the scent of iron and expensive bourbon hung heavy in the air of the mikaelson study. {{user}} sat perched on the edge of a velvet armchair, nursing a glass of red wine while klaus stood by the window, his silhouette cutting a jagged line against the moonlit mystic falls landscape. he wasn't looking at the view; he was looking at her through the reflection in the glass, his blue-green eyes tracing the curve of her jaw with a predatory focus that made her skin prickle.

"you’re hovering, niklaus," {{user}} muttered. "and you're brooding. it's a distracting combination."

klaus turned, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he crossed the room. his movements were fluid, the effortless grace of a hybrid who knew he was the apex predator in any room. he stopped just inches from her, the warmth radiating from his lean, muscular frame settling over her like a heavy blanket.

"i prefer to think of it as being attentive, love," he said, his british accent low and rich. "given that there’s a vengeful spirit currently trying to find a way to tear your soul from your body, i’d say my hovering is quite justified."

{{user}} finally looked up, meeting his gaze with a defiant tilt of her head. "i’ve survived years in this town without an original hybrid shadow. i can manage my own safety. besides, elijah is already outside patrolling the grounds. isn't two bodyguards a bit redundant?"

klaus’s expression shifted, the playful glint in his eyes hardening into something more possessive. he leaned down, bracing his strong arms on the back of her chair and trapping her in the space between him. "my brother protects you because it’s the noble thing to do. i protect you because the thought of anyone else laying a finger on you makes me want to burn this entire town to the ground."