Finn/Elijah (M/M) hand (mild)
"Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less." -Susan B. Anthony, SuffragistSunday, July 1, 1855
Mikaelson Guest House
Klaus was eager to move into the new house. This guest house was cramped and not at all the style they had grown accustomed to. This church picnic was dull and Klaus had already compelled away two widows and a buxom virgin looking for a rich husband in the span of ten minutes. He should have made up a sick wife who was convalescing at home. Yet, even a wife would not deter some of these woman. Klaus supposed he had his rakish good looks to blame.
Klaus did not want to say too much in front of the boys, but took Finn aside.
"I am anxious to see what Marcel and Kol did to vex Elijah so. Do you mind if we take leave early?" Klaus asked Finn.
"Not at all, Brother. If Rebekah wishes to stay with the younger boys, we can send the coach back for her," Finn said lightly.
Klaus wanted to argue that he would never leave their sister unattended, but he was embarrassed to voice those words aloud. She was an Original vampire, as well as they were. Although, she had not been trained in hunting and warfare as the boys in the family were as humans, Rebekah had developed fighting skills in the subsequent centuries.
"Of course. Thank you," Klaus said.
"Brother, do you not trust Elijah?" Finn asked lightly. As if not trusting the brother who had stood by him his entire life was an option. Now, did he trust Rebekah to choose her lovers? Not at all.
"Of course I do. I trust him with my life," Klaus replied. "Why do you ask?"
"You seem anxious," Finn remarked.
"We should also make sure we are packed for the big move in day. I would like everything to go smoothly. In truth, Finn, sometimes Elijah is a tad hard on my son. Marcellus is a sensitive boy. Elijah always accusing me of spoiling him and forgets how young he is," Klaus admitted.
"Of course. I understand. I am so pleased that you have such a such a wonderful son. He is a good man, Niklaus. But I am sure that Elijah would never hurt him," Finn said calmly.
"Aye, I'll get the others," Klaus said.
Rebekah and Damon were ready to go. Damon was troubled by the argument he saw earlier. Rebekah had asked him what was wrong, but he did not want to cause more trouble and kept it to himself.
Stefan was having a grand time at the picnic. He ran into the woods with the other boys. Damon went to fetch him and he refused to come.
"Stefan, we are going home. If you shall not come. I am going to get Niklaus or Finn!" Damon threatened.
In front of his friends, Stefan was fearless, "I do not care. I can do what I want." The other lads were duty impressed. Damon was frustrated and did not want to go back to the picnic looking as a failure.
"Stefan, you come back with me right now or you are going to get a whipping!" Damon yelled. Stefan just laughed and ran away. His friends laughed with him and egged him on.
Damon kicked a tree log and then burst it in pieces with his magic exploding it.
"Damon!" Klaus hissed. "What are you doing?"
Damon flushed at the scolding tone of the older man's voice. "I am sorry, but Stefan mocked me and ran off. I told him he ought to get a whipping and he ran off."
Klaus took his face in his hands, "I am sorry your brother is being difficult. I know he is giving you much trouble and for it, he should get an early bedtime or no dessert, I promise you, but you cannot misbehave with your magic. Someone could see. We do not need you hanged in the town square."
Damon flinched at the thought, "I was careless, but he makes me so angry! He said he could do what he wants."
Klaus smiled, "You know we would never let them hang anyone here for witchcraft, right? Now, wearing powdered wigs again...that is a hanging offense." Klaus finally got a small smile out of the boy.
"I really do not want Stefan thrashed, but the others all laughed when he ran off," Damon said sadly.
"Oh Damon, I shall have a stern word with him and if he is still naughty he can sit in the corner for a time. But remember, he is just a little boy. His legs want to run and his mind is thinking of the next adventure. He was showing off for his friends, he did not mean to hurt you," Klaus said putting his arm around Damon and kissing the boy on the head.
"So it is a good thing I did not catch him and paddle him right in front of his friends? I am tempted," Damon admitted.
"It is a good thing. I want you to focus on being his brother. You do not have to protect him from us, like you did his father. If he is cheeky and insolent, you tell us and will speak to him. Sound good?" Klaus asked.
