For Phoenix Queen
Pairing: Klaus/Marcel (M/m) hand -mild
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mikaelson Compound
March 1913
Morning
"We have got to get rid of that awful brush!" Marcel snarled to Kol.
"Aye, I hear ya on that. I am needin' to have a talk with Dominque. She saved my life, but she spelled that hairbrush in that same breath. Cruel witch. I had a fancy for her, too," Kol admitted.
"I do not think she is the type of witch that goes for vampires, Kol. You are wasting your time there," Marcel shared.
"Perhaps. I did notice a beautiful witch hiding out amongst the crowd at the church yesterday. Did you notice?" Kol prompted. They had distributed food under the direction of Pastor Hassleback at the church yesterday. They all had to blend in as humans, doing whatever it took.
"No, there were so many people there. I was hungry and they all were starting to look good," Marcel recalled.
"This was a young witch with light blond hair. Looks around 18 or so. She is on the run from someone or something," Kol insisted.
"In your dreams...Can we just focus on getting the brush and destroying it?" Marcel said. He swore he still had a lingering soreness in is posterior even now, although that was unlikely.
"I have a better idea. You know how Elijah wants us to hide in plain sight in public? Well, if we throw out the brush in the River, they could do a locator spell and then we just get in more trouble. Why not hide it in the house?" Kol smirked.
"And then, it's here, but they just cannot find it. Kol, I detest complimenting you as it only feds into your massive ego, but that is brilliant," Marcel said in excitement.
"What is brilliant?" Rebekah asked suspiciously walking in to the upper level parlor.
"Nothing, little Sister. The less you know, the better," Kol speculated.
"Another of your silly plans. Do they ever work out?" Rebekah pondered.
"No, but it gives us hope that someday they will," Marcel laughed as he kissed her.
Kol rolled his eyes. "We have had some plans that worked quite nicely."
"Name one," Marcel demanded.
"When...okay, that did not work out. How about the time...?" Kol was coming up short. "What about the time you broke that Ming vase in the formal parlor?"
"The time I broke the ugly vase? I was tossing it to you, you arse. You just tried to put it all on me. A kid! I just happened to get..." Marcel's neck and ears grew hot.
"What? I feel like this is something I do not know," Rebekah revealed.
"You were not here. It was 1820, when I first got here. You were gone for years, but Kol was here...Getting me in trouble, even then," Marcel remembered.
"You got yourself in trouble that time. If I recall, that was your first thrashing, long overdue, in my opinion," Kol blustered.
"Your opinion, you traitor," Marcel countered.
"Tell me, I missed all of this," Rebekah begged.
"Fine, I must have only have been here a couple of months when..."
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mikaelson Compound
August 1820
Klaus heard the thump and winced. He backtracked through the parlor again.
"Marcellus, I believe I heard Elijah ask you not to play with the ball in the house. Did he not?" Klaus asked gently. Klaus had purchased the red ball on his last trip. It was heavy and he had told him to only play with it outside.
"Yes, sir. He did. I-I am sorry," Marcellus replied softly. Marcel was only ten, but sometimes seemed older beyond his years. Klaus wanted him to be happy and enjoy all the benefits of living with the Mikaelsons. He did not want to ever have to punish the boy, he had already been through too much. He would spend decades making up for his previous life, if need be.
Klaus smiled again and patted the boy on the shoulder to soothe him.
"It is fine, child. No one is angry at you. Why do you not go play with the other children?" Klaus offered. There were other children outside running around.
Marcellus nodded and took his ball outside.
"You spoil him, Brother," Elijah said from the doorway.
"Elijah, he is frightened. I do not wish him to be beholden to any man ever again," Klaus spat.
"Even us? I hardly think obeying a few simple rules is being beholden to us," Elijah argued.
"Give him time to settle in," Klaus begged. It had already been several months that Marcel had come to live there. Klaus had been giving into the child's every whim.
"As you wish, Marcellus is your ward, Niklaus," Elijah affirmed.
"He's becoming more than that, Elijah. He is very dear to me," Klaus stated.
"And to me too, Brother. With Rebekah absconded in her rage over your murder of her lover and Kol filled with jealousy, I have enjoyed my time with him. Marcellus is a clever lad and so full of life. I only wish the best for him and you, you know that, Niklaus," Elijah reminded him.
