“Okay, can it wait an hour or two? I’ve been waiting half a century for a modern shower. Do you have a toothbrush?”
He looked torn for a moment before he shook his head. “Best to tell you now. To get it out of the way.”
That did not sound promising.
“Perhaps I’ll be more receptive if I’m clean and comfortable,” she said delicately, and he pressed another soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Fair enough.”
“All right. Is it the same bedroom?”
He nodded, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs to the same room they’d shared in the 1800s. “I’ve remodeled the house,” he said as he opened the door for her.
“I can see that,” she said, taking in marble counters and the large tub that was built into the floor, a floor-to-ceiling glass divider separating it from the large shower.
She peeled off her chemise and turned on all three of the showerheads, the water heating quickly, and stepped under the spray. Klaus gave a hum of appreciation, and she turned to face him, reaching up to massage the water into her hair as she fought down a smile. “Stop looking at me like that. I’m covered in dirt and grease and it’s not attractive. I probably smell terrible, too.”
“You know very well that I don’t care about that, Caroline. Would you like some help washing?”
Guess a word and if it’s in one of my WIPs I’ll post a snippet containing it (and if it’s not I’ll try to find somewhere to write it in)
suchaglamorouslie replied to your post: I hope you had a wonderful day <3<3<3
(Apparently I have been too busy lounging at the pool when I am not driving myself insane at work. Because… I did not know this is a bad Klaroline week? Then again I have avoided the tags ever since… some point last week when someone was going around sending spoilers to people. cause I don’t wanna know. I have already bought booze for tomorrow. Thank goodness I have thursday off.)
All I know is the fandom is raging but as someone that is firmly settled into the rogue one fandom I can tell everyone right now that it’s going to be okay.
I’m just living thruogh the gifsets and honestly they rode off into the sunset years ago so idk what’s going on and i don’t care lol.
Thanks! I got a 167, which is fine, but I need a few more points to feel good about it. It’s still a decent jump from 162, which was my starting score. Hopefully with some more practice I’ll get better. :)
Thank you @suchaglamorouslie for your donation to Klaroline Gives Back. You've given me an opportunity to write an alternative meeting fic between our favourite supernatural couple, so thank you! I hope this fits within some of your criteria, including some shameless fluff. This takes place just after Caroline has turned into a vampire but Katherine wasn't responsible.
You're My First, My Last, My Everything
New Orleans, Louisiana
12 January 2022
"My first, my last, my everything
And the answer to all my dreams
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are."
"He's forgotten our anniversary," Caroline said, glaring at her husband across the compound as he chatted easily with his brothers. "He may be the most powerful creature in the world but his memory leaves a lot to be desired."
"That really doesn't sound like Klaus, Care," Bonnie offered. "Kol maybe, but definitely not Klaus. Anyway the day's not over; it's still technically your anniversary."
"Only for another six hours and fourteen minutes," she said, consulting her watch.
"Not that anyone's counting," Katherine joked. "Klaus knows, more than anyone else, how anal you are about anniversaries."
"Gee, thanks, Pierce," she groaned. "I'm not that bad."
"Well, you certainly have a flair for the dramatic," Rebekah interrupted, seating herself at the table next to Bonnie. She was late as usual, not that any of them were surprised.
"Like you can talk," Katherine shot back. Even though they were related and had been for some time they couldn't help but trade barbs still to this day.
"It's easy for you Katherine, I mean you have Elijah," Caroline murmured, looking at her brother in law earnestly. "He's like husband of the year, every year."
"He has his moments trust me," she promised.
"No one has more moments than Kol," Bonnie drawled, knowingly.
"Except maybe Enzo," Rebekah chimed in and Caroline couldn't help but agree. Maybe she was overreacting; it was just unusual that he hadn't mentioned it yet. Usually there'd be spectacular wake-up sex followed by breakfast in bed and a day full of activities, but so far nothing. Is that what she got for ten years of being his loving companion? Well, most of the time anyway.
xxxx
"Why does Caroline keep glaring at you, Niklaus," Elijah hissed, obviously trying to keep their conversation private. "What have you done now?"
"I haven't done anything," he scoffed.
"Well if looks could kill a white oak stake would be headed your way," Kol joked. "She doesn't have one of them, right?"
"Don't be stupid, Kol. Do you think I'd be crazy enough to let my wife have one of those in her possession?"
"Yeah given how often you seem to piss her off, it's probably safer that way," Enzo chuckled.
