JustAThoughtfulAngel - she/her, 23, writer by passion
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Status ~ Hiatus
This blog is primarily dedicated to Malachai āKaiā Parker from The Vampire Diaries. Any fanfictions I write for Kai Parker will be posted here and on Archive Of Our Own. I also post fanfics for other characters and fandoms on AO3.
About Me ~
Dear reader who has stumbled onto my Tumblr page, welcome to the place where I share the stories my mind concocts.
I started writing at around age 12, and at the time of this post, I am 21. During that time, my love for different fictional characters may have evolved, but my passion for writing only grew.
This blog is primarily dedicated to Malachai Parker from The Vampire Diaries. If you dig wayyyyy down into my posts, you may find Draco Malfoy content from years ago, though I do not write for him anymore.
My work is only available on Tumblr and Archive of Our Own under this same username. If you see it elsewhere, it has been reposted without my permission.
Please heed warnings before reading pieces. They are in place so you do not read anything that may be harmful or sensitive to you. Smut is also marked accordingly; steer clear if you are underage.
Feel free to message me anytime with thoughts, comments, constructive criticisms, or anything under the sun. Always feel free to message me if you need someone.
The world can be a scary place, and we all need people who hear and understand us. Even though we are strangers, I'm happy to play that part for you. Iām here for you, even if you feel like youāre alone. Iām here, and itāll all be okay one day ā„ļø
Thank you for stopping by! Let's find some magic in stories and joy in fantasies together.
MAL'S TOP SEVEN VILLAINS: #2. Kai Parker (The Vampire Diaries)
"Youāre right. I am a liar, alright? Iām the black sheep. You know, the defective twin that nobody wanted. Must feel real nice for you to stand here judging me surrounded by all the things that you got out of life, while I spent eighteen years in isolation as the family reject. Let me tell you, every inch of me wants to kill you for that. EVERY PART! But I canāt. Because the only way that I can survive is if you help me. And Iād like to live, frankly. Because I didnāt get to do a whole lot of that before everyone decidedā¦ that I wasnāt worth it."
Hi all! I've recently been messing around on SpicyChat.AI and created a Kai Parker chatbot! I've populated it with Kai's whole life story and some memorable quotes of his. The more people that use it, the better it will become!
Please check it out here, and let me know if you have any feedback! At the moment, it is set up so that the user of the bot and Kai are interacting alone after the events of Season 6 (minus his death).
I know I've always dreamt of talking with Kai, and hopefully this chatbot will help fulfill that dream for my fellow Kai fans!
HIII im a huge fan of ur work ive read like every single one bahha but i was wondering if i could be added to all of your kai taglists pleasee
Hiii! Thank you so much for reading my stories ā„ļø Iām so glad you enjoy them! Iām currently not writing for Kai at the moment but all my works and other fanfics can be found on my AO3!
Itās been a while since Iāve done any writing, really. Iāve had a whirlwind of things happen in my life, and truthfully, I was not in the best place to be creating stories that give people joy. After a few weeks of this, I finally feel Iāve begun to unfreeze and find positive emotions again.
With this being said, how I view my writing has changed. More often than not, my stories have expressed an innate inner need of mine, served as a tool for healing while also being a form of art. My newfound understanding is going to bring some changes to this blog and my AO3:
1) This blog will remain a Malachai Parker blog, though I will not be posting a new story for some time. I do have Kai Parker fics in my mind that will one day come to fruition, but not yet.
2) I may be writing stories for other fandoms/characters, but those will be posted on my AO3 (same username, linked in introductory post) only.
3) Iām cutting down on social media interactions in general, so I will be less active on Tumblr. As always, if you need someone to talk to, Iāll be keeping an eye out on my Tumblr messages.
Thank to all who have read and enjoyed my work! Iāve felt joy at every single interaction with my posts. ā¤ļø
This is a sequel to "I'd Rather You Lie." I've done my best to make sure this piece is readable as a one shot, but if you'd like to read the prequel, please read it here.
This IS a reader insert fic; I just donāt like writing with Y/N in the place of names. Use Rosalie/Rosie/Rose as a placeholder for Y/NĀ :)
Description: Kai betrayed her trust, used her for his own selfish means. Now, he can't bear the pain and hurt he's caused her. Malachai understands now that he loves her, but is love enough to mend a broken heart?
Warnings: angst/heartbreak and minor mature language
The story begins after the break! I hope you enjoy reading it :)
āIād rather you lie.āĀ
It was easier for Rosalie when he lied. It had been easier to believe it was real. Now, sheād heard the lies so often she couldnāt possibly know what was true anymore. Kaiās ramblings came to a halt. Roseās smile was more akin to a grimace. There were no tears in her eyes; there was nothing in her eyes as if there was no soul behind them.
Malachai had hurt many people in his life. Heād murdered his siblings, and heād spent years torturing himself. Somehow, this emptiness in her was worse than all the damage heād done combined. āRosalieā¦ā She just shook her head, walking passed him. There was still no emotion on her face as she hugged her winter jacket around her body. Kai watched her walk away, feeling the snow settle in his hair. The cold did not compare to all the pain that consumed him.Ā
He tried to take a shaky breath. With a choked gasp and unbearable pain in his heart, Malachai watched her until she became a speck of dust in the distance. The worst part of it all? She didnāt turn to look back at him once.
~
Was it his fault for breaking her heart, or was it hers for allowing him to hold it in the first place? Her brain and heart grappled over this question every night, making it impossible to sleep. Thanks to Kai, she couldnāt return to the life sheād once loved. There was nothing left inside her that would allow her to love.Ā
It wasnāt as if Rose was a stranger to pain. Sheād been abandoned by people before. The people who brought her into the world had died. The ones who adopted her into their home as a child saw her as only a paycheck. Even Alaric was dead for a few years before miraculously coming alive again. None of those heartaches had destroyed her in the same way Malachai had.
Perhaps it was because it was her first time truly being in love. She couldnāt feel anything anymore, not even anger. Though her mind and heart disagreed on whose fault it was, they both knew feeling the agony of that betrayal would consume her.
For now, all she could do was continue existing in an endless cycle ā school, work, Dad, friends, eat, sleep, repeat.
~
A new semester was starting after winter break, and Rosalie considered it a fresh start. She would put herself out there again; sheād try to come back to life. Rose was sitting in a large lecture hall, waiting for the professor of her creative writing course to arrive. She twirled her stylus around her fingers, making random doodles on her iPad. Someone sat down a few seats away from her, but she paid them no mind.Ā
The hall continued to fill, and Professor Smith arrived ten minutes late. She was fun, and her quippy nature made up for the tardiness. Listening to a professor review a syllabus wasnāt boring for once. Rosalie was paying close attention, jotting down miscellaneous notes about due dates and assignment details.Ā
āYour final paper,Ā worth 30% of your grade, will be a writing piece: eight to ten pages long with attention to all topics and techniques weāll review throughout the semester. Students who do best on this assignment never fail to present their learnings in a unique, refreshing way. Nothing should limit your imagination. Isnāt that right, boy who canāt stop staring at the girl in his row?āĀ
Rose was looking at the professor when she singled out the student not listening. As did the other students, she, too, looked around to see who the professor was scolding. Her grip slackened on her stylus as she heard his voice a few feet away. She would know that voice anywhere. āY-yes, Professor. Iām sorry.ā The professor nodded and continued. Malachai stole one more glance in her direction when the professorās back was turned, and his eyes met Rosalieās after weeks of not seeing each other.
~
Before he could talk to her, Rose rushed out of the lecture hall. Was heĀ stalkingĀ her now? Swallowing away the bitter taste in her mouth, Rosalie instinctively made her way to her dadās office. Glancing at the time, she knew Alaric was giving a lecture. Unlocking the door with magic and locking it behind her, Rose collapsed onto the couch. Her head fell into her hands, and her foot tapped against the ground anxiously.Ā
Rosalie hadnāt yet asked her dad for Kaiās true story. She didnāt want to know it anymore; she told herself she didnāt care about him and whatever was causing him pain. Whether she would admit it or not, Rosalie was lying to herself, just as Kai had lied to her for weeks.Ā
She stayed in the same spot for hours, finally looking up when she heard the door unlock. Alaric smiled at his daughter, unsurprised to find her here. This was a first-day-of-the-semester tradition for them ā tea in his office and unpacking what happened in their new classes. Ric turned on the hot water kettle, pulling out mugs and tea for them. He only noted her troubles when she greeted him without energy, and his smile faded quickly. āRosalie? Whatās the matter?āĀ
Rose sighed deeply, not knowing where to start. āI need you to tell me everything about Kai, Dad. Please.ā The turmoil had been suppressed long enough; she bit the bullet and watched Ricās expression twitch. He didnāt say anything for a few minutes. Hot water and honey were poured into their mugs. Rose kicked her shoes off, curled her legs under her, and claimed the steaming cup of tea. The silence was broken only when Alaric sat beside her on the couch.
He was torn about how much he should involve her but hiding the truth from Rose allowed Kai to hurt her. Ric wouldnāt hide things from her anymore. āMalachai is Josetteās twin brother.ā A confused expression came over Roseās face immediately. āJo is in her early 40s. How is that possible?ā To his credit, Alaric told her everything without biased embellishments, telling her the story exactly as Jo told him.Ā
Of course, even he didnāt know the story from Malachaiās perspective.Ā
He told her about how Kai was meant to merge with Jo and become the leader of the Gemini coven, how he was never worthy of the position. When he found out the thing he lusted after for twenty-two years would never be his, Kai snapped, murdering four of his little siblings in cold blood. Kai stuck a hunting knife into Josette and took out her spleen. Ultimately, he was after Lucas and Olivia. The Coven locked him up in a prison world, and he escaped when Bonnie and Damon ended up there after the Other Side collapsed.
Rosalie listened to everything, finding it impossible to believe that the guy she knew ā the guy sheĀ thoughtĀ she knew ā was capable of all of this. Even as she left her dadās office, Rose repeated the story in her mind. There had to be more to this story. No one was born evil. Something must have happened to Kai - something so horrible and cruel that his only choice was to protect himself this way.Ā
Alaric had heard the story from Jo, but he hadnāt seen the tears Kai shed when no one was around to see them. Whatever caused him to snap tormented him even now, and no one should live that way. Despite this, Rosalie didnāt have it in her to forgive him. Maybe it was selfish, but heād used someone who trusted him for reasons she could barely justify.Ā
The door to her apartment closed behind her. Trying to push the thoughts away, Rose walked over to her fridge. She pulled it open, and the wave of cool air sent her mind reeling backā¦
Even on the drive back to Mystic Falls, her thoughts were consumed with Kai. Heād kissed her, and then he disappeared. What kind of decent person does that? Rosalie had begun to think that maybe she didnāt know Malachai at all. Her thoughts would be proven right a few minutes later.Ā
When Rose entered the Salvatore House, she heard the flames of the fireplace crackling and voices coming from the living room. āHow do you know my daughter?ā Her dad was threatening someone, holding them by their neck as he tilted the chair towards the fireplace. Damon forced him away, trying to calm Alaric down. āEasy, Papa Bear. Kaiās going to cooperate. Talk. Now.ā
Ā Kai?Ā Her Kai? Noā¦
āDidnāt you know? Iāve been dating her for a while. Here I thought she told you everything, Alaric. Of course, she thinks itās real, which is sweet, really. At least someone among us has a heart.āĀ
Kai kept on talking, but she heard none of it. It was as if her senses had been disconnected from her brain. āSheās just so welcomingā¦ it was so easy to step into her life. I could get into all of yours and take what Iāve always wanted. But you really didnāt need to torture me to get that out of me, did you? I think Iām an excellent communicator.āĀ
Damon and her dad had already seen Rose standing there, and when Damon forced Kaiās chair around, she registered the briefest flicker of remorse in his eyes. She didnāt have it in her to care, not right now. All she did was turn around and leave. The air outside felt so much colder than she could bear. It bit her cheeks as tears filled her eyes. Rosalie refused to let them fall. She would not cry over someone who was using her.
The tears that had refused to spill all those months ago came bubbling to the surface. Her knees buckled below her, and her hands rushed to cover her mouth as a pained scream came out. All the agony at his betrayal created burning trails on her cheeks, and as she curled up on the ground, her shoulders shook with each sob.Ā
Rosalie finally let herself admit that she had loved Malachai: she probably still did. Sheād put her heart into someoneās hands for the first time and this was what she earned in return. Nothing in her life felt fair. How many more people would hurt her before she could finally be free?Ā
The anguish sheād failed to acknowledge and process now took over. It subsided hours later when the chill from the open fridge had coated her spine and the door beeped in protest. Rose gave it a weak push and it creaked shut.Ā
Sheād loved him, and now she didnāt think she could love anymore.
~
Caroline smacked a piece of paper down on the table in front of Rosalie. āThe annual Whitmore Bitter Ball is on Saturday, and youāre coming.ā Rose picked up the flyer, smiling without amusement at the clashing black and grey letters. āCome onnnn, youāre the one thatās most bitter in love out of any of us.āĀ
Elena and Bonnie gave Caroline a withering stare, while Rose just shook her head. āSorryā¦ insensitive.ā She cleared her throat, trying to dispel the awkwardness. āYou should come, Rosalie. We all deserve a night out.ā Elena was gently encouraging in stark contrast to Caroline. Rose didnāt know how she felt about it. āOkay, dance or no dance, at least come dress shopping with us? We need your opinions.ā Truthfully, it sounded dreadful. After a long blink, Rosalie smiled and agreed. āFine. Itāll be just like high school.ā It wouldnāt be for her; it would be for her friends.
A few hours later, Rosalie was walking between aisles upon aisles of dresses. Some were gaudy and drew way too much attention. Some were too plain for a ball. Then again, maybe plain was best ā something that could help her hide in the shadows as she attended the dance for the sake of her worried friends.Ā
Rose ultimately chose a silken, black gown. It had an attractive sweetheart neckline and golden embellishments around the waist. The skirt didnāt puff out obnoxiously, and with a golden mask to abide by the masquerade policy, it was the perfect disguise.
