"Disclaimer: 1) a renunciation of any claim to or connection with; 2) a disavowal; 3) a statement made to save one's own ass" ~Kevin Smith, Dogma
In other words, we all know we don't anything TVD, we all wish we did...down to every last snarky comment (insert eye-thing and sexy smirk here)
A/N; Warning... another super long A/N... you know the drill, skip to "Happy Reading" to get to the good stuff...
Ok, so, I just can't start my Author's Note with anything but, 4x07 OMG! My first thought is how defiled I felt... it finally happens, and they couldn't even wait until it was over to ruin it, they had to debase my Delena in the middle of it? Really? That was almost as bad as the 3x22 phone call... HOWEVER, after reading some tumbler posts and JP's Zap 2 it interview, then reading some more tumbler's... I've come to replace defiled with bittersweet... If you need to feel better about 4x07, then read them... they will make you feel tons better, and if that doesn't work... seek out the re-cut video of just the Delena scenes on YouTube (it's S-Mazing!) Seek out the video either way :)
Now that my rant is off my chest and out of the way... Thank you again to everyone following this story... also to everyone who has added it to their favorite list, and all the lovely reviews :)
So, I know Stefan is acting a little OOC... as of now, I don't really have a good enough explanation for you yet... all I can say is that I think it make sense in later chapters... (I actually think Damon and Elena are OOC too, but I'm loving it... so, just go with it and consider this my OOC fic)
I really enjoyed exploring Damon's thoughts on "victim's" and feeding in this chapter... I'd really love some feed back on it... I'm also, really excited about the next chapter... I LOVED writing it... very steamy!
Until then, Happy Reading!
Previously on Giving Into You... "Actually, I thought we'd go back out tonight?"
Elena gave Damon's words careful consideration. When she turned to Stefan, he had his eyebrows raised like he was waiting for her answer. Her eyes moved between the Salvatore brothers one more time before finally answering. "Fine. Tonight. Where are we going this time?"
"It's a surprise," he said, before leaving the room as quickly as he had entered. "Look pretty," he yelled from the stairs. Elena looked at Stefan, who just shrugged.
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Giving Into You
How am I supposed to break this spell you got me under
I'm so addicted to the pain
Got your poison running through my veins
~Break this Spell, Daughtry
Chapter Three: Unexpectedly Understood
After a while, Elena couldn't help but ask Stefan if he was ok with the whole thing. He said he was, and truly seemed to be. He had asked why she looked so worried, but Elena just brushed it off. They had spent a little more time together in the living room before Damon had yelled at her to start getting ready.
Finally, Damon and Elena were in his Camaro. After they had been driving for a while, she asked, "So, where are we going?"
"A little ways out of town."
"Why?"
Damon eyed her sideways. "It might be easier if you're not in a familiar setting. So, we're going to take you our of your comfort zone." Elena felt a slight flutter in her chest, and didn't really understand why.
The rest of the drive Elena sat there silently, staring out the window. Even though she was dressed in sexy skinny jeans and a provocative top...bait, as Damon called her...she still felt like she was on her way to a dentist appointment. Her eyes grew a bit wide when Damon pulled into a dimly lit parking lot, where a free standing building read "The Southern Hollow".
"A bar?" Elena said surprised, although she thought she probably shouldn't be.
"Great pick up place. You know, meals...ladies," he smirked. She just rolled her eyes, and got out of the car.
"This kind of looks like a dive."
"Oh, it is." Damon shut his car door, and took in a deep breath. "But they have free pool. Have you gotten any better at it?"
"Why do you think I suck at pool?"
Damon just laughed, and took her by the hand. "Come on, let's see if you can compel yourself a drink."
Less than an hour later, they were both leaning back against the bar, scanning the room. Elena had picked out a few guys, but Damon had turned them all down. He gave various reasons for each and she had rolled her eyes for each reason, but she had to admit that they did make sense.
One was too tall, so he would be too much of an effort to reach up and bite. Damon teased that the next one had hair that was too much like Stefan's, then told her he was hanging out with too many people. Elena picked one stumbling to the bathroom, and Damon told her to try again. She asked what that had to do with anything.
Elena was getting frustrated. "Why don't you just pick one for me?"
Damon cocked his head, and softened his voice. "Believe it or not, you're doing better than you think." He sighed at the look on her face. "Why don't you try again."
She halfheartedly looked out into the crowd one more time. "How about him?"
"You don't go grocery shopping much, do you?"
"I give up," she said exasperated, throwing her hands up in the air, and finally turning back around to face the bar.
Damon chuckled at her frustration, but turned away from the crowd to sit closer to her at the bar. "Ok. I'm sorry. Pop quiz over. How about I give you some tips that I've learned over the years."
"Finally, something helpful."
"First, you're going about it all wrong. You're just looking for someone to bite." Elena turned to look at him. He seemed to be taking it very serious now. "But it's more than that."
"What do you mean?" Damon was starting to intrigue her.
"Well, first remember that whoever you choose, your going to have to get close to. There's going to be physical contact, so don't pick anyone who you wouldn't want to touch. It's as if you're picking out the perfect piece of fruit."
