Notes: Chapter 23! And a Mikaelson we've not seen much of (and might not be seeing much more of because he is tough to write!). I've been having some trouble writing this last week, so hopefully this chapter turned out okay! And, in other news Colored You In won Best Comedic Fiction at The Klaroline Awards! I'm thrilled about it, so thank you to everyone who voted, and continues to read this story!
JANUARY - FRIDAY
CAROLINE:
The first thing Caroline sees, when she leaves the monthly staff meeting she'd just suffered through, is Megan frantically waving from the reception desk. Caroline glances behind her, because she has no idea what Megan could possibly be so excited about at 11AM on a Friday during a slow period. Usually that giddy expression is reserved for Klaus' drop-ins, but Caroline had texted him less than two hours ago, and she knows he's till in L.A. He's been dodging (and complaining about) writers who seem to think that sucking up to the creator of The Originals is their best shot at making it onto the show's writing staff.
And while Klaus had ego to spare, he wasn't really a fan of sycophants. And from his texts, Caroline's pretty sure he's just about fed up with those kind of tactics. She's kind of betting he'll make someone cry.
It seems that it is Caroline's attention that Megan's set on gaining, as she's rolling her eyes and mouthing 'yes you' when Caroline turns back around. Curious, Caroline walks over to the desk, asking, "What do you need?"
"To know why you're cheating on your insanely attractive secret boyfriend," is Megan's immediate response. "Granted, the other man's also easy on the eyes. Which is not really kosher, in my opinion. Come on, Caroline. Leave some for the rest of us."
The new intern had let out a loud gasp, when Megan had started, and is shooting Caroline a look of betrayal. But then she'd nearly turned purple that time Klaus had asked to borrow a pen. And Caroline wouldn't have been surprised if she'd taken said pen home with her, and erected some sort of Klaus shrine. So Caroline ignores her, and pins Megan with an aggravated look, "For the forty-seven billionth time, I do not have a secret boyfriend. And Klaus is not my boyfriend, secret or otherwise. So I'm not cheating on anyone. And I have no idea who you seem to think I'm cheating on him with."
"The guy I just let into your office. I have decided that we will call him Hottie McSuity. In public, at least. I'll need to let the private one percolate. My genius cannot be rushed."
It takes a lot for Caroline to maintain a straight face. She manages it, because laughing will only encourage Megan. But seriously, imagining Elijah's face when he heard his new nickname? A serious test of her composure. Thank you college drama classes.
"Dark-hair, tall, kind of stern, but polite?" Caroline asks to confirm.
"Yup," Megan chirps, "he's pretty dreamy. Is he single?"
"I think so?" Caroline replies, wracking her brain. She's sure either Kol or Rebekah would have mentioned if Elijah were seeing anyone, nosy as they were, but then she wouldn't but it past Elijah to keep things hush-hush, just to avoid his younger sibling's interference.
"Where'd you meet this one?" Megan asks eagerly, "Wine bar? Antique store? Sample sale? Tell me your secrets."
Caroline rolls her eyes, "He's Rebekah's brother."
Megan's head tilts to the side considering, "Wow. So the entire family is mega pretty? Oh, wait. I've never met your roommate. Does he bring down the average? Is he like a 4?"
"No. Kol is also one of the beautiful people. Which he'd be the first to tell you. Unprovoked. And at length. It's a little ridiculous. I've never met their oldest brother though."
"Hmm. What's his name?"
"You're not google stalking him."
"For science, Caroline!" Megan pleads.
"No," Caroline says, firmly. "How long has Elijah been here?"
Megan glanced at her monitor, "Ten minutes? I told him you were in a meeting, and he said that was no problem, since he was dropping in without an appointment."
"Okay," Caroline took a deep breath, nervousness creeping in. Why was Elijah here? She'd never spent time with him, one on one. Had never thought she ever would. She glanced down at her outfit, with critical eyes, pulls down her sleeves and touching her necklace to make sure it's straight. Her clothes pretty subdued today, not like lawyer-boring, but not as much color as she usually favors, and Caroline's thankful for a moment. But she quickly pushes that thought away.
When she catches Megan's eye the other woman looks distinctly amused, "What?" Caroline asks. "Do I look okay?"
"You look great. Are you sure you're not cheating on your secret boyfriend with this dude? That was an awful lot of primping."
Caroline narrowed her eyes, and resisted the urge to stick out her tongue. "Thank you, Megan. Please hold my calls," she instructed, at a volume louder than the hush they'd been using, and flounced away, ignoring the snickers that followed her.
She pauses, at the door to her office. It's silly, but Elijah's always intimidated her a little. He'd been so together seeming, so scarily adult, to her eighteen year old self. Caroline's never quite gotten over the feeling that she's hopelessly immature in comparison, even though it's been years.
She wishes she'd paid more attention in yoga. Being able to find her center or her calm or her chi or whatever would be really helpful right now. But Caroline kind of sucked at inner peace, so she mostly tuned out the instructors droning.
She'd work on that. Maybe.
