Chapter Text
Inside, Kol started laughing like a maniac as Rebekah looked on disdainfully. They’d come to the Grille (Nik should consider himself fortunate that she was debasing herself by being in this town for his sake) a few minutes after the doppelgänger, and watched her and her friends convening.
“How can she not bloody know?” She grumbled as Kol straightened in the booth next to her.
“She thinks Nik’s giving her this stuff as part of their deal.” Kol said and promptly started laughing again. She couldn’t blame him, they’d both seen Nik agonize over how to thank the girl for saving his life, and then watched as he started fixating on her, painting her over and over again.
He’d hidden one of his sketches from her view a few days ago, and she was sure there was something in it that she never wanted to see.
He’d even called Elijah for help, which was a good thing. Because he had almost sent her the heads of her enemies as a gift until Elijah had talked him out of it. (Even though he was her enemy).
He just kept spiraling after that (she refused to acknowledge the fact that it had been centuries since anyone outside of family had attempted to save Nik’s life).
“Oh bloody hell, this is funnier than the reality shows you introduced me to,” Kol said as he finally controlled himself. “Nik’s going mad over how to impress her and she thinks it’s a deal. But first,” Kol turned to Rebekah looking as serious as he could, “what’s a sugar baby?”
“A kept woman.” She said somewhat harshly before deflating, “well, it’s not that bad, I suppose. But someone who gets gifts in exchange of well, sex or showing affection, I suppose.”
“Oh, but isn’t Nik attempting to court her?”
“That’s not how men court women these days.”
“Right, this is fun. Do you think we should call Finn? He does need to get that stick out of his arse. And seeing Nik suffer might do it.”
“Maybe, what are you doing?” But Kol was already calling someone.
“Nik,” he said into the phone and she was suddenly glad she had supernatural hearing. “We’re at the Grille and your doppelgänger is here. I also want a car like that.”
“Oh sod off.”
“You know what else I want?”
“To torment me?”
“Not at the moment,” Rebekah could see the lie in his eyes, “but to tell you that I think you should get better with your gifts.” Even she could hear Nik freeze.
“Whatever do you mean Kol?” There was a dangerous edge to Nik’s voice that she knew Kol wouldn’t heed to.
“Oh nothing, one of the Salvatores is here, and he was quick in gaining her attention.”
“Tell--" but Kol hung up before Klaus could say anything and Rebekah downed her scotch. She needed to call Elijah back.
There were two envelopes waiting on the front porch when Elena got home. She’d gotten sort of used to seeing stuff there—not that she was ever expecting anything, of course!—but two?
When she bent to pick them up, Elena was even more perplexed—one had her name on it in the handwriting she’d come to recognize as Klaus’, and the other had… Jeremy’s?
“Hey Jer?” she called out as she entered the house. “You got something.”
Her brother took the envelope and instantly opened it, making Elena shake her head fondly.
His jaw dropped.
“What? What is it?” Elena was suddenly concerned.
“It’s a gift certificate to that new art store in Richmond,” Jeremy said slowly. Elena supposed that was nice. “For two thousand dollars.”
“Holy crap!” Elena stared at her own envelope in shock.
“Oh, you’ve got to open yours now!” Jeremy insisted.
Elena forced herself to move slowly, slipping her nail under the seam and carefully popping it open. A card fell out of the envelope.
It was matte black, with a row of numbers on it.
“Is that a credit card?” Jeremy asked.
“I guess so?” Elena wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting.
As far as gifts went, this one would be practical, she supposed. The card sat on the kitchen counter as she wrote up a list of errands she needed to run. The leftovers from their catered breakfast still sat in the fridge, but Elena hardly expected anyone else to pick out her toiletries for her.
Sure, she may be a sugar baby—damn Caroline for putting that thought in her head!—but she had her limits!
And so the next day, she slipped the credit card into her wallet and went out to the store.
Elena wandered the aisles of the local drug store, tossing the generic brand of toothbrushes and single-ply paper towel into her basket before heading over to the pharmacy section to pick up her iron tablets on her way to check out. No way was she going to splurge and have this card be declined. Then she’d have to use her own, and she was trying to save money. Plus, it would be downright embarrassing.
