empty bottles: k.m.(under construction)

shall we, Mr Mikaelson? - chapter 17

1919

'Well this is a first!' Klaus exclaimed as he, Elijah, Astrid and Lana 'the werewolf queen' stood at the bar in a local jazz joint. The band blared a quick jazz number and the room was alive with vibrancy. 'Witches, werewolves, vampires and even dirty cops all under one roof' Klaus cheered as he clinked glasses with his wife, 'We done it, darling' she hummed and kissed his cheek, leaving a burgundy stain.

'Well you two are just smitten' Lana piped up and cooed at Astrid before the hybrid slapped her arm, 'Shut it, Lana!' She laughed. 'Yeah and what you gonna do about it?'

'I'll cut your bloody tab!' Astrid's eyes widened when she came up with an answer, Lana feigning offence as Elijah stepped in, 'Don't worry ladies, let me pay' he winked at Astrid and beckoned the bartender over.

'You gotta love this city' Lana hummed. 'To a new era! Collaboration in the face of Prohibition.' Elijah clinked everyone's glasses. 'To your docks, their booze, and our theatres to hide it under. You're welcome, boys.. and lady' Lana teased as she stood up looking at Astrid, 'See you on the dance floor, hot stuff'

Astrid winked at her and shuffled in front of the Mikaelson brothers. 'Who would have thought it possible? The unification of New Orleans?' Nik seemed overjoyed as he swung an arm around his wife, 'We did it, brother.' He looked at Elijah.

Astrid loved seeing him so gushy and leaned into his side, Elijah smiling at them. 'Oh, certainly, we worked together, Niklaus. But this vision? This was all you two'

Present day.

'This was all you two' Elijah muttered again, looking at the bed where the two laid unconscious and walked out.

...

Astrid's t-shirt now had a gaping hole through the middle and her chest began to rise and fall slowly as she stirred, wrapping her leather jacket around her instinctively. As she came round, she saw Elijah and Cami standing over Klaus's body next to her and she put a hand up - still mustering the energy to sit up. 'What are you doing?' She croaked. Her skin was slightly grey as she looked at them with half shut eyes.

'I must remove the dagger, Astrid' Elijah explained slowly, backing away. 'Let me do it' she huffed at Elijah's dramatics and turned over to face Nik before apologising, 'I'm sorry, love.'

She pushed her hand into his chest and his eyes opened wide, she took his face with her free hand and calmed him down, 'It's alright, Nik. It's just me.' The pair made eye contact and he settled when she pulled it out. 'You see, Niklaus and Astrid will be weak as they recover. So, watch over them and feed them, if you would. But slowly, please, and from your wrist.' Elijah spoke to Cami as if Astrid wasn't there.

'From the wrist? Do you guys not have blood bags?' Cami seemed shaken. 'You had no problem offering yourself up to Marcel. Even then, you drink vervain. He wants it to burn us' Astrid's bitter tone scared Cami into submission and Elijah turned to leave before Nik spoke up.

'Elijah,' he could only whisper, 'You'll pay for this'

Astrid sat down cross legged next to her husband and Cami spoke up as Elijah huffed and walked out, 'Right, what's wrong with you then?' The human sat down in a chair next to the bed with her arms crossed.

'Oh god, the therapist is here' Astrid muttered and laid back down, earning a weak and stifled laugh from her husband. 'First the look I got with Marcel. Then you and Klaus having hushed conversations about me. Come on, Astrid out with it'

If there was one thing Astrid hated, it was people who thought they could disrespect her. She mustered all the strength she could and put Cami in a chokehold, vamping towards her and pressing her against the wall.