Twisted Perception.

Takes place during TVD Season 3 Episode 15 before going completely off canon.

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"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"I want to talk about you. Your...your hopes, your dreams," Cringing slightly at his stutter, Klaus covered his misstep with a lowered tone and a smoldering gaze that often melted a reluctant woman, "everything you want in life."

Caroline's blue eyes twinkled under the streetlights, her soft yet blinding smile helping to bolster his confidence, "Just to be clear," she smirked, knowing she had him hanging on her every breath, "I'm too smart to be seduced by you."

Pleasantly delighted with her rebuttal, his lips curved into a charming smile, "Well that's why I like you."

Caroline felt stunned and oddly flattered, and if his bashful chuckle was anything to go by, her emotions were clearly written on her face. But she couldn't help it, his answer was not at all what she had been expecting. Most men, well boys in her experience, would either walk away or take her answer as a means to press their case even harder. She had no idea what to make of Klaus and his reply. He was either really good at playing whatever game he had going on with her or, as hard a time as she had believing it, he was genuinely interested. No matter many times she argued both sides to herself, she honestly had no clue which she would prefer. Realizing she needed to say something to keep him here she cleared her throat and turned her body to face him fully.

"Well then as long as that clear." She winced at her repeat and his amused smirk.

"Crystal sweetheart." Sliding just a few inches closer to her, emboldened by her acceptance of his presence in her person space Klaus pressed on, "Does this mean you'll answer my questions about your hopes and dreams?"

"No." The suddenness of her answer briefly astonished him before she could see the hope begin to die out from his eyes. But before he could bring his walls slowly back up she surprised him yet again with a demanding of her own, "You seem to know so much about me yet I know next to nothing about you."

"I beg to differ sweetheart." He deflected playfully.

"Really?" Caroline's amusement carried musically through her voice as she arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Aside for the tiny details like; art, drinking and extravagant gifts. The only other things I know is you have severe daddy-issues and are a megalomaniac."

If it had been any other to voice such things Klaus would have boasted before ripping out their hearts slowly from their chests. Yet strangely enough, with this tiny slip of a girl, this beautiful glowing vampire, he didn't have a single iota within him to hurt her. Somehow, she was able to convey a deeper understanding yet an interest to learn more hidden within her teasing lilt.

"Outside of a few other details," Klaus waved his hand before resting it on the back of the bench between them, "there isn't much more to tell really."

"So you aren't going to answer my questions?" She accused him, "How is that even fair? You want to know all about me, you're even trying to woo me in your own twisted way, but you won't do a quid pro quo?"

"It would seem you have me at a checkmate." Klaus conceded with a smirk, "So go on Caroline, have at it."

Her pupils dilated just a hair, her breath hitched as the telltale signs of veins began to grow beneath her eyes before she regained control.

It all happened within a split second, if it had been anyone else, they would have missed her reaction entirely. But he wasn't just anyone else. The moment he spoke those words like him, she too had an image flash inside her mind of her body in his arms, her teeth in his flesh as his blood spilled down her throat.

Interesting. Klaus thought, filing away the newly gained information while tamping down his desire. Now was not the time. Even if she was sitting here of her own accord, it did not mean Caroline would be open to those particular sorts of advances. Yet.

"What is it you want Klaus?" Caroline rushed out, waving a finger in his face, "And don't you dare say the cliché, you. I'm mean obviously everything you've done was for a reason. Breaking your curse, terrorizing the town, building a hybrid slave army. What I want to know is why. What are you trying to accomplish? Why was it all so important to you?"

The honesty in her eyes touched him yet it was the odd note of desperation he could pick up just under her demanding tone that he failed to understand. Just why was she so set on understanding him? Was this for some twisted plot that would come crumbling down around her merry little band of thorns in his side? Or was it simple for herself. Gulping, Klaus shoved his innate paranoia down deep. He had asked her for a chance, and knowing Caroline, if he wanted to gain that elusive chance he too would have to take a risk.

Sighing slightly, he began, shockingly discovering that once he started opening up to her he couldn't stop. Moreover, he didn't want to stop, "Imagine being hated for being something that you never asked to be. Something you were born into at no fault of your own. Imagine having this part of you locked away, always hidden beneath the surface of your very core. Always battling with every rise of the full moon, clawing and scraping to be released but never able to accomplish it. The rage and frustration building to a point that is forever ready to snap but will never break. Nothing soothing the caged creature who lives just beneath your skin. No blood, drinks, family, art or women are enough to dull the constant ache you feel every day. Then finally after five hundred years of such torment you discover all the ingredients needed to set it free only to have all your hopes dashed moments before it's set to begin. Twelve full moons a year over the course of a thousand years is enough to drive anyone to the point of being, what was it you called me? A megalomaniac."

"I can't even imagine." Caroline breathed in stun, "I'm sure it's like when I first turned but," Pressing her lips she winced, "Sorry that can't even compare. My experience was like a drop in the bucket compared to yours."

