So afraid to lose, tag; Damon <3

[Elena Gilbert]

Things were simply crazy anymore, and sometimes it was easy to forget that she wasn't the only one effected by all of it. Things had changed, there were still changing...now among those things, never would she thought her relationship with Damon would be one of them. It had always been complicated, but now? She cared about him far more than she ever would. He was the one person anymore that she felt like she could go to about anything. All the drama with Stefan, he was in this just as much as she...even more so. He was after all his brother, she was just the girl that Stefan had once loved. She had her issues, and so caught up in them, she had been avoiding everyone. Someone as stubborn as she, it shouldn't has come as much of a surprise to hear what she was planning to do now. When she had her mind set out something, that was basically it, depending on the situation it was near impossible to get her change it. Her grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel, it had been about...ten minutes? Somewhere around there since she had first pulled up the the Salvatore house. Since then there had been a lot of internal debating. Was this a good idea? Should she even have come? Her mind had been made up, talking to Alaric she realized she had to do something.


Just when it felt like things couldn't get any worse...something always happened to prove her wrong. It was hard to tell when it had happened, only that it didn't feel like things would get easier any time soon. Klaus needed to be stopped, for so many reasons. He couldn't get away with everything he'd done, for everything that he was going to do. Taking Stefan had been a heavy blow, it had left things even more of a mess than usual. But they weren't giving up...and they'd managed to keep it together so far. She still had Damon, or so that had been true... Whether he liked to show it or not, he loved his brother...and it wasn't because of her but Stefan that she knew she could trust him as much as she did. Others could say what they wanted, it didn't matter to her.. Alliances changed so much, several people she had trusted over time had ended up betraying them... Of course, the whole not getting worse thing, it had...things were horrible if she was being fully honest with herself. One unstable Salvatore was bad enough, now something was apparently going on with the vampires..all supernatural beings, vampires at least, who really knew. Her concern was for those she cared for and the very person she had come to see fell of course in that category.


She sighed to herself, knowing what she had to do...but there was of course doubts...Fears that even if she did try, it just wouldn't be enough to actually do something. Someone had to do something, he was unstable...a danger not only to himself but to everyone around him. Everyone she cared about...everyone that he cared about. After another long moment she knew that she couldn't just sit out here forever and so she pushed open her car door and got out before she came up with yet another reason why this was a bad idea. The sound of her footsteps could be heard as she walked, seeming far too loud compared to the silence. Up the the front door she went, first she of course knocked...and after a moment, she decided to open the door and let herself in. Who knew if anyone was even here, there was a rather large chance that no one was home. "Damon...?" Elena called, her voice a level about what would be considered a normal speaking voice. As a vampire, no matter where he was in the house, if he was here, he would hear her. It had been a few days...since they had last seen each other, and they had more than a lot of things to talk about....

outfit

[Damon Salvatore]

Melissa the Naughty Blonde Teenager moaned, slightly in pain and slightly in pleasure, as Damon sunk his fangs into her flesh once again – this time drinking slowly, sensually, despite his hunger. His arm wrapped around her, supporting her weakening frame – feeling her body shiver and tense, hearing her gasp with surprise – they were making out just moments before. Her hands held on tight to Damon’s arms, fingers digging into him, but she didn’t struggle, she didn’t run. Like a good girl, she stayed put because she was told to. A moan escaped Damon too – because every time he fed it was like the best blood he’s ever had. That is, until he stopped drinking and felt himself jonesing for more. It was the really crappy part of this whole situation. But for now, he was enjoying himself – very much. Because for now, he wasn’t thinking about how much Elena probably hated him and might never forgive him…again. He wasn’t thinking about how much of a dick Ric was being for holding a grudge over something he experienced about every other week – getting killed. And he wasn’t thinking about Stefan, out there doing the Ripper gig with a completely unkillable freak werewolf/vamp and there was nothing Damon could do about it. All he could think about was draining Melissa dry.

Melissa knew Damon wasn’t going to stop either – they both knew this. And suddenly, things got a lot less kinky and a lot more scary for her. “Damon…” she pleaded weakly. But Damon wasn’t even considering sparing her life. He was telling the truth when he kissed Elena – he was no better than this moment, right now. He didn’t deserve Elena’s forgiveness for anything he’s done, and there was nothing else but this. He wasn’t her hero, he wasn’t the knight in shining armor, and he wasn’t going to pretend to be. What was he exactly? He was in the moment. And he was nothing more than that. Why he was even thinking this much about it was weird – but the fact is that Elena was all he could think about lately was enough to make he want to finish Melissa off.

The blood itself snatched him from the world, his mind sending him visions of the past – the Daisy Buchanans of the 20s. Sexy troublemakers after prohibition that he had in his bed and later disposed of. Sage. Katherine. ”I shall miss you, Damon, while you’re out at war,” Before…

”Damon?”

It was Elena’s voice from downstairs that ripped Damon from the dreamy euphoria, holding the barely standing Melissa in his arms. He sighed irritably, took his wrist and bit into it. “Lucky for you someone has impeccable timing. You were pretty much a goner, Melissa. Come here,” He said guiding her mouth to his wrist as he fed her his blood. “Good girl, drink up.” That she did and as she quickly gained strength, she grabbed on to his arm, hungrily. “You’re a good sport, what with me trying to kill you and all, so I’ll give you a little extra.” He grinned, knowing he’d probably hook her on V for life if she wasn’t hooked already. But he didn’t really care.

“Okay that’s enough, we have company.” He said. When she backed away, Damon quickly caught eye contact with her and held her in compulsion. “Which means you’ve overstayed your welcome. You had a great time, no near death experiences involved - but you still need to leave now.” He smirked. “I’ll show you out.”

“Too bad,” she said, seductively with a smirk, one finger making a trail down Damon’s bare abdomen to the threshold of his pants and tugging on it teasingly a bit. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him.

