D o N o t G o G e n t l e

Caroline, Malik and Elena were walking through the gym hall which was being decorated for the 20's Decade Dance. Both Caroline and Malik ha a clipboard and were in charge of the preparations as Rebekah was missing.

"So, Alaric is trying to pull himself together, why is that a bad thing?" questioned Caroline as she was looking through the decorations on the big table.

"I just wish there was something I could do" explained Elena and picked up a chandelier. "Where do you want me to hang this thing?"

"You know what, if Rebekah wanted to hang that... thing, she should have shown up to do it herself" announced Malik and took the piece from the doppelgänger, and a second later he handed it to one of the students passing by with a small comment. "Nope."

Looking around both Malik and Caroline looked at Matt and Jeremy hanging decorations but in a split-second Caroline turned into her bossy mode.

"Guys! You can't just hang them! They're supposed to trickle down."

"Trickle, duh!" came the mocking tone of Matt and Jeremy just chuckled while they continued their work.

"Look at them all bromancy" mused Caroline and Malik just smiled watching the two of them before going back to his list.

"I asked Matt to help Jeremy readjust" explained Elena. "He got him his old job back at the Grill."

"That was nice of him."

"Jeremy has got a lot on his mind. The whole thing with Alaric has got him really stressed."

"You sure it has nothing to do with witnessing you and Damon getting hot and heavy in a skeevy motel?"

"I didn't tell you that so you could torture me with it" commented Elena but a smile sat on her face while Malik just watched the two with great interest.

"What are friends for? Speaking of, who are you bringing to the dance?"

"What do you mean?" asked Elena while wrapping a feather boa around her neck. " I thought you, Bonnie, and I were going as girl dates."

"Bonnie has a date" commented Malik while turning his attention back to his clipboard and ticked a few more boxes.

"What?"

"She's coming with Jamie" continued Malik and after exchanging a look with Caroline remained silent.

"In light of all of that, why don't you ask Stefan?" offered Caroline gently.

"Seriously? I just made out with his brother."

"All the more reason! Look you're supposed to be figuring out what you want, that's what Stefan wanted you to do, right?"

"Yeah, but-"

"But nothing, okay? Fair is fair. It is Stefan's turn."

"Yeah and you're not biased or anything."

"I'm sorry, but Stefan is your epic love. And I'm not going down without a fight. Speaking of... Who are you inviting Mal?" asked Caroline looking at the boy who just smirked and looking up held the clipboard to his chest.

"Me, myself and I. Triple date!" seeing the unimpressed looks from both girls the boy just shook his head. "Just kidding. Me and Jeremy agreed to stag it, I mean I will have enough problems to make sure it's a great success. Rebekah might not be here, but I don't need another original on my back."

Malik's Outfit

As the evening came around Malik was early, making sure everything weas ready and well organised for the decade dance.

Looking around he checked everything once more, and the moment it all seemed to be in order the warlock visibly relaxed and walking along he found Caroline, but it seemed the blond was on a mission. Malik followed her  quietly only to have her approach Matt with a polite smile that they all knew too well.

"Have I told you how amazingly awesome you are?" complimented Caroline, but it seemed both Malik and Matt were aware that there was something behind the scenes.

"Why the compliments, what do you want?"

"I know that you and Elena have been getting closer lately..."

"And your point is?"

"One way or the other she is pretty much spoken for" stated the blonde as nicely as she could.

"Elena is my friend, Caroline. I'm just looking out for her."

"And I'm just looking out for you. Because sometimes the people who love her get caught in the crossfire."

"I hate to admit but she is right Matt" interrupted the warlock suddenly.

Caroline span around and looking at Malik gave an appreciative smile but Matt turned away and noticing someone in the crowd changed the subject quickly.

"What's he doing here?"

Seeing Tyler appear Malik was shocked but it seemed Caroline wasn't that surprised by his presence in Mystic Falls, which made the warlock even more curious. Caroline walked up to Tyler while the other two boys were keeping an eye on her.

