Hawk didn't give the Klaus matter much space in his head.
To him, it was a trivial errand.
As long as Klaus showed up, he'd show up too—and Klaus would accept the terms.
Whether he liked it or not.
There was a time when Hawk had no choice either—he could only watch the Hulk and Abomination, who'd been responsible for his sister's death, walk away in different directions. So he chose to become stronger, so that one day the person with "no choice" would no longer be him.
Now, he'd made it.
But Klaus didn't appear—not through Christmas Eve or Christmas in Mystic Falls while Hawk kept Gwen company. Even as they were about to head back to New York, Klaus still hadn't shown.
Not just Klaus.
Even his brother Elijah—the Original who'd popped up once to string Stefan and the others along with a promise that if they found the Moonstone he'd plead with Klaus for mercy—hadn't been seen again since that one appearance.
Caroline and the others didn't get it.
Especially after hearing Hawk and Gwen would leave the next day: confusion turned to nerves.
Early that morning, Caroline—already in a purple dress—arrived first at the manor and found Hawk at the mirror, fumbling with a tie while Gwen coached him.
"Elena and Stefan are really worried," Caroline said to Hawk. "If you go back to New York, what if Klaus shows up after?"
Hawk traded a look with Gwen, then smiled at Caroline. "Klaus not coming to town isn't on me."
Truth be told, he was curious why Klaus hadn't stepped into Mystic Falls.
Three nights prior had been a full moon. By rights, Klaus shouldn't have missed that window.
And by the original timeline he remembered clearly: once Katherine was locked up by Stefan and Damon, Klaus had already been on his way to Mystic Falls.
Yet…
Klaus hadn't appeared.
Hawk was curious, sure—but not enough to stay longer just for that.
Same refrain:
To him, Klaus was a small thing. He had bigger business.
Like Dr. Merrick, likely Heaven's catspaw.
Hawk had given that Dr. Merrick the Christmas holiday to use Hawk's blood to clone something worthy of notice.
He'd seen nothing. Which told him Merrick's skills were mid at best.
In that case—
Vacation time was over. The real Dr. Merrick needed to be dragged out, sent straight to Hawk's underworld, and escorted through a custom tour of all eight hells—guaranteed to "open his eyes."
Caroline rushed to apologize. "Brother-in-law, I didn't mean it like that. I just mean… if you leave and Klaus comes to drain Elena's blood, what then?"
Hawk chuckled and looked at her. "What do you want me to do?"
"Uh…"
Caroline opened her mouth and stalled.
Gwen, watching Hawk's clumsy attempts at a Windsor knot, laughed, stepped in, and batted his hands away.
Hawk let her take over, glancing down as she worked. "Do I really have to wear this tie?"
"It's from Grandpa. So yes, you're wearing it."
In three quick, practiced motions she had it done, then smoothed his crisp white shirt and smiled. "And he wants a photo of you in a suit. He loves saying, 'A suit is a man's second face.'"
Hawk's mouth quirked. "For ordinary men, sure. For me it's sacred cloth. Want me to wear my Cloth instead?"
"I want Grandpa happy," Gwen said, looking up into his eyes. "Not hospitalized."
Hawk shrugged. "Trust me—he's tougher than you think."
After all, the annex basement held an angel skeleton.
So William Fox was past being shocked by much of anything.
Gwen caught Caroline's fidgeting in the corner of her eye and changed the subject as she lifted the pressed jacket from the bed. "Maybe Klaus caught your scent, realized you're in town, and doesn't dare show. Afraid you'll kill him?"
Caroline's eyes lit. She looked at Hawk.
Hawk opened his arms so Gwen could slide the jacket on. "Do I seem that scary?"
"Maybe in the supernatural world your reputation precedes you," Gwen said, stepping in front to adjust him. "You are a demon king, after all."
Once again:
Sometimes he wiped out families. Sometimes entire lines. Not as metaphor—cold fact. That's the foundation of Hawk's "Undying Phoenix," read as "Demon King," title.
At Gwen's tilt he raised his chin. "I am a demon king. You're also the demon king's shackle. With you around, I barely lose my temper."
