A/N: If you've waited patiently for this next chapter in the story, thank you so much for bearing with me. Your patience has been rewarded at long last. (=
For your comfort I've included a small "Previously..." to get you back in the story, right where we left off.
Disclaimer: This chapter might be shocking to some readers, due to certain kinds of violence that aren't particularly everyone's "taste". When you feel on the verge of posting an incredibly shocked review exclaiming WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, please remember this is still but a work of fiction, which renders it more innocent than the tulip in your front garden. If it be any consolation: I don't intend to make it this... dark any time soon again, BUT we'll see where the story takes us in the next chapters...
Previously on A Fickle Fantasy…
After a disturbing dream about Klaus, Stefan wakes and questions Klaus' survival. Haunted in his dreams by both Katherine and Klaus, he eventually discovers Klaus is still alive –and kicking. Klaus hunts Stefan mercilessly in an attempt to finally make him his lover, like in the Twenties. Stefan is reluctant, but cannot resist for reasons he doesn't comprehend. Once Elena discovers what Stefan has been doing, their entire relationship implodes and Elena emotionally breaks up with him. With nowhere else to go, Stefan goes back to Klaus, in search of the explanation to his attraction to him. During their latest love game, Kol interrupts, accompanied by Jeremy, who Kol twistedly uses as a slave for his deviant plans...
- Gentle Folks -
"When a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past...all moments past, present and future always have existed always will exist."
~~ Kurt Vonnegut ~~
Military Encampment, slightly north of Somme, France, 1916
"How many casualties so far?"
"At the very least 20 000, commander. More bodies are being found as we speak."
"Dismissed." The soldier instantly marched out of the command post.
Klaus frowned and focused his gaze on the map in front of him, on which the placement of the battalions was coordinated. He knew right there that any chance of winning this war would be slim. Even if they did, the losses wouldn't be compensated by the glory of victory. A glorious victory was a myth he'd amortised centuries ago. Each victory is drenched in the blood of innocents, who don't have the slightest clue why they're doing what they're commanded to do. Or what their efforts would amount to. Nothing in the end, his experience had taught him. This war had started to bore him. It wasn't like the wars of the past, those great battles with zealous idiots fighting one another. The mortals had gotten structured, deadly precise. Even the vampire race was vulnerable to the kind of weapons they'd started to use now. Battles in the past had been fought by old men with the wisdom of little children. This one was fought by youth, driven by politicians. There had been a time when things had been different. When… it all hadn't been as serious as it was now. The outcome of the battle or the war mattered not. But now it did. One compelling victory could change the course of entire history forever, he knew. He could feel it. And while his inner wolf growled for more bloodshed and mutilation, his reasonable side had stated to doubt the use of this. We're not fighting for victory, we're fighting for annihilation. The world will never be the same again after all this.
His brother arrived at the command post, accompanied by a couple of soldiers and generals.
"General Colin, we have some private matters to discuss, I believe." Klaus flashed a conspiratorial grin at his brother. "Leave us", he commanded the other soldiers.
"Hello, brother", Kol smirked daintily. "Any news promising a good outcome for our side?"
"Over 20 000 casualties on our side beg to differ, Kol. We're losing this battle", Klaus grinded his teeth in disapproval. "I like a good battle as much as the next soldier, but we're losing this battle and I don't particularly enjoy that." He couldn't help but pout.
Kol frowned, his dark eyes sparkling with anger. "Then let's take the victor's side. Much more glorious." His anger turned into excitement in mere seconds.
Klaus sighed. "Nothing about this war has been glorious so far, Kol. This war lost its glory the day it turned into a massacre."
Kol smirked. "I fancy this battlefield to be a painting of life essences. Brush by brush we complete the painting with new patterns of people's blood." He stared into the distance, probably picturing the bloody battlefield, the Somme flowing blood red with blood. "You're mad, brother. You're out of control. Has the cannon fodder blown up your mind as well?" He clenched his teeth in contempt for his brother's enthusiasm. Of course he loved spilling blood, killing, even massacring, but a body count of over 20 000 was enough. Yet, his brother had always had a hard time obeying the "don't cross the line" policy. Crossing the line was his goal. Nearing it was boring; the real fun only started when things spun out of control for him.
"Brother, you know I love killing almost as much as you. Tearing people limb from limb, draining their blood or making them drink their loved ones' blood. Killing, maiming, torturing, it's all the same, and it's fun, I admit. But I've grown tired of this war. We been waging war against these Germans for years and the end of all this isn't even in sight. This time the entire world is dragged into it, and I fear our food supplies are diminishing with every battalion that is blown to bits by the enemy."He paused for a moment, frowning."There won't be any humans left after this war ends, and then we'll have to turn on one another to feed. We have to end this war before it's too late."
Kol growled and grabbed his arm in an iron grip and pulled Klaus close to him, their faces mere inches separated from one another. He smirked diabolically. "Let me have my fun on those pesky Germans, or I will turn on your side."
Klaus wasn't planning to bow for threats. He smiled arrogantly. "Well, I guess I might just have to slip a dagger into some white oak ash again then..." He left the threat lingering in the air.
"You wouldn't", Kol growled in disbelief.
Klaus carelessly brushed something off his military coat and shrugged. "Oh, but I would."