"Are you crazy? If Klaus sees you..."

"What's he gonna do?"

"Tyler, this isn't a joke!"

Malik just shook his head and walked away from there leaving the troubled couple by themselves. Soon enough he caught up with Jeremy and both of them found some drinks to entertain themselves with. Malik had to admit that by standing on the side chatting with Jeremy while enjoying some drinks was actually a fun way to spend the decade dance. No partners, no drama. Just them two relaxing. 

Looking around they saw Elena enter with Stefan, she had a smile on her face while Stefan was once again his broody self. Seemed like everything was back to normal.

Elena grabbed Stefan's hand and dragged him towards the dance floor.

They started dancing but to their surprise it ended, and a romantic slow number came on. It seemed awkward at first but they began dancing close to each other. Malik scanned the room and saw Bonnie dancing with Jamie, a smile on her face. It seemed they were going to enjoy the night, that is until Jeremy noticed Damon talking to Stefan and Elena and the three of them began to leave the dancefloor.

Immediately he began walking after them, keeping his eyes on them not noticing his surroundings, which resulted in him literally bumping into Bonnie and Jamie dancing.

"Sorry... Hey Bonnie."

"Why are you still wearing your ring? Didn't Elena tell you?"

"When my sister stops hanging out with vampires I'll take it off."

Jeremy walked off, Malik just waved to the duo before rushing after his best friend, he wasn't exactly in the mood to talk to Bonnie seeing his last confession... not to mention the clear romantic air between her and Jamie.

"If Alaric is sick then we need to find a cure. Something" came the voice of Elena as Malik walked on the corridor.

"We tried medicine, we tried magic."

"Why don't we get him off vervain, compel him?" offered Stefan, trying anything at this point.

"What? To pretend to be Alaric? We're talking about someone who not only hates vampires, but vampire sympathizers. Which makes one of his most obvious targets: I don't know, you!" explained Damon and indicated towards Elena.

"What you think he'd go after Elena?" questioned Stefan not believing what he was hearing.

"So wait, what are you suggesting we do?" interrupted Elena.

"I'm suggesting that we put him out of his misery" stated Damon easily, halfway expecting them to disagree.

"No, no way in hell!" joined in Jeremy as well, finally reaching the group.

"Oh come on. It's a mercy killing."

"You are out of your mind!" responded the younger boy and began to walk back.

"Jeremy..." tried Elena but the boy turned around and left.

Elena followed after him, leaving Malik with the two vampires but before any of them could have said a word he turned away too and decided to return to the gym. 

He walked around there, but couldn't find Bonnie, it seemed she and Jamie went elsewhere... which sent shivers down his spine, but after shaking himself he noticed Klaus standing there but the hybrid's attention was on Caroline and Tyler. Most notably on the later.

"What is it?" asked Caroline seeing Tyler face who sensed Klaus' presence and as they both turned Caroline seemed worried.

"Where've you been mate?" asked Klaus as he got closer, Malik immediately sped up and approached the trio.

"I just got back in town."

"That's funny, I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place. "

Seeing their faces Malik cut in between them and standing close to Klaus raised an eyebrow while crossing his arms.

"I have spent a lot of time and effort getting this dance up to the ridiculous standards of your sister so that she will not make a coatrack out of me. I will not have you mess this up.

"You shouldn't worry love, I'm just here to teach Tyler where his place is."

"Why do you always have to prove you're the alpha male?!"

"I don't have to prove anything, love. I am the alpha male. Come on, dance with me, I won't bite."

Malik slightly tuned and looked at Tyler, seeing their faces he realised there was only one way to subdue Klaus' incessant need to be better than others... so he turned back and took Klaus' offered hand.

He lead him out onto the dance floor, Malik glanced back at Caroline and Tyler and the blonde sent him a grateful smile.

Once they stopped, Malik placed his free hand on Klaus, shoulder, allowing the hybrid to pull him closer and look into his eyes. Klaus easily began to lead their dance, it was slow and romantic, made it easier for the hybrid to have him even closer. For a while they were quiet, following the simple steps of their dance, however it was Klaus who broke the silence.

