The brothers pulled up at the bodega only to find it closed and empty.
Elijah sighed.
Klaus thought for a moment, "I have an idea. Turn around and let's get on the expressway."
His older brother cocked an eyebrow, "If you think we're going to skip town and miss Bekah's dinner-,"
"Of course not. Honestly Elijah I am offended at that insinuation."
Elijah snorted as the car picked up speed.
"Besides, Bonnie would never forgive me if I did."
"She's forgiven you quite a bit already."
Elijah's tone was paternal, but Klaus still bristled. He doesn't need people reminding him that he's all but irredeemable before eternity save for the grace of a a single, sweet-faced witch. There were some nights he lay awake wondering, marvelling, that she let him lie beside her, much less touch her beautiful skin.
"So where are we headed then?" Elijah broke the mutinous silence.
"Wal-Mart."
Klaus added, "Bonnie goes there for emergencies."
As they merged into the expressway, Elijah cleared his throat like he's about to speak. After several moments he finally does. "So, how are things going, with you and Bonnie I mean?"
"Fine."
More silence.
"She's a remarkable witch, and an even more remarkable young woman," Elijah continued, "It's quite fortunate -,"
"Yes I'm well aware of that Elijah," Klaus snapped, "I'm well aware that Bonnie being with me is a complete mystery, that I should be thanking whatever lucky stars I have, believe me I berate myself enough without having to listen to you."
Klaus shifted in his seat so he was looking out the window at the passing scenery. He wondered how old these trees were, how many of them had been alive when he was a child.
"You know," Elijah started, "we can always bypass the supermarket and hunt some deer in the woods. I still remember how to strip a carcass."
"Then you probably remember I was deemed unfit for hunting by our beloved father."
They came off the expressway and turned into the Wal-Mart parking lot. It was awash with cars and scurrying pedestrians with dangerously over-loaded trolleys. Elijah maneouvered them into a spot and they climbed out.
The brothers fell into step beside each other. Elijah pocketed his hands, "I hated those hunting trips."
Klaus glanced in surprise, "I thought you loved hunting. Father was always so exultant after-,"
"I pretended to enjoy it so he would be proud of me, but I can think of nothing worse than nights in the woods, freezing the piss in your balls, all to impress some sadistic bastard who called himself Father," he stopped and faced his younger brother, "I was afraid too, Niklaus."
Klaus took in the sight of Elijah, solemn as a priest in a ridiculous sweater, and for a moment he didn't look like the regal older brother in whose shadow he'd languished for centuries. He glanced down at his own atrocious garb, the ridiculous bolls of cotton poking out his shoulders and chest. Oh, how Mikael would've ridiculed them. How he would've raged.
And that was enough to make him smile. He thought of Bonnie, his Bonnie, saying You're here, and Mikael isn't.
"Well big brother, let's finish our errand before Bekah punishes us with more gifts, hmm?"
Elijah held his eyes for a second, then gave an imperceptible nod.
They strode in through the double doors, then froze. It was absolute chaos inside. The clatter of trolleys and the shouts of harried workers almost drowned out the cloying Christmas music. It appeared a fight was about to break out in the produce section, and scores of wailing children trailed after their parents, bouncing with sugar-energy. Almost everyone wore an expression of utter despair.
Elijah tapped Klaus on the shoulder, "I changed my mind. Let's go hunting."