To Be King by VisciousRose

Chapter 13

Ryder stayed silent as we left the Grill behind us even if he did send a glare toward Damon. I think a part of me will always be hurt that I wasn't enough for Stefan and Damon, wasn't seen as enough to be allowed to be in their brotherly bond.

"Are you alright Levi?" asked Ryder voice soft as he ambled back over to his motorcycle, the one I had gifted him on his sweet sixteen.

"No," I answered honestly with a bittersweet smile. "I don't think I ever will be when it comes to my brothers."

"You don't need them," scoffed Jesse eyes narrowed as she seethed. "You did so much for them when it wasn't even your place to do so."

"The thing about family," I began softly even as I placed a soothing hand upon her shoulder. "Is that sometimes no matter how hard you try for them, it does not always get returned."

"So why bother?" asked as James's eyebrow raised.

"Because I remember the good times," I answered with a small huff of laughter. "Far and few those times were, I still remember them. But just as they will always be my brothers, you and the others will always be my family as well."

I knew Damon, and I knew that he would confront me again. And I didn't know if I would ever be ready for that. If I would ever be ready to hear how they really see me and thought of me considering they had spent the last hundred years avoiding me.

"I'm making steaks tonight," stated Ryder tone firm. "And then we will begin preparing for the Hybrid."

It was almost as if summoning him as my phone began to ring making me stop in surprise. It was the prepaid I had bought for one purpose only.

"Hello," I answered tone smooth as silk. "It has been awhile Niklaus Mikaelson."

"Leviathan Salvatore," stated Niklaus in some surprise. "I didn't believe it would be you calling about another Doppelganger."

"Well hopefully if my plan works you shall have both," I said in return while walking toward my car. "Would you be willing to meet up at the same place we first met?"

"How fitting," mused Niklaus as a chuckle left him. "Will you even put a bow upon them?"

"If that is what you would like," I answered with mirth as I tossed the keys to James. "Though I shall have my family around so do please not kill them."

"I owe you a boon," returned Niklaus seriously before barking something at someone. "I will be in Mystic Falls by tomorrow evening."

"Till then," I said in agreement before hanging up as I got into the passenger seat. "Make sure the others know to keep an eye on Damon and Stefan if he shows up as well."

"It's already being done," said Jesse eyes glinting as she tucked her phone away. "Nothing will ruin this for you Levi."

"Thank you little one," I said softly while giving her a soft smile. "I know I can trust my Bennett family to have my back as I can trust the other Salvatore's."

Before I knew it, the next afternoon had arrived making a small number of nerves to run through me. I also made sure to dress my best with some amusement as my clothes looked similar to the outfit, I wore the first time.

"Looking good Uncle Levi," teased Ryder as he stood in the doorway to my bedroom. "Almost looking like the painting in the main office."

"Considering that was me," I began with a light laugh. "I would hope it looked similar to myself now."

"Always the proper one," teased James as he pushed past Ryder to walk into my bedroom. "But also, the good looking one as well."

"Suck up," taunted Ryder with a manic smile as James flipped him off. "But on another note, maybe you should wear a few protection items."

Even decades later I still haven't figured out why everyone was so protective of me. In the end I agreed and allowed them both to place a few spells on my person, since you could never be too careful.

It was at the exact same time as before that Niklaus knocked upon the door while Ryder allowed others access to the house for a set amount of time before it would then kick them out once more. Niklaus hadn't changed much since then either.

"Hello," I offered with a dimpled smile as I walked down the stairs toward where he stood near the living room. "I see you arrived just on time."

"When there are Doppelgängers' involved, I do tend to be early," offered Niklaus with a cheeky grin. "Now shall we?"

I motioned for him to follow me toward the two couches placed before the fireplace. Before flashing off toward where I kept my good wine and bourbon before coming back with two wine glasses and one bourbon one.

"Wine or bourbon?" I asked in return making him smirk as he motioned to the wine.

"It has come to my attention that Katherine Pierce is currently using one Mason Lockwood in order to get to the moon stone his ancestor was given by her to keep safe back when she had first run from you and turned me."

"There seems to be a but in there," stated Niklaus with a raised eyebrow as he took a sip from the wine. "Care to share love?"

"I have the moon stone," I answered with a simple shrug as I reached into my suit pocket for the jewelry box. "Which I am giving to you now as a sign of faith."

Niklaus took it almost reverently as he held it in his hand before opening it to see for himself. It almost seemed to surprise him that I hadn't lied.

"You have done more for me than most," mused Niklaus sea blue eyes looking intensely into my own. "What do you want in return?"

"Sometimes Mr. Mikaelson," I began with a tired smile. "We as people do something nice for nothing in return. It's why there is a saying called the act of kindness goes along ways."