~
On Saturday evening, Rosalie found herself standing in the corner of the grand ballroom. People were all over the place: some drunk, some dancing, some crying, and some doing all of the above. Rose watched people move about behind her mask, twirling the straw around in her gin and soda with extra limes. Sheād promised Caroline sheād stay out for an hour, and thankfully, the hour was almost up.Ā
Downing her drink, Rosalie walked across the dance floor. She had managed to artfully avoid the masses until she reached the bar. The glass clinked down onto the granite counter, right beside someone also attending this ball alone. He turned around slowly, setting down his own glass. They looked at each other silently for a few heavy seconds, neither saying a word.Ā
Malachaiās eyes shined in the dim lighting of the ballroom, swimming with numerous feelings yet glistening with the joy of seeing her. Rosalieās expression remained passive, unreadable. Sheād cried her heart out already. What was the next step in the process of healing from heartbreak?Ā
āI donāt know how a ball for the brokenhearted could be such a hit,ā Kai said. Rose smiled without amusement, looking around at the crowd once again. āYou never know, maybe lots of people have broken hearts around here.ā Malachai swallowed away the knot of emotion in his throat, his eyes darting to the dance floor. āMaybe youāre right.ā
He refused to meet her eyes, and it sparked something inside her. It was some convoluted mixture of rage, pain, desperation, and, most unexpectedly, a tinge of hope. āDance with me?ā She held out her hand to him in challenge. Kaiās gaze flit between her hand, the dancing couples, and the gleam in her eyes. Whatever brought it back, heād missed it dearly. He took her hand, leading her to join the crowds.Ā
Rose let out a soft laugh at the song change, wondering if Caroline had something to do with the music.Ā War of HeartsĀ played over the speakers as Kaiās hand came to rest on her waist. Their fingers linked together, and this time, everything else fell away.Ā
Come to me in the night hours. I will wait for you.
Both recalled the same memories as they stepped in unison. Their awkward first interaction in the coffee shop. The first date where Kai was trying to be charming but ended up spilling soda all over his shirt. His tears when the thoughts of his past tormented him. The devastation they both felt when Rosalie found out about Malachaiās betrayal.Ā
āHave you been stalking me, by the way?ā Kai almost smiled, his brow rising. āWould you believe me if I said I had no idea youād be in the same section?ā He twirled her around, pulling her back to him. āHonestly, I donāt know what Iām supposed to believe, Malachai.āĀ
Sheād been the only one who could use his full first name without making him flinch. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and Kai sighed, resigned with himself. āI donāt know what I can say, Rose. You have every right to not trust me. Let me just ask you one thing, and then I will leave you alone.ā
I canāt help but love you, even though I try not to. I canāt help but want you. I know that Iād die without you.
āDo you honestly think I didnāt break my own heart when I broke yours?ā His arms wrapped around her as Kai selfishly pulled her close. If this was the last time, he needed to hold her close. The back of his hand brushed her cheek, and he memorized the feel of her soft skin. He was close enough to see the reflection of his dark, satin mask in Rosalieās eyes.Ā
Rose didnāt know how to react. Her first instinct was to say no. He had sounded so convincing when he gloated to Ric and Damon about how he used her. How could that be the voice of someone with a broken heart? That same person stood in front of her now, looking at her with deeper affection and sincerity unlike anything sheād known before.Ā
Rosalie held the hand brushing her cheek, wrapping her own around it before stepping away from Kai. āMalachai, I canāt do this again.ā Kai had let her walk away once. He wouldnāt give up without a fight this time. āPleaseā¦ I promise I wonāt ever hurt you. I wonāt lie to you. From now on, nothing but the truth.āĀ
I canāt help but be wrong in the dark, ācause Iām overcome in this war of hearts. I canāt help but want oceans to part, ācause Iām overcome in this war of hearts.
With those words, Rose threw her arms around Malachai and kissed him. Maybe it was wishful thinking, or maybe it was just plain stupid. It didnāt matter. Not trusting him had been so unendurably painful; even if he played her again, it would be worth it.
Kai froze in surprise for a fraction of a second, not expecting her to give him the one thing he wanted most. He took her face in his hands, suppressing a sob of relief and joy. Malachai brought her closer, hugging her flush against his body.Ā
People still danced around them, oblivious to the two souls whoād found each other and would never part again.
~
The end of the semester approached, faster than anticipated. Malachai and Rosalie had spent the last months together, and true to his word, he hadnāt lied to herā¦ until tonight.
In his lonesome years in the prison world, Kai had honed his cooking and baking skills. Tonight, after a long week of finals, they were making Kaiās chocolate chip cookies ā a recipe heād refined and mastered over twelve years. Rosalie was whipping together browned butter and sugar, and Kai was chopping chunks of dark chocolate into shards with a knife. The apartment smelled like toasted sugar, and their playful banter brought them much-needed laughter.Ā
āWhereād you put the vanilla extract I brought over?ā Rosalie was looking in Kaiās kitchen drawers, and just as she reached one near the edge of the counter, he stepped in front of her. āNot in that one! Thereās nothing in that one. Letās move on.ā Why was he in such a rush to get her away from that drawer?Ā
āMalachaiā¦ what are you hiding from me?ā He sighed and stepped aside, remembering his promise to her. Rose didnāt take her eyes off him as she opened the drawer. Looking down, she halted in shock at the only object inside: a small black jewelry box.
Kai grabbed it before she could, putting it behind her back. She gave him a look, raising her eyebrows in question. āWhat are you hiding from me?ā She repeated her question, her voice even more pointed, now with curiosity rather than suspicion. Adorably anxious, Kai nipped at his lower lip and tugged at his hair momentarily.Ā
Setting the box on the kitchen counter, Kai flipped its lid. Within it, tucked into cushioned velvet, lay matching silver rings. They were similar in style to the ones Malachai often wore, the metal bands thick and fairly plain. He removed them both, showing her the inscription inside the bands:Ā nothing but the truth.
āThis isnāt a proposal. Not yet, at least.ā Kaiās nervousness didnāt help him get these words out, but when he looked up, looking into her eyes, suddenly it was much easier. āI wanted us to have something that reminds us of our journey and how far weāve come. I want us to have these.ā Before he said anything more, Kai slipped his ring onto his middle finger. Rosalie accepted his gift and put on her ring. She took his hand and laced their fingers together.Ā
āThank you, Kai,ā Rose spoke with tenderness, holding Kaiās face. āIāll never take it off.ā Their lips met in a sweet kiss, and the smooth metal of their rings clinked together quietly. They squeezed each otherās hands lovingly, now certain neither would let go.
~~~
That's all for this piece! Thank you to the anon who requested I give them a happy ending; this story would not exist without you :)
Please feel free to send any thoughts/comments/constructive criticisms my way. I always welcome them.
If youād like to be tagged in future Kai Parker works, feel free to message me/leave a comment here. If you liked this story, feel free to check out my other stories from my Malachai Parker Masterlist (pinned to the top of my profile).
This IS a reader insert fic; I just donāt like writing with Y/N in the place of names. Use Rosalie/Rosie/Rose as a placeholder for Y/NĀ :)
Description: When we fall in love with someone, we learn to love every part of them - even their faults. How much would it break your heart to learn you'd fallen in love with a lie?
Warnings: Angst, betrayal, and heartbreak
The story begins after the break! I hope you enjoy reading it <3
Kai had been wandering around Mystic Falls aimlessly for a few days. Heād absorbed all the magic from the Travelerās Spell, and it was almost impossible to control. Kai had stolen the chance to practice on Elena for a little while, but her stupid boyfriend and his twin sister managed to get her back. Heād have to wait weeks before the magic dwindled, delaying the merge heād been denied for decades. He was done waiting. He was burning for revenge, and he wanted it now.
Raising his eyebrows, Kai took a sip of his soda. Alaric Saltzman seemed far too young to have a near twenty-year-old daughter. This opened up a very interesting set of opportunities. Muttering a spell under his breath so he could listen to their conversation, he settled into his seat, finally feeling like he wasn't sitting here alone. It was illicit company, but company, nonetheless.
āHowās school going? You keep your academic life surprisingly secret from your dad.ā Alaric flipped through the menu, teasing Rosalie as she put her laptop away into her bookbag. She smiled, shaking her head. āItās not a secret if you have chats over coffee with all of my professors in staff lounges.ā
āFair, fair. Iād just like to hear it from you sometimes. Did you order anything yet?ā Rosalie shook her head, perusing the menu herself. āNot yet, I was working. Looks like they added some new mains.ā
There was nothing important Kai would learn from this mindless chatter, but some part of him liked listening to it. It wasā¦ well, normal: a normal lunch between a dad and daughter. Funnily enough, normal was the most abnormal for Kai.
~~~
It took one week for Kai to find out the girlās story. Rosalie Saltzman was a witch. Though not his daughter by blood, Alaric was her only family. Theyād found each other ten years ago when Alaric was just starting as a middle school teacher. Heād been heartbroken over his ex-wife, Isobel, for many years, and the hole in his heart couldnāt be filled romantically. Rose was an orphan. When she was old enough, she ran away from her abusive foster home and was living by herself in the school. Alaric found her sleeping in the library one night and took her in. Soon enough, Alaric became Rosalieās legal guardian, her friend, and eventually, her parent. When she discovered her magic, Alaric knew exactly what it was and how to help her learn.
Rose had befriended the Mystic Falls gang when she moved there with Alaric six years ago. Sheād lost him, and Rosalie almost lost herself in those years. She didnāt like to talk about it. Now, she was on the same path as her dad. She was majoring in Occult Studies with the hopes of becoming a professor herself.
From what Kai had seen, it seemed like Alaric tried to keep her away from the crazy happenings in Mystic Falls. It was the only point of strife between the two. Now that he was back, Alaric was determined to protect Rosalie, not wanting her to get involved until she had to. The problem was that sheād spent years without him, now ā years when she was one of the only trusted witches Elena, Caroline, Damon, and Stefan turned to. She wasnāt about to abandon them because her dad wanted her to.
Nevertheless, Alaric had managed to protect Rosalie. He hadnāt let a word of Kai or who he was slip to his daughter. This worked in Kaiās favor miraculously. He wanted to get close to Rosalie. She was the glue that held the messed-up Mystic Falls family together, and she was exactly who Kai wanted to destroy. The game was about to begin, and heād found a new piece to play with. It would take time, butĀ thisĀ wait would be worth it.
~~~
Every Sunday, Rosalie spent the day studying away in a tiny coffee shop a few blocks from Whitmoreās campus. At first, Kai started showing up there with something random: a book, a sketchpad, and even a typewriter-with-a-screen heād bought himself (he finally learned they were called laptops and were portable computers).
They didnāt even make eye contact for the first week, but Kai observed her very carefully. She tended to order black coffee and then go into work mode. By the time she went back for her second sip, her beverage would be untastefully cold. Then, sheād request ice and turn her order into an entirely new concoction with cream.
During the second week, they truly saw each other for the first time. Rosalie smiled and nodded politely as one does to strangers and went back to her work, sipping her iced coffee and ignoring him as well as everything around her.
When the third week came around, he finally spoke to her. āHi.ā Rosalie glanced up at the sound and removed her earbuds. āHi?ā She hadnāt failed to notice the very attractive guy whoād suddenly begun frequenting her favorite coffee shop, but she hadnāt imagined heād come to talk to her. āUmā¦ā Kai was very rusty with face-to-face interactions. āLovely weather weāre having.ā
Kai almost facepalmed. Rose raised an eyebrow and looked out the window. It was pouring outside, and the wind had just blown away some poor fellowās umbrella. āSure, if youāre into storms.ā He seemed adorably nervous, and Rosalie decided to take the lead. āIām Rosalie, Rosalie Saltzman.ā She stood, reaching out her hand in greeting. Kaiās palm slid against hers, surprised at the comforting warmth. āIām Kai Parker. Are you related to Professor Saltzman by any chance?ā
āWhy, yes. He is my dad.ā Kai already knew that, of course, but he needed an in with her. āIāve been thinking about taking one of his courses next semester. Any chance you could tell me about them?ā
Rosalie, very patiently, began talking about AlaricāsĀ Introduction to Occult StudiesĀ seminar. Kai just continued to watch her. He was learning more about her every day; for a witch, she was surprisingly open. Most were always so secretive and quiet.
Before they knew it, theyād spent hours chatting the day away. āThanks for being so patient with all my insipid questions.ā Kai was feeling oddly cheerful. It wasnāt a common emotion for him. āAw, they werenāt all insipid questions. Maybe a few.ā Rosalie teased brightly, and Kai couldnāt help but return her wide grin. āWell, Rosalie, I had a lot of fun today, and I was wondering if you maybe wanted toā¦ get coffee sometime.ā
āWell, considering weāre in a coffee shop, that shouldnāt be too hard to arrange. How about the same time and place next week?ā
āGreat. Itās a date.ā
Ā ~~~
One date turned into four, and before heād even planned it, Rosalie was spending much of her time with Kai. He didnāt mind one bit. Of course, Kai had to convince himself it was all to get close to her and then break her ā break them all. The more time he spent with her, however, the more he was starting to think heād picked the wrong girl. The more time he spent with her, the more he didnāt want to have to break her. But he was in this now. He was in it, and there was only one way out.
Despite planning to meet at their usual coffee shop, Kai didnāt show up today, and he wasnāt answering his phone either. Perhaps it would seem pathetic or clingy, but Rosalie was worried about him. She made her way to his place, only wanting to see if he was okay. He was a quirky guy who had grown on her. He loved his food. He was strange at times, but she chalked it up to this naivety he had about their world. It was almost like heād come from another time.
Rosalie knocked on his door. āKai? Is everything okay?ā There was no verbal response, but she heard shuffling on the other side of the door. The door handle did not turn, but she could feel his breathing on the other side. Pressing her palm to the door, Rosalie spoke softly, knowing the words would reach him. āKaiā¦ā There were many things she wanted to say, but she didnāt know where to start. She didnāt know what he was going through, and she didnāt want to push him to open up to her.
āI donāt know what is bothering you, so I canāt say itāll get better. People always say it will, but maybe it wonāt. That is okay. I promise you, even if it doesnāt get better, it will become easier to live with. It always does.ā
Kai closed his eyes. His temples were throbbing from dehydration, his eyes sore. He hadnāt cried in years, and it wasnāt catharsis ā it was torture. How would she know it would become easier? She was unbelievably kind, and the kinder she was, the harder it was to stay on track. He wanted to forget all this. Kai couldnāt bear to use her as a catalyst for his revenge. Not anymore. Not like this. āHow do you know?ā
His raspy, broken voice hurt something within her. It sounded lifeless, devoid of hope and meaning. āBecause Iāve lived through it. Please let me in.ā
His shoulders slumped over. The weight of worlds may have rested on them. The weight of his identity certainly did. Weeks ago, heād claimed the only way out of this was through. Could he give up his revenge, the one thing that sustained him? Could he give her up? He sank to the floor and leaned his back against the door. He said nothing else, but Kai hoped she didnāt leave.
