#for lottie

[selinagha]

𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐚 → masquerade night

[k4ndall]

@vitalphenomena

The last train for Montauk had left hours ago. Kendall sat at the bar of the St. Regis with a non-alcoholic beverage in his hand. He was looking at the bottles of liquor when he noticed a woman out of the corner of his eye. She looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place her.

“Do I, like, know you from somewhere?” he asked turning towards her.

[dolauro]

[ the role of a hero ]

die for you by valorant + grabbitz // brennan lee mulligan in the seven // the diary of anaïs nin, vol 1: 1931-1934 by anaïs nin //  my life as a dog by lasse hallström // three by sleeping at last // ugly, bitter, and true by suzanne rivecca // progressive health by carl dennis

[kingcael]

chosen ones

[slstmaraudersjple]

Collateral Damage

Via Lottie (klarolineagainnaturally):

Random thought: I would have loved an in depth talk between Klaus and Caroline in which she talked about him biting her both times and then she went into all the trauma she had suffered from all the other shit people put her through and he would be just absolutely horrified and angry that someone would do those things to her but also horrified and angry at himself. TVD really just did not give two fucks about exploring the trauma in its female characters and it shows

A/N: I know, I know. I’ve got some prompt requests I’m still working through. But Lottie (@klarolineagainnaturally) wrote the above post and it WOULD NOT leave my head until I sat down and wrote it out. So here you go, darling! I hope you enjoy this! AU canon-divergent from TVD episode 4x13 Into the Wild, after Klaus bites Caroline. I’ve adapted the dialogue because I didn’t feel like going back to re-watch the scene.

Trigger warning(s): mentions and discussions of rape and torture.

Collateral Damage

“If you don’t heal me, I’m going to die.” Her voice is oddly calm despite the panic coursing through her veins.

He looks at her, regret briefly flickering through his eyes, and then he shrugs, turning away from her as he murmurs, “Then Tyler will have learned a lesson.”

Angry tears form at the corners of her eyes, hot and wet and heavy.

“Then you’re just like the rest of them,” she says bitterly, mimicking his tone. But she’s unable to help the emotion seeping into her voice as she lashes out, “You say you’re different, but in the end you’re all the same. None of you give a damn about me as long as you get what you want. None of you give a shit about who hurts me or what happens to me as long as you have your precious Elena.”

Then, she turns away from him, curling up on the couch.

“I’m not going to beg you for anything. But you’re going to get to watch me die, and I hope you’re happy with yourself.”

XXXXX

True to her word, she stays silent, and he’s left to ponder over her words. The accusation in her voice, the hurt that she can’t quite hide, and the implications of her words.

“You’re just like the rest of them.”

He thinks over everything he knows about the baby vampire that’s caught his interest. Truth be told, he didn’t do much research on her prior to coming to Mystic Falls. All he knew was that she was a baby vampire, a friend of the doppelganger, and dating the Lockwood boy. He doesn’t know what happened to her prior to her becoming a vampire.

“None of you give a damn about me as long as you get what you want.”

He is starting to believe that this was a slight error on his part. Klaus knows that many think of him as a monster of legends, but there are lines that even he draws. The wheels start to turn in his head as he thinks about the people she associates with. The doppelganger, the Bennett witch, the Lockwood boy, and… the Salvatore brothers.

“None of you give a shit about who hurts me or what happens to me.”

He pauses on the last. She seems rather friendly with all of them… save for Damon Salvatore. Even if it’s never been said, he has noticed Caroline’s silent disdain towards the older Salvatore.

Not to mention, the falling out she’s had with Tyler.

And then there’s the relationship (or rather, lack of) with her often-absent mother.

His conclusions lead him to believe that not just one terrible thing has happened to this baby vampire, but several. And they make him furious.

And after pondering on these possibilities, each scenario he envisions worse than the next, he finally pulls himself out of his thoughts and turns his attention back to the object of his affections.

“Just what,” he finally responds after a couple hours, “did you mean by that, sweetheart?”

She’s quiet in response, unmoving.

For a moment, he thinks that she’s going to continue to give him the cold shoulder.

But finally, she says, her voice so low that only his hybrid hearing picked it up, “Why do you care?” She sounds tired and weary, and he can’t quite help the wave of guilt that crashes into him.

He’s seen his fair share of victims. Normally, he’s fine leaving them up to their fate. Survival of the fittest and all. But there’s something so utterly vulnerable about Caroline Forbes in this moment.

