Thanks for the lovely reviews guys. Now let us get right to seeing more of Klaus attempting to breach the friend zone wall.

Terrible Love

Chapter 4: Paint(ball) Me A Picture of Love

Klaus had pulled out his old canvas and paintbrushes from his closet and was happy to see it was still good as new. He had his own in his home in New Orleans but this was his first ever kit that his mother had gotten him and it was very special. A knock on his door had him turning away from the masterpiece he'd been working on. "Enter."

Rebekah peered inside before entering. "Nik, Kol wants us all to go and play some paintball. He says it'd be a good family activity but we all know it's only so he could torment Finn without any repercussions."

"Paintball?"

At that point Kol made himself known. "Come on Nik, think about it. You can pretend Finn's head is the canvas and paint till your heart's content. Don't be a bore now."

"I would have phrased it much more differently but whatever." Rebekah shrugged. "Do you want to come? I've invited Marcel."

"You did!?" Kol beamed happily. "That means Davina will be joining us?"

Rebekah rolled her eyes. He was so infatuated. "Yes. And he's bringing that bartender too, Camille." She smirked at Klaus. "Perhaps you've heard of her."

And Klaus was sold. So he shrugged casually. "Fine." He still had to make himself look inconspicuous. Couldn't be looking obsessed in front of his younger siblings now could he?

"I'll be driving though since it's my idea. The rest will follow behind. And tell Freya to invite her fruitcake of a boyfriend Lucien. It needs to be an even number. I'll handle the gear and everything so meet me downstairs in half an hour."

"Aww but why can't I go and play brother?" Henrik pouted, not being pleased at all about being left out.

"Because it's a grown up game Henrik." Kol answered as he held his paintball gun out. "Father would kill me if he found out I took you. It won't exactly be safe."

Henrik stared at him in confusion. "Aren't there safety measures taken in these things?"

Kol smiled mischievously. "There is. That is, there would be if we were going to any regular venue."

"Now I'm even more upset about not going." Henrik replied with a sigh. His brother's knack to create mischief was rubbing off on him because he was looking forward to witnessing some.

Kol couldn't help but smile. "Lose the frown Henrik. Look I'll take you out for milkshakes when I return."

This brought the boy's grin back. "Really? Promise?"

"I promise. No matter how battered I am." He said and placed a hand to his heart. "Scout's honor."

Henrik tackled him in a hug. "I'll hold you to that!"

Satisfied with cheering up the youngest Mikaelson he made his way outside and began stuffing the trunk with the equipment. Lucien was already outside waiting by his car along with Freya while Finn was with Klaus by his car. Kol's head lifted when he noticed a familiar car pull up the driveway.

"So we ready to go?" Marcel asked as he lowered his window.

But his eyes immediately landed on Davina who was sitting in the passenger seat. She saw him and gave him a small smile. Unfortunately Marcel noticed this little moment and hunked his car.

"Are you deaf Kol?"

"Twat," He muttered to himself before replying. "As soon as Rebekah and Elijah come out we're good to go."

"I'm here." Rebekah said, stepping outside.

"Where's Elijah?" Kol asked impatiently. He didn't stay to hear a reply and went in to see what was keeping him. He frowned when he saw Elijah coming down the stairs.

It wasn't possible.

"Are you serious?"

Elijah was wearing a fucking suit.

"We're going to play paintball not go to a business meeting. Don't you own anything besides a suit?"

He only eyed Kol as if he'd spoken in another language.

"Fucking hell," Kol groaned, facepalming. "I'll get you something from my closet."

Finally they could go now that Elijah had changed into something more suited (awful pun) for outdoor activities. He hopped into Klaus' car with Elijah, Rebekah, and Klaus himself. The others followed behind him while he drove.

"Excuse me for sounding like some inconsolable child but, are we there yet?" Rebekah asked after half an hour of driving.

"We get there when we get there," Kol hissed. "Now don't worry your pretty little head sister for it should not be much further."

"Kol we're surrounded by bloody trees in every direction. You said we were going to play paintball but I have yet to see a venue. Where are you taking us?" Klaus added in frustration.

"You'll see."

