Chapter Text
“Are you nervous?” She asks, rolling a circle against his chest. He rolls his eyes, looking over at her.
“No. Why? Should I be?” She pauses, looking up to meet his steel grey eyes.
“I mean, it’s the merge. You’re not even a little jittery? It’s you or Jo tomorrow. It’s got to be a little daunting, no?”
“Are you?”
“Am I, what?
“Nervous? Are you nervous for me, Bennett?” A teasing smile makes its way into his lips. She presses her lips together, before looking back down at the skin of his chest.
“As much as you drive me insane, I can’t imagine waking up the day after tomorrow and you not being here.” She says honestly, her green eyes misting with tears. She blinks them away, putting on a brave face. “I mean, your sister is nice and all, but we’ve never been close, not like you and me. I hate that you two even have to go through this at all. It’s wrong.” Her cheeks give her away as they burn against her brown skin. He takes her head in his hand, stroking her cheek. A weird squeezing sensation taking over his chest. “I’m not worried Bon. You’re upsetting yourself with what if’s.” He runs his thumb over her lip before settling his hand on her chin. “You shouldn’t be crying over me. There’s only one reason I want to see you crying and it’s not because of some batshit coven ritual that's been around for like eternity. I’m noy going down that easy.” She takes in a shaky breath before looking over at his alarm clock. Instantly jumping up.
“Shit!”
“What?” He moans, feeling the absence of heat from her body.
“It’s 7.”
“So?” He lazes as she rushes to put on her clothes.
“It’s 7. The coven event started an hour ago.”
“And?”
“I told my mom I’d show up.” She huffs, her hair covering her face as she laces up her Demonias. “My dress is at home and I need to shower,” she fans herself, using her nails to comb her hair out of her face. “Just say you got caught up with something else, or you know, someone else.” He chuckles.
“Kai!” He groans, rolling into his pillow.
“Fine,” he says, pushing himself off the bed. “I’m only going to show my face and then we’re leaving.” He slides on his boxers, walking to his wardrobe to pick out an outfit.
“I can’t,” he whips his head back, a frown on his face.
“What do you mean you can’t?”
“I can’t. Abby didn’t snitch, so my mom doesn’t know about us,”
“Awe, are you scared of your mom finding out?”
“She’ll do the math and castrate you.”
“Like she’d even try. Look,” he lifts his dog tag, wiggling it. “I’ve got it on. Anyone that tries anything will have it bounce back. Best birthday gift I’ve ever gotten,” he winks, sliding on a pair of distressed jeans. She feels her cheeks heat up at the mention of his birthday present.
-
“Look what the cat dragged in.” Ayra, Kai’s younger sister, comments from the stairs. Momentarily looking up from the game boy in her hand. He rolls his eyes, ignoring the young blonde, moving out the way for his partner to make her entrance. “Hi Bonnie.” She greets the youngest Bennett. Bonnie nods, weakly raising a hand to greet her.
“C’mon, let’s get this over and done with.” He whispers, hearing the chatter from inside and out of the Parker residence. Bonnie follows at a safe distance, greeting each person Kai scowls at, apologising for her lateness, before excusing herself to greet her mother.
He takes a flute of whatever drink his parents have been served, taking it down in one go before resigning himself to a spot by the dining table, kicking his feet up.
“Dad’s going to kill you if he catches you with your feet on his table.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time he’s threatened to.” He looks beside him at his twin, a half finished glass of champagne in her hand. “You look… nice, Josie.” She places her drink down, smoothing down her white blouse. “You could have made more of an effort.” She looks down at his pink rainbow top.
“What? This isn’t appropriate coven soirée attire? I’m so embarrassed,” he brings his hand up to his mouth before grabbing her drink and finishing it. “I couldn’t give less of a shit.” He brushes his hair up, ruffling it at the roots.
“This could be the last time people from the coven see you.”
“And wouldn’t that be a dream.” He pushes himself back in the chair.
“Kai, I’m serious.” He rolls his eyes, glaring back at his sister. She sighs, looking down at her fingers.
“You really don’t care?” Her voice wobbles.
“Why should I? There’s two ways I see the merge going; first being, I die and escape this shit once and for all, and two, I win. You die, and I get to rule the coven.” He stretches his arm, taking another drink from a passing server. “What about everyone?”
“ What about everyone ?” He snorts. “Dad’s seeds should be grateful I haven't killed them, because trust me, I’ve thought about it.” She winces, a serious expression on her face.
“Kai!”
