Chapter Text
In spite of all he’s done, she finds that a fragment of her misses him.
Scratch that. She loves him.
Caroline being Caroline gives him a piece of her mind.
KC x Don’t blame me
I’ve gotten to know Taylor’s music much more now, and I’m obsessed!!!
Don’t blame me, love made me crazy
if it doesn’t you ain’t doing it right
Lord take me my drug is my baby
I’ll be using for the rest of my life.
Freshly single and alone at Whitmore, Caroline finds herself replaying the voicemail constantly in her dorm room, that specific one sent by none other than the hybrid himself that haunted her, though that was her own fault really.
She knows she should stop this newly developed habit of hers, but she somehow can’t bring herself to cease imagining the allure of New Orleans, just as Klaus had briefly depicted it. It’s unhealthy and unrealistic. Nothing will and can ever happen between us. She mentally scolded herself by repeating that phrase. At least, at the start of this weekly occurrence.
But after a while, the blonde seemed to have incorporated this habit into her daily routine, and she supposes that in some sort of way, listening to him on the phone is comforting, even if it wasn’t not a direct phone call. By listening to it, Caroline pictures another life, one where she lived in the buzzing city.
More specifically, she envisions herself walking down the street with Klaus with their hands intertwined as they embrace the Mardi Gras festivities around them. It just seems so perfect. Too good to be true.
The young vampire even smiles at times, when she allows her imagination to wonder just that bit further on rare occasions. Usually, she forces her mind to face the harsh reality; she couldn’t afford to think with her heart.
It would be far too challenging to face the blatant truth if she did, and even wondering about their life together in an alternative situation as it stood, was far too painful.A relationship could never stem between the two of them.
He had a baby, and his family, and presumably adored the mother of the child, who, unbeknownst to her, was Hayley. Besides, he bit her twice, traumatised her boyfriend and ruined his life, killed his mother, drained blood out of Elena…the endless list could go on and on and on.
Though it always seemed to be him who somehow did right by her…or mostly tried to. She truly did love her friends, but they didn’t seem to give her the time of day unless she was required to play a small part in one of their heroic schemes. Her own mother was far too busy working cases at the station, which was understandable.
He seemed to be the one who was there for her. It’s strange, she thinks, how the most evil, cunning, powerful supernatural with pressing issues to deal with still remembers her, contrary to those who are supposed to be like family to her, but just aren’t.
The sudden, overwhelming desire to go to him hits her unexpectedly. It’s an ordinary Thursday morning, and she’s just walked out of her early theatre class lecture, politely waving off and excusing herself from any potential conversation with other people in the lecture. It wasn’t as if anything specific prompted her to simply hop on a plane to New Orleans.
Caroline knows exactly why she wants to go, but she prefers to label the reason under the false pretence of missing an old “companion.”
The blonde was far from naive. She was more than aware that Klaus would more than likely ask why she came up, and he most certainly wouldn’t buy her feeble half-truth…white lie…basically anything that wasn’t the honest truth.
Klaus had once thanked her for her honesty in a letter, accompanied by one of the most exquisite diamond bracelets she’d ever seen, unsurprising considering how he acclaimed it from a Princess. So how could she lie? The hybrid would undoubtedly see right through her.
Caroline doesn’t even bother to think of the consequences of her decision, those mainly being the reactions of her group of friends in Mystic Falls. She knows they’ll distance from her, and judge her for this. That part is inevitable. But screw that, right? It’s her life, and she can do whatever the hell she wants with it. Besides, she has plenty of time to deal with all that after and when she sees him.
This unexplainable desire to see him is overwhelmingly strong, so much so that it defeats her morals and what her mind is screaming at her. It’s overwhelming. In her dorm, she finds herself pacing, back and forth and back and forth, trying to reach a decision that seems so obvious and easy to make. Except it isn’t.
The thousands of reasons why she shouldn’t go seem to outweighs the positives, but then again, a good chunk of those reasons related back to Elena, who was currently Damon’s girlfriend.
If Elena is in a relationship with her abuser, who practically got away with it without too much of a problem, why couldn’t she give it a shot with Klaus? It’s not like she’s committing to him entirely yet, because she’s not even ready for that. Caroline only wants to try.
So, approximately 4 hours later, she’s standing in the centre of the city, curiously eyeing the liveliness of the buzzing city as she feels the sunlight tickle her skin. The young vampire doesn’t want to go to Klaus immediately; she simply wants to explore New Orleans for the day, and make her way back to him.
Admittedly, she’s aware of the supernatural community here, and she assumes that the hybrid has eyes and ears in the city, so it’s safe to assume that he knows she’s here. Or maybe not. Either way, she’s determined to prove to both herself and him, that she’s not too eager to run to him.
