Sequel to the drabble in Chapter Eight. This series has turned into a multi-part one somehow, but it won't be its own story because I'm way too lazy, so I'll be updating bits of it in here.

This part is very Kol-centric, and pretty angsty, but I have a fluffy next part to make up for it. I've always imagined AH Mikael and Esther to be homophobic assholes who watch fox news, so if that will bother you (whether because you watch fox news or because you have triggering experiences with those who do), please don't read this bit.


Kol was not good at this whole feelings thing.

It wasn't that he didn't have feelings. He had lots of them. However, he wasn't particularly comfortable expressing them.

This turned out to be a problem when he was living with (and technically married to) the guy he'd been semi-sort-of-in-love with for the last year and a half. He'd been putting off talking about it, even though he was 99% sure that Enzo returned his feelings.

Unfortunately, serious conversations tended to activate his tendency to deflect with humor, and Kol wasn't sure that an honest talk about liking his friend-roommate-husband would be the time for that.

But what was the worst that could happen? Sure, they were married, but it wasn't as if they had to talk to each other. He doubted that Enzo would be rude about it if he didn't return Kol's feelings anyway. He wasn't that sort of person. It might be awkward for awhile, but the friendship wouldn't be unsalvageable.

It had been a week since they'd moved in together. A week of stolen glances and weirdly comfortable silences that shouldn't have been weird because they were best friends, but somehow this platonic marriage thing had made things different, and Kol wasn't sure he liked it.

Currently, he was on the couch and fucking around on youtube, completely bored out of his mind. Enzo was at work, and Kol had spent the whole afternoon mentally preparing to talk to Enzo about how he felt, even though he knew he'd probably back out at the last second.

He could practically hear Caroline's voice in his head advocating positive thinking and saying that if he thought he would back out, then of course he would.

His cell phone rang, and he groped around on the coffee table trying to reach it without having to move too much, having a small argument with himself when he saw who was calling before answering it, resigning himself to the inevitable.

"Hello, Mother."

"Hello, dear."

He remained silent, waiting for her to continue to speak, and after a beat, she continued. "I just wanted to call to see how you're getting along. I spoke to your father, and we've decided that we'll continue to pay half of your share of the rent if you get a part time job and go to community college. You can contact the school to take an indefinite leave of absence, and I'm sure the department would tell you which courses can transfer for the requirements. You may be able to go back next year."

Kol almost wanted to groan. Of course his mother would wait until the last possible moment before swooping in and framing herself as the savior. However, he had every intention of sticking to his plan.

"I don't think I'll do that, Mother."

"Kol, it's important to get an education-"

"And I am," he said firmly. "I'm majoring in what I want. I got a loan."

"How?" she asked, and Kol felt a swell of smug satisfaction at her tone.

"So, I got married," he said. "I'm sorry that you weren't invited, but it was on short notice."

"You what?"

"I got married," Kol repeated.

"To whom? Your tart roommate?"

"First of all, Caroline's dating Nik, so no-"

"I beg your pardon?"

Kol's eyes went wide, and he had to stifle a laugh so his mother wouldn't hear. So Klaus hadn't told her yet? Brilliant.

"Nik is dating Caroline," he repeated. "And we aren't roommates anymore. They moved in together so that I could move in with my husband."

"Husband?" Esther asked, her voice high-pitched.

Kol interrupted her, acting as if she hadn't spoken. "And Caroline's not a tart. I know that your morals are practically rooted in medieval times, Mother, but decent people call what you're doing 'slut shaming'."

"So, just to clarify," Esther began, and he could practically picture her horrified face in his mind as she spoke. "Niklaus is dating the...girl, and they've moved in together before he's made her an honest woman—"

Oh good fucking god. He would most definitely pay to see Caroline meet his mother.

"—and not only have you constructed a sham marriage in order to abuse the federal student loan program, but you did it with a man—"

"I don't know if you remember, Mother, but I did tell you I was gay last year," Kol said, trying to calm his annoyance.

Rage.

Whatever.

"I thought it was just a phase."

Kol took a deep breath. This was why he dreaded serious conversations, though in this case, he felt that deflecting with humor was perfectly appropriate.

"It's not a phase," he said firmly. "I take it we're not invited to the family dinner on Saturday?"

Esther was quiet for a moment, and Kol was almost ready to check his phone to see if she'd hung up on him before she spoke again, her voice quivering slightly.

"I believe that I need time to process this. I am surprised, of course, but I will never turn you away from my home, should you wish to come. You're my son, and I love you, and I always will."

Kol shifted uncomfortably on the couch, trying to figure out how to respond, mostly because he'd expected screaming and crying and the proclamation that he wasn't any son of hers, or something along those lines.

His mother had always had a flair for the dramatic.

The fact that she seemed at least open to starting to accept him was better than he thought it would be, but it still hurt.

"It's who I am," he said firmly, and he heard her sigh on the other end of the line.

"Perhaps we could meet for tea," she said slowly. "Are you and your friend free sometime next week?"

"He's not my friend," Kol said, despite the fact that Enzo was currently his friend, no matter how much he wanted their relationship to proceed to a romantic one. "He's my husband."

"But it's a marriage of convenience, is it not?"

"Mother..."

"Your husband, then," she said, and he appreciated that she was clearly trying to keep the disdain from her voice.

Small steps.

"I think it might be best to keep your father out of the loop, at least for now," she said, and Kol couldn't help but agree. "I will consult Google—"

It was all Kol could do not to snort.

"—and see if I can find information about homosexuals that isn't on the news."

"Fox News isn't news," Kol said before he could stop himself.

"I believe that may be an argument for another day, dear."

Kol hummed in reluctant agreement, anger and helplessness building in his chest.

"Tea?" Esther offered tentatively. "Perhaps on Tuesday? Your father will be on a business trip."

"Sure. I'll ask Enzo if he's free."

"Good," she said. "I have a client coming in about ten minutes, so I'm afraid I have to let you go. I love you, dear."

"Love you too, Mother," Kol mumbled, relieved that the conversation was over.

After he'd hung up, he opened a text to Caroline.

[To: Caroline]: Just so you know, I had no idea that mother didn't know that you and Nik were dating.

[From: Caroline]: omfg you've got to be fucking kidding me.

[From: Caroline]: we're no longer friends.

[From: Caroline]: I was totally going to buy you new replacement shoes bc tyler ate them

[From: Caroline]: but yeah not anymore

[To: Caroline]: Lies.

[From: Caroline]: wait why were you talking to your mom?

[From: Caroline]: omg does she know?

[From: Caroline]: are you okay?

[To: Caroline]: It's fine.

[From: Caroline]: are you fucking kidding no it's not

[To: Caroline]: She was a lot better than I thought she would be, tbh.

[To: Caroline]: Enzo and I are going to meet her for tea next week.

[From: Caroline]: I think she just called Klaus

[From: Caroline]: he has her ringtone set to that elton john song

[To: Caroline]: Bitch is back?

[From: Caroline]: Yeah that one

[From: Caroline]: anyway

[From: Caroline]: I'll tell you what happens.

[From: Caroline]: let me know if you need anything ok?

[To: Caroline]: sympathy shoes?

[From: Caroline]: fine.


Thanks for reading!

Coming out is a sensitive subject, and I understand that. My experience when I came out as bi was very good, and my parents were supportive, so it was hard for me to write from the perspective of someone who didn't have that support. I hope I handled it well, but feel free to give me constructive criticism or feedback (good or bad) to let me know how I did.

Hugs!