Who: Tyler, Caroline, and Klaus What: Forwood's first real date gets rudely interupted When: End of May. Not long after this Where:Orange Hill Restaurant Ratings/Warnings: Lowish. Mentions of murder Status: Complete
Tyler was determined to do things right this time. Out of all the times he and Caroline had dated, in real life or in the dreams, it had never ended right. But now that they’d finally gotten all of their misunderstandings out of the way, now that they were finally together, he was determined that they’d never be apart again. And that meant actual dates.
He’d actually dressed up, donning a blue button-down shirt and a pair of black slacks. He’d made reservations at the Orange Hill Restaurant. He and Caroline were both vampires and wouldn’t get much nutrition from the meal, but they could always have a real meal later. What was important was that it was romantic, and he was sure Caroline would like the ambiance. And more than that, it was normal, and he was pretty sure they both needed some normalcy in their lives.
He pulled his BMW up in front of Caroline’s house, and knocked on her door.
Things with Tyler had been going great. Finally. It only took five plus years. But none of that mattered now. They were together. That was all that mattered.
As much as she loved the sex. Caroline would be lying if she said that was all she wanted. She enjoyed going out on dates. However, she knew Tyler had gone through a lot recently, with that asshole Klaus. So she hadn’t pushed. But of course when Tyler had suggested going out on a date Caroline jumped at the chance.
She spent a good portion of the afternoon getting ready, that was half the fun after all. Her nails were painted red, both fingers and toes, her hair fell in perfect golden curls framing her face, her makeup was flawless. She was dressed in a red dress with heels of course. And that classic Caroline smile on her face when she answered the door.
“Hey,” she greeted feeling butterflies of excitement fluttering around her stomach. Tyler looked as handsome as ever and Caroline couldn’t help but pull him in for a kiss.
Tyler wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back, smiling against her lips. It shouldn’t have surprised him how right this felt, and yet it still did. “You look beautiful,” he told her when the kiss broke, and he offered her his elbow so he could walk her to the car.
Caroline beamed at his compliment, more butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. Stepping outside she locked up before taking Tyler’s arm and heading for his car. “You know, I don’t remember you being this much of a gentleman back in high school,” she teased as he opened the car door for her.
Caroline’s eyes lit up as they approached the restaurant. “I’ve been dying to go here!” But of course Tyler probably already knew that. Just proof of how well he knew her.
“I don’t know if you knew this, Caroline, but I was a bit of a dick in high school,” Tyler said teasingly as he shut the door.
“I thought you’d approve,” Tyler said, as he pulled up front. He got out of the car and circled around to let Caroline out, then tossed his keys to the valet driver. “If you can’t come to a restaurant to enjoy the food, you might as well be able to enjoy the view.” Tyler paused. “Though, I guess I could do that anywhere where you’re sitting across from me.”
Caroline was well aware that Tyler wasn’t exactly the nicest guy back in high school. But he was never a dick to her. In fact he was usually pretty sweet. But tonight was a whole other level.
Caroline felt her cheeks redden at his last comment. “You’re really turning on the charm tonight,” she teased again as she got out of the car taking his arm again while they made their way inside.
“I’ve got a lot of time to make up for,” Tyler said. And rejections, albeit well intentioned rejections, to make up for as well.
“Two for Lockwood,” he told the maitre d’ as they made their way inside of the restaurant. It hadn’t been hard for Tyler to get a reservation; even without his particular vampiric talents, his name carried a lot of clout. Even if piggybacking off his father’s name didn’t exactly sit right with him.
“Of course, sir,” the maitre d’ said, finding their name on the list. “Please follow me.”
“Guy’s clearly never met me if he’s calling me sir,” Tyler said as he and Caroline followed the man, leaning in to whisper in her ear, quiet enough that there was no way the man could hear him.
He’d made the reservation for before sunset, timing it so the sun would set as they ate, and so it was still fairly bright on the balcony when the maitre d’ sat them at their table, up against the railing. The city of Orange spread out below them, down the steep hill, foliage growing green. The maitre d’ pulled Caroline’s chair out for her while Tyler took his seat.
Caroline almost laughed at his comment. But instead just gave Tyler a knowing grin. “I think that’s a first,” she replied just as quietly. As in the first time she had ever heard anyone call Tyler sir. Even at all the parties she went to for the Lockwoods. Granted her and Tyler had just been teenagers back then. But still.
Taking her seat Caroline looked out at the view in front of them. It was breathtaking. This was the perfect first real date for the two of them. It was special without being too over the top. And Caroline was completely enjoying her evening.
Klaus had enough of Tyler ignoring his calls. It was time he remembered who was in charge. He had gone to Tyler’s apartment earlier that day to remind him, when he overheard the other hybrid making a reservation for that evening. Well that was even better. Embarrass him in front of his pretty little girlfriend. Tyler deserved that and more for ignoring Klaus for days on end.
He showed up at the restaurant thirty minutes after the time of the reservation. Just as the happy couple’s meal was being brought out. The way Caroline looked at Tyler? It made him sick. Sure he only had a thing for the blonde in the dreams. But despising seeing her with his hybrid had apparently carried over to this world.
Klaus ignored the protests of the maitre d’ as he made his way over to their table. “Tyler,” Klaus commented with a low growl. “You should know better than to avoid me.”