“What?” He looks at her through his eyebrows. “I don’t know what you want me to say Jo? What are you fishing for? A ‘good luck’? An ‘ I’m going to miss you’? When have we ever had a sentimental relationship?” He swings his legs off of the table, setting them down firmly on the floor. “You think I’m going to care or cry for you because we left the womb at the same time? You think I have a soft spot for you because you didn’t join in on the mental and verbal abuse everyone else put me through? You think you’re absolving yourself of any guilt because you want to be a doctor, playing the hero and rewriting whatever story you’ll tell people of my life, if you win?” He gulps down his drink, slamming it on the table. “Frankly, Josette, I don’t give a shit. Everyone’s been coddling you as if you’ve already won, whatever you want from me, you’re not going to get.” He leans down, looking in her eyes. “If it’s luck you want, you better hope it’s on your side.” He smiles, straightening his back “Either way, it’s your grave.” He tips over his empty glass, leaving her alone.
-
“He’s going to die, you know that?” She sighs. Shutting her eyes, to block out the voice. “I thought I’d let you know, you know, if you need a shoulder to cry on.” She feels the couch dip as he sits beside her. “I’m good.”
“Just letting you know, you have options.” He stretches his arms, resting one behind her head.
“And like I told you, I’m good.” She looks over at the blonde, holding back the urge to roll her eyes.
Growing up around the Parker’s, she’d picked up on a lot, especially being around Joseph ‘Joey’ Parker.
Whenever she was around him, she’d recall the time Caroline had told her that boys with biblical names were quite literally spawns of satan. She hadn’t minded him so much at first, especially when her family had relocated from Mystic Falls to Portland.
Joey was someone her age that wanted to play with her that wasn't family, and she was grateful for that, but as years went by, they’d gone from friends to distant acquaintances. When he had begun to display magic earlier than her, and watching her difficulty to produce magic above a certain level, he’d teased her for her lack of skill in a similar way to his older brother. He was part of the reason she hated being sent away to Gemini magic camp. Knowing her magic wasn’t improving and her internalised feelings of failure was only made to feel worse by Joey and his friends. After her 16th birthday, After her magic had unlocked, she’d noticed a change in him. His interest in her had begun to be more vocal, despite her reluctance. Initially, she thought it was jealousy for the time she had been spending with Kai. When she’d first started spending time with his older brother when she was trying to get around to understanding why her magic had been binded, Joey would have something to say, or he’d worm his way into their conversations about magic and her capabilities. He’d gone from popping up wherever they were, to commenting on her development, both magical and physically; the way she dressed, the way she spoke, and who she hung out with. She had initially given him a pass, thinking he was just feeling left out, but was quickly shut down when Caroline and Kai had teased her about Joey’s obsession with her.
“Wow, I’m not even 6 feet deep and you’re already going for my leftovers,” she rolls her eyes, her hands prickling with anger.
“Oh, you’re here? Thought I could smell disappointment. ” Joey turns to look up at his brother nonchalantly. She hated to admit it, but the brothers were closer to twins than Jo and him. Especially now they were doing their usual dick waving contest.“Glad you know what it smells like, I was worried you’d gone nose blind. Now move.” He glares down at his younger brother, a serious expression on his face. “Or what?” He challenges the older man. She sighs, standing up.
“I’m going to find my sister or… literally anybody else,” she looks between the brothers before disappearing through the crowd in the kitchen. She’d seen the two argue enough to last her lifetime.
“You know, it’s getting sad watching you pining after her while we all know she doesn’t want you.” He returns his focus down to the couch. “Why don’t you go and hang around with the rugrats, they’re more your speed.” The younger boy clenches his jaw, scoffing out a laugh in an attempt to make himself appear unbothered.
“Whatever, when you die tomorrow, She’s mine.”
“ Yeah right ,” he rolls his eyes.
“She’ll realise she was going through a phase with you and come to her senses and fall right into my arms.” His brother folds his arms behind his head, smirking. He shuts his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “okay, Captain Delusional.” He makes his way through the house, grabbing a bottle of champagne and taking a sip from it as he spots his parents speaking to the Bennett’s. Bonnie standing reluctantly with her mother and sister.
“Would you look at that, the whole gang's together,” he takes another swig of the champagne. His mother shakes her head, while his father’s expression hardens.
“Jesus Malachai, can you not behave normally for one evening.” he spits out in a whispered threat. He knits his brows together, looking around the garden. Coven members pretending to have conversations of their own, look in on their interaction. He clears his throat, a smirk forming on his lips.
“Could you repeat that again, dad , I don’t think I got that?” he raises his voice, “you want me to act normal?”
“Kai,” Jo appears next to him, a warning tone to her voice.
“No, why don’t we let the mighty coven leader speak Josette. Tell everyone just exactly how you feel about me? Your defective twin,” he takes another drink from the bottle.
“Malachai. You’ve drank enough,” Sheila steps forward, holding her hand for the bottle. He brushes her arm off of his, before laughing at her.