"I've been by your side this whole time, even though I wanted to side with the Germans and now you're going to dagger me?" For the first time in a long time, Kol sounded vulnerable, hurt almost.
"It all depends of your behaviour, little brother." Klaus smirked, feeling victorious. For once.
Kol stampeded out of the place.
The Mikaelson Mansion, Mystic Falls, 2010
"What are you thinking of?" Stefan whispered, softly kissing Klaus' back.
"Nothing.. just some quarrel I had with my brother a century ago." Klaus sounded distant.
"Care to talk about it?" He mischievously bit in Klaus' earlobe.
"Nah, I'd rather have some distraction", Klaus grinned darkly, but his eyes looked sad.
"Are you sure?" Stefan couldn't help but feel bad for him. Whatever it was, this was weighing in on his favourite hybrid. He softly fondled Klaus' face, admiring his beautiful facial features.
"My certainty is rock-hard", Klaus smirked. The sad twinkle in his eyes made place for pure mischief.
"You're as tireless as you are hard now, it seems." He nearly giggled, it amused him so much.
"Well, in my defence, you're asking for it. Time and time again." He said it as if it was an incredibly exhausting ordeal to face. Stefan snorted and raised an eyebrow.
"You never gave the impression that you didn't like it before…" Stefan winked at him.
"I also never said I didn't", Klaus grinned like a predator. And a damn irresistible predator he was.
He got up, much to Klaus' surprise. He started looking for his clothes, or the remnants of what Klaus had torn to shreds at least, which were scattered all across the living room, and even in the hallway, it seemed.
"What are you doing?" Klaus grumbled. "Are you leaving?"
He decided to flip a page from the Katherine Pierce book. "I feel my presence is undervalued I here. So yes I am." Stefan batted his eyelashes, trying to look as fabulous as Katherine always seemed when she pulled one of those "I'm fab" stunts.
"U-undervalued?" Klaus gasped indignantly. "How dare-"
"I?" Stefan interrupted him. "Of course I dare. Are you going to stop me?"
"If I have to, yes. I'm not done with you yet." Klaus grimaced in frustration.
Stefan raised an eyebrow as if to say "not impressed" and turned his back on him. It must've been quite the sight, with only his shirt on and nothing to cover his groin, since all of his pants had been torn to shreds during their most recent love game.
"You do realise you can't appear in public with such inappropriate clothing, do you?" Klaus snickered. Then he got up at light speed and zoomed over to him. He wrapped his arms around Stefan's torso, not allowing him to leave the room. Klaus' huge bulge pressed against his ass and Stefan found himself doubting whether to continue taunting Klaus or giving in to him right away. It demanded every ounce of self-restraint in him not to turn around and kiss Klaus while grabbing his dick and trying to force him into submission for once. Without turning around, he groped behind him, until he found Klaus' boxers. He fumbled inside, found Klaus' hard alpha male and started squeezing it gently. He heard Klaus heave a heavy sigh behind him. He kept on squeezing and simultaneously attempted to rub his butt cheeks against Klaus' groin as well.
"That's the spirit…" Stefan could perfectly envision Klaus behind him, his eyes closed, that dark smirk on his face with the cute dimples, while he licked his lips.
"I knew you couldn't resist me, Stefan. No one can." That was Stefan's cue. Now Klaus' grip had loosened up, he swiftly squirmed out of it and zoomed out of the room, straight into the back yard.
"STEFAN!" Klaus roared. He could hear him chase after him so he made haste. Trying not to think of what a sight it must be, zooming away all nude, Stefan neared the forest behind the property. Alas for him, Klaus was faster. He grabbed him, threw him over his shoulder and zoomed back to the house, Stefan's little squirming and wrestling absolutely no match for the Original's duress.
He dragged him all the way inside, straight to… the ballroom? It makes no sense... Then it hit him, and he started squirming with every ounce of power he had. Would Klaus honestly torture him for running off? "Klaus.. I was just teasing you.. I wouldn't really have left."
"Time to pay the piper, Stefan." Klaus showed no sign of emotion.
Sudden fear overwhelmed him. He blacked out.
He woke up because of a burning ache in his wrists. Everything was black, as if he was… blindfolded. "What-?" A seat behind him cracked and he believed someone must've stood up.
"Ah, I see you've woken up, good!" He couldn't hear Klaus nearing him, but he sensed it. The way you intuitively know someone is staring at you. Suddenly Stefan felt a warm hand on his shoulder, igniting his skin. He shivered. "Klaus, what's going on?"
"Yeah, wouldn't you like to know." His spidey sense told him Klaus was probably smirking, all kinds of malevolent plans in his twisted mind.
Stefan focused on blocking out all external distractions to find out what kind of situation he was in. His hands were tied up somewhere above him, the cords cutting his wrists, he was standing in… the ballroom, probably. And he was naked. Full-frontal gloriously naked. And vulnerable to whatever sick prospect Klaus had.
His body was pulled up a little higher, so he could barely touch the ground with his feet. Then suddenly Klaus' hands tightly grabbed a hold of his chest and he entered him from behind. He grabbed Stefan by his hair and pulled his head backwards as he thrust violently. "You're mine, Stefan. ALWAYS AND FOREVER!" he grunted.
