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It’s nearly three am- the witching hour, so naturally, your delightful prick of a boss decides it’s a perfectly reasonable time to be calling you. Your phone buzzes persistently beside you, like a pissed off yellowjacket, until you finally snatch it off the bedside table and raise it to your ear.
You wish you could say that this was the first time Klaus has called you this late- likely requesting a dumb or trivial thing that totally could have waited until morning. But in the three years you’ve worked for him, this has unfortunately become a standard occurrence. No matter what time zone you find yourself in, Klaus will find you in the dead of night and disrupt your sleep schedule.
“This better be important.” You all but whine into the phone, your voice still thick with sleep. Professionalism goes away after eight pm- Klaus knows this about you.
“Every one of my calls should be of the utmost importance to you.” Klaus growls out quickly, the sound of footsteps accompanying him in the background.
So not only is he irritable, he’s also anxious; a stellar combination that could only spell trouble for you.
You'd love to claim it's some grand connection from the soulmate bond that makes it so easy for you to read the hybrid, but honestly? Klaus tends to wear his blackened heart on his sleeve; it was easy to tell when he was in a shitty mood- no mythical bond necessary.
You knew you were soulmates the moment you shook hands with the Original devil himself, having scarcely made it through the tedious interview process to become his errand witch- an honor no one wants unless it’s a last resort (and it very much was for you).
Like many young witches and werewolves, you had dreamed of meeting your soulmate practically your whole life. While the chances of finding your fated match was rare, you didn’t want to settle for anything less.
Your first reaction to finding out Niklaus Mikaelson is your soulmate wasn’t disappointment or despair; it was hope. That maybe your luck was turning around, maybe he wasn’t as bad as the rumors claimed. That this was your reward for surviving your rough upbringing and escaping your coven.
With bated breath, you waited for him to acknowledge it. To smile, and say, ‘I’ve been waiting for you for a thousand years’. Hell, you'd even take the cliche and wolfish alternative, 'Mine'.
But that never happened. Instead, he brusquely continued to lay out the first dangerous task he would give you, as though you were anyone else to him. Expendable. All the while your heart shattered within your chest, the shrapnel piercing what was left of your optimism and faith until it bled out, leaving you the bitter cynic you are today.
“What can I do for you, Your Majesty?” You ask, sarcasm lacing every word.
As he speaks, you sit up in bed and click on the lamp. You almost don’t remember what city you’re in; you travel so much that hotel rooms all start to blur together. You tell yourself you prefer it that way; that settling down in one place too long would only allow the loneliness to settle in too.
“A book, a knife, and a cursed jewel. Got it.” You recite as he finishes his list of demands. “Anything else? A partridge in a pear tree, perhaps?”
“You’re lucky I find your cheek amusing.” He growls again, although there is a certain softness, almost fondness, to it that wasn’t there before. Though you could be imagining that.
“What am I, if not your loyal jester?”
He makes an odd humming noise in response, as though considering giving you an honest response to that but stopping himself at the last minute.
“I trust this is in capable hands. Call me when it is done.”
“You got it, Boss.” Now it’s your turn to hesitate and mull over your words. “Um, rumor has it you’re getting close to breaking your curse…” You carefully broach the topic.
“The doppelganger and moonstone have been acquired. All that's left is to wait until the full moon.” He replies, sounding much more casual than you would expect him to after waiting a thousand years for this.
“Oh.” You reply dumbly and internally chastise yourself for it. “Well, good luck with that.”
You hang up before you can make more of a fool of yourself in front of your boss and soulmate.
Realistically, you should have known that this was a possibility; that he might break the curse within your lifetime. On the one hand, you’re all for it; maybe he’ll stop being such a miserable ass if he's no longer locked away from his full potential. But if he unlocks his werewolf side… You worry it might also expose your connection to him.
After about a year of working for Klaus, a year of internally berating yourself and wondering why you weren’t good enough for even a monster like him, it suddenly dawned on you that perhaps Klaus doesn’t feel the bond. It's an ability only witches and werewolves have, after all, and he’s been cursed to be unable to access that side of him. You don’t have any evidence to back this theory up, nor is there a precedent for this sort of thing… but the thought gave you some comfort.
And now a whole lot of anxiety.
Because what if the next time you meet, he finally sees you the way you’ve seen him this entire time… and he still doesn’t want you? Could you survive that heartbreak a second time?
—
Klaus does not pick up any of his other employees from the airport; they can use the company card to get a taxi or walk for all he cares. But you’re different; special. You’ve never cowered in fear of him, nor given him reason to think you're plotting against him.
You’re abrasive, snarky; you speak your mind and roll your eyes at the consequences. But you’re also genuine, kind but not nice, making him honestly believe that a part of you cares about him. A foolish thought; he doesn’t know much about your past, but he knows you’re running from something. You may work for him, but you also use him as your loyal guard dog to keep the rest of the world away.
A role he doesn’t necessarily hate. Not when it’s you he’s protecting.
