『Chapter One』
『our immortal love』

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   Bodie tried his best when it came to existing. He wasn't perfect, but he tried his best as his best was all that he could give. He wasn't great when it came to love because his heart already belonged to someone, and no matter how much he tried to move on, he couldn't. His heart was one with another Original vampire who continually broke his—though this Original wouldn't hesitate to kill when angered. There was a lot which he knew about the one who owned his heart, but no matter how bad it was, Bodie could never move on.

   They hadn't seen each other since Mikael came to New Orleans and ran them out, leaving Marcel—what they believed to be—dead. Klaus Mikaelson, the one who had Bodie's heart, had made sure to drive Bodie away out of guilt over what happened to the one he saw as a son—and of course, Bodie understood yet it didn't stop the ache in his heart when he had to say goodbye to the remaining walking Mikaelson family. Bodie kept away from them and from Klaus for as long as he could, at least until he knew that Mikael was far behind them.

   He'd spent around fifty years away from the Mikaelson family which had been torture for Bodie, but fifty years alone meant that he didn't have to hide who he was. And it was fifty years which he'd spent with two from his sire line of whom he was close with. Will and Henry had been witches before they'd asked Bodie to turn them for they didn't want to be part of their coven anymore and so, thought that it would be best to turn and get shunned rather than live another day under the control of their family coven.

   Will and Henry had always been there for Bodie over the centuries, and they've aided in things like helping those that were in need. Blood might have been an issue, but the pair adapted to what life seemed to throw at them—and despite the fact that Bodie was there, present, aiding them the best that he could. Of course, Bodie couldn't assist them when it came to their magic, for that was something which they needed to learn themselves (he would suggest another coven, but Bodie didn't trust that they'd help).

   So, William and Henry became the little family that Bodie needed in life—of course outside of the Mikaelson family. They were the trio which some feared, and others liked, it was known of the Original Vampire and his Heretic's who aided in the way that they thought was best. They were everything which Bodie needed when it came to the lonely parts of his life which hadn't consisted of the chaos which the Mikaelson family sometimes bring. Will and Henry were the balance in Bodie's life which he appreciated a lot. They were his brothers—almost—and for that he was grateful.

   Since Bodie left the Mikaelson family after New Orleans, Bodie reconnected with William and Henry who'd been doing their own things for the past thirty years—give or take—and despite the fact that they disliked the idea of Bodie coming in and out of their lives, they were happy to have him back. Bodie enjoyed their company considering that they seemed normal despite how crazy and fucked up their lives were while dabbling within the supernatural.

   They'd spent the next thirty years within Missouri running the Woodford shop which consisted of things like artifacts and antiques which they'd collected over the centuries, some were dark objects that belonged to witches that had been lost. They sold artifacts, antiques, old books, anything that was worth reselling or aiding with witches with their needs. It was a place where they—the Woodford brothers—would also feed, on customers that came into their shop just to cause shit with them. And when Bodie came to stay with them, it was a lot easier.

   Thirty years having a mundane-ish lifestyle seemed to bring Bodie some piece in his mind, dealing with human customers (as well as the odd witch or two) as the years went past was difficult at times but easy when he realised that he could compel them to do what he pleased. There were times where William and Henry would snap at Bodie for the way that he acted at times, which Bodie couldn't blame them, when he thought of Klaus, it put him in a mood where he felt the need to fuck shit up.

   Of course, both brothers tried to talk to Bodie about the most recent issues that the two had, but Bodie shook it off, not answering the questions. Though if he did, it was only blunt or short responses. The short answer being 'Mikael' which both seemed to understand all too well from encounters with him or tales that they heard surrounding that wherever the Mikaelson siblings go, their vampire hunting original vampire father was shortly behind them and that it was only a matter of time before he found them.

   Yet despite his moods that he'd get into because of how much heartache the name Klaus Mikaelson gave him, Bodie tried his best to be as much as a decent person as possible. There was always a relief that Bodie felt while being around the brothers, for they never told a soul about Bodie's truth. Henry asked once whether or not Bodie had compelled them not to tell anyone, but Bodie didn't, he wanted their friendship without the entire lie that being compel had occasionally. Bodie never had and never would compel either Will or Henry as they deserved more than a life built on compulsion.

   Thirty years went by as fast as possible and yet as those thirty years went by, they were asked as to why they never aged. And it was only then that the Woodford brothers and Bodie planned a tragic death to fall upon them and the shop to make them believe that they had died—the witches knew that it was a lie, Will and Henry wouldn't lie to the witches considering the amount of witch stuff they owned, both wanted to make sure that they weren't targeted by some angry witches later in life.

   They'd moved everything that they'd ever collected and their personal belongings all the way to England. William was the one to suggest it, saying how he hadn't been there in a while and would like to go back for a while, that and the fact that William knew that there was a number of covens dotted around the country which might need what they have. Bodie liked the idea of going to England, he hadn't been there in so long—in fact, the last time he was, was when they (meaning Klaus) found what he needed to break his curse, though she ended up killing herself and became a vampire.

