Who:Dad! Kol and Kayla What: Kayla believes Kol is actually her dad Where: their house When: relationship confusion plot Warnings: low. But a bit of cute father/daughter fluff Status: g-doc
Kayla called out when she arrived home after school. She didn’t have a shift at Aunt Alyssa’s store today, so she’d headed home. “Hey Dad! Guess who got an A on her independent English paper? Turns out I did have enough to say about the female representation in Beowulf.” Spoiler alert: it sucked. Truthfully, Kayla hadn’t been sure this paper would turn out well, but she did feel determined when her teacher suggested she pick a different topic. As a Mikaleson, Kayla never backed down from a challenge, especially not as Kol Mikaelson’s daughter. A smile formed on her face, though, that she’d met the challenge head on and overcome it, even if the challenge was a 7-10 page paper on a subject of her choice. At least English was done for the year.
She went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water and put a cinnamon raisin bagel in the toaster. Allison wouldn’t be home from work for a few hours and, while it was Kayla’s turn tonight to cook for the family, the teen had finals that wouldn’t study themselves, sadly. Besides, spaghetti wasn’t that hard to cook when she’d prepped the veggies the night before. Yes, she’d felt a bit odd when her father met someone new, but Kol deserved happiness and Kayla truly liked Allison.
Kol heard his daughter before she called out to him. Not surprising, she’d succeeded in an endeavor others believed she’d fail at. As his daughter, it was impossible for her not to have the same incredible stubborn streak that he possessed. That same drive to prove others wrong when they were so sure they were right. The vampire closed the book he’d been reading and headed down to the kitchen, eager to hear more about Kayla’s day.
With his supernatural speed, it didn’t take long for the original vampire to appear in the kitchen. “Hello, darling.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I knew you could bloody do it by the way. Show up that teacher.” While a little earlier for bourbon, Kol poured himself a glass of water as well and claimed a seat at the table.
“Do anything else fun today? Besides make that teacher feel rather foolish,” Kol inquired as he took a sip of water.
Kayla grinned when her father quickly appeared in front of her and hugged him. “Hey Dad. How was your day? Reading anything fun?” Her bagel popped and she buttered it, before she joined her father at the table.
“I truly wish you could have seen his face when he handed me back my paper. Got the only A in the class too.” Kayla tended to push herself academically, even if she knew she couldn’t go to any college other than the one in the Dome. Her dream had always been Berkely, but she could just as easily do pre-Med with a minor in art here. “I believe his words were I should have known better, which yes. He should.” Kayla came by her prideful streak honestly, at least.
“Not really. Review in classes and also a run to get beignets at lunch. Oh! Uncle Elijah said he’d drive me home from school tomorrow since I have to get my art pieces out of the classroom.” She took a bite of her bagel. Honestly, the teen thought it rather lucky how much family they had in this place.
“I think I’m ready for my bio exam, at least.”
Kol returned the hug. “Nothing to write home about, love. And you know, just reading the classics.” Yes, it was all novels and poetry Kol had perused throughout the centuries, but he couldn’t help, but go back to it once and a while even when he knew the words by heart. There was comfort in those pages, familiarity, and Kol enjoyed getting lost in those tales whenever he could.
The original vampire chuckled. “Of course you did.” He wasn’t surprised to hear that the teacher regretted his choice either. Kayla had a way of doing that to someone. People that doubted her abilities often lived to regret it. Sure, she had a prideful streak and was stubborn, but Kol didn’t think of those things as necessary weaknesses. He thought of them as strengths.
For the most part, Kol also considered it lucky that they had a lot of family in this place. Sure, he could do without Klaus, but his other siblings were just fine by him. “I’m glad to hear he is pulling his weight in the family,” Kol replied with a cheeky smile. He wasn’t surprised Elijah had offered to drive Kayla; he knew the other vampire had a soft spot for the teenager.
Kol took a sip of water. “I don’t doubt it, darling. You take your studies seriously. Everyone knows it.”
