Overprotective
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or recognisable place names/ aspects of the Vampire Diaries books/TV show. All rights etc. belong to the relevant parties, definitely not me. I am not making any profit from this small fanficlet, which is merely a tribute to enjoying the books/TV show.
'This is getting a little ridiculous, don't you think?' Elena said, as patiently as she could bear. The shadows behind her remained silent, but Elena knew she wasn't talking to herself. 'I know you're there,' she huffed, spinning to glare accusingly into the darkness.
'Oh, fine,' Damon drawled, rippling out of the shadows looking mightily unconcerned at Elena's ire. 'You caught me. I'm here.' He pulled a funny face, as if to say 'big whoop… and?'. 'More to the point,' he continued, 'you're here. Alone, at night, in a dark alley.'
'It's the pathway to the public library parking lot,' Elena said, incredulously.
Damon glanced about him.
'Hmm.' He arched one dark eyebrow. When he spoke it was reminiscent of a parent speaking to a particularly dim-witted, irresponsible child. 'Well, yes, but it's a dark pathway to the public library parking lot. At night. And you're alone. I'm just making sure nothing happens to you, since you're trying so damn hard to get yourself into trouble.'
Elena stared at him, shaking her head. She shifted the pile of books she had just checked out to her other arm.
'You were more fun when you were just being evil.' She sighed heavily. 'This supernatural babysitter crap is really getting old, fast.'
Damon slung a casual arm around the young girl's shoulder. He grinned easily, in that predatory and unsettling way that the vampire had probably mastered decades ago.
'Hey, I'm just being a good big brother,' he told her. 'I promised Stefan I would look after you while he was gone.'
'And who thought you'd take your responsibility so seriously? Honestly, Damon, you're driving me nuts! I'm sure Stefan didn't mean for you to smother me to death with your concern. And why do you even give a damn? It's not like you haven't broken promises before.'
'Elena, you wound me,' Damon said, dramatically clutching at his chest. 'I'm making amends for my bad, wicked past!' He waggled his eyebrows. 'Besides, who knew you could get into so many dangerous situations? Protecting you from harm is a full-time job. I've hardly any time for evil-doing right now.'
As usual, Elena couldn't stay mad at Damon for too long. Although she was under no illusions about his appalling history, some of it far too recent for comfort, Stefan's brother just got under her skin. His charm and humour might be his best weapon as a predator, but Elena always found herself willing to give him another chance to show more of that tiny part of him already proven to be loyal, loving… human. As long as it didn't hurt Stefan, she wouldn't give up on Damon.
Elena felt her mouth curve into the barest of smiles, even as she shook her head at Damon's unrepentant sarcasm.
'Well, that's one good thing, I suppose,' she conceded. She smirked a little herself. 'Maybe the new, whipped Damon is an upgrade.'
'I am not whipped.'
'No?' Elena queried, teasingly. 'You're carrying my books.' Damon had instinctively taken them from her as they started talking, seeing her uncomfortably shifting their weight. Now, he looked down at the offending volumes, aghast.
'I… you were… I was just, oh crap!' Damon rolled his eyes. 'This is why I don't spend time with… people! Before you know it you're being nice without even knowing it.'
'It's called being a friend, Damon,' Elena said, softly, turning to look at him. He shifted under her serious gaze. 'Hey,' she called his attention back from the other side of the car park to her face. 'You are being a good brother. And a good friend, to me.'
They had reached Elena's car. Damon met her gaze full-on with his dark, dark smouldering eyes. Elena gulped a little, as she always did when faced with that hypnotic Salvatore look. Apparently, it was something both brothers had in common, whether it was genetic or merely an undead perk. Delicately, Damon's free hand reached out and brushed a wisp of Elena's hair off her face and smoothed it behind her ear. Ever so gently ghosting along her skin, he traced his way back down her face until he took hold of her chin and tilted her face up to his.
'So, this friend thing,' he murmured.
