Chapter 2: Fire & The Flood
Long after Katherine had left, Caroline remained there rethinking their conversation. She felt for her but there wasn't anything she could do. Still, it felt amazing to put her foot down and draw a line. This is where it ended. No more using Klaus' feelings against him to get someone else what they wanted.
Caroline sat in that big comfy chair, curled up trying to get comfortable. She couldn't. There was a buzzing around her. Something driving her to go but she didn't know where. The anxiety of being trapped coming at her again. The walls were closing in little by little. She needed to get out of that house, she needed to run.
'Damn it Katherine, this is all somehow your fault.' She thought sullenly. Whatever the vampire's true intentions were, she stirred things up. Caroline's mind went back to Klaus. They always did in the end. All things lead back to him. When she did think of him it was always a Klaus vs her friend's scenario. With a persistent voice in the back of her mind saying, choose him. That he was right there offering her everything she's ever wanted but it required a loss of control. She wasn't good with that. Caroline was the planner. The one in control, even as a vampire, losing control broke her inner harmony.
Klaus was different. He went after all that he wanted. No rules, no give, just take. Had he been that way as a human? She wondered about sometimes. His personality, his everyday life. His hobbies and friends. Had he found love, had he even wanted it? The more she thought about him the deeper the quicksand.
She felt for him, against all odds and wishes. It grew slowly over time with every meeting. Klaus was the boogeyman of Mystic Falls. Wanting to kill her friends and make Elena a blood cow for lack of a better term. And if it were anyone else, she would be against it. Elena had changed, it started in high school and then got worse as a vampire. Elena had done things Caroline desperately wanted her to pay for. Klaus would reap the life out of her soul but damn if Elena didn't deserve it. With a soul was selfish, without she was a hundred times worse. Going as far as attacking her mother then refusing to make a mends. The resentment rotted deep inside of Caroline and added to everything else. So maybe she hated her a lot. Maybe that reckoning meant she chose Klaus and her misery was icing on a very decadent cake.
Before she knew it, she was in the middle of downtown walking with no destination. The lights were on in the streets but there were hardly any people around. Shops were closed except for a coffee shop or two. Caroline kind of liked it this way, semi-deserted and calm.
"Hello Love." His voice traveled from behind her but she'd know it anywhere. It amazed how Klaus appeared when she needed him the most. Not that there was a need more than a fervent desire. Maybe in moments like this, she somehow willed him to her side. That would be a gift, wouldn't it?
She wanted to tell him about Katherine so he wasn't blindsided but in the same breath, she wanted to help her too. Because with Katherine out, Klaus could focus on Elena.
Their eyes met and in the same second, he was there. "Fancy running into you tonight," Klaus smirked. With him here the air was different, she felt different. Not a doll someone had finally wanted to play with but a person. An equal, someone who mattered. I guess in layman's terms, she felt…first.
The smile on Caroline's grew slowly. "Klaus." She said a little breathless. He loved how she said his name. He relished it so much that he looked for every opportunity to surprise her.
It didn't take long to fall back into the pull she felt with him. Any other night she would have left, but she had already broken ritual with Katherine. Something had obviously called her here, with him, why not stay. Finally, there was no plan or pretense. There were things she wanted to know about him and his life.
"Would you say you're an impulsive man, Klaus?" She asked him. "I've been prone to some impulsivity on occasion." He answers honestly not seeing where the question came from.
"Have you ever had had spontaneous sex with someone you happened to run in to?" Caroline blurted out. Sure, she wanted to say something meaningful and deep, but she could feel the heat from his skin and it distracted her thoughts. "No, but I'm not against the idea, provided, you're the one that's offering." He retorted without missing a beat. Caroline laughed. "Uh, I just...you're so impulsive. I don't know, I guess I just wanted to gauge how wild you are." She clarified. Though, she hadn't said no because she didn't want that off the table.
