"You just cannot be serious Kol," Caroline said swatting the files she had in her hand at his chest as he ducked. She opened the cover of the first file displaying a smudged mug shot, "He looks nothing like you."
In her mind she had thought up a dozen scenarios this man had coaxed Kol into helping him; the mafia or a loan shark from somewhere in the world Kol had ventured to.
She wanted to look out for him, "You can tell me if he's goading you into this." He held the door open for her to go first.
Kol grinned shaking his head at every single one of her fingers she was waving at him he was truly enjoying having Caroline around.
"I'm telling you he is my brother and you're going to defend him in court," he replied as she moved past him with a grin, fairly sure of what would happen next.
There was no one else who was willing to take this case, so in the midst of his day-drinking he remembered his dear old university friend desperately he ran to her side.
Caroline Forbes born in America and brought to England when she was three. Kol felt she was admirable; having the looks of a famous flapper girl and a brain to top it all off.
Right after graduation she went out on her own taking cases no self-respecting lawyer would take, and she won every single one, even the strange ones.
It took him a few days to track her down and bring her here much to her chagrin. She had dressed with her best hat, reddest lipstick and lightest heels - her stockings leading up to her fitted skirt.
Wherever she went people gawked, though according to Caroline people's stares no longer bothered her, she was immune, Caroline counted that as one of her biggest strengths.
"You never said you even had a brother let alone three and a sister," she told him as they rode the ancient lift in the prison to meet the ward and have a sit down with his inmate and her new client.
"Then you shouldn't have caved so easily to a dare, darling," he countered earning himself a glare that had pulverized juries.
"How am I supposed to help him?" she confronted facing him directly as the lift stopped the door moving up to let them pass. "You both are withholding information from me," she hissed.
He laughed jovially before the doors opened and the time for laughter was over a shiver running down his spine as he looked over at his friend.
They passed the inmates with the protection of four guards, both ignoring the eyes of every prisoner; Kol because he owed a few and Caroline for other reasons.
The further they traveled the more anxious she became though she fought to keep it hidden her hand sliding down as she felt the knife her father had entrusted her after graduation.
"Caroline its 1924, relax," he whispered as leaned into her ear to speak, "They won't hurt us," he said with confidence trusting the guards to protect them if danger should arise.
"They can just to prove they can Kol and you know it. Honestly in this day and age I'm supposed to be the naive one not the clever one," she quipped as they finally made it to solitary confinement.
"What exactly did my client do to deserve this?" she asked with a hard voice desperately trying to ignore the smell of one's own filth as she walked through the murky ground.
"He took out a guard because he couldn't stand his roommate any longer," the guard informed them as Kol caught sight of the deck of cards in his pocket.
He approached the guard, "Fancy a game?" he asked his eyes pointing at the deck then back up again Caroline watched on rolling her eyes as they agreed because his break was up.
Kol stepped back to talk to Caroline, "Cheer up old girl and remember two things; first we only have spoken over the phone," he said reminding her of her earlier comment about withholding.
He raised his eyebrows walking backwards as he spoke, "And second, he's distrustful of technology so clearly he wants to talk with you in person."
Caroline frowned the further he went in the almost empty hallway, "You really believe what you're saying don't you?" her voice echoing bounding off of the guards in the hall.
Kol gave her a dangerous smile, "Yes, now let's get my brother out of prison," he said with a wink before he was off.
"Fine," she muttered even though he had already abandoned her by the visitor's room. It smelled only slightly better she thought as she pulled her handkerchief dabbing her collar.
She turned the corner spotting the guard watching her, "It must be rather interesting being a lawyer and a spinster," said the guard that led her to the visiting office where she would first meet Kol's brother.
"Better to be where I am than taking orders from you," she said politely with a smile as he made a face doubling back to his position by the door as she waited for her new client.
She sat carefully reading the file Kol had given her, "Niklaus," she read. She pronounced it to herself as she heard footsteps proceeding towards her.
