"Those wounds heal ill that men do give themselves."
― William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida
Pairing: Klaus/Kol (M/M) butter paddle, severe
New Orleans, 1913
French Quarter
Mikaelson Compound
A month later, the war with the wolves was in full swing. The witches were not taking sides officially, but the Guerrera's had to have had a few in their pockets. Their "thuggish" clan was cloaked heavily and Klaus could not find them, even if he wanted to. Fortunately, the Mikaelson's found a witch of their own. Her name was Genevieve.
"Miss Rebekah, Master Elijah said it is time for you to go," her maid said putting a shawl around her shoulders.
"Ah, thank you, Marie-Louise. I dread this, but duty calls," Rebekah frowned.
"I am sure you will be wonderful, miss," Marie-Louise said giving her her handbag and umbrella.
Rebekah nodded and headed to the cab. She was dreading having to do charity work at the Fleur-de-Lis Sanitorium. However, Elijah was insisting that she do the things ladies of her station were supposed to do: tea, balls, mass on Sundays, and charity work. They had to keep up the facade of a respectable family.
Rebekah only half listened as the head nurse ran her down the procedures for helping the infected patients. Consumption was a slow wasting disease for some and Rebekah actually considered bring Kol in here to just slaughter the whole hospital, he had done it to put these poor souls out of their misery. However, he had gotten whipped for a week afterward, so she supposed it might not even be worth it to him.
"Any questions, Miss Mikaelson, ma'ma?" the nurse asked politely.
"No, ah, thank you. Please, do not let me take any more of your time," Rebekah said as orderlies handed her gloves, an apron and a face covering.
In addition to volunteering, her family had donated a large amount of money to this hospital. All in the name of community good will or something like it. She never really listened when Elijah started lecturing them about it.
The day passed in a blur of blood and fluids. The cries and labored breathing of the patients was difficult to take. All seemed to cough up blood into cloths, she realized they were coughing up pieces of their lungs. Some were so young, mothers and fathers, children, thin and pale. Rebekah wished to heal them with her blood but she had been warned to not feed, nor give herself away in any capacity. During her break, she found a closet and put her head against the wall and wept.
"Oh, excuse me, I just needed a-," a pretty red-headed nurse said quickly.
"No, pardon me. It's my first day, I just got overwhelmed. That lady over there, who just had the baby, she looks like she's not going to make it. She was crying for her baby," Rebekah said dabbing her eyes with her sleeve.
Genevieve fished a hankie out of her pocket and pressed it in Rebekah's hand.
"I am trying to make her passing easy. I made her a tea that I hope will help. I am afraid she is too far along to be saved," Genevieve admitted.
"I'm Rebekah. Rebekah Mikaelson," Rebekah said holding out her gloved hand.
"Oh, I've heard of you. I'm Genevieve. I guess, you would figure it out soon enough, witch, French Quarter coven," Genevieve said shaking her hand.
"Well, isn't this funny. A witch and a vampire trying to save a bunch of sick humans," Rebekah smiled through her tears.
"Say, it's been a long day for me, too. Why don't you let me take you out after this? I have a friend here, she's a witch, too. I'll introduce you," Genevieve offered.
"As long as there are strong spirits, I am in," Rebekah admitted.
"A vampire after my own heart," Genevieve grinned, taking her hand and leading Rebekah out of the utility closet.
"I don't like it, Rebekah. Elijah and I have a meeting tonight about the docks with some city officials," Klaus fumed.
"Nik, she's a French Quarter witch. She can help you figure out where those Guerreras are hiding so you can throw them out in the bayou or whatever you want to do...," Rebekah announced.
"Sister, if he finds them, getting tossed into the bayou is the least of their worries," Kol scoffed.
Klaus laughed with him, until Elijah silenced them with a glare. Klaus cleared his throat and sat back in his chair.
"Marcellus was supposed to come with us tonight, but I suppose if he accompanies Rebekah, then maybe I would consider it," Klaus thought out loud.