She exchanged a casual smile with the clerk before handing over her items to be scanned.
Soon, it was time to try the card.
Surreptitiously taking a deep breath, Elena swiped the smooth black plastic. The monitor flashed green and prompted her signature. She grabbed the stylus and signed her name with relief.
“All set Mrs. Mikaelson, you have a nice day!” the clerk said with a smile, and passed over her receipt and the bag with her purchases.
Elena almost dropped the bag.
“Excuse me?” she choked out.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” the clerk, who Elena now realized was younger than her, sputtered. “I shouldn’t have assumed that you changed your last name. My sister didn’t take her husband’s name and gets so upset when people tell her she should!”
Speechless, Elena looked down at the receipt. Sure enough, her name was right there under cardholder: Elena Gilbert. And under account holder? Niklaus Mikaelson.
“Oh that’s… that’s fine, it’s an easy mistake to make,” Elena said weakly before rushing from the store. What was she supposed to do, tell a perfect stranger what was really doing on? Elena herself didn’t even know what was going on for sure!
When she got back home, still shaken from her encounter at the store, there was no one in the house. Jeremy had probably gone to Richmond to get his art supplies.
The card, she could understand almost, but the gift card for Jeremy made no sense. She was his sugar baby, which, oh God, why couldn’t she stop thinking about that! so it made no sense to give Jeremy anything, especially when he had given her a credit card.
She sank into one of the chairs around the dining table and frowned at the bottle of wine. Jeremy had left a note saying it had arrived while she was gone, and there was another envelope with the bottle.
She opened it just as carefully as last time, half expecting, she wasn’t even sure what, only to see a handwritten card. She gnawed at her lip as she turned it over in her hands and read it.
Elena,
I saw this and thought you might enjoy it. While it isn’t nearly as sweet as the taste of the ichor that runs through your veins, I think you might appreciate it more.
Yours, Klaus
She felt her jaw drop as she read the note, but there was something else in the envelope too. She pulled out the thick paper with shallow breaths, and saw that it was a sketch of her, on the night of the Mikaelson ball. There was nothing written on it, but it suddenly felt as if this entire… thing was getting out of hand.
She picked out a glass of wine, and proceeded to finish the entire bottle in record time. He was right, it was sweet.
Over the next week, the gifts kept coming, even if they weren't as extravagant as the car and the credit card. Nice clothing and quality food seemed to be the most common items; Elena thought them fitting. The clothing because of Klaus's love of art--he could appreciate fine fabrics and always seemed to pick colors that complimented her skin and hair. The food, well... vampire and wolves both had hearty appetites.
Soon, Jeremy and her friends weren't the only ones who had noticed that Elena seemed to be surrounded by expensive things.
Elena was in a bathroom stall, adjusting her dark green mini dress and about to step out when the door opened and she heard voices laughing. She recognized them as girls from the cheer team.
"--and did you see those shoes?" one of them, Dana, was saying. "I mean, if she’s going to screw some rich guy for stuff, she might as well go all out and wear hooker heels, you know what I'm saying? She's not fooling anyone with the classy look."
Instantly, Elena knew they were talking about her. She looked down at said shoes, a pair of Gucci boots that had thick heels and a nice waterproof coating over the leather. When she'd dressed this morning, she’d felt cute and seasonal--the green of the dress and the red of her (now favorite) lipstick felt like the right touch of Christmas.
Now, she just felt embarrassed.
"Does anyone even know who she's seeing?" asked Leah. She was a grade or two behind Elena. "Is it that one teacher?"
"Saltzman? No way!" Dana said. "I think it's Rebekah's brother, the blonde one?"
"Oh, I know who you're talking about! He's hot, I'd totally do him." That was Jessica. Elena had always thought she was a bitch. And no, it was not because she was jealous that someone else had called Klaus hot.
Why would she care, anyway?
Dana didn't agree. "Really? I always thought he was kind of--"
"--kind of what?" Elena stepped out of the stall proudly, Louis Vuitton purse dangling over the crook over her elbow and her other hand on her hip. She channeled Bonnie's confidence, Rebekah's sharp tongue, and Caroline's sass.
