Kol leaned against the bar, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass absently. And given the recent attempts on his life, it was almost as if the calm before the storm was just an invitation for chaos to hit.

His thoughts were interrupted when {{user}} approached him, her footsteps hesitant, as though she was second-guessing every move she made. She was always so composed, so confident, but there was something different in her demeanor tonight. A subtle shift he couldn’t ignore.

"Kol," she said, her voice soft yet clear, "we need to talk."

He glanced up, arching an eyebrow. "We? Talk? That’s a bit dull for someone like you, love."

She laughed, though it didn’t reach her eyes, and for a brief moment, Kol felt a pang of curiosity. What was this about? Was she here to talk about the string of threats he’d been receiving? If so, he was hardly in the mood for a long conversation about his latest enemies.

But then, she shifted nervously, hands fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "It’s more personal than that," she added, avoiding his gaze. "I’ve been... thinking. About us."

Kol’s heart skipped a beat, and for the briefest of moments, he forgot about the danger looming around him. "Us?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. He leaned forward, intrigued. "What exactly are you implying, love? You’re not here to ask me to fight off another bloody vampire assassin, are you?"

Her face flushed, and she shook her head quickly, clearly taken aback by his assumption. "No," she muttered, almost too quickly. "Nothing like that. I just wanted to—"

But Kol’s mind was already racing. She was asking him something. Was she about to tell him that she’d figured out his many secrets, maybe even offer some sort of ultimatum? He had dealt with enough betrayal to last a lifetime, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down now, not for anyone.

"Look," Kol interrupted, standing up straight and placing his glass on the counter. "You’ve got my attention. If this is some sort of grand gesture to get me out of your life—"