A leaf in the wind; a deal with the devil
Title: A leaf in the wind; a deal with the devil
Fandom: The Vampire Diaries (TV series)
Rating: T/PG-13
Word count: ~1200
Characters/Pairings: Tyler, Katherine, implied Tyler/Caroline, Katherine/Mason, Klaus/Caroline
Summary: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Tyler is on the run when he gets an unexpected visitor.
He’s used to the rhythm of travel now: get off the bus, ignore the touts, check out hostels, drop off his pack and then get his bearings. It’s become as familiar to him as the routine of going to school was, of football practice. But he can’t go even ten minutes without thinking of her and how much she would love this- seeing the history and natural wonders and the way people live here, meeting other travelers and interesting locals. He’s reminded of her every time he sees someone with a thoroughly planned itinerary or carefully packed bag. But he keeps going.
This is what she wanted for him. And it’s freaking cool, standing in the ruins of great civilizations and seeing half naked kids shriek with laughter as they throw themselves into the great lake that feeds them, rocks their homes and carries the sunburnt, picture snapping tourists by. But he wishes she could be here, judging --and loving-- how beer is sometimes cheaper than water, charming her way into the groups in the common rooms, veto-ing the $2 bunks for a $10 room with an air conditioner they don’t even need because what she really wants is to have sex.
But he keeps going, stays alert and aware. She’s shielding them all from Klaus with the tenuous power of his obsession. And although he hates it, he won’t cheapen that sacrifice by acting recklessly. He’ll eventually lose interest; they’ll eventually find a way to be together without losing anybody else. As long as he stays alive. As long as his trail is cold and impossible to follow, lost among the footprints of others. So he keeps going.
This hostel is like most of the others- eight bunk beds with worn but clean sheets, a single air conditioning unit for the entire room, and drying laundry hanging off every rung or pipe within reach. It's quiet and dark but he's betting it'll start filling up soonish as backpackers start filtering back in from markets and museums.
He puts his pack down next to the bunk labelled 4 and tries to decide what to do first- hit the hospital or check out the computers. The promise of broadband was what lured him in- it would be nice not to connect at 56k. And the big bowl of pho and tiny cup of super-strong, super-sweet coffee he'd had for lunch was filling enough. Getting blood can wait.
His thoughts skitter to a halt and his eyes widen when he smells vampire, and he spins and speeds over to slam her against the wall. He's been ready for this, rehearsed scenarios; prepared himself for the kill.
But he blinks and falters when he sees her face.
"Elena?"
Her lips curve into a smug smile and she gives him a slow once-over, not seeming to care about the hand he has closed around her throat, or that she’s dangling a foot off the ground. He inhales shakily and frowns.
"You're- Katherine."
"And you're stronger than your uncle was."
He narrows his eyes and pants, nerves still humming with adrenaline.
"What do you want?"
"I’ve always liked Vietnam. The baguettes and coffee here were absolute perfection when the French were in charge. Have you tried them first thing in the morning with thinly sliced pork sausage? Delicious.” He continues glaring and she rolls her eyes and sighs. “No need to be boring. Isn’t it obvious? I want your help."
"And why the hell would I help you? You forced me to trigger the curse. You killed Caroline."
She raises her brows and purses her lips, nonplussed. "I thought Klaus would agree to a bargain. He killed my whole family for refusing to be his sacrifice, you know. And having him hunt me for the next five hundred years got rather... tedious. Nothing personal, Tyler. I only wanted my freedom from him. Surely you, more than anyone, can understand that." She pauses and smiles when he puts her down and steps back warily.
It's weird looking at her as she brushes herself off- she looks just like Elena, but in sexy skintight jeans and a tank top, with toenails the color of rubies peeking out of her strappy sandals. Even the way she stands is different, like an adder coiled to strike.
She tosses her hair and walks over to the only chair in the room, casually shoving somebody’s laundry onto the ground before seating herself. "Tip from a pro: use an IP address blocker if you're going to stalk Caroline's blog. Finding the only international ping was child’s play. Being sloppy will get you killed."
