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"I hadn't in a year hyung. Let me vibe." Kevin said. He paused as dropped it on the ground and wheelchaired over it. "Oh I got something for you!" Kevin said as he reached for a satchel. "I got it in Jeju."

"So, what? Were you in rehab for a year?" TJ assumed given Kevin's extended absence and what he was smoking. "Jeju? It better not be a Dokkaebi."

"Get rid of them and I may listen," she said, running a hand over her face to stop herself from doing anything stupid.

"They shouldn't be a problem anymore. Looks like OEA changed the rules," he said, showing her the text. "So, I got rid of them. Are you willing to listen now?"

TJ would love to disagree with the puppet comment, but in keeping up appearances, he couldn't. However, with his forced loyalty to Klaus, could he use the original as a threat? He'd try. "Look, you have to start getting used to it; otherwise, Klaus is going to hear, and he won't be happy."

Her child was back in the city, and though circumstances were far from ideal around them, it didn't diminish the joy she felt to see and hold her angel child again. Since Klaus had given them the deeds, Zeraphine decided the gifts she had for housewarming weren't sufficient, so off she went to the Royal Street shopping center for more.

TJ couldn't figure out if that was a joke, he was trying to figure out how an engagement in a tree worked or if that was possible. Maybe it was a tree-house because that would make more sense. "Yeah, I doubt they'd need anything fancy." The tree engagement seemed the least fancy of things, so that was his take.

"But what counts for like malevolent?." Kevin said as he took a deep inhale of the joint. "Like you ever see those Denny fights on youtube. Some people get pissed sometimes. And what if you have a shit day and want a drink and end up in a bar fight? Its too punitive. And I say that as someone who works the man." Kevin took another puff before looking at the person next to him.

"You want a hit?"

He waved the smoke away from him, a sigh of annoyance. "Quit smoking that shit near me, you crack-head."

"Look," she said, raising a hand to stop the person in front of her, yelling at her for the OEA's rules. "If you got a problem file a complaint with the OEA or the supervisor. I'm a receptionist and have as much authority as you do. So either listen to what I have to say or get out," she said, nodding towards the door. "And have a great day," she smiled, sarcasm dripping from her tone and voice. Slumping back in her seat, she ran a hand over her face. "I am so fed up with everything" she muttered to herself. "Fucking OEA"

TJ was surely going to have to deal with those complaints. More than that, maybe that's why Theo put him in charge because that meant it all went to TJ to deal with.

First things first, one of the conditions was not being a dick, so he had to somehow work this issue out with the receptionist. Nova had always told him to try to apologize, for her sake.

With a deep breath, he walked up towards her. "Can we talk for a second?"

Nova was staying on the balcony for god knows how long. She only managed the one text to TJ before the phone got yanked out of her hand.She managed a distress page too but who knew if it got through. Nova sighed to herself. She was going to stuck here isn't she?

To be the puppet for everyone. Just when she thought she was finally out of this and make her own choices, she was stuck on her father's path. Even her attempted escaped with those earlier landed her back here.No direction out existed.

She couldn't blame Taejin though. She guessed somethings were changing in town, so maybe he had to keep the peace. But man she wished he was here right now. As she almost went back inside, when she heard the

Ssibal.

Nova couldn't believe her ears. There was only one person who said SSibal with such conviction. Nova looked down to see something but couldn't make it out.

"Taejin?" Nova asked.

He had a backup plan though with Bee still in the car, the dog would be recon for this rescue mission. "The lawyer dude won't sue me if I send Bee at him, right?" He'd ask now rather than later. "You should send Takeru as backup." He was sure both cat and dog could work in unison for this highly complicated-tactical operation.

Maybe TJ could send some officers, call it hostage negotiation or whatever seeing as the chief had put him in charge for the moment, but would that qualify as doing something stupid? Maybe. TJ would not think it stupid if it was to save his girl from her father though, but first he had to see if his first two plans could work or would be a total failure requiring the third to be set into motion.

Having been beckoned to the courtyard for a 'visitor' of all to anticipate, TJ had been the last on that list. "I don't recall sending for you" he announced, practically flouncing down the steps in his usual impatient manor. "Is there something that I can help you with or do you intend to stand and gawp without reason?" Despite his actions, his tone was remarkably calm. "If you are here to pester me further of the whereabouts of Lysander's bloody sword, you can guarantee that scrap metal is long gone, mate."

TJ tried his best to make the words convincing, given that Klaus was likely to kill the messenger. "But I will do what I can for your family, to make it easier." He still had to show that his loyalty was to Klaus, even if it was no longer.

As much as it pained him to hold it back, the anger, he was reminded of the fae's words. To beat them they had to be smart. "Lysander is no trouble to you," he stated. "My girlfriend helped calm him with the help of Briggs." TJ didn't know the full extent, but enough to maybe buy Lysander something. "Lysander and I, we are on friendly terms, he thinks I am a fellow knight, he trusts me, so should an issue arise, I will report directly to you, boss." Like hell would he - no, if anything TJ and Lys could make up their own lies to feed to Klaus. This was their advantage.

