princess cut from marble

we stopped checking for m o n s t e r s under our bed when we { realized } they were i n s i d e us. hayley marshall, werewolf.

[halesmarshall]

behindredoor:

“She’s always had an agenda. Love is never just love for Katherine.” Frankly, Elijah didn’t even want to speak about her anymore. A soft chuckle escaped him at the second half of Hayley’s comment. “I’d say it has improved over the centuries.” At her words, his smile only grew wider, and all Elijah wanted to do was kiss Hayley in that moment. She was this perfect combination of softness and rough edges, a kind heart and a strong, stubborn mind. “The things we do to survive don’t make us who we are. Do you forget you’re talking to a Michaelson? The bad things you’ve done pale in comparison to everything I’ve done in the course of a millennia. Point is, Hayley, you’re not the only one with a baggage. In fact, mine is far heavier than yours.” he said, his voice a little detached. If he dared to properly think about the things he had done…Well, that wouldn’t be a pretty picture. Elijah shook his head at her, further closing the space between them as he lifted her chin so he could look at her better. “I’ll never abandon you. No matter what you do, no matter how many people you hurt, I give you my word. You’d never do anything cruel unless it is absolutely necessary, that much I know about you.” A small smile appeared on his lips again as Elijah continued. “If anything, I should be the one too afraid to get close. Unlike you, my siblings and I have committed heinous crimes just because we could. I’ve spent the majority of my long life being disgusted with who I am,” his voice broke just slightly at that, and Elijah blinked away any sorrow that was starting to settle inside him. “And yet, her I stand, begging you to stay. Because I know you feel it, too.” Elijah didn’t have to elaborate that he was talking about this strange connection between them – she’d know. Perhaps some would refer to it as kindred spirits, if you believed in such a thing. “If you can look me in the eyes and say you do not, then I will let you go.”

“You were in love with her,” she said slowly, registering what that meant. Katherine didn’t deserve his love, that much Hayley was sure of. She was manipulative, vicious and careless, he was the kindest person the werewolf had ever known. She kind of wondered what Elijah saw in the cruel vampire, maybe she had some hidden qualities. Very, very well hidden. “That remains to be seen.” If she was his type now, his taste hadn’t improved that much and was still questionable at best. She might not be able to see what he saw in Katherine, but the same could be said about her. “You have a point, I guess. Still doesn’t mean you have to sign up to carry all of mine as well.” He was right about her, Hayley didn’t hurt people unless she absolutely had to. Most of the time, she hurt people as a way of surviving–it was the only way she knew how. She wasn’t sure how he knew that, but it was nice to hear someone had faith it her. “That’s a really big promise to make. Huge, really,” she said quietly, her hands sliding down his fancy jacket to his chest. It might’ve been an unrealistic promise, it still warmed her heart and made her feel more welcomed that she ever had. If this was what having a family felt like, she would get used to it dangerously fast. “You might’ve done bad things once, but you’re still the kindest person I’ve ever met. Everything you’ve done for me, even though you barely knew me, I don’t think I can ever repay you for that. You gave me a home,” she said, tapping his chest gently. “And I don’t mean that fancy house you live in.” Of course she knew exactly what he was referring to, how could she not? She felt a pull to him she simply couldn’t deny. It was like she’d known him all her life, like they were meant to complete each other. She didn’t answer him, instead she moved a hand to the back of his neck and pulled her to her lips. Somehow, she had never realized how long she had been wanting this, but now that it was happening she never wanted it to stop. Reluctantly, she pulled away but her lips still hovered close to his. “I’ll stay.”

[halesmarshall]

behindredoor:

At Hayley’s words, Elijah’s eyes showed the smallest hint of amusement. “I’m sure she’s considered it, but that would’ve been way too much unnecessary mess to handle.” he said. “I suppose you could say we have history. Both my brother and I.” Leaving it at that, he listened as Hayley explained how they knew each other. He couldn’t blame her for seeking ways to find her parents, even if whatever she had done was nothing to be proud of. “In that case, I owe her a thank you.” Elijah smirked. The werewolf’s next words sobered him, a deep frown settling on his features. “Katherine isn’t going to bother you anymore. As for the other things…” he shook his head slowly, trying to find the right words. “That is far from the truth. You are incredible in every way, and just because you may not be able to see it from where you stand doesn’t mean it is not there.” he said. Slowly, Elijah’s hand traveled up her side, stopping to rest on her cheek. “And if there is one thing I learned tonight, it is that you are worth a lot to me. A lot more than I would’ve guessed just yesterday. Seeing your room empty, finding you at the bus stop with Katherine’s hand wrapped around your neck – it made me see things more clearly.” Sometimes words came hard to Elijah, other times they tumbled out of his mouth easily, painting a perfect picture of his emotions. Tonight, it was the latter. “I’ve come to care about you, Hayley Marshall, and I refuse to let you go that easily. Stay in Mystic Falls with me. You don’t have to keep running all the time.” 

“Maybe, but I was getting pretty sick of her stalking me everywhere I go. Not to mention her threats were hitting a little too close to home for comfort,” she told him with a shrug. She still thought Katherine was more than capable of killing her, but he seemed to know her better than she did. She figured she’d give her the benefit of the doubt. “What is it with that crazy bitch and brothers? Also, I’m seriously judging your taste in women now, just so you know.” It came from a place of jealousy more than anything else, but she also couldn’t imagine anyone falling for Katherine’s manipulation. She was trying hard to convince him she wasn’t worth it, so she could just leave and end this before whatever this is had a chance to hurt her, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her lips when he asked her to remind him to thank Katherine. “Stop smiling like that, I’m trying to be mad here.” No one had every said anything like that to Hayley before, no one had ever showed her this kind of kindness. She couldn’t help to be confused by it, she didn’t know how to react. She looked at him with furrowed brows as he spoke, tilting her face slightly to lean into the palm of his hand. “Did you not here the part about the amount of baggage I come with? You don’t know what I’ve done to survive, I’m not as incredible as you think. I’ve hurt people, betrayed them.” People had also hurt her, a lot, but that was all part of the baggage she didn’t want him to find out about. “Once you get to know me, truly know me, you might not like who I am and I can’t being left alone again.”

[halesmarshall]

behindredoor:

“She wouldn’t have killed you.” Elijah said with absolute certainty. “I wasn’t aware you even knew Katherine, how did that come to be?” he wondered, eyebrows slightly arched. When she directed her gaze at the abandoned bag on the ground, Elijah’s gaze remind on Hayley, his brown eyes never straying from hers. He wanted to know what he had done wrong that made her want to leave. “I gathered that much.” he said. “Where to? And more importantly, why? I thought…Well, I simply thought you would’ve stayed a while longer in Mystic Falls.”

