The familiar dipping of the bed made Addie aware of Damon's presence before she actually saw him. She'd stirred when he'd untangled himself from her and the bed had shift earlier. There had been a soft mumble of discontent and a brief moment of reaching out for him before he had stroked her hair and quietly told her to go back to sleep, it was still early. He must have gone home to shower and change because his cologne was fresh and mixed with the clean scent of soap. Addie sighed contently at the closeness of him.
"Good morning," he whispered, brushing a kiss against her cheek.
"Suppose it's time for me to get up," pouted Addie, refusing to open her eyes.
Damon hummed contemplatively as his thumb brushed over her jutted lower lip. "Not just yet; we've got about thirty minutes. Last night your sister had a run in with Rebekah and Elijah. She wants to meet with Stefan and me to discuss our Original issues in half an hour. I thought you might want to be included."
"How considerate of you," she mumbled, "but staying asleep seems like a really appealing option."
He chuckled lowly as he nuzzled her jawline, "I think I can make waking up seem pretty appealing."
Addie fought back a grin; determined not to seem to eager. She felt a slight warmth from his body as his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. He must have had coffee. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, the edge of her lips and then his mouth was on hers. Her head tilted back to fully accept him, and her lips parted softly, her response slow and tender. Damon explored her mouth in the same manner, taking his time about it. It was not a kiss of heated passion or lust but a lazy one that spoke of comfort, love, and security. The hand splayed across her back gently pushed, arching her to him. Addie could feel the smirk at his lips when a quiver ran along her body at the sweet pleasure of feel her chest pressed to his.
Her hands traveled up his toned biceps, slipping under the sleeves of his shirt. She inhaled sharply as his lips moved to other places: the mall hollow below her ear, the length of her neck, the sensitive hollow above her fragile collarbone. Slowly Addie grip on his arms released and her own twined around his shoulder as one hand buried in his silky, dark hair. Addie moaned softly as he nipped where her neck and shoulder met.
"Shh," he hushed, gently pulling her earlobe between his teeth. "Stefan's already here."
At that she jerked away from him and hissed, "And you thought it would be a good idea to make out where your brother could overhear?"
"Well… I didn't really consider it because I don't really care," Damon admitted quickly. "You're the one who cares about that."
"What about the fact that we're supposed to be broken up?"
"I've been thinking about that. I say we stop hiding," he sighed, rolling away from her. Damon was tired of Stefan being an asshole because he thought there was something going on between himself and Elena. And he was definitely wanted Elena to start giving him some space before his girlfriend started getting jealous.
"No," Addie said firmly, "As long as Klaus is a threat he will be willing to exploit any relationship between us to control either one of us. He knows I'm your weakness. He knows you're one of mine."
Damon scowled, "And if he already knows that, what's the point in trying to make him think otherwise?"
"I don't want him knowing just how much of a weakness you are for me. The less of a weakness you are the less danger you are in."
"Fine. Whatever," he grumbled.
"Hey," she said gently, cupping his cheek and turning his head to face her. "Don't be like that, ok?"
He gave her a halfhearted grin as he pulled her hand away and gently squeezed it. Sitting up he said, "I'll see you downstairs, alright?"
"You're leaving annoyed," Addie stated, propping herself up on her elbows and forearms.
He shook his head slowly as his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Not annoyed, per se. I'm just tired of drama."
"You do realize you are one of the most melodramatic people I have ever met?" she quipped back, a smile toying at her lips.
"It's entertaining when I cause it. Klaus' drama is like a really crappy three hour foreign film with subtitles, bad acting, and awful cinematography."
"I'll take no drama from both of you, thanks."
Grinning slyly Damon caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and slowly lowered his head towards hers. The tips of their noses brushed as he promised, "I'm going to get rid of the Klaus drama, Ads." She looked so incredibly soft and sleepy, her defenses down. He tilted her chin up and lightly brushed his lips against hers. Pulling away slowly he teased, "You know part of why you love me is because of our drama, though."
"You know, you're a glib, arrogant dick," she retorted, pulling away from his touch.
He snickered, "I love you too." The bed shifted again as he got up to leave. As he opened the window he looked over his shoulder and hoped, "Just follow my act, alright? They don't need to know everything."
"My boyfriend, always working an angle," Addie sighed dramatically but nodded in agreement.