"You would've loved the 1920s, Malik. People were reckless, sexy, fun. They literally used to dance until they dropped" chuckled Klaus reminiscing in his old memories.

"Nah, gotta pass on it" commented the boy nonchalantly and looked away from the immortal.

"You should be nicer to me. I'm leaving town tomorrow" hearing that Malik was surprised and looking back at Klaus kept eye contact with him. "I'd invite you to come with me but we both know you're not ready to accept my offer. Perhaps one day, you'll turn up at my door and let me show you what the world has to offer."

They stared at each other for a little longer but Malik looked away and spoke quietly.

"We've had this conversation already..."

"I know, but remember  this. A small-town life won't be enough for you."

Klaus just left him and stormed out of the gym, Malik looked after him with a confused expression, but noticing himself he shook his head and began walking to the other direction quietly thinking about what Klaus said when he ran into Matt.

"We have a little problem."

Malik just let out a sigh and followed after Matt who quickly updated him on the latest news of "Everything that could go wrong in Mystic Falls".

Esther was back, placed a barrier around the building keeping everyone in apart from mortals, took Elena with her and Alaric was missing as well.

How great.

Approaching the classroom Bonnie and the others where there and he also heard Klaus' voice which surprised him at first. He assumed Klaus managed to get away before all of this happened.

"What's taking so long?! All boundary spells have a loop hole."

"People are walking right out of the dance, past the barrier" announced Matt gaining everyone's attention, even Klaus turned but in that moment he noticed Malik as well.

The two of them just kept eye contact for a moment before they focused on the others in the room and the issue at hand.

"Matt and I can leave, we can stop Esther ourselves. We just gotta find out where she is."

"It's suicide, Jeremy" Stefan shook his head, but Klaus seemed more impatient than ever: He rushed over and grabbed Jamie by the throat and started to strangle him.

"Suicide would be disappointing me! Now work your magic witch, or I'll start killing people you fancy."

"Let him go!" demanded Bonnie angrily.

"Don't be stupid, Klaus. The only reason Bonnie is helping us right now is to save Caroline and Tyler. You start killing the people she cares about, she'll tell us all to go to hell" interrupted Stefan, and it seemed his reasoning won over Klaus, seeing how the hybrid let go of Jamie.

Bonnie seemed relieved, Malik was about to step closer and smack the hybrid when suddenly he felt a cold sensation run through his spine, a powerful tug in his chest making him stumble and feel suffocated.

"Mal" screamed Bonnie and rushed to her twin immediately, ignoring everyone else int he room, she grabbed his hand but suddenly she noticed how his fingers turned black, and slowly black veins began to crawl up on his body while around his eyes also turned black revealing it to everyone.

The corruption seemed dangerous and Bonnie was more worried than ever. Seeing the darkness spread from around his eyes and how his irises began to slowly have a red colour twirl in them... something was up.

"Something's wrong... Bonnie you need to find Esther!" warned Malik immediately sensing the toll that took on his body.

"I'm not leaving you!"

"Go" demanded the warlock but as Malik raised his voice it became distorted, a deeper and darker undertone playing along with his normal one shocking everyone in the room. Noticing this he immediately grabbed his head and pulled away from Bonnie.

She immediately rushed off with a map to try and find Esther, while the boy slowly moved to a chair and sitting down closed his eyes, it seemed his mind was chaotic and he didn't know what just happened.

Leaning back in the chair his mind became flooded with images and he began to see Esther lighting candles but then Alaric's voice rang in his ear.

"They're all monsters. The blood of their victims is on my hands. Jenna's blood is on my hands."

"When you are ready" instructed Esther.

"No Ric, please don't. I won't help you. I'm not going to give you my blood, you're gonna have to kill me!"

"That won't be necessary."