"Kol," Elijah spoke calmly. "Need I remind you that there are plenty of us. Perhaps you should have thought twice before bringing Finn out here along with us."

"Christ sake Elijah, I'm not planning on committing murder here."

"Oh I wouldn't put it pass you brother." Klaus spat as he recalled Aurora's near death encounter.

"I thought we called a truce on that? Besides Aurora was fine. We made sure of it."

"We? It was I who made sure she was attended to. You simply watched while I did all the work."

Perhaps he should've phrased that differently.

Rebekah raised a brow. "Well, seems you two have kept busy. When was Aurora here?"

"Me and Nik had her—"

"Kol," Elijah cut in sharply. "I will not have you speaking of your indecency to Rebekah."

"Cut the umbilical cord Elijah." Kol scoffed. "She isn't our baby sister anymore. Besides, not much happened."

"I do not care. Have some respect. Not all of us are interested in you and Niklaus' escapades."

Kol shot him a look of disbelief from the mirror. "And just what do you think happened? I don't quite fancy threesomes Elijah. At least, not unless it's women."

Rebekah gasped. "Wait you had a threesome with Aurora!? You naughty boys!"

"Kol what did I say?" Elijah snapped. "Do you hear the filth spilling from your mouth?"

"What are you getting mad at me for? I said we didn't have a threesome!"

Klaus felt a migraine threatening to take root. "Are we there yet!?"

Thankfully they were. Kol parked the car by a clearing and the others followed.

"Is this it?" Freya asked, examining the forest. She crossed her arms and approached Kol. "What's the meaning of this?"

"I'm just about to get to that." Kol answered before climbing onto the top of Klaus' car.

"Have you lost it? I have to return that you know?"

"Your insurance will cover that mate," He replied with no care before turning to the group. "This is the forest that me and my family used to play in as kids. Even when we got older we'd occasionally visit them. Place is huge and best of all no rules. Plus we get to keep the money we would have wasted on some dull venue." He hopped off and opened the trunk. "Now come and get the stuff."

Lucien grabbed one of the vests. "Kol, these look pretty cheap lad."

"Oh they are. I only bought four good ones, the rest were bought cheaply off Craigslist."

Kol snatched one of the good vests and wrapped it around Davina. "Of course the lovely Davina Claire is entitled to one and will most certainly be on my team."

Marcel pulled Davina to his side. "Hah, nice try Kol. She's on my side. And I'll most certainly be gunning you down."

"Is that a challenge?" Kol puffed his chest attempting to impress Davina. "Fine, it's about time I set the tone. It'll be a team of 5 on 5 and last man standing is the winner. That's as far as rules go."

"I'm on Marcel's team." Rebekah said earning a grin from the man himself.

"Oh no you are not," Kol pulled her away from Marcel in the same way he'd done prior. "Rebekah, Klaus, Elijah and Camille are on my side. You have that scrub Finn, pansy boy Lucien,—"

"I must say I resent that."

"—Freya, and of course Davina." Kol said with a tone of finality. Two could play that game Marcel.

Marcel narrowed his eyes, clearly not pleased but relented nonetheless. "Fine. When do we start?"

"I set the alarm on my phone for ten minutes. We'll scatter and when it sets I'll give the signal to start."

With that he dragged his sister away and motioned for his team to follow. Once his alarm rang and they were in what he deemed a good enough hiding place he pulled out an old looking horn from his backpack.

Rebekah placed a hand on her hip. "Was the ridiculous medieval horn really necessary?"

"Yes. Now get into position. We're going on the offensive. You'll be the one personally taking down Marcel. It'll make for the ultimate betrayal."

"Don't involve me in your ridiculous squabble Kol."

Camille watched the siblings begin to bicker before turning to Klaus. "I see your family hasn't changed much."

"I'm afraid not love."

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

Marcel smirked when the sound of a horn echoed through the forest. "That moron just gave away his position. Did you see him snatching Rebekah like that? Let's roast him first."

"Don't challenge Kol to his juvenile games. It's a lost cause Marcel." Finn suggested. "He dumped a skunk on the car of Rebekah's prom date Matt for being, and I quote: 'A spastic fruitcake who will never be good enough for Rebekah'."

