Notes: Every time I look at my outline and think, "Oh, I can totally get that done in one chapter!" it turns out that no, I cannot. I wrote a ton this weekend and I'm posting this part so I stop tweaking it. This chapter puts this fic at almost 30k words, which is funny when you consider this was meant to be a drabble. Thanks so much to all who've reviewed/followed/favourited! The alerts always make me so happy.
Growing Up Beside You
Part Seven: Caroline: Age 21, Klaus: Age 28 (February)
Klaus showers quickly, water cold, forcing his mind down unsexy avenues every time it wanders. His brain is uncooperative. It flits to Caroline and the tiny, sparkly shorts she'd been wearing. It wanders to the things they'd done together last night, then to the things he'd planned to do to her in this shower, before Kol had arrived.
He shaves, knowing Rebekah will harp on him, claiming he resembles a beggar, if he does not. Klaus brushes his teeth, grabs the various products he'll need to make himself presentable. Kol will take ages in the bathroom, had done so since his early teens. Klaus had always been glad that Henrik was the one stuck sharing a bathroom with Kol growing up. Both because of Kol's tendency to hog the room (not to mention the cupboard space) and his terrible shower singing.
Sure enough, Kol's sitting on the end of his Klaus' bed, looking impatient, when Klaus walks into his bedroom, "Finally! I was about to send a search party."
"It was barely twenty minutes, Kol. And it's my bathroom!" Klaus reminds, exasperated.
Kol continues as if Klaus had not spoken, "And by search party I meant Caroline but then I realized that would make you take even longer, your morning desire for shower sex having gone unfulfilled."
"I do hope you're getting these cracks out of your system. Although it might be worth dealing with Bekah's dramatics to see Caroline murder you with her bare hands."
"Et tu, Nik? I'm your brother."
"You're also a nuisance, so I'd be happy to help her hide the body."
Kol stood with an offended air about him, "Well, I can see where I'm not wanted…"
"Can you? Can you really?"
"…so I'll go shower. Oh, and I took the liberty of changing up the cars you ordered, when they called to confirm, to something with a little more… panache."
"You didn't," Klaus groaned. Rebekah had been very particular in her directions ('keep it classy, Nik. My birthday is not a sleazy music video!') He'd gone with two luxury SUVs, rather than a limo, but he could only imagine what monstrosity of bad taste Kol had selected.
"It's yellow," Kol confided, filled with glee. "One of those gaudy stretch Hummers."
Klaus was torn between amusement and dread, fighting not to let the amusement show, "Just go shower, Kol. And I am giving you all the credit when Rebekah's out for blood."
"Eh. She won't actually kill me." Kol shrugs, unconcerned, "it's not like she could explain that one away to Mum." With that sound bit of logic, Kol went to do as ordered, closing the door to the bathroom behind him.
Kol began singing enthusiastically as Klaus went into his closet to try to decide what to wear. He pulled a shirt Rebekah had bought him for Christmas two years ago (that he'd only worn once, since he thought it was a smidge more purple than navy – though Rebekah disagreed and insisted it made his eyes look pretty), a grey pinstriped vest, a leather belt and a pair of newish black jeans to wear.
He then almost dropped the pile on the floor in his shock at seeing a blonde sitting on his bed when he walked out of the closet, though it was not the blonde he'd have expected. Or even the one he would have wanted.
"You're an idiot, just so you know."
Klaus reached down to check that the towel knotted around his waist was secure, "Excuse me?" he asked.
"You. Are. An idiot," Lexi enunciated clearly. "And stop fidgeting. You're hot and all but you don't really do it for me. I'm not here to maul your awesome bod."
Klaus wasn't sure how he should feel about that. Complimented? Insulted? Mostly he was just confused, and left wanting an explanation for her invasion of his bedroom, "So you're here because…"
"Because you're an idiot. Didn't I already say that?"
"Yes, if you could just specify what, exactly, I am an idiot about, we could then move this conversation along."
"Caroline. Duh. How old are you again? Because seriously, you seem to have the emotional depth of a teaspoon, from what I'm hearing."
"First of all, I resent that. Second of all, I really don't feel like I know you well enough for this to be any of your business."
"Too bad," Lexi told him.
'Third of all," Klaus continued, "what do you know?"
"Oh. I see how it is," Lexi leaned back and crossed her legs, eyeing him defiantly. "Now you want to pump me for information?"
"I'm a bit of an opportunist, love. You seem to have insider knowledge, how you've come across it, I'm not quite sure. But I want it."