Esther gestured towards Elena, she felt ill, her chest got tight and her breathing got heavy until her hand began to shake a little and a cut appeared on her palm. Without hesitation Esther grabbed Elena's arm and pulling her closer made sure the blood dropped into the bowl.

"Drink. And let it be done."

"No Ric please. No!" begged Elena but the vampire hunter didn't care.

Without hesitation he grabbed the bowl and drank the contents of it, Elena was mortified seeing Alaric blindly follow the witch and be willing to do all this.

"Is it finished?"

"Not just yet" Esther drove the stake into Alaric's chest without hesitation, killing the man.

"No!"

Opening his eyes he felt his strength return, which meant only one thing... Esther somehow found a way to channel him and use his power for whatever spell she performed on Alaric.

He was trying to get up when Jeremy gently pushed him back on the chair and tried to calm him down.

"It's alright Mal, I gave some of my blood to Damon so Bonnie can try and locate Elena."

"It won't work" grunted the boy. "Esther is strong, too strong. She's channelling a hotspot and used me for a spell... I think I know where they are."

"The Salvatore crypt?" came the voice of Damon from the door, making them all turn to him. "Yeah, Bonnie came to the same conclusion as you, according to Klaus that's where they are. Little Gilbert, Quarterback you're up."

Once the two boys have left the room Damon turned around and left as well while Malik was still sitting on the chair trying to regain his full focus. Soon Stefan walked in and seeing the boy walked closer to him.

"Are you okay?"

"Still slightly dizzy... Where is everyone?"

"Bonnie is trying to break the boundary spell, Klaus is ready to kill people, Caroline and Tyler should be in the gym, I was just going to talk to them."

"I'll come with you" responded the boy and tried to get up, but as he somewhat stumbled Stefan caught him. "Thanks"

"You should probably rest."

"I'll be fine" waved him off the warlock and gently pulling away from Stefan began walking out.

"I'm sorry, Malik."

The boy stopped at the door and turning back looked at his sad expression, he had an idea what he was referring to, but with the recent events of him spiralling out it could have been a number of things.

"What for?"

"About what we did... to your mother."

The boy looked away for a moment, thinking about all the things he wanted to say, but at the end he just looked back and had a small smile on his face.

"Thank you"

He began walking out and Stefan followed him as the two made their way to the gym. Up on the seats they found Caroline and Tyler talking, but seeing the duo arrive Caroline immediately began bombarding them with questions.

Listening to them they two of them just waited till she finished, then Stefan decided to answer one of her questions.

"They're at the old cemetery. Jeremy and Matt are headed there right now."

"They're gonna get themselves killed!"

"We didn't have a choice, Caroline. We're useless right now stuck in here."

"Hey, she'll be fine. Elena always manages to find her way through this stuff."

"Yeah, well I'm just as worried about what Esther is up to. She led Klaus here for a reason, channelled Malik to perform whatever spell she is trying now to kill her children. If she succeeds in whatever she's doing -"

"- Klaus could get killed. And I die along with him" finished his sentence Tyler earning a look from all three of them.

"No one is gonna die, okay? Bonnie is still looking for a way around the boundary spell. It's not too late."

Tyler and Caroline exchanged a look while Malik let out a sigh and began walking out of the gym as well. Seeing the salt on the ground Malik walked closer, not caring that Klaus was standing not far from there too. As he got there, he raised his hands and seeing his fingers he stopped for a moment before he reached closer and putting his hands on the barrier began analysing it.

"You know this is your fault. You set us on this path when you released my mother. I wonder if revenge will prove worth the cost" addressed Klaus Stefan while he looked at the barrier and then back to Malik.

"Oh, I'm done with revenge. As far as Esther; we've stopped her before, we'll stop her again."

"You know, all of this, reminds me of our time together in the Twenties."

"You say that like I'm supposed to have happy memories about it"

"Well, there were moments. Real friendship. Brotherhood."

"Well, he already has a brother" interrupted Damon suddenly walking up to them. "Not to be, you know, territorial or anything."

