A/N: I tried to keep this as muted as possible but there are hints of sexual assault in this chapter.
"You don't think we were this pathetic, do you?" Mona Vanderwaal questions through something between a glare and pure bafflement as a girl giggles at every word that falls from Noel Kahn's lips.
"We definitely were," Hanna Marin bursts her bubble "we just did it in better shoes."
Mona smiles and raises her cup to her lips then shifts her gaze to the door where a tall pretty blonde struts inside as if she owns the place. Midnight blue mini dress hugging her slim but toned frame and the matching spiked heels, delicate makeup and hair styled in soft waves flirting with her bare shoulders. She could find not one fault in the girl's appearance and if it weren't for the twist of her blood red lips as her eyes scan the room and the girls flanking her practically bouncing on their heels. Mona thinks that she'd think the girl wasn't one of the high schoolers here on the scheduled campus tour that ended six hours ago, bold enough to sneak out and come party with the other students that would make every high school party back home pale in comparison. Well at least saved the girl at her side. All caramel skin, emerald eyes, midnight curls and sensual makeup perfectly complementing the purple cold shoulder dress doing her body all kinds of favors. Managed to find the perfect balance between showing enough skin but not enough to not be labeled as easy.
Already from the "Hmph," coming from her best friend that's a fine line between impressed and jealous and a quick glance at Noel who has all but forgot the girl making an idiot of herself. Mona knows that she's not the only one whose attention they've managed to catch. But then a guy strolls through the door, fair skin, brown hair on the verge of being dark blonde, eyes that seem to constantly jump between green to hazel to grey then back to green again. And she knows that the girls in the room have abandoned the green eyed monster biting at their ankles in favor of the game of bag the new guy.
"That is called Jailbait," A familiar voice comes from behind the two friends causing each to roll their eyes―only one in good nature―at the brunette strolling towards them.
"Also taken, from the looks of it." Aria Montgomery adds in turning to Spencer Hastings at the same time before they go back to the herd of high school students that are dispersing as they speak. Save the trio that manage to put the others to shame before the blonde one ventures off on her own with a Zac Efron lookalike after wisely taking a subtle sniff of the red cup he offers leaving the apparent couple to their own devices. But the assumption is proved to be wrong a few seconds later when a bold redhead approaches them making a point of only speaking to the guy that politely entertains her. The girl beside him watching on in amusement before a laugh seems to escape her earning a glare from the redhead. To which she turns to her friend lightly patting her hand on his shoulder before leaving the two alone much to the guy's obvious chagrin.
And that small action is all it takes for the male population to make their way over to the green eyed beauty. Going from the pinched look on the guy she left to the wolves currently circling him it's clear that the interest is only one sided and each of the four girls exchange glances.
"Best friend?" Hanna proposes still questioning the girl's state of mind to flirting with the albeit cute—but average looking—frat over the one looking at her direction every five seconds. Taking the red plastic cup he offers her with a smile.
...
An hour later the party is in full swing and Caroline has all but lost sight of her petite friend and pushes her way through the crowd until she's near the girls that have been watching them all since they stepped through the door.
"Excuse me," She boldly addresses them, watching as they all turn to see the her staring back at them and the one that nearly mirrors her on a purely superficial point raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow.
"Sorry to interrupt but going by how no one is really coming up to you, you have to know at least something about everyone here." Caroline looks at each of them before directing her attention to Mona who smiles at being singled out.
"The one talking to your friend?"
"Best friend," Caroline readily corrects "And yeah, that would be the one."
"But not the one being swarmed."
Caroline turns to search for the vampire and laughs taking them all by surprise "Oh, no, Stefan is used to that. So the guy?"
"Eric." Mona answers coming up blank on his last name "Quarterback, cute and rich."
"Hm," Caroline purses her lips then straightens up when she turns to look for Bonnie to see that she's gone and when she shifts her eyes to Stefan she sees the vampire politely excusing himself from the girls swarming him. All making their disappointment loud and clear that he pretends to not notice.
"You seem a little big for this to even be a consideration for you." Hanna speaks up.
Caroline nods once Stefan meets her waiting stare then returns her attention to the girl addressing her.
