AN: HI! So this is my first fanfiction. I know it isn't perfect, I know there are some mistakes, but hey! What are you gonna do? I just want to thank two people, who are seriously incredible; Emma and Rita! I love them to death, and they are also writing fics. Checks them out on tumblr; damon-whore and delenianflames! Okay, I hope you like it! Please review!(: also if I get any terminology wrong, feel free to correct me! alright here is my first ever fanfic, Love & War.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries. I just obsess over it. I only own my writing.
LOVE & WAR
DAMON POV
This is it. This is the day I've been waiting for. I get to go home. To New York. To Stefan. To Katherine. Katherine. God, I've missed her. I take the photo of her and Stefan out of my camouflaged, tan helmet. It is worn out from touching it and keeping it in my helmet for five years. This photograph has come with me into war, and somehow it's managing to leave with me too. War. War has changed me, my soul, and my life. The Marines have always been my dream. I never thought I'd be able to become one. After 13 weeks of Marine Corps Training and five years of serving in Afghanistan, I'm a marine. Well technically I've been a marine since I was deployed, but that was a label. Now it is in my blood. My soul is a marine, my heart is a marine, my body is a marine, and I, Damon Giuseppe Salvatore, am a marine. And today, I'm finally going home.
Home is where the heart is. New York isn't my home. My heart is in New York, but not with New York. Katherine is where my heart is. Kat is my everything. She is my friend, my lover, my partner in crime, and my fiancé. Yes, the big f-word. I've been with Kat since I was 18. We met at Duke, but that's a different story. I proposed when we were 20. I also decided to drop out of college and join the marines that year. Kat was supportive but I knew she didn't want me to leave her. She knew I could die, and many times in Afghanistan I thought I had.
I was 21 when I got shipped out. I was excited and terrified. I had said goodbye to my family, or what was left of it, and flew to Nevada where I would eventually fly to where ever they needed me. I remember the day like it was yesterday.
"SALVATORE, DAMON" screamed the big sergeant. Mikaelson was his name I think. He had an icy look to him, a cold smile, and hard brown eyes to match his shaved brunette locks. But in his eyes I could see the pain they hid. The death he has seen. He wasn't friendly in anyway, and I immediately did not like him. He was the kind of person who wouldn't bullshit you, which I respected. He would tell you the truth no matter how bad, but there was something about him that set me off.
"SIR YES, SIR." I yelled back with equal vigor. On the inside I was slightly terrified. But on the outside my face was stone hard. I had taught myself how to be emotionless and determined. No one could read me. No one knew what my eyes had seen. No one knew my pain, they purely saw a chiseled jaw, prominent cheekbones, a mess of black hair that had been some-what shaven into a 'buzzcut', and a pair of captivating baby-blues. I am attractive. I know that.
"TROOP 1864, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN." His eyes held a pity. I knew why. Kabul was horrid. They only sent the best. The fact that this is my first tour said something about me. I was good at my job, that was a given. But Kabul for my first tour? I wasn't sure I was ready, but my sergeant thought I was, which was confirmation enough. I could do this. This is in my blood. War is my natural habitat. No, I wasn't some crazy war hawk that wanted to kill anything with a heartbeat that wasn't our ally. I didn't go to bars, get drunk, and start a fight so I could be the shit out of some guy. I am very protective. My troop was my new family. I hadn't even met them yet, but I was immediately over-protective of them. I already knew I would give my life to save theirs, even if I hate them. I knew they would do the same for me too, if they were a true marine.
"SIR YES, SIR" I stepped down from the platform we were on and went to my assigned plane. I sat down next to a guy about my age. I saw he was troop 1864 and I asked him his name.
"Mikaelson, Niklaus. Call me Klaus. What's yours?" he asked. He had a light British accent similar to the sergeant. Wait wasn't the sergeant a Mikaelson? I was brought back to reality when I looked at him. He had slightly curly, short, thick, blonde-ish hair, and enticing green eyes. His boyish smile topped off his looks, and I thought 'I might actually like this guy'. I could tell Klaus was tough. Much tougher than the other Mikaelson. That's why I knew I would like him. He was exactly like me. It was like we were both made to survive training, become a marine, and win this damn war. Oh god, maybe I'm not cut out for war as much as I thought I was. I sounded like a 17 year old girl describing her crush.