Because it had been basically Kol and Kayla her entire life, she obviously read a lot of classics and poetry too, although she’d been on a dark romance kick lately. Ironic given she was dating clearly the opposite of the toxic males in the books. “Speaking of classics, the bookstore has a pretty illustrated edition of Pride and Prejudice. Just in case you haven’t finished birthday shopping for me.” Kayla turned eighteen on June 30th. “Oh. Aunt Alyssa texted. Damien still hasn’t decided if he’s making an appearance for my birthday dinner and I may…have asked her to tell him to not.” Kayla might enjoy reading dark romance novels, but she did not particularly like her aunt’s choice in men (Damien reminded her of some of the men in those books), and her tone of voice indicated as much. Even if Damien married her aunt he wouldn’t be uncle like Uncle Marcel.
Of course they were strengths. Kayla might be strictly human, unlike her cousin, but she was raised to have the pride of any Mikaelson. Obviously.
She laughed at her father’s trademark grin. “I believe he may have saidSo your father doesn’t say I never help. But yes, I think he has to drive Clawdeen anyway.” Thankfully her uncle did have a soft spot for her.
Sitting and talking with her dad after school was one of her favourite things and, even as a teen, she could admit as much. Somehow she’d ended up with a stellar dad. Which reminded her, “Do you think we can take a graduation trip? Aunt Alyssa said she would give me the week off after graduation anyway to recharge.”
“I have a few things picked out, but I certainly don’t mind adding that to the pile,” Kol replied with a smile. He enjoyed spoiling Kayla whenever he had the chance. The KitchenAid and expensive cookware were just a few of the examples of that. At the mention of Damien, Kol’s expression darkened. “You know my opinion on him, love. I’d rather he not make an appearance either.” Much like Kayla, Kol wasn’t a fan of Damien, but he respected Alyssa enough to respect her choice in who she wanted to love.
Kol chuckled. “Sounds like your Uncle Elijah.” He never expected to have an actual good relationship with his elder brother, but being trapped here changed things. They had grown closer and Kol found himself grateful for the opportunity.
The Original Vampire was happy and grateful that Kayla still enjoyed chatting with him after a day of school. He knew many teenagers barely spoke to their parents and instead just went to their room without a word. Kayla wanted to talk to him and to Allison. She wanted to be a part of their lives as much as they wanted to be a part of her life too.
He took a sip of water and nodded. Kol was already going to throw Kayla a graduation party so a trip was more than okay with him. “We can definitely take a trip. Is there any place in particular you want to go?”
Kol spoiled his only daughter rotten and it hadn’t diminished the older she became. Kayla knew how incredibly lucky she was to have a father who supported her in her cooking endeavours and her art. Not everyone had supportive fathers. Hell, when she’d come out as bisexual, Kayla never worried about her father’s reaction. “You’re a peach Dad. The peachiest,” she joked.
When his expression darkened, Kayla sighed. She rather disliked mentioning Damien to her father, knowing how he felt. Did Kayla once ask her aunt why the fuck Damien? Yup. Thankfully, Aunt Alyssa didn’t get angry, but just said, “He’s the best of both,” whatever the fuck that meant.
The teen knew what family meant to her father, to his siblings. She’d learned from a very young age that her father hadn’t experienced the easiest family life over the many centuries he lived. So, Kayla made a promise to herself in her early years that she’d never drift apart from her dad or treat him like most teenagers did. Besides, most teenagers didn’t have Kol for a dad. The only time it sucked was when people mentioned how hot he was and like ew? No?
Kayla figured her father had a party of some sort planned, because he enjoyed throwing parties for her. She just hoped this one didn’t go too over the top, or maybe a small part of her did. “I know you’re planning a party, but absolutely no live animals this time, please,” she joked, remembering about a birthday party that went badly once because farm animals did not enjoy the scent of vampires. Oops. “Okay, don’t laugh, but I want to go to Tokyo Disneyland. We could get a suite for the three of us. Or two rooms, but the hotel looks gorgeous and …” Kayla chewed her lip. “I know what I want and I’m excited for the future, but this feels like a way to hold on to the now just a little longer.” Things felt like they kept changing and while she barely remembered her mother, she still felt a pang that she couldn’t see Kayla achieve these milestones. Plus, unlike her relatives, Kayla wouldn’t live forever unless she got turned into a vampire and…she still didn’t know if she wished for such a thing.