He gave her a grin before suddenly disappearing, the window closed behind him. A second later the doorbell rang. Deciding she didn't want to leave her sister with Damon for too long, even if Stefan was there to supervise, Addie quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth and threw on a clean pair of jeans paired with a white and green baseball tee and match Converse. The sound of voices and the smell of burnt toast led her to the kitchen where Stefan leaned next to the stove as Elena put a frying pan in the cupboard next to him while Damon sat perched on the island, tossing and catching an apple.
"Oh, good. You're up. I was about to come get you," Elena noted when she saw her little sister.
Feigning ignorance, in a dark and ominous tone Addie asked, "Why would you dare wake me from slumber and summon me?"
Elena rolled her eyes, ignoring the oddity that was her sister. "Bonnie opened the coffin. Long story short, it was their mother Esther who was sealed in it."
Stefan's eyebrows arched in surprise. "As in the Original Witch?"
"What?" Damon gawked in disbelief, as if Elijah hadn't already warned them that she was what was possibly in the box. "How is she even alive? Thought her hybrid freak show of a son ripped her heart out a thousand years ago."
Elena shrugged and carried on, informing them, "I don't know. I'm guessing she has a couple connections in the witching community. Elijah said that she wants to live in peace with her family."
"You know, dead things should just stay dead," Addie thought, leaning against the island.
Damon very gently threw the apple he was playing with at her head and quickly caught it as it bounced off.
"What the hell?" she snapped at him, rubbing at where the apple had struck. It didn't hurt but it was a shock.
"I was dead!" he exclaimed. "Sort of."
Addie snorted bitterly, "Perfect example of my point. Think of all the people that would have survived."
"I did the world the a favor by not allowing idiots to reproduce and populate the earth with even more idiots. Our planet is smarter because I'm a living dead," reasoned Damon.
"How are you not crushed by the weight of your ego?" she growled, her tone laced with annoyance.
He went back to tossing and catching the apple as he casually replied, "Super strength."
"Can't you two just get along?" Elena grumbled. "You're missing the point. Esther wants to live in peace with Klaus."
Of course. Addie couldn't resist rolling her eyes. She didn't get why everyone was so hell bent on killing Klaus. If it was a plausible, logical idea someone would have already killed him. He was just a bully; bullies could be handled without murder.
Stefan's jaw dropped as he shook his head in dismay. "She was supposed to be the weapon to help us kill Klaus."
"Well not anymore," Elena quipped before softening, "at least not according to Elijah."
"That coffin was the only thing stopping Klaus from tearing us to shreds," grimaced Stefan.
Slowly Addie backed away from the clique and tried to put as much of herself behind Damon as possible without being obvious. It was her fault they didn't have the coffins of Klaus and Elijah's brothers to hold over the hybrid.
Damon, who had stopped playing with the apple, scowled, "Anyone else feeling a little used right now?"
Instinctively Addie rubbed his back in a comforting manner. She hadn't even realized what she had done until she caught Damon's quizzical expression. Her hand moved away from him as swift as if he had burned her. Touching him was not being discreet. Luckily the quick exchange wasn't caught by Elena or Stefan.
"Look, Elijah promised me that his family wouldn't hurt any of us," placated Elena.
"And we're gonna trust the guy who already betrayed us once?" Addie snorted.
Defensively her sister bit back, "I believe him. Besides, we don't exactly have a choice. At least for now. We have no idea how to kill Klaus and with the Original Witch on his side…"
"We're fucked," Damon finished acrimoniously, his light, carefree manner vanished.
Bile rose in the back of Addie's throat at the sympathetic, doe-eyed look Elena gave him. It was a small comfort to know that Damon didn't enjoy or want people's sympathy. Addie shifted uncomfortably in the suddenly tense, ominous mood. A wave of relief washed over her when the doorbell rang. However, Elena was already halfway to the door by the time she had turned to answer it. Still, ever so nosy, Damon and Stefan moved to the bottom of the stairs. Feeling obligated, Addie followed.
It was easy to see that nobody was there when the door opened but Elena bent down and picked something off the ground. She passed her little sister an envelope made of a thick, expensive parchment with Addison May Gilbert elegantly written on it. Elena held a similar envelope with her own name.
"What is it?" Damon asked curiously, peering over Addie's shoulder.
She shrugged in response but Elena broke the wax, red seal on the back and opened the envelope to reveal a sturdy, cardstock piece of paper. As she held it up to closer examine what it said, Addie saw a message scribbled on the back.
"It's an invitation. 'Please join the Mikaelson family this evening at seven o'clock for dancing, cocktails, and celebration,'" she read, the disbelief growing in her voice.
"Who the hell are the Mikaelsons?" Stefan demanded.