She looked at the girls, projecting the image that Caroline used to make. That even she used to make, before the supernatural beings in her life. She could be mean when she wanted to be. Besides, no matter what anyone thought, she wasn’t sleeping with Klaus.
She tried not to focus on how that thought made her feel.
“Oh, hey Elena,” Dana said sweetly, but she could see that the other girl hadn’t been expecting her, “we were just talking about--"
“My shoes? Don’t you have anything important to talk about? Or are your lives just really dull?” Elena couldn’t believe it, but she ended up channeling the one person she never thought she would.
Katherine.
It wasn’t like she had planned it, but then no one, not even Klaus or Rebekah scared her the way Katherine did.
The idea that she could one day become like the vampire still scared her.
“It’s just that you suddenly have a lot of….pretty things. They’re really nice,” Dana said, faking enthusiasm and Elena shrugged.
“They are, aren’t they?” Even in the fluorescent lighting of the bathroom, the diamonds on her arm were practically sparkling, and she subtly turned her wrist. Klaus, she had to admit, had a good eye for cut and clarity, and she was tired of trying to justify every decision of her life to everyone. For once, she just wanted to feel a little happy. And these gifts did just that.
Elena fluffed her hair in the bathroom mirror, fixed a non-existent smudge of lipstick with her finger, and walked out with her head held high. She didn’t have to explain herself to anyone. She wasn’t doing anything wrong.
Throughout the rest of the day, the sideways looks continued, but she noticed that more than a few of them were accompanied by respectful expressions. One of the other senior girls with a locker near her even sent her a wink. Apparently, the story of what happened in the bathroom with Dana and the others had spread across the school.
She knew she was a little more rude than necessary about the whole situation but at least this way, no one would actually say anything about the whole thing, at least to her face. She couldn’t do anything about what they said behind her back, but then-
She blinked as the blonde original appeared in her view.
“Rebekah?” She wasn’t sure what the other girl wanted, but it had been a while since they’d talked. The last time, Rebekah had choked her and only Elijah’s intervention had saved her.
“Elena.” Rebekah was scrutinizing her as if she was looking at her for the first time, and Elena shifted her weight; she hoped Rebekah didn’t think she was sleeping with Klaus. The thought mortified her. “I heard what happened in the bathroom, with the girls. I must say I didn’t expect you to have that much spine.”
Elena swallowed, feeling a little insulted. She’d daggered two originals, the only other person who did that was—
Klaus.
“Thanks, I think.” Rebekah gave her a once over and Elena tried to push the odd feeling out of her mind.
“I suppose you should thank me. Why do you think Nik has good taste in clothes? And jewelry.”
“'Cause he had to keep….apologizing to you?” Rebekah smirked and then waved her goodbye.
Elena frowned, wondering what had happened.
The Mikaelsons were….weird.
And if that wasn’t enough, who should be waiting in the parking lot for her at the end of the day but Klaus.
He’d parked his SUV next to hers, and Elena blinked several times at the sight. His and hers luxury vehicles, she thought somewhat hysterically.
“Um, hi?” she said as she approached him. It wasn’t time for her to donate more blood yet, was it?
“Good afternoon, love,” Klaus said smoothly, hands clasped behind his back and a genuine smile on his face. Was he… happy to see her?
"Rebekah should be out soon, I think she—"
“Oh I’m not here to see my sister, I’m here for you.”
"Me?!” Elena couldn’t quite conceal the disbelief in her voice.
Klaus looked surprised. “Of course. I wanted to ask if you’d be in attendance at the mayor’s party this Saturday night.”
“Yeah, I have to. Founding family member and all.”
“Ah.” Klaus suddenly looked bashful, an expression she didn’t think he was capable of. “Do you have a date for this party?”
Now it all made sense. God, he really was paranoid. “Stefan and Damon aren’t planning any moves against you. There won’t be any tricks or plots, just a bunch of small talk and weak cocktails. I don’t even know if they’ll be there, so you can calm down.”
The look of relief on his face was so obvious that she didn't even have to observe him for too long.