"What about me? I have nothing to do. I can help play nursemaid to the two of them. I swear I shall behave properly around the young witches. Sister, are they pretty?" Kol asked lecherously.
"Kol, the last time you went out Elijah had to drag you out of a werewolf whorehouse in Storyville where you blacked out for three days!" Klaus thundered, standing up.
Rebekah gasped, "I should have guessed! Kol, that is disgusting!"
"Bloody hell, Nik. I said I was sorry. Please, just let me go tonight, you will not regret it," Kol begged his face coloring as Rebekah tapped her foot and shook her head at him.
Elijah nodded his consent and Klaus finally said, "On one condition, you all stay together the entire time and come home together at a reasonable hour. I mean it."
Kol agreed, "Of course. Thank you, brothers. Rebekah, I shall be the perfect gentleman."
"Remember, you are there to make an alliance with witches who can assist us against the beastly Guerrera crime family. Nothing more," Elijah said calmly.
Kol and Rebekah nodded.
"Genevieve, this is my brother, Kol. Please excuse him, he can be an ass. And this is Marcel," Rebekah said as Genevieve introduced them to the three witches she came with.
Kol kissed Genevieve's hand and was instantly charmed.
They were at a little human club and had a nice time. No one brought up supernatural business until a Guerrera werewolf came in.
Marcel whispered to Kol, "Don't look now, but that thug in the suit, is one of the Guerrera thugs."
Kol immediately looked back, "That ugly lad, in the silly hat?"
"I said don't look back. Damn, now he's seen us. He's coming over here," Marcel hissed.
"Well, I didn't think Klaus and Elijah would be so dumb to let their little brother and sister out alone. Aren't they afraid the big, bad wolves will get you?" the rough featured man laughed.
"Look, bud, we don't want any trouble. This is neutral territory. The human faction is out of this war," Marcel said evenly.
"Look, vampire! The docks were ours and will be ours again. Your daddy ain't our king. Well, hello. What are pretty ladies like you doing out with these vicious blood suckers?" the man smiled touching Genevieve on the shoulder as she stiffened.
"Take your hand off the lady or I'll rip your head off!" Kol snarled.
"Kol, settle down. We don't want a fight, pal. We got your message. Now scram," Marcel said.
The man then put his other hand on Rebekah's neck. She froze.
"So cold! Like a block of ice. What? Don't act like this vampire whore is the Virgin Mary. Come on, I'll give you a fiver for ten minutes with her in the back!"
Suddenly, the man screamed in pain grabbing his head. Genevieve did a pain spell on him. More Guerrera thugs funneled in.
"Rebekah, take Genevieve and her friends home!" Marcel shouted.
"But Nik said...," Rebekah argued, but Genevieve looked scared.
"Go!" Marcel yelled lunging towards a thick muscled man in a suit. Kol was horrified.
"Marcel, you said back off. What the hell are you doing?" Kol said in confusion.
"No one touches my woman and gets away with it," Marcel said in a fury.
"Okay, we trounced him. Now, let's get out of here," Kol said grabbing Marcel by the arm. There were humans everywhere watching the fighting.
Marcel lifted up a chair and with his vampire strength smashed it again at the werewolf who had touched Genevieve and Rebekah. He was recovering from the spell and his injuries.
"Marcellus, we need to go now!" Kol demanded.
Marcel continued to fight and Kol had no choice but to back him up until all the wolves lay dead.
"Can we go now?" Kol asked as Marcel was breathing hard with bloodlust. Kol compelled the remaining humans to remember nothing. Marcel didn't answer Kol's question, but finally let Kol lead him out of the bar.
"I actually cannot believe that went so well," Elijah said in wonderment.
"I know. A peace treaty brokered by the human faction! That old O'Connell fellow is a pretty good peacemaker. When the Guerrera don was wheeled in, I would have had to change my knickers if I was human. Well, the docks are mostly ours again. Things turned out in our favor, brother," Klaus said pouring Elijah a drink.
The Guerrera's had given the brothers a very expensive bottle of scotch to seal the deal. Elijah set it on the side table.
