AN: Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews as well as favs and follows! You guys are great!
This is my first drabble for mate/soulmate au, prompted by the awesome peachyforbes on tumblr - thank you once more!
In this one, Klaus broke the curse 500 years ago and hadn't set foot in Mystic Falls for quite some time so he and Caroline don't know each other.
kc + "listen, you keep saying that i'm your soul mate, but you never asked me about my feelings for you. i don't even know you, so let's back this up to a simple 'hello, my name is..'" au
The blond sitting in the front seat of his car started to wake up, grunting and cursing under her breath, looking slightly pale.
"It's completely normal to feel a little groggy, sweetheart, I believe you haven't had a decent amount of blood for quite some time and I may have put a little too much vervain in your drink," he explained innocently as he pushed the gas pedal forcefully, wanting to get to his destination as fast as possible. If need be, he could always compel any speeding ticket away.
"You snapped my neck!" the blond yelled angrily, immediately going for the door handle, letting out a grunt of frustration as her attempt proved futile.
"Don't bother, love, it's magically sealed, only I can open it. And right now, you're not going anywhere."
"Who the hell are you?! What do you want from me?"
Caroline was beyond furious. How come this kind of things always had to happen to her? Following high school graduation, she made her escape from this god-forsaken town, after having been tortured one too many times and then almost getting bitten by her (ex, obviously) boyfriend who got angry over the fact she did not want to join him on his journey to find a werewolf pack. She didn't have a death wish, thank you very much.
She got into UCLA's theater programme and decided California was far enough. Her mother supported her decision wholeheartedly, partly out of concern for her, and partly, as Caroline suspected, because she had no idea how to reconcile her role in the Council with the fact her own daughter was now a vampire.
Deciding to put a stop to her troubling thoughts and focus on the problem at hand, Caroline turned to her kidnapper, taking a closer look at his appearance.
It was that cute guy from the bar last night, she realized.
Dirty blond curls, dimpled smile and lips to die for, she'd spotted him across the bar almost immediately. They did a little silent flirting with their eyes, Caroline feeling a strange pang of pain, but also familiarity, spreading through her body as she looked at him. She associated it with the fact she just hadn't had sex in quite some time and he was damn attractive. Disturbingly though, even now when he turned out to fucking having kidnapped her, she still felt that bizarre mix of arousal and anxiety in his presence.
Apparently Stockholm Syndrome was really a thing.
While Caroline was lost in her own thoughts, Klaus mulled over her question, considering how much he should reveal to her at the moment.
What did he want with her? That was not an easy question.
What Caroline was completely unaware of was the fact Klaus had been stalking (observing!) her for months.
Finding his mate was something Klaus dreaded and feared, yet paradoxically yearned for at some level.
Since he had broken his curse and become a hybrid five hundred years ago, he had read everything there was to know about the mate bond and its consequences.
He was in Los Angeles on supernatural business, paying a visit to an old warlock who happened to be a college professor by day. Then he saw her, gorgeous blond strutting across the campus with fiery look in her eyes, felt a jolt of arousal, but also familiarity, like he had just arrived home, and he knew immediately who she was.
His mate.
So Klaus did the next logical thing that needed to be done.
He followed her to her dorm room, waited out till she got out and then scoured the room, copied her schedule and got her home address.
She was born and lived in Mystic Falls.
Klaus had never believed in this kind of nonsense. But if that wasn't a sign, what was?
He'd sent his most trusted hybrids to their home town and a week later, he knew everything there was to know about her past.
But more than that, after hours and hours of observing her, he learnt this crucial little things about her. How bright her smile was when it was genuine.
What made her laugh.
That from time to time, when she was alone in her room, she cried because she missed her mom or after phone calls from her so-called friends who didn't understand how she could have left them behind.