"The Original family," Addie explained as she allowed Damon to snatch away her own invitation to open it.
He scoffed as he looked it over, "It's bad enough they're moving into town. Now they want a housewarming gift?"
As much as she squinted, Addie couldn't read what was on the back so she told ELena, "Flip it over."
"A note?" she murmured, perplex. "'Elena, I think it's time that we finally meet. Esther.'"
"Sipping a cosmopolitan with the woman who tried to kill you? Sounds like a blast. You let me know how that turns out," Addie remarked dryly. It was unclear from her sister's expression if Elena had comprehended the slight bit of humor she'd infused.
Inconspicuously Damon slipped Addie's invitation back to her with the card turned over. Just like Elena she had a note. Although hers was unsigned, still, Addie recognized the cramped, slanted cursive. Addison, save a dance for me.
"You're not going," Damon stated unquestionably as the group moved back towards the living room. While his attention had been focused on Elena, Addie knew without a doubt his words were really meant for her.
"I don't know why anyone would even want to," she reassured him as the words ballroom attire jumped out at her. "A ball? As if the Founding Family soirees weren't hoity toity. Poofy dresses, makeup, heels and dancing?" She paused for dramatic effect before, as if in sudden realization, saying, "My God, it sounds like my worst nightmare personified. I'm sure you'll love it, Elena."
"You're not going. She's not going. No one is going to go deliver their on a silver platter to the Mikaelsons," Damon spat angrily.
Meekly Elena said, "If Esther wants to talk to me, maybe I should find out way."
It took all of Addie's self restraint not to laugh. If Elena planned on doing something Damon didn't her to do her argument needed to be a hell of a lot better.
"Well that's a dumb idea," he scoffed. "Like your sister said, she already tried to kill you once."
"No, Elena is right," Stefan interjected thoughtfully. "Bonnie was led to open that coffin for a reason. I think there is more to this than just some family reunion."
Damon's bright eyes turned dark as he glared at his brother. "Can we go back in time where the old Stefan cared if Elena lived or died?"
Stefan shrugged dismissively, "What for? It's your job now."
"Hey! Making sure I don't get killed is a full-time job that I already have him putting in overtime for. I might not be the doppelganger but you'd be surprise how often I tango with death. Between my homicidal history teacher, antagonizing psychotic serial killers, and the mere fact that I am related to Elena, it really is amazing that I am still alive at this point," Addie cut in, overly bright and bubbly when she saw the anger flicker in Damon's eyes. A small flame of pride lit in her when she saw the corners of his lip twitch once.
"Stefan has a point, Damon." Elena said, taking advantage of the moment of silence. "I should find out what she wants."
Addie rolled her deep blue eyes. That was hardly a convincing argument in Damon's book. If anything, it only made his resolve that Elena shouldn't go even stronger. Whatever Stefan said was a bad idea in Damon's book.
"You can't protect yourself," he objected.
"Ok, fine, then I'll go," solved Stefan.
"Nu-uh. You've pissed off enough Originals to last a lifetime. I'll go," decided Damon, snatching Elena's invitation from her.
"Hey!"
Harshly he snapped, "End of story."
Addie stared up at Damon's ceiling, once again reflecting on how it would be so easy to attach little glow-in-the-dark stars to it. She wondered if she'd ever be able to convince him to do that. He had previously objected because it apparently wasn't very impressive to girls but if he was only trying to impress her now, it was. Turning her head to Damon's nightstand she saw the photo he had framed, their kiss atop the Ferris wheel on their first real date, and smiled slightly. Had that really only been almost seven months ago? It felt like so much longer.
Besides the fact that everyone went nuts when it came to Klaus and that he was a horrible person, there was really only one reason she cared if they killed him: Damon's bed. As long as Klaus could get into the boardinghouse, Damon wasn't comfortable with Addie staying there. That meant she missed out on the wonder that was his ultra king sized feather bed which she imagined felt much like a cloud, if clouds were composed of a solid substance as opposed to water. She couldn't help but notice that the silky black bedding didn't smell like Damon anymore, just his laundry detergent. Although, there was a pillow on her bed that had a ginger, cloves, and sandalwood aroma.
