The night of smiles and small talk had generated mass sleepiness.
Davina peeked over to the opposite side of the bed, where Kol was in a deep sleep. When she had seen him camping out on the carpet she felt guilty. There were plenty of reasons to keep the bed as her own... but it did cross her mind that it was big enough. Big enough that it slept two people platonically just fine.
So, much to Kol's surprise, he slept on a mattress the night before. His back was thankful.
When Davina slipped out of the room to grab something to eat she discovered Kol wasn't the only one asleep. She expected having to deal with soon to be family members, but instead found herself alone in the kitchen. Not a soul in sight.
After checking the clock to make sure she hadn't woken at some ungodly hour she brewed some coffee. They had quite the variety, each blend she sorted through more gourmet than the previous. After discovering that Starbucks blends were not at home in their collection she settled for something Slavic sounding. It sounded expensive, which had to taste decent.
It wasn't until she found a ringing coming from her pockets that she regretted bringing her phone down with her. Nothing good had come from it in the past few day. Only near missed work deadlines, curious acquaintances looking a wedding invite, and unwelcome calls from her past. Oh and Josh, but that was just another issue.
Perhaps the rush of caffeine was prompting rash decisions, but after she took her first few sips of her drink she found herself calling the unwelcome number back.
The call went to voicemail, Davina expected that. No one, not even Bastianna Natale, was awake and ready for a possible fight over the phone so early. It was simple math to figure out the time difference, but Davina didn't want to waste the extra seconds. She was however willing to waste her breathe.
After a moment to collect her thoughts she let everything out. Everything was compacted into several short sentences. But nevertheless it needed to get out. "-Please, don't contact me again," she demanded. wrapping up her short speech. Staring at the barely drunken cup of coffee she finished, "you know if I wanted to I could press charges."
She couldn't bring herself to actually hang up. The phone wavered near her cheek, and her shaky breathing was being recorded for Bastianna to hear. It wasn't until she heard footsteps that the message was finished with the tap of a button.
"Morning," Davina called out, hoping whoever was about to walk into the kitchen hadn't heard her phone call. She let out a small cough to smooth out her voice. It was still off kilter from her call.
"Morning," a voice chirped back, matching the chirpiness that she had produced. Where she had sincerity, they had sarcasm and tacked a laugh onto the end. From that Davina was able to assume her phone call hadn't been heard. Probably a good thing, considering talk of legal action was never the best way to start off the day.
"Very funny, Kol," she muttered into her coffee cup when her faux fiancé entered the room.
"I do try." He looked around the room to confirm for himself that the two of them were in fact the only ones there. "Thanks for half of the bed last night by the way," he stage whispered, this time in complete sincerity. He inched closer to her as if he didn't trust the visual of a lack of family.
"I'm just happy you aren't the type who stretches out and takes up the entire bed," she told him, turning around to search for the sugar. "I don't know if I could marry someone who takes up all the roo." She paused at a cabinet in question, "Sugar?"
Kol stepped around her to point to one of many white jars, and then made himself a cup of coffee as well. "You like the left side, I like the right side. We both despise people who stretch out...-" he gave Davina a meaningful look "-if our sleeping preferences are any sign then we're obviously meant to be."
She leaned against the side of the island and gave a very serious look. "We've yet to ask the most important question though. Big spoon or little spoon?" The question lingered in the air just long enough that it should've been awkward.
There Davina was, an assistant elevated to actress, talking to her boss turned fiancé about sleeping habits. A few days of interesting circumstances can make a change in any dynamic.
"I doubt all five feet of you can properly function as the big spoon."
"Five feet and three inches," Davina corrected, letting her words linger. Kol was sipping on his coffee, looking at her without clues to what his mind was thinking. A few seconds passed and she looked down to her cup. "The three inches is very important-" she peeked up to find him quickly look away, as if he realized his passive glance had turned into something more intense and definite "-helps me get on roller coasters."