She pinched his collar straight and flicked him a glance. "But when you do, it is scary."
"I only counterpunch."
"I know."
She stepped back, admiring how the bespoke suit—Grandpa's Christmas gift from the town tailor—fit him. "Can you find Klaus? Caroline's worry isn't baseless. What if he shows up right after we leave?"
Hawk shook his head with a small smile and looked to Gwen. "If Elena's worried, invite her to New York. Katherine Pierce already went ahead anyway."
Caroline blinked. "Wait—Katherine Pierce? Why is she going to New York?"
Hawk didn't answer; Gwen did.
"Because Ms. Katherine Pierce helped your brother-in-law with something. In return, he told Klaus to stop hunting her."
Caroline blinked again. "What did she help with?"
"That's not your concern," Gwen said, smiling. "Hawk has business in New York. If your friend Elena's worried, pass his invitation along. She's welcome to stay with me."
Caroline thought it over and nodded. "I'll ask Elena."
"You can," Gwen said—and caught Caroline edging toward the door. "After the photos."
It was their last day in town. At Christmas, Grandpa had suggested a family shoot on the lawn: the two of them, Aunt Liz, and cousin Caroline. Once printed, the photos would hang along the manor's hall.
Hawk and Gwen had happily said yes.
Aunt Liz and Caroline had too.
The photographer was a local with a great eye—tourists making a second trip often hired him to shoot at the new scenic spots the town had developed.
He was booked today.
But the Foxes were a founding family. The photographer rescheduled a client (promising a free session later) and came.
They didn't need long.
By the time Aunt Liz rolled up in her squad car, everyone was ready. In about an hour they'd gotten shots on the front lawn, the side lawns, and the back garden.
Once done, Caroline sprinted off to find Elena.
Aunt Liz headed back to work.
Hawk went straight to the room, tugged off the tie and opened his collar. "Still not a suit guy."
Gwen, following him in, smiled. "You look very, very good in one."
"…Give me time to get used to it."
With her vote of confidence, suits felt less terrible.
Gwen had superb taste.
"So—8 a.m. flight tomorrow. Where do we spend the afternoon—stay in?"
"Pack."
"Pack?"
Hawk arched a brow at the already packed cases on the table, the stack of gifts from Grandpa, Aunt Liz, and Caroline, plus the ones they'd bring George and Helen. "Isn't it all packed?"
Gwen's smile went sly; she lowered her voice. "I meant the flowers. I've picked three from the hothouse and scheduled a same-day express courier. I told them to come during Grandpa's nap. By the time we get home tomorrow, the plants should be at the door."
Hawk's expression went blank, then he chuckled and nodded. "Smart."
"Thanks."
"Remind me—when we have kids, let's have a boy."
"Why? You don't like daughters?"
"Of course I do—"
Her phone rang. She glanced at him, eyes brightened, hung up, and headed for the door. "Courier's here! Hawk—use your powers so Grandpa doesn't hear anything from the hothouse."
Hawk's mouth tugged sideways.
Half an hour later—
The express truck rumbled out of Fox Manor's gates.
Standing at the entrance, Gwen exhaled—and spotted a familiar car coming up the lane.
Caroline's silver Corolla.
But she wasn't alone. Elena and Stefan were in the car too.
After Caroline explained Hawk's solution, Elena had been torn.
She didn't want to leave for New York—what if Klaus came looking for her?
But when Caroline mentioned that Katherine Pierce had gone to New York, Stefan immediately said he and Elena would go too.
In Stefan's words:
He might not know Klaus well (his memories weren't fully unsealed yet), but he knew his ex Katherine Pierce.
Katherine had survival etched into her bones.
She knew where to live.
So—
They would go to New York as well, and they'd come now to tell Hawk in person.
Gwen listened and smiled. "Both of you coming? Of course."
Stefan and Elena exchanged a look. Stefan turned back. "Ms. Stacy, and Mr. Phoenix… I mean, is it—"
Before he finished, Hawk stepped from the manor's front door—and the next heartbeat he was at Gwen's side.
Stefan saw him and his dead heart gave a hard thump.