Having been a “black sheep” in his own family, Kol knew how important the acceptance of family was to a child. He’d spent most of his eternity trying to matter to his siblings and only recently it seemed they’d finally managed to accept him for who he was. To see him as more than just a psychotic killer. So when Kayla came out as bisexual, Kol immediately accepted and supported his daughter just as he did with her art, cooking, and education. Family was unconditional love and Kol never wanted Kayla to doubt him.
“A rather rotten one,” Kol joked in return. While he’d mellowed quite a bit since becoming a father, there was still a part of him that would always be a cheeky bastard. Would always consider himself to truly be rather rotten. Because redemption was hardly an easy road to tread and Kol knew he still had miles to go when it came to self-acceptance and forgiveness.
Kol heard Kayla’s sigh, but he said nothing. It was no secret that he disliked Damien and while he’d accepted their relationship, Kol did not see his opinion on the other vampire changing anytime soon.
The original vampire feigned a frown. “And here I was looking forward to the petting zoo and taking your picture on the cute pony.” Kol wouldn’t be having live animals at his daughter’s graduation. No, the party would be more sophisticated and fitting to her tastes now. Besides, with his siblings and himself around, there was always the chance it would turn into a zoo anyway.
Kol didn’t think it was silly that Kayla wanted to go to Tokyo Disneyland. She wanted to embrace the now one more time before venturing into the future. He thought it would be a fitting send off in a way. “I don’t think it’s silly, Kayla. You simply want to enjoy now as much as you can before taking that leap into your future. It’s normal, love. If you want to go to Tokyo Disneyland then that is what we will do. I’m sure Allison won’t have a problem with it.” Unless it interfered with work somehow, but Kol didn’t see that being an issue.
Kayla lived a life full of love, first and foremost, because of her father. She refused to see him as psychotic, because he’d always been Dad to her. The man who taught her how to ride a bike, read and appreciate poetry (with a love for e.e. cummings), realize she loved art like her uncle and cousin, and be forced to endure way too many taste tests before Kayla mastered any form of cooking.
She wrinkled her nose and replied, half joking. “We’ve talked about this, Dad. You only get to insult yourself when I’m not in earshot. Otherwise I’ll pick up bad habits and think it’s okay to say those things about myself.” She added a smile, though, to show she didn’t really mean it. And yes, she did have a therapist as a Mikaelson and the only human one without magic. Thank God for Linda.
When it came to parties, Kayla trusted her father, especially with the help of her aunts. “I know. However will you manage to get over not smelling goat?” Kayla stood to rinse her plate, having finished her bagel. Her phone beeped with the telltale sign Uncle Elijah texted her. “Oh thank God. Uncle Elijah ordered takeout for us.” The prep for the spaghetti would last another day and she felt like she needed the time to study. One more exam. The teen walked over and hugged her father.
“Then I guess I should finish studying so I can plan out the trip. Thanks Dad. Really. For understanding and just…being the best father I could imagine.” Kayla could be as cheeky and sarcastic as her father, but this moment called for sincerity. “I love you. Of the always and forever variety.”
“Easy, love. One should always be able to poke fun at themselves. To own their shortcomings. It means they can never be used against you,” Kol replied in a gentle tone. Her smile told him she didn’t mean it and that she recognized he was joking. However, Kol was truthful with his words. Owning your weaknesses, what others considered your faults, meant that they could never be used against you. It gave you power you never believed you could have.
Kol chuckled and raised the back of his hand to his head playfully. “I don’t know. It will be such a tragedy to not have the stench of a goat clinging to my expensive clothes for the entirety of the party.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, his hand lowered and he was chuckling. He was surprised he managed to keep a straight face through the entirety of that sentence.
The original vampire polished off his water and stood to rinse out his glass. “He must have known you had some studying still to do tonight.” Kol scrubbed out the glass and dried it just as Kayla approached him and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. The gesture melted Kol’s dead heart and he shut the cabinet. He engulfed her in his arms.
“Of course, love. You’re my daughter and I will do my best for you all the time. You matter more than anything. I’ll always be there for you.” He smiled and pressed a kiss to her head. “I love you too, darling. Always and forever.”