Thanks for everything you guys. :)
xx
It takes everyone four months before they realize that Caroline's gone away with Klaus. She receives phone call after phone call, her phone constantly buzzing with texts. As she types out, 'No one worry, I'm fine, xo', and sends it in a mass text, she wonders how honest she's being.
She only takes one phone call. When Stefan's name appears on her phone she's almost too eager to answer.
"Hello?" Caroline is alone, thankfully, Klaus out retrieving more blood for her. The way his eyes had flashed every time her phone had begun ringing had left her feeling anxious.
"Caroline, where are you?" Stefan demands as if he'll take the next flight he can get.
"I'm with Klaus," She says, dodging the question.
"Yeah, that I know," Stefan snaps back and she can picture the face he's probably making all too well.
"Stefan, like I said, I'm fine, I promise," Caroline urges, but her heart isn't in it and Stefan doesn't miss that.
"Did he compel you, Caroline?" His voice is heavy with worry now. Caroline can't help but feel touched.
"No, Stefan, of course not," She sighs.
"Then what are you doing with him?" Confusion now and still the slightest bit of skepticism.
"Look, something happened in Mystic Falls and I had to leave. It's way too long of a story and he's going to be back soon. I promise I'll fill you in when I can, ok, Stefan? Just don't worry about me," Caroline smiles to herself. "Klaus is someone I've always been able to handle."
Stefan is quiet for a long moment and she hears him breathe a sigh. "Just, Caroline…if anything happens, let me know, ok?"
"I will, Stefan." Caroline pauses. "And please explain to Elena and Bonnie that I really am fine, will you? No compulsion here."
"I will," Stefan says, doubt still clear in his voice. "I'll talk to you soon?"
"Yeah, soon," Caroline promises. "Bye, Stefan."
"Goodbye, Caroline. Be careful," he says before hanging up.
Caroline stares at her phone for a long time after he hangs up, wondering when she'll see him again.
Her mind becomes clouded and haunted, every interaction with Klaus replaying themselves over and over in her head. She wonders when she stopped hating him completely, but then, did she ever hate him, really? Fear reigned before hate. Klaus, a name that lingered on everyone's lips long before he finally took the stage, masked by Alaric Saltzman's face. And even when he almost killed Bonnie, Caroline wouldn't say she felt hate for him. The fear grew inside of her, to see his power, how carefully he planned each step before he revealed himself. When he had her captured to be sacrificed, only to have the day saved by Damon of all people, she was too worried about Tyler, too sad to fill her head with any thoughts of hate.
She hated him as she watched Elena mourn. She hated him when he took Stefan away. She hated him when he turned Tyler into a hybrid, robbing him of his free will.
Just as quickly as the hate started to grow it seemed to assuage. The gifts (he won't buy me off, she told herself), the charm (get to know him? What's more to know that he's a murdering psychopath?), the exchanges of soft smiles (smile, Caroline, and maybe he won't rip your heart out), the swooping in to save her (I'm safe? In your arms?). But she felt herself slipping up. Allowed herself to think that maybe Klaus wasn't as evil as he made himself out to be. I'll take you. Anywhere you want. Thank you for your honesty. I want to talk about you. We'll save Elena, you go straight home. Instances of humanity, of kindness. Confrontations that left her head reeling.
They travel farther east. New Delhi is vast and sprawling, possessing architecture and culture unlike any Caroline has ever dreamed. China proves to be another culture shock as well. Caroline insists they visit the Great Wall even when Klaus complains of the crowds. She distracts herself, donning the role of the average American tourist and keeping thoughts of leaving at bay. Klaus had noticed her behavior change the first couple of days following her conversation with Samira and Caroline decides she can't afford to have him suspicious of her, afraid of the repercussions. Only when she is alone does she entertain the idea, sorting out when she could possibly attempt her escape (because she's almost 100% positive she'll have to escape in order to leave.) In the meantime she sighs at the sights, eats food that is too spicy for her taste, and dents Klaus's funds with her impulse buys. Nothing has changed, she tells herself, even when she allows Klaus's touches to linger longer than she used to and 'romantic' starts coming to mind as a descriptive word.
