I Wanna Watch The World Burn

In all of her years as a street kid, Hayley had encountered her fair share of creeps and violent creatures. She was no stranger to come face to face with monsters, but Kol seemed to be an entirely didn’t beast. Everyone had a weakness and could be removed from the world of the living in some way. Kol literally had the loophole to that solution running through his veins. He was fairly invincible, and that meant having to work around all of her usual angles. Hayley ran a hand against the side of her face in annoyance, disguising the gesture as an attempt to move her hair behind her ear.  “What do these little birds say? You must know by now you can’t trust gossip. It can lead you down the wrong paths.” Hayley suggested. She doubted Kol would reveal what he’d heard about her or why she was more useful to him alive than dead. Yet, she couldn’t just let the issue go without trying to get more out of him. 

“Why don’t you do us all I a favor then and join your friend Death?” Hayley muttered, clearly exasperated at the prospect of having to continue living with Kol’s presence anywhere near her own. His small anecdote set the hairs on the back of her neck on edge. A mild ‘thank you’ for the treaty flashed across her mind. Hayley wasn’t naive; she knew Kol could dispatch her on a whim, treaty or no treaty. It just seemed that Lady Luck was playing to her favor, and Kol seemed remotely obedient to the laws that lay. “Ever think you kill things because you can’t kill the things you hate about yourself or accept them?” Hayley reflected, evergreen hues skirting across the others as a brow perked in interest. After all, the man he killed could have very well been a surrogate for himself. The way Hayley saw it, having no way out had to be frustrating. Kol could flaunt and boast all he wished, but the alpha knew anger and rage didn’t just come out of no where. Somewhere, there was a source, and Kol didn’t seemed equipped to deal with it. She went to open her mouth to say chaos wasn’t welcomed anywhere before her lips pressed together. Hayley’s head didn’t turn in the direction he pointed, reluctant to take her eyes off of the vampire. Though, she left her senses focus more in that direction for a moment before she let out a breath. She couldn’t feel much of anything, but it could’ve well been because she was on such high alert because of the man in front of her. Hayley couldn’t let her senses fully commit to sussing out whatever Kol was suggesting. Eyes rolled sharply before a slow whistle slipped through her lips as he stepped away from her. “Guess it’s a good thing I’m not an old dog then. I can still learn new tricks.” Hayley replied, not entirely dismissive of the comment she didn’t know everything.

Personally, Kol liked to think himself the loophole to everything, though even he wasn’t that big-headed. Of course he knew that all things would come to end eventually and that included him, but he’d already lost what had brought him the most joy in the world so what else could possibly happen? And of course, there was nothing more dangerous that a being with nothing to lose. “Oh that’s between the birds and me Darling, strictly need to know.” Even to someone like her, that he barely considered a threat, he wasn’t about to reveal any more information than necessary. Knowledge was power and Kol guarded his jealousy. “Though rest assured, or perhaps perturbed, that I know more about this town and it players than any would like me to.” He’d already won over the few independent witches (they’d been more than willing to help him out after he revealed his intentions for dear old Marcel).

“Oh I think not; we’re all the closer for never meeting face to face.” he told her lightly, smirking since it seemed his little tale had a rather good impact. Murder and death came so easily to Kol; all his siblings of course had their own moments of massacre and chaos but he was the one who’d made it into an art form. Well, an art form to him anyway, ‘nightmare’ may be the word that others preferred to use. But regardless it kept him happy and engaged with the world around him. There were always more people to act as dinner, playthings or simple stress relievers. And then the little wolf thought she could psycho-analyse him? How funny. Kol stuck his bottom lip out and looked up slightly, as though giving the matter a great deal of thought before idly saying, “No.” and smirking, “I kill things because it excites me, or because they annoy me, or because it’s a Tuesday.” he shrugged, “People are like dolls for me: entertaining but one big twist and off pops the head.”    

And frankly, Kol refused to look deeper into it than that. He didn’t care about what his dear siblings thought or what anyone else in the world did either. He was an original vampire, practically un-killable and he ripped swathes of destruction in his wake for no other reason then it made him smile. Speaking of, he was grinning down at Hayley reacted to his words on the Bayou; she made physical change but he suspected there was a change enough in her mind to countenance the thought. Kol chuckled at her little choice of metaphor, “My my a dog are we? Well, you said it not me, Fido.” he said lightly, “Though you’ve a great deal to learn and given the state of play around here you may not have much time to learn it. Shame really.” he said with another shrug.    

