No one was ever going to hurt him or Ileana again. That much, he was sure of. Orion had been fortunate enough to make some connections while working at the hospital and some of them had been fairly skilled in combat. Echo had mentioned her pack like he was supposed to be impressed but the name of a werewolf group meant next to nothing to him. No, what meant something was that in exchange for agreeing to help them in the magic department as they needed it, they taught him how to fight. He had learned enough now that he could practice on his own, bow pulled back to take another shot at his practice target when he saw someone approach out of the corner of his eye. “Probably not the best idea to sneak up on someone with a weapon,” he chided. @sanguishqsstarters
There was a lot that Orion had learned to do at the coven, but there was a ton that he hadn’t been taught as well. Cooking was something that he had never done before; that was always something that girls his age had been put in charge of and because of this, he was sorely lacking when it came to skills in the kitchen. He sighed as he waited for his Chinese takeout, shaking his head. “One day, I’ll cook a meal without burning it. One day.”
" ask me that one more time and i might rip your tongue out, " she was at her wit's end with this man. apparently they had met a few hours ago ( she had complimented his shirt ? ) only for her to show up with new hair, new clothes — blah blah ... eyes were practically rolled to the back of her head. if she was a bit more in tune with her whitelighter abilities, she would've already been out of there. her mother had been the one with all the carbon copies, not her. " you, " she grabs the nearest person by their arm, " we're going to pretend like we're having a conversation until tweedle dee over there leaves. " surely, this isn't what nadia came back from being stuck in limbo for. " nice shirt, by the way. "
“ ask me that one more time and i might rip your tongue out, ” she was at her wit’s end with this man. apparently they had met a few hours ago ( she had complimented his shirt ? ) only for her to show up with new hair, new clothes — blah blah … eyes were practically rolled to the back of her head. if she was a bit more in tune with her whitelighter abilities, she would’ve already been out of there. her mother had been the one with all the carbon copies, not her. “ you, ” she grabs the nearest person by their arm, “ we’re going to pretend like we’re having a conversation until tweedle dee over there leaves. ” surely, this isn’t what nadia came back from being stuck in limbo for. “ nice shirt, by the way. ”
( @sanguishqsstarters )
Orion was used to being told what to do by forceful women. Growing up the way that he did, there were pretty much women in every corner that wanted you to do as they said without question. Hell, he’d even fallen in love with one such woman. While they couldn’t currently be together the way that they might like, it didn’t mean that she did any less bossing him around. The brunette in front of him ordering him around was almost comforting, like he was back in Salem. “Sounds like a plan to me,” he answered with an amused smirk. A slight blush crept over his cheeks at the compliment and he nodded in acceptance at her kind words. “Thanks. I’m...uh, I’m Orion. Why are you hiding from that guy?”
“So here’s the thing,” Elena began. “It’s been 20 years from now in the future and I don’t remember too much about this time in my life. Well, besides the mourning and that’s more normal then not so– fill me in on what’s going on with you and I’ll try to figure out where I could help.” Future knowledge must come in handy, right? Elena was happy to fill in the gaps.
Luckily, Orion had been filled in on the whole future kid thing from Fallon during their brief tenure as Sherlock and Watson, but he wasn’t sure how any of them would have not remembered their lives. Either way, helpfulness was in his nature and he gave a soft smile to the woman in front of him. “I’m not sure I’ll be much help, unfortunately,” he answered. “My name is Orion. I’ve met some of the kids from your time, and from what I can tell? I’m not super important to the story.”
Having seen a future version of Elena and Damon caused Lamai to be hopeful that maybe, just maybe, her mom and dad were here as well. A lot of bad had happened and she yearned for them to tell her everything would be okay - maybe she would actually believe it if they told her. Fidgeting with her sleeve, she didn’t hear someone talk until they grew louder and she jumped, quickly looking up. “Sorry,” she said with a small smile, “what’s up?”
