you're not my homeland anymore | a (very late) birthday gift to @recyclingss ❤️
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Caroline didn’t know he was going to be here.
In fact, as far as she knew, he wasn’t going to be here. Stefan had told her that Klaus would be too busy with work to fly to Mystic Falls this weekend – and guilt had eaten up at her for weeks at the thought of him missing Stefan’s wedding just because she would be attending. Klaus Mikaelson was known for being possessive and selfish and ruthless… But after the divorce, he hadn’t made their mutual best friend choose. She had gotten full custody without any battle.
Or at least that was what she had thought. Maybe this had been his plan all along – to lull her into a false sense of security and then snatch it all away. Leaving her alone. Leaving her broken.
Because he was here now. Staring at her like one would stare at a ghost. Unblinking, caught somewhere between surprise and fear. How manipulative of him, to feign shock like this. As if he hadn’t known she would be here. As if he hadn’t come exactly for this.
(the voice in the back of her mind – the one who whispered his secrets to her as easily as it detected her own – told her about the way his grip tightened around his glass, the way he seemed to be fighting his widening eyes, the way he swallowed at the sight of her. all signs she had come to look for when she used to investigate whether or not he was truly surprised. she ignored it.)
Caroline crossed her arms in front of her body as she watched him down an entire glass of bourbon. Not a good sign. Not when he was known for lecturing anyone who would hear that you ought to savor good scotch. And she immediately knew that he was bracing himself. And that she ought to brace herself, too.
She hated it. How easy it still was to read him. How she still knew all of his tells. How it still felt like she knew, even though she clearly didn’t. A year had gone by ever since the last time she had seen him, sitting at a conference room with their lawyers, signing a paper that should have erased everything they were.
Caroline took a deep breath as Klaus took his first step. There was no preparing herself for this, not really. She had imagined a thousand times what it would be like to run into him. What would be the first words to come out of his mouth. She went through all the scenarios that had chased away her sleep as she lied awake in bed trying not to think about him… But she knew Klaus would surprise her. He always had. It was one of the things that had drawn her to him once upon a time.
He sighed as he stood in front of her, tilting his head to the size as he measured her up. She huffed, waiting for his analysis to be over. Not everything needs to be a chess match, she had once told him. He had only smiled in a way that told her he disagreed.
“Stefan told me you weren’t coming to the wedding,” he said simply, the corner of his lips twitching as if he found it all so amusing. “I suspect he told you that I would not be in attendance.”
She didn’t know if she felt annoyed at the fact that these were the first words he was saying to her in a year – careful, calculated words that revealed nothing about how he felt –, or if she felt annoyed because she could tell he was telling the truth. Caroline let her eyes wander across the room. Only to find Stefan staring at them, and then averting his gaze in a not so subtle way.
“He did,” she confirmed.
Two words. That was it. He hadn’t offered her anything valid, and she would not offer him anything either. She would not- could not be the one to break. Her pride flared up inside her, refusing to give him an inch out of spite. And Klaus just looked at her, something that resembled disappointment in his eyes.
But that only lasted a second, because soon they softened. In that way that for the longest time had been reserved only for her.
He parted his lips, as if ready to say something important. Something that mattered. And she waited with baited breath. Would he say he missed her? Or would he say he was sorry about everything, but he had moved on?
But his words never came. Instead, she heard another accented voice.
“There you are, gorgeous. Here’s your drink.”
Klaus snapped his head to the side, searching for the origin of those words. Only to find them in Enzo, standing there with flutes of champagne in his hands. Guilt scratched her stomach from within with gelid claws. The memory of Klaus asking ‘Is that our thing?’ rang loud in her ears as she accepted the glass from Enzo.
She didn’t say a word. Didn’t dare to look away from Klaus’ face, waiting for the inevitable moment when he would redirect his gaze back at her.
And he did. Looking at her as if she had betrayed him and… And why did it feel like she had?
“You brought a date to Stefan’s wedding,” he deadpanned. He was always more dangerous when he went quiet.
But he just scoffed at her, and turned around on his heels without saying another word.
nemesis (n), /neməsəs/ 1. a long standing rivarlry, an arch-enemy 2. the inescapable agent of one's downfall 3. klaus freaking mikaelson
caroline forbes and klaus mikaelson are engaged in a ruthless, cutthroat and, yes, to be quite honest, immature rivalry, borne of immediate and intense hatred for one another upon first sight. working at the same publishing company, mystic falls and co, they find themselves in the running for the same promotion, and locked in a battle of wills, refusing to give in. however, their tension seems to reach a peek, and as she gets to know him, she finds he doesn't hate her so much as she thought - and maybe, just maybe, the feeling is mutual.
Summary: Harry Potter AU. Klaus and Caroline play Truth or Dare. Smut ensues.
Warnings: Explicit Rating
Status: Complete
Why you should read it: There’s something about a high stakes Truth or Dare between two people that brings out the smuttiest of atmospheres. If you like Harry Potter, then this is a great AU for you. Luiza absolutely captures the dynamic between Klaus and Caroline perfectly. Her writing is engaging and paints a very saucy picture. I couldn’t resist recommending another smut today and it’s worth it.
