"Fair only gets you so far, love.
Clever gets you further."

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"So," Henrik walked down the steps and took a minute looking around the empty lounge area. "If you know my name it means that you must know about my past with the school." He took very loud footsteps with his boots thudding on the hard wooden floors before falling backward on one of the couches like he owned the place, "I have to admit I'm curious, what kind of juicy rumors have they been spreading about me? Hm?" He raised his eyebrows and waited patiently for Landon to respond.

But it seemed as though Landon's feet were firmly glued to that very one spot. Ironically he very desperately wanted to leave the room. "Um, well, not really. Josie started talking about the football field and then Lizzie interrupted us."

"Sounds like Lizzie," He nodded and mumbled absentmindedly.

"At this point, I'm too afraid to ask— though I'm hoping it was just a peaceful protest-type, like a sit-down or something?" Landon began rambling, "Or maybe a hunger strike— although now that I think of it, there are vampires in this school, and vampires and hunger strikes do not sound good together. It actually sounds like the beginning of a bad joke—" Landon cut himself off when he noticed Henrik staring at him— also waiting for him to stop. "So, not a peaceful protest, I take it?"

Henrik chuckled, "I'm afraid not." He shook his head. "Why do you look worried?" He asked, noticing his demeanor.

"I'm just—" Landon paused trying to find a way to not sound judgmental and simultaneously not offend him, "I'm trying to figure out if asking you for a favor is a mistake." Okay, not bad so far.

"Why would it be a mistake?"

"Lizzie had some... interesting things to say about you and well I'm just worried, I guess?"

"Ah, well, Lizzie always has interesting things to say about me. About everyone come to think of it." Henrik gestured for him to sit down twice and when Landon finally did, he stumbled getting to the couch. "Tell me, what can I help you with?"

"Right so um, it's my brother," He started, "Two months ago he used this ring to shift into his wolf side and now he's stuck, can't change back."

A ring used to shift into their wolf side— that sounded like the ring his Grandma Mary gave to their mom to give to them before she died. It was passed down from their mom's side and she wanted them to have it. "Was it a reverse kyanite ring?" If it was, it could've been Hope who lent it to him.

Landon paused, "Um, I have no idea." he answered truthfully, "But, I asked around and you're from the Crescent Wolf Pack, right? There's some rumor that you guys can change whenever you want."

"We can control our transformation, yes, and I can help," Henrik said as he sat up and looked at Landon with more serious eyes, his playful nature gone. "But I'm also going to need something from you."

He grimaced, "Um, what exactly?"

"Word around the school is you're the big bad phoenix that took down some entity? Malivore." He spoke the name with discontent.

Landon nodded, "Yeah, but just to let you know, I don't really... remember what I did."

"That's okay, I'm not worried about that. What I need is your blood."

His eyes widened, "My blood? Why?" He's spent enough time at this school to know that was never a good thing.

"For a tracking spell. You said you don't remember what happened, but that's not the real issue, is it? Come on Landon, you'd be able to feel if it was gone. Instead, it's been gnawing at you, like it's calling to you. Am I right?"

Landon only blinked a couple of times, he looked wary. And if he was afraid he did a nice job of hiding it. "How did you know?"

"Saltzman told me, of course."

"Dr. Saltzman? He sent you here?" His demeanor changed all of a sudden, he was just a smidge more relaxed. A bit more trusting. Henrik saw his opening.

The tribrid smiled, "Well I mean we can't let something like this just get away from us." He said. It wasn't technically a lie.

"And my blood," he paused, "it'll help you track down Malivore?"

"That's the theory." He answered, and he hoped it would. "There was a shtriga out in town the other day, and a far more savage werewolf than normal this afternoon so something is still sending them. Question now is, what are they coming after?" He gave him a pointed look.

"You know." Landon observed from his behavior, "Don't you?"

The tribrid shrugged, "A shtriga has an appetite for children but it wasn't eating anything. It was looking for someone, and other than me and Saltzman, you were the only person in that courtyard. The werewolf was running around sniffing around in search of something. It was in the woods next to the football field. Are you seeing the common factor?" He waved his fingers around like he was pointing to an invisible diagram.