She didnāt leave. Mere inches away, separated by the wooden door between them, Rosalie sat on the other side. She listened to his breathing, his muffled sobs. Her heart broke for him. Something was tearing him apart, and all she wanted to do was hold him togetherā¦
When dawn struck, Kai woke. His back was stiff from the strange angle heād been sleeping at, and he stretched forward. He shot up, then. There was no way she was still here, was there? Very slowly, he opened the door with a shaking hand. She was asleep against the wall. Kai wanted to wake her, but that would be a poor way to repay her compassion.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Kai lifted her and laid her on his bed, tucking her in. He was done with all of it. He was done with lying to her. Heād tell her everything very soon, and if she wanted to tell him to leave her life and never return, so be it. Kai would leave her life and never return.
~
No matter how he wanted to, Kai couldnāt do it. He couldnāt tell her, not when that would mean admitting how horrible he was. Instead of telling her when she woke the next morning, he crossed another line. He kissed her. It didnāt take much thought on his part, and she returned the kiss after a few moments of surprise.
As their lips meshed together, Kai couldnāt understand how sheād become so important to him so quickly. It seemed she felt the same way. āKaiā¦ I donāt know what is going on with you, and I wonāt force you to tell me, either. I want you to know Iām here for you. Iāll always be here for you.āĀ
Ā Her words rang with sincerity, breaking Kaiās heart more and more. He had to come clean. If she left him, heād deserve it. The only problem wasā¦ Malachai was a coward. Heād always been a coward, and he would always be a coward.
~~~
After that one kiss, Kai vanished. Rosalie hadnāt heard from him or even seen him around campus in weeks. She got no texts, no callsā¦ no sign heād ever existed. The first week had hurt badly. She stayed up nights, staring at her dark ceiling trying to comprehend why heād disappeared. The second week brought about the best performance of her life; Rose acted like she was over him. She figured she could fake it until Malachai was solely a memory. By the third week, the act was up. She couldnāt hide behind a screen of emotionlessness. It was standing on a feeble foundation, and sooner and later, it would crumble.
Thankfully, a distraction had presented itself. Alaric had been dealing with yet another villain in Mystic Falls for the past few weeks, and this time, heād called upon his daughter to come help. Despite the pure annoyance their life had become in recent years, Rosalie knew asking her to come step was a solidifying step in the relationship she had with her dad. She journeyed down the highway, not knowing she was speeding towards the man sheād spent weeks trying to forget.
~
Kai had spent the last three weeks trapped in the cellars of the Salvatore Boarding House. The first week had hurt badly. He stayed up nights, staring at the granite ceiling trying to make sense of the uncomfortable whirlwind of emotions inside him. The second week brought about starvation, weakness, and a moment of painful clarity. Malachai somehow felt the aching and confusion Rose must have been feeling all those miles away. By the third week, something had awoken within him. Something hard. Unbreakable. Unyielding. Heād snapped again, and the Kai Parker they were so terrified of had returned.
He'd been dragged out of the cell and tied up to a chair in the living room. The moment was all too reminiscent of an interaction in the prison world, where heād been tied up to the exact same chair. The fireplace crackled to his left, and Damon stood in front of him with a poker in his hand. āMan, no one thought to change up the furniture since 1994? No wonder this place went out of business.ā
Damon smirked without mirth, passing the metal rod between his hands. āI forgot how annoying you can be. Bonnie couldnāt stand to be in the same room as you again, so weāve got another friend coming to help out with whatever little secrets youāve got in there.ā Kai raised his eyebrows, internally indignant but outwardly cool. His gaze fell on the glass of water on the coffee table. āLet me guess. I answer the question, I get the water. I refuse, and I get the poker.āĀ
āOh no, no, no. Thatās mine. You just get the poker.ā In his exhaustion, Malachai genuinely chuckled. āHow original, Damon. Tell me, howād you get Rosalie to agree to help out?ā That was the ace in his back pocket ā the card he hoped heād never have to play. At the mention of his daughter, Alaric zoomed into the room, holding Kai by the throat while he tilted his chair backward. A few more inches and his head would slam against the brick fireplace. āHow do you know my daughter?āĀ
Ā As quickly as heād come in, Damon got Alaric off of him. āEasy, Papa Bear. Kaiās going to cooperate.ā The metal poker rested on Kaiās chest, the sharp tip separated from his heart by mere inches of flesh and blood. āTalk. Now.āĀ
āDidnāt you know? Iāve been dating her for a while. Here I thought she told you everything, Alaric.ā Alaric blanched. There were consequences to keeping Rosalie in the dark, and here was one. In the process of trying to keep her out of these messes, Alaric had enveloped Rose into one with repercussions he couldnāt yet imagine. āOf course, she thinks itās real, which is sweet, really. At least someone among us has a heart.āĀ
His words betrayed his thoughts. Truly, heād be taking her heart and crushing it, but this was about his survival. If there was one thing Kai Parker knew how to do, it was survive. āSheās just so welcomingā¦ it was so easy to step into her life. I could get into all of yours and take what Iāve always wanted. But you really didnāt need to torture me to get that out of me, did you? I think Iām an excellent communicator.āĀ
Nothing had announced Rosalieās arrival. Her car pulling up to the driveway had reached Damon and Alaricās ears, but not Kaiās. He kept talking, spreading lies and making them sound like nothing but the truth. Rose was standing just ten feet behind him, and her dad looked up at her. His eyes were swarming with a myriad of emotions in stark contrast to Rosalieās. Her eyes were simply empty. There was nothing to be found in her anymore. There was no more pain, no more darkness, and no more joy.
Damon forcefully swiveled the chair around, and the movement nearly knocked Kai to the ground. When he looked up, he saw the numbness in her eyes. Heād broken her. Rose didnāt scream at him. Not one tear slipped past her eye, even as her throat closed up with emotion. She just turned on her heel and walked away. Kai had thought he was destroying her heart, but he couldnāt have been more wrong.Ā
She no longer had a heart that could be destroyed. Now, there was just nothing.Ā
~~~
Kai had come to ruin the lives of those whoād tortured him. He thought he deserved the vengeance, and perhaps he still did. He just had no right to ruin the one soul whoād shown him an ounce of kindness along the way. After giving Damon whatever information heād wanted, Alaric had let him go with the promise that heād stay away from his daughter. That wasnāt a promise Kai would keep, and even Alaric knew that. She may not have seen it, but Alaric had seen the flicker of remorse in him, even if it lasted a fraction of a second.
Rosalie had gone about life just as she had before Kai ever came into it. She studied. She had dinners with her dad. She spent her Sundays at the same coffee shop. In his weakness, it took Kai weeks before he could step into the coffee shop and approach her. When he finally did, he wished he hadnāt. It wouldāve been much more acceptable if she yelled at him, even thrown her hot coffee in his face. Instead, she glanced up at him and began packing up her things. Not a word was exchanged.
Kai trailed after her, not knowing what to say or how to start. Snow had begun to fall, and the chill settled into his bones. Instead of calling out her name, he ran up behind her, grabbing her wrist to get her to stop. She did stop then, wrenching her wrist from her grip. āWhat do you want, Malachai?ā The words did not reflect her turmoil, because none came up to the surface. Heād shattered her beyond repair.
āRosalieā¦ā He didnāt have the words to begin. Just saying her name did something to him, closing up his throat and stealing his air. āIām so sorry. I know that doesnāt begin to cover it. I had no right to use you the way I did. But I swear to you, I wasnāt lying. I really began feelingā¦ something for you. I donāt know if it was love because no oneās loved me before. I donāt know what love is. But I felt something for youā¦ something that made me sick and dizzy and light and happy. Just being around youā¦ā Kai rambled on. Once he started, he couldnāt bring himself to stop.
āJust being around you healed me. I need that. I promise you, no moment we spent together was a lie. It may have started that way at first, but nowā¦ā What finally silenced him was not his own tiredness or overwhelming emotions; it was her smile. It was a smile that didnāt reach her eyes, didnāt even seem like a smile. It was empty, reflective of the shell of Rosalie heād left behind.
āIād rather you lie.ā
~~~
This concludes yet another Kai Parker One Shot! Sorry about the sad ending, darlings :(
Through this piece, I wanted to illustrate a face of heartbreak we don't always see. It's not always screaming and crying. Silence can speak the loudest.
Please feel free to send any thoughts/comments/constructive criticisms my way. I always welcome them :) Also, let me know if you're interested in a sequel for this piece! If you'd like to be tagged in future Kai Parker works, feel free to message me/leave a comment here.
If you liked this story, feel free to check out my other stories from my Malachai Parker Masterlist (pinned to the top of my profile).
(This IS a reader insert fic; I just don't like writing with Y/N in the place of names. Use Hannah as a placeholder for Y/N)
Requested: Yes
Word Count: 2,224
Description: Everyone told Caroline's innocent little sister to stay away from Kai Parker, but there's no controlling what the heart wants, is there?
Warnings: SMUT (if you are under 18, scroll away please!), minor swearing, blood, non-verbal consent (nodding, not a verbal "Yes"), oral sex (female receiving), and unprotected sex (be safe, friends!)
The story begins after the break! Happy reading :)
Hannahās POV:
Stupid Shakespearian Literature was driving me insane. As if I didnāt read enough Shakespeare in high school, I signed up for it at Whitmore, too. Just excellent decision-making. I had an exam tomorrow, and I was going to remember nothing. Groaning aloud, I collapsed onto my textbook. āNo. Come on, Hannah. Get it together.ā Closing the textbook and my eyes, I paced around the room, reciting facts about Shakespeareās life that I would forget the second I turned my exam in.
āShakespeareās father madeā¦ shoes for a living? No. Gloves. He made gloves. What celestial bodies were named after Shakespearian characters? Moons!ā I had to cram every mind-numbing fact into my brain over and over. This was going to take all night. āShakespeare hadā¦ twelve siblings? No. Seven?ā
āSeven siblings? Sheesh. I had seven siblings once, and they drove me crazy. I feel for the old dude.ā Squealing in surprise, I grabbed the object nearest to me and chucked it in the direction of the voice. Kai snatched the pencil pouch out of the air deftly, waving it in greeting. āHey, human Barbie. Studying for an exam?ā
āWhat the- howād you even get in here?ā Raising my eyebrows ā and desperately trying to calm my racing heart ā I took the pencil pouch back and tossed it onto my desk. āYour door was unlocked.ā My eyes narrowed. āNo, it wasnāt. My sister and her friends are all vampires. I donāt ever leave my door unlocked.ā
āWell, do you think a locked door is really going to deter a vampire?ā I continued staring at him with a false exasperated expression. Truthfully, I could pretend to dislike him all I wanted. There was somethingā¦ magnetic about him. The more I was told to stay away, the more I wanted him around. āAhem. Anyways, you want some help studying?ā
~~~
One Hour Later - Kai's POV:
āWhen did Shakespeare write Julius Caesar?ā Hannah was still pacing around and had been for an hour now. It was actually cute how much she still cared about school when she was surrounded by vampires, witches, werewolves, and God-knows-what-else. I found it refreshing, honestly. She was like a stubborn flame that refused to go out no matter how hard the world tried. I, on the other hand, could keel over with one blow. I just pretended like I didnāt. āUhmā¦ 1588?ā
āClose, 1599.ā I swallowed back a snicker, hiding my face in my mug. āHow is that close? I was over a decade off!ā
āWell, you got the century right. I think youāre gonna do just fineeee.ā Her frustrated little sigh was adorable. āOkay, youāre officially not helping. Give me the textbook back, Kai.ā Smirking, I stood up off the couch and held the book above my head. āYou can try to grab it if you can, but the study session ends when the tutor says so.ā
Hannah jumped upwards, swiping at the air. Given our proximity, I could hear her heart racing. It wasnāt entirely because of this whole adventure of retrieving her book. It was something else. I knew because I probably listened to her heart flutter more than anyone. It calmed me, and I knew its sound by my own heart.
āI can hear your heartbeat. Itās like a little hummingbirdās wings.ā My smirk grew, and my eyes gleamed down at her in the soft lighting of her room. She halted mid-jump, settling back on the ground like a startled feather. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and it was one I had to take advantage of. I sang out, āI think someone has a little crush on meeeee,ā knowing full well I had a huge crush on her myself.
In the midst of my teasing, I must have lowered my arm. Hannah ripped the textbook away from my clutches, slicing her finger on it in the process. I immediately took a step back and turned away, not wanting to hurt her. I was new to being a Heretic, and my vampirism frightened me. She set the book aside, her eyes now shining with concern. āKaiā¦ā
āDonāt come any closer to me, Hannah.ā I could smell the scent of her blood and it took over my every rational thought. When I looked up at my reflection in her full-length mirror, I saw the deep purple veins of bloodlust encroach around my eyes. āY-you donāt have to hide.ā She was being brave, but I heard the quiver in her voice. āJust stay where you are.ā
Hannahās POV:
Everyone told me that Kai was a monster, a villain I was never supposed to go near. They were wrong. He is so much more than that. He is kinder than someone who has faced what he has could possibly be. Villains pride themselves on things; heās terrified of the very parts that make him dangerous. Taking a step close to him, I put my uninjured hand on Kaiās shoulder. āKaiā¦ā
āI said, donāt!ā He whipped around to face me, and his eyes grew darker as they met mine. Swallowing my fear, I raised my bleeding finger closer to him. āItās okay. I trust you, Kai.ā I did trust him. I trusted him as much as my sister, the Salvatores, Elenaā¦
Kai seemed torn, and I could see how desperately he wanted to save me from him. He should have known I didnāt want to be saved. Not from him. The thread of his self-control snapped, then. Kai took my finger into his mouth, groaning softly at his need being satisfied.
Without warning, he swept me into his arms, his teeth tearing into my neck. It was painful at first, and every human instinct in my body told me to shove him off. Suddenly, the feeling turned from one of pain into one of pleasure. It was quite literally unlike anything I had felt before. It couldnāt possibly always feel this good, could it? After a few more moments, a soft moan escaped my lips. Kai hesitated but pulled away, licking my wound closed for good measure.
The flick of his tongue sent a shiver down my spine. Our eyes bore into each otherās, and without another word, Kai crashed his lips to mine. Maybe it was my blood, our attraction to each other, or some mixed frenzy of both. It didnāt matter. People could tell me to stay away from him forever. The heart wants what the heart wants.
Kaiās POV:
If I thought her blood was intoxicating, I wasnāt prepared for her kiss. It lit a fire within me, and I couldnāt help myself. Pressing her body against mine, I made sure her legs were wrapped around my waist before carrying her to her bed. Sitting down with Hannah in my lap, I enclosed my arms around her like a vise. She wasnāt going anywhere unless it was by my side.
