strangenightsofdaydreams asked: Hi! I have been informed by a little birdie that you are accepting prompts. This is my first time *rubs hands* Klaroline meet at an art gallery + fire. Emergency room meet ugly. And because I truly must- dragon au with a hint of necromancy. Much love! You're amazing

"Of all the works you had to…" Klaus huffed into his fist, clearly struggling to keep his temper from drawing attention from the crowded emergency room. "That was going to fund my next three rites, and you burnt it to cinders."

Shrugging, Caroline winced at the pull on the tender skin of her bandaged arm. If only her human form were just as impervious to burns or would heal as quickly as her other one. "For someone so desperate to buy dragon scales, you don't seem to appreciate the reality of an actual dragon. Excuse me for being startled! You were the one who asked for proof they were the real deal in a public place, you should have done more to make sure I wasn't seen."

The witch — sorry, sorcerer — scoffed. "I assumed you had a certificate of authenticity from the dragon you procured them from, not that you would transform into a massive lizard in the middle of my gallery where anyone could walk in."

"To be fair, it didn't seem like such a hot spot," she sneered. "And your brother grabbed my tail, he's lucky I only tried to roast him in surprise. Had I been in a mood, I would have eaten him, too."

"Luckily," Klaus sniffed, "Kol has a knack for getting out of the trouble he causes. I do apologize for his lack of boundaries, but burning down my business is hardly a proportional response."

She shrunk back into the hospital bed, shame burning in her face as brightly as her blouse had when she shifted back among the blaze. "I am sorry about that. I can throw in a couple more scales, on the house, for the trouble."

That was how they got into this mess, after all. Klaus apparently had a big spell coming up, and few things held more inert power than a dragon scale. It wasn't her favorite way to pay bills, but she vetted her customers and made sure they weren't using her magic batteries to do others real harm. Esther Mikaelson was revered in witch circles, and becoming a supplier to the family had to be a lucrative deal. At least, that was what she thought.

She hadn't been prepared for Klaus, though. His energy was far different from any witch she'd dealt with before, which probably fed into the whole 'sorcerer' label he insisted upon while haggling over the value of her scale. But he'd been cute and flirtatious without any idea she was the dragon in question, and there was something incredibly attractive about being courted for more than her magic — and by someone powerful in his own right.

Then, she'd let herself be goaded into transforming before him, only for his brother to lay hands on her before she could appreciate the glint of wonder in his eyes. The fire that erupted from her throat and the ensuing damage, however, drained whatever promise might have lingered between them. All she could do now was try not to make an enemy of him, even if it meant diluting the value of her…service. At the least, it was nice he came with her to the hospital despite healing his own wounds with nothing more than a wave of his hand. She didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved that his magic didn't work on her, but he still hopped up into the ambulance to stay close.

Though that may have had more to do with ensuring the delivery of the scales, she realized.

Klaus seemed to sense her distaste for the whole situation as he considered her with a calculating gaze. "I would appreciate that, sweetheart, but even sorcerers pay insurance premiums. More so than the average person, I'd wager — for fire specifically. And I'd like to meet the investigator who officially files 'arson by dragon' as the inciting event."

"Arson implies intent," she pointed out. "This was an accident."

He smiled at her insistence. "Of course. However, if you're offering restitution, I would like to know more about your magic. I know your scales will be invaluable to the spell I intend to enact. Who's to say you yourself can't be of greater use?"

Eyes narrowed, she couldn't help be shrink back from him. Her father was the first to keep her locked away, and she swore he would be the last. "Who's to say I shouldn't just kill you right now?" It would hurt like hell to transform, but her freedom was worth the pain. "I'm no one's pet."

His brows furrowed in thought, concern and anger playing across his face. "I was thinking more along the lines of partners."

Now that was interesting. "What kind of spell could bring you to that conclusion?"

Wetting his lips, he shifted in discomfort. "I lost my little brother a thousand years ago," he said, his voice too low to be heard by the passing nurses. "I intend to bring him back."

Her mouth fell open in shock, and she struggled to form a coherent sentence. When she did, it was far from elegant. "Seriously?"