“Mm, too bad,” he agreed with a smirk before she broke away, grabbing her purse and wrapping a scarf around her neck that he conveniently offered to her.

With that they both made their way out of Damon’s room and downstairs, Damon’s button-up shirt wide open and the girl Melissa acting extremely restless. “Well I had a great time, Damon, and we really should do it again sometime but I really have to go so – oh hi,” she said when she noticed Elena. “You must be the company. Okay well yeah I got people to do – I mean things to do so – yeah, I’m gonna go.” It was clear that she was cooked up on V. She glanced at Damon again with a grin and Damon flashed one right back with a bit of a small wave of his fingers.

“Buh-bye now.” He said suggestively.

“Bye,” she said wistfully as if she just had the best sex of her life – which she did. He watched her, his eyes admiring her body as she walked out the door. “Mm mm mm,” he said, shaking his head. He turned to Elena, his typical demeanor of nonchalance about her presence (despite how much he was glad to see her, and despite how much just looking at her affected him – after all, Elena was way better looking than the blonde, without question) – it all still came as easy as drinking bourbon.

“So what’s the occasion, Elena?” He said casually, walking over to said bourbon. Something told him he was going to need it and plus, he was already reeling from hunger and he just ate. “Scolding? Lecturing? Or maybe we can just cut to the chase – the fun part where I tell you that you’re wasting your breath…and then you can go back to angsting in your diary.” He grinned and shrugged before taking the cap off of the bourbon and pouring himself a shot. Why did he say that? Because it was true and…it was probably best if they both kept their distance. Unless…

He paused after pouring, and glanced at Elena. “…Unless you’re coming for part two of our little kiss.” He wiggled his brow teasingly. “The really fun part.” Nope. No shame involved.

[Elena Gilbert]

Really, that was more than a good question. What was she even doing here. Act first and ask questions later, that really had never been her. This had been thought out, days had been spent debating..:contemplating if this was really a good idea or not. Of course it wasn't. Damon wasn't safe...he was acting out, impulsive and dangerous. The fact that he had no control over it should have made it that much worse, but instead it was why she was so determined to try. Those she cared for, they were easily everything to her, and somewhere along the way...Damon had fallen into that category. If anyone could get him to listen, it was her...at least it's what she was counting on as she came to the Salvatore house. There was silence that greeted her when she called out, maybe, he wasn't here after all....Her lips pressed together in a tight line to keep from sighing, her dark hair pushed back out of her face. If he wasn't here as it seemed, who knew where he was and more importantly when he would be back. 


She was contemplating...debating whether to just leave or not when she found herself no longer alone...Damon and his...company. And they certainly made no efforts to be quiet about it. It really took someone stupid or extremely denial to not realize what the pair had been up...probably not even minutes before she had walked in. This shouldn't have been a surprise..Damon was just being...Damon... Still it didn't mean that she liked. The pair walked into the room and it was damn near impossible to keep a straight face. The girl kept on talking, like Elena wasn't standing right there...but then she saw her. You must be the company. "Yeah...I guess so..." It was awkward, she was trying(and failing) to act like this hadn't bothered her. But then she was gone...and besides there were other things to worry about besides Damon's latest conquest. 

She swallowed, half tempted to just leave herself...she has come here for a lot of different reasons, most of them forgotten...her focus sadly shattered. It was like this was no big deal, like it happened all the time...In theory trying to help him had sounded...not exactly like a good idea, but it was something that she wanted..:now she wasn't all that sure. "You didn't have to stop on my account, I mean I could go since it looks like you have better things do do..." Getting upset with him, she had to know it wasn't going to help...and neither was the hostile attitude. So she sighed, trying to clear her head, get herself to calm down. "Look...Damon. Alaric told me what's going on....And you might be all for the whole have fun without regrets, do whatever you want but something's going on and sooner or later your going to do something or say something and you won't be able to take it back..." There was a small pause in her words, maybe he wouldn't listen...but she was far from done. "I care about you, and I don't want that to happen. So fine, just go back to not caring but sooner or later you will and I just hope the whatever happens is worth it..." 

They had kissed, he was the one who had kissed her...but she certainly hadn't done anything to stop him. She had done quite a bit of kissing herself, he had started it but obviously he was far from the only one to blame as far as that went. There was a lot of internal conflict as far as all this went. If Ric hadn't stepped in when he had, he obviously wouldn't have been killed....but at the same time, if he hadn't stepped. Who would have stopped them?! Who was to say it wouldn't have just...kept on going. Rational that hadn't exactly been going on in that moment.. She was just in that moment, letting herself feel things she never thought she would. Elena had in a sense clung to it, refusing to let it go away...but it had and the aftermath was hardly worth it. Part two...like it or not her heart skipped a beat, easily a reminder to the say she had felt in that moment before it had gone all wrong. 


But that was just it, a thought, she couldn't stop it from crossing her mind that's all it was. All it ever would be. She had Stefan...well no actually she didn't, but she loved him and Damon...well it was just far too complicated to even consider getting into. She lifted her chin, standing her ground...he had gotten to her once and she couldn't let him happen again. No matter how good it had felt "I think you have me confused with your new friend that just walked out the door." There was a bitterness to her tone, dare it be said, she actually felt jealous. Was this a surprise, he was unstable... Vampires, there was something wrong with him, and he was certainly no exception to that. Elena sighed, clearly frustrated and that at least, she didn't care if he saw. There was quite a bit of distance between them and for the moment at least she held no desire to try and change that fact.  This was truthfully a horrible idea, so far nothing good had come from this... To be so negative when he had only just walked into the room was hardly a good thing. Elena wanted to help him, but what could she do... She knew what he was doing...but knowing and actually seeing it were two different things. Write in her diary, it wasn't something she had done in a very long time and now, it probably wouldn't change. "You can't do that again Damon..." She said after a moment, finally allowing herself to meet his gaze again, hoping that it more believable than she swore it had sounded. He was across the room and that was a very good thing to be quite honest.. Clearly self control for him was out the window, and she were here to help...not just be another girl. She was here because she cared and that was why she remained where she stood.