Stefan moaned, Klaus had never before… intruded him like that. It was as though he was violating him. It snapped something inside Stefan. This might've been something the Ripper would have enjoyed, but not him. He had changed. But he couldn't deny that bittersweet realisation that with this pain also came tremendous satisfaction. Klaus had never given himself entirely like this. And while Stefan had no other option but to be cooperative right now, he knew deep down inside that a part of him, that dark Ripper part did enjoy this. And craved for the excruciating pain and the exquisite delight of Klaus taking him this way to intertwine into a tight knot of euphoria.
Klaus jerked Stefan's dick with his right hand while he held on to him with his left as he pounded ceaselessly. His hot breath burned into the fabric of Stefan's neck as he panted. Then he upped his game even more by using his vampire speed to take him even faster. He "zoomed" in out of Stefan, causing for him to moan until it nearly became a long howl of pain. The nails of Klaus' left hand cut into Stefan's skin and even though blood seeped out of the scratch wounds it dazed Stefan with even more delight. Klaus pounded on, thrust after thrust and they both panted nearly in the same rhythm at the same time, as if they were doing some sort of synchronised panting. In a distant place of his mind, Stefan snickered at the idea, but he discarded the distracting thought quickly after. His entire being was focused on this. Klaus' balls firmly being pressed against his butt cheeks with every thrust aroused him even more. He threw his head backwards and searched for Klaus' lips, and for once Klaus had the gentleness to commit this act of tenderness today. Their lips locked and the fire swallowed them whole from within. He could feel Klaus smile as he moaned during their kiss, since Klaus still continued to violate him at light speed. As Klaus now moved his lips to Stefan's shoulder and licked him there, the pounding slowed.
When Klaus pulled back, Stefan felt like he hardly had any breath left, and was surprised he hadn't cummed yet. Stefan sank through his legs, and hung from the ropes. Klaus softly untied the ropes and brushed the wounds at his wrists with his fingertips. Then he pressed a feather light kiss on each one as the scars healed. It itched a little longer, but soon even that faded away.
Klaus removed Stefan's blindfold and bent over to whisper in his ear. "For this finale, I need you to look at me, love." The sound of Klaus' voice made his entire body tingle in anticipation.
Klaus lifted him up, and made him sit on top of him. He zoomed over to the wall with Stefan sitting on his rock-hard manhood and made Stefan lean against the wall while he fucked him face to face. He bent his head forwards and passionately kissed him. With one hand, Stefan jerked himself off. Somehow, it felt like the most intimate thing they'd ever done. It was as if Klaus was everywhere, inside him, around him, he filled him up literally and figuratively and despite the roughness, he felt safe, so safe in this position. "Klausss…" he moaned.
Klaus gasped, probably nearing his summit too. "I know, Stefan, I know." He grunted, and took him at normal human pace. Driven by an impulse he didn't understand, Stefan lashed his head forward, sinking his canines into Klaus' bare neck. He gorged down the blood, as Klaus made a whole bunch of noise that sounded like a mix of panting and moaning. Klaus growled with every mighty thrust until Stefan felt him explode inside of him. Stefan jerked on, closed his eyes because he was almost there… "Look at me!" Klaus growled. He obeyed, came shortly after him as well, launching his load all over both of them. As he gasped for air, he noticed his cum all over Klaus' body and face, and he felt it dripping off of him as well in various places.
Klaus smirked, licked some of it off of his lips. "Salty… Mmm I like it."
Military Encampment, slightly north of Somme, France, 1916
"She's all yours now, brother", Klaus grinned. Maybe this would fix things between them. He released the undressed girl from his grip and she crawled over to Kol. Kol looked at her for a while, his bottomless brown eyes unfathomable. Whether he would take her or kill her was a question Klaus had a hard time imagining an answer to for himself.
Then Kol smirked. His lethal smirk. The one a cat has once the mouse's tail is stuck under the cat's claw. He grabbed her and forcefully threw her on the plank bed that belonged to him. He and his brother shared a room in the barracks for just the two of them, one of the perks of compulsion.
His brother undressed and released himself of his military garments and went down on the girl. Klaus couldn't help but observe in fascination, inspecting his brother's precise focus and killer swiftness. He noticed Kol's cocky smirk widen even more, revealing his sharp canines. Kol thrust inside the girl, who yelped in agony. Opposite to his brother, Kol didn't have a single tender bone in his body. Pun intended. Kol bent forward as he thrust with vampire speed and tore open the girl's jugular vein with his teeth. The blood sprayed all over his face and body, but Kol persisted. He relished in this. The girl's cries of pain weakened, until her hollow cries dimmed down to nothing at all. Even though the girl balanced on the verge of death, Kol continued on. He bit his lip while thrusting, harder and harder. He didn't pant doing so, he only grunted with a low and hoarse voice. He turned the girl on her side; put her hands together above her head as he now proceeded to fuck her anally. It was bestial and sick, Klaus observed. But he couldn't help but continue to observe. He knew deep down that his brother was disgusting, indulging in the most perverted way of having intercourse, but he couldn't bring him to take his brother's toy away.
When Kol finished, he turned his head over to Klaus and smiled darkly. "Like my show?"
