One shot: Elijah and Elena are in the local library, searching folkloric history for Elena's book
"I really appreciate you helping me with this."
Elijah smirked towards her as a reply before continuing his research. He had compelled the security guard to let the two inside the records storage unit, hoping to find some piece of tangible history on Greek mythology and the link between itself and reality.
"You're always welcome, Elena…" He murmured, concentrated on the current manila folder in front of him. "I would let you read my own collection, but I seem to acquire a very dry assortment of mythology."
She was interested by this. Elijah was extremely partial towards history and the qualities it held within itself; Stefan and Damon would have been less than displeased to help her with this and she was thankful for his participation. Besides, they were too busy for something that seemed so silly…even to herself. Yet again, Elijah had been living longer than both of them and was bound to know more than the brothers combined.
"Why?" She finally decided. She continued tapping her fingernails against one of the hardcovers he had fetched for her.
Elijah sighed, shrugging slightly while flipping through another document.
"I've never been too fond of folklore," He chuckled suddenly. "Ironic, isn't it?"
Elena's lips lifted somewhat. "It is," She replied nervously.
Elijah didn't frighten her, yet the feelings she was beginning to develop for him had. She had promised herself not to get attached to any of the Originals, but when Elijah volunteered to help her research, the two had bonded swiftly in the past two months. She trusted him, she always had; even the writing had been completed faster and she seemed to receive more inspiration from the insignificant things in life. Or what seemed insignificant.
Of course, she was a vampire now. Maybe it was a side effect.
"I might have found something, Elena," He announced, sliding the sheet of paper towards her. It was frayed at the edges, dark in color and seemed somewhat burned.
How cliché, she enjoyed to think.
Elena carefully handled the document; she wouldn't forgive herself if she ripped it. Her whole body went still as she read the blurred lines. The ink was diminished, mostly, by water damage. What had this been through?
"From what I gathered," Elijah began; his voice strong and tone satisfied. "Many scholars believed that the Gods were actual human beings, but with dissatisfied power, in Greece."
Elena furrowed a brow. "What are you saying?"
Elijah scooted closer, his hand replacing hers. He ignored her breath catch in her throat, not to get his hopes up. He couldn't afford this. "Historians believed Homer based his epics on, not actual accounts," He told her. "but dramatized current events they might have believed in order to keep the people from entering the Pantheon."
Elena was intrigued. "So, basically it was a hoax?"
"Actually, the complete opposite," He replied.
When she looked puzzled, he continued on.
"The higher society of Greece in early B.C was rather fond of the gods, as you know," He watched for a confirmation and she nodded. "Yet, the people of Greece did not worship like the higher society did."
"So what you're saying is," Elena's eyes scanned the paper as she spoke. "They were afraid of an uprising?"
Elijah nodded, smiling. "Something like that, yes."
"I get it," She held the document close to her chest. "Thank you, Elijah."
Elijah grinned, self-satisfied, yet relieved he was able to break their tension. "Would you like to copy it?"
Elena's head bobbed up and down, her dark hair fanning around her face.
"Yes," She smiled sweetly. "I would."