She glanced at him incredulously. "Excuse me?"
"No, stay with me on this." Damon turned her bar stool to face him. "You wouldn't eat some banged up piece, with bruises all over it."
"Damon, what does this even..." Elena had interrupted him. He just ignored her, and abruptly cut her off.
"Or," he continued slowly, his words dripping with sensuality, "Do you want a nice and juicy, ripe red strawberry?" Elena sat there wondering how Damon's words seemed so seductive. She didn't realize she had zoned out until Damon brought her back. "Elena," he said in a sing-song tone, "Still with me?"
"Yeah." She quickly nodded, hoping he hadn't notice the way her eyes had fell to his lips. "You just make it seem so..."
"Sexual." His baby blues were like a pair of hot blue flames staring into her. Damon then gave her his classic eye wiggle. Now they both knew he was teasing her on purpose.
Elena turned her bar stool away from him, and faced the bar again. She was now hoping that he wasn't noticing the blush rising in her checks. "Damon."
He just let out a dark little chuckle. "Well, it is physical. No getting around that. Think of it like this...if you've ever wanted to play out a fantasy, when you feed is the perfect time." Elena glanced at him sideways, but he was facing the bar again. "It's fun, and it makes things a little smoother for all involved. Plus, no one will ever judge you, because you were just feeding."
"You make it sound like cheating."
He turned to her again. This time, he got closer. Damon's eyes were burning into hers again. Elena could barely stand his intense gaze. "Well, it's intimate."
"Like blood sharing?" Something hung in the air between them. Damon looked away.
"Not quite like that." After a moment, he looked back to meet Elena's stare. This time, it was her eyes that had the fire in them. She looked like she wanted to talk about what had happened between them the other night on her bed. Damon quickly started talking again. "Just remember, you are sinking your fangs into someone. See, it's not just about the feed. It's also about the experience."
Her eyes shifted away with annoyance. "Damon, I don't want to have an experience for blood."
"Elena, just for once, put your righteousness away and trust what I'm telling you. I know you don't want it to be easy, but the more emotional you make it...the less likely you'll be to kill someone."
She gaped at him. It made complete sense to her now. Elena was looking at everyone in the bar like walking happy meals. If she did that, then of course she would lose control. But, if she listened to Damon and made some kind of bond with them, then she'd be less likely to take too much. All she had to do was get herself past the part where she needed to take advance of them.
Elena noticed Damon was staring at her. She took a deep breath. "Ok. So, how do you...not feel sorry for them?" Damon looked at her and started to think. She was proud of herself for asking a good question.
"Well, I guess that's the fine line of it all. How do you make it personal enough so you leave them breathing, but detach yourself enough to take what you want." Elena thought about what he said. Their night was quickly becoming deeper and more sub-textual than she had expected.
"How do you?" she asked honestly. Damon looked like he was hesitating a bit. "I need to learn."
"Ok, fine. When I pick someone, it's usually a woman. Someone pretty. Someone I actually wouldn't mind having a real drink with. There's usually flirting, and then I tell them they'll like it. It feels more like a hook up then a meal, so it makes it little less personal. But, I'm attached enough that I don't bleed them dry. I don't know, it just works for me...but we need to find what works for you." When he looked back at Elena, her eyes seemed to be sparkling. "What? Too much detail?"
"No. Just enough." She smiled lightly.
Damon smiled back. "Alright. So, why don't you try one more time. Pick one."
She started looking around the room again, only this time she felt like she was really seeing the people in it. Elena looked around for a while. Her eyes finally came to rest on a guy at the end of the bar. He was leaning on one elbow, knocking back a few shots. He also seemed to be scanning the room. The guy wore a black leather jacket and had just the tiniest hint of a five o'clock shadow. His skin was pale, but his eyes were as dark as his jacket.
"What about him?" Damon caught the coy little smile on her face, and his eyes crinkled together.
He followed her gaze, and took in the victim she had chosen. "Yeah, I guess he'll do." Elena could have sworn something caught in his throat.
"Really?" she questioned him. He didn't seem sure.
"Yeah," he said, giving her a half-smile. "Go ahead. Go talk to him." Elena bit her lip and slid next to her prey.
Damon watched them for a couple of minutes. The guy bought her a shot, she laughed, then leaned into him to whisper something. When the guy pulled back, he looked straight in Elena's eyes. Damon didn't need to see Elena to know that she was compelling him.
They got up to leave, and Damon couldn't keep his eyes off the back of the guy's head. His emotions were just a bit twisted. He followed them out of the bar, all the while taking in her victim's messy, black raven locks.
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To Be Continued... Chapter Four: Blood, Tears, and Dark Alleyways
Damon's teaching goes slightly askew when Elena starts displaying confusing and disturbing behavior. After Damon is pushed into giving in to a steamy situation, the mood of the evening shifts. As the night ends, it leaves them both reeling, finally ending in unexpected tears.
Remember, every author loves reviews... I plan on posting the next chapter in a day or two... I'm really excited for everyone to read the next chapter :)