It had been a long few days but Orion was finally in a space where he could start to relax. Ileana was home and life was exactly what it was supposed to be again. Well, soft of. They still had all kinds of trauma that they were going to have to sort through because of what her mother had put Ana through but he was sure that they could get through it together. Either way, the coffee shop had become his safe haven. He stopped by every day on his way home from the hospital, trying to take a few moments to himself so he could be focused and prepared to give his all to Ana when he got home. “Oh, sorry. I just asked if you’d mind if I joined you,” he answered, sheepish smile in place.
Coming home to an empty apartment was nothing new. Ileana had been job hunting and Orion was honestly beyond proud of her for all that she had been able to do since they had arrived in McKinley. The place was overwhelming, teeming with magic at every turn and he had fallen in love with it here.
Coming home to a trashed apartment, however, was something that he had never experienced before and he immediately was on edge. There was only one person that would have been able to find them here and have the motivation to drag her out. “Ana?” the warlock called desperately, bursting into her room to find it empty. He ran to his, throwing open the door. Pleading in his voice, he called out again. “Ileana?!” The raven haired man ran for the bathroom, the one last place that he had any hope of finding her and when it was empty as well, panic really started to set in. She was gone. The love of his life, woman of his dreams, other half of his damn heart was gone and he needed her back.
Shaking hands pulled out his phone, dialing Ileana’s cell time and time and time again with no avail. “No, no, no,” he pleaded, hot tears trickling down his cheeks. He didn’t know who else to reach out to. There was only one person that would help him and there was no way that his mother would have been looped into this plan. He had to leave his mother out of this for now.
Orion’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking and he could feel the magic that had been forced to remain dormant inside of him for years threatening to push itself out. He couldn’t lose control now, he need to focus. Hands closed into fists as he tried to keep himself under control despite the overwhelming amount of despair that was taking over him. “I gotta find her. I have to find her.” That was his mantra until the momen that Ileana was back in his arms again.
***
Meeting Fallon had been coincidental but as soon as they both realized that they were missing the person they cared most about in the world, the decision to team up had been an easy one. She had agreed to accompany him to Salem; Orion was sure that if there was one place in the world that Ileana was most likely to be, it would be there. Fallon had gone in and found his mother for him since Orion himself couldn’t risk being seen. His mother had been quick to tell them that they were wrong, they had taken a bad bet and the coven was holding Sev and Ana somewhere else entirely.
The ride back to McKinley had been a quiet one. Fallon was shaking in the seat next to him and Ri was desperate to just get home so he could come up with some other plan. They had tried locator spells, messages sent with magic, calling out to Sev, but nothing had worked. He was getting frustrated with the circumstances and Fallon’s constant jittering wasn’t helping.
“You’ve gotta get stable,” he urged, glancing over at the young heretic as he drove.
She didn’t say anything back for a long moment, eyes cast downward before she finally whispered. “I know.”
He didn’t envy her position. She was clearly struggling. Orion had been sheltered his entire life and he didn’t understand everything that she was going through but his heart went out to the young woman. “Can I help?” he asked quietly, not wanting to sound judgmental and pile on to her situation.
Again, Fallon was quiet for a long while before she answered. Her eyes finally shifted up to meet his, wide with realization and she nodded. “The last time that I felt okay was when I was channeling Lizzie. I have a theory that if I can channel more magic, it’ll even out the withdrawal symptoms.”
Orion didn’t hesitate to hold out his hand, offering his magic to her without a second thought. If he could help, even if it meant weakening himself, he wanted to. He couldn’t save Ana but he could help Fallon.
The brunette shook her head, giving him a soft smile. “No. I have a better idea. We just need to make a little detour.”
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion but he was open-minded to any solution that she might have. “Where to?” he asked.
Fallon’s voice was cold and distant when she finally answered. “Mystic Falls.”
***
Watching Fallon siphon from the magic border that kept them out of Mystic Falls was a sight to behold but there was absolutely no denying that the girl seemed more even-keeled when they were finally on the road again. It was a night and day difference once she had more magic in her and Orion was glad that she would be able to get a bit of relief.
He offered to drop at home, but she asked if she could stay with him for the evening. It was something that she’d been doing ever since they realized that Sev and Ana were both missing. Fallon slept on the couch and Orion paced in the kitchen. He couldn’t help it. His anxiety and fear wouldn’t let him rest until she was home.
They tried everything over the next few days that they could possibly think of. They made the drive to and from Mystic Falls every two or three days so that Fallon could even herself out. It was on one of those drives that a note appeared out of nowhere in Orion’s hand. Neither of them even moved when they spotted it, but finally Fallon snatched it from the warlock’s hand, reading it and looking over with wide eyes.
“It’s an address,” she breathed.
He couldn’t let himself be excited. This could be a trick. Sure, Fallon was powered up more than any witch he’d ever seen at the present moment and he was nothing to scoff at himself but this could still be a trap. And yet...
“Are you ready?” he asked, foot pressing harder against the accelerator.
The brunette nodded in response, closing her eyes as he drove. “Let’s do this.”
Orion was a law-abiding citizen. He didn’t break rules except for the ones at the coven that required him to do absolutely no magic. He followed the narrow path, no matter what, but not today. Today, he was willing to do whatever it took that would get Ileana home sooner. He broke every traffic law known to man until they pulled into the address that had been scribbled onto the piece of paper that had popped into his hand.
“It’s her handwriting,” he mused, looking over at Fallon. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or even more terrified.
“We’re going to get them back, Orion. Right now. Just stick to the plan.”
He nodded, shooting her a hopeful glance before he got out of the car and started towards the door.
Orion didn’t waste time sneaking around. He slammed through the door, letting it bang open. A group of the elders were in the room, Ileana and a man he could only assume was Sev were caged at the back of it and that sent Orion into a frenzy. Magic poured out of him, throwing the women keeping them from his best friend and soulmate into walls. Fallon was no slouch either, helping keep them at bay as he made his way to the cage.
He nodded to Fallon to break the lock, pulling Ileana into his arms without a second thought as soon as the cage door opened. She was covered in even more brands than she had been when she left and he could only imagine the ordeal that she and Sev had been through. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, grateful that Fallon was keeping the elders at bay for now.
“I am now,” she answered, eyes shining as they looked up at him.
Orion nodded, tilting her chin up and leaning down as if to kiss her.
“Ri,” she stopped him. “The curse...”
“I don’t care right now,” he answered, crashing his lips down onto hers without a second thought, years of longing and weeks of worry wrapped up into that one perfect kiss. “I love you, Ana. And I will never let anyone hurt you again.”
He looked over at Fallon and Sev, smiling softly at seeing the heretic supporting the weight of her companion. He’d clearly been hurt as well, and Orion had never hated Ileana’s mother more.
“Her mother will come for you, Mr. Kugler.”
It was the voice of one of the elders, pulling themselves to their feet after the shock from Orion and Fallon’s initial assault had worn off.
“Go to the car,” he murmured into Ileana’s ear, pushing her towards Sev and Fallon. The heretic nodded at him as if she understood and Orion turned back to the face the older woman in front of him.
“I hope that she does. I can’t wait to tell her exactly what I think of her,” he spat out. Orion wasn’t typically one to choose spite or violence but for Ileana’s mother? Well, he’d make an exception.
The other two women that had been guarding Ileana and Sev were now flanking Orion and he was constantly moving to keep all of them in his line of sight.
“We are not afraid of you, Mr. Kugler. We know the power you hold, the raw ability you possess. You are powerful, but you are no match for the three of us.”
“You’re right,” Orion answered, smirking as he heard Fallon walk back in. “But she is.”
Fallon didn’t waste time in using her vampire speed to meet the first woman face to face and Orion turned and started for the car so he didn’t have to see the carnage. He was sure that Fallon wouldn’t leave any of them alive, throats torn out and powers absorbed. For the first time in his life, Orion supported the violence. They deserved it after what they had done to Ana and Sev. But none of that mattered now.
The good guys had won. Ana was finally coming home.
“I know so.” Whatever it was that Orion set his mind to, she knew he would achieve. He was the most dedicated man she knew. Hell, if that wasn’t obvious in the way that he stuck around for her. Waiting for her. Despite everything they’d succumbed to, and been subjected to, he had still decided to run away with her. To start a new, with no real guarantee that they would lift the curse placed on them. And whilst she’d essentially given him free reign in town, to enjoy another whilst they were seperated, in ways she could not give him, he hadn’t plastered anything of the sort in front of her. Yet, anyway. But, right now, she just wanted to focus on their future, or the potential one they could share, if they were finally free. Completely. “God, you need to stop saying stuff like that, Ri.” A smirk following, as she dipped her head for a moment, almost catching her breathe, her heart irregularly beating, at the thought alone. The desperation she felt for him, only solidified in her love for the man. “You’re making this pretty freakin’ difficult right now.” To keep them seperated, that is. “I miss you.” Sure, he was there. At all times. But, there was a disconnect. The fact that they couldn’t truly embrace their relationship, it was proving more difficult than she’d ever anticipated. Hell, it wasn’t even a relationship. There was no titles. No labels. How could they, right now? There was no certainties in life. Especially when their lives were in the hands of the malicious coven they’d ran from. “I figured as much. But, we’ll figure it out. We’ve just got to find witches willing to help us.” How hard could it be? “’Cause, I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” This time, her tone more defeated, a sense of sadness washing over her. Being so close, yet so far, from the man she loved, it wasn’t a fate she’d wish on her worst enemies. There was a part of her that even contemplated picking up and leaving. Starting fresh. In a world where she wasn’t forced to gaze at the man every second of every day.
God, she was always so good at coaxing out that one particular smile from him. Her approval and support meant more to Orion than anything else in the world. He was someone that believed in magic, and in beauty, and he looked for it everywhere. It was a lot easier to see when Ileana was around supporting him and protecting him. Part of him wished that he had just kept his distance from her when he had been ordered to; at least then, she could have found someone else. She wouldn’t have to suffer with him through this. The redhead didn’t deserve this kind of agony, the absolute torture of not being able to be with the person that she loved. She was good, her heart was pure, she deserved joy. And yet, despite that, she was determined to stay by his side. “I can’t help it,” he admitted, the hand not laced in hers running through his raven locks. A sly grin came over his lips as he remembers the one time that they actually had been able to be together in a physical way, the indiscretion that had caused the curse to be placed on them in the first place. “Ana, I miss you too. So much.” Even though they sat only inches apart from each other, he knew exactly what she meant. The physical aspect of their relationship was the only reason that they weren’t together and in love. It was the only reason that he still got jealous every single time another man’s eyes lingered on her a moment too long. He wanted nothing more than to shout from every rooftop that she was his and he was hers forever but how could he ask her to deny a basic physical need? He wasn’t that selfish, he wouldn’t let himself be. “I think about that day all the time.” He blushes at the admission, quick to amend his statement. “Not in, like, a perv-y way. I just...” He sighs, hating that he doesn’t know the way to perfectly verbalize the amount of longing her felt. “I just want that intimacy with you, Ana.” He nods at her plan, in complete agreement. “I’ve felt some powerful magic at the hospital. I think there might be one or two that work there, just have to pinpoint where it’s coming from.” His hand tightens around hers, squeezing gently. The gesture was pretty much the only way to express his need for her in a physical way, but God did he need her. “Every second we have to wait is too long if you ask me.”
She raised a brow, “what? copying that one scene in harry potter?” she chuckled as she looked over at him, his blatant use of magic being something that caught her attention. Not many would be willing to do that in a town with hunters - but to be fair witches were at the bottom of the hunted totem pole. “Might want to be careful with that, never know who you might run into”
Harry Potter wasn’t a reference that he was familiar with but that honestly wasn’t surprising. The coven that Orion was from didn’t really have a good connection with the rest of the world. They were self-sustaining — farming all of the food that they ate, building their own houses, making their own furniture — and all without magic. It was far different from here. The first cell phone at the coven had caused an uproar, though even the elders had to admit how useful the device was and eventually grew more lax around that particular luxury. “Sorry, I’m not sure who this Harry is,” he admits, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Is magic not more acceptable here?”
Going back home hadn’t been the best idea. Gia had made the mistake in thinking that time apart would clear the mess that her family was. Clearly that had not been the case. Which probably explained why she had been happy to be back here. Even if the entire place was running with supernatural and every day she was alive was a blessing. It was better than dealing with what she had to call a family. “Getting better at what? – because if it is discretion I am going to say you are epically failing at that one,” she commented with a friendly smile tugging on her lips. Gia wasn’t used to the supernatural being so open and what not. “Do you think Hogwarts had it’s own cafe?”
Back in the coven, he hadn’t been able to ever be himself. He was an outcast, a member of society that was ignored and shunned because of the power inside of him that he hadn’t control. McKinley had offered him something that he had never had there — freedom. In this place, he didn’t have to be the person that everyone else looked down on. He could be respected and well-liked and treated with kindness. It was a new feeling, one that he wasn’t entirely familiar with. Orion chuckles at the woman sitting across from him, shrugging. “Is indiscretion really necessary here? This entire place seems to be teeming with mystical energy. It seems almost disrespectful not to use it.” His eyebrows furrow together in confusion at her follow up. “Sorry, Hogwarts?”
a barely audible laugh escapes past his teeth in the form of a muffled scoff. it wasn’t a hostile reaction to anyone else in particular. if anything, he found the situation to be ironic — how it felt like his world was caving in from the inside yet here he was … talking about benches. was it a coping mechanism ? an attempt to trick his mind into thinking about quite literally anything else ? whatever it was, he chose to indulge in it for a little while longer. jackson kenner was never one to run away from his responsibilities entirely but maybe, just maybe — he could pretend for a split second that the weight on his shoulders wasn’t crushing him down. “ guess we can be talking about anything else, ” came his honest response as he turned to get a better look at the man beside him. one glance was all it took to conclude that it wasn’t anyone he recognized. “ if you’re having trouble settling in, look out for caroline forbes. she makes one hell of a welcoming committee. ”
Funnily enough, Orion wasn’t having a difficult time settling in. Being in McKinley had it’s overwhelming moments, but he mostly enjoyed the new environment. It felt more natural to be surrounded by this much outward magic rather than forcing himself to stifle his powers the way that he had to back in Salem. It was dangerous for him to be here, to get close to anyone, and that thought was always in the back of his mind. Anyone that he or Ileana grew to care about was someone that could be affected the curse that was placed on them should they push the boundaries too far. Breaking the curse was important to him, first on his list. He was desperate for the ability to just be with her. He grinned at the werewolf’s offer, nodding. “I haven’t run into her yet, but I’ll be sure to keep an eye out. Sounds like a force of nature.” He held out his hand to the other man. “I’m Orion.”
ever since the gala and receiving jeremy’s secret santa gift, april had been debating whether or not she should go now or not. there was still this nagging fear that it didn’t matter where she went, she wouldn’t be safe anywhere. at least here she had connections with enough people that her life was relatively safe. the internal battle constantly raging inside her head. maybe she was being over dramatic, she couldn’t see it that way. ‘ i’m kinda jealous actually, ’ she muses, more than kinda, if she were honest. she was surrounded by so much magic, always in awe of it.
Orion could understand her jealousy. It was the same kind of envy that he had felt most of his life; he had always been aware that there were covens out there that allowed their members to practice magic, he just wasn’t lucky enough to be born into one. Salem had been his prison and he had broken out. “I’m sorry,” he answers sheepishly, immediately ceasing his antics. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her strife or pain by flaunting his abilities. “Um, I’m Orion. I’m new in town. I didn’t mean to make you jealous.”
Topher felt his job getting worse. With the recent murder and his former girlfriend’s birthday coming up, the usual content mortician was feeling melancholic. Still he forced a small smile. “I’m happy for you.” He said. “I’ll get you a drink if you tell me your secret to happiness.” He half joked.
Orion grinned at the other man’s appreciation for his happiness, completely unused to the idea that someone else could mirror his joy. He was used to being an outcast in his coven, with only Ileana and his mother around for connection. Being somewhere that he didn’t have to constantly explain himself or his motives was refreshing. “I don’t need a drink, but I’m happy to help.” He shrugged as he considered how to explain his outlook. “I just think that there is a lot of bad in life, and it’s easy to focus on that. It’s easy to get lost in it. Choosing joy, while sometimes the harder choice, is undeniably more healthy. And there’s so much of it. You can see it in anything if you’re willing to look for it.”
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