Kudos to all who understood the depth and the story/character development of the last chapter, it was very important to the story because of Klaus being who he is and the way he is, he couldn't let Tyler get away so easily and it broke him that he couldn't do something so simple, it broke him that he had to let Caroline find out that way because he couldn't be honest enough with himself or her.
Because of the nature of the story and the under-lining message that comes with it (Can Destiny actually change somebody or just the way they act?), This is something that was always going to happen, I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.
Anyways :) I couldn't leave you all hanging on for long after that, so here you go I hope this satisfies : ) and as always thank you all so much…
Destined Chapter 18
Klaus ducked his head and closed his eyes once more as Caroline calmly and silently inched closer to him, like a hunter out in the wild quietly approaching an injured animal. He sat still at his desk, unmoving, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths and fingers grasping at the wooden edge, he didn't dare look up into her beautiful blue eyes, afraid of what he'd find in them.
This was it, this was him, baring himself open, a sinister character who has done some ungodly things in his past, who is un-frightened and un-ashamed, yet so scared and unsure to be honest with his-self and the one person he trusts enough to love.
Caroline fought hard with her emotions, battling to keep them under control as she reached the desk and slowly stepped around it so that she was standing just inches away from him, looking down at him, perched on the edge between his legs, their knees almost touching, almost. Her breath came and went in small shallow pants, and her flesh and blood beneath her cold skin tickled and pricked, reminding her of how connected they were, she couldn't quite separate his emotions from her own.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing, her first initial thought when she realised Klaus and his brother were talking about Tyler, was that Klaus was not as human and moral and compassionate as she thought he was starting to show. He clearly hadn't let go of what had happened yesterday and was plotting and planning, and without her consent, without her knowledge. She was thanking him, respecting him for his maturity and restraint, for acknowledging her feelings that she wouldn't want Tyler to be harmed just left alone, and all along he had always known that that wasn't going to happen, he couldn't let that happen. She mentally cursed herself for how foolish and naïve she'd been, thinking that he actually was listening to her and allowing the bond to mask his old ways.
But this, this right now what she was witnessing with her own two eyes, and experiencing, feeling within her own veins, this Klaus was very much human, and that shocked and unhinged her more than anything else. This was unexpected and she struggled to find the right words, where did she start? All she knew deep down, in that moment, is that she would not, could not, walk away from him, as much as she wanted to, as easy as it would be to run and hide to let him get on with it and find himself alone in this world for many more years to come because of his own self-centredness, he needed her, his heart called for her and she felt it within the beat of her own. She cleared her throat.
"K-Klaus?"
Silence. Only his steady breathing could be heard and even seen between the two, in the large, old room. The sounds of laboured breathing almost echoed off the walls around them. She leaned forward very slightly and slowly, her fingers outstretched just so, aching to reach him. She tried again.
"Klaus?"
"He tried to beat me, he tried to take what is mine, he wanted to hurt you Caroline, you must understand I can't ju.."
"Let it g.."
"NO I WILL NOT LET IT GO CAROLINE, I CANT!" His head snapped up and their eyes finally met once again, his own shone like deep, dark pools reflected in moonlight, all traces of tears gone and his features hardened with every deep breath he took, his shoulders and chest heaving.
Caroline startled and her breath caught in her throat at the raise in his voice, she flinched, shuffling back slightly on the desk, her hands splayed on the surface top, keeping her balance. She felt his anger spike within her and because of that her own temper started to rise, she was not scared of him, Hybrid or not, he was not getting the better of her.
"Why? Why is it such a big deal for you to let people see what's hidden in there?" Her voice rough and almost raising in pitch, she jabbed a finger roughly into his chest and he scowled at the action but made no intention to move, he just carried on watching, obviously struggling but still managing to rein in his temper.
"Let me let you in on a little secret" She narrowed her eyes and leaned in a fraction a closer, her voice dropping to a sassy and determined, low, hushed tone just above a whisper. "Nobody likes this so much, what's here on the outside, they'd much prefer what's in there." She circled her finger around his stern looking face then poked at his chest again is if to reiterate her point.
Klaus struggled to keep the low growl from rumbling up in his chest.
"Do you honestly think I care about what people think about me? What they would prefer me to behave like?" He huffed out a low, dark chuckle, it was breathy and with a hint of a condescending tone. "Oh sweetheart you have a lot to learn about me.."
"You know I really don't think I do, I think I know more about you than you think, possibly more than your stupidly arrogant, stubborn self." She crossed her arms tight over her chest, one eye brow rising as if to challenge him as he leaned back in the chair, imitating her movement.
"And what is it you think you know love? Because you thought I'd changed didn't you? Well you're wrong, I assured you I wouldn't, I warned you I would do as I please, I wouldn't let this bond mould me and.."
"You didn't, you haven't…"
"Excuse me?"