"Oh no, of course, the Salvatores. And their unshakeable bond. I wonder what'll happen when Elena finally makes her choice. Will we see you shake just a little bit?"

"Play nice" butted in Malik as he walked closer. "Besides you might want to go, the barrier is down."

"It's done" came the voice of Bonnie a moment later making Malik smirk slightly at Klaus. "Esther's not fighting me anymore. The boundary spell is broken."

Malik watched as Klaus tested the boundary with his arm, and seeing Bonnie's words were correct he rushed away.

"Thank you, Bonnie. For everything" spoke Stefan looking at the witch, but Bonnie's face remained serious.

"I didn't do it for you. Come on Malik"

The boy just walked past the vampires and followed Bonnie inside. As they got inside, they found a classroom where the girl sat down and gently grabbing the boy's hand looked at it then at his face.

"You should have told me sooner."

"Why make you worried when there's nothing we can do about it?"

"There must be a way to undo this!"

"Once I cleansed myself of dark magic it will disappear. Unfortunately, Esther used my magic for her dark spell, meaning that it might take a bit longer. But I will be alright."

"So, it doesn't hurt?"

"Being drained of magic hurt me, not dark magic. It just has a certain... temptation to it."

"But you will be alright?"

"Yeah Bonnie" smiled the boy and pulled his hands away. "I wasn't the one actually using the magic... I did not experience the same sensation "

Their phone went off at the same time, the siblings furrowed their eyebrows but as they looked at the text message both of them got up immediately. Bonnie asked Jamie to give them a ride so they could get to the cemetery quicker.

It seemed Jamie wanted to remain in the car while the other two went to join all the others.

Everyone was there.

Esther has tried to turn Alaric into an Original Hunter, but after dying, Ric came to and with the stake killed the witch but decided to not complete his transition. In fear of the alter ego roaming free and killing everyone.

As they stood there and looked at Alaric, Bonnie gently hugged her brother and rubbed his back.

They lost so many people and they were about to lose another one.

Once they all began to leave Malik saw Jeremy and seeing his face he turned to Bonnie.

"Will you be okay if Jamie takes you home? I want to check up on Jeremy"

"I'll be fine" smiled the girl. "He needs your support."

Malik jogged over to Jeremy and Matt, as he got there, he didn't say anything, just hugged his best friend. They stood there for a bit before Matt recommended that they go to the Grill.

Their way there was quiet, once they got in it was just the three of them, Matt got behind the bar and pulled a bottle out, placing three shot glasses he poured all of them a drink.

"Mr Salzman" spoke Matt looking at the other two.

"Alaric" spoke Jeremy as well; they clinked their glasses and downed the drink.

Jeremy had a silent tear fall down on his cheek, both Matt and Malik noticed it, making Jeremy automatically move his hand and wipe away the tear, putting on a smile. But the tears did not stop.

Malik wasn't sure at this point if he did it on purpose, but soon his mind was flooded with images and the next moment when he opened his eyes he was sitting in front of Alaric and Damon.

" Is this the part where you give me a dream? Rainbows and rolling green hills?"

" I was drunk when I told you that."

Alaric laughed weakly, even Malik giggled but had tears in his eyes watching the two of them.

"Yeah and I told you I'd use it against you."

"Damn you. Sorry I killed you. Twice."

"So I have to actually die to get a real apology out of you."

"Drink" offered Damon the whiskey bottle, Alaric barely could keep his eyes open and responded weakly.

"Actually, I've been thinking about cutting back."

Malik watched quietly, saw how a tear rolled down Alaric's cheek.

"Ha, yeah! This stuff will kill ya."

Damon took a swig from the bottle while another tear was streaming down Alaric's face. He took the bottle and had a drink.

Malik kept his eyes on them until he closed his eyes and pulled away from them, back to his own body where he got up from the chair and saying goodbye to the other two began walking home.

He didn't want to feel him go. Every time he felt someone go, it was like death was baiting him too.

And that cold sensation was not something he wanted to experience ever again.