A small curiosity settling in her, Addie went to Damon's closet as the sound of the shower drifted out of the bathroom; she wanted to see what he had picked out. The little message from Klaus on her invitation had left Damon really unsettled, though he wouldn't say it. They had planned on running their own marathon but he had done a complete 180 and insisted that he wanted to stay in, so they spent the day curled up in her bed watching his pick of old, black and white Cary Grant movies. The movies weren't bad but Damon's lips had been far more interesting. She could tell that he was bothered just through his kiss, though; the eagerness mixed with a sense of desperation, the way he held her tighter and closer than usual, it all conveyed his distress. When Damon asked if she would join him at the boardinghouse while he got ready for the ball, she hadn't put up a fight. Addie knew he had to be quite bothered by those few words if he felt she was safer with him, where Klaus could get in, than at home. His best thinking could be impaired by his anxiety and ego.
On the back of his closet door hung one of his classic black tuxedos with a white shirt and an undone, black bowtie. Sure, it was probably worth more than her car and it was nice but… it didn't look different from any other tux. Addie wander to the back of his enormous closet to where all his suits hung and began to pursue them. She liked the vest with light grey and a pattern of dark grey diamonds from one suit. Off of his tie rack she picked out an even lighter, solid grey tie.
Damon stuck his head out of the shower as he reached for his towel and glanced at the bed. "Ads?" he called out. He had told her not to move and she'd said she wouldn't. His heart began to race when she didn't respond. As Damon wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the shower he said louder, "Addie." As he strained for hearing, he thought he heard some rustling but he wasn't sure. Perhaps she had just gone downstairs. Quickly, he moved into his room and yelled, "Addison!"
"What?!" she demanded, suddenly emerging from the closet.
In a heartbeat he had her in a crushing hug. "Damn it, Ads," he muttered into her hair, holding her head against him. "I told you not to move."
"I went into the closet," she emphasized slowly, pushing his dripping body away. He was wetting her clothes and she didn't like that.
Damon sighed, shaking his head as he reluctantly pulled away, "I thought…."
Addie shifted guiltily; she hadn't wanted to scare him. She moved the vest and tie into the same hand so she could take one of his and gently squeeze it. "I know. I'm sorry."
"You're fine; that's all that really matters," he dismissed, not wanting to dwell on the horrible scenarios that had run through his mind. Looking for a distraction, he noticed her holding something. "What's that?" asked Damon.
"Your tux sucks. The bowtie makes you look like a dork. You need some color," she declared, holding up the gray garments.
Instead of responding immediately he stroked his chin in thought. Eventually he said, "That doesn't match."
Holding the tie against the vest it looked like it matched to Addie; they were both light grey. "Fine," she shrugged "look like a dorky penguin. I'm not being seen with you."
"That," he pointed to what she held, " matches but they don't match the cut of the tux." Damon took the vest by the hanger and held it up against the black suit that hung on the back of his open closet door. "Look. The suit is double breasted with a tight shawl collar. It almost entirely covers the vest," he explained, showing her what he meant by closing the jacket over the vest. "Come on," he said, heading into the closet.
Addie smacked her forehead with her hand and dragged it down her face slowly. She hadn't wanted a lesson in fashion. She should have just let him look like an idiot in his typical tuxedo. Reluctantly she joined him at the back of the closet as he browsed through various suits. He had to have twenty different black suits and she couldn't tell the difference. Nor did she really care.
"How wide's the tie?" murmured Damon as he pulled two suits off the rack.
"Skinny," she sighed.
He put one back and turned to Addie with a triumphant grin. "This matches."
"If you say so." She rolled her eyes but his grin was infectious.
"It look like the one on the door to you, doesn't it?" he chuckled.
Addie nodded as she watched a bead of water roll down his firm abs and onto the towel that hung precariously low on his hips. "Get dressed," she muttered distractedly, shoving the tie into his hand and going back into his room.
Damon emerged a few minutes later, the tie, done in a simple knot, tucked under his vest. The jacket he held over his shoulder by one hooked finger and strutted towards Addie as if he were walking a runway. His eyebrows waggled suggestively as she giggled.
"I always wondered when you would eventually come out of the closet."
He smirked wickedly at her, his eyes alight with mischief as he stalked towards her. Her cheeks colored but he had to give her credit for not backing away. When Damon was close enough his free hand wrapped around her and pressed into the small of her back, making her slightly stumble into him. The jacket dropped to the floor as he used the crooked finger to tilt her chin up instead. It was an admirably restrained kissed considering his jovial mood, but it lingered, and he opened his lips over hers. Automatically Addie parted her own to adjust the fit. The mint of his toothpaste filled her mouth, his lips firm and warm. Pleasure rose in her, and for a moment she melted against him, her arms twining around his neck.
