MOONS.
017. | ❛ safest place is with me. ❜

Luna is sitting in an armchair in the courtyard, which has been completely made over with Christmas decorations, including a huge tree in the middle of the room that is adorned with white light and gold and red baubles. Luna is watching with equal parts curiosity, horror, and exasperation as a compelled woman drains blood from a cut on the palm of her hand into a wine glass. Luna gives her a confused look.

"Do they, like, pay you?" The blood donor smiles at Luna cheerfully as Klaus waltzes into the room and answers her question.

"Handsomely! And with a generous Christmas bonus." Klaus looks over at the woman, who hands him the glass of her blood.

"Isn't that right?"

The woman smiles weakly and nods before she leaves, and Klaus smirks at Luna in amusement as he sits down in the chair next to her to enjoy his morning meal.

"So, you just compel her to nod and agree with whatever you say?"

"I compel her to feed me... and to hang the occasional Christmas ornament. She can say whatever the hell she wants."

Luna laughs despite herself, and Klaus sips his blood with an amused smile. He hands his cup to Luna insisting she take a sip. She drinks the remaining blood helping her feed her appetite.

"You seem better."

"Yeah. Thank you for letting me stay here the last couple of days, and giving me space to not talk."

Klaus seems pleased to hear this, and Luna hesitates before she continues.

"Why didn't you go with Elijah to help Rebekah? I hope it's not to stay and babysit me." Klaus looks slightly ashamed for a moment as he glances sheepishly around the room

"It's not a good idea for he and I to spend hours together in confined spaces, given that the prophecy foretells one family member felled by another."Luna can see that Klaus is worried and gives him a reassuring smile.

"You don't think he would hurt you?"

"I don't know what to think." Klaus sighs before leaning forward and setting his glass down on the table.

"The damn fortune-teller's predictions continue to unfold, despite all our efforts..."

Just then, Luna's phone buzzes in the pocket of her jeans, and she reaches over to take it. When she looks at the screen, she finds a text from Cami that reads, "Kinney's in trouble. Need help."

"It's Cami. I have to go."

The news worries Klaus and his face looks pained.

********************

Luna has just arrived to Will Kinney's house from Cami's instructions and is knocking on his door, though Kinney doesn't answer. After a moment, she raises her voice and calls out to him through the door.

"Will? You in there? It's Cami"

Just then, a smiling Klaus appears behind the girls. They're so startled they jump when he interrupts her.

"I assume you called first. I've been told turning up at someone's home uninvited could be considered rude."

Cami is slightly annoyed that Klaus has showed up here.

"Are you seriously following me? Klaus, I don't need a bodyguard, or some white knight trying to protect me." Luna yells

Klaus' face becomes serious as he stares her in the eyes.

"I'm here as your friend."

Cami sighs, it's clear Luna is not unhappy to see him, and looks back at the front door to Kinney's house.

"Vincent said he'd be home..." Cami says

Klaus' eyes widen in horror when his vampire hearing senses what is going on inside, and he instantly shushes her.

"Shh, shh."

He puts his index finger against his lips as he focuses his hearing. Luna sees what Klaus is doing and follows, allowing them to hear the sound of Kinney's rapid heartbeat as he anxiously taps the barrel of a handgun against his temple, trying to muster up the courage to shoot himself under the chin with it in the living room. When Klaus realizes what Kinney is planning to do, he rushes toward the front door and kicks it open.

As soon as the door is open, Cami can see that Kinney is about to shoot himself and runs through the front door toward him, but Klaus and Luna are forced to stay behind and watch Cami fearfully from the threshold since they hasn't been invited in.

"Oh, my God! Will! No!"

They both begin to panic when Kinney instinctively aims his gun at Cami.

"Camille!" Luna says

"You shouldn't have come here!"

Cami looks at him with alarm and concern as she tries her best to talk him down.

"Will, it's gonna be okay. Just drop the gun." Will looks nearly hysterical as he gestures around with the gun and sneers at Cami.

"Insert empathetic psychobabble here! It's not okay!" Klaus, worried for Cami's safety and knowing she doesn't want Kinney to be hurt, tries to help Cami calm him down.

"Put the gun down!"

"Or what? You'll save me the bullet? I'm the definition of worthless! I try and try to make a difference, but there are things lurking out there in the shadows, and... And in the face of them, I am nothing. Do you understand?"

"It's Lucien's compulsion. Is there anything you can do?" Klaus thinks about this for a moment before looking at Kinney with a serious expression.

"Invite me in." Kinney seems conflicted about what Klaus is asking of him.

Klaus and Luna, who have been invited into Will Kinney's house, has just taken off his jacket and set it onto the couch before sitting down on the coffee table in order to look Kinney in the eyes while he talks to him. Cami now in Luna's embrace are standing in the doorway, watches Klaus comfort him and looks both shocked and impressed.

"While I can't take away the feelings of worthlessness that haunt you now, I can tell you you will learn to live with them. I certainly have. I have also come to find that the very thing you believe is worth the least matters most of all." Kinney looks unsure, and Luna is overwhelmed by Klaus' uncharacteristic kindness as he leans forward to look Kinney in the eye.

"There is beauty in the courage of the fragile fighter-- those who persevere despite all they've been through. Those who still believe there is good in the world. Us dark things often find we need the light the most." Klaus grabs Kinney by the back of the neck and stares him in the eyes to compel him.

"What you do not see in yourself, others see in you. You do matter."
Kinney, too, looks overwhelmed by Klaus' words, but as the compulsion kicks in, he gasps in relief, seemingly feeling a little better. Klaus pauses for a moment and looks up at Luna, who is near tears, before nodding at her and continuing.

"Have you a family?"

"Yeah, a sister. Baton Rouge." Klaus squeezes Kinney's shoulder with his hand and continues to compel him.

"Go to her. Enjoy Christmas. In the new year, you will return to your captain, and he will welcome you with open arms." Klaus reaches out and gently takes the gun out of his hands.

"And Detective? You will remember today as your darkest day." Klaus sets the gun out of Kinney's reach before turning back to him.

"Tomorrow will be better, the day after better still. You will go on."
Klaus smiles at him kindly.

*****************

Klaus is standing in the foyer when Luna walks into join him.

"Cami told me he's packing." Klaus turns to face her, his expression brightening at the sight of her.

"Klaus... What you did..."

Klaus cuts her off, "Was nothing."
Luna's eyes widen in surprise as she reaches toward him with both hands and cups the sides of Klaus' face so she can stare him in the eyes.

"It was not nothing." She smiles at him, and Klaus looks shocked by the affectionate and loving look in her eyes. However, just then, Klaus' phone rings, ruining the moment. Klaus reluctantly pulls the phone out of his pocket and frowns when he sees it's Elijah.

"Elijah." Klaus turns and walks away to take the call, leaving a confused Luna behind.

"I don't need the recipe. I know exactly where I can find the antidote. I'll be quick." Klaus quickly hangs up the phone and looks at Luna, who has just joined him on the porch.

"If the Strix have been using this poison for centuries, then Lucien has a cure, I guarantee it. Probably keeps it tucked away next to his cure for werewolf bites." Klaus smiles devilishly at her.

"I'm sure he won't mind if we break in and borrow it."

"You go. I'll be fine." Klaus' eyes widen in alarm at the thought.

"No."

Luna gives him a look, and Klaus sighs before replying in a gentler voice.

"If I'm going to save my sisters, I can't be worried about you. Right now, the safest place for you is with me."
Luna looks torn, and Klaus gives her a pleading look.

"Please."
Luna sighs and nods, and Klaus looks relieved as they prepare to leave.