𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 ⚜️ ELIJAH MIKAELSON

[ The Trust ]

CHAPTER 27
[ New Orleans, 2013 ]

The soft morning light poured through the curtains of the compound, bathing the room in a warm glow. Georgia stood by the window, the sunlight catching the loose waves of her hair as she sipped from a steaming mug of tea. She wore one of Elijah's button-up shirts, the hem brushing her thighs as she gazed out at the garden below.

Behind her, Elijah stepped out of the adjoining room, already dressed in his usual crisp attire, though his tie hung loose around his neck. A rare, relaxed smile graced his lips as he approached her, slipping his arms around her waist.

"You're up early," he murmured, his voice low and warm as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

Georgia leaned back against him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Couldn't sleep."

Elijah raised an eyebrow, turning her gently so he could look into her eyes. "Did you have any intentions for today?"

She hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around her mug. "I'm going to see Davina," she said finally. "I can't keep letting this... silence sit between us. It's eating me alive."

Elijah studied her for a moment, his gaze searching but tender. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

Georgia nodded firmly, though her voice softened as she spun in his arms to face him. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready, but I have to try. She's my sister. I need her to know how much she means to me."

He smiled faintly, pride flickering in his dark eyes. "You've always been braver than you realize," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I hope she sees that."

Georgia chuckled, the sound light and genuine. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This could end with her slamming the door in my face."

"Then you knock again," Elijah replied simply, his tone firm but encouraging.

She smiled up at him, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn't felt in weeks. "What about you? What's your plan for the day?"

Elijah adjusted the tie around his neck, his expression thoughtful. "I must make contact with Freya. She is off protecting the white oak bullet and there are... lingering concerns about Lucien that require her insight. It's best she stay vigilant."

Georgia arched an eyebrow, her lips twitching with amusement. "And by lingering concerns, you mean Klaus's paranoia?"

He smirked faintly. "Perhaps. But even Klaus is occasionally right to worry."

Georgia shook her head with a grin as she reached out, plucking his loose tie from where it hung around his neck. "Here, let me," she said, setting her mug down on the nearby table.

Elijah watched her with an amused expression as she stepped closer, deftly straightening the tie and looping it into a perfect knot. "You know," she said, her tone teasing, "for a man who's centuries old, you'd think you'd have this down by now."

"Oh, I can manage quite well, my love," Elijah admitted, his lips curving into a sly smile as his eyes flickered over her face, lingering on her lips. "But this view..." His voice dropped slightly, smooth and rich. "I would sever both my hands if it meant you had to do this each morning."

Georgia laughed, the sound bright and genuine, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "That's a little dramatic, Mikaelson," she teased, her fingers brushing against his chest as she adjusted the tie. "You can keep your hands. I quite like them."

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening as he tilted his head slightly. "Is that so?"

She shrugged, tightening the knot before smoothing the fabric with deliberate care. "Don't let it go to your head," she quipped, her lips twitching with amusement. "You're still a work in progress."