AU/AH. Klaus and Caroline are unfriendly neighbors... until they're not.
(4) missed calls. (13) new messages.
Katherine [3:02 PM] I have arrived first, for once. Just circled the date on my calendar.
Katherine [3:06 PM] Why are you not telling me that I can't circle a date as I don't own a paper calendar?
Katherine [3:08 PM] Care Bear?
Katherine [3:09 PM] Caroline, are you there?
Katherine Pierce called.
Katherine [3:09 PM] CAROLINEEEEE!
Katherine [3:09 PM] CAROLINE!
Katherine [3:10 PM] Caroline Elizabeth Forbes!
Katherine [3:13 PM] I swear to God: if you're making me worry and giving me early wrinkles but you're actually alive, I will kill you myself!
Katherine Pierce called.
Bonnie Bennett called.
Bonnie [3:17 PM] Hey, Care! Is everything okay? Kat is freaking out that you're late to meet her and won't pick up your phone...
Katherine [3:19 PM] You made me call Bonnie and sound like a mom. Happy, now?
Katherine [3:21 PM] The next time you suggest we all install a connecting (stalking) app, I will not laugh at you.
Katherine [3:21 PM] WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!
Enzo [3:22 PM] Gorgeous?
Katherine Pierce called.
"THE MYSTIC FOUR" | Caroline is typing...
Katherine [3:26 PM] ABOUT! DAMN! TIME!
Caroline [3:27 PM] I'm SO SORRY, guys! I'm okay. Just... stuck in the elevator, and service is next to nonexistent.
Katherine [3:27 PM] I hope you know you'll be paying for my botox injection.
Bonnie [3:27 PM] What?! What happened? Are you safe in there?
Caroline [3:28 PM] Yep. It's nothing major, thankfully.
Katherine [3:28 PM] Tell that to my frown lines!
Enzo [3:28 PM] Think you could stop making this about you for a couple of seconds, Kitty Kat?
Katherine [3:28 PM] Mmh... no. It's one of my many talents.
Enzo [3:28 PM] You sure you're all right, Gorgeous?
Caroline [3:32 PM] I'm fine. Really. The worst thing I'm experiencing is neighBORE's company, so I'll even ignore your lack of empathy, Kat.
Katherine [3:32 PM] OOOH! You mean the HOT neighbor.
Enzo [3:32 PM] Of course that's what finally got your attention.
Caroline [3:33 PM] He's average.
Katherine [3:34 PM] BLASPHEMY!
Bonnie [3:34 PM] Uh. Even I know that's a lie, Care.
Caroline [3:36 PM] Are you seriously ganging up on me, right now? I'm in a vulnerable position.
Katherine [3:36 PM] I have several suggestions if you're looking for positions to try out while you await rescue.
Enzo [3:37 PM] You served that on a silver platter, Gorgeous!
Caroline [3:38 PM] I almost liked it better when my phone wasn't working.
Katherine [3:38 PM] Mean.
Caroline [3:38 PM] Newsflash: you don't have the exclusive on it.
Katherine [3:39 PM] Ouch. Aren't you testy? Must have touched a nerve.
Caroline [3:40 PM] I'm literally stuck in an elevator. I have the right to be bitchy.
Katherine [3:40 PM] Touché.
Bonnie [3:41 PM] Is there anything we can do?
Caroline [3:43 PM] It's just a matter of waiting, unfortunately... but thank you.
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"THREE AND A HALF MIKAELSONS"
Klaus [3:23 PM] One more Baby Yoda meme and I'm leaving this chat, Kol.
Kol [3:25 PM] Bold of you to assume I wouldn't just add you right back in.
Klaus [3:25 PM] I can always block you.
Rebekah [3:26 PM] Not to interrupt the touching moment of brotherly bonding, but why are you even writing here, Nik? You usually ignore us.
Klaus [3:26 PM] I might be trying to ignore someone else, at present.
Rebekah [3:26 PM] ?
Klaus [3:27 PM] The elevator in the complex is having a malfunction and I'm stuck inside of it with my neighbor.
Kol [3:28 PM] Ah. Sweet Caroline!
Klaus [3:30 PM] How do you even know her name?
Kol [3:30 PM] PLEEEEEASE! Do I look stupid to you?
Rebekah [3:30 PM] Are you sure you want us to answer that question?
Elijah [3:31 PM] Niklaus.
Kol [3:31 PM] Here comes the serial 'send' hitter!
Elijah [3:33 PM] Is the situation dangerous?
Elijah [3:33 PM] I'm attempting to get in contact with the fire department.