"Right place, right time. The how, I mean. I was sort of a convenient sounding board. It's not like Caroline can confide in Rebekah about how she wants to bone her fave brother. It started when she was freaking out in the bathroom about molesting you under the mistletoe last year."
"She did not molest me," Klaus protests.
"That's what I told her! You'd been throwing her the sex eyes all damn night."
"I had not," Klaus denies, though it's weak.
"Please. I know sex eyes when I see them. Anyway, I was also there when she met up with Stefan in the middle of a panic the morning after. You know, when she fled the city?"
"I remember."
"And I met her at her hotel this morning when she got back from your place. Basically, I'm somehow always around to listen to her ramble about you and how you're messing with her head. I like Caroline, and I'm nosey as hell, so I kind of enjoy it. Not the angst, obviously. But the gossip's good."
Lexi shoots a pointed look at the bruise Caroline's teeth had made on his hip. Klaus can't believe he's having this conversation in a towel. He clears his throat and fights not to seem uncomfortable, "Glad my personal life is such a source of entertainment for you." Klaus threw his clothes on the bed next to her, deciding that if she wasn't going to leave, until she'd made whatever point she believed she had, he might as well continue getting ready.
"You, however. Well, you I'm not sure if I like," Lexi tells him. Klaus thinks she's testing him, trying to see if she can push his buttons.
He meets her eyes steadily in the mirror over his dresser, "I've never been overly concerned about the opinions of others, to be honest."
Lexi leans forward, expression shrewd, "What about Caroline's opinion? Because she kind of thinks you're just screwing around with her for funsies."
Klaus drops the pomade in his hand, not caring that in rolls away. He turns to face Lexi, "How could she possibly think that?"
"I don't know, dude. Maybe because she's had a crush on you since she was a kid? And you randomly started flirting with her once she was legal but backed off whenever anyone else was around, like you felt ashamed of it. Not really the behaviour of a man who claims not to care what other people think."
Klaus grimaces. It hadn't been shame, not really. He liked his privacy, something one was allowed precious little of, in his family. He'd spent years deflecting questions about his romantic interests. And those were girls that no one in his family knew or cared about. Caroline was different, important. He opens his mouth to argue the point, but Lexi plows ahead, "Then she kisses you and you kiss her back, rev her up, but stop abruptly. Dick move."
Klaus glares, "I didn't mean…"
"You tell her that you can't because she's friends with Rebekah and too drunk to make good choices. Sweet in theory, but it read as kind of douchey and paternalistic, I think."
"Is the commentary necessary?"
"Then at Christmas," Lexi continues, still unwilling to hear a rebuttal, "y'all agree to let it go but don't actually talk about it. Then you jump right back into flirting with her again and she doesn't know if you mean it, or if it's just a habit, so she's confused. Last night you run into each other, for once not surrounded by your whole crazy family, hook up. Have a fantastic time, if the details I got, and the marks on you, are anything to go by. But it's weird in the morning because of your annoying brother who tells Caroline all about what a tramp you are, and treats her like she's twelve. FYI offering juice and having your doorman bully her into taking a cab really didn't help you, you know."
Ah so she'd been aware of that, had she? He'd hoped for more subtlety. And he knew the juice comment was going to come back to haunt him. Damn Kol and his need to make, 'black like my soul' jokes!
"Then tonight you're right back into giving her the sex eyes! Real talk: Caroline's a little neurotic but you're all over the place, man. Are you in, or are you out? Make the call. Do you want my advice?"
"Have I a choice in the matter?" Klaus asks. It's sarcasm but he finds that he welcomes what she might say. She'd proven surprisingly helpful already, giving him a window into what had been going through Caroline's mind.
"Nope!" Lexi states cheerfully, "I like that girl, and I'll gouge out your spleen with a rusty spoon if you fuck with her."
Klaus processes the gruesome threat before speaking, "Noted."
"Good. It's so simple, even you can't screw it up. Just be direct. Push her to be direct right back."
"I told her that I liked her. How much more direct should I be?"
"Were you naked?"
"Yes," Klaus answers.
"Was she? And was this before or after Kol informed her that you're super fond of casual sex?"
"Maybe," Klaus answers resentfully, "and before."
"So you can see why she doubts it, now. Thinking that it could've maybe been just a line, something you tell all the girls that roll in and out of your bed?"
"She should know me better than that," Klaus points out.
Lexi rolls her eyes, "You guys are from an itty bitty town. She grew up with that dick that cheated on her when she went away to college, and a couple of the other guys who hurt her. Don't you think she thought she knew them better than that? Why should she trust that you're different?"
