Mikaelson's Weakness - TVD

Niklaus

The day started lovely for Juniper. She didn't have work, so she had planned on sitting at home and binge-watching TV shows or reading with Marley.

However, Jeremy had other plans for her.

Right now the male Gilbert was dragging Juniper and Marley into the Mystic Grill. "Don't be such a baby, June. You can't stay inside all day." Jeremy mused, laughing at Juniper's pouting expression.

"I could've, and I would've." she halfheartedly glared at him, "No one wants to go to work on their day off."

"Touche." Jeremy shrugged, "But we're staying."

"I hate you!" Juniper groaned, the teenager cooed, "Awe~ I love you too, sister dearest." His laughter only raised in volume as Juniper's nose scrunched up, "You suck."

"Hey, twenty bucks is twenty bucks, sis. Don't judge." he shrugged, grinning coyly at Juniper. She stared at him with furrowed brows for a moment, watching his grin widen as an involuntary smile tugged at her lips.

Her contagious laughter rang throughout the Mystic Grill. "I.. d-don't even know what to say to that." she giggled, letting Jeremy guide her to a table.

"That means, I win." Jeremy chuckled, relishing in the pure joy on his sister's face.

Her nose scrunched up, but the smile on her face never left. "You've been hanging out with Tyler too much." she retorted, slowly calming down from her laughing fit.

Jeremy's face fell. All amusement left his eyes, replaced with anger, hurt, and sadness."Yeah... I have."

Juniper frowned, her brows furrowing at his abrupt change in demeanor. She tilted her head in confusion, "What's wrong, Jer-bear?" her voice was soft and soothing, with a motherly tone to it. She reminded Jeremy so much of their mother, it hurt sometimes.

He sighed, propping his chin in his palm as he looked out at the sea of customers laughing and talking. Enjoying the day.

"It's nothing." he mumbled, "Don't worry about it, June."

The ginger cocked a brow, shaking her head at her brother before gently taking his face in her small hands. "It's gotta be something if it's hurting you so badly, Jer. You can tell me," she assured softly, giving the taller Gilbert a warm smile.

"Tyler.. did something and it could've hurt people. But it wasn't his fault.." he explained, brows knitting together in frustration as he looked away from his sister.

Juniper smiled, "Remember when you were going through your drug phase?"

Nodding, Jeremy's brows furrowed more, confusion mixing in with his frustration and anger. "Yeah, why?" he muttered.

She moved her hands from his face, grasping his large hands in her dainty ones, "You said and did a lot of things that worried Jenna and I to death. It hurt so much when you'd disappear and get drunk or high without telling anyone where you were going..." she trailed, brushing her thumbs over his knuckles.

"What does this have to do with Tyler?" Jeremy frowned, eyeing the redhead carefully.

Juniper looked down, pulling her hands away, "Every time you'd disappear and Jenna would call me, I'd think: 'This is it. I lost him.. and I couldn't be there for him. I'm such a horrible sister.' It wasn't your fault, you were hurting and drugs were the only way you could cope."

Her blue/brown eyes flitted up to meet his glistening brown hues, "It wasn't your fault, but you hurt us so much."

She took a deep shaky, breath, blinking away the stinging in her eyes as she continued, "Tyler's the same way... it's not his fault, he's being manipulated by a force he can't help. Be there for him, like I wish I'd have been there for you."

Jeremy locked his jaw, "I'm so sorry, Juniper." he spoke softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he brushed away the crystal tears that trekked down her freckled cheeks.

"It's okay, Jer. Go talk to Tyler." she smiled brightly, motioning to the aforementioned Lockwood across the bar.

Nodding, Jeremy stood, kissed Juniper's head, and made his way over to Tyler.

The young woman and her boxer watched the two boys talk for a few moments before maneuvering their way out of the Grill.

"They're growing up so fast, huh, Marley?" she mused, smiling down at the brindle boxer.

A smooth, British voice rang, "Indeed, children these days seem to grow in the blink of an eye."

Juniper looked up at the source of the voice, her dual-colored eyes meeting the stormy blue hues of a dirty blond man. She timidly looked down, playing with her locket and humming in agreement.

The man smiled in amusement at the woman's reaction. "May I?" he mused, motioning to the seat Jeremy previously occupied.

"Sure," she spoke meekly, sparing a glance to the man as he sat.

Matt chose that moment to approach, "Hey, Red... Klaus." he greeted, Juniper furrowed her brows at the oddly aggressive tone in her friend's voice.

"Hello, Matthew." Klaus greeted with a coy grin. Juniper tilted her head in confusion, both blondes brushed her curious gazes off. "What can I get you?" Matt questioned, forcing a polite smile onto his face.

"The usual for me." Juniper spoke softly, "Are you okay, Mattie?"

"Yup. And you, Klaus?" Matt practically gritted, eyeing the hybrid with anger and apprehension. Klaus' smirk widened at the effect he had on the Donovan boy, "A scotch for me, mate."

Matt nodded and walked off, Juniper rose a brow in confusion. "That was more awkward than accidentally calling your teacher 'mom'." the ginger woman muttered, earning an amused snort from the hybrid.

Smiling slightly, Juniper looked to Klaus with a raised brow, "Wanna tell me what that was about?"

"It's nothing of importance, love." Klaus waved off and rested his chin in his palm, sort of.. analyzing the Gilbert woman.

She eyed him for a moment, before humming. "Okay then." she murmured, "I'm Juniper Gilbert.. by the way. You can call me June if you'd like." she held her small hand out, her lips quirked into a gentle smile.

"Niklaus Mikaelson," he replied, lightly grasping her hand.

As soon as they touched warm, feathery tingles danced across their skin. Juniper let out a startled yelp, retracting her hand as if he'd burned her.

Klaus too was startled. 

He stared at his hand for a few beats before looking to the ginger with wide, stormy blue eyes. "Bloody hell." he breathed, now realizing why Tony had felt the way he had the night before.

However, before he could do or say anything, Matt rushed over.

"June, you okay? Did he hurt you?" the quarterback questioned worriedly, giving the ginger a once over.

"I'm fine, Mattie. He accidentally shocked me, and I got startled." Juniper explains, smiling sheepishly at the teenager who sighed in relief before shooting a glare towards the hybrid Original.

"Okay... I'll be right back with your order." Matt replied and left after receiving a nod from the Gilbert woman.

Once Matt was out of hearing range Klaus spoke up, "We've got a lot to talk about, love."

"Yeah," Juniper breathed, looking to her still tingling hand before timidly looking to the hybrid, "That didn't feel like a shock at all."

"Indeed it didn't." Klaus chuckled, "Perhaps after this, we can find somewhere more private to talk?"

Juniper frowned slightly, "I can't. I have a couple of appointments I need to get too." Klaus smiles gently, "No worries, I'm sure we can sort this out."

"Okay." she chirped, smiling softly at the hybrid. His own growing warmer as he understood why Tony felt so at ease with the ginger Gilbert. After a thousand years, he'd finally found her. The one that would bring him and his siblings back together.