Elijah Mikaelson

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Klaus lifted his head with an expression of intrigue before extending his hands at his sides as he taunted, “by all means, enlighten me about my own daughter.” 

Elijah’s quit witted remark did coax amusement from the hybrid however and with a soft sigh he attempted to conceal his smile “I had no doubts that you would be the one to know that.”

The hybrid was certainly apprehensive and although the individual he had acquired the address from had put up a fight, that didn’t mean to say that they weren’t walking into a cunningly executed trap. With a sigh, his jaw tightened before forcefully releasing “that, or an elaborate ruse to send us a message. I wouldn’t put it past the bastard, but only because it is something that I would do myself.”

. 

“Relax Niklaus, I don’t claim to know more about your daughter than you do. All I’m saying is I offer a loving uncle’s perspective that is all,” he said, rolling his eyes at the clear pathway to aggression that pursuing the Hope angle seemed to get him when it came to him talking about his niece and his insights on what was happening when speaking to his brother. 

“I find the downward spiral of human ingenuity as the decades go buy to be interesting and depressing -- there’s an app for anything these days.” 

“Don’t liken yourself to Lucien, Niklaus. Even at your most despicable you never quite reached the level of cockroach.” he assured his brother, clapping his arm over Klaus’s shoulder. “I do have an alternate angle though, and it’s one that I feel you’ll agree with. It’s come to my attention that recently Aurora De Martel has resurrected herself and come back to life with irony that I feel can only be brought on by our mother haunting us from witchy hell. And as annoying as her reappearance is... hasn’t Lucien always had a soft spot for her?” Sighing as he remembered his most recent exchange with Aurora, he added; “If there is anything that woman is good for it’s being the loudest and most obnoxious bait.”

Austin hadn’t had any reason, nor desire to return to the Mikaelson compound since the eventful party, until having found out that Athena had moved in. The halls were far too long and unsettling for his tastes and he had gotten lost numerous times, uncomfortable with the guards stationed around every corner.

Understandably, Hope’s guards were on high alert and news of his presence obviously hadn’t been passed from one area of the compound to the next and as he rounded a corner in hope’s of reaching his destination, he was met by the thump of a guards arm pushing against his chest and pinning him against one of the walls.

“Wait, wait…. i’m uh, my mo- Athena, i’m here to see Athena.”

@departedxveridity​ @noblelijah

. 

While Elijah normally ignored any signs of physical altercations in the Compound, with it usually being one or two of his siblings fighting over something he neither had the time or energy to entertain - when he heard Athena’s name it piqued his interest and he stepped out of the library into the main courtyard in time to see Athena’s son being pinned against the wall by one of Hope’s guards. 

Grabbing a dagger from the mantel, it was quite easy for him to throw it and pin the guard’s sleeve to the wall instead, giving Austin the chance to leave and move out of his grasp. “Austin, welcome to the Mikaelson compound,” he said, ignoring the guard who was struggling to get free from the wall. “Athena left this morning but she should be back soon. Would you like a drink?” 

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Of all the Mikaelson’s to come across inside of his nightclub, Elijah had been the last that Xander had expected to see. The bar upstairs was more acquired to finer tastes, but still, he hadn’t expected to come across the notoriously noble original. 

“Apologies” Xander stated, not wishing to cause any disrespect before glancing towards the healed party that he had compelled and instructed to go into one of the side rooms, closing the door behind them. “Not a problem, they’re compelled to sit still and do nothing for the rest of the evening.” 

. 

“I see. So you’ve got them compelled like trained parakeets. Interesting method of crowd control but not exactly inspiring for the barometer of nightclub success,” he observed, making himself a drink in the little private room off to one side of Xander’s nightclub. 

“I’m here following a lead as I try and pinpoint the location of someone who I’d very much like to throw into the deepest parts of the bermuda triangle in an iron locked safe... has anyone unfamiliar come into the night club tonight? Anyone you didn’t recognize?” 

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“Nah” Dreas murmured with a shake of his head, “guess I just usually pick better moment’s to come.” That wasn’t strictly true, he just seemed to have a higher tolerance for the bullshit of others at certain points. 

“Wouldn’t have had you down for a regular in here either” the dragon murmured nonchalantly, casting a glance over Elijah’s impeccable suit. 

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“Definitely not a regular, but when it’s the only place minutes away from the bayou sometimes you cave into doing what’s necessary. I’ve been here a few times after visiting... family... in the area.” It was more complicated than that but Elijah wasn’t one to share information to people he barely knew. 

