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Mystic Falls , present day
"TELL me, love, how much more do you know about Stefan Salvatore than I?" Nik asked, guiding the still shaken up girl outside.
"Depends on what side of him you're asking for. I knew the human Stefan. Why is it your concern?"
Nik gave a simple shrug.
"After we've gone through with the plan, I might bring him on a little trip."
Slightly concerned, Grace looked up to Niklaus, frowning.
"Why do you want him, Nik? Is there something you aren't telling me?"
"There's many things I haven't told you, dear Gracie. But I wouldn't take it personally; I've told you more than most."
For some reason, it angered the girl that Nik would keep anything from her. She thought they were thick as thieves.
"Yeah, well I'm one of the few who stuck around," she muttered crossly, folding her arms.
That was what set him off.
Grace could feel his glare like fire heating her face. The pair had a history of long, sometimes violent, arguments. They kept the other on their toes.
"I'm not starting this with you. Not when there are more important things to do-" "Oh, of course, it's all about your big bad plan! This is what is so complicated about you, Niklaus. You always act so enthused when we first meet up, but you'll never stick around to actually talk about us. Personally, I can't help but feel like I'm always being used by you, every couple of decades or so. And before we carry out another monstrosity, I need to know something."
Grace paused, giving Nik a chance to intercede. He simply gazed, the rage already built behind his eyes.
"Do I mean a thing to you? Or have you just kept me around all these years because I'm disposable?"
The tension rose steadily, pushing the two of them away. Even if they fought against it, some arguable force held them away.
It was torment.
"I haven't even known you for a century, Grace. When I met you, I saw your potential. And I could see the hurt in your eyes. You were afraid of establishing a relationship with anyone that you couldn't control. I saw that. And that is when I told myself that I wanted to keep you around. Equally, for you and your power."
Grace hated it. She was despised, jealous of her own self for carrying the tremendous weight on her shoulders that she did. It was both her pride and undoing.
But Nik knew that. And Grace just could not help but feel like he was abusing it.
She could see the frustration in Nik's face as he paced, unsure of what to do with himself.