"It's not, I'm getting out of this state as soon as I get my hands on my High School Diploma. I was thinking about taking it on then transferring but the tour was seriously lacking." Caroline answers honestly making both Hanna and Mona laugh as they voice their agreement. Sharing that that was exactly what they were all doing but entertaining their parents wishes of keeping them close before they all move on. And she can't help but feel a bit smug at their approval but it all comes crashing down when she sees Stefan making his way towards the door.
"Excuse me," Caroline offers a halfhearted polite attempt at parting ways with the group of girls as she excuses herself from their increasingly warm welcome, their goodbyes barely registering.
-X-
He feels the effects of it all but it's not him. In his mind he's watching on helplessly. Panicked screams that to his ears sound like his own pleading for him stop. And yet the sensation of the skin of his knuckles splitting open before mending over and over again as the smell of his own blood permeates the air. Paired with the guy who's now unrecognizable due to his slip into a blind rage are as equally clear.
It's not until a weak voice calls his name that it all stops. His attention going to the figure on the floor of the room reeking of cheap beer, athletic wear in dire need of several trips to the courtesy laundry room, saline, blood and...her. Back against the foot of the bed, hands splayed on each side of her legs, green eyes staring back at him through heavy lids. It's not until she tries to get up in her own that he moves from his spot and goes over to where she lies and starts to scoop her up into his arms. Though stops short and only continues when she nods her consent. Pushing past who he figures must have been the one that was actually screaming going by the fear in the girl's red puffy eyes, face wet with tears and the way she presses herself into the door as he walks past her. Under any other circumstance he'd stop and check on her wellbeing but the petite witch in his arms gives him little time for anything else.
It's a passing thought that he should put her down but he disregards it. Only pulling her closer as he starts his descent down the stairs of the frat house. Where others in attendance continue on in the night's festivities, completely ignorant to what almost happened. His stride barely stops when a wide eyed Caroline appears in front of him just shy of the door. Chest heaving and lips parting when she sees Bonnie in his arms. On reflex alone he takes a step away from his blonde friend when she takes a step toward him. Going by the position of her arms, with the intent of taking her from him. He understands the concern as he's feeling it all too painfully well but masks it as the optics of the situation. A pretty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes walking around with a girl in her arms—even one of Bonnie's stature—would surely earn more stares than he would. From the furrow of her brows he knows that she doesn't entirely buy his reasoning but goes along with it.
"I'll be waiting at the-"
"No," he quickly interrupts Caroline, making her frown deepen "you should make sure the rest are fine. I'll watch her until you get back."
"Stefan she's my best" Caroline readily starts her defense but the air hitting her face stops her and she's tempted to go after them anyway. The only thing stopping her from writing off Stefan's suggestion being she can practically hear the lecture from each of her two friends already. And the mere thought of anyone being in the state she just saw Bonnie in makes her sick to her stomach.
Cautions of the buddy system return to the forefront of her mind. Why she even entertained leaving Bonnie's side for as long as she did has bile rising to her throat and tears welling in her eyes. Mystic Falls was a different playing field. A town crawling with supernaturals that her green eyed friend could handle on her own. It was a far cry from a campus filled with humans. After dealing with vampires for so long she forgot that not all monsters lacked heartbeats.
With that in mind she closes her eyes and follows the trail the witch left behind until she's in a poorly lit bedroom. She closes the door behind herself and calmly strolls over to where a girl is kneeling at the side of the guy that was all charming smiles and warm eyes is now all battered and bloody. Dropping to her knees, Caroline looks into the girl's eyes instructing her to keep quiet and to stay still before ripping into her wrist and pressing it to the boy's mouth. Removing her wrist when she sees some of swelling go down around his eyes enough to where he can actually see.
...
The covers are already pulled back on each of the full sized beds positioned side by side. The only barrier being the small nightstand housing a pack of makeup removing wipes, two bottles of water and a bottle of aspirin.
He lays her down with all the care in the world. His hands moving on their own volition to her feet, carefully removing each heel. Placing them by the luggage she refused to let him carry. Afterwards sitting on the foot of her bed. A breath that he didn't know he was holding escaping him when he hears the sound of what he assumes to be her snoring. Strange hitches of short breaths followed by abnormally long exhales. The occasional sigh of content or mumbled trailed off thought.
