Drowning in Sorrow
Chapter 7
I do not own TVD
Niklaus Mikaelson. The most powerful vampire. People fear him, others know better than to cross his path. 1000 years full of conflict and Klaus has overcome them all. Foolish ones have tried to end him, make him suffer, but he was Klaus after all. He was always one step ahead. He knew how to handle every single situation without even a hint of fear. No weakness. He was a powerful man. He was taught even as a child to keep his head high, his tears at bay, and his enemies on their knees, begging for mercy. He was taught to keep his emotions hidden. He was taught to never let anything or anyone get in the way. But one thing that Klaus had taught himself, reminded himself over and over again, was to never feel helpless. To never go back to that helpless human boy who couldn't save his brother from a bunch of werewolves. Because that helpless boy lost everything.
Now, sitting near the quarry with Damon's head in his lap, an open blood bag in his hand, trying to get the broken vampire in front of him to swallow even a drop of blood, Klaus felt like that helpless human boy that he loathes. "Come on Damon." Klaus whispered to himself. "Come on."
Stefan, Bonnie, and Elijah stared at the unresponsive body that lay in front of him. Klaus threw the blood bag towards the tree in front of him in anger, the blood splashed on the tree, spreading everywhere. Drops of blood rolled down from the tree and onto the dirty ground and Bonnie flinched at the human blood splattered on the tree. Klaus pulled Damon upwards, towards his chest and bit into his wrist, gently putting in near Damon's mouth. Damon's fangs extended, and veins began to form under his eyes at the smell of the originals blood. Seeing this, Klaus brought his wrist closer to Damon and swallowed anxiously.
Everyone watched wide eyed as Damon eagerly yet weakly drank Klaus's blood. Klaus couldn't understand the emotions he was feeling. He let out a shaky breath. He was relieved that Damon was responding. He had never felt this relieved, and never felt this type of happiness in a long time, and he wasn't surprised that Damon was the one who made him feel this way. He was anxious to see how Damon was, if he was angry at him for their last encounter. The amount of guilt Klaus was feeling was unbearable. It was as if someone had put a thousand pounds of bricks on him. All this emotion was suffocating him and he had a sudden urge to flee, but he knew he couldn't do it. He couldn't leave his vampire alone again. He needed to do this.
As Klaus had a hard time keeping his emotions under control, he kept his wide eyes on Damon. Watching as Damon drank and drank and suddenly, blue wide eyes sprang open and stared directly at him. Klaus pulled his wrist back and everyone watched silently as Damon gasped.
"Brother." Stefan whispered, putting his arm on Damon's shoulder. Damon flinched and moved back. Stefan swallowed, clenching his jaw.
"Damon." Klaus whispered and Damon's head sprang to him. He swallowed and blue eyes filled with tears. Damon took deep breaths as if coming to terms with something, and finally looked around.
"This is real." He whispered hoarsely.
"Yes Damon. This is real, we are real." Bonnie explained softly. Wide blue eyes moved to Bonnie and Elijah, and then to Klaus, and finally to Stefan.
"Hey it's all going to be okay." Stefan whispered as he slowly moved closer to Damon. Damon stared at him wide eyes. Stefan pulled Damon close to him, pulling him into a hug.
The warmth causing Damon's eyes to tear again. Damon hugged him back tightly, a death grip on Stefan's shirt as if he was afraid of what would happen if he ever let go. Damon squeezed his eyes tightly to stop the tears. Klaus watched Damon closely, silently grieving as the brothers had their moment.
"I think we should take you home." He whispered in a quiet voice, gently touching Damon's shoulder. The brother's broke their hug but Klaus noticed Damon still had a tight grip on Stefan's shirt. Klaus pulled Damon closer gently as Damon blinked and sniffed. The grip on Stefan's shirt broke and Damon panicked.
"Hey! Woah! Damon, love? Deep breaths okay." Damon didn't seem to pay attention to him as he seemed to be having some sort of panic attack. Klaus nodded to the three others present, looking at the scene with concern and worry.
"You guys go, I'll bring him." Klaus announced without taking his eyes off Damon. Stefan looked skeptical. "I don't think so. Why should we trust you?" Stefan rushed out without taking his eyes off his brother.
