It's that time of the year again! Yup, you guessed it. Vampire Diaries just premiered and while I loved the first episode and thought it was a vast improvement on the first season, I have to say I wished there had been more Bonnie/Damon scenes. (The existent ones were pretty great eitherway) So, I did my usual thing and wrote another little story on them, changing the events of the premiere, slightly. Just like I did with the season finale.

This time I tackled a much debated subject on the series; whether Damon should be a softie or not. Personally, I think he kicks ass the way he is. A rogue kind of anti-hero. A selfish and brave Clint Eastwood - personna.

So instead of talking to Elena at the end and killing her little brother, he instead runs into Bonnie at Elena's house.

Hope you enjoy!

Oh and don't forget to review!


Damon wasn't going to rush. He wanted this walk to last as much time as possible. He wanted an eternity to pass before he reached Elena's house. It would have been better if he never reached her house. Then he'd be spared of any kind of disappointment that might be added to tonight's list of miseries.

Katherine, the bitch, after all this time, could still get him to go on a drinking streak. She only had to say the magic words 'I love your brother' and he'd come undone.

Right now, he felt like everyone was throwing it in his face. As if the entire town belonged to Stefan and Stefan belonged to this town. And Damon was that obnoxious outsider, that unwelcome foreigner whose job was to wreak havoc and never come up to Stefan's standards.

Long ago, because it really felt like a long time, he couldn't have cared less about what he was to this town and these people. Suddenly, it irked him that he could never raise himself in their eyes, that he could never become someone redeemable in their eyes.

This was of course because of Elena. She was the one that believed in him and always encouraged him to be a better person. And when he was at his lowest and just wanted to damn it all, Elena was always there to remind him that he could do a whole lot better. That deep down he was a good guy.

He was growing tired of having to try so hard to play it nice and yet getting nothing in return.

To try so hard not to be himself and get crap for it.

Maybe that is why he wasn't meant to be a good person; because he expected something in return for his good deeds. Good people don't do that, right?

He was getting sick of himself and sick of her. He just wanted her to fucking tell him why she believed in him all the time, why she tried to care, why she did everything she did.

He wanted answers and he wanted them now.

Katherine had given him a blow. Katherine had played with his feelings yet again. But him and her, they were old story. He knew why she did all this, he knew she had her reasons, he knew she was callous.

But Elena? What was her excuse to act like that? What was her reason for caring about him?

He wanted to end this nice guy act and ask her once and for all.

He stepped on her porch. The place where it had all begun. The ill-fated porch.

It reeked of bad memories, of him, of her, of them together, of Katherine.

This was the place of complete and utter disappointment.

Before he had time to knock or touch the knob, the door opened on its own.

Much to his surprise, the person standing at the door was none other than Bonnie.

She was wearing her wearied, 'oh it's you again' expression.

And for once, she actually looked relieved to see him.

'You look like you got hit by a bus. Repeatedly,' she told him, eyeing him up and down.

'Well, you look like a nosy witch,' he retorted.

'Lame comeback,' she answered.

'I don't have time for your PMS right now. Just let me in already.'

Bonnie pushed him back a little and checked the porch and the nearby area.

'Huh, you're alone.'

'Who were you expecting?'

'I felt something outside. Thought it was Katherine,' she said, crossing her arms.

'And you're here because...?' Damon asked.

'I didn't want to leave Elena alone tonight. Her completely psychotic twin is on the loose out there. I don't want to take any chances. I've already got one friend in the hospital.'

'Duly noted. But do you honestly think that your Harry Potter tricks can match Katherine's...womanly wrath?'

'Well, it's a lot more effective than kissing her, isn't it?' she retorted.

Damon glared at her with utmost annoyance.

'Who told you about that?'

'Yeah and my best friend is not Elena,' she replied, rolling her eyes. 'Is there something you want, Damon?'

'I came here to have my way with her, so if you don't mind...' he said pushing past her to get into the house.

'Wow, wow, easy there. Elena's sleeping. She's had a rough day. I'm going to let her rest.'

'Sleep can wait, I have important issues to discuss with her,' he said rolling his eyes.

'No, you and your issues can wait until tomorrow,' she muttered, pulling him away.

'Hey, I'm the reason blondie is still alive. And if I recall well and, correct me if I'm wrong, you were the one who were more than willing to let me give her my blood. So you don't get to treat me like that.'

'Hey, don't expect me to kiss your feet now. You would've done it whether I willed you or not,' Bonnie said, shrugging her shoulders frustrated.

Damon stopped mid-way and stared at her slightly taken aback.

'What is that supposed to mean?'

'It means you would've helped Caroline anyway cuz she means a lot to Elena and to this town. So you would've tried keeping her alive regardless,' Bonnie told him.

'Now who fed you those silly lies?'

'You can pretend all you want, but you know you would've done it either way.'

'Huh, funny, cuz today, at the mayor's funeral, you were pointing your little finger at me, telling me how I fooled everyone in town, but not you and that you can see what a big, bad monster I am,' he said, throwing himself on the couch in the living room.

'Yeah and I stand by my words, you are an annoying bastard,' she replied, arching her back.

'Can you see the contradiction here?'