"I do," Klaus said heavily. "I will talk to him about minding us better. I think he just forgets...he is not willful."
Elijah nodded, "It's almost time for his lessons. Why do you not speak to him later?"
"As you wish," Klaus said. "Where is Kol anyway?"
"Sleeping still. He was out late," Elijah frowned.
"Let us give him time, too. I best leave to inspect the market goods myself today. There is talk of trouble in town today," Klaus said putting on his jacket.
"Alright. You can inform me of your progress later. Send Marcellus in, please," Elijah asked as he went to his study where he tutored the boy.
Klaus went out into the bright sunshine and found the boys playing with the ball with some of the servants' children.
"Marcellus, you have to go in for your lessons now," Klaus smiled.
"But I am not done playing," Marcellus said, continuing to play.
"I did not ask if you were finished or not. It is time for your reading lesson, now go in and meeting Elijah in the study," Klaus insisted.
Marcellus pretended not to hear him. He had never done this before and it irritated Klaus.
"Marcellus, if I have to speak to you again, I am going to take away your ball and thrash you. Now go!" Klaus said louder than he had meant to.
Marcellus' eyes widened at the thought of losing his new ball. The thought of a thrashing did not phase him as much. Marcellus had been threatened a few times in the months that he lived here, but no one had ever followed through.
"I am goin'!" Marcellus shouted as he snatched the ball from his friends and ran in the house.
Elijah smiled, "Whoa, slow down, young sir! We do not run in the house, do we?"
"Nah, sir," Marcellus said sitting down.
"Now, where were we...?" Elijah asked opening to their lessons. The boy put his ball to the side while he picked up his ink bottle and pen and began to write.
Klaus went to wake up Kol when he got home from working. Kol had missed the woman who came by for them to feed off of for breakfast. Klaus had a cup of blood that he had set aside for his brother, it was not quite the same, but better than nothing.
"Brother, it is almost noon. Wake up. This is folly," Klaus said shaking him gently.
Kol groaned and rolled over. Klaus swatted his backside through the blankets.
"Up! You cannot just sleep the whole day away. Elijah bought theater tickets," Klaus shared.
"Oh, good. So the child will stay at home where he belongs," Kol perked up.
"No, little Brother, Elijah thinks he is really to see his first play. We just got him a winter wardrobe. Will it not be a fine night? Come on, rise," Klaus encouraged him.
Kol roused himself and got dressed. He wanted to go out and find some people to feed off of and compel to forget a few neighborhoods over. But Klaus was keeping a close eye on him. The cup of blood was not enough.
Before dinner, Kol came into the parlor to find Marcel bouncing his ball off the wall.
"Throw it here," Kol said.
Marcellus was surprised as the younger looking vampire always seemed irritated by him.
"Why? So you can ruin in? No, thank you, sir!" Marcellus spat.
"I will not spoil it for you. I am just bored. Toss it here," Kol pushed.
Marcellus threw the ball and Kol tossed it back. Soon, the game got more and more boisterous until Marcellus almost threw the small, but heavy red ball through the window. Kol leapt up and caught it before it caused any damage.
"That was nearly a smashed window, lad! We best be careful," Kol said laughing a little. Maybe the lad was not as much of a pest as he thought?
"Yes, sir, we best," Marcellus agreed.
"You do not need call me 'sir'. If it looks like you are staying then, just call me...Kol," Kol said slowly.
"Yes, sir. I mean, yes, Kol," Marcel grinned as he tossed the ball back at Kol and they resumed their game of catch.
Klaus called them to dinner shortly after. He was glad to see Marcellus and Kol were getting along better. After the theater, Klaus helped Marcel change for bed.
"How did you like the play Marcellus?" Klaus asked helping the boy into a nightshirt.
"It was...splendid," Marcellus said. He had heard Elijah use the word.
"Oh, splendid, really?" Klaus laughed, amused at the boy's choice of words.
"Thank you for taking me," Marcellus said suddenly.
"Of course. Now get some sleep," Klaus said impulsively kissing him on the forehead.
"Good night, sir," Marcellus said softly.
The Next Day
Elijah and Klaus heard the crash in the parlor and looked at each other before walking in to survey the damage.
Kol and Marcel were standing in front of a smashed vase fallen the mantel.
"That was priceless! What happened?" Elijah exclaimed.