[Damon Salvatore]

"You didn't have to stop on my account, I mean I could go since it looks like you have better things to do..."

Damon smiled at that, amused, because he couldn’t help but hear the pang of jealousy in her voice. Was that jealousy? Sounded like jealousy. Oh it was definitely jealousy. Which was funny because that is not something Damon expected to hear from the girl that was grudging over him killing her makeshift parent/teacher. As a matter of fact, Damon wasn’t expecting to see her at all. She must not have gotten word of the little excursion he and Caroline had not too long ago – she’d really get a kick out of that. Judging by the fact that that incident wasn’t the first thing Elena blurted out of her mouth – it was apparent Caroline hadn’t blabbered her mouth yet. Damon wasn’t banking on that being the case for long.

But to Elena, Damon didn’t say anything yet, he let her continue after she paused. He proceeded to fix himself a drink and gloat a bit internally about the kiss and the fact that it was something she was no doubt thinking about. Underneath all that hatred and anger, she loved it.

"Look...Damon. Alaric told me what's going on....And you might be all for the whole have fun without regrets, do whatever you want but something's going on and sooner or later your going to do something or say something and you won't be able to take it back..."

Damon took the shot glass he poured for himself from the top, gripping it just below the rim with his fingers as he turned to her, noting the brief pause. Alaric told her what was going on? The same thing going on since vampires existed? Someone was late on the uptake. Sure things were a bit crazier now, but Damon wasn’t doing anything he hadn’t done before. He was feeling weirder, a bit more out of control, and he knew that much. And judging by the hallucinations, maybe something was going on. But as far as Damon was concerned, it was a matter of getting his act together. Eating people wasn’t exactly a special occurrence for vampires.

Damon took a good swallow of bourbon in the midst of her pause. Yeah. He needed it.

"I care about you, and I don't want that to happen. So fine, just go back to not caring but sooner or later you will and I just hope the whatever happens is worth it..."

Apparently she missed the part where he said that she was wasting her breath if she wanted to lecture him. But fine, he’ll play along. He’ll let her play unnecessary savior. Damon pressed his lips together briefly as the mild burn of the alcohol went down his throat, then shrugged nonchalantly. “You know, this is just a wild guess – but all this beating around the bush you’re doing tells me you’re still mad about that whole Ric incident.” He grinned a bit and gestured casually to her with the hand holding his glass. “But – there’s always a silver lining. Because if I really wanted to, I could have killed him for good. Does that not count for anything?” It counted in Damon’s book. Okay, he was teasing. But it wasn’t like it wasn’t true.

"I think you have me confused with your new friend that just walked out the door."

“You’re right. I share so much sexual tension between you both that it’s hard to tell the difference,” He replied with ease. He gulped the second shot of bourbon and put down the glass before taking casual steps closer to Elena.

“You can't do that again Damon..."

He knew that. But he couldn’t help but want it. Just looking at her now made him want to do more than just kiss her.

“Fine,” Damon said, closing the gap between them, blue eyes gazing over her briefly and suggestively, taking her body in. “But something tells me you’re not here just to give me an Anti-Killing PSA announcement – you’re too busy not forgiving me to fit it in your schedule.” He poked his bottom lip out in a small pout before smirking a bit. “So, tell me…what do you really want, Elena?” The last few words slipped off of Damon’s tongue almost sensually – his voice low and mischievous. He was well aware of the fact that his shirt was still open and very easy to slip off.

[Elena Gilbert]

By now, listening to the advice of others, it's something she should do. Without a second thought. Given everything that had happened and everything that's going on now. Saying it's not a good idea, chances are, it really isn't. That much could easily be said for this moment. Elena was hardly happy with Damon Salvatore, what he had done was unforgivable. He shouldn't be forgiven, yet each day that had passed, she found herself becoming not nearly as upset with him as she should be. As her friend, that had to count for something, and yes...she was very much worried about him. That concern had led her hear, but that of course wasn't the only reason. That worry; it extended past him to everyone else she cares for. This, whatever was happening, was much bigger than just him acting like this. She had to do something, and this, was really all she had come up with. Not exactly her best or well thought out plan...there was no going back now. This wasn't going to be easy, however other than that, she had no idea what to expect.


His company for example. She certainly hadn't expected it, but in hindsight she probably should have. It was pretty obvious there's nothing he wouldn't do... But knowing about it, and actually seeing it...they were two different things. She didn't like it, she was anything but happy...though she was too busy forcing herself to pass it off as concern for him to consider anything else. But enough about that, she was gone...and there was more important things to focus on. Like why she had come in the first place. She spoke, despite him telling her it would basically be a rather large waste of her time. There was a lot she had to say, and getting it out there was what she planned to do. "And why wouldn't I still be mad? He's my family Damon, he's your friend and you killed him for what, because he was just looking out for me." It was...obviously still a very sore subject for Elena, the sudden tone change made that all too clear. She was far from over it. 



Given... The situation, anything he did...shouldn't have surprised her... Yet he easily managed to with his words. So effortless comparing her to the woman who he had let walk out the door not even ten minutes ago. She let it go, bitting her tongue, so to speak. Step back; keep the distance between them... Elena could feel it, her mind screaming at her...every rational thought begging her to move. Yet she stayed, it took more self control than she knew she possessed, but she stood her ground. For one reason, and one only. Because even the slightest amount of hesitation he would know that he really was getting to her, and she couldn't let that happen. It didn't matter, what she may or may not have felt, nothing would ever become of it. It was hard, harder than she would have ever thought trying to keep her composure. There was one thing she couldn't control, the rapid beat of her heart. Pounding against her chest far quicker and harder than normal, the tell tale sign that something wasn't quite right. Like it or not, there was nothing she could do about that. Fine...yes he agreed with her, but did she believe him? Not really, at least not at the moment, with his current state. 