“She’s Katherine Pierce. I don’t know what you two had, but she would’ve ripped my heart out without a second thought,” she said with a hint of bitterness, not liking the thought of Elijah with anyone else—especially not Katherine. “She was helping me find my parents, she’s the one that led me here. Since Katherine doesn’t do anything for free, I had to repay her some way...” She didn’t want to tell him what she did, she was certain he could guess it was nothing moral or good. She was afraid he would look at her differently if he knew. “A small town in Pennsylvania. I probably wouldn’t have stayed there long,” she told him with a shrug. “I don’t know, Elijah, maybe because Katherine wants me dead and it’s only a matter of time before you wake up and realize I’m not worth protecting. I don’t have anything to offer you, alright? Just me and a shitload of baggage. You don’t have to deal with that, you don’t owe me anything.”

[halesmarshall]

behindredoor:

Watching Hayley hold her own, a smile almost spread on Elijah’s lips. Almost. He never wanted to see her in any danger, and despite the fact that she had the upper hand at the moment, he still worried for her. His first instinct, like with his siblings, was to keep the werewolf safe. Once upon a time, he had felt the same way about the vampire that Hayley was threatening right now. No more. Katherina had disappointed and betrayed Elijah in so many ways that he had stopped counting. And yet, a part of him didn’t want to see her dead, either. When Hayley’s back was pressed against Elijah, the original felt like he could breathe again. He protectively touched the back of her elbow, his gaze on Katherine. “I think you received the message, Katherina. There’s nothing here for you anymore. Leave.” Her brown eyes, seemingly wild, scanned her surroundings, and the vampire sneered at Elijah. ‘I see you’ve found yourself a new toy, ‘Lijah.’ Katherine said. ‘Have it your way. For now.’ Glancing at Hayley, as she walked away, she added. ‘To be continued, little wolf.’  Once Katherine was gone, Elijah grabbed Hayley by the shoulders and turned her around so he could get a better look at her. The movement was swift and smooth, and suddenly his hands were gently moving up and down her arms. “Are you alright? What were you even doing here?”

Hayley could only roll her eyes at Katherine’s empty promise, but decided to keep her mouth shut for now. Her throat still hurt and she just wanted to be done with her. Plus, Elijah showing up when he did made her think he truly wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. At least as long as she stopped trying to run away. Her shoulders stayed stiff until the moment Katherine was finally out of sight and she let out a sigh of relief at the same moment Elijah decided to turn her body around. To steady herself, she grabbed his upper arms and looked up at him with slight embarrassment. “I’m pretty sure I was supposed to be dead right now, meaning I’m fine by Hayley standards,” she said with a shrug, dreading the second question he had asked her. She glanced at her disregarded bag on the ground, hoping he would just put two and two together. “It’s the bus station. I was going to take a bus...”

[halesmarshall]

behindredoor:

He wished to say that it had come as a shock that Hayley had left, but that would be a lie. Frankly, Elijah had just been waiting for the day when he’d enter her room and find the bed made, and only her scent remaining behind her. Still, his heart clenched inside his chest when the grand house was devoid of Hayley Marshall. With Niklaus chasing his own demons and Rebekah helping him, he was the only one who had probably even noticed her absence that morning. And he’d have to be the only one to find her. Perhaps the lack of a goodbye note or an explanation should’ve been sign enough that he should simply let it go, but he couldn’t. He simply couldn’t. It had been so long since the last time another soul had made him feel something like this, and Elijah knew that if he let her go now, he’d regret it forever. 

So he wasted no time in starting his search for the wolf. He searched at the bus stops first, his heart feeling more and more heavy each time there was no sign of her. Was he too late? No, no he couldn’t be. Elijah went to the train station next, eerily quiet at this hour. And there she was – he could recognize her anywhere: Katerina, with one hand wrapped around Hayley’s throat, the other holding the wolf into place. Elijah’s pulse spiked and he cursed under his breath, the tie of his suit suddenly choking him. This was not how he had suspected tonight would go. When he started walking towards them, it was slow, unhurried, because he couldn’t show weakness in front of the vampire who knew him so damn well. “Katerina, what a surprise to see you here.” Elijah said, his eyes glancing at Hayley only once as he approached the two women, hands in his pockets. ‘I could say the same about you.’ Katherine’s tone was sweet as honey, but Elijah could see the way her eyes widened ever so slightly. “Let the girl go and find someone else to play with, will you? She’s done nothing wrong.” he said calmly. ‘I don’t think so. She owes me something and I won’t leave until I get it. Stay out of this, Elijah.’

For someone who was so good at surviving, Hayley wasn’t looking too good in that moment. Katherine’s hand felt tighter and tighter around her throat by the second and air was starting to feel like a luxury. Her eyelids were starting to flutter and she thought she was a goner the second she heard Elijah’s voice coming from somewhere behind Katherine-because there was no way he was actually there, right? But half a second later, she felt the hand around her throat loosen slightly and that allowed her to regain some of her consciousness. Enough to twist one of Katherine’s hand hard enough to break bone and switch their positions. Pinning the brunette against the wall, adrenaline allowed her to keep the vampire there and get her teeth dangerously close to her slender neck. “I don’t owe you shit, Katherine. I gave you what you wanted and now you want to get rid of the evidence,” she said angrily, her voice hoarse due to her obviously bruised vocal cords. “Unless you want to die a horribly slow and painful death, I suggest you leave me the fuck alone.” It was clear Elijah cared about the girl to some extent and the part of Hayley that cared about Elijah wouldn’t allow her to kill her. Feelings were a pain in her ass. Letting go of the girl, she backed away quickly until her back hit Elijah’s torso and she was sure she was in the clear. Katherine was unpredictable, but Elijah was one of the oldest vampire in the world. He had the advantage. 

[halesmarshall]

It wasn’t that surprising, really, that things would end this way between Hayley and Elijah—with her running away. It’s what she did, it’s how she dealt with tough situations. She spent most of her life running away from the enemies she’d made along the way, but this time was different. For the first time in her life she wasn’t alone. She had someone who was looking out for her, who was making promises and making her feel like she belonged somewhere, to someone. It was only a matter of time before he realized she wasn’t worth the trouble, though. She was usually a go-getter, always took what she wanted, but she didn’t want to stick around for the moment he realized he could do better than an orphan werewolf with abandonment issues and a crazy psycho actively trying to murder her.

The second she got wind of Katherine coming after her, she started planning her escape. Within a matter of hours, her bag was packed and she had a bus ticket purchased to the next state. Katherine would catch up to her in no time, but she just wanted to put as much distance between the two of them for now. She didn’t say goodbye to Elijah, even though he was the only person who had cared for her in a long ass time, possibly ever, and she couldn’t face him and tell him she was leaving all that behind.

The train station was deserted, as it usually was at that time of the night, so the footsteps coming from behind her definitely set some alarms off for the brunette. She turned around suddenly, coming face to face with the person she was trying so hard to run away from. “Please, Katherine, I gave you what you wanted. I’m leaving, you won’t ever see me again,” she said quickly, holding her hands up in defeat. Her pleas didn’t help, not that she thought they would, and she was pined up on the wall next thing she knew. Her nails dug in the brunette’s hands, even though her strength wasn’t a match for the hundreds of years old vampire that was currently chocking the air out of her lungs.