Klaus remained silent, continued to stare at his brother, blankly he believed. He tried to figure out if he was looking at his brother with a judgemental look, or with arousal. Because he felt both. The way he'd been in control so entirely and completely. He had been master of the moment. But the girl had been abused in the most disgusting sense possible, even after she had just died. His brother only stopped once he'd gotten his satisfaction.
"If you want to join in, all you need to do this ask, brother", Kol said daintily. "You know I don't care." Of course he didn't. Kol never cared about anything. He stroked a finger across his chest, teased his own nipple and then licked the blood off his finger, all the while looking his older brother straight into his eyes.
"I'd rather die, but thanks", Klaus scoffed.
Kol stood up, swiftly jerked off right in his brother's face, then squirted his load all over his naked brother, still smiling defiantly at him. "No need to thank me for it, Nik. Any time, as I said." He winked, then grabbed a towel and left to clean himself up.
Salty. Dear god, he really did need some good distraction if even his brother managed to get into his head this way. He wouldn't want to take Kol up on his offer, after all. He saw things differently than his younger brother. He thought it perverted and dirty, Kol thought immortality was the epitome of perversion, so nothing else mattered anymore. Nothing was off limits to him. In the end, all Kol really wanted, was a plaything that would survive his tortures. But that wasn't going to be him. Not ever.
He spat out the drop of cum in his mouth, felt nauseated. He cleaned himself up at vampire speed, got dressed, then got rid of the body. He rushed into the battlefield and hid her among some corpses he found by a bush. The huge perk of being at war was no one asked any questions about the bodies they found. He planned to run off, when suddenly he heard the sound of voices.
"Have you seen these people?"
Mikael.
"Err oui, ze first one I recognise, monsieur. He is a... cruel one, monsieur." That sounded like Sébastien, the head of provisions. Total airhead. But he managed to recognise Kol nonetheless. They were in trouble. Klaus felt as though his blood ran cold. If Mikael found them... If Mikael found him…
"He won't form a problem. What about the other one? It's him I need to have most."
"He looks comme quelqu'un plutot important. I don't recognise ze man." Klaus couldn't help but roll his eyes. Sébastien was an ever bigger idiot than Klaus would have ever thought if he didn't recognise one of his own bloody superiors. Fool.
"I suppose that means I should chase down the cruel one and start there. Too bad he's such a nuisance, I'll probably have to kill him."
"Mes excuses, monsieur, but why would you kill ze man? Then he won't lead you to ze other one", Sébastien said. For once in his useless life Sébastien had a good point, Klaus thought.
"The problem about the cruel one, is that he is a fool, but a loyal one. He won't betray his brother, not to me. Not to anyone, most likely. So the only way to draw out the other one is to kill Kol. He stopped being my son the second he chose that fool of a Niklaus over me." Mikael sounded ominous, but most of all determined. He wasn't one for vague threats or ideas of what he might do or might not do. When he said he'd kill Kol, he would. Klaus shivered. Regardless of their dysfunctionality and their many issues, he didn't want to lose his little brother. Not forever. He tried to think of a way to get out of here unnoticed, so he could warn his brother and they could escape, but he saw no opportunity. Fortunately for him, the battle horn sounded for a new German attack. He made use of the distraction it provided to sneak away to the command post, where he hoped to find Kol. When he arrived, however, his brother was nowhere to be seen. Devilish laughter out on the battlefield revealed where his brother was. He was leading a charge against the Germans, maniacally laughing at the prospect of slaughtering more people. The two sides clashed violently, and he noticed his brother make use of that to use his vampire strength and agility to tear off soldiers' limbs and bludgeon them. Another massacre. It felt as though a hand of ice wrapped itself around his heart and squeezed it to bits. His brother was definitely going to draw Mikael's attention if he continued to fight this way. Klaus stormed out of the command post, rushing towards his brother at vampire speed. "Kol!" His brother didn't look back, instead grabbed a German commander and ripped him into bloody pieces.
"Kol!" His brother looked around as if he'd finally heard something. Then he shrugged and continued his slaughter party.
Klaus zoomed over to him and grabbed his shoulder. "Kol, Mikael's here, and he's coming to kill us."
"Then let him come, Nik" Kol smiled arrogantly, "I'll tear out his heart myself and serve it to you on a silver platter for dinner."
"After all this time do you still not understand how dangerous he is?" he grunted. He dragged him out of the battlefield into the command post, ducking and crawling from time to time to avoid the bullets that rained down all over the field. Lightnings cleaved into the ground as a huge storm scourged the battlefield. Streams of mud mixed with blood soaked their clothes.
He banged the door shut and beat against the wall in rage. "He'll kill us all if you ruin everything with your stupidity! We should run away from here!"
"Nik, he's alone, we are strong enough to take him down together." Kol rolled his eyes.
"No we're not. You didn't see what he did in the fifteenth century to get to me", Klaus' voice broke.
"Then let's exploit this century's inventions to destroy him", Kol said, as if what was the most logical thing to do. Klaus had a hard time trying to understand how Kol could be so cold and rational in all this. But then again, Kol never really cared enough about anything to be able to panic.