TJ was really sounding like a damn robot, but he had to try to play off that he was still under the compulsion, and maybe his heartbeat was a giveaway. Yet, could that not also be played off as fear? TJ at least hoped it would be so and that he didn't have to prove himself.

"Alright, I really need you to listen closely, TJ," Theodore hums from his chair behind his desk, leaning forward to fold his hands together atop of the desk. "You're in charge until the OEA gets these passes to us. Do not, and I repeat, do not do anything fucking stupid and do not be a dick. You need anything, you've got my cell number and I'll do what I can to help from home. I'm trusting you, man, don't let me down or I'll demote you faster than you can say I'm sorry."

"Okay." He nodded, agreeing to the terms set. It couldn't be so terrible, right? Some people may protest such an order, sure, but other than that, it should be smooth sailing. Well, smooth sailing for TJ always ended in a capsize - or maybe he had the chance to do better because the last thing he wanted or needed was to be placed back in mall security. "I'm guessing there's extra paperwork involved, but I got this. I won't mess it up, Chief."

“You can’t just change the entire scheduling structure.” A public phone call argument wasn’t what Jordyn expected for her morning; in fact it was something she tried to avoid. But her job and her safety was on the line. “You’re really not going to put in the little bit of effort to get passes for YOUR employees? It’s not that hard. You can’t just expect the humans to take all the night shifts. We’re understaffed as it is and it’s not like-“ Her words cut off by the tone of the call being disconnected, she let out a frustrated groan before shoving her phone in her pocket. “Ridiculous” she muttered as she flopped down onto the park bench.

"oh, i don't think you heard me the first time." the laugh that left her lips held just as much sarcasm as her words. the hybrid was ablazed, and the bullshit announcement had not only booked a ride on that last nerve but the oea was using it to tie her hands together and she refused. they tried enforcing a curfew before and it did not work. they tried killing her and it did not work. they could try to cage them and label them by putting a star on their chest but she knew this story, the history books didn't lie. they could try, but they were not going to win. "fuck. that. shit."

Nova was so fixated on making sure he wasn't on fire. Ironically ever since they done the deed she felt more in tune with it. The symbol of her union. Nova looked at his hands on hers. Then she saw the shirt semi open and was blushing.God if someone walked in out of context.

"It confuses me sometimes and I get scared for you." Nova explained seeing the flames fade at last. "I can tell you didn't, otherwise I would have clocked it and-" Nova looked away. "Call me over protective I guess."

"Maybe you should try to clarify that with her. When you see her again. I don't want Mavi to worry. She thinks she was like my father and holding back tears." Nova said."But Mavi has a good heart she's doing it for me. I would do the same to her too when she was dating Lucas." Albeit farther away in observation. There was a deep breath. "I'm sorry for not being introspective of that. I can't imagine the feelings you are experiencing." She looked directly in his eyes, gently cupping his cheek. "If it is about what happened-I never held that against you. Because I know your heart Taejin. And it would never hurt me like that." Nova whispered in Korean, a language she on many occasions still struggled with but wanted to bring the point home to him. There was a quick peck before she started rebuttoning his shirt. "Balance." She whispered again for good measure.

"Let's stay by each other. Even if I have to serve drinks." She said with that disarming grin. "Hwaiting!"

Being told what to do for well over a year by Klaus, and still having to keep it up, he was struggling to hold it together, and he couldn't take it out on the one person who deserved it most.

As to who Mavi had been dating, maybe the name Lucas should ring bells in his ears, but it didn't, and honestly? He didn't care. There were a lot of people, names that had passed over, but they were simply unimportant to him. There were also people he chose to forget, thinking it would be easier than facing them. Some burnt bridges were meant to remain that—burnt.

Sometimes he did wonder if they were right, that he would be the one hurting Nova. "Isn't it always because of me?" Whether it was the compulsion that time or not, there'd always be something, that risk. The risk of him losing her over something he did. "What if I mess up and they do it again?" For all the rage he had harbored tonight, there had also been a fear. "It's not them, it's me." Things he didn't dare to say out loud to anyone else but her. But was that enough? Would there be a day that she'd see him as the person everyone else saw?

"The spine of Korean culture." Nova said keeping a note to herself. Nova was making the effort to learn the culture beyond its entertainment industry. "Jeju? Is that the island?" Nova inquired. "All myths began in Jeju." Nova said. She made another mental note to ask more later. "It sounds almost like Honshu. The biggest island in Japan. It was once Akitsushima, Dragonfly Island. Dragonflies are the insect of victory. But I think the true victorious animals were the foxes. Legend has it Inari was the product of a shrine maiden and kitsune.For a time the foxes and shrine maidens made peace until something happened. Some say the shrine maidens were overstepping, over say the foxes were. I guess we wont truly know. But I can't help but wonder if they would have came back together at one point" Nova asked as she reached for his hand.