"Like you and Rebekah can talk," Klaus grumbled, wondering just how he put up with his demanding sister 24/7. "Anyway her apparent anger towards me is unfounded. It's not my fault she's impatient."
"So, why provoke the beast?" Elijah asked.
"Because it's fun," he grinned, thinking about all of their fiery arguments over the years and the ensuing make-up session that always followed. It all began ten years ago when they first met and hadn't really changed since. Not that he'd have it any other way of course.
Ten Years Earlier
Klaus would never forget the first time he laid eyes on the beautiful blonde. His sources in town had alerted him to her presence during the day and his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
Apparently she'd been openly feeding and Klaus knew their witch enemies wouldn't take too kindly to such blatantly obvious behavior. He figured she was either a newly turned Vampire that couldn't contain her urges, she'd flipped her humanity switch or she was just stupid because New Orleans was his town and no one upset that balance.
He sought her out at Rousseau's Bar, on the premise of sending her on her way. If she made any trouble he'd just kill her, which was his usual MO. What Klaus wasn't expecting was the gorgeous creature dancing on top of the bar, a half empty bottle of whiskey in her hand. Her skimpy, blue singlet rose up slightly, revealing her creamy skin and he could make out a few stray beads of sweat running southwards. Klaus licked his lips thinking maybe he could have some fun before killing her.
"What do you think you're doing?" He roared, making the room descend into a terrified silence.
"It's called dancing," she shot back, rolling her eyes for extra effect. "You should try it some time, it really loosens you up."
"Hilarious," he drawled. "I'd like you to get off my bar."
"Well, I don't really care what you'd like." That flippant response was enough to tell him she hadn't been a vampire very long.
"Are you testing my authority, baby vampire?"
"Well, by authority I assume you mean head of the fun police?" She chuckled. How dare she speak to him like this in front of his people?
"Oh, I'll show you just how fun I can be," he seethed, vamping towards the bar and pulling her off so she fell to the floor in a heap, her black mini skirt riding up dangerously high. He stood over her body in an effort to intimidate her but he couldn't stop thinking just how he'd love to have her long, milky legs wrapped around his waist right now. Knowing what was about to happen next the other patrons scurried away. Nobody messed with Klaus Mikaelson and lived.
"Ouch," she murmured standing up slowly, pushing past him and rubbing her head. "Well, it's nice to see chivalry is well and truly dead."
"I know a lot about chivalry, love," he said. "You're just not worthy of it. I am the King of this town and don't appreciate you trying to make me look a fool in front of my people."
"Well, I have no idea who you are and, quite frankly, I don't care to know."
"You don't know who I am?"
"I know this is crushing to that overinflated ego of yours, but yes, I have no idea who you are."
"I'm Klaus Mikaelson."
"Oh, the Original Hybrid," she said, seating herself at the bar and snaffling another bottle of whiskey to replace the one he'd broken in his rage.
"Just help yourself to my alcohol then," he muttered.
"Well it's the least you could do after that crash tackle, Mikaelson."
"So, you've heard of me then?" He asked curiously, helping himself to a drink, his desire to kill her on hold for the moment.
"Only what I've been told from the people around here. Now I understand the anger issues. Have you ever thought about therapy for that?" Despite her obvious insult, Klaus let out a laugh, surprising her in the process.
"Oh, so you can smile," she replied. "Between you and me it's a much better look on you."
"Well, I don't really care what you think."
"Touche," she conceded referring to her earlier insult and clinking her bottle with his glass.
"So, what exactly are you doing here then, Miss…"
"If that's your pathetic way of trying to get my name then you need to work on your pick up skills."
"On the contrary love, I'm not trying to pick you up. I have much more sinister plans for you."
"How predictable," she growled. "What are you going to do, kill me?"
"Pretty much, I mean you have violated all of my rules like openly feeding, dancing on top of my bar and draining my whiskey stash. Not to mention your mouthy outburst, just before."
"What can I say, when someone challenges me I react," she replied, swirling the liquid around in the bottle. "According to my mother I have authority issues."
"You don't say, love."
"Don't call me love."
"Well, when you won't tell me your name, it's a little difficult."
"It's Caroline, Caroline Forbes."
"Caroline," he repeated, loving the way her name sounded rolling off his tongue. "I'm assuming Neil Diamond didn't write the song Sweet Caroline after you?"
"Well, that would be impossible given I wasn't even born then, you know we aren't all a bajillion years-old like some."
