A/N Thank you all for reviewing!
"I want it all."
Klaus raised his eyebrows in amusement as Cherie gave an enthusiastic giggle as her eyes caught sight of food. The Original, who had been talking with the driver, watched as the human smiled at the food before looking at him. The pair had been conversing back and forth for almost twenty minutes before the driver had asked about the directions, which had annoyed Klaus but that was when Cherie had noticed the food.
If Cherie loved anything, it was food.
"Please, be my guest."
She narrowed her eyes, glancing at the food then him."Uh, do I have to share? Red velvet is my favorite and there's only two."
"Nonsense."The Original gestured to the refreshments with a flourish, a smile curving at his mouth."Besides, i prefer my snack to come from the carotid artery, and I don't see anyone offering."
"Hil-ari-ous."Cherie rolled her eyes, sending the hybrid a deadpan look before she forced a laugh, shrugging."More for me."
"Have at it."
Cherie didn't need to be told twice, and the blonde quickly made a pleased, delighted sound as she shuffled closer to the arrangement of food. It was a small sidebar with glasses, champagne and a collection of refreshments. Cherie reached for the strawberries until she also saw the red velvet cupcakes again then opted to have both.
As Cherie happily took a bite out of a red velvet cupcake, humming impressively, she suddenly felt as if someone was watching her. She ignored it for a moment; attention far too focused on the icing until she heard a laugh. The human swallowed, licking icing from her lip and turned her head to see the Original staring at her with complete amusement.
Cherie finally looked up when she felt Klaus' gaze, and she frowned at his smile."What?"
"Nothing, sweetheart, nothing at all."Klaus shook his head, laughing when Cherie narrowed her eyes at him, holding up his hands."It's just for someone so petite you consume food similar to a starving man would, I imagine."
Cherie raised her eyebrow, licking icing from her bottom lip as the Original laughed to himself. He watched her almost curiously as she raised her eyebrows at him when he continued to laugh. She glared at him the entire time she consumed the cupcake, as if it were some type of punishment.
"Things aren't always as they seem, sweetheart, you should know that. Nobody would guess you're a hybrid who is, like, a billion."Cherie responded with a waggle of her index finger before she grew distracted by the icing on the tip of previously mentioned finger."Oh, yummy."
"So..."Cherie drew out as she tore her eyes away from the second red velvet cupcake to meet Klaus' eyes."What is so special about today?"
Klaus' smile faded a little, and he froze, eyes narrowing."Sorry?"
She tilted her head at him, frowning as he simply smiled at her, his smile too broad.
"I'm blonde, not stupid."
"You are either celebrating to press the big, red button that would force everyone in the world to have no choice but to worship you or..."Cherie drew out a long pause as she fought another smile when Klaus raised his eyebrows at her."honestly, I don't know what else."
"I need no big, red button."Klaus gave his famous crooked smirk as he leaned back against his seat, arms held out in his also famous 'Mikaelson' pose."I'm the most powerful creature on the planet."
"And with the biggest ego."Cherie muttered with an exaggerated eye roll, her lips curving up into a playful smile when Klaus sent her a look that told her he had, in fact, heard her."You were meant to hear it."
She studied him for a moment before quietly asking."What is it?"
The Original simply stared at her, poker-face already at the ready when she narrowed her eyes at him in an attempt to read his expression.
"Fine, don't tell me."Cherie shrugged with a huff, grinning almost lustfully at the food before her."I've got food to consume before I, well, before i can consume more."
She feigned an affronted look and turned from him, biting the inside of her cheek to stop a laugh when the Original let out a long sigh, grumbling to himself. Cherie ignored him, making grabby hands at the food once more, taking a large bite out of a strawberry.
"All right, I suppose you win. Today is my birthday."Klaus quietly stated, as if proclaiming it was admitting some sort of defeat, smiling gently at the human who cheered at his confession."And, since I usually spend it slaughtering, my beloved sister suggested I spend it with you."
Cherie spun around so quick that her blonde locks swiped at Klaus' cheek. She offered him an apologetic smile, remembering to swallow before she sent him a puzzled look.
"Your birthday?"Cherie repeated softly with a confused and slightly startled look, brow furrowing."Did you even know what birthdays were back then? How did you keep track? In History class we-"
"Thing is about your history books, love, is that things aren't all what they seem."Klaus said with an almost smug smile."Most were written after the fact, not by those who lived it and i've lived a long time."
Cherie resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Klaus spoke with a far too complacent tone. His mouth curved up into his famous crooked smile as he noticed her playful exasperation.
"You're old; I get it."
Cherie thought for a moment before she looked over at the Original."So what's your history lesson then? What did you do instead of birthday cake and presents back in...nine-something-something A.D?"
The Original looked almost surprised at her curiosity as Cherie turned fully in his direction with an eager to know look.
"We didn't have a birthdate. Our village went by season, so your birth was celebrated in the season you were born. Some would reward their children on the occasion with a new blade or a dance around the fire. At least that's what I saw."
"Saw? Your parents never celebrated the birth of the all mighty Klaus Mikaelson?"Cherie tried to ease the tension she felt from Klaus with an exaggerated gasp."I thought you would've been held up and presented like Simba."
