Everybody ready to see Klaus KICK SOME MOTHERFUCKING ASS? Hell yeah! Let's do it!
Chapter Twenty-Six: White Knight
"So, do you want me to be a stereotypical captive, or do you want me to shake it up a bit?"
Maya glanced between Nathaniel, holding her upper arm in a vice grip, and Everett, pacing the house to stealthily check the windows. Klaus's sudden arrival had put them on edge, she could tell. They were far more careful than when she showed up.
After overpowering her, relatively easily between the two of them, Maya had been made to sit in one of her dining room chairs, bound at the wrists and ankles. Nathaniel made a speech, something about luring Klaus with her abduction, but apparently something didn't go quite as planned. Klaus figured out the situation much sooner than they'd anticipated.
"We've only bought ourselves a few minutes," Everett mused, scanning the swirling white snow for some sign of their former leader. Both men ignored Maya's facetious comments. "Klaus isn't an idiot. If he believed her, and I seriously doubt that, we only have a short amount of time before he comes back. If he didn't believe her, we have no time at all. What do you want to do, Nate?"
Nathaniel's grip on Maya's arm was painful, but she'd endured worse. For the moment, she was trying not to appear too happy. Before Klaus arrived, she'd been terrified. Now she felt relatively safe again, but she didn't want to show it. Not if it could hinder Klaus's success.
"We'll proceed with the plan as normal," Nate snapped, squeezing harder in his irritation. They'd had to unbind Maya in order to let her speak to Klaus, and didn't bother retying her afterwards. Instead, Nathaniel held a small switchblade to her throat, encouraging her not to try anything that would get her hurt.
"Can we?" Everett asked doubtfully. Maya didn't know their full plan, but from the snippets she'd managed to pick up, it seemed as though they were going to take Maya out of town. Lure Klaus to more familiar territory.
"Of course we can," Nate ground his teeth, getting increasingly upset. Maya briefly wondered if he got angry enough, would he accidentally let her go? She didn't have any tools inside the house, but she owned an array of expensive cooking knives. One of them was bound to be helpful. Perhaps not against the gun, though.
Everett was holding it. A shotgun, it looked like. Maya was unfamiliar with guns, she couldn't tell the make, model, or even type from sight alone. She'd taken a couple of classes at the shooting range back home, but the classes didn't cover identifying weapons. She could take the safety off and shoot, that was about it. But whatever the gun was, she knew it was loaded.
"As long as we have the bitch, we can taunt him into a fight." Nathaniel was saying. Maya had zoned out, trying to identify the safety on the shotgun in the unlikely event she could get a hold of it. She thought she'd spotted it when Nathaniel's angry voice cut into her concentration.
"Taunting him into a fight is probably the worst thing you could do," Maya muttered, rolling her eyes. "You'd get your ass kicked."
Nathaniel jerked her backwards, fixing his tired eyes on her. Maya wasn't sure exactly what she was doing, but the less focused she could make him, the better she thought it would go for Klaus. "And you know this?" Nate snarled, trying to appear nonplussed and failing.
"Of course I do," Maya snorted, "I sleep with him."
Everett chuckled, stopping abruptly at a glare from his partner.
"Why are you doing this anyway?" Maya prompted, trying to keep Nathaniel's attention. She thought she heard a sound from the back porch, and her heart nearly stopped. It didn't seem like Nathaniel and Everett had heard, however, so for the moment Klaus was safe.
"None of your business." Nathaniel snapped, digging the point of the knife into her skin. Maya felt a brief flutter of panic before she was able to regain her composure and speak again.
"I wasn't talking to you," She huffed, nodding to Everett in a way that removed the knife from her neck. "You're clearly insane. I was asking him."
"Me?" Everett blinked, turning his attention away from the window at last. "Why me?"
"You aren't like him," Maya commented, meeting Everett's gaze. Distracting the men was one thing, but getting one of them on her side would be even better. "You don't have the same air of crazy that he does. You're also more successful, judging by your appearance, and you don't really seem like you want to be here. So, I'm wondering, why are you here?"
Everett fish-mouthed at the accusations, staring at Maya with the oddest expression of surprise, confusion, and thoughtfulness. He almost looked as though he were going to answer (in questionable degrees of honesty) when Nathaniel cut in again, groaning in exasperation and annoyance.
"I knew I should've gagged you," He growled, searching his pockets with his knife hand. "I don't have anything handy. Ev, you got a sock or something? Shut this bitch up before I kill our only leverage."
