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justfangstvdto · 11 months

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The first bit made me laugh so hard honestly lol

And yeah the confusing and angry feelings she´s faced with definitely don´t sort themselves out that quickly. But Kol is a patient person, at least in this version of mine he is. The Mikaelson men are usually not known for their patience lol

And also thank you for still reading it as always! <3

Open Coffin 2 | Chapter 09 “Between Familiarity and Change"

Chapter warnings: typical tvd/to violence (this time only emotional lol), angst, a lot of dialogue, hurt puppy eyes from Kol.. ouch

Word count: 4640

Tags & Author Note at the bottom. Feedback is my lifeblood and keeps the writing coming (eventually…lol)

Open Coffin 2 Masterlist

The dreamlike state you awoke in was far from the pleasantries one hopes for during sleep. A second ago you felt the asphalt on your skin, dropping like a stone, now you stood in a room with no view beyond its rugged, wooden walls. Animal heads were mounted on four pillars in the middle of the room encasing a circle. The room had a hazy view around the edges as if the world beyond its walls was nonexistent.

You knew exactly what this place was, yet you have never seen it executed. A Chambre de Chaussee. A magically constructed place to trap the minds with no time and space beyond its walls. And unfortunately, you weren't alone in this dreamscape.

"Unsettling is it not? To be swept away into this…monstrosity." Klaus spoke from the other side of the room, stepping out under the Wolf figure hung above his head. When he turned to take in your still blood-soaked clothing he had an amused grin on his face.

"Well, don't you look like the poster child of murder and mayhem?" He snickered.

With a smile saturated in sarcasm, you stepped closer, and with each step, the hatred grew. He left you there in the cemetery after he swore to do the complete opposite. You reached him and punched him square in his self-righteous face without hesitation, knowing you'd feel the same pain inflicted due to still being linked to him.

"I'll give you that one." He said, cleaning the blood trickling from his nose with the back of his hand. You did the same as the linking was still intact.

"You left me there." Your voice was low, edging into a growl. "At the cemetery. You just disappeared."

He roamed your features for a moment, seemingly taken aback for a second, before his face hardened "No hard feelings, sweetheart. Business is business."

"Business, huh? You said you get me out of there and I was stupid enough to believe you."

"Need I remind you, it was you who put my brother in danger!" He was seething, the usual Klaus showing his face again.

"And it was me getting him out of it, despite knowing better!! How many times do I have to help, for you to let me off the hook?"

"Perhaps there isn't a way for you to get off the hook!"

"I should just-"

"What hurts me hurts you, love. Have at it." He smirked, ready for a fight if you wished for it.

"Children, please." Elijah cut in, stepping out from behind his pillar. His timing was impeccable as always, which was a step up from the dishevelled state he was in. No suit, no clean-cut beard. They - his own family no less- sure did a number on him.

"You of all people should know what it's like in there with these two lunatics," you said to him, mirroring the dimmed look he sported. In a way, this version of Elijah felt more real than the suit. Maybe it's like a snake shedding its skin.

"Lunatic, my my" Finn appeared strutting through the wooden door at the helm of the room "You wound me."

You involuntarily jumped upon hearing his voice, your body's natural response winning over your resolve, much to your dismay.

Of course, Finn saw it too.

"No need to be afraid." He said etching away at your confidence with the way he enjoyed evoking fear. If asked he would still pretend that was the case.

"The last time I saw you, you cut me open with a butcher knife." And bled you out like a slaughtered animal, only to do it again the next day. Not to mention Esther's mental torture.

"If you would've simply cooperated, I would've not resorted to measures quite like it." He shrugged.

"It was all for nothing anyway. You didn't find out what these two are hiding." You looked at Klaus and Elijah, making sure not to linger each too long to not raise suspicion. You hoped they'd realize what he was trying to do. At least by speaking it out loud now you have beaten Finn to the punch.

"However big or small. " You made eye contact with Klaus this time, pronouncing the word small with extra meanings, and you saw he understood "This secret is no concern of yours. And I intend to keep it that way."

Finn contemplated your answer and was ready to speak when Elijah stepped further into the circle.

"Brother." He forced a welcoming smile "Why have you brought us here?"

"Brother." Finn let out a huff "You cannot even hide your disdain addressing me as such!" His outburst would have been somewhat comical, if not for the fact he collected himself as quickly as he lost his temper.

