K I N G • KLAUS MIKAELSON [1]

smells like teen spirit

RIVER ignored the ache in his fists as he continued to beat into the punching bag in front of him. He was determined not to be defenceless, and have some form of protection, Elena deciding the same, training behind him with Alaric.

"So the pressure of your punch ejects the stake" Alaric spoke.

He leaned forward as he punched, sending two wooden stakes straight into the mannequin.

"Easy enough" Elena spoke.

She copied, leaning forward and punching the mannequin only to look confused and frustrated when the stakes didn't release.

"That's weird" She sighed.

She tried again only to be faced with the same problem.

"Must be jammed or something" Elena sighed.

"You're not strong enough" River breathed heavily, turning to face her.

"River's right" Alaric agreed "Better start lifting some weights, put some meat on your bones"

"Thanks for not sugar-coating it" Elena huffed.

Alaric reached into his bag, retrieving a vervain grenade, holding it up.

"You know what this is?" Alaric questioned.

"A vervain grenade" Elena answered "I've used one before"

"Then you know the element of surprise is your only advantage when it comes to a vampire" River smirked.

Alaric pulled the pin, throwing it to Elena who caught it reflexively.

"Surprise" Alaric smiled.

"Oh my god!" Elena squealed before throwing it into the air.

River turning away from the spray of vervain and glass as it exploded.

"This isn't a joke to me, Ric, Riv" Elena angrily pulled the sleeve off of her arm.

"You think we're joking?" Alaric asked "Vampires will take whatever they want, they will hurt whoever they want, and they'll do it without remorse, it's their nature"

"You don't have to use pronouns" Elena said "You can say Stefan"

"Look, we get why you're here, Stefan hurt you" Alaric spoke "You don't want it to happen again"

"But you think that I'm crazy" Elena interrupted "To believe that I can protect myself from a vampire who's flipped the switch on his humanity"

"I think that you found a way to get out of bed this morning" River replied "And that makes you the strongest person I know, we think that you can do pretty much anything, Elena" 

River turned back to his punching bag.

-

River stood in front of his high school, his female friends at his side, each of them feeling vastly unprepared for the day. He took the cigarette from his mouth, exhaling the smoke, thankful for the nicotine inside his veins.