"Yes, sir," Damon said feeling better.
"You head to the coach. I shall find the little rascal," Klaus said with confidence. Damon nodded and headed back toward the church. The woods were silent aside from the sounds of birds and other small creatures. Klaus zoned in ahead and listened. He heard the boys.
"Stefan!" He called.
Stefan came running. "Hello, is it time to go?" Stefan asked innocently.
"Young man, I think you know it is. Now explain why you were disrespectful to your brother," Klaus said holding out his hand.
"I did not want to look like a baby in front of my friends," Stefan admitted softly. Klaus picked up the boy and put him on his shoulders. Klaus ran a bit ahead.
"Oh really, they would think a big lad like you a babe? What dull friends you must have!" Klaus said bringing him down laughing with gaiety.
Stefan laughed, "They are not dull, but Damon is...obstinate!"
"Obstinate, that is a big word. I see you are doing your studies. Your brother was sent to get you and next time you are to obey him," Klaus said firmly.
"Am I getting a whipping?" Stefan asked fearfully.
Klaus was troubled, "No, child, but you will apologize to your brother and...stand in the corner when we get home." Klaus thought they should all retire early tonight anyway since tomorrow would be a busy day, he did not want to make that a punishment.
"Do I have to miss supper?" Stefan asked. Klaus tickled him as they walked to hear him laugh again.
"Never. No matter what you do," Klaus promised.
"Even if I...burned down the privy?" Stefan pressed suspiciously.
"Maybe if you ate a whole boiled ham for lunch? Klaus offered.
"What if I shot holes in the clean laundry drying on the lines with my slingshot?" Stefan wondered.
"Maybe if you...shaved Rebekah bald in her sleep?" Klaus suggested as they came up behind her. She smiled and smoothed down Stefan's hair.
"Listen to nothing, Niklaus tells you, Stefan, if he is putting foolish ideas in your head!" Rebekah warned as they got in the coach.
Damon was already sitting them talking quietly with Finn. He could not help but cast a hard glance at Stefan as he was lifted into the coach by Klaus. Stefan frowned and jumped over to sit in Damon's lap.
"I am sorry I was naughty, Damon," Stefan said.
"It is fine, Stefan. I am not angry," Damon said sulkily.
Stefan could tell he was, "I have to stand in the corner when we get home. Niklaus said so! Is that not right?"
"Yes, indeed. You shall be very still and learn to never disobey your brother again," Klaus said facetiously.
Rebekah frowned, "I thought we were going have a rest when we got home. This heat makes me awfully tired. Does he have to stand in the corner? Perhaps a nap would suit him better..."
Finn cut in, "Sister, perhaps we should not interfere, the gentlemen seem like they have an agreement."
Rebekah backed down, "Oh, yes, of course. I am looking forward to moving into the new house tomorrow. Is my bedroom grand, Niklaus?"
"Of course, my dear. You have a beautiful balcony that overlooks the garden. There is one bedroom downstairs. Finn, I think either you, Elijah, or me should take it. I do not trust Kol not to abscond at night and sneak about the town, if permitted," Klaus said.
"Sneak out? He surely would not," Finn said in shock.
"Oh, he has before," Rebekah revealed.
"Oh," Finn said evenly.
Stefan curled up in Damon's lap and Damon held him the rest of the trip home. Damon thought he was too big to sit on his lap, but held him anyway. Rebekah petted the boy, too. Damon waited for one of the older men to say something about the child being spoiled with too much affection, but no one did. Damon wondered if he would ever stop hearing his father's voice in his head. He hoped that some day he would.
Salvatore Guest House
Klaus knocked on Elijah's door and found the boys still in bed sleeping. Elijah had covered them with a light sheet. He had boxed up all his belongings and was puttering around the room. Klaus motioned for Elijah to join him in the hallway.
"What happened?" Klaus asked as soon as Elijah got out there.
"Niklaus, stay calm. Kol impaled Marcel outside the church. Apparently, Marcel had hidden some trinkets before services. They have been arguing. I put them on the coach and Marcel called Kol a liar, they fought again...I ordered the coach to the side...," Elijah explained.