[halesmarshall]

behindredoor:

Elijah simply chuckled softly at her words, his brown eyes locked on hers. “That is very true, but the Salvatore brothers are far from the worst. I’ve encountered much worse in my lifetime.” he said. “I was worried you might be worried you will look like a fool, after all you did just say anyone who falls for my kind is one.” he teased, giving her a smile. The closer Hayley was to him, the more he could hear her heart beating heavily against her chest. At one point, it was louder than her own words, and Elijah found himself glancing down at her lips more so than her eyes. He could’ve easily kissed her now – cup her face and bring her mouth towards his, but he didn’t do it. There were many things stopping him; one of them being the fact that he was afraid. Right now, they were in some sort of limbo state where their relationship was neither platonic nor romantic. They were somewhere in between, testing the waters and trying to find out where this may lead and Elijah would’ve gladly taken things further if he didn’t carry so many complications along with him. Just like Hayley had said: anyone who fell for a vampire was out of their mind, and rightfully so. Eventually, it would become too hard, too unbearable. So instead, Elijah simply gave her a smile, soft and somewhat sad, with his gaze lingering on her lips. “Then I will remain right where I am.”

“That very much sounds like the life my family and I led; never staying in one place for too long. But perhaps Mystic Falls will be the perfect place for you.” Elijah told her. “It is the heart of the supernatural after all.” Elijah wasn’t sure if he and his siblings would stay at the little town long enough to call this place home, but unless their father found out about their whereabouts or Niklaus got bored, the situation wouldn’t change. “I hope you don’t either.” Elijah said in a low voice, referring to losing a soulmate, or at least what he thought was his soulmate. “I don’t wish it on anyone.” After closing the journal that was sitting on his lap, Elijah picked another one from the pile. “In this you’ll find several years from the roaring twenties.” he showed it to Hayley, skimming through the pages. “Once again, we didn’t stay too long anywhere, but wherever we went everyone knew our names. Granted, we usually used fake names, variations of our own, just to be safe, but thanks to Niklaus we were always infamous for wreaking havoc.” he said with a light chuckle, remembering those days with ease. It felt like it was just yesterday. “We were quite close with Stefan Salvatore back then now that I remember, especially Rebekah.” he added, flipping through the pages of the journal. “And because Niklaus was having such a great time, he wasn’t that inclined to dagger us.” he said, sarcasm very much present in his tone.

The Salvatores might not be the most dangerous, but they sure were the most annoying. “Fine, but that doesn’t make them any less insufferable,” she said with a shrug. Tyler was fun, she liked him just fine, but his whole group of friends was something else entirely. Caroline was too peppy, Elena was too whiny, Stefan was too broody and Damon was just flat-out the worst. “Who said I’m falling for you? Someone’s a bit presumptuous.” He wasn’t wrong, she was feeling things for him she hadn’t felt for anyone else ever. It wasn’t friendship, that she knew for sure. Just like him, she found herself glancing down at his lips more than up at his eyes, where she should’ve been looking. Hayley had a tendency of getting herself into trouble wherever she landed, but a relationship with an original vampire would be a whole other ball game. “And I’ll stay right here,” she said with a smile, licking her lips and waiting for him to make a move. Most people would’ve by now and she wasn’t sure what was holding him back. If it wasn’t for her fear of being rejected and ruining what she had going, she would’ve closed the space between them herself.

“Perhaps it will. Or perhaps it’s more about the people and not about the place,” she suggested, looking at him wistfully. “Oh, is that the town slogan or something? I should definitely fit right in.” Her eyes skimmed the pages of the new journal he pulled out of the pile, fascinated by how much history one person could have. She always felt like she was wise for her age, but she hadn’t seen anything compared to Elijah. “The roaring twenties... That I wish I could’ve seen. I think I would’ve looked amazing in one of those flapper dresses,” she said with a playful smile. “I guess it’s hard to go unnoticed when your brother has this tendency of murdering anyone that stands in his way, huh?” She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Rebekah and Stefan, unable to imagine them together. Rebekah was so fun and Stefan was so... not. “He went from Rebekah to Elena? Definite downgrade,” she told him, making a mental note to bring it up to Rebekah herself later. “You don’t deserve that, you know. To live under the constant fear of possibly getting daggered and stuck in a coffin by your brother. The same brother you clearly spend your life helping. Have you ever thought of running away from him? Living your life how you want to?”

[behindredoor]

“Ah, yes, the fool who fell for a sparkling vampire who clearly had never heard of a daylight ring.” Elijah chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of the ridiculous book series. As the conversation turned more serious, Hayley’s question took him off guard a little bit. Her curiosity was to be expected, and she certainly deserved an honest answer about why he was helping her. There were many reasons, but only one of them kept him up at night thinking about this young woman. Elijah let out a silent breath, wishing he could drown in those hazel eyes. “I am intrigued by you.” he said simply, and in Elijah Mikaelson’s book, being intrigued by someone was even stronger than liking the individual. “I see a strong young woman who is searching for her roots, for herself, and I want to know more. I’m sorry if I possibly came on too strong,” Elijah cleared his throat, straightening his spine. If he were standing, he would’ve buttoned up his jacket. “I hope my interest in you has not made you uncomfortable. I will gladly take a step back if you ask me to.” But he really, really hoped she would not. 

“It is never too late to have that.” he told her. "Family doesn’t always have to be people who you share blood with. Sometimes you have the freedom to choose your family, you simply have to be open to the possibility of it.” Elijah smiled softly at her. He hoped Hayley could find that, if nothing else. At times she did feel like family, like she was a long lost piece of his life that he used to know. But he couldn’t say that, of course. He rarely said his true feelings out loud. It took a lot to make Elijah Mikaelson to open up, to be vulnerable. But perhaps…one day he could allow himself to be vulnerable with her. 

“It’s alright, it was a long time ago. She was human – I still would’ve lost her eventually.” he said, his voice sounding like his mind was far away from here. That was the curse of being immortal; watching your loved ones die while you stayed the same. That’s why enduring immortality as a family made things a little easier for the Mikaelson children, but they had all lost many loved ones at the hands of time. Eventually, they all learned to simply not get attached; it was too painful. Hayley’s answer about being in love surprised him, and he wasn’t sure whether to think her lucky that her heart had yet to be broken, or to feel bad that she had never experienced true love. “If I’ve learned anything about love in my lifetime, it’s that you cannot force it. It comes into your life out of nowhere, unplanned and unpredictable, and if you’re one of the lucky ones, you actually get to hold on to it.” Elijah smiled at her, relaxing under her gaze, feeling the pleasant warmth on his skin from the fireplace. “You never know when your time may come.”