"Klaus," she needed him to know that she wanted to hold on to their deal, "I haven't spoken to Stefan or Damon in weeks. They were really angry about- that I told," she faltered here, unsure if she wanted to bring up his mother, but plowed on anyway, "you about Esther's plan. But they've given up on all hope about me agreeing to their," she waved one hand in the air to show him how little it mattered to her, "suggestions."
The ridiculous plans they came up with sometimes according to Caroline. But if she told him that, he'd get more paranoid.
She was right though, at her words, his smile widened, if that was even possible, his dimples prominent. He was pleased at her words.
"Well then," his eyes roved over the crescent moon sitting in the hollow of her throat, and she felt her mouth go dry. It was one thing to wear stuff he gave her, it was another to stand in front of him, decked in those very gifts, while his gaze remained... possessive. Although it did seem to lack some edge, she thought as he slipped his pointer finger below the pendant. "I look forward to seeing you at the party sweetheart."
This certainly wasn't going to help the gossip, she thought as she smiled tightly, her pulse racing against his skin.
She felt his eyes on her as she climbed into the car he’d gifted her and got ready to drive home. It was Thursday, so she had a few days before she had to get ready for Carol’s event.
It wasn’t the primping and styling her hair and picking the perfect pair of shoes that was the difficult part; no, it was finding the energy to play the good founding family’s daughter. Elena didn’t care about sucking up to the older generation of Fells that always showed up, or listening to Carol go on and on about the Lockwood’s role in the formation of Mystic Falls. It was especially boring now that she knew the Mikaelsons and the Bennetts were here a thousand years ago, and not a mere couple hundred.
She gave him a look, and he got into his car as well. She didn't know how she was going to get through the winter wonderland event. She'd have to find some way to stick to Sheriff Forbes and Caroline but her friend would likely go on about the fact that she was still accepting gifts from Klaus.
She didn't understand what she was supposed to do instead, allow all of these gifts to wither away in her home?
When she got home however, she decided to try and pick some stuff out for the party anyway.
A nice pair of shoes, a pretty dress - maybe red, she wasn't sure what color Klaus lik--
She-she wasn't sure what had just happened, but she was definitely not thinking about choosing clothes according to Klaus' tastes.
Absolutely not.
All the clothes that he had gifted her looked great on her—she hadn’t been able to resist trying them on. Once again, Klaus’s artist’s eye was impeccable.
Elena kept looking at one of the fancier pieces in her new collection, a gorgeous plum dress. She’d done a few twirls in front of the mirror when she’d tried it on, loving the way the skirt flared out around her knees.
It probably wasn’t as classically Christmas as Carol expected, but paired with the right jewelry and makeup—red, of course—Elena thought it would be quite pretty.
She was filled with restless energy over the next few days. Jeremy had gotten a tux on her card, and it looked great on him, of course. But, she found herself actually excited about an event for once.
She had a feeling, that for once, everything wouldn't go to hell.
Making a deal with the devil certainly had its benefits.
On the night of the event, she wore the plum dress she had chosen along with the ruby red earrings she'd gotten when all this had begun. She even wore the red lipstick and light makeup. Just as she was about to leave, there was a knock at the front door. A few moments later, Jeremy was at her door.
"Jer?"
"This came for you, uh, one of the hybrids dropped it off."
Elena opened the square shaped boxed and let out a gasp, even Jeremy was staring at it.
It was way too much, Elena thought as she looked at the necklace. It was delicate gold chain with diamonds lining it so that when she wore it, it would lie just above the hollow of her throat.
There was absolutely no doubt who it was from.
“He really isn’t subtle, huh.” Jeremy mused.
Elena gave her brother a confused look as she went to her vanity mirror to clip the necklace on. Despite the heaviness that sometimes came with quality, it sat comfortably around her neck. “What are you talking about?”
Jeremy sighed, giving her what Elena could swear was a pitying look. “You’ll figure it out sooner or later,” he muttered. In a louder voice, he confirmed, “I’m going to go pick up Bonnie, we’ll meet you at the Lockwoods.”
“Wait, Jer—" but he was gone before Elena could ask him what he meant.
Elena got to the Lockwood Manor a while later. She tried looking for Jeremy, wanting to ask him what he had meant by what he said. But he was nowhere to be found.