Klaus knew there was no way to take down Mikael; he was almost as indestructible as he himself was. Without the white oak stake, he could never destroy him, and he knew for sure that he'd never get close enough to him to stab him with a dagger and white oak ash. There was no destroying Mikael until he was a full hybrid. Then he could bite Mikael and take him down once the delusions kicked in. And he could build an army of more hybrids to aid his cause.
"Well, are you just going to stand there? If you're so afraid of him, just grab a machine gun and fire his head off", Kol snapped.
Suddenly Klaus realised what he had to do to save them both. Fleeing until he could retaliate and win was the only way to survive his father's murder mission. But Kol wasn't intent on leaving. Guilt rushed in as Klaus realised how he could bring his brother to flee with him.
"I'm sorry, Kol. It's the only way to save us."
"What is?" Kol looked suspicious. "What are you up to, Nik?!" He backed away, a hint of fear (?) in his eyes.
"It's the only way out, Kol…" He put a step forward, Kol backed a step away.
"No!" Kol grunted.
Klaus zoomed forward and pressed Kol against the wall. He tried to struggle, but Klaus was too fast. Centuries of experience in daggering his siblings had made him quite proficient at doing it. Kol's skin grew pale and all his veins became visible. "Sleep well, brother", Klaus said sadly. He tried not to think of all the previous times he'd daggered his brother. He picked up the body and put it in the coffin he'd kept around. Then he wrapped iron chains around it and sealed it so hardly anyone could open it, aside from strong vampires. He summoned a couple of soldiers under his compulsion and had them transport the coffin to a cart away from the river, stationed at the side of the road to the city of Somme. They took place on the cart and drove off to the city, away from Mikael and the bloody war. Away from the guilt that pierced Klaus' heart.
The Mikaelson Mansion, Mystic Falls, 2010
They tumbled over the ground of the ballroom floor. Although cold and hard, the surface provided more than enough room for the two of them to romp on, Stefan reasoned. They wrestled playfully, kissing and biting at some intervals. It wasn't that they were aroused once again, more like they enjoyed being mischievous without anything more going on with one another. He wouldn't easily admit it out loud, but Stefan did love feeling Klaus' warm body against his, even more so when they were both naked. Granted, maybe he did feel a little aroused, but not enough to want another bout of sex. He'd been more than satisfied after Klaus' latest twisted game. He didn't feel like getting strung up again, or like being taken at all anymore for the moment.
Klaus brushed a hand through Stefan's hair. "Your hero hairdo seems a little missed up", he snickered.
"Come on, Klaus. Don't act like you don't know who's the cause of that", Stefan rolled his eyes, flashing his ironic smile.
Klaus grinned mischievously. "I do know how to mess you up, don't I?" he sniggered.
"Tell me something I don't know", Stefan sighed, rolling his eyes.
Klaus got up and swiftly picked up Stefan in his arms, much to the latter one's surprise. He kissed him, before taking him out of the ballroom. He took him all the way upstairs, then dropped him on the bed and crawled onto him. As he fondled Stefan, kissing his chest, his neck, his lips, then again making his way down on Stefan's body, before going up again, Stefan started thinking. He stroked Klaus' muscular back, realising that he should stop thinking right this second, lest he wanted to spoil the moment. But he couldn't help it. He worried about Jeremy. He wouldn't want for him to get hurt.
"What do we do about Kol and Jeremy?" he asked eventually.
"Believe me when I say my brother is the last person I want to think of right now, mate." He tickled Stefan's pelvis and kissed his belly button.
"I'm sorry, but I worry about what he'll do. Jeremy is vulnerable, too fragile for Kol's twisted machinations, I believe." He kissed Klaus' collar bone.
Klaus sighed. "You're right, but what am I to do about it? He'll never forgive me if I dagger him again, and besides, despite how annoying he can be, I quite enjoy his presence."
"I don't know what to do either, but we can't let him hurt Jeremy." Stefan grimaced.
"Well, mate, help me remind why I should concern myself for Jeremy's fate? I can't use him as leverage for Elena's blood anymore." He raised his shoulders, fondled Stefan's hair.
"Because they'll gang up as soon as Elena calls for action. They'll come after Kol and kill him. They took you down before, so what's to stop them from killing your brother?" His fingers traced a line of sweat on Klaus' arm as he spoke. "Besides, he's just a kid. He's sixteen-seventeen years old. No kid that age should be abused by a perverted Original." He looked at Klaus and raised an eyebrow.
Klaus sighed. "Fine, maybe you're right. I'll try to talk some sense into him, but I can't promise anything."
"Thanks, that's a start." Stefan wrapped his arms around Klaus' neck and gave him a long kiss, brimming with passion.
"And what was that?" Klaus asked ominously, his lips curving into a sinister smile.
"Nothing", he whispered innocently. His pupils dilated when he felt Klaus harden on top of him.
"I think this is a start as well", Klaus smirked, revealing his dashingly cute dimples. His hand grabbed one of Stefan's butt cheeks and squeezed. Stefan yelped indignantly, told him to stop. Klaus immediately pouted like a toddler whose lollipop has been taken away from him.
"Sorry, Klaus, but we've just had sex." He rolled his eyes. "You really are an insatiable wolf."
"Oh, but this wolf is more than insatiable, Stefan," he smiled darkly, "He is strong and dominant as well, don't you feel that?" He snickered.