The Original, while his smile had faded, gave a breathy laugh before he shook his head.
"My father—my stepfather to be correct—didn't knowledge my existence unless it was to hunt or lash me if he were in the mood and my mother..."The Original gave a bitter smile at the thought of his mother."Well, I was the reminder of her infidelity not to mention her world revolved around our eldest brother."
Cherie's face fell when she saw a flash of distress in Klaus' eyes as he thought back to the times Mikael would beat him. A thousand years had passed and he'd obviously never recovered from it, that was painfully obvious. Cherie's felt a pang in her chest as she listened to him, comparing his mental scars to his actions.
"But my siblings did attempt to celebrate it. In their own way, of course."The Original gave a pensive look as he spoke of his siblings."My youngest brother would offer to 'let me win' a sword battle, Elijah would make promises and Rebekah...well, Rebekah's always been tender-hearted so she would attempt to memorialize the day."
Cherie swallowed the lump in her throat, and she suddenly lost her appetite."Aww, Klaus..."
Klaus' eyes suddenly turned from a hint of vulnerability to blank. All emotion drained from his face, his jaw tightened, and Cherie felt a hint of nervousness when his eyes flashed amber.
"Do not pity me."He shook his head, warning in his voice as he ground out."I don't need pity."
Cherie frowned at the hybrid, crossing her arms over her chest as she felt the need to hug him.
"Then stop making me want to keep saying 'awwww!', it's your fault, really. I have a heart and, if I were just as strong as you, i'd kick his ass."Cherie muttered, glaring at nothing as she thought of a helpless Klaus fearing his stepfather before she quietly added."And then i'd run away because he sounds very scary. It's no wonder you yearn for global domination and your army."
Klaus glowered at Cherie, looking away from her when the blonde kept his gaze, refusing to back down. He fought the urge to smile as she displayed the self-assertiveness that had drawn him to her.
"Look, Klaus, i know this all has to be hard, but i want you to know...i'm here for you."Cherie's tone was shaky as she spoke, rapidly blinking to rid of her tears as she shuffled closer to the Original."You brave little soldier."
She then put a hand over her chest, just over her heart, nodding earnestly so that he was aware that she meant her words.
"I acknowledge your pain. Come here."Lower lip quivering, Cherie set down the cupcake and lunged at Klaus, arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace. Klaus' brow furrowed in confusion as the human hugged him to her, hugging him as if she were sheltering him from danger."You're too precious for this world."
The Original stiffened in her embrace, obviously uncomfortable and unsure of how to react. People rarely had the courage to glance in Klaus' direction let alone dare to even think of embracing him. Apart from Rebekah, the only person Klaus was at ease with to embrace, the Original didn't know how to act around others without them fearing him.
He looked at her as if she'd grown a second head.
"Excuse me?"
Cherie pulled back to meet Klaus' eyes, offering him a one-shouldered shrug.
"It's from Supernatural. It was the first thing that came to mind. It's what I say when I don't know what to say. Especially to an ancient hybrid."Cherie felt the need to defend herself and frowned, loosening her grip around the Original, quickly adding."But I meant it; I even put down my cupcake."
"I'm sorry your father sucked, but he doesn't have to define you."The blonde mumbled, offering him a warm, comforting smile tightening her arms around him when he got defensive once more. Cherie suddenly perked up when she felt him freeze, obviously troubled. A playful smile replace her frown before she nudged the hybrid."Poor Woof-Woof."
Klaus looked even more confused and a little insulted before he repeated."Excuse me?"
"The Munsters?"Cherie's arms flailed around, almost accidentally hitting Klaus as he continued to stare at her, at a loss."Seriously, apart from trying to take over the world what do you do with your immortality?"
The hybrid tilted his head, lips curving up into a grin."Attempting to make the most exquisite popsy fall at my feet?"
Cherie rolled her eyes, nudging him once more."And how's that working out for ya?"
Klaus' charming smirk returned, eyes flickering over Cherie's features, lingering on her annoyed yet teasing smile for a moment before he met her gaze.
"All things considered, sweetheart,"The Original paused for a moment, attention captured by Cherie's smile before he reached up and swept aside the loose strands of blond hair from her face."I think it's working out quite well."
Cherie's eyes widened fleetingly at the touch of his fingertips against her cheek, blushing for a moment. She bit the inside of her cheek when the hybrid noticed this, apparently hearing her racing heartbeat. She arched an eyebrow, daring her to mention it aloud before huffing out a laugh as he copied her quirked eyebrow.
"FYI, unless you bite me, i'm honored to be your birthday date, Woof-Woof. Promise."Cherie whispered with a sincere smile, picking up the cupcake once more and presenting it to Klaus."I didn't get you a present, but you can have the last red velvet cupcake."
"You're sharing your food; I suppose i'm the one who's honoured."The Original made a show of rolling his eyes before he took the cupcake, smirk turning to a small, sincere smile as Cherie laughed."Yes, things are working out remarkably well."
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
"All right, all right!"
