OK, I gotta admit, this one's on me. I'm sorry guys, I just really haven't been feeling motivated to do this chapter and I honestly had no idea where to take this, hence the smaller chapter. I still have no idea where I wanna go after this chapter, I'm just... figuring it out as I go along I guess. I don't trust myself to be able to come up with anything more that's halfway decent just yet though, so I'm posting what I have and I really hope I can figure out the rest soon and give you guys a good next chapter. See, this is where reviews come in, I am NEVER lying when I say I NEED ideas.
Also, I'd like to add that last chapter in the end notes, I said some stuff about Marcel which wasn't entirely fair or accurate to his character. I will stand by my belief that his rule pre series was (mostly) selfish and many of the ideals put forward quite harmful, but I did go a little far. That said, guest reviewers, I see you, I acknowledge you, I can't respond to you because y'all are guests. But y'all who are like "are you ever going to finish this?" Yes, I am, stop being a dick about it. Reviews like that are really not gonna get me to write more, they're more likely to get me rolling my eyes and moving along with my day.
I acknowledge that that was not the nicest way to put things but seriously, ask me nicely, maybe on your actual account, and you are almost guaranteed a response and me getting off my ass to write.
I do hope you enjoy this chapter and the direction this is going in. As always, I love you guys and totally don't deserve your support, but it's HELLA appreciated :)
Why do humans like to overcomplicate everything?
A frown tugged at Klaus's lips as he read the text lighting up his phone, and he immediately excused himself from the inane conversation he had been forced into with one of New Orleans' elite. From there, it took only a few moments to cross the floor and make his way outside to the, thankfully, deserted balcony and dial, even less for Kol to answer, his surprise filtering down the line as he spoke.
"Nik? Didn't you have that gala thing tonight?"
"Fundraiser," the hybrid corrected absently, waving off his brother's concerns. "Dull enough that I'm wondering why I even bothered making an appearance."
"A fundraiser?" Kol asked with a choked laugh. "Whatever for? Didn't that use to be Elijah's thing?"
"It may have been," the older admitted, smiling despite himself. "I haven't any idea what any of it is for. Personally," and here he lowered his voice as if to impart a secret, "I suspect it's simply an excuse to display their wealth while still maintaining the image of class."
"Class, of course," the vampire grinned, "being the exact opposite of yourself and your dramatics, so what are you doing there?"
"You know, I haven't the faintest idea. Sheer boredom, I expect." He paused, inhaling deeply before- "whatever possessed you to go about the adoption process the human way?"
"Davina wants to 'do it right', whatever that means," Kol grumbled. "And I must admit, there is something strangely appealing about it, but I just don't see why it all has to be so damn complicated!"
"Overcomplicating things unnecessarily is the foundation upon which human society is built, Kol. I'd have thought you would have realised that by now." He couldn't prevent the smile that crept over his lips at the petulant whine he got in response from his younger brother.
"Yeah, I know that Nik, but why can't these things ever work in my favour for once?"
"Well," the hybrid drew out the word teasingly, "you did break that princess's looking glass that one time, I imagine such curses take a long time to fade…"
"It was an accident!" Kol spluttered in protest. Klaus said nothing. "Fine," he admitted, rolling his eyes. "It wasn't an accident. But she deserved it and you know it!" The older chuckled, conceding his point and a comfortable silence stretched between them.
There was a moment's hesitation and then, haltingly - "you know that standing invitation of yours-?"
And at the same time, voices overlapping and Kol blurting, afraid he'd lose courage if another second passed - "any chance - next week if you can-"
A pause, inhaling air they hadn't needed for millennia, Klaus suggesting quietly that Kol go first.
A heartbeat's hesitation and then, equally quietly, "I was wondering if you would be free next week to come visit."
"I would love to."
Klaus was quiet when he came back home, but there was a fierce happiness in the kiss he pressed to Hayley's cheek. "Someone's in a good mood," she commented, without looking up from her book. When eventually she did raise her eyes to meet his, Hayley started at the exuberance she found there, uncontrolled and open for her to see. Book abandoned as she sat up, her hands reached for his, thumbs rubbing calming circles into his skin when she realised he was trembling, unsure if it was from excitement or fear.
