✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Talia glared out the window, her gaze fixated on something in the dark. "Is Rebekah coming?" She sensed Klaus before she saw him, he was about to climb into the driver's seat. 

"Rebekah wants to stay here. You two are getting along quite well." Klaus frowned, jealousy a storm on his face. The brunette met his gaze, watching the jealousy fluctuate briefly. 

Talia's shoulders quivered with anger, brown eyes narrowing slightly. "So I can't have friends now, is that it?" The girl watched his face fall, those blue eyes focusing on the road as he began driving. 

"I didn't say that, Talia. Why are you so intent on making me the bad guy?" Klaus's voice was sharp, a knife that pierced into her heart. They knew each other so well that they knew the exact words to mess with each other's heads. 

Yet, Talia fought fire with fire, for what else could she do when the other half of her soul was victimizing himself as per usual. "Isn't it what you've always wanted? For everyone to see you as the Big Bad Hybrid? The Evil Niklaus Mikaelson? Klaus the Mad? I'm just fulfilling your wishes." The brunette hugged her knees to her chest, shrugging off the oncoming emotion. 

Moonlight outlined her features, highlighting her cheekbones and curls. Her full lips were pressed together and tears began to run down her caramel cheeks, she didn't know why she was crying. Perhaps it was the loss of her freedom. 

The man reached out, taking her delicate hand in his. "I never meant to hurt you, I hope you realize that. I didn't know and I will forever regret what I did to you. You may hate me." Klaus left their hands together, his gaze never leaving the road. 

"I don't hate you, Klaus Mikaelson, not as much as I hate myself." She tugged her hand fiercely from his grip and looked out the window, her eyes blazing with a fury only known to a Mikaelson. 

Clouds swept over the moon and an owl flew over the car, swooping into the woods. The smell of dead skunk momentarily filled their nostrils before disappearing again as the vehicle continued its lonely drive down the dark road. 

Those words struck him deep, they created a pain he had never felt before and the idea of this beautiful, strong, and powerful woman in front him hating herself broke his heart. "Don't say that." His words were a plead, his pale eyes filled with guilt and melancholy. 

Klaus pulled the car over and got out, going to Talia's side and opening the door. He stood there, blocking her exit and leaned in until their noses brushed. "Don't ever say that, Talia Monroe." His index touched her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. "Hate me with all the hate you have, love, don't ever hate yourself. You have done nothing wrong." 

The Hybrid pulled away, studying her. Her slouched form, tucked in shoulders and loose curls. She appeared only a shadow of the woman he had met in that alley all those decades. The Companion looked away without a word and he closed and the door and got back into the driver's seat, beginning to drive in the direction of Florida. Presumably there were a few packs down there. 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

When they arrived in Florida, Talia was passed out and Klaus was texting Rebekah, updating her on the going-ons. The little brunette blinked wearily and looked around, her fists rubbed against her eyes briefly. "Klaus? Where are we?" His soulmate's voice was hoarse from sleep, making him decide to pull into a nearby diner for coffee. He exited without a word and walked inside, turning on child-lock so Talia was stuck in the car. 

As he stepped in, he realized he didn't even know if she drank coffee or not. That was worrying, considering she knew everything he liked and disliked, stuff he didn't even know he liked.

'Talia?' The wolf pushed his thoughts outwards, trying out their telepathy for the first time in years. They used to use it all the time when they first met. In fact, they never stopped talking and then one day it just ended. 

'Yes, Klaus?' Talia's sharp voice was even meaner in his thoughts. 

He paused, considering the words with an embarrassed blush before shooting out the question into her mind. 'What do you drink?' He stepped into line, pulling a hundred from his pocket as he waited for her response. He could imagine her cursing his name on the spot. 

'Chai with cinnamon and whip cream. Of course you don't know, you never cared. I bet you don't even know my favorite series of movies.' The ice in her voice remained hard. 

'Sherlock?' Klaus took a step forward. 

'That's a TV show, idiot! Plus, I've never seen it. It's Marvel, what's my favorite TV show?' He could hear her laughter in the car, a smile cracking on his face at the idea of making her laugh. 

'Umbrella Academy?' He winced as he heard a sharp guffaw from outside. 

'No! Yes, that's a good show, but no. It's Teen Wolf and Lucifer. My favorite color? Favorite food? Favorite item of clothing? Sports I play?'

In truth, the Hybrid was unaware if Talia actually played a sport. 'I don't know any of it, but do you know mine?'

He walked up to the counter and placed the two orders, a plain black coffee and a chai with whip cream and cinnamon. The waitress was grinning at him and wrote her number on a napkin, handing it to the Hybrid. That was when Talia appeared at his left with a wicked smile. 

"Oh my gosh, babe, thank you for getting my favorite drink while I was asleep!" Talia smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around Klaus's waist, smirking at the waitress who blushed pink. 

"Of course, my love, why wouldn't I?" The blond Original pressed his lips to her forehead and nodded at the waitress, paying her the hundred and walking off with Talia to wait for their drinks. "Why'd you do that?" Klaus studied her features, was his Companion jealous? 

