kc + 'my parent is running for president but the other candidates kid is really cute' au
"You realize the importance of this, don't you Caroline?" Her father meets her eyes in the mirror as she finishes curling her hair.
She suppresses the urge to roll her eyes. Her father had only been talking about this debate for the past six weeks or so. She'd witnessed him wearing a hole in the carpet as he paced up and down, muttering to himself as he deconstructed imaginary arguments and ran over his policies.
Her mother had remained blissfully removed from the whole process, choosing to take a holiday to the Bahamas to get away from it. She'd returned the previous morning, and had spent the entire time in bed. And while her mother would also be attending tonight, she'd probably find some way to kick around with a cigarette and a hip flask
It wasn't easy, being the only daughter of the Democratic candidate running for president. Her father had done his time, moving from mayor to governor to senator, and now the foremost choice for the Presidency of the United States. If he was successful, she'd be packing up and moving into the White House. If he wasn't, her life could finally go back to normal thank fucking god.
Her dad would be crushed, but he'd deal and get on with it eventually.
"Yes dad, you've only been talking about it for what, the past five years or something?" She replies playfully as her Dad smiles for a moment, acknowledging the subtle dig.
"Sorry. I'm just a little nervous. Mikael Mikaelson is an absolute shark when it comes to debates. He says exactly what people want to hear without their being any sort of substance to go along with it."
She stands, switching off her hair curler and unplugging it from the outlet.
"So you present the substance. And do it in a way that makes him look like a total idiot who has no idea what he's doing."
"Easier said than done Caroline."
She pushes against him, shoving him towards the door.
"Out. Go and make sure the car is ready or something. I'll be ready in ten minutes and then we can go okay?
She waits until her dad has left her room and closed the door behind him before she turns to the dress draped carefully across her bed, still kept pristine in the garment bag.
She unzips it with a sigh. It is a pretty dress, light blue and cap sleeved with a modest neckline and skirt. It's not something that she'd choose to wear herself, but as the daughter of a Presidential Candidate she did have appearances to keep up.
She makes sure to pin the American Flag badge to her collar.
God bless America indeed.
Despite her reservations of being here tonight, the atmostphere is positively buzzing. She'd been handed out of the car by quite a cute valet and while her dad had been subjected to a media wall, she and her mother had been ushered past and straight into the building.
There was cocktails and canapés before the debate was due to begin for the wives and family members and other members of Washington's political elite. Her mother took full advantage of the free alcohol, grabbing two off the passing tray of a waiter and seemingly vanishing into thin air.
She chooses a more subtle approach, sipping at the bright pink concoction slowly, surveying the room carefully. She can see Katerina Petrova, a friend from college, holding court in one of the corners. She makes a mental note of her friend's location and moves on.
Damon Salvatore, the youngest senator currently serving in Washington is telling a loud and obnoxious joke. Hanging off his arm is society darling Elena Gilbert, and quite possibly the most boring person she's ever had the misfortune of meeting.
And then, her eyes land on a figure dressed in a sharp suit, red tie hanging loosely from his neck. She resists the urge to march over there and dump her drink on his head.
Niklaus Mikaelson was infuriating in the worst possible way. He was doing a stint at Harvard Law, and from all reports was set to graduate later in the year at the top of his class. He was gorgeous, and funny, and a pain in her ass.
And they'd fucked that one time after a wild party at her college. He'd been there with some of his buddies from LawSchool, and she'd practically thrown herself at him and good god it had been embarrassing. And although the sex was great, possibly the best she'd ever had, she'd been determined to put it out of her mind. He'd never mentioned it in her presence again, when they'd been at various political functions, usually steadily avoiding each other.
Despite these seemingly negative qualities, Niklaus Mikaelson was actually a decent human being. He was a Republican, which was bad enough in and of itself, and possibly a deal breaker for her. But when they met he was always civil, and always polite.
Her crush on him, whatever it might be, would have to remain just that. A crush.
As if sensing her gaze on him, Klaus' eyes meet hers, and he raises his glass towards her in a mock salute before sauntering lazily through the crowd to meet her.
He's the recipient of a few interested looks. His father Mikael might be an absolute tool, but Klaus, the son was nothing like his father. Some tipped him to be the next Mikaelson after Elijah to run for a seat in the Senate, but in their short interactions Klaus had mentioned to her that he had no aspirations to move into politics.
"Caroline Forbes." Klaus drawls as she sips at her drink to mask her blush. "It's been a while." He notes, swirling his drink around in his glass as he cocks his head to the side.
"Not long enough Mikaelson." She shoots back in reply, immediately regretting it. Why did she have to morph into such a bitch around him?
Klaus takes it all in his stride, seemingly used to this sort of reception when it came to her.
"You wound me sweetheart. How's school going?" He asks civilly, glancing around the room once more. "God this is so pretentious." He murmurs, more to himself than to her, even though he does it loud enough for her to hear it.
The question surprises her.
"It's fine. It's my final year next year thank god. And you? I hear you're set to graduate top of your class?"
Klaus just shrugs, raising his glass to his lips and drinking. She tries not to stare. People are already staring at them, wondering why the two children of political rivals are holding a civil conversation for so long.
"It's not a big deal."
There's a pause between them, and she tries to think of something to say.
"I'd like to take you out to dinner." Klaus announces suddenly as her eyes flick to his in shock.
"What?"
Klaus must have finally gone insane.
"I know now isn't the best timing, but maybe when all of the craziness has died down. I'd like to take you out. On a date." He clarifies, pre empting her next question. "We've sort of done things around the wrong way don't you think?" He asks, arching one eyebrow.
It takes a few seconds for his statement to sink in before she's letting out a soft groan.
"Oh god. You remember?" She phrases it like a question, still not quite prepared when he gives a nod of confirmation.
"No need to be embarrassed sweetheart. You were delightful. Very direct. It's an attractive quality to have. And I have to say I quite enjoyed myself, even if you did seem quite regretful the next morning."
She presses a palm to her forehead, tempted to follow the behavioural patterns of her mother and double fist some cocktails and find the closest taxi rank.
"All the same, I would like to take you out. What do you think?" Klaus asks, downing the rest of his drink and setting it onto the table by his hip.
She lets out a deep breath, finally meeting his eyes. He was actually being serious, if the fond smile on his face was anything to go by.
"Okay. But don't tell my dad? I think he'd murder me and leave me to die if I brought a Republican home." She remarks teasingly as she holds out her hand for his phone.
He passes it to her with a chuckle.
"The feeling's mutual love, believe me. I plan on keeping you as far away from my family as possible. At least until I can sway you over to the dark side."
She's not sure how he's gotten hold of his phone, but he's already saved his number and handed it back to her before she can blink.
"Niklaus!" A voice calls from across the room as she turns to note the source.
Klaus smiles at her regretfully.
"I think our time is up sweetheart. I'll give you a call tomorrow." He promises before turning away from her smoothly, greeting the older Republican with a shake of the hand and a tight smile.
They move across the room away from her, and all she can do is grip her phone and stare after him.
She was going to be in so much trouble over this.