Letting her breathe, I suckled on the soft skin of her neck. She fell onto me, making my grip on her tighten. There was no more need for words. Her hands gently but firmly grabbed my face and pressed our lips together once more. Before a blink, I flipped her over and laid her down. One hand held my body hovering above hers; the other began snaking under her top. Before it moved any further, I pulled away. A silent question lingered in my eyes, and Hannah nodded readily. That was all the permission I needed.
With quick but steady precision, I tossed her top aside. Her skin shone in the dim lamp lighting strewn across her room. She tugged at the hem of my shirt, and I obeyed quickly, all but ripping it off my torso. I kissed her again, unable to keep my lips from hers for long. My greedy hands traveled over her smooth exposed skin, utterly desperate to feel every inch of her. Before she could comprehend, I was stripping her leggings off, wantonly dragging my hands over her shapely legs.
Our eyes connected in the dark as I hooked my palms under her thighs, spreading them apart to take what I wanted. My fingers pressed into her, testing the water. The wetness I felt and the arch her spine gave was an enticing answer. āYouāve wanted this for a long time, havenāt you?ā She was too shy to answer, and I couldnāt blame her. Iād wanted her since Iād laid eyes on her.
Then, with a slowness intolerable to us both, I removed her panties. There was no more waiting then. I couldnāt wait even if I wanted to. Leaning down ā not taking my eyes off of hers for one second, I ran my tongue against her slit, melting when her juices coated my tongue. āIs there any part of you that Iāll be unable to crave?ā Tempted to sink my teeth into her thigh and drink my fill once more, I focused on pleasuring her. When I sank my tongue inside her, her hips gave the most satisfying lurch.
I sucked and nibbled on her soaking sex, somehow ravenous with lust not for blood but for her. For every part of her. Hannahās hand twisted into my hair as her moans egged me on, and I pierced her with my tongue faster and faster. I could hear her breathing quicken and knew I had to stop. When I pulled away, she whimpered in protest. I placated her with a deep kiss, letting her taste herself on me. āI want to make you cum when youāre wrapped around me, baby. Letās not get ahead of ourselves.ā
She wasnāt having any of my teasings. The innocent little Forbes sister had turned into a temptress; I was both relieved and grateful I was the only one to see her like this. She flipped me over ā a very welcome surprise ā and tugged off my pants and briefs in one fell swoop. Hannah desired me as much as I did her.
My hands continued to roam her skin and helped her press against my hardening cock. I nearly growled when her molten heat sank onto me. It imprisoned me, and I was more than willing to have it do so. āFuck, Hannahā¦ when did a good girl like you learn to ride like that?ā The vixen moved her hair and clutched my shoulders, rocking down onto me in a torturous rhythm. āWho said I was a good girl?ā
Sitting up and sinking my fingers into her waist, I bounced her up and down on my length. Her nails dragged down my back, leaving their delicious trails. My lips ravaged her neck once more, needing an outlet to express the building rapture in me. Her little mewls were so, so encouraging. My thumb pressed against her clit, and she bucked into me. Her whole body quaked as our pleasures grew and grew, reaching new heights every second.
With one more searing kiss, we both came undone. The clashing of our tongues silenced the screams of ecstasy as we orgasmed together. Her heartbeat was a hummingbird again, and I adored the sound. She clung to me for a moment, and I was more than happy to hold her.
We stayed connected until I felt her breathing calm. When it slowed, I laid down and kept Hannah cocooned in my arms. Her head rested in the crook between my neck and shoulder, and her fingers traced nonsensical designs near my collarbone. She dozed off soon enough, but I stayed awake, simply gazing at her. Everyone told me to stay away, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
~~~
The Next Day - Hannah's POV:
I didnāt think I failed my Shakespeare exam, which was a miracle considering how my mind was everywhere else but on Shakespearian Literature. It was on Kai for the most part. For someone who was supposed to be an āevil Heretic,ā he had been a perfect gentleman. It was more than I could say for plenty of our other friends ā the ones I was visiting today.
Iād worn a scarf to cover the hickeys Kai left in his heated ministrations but walking into a room full of vampires as a human and trying to keep a secret was a lost cause. The second I stepped into the Salvatore House, four pairs of supernatural eyes turned to look at me. āWhat?ā
There was an awkward silence, and Damon was the first to break it. āHave you been hanging around our least favorite Heretic sociopath?ā My eyes widened. How in the ā I mean, Iād showered and everything. How the hell could they still sense he was around me?
Maybe because he wasnāt just around usā¦
Shut up, conscious. No one asked you.
āUm, maybe?ā Caroline was incredulous and approached me. āIt is burning outside. Why are you wearing a scarf?ā
āTo be fashionable! Iām very into fashion trends, you know?ā
āMhmm, sure. Iāll just see about that.ā Without warning, Caroline tugged at the knot in the scarf against my protests. Stefanās eyes widened and he looked away with an awkward cough. Damon and Elena shared a knowing look, and Damon barely hid his smirk. āWhat the hell are those?ā
Before I could say a word, Kai sauntered in and threw his arm around my shoulder. āI can answer that. How do you think Shakespeare would explain hickeys, Hannah?ā
~~~
This concludes my new Kai Parker One Shot! Thank you for sending in a request, @gpiggy98! I hope you loved it as much I loved writing it <3
Please feel free to send any thoughts/comments/constructive criticisms my way. I always welcome them :)
If you liked this story, feel free to check out my other stories from my Malachai Parker Masterlist (pinned to the top of my profile).
This IS a reader insert fic; I just donāt like writing with Y/N in the place of names. Use Rosalie/Rose as a placeholder for Y/N :)
Requested: No
Note: Alaric and Jo are not together for the purposes of this story.
Word Count: 4,158
Description: Kai left her four years ago, claiming he'd never loved her. Even now, she can't forget him. It doesn't matter if he didn't love her; she still loved him. Unfortunately, when a heart heals, it never heals evenly.
Warnings: not edited very carefully, ANGST (I broke my own heart when writing parts of this), minor gaslighting (in a "Really? You don't love me anymore?" kinda way <3), jealousy, mature language, SMUT (18+ ONLY), Dom!Kai, possessive!Kai, Daddy kink, fingering, praise kink, blood-sharing, and unprotected sex (be safe!)
~ Four Years Ago ~
Kaiās POV:
I saw the heartbreak dawn in her eyes. Her face remained expressionless, but her irises swam with tears threatening to spill over. One stubborn droplet made it out, leaving a trail on her cheek. As it did, I kept my expression apathetic like no part of this mattered to me ā like she didnāt matter to me.
It was a miracle I was still standing. That one tear had seared into me, causing more pain than Iād ever known. Then, she spoke the words that broke me - words I will never forget.
āI donāt know why I let myself think this was real, even for one moment. You never loved me, did you?ā
I canāt believe sheād believe me so easily. After all the times Iād told her how I felt, my past drowned out my words. My face was still even, and I was getting dangerously close to losing all emotion again. āNo.ā The lie came out without a care, and I seemed bored of this conversation.
Her eyes closed, and two more teardrops followed the lead of the first. A storm was brewing inside her, and it would either destroy her or bury me alive. Iād prefer the latter. She didnāt deserve this, but I had to do it. I did it for her. Maybe sheād understand one day.
She didnāt say another word to me. She just turned around and walked away, not sparing me a glance back. I was grateful she didnāt. She wouldāve seen my composure crack, and she wouldāve seen someone who was listening to every word.
āWell done, Kai.ā
~ Present Day ~
Rosalieās POV:
āThank you, Professor Saltzman!ā I raised my eyebrows as I watched yet another girl bounce out of the hall after my dadās lecture. Smirking to myself, I approached his desk. Clasping my hands together, I fluttered my lashes obnoxiously. āThank you, Professor Saltzman. Iād love to marry you and have your babies!ā Dropping the act and my ditzy expression, I rolled my eyes. āDonāt you get tired of that?ā
He laughed, swinging his bag over his shoulder. āDonāt you get tired of impersonating it?ā Returning his smile, I walked along with him. āNever, itās the highlight of my week.ā I wasnāt Alaricās daughter by blood, but that meant nothing to us. I met him fifteen years ago at his first teaching job. I was in middle school, then. My parents passed in a car accident, and Mr. Saltzman had been the trusted adult I turned to. Not wanting to see me thrust into the foster system after seeing the pain children faced within it, he took me in, and weāve been a family since.
When he became a vampire, my dad turned me too. He'd do anything to protect me, and Iād do anything to protect him. We were all we needed.
āI hope you know youāre not getting an A on that paper just because your dad is the Professor.ā Shaking my head, I unlocked my car and tossed my things in the passenger seat. āNo, youāre going to give me an A because itāll be the best-researched submission you get.ā
āI bet it will be. See you tomorrow?ā Alaric got into his own car, giving me a quick wave goodbye. āSure, see you tomorrow. Bye, dad.ā I didnāt live with him, but we had dinner together nearly every night. Tonight was an exception. Tonight, I was going on a date. It was my first date sinceā¦ well, him.
Four years later, I couldnāt even think of his name without feeling the betrayal all over again. It took me four years to agree to go out with someone else. One thousand, four hundred, and sixty-one days to even bring myself to try. The funny thing was ā the date wasnāt my idea. Caroline was in her matchmaking phase again, and I was the guinea pig.
Oh well. I had to take the plunge at some point.
~
An hour and a half later, I found myself staring at my reflection in a full-length mirror. Autumn was just around the corner, and I dressed warmly. A deep green sweater dress hugged my body, my legs covered by deep black tights. A nude, plaid patterned scarf hung around my neck, and my only other accessories were a black clutch andā¦ the bracelet.
I slipped the bracelet off of my wrist, suppressing a deep sigh. This should have been a worthless piece of junk to me by now, but it wasnāt. It was one of the last remembrances of him that I allowed myselfā¦
With one hand covering her eyes, Kai slipped the one-of-a-kind charm bracelet onto Rosalieās wrist with the other. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he watched her reaction intently as her eyes fell on the Celtic Love Knot charm. āUnending love. For two vampires, it feels quite fitting, donāt you think?ā
Taking the bracelet off gingerly, I held it to my chest and took a few deep breaths. He told me he had never loved me, that it was all a game for his own twisted ends. He could say what he wanted, but heād never get to steal my memories of him. With great care, I tucked the bracelet into a protective casing and set it on my bedside table. My wrist felt bare without it, naked and uncomfortable.
Swallowing away the choked-up emotion in my throat, I smoothed out my dress and slipped on the block heels that added a few inches to my height without making my feet want to fall off by the end of the night. With perfect timing, my date knocked on the door. Caroline refused to send me a picture but claimed Iād adore him at first sight. Weāll see about that, Care.
Opening the door with a smile, I greeted him pleasantly. I donāt know about adoring him at first sight, but he was attractive, I guess? āHi, you must be Brandon. Iām Rosalie.ā
~
This was a surprisingly nice date. Brandon was ā for all intents and purposes ā perfect. He was charming, funny, and compassionate. He was a medical student at Whitmore along with Elena, so he was plenty intelligent, too. I tried my best to engage in conversation with him wholeheartedly, and I was faking it ātil I made it. He was truly a catch.
He just wasnāt a catch for me. I was too far gone to care about anyone else the way I did Kai, no matter how he felt about me.
Kaiās POV:
Of all the restaurants I could have picked tonight, she had to be on a date at this very one. Rosalie was laughing and smiling and seemed to be having a grand evening. What was I doing? Sitting alone in a corner and praying her eyes didnāt land on me.
I missed her. I missed her with every fiber of my being for every second Iād been away. Seeing her now, so close yet somehow miles away, was unbearable. What was most unbearable was none of those smiles were as bright as the ones I had memorized. None of those laughs made her eyes crinkle. I didnāt know what else had happened in the last four years, but I sure hoped I wasnāt the one whoād stolen her joy from her.
Who was I kidding? Of course, I was.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her broken heart out in front of me. Iād destructed it, and I did not deserve to have it again.
Fortunately, I was never one to go after what I deserved. I went after what I wanted. What I wanted was Rosalie, and Iād get her back soon enough. There was something I had to do first.
~
Knocking on the front door of Alaric Saltzmanās door, I swallowed my fear and pride both. He opened the door, and I was surprised it wasnāt slammed in my face. āI thought I told you to never show your face around here again, Kai.ā
āYou did, unless I did as you asked. Itās been four years, and I havenāt killed another innocent soul. I promise you.ā Alaric stepped out, glaring at me. āWhy should I believe you?ā
āWhat motivation do I have to lie? You told me to break your daughterās heart and to only return once I could prove Iām worthy of her. What else do you want me to do?ā
Rosalieās POV:
Brandon, like the perfect gentleman he was, offered to walk me back home. He truly was the perfect guy, just not for me. When we reached my apartment complex, there was an awkward moment of silence. Normally, after a good date, it doesnāt end here. Sighing softly, I looked up at him. The moon was shining down, creating the perfect romantic moment for the wrong people.
āListen, Brandon. Youāre a wonderful person, and any girl would be very lucky to have you. I justā¦ this will probably freak you out, but you are the first person Iāve been on a date with in four years. I believe we only get one real love, and I already found and lost mine. I canāt be what you deserve.ā
Brandon took a step back, tilting his head and looking at me inquisitively. āTell you what. You let me kiss you goodnight, and if thereās nothing there, thereās nothing there. If thereās even a slight spark, we could go out again sometime?ā Laughing softly, I shrugged playfully. āOh, why not?ā
I was broken-hearted anyway. If someone had a way better way to heal it, they should come and tell me. Brandon cupped my face with one hand and pressed a kiss to my lips, testing the waters. Absolutely nothing came of it. It was pleasant, I suppose, but nothing like what a first kiss is meant to be.
āNothing, huh?ā Smiling apologetically, I nodded in agreement. āFriends?ā He dramatically placed a hand over his heart, faking a fall backward. āSee you around, Rosalie. I hope you find what youāre looking for again.ā I watched him walk off into the night, waving goodbye until he disappeared from sight.
The second my feet passed the threshold to my apartment, my knees buckled below me. My hands covered my mouth, muffling the sobs no one would hear. I knew tonight would be painful, but not this painful. I missed him so badly. He was like this incessant disease. Iād think I was cured, but it always came back to continue to destroy me.
Why did I have to love him? Why couldnāt loving someone be a choice? What was it that made me still love him, even after heād taken a sledgehammer to my heart? How could I still love him when I lost the ability to love anyone else?
Kaiās POV:
Iād seen every moment of that. The cute banter and the kiss. I had no right to burn with jealousy, but there was no rationale for emotion. I wanted to chase after Blake or whatever the fuck his name was and tear his head clean off. Four years Iād spent fighting off violent urges, and all it took was one innocent, meaningless kiss to set me off. I craved to chase after him, but I didnāt. There was something much more important I had to attend to.