"It's Damon." Klaus responded without taking his eyes off Damon. He looked at Elijah who nodded. "Let's go Stefan, Damon will meet us at the boarding house. Seems like my brother has some unfinished business." Stefan and Bonnie looked at the two before trusting Elijah's word and leaving.
Klaus pulled Damon closer to him. He gently propped him up and put his thumb under Damon's chin making him look up. "Hush love. Do not fright. You are safe. You are safe." Klaus cooed as Damon began to calm down. Klaus rubbed Damon's hand in comfort and watched as blue eyes stared at him as if searching for reassurance.
"It's me Damon. It's Klaus." Klaus whispered.
Damon let out a shaky breath but brought his shaking hand forward to clutch onto Klaus shirt. Klaus helped him by bringing Damon's hand to his shirt and he watched with a small smile as Damon's fingers curled around the soft fabric of his shirt. He kissed Damon on his head and ran a hand through his hair.
"I do not know how to help you Damon. I don't really know how to handle this situation. I have never felt so helpless in my entire life." He talked to Damon, trying to make a conversation, trying to distract him. He watched as Damon's eyes narrowed. One thing he loved about the young vampire was that he didn't need words to communicate, he spoke with his eyes. But as much as Klaus love that, it wasn't helping in this situation. "Talk to me Damon." Klaus continued making circles with his hand on Damon's back.
"A-Am I alive?" Damon started. Klaus chuckled. "Yes. You are alive little raven." Damon let a small smile stretch across his face. "Little raven?" He whispered.
"You really scared us." Damon chuckled softly. "Klaus Mikaelson scared?" Damon spoke hoarsely, Klaus couldn't even recognize his voice.
"You better shut up Salvatore." Klaus growled mockingly.
"Oohh! I am shivering." Damon replied quietly. Klaus chuckled and clutched Damon tighter, bringing him closer to him so Damon could feel the warmth. He rubbed Damon's back to provide the vampire with comfort and with his other hand he rubbed Damon's hand, tracing circles with his hand while doing it, earning a happy sigh from Damon. Klaus kissed Damon's wet mop of raven hair and ran a hand through it. Damon opened his eyes and looked at Klaus with a weird glint in his eyes. Klaus averted his eyes and stopped rubbing Damon's back.
"Let's get you home." He whispered softly before gently picking Damon up. He got to his feet with Damon in his arms and earned a painful grunt from Damon. Klaus froze and looked down at Damon.
"What's wrong?" Klaus asked softly. Instead of giving an answer Damon buried his face in Klaus's chest and shivered. Klaus let his eyes examine the blue eyed vampire before picking up his shirt. He sighed when he saw a wound on his stomach. He let his hand gently trace the wound which was most likely from a stake. He stopped when Damon whimpered and pulled his shirt back down. Putting Damon on the ground, he took of his jacket in a swift movement and draped it over Damon so he wouldn't feel cold. "Just hold on little raven." Klaus muttered before slowly walking to his car and putting Damon in the passenger seat. He quickly made his way to the driver's seat and closed the door. He glanced at Damon who had his hand on his stomach and slowly drove the car so he wouldn't cause any more damage to Damon.
Stefan sighed when he was greeted with Caroline's voicemail once again. He threw his phone down on the couch and began pacing the boarding house. Bonnie was busy on her phone trying to contact Caroline but had no luck so far. Elijah was drinking Damon's bourbon while looking at his own phone seeming tense himself. The door to the boarding house opened and everyone looked up startled. Klaus slowly walked in with Damon in his arms and everyone got up, ready to help. Klaus walked up the stairs as slowly as he can but still earned painful moans from Damon.
He opened the door to Damon's room and put him in his bed. The soft fabric of his bed after 6 months made Damon smile and squirm comfortably in his bed. Klaus sat at the corner of the bed staring at the raven haired beauty in front of him.
"We need to help him Stefan! You can't just leave him with Klaus!" Elena's voice cut through his thoughts and Klaus sighed. He glanced one last time at the sleeping form in front of him before leaving the room.
He stopped when he spotted Elijah standing near the door frame. Klaus put his hands in his pockets and sighed. Elijah looked at Damon and then at Klaus. He nodded.
"Niklaus…" The word held warning, understanding. Klaus smirked and nodded back. "It's Damon. You do not need to worry brother." Elijah smiled. "I know. I should get going. I have some things to take care of." Elijah replied and left without giving Klaus a chance to argue. Klaus blinked and started downstairs.