"They're after me," Landon concluded from the information. The guy in front of him nodded softly, "But why? Why now?"

"Best guess?" He shrugged in thought, "They were recuperating. Whatever you did left them weak, maybe destroyed their resources or some source of power. Now that they're stronger they're going after you. I assume for revenge."

Landon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, he was tired of all this. He just wanted to take class, get Raf back, treat Josie to a nice date, you know normal things teenagers did. He felt like a hypocrite complaining, wasn't he begging them to let him stay in this school not six months ago? He said he'd even take on a cleaning job if it meant not going back to foster care. Now, there were mutated monsters out to get him. "And what'll happen once you track it?"

"Let me worry about that. Right now all you have to do is give me an answer. Your blood and I'll get your brother back. Do we have a deal?"

Landon had been hearing about Henrik all day. The first and only tribrid in existence. The son of the Original Hybrid, Klaus Mikaelson, who was also called the Great Evil. A kid who fought and won against some ancient witch spirit when he was young. Someone who burned down the football field and tried burning down the rest of the school with it. Someone that Lizzie couldn't stop complaining about and Josie looked scared to talk about. Landon should have every reason to back out of that room, Raf wouldn't want him making any kind of deal with someone like him. He couldn't explain it but the way he talked, the way he moved, he was almost— familiar. Like he's talked to him before. Landon didn't know why, but he trusted him.

"Okay, when do we start?"

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It was almost immediately after they struck a deal that Landon followed Henrik to the woods located behind the Salvatore School. Henrik wanted to do his part early, showing the boy that he could trust him. It was better that way in the long run.

Turning Rafael back to human wasn't that hard once he found the wolf he met earlier. Using his wolf sight through the darkness made it easier too. He was thankful it was already so late, no one would be around as they got everything settled.

Soon enough they were out by the witch's greenhouse with Raf lying on a bunch of blankets, exhausted and clearly suffering from shapeshifting whiplash. He couldn't help but feel bad for him, the boy had been a wolf for almost two months straight, and then to suddenly be put back to his human side? It would not be without its consequences. Werewolves that could control their turn like the Crescents back home, hybrids, or tribrids had a better handle on it. They were more balanced internally from having access to both sides of themselves frequently. But Raf was just a regular werewolf. He would not fare well.

Landon placed another blanket on his brother and scattered around what he brought: some water bottles and protein bars. He said some campy expression about trying to always be prepared. Henrik kneeled to carefully remove the ring that Raf was wearing around his neck. At least he tried to remove it.

Raf's hand was quick to launch itself around Henrik's wrist, gripping it so tightly that Henrik was sure if he wasn't also a werewolf his bones would've snapped much easier. "Careful there, friend," Henrik cooed, "This isn't a fight you're going to win." He warned carefully and steadily as he flashed his eyes.

But Rafael was still shaky, his breath was uneven, and his eyes had been looking over everything like there were enemies hidden all around them. Trying to grab the ring was a wrong move, now he wouldn't let Henrik leave his sight. "What are you doing?"

"Well, considering the ring is a family heirloom I was just taking it back." He said truthfully. He didn't like how Raf kept holding onto his wrist, but due to his traumatic response, he'd allow it for a few more minutes.

"Wait, family heirloom?" Landon questioned. "How'd it end up at the school?"

"Let's just say I left plenty of important things behind when I got out." Henrik wasn't entirely lying, he left behind the most important thing. "Now, would you kindly remove your hand and give me back my mother's ring?" His tone was clear that it wasn't really a question.

Raf looked down at his hand and back at Henrik tentatively for five seconds before letting go. The tribrid narrowed his eyes at that. Most wolves would still be on edge, they'd be on their fight or flight instinct for longer, but Raf took a moment and calmed himself. Huh, he was strong. That could come in handy. He also didn't waste any time with removing the silver chain with the ring around his neck and letting it drop into the tribrid's palm with only a quiet sorry in response.