The elevator up to Rosalieās floor couldnāt have been slower. The sound hit my ears before I even stepped away from the metal box.
She was crying.
I didnāt expect the sound to disarm me. I was nearly crippled where I stood. Each stifled sound was finding broken pieces of my heart and shattering them further and further.
You did this. Are you happy now?
No. I may have caused this, but now, Iād do anything to make sure she never shed a tear again.
With newfound determination, I stood tall in front of her door. Laying knuckle to wood thrice, I took a deep breath. āJ-just a minute.ā Her shaky voice sang out from behind the door, and I heard something clinking softly. Was itā¦ jewelry? Blinking the thoughts away, I straightened up further, aching to see Rosalie again. Iād seen her earlier tonight, but that hadnāt been enough. From now on, it would never be something Iād settle for again.
The door swung open, and even her fake smile fell at the sight of me. Before she could shut the door, I grabbed the frame, stepping in and looking at her intently. Even with her hurting eyes and wet lashes, she was the most precious woman Iād looked at. She was mine.
āWhat do you think youāre doing?! Get the fuck out of my apartment. Right now.ā She moved to shove me out the door, and I didnāt fail to notice how she faltered once her hands touched me again. āNo. Youāre going to listen to me.ā
āI listened to everything you had to say already, Malachai. I donāt have to listen to anything else.ā Realizing she was going to get nowhere with shoving me out, Rose gave up. If she was truly angry, her teeth would be gritting together. Right now, all I heard was the erratic beating of her heart and the tiniest of whimpers. My heart threatened to crack, and no matter how hard she fought, I just wanted to hold her again.
Not yet. She had to listen first. She had to know the truth.
āIf you listened to me last time, youāll listen to me again. Perhaps I wasnāt done speaking.ā I met her defiant look with a stern expression that could bring her to her knees. She must have remembered it, too, because every protest about to bubble up within her was silenced. Walking towards her, not saying another word, I watched her step backward, trying to escape me.
She couldnāt escape me. She wouldnāt escape me ever again. Her back hit the wall, then, and Rosalie had nowhere else to run.
āI lied. I lied, and you believed me so easily. Even after all the times I told you how much I love you. I will never know how you managed to dredge up the broken Kai Parker and turned him into the Malachai that was always meant to love you. How many times did you hear me say that I would not be alive without you?ā
Rosalieās POV:
Trapped between the wall and Kaiās imploring gaze, I swallowed down a sob. I was dreaming, right? This had to be a dream. That was it. Maybe I passed out crying in my bed with Kai on my mind. Yep. Thatās it. Iām dreaming.
But dreams didnāt feel like this. I wouldnāt pretend like I hadnāt dreamt of Kai and what we had, yet never had I heard such words of conviction.
āI-I donāt know what to believe, Malachai.ā I wanted to touch his face, to feel it and know he was standing in front of me. I didnāt dare move. Half convinced this was a dream and the other half convinced Kai was a mirage, I stood still. The only allowance I gave myself was staring into the deep blue eyes Iād never forgotten.
āSo, you can believe me when I lie to you but not when Iām telling you the truth?ā He was nearly glaring at me. His voice was almost angry like he was frustrated with me. āI love you, Rosalie Saltzman. I love you now, I loved you then, and I will love you even when you donāt want me to.ā
His voice trembled, then, and he moved to press a searing kiss to my lips. āStop.ā He froze an inch away from my lips. I could feel his breath on my cheek as I turned my head away from him. āThatās well and good for you, Malachai. But I donāt love you anymore. Iām going to ask you to leave one more time before I throw you out.ā Maneuvering myself out of his grip, I headed to the kitchen.
āReally? You donāt love me anymore? Is that why you had your first date tonight, four years after I lef- after our breakup? Is that why youāre still wearing your bracelet?ā The bracelet. Iād put it back on before opening the door. I couldnāt bear to be without it any longer. Ignoring him, I ripped open a blood bag and drank ravenously. Every inch of me was burning. I wanted these feelings gone. All of them. I needed them gone.
Kai snatched the blood bag from my hand and grasped my face with the other. It didnāt hurt me in the slightest, but he had that expression in his eyes again ā the one that turned me into a toy in his palm. āI love you enough to know when you are lying to me.ā
Grabbing his wrist, I slapped his hand from my face. āWhat do you want from me, Malachai? Was it not enough to break me into a million pieces before you left? Was it not enough that I couldnāt stop loving you, no matter how much I wanted to? Why the fuck canāt you leave me alone?! Why did you have to make me love you this much?!ā
He was done listening to me, then. His arms wrapped around me, crushing my body against his. His lips found mine again, complete after years. Every emotion and sensation ā anger, desperation, sadness, desire, love ā formed a potion and poured over us both. It ran its course, and there was no stopping it now. Kai hoisted me upwards, and my legs wrapped around his waist as if it were still second nature.
āYou are mine. You have been mine and you will always be mine.ā This time, the conviction in his voice didnāt frighten me one bit. I was his and he was mine. I believed him. I trusted him. I would never doubt his love for me again.
Malachai carried me over to our bed. He hovered over me, not daring to break our kiss for even a fraction of a second. His hands pinned mine above my head. āTell me you love me. You have no idea how much Iāve wanted to hear it.ā
I did know. I knew because I dreamed of hearing it again more than I would admit. āI love youā¦ā Sometimes, the three words were more powerful alone, without any embellishments. Here, they were in their purest form ā unadulterated and unaltered.
āI love you, too.ā Our lips met again, and when the kiss ended, he didnāt move away. His lips trailed lines of fire along my neck, searing me and reminding me what it meant to be his once more. He moved not like he hadnāt been with me in years; he moved like he already knew every inch of me and was simply claiming what was his.
With deliberate slowness, he removed my dress and other articles of clothing, taking the time to fold them and place them on my bedside table, highlighting that anything happening in this room tonight would happen at his command.
Kai removed his jacket and shirt then, revealing his skin to me. I almost begged to touch him. While I lay in near nudity, he was only half exposed, once again reinforcing his position.
Was he aware of my mind at this moment? Though I lay beneath him, my body in his hands, did he know how free I felt? Every touch, every teasing flick of his finger, every nibble upon my ear told me how much he loved me, and that was gift enough.
His words changed, then. No longer were they words of sweet declarations of love. They were words dripping with lust and unfulfilled desire, and I knew he had me, then. He had all of me, and he knew it, too.
āDo you remember who I am to you, baby girl?ā As the words hung heavy in the air, Kaiās teeth clamped onto the waistband of my panties. His eyes never left mine, and the hunger shining in his irises set me aflame. āYesā¦ā
āYes, what?ā His fingers hovered over my body, desperate to touch me but waiting until he had me exactly where he wanted me. āYes, Daddy.ā His growl of approval echoed out into the room, and Daddyās fingers finally sank into me. My hips bucked up off the bed, immediately. For so long, Iād only pleasured myself. Here he was, playing with my body like he owned it and knew exactly what to do.
His fingers pumped in and out of me in a steady rhythm, and his lips never left my torrid skin. They found heaven everywhere on me ā my neck, my breasts, my stomach ā all while his fingers rocked into me. āGood girl. Still so responsive for Daddy. Daddyās so proud of you, princess.ā
Both of his hands were intent on driving me to climax, and soon, his finger flicked against the center of my ecstasy. He teased my clit until it was sensitive and throbbing, ready to bring me over the edge at any second. āDo you want to cum for Daddy, baby girl?ā
I was seeing stars already. My nails dug into his back, leaving ravenous marks of pleasure across him. āYes, Daddy! Please let me cum! I need it, Daddy, please!ā
Kaiās POV:
I would have normally chuckled at the state Iād gotten her in, but not tonight. Tonight, I understood more than ever that this was her love and unfounded trust in me. I would never break it again. āCum for Daddy, princess. Cum for Daddy right now!ā As I commanded her release, my fingers curled against her g-spot, massaging her orgasm out of her.
āThere you go, such a good fucking girl. You can cum for Daddy as many times as you want tonight, baby. You have my permission. Just let go and let Daddy love you.ā Waiting until her vision cleared up and her heart calmed a little, I sucked her juices from my fingers. She tasted just as exquisite as I remembered.
I didnāt have any more patience left in me. Scooping her up in my arms once more, I moved so that I lay just behind her. Lifting her leg to position my aching cock between her soaking pussy lips, I nibbled at her ear. āDo you want Daddy inside you, baby?ā
She nodded rapidly, and I excused it for now. Tonight wasnāt about any strict rules; tonight was about finally loving her again. With tender patience, I slid inside her. My princess hadnāt slept with anyone else in these past few years, and neither had I. She was my little slice of heaven, and I was so grateful to have found it again.
āOhhh, fucking hell. Daddy missed his princess so much.ā It wasnāt just the sex I missed. Of course not. I missed everything she is and everything she will be. I missed her, every part of her. āI-I missed you, too, Daddy! I love you so much!ā Gripping her face and turning it towards me, I crashed my lips to hers desperately. Our tongues danced together. No amount of closeness was close enough.
I made love to her for hours and hours, not wanting to see the sheer rapture in her eyes come to a close. As dawn began to break and we were wrapped up in each other, our mouths found each otherās necks. Sinking my teeth into her flesh, I drank from her, filling myself up with the essence of her from the inside out. She, too, craved me as much as I craved her. We wouldnāt dare let go again.
~~~
I woke around noon. Rosalie was still fast asleep, and even in sleep, she clung to me desperately, as if afraid Iād disappear. I wouldnāt disappear. I wouldnāt leave her ever again. She had me. She had everything I was and everything I would ever be. Pressing a tender kiss to her head and disengaging from her, I slipped into her kitchen. I still understood how she organized her things and found items with ease.
I had just finished setting up a breakfast tray when I heard her scream my name from the room. Dropping everything, I ran using my supernatural speed, worried beyond belief. āWhat happened? Iām here, Rosalie. Iām here. Whatās wrong?ā Whimpering softly, she crawled into my lap. I worried at the sound, taking the blanket and wrapping it around us both. āWhatās wrong, baby?ā
āI thought you werenāt really hereā¦ā Oh. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I swallowed back the guilt. Now was not the time. āIām here, princess. Iām here, and I will never leave you again.ā
Moments of heavy silence passed, and Rosalie continued to hug me as if Iād disappear. Then, she broke the silence, speaking words I will never forget.
āI love you, Malachai.ā
~~~
That concludes yet another one of my Kai Parker One Shots! I actually flipped a coin to see if this piece would get a happy or sad ending. Thank GOD it landed on a happy ending because I think a sad ending would have destroyed me for a week. (The sad ending was that their reunion was truly a dream...)
Please feel free to send any thoughts/comments/constructive criticisms my way. I always welcome them :) If you'd like to be tagged in future Kai Parker works, feel free to message me/leave a comment here.
If you liked this story, feel free to check out my other stories from my Malachai Parker Masterlist (pinned to the top of my profile).
You know kai was supposed to have a redemption arc and end up being bonnie love interest julie plec hated them though
I DID NOT KNOW THAT!
I did know that Julie Plec was horrible to Kat Graham, but I didnāt know it was planned to give Kai a redemption arc. It makes me really sad that they didnāt.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you get to spend today and all days ahead filled with joy and peace :)
Pairings: vampire!Reader x Heretic!Kai; ex-boyfriend!ElijahMikaelson x Reader; Damon x Elena; Klaus x Caroline
For the purposes of this story, Klaus and Caroline are a couple living together in Mystic Falls. Kol Mikaelson is still alive, but Finn is not.
This IS a reader insert fic; I just donāt like writing with Y/N in the place of names. Use Rosalie/Rose as a placeholder for Y/N and Wilson for L/N
Requested: No
Word Count: 5,562
Warnings/Callouts: Mentions of breakups/heartbreak, minor angst/darker emotions, scattered mature language, fake-relationship trope, best-friends-to-lovers trope, smut (18+ readers only!), soft!Dom!Kai, Daddy kink, blood sharing, unprotected sex (be responsible and safe!)
I got the idea for this piece while re-reading "I'll Wait." It is technically a sequel but will still be easy to follow/read as a oneshot if you haven't read that one.
Description: What do you do get when you put a bunch of vampires together in a room with a lot of food in November? You get a Mystic Falls Thanksgiving. Be wary of Original exes crashing the party...
Kaiās POV:
The alarm buzzed, and I turned over to shut it off. Iād already been awake for quite some time. The morning sunlight danced on the ceiling as I listened to the sound of Rosalieās even breathing in her room down the hall. Five months ago, Rosalie drank herself numb and passed out in the Mystic Grill. I brought her to my apartment, and weād been living together ever since. Her old apartment was one sheād shared with Elijah, and it was too painful for her to live there again. I, out of the goodness of my heart (or, more accurately, my own selfish desires), let her move in with me.Ā
Life was a lot easier now; there were no vengeful siblings, no new villains knocking down our doors. For once, life in Mystic Falls wasā¦ normal.Ā Shocker, I know.
What exactly defines normal in a town where every second person you walk by is a supernatural being? Normal is waking up in the morning and not anticipating something horrible will happen. Itās when things are calm, and you can trust the people around you. Strange how normal is the mostĀ abnormalĀ for someone like me.
My feet touched the cool wooden planks, and half the blanket followed me up. With a quick snap, the bed was made. Coffee was brewing, and bread was toasting. This was the rhythm we had fallen into. Whoever was awake first took care of breakfast, and the other managed the cleanup after.
I didnāt bother throwing a shirt on. Being roommates came with its unique forms of intimacy, though not in the way I wouldāve wanted. Nevertheless, Iād promised myself Iād wait.Ā Iāll waitĀ for her until sheās no longer hurting ā when sheās ready to accept how I feel.
Rosalieās POV:
āRosalie, I have to leave you,ā Elijah spoke solemnly. He had rarely loved in all the centuries heād been alive, and it was even rarer the love was returned. Unfortunately, something always trumped the pursuit of love: his honor and his family.Ā
If anything in this dream came back in perfect detail, it was the wave of emotions I felt. My mind replayed them night after night. First came the confusion and denial. āWhat does that mean?ā Elijah had answered me, but even now, I donāt remember his words. My ears refused the intake of all sound. The heartbreak had taken over. āWeā¦ I am leaving you.āĀ It couldnāt be true. He was my everything. He was my first. He swore heād never leave me, not for the rest of our immortal lives.