She swallowed, keeping his gaze, doing her best to just ignore it.. The way he looked at her, the way he's talking, and the way he's acting...all of it. "And what exactly gave you that idea..?" She finally found her voice once again, speaking when she was sure her tone wouldn't give her away. Whatever he was planning, she knew this much, she had to be careful. Elena sighed, using that as an excuse to take in a deep breath. Calm. Just breathe and stay calm. "What do I really want? I came...because I was stupid enough to believe that I might actually be able to talk some sense into you.." Elena had wanted to help him...she still did, just this obviously wasn't working. "But you said yourself I'm wasting my breath, so maybe I should just go.." She glanced over her shoulder, towards the door, it really was a tempting idea.  Sure she had practically just got here, but this was getting too serious, far too quickly. 

[Damon Salvatore]

"And why wouldn't I still be mad? He's my family Damon, he's your friend and you killed him for what, because he was just looking out for me."

“Well technically I killed him because he was pissing me off. Just so happens that for Ric, dying comes with a huge side effect - coming back to life. No substitutes in American History class, all is right in the world, ” he answered, widening his eyes a bit because he was stating the obvious, a small smirk tugging his lips at the end of his sentence. Why would he kill Ric because he was looking after Elena? Looking after Elena was a full time gig for the former residents of Mystic Falls – but Ric had no business getting into things that would no doubt get his neck snapped. Obviously he hadn’t learned his lessons when he got body jacked by that stupid demon.

Bottom line, Damon was not amused about the fact that they were still talking about this. If it were up to him, they’d be doing something that requires no talking whatsoever. He knew he screwed up – pissing off Elena obviously wasn’t his intention. And he wasn’t expecting Ric to take it so damn personally. He really wasn’t thinking much at all – he was hungry, pissed, drunk and Ric was an idiot. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what was going to happen with that train wreck of a combination. And now, the only thing he regretted about it was Elena acting like he killed a puppy and fed it to the squirrels. That and Ric getting all pissy about it. You’d think Ric thought that Damon didn’t know he had that stupid tacky ring on. Every one just needed to move on.

"And what exactly gave you that idea..?"

Damon made an ambivalent face. “Well if you’re going to keep up pretending to be mad at me, you have to make it believable, Elena.”

“What do I really want? I came...because I was stupid enough to believe that I might actually be able to talk some sense into you. But you said yourself I'm wasting my breath, so maybe I should just go…"


Elena looked towards the door but didn’t make a move to leave - typical of a woman in denial. “You should – but we both know you won’t,” he said, voice low – the statement so punctual that it seemed to linger in the air. Damon touched her chin, gently guiding her gaze back over to him. “You’re waaay too stubborn to give up that easily,” he said with a smirk, removing his hand from her skin before he got too carried away. Self restraint was getting pretty scarce – and for a moment there, he almost forgot Elena made it pretty clear that she didn’t want to kiss him again. He paused and tilted his head a bit and said the following – insinuating that this wouldn’t be a short visit from Elena, despite what she may say: “You should probably get comfortable. I could fix you a drink. Bourbon? Water? Bourbon?”

[Elena Gilbert]

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she reluctantly knew that he was very much correct. There was something there, the tension was thick enough that if it was a real substance it would have smothered them both.  That was the defining difference, feeling something and actually acting upon it. She could feel however she wanted, but that didn't matter.  Her stupid body though, it wasn't like she could actually tell it what to do...how to feel. Her guard was up, but she was trying to play it off like it really wasn't...or at the very least, it was because of what had taken place on that night. Elena wasn't afraid of him, no, it was whatever was going on. She swore it was rubbing off on her, he at least had an excuse...vampires were irrational. More so than usual, cravings of the animalistic and sexual variety stronger than normal.  Which was why... She wanted to leave, it was an excuse...saying that she couldn't help him. Better that the true reason, he wouldn't let get go if he knew. There it was there, in the put of her stomach...that seductive and dangerous mix of fear and adrenaline.  

The closer he got, with each step he took that brought him to nearer to her... The emotions(if possible) only heightened. She was worried, the rational side of her was aware that he was a loose canon, capable of just about anything. It wasn't him hurting her that she was afraid of.... But hand in hand with that fear, came the curiosity... Reluctant, though it was there none the less. Her muscles in her leg practically twitched, the feeling of moving there...just the simple motion... That's all she had to do. She stood her ground, even if... She couldn't exactly look him in the eyes. A half hearted excuse, pretty pathetic... Even she had to agree. Her brown eyes narrowed, she shouldn't have been surprised. "You don't know that..." Ugh. She couldn't even defend herself right; what the hell was wrong with her today?! "I still could, you said do yourself, no matter what I say you aren't going to listen..." She replied, her tone dry...knowing she should leave...


Elena was stubborn, one of her more dominant traits... Good, bad, or otherwise...it always depends upon the situation.... In this case, it certainly wasn't doing her any good. It had kept her from moving...from being smart... Her expression softened, like it or not, and her head was turned. No thought needed, his hand on her chin, coaxing her to look at him again. His hand felt cold..but his touch made her skin feel like it was on fire... In a gold way. No... Not that it was good, because it wasn't. Her eyes, his gaze...wasn't where he attention went at first. His lips, but hopefully before he noticed, her head tilted up ever so slightly... Brown eyes finally meeting his own vivid blue. "Fine, I won't leave...but only because if I'm here so will you, and not out doing anything else stupid...." Her words...came out a bit harsher than she probably should have...She was mad at herself...not him, well she was...but not for the reasons right now... It  was confusing. 
outfit

[Damon Salvatore]

"You don't know that…I still could, you said do yourself, no matter what I say you aren't going to listen..."

