Chapter Text
Kol saunters in, to lounge across the opposite couch.
“We need to discuss plans. There’s another-”
Rebekah pauses to give her a glance, where Ava is burrowed under her blanket, socked feet on Klaus’s lap where he had exasperatedly tugged them after she had squirmed too much.
“Go ahead and discuss whatever it is y’all want to. I’m not going to tell anyone, and I always stay up to date on my vervain supply.”
There’s a very heavy, heavy pause after she says that, and then Klaus speaks softly.
“There are ways around that, love. Things none of us would have you go through on our behalf, no matter how angry you are at no one having come to your rescue.”
She thinks about it, and about how kind these immortal beings have been to her in the short moments they have spent together, about how none of them have teased her for her interests in smutty fiction, or done anything even remotely threatening to her or even to her family, though they could, and undoubtedly have taken great fun in scaring Elena and her little friends.
And Ava speaks.
“Right, I have one request since you all are speaking about family business. My father isn’t to be harmed when you go to retrieve the sign and the wood from Wickery Bridge to burn it.”
The silence is loud.
“Why would we care about the sign of Wickery Bridge sweetheart?” asks Klaus, with a hand gentle and warm on her ankle, eyes tinged gold.
“Because it’s made of White Oak related to the old one, as far as I've read in Elena’s ancestor’s journals, that's the last of it.”
Niklaus gently moves her socked feet onto the plush rug and then stands.
“Very well, little bird. I agree to your terms. None of us will harm your father in our attempt to destroy the weapons that can kill us.”
She stretches out, shirt tugging up under her borrowed blanket, and becomes comfortable. It is late and she would like to sleep, regardless that she is in the home of six Originals who could kill her in less than a thought.
“You should go to sleep in an actual bed sweetheart, instead of on the couch in my studio.” says Klaus
“Would you like for one of us to take you home?” asks Elijah.
Ava doesn’t think before she answers, it’s been a trying day, and she is still tipsy from the wine.
“That would probably be for the best Elijah. Staying here would certainly imply that I’ve made certain choices.”
“The scooby gang wouldn’t have to know you’d stayed here willingly love.” says Kol
Klaus snorts, and Elijah cracks a grin of blindingly white teeth.
“When the fuck have you had time to watch Scooby Doo?” says Klaus incredulously
Ava breaks into cackles, loud and joyous. Her shoes are tucked under the coffee table, so she slips them on.
“I’ll wash your socks and give them back to you the next time I see you, yeah?”
Rebekah flicks her hair over her shoulder and sniffs.
“Keep them. They look good on you, and here; this will keep you safer than drinking all that tea. I’ll have someone bring you the dried herb, since I know the Salvatores have a market on the local plant.”
Rebekah unclasps an old wrought necklace on a delicate metal chain and slips it into Ava’s outstretched hand.
“Isn’t that the necklace you almost killed Elena over, sweet sister?” asks Klaus
Rebekah sniffs and glares at her brother.
“The little bird needs safe keeping, brothers, and a penchant for trouble as she has. And besides, she’d give it back to me if I asked, wouldn’t you, sweet girl?”
Swallowing Ava says smally, “Yes, I would.”
Slipping the necklace into her pocket, Ava startles as Rebekah says,
“Elijah is ready for you little one. Best go before we decide to keep you.”
Flushing, Ava swallows and pointedly doesn’t look at any of them as she leaves the room, hurrying down the stairs to where Elijah waits.
He helps her into the car and they say nothing for several minutes, the only noise is the sound of the car engine, then Elijah speaks.
“Pay Rebekah no mind, Miss Saltzman, my sister is a worse flirt than even Niklaus at his boldest. None of us would ever do anything to make you intentionally uncomfortable in that regard. We would only pursue you should you be interested in such a relationship.”
Swallowing thickly, Ava picks at her hands in nervousness. She takes in a deep, shaky breath, before replying.
“And if I did, want that. How exactly would that work? I mean, I’ve never even had a romantic partner before and now I’m involved with whatever the fuck this is.” She laughs, and says, “This certainly won’t make my father want to kill you any less than he already does.”
Elijah hums, and then says “Though we often do not share the same lover, or share easily, we have been known to engage in a ménage à trois every so often. I will inform my siblings that you want to hesitantly proceed after all this business with the stakes has been dealt with, if you wish.”
Taking another steadying breath, Ava replies.
“I don’t know if I want to or not. I just… think I’d just like to stop getting dragged into Elena’s drama and have good company while I work on finishing my degree, regardless of whether we pursue a relationship that involves more than friendship or not.”