Derek’s head swung towards the original, a faux serious expression covering his features. “Oh yeah, people talk about you all the time.” Only, not about anything either Kol or his enormous ego woud want to hear. He’d heard countless tales from Marcel but none had compared to the tales shared by his siblings in their various and drunken states. He’d sat beside the guy for all of five minutes and was beginning to think the stories really were all true. 

“Tsk, tsk. You see, there’s that Original huberous again.” Shaking his head in mock dismay. “You can’t compel me, buddy.” It wasn’t just the vervain he ingested daily… Nor was it the fact that Derek was a special sort of alpha, given that the Crescent wolves were a bloodline older than the Mikaelsons - he flashed his eyes neon red for emphasis… but beyond all of that, he had Davina, Via Marcel of course but he had Davina nonetheless. The little witch made sure his mind was untouchable. “Though I’d love to see you try.”

Kol smirked even if the other may have been thinking heavily sarcastic thoughts he didn’t care. Kol’s ego was stake proof. He knew well enough that his reputation alone terrified most and only an idiot would would discard it. “As well they should. I do all I can to ensure I’m at the peak of gossip, it’s one of the best places to be.” And the larger his reputation grew the easier it was to get what he wanted; his general one was to be feared, but a select few witch covens say a different side to him.

Side eyeing Kol, Bonnie rebuked, “Even classy ladies like getting their hair pulled, bud. And don’t talk about my morals like you know anything about me.” Her eyes narrowed on him before she huffed a displeased breath and returned her attention to the bubbling potion in front of her. 

Bonnie knew he’d been teasing, but that wasn’t his place and she wouldn’t let him think that it was. They weren’t friends. He didn’t get to call her immoral when he was the one trespassing on her space. Plus, he was a vampire. An older one, if she was going to guess based on the way he talked. Spirits only knew the kinds of amoral malarkey he got up to, and how many innocent people had suffered because of it. 

She didn’t have to know him to know that he did more harm as a vampire than he did as a witch. Was she basing that assumption entirely on how he was talking about what he’d lost? Yes. Did she have an unfair bias toward vampires because of Damon, Kathrine, and Caroline’s rocky first few days as one? Also yes. But Bonnie’s intuition was pretty good, and Kol didn’t exactly give off Boy Scout vibes. And his fangs played only a small part in that presumption. 

“As a general rule, I try to avoid being bitten by vampires whenever possible,” she stated flatly, still stirring her cauldron. Glancing up at Kol, Bonnie shrugged. “I find it does wonders for one’s life expectancy.”   

When Kol talked so heartfully about magic, she felt something in her soften the slightest bit. She really couldn’t imagine being cut off from magic or nature. It might kill her if she ever was. Tapping the wooden spoon against the cauldron’s edge, she offered the vampire a small, teasing smile. “You’re not a terrible teacher. I guess if you’re gonna have a head as big as yours it may as well be filled with useful information on magic. And, if you’re willing to share I’d be pretty dumb to pass up the chance to learn more. Do you have grimoires you’d be willing to let me borrow?”

Not wanting to look or sound too hopeful, she nodded toward the potion on the table in front of her and wondered, “What’s next?”

Kol only chuckled, “As a man who’s pulled the hair of several classy ladies and had it pulled in return I wholeheartedly agree. But I helped create this little number, she’s a classy prude.” her told her with another wink, “Makes me wonder about you though. Does the little witch like having her hair pulled too?” He lifted a hand and mimed tugging a few strands of hair as he spoke, the usual smirk on his face.

He always wondered about the darker and more reckless sides of people, likely because he was a walking embodiment of wholly giving oneself over to those darker and more reckless sides. Everyone possessed them and he was the best at bringing them to the forefront.

Right now he suspected he was very much being studied and judged and frankly he couldn’t care less, leaning against the greenhouse (if he was being generous with the time) wall and watching her, his expression never changing. After living so very long Kol was immune to the judgement of others, save for perhaps his dear family, but they fell into a different category of affairs and he tried not to think about them too often in any regard... It could be unpleasant.  

“Oh well you’re off to a cracking start then Darling, be careful though, some of us get rather touchy when we’re peckish and just about anything looks like a palatable meal.”