"And...," Klaus prompted.
"There was an old willow tree. I had them both cut a switch. Niklaus, I barely flicked him," Elijah said as Klaus stumbled back into the bedroom to check on Marcel.
Klaus carefully peeled away the sheet and was relieved to find no marks on his son. Klaus leaved over and brushed his soft curls and kissed his head. He then went to the other side of the bed and lifted the sheet from Kol, he he did find some marks all the way down his legs. Now, just pale pink, but Klaus felt like they must have been pretty good welts earlier. He exhaled.
Elijah watched from the doorway, as Kol stirred in the bed. Klaus kissed his brother.
"Kol, are you alright? Tell me what is going on with you and Marcel, please," Klaus whispered.
Kol teared up, "We have not been getting along. He is accusing me of corrupting Damon and having evil intentions. Even Elijah thinks me a fool. He hates me, Nik. He shouted at me so loudly today." Kol laid back down and cried. Klaus patted him and looked up at Elijah watching from the doorway. Elijah winced and walked away. Klaus figured he went downstairs to pack up his study.
"Elijah does not hate you, Brother. Let me speak to him. Perhaps, we all need to sit down and talk," Klaus suggested.
"No, please. That will just make it make it worse," Kol stopped talking and just wept. Klaus did not know what further he could do. He rubbed Kol's back and patted him. He hated to see him like this.
"Rest. I shall see what I can do," Klaus said quietly.
Rebekah's Bedroom
Stefan made a show up putting himself in the corner right after Rebekah had him use the privy and then have a small snack in the kitchen.
"At least let me change you out of your church clothes," Rebekah said, but Stefan was already in the corner.
Finn came in and they both chuckled. "I do not understand his eagerness to be punished," Finn said plainly. Klaus came in.
"I think he feels badly that he ran off when Damon tried to get him to leave the woods," Klaus whispered. He explained what happened earlier. Then Klaus called to the boy, "Stefan, I think you have been punished enough. Why do you not go play for a while?" Stefan nodded and let his post and wandered out of the room. Klaus now looked serious.
"What is wrong, Nik? Is Marcel hurt?" Rebekah asked wondering where he was.
"He seems fine although Elijah took a switch to him and Kol on the way home," Klaus shared.
"A switch? For what?" Rebekah fumed.
"Fighting. Rebekah, I do not like it either, but he had every right to punish them as he saw fit. What concerns me is Kol. He is in there weeping that Elijah hates him. He said he shouted at him and...Finn, would you look into this. Kol, can be difficult and defiant, but he is a still the sweet, boy full of mischief at heart," Klaus said.
"Tell that to the thousands he has murdered," Rebekah added.
"Like we have room to judge? Any of us?" Klaus said sharply.
"You are right, Nik. It is just that when Kol makes us angry he is a vicious monster, but when he is amusing and happy, he's a harmless imp. If Elijah was cruel to him, then, please work this out. But if Elijah was correct in his harshness then Kol should take his counsel and learn from it," Rebekah said in a serious tone.
"Those are wise words. Let me speak to our youngest brother. It pains me to hear of him getting a thrashing and then thinking he is despised," Finn said walking out of the room.
Klaus said on the bed, "When he said he switched Marcel, for a second, I wanted to kill him. I would only tell you this."
"I know, Nik. But Elijah would never hurt him. Why do you not go rest? I am going to have the girl pack up my dresses and then start on the boys' things," Rebekah informed him.
"I will, Sister," Klaus said leaving.
Elijah and Finn's Room
Marcel had left a few minutes earlier. Kol got up from the bed and went to put his trousers on. He could not help but take a quick peek at his rear end and the back of his legs in the mirror. The marks would have been invisible to the human eye, but Kol could still see them. Now, the places where the switch landed and crisscrossed were itching. He heard a light knock and the door opened. Finn came in.
"Hello, Brother, I heard there was some trouble," Finn said kindly. Kol buttoned his breeches and then broke down. He put his hands up to his face and sat back down on the bed and cried. Finn was alarmed.