His strong hands rubbed up her back in a long, slow sweep. It was meant to be a simple kiss but the taste of her had gone to his head like a potent wine. He growled softly as she pulled his bottom lip between hers. Addie let him guide her until her back was pressed against the wall; it didn't matter as long as she had control of this kiss. Of course he was never very good at relinquishing power for very long. Under her shirt he skimmed his fingers up her sides, over her ribs and back down, the ticklish feeling distracting her as they fought for dominance. Her hands slipped into his hair and Addie broke away from the kiss, giggling.
"I hardly see what's funny," Damon murmured. He nipped softly at the skin she had exposed just below her ear.
"Your hair's still wet."
"Good, means I won't have a problem styling it," he said, pressing soft kiss along her neck. He shook his head, making his hair brush against her jaw and cheek.
"Hey!" she chastised, softly tugging at the strands.
He snickered, "I'd let you do it but I actually want to look good."
"That kiss was some seriously impressive acting," Addie quipped.
Damon laughed lowly and pressed his hips forward slightly, making her gasp softly. "I don't think there's any question of my sexually." He swiftly kissed her on the lips and moved into the bathroom. From there he called, "I'll drop you off at home on my way out, ok?"
Addie shook her head in exasperation. "We took my car here; that would mean leaving it here. I'd rather not do that."
"And I'd rather escort you home."
"Oh, my dark knight ever to the rescue," she said wearily. His protectiveness could border on suffocating. "It's less than a five minute drive. I'll be fine."
"You don't know that. You can't predict the future," he argued.
"It is 99.99% likely I will be fine."
"And I'd rather it be a 100% certainty that you will be."
She scoffed as she flopped onto his bed. His ego could be so annoying. "You do realize if Klaus tries something he will just simply kill you to get to me?"
"I stall him long enough for you to get away. We've been over this," Damon grumbled testily.
Addie grabbed one of his pillows and crushed it against her face. He was insufferable. "Klaus doesn't want me dead. You are alive because he's permitted it. Damon, I don't want him killing you."
The sound of the blow dryer was the only response she got. The keys on the dresser were quite tempting. Though, Damon would probably have a heart attack if he came out of the bathroom and saw she wasn't there again. A few minutes later the pillow was pulled from her face.
"How do I look?" Damon asked, grinning at her.
She could see how the tuxedo jacket he had picked out was different. It only had a single button and it covered a lot less of the vest. He looked smart, handsome.
"Passable," she shrugged. His ego didn't need any stroking.
"I know," he smirked, grabbing one of her hands and pulling her off the bed. A pained looked over took him as he said, "I'll follow you home, ok?"
"Alright," she conceded.
Addie was less than surprised to find her sister primping in front of the bathroom sporting a big, poofy ball gown. Of course Elena would just happen to have a ball gown in her closet.
"Damon's going to stop you, ya' know," Addie remarked as she leaned on the door frame.
"He wouldn't be Damon if he didn't," Elena remarked as she carefully applied mascara. "It's interesting how… passionate he gets. That's why I'll have Stefan with me."
It was most certainly not interesting how passionate Damon became when it came to Elena's safety. If she didn't want him risking his life for her own safety, Addie definitely didn't want him running into danger because Elena wanted to be stupid. She was half tempted to exactly what her sister and Stefan planned on doing but she was already going to be worrying about Damon.
"Yeah, Damon's a really interesting fella," she grumbled. "Well," she inhaled deeply as she pushed herself off the wall, "you have a grand time at the ball, Cinderella. Damon turns back into a dick and Stefan back into...whatever emotionally screwed up thing he is at the stroke of midnight."
"You really aren't going?"
Addie's lips pursed and face scrunched up as she pretended to think very hard, "No, no, I don't think so. Binge watching CSI on Netflix sounds a lot more enjoyable."
A night of problems solved with science instead of insane, supernatural messes was much more her cup of tea. The second episode was halfway done when the doorbell rang. Huffing in annoyance, Addie set aside her laptop and went downstairs to answer the door. For the second time that day there was no one there but something was left behind, this time a large white box with a big red ribbon. It was heavier than she expected; then again she had no idea what it was. She had just set it on the coffee table when her phone began to ring.
With a quick look at the caller ID she rolled her eyes and picked up, "Is it a bomb?"
"No. If I wanted to see you in a million pieces, I'd rip you into them myself," a voice chuckled.
"What is it?"
"If I told you, that would defeat the point of wrapping it."
Flatly she replied, "A bow does not constitute wrapping."
Addie could he the smile in Klaus' voice as he countered, "The bow wraps around the box, doesn't it?"
"Smart ass."
"From one to another," Klaus replied cheekily. "Open it."