Without warning, something in the scene shifted. Suddenly, it wasnāt Elijah turning my heart to dust. It was Malachai. Within me, I felt a snap. My knees gave out, and I stumbled to the ground just as I had with Elijah. The stream of tears down my cheeks was new.Ā
I had not sobbed this way when Elijah left me. This was a new pain entirely. āKai, pleaseā¦ā He looked down upon my curled figure on the ground, completely silent. When the hot tears blurred my vision, I could just barely see him walking away, leaving me even more broken than I already was.
When the dream escaped me and consciousness came back, I didnāt want to open my eyes. Though I was awake, my mind was plagued with jarring images of Kai leaving me instead of Elijah. Somehow, though I was only his friend, I believed losing Malachai would hurt so much more.
Shoving my comforter aside, I dragged myself to the bathroom. The lightbulbs flickered on, and I stared at my exhausted expression. When Elijah left me, I felt like Iād been discarded. There was no other word for it. Someone who promised to never walk away left for a reason as flimsy as needing to protect his sister ā a thousand-year-old vampire perfectly capable of protecting herself. Klaus and Kol didnāt run off to Rebekahās side, so Elijah volunteered.
The worst part was the "honorable man" card he got to play. How are you supposed to fault someone for leaving to protect their family? It was all so frustrating. From the kitchen, I heard the coffee maker chime and the bread pop out, a signal that my little pity party needed to end. Gathering up some cold water from the running faucet, I splashed it against my face in the vain hope of getting some color back.
When I walked in, Kai was reaching up to grab plates and mugs. Turning around, he gave me a quick smile in morning greeting. I had to return it, of course. During all this time, Malachai was the one that kept me grounded. Heād been so patient ā goofy when I needed a laugh and silent when I needed someone to listen. He was the perfect companion. If he was tired of me, it didnāt show.
Still silent, he handed me my plate, bringing his own over to the couch. I plopped down beside Kai, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. A random Netflix show began playing in the background as we ate. Whether he knew it or not, Malachai brought me a great deal of peace.
I looked at him once more, my heart throbbing painfully as it reminded me of the horrid dream. This time, Kaiās eyes met my own with an unspoken question shining in them. He raised a brow slightly, and I shook my head, attempting to smile. He seemed unconvinced, but he didnāt pry.
Thank god for that. If he had, I would have lied.
Kai's POV, later that afternoon:
āRosalie, hurry up! According to the manically detailed itinerary Caroline gave us, we were supposed to be at the Mikaelsonās place twenty minutes ago.ā Even as I spoke, I pulled the caramel apple pie out of the oven, fanning it to get it to cool some. The whole apartment smelled wonderful, like an autumn day come to life. I closed my eyes, enjoying the scent of apples, cinnamon, and toasted sugar.
When they opened, I met with the sight of Rose slipping into her coat. I couldnāt fight my smirk when I saw her outfit. Without planning it, we were completely coordinated: deep green sweaters, dark wash jeans, and long, flowing black coats. I saw the realization in her eyes and adored the sound of her resulting laugh. āAre you trying to copy me, Malachai?ā Letting out an exaggerated sigh, I grinned at her. āMe? Iāve been ready to leave for thirty minutes. If anything, youāre trying to copyĀ myĀ style.ā
Wrapping up the pie, I grabbed the car keys, spinning them around my finger. āDonāt worry, though. I pull it off much better than you.ā Rosalie rolled her eyes, giving me a playful shove. āLetās go before Caroline decides to murder us on arrival.ā
~
The engine hummed to a stop. The sun had already set, bathing the surrounding land in darkness. When the headlights switched off, Rosalie and I shared a look. I wanted to reach out and touch her silken hair, to let her know she wasnāt alone. I knew tonight would be difficult for her ā spending time with Mikaelsons wasnāt her favorite, not with all the memories it brought back āand Rose needed to understand I was there for her. āYou can do this. Iām right beside you.ā Without giving me any words in response, she reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze of gratitude.Ā
āLetās go.ā We walked to the front door, the dessert in my hands. Rosalie opened the door, thoughtfully left unlocked by the hosts, taking the pie from my hands. Caroline stormed to the foyer, partially receiving her guests as the hostess and also ready to rip us both a new one for messing up her schedule. āBefore you say anything Care, you and the house both look lovely.āĀ
Rose gave Caroline a heart-stopping smile and annoyed as she was, her friend had to smile in return. āAlright, alright, just come in.ā I helped Rosalie out of her coat, hanging it up on the golden coat hooks before taking care of my own. Everything in this house looked like it was antique and ridiculously expensive. Our matching outfits didnāt escape Carolineās attention, but she was typing something. Roseās phone buzzed with a text seconds later.Ā
She read it and froze in her tracks. Caroline took the dessert from her hands and went inside, perhaps to give her a moment. āRosalie?ā Still saying nothing, Rose handed me her phone, letting me read the message myself.Ā āI shouldāve told you earlier, but Elijah is here.āĀ I waved a hand, putting a silencing spell on the room so our conversation wouldnāt be heard by anyone else.
āElijah, like āĀ Elijah?ā She nodded, visibly trembling. āKai, Iā¦ā Biting my lip, I took hold of her shoulders, turning her so sheād face me. āWhat do you want to do? Do you want to get out of here? What do you need? What can I do?ā Though she was upset, I couldnāt stop the barrage of questions I threw at her. Rose only shook her head again, which wasnāt enough of a response for me. Thankfully, she spoke without any more questions from me.
āNo. Weāre here to have a nice Thanksgiving with our friends. Heās here. I suppose it makes sense. Heās Klausās brother, after all. Of course, heās here.ā She rambled on. When she looked into my eyes, I could read how conflicted Rose was. My teeth gritted together, and as my hands left her shoulders, they clenched into fists at my side. Being civil with Elijah was going to be an uphill battle, and I hadnāt even set eyes on him yet.
Even so, my anger wasnāt important. Whatever Rosalie needed tonight she would get. āJustā¦ donāt leave my side, Malachai.ā I wrapped my arms around her, enveloping her. It didnāt matter if she was just relying on me as her best friend. This hug was for me, the one slip I was allowing myself after months of swallowing emotions back. āI wonāt, I promise.ā
Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I lifted the silencing spell. Rosalie whispered her quiet thanks, and I didnāt let go of her hand. We just didnāt realize someone was watching.Ā
A man I hadnāt seen before, presumably Elijah, cleared his throat. By instinct, I expected Rose to let go of my hand, but she only held on tighter. Clearing her throat, she walked towards him with me not far behind. āHello, Elijah.ā I was impressed with how she sounded: perfectly composed and unbothered by the man she still had torturous dreams about. āRosalie. You look good. Happyā¦āĀ
The word trailed off of Elijahās lips, hanging in the air between us. āAnd this is?ā She released my hand then, though I could tell she missed the contact as soon as her fingers slipped from mine. Or at least I hoped so. I know I did.Ā
āMalachai Parker, Heretic.ā The hand that was in Roseās met his in greeting. āElijah Mikaelson.ā In stark contrast to hers, Elijahās hand was ice cold. āYou must be her new boyfriend. Congratulations.ā The words werenāt spoken with any hint of malice, just resignation. Was it so easy for him to let her go? If it were me and the girl IĀ lovedĀ dated was with someone else, Iād be livid. āElijah, Kai isnāā
āKai is pleased to meet you.ā I smiled at Elijah like he was an old friend, ignoring him once I put my arm around Rose. She caught on very quickly (thatās my girl!) and mirrored my action. One hand came around my waist while the other rested comfortably yet casually on my chest. āThank you. Weāve been dating for, what, maybe three months now?āĀ
She looked up at me for confirmation, her eyes shining. Weād spent too much time together recently; if the wordless conversations we had daily were any indication, weād be able to pull this off very well. āThree months and five days.ā Within the statement was a veiled truth; weād been living together for five months and three days.Ā
Elijah looked between us. We just kept looking at each other. For now, I had free reign to look at her the way I wanted, to touch her as if she were mine. I wouldnāt let that go for anything or anyone. I didnāt know what she was thinking, and I wished some part of her wanted me, too.
Presumably uncomfortable, Elijah cleared his throat. āWell, umā¦ it was nice to meet you, Malachai. I think I should take my leave. Niklaus, Kolā¦ Iām heading back to New Orleans tonight.ā His brothers rushed into the room, filled with questions. We simply stood and watched the show. With one last glance, Elijah left, and Kol trailed behind him. āElijah! Sorry, brother. Thanks for the invitation.ā
Klaus raised an eyebrow at us, comprehension gleaming in his expression. āAnd then there were six.ā With great reluctance, I let Rosalie go. The act was up.Ā
āRosalie Wilson!ā Carolineās high-pitched voice echoed through the large foyer. Elena leaned against the doorframe leading to the dining room, also looking equally upset. āYou and Kai have been dating forĀ three monthsĀ and you didnāt tell me?!ā
Then again, maybe not.
Rosalieās POV:
Oh boy. Caroline was pissed. Swallowing nervously, I attempted a cool smile. Linking my arm with Kaiās ā who thankfully continued the show with me ā I responded, āI know, Care. Itās just thatā¦ after my breakup with Elijah, I wanted to take things slowly and just be careful. After being with Kai day in and day out, I knew I wanted to be with him. I didnāt want to risk anything by moving too quickly.ā My monologue had come to a close, and Kai finished the script. āWe were planning on telling you all tonight anyhow. It just happened to come out in aā¦ not-so-fun way.ā Everyone stared at us, all with varying degrees of interest.
Damon was swirling his bourbon around in an ornate glass; he was all set and didnāt care much about anyone except Elena. Elena seemed to have heard and understood where I was coming from. Klaus was playing with Carolineās hair as he hugged her from behind, perhaps trying to quell her distress. And Malachaiā¦
Kai was staring at me with this pure, unbridledĀ loveĀ in his eyes. I thought it would hurt to play the role of a happy girlfriend. In that moment, I found myself believing that if I was with Kai, I wouldn't be hurt again. I had the same thought months ago when I was deeply mourning my breakup. Even then, Iād thought about being with him. For now, even though it was make-believe, Iād cherish it.Ā
āSo!ā Kaiās voice bounced off the walls. āI donāt know about anyone else, but Iām starving.āĀ
~
Dinner was wonderful. Caroline was always the perfect hostess, and the food was wonderful. Given that two of the guests had disappeared, there was plenty to go around. Garlic and rosemary mashed potatoes, a gorgeous roast turkey, savory apple and sausage stuffing, orange cranberry sauce, cornbreadā¦ weād all be eating leftovers for a month.
Malachai was even more caring than usual now that he was playing the role of my boyfriend. He made sure I didnāt have to reach for anything I wanted, refilled my water whenever he did his own, and kept some form of physical contact with me sporadically. The only thing missing from this equation was flirting, but this was better. It feltā¦ real. Grounded. As easy as breathing.Ā
Before we played a game or two, Iād excused myself to take a breather. This whole day had been a rollercoaster. With my scarring dream to Elijah showing up to this drama Kai and I were putting on, it had been overwhelming. I leaned against the shut bathroom door, just taking a few deep breaths.Ā
My phone chimed a special tone that rang only when Kai texted me.Ā āDonāt take so long, darling ;)ā
My eyes looked upwards from my phone screen to the mirror in front of me. The expression on my face was one I never imagined Iād feel again. It was true, unadulterated joy. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, my smile reached my eyes. Only Kai could make me feel this way.Ā
Kai's POV:
I slipped my phone back into my pocket, pleased with my playful flirtation. Iād wanted this for a long time; I was going to milk it for all it was worth. Klaus handed me a glass of this warm spiced rum, which I graciously accepted. At least it wasnāt Damonās bourbon again. Bourbon wasnāt my thing. I was secure enough in my masculinity.
I lounged on the couch, my feet propped up on the glass table. One wince from Caroline, and I straightened up. Rose came back then, and I took a seat on the floor where Elena was setting up Settlers of Catan. She sat down next to me, leaning against my shoulder.
The line between friends and something more had always been blurry in our relationship. This made things even more confusing. How much of this was the act? How much was what she truly wanted?Ā
Ultimately, it didnāt matter. Hadnāt I already decided to make the most of this time? I wouldnāt let the idea of losing it ruin what I felt right now. Playing my role ā and giving into what I wanted all along ā I hugged Rosalie closer to me, resting my head against hers.
I handed her the glass of spiced rum, encouraging her to try it. She took a sip, humming thoughtfully. I knew she didnāt truly like rum, but she seemed to like this. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, I kissed her cheek softly. I heard her heartbeat hastened in response; was it from anxiety or excitement?
We played the game with our friends, laughing and enjoying the party. When it became apparent the only possible winners would be Caroline or Elena, we joined their boyfriends in cheering them on. My hand clasped Rosalieās under the coffee table, linking our fingers together. No one saw our hands there. This was just for us.
The night wore on. The more I got to live out my true desire, the more I feared I wouldnāt be able to let it go. I was selfish that way. What would happen when the partyās over?
Rosalie's POV:
It was midnight before we realized it. A full moon climbed up the night sky, visiting its starry friends in the sky. We bid our friends goodnight and headed home. As Kai slipped into the driverās seat, turning the engine on, I realized I suddenly didnāt know what to say or do.
Malachai seemed to not have any ideas either, and we drove to our apartment in absolute silence. Even our deep understanding of each other wouldnāt help here, not when we were trying to uncover something we didnāt have a name for.Ā
The drive had somehow been both unbearably long and unbelievably quick at the same time. We walked inside side by side, my ears picking up even the clink of the lock as it opened. āSo, umā¦ you really saved me tonight. First withĀ him, and then with Caroline.ā
Kai grinned at me while taking off his shoes and hanging up our coats. Even in the low lighting of our home, I could tell it wasnāt the same. āI did, didnāt I? Thatās what best friends are for.ā I donāt know what fantasies my mind had begun spinning. Malachai was just saving my skin. We would tell them all it was an act later. That made sense, I suppose. āBest friendsā¦ right.āĀ
Ā āOh, screw this.ā Within fractions of a second, Kaiās hands cupped my face. He looked at me almost severely, his eyes swirling with so many emotions at once. It was an unnavigable storm, and I was nearly lost in it. I wouldāve been had he not crushed his lips against mine.
I didnāt freeze, nor was I all that surprised. This was Malachai, and I knew him as I knew myself. Iād wanted him for a long time, I just wouldnāt let myself admit it. Our lips meshed together, sliding between each otherās beautifully. His hands traveled from my face to my neck. Continuing down my sides, Kai finally reached his destination when his palms slipped into the back pockets of my jeans.