"You had no interest before what changed, Love?" He asked in the same playful tone but there was an edge of suspicion too. It didn't feel like a set up. There was no way she could know he was going to be here, he hadn't planned on it himself. Caroline playfully bit her lip, remembering what he had said before. For her to take a chance. Would it be so bad to be a little honest with him? She had been willing to say no to her friends, she said no to Katherine, she was already half way there. Something inside her pushed her forward into his arms. That was where she wanted to be, wasn't it? If every encounter they had she took one step closer to him they would be that much closer into their future together. So why not.
She could be honest with him, he needed to know that. She could choose him, she could fight for him. Of all the times she chose wrong, tonight she could make the right choice.
Ugh, these days her voice of reason was starting to sound like the devil on her shoulder.
Whispering wicked things in her ear.
"It's a long story." She alluded. "I have nothing but time, Love." Caroline chuckled. When was the last time anyone cared enough to make time for her? Her mother? So why was she holding back on him? It was stupid there was no reason to. Stefan said himself that they were no better than him, they had all done things. Why was Damon okay for Elena but Klaus was off limits?
The thoughts rushed in Caroline's head.
"Of course you do! Out of everyone I know, you're the only one that would make time for me." Klaus could hear something in her voice, but he couldn't quite tell what it was. She was in rare form tonight. If only he could get her to stay in it, forever.
"You're worth it." Caroline took a step closer to him, flirting with much more than him, now. She exhaled the breath she was holding and spoke. "Okay but I need you to hear me out because you're not going to like it. Not even a little bit." She said preparing him. They could both hear him brace himself. So much for the magic of the moment. Klaus nodded for her to continue.
"Of all people, Katherine Pierce came to see me today." She was right, he didn't like. He practically growled. Caroline teased "I told you so. She's desperate. She thought I could help her, I don't know where she got that idea." It was his turn to take a step closer, Caroline didn't move from where she was. "I need to know exactly what she said to you." Klaus said his tone ten degrees colder but she had expected that too.
"What do you think? She somehow got it into her head that I could convince you drop your vendetta against her. She's tired of running and wants it to be over. The running part not her life." Klaus did not like hearing that. He also didn't like that people knew how to get to him and they would use Caroline to do so. The Salvatore's and their rag tag group of bandits weren't a threat they were a game to play when he was bored. Katherine had more resources and motivation. Besides she knew things.
Klaus snorted, "That's not happening. What did you say, sweetheart?"
"Hey, I thought I was Love? Why did I get demoted to sweetheart?" She joked. He shot her a look and continued. "What do you think, I told her no. I did feel bad for her though so I told her I'd help her but she needed a different plan." Caroline shrugged and Klaus smirk returned.
Klaus knew she was telling the truth because he could smell lies. Still, it's something so close to what he's wanted to hear from her that he couldn't trust himself. He watched her, she didn't squirm or look away. All the normal tells she had when she lies. Had she gotten better at it or was she serious?
Looking at her up and down to see, he asked. "Did she hurt you?" Caroline shook her head. "It would be pretty stupid of her she needs me, I'm all she's got."
"I'm not ending my vendetta against her." He asserted in case she dared ask. Caroline smacked Klaus on the arm. "Hey! I didn't ask you to. I went out of my way to make sure she knew that wasn't part of the plan! I'm not in the live bait business anymore." That comment surprised Klaus. His eyebrows raised to question her.
"What?" She asked, a little pouty.
"What brought that on?" He asked.
"I've been reflecting you know, I've lost a lot. I guess I just don't want to add you to the list." It was without conscious thought that their fingers intertwined as soon as their eyes met. The two were no so close the wind had to go around them.
"You're not going to lose me." He promised. Caroline smiled but shook her head. "Are you saying I wouldn't have? That all the scheming and bullcrap wouldn't have gotten old? That you wouldn't have cut your losses." She tested him. If it was getting old for her, it had to be old for him.
"Eh, it was rather amusing to watch you work. You're a terrible liar, it was always easy to see you coming. I could have watched you fail miserably for a thousand more years." He teased making her smack his shoulder again. He chuckled and she followed.
"You suck! I put a lot of effort into those schemes. You know how long it took to decide on one outfit, you think it's easy?" She countered. Klaus pulled her to a nearby bench, sitting her on his lap, a gesture she happily obliged. It was so easy without all the outside noise. When it was just them and they could be themselves.