He cleared his voice louder to say it again, "I am sorry, really. Thank you for," he trailed off, "you know, putting me back."

Henrik nodded, "Of course," he stood back up and nodded at the more human of the three, "Landon, a word before I give you two some privacy?"

"Sure thing," he stood up just as fast and they stopped just a few feet away from the greenhouse. "Listen, I know you need my blood but if we could just do that fun little exchange after I get Raf a decent meal and maybe a pair of pants—"

"I'm going to stop you right there," he had him halt his words, "I completely understand. Besides, that's not what I was going to tell you."

"Oh." Landon's eyebrows raised slightly in curiosity.

"The blood can wait for tomorrow, but you should know that now that he's back to his human side this won't just be like how it was before." Henrik kept going before Landon could ask, "I'm talking post-trauma, jumpiness, headaches, slight hallucinations even. His wolf instincts will be more surface-level now. Don't keep him isolated but don't overcrowd him either, ease into it, maybe just bring out a few members of the school pack for now. And even then keep it light, start with just Jed or any other one-on-one friends he might've made before this happened." He said, "It should die down in a few months, maybe even a few weeks from what I saw. And whatever he says— he is not okay. This isn't something you just jump back from. If he doesn't listen, call me."

Landon had been listening and nodding his head in understanding. "Got it, thank you, really thank you so much." The tribrid turned to leave before he heard his name called out again. "You could've just turned him back and left immediately. Why tell me all this?"

"Wolves gotta look for each other." He shrugged. "You may not be a wolf, but you care about him. That's enough." Of course, he couldn't tell him what he was actually thinking. Hope didn't tell anyone in school about that ring, not the other wolves, not the teachers, not even Saltzman. They would confiscate it, keep it in a vault, or worse, put it up on display until one of their aunts or uncles came down to take it back. Obviously, something like that couldn't be in the hands of a teenage tribrid, the horror. If the students found out there was more than one way to control the shift the power dynamic would fall faster. They wanted to keep the hierarchy where they had it. So, if Hope lent this ring to Raf, who turned out to be Landon's brother, she must have cared about him. And since she couldn't be here to put him back and walk him through the steps back to the human world, then he'd do it for her.

"You know something's been gnawing at me," Henrik said, his tone shifted from gentle to curious, "Did Saltzman know that Raf's been a wolf this entire time?"

Landon answered easily enough, "Yeah, he tried helping out, bringing by some lore books but there wasn't much he could do." Henrik nodded, his head cast down in thought as he did. Landon noticed. "Why?"

Henrik saw his opening and he didn't waste the opportunity. Doubt and detachment comes slowly, with planting seeds ahead of time and this was the perfect moment. He made sure to put on a frown as he explained, "Well, I just don't understand why he didn't contact me or my aunt, she's part of the Crescent Pack too." He shook his head disapprovingly, "Even if she couldn't come herself, sending someone from the pack to help a young wolf wouldn't have been a problem."

Landon turned and looked back to watch as his brother bunched up the blankets in his fists, flinching at the smallest noise. "So, what, Raf could have been human months ago?" Raf's eyes were squeezed closed like he was fighting a waking nightmare. It reminded him of when they shared a room in their last foster home, Raf always had trouble the first few nights in a new place. Only this was much worse. It gave Landon the instinct to go over and hug him, watch their favorite movies, eat junk food, and pretend life was good. Just like they had done plenty of times before.

Henrik leaned next to him to whisper, "I know that he and I don't have the best relationship, but there would've been no one else to turn to about Raf's situation." Dr. Saltzman could've done something about Raf this entire time. "We could've helped a lot sooner. The same with Malivore."

Landon creased his eyebrows, "What do you mean?" He turned back around to face the tribrid properly.

Henrik grimaced, his face shifting like he was almost embarrassed to admit, "Well, to be perfectly honest with you, Saltzman didn't send me to you." There, if he admitted to a small lie (although it was more of an omission of truth) then Landon would stop any suspicions, at least for the time being. Henrik shook his head, "Sure, he told me what happened last semester and about you. But he also told me to leave you out of it. I decided to tell you, let you make your own choices. You know being back here nothing's changed," he shrugged his shoulders with a shake of his head, "Saltzman's still keeping secrets, even from those who deserve to know."