The brothers resorted to a back-and-forth of interrogation and slide comments, all incredibly uninteresting to you. You've heard it all before. Instead of watching them, you took the time to look at the animal heads more closely. Representational magic was a fickle thing. One misrepresentation and the entire room ceases to exist. Finn had to have made a mistake somewhere, you were sure of it.

He chose a wolf and stag for Klaus and Elijah respectively, but your totem coaxed a chuckle out of you. The animal's proportions were off by a lot, but it made it all the more imposing. The black shell had a sheen to it as it hung there flat above you almost life-like. Only its sting was curved towards you, threatening its poisonous power to whoever was the beholder.

"The Fox and the Scorpion? Very funny." You chuckled, pointing at the scorpion and the fox totem on the other pillar next to it. Why did he have a fox totem if Kol was not even remotely close to being here?

Nevertheless, it was a fitting display even if it was a bit on the nose. You had not pegged Finn for a moral story kind of person. "You know I always thought the frog and the scorpion made more sense. The fox wouldn't be dumb enough to trust the scorpion."

Finn laughed at that, apparently having some sort of inside joke with himself. "Interesting analysis. Does that mean everyone is a fool if they trust you? Even with their life?"

"I think you and I both know the answer to that."

"Indeed. Your nature is irreversible, just like the Scorpion. And your sting drowned the fox simply by existing. Or perhaps that's not true? Perhaps the fox has risen from the ashes, taking on another form."

Finn's gaze shifted to his left, towards the fox pillar.

"Why don't you tell her, Kaleb." His insinuation was clear and it was absurd. Even as Kaleb stepped out of the shadows and looked back at the fox totem above him, you denied it.

"You're full of shit. First, you torture me and now this? You really want to make an enemy out of me, don't you?"

"I wouldn't dare." Finn smirked, gave a pause, then turned to Kaleb "Come on now, brother. Tell the truth for once."

Kaleb wouldn't meet your eye or anyone else's as he stood there. When he finally did look at you, you saw him. Saw him and it was as if the world was imploding in on itself.

"Darling, I-" He stepped closer, frantically trying to soften the blow. Which, of course, came too late to make any impact.

You backed away and raised your trembling hand, keeping him away from you. "No."

He hesitated but stepped back, his usually tall frame sunken with defeat. Yet he was still measuring your reaction with interest, hoping he might find the right words to say. To somehow explain weeks of hiding who he truly was. But Finn interrupted before he could think of the next step.

"Well, that settles it for your portion of today's affairs." He said. "We have family business to discuss. No hard feelings" He added, snapping his fingers. All faded to black once more before you could say a thing.

------------

The church doors opened with a loaded crack as the wood hammered into the stone wall behind it. Kaleb / Kol was still unconscious as you approached the altar, still stuck in Finn's concoction.

All of this had to be a cruel joke, something to coax an unkind response out of you. To what end you were not sure, but staring into the possibility that he had lied for weeks was worse than anything Finn could have orchestrated. Surely it was only a ploy for manipulation. It had to be.

You sat there on the church steps for a few minutes contemplating what you could possibly say to him. This wasn't supposed to be the reunion you both deserved. It was supposed to be as grounding as the last piece placed in the puzzle - a victory after failing for so long. But perhaps that feeling of victory was never achievable, to begin with. Perhaps it was meant to be a fairy tale among the harsh reality of existence.

Kaleb Kol stirred awake suddenly, sitting up with a start regaining focus. He found your eyes immediately and focused on you without a second to spare. A sheepish smile planted on his face, hopeful and freer now the cat was out of the bag. But there was fear in it too, fear of rejection, even remnants of the fear of being uncovered.

Seeing him sitting there you had no idea how the hell you didn't see Kol behind those eyes. The way they would glint with purpose once he spurred into action. The knowledge behind them went beyond the rage and scheming other people knew him for. It was beyond obvious now. The magnetic pull tugging you towards him was proof enough too.

"So it's true. It really is you. I'm such an idiot." You stated, trying to read the expression on his face as it sobered from hopeful into fear.

What did he expect? For you to run into his arms after he lied for weeks? That's all you wanted to do for years, and now it was finally here under the worst circumstances.

He swallowed, straightened up and stood, pacing the room in short strides. He was rattled to his core.

"I tried to tell you. And every time I did, it felt wrong." He said, trying to disguise the shaking in his voice "I thought it would be easier to start over. We could've gotten away, without my reputation attached, without my family sabotaging us."

"It's not that easy." You shook your head.