"Yes, I do," Stefan replied dryly, uncomfortable at Klaus wooing, "which is why I want a break. I've had enough for the moment. Can't we just make out for a while and do other things than have sex?" He shoved Klaus aside and turned on his side, so he could look him in the eyes without Klaus having any power over him. At least not any physical power.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Well, I don't know. I think I'd like to get all these substance washed off", he said with an ironic smile, pointing at the blood and cum on his chest.
"So your proposition is to shower together?" Klaus' eyes darkened and his voice sounded hoarse.
"No. You and I both know what happens when we shower together. So I'm taking a shower on my own." He stuck out his tongue.
Klaus turned away in disappointment. "You're such a bore."
"You can watch me shower, if that's any consolation, Klaus."
"Stefan, do you honestly believe I haven't done that before?" Klaus turned over to him again and grinned devilishly. "I've seen what you do after a day of Elena's whining and yammering. Lucky me to find that tree behind the Boarding House, a tree from which I have a perfect view." He sniggered, and walked two of his fingers over Stefan's arm, leaving a trace of prickling sensations of electricity as he went. Stefan shivered. "I knew you were a creep!"
"I confess," Klaus grinned smugly, "how can I redeem myself from my sins?"
"I know a few ways", Stefan whispered suggestively.
"You do?" Klaus smiled widely.
"Yeah, by letting me peacefully take a shower", Stefan said, smiling ironically.
Klaus punched his shoulder. "You're no fun, mate!"
"But you love me anyhow," Stefan countered complacently.
"C'mon, go take your shower!" Klaus buried his face in a pillow, being dramatic as usual.
Connie's Inn, New York City, USA, 1922
"You're such a bore!" Rebekah nagged, when Klaus had refused to go dancing to the jazz music that Husk O'Hare & His Band brought in the prohibition bar tonight. He'd only killed three people in the past week, which Rebekah saw as a sign of his boringness. He, Niklaus Mikaelson, boring? He almost laughed at the thought.
He hadn't undaggered Kol, even though they were safe for the moment. During the War, Rebekah had stayed in America, looking after the places they owned and making certain the family funds got spent on things. Mikael was still looking for them, but now the war was over, chaos danced in the streets to the jazz music that resounded from the countless prohibition bars that had popped up. It made Mikael's hunt a lot more difficult, it seemed. Nevertheless, he feared undaggering Kol might attract too much of the wrong attention. Kol would be upset and he'd probably kill a few people to show how displeased he was. Then he'd dedicate the next decade to making Klaus' life miserable. Only after that he might give Klaus a chance to explain his rash action. Rash, but not idiotic. When he'd reached the city of Somme, shortly after news followed that one of the command posts had been torched and had burnt down to the ground. He knew it was Mikael's doing. Even though the French and British had regrouped and won the battle, many more casualties had fallen in that sacking. Kol would only be a danger to himself if Klaus undaggered him now. He'd wait a little longer. Then, when the time was right, he'd undagger him. He knew he would. He always undaggered his siblings after a while, didn't he? And if he prolonged their incapacitation a little longer now and then, what harm could come from it? Time was so awfully relative to them after all.
Deep down he knew what he was trying to tell himself, but he didn't want to think of it anymore, which was why he'd indulged in the alcohol for the past few years. He emptied his glass of champagne, then another. He kept drinking until he got drunk enough to feel buzzed. He felt awfully giggly now, he couldn't help it. It was all just so funny. Just look at Rebekah dancing there, like a skank. It was exhilarating! He giggled out loud.
"What are you looking at, Nik?" Rebekah raised an eyebrow as she stepped towards him.
"I was just observing the way your limbs flail when you dance", he nickered. "Hilarious!"
Rebekah sighed. "You're drunk again. Let's get you out of here. Let's get out of this city. It's toxic to you."
"No!" he shouted loudly, drawing attention. "I like it here", he muttered.
"You only like it because you're drunk. I heard Chicago's an interesting place to party these days. Let's go there, Nik. It'll be more fun than here."
"Haaaaalrighty then," he mumbled, "as my queen commands." He rolled his eyes and giggled again.
She coaxed him to the exit of the bar, but once they were outside he stopped her, trying to make his expression look serious. "Bekah, don't forget to tell Gemma to send over Kol's coffin to Chicago-"
"Already taken care of, Nik. I had Gemma prepare it for the journey yesterday." She threw an arm around his neck to support him, although he was quite certain he didn't need that.
"Thanks, sis; where would I be without you?" he mumbled, before collapsing into the sweet silence of oblivion.
The Mikaelson Mansion, Mystic Falls, 2010
When he'd finished getting himself cleaned up, sneaked out of the house, planning to zoom through the forest where Klaus wouldn't see him. When he snuck past the pool house, he stopped because of noise inside. He knew it might be Klaus in there, or worse, but he couldn't control his curiosity. He had to know what was going on in there. He snooped through the window, but it was too dark inside to see anything. He quietly opened the door and slipped in. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, but there was no one in there. At least, not on the ground floor… As expected! He noticed a very subtle rug on the floor, from under which the noise resounded. When he lifted it up for a bit, it revealed a narrow staircase winding down. He descended, slowly and quietly, hoping not to disturb whoever was in there. Once down, he found himself in front of a wooden door with a window with iron bars in it. Opposite to his expectations, the room behind it wasn't a dark and damp dungeon, but it was a high-end cellar with the most expensive and modern furnishing. In a back corner he also noticed a huge lava lamp and on the left of the room was a long aquarium. In the middle of a room, parallel to the wall opposite the door was a comfortable looking grey lounge. On it was Kol. And Jeremy beside him. Kol was drinking some kind of alcohol while Jeremy stared at the aquarium.
