I'm the volunteer cook at the firehouse and I've been crushing on your forever but oh GOD YOU ALMOST DIED WHILE SAVING A KITTEN AU + Klaroline
Thanks from the prompt, nonnie. I have to admit I did change the circumstances slightly, but I hope you still like it : ) I want to preface this by saying as far as I know (in my country anyway) firemen don't actually rescue cats, although I do love that concept. Hot firemen and cats, seriously a match made in heaven.
The Love Cats
When she decided to volunteer at the local firehouse, Caroline did it for the experience given she was training to be a chef. Her best friend Katherine had scoffed at what she called a lame excuse and labelled it as nothing more than a shameless attempt to check out hot firemen. Caroline resented that assertion, until she saw Klaus Mikaelson in the flesh.
One of the more experienced firefighters, he was not only brave but totally gorgeous in his uniform. She'd found herself speechless on more than one occasion when serving his meal. Unfortunately, the only thing she'd managed to verbalise was about food. Turns out they both liked mushrooms, if that wasn't a sign, what was?
"You talked about mushrooms?" Katherine demanded, flopping onto her couch. "Surely you could have covered something a little meatier?"
"Hey, mushrooms are meat for vegetarians, didn't you know?"
"No, but I really don't care. I mean seriously, Caroline, just ask him out already. I've had relationships that lasted longer than this crush."
"You've had relationships? That's news to me," Caroline scoffed.
"Stop changing the subject," she hissed. "You think he's cute and he likes mushrooms, what more do you need?"
"He doesn't even like me that way."
"If that's the case then I'm seriously questioning your taste in men," Katherine replied. "You're hot, you're smart and you cook a mean fillet mignon. Seriously, you're like the perfect woman."
"Well, I'm glad someone thinks so," she smiled, thinking her best friend was a pretty good cheerleader.
"You won't know if you don't ask, Care."
"I have to work there, if he rejects me then I have to live with it."
"Okay, where is the confident and brilliant Caroline Forbes I know? Since when did you become so self conscious?"
"Since Klaus Mikaelson walked into my life and flashed those bloody dimples in my direction," she groaned. "I'm a mess, aren't I? What happened to me?"
"It's okay, everyone's had a crush, generally not one at twenty-five though," she joked. "He must be some guy."
"Yes, he's gorgeous, but he's also kind, thoughtful and don't get me started on that accent."
"You know he's probably crushing on you too."
"Yeah, doubtful," Caroline snorted, joining her friend on the couch.
xxxx
"This coq au vin is to die for, Caroline," he grinned, those crimson lips curving into an adorable smile. "I haven't had this since I lived in England."
"Well, the French certainly know their cuisine," she laughed. "I'm only hoping I could do it some justice."
"I think you did pretty well, actually. I have no idea about cooking, even spaghetti on toast is a stretch."
"Okay, should i ask how you manage to stuff up something so simple?"
"Well, looks like you just did," he conceded. "Toasters don't really like me."
"So what did you do to earn the ire of your toaster?"
"I've burnt toast on multiple occasions."
"Not sure it's entirely your toaster's fault, just saying." Caroline suddenly felt her feisty personality come back with a vengeance. She didn't realise just how much her crush had stifled her personality. This was definitely a first, Caroline had a feeling it meant she really liked this guy. Unfortunately, bar her cooking skills, he didn't seem to feel the same.
"So, you're saying it's the operator's fault?"
"Well, you are a fireman, so I kind of figured you wouldn't be susceptible to burning toast, just saying."
"Yeah, I'm a failure," he admitted. "I need someone to show me the way, my smoke detectors are getting way too much action. Any chance you'd consider giving me a cooking lesson or possibly two?"
"Seriously?"
"Deathly serious. This situation has gotten out of control, you really owe it to me and all the terrible cooks out there."
"Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?"
"So, my place?"
"No, although I have my reservations about your cooking skills in general, I don't trust your toaster."
"Fine, you've got a deal," he replied and Caroline was trying everything she could do not to melt in his presence.
xxx
The kitchen was pristine and Caroline found herself pacing still trying to understand why Klaus had suggested a cooking lesson. Katherine had been the first to say he was obviously head over heels but being the overly cautious person she was, Caroline had shut that theory down. He needed some cooking lessons, surely that was evident.
She glanced at her watch, noticing in her flurry that she hadn't fed her beloved cats yet. Chico and Nelson had been her loving companions for a few years. Unlike males, cats were the one thing you could count on. She placed their food in their bowls, calling out to them but they didn't appear. She decided to give them time while she found the perfect outfit. Equal parts of casual but sexy.
Running down the stairs twenty minutes later, clothed in jeans and a fitted black top with a hint of cleavage, Caroline checked her watch. Klaus was due to arrive in five minutes, but Chico and Nelson were still nowhere to be seen. She walked through the house then outside to her front yard, scouring the garden for any sign of her pets.
