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𝐀   𝐒 𝐂 𝐇 𝐎 𝐎 𝐋   𝐃 𝐀 𝐍 𝐂 𝐄

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"I can't believe we're about to do this," Dax sighed.

"It's just for one night," Brett chuckled as he rubbed Dax's back.

"Yeah one hell of a nightmare night," Dax said as he looked to Brett like he had lost it, "Do you remember what I did to these people when we were like eleven?"

"Time heals all?" Brett said as his voice raised a few octaves.

"Even the Buddhist werewolf doesn't believe that," Dax said with a raised brow.

"Just come on," Brett sighed as he got out of the car.

"Just saying this is a horrible idea. We should get a hotel," Dax said defensively as he got out.

"You get to spend more time with your cousin if we stay here."

"Yeah and with about seven hundred? other students that hate my guts."

"We'll be fine," Brett nodded with a small smile as he wrapped his arm around Dax's shoulders.

"What the hell is happening in here?" Dax muttered as he walked in.

"Annual decades dance, remember?" Josie said as she and Hope walked up.

"What happened to the airport?" Hope asked.

"First flight leaves tomorrow morning," Dax spoke as if it physically pained him to do so, "at five in the morning."

"So Mr. Grumpy Pants will have to wake up early," Brett smirked. Dax glared at him. 

"Is that who I think it is?" Jed said loudly.

"Here we go," Dax groaned as he turned around.

"Daxton Mikaelson! You return all of our memories then just pop out of here? Gotta say, I'm a little offended," Jed placed a hand on his heart.

"You're not pissed at me for breaking your arm?" Dax asked.

"You destroyed Malivore. I'd say my arm was worth it," Jed said.

"Alright-" Dax was cut off by a hand hitting his cheek. Dax closed his eyes as he rolled them out of annoyance. He popped his jaw, "Nice to see you too, Alyssa."

"You completely ghosted me," Alyssa glared.

"We were eleven," Dax reminded her, "And I moved back to New Orleans."

"It was enough for you to date Lizzie Saltzman not even a year later," Alyssa crossed her arms.

"Back off," Brett growled slightly. Dax placed a hand on Brett's stomach and pulled him back.

"Remember what we talked about in the car?" Dax asked as he raised his brows at Brett. Brett nodded and stepped back. He glared at Alyssa.

"Oh, you got a wolf on a leash now?" Brett glared at Alyssa.

"Alright, this reunion has been fun," Dax clasped his hands together, "But I need to talk to Dr. S. His office still in the same place?"

"Yeah," Hope nodded.

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"What can I do for you, Dax?" Alaric asked from behind his desk.

"I was wondering if my boyfriend and I could stay here for tonight? Our flight leaves super early in the morning and you won't notice we're here," Dax assured him.

"Congrats on coming out first of all," Alaric smiled. Dax gave him a slightly awkward smile, "Does he know about the supernatural?"

"I'd say he's been neck-deep in it," Dax nodded.

"Is he supernatural?" Alaric asked.

"No."

"Is he a hunter?"

"No, he's my boyfriend. I told him because he needed to know the dangers of being around me."

"Alright."

"Thank you," Dax smiled.

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"Why'd you lie to that guy?" Brett asked as they walked through the Mystic Falls town square.

"Dr. S is great, but he doesn't need to know there is a whole world of supernatural that Mystic Falls doesn't know about," Dax explained, "This town has enough issues without adding all-new species to the mix and hunters that have a code and seem like somewhat decent people."

"So hunters here just go around-"

"Killing anything and everything with fangs," Dax finished.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. Lizzie was having issues," Hope apologized as she walked up. A curly-haired boy walked up from behind her.

"What happened to keeping him away from me?" Dax smirked as he nodded towards Landon.

"I figured maybe this once you could be civil and not act like a parental figure?" 

"We'll see."

"Where are we going to lunch again?" Brett asked hoping to change the subject.

"The Grill," Dax answered as he intertwined his fingers with Brett's.

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They were all sat at a table waiting on their food. Dax and Brett were on one side of the booth while Hope and Landon were on the other. Dax was leaning into Brett, and Brett's arm was slung over Dax's shoulders. Brett ordered a water like the weird healthy boyfriend he was. Dax ordered a sweet tea having missed them. Hope ordered a lemonade. Landon ordered a coke.

"Are you guys coming to the dance tonight?" Hope asked with a smile as she stirred her drink with her straw.

"I don't know," Dax said as he played with Brett's hand.

"We're coming," Brett smiled. He looked over to Dax before adding to his statement, "It's a chance to let loose for a bit."

"It's not like it's a nightclub, B. It's just a high school dance," Dax sighed.

"I'll take you to a nightclub when we get back home," Brett said. Dax seemed content at that answer.

"I like him. He seems like fun," Hope commented.

"Any brothers or sisters, Landon?" Dax asked as he looked over to the curly-haired boy.

"Just my foster brother, Rafael," Landon nodded before taking a sip of his drink.

"Does Amanda still go to school?" Dax asked.

"No," Hope began to laugh. Dax began to laugh with her.

"Who is Amanda?" Brett asked.