"Salvatore, Damon. Mikaelson? Like Sergeant Mikaelson?"
"Ahh, so you've met my brother, Kol. Younger than me, but has a higher rank, that son of a bitch." At first I couldn't tell if he was joking, or had pent up anger towards his little brother. His voice was stern and cold but his British accent warmed it. I looked to him to see the true meaning of his words. That was one of my talents, besides being protective I can read people like a book. These people could have the Great Wall of China built up around their emotions, and I could figure them out as if their instructions were printed on their forehead. When I looked into his eyes I saw a mixture of love, light heartedness, joking, and admiration towards Kol. This guy was really the same person as me. We were both big brothers and extremely proud of what our younger siblings have come to be.
We carried on the light conversation and told stories from training camp, until we landed in Wardak. By the time we had landed I felt as if I'd known him since the seventh grade. Hell, if someone so how we were laughing and acting on the plane they would have suspected we have known each other before, and were putting thumbtacks on the teacher's chair in elementary school. I had never felt so at ease with someone, that is except for my best friend from college, Ric. From there we were put into trucks and driven two and a half hours to Kabul. Rather the outskirts of Kabul, where U.S. Troop 1864 Base Camp was set up. Everyone filed out of their trucks. We went to our bunks. I set up my stuff underneath Klaus. Being the immature 12 year old boy he truly is, he called top bunk. Also in the process of running to make sure he got top bunk he ran over about fifteen people. He scaled the latter and belly flopped onto the mattress. You could see dust particles exploding, and flying into the air from the impact. You could also hear the springs in the mattress screaming from at least a mile away. We didn't start patrol till dawn, and it was nearing one in the morning, so everyone in the bunker exchanged unspoken goodnights, and flopped onto the mattresses. No one laid on their mattress with as much flair as Klaus though. When I finally fell into a light slumber, I was already dreaming about Katherine and Stefan.
We all awoke that morning when we heard the shrill screaming of the clock above the entrance to the bunker. We dressed, and stood at the foot of the bed awaiting the orders from our superior.
That was basically how every day went for the next five years. Throw in a few raids, and shootings and you have my life. But now I'm going home. I'm currently on the plane, and surprise, surprise Klaus is next to me. He is from New York too, we actually live relatively close to each other. I can't wait to get to New York and kiss Kat.
I'm getting off the airplane. I'm walking through the terminal. I don't even bother looking for my baggage. I just look for a mess of brown curls, and hair that has so much gel it's illegal in 57 countries. I see them. I see her. I really am a 17 year old girl. This is so cliché but I take off running towards them. My boots a slapping against the cool tile, I'm pushing through crowds, I finally reach her. I hug her, pick her up, spin her around, and capture her lips in a scorching kiss. I pour all of my love into it. But the kiss is exactly that. MY love, it's like she is dead on the inside. She kisses me back but I don't feel the usual sparks I get with Katherine. I know something is wrong. I don't dwell on the fact, but when we break apart I tangle our fingers together and drag her to Klaus. Then I know something is off, she's not wearing her engagement ring. I quickly introduce Klaus and Kat, and while they are talking I pull my brother into a hug, he's stiff and rigid though. Okay what is wrong with them? I give Klaus a hug, and he walks off to find his sister Rebekah, after telling me we will keep in touch. We walk to the car in silence after we found my bag. The drive to Kat and I's apartment is short. We walk in and it's like the entire place has changed. I take a seat on the couch and Kat and Stefan sit on the couch opposite of me. That's not the weird part, they are oddly close to each other. Like their thighs are touching. What the hell? I capture Kat's eyes and I see something. I see betrayal, guilt, and sadness. As if a giant hammer hit me over the head I finally put two and two together. It all fit together. No engagement ring on, they were both anxious, and they were unusually close together. Katherine cheated on me.