"Well that'd be stupid," Maya laughed, though her nerves were starting to get the better of her. Her voice would soon start shaking; she'd have to be more careful when she spoke. "I'm your only leverage. You just said that. Killing me would ruin your whole plan, wouldn't it?"
Another chuckle from Everett, another hiss from Nathaniel.
"I swear to the Goddess," Nathaniel chewed angrily on his tongue. "If you don't shut your goddamn mouth, I'm going to stuff it with the first thing I find." His expression shifted then, to one that made Maya sick to her stomach. "And you might not like what that happens to be."
Maya shifted, fighting every urge in her body to yank away from him, to strike out at him, all things that would get her hurt. She was in the middle of devising a response (or lack there of) when the silent stand off was interrupted by a fourth party entering the room.
"I wouldn't advise that, Nate."
The trio whirled at the voice, cold and dead in the dark farmhouse. In the shadow of the storm Klaus stood, his shoulder leaning against the bathroom door, his eyes a searing fire of hatred. Even engulfed in anger, he looked composed and not just a little bit threatening. Maya grinned, straining against Nathaniel's hold on her.
"How the hell did he get in?" Nate snapped, only momentarily upset by the extreme change in plans. He was hoping for a more controlled encounter, even after their first plan had fallen through. He was intending to use Maya's capture as blackmail, call Klaus back when they'd arranged something better. But this would have to do.
"The back door," Klaus nodded to the entrance he'd just used. "You two always were sloppy, if memory serves."
Everett resisted another chuckle, knowing it would most likely get him punched if he slipped. Nathaniel boiled.
"Well, it doesn't matter." He growled, yanking Maya in a direction where she was better exposed to Klaus. She tried not to look scared, or in pain, knowing what it would do to Klaus. Judging from the look in his eyes, she'd failed. Nathaniel pursed his lips, choosing his words carefully. "I can challenge you just like this too."
"Challenge me?" Klaus quirked an eyebrow, looking genuinely surprised. Of all the things he'd expected Nate to say, about revenge or vengeance or justice, some variation of getting back at his former leader, 'challenge' was a word he hadn't expected to be included in the vocabulary. Although he wanted to, he didn't push. Nathaniel's reasoning simply wasn't important now. Not when he had Maya. "Very well, what challenge, Nate?"
"What do you mean, 'what challenge'?" Nate demanded angrily, jerking Maya around. She ground her teeth, straining to keep the knife away from her skin. Klaus watched carefully, his muscles tensed. "What challenge is it always?"
Nate was getting irritated. He knew it was a possibility that Klaus wouldn't register immediately what he wanted of him, but the reality was harder to swallow.
"I'm afraid I don't know," Klaus ventured, his confidence wavering slightly. Speaking to Nathaniel was, as it had always been, like walking on broken shards of glass. Sometimes you could pass through a conversation unscathed, other times you were cut and stabbed mercilessly at only one misstep. It felt like Nate could snap at any moment.
"I'm going to beat you, Boss!" Nate growled in exasperation, seeing that his words weren't getting through to Klaus. He added in an exasperated groan, "I'm going to take your place!"
Klaus's brow furrowed. He was struggling to keep the panic from taking control, and in order to do that he had to slip into old habits. Nate's last exclamation was clearly meant to put all of the pieces together, but for Klaus he was having trouble just concentrating. He had no idea what Nate was referring to. In spite of this, he thought it best to play along, giving him the false sense of victory in order to get Maya to safety.
"Alright," Klaus sighed, raising his hands, palms facing out. He wasn't sure that this is what Nathaniel wanted of him, but he had to try. With Maya in the way, he wouldn't risk anything. Despite the ringing in his ears and the way his entire body ached with anger. "You win, Nate. Let her go."
Nathaniel simply stared.
"No," He muttered, shaking his head so furiously that his chin smacked against Maya's temple. She winced. "No, no, no you're not getting off that easy. Where is your old fighting spirit, Boss?"
And then, all at once, Klaus understood. Something in Nate's voice clicked in Klaus's brain, like switching on a light. It hadn't taken him too long, in fact he shouldn't have been questioning it at all. Perhaps it was the stress, but it took him a moment to recognize that Nathaniel was talking about a battle for control. Control of The Kids. The gang that didn't exist anymore.
There was something symbolic about it to Nate, but Klaus didn't dwell on it. He doubted he'd ever understand, and he couldn't waste his energy now trying to put the pieces together.
Klaus's fingers twitched, but otherwise he remained calmly motionless. Somehow his demeanor helped soothe Maya's own racing heart.
"You have in your hands," Klaus began, speaking in a low monotone, "Someone very dear to me. As long as she's in danger, I cannot act rashly."