He's not sure how long it is before she wakes, but the sun is peeking through the cheap curtains. And there's sounds of birds chirping when he finally hears her voice, heavy with sleep paired with heavy lids that send him back to the late hours of the party before. He should have never let things go that far. What he finally managed to chalk up to some weird jealousy or possessiveness gained after only one day of her attention. Actually turned out to be what he had pegged the apparent football star and unfortunate stereotypical frat boy in the first place.
Seeing the self loathing and regret in his eyes, Bonnie frowns in confusion but flashes of what almost happened resurface. Of course he would feel as if he was to blame and she'd laugh if the situation wasn't so serious. With that in mind she shakes her head as her lips part to assure him otherwise. At least as much as she can through the feeling of a rave going on inside her head and the boneless feeling in her arms as she attempts to sit up in her bed.
"Don't do that," She settles for saying instead.
The words go in one ear and out the other as he mentally berates himself. Opening the water bottle handing it over to her, dumping two pills into her waiting hand.
"I-"
"Came to my rescue just in time." she interrupts him despite knowing that it was far from what he was going to say "I don't know how I can repay you for that but if you have an idea where I can start. I'd love to hear it. As long as it's within reason."
"It wasn't in time. I should have stopped you the moment he touched you." And it's not until those words that she noticed how much space he has between them.
"Because that would have stopped me." she agrees, the sarcasm in her voice not lost on him "I didn't feel anything was off until we got upstairs."
"I still should have tried."
"Except you did." Bonnie argues "And I basically told you to stop acting like a jealous boyfriend and to back off. I…" she trails off and takes a deep breath "Honestly, I don't even know why you continue to deal with me, Stefan. I treat you-"
"Exactly how I deserve to be treated by you after what I did." He copies her actions from before. Though unlike her own, there's not one trace of amusement. No attempt to lighten the mood or ease the other's guilt.
Bonnie stares at him for a moment then nods her head with a hesitant smile on her face that he doesn't return. Making her avert her gaze.
"Thank you," she voices her gratitude lowly "Really," she adds, making a point of holding his gaze "I owe you at least that much."
She really doesn't owe him anything. Stefan knows that deep down she knows it just as much as he does. Knowing that she's never been a fan of voicing the obvious, she'd probably kick him out if he continued on disagreeing with her and that they'd spend the whole day going back and forth. Getting nowhere he presses his lips together and concedes.
The longer he stares at her the more self conscious she finds herself feeling under his gaze. After getting past last nights ordeal, it settles in that he's seeing her how she looks first thing in the morning. An unfortunate honor that up until now, no one aside from her father, Grams, Caroline and Elena have done. Out of the corner of her eye she sees the package of makeup removing wipes that she knew she'd use the following morning, or Caroline doing it in her sleep. Something that Stefan had to have noticed due to the bottle of water in her hand right along with the pills she can feel already taking effect. On their own volition her eyes go to the mirror on the wall playing peekaboo from behind Stefan's head. Taunting her with only a few strands of her hair sticking up.
"You look fine,"
Her eyes snap back to the vampire, to see the laughter in his eyes and his poor attempt at fighting the smile pulling at his lips.
"Best I've seen actually." He adds through a grin.
"Get out," Bonnie nods to the door.
The only reason he doesn't put up a fight being the smile on her face as she voiced the order.
She's just slipped into her underwear when Caroline walks through the door. The blonde ignoring her current state of undress as she closes the door behind her with her heel. Barely sparing her from being exposed by the two boys strolling past their room. Still clothed in her dark blue mini dress and matching spiked heels. A cardboard tray in one hand containing two cups of coffee from Starbucks, a white bag with the tell tale Chick-fil-A logo in the other.
"Care?" Bonnie calls, taking a cautious step towards her friend. Abandoning the green sundress lying on her bed waiting for her in favor of attending to the distressed look on the vampire's face.
"It should have been me," Caroline says suddenly, blue eyes still on the floor.
"What?" Bonnie frowns.
"I should have been the one to put him in the hospital. Well at least the first half of the reason." she adds under her breath missing the look on Bonnie's face and talking over whatever it is that Bonnie has said in response "I should have taken you from Stefan and been here. I should have been by your side. Not him."