Davina's laugh was light, airy, and floated through the room. Kol's tried to look anywhere else in the room but found it was hard to ignore what was right in front of me. His eyes, brain, and heart were all on very different pages.
Kol was leaning forward, towards her, when he opened his mouth to say something. The words never came out, because the focus on the room shifted.
"Am I interrupting?" Elijah was in the doorway to the kitchen, trying not to feel as if the question was obvious.
Yes. "No," Davina chirped, ripping her eyes from Kol's, towards his brother. Shoving the possibilities of what he was about to say into the back of her mind was easier said than done though.
"Rebekah was wondering when the two of you were leaving, and I couldn't remember myself," he mentioned, invoking the question.
"We have a flight tomorrow," Kol answered, but he sounded unsure. The uncertainty in his voice shook Davina from her thoughts.
"And we're leaving tomorrow," she added. Suspicion was the key tone in her voice.
Kol hesitated before adding, "maybe."
"Maybe?" Davina and Elijah repeated, her repetition more aggressive his.
"I might have some more business to deal with here," Kol admitted, and he gave Davina a look to let her know that he would explain.
"Aren't you meeting with with companies today?" Elijah made his way into the kitchen, but bypassed the coffee for tea, which was apparently further down the counter.
"Well you know what they say, when in London," Kol offered up, but his joke was lost through his tired voice. But it wasn't lose of sleep as much as it was nerves and anxiety. At thirty he should've had fewer things to worry about than being deported, and running a company, and fooling his family. "I should go get ready," he announced, lifting his coffee in goodbye as he disappeared into the hallway.
Davina's eyes followed him until she was staring at a wall, and the only reasonable thing to do was look back to Elijah.
"What are you doing today?" He was almost academic in the way he asked.
An excuse was ready to make its way into the world, but a shrug found its way to Davina's shoulders first. A new reply made it to her lips a few moments later.
"If that's the case I can show you around London if you like, if I'm not mistaken this is your first time here." The squeal of the tea pot gave her a moment to debate the offer, but it wasn't long until he was looking at her expectant for an answer.
"I've always wanted to see Buckingham Palace."
It was like Davina was being babysat by Elijah. He was accompanying her to all the landmarks she had rattled off in the car, and making small talk along the way. Like some sort of Mikaelson brotherly obligation to keep a sibling's fiancé away from Mikael in the light of day.
"Interesting approach," was his only comment on when Davina tried to get the guards at the palace to break their stony expressions. The plan was to take photos and soak in the sights (quite literally, it was starting to rain) but she couldn't help it. Movies condition people to do immature and unnecessary things.
"I almost got a smile," Davina told him, following Elijah as he lead them into a pub. It was barely one in the afternoon, but the place was reasonably crowded.
"I believe this is the tourist trap you requested." Elijah motioned towards two stools and she took her seat. She had googled authentic pubs in London and this was the first one that popped up.
"It is, thank you." While Davina want a drinker, especially when it came to beer, but she decided to use the day to be a traveler. A touristy traveler who drank during the day because she wanted to experience new things in new places.
When their orders were placed Davina found herself wanting to ask Elijah a more personal question. Curiosity killed the cat, and it was more than distracting her. So she waited until she took the first sip of her beer, the taste of which she decided to decide on later, to ask
"Why did the girls you date get so much crap from your family?" It sounded more direct than she planned, but Elijah didn't look phased. It was like this was just another road mark in his babysitting job. Entertain, converse, and answer a question no one else will. Very simple when boiled down.
"I've only had three major girlfriends, but each of them had their own...-," it was clear he was struggling for the word, "-they each had their own pitfalls."
"Was Katherine one of them?" Davina asked, remembering the name from something Kol had said. She had taken a while two sips of alcohol, and even for her that wasn't enough to get her tipsy, but she need to focus on something other than herself. It didn't hurt that the topic was something she could learn something from.