Rebekah [3:34 PM] Oh my God. How am I the LEAST dramatic member of this family?
Kol [3:34 PM] It's because the second X-chromosome weakens you.
Rebekah [3:35 PM] YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DID NOT JUST SAY THAT, KOL!
Kol [3:35 PM] Of course I didn't. I wrote it.
Elijah [3:35 PM] Niklaus?
Klaus [3:37 PM] Sorry. Service comes and goes. No need to call anyone, Elijah, please. There's some sort of alert in here and a technician is already on his way.
Kol [3:37 PM] Right. Now that we have Nik's safety figured out, can we, PLEASE, switch back to what actually matters: WHY are you ignoring Sweet Caroline?
Klaus [3:38 PM] I'm not ignoring her, per se. I just don't know her.
Rebekah [3:39 PM] You've been living right across the hall from each other for almost three years...
Kol [3:39 PM] But you act like you don't even WANT to know her, which, frankly, Nik, I think might be a symptom of mental insanity.
Klaus [3:41 PM] Well, you're the expert.
Kol [3:41 PM] Awww. Thank you!
Rebekah [3:42 PM] WAIT. Does this have to do with the drunken incident?
Kol [3:42 PM] What drunken incident?
Klaus [3:42 PM] Rebekah.
Elijah [3:43 PM] Surely, Niklaus, you are adult enough to be able to moderate your alcoholic intake.
Kol [3:43 PM] WHAT DRUNKEN INCIDENT?
Rebekah [3:44 PM] Relax, Elijah. It happened back when he had first moved there.
Kol [3:44 PM] *pulls out megaphone* WHAT DRUNKEN INCIDEEEEENT?
Rebekah [3:44 PM] You don't know?
Kol [3:44 PM] OBVIOUSLY.
Rebekah [3:45 PM] Whoops. I thought it was common knowledge. Sorry, Nik.
Klaus [3:47 PM] The technician is here. I'll talk to you later.
Kol [3:48 PM] IS NO ONE REALLY GOING TO TELL ME?!
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"They got here quickly," Klaus comments, stealing a sideways glance at Caroline.
It's not like him to attempt small talk—he's usually one to avoid it, if anything—but the two of them have been standing in utter silence in less than twenty square-feet of surface for over an hour now and there's only so much awkwardness he can handle.
She releases a vague sound of acknowledgment under her breath.
"I guess. The sticker says 'under thirty minutes', though," she points to the writing underneath the alert button they had used to communicate with the elevator maintenance company, "and it's been thirty-three."
He has enough presence of mind to refrain from laughing, knowing it would not go over well at all, but, still, lets a grin curl the curve of his lips until his dimples make an appearance.
"Zero stars."
Arms folded across her chest, Caroline huffs. "Two, maybe. It depends on whether they can actually get us out of here."
"Late to a hot date?"
Klaus regrets the words the very instant they're out of his mouth.
He doesn't even know why he's said them, why he's thought them, to begin with, doesn't know why he cares.
Or... maybe he does, just a little.
Caroline arches both eyebrows at him in a manner that makes it clear he has rudely overstepped.
They're not friends. They're not even acquaintances. Hell, he had a better relationship with Mr. Griffith who lived down the street from his childhood home back in London, and the old man used to crush any ball flying over his fence under his tractor.
What upsets Klaus the most is being fully aware of the fact that he is single-handedly to blame for the uneasiness that exists between them.
Him and copious amounts of booze.
"Not sure what your hobbies are," Caroline eventually rebuts, "but I'm simply into not developing claustrophobia."
"Right. I apologize," Klaus dips his head to conceal a flinch, "I have no idea what came over me."
Much to his surprise, however, once, endless moments later, he looks back up, there's not annoyance but amusement dancing across her features.
"That seems to often be the case with you," she teases.
"Only when you're concerned, Sweetheart."
She rolls her eyes but blushes. "Lucky me."
Their gazes meet, then, lock together, and something passes between them, like an electric shock yet soft, like lightning that trickles along their skins the way summer rain would.
Caroline seems to be at war with herself, biting down on her bottom lip for a long moment, deep in thought.
"Not that it's any of your business," she edges, "but no, no hot date."
Klaus beams at her, wide and pleased, dimples back on display. "Perhaps, you would like to go on one with me? To celebrate our survival."
Blonde tendrils shake on the high notes of a giggle.
Voices start coming from outside. A ding resounds around them. The elevator's doors slide open, at last, granting their freedom.
"I'd love that," she answers.
They might be stuck with each other for a little while longer, after all.