But she still felt eyes on her.
She knew it was because of the necklace. It may be delicate, but there was no doubt as to its quality.
For some reason, she found herself looking for another person as well, someone who had promised to meet her here.
She'd wear the necklace for the event, and then give it back to Klaus. It looked like an older piece, and despite the other gifts she had accepted easily, this one was different.
She saw Caroline instead who was looking at her through narrowed eyes.
Just before she reached Caroline however, she saw the person she had been looking for. But only to tell him that she was going to return the necklace.
Yet, there was something in his gaze that she couldn't place.
"Klaus," she sounded breathless when he came close to her, closer than he usually did, so that she was ensconced by his heat.
It reminded her of the way he had pulled her into his side on prank night.
"That does look quite beautiful on you, love."
She felt parched as he looked at her through a heated gaze.
"Thanks," she forgot what she wanted to say, "you clean up pretty well too."
He did, she realized as she saw the well fitted suit and the look in his eyes.
"Would you care to join me for a dance, my dear?"
He offered her his hand in a gesture that would be overly dramatic for anyone else, but strangely fitting and almost elegant for him.
Instead of chirping out a high pitched “sure!” Elena nodded and placed her hand in his, allowing him to escort her out to the dance floor.
They took their positions with ease and Elena wondered how many dances he knew. As she placed her hand on his shoulder, she noticed the color of his tie: It was the same plum purple as her dress.
His arm felt warm at her base of her spine. Her other hand was intertwined with his, and she tried not to focus on how searing the touch was.
“You look lovely tonight, if it isn’t obvious.” His breath hit her cheek and she resisted the urge to shiver.
“Do I not usually look nice?” she asked, the question escaping her tongue before she had time to stop it.
“Careful there love, it’s almost as though you’re fishing for a complement.” His voice was tinged with humor, a teasing she’d never expected from him.
“Nice tie,” she said instead of heeding his words, and he pursed his lips.
The smallest bit of color washed across his cheekbones before he stepped towards her. It took Elena a moment to realize that he was taking the first step of the dance, and she hurried to follow his lead.
“I’m… rather fond of the color,” Klaus said in the end. Elena got the feeling that she’d won the round of some game that she hadn’t realized they were playing.
"What about jewelry?” Elena wanted to ask him about the necklace resting against her throat. Something about it made her hold her head a little taller, walk a little straighter. The older members of the founding families probably knew it wasn’t a piece from the Gilbert family. If it was, they’d have seen her or her mom wearing it before at one of the many town functions.
"Come now love, it does look good around your neck.” Yet, he wasn’t eyeing the necklace as he spoke, but the scar over her flesh. “Although, I do prefer the piece you were wearing the other day.”
“You were the one who sent this,” she said, confusion rising to the surface.
“No reason for you to not have options.” As Klaus spoke, Elena could see one of the Fell family members looking at them and smirking.
“Oh.” She stepped closer to him when she watched one of her neighbors join Mrs. Fell.
Klaus cocked a brow at her and she looked down.
“Look at me, Elena.” There was an intensity in his voice that wasn’t there before, and her neck snapped to meet his gaze.
The high heels she wore made her tall enough that she was closer to him than usual, closer to those hypnotic eyes.
“They don’t matter,” he said. “Not a single one of them can compare to you.”
Klaus’s words were deceptively simple, and Elena had to swallow the emotional lump that had formed in her throat.
“It doesn’t ever… bother you? What people think about you?” Even though she thought she knew the answer—he was the Original Hybrid, after all—Elena had to ask.
Klaus seemed to mull over her words, gently guiding their steps in silence for a few beats before answering. “It used to.”
“But it’s doesn’t now?” she asked, feeling something strange in her chest.
“No. Once you realize that they don’t matter, their words cease to matter as well.” He said it with conviction and she believed him.
She inhaled sharply and nodded. She wondered briefly if she should ask him what they were saying, but she didn’t really want to know.
“I guess that you’re right.” She wanted to ask him what he was doing exactly but then she saw Stefan and Rebekah on the dance floor.
