elemental ? n. m.

"I'm on the highway to Hell!" I shout in sync with the radio blaring in the background.

As I tapped along the wheel, I let my eyes fleet over the sleeping hybrid next to me. Lord knows how he hasn't woken from my blatant screeching. I sighed, pleased at the relaxed look on his face, knowing he must be dreaming. Perhaps of simpler times.

Maybe of human times.

My heart aches whenever I catch his gaze off guard. Well, it skips many immortal beats, I guess. He's not what I expected, I guess.

He was misunderstood. That, that was something I already knew, if half my conversations with Rebekah meant anything. But Niklaus misunderstood himself. I just hope he'll realize before it's too late.

"What happened to your incessant screech you call singing? Cat caught your tongue?" The Original whispered hoarsely from next to me.

I giggled and lowered the radio, turning slightly in attention.

"More like Hybrid got my tongue." I said back, a slight pull on my lips.

"Oh?" Niklaus' brows raised, and a slow smirk raised onto his face. "Oh."

"Yeah." I laughed, albeit shakily. "I know that we have this connection." I rolled my eyes when I saw his suggestive look as I stopped at a traffic light. "From before we physically met, my magic has somehow attached itself to your entity."

"What? How do you know this?"

"Sometimes," I gulped, making a turn, "I can feel your pain. Like the night of the sacrifice those months ago."

"I was ripped apart from the inside out." Niklaus stated.

I nodded, "I know. I felt it all— emotionally. There was the physical pain, but the mental pain is what scars most of us in the long run."

"So you want to be rid of it? Makes sense to want to severe what gives you so much pain." Nik smiled sarcastically, before his stoic expression returned.

"Nik—." I start, but was immediately cut off.

"No, Aella. It seems you've made your point very clear."

"Stop, Niklaus." I say firmly, as I pull into a spare parking spot at the hotel I chose for the night. "I would never brake our bond." I sigh, "I couldn't if I tried, nature has laws that can't be broken."

"I don't know about that." Nik says, obviously uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

"You should." I brush my hand along his arm, "What we have is not something that was just dealt to us. I chose it. I hope you've done so too. You trust me," I giggle, before getting serious, "I mean, you slept while I drove south, trusting I wouldn't take you right back to face your biggest fear."

He chuckled, "I did."

"You've also healed me from severe wounds, when you could have taken advantage and had a very nutritious meal."

"Hmm," I see Niklaus' eyes twinkle, "I do suppose your blood is more than delectable." He licks his lip, and my heart hammers against my rib cage. "But being around you is indescribable. I feel your understanding."

I smile and he reaches over to clasp my warm hand, "I also feel your rapidly beating heart."

At his snarky comment I used my other hand to hit him hard on his chest.

Ouch.

"Ouch, Ae!"

"Don't make it weird."