"It's a thousand, you're starting to give me a complex," he teased. "I'm assuming you're new to this whole being a vampire thing."
"What makes you say that?" She asked, raising her left eyebrow at him.
"You know the blood binging, the heightened senses, general moodiness..."
"I am not moody," she argued. "And I was really hungry. You know, this really wasn't how I imagined it would be."
"I'll admit it takes a while to get used to life as a Vampire, but once you do it's more than worth it, Caroline."
"How do you figure that? I feel like a freak."
"You're not a freak, you're stronger than you think, you're ageless and in time you will be fearless, I promise. Unfortunately though I can't let you stay in town and explore your vampirism, love."
"Why not? Are you still upset about that little incident earlier?"
"You're too much of a risk."
"So that's it, you're just going to run me out of town? And to think I was starting to like this place."
"I'm sure you have a home to go back to and friends and family who are worried about you right now."
"I'm sick of people's pity and don't even get me started on how betrayed my parents feel by my newfound status. I can't stand being around them, that's why I left town. I needed some time and space to deal with all of this."
"Yes, because you seem to be handling it so well," he smirked. "Maybe it's better you transition somewhere familiar, it's a foreign enough concept as it without adding that to the mix."
"That's exactly what I don't want," she murmured. "You're not going to let me stay though, are you?"
"I can't," he admitted, wondering why he felt so sad all of a sudden. He'd just met this girl, after all. "It's for your safety more than anything, Caroline."
"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled, standing up slowly and making her way to the door. Klaus watched her go in the reflection of the mirror, her shoulders hunched over as she walked. Klaus wasn't an empathetic person, his past certainly proved that but he couldn't ignore the overwhelming feeling of dread at her departure. What if something happened to her? He could never forgive himself. Although at the same time he did have an evil and villainous reputation to protect and people would consider him showing her mercy as weak. He was conflicted to say the least but knew if he didn't say something he'd always wonder.
Before she could leave, Klaus vamped towards the exit, placing himself snugly between her and the door. She was so close, her kissable pink lips within inches of his. He gazed into her blue eyes trying to remember what he wanted to say.
"Forget something?" She asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
"I may have acted a little hastily."
"Klaus Mikaelson is admitting he was wrong?"
"I never said that," he growled, relishing in the way her skin felt against his own, desperate to pull her closer and run his hands through her golden waves. "I thought I should let you stay a little while longer, you know show you the ropes. It's the least I could do."
"Well, if you insist," she agreed. "As long as it doesn't involve you telling me what to do, I really hate it when you do that."
"I'm beginning to notice that," he drawled. "I'll see what I can do, but I'm not promising anything."
"Well that makes two of us," she replied. "So, what's first?"
Klaus knew what he wanted to do of course, but wasn't quite sure it was really appropriate if he was going to be assisting her transition. Before he could answer, those lips he'd been craving found their way to his mouth. It was probably the sweetest thing he'd ever felt.
Klaus relaxed into the kiss pulling her flush against his body, his tongue delving into her hot mouth which tasted like a delicious mixture of whiskey and lime. She moaned against his lips only spurring him on further. Klaus really had no idea who Caroline Forbes was but he certainly enjoyed kissing her.
They eventually broke apart, albeit reluctantly, Klaus studying her face carefully. He certainly hadn't imagined his night turning out like this, not that he was upset. "How about a tour of my town? But only if you refrain from dancing on any more bars."
"You're no fun," she pouted. "But I think I can manage that, for tonight anyway."
One night turned into multiple and Caroline stayed with Klaus in New Orleans, her friends even venturing into town and finding their own loves and settling down. Life really had a funny way of working out.
xxxxxx
"I told you, you didn't need to come with me, love," Klaus explained, as they walked through the French Quarter. Night had fallen and by Caroline's watch it was now 2 hours and 27 minutes left of their anniversary.
"Well, I thought we should spend some time together today, at least," she replied, through gritted teeth. "What's going on at the bar anyway?"
"There was a big brawl earlier; apparently the place is a mess. I wanted to see it for myself and punish whoever is responsible."
"How romantic," she muttered.
"What did you say, love?" He asked, Caroline just rolled her eyes knowing just how exceptional his hearing was. The French Quarter was as busy as ever tonight but as they approached the bar she noticed it was plunged into darkness. They must have closed it because of the incident.
"I don't understand why Elijah couldn't have come instead and ripped out a few hearts," she mumbled.