"Indeed, we'll have to tell Rebekah we do not need her witch friend after all. I just hope they get home soon. Kol has been on his best behavior and yet somehow that always makes you nervous," Elijah admitted.
"I know. You go to bed, Elijah. I'll wait up for them. I know you are eager to re-read that contract before you sleep," Klaus laughed.
"Am I that apparent? Good work tonight, Niklaus. Let's save this bottle for a special occasion when the family is all together," Elijah said patting his brother on the arm and taking his drink and the contract with him.
Klaus read for a bit and then started to worry. He paced a little and decided to sit in the front parlor. If they didn't get home soon, he was going to give the three of them a stern talking to. It was already after midnight.
Klaus waited another hour and grew more angry. He went to the kitchen and rooted through the items until he found what he was looking for. He grabbed cook's wooden butter paddle. It had ridges along one side and the other side was flat. It was about three inches wide and a foot long. He would have to put it back soon after giving his son and siblings a whack on two with it for their lateness, or he would get a severe tongue lashing himself. Klaus had learned to never meddle with the cook, but he had warned his son and siblings to be back at a reasonable hour and here it was...
Rebekah flew in first, by the time she filled in Klaus, Kol and Marcel had staggered in. They both stunk of gin and smoke. It was clear they had been arguing on the way home. Klaus had set the paddle on the table in the entryway by the bottle of scotch from the wolves.
Elijah came down to see what all the ruckus was.
"It's almost 2 o'clock in the morning," Elijah announced.
"Why don't you tell us something we don't know," Marcel said sarcastically. Klaus turned him to the side and smacked his upper thigh.
"Don't you dare speak to your uncle like that," Klaus bellowed.
Marcel rubbed the spot and blurted, "Sorry, but we've had a horrible night. It's not our fault that a bunch of wolves attacked us."
"Excuse me, Marcellus, your bloody temper didn't help!" Kol interjected.
"You started it, Kol. I had to tell you to stop in the first place," Marcel shouted.
"Is that true?" Elijah asked. Kol started to open his mouth, but thought he would let Bex defend him.
"Rebekah, tell us the truth. You know we actually made a peace deal with the wolves tonight, if you killed the lot of them, I'm sure it's off," Klaus said sternly.
"Well, ah, Kol did start it. I mean, Marcel was just defending me and,-" Rebekah started.
"Bex, you're taking his side. Are you bloody serious? I was trying to calm him down before he went berserk. Screw all of you! I'm going to bed," Kol announced. Kol noticed the wooden paddle on the table, he went to smash it to the floor.
"You are not whacking me with that, brother!" Kol hissed. He ended up knocking the scotch to the floor and smashing it. Everyone just stared at the amber liquor seeping into the floor boards.
"That was a very expensive bottle and a gift from our new allies. I will give you until the count of three to apologize and go sit on the couch so we can talk calmly," Klaus said firmly. Kol sneered and started to walk away.
Klaus grabbed the paddle off the table and followed him.
"Wait right there, young man!" Klaus thundered.
Kol stopped and spat,"Why? So you can take the side of your precious Marcellus, as usual. 'Farewell, bastard.'" Kol vamping upstairs.
Marcel whispered to Rebekah as they watched him go, "Him and the damn Shakespeare again...Troilus and Cressida?"
She whispered back, "I have no bloody idea. Let us make ourselves scare. He's going to get a good blistering."
Elijah turned to them, "Rebekah, Marcellus, go to bed. We'll talk about this in the morning."
Rebekah paused and looked at Elijah helplessly.
"Kol brought this on himself tonight," Elijah stated.
Marcel's face flushed, he realized that he probably deserved the thrashing Kol was getting. Then, Rebekah grabbed his hand and dragged him upstairs. Almost as if she read his thoughts. He tried to turn back to Elijah, but couldn't force himself to.
"Kol, if I have to break down this door, I shall give you the worst hiding you've ever gotten!" Kol was shouting, pounding on the door.