"Isn't it?" His focus flickered to your face briefly, before pacing once again "I know you're scared but-."

"I'm not scared I-"

"Of course you are!" He said, cringing at the way he raised his voice. He settled, and reached for your hand carefully "I was scared too, but I'm finished being scared. We could go right now. Leave all of this behind. Just you and me."

Suddenly, as if someone had placed a mirror between you, you saw yourself as he had at this moment. Covered in blood, dirt and dust-ridden skin. A far cry from your past self. How could he still want to keep going?

"It's not that easy. I'm not the same person. Not even close."

Slowly, without much pressure, Kol stepped closer and drew your hand up to his chest and over his heart. Beneath the skin, you could feel the beating of his heart, fast and fluttering like a drum.

"Nothing has changed for me. This heart might not be mine but it beats for you still. No matter what. Please tell me I haven't ruined us." His gaze was pleading and sincere as he held I to your hand for dear life.

It would be so easy to just give in. This was Kol, for god sakes! The one person you went to hell and back for was standing right in front of you. And yet he felt more like a ghost than a person.

And that was precisely the problem. He was the ghost you were supposed to be. This was always the plan. Get him back even if it takes you to your grave. But you weren't ready to tell him that. You were equally unready to see him standing before you, excusing all he had witnessed from the other side. He would forgive the most terrible sins if they were committed by your hand.

You shook your head, removing your hand from his grasp. Panic washed over his face and the hand still resting on yours clutched your skin tightly "I can't do this right now."

"Let's focus on dealing with Esther and Finn first. Then we can figure everything else out."

He looked defeated just then but nodded anyway. He knew the time was not right, even if his heart told him otherwise.

"I'm sorry. I know it's not what you wanted." You added, trying to console him.

"What I want is for you not to look at me the way you are now. Like you don't even see me."

Maybe because I don't even know who you are right now. That is what you should've said, instead, you muttered something about the work you both had to do.

----------

The walk to the compound was charged with silence and unsaid words. By now he usually would've made you laugh at least a dozen times, perhaps even dragged you into a jazz bar to dance. Now there was silence as you walked next to each other, hands itching to touch as they dragged on with movement.

It was unbearable.

The compound was a sight for sore eyes for once, now the objects of ease and not discomfort as it so often had been. The inside was still the same, except for the small table next to the staircase where Klaus was sitting and nursing a drink.

"You're here." He said without looking in your direction. He only looked up when you grabbed the second glass from the table next to him and filled it to the brim with bourbon.

"However small." You repeated the same phrase from earlier. "Your secret is safe. We're here to help you keep it that way."

"Despite us knowing better," Kol muttered from behind, leaning against the staircase railing.

Another drink made its way down your throat, all the while ignoring the quizzical look from Klaus which jumped between you and his brother.

"Let's get to work." You declared once the moment became unbearable. "How far away is the location?"

"Far enough," Klaus replied.

"Too far to drive in a day?" You asked, promptly receiving a nod. "Alright then. Warn anyone who's there right now. I'm sure Finn will figure it out in a few days. "

You stood up, slamming the glass down on the smooth table surface.

Klaus stood up too. "And where are you going?" he asked, a tinge of sourness in his voice.

"I need a goddamn shower. If you want to leave early, then go. I can catch up."

"Finn will recuperate after today's events. He will not retaliate. For now. We leave at first light."

"Sounds good." You agreed, ascending the stairs to finally wash all the blood, dirt and grime off. You felt Kol's eyes on you as you walked away, a longing stare that buried itself into your back with vigour.

Klaus noticed this and moved closer to him. "I advised you to tell her weeks ago, have I not? Now see what your lie has brought."

"Because you're the poster child of honesty." Kol snapped back, before letting out a frustrated sigh, "I tried not to be selfish and still I mess it up." Kol uttered, working his jaw loose with the self-hatred that seemingly had embedded itself into his gums.

"You died for her. You've become the least selfish of us all." Klaus laid a hand on his shoulder, forgetting the fight they had when they last spoke at the cabin. He gave Kol a nod, trying to convey that things will look up again soon. He then fishes out a pair of keys from his pocket and holds them out in front of him. "Your car is in the garage."

Kol took the keys and watched as Klaus walked away. He stared after him, wondering what the hell happened to the Klaus he knew. Perhaps he had changed finally, or perhaps his adventure in the chambré today had changed him too.

Kol shakes his head, ascending the stairs too wishing the shower he was about to take could wash this day down the drain.