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Henrik made sure to come to the school early in the morning and whilst waiting for Landon, he found himself with familiar faces. Jed and most of the wolves were the first he ran into. Ever since hearing about how he triggered his wolf side, they'd been more welcoming to him since before. A few witches perked up and sat as he spoke about his exploits from the past two years. Then Kaleb and MG showed up, they both had a spark of curiosity whilst feigning interest in joining them. They were a little far off from him but no doubt listening in.

"So, there I was, covered in just a bedsheet and failing to get my underwear on before the door burst open, and in comes this angry old lady with a broom yelling all over the place. I don't even think about it, I grab my clothes, drop the sheet, and run through the door she came in. I can't even tell the difference between the change in scenery when it went from the greenhouse to a kitchen to a grand ballroom and I finally stop for a second and look around the place. I realize I am standing butt naked in Buckingham Palace," Henrik finishes as the rest of the group surrounding him burst into laughter.

He noticed it was easier being here than last time. He didn't have to hide who he was so often, he got to use the family charm he learned from Rebekah and Kol, and he stopped caring about what they thought. That paired with his traveling exploits ended up being catnip for the students who longed for the world outside their walls. He saw it in their faces, they were fascinated, they were jealous, they couldn't look away.

Once Henrik finished his tales and started to get up and leave, the others followed and scattered amongst them.

"So, you were man-whoring yourself throughout London, huh?" Lizzie was as blunt as ever.

"I prefer the term enjoying myself with like-minded people." He made it seem bigger than it was, really he had been with, what, four people over the last two years? All of them flings and meaningless in the end. The London one was the most recent one and particularly exciting. Three months ago, he had run into a pretty girl who turned out to be related to one of the royal advisors in the country. In the end, he relied on his wolf speed to get him out of there. And then on Elijah's compulsion.

"So, what, you're back now? Long term?" She asked, more serious this time. Lizzie was genuinely concerned, it didn't make any sense for Henrik to come back to Mystic Falls. He hated it here and he made that clear when he left. Something or someone brought him back, she just didn't know. "And since when are you social? You never hung out with anyone before, only sticking with—" she paused, as did Henrik who waited intently to hear what she'd say next. Her eyes drifted back and forth in thought. "With yourself." She delivered slowly like the words didn't make sense to her.

He looked at her for a while before saying, "A lot can change in two years."

"I don't get it, you found my dad, by now you must have your questions answered so why are you still here?"

"Can't I simply enjoy what the pristine Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted has to offer? After all—"

"Don't say it," She warns under her breath.

"—It is my family that pays the majority of its upkeep,"

"He said it," She muttered painfully, closing her eyes as she rubbed her forehead, "Do you ever get tired of using that over and over again?"

Henrik didn't answer, and she hated that. Henrik knew he didn't have to, he knew he won by doing that. She knew that he knew and it always pissed her off. It didn't even matter, if he wanted to stay he would. She'd never seen him in a situation he couldn't talk himself out of and it annoyed the hell out of her.

A beeping sound snapped them out of their staring contest. Henrik reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, glanced at it momentarily and then back to Lizzie, "Saved by the bell," he joked. Then he looked over the long deep blue dress she was wearing, it was old period style and it suited her well, "Beautiful gown, Elizabeth." He chose to say before departing.

Lizzie raised her eyebrows at that, since when was Henrik nice? He wasn't. He didn't pay compliments or try to make others feel better. It wasn't his style. So she ignored the flutter in her stomach when he said that. Henrik was just being Henrik. Annoying and mouthy as ever, and besides— she had Sebastian waiting for her in a field later. Why should she be bothered by any residual feelings— not residual, totally not residual— she had for Henrik Mikaelson? The feeling was obviously her unbridled fury. Yes, that's exactly what it was.

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"You sure we should be doing this?"