Mentally, Klaus can concede that Lexi might have a point there. Kol's warbling in the bathroom fades away, and the shower cuts off. Lexi takes this as her cue to leave. She gives him one last hard, assessing stare, before opening the door a crack to peek out into the hallway. Klaus finds he appreciates her discretion.
"Remember: spleen. Rusty spoon," she warns him, before slipping out of the room.
Klaus turns back to the mirror with a small grunt of dissatisfaction. 'Be direct' was all well and good in theory. Hard in practice considering they were headed to a nightclub with such a big group. Klaus bent to retrieve the pomade from where it had rolled when a thought struck him
They were going to Marcel's club. Marcel's club that Klaus had invested a substantial sum of money in, maybe earning him a favor or two. Surely his dear friend wouldn't mind lending his office for a private conversation? Rebekah wouldn't notice, she'd be distracted, he was sure, with the dancing and the drinking and what not.
It was good to have a plan.
"What," Rebekah asks, tone low and dangerous, "is that?" She's gazing at the gigantic yellow vehicle in front of them, a horrified expression on her face.
The poor driver had already been waiting for fifteen minutes, the process of leaving the apartment having been a bit drawn out. Rebekah had shrieked "Elena Gilbert, don't tell me you're wearing flats?!" which had let to a small quarrel when Elena insisted that yes, she was wearing flats, and no, she did not want to borrow a pair of heels, even though Rebekah had at least an extra half dozen pairs.
Another bump had come from Bonnie rebuffing Kol's attempts at gentlemanly conduct, "No, Kol," she had insisted, looking like she wished she could fry Kol's brain, "I do not need your help with my coat. I'm not five. Quit breathing down my neck."
Finally, they'd made it outside, only to be greeted by Kol's definition of panache.
Kol had cackled delightedly, seeing what was parked at the curb, crowing, "It's even better than the pictures!" before climbing in. With the door open they could all see that the upholstery was also yellow, and leather, and Rebekah had seemed like she might be capable of breathing fire, for a moment. Kol turned the music on and a dance track could be heard thumping from many, many speakers. Lexi had followed him in with a shrug, dragging a sour faced Stefan with her. Bonnie and Elena had followed, quietly giggling, with wary looks back at a fuming Rebekah.
Klaus was left with his sister, and Caroline, on the side walk, "That's our transportation, Bekah. How about we get in? Before you freeze," he said, with a glance at Caroline's bare legs. He forced his eyes away before his glance could turn into an ogle with some difficulty. The purple heels she'd slipped on make her a bit taller than him and also made her legs even more tempting, particularly now that he was intimately acquainted with the feel of them.
"It's like something out of Jersey Shore!" Rebekah whined, "What part of classy was incomprehensible to you?"
"It's not that bad, Bex. It's roomy, at least?" Caroline tried to find a silver lining for Rebekah, "Also, you look fantastic. It's going to be a great night, so don't let it start on a bad note, okay? It's just a car."
"For the record," Klaus interjected, "this is not what I'd ordered. But the rental company called this afternoon while you were out and I was at work."
"Kol!" Rebekah growled, comprehension dawning, and flung open the door.
"Easy, Rebekah. It's still on my credit card so let's not cause any damages I'll have to pay for."
"No promises, Nik. I'm going to kill you, Kol Mikaelson!"
Rebekah dived into the limo, climbing over anyone and anything in her way. Spats between the two siblings had been common in the years they'd overlapped at high school. The only occupant of the limo who seemed concerned with Rebekah trying to maim Kol was Lexi, and Stefan told her not to worry about it.
Klaus shut the door, "We'll just give them a moment to work it out."
They could still hear the music from inside the vehicle but nothing of any of the conversations, or even Rebekah berating Kol. Klaus hoped that they couldn't hear what was going on outside either.
Caroline turned towards him, raising an eyebrow, "Weren't you just concerned about the cold?"
"You're the one who chose that miniscule scrap of fabric masquerading as shorts, love."
She surveyed her outfit, worry crossing her face, "Are they bad? I know this place is fancy."
Klaus looked at her incredulously, "You've got to be kidding me love. Bad? Only for my self-control."
"Oh really?" she faces him then, leaning against the side of the limo.
"You're stunning, Caroline. You remember earlier? When I wanted to speak with you alone?"
"I do."
"I wanted to lay you out on my bed, spread your legs and check to see if I'd left any marks last night. And if I hadn't I wanted to make some so that when other men can't keep their eyes off of you tonight they at least know they can't touch you."
Her eyes widen and her next breath in is shaky, "That's... interesting," she finally says, "also, kind of Neanderthalesque."