[halesmarshall]

“She’s a fool alright. Anyone who falls for a vampire probably is,” she said thoughtfully, referring to their own little blooming relationship. She wasn’t sure what Elijah was to her yet, or what she was to him, but she knew that she had never felt about anyone the way she felt for him. It was unexplainable, like he was a friend that she had known for a long time. And even that didn’t seem like enough to describe their bond. That didn’t change the fact, however, that he was a vampire and that she was a werewolf. Her kind were his kind’s natural enemies. They weren’t supposed to get along, but there they both were. Sitting near a fire and sharing stories of their pasts like they were on a date. “No offense. It just seems like a lot of people who do end up dead. I mean look at the Salvatores and their track record.” Her heart rate picked up slightly when he mentioned being intrigued by her, something he could most likely pick up on thanks to his supernatural hearing. She felt like a naive teenage girl with a crush, hoping for something that probably would never happen. “No,” she said a little too quickly. “No, I’m not uncomfortable. And, no, I don’t want you to take a step back. I’m intrigued by you too.” The last thing she wanted was for him to take a step back when she was beginning to lean on him far too heavily. “I like people that go after what they want.”

“So I’ve been told. I guess I never stuck around in one place long enough to form that kind of bond with anyone. I’m still young, though, right? There’s still time for me,” she said, returning his gentle smile. For the first time ever, she stuck in one place long enough to get to know someone and it was evident it was one of the best decisions of her life. Elijah was the only person she trusted right now, the only person she felt like she could rely on. With a little time and some getting used to, she could see him be her family.

“That doesn’t make it okay. I can imagine losing someone I love like that, I hope I never can,” she said honestly with a shrug, not really knowing what to say to him. She couldn’t begin to imagine all the things Elijah had seen over his many lifetimes, all the things he’d been through. Immortality wasn’t something Hayley had ever desired and it was a curse she didn’t wish upon anyone. “I don’t know about being one of the lucky ones, I haven’t had much luck in my time honestly. I guess only time will tell,” she said with a smile, glancing up at him. It was impossible for her not to make the connection between what he had just said and their own relationship. Elijah had come into her life out of nowhere, unplanned and unpredictable. He was making her feel things she didn’t even know she could feel and she couldn’t help but think that maybe they were meant to be more than just friends.

[behindredoor]

“Ah, I don’t know about that.” Elijah chuckled. “My life has certainly been…exciting, to say the least, but I’m no writer. I’ve merely collected all these facts in one place.” He mainly did it so he wouldn’t forget anything valuable, but writing things down was also sort of an outlet for Elijah. The only one who’d ever engage in a sentimental conversation with him was Rebekah, but more often than not, she was stuck in a coffin thanks to Niklaus. 

When Hayley joined him by his side, he returned to his journals, afraid he’d lose his train of thought if he looked at her for too long. Her words made him shake his head instantly. “I refuse to give up so soon.” he said, meeting her gaze. His eyes were hard and determined, but they still held a certain gentleness to them. “What we saw in the woods does not have to mean that your search has ended. In fact, I really believe it is just starting.” Elijah told her. “And why would you look for an apartment?” he asked nonchalantly, his focus returning to the journals. “This place is big enough to house at lease a dozen people. You’re safe here.”

Hayley’s question was to be expected, but Elijah found himself at a bit of a loss of words. He wasn’t sure what to tell her. In the past thousand-and-something years, he had seen, felt and experienced so much that it was almost impossible to choose certain moments. But one of his fondest memories were indeed the ones he shared with his siblings before they were all turned. “We’re a very big family, and back then we were all in one place, and we lived in quite a small home.” Elijah smiled. “I didn’t actually keep a journal back then, but I do remember that life quite vividly.” he had to, the alternative meant losing touch with his humanity. “We were very happy, each of us had a specific place in the family hierarchy, as it was natural back then. Our Father was bent on raising us to be warriors, mainly for his own ego because image was everything even at that time.” Elijah chuckled, sighing a little as he leaned against the wall behind him.

“Rebekah, Niklaus and I were closest. Finn and Kol mostly kept to themselves, but at the end of the day we were a very close family, and we always stuck up for each other, especially against our parents. Niklaus…he is a bastard,” Elijah always hated using that word. “And when our Father found out he always found ways to hurt my brother any way he could. Rebekah and I were the ones who defended him, sometimes even earning the same consequences as our brother. Domestic violence was considered a normal way to raise your children a thousand years ago.” Elijah said, an edge to his voice. “But for the most part, we were happy. Things were so much simpler then, I miss it every day.” 

“As for my first love,” Elijah smiled, his eyes filling with sadness. “Her name was Tatia. She was…she was something otherworldly. I fell in love with her from the moment I saw her, and eventually she confessed her feelings for me, too. We had dreams of being married, having children…” he trailed off, his smile disappearing from his face. “After my family and I became what we are, I was going to tell her because I knew she’d accept me, but I never got the chance to do it. She was killed, I was the one who found her.” Elijah was looking into the fire, his eyes glazed, but then the moment passed and he cleared his throat, meeting Hayley’s gaze. “I should’ve chosen a happier story, I know.”  he exhaled a chuckle, feeling as if perhaps he had told Hayley a little too much. But then why did he feel so…relieved? “What about you? Surely you didn’t think you’d be the only one who wants to have their curiosity satiated.” he raised a brow, his lips forming a subtle smirk. “Who was your first love?”

[halesmarshall]

“You don’t have to be a writer, you have like centuries of stories in those. That’s amazing. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ll relate more to your life than Bella Swan’s,” she told him with a smile. He was intriguing, fascinating even, and she wanted to know everything about him. She already knew about most of the things she went through during her short life, but her mortal life most likely wouldn’t allow him to fill tell her about his many lives and these journals were like a window into his mind. She was grateful for his thoroughness, not that she could tell him that without revealing how strongly she felt about him.

Her hazel eyes found his, a sort of fondness very evident in the way she was looking at him. No one had ever done anything like this for her before. There were no words that quite captured the way his devotion to her cause made her feel. “Why are you doing this for me? We’re practically strangers, but you’re just really determined to help me. I would think that one of the oldest vampires on earth would have better things to do than help and protect a stray werewolf,” she said quietly, her gaze still locked on his. “You’ve helped me find my family, continue to do so and you’ve given me a place to stay. Normally I would think it’s pity, but I don’t really think you pity me... No, you know better than pitying me. So, what is it?”

Hayley listened to his story attentively, trying to register everything he was saying to her. He basically had the life she always wanted. Filled with siblings and parents and love. There were downsides, sure, but it still seemed like he had people to get him through the day - Klaus and Rebekah. It was what she desired, what she was hoping to get once she found her family. “I wish I had that,” she commented once he was done with his story. Averting her gaze, she flipped through the journal that was on her lap without really paying attention to the words on the pages. She wasn’t used to getting up close and personal with anyone, she didn’t talk about what made her sad or the life she wish she had growing up. “I wish I had siblings or parents that would’ve protected me the way you protect you and your siblings protect each other. I know it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but it was still a family. You’re lucky.”

Her heart sank in her chest for him when he told her about his first love’s fate. “No, I asked for the story, don’t worry about it,” she told him with a gentle smile. She couldn’t even imagine going through something like that, she had never loved like he did, but she knew it most likely wasn’t easy. “I’m sorry about Tatia. No one deserves that kind of fate.” Hayley chuckled when he asked her about her first love, the concept alone was amusing to her. “I would if I had a first love. I guess I was too busy trying to find my family to fall in love with anyone. I’m sorry, I wish I had a juicy story for you.”