Any time that happened, Klaus felt a fit of rage overtaking him, the bond demanding he would punish those who dared to cause her any pain. And well, when he learnt what one Damon Salvatore had done to Caroline, he did not hesitate to exact revenge. Though he would love to skin Damon alive personally, he didn't want to leave Caroline out of his sight. For now, he would be satisfied with the beating older Salvatore received from Kol on his behalf and the compulsion that followed, leaving Damon with no memories of who the latest doppelganger was nor his own brother and making him feed on bunnies exclusively for the rest of his pathetic existence.
Yeah, he couldn't tell Caroline any of that.
"Hello?! Did you hear me? Who the fuck are you?!"
"There is no need for such foul language, love," he quipped, amused at her theatrics, "You can stop with all the pretending of being frightened as well. We both know you're not really scared of me even though you probably think you should."
Caroline gazed at him, pondering what he had just said. It was true, she realized with bewilderment, she should be petrified and yes, her instincts told her to flee at first, but she also had this inexplicable conviction in the back of her mind that she was safe with him. He would not hurt her. She wouldn't admit it out loud under any circumstances, of course.
"You still didn't answer my question," she retorted instead.
"Klaus Mikaelson. Original Hybrid," he answered with no attempt to mask the smug tone of his voice. However, it faltered quickly as he registered the confusion that spread on Caroline's face.
"You don't know of Originals? The oldest vampires to walk the Earth?" he asked with consternation.
"Oh, I know of Originals, alright, I'm not that oblivious. It's the 'hybrid' part that's lost me."
"Well, I'm more than glad to explain it to you, love. See, I'm both a vampire and a werewolf. A hybrid."
"That's not possible."
"Oh, I assure you it's very much possible, sweetheart."
"Will you stop with the stupid endearments? It doesn't make me like you more," she snapped.
"Oh, but you like me some? I'll take it, I see we're making progress already, Caroline" Klaus quipped joyfully, using her name this time, the sensual way it rolled off his tongue and a stab of arousal it raised within her not lost on Caroline.
"God, you're infuriating!" she spat, then went on to mutter under her nose about 'delusional kidnappers', how it was just 'her freaking luck' and 'it had to be werewolf that's obsessed with her, figures'.
It was pretty adorable, if you asked Klaus.
"Come now, Caroline, from what I know of you, being a werewolf is not a disqualifier for dating you. Moreover, given my blood cures the werewolf bite, I'll daresay you're the safest with me."
"What do you know of me?! How do you…? How long have you been stalking me exactly?" she uttered exasperated, this was getting more and more confusing by the minute.
"For some time. Though it was purely for your safety, nothing…stalkerish about it, as you eloquently put it, love."
"For my safety?" she bit out in disbelief. "You kidnapped me!"
"Well, that part was kind of necessary, seeing how you are my mate and I need you with me."
"Mate? What the hell are you raging about?" Upon hearing the word something twisted her insides, this anxiety and longing she felt towards him despite the situation only deepening. She chose to ignore it for now.
"Yes, Caroline, mate. Soulmate. One true companion. Last love. Put it whatever way you want, we are destined to be together."
"You cannot be serious."
"Oh, I'm serious as a heart attack, Caroline. You're not a wolf so you may feel it in a slightly different way but I'm positive you've felt something since you saw me yesterday in that bar. Anxiety? Pressure? Desire?"
Saying this last word he turned his gaze towards her, his eyes darkened with lust but also something else…adoration? Longing? Whatever it was, it seemed even more troubling to her as she felt lost in his gaze. Clearing her throat, she successfully stopped the intimate moment between them, though the tension inside the car was still very much apparent. She decided to steer away to safer topic, one she was the most interested in while she was figuring out how the hell get out of this situation.
"So where exactly are we heading?"
"New Orleans. I'm a king of supernatural community there," Klaus stated proudly.
"King, my ass," she murmured and then added, "Look, how can I get it through your thick skull? I'm not yours, I have no idea what this soulmate business is, I don't even know you, besides the fact you're some original creeper!"
"Original what?" he scoffed, in a manner so similar to her it was troubling.
"Original Creeper. Stalking too closely." Caroline jabbed further.