“Out of curiosity, when would be a better moment to come here? Every time I’ve been in it’s been.. well., this.” 

…

if there’s one thing she can always count on him for … it’s meeting her aloof sense of humor with complete and utter annoyance. and perhaps it’s wrong for such to bring forth a wicked laughter. still, she allows it to filter into the space. and pollute the otherwise still air.  “ are you not one to talk, elijah? if you presume that word of your death did not sweep across the world as quickly as did that of niklaus’s … your time spent in his shadow was far more damaging than i had realized. ”  the curling of deeper smirk settled upon her lips. refusing to allow his mention of her brother to knock down the air of confidence that she had hoped would give her the upper hand.  “ fear not, when my brother is safely returned to me —you shall be the first to know. with a dagger straight to your heart. ”

.

“For someone bricked up as one of the more annoying pillars of the compound’s wine cellar, I see your skills of mindless chatter have not diminished,” Elijah said, not missing a beat as Aurora did her best to retaliate. He had always been irked by the De Martels, annoyed with Tristan for his lofty ambitions and deranged ways of reaching them, and at Aurora for the endless headaches she’d caused him throughout the years their paths had crossed. “Better a shadow than a nuisance, running after my brother and hanging off of his every word,” he said, pointedly looking at the woman in front of him trying to figure out a way he could once again get rid of her for all of their sakes. “I wouldn’t count on Tristan returning. Unless of course he has already returned and decided not to come find you. Now that would be an unfortunate turn of events considering how highly you regard your brother. Besides, he’s always had terrible aim. Short arms -- something that must be a shared family trait.” 

it’s a sound that she is all too familiar with: the quiet echoing of hesitant footsteps. they flash a reminder of her brother. always dancing upon eggshells if only to keep her mood in line with whatever favor or disappointment he intended to drop upon her shoulders. this is the closest she will reach to hearing such again. someone lurking behind the shadows. uncertain of their next move. if she had thought to pay more attention, she might have smelled their fear. polluting the air. making them an easy target. but … she simply offers a laugh. “ oh dear. i thought you knew better than to sneak up on a lady— have you no manners? ”

@farfromhomestarters​

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The woman’s comment confirmed his suspicions as Aurora turned around he was greeted with the familiar smug look of defiance. “A fitting comment if there was a lady to be found. What is it about you and Lucien, Madame De Martel -- you both stubbornly seem to refuse succumbing to death,” he commented, standing in front of her almost like he was blocking the way for her to get back on the streets. “Have you dragged your brother back to this world with you or do we simply have the pleasure of yours and Lucien’s antics?” 

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Elijah, sweetheart.” Athena breathed as she reached up to place a hand against his cheek. “You don’t need super senses to hear your family argue. Trust me.” Athena teased lightly. She didn’t always mind hearing the Mikaelson’s arguments. Elijah was right in his observation that they were worst than most families. But a small part of Athena was thankful to be around a family again, even if she wasn’t really part of it. But more often than not the fights she had overheard caused a more intense reaction from the witch. Since reuniting with her sister, Athena had been experiencing flashbacks of her childhood and the yelling only exacerbated the problem. She could only be thankful that by the time Elijah came back to see her, she had somewhat calmed herself enough to act as if everything was fine.

A wave of comfort washed over her as she was pulled closer, her lips curling up into a smile as they were pressed against his. “What can I say? You bring out the best in me.” she teased with a smirk, her fingers grazing against his jawline. “Honestly, that sounds like heaven. Are you sure we can just do that?”

. 

Athena’s comment about his family’s arguments made him laugh, chuckling into her shoulder as he laid down next to her on the bed, pulling her up against him as he continued to chuckle. “I’d call it bickering more than arguing, but you are very right,” he said, kissing the side of her head as he was curious of what other observations she’d been able to make in her time at the compound. 

“My darling we can do whatever we want,” he said, moving his kisses from her cheek down her neck as he locked his arms around her with no intention of letting go. “I’m glad you’re here, I don’t think that I could get any rest if you weren’t by my side, and I don’t intend on re-experiencing what day to day life feels like without you,” 

There had been a rise of vampire’s looking for places to feed that they could go undetected, which unfortunately for Xander seemed to in mean his nightclub. Having followed the distinctive scent of blood, he was fairly confident of what he would find and he was not disappointed. 

With the injured party now healed and compelled and the vampire in question sufficiently threatened, what Xander hadn’t anticipated was somebody witnessing the entire thing. Which thanks to the DSA, left him feeling vulnerable.