[behindredoor]

Elijah could pretend he was only doing all of this research because he wanted to help a young woman find her family, but of course, Rebekah and Niklaus had been able to see through his facade. ‘You fancy her.’ was his brother’s instant conclusion, while Rebekah simply looked at him with that look in her eyes that said she knew all his secrets. While he truly did want to help Hayley, he did have ulterior motives, and that was to get to know her. He was so intrigued and fascinated by her, and even though he always kept people that weren’t his family at an arm’s length, Hayley Marshall was someone he wanted to be closer to. 

And so, here he was, with his hundreds of journals splayed before him as he sat in front of the fireplace, reading through every line he had written over the past millennium and hoping to find any mention of the Labonair wolves, which was supposedly Hayley’s family. So far, he had no luck, and Elijah was about to close the journal he was holding and get some much needed rest when he heard a knock on the door. Lifting his head, he met Hayley’s gaze accompanied by a warm smile, and Elijah’s own lips curved into the subtlest of smiles. “These are all of my journals, although I suppose in a way they are books indeed. Each of them holds an entire world of its own.” he said, lifting the leather-bound journal that had been sitting in his lap. “This one is from six hundred years ago, I was trying to find any mention of your linege.” Elijah looked at Hayley for a moment and tilted his head to the side. “You can join me if you’d like. Two sets of eyes work better than one.”

[halesmarshall]

Hayley smiled slightly when he acknowledged her, relieved she wasn’t bothering him. After everything he did for her, she figured the last thing he wanted was for her to intrude on his private time, but it was clear that wasn’t the case - she could see it in the way he was looking at her, with his inviting smile and his gentle eyes. “Seriously? Way better than books, if you ask me.” The brunette told him, looking forward to the possibility of getting to know more about him. She entered the room and sat next to him, the warmth of the fireplace making her feel even more at home. How could it be that when she looked at him, a mere stranger, it felt like she was looking at the rest of her life? How could a thousand years old vampire make her, the most aloof and self-serving werewolf on earth, make her feel so much, so quickly?

Picking up one of the journals, she flipped through some of the pages slowly. “You don’t have to look anymore you know,” she said quietly, her eyes fixated on his neat handwriting. “They’re dead. All of them. There’s nothing to find. It’d be more useful to look through the ads in the newspaper to find me an apartment.” She chuckled, although her situation wasn’t really all that funny. Her future had never been more unclear, despite Elijah’s presence. She wasn’t sure where she was going to live in a week, let alone what she was going to do with the rest of her life. “Tell me about your past. About your life before you were turned into a vampire, about your first love, about your family... Anything.”

[halesmarshall]

Living in a fancy mansion was new for Hayley - hell, living with people was new for her. It had been a few days since her and Elijah had ventured out to the bayou and she was slowly coming to terms with what they found there. She was in mourning sure, but not your typical kind of mourning. Since she couldn’t feel grief for people she never knew in the first place, she was more so feeling grief for the idea she had of them. The idea of her family and what life would be like when she finally found them. The idea of not being alone. In true Hayley Marshall fashion, however, she had no plan to sit in her room and cry about it. At least not after the first night. In some weird twist of events she actually wasn’t on her own anymore and she had someone she believed she could trust and rely on for the time being. Elijah had helped her find her family and given her shelter, which was more than than anyone else had ever done for her. His generosity wasn’t going unnoticed. 

Peaking her head out of the bedroom she was staying in, she listened for any sign of life in the Mikaelson’s mansion. So far, she had done a pretty good job at avoiding Klaus, Elijah’s allegedly evil brother, but laying in bed all day was getting a little boring for the usually very adventurous wolf. It was nighttime now and her total lack of activity made it impossible for her to sleep. Stepping out of her room hesitantly, she walked down the stairs quietly in the darkness - with full intention of sneaking around and find out more about her mysterious host. Walking down a random hallway, she saw a half-opened door a few feet away. The lights were opened, clearly indicating someone else was awake, and the brunette’s curiosity got the best of her. Stepping closer to the door, she peaked inside the room and saw Elijah sitting there alone, reading. Knocking on the door lightly, she took a step inside and smiled at him. “I can see I’m not the only one who can’t sleep,” she said, her voice low. “What’s up with all the books?”

[behindredoor]

Flirting with a werewolf, if only Niklaus could see him now. Elijah couldn’t remember the last time he had made a move on someone, and for good reason. His love life had always been tragic and he had long ago given up on the idea of spending his eternal life with someone. It simply wasn’t possible for him. Elijah could hear Hayley’s heart beating hard and fast against her chest, the sound ringing in his ears as if he was hearing his own heartbeat. This was affecting her as much as it was affecting him, and when he ended the moment, he could tell she was somewhat embarrassed by it. If anyone was to be uncomfortable, it should’ve been Elijah, since he was always the cowardly one in situations like these. Always pulling away first, always missing out on chances for happiness for all sorts of reasons. “True, I don’t have to do anything.” Elijah quipped. “But every now and then, even an Original can show kindness and other similar humane traits.” he smiled. Hayley’s next words made Elijah briefly picture a world without the young werewolf in it. It was funny, how he had met her only a few days ago and now imagining her gone from this world made him feel hollow. Sometimes, even strangers and simple acquaintances could affect a person in the most meaningful ways. “Duly noted.” he told her simply, not feeling like joking about her death. 

“The most important thing for us is to blend in, not stand out. If I were to go to college looking the way I do, I’d attract a lot of attention.” Elijah said, a frown taking form on his face. He wanted to tell her all about running from Mikael and constantly looking back over his shoulder, but Elijah didn’t want to just drop that story on Hayley’s shoulders. It was too heavy, and far too complicated. “But never say never, wasn’t that the saying?” he brightened up a little, offering her a soft smile. “None of us know what the future truly holds.”

Elijah was glad to hear that Hayley wanted to come with him inside the bungalow. She wasn’t one to shy away from the unknown and go back to safety. Elijah was looking around the room, his face blank of emotions as he tried to make sense of what had happened at the bayou. When Hayley called after him, Elijah devoted his attention back to her, closing the distance between them so he could take a closer look at the journal she was holding. Elijah stared at the date she had pointed to, the name clearly written next to it. “Andrea Labonair,” Elijah repeated the name quietly, glancing at Hayley. “It suits you.” he told her, before refocusing on the journal. “We should take this with us, we might find more people with the same last name.” he suggested, pacing around the room slowly, deep in thought. “If that is really you in that journal, then someone must’ve known we were coming. It’s far too suspicious to be a coincidence.” Elijah said. “Someone went out of their way to make sure that you do not find your family here, but why? And more importantly, who?” Elijah felt somewhat guilty since he was the one who had been asking around for Hayley’s family, and his curiosity must’ve reached the wrong ears.