Kol did not say a word, Marcel had made a bad throw and the ball bounced off the wall into the mantle. Klaus called the maid to clean up the debris before Marcellus got hurt.
"We were playing catch and I missed," Marcellus admitted.
"Playing catch again! You threw the ball, lad. Not me," Kol clarified. That much was true. Kol had not had a chance to toss back the ball.
"Is that true, Marcellus?" Klaus asked. He knew his younger brother to lie to get himself out of trouble.
"Yes, it is true, sir," Marcellus admitted shamefully.
Elijah scolded, "Oh Marcellus, I have reminded you three times to not play with that ball in the house."
Marcellus flushed and looked down. "You can take my ball, sir."
"I will be holding onto it for a while, but I do not think that is enough. You need to march yourself to the corner," Klaus ordered.
"That is what happens when you break the rules, lad," Kol smirked.
"Kol, I am sure that Marcellus was not playing ball by himself. So you can march up to your bedroom, too," Elijah demanded.
"But! He admitted that I did not do anything!" Kol defended.
"Kol, march!" Elijah ordered. Kol stalked out and threw the ball back at Elijah. Elijah caught it and indicated to Klaus that he was going to deal with Kol while Klaus dealt with Marcellus.
Klaus sat down on the velvet chaise lounge. He took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
"Marcellus, come over here, please," Klaus said evenly.
Marcel was scared. He had been put in the corner only twice in the months he lived here and both times by Elijah for shirking his studies. Those times were in Elijah's study with the door closed, anyone could see into the parlor. He did not want to get a thrashing in here.
"S-Sorry, sir, about the vase," Marcellus intoned softly as Klaus grasped him between his knees.
"I know, but I warned you I would punish you if you disobeyed again, did I not?" Klaus reminded the boy in a patient voice.
"Yes, you did, but Kol wanted me to throw the ball to him!" Marcellus said defending himself.
"Did you know it was wrong?" Klaus asked.
"No! I did not know, sir," Marcellus cried. Klaus knew that was a fib.
"Oh Marcellus, when you lie, you will get a worse hiding. Now, tell me the truth, did you know it was wrong to play with the ball in the parlor?" Klaus tried again.
"No!" Marcellus cried.
Klaus gave him a wry smile and Marcellus was flooded with guilt.
"I am s-ssorry. Yes, I-I did know it was wrong," Marcel corrected.
"That is better, young man," Klaus concurred.
Marcel let Klaus embrace him a moment. "Let us go up to your room. I am going to give you a hiding. Then, you can rest before supper."
"Yes, sir," Marcel said as Klaus took his hand. Marcel was grateful to be taken to his room.
Klaus knelt down and tipped up the boy's chin, "You do not have to call me sir, I hope someday you can think of me as more..."
'Father' made Klaus think of Mikael, maybe it was too soon.
At that moment, they heard Kol shouting that he had not done anything. Elijah yelled back for him to go to his room.
"It is alright. They will not be angry long. Families fight, but we always forgive, Marcellus. You may not be blood, but you are family, just the same," Klaus explained.
"Yes,..." Marcellus did not know what to call the man. But he had told him he was family before. He still was not sure why he was in this big house in these rich clothes. Why was he here? He threw an apple...and now he was living with these people.
Klaus led Marcellus to his bedroom and shut the door. He sat on the smaller bed and had Marcel sit beside him.
"I am sorry to have to do this, Marcellus. I have been trying to never punish you or cause you distress. But you have to learn that you must obey us when we tell you something. Do you understand?" Klaus asked carefully.
"Yes, I am sorry. I should not have thrown the ball in the house," Marcel admitted. He wanted to say that Kol had told him to, but the older boy would probably already be vexed at him for getting him in trouble.
"Let us take off this jacket first," Klaus said helping Marcellus out of his stiff jacket. In another moment, Klaus had leaned Marcellus over his left knee. He held him in place with his left arm. Marcellus' upper body leaned on the bed and he pinned his hands under his chin.
"I want you to think of this the next time someone encourages you to do something wrong," Klaus said before smacking down for the first time.
Whack! Marcellus was surprised at the loud sound of the swat and by the fact that the man knew his brother's part in it.
Whack! With the second smack, Marcellus felt a little more of a burn and tried to jerk out of the way.
