A/N: Hopeful prologue to a longer thing. I've really been feeling TVD lately, so... anyway... I give you...
Prompted by upupa_epops over on LJ.
Also: REVIEW PLEASE?! Even just a note telling me whether or not you liked it is always welcome.
She kisses him, and he feels her tongue against his, still gentler than Katherine's ever was, even as her fingers grope his ass and he reflects that she really isn't great at this whole evil plotting thing.
He remembers what it was like to shove away everything, mute everything.
Her fingers linger, then grasp for the paper, and it's his impulse that ruins him, as always.
He grabs her hand, fast as lightning, then rubs it just for a second, and shoves the paper into it.
She lets go of the kiss, nearly shoving him away in surprise, and he thinks for a second that she's going to run, leaving him screwed and hating himself on the roof to chase after her.
But she stays, hesitant, eyes wide in shock.
He looks at her, still so floored, and reflects what time's going to do to those beautiful eyes of hers, even without humanity, still so soft.
"Hey," he says, with his trademark shrug. "I'm just respecting your choice."
He doesn't mean to put so much venom behind those words, but he thinks maybe she gets it, as she hesitates a little more.
"You know why you're still here," he adds. "You need me. I'm old. Smart. Strong."
She just looks at him, undecided. "You're very clever, Damon, but everything you do is so... emotional. It's a bit of a risk."
"See, what's life without a little risk." He steps in closer.
She does give in, because for some reason she usually does; maybe it's Damon's way of daring her, goading her.
"I'm going to let you help me," she says evenly, not taking her eyes off his lips. "I'm not taking my eyes off you for a second. You may be older, but you'd never seriously hurt me. I don't have that problem. If you make one misstep, I will kill you." She looks up, into his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes.
"Ominous," is his comment.
They stand like that for a second, nose to nose, defiant.
Elena blinks, and tilts her head up at him. "So... who's driving?"