This is an idea I've had floating around my head for quite a while and after last episode I just had to write it. It's going to be in two parts (maybe 3 but I doubt it) only because it's too long to make it a one-shot.
Rated M for smut, although not necessarily this first half. AU.
P.S. I had fun writing Kol because we haven't seen much of him but I'd like to think he's the way I imagine LOL
PART I: CITY OF ANGELS
The dark city street was almost deserted if not for a drunk couple stumbling their way to their car. It was past midnight, the clouds in the sky moved rapidly, shielding the moon almost in its entirety. The air was dry and chilly and in the distance the faint sound of music interrupted the silence. It was definitely the shadiest part of town and to any other person it would have seemed dangerous, but not to them. They walked the streets without a worry in the world.
"Leave it up to you to choose Los Angeles out of any other place on Earth to celebrate your birthday." Klaus spoke, with a serious demeanor as the youngest Mikaelson brother smiled, almost with pride.
"Oh, come on Nik! It's not that bad. You can't deny the past few days have been fun!" Kol grinned at him, his hands tucked inside the pockets of his jacket.
"Yeah, being drunk has made it bearable." Klaus replied with a slight chuckle.
They were dressed almost completely in black, walking the streets that late at night; they were the real danger. Of course with those faces and those accents, no woman in their right mind would actually run away from them.
They'd been staying in LA for about a week and Klaus was more than happy they'd be leaving later that afternoon. Rebekah was smart enough to stay in Italy and avoid the trip. Klaus, however, couldn't turn down Kol's request so easily. He wondered when he'd stop using the dagger-in-the-heart card, but figured he'd probably have to put up with it for a couple more centuries.
Los Angeles, the City of Angels, or devils, really. He couldn't stand the traffic, the fake people, the alluring facade of the city that promised big things but delivered only broken dreams. It was a depressing place, if he was being honest, and it reminded him too much of a place they'd left behind long ago.
It had been almost fifty years since they'd abandoned that sorry excuse of a town. Just like Mystic Falls, people here seemed to be stuck with nowhere to go. They lived their lives without really living and went on with their daily routines without questioning it. His thoughts suddenly shifted to the girl he'd left behind. He'd been tempted to go back but after the truce he'd made with the Salvatores, he figured stepping foot there again would be a big mistake. Yet, after all these years her beautiful face and big blue eyes still haunted his dreams, sometimes even his waking hours. He wondered how she was doing and who she was with. Tyler had never been man enough for her but all he could hope for was that she was happy.
The music grew louder as they arrived at an intersection, in front of an establishment with bright neon signs. A line of about fifteen men waited by the front door to be granted access.
"This looks like good times, what do you say Nik?" Kol asked, looking up at the sign.
"You want to go inside a gentlemen's club. That's the last memory of Los Angeles you want to take back home with you?" Klaus looked at him, sighing out in frustration.
"All in good fun! Plus, maybe we can find a nice girl to have a bite with afterwards..." Kol winked, pointing with both hands to the end of the line, as he made his way there.
Klaus relented, he walked with his brother and waited. The streets around looked trashy, and the men in front of them were far from being gentlemen. Places like these were an excuse for them to pry on women they'd only be able to have in their fantasies. How pathetic of them to just sit and watch, then return home to an empty bed or even worse to share it with someone they didn't find as appealing.
"So what are you feeling like tonight? Brunette? Redhead? Blonde?" Kol inquired, causing Klaus to roll his eyes.
"You know I'm not particularly fond of these places. I'm only doing it for you." He replied.
Kol narrowed his eyes, searching his brother's face. "I take it you're still into blondes." He said, a smirk appearing on his lips, "you know, I'm surprised you're still so into this girl after all these years."
"Yeah well, I have an eternity to get over her. What's another hundred more?" Klaus said under his breath, tucking his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
"Then live a little! Have fun, enjoy the many other beauties this world has to offer!" He raised his eyebrows, as if pitching the greatest idea of the millennium. "Who knows, maybe a change from blonde will do you good."