"I dated a woman named Tatia right after university," he started, ignoring Davina's question. "Turns out, so was also with Niklaus. In short, we both broke up with her, but I ended up dating her in secret for some time. When my parents found out they were angry that I was so blind as date someone so manipulative." He took a long drink of whatever he has ordered, and judging from the glass and the size it was more potent than beer. "Then came Katherine. She had an important family, my parents liked the idea of us being friendly. We were, friendly, for a while until we became romantically involved. We got engaged, and then it came out that her parents were bankrupt and Katherine was suddenly a gold digger."
It was as if Elijah had hit a block in his story, and Davina decided to prompt him to finish. "The third girl?" She was trying to take as many mental notes as possible, even if he was being to the point with his storytelling.
"My most recent girlfriend's name was Hayley. She was, according to my parents, a social climber."
Not too many notes, but three phrases popped up in Davina's head. "Is that why you're being nice to me? Because according to your parents, of Mikael and Finn at least, I'm all their pitfalls wrapped up in one."
"Who says I think that too and am just trying to get you to fess up." Davina blinked at the final two words that Elijah said. They felt like bullets narrowly missing her heart.
"Well thanks anyway, for being nice," She breathed, voice catching. "Your girlfriends sound like they were nice, just misunderstood." Her fingers circles the edge of her cup.
Elijah shook his head. "Tatia was manipulative and Katherine was a bitch when she wanted to be. I just liked them despite that."
"What about Hayley?"
"She was sarcastic-"
"Not exactly a crime." Davina smiled, hoping maybe her nosiness wasn't harmful. "In my books at least, I'm not sure exactly how your father thinks." Esther was almost tacked on, but she had been too kind to Davina for her to throw her under the bus.
"I mean this is the least offensive way, but I'm surprised my brother's marrying you," Elijah told her, and Davina laughed, letting him know that was completely okay. It was still a surprise to her.
Another sip of her beer was taken. Before she knew it she was nearing the bottom of her glass, and the bartender was asking her for another. A direct response to Elijah's comment seemed like a bad idea considering the situation. "You know, you should see what Hayley's doing nowadays. Sarcasm isn't the worst vice, and from what you told me I sense you don't think she's a social climber."
There was a moment where Elijah looked like he was thinking about it, but that moment didn't last too long. Then he coped Davina, focusing on his drink.
"This day drinking thing is new to me by the way," Davina promised after glancing at the clock. To Elijah she shouldn't have a very solid reason for wanting to, but she hoped the stress of the meeting the family was enough to mask for a reason. In part, that was the reason, but it was more than the ordinary worrying if she was liked.
"You're about to be a Mikaelson. Might as well start."
When Kol got back to the house he was surprised to find the only person there was Rebekah. "Is Davina back yet?" he asked, and Rebekah looked up from her phone.
"Where did she go?" Rebekah's question was dismissive though. She dropped her phone on the cushion next to her, and gave Kol a long look. "The real question is where is our mother. She called me over here, and when I get here she's out somewhere."
Kol gave a shrug that was just as dismissive, "I've been in meetings all day."
"Well where did your fiancé go?" Rebekah sounded more interested. "You should've told me she was going to be left alone, I could've come over."
"Elijah offered first." This made the blonde raise a brow.
"Well I doubt he took her shopping," Rebekah commented. The tinge of distance in her voice made Kol feel better about
Before Kol could elaborate on the subject, the two people came bursting through the door. Or rather Davina came bursting through the door and Elijah followed looking heavily concerned.
"It's not day drinking if I'm still on eastern time," Davina protested, her words only slightly slurred. "It's like-," she paused to think through the time change, "-six in the morning there." After a moment to realize that wasn't much better, she looked away from Elijah, realizing who was else was at the house.
"Shopping would've been better," Rebekah muttered, just loud enough for Kol to hear it so he could send her a glare. The glare was weak from his confusion though. Just a few days before Davina was against a little wine.
"Is she okay?" Kol flicked his eyes to Elijah in question.
"She only had at most three drinks," he promised. Davina did not look like herself though, and that much was pretty clear. "A pub was on her London checklist," he swiftly added.