Caroline let out a frustrated groan, angrily pressing down on the space bar of her laptop to pause her show, placing it aside before she got to her feet. She pulled out her earphones, cursing herself for not being able to have human hearing when she wanted it because even turning up the volume didn't seem to shut out sounds.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Someone better be in a life or death situation."
Knock! Knock! Knock! Kn-
Caroline pulled the front door open, glare darkening as she came face to back with Damon. The male vampire almost fell over as he attempted to knock again, only to be met with air.
"Oh!"Damon straightened, spinning around on his heels, hands instantly hiding behind his back.
"What?"
"Hello, sunsh-"Damon cut himself off when he released that the wrong blonde was standing in front of him and his smile instantly faded to a frown."Oh, it's just you, Barbie."
Caroline quirked her eyebrow, eyes narrowing, offended.
"Excuse you!"
Caroline glared at him and stepped back, making a move to shut the door, but Damon's foot jammed in between the doorframe and the bottom of the door. Caroline huffed, using her vampire strength to try and shut the door all while kicking at Damon's foot. The male vampire smirked, casually watching, making Caroline's glare darken.
"I'm older, and i've also got an invitation. I can come and go as I please."Damon sing songed, waiting for Caroline to give up before he nudged the door open wider."Makes seeing you pout all the more fun."
"You're a dick."
"Yeah, well you're annoying now let me in."Damon demanded but, after seeing the upset on Caroline's face and knowing it wouldn't work in his favour, he added."Please?"
Caroline made no move to step aside to let him in willingly, and Damon sighed. The Salvatore straightened, letting out a long breath before speaking.
"Look, I hurt your feelings, I realize that, and for that, I am truly repentant."Damon said through gritted teeth, forcing a bright smile on his face as he drummed his fingers against the door."How is that for personal growth?"
"Fake but better."Caroline narrowed her eyes but stepped aside, letting Damon enter, knowing that he wasn't there to hurt anyone."What's wrong with you?"
Damon shrugged, mouth downturned as he turned around to face Caroline.
"Just a man on a mission."Damon shrugged before bringing his hand out from behind his back, a paper bag dangling from his fingers."Where's Cherie?"
"Huh?"
"We've got this cute thing going on."Damon drawled, doing his famous 'eye thing' as he quoted Cherie with a smile."I bring'yummy bakery goodness' to her, and we gorge on it."
Caroline nodded, processing the new information as Damon pointed upstairs."She here? Is she in the shower?"
Damon made his way to the staircase with a skip in his step, smirk appearing."I'll just, uh...she might need someone to wash her hair for her."
"So, i'll just-"He didn't get to take one step, and Caroline was in front of him, eyebrow raised and hands on her hips."Uh-kay."
"She's not up there, and even if she were, you'd be crawling up them stairs and bleed out before you got to the top."Caroline glared at Damon before she shrugged, adding."She's not here."
"Then where is she?"
Caroline didn't even attempt to sweeten the facts and casually answered."On a date with Klaus."
Damon's eyes widened slightly; his lips parted as he gaped at the younger vampire."Say what?"
"Cher and, ugh, Klaus have gone out...on..a...date..."Caroline said as clearly and slowly as she could before snorting in an indecorous manner, crossing her arms over her chest."Yucky, I know."
She failed to notice Damon's baby blues darken and the Salvatore no longer looked humorous. He glared at Caroline, quiet as he imagined strangling her before he spoke, voice loud and annoyed.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Uh, once again, excuse you?"Caroline's voice raised a pitch, making Damon wince as she scowled at him."What did I do?"
Damon seemed shocked by her question. He was a loss for words for a moment, gesturing to Caroline then the front door before he finally found his voice.
"Why would you let her go out with that four-legged, hairy drooling psycho?"
Caroline sent Damon an exasperated look, clearly upset the description that matched her boyfriend's current species. She raised both eyebrows; it obvious Damon was was in trouble.
"And you're not a psycho?"
Damon looked affronted for a moment before he gave his famous smirk, giving a casual shrug."Yeah, but i'm smoking hot, so I get away with it."
"Yeah, but your personality kinda dims the light on your good looks."
"Right back at ya."Damon swiftly retorted before a slow smirk curved at his mouth and a glimmer in his eyes made the blonde frown."But you gotta have something about you, because from what Cherie told me, Lockwolf was caught with his hand in the cookie jar."
The blonde bared her teeth indignantly at Damon, angrily repeating."You're a dick."
"I know."Damon replied with a far too pleased grin before he flashed over to Caroline, his abrupt movement making her jump."But, unless you want everyone to find out, you're gonna help me out."
Caroline's smile fell, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment, eyes anywhere but the male vampire in front of her. She cleared her throat, arms crossing over her chest once again defensively, shutting her eyes for a moment as Damon let out a smug chuckle.
"Now that you've lost the attitude, Barbie, tell your beloved sire a little something..."
Damon's tone lost all humour and charm, his blue eyes turning a shade darker as he towered over Caroline, speaking quietly but he obviously demanding.
"Where is sunshine?"
Thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed this chapter and would like to read more, please leave a review.