Klaus shook his head, there would never be anyone like Caroline. After all these years he'd definitely had his share of girls but none of them ever came close to her. Kol was right though, he couldn't deny himself a little fun from time to time.
The bouncer lifted up the rope, allowing them to enter the premises. The ambiance inside was dimly lit, the blend of perfume and cologne was sickening. There were men seated around small round tables, watching the girl on stage twirl around on the pole. She flirted with them, making each one feel like she was dancing for them alone. The waitresses walked around, barely clothed, and Kol swept his eyes up and down each one that passed him by. He pointed at an empty table right next to the stage.
"It's my birthday after all!" He said wiggling his eyebrows.
"I'm gonna be at the bar for a bit. I need a few drinks before I watch you make a fool out of yourself." Klaus said, pulling out a chair.
"Fine. I'll save you a seat, don't worry." He said mockingly, causing Klaus to roll his eyes once again.
The young girl behind the bar leaned over to take his order, her big fake breasts, resting in front of him on the counter. She had long black hair that fell over one side of her face and her tongue ring shimmered every time she opened her mouth to speak.
"What can I get you, handsome?" She batted her eyes, heavily coated with black makeup.
"A Bourbon on the rocks, please." She nodded. "Make it a double." He remarked.
"I love your accent, babe. Where are you from?" She asked, pouring the drink into a glass filled with ice.
"Not from around here." He replied, taking the drink from her.
"Ooooh mysterious. I like it!" She laughed, leaning over the bar again.
Klaus paid her for the drink, leaving her a generous tip, hoping that would deter her from asking any more questions.
"Looks like your friend's having a good time!" She pointed to Kol who was getting a lap dance from a bronze skinned girl with dark curly hair.
His brother always seemed to have an affinity for easy women. The poor girls never suspected he wasn't just preying on them for sex but also to satisfy his thirst. Klaus raised his eyebrows and turned away from him, facing the bar again.
"He's my brother and it's his birthday. If he can't have fun today, then when? Right?" He replied, finishing up his drink and asking for another.
"Well then he's in luck! Misty's performing tonight. She's a crowd favorite, all the men are in love with her." She giggled. "You should be a nice brother and buy him a dance."
Klaus looked over at Kol once again, who by now had two big breasts pressed up against his face. He crinkled his forehead at the sight.
"I think he's having plenty of fun already." He said, asking for yet another refill.
The music stopped and the lights dimmed even more, the only thing illuminated was the stage. All the men began chanting the stripper's name and whistling impatiently. They sounded like a bunch of hooligans.
"She'll be out in a few minutes." The bartender announced, flashing Klaus a smile. "Are you sure you don't want to go join your brother?"
"I'm fine here." He replied, eyeing the stage with curiosity.
"The girl's gorgeous, she doesn't go topless though, just the bare minimum. Yet she still manages to fill this place." She said, a hint of jealousy to her voice.
"Well she must be quite the charmer then." He said dryly.
"She used to be a waitress but her husband convinced her to start dancing, maybe about a week ago. He owns this place, but you'll rarely see him here. He has a tendency of getting around, if you know what I mean." She excused herself to go attend other customers.
Her husband must be a real prick to have her up there, displaying herself like she's merchandise up for sale, then again it didn't seem like respect was in his vocabulary. Klaus couldn't understand how anyone would want that for someone they loved. The jealousy alone would drive him mad.
After a few minutes the music came back on and out strutted the tall blonde beauty of his dreams. He downed his drink all at once, astounded by what he was seeing. There was no mistaking her. Her normally free-flowing golden locks were tied up in pigtails and she donned the most seductive face he'd ever seen. Her blue eyes were incomparable, piercing through the crowd of men screaming her name. Well, her stage name, anyway. To him he was just Caroline, the small town girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. The one whose loyalty to her friends was so strong she didn't allow herself to accept his offer of showing her the world. What could have possibly gone wrong in her life, that had led her to this?
He couldn't believe his eyes, he shut them for a few seconds, hoping the alcohol was making him see things. When he opened them back up, nothing had changed. He stood up and made his way up front, never taking his eyes off of her.
