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Hawk hadn't given Klaus much thought.
Because to him, this was a trivial matter. Barely worth mentioning.
All that had to happen was this: Klaus would show up, Hawk would show up, and Klaus would accept the terms.
Whether he liked it or not.
He didn't have a choice.
Once upon a time, Hawk hadn't had a choice either. He'd been forced to watch as the monsters who killed his sister—the Hulk and the Abomination—went their separate ways, free and unpunished. So he chose to get stronger. To make sure that one day, the person without a choice wouldn't be him anymore.
And he'd succeeded.
But Klaus never appeared. Not even after Hawk spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Gwen in Mystic Falls, not even as they prepared to head back to New York. Klaus was nowhere to be found.
And it wasn't just Klaus.
Even Klaus's brother—the Original vampire named Elijah, who'd shown up once to convince Stefan and the others that if they could just find the moonstone, he'd ask Klaus for forgiveness on their behalf—had vanished without a trace after that single appearance.
Caroline and the others didn't understand.
Especially once they learned Hawk and Gwen were leaving the next day, confusion turned into anxiety.
Early that morning, Caroline arrived at the manor wearing a purple dress, finding Hawk in front of a mirror as Gwen patiently coached him through tying a necktie.
"Elena and Stefan are worried." Caroline looked at Hawk. "They're afraid that the moment you leave for New York, Klaus will show up."
Hawk glanced at Gwen, then looked at Caroline with a smile. "Klaus not coming to town isn't my fault."
Honestly, he was curious about why Klaus hadn't shown up either.
After all, three days ago had been a full moon. By all logic, Klaus wouldn't have passed up that opportunity.
And if he remembered the original plot correctly, once Katherine was captured by Stefan and Damon, the Original Klaus should have already been on his way to Mystic Falls.
Yet—Klaus never appeared.
Hawk was curious about it, but not curious enough to stay in Mystic Falls just to find out.
Like he'd said before, Klaus was a minor issue. He had more important things to handle.
Like Dr. Merrick, who was very likely a Heaven dimension operative.
He'd given this so-called Dr. Merrick the entire Christmas holiday to use his blood and clone something impressive enough to catch his attention.
But he'd seen nothing. Which meant this Dr. Merrick's skills were mediocre at best.
If that was the case...
Fine. He'd finish his vacation, track down the real Dr. Merrick, drag him into the Underworld, and let him experience the Eight Prisons of Hell Hawk had personally designed. Guaranteed to blow his mind.
Caroline listened to Hawk's words and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blame you. You know that. I'm just saying—what if you leave and Klaus decides to drain Elena?"
Hawk laughed, glancing at Caroline.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Uh..."
Caroline opened her mouth, then froze.
Gwen, standing nearby and watching Hawk fumble with his tie in the mirror, chuckled. She stepped forward and swatted his clumsy hands away.
Hawk let her take over, looking down at Gwen as she worked on his tie with practiced ease.
"Do I really have to wear this thing?"
"Grandpa gave it to you. So yes. You have to wear it."
Gwen made quick work of the tie, adjusting it with a few deft movements before smoothing out his crisp white shirt. She smiled up at him. "Besides, Grandpa really wants to take a picture of you in a suit. He loves that old saying—'A suit is a man's second face.'"
Hawk's mouth curved into a smile.
"Maybe for ordinary men. But for me, it's the Surplice. Want me to put that on instead?"
"I'm trying to make Grandpa happy."
Gwen met his eyes. "Not send him to the hospital."
Hawk shrugged. "Trust me, your grandfather's tougher than you think."
After all, there was an angel's skeleton locked up in the basement of the guest house.
So realistically, there probably wasn't much left in the world that could surprise William Fox.
Gwen held his gaze, catching sight of Caroline fidgeting nearby, clearly wanting to say something. She changed the subject, reaching for the freshly pressed suit jacket draped across the bed. "Do you think Klaus sensed your presence in Mystic Falls and stayed away because he's afraid you'll kill him?"
Caroline's eyes lit up at that. She looked at Hawk hopefully.
Hawk raised his arms, letting Gwen help him into the jacket, and smiled. "Do I look that scary?"
Gwen finished adjusting the jacket and stepped back to admire her work. "Maybe in the supernatural world, you're already infamous. After all, you are the Demon King."
Once again, Wipe out families at minimum. Entire bloodlines at maximum. That wasn't hyperbole. It was fact. The foundation of Hawk's title: Phoenix, also known as the Demon King.
Hawk tilted his chin up at Gwen's silent instruction. "Yeah, I'm the Demon King. And you're the Demon King's leash. You know that, right? As long as you're around, I basically never lose my temper."
Gwen made a final adjustment to his collar, glancing up at him.
"But when you do lose it, you're terrifying."
"I only counterattack."
"I know." Gwen smiled faintly, stepping back a few paces to take in the full effect. Hawk stood there in the custom-tailored suit her grandfather had commissioned from the town tailor as a Christmas gift. She nodded approvingly. "Can you find Klaus? Caroline's worry isn't unreasonable. What if we leave and he shows up the moment we're gone?"