“Oh. actually, I don’t think I’ve had enough.” he drinks again, as Jo takes the bottle off of him.
“Malachai, please. Go inside.” his mother pleads, looking around at the onlookers.
“Or what? You’ll lock me up in my room until the merge?” he chuckles. “Won't be the first time you guys have conveniently put me away for image sake.”
“Kai!” Jo tugs on his arm. “Let’s go inside, you can cool off there,” his siblings make their way forward, joining in on the commotion.
“Why should I? This is a premature wake. Everyone here is here to see us off. I’m enjoying my last 24 hours, and as per usual I’m being punished for breathing.”
“That's not true.” Jo shakes her head.
“It’s not? What do you think father dearest?” he half turns, looking down at the greying man. “I bet you can’t wait to be rid of me tomorrow. You’ve told me so since I was 7.”
“Malachai,” his father remains cool, though his glare is unmoving and cold.
“Joshua?” he repeats, the weight of his necklace burning against his neck in anticipation.
“Kai, cmon.” he feels his head being whipped to the side, looking down at anxious green eyes.
“Bonnie, don’t get yourself involved.” her mother voices from beside her. He looks between the two before letting out a chuckle, falling into a fit of laughter, shaking his head.
“Why wouldn’t she get involved?” Carmen, one of his many sisters asks, in a confused tone. “They came in together, I thought they were dating?” Sheila whips her head over to her daughter, her hands clenching by her sides. He hears his sister’s breath hitch from beside him as he looks on between the look of confusion on his parents face, to the blaring anger radiating from the Bennett matriarch.
“What is she talking about?” the older woman asks her daughter. Bonnie blinks, freezing momentarily. “Bonnie?” her mother calls out her name.
“You heard the girl.” he drops his shoulders, uncaring. “Surprise! I’m dating your daughter!” he takes her hand in his, swinging it. “In fact, we’ve been dating for a while, but don’t worry. I know the law, we haven’t done anything illegal. You won't have to worry about any post death gemini grandkids.” he flashes his teeth, pulling her into his chest. The older woman blinks, a faint expression taking over her face. Abby rushes to her mother’s side, keeping her up. He ignores the looks from his siblings, looking down at his teary eyed girlfriend. “See, it wasn't that hard, now was it?” her expression drops, her tears clearing away in the space of a stoic expression.
“Can we leave?” she asks him quietly. He nods, as the others tend to Sheila.
-
“Cat got your tongue?” he asks as she sits beside him on his bed. She’d used a mirror portal spell he’d taught her a while back after he’d gotten wasted at an after party for his band, and didn’t feel like braving the drive home. She remains quiet, her hands joined together in front of her. He sighs, shutting his eyes and falling back into silence. Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’ filling the space between their breathing.
She’d hardly spoken since they’d gotten back, and didn’t kiss him back after he’d tried to get one. Sure he was drunk but he wasn’t completely oblivious. He couldn’t figure out why she cared so much that he’d revealed their relationship to everyone, they’d find out eventually.
“I really hate you sometimes.” Bonnie finally speaks, bringing her knees up to her chin. “You make me feel like shit and I feel like we’re always playing mind games.” He sits up, looking at her. “Every time I think hmm, he’s not volatile today you say or do some shit that you know is going to upset me and then we argue, and I hate arguing with you. It’s like you get off on making me upset.” His chest feels heavy as she speaks.
“Bonnie-”
“I didn’t want my mom to find out that way, Kai. You fucked over any way for her to accept whatever this is. You embarrassed me too. And the worst part about it, is that it meant nothing to you. You got to one up my mother and for what? What does it do for you Kai? Does it feel some deep need to prove yourself? Does it inflate your ego? You think you’re the only person who’s ever been screwed over by your own family?” his nostrils flare as his stomach flares up.
“Did your family lock you away from everyone at 4 years old, Bonnie? Did Your parents call you a freak at any given chance, Bonnie? Did you get punished for a birth defect out of your control, Bonnie?” She draws a line, using her magic to shut him up, her hands red with anger.
“You see! This is what i’m talking about! It’s always about you. You can't ever just apologise. Jesus, Kai. Grow up!”
“Grow up?” she nods, getting off his bed.
“You’re 22, and this time tomorrow, you may or may not be dead. You decided to pick a fight with your father, you decided to out us to my mother and you want to argue with me now. If you die, it’ll just be me and Jo there to mourn you. You poison everything good for yourself because You want to be the victim and the antihero at all times.” her eyes fog over, her hands quickly wiping escaped tears. “I can’t do this anymore.” she shakes her head. He knits his brows together, his throat drying up.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” she says, holding her hands up blocking him from her, before heading out of the room, using her magic to block him from following after her.