She was wearing high heels that probably made her close to 6 ft. Her slender body clothed in the typical school girl uniform, a white buttoned shirt tied around her small waist and a short skirt that barely covered her bottom. She held on to the pole with both hands and bend over, swirling her hips around, giving the audience an eye full. The men went crazy. He continued walking and Kol met him half way, stopping him from progressing any further.
"What are the odds?" He said surprised, looking back at the blonde who was now teasing them by removing her clothing ever so slowly.
Klaus looked around, disgusted by all the men wanting a piece of her. Even his brother seemed enthralled.
"Can you not look at her like she's something to eat?" He said between gritted teeth.
"Sorry Nik but it's kind of hard not to when she's... Oh my god..." He replied, his eyes widening.
Klaus watched her as she removed her skirt, a thin strip of fabric covering her most coveted part. Her curves were exquisite; he found himself battling his lust with the repulsiveness of the situation. The men were drooling over her and a need to rip every one of their heads off took over him. It was as if he was in a daze.
"I can see why you were willing to wait for her... Wow." His brother muttered, still fixated on the blonde on stage.
"Ok, you really need to stop, Kol. I'm warning you." Klaus' face didn't lie. His brother looked away sheepishly and accompanied him over to the bar.
"Who do I have to speak to about arranging a private dance?" Klaus asked the bartender.
She looked at Kol and smiled. "You liked her that much, huh?" she asked him.
"It's not for him." Klaus clarified.
"Oh. Well she doesn't do the champagne room. But maybe they'll make an exception for you, since you're not from around here." She replied flirtatiously.
Klaus arranged to pay large sums of money for that opportunity and he didn't have to try very hard to convince anyone. He found himself seated in a plush sofa in the center of a red-lit room, with mirrors all around, even on the ceiling. A champagne bottle on ice sat on the table next to him as he waited for Caroline to enter the room. Minutes went by without a sign of his fair skinned beauty. He began to get impatient, checking his watch constantly.
He picked up the sound of footsteps, the clinking of heels getting closer each time. The handle turned and the door opened slightly. His heart began racing when she walked in. He heard her take a deep breath, as she shut the door, and he knew she was trying hard not to make it obvious.
She turned around with a big smile on her face but it soon disappeared and her eyes widened in shock. Klaus smiled, knowing she had recognized him. The lights in the room made her lips shine and the glitter on her body sparkle. Caroline composed herself, smiling once again and coming to stand in front of him. She leaned over, placing a hand on each of his shoulders.
"Any special requests?" She murmured almost in a moan, against his ear.
"How about we talk?" He whispered back.
"No can do... Just remember, you can't touch." She said, as she straightened herself back up.
Caroline began moving in front of him. Her hips swaying back and forth as her hands caressed her body. Klaus watched her attentively without saying a word. She turned around, bending over slightly, before taking a seat on his lap. He swallowed hard, feeling a tightening in his pants. Her head tilted back onto his shoulder as she arched her back in a serpentine motion. She slid over him, the bulge under his pants growing without restraint. He'd always wanted her this close but not like this.
"Why are you doing this?" He muttered.
"Why can't you just enjoy it? Don't tell me you don't like it." She purred, coming to a more seated position before turning around and teasing him with her chest.
She unbuttoned the shirt, her blue eyes making contact with his, as it slid off her shoulders. A small pink bra covered part of her breasts. Klaus gritted his teeth, admiring her perfect curves. His hands wanted to touch but he knew better than that. She continued dancing, turning his back to him as she pulled down her skirt. A matching pink g-string barely covered anything. By now his cock was throbbing but his mind was racing. He wanted to clothed her and whisk her away, take her as far away as possible.
Caroline straddled him, moving her hips in a circular motion, rubbing up against his hardness. She looked down at him with a tiny smirk on her face, as she closed her eyes and got close to his ear.
"You need to leave." She made an effort to sound stern but there was a hint of fright laced around her words.
She held on to his hands and smiled as she slowly brought them to rest on her waist. She guided them over her side, her skin felt silky smooth under his fingers. Caroline suddenly stood up, picking up her clothes from the floor and making her way to the door. Klaus wasn't about to just let her walk out. He blocked the door in front of her.
