Chapter 1: New Orleans
AU Klaus/Caroline → Post-Season 3. Many years have passed since the car accident that killed Elena Gilbert. Devastated, Damon loses himself to delusions and depression, hoping for a way to fill the hole in his heart. Caroline, on the other hand, has moved past her best friend's death, and has left to New Orleans with Klaus. Damon, realising he still has deep rooted feelings for Caroline, follows her there, attempting to regain the love he lost long ago.
[edit] A/N: To old readers, welcome back, and to those who are new, welcome! :) This story was previously known as 'New Orleans' but we've decided to change the name to 'Requiem'. Just wanted to let you all know in case anyone got confused :) Enjoy reading and we hope that you will keep up with our story xx
The sweaty air stuck to Caroline's skin as she ran to the closest bathroom facilities offered by the nightclub. Being a roughhouse town, New Orleans offered little where hygienic public services were concerned. Making feeble attempts to wipe the still-fresh blood from her chin, Caroline turned the grimy faucet, releasing the thick, hot water from the rainwater tank outside. Not caring to clean the blood off herself anymore, she clenched her eyes shut and held her breath to block out the smell of mildew and mold. Faded pink paint peeled from the corners of the room as she watched a cockroach flick itself across the wall. Cockroaches, much like vampires, were virtually indestructible. They could live for weeks without their heads - one of the many facts she had learnt whilst she waited around for Klaus. That was all she had been doing for the past few years; always waiting around. He'd always had people to deal with and annoyances to chase.
She was surprised to find herself fighting back tears. She missed him, a great deal so, and to have him so far away made her heart ache. Putting on her best determined face, she fixed up her hair in the stained mirror and took purposeful steps out the door, only to walk straight into someone's chest. A certain vampire pushed himself into the already cramped lavatory with her, obviously unwelcome by Caroline.
"Damon!?" Caroline took a step back, nearly tripping over her feet. She wasn't expecting to see the dark haired vampire anywhere near here, so far from Mystic Falls, especially after Klaus had personally threatened him for using her when he'd first arrived.
"What are you doing in New Orleans?" Her voice was beginning to rise hysterically. She always got bad vibes from Damon, and this time was no exception.
The usually sardonic vampire for once wore a serious expression on his face. "Bad news, Caroline…" He paused, gathering himself for what felt like rubbing salt in a still open wound. "Elena's dead." He spat the words out like his mouth was filled with vervain. Unable to make eye contact with her, he stared at the array of stains on the cement floor, bracing himself for the blonde's reaction.
He was slightly taken aback by her lack of response. Elena was her best friend, and he expected far more than a blank stare that screamed an unspoken vow of apathy. Feeling the anger burn beneath his skin, Caroline barely had time to yell before her back was cracked against the bathroom wall.
"She was your friend, Caroline. Do you expect me to believe you feel nothing?" He spoke through his teeth, letting his words mix in with the stale air.
"I guess Klaus has taught me there are more important things than friendship, Damon," she slowly blinked, eyes empty of emotion. "I have places to be, so if you'll excuse me." Two seconds later, the air shimmered red before her and she was alone once more. A small smile graced her face as she fixed her hair back into it's usual perfection and she made her way out of the nightclub.
Absentmindedly making her way along the darkened streets towards her apartment block, Caroline dug inside her handbag searching for her keys. The sticky night air clumped her hair together as she attempted to push it away from her face. A few passersby attempted to smile at her, but she only frowned back. She didn't really have time for people anymore. Learning about Elena's death meant that she really had no friends left. Everyone she'd loved back in Mystic Falls was gone, and to pretend that it didn't affect her was the only way she could keep Damon away. Sure, he would be angry, but she did not need him here. Seeing him again would make the reality of Elena's passing hit her all over again and she knew she couldn't keep her apathetic air forever. Now all she wanted to do was go home and wallow in the grief she felt at losing not only Elena, but also Klaus, every time he went on one of his regular 'business trips'.
"Guess who, sweetheart."
Caroline smiled from ear to ear as she felt two calloused hands cover her eyes. "I don't know.. Hmm, is it you Tyler?" She heard a quiet growl and her smile only widened. "What about… Stefan? Matt?"
"Enough of the games, love," and just like that Klaus spun her around to face him, and gently, slowly, brought his lips to meet hers. Caroline felt her heart swelling in her chest. He had been gone for so long, and she had spent weeks on end wondering if and when he would come back. Caroline still hardly knew what he did during these prolonged trips of his, and he always refused to tell her where he had been. She knew that Klaus had a dark history and did some horrible things in the past, but she was supposed to trust him now and knew he would never do anything to hurt her.