"Here Kitty, Kitty," she called out.
"Is that how you greet all your guests, love?" The gorgeous fireman had arrived, his white shirt fitting snugly across his chest, so too his dark denim jeans across his toned ass.
"Good evening," she greeted him, still worried about her pets safety.
"I wasn't sure if white was the best colour for a food tutorial."
"Luckily I have an apron," Caroline reassured him, glad he'd broken the ice. "Be prepared to learn, I don't mess around."
"I'm figuring that," he agreed. "If you don't mind me saying, you seem kind of distracted?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You're busy looking around."
"My cats haven't eaten their dinner yet, which is weird given they are so greedy when it comes to food," she shared, not sure why she did with a stranger.
"When was the last time you saw them?"
"A few hours ago."
"Well, surely we can't start cooking until they're found. I might be a dog person but cats are okay."
"Wow, you're choosing right now to tell me you're a dog person?"
"Damn, are you really going to hold this against me?"
"Not personally, but my cats may feel differently."
"If we find them."
"Seriously? Way to make a girl feel better when her beloved pets are missing," she shot back. "I'm starting to reconsider these cooking lessons, mister."
"Well, we better find these cats so I can acquit myself," he promised, looking up slightly. "Any chance your cats are black?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I think we've solved the mystery," he shared, gesturing towards the large elm tree in her front yard.
"Bad kitties," she chided, waving her arms at her cats perched precariously within the branches.
"I'm getting the distinct impression that they don't care."
"Since when did you become such a cat behavioural expert?"
"Since they seem quite distressed at their current predicament and you yelling at them is the last of their problems," he offered.
"So, what are you doing just standing there?"
"Excuse me?"
"You're a fireman, this is what you do."
"What exactly do you think I do?"
"Save cats stuck in trees, so come on get to it fireman, save my babies."
"You realise firemen don't actually save cats, right? It's just a myth."
"But I saw it in that movie once..."
"Yes, because you should believe everything you see in the movies," Klaus drawled.
"So, what you're telling me is that you're not going to save my cats because of a little technicality?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it..." Klaus trailed off as Caroline folded her arms over her chest, daring him to continue his sentence. "Of course I'm going to save your cats. Do you happen to have a ladder by chance?"
"Well, not on me," she replied weakly. "Surely you can use your imagination and just find another way up there?"
"Has anyone ever told you, you're bossy?"
"On occasion," she shrugged her shoulders. "I tend to get emotional when my cats are involved."
"I've noticed, love," he grinned. "Well, here goes nothing." Caroline watched as Klaus approached the elm, obviously sizing up his options. He reached up the trunk, his hands resting on the bottom branches, causing the muscles in his arms to tense. Caroline gulped, feeling a little guilty that she was more interested in checking Klaus out rather than worrying about her felines.
Klaus swung up the tree like Tarzan effortlessly, of course. Once he was stable on the branch, Klaus edged his way towards her frightened cats. For someone who didn't save cats he seemed to have a knack, attempting to coax them forward. Chico immediately advanced, she always was a flirt. Klaus gestured to Caroline just as Chico rubbed up against his arm. Caroline needed to have a chat with her cat about being far too easy. He passed her down and Caroline hugged her thankfully. Now all they needed was Nelson to follow suit.
He wasn't quite so easy, causing Klaus to corner him and hand him down eventually once captured to Caroline. As she petted them gratefully, Caroline heard a loud crack, before she could react the branch snapped and Klaus fell to the ground with a thud. She raced over to his side, running her hands over his muscular chest without thinking. Katherine would call it shameless pawing, but she was just trying to ascertain he was okay, after all.
"Are you okay?"
"Well, I did just fall out of a tree, so I think the jury is still out," he grumbled, rubbing his head.
"Well, how about I get you up and then cook you dinner. It's the least I can do after you saved my babies," she smiled, trying to resist the urge to kiss those dimples he was flashing, even through the pain.
"Well, if it took a possible injury for you to cook me dinner then I'm okay with that."
"Yes, I know how much you like my cooking," she muttered, wishing he would look past her cooking.
"Not as much as I like you," he groaned, sitting up slowly. "I've only been wanting to ask you out for a few months now." Without thinking Caroline hit him in the chest. "Ouch, Caroline! What was that for?"
"You wanted to ask me out? Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't know if you liked me. Surely my little cooking lesson suggestion should have tipped you off?"
"No, it didn't," she growled, hitting him again against her better judgment.
"Caroline! Please, for the love of god, stop hitting me."
"Sorry I tend to get a little emotional when..."
"Your cats are involved?" He smirked, knowingly. "Now, how about you stop hitting me and invite me inside, love?"