ESCAILY ASKED: Drabble request: Au Katherine convinces Caroline to secretly go with her to NOLA for Mardi Grass, Caroline wears a Medieval princess costume and bumps into Klaus looking like that ... (oh and if you can please add some Kalijah and Katoline hints?)
A/N: I don't know what katoline is… but there are hints of kalijah in here. XD
Klaus is not a romantic. He does not believe in the notion of the world ceasing to spin the moment lovers' eyes meet. Does not believe in the coincidence of eyes locking across a crowded room. And yet time and time again she always manages to shake his preconceived notions. She makes him a fool in love and he cannot stop her, does not wantto stop her.
As with everything else she does, Caroline showing up in New Orleans is a pure surprise. He realizes that he has been standing stupidly in silence, staring at her for a good minute or so, when one of the drunken partygoers bump into him, landing him exactly one step away from her.
"Are you alright?" she says, her hands reaching out to steady him.
He's never been unsteady before.
"What are you doing here?" he asks bluntly, only realizing how rude he sounds the second the words have left his mouth.
She blushes and runs her hands through her hair before smiling sheepishly. With a shrug she gestures to her extravagant medieval dress, complete with ribbons, red velvet and billowing sleeves. "Mardi Gras," she says simply.
The explanation disappoints him though he knows not to want more. What did he expect her to say? That she came here for him? Yes… a secret part of him wished she did.
"I came with Katherine," she states to his astonishment.
She laughs, it sounds nervous and suddenly he notices just how fidgety she is.
"Why?" he asks simply.
She sighs and looks heavenwards. "Katherine wanted to see Elijah."
"And you decided to help her?"
She meets his eyes this time, gaze unwavering. "I guess I'm a sucker for love stories with unfinished endings."
The words feel loaded and despite himself he can feel the space where his heart should be flutter.
"She must have found him by now… Katherine is persistent like that," he says nonchalantly. He glances away for a second before extending his hand to her. "Would you like to join me until she returns? I would be happy to show you the rest of the festivities." As an afterthought he adds playfully, "M'lady."
Caroline's lips curve upwards in a smile. As she places her hand in his she does a small curtsy.
"It would be my pleasure, good sir."
He smiles for the first time for a while and hooks her hand through the crook of his arm.
When fireworks go off she leans her head against his shoulder and he revels in the weight of it, the warmth of her body against his.
Klaus is not a romantic, but for Caroline, he thinks he could be. He's a sucker for unfinished love stories, too.