We Don't Need Another Hero

"I accidentally destroyed your shop in a supervillain battle and that was your livelihood and you're so pissed and I'm so so sorry, here, let me make it up to you somehow."

Blooms - 7th Avenue - New York, NY

"Woah! What the hell happened here?" Katherine asked, attempting to avoid the stems and petals strewn across the room amongst the broken furniture and shards of glass.

"I'm surprised you missed it given it was all over the news last night, Kat," Caroline huffed, attempting to sweep up the mess.

"I had a date," she offered by way of explanation. Caroline really wasn't surprised given her best friend's overly active love life.

"Well, at least one of us got lucky," she growled. "Who knew when I locked up last night that there'd be some super villain battle in my little florist? The least they could have done was hit the large supermarket chain on the corner that can afford the damages."

"The Hybrid strikes again?"

"Yeah and whatever villain he was fighting this time," she muttered. "Look at my poor peonies? How am I going to explain this to Natalie the Bridezilla?"

"I suppose it's all for a good cause," Kat responded.

"How do you figure that? Have you not seen the broken remnants of my poor, innocent business?"

"I meant good for the safety of all New York's residents," she murmured feebly. "The Hybrid is a hero in this town."

"Well, good on the Hybrid for being so amazing, but that doesn't fix this mess," Caroline shot back. "Superheroes really should carry insurance."

"No one in their right mind would insure them," a distinctly English voice interrupted. Caroline looked over at the gorgeous and familiar male in her doorway, a bunch of pink peonies in hand.

Niklaus Mikaelson was a successful property developer that owned large chunks of Manhattan. Women were practically falling over themselves to snare the eligible bachelor. Caroline wasn't one of them.

"Well, hello there," Katherine purred. Caroline fought the urge to roll her eyes in her direction.

"Hi," he greeted the brunette before facing her. "I saw the mess and was wondering if I could assist at all?"

"Well, if you think one measly bunch of peonies is going to fix this then you are deluded, mister."

"Caroline! That's no way to treat your guest."

"Fair point," he conceded, placing the flowers on the only standing table. "I heard there was a wedding in the Hamptons this weekend, hopefully this should cover it." Before Caroline could offer some smart retort a group of ten people entered the shop each armed with pink peonies.

"Impressive," Katherine cooed.

"Don't you have a job to get to, Kat?" Katherine gave her a look which told Caroline she was being silly before sending a brief smile in his direction and leaving the shop. "I didn't ask for your help."

"It's the least I could do, love," he murmured after his helpers had left the shop.

"Last time I checked this wasn't your doing. Just some supposed superhero on a power trip. You don't owe me anything," she said, trying to concentrate but his perfectly fitted suit and spicy aftershave was throwing her off slightly.

She self consciously touched her hair that was piled into a messy bun on her head and suddenly Caroline wished she'd dressed in more than sweats given her present and unexpected company.

"A power trip?" He mused, sending an unexpected and stray dimple her way. "That's an interesting take on the situation."

"I'm just a little angry still about the damage," she explained gruffly.

"Don't worry about it, love," he said. "It's all taken care of, I'll see to it."

"But why?" She insisted. "This isn't your fault."

"Let's just say the Hybrid is a good friend and it's my duty to make things right," he uttered.

"Who needs insurance when you have a billionaire to bail you out," Caroline smiled. Every fibre of her being was urging Caroline to ask the obvious question but given his generosity she held back, for now at least.

"Some people are just that lucky," he smirked. "Any chance you'd like to get a hotdog on the corner after we fix up this place?"

"I suppose that could be arranged."

Caroline never imagined she'd end up with a billionaire, let alone one with a secret and heroic alter ego. She was of course sworn to secrecy but the fact he'd confided in Caroline meant so much, so too the introduction of his body hugging Hybrid suit in bed.

Although they had a standing agreement that no matter how intense the fight, he'd never ruin her florist again.