“In the meantime, we need to keep you somewhere safe. I don’t think the Lockwood mansion is the best place for you to be staying at right now. Would you be open  to stay with me and my brother? He is a bit of a nuisance, but it’s the best I can offer.” 

[halesmarshall]

Hayley had never met someone quite as noble as Elijah, that much was clear. He backed away when he had the perfect opportunity to make a move and she couldn’t figure out why. Maybe he wasn’t as interested as she had originally figured at first, but she has a feeling that wasn’t it. He had taken her under his wing and there was a big chance he didn’t do that with every stray werewolf he found along the way. She certainly hadn’t encountered any other vampire that was so willing to help out someone that was considered to be their natural enemy out of the goodness of their hearts. From anyone else, Hayley would’ve been wary. She knew better than to trust strangers, especially when said strangers were bloodthirsty leeches that were almost older than civilization, but for some reason her good sense didn’t seem to apply when it came to Elijah. There was something about him that convinced her he didn’t mean her any harm and, for someone as guarded as she was, that was definitely a little scary. If she was willing to give her complete trust to this almost stranger, she had no idea what she would do once they took the time to get to know each other. “I didn’t say you couldn’t,” she said with a smile, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. She didn’t think he was cruel and she didn’t think his entire kind was cruel, but in her world people rarely did things without expecting something in return. “I never thought you were anything but kind, but this is the first time anyone’s really shown me any kindness. It’s going to take some getting used to.” The brunette laughed quietly when he said he took note of her one request. It was a joke, one that wasn’t even that funny, and she didn’t expect him to follow through with it, but for some reason she was almost sure he would. “Thank you. I would return the sentiment, but you’re immortal so I guess I’ll never had to.”

“You could be a professor. You’d definitely have my complete, undivided attention,” she told him with a grin, teasing him on purpose at this point. He had the professor look down to a T, that was for certain. “Right, never say never. You really are pretty wise, huh? I think you’d make a great teacher. Hopefully the future holds brighter things than helping a technically homeless werewolf out in your spare time.”

Hayley wasn’t sure what to make of this new information. It wasn’t a family, it was a new identity and it wasn’t exactly what she had signed up for. A last name was a start, but it didn’t really give her any answers. “Does it? Sounds kind of fancy,” she said with a dry chuckle, trying to humor Elijah. He was trying to make her feel better and she appreciated that more than she could show at the moment. She listened to his advice, however, and kept the book in her arms as they explored the room some more. “Do you think you can find out more? About them I mean? The Labonair’s...” It seemed like a bit of a long shot, but if anyone could find more information about them it was Elijah. Hayley had been far too busy trying to process everything to even begin to think about what it meant, but she knew everything he said was right. Whoever had done this would probably come back and most likely wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to her if they found out she was in town. Her first instinct was to run, but for the first time there was something holding her back. “This is so not what I had in mind when I dreamed of this moment...”

Her head snapped towards him when he made his offer, a little taken aback. He had been kind to her so this shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but for some reason it did. “Are you sure your brother is going to be okay with me staying there? He doesn’t know me and from what I’ve heard he isn’t exactly the nicest guy around.”

[behindredoor]

Elijah noticed Hayley’s hesitation to step closer into his personal space, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same pull towards him as he did for her. He knew Hayley didn’t believe in fate or anything of the sort, but Elijah was convinced that there were some forces that could not be explained on this world. This woman that had entered his life right when he seemed to need her the most had to be bigger than a simple coincidence. it couldn’t be a bigger stretch than vampires and werewolves, could it? As her fingers loosened his tie, the corners of Elijah’s mouth lifted up into a subtle smile, watching her carefully. “How I feel has nothing to do with my disheveled tie.” he responded, glancing between her eyes and lips for a brief moment of weakness. Elijah was the one to take a step back from Hayley, the space between them growing once again.

“I’m glad you are indulging me,” he said, nodding in understanding when Hayley said she had her enemies under control. He believed her, after all, she hadn’t spent twenty-something years of her depending on other people. She had done it all on her own. Elijah wasn’t sure if he could’ve spent so many centuries without relying on his siblings, although truth be told, he was usually the one they would lean on. They still did. “Getting rid of nauseating people isn’t really murder. In fact I consider it a good deed.” Elijah shrugged, sounding more like Niklaus than he realized. 

“I truly hope you consider it. There is nothing more valuable than education.” he said. Elijah wasn’t naive – he was well aware that people like them didn’t have the luxury of normal lives, but the best they could do was try. At least Hayley actually had the chance to live a more normal life than an Original ever could.  “What can I say? I find the human mind fascinating.” Elijah smiled when she joked about the two of them going back to college together. “If I could actually pass for a college student, believe me, I would take you up on that offer.”

So much for being somewhat normal, Elijah thought to himself as they both stared at the dead woman. There had to be other bodies scattered around the bayou as well, the smell was too strong to come just from one victim. He wanted to comfort Hayley, but Elijah wasn’t done exploring the area just yet. Perhaps not everything was lost. There could be survivors, and if not, there had to be clues as to what had happened here. “If this is too much for you, you can wait in the car.” Elijah told her, his voice filled with sympathy. He understood that she was overwhelmed and hadn’t expected to find her potential family slaughtered by someone or something. “I would like to look around a little longer.” he said, already heading towards one of the houses. He hoped Hayley would follow, but he wasn’t going to blame her if she didn’t. 

Walking inside the empty house, Elijah saw no signs of struggle. It was still filled with personal items of whoever lived there, and he carefully scanned the room, looking for anything that might give them answers.

[halesmarshall]

“Are you sure about that?” She asked him, cocking a single eyebrow and letting go of his tie. What had started as a playful little exchange between the two of them suddenly felt really loaded and intense. Her heart skipped a beat when he glanced down at her lips, the tension between them going up a notch as if that was possible. No matter how much she made fun of concept such as faith and destiny, she couldn’t help but question the incredibly strong pull she felt towards him. She felt it when he first sat next to her at the bar and she felt it now that he was just inches away from her. The amused smile on her lips faded slowly as they stared at each other, anticipating something that probably shouldn’t happen. He was a vampire, an Original one at that, and she was a werewolf. It was unnatural, it went against the very purpose of her kind. However, Hayley wasn’t known for her great decision making skills and she couldn’t deny she felt attracted to Elijah in a way she couldn’t really explain. The second he stepped away, she snapped out of her stupor and looked away. She was slightly embarrassed by what had happened, he could probably hear how fast her heart was beating, but above all she was disappointed and kind of confused. He was a gentleman, but most people would’ve taken full advantage of a moment like that. God knows she would’ve, despite it being less than appropriate considering they were looking for her family. 

“Well, I owe you. You didn’t exactly have to do this,” she pointed out. He probably didn’t see it that way, he seemed to be way too much of a good guy to ask for anything from her. Which was good considering she didn’t really have anything to offer him to begin with. He was an Original vampire, there was nothing a young werewolf like herself could give him that he didn’t already have. “Well, I’ll let you know if I can’t handle the people who come after me. And if I actually can’t and I turn up dead, just avenge my death.” She was kidding, that much was obvious, but from what she knew from him he might actually do it. 