That takes him aback. "What, you're a hacker?"
"I pick up the skills I need to survive. And I make the right kind of friends. Geeks love doing favors for pretty girls. Or… for Klaus under compulsion. He tends to favor old school methods of tracking, but he has the occasional modern insight. Stay one step ahead or he’ll be ripping your heart out in the hopes that she won’t stay in love with a corpse."
He mulls over that advice but he knows what she’s trying to do. "Why do you need me?”
“Hybrids are few and far between, you know. And I might just know a witch or three who say they can make our Original hybrid problem go away… if you’ll work with us. Come on, Tyler. Wouldn’t it be nice to free Caroline from his attention?"
His face tightens and his eyes lock with hers. They’d been literally inches from taking down Klaus the last time she was in Mystic Falls. If Stefan hadn’t intervened…
“It’ll preserve the bloodline?”
She rolls her eyes. “Would I risk it otherwise? Your precious Caroline will be fine.”
He nods and considers before lifting a brow. “What’s the catch?”
She studies him and inhales before raising her eyebrows and shrugging. “You could die.”
“Is that all?”
She laughs. “God, you’re such a martyr. What does Caroline think of your tragic hero complex?”
“That’s your whole pitch?”
She tilts her head, looking thoughtful. “There’s a good chance you won’t die.”
He scoffs. “Like you care.”
Something that looks like regret flickers across her face before she gets up and strides to the door. “Your uncle loved me once. Maybe that means something to me.”
He says nothing. He doesn’t trust a word she says but he can’t help but be tempted.
When she turns her face is a mask again- cold, calculating, confident. “I’ll give you some time to think about it. Enjoy Saigon. She has a long history of fighting oppression as well.”
And with that parting shot, she’s gone.
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Author's Note: Vietnam was colonialized by the French from 1883- 1954. Saigon is now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. Kudos if you can figure out where else Tyler has travelled. ;)
Next chapter is A link in the chain; a cat in the cradle
Fandom: The Vampire Diaries (TV series)
Rating: T/PG-13
Word count: ~1200
Characters/Pairings: Tyler, Katherine, implied Tyler/Caroline, Katherine/Mason, Klaus/Caroline
Summary: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Tyler is on the run when he gets an unexpected visitor.
He’s used to the rhythm of travel now: get off the bus, ignore the touts, check out hostels, drop off his pack and then get his bearings. It’s become as familiar to him as the routine of going to school was, of football practice. But he can’t go even ten minutes without thinking of her and how much she would love this- seeing the history and natural wonders and the way people live here, meeting other travelers and interesting locals. He’s reminded of her every time he sees someone with a thoroughly planned itinerary or carefully packed bag. But he keeps going.
This is what she wanted for him. And it’s freaking cool, standing in the ruins of great civilizations and seeing half naked kids shriek with laughter as they throw themselves into the great lake that feeds them, rocks their homes and carries the sunburnt, picture snapping tourists by. But he wishes she could be here, judging --and loving-- how beer is sometimes cheaper than water, charming her way into the groups in the common rooms, veto-ing the $2 bunks for a $10 room with an air conditioner they don’t even need because what she really wants is to have sex.
But he keeps going, stays alert and aware. She’s shielding them all from Klaus with the tenuous power of his obsession. And although he hates it, he won’t cheapen that sacrifice by acting recklessly. He’ll eventually lose interest; they’ll eventually find a way to be together without losing anybody else. As long as he stays alive. As long as his trail is cold and impossible to follow, lost among the footprints of others. So he keeps going.
This hostel is like most of the others- eight bunk beds with worn but clean sheets, a single air conditioning unit for the entire room, and drying laundry hanging off every rung or pipe within reach. It's quiet and dark but he's betting it'll start filling up soonish as backpackers start filtering back in from markets and museums.
