For Want of A Better Word.

Summary: Loosely based off of this prompt ➡ Imagine Person B working as a volunteer at the library for the summer, and they love to read. One day Person A is walking by the library and sees a super cute person in the library, who happens to be B. A walks in to flirt with them, before realizing they've come to a place full of books, and they hate reading.

For leianaberrie

There were few things short of a hurricane that could Kol Mikaelson out of bed - let alone get him to step foot out of his room - at 2:45 in the afternoon, in the beginning of the summer break. But an actually natural disaster hitting the state of Virginia would have been far more welcome than his sister barging into his room, disturbing a rather pleasant dream he was having; which involved him rescuing an early 2000's era Halle Berry, riding a jet ski, wearing a tuxedo.

Needless to say, the look he gave Rebekah as her overpriced pumps crossed the threshold, could easily freeze over hell. Not that this seemed to bother or deter her at all.

"Get. Out. Bekah." Kol practically snarled, head buried in a mass of sheets.

"Ah, how the tables have turned little brother. Usually, you're the one barging into my room unannounced; invading my personal space; doing my head in with your antics. How I love the summer break," she purred in amusement.

After snaking his arm out of the covers to flip her the bird, Kol sunk further down into the sheets and willed himself to fall asleep again, so he could block out whatever drivel Rebekah was surely about to spout.

"I need a favour,"

There it is. He thought.

"Fat chance," Kol scoffed.

Rebekah let out a disgruntled, unladylike huff and in an act of pure spite, she strode over to the bed and drew the sheets off of Kol's body.

"Oi!?"

"Do I have your attention now?" Rebekah asked, smiling sweetly at him.

"Get. Out."

Ignoring him, Rebekah took a seat on the end of the bed and crossed one leg over the other.

"Do you remember that time you took Nik's car out without permission and left that giant scratch on the side?"

Kol reluctantly forced his eyes open and shot Rebekah the filthiest look he could muster.

"I don't know what you're talking about,"

"Oh, I think you do,"

Using on arm to prop himself up and the other the to rub the sleep from his eyes, Kol regarded his sister with a sceptical look.

"That's a rather large hand to play sister. Are you sure you want to go there?"

Rebekah smiled.

"I'm certain. Don't worry dear brother, I have plenty more tidbits for blackmail, ready at my disposal,"

"So do I Bekah and make no mistake, I'll remember this. The only reason you're getting your way this time is because Nik's already angry enough at me for breaking the toaster,"

"I have library books due in," Rebekah replied with ease, barely flinching at Kol's threat. "Get them to the library before I'm fine, won't you,"

"Is that it!?" Kol bolstered. "Can't you get one of your innumerous boyfriends to do that for you instead,"

"I'm going into to town to do some shopping. The library's in the other direction,"

"So!?"

"So, if you go now you'll make it back before supper,"

Rebekah made a swift exit from the room, before the notion of strangling her could cross Kol's mind. Then there was a loud thudding noise outside the door, which he assumed to be the books. Cursing the heavens and anyone who would listen that he wasn't born an only child, Kol hauled himself out of bed and trudged in the direction of the shower.

Upon entering what was probably the oldest building Kol had ever seen in his life, the thought occurred to him that he'd never actually been to a public library or any library in general, of his own volition. Based on what he knew about, he had no real desire to step foot in one anyway. They were unnaturally quiet and therefore everyone expected you to be as well, and was filled (Kol assumed) with stuffy old people and speckled, glasses wearing, loners with nothing better to do and of course there was the abundance of dusty old books, everywhere and really that alone was enough to turn him off.

The place met his expectations well enough. There were less OAPs shuffling around than he originally imagined but there was large portion of pale-looking, no-mates, who looked as if they hadn't seen the sun in days; as well as a small group of hipster types were gathered by the bean bags, all holding the same book, probably having some sort of pretentious debate on symbolism and character motifs; plus various other people scattered behind computer desks, firing off emails and listening to music.

The plan had been to got to the desk, drop off the library books (bar one just out of spite, to show Bekah he was nobody's lackey) and go back home, to continue his regular routine of eating nothing but junk food, sleeping for hours and the occasional session of XBox live when he Jeremy's sleep patterns happened to coincide.

Kol did double take as he approached the library reception area, all preconceived notions shattering when instead of an old, grey-haired woman, who wore smelt like mothballs; sat at the desk was a young, attractive, dark skinned woman, deeply engrossed in the novel she was reading. Staring at her, Kol felt an instant attraction. The non-creepy thing to do would have been to signal for her attention so that he could conduct his business and go. Instead, Kol chose to stand in front of the desk, gawking at her as if he'd lost the power of speech.

Silently, Kol observed how her delicate features changed in response to what she read. Her brow furrowing once she reached the end of a page. A small row of white teeth appearing, worrying her soft pink lower lip in anticipation, as she turned to the next. It was oddly mesmerising and not matter how much Kol willed himself to speak, move- something; he found he couldn't.

