As always guys thanks for the support on this. It's truly appreciated. Looks like my compulsion worked wonders. ;}
Terrible Love
Chapter 3: Complications and Old Memories
Kol lazily walked about the crowded mall, hands lazily in his pocket, lazy expression plastered on his face. In front of him Aurora was walking around with shades and a cap attempting to hide a presence that everyone could care less about.
"Yes, yes I know it's Aurora. Don't worry I'll get to everyone."
Kol rolled his eyes. "Talking to the ghosts now are we love?"
"I'm not really fond of crowded places." Aurora replied, ignoring his comment entirely. "As you can see people are always staring."
He paused to eye the people all minding their business and being absolutely oblivious to a certain 'model' wandering around the mall. "Tragic."
"Oh it has it's perks though," She replied taking his dry tone for one of actual empathy. "I love the attention on some occasions. Like now where Niklaus insisted I get back in touch with the fans."
"Aah, yes. Leave it to my oh so wonderful brother to think of this ingenious master plan."
Aurora pulled something out of her bag and flashed it at Kol with a speed that caused him to jump. "Bang!"
"What the bloody hell is your problem?" Kol retorted having recovered from his mini heart attack. He eyed the object in her hand. "What is that?"
"It's a taser gun. My brother said to carry it with me for protection." She answered.
"Does your brother also indulge in your fairytale?"
Once more she ignored him and dumped the weapon onto his hand. "I'll be surrounded by fans though so my hands will be tied. That's why I'm counting on you to protect this beautiful little angel."
Kol grinned having tuned her out for something a lot more interesting once he'd gotten the taser gun. Finn will definitely be in for a treat later. "Sweet!"
"So I can count on you?"
"Yeah whatever sure." He answered dismissively, eyes still glues to the object in his hand.
"It's nice to see you so devoted to me. Now protect your darling sister in law with your life. You're a good fanboy Kol. I'd expect nothing less."
This bit didn't escape him. "Beg your pardon?"
"Darling sister in law? I'd imagine that was what you were referring to even though it wasn't specifically what I said last."
"Yes that!" He grumbled in exasperation.
"Me and Niklaus are fated to be together. It's only natural we'd get married at some point. And since we're so in love already we may as well get used to being called family."
His mind drifted to Klaus being with Camille. "Erm, good luck with that darling." Klaus was right in saying she can be delusional. He was getting seriously creeped out by this woman. Clenching the taser gun closer to him he began thinking it's he who would need the protection.
"So, shall we begin Kol?"
Klaus pulled over to her house and like the gentleman he is he opened her door.
"Thanks." Camille said as she stepped out of the car.
The two walked over to her porch and stopped right by the door.
"It was really great seeing you again Klaus. I've missed my friend."
His hands clenched slightly by his side. That was when he leant downwards to kiss her, because friends don't kiss. She had not read his signal at all. Instead she'd moved her head to the side and was aiming for a hug. This led to him colliding a bit with her side of the head and her with one of her hands around his back while the other tangled with his arm. How painfully humiliating.
Even she was embarrassed. "Um, bye!"
He could not have left there faster if he wanted to.
He ended up where Lucien worked at as a dentist. The man with the best teeth encouraging others to have great teeth. It was fitting. Much to his relief Lucien had just finished with a patient and was on his lunch break.
"Niklaus! Wonderful to see you. How was the date lover boy?"
"I went in to kiss her but she wants a bloody hug!" He ranted, throwing his arms in the air and starting to pace in the room. "Which leads to some abnormal hug-hold limbo."
"So... you hug-held her?"
He slammed a hand against the wall. "I should have kissed her!"
Lucien took a sip of his water bottle, an amused smirk plastered on his face. "You've outdone yourself Niklaus. Seems you and Camille are friends again."
"I didn't come here to hear your rubbish Lucien." He warned.
Lucien held his hands up in defense. "Easy mate, don't take it too roughly. She still has your number doesn't she? And you aren't leaving anytime soon. There will be plenty of time for you to leave your mark."
Klaus phone rang interrupting any potential response. It was Kol. He excused himself before answering. "Is this important Kol?"
"Small problem. I need you to come home."
"Where's Aurora, Kol?"
"That's what we need to discuss. Get home."
"I'll be there soon," Klaus finished the call and hung up. He noted how Kol sounded a bit nervous.
That brain dead brother of his had no doubt bottled this simple task. He was going home anyway so whatever. Upon reaching his family home he saw Elijah helping Freya drag in the groceries.
"You know Niklaus, I expected you to have the grace in telling me before you borrowed my car which is a rental, therefore making it a borrowed car as well." Elijah stated humorously as he took the heavier bag from Freya. "Thankfully Finn caught you 'borrowing' it therefore sparing me the trouble of having to call the authorities. Do be courteous to ask next time."
"I was in a bit of a rush Elijah. Worry not for I have not damaged it." Klaus said and grabbed some of the bags from Freya's trunk. "By chance but do you know if something is wrong with Kol?"
"Kol was here when we arrived. He's been in his room since then. He did say if we saw you to tell you to go to his room immediately." Freya replied. "Leave it to our lazy brother to not bother with helping."
Klaus nodded and took his bags to the kitchen before heading upstairs. Right as he was about to knock Kol swung the door open and pulled him inside the room, locking it behind him.
"Firstly, brother, I love you. Always and forever. You remember that? That's our families' pact. One we'd never break." Kol rambled. "One no one would come in between. Family is first and foremost. That's a magnificent shirt by the way. Now back to the family bit, I think—"
Klaus raised a hand upwards to silence him. "Where is Aurora?"
Kol unlocked the door and led him to his room all the while ranting about family love. "Here we are."
Just when he thought this day couldn't get any worse. There, lying pretty motionless, on his bed was Aurora.