“Am I going to have to repeat myself?” he questioned sternly, now turning towards the interruption. 

@farfromhomestarters​

. 

Another lead to Lucien directing Elijah to the Viper Nightclub had him witness the scene in front of him which for the most part didn’t affect him - he’d seen worse and done much worse in times when blood supply wasn’t great through the years, but he knew that Hope would probably want to know what was going on. 

“You are free to do whatever you wish but can I suggest making sure that human remains alive until the blood is out of her system. The last thing we need is another uncontrollable vampire walking the streets.” he offered. 

Despite the fact that Dreas’ had spent most of his life now in human form, he still felt as though he was an imposter in his own skin. What he wouldn’t give to be able to shift freely and quite literally spread his wings again, but he was ruled by the fear of what would happen if he did. 

There were certain things he did enjoy in his mortal body, however and being able to drink in a bar was one of those things.

As he entered big auggies bayou bar though, he did with a sigh as it was barely the evening and a fight had already broken out. With stools being smashed against tables and punches being thrown, Dreas still intended to get to that drink.

“Menso’s” he groaned beneath his breath, narrowly ducking and weaving between bodies as more people piled into the fight “yo, can I get a beer” he called out over the noise, unintentionally stepping onto somebody in the process “and whatever they’re drinking as an apology” he murmured, gesturing towards the owner of the foot he had stepped onto.

@farfromhomestarters​

. 

As a rule, Elijah didn’t make visits to the Bayou a habit, but a lead on Lucien’s location conveniently lived just by the Bayou so he figured stopping for a drink wouldn’t be too crazy. Of course, the evening’s entertainment seemed to consist of one man saying something less than flattering about another’s sister and a full on fist fight ensuing but Elijah just spared a glance and remained by the bar sipping his scotch. 

“That’s not necessary,” he said, waving off the man’s apology, not even phased by him stepping on his foot in the crowd of people pushing and shoving to get to the bar. “First time here? There are a couple more bars closer to the quarter that are less... crowded.” 

.

“Remind me when you became the expert upon my daughter’s needs, brother?” Klaus quipped sharply as he turned to face his older sibling. His brow furrowed and his gaze narrowed expressively towards Elijah, resisting every urge to push the offered handkerchief away, but instead he plucked it from his brothers grasp with an eye roll.

“Do you not have your own woes to be attending to? Perhaps a suit to iron or a waistcoat to be measured for?” 

His jaw tightened as his brother spoke and again, he had to resist an eye roll before plucking an address from his jacket pocket and holding it out for Elijah to take. “Might I suggest you tone down the attitude and for once, dare to have a little faith.”

. 

“Believe it or not I do have some insight to contribute when it comes to my niece, brother.” he said. rolling his eyes at Niklaus though he could understand Klaus wanting to spend more time with Hope now that he had the chance to be there for her and he would never dream of robbing his brother of that. 

“Don’t be ridiculous Niklaus, there are now people who do that for us. I think it’s an app.” he said, waving off his brother’s jab at him, very used to managing his siblings’ little remarks towards him thinking of it as a projection of frustration which Elijah was experiencing as well at the way Lucien seemed to slip through their fingers. 

Taking the scribbled address from his brother he looked at it, vaguely familiar with the street name. “I give credit where it is due brother, an address is a giant step forward in finding him-- do you think this is where he has been hiding?” 

Elijah, sweetheart.” Athena breathed as she reached up to place a hand against his cheek. “You don’t need super senses to hear your family argue. Trust me.” Athena teased lightly. She didn’t always mind hearing the Mikaelson’s arguments. Elijah was right in his observation that they were worst than most families. But a small part of Athena was thankful to be around a family again, even if she wasn’t really part of it. But more often than not the fights she had overheard caused a more intense reaction from the witch. Since reuniting with her sister, Athena had been experiencing flashbacks of her childhood and the yelling only exacerbated the problem. She could only be thankful that by the time Elijah came back to see her, she had somewhat calmed herself enough to act as if everything was fine.

A wave of comfort washed over her as she was pulled closer, her lips curling up into a smile as they were pressed against his. “What can I say? You bring out the best in me.” she teased with a smirk, her fingers grazing against his jawline. “Honestly, that sounds like heaven. Are you sure we can just do that?”

.

