A/N I originally wrote the dialogue for this around Christmas, but life was busy. Still is, but I thought I'd sneak in one of my Klaroline Valentine's Day Bingo Prompts: "Awkward first kiss." This is set during my personal favorite TVD episode, "O Come All Ye Faithful." The title is from that song. I was in a fluffy mood… but then it got dark. Is dark fluff a thing? Please let me know what you think!

The King of Angels

Klaus Mikaelson had been seriously debating murdering Carol Lockwood in cold blood for no reason other than that he was in a mood when suddenly his night took a turn in a different direction. Seeing Caroline Forbes could brighten even the darkest night. Across the commons, she looked so alone and confused that he simply walked away from the mayor mid-sentence and made his way towards the immortal teenager. His heart fluttered in his chest when she caught sight of him. For a moment, he was convinced she'd run.

She didn't.

Caroline looked at the man who should be her enemy and felt nothing but relief that it was he who found her. It had been a hell of a night. She'd done things she never thought she'd do and be so... okay... with. If anyone could understand, it was Klaus. Unsure what to say, she tucked a stray tendril behind her ear and tried to smile as she mumbled a greeting.

The hybrid hated seeing the pain in her eyes, but who was he to comfort anyone else on the night he'd slaughtered his entire army? Maybe he was the one who needed her, not that he'd ever speak those words out loud. Instead, he went for the same teasing taunt he resevered only for her. "Judging by Tyler's absence at the cellar, I take it you informed Santa's little adulterer of your deception," he began in his smooth British accent, dreading what her reaction would be. Would she run? Scream? Slap him, possibly?

No, none of those. She didn't even blink. Despite strong evidence to the contrary, she'd never thought him someone to fear. "I informed you of his first," she replied bluntly, head held high.

Klaus tsked and shook his head in disgust. "After all he's done, you still protect him," he complained, irritated that she couldn't see what was so obvious. "You're too good for him, Caroline. You always were."

"Yeah," she scoffed, looking away, "tell that to the rotting corpse I just left in an unmarked grave."

The Original ran his fingers through his bloody curls, exasperated. "Hayley stole your boyfriend, abducted your best friend, and tried to kill you," he listed on his fingers, trying to get her to see reason while simultaneously hoping she wouldn't. If she could see the good in that... traitor... surely, she could see it in him. "Yet you still granted her the mercy of a swift death and you took the time to give her a proper burial."

"Don't make it sound like I'm a good person just because I didn't toss her in a dumpster," she shot back with vitriol, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "I killed someone today, Klaus," she pointed out, heart clenching as she remembered the sound of the werewolf's bones breaking after she'd missed Caroline's undead heart with a wooden stake.

"Yes, and?" he asked, shrugging his shoulders and holding out his hands at his side dramatically, as though he didn't understand why murder was such a problem. "I just slaughtered twelve of my hybrids."

Caroline rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Yeah, but we all know you like your inner darkness."

"There's an allure to darkness. Even the purest hearts are drawn to it," Klaus confirmed with a slow nod as he chose his next words carefully. "I, however dark, continually find myself drawn to you," he added quietly, taking a tentative step closer to her as if to demonstrate the magnetic pull the baby vampire had on him. "Your light grows brighter every day."

"Seriously?!" she snarked, throwing up her hands in annoyance. "I snapped her neck without a second thought." She paused to collect herself, swiping at a stray tear threatening to smear her perfectly applied mascara. "I don't think I'm getting any gold stars in the humanity department," she added with a sniff.

Klaus tilted his head to the side as he watched her carefully chase away a second tear. It took a thousand years of restraint to keep from pulling her to his chest and promising everything would be alright. The truth was that he wasn't sure it would be. Caroline was like him, but she was also the exact opposite. She would never be ok with cold blooded murder, and as much as he longed for her to understand him, deep down he knew he didn't want her to understand that. Finally, he stepped forward and found the courage to tuck a curl behind her ear. "Even the sun casts a shadow, sweetheart," he comforted in a voice a breath above a whisper.

"Oh wow," she replied defensively, causing him to retract his hand before she could smack it away. "What are you gonna tell me next? Even Angels have to earn their wings?" she asked sarcastically.