With my own brother.
My own flesh and blood.
"No. This isn't happening" I say exasperated.
"Damon-"Katherine says my name like it's a plea. I always knew Kat and Stefan had a connection but I never thought either of them would betray me like this. Especially when I was in another country fighting. I could have died! I could have been killed, but I would have been completely oblivious to the fact that I had a slut as a fiancé and a backstabber as a brother.
"NO KATHERINE. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON? WHERE THE FUCK IS YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING, HUH? YOU KNOW I CAN READ YOU BOTH LIKE A BOOK. YOU FUCKING SLUT."
"DAMON." Stefan yells, and stands in front of Katherine as if I was going to go after her. "Damon-"he says in a softer tone. "You don't know anything yet. Just let us explain."
"US?! LAST TIME I CHECKED, WHEN IT CAME TO YOU AND KATHERINE, THERE NEVER WAS AN 'US'. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN. I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY CLEAR WHAT IS GOING ON. YOU ARE A FUCKING BACKSTABBING BROTHER WHO SLEPT WITH MY SLUT OF AN EX-FIANCE. AND YOU." I shove Stefan out of the way so I can look at her in the eye. "ARE A SKANK. YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN THE PIGEON SHIT IN THE STREET. YOU CHEATED ON ME WHILE I WAS AT WAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN FUCKING KILLED. BUT NO THAT DIDN'T MATTER. AS LONG AS YOU HAD ONE OF THE SALVATORES TO KEEP YOUR MONEY FLOW GOING AND SATISFY YOUR NEEDS YOU DIDN'T GIVE A FUCK, BECAUSE IN YOUR MIND YOU ARE ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE. LITTLE MISS PERFECT. YOU ARE A FUCKING GOLD-DIGGING WHORE."
"I LOVE HIM OKAY? IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!" Katherine screamed back.
"FUNNY. LAST I REMEMBERED YOU LOVED ME. YOU CAN'T BE IN LOVE WITH TWO PEOPLE KAT. IT'S NOT FAIR." I screamed at her with all the hatred I felt. I knew Katherine could be mean and vindictive but this was a whole new level. "YOU CAN GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY APARTMENT, AND BOTH OF YOU CAN GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY LIFE. I NEVER WANT TO SEE EITHER OF YOU AGAIN." I meant those words. I never wanted to see either of them. As of right now, I was never engaged and I am an only child. The names Stefan Salvatore and Katherine Peirce mean absolutely nothing to me. I grab my phone, and dial a number that I knew well.
"Ric? It's Damon. I need a favor."
ELENAS POV
I was in the car with my aunt Jenna and uncle Ric. We pulled up to my families bar, The Mystic Grill. I ran inside, and hopped over the bar.
"Hi daddy" I told my father while giving him a kiss on the cheek. I pull back and smile at him. He returns my smile, but his is even bigger. I love my dad more than anything. He's my best friend. I look at his kind face, he has lines at the corners of his eyes from his ever-present smile, his hair is thinning and has flecks of gray mixed within his chocolate hair, and his eyes are warm brown and inviting. There is nothing not to like about him.
"Hi princess, happy birthday." He replies. Oh yeah, today is my twenty-second birthday. "What are your plans for today?" he asks. I know he's trying to look out for me, and I respect that.
"Well, at twelve Caroline and Bonnie are taking me out for my birthday lunch, then we are going shopping. After that we are all going to Caroline's to get ready to go out dancing" I love going dancing with our little group of friends. Which consisted of me, Caroline Forbes, Bonnie Bennet, Elijah Smith (that's my boyfriend), Tyler Lockwood (Caroline's boyfriend), and Jeremy Gilbert (Bonnie's boyfriend and my impossibly annoying, yet tolerable little brother).
"Okay, well don't go too crazy."