When Tyler heard Klaus’s voice, the hairs on the back of his neck had stood up, and he leapt from his seat. He’d blocked Klaus’s number, knowing that if Klaus called him Tyler wouldn’t be able to resist answering the phone, and he had hoped that that would be enough to dissuade Klaus. After all, hadn’t Klaus once told him that he meant absolutely nothing to Klaus? That had been in the dreams, of course, but even still he hadn’t thought that Klaus would come seek him out. Especially not now.
“What are you doing here?” Tyler asked, placing himself between Klaus and Caroline.
“Is that any way to greet me?” Klaus replied. He’d get to the nature of his visit soon enough. Right now though he just wanted to have a bit of fun with his personal slave. He looked past Tyler to Caroline. Of course he notice how Tyler immediately placed himself in front of Caroline. Did Tyler really think that would stop him? He should know better by now.
“I don’t believe we’ve met, love,” Klaus said with a smirk as he reached for her hand, kissing the back of it. “Niklaus Mikaelson.”
Caroline instantly yanked her hand away. “I know who you are,” she replied sharply. Not so much from the dreams, she hadn’t had much interaction with the original hybrid yet other than him kidnapping her and Tyler. But she had heard enough from Tyler to hate the guy. Who forced someone to murder? Hell who even murdered people in the first place?
“Hi Klaus,” Tyler said, greeting Klaus before he even realized what it was he was doing. He made no move to stop Klaus from kissing Caroline’s hand, though his blood boiled to see it. It was hard not to, knowing that Caroline and Klaus slept together in the dreams. Who was to say that Klaus wasn’t going to steal Caroline away from him again in this life? Sure, maybe Tyler wouldn’t leave Caroline to try to kill Klaus, but he was still sired to Klaus which was arguably worse. Though he couldn’t stop the light smirk when Caroline yanked her hand away.
“We’re trying to have dinner,” Tyler said.
“I wouldn’t exactly call this dinner,” Klaus replied with a smirk of his own. This food wouldn’t sustain either of them. Yes, he could tell that Caroline was also a vampire.
“Then it’s a good thing it’s not for you,” Caroline replied sharply. She had zero tolerance for Klaus. It did bother her a bit that Tyler just accepted it. She had to remind herself that he had some freaky sire bond going on.
“Touche, love,” Klaus replied. “However, I was thinking of joining you.” He looked pointedly at Tyler. Waiting for his invitation.
Tyler shot a wide-eyed look at Caroline, a silent apology, and then, no longer able to meet her eyes, said “Well, have a seat. I’ll go get another chair.”
Caroline couldn’t keep the shock off her face. Hearing about the sire bond was one thing. But seeing it? It was whole other level.
“Look,” Caroline said to Klaus while Tyler was off getting him a chair. “I don’t know what your deal is. But you clearly have some issues.” She knew how powerful Klaus was. He had kidnapped her in the dreams. Murdered Elena’s aunt. Tried to kill Elena. But she wasn’t scared of him. Even knowing what he was capable of in both worlds. “Taking them out on Tyler isn’t going to solve anything.”
Caroline’s words may have resonated with his dreamself. But here they just pissed him off. “It’s time to go,” Klaus said to Tyler once he returned to the table. “Come on. We are going to get a real meal.”
Tyler shot another look at Caroline. Seeing her gave him strength. He’d tried to defy Klaus while sired in the dreams, and it hadn’t gone well. But that didn’t necessarily mean he had to stop trying. He planted his feet firmly on the deck. “No Klaus, I’m not going,” he said. “And I’m definitely not killing for you again.”
At his look Caroline stood up, walking over to Tyler she held his hand. A silent way to show she supported him. Was there for him. Would stand up to Klaus with him.
Well this just wouldn’t do. “I said,” Klaus growled. “It’s time to go.” His eyes narrowed at Tyler. Defying him was not an option. “Now.”
Tyler tried, but the urge to go with Klaus was too strong to resist. Still, that didn’t mean that he had to leave right away. He grabbed Caroline, and pulled her into a kiss. Maybe it was partly to rub Klaus’s face in the fact that Caroline was his girlfriend. “I’ll see you later, alright?” he said after breaking the kiss, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
Caroline swallowed and slowly nodded her head. Part of her couldn’t believe this was happening. Was this how their relationship was going to be? Everytime Klaus said jump Tyler said how high? She pushed those thoughts aside, pulling Tyler in for a quick hug. At least the pretense of a hug as she whispered into his ear, “come over when you’re done.”
Klaus looked away as the happy couple said their goodbye. Tyler was going to pay for that little display. “I said NOW!”
“I will,” Tyler whispered back. He winced a little when Klaus yelled at him, and tried to ignore the startled looks of the other customers in the restaurant. Without another word, he left Caroline’s side and made his way to Klaus’s. “You’d think you’d have a bit more patience after getting a thousand years of memories,” he muttered.
Klaus grinned triumphantly when Tyler finally listened. “And you’d think you would have learned to listen when I told you to do something,” he shot right back as they made their way out of the restaurant and into the night.
Caroline watched helplessly as her boyfriend left. Taking a breath to compose herself she called the waiter over to settle the check.