"Elena do you really think Damon would want to see our faces after everything we did to him! Do you think he really wants to see us!" Stefan exclaimed.
Klaus crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the scene in front of him. "It is the better option! This is Klaus! We can't leave Damon under Klaus's care." Klaus cleared his throat.
"Elena Gilbert. How unfortunate to see you alive and well!" Elena glared at him, her hands on her hips.
"Elena." Stefan called her name trying to get her attention. "Elijah talked to us about the situation and I think Bonnie and Klaus are better options than us. We will only be in the way. This is hard for me Elena. Damon is my brother. You have to understand that he is not stable yet." Stefan explained quietly. Elena sighed, "Okay…Yeah. You are right." Elena nodded.
Klaus grabbed a few blood bags and raced back up to Damon's room, Bonnie following behind quietly. Klaus sat down slowly and shook Damon lightly.
"Damon. Wake up." Klaus whispered. Bonnie stood in the back shocked at Klaus's behavior towards Damon. Damon stirred in bed and let out a sigh before opening his eyes. Klaus smiled.
"Hey." Damon smiled and looked around the room. "Bon Bon." Damon said with a smirk and Bonnie smiled.
"How are you doing Damon?" Bonnie whispered.
"Peachy." Damon smirked.
"I am glad." Bonnie smiled. "Well I don't think I am needed here, so I am going to go. See you later Damon." Bonnie came forward and kissed him on the cheek before turning to exit. She looked at Klaus with hard eyes.
"Look after him." With that Bonnie left the boarding house. Klaus looked down at Damon who was looking at him with amusement. "What have you done with Klaus?" Damon said with a smirk. "The Klaus I know would have killed Bonnie by now." Damon said in a raspy voice.
"Well this Klaus knows if I do that I will never be forgiven." Klaus replied as he took off Damon's shirt.
"Who says you are?" Damon replied and Klaus stopped to look at him. He shrugged and cleared his throat. Klaus took off Damon's wet pants and threw them on the floor.
"If you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask." Damon smirked trying to lighten the mood. Klaus gave him a dry chuckle before getting a new pair of pants and gently sliding them on Damon.
"Don't be too cocky." Klaus ripped the blood bag and propped Damon up. "No. No blood." Klaus narrowed his eyes. "You need blood Damon. It will help you heal." Damon shook his head but stopped at Klaus's stare. He pouted and Klaus had to fight a smile. "Come on. At least drink a little bit." Damon nodded and tried to drink a little blood and as he expected, he couldn't drink it. He coughed it out and Klaus rubbed his back." He looked towards Klaus who had blood all over his clothes.
"Sorry." Damon mumbled shyly. "Don't worry about it." Klaus rolled his eyes. "Okay. So no blood. What can I do?" Klaus asked confused. "We need to heal your wound Damon." Damon looked down at his aching stomach and sighed.
"Is it hurting?" Klaus asked and Damon could have sworn he saw concern flash in his eyes. "It's just sore." Damon mumbled. "Why darling? Are you worried about little ol' me?" Damon coughed lightly. Klaus sighed and moved Damon to the side getting in bed. He settled in and pulled Damon towards his lap so Damon's head was resting near his chest and Damon's stomach was in his lap. Klaus slowly traced the wound and started massaging around it.
"Tell me if it feels any better." Damon nodded, closing his eyes in pleasure and burying his head in Klaus's soft shirt. Klaus kept massaging Damon's stomach and Damon's muscles visibly started to relax. "Thanks." Damon mumbled sleepily and Klaus shook him. "Damon! Don't go to sleep." He whispered urgently.
"But…Tired." Damon tried to argue. "No! Damon! Keep your eyes opened." Klaus looked around the room trying to find ways to keep Damon awake. "Damon…tell me about what happened to you for the past 6 months." Klaus asked softly. Damon took a deep breath. "6 months?" He whispered. "I was gone for 6 months and no one knew?" Damon asked in disbelief.
"We thought you left town." Klaus tried to defend himself, for some reason feeling the need to. For some reason he was worried that the younger vampire would not forgive him and he couldn't live with that.
"Oh." Damon replied as he distanced himself from Klaus and Klaus sighed.
"Damon…" Klaus tried but Damon shook his head.
