Chapter Text
“Rebekah, I’ve told you a million times, they have thick fur, they don’t get cold. Now please, get this thing out of the house before it ruins my suit.” Elijah stared at the wolf in his living room. His sister had an unusual fondness for the creatures, and for centuries she had been talking his ear off about adopting one. Especially when it got cold outside. He could almost hear her voice in his head. Elijah, please, look at those sad eyes. It’s gotta be freezing its adorable little paws off. Little paws. Elijah huffed in frustration as he took in the gigantic white wolf. If he got a single hair on his favourite suit, he would be very mad. But there was something about this wolf that he could not quite place.
Rebekah came downstairs in her pyjamas, carrying a fluffy blanket. “That’s not some random wolf, Elijah, though I stand on my point. Their adorable little paws do get cold. I mean, just look at him, what was I supposed to do? Kol and Freya are already working on a counter spell, but until then, we’ll just have to be there for him, okay?”
That couldn’t be. Elijah stared at the wolf - werewolf, in disbelief. “Niklaus?”
The wolf tilted its head and huffed. Really, Elijah? Took you long enough.
“Rebekah, what, pray tell, happened to our brother while I was out of town?” Elijah flashed upstairs to change into a suit he cared less about ruining. They had formed the habit of holding conversations without being in the same room.
“Oh, you know, the usual,” Rebekah deadpanned. “Nik upset a bunch of witches who found a way to get in contact with our dead mother, who provided them with a means to trap him in his wolf form. I found him pawing at my door just half an hour ago.”
Elijah reappeared in the living room. “And you gathered all that information in the past 30 minutes?”
Rebekah snorted. “It was not that hard to piece together that he fucked someone over and got fucked over in turn. Now, make yourself useful and light the fireplace, would you? His little paws are cold.”
Elijah knew better than to argue with Rebekah. He gave the wolf - his brother, he corrected himself - a wide berth. “His paws are not little, Rebekah,” he grumbled, causing Klaus to give a small whine.
“Perhaps not, but they are cold all the same. Now stop being so mean to him.” She settled on the sofa, tucking her legs underneath the blanket. She looked at Klaus expectantly. “Come here, Nik,” she called.
With a dramatic eyeroll, Elijah turned around. “Sister, are you-” he paused when he watched Klaus jump onto the sofa and walk in circles until he finally flopped down with a huff and put his snout on Rebekah’s thigh.
When the fire was to Elijah’s satisfaction, he stood before the sofa, arms crossed as he watched his siblings. Rebekah was raking her fingernails over Klaus’ head, and he was making contented little sounds. “Rebekah, you cannot be serious.” Elijah shook his head, raising an eyebrow when Klaus growled at him. “Oh please, Niklaus, do you wish to add anything?” he asked the wolf, who bared his teeth.
“Ignore him, Nik. Elijah is just jealous,” Rebekah declared. She leaned down to kiss Klaus’ head, leaving behind a bit of pink lipstick on his fur. Oh well, he wouldn’t notice.
Elijah sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why on earth would I be jealous, sister?”
“Because he chose me and not you,” Rebekah replied. “But in case you stop moping, there is still room for one more.” She patted the sofa on her other side.
“Rebekah, he chose you because he is well aware of your love for dogs.” Elijah sighed in exasperation. Against his better judgement, he unbuttoned his jacket and moved to the sofa to sit next to Rebekah. That should be enough distance to keep his suit from being ruined. Rebekah let her head fall against his shoulder. Feeling something touch his thigh, Elijah looked down and found Klaus, sprawled over Rebekah’s lap, his snout nudging at Elijah’s stomach, as if he was trying to warm his nose. His suit was covered in fur. Oh well, the damage was done. Elijah gently touched Klaus’ nose, finding it freezing cold. “You really are cold, aren’t you, Niklaus?” he asked.
The wolf gave him a pitiful look.
“Told you,” Rebekah mumbled, already half asleep.
Elijah sighed. The smell of wet dog continued to assault his nose. “If Freya does not have a way to turn you back by tonight, we’ll have to give you a bath, brother. You reek.”