"We need to talk." He pleaded.
She twisted her mouth in discomfort. Her eyes were downcast as she searched for a reply.
"I can't. I'm sorry. You need to leave." Caroline shook her head, reaching for the handle.
"Don't shut me down again, love."
That word alone made Caroline shiver. She hadn't heard it in so long, he always pronounced it so tenderly in that English accent of his. Her stomach was in knots as all her repressed feelings were set free. The big bad hybrid had left a mark on her ever since the night of the decade dance, almost half a century ago. But her strong sense of loyalty had forced her to ignore her instincts.
"Look, I don't know if you heard but I'm married now. I can't just leave my husband over one lap dance." She was getting annoyed, but mainly with herself. She knew that if he kept talking she'd probably drop everything and run away with him.
"A lap dance? You think I want you because you danced for me? Caroline, I haven't stopped thinking about you since I left, my feelings for you never changed. I would've much rather found out you were still living in Mystic Falls married to Tyler Lockwood than doing this!"
"I am married to Tyler Lockwood." She replied with sadness in her eyes.
Klaus felt his blood begin to boil with anger. He cursed himself for not taking Caroline with him when he left town. All this time, he'd been right, Tyler didn't deserve her one bit. But to have her live a life like this was the lowest of the lows.
"We're leaving." He asserted, taking a hold of her wrist.
"What?" She answered in surprise, shaking her head, "You're crazy! I can't just leave with you!"
"Really? Why not? What's holding you back? You can't possibly be in love with him. Caroline..."
She shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "No. But I didn't have anybody else." She replied.
How did Caroline Forbes, the girl who everyone loved, not have anybody else? Klaus looked at her puzzled.
"What happened after I left?" He asked.
"We can't talk here. Tell me where you're staying and I'll meet you there." She replied in a whisper.
"So we're not leaving later then..." Kol asked, his feet dangling from the bed as he looked up at the ceiling. "Nik, I didn't even get to eat!" He complained.
Klaus looked at him incredulously, he was really thinking about feeding in the midsts of what had happened? His brother would never change, he was happy just having sex and eating all the time.
"Yes, she's meeting me here. So, I'd appreciate it if you left us alone for a while." He replied.
Kol perched himself up on his elbows, raising an eyebrow at Klaus.
"We're just going to talk." He affirmed, "And can you please shower before you go? You smell like cheap perfume and coconut, not to mention there's glitter all over your face. You look like a fairy." He teased.
Kol laughed and headed for the shower. After a few minutes he came out all dressed and ready to go. He stood in front of a large window, he could barely make out the Hollywood sign in the distance due to the layer of smog that covered the top of the hills. The sun was beginning to rise and his stomach was starting to growl.
"Yeah, I need to eat." He said once again. "I'll go see what I can find. You want anything?" He asked.
"I don't think Caroline would appreciate you showing up with a walking blood bag." Klaus answered.
His brother pursed his lips and shrugged. They agreed he wouldn't return until later that evening and he left without saying another word.
Caroline showed up at the entrance of the luxurious West Hollywood hotel. It was grand and radiated elegance, she expected nothing else from Klaus. The doorman greeted her with a smile as he directed her to the elevators on the far end of the lobby. She noticed the floor to the penthouse required a key and rolled her eyes, knowing Klaus hadn't provided her with such thing. Before she could figure out what to do a young woman approached her from the front desk.
"Ms. Forbes?" She asked, a smile plastered on her face.
"Yes." Caroline replied, narrowing her eyes at the pretty brunette.
"Mr. Mikaelson said to keep an eye out for you. He left you this at the front desk." She handed her the room key.
"Thank you!" Caroline smiled as she took a hold of the card. The woman wished her a good day and excused herself.
The ride up to the top floor was quick. The elevator made no stops until it got the penthouse. The doors opened to a small corridor that led to a wide white door, with bronze handles. She walked, her heels sinking into the thick, red carpet. She thought about knocking but instead stared intently at the card and swiped it quickly between the slit. The tiny red light switched to green and she pulled down on the handle slowly, pushing the door open.