Breaking their kiss, Caroline led him inside their apartment. It was quaint and small, nothing too eccentric, but it was home. She hadn't wanted anything extravagant from him, and had refused when he'd offered her one of the larger maisons in the district. Their apartment held a style of decor rarely seen in the modern word. Filled with relics from earlier centuries accumulated by Klaus over the years, Caroline had spent most of her time trying to make it feel homely. While Klaus was away, she had taken the liberty of repainting the walls from a 'hideous' turquoise, as Caroline deemed it, to a classier beige. After all, what else was she to do with her time? Going out to nightclubs was becoming a monotonous and tedious affair, and she'd much rather spend her time with her love. Unfortunately for her, he always seemed to have somewhere else to be and refused to take her with him. She had to admit, it hurt a little.
Leading him to the couch, she sat him down and curled into him as he put his arm around her waist, hugging her close.
"I'm glad you're back. I missed you," she smiled as he kissed the top of her head and pulled her just a little bit closer.
"I missed you too, sweetheart. I like what you've done with the place," he looked around, idly playing with the ends of her hair. She liked how it felt, being close to him, but there was still a rift between them that only he could fix. She was glad that he appreciated the changes she had made to the apartment, normally he didn't really notice. Sometimes he only stayed for one night before leaving again. This time, she hadn't heard from him for almost three months.
"Where were you?" she wondered, knowing his answer before his reply.
"Don't worry about it, love, I'm back now." Of course he'd given her same vague answer he always replied with. Honestly, she'd had enough. She was sick of not knowing whether he'd come back every time he went away. She was sick of not knowing who he was with and if he had remained loyal to only her. She was sick of being unsure about whether he was gone for fickle reasons or for more serious ones.
"Well I do worry about it, Klaus! I've had enough." She pushed his arm off her and moved to the opposite end of the couch. "I want to know what's going on. I have the right to know." Crossing her arms, she narrowed her eyes, hoping that he would give in to her this time.
She angrily directed her gaze downwards at the beautiful silver and gold band on the fourth finger of her left hand, encrusted with diamonds all around the edges. The ring she held there was her most beloved material treasure. It was a symbol of her and Klaus's eternal love for one another, but lately she felt like they'd been drifting apart, and it frightened her. She just wanted him to trust her, but it was more than that. She wanted to know that she could trust him too. His continued silence only furthered her anger as she glared at him. He hadn't even changed his expression, that all-knowing smirk forever set into his face.
"Klaus!" She stomped her foot, knowing she was acting like a child. His expression changed and he looked tired, as if he was bored of her already.
"I told you not to worry about it. Come back over here," he commanded, annoyance lacing his words, but she wasn't going to obey him this time.
"If you're not going to tell me, I'm going out. Stay here or go, I don't care anymore," she spat at him, picking herself up. As she turned towards the door, she heard him sigh.
"Sweetheart, it's really not that big of a deal. Come. Over. Here." Again he tried to boss her around and his demands had always worked on her before. He was shocked when she retained her tense posture and refused to turn around.
"Not until you tell me what I need to know. Are you seeing another woman? Is that it?" Her eyes brimmed with tears and she tried to keep the hurt out of her voice. "I don't understand why you can't tell me." Slowly turning towards him, she peeked at his face, trying to gauge his reaction to her questions. Again, he did not speak, instead motioning for her to forget about it and join him once more.
At his stubborn refusal to tell her the truth, she felt anger rising in her once more, taking over all the helplessness she had felt in the days he had been gone. Picking up a picture off the mantelpiece, she threw it at his chest, watching the glass shatter as the edge of the frame pierced his chest and their wedding photo fell to the floor. Hurt flashed in his eyes. Not from the frame leaving cuts in his chest but rather from the sentiment behind it. That their love meant nothing to her anymore, so much so that she had destroyed the one object in the apartment that had marked it as theirs.
"What happened to us, Caroline?" he asked, looking up at her, the ever-present smirk now gone from his face. He slowly picked up the picture from the floor, dusting shattered pieces of glass off the edges. For once he looked vulnerable and it just made her feel guilty.
"Love is trust, Klaus. I don't trust you anymore and I don't think you trust me. I need you to tell me what's going on," she looked him in the eyes and told him how she felt. She was done with spending endless nights crying over his unexplained absences. "Whatever it is, we'll work through it together. Like we always have."
Defeat clear in his eyes, Klaus turned towards her. "Caroline, it's… it's Rebekah".
A/N: Thank you for reading! Reviews are much appreciated :) x