"I rather like the idea of you getting ready for me. But just so we're clear, I'm not pardoning Katerina." He said seriously, as beautiful as their moment was, he didn't want that to get lost.
"For the hundredth time, I didn't ask you too!" She snapped back.
"Love, I know you and you're already feeling ill placed sympathy for her. You admitting you're going to help her, which I wish you wouldn't, means eventually you will." He tells her
"Because I'm so full of light." She said sarcastically. "Why does everyone assume being good just comes so easy to me, like I'm incapable of being bad! I can be very reckless! I can be downright evil!"
"Mmmhmm" He taunted, playing with a strand of her long blonde hair. He would deal with Katherine later. For now, this moment with Caroline was his and finally giving into what was between them. He wasn't going to let that go for anything. Their connection was strong it was only a matter of time before she gave into him.
"I was going to offer, if we can come up with something that will benefit you as well, will you at least listen to the proposal. Please." She asked and there it was.
"She has nothing I want or can't get for myself." He tells her. Caroline leans into his chest as they sit longways on the bench. His arm around her waist and her arm over his "Yeah I figured." Her voice was a little bummed and it made Klaus want to fix it, compromise. He knew it would happen and that made him more angry at Katherine. Still if she hadn't shown, perhaps this moment with Caroline wouldn't have happened. Instead of giving in at all he changed the subject. Kissing the back of her head.
"You're in a rare mood. I rather enjoy it."
"I think you're the only one that does. I don't know. So much has changed since I became a vampire. The more I try to be the same person the more I realize I'm not. Not really. I think about that and I wonder about you and your life which I know little to nothing about." Caroline pushed, trying to segway into him telling her all his secrets.
"What do you want to know?" He asked.
"Everything." She answered bluntly.
"You're going to have to be more specific." He responded, amused. Though, there was no way he was going to tell her everything, might ruin the mood.
"That is me being specific. I want to know everything from your human days to what cologne you wear. I have questions, so many questions." She confessed and it made Klaus smile. Something happened, he would have to find out what. Perhaps Katerina would have her uses…damn. There it was. He was already conceding.
Klaus humored her. "I don't wear cologne." Caroline gave him a strange look before turning to smell his neck. "But you smell good!"
"I do shower, Caroline." He laughed which made her as well.
"Well obviously but seriously! Okay, well who was your first kiss?" It took Klaus a moment to answer
"I honestly don't remember. It was another life ago."
"What were you like, before you were turned." She probed.
"Simple, human, an artist." He answered keeping it short. Though really, that's all that was needed.
"How vague. You're embarrassed of your human self, aren't you?" She determined.
"Yes, and that is the last time we shall speak of that poor fool. Maybe he rest in peace, long live the king." He had no desire to speak on that half of his life. It was painful.
"Nobody calls you that. So, you shouldn't call you that, it's sad." She teased.
"I should do something about that tongue of yours." He teased, but oh how she wished he would.
"I thought you liked my sharp witt?"
"I thought I did as well." He answered.
For the 100th time, she laughed as she hit him in the arm. He rather enjoyed being the one that made her laugh. The sound was addictive, he wanted to hear it over and over. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, it was one of her friends but much to Klaus surprise she silenced the call and continued.
"Can I give you some unsolicited advice, Love?" Seeing the look on her face he realized she might need to hear it.
"Please." She welcomed it. All the things she wanted, everything she was feeling…she didn't know what to do with it all.
"If you're unhappy, stop and do what makes you happy. The world around you will adjust accordingly. The things that were always meant to stay, will." He advised and it sounded great. But could it really be that easy?
"I don't even know if I'm ready even though I want it so badly." She answered honestly hoping he would get the message.
Klaus nodded. "Then move slow, but move."
They were already so close, that it made it so easy. Just like he advised Caroline moved slow, pressing her lips to his giving into all of it.
Caroline spent all her life walking down the same road she'd gone down a million times before.
Tonight, she finally let her heart guild her down the path that leads her straight to Klaus.
It wasn't easy. It wasn't instantaneous.
But she was finally home.
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