Force of Gravity • NM

•18•

As the evening shadows settled over Mystic Falls, Elijah and Klaus stood beside the ancient coffins, the heavy wooden lids engraved with symbols from their family's long history. The air was thick with anticipation. Elijah's expression was calm, but Klaus looked tense, almost apprehensive. 

Kol's eyes shot open, and he immediately sprang up, barely taking in his surroundings before he spotted Klaus. Rage flashed in his eyes as he lunged forward, his voice laced with venom. "Nik, you daggered me?"

Klaus held up his hands, trying to remain composed. "Calm down, Kol. I did what was necessary at the time."

But Kol wasn't having it. His hand shot forward, aiming for Klaus's heart. "Necessary? Oh, I'll show you necessary!"

Rebekah quickly intervened, grabbing Kol by the shoulders and pulling him back. "Kol! Enough," she hissed, her tone a mix of irritation and relief. "He's still our brother."

Meanwhile, Finn had woken quietly, standing by the coffin with a distant, almost lost expression. He glanced around, saying nothing as if still processing his surroundings, while the tension among his siblings filled the room.

On the sidelines, Damon and Stefan instinctively stood in front of Naira, their protective instincts kicking in. Damon quirked an eyebrow at the chaotic reunion, shaking his head with a smirk. "Looks like this place is turning into a real boarding house, Stefan. And here I thought we were the brooding family in town."

Elijah took it upon himself to introduce Damon, Stefan, and Naira to the newcomers. "This is Damon and Stefan Salvatore... and their sister, Naira," he said with a nod in their direction. "They've been... helpful to us."

Damon shot a charming smile toward Kol, extending a hand. "Hey there. Welcome to the Salvatore Boarding House, where we brood and share centuries-old trauma."

Kol eyed Damon's outstretched hand with a glint of mischief, then shook it, looking over to Naira. He stepped toward her with a sly grin. "Well, aren't you a refreshing sight? I must admit, I didn't expect to meet a Salvatore sister."

Naira gave him a small, polite smile. "And I didn't expect to meet another Mikealson."

They exchanged a glance, and it wasn't long before Kol was regaling Naira with tales of his adventurous, albeit sometimes ruthless, past. She found herself laughing at his exaggerated accounts, his stories full of dramatic embellishments and infectious energy.

"I was quite the charmer back in the day, you know," Kol boasted, grinning. "There wasn't a heart I couldn't break. And, let's be honest, I've always been the most entertaining of the family."

Naira chuckled. "I'll admit, you're definitely... unique."Meanwhile, Finn remained silent, his gaze distant as he took in the faces around him. Elijah approached him gently. "Finn, I know this is unexpected, but we are here together, as a family once more. I hope you'll consider staying."Finn looked at his elder brother, a mix of weariness and reluctant acceptance in his eyes. "I will... stay, Elijah. But I make no promises."

As they all decided to take a breath, Klaus suggested moving their mother Esther's coffin to the dungeons under the Lockwood mansion to keep it protected. Bonnie was called, and when she arrived, she agreed to help with the spell that would keep Esther hidden.

As they made their way down to the dimly lit dungeons, Bonnie was busy gathering her ingredients and performing her incantations. Kol watched her with an amused smile, leaning in close as she worked.

"You know," he drawled, flashing a grin, "for someone who meddles in so much magic, you're quite enchanting, Bonnie."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And for someone who's lived for over a thousand years, you sure haven't learned any better lines, Kol."Undeterred, Kol leaned back, laughing softly. "Oh, I like her. Tell me, Bonnie, how do you manage to tolerate my  brother Klaus?"Bonnie didn't miss a beat. "The same way I'm tolerating you right now – with a lot of patience."

Naira couldn't help but giggle at the exchange, earning a playful glare from Kol. "You're going to let her treat me this way, Naira?"

Naira shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Seems like she's handling you just fine."With the spell cast, the coffin glowed briefly, a faint shimmer of protection surrounding it as 

Bonnie finished her chant. She dusted her hands off and looked at Kol. "So, any other ancient objects of doom I should be aware of?"

Kol feigned offense, clutching his chest. "I'll have you know, Bonnie, I'm as close to an ancient relic as you'll ever get to know."

Damon snorted from the background. "Can confirm."

As they all filed back up to the main part of the house, Klaus hung back for a moment, feeling a mix of gratitude and remorse. 

The night was settling in, with all the Mikaelsons reunited once again, this time with an uneasy but hopeful alliance with the Salvatores and their friends. The unspoken truce remained, and a new chapter began, even with the weight of their pasts looming large.