One of the witch's pastimes was to sit at a café and watch humans go about their day. She enjoyed watching humans as they lived without a care in the world, unable to know when their time would come. It was something she envied them, the ability to enjoy even the smallest things, because they didn't know if it would be their last. She envied their ability to die of old age, which was something she was denied. Nëela was immortal, and no matter how she tried, Old age wouldn't be what claimed her life. It would be murder. It would be a fight. It would have to be violent, which she wasn't looking forward to. It made her chuckle to herself, that little paradox her existence was. She both wished her life was shorter so she could enjoy it to the fullest, but wasn't ready to die either. Every time someone tried to take her life, she always fought them, and they ended up dead. So, that betrayed a deep desire to live. She always knew this. She wanted to live.
She sighed, leaned into her chair, and crossed her legs. Her golden eyes stared at the crowd that had gathered on the street to watch a street performance. She couldn't help but smile as she watched children running around, laughing, and clapping their tiny hands. It made her nostalgic. There had once been a time in her life, before the curse, before the deaths... where she wished she would become a mother. She had dreams of a faceless kid with curly hair just like his mother, running freely into the wheat fields. This fantasy of hers vanished from the moment she was turned into a cursed witch. She couldn't... She couldn't fathom giving birth to a child who would not be an immortal. She couldn't fathom the idea of that child growing up, growing old, and dying of old age without the possibility for her to join him in death. She didn't even know if her curse would allow her soul to rest in the same place as her child. It made her blink, and before she knew it, Nëela was crying.
"Why the long face, love?" -Klaus's voice tore her out of her daydream. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and plastered a sheepish smile on her face-
"Klaus! I didn't... expect to see you here... Today I meant. I didn't expect to see you today!"
"It's the effect I have on people. I hope I didn't spook you?" -He asked while taking a seat in front of her.
"I'll be alright. I was just enjoying my day. They look so innocent like that..." -She sighed and looked down at her teacup.
"They have no idea of how their lives would end. I have to say, sometimes I think that it must be nice to be oblivious about one's fate." -He then stopped a waiter and ordered a coffee- "Is that why you're in such a sad mood, love?"
"Am I sad? Where?"
She tried to force herself to keep a neutral face, but her eyes betrayed her sadness. His other senses picked up the change in her body as well. The witch was upset, he could tell, but she was taking it in stride. There was a melancholy in her gaze that made his heart sink. He hated the sight. Nëela knew Klaus could read her like an open book and ended up pinching her lips together. She then put both hands on the table and tried to give him a crooked smile. No. It wouldn't do! She was not in a good mood, and she didn't have to pretend everything was alright. He watched her facial expression change and adjust to fit her mood.
"Now we're talking. This is far more honest from you than whatever fake smile you tried to conjure up earlier on."
"I do not like to be seen like this. I did not want you to see me reflect on eternity and wish I had a human lifespan. It is not fair--"
"Nothing is fair!" Klaus interrupted her, slightly irritated by her choice of words. He understood why she was saying this, and it was a reflection they all had at one point in their lives. He was a little bit of a hypocrite because this very thought crossed his mind more than once, but coming from her, it felt as if she didn't want to spend eternity with him anymore. He jumped to conclusions, and she realized he was getting upset himself at a very fast pace.
"No! No, you took it the wrong way. I am not saying that I would give anything to become human again. This ship has sailed a long time ago. I am at peace with my immortality."
"If you were at peace, you wouldn't be thinking about how you wish you had a human lifespan." -He spat at her. She rolled her eyes and shook her head- "What? Tell me I'm wrong, love!"
"You are wrong! I was reflecting on my immortality, the good and the bad. You can't sit there and pretend that you didn't think of what your life could have been if you had a human lifespan. You can't sit there and pretend you didn't wish you could grow old with the people you fell in love with! You loved, Klaus. You wished. You dreamed! I am also allowed to share the same considerations, am I not?" She furrowed her brows and kept going, signifying that it was a rhetorical question- "Being immortal has its fair share of pain. You know that! For the longest time, I was resentful because I couldn't have children and watch them grow old and die before I do. I was resentful because anyone I would love would either die of old age or have their lives cut short. I was resentful because I couldn't die unless it was a violent death. I couldn't die and join them in the afterlife because I am cursed. I couldn't die.... And I didn't want to die either! I fought tooth and nail for my survival, Love. I fought so hard to take yet another breath, and look at me! Look at us!" She put her hand above his. He was tempted to remove it, but he left it there-
"What about us? Do you regret being immortal so you could be with me?"
"No! Silly! No! I do not regret it! If anything, loving you makes it all worth it. Loving you gave my heart somewhere safe to be. It made me feel alive again! It gave meaning to my existence. I love you. I protect you. I will go above and beyond to help you. Loving you for eternity feels like a gift the universe gave me after centuries of suffering." -He relaxed and gently grabbed her hand.- "I might have my regrets, things I need to come to terms with because my nature as a cursed witch prevents me from doing certain things... but... I am happy, Klaus. It's messy and confusing, but I am certain that I am happy!"
She watched as he pulled her hand to his lips so he could press a kiss to her skin. His eyes scanned her face, searching for a tiny bit of hesitation, but there was none. She was sincere. As a matter of fact, she was always telling the truth, but Klaus couldn't help himself. Hard habits were hard to kill, weren't they?
"I might have overreacted, Love. I apologize for that." He admitted. It was rare enough for Klaus to apologize, so the witch didn't tease him. She simply smiled at him and gently stroked the back of his hand-
"It's okay. I am not upset. I just mourn the life I'll never have and the one I lost. I am not going to dwell on it, don't worry. Now that you're here, I will focus on you instead. How did you find me?"
"You left quite a trail, love. I only had to follow it if I wanted to find you." -He grinned and pressed another kiss to the back of her hand.- "Besides, I wanted to see you."
Nëela grinned, her gaze averting from the children to Klaus's face. He looked sharp this afternoon. Instead of his cotton long-sleeved t-shirts and his jeans, he was wearing nice linen pants, a white polo, and a pair of linen shoes. He lifted a brow and looked at her with his blue eyes look at her. She looked like a doll, with her thin-strapped white stars and blue dress. Her hair was tied in a loose high ponytail, and she had slipped her feet into a pair of black stilettos. When he woke up alone in their bedroom, he found her note stating that she had gone downtown for a walk. He let her enjoy her morning and focused on his own, but he quickly felt the need to find her. Klaus didn't want to admit to himself that he enjoyed her company.
He enjoyed her laughter and their little banters, and he wanted to enjoy the sunny day with her. He searched for her and, upon seeing her, couldn't help but smirk to himself. He was happy to see her smile, happy to hear her voice... They were dealing with a lot right now, a rogue witch who threatened his witch and his family. They were dealing with troubles, so this little walk outside was a way for the two of them to get a break from their trouble. He almost ruined it with his short fuse, but she managed to turn it upside down. His free admission of wanting to see her brightened her face, and she couldn't help but twirl a rebellious pink lock that fell on her nose.
"Well... The day is still young, and I think we can have a good time today. I'll let you pick where you want to go and we'll do it."
-TBC-
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