Chapter Text
“So, aside from being the cream corn capital of Pennsylvania and having an annual cornfield festival, why are we here exactly?” Bobby asked, staring at a brochure of Willoughby, Pennsylvania, as he and Elijah strolled around town.
“Because this is where Katerina told me to meet her so that she could give me The Cure,” Elijah replied. “I suppose she’ll want me to give it to Niklaus on her behalf as a way of pardoning her for her past transgressions against my brother.”
Bobby snorted snidely. “So she’s basically using you as a vampire shield against your brother,” he surmised.
“Essentially, yes,” Elijah nodded in affirmation, his lips quirking upward at his husband’s witty remark.
“And tell me again why you're allowin’ yourself to be a sacrificial lamb?” Bobby queried. “I mean, I don't know Katerina or Klaus, but both of ‘em seem like the type of folk you don't want lingering too close to your valuables.”
Elijah chuckled, leaning closer to Bobby as he walked. “Niklaus has been known to be unpredictable and downright intolerable at times, but he is my brother despite all of his atrociousness. And I still believe that he can be redeemed,” the vampire began, before furrowing his eyebrows. “Katerina was one of few individuals who managed to capture my heart throughout my long eternity spent on this Earth. And until recently, she was the one that I took refuge in when the… loneliness of my existence got the better of me.”
Bobby pulled his lips together in a thin line and nodded, as the realization fell over him while the Original vampire avoided the human man’s gaze.
“Hey,” Bobby said, placing a comforting hand on Elijah’s shoulder to stop him from walking further. “I get it. I mean, being immortal like that, living life through centuries of hardship and tragedy… it's probably hard to find the good moments in between all the bad stuff. And it ain't like we’ve had a perfect run over the years, startin’ and stoppin’ until we’re both blue and our heads are spinnin’.”
“Yes, but even with our turbulent history of over 40 years, I wouldn’t trade a second of it,” Elijah proclaimed, cupping Bobby’s face. “Katerina did at one point mean something to me, but no longer. What I am doing now is simply returning a favor I owe to her. Once it is done, you and I can carry on living our lives happily and without interference.”
Bobby gave his partner a derisive smirk. “You really think Klaus is gonna take that well?”
“Niklaus may take it any way he sees fit,” Elijah retorted, his other hand curling around the collar of Bobby’s flannel. “For the first time in a millennium, I am taking something that I want instead of sacrificing it all for him, and if he tries to take you from me… I will part him from this world myself.”
“Okay, no need to get all dramatic,” Bobby snorted in an attempt to wave him off.
Elijah pulled Bobby against him, closing the distance between them with a fervent kiss. When they broke apart, Elijah pressed his forehead against Bobby’s, forcing the other man to meet his gaze.
“Does this look like the face of a man who is being over-dramatic?” Elijah questioned.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” Bobby quipped, breaking the tension between them.
The vampire rolled his eyes and tried to distance himself from the hunter, but Bobby tugged against him and held him close.
“But seriously… you’d honestly kill Klaus over me?” Bobby asked.
Elijah stroked Bobby’s bearded face with his knuckles, enjoying the faint tickle he felt as his hand grazed his cheek.
“Robert, there is nothing on Earth I would not do for you if you asked,” he confessed. “Even if you asked me to give you the sun, I would find a way to arrest it from the heavens and present it to you. If you asked me to take care of your sons, I would defend them with every breath in my body. And if you were threatened by my siblings, I would soon find myself standing as the Last Original.”
Bobby swallowed the lump forming in his throat before letting out a long-suffering sigh and shaking his head.
“You could have just said ‘yes’, you know?” Bobby let out.
“But that wouldn't have been nearly as romantic, now would it? And as I said, I have 30 years worth of wooing to make up for,” Elijah smirked before looking down at his watch. “Now, it's almost two o’clock. If I am to do this meeting with Katerina, I need to go now. But I’ll meet you later back at the hotel and we can get dinner before we leave.”
“Sure you don't need backup?” Bobby inquired.
“I think I’ve got it handled, my love,” Elijah smiled, pulling away from his spouse. “But I’ll call you if anything changes or if I need anything.”
“You better,” Bobby replied warningly.
“I love you,” Elijah declared.
“Yeah, I love you, too, idjit,” Bobby groused, fighting off the small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
By the time, he got to the gazebo, Katherine was already there waiting for him, pacing in a circle, as she looked around for any sign of him.
Elijah let out a sigh and steeled himself to go treat with the devil herself.
“Katerina,” he called out from behind her, making her jump.
It was a wonder she didn't twist her ankle from how she stumbled back in those 6-inch long stilettos.
“Elijah,” she gasped, her face contorted strangely. “Running a bit late aren't you?”
“It couldn't be helped,” Elijah responded.
Yes, it could have. He just wanted to take as many moments of happiness as he could with Bobby before the bullshit started.
“You colored your hair,” he noticed, as he stepped closer to her. “It's nice.”
She smiled shyly.
That was new.
He's never known her to be shy about anything.
Something wasn't right. He didn't know what, but he needed to find out before he went through with this deal.
“This is an interesting little town you’ve chosen to settle down in,” he remarked, looking around at their surroundings. “So do you have it with you?”
She tilted her head, saying, “Do I have what?”
He raised a single dark eyebrow. “The Cure,” he responded as though it were obvious.
The silence between them was deafening, as he watched her scramble to come up with some sort of lie. However, it was only after taking note of the daylight ring on her finger that he put two and two together.
When she tried to walk away from him, he was quick to yank her back, holding her in a death grip.
“Where’s Katherine, Elena?” he demanded.
“Elijah, what are you doing? I am Katherine,” Elena insisted trying and failing to wrench herself free of the Original’s grip.
“Elena,” her started, exhaling sharply, tightening his grip. “I have interrupted my honeymoon to come and deal with this. I am in no mood to play games with you or the Salvatore brothers who cling to you like you are their last hope for salvation. Tell me where is Katherine!”
When it became clear that she wasn't going to answer his questions, Elijah snapped her neck and carried her off in a blur of wind and motion.