September, 1910

Their first date had been a disaster so far.

Dancing seemed like a good idea in theory, something romantic that meant close proximity and music. Bea had not factored in her lack of balance and coordination. After what must have been the twentieth time she lurched the wrong way and tangled up their legs, Kol had carefully suggested that they call it quits on the dance floor.

Now they were walking back to her home, as he had insisted he accompany her. The silence was uncomfortable, and Bea was internally cringing. Months – literal months! – of build up, and it seemed like she and Kol weren't meant to be anything more than friends. Even that might be ruined now because of her stupid impulse to ask him out on a date.

They reached her door quickly. It seemed like both of them were itching for this night to end because they nearly simultaneously blurted out,

"Well it's been fun –"

"I think I'll be going to bed now –"

And once again: silence.

With more anger than she really should have, Bea shoved her keys into the front door of her apartment building before swinging the door open harshly.

The door, however, was stopped by Kol's face.

"Fucking shit!"

Although truth be told with all of the blood gushing down his face it came out a bit more like "Fudding shid".

Panicking at the sight of her friend's bleeding nose, Bea grasped his arm and pulled him inside, rushing into her apartment and dragging him through the door and into her bathroom.

"Oh god, I am so sorry, don't panic! I didn't mean to, je suis désolé! I mean I was upset – no, not at you! Just how the night went, dancing and not-dancing and putain de merde I am not upset enough to purposely break your face!"

By the time she had made him sit down on the edge of the bathtub, she saw an enormous grin on his face. He looked entirely too amused for someone whose nose had just become very well acquainted with a door.

"Breathe, darling."

After a moment she turned back to him from where she had been standing by the sink after reaching into the cabinet to find the first aid kit she was sure she had seen a little while ago. Somehow Kol had already mopped up the blood with the toilet paper beside him. He stood and lifted the toilet seat, dropping in the bloodied paper and flushed. His nose had already stopped bleeding, but she was sure it had been broken…

"How did it – "

Suddenly he was in front of her. She jolted backwards out of instinct at seeing him move so fast. Before she could react he gently held her face and met her eyes.

"We went dancing tonight. You weren't great but I taught you and you got a bit better. I was an ass because I was jealous of the other men looking at you, and you told me off viciously in French. We had fun. You brought me back here to drink some iced tea, and now we'll do whatever you want."

Bea smiled at Kol, feeling a little bit shy. The night had gone so well so far, and she didn't want it to end just yet. Leading him into the kitchen she turned to look at what she had in her apartment at the moment before looking back at him.

"I've got the usual: iced tea, juice, spirits, maybe a combination of sorts. What would you like?"

He smirked at her in a way that made her want to blush and he walked slowly toward her. Enfer, he made her feel like prey sometimes. She was pressed with her back against the counter as he came within inches of her body and leaned over her. Coming even closer, he tilted his head down to meet her much-shorter height.

His lips nearly touched her ear and made her shiver before he whispered, "I'll have the usual."

He stepped back suddenly and Bea realized in his absence that she had begun pursing her lips slightly. What –

In his hand was her bottle of whiskey. She hadn't even notices he had been reaching behind her.

"Oh my god, you complete jerk!"

Kol laughed loudly and dodged the dish towel she threw angrily in his direction but thankfully caught the teacup that followed it.

"Oi! Are you trying to kill me?"

Crossing her arms Bea huffed loudly. She did not enjoy feeling foolish, and he rarely directed his mocking at her so she especially felt its sting.

"Maybe only maim a bit. That was pas été agréable, Kol."

He raised an eyebrow at that and said incredulously, "Have I ever claimed to be 'agréable'?"

Deciding it wasn't worth a spat she followed him to her table after grabbing two glasses as well as some juice, muttering under her breath, "Don't know why I like you so much anyway."

He seemed especially upbeat as he poured his drink and then hers making it just the way she liked it. When she had sat down beside him she relaxed. This was something she was used to – just the two of them lazing about her apartment, drinking and talking.

"So where did you learn to dance?"

Kol smirked a bit and answered, "My brothers were all about pageantry. Thought that we should act as refined as our wealth allowed us. So obviously dancing was a part of that."

"You're taking about Nik, right? He completely seems the type to want to flaunt what he has."

Laughing loudly, he looked positively gleeful with her assumption and said, "Right you are. 'Lijah didn't exactly mind though. And Bekah has always been a bit of a princess."

Bea rolled her eyes and interrupted, "Oh shush, you. You know she's your favorite."

He looked a bit taken aback, surprised clearly by what she'd said. "And what makes you say that?"

Embarrassed now at having to admit how closely she watched him, she shrugged and said, "Well whenever you talk about her you start to look fond. Just a tiny bit though, don't worry, your manliness and indifferent persona are fully intact."

"Well that's a relief. Wouldn't want anyone thinking I'd gone soft. I'd have to rip off a few heads to prove them wrong."

A little voice in the back of her head whispered, you know he isn't joking.

But instead of addressing his answer she brought the conversation back to the subject. A little bit wistfully she said, "My mother was a French ballerina. I have no idea where that grace went wrong in me. I always thought Marie must have leached it away before I was born." Laughing a bit to herself, she turned and saw Kol looking at her with a slight smile.

He leaned across the table and before she could ask what he was doing, he kissed her.

Just like that.

His mouth was soft and she could taste the burn of whiskey on his lips, pressed against hers for only a few short seconds. His hand had come up to cup the back of her neck, and when he pulled away his fingers lingered on her skin.

"I think you turned out just fine."

His quiet voice made her eyes open again – when had she closed them in the first place? – and smile widely, knowing she probably looked like a loon with all of her teeth showing.

"Just fine? Really? You couldn't come up with something better?"

They both leaned back and returned to drinking, but she tipped her chin at him and gave an expectant expression, making it clear that she was expecting an answer. So maybe she was insecure about their relationship, sue her.

"Alright then, I'll give you my best work.

Light of my life, Irish rose of my dawn, my strawberry blonde not-so-sweet Beatrix, your lips taste like sin and sanctuary."

And oh. An unfamiliar warmth made her entire body feel tense in the best of ways, like electricity. He was entirely improper. And it was amazing. This was their first date. And Kol had been with so many people from what it sounded like. She didn't want him to think she was just another one of the girls he could throw away…

But she leaned across the table and kissed him again, this time allowing her lips to part just slightly before pulling back.

"Well, Mikaelson, it seems that you're all sin."