She peered in, walking in quietly, as if she was there to rob the place. The room was enormous, there was a sitting area in the middle adorned with white couches and lavish black furniture. The lamps were turned on, giving off the appearance of a candle lit room. She could see the terrace offered an astounding view of the city, it made her feel like she was on top of the world.
"You're here." Klaus' voice boomed from behind her, he was making his way down the stairs, dressed in nice black slacks and a blue buttoned up collared shirt.
She smiled as he approached her. Her knee-high lavender dress swayed back and forth as she walked over to the seating area.
"Sorry for just walking in, I figured, you left me the key..." Caroline said taking a seat on the couch.
"Oh yeah, it's fine." He replied, pouring each of them a drink.
Klaus handed her the cold glass topped with the finest whiskey the hotel had in hand. She took a sip, eyeing him from behind the glass. They sat in silence, neither of them knowing how to start up the conversation. There was so much to say, yet, it was difficult to begin.
"Why?" Klaus asked, looking at her with worried eyes.
Caroline puffed, her eyes shifting towards the terrace. "After you left, things just spiraled out of control. The town turned against us, even though we were stronger than them, it wasn't enough." She sipped her drink again, "It's kind of hard trying to live a normal life when there's a person with a stake in their pocket at every corner."
"What happened to the others?" He asked, leaning over on the couch's armrest.
"Well, for starters, we lost our privileges as founding families. My mother got pulled from her Sheriff position and Mayor Lockwood no longer was allowed to oversee the town's functions. After all, how safe can you keep the town when your own children are the monsters you're supposed to be protecting them from?" She shook her head.
Klaus watched her demeanor change from anger to sadness in a matter of seconds.
"My mom found herself stuck in the middle of the crossfire." Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered that night. "Everyone else began leaving town almost immediately. Damon and Stefan took care of Elena and even though she insisted in me going with them, I chose to go with Tyler. He promised he would keep me safe and take care of me."
He listened to her, gazing over her facial features as she spoke.
"The first few years weren't bad. But then something began changing, he constantly reminded me that I didn't have anybody else but him left in the world. I let myself believe everything he said, probably because I was just tired of living all together." She admitted. "We arrived here not too long ago, maybe three years. I thought about leaving him many times, I really have, but something always held me back. I guess my fear of being all alone turned me into the needy, insecure human I've always been deep down."
"Don't say that. You're strong, I know you are, Caroline. You could do anything, you could have the world at your feet if you wanted." Klaus replied, closing in on her. "Come with me."
Caroline covered her face with her hands, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm broken. I lost my self-respect, my dignity, everything you knew about me is shattered." She said.
"I don't believe that." He placed his hand under her chin. "Everyone hits rock bottom, but you can rise out of it. Let me help you."
She began sobbing uncontrollably and Klaus took a seat next to her on the couch, taking her in his arms. It hurt him to see her this damaged and it angered him knowing the man responsible for this was still out there. He would take her away, he would save her from this hell hole, but first, he would make him pay for everything he had done.
"Love, please come with me. I promise I'll make you forget all about this nightmare. You're a queen and deserve to be treated like nothing else." He said, looking into her watery blue eyes.
"I'm afraid." She replied, "I'm afraid to trust again."
"Then let me work hard to earn that trust, I'll wait as long as it's necessary. I promise you won't regret it, Caroline."
She shifted her eyes between him and the floor. Her thoughts went back to their dance and his words echoed in her head. Perhaps one day, in a year, or even in a century, you'll turn up at my door and let me show you what the world has to offer. She chuckled under her breath, wiping the tears from her face. It hadn't been a year and it hadn't been a century but that day had come. There was a reason she was here now, and it wasn't just to tell him how she had gotten to this point in her life; there was a bigger purpose. Life had granted her another chance. Out off all the places in the world, they had crossed paths once again where they had least expected and it would be foolish of her to just let that slip away.
She nodded. "Ok. Take me with you." Her blue eyes pleaded.