Damon just grinned that snarky knowing grin of his, almost out of pity. She was doing a horrible job trying to convince herself that she’d leave, what made her think that she was going to convince Damon? Sure, she could storm right out of there, all Ms. Independent-like, which would probably be the best outcome for the both of them. Elena wouldn’t have to waste her breath and Damon wouldn’t have to sit there looking at what he couldn’t have. Elena was the very person he’d been hallucinating about – yep, plenty of annoyingly vivid dreams to go along with his blood binging. Completely unhelpful.

Besides, he already did what he needed to do. He let her know how he felt – he needed to say it and he needed to kiss her. Now that it was over and he got that sappy moment off of his chest, they could go back to antagonizing each other. Damon was well aware that nothing would come of them, not just because she was still in love with Stefan – not just because he totally screwed up by having Ric for lunch – but because he knew he didn’t exactly have that much time in the world for long term relationships, his deal with Crowley pending. But even knowing all of this, it just made his desire for her worse – then again, he was good at controlling himself…for the most part…sort of…maybe.

Because he did notice the way she looked at him. He knew that there was something thick going on between them – and he couldn’t just ignore it. He saw in those beautiful brown way-too-much-like-Bambi eyes that she wanted him. The fact that he didn’t have that much time left to spend with her made it even more frustrating that she didn’t want to admit it herself. Did she have feelings for him? Did she really want him like he thought she did? Or was he just seeing things? Considering how much drinking blood was making him go crazy – he was starting to question that certainty.

"Fine, I won't leave...but only because if I'm here so will you, and not out doing anything else stupid...."

Damon blinked and smiled at this, amused. “Like what? Have dinner?” He stifled a bit of a laugh and walked away from her over to the liquor. No of course, despite everything, he didn’t want her to leave. She was pretty hot eye candy after all. “Let me save you the trouble – you can’t nurse me into not eating people.” He paused after pouring a glass. “Unless you’re going to wear that sexy nurse costume,” he smirked at the thought and looked at Elena pointedly, as if expecting her to consider it. “Then I might be more easily persuaded.”

He poured another glass and lifted it up, shaking it a bit, a mischievous gaze in his light eyes. “Want one?”

[Elena Gilbert]

Nothing was going to happen...nothing could happen, for so many different reasons. Not just because of the obvious, that she was still very much in love with his brother. It was just, it wasn't right. Not even including she was supposed to still be upset, no the anger hadn't completely faded into oblivion...but holding a grudge was a lot harder than she thought. Alaric had been killed, and as much as he didn't deserve it, almost instantly afterwards...subconsciously she has been making excuses for Damon. Something was wrong, something far beyond his control. Now was not the time to push him away, he needed him.... She had to help him.... There was the desire to help him, but her pride and every relational thought that remained was urging her to just turn and go out the door. Problems or not, it didn't seem he was all that upset with his condition. 




Scoffing, she shook her head...a small smile playing along the corner of her lips. Crazy blood lust aside, he was still the same Damon. There was a part of her that was annoyed with his comment, but he did have a point...at least here there was nothing he could do. She took in a deep breath, he stepped away and that was exactly what she needed. She was starting to wonder if she wasn't the one with control problems. A kiss... That was all it was and all it ever would be... It was just easier that way, and there was other reasons, things she didn't want to get into now...or ever if she could help it.  Her lips parted, and yet no words for the moment came out. Mouth closing once more, she just didn't want to argue. Her lips pressed together, as of that would be enough to hide her frown. She wasn't happy about this...not at all. "Won't stop me from trying." Speaking finally, her arms folded across her chest. 


Trying to keep an open mind about this, well it was a lot harder than she would have thought. A vampire, obviously he needed blood to survive...but until recently, he had been doing so much better.... "I just don't like the idea of you going around...killing people, especially people who care about you..." There was a pause, clearly she was struggling with her words... She wasn't happy, but what exactly could she do....?! "Are blood bags...not working anymore." She sighed, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I...I meant what I said, I do want to help but I have to understand..what's going on..."  she took a small step forward, but that was it...rolling her eyes as she shook her head. "Oh I would but I left it behind in Mystic Falls." She even managed a smile as she teased him. Problems or not, she had missed him. 


Being hostile it wouldn't get either of them anywhere... And anything she may of may not have felt, all that mattered was that she was here now. Here to do what she could for him...even if at this point that didn't seem like it would be much at all.  One step, and then another, stepping across the room until she was at his side. "Fine, it can't hurt anything..." One drink wouldn't kill her and truthfully...she needed it...with all that happened: and with everything going on. A drink was the least that she deserved. Reaching out she took the glass in her hand, bringing that to her lips, she easily took a drink.  Lowering it after a moment,  her gaze flickered down  and then up to his face. "so...the other night... When I umm I saw Stefan, ... I- I told him...that I kissed you, he was upset...and I didn't listen. It's my fault he...attacked me" While she spoke, she couldn't quit bring herself to meet Damon's gaze...just like on that night, she was trying to shoulder the guilt. Like that night...she didn't want Damon to hate Stefan just as she had worried Stefan would hate Damon...

outfit

[Damon Salvatore]

Won't stop me from trying."

“How about if I snacked on one of your classmates? That Nick kid seems tasty,” he looked over at Elena with a bit of a challenge in his eyes. Honestly, he wasn’t an idiot. She was trying to play savior. Right his wrongs, make excuses, GPS his roadmap to redemption. But no matter what was going on with all the vampires, it wasn’t going to happen. He didn’t want or need her help anyway. Even if his bloodlust wasn’t off the charts, she expected him to be some vampire superhero. He wasn’t Stefan, not even close. So who knows? He might have killed a person or two without the crazy vampire epidemic. He might have screwed up again. And so what if he did? He didn’t need Elena being his morality police. And appeasing her in that department wasn’t exactly on Damon’s bucket list, despite being in love with her – why? Because it just wasn’t going to happen.

