better you die than i

♊ ― After he was booed off the stage, Kai stepped down and back to the bar, unfazed. “Tough crowd tonight,” he mused aloud, as if he hadn’t purposefully performed in any such a way that would cause a spectacle. “Thank you.” He said to the patron as he swiped their drink for himself ― flashing them a devilish, yet goofy, grin as he took the first sip.

“I…” Words failed him here as they did then. He could have told her but he did not. He said nothing. The utter silence was identical to the same silence he gave Niko. There was simply not an explanation or defense Kas could give. Not one that in the least was excusable. “I did.” The only thing he was able to give was full accountability. That the fault lied on nobody’s shoulders but his own. 

“Why? Who were you to make those decisions? At the very least someone could have told me she was safe. Klaus killed everyone I loved. Do you know what it would have meant for me to know that my daughter was safe?!” Katherine shouted. 

“are we….” there was a pause as the young man looked around with a confused look on his face. he looked back at the brunette woman “we are not dead again are we? or i mean me, i don’t know if you are dead, because i have no freaking idea what is real anymore”

— @petrovasfire​

“From the looks of it, I’d say limbo, which means someone royally screwed up. Or screwed someone over.” Katherine tapped a heal. “I don’t plan on staying.” 

“1498.” A year he could not forget knowing how detrimental it had been, even had it not all started there. “You returned to Bulgaria to search for someone you thought lost, the daughter whom was torn from your arms. The daughter that Nikolai too sought over the years.” He paused for a moment, trying to find the words to explain why that search had seemed in vain. “Nikolai always has - had a undying loyalty to you, from the moment you met. I’m certain he wished only to be reunited with you, to have his family whole.. but this he could not have. I thought I was protecting him and when word spread of Niklaus, I knew I could not tell him…” At the time, Kas never calculated the cost to come of the secrets he kept. “Your daughter was never lost, Katerina, only concealed. I ensured she be safe, that one day she might find you and Nikolai again.” It seemed all a loss, not knowing if anything after came from it after all. “I can not give back the time lost neither can I undo what events may have unfolded. For that I deeply regret.”

“All... All that time you knew where she was and you did nothing to let me know she was even alive? Who made the decision that he couldn’t have that? Him? Or you?” Katherine questioned, not knowing which answer would hurt more. 

“i have noticed. many seem to be” he was a survivor too, perhaps not in the same way as she was, but he had come back from the dead a few times “yeah, don’t call me that anymore. i’m not little gilbert” he sighed, never had liked to be called that “the role has been taken over by others, not that it matters to you or anyone else” the words came out as a whisper.

“Aww, is that a bit of a sore spot for you? Always stuck in the shadows being little brother?” Katherine asked. “No, you’ve definitely grown up.” 

“I could tell you that it is a pleasant surprise but it would be unfair to do so, knowing the friend I once were wasn’t what you may believed to be, Katerina.” He had no idea if Nikolai got the chance to tell Katherine the truth, maybe that was how it was supposed to be. “If Nikolai were standing beside us he could tell you what I could not.” 

Katherine firmly stood her ground as she looked at him. “What are you talking about?” Hearing the name of her lost love was a pain in her heart that was still raw after all this time. 

“Guess that explains Nadia.” she muttered, rolling her eyes. 

Katherine gave her eyes like daggers. “Don’t talk about my daughter. Keep in mind, if she didn’t exist, neither would you. I had her ripped from me twice, and that’s not a fate I’d wish on even you.” 

It was unsettling, to have lived and to have lost. Kas felt somewhat with disbelief. Had in all been a lie? A reason for him to confront demons? Had he too soon forgotten the past? The path which lead to this all? However this were to play out, he had to face what was to come.

 Finding himself trapped, but not all alone, in the distance he could see a figure, a fragment of the past. “Zdrasti? Tova si ti, Katerina?” 

@petrovasfire​

It wasn’t often that she was called Katerina these days, and it was even more rare to hear Bulgarian spoken to her. The voice was familiar as if from a distant dream or a long forgotten memory. Slowly she turned on her heel, walking towards the man. With realization, she titled her head. “Kaspar?...” She asked, her tone soft and full of surprise. 

jeremy sat on a bench, holding up his phone. he had a video call with his family, it had gone a while since he saw them “hey, i gotta go” he said to them, waved before he hung up the phone. the hunter looked up at the doppelganger “you always find a way to come back, huh? why am i not surprised” he knew the brunette wasn’t his sister, he could tell them apart.

— @petrovasfire​

“Because if there’s anything I’ve proved over the years, it’s that I’m a survivor.” Katherine shrugged. “Long time no see baby Gilbert.” 

“Speaking of planning ahead. You might be interested to know that the father of Elena’s child is Klaus Mikaelson.” Enzo said offering Katherine an advantage did she not know already. “When you take on the role of Elena Gilbert, remember that.” 

“Wait, what?” Katherine held up a hand. “The father is Klaus. Are you kidding me?” She asked, completely dumbfounded, something that rarely happened. “Has she learned nothing?” She shook her head. “How could she be so stupid..” 

“It’s you. You have to be up to something.” He said.

“I suppose you’ll have to take it upon yourself to figure it out.” Katherine winked. 

“You’re wrong.”  Although he couldn’t completely deny the thought, there was some truth to Katherine’s words. There could come to a point where he’d go too far. That he would admit to. “But even if she does, hate me, I’ll earn her forgiveness..” 

“Just saying, you might wanna plan ahead for that before you start on your grand master plan.” Katherine advised, knowing Bonnie well enough to know that this could all blow up in his face very easily.  

“You’re not stupid, you’re just a bad person. There’s a difference - stupidity I can forgive.” the doppelganger pointed out plainly. “Play along or don’t, I don’t really care about what you do anymore. You stopped ruling my life years ago.”

“Ouch, I see you’re still bitter.” Katherine quipped. “Careful, anger isn’t good for the baby.” 

“It’s no one’s business, Katherine… that’s it. I’d like a little bit of privacy in my life. I didn’t sign up for a tell all…”

“Privacy? Right.” Katherine rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. I know it’s more than that, but I’ll play along for now.” 

“From where I’m standing you’re a little less than ten.” He spoke putting all seriousness aside. “Isn’t that sweet? It warms my hear to know you care about me.” He knew she didn’t actually care, her mischievous ways had not gone unforgotten, he may hate Damon, but he could also agree that Katherine was neither a great ally either. 

“Oh, but I’m serious.” Katherine replied, tilting her head. “In your gallant effort to win her back you may just end up pushing her into his arms more. Especially if you cause her to hate you.”  

“Darn.” He said sarcastically. “What are you up tp Katherine?”

“What makes you think I’m up to something?” Katherine asked, a playful look in her eyes. 

Rolling her eyes at Katherine’s comment, she’s quick to confirm “No, it’s not Damon’s. That train left the station a long time ago. Besides, unlike you, Katherine, I care about my friends enough not to stab them in the back.”

“Something tells me you’re worried about the truth getting out.” Katherine commented, seeing as she was reluctant to give the name of the real father of her child.