Despite a seven-hour flight that would leave most people looking rumpled, you still appear radiant, marching through the airport with a battered yellow suitcase at your side.
It clearly needs replacing. He'll just have to buy you one; despite being paid generously, you’ve never been one to actually spend your hard-earned money, leaving him with no choice but to gift you things under the guise of it being a work expense.
He can tell the moment you see him; your lips automatically curve into a grin, as though his face is a welcome sight, before you school your expression into something more neutral.
He wishes that he could see that smile more.
“Oh my God, it’s been so long. You look-” You scan his appearance for a moment, and he tries not to preen under your gaze like a goddamn bird, “Exactly the same… Which is weird, because I thought you’d be like, taller, or hairier now. Wolfman-like, you know?”
“You know that’s not how this works.” He states dryly, only earning a playful grin in response.
You both begin walking towards the exit of the airport, to where he illegally parked the car and compelled a security guard to watch over it. He places your suitcase in the trunk and opens the passenger door for you. When you’re both settled into the car, you finally speak up again.
“So what’s the job this time?”
That’s an excellent question.
Technically, he doesn’t have a task for you; couldn’t even come up with one if he tried. All he knows is that from the moment he woke up after unlocking his werewolf side, all his instincts demanded that you be at his side at all times. Not used to having such strong instincts, nor any practice learning to control them, he’d obeyed the impulse and gotten you on the first flight to him.
Now you’re here, your soft scent filling the car, your heartbeat calm and steady beside him, and he feels more at peace than he has in a thousand years. You’re not going anywhere, anytime soon.
He just isn’t sure how he’s supposed to explain that to you.
“For now I need you nearby. I have enemies everywhere, and no doubt they’ll want to challenge my new strength.” He explains finally.
“Protection detail, got it.” You incorrectly presume. “I’ll brush up on my fireball.”
“See that you do.”
Even if his intention is to protect you from those who sought to harm him, it couldn’t hurt for you to also practice your more offensive magic.
“So, um… How have you been, since breaking your curse, I mean?” You ask cautiously, your body curled towards the car door, as though trying to stay as far away from him as possible.
You seem… Scared. Which is odd, because he hasn’t given you any reason to be. He's been... curt... with you, on occasion, sure, but never has his violent nature turned on you. Nor will it ever.
So what's making you shy away from him now? Does his hybrid nature make you uneasy? You’re a witch, after all; on principle, your kind aren’t fond of abominations like himself. But you have never acted this way before, and it isn’t as though he’s been hiding what he is from you this whole time...
“Not much has changed.” He shrugs casually and hopes it's enough to reassure you.
It’s not technically a lie; he feels the same as he always has… it’s just more intense now, and as a vampire it’d already been heightened. He doubts telling you that would go over well, especially considering you’re the object of his obsession in many cases.
“Well that’s… good.” You reply uneasily.
“It is?”
“Yeah, of course. I mean, you were already the apex predator of the supernatural world before breaking your curse, what more could you want?”
For this aching feeling of inadequacy to go away. To finally feel like I belong. To be strong enough to protect the people I love without hurting them… To be allowed to love you.
He doesn't say any of that. Doesn't even let himself consider your reaction if he did.
“Well, I could always use more power. Can’t let people get too arrogant, thinking they stand a chance against the Original hybrid, you know?”
—
As the weeks go by, insanity starts to sink in. You can’t figure out what Klaus wants from you. Clearly it isn’t protection; he’s actually the one defending you when his first attempt at creating another hybrid went horribly wrong, and the feral creature tried to lash out at you.
He doesn’t seem to want you to be investigating that either, however.
No, all he seems to want from you, as of late, is your proximity. Whether it be having the hotel room next door, or sitting in the passenger seat of his car for hours at a time. Sipping coffee across from one another every morning, sharing meals every evening; your days are becoming filled with Niklaus Mikaelson.
It’s the best and worst sort of torture.
You’ve never felt so at peace and uneasy at the same time. Every day, you learn a little bit more about Klaus, and the tiny seed of fondness you buried long ago, starts to bloom into something else. Something delicate and beautiful, with hidden thorns that are sure to cut you if you ever try to touch it.
Knowing Klaus is your soulmate is one thing. Knowing he’s actually the sort of person you could fall in love with is entirely another.
But you can’t help but be captivated by his stories, touched by his small acts of chivalry towards you, amused by his sense of humor, and the way you can verbally spar with one another for hours at a time.
But the fear is still there.
Despite it being summer and travelling through the hottest parts of the US, you’ve taken to wearing long sleeves and jeans. You’d wear gloves too, if you could come up with a good enough excuse to tell the hybrid when he inevitably asks.
Anything that prevents skin to skin contact is now your new best friend. Not that Klaus is especially touchy with you in the first place- you still have some professional boundaries… Though they dwindle by the day. But you don’t want to take that risk and expose the bond to him.
Guilt eats at you every time he does something nice that makes you wonder if he already feels the tug of the bond and is responding to its call. But you can't do anything to change that, you can’t risk getting hurt again.
