a/n — based on carry on by rainbow rowell. i don't ship baz/agatha but needs must.
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It was supposed to be a nice feeling. Heck, it was supposed to be the best feeling.
It's the start of the year. There's layers of food on the table. His best friend and his girlfriend are sitting beside him. There is no Klaus Mikaelson in sight.
Finally, after six infuriating years of his smirks and his snarls, Klaus has vanished. Not only from Stefan's life, but from everyone's. He's missing, officially, they say. Hopefully dead, but Stefan would take kidnapped or maimed. Honestly, why else would he not be in school? Klaus lives to torment him.
He should be happy.
But he isn't.
Of course, Stefan would never admit to sneaking out every night and checking everywhere for the smug, irksome vampire. (Only because he's obviously taking this time to plot against him.) But he had to find him, or his body at the very least.
Klaus has been trying to kill Stefan since—well, since they met.
"Hey, mighty saviour," Klaus poked him with the tip of his pen.
"What?" Stefan rolled his eyes and didn't bother turning around.
"I heard you were fire proof."
"Well I'm no—WHAT THE—"
Stefan spent five weeks magically growing his hair back. Which, only lasted so long because Stefan, the 'mighty saviour' of the entire magical realm—or so is prophesied—, is not actually great at the whole magic thing. Yes, yes, he knows. How are you supposed to save us all when you can't even summon your pen from the other side of the room?
Well, the Humdrum has sent goblins, vampires, merwolves, even dragons after him, and he's still breathing. Which, he probably wouldn't be without Elena.
Elena is Stefan's best friend. They've been through it all together. Ever since she Burn, Burn Go Away And Don't Come Back Another Day'd his arm after Klaus 'accidentally' 'knocked' a jar of—well, something that burned like hell—on him. He loved Elena, but not the way Caroline sometimes thinks.
Caroline is Stefan's girlfriend. She's beautiful, brilliant and completely above him. Her family sits very high in the Coven and he is the only wizard in history to come from the Normal world. Her parents voted for him to not be allowed attend Watford's School of Magic. But, he didn't care about that at age eleven and completely smitten with the pretty blue-eyed girl with long, golden locks. He doesn't care now, either.
He loves her, he thinks. He supposes he should, anyway. By now. She's his endgame, after all.
Except for one tiny obstacle in the form of a blood-thirsty British assho—buffoon. He's trying not to cuss so much. Caroline doesn't like it.
On the subject of said blood-thirsty buffoon, so far no one believes him about the blood-thirty part. He's tried for years to convince everyone Klaus is a vampire but now they all just roll their eyes and you know how it is, the never ending feud between Mikaelson and Salvatore. Everyone loves to laugh at how they were chosen to be roommates. It's unchangeable—Stefan has tried (and tried and tried and tried).
So now he's here, thinking about how it was supposed to be a nice feeling to be rid of Klaus Mikaelson indefinitely. But it isn't. If anything, it's the worst feeling ever. Stefan is paranoid, suspicious and extremely tired.
"Stefan," he jumps when Elena touches his arm and rips him out of his thoughts.
"I'm fine," he says, before she asks. He picks up another piece of black pudding on his fork and slips it into his mouth to reassure her. She continues to frown at him.
"You look tired," Elena sighs.
"Yeah, you look awful," Caroline elegantly swallows a strawberry.
"Thanks," Stefan mumbles, his lips curl upwards as he watches her.
"Are you worried about the Humdrum?"
(Humdrum, right. Have we covered him? Evil guy. Shockingly even more evil than Klaus. Totally trying to murder everyone and Stefan's supposed to single-handedly stop him. It's great. Really.)
Elena passes him another piece of toast. He takes it and rips it in two.
"No," he shoves one half into his mouth.
"Ew, Stefan," Caroline wrinkles her nose. Stefan smiles at her, forcing his stuffed cheeks to pop out even more prominently.
"What, then? The Mage?"
(The Mage being the title of the Principal of Watford's School of Magic. Also, sort of Stefan's interim Dad, sort of.)
Stefan sighs as he swallows. He knows Elena won't let this go.
"No. It's just—" Stefan keeps his eyes on his hands. "Klaus."
"Klaus?" Elena's voice rises a little. Stefan flinches. "Why would you waste valuable brain cells on him?"
"Well, considering he might be plotting to kill me—"
"No, Stefan," Elena scolds him. "What you're going to do from now on is be happy that he's not here. Okay? Relax."
Stefan nods. He won't. Relax, that is. Probably not ever.
"Do you think he's okay?" Stefan and Elena stare at Caroline. She returns her gaze from his empty table back to theirs. "What?"
"Um, he's our enemy, Caroline," Elena raises her eyebrows and shakes her head. "I hope he's not okay."
"Technically, he's Stefan's enemy," Caroline shrugs.
"What?" Stefan stares at her in disbelief.
"I'm just saying, technically."
"Well," Stefan gapes at his girlfriend. "Stop."
"Stefan, what if he's in trouble?" Caroline pouts and widens her big, blue eyes.
Elena's mouth hangs open.
"Good!" The brunette exclaims.
"Alright," Stefan sighs in defeat. Caroline smiles and Elena glares. "I'll go ask The Mage."
The Mage is the closest thing to a father Stefan has. He's the one who found Stefan in the Normal world and brought him here to Watford. He takes care of anything he needs like money, clothes and such. He isn't in any way affectionate toward Stefan but at least cares a little bit. Well, he has to, to do everything he's done for him. Doesn't he?
Knocking on The Mage's door, Stefan licks his lips. He hasn't seen him all Summer. He doesn't see anyone all Summer. He goes home with Caroline for Christmas breaks, but Summer he's all alone at the orphanage.
The orphanage sucks.
Stefan rounds the corner to the very familiar office he seeks. He knocks on the aged wood. The door creaks open.
"Uh—Sir—um, hello."
"Hello, Stefan."
"Uh, you look well," Stefan cringes as he says it.
The Mage glances down at Stefan and presses his lips together tightly. Stefan does not 'look well' himself. He's too skinny because the orphanage often doesn't have this thing called food. He also doesn't have his powers in the Normal world. Not that that would help much considering he's terrible at magic.
"Is there something you wanted?"
"Yes, Sir. I was wondering if you had any news on Klaus. Er, Niklaus Mikaelson."
The Mage's face doesn't express any emotion but his pause makes Stefan nervous.
"I cannot disclose any information on the matter, I'm afraid, Stefan."
"So, there's a matter? Did something happen?"
The Mage frowns. Stefan holds his breath.
"Stef—ahem—Mr. Salvatore. If you could take into consideration my responsibilities as The Mage in this school before you request such information, perhaps you would be doing yourself a favour," The Mage pivots ever so slightly but just enough for Stefan to see William Forbes' displeased expression as he eavesdrops from inside The Mage's office. Stefan nods in understanding and begins to back away.
"I apologize, Sir. It won't happen again."
"I hope not, Mr. Salvatore."
The door shuts abruptly. Stefan's shoes boom-boom-boom-boom down the empty corridor as he runs away.
If Bill Forbes knew of the fondness the Mage had for Stefan, it would be very unpleasant for both himself and The Mage. The Council have been trying to overthrow the Mage for years. Ever since Stefan first arrived at Watford, they've been extra diligent in this venture. As you can imagine, the Mage was not particularly pleased when Stefan and Caroline started dating. Though Stefan owed a lot of his life to the Mage, he didn't live to please him.
And he loves Caroline.
He thinks.
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