"I'll put advil and a glass of water on your nightstand." My mom tells me with a wink as she comes backing from waiting a table. That is one of the many reasons I love my parents. They trust me to do the right things, and don't constantly badger me about staying out to late and blah blah blah. They let me indulge and go out every once in a while.
"Thanks mom." I kiss her on the cheek also. Just then my phone beeps.
Care-Bear: are you ready yet? We are outside the Grill! P.S be prepared to try on everything that is skin tight when we get to the mall! Xoxo
"Gotta go, Care and Bon are outside! Bye mom and dad! Bye Ric, bye Jenna! Love you guys!" I shout to my family.
LATER THAT NIGHT
"Daddy?" I ask into my phone. I have tears streaming down my face. My eyes are big and puffy, and I'm sitting outside of a club.
"Lennie, what's wrong?" he asks, I can practically see the concerned look on his face through the phone. I take a second to sniffle and clear my throat. My tears have stopped for a moment, and despites the five tequila shots I had, and 3 beers I'm completely sober.
"Me and 'Lijah broke up-"my voice cracks. I love Elijah. I thought he was it for me. We had been together for two years. All of my friends were jealous of me. Elijah was the perfect boyfriend. He was such a gentleman, he would pull out my chair when we went to eat, open the door for me, and buy me flowers for no apparent reason. He never cheated, heck he barely paid attention to women that tried to talk to him. He was smoking hot too. He had high cheekbones, soft brown hair that you just want to run your hands through, and alluring brown eyes. Oh my, his eyes were gorgeous. They were sweet amber. Every time I looked into his eyes I fell in love with him even more. But tonight his eyes changed.
I had been quite tipsy when Elijah went to the bathroom, and left me with Caroline and Tyler. I wanted to dance so I dragged them to where Bonnie and Jeremy were attacking each other's mouths and practically molesting each other on the dance floor, yeah they were both definitely drunk. Some random guy came up behind me. I tried to shove him off, but then Elijah came back out. He was drunk and got the wrong idea. He punched the guy. He then grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the club. He had been gripping my wrist so hard bruises were already forming. He finally let go and started screaming at me, calling me a glorified whore, ungrateful wench, and any other name he could think of. I had never seen him like this. He got mad sometimes but he always got over it. Elijah was always very level headed, calm, and kind. I don't even think he knew how to hold a grudge. I looked into his eyes, but they weren't the usual soothing brown. His eyes held no love, no warmth, and no admiration like they usually did. They were just dead. They were black lumps of coal on fire with rage. His mouth was set into a horrible snarl. Then he did something I would never have guessed he would even THINK about doing.
He slapped me.
As soon as his palm hit my cheek with a deafening crack I felt the spread of pain. I lifted my hand to my cheek and touched the now red, hot, and stinging area. My tears that had been threating to spill over released like flood gates. Wet and warm streams of my tears poured down my face. I didn't even bothering wiping them away because if I did they would just be replaced with new ones. I looked into his eyes and saw regret and guilt. He ran to his car and sped out of the parking lot. I knew that was bad because he was hammered. He was so drunk that he would probably have a hangover for at least a month. I couldn't blame him for getting so drunk. We were celebrating! It was my birthday and our two year anniversary! I didn't think about him drunk driving too much, I just wanted to get home. I just texted Caroline and Bonnie saying we got into a fight and we were leaving early. Then I called up my parents.
"Sweetie I'm sorry. Where are you? Mom and I will come get you." I described the location of the club to my dad. He told me they would be here in about ten minutes. I decided to start walking up the road so that if I saw their car I could just hop in and we could go home. I know, not the smartest idea. It was around 12:30 a.m. and I was slightly drunk, walking around alone. But I did not want to go back into the club. My headache was already forming. Also, its Mystic falls, nothing bad ever happens here.
I had been walking for around 10 minutes yet I still hadn't seen my parent's car. Which was strange because they should have been here. I was nearing up to old wicker bridge when I finally saw their car. The only thing was it wasn't on the road. It was sinking in the river. I didn't even take the time to react, I grabbed my phone and called 911.