"Nik, will you at least listen to my side-," Kol started to say as the door opened.
"I remembered that I do have the key," Klaus said holding it up.
Kol was scared. Klaus was stronger than him and he knew his brother was angry.
"Niklaus, I didn't start the fight. I tried to stop Marcellus, I swear! Rebekah is a liar!" Kol wailed as Klaus grabbed him roughly. He took off Kol's jacket and slipped down his suspenders.
Kol felt Klaus' hands unbuttoning his trousers and slipping them down.
"Take them off, now."
Kol whimpered and stepped out of his trousers. He still had his socks on and took those off also. He prayed to be able to keep his drawers up for at least a time, but Niklaus smacked his behind and said, "Drawers off."
Kol let the tears drip down his face.
"Nik, please, don't do this. Let me explain first," Kol begged. Klaus just swatted him again and pulled down his underwear to his knees. He also had Kol step out of them. Kol's dress shirt provided him with some modesty, but as Klaus dragged him to the bed and flipped him over his lap, it meant little. Klaus also flipped up Kol's dress shirt to bare his white unblemished backside.
Klaus didn't waste anytime starting the spanking. Kol's upper body was resting on the bed. He hid his face in his hands. He was sobbing out of anger and frustration. He had tried to stop Marcel and he wouldn't listen. It wasn't fair that he was going to get paddled and Marcel was snug in his bed. Klaus was smacking Kol's bare behind hard. Kol's feet were on the floor and he was trying not to push up and get up his lap, but the sting was turning into a burn, a hot one.
"Keep still!" Klaus chided him.
"Nik! Please, I tried to stop him from fighting! I swear it," Kol sobbed. Klaus only started spanking him harder now over the delicate crease where his bottom met his thigh until he could not help but try to get off Klaus' lap.
"I guess you want another spanking tomorrow before breakfast, Kol. I don't know what has gotten into you. I suppose one month of good behavior was too much to ask for. But what do I know? I'm just a bastard," Klaus said swatting the top of his thighs now lighter, but faster.
"Nik, please. I'm s-ssorry," Kol wept. Klaus was surprised as Kol was typically not this emotional this early into a licking.
"Elijah and I thought we had made peace with the wolves, but I guess that was short lived because you can't control your temper. Well, maybe a good paddling will help remind you to obey us in public," Klaus said picking up the small, but heavy wooden paddle.
Whap! He swatted Kol right in the center of his backside. It instantly left a red mark. Even with Klaus arm holding him, Kol managed to launch himself off Klaus's lap with a scream. It hurt too much to bear.
"NO! N-no more," Kol screamed holding his stinging backside.
Klaus sighed and went to pick his brother off the floor. He swatted him on each thigh as Kol thrashed on the floor.
"Hurry up and get back over my knee, those didn't count," Klaus ordered.
Kol wailed and Klaus arranged him again over his knee but now pinning Kol's legs with his right leg.
Klaus gave Kol another firm smack with the flat paddle and his hands now flew back.
"I don't know what had gotten into you, but you are going to have a bruised behind if you don't start behaving. Hands up front," Klaus said.
Pop! Klaus smacked him a bit harder and Kol screamed out even louder.
Pop!
Pop!
"Kol, settle down. It's the middle of the night," Klaus lectured.
The door flew up. Klaus looked up to see Marcel holding his face in his hands.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
"Papa, please stop!" Marcel sobbed.
"Sweetheart, what is it?" Klaus said concerned.
"Kol was right. He tried to stop me. Rebekah wasn't even there. She took the witches out. I'm sorry. Kol, I am so sorry," Marcel cried with his hands on his face. Klaus put the paddle down on the bed. Kol's behind was red and black and blue in places.
"Will this infernal night ever end? What the hell is going on?" Elijah yelled from the door with Rebekah behind him.
Marcel confessed to Elijah what he had done.
Klaus let Kol up and tried to apologize, but Kol just pushed him away. As he tried to quickly slip on his sleeping pants. Elijah saw his battered behind.
