Before The End

Art = The Inner Workings

You hadn't seen or heard from Klaus for a couple of days and you weren't one to chase after a man either. You continued on with your life going to class and work. This evening you were showcasing some of your art at one of the small local galleries. You were beyond nervous. It was your first real gallery showing that had some bigger names being showcased as well so some real art critics would be there glancing over and jusging your work.

"Well damn woman. If your art doesn't get their attention, you most certainly will."

You scoffed at your best friend/roommate. "Please..."

"Is it too late to showcase yourself as a piece of your art? You'd definitely get them talking."

"Shut up Sarah."

You wearing a dress of your own design that you were thrilled you managed to get tailored in time. You are a jack of many artistic trades, sewing not being one of them just yet.

"Come on date." Sarah linked your arm in hers as you both made your way to the cab waiting outside for you.
**********
The evening had been going well. You enjoyed many of the pieces being showcased and even heard some good praises on your own. Sarah was of course enjoying the artists more than the art itself. You laughed to yourself at your best being able to be comfortable in any setting with any audience. You had your moments, but you preferred to scope your surroundings before barging in.

"My, my. This must be the most exquisite piece I've had the pleasure to behold the beauty of all evening."

You recognized his voice and had to take a quick breath to slow your heart rate at his words. It did you no good as you saw the look of pure desire in his eyes as his stare followed your every curve from your head to your toes.

"You really know how to speak to the art Mister Mikaelson." You smirked at him.

"Only to the piece that speaks to me so eloquently. And I must say, I have never seen such a piece before quite as exquisite as you darling." He took your hand in his and kissed the back of it.

You didn't know what to say. You were so nervous with everything else of the evening, you couldn't think of witty reply to such words.

He had a smile spread on his face at your loss and merely took as it an invitation to link your arm in his and pull you in closer to him.

"Care to show me what you have on display this evening."

"If you mean my art hanging on the walls, then yes."

"Who says only paintings can be pinned to a wall love?"

You instantly felt your insides jerk excited to find out, but not wanting to give in either. This was only your second encounter with the man, but you couldn't deny the sexual tension between the two of you. You simply led him to your little corner where your pieces were on display.

Each piece was a different depiction of despair, but with a lightness to it that you could see hope in them too.

Klaus looked over your pieces and was in awe at what you were able to put onto canvas. He became intrigued in wanting to show you his own work.

"What do you think?" You asked. Feeling you might be more nervous about his opinion than of the other critics in the room.

"I love them. They're dark, but light. Quite a contrast in each piece captured perfectly."

"Thank you...Might I show you my favorite piece from another artist?"

"But of course."

You linked arms again as you walked him to a corner somewhat vertical from yours which was ironic considering these pieces were of brighter instances, but they held a darkness to them. A complete contrast to your own.

"This one is my favorite. To most they would simply see a happy scene painted in a darker contrast."

You weren't looking at him to see the look of astonishment on his face that one of his own pieces was your favorite.

"And what do you see?"

"I see...an artist that wants to be a part of the light. They want to be happy. To be free, but...there's a darkness wherever they go. That even the simplest of joys they are robbed of by being haunted. As if the artist themselves feels tainted. Maybe they don't feel they deserve such events of happiness, no matter how quickly fleeting they are. So, instead of it being a dark contrast...it's a shadow. A haunting, lingering remorse, guilt, pain. That the artist can't simply escape no matter how hard they try. Not even their escape of painting is free of it."

He was silent as tears started to form in his eyes. You looked just in time to see him try to blink them away.

"Are you ok Nik?"

He stood further from you as he seemed to try to regain himself.

"Could you excuse me for a moment? " Before you could respond he had sped off.

You didn't know what all that was about. You took a closer look at the paintings admiring the soft, but aggressive strokes and only then did you notice the initials on the corners. "N.M."
*************
You had wandered out to the gardens after getting stuck in speaking with more critics and artists about the different pieces showcased for the evening to find Klaus looking out over the balcony at the city below.

"I'm sorry if I upset you." You said as you stood close to him looking out over the city below as well.

"You...no one's ever read my art like that before."

"Then maybe they haven't been haunted as well to recognize it." You looked down at the drink in your hands not really wanting to discuss your own darkness that you had tried for so long to turn into a source of light.

You felt his hand rest on top of yours.

"But you see so much light. Even through the dark...how?"

You cupped his face in your free hand forcing him to look at you. He looked so broken, hurt, lost, and yet angry. His eyes searched your face briefly before they landed on your lips to flash back to your eyes as if asking for permission. You quickly started to close the space between the two of you and he did the same for your lips to come crashing together. He held you closer to him as your arms wrapped around his neck to run your fingers through his hair as one of his hands wrapped around your back and the other to the back of your neck pulling you into him as far as possible. The fire built between you two and you had to pull away to catch your breath. He rested his forehead against yours as his fingers lightly traced down your cheek as you peered up at him.

"I look for it...and once I find it, I don't let it die out."