Bonnie waits until Caroline has finished her ramblings and walks over to where her friend stands. Taking what she assumes to be the blonde's peace offering and placing them on the nearby table. Guiding her over to her bed before going to her own to slip into her dress.
"What did you do?" Bonnie asks in a calm even tone.
"I made sure he couldn't do what he tried to do to you. Ever again."
"I didn't kill him." Caroline quickly adds "At least not in the way you're thinking. I just made sure that he knew why he lost what physically made him identify as a male. And that he could never go through with whatever the doctors proposed to fix his current...situation. He has as much of a choice in his anatomy as he gave you. I also may have or may not have crashed his Lamborghini, got him expelled and made sure his apparent girlfriend knew what he did to you."
"And this was all in one night." Bonnie gets out through her surprise.
"Only if you disagree with what I may or may not have done."
Bonnie laughs despite herself, leaning towards Caroline she wraps her arms around the vampire, squeezing her as she says,
"God, I love you."
Caroline sighs and returns the witch's hug as much as she can, closing her eyes and burying her face into Bonnie's hair "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Not being here when you woke up. I should have…" she trails off and pulls away "Where the hell is Stefan?" She frowns looking around the room as if she keeps doing so he'll magically appear.
"I kicked him out." Bonnie replies going over to the table to retrieve her share of breakfast.
"And he listened?"
"He left the room, he didn't leave the floor until he heard you come in."
"But he did stay until you woke up."
"He's Stefan."
"Yeah," Caroline half heartedly agrees "Why did you kick him out?"
"He told me that I look good in the morning."
Caroline averts her gaze.
"Exactly," Bonnie agrees through her side eye at how easily Caroline went.
"You don't look hideous, it's just that you don't look as fabulous as you do post eye crust and bonnet."
"I wasn't wearing my bonnet and I still had last night's makeup on."
Caroline folds her lips and goes to busy herself with the lone box of hash browns and breakfast biscuit.
"Well don't start holding back now."
"You won't like anything I have to say."
"That's never stopped you before." Bonnie points out.
Caroline slights Bonnie with a look who shrugs in response.
"Tyler tells me that I look beautiful in the morning. The first time he said it was about two weeks before we put a label on what we were."
"I told you that you wouldn't like what I had to say." Caroline defends herself when Bonnie frowns at her.
"That's different, you and Tyler had something to put a label on."
"Yes, friends with benefits. You and Stefan have half of that, and all the best love stories have that foundation."
"Stefan and Elena didn't exactly start as friends."
"Considering where they are now, do you really think they're the best argument?"
"Elena and Matt were friends."
"Matt was in love with her before they could walk. You're not in love with your friends. Next,"
Nothing, she had nothing.
-X-
He exits the building with a smile on his face that falls as soon as he feels a jolt to his chest. His hand immediately goes for the crossbow tucked in the inside pocket of his tailored made suit as he does a quick sweep of the parking lot. His eyes narrowing when he spots a man donned in an expensive suit that just might put his own to shame leaning against his car. Instead of giving into the urge to toss the man clear across the parking lot he settles for a deep breath and his practiced smile as he calmly strolls over to the man that clearly knows who he is. And when he gets closer he realizes that he does as well.
It takes everything in him to not kill him where he stands.
"Elijah Mikaelson," Rudy Hopkins greets the vampire with a smile that he's sure comes off as more of a grimace.
"You know of me?" Elijah questions looking genuinely taken back.
"Hard to not know the bastard that nearly sent my baby girl off the deep end and had my wife's gift ripped from her bare hands."
Elijah chuckles "From my understanding Miss Bennett is your ex wife."
"In the eyes of the law, yes." Rudy acknowledges "But not as much in the community. Still very much bound. Not to mention she's the mother of my child."
Elijah flinches at the dark tone the man's voice has taken. A chill cloaking his very being when he notes the way the hunter's eyes went from dark brown to the color of coal.
"You must think very highly of yourself to approach me on your own. Or have you taken it upon yourself to issue another ultimatum to save Elena?"
"Elena has actually chose to work with me this time."