"Well, we all know how possessive Katherine is of his time," he laughed thinking about his sister-in-law. "I think Kol's nickname of 'whipping boy' is fairly accurate."
"Like Kol can talk," Caroline said, thinking Bonnie ran a tight ship, Rebekah too. They were all whipped, except for her husband who couldn't even remember an anniversary.
Klaus let them in, Caroline patting her foot impatiently wondering how her day turned out like this. Klaus always was focused on his town but he always made an effort to include her in his life too.
She wasn't quite sure what to think as they entered the room, and instead of bodies, blood and furniture strewn about the place, there were candles and rose petals scattered about. She looked around the room and back at her husband, his crimson lips curved into an all knowing smile. Before he could react, she'd pinned him to the door and began to hit him on the chest.
"Ouch, Caroline!"
"Yeah because I'm sure that really hurts an Original hybrid," she groaned. "How could you do this to me?"
"Last time I checked this was romantic."
"You made me wait all day! I have been so angry at you," she reiterated, not letting up on the hitting. "I thought you'd forgotten our anniversary."
"I would never forget our anniversary," he murmured, holding her hand to his chest. "I wanted everything to be just like it was ten years ago when we first met, including the exact time." He reached out and traced his finger across her watch face which was showing 9:36pm.
"You wanted to recreate our first meeting?"
"Maybe not the part where you berated me in front of the rest of the town and then I proceeded to crash tackle you, but the rest of it was pretty good from memory."
"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, I have this thing with anniversaries where I'm really…"
"Anal?"
"Thanks, Katherine," she muttered. "I just want everyone one of ours to be special and something we'll always remember, even if we have ten or a ten thousand anniversaries."
"I know, love," he grinned, pulling her closer and capturing her lips with his. It felt just as special as it did all those years ago leaning up against the same door and Klaus knew he'd never grow tired of the feelings she stirred inside him. "Happy Anniversary, Caroline, I didn't think it was possible but I love you more every day, even when you're grumpy."
"Happy Anniversary, husband," she murmured, nuzzling her nose affectionately against his. "And to many, many more."
"Now, how about a dance on the bar?"
"Well, only if you can keep up, Mister Fun Police," she joked, pulling him towards it, excited for the night ahead and for the rest of their lives together.
Steve/Jemma/Bucky - Ridiculously over-the top proposal
“It’s gotta be just right, Buck,” Steve said for the hundredth time, but Bucky didn’t argue with him, only said;
“It will be, punk,” and kept on working.
At last they stood back and surveyed their handiwork. The bottle of expensive French champagne on ice, the carefully prepared delicacies that were all Jemma’s favourites, the polished crystal and silverware on the snow-white tablecloth. They looked at each other.
“It’s perfect,” Steve said, “But you, jeez, Bucky, you’re a mess…”
“So are you, and she’s gonna be here in ten minutes!”
They both bolted for the shower, too panicked even to waste a moment teasing each other when they were all naked and wet. Bucky’s hair took longer to dry so Steve was ready first, dressed carefully in the dark grey suit and light blue shirt they’d carefully matched to his eyes. Bucky had a lighter grey suit and a slightly darker blue shirt. They checked each other quickly, Steve smoothing Bucky’s hair back, Bucky flicking a speck of lint from Steve’s shoulder.
“Pretty as a picture, punk,” Bucky grinned nervously at Steve. “She won’t be able to resist you.”
“Or you.” They both jumped and laughed nervously at a tap on the door.
“You let her in, I’ll light the candles,” Bucky said, and Steve nodded and hurried to the door.
He caught his breath at the sight of Jemma; she wore an old-fashioned dress, royal blue with a print of red roses on it, the hemline demurely below her pretty knees, a narrow belt showing off her tiny waist. She’d curled and styled her hair, her lips painted in a perfect pink bow.
To Steve, she looked as though she’d just stepped out of an old movie, a siren of the silver screen as she smiled up at him. He stooped to gingerly kiss her cheek, not wanting to risk mussing her before Bucky got to appreciate her perfection as well.
Bucky was too overawed to do more than kiss Jemma’s hand, though he paired it with a flirtatious grin and bedroom eyes that had goosebumps springing up on the nape of her neck.
They’d evidently gone to such an incredible amount of effort she didn’t have the heart to tell them that she’d have been just as delighted with a pizza, a beer and their company. They still both felt the need to reassure her that she wasn’t just an extra in their long-standing relationship, that she was the stable centre around which they both revolved, even though Jemma herself had long since been assured of that.
