Chapter Text
Since he was a little boy, Klaus had always been fond of cooking and food for that matter. Everytime his mother would start cooking in the kitchen he’d always love to help.
Sooner or later, his father had caught him multiple times and bashfully shamed him for this hobby.
Klaus always had a bad temper, he would get angry easily and sometimes even throw tantrums. But that hadn’t managed to stop him from what he loves most.
Cooking.
Merely 20 years ago, Klaus Mikaelson began a worldwide business, but not just any business, a cooking one, with a little help from his best friend.
Kai Parker.
Kai Parker has been known for graduating cooking academy as one of the top students in his class. In the academy he had met Klaus, they had bonded pretty quickly over their shared interests.
For starters, it was a very successful business, Klaus had bought a restaurant, managed to get multiple customers at once.
As a year passed by, Klaus became one of the most famous chefs in the world, while Kai stood in the shadow, letting Klaus take the power. Their dishes were endless, always coming up with new ways to be creative with their talents.
Two years after that, surely by now Klaus would have let Kai take some fame for their success. Actually, it was the opposite, right after Klaus had gained 6 figures and more, he kicked Kai out of the business, betraying him.
That same year, Klaus had a baby with his wife Hayley. And that baby turned out to be Hope Mikaelson.
Klaus had been planning to raise Hope the right way and one day let her take over the business.
On the other hand, Kai had hit rock bottom. His brother-in-law (Alaric) passed away leaving his twin daughters. Ever since Jo (Kai’s sister) passed during the twins birth, he promised to always be there for the two.
Kai had offered to take care of them, mostly because they had nowhere to go and Kai would not let them go into foster care or an orphanage.
Parker has bought a small worn out diner and decided to fix it up and start a small business, while at the same time raising the twins, and saving a spot of hatred and revenge for Klaus Mikaelson, in his heart.
And by revenge, he means the twins taking over the food industry.
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“3...2...1…” Josie counted down as she turned up the heat from the stove. Listening close to the deep smokey sizzle coming from the contents in the pan, the air didn’t fail to quickly fill the whole air with the intense smell of thick beef and oily potatoes.
She heard the deep fryer timer ding and in seconds she flipped the chopped steak in the pan and took out the neatly cut potato wedges. With the back of her hand she wipes the drips of sweat from her forehead all from the heat coming from the area.
She has minimal time with so much to do at once. Josie doesn’t waste a second and empties out the potatoes from the fryer onto a plate and seasoned it to perfection.
On the other hand, Lizzie had been taking her time on the other side of the kitchen. It’s like she didn’t even want to try. Lizzie is not one for competition, she enjoys the hobby of cooking, without stressing it. For Josie, cooking is more than just a hobby, she puts blood, sweat and tears into these meals, and it’s definitely a competition.
For 12 years, Josie had been trying to beat her uncle Kai at a cooking match. Knowing her uncle, she didn’t stand a chance, but that didn’t discourage the brunette, it only amplified her determination.
Josie glances at Lizzie, who seems to be amazed about how amazing her cuticles look. The brunette rolled her eyes and went back to carefully placing every single piece of chopped steak on the plate, along with the perfectly seasoned potatoes.
Once she had perfected her dish, Josie does a small victory dance thinking this is the dish, the dish that will win it all. Even though this plate might look so simple, it is packed with flavor and love.
“Do you really have to do that every time ?” The blonde cringed at her sister's movement.
“It’s a routine.” Josie frowned then narrowed her eyes down at Lizzie. “Plus, I don’t see you doing much.”
Lizzie inhales sharply. “Unlike you this isn’t a competition for me.”
Josie laughs a scoff. “Fair enough,” She grabs the plate swiftly into one hand. “I have a taste test to win.”
Lizzie knows exactly how it will go down.
Ever since Josie could read, Kai had been teaching her the ways of cooking. All the secret techniques and loopholes in food.
They weren’t one of those big fancy restaurants. Instead they were a small diner (which they lived right above) that was well known in their small town.
//////
“The flavor, it’s so full and-” The kid sitting down in front of both Josie and Kai, stuffing down Josie’s uncle's plate. Sure, the kid took a bite from Josie’s plate and liked it, but to the kid Kai’s plate was better.
Josie let out a frustrated sigh in defeat as the restaurant cleared out.
“You’ll get there one day kid.” Kai gently patted the back of Josie’s shoulder and left the room. The brunette heard the small laugh come from the man.
16 year old Josie spent the rest of the day cleaning the restaurant as the day was about to descend.
While moving along to the music blasting through her headphones sweeping the floor, she heard a knock come from the door. Josie turned to see her uncle and Lizzie busy messing around with the condiments scattered along the tables.
She wipes down her hands and heads to the door. Once she opens the door in one jerky move a tall woman with scarlet hair stood in front of her.
The woman handed Josie a piece of paper. She quickly scans it and realizes it’s the same thing as always.
“Thanks but no thanks lady.” A quick smile flashed as the brunette tried to close the door on the woman, who caught it before it fully closed.
“May I please talk to Mr. Parker?” The woman said with a snark.
“Look, we don’t wanna sell our diner.” Josie felt impatient, needing the woman to leave before they close.
The woman stared intensely at the brunette and placed her hands on her hips. “Is there any way you would ever give up your diner?”
Josie pursed her lips and shrugged. “I guess if something were to block our way of living here then I don’t know.” She scoffed.
The woman steeled and straightened out her back. She snapped her fingers letting the two men behind her straighten out as well and lead her out.
Josie shook her head and let a short laugh. Kai eyed her from the corner of his eye while Lizzie is too busy counting the amount of food they had.
//////
The next day—after school—Josie and Lizzie had to pick up some supplies from the grocery store. Things for tomorrow’s stock.
“MG invited me to go get dinner with him tonight.” Lizzie interrupted Josie’s thoughts.
“Wow.” Josie replied sarcastically.
“And by that, I mean right now.” She practically dumps the bags of groceries in Josie’s hands and walks the other direction.
“Thanks I guess.” Josie huffs and continues her walk home.
As she walks down the street to the diner she has to look twice when she thinks the sign is gone. When she realizes it is gone she sprints as fast as she can towards the diner.
It was gone. Completely gone. The front sign that welcomed families and humans (even pets) was gone.
She practically dropped all the bags and took out her cell phone.
It rang four times before someone answered it. “Kai, why is the sign missing?” She sounded frantic.
“ Fuck.” He whispered under his breath. “I forgot to tell you I’m gonna be closing the diner for now.”
“What!?” She yelled. “Why?”
“I got an offer to work at one of the highest food industry chains, thankfully not Mikaelson bu-” He started to ramble on.
“Kai!” She was still in shock and was panicking.
“Sorry, I also managed to get you and Lizzie a spot at a cooking academy, I still don’t know much details but we’ll get there soon.” He explained through the phone. “You start next week.”
He then proceeded to end the call.
Josie tried to form sentences or even get the guts to call back her uncle, but she couldn’t. Instead, she angrily walked towards the now empty diner—bags clutched in hand—when she noticed a tall figure standing next to it.
The same woman from yesterday.