"It's so great of you to join me, Mr. Mikaelson," she said not sparing him a glance while still looking over her briefing as she sensed him sitting before her.
He leaned his elbows on the edge of the table watching her work with trepidation. She was a tiny little thing, he thought. Rude too, not even taking a glance up at him as he looked her over.
He had expected Kol, not her whoever she might be, still recalling the last few months here and what awaited him at the end of the week he was happy to see one last striking thing before he died.
He gulped as the tight fitted suit jacket in a navy color and a matching skirt with a pencil tucked behind her ear he could see how some would find her attractive.
His gaze was set on hers, his fingers twitching with the itch to sketch her on his cell wall as he rested his chin on his hands to keep from reaching out and making her look at him.
"It says here that you were caught," she picked at her glasses pulling them further down her nose as she tilted her head up to look at him her lips parting before she shut her mouth swallowing loudly.
She bit the corner of her mouth caught at the sight of him, prison conditions doing nothing to diminish the dimples in his cheeks, the pink color shaded over his lips and the sea blue of his eyes.
His hair was matted and knotted the ends. She thought that without a doubt it would have to go when they had finished here. She was surprised it was different from the photo she had as she looked down at it for reference.
Klaus barely held his smirk at her loss for words rubbing the scruff on his chin as he finished for her, "Giving back the stolen artifacts my General had looted. Yes."
"Oh," she said looking back down at her paperwork ignoring his rather distracting stare, as she read further she tried to block out the dirty blonde curls around his face.
She shivered at the thought of his dark blue thundering storm eyes resembled the shades of colors in the night reflecting the water making them sparkle.
Caroline ground her teeth as she recalled from her swift look over the slight toning of his body that was at least similar to one of the gods she'd read about.
"You alright there, love?" he asked with a quirk in his eyebrow; the pet name coming out whether he lacked her name or not.
Klaus felt it suited her even thought he could sense how high strung she was at the moment her head practically snapping up at the endearment.
She composed herself quickly, "It's Caroline, Caroline Forbes," she said shutting his file, "I'm sorry I was rude, I'll be your attorney. Kol hired me." She explained timidly reaching her hand out for him to take.
He gave her a small smile wiping his dirty hand on his shirt before taking hers, her eyes locked on their hands as his locked on her face. "I was only given a small time frame to look over your case."
He cleared his throat as it was a lot more dry than usual which was saying something for a former soldier and adventurer. "Understood," he replied his eyes looking from her to their joined hands.
Her hand was smaller. Almost white porcelain compared to his rather large tanned one. He had dirt under his nails and was callous from his military days she guessed.
He found her to be epically beautiful. He could tell she was prim and proper, and rightly so not like him at all, he figured he would never see her again after this.
Their meeting was short and direct Caroline asking him to recount stories and swearing to the gods above and below if he was lying that she would hang him herself.
He liked her fire. She was more dangerous than people thought. He was certain that gave her the edge in the courtroom.
As he sat in his cell with the silence enveloping him he couldn't help but wonder if he was interested in her or if he was grasping for something to hold on to before death.
He looked down at his hand barely visible now in the moonlight, it still tingled where she had held it, he thought as he dropped his head back on the wall.
He tried not to recall the way she spoke, held herself or smelled but he was certain that if put on trial he could recall every single detail.
He tucked his hair back wishing he had been cleaner than he appeared to be. His smile was a wry one as he pictured himself dressed in his best next to her. A hopeless dream.
Caroline had attained the last four years of Niklaus' background. It was fairly impressive. She wished she could see some of the places listed but knew it wasn't in the cards for her.
She loosened her bun as she sat in her night gown on the bed in the hotel Kol had insisted she stay at with him. Separate rooms but still not far away from his laughter.
At this point in the night it was either work of endure another sleepless night so she had decided after her shower to look over every inch of the report that had been sent to her from the prison.