Klaus smiled and took her in his arms once again. Her chest fluttered with excitement and his body enveloped her in warmth in more ways than one. A sense of protection and security washed over her as she buried her face in the nook of his neck.
The sun was setting, the streets below them were darkening and the city lights were beginning to illuminate the surroundings. Caroline, leaned over the railing of the terrace, breathing in the cool air. Klaus watched her from a distance, smiling to himself. He couldn't believe she was once again within his reach.
"Do you want something to eat, love?" He asked, walking up behind her.
Caroline turned around, smiling at him. "Please?" She simply replied, walking back inside, with him by her side.
"How do you feed nowadays?" He asked timidly, afraid that his question might offend her.
"Well, blood bags are kind of hard to come by. Plus..." she trailed off, her eyes avoiding his gaze, "Tyler prefers humans, so I've had to make some adjustments."
"You don't like it." He stated. She looked at him and shook her head slightly. "I know from experience what it feels like to be one of those girls and I frankly don't enjoy using people like that."
"Ok. Well, I'm sure there are a few animals roaming around these hills. I can go find you something." He offered.
"Why are you doing all this for me? I was nothing but a bitch to you and rejected you over and over again. I've never been particularly kind." Her eyes searched his face, as she closed the gap between them.
"Because you're different." He replied, "You make me want to be better and I always hoped you'd come around."
She looked at him surprised and smiled shyly at his answer. Their lips were so close, she could feel his warm breath caressing her face. The sudden click of the lock caused them both to snap their head towards the door.
"Nik! I'm coming in! Don't say I didn't warn you!" Kol announced loudly.
Caroline looked at Klaus, eyebrows raised. They'd spent so much time talking about everything that had happened that he'd forgotten to mention Kol was the real reason he was in LA, in the first place.
He strolled in, a mischievous smile on his face. "Hi Caroline..." he said teasingly.
"Oh God," Caroline blurted out, "you were there last night?" she asked, looking over at Klaus.
"You're really good." Kol replied, grinning from ear to ear.
"That's enough Kol." Klaus demanded, giving his brother a reprimanding look.
Caroline covered her face in embarrassment. She didn't really know Kol but she could tell he wasn't the kind to just forget about things. Something told her, he'd never let it go.
"Sorry." He said with a faint smirk. "So what's the plan?" He turned his attention to Klaus.
"She's coming with us." He replied. Kol looked over at Caroline with both eyebrows arched, trying to conceal a smile. "But I need you to help me teach someone a little lesson first." He concluded.
Caroline noticed Kol's face light up at the prospect of inflicting pain on someone. She furrowed her eyebrows, Klaus' little brother was definitely something else.
"Please, don't kill him." She said, flickering her eyes from one to the other.
Klaus put his hands up, deeming himself defenseless. "I'll let him live, but only because you want it that way."
"Well, unlike my brother, I can't make any promises." Kol said, the corners of his mouth lifting up into a smile. "But, I'll try my best only because I actually like you. And I'm not just saying that because I saw your-"
"Kol!" Klaus cut him off, frustration evident in his voice.
"Fine, fine... I'll shut up." He said complacently.
"We won't kill him, sweetheart. But we'll definitely make him feel miserable and leave him without movement for the next few days."
"Wait, who are we talking about anyway?" Kol asked, definitely not keeping his mouth shut like he said he would.
"My husband..." Caroline muttered under her breath, a look of bewilderment spread across Kol's face.
"Tyler Lockwood." Klaus stated.
"Oh. I have no idea who that is." He replied.
Caroline couldn't help chuckling a bit. Of course he had no idea who he was. He'd only been in town a few days and that was during the time Tyler was gone.
"You two need to be careful. He knows a lot of people. There's a pack he frequents often and they're not the nicest of guys." She warned, twirling the ring around her finger.
"Give me that." Klaus pointed at the cheap diamond ring.
She pulled it off her finger and handed it to him. Klaus examined it for a quick second before huffing and putting it in his pocket.
"Consider yourself divorced, love." He smirked.