āJump up onto me, baby.ā He pulled away to give me his breathless command. I eagerly obliged, wrapping my legs around his waist. Claiming my lips once again, he carried me off to his room. I fell back onto his bed, and Kai followed suit, hovering over me. Raining kisses down my neck, Malachai elicited a moan from me, something that made him stop.
āRosalieā¦ tell me Iām not alone in craving you. Am I aching for you all alone? Tell me you want me, too.ā His eyes were imploring, his voice so quiet it only reached me. I tenderly dragged my hand across his cheek, pressing a kiss to his jaw. āItās not just you, Kai. Iā¦ I never realized how much I needed you. Not until tonight.ā
That was all he needed to hear. Enveloping my lips with his once more, his left hand took hold of both my wrists, holding them up above my head. The other trailed down my torso, landing on my waist and sneaking under my sweater. His warmth, his scent, and even the smallest of sounds he made were perfection. When his fingers found the button of my jeans, I froze up under him. Our passionate embrace came to a skidding stop.
āWhat is it? Did I go too far? Iām so sorry! I didnāt meanāā He rambled with concern, and I cut him off with a soft kiss. āNo, itās not you. Youāre perfect. Itās meā¦ā The last person I was with ā theĀ onlyĀ person Iād been with ā was Elijah. When he left me, he shattered some hidden part of my soul. If Malachai and I were to cross this line, there would be no turning back. Iād need him forever, and if that wasnāt what he desired, then he shouldnāt waste his time with me. āFor me, this isnāt about right now.
āItās about forever, which means something very different in our world. If thatās too much for you, or if thatās not what you want, I donāt think we should go thereā¦ not tonight.ā Kai released my hands, and I was staring down at the bedspread. With an unanticipated, gentle gesture, he lifted my chin such that I looked into his eyes. His were certain, unwavering. There seemed to be no doubt at all in his mind as he spoke.
āI love you, Rosalie.ā My breath caught in my throat, and I momentarily tensed up. The way I felt for him was consuming, stronger than anything Iād known before. But Iād been hurt at this same crossroads, and I didnāt know if I could travel down that path just yet.
āYou donāt have to say it back. Just listen to me.ā Malachaiās hand shifted from my chin, now resting against my cheek. I nuzzled into it instinctively, desperate for his warmth and closeness.
āI love you. Iāve loved you for some time now. Loving someoneā¦ well, it was never something that I thought could happen to me. But youā¦ā Kai began playing with my hair, moving us so that I was sitting in his lap. I rested my head on his shoulder as he spoke, listening intently. āYou brought so much into my life. You are my best friend, and I know you as well as I know myself.
āYou donāt have to say it back. If you want me to,Ā Iāll waitĀ for as long as you need.ā He squeezed me in his embrace, resting his head against mine. āI wonāt cross any boundaries until you take them down.ā
Lifting Kaiās hand from my waist, I gingerly opened his palm. With a deliberate softness, I pressed my lips to each of his fingertips. He had to know how much I cared about him, even if I couldnāt put it into words as he had.
Malachai understood me instantly, and when I looked up at him, his kiss stole the rest of my thoughts. Turning in his lap, I wrapped myself around him. My fingers snaked upwards, intertwining with the hair at the base of his neck. Kai only tugged me closer until every inch of me melded with him.Ā
āMmā¦ Roseā¦ā I couldnāt pull away, even as he tried to speak. āRosalieā¦ā Whimpering ever so slightly, I obliged and moved away just an inch. āAre you sure you want this tonight? I need you to be certain, princess. You need to be prepared to be mine, from now until forever.āĀ I nodded, unable to find my voice, but that didnāt seem to be enough. āI need your words, Rose. Tell me if you want this. If not, Iāll stop, I promise.āĀ
āI want you, Malachai. Pleaseā¦ā He smiled, and it warmed my heart. The next kiss he pressed to my lips was so very tender, as if he were touching something dearly precious to him. Perhaps he was.
Kai's POV:
I held Rosalie delicately, shifting us so she lay beneath me once more. I was afraid of frightening her, making her run if I made too many of my needs known too soon; with how long Iād desired for this, some were bound to slip through despite my best intentions. I moved away from her lips, finding the sensitive skin of her neck instead. Trailing my mouth across her collarbone, I nipped at it playfully, loving the little gasp I got from her in response.
One hand pulled the sleeve of her sweater off of her shoulder, and I nestled into the crook there, sucking on her flesh and leaving my mark there. A deep, primal possessiveness woke within me when Rosalieās hands found my body. She wrapped her arms around me, clutching me close to her. āIām here, baby. Iām not going anywhere.ā
Moving ever so slowly, I stripped her clothes from her. With every inch exposed, I peppered more kisses onto her skin, hoping to find the light within her and make it mine. When Rose lay bare beneath me, it took immeasurable control to keep things gentle. There would be more time for other explorations.Ā
With the way my arms enveloped her, Rose couldnāt move much. When she asked to touch me, to feel me as I felt her, how could I possibly say no? With frenzied hands, she undressed me. Her cool skin was flush against my own, getting hotter with every passing second. My erection pressed against her trembling upper thigh, eliciting a desperate groan from us both.Ā
There was much I ached to do before I claimed her for the first time. Looking into her eyes, I let my fingers slide down her stomach to her sex. That one touch made me lose to the lust I was trying so hard to hold back. There was a narcotic power in her gaze. Whether she knew it or not, I was at her mercy and would be for as long as she wanted me.Ā
I sank a finger inside her, laying kisses down her body. Pumping it in and out steadily, I studied her reactions. She was exquisite. Her eyes were shut tightly, her fingers clasping at my shoulders as my tongue flicked against her hard nipples. My cold rings rubbed against her outer folds with every thrust of my fingers, and the shudder she gave was delicious.Ā
When my lips finally met my fingers to pleasure her, Rose bucked forward off the bed. Pinned down by my firm grip, there was nowhere for her to escape the ecstasy I had in store for her. My fingers pushed deeper into her with each penetration, curling upwards to find her pleasure center inside her. She screamed for me, and I fucking loved it.
āThatās it, baby girl. Just let go. Let me make you feel good.ā My tongue joined in, sloppily consuming her liquid desire. Iād yearned to worship her body this way for so long, and I wouldnāt be done for a long time. Her walls clenched around my fingers, her legs splayed over my shoulders. āAre you going to cum for me, Rosalie? Are you going to cum for me like a good girl?ā
Her reply came mixed with breathless moans and eager whimpers. āYes, Daddyā¦ Iām so close, please donāt stop!ā Daddy? Her words pulled a growl from my chest, and I was invigorated. Pulling away, I gave her the command to cum for me, my thumb rubbing her clit while my fingers didnāt let up their attack. āCum for Daddy, princess. Show Daddy how good he makes you feel.āĀ
The dam of her pleasure exploded, and she unraveled under me. It was so fucking beautiful, and it was all mine. She was all mine. The sight of her made me desperate to quench my own thirst, and before her first orgasm could even subside, my throbbing cock replaced my fingers, my lips silencing her sounds.
Rosalie's POV:
Stars clouded my eyes. The only thing on my mind was Malachai. It took me over completely. I was his, and I didnāt want it any other way. Our tongues danced together when our kiss grew more torrid, our bodies rocking together and the bed along with us. He pulled away, staring down at me. One strong arm stabilized his body on the headboard, his muscles tensing with effort; his other hand wrapped around my throat, holding me down.Ā
One orgasm melted into the second, making me writhe under him. āOhhh, fuck!ā His heated gaze bore into me as I came undone once more. My eyelids shut tightly in rapture, but that earned another growl from him. āKeep your eyes on me, Rosalie. I want to watch you cum for me overā¦ā His hips slammed forward, making my breath halt in my chest. āOverā¦ā Driving into me, Daddy stole all ounces of my sanity. "And over again. Weāre not done until youāve cum so many times you canāt think.āĀ
āMmgghh, Daddy! Iāve already ā ahh! ā done that!ā My body quivered, overwhelmed with the sensations still coursing through me. My aching sex clamped around him as he continued pounding into me. āOne more, baby girl. Can you give Daddy one more orgasm? Please?ā Kai almost begged, and it was the hottest thing Iād ever heard.Ā
Digging my teeth into my lower lip, I nodded. Kai leaned down to kiss my neck, whispering a soft, āThank you, princessā in my ear. With the way he sped up, I could feel he was reaching his climax. Both our labored breathing and groans melted into the sound of our skin slapping together. āBite me, love. Drink from Daddy.āĀ
With an eager moan, I sank my teeth into his neck, loving the bite of him down the same. We drank from each other, completely connected by mind, body, and soul. Malachai reached the zenith of his pleasure, bringing me tumbling down another wave of bliss along with him. Our lustful sounds of orgasm were drowned in each otherās necks as we drank our fill.
When the sensations subsided, our lips met with a sense of completion and exhaustion. The lingering essence of each other remained in our mouths, making the kiss all the more fulfilling. When Kai slid out of me, I almost complained. With a kiss to my forehead, he summoned a washcloth, wiping away our sweat, blood, and love juices.Ā
āHow are you feeling, baby? I tried to go slow at first, but I donāt think I was all that successful.ā Once cleaned up, Kai wrapped himself around me, spooning my smaller body with his larger one. I couldnāt see his eyes this way, but I could feel his heartbeat thumping against my back. It was soothing. āIām perfect, Malachai. Thank you for tonight.ā Earlier, Iād mentioned how heād saved me tonight by pretending to be my boyfriend. I hadnāt realized it, but heād saved me in many other ways. He saved my heart, got it back, and put it together after someone else crushed it. I would always be grateful to him for that.Ā
Unable to stop himself, Kai pressed soft kisses to my chin and neck, holding me even closer. āAnytime.ā He chuckled about something, and I was just about to inquire when he said, āThatās what boyfriends are for.ā Laughing at the clever echo of his earlier words, I turned to face him. My hand rested on his cheek, his blue eyes shining in the dim lighting. My thumb caressed his skin, giving him a small fraction of the love and affection he deserved.
āMalachai Parker, I hope you know how perfect you are.ā He grinned, kissing my nose. āAm I? Be sure to tell me that, at least three times a day.ā Taking one of his hands, I kissed each of his fingertips once more, cherishing every part of him. āYou are, and I love you.ā
~~~
Thank you so much for reading! (I haven't written in first person in a long time, oof)
I hope you enjoyed this piece as much as I enjoyed writing it. I welcome your thoughts, comments, constructive criticisms, or anything under the sun!
If you enjoyed this piece, check out more of my Kai Parker stories from my Malachai Parker Masterlist. If youād like to be added to my taglist, please send me a message or comment on this post.
Hi Tumblr fam! Hopping on here to say Iām taking a bit of a break from writing. Iāve gotten insanely busy with work (traveling nonstop), and my mental health hasnāt been doing too great. Iām taking it day by day, though I donāt find myself with energy for anything besides work and sleep.
I WILL be back, but at this point, I have no clue when. Thank you for reading and for being here :)
I will still occasionally check Tumblr, so if you need someone to talk to, please go ahead and send me a message.
Lots of stuff has happened in my life in the past three weeks, and itās all been (mostly) great!
1) Went on a family vacation/wedding trip (and I planned a whole Kai One Shot/Two Shot on my flights š)
2) Had a bad cold for 4-5 days right after coming back
3) Started my first full-time job and completed the first week!
During the past week, I barely opened my personal computer and havenāt had time to write at allll. Iām still settling into my new routine and schedule, but Iāll start writing again very soon! I have a bunch of fics planned, including a new multi-chapter series now that Colors is complete.
Requests remain open, and Iāll update my posting schedule as soon as I resume writing.
In the meantime, my messages and asks are always open if you need a friend š„°
Rewatching TVD and my love for Kai is currently stronger than ever. Iām severely annoyed at the Mystic Falls Gang right now.
Season 6, Episode 13: Kai is literally LYING ON THE GROUND BLEEDING WITH STAB WOUNDS FROM LIV and is STILL helping Jeremy stop Bonnie from killing herself in the prison world!
Are those the actions of a villain who doesnāt have emotions or doesnāt care about anyone but himself? NO!
This is a sequel to "I'd Rather You Lie." I've done my best to make sure this piece is readable as a one shot, but if you'd like to read the prequel, please read it here.
This IS a reader insert fic; I just donāt like writing with Y/N in the place of names. Use Rosalie/Rosie/Rose as a placeholder for Y/NĀ :)
Description: Kai betrayed her trust, used her for his own selfish means. Now, he can't bear the pain and hurt he's caused her. Malachai understands now that he loves her, but is love enough to mend a broken heart?
Warnings: angst/heartbreak and minor mature language
The story begins after the break! I hope you enjoy reading it :)
āIād rather you lie.āĀ
It was easier for Rosalie when he lied. It had been easier to believe it was real. Now, sheād heard the lies so often she couldnāt possibly know what was true anymore. Kaiās ramblings came to a halt. Roseās smile was more akin to a grimace. There were no tears in her eyes; there was nothing in her eyes as if there was no soul behind them.
Malachai had hurt many people in his life. Heād murdered his siblings, and heād spent years torturing himself. Somehow, this emptiness in her was worse than all the damage heād done combined. āRosalieā¦ā She just shook her head, walking passed him. There was still no emotion on her face as she hugged her winter jacket around her body. Kai watched her walk away, feeling the snow settle in his hair. The cold did not compare to all the pain that consumed him.Ā
He tried to take a shaky breath. With a choked gasp and unbearable pain in his heart, Malachai watched her until she became a speck of dust in the distance. The worst part of it all? She didnāt turn to look back at him once.
~
Was it his fault for breaking her heart, or was it hers for allowing him to hold it in the first place? Her brain and heart grappled over this question every night, making it impossible to sleep. Thanks to Kai, she couldnāt return to the life sheād once loved. There was nothing left inside her that would allow her to love.Ā
It wasnāt as if Rose was a stranger to pain. Sheād been abandoned by people before. The people who brought her into the world had died. The ones who adopted her into their home as a child saw her as only a paycheck. Even Alaric was dead for a few years before miraculously coming alive again. None of those heartaches had destroyed her in the same way Malachai had.
Perhaps it was because it was her first time truly being in love. She couldnāt feel anything anymore, not even anger. Though her mind and heart disagreed on whose fault it was, they both knew feeling the agony of that betrayal would consume her.
For now, all she could do was continue existing in an endless cycle ā school, work, Dad, friends, eat, sleep, repeat.