He looked like anywhere was a better place to be than there, but with an unpredictable Original with perverted tendencies next to him it was hard to manage an escape, Stefan figured. Poor Jeremy.
Kol placed a hand on Jeremy's knee. Jeremy immediately shuffled away.
"Oh c'mon mate!" Kol pouted.
"Dude, what the heck? You told me we're not "buds", but suddenly you treat me like I'm some kind of sex slave of yours? What the heck is wrong with you?" Jeremy pushed him away when he tried to touch him again. "You're sick. You're a total psychopath." He shook his head in disgust.
"Of course we're not buds, darling", Kol laughed, rolling his eyes, "our entire friendship was contrived because my brother needed leverage. Doesn't mean I didn't like you." He suggestively raised an eyebrow and smirked darkly.
The irony and resemblance of this situation didn't escape Stefan's mind. Kol and Klaus were more alike than they'd like to admit. But Jeremy was not like him, he didn't seem attracted to Kol at all. Part of Stefan admired that.
"I don't care whether you liked me or not. You screwed me over and besides, I'm not even into guys!" Jeremy raged. "All this is just too gross to be true."
"Jeremy, darling, you haven't really had much luck with the girls now, have you? That's why I think you should try a guy some time," Kol shrugged, "I wasn't lucky with girls in the past either, too whiny or too emotional. A guy like you would suit my needs better." He licked his lips and his dark eyes became even darker, as far as that was even possible.
"Dick! That was below the belt. My girlfriends are my own business!" He pushed Kol away.
"All I'm saying is that maybe you should try and see if your male boytoys would perish as quickly. Maybe a higher force is against you being with a girl, darling." Kol shrugged again, trying to look innocent, but everyone knew Kol was incapable of innocence in any way. It partly surprised Stefan to see how tender Kol was towards Jeremy though. Yet, on the other hand he too understood just how much more fun it was to have your preys give themselves entirely voluntarily. He suspected Kol was trying to accomplish that, but with little luck so far. He swallowed a laugh.
"I've had enough of this, I'm out of here." Jeremy stood up, starting towards the exit where Stefan was hiding. In less than a nanosecond Kol got up and appeared in front Jeremy.
"You're not going anywhere, mate." Stefan could only see Kol's back, but he could imagine Kol's eyes being dangerously dark right now, piercing holes into Jeremy.
"So what, you're going to keep me hostage here now?" He tried to punch Kol, but the Original was a lot faster of course. He snatched Jeremy's wrist and stopped him from punching him. Jeremy struggled to break loose, but instead Kol grabbed his other wrist as well and leaned in. Jeremy bent back as far as he could, but he didn't have much space due to Kol's invincible grip. Swiftly as a lizard catches a fly, Kol stole a kiss from Jeremy. Stefan's eyes widened, curious about what would happen now. There was something so unbelievably familiar about watching them interact.
Stefan nearly broke down laughing when he saw what happened next. Kol pulled back and growled. "You bit me!" He sounded incredulous. "I'm the vampire here, bud!" He shoved Jeremy back against the wall, their faces separated by only a few inches of air and sexual tension. "Now tell me you didn't enjoy that", Kol hissed.
"You mean you kissing me, or me biting you so you'd back the hell off?" Jeremy parried.
"Both," Kol smirked, "because I certainly did enjoy both."
"Bite me", Jeremy sighed in frustration, probably taunting Kol even more.
"I thought you'd never ask", Kol grinned with a serious look in his eyes.
"Not that way, jerk. Just fuck off." Jeremy leaned back against the wall and exhaled deeply with his eyes closed, as if every second in there with Kol was pure torture and boringness.
"Oh, tired of playing my game already?" Kol smirked again, leaned forward to pester Jeremy with the promise of another kiss. His lips grazed Jeremy's and surprisingly Jeremy answered his kiss. Stefan tried not to let his mouth fall open in surprise. Then, when he witnessed the turn of events, he backed away silently and snuck up the stairs as quietly as the dead. Those two seem to be in need of privacy. He wondered how Jeremy would feel after this. Would he experience the same confusion he had been through himself? Poor boy. And what would Bonnie think about this? She might set him on fire for this little slippery.
"Where d'you think you're going, mate?" a playful voice sounded from behind him.
"Klaus." Stefan didn't turn around because he knew what he'd be facing. An annoying and easily frustrated hybrid who would tie him up again if he found out Stefan wanted to leave again.
"Leaving so soon? Well that is a crying shame." Klaus sounded different than he'd expected.
"I need to go home, Klaus. Try to fix the damage I've done. I still care about Elena and the others. Elena and I are over, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends, or try to reconcile in any way." Stefan cursed himself in his mind for sounding so weary. Maybe he was indeed too broody.
"Fine, but I expect we can have another rendez-vous like last one very soon?"