"What is it? Tell me," Finn said coming over and sitting by Kol. He put an arm around him.
"Nik says it is not t-true, but Elijah h-hates me. He s-switched me ten t-times as hard as Marcel," Kol whimpered. "Then, he yelled at me in the cab and said I show be more mature and I should know better. He said I never do the right thing! Finn, it was not even what he said, just the way he said it, with such anger, like he has been waiting to scream at me for months. I do not know what I do to him. If anyone should be angry with me, it is Marcel."
"Why, Kol? Can you tell me what happened?" Finn asked gently.
Kol's eyes were blurred with tears. "You know that Nik has daggered me a multitude of times, for years, decades, centuries. Well, I ran away once to Arabia to find a way to defend myself from him. I wanted to make a dagger than would dagger Nik if he tried to stick me again. Instead, I found a cover of witches who showed me how they channeled magic into objects," Kol said quietly.
"I did not know that was possible," Finn said in surprise.
"Me, either. Of course, this means I need a witch. Marcel is accusing me of using Damon to help me. Finn, I swear that is not why I am teaching him," Kol cried. "But I did show him my dark objects. Marcel found out and hide them from me, that is why I was angry. They can be dangerous. Also, Mother's grimoire and other grimoires explaining the process were in that trunk."
"I see," Finn said getting up and pacing.
"Does Elijah know any of this?" Finn asked.
"No, he just whipped us for fighting," Kol admitted.
Finn smiled, "Brother, I think the first issue is that there is a lack of trust in this family. There can be no more daggering."
"I know," Kol agreed.
"Two, there are too many secrets. We cannot live amongst each other with these lies and foul deeds in happenstance," Finn said with emotion.
"Agree," Kol nodded.
"Three, there needs to be communication on all sides. I feel like if you and Marcel wish to be treated as adults, you must work this issue out together as brothers, as friends. Can you try to do that, Kol?" Finn asked putting a large hand gently on his shoulder.
"Aye, I will have to swallow some pride. For many years, a part of me has always seen Marcel as a rival for our brothers' attention, but with the younger boys here, I see how childish that is. I do care about them and would never harm them, Finn. It hurts me that Marcel accused me of all sorts of misdeeds," Kol spat. "Some of them do have a thread of truth in them, I suppose."
"Do you do the same to him? It is easy to see the faults in others but difficult to see the faults in ourselves," Finn pressed.
"I do. I have wronged him many times and he has taken it with no complaint until I push him to the brink of the abyss," Kol confessed.
"Now that you realize this, you can correct it. Shall we go talk to Elijah? You only need tell him what you are comfortable revealing, but as I said, secrets,-" Finn was cut off by the door opening. Elijah came in.
"Forgive me, Brothers, for my impropriety, I heard some of which you spoke of," Elijah said with emotion. "Kol, can I speak to you? Finn, please stay."
"Elijah, I did deserve that switching today, but maybe not for the reasons you think," Kol admitted.
Elijah went before him, "I should not have struck you so much harder than Marcel. I was angry with you and...it shall not happen again. And the things I said, forget them. You died a boy, barely 17. You need not be any better or worse than anyone else, do you hear me? I understand if you cannot forgive me, but Kol, I do not hate you. I love you very much." Elijah was crying silently.
Kol was astonished as he had never seen this side of his stern, old brother. He flew into his arms.
"Elijah, I have not been good. But I have also not been all that bad. Kind of in between. I did start things with Marcel this morning. I will try to talk to him. I do forgive you, if you will forgive me for lying and not telling you everything now. Some of it does not involve me. It is not mine to tell."
Elijah hugged Kol tightly, "Why do you not go find Marcel and then pack? Thank you for talking to me."
Kol broke away and smiled as he left. Finn nodded his approval. After he left, Elijah looked at Finn.
"You ought to switch me the way I did him today. I am ashamed at myself. I knew how Niklaus feels about it and yet I whipped his son anyway. I think I did this just out of spite, to show I could...maybe anger...to punish them for disobeying me. I lecture them about maturity and how to behave but did I do anything to teach them. No...," Elijah wept.