"Yes, well," he replied, looking down at his shoes a moment before forcing himself to meet her sapphire eyes, "perhaps humanity is an ongoing process for creatures such as ourselves."

Caroline humphed, but she didn't step away even though he was standing so close to her that she could feel his breath on her flushed cheeks. "Easy to say when you don't think vampires have to atone for all the horrible things we do."

"You're right. I don't give a damn about redemption," he replied with a casual shrug, "but you do. There's a beautiful symmetry to that; don't you think?"

The young blonde took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with air before taking a chance she never thought she would. "I think..." she began cautiously, "I'm ready for that drink... if you still want to get it for me."

A genuine smile spread across the hybrid's face as he mentally scrambled to formulate a response that didn't make him sound as neurotically insecure as he was. "As elated as I am that you're asking me out, I believe the football player locked up the bar hours ago," he deflected, seeing if she would take the bait to go somewhere more private. With him. Alone.

Caroline gulped and internally debated what in the hell she was doing. It had been a very long day and all she wanted was to get out of the clothes she'd killed in and drink herself to oblivion. She gulped and continued in a small voice that was music to his ears. "Actually, I was hoping you'd have something at your place..."

"Now that is a Christmas miracle," he commented dryly, his undead heart threatening to break free of his ribcage as it pounded furiously in his chest.

"Well I'm not exactly looking to curl up under the mistletoe," she qualified with another eye roll. "It's just that I kinda doubt Damon wants to see me right now..." she explained, voice trailing off.

"And I possess the only other vervain free shower in town," he finished for her, puzzle pieces falling into place. She wasn't interested in spending time with him. She was using him for his water filter and expensive liquor. He spoke dozens of languages, many of them fluently, yet he did not have the words to articulate how little he cared for her motivations. As he bit back a grin, he reflected that that water filter was the best purchase he'd made in a millennium. "Come on, love," he said kindly, offering her his arm. "Let's get you cleaned up."

"Thanks," she replied shyly, taking his blood-soaked elbow, her stomach turning at the smell. She knew those scents. Some of them had been her friends. Thankfully, she knew none of it was her now very ex-boyfriend's blood. As angry as she'd been when she'd found him kissing that wereslut, she still didn't want him to die. "But let's not underestimate the importance of that alcohol part," she added, slowly warming up to the idea of an evening alone with Klaus. If anyone understood pain and betrayal, it was him. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

"Or the mistletoe," he teased, flashing her his charming dimples.

"Ugh!" she groaned, refusing to laugh at such a lame joke, but also secretly pleased that he cared enough to try and cheer her up. Eventually, she knew she would have to face her friends and their anger for her last-minute decision to let Klaus in on the plan it turned out he'd known all along... but eventually didn't have to be so soon. She wasn't in the mood for fights and accusations. Her friends could have tomorrow. "Don't even with the awkward first kiss jokes right now," she replied lightly, smiling in spite of herself. All she wanted in that moment was to go get drunk with Klaus Mikaelson and let him treat her like a princess, let him make her smile. Let him make her feel special, and wanted, and perfect even after all she'd done.

"So, you're saying there's going to be a kiss, then?" he teased playfully, dropping his arm to intertwine their fingers, a shiver running down his spine when she squeezed his hand and didn't pull away.

Caroline shot him a sideways glance and couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks at his hopeful expression. Tyler had never looked at her like that. Hell, no one had... except for Klaus. She tilted her head to the side as she considered what it would feel like to have his gruff stubble scratch her skin. She returned his smile and finally replied, "Never." They both knew she was lying.

Tomorrow, they would have to deal with the repercussions of their respective murders, but not now. Now, he had the chance he'd been waiting for. The chance to make her smile. The chance to make her laugh. The chance to make her his. To convince her to let him show her all the world had to offer. Tomorrow could wait. He had tonight. They had tonight. Maybe it wasn't enough to make her forget everything he'd done, but maybe now she'd understand him just a little bit better. It was a start.

It was the beginning of another story; their story; and what a story it was...

Thanks for reading! I'm currently working on a few things, one of which is a continuing to the hooker series. Any interest?