She tugged off the ribbon and lifted the lid. "Ummm," Addie stalled as used her shoulder to keep her cellphone pressed to her ear. Handling like a used tissue she picked up a long, strapless champagne dress with a gold sequined bust and a sweetheart neckline. The floor length bottom wasn't exactly poofy but the base layer of satin was cover by sever more of chiffon. It was all the weight of the sequins and skirt that had made a simple, elegant gown so heavy. Into the phone she uttered in disbelief, "What the hell is this?"
"I noticed you're missing my party. Again. I thought Damon might have drugged you again to keep you out of his latest scheme. If history were to repeat itself and you came to foil it again, the dress code is a bit more formal than homecoming. While your sister might keep an emergency ball gown in her closet, I know you don't. So, if you were to be a party crasher, I wanted you to be dressed appropriately," he explained matter-of-factly.
Defensively she sneered, "Damon didn't drug me."
"Then I suppose I won't kill him for that. No doubt I could come up with a thousand other valid reasons based on tonight's transgressions," Klaus remarked casually. There was nothing subtle about his threat.
"Leave him alone, Klaus."
He took a loud breath and exhaled dramatically, "This party is just so boring though. I could do with a rousing murder to liven it up."
"He's not there to mess with you. Just leave him alone," she hissed.
"Oh, I know. Damon's sole focus is your sister. It's like watching a game of tug-of-war between him and Stefan," he said, baiting her. "I think your sister enjoys having both of their attention just as much as Katherine did."
"Well, my sister always was an attention whore," Addie muttered as she placed the dress back into the box. She wasn't going to let Klaus get under her skin. However, she wasn't in the mood to play his games. "What do you want, Klaus?"
"You. At my party."
"Why?"
His response was hesitant and puzzled sounding, "Because I do?"
She couldn't help but scoff. It amazed her how self-centered and childish centuries old vampires could be. He sounded exactly like Damon when Addie asked why they always had to do things his way. "Well, you can't always get what you want."
"Yes I can. As long as you still care about people, which you always will because that's just who you are, I will always get what I want."
"Is that a threat?" she challenged.
Klaus laughed, "No, Addison, it's a fact. My party is quite boring. I think your presence will make things much more exciting. So, put on the dress and come. Or do you want a say in who I kill tonight?"
"I would but I don't have any shoes to match such a dress. Sorry," she quipped back unapologetically.
"Nice try. Rebekah informed me that she forced you to buy some strappy gold Saint Laurent stilettos in London that will match it perfectly."
Addie winced at the memory of the $800 shoes she eventually bought just to shut Rebekah up. As Addie had argued then, she had absolutely nothing to wear them with. "Those are trophy shoes. You know, for display purposes only."
"Council member, loved one, or should I just play eenie-meanie-minie-mo?" he contemplated.
"Didn't your mother say she wanted to live in peace?"
"You have thirty minutes before I choose someone."
"That's not even enough time to get ready!" Addie protested.
"Nonsense. That's plenty enough time to change clothes and drive over. I'm not asking you to play dress up, Addison, just to put one on. Clock starts now."
The Mikaelson's manor made every house in town seem minuscule, even the Lockwood mansion. There were rows and rows of car but no one seemed to be lingering outside. It was a chilly night, though. Addie's hand reached for the door handle but she gasped in shock when her hand closed around air.
"Twenty-eight minutes. I don't know if I'm more excited that or if I was more excited at the prospect of killing the mayor," Klaus reflected as he held open a door, offering a hand to help her out of the lifted Jeep.
Addie bunched the excess of the pale gold gown in one hand and took the one offered with the other. It was a lot more difficult getting in and out of the Jeep in five inch heels compared to sneakers. As she carefully watched her footing she wondered, "Why the mayor?"
He shrugged, "I don't know. I figured if I wasn't going to kill someone you loved then I might as well make a statement."
"You don't always have to resort to murder, you know," she observed as she straightened out the length of the dress and pulled up the top. Strapless and plunging necklines weren't exactly something she felt comfortable in.
"How else am I supposed to get you to do what I want?" he asked, genuinely perplexed at the idea. Before shutting the door he grabbed Addie's cell and keys off the seat and slipped them into his pocket.
"Well, most people try please and thank you."
"You're not most people, though," Klaus countered.
She laughed as she took the arm he offered, "No, I don't imagine you send extravagant gowns in the middle of your party to most people."
"I anticipated you not coming."
"No," Addie drew out slowly, carefully watching her steps. "These shindigs are much more my sister's type of thing."
