darling - n.mikaelson

15

Klaus liked everything about her. He just didn't know quite how to tell her. He hadn't felt this way in centuries.

He wasn't sure when it started, when she stopped being a piece of the game he way playing and he started to care for her. Perhaps when they were in the bar and she heard him yell his name in terror. His whole body was gripped with fear as he rushed over, pulling the stranger off of her, he'd never wanted to kill someone so much as he did when he heard her whimper on the floor.

His heart would clench any time she walked into the room, every time she called him Nik and laughed he wanted to pull her closer to him. Every time he heard her heart begin to beat quicker he looked for what was there frightening her, hoping it wasn't him.

Klaus knew that he was the one who caused the most pain in her life. He was the one who kept her from Damon. He was the one who made Stefan follow his every order. He knew how it hurt her whenever Stefan was silent, her eyes swimming with horror each time Stefan killed someone. Although he wouldn't ever hurt her physically, he knew that his control over her and her family's life hurt her more than any cut or bruise.

Klaus knew with how much he cared that he should be selfless, let her make her own choice and leave. But with Charlotte, Klaus couldn't help being the most selfish man alive.

When he first took her it was without thought or care, he only brought her along on a whim, just to piss her brother off. But now it was more than that, he wanted her in his arms every night, he didn't think he could ever let her leave.

He needed her with him.

Nothing had happened more between them. Klaus wanted to kiss her every night as she slid into bed beside him, moving into his arms. He wanted to kiss her every day when she laughed at him and mocked his name. He wanted to kiss her forever and run his fingers over every inch of her body but he couldn't. He'd already taken her first choice away, the choice to be with him and Stefan and abandon Damon. He was too selfish to let the first choice be hers, so he let the rest be up to her.

He'd let her come to him, if she wanted more than this it would be her choice.

Klaus could feel Charlotte stirring in his arms at last and he pulled her in closer. They had to get up soon, they both knew it but neither wanted the moment to end.

"Klaus," Charlotte was trying to break free. She liked how tight his grip was, she didn't want him to let go though she knew they had to get up eventually.

"Nik," he corrected, pulling her closer, "hush now darling, time to sleep still."

"Nik, I have to shower I feel disgusting."

"You could never be disgusting," he replied, his thumb brushing her hair from her forehead as he looked down at her before finally loosening his arms with a playful groan.

Charlotte liked sleepy Nik, he was so soft and so sweet. He could be charming. He was more honest when they lay in bed, talking about his siblings and his childhood. Sleepy Nik complimented her and asked her about what made her happy, he wanted to know who she was.

Charlotte liked a lot of things about Klaus, no, Nik. 

She liked how Nik made her feel. Nik watched her in a crowd, she could feel his eyes on her as she moved, even when he was distracted he still had an eye on her. His eyes on her let her know she'd be okay, that nothing would happen to her, that she wasn't alone.

Nik made her feel safe at night.

He didn't know about what it was like for her on the Other Side, but he knew she needed to feel safe most at night time when it was cold and dark. He knew she liked his arms so tight around her that she could barely breathe. She liked knowing she could always feel him there. Nik watched when her hands started to fiddle, although really sometimes he just listened for her heart, and would pull one away, taking the anxiety with him.