"So what would a whipping teach you, hmm? I think you are overtaxed with work and strain, Elijah. You need to take some breaks to refresh yourself and dare I say, have some fun. I know you would not care for the ladies at Sage's establishment, but are there no respectable ladies in town you could call on?" Finn asked gently.
"I do not have time for...The truth is the last love I had was murdered by Niklaus. He did not get enough attention and had her stabbed in her bathtub. My darling Celeste, not a day goes by that I do not mourn her," Elijah sobbed.
Finn growled, "He shall not do this again! I am seeing my cracks in the foundation of our family from our missing sister to a web of lies and deceit. I also sense that Niklaus does not trust our sister, as if she is some imbecile. She is an intelligent and capable creature. If one treated my Sage as the weaker sex, she would pound them to pieces. I cannot abide that bias in other men and I certainly will not tolerate it in my own family."
"We are a mess. I could not hold us together. I should just leave you all," Elijah spat.
Finn patted Elijah's back.
"You will do not such thing. You entertain such thoughts once more and I am going to put you into the corner. It seemed to settle down Stefan today quite nicely," Finn smiled.
"No jesting, Brother. I am a disgrace. You are better off without me," Elijah said again.
Finn said sternly, "I warned you. Now, march yourself to the corner until you can be reasonable and think clearly."
Elijah blinked in confusion and suddenly felt himself getting dragged to the corner. Finn pushed him in closely and then arranged his arms on his head.
"When you are ready to converse reasonably, you may come out. If you need to stand there with a burning bottom, inform me and I will gladly provide you with such," Finn said wryly.
Elijah sniffed and remained silent. He may have been uptight, but he was not unintelligent. Klaus knocked and Finn told him to come in. He was more than a little surprised to see Elijah in the corner.
"Kol and Marcel seem to have made up. They said they would like to speak to us after supper. I fear they have done something heinous, but at any rate, I thought I would inform you," Klaus looked at Elijah several times as he spoke to Finn.
Finn said, "We need to have an open family meeting, but perhaps tonight is not the night. But I would like to hear what the boys have to say. Is Marcel recovered after his punishment?"
Klaus had to admit, "Yes, he is fine. Perhaps I was overreacting a touch about the switch. I just fear that it will remind him of his former life when he was enslaved. Though, the real boon would be to end the despicable practice all over."
"You said you feel war is looming. Was that why you moved this far north?" Finn asked.
"Partially, yes. Pardon me, Brother. I must attend to a few tasks before we dine tonight," Klaus said excusing himself.
"Of course," Finn said watching Klaus leave. He made a mental note to ask about why they really left New Orleans.
"Elijah, can you speak to me now?" Finn asked patiently.
"Yes, Brother," Elijah stated.
"Okay, come out of the corner please," Finn said. "I never want to hear you speak of leaving again...unless you truly want to. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Brother," Elijah answered.
"I am concerned about how hard you push yourself. I think we need to sit down and come up with some ways for you to have some balance. And if you push past those, you will be disciplined," Finn said. "Notice, I didn't say punished."
"You want to teach me, not just correct my behavior," Elijah realized. "Thank you, Finn."
"Now, before we do anything, your task is to get in bed and rest," Finn said carefully.
Elijah smirked and started to say he had too much to do. Finn was immediately behind him. Crack! Crack! Crack! The smacks lifted Elijah off his toes and he danced from foot to foot. Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Finn spanked him until Elijah was able to shout out that he would take a nap.
"Oh, you will comply. Thank you," Finn said shaking out his sore hand. Elijah almost flew in the bed fully dressed to avoid even one more sharp whack on his now aching bottom. Finn surprised him by smacking him a few more times as he was face down. Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
"Owww, what did I do, Brother?" Elijah whined.
"Nothing. The next time I time you to do something for your own good, you do it. I love you, Brother and I am worried about you," Finn said patting the burning area. Crack! Crack!
"I will," Elijah vowed. "I promise."
Elijah left Finn help him off with his clothes and then did settle down into the feather bed until sleep overtook him.