Klaus sighed impatiently. When he took her, he may not have thought some things through but he was convinced the bond would make it easier for her to accept her new situation. Perhaps he could have introduced himself earlier and seduced her but lying to her did not sit well with him. And now his presence was required in New Orleans, witch and vampire fractions at each other's throats again, which forced him to make a move on Caroline prematurely.
"Look, love, we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other once we reach NOLA. Then I'll need to get the witches to make you truly immortal, like an Original, you're far too fragile in your current state and I have too many enemies ready to exert any weakness," he looked at her, trying to convey just how serious the situation was and then focused on the road ahead again, continuing with recap of his future plans.
"Once that's done, we can go anywhere you want in the world. Paris? Tuscany, perhaps? I have a splendid villa there and we'll have all the peace and quiet needed to get further acquainted."
"Well, I see you have all my future planned out already," she drawled, "Newsflash. It's not. Going. To. Happen."
He smiled dangerously and said, "It's not?", while he pulled off the road and turned off the engine. He closed the small distance between them, invading her personal space and palmed her chin, tilting it so she would face him.
"Tell me, Caroline. Tell me, you don't feel what I feel. That spark when we touch. The way I can feel whatever you feel. Deep down you're already aware you are mine, even if you fight it. I hold your hand and sense your pulse speeding up. I touch your skin and feel the blood bursting through your veins. I want to bite you, drink you in, mark you as mine. And then I want you to do the same with me," as he was whispering the words, he tilted his head closer and closer to hers, until their lips mere mere inches apart. They were both breathing loudly, all this energy pent-up between them, until Klaus drew back abruptly and rested back on his seat, starting the engine and speeding off once more.
For a long while, neither of them said anything, both lost in their thoughts. Caroline's mind was speeding two hundred miles per hour, turmoil of emotions she dreaded facing overwhelming her, practically giving her a headache vampires did not get.
"Could you make a stop? There is a gas station over there, I need a snack or something."
He eyed her suspiciously, "We'll stop. But don't even think about escaping, sweetheart, I'll find you anyway. And it won't be a pleasant reunion for you."
"I thought being your mate meant you wouldn't hurt me."
"I thought you didn't believe we're mates," he retorted.
She sighed heavily, "I'm sorry. I won't escape. I guess I can't turn my back on this anyway."
Klaus pulled over once more and parked the car near the gas station. He was probably the most paranoid person ever, he didn't trust easily, yet there was something earnest in Caroline's tone that made him believe her. He was about to get out as he opened the car's door on his side when Caroline stopped him, catching his hand in hers.
"You were right, you know. I am aware there is something between us," she whispered, pulling gradually closer to him, his senses engulfed by her scent, "I do feel this…connection." She started drawing little circles on his skin, sending shivers down his spine. His body tensed in anticipation of her next move as she basically crawled over his lap.
"And maybe I'm just as crazy as you," she went on, placing her hands on his shoulders, "but I can't lie to myself anymore. I need to know."
"Know what?"
"You," she uttered quickly, then slanted her lips on his in a long searing kiss. He felt as if his body was on fire, her tongue invading his mouth as she cupped his cheeks. He caught on to her, reciprocating the kiss, slowing it down a little as he let his hands wander over her back, finally resting them on her lower back and then cupping her ass. He got so lost in the sensations, he forgot they were in public, forgot they could be seen through the windshield, he forgot…
Snap.
Klaus' body went limp as Caroline swiftly snapped his neck. She slouched back to her seat, taking a look around to determine whether anybody had seen them but luckily, no one was around, aside from the girl that was busy tanking her car.
Not knowing how long she had, Caroline quickly got out of the car through the door Klaus had left opened and compelled herself a ride with the girl. They took off in a hurry, Caroline pressing the gas pedal to maximum. She would need to ditch this car soon anyway, Klaus would surely caught up with her in no time so she had to mix it up a little. She couldn't go back to California and Klaus knew where she was from, so for now she decided to just move, destination unknown.