“Words of wisdom from Elijah Mikaelson,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood a little. The college dream was nice, but it wasn’t realistic and it most likely wasn’t going to happen. A normal life sounded nice in theory, but not even finding her family would give her that. They were just as supernatural as she was and they probably came with their own set of supernatural drama as well. “People go back to college all the time, you don’t have to look like an eighteen years old. I’m just saying, I’ll do it if you will.”

Looking around in shock, Hayley wasn’t sure what to feel. Could she mourn people she didn’t even know? She wasn’t even sure they were all dead and she definitely had know idea what happened, but then again she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. There was definitely no sign of life left in the Bayou, so that wasn’t a good sign and whatever had happened there probably meant nothing good for her. “No, I’ll come with you,” she said quietly, trailing along behind him and following him inside. Following his lead, she started looking at the objects scattered around the room. Picking up a few personal items, she released a sigh before setting her sights on a journal. Flipping through a book full of dates, she thought nothing of it until she found something that rang a bell. “Elijah,” she called, holding up the book and putting her finger on one particular date. “That’s my birthdate. Andrea Labonair. I think this might be me.”

[behindredoor]

Elijah eyed Hayley careful, a glint of amusement in his gaze. “That implies that you’d be fast enough to do any of those things.” he retorted. Niklaus used to mock him about the way he dressed, but Elijah never really talked about his style or the reasoning behind his slightly OCD behavior. He didn’t think he could explain it as anything else but a need to present himself in the best light possible, to look extremely put-together on the outside, even if he was anything but on the inside. “You are welcome to try.” he challenged, his smirk growing. 

“I don’t believe in overthinking.” he said simply. “I’m just analyzing the situation at hand, but I won’t force you to share my belief.” Elijah frowned when she mentioned she had made a lot of enemies, his protective instinct kicking in instantly. “Just give me their names and I’ll get rid of them.” he told her, as if it was the easiest thing in the world. For him, it was. He only smiled at her when she told him not to get his hopes up. He was already hoping for her happiness, for the opportunity to get to know her a little better.

Elijah nodded, showing he was listening, as Hayley talked about getting a degree in Women’s studies. “There must be plenty of opportunities, especially now that we are slowly transitioning into a more accepting society that doesn’t discriminate women. A hundred years ago women could only dream of being a man’s equal, unfortunately.” Elijah nodded when she asked him about college. “Yes, I went to university once, but I did not finish it.” he said. “It was in the 1920s, and I was majoring in psychology, but only for three semesters. We had to leave town because of some complications.” Those complications being Mikael, their father, of course. “I never tried to go back to university again because we never stayed anywhere for too long.” Elijah explained. 

As they made their way deeper into the bayou, Elijah instantly realized something was wrong. It was quiet, the kind of silence that suggested things were out of the ordinary. He barely heard Hayley comment how the area looked abandoned, instead focusing his heightened senses on the sounds–or lack of them–around them. He wanted to move forward and take a protective stance in front of Hayley, but then Elijah remembered that she could very well take care of herself, so they walked side by side instead. She may have been a lot younger and a werewolf, but Elijah considered her an equal. She had earned that. It wasn’t long before the smell of blood reached Elijah, almost feeling the metallic taste in his mouth. Elijah walked towards the bungalows that looked eerie, his shoulders locked together in tension, ready to attack. A few feet before him, he saw a body in the grass, naked and covered in red. Elijah cursed, not having to kneel down to check the dead woman’s pulse – all he could hear was Hayley’s heart beating fast behind him. “She’s dead.” he announced, glancing at Hayley in sympathy. He had disappointed her. Elijah was about to head inside one of the homes, but a faint mark on the dead woman’s shoulder caught his attention. “Does this mean anything to you?”

[halesmarshall]

Hayley looked at him with amusement, finding his attempt at pretending he would stop her seriously funny. It was clear by now that he wasn’t going to harm her, meaning she could very well manage to loosen his tie if she tried hard enough. “I don’t have to be fast, I just have to be willing,” she argued. He had to know a challenge would surely make her go through with her threats. “Alright, since I have permission.” Stopping in her tracks, she moved closer to Elijah without hesitation and paused to look at him. She was a little hesitant to come that close to him, but not because she was afraid. She was hesitant in the way the a woman with a strong connection to a man was hesitant to touch him for the first time. Nevertheless, she reached for his tie and loosened it unceremoniously. “How are you feeling? Relaxed? More stressed out?”

“Why am I not surprised? Well, as you can help, I’ll play along and pretend to believe in faith all you want,” she said with a shrug. “It’s fine, I can handle them. I’m really good at running away. Also quite clever when I’m backed in a corner, so things usually work out in my favor. Thank you, though, can’t say anyone’s ever suggested murder for my sake.” Elijah wasn’t like most people, that was easy to tell, and for now that seemed like a good thing. Not a lot of people wanted to protect and help mere strangers, which made him okay in her book. 

She listened to him attentively when he said there was probably many opportunities in that field, almost making her want to actually go out and join a college. That was ridiculous, though, and she knew that. People like them couldn’t lead normal lives. She never even finished high school since her parents kicked her out so young. “Well, maybe once all of this is over. Who knows, right?” She told him, mostly to humor him. She was sure he would tell her she could do anything she set her mind to and she didn’t really feel like arguing with someone who seemed to have weird blind faith in her. “Psychology? Again, not surprised. Maybe you can come back with me then. We can do a study group and group projects,” she joked, nudging him playfully. 

There was something terribly wrong, she didn’t need to have super senses like Elijah to tell. There was no one there, she figured it was just another dead end. In all honesty, a dead end would’ve been a lot better than what was actually happening. When they saw the bloody body on the ground, Hayley’s heart dropped in her chest. Maybe the dead woman wasn’t related to her, maybe it was a mistake. But she knew it wasn’t the second Elijah asked her about the mark on her shoulder. Tearing her eyes away from the woman, she turned around her exposed her birthmark. “There’s nothing here for me,” she said quietly, her eyes filling up with water too quickly for her to stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. “Not anymore, anyways.” She wiped her tears, keeping her back turned to the woman and pulling and sweat up her shoulder again. She didn’t want to stare at who was probably the last of her family member and be reminded that the people she’d been looking for her entire life were most likely all dead. “We should probably go.”

[behindredoor]

Elijah chuckled at her words. “Not exactly, although it is certainly one of the perks of wearing a suit.” he said. “I just like the way it looks. Sharp and clean edges, perfectly tailored and clean.” As he said this, he made a point by fixing his tie and making sure his cuff-links were in place. “Right, nothing scares you, I presume?” he looked at her, almost challenging her. If he wanted, Elijah could scare her easily, but he also liked that characteristic about her – that she at least wanted to be perceived as fearless. 