"She uh, she lived in New Orleans with us and was a part of the Crescent Pack. She had a huge-huge crush on Dax," Hope laughed.

Dax slowly calmed down, "She, uh, she asked me out during spring break of eighth grade. It was just after I came out, and she had been away at boarding school so she didn't know. She had a whole freakshow meltdown," Dax's eyes widened slightly remembering it vividly.

"Hope, I need some embarrassing stories to hold over Dax. Got any?" Brett asked with a wide smile.

"No way! Not fair," Dax complained.

"What do you mean not fair?" Brett laughed, "Lori has told you so much crap about me."

"Because that isn't why we came here!"

"Who's Lori?" Hope smiled.

"My little sister," Brett explained, "Now come on, I know you have something on him."

"I will put you all to sleep!" Dax threatened.

"I'll only tell one," Hope said with a small smile.

"Fine," Dax groaned as he rested his head on the table.

"So the first time Dax got drunk-"

"No!" Dax shot up and pointed a finger in Hope's face.

"This one's embarrassing for me too!" Hope laughed. 

Brett rubbed Dax's back, "Continue."

"We stole the alcohol from my mom and our aunt," Hope continued the story, "We hadn't paid attention to what we grabbed. We just grabbed it and ran to his room because we didn't want to get caught. Our plan was full proof. Wine and movie night."

"How old were you?" Landon asked from next to Hope.

Dax hid his face in Brett's shoulder, "Fifteen."

"I did worse," Brett said as he smiled down at Dax who's face was still rested on his shoulder.

"Well once we got to the room we opened the bottle and started drinking while watching some horror movie... I don't even remember what it was called. But uh, my mom found us. She got really mad," Hope began laughing, "Dax started sobbing his eyes out."

"Hope thought the monster was under her bed!" Dax said as he pointed at her.

"How did wine make you guys that drunk?" Brett asked with a raised brow.

"We didn't grab wine," Dax clarified, "And we were lightweight teenagers."

"We grabbed bourbon. It was disgusting," Hope added.

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Dax was wearing a purple bandana, black jeans, an acid jean wash vest, black leather fingerless gloves, a studded belt, and leather boots. He was supposed to be an 80s rocker, "Are you almost ready?" Dax complained a bit. They were using a spare room for the night since there were a few extra.

"You forgot your mullet," Brett smirked as he walked out of the bathroom. He was wearing dark grey jeans, a fishnet tank, an acid wash jean vest, leather fingerless gloves, big boots, and a thick, studded choker. Part of his hair was blue from hair chalk.

"I think I'm good without it," Dax said as he took the black mullet from brett and tossed it onto the bed. Dax's hands slipped around Brett's waist, "You, on the other hand, are proving that you can pull off literally anything," Dax said as his eyes wandered over Brett. 

"Come on," Brett said as he put on white plastic sunglasses, "We have a dance to go to."

"I think you should wear this to your fancy private school on Monday," Dax commented as Brett pulled him through the school.

"You're one to talk," Brett said with a soft smile as he rolled his eyes, "And I would be kicked out."

"Then you could join me at BHH," Dax smiled.

"Not happening," Brett said softly.

"I had to try," Dax shrugged.

"You ready?" Brett asked as he rubbed Dax's knuckles. Dax nodded. They walked in just in time to see MG and Kaleb having a dance battle. Dax laughed. They walked down to the dance floor together.

"I'm gonna go get a drink!" Dax said loudly, "You want anything?"

"I'm good!" Brett yelled back.

Dax walked over and got a cup of blood that was in a punch bowl. 

"Hey! Do you know that guy?" A girl asked loudly as she pointed to Brett. Dax nodded, "Is he single?"

"No!" Dax responded as he downed the blood. He left her by the blood bowl. He started making his way to the actual punch bowl so that his breath wouldn't smell entirely like blood for the remainder of the night. On his way over, he got stopped by a guy with platinum blonde hair. He was dressed in bright colors and a leotard with short pink shorts.

"That guy you came in with, think he bats for our team?" He asked loudly.

"He's taken!" Dax responded slightly irritated. He arrived at the punch bowl and got himself a drink.

"Hey is that guy-"

"Holy hell you people don't give it a rest," Dax sighed before drinking the punch. He threw the tiny plastic cup away in the bin next to the punch bowl and marched his way over to Brett. He pulled Brett down and connected their lips. Despite the jealousy he was feeling, kissing Brett was something he could never get tired of. It was one of his favorite things to do.

Brett pulled back and yelled over the music, "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"

"Way too many people asking if you're single," Dax responded. Then a slow song came on.

"Perfect timing," Brett smiled as he wrapped his arms around Dax's waist. Dax's arms went around Brett's neck.

"I'd say," Dax smiled. Brett pulled Dax close as they swayed a bit.

"Is there anything you want to do before we go back?" Brett asked softly.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Like some childhood nostalgia something," Brett laughed as he struggled to put his words together.

"I mean, there's the Old Mill, but it's mostly wolves out there on nights like this," Dax laughed as he shrugged.

"I'm glad to have you back, Daxton Kol Johnson Mikaelson."

"I'm glad to be back, Brett Casey Talbot."

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