They arrive in Tokyo three weeks after leaving Cairo. Klaus looks almost smug as he ticks off the second of the three cities he had promised her.
They spend the first day exploring, Klaus directing her to Shibuya, the shopping district, handing her his card and telling her to have a field day. And she does, because shopping has always been a form of therapy for Caroline and lord knows she needs it now more than ever. When they return to their hotel, where of course Klaus rents the largest suite, complete with two bedrooms in possession of king sized beds, a kitchen, dining area, and living room that offers a stunning view of the city, Caroline feels ready to collapse.
She's lounging on the couch, sucking on a blood bag and staring out the floor-to-ceiling window that occupies one wall of the living room when Klaus comes out from his bedroom, dressed up and looking Caroline Forbes don't you dare say handsome.
"Are you going out?" She asks, sitting up.
"Only for a little while," He says, plucking a blood bag from the cooler and drinking from it. "Remind me to get more in the morning," Klaus says, pointing at the now empty cooler.
"Where are you going?" Caroline asks, raising an eyebrow.
"To meet with an old friend. I think it best you stay behind, sweetheart, lest we have another Cairo experience," Klaus smirks.
"Oh," Caroline lies back down. "An informant, then?"
"Right you are," Klaus checks the watch on his wrist. "Got to run. I shouldn't be back before too long."
"Have fun freeing your slaves," Caroline mutters, not feeling brave enough to test him. He closes the door behind him, not having heard her.
With his exit, Caroline sighs. She could leave now, she supposes. Opportune time and all. She imagines him returning, not knowing where she is. Maybe he'd be scared, thinking she'd gone and gotten herself kidnapped again. Maybe he'd know and leave for Mystic Falls immediately. The idea of a, potentially, very hurt and angry Klaus following in the wake of her homecoming doesn't thrill Caroline.
She sighs again and decides it's time for alcohol. Their fridge is, thankfully, stocked and ready for her.
Caroline takes a shot of everything they have, including vodka, whiskey, rum, and gin. She picks the bottle of gin to polish off first, placing the other three on the coffee table before her to wait their turn. Caroline decides she isn't going to have any more deep, brooding thoughts and turns on the TV, suddenly hit with a language she doesn't understand. She watches as a Japanese woman presents the studio audience with a kitchen appliance that does something involving chopping and pureeing. Caroline takes a drink every time she gasps in amazement at what happens when she presses a button.
Caroline picks through the clothes she bought, the television only serving as background noise the more and more intoxicated she gets. Japanese fashion proved to be entirely too bold for her tastes and she raises her eyebrows at the mini skit and tube top combo she purchased, wondering in what mindset she would ever even wear them. Klaus had smirked at her purchases, a comment on the tip of his tongue, but the pointed look she had given him banished any lewd thoughts he might have shared. She laughs at the memory, wondering when Klaus became her shopping buddy, the title entirely too normal for the centuries old hybrid.
She wonders if it's all just an act for her sake, the tour guide role Klaus has been donning for the past four months simply a front he's keeping up. Caroline thinks of Rebekah, who in the end only wanted to be a normal teenaged girl. Maybe that's all the Originals want to be. Not murdering psychopaths with so much blood on their hands no amount of scrubbing could remove it, but normal people, who do things like shop and listen to terrible top 40 hits and enjoy having dinner with friends, even if that dinner is the blood of the innocent. Caroline rolls her eyes at the thought, sure they truly want to be powerful and feared and hated, even.
But she's doubting herself again. There are such things as bad first impressions.
Caroline downs the rest of the gin and moves on to the vodka, already feeling warm and lightheaded.
Klaus returns when she's halfway through the bottle of whiskey and watching a rerun of a game show with her mouth hanging open. His eyes sweep over the two empty bottles and he raises an eyebrow.