"You haven't disappointed me, I-I've disappointed myself, I've realised something now, I am annoyed that you wouldn't just tell me how you were feeling about the whole stupid Tyler thing, I should have known tha.."
"You're not positively repulsed by me? No running for the hills screaming.. we can't all live up to your perfect expectations after all."
She bristled at the last remark but undeterred, and after moment she answered confidently. "Well..no I-I'm not."
"Great, because I wouldn't let you.."
"You wouldn't let me? You wouldn't let me what?"
"Run from me, I told you this not only 4 days ago, you had your chance to escape this, it's too late now.."
"And you think I'd listen to you?"
Klaus rose from his chair, standing to his full height, his muscles straining and flexing, the tight tendons in his neck pulsing, he looked the every bit of strong, alpha male he was. He planted his hands firmly on either side of her legs, and leaned in, their noses almost touching, his eyes imploring hers, daring. He managed to hide the small smirk that danced across the corner of his lips, she was challenging him, his Caroline, this one of the many aspects to her that he loved, that excited and enthralled him. She simply stuck out her chin and kept her calm composure, her lips curling in to a defiant pout.
"Oh I know that you would.." His words whispered across her cheeks, his breath hot and close, deliciously tickling her slightly flushed skin.
"What you're gonna make me? I'm certainly not scar.."
"I know you're not, I'd rather hope that you wouldn't be, and no there's no need I'm fairly positive you'll make the right decision all on your own.." He ducked his chin, his eyes quickly leaving hers for a second before darting back up, she could see the clocks working and turning in his head, he was considering something.
"Would, would you, do you want to?"
"What?"
"Run from me, is that what you want?" His eyes became impossibly soft again, he leaned back slightly to really look at her, weighing up her expression, drinking in the sight of her brave, bold body posture. He was hoping, impossibly hoping and praying that her answer would be what he was yearning for, that in all of his years of solitude he had truly found somebody, Destiny or not, somebody who would not leave him.
"It's, it's been, 4 days like you said, since this became real." She waggled a finger between their two bodies, and shook her head with a light bemused scoff. "10 days today since it all started, since I woke up with your name printed on me and.."
"You regret it!" It was more a statement, one that he wanted her to agree with rather than a question. Daring her to prove him right. His voice almost didn't sound like his own, he was closing himself off, discarding the situation.. giving up on other people, himself, everything again.
"No, no I don't regret it, I cant even if I want to, and no before you ask, I don't want to regret it, this, you, and no I don't want to run away from you either, and contraire to what you might think, what you think you know, you are different."
She took a quick deep breath and steeled herself ready to continue before he could interrupt, he needed to hear this, needed to accept.
She stood from the desk causing him to back up slightly, the backs of his legs hitting the lip of the chair cushion, she placed her hands firmly on his shoulders, holding him in place, forcing him to look at her.
"Y-you are different, Ok so maybe I was wrong before, but so were you, you haven't changed, you haven't allowed me or the bond or you, anything, to change you because you haven't needed to, it's been there all along Klaus, you just needed something, somebody, me, to accept you, to show you it was ok to be a little flexible, that nobody will think any less or more superior of you, you have me now to push you and make you think about things, ok so you can't get over the fact that Tyler stood up to you, hey we've all tried to do a hell of a lot worse at some point, yes he tried to hurt me but you got him back, you avenged me and I-I'm grateful for that, grateful that I have somebody to defend me like that, with you I will always feel safe and protected, but, but you, not everything has to result in blood spill and death, it's, it's done now deal with it, please for me."
She allowed herself a pause to breathe, her hands ghosted up his neck, caressed his jaw, her fingers brushed the light fuzz there and tucked behind his ears, patting down the fine hairs before threading into the soft hair at the nape of his neck.
"He's not going to come back, and you don't have to follow him, you heard Elijah, Stefan and Damon are keeping him at a safe distance also. There is a very human trait that we all suffer with experiencing time and time again, and believe me you are one of it's many key players, something only somebody with a real human heart and soul can feel, it's called making a mistake and regret. Tyler has made a mistake and he's allowed to suffer the consequences alone, he'll be putting himself through more torture right now than you think, and I bet my right hook didn't help either.."
He laughed a breathy, hearty laugh, nuzzled his nose behind her ear and down into her neck, his stubble scraping deliciously against her mark, he wrapped his arms tight around her and pressed her close. He couldn't comprehend what he was hearing, he didn't have to fight for her, pin her to his bed and never let her leave for fear of her fleeing, it wasn't the worse case scenario, he was expecting.
"I-I'm not perfect, by the way, nobody is, and I don't expect anything from you.."
"Oh but that's where you're wrong my dearest Caroline, you are the utmost of perfection, you're heart is pure and your brain so strong and smart, you're soul is kind and patient and you're right I haven't changed, I need my superior advantage as much as I need you, but hopefully in time the need won't be as great, but you my mate, you will forever be persistent, a tattoo over my heart, no more empty promises or declarations, but as for expectations, for you, you have everything from me already, always have, always will. Call it a late one week's anniversary gift, but I will spare Tyler Lockwood the cat and dog chase, this once, and if he so pathetic to try his antics once more, well we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
With a grin, dimples included, he paused and took one of her hands in his and placed it over his heart, fingers entwined. He lowered his head again and whispered into her ear. His words, an enchanting, enticing rush of breath sending shivers through her, as her mark pulsed over her skin in anticipation.
"I will trust in you, and in return I give you my trust, my everything, but my heart you've always had, human or hybrid, whatever it is, with you it will be forever safe."
He thought back briefly to the night before, the courage she'd shown, taking him by the hand, proud and caring and loving, un-ashamed of their bond in front of the small audience they unfortunately had, yes he could do this for her, no doubt about it.
All coherent thoughts left her brain in that moment, she was pretty sure there was more arguing to be done, she felt sure of some sort of a storm out that was supposed to be performed by at least one them, doors slamming, an exchange of bitter, juicy curse words, items flying and crashing.
But all she could feel now was the steady boom boom of his heart, the blood that pumped around it flowing freely with hers under her skin. She crashed their lips together and slipped her hands around his neck, pulling him closer, she backwards stepped so she was back resting against the desk. He took the hint and carelessly swiped everything off the surface with one easy swing of his hand, he grabbed her thighs and hoisted her up, following with his body.
He gently pushed her back, so that she was lying horizontally across the old oak, he sent a silent thank you for the ancient steady state of the wood and how the legs were fairly capable of taking the weight. Vamp speed or not he most certain he had no time transporting them his bedroom. With her head resting gently in his hands upon the table top, he looked down at her with complete reverence, he stoked her cheeks with his thumbs, she wrapped her legs around her waist and he couldn't suppress a small elated moan, his grin threatening to split his face in half and fangs wanting to drop with pure excitement.
Somewhere deep within their minds and ears, underneath them they heard the tell tale sounds of chairs scraping backwards and shoes clicking hastily against the hard wood and tiled floors. Low mutters of 'oh my god' and 'I believe a little house hunting is in order dear sister' could be heard as the door of the main entrance clicked open. They just caught the 'did you record that darling little speech for future reference?' then the door slammed shut leaving the downstairs silent it their departure.
They laughed, uncaring as their hands fumbled, searching each other's bodies, reconnecting, needing and taking. His nose skimmed over her neck, teasing the skin, he pressed kisses there and down towards to the familiar black, curved scribble. It felt like home, his lips pressed to the soft flesh there, mixed with the sturdy bone of her collar just above the letters, he breathed in her scent and was transported years, decades, centuries into the future. Many a morning or night time where he would find himself in this very same position wherever they end up in the world, no matter how betrayed he had been by somebody un-important or how wronged he felt, this would always and forever bring him home, she was his safe haven.
He placed his right hand palm up over the space where his lips had just been, smoothing his fingers over the skin, quietly relishing the feel of the small shivers and quivers that the sensation of their two marks joining created. He dragged his eyes back up to find her watching his every move, with a sweet smile playing on her lips, hers eyes twinkling with wonder and hope. He lifted her left hand up to his lips, kissed her knuckles, brushed his thumb over each finger and replaced with a light brush of his lips.
He paid special attention to the second last digit and her breath caught in her throat when she realised the meaning behind it, the thousand promises that lay beyond that tiny act of affection.
Yes, he thought, there will be something very special reserved for that place in particular one day, but not now, there's time yet.
Caroline is still so young, and he wanted to cherish that time with her first, travel with her, show her the world, open her eyes, the mere thought of it excited him to no end and sent a rush of thrill through him which she no doubt picked up on and smiled even brighter, a smile just for him.
She lay beneath him, happy and helpless to do much else but stare up at him and she realised this is all she ever needed, him. Yes there would be tough times, times she probably would wish she could kill him with her own bare hands, but that was him and he was hers, hers to think like that, hers to deal with and watch unfold before her and at her own hands.
"Caroline" He whispered, his face just a breath away from hers, she closed her eyes, waiting, her body thrumming with pure bliss.
"Yes?"
"Let's start a fresh now, you and me, this now between us" he gestured with a tip of his head "this isn't Destiny, it was always you all along, I believe we should forget everything we said at the beginning and start from now, but, but please know this one thing that will stay un-changed from the very start.."
Caroline stared into his eyes, with a small smile and nodded, waiting for him to continue, she knew what was coming.
"You're mine!" Caroline couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips at his half growl/ half whisper.
She grasped his face with both hands and pulled him down for hard kiss, laughing between planting kisses on his chin, and jaw line.
"Yes I know, I know, yours, Destined or not, yours, always yours."
…..
Ahem.. just to warn you..*whispers* Next up.. The Epilogue!...*sobs*