A pair of startled green eyes suddenly met his, looking slightly mortified.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry," she expressed, setting aside her book and giving him an apologetic, but dazzling smile. "I got a little too involved in this but well, I'm sure you know how it is,"

Kol frowned in confusion, following the woman's eyes toward the pile of Rebekah's theatre studies books that he'd rested on the desk. Snapping out of it, he shook himself from his daze and flashed her a confident smile; thanking his inherited Mikaelson genes for the blush that he managed to put on the woman's pretty face.

"Ah yes, I completely relate. You won't meet a more avid reader," he lied easily.

"Oh really!" The woman exclaimed, her eyes lighting up in excitement. "What are some of your favourites?"

Kol bit down on his lower lip, the colour draining from his face as he was caught in an outright lie.

"Uhh… Hemingway?" he offered, picking a name randomly from one of the many, paint dry authors that Elijah was always going on about.

"Oh really?" the brunette repeated, this time her tone slightly more cynical with a hint of amusement. "No offence, but you don't strike me as the Hemingway type."

"You still haven't told me your name," Kol pointed out, hoping the change of subject would distract her.

She gave him a knowing look and reopened her book.

"It's Bonnie,"

"Bonnie," he repeated, trying the name out on his tongue. "Fitting, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Bonnie looked up at him, from beneath her eyelashes, clearly unimpressed.

"Is there something I can do for you Kol?"

He smirked.

"I'm just returning these," he said gesturing to the pile of books.

"Huh, theatre studies." Bonnie nodded picking up one of the books to scan it. "Makes sense, you seem to be quite the actor," she deadpanned, causing Kol's grin to widen.

Their eyes met for the briefest moments and Kol swore he heard Bonnie's breath hitch ever so slightly. In a second, though, the moment was over and Bonnie dropped her gaze and went back to scanning in the books.

Kol lingered, content to just watch as Bonnie completed the otherwise mundane task.

"You're all good know. You don't have to stand there while I do this," she insisted.

"Apologies love," Kol said flirtatiously, tilting forward to lean on the desk. "I'm just thoroughly impressed with the customer service in here,"

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him.

"You don't go to many libraries do you?"

"Not really but I have a feeling that's about to change,"

A Month Later

"Excuse me,"

Bonnie looked up at the pile of books she was stamping to glare up at the person on the other side of the desk, instantly recognising their voice.

"Do you have this book in a ten?"

Bonnie narrowed her eyes and shot Kol a withering look. Despite her obvious ire the foolish grin plastered on his face didn't waver.

"Kol," Bonnie began through gritted teeth. "If you aren't going to actually borrow a book, then do me a favour and get the hell out."

Kol frowned and tutted.

"Now, now Bonnibel darling. It's a public library. You've got no grounds to throw me out of here. Now if I was streaking through here naked-"

"Oh, my Gosh!" Bonnie hissed attracting the attention of her boss, Edna; a middle-aged woman in her fifties. She gave the pair a stern look and pressed her finger to her lips.

Kol had stopped by the library nearly every day for the past four weeks and Bonnie was close to tearing her hair out. At first, he'd show up and sit in one of the chairs and pretend to flip through a book of pull a battered looking newspaper out of his bag; all the while, not-so-secretly checking her out. He'd linger by the shelves while she was on stacking duty asking her nonsensical questions and flirt shamelessly. Bonnie had to conclude that Kol must have an awful lot of free time during the break because his favourite activity appeared to be showing up at the library and driving her crazy.

The worst part was that she couldn't deny that she did feel attracted to him; she'd probably accepted if he'd just asked her out in the first place like a normal person. If anything, now, she was deliberately ignoring his advances out of pure spite.

"You are going to hell you know that," she growled at him.

Kol's eyes widened and he placed his hand on his chest in faux horror.

"You wound me, love,"

"I'd love to actually wound you, trust me. But my boss probably wouldn't very happy with me if I did," Bonnie muttered.

"Well, you're on a break in ten minutes-"

"-It's downright disturbing that you know that,"

"-So why don't you join me, for a coffee and we can work on all that tension that's clearly been building up inside you, from working in this stuffy old place," Kol suggested.

"The only reason for any tension inside me; is you," Bonnie replied irritably.

"Well then, by all means, allow me to relieve it," Kol smirked, wiggling his thick eyebrows at her.

Bonnie felt her patience snap. Shutting her eyes, she slowly counted down from ten; she opened them again only to find Kol's smug face still staring back at her.

"What's it going to take for you to stop badgering me," she demanded to lean over the counter and giving him a hard stare.

"It's quite simple," he beamed at her. "One hour of your time. One hour to convince you to spend another few in my company,"

Bonnie arched an eyebrow challengingly.

"One date?" she asked.

Kol nodded leaning forward in anticipation that it might just be his lucky day.

"Well, in that case, I'd have to go with… hell no,"

Bonnie tossed the hair off her shoulder and strutted confidently away from Kol as he snickered softly and murmured something about them all coming back eventually.

Yeah, Kol was hot, he didn't know it yet but there was a sliver of a chance for him if he could show Bonnie that he was worth it. Damned if she didn't make him work for it, though.