"And that is something that you find pride in? I understand that you all have a common goal and you were raised in a different time but even you have to see how odd it is for a man of your age to run around with teenagers. Kol and Rebekah, I understand. At least they look the part but you…" Rudy waves his hand down Elijah's frame "If you were to be seen in public, they'd think you to be the predator that you truly are."
"Your daughter is getting out of hand." Elijah says choosing to ignore the hunter's point.
Rudy takes a step towards the vampire then takes a step back and lifts his hand. A smile on his face as soon as he sees his business partner in the corner of his eye. A blonde that is not his wife—or even his mistress—clinging onto his arm as they make their way to the idling Porsche. Turning back to Elijah as soon as what is sure to be a hefty payout for the woman waiting at home has peeled off down the road.
"My daughter has finally started to come into her own." Rudy corrects eyes filled with rage "If you're here in some pathetic attempt to scare me, kill me or worse threaten her life if I do not get her to go back to being the help. You've wasted your time." The hunter informs, swiftly pushing his hand through Elijah's stomach until he reaches the vampire's spinal cord. Watching as Elijah's eyes go wide and blood starts to fall from the Original's mouth. "The only reason you'll be able to walk away from this is because my daughter still has use of you. But the moment that changes, you won't have to worry about Esther and Alaric because they will not get the chance to put an end to your pathetic existence. I promise that I will be the last thing you see before you leave this world. Then you'll be Sheila's. Don't count on Ayanna coming to save you from my mother in law. Both Bonnie and Qetsiyah have already decreed it." He holds Elijah's panicked filled gaze until the life leaves the vampire's eyes with a squeeze of Rudy's hand. Removing his limb from the Original's insides, Rudy grimaces at the blood that covers it. He leans down to wipe as much as he can off onto the vampire's shirt before sliding behind the wheel of his car and driving off. But not before turning to face the lone figure watching from their place on the rooftop of the hotel. Raising his blood stained hand in farewell.
Klaus Mikaelson waits until the Jaguar has exited the lot before jumping down from the roof of the twenty story building. Strolling over to his brother's body, he kicks at it for a few seconds. Afterwards pulling out a blood bag and waving it in front of Elijah's nose until his brother awakes with a start. Rolling to his side and coughing up blood before taking what he's offered.
"Well it wasn't a bluff." Kol Mikaelson comments coming to a stop at Klaus' side. Directing an Elena look alike to go to their older brother. Who to both Klaus and his own surprise doesn't hesitate at sinking his fangs into her neck as soon as she's offered it to him.
"We could always compel another vampire to kill him." Klaus offers once Elijah's gotten his fill and sends the woman on her way.
"No," Kol shakes his head "Bonnie altered the curse, remember? If she's smart—which is obvious at this point—she's extended to both who carried it out and who ordered it. And make it so you're stuck with him whether another five appears or not for extra measure."
"What makes you so sure of this?" Klaus narrows his eyes.
"It's what any capable witch would do." Kol answers "And we all know that she is well past capable."
"So we either die at the hands of our Mother and her stand in for Father. Or we basically sell our souls to the devil in the form of Bonnie Bennett just to stay alive until she decides otherwise." Elijah muses.
"Well that would be the case for us," Kol says looking at his older brother "From what her father just showed us, you're dead either way. I doubt Bonnie is going to make a case for your life."
"Unless we give her reason to." Klaus interjects making both of his brother's turn to him.
"Zamora," he extends his proposal "Bonnie has surpassed her in power but not in skill. I could have her use me as a battery and switch our Sire lines. Not much of a choice but to keep you alive when the mother of his child's life depends on your survival." Klaus uses Rudy's own words against him.
"You do realize that that makes you fair game for the rest of your enemies, right?" Kol reminds the hybrid.
"Yes, but I'd be under the protection of the Strix. Bonnie's father is a credible threat to them and they would prefer to have him as an ally than an enemy with his nature."
"If that's the case then Lijah would be best off with his line." Kol points out.
Elijah shakes his head "The Strix would have nothing to offer to them. All they would do is bargain for a break from my line. "
"So loyalty wasn't in your vocabulary when you built your little cult?" Kol teases.
"No," Elijah answers honestly "but survival was."