. I'll probably seethe through the hiatus wah. and I apologize to anyone who's also a haylijah shipper. I honestly don't think I'd have such an issue if Hayley wasn't, i dunno, pregnant with Klaus' kid. nope. I said I was done so I'm stopping.

thanks for reading, lovelies! and, if you have a second, please leave a review! I'd appreciate it:) /cuddles readers cause hiatus