Her forehead creased as she reached for her glasses on the edge of her bed putting them on blinking to adjust, she thought she had read he was left for dead, she wasn't wrong.
Something had not sat with her very well and going over the paperwork and what little he had told her during their meeting Caroline couldn't find true cause for him to be sentenced in such a way.
Caroline felt herself fuming at the injustice, there was a chance he was the scapegoat, and flipping to the next page she folded the corner of the paper to bookmark it for later.
In the next section she found her winning ticket, it wasn't much but if she could get the warden to make a deal it might be enough to get Kol's brother free, at the thought she clutched her mother's locket hanging from her neck as she grinned thinking ahead.
The next morning her pinned curls were at their best as she stepped from the taxi onto the pavement in front of where Niklaus was being held.
She walked with her head high, her eyes lined perfectly, her lips the reddest she could find topping it off with her best foot forward, there was no stopping her.
She almost danced into the warden's office she felt that good as she dropped her files on to his desk and heard the door shut behind her he had the look of fear making her think, good.
The day hadn't even ended and Caroline was right on track, after a long and thorough negotiation she had managed deal, a rather good one she thought, the warden was either a thick man or in need of a solution to his problem.
It wasn't a lot because up to this moment she knew he wouldn't be retrieving his belongings but it would give her client his freedom, he still had to pay a lot of people back, herself included but she didn't doubt he couldn't.
Caroline insisted on seeing him out herself taking it upon herself to walk through the prison once more as she wanted to be the one to grace him with the news just in case something happened on his way from here.
While that was one of the reasons she still thought she'd like to see him when the door rolled open she looked at him seated on the floor light barely coming in.
She smiled from the corner of her mouth as her hands landed on her hips, "Don't look so shocked," she said in greeting as she entered looking around at the little room he had been held in.
His expression was one of confusion she determined by the way his nose and forehead scrunched up at the sight of her. She held out her hand to him to take, symbolism coming up in volumes.
"Come on then," she said as he scooted closer to her his hand coming to hers holding on as she helped him up, "Time to go home." he gave her a tight smile as he was lead out and processed the warden looking on carefully.
Once they reached outside he turned to her,"Just how did you swing this?" he asked as they strode towards the car Kol had sent for them both. She smiled throwing him a coy look about her as she stepped into the car.
Klaus nodded at the doorman as he followed her inside happy there were many open windows because he was sure he smelled foul compared to most of the city.
He made a mental note to punish Kol for sending her to pick him up when he knew his brother could afford to have gotten one car each and she wouldn't have to suffer through.
He tried not to grimace as she looked out of the window probably trying to escape the smell. Kol would definitely hear from him, he thought, as he felt his nails dig into his palm as the car started.
Caroline completely unaware of his inner dialogue smiled, "I read you were an adventurer for a short time before you ended up in this city," she said still facing the window as they traveled slowly through the paved streets.
Klaus looked up from his lap looking over at her, "Do you always know more than you let on?" he asked curiously her eyes finding his as she nodded in agreement.
"I like to keep secrets, to have secrets, mostly I just like being the smartest one in the room," she admitted blushing as he nodded unsure why she would blush over something like that but enjoying it nonetheless.
"I'll keep that in mind," he said with a nod before slowly their conversation ended and they spent the rest of the trip in a comfortable silence.
He found he was at ease with Ms. Forbes. She was a woman with class and sophistication, yet she hadn't looked down upon an imprisoned bastard like him.
She had helped him no less, with the help of Kol. It took a severe amount of courage for her to be who she was every day in a time where a woman with a book in their hands was frowned upon.
He thought if he could keep her around longer he might learn a thing or two as he felt the corner of his mouth upturn paying attention to where his mind had wandered.
He had known her for the better part of three days; there was nothing there but a dead man's wish for most of it even now.
The car pulled to a stop the driver turning his head as he saluted them with his hat, a man appeared by his door opening it for him he pulled himself up holding the door for support.