”I just don't like the idea of you going around...killing people, especially people who care about you...”

Ugh, back to the Ric thing again. He had to roll his eyes in exasperation just so she’d know that he was already tired of hearing about it. What did she expect for him to do? Apologize? Yeah, not going to happen. He wasn’t sorry. Okay, so maybe Elena being this mad at him sucked but if it wasn’t about Ric, it would’ve been something else. Might as well let the cards fall as they may. That and – well no he really wasn’t sorry. Ric was fine, alive enough to still be mad at him. As far as Damon was concerned, he didn’t do anything wrong…well, killing people might be wrong according to some but it couldn’t be that bad when they came back to life.

She asked if the blood bags weren’t working anymore and Damon snorted at the simplicity of the question. “Well considering we’ve exhausted our supply in the span of 2 days, you tell me.” No Damon didn’t mention that it was mostly Caroline’s fault, and that they rectified the problem – at least temporarily, by killing an unsuspecting couple and stealing their car to dump the bodies. That would be TMI.

"I...I meant what I said, I do want to help but I have to understand…what's going on..."

Damon was pretty sure he explained it and he shook his head dismissively. When a hunter pisses off a vampire, the vampire has the hunter for dinner. Simple.

“Oh I would but I left it behind in Mystic Falls."

“Oh stop making excuses,” Damon said with a teasing grin, narrowing his eyes a bit. If it were up to him, he’d go out and by a new – much more revealing – outfit for her himself. But she already knew that.

Elena took his offer for a drink and Damon immediately took a swallow of his own. Right when she said the word ‘so,’ Damon knew she was going to kill the buzz before it even got started. Did he really want to hear what she had to say next? No not really. She already rehashed the Ric thing twice. He’d rather just drink without the talking. But she knew that too.

"so...the other night... When I umm I saw Stefan, ... I- I told him...that I kissed you, he was upset...and I didn't listen. It's my fault he...attacked me.”

Damon swallowed the second shot quicker than he anticipated doing so and looked directly at Elena, eyes wide. “What?” he was already pissed at Stefan. This didn’t help. So Stefan knows, great. And apparently he cares enough to break almost every bone in Elena’s body. Even better. Ugh. Now what was he supposed to do with that? “Well apparently overreacting runs in the family.” He said, pressing his lips together – clearly displeased. He lifted his glass again and took another swallow, walking away from her to the couch and sitting down, putting his feet up on the ottoman. “So what are you going to do Elena? Clearly it’s a touchy time for vampires everywhere.” He shrugged.

[Elena Gilbert]

This was a very...complicated time, not just for vampires...it was hard for everyone.. For different reasons of course. She still couldn't fathom why anyone would want to cause something like this, but this'd who did...did they really need a reason. Elena was taking a chance by coming here, but it was that....or stag locked up in her room. And being alone....she swore she would honestly go insane. She was here, much to her and probably Damon's surprise....the whole never forgive him thing....That was before he decided to save her life. It didn't change what he had done.... But it certainly made hating him next to impossible. It also showed her, that he wasn't a list cause.... He was far from perfect, and he was more than willing to prove that. Elena folded her arms across her chest, clearly not amused. "You 're not going to touch him." That wasn't a threat, but a promise... Ignoring the fact that if he wanted, there was nothing she  could do to stop him.


Elena didn't know Nick that well, he was in her class....and that was about it. He didn't deserve to die, she knew that too. Joke or not, she was hardly amused and she wasn't afraid to let him know that. "But fine, go ahead, you'll only have yourself to blame when I stop talking to you." He had killed Ric, and she still was...but her words were hardly an empty threat... Yes he was a vampire, and sure...he needed blood to survive, but by no mean would she approve of killing people...not senseless slaughter like that. She didn't like threatening him, but desperate times call for desperate measures... "I just don't want to lose you too..." This was far bigger than just them, than anyone she knew.... Stefan...she had lost him. That's what hurt the worst...she had hurt him and he had nearly killed her because of it. Like it or not...she had lost him, and she couldn't lose Damon too...not like this.  

She was trying not to judge....this was different from when she had first met Damon.... His control it sucked, and he wasn't the only one.... Her lips pressed together for a moment... No, blood bags weren't working... Or not well.... The alternative to killing someone.... of course it wouldn't work. She glanced down, shifting her arm, focusing upon her wrist... Maybe.... It was crazy but....She moved her arm against her side, looking elsewhere.  "They aren't enough. But what if...you had something else.  Someone to drink from, so you didn't have to keep doing this..." In theory....no even in theory it sounded stupid. It was an awful idea, but believe it or not, she trusted him...and she didn't want him to lose himself...just because of this. 


Part of her hoped he wouldn't get what she meant... That he would want her go explain...and then she would use brush it off as nothing. She wanted to help....but there was a point when it became too much... None the less, she just had to wait and see...which was why it was so easy to move on to other things. For example his need to be a smart ass. "Who said I was making up excuses." She easily replied, who knew if she had the costume or not...probably not... It had gotten torn and with her blood on it.. That night wasn't one she liked to think about; and so she had gotten rid of it. 


"I-" Her lips parted, but she hesitated...clearly struggling because even she didn't have the answer to that question. What was she going to do?! A very good question... Stalling seemed like a pretty good idea, even she had her limits when it came to honesty hour. So to keep from speaking she took a drink, a larger one than expected... Which explained why she winced as she swallowed.. The alcohol had a burning effect on her throat as it went down. It wasn't something she did very often, but a conversation like this....it required a drink...or two..or more. Slowly she shook her head, because she truthfully didn't know. Damon was having his problems...his lack of self control but she had been proven that he wasn't the worst off. "I don't know...try not to think about the fact that tried to kill me..." It wasn't something she had talked about; not with anyone...as far as she was aware the three of them were all who knew what had happened... She turned away from Damon then, setting her glass down as she leaned into the  table. It hurt, of course it did...it would be strange for her not to be upset by this.... But she didn't want him seeing that, because even after all that Elena didn't hate Stefan, and she'd never forgive herself if Damon did...

