Take On Me

Worth Staying For (Legacies)

acaution: contain spanking

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"Every time I lose someone, this uh, voice in my head, it tells me "this is your fault".

That I shouldn't even technically exist, that I'm a cosmic mistake...

Oh, I don't know... I guess I just wanted someone to think that I'm worth staying for.

I'm sorry for lying to you, Landon.

I wanted you to stay because I love you."

-Hope Mikaelson

Legacies 1x15

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The walk back from the woods was harrowing, to say the least. Hope Mikaelson walked slowly, her arms at her side, feeling a numb sort of pain. She felt heavy, weighed down, maybe it was the blood dripping from her hair, and her clothing, leaving a trail behind her. Oddly enough, she couldn't think of any cleaning spells, so she opted to clear her mind of everything instead, but she could feel it at the back of her mind, the images that wanted to push forward. She squeezed her eyes closed, and fought back the tears.

Ahead of her, the twins, Josie and Lizzie walked, side by side. Their hands hovered as if they wanted to touch, but didn't dare to. They looked about as Hope did, Lizzie's blonde hair splattered with blood and pieces of skin, while Josie looked checkered in the dark, blood creating an odd pattern up and down her arms and neck. A few steps beyond the girls was the founder of Salvatore school, walking with his head down, fists clenched. Alaric Saltzman, father of the twins, and mentor to Hope for a long time.

Arriving at the school, the three girls paused just inside the doors, quietly waiting for the verdict that was about to be handed upon them. Alaric turned, and just looked at them, his face drawn with disappointment. Josie looked away, eyes full of tears as Lizzie and Hope looked on silently.

"I can't even begin to tell you how foolish you were tonight." Alaric began, his voice quiet. "Or how dangerous the position you put yourselves into tonight."

"Daddy, we weren't-"

Alaric held up his hand, silencing Lizzie who stepped closer to Josie, and grabbed her hand. "I'm talking now. I think you've all done enough tonight." His eyes went to Hope, and lingered long enough for the meaning to stick.

Hope flinched, fighting her own inner demons as Josie wiped her eyes. Alaric was right. This was her fault. Her ideas always came at a cost, but this one seemed pretty steep. Guilt flooded through her, and she straightened her shoulders.

"It was my idea."

"Hope, no." Lizzie half turned in her direction. "Daddy, that's not true-"

"But it is." Hope lifted her head, feeling a glob of something distinctly skin like fall on her shoulder. "I take full responsibility."

"Hope..." Jo looked at her. "How can you even say that? It took all three of us. There's no way a single witch could pull that kind of magic."

"But I'm the one who dragged you in." Hope said calmly. "This was my idea, my responsibility. I'll deal with what happens next."

"Can I ask you why you did it?" Alaric crossed his arms over his chest.

"I had no other choice." The words came out before she fully realized what she was implying.

Alaric looked at her with such an expression, it made Hope want to cry. She opted instead to lift her chin higher, not defiantly  but give the impression of confidence as much as she could in her blood spattered clothes. They looked at each other, a silent conversation hovering between them, while the twins looked on timidly.