Plastering on a bright smile, Caroline entered her office. Elijah stood, immediately, and turned to greet her. "Caroline. It's lovely to see you. I do hope you'll excuse my visiting without asking first. But I had an appointment in the area that finished up early, and I've been meaning to speak with you."
"It's no problem," Caroline assures him, circling her desk. Elijah waits until she's settled before seating himself. She's kind of curious about how he knows where she works, but if Elijah's done background checks he'll probably lie about it. "What did you need to discuss?"
"My brother," Elijah states.
Caroline blinks for a moment, "Um, I don't want to be rude, Elijah, but my relationship with Klaus is none of your business. Something I've told both Rebekah and Kol repeatedly."
The corner of Elijah's mouth ticks up, before his face becomes neutral again, "I very much agree, Caroline. And I'll speak to Kol and Rebekah about their attempts at meddling. But I actually wished to speak to you about Kol."
She's pretty sure her face has turned red, can feel her ears burning. She curses her tendency to put her foot in her mouth, and the fact that it is apparently not something Caroline does exclusively in Klaus' presence anymore. Even though this particular situation, and her embarrassment, is still totally his fault.
Caroline's sure Klaus would argue that point, the contrary jerk.
She decides not to make things worse by commenting further, the last thing she needs is to word vomit all over Elijah, so she focuses on why he'd said he'd stopped by, "Is Kol in some kind of trouble?" He'd seemed fine last night, had listened to her complain about how insufferable Damon Salvatore was, adding his own remarks until she'd been laughing and in a much better mood.
"No, he's not. And that's sort of why I've come to you. I'd like to thank you, Caroline. I feel as though you've been a very good influence on Kol."
"I… haven't really done anything?" It comes out like a question, but Caroline's really not sure what Elijah's thanking her for. "Except take his rent money and eat a lot of really good food. So really, I should maybe be thanking you for refusing to let him live with you."
"You hadn't spent much time with him, so perhaps the changes aren't as apparent, to you. Kol goes to work, and seems to do well. He's not drinking to excess every weekend, or spending his money frivolously. I've spent years and years trying to guide Kol into toning his lifestyle excesses down, cleaning up his messes when he inevitably failed, and you've managed to do it in a few months."
Okay, this was getting weird. "I repeat, Elijah. I haven't really done anything. I'm not Kol's mom, or his girlfriend. I expect his half of the rent, on time. I expect him to clean up after himself. Maybe…" Caroline lets her thought trail off, certain that what she was about to say was crossing some boundaries.
"Maybe?" Elijah prodded, probably sensing her hesitance.
Caroline chewed on her lip for a moment, before squaring her shoulders and looking Elijah in the eye, "Okay, look. I legitimately don't mean this in a judgmental way. I love Rebekah. And Klaus has become my friend. But do you ever wonder if the way you guys think about Kol is part of the problem?"
Elijah's eyebrows rise, and he studies her thoughtfully, "Please explain."
Ugh. That was intimidating. Caroline's pretty sure Elijah's usually the one dishing out explanations. But she might as well go all in, finish what she'd started. "It's like you expect Kol to screw up. And then he does, and you react by covering for him. I'm not saying let the guy live on the street, but a couple of consequences never hurt anyone, you know? Kol's smart and creative and could probably be awesome at any number of things. But he's never had to try, because things have always been handed to him."
Elijah's quiet, for a long time, and Caroline's internally cringing waiting for his reaction. Finally, he nods, "You make a few valid points, and I will consider them, when dealing with Kol in the future."
Oh, well that's better than the, 'You presume too much, peasant' that Caroline had half expected. So of course, she decides to push her luck, and make a suggestion, "And maybe you should tell Kol, a little of what you told me. About how impressed you are with the changes he's made recently. Positive reinforcement, and all that."
This time Elijah lets the small smile linger, "I can see why Niklaus is so enchanted by you."
The blush that had receded rears its ugly head as Caroline sputters a denial, "What? No. It's not like that. We're just friends. Who are going for pizza when he's back in town. Platonically. Platonic pizza friends."
"Right," Elijah says slowly, drawing out the single syllable. And Klaus was totally right about him being a secret smart ass. Stupid Mikaelsons. "Be that as it may, my thanks still stand. I appreciate all that you've done for my family, Caroline."
Elijah stands, waves off her attempts at seeing him out, "No, no. I've taken up enough of your workday. Besides, I'm sure you'll be getting the third degree about my visit from the excitable woman who mans the desk. Surely you'd like to avoid that?"
Caroline slumps back into her desk chair, "Yes. Yes I would. How did you…"
"Know I'm the newest piece of office gossip?" the little smirk that crosses Elijah's face makes him look so much like Kol that Caroline gapes a little, "I'm very observant, Caroline. And they were not discrete. Feel free to make up a more interesting story. And have a good day."
Elijah lets himself out, and Caroline glances at the clock on the corner of her desk, idly wondering how short her reprieve will be.
Very, as it turns out, and there's a sharp rap on her door two minutes and twelve seconds later.