Hosie~ One Shots

Payment Part 5

As they returned to their painting, the quiet intimacy between them remained, but now there was a new warmth, a lightness in the air that hadn't been there before. Hope focused on her brushstrokes, trying to capture the delicate blend of colors on her canvas. But from the corner of her eye, she noticed Josie glancing her way, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Josie, in the middle of painting a soft blend of blues and greens, suddenly paused. She dipped her brush into a bit of purple paint, eyes sparkling mischievously as she turned towards Hope. Without warning, she reached out and dabbed a small streak of paint on Hope's cheek.

Hope froze, her eyes widening in surprise. She slowly turned her head to face Josie, disbelief clear on her face.

For a split second, there was silence, but then Josie's laughter bubbled up, filling the room with its light, infectious sound. She covered her mouth with her free hand, trying and failing to stifle her giggles as Hope stood there, completely stunned.

"You did not just do that," Hope said, her voice low and playful, though her expression was one of mock outrage. She glanced toward the nearby mirror, catching sight of the purple streak on her cheek. "Oh, you're going to regret that, Saltzman."

Josie grinned, taking a step back, her brush still poised in front of her. "What are you going to do about it, Mikaelson?"

"Oh, you'll see," Hope replied, her tone teasing as she dipped her brush into a vibrant blue. With a swift motion, she flicked it in Josie's direction, a small splash of paint landing right on Josie's shirt.

Josie gasped, her eyes widening as she looked down at the tiny blue splatter. "Hey! That's not fair!"

"Fair?" Hope raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You started it."

Before either of them knew it, the painting session turned into an all-out paint battle. Josie and Hope dodged and swerved, trying to avoid each other's playful attacks while laughing so hard they could barely breathe. Paint splattered across the room, their clothes, and even their hair, but neither of them cared. For the first time in what felt like forever, Hope felt free—free from the burdens of her family, her past, and the expectations weighing on her.

Eventually, they collapsed onto the floor, laughing, their faces and clothes streaked with paint. Hope wiped at her cheek, smearing more color in the process, and looked over at Josie, whose hair now had faint streaks of blue and purple. Josie was grinning from ear to ear, her laughter finally subsiding into soft chuckles.

"Okay, okay," Josie said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "You win."

Hope leaned back on her elbows, still catching her breath. "I told you you'd regret it."

Josie gave her a playful nudge with her foot. "It was worth it."

They sat there, the room around them a mess of scattered paint supplies and colorful splashes, but none of it mattered. For a moment, the world outside didn't exist. It was just them, tangled in laughter and joy, something so rare for both of them.

Hope's smile softened as she looked at Josie, her heart swelling with something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in so long—happiness. And maybe something more.

"Thanks for this," Hope said quietly, her voice filled with sincerity.

Josie tilted her head, her smile softening too. "For what? Starting a paint war?"

Hope chuckled. "For being here. For letting me feel... normal. Like I'm not the tribrid, or the Mikaelson legacy. Just... me."

Josie's eyes softened as she scooted a little closer, their shoulders brushing. "You don't have to be anything else when you're with me. Just you is enough."