And then she says, “I’m so tired of it all.”

Like she’s giving up.

It’s such a stark contrast to the feisty, intelligent, clever, beautiful baby vampire he’s come to known. And that, Klaus thinks, is unacceptable.

He meant every single word he said to her – she’s beautiful, intelligent, full of light. But obviously she’s experienced something terrible if she’s not scared of him the way others normally are.

And if he’s going to get some answers, he can’t have her dying on him, now can he?

His mind made up, he strides forward, unaware of his own eyes flashing amber as he forcefully turns her over to face him. Caroline is far too pale for his liking, unresponsive to his touch. Without hesitation, he rips his fangs into his wrist, making sure his blood is running before pressing it to her lips.

He doesn’t let go until she’s drinking, and as he watches the color return to her cheeks, the thought occurs to him that she’s the only one he’s saved. And not just once, but twice.

Klaus would not consider himself a patient man, but he still gives the baby vampire a moment of grace to recollect herself before he sits back, letting the full weight of his gaze fall on her.

“Now,” he says, his voice booking no room for argument, “let’s chat, shall we?”

XXXXX

Caroline frowns. “Why do you care?”

“Humor me.” He says.

It’s the wrong response, because she shakes her head, scoffing as she turns away from him.

“I could compel you,” he says carefully, watching her face for her response.

And just as he suspects, she flinches, seeming to curl into herself as she presses against the couch. “Don’t you dare,” she snarls, not quite able to hide her growing fear.

“I won’t have to if you tell me,” he responds.

Caroline eyes him suspiciously, looking towards him but directly meeting his gaze. Clever girl, he thinks fondly.

But he braces himself, trying to keep the expression on his face calm as he prepares for he response.

The baby vampire seems to contemplate his words for a moment, deciding what to do.

She’s quiet for so long that Klaus begins to wonder if she’s going to clam up and refuse to speak to him for the next couple days.

But then she tells him.

Everything.

About Damon.

About the werewolves. Both times.

About her dad.

She refuses to look at him as she does so, instead burying her face into her knees as she wraps her arms around her legs, drawing them up. Her words are hollow, almost mechanical, as if she’s dissociating herself while she summarizes each event. And even though she leaves out some details, Klaus can very easily fill in the blanks for himself while soaking in her words.

She doesn’t see the growing horror on his face, the way his eyes widen, the way his throat turns dry.

Caroline has been tortured not once, but four times. Once while she was human. Three when she was a new vampire. And she’s only been a vampire for a couple years.

She doesn’t see the growing fury, the way his eyes flash golden, the way the veins on his face blacken.

Her so-called friends all knew about the compulsion and rape she suffered at Damon’s hands. And they didn’t care. Her so-called boyfriend knew about the torture she suffered at the hands of the werewolves, and he allowed it to happen. And being tortured by her own father for being a vampire…

She doesn’t see the tears that spring to the corners of his eyes as he watches her fall apart in front of him.

But what she does see, when she finally stops talking and dares to look up, is him. Sitting in front of her, on his knees, his hands carefully braced on either side of her, close but not touching.

He swallows and finally says, “I’m so sorry for everything you’ve suffered, sweetheart.”

The expression that crosses her face is equal parts confusion and equal parts suspicious. “But why?” Her voice is a little hoarse after talking for over an hour, her eyes red-rimmed, her face wet with tears both shed and unshed.

And in that moment, Klaus can’t help but think she’s the most beautiful being he’s ever met in his entire life. And that he’ll never meet another person like her in a million lifetimes.

“Because you didn’t deserve any of it.” His response is simple, honest, and unrestrained.

“Why?” There’s growing bewilderment in her voice now.

He pauses, thinking over his response before he decides to go with, “Is it really so hard to believe that for all my… faults, that there are some lines that even I don’t cross?”

Caroline stares at him for a long moment, and Klaus fidgets uncomfortably under the weight of her gaze. It feels like she’s looking into his soul and judging him, and he’s not quite sure how to feel about it. Finally, she says, “I think I believe you. But… why do you care? I’m nobody special or important. I’m just… a baby vampire. Shit happens.” Her words are slightly bitter, as if she’s repeating something she’s been told.

Klaus swallows, partially wanting to laugh at the absurdity of her words, of the reality of how she sees herself. He wants to shake the gods, because this baby vampire who has upturned his world cannot see herself the way he sees her.