“Know what else does wonders for the life expectancy? Living outside of New Orleans.” he smirked, “This is a very dangerous little hub of activity.” And with the small smile he knew he had her. It would likely take a great deal more work and subtle manipulation but it was a start, and he may end up with a promising new witch to help him make all sorts of extremely useful artefacts to cause havoc with. “Oh Darling, I have several grimoires.” he paused then added, “I wrote them all. They’re a great deal more instructive than this one.” he thumbed at the tome Bonnie was working from.  

Was that the hint of claw up against his throat? Ah, memories, and not good ones at that. He swallowed nervously and felt his adam’s apple bob against the dude’s palm. 

“Listen, dude, Kol was it? In my defence, you were acting creepy.” He licked his lips and titled his head back a little more as though that was going to ease the grip the other had on his throat. “I didn’t mean to hit you with my bat, I already said I was sorry, man.” 

Ahhhh, fuck. “I lied, no cheetos but the off brand version. Totally doesn’t mix well with milk, you’ll give yourself a stomach ache, learn from my mistakes, I’m just looking out for you— oh gross, dude, no, bad touch, bad touch,” he grimaced at feel of his tongue against his neck and he tried to arch away from him some more, even as his heart pounded. “Oh that’s just– that’s not right, that really ain’t right. I said sorry, what else do you want?”

“Kol, yes. But I also answer you Sir, Mr. Mikaelson and even several times as Monster.” he answered lightly, he never stopped enjoying watching little humans squirm, it was like playing with the best kind of dolls.

“I was minding my own business. I have a specific interest in this Bayou, plus I’m older than you so don’t question me.” he added dryly. “And sorry is a start, but you still haven’t answered my first question.”

His lips curled into a smirk as the other went on and on, as rambling humans went this boy was shaping up to be one of the better ones. “I have a strong stomach.” he shrugged, leaning in and letting the other feel the pressure of his fangs against his neck before pulling back and chuckling, “Only kidding. I ate yesterday. So,” he let the other go and stepped back, “Shall we try again? Which little wolf told you about the Bayou? Humans won’t recognise anything amiss. You’re no witch and clearly know nothing about vampires so that only leaves the mongrels to have clued you in, eh?”  

Oh, how Hayley was wishing for Rebekah right now. Hayley could’ve used the back up at this point because trying to get around Kol’s ego without spearing herself on it was proving to be a momentous task. It was as if she had to think through every possible scenario his mind could twist her words into and then figure out if it was even worth uttering the sentence aloud. “Some people would admire openness. Clearly, she doesn’t share that quality with you.” Hayley said in conclusion. He hadn’t identified if he meant that Rebekah was facing trouble in general or trouble with him. That was one thing Hayley hoped she didn’t cause by interacting with Kol. Rebekah had been a good friend to her, and the last thing the alpha needed was to return the favor by pissing off her brother. “Should’ve caught me a few years younger. I would’ve been a lot quicker to fight.” She said, revealing a little about herself in the process. In the past, Hayley would’ve tried to tear into the vampire without thinking of the consequences. 

Hayley felt like she was clawing her way up a never ending cliff with talking to Kol. Every single time she thought she made headway, he proved that she’d hardly done anything at all. The latest notification of her failure came in the richness of a laugh tumbling out of the vampire’s lips. She watched him, unblinking as he spoke about the way he made enemies and lived to tell the tale. Hayley knew that Originals were supposed to be immortal, but there had to be some flaw in the code. There had to be something Kol feared at the end of the day. He wasn’t immune from the emotion; no one was. “For now, you are. There’s no telling when death may come to collect.” She replied dryly, choosing to play on the defensive rather than trying to beat him on offense. Kol was right. Hayley didn’t have enough information about him yet to really make any serious dents in his demeanor. “Seems you show up uninvited to a lot of things.” She muttered, ignoring the comment about the flowers because she was too aware that Kol was stepping forward again. Hayley planted her heels a little more firmly into the damp ground, deciding that she wouldn’t retreat again. Suspicious green hues peered at his fangs before she placed her hands atop of the crests of her hips and popped up a dark brow. “I don’t care for chaos or how it works . Save your monologue for someone who gives a shit.” The alpha muttered.

His family were often able to temper him more vicious impulses. He was again the oddity of the Mikaelsons... Most of them were only more dangerous if there was more than one. Kol, however was at his most deadly when there was no was any control over him to hold him back. So, sadly for poor little Hayley, she was seeing him at his best and worst. “Oh I admire her, I love her. She’s the most impressive woman it’s ever been my privilege to call my sister.” his voice light, easy but no lie in his words, “But we are vastly different people. We were born different and we’ve lived different even when we were made the same.” he said, a deep amount of truth to the vague words. He chuckled lightly at her comment, “Oh Darling, if you’d come at me a few years ago I’d have killed you just for the sport of it.” he told her honestly, “In fact the only reason I haven’t done so yet is because my little birds have been telling me all sorts of delicious things.” he flicked his tongue over his fangs at the word. Kol knew information was power, so he’d collected it.

It wasn’t her fault, truly, she was barely a woman even by her own society’s standards but to him it was like talking to a toddler. An interesting toddler with an interesting few years under her belt but a toddler all the same. “Death and I are old friends.” he told her, for once there was no smug superiority in his tone, merely more truth. “We’ve skirted one another’s space many many times over the centuries and I suspect when he finally does come for me we’ll depart as old friends, me with a smile on my face. A very smart human once told me they struggled to cope with living and didn’t envy me my existence. I killed him for it.” And it was one death that he may have regretted after, the human had at least given him decent conversation. He spread his arms slightly and smirked, “Oh that’s the best way to come upon things. When you’re invited they’re so dull, you know what’s happening. But when you just, pop up, then it’s a world of chaotic possibilities. Speaking of chaotic,” he thumbed back in the direction of the forest, “Something very interesting is happening in there.” Even he didn’t know what but he wasn’t about to admit that, that would be admitting weakness. “Oh but you do. You care Little Daling because you’re still here. You’re smart enough to suspect I know things, and you’d be right.” he finally lent back and smirked, “Because you don’t know much do you? An alpha who doesn’t know much is hardly an alpha.”  

You know that feeling that you get? That instant sinking of your stomach, the swoop it does as it drops to your toes when you’ve made a very very big mistake?

Yeah, that’s what Stiles was feeling roughly 0.2 seconds after his bat made contact with the dude’s skull. The crack may as well have been the sound his stomach made as he tried to burrow to the earth’s core.

“Look man, I’m sorry, but you’re totally to bla–” his stomach made an immediate arrival from the floor to his throat as he was knocked back against a tree in what felt like a blink of an eye. “–Totally not at fault,” he corrected smoothly, scrambling up to his tiptoes so he wasn’t just dangling from his grip. His hands came up to wrap around the one he had about his neck, not that it made much difference.

Oh for fuck’s sake. His boxers had a hole in them. He didn’t wanna be murdered in holy boxers, c’mon.

“Right okay, big scary vamp, got it. My bad, alright? Hey–hey,” he tried to arch away when the dude’s mouth got too close to his neck for comfort, his heart rate spiking. “Dude, I’ll taste like cheetos and milk, don’t do that to yourself. Love yourself a little more. Go treat yourself to a deer, or a bear, or something. They’re the heart healthy option, all the way, uh huh.”

Kol thrived on a lot of things, chaos, death, violence. But he also had a love for fear and the terror running through the little human before him right now was all but a meal in its own right. Delectable. 

“Hmm, I suspected you were going to say something like that.” Kol said lightly, flexing his grip around the other’s throat. Not enough to cut of his air, no no, but enough to make him sweat more than little. And definitely enough to make Stiles aware that Kol could.

“Because you see, I only watch to have a little with the silly little human snooping around the Bayou at night and instead he ran away from me, called me nasty names and hit me with a baseball bat.” Kol pouted, as though genuinely hurt, “If that any kind of polite way for a person to behave?“ he asked, looking at Stiles as the pout gave way to his signature smirk instead.

If the boy were to say anything but ‘no it isn’t Mr. Mikaelson’ Kol may have to bash him against the tree again.  

Hayley didn’t enjoy having her personal space invaded. These days, she barely even let Derek and Cora get a hand on her without a warning or clue that it was coming. She had issues, and they were beginning to swarm the space of her mind the closer Kol got to her frame. He wasn’t doing it on accident, nor did he have good or well-meaning intentions in getting closer to her. “Rebekah’s told me much of what your family is like. I know more about you than you could possibly know about me.” Hayley knew that probably meant little to the Original, but she hoped it at least make him a fraction more conscious because she had an idea of the man she was dealing with. “You really think taking my head clean off is a good idea? Treaty or not, I guarantee if you kill me, you’ll be making more enemies than you’d wish.” An alpha, a pack, the king of the vampires, and the Harvest witch weren’t exactly enemies she’d want to have herself.        

He touched her, and Hayley nearly lost her shit. A hand snapped up, wrenching around his own as she ripped it away from her chin. She wasn’t going to beat him in a physical fight,  but she’d be damned if she let him treat her as some little meek creature he was waiting to slaughter. “Andrea Labonair is dead.” Hayley replied, looking him in the eyes as she arched a brow and released his wrist. Combat boots cracked a stick as she took a step backward, but she stopped herself from shifting and taking off. If she showed Kol that she was afraid of him now, she’d never be out from under his thumb. Fear, Hayley presumed, was the root of the other’s power. “And I am not afraid to join her. Read my pulse, look in my eyes, or whatever you wish. You won’t find it’s a lie.” Hayley wasn’t afraid of death; it’d likely be more of blessing than trying to fight against who she’d become as a kid so that she could become someone better. The fear in her heart laid with leaving others behind or inflicting danger on them by proxy. “So, come on, Kol. Pick a different game.” Emerald eyes were cold, but there was a fire burning beneath them. Hayley was a fighter, even when she was picked to lose.

Kol had a knack for reading people, even the more difficult ones. He could probably count on one hand the number of humans he’d met over his many many years that had confounded him completely (sometimes he’d enjoyed it, other times he’d lost his temper) but in the case of one little alpha who’d crept into the Bayou he felt he was doing quite well. Enough to know he made her uncomfortable. Enough to know she was afraid to some degree. Perhaps not directly by him but of what he was capable of. “Oh little Rebekah, she really needs to learn to keep that big mouth of hers shut. It’ll get her into trouble one of these days.” he said lightly. “As for your knowledge I suspect you do know more about me,” he grinned, “You know all I’d want you to know.” The Wildest Mikaelson, the savage beast. “Oh, if you’ve bitten me it’s an excellent idea. I’d be afraid for my life, I’d be acting in self-defence.” he said with a little pout.

He tilted his head back and let out a deep laugh at her so-called threat, “Oh Darling, I”m starting to think you lied when you said you know about me.” he smirked at her, “Do you honestly believe I care about what enemies I make? I’ve made hundreds, thousands of them in my time and look,” he gestured at himself, “I’m still here.” Ahh, the way she grabbed his hand, not just grabbed, moved. He’d touched a nerve. A very tightly pulled one if his suspicions were to be believed. And then it got better! A step back, only one, but that step may as well have been admitting her fear plain and simple. There was going to be so much fun to be had with this one and he couldn’t wait! “I’m afraid I missed that particular funeral, such a shame, I’d have sent flowers.” he told her lightly, rolling his eyes a little and taking a step forward for the one she took back, “Would you like a medal for that? Death is far from the most frightening thing out there my Darling. You may not be afraid to die, but I am not death. I... am chaos.” he said simply, “My game has been chaos from the start and do you know how chaos works its magic best?” he asked her lightly, still grinning wide enough to show his fangs.    

When a chin sat heavy on her shoulder, Bonnie wriggled to shrug him off, not stopping her incantation as she did so. A deep inhale pushed back her annoyance. More deep breaths were meant to refocus her. She needed to keep her energy positive and focused. While she didn’t think that a little spicy hostility would ruin the brew, the instructions had been very clear. KOL’s instructions, which were working; damn him.

She started to follow his directions, pouring more of her energy into the mix, until he turned the tutorial into a some kind of sexual seminar. Eyebrow cocked, she glanced at Kol sidelong. Still stirring the contents in slow, clockwise motions, she wondered, “Sh-should I talk dirty to it?” Bonnie dropped her gaze onto the bubbling concoction, murmuring, “You like that, don’t you, you little slut?”

Despite herself, Bonnie laughed. She really didn’t want to be having a good time when Kol was an entitled, arrogant prick that thought he could get anything if he flashed his smile bright enough. Because he couldn’t. And just because she laughed it didn’t mean she liked him. 

He was helping, and she was letting him, and that was all there was to it.