He puts his pack down next to the bunk labelled 4 and tries to decide what to do first- hit the hospital or check out the computers. The promise of broadband was what lured him in- it would be nice not to connect at 56k. And the big bowl of pho and tiny cup of super-strong, super-sweet coffee he'd had for lunch was filling enough. Getting blood can wait.
His thoughts skitter to a halt and his eyes widen when he smells vampire, and he spins and speeds over to slam her against the wall. He's been ready for this, rehearsed scenarios; prepared himself for the kill.
But he blinks and falters when he sees her face.
"Elena?"
Her lips curve into a smug smile and she gives him a slow once-over, not seeming to care about the hand he has closed around her throat, or that she’s dangling a foot off the ground. He inhales shakily and frowns.
"You're- Katherine."
"And you're stronger than your uncle was."
He narrows his eyes and pants, nerves still humming with adrenaline.
"What do you want?"
"I’ve always liked Vietnam. The baguettes and coffee here were absolute perfection when the French were in charge. Have you tried them first thing in the morning with thinly sliced pork sausage? Delicious.” He continues glaring and she rolls her eyes and sighs. “No need to be boring. Isn’t it obvious? I want your help."
"And why the hell would I help you? You forced me to trigger the curse. You killed Caroline."
She raises her brows and purses her lips, nonplussed. "I thought Klaus would agree to a bargain. He killed my whole family for refusing to be his sacrifice, you know. And having him hunt me for the next five hundred years got rather... tedious. Nothing personal, Tyler. I only wanted my freedom from him. Surely you, more than anyone, can understand that." She pauses and smiles when he puts her down and steps back warily.
It's weird looking at her as she brushes herself off- she looks just like Elena, but in sexy skintight jeans and a tank top, with toenails the color of rubies peeking out of her strappy sandals. Even the way she stands is different, like an adder coiled to strike.
She tosses her hair and walks over to the only chair in the room, casually shoving somebody’s laundry onto the ground before seating herself. "Tip from a pro: use an IP address blocker if you're going to stalk Caroline's blog. Finding the only international ping was child’s play. Being sloppy will get you killed."
That takes him aback. "What, you're a hacker?"
"I pick up the skills I need to survive. And I make the right kind of friends. Geeks love doing favors for pretty girls. Or… for Klaus under compulsion. He tends to favor old school methods of tracking, but he has the occasional modern insight. Stay one step ahead or he’ll be ripping your heart out in the hopes that she won’t stay in love with a corpse."
He mulls over that advice but he knows what she’s trying to do. "Why do you need me?”
“Hybrids are few and far between, you know. And I might just know a witch or three who say they can make our Original hybrid problem go away… if you’ll work with us. Come on, Tyler. Wouldn’t it be nice to free Caroline from his attention?"
His face tightens and his eyes lock with hers. They’d been literally inches from taking down Klaus the last time she was in Mystic Falls. If Stefan hadn’t intervened…
“It’ll preserve the bloodline?”
She rolls her eyes. “Would I risk it otherwise? Your precious Caroline will be fine.”
He nods and considers before lifting a brow. “What’s the catch?”
She studies him and inhales before raising her eyebrows and shrugging. “You could die.”
“Is that all?”
She laughs. “God, you’re such a martyr. What does Caroline think of your tragic hero complex?”
“That’s your whole pitch?”
She tilts her head, looking thoughtful. “There’s a good chance you won’t die.”
He scoffs. “Like you care.”
Something that looks like regret flickers across her face before she gets up and strides to the door. “Your uncle loved me once. Maybe that means something to me.”
He says nothing. He doesn’t trust a word she says but he can’t help but be tempted.
When she turns her face is a mask again- cold, calculating, confident. “I’ll give you some time to think about it. Enjoy Saigon. She has a long history of fighting oppression as well.”
And with that parting shot, she’s gone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Vietnam was colonialized by the French from 1883- 1954. Saigon is now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. Kudos if you can figure out where else Tyler has travelled. ;)
Next chapter is A link in the chain; a cat in the cradle