He settles for shaking his head as he says, “You’re wrong. I once told you, you’re beautiful, strong, full of light. I fancy you. That hasn’t changed. You’re so strong after everything you’ve been through.”

Caroline looks at him, really looks at him this time. There’s an odd look on her face, and she says quietly, “I want to believe you. But I’m tired of being collateral damage, Klaus. When shit happens, I always get hurt. And no one ever cares to pick up the pieces. They expect me to just get over it and move on. And one day, things are going to get real bad, and I’ll probably die.”

An uncomfortable feeling overcomes him at her words, a strange clawing sensation in his chest, and before he can stop himself, he snarls, “I would never let that happen.”

She shakes her head, a sad smile on her lips as she says, “Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep, Klaus. You might feel it in this moment, but I’m not going to hold you to it.”

This time, Klaus shakes his head in response as he says, “I can’t go back and change the things that you’ve endured, Caroline. But I can do everything in my power to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Tyler might be your first love... but I intend to be your last.”

When Caroline opens her mouth to respond, he vows, “However long it takes.”

And he means it.

He doesn’t expect a response from her anytime soon, but by the contemplative expression that overcomes her…

He thinks that he just might have a chance.

Caroline’s quiet afterwards, eventually falling into a light slumber after the emotionally drainng ordeal she’s had, and he’s content to enjoy the silence while he plots.

The first thing he’s going to do when the Bennett witch’s spell fades is to hunt down and kill Silas.

Then, it looks like he’ll be having a chat with the rest of the Mystic Falls gang, starting with the werewolf boy and the older Salvatore.

And finally... he intends to continue the conversations started with his baby vampire. It’s clear to him that Caroline has suffered from the trauma she’s endured, and he’s going to show her that she can lean on him. She’s obviously mistrustful of him, for good reasons, but she has shown that she’s been willing to trust him on occasion.

It’s a start, and he will make the most of it.

(Starting with apologizing for the two times he’s bitten her.)

Caroline Forbes entered his life and turned it upside down, and if there’s anything Klaus is good at, it’s playing the long game.

And he plays for keeps.

XXXXX

FIN.

[bellemorte180]

Je suis désolé

for @klarolineagainnaturally​, I hope this is what you were looking for. If not, I still hope you enjoy the read! 

​Je suis désolé

The one bad thing about New York City was the rush hour traffic. Blaring car horns, curses from angry drivers and a few fist fights were not uncommon during the commute from one part of the city to another. Departing from Wall Street towards Queens was at least an hour drive and Klaus felt the pounding of his chest the entire time. He inhaled the stale smell of the stained polyester seats and smoke from the cab driver in front of him. The shining summer sun lingered over the city and Klaus had the windows rolled down due to the air conditioner in the taxi being broken.

The taxi rolled to a stop in front of a dusty red brick building that was only three stories high, an address Klaus had given the man an hour previously and tossed the driver at least a hundred dollars more than the total of the fair. Klaus climbed out of the cab and stared at the building. His eyes moved up to the window on the top left and he could see the light on, telling him that she had not left for night. Klaus was prepared to sit on those uncomfortable looking brick steps all night if he had too until she returned home if he had discovered that she had left.

A thousand thoughts rolled in his mind and not a single one of them were calm. He had no idea if the night would end the way he wanted and by the way the heat was making his white button-down shirt appear damp was inspiring little confidence. He fucked up and Klaus knew that. It was something he had come to terms with days ago and was trying to make it right. This was his last stop and possibly the most important one. He climbed the stairs, took a deep breath and pressed the intercom button.

“Hello?”

“Caroline. It’s me.” He heard the click of the button on the other end and quickly began speaking again, not wanting to lose this chance. “Please, you don’t have to let me up but just listen. Please.” He heard the buzzing, letting him know that she was still on the other end of the intercom and he pressed on. “I’m sorry. I’m really really, sorry. I’m an asshole and I should have listened to you and not my bastard of a father. You were right because you’re always right and I should have trusted you.”

“You hurt me Klaus. Like really hurt me.” Her voice was small on the other end and it severed his heart in two. In the year that he had known Caroline and eight months of their relationship, Klaus felt as though he finally had a purpose in life. Her smiles, laughter and overall sunny disposition made the world make sense for once. No longer was he defined by his father’s hatred, the family name and company he despised. For the first time, Klaus knew what it was like to really love someone and be loved in return. Then Klaus’s pride and temper got in the way along with his never-ending desire to please the man he wished for a long time was his father.