She listened quietly as he told her of his conversation with Kol, fingers squeezing his in silent encouragement as he recounted his brother's invitation. His voice had a breathless quality to it, as if he still couldn't quite believe Kol had meant it, couldn't quite believe he'd agreed to it without a second thought, that if asked again and again, his answer would remain the same, an unhesitating yes. His lips were curved into a small smile, equal parts disbelieving and excited, a smile she'd never seen before and she wondered what deity it was that had dared to decide to keep the Mikaelson siblings apart and, in doing so, deprived the world of that smile. The moment passed and a thought occurred to the hybrid, a frown replacing that smile as he quietly noted that he hadn't factored in Hayley's busy schedule.
The she wolf shrugged, half smiling as she squeezed his hands tightly. "Not gonna lie, I'm gonna miss my morning kisses. You've completely spoiled me, Klaus Mikaelson. I'm going to be in the worst mood until you come back." A pause and then, jokingly with a hint of a threat, "you'd better take a hundred pictures and video call me every day because I'm gonna hunt you down if you ever ghost me again." Klaus stared at her uncomprehendingly and she pulled him down into a gentle, if slightly uncomfortable, embrace, his arms immediately coming up around her, fingers curling in her hair. "Don't worry about me," she whispered, her breath tickling the collar of his suit, "Freya's coming back in a few days and Vincent always needs help with the Sanctuary, so I won't be alone. Kol needs you right now and you need to be there for him." His grip tightened as he let out a shaky exhale and she pressed a kiss to his hair, then, pulling back, pressed one to his lips and gently led him up to their bed.
Freya wasn't quite certain what to expect when she finally walked through the doors of the manor she'd called home these past few years. Something, anything, to reflect the momentous change that had taken place while she was away, but, nothing. If anything, it felt like the manor was waiting, the walls almost quivering in anticipation of something, what it was, she didn't know and couldn't begin to guess.
Before she could look into it further, however, Freya had an armful of Hayley to contend with, the brunette tackling her with a hug, high pitched squeal of excitement escaping her lips. "You're back! I thought Keelin was going to keep you forever! Not that," she began firmly, pulling away for a moment to meet her eyes, "you and Keelin don't deserve it," going back in for another hug, her voice muffled by the witch's shirt, "but I missed you."
"I missed you too," and if she was ever asked, Freya would deny the fact that her eyes were a little misty in that moment. Eventually they pulled apart, Hayley quickly swiping at her eyes before moving to hug Keelin, Freya blushing as she caught Hayley's whisper of how Keelin had better been taking care of her. Before she could interject, she caught sight of her brother and before she could even think about it, her arms were outstretched, his name on her lips as she pulled him in for a hug.
"Freya," and she could feel the warmth of his smile, tucked into the crook of her neck. Separating, arms still entangled, he examined her face, "vacation suits you."
"You sound surprised," she laughed.
"Just wondering why you didn't tell us all to sod off years ago while you took a much needed break." He winked but there was something strangely somber about his voice that she couldn't quite put her finger on and she found herself gripping his arms tightly without quite knowing why.
"And miss out on all the fun? I don't think so." She forced herself to loosen her grip and grin, "besides, this just means I have blackmail material and I hear you're the best at guilt gifts." Her grin softened into a smile as she startled a laugh out of her brother alongside a teasing accusation that she was spending too much time talking to Rebekah.
She'd been wrong earlier, there was something different in the air. She couldn't quite identify what it was, but Freya had the feeling that, for once, her family was on the right track.
I must admit, I don't know very much about the adoption process except that it's long and complicated and very difficult. Therefore, it makes sense that familial support would definitely be appreciated and tbh, I've bring trying to figure out a way to get Kol back to New Orleans for quite a while for my end scene so I'm hoping that this will help lead into that eventually. If y'all have any questions, any comments, please don't hesitate to leave them, I love talking about this stuff and to you