"She does seem to be enjoying herself," he told her.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. His tone was so implicative of Elena doing something wrong. However, it was so obvious that he wanted Addie to ask what that she refused to give him that pleasure. Whatever he knew or thought he knew or would say without any basis of knowledge would probably just be meant to stir up trouble. Instead she chose to turn the situation back around on him.
"And you?" she asked. "Are you enjoying the evening?"
"More so now that you're here," he admitted as he lead her towards the house.
Addie hummed thoughtfully at this. "Why did you want me here?"
"I knew you'd look gorgeous in the dress, which you do, in case you aren't aware."
"That's not a reason."
"I was bored?"
"Is that a question?"
Klaus brow furrowed as he held open the door for her, "I feel like this is a trap."
"You're the evil one. I'm the one probably walking into a trap," she mumbled, intimidated by the swell of people in the lavish manor. They were all so fancy. A guy might have a tux, or in Damon's case 20, lying around at last minute notice but did normal woman actually keep spare, perfectly tailored gowns worthy of the red carpet tucked away in their closet for a rainy day?
He gave her a small, rare, genuine smile. "No tricks. No traps. No games."
"And no dancing," Addie tacked on. It was a miracle she could walk in the heels. She wasn't going to tempt fate with dancing, not that she even wanted to.
"Fine but only because had planned on you being my partner for the traditional commencement waltz but you already missed that. Caroline proved herself to be an appropriate substitution," agreed Klaus.
She snorted humorlessly, content to let him lead her out of the crowded main room. "I don't think Damon would have approved of that."
"I don't see why not. He looked more than pleased to dance with Elena," Klaus remarked off-handedly. "Besides, don't you get a kick from doing whatever he disapproves of?"
"No. Well, sorta. Definitely not when it could possibly result in a bloodbath, though," she answered defensively.
Klaus laughed, "A bloodbath? Do you really think we couldn't sort out the simple arrangement of a dance like gentlemen?"
"That's cute," she teased, patting his arm condescendingly. "While you both have the capacity to show me what amazingly gentlemen you can be, neither one of you is capable of treating the other as such. Damon's very territorial, particularly when it comes to you. You don't know how to deal with not getting everything you want."
"Damon doesn't hold any right to be territorial over you anymore," Klaus reminded her as he showed her into the gallery. Flicking on the lights, he wondered why he was showing his studio to her. When he had shown Caroline it had been because he had been trying to impress her, trying to drive wedge between her and his first hybrid. The boy was too focused on the girl.
Addie, on the other, he had no reason to try and impress her. His relationship with her was very difficult to handle. He didn't know why her opinion mattered; it just did. He did know she would judge him solely on his actions. It was why he always threatened to harm people she cared about. If she ever actually forced him into carrying those threats she'd never forgive him plus keeping her around and getting her to cooperate for when he actually wanted to use her would be almost impossible. It could get rather frustrating that she didn't just respect him out of fear. He could never tell if she actually hated him, though.
Addie rolled her eyes and frankly stated, "You know, it's that kind of ass-backwards thinking that has you and Damon so screwed up. Or at least a part of it."
"Excuse me?" he gaped.
"You guys are so…," she looked around at the marvelous paintings as she searched for the right word, "possessive. You two are Neanderthals for even thinking he ever had any right to be territorial to begin with, dating or not. Girls, people, aren't fire hydrants for you to piss on and mark as yours!"
"Classy," Klaus smirked.
"Don't let the dress fool you," Addie retorted, pointing a warning finger at him. "What's the whole point of this impromptu gala?"
He sighed loudly as he took her hand in his. "Walk with me," he said, leading her further into his, particularly towards a geometrical abstract
"We've been walking. I want to know what this is all about."
Klaus studied the bright primary colors on the canvases as he debated on how much to reveal. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?"
She snorted, "The fact that you even need to ask that should give you your answer."
It was worth a shot.
"My mother has always leaned towards the dramatic side. Suppose she wanted to bring around the whole town to witness the family reunion," Klaus shrugged, taking her to the next painting. It was a very pretty painting, full of dark blues used to paint the starry night sky over the calm seashore.
Addie looked up into his face with concern. He had almost sounded nervous. Her stomach knotting, she realized, "You don't believe that."
His eyes met hers, wide with fear. Klaus squeezed her hand reassuringly but admitted, "No. My mother hates what I am. She bound me with the curse when my nature was discovered. She rigged the curse so that if I ever did manage to break it, I couldn't create more of my kind. Then, when I did break free she tried to stop me twice from making more hybrids once it was revealed the doppelganger was alive. from the other side, no less. I'm certain she's plotting something against me but I don't know what. The question is whether she means to kill me or simply prevent me from turning anyone else."
