𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡'𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝑘𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑜𝑛

18. chaos in first class

Stefan groaned again, and Aurora couldn't resist. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me you're not secretly enjoying this. Admit it: you like when I annoy you."

Stefan's eyes narrowed. "I do not."

Aurora made a face. "Sure. Sure. Denial is the first step. Next you'll be saying you like my sparkling personality and relentless optimism."

"I..." Stefan stopped himself, running a hand over his face. "I have nothing to say to that."

Aurora clapped her hands together, satisfied with the silence. Klaus, for his part, leaned back, clearly entertained by the spectacle.

Hours passed as they flew, and Aurora, despite herself, began to feel a tiny sense of pride. She was surviving. She was keeping her nerves mostly in check. And yes, she might have annoyed both of them almost continuously, but she was also starting to see glimpses of their personalities she wouldn't have noticed otherwise—the soft hints behind Klaus's amusement, Stefan's quiet patience, the way Klaus occasionally seemed to notice small details about her preferences, even this early in their journey.

By the time the pilot announced that they would begin their descent, Aurora leaned back in her seat, hands clasped over her lap, and sighed. "Well...that wasn't nearly as terrifying as I imagined. Mostly."

Klaus gave a soft, amused laugh. "Mostly? I'll hold you to that."

Aurora grinned. "Good. I expect you to. Otherwise, what's the point of all this drama, right?"

Stefan exhaled, shaking his head. "I'm...going to regret saying this, but you're impossible."

Aurora smirked, leaning back as the jet glided smoothly toward their destination. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought about home, about her friends, about Lucy, Mateo, Gabrielle, and Derek, and she felt a twinge of sadness—but also an odd thrill. This was terrifying, yes, and unpredictable, yes—but it was hers to navigate, and somehow, she was going to make it work.

And she'd be the same sparkling, slightly chaotic, endlessly persistent Aurora through it all.

୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧

The jet touched down on the private landing strip with a smoothness that made Aurora momentarily forget the tension coiling in her chest. Through the window, she watched the city lights stretch into a sparkling panorama, each one feeling simultaneously exciting and distant, like a reminder of everything she had left behind. She pressed her palm to the cool glass, a small, nervous grin tugging at her lips.

"Stay close," Stefan murmured from behind, his voice calm but firm. He moved slightly to position himself between her and the aisle, just enough to make sure she felt protected without making her feel trapped. His hand brushed hers when he shifted, a subtle, grounding presence.

Aurora exhaled with a mixture of humor and relief. "Don't worry, Stefan. I'm never leaving your side. Not that you'd let me anyway." She gave him a playful look, trying to lighten the weight of the moment. Stefan's jaw tightened slightly at her words, and he let out the tiniest of groans, clearly amused despite himself.

Klaus, as always, moved forward with a measured confidence that made Aurora's chest tighten a little. His sharp gaze swept over them both, calculating and precise. "The hotel awaits," he said smoothly, his tone dryly amusing. "Our room has been prepared."

Aurora blinked and let out a small laugh, half incredulous. "Prepared? Klaus, I can't even imagine. Is it all secret passageways and chandeliers the size of my house?"

Stefan suppressed a chuckle behind her, shaking his head subtly. He was well aware that Aurora's humor was a coping mechanism as much as it was her personality, and he found it strangely comforting.