The light air of amusement faded from her greenhouse –hovel– when she asked about his being a witch. Not looking up from her potion, Bonnie felt her heart break for him. She bunched her lips and sighed, resigned to that part of herself that didn’t really like to see people in pain. Glancing up, she offered Kol a sympathetic half-smile. 

“I can’t imagine what that’s like.” Shaking her head, she returned her attention to the potion, not looking up as she said, “I can’t imagine not being a witch. I didn’t always know what I was but, now that I do, I don’t ever want to lose that. I don’t ever want to lose this connection.”

Bonnie did lup back up at him then, frowning, apologetic even though there was nothing she could have done to stop it or save him. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

He only chuckled at her attempts to displace him, really it was incredibly entertaining to simply irritate other people. He supposed it was the little brother in him; he’d got a taste of it with Elijah and Niklaus and had never quite fully grown out of it. Kol could practically see the little witch having to force herself to keep that positive mental attitude going and it only made him want to chuckle some more.

Kol watched her watch him and only smirked in return, wondering where this was going to go next and at her suggestion he cackled, bending forward a little as he dealt with a very rare first for him: a witch dirty talking her cauldron. “Darling, the subject of metaphor strikes me as unfamiliar to you. Though if you want a potion you can love to I may happen to know a rather interesting recipe.”

“Besides, this is a classy potion, treat it with respect to open it up. Unlike you it has good morals and unlike me it has a functional relationship with its parents. Be sweet, be seductive, don’t be dirty.” he finished with yet another smirk.

It was easy enough to see he was winning her over.

He needed witches in his corner if he was going to be successful in bringing chaos to Marcel and his bestie Derek. He was going to rip this place down simply because he could and magic was something he needed to have that they didn’t. Seeing that little smile on Bonnie’s face he was beginning to think he was on to a winner.  

“No, you probably can’t. Don’t get bitten by any of my fellows whatever you do.” he said wryly, “Yes. The touch of magic is perhaps the one lover who got away from me. Still, I find moments to feel her tender embrace however . I can.“ he gestured at her spell-work, “Moments like this.”

The problem with this scenario… well, there was a lot of problems, the singular use of the word likely wasn’t the most ideal choice but the most prominent issue right now was that the vampire sitting beside him was a loose canon if he’d ever seen one… and Derek hated feeling like any kind of situation was out of his control. He may not have a white oak stake or a dagger coated in white oak ash- though ensuring there was one on his person at all times moving forward was a fast mental note made in the back of his mind- but the alpha could do damage if Kol decided to get fiesty. 

Though, given the treaty and his position on the Faction, he was sincerely hoping it wouldn’t come to that. There was too much at risk right now… “Marcel isn’t the only one who’s told me tales about you, little Mikaelson.” Derek had met each of his remaining siblings already, Kol was just the missing piece in a matching set. “& you’re exactly as I expected.“

Kol could tell the little Alpha was on edge and he loved that, thrived on it. Being able to put people on the backstep by consequence of his presence alone. Despite his gaze appearing lazy, half-asleep, he was in fact watching very closely and observing all the minutia of Derek’s actions, it was enough to tell him the other was less then comfortable with him. “Oh? You mean it? People talk about me? What sort of things do they say?” he said grandly, “Do they tell tales of the massacre’s I’ve left in my wake, the queens and king I’ve seduced into going to war? Believe every word, they’re all true.”

While Bonnie wanted to be the kind of person who was patient, kind, understanding, and compassionate to everyone she came into contact with, the simple truth was that she wasn’t. Not by a long shot. There were personalities that grated against her nerves from the get go. Lookin’ at you Mr. Darling. 

It was really the fact that he was so damn self important. Coming into her space, acting like some kind of magical authority, it all rubbed her wrong and she was still leaning heavily on the idea of burning his eyebrows off of his face. But, between the slicing, innuendos, and knowledgeable instruction, she had to admit that he maybe, possibly, kind of knew his stuff. Just a little. Fine. She was loath to admit it. He was good.   

As Bonnie repeated the second verse, focusing her energy on the bottom of the mixture and moving it up, the concoction began to boil like the grimoire said it was supposed to. She hadn’t gotten this far on her own and, as she grinned up at Kol, Bonnie begrudgingly acknowledged gratitude that she wouldn’t give voice to. His ego didn’t need any more stroking, especially not from her. 