The way that she was handling things with his family all under one roof was amazing to Elijah, and he was thankful that she’d gone with him when he returned to the compound, always feeling better when she was close by and not even for the reasons that one would think. He worried about her feeling unsafe at the loft by herself, but it had also gotten to the point where he knew that he would never fully feel comfortable anywhere if she wasn’t there with him. He let that part of the conversation fade away, even if something was nagging him about how she was brushing off the Mikaelson fighting and bickering because he knew from experience that it was never run of the mill fights when it came to the siblings. “This is Niklaus and Rebekah, just wait to hear what this place sounds like when our younger brother Kol decides to show up... say the word and we will leave to go back to the loft.” 

“I’m flattered but you underestimate how perfect you are without anyone’s help,” he said, smirking at her and placing softer kisses down her jaw as she mentioned how good staying in bed sounded. “I think it can be arranged... if that’s what you want to do instead of going out,” he said, surprised that she seemed to be volunteering to remain at the compound when he had thought that she’d be doing everything she could to get out and away from the Mikaelsons if given the opportunity to leave. “Last night does deserve an encore performance..” 

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She remembered that conversation, that exact moment.  Sitting on a park bench in the town square with a banana split sitting between them, talking about responsibilities - and about her mother.  A conversation she’d initiated because she thought that her uncle looked a little lonely.  She wondered whether all of her long, endless life as a tribrid would be so easily remembered; as cities rose and fell and worlds orbited above her head, would that memory always be with her?  Would this one?  She hoped so.  To forget it would make an immortal life a much lonelier one.

Her breath was shaky, and a few tears walked warm lines down her cheeks, but there was a smile on her face at the knowledge that she wouldn’t be without him again.  “I love you.  And I’m grateful for you.  When I first took this city, even without my humanity I tried to run it the way that you and my dad would have.  The way you once did.  And,” she cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes as discreetly as possible.  “And that’s a lot easier with you here to ask.”

. 

Wrapping his arm around her tightly, trying to do away with the tears that had slid down her cheeks, he kissed the top of her head again and let her lean against him. “You.. are much better than both your father and I combined. Even without your humanity, your ability to lead people far surpassed anything Niklaus and I would have been able to do. You let yourself connect to them, and their loyalty to you isn’t something that is forced. Look around you and see how many of your people are still around, still looking out for you.” He said, thinking about the many personalities he’d met around the compound who were there out of their loyalty to Hope. “You’ll need that, as we face Lucien. People you can count on.” he added, giving her a small smile. 

“We are here for you, little one. We’re not planning on going anywhere.” he said, giving her a smile. “And hell hath no fury like your mother if Lucien tries to make any advance towards you,” he joked, both of them knowing that Elijah would not hesitate in ripping Lucien’s head off if he took a questionable step towards Hope. 

.

Athena couldn’t deny that she missed the privacy of their loft where it was just the two of them. But she would go anywhere as long as it meant that Elijah was right by her side. The compound wasn’t the ideal space for the couple with his family’s knowing gazes and snide comments. But the witch was slowly learning that they were overly protective of each other, for good reason given the history that she had heard about. And that outsiders were subject to scrutiny until they proved themselves trustworthy. So she tried her best to walk on eggshells and stay on everyone’s good side for Elijah’s sake.

Athena let out a tired hum as the bed moved beneath her, opening her eyes just enough to find Elijah returned to his space beside her. She scooted closer to the original, cuddling up to his side, hand resting against his chest. “Well some of us don’t have super hearing so it’s about ten times easier.” she teased with a soft giggle. “It’s also helpful when someone knows exactly how to spend the entire night tiring you out.” her innocent smile was replaced with a playful smirk as the events of the previous night played through her mind.

. 

Klaus had made some very pointed remarks about how he’d been hiding away in the loft and not participating as much as he should have been in finding Lucien, but after the holiday party he knew that his place was to be by his family’s side as they dealt with the pest and found a way to get rid of him for good. While he was glad that Athena had come with him, it didn’t mean that he worried for her any less, but he made it clear to his siblings that she was important to him and as much as he had to deal with their teasing he knew they would understand that. 

Chuckling at her reasoning he just nodded, “You’re right I’m sure that does help - it would certainly help in tuning out my siblings during an argument. We can get quite.. spirited.. when tensions are high. More than most families.” he said, sure that Athena would understand given their reputation. “My love I don’t know what you mean. If anyone was skilled last night at tiring the other out, it was the human who managed to exhaust and completely enchant the original vampire.” he said, smirking and pulling her closer for a kiss, not understanding how one person could be so beautiful. “If I could keep you here in this bed with me forever I would, I hope you know that.” 