~
A new semester was starting after winter break, and Rosalie considered it a fresh start. She would put herself out there again; sheād try to come back to life. Rose was sitting in a large lecture hall, waiting for the professor of her creative writing course to arrive. She twirled her stylus around her fingers, making random doodles on her iPad. Someone sat down a few seats away from her, but she paid them no mind.Ā
The hall continued to fill, and Professor Smith arrived ten minutes late. She was fun, and her quippy nature made up for the tardiness. Listening to a professor review a syllabus wasnāt boring for once. Rosalie was paying close attention, jotting down miscellaneous notes about due dates and assignment details.Ā
āYour final paper,Ā worth 30% of your grade, will be a writing piece: eight to ten pages long with attention to all topics and techniques weāll review throughout the semester. Students who do best on this assignment never fail to present their learnings in a unique, refreshing way. Nothing should limit your imagination. Isnāt that right, boy who canāt stop staring at the girl in his row?āĀ
Rose was looking at the professor when she singled out the student not listening. As did the other students, she, too, looked around to see who the professor was scolding. Her grip slackened on her stylus as she heard his voice a few feet away. She would know that voice anywhere. āY-yes, Professor. Iām sorry.ā The professor nodded and continued. Malachai stole one more glance in her direction when the professorās back was turned, and his eyes met Rosalieās after weeks of not seeing each other.
~
Before he could talk to her, Rose rushed out of the lecture hall. Was heĀ stalkingĀ her now? Swallowing away the bitter taste in her mouth, Rosalie instinctively made her way to her dadās office. Glancing at the time, she knew Alaric was giving a lecture. Unlocking the door with magic and locking it behind her, Rose collapsed onto the couch. Her head fell into her hands, and her foot tapped against the ground anxiously.Ā
Rosalie hadnāt yet asked her dad for Kaiās true story. She didnāt want to know it anymore; she told herself she didnāt care about him and whatever was causing him pain. Whether she would admit it or not, Rosalie was lying to herself, just as Kai had lied to her for weeks.Ā
She stayed in the same spot for hours, finally looking up when she heard the door unlock. Alaric smiled at his daughter, unsurprised to find her here. This was a first-day-of-the-semester tradition for them ā tea in his office and unpacking what happened in their new classes. Ric turned on the hot water kettle, pulling out mugs and tea for them. He only noted her troubles when she greeted him without energy, and his smile faded quickly. āRosalie? Whatās the matter?āĀ
Rose sighed deeply, not knowing where to start. āI need you to tell me everything about Kai, Dad. Please.ā The turmoil had been suppressed long enough; she bit the bullet and watched Ricās expression twitch. He didnāt say anything for a few minutes. Hot water and honey were poured into their mugs. Rose kicked her shoes off, curled her legs under her, and claimed the steaming cup of tea. The silence was broken only when Alaric sat beside her on the couch.
He was torn about how much he should involve her but hiding the truth from Rose allowed Kai to hurt her. Ric wouldnāt hide things from her anymore. āMalachai is Josetteās twin brother.ā A confused expression came over Roseās face immediately. āJo is in her early 40s. How is that possible?ā To his credit, Alaric told her everything without biased embellishments, telling her the story exactly as Jo told him.Ā
Of course, even he didnāt know the story from Malachaiās perspective.Ā
He told her about how Kai was meant to merge with Jo and become the leader of the Gemini coven, how he was never worthy of the position. When he found out the thing he lusted after for twenty-two years would never be his, Kai snapped, murdering four of his little siblings in cold blood. Kai stuck a hunting knife into Josette and took out her spleen. Ultimately, he was after Lucas and Olivia. The Coven locked him up in a prison world, and he escaped when Bonnie and Damon ended up there after the Other Side collapsed.
Rosalie listened to everything, finding it impossible to believe that the guy she knew ā the guy sheĀ thoughtĀ she knew ā was capable of all of this. Even as she left her dadās office, Rose repeated the story in her mind. There had to be more to this story. No one was born evil. Something must have happened to Kai - something so horrible and cruel that his only choice was to protect himself this way.Ā
Alaric had heard the story from Jo, but he hadnāt seen the tears Kai shed when no one was around to see them. Whatever caused him to snap tormented him even now, and no one should live that way. Despite this, Rosalie didnāt have it in her to forgive him. Maybe it was selfish, but heād used someone who trusted him for reasons she could barely justify.Ā
The door to her apartment closed behind her. Trying to push the thoughts away, Rose walked over to her fridge. She pulled it open, and the wave of cool air sent her mind reeling backā¦
Even on the drive back to Mystic Falls, her thoughts were consumed with Kai. Heād kissed her, and then he disappeared. What kind of decent person does that? Rosalie had begun to think that maybe she didnāt know Malachai at all. Her thoughts would be proven right a few minutes later.Ā
When Rose entered the Salvatore House, she heard the flames of the fireplace crackling and voices coming from the living room. āHow do you know my daughter?ā Her dad was threatening someone, holding them by their neck as he tilted the chair towards the fireplace. Damon forced him away, trying to calm Alaric down. āEasy, Papa Bear. Kaiās going to cooperate. Talk. Now.ā
Ā Kai?Ā Her Kai? Noā¦
āDidnāt you know? Iāve been dating her for a while. Here I thought she told you everything, Alaric. Of course, she thinks itās real, which is sweet, really. At least someone among us has a heart.āĀ
Kai kept on talking, but she heard none of it. It was as if her senses had been disconnected from her brain. āSheās just so welcomingā¦ it was so easy to step into her life. I could get into all of yours and take what Iāve always wanted. But you really didnāt need to torture me to get that out of me, did you? I think Iām an excellent communicator.āĀ
Damon and her dad had already seen Rose standing there, and when Damon forced Kaiās chair around, she registered the briefest flicker of remorse in his eyes. She didnāt have it in her to care, not right now. All she did was turn around and leave. The air outside felt so much colder than she could bear. It bit her cheeks as tears filled her eyes. Rosalie refused to let them fall. She would not cry over someone who was using her.
The tears that had refused to spill all those months ago came bubbling to the surface. Her knees buckled below her, and her hands rushed to cover her mouth as a pained scream came out. All the agony at his betrayal created burning trails on her cheeks, and as she curled up on the ground, her shoulders shook with each sob.Ā
Rosalie finally let herself admit that she had loved Malachai: she probably still did. Sheād put her heart into someoneās hands for the first time and this was what she earned in return. Nothing in her life felt fair. How many more people would hurt her before she could finally be free?Ā
The anguish sheād failed to acknowledge and process now took over. It subsided hours later when the chill from the open fridge had coated her spine and the door beeped in protest. Rose gave it a weak push and it creaked shut.Ā
Sheād loved him, and now she didnāt think she could love anymore.
~
Caroline smacked a piece of paper down on the table in front of Rosalie. āThe annual Whitmore Bitter Ball is on Saturday, and youāre coming.ā Rose picked up the flyer, smiling without amusement at the clashing black and grey letters. āCome onnnn, youāre the one thatās most bitter in love out of any of us.āĀ
Elena and Bonnie gave Caroline a withering stare, while Rose just shook her head. āSorryā¦ insensitive.ā She cleared her throat, trying to dispel the awkwardness. āYou should come, Rosalie. We all deserve a night out.ā Elena was gently encouraging in stark contrast to Caroline. Rose didnāt know how she felt about it. āOkay, dance or no dance, at least come dress shopping with us? We need your opinions.ā Truthfully, it sounded dreadful. After a long blink, Rosalie smiled and agreed. āFine. Itāll be just like high school.ā It wouldnāt be for her; it would be for her friends.
A few hours later, Rosalie was walking between aisles upon aisles of dresses. Some were gaudy and drew way too much attention. Some were too plain for a ball. Then again, maybe plain was best ā something that could help her hide in the shadows as she attended the dance for the sake of her worried friends.Ā
Rose ultimately chose a silken, black gown. It had an attractive sweetheart neckline and golden embellishments around the waist. The skirt didnāt puff out obnoxiously, and with a golden mask to abide by the masquerade policy, it was the perfect disguise.
~
On Saturday evening, Rosalie found herself standing in the corner of the grand ballroom. People were all over the place: some drunk, some dancing, some crying, and some doing all of the above. Rose watched people move about behind her mask, twirling the straw around in her gin and soda with extra limes. Sheād promised Caroline sheād stay out for an hour, and thankfully, the hour was almost up.Ā
Downing her drink, Rosalie walked across the dance floor. She had managed to artfully avoid the masses until she reached the bar. The glass clinked down onto the granite counter, right beside someone also attending this ball alone. He turned around slowly, setting down his own glass. They looked at each other silently for a few heavy seconds, neither saying a word.Ā
Malachaiās eyes shined in the dim lighting of the ballroom, swimming with numerous feelings yet glistening with the joy of seeing her. Rosalieās expression remained passive, unreadable. Sheād cried her heart out already. What was the next step in the process of healing from heartbreak?Ā
āI donāt know how a ball for the brokenhearted could be such a hit,ā Kai said. Rose smiled without amusement, looking around at the crowd once again. āYou never know, maybe lots of people have broken hearts around here.ā Malachai swallowed away the knot of emotion in his throat, his eyes darting to the dance floor. āMaybe youāre right.ā
He refused to meet her eyes, and it sparked something inside her. It was some convoluted mixture of rage, pain, desperation, and, most unexpectedly, a tinge of hope. āDance with me?ā She held out her hand to him in challenge. Kaiās gaze flit between her hand, the dancing couples, and the gleam in her eyes. Whatever brought it back, heād missed it dearly. He took her hand, leading her to join the crowds.Ā
Rose let out a soft laugh at the song change, wondering if Caroline had something to do with the music.Ā War of HeartsĀ played over the speakers as Kaiās hand came to rest on her waist. Their fingers linked together, and this time, everything else fell away.Ā
Come to me in the night hours. I will wait for you.
Both recalled the same memories as they stepped in unison. Their awkward first interaction in the coffee shop. The first date where Kai was trying to be charming but ended up spilling soda all over his shirt. His tears when the thoughts of his past tormented him. The devastation they both felt when Rosalie found out about Malachaiās betrayal.Ā
āHave you been stalking me, by the way?ā Kai almost smiled, his brow rising. āWould you believe me if I said I had no idea youād be in the same section?ā He twirled her around, pulling her back to him. āHonestly, I donāt know what Iām supposed to believe, Malachai.āĀ
Sheād been the only one who could use his full first name without making him flinch. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and Kai sighed, resigned with himself. āI donāt know what I can say, Rose. You have every right to not trust me. Let me just ask you one thing, and then I will leave you alone.ā
I canāt help but love you, even though I try not to. I canāt help but want you. I know that Iād die without you.
āDo you honestly think I didnāt break my own heart when I broke yours?ā His arms wrapped around her as Kai selfishly pulled her close. If this was the last time, he needed to hold her close. The back of his hand brushed her cheek, and he memorized the feel of her soft skin. He was close enough to see the reflection of his dark, satin mask in Rosalieās eyes.Ā
Rose didnāt know how to react. Her first instinct was to say no. He had sounded so convincing when he gloated to Ric and Damon about how he used her. How could that be the voice of someone with a broken heart? That same person stood in front of her now, looking at her with deeper affection and sincerity unlike anything sheād known before.Ā
Rosalie held the hand brushing her cheek, wrapping her own around it before stepping away from Kai. āMalachai, I canāt do this again.ā Kai had let her walk away once. He wouldnāt give up without a fight this time. āPleaseā¦ I promise I wonāt ever hurt you. I wonāt lie to you. From now on, nothing but the truth.āĀ
I canāt help but be wrong in the dark, ācause Iām overcome in this war of hearts. I canāt help but want oceans to part, ācause Iām overcome in this war of hearts.
With those words, Rose threw her arms around Malachai and kissed him. Maybe it was wishful thinking, or maybe it was just plain stupid. It didnāt matter. Not trusting him had been so unendurably painful; even if he played her again, it would be worth it.
Kai froze in surprise for a fraction of a second, not expecting her to give him the one thing he wanted most. He took her face in his hands, suppressing a sob of relief and joy. Malachai brought her closer, hugging her flush against his body.Ā
People still danced around them, oblivious to the two souls whoād found each other and would never part again.
~
The end of the semester approached, faster than anticipated. Malachai and Rosalie had spent the last months together, and true to his word, he hadnāt lied to herā¦ until tonight.
In his lonesome years in the prison world, Kai had honed his cooking and baking skills. Tonight, after a long week of finals, they were making Kaiās chocolate chip cookies ā a recipe heād refined and mastered over twelve years. Rosalie was whipping together browned butter and sugar, and Kai was chopping chunks of dark chocolate into shards with a knife. The apartment smelled like toasted sugar, and their playful banter brought them much-needed laughter.Ā
āWhereād you put the vanilla extract I brought over?ā Rosalie was looking in Kaiās kitchen drawers, and just as she reached one near the edge of the counter, he stepped in front of her. āNot in that one! Thereās nothing in that one. Letās move on.ā Why was he in such a rush to get her away from that drawer?Ā
āMalachaiā¦ what are you hiding from me?ā He sighed and stepped aside, remembering his promise to her. Rose didnāt take her eyes off him as she opened the drawer. Looking down, she halted in shock at the only object inside: a small black jewelry box.
Kai grabbed it before she could, putting it behind her back. She gave him a look, raising her eyebrows in question. āWhat are you hiding from me?ā She repeated her question, her voice even more pointed, now with curiosity rather than suspicion. Adorably anxious, Kai nipped at his lower lip and tugged at his hair momentarily.Ā
Setting the box on the kitchen counter, Kai flipped its lid. Within it, tucked into cushioned velvet, lay matching silver rings. They were similar in style to the ones Malachai often wore, the metal bands thick and fairly plain. He removed them both, showing her the inscription inside the bands:Ā nothing but the truth.
āThis isnāt a proposal. Not yet, at least.ā Kaiās nervousness didnāt help him get these words out, but when he looked up, looking into her eyes, suddenly it was much easier. āI wanted us to have something that reminds us of our journey and how far weāve come. I want us to have these.ā Before he said anything more, Kai slipped his ring onto his middle finger. Rosalie accepted his gift and put on her ring. She took his hand and laced their fingers together.Ā
āThank you, Kai,ā Rose spoke with tenderness, holding Kaiās face. āIāll never take it off.ā Their lips met in a sweet kiss, and the smooth metal of their rings clinked together quietly. They squeezed each otherās hands lovingly, now certain neither would let go.
~~~
That's all for this piece! Thank you to the anon who requested I give them a happy ending; this story would not exist without you :)
Please feel free to send any thoughts/comments/constructive criticisms my way. I always welcome them.
If youād like to be tagged in future Kai Parker works, feel free to message me/leave a comment here. If you liked this story, feel free to check out my other stories from my Malachai Parker Masterlist (pinned to the top of my profile).