So she sat at the beautifully laid table, ate the delicacies they’d clearly prepared with their own hands, and lost herself in admiring the sheer perfection of both her soulmates in the romantic candlelight.
“You haven’t finished your champagne,” Bucky said abruptly. Jemma saw Steve nudge him and frowned curiously. Bucky was normally the one topping up her glass before she finished it, anyway.
“It’s very good champagne, but I’m enjoying this wonderful food more,” she said, and saw Bucky’s face tighten oddly. Shrugging, she picked up her glass and took another sip - and something chinked against the crystal.
Jemma froze, the glass against her lips. Stared at first Steve, then Bucky. Slowly, she drained the glass, feeling something cold and hard against her lips.
This is such a cliché, she thought but would never say aloud, not considering the way Bucky’s skin was stretched taut across his cheekbones and Steve had gone white around the lips. Surely, they can’t possibly think I would say no?
I may have got slightly off track with this one. I started thinking that they exchange science! emails which grow to be a bit more, and then… yeah… oh well, hope you enjoy it anyway!
He’d read her first doctoral thesis - online - when he was in Brazil, seeking desperately to figure out some way to reverse what had happened to him. Had debated reaching out and asking her assistance - until he looked her up and found out that she was only seventeen. A child prodigy. It would have been unconscionable to involve her in the nightmare that had become his life.
She didn’t cross his radar again until years later, in New York, when they were cleaning up after the invasion and SHIELD sent some scientists into talk to him. Most of them seemed far too interested in him for his peace of mind, rather than the Chitauri remnants they were supposed to be working on; until the delicate-looking woman with the brown ponytail and the lively eyes arrived.
“Dr Banner,” she said with a bright smile. “It’s so lovely to meet you. Jemma Simmons.”
“Dr Jemma Simmons?” He recognised the name at once, and when she acknowledged with a quizzical smile, confessed that he’d read her thesis.
“Which one?”
“You did more than one?” His eyes bugged out.
“Three, but two of them are SHIELD classified - I’ll email them to you.” Her nose wrinkled as she chuckled. “You’re probably one of the few scientists around I’d trust to understand the whole thing without further explanations.”
He’d felt flattered that she thought that much of his smarts. And when the emails arrived, he’d sat up late several nights running reading the attached documents, even doing a bit of further research to understand some of it.
When he heard that she was one of the casualties when SHIELD fell, he was utterly devastated. They’d been corresponding by email for months, building up a friendship that at times he felt was verging on the inappropriate, considering that she was seventeen years his junior.
But losing it felt like the worst thing that had happened to him since the first time he Hulked out. He did Hulk out, beat the shit out of some Hydra idiots who came to try and take him in, and grieved for weeks, for a brilliant young woman he’d met only once but who had become something more than a friend through their long correspondence.
And then he met Helen Cho and realised that something he and Jemma had discussed in their messages could maybe be turned to something amazing. Going back over the notes again, he took them to Helen and together with Jemma’s theses, they puzzled out the breakthrough that led to the Cradle.
It was several months after Ultron when they finally had a facility - the first of several dozen around the world - up and running, ready to open to the public. Helen was quite happy to acquiesce to Bruce’s request that it be named the Dr Jemma Simmons Health Foundation.
So Bruce was somewhat stunned, on the night before the facility was due to open its doors, to hear a soft knock at his office door.
“Come in,” he called.
The door opened, and a small woman slipped inside, turning to smile at him. “Hello, Dr Banner.”
Her hair was shorter, waving to her chin, but he could never forget those brilliantly sparkling hazel eyes. He clutched at his chest as his heart began to hammer faster.
“Don’t Hulk out, please!” she begged, darting to his side as she saw the colour drain from his face.
He raised a shaking hand to her cheek, gazing incredulously at her. “You’re alive.”
“I had to go undercover for a while to protect some people I was working with. I hated having to break contact with you, hated it! But when I heard about the Foundation, I had to come see you.”
“Don’t apologise, this is the best news I’ve had in… forever,” he said fervently, still staring at her face.
She smiled softly at him, and then, daringly, leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his lips before pulling back. “Sorry. That was - really inappropriate.”
Bruce gazed up at her for a few long moments before sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her into his lap. “No… this is really inappropriate.”
Jemma smiled and ran her hands deep into his fluffy curls, holding on tight. “How terrible,” she whispered, just before she brought their mouths together again.