He nodded to him warily as he exited stopping where he stood to wait for his savior, her hand reached for his even as the man who held their door reached for hers."Is this," he gestures with his eyes to their hands before they flick back up to her face.
"Our thing?" he asked as he helped her out of the vehicle ignoring the tingling sensation that had since come alive with a smile that had shocked her but in an appealing kind of way.
She smiled in return at his teasing leaning in a bit before they walked inside the hotel, "We don't have a thing," she muttered as she walked ahead of him.
She found herself clicking with him rather quickly it was like he lit a match under her it was quite surprising and welcome she realized.
"This is your room," she said when they reached the second floor walking tow rooms down. "My room is next to yours. Kol isn't here. I've just been informed he went out. He's across from us," she said clutching her hands at her front.
"I'm sure he'll make himself known to you as soon as he thinks you won't hit him," she added with a small smile as she took a step closer to her room walking backwards.
"Then he should forget my room number," he quipped making her smile as he opened his room door nodding, "Until dinner, Ms. Forbes," he added before he went inside.
Klaus swore he spent two hours scrubbing grime from his body until his skin is a bright pink and his bathwater was a faded brown. His skin was tender but he felt rather like himself again as he moved to stand grabbing a towel to dry his face from the edge of the tub.
He exited the dark bathwater, nodding for the servant to start cleaning it. His eyes apologized for the mess as he wraps a towel around his waist.
Earlier he had found a suitcase with his old clothing inside, bringing him memories from years before. He supposed he should thank his brother for the gesture but he knew he wouldn't.
Picking his best wear, he set it aside as he closed the suitcase catching his reelection in the mirror. He hardily recognized the man in front of him.
The scars at his sides, over his chest, scratches from the last few days - he used to wear them like armor. Now feeling at the one down his stomach he'd had most of his life, he frowned.
Klaus shook of the memory of home life as he took in the rest of himself, making sure he hadn't missed an area. He nodded with satisfaction when he saw his nails were clean.
He looked back up, pleased to find his hair has kept its shape for the most part as he ran a comb through the wet strands taking notes of where to cut. The blonde locks went just passing his collar and settled on his shoulders.
His eyes landed on the hair over what little he saw of his jawline and he instinctively reached for the razor when he heard the door shut behind him telling him he was alone once more.
His head turned his head halfway just to make sure because now he's alone thinking about what Caroline might think about a clean shaven face.
For the better part of the afternoon she reads, Caroline. for her part, reads about the city she's in, the population and the sights to visit knowing she never will.
As she sits on her lounging chair, she combs out the waves of her hair, fluffing it out as she readjusts herself to sit comfortably while no one is watching.
Pursing her lips as she heard the door next to hers open and close, she shifted unconsciously towards the wall closest to his room. "Are you going to ask him?" Kol said, shocking her causing her to jump in surprise.
"Kol! Honestly, I'm not even dressed," she said exasperated with him as she reached for something to cover herself up with though she knew Kol wasn't interested in her that way.
"Oh," he covered his mouth with his hand, his comb over coming over his forehead before he flipped it back as he was mocking her, "What a scandal?!"
She scrunched her nose to show her distaste as she got to her feet and reached for her robe, covering herself up as she tied the rope around her waist.
Kol watched her as he sat on her bed, making himself comfortable as he crossed a leg over the other, "Are you?" he asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.
Caroline let out a hard breath, "No, I'm not going to," she told him, hating that Kol had figured her out by just reading a few of her case files.
Kol shook his finger at her like a disobedient child, "Yes you are," he chastised her as picked up her book blatantly ignoring him.
She pointed back at him as she looked for her slippers, "Not a word, no grinning like that either," she added without looking back at him.
He chuckled as he stood up straightening his suit, "You have to do it old girl, or you'll never leave your desk again," he said encouraging her.
Caroline didn't turn around until she heard him let himself out, "I can't believe I'm falling for this," she sighed at her wits end.