Hawk shook his head with a quiet laugh, then looked at Gwen and offered a solution. "If She's that worried, you can invite her to New York. Katherine Pierce already left for the city anyway."
Caroline blinked in surprise, cutting in. "Wait—Katherine Pierce? What's she doing in New York?"
Hawk didn't answer. Gwen did.
Gwen turned to Caroline. "Ms. Pierce did Hawk a favor, so in return, he's making Klaus stop hunting her."
Caroline blinked again.
"What kind of favor?"
"That's not your business."
Gwen smiled pleasantly. "Besides, Hawk has things to handle in New York. So if your friend Elena is worried, you can pass along his offer. I'd be happy to have her stay at my place while she's in the city."
Caroline thought about it, then nodded.
"I'll ask her."
"Great."
Gwen chuckled, then stopped Caroline, who looked like she was about to bolt. "After we take the photos."
Today was their last day in Mystic Falls. On Christmas, Grandpa William had suggested they all gather on the manor lawn for a family photo—Hawk, Gwen, Aunt Liz, and Caroline. Once developed, the pictures would be framed and hung on the walls of Fox Manor.
Hawk and Gwen had agreed without hesitation.
Aunt Liz and Caroline had agreed as well.
The photographer was a local from town with a stellar reputation. Some tourists who visited Mystic Falls multiple times would specifically seek him out to photograph them at the town's scenic spots.
Today, the photographer actually had a prior appointment.
But the Fox family was one of the founding families of Mystic Falls. So the photographer rescheduled his other client—offering them a free session to make up for it—and came to the manor instead.
The photo session didn't take long.
Once Aunt Liz arrived in her patrol car, everyone got into position. Within an hour, they'd taken pictures on the front lawn, the side gardens, and the backyard flower beds.
Once the session wrapped up, Caroline bolted to find Elena.
Aunt Liz headed back to work.
Hawk immediately returned to the bedroom, loosened his tie, unbuttoned his collar, and looked at Gwen. "I still don't like suits."
Gwen, who had followed him inside, smiled gently.
"You looked really handsome in it. Really sharp."
"...Give me time to adjust."
Hawk heard her words and suddenly decided that maybe suits weren't so bad after all.
Gwen's taste had always been impeccable.
"So, our flight's at eight tomorrow morning. What do you want to do this afternoon? Stay at the manor?"
"Pack."
"Pack?" Hawk raised an eyebrow, glancing at the already-packed luggage on the table—along with the gifts Grandpa William, Aunt Liz, and Caroline had given them, plus the presents they'd bought for George and Helen. "Isn't everything already packed?"
Gwen smiled mysteriously, lowering her voice. "I'm talking about the flowers in the greenhouse. I've got my eye on three pots. I already called FedEx. I timed it so they'd come during Grandpa's nap. By the time we get home tomorrow, the flowers will be there waiting."
Hawk's expression turned wry. He thought about it, looked at Gwen, and nodded.
"Clever."
"Thank you."
"Remind me—when we have kids, we're having boys."
"Why? You don't want a daughter?"
"Of course I'd love—"
Before Hawk could finish, Gwen's phone rang. She answered, her eyes lighting up as she glanced at Hawk. After hanging up, she turned toward the door. "FedEx is here. Hawk, use your powers to make sure Grandpa doesn't hear anything from the greenhouse."
Hawk, still standing in the bedroom, felt his mouth twitch.
...
Half an hour later.
The FedEx delivery truck rumbled out of Fox Manor's gates.
Gwen stood at the entrance, watching the truck disappear into the distance. She let out a relieved breath—then noticed a familiar car approaching from the opposite direction.
Caroline's silver Corolla.
But Caroline wasn't alone. Elena and Stefan were with her.
After Caroline had explained the solution Hawk had offered, Elena had been conflicted at first.
She didn't really want to go to New York. After all, who knew if Klaus would actually come after her?
But once Caroline mentioned that Katherine Pierce had also left for New York, Stefan immediately suggested that he and Elena should go too.
In Stefan's words, He might not know Klaus all that well (his memories were still sealed at this point), but he knew his ex-girlfriend Katherine Pierce inside and out.
Because survival was etched into Katherine's very bones.
She knew where to go to stay alive.
So, They'd come to the manor to tell Hawk their decision in person.
Gwen watched as Elena and Stefan climbed out of the car. After listening to their plan, she smiled warmly. "Both of you together? Of course. You're more than welcome."
Stefan and Elena exchanged a glance, then looked at Gwen. "Ms. Stacy, we were wondering if Mr. Phoenix—"
Before Stefan could finish—
Hawk stepped out of the manor's main building and appeared beside Gwen in the blink of an eye.
Stefan's dead heart—which hadn't beaten in over a century—suddenly lurched.
Gwen noticed how nervous Stefan and Elena looked in Hawk's presence and chuckled. She turned to Hawk. "Elena wanted to ask if she and her boyfriend Stefan could come to New York together."