[Damon Salvatore]

"You 're not going to touch him."

Damon grinned and shrugged indifferently at Elena's little warning about Nick. No, she wasn't amused but Damon was. And the world wouldn't be in alignment if that weren't the case between him and Elena. Besides:

"You know, you are so adorable when you act like you have any say in what I do," He smiled sincerely because he was being serious even if it may not have come across that way. How she glared at him - brown eyes all judgy, arms crossed as if she had some sort of power over him. It was cute. And sexy. She was a challenge and it was one of the reasons why he couldn't help but fall for her. Everything about her emoted strength and confidence and spunk. He couldnt get enough of her. If it were up to him, they'd be even closer but it wasn't up to him. It was up to her.

This was why compelling people's love was so much easier.
But was it really?
Damon wanted it to be real.

Well, he certainly wasn't winning any points threatening to kill her classmates, that's for sure. No he didn't buy her little threat. What was happening between them was way too thick for Elena to pull that off. And..."Really? The silent treatment? Are you seriously threaten me with the silent treatment?" Damon stiff led a laugh and shook his head.

But his smile lessened a little with her next sentence. This fear of losing him. What was that? What was he supposed to do with that? Being what he is - who he is - that was losing him? Damon's brow furrowed and his breath caught in his throat as if he were suddenly rendered speechless and perplexed. He blinked rapidly a few times , having no idea how to respond or what to think. What was just sitting in between their words was the biggest problem Damon had with no way to fix it.

He wanted Elena. Bad. And over time, he convinced himself he had a shot to win her over. He planted the idea in his head at some point. No, he never acted on it - brother's girl and all. But he couldn't help but think about the possibility. It was what drove his decision to kiss her. That maybe...just maybe...

"They aren't enough. But what if...you had something else. Someone to drink from, so you didn't have to keep doing this..."

What Elena said and implied took about a second to register. At first he thought of some random plaything, who she already met coming in the door. But the way she tensed up signaled something else entirely.

"Wait, what?" Damon scoffed., finally 'hearing' the ridiculousness of the thought. Elena opening her veins to him meant that she was putting a lot of trust in a vampire's self control - a trust that would ultimately get her killed. But he let her answer that last question he asked before responding - just to get an idea of exactly how much her brain wasn't working. It was then that he sat up and put his glass on the table, a sharpness in his gaze.

"Are you really that stupid? What's happening with all the vampires isn't just hormonal mood swings, Elena. It's hunger. Stefan didn't try to kill you, he wanted to kill you. It's only by some miracle that he got over his Jekyll/Hyde - Ripper/Savior complex and called me." There was a pinch of anger in his voice, maybe out of outrage that Elena apparently liked being human bait. Maybe out of frustration that Elena couldn't see what vampires were. What Damon was. What Damon couldn't change and didn't want to change.

"There's no point in me going off to save you if you're just going to get yourself killed again" Damon stated firmly, looking at Elena for a response.

[Elena Gilbert]

She hardly knew what she was doing, that much seemed to be the case anymore. Barely keeping a hold of things...doing everything in her power to keep from going under. It could be seen though, and it would just be so much easier..to give up and give in. Everything was falling apart, just once thing after another. Let it happen, after all, what could she possibly do to stop it. Only a human...just one person. Though giving up...being stubborn by nature, it literally went against everything that she was. No matter what happened, when she loved someone...she could never fully turn her back on them. Hence why she had come much sooner than expected to the boarding house. Of course just because she couldn't hate Damon Salvatore, it didn't mean she was happy with him. Right now she was anything but. Dead serious with her remarks, but clearly...it wasn't quite having that effect upon him. He was amused, this was funny to him...and in return it just annoyed her that much more. This,  it was far from a joke. She huffed, he was right....unfortunately.  Talk all she like....when it came down to it, there was nothing she could actually do to stop him.  "This isn't funny. She snapped, not happy..:but they both already knew that by now.


Elena wanted to help him, but that would be easier said than done. What with him being a stubborn pain in the ass and all. She shrugged, maybe the silent treatment wasn't exactly an effective method..certainly was a childish one. But as the say...desperate times.. "Well you said so yourself, clearly you're just going to do what you want...no matter what I think." She paused a moment, shaking her head. "I just thought I would be 'nice' enough to let you know what will happen if you keep up with this. Maybe you don't want to listen to me, I just hope you enjoy not talking to me too." She added, speak first....think later. This whole thing...:well it wasn't exactly going well. But it wasn't like this was even a good idea to begin with. Elena didn't want to lose him, but what was happening...the whole whatever with the vampires...she also just couldn't ignore it. Vampires were acting crazy, acting like....monsters. "I'm stupid, for even thinking a second that I could actually talk some sense into you...." In a way the words weren't directed at him. She was far from giving up...but of was obvious she hadn't exactly thought this all the way through. 


She didn't want to lose him...that's what it came down to, what drive her to do half the things she did anymore. All this was effecting everyone, not just vampires...she didn't want anyone she loved to get hurt. So far as far as she knew it was just her...well Alaric, but they were both okay now... And if she could help it, no one else's name would be added to that list. He said nothing to that, and her words...could have meant a lot of things...but they were true. Yet his silence...the clear struggle to process them left her speechless in return. Like she was processing what she had said along with him. Her head lowered, brown strands falling in her face... Her eyes on the floor, yet she focused on nothing in particular. She swore she could hear her own heart beat, one frantic beat after the other...