   Either way, Bodie was glad that he was on his way back to England. He hadn't asked Will exactly where in England they were going, as long as they were going somewhere as a small family, then that's all that mattered to Bodie. For the past thirty years it had been just them, the occasional trouble walked through their door, but other than that, it was peaceful. He felt as if England would give him more sense of peace with the two people that he cared about most.

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   Sometimes, the boat ride between two places made Bodie want to rip his skin off. Henry had suggested for them to go by plane as they were helping making travel easier, but both Will and Bodie had suggested that it be best for them to go by boat instead. And now, Bodie regretted his decision on going by boat. He'd forgotten just how creeped out he got by water—not the actual water, but what lived underneath, he didn't like the idea that at any point something could just ruin their journey by doing whatever.

   After days upon a boat, they'd made gotten off the boat and made their way to the house which they compelled some owner for them to have it. They moved in their home in Wembley after hours of travel since getting off the boat and instantly, Bodie felt the urge to throw himself into bed, yet he knew that there was still so much that they could do beforehand.

   They'd spent months since their arrival in Wembley setting up their shop and making connections within the supernatural world, they befriended as many werewolf packs that they could, as many vampires that they could, and they befriended as many covens of witches that they could find. Of course, most were pretty sceptical in befriending an original vampire, one with clear ties to the original family, and one close with Klaus, but once they realised that Bodie wasn't an enemy, they agreed to Bodie's friendship.

   The months that they spent building up their life, it was calm and peaceful as their life in Missouri, there were moments where it was bumpy, but what was life unless it was bumpy? They'd tried to fit into the society around them in hopes that the humans wouldn't question their difference between what was normal and what wasn't. They just hoped that they fit in well, though they knew that they could compel humans into believing that they were normal, but they wanted to do it the human way. After all, every month, they had a four-legged animal running around their home because one decided to keep everything a secret from everyone.

   Of course, there were whispers—as there always was—within the supernatural community of the Heretic brothers conducting experiments on werewolves while they were turned, but it was just chatter, no one could find proof. No one could find anywhere of where the brothers would do those experiments, they thought that Bodie had a hand in compelling them to forget before realising that Bodie was never around to prove that he had a hand in anything. Of course, it led people to wonder whether the Woodford brothers were mad, but it was just odd the fact that there was no hardcore proof of any rumours about them.

   The middle of summer in London was as hot as it could be. London—or well, England—was notorious for its crap weather, but the weather finally decided to take somewhat of a turn which Bodie loved for it was just a change. William and Bodie had taken the time out of their day to walk around Wembley, visiting the King Edward VIII park for a bit of a midday snack before compelling them to forget as to what happened. They did invite Henry to come with them, but he excused himself from it, saying that he had was meeting someone later who wanted to talk to him about something which neither could get out of him—which they didn't mind, it was just something that they were curious about.

   William was just telling Bodie about a recent client that he had to deal with who pissed him off a little too much. "And he had the audacity to say that the way that I do business is poor! Like, sir, I've been doing this a lot longer than his been alive. I had to ask him to leave my shop before I snapped his neck. I couldn't deal with him at all, and as much as I wanted to compel him or whatever, I couldn't bring myself to—which is weird, cause I normally do."

   "Will, my friend," Bodie said, "everyday you prove to me just how much humanity is in you. Though by the sounds of it, he sounds like a right ass."

   "Humans suck," Will mumbled. "He was a right ass. I'm surprised that someone hasn't beaten the shit out of him yet."

   "Find me his address and I will," Bodie joked. "Maybe I'll show him what happens when one rotates their neck at a ninety degree angle quickly."

   "As entertaining as that would be, I'm not sure if the after world would want him if that's how he treats employees. Even if they're vampires." Will said. He then cleared his throat. "Has there been any word?"

   Bodie took notice on the change of topic and who Will meant. He shook his head. "No, none. The last I heard Klaus was in Chicago after that, it's like he vanished. I think Mikael might have ran him out. I don't know where he is."

   "I could always do a locator spell if you liked," William suggested. "I know you're always in a better space when you know where he is and that he's not dead."

   "As much as I want to, Klaus made it very clear that he'd rather me stay as far away as possible. For the sake of my apparent safety and the fact that Klaus didn't want to see my face again," Bodie explained.

   Will sighed. "I never understand as to why you keep going back to him. He's a psychopath and murderous, he'd rather have your fear than love."

   Bodie shrugged. "Because whenever I look at him, I can't help but love him. I know that you want me to stop with how I feel about him, yet I can't. I've tried to move on with multiple people over the years. Yet Klaus Mikaelson still manages to have my heart. I can't change that no matter how much I try."