The blonde strolls along one of the main streets, entering and leaving shops with bags that catch her interest and stopping somewhere to try a beignet which was the most delicious thing she’s ever tried. Of course, she’s not completely oblivious to some keen eyes of supernatural focused on her, their gaze lingering.
At first, she thinks it’s just creepy guys staring at her which was kind of normal. After all, she was an attractive girl. In particular, they seem to be gazing at her daylight ring with narrowed eyes, almost envious, but appear to be more curious.
Initially, she shrugs off the eerie feeling she gets from them, but after a while, just as it turns to be sunset, it makes her uncomfortable, as if she’s prey being hunted for by far too many predators who’ve suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
By this point, she kind of regrets, fully regrets (though she wouldn’t admit it being as stubborn as she is), not reaching out to Klaus. Perhaps, no, it was a given that she would have been safer there than in a bar that gave her seriously creepy vibes.
The bartender, Camille, seems to pick up on the blonde’s tense posture as she engages in conversation. Still wary, Caroline smiles back.
“Bad day, huh…” Camille trails off, prompting the blonde to speak.
”Yeah, you could say that. Any chance I could have an espresso martini?” The bartender nods, getting to work right away, though still not ready to leave the conversation be, much to Caroline’s dismay.
“So, what brings you to Rousseau’s if I can ask?”
”Just drowning my sorrows in alcohol. Getting over a painful break up. Stuff like that.” She didn’t completely lie, but it was certainly far from the truth. Thankfully, Camille is unsuspecting. Or so she thinks.
”Yeah, you’re gonna need something stronger.” Caroline chuckles before sighing, unsure what to do now. If she left, she’d be harassed for her ring, or worse. At least, if she remained here, she was sort of safe. Her gut instinct told her Camille was someone who was worthy of trust.
”You aren’t from here, are you? Just because I know my regulars, and you aren’t one of them,” Camille questions innocently, though she knows the supernaturals in the room are tuning in. Best to be careful and tread carefully, she thinks.
”Nope. I came from New York,” Caroline lies, her voice showing no sign of any faltering confidence or hesitancy.
“Ah, New York, the big city that never sleeps,” the bartender replies fondly.
”Did you used to live there?” Caroline wonders, showing some more intrigue.
”No. Hell, I’ve never even visited it. It’s one of the places I’d like to go see. How’s it like?” Caroline takes a big gulp of whatever drink Camille conjured up for her, in order to give her time to form a decent response.
”It’s hectic and as I’m sure you can imagine, very expensive too. But it’s a dreamy city.” It seems like her acting skills are still as in tact as ever considering the way that Camille seems to be drawn in by the web of lies Caroline is creating. The young vampire truly feels bad, but it’s better to keep her true identity hidden.
”Oh, I completely forgot to ask, what’s your name?” The blonde stiffens a bit at the bartender’s question before taking another sip of her drink, thousands of fake names racing through her mind.
”Cara,” she decides, though she actually says it confidently.
”Beautiful name. It suits you.”
The immortal reciprocates the compliment, and before they know it, their conversation has wandered beyond the mere realms of names and why they found themselves here. In fact, they chatted all the way through the evening, ans the bad became busier and then emptier, until her watch displayed 12am. Shit. This was bad. Not only could she not find Klaus, but judging the way some of the supernaturals gazed at her ring curiously, they would come out to play the minute she left, and the fact that it was night didn’t really help.
“Uh, Cami, it’s been really nice talking to you, but I need to leave. I actually needed to a few hours ago, but-“
”Yeah, totally. Do you want me to call a cab for you?”
”It’s like you’re a mind reader. Yes please.” Cami laughs as she walks towards the phone, before proceeding to dial a number. Turning around, she indicates to Caroline that the cab will be here in 3 minutes., according to her semi understandable hand gestures and awful miming.
As on cue, the cab arrives, and the vampire, after exchanging numbers with Camille, practically runs into it at human speed, unable to shake off the eerie feeling that’s been haunting her throughout the day. Somehow, there still seem to be a couple of lingering gazes on her even then. This city didn’t feel safe, and she probably should tell Klaus this. That is, if she can ever find him.
”Hey, there isn’t a chance you know where the Mikaelson family live, do you?”
Not longer than 10 minutes, and she finds herself standing outside a very Mikaelson style, though slightly dilapidated building, as indicated by the crest at the front. The blonde hesitates as she hovered at the entrance unsure how to announce herself. It was very late, and so, she couldn’t be sure if Klaus would even be awake. In that sense, she feels bad for waking him up now.
The hybrids standing guard at the front glance at each other with an undecipherable look in their eyes before allowing her entry after she insists, post throughout grilling, that she was no enemy to the Mikaelson family.