She swallowed, there was...several reasons she was avoiding him. The confession of sorts...and yet another half thought out, desperate plan of action. But wasn't that Elena Gilbert...more than willing to risk her life if that meant keeping one more person safe... If Damon actually had blood, he wouldn't need to go around killing people. In theory, yes...but all of this was far bigger than just that. If blood bags weren't working...a little blood would hardly be enough. That was the desperation talking of course... The need to actually find a way for this to all get better. It was a stupid idea but.... "You know what, at least I'm actually trying to come up with an idea."  it was stupid, so so stupid..,not that he would actually get her to admit that. He was across the room, and truthfully... That was a good thing. Lifting her head, she practically had to force herself to look over at him once again. Everything was just so messed up... Stefan of all people had almost killed her. If that wasn't a wake up call...she didn't know what was. Without thinking about it, she gripped her left arm...right in the spot where if had been snapped only a few days ago. She frowned, he was right...and there was nothing she hated more than that. Not that he was right, but what it was about... "You could have killed me.... She finally added, after letting the silence settle for a moment. "There was...a lot of blood... S-Stefan lost control but you didn't." She believed in him, and call her stupid, it wasn't like she was easily persuaded once her mind was set on something.  

[Damon Salvatore]

"This isn't funny."

"No?" Damon retorted with a smirk. "I personally find your belief that you have power over me hilarious." Damon didn't care if she never talked to him again. Why? Because that concept was way too far fetched for even Elena's delusional eyesight. Of course she was angry, frustrated that Damon found this amusing. She was in Miss On A Mission Mode. No concept of humor was going to get through at this point, and Damon would be lucky to get a small chuckle of sarcasm. Okay, yes he knew that this wasn't a laughing matter for Elena and that she was trying to help. Unfortunately, Damon already knew that there was no quick fix, and probably no fix at all. Either you accept who you are and stop running from it or you don't. With this whole Great Revelation crap, and a few fresh feeds under his belt recently, Damon was starting to think that vampires were doing too much running and this whole co-existing as neighbors fantasy was just that - a fantasy. It was in a vampire's nature to kill, to feed on blood, and Damon was getting fed up with being put on some made-up-pedestal of humanity. He wasn't human. And he wasn't about to bow down to Elena's unreachable expectations.

Maybe Elena was right. Maybe she was wasting her time. So as far as her comment about talking some sense into him - Damon shrugged indifferently. "No, you're stupid to think that I'd take you even the least bit serious when you started pulling the silent treatment out of your little purse of tricks." Not that he wanted her to leave, despite that. And now she was stupid for even suggesting that feeding him her blood would solved anything. Not that he didn't want to take her up on the offer, despite that. Oh he really wanted to. As a result, the humor of this conversation died really quick for Damon.

"You know what, at least I'm actually trying to come up with an idea."

"I gave you an idea, Elena." Damon snapped. "Stop coming up with ideas. They suck." Okay that was probably unnecessary, but Damon was never the one to think before acting. Damon was about to elaborate about how much they suck but he paused when Elena came back with this:

"You could have killed me...."

Damon's brow creased and jaw clenched a bit. The fact of that statement was very real. Damon was pretty sure she had no clue of just how real.

"There was...a lot of blood... S-Stefan lost control but you didn't."

Damon blinked a few times, and sighed - turning to grab his drink from the table. "Stefan was in his own Ripper La La Land," he replied gravely, taking a good swallow. "That doesn't mean I wasn't tempted myself." He looked over at her, a somewhat dangerous look in his eyes. "Still am." What was he trying to do? He had no idea. Be blunt? Give her a wake up call? Push her away for her own safety? A really sad, pathetic combo of them all? Who knows?

[Elena Gilbert]

This push and pull, back and forth between them...it really was pointless. He wasn't just going to magically get better but he wasn't going to listen to her either... And she, well she was hardly listening to him either and she wasn't about to give up...not any time soon at least. She pressed her lips together in a tight line, it really took quite a lot on her part to remain silent...give him the time needed to finish what he had to say. Drinking...feeding off of people, it wasn't something she could ever joke about or think lightly of... Because it wasn't funny. Vampires needed blood, obviously. But pointless slaughter, she would never approve of. She huffed, frustrated...something that had been true for the past few minutes...during all of this part of the conversation.

So instead of wasting her breath...even more than she had already, she choose to ignore him...Well she at least tried, that of course being the keyword. She rolled her eyes. Right yet again. It really was getting annoying. "Figured it was worth a shot. We both know you wouldn't be able to last very long." Her ignoring him(iif she actually could) she'd give it a week before he started bothering her. Of course testing his control...not that she'd admit it...the whole silent treatment idea sounded awful to her...but she would, if she had to of course..Though speaking of ideas...maybe hers were bad but at least she was trying...but of course Damon being Damon...he had something to add. "but that would mean giving up, and sorry but your stuck with me.'

She paused..allowing the silence to stretch out and linger for longer than it needed to. There was a reason for that(sort of) she was thinking about what to say...she knew in a way, which partially to blame was the fact she wasn't if she should actually say it....She sighed, letting her arm go and hands came to rest on either side of the table she was currently leaning against. Her head tilted down, brown eyes focusing upon the carpet bellow. "You're right.....you could have....and could now.." Her tone soft...quiet, no real emotion in it. The words as simple as if she had commented on the weather... He could hurt her....he could kill her, a normal reaction would have been fear. Something she couldn't feel even if she wanted to....It just wasn't there.

With a small nod, her gaze lifted once more...She remained where she stood...just as he hadn't moved in several minutes. "You could...But, I don't think you will." There was no point in lying him or sugar coating the truth....it wouldn't be good for either of them. In this moment....there was nothing she was more sure of. Stefan had hurt her, he could have easily killed her...he probably would have if it wasn't for Damon. There was this whole eve thing going on vampire...Vampires irrational, dangerous....but in a way, wasn't that always the case? Just more to the extreme...? Maybe this wasn't smart on her part, but at least right now she didn't care and her own well being...it tended to not be a priority at all to Elena Marie Gilbert.