Everybody Talks: A Klaroline Fanfiction

Chapter 7

"This is a new low for you Elijah."

Elijah flicked the top half of his newspaper down to see Klaus, standing over his café table. He offered an indulgent glare in answer to his brother's menacing smirk.

"I'm surprised to see you awake so early Niklaus. Please have a seat brother and tell me what I've done to offend you," Elijah gestured to the vacant chair across from him. Klaus yanked on the wooden chair, its legs scrapping across the floor, the sound disturbing the morning serenity of the café.

"It's not me you've offended," Klaus replied as he sat, "It's Caroline."

At that Elijah's expression changed from irritated to concerned. "I'm not sure I understand."

"The story, about the bar fight and her almost being drugged. That wasn't meant to be used as a spin."

"I assure you, her name was kept out of it."

"People she knows from her hometown found out about it. She fought with her boyfriend about it."

"I see," Elijah said, "well I'll speak to Katherine about keeping Caroline's name out of the press in the future."

"That isn't the point Elijah. The story should have never been leaked in the first place."

Elijah put down his newspaper, smoothing it out across the table. "I'm sorry that you don't approve Niklaus and I regret if Caroline was hurt by the exposure, but my job is to worry about you. Sometimes I have to make the tough call to protect what you and I have built."

Klaus glowered at his brother, but knew he was right. He just hated that Caroline had gotten caught in the crossfire.

"Besides," Elijah quipped, "doesn't her fighting with her boyfriend make it easier for you?"

Klaus's angry expression softened a bit. "I thought you didn't approve."

"I don't," Elijah said raising his delicate cup of espresso to his lips, "you're taken and she is much too good for you."

Klaus chuckled. Even Elijah's minor insults couldn't bring him down that morning. He was in much too good of a mood from the night before. He'd gone to bed consumed with thoughts of Caroline and their late night chat in the banquet room. The way she kissed him. The way her white skin glowed in the darkness. The way her body felt in his hands for those few brief touches. Even the cold shower he took after he had returned to his room had done nothing to dispel the thoughts, and slight regret, at not following through when she had offered the one thing he had been wanting for days.

However, there was a silver lining to it all. He knew it would be smooth sailing with Caroline from there on out. She could no longer deny that she was attracted to him. He just needed her to admit it when she wasn't drunk. Her attempt at seduction had revealed her true desires. She would have succeeded too if he hadn't felt the need to be all moral at that moment. Christ, what was happening to him?

"I do have some good news," Elijah said breaking Klaus away from him musings.

"Our ideas of good news usually differ," Klaus muttered, ordering an espresso for himself as the café waitress hustled over to their table.

"We've rescheduled a bit. We'll be going to London tomorrow," Elijah told him.

Klaus cocked his head. "London?"

"Yes. I've invited Elena and the others to stay at our home with us while we are there."

Klaus smiled. "And we'll see Rebekah?"

"And we'll see Rebekah," Elijah answered with a smile that mirrored Klaus's.

Klaus's mood soared even higher. He couldn't wait to see his baby sister; it had been months of nothing but phones calls and emails between them. No doubt she would be slap him the moment she laid eyes on him for missing the run of her latest show on the West End. But she was always easy to win over with a few smiles and gifts.