There was a horribly heavy pause as Nathaniel considered Klaus's words, and the older man realised he may have made a small mistake.
"Fine," Nate spat, twisting the knife in his grip. The cold of the blade pressed into Maya's neck, shocking her with the contact where there was none before. Slowly he pushed harder, drawing a hiss of pain from Maya's throat as the sharpened steel sliced her skin. Klaus's eyes darkened.
"How about now, Klaus?" Nate questioned, watching in sick amusement as Klaus's gaze traced the thin line of blood slipping down his girlfriend's throat. "Still don't think acting 'rashly' is a good idea?"
Maya yelped in surprise and pain as suddenly she was horizontal, her body crashing to the floor with no time to catch herself. She collapsed in a pile at Nathaniel's feet, her cheek smashing against the hardwood and slicing it from the impact.
"Aren't you going to help her, oh White Knight?" Nate sneered, lifting his boot and placing it on Maya's head. He pushed down, only enough to produce a cry of pain and then he stopped, staring deliberately at Klaus's murderous expression.
"Jesus Christ, Nate." Everett cursed, dropping the shotgun. He laid it down out of anyone else's reach and sank to the floor next to Maya. The farm girl was clearly frightened, but if anything, Nate's erratic behaviour had only pissed her off. Everett shoved his partner's boot off of her head and grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet.
"Don't you think this has gone far enough?" He snapped, holding Maya away from Nate, though it was unclear if he realised that's what he was doing. Maya huddled behind him, confused but grateful.
"Oh, don't be such a fucking idiot, Ev," Nate spat, brandishing the knife at Maya as she hid behind Everett's shoulder. She didn't want to be relying on one of the men who'd taken her hostage, but Klaus was too far away and the one with the knife seemed like the far less desirable option. "She's just the Boss's tramp, what do you care?"
Nathaniel was interrupted by a subtle throat clearing from across the room.
When Nathaniel turned back to Klaus, he was no longer wearing his green jacket. The garment was folded neatly on a dining chair, and Klaus was in the process of slowly and deliberately unfastening the cuffs of his pristine white dress shirt. Methodically he pushed the sleeves up until they reached his elbows, revealing the taut muscles of his forearms.
Maya's heart pounded in her ears.
"Now, this evens the playing field a bit, wouldn't you say?"
Klaus offered Nathaniel a pleasant smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. Maya watched in awe as the full force of Klaus's anger manifested into an entirely different personality- this man wasn't the gentle, considerate, loving man she'd fallen in love with. No, this man was dangerous. Silently, threateningly, overwhelmingly dangerous.
Nate knew it too. He rolled his shoulders, fixing Klaus with a manic smile.
"Finally," He purred, cracking his knuckles. Klaus did no such thing, he simply stood there appraising Nate with the same unsettling smile. Maya may never have known this side of him, but she knew it well enough to suspect that Nate wasn't leaving this farm in one piece. "Welcome back, Boss."
Before Maya could blink, Nathaniel rushed at Klaus. She started to yell out to him, to warm him, but her words were wasted. Klaus barely reacted, but in one graceful move he was able to topple Nate before he could complete his hit.
Nate stumbled, falling towards Everett and Maya. Everett shoved her out of the way, catching his partner and pushing him back into the fight. Apparently, this is exactly what Nate wanted. He used Everett's momentum to sidestep whatever manoeuver of Klaus's that had tripped him up the first time. He was able to land a punch in Klaus's chest, knocking him into Maya's bookshelf.
The shelf toppled, one of the ornaments falling and slashing a nasty gash in Klaus's shoulder. Maya yelped, her hands flying to her mouth, but her fear had nowhere to ground. Klaus stood as though he'd been hit with nothing more than a pillow, retaliating with a forceful tackle that pinned Nate between him and the table.
Maya felt useless. She wanted to help, to give Klaus the upper hand somehow. She just didn't know what to do; if only she could get that gun-
And then Maya noticed something her shocked brain had been too flustered to register before.
In the scuffle, Everett had let her go.
Maya whirled, searching for the weapon that Everett had abandoned. She didn't have to look long, Everett was staring at the fight and just behind him sat the shotgun, leaning against her bedroom door.
She reached for the gun, relief flooding her as her fingers touched the cold metal. Pulling it into a firm grip, Maya twisted it to face her previous captor.
Everett paused at the sight, immediately straightening. Klaus and Nathaniel hadn't noticed what happened, caught up in a vicious fist fight. Maya pointed the gun hesitantly at Everett, unsure of what to do next. He, unlike his partner, had never hurt her and didn't seem like he wanted to. Should he be on the other end of the gun?