Freya shook her head at the memory. "The poor boy, he was so sweet. It worked too considering he never spoke to Rebekah ever again."

"I'd rather not tell you what he did to me when I was beginning to see Freya." Lucien added with a grim look. He still vividly remembered the squirrel crawling up his pants during dinner. It made for a hell of a dinner conversation with the Mikaelsons. To his credit though it didn't halt him in pursuing Freya and in the end he wound up getting the girl. No regrets.

Suddenly something burst against his chest with a 'splat' sound. "What the?" Another three shots hit him. "Hmm, I do believe I've been shot."

They could hear Kol's almost maniacal laughter.

"Shit!" Marcel said, ducking under the bushes. "He's here!"

Lucien laid dramatically on the ground. "It's okay. I've lived a fruitful life. This man leaves no regrets."

Marcel approached him and shut his eyes for him, not unlike the way warriors would do. "I'll avenge you." He charged deeper into the forest like a man on a mission. "Kol! I'm coming for them cheeks!"

"I said don't play his games fool!" Finn shouted. "It's what he wants!"

"Come on, we need to catch up to Marcel. We can't separate." Freya stated. "And let's lay low."

Meanwhile Kol watched like a predator as the enemy team scrambled. He patted Elijah's shoulder who'd just taken down Lucien. "That'll do pig, that'll do."

Elijah smacked the hand away.

"Camille, darling have you ever played this before?" Kol asked when he saw she was fidgeting with the gun.

"Well to be honest," She ran a sheepish hand through her hair. "Not exactly."

"Fear not Camille, I'll show you." Klaus said earning an appreciative smile as he gave her a quick rundown.

"Thanks Klaus. It's good to know I can still always depend on you." She said gently touching his arm.

This made Kol scoff. Had Davina been here he'd be showing off too. Bloody Marcel. They'd been wandering through the forest but there was no sign of the enemy. A twig snapping had him stopping in his tracks. His eyes widened when he saw something cross through one of the trees.

"Duck!" Kol shouted.

Elijah watched the pigeon fly off before shooting Kol a pointed glance. "That is not a duck it's a pigeon you utter buffoon." And just like that he was gunned down by paint pellets. "I see. That's what you meant."

Kol would facepalm if he wasn't worried about giving his position away. He gritted his teeth when he heard Marcel making some animal-like hollers. The bastard!

"Who knew Marcel could be so competitive?" Camille whispered to Klaus who'd pulled her to crouch behind some bushes.

"We're surrounded." Kol muttered, crouching to them while Rebekah did the same on the opposite side. "We can't do anything if we're boxed in."

"I have an idea," Rebekah began. "I'll run out and draw their attention, use that time to escape out of here."

Klaus frowned. "You mean sacrifice yourself? No."

Rebekah rolled her eyes at his response. Klaus was so overprotective that he wouldn't even allow her to put herself in fake danger. "God's sake Nik it's only a game. Now you have to protect Camille. This time around I'll take the bullet for you."

"I'll remember you forever Bekah." Kol murmured before dragging a reluctant Klaus and Camille away from the scene as the pellets could be heard.

"I'm killing Marcel," Klaus sneered once they were away from the enemy team. "He's betrayed me! This will not go unpunished."

Kol smirked evilly. "That's right brother. Let's us go hunting."

"Uh, right behind you." Camille muttered nervously. The Mikaelsons could be really competitive. "How are we going to find their team? It's getting dark now."

"I'm ten steps ahead of you love," Kol grinned already pulling something out of his backpack. He pulled out two masks and handed one to Klaus. "A little treat called night vision goggles."

"Where did you get these?" Klaus asked.

"You'd be amazed at the wonders you could buy off Craigslist."

Camille frowned. "Why don't I get one? And isn't this cheating?"

"Sorry but there were only two in stock. As for the cheating bit, I stated anything goes. Just follow behind us. Nik will keep you safe."

Klaus pulled her close. "That I will."

"I'm not some damsel in distress Klaus." She replied but remained in his hold.

"Quiet," Kol whispered and gestured for them to follow him. "I see a swine."