Elijah shook his head at her and touched her arm gently, pulling her to a stop. “You are anything but random.” he told her. “I don’t believe in coincidences. We met for a reason, and perhaps that reason was for me to help you find what you’ve been looking for.” Elijah said, his voice soft. “Or perhaps, it will be a learning lesson for me to never help a stranger again.” he smirked at this, letting go of her. “I guess we shall see.”

As Elijah drove, he listened to Hayley speak, glancing towards her on the passenger seat every now and then. He was looking straight ahead when she mentioned dating, the implication more than clear. He kept his face blank, save for the smallest of smirks forming on his features. Elijah didn’t dare picture a future with anyone, not after Katerina, but Hayley’s words didn’t leave him indifferent. They stirred something within him, something that Elijah knew it’d be better off buried deep inside his heart. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove in silence, before finally asking her a question. “What would you like to study? If you could go to university, I mean.” he glanced at her, genuinely curious where her passion lied. 

No more than five minutes later, the pair made it to the bayou, and Elijah pulled over at a safe distance, not wanting to disrupt the peace among the wolves. He climbed out of the car first and was at Hayley’s side in a second, opening the door for her and extending an arm out for her. 

[halesmarshall]

“You definitely look sharp if that’s what you’re going for,” she told him with an impressed smile, glancing in his direction. She had always been into the scruffy, plaid wearing type of men, but she could definitely get used to Elijah’s clean, intimidating look. “You look like the kind of person who can’t afford to look even slightly disheveled. What would happen if I, like, ripped out one of your cuff-links or loosened your tie? Would you be able to leave it like that?” Cocking a single eyebrow, she watched him curiously as she waited for an answer. He seemed like the type of person to be bothered by a small wrinkle in his suit, so she had a feeling he wouldn’t enjoy her deliberately messing with his clothes. Maybe there was a deepest significance for him wanted to look sharp and clean.

Hayley stopped in her tracks when he touched her arm, not really used to that kind of gentleness. “I think you’re overthinking it,” she replied quietly. She didn’t believe in faith or destiny or whatever he was referring to. She had been abandoned twice and left to fend for herself at the age of thirteen, if there was such a thing as destiny then it was seriously screwing with her. “I’ll try not to make you regret it, but I can’t guarantee anything. I’ve been known to make bad decisions, you don’t want to know how many enemies I’ve made over the years. Just don’t get your hopes up about me.”

She smiled at him and awaited some type of acknowledgement from him that he had caught the dating comment. That acknowledgement never came, but she knew better than to think he just didn’t understand what she was implying. He was too intelligent for anything to just slip past him. The brunette shrugged nonchalantly when he questioned her about college. She had never looked into it or anything, but she’d be lying if she said she’d never given it some thought. “I’m interested in Women’s studies. I don’t know, I’m not sure what I would do with a degree in Women’s studies, but I feel like I could enjoy it. Have you ever been to college?”

Hayley was unwilling to admit it, but her heart sank in her chest slightly when they parked at the bayou. She saw years of searching flashing in front of her eyes and it occurred to her that maybe she was about to meet the people she’d been searching for all these years. If that wasn’t nerve racking she wasn’t sure what was. She waited in her seat while Elijah walked to her side of the car and wiped her palms on her jeans as he opened the door for her and offered her an arm. “Thanks,” she said with a gentle smile, taking the arm he was offering and moving out of the car. “Ready or not, I guess.” She led him deeper in the bayou, a little unsettled by the silence. It definitely didn’t sound like there was anywhere there. Looking around at the sad looking houses, she glanced up at Elijah. “It doesn’t seem like anyone’s here…”

[behindredoor]

Elijah let a short laugh escape her lips at her comment about his attire. “These are my casual clothes,” he said in an attempt to joke. “When I wear formal attire it’s usually Armani and the whole three-piece suit.” he matched her smirk, finding himself easily amused whenever Hayley was around. Her aura was easy to be around; comfortable and relaxing but at the same time, unpredictable. 

He had already started to walk when he said to her, “I hope you will not be disappointed by what we find. And even if we don’t find them, we’ll keep looking, I can promise you that.”

“Have you thought about what will happen after you find them? You won’t have to move around so much anymore. You’ll find a home.”

[halesmarshall]

Hayley let out a laugh, both amused and impressed that he found the energy to put on a suit every single day. “Men in suits are intimidating, is that what you’re going for? Because, trust me, you don’t need to be anymore intimidating than you already are. The oldest vampire in the world thing already scares the shit out of pretty much everyone, I’m sure,” she said with a scoff. “Pretty much everyone except me that is. Just to be clear.”

She nodded along with his words, hoping the same thing he was. After years and years of imagining this moment, it was hard to imagine she wouldn’t be at least a little bit disappointed. “Same here. And I appreciate that, even though I have no freaking clue why you’re going through all this for some random werewolf.

The two of them walked to his car and got in, quickly pulling out of the Lockwood’s driveway. “I guess I’ll be staying here if that’s the case,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe I’ll be able to focus on other things. I can get a job, go to school, date...” Hayley drifted off and looked over at him as she said the last option, although she couldn’t really imagine a scenario where a werewolf dating an Original vampire would work out in anyone’s favor.

[behindredoor]

Keeping his word was like making a blood promise to Elijah Mikaelson, even when it came to the smallest of things. Granted, gathering information about Hayley Marshall’s long lost parents was anything but small, but Elijah had a feeling that she didn’t believe he’d keep his word entirely. After all, why would an original vampire try to help a young wolf? She barely knew him, so it was understandable, but Elijah hoped he could prove her wrong, and most importantly, help her. Family was sacred to Elijah, and no one deserved to go through life without it.

The day before, Elijah had walked Hayley back to her temporary home in Mystic Falls – Tyler Lockwood’s house. Elijah quickly texted Hayley that he was outside, keeping his distance on purpose so there wouldn’t be any conflicts between him and the youngest Lockwood. Tucking his cell phone into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, Elijah waited on Hayley to meet him. 

“I know I am early, but the sooner we get there – the better.” Elijah said as a way of greeting, taking a few steps towards her. “Are you ready to meet your people?”

[halesmarshall]

Hayley was nothing if not adventurous and this escapade was just that in her mind – an adventure. Elijah seemed serious about helping her, but she still underestimated just how much pull he and his family had. Or maybe she couldn’t admit that vampires could do something better than she could. In all honesty, she was just humoring him and using this as an opportunity to spend more time with the one person in Mystic Falls she didn’t find completely boring. Odds were she was about to find out just what his help would cost her and it would turn out to be a complete waste of her time, but she figured it was still better than hanging around Tyler Lockwood’s giant mansion one more day.

Grabbing her old leather jacket, she slipped it out and headed out the door as soon as she got the text from Elijah. He was a bit early, but she'd been sitting on the couch and drinking Tyler’s expensive whiskey all day – meaning she really wasn’t that bothered by his punctuality. 

"Hey, it’s not a problem. I was excited to see you wearing casual clothes, but I guess formal attire is like default mode for you,” she told him with a smirk. stepping up to him. “I’ve been ready for about ten years now, Elijah.”