Leaning forward, Klaus soothed her worries, "Don't under value your own struggles Caroline. Everyone has their own demons, mine just happened to follow me around for a thousand years. We shall have to revisit this topic when you hit your thousandth birthday."

"Right." She scoffed, "With how the past few years of my life have gone I doubt I'll make it that far."

"Oh you will." He spoke, his voice and eyes seeping with a hard confidence that nearly left her reeling.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because, I will insure it."

She gasped at what he was saying, the surety that oozed off him. She wanted to refute him. To tell him that she was sure he would lose interest in her before this year was out. But something about the look in his eyes, a look she wasn't entirely sure he even knew was there, stopped her, striking her with the realization that he was completely and utterly serious. Exhaling shakily, she decided to get them back on track and table this new development for later. Much later.

"Okay, so I understand the whole breaking your curse thing and I get the issues with your father. Possibly more than you'd understand." She mumbled before continuing, "But you still aren't answering my question. In fact, I think you're side stepping it altogether."

Klaus chuckled lowly, "You're quite preceptive."

"Why Klaus. What is it you want? What was the point of it all."

He adored the way her eyes flared as she made her demands with her no-nonsense tone. He could see what had Rebekah tied up in knots when it came to the girls on the cheer squad blindly following Caroline, without compulsion, instead of her. Caroline exalted such a firm leadership quality that brokered no argument. Why her little group of friends had never taken advantage of her vast skills were beyond him. Either they were too blind or arrogant to see what an asset a creature like Caroline truly was.

While he would not deny his own arrogance, he was not blind to the amazing creature that was seated beside him.

"I want what everyone strives for I suppose." He began nonchalantly, "I want safety for my family. I want a place to call home. Well I have a few places I could call home if I'm being entirely honest. I want to live without fear of my family turning against me, of them being caught in a war that was placed upon my shoulders and dying as a result. I want people with whom I can trust. I want loyalty. And I…"

Caroline glanced from his face with his far-off eyes to his fist that was clenched on the back of the bench. Steeling herself with a bravery and compassion she didn't know she had when it came to him, she reached out, unfurling his fist and laid her hand on top of it before softly asking, "And what Klaus?"

His grey eyes were filled with too many emotions for her to keep track of as they shined with what almost looked like tears as he huskily whispered as if he was sharing one of his deepest, darkest secrets, "And I want to be trusted. I want just a single person on this planet to think that I am the trusted and loyal one."

Do you ever feel like there isn't a person in the whole world that loves you?

The breath left her lungs as his words inspired her own from so long ago to come rushing back to her. Her voice was barely a whisper as he turned his hand, linking their fingers together, "I'm sure your family thinks of you in that way."

Klaus chuckled humorously, his eyes staring at their joined hands, fearful to move lest she come to her senses and realize she was holding hands with a monster. "They think of me as a great many things but I assure you, trusting and loyal are the furthest from their minds."

"Yeah, I'm sure locking them in boxes might have something to do with that." She scoffed with a lighthearted eyeroll, "Maybe if you tried talking things out with them instead of stabbing them in the chest and then locking them away for years at a time they might grow to see that they can trust you."

"You are quite fond of this talking things out bit aren't you?" He teased, brushing his thumb lightly across hers.

Caroline blushed, "Yes. That and walking away."

They smiled softly at each other, both remembering the night before when she had walked away when suddenly Klaus felt a stabbing pain within his chest, his hand resting on his leg flying to press against it.

"What is it? You aren't like the Grinch, are you?" Caroline giggled, "Surely my words didn't cause your heart to grow."

His head snapped to her, his eyes no longer the soft, open grey but now shooting sparks of heat and anger as he used his hold on her hand to pull her up with him as he flashed to a stand. "What did you do?"

"Klaus, I was only kidding."

Snarling he gripped her shoulders, shaking her violently, "What did you do?!"

"Nothing stop it!"

The fear laced in her voice, the way her eyes flicked towards the bar behind him as if she was only now recalling something pieced it all together for him. This had been nothing but a ploy, a means to separate him from his brother. Nothing that transpired between them tonight meant anything more to her than a means to distract him.

Yet he still could not hurt her.

A harshly whispered curse barely left his lips before he flashed towards the bar leaving Caroline to shakily sit to the now cold bench alone with nothing but her guilt to keep her company.

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With her mind running wild over the events of the past day, Caroline had no idea how much time had passed. Her indecision over what to do was nearly eating her alive but as if a fire had been lit beneath her, she sprang from the bench.

"Damn it all to hell! You just had to get to know the egotistical maniac, didn't you Caroline." She berated herself, harshly pulling her fingers through her hair before she stood tall and proud, a choice firmly lighting the depths of her blue eyes. "Stupid hybrid with his stupid puppy eyes." She groaned before flashing away.

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