“I know and I’m sorry. Can I please just…. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

“You get ten minutes.” He heard the door to the building unlock and Klaus all but burst through the door. He took the old stairway two at a time, passing an older woman who always gave Klaus the stink eye whenever he came to be with Caroline as he ran up to the third floor. When he reached the landing of Caroline floor, he did not even have to count the doorways until he reached hers; because the door was already open.

Caroline was leaning against archway into her apartment in black slacks, a button-down white shirt and her blonde hair was in a messy bun. Her make-up was minimal and her feet bare. Her arms were crossed over her chest and Klaus could see that she was tense; on guard and preparing for a fight. The sight made him hate himself all the more. The worried and almost anxious look on her face was not one he liked to see on her, especially since he was the one who caused it.

“You’re getting ready for work.” Klaus had seen that outfit a thousand times, both having taken her out of it and watched her put it on while he lounged from one of their beds. He mentally wondered how long he would have before Caroline had to rush out that door. He knew there was a chance she had to work due to her schedule being dependent on events and clients.

“Just got back actually.” Caroline pushed off the doorframe and stepped inside, letting Klaus into her apartment. Klaus looked around and saw that it was spotless, telling him that she had spent their week apart cleaning it from top to bottom; something she did when she was nervous or upset. Guilt settled in him again. “It was a late lunch meeting on Wall Street. Not far from your office. For the Salvatore Brother’s actually. You know Stefan, right? The man I wasn’t having an affair with.”

“I know! I know. God I’m so sorry. I cannot tell you enough how sorry I am.” Klaus looked at her helplessly and saw the pool of tears in her eyes. He wanted to step forward and take her into his arms, but he wondered if she would let him. “I am an asshole in the first degree. I do not deserve to be back in your good graces, but I can only hope that one day you will forgive me. Even if I have to beg every day for it.”

“Why? Why would you accuse me of such a thing? Why would you not talk to me if you were concerned that I was spending too much time with Stefan, who is my friend and completely in love with Elena by the way.”

“Mikael.”

“What?”

“Mikael told me he saw the two of you together. He said he didn’t want to see me in another relationship like I had been with Tatia and actually appeared to be acting like a father for once. He prayed on every insecurity I had and made me believe that you were using me and that you were sleeping with Stefan behind my back.” Caroline’s eyes were wide, and her jaw slacked, surprise written on her face. “But I can’t lay all the blame at Mikael’s feet. I knew he hated me, and I shouldn’t have believed anything he told me. All I can do right now is say I’m sorry. That I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t understand. Why would he do such a thing?” Caroline took a small step towards him and Klaus took that as a positive sign but did not want to push the boundaries that he would let her set. “We were together for eight months. Why now? Why would he lie to you about me now?”

“Because Elijah told him, not out of malice, but he told Mikael that I was going to propose.” Klaus told her in a hopeless tone, his arms hanging by his side in an almost limp manner. He took a step towards her and took one of her hands, waiting for Caroline to snatch it back. Perhaps it was out of shock, but she let him hold it, tracing his thumb over her knuckles. “I had the ring ready and, on the day that I was going to ask you, he came into my office and told me that he saw you and Stefan having sex in a boardroom during the fundraiser two months ago. Apparently, the truth was that he didn’t want his bastard son marrying someone who wasn’t from the Upper East Side.”

“What!? Stefan and I never, ever been together that way. Ever.” Tears were flowing down her face, a look of complete betrayal on her face. “I’m good enough to cater Mikael’s events and parties but not good enough to marry his son.” Klaus could not help it but reach out to her and pulled her to his chest. She went willingly and pressed her face into the button-down shirt; not caring if her tears stained his shirt. “What a fucking asshole!”

“I know. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have listened to him.” Klaus whispered and held her close. “The passion you have for cooking and baking is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you.” Klaus kissed the top of her head, waiting for her to pull back from him. She didn’t. “I remember the night we met. You served me champagne when one of your waiters didn’t show up and you stepped up to cover him. I remember thinking you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and spent months trying to get you to have dinner with me.”

“You were surrounding by woman in fancy dresses that night. I was in black slacks and a white shirt. I thought you were crazy to pick me over anyone of them.” Caroline’s muffled voice came from his chest. She nuzzled him slightly before pulling back and looking up at him. “Regardless of what Mikael did, you hurt me Klaus. Like really hurt me and I want to forgive you because I know that after Tatia, trust issues run deep with you, but you should know that I’m not her. I would never do that to you.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” He kissed the top of her head again, trying to show how much he wanted to amend his mistakes and just be who they were before Mikael metaled in their relationship. “If you give me a second chance, I will always come and talk to you first. I will not jump to conclusions and I will try and keep my temper in check.”