'Hmm?' Elena breathed, wishing her heart wasn't racing and wishing even more she didn't know that his vampire hearing could track every traitorous beat of it. These past days Damon was truly making an effort, maybe for the first time since she had met him, taking his promise to Stefan so seriously and actually behaving quite decently to her. She didn't want to ruin it but her instincts screamed 'predator' when Damon got too close and she was straining to resist the 'flight' signals her weak, human body was sending her brain.
Refusing to give offence, she held perfectly still while Damon struggled to find the words to ask…
'Does it come with benefits?' His beautiful face stretched into a wide smile and before Elena could even absorb what he had said, Damon swooped down and planted a kiss on her lips.
'Meugh, ewww, Damon!' Elena squealed, pushing him off her. He let her, still chuckling happily at his little game. Elena dragged her sleeve along her mouth for good measure. 'What the hell, Damon? Don't ever, ever do that again!'
'Oh, relax, Elena,' he shrugged her off, putting her books into the boot of her car, while she fumed and spluttered nearby. 'It was nothing you didn't enjoy.'
'Enjoy?' Elena's mouth dropped open. 'I did not enjoy it. I'm with Stefan, your own brother! I… I literally have no words. I don't know why I'm surprised. You won't change. You're incapable of it.' She stabbed an accusing finger in his general direction.
Damon shrugged and smirked.
'I'm more fun this way though, right?'
Elena got into the car and slammed the door behind her. Before she could pull out of the lot, Damon super-speeded to her open window and lent down so she could hear him. This time, there was no humour in his voice.
'I'm serious about keeping my promise to Stefan. There are other vampires around here and I'm going to keep you safe. Plus, I like you, Elena, which gives me an added incentive to keep my promise. But I am not your babysitter and I'm not your friendly neighbourhood vampire.'
'Noted,' Elena snapped. 'Now, let me go home.'
Damon stared at her for a second, then straightened up and gave an elaborate wave to indicate she should drive on.
'Don't invite any strangers into your house,' he advised with a smile, in the overly bright tone that fire-safety or anti-drugs speakers use in school assemblies.
'Bite me,' Elena muttered, then flushed as she realised her poor choice of words and saw Damon's grin widen.
'Flirt,' he replied happily, winking at her. Elena glared at him, somewhat glad he was leaving it at that. She put the car in gear and sped out of the parking lot quicker than Aunt Jenna would approve of. Once she was sure Damon wasn't following her at super vampire speed, she gave a yelp of frustration in the empty car.
Stefan had better hurry back soon, she thought. It was going to be a very long month.
Damon was crazy and manipulative and untrustworthy.
And the fact that her whole skin was still tingling was absolutely nothing to do with his kiss.
***
Damon watched Elena while she slept that night, as he often had since moving back to Mystic Falls, especially before Stefan had been so permanently affixed to her side. He didn't know exactly what it was about this girl that interested him. She was so high and mighty for such a fragile thing. So proud and angry and, yes, he admired the fight in her. Elena thought he was such a monster, and he kind of enjoyed that. Damon was a killer, and unapologetic about it: a vampire who enjoyed the perks of the position. There was something so endearing about Elena's constant willingness to convince herself Damon could be redeemed.
When he had kissed her today, it had been just for the pleasure of watching her get disappointed and angry at him, and at herself, of course. Damon heard her racing heart, felt her momentarily melt into the kiss before she pushed him away, and he had been a vampire long enough to know the difference between fear and lust. Elena had both, along with a healthy dollop of guilt afterwards.
Yes, Elena was the most interesting person he had met in a long, long time and Damon couldn't lie to himself that the reason he was looking out for her was only because of a promise he gave to his brooding, tortured-soul of a younger brother.
Damon hoped Stefan took his time getting back to Mystic Falls. It was going to be a brilliant month for diabolical plans.
Smiling to himself, Damon tucked the fresh supply of vervain he had brought with him into Elena's school bag. He settled into the chair in the corner to wait for morning.
A/N: Please review if you have any thoughts or comments! I'm just starting to upload my fics and I'm quite nervous about it!