"Oh! One of your hybrids! That's who we're paying a visit to?" Kol exclaimed.
Caroline and Klaus both looked at him, without answering. He nodded, acknowledging their silenced as confirmation.
"So what time are we leaving?" He asked anxiously.
"I'm gonna find Caroline something to eat first and then we'll go." Klaus replied, smiling at her.
The two brothers travelled from the posh hills of West Hollywood to the slums of East Los Angeles. It wasn't difficult to find the establishment Caroline had directed them to. They walked in, their eyes scanning the area for the teenage hybrid.
Two brunettes approached them, offering their services as soon as they walked through the door.
"We're fine thanks." Klaus said, waving them off. The girls started to walk away, offended. "Wait!" He grabbed one of them by the arm. "You wouldn't happen to know where I can find Tyler Lockwood, would you?" He flashed her a charming smile.
Kol winked at the second girl, checking her out from head to toe.
"I do but he doesn't like being disturbed." She replied, an apologetic expression on her face.
Klaus looked over at his brother. It was time to use other methods.
"Please," Kol began, staring directly into the girl's eyes, "tell us where Mr. Lockwood is." The girl immediately nodded.
"He's in his office. Third door on the left," she said pointing to the hall at the far end of the club.
"Thank you, sweetheart. See, that wasn't that difficult." Kol replied.
They made their way to the room, keeping a close eye for anyone that looked suspicious. As they entered the hallway, they could hear laughing coming from behind the door. Klaus put his hand on the handle and placed a finger over his lips. Kol nodded, waiting for him to cautiously open the door. They crept inside. Tyler was preoccupied with three women. He was kissing one while the other two worked on removing his clothes. Klaus and Kol both looked at each other, unamused.
"Having fun, mate?" Klaus asked, his voice causing them all to stop what they were doing.
"Oh, you brought friends." One of the women said, as she came to her feet.
"Klaus? What are you doing here?" Tyler asked startled, pushing the women off of him.
"You should probably tell them to leave." Kol suggested.
The women looked at Tyler who nodded, agreeing with him. They walked out of the office, whining about their fun getting interrupted.
As soon as the door closed, Klaus' whole demeanor changed. "You son of a bitch..." he muttered before lunging at him.
He punched Tyler in the face a few dozen times, until he was covered in blood. He was too drunk to properly defend himself, but not drunk enough to not know the reason for Klaus' rage. Kol leaned against the door with his arms crossed, watching his brother beat him to a pulp.
"Let me know when you get tired, Nik. I need to let off some steam as well." He said.
Tyler let out a vile laugh, "I'm guessing you had a run in with my girl?" He said, wiping the blood off his nose.
Klaus kicked him in the stomach. "She's no longer yours. You don't deserve someone like her in your life!" He kicked him a couple more times, until he heard his ribs crack.
"And I supposed you do?" He replied, coughing up blood.
Kol stepped forward, "My turn, Nik." He said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Kol continued beating Tyler viciously, enjoying every impact of his fist with his face. He stomped on his arms and legs, breaking his bones until he lied motionless on the floor.
"Turn him over." Klaus ordered, as his brother rolled him on his back.
He pulled the ring out of his pocket and threw it over him. "That belongs to you." He said, squatting down next to him.
He grabbed his face with force, squeezing hard enough to crush his jaw. Tyler avoided his gaze.
"Look at me!" He demanded, but the hybrid refused. "Look at me!" He growled in anger, turning his face towards him until they made eye contact.
"You don't know Caroline. She never existed in your life and nothing ever happened between you two. But you'll forever carry with you the guilt and grief you caused her. Now go to sleep, and forget we were ever here." He said, letting go of his face.
He stood up, turning to his brother. "Let's get out of here." Kol nodded, following him out the door.
Caroline lied down on the bed, turning on her side as she eyed the clock on the nightstand. It was close to midnight and they still weren't back. She lifted her head up when she heard the sound of the card key sliding down and unlocking the door. She walked out of the room and to the top of the stairs.
"Klaus?" She called out.
"We're back, sweetheart." He replied, looking up at her.