… If only Klaus would make it easier on you, instead of dragging you to a sandy beach at sunset- a scene that would be undeniably romantic if it were anyone else.
Gentle ocean waves lap at your bare feet and soak the hem of your rolled up jeans. The world is washed in gold as the sun dips into the water, and a fierce breeze whips around you, making you grateful for the extra layer of clothes you have on. It’s beautiful, serene; one of the best sights you’ve seen, and you’ve seen a lot. There's not a doubt in your mind that who you're with is what makes all the difference.
“You know, I’d never seen the ocean before I started working for you.” The words escape your lips before you can think better of them.
You’d never seen much of anything, before you escaped your hometown and stumbled into Klaus’ service. Your former coven is rather closed off; many never leave the isolated mountain town they called home.
“And now you’ve seen all of them.” He comments, his voice so soft the wind almost swallows it. “I take it, you enjoy travelling?”
You pause, trying to figure out the best way to answer that question. Truthfully, you don’t dislike travelling, although you’d be rather happy if you never have to sit on a twelve-hour flight next to a screaming baby again. You enjoy exploring new places, taking in breathtaking views and talking to people with backgrounds so different from your own…
But can you really claim you enjoy something, love, something, if you’re too afraid to even consider the alternative?
So, in a moment of vulnerability, you tell him that.
“I don’t mind it… But I think a part of that is because the thought of settling down anywhere, putting down roots, makes my skin break out in hives.”
He’s quiet, as though digesting your words. When he does finally speak, it's as though he’s found the exact phrases to break you and put you back together again.
“You know, if there was anything I could do… Any place I could make safe for you…” he trails off. “By now you must know that your enemies are my enemies, and anything that stands in the way of your happiness is a threat I’ll gladly remove.”
It was as close to a confession of love you’ll likely ever get from Klaus.
All at once, you feel as though a blindfold has been ripped from your eyes, and you can no longer look away from the blatant affection in his.
Tell him.
What if he hates you for keeping it a secret for so long?
Take his hand.
What if you’re misreading the signs, and he actually doesn’t feel the same as you?
Like a coward, you deny both impulses, tearing your gaze away from Nik and scrambling for something to say that would put you back on stable ground.
“You’d really let your best errand witch skip off into retirement? I’m almost offended.”
You wait for him to follow you into familiar territory; playful bickering as boss and unruly employee. Tired sighs and rolling eyes- not this raw emotion you aren’t brave enough to name.
But you should know by now how stubborn he is, and that he rarely does what you want him to.
“You know you’re more than that to me. You always have been.” He says earnestly, as all the air escapes from your lungs and you stare at him with wide eyes.
Does he know? Has he always known? Have the last three years been a test? To see if you were worthy of his affection? Have you finally passed?
“I don’t understand.” You whisper, tears pricking at the corner of your eyes as the emotions you’ve been suppressing for so long came rushing to the surface. “I thought- I thought you didn’t… How come you never said anything?”
Your voice breaks as you say the final words. You’ve both stopped walking and now stare at one another; him with a look of confusion, yours, a look of pleading.
“Say something? I didn’t think you would ever feel the same way… Do you feel the same way?”
“Of course I do!” You impulsively reach for his hand, momentarily forgetting why it was so important that you don’t touch. Or, perhaps it's not important anymore, as your next words confirm what you both already know. “You’re my soulmate.”
His eyes go wide, as though he’s experiencing the bond snap into place for the first time. You realize with a dull sense of horror, that perhaps he is. That maybe you read the situation wrong, and just dropped an emotional landmine in the middle of this conversation.
But it’s too late to back track.
“You knew from the start.” His words feel like an accusation, so you can hardly blame yourself when you become defensive.
“To be fair, for the first year or so, I figured you also knew, and were just ignoring me-”
“How could I have- I was cursed!”
“I know that now…”
“So why didn’t you say anything?” He continues to press.
“Because I was scared, okay! You broke my heart once, and I didn’t want you to do it again.” You shout, the tension finally breaking.
For several moments, the only sound between the two of you is the roaring ocean and the pounding of your heart.
“I didn’t even know your heart was mine to break.” Klaus admits quietly, his fingers interlacing with yours as he pulls you closer to him. “If I did, I would have been more careful with it.”
His other hand comes to cup your face; calloused thumb tracing your cheekbone and wiping away your tears.
You feel your resolve cracking. Walls you built, coming tumbling down.
You’re still scared. Terrified, really. Because now, for the first time in a long time, there’s something you could actually screw up. The bond isn’t actually a guarantee that things will all work out, as evidenced by the disaster things have been thus far.
What will your future be, if you accept these feelings, if you pursue a relationship with the most feared man in the supernatural world? Are you brave enough to find out?
You’d been brave enough to leave the only home you'd ever known when you heard whispers of the dark rituals planned for you. You’d been reckless enough to seek out the Original hybrid for a job. Resilient enough to allow your heart to be shattered and mended by the same man.
You’re strong enough to risk it again.
With nothing else stopping you, you take a bold step forward and press your lips to the man you love.
—