"You mean killing Elena," surmised Addie. He nodded. Softly she asked, "Should I be worried?"
"No," he grinned at her lazily as he interlaced their fingers, "you don't need to worry, Addison. I'll be fine."
She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. "That's, um, that takes a load off my mind. But, uh, I was actually referring to my sister. Should I be worried about Elena?" Addie clarified, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Of course not. Between Stefan, Damon and myself, you wouldn't find a person better protected," he promised.
"Stefan says it's not his job to worry about Elena anymore," she said, running her hand through her hair.
"Stefan is an emotional mess. He doesn't mean the vast majority of what he says," Klaus replied callously.
Addie scoffed, backing away from Klaus as million thoughts collided. It was entirely his fault Stefan's emotions had been scrambled like an egg. How were the suppose to figure out what Stefan meant and he didn't mean? Was he actually going to protect Elena? Why was Klaus holding her hand? Why were they in an art gallery staring at paintings? Why was she just standing around talking to him? Where was Damon? What did Elena and Stefan have planned? The whole situation was just aggravating. And if Klaus was concerned about the Original Witch, did that mean they should be thrilled or terrified?
It felt as if her heart had accelerated while the rest of her body and even time seemed to slow down. Her hands, suddenly clammy, traveled through her hair out of habit. Her throat constricted and her eyes burned as she tried to figure out how she had so quickly felt like she spiraling down a dark tunnel with no sense of control. Addie wanted to talk to Damon. Addie needed to talk to Damon. He would make sense of everything and if he couldn't, then at least she'd feel safe in his embrace.
"Thank you for the invitation and the dress but I can't do this," Addie excused herself, swiftly walking towards the door.
She wasn't certain where she was going as her heels clacked loudly against the marbled floor. At first she headed towards the low rumble from the party but it was just so much, too much. A crowd of people was not what she wanted to deal with. Searching for some place quieter, she turned down a hall.
"Addison!" Klaus breathed quietly, suddenly falling in step with her.
Addie shook her head and continued down the hall, despite it's obvious dead end. There was an open door on the right hand side and inside she could see a shelf of books from floor to ceiling. That's where she would go; the quiet recluse of a study or a library was just the type of place she needed.
Klaus arm shot out in front of her as she came within a few feet of the open door. Quietly he hissed, "Addie, stop!"
It wasn't the physical barrier he posed that made her come to a halting stop but how he had actually called her by her name, her preferred name, for the very first time.
She looked at him curiously but he only held his finger to his lips.
"Did you get what you want?" Damon's voice carried through the open door, sour and acidic.
Perhaps she didn't want to talk to him if he was so cantankerous.
"Actually, yes," Elena answered smartly.
Right. Elena had planned something with Stefan so she could circumvent Damon and talk to Esther. Small wonder he was pissed.
"Good, tell me on the ride home. We're leaving. Come on," he ordered in his bossiest of tones.
Addie pushed Klaus' arm out of the way and moved to the doorway. Damon would be furious that she was at the party but he definitely would not leave without her and she wanted to leave. Inside Addie could see Damon held Elena by the upper arm.
"Uh, no. Damon, let go of me," Elena said firmly, jerking out of his grasp. "Look, I'm sorry that I had to cut you out of the plan."
He threw his hands up in exasperation and growled, "There shouldn't have been a plan. You shouldn't be here!"
"Do you think I like going behind your back? I don't. But if I hadn't asked Stefan to help then you would've tried to be the hero and it would've ruined everything," stressed Elena.
Addie's lips pursed in thought. She didn't like seeing her sister fight with Damon, though she wasn't particularly fond of seeing them get along either. Elena had a point; Damon would have done anything to keep Elena from speaking with Esther. If the Original Witch spooked Klaus, they needed to gather as much information about her as possible, which meant Elena needed to meet with her. But to Damon's credit, Esther had already tried to kill Elena and they had no evidence that she wasn't going to do that in their meeting.
Despite the distance between them and only seeing his profile, Addie knew Damon was rolling his eyes just by his sardonic tone. "Sorry for trying to keep you alive. Clearly Stefan doesn't give a crap anymore."
Elena scoffed and shook her head. "Now you're mad at me for including Stefan?"
"No. I'm mad at you because I love you!" Damon snapped unthinkingly.
A/N: *Sigh* These characters...
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