[Edit: 3 Oct 2021]
Klaus POV
Klaus swirls his glass back and forth, his eyes focused on Damon Salvatore. What is privacy? Is there no respect for another's peace anymore? Apparently not. He could throw the vampire out, easily – Klaus has always been underestimated – but he doesn't.
Because for some ridiculous reason, God forbid, Klaus likes him.
It's tiresome and really starting to wear on his patience.
They're too alike. Beyond the ruminating (Rebekah smirks, "It's called 'brooding', brother.") and the general repletion of hell that is their lives, they seem to have come to a cynical truce based on their alcohol consumption and mutual hatred of bubble-gum pop. Not to mention that Damon has Klaus's blood in his veins, such things tend to bring people together – this despite Klaus potentially wanting to kill Elena.
Minor details.
Damon's eyes flicker under the light of strategically placed candles (Hayley's brow raises, "You know we have perfectly good electrical lighting." "Does it look like I care?"), it gives his usually leer an edge of danger that almost has Klaus amused.
"Stephan's gotten Elijah to help him,"
Klaus blinks and crosses one leg over the other. He takes a sip of his drink. "Has he now?" Damon offers him one of those fantastic eye rolls that remind Klaus of Rebekah. "And what do you hope to gain from telling me this?"
Silence falls and Klaus allows himself the luxury of detailing any possibilities of a trap. If there is one, it will not work. Klaus knew Houdini – threatened to tear his throat out, but still – and there is very little that can kill him
"I want Elena to stay a vampire." Damon says eventually, looking particularly bored. Klaus doesn't fall for it, he's been alive too long. "They're determined to find a cure. I'm sure you'd be interested to know just why Elijah is helping Stefan."
The Original looks on, "Not particularly," He sips his drink and watches Damon follow the movement – throat bobbing. The thing about alcoholics, is that they're always thirsty. "I don't particularly care whether Elena becomes human again. But you see, if she does, I'll make quick use of all that fresh blood. An army of hybrids is just what I need."
This time something flickers in Damon's eyes, his gaze gone from the glass and now attempts to stare daggers through the Original's head.
"Sensitive topic?" he almost asks, but swirls his glass around instead.
"I think you may be interested then." Damon baits, eyes narrowed, "Rumour is, they may find a cure for your hybrids too. What a pity it would be to lose your precious pet so quickly and all for what, letting Elena be human?" Klaus doesn't so much as twitch. Damon sighs and stands up, his lips curving into a self-satisfied smirk. "Look at yourself, Klaus, are you really willing to risk it? I'll let you think it over."
Klaus sits in silence as the vampire leaves, not looking at the door, but knowing Damon is gone just as well. His eyes track the slightest ripple in the amber liquid in his glass.
It's minutes later, when one candle has gutted itself and Klaus hears Hayley's stomping around upstairs, that he places the glass down. It clinks against the desk.
The next second it's smashing into the wall – a shower of glass and brandy. He pitches the bottle after it. He's never really gotten the taste for it anyway.
His eyes narrow and his fingers curl into his palm. Elijah wants to take my hybrids. Wants to take my…everything. I've created creatures like me, finally. A family, people who could care for me – if only for the power I give them.
He leans back in his seat and rubs a hand over his chest. Breathes in. Breathes out. He latches onto the closest thing – his drawing desk – and throws the thing across the room. The wood splinters and crashes against a chair, a mess of ink and paper. He lumbers to his feet and grabs one of the shattered poles and uses it to beat at the misshapen pile.
A moment after he comes across an earlier image of Caroline, crumpled and an inky mess. He plucks it from the desk's ruins and stares at the face. Slowly, his fingers curl around it, deforming it further.
Klaus keeps the paper in his hand for a moment, eyes blank.
He will keep what is his.