Answering her question, Everett dipped his chin in submission. He raised his hands slowly, gesturing to the back door where Klaus had entered.
"I'll leave," He promised, taking a careful step towards back porch to prove his honesty. "This has gone much too far. I'll wait outside."
Maya watched, unwilling to take her gun off of him, as Everett did exactly as he promised. Without pausing he stepped into the blowing snow, closing the door gently behind him.
She waited a moment longer just to be sure he didn't plan on doubling back, and then turned her attention to where Klaus and Nathaniel were locked in a wrestling match for control. Klaus was clearly stronger, but he was avoiding something that she couldn't see and was struggling to gain leverage. Nathaniel took another swing with his left hand, and Maya immediately saw the source of the power imbalance.
Nate was brandishing the knife he'd held to her throat.
"Stop!" Maya commanded, swinging the gun towards Nate. He halted immediately, a trained reaction to seeing a gun, but once he registered who was behind it his expression shifted from guarded to sneering.
"You don't know how to shoot that thing," Nate chuckled darkly, folding his arms confidently over his chest. "Nice try though."
"I'm a farmer," Maya pointed out, clicking the safety and brandishing the barrel at Nate's stomach. Thank the Goddess she'd been right about its placement. "I know how to gut a pig."
A flicker of a smirk ghosted across Klaus's lips at that.
Nate's sneer fell away to a menacing growl as Maya pulled the trigger. A sudden hole blasted in her oak cabinet, shattering the glass doors and sending wood chips in all directions. Nate ducked at the sound, whirling to see if he'd been hit and dropping the small knife in the process.
Perfect.
"You missed!" He laughed triumphantly, turning on her. "I knew you were bluffing!"
"Maybe," Maya shrugged, dropping the shotgun to the floor with a resounding thump. "But I got your attention, didn't I?"
Nate only had a moment to process what she'd said, and then Klaus's fist collided with his jaw.
That hit had been harder than the others, and Nate quickly became dazed. He struck back at Klaus, but his fist went wide. Klaus used the opportunity to twist his arm painfully, throwing him on top of the already toppled bookshelf.
"Is this what you wanted?" Klaus demanded, his words rough like sandpaper. "Well?"
Nate lunged, reaching for Klaus's throat, but his attack was stopped nearly as soon as it started. Klaus swept his outstretched hands out of the way, grabbing Nathaniel's shirt and using the momentum to hit him with another devastating blow to the jaw.
Maya heard a sickening crack, but she was unsure if it came from Klaus's knuckles, Nate's jaw, or both. Nate collapsed backwards, landing with a hard thump on the floor. The atmosphere shifted then, and Maya knew before another word was said that Klaus had just decided the fight.
"Get up," Klaus demanded, his voice no longer wavering with barely contained fire. Now he spoke with a cold, controlled rage that was somehow much more terrifying. "You wanted a fight, you've got it. Now get up."
Nate stared defiantly up at him, his chest heaving with the effort. Still, with his face bloodied and beginning to swell, Nate stood.
Klaus struck him again, this time in the cheek leading Maya to believe it was Nate's jaw that had cracked. Nate stumbled backwards into Maya's dining room table, toppling it as he fell.
"Get up." Klaus demanded again, glaring emotionlessly down at Nate's beaten body as he fought to keep his dignity. Maya watched in wide-eyed amazement, unsure if she should be horrified, impressed, or a combination of the two.
When Nate refused to hobble to his feet, Klaus reached down as if to help him. In a moment, Nate was being lifted violently from his position on the floor, grabbing at Klaus's wrists as the older man heaved him into Maya's wall.
The back of Nate's head cracked against the panelling, but he didn't slip. Klaus was holding him, one fist bunched in the front of Nate's shirt, the other pressing his forearm into Nate's throat. He kept him there for a moment, the sound of his gasping filling the room. Maya couldn't bring herself to look away.
"This is over," Klaus snarled, some of the hardness in his voice fading away to raw, unrefined anger. Nate clawed at Klaus's grip on him, but the act was born of desperation, not retaliation. Even still his wriggling drove Klaus to tighten his hold. "I will drop you. You will sit. And when someone arrives to collect you, you will leave. Understood?"
Nate nodded, squeezing his eyes shut to avoid some of the utter humiliation that flooded him.
"One more thing," Klaus whispered, pressing harder into Nate's esophagus.
"Never. Touch her. Again."
With a final whimper, Nate crumpled to the floor.
Fuck yeah! Woohoo!
Sorry, got a little caught up there.
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