"What have you done!?" Klaus snapped.
"Lower your voice!" Kol yelled with a panicked tone before shutting the door and locking it. "Do you have any idea what would happen if people found out she's here like this?"
He shot him the most infuriated look and slammed him against the wall. "I asked you to detain her not to commit bloody murder! What are you going to do now you idiot?"
"About thirty to life!" He whimpered as beads of sweat began seeping out.
A low groan caused the two to halt in their position. Slowly they turned their head to where Aurora had shifted slightly. They both exhaled in relief having forgotten how to breathe.
Aurora shifted once more and began awakening. Her eyes fell on the siblings (with Kol still being pinned to the wall by Klaus) and raised a brow. "Um, what...?" She gave herself a quick glance and sighed with relief at the sight of clothes. She may be wild but one thing she never shared was herself. She belonged to Niklaus and Niklaus only. Her gaze returned to the still shocked brothers. "Did you drug me? Why can't I remember anything?"
Klaus finally regained his bearings and shoved away from Kol. "That's precisely what my brother was about to answer. Go on then Kol."
"Funny story that," He began with a nervous laugh. "I was taking you out to meet fans, remember?"
"Yes. The rest is a blur though." Sage said and rubbed her forehead which was sporting a bruise. "And for some reason my head is killing me. Ow!"
"I was protecting you from the rabid fans!" Kol quickly explained. In reality he was simply tossing the taser gun in boredom and accidentally shot Aurora, thus causing her to spasm and hit her head on a water fountain and get knocked out.
She nodded. "I see. Well then, Niklaus was right to leave me in your care."
Klaus eyed Kol suspiciously before turning to Aurora, noticing the bit of blood staining down her shirt. No doubt from the bump on the head. Quickly he moved to his bureau and tossed her one of his shirts. "Here."
"Thanks love." She winked before pulling her shirt off right there.
Klaus cuffed Kol upside the head when he noticed he was staring.
Aurora smirked. "No need to be chivalrous Niklaus. You don't have to face away. I do find it adorable though."
He gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Come, I'll drive you home."
She pouted. "You're no fun." She got up and stretched her muscles.
As soon as Klaus opened his door he came face to face with Elijah who seemed ready to knock as his hand was frozen in the air. His eyes shifted from Klaus, to Kol, to Aurora wearing his shirt, then back to Niklaus.
Silence followed.
A very awkward silence.
It lasted four seconds before Aurora -who didn't look fazed by how Elijah was interpreting the scenario- broke the silence. "Elijah!" She pulled him into a hug and only Klaus and Kol were able to see how uncomfortable he was. "It is lovely to see you again."
"Erm, yes, likewise Aurora." Elijah politely said before fixing the three with a hard gaze. "I'd like to remind you that this is the family home and there is a child living under this roof as well as others. Please respect that. Also, Rebekah baked cookies."
Oh how he wished he could somehow be able to erase Elijah's memory before he left.
Klaus was sure he had hit a new type of low. Here he was in his room with a plate of Rebekah's homemade cookies reminiscing on the old days. This was pathetic. All this coming after dropping off Aurora. Thankfully Elijah would spare him from any further humiliation by not telling anyone what he'd seen. Bless his soul.
Sitting on his lap was a box of old pictures he'd taken with Camille during his freshman year. Roughly 90% of them were mostly of her sneaking up on him and shoving a camera in front of them while the remaining 10% was him willingly accepting. Her smile hadn't changed at all. It was still as radiant and mesmerizing now as it was back then.
He placed the cookies on his nightstand before rummaging through the closet. He pulled the familiar box he'd stashed there before graduation. Inside was a painting he'd meant to present to Camille but never did so.
It was a portrait of her. The colors he'd used brought the picture to life. It really captured her unique beauty so precisely. There was no need to have her standing in front of him for him to be able to make it. Her face was engraved into him.
He had full intention of handing this to her and confessing his feelings to her too, but...
A fully graduated Klaus was eagerly heading back to the little sending off party his school was holding for the seniors. He was a bit nervous. He'd never disobeyed his father but he reasoned that he wasn't truly going against him. He was still fully committed in living up to his father's expections. It was all he ever wanted and what he'd been striving for.
It was simply impossible to continue overlooking his feelings. He'd refused himself this opportunity for far too long now. He held the wrapped portrait a bit closer as he entered the gymnasium where the party was being held. His blue eyes searched and searched but he couldn't see her anywhere.
With a sigh he went to his friend who was currently attempting to spike the punch bowl. "Marcel, have you seen Camille?"
"Huh? Oh!" He recovered from his initial shock of having thought it was a teacher. "Yeah, Cami? She went out back to the football field a few minutes ago."
The football field was actually convenient. It was secluded and away from the bustle of the crowd. A perfect scenario for what he'd be telling her. After all he'd hate for someone to intrude. He passed through the double doors leading outside only to stop dead in his tracks.
His blood ran cold and he could swear his heart flew right out his chest. She wasn't alone. He was too late. All those times of ignoring his feelings had come to take its vengeance. The image plagued and plagued him as he drove away.
A man that wasn't him was holding her.
A man that wasn't him was kissing her.
He left. He left the gymnasium. He left his home. He left Mystic Falls. He left Virginia. He left her.
His hands gripped the portrait roughly as he recalled the bitter memory. Without another thought he shoved the portrait back in the box and tossed it into the closet, along with any lingering feelings.
He wasn't that person anymore. No longer was he that pathetic kid following a woman around like some puppy begging for affection. He was Niklaus Mikaelson. A man that took whatever it was he desired.
And right now he desired her.
Author's Notes
And so we see just exactly what was it that led to Klaus breaking all contact with Camille. Despite how much he hides it he's a pretty emotional guy.