She was sitting in some cheap bar, nursing her fifth drink of the night. After ditching her ride, she flashed through the woods for some distance and then compelled herself a car. Having decided to stop for a night, she rented a room in the middle of nowhere, Arizona and went out for a drink to the nearest bar.
She needed to ponder on her next step.
If she was honest with herself, Caroline would have to admit she felt bad about having deceived Klaus like that, however necessary she thought it'd been at the time.
She just…needed time to dwell on this mate thing for awhile. Seriously, who this guy thought he was? Oh, I'll just swoop in like that, spring some life-altering facts on Caroline.
How about…no.
What she couldn't afford to ignore anymore, though, was the fact that the further she ran away from him, the more hollow she felt. At a certain moment, it got to the point where she felt physical pain surging through her body. Fortunately, it stopped some time ago but still, in her mind, she craved to be close to him again, to breathe in his distinct scent and lose herself in his warm arms.
Where was this coming from?
She did not depend on fate, she believed everyone had a choice and a will to carve out their own future.
But what if, by running away from him, she had chosen wrong?
It turned out, that by the scheme of things that could only be named 'just her luck', Caroline was left unable to ponder the question any longer.
"Look, Dave, what do we have here? A little vampire," she heard a low menacing voice behind her back, its owner clearly drunk, paired with familiar animal scent.
She turned to flash away but the pair of werewolves pinned her to the bar, one of them pressing wooden stake to her chest. Unfortunately, the pub was almost empty and a barkeeper fled to the kitchen as soon as two men approached her. What's worse, with all the running, she hadn't had time to stop for some blood, plus she was still weak from the whole kidnapping ordeal. She cursed herself for getting so lost in her thoughts that she got cornered by two drunk werewolves. Even if it wasn't full moon, they were stronger than her right now and one false move on her part could end with a stake through her heart.
"Why so sad, vamp? Need a little entertainment?" one of them leaned towards her, his breath making her nauseous. She arched her back more, involuntarily pressing her chest more to their faces but at the same time she roamed her hand around the bar top, finally grasping her glass.
"Maybe," she said trying to sound sultry and not disgusted, "Are you offering?" She gazed at the one who was holding a stake, batting her lashes heavily. He was so busy gaping at her breasts, he never saw the glass coming until it smashed against his head. She tore the stake from his hand and kicked him forcefully in the abdomen. He was so drunk that he fell to the ground with a hiss of pain because of an impact. She turned around to deal with the other guy, wondering why he hadn't stopped her from knocking out his friend – not that she minded.
She had her answer right there- his corpse was laying lifelessly on the ground, head detached from his body, Klaus standing over him with bloody hands and mouth, wide satisfied smirk on his face.
"Well, Caroline, at least I'm a little comforted to know I'm not the only one to fall for your feminine viles," he quipped jovially as if she hadn't snapped his neck some ten hours ago.
Elated at seeing him, she launched at him, throwing her arms around him. As she was about to kiss him senseless, he grabbed her hands and titled back his head so she couldn't.
"Ah, ah, ah, don't think I'll fall for the same trick twice, sweetheart," he said, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.
She smiled and said, "Shut up," as she pushed forward and finally caught his lips, her tongue swirling around gathering the remaining blood. His eyes darkened, veins under them still visible. He was beautiful like this, she realized, something in his hybrid features calling out to her. Then Klaus bit her lip, his fang puncturing the delicate skin. Caroline gasped but then his mouth was on hers, tongue forcefully pushing forth and they got lost in sensations, in the bloodlust, pleasure of their bodies being so close again rippling through them.
They parted to breath in air they didn't need, Klaus resting his forehead on hers and letting go of her arms, finally convinced she wouldn't snap his neck again.
For the first time since spotting Klaus in a college bar, Caroline felt at peace with herself. She wasn't sure why or what would the next day bring but she decided to take a leap. She stepped back, completely ignoring the frown forming on Klaus' face, hers graced with the biggest smile.
She looked up at him and held out her hand in greeting.
"Hello, I'm Caroline Forbes. And you are…"
So how was it? Please let me know and leave a review ;)