Caroline smiled at both of them, relieved they had made it back unscathed. She walked down the stairs and stood in front of Klaus. He slowly moved towards her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Her chest began to flutter once again as she got lost in his scent. Kol cleared his throat loudly, breaking the silence.
"How did it go?" She asked nervously, releasing Klaus from the embrace.
"He won't be bothering you anymore, love. You're free." He replied softly, touching the side of her face.
"So, should I compel myself a separate room for tonight? Or..." Kol hinted at their closeness and interaction.
"That won't be necessary. We're leaving early in the morning. I think we can put up with you for one night." Klaus replied, his eyes still on Caroline's.
"Ok, just tell me if I need to wear headphones to sleep or something. I really don't want to hear you two going at it all night." Kol said half jokingly.
"You are the worst!" Caroline exclaimed, between laughs.
"You'll learn to love me." He replied, winking at her.
"Actually before you go to sleep. I need to have a little chat with you." Klaus said, asking him to follow him to the terrace.
Caroline watched as they talked outside. Kol threw his head back in protest before nodding and accepting whatever it was Klaus was asking him to do. Her eyes widened when she noticed what was going on. Klaus seemed to be compelling him, she always thought Originals were immune to that. They came back inside and Kol smiled at her before saying goodnight and heading up to his room.
"What was that about?" She asked concerned.
"Let's just say he saw a little too much of you last night. Just making a few repairs to his memory, nothing major." Klaus smiled.
"Originals can be compelled?"
"We have to give consent, open ourselves up for it, if you will." He explained.
He extended his hand to her, guiding her up the stairs to the room. She came to rest on the bed and slipped under the covers.
"I'll be downstairs if you need me," he said, taking a few steps towards the door.
Caroline wanted him to stay, she wanted to be in the safety of his arms, but she didn't say anything to stop him. She watched him walk out of the room and close the door behind him. Her eyes felt heavy and inevitably closed, surrendering to sleep.
She woke up to the boys talking downstairs. It was already morning and she figured they were probably eating breakfast. She climbed out of bed and fixed her hair in front of the mirror, before walking down stairs. Her mouth twisted in disapproval when she noticed her dress was wrinkled.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Klaus greeted her from the kitchen, placing a plate with eggs and bacon for her on the table.
Kol was already chowing down his food, and simply lifted his head up to her as a greeting. She smiled at him as Klaus pulled the chair out for her to sit down.
"We're leaving in a couple hours." He announced.
"I didn't pack anything." She said.
"Don't worry about that. You'll just have to buy a new wardrobe when we get to Italy." He replied.
"Italy?" Her eyes widened and her face lit up with excitement.
"Yeah, we're staying in Venice. The house is enormous, you probably won't see us for days unless you go searching for us." Kol chimed in.
Caroline had always wanted to go to Venice. The canals and the city streets seemed picturesque and exuded romance. She had to settle for Venice Beach, and to say the time spent there had been romantic would be blasphemous.
"You're going to love it there." Klaus smiled at her.
Kol rolled his eyes, noticing that they were once again in their own little bubble. He could only imagine what Rebekah would say when they showed up together. At least he'd have a partner in crime to tease them to no end. He smirked as he ate the rest of his eggs.
"Ok, lovebirds, we need to get going." He grumbled, excusing himself from the table.
Caroline looked away embarrassed, I guess she was transparent enough for Kol to notice the connection she shared with his brother. She finished up her breakfast and drank the last of her orange juice, quietly.
They had a bellman come pick up their luggage and send it directly to the airport. When they reached the entrance of the hotel, there was already a cab waiting for them. Klaus opened the door for her as she slid her way into the backseat. He followed, shutting the door behind him. Kol took the front seat, asking the cab driver to take them to LAX.
She looked at the rear view mirror, the Hollywood hills fading away in the distance. Her eyes closed, trying to suppress the memories of the life she was leaving behind. She looked over at Klaus who was staring out the window and smiled to herself, knowing she was doing the right thing.
All reviews/criticism welcome! Please let me know what you think!
Part 2 will be uploaded later this week :) xoxo