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
Marcellus wiggled as four harder spanks landed on the center of each cheek going from left to right. Klaus alternated and began to swat lower for four more times. It was harder to stay still.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Then, Marcellus realized it was over.
"That is all," Klaus said rubbing his back. Klaus knew he went easy on him, but he also knew his brother probably tricked the boy, that he had come to think of as a son, into tossing the ball.
"Really?" Marcellus could not help blurting out, he barely felt anything.
Klaus pulled up the boy and sat him up on his lap.
"Marcellus, I have come to think of you as a son. I would like it very much if you thought of me the same way. Perhaps in time, you could, call me..." Klaus faltered.
"Papa?" Marcellus asked.
"Oh Marcellus, if you wish to do so, only if you wish to," Klaus said as he rubbed the boy's back in circles.
1913
"...and it was the first time I called Klaus 'papa' and it was the lightest spanking I ever got, but since it was Kol's fault...I took solace in the fact that he probably got it worse," Marcel reminisced.
"Oh, Elijah did not give me a hiding. He made me pledge to be nicer to you and look after you," Kol smiled.
"Look after me! You almost tossed me off the gallery the next day. Then, you got me whipped by the cook for stealing sweets. Then, Elijah..., I cannot even think in what world you looked after me," Marcel shot back.
"Hey, you volunteered to steal the cakes! I didn't think you would get caught. I did look out for you! You followed me for years, especially until Bex got back and you two started your bloody fencing," Kol remarked.
"I missed a lot. I was so angry about Emil. Now that I think of it, I barely knew him, but I could not look at Nik without feeling rage. Yet, here I missed so much," Rebekah lamented.
"You did not miss much...Me, standing in the corner as Kol laughed and threw little paper balls at me. Then, me throwing the ball in front of Elijah and getting a real spanking in front of everyone in the parlor...Papa spoiling me overall and me turning into kind of a brat. Elijah not caring for that. I am glad you were not here to witness my downfall," Marcel laughed.
"He did go through a rough spell until Elijah beat it out of him. Klaus just did not have the heart to do it. He got over that when you turned, eh?" Kol added.
"Yes, if only I knew what I was in for, maybe I wouldn't have been so eager to turn," Marcel jested.
Rebekah now scoffed, "You two exaggerate!"
"Do we? They go easy on you. Wait until you feel that spelled hair brush! We need to hide that thing somewhere in this house," Kol reiterated.
"In this house? How are you even going to get it?" Rebekah said skeptically.
"Compel one of the servants?" Marcel offered.
"I think Elijah put vervain in the tea so Kol stops feeding on them," Rebekah reported.
"That is true," Kol winced.
"So we need a human we can compel or a witch who can cloak the thing...," Marcel suggested.
Rebekah thought a moment, "How about you two just behave yourselves as adults and you do not have to worry about your infernal backsides?"
"We have been trying to do that for a century! It really does not work," Kol retorted hotly.
"The children! We'll get one of the servants' kids to hide the brush, even from us. Somewhere in the house. There are plenty of hiding places. We can make it a game," Marcel considered.
"Dominque is traveling, so they cannot get her to make another one for months. Marcel, get the kids. Let us get rid of the brush. I borrowed a few things from Elijah and perhaps ruined some of his things. I stashed them in his cupboard, but...I also stole Niklaus' good bourbon and drink all of it. His hidden bottle...," Kol confessed.
"Kol! Get in here," Elijah yelled from the other room.
"Hurry, the brush is on Nik's dresser. Bex, grab it and give it to one of the children now. Please," Kol begged.
Rebekah vamped to get the brush. Ten minutes later, the magical spelled brush that prevented healing was hidden somewhere in the house.
Marcel and Rebekah cringed as they heard Klaus shout, "Where is the brush, Kol? Get it or I am going to take the stick to you!"
Kol whined, "I swear, I do not know, Brother!"
Klaus came out and found Rebekah and Marcel sitting innocently.
Klaus thundered, "Do you two know why that hairbrush is? Tell me know or there will be hell to pay if I find out you are lying."
Rebekah could honestly say she did not know where it was, as did Marcel.
Klaus sighed, "I do not quite believe the three of you. I know you did something. There are worst things that magical hairbrushes, you know?"
Rebekah and Marcel looked at each other, they had no idea what Klaus was talking about. They really did not know where the brush was. Maybe it would turn up someday...