Klaus hums an agreement, not bothering to apologize for his less evolved thoughts, "Speaking of, I had an interesting conversation with Lexi, while I was getting ready. She thinks I'm an idiot."
Caroline averts her gaze, and Klaus can just make out a faint blush on her cheeks, before she speaks, "I didn't ask her to do that. I mean, this isn't the fifth grade."
"I didn't think you did, Caroline. You seem to prefer leaving me in the dark about what's actually on your mind."
She bites her lip, "That's not fair."
"Maybe it's not. But then neither is running away nor doubting me whenever something bothers you."
Caroline doesn't answer him, she ducks her head and allows her hair to hide her expression.
"I just want you to be honest with me. And I'll be honest with you. I wanted you last night. I still want you. I meant it when I said I liked you. You are not a game, Caroline. Not to me."
Caroline brings her eyes back up, studies him, seems to weigh his words than takes a deep breath. But whatever she's about to say is cut off as Kol pops out of the roof of the limo, "Oi! What is the hold up? We're dying in here."
The glare Klaus shoots his brother is positively lethal, "That's funny. I rather hoped you, in particular, were dying in there. Or at least your terrible sense of timing had finally been done in."
"Bekah tried to kill me. I prevailed. The timing's just talent, I suppose."
"That's unfortunate," Klaus snaps.
"We're coming, Kol," Caroline says, before Kol can reply with something crass, that he considered clever. Kol disappears, fortunately, and Caroline goes for the door handle.
Klaus is faster, though, and reaches around her before she can grasp it, "This isn't over, sweetheart," he murmurs in her ear, pressed against her back, crowding her against the door momentarily.
There are clothes and coats between them, but a small shiver wracks her frame that Klaus refuses to believe comes from the cold. He opens the door for her, and places a hand on her back to help her in. A perfectly reasonable and polite action, given the height of the vehicle and the shoes she's wearing, not something that would stick out as questionable to anyone observing them.
Trailing his hand up the leg that remains outside when she climbs in, toying with the edge of her shorts along her inner thigh for a moment, when no one can see? Absolutely questionable. And worth the dirty look Caroline gives him when he'd climbs in after her.
Caroline had retreated to sit with Rebekah and the rest of her friends on the way to Marcel's club. Klaus was a little disappointed that she was keeping her distance once again, but he could acknowledge that it might be for the best in a confined space in the company they were keeping. Caroline had set to coaxing Bekah out of her mood. She'd produced a birthday tiara and plopped it on Rebekah's head. Rebekah had rolled her eyes, but Klaus knew she was secretly pleased. Soon enough the ladies were laughing and dancing and singing along to the music.
The driver dropped them off a half of a block from the club, the line to get in already stretching beyond that.
Klaus took the lead, heading for the velvet ropes at the front door. Rebekah and Kol, kept pace with him, relishing walking past the line of people waiting, many of whom turned to stare angrily. He checked to see that the others were keeping up. Caroline was with Lexi, just behind, both amused at the strutting of his siblings, though Bonnie, Elena and Stefan, bringing up the rear, all looked embarrassed at the attention.
Lexi seemed excited, and said, "You know, I've never been a big fan of rich people but I could get used to this."
Klaus chuckled, "It's not exactly my scene, but then it's not my birthday."
"So not my scene either! But hey, any place that charges a $25 cover's got to be something to see, right?"
They reached the entrance guarded by a stern man in a hat and woman with a clipboard. She smiled when she recognized Klaus, "I've been expecting you."
"Gia," he nodded. "This is my sister, Rebekah," he introduced, "and my brother, Kol."
"Pleasure," Rebekah greeted.
"Happy birthday," Gia replied. "Marcel's set aside one of the VIP areas for your party, if you'll just follow me in." She handed the clipboard off to Diego, who Klaus shook hands with as he passed. Diego had been with Marcel for years now. Gia was a new arrival but Marcel was very impressed with her, so Klaus expected she'd stick around.
The crowd complained mutinously behind them as they sailed through the door, "God, I love that part," Kol commented.
Gia laughed, "They're probably wondering if you star in some reality show or something."
"Please, darling. I'm far too handsome for the small screen."
"And I've been warned about you," Gia shot back, "so don't bother trying to be charming."
They all laughed and Kol clutched his heart in mock offence.
"Careful. He rather likes it when women shoot him down," Klaus said, with a meaningful look at Bonnie Bennett, who was luckily too busy gaping at their surroundings to catch it. Marcel's club was impressive, a mix of white seating, gleaming black surfaces, silver and crystal accents, and blue-purple lighting. It was busy now, the crowd beautiful and lively, and would be packed by midnight. Kol did catch Klaus' not so subtle dig, and the glower he shot Klaus held a warning.
