"You're my neighbor and I figured out you're a superhero so I leave food on your doorstep because I figure you don't have time to get food for yourself."

Superfoods

3:45am - Friday

Caroline had never been a good sleeper and would find herself wide awake in the middle of the night. One thing she found to relax her in the early hours of an insomnia-fuelled haze was cooking. She was no Jamie Oliver or Heston Blumenthal but Caroline liked to think her creations were as just as much delicious as they were inventive.

Tonight she was making a simple blueberry, chocolate and brie toasted sandwich. She liked to mix together sweet and savoury ingredients, Caroline figured it was her unique cooking signature. Her best friends Bonnie and Katherine were yet to embrace her recipes but she figured they just needed some time to get used to the combination of flavours.

Before she could bite into her creation, Caroline heard him climbing the stairs, panting as he did it. She consulted the clock which read 3:45am, he was later than usual this morning.

There were rumours swirling around the building that he had a different woman each night. Caroline had seen Klaus Mikaelson around the halls and given his extremely good looks she wasn't really surprised.

With her curiosity well and truly piqued, she crept towards her door and opened it an inch. He was making his way down the hall with a slight limp, Caroline couldn't miss his muscular physique fitted snugly into what looked like black leather. Obviously someone liked his sex life a little kinky. Given he looked that delicious, Caroline figured tonight's date would have been left extremely satisfied.

She watched as he fumbled with his keys outside the door, wincing in what seemed like pain. From this vantage point Caroline couldn't miss the beginnings of a bruise on his left cheek, a cut above his right eye and stray, red smears of blood on his neck and arms. Kinky was one thing in the bedroom but violence? Something didn't add up here.

Caroline was so caught up in her thoughts about his whereabouts that she didn't notice his gaze fixed on her peeking through the door. She yelped in surprise and shut the door, her heart pounding in her chest from getting caught. Some covert spy she was.

If sleep was difficult before it was even harder after that. Caroline paced the living room, the possibilities becoming wilder with every minute. He was in one of those underground fight clubs she saw a documentary about last week or maybe he was in a gang. Either option seemed cruel to someone with such a pretty face.

Her eyes landed on the untouched sandwich and Caroline decided to give it to her neighbour. Whatever he was involved in, legal or not, the guy deserved a good feed after his night.

She crept across the hall, trying not to rouse any of her neighbours given she was only clothed in tiny shorts and a fitted singlet. She placed it on his mat carefully, tapping quietly on his door and rushing back to the security of her apartment. This time she took no chances, looking through the peep hole.

4:05am - Friday

Klaus had finally peeled off his sweaty clothes and was just about to sink into a much needed warm bath when he heard a light tapping on his door. This crime fighting gig was tough. He'd lost count on just how many cuts, bruises and broken limbs he'd sustained the past five years.

He wrapped a towel around his waist and hobbled towards his door, wondering who would be knocking this time of the morning. The first thing Klaus saw was what looked like a toasted sandwich on a white plate on his doorstep. He looked around the hall, swearing he could see a flash of movement through her peep hole.

Caroline Forbes had been his neighbour for about a year now and Klaus found himself immediately attracted to the beautiful blonde. If Klaus was a normal guy he might have pursued her but he would never wish himself and his crazy life on anyone.

Klaus smiled to himself and picked up the plate, thinking he could do with a snack right now. After shutting the door, he took a generous bite. What filled his mouth was something equal parts weird and disgusting. He limped to the kitchen and put the rest of the contents into the trashcan. Was she trying to poison him?

Whatever was happening, Klaus was entirely too exhausted to work out her intentions. After waking the next morning, Klaus carefully washed her plate deciding her intentions had been good even if her cooking wasn't. He placed it on her mat quietly and left for his day job.

1:55am - Tuesday

Caroline never expected that they would fall into such an easy ritual. When he'd returned her plate on Friday, Caroline was slightly embarrassed he knew it was from her but given her poor spying skills it was hardly surprising.

This morning she'd created a mushroom, apple and leek tart. The fact he finished every meal she provided had given Caroline the extra confidence to become more adventurous with her meals.

It didn't hurt that she usually got a nice view of his chiselled abs when he opened the door either. Some would call it stalking but Caroline considered it her reward for cooking. She still wasn't quite sure what he did at night and why he seemed to be beaten up in some way but she was too afraid to ask given they'd never spoken before.

Unlike other nights where she waited for him to arrive home, Caroline was too excited so left it there for him to find on his return. She held her breath excited about seeing her neighbour again but he didn't arrive. Hours passed but still nothing. Caroline went to bed disappointed, even more so when she found her offering untouched the next morning.