"No! You don't have to make excuses. It's fine." Damon whispered but Klaus knew, he knew that it was not okay. Klaus sighed and simply stared at Damon, waiting for him to begin telling him about the last 6 months.
"It was horrible." Damon chocked out.
"The drowning wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that every single time I would open my eyes into darkness I would get sucked into these visions. I would see Stefan, Elena, Katherine, Bonnie, my father, you…"
Klaus's eyes widened ever so slightly as he frowned. "Every time I died the only thing I could think of was that maybe someone would come and rescue me. And every time I felt hope, a new vision would come making me feel like the drowning is not killing me, but my demons outside of that coffin are. I couldn't take it. I wanted to end it, but I didn't know how to. Everything horrible that happened to me in my years of living resurfaced, every single emotion came rushing in and I didn't know how to handle it, by the time I got myself together, the water would have done its job and I would drown again. My head was pounding, every cell in my body was screaming for oxygen. I kept fighting, I tried to fight until my lungs felt like they were going to burst and my head felt like it was on fire. So I take a deep breath in hopes that it would make it better but every time I do, I get sucked into a vision, a nightmare. I think of all the pain, the guilt I have been carrying around like it means nothing at all. But now…now I just don't know what to do with it. I mean, I am a mess. I- I don't think I can do this anymore Klaus. I can't keep living like this." Damon didn't realize he had been crying until he felt Klaus wipe away the wetness from his cheeks. Damon sniffed and let out a shaky breath.
"And the worst part about all of this is that every time I felt hope rise, I didn't think of Stefan or Elena, I thought of you. For some screwed up reason, I always thought of you." Damon finished shocking Klaus to the core. His eyes stopped moving, his breathing stopped, his mouth agape. Klaus looked at Damon with shock.
Out of everyone in Mystic Falls, Damon thought of him. After everything her had done, his blue eyed vampire still thought of him. This was almost too good to be true. Klaus didn't deserve Damon. Klaus's heart broke for everything the young vampire had to go through and he hated himself for not rescuing him before.
"I am so sorry." Klaus spoke so quietly even Damon had a hard time hearing him but this, Damon heard loud and clear. Blue tear filled eyes widened in shock.
"W-what?" Damo whispered. "You heard me." Klaus mumbled.
"There wasn't much you could do Klaus." Damon reasoned.
"Stop it Damon! We both know there isn't much I can't do." Klaus whispered. Damon smiled slightly.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself, or for me. Plus, you probably can't lick your elbow, so you can't do almost everything." Damon mumbled making Klaus's eyebrows rise. "Listen to me Damon." Klaus started seriously. "You are so brave! You are the strongest vampire I have ever met and I have met many. I might not have been there for you before, but I will be there every step of the way now." Damon stared at him with tears.
"Katerina might have been your first love, but I intend to be you last. And for that I will wait for 1000 years." Klaus whispered leaving Damon dumbfounded. Damon blinked. Klaus intervened their fingers and Damon shivered from the touch. Damon looked at him with disbelief. "But I do not deserve your love or your respect." Klaus continued.
"Well, Niklaus maybe you can earn it along the way, and when the hell did you get so sappy?" Damon smiled as he tightened his hold on Klaus's hand. Klaus smirked and Damon could feel his blood rushing to his cheeks. "Oh and Klaus, you can stay at the boarding house, it's not a hotel but it will do." The smirk slipped off Klaus's face as he recalled that Damon was talking about their encounter from 6 months ago…
"Klaus." Damon sighed. Klaus smirked. "Damon, what can I do for you." Klaus said sarcastically. Klaus watched as Damon struggled with his emotions and watched as hope began to rise on Damon's face.
"Klaus, can I spend the day at your place. Please." Damon whispered in a shaky voice. Klaus furrowed his eyes. "It's not a hotel Damon." He rolled his eyes.
"What happened anyways? Get that little heart of yours broken again?" Damon narrowed his eyes in anger. "Elena cheated on me with my brother." Damon whispered looking down as his eyes started burning again.
Klaus started laughing, almost hysterically. Damon's head shot up. He looked at Klaus with wide, shocked eyes.
"I guess the younger Salvatore was always a better choice. For Katerina, for Rebekah, for Elena. He was a good boyfriend, and definitely a better drinking buddy slash friend than you as well. Boy did we have a great time in the 20s. You just never learn do you Damon? You will never be good enough."