"This show is ridiculous," Caroline drawls, pointing an accusing finger at the television. "There's no way you can bend your body in a perfect H shape."
"I see you've been entertaining yourself," Klaus says, plucking the still full bottle of rum from the table. Caroline doesn't offer a protest but rolls her head toward him, looking him up and down.
"The lack of blood tells me your meeting was civil," She states, nodding to herself.
"Quite," Klaus purses his lips. "How long have you been drinking?"
"Since you left," Caroline checks the time. "Three hours?"
Klaus sits on the couch next to her, opening the bottle of rum and taking a swig of it. "And you managed to drink over half of my alcohol."
"I was bored," Caroline sighs and rubs her hands over her face, pondering the question of why the sensation of touch is so much better when one's drunk. "You're only allowed to drink if you promise not to kill anyone." She gives him an accusing look that isn't as effective as she intends it to be. Klaus smirks.
"I promise." He holds his hand up like a boy scout. Caroline rolls her eyes.
"What did you do for a thousand years?" Caroline asks suddenly, leaning back on the couch and stretching her legs out of the coffee table. "I feel like we've been everywhere and it hasn't even been half a year."
"Living life constantly on the run keeps you busy," Klaus says, looking off and taking another drink from the bottle.
"Oh, come on!" Caroline turns her head, looking at him. "Somewhere between all that you had to have had fun."
Klaus smirks at her. "Sure. Watching societies rise and fall was always entertaining. Fought in a few wars for the thrill of it," His eyes soften, looking contemplative. "But we were constantly on the move, Rebekah, Elijah, and I."
"Didn't it get lonely?" Caroline closes her eyes, sighing.
"I had my family," Klaus says by way of explanation.
"Sure, yeah, family's great and all but…" She shrugs, keeping her eyes closed. "Wasn't something missing? Friends…" Caroline trails off, unable to finish the thought.
"A lover?" Klaus offers and Caroline blushes, giving a slight nod. "Yes, I suppose it was. But there wasn't time for that then. Love-"
"Is a vampire's greatest weakness," Caroline interrupts. "Yeah, I heard." She gives another sigh and slumps over, head resting on Klaus's shoulder.
It all seems to go very still in that moment. She feels Klaus stiffen under her touch, but she doesn't move, alcohol clouding her actions and judgments. It hits Caroline how much she misses having someone she can lean on, in the most literal sense.
She hears the bottle of rum slosh as Klaus takes another drink. His hand finds hers and rests over it, hesitantly. Caroline doesn't move. Her eyes open, slowly.
Push it all aside and she could love Klaus…
Caroline leans up, staring at Klaus. His eyes meet hers and there's confusion there and maybe the slightest bit of anticipation. She looks over his face carefully. She was never able to deny that Klaus was handsome. His eyes, blue, are so dark, so unlike Damon's, who's pierced, while Klaus's are bottomless. His lips, so full, so kissable (don't you dare use that word, Forbes) are slightly parted, anxiously awaiting the action Caroline debates. She meets his eyes and almost allows herself to drown in them.
Caroline is leaning dangerously close to him, her own lips parted, her eyes darting between Klaus's eyes and his mouth. She leans in half an inch, their noses almost touching, Klaus's breath caressing her skin, warm and smelling of rum. She blinks, eyelids heavy and begging to close, inhales a breath and stands suddenly, turning away from Klaus and gazing out the window over Tokyo. His disappointed sigh doesn't escape her.
"Caroline-"
"I'm going to get some sleep. It's been a long day," And she hightails it out of the room, closing her door behind her and leaving Klaus staring after her.
She doesn't see the way his eyebrows narrow or the frown that graces those kissable lips.