She shrugged off the question, smiling leisurely up at him. "I was bored, and to answer your question, I can answer all of those questions. Your favorite drink is a caramel latte, not that you'd admit it. Your favorite movie series is Indiana Jones, your favorite show is How I Met Your Mother, your favorite color is blue, your favorite food is lemon cake, your favorite clothing are your henleys, and for sports you play?" Talia sighed and leaned over the table, her lips brushing his ear. "Murdering innocent people." 

The man turned his head, goosebumps rising on his skin at the feeling of her breath on him. "Perhaps you know me a tad better than I know you." Klaus cracked a smile and stood as their drinks were placed at the counter. He grabbed them and handed Talia her chai. 

His best friend immediately took her finger and swiped it around the edge, taking the whip cream and licking her finger, her eyes closing in ecstasy. "I love whip cream."

"I'll remember that, I promise, Lia." His voice was soft on her old nickname. Talia moved her dark gaze up, a frown touching her pouty lips.

 Her words turned cold from the mild warmth she had been displaying moments prior. It made him shiver. "Don't call me that."

Talia stood up and left the diner, leaving the Hybrid with his black coffee and thoughts. He missed the Talia he used to know. The one with extreme attitude, a teasing demeanor and couldn't take anything seriously. But now, he had bullied and manipulated that part of her away, without even realizing it. All he hoped was that it wasn't a permanent change. The girl's sharp tongue was what made her Talia Monroe. 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

While Klaus went and murdered a bunch of innocent werewolves to turn into his personal butlers, Talia went shopping in Miami. She strode through a large mall, two shopping bags already hanging off her left arm. She stepped into Tiffany's and walked over to their case of diamonds. 

Of course her eyes landed on the most expensive one. The Tiffany Diamond, listed at $30 Million. Talia pointed at the yellow stone and asked to try it on. The lady eyed it for a moment, her eyes widening slightly as she realized what the young woman was asking for. 

"It's a lot of money, are you sure?" 

Talia merely chuckled, waving Klaus's credit card with a grin. "Trust me, darling, I can afford anything." The woman nodded uncertainly before removing the necklace and handing it gently over to Talia. The Companion put it on and admired herself, a smile resting on her lips. "I love it, I'll take it."

"Are you sure? Will your husband--" The woman took the credit card, but worry still lined her face. 

"My husband is more than capable of affording it, darling. He loves when I buy expensive jewelry to flaunt in-front of him, if you know what I mean." Talia winked and the woman's eyes widened before she nodded and ran the credit card. 

Talia smirked as it went through, letting her take the card back and put it in her wallet. Klaus had ungodly amounts of money from the past thousand years, and she hadn't lied when she said he let her treat herself. He often handed over his credit cards without argument and let the girl run wild with shopping. That was the one part she had loved about the past thirty years, which may make her a gold digger, but who cares? 

Her heels clicked against the floors as she walked to the next store and got some more shoes and a few gowns, each over ten thousand dollars. Talia was definitely a spender, like any true Mikaelson. Klaus never minded in the past and she doubted he ever would. His personality was like that of a sugar daddy, wishing to rain presents on her to keep her at his side. 

The Monroe girl shrugged her shoulders back and sashayed through the rest of the mall, buying whatever caught her eye. By the end she estimated she had bought over $31 million in things, and she doubted Klaus would even notice. 

Sliding into the backseat of the limo, Talia touched her new necklace with a grin and watched the scenery pass by as they returned to the Mikaelson beach house. She was enjoying this, no responsibilities with having to help Klaus, freedom for herself and not having to see him every minute. 

Grabbing her bags, and the limo driver grabbing the rest, the Companion strutted inside to find ten strangers situated like guards around the house. "Who the hell are you?" One rushed over, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her up, two others converging behind her. "Jesus, I know Klaus, fuckers, let me down before I karate chop you in the trachea!" Talia was placed down hesitantly but still surrounded. She dropped her bags and raised her hands into karate chops. 

"Talia? It's alright, mate, she lives here." Klaus sped over to his companion, touching the mark around her throat that was beginning to develop around his. He tilted her head to get a better view but the brunette yanked away, glaring at him. "I was checking my bank accounts and saw quite a large amount of money missing, I assume it has to do with the rock around your throat?" The Hybrid chuckled, touching the yellow stone before eyeing the multitudes of shopping bags. "Plus these of course."

"Perhaps, you never complained in the past, does it matter now?" Talia eyed two hybrids, silently ordering them to help her, which they did. 

His lips quirked up in a teasing smile, hand still resting on the Tiffany Diamon. "We're attempting to stay under the radar, love, but perhaps you can treat yourself once in awhile, just not spend so much next time." Klaus studied her, his eyes tracing her features gently. Sometimes he worried about her, she acted so distant. Her comment about hating herself also worried him. 

Talia nodded and walked upstairs, the two hybrid slaves at her heels. One of them had his eyes focused on her backside, a smirk on his lips. The brunette was incredibly aware of it. 

She was in a mood, and like anyone who knew the Mikaelsons or their extended family, they know that if they're in a mood they lean towards drastic things. 

Talia's drastic thing was sleeping with Klaus's hybrid.