"I can speak for myself." A deep sigh escaped from her throat, and she walked over to where Kol sat, plopping down next to him on the loveseat. "I had a few drinks," she admitted, trying not to show the effort it took to enunciate.
"Davina is not good with alcohol." Kol himself wasn't sure who he was saying it too, but her response made Rebekah smile.
"Again, I am here." Kol turned his head away from Elijah, who was hovering on the outskirts of the room, and instead to Davina. Normally after a few moments of direct eye contact she would look away and try to hide a faint blush, but with alcohol the reaction was different.
"Imincrediblyfine," she slurred.
"I'm going to make sure Da-" he stopped himself, "-I'm going to make sure you get to bed." If Mikaelson or Esther, or even Finn or that matter, came back to the house he could just say she got a headache and needed to lay down.
Rebekah was already up and out of her seat when she offered to make her coffee. "I'll bring it up to your room in a few minutes."
It took more than a few minutes to get Davina up the stairs. It turns out a drunk Davina was a stubborn one. Not that surprising given her sober self. Rebekah was already done brewing the coffee when Davina and Kol got just outside of their room, so she caught up to them before they even entered.
"This isn't normal for her right?" Rebekah whispered once Davina had already stumbled into the room. "Cause alcohol is fine but she's like five foot, so… it doesn't suit her."
"Drinks are rare, and I've never seen her like this." That was true at least. In the week Davina had not gotten really drunk, nor had she at any office functions in the past four years. Kol could easily come up the the conclusion that excess drinking was not to be expected though. "I think she's just stressed," he let concern sneak into his voice even before he thought he should as about of the act.
Rebekah went silent at the look on her brother's face. "It seems to me you need as much assurance as her, and you both should know the majority of this family likes her. And father and Finn don't like anyone..." she reminded him, following it up with a wide smile. "Just make sure she doesn't get alcohol poisoning before the wedding."
Kol couldn't muster up a smile, but he hoped he at least managed to look grateful. "Thanks for the coffee."
"Get back to your drunk fiancé," Rebekah ordered, letting out a light laugh as she moved back down the hallway.
"I will," he called out. Behind him Davina was nursing her cup of coffee, staring at it like it held the meaning of life.
"I know we're engaged and all," she started, tone firm, when Kol shut the door, moving towards the bed, "but it's gonna take more than a really nice ring to get me into bed." Her eyes flitted down to where she was sitting and looked conflicted. "Well, you know what I mean," she muttered, taking a long sip.
"Just drink your coffee and lay down, you'll feel better." Kol didn't know to handle the situation now that they didn't have an audience.
"I feel amazing."
"You're not going to be saying that when all those drinks leave your system," he warned, but she was not in any state to respond to that.
For a while neither of them spoke. Kol let Davina finish off her coffee, Davina leaned into Kol's side. A few minutes after the coffee was gone from the cup she looked over to him. "You're nicer than you let on," she whispered, and she sounded so lucid that he almost believed she thought that.
Kol opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. It looked like Davina was going to speak for him, but instead she surprised him for the second time that day. In a matter of seconds she was closing the gap between them. He was too surprised to return the kiss, but it didn't phase her. It was as light as air and when she pulled away, eyes wide and mouth parted as if she was shocked at herself too, he had to tell himself that it had actually happened.
"I'm gonna sleep," she announced, tearing her eyes from his. Not what you would like to hear after a girl kisses you, but he reminded himself that she wasn't in her right mind. It was doubtful she would even remember it when she woke up.
a/n - I can't believe it's taken me so long to update, but school got in the way and then when that was gone travel did. Combine that with a bit of a lack for inspiration and that's your excuse for why I didn't update sooner. Again, I'm really really sorry, but hopefully you liked the chapter. The chapter is completely Kolvina! I'm really excited to write it so I know it won't take me three months. Let me know if you liked the chapter, and all that faving and following jazz.
xo,
Luce