Justified
He wasn't worth it, following him around for 90 years.
A testament of how screwed up, how desperate he was.
He thought they all wanted him dead, yet ironically being the one to strike the final blow, dip his fingers to his chest, feel the red liquid humid full of life and torture on his tips made him realise, they all wanted him dead save his family and an old lost friend.
He felt sad, genuinely sad.
Time dragged and with every slowing beat, the sadness deepened.
And through the angst of the moment, the pleading look in Nik's sea blue eyes, full of promises, hope that he might spare him drowned him in the so familiar feeling: guilt.
He pleads with him with all his might, with every single moment of friendship, every single moment of brotherhood, every single moment he thought they could be the same, yet there was no turning back.
No words were uttered, nor did the grip get any looser.
"Turn it off, Turn it off now" Stefan struggles with himself.
Stefan's eyes bore into his, orbs filled with empty apologies, surprise itched on his features.
He never thought he would see Klaus that way, so vulnerable, almost human.
He never thought that Klaus was still engrained into him this way.
He still likes Klaus, He still appreciates Klaus, and He still considers him a friend.
And when Klaus gives up and gives him the "I know you're sorry and justified" look.
He knows they'd never be the same,
He would never be the same.
He shoves him into the coffin, fire spreading through his conscience, his emotional part telling him to wake him up.
The other logical sane part telling him to stop acting like a pathetic school girl and go through with it, after all he now has Damon.
Ironically, he used Klaus more than Klaus used him during the 20s.
They were the substitutes for each others' brother, yet he needed him more. He needed his company and Rebekah's more.
Now he is walking away from him.
He sees Nik in a different light now, After all the anger faded, he sees how tormented this man was, the one who was never loved enough, the one who was never chosen, the man so resemblent to Damon yet a more tragic, screwed up version of him.
The man every time he had a closure, every time he convinces himself he 'd found solace, company, every time he starts to heal, something jags him even more , tears through him, throws him back 6 feet under.
And he responds by building the fortress once more around him, reinforcing it so no one ever gets in again even those who never hurt him but have potential to.
And when He is plotting with Damon to dump him in the Atlantic, pretending he is all fine and unfazed, he prays his heart out that something wrong happens ,that something goes wrong, he knows that something wrong will happen that would put a halt to all their plans.
Cause heavens isn't that cruel, heavens is merciful even if it was Klaus we are talking about, heavens is merciful even for the remnants of such a beautiful beast.
Stefan knows well that if he ever wakes up they will be in deep calamity,
He would lash out at the entire world, and he would be so justified, yet Stefan cannot help but wishes he would wake up, whatever the consequences are.