Klaus pulled on the goggles over his head and followed Kol's gaze. "You mean Finn?"

"I've got this," And Kol didn't let them deny his request as he creeped towards Finn. He peered in every direction to make sure it was clear before firing two shots on his legs.

"What the hell?" Finn looked up to see Kol grinning like a madman. "Aah yes. It had to be you to do me in. Go on then, do it! Don't be a coward! Shoot me!"

"I've wanted to do this ever since you broke my Gameboy Advance Finn. It was limited edition!"

"You're never letting that go are you? Just get it over with!" Finn retorted looking Kol dead in the eyes.

This made Kol pause. What was wrong with him? Why was he hesitating? His eyes... it was like... he wanted to know if Kol would betray him. How dare Finn look at him like that? As if he'd been the one in the wrong.

"You broke my Gameboy!" He repeated to solidify his resolve once more.

"And no matter how many times I tell you it was an accident you won't listen. Why bother? Just deliver the killing blow already Kol."

Kol gripped the gun harder but was unable to press the trigger. He swore he heard violins playing. "Fine! You asked for it." His finger remained motionless though and before he knew it a splatter of paint colored Finn's vest.

"Jesus Christ guys it's just paintball." Camille said walking up to them. "And now they have three left."

Kol was still in shock. He turned to her angrily. "I was supposed to take him out!"

"Shut up Kol!" Klaus cut in and quickly dragged him to hide. "If you don't close your mouth they'll find us. It's only bloody paintball just as Camille said."

Camille wanted to say how he was a fine one to talk considering he didn't want Rebekah 'sacrificing' herself but decided against it.

"Can't you two see? It's not about the bloody paintball. It's the principle!"

"Lower your voice," Klaus whispered as something crossed his periphery. "Someone else is near."

"It's Freya," Kol murmured. "Let's take her out."

"Hold it brother," Klaus stopped him with a hand to his chest. "I hear something. They're trying to pull a fast one. It seems Marcel thinks he's clever."

"What do we do?" Camille asked. She wasn't able to see that well in the dark as opposed to Klaus and Kol.

"It's obvious that they're using Freya to lure us out. They won't fool us." Klaus replied and turned to walk in the opposite direction. "We're going to find them and take them out. Marcel and Davina must be lying in wait, possibly on higher ground. Stay close Camille." He wasn't expecting her to take his hand but he wasn't complaining. Was it always this warm? Yes. It definitely was.

Clumsily Camille tripped over a fallen tree branch only to be pulled safely to Klaus' chest, her face inches from his face. "Thank you Klaus. Think I lost track at how many times you've been there for me."

Klaus remained silent, his eyes on hers. She was beautiful. Truly beautiful. His mind was elsewhere by now. "There's something I want to tell you." What was he doing?

Perhaps he was seeing things because her eyes seemed to brighten and she somehow got closer to him. "Yes Klaus?"

"Camille, I—"

The next thing he knew the two were being shoved roughly to the ground and the tree where they'd been standing by was covered in paint.

"Damn it!" They heard Marcel shout.

"What the hell were you doing?" Kol harshly whispered.

"Wait, stop!" Camille replied as she noticed the blood on her shirt that didn't seem to be hers. She looked in horror to see Klaus was bleeding from his mouth.

"Fucking hell Kol!" Klaus shouted through pain.

Kol looked offended. "I saved you! Be more grateful!"

Had Klaus not been in serious agony he knew for a fact he'd be slamming Kol against the tree repeatedly. Quickly Marcel, Freya, and Davina came out of their hiding places.

"Crap, that doesn't look pretty." Davina exclaimed as she examined Klaus. She pulled out a napkin and handed it to him.

"Nik! What happened?" Rebekah rushed to his side with Elijah, Finn, and Lucien behind her.

"Fuck, let's get him checked out." Marcel said as he helped him up with Elijah.

Apparently Kol didn't see the urgency because he fired three head shots at Marcel, Freya, and Davina before pumping a fist in the air. "Yes! Nik we won!"

Freya proceeded in dragging him to the car by his ear.

Author's Notes

Poor Kol will never learn. But we love him nonetheless. :)