Was it the mushrooms? She knew they were an acquired taste for some people. Caroline collected the plate, not wanting to attract any mice and threw it in the bin dejectedly before making her way to the laundry room. At least she could try and be productive in her disappointment.

The room was basically empty at this time during the week. Caroline unloaded her clothes into the washer and switched it on. Her finger hadn't left the button long when she spied him in the darkened corner. Her neighbour.

She'd seen him beaten up before but never this badly. Caroline was on autopilot, moving across the room and placing a hand on his bloodied cheek.

"What are you doing down here? What happened?" Klaus didn't respond immediately, it seemed like his pain was too intense to even contemplate replying. His blue eyes bored into hers, silently communicating with her. Whatever happened was bad.

"Come on," she urged, holding onto his arm watching him wince. "We need to get you to the hospital."

"I'm not going to the hospital, I can't,' he managed to bite out slowly. Caroline was beginning to think her gang theory was on point. "Please?"

"Fine," she said, against her better judgement. "Let's try and get you patched up."

Caroline found the first aid kit and gently tended to his bloodied cuts. It was obvious each touch she administered was causing him extreme pain but he sat there dutifully, allowing Caroline to fix him.

She'd finally managed to get him upstairs, which wasn't an easy feat given his weight. Laying him on the bed, Caroline gave him a few aspirin and pulled up the blankets.

"You should get some sleep," she murmured, attempting to leave.

"Please, don't go," he uttered, his eyes barely open.

"I suppose I could stay a little longer," she agreed. His eyes closed completely, his breathing becoming slower and heavier.

"You really have to stop hurting yourself like this," she pleaded, speaking to herself more than the stubborn, sleeping beauty. "Why do you do this?" It was the big question she figured would never get answered.

"I missed your food," he mumbled, scaring her slightly given she assumed he was fast asleep. Even after everything, Caroline had to smile that through his pain her cooking was still on his mind.

2:35am - Saturday

For a weekend it was pretty quiet. Klaus had been patrolling the streets as usual and had only come across two lowlives which was probably a good thing given he was still trying to heal.

Monday had been one of his tougher nights and Klaus had found himself barely able to get home, let alone upstairs. Hence why he was hiding out in the laundry room. What Klaus hadn't expected was to run into Caroline.

Klaus was finding it extremely difficult not to tell her the truth, especially as she attentively tended to his injuries. He'd never had anyone in his life who cared for him in that moment like she did and Klaus would be lying if he said the beautiful stranger hadn't been on his mind all week long.

"No!" He heard a loud cry pierce the night air. Klaus was immediately rushing towards the screams. "You can't have it. That's my favourite Gucci purse."

What Klaus wasn't expecting as he approached the scene was for the victim to be hanging on so determinedly to the purse her thief was attempting to steal. Another thing he wasn't expecting was to see none other than his beautifully attired neighbour kicking her would be attacker.

"I'm getting the impression the lady wants to keep her purse," he interrupted faking an American accent and scaring the mugger mid attack.

"Stay out of this, Zorro," he growled, pulling harder on the purse. With his obligatory black mask, Klaus had been called many names over the years. This was one of the better ones.

"I don't think I can do that," Klaus threatened, his fist making contact with his exposed jaw. Obviously unprepared for the hit, the attacker fell to the ground, knocked out cold.

"One punch? Impressive," she murmured, taking in the passed out thief. "Although I was holding my own, I was just about to go for the crown jewels."

"Impressive," he repeated, a knowing smirk plastered on his face.

"I've taken some self defence classes."

"I'm starting to think you could put me out of a job," he joked. "Well, as long as you're okay." He began to move away, worried about her recognising him.

"Well, you might as well walk me home then. You know seeing as we're going to the same place." Klaus was silent for a moment working out how to respond. "At least I know why you come home beaten up most nights, although looks like your luck is changing. I've never seen that face so normal."

"How?"

"Oh come on," she drawled. "If you want to keep your identity secret you might want to invest in some accent lessons and a full length mask. Those crimson lips and dimples are a dead giveaway."

"I didn't realise that you'd committed my features to memory, sweetheart."

"Well, when you have to mend a beaten up face it tends to come with the territory."

"Thank you for that, Caroline," he smiled, placing his hands lightly on her hips. "And for the snacks."

"Well, every superhero needs their sustenance. Speaking of which, how about we go back to my place and I'll cook."

"Sounds great, love," he grinned, placing his arm around her shoulders as they walked toward their building. "Although, now we're being honest, there's something I really need to tell you about your food."