Dipping a wooden spoon into the mix, she began to stir clockwise. Without lifting her gaze from the brewing potion, Bonnie kept her tone casual as she asked, “You said that you used to be a witch before you became a vampire. Do you miss it? Practicing magic, I mean.”

Kol knew how charming he was. The benefit of existing for as long as he had was that one learnt an awful lot about who they were and how they appeared. Despite the reputation he’d so carefully built up ‘The Wildest Mikaelson’ he took pleasure in subverting it every now and then and worming his way into a person’s good graces.

The good graces of a witch most of all. Having been cut off from that most pure connection with magic he’d striven to access it different ways and found himself able to do that quite nicely. He smirked as the young witch followed his instructions to the letter and poked his head over her, resting it on her shoulder like an old friend would to get a better look... And to try and further irritate her a little bit.

“That’s more like it. There’s still hope for the little witchling yet.” he chuckled, moving his head off since he’d likely get smacked and while it wouldn’t hurt it would hardly appear dignified. “Pour in a little more of your energy, be intimate with the brew. Make it yours and when it finally opens its legs gives it everything and leave nothing.” He said lowly, managing to make the words silly yet intimate all in one go.

Hayley wanted nothing more in the moment than to wipe Kol’s smug face into the dirt and remind him that he wasn’t some god that got to toy with people because it tickled his fancy. Eyes lingered on him as he spoke, and she would’ve set her arms in a folded position across her chest if she hadn’t thought she may need to take a swing or throw her arms up in defense in the next few moments. “A quarter, and it still seems that I’ve found more maturity than you have in ten, Kol.” The brunette called out, not amused by his logic. When his feet connected with the ground, the wolf’s muscles went taunt, torn between preparing to strike and preparing to run. “I get the idea your take on playing is a lot like a cat toying with a mouse.” She said, unbothered by the way his teeth elongated to fangs before her eyes. 

Hayley might have been hedging her bets, but she took a step forward of her own, sizing Kol up as she shook her head. “And I am far from a mouse. You put a hand anywhere near my body, and I’ll send you crying back to Klaus with a werewolf bite from hell. From what I’ve heard, big brother might not receive you so well, and I don’t think you want to go to him for help.” Hayley said, arching a manicured brow at the vampire to see if he’d back off at all or if he’d call her out on her words. “ Evergreen hues were still above his darker hues, willing to peer into the face of the Devil without an ounce of fear registering. Hayley wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing the ounce of fear that he did manage to instill in her heart.

Kol only laughed at her insult, “Oh my Darling, you can snarl and snap at me till your pack comes home but I am old.” he told her with a shrug, “Very old. I’ve seen many, many things. I’ve seen the joy in a woman’s eyes as her babe was birthed to the world, I’ve seen a man weep over his son’s grave. I’ve seen wars fought, civilisations rise and fall.” he turned to her and smirked, “So I invite you to contemplate how insignificant I find you. But... Do you know what I’ve seen more than anything else?” he asked, voice barely a whisper as he stalked closer, she’d hear him though, “Fear.” he breathed the word as though it were a deity he worshipped. “And right now? My Darling little cub? You’re afraid.” his tongue darted out and wiped over his fangs as though he could taste it in the air itself.

Stopping before her he bent his head down slightly and laughed lowly, from deep in his chest, “Big Brother have a complicated relationship, we’ve held grudges against one another three times your existence over relatively minor things. And besides, in the time if takes you to bite me I’d be entitled via the treaty laid out by your dear Mr. Hale to rip your pretty head clean off and stamp it to mush like a rotten pumpkin.” he said lightly, the thought was rather exciting really. “So c’mon little cub, bite me, bite me deep and taste chaos itself.” He half extended a hand towards her aiming to use two fingers to lift her chin and look her over properly. He’d learned a great deal since returning, “The fabled lost Labonair couldn’t hope for a better conquest.” he whispered, face no inches from her own.  

“I’m rude?” Stiles burst out with, feeling offended. “You’re the one who’s just invited themselves into my jeep, not the other way around, buddy.” Narrowing his eyes at him, he didn’t blink when wolves were brought up, how did he– Mikaelson, the last name seemed familiar because duh. “Who says I need anybody to tell me about the Bayou,” he counted with, lifting his chin, jaw settling into a stubborn set, “hm?” 

Shifting his grip on his bat as the other slowly slunk out of his jeep, a muttered a low, “Yeah, that’s right, out you get,” because apparently he was billy big balls and had zero self-preservation skills. Cora would be thrilled at the confirmation. She might even do a jig on his grave. 