   Will gave him a look. The kind of look that suggested that he didn't by anything which Bodie said. "You say that every time, but I don't believe that you give yourself a chance to move on at all. Don't fool yourself into thinking that I don't notice the pile of unsent letters that you write for Klaus about your day or the stuff that happened in your life when your not together. I know about that box of photos of you two that you keep under your bed and the art that he's done for you still hanging on your bedroom walls."

   "Are you seriously brining up all this stuff?" Bodie asked, raising his eyebrows in somewhat shock. "I'm hurt that you go through my stuff, William, and here I thought I could trust you."

   "I'm bringing it up because it's clear that you're unable to move on because you don't want to move on," Will said. "You still hold onto the hope that when you see each other again, that it would last a lot longer than the last. I see the ring in its box collecting dust, I know what you want to do, Bodie, and Klaus isn't the kind of person who'd say 'yes', especially with how frequent you two end things."

   Bodie looked down, he wanted to ask Klaus the question, but didn't for two reasons. Number one, being the obvious, people suck and think that they have an opinion in people's love life and feelings, even though feelings are out of one's control and who Bodie falls for is no cause of discussion, no matter the gender. And number two, Klaus and his need to look over his shoulder expecting the father that doesn't love him to come up behind him and strike an attack, leaving Klaus paranoid and with the need to push the people that he cares about away (or stabbing them through the heart with a dagger).

   "It's not just because of that," Bodie said. "It's because I fear that if I lose him, it would be the only way that I'd be close to him. Keeping the paintings, writing those letters, are the only way that I can feel close to him when we're not together. I know that I have no chance in him saying 'yes', but I still hold onto the hope that one day and one point, he will, and hopefully then, we'll have eternity together as one."

   Will shook his head slightly. "You hold onto that hope far too much, Bodie. As much as I love how much he means to you, he hurts you so much. Are you sure that you'd want to spend eternity with someone who breaks your heart as much as Klaus does?"

   "He may break my heart, Will, but he's all that I've had for my entire existence," Bodie explained. "If whenever our final breakup is just that, I wouldn't know what to do with myself, I'd feel as if there was no purpose. Klaus gives me purpose in this world, to love as much as I can, even if it is to one man."

   Will sighed. "Klaus really likes ruining your expectations for someone else, doesn't he?"

   "Where else can I get a person whose around a thousand years old and is a murderous devil?" Bodie joked. "No one else can compare to Klaus, not in the slightest. No matter how much they try, Klaus owns my heart."

   "Maybe we should carve that in a tree," Will grinned. "Bodie plus Klaus forever"

   Bodie shook his head with a smile. "Dick."

   They made their way back home, just near Kingsbury. Bodie hadn't realised how much of a walk that the pair had—in fact, Bodie was sure that the walk had taken them a good couple of hours, meaning that hopefully Henry was finished up with the client that he said that he had. The pair had joked on whether or not it was code for that he had someone round that he didn't want the two to know about.

   As they neared their home, they continued to joke about how crap Bodie's love life is and how Bodie is surprised that William hadn't gotten with anyone over the course of the few decades. Of course, Will being Will had decided against relationships not in a bad way, but because he just wanted to focus on becoming as much of a decent person as he could be. Will always wanted to make sure that when he started a relationship, he'd be in a better head space to do so, and that he had his taste for blood under more control. He didn't want to traumatise the person he ended up dating. Which Bodie thought was fair.

   What cut their conversation short was the sound of yelling coming from inside their home. They could clearly hear Henry's voice (bless their hearing) cussing out the person who was in their home. And the oddly familiar voice snapping back, demanding to be released from whatever Henry was doing, saying that he'd crush Henry's skull against the furniture if he continued to act like a mistaken child who thought he had control.

   As soon as those words were spoken, Will took off in a blur, leaving the front door open for Bodie to come in shortly behind. As much as Bodie worried for Henry's safety, he knew the voice and it struck him hard, he thought that his mind was playing games on him. He thought he was crazy that he thought that he knew who it could be, why would he come here to him? After all these years, he came to Bodie, but surely not for Bodie himself, he wouldn't come for him, he rarely did—it was always Bodie who's find him, after a witch dropped a note written by one of his siblings saying that he needs him.

   The sound of something breaking and a scream broke Bodie out of his thoughts as he then rushed in and ripped the man he loved off of William who had the poor unfortune of almost having his heart ripped out. And thank god that England's houses were made from brick for Klaus' body didn't break the wall, though he did topple over the sofa that Bodie specifically brought over from America. Henry looked as if he was about to attack Klaus, but Bodie gave him a look to which made Henry back down.

   "William," Bodie knelt down beside him. "You good?"

   "I'm finding you a new partner," Will grumbled. "Help me up."

   Bodie could feel the way that the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, before he had the chance to help Will up, he stood and turned just as Klaus came face to face with him—Klaus' hand slightly raised as if he wanted to rip his heart out, though decided against it.

   "Bodie?"