The two moved together with ease, and Elena had to admit that they made for a stunning couple. Her and Stefan’s romantic relationship was over, and Rebekah seemed to be a nice enough girl, once you got past centuries of self-defense mechanisms. Elena found that she could be happy for them, if they decided to rekindle their romance.
But instead of looking at the woman in his arms, Stefan was watching Klaus. No, Elena realized as they swayed to the tempo of a new song, Stefan was watching her.
She furrowed her brows at him slightly, a silent question, but Stefan looked away, jaw clenched.
Okay then.
Elena turned her focus back to Klaus and their dance, letting herself relax and enjoy moving to the music.
"You seem distracted, sweetheart,” he said and she shook her head. She’d never get used to the terms of endearment he preferred or the fact that they no longer sounded condescending.
“It’s nothing.”
They moved effortlessly on the dance floor, and she didn’t know what to think about that. She could feel herself getting more and more comfortable with him, until the song ended.
“I’m going to get a drink.”
“I’ll come with you.” They reached the bar and it was Klaus who ordered their drinks. She knew there were people listening to them but tried to tune them out.
“Here you go.” She bit her lip as she looked up at him reproachfully. He had given her wine instead of the scotch he was drinking.
“You know, I’d like a glass of scotch too.” But one glass turned into four, and she was about to go for a fifth—these parties were terrible for her—when Klaus encased her wrist in his hand.
“That’s enough love.”
“No, it isn’t, I’m not even drunk yet.” She was buzzed though, and she knew what some of the women were saying about her, that she was sleeping with him, that she was a sugar baby.
Well, who cared--
“You sound like you’re getting drunk Elena. Already, it is clear that you won’t be able to drive back.”
“Of course I could. Do you know what kind of blood loss I’ve driven through?” Suddenly, something changed and there was an intense look in his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you know, sometimes I have to get out of an,” she moved closer to him, his scent hitting her nose, “an attempt on my life. Or sometimes, I have to drive after I’ve had a bad accident or something.”
“You can’t drive like that.” He was frowning at her, well who was he—
“I can.”
Just because he was her - oh God - he was her sugar daddy.
“You do that again love, and I’ll bend you over my knee.” She felt sober as the low timber of his voice rang between them and she was absolutely not interested in being bent over his--
She could feel the flush crawling up her chest and neck and swallowed audibly.
Well if the other women at the bar hadn’t been talking about them before, they sure as hell were now.
Klaus had a faint look of wonder on his face as he tracked the increase in her blood flow. “But then again,” he said slowly, “maybe you’d enjoy that.”
Elena cleared her throat and fiddled with the chain of her necklace. It was suddenly very warm in here. She needed to go splash her face with cool water. Hell, maybe she should ask Tyler if he would let her use his private bathroom and take a cold shower.
“Excuse me for a minute,” she said, unintentionally glancing up at him through her eyelashes.
He nodded, and offered her a mock salute with his glass. “I’ll be waiting.”
As she turned to leave, she was stopped by his hand on her cheek. Elena froze, every nerve in her cheek singing at his touch. His thumb slid along her the line of her lower lip and when he pulled his hand away, there was a small red smudge there. Her lipstick had smeared.
“You might want to clean yourself up, sweetheart. Someone might get the wrong impression.”
She was fuming, but she was also feeling really hot. She couldn’t help but think of all of the other ways Klaus could smear her lipstick, and she knew as she walked away from him on shaking legs, that he’d enjoy each one more than the last.
He’d likely taunt her and then—
She reached one of the washrooms and closed the door behind her.
She was sure people were talking even more now because she looked flushed and ruined, her eyes wide and pupils blown. And he’d done nothing except hint at something.
But--
She wasn’t interested in him, at all. And even if she was, it would be too complicated to even think about.
It didn’t change the fact that he might want something though. Did he?
She had never thought him to be interested in her, but his actions tonight, she shivered as she remembered how he’d traced her lip with his thumb.
How next time she might suck it between her lips--
She took deep breathes as she used some more water to cool herself down. It was only when she was sure that her feet were steady that she left the washroom and saw Stefan standing a few feet away.
"Hi.” They weren’t really on the best of terms, but Elena was ever hopeful that they could be friends someday.
The look on Stefan’s face told her that day wouldn’t be any time soon.
