You X TVD // Passion And Danger

Goodbye to old ties

"Oh, so this is what you two lovebirds are up to? Not even a month has passed and..." Kai lifts his finger accusingly and moves back and forth between Joe and Nora.

" And what? " Joe speaks on behalf of Kai.

" Nothing. " Kai grits his teeth and flattens his lips, poorly maintaining his calm demeanor.

" Why are you back, Kai? " Nora sounds astounded. The way she delivered her words made Kai take a step back emotionally because he did not expect her to move on in a swift. Seven years down the rabbit hole.

" I need to discuss something. " Kai locks his arms.

" And what will that be? "

" It's private. " Kai doesn't even acknowledge Joe's existence as he continues to refer to Joe as some necessary accessory of the discussion.

Inhaling deeply, Nora gestures to Joe that she'll need a moment alone with Kai, to which Joe obliges and gives them space.

" Now that he's out of sight, what was it that you wanted to discuss with me? "

" Wow! Nora, you've really changed. "

" Is this what you wanted to talk to me about? I wasn't the one who initiated the break up, remember? "

" Not that, you're just different. There is something off about you. " He scrutinizes the life behind her irises, but his concentration makes Nora uncomfortable and she snaps him out.

"Kai, what did you want to talk about?"

"Fine, did you hear the news about the missing members of your ex-band?"

" Missing what? No, I did not. What happened?" Nora looks confused as if Kai just randomly summoned words out of thin air.

"Nora, Liam and Dove are missing. They were last seen after leaving their concert. I was so worried because you were an ex member and I thought whoever was responsible for their kidnapping would come for you too."

"Kai, what? That's crazy. Who would kidnap Liam and Dove? It would be less of a surprise if they were responsible for kidnapping someone else but this? It's new. And you could've called, you know that, right?"

"Of course, I could've called but I'm sure you weren't responding because I am on your block list."

"What? No! I would never block you! What am I? A child?" Nora is slightly taken aback by such an accusation.

"I don't know how well you handle break ups. If this comes off as a surprise to you, you might wanna have a little chat with Joey and his shenanigans with your phone."

"Again, leave Joe out of this."

"Nora, just get me off your block list. I just got scared that you got kidnapped. I could've done a locator spell but I didn't have any of your belongings. But I see, you're happy with your new guy. Goodbye, Nora."

"Kai, wait —" Nora snaked her hand around Kai's wrist, stopping him from moving away.

"What?"

"How are you? How's everything with the coven?"

"Honestly, not that great. The witches are having issues with the security of the coven. My father just won't stop at all. We never underestimated him but he seems to be the problem we just can't get past."

"Oh no! What happened now? Are you going back to Portland? Please, stay for a few days, we can—"

"Nora, is everything okay?" Joe asks.

"What part of 'this is a private conversation' did you not understand, Joey?"

Nora did not speak up on behalf of Joe.

'This is something unusual. Nora would always take my side, no matter the circumstance. What is up with her?'

"I just wanted to check up on my girlfriend and ensure her ex doesn't strangle her like he did with his siblings." Joe mutters and leaves before sparks flew.

"That is not true, I—ugh!" Joe disappears into thin air before Nora could oppose him with another lie favouring Kai.

"Girlfriend...hm" Kai hums, his tune deeper than usual, which was a sign that he was in fact not happy with what's in front of him. A trait Nora picked on over the course of their relationship.

"Kai, he's just...ah—"

"Your boyfriend, yeah, I get it. My time here is done and, for hell's sake, keep checking your phone for any new changes. Goodbye, Nora-Do—" Kai clicks his tongue, "hmm, Nora." He knits his brows tightly and walks past her without making eye contact.

How could he look at her, after everything she has done? He was a guy with no negative emotions pestering him on a daily basis. He never felt what heartbreak feels like over so many years, even when his multiple plans to escape the prison world failed, but today, after seeing Nora be all happy with the one guy he hates the most after his father, he could no longer feel anything other than pain. His emotions cloud his head to a point where Nora's goodbye felt like a faint giggle in a deafening crowd.

Nora feels a sting of guilt. She knew she wasn't wrong for all of this. She knew she had the right to enjoy her new life with Joe but the odd sensations plunges into her chest with even more guilt. How could she move on so quickly?

Joe watches Kai leave her apartment and quickly strolls in. To his surprise, Kai did not spit out any negative remark about him, which made Joe think he was finally over Nora.

Joe has Nora to himself now. No more crazy exes and male bestfriends for him to get rid of, except for Dove and Liam, who are rotting.

Amidst the gloomy hallway, Joe finds Nora distraught.

'I need to cleanse Kai's negative energy from you. You think you know it all and how to handle such guys all by yourself but that's far from truth. You need me to look after you. You need me to cheer you up. You need me.'

"Nora, are you alright?"

"Hmm, just ah, it was awkward."

"I can sense that there is something bothering you."

"Well, isn't it very selfish of me to move on quickly from Kai? We were together for more than half a decade and now suddenly I just don't, I, uh.."

"Sweetheart, listen to me," Joe cups Nora's face. Looking into her eyes full of perplexity and poorly hidden guilt, he assures her.

" You're brilliant and smart and before you dismiss me, deep down you knew Kai wasn't the right fit for you. I don't know your past but for some reason you felt like he was the only guy for you and you did not explore your other, much better options. To him, you were an accessory and you slowly, subconsciously realised that you found comfort in him and not love. So that's why you moved on quickly. Comfort can be given by anyone but love is rare. And I know it's a little early for all of this, it may not be love but affection? Who knows, so stop letting such thoughts bother you, okay? "

" Joe, thank you. I did not think of it like this. It just made me feel like I was incapable of love. Thank you for making me feel better. "

" You don't have to thank me. I'm all yours. Now shall we head in and do what we're usually good at? " Joe smirks and points to her door and Nora opens it.

...

'This is the part I'd usually skip in a story, but this is real life and I don't have a knight in shiny armour to come and take care of my mess unlike Nora. You see, I do so much for you, Nora. I love you and if anyone else could hear my thoughts they'd think I'm a lunatic. I'm carrying two dead bodies to a remote area and dump them out of existence for eternity, all because I love you. You're so sweet and innocent, how did you live your life before me? I would never know. '