Breathing ∞ Kol Mikaelson [1]

[73]

Everything had gone according to plan, and because of that Kol and Emma's arrival in Rio had been perfectly timed to give them a chance to go to the Mikaelson house and rest up before they had to get ready for the evening's festivities intended to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Of course, Kol was the first one to be done, and so he found himself in the living room, waiting for Emma to finish up so they can head out. He didn't mind the wait, and it was rewarded once she did enter the room, announcing she was ready to go.

As his eyes turned towards her, he took her in, realizing two things as he did. One, she was breathtakingly beautiful, standing there in a simple white summer dress and smiling towards him. Two, he became aware he'd spend a good part of his night glaring away anyone who might look at her in a way he didn't like. He only shared the first thing though.

"Why thank you, Mr Mikaelson. You don't look too bad yourself." Emma said with a flirtatious tone, arms wrapping around his shoulders so she could pull him down for a short kiss. Much too short for his liking, something that must've been evident on his face once she pulled away and laughed. "Come on, I want to go explore when everything is so upbeat and exciting."

Pulling on his hand, Emma started to lead him down the hall towards the door, and Kol couldn't help but laugh at her eagerness. He adored seeing the smile on her face and would certainly do anything to keep it there. He wasn't even aware of the fond look in his eyes as he followed after her, watching her say goodbye to some of the staff who maintained the house in the Mikaelsons' absence.

Just as they were about to reach the door, the sound of someone opening it from the outside had Kol snapping out of his thoughts, confused eyes looking to the opening passage. And it took him a moment to catch on to who'd entered the house, faces somewhat obscured considering they were quite attached to one another.

And the pair seemed to be so focused on one another that they didn't even notice the presence of others in the hall. At least not until Kol let out a small, but intrusive cough, alerting the couple to the fact that they weren't as alone as they expected to be. And it was enough to make them jump apart.

Kol couldn't help but smirk in amusement at his brother. Emma on the other hand was entirely focused on the woman standing by his side. Her face entirely familiar, and yet, she knew it wasn't the same person. It wasn't Elena Gilbert standing in front of her.

Someone less observing than her might've not caught on, but Emma could easily spot the small differences making it clear. The different way in which this woman stood and carried herself, the expressions on her face and even the way she dressed.

"Hello, brother." It was Kol who spoke first, breaking the silence as he smirked at Elijah in a teasing manner.

"Kol... I wasn't, uh, aware you'd be coming." The older Mikaelson tried to fix his somewhat dishevelled appearance, straightening the short sleeved button-up shits as he observed the pair standing in the hall with them.

"It was a spur of the moment decision." Kol said nonchalantly. "We threw a dart."

"We, uh, didn't know you were here already." Emma spoke up in an apologetic tone. At least she thought they didn't know. Last she spoke to Kol of Elijah, he wasn't sure where his brother had gone after the whole Alaric ordeal in Mystic Falls. "We're sorry for intruding."

"Nonsense, you're always welcome here." Elijah quickly dismissed the apology. Even though Kol and Emma's presence had taken him by surprise, this was still a Mikaelson house, and any of them were always welcome in those. Along with their friends.

"We were just about to go out for the New Year's celebrations." Kol announced, continuing on as his voice took on more of a teasing tone with every word. "You're two are free to join us, unless... You're too busy."

Emma did her best to contain her own laughter at the words, gently hitting Kol's shoulder as she scolded him instead. "Don't tease your brother." The thought of adding the words 'and his guest' had Emma's eyes turning back to the woman still standing by Elijah's side. "I'm sorry, I have to ask, but you're not Elena, right?"

The somewhat wary look which had been on the woman's face until now finally cracked, replaced by a small frown which seemed to be invoked by the thought. "God, no."

And Emma couldn't help but laugh at the tone in which she said that. "Good, I'd hate to have throw darts again so soon." Emma offered her a friendly smile, forgoing the thought of adding that the dart wouldn't be thrown at a map this time. "I'm Emma, it's nice to meet you." She extended her hand, introducing herself since she wasn't sure whether the woman standing opposite her knew who she was like Emma did in her case.

The brunette took the hand with a smile of her own, once again showing Emma just how unlike Elena Katherine Pierce seemed to be. "Oh, we've met before." The doppelgänger revealed, making Emma's brows furrow. "Homecoming."

"Right, you were pretending to be Elena when you all tried to, uh, kill Klaus." Emma remembered the night which seemed to be so long ago when in reality it was only a few months.

"And you were saving him and helping kill Mikael instead." Katherine added on to the words, recalling the night perfectly. And the way the two had stood on opposite sides during the whole event. "We also ran into each other earlier that day in town." Katherine, however, easily moved past the awkwardness and stirred the conversation in another direction.

For a moment, the words made Emma focus on recalling the whole day. Until she remembered running into who she had instantly assumed was the Gilbert girl in the square. "And I was completely rude to you thinking you're Elena. I'm sorry about that."

Emma's words had Kol chucking in an appreciative manner. Having seen her and how she can get when she dislikes someone, a part of him was really wishing he'd been there to see that.

"Oh don't be. It's what made me like you." Katherine reassured, bringing the smile back to Emma's face. The Park was happy to know this run-in didn't seem like it would have to end awkwardly with either one of the couples tucking tail and choosing to go elsewhere.

Elijah, who'd so far been observing the interaction curiously, unsure where it would go considering the history, finally spoke up once a short moment was spent in silence. "We'd be happy to join you." Not only did he accept Kol's offer since he and Katherine had similar plans for the evening, but also because he thought it would be a good opportunity to check up on his brother and what he'd been up to since the last he heard an update from Klaus about Kol and Emma fleeing Mystic Falls.

"Just give me a few minutes to change." Katherine agreed as well, sending Elijah a warm smile before she stepped away from his side and continued down the hall towards the bedrooms, leaving the three standing alone.

"How is it that she and Elena look exactly alike, and yet Katherine is the beautiful and attractive one?" Emma couldn't help but question as she looked at the hall down which Katherine had disappeared. One thing was rather clear by now, the Mikaelsons certainly had taste when it came to women.

"Do I need to worry about women around you too, darling?" Kol questioned jokingly, turning to his brother as he continued. "Elijah I think we might need to keep an eye out."

The tease had Emma laughing again as she turned back to him. "Of course not, as long as you're around I have eyes for no one else, darling." She smiled up at him, joking around as she imitated the accent with which he always bestowed her nickname.

The arm around Emma's shoulders drew her in closer, allowing Kol to place a soft kiss to Emma's temple while the fond smile remained on his lips as he looked down at her. And she returned it in the same measure. For a moment, the two seemed to be entirely blind to the presence of anyone else but them in the hall.

And that allowed Elijah to observe the two with curiosity, unable to ignore the striking difference which seemed to envelop his brother as he stood by Emma's side. And the older Mikaelson had to admit, even if he wouldn't do so out loud in front of Kol, but this was an entirely new side he was seeing to him.

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I did say at one point that we'd get more interaction with both Elijah and Kat later in the story. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's here, and let me tell you, it'll be fun hehehe