This drabble was written as a response to a 600 word prompt from teamvampirebarbie22 on my Tumblr (klarolinesbuttons): Klaus is the one to save Caroline from Tyler in 5x12!

Part I of II

(Feel free to send me prompts on Tumblr or PM me them here.)

"I said leave!" Tyler growled, eyes glowing yellow as his fangs extended.

Caroline gasped in shock and took a step back. She knew he was angry at her, she didn't really blame him, but to threaten her with something that had almost killed her, twice; she couldn't believe he would do that to her, not after everything they had been through together. Even if there was no 'them' anymore, how could he just ignore their past, all the good times, everything they had shared, and threaten her like that? She stood rooted to the floor, afraid to move as he continued to glare at her, his yellow eyes piercing as a guttural growl rumbled from deep within him.

Tyler made to take a step forward, his posture threatening, when suddenly a dark streak flashed into him and pushed him against the wall. Caroline's mouth dropped open at the sight before her, her eyes growing impossibly wide. There was Klaus, one hand around Tyler's neck, holding him against the far wall.

The younger hybrid looked just as shocked to see him, if not also quite angry, as he struggled against the iron grip for a few moments, only ceasing his struggles when Klaus' grip tightened in response, his eyes returning to normal from the pain.

"Now, now, Tyler. That's no way to treat a lady," Klaus chided, his voice mocking, although undertones of barely concealed rage were clearly audible.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Tyler growled, eyes momentarily flashing yellow again. "You already fucked her, what more do you want?" he spat as he turned his glare on Caroline.

She averted her eyes, hunching her shoulders as if his hateful glare was a physical weight upon her. Caroline said nothing; what could she say? Nothing would placate Tyler at this point, not with Klaus here. And why was he even here, anyway?

Just because Caroline could find nothing to say did not mean the same was true of Klaus. The Original Hybrid's grip around Tyler's neck tightened even further, if that was possible, and he slammed him against the wall, causing the wood to splinter. Klaus continued to glare at the insolent pup even as his eyes rolled into the back of his head in pain. "I would watch your mouth if I were you," he ground out, voice deadly serious. "As to why I am here, that is none of your concern. Your piddling existence is no longer something I waste my time on, I believe I already informed you of that, didn't I? It is only a happy coincidence I happened to hear you making an ass of yourself, causing me to have to intervene."

Tyler snorted, clearly not believing anything Klaus said. "You have no right to be here!" he yelled, as loudly as he could with clamped vocal cords, at least. "This is between me and her and how she betrayed me."

Caroline watched their exchange, curiosity and nervousness fighting for dominance in her mind. She should be worried about Tyler, about what Klaus could do to him, but all she found herself caring about was why Klaus was back. She figured it was best not to ask in Tyler's company, though, so she stayed quiet as she looked on.

Klaus laughed darkly. "Is it though? How exactly did Caroline betray you, hmm? By running off and leaving you to go on a fool's errand for revenge? By not loving you more than she hated me? I think you have it backwards, mate. The one you're really angry at is yourself," he said, staring coldly at Tyler, making him meet his eyes. "You couldn't put her first, and when she made you choose, you chose wrong. You have no one to blame but yourself. Did you honestly think she would wait for you? She, who is so full of light and kindness and beauty; you thought she would be alone forever, waiting for you to realize what you left behind? That no one would notice the value of what you so callously threw away? Are you really that big of a fool?" Klaus asked, his voice steadily rising with every word. When Tyler could no longer look him in the eyes he continued, his voice just as cold, but at a normal volume. "Wallow in your own self-pity all you like, but if you dare take it out on her ever again, I will be unable to keep my promise to spare your life."

With one final shove, Klaus released him, turning and striding for the door. He shot an almost apologetic look at Caroline as he passed her but said nothing as he made his way out of the room.

The room was heavy with silence as Caroline finally looked back at Tyler, noticing the regret clear on his face. "Care-" he tried, holding out a pleading hand to her as he rubbed his bruised throat with the other.

Caroline looked once more to the now empty doorway. She spared Tyler one final glance and without a word turned on her heel and followed Klaus.