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When was the last celebration they’d been together for?  Hope didn’t count the farewell dinner for her father, because her mother had been dead by then and Jackson long in the ground as well.  She honestly didn’t know, because even Freya and Keelin’s wedding had come after much loss, and to think beyond that meant reaching into times that they had been separated by time and circumstance.

“I wish that you’d been there for them all.  That my mom, dad, all of you had been there.  But I’m going to do my best to remember that you are now.  That we have this chance, and that future holidays together will be plenty.  I want you to have that joy too.  To be here with our family, old and new.”  She worried her lip between her teeth.  “If you knew all of my story I don’t know how proud you’d be.”

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He honestly didn’t think she would remember the last time they’d all been together and happy - without any kind of cloud looming over their heads or tragic event just passing. They had all done what they could to protect Hope from everything, but in doing so they’d missed out on time they could have spent with her, and it was something he’d thought about many times on the other side. 

“You asked me once how old I was when I swore to always protect your father,” he said, leaning back and showing that he had no intention of going anywhere. “You told me that we shared the fact that we were young with heavy burdens to carry -- but I think that makes it easier for me to tell you that no matter what you did? No matter what happened when we were all gone, I am proud of you for being the person you are today, and all of that history is what makes you who you are now. You were given an impossible amount of baggage and loss and you’re supposed to make mistakes, I’m just glad that from now on we’re all here for you to fall back on, when you need to. Do away with those worries little one because I can guarantee you that no matter what you did? No matter how unthinkable or horrible, you can count on me being right behind you and standing up for you from here on out.” 

Coming into his room with coffee for her, he set it down on the bed side table before getting back into bed. “I don’t know how you can sleep so soundly in the Mikaelson compound, but it’s quite adorable.” he said, smirking at her as she started to wake up. @departedxveridity

Klaus’ hunt for Lucien was becoming a little bloody and within his inability to find where the bastard seemed to be hiding, he found his temper wavering. It wasn’t difficult to pick out the members of the DSA in the general population though, so for the most part, he was beginning to pluck those off one by one in hopes that somebody soon, would give up a location.

He had tracked down and followed a warlock assisting Lucien into the shadow’s of an alleyway and in his frustrations of not being given the information required, Klaus had made messy work of tearing into the other’s body. Something that he would be sure to have one of the Hope’s guards clean up.  He could sense the unwelcomed intrusion as they began their approach, catching their scent long before he heard the footsteps from behind, but still he intended to address them. “If an audience had been required, i’d have been certain to assemble one myself” he hissed sharply as he dropped the lifeless body with a thud, before stepping over it as he turned towards the shadows “might I suggest that you reveal yourself before my hand slips and you find your heart gift wrapped and presented to the queen.”

@farfromhomestarters​

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“Ah I doubt my niece would like my heart served up to her on a silver platter, but I appreciate the theatrics, Niklaus.” Elijah said, grabbing a handkerchief from his side pocket as he stared at the remendous amount of blood splattered along the alleyway, resisting the pull of the smell of blood and just rolling his eyes at his brother. “Clean up, the last thing we need is this town’s version of Matt Donovan coming here and playing the beauty to your literal beast.” he noted, practically guiding Niklaus to get out of there. 

“So did you find anything out before you disemboweled them or are we just going to figure this all out as we go along... as usual..” 

.

“I guess, but when have the Mikaelsons ever embraced customs?” she teased back.  His warning that Hayley might not like what she was being given only made her all the more curious, and she opened the small package slowly as if it might explode at any moment.  Beneath the wrapping paper was a small box, one she opened to reveal a set of keys that looked so familiar it startled her.

“I think it’s probably time you drove a Bentley.”

They were nearly identical keys.  But this time he wasn’t trying to give her a reason to stay alive.  He was only giving her a present.

“Uncle Elijah…” she breathed, holding them up to the light a moment before she got up to hug him.  “Thank you so much.”

. 

“A fair point,” Elijah said, raising his glass to his niece and chuckling at how quick witted she’d remained since the last time they were all together at a celebration like the one they were escaping from in that moment. 

“I missed many birthdays.. christmas eves, school events where I would have liked to be there to cheer my favorite niece on,” He said, waving off her thanks, “I fully intend on making sure you get to experience the joys of life rather than having to carry all the burdens of your family around on your shoulders. This gift is just the beginning of that. I don’t think I’ve had the chance to tell you how proud I am of you, despite all odds you grew up to be even more amazing than the little girl who had us all wrapped around her little finger.”