'You're an annoying human bastard. Even you have your moments. But beyond that, you're a selfish jerk that follows his own interests. And yeah, you might try to play it nice because sometimes there's no other way to get what you want. But admit it, what you'd really want to do is screw common sense and just follow your instincts.'

Damon was lost for a moment in her dark, brown eyes. He hadn't realized the girl knew so much about him. How is it that she knew all these things so well? Was it some witch power of hers?

No, that was silly. She was just perceptive.

All this time when she had insulted him, he hadn't paid attention because it had been like all those other times when people chose to judge him superficially and lash out on him for the sake of lashing out.

But she actually had arguments, good ones, for her insults.

It was scary to think she was right. But she was.

He couldn't allow that. He sensed something behind her words.

'Sounds to me like you know what you're talking about. Experiencing similar issues perhaps?' he teased.

Bonnie raised a brow and smiled condescendingly almost.

'How did you guess?' she asked sarcastically.

'You're a decently powerful witch with newfound knowledge of yourself. I'm sure you'd like nothing better than to...screw common sense.'

'Most of the times I would. But see, I have self-control. I don't act on it, because I know it's stupid. You on the other hand...'

He glared at her.

'I have more self-control than you'll ever have. Trust me on that.'

'Oh, really? What about Katherine?'

'That's none of your damn business!' he shouted. He sat upright and placed his head in his hands, trying to erase the recent memories of her touches and kisses.

It was proving to be difficult.

He ran a hand through his hair, wishing he was anywhere but here, on Elena's couch, talking to Bonnie.

Bonnie's expression quickly changed. She became serious.

'You have no idea what it's like to feel this way...You have no idea what she's like,' he muttered angrily.

'I see she had a big impact on you,' she commented.

'That's putting it mildly. Katherine has a special effect on everyone,' he said, almost sighing.

Bonnie coughed softly and walked over to his place.

'Well, if you know that, then you should be able to stay away from her and not get caught in whatever game she's playing.'

'Didn't you just say I usually follow my instincts?' he asked bitterly.

'Yeah, and the Damon I know would have the instinct not to risk his skin for a skirt. The selfish jerk would probably try to get something out of her without letting her get to him. He wouldn't be moping on a couch like a depressed teenager.'

Damon lifted his head and stared at her, utterly confused.

'Wait, you're saying you'd rather I was a jerk?'

She nodded her head, reluctantly.

'It's your way of dealing with things. I don't like it. I never will. I'll always try to stop you. But yeah, I'd rather you were a complete ass than a pathetic lover boy. Somehow I find that much easier to deal with right now. Right now when Katherine's on the loose.'

Damon felt a crazy need to laugh. Laugh really hard. Roll and the floor and laugh in hysteria.

Bonnie was probably the most misunderstood creature on the planet.

This girl was confusing as hell.

She actually wanted him to be the bad guy? To be his lousy, domineering, manipulating self?

And she claimed he was better that way?

He must have been dreaming. Or seeing things from too much drinking.

Bonnie Bennett actually wanted Damon to be himself.

The world was going mad.

A sudden surge of confidence filled his body. For a split-second, he felt he wouldn't need to talk to Elena after all.

Hadn't he said he was sick of her believing in him?

Well, now he had his cure.

He had Bonnie's consent to be a total ass. What more could he possibly need?

'So you don't believe I could be a better person? That I'm actually good inside?' he asked in a sarcastic tone, thinking about Elena's words.

'Not really, no,' Bonnie replied, shrugging her shoulders.

And then Bonnie saw something spreading across his lips. It was his usual cynical smile.

'And you're okay with that?'

'You'd freak me out if you were actually decent,' she said, rolling her eyes. 'Now are we done here? I want to get some sleep too.'

He got up, walked towards her until he was mere inches away from her body.

'Have you been drinking?' she asked, wrinkling her nose.

'Had to get some booze in me if I wanted to face you,' he replied.

She rolled her eyes and smirked slightly.

'I'll let you know if Katherine shows up,' she mentioned, as if remembering something completely trivial.

He stared into her eyes again, letting the soft brown envelop him in a serene feeling of warmth.

'I'll probably be too drunk at that point. Plus, after our little chat, she won't dare show her face here.'

'Next time you have another chat, maybe you can actually stop her from running around and messing with people,' Bonnie replied, avoiding his eyes.

'Next time I catch her, the bitch will be burning on a stake,' he muttered, his fingers almost grazing the skin of her arm. He couldn't just ignore the fact that he had been hurt by his long lost love. He craved physical contact. Emotional contact.

'Now that I want to see. Save me a seat,' she said.

Her fingers accidentally met his when she touched her arm nervously.

At that exact moment, he pulled away from her, as if he remembered something very important and started walking towards the door.

'Tell Elena I called,' he said, opening the door.

Bonnie walked towards him, holding the door open while he climbed down the porch.

'You know I won't,' she replied.

He looked back at her, a small smile playing on his lips. He nodded his head, smirking.

She shut the door behind him, but not before giving him a last, playful smirk.

As Damon walked slowly towards his house, he began to realize that he now not only felt annoyance and envy towards Bonnie, but also an odd form of admiration.

He realized he respected her.

He felt more relieved now, strolling alone in the middle of the night, than he had felt in many weeks.

Bonnie Bennett of all people had been the one to let him breathe for a second.

And be the flawed, selfish bastard he always wanted to be.