When the paramedics showed up, I knew it was too late. I had gone on to the bridge and jumped in. When I jumped in my ankle and wrist twisted from hitting the side of the bridge and I couldn't swim. I reached the shore and waited. I took in the sight of the bridge. The side rails were shattered. I also noticed something I didn't see before. There was another car on the bridge. But it wasn't just any car, I knew that car.
It was Elijah's.
Elijah was responsible for this. I was just about to run over to his car when the paramedics showed up. They had a tow truck that pulled the car out of the river with them. They assessed my ankle and wrist and made sure I didn't have any major injuries from my jump. I asked them about Elijah and they said from what they could tell he had been the cause of the accident. He had been the cause of the accident, and was currently in a coma. And as for my parents, they didn't suffer. They both were dead on impact.
I bolted upright from my dream. A whimper escaped my lips as I sat up in my bed. A single tear escaped the corner of my eye. That dream had been a weekly occurrence for two years. Except it wasn't a dream. A little under two years ago, that dream was reality. It was the night of my birthday. I saw it all happen. In fact I still have the scar of the nail that sliced the side of my ribcage when I jumped off the bridge. I also have a hole in my heart where my parents used to be. I got out of bed and noticed my shirt sticking to my torso from sweating. I ripped it off and jumped into the shower, on the coldest setting.
I hopped out of the shower, dried off, and wrapped a towel around my body. Putting my ipod on the iHome and turning up the volume I started to blow dry my hair and put a coat of mascara on. I danced my way to my closet pulled on a white lace bra and matching underwear. I took out some denim shorts that hit right below my butt, but hey! My bar, my dress code, and these make my legs look incredible. I put on a tight black v-neck, grabbed my 'Mystic Grill' apron, my keys pulling on my converse as I walked out the door. I pulled up to the grill and saw Ric's car.
"Hey Ric, why are you here so early?" I asked as I walked behind the bar to start inventory and restock. Usually Ric didn't wake up till three in the afternoon so he being at the grill for seven was quite the shock.
"Well, my best friend from college is moving to town today, but im up because Amanda wanted waffles before she went to school" Ahh, yes. Amanda Saltzman, Ric and Jenna's five year old bundle of energy and sass they call a daughter. I love the girl to death, don't get me wrong, but she is a handful. Ric and Jenna got married when they were both twenty. Everyone said it wouldn't last because they were so young but here they are now, 10 years later, with a kid, and still madly in love.
"How is Mandy? And who is this best friend of yours? Why is a 30 year old guy moving to Mystic Falls?"
"Mandy is currently going through her 'glitter phase' where she needs everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, to sparkle in the sun. I blame Edward Cullen. And 1) my best friend, or as Mandy would say, my BFFLAEA (best friend for life and ever after) is Damon Salvatore. And 2) he just got back from Afghanistan, wanted a change of scenery. And finally 3) he isn't 30 he is 26."
"Oh 26! Ric you're dating a younger man!" I tell him with a lavish wink. He just laughs at me, gives me a you-wild-kids-are-too-funny smile and continues to wipe down tables without another word. After that he went to help his 'boyfriend' unpack and left me, Caroline, Jeremy, and Shane (our cook) to run the restaurant. I was tending the bar, Caroline was waitressing, and Jeremy was our bus-boy.
The day went on rather smoothly, a pretty normal Friday. A few messed up orders, a few spilled drinks, but no huge complications. It actually was a rather good day. That is until he walked in. I was at the opposite end of the bar, taking inventory, because I hadn't finished it this morning, when someone sat down. On instinct and without even looking up I asked him what he wanted to drink.
"Bourbon." The man replied in a voice that had girl's panties dropping. It sounded like velvet. I could tell he was rather young just by his voice.
I grabbed a tumbler from the shelf behind me and poured him a glass. When I looked up I was mesmerized by the most gorgeous blue eyes I've ever seen.
AN: did you like it? Reviews are greatly appreciated! Also if you want you can check out my tumblr (bourbonandbloodbags) See you next time!