"That's a very specific fetish," Gia quipped, oblivious to the tension passing between the brothers, "and here we are. This is Joe," she said, indicating the very tall man at the foot of a staircase. "He'll take your coats." The club had several VIP areas, for which people spent exorbitant sums to reserve. Four were located on the second story, overlooking the dancefloor, and it was to one of them that they had been led. "Please let either Joe or your server know if you need anything, "Gia continued, "Marcel should stop by to see you soon enough."
"Thank you, Gia," Klaus said, as Joe stood aside to let them mount the steps.
"Have a great night!" she called as she melted back into the crowd.
"Is Marcel sleeping with that one?" Kol inquired, as they made it to the VIP area. The music wasn't quite so pounding on the upper level, allowing conversations to take place without shouting. Klaus did not miss the quick swivel of Rebekah's head to catch the answer to Kol's question.
Caroline and Rebekah were leaning over the railing surveying the club, while Lexi, Bonnie and Elena had settled into the banquets.
Caroline turned to poke Kol in the ribs, "That's rude and gross."
"I'm sorry, have you met him?" Klaus asked her as Kol focused on swatting her hands away, "And not that I'm aware of, Kol."
"Bet that won't last," Kol remarked.
Klaus agreed, but chose not to voice that.
Caroline whirled away from them in irritation, "I need a drink."
"Hear, hear!" Kol cried. "Where's our serving wench?"
Bonnie and the other women shot offended glances at him so Kol backtracked, "I mean, where's the fine young lady whose occupation it is to serve beverages?"
"Nice save," Stefan mocked.
"Shut it, Salvatore."
As if on cue, Marcel and a pretty brunette came up the stairs, laden with glasses and a silver bucket, "I thought we'd start the evening off right," Marcel declared. "Champagne, in honor of the birthday girl."
Rebekah smiled coyly, "Thank you, Marcel. That's sweet of you."
"You're welcome. It's good to see you again, Rebekah. You look beautiful."
"Um, hello, there are other people here," Kol butted in, "and they might be thirsty too."
"Oh my god, can you not, Kol?" Caroline chided, "Way to be a moment ruiner."
Kol tapped his chin and looked at Caroline suggestively, "Funny, I can't think of any moment's I've ruined recently, could you remind me of one, Caroline?"
She glared daggers at Kol, "I've known you for a long time Kol, I couldn't possibly list them all, though I'd be happy to try."
Marcel interrupted and plastered what Klaus liked to think of as his 'customer service smile' on his face, "That's quite all right, Caroline."
Rebekah's eyes narrowed calculatingly at Marcel's easy familiarity, "How do you two know each other?"
Caroline froze for a second and her eyes met Klaus' in a brief moment of panic, and perhaps he should have thought of this eventuality. But Caroline recovers easily enough, "I told you I went to that bar last night, remember? The one Klaus took us to at Christmas. Marcel was there and we chatted a bit."
"Yes," Marcel took over the tale flawlessly, "she mentioned she was in town waiting for her friend Rebekah to visit Rebekah's brother, Klaus. I just could not believe what a small world we live in."
Klaus shot Marcel a grateful smile for the fabrication, delivered with a charming smile that Rebekah bought easily,
"Oh, that is a coincidence. Let me introduce you to our other friends," Rebekah took Marcel's arm and led him over to the rest of the group.
Kol shook his head in admiration, "That guy is suave, I will give him that."
Caroline took the opportunity to jab her elbow into Kol's ribs and hiss, "And you are not. Remember our deal, Kol, and keep your little comments to yourself."
"Ouch, Caroline. Do you sharpen those things?"
"Ugh!" she groaned in annoyance, throwing up her hands and stomping towards the rest of the group.
Kol rubbed his ribs, "Seriously, Nik. Make a note of those. I wouldn't want you to lose an eye to a pointy elbow in a sexual position gone awry."
"You're skirting a very fine line, Kol. Don't ruin Rebekah's birthday, and don't upset Caroline."
Kol's expression turned offended, "I'm merely joking, brother! Why's everyone so grumpy?"
"Perhaps because your jokes aren't amusing?"
"Excuse you, I'm hilarious," Kol exclaims, indignation skyrocketing.
More Notes: So a few people have requested a bridge between this section and the next, and I'm open to that. Hit me up if there's anything you want to see! My askbox on tumblr is open (I'm lalainajanes) and I'm very susceptible to nudges. I'm thinking I'll end up with six short scenes grouped together in one chapter. Thanks for reading! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts .