In a room full of people, Kol had never felt so invisible. If people weren't gawking at the suavely dressed Elijah or harping on about the beauty of Rebekah or Freya, they were going on about the newly turned leaf Klaus was on for this century. He resisted rolling his eyes as some geezer he couldn't care for asked about one of his siblings. Looking over the short man's head, he saw you across the room nodding at some conversation, your eyes wandering around before refocusing on the group before you. He knew that look anywhere. Not taking his eyes off of you, he excused himself from his present company, not even bothering waiting for a response. He tried to keep a mundane pace, ignoring calls of his name.
"There you are love" his hand landed on your lower back. You looked up at the sound of Kol's voice, an inaudible sigh of relief escaping your painted lips. "I believe I promised you a dance."
You couldn't keep your excitement at bay nodding at him eagerly, a vast contrast to the otherwise grim expression you wore mere seconds before. You briefly gave as polite as a farewell as you could as Kol dragged you away from the company you had kept that night.
As Kol walked you to the center of the dance floor, bodies pressed close together, his hands looped around your waist as yours did the same around his neck. Slowly dancing to the romantic classical music playing through the ballroom's stereos, you couldn't help but smile up at him.
"What?" He took in your slightly giddy expression.
"Nothing," you shook your head "I just don't know what I would do without you."
He twirled you, more to give himself time to gather the shock your words meant to him.
"Should I rescue you from tedious conversations every time I'd like your praise?" He didn't mean to sound as harsh as he had but after years of steeling himself he sometimes did that. It was something you had become accustomed to within your relationship. It was also the source of some of your blow ups as there were times he took it too far, and something he had been working on. "Sorry." He winced, not wanting to ruin the moment.
"No need." You smiled knowing it would take time for him to break a habit he'd strengthened through the centuries. "I'm just really thankful for you. Regardless of what you do." He broke eye contact with you. You gave him time to gather his thoughts, knowing he sometimes needed time to digest how he felt and how to translate those thoughts into words.
"Even when I'm being an ass?" He'd chosen to go with banter for now.
You shook your head, closing your eyes to hide your brief amusement at the blush working at his face.
"Hm," You looked at him, "I'll have to get back to you with that one." You knew when to push things and when to lay off for the time being and deciding to keep the night light, you let him get away with his attempt to segue the conversation. Your lips met his in what was supposed to be a brief peck, but Kol had other ideas.
"I don't think so." He mumbled, still swaying with you in his arms. You pulled away slightly, trying to survey the room but the dim lights had given you some semblance of cover. Kol's lips were back on yours not a second later. "Thank you for being patient with me."
You pulled him closer to you, your fingers running up and down the nape of his neck as his tongue briefly teased yours. "Take me home," you whispered in his ear "and I'll show you exactly how thankful I am." You punctuated with a brief nibble of his ear lobe earning a growl from Kol. Not even a second later you couldn't help the giggle that escaped as he all but dragged you off the dance floor and out the ballroom.