That’s how she finds herself standing in a quaint, silent courtyard, surrounded by balconies on the upper floors. She glances up, allowing herself to properly get a glimpse of her surroundings. How on earth would she know what room Klaus was in? By the looks of things, there were about 100, and she was most definitely not going to knock on every single one, considering that- oh. She almost forgot that his child was most likely sleeping in one of these rooms.
In all fairness to the hybrid, she really should have just texted him from the get go, and told him that she was going to meet him to at least prepare him for her unexpected arrival (for both of them). Caroline guesses that some part of her wants to surprise him, and see his reaction.
Getting her phone out, she searches for his number whilst on the first floor before leaving him a short, simple text, one that would inevitably get him here in a second.
I’m here.
Her enhanced vampire listening indicates that the buzz is coming from the room to her left, and, if she times it correctly, he should be- yeah. She heard some rustling noises before the door creaked open to reveal the hybrid in the flesh, only clad in jeans, as he wore his necklaces that she was kind of itching to fiddle with. His hair was slightly longer than she recalled from their dalliance in the woods, and was slightly dishevelled. As for his eyes, well-
“Caroline,” he says, his voice evidently affected by the sleep. She could tell he was in a state of disbelief.
”Hey.” He takes a step towards her, as he evidently tries to snap himself out of his sleep induced daze, attempting to establish whether this was real.
”I know I should have called earlier, but I’ve been here all day, exploring the city and I met a new friend, who’s actually a bartender,” she rambles apprehensively, her pulse much quicker than before. At the slight curve of his lips, Caroline relaxes.
”I must say, I wasn’t expecting you to show up at my doorstep anytime soon, let alone call after our latest encounter,” he admits honestly, with that familiar, annoying smirk now plastered on his face.
”Yeah, well neither was I, but here we are.” The smirk drops from his face, his expression now deadly serious.
“I believe it may be best for us to continue this discussion in my bedroom so we don’t disturb anyone,” he responds, offering but practically willing her to follow him into his spacious, very Klaus like, room. It was at least three times the size of her own bedroom back in Mystic Falls.
”Look, I-“
”Tell me. Why are you here, Caroline?” Not one for time wasting, Klaus dives right into it, eager to extract the truth.
”You want the truth? Fine. Ever since you left me that voice mail, I’ve been listening to it a lot, especially after my break up with Tyler. It’s literally to the point where it’s driving me crazy. That’s how much I listened to it. And then, every time I do, I think about the life I could have with you, and it’s nice to dream of it, but that was the furthest I could allow it could go. I kept thinking of all the bad things you’ve done to everyone, and I kept telling myself that we couldn’t ever be a thing. But then yesterday, I just- I just wanted to come and see you.” She briefly caught her breath as Klaus simply looked bewildered, overwhelmed by her confession in what she hoped was in a good way.
”I’m not ready for forever yet, which includes the last love thing, but I do want to give this a try because I like you. So what do you think?” She literally pours her heart out at the middle of the night, with a big risk of getting rejected, but she figured she had to, otherwise what was the point of her trip?
He seems to mull this over in a brief silence, his eyes fixated onto Caroline. She swears she can catch a glimpse of a gold speck of hybrid in his eyes, but this doesn’t appear to be threatening. It’s almost lust, but not quite. She can’t quite decipher what he’s thinking. It scares her.
Right as she braces herself to leave and not make a fool of herself any further, Klaus closes the distance between the two of them as his lips press onto hers in a deep, all consuming passionate kiss. As quick as it came, all the worry she had immediately left her body as Caroline allowed herself to relax.
When the two broke apart eventually, Klaus placed one hand on her hip, and caressed her cheek with the other, looking at her with sheer affection and joy in his eyes. He presses a kiss on her forehead before speaking, with a content grin on his face.
”Having you next to me is perfect.”
”Even if I randomly showed up in the middle of the night?” She asks, internally cringing at the lack of appropriate timing on her part. This makes him chuckle.
”I’m happy that you’re here, love, regardless of the time. But you mentioned you were here earlier, so may I ask why you-“
”Didn’t come to you then? I guess I wanted time to explore on my own, and try some beignets, but after today, I won’t be doing that again,” she admits, shrugging as she does so.
”What happened?” Klaus asks, immediately concerned as his eyes scan over her for injuries.
”Nothing in particular, but I felt a lot of vampires stare at me, or at my daylight ring. It’s just been weird, that’s all.” His stance changes to that of someone more relaxed, as he is evidently aware of these vampires.
”They’re just curious, love, they mean no harm. They just want to know how you have a daylight ring when some of their friends don’t. Those ones are nightwalkers.”
”Well, I have plenty to learn, but right now I just wanna sleep. Do you have clothes I can borrow?” Once more, his lips curve upwards as he squeezes her hand in his.
”I most definitely do.”