Caroline leans against her bedroom door, scrubbing at her bleary eyes with her palms. "Stupid, stupid, stupid…" she mutters, sliding down the door and sitting on the floor. She puts her head between her knees, willing her mind to clear up, dizzy from the alcohol and, dare she say, thoughts of affection for Klaus. Caroline had almost allowed herself to give in and part of her wishes she had (the drunken, horny part of course because that's what you do when you're drunk, make-out with someone and regret it in the morning.)
Caroline throws her head back and stares at the ceiling, letting out a sigh. Why did she agree to this? Why did she go off with him? How could she have let herself be so blinded to think that everything, every fleeting thought she had ever had about Klaus, every moment that had left her heart racing and head swimming, that it all wouldn't come to a head? Why, when Samira asked if she loved Klaus, did she let herself think that she could, one day? In a year, or even in a century…
Caroline cuts the memory off. The memory of how he had stormed away from her and she had looked after him with almost longing in her eyes.
He is Klaus, he is Klaus, he is Klaus…
Yeah, Klaus. Klaus, who took an immediate interest in her, like no one ever did. Klaus, who said she was beautiful and strong and full of light. Klaus, who didn't kill her when she dared to stand up to him, who thanked her for it, even. Klaus, who gave her expensive dresses and bracelets that belonged to royalty, and creepy, beautiful drawings. Klaus, who wanted to talk about her, wanted to know her hopes and dreams. He saw her as a challenge. He wanted to show her the world. He saved her over and over. Your life is one I won't allow to end anytime soon.
But…
No. No buts. Not tonight.
Caroline crawls into bed before she allows herself to do anything else completely idiotic. She thanks the lord that she doesn't dream about him.
When she wakes up the next morning her head is killing her and her throat burns with thirst. Caroline creeps out of her bedroom, careful to be quiet, unwilling to face Klaus if she can help it. She checks the cooler of blood bags and remembers that it was emptied the night before, Klaus telling her to remind him of it. The burning in Caroline's throat hasn't been this intense in a while, but being so incredibly hung over probably doesn't help her case. Caroline hesitates before knocking on Klaus's door.
"Yes?" He calls and Caroline takes it as permission to enter, opening the door a crack.
"Um, Klaus…" She pushes it further open. "We're out of-" Caroline freezes.
The smell of blood hits her full force. Klaus is lying in bed, a hotel maid perched on the edge of his mattress with her neck exposed. Klaus has her blood running down his chin, the maid's neck and collar stained with it as well. As Caroline enters Klaus wipes his hand over his mouth, smearing the blood on his palm.
The fire in her throat flares in intensity, her gums suddenly aching. She feels as the blood rushes to her eyes, the veins protruding from her skin and eyes and vision growing red. Caroline throws herself against the door frame but doesn't take her eyes off the girl's bleeding neck.
Klaus watches her closely. He licks the blood from his palm and sweeps the maid's hair back, further exposing her throat. "Are you hungry, sweetheart?" He asks, cocking his head to the side. The maid looks between Klaus and Caroline, his compulsion making her calm. She raises her eyebrows at him and he smiles back at her, telling her something in Japanese. She suddenly stands from her perch, making her way toward Caroline.
She's rooted at the spot, pressing herself further and further into the door frame. Caroline's hands are balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms, enough to draw blood. As the smell of more blood fills the air, she feels herself losing control. "Klaus…" She chokes out, but he does nothing, watching in interest from his bed. The maid approaches Caroline, exposing her neck to her and asking her something in Japanese. Her eyes shine as though she's more than happy to allow Caroline to feed from her.
Caroline closes her eyes and wills her fangs to disappear into her gums again. She breathes slowly, in and out, just as Stefan taught her so long ago, but it doesn't help, the smell of the maid's blood all she can focus on. And suddenly the maid is right in front of her and holding her wrist right under Caroline's nose. Her eyes fly open and she looks to Klaus in desperation.
He gives her a slight nod and a thought crosses her mind.
Where's the harm if you don't kill her?
And suddenly Caroline is plunging her fangs into the girl's wrist, her blood extinguishing the fire.
xx
-Reels