Lights Flicker And Fade : Kol Mikaelson [3]

261: Just This Once, Everybody Lives

2007

"Despite being the one who wished to begin our romantic getaway here..."

Elijah Mikaelson stood on the balcony of a tall building in a metal city, looking over the dark sky of near summer.

"...You keep disappearing."

A bottle of red wine was on the balcony table, two chairs ready, a soft blanket covering one, glass ready and waiting, a swish of blood already marking the bottom, waiting for a top-up, while his was left behind him. Waiting for his guest that evening.

Maci Elia Ninee Roux.

Her black top was linen, white shorts such a contrast to the surrounding environment, the stars of Chicago occasionally flickering into view. Not as lost beneath city life as central New York, but not as bright as he remembered Klaus describing them.

"Sorry for the tardiness," Maci smiled at the chair, "Things got out of hand."

"Is your friend okay?"

"Business as usual," Her eyes jumped away from his, "More linked to New York than either of us anticipated."

"Ready to tell me what it was?" Elijah let himself pour the drinks, "Or will I forever be an arm's length away from your deals."

"What you don't know won't hurt you," She gleamed, sitting, "Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary," He pecked her lips before sitting too, "Our flight is currently on schedule. We will be in France by this time tomorrow."

"Then Italy," She smiled, "You've gone out of your way this year."

He just looked at her there, holding her wine and beaming.

Like the world was peaceful.

Except her eyes were still moving.

"Though I guess one thousand and five years of immortality could be considered an important number."

"Perhaps I simply enjoy spoiling you," He was still watching her eyes, "Or perhaps a trip to where we met and your favourite cities is the bare minimum of what I should be providing."

Maci stretched back, pulling the fluffy blanket over her shoulders, head facing him.

Her features finally relaxed to match the rest of her body as she watched him.

"You can't hide with me forever," Her soft voice broke their bubble, "Elijah – "

"It's not hiding if it's where I'd rather be."

"We can still find them."

Quiet.

Despite being a city with ample nightlife, everything felt so quiet around them. In the tallest hotel they could find, wanting to be away from the noise, he suddenly regretted it. Faced with a Queen trying to make a point, Elijah was confident he would never be ready for the conversation.

Sometimes, it wasn't about being ready.

"I have witches looking every day."

"However Niklaus hid them – "

"Will eventually be beaten," Maci reached her free hand over to his chair, "There is always another way."

He stared at her dainty fingers, rings so clear on each one.

The daylight ring he'd given her was the only consistent piece she ever wore. Never replaced. Never damaged. Protected more than anything she'd had in the rest of her life despite having the means to make another.