Damon swallowed, taking in everything. Klaus watched as Damo's shoulders slumped. His eyes narrowed as if finally realizing the seriousness of the situation and for a second he wanted to tell Damon that everything was going to be okay but he couldn't do that. He had to get Damon away from him. He couldn't let him feelings for Damon get in the way of his life. He had to do this. He had to act like a ruthless bastard.
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Damon chocked out. Klaus finally looked directly at Damon, he saw the huge pearl-shaped tears rolling down his pale cheeks, his eyes red and puffy full of pain and defeat. Klaus took a step back in shock. God he screwed up.
"Damon..." He whispered as the realization struck him. He swallowed his guilt and ran to the mansion, leaving Damon in the middle of the woods.
"Damon I…" Klaus starts and Damon shook his head. "It's fine Klaus. New start, remember." Klaus shook his head. "No I just need to tell you this." Klaus moved uncomfortably in his spot.
"What I said in the woods, I didn't mean it. I just, I thought that this was for the best. I mean, I couldn't let my feelings for you get in the way and I thought that-" Damon interrupted Klaus. "You thought that if you were acting like an ass, you would be able to push me away and move on with your life?" Damon replied smiling softly with understanding.
"I get it, I do." Damon nodded. Klaus let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll get you some blood." Klaus got up. "No!" Damon quickly grabbed Klaus's arm to stop him and Klaus turned around with a smirk making Damon flush with embarrassment. "Someone's impatient." Klaus wiggled his eyebrows. Damon giggled, actually giggled and looked up at Klaus. "You're acting so different." Damon observed.
"I know and if you tell someone-"
Damon rolled his eyes and waved his hand. "You'll rip my heart out. It goes both ways." Damon replied and Klaus made an impressed face. "I am just saying, um." Damon mumbled playing with his fingers.
"Stay." He whispered quietly.
"What?" Klaus said smirking. Damon glared daggers at him. "I said, stay." Damon said a little louder. "I- I don't want to be alone again." Klaus's expressions softened and he gently moved Damon forward before getting under the sheets. Damon moved his head to rest on Klaus's chest and Klaus's arm wrapped around Damon's waist gently. Damon squirmed as he tried to get comfortable and closed his eyes, and Klaus did the same.
After a few minutes Klaus felt Damon open his eyes but he pretended to be asleep. "Thank you Klaus." Damon whispered softly and Klaus felt soft lips on his cheek. Klaus felt his heartbeat increase as he tried to fight a smile. He felt Damon close his eyes and go back to sleep. Klaus opened his eyes and couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.
'What have you done to me, already Damon Salvatore.' Klaus thought as he admired the raven haired vampire sleeping next to him. He let the sound of Damon's soft heartbeat lull him to sleep.
Silas walked towards the quarry and growled when he spotted the open coffin. "I see your friends have found my doppelganger." He grumbled as he pulled Caroline closer to him. Caroline sobbed and struggled to get her arm out of his grip. "You know you won't complain a lot if you turn in off." Silas announced calmly. Caroline's eyes widened. "No!" She growled, anger replacing the fear. Silas laughed and slammed her to the ground. "Turn it off." He compelled, and Caroline closed her eyes. Silas smirked when she opened her emotionless green eyes. "So are you going to get off me or do I have to make you?" The blonde growled from beneath him. Silas got off her and Caroline pushed herself off the ground. "You are going to follow all my orders Caroline." Silas told her and Caroline scoffed. "I'm not you little bitch, whatever you have to do, you can do it yourself." Silas grabbed Caroline's arm roughly. "You will do as I say." Silas messed with her head. "I will do as you say." Caroline repeated. Silas smirked.
"Let the fun begin."
Okay! So I am soon sorry that it took me soon long to update this chapter. I was having some technical difficulties. I know these characters are OOC but that is the point. Damon's reason is obvious and Klaus has a soft spot for Damon but for others he is the ruthless Klaus that everyone thinks he is. I really enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you guys have fun reading it as well. Thank you so much for all the love and support! I am so glad that you guys are loving this story and the amount of reviews for the last chapter shocked me. So thank you! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review! You guys are the best and next chapter will be longer and it will kind of clear the confusion about some of the other characters. Also, if you guys have any ideas for this story or any ideas of one-shots or anything for me please don't be afraid to tell me in the reviews! Thank you and have a great day! You guys are the best!