Nova and TJ were often seen as the odd ones. To see the passive Nova and the aggressive TJ would raise eyebrows to many. But like Nova has tried to explain, there was something right about him. That despite their differences, the slight english barrier, and even their ages Nova and TJ completed each other. And Nova wouldn't have it any other way.

The shrine maiden felt invigorated by the fox.While Nova wondered why TJ was choatic, Nova didn't mind. Truthfully in a life where she spent in conformity no one really saw her for herself. TJ was one of the few people who saw her for who she was. Does she hope one day at least TJ can show his kindness to others.

Nova pulled away with a grin, as if she was being mischeivous. She understood TJ's reseverations especially with the guards, but she needed affection. "Like warm but also se" Nova was interuppted by a guard. "I'll be right back." Nova promised with a cheek kiss.

______________________________________________________________

Right back was relative in this case. Between her side quests her Mavi, Klaus, Davina, Briggs, and numerous others it was genuinely draining. But Nova still had to check in on TJ. As she walked in looking like the ghost of gala past she pulled her boyfriend aside once more. There was a look of anger and exhaustion.

"Kuso (fuck me)." Nova muttered in Japanese. She switched back to English looking at the floor. "My father really??? Mavi isn't my father Baka (dummy). I have every right to-" Nova looked up and saw the flaming fox. "Yare Yare (good grief)." Nova pulled him into a closet and began unbuttoning his shirt. "You are literally on fire. Hold still."

"Huh?" He must have heard that wrong; she couldn't possibly mean—nope. He had picked up some Japanese thanks to Nova teaching him, but not enough to understand coherently, so maybe that's why he heard wrong.

"Babe, let me expla…" He couldn't even get a sentence in before she was dragging him away and unbuttoning his shirt. "Hey, babe, babe! Wait…" He went to grab her hands, just to stop her in the moment. She did know how to get him flustered, but he was figuring this was a talk-down rather than…that. Sure, they were alone right now, but where they were and whose house they were standing in—they couldn't.

"If I was on literal fire, I think I'd know about it." Whatever fire she was seeing, he was not—nor was he feeling it. He might be that fox on fire, but he was oblivious to it. The only thing he'd felt this night was rage, and maybe that's what was giving her the impression—the anger—but he kept that away from her. "Also, I didn't drink." He wanted to make that clear because that was usually the case.

"Can I explain?" he asked, as the fiery fox started to cool. "I never said that she was him. I only said her hovering was like his hovering. I just told her to stop worrying and leave us alone. Is that so bad? And I'm sorry if that upset her, but tonight really is not the night to be bothering me."

Lysander looked up. "What do you mean..."Lysander paused when he read that. His blood ran cold when he read that. There was a bow of his head. "I am so sorry I wasn't there to help." Lysander crossed his arms.And reached for the parchment paper "But we can use this to our advantage." Lysander wrote."We can use the basic korean for now and switch to a dilaect or perhaps. Just like in Jooseon times." Lysander wrote.

"They might take our minds but they can never take our essence. Klaus underestimates that, he thinking we're both fools. But heart and resilence are the keys he doesn't have. We are the knights. But above all we are fellow countrymen. You come from a people that will not stop until justice is served. Remember that Taejin."

They lived in a time of treachery, mistrust, and it seemed that evil prevailed. But as a knight, he serves the people, and unless told otherwise, he knows Klaus isn't for the people. He refuses to believe anyone who mends a mind would ever be.

There was a silence before he picked up his lute.

"Yah they really broke my lute too." Lysander said reminding himself to get what they call a lawyer. Lysander also picked up the taco bell coupons. "At least we have something holy in our hands."

"Arasseo." ("I understand.") He nodded his head, switching to Korean because at least that way he could speak freely to Lys without others catching on. "You know, the worst part was not being locked away here, left to bleed out… the worst part was not Klaus sending me into the OEA to get him information. The worst part was him compelling me to go after the one I love if I ever disobeyed him. If I felt disloyal - I had to hurt her." That hit him in the gut more than anything, that made the fox want to claw free of its bonds, to rip a hole into that damned family.

The Mikaelsons were the monsters, and it didn't matter what pain had been caused to them because they had been causing pain and suffering for centuries. They blamed the OEA, that the OEA was the brutal force to eradicate them, but what had been before the OEA? And before then? The times they were left unchecked, allowed to torture, to kill, to be so full without any sense of conscience themselves. How did they have the right to manipulate anyone? How did they deserve anything better?

"I don't want just revenge. I want an end to it. I want an end to them." Now TJ was really starting to sound like the OEA, but did Team Mikaelson really expect for him to see them as the ones who deserved his support? Did they really fucking believe themselves? The absolute bullshit they were giving everyone in this room tonight? If that compulsion had taught him anything, it taught him to align with the other side - it made him see the truth. It stirred hatred in him that he didn't know he had. "They can break your lute, but they won't break us. We will be the ones to steal and break them." And you know what? He might enjoy it.