“What the hell are you doing with him?” Stefan asked lowly and Elena was glad that she’d chosen one of the bathrooms in a side hallway. “You’re here with Klaus?”
“I saw you and Rebekah dancing,” Elena pointed out. “How is that any different?”
“How is—!” Stefan shook his head. “It’s completely different.”
She really didn’t like where this was going. “Can we talk about this later, please?”
"No, Elena, have you lost your mind? What are you doing with him?”
She couldn’t believe him, he’d almost driven her off the bridge, and yet, he felt that he could interfere in her life.
“Look, it’s nothing, we were just dancing Stefan.”
“But that’s not all, is it?” Stefan asked as he leaned towards her and her heart rate started skyrocketing, “he’s bought you everything you’re wearing, aren’t you?”
She had nothing to say to that, and Stefan continued.
“Everyone’s talking about it, do you know what they’re saying about you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, they didn’t know what it was like to lose almost everyone in their lives. To hold on to every last bit of happiness with everything she had.
“What about your parents? What would they have thought if they knew you were Klaus’-"
"My what, Stefan? Would you care to finish that sentence?" Klaus showed up just as Stefan's lips formed around the word whore.
"No? I didn't think so." Klaus sneered at Stefan and stepped around him to approach Elena. "Are you alright, love?"
She felt the heat of his hand hovering over the small of her back, just barely touching her. "I'm fine."
She couldn’t understand how it had come to the point that Klaus was defending her, but stranger things had happened.
Actually, no, this was the strangest thing that had happened.
She couldn’t help but feel as though her excitement was gone though. “You know, I think I might go home earlier.”
Klaus's hand settled more firmly at the small of her back. "I'll walk you out."
She let him guide them through the crowd. He held the front door open for her when they reached it and held out his hand to her. "I'll fetch the car for you."
The instant the keys touched his palm he was off. In the next second, Rebekah was at her side.
Elena tried not to pay too much mind to the blonde original, but it seemed Rebekah was intent on talking to her.
“That’s a nice dress.”
“Thanks.”
“And that necklace, I can only imagine how much Nik might--"
Elena turned towards her with a frown wondering what she might mean.
“What are you talking about?”
“I know,” Rebekah’s voice took a harsh quality as she sneered at her, “how you doppelgängers are and if you hurt Nik--"
“How would I hurt Klaus? He’s the one who--" she broke off, not wanting to rehash the past.
Rebekah frowned. "Wait. Are you really not--did you think that--huh." She looked puzzled from a moment. "I must say, this isn't what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"Well, you're not lying to me, for one." Rebekah crossed her arms and looked Elena over again, from head to toe. "I suppose that is a nice color on you."
Elena frowned, she was almost unable to take it anymore, everyone was confusing her.
“Thanks Rebekah, but what were you talking about?”
“The necklace suits you. It’s an older piece belonging to our family, try not to destroy it alright?”
As Klaus pulled Elena's SUV into view, Rebekah leaned in to whisper in Elena's ear. "True affection or not, if you break his heart, I'll tear out your intestines and smother you to death with them. Okay?" She pulled away with a wink and a smile. "Enjoy the rest of your night."
Elena blinked at that, watching Rebekah leave. The threat didn’t bother her so much because she knew Rebakah always said things and Klaus wouldn’t let her-
But what did she mean by true affection?
Had she just been given a shovel talk by one original over another?
She walked towards her car, and took the keys from Klaus, looking up at the tick in his jaw and the way he seemed tensed.
How he had teased her and flirted with her.
Was it possible that he-
"Get some rest, love. Drive home safe." Klaus's fingers brushed against her jaw before he left, no doubt to go speak to his sister. Vampires and their damn hearing!
Less than an hour ago, Klaus was teasing her about spanking her if she drove while less than fully aware ever again. Now here she was, driving home in a car he bought her, having lost that delightful buzz when her ex-boyfriend called her a whore.
It had been one hell of a night. And Klaus hadn't even been the problem. If anything, he'd been one of the good parts.
Which was odd.
How had Klaus turned into the nicer parts of her life? And why did he care about her all of a sudden?
This went beyond their deal, it went beyond her blood.