"They want to ask," Gwen said with a little laugh, "if Elena and her boyfriend Stefan can come to New York."
Hawk's gaze was tilted toward town; at that he flicked a glance at Elena and Stefan. "You don't need to go to New York."
"Hm?"
"Mr. Phoenix, if it's me—" Stefan began, thinking Hawk disliked him and rushing to explain.
But Hawk's figure vanished before his eyes.
"Klaus is here," Hawk's voice drifted back. "So you don't need to go."
"…Klaus?"
A chill rippled through Stefan as he whipped his head toward Mystic Falls.
Ssst—
Hawk appeared at the door of a bar that kept daytime hours in town.
People walking the street—locals and tourists—registered no surprise at his sudden appearance, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to be there.
Using the Reality Stone, he'd muted his own presence; when his palm touched the bar's door, he let the veil drop, pushed the door open, and walked inside.
Instantly—
His eyes fell on the man alone at the counter twirling a glass.
The Original vampire, Klaus Mikaelson.
Hawk's eyes flashed with faint surprise.
Likewise—
Klaus looked up as Hawk came in, his aura snapping from nothing to something in an instant. A wicked smile touched Klaus's mouth, but a sliver of surprise flickered in his eyes as well.
Hawk walked straight over and slid into the booth across from him.
A bartender brought a menu.
Hawk, past twenty now but not yet twenty-one, hardly looked underage—and nobody here cared anyway.
Still—
He waved the menu away.
The bartender took the hint and left. It was daytime, and the boss had no rule that you had to drink to sit.
When they were alone, Hawk spoke first, eyes on the man across from him.
"Mikaelson. Klaus Mikaelson."
"Yes," Klaus answered, pure London drawl and a curl at his lip. "You're here for Ms. Elena Gilbert, I presume?"
"And Katherine Pierce," Hawk said with a smile.
"May I ask… what about?" Klaus tilted his head.
Hawk smiled and deployed the Prestige Fruit.
"Do me a favor—stop hunting Katherine Pierce."
"…"
Klaus didn't answer. He just watched Hawk, the smile at his lips fighting to hook upward.
"Do you a favor?"
"Yes."
"I don't even know who you are."
"Phoenix. Hawk Phoenix. If you're giving me face, you can call me Hawk."
"Hawk Phoenix," Klaus echoed, leaning back as he idly toyed with the whiskey glass, eyes fixed on Hawk. "A few days ago, when I saw you, your aura was nothing like it is now."
A few days ago?
Hawk didn't remember Klaus having seen him.
His brows twitched.
As his thoughts started to turn, Klaus kept talking. "I don't think you have—"
He didn't finish.
Hawk let his small cosmos turn—just a touch.
In an instant—
Klaus's forming smirk froze; the amusement in his eyes vanished; his pupils pin-pricked as he stared at Hawk and said nothing.
Hawk smiled at him and tossed the Prestige Fruit again.
"I think I'm owed that courtesy. Don't you, Klaus?"
"…Of course."
Shaken, Klaus had felt it—a vastness like the cosmos, a brilliance like a sky of stars rolling in the space of a blink. He lifted his whiskey. "As you wish, Hawk. Katherine Pierce will no longer be hunted by me or any vampire of mine."
Hawk's smile widened. "Thank you."
See?
Problem solved.
But—
He didn't get up yet. Instead he asked, curious, "When did you unbind your werewolf side? Elena—the doppelgänger of Katherine—has been in Mystic Falls this whole time."
That was why he'd only mentioned Katherine and not Elena.
Klaus's wolf side was already free.
Which meant he hadn't used Elena.
Klaus met Hawk's faintly curious gaze. "Three nights ago. You were there. Forgot already, Hawk?"
"I've been in Mystic Falls. Three nights ago I—"
Hawk stopped mid-sentence, turned a look on Klaus, and seemed to realize something.
"You found another doppelgänger?"
"Yes."
"And I was there too?"
"Yes. But the 'you' I saw wasn't like the 'you' I see now."
"Where?"
"Moloka'i. Mauna Loa."
"…"
(End of Chapter)
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