Landon walked like a man on a mission, "If Dr. Saltzman thinks he can ignore my calls like we don't live in the same town, he's got another thing coming." They were almost to the entrance of the Mystic Falls Public High School, "Namely monsters, because if they're back and after me now, I must've done something to screw up the night the Malivore pit went dry." He double-checked his phone, seeing that Henrik received his text to meet the high school so he could live up to his end of the deal. Besides, he'd rather get caught doing sketchy witch stuff here than at the Salvatore School where someone might find out what was actually happening. "And if I can't remember any of it, we need his help to figure out what changed and how to fix it, or we're all in danger. Not to mention the fact that he knew where to find help for you for months and didn't even try anything. Are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah, I'm always listening," Raf responded, not meeting his eyes.

Landon stopped in his tracks to look at him properly. "You should've stayed at the school." He lamented.

"I'm fine," Raf said with more emphasis.

"You need to rest for a few weeks at the least."

"I've been cooped up in those woods for months, right now I'd like to be around people."

Landon was about to bring up the advice he got from Henrik when a senior in a letterman jacket, who didn't even look at either of them, bumped into Raf's shoulder.

"Hey, man, watch what you—" But the senior just kept walking, like they weren't even there.

He waited for a bit before addressing Raf again, "Look, I know you say you're fine, but you were stuck as a wolf for a pretty long time."

"Yeah, and I'm back now. So it's all good."

"Thanks to Henrik." He reminded. He felt disappointed he couldn't even follow small instructions such as keeping Raf away from the general population. "He was pretty incredible."

Landon didn't miss the way Raf narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," Raf muttered playfully.

"No, what?" He asked again.

"I just thought you were with Josie,"

"I am with Josie,"

Raf nodded, "Right, and she's checking all your boxes: pretty, smart, likes music, and takes care of people." Landon scrunched up his face, "You like that in partners, don't deny it. But then comes in Henrik: pretty, smart, and didn't just take care of anyone, he was here barely a day and he fixed the problem." He gestured to himself. "You like him." He concluded just as they entered the building.

"I-I don't like him, I barely know him." He reasoned. There was something strangely familiar about Henrik, it was easy to talk to him and easy to listen to him. That was all.

Raf shrugged, "Doesn't mean you aren't attracted to him."

"Okay, I'm just going to put this in the back of my mind and leave it there," Landon said. "Wait, is that why you came with me?"

"What?"

"We're meeting Henrik here to talk to Dr. Saltzman, did you come to see how I'd act around Henrik?"

Rafael shrugged conspiratorially, "No, of course not, I, um, want to stop these monsters from getting to you. And if I happen to see you fluster and blush around Henrik, I mean, that's just an extra."

"Unbelievable." Landon rolled his eyes, but that didn't stop the growing smile on his lips.

When Raf started laughing, Landon was right behind him on it. Then he stopped when Raf doubled over, his laughter turning into coughs as he clenched his stomach.

"Hey, are you okay?" Landon stopped to watch him, "Raf?"

Rafael's head suddenly snapped up, his eyes cold and focused. It made Landon feel uneasy as he tried to approach his brother. When he began to growl and shine his golden wolf eyes, Landon knew it wouldn't be good. "Raf? Raf? Raf!"

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- yello, guess who's back

- so henrik is planting his seeds of destruction and having a blast while doing so

- but also giving good werewolf advice when it is so clearly needed

- sprinkled in some possible romances bc why not, lizzie getting butterflys

- landon is being questioned by raf if he likes a certain newcomer...

- also yes, landon is bi, this isn't brand-new news, he came out two years ago. hope (a fellow bi) knows, josie knows, lizzie knows, and that's about it. he doesn't hide it but he doesn't tell everyone, but if asked he would answer. the main thing is, he went from dating hope to josie in school, so once the school sees him with a boyfriend that's when they'll be like "ohh"

- yes, i put a spin on the 'monster of the week', it's no longer a possessing oni or samurai carrying it, but i put history behind it, i think ya'll will appreciate it

- finally, quote of the chapter, who said it? and can you guess to who?

no mundanes allowed
- polaroized