Hawk's gaze drifted toward the direction of town. Hearing Gwen's words, he glanced briefly at Elena and Stefan.
"They don't need to go to New York anymore."
"Huh?"
"Mr. Phoenix, if it's because of me—"
Stefan froze, assuming Hawk didn't like him. He quickly started to explain.
But Hawk had already vanished.
"Klaus is here. So you don't need to leave town."
"...Klaus?"
Stefan jolted, spinning around to stare in the direction of town.
WHOOSH.
Hawk's form materialized silently in front of the town's daytime bar.
Pedestrians and tourists walking along the street didn't seem to notice his sudden appearance at all. It was as if Hawk showing up out of thin air was the most natural thing in the world.
Using the Reality Stone, Hawk had modified his presence to make himself unnoticeable. The moment his hand touched the bar's door, he canceled the effect, pushed it open, and stepped inside.
Instantly—
Hawk's eyes landed on the figure sitting alone at the bar counter, one hand casually toying with a glass of whiskey.
The Original vampire. Klaus Mikaelson.
The moment Hawk saw Klaus, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
At the same time—
Klaus, seeing Hawk walk in—his presence shifting from nonexistent to overwhelming in the span of a heartbeat—felt his trademark smirk falter. A flash of surprise flickered in his gaze.
Hawk walked straight over and sat down in the booth across from Klaus.
A bartender approached, offering him a drink menu.
Hawk had turned twenty after this past Christmas, but he wasn't twenty-one yet. Still, he didn't look like a minor anymore—not by appearance or demeanor.
So the bartender defaulting to assuming he was legal made sense.
But Hawk waved the bartender off.
The bartender nodded, unbothered. It was daytime. The boss didn't have a rule against people sitting around without ordering drinks.
Once the bartender left, Hawk looked at Klaus, who was watching him intently, and spoke first.
"Mikaelson. Klaus Mikaelson."
"That's right."
Klaus's voice carried a thick London accent. His lips curved into a faintly wicked smile as he looked at Hawk. "I assume you're here about Ms. Elena Gilbert?"
Hawk smiled pleasantly. "And Katherine Pierce."
Klaus's expression shifted to understanding. "May I ask why?"
Hawk smiled, activating the power of his Face Fruit.
"Do me a favor. Stop chasing Katherine Pierce."
"..."
Klaus said nothing. He simply stared at Hawk, the smile on his face growing wider, as if barely suppressing the urge to laugh outright.
"Do you a favor?"
"Yes."
"I don't even know who you are."
"Phoenix. Hawk Phoenix. If you're doing me a favor, you can call me Hawk."
"Hawk Phoenix."
Klaus leaned back in the booth, still toying with his whiskey glass. His gaze bored into Hawk. "A few days ago, when I saw you, your presence was completely different from now."
A few days ago?
Hawk didn't remember Klaus seeing him at all.
He raised an eyebrow.
Before his thoughts could catch up, Klaus continued. "I don't think you have the—"
Hawk's Cosmo stirred. Just slightly.
In that instant, The mocking smile forming on Klaus's face froze. The amusement in his eyes vanished immediately. His pupils contracted sharply as he stared at Hawk, suddenly silent.
It was like standing at the edge of an infinite abyss. For the briefest moment, Klaus felt the presence of something vast and incomprehensible—a force that didn't just dwarf him, but made him feel like an insect staring up at the cosmos itself.
Not power in the traditional sense.
This was something else entirely. A universe contained within a single being. Stars, gravity, the weight of existence itself—all compressed into the man sitting across from him.
Klaus's breath caught. His immortal confidence wavered.
Hawk smiled pleasantly, deploying his Face Fruit once more.
"I think I have that kind of pull. Don't you agree, Klaus?"
"...Of course."
Klaus's mind reeled. The shock still echoed through him, the memory of that energy—vast as the cosmos, brilliant as the stars—refusing to fade. He recovered his composure, lifted his whiskey glass, and spoke with newfound respect. "As you wish, Hawk. Katherine Pierce will no longer be hunted by me or my vampires."
Hawk's smile widened. "Thank you."
See?
Problem solved.
Hawk didn't leave immediately. Instead, he looked at Klaus with curiosity. "When did you unlock your werewolf bloodline? Elena's doppelgänger has been in Mystic Falls this whole time."
That was why he'd only mentioned Katherine earlier, not Elena.
Because Klaus's werewolf blood had already been unsealed.
Without capturing Elena.
Klaus met Hawk's curious gaze, his own expression tinged with mild intrigue.
"Three days ago. You were there. Don't you remember, Hawk?"
"I've been in Mystic Falls the whole time. Three days ago, I—"
Hawk started to respond reflexively, then stopped mid-sentence. He stared at Klaus as realization dawned.
"You found another doppelgänger?"
"Yes."
"And I was there too?"
"Yes. Though the version of you I saw was... different from the one sitting in front of me now."
"Where?"
"Moloka'i. Mauna Loa."
"..."
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