From one moment to the next, all Stiles remembers is yelling and something solid, like a head, hitting his bat; it took a couple of horrified seconds to realise he’d just beaned the dude and once he had, he yelped and jumped backwards, one hand outstretched towards him and the other with a death-like hold on his only weapon. “That was a mistake!” Yeah, he got one lucky shot in – that he didn’t remember, cool skills bro – but that didn’t mean he could go toe to toe with him. And granted he’d been a creepy, but he hadn’t been violent (yet?) and honestly he’d like to keep it that. “I just reacted, don’t creep up on people, jesus christ, dude.”

“Ahh, but that was only after you ran away from me like a mad-thing when I so graciously greeted you.” he said lightly, “All I’m looking for is polite conversation here and, believe me when I say, I could be looking for much worse.” And he had in the past. He chuckled lightly, “Normal human’s can’t sense what’s going on here Darling, you wouldn’t come snooping unless you were given a little hint.”  

He chuckled again when the human tried to play the big man, “Oh aren’t you sweet, I could gobble you up.” Barely even a snack but pleasant enough to look at, so it wouldn’t be a total loss. Kol was very opened minded after all. It was only moments after that when a baseball bat smacked into his face.

He was more surprised the human had actually been stupid enough to hit him rather than anything else. It hasn’t hurt, akin to a hand patting him on the face rather than anything else, but he watched with a raised eyebrow as the human stumbled away and found the fun was wearing thin. “Oh Darling, you really shouldn’t have done that.” he smirk remained in place but he shot forward with his speed once more, grabbed the human by the neck and pinned him to the nearest tree, feet dangling off the ground, “I, Little Human, and one of thr world’s first vampire’s, royalty of a sort. I’ve had beings killed for looking at me the wrong way and you strike me?” he pouted and lowered Stiles to the ground, not realising his neck but instead leaning forward and sniffing the pulse point, “I really should kill you on principle alone, or have a little snack... you smell delicious.” he said, running his nose lightly along the skin, just to make the boy squirm.  

Hayley had heard from other wolves than another Original aside from Rebekah had been lingering around the Bayou’s edges. The only option worse than it being Kol was for it to be Klaus, but regardless, it wasn’t much better. The younger Mikaelson brother was known for chaos and violence; he was a trickster that loved to watch havoc unfold. Hayley may have been friends with Rebekah, but she didn’t trust that to afford her salvation from whatever damage the other intended on dishing out.  So, when Hayley heard he’d returned, she ventured out to meet the vampire and see just what his devilish mind had intended for her home.

Jeweled green hues found the Original’s and scanned over his perch in the tree. It bothered her just how invasive his presence felt, and then a sing-song voice came dripping out of his lips that set the hairs on the back of her neck on edge. His words after ignited the red hues in her irises, partially annoyed and partially intended to show him that she was in no way a cub. “Not a cub, and I run this place.” The brunette said, peering up at him with a manicured brow arched with the sense that she was daring him to question her status again. “Why don’t you come down from the tree, Mr. Bat. I’d like to have a word without winding up with a strained neck.”

He’d have hoped that word of his return to the town would’ve spread. Kol thrived on his reputation and he’d spent so very long going over it and ensuring it was perfect. All of the Mikaelson’s were to be feared, to be revered of course. Yet he was the Wildest. He was the one who could kiss you one moment and bite you the next. It was so enjoyable having other’s on edge, as though the whole world were sitting in chairs with one leg too short while he stood tall and prowling, ready to fully dislodge whoever he fancied. Right now there was one little wolf in his sights and ohhh, she was spunky. He liked spunky. They were much more fun to play with.

Swivvling slightly to get a better look at the woman, and seeing those pretty little eyes flare up, he chuckled. “Doesn’t matter how high up the rung you sit My Darling, a cub is still a cub. You can’t have more that half a century under your belt, if that.” And she was their alpha? It had to be the one working with the Hale who was oh-so friendly with his dear Marcel; may they both rot from the inside out. Leaning backwards he fell from the branch, flipping mid-air to land on his feet and lithely stalk towards her, every inch a predator. “Here I am little cub,” he said, managing to fill the words with warning, “Would you like to play with me? I can give a belly rub like it’s no man’s business.” he grinned, fangs on full display.