25 Days of Klaroline: Day 1, Season 3

Double or Nothing

(Rated M for future smut)

This is my version of events post episode 3x19 Heart of Darkness. After fighting with Tyler about Klaus's sketch, Caroline goes to the Grill for a much needed drink and runs into the Original hybrid.

Caroline was angry, no she was more than angry. She was pissed. Even after months of no contact, she'd waited patiently for Tyler to return from breaking his sire bond like the dutiful girlfriend she was.

Although now he was finally back in Mystic Falls somehow she had become the bad guy. Just when she thought Tyler couldn't hurt her anymore, the selfish jerk had to go and do it again, and all over a silly picture.

Well, if she was being honest with herself, it wasn't silly. It was actually beautiful and probably the reason she'd struggled to part with it. Klaus had surprised her at the ball with his unusually frank confessions about his family. At first she thought he was just playing another game, after all he killed Jenna. How could she ever trust a monster like that?

Even with all the negative thoughts, she couldn't help but falter slightly at the picture he'd sketched and wondered why he persisted when she had shown no interest in him. Sick of the competing thoughts swirling around her head, Caroline headed to the Mystic Grill desperate for an alcoholic beverage to drown them out.

The Grill was packed this time of night and Caroline searched the room hoping Tyler hadn't had the same idea. As she walked towards the bar she thought she had the all clear until a familiar voice called out.

"Evening love," she momentarily closed her eyes and then eventually turned to look at him.

Klaus was perched on a bar stool, his hands grasping a glass of whiskey and sending her his most dazzling smile, complete with those dimples. She really wished he didn't have those; they had a way of distracting her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well last time I checked this was a free country, and I had some spare time."

"Why? Have you run out of people to kill?"

"Of course not," he promised. "I've reached my quota for today, that's all."

"Charming," she shot back walking to the other end of the bar and signaling to the bartender for a drink.

"It was a joke," he murmured standing closely behind her. She could feel his hot breath on her neck and smell the intoxicating aroma of his aftershave, and was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate.

"I think you need to work on your comedy routine if that's the case," she grumbled turning around to face him, not realising just how close he was. Their chests were within inches of each other, so too their lips. On closer inspection they were even darker crimson and looked more kissable than she ever imagined.

"Maybe you'd like to help me?" He asked not moving from his spot, his eyes searching hers.

"Believe it or not, I've got better things to do with my time," Caroline growled moving past him and hoping he wouldn't follow. She didn't trust herself around him and tonight was no exception.

"Oh yes I can see just how busy you are," he quipped. "What's happened, or more importantly what did he do?" She felt her cheeks flush wondering how he could read her mind like that. For all Klaus knew, Tyler had skipped town and although he'd hurt her Caroline would never give him away.

"He didn't do anything," she murmured turning around reluctantly.

"I beg to differ," he replied knowingly. "But I won't force you to tell me. How about a game?"

"A game?"

"Of pool," he said motioning towards the table in the corner.

"Like I said, I've got better things to do," she murmured thinking just how untrue that was.

"Well why not humour me? Just this once love," he pleaded, his blue eyes boring into hers. Why was she even entertaining this? Maybe if she had a few drinks it wouldn't matter.

"Fine, but I'm going to need a lot more whiskey to even consider spending time with you."

"I'll take that as your idea of a compliment," he teased, motioning to the bartender for a bottle. "Why don't we make this interesting?"

"I'm listening," she said before she could stop herself. Even though she tried to hate him, Klaus had a way of annoyingly piquing her interest.

"Every time you miss a shot you have to take a shot of whiskey," he said his eyes dancing mischievously.

"I love how you assume I'm going to be the one missing shots," she scoffed unsurprised by his arrogance.

"By all means love, I'm willing to be proven wrong," he said handing her the nearby cue. "In fact I'll even let you break."

"How kind of you," she drawled leaning down to take her turn.

After potting multiple balls successfully, Caroline was well in the lead. After his bravado at the beginning of the match Caroline was surprised.

"Are you drunk yet?" She joked, potting another ball as he took yet another shot.

"I think you need to give me a little credit love, I've had some drinking practice over my 1000-year life span."

"Yet you haven't managed to master the art of pool in all that time."

"What can I say; I was too busy killing people to practice. Plus it doesn't help that you're my opponent, it's a little distracting to say the least."

"That humour isn't getting any better," she shook her head trying not to appear as flustered as she felt. She gathered her nerves and potted the eight, sending him her most triumphant smile. "Neither is your game. Now as fun as this has been, I'm not nearly drunk enough to entertain you any longer."

"Oh come on, we were just starting to have fun."

"You have an interesting idea of fun."

"Oh come on, double or nothing," he pleaded, those dimples threatening to unsettle her composure.

"Well if we had any terms I might be interested," she bluffed thinking he wouldn't have anything.

"How about if I win, you have to tell me why you're so upset."

"And when I win," she said knowing it was a forgone conclusion.

"Whatever you want sweetheart," he grinned placing the balls in the rack on the table.

"You have to stop giving me presents and drawing me pictures," she said thinking that was the complete opposite to what she actually wanted. Although if he stopped, she might have some chance of moving on.

"And here I thought women liked gifts and nice gestures," he muttered, raising his eyebrows. She felt her cheeks flush, hoping it wasn't as obvious as it felt. "But if that's really what you want, I'll oblige."

The next game started out slowly as Klaus matched every shot. She looked at him curiously wondering what caused this turn around in form. About halfway through Caroline knew she'd been played. His shots were effective and precise. After potting the eight ball it was his turn to look at her triumphantly.

"You played me," she growled.

"No, I was just warming up," he grinned, unable to hide his glee. "Now about that idiot boyfriend of yours?"

"I am not telling you anything," she spluttered. "Triple or nothing?"

"Fine, you know I could do this all night love."