"Fine," she huffed, "I'll ask but it doesn't mean that I wouldn't leave my desk or any other place," she said to herself as she undressed herself.
Moving to her mirror as Caroline slid on her slip pulling it over her head and dragging the pale pink fabric down her body as she reached for her hose.
She dressed quickly in a peasant top and walking pleated skirt before searching out her brown t-strap heels and rolling her hair back swiftly into a low bun.
He swore he had no idea when the day began to turn to night as he shrugged on his sports coat eager to get the evening started, he was being re-introduced to society or rather strangers.
He tried to place his best foot forward as Klaus reached for the door ten minutes before he was set to meet his brother, making sure his hair was coiffed perfectly and his suit fit him nicely.
It was a bit loose but he knew after a few weeks he would fit right into it like he used too. He grimaced at the memory of the prison food as he exited.
He shut his door turning as he heard footsteps. His reflex was to reach for the gun in his back, "Ah brother," Klaus felt the world testing him as he took his hand off of his weapon.
"Kol," he said, the name leaving bitterness in his mouth as they sized one another up uncertain about what would happen next.
Kol cracked extending his arms, "No hug?" he asked with a small smile as he teased his older brother before Klaus' patience disappeared.
"How about this?" Klaus muttered as he stepped back and swung back his arm his fist connecting with his younger brother's jaw feeling his knuckles pop.
Kol fell to the ground on his side propping on leg up as he rubbed at his cheek, "Lacks form," he spat at Klaus looking at him venomously.
"I'll work on it," Klaus muttered massaging his hand and wrist as he fixed his own suit up. Caroline's door opened to present him with a stunning view.
"Kol, why are you-?" Caroline asked as her heels clicked from how quickly she moved over to the two as if Klaus hadn't already caused a stir Caroline was turning heads.
"Caroline," the brothers said together, Kol with a whining tone and Klaus in awe of the woman striding towards them.
Ignoring Kol he took a step closer to her with a grin whispering, "You're quite the figure in that dress," he said to her, his eyes traveling the lines of her face and down to her hand which he took and kissed.
Her beauty surprised him at every turn it seemed. He had complimented her before he knew he was speaking, surprised her had words to express how she looked.
"Thank you," she whispered making Klaus feel like he'd had six drinks back in his room when he'd only had two large ones.
Caroline's eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips as he complimented her with a fixed gaze, "You're too kind," she murmured back, feeling heat in her cheeks.
It was unexpected the way he captured her attention when they met, and every moment after he was a paradox that even she, in her line of work, was unaccustomed to.
She was captivated by the places he had been, the languages he knew and the people he might have met there. She knew even after he was gone from her life she would remember him.
Kol eyed them with a piqued consternation. "Is anyone going to help me up?" he asked in a quiet tone, no jokes or teasing just testing to see if they were listening.
Caroline ignored him as Klaus extended his hand stepping over his brother to escort her to the dining hall. She searched the heavens in order to escape his gaze but all she found was the roof looking back.
"You shaved," she observed with a smile as she looked him over as is if collecting data storing it for later something that pulled at the corner of his mouth lifting it.
"I did," he responded with a nod in her direction as he pulled out a chair for her. Caroline eyed him as she sat. "Any further comments?"
"I'll let you know," she insisted as he took a seat next to her his gaze unwavering to the point that Caroline looked as if her body was deciding between a shiver and a scoff.
His mouth upturned when he sensed a combination of the two happen and he turned looking at the rest of the table's guests.
"I'll just sit here then," Kol muttered taking the last seat furthest from the pair, tossing his napkin into his lap as he went on rambling.
After dinner Kol excused himself after spotting one of the maids eyeing him flirtatiously and Klaus knew the pair of them wouldn't see him until way past dawn.
Klaus smiled over at Caroline who had come to the same conclusion by the looks of it. "Would you walk me to my room?" she asked silently leaning into his space.
Until next time! :)) HAPPY NEW YEAR!