She knew Klaus, she’d made it a point to know him after he had inserted himself in her life. He either didn’t care at all or he cared too much.
And right now, it seemed as if he cared too much.
About her.
Elena arrived home safely, parking the SUV and climbed out with a sigh. Jeremy was probably either still at the party with Bonnie, or had went home with her for the night. Either was fine—Elena was glad to have the house to herself.
She stepped up onto the porch, and the toe of her heel brushed something. Bending down, she picked up a wicker basket filled with candles and jars of what looked like soaps.
Carrying it into the house, she set it down on an end table and flipped open the note tucked into the top while she kicked off her heels.
Elena,
I had hoped the night would’ve gone better for you, I had been looking forward to seeing you there. I hope this can help you relax, sweetheart.
Yours, Klaus.
This was the reason she kept getting doubts. But she pushed it aside for the while and took the basket to her room.
While the tub was filling with water, she changed out of her clothes, and lit the various candles around the counter.
Almost immediately, the room was filled with the scent of the candles and she made her way towards the tub. She could think about Klaus tomorrow, she just wanted to relax now.
A long soak in the tub really did help, and Elena changed into a silk pajama set before climbing into bed, body pleasantly warm and heavy and kinda relaxed. As she drifted off to sleep, her eyes rested on her dresser where various gems twinkled in the moonlight from within their settings.
The next morning, Elena felt like she could think clearer, and her mind kept wandering to the party last night.
Klaus had been….perfect, and yet-
A knock sounded on her door, and she opened it, expecting to see no one, yet, there he was.
“Klaus.”
Elena tightened the tie of her plush robe over her pajamas and quickly raked a hand through her hair. She was suddenly self conscious; Klaus had seen her looking her very best last night and now she probably looked like a mess!
He of course, looked perfect in a hoodie and jacket.
“Good morning,” he said and clasped his hands behind his back with a smile that Elena found herself returning. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
“Um, no?” Was this some weird wolf instinct coming through? The need to feed her? Although, Elena wouldn’t complain if there was more of that coffee…
“Excellent! How would you feel about joining me for breakfast?”
”You want me to join you for breakfast?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Okay, wait, this has to stop, what is going on?”
“Whatever do you mean love?”
Elena sighed, “this, us. You giving me gifts and jewellery and food. What part of our deal is this?”
“Our deal?” Klaus sounded shocked and she stared at him.
“Yeah, that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”
Klaus stared at her before leaning against her doorframe.
“Come outside.” He said and she stared back at him.
“What?” He raised his eyebrows at her, and she stepped outside. If he had wanted to hurt her, he had plenty of opportunities.
The moment she was outside the boundary of her house, his hand was on her chin, tilting her face up.
“Klaus?”
“My sweet girl, did you really think all of these gifts have been in exchange for your blood?” Elena felt her throat go dry at his words.
“You… you mean they haven’t been?” Elena didn’t mean to sound like a broken record, but if Klaus would just say what he meant, things would be a lot easier. “Well than what have they been for?”
Klaus sighed and his hand drifted down to the side of her neck, his thumb resting against the hinge of her jaw. “It seems I haven’t made my intentions clear enough for you. Let me remedy that.”
And then, he was kissing her.
Klaus. Was kissing her.
Instead of thinking that he was the bad guy and it was wrong, or worrying about what the neighbors would think of her standing outside in a robe kissing a man older than her, Elena felt.
She felt the gentleness of his hand as he tipped her head back. She felt the softness of his lips on hers. She felt the smooth bump where his jewelry rested under his clothes.
When Klaus slowly pulled away, all Elena could do for a moment was stand there, dumbfounded. She was pretty sure if she hadn’t been bracing herself on his chest she might have fallen over. His kiss had left her weak in the knees.
It took her a moment to catch her breath, and then she looked up at him.
“So, the gifts….”
“I’ve been trying to court you.”
“Oh.” She felt dumbfounded and that was what Jeremy had been talking about last night.
“Yes.”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat, there were many things to talk about and discuss, but for now, she was fine with how things were. “Well, next time, use your words.”
He looked abashed and this was a side to him she didn’t even know existed.
“Alright, love.”