----

The car ride was tense. And silent. Where there used to be music playing, the sound of wind hollering through the open window, now there was only silence. The disconnect between the pair of you now and years ago was evident. Thankfully, Klaus drove in his own car or this ride would've been even more tense.

Arriving at Klaus' safe house Was nothing short of awkward. Hayley, Elijah - in the flesh this time- and even Mae greeted you upon arrival. Kol almost dropped dead when he saw Klaus and Hayley's daughter Hope. But he looked grateful despite his shock. It meant that Klaus trusts him enough with a secret like this.

When little Hope saw you, she reached for your hand as if she knew that you touched her in Klaus' memories. Maybe she has more power than you thought.

The hours went by preparing the house for an eventful attack. You and Kol both conjured up a few protection spells for the house. First was an early warning system that monitors anyone breaching a larger perimeter. Then followed a refresh on the cloaking spell for Hope, a few more spells to secure the house as best as you could, without even knowing if Finn won't find a way around it.

By the time the house was somewhat secured, the sun was already starting to set. Little Hope was sleeping and guarded by her parents as well as Mae. Elijah was in the study, no doubt trying to distract his mind with a book. Kol was somewhere resting, no doubt as much in his head as you are in yours. At least the porch you decided to make your home for a while offered a nice view of the backyard that stretched further than the eyes could see. Back in the day, this place was sure a sight to see, with its acres and long stretching paddocks and fields. If not for the impending doom of an attack and the usual problem of not having a moment's peace, this would be a nice place to stay for a while. But alas, no rest for the wicked. And certainly not for the undead.

The sun had fully set when Kol appeared in the doorway next to you. He was leaning in the doorway, his shirt open to endure the heat, his hair tousled from tossing and turning in bed.

"Can't sleep?" He asked, looking out into the darkness.

"Don't even remember the last time I slept." You replied.

He nods, awkwardly shifting where he stood as he tried to find how to phrase what he wanted to say.

"If you want we could steal one of the bedrooms and sleep like we used to. God knows we need it." He let out a nervous chuckle as if to soften the blow if you would find his offer to forward.

"You know I want to just go back to how things were but, I just-" You sighed, breathing out a huff of frustration "What the hell are we doing, huh?"

"Here?"

"Anywhere. I used to know how to make plans and follow through. But every plan I had before coming here failed. Trying to play Esther, Mikael and Klaus, all fell through. I was told there was a war so I came here. I didn't see anything, did you? Which means that we are the ones that cause it. And we don't even know why."

He let out a drawn-out breath of understanding as he sat next to you. So that's what was bothering you, finally, he knew. His shoulders relaxed with that knowledge and hope crept in once more.

"You don't cause havoc like they do." He said as if it was the most obvious fact in the world.

"See that's where you're wrong. You don't know this version of me." You shook your head. It was naive to think you would stay the same after the last few years, but he had no clue who you were now. How rotten.

"Do you think I ever left your side? Even in death, I spend every minute next to you. I would choose every version of you no matter what."

"I don't know how you could love me the way I am now."

"I don't have a choice, darling. I adore you, and that will never cease to be the case. Even if you decide to send me away."

"I don't want that. I don't want to send you away." You looked at him then, your voice quieter than he was used to and his eyebrows drew together in concern. He timidly reached for your hand, and you let him intertwine your fingers with his own.

"Can you tell me what's been going on in that head of yours?" He asked gently, without expectation of a reply. He simply needed you to know that he was there, no matter what the future would hold.

The problem was, how do you tell someone you love that you feel inadequate to the person you used to be? Like a lesser, dented and rotten version of who they once loved. Do you just blurt it out simply? Explain it with as much detail as humanly possible?

So you told him regardless. And you told him even more than that and he listened to it all. He always was an exceptional listener, even now as you recounted the last few weeks.

"And the worst part is I'm scared of Finn. My own father locked me in a basement for weeks on time but now Finn is the one that makes my skin crawl. How ironic is that?" You scoffed, looking at Kol. He shared your slight smile.

He leaned closer, hoping his siblings wouldn't hear him talk "Don't tell anyone, but I have always thought he was off his rocker. Even when I was young, he used to have this hatred about the world. I was terrified of him, and still am."

"Really? You never told me that."

He looked at you with a sad expression tinted with nostalgia and even regret. There certainly were a lot of things still unsaid. You were never granted more than a few months together before you got separated either by dagger or death.

"There are a lot of things still unsaid I imagine." Kol said, sharing your train of thought, "Even though we've loved each other for a century, we're still getting to know each other. Our time was stolen over and over again. But I meant what I said in that church. No matter how bad you believe to be, I will love you regardless. Always"

He covers your hand with his own, gently just letting you know he meant what he said.

"I know. That's why it makes staying away so hard." You sighed, wishing there was some easy answer to all of this "But I have to figure this out first. Not just this whole mess here, but everything else too. I just… I just need a little time."

Kol nods, visibly uneasy with the thought of staying away, especially if he wants to do the exact opposite. But true to the way he always was with you, he gave you your wish "Whatever time you need, it's yours, darling."

When he pulled away from your hand you pulled him back, intertwining your fingers with his, as the sun sets behind you.

"That doesn't mean I want you to go, you know that, right?" You said, looking at him.

"You don't?"

You shook your head, letting it rest on his shoulder as he pulled his arm around you. He always was honest and accommodating when it came to you even when you asked him to let you figure things out.

For the first time since you knew him, you had no idea what the future would bring. If it would work out at all if he was more human than anything else. Humans die someday, even witches and warlocks. If he remained the way he was now, what future was there for you? Maybe close to a century more until he was old and succumbed to time? And what if you turned him? He'd go back to hating how addicted to blood he had always been. What future is there now?

"You're in your head again aren't you, darling?" He said in a quiet voice, wishing he could pluck those bad thoughts out of your head "Come on, let's get some sleep and we'll figure it out in due time."

Soon you found yourself in the same room as if no time had passed. He eyed you from the bed he was lying in, wondering what you would do if he'd allow himself to sleep.

"If I sleep now, you won't disappear on me, right?" Kol asked, nervously picking at the sheet that was covering him "You won't be gone in the morning?"

"I won't." You shook your head, lying down next to him facing him. You knew he was scared you'd just run off, and truth be told you thought about it. But you won't do it. Running would not help this time. At least not right this moment.

"Promise?" He inquired again, his eyes scared as they roamed your face.

"I promise." You leaned towards his cheek despite your better judgement, kissing his cheek softly while whispering a quick sleeping spell. He smiled at your contact before the spell took hold and he fell into a deep sleep. His breathing evened out immediately and his chest rose and fell without a care in the world. He deserved some rest after the last few days and you're glad you could at least do that for him.

You kept an eye on him for a little bit, stroking away the hair that had fallen into his face.

"What am I gonna do with you?" You sighed as you rested your head on his shoulder. He deserved rest, but eventually, you decided you deserved it too, falling asleep on his shoulder like the old times.

At least for tonight, nothing was waiting for you in the shadows.

Finally some peace.

A/N: Here I am again, my friends. Been a long time as always, but you know what to expect by now probably.

Hope you've been well.

Also who would've thought that I would end a chapter on a good-ish note for once?

Kind of a side note, but can you believe all the Salvatore siblings have Scorpio as their sign? I have a birthday for the sister and just realized it's in the Scorpio zodiac area lol

Also, I hope this chapter wasn't too chopped up, because I did write it very sparingly while travelling ice again and there are hours or days I between it. Definitely not how I would like it but it is what it is. Hope you all are doing as well as you can. Thanks for sticking with me.

(still using the probably very outdated list, so lmk if you want to be removed from it)

@shadyladyperfection @akshi8278 @kind-wolfkind-wolf @christinasyellowflowers @thegoddessofvampire @newurleans @originalbish98 @acourtofhopeanddreams @bonniebird @imnoaingeal @cherryblossomllama @relmi-llorrac @piercethepottorff @maliae14 @5-seconds-of-animals @the-geeky-engineer @rock-n-magick @flymeawayworld @mikealsonlover @nuteller28 @fandoms-fandoms-everywhere99 @drkplum @fandooomqueenforyou @twisted1ginger @superwholocksociopath474 @thealyana @sandyclaws @unicorntrooper @buckysummers @sanity-is-overratedxp @lunna-star-8 @graysonmalfoy @woodworthti666 @lilulo-12 @selmasemlan @thelostallycat @characterobsessed @cococola-cocaine @codenamewitcher @-thatgirloverthere- @alwxadria345 @mizzezm @willieshakesqueer @spunky-89 @putyourherohaironstefan @thegingerthatwaited @shootingstarsaretearsofheaven @hinata7346 @controloffandoms @redshima

#tag/asks answered #kind-wolf #open coffin

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