"Marcellus, take a good look at his backside. Kol, I'm sorry. I don't mean to embarrass you but you took a pretty good shellacking. What do you have to say to Kol right now?" Elijah asked firmly.
Marcel said, "Kol, I'm sorry."
Kol slipped up his pants and said, "It's over, mate. Can we just go to bed? The bleedin' wolves could be coming for us at anytime."
"Yes, that is a good point. I'm going to table this and we're going to have a family discussion in the morning. Niklaus, you too, go to bed," Elijah ordered.
Klaus hesitated, "Kol, brother, I hope you can forgive me someday."
"It's fine, Niklaus," Kol said stiffly. He couldn't even look at Klaus.
Rebekah went to Marcel, who pushed her away, and stalked off wiping his face. Klaus took her arm and took one last look at Kol and shut the door. Rebekah wanted to go to Kol, but couldn't bring herself to.
Elijah took the paddle and set it on the dresser.
"You should use that thing on Nik!" Kol scoffed, his rear hurt a lot.
"You know I can't do that," Elijah said simply.
Elijah turned down the bed and lowered the lamp.
"Come here. Can you lay on your stomach?" Elijah said quietly.
"Aye," Kol said roughly.
"I'll stay," Elijah said, starting to drag over a chair.
"Elijah, can you sleep with me? I mean, in the bed," Kol asked.
Elijah nodded and got in. Elijah was exhausted himself. He bit his wrist and offered it to Kol who drank. It would heal him a little.
"I tried to tell him that I tried to stop Marcellus, but he didn't believe me," Kol said crying a little more.
"Shh, I am sorry, baby brother. I didn't listen to you either," Elijah admitted sadly.
"I shouldn't have broken the bottle, Elijah. I just didn't want to get paddled for something I didn't do," Kol grunted as he moved slightly. His backside was throbbing so much that he still didn't dare to even try to rub it.
"You said a while ago that I should paddle Niklaus. Truly, there may have been times when it would have done him some good, maybe all of us. But I can never do that, brother," Elijah started, his voice filling with emotion in the darkness. Kol was surprised, he had almost never seen Elijah cry.
"You were all a bit naughty tonight coming in so late, because even before the wolf started the fight you all were very late. I think you all deserved a warm bottom before bed. And with you sassing Niklaus and smashing that bottle, I would say one or two swats with that paddle would have been sufficient, not the amount of whacks you clearly took. So I'll agree that you were treated unfairly tonight by our brother, correct?" Elijah began.
"Elijah, it still hurts. Even with your blood, I'm not sure I'll be able to sit tomorrow," Kol admitted.
"So Niklaus was treated like that by Father almost every day. You know, Father treated none of us kindly, but he had that special hatred for Niklaus. No, he didn't get whipped each day, but when he did, it was brutal. Then, there were times Father stabbed him and left him for dead...he was a child, a little boy,I'm sorry, Kol. I know you don't remember that much and I envy you that, but I vowed that I would never strike him like that," Elijah said shakily.
"But I remember you two fist fighting, you've punched him," Kol retorted.
"Yes, but that lets him fight back and defend himself. Kol, there were times when Father almost killed him. The one time he defended himself Father impaled him to a tree. I'm not saying that you don't have a right to be angry with him, you do. Just understand why I treat him differently than you and Rebekah. After all, he is my little brother, too. Sometimes, Niklaus is just as in need as guidance as the two of you," Elijah shared.
"But Elijah, he's stronger than you isn't he, I mean, would he even let you thrash him?" Kol wondered.
"There were times when I think he would have welcomed it to assuage him of the guilt, like maybe when he had my Celeste' killed, but I cannot raise my hand to him. So Kol, maybe I am wrong, maybe I am weak in asking you this, but please forgive him," Elijah begged.
"Elijah, it's alright. I already have," Kol said before falling asleep as Elijah held him.
"You're a sweet boy. I'm so sorry, brother," Elijah whispered to the sleeping vampire, who was forever a teenager.