“Klaus, you jumping to conclusions and your temper are kind of a package deal when it comes to you.” Caroline muttered, knowing the worst parts of him and yet still fell in love with him anyway. “I love you. I really loved you and before we can decide if we want to have this again, you will never accuse me of that again. Ever. You will come and talk to me first before yelling and screaming and throwing wild accusations back in my face. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Completely. I will come and talk with you first, in everything. I promise.”

“Okay.” Caroline brought his hands up to her lips and kissed his knuckles. “There is one other thing. After that night, I was offered a job as a pastry chef at Dupain in Paris. I signed the portion of my catering company over to Elena and next week I was planning on flying out to look for an apartment.” Caroline gripped his hand, not knowing what Klaus was going to say. “I thought that we were done and the idea of being in New York, eventually running into you and the idea of seeing you with someone else…”

Klaus leaned down and kissed her lips, Caroline feeling the smile on them. He placed his hands on her face and looked into her eyes whenever he pulled away from her lips. The smile on his lips was wide and happy, as though he had just received the best news he had ever heard. He reached down and picked Caroline up, spinning her around; her laughter echoing through the room.

“I am so proud of you.” Klaus told her as Caroline wrapped her arms around his shoulders, not telling go even after he set her back down on the ground. “This is everything you’ve been working for since before I met you. Culinary school, the catering company, your never-ending baking and cake decorating all comes down to this moment. Paris! Caroline. You’re moving to Paris and I’ve never been prouder of you.”

“Really?!”

“Really.” Klaus touched her face again, tracing her cheek bones and just held her close. Caroline buried her face into his neck while Klaus rocked them, bursting with happy excitement at the prospect of her success. “Congratulations Caroline. This is amazing. You’ll love Paris.”

“But what about you? And us?” Caroline whispered into his neck. “I took the job because I thought you were disgusted with me and I was so angry at you for not trusting me. I thought we were done but if we give this a shot, how can I go to Paris? Your entire life is here in New York! Your family’s company. Your friends. Everything.”

“No. No. No. No. You’re not doing that. You are not giving up this opportunity for me. Absolutely not.” Klaus pulled her out of his arms and looked at her deeply. “I love you and I know how much this means to you. Do you remember that night after I finally convinced you to have dinner with me?” Caroline nodded. “We shared a bottle of champagne on the rooftop of my apartment and looked at the city below. You told me that your dream was to one day be a pastry chef in Paris and maybe one day own your own bakery. I’m not letting you throw that away for me. No.”

“But-“

“So, I’ll just have to move to Paris with you.”

“What! Klaus. That’s insane.”

“I want to marry you. That has not changed and no, this is not a proposal before you ask.” Klaus smirked at her when Caroline opened her mouth. Klaus placed his finger on her lips and Caroline couldn’t help but give it a light peck causing the smile on Klaus’s lips to grow wider. “When I confronted Mikael today about the lies he told me, I also told him I was no longer going to work for him. I quiet, signed all my clients over to Elijah and walked out after tossing my company car keys in Mikael’s face.”

“Oh my god. Seriously?!” Caroline gave a slight hysterical laugh. She reached for Klaus’s hand again and just held it, unable to let go of him just yet. Her blue eyes were wide, and a small smile played on her lips. “Good for you. Like, really. Good for you and about time! You hated that place. What was your plan after that?”

“I haven’t really thought much else through to be honest, I just needed to get here as quickly as a I could. Or at least as quickly as a taxi from Wall Street to Queens could get here.” Caroline laughed at the truth of New York traffic and shook her head. “But I have my trust fund that will last a long while and maybe I will give painting an honest go. Paris feels like the ideal place for that.”

“Yeah, I guess it really does.” A happy and an overjoyed laugh echoed through the small apartment and Caroline all but bounced on her feet. The mood in the air had shifted from one of pain and despair to bubbling excitement. There were many things that they needed to discuss and sort through but they both knew that this was a fresh start for them, and one away from his family that never really seemed to approve of their relationship. “We’re moving to Paris!”

“We’re moving to Paris!”

[artificialqueens]

A Fresh New Start is super cute and just the kind of Trixya multi-chaptered fic I need 💋