“As you wish, little bird.”
They arrive at Elena’s house shortly after that, and Ava makes a spur of the moment decision.
“You owe me a new phone, Elijah Mikaelson.”
“As you wish, dear one.”
She walks to her bedroom before flopping onto the bed like a fish out of water. Her face is flushed and red. She takes off her shoes and her borrowed socks, slipping Rebekah’s necklace from her pocket. She wishes she had her phone and the other girl’s number to text her thank you.
She falls into an easy sleep, soft silk sheets clean and sweet smelling.
She wakes to loud knocking on her door.
“Ava! Get up! It’s one o’clock in the afternoon!” shouts Elena
There is a box on her dresser, and she stumbles sleepily to the bathroom to do her business before telling Elena.
“I’m awake! I’ll be down in a minute!”
She opens the door to her comfortable shirts and to her surprise finds shirts that look like they belong to Klaus. She picks a soft gray three quarter length sleeve henley splattered and streaked with blue and white paint, and a pair of her soft shorts. She is still wearing Rebekah’s necklace, now tucked beneath Niklaus’s shirt.
The gift basket is almost overflowing with goodies and trinkets. She delights in digging through them, pulling out a jewelry box, a letter addressed to her, and a drawing before her hands hit plush fur.
She pulls out the silken lined fox fur blanket gingerly, before displaying it over her bed. Turning back to the basket she freezes. She gasps at what she sees; an iphone, a small sachet of dried vervain, and the first edition copy of Pride and Prejudice.
Turning to the letter, she opens it to find two elegantly written notes. The first is from Klaus.
Ava,
Elijah explained why he called you a magpie, so I left you some of my older shirts that I painted in for you to wear. I hope that you enjoy the drawing and the bracelet sweetheart.
From,
Klaus
Taking in a breath, she sits down onto the chair in the corner and lets the note drop to the floor. Dragging a hand over her face, she wonders just what she has gotten into if this is taking it slowly. She opens the other note, and out clatters a thin plastic rectangle, she picks it up, looks at it, and then gently sets it aside to read the letter Elijah has penned her.
Magpie,
I hope that your father is doing well in his recovery from his ordeal. You requested a phone since I did destroy yours, that has been included in the basket. However, I must extend my apologies for my siblings' extravagance. I had told them you wanted to take things slowly, but they discovered I was sending gifts and intervened to add their own. There is the dried vervain from Rebekah, the drawing and the jewelry from Niklaus, the fox fur blanket from Kol, as well as the telephone and the card from myself. The book is from all of us. Niklaus had noticed that you had removed it from our library shelves but not taken it with you to your stash of trinkets, so now it can be yours alone.
I am aware that the gifts may seem sudden and extravagant, but it truly is my siblings showing restraint. The card is yours alone, set up to one of our accounts to assist in paying for your education or anything else you might need or want. There are, as they say, no strings attached to the card, dear one. I am not expecting anything in return for this, neither are my siblings. Our telephone numbers are in your phone. Kol has added emoticons to his name, and will no doubt disturb you with his incessant chattering. Call if you need anything my dear.
Yours,
Elijah Mikaelson
She goes about her day deliberately not thinking about the letters tucked into her clothing drawer. The book she leaves on her nightstand, along with the sachet of vervain. She slips the delicately wrought garnet and silver bracelet onto her wrist. The sleek phone gets slid into the pocket of her shorts and she jogs her way down the stairs to see what her father and Elena are doing.
Elena is at the Boarding House with the Salvatores picking up information about her father’s strange affliction.
She does look at the names in her phone however. Rebekah’s and Kol’s already have emojis next to their names, but she adds a wolf for Niklaus because it makes her laugh so much she keels over into the couch cushion.
♥️Bex♥️
Elijah Mikaelson
Fenrir Mikaelson
Kol🦊🔪
Nik🐺
She adds them all to a group chat after lunch and it causes so much chaos she has to retreat up to her room and put her phone on silent. She’s named it the OGs, because what else would she name it. Her phone stays firmly lodged in her shorts pocket throughout the evening, firmly ignoring the buzzing that happens occasionally.
Her wallet still feels weighed down by the card that is attached to a bank account with who knows how many zeros. She files it into the box of ‘freak out about this later’ and tries to focus on her father’s illness and what is to be done about it. Apparently there are herbs for him to take that should help whatever the fuck is happening to him.
Bonnie calls around three and says her mother is adjusting to the change well, and that she should be over in the morning to complete the spell if they can find her father’s wedding band. She and Meredith debate about sandwich condiments and additions, because they are starving. It’s been hours since they’d last fixed anything to eat, with trying to keep her father awake. There is a pot of coffee on the stove, and Ava’s heart aches at how washed out and sleepy her father sounds. Her
Turning towards the coffee pot, Ava pours herself a scalding cup of black coffee and asks Meredith for the sugar free caramel creamer from the fridge. Her father’s large red mug sits on the counter full of coffee from the pot; no cream or sugar just the way he likes it.
And then it all goes sideways with a simple question.
“Do you ever feel… remorse?” asks her father.
The metal screech the knife makes along the countertop jerks Ava into action, tugging at Meredith's sleeve, she pushes her father’s girlfriend to run, shoving her phone into the other woman’s hand.
Her father continues monologuing, nattering away at something as they both slowly back away, Ava in front of Meredith. Her dad prowls around the counter in a way she’s never really seen him, like a predator; and the thought makes her sick.
He repeats his question again and moves closer, swiping at her with the knife. She throws her still black coffee directly at center mass and they run. Meredith tugs her hard enough to leave bruises. They dart up the stairs but then her father’s hand is around her ankle and she cannot breathe. It feels too much. Brings up memories she does not want to remember and yet cannot forget. Of when Damon stood over her like this, of what he told her then, of what he threatened to do. She kicks at him violently, so much so that her father falls down the stairs even when he grips at the railing for stability.
She manages to haul herself up, uncaring of her wounds, and darts to where Meredith is at the bathroom door. They manage to slam them both shut, and then there is her father, hand grabbing and pushing around the last door that leads from her room into the tiled bathroom.
Her father is shouting and growling in frustration that he cannot get to them. Meredith manages to stab her father in the hand with scissors, and slam the door closed. The stab wound in Meredith’s side is an ugly thing, bloody and staining her purple shirt.
Ava is worse.
Slashes coat her arm, and there’s one along her left ribs, and her other side aches. She thinks she may have broken something.
“What do we do Ava? There’s no way to contact Elena, she forgot her phone, and I don’t have Stefan's number.”
And she laughs an ugly, broken thing, because she can hear her father calling her a whore outside the bathroom door. She reaches her hand out for her phone, and swipes upwards with bloody fingers.
She presses the first name she sees on the group chat and it picks up on the second ring.
“Sweetheart?”
She breaks. Sobs tear their way out of her throat.
She distantly hears Meredith ask “Why the fuck are you calling Klaus?”
She shakes and sobs and looks at the blood, at the door where her father is still banging down the door calling her a filthy whore, and describing what he’ll do when he gets inside the bathroom.
“Sweetheart, please talk to me. Use your words, love.”
“I’m at Elena’s place. Meredith and I are locked in the bathroom. There’s- there's so much blood, Nik. My daddy- he- he tried to-”
She breaks off, retching into the bathtub, spitting up bile and foaming pink blood.
“Klaus, this is Meredith Fell. I have a stab wound to my right side, Ava is worse, she fended Alaric off while I ran upstairs. Laceration to her left forearm, left side, and possible fractured or broken ribs where she hit the stairs when he pulled her down by her ankle. I wouldn’t be surprised if she also has a concussion.”
She hears Meredith talk distantly into the now tinny speakerphone, and then there’s Klaus again over the speaker, she blinks and then swallows, closing her eyes so the room will stop spinning.
“You need to invite me inside love.” says Klaus softly.
She croaks, little more than a whisper, inviting the big bad wolf inside, but that is all he needs.
She hears the struggle from outside the door, the snarling and shouting and then silence.
Meredith moves shakily to unlock the door, and there is Klaus; dark jeans and dark colored henley splattered with paint the colors of a sunset and wheatgrass field, along his sleeves are darker colors, browns and blacks and greys. There’s a brown jacket over his shoulders.
He is pressing his wrist to her mouth, and the metallic copper of blood fills her mouth.
“As soon as she gets better, I’m taking her out of here. You won’t remember either of us were here.” says Klaus
“I won’t remember either of you were here. I was alone when Alaric attacked me. Ava moved out of the Gilbert house into her own apartment.”
“Good girl.”
She tries to ignore what that does to her heart, and Niklaus looks to her in amusement, a smirk pulling at his lips.
He gathers her close and bundles her into the car, careful not to jostle her as they head towards the now slightly familiar route to that damn mansion in the middle of the woods.