𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓬𝓸𝓹𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
Summary: Elijah feels tired and abandoned by his siblings. Luckily, Gia notices in time and doesn't let him fall apart.
If there was one thing Elijah Mikaelson loved equally to his suits, it was music. He loved to sit behind his piano on a rainy night and play soft, old tunes for hours without end. His love for it began centuries earlier and was one of the few things keeping him sane throughout the world's changes. Everything around him could fall apart, but this one thing always remained the same. At least until he met a newbie vampire who decided to show him tunes he never paid attention to.
Gia was a wildfire compared to him. She was energetic, full of rebellion, and strong in everything, including her music. While he preferred more toned, calm songs, her pick was usually jazz. Surprisingly, his piano and her violin ended up working perfectly together. Metaphorically and literally.
Through the past few days, he had been feeling completely worn out. The whole Dahlia situation was draining him out of all energy, leaving him like a shell of his usual self. He didn't even find it surprising when his family didn't notice anything. Klaus barely noticed anything aside from himself, but he hoped that Rebekah would pay him some attention. As for Hayley... He was just so stupid for believing she would see past herself and Hope. He understood her priorities, but it still hurt to never receive any comfort from her.
It was already dark outside when he lay down with some random book, trying to focus on reading. He hasn't felt too tired to pick up a novel in centuries. His eyes scanned through words, but his mind didn't pick up any sense.
Suddenly, he heard a loud knock on the door. Someone clearly didn't care about the possibility of waking him up. He sighed and set his book aside, heading towards the door. He opened it, eager to scold anyone who tried interrupting. He paused when he realized who was on the other side.
"I thought we agreed on training tonight?" Was the first thing Gia said once he opened the door.
Before he could reply in any way, she made her way into his bedroom and sprawled over his bed.
"Reading? Seriously? We agreed you'd help me with fighting today, and you just sit around reading what, Shakespeare?" She rolled her eyes, picking the book up.
"It's actually Fitzgerald," he replied, taking the novel out of her hands.
"Doesn't matter," she shrugged.
She almost started getting on him for ignoring their deal when she suddenly paused.
"What's wrong?" She asked, her expression turning serious.
Elijah tensed momentarily. How did she manage to read him so fast? He was a master when it came to hiding his emotions, there was no way a baby vampire like her could win over him.
"Nothing." He replied quickly and used putting the book in its place as an excuse to drop the eye contact.
A few seconds later, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was gentle, a bit hesitant. He closed his eyes and didn't say a word. Gia didn't speak up either. She just comforted him with her quiet presence.
After a long while, she spoke up.
"Change. We're leaving." She stated out of a sudden, making him turn to her with his eyebrows widened. "What? I won't let you be lonely and depressed by yourself."
He paused at her words. It felt weird. Having someone who actually wanted to help him when he felt bad. Without picking up a fight, he opened his wardrobe and took out a dark suit.
"No! Completely no!" Gia scolded, shaking her head like he just pushed someone downstairs. "No suits tonight, it's forbidden!"
The way she said it made him chuckle quietly, but her one serious glance shut him up. She put the suit back in its place and started looking for anything else.
"Do you really own suits?" She sighed.
"Mostly," Elijah smiled at her words.
She shook her head but didn't give up. Finally, after a long time she managed to find a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, handing him the outfit. "I was getting worried that you don't have normal clothes."
"I can assure you, my suits are perfectly normal." He raised his eyebrow.
"Yeah, only for a thousand-year-old original." She rolled her eyes. "Tonight you're not him, you're just a guy who's going to enjoy himself. Now go change."
Around twenty minutes, they arrived in a part of New Orleans he believed he had never been to. After they left the car, she paused, examining his look.
"Good, but add this." She handed him a leather jacket.
He looked at her, his eyebrows widening.
"A leather jacket?" He asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes, now put it on. Remember, no original vampire tonight," she said, leading their way.
He got a bit worried when Gia suddenly entered an old building and walked all the way downstairs. She didn't look uncomfortable or unsure at all. He assumed she went to places like this a lot, it was very much her style.
"Elijah, welcome to the best club in all of NOLA." She smirked, opening the door.
He was immediately hit with a strong perfume smell and the sound of raw jazz music played live from the stage. He looked at her, and his expression softened. She was smiling, swaying softly in the rhythm. She fit there so perfectly that he almost forgot about all his worries.
"Let's go, you need to finally have some fun!" She exclaimed and took his hand, leading him onto the crowded parquet.
She started dancing, wiggling her hips and letting her hair move with her freely. He was completely unsure what to do. He wasn't used to clubs and these kinds of movements. Gia immediately noticed his awkwardness and took his hands, placing them on her hips. Then, her fingers closed on his shoulders, her body moving him alongside herself.
"Just let it go, Elijah. You're a normal man tonight, remember. Just close your eyes and let the music guide you." She told him, her lips twitching in a smile.
He gave in to her words and closed his eyes. Instead of giving the lead to the rhythm, he gave it to her. Gia immediately sensed the trust he put in her, and her smile widened. She focused on getting him relaxed so that he could actually focus on something other than his problems for once.
They remained wordless for a while, letting the music put them in a safe bubble. After a long while, Gia spoke into his ear.
"You're not alone in this, you know?" She whispered, her breath tickling his skin.
He tensed instinctively but relaxed right after, realizing he could actually be vulnerable now. It felt weird. He hadn't felt this way in centuries, for over a millennium. No one cared enough to have him open like this. Not Klaus, not Rebekah, not even Hayley. There she was, Gia was offering him something he hadn't had since childhood. A shoulder to lean on, to cry on. A person who listens no matter what. A protector, not from the world but from himself.
He took her hand into his and guided her to the back of the building. She frowned but followed him into the cold air.
"What is it?" She asked once the door closed behind her.
Within seconds he was cautiously pressing her against the wall, his lips crashing against her with both passion and vulnerability.
"Thank you," he whispered against her lips before kissing her again.
Gia matched his fire perfectly. The way she kissed him back made him want to feel dizzy and fall to his knees for her.
When they pulled away, he immediately rested his forehead against hers.
"Thank you," he repeated, brushing her nose with his.
"For what?" She asked, chuckling at the tickly sensation of a nose against a nose.
"For seeing past my mask. For caring enough to be there for me." He replied without hesitation, making her eyes soften.
"I don't want you to ever be alone when you feel like that. I promise to be there for you whenever you need me to." She said, pressing their foreheads closer and shutting her eyes.
Instead of kissing her again, he just wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.
"You're perfect, my darling Gia." He whispered into her hair, kissing her head.
"Now now." She said, her face turning pink. "Stop or I'll end up completely red."
He just kissed her head again.
"I like you a little bit blushy." He admitted, holding her close to his chest. "Well, let's go back in, darling. The night is far from finished yet."
She gave him a smile and let him lead her back into the club.