He could barely believe his ears. He was free to go? Now that was a first.
"Without a doubt." He meant it, although a part of him still felt puzzled about all this… mess. In the midst of all this clarity somehow everything still confused him, like this wasn't real. As if all this was a dream somehow, but far too vivid to be imagined.
He walked forward without looking back, but Klaus caught up on him and stopped him. "Didn't you forget something?" He raised an eyebrow in total indignity.
"Oh, right." He blushed and felt like a little schoolboy for the reprimand. Despite their passionate past, he felt a little shy doing this. He leaned in and gave Klaus a passionate goodbye kiss.
Klaus heaved when their lips parted. "You better be back soon." He licked his lips.
Stefan chuckled and continued his way home, or whatever would be left of it for him after the waves of moral judgement would overrun the place. All the way until he left the Mikaelson property, he felt Klaus' eyes piercing in his back, and couldn't deny feeling a desperate to return quickly.
Gloria's Bar, Chicago, USA, 1922
They arrived in Chicago just a few days after their departure in New York. To Klaus, Chicago was magical. He wished he could've shared it with his brother though. Rebekah was always trying to be the queen of society, gaining popularity and wealth because of her silly teenage dreams. Kol, on the other hand, knew how to have fun. And more often than not, things spun out of hand with him, but at least something exciting happened. Rebekah would cry or throw a tantrum whenever she had to leave her feeble friends behind, all because Kol had drawn too much attention and they'd risk drawing Mikael to their hiding place. That's why she'd spent the years of war in America, to avoid being dragged down in Kol's violent warmongering.
He had to admit that his sister had picked a good bar to drink away their regrets and very existence. Gloria, the bartender and a powerful witch, kicked the party off every night. She'd take place on the stage alongside the band and they'd sing a variety of swinging songs. The bar was also a great place for vampires to gossip about the latest turns and the most scandalous deaths. Word had it another ripper was on the loose nearby Chicago. His murder sprees were subject of nearly every conversation in both human and vampire societies. Testimonies of some vampires who'd seen the carnage he'd caused claimed he was a force to be reckoned with, merciless and sadistic. If he hadn't known any better, he'd nearly have suspected his own brother to be behind all the killings. But this killer was even more vicious, if he could believe the shocked whispers, but that sounded ridiculous to him.
He took another sip from his glass of prohibited alcohol, smiling to himself. He'd be very surprised if there was a more vicious vampire than Kol in this world. Perhaps it was a good idea after all to give Kol – but most of all the entire world—some rest. He chuckled.
"What are you laughing about, Nik?" Rebekah seemed not very impressed with him these days. Almost as if she blamed him for the traumas the Great War had left him to deal with. Maybe she'd expected more of him, but despite his immortality his soul was still very human. The truth was that he had a hard time accepting the fact that he was safe and that the war was over. He still expected a rain of bullets to down on his surroundings any given moment. Or to discover that he had imagined all this and would wake up in one of the shady sanatoriums that popped out of the ground everywhere to "take care" of the "lunatics" and "cowards".
He took another sip, but right before he could start his reply, Rebekah interrupted him. She looked very alert, opposed to how he felt, all buzzed up by the alcohol. The only thing that made him feel safe these days. She'd caught a scent, it seemed. "Blood." She answered the question he asked himself in his head. "I think he's come here at long last. The rumours did say he was starting to feel lonely…" He heard her blood pressure rise; the thought itself of the great Ripper legend here in Chicago excited her and terrified her at the same time. He was a volatile beast she'd love to learn all about. And if he were handsome, she'd corrupt him until he was utterly destroyed. He too felt thrilled about this. This was an unexpected surprise. The most infamous serial killer of the century here in his town? Such an interesting coincidence. Perhaps this wouldn't be a dull decade after all…
A man stepped through the red curtains of the entrance to the bar and Klaus could hardly believe his eyes. Arrogant look, confident step. Hair slicked back and white rose in his pocket. Rebekah looked as though her eyes were about to fall out of their sockets. She jumped up inelegantly and hurried towards the entrance to meet him. She tried to look mysterious and confident, but Klaus could clearly see how anxious she was to meet this man. The Ripper leaned on the balcony and looked into the room where liquor overflowed the cups and people danced to Gloria's "St. James Infirmary".
"Guess who my eyes have just spied, ladies. Looking for a good time, Mr. Salvatore?" Gloria winked. Even she was enamoured by this enigmatic stranger.
"Save me a dance, Gloria!" Salvatore shouted back with cocky confidence.
Klaus saw who must've been the infamous Ripper of Monterey and forgot about everything else, overwhelmed by the kind of fascination one can have for random strangers.
"And you better save me a drink, Mr. Salvatore", he whispered silently to himself, for the first time in a long while a huge devilish smirk gracing his face. After all this time, his eyes sparkled again with hidden intentions an malevolent plans.
He knew then and there, that this man was special and he'd be his, no matter the cost. Even if it meant his own demise.
A/N: I do hope you've enjoyed this special chapter (flashbacks!) and desperately crave for more... A review would be very much appreciated. They keep me inspired. (=
A/N: I hope you've kept your eyes open for hidden names in this chapter and the previous ones... The future resides entirely in the details...