"Huh?" Damon looked up at his brother in surprise.

Stefan rolled his eyes. "Of course I would see the signs. I didn't know who exactly it was until now, but I knew it wasn't Elena. So it was Matt…" Stefan rubbed his wrists. "But why tie me up? Why am I dragged into this?"

Damon looked away. He would've never thought Stefan would be the one to see what he'd tried to hide the most.

"Sorry I brought you into this." Damon said, not looking at his brother as he stood. He turned to walk away.

"So that's all I get for an explanation?" Stefan stopped him. The hunched back, and the hands balling into fists told Stefan exactly what was going to happen next.

"Why?"

"Why what? I just-"

Damon swirled around, his angry onyx eyes blazing at his brother. "Why is it always you who they like? Why am I making myself miserable to make you miserable for revenge! ?"

Stefan regarded him with clear calm eyes. "So that's it? Matt had it for me?" He half laughed. "It all makes sense! Were you going to let him rape me?" Stefan stood to face his brother.

Damon didn't answer his brother, just stood and glared at his brother. Both stood together, not one worried about the other's nakedness.

It seemed centuries later that Stefan posed the question again. "Well?"

Damon sneered. "If it made him happy." He backed down first, picking up his discarded jeans on the way out.

After the door closed behind him, Damon let go of his outthrust chest, his head sunk as his hand came up and wiped his face. "And while he fucked Stefan, I'd be choking to death from jealousy."

He sighed and put on his jeans before leaving the hotel.

3 Days Later

"Matt, are you okay? You seem a little down." Elena, the one girl who probably knew him the best, had caught on within five minutes of him being there. Damn, could he hide nothing?

"No, I'm just a little tired. Did you make the food I asked for?" Matt asked quickly.

Elena stared at him with narrowed eyes. "I don't think that's it, and I like how you changed the subject." Matt nearly protested but Elena went on. "Yes, I have the food. Here." She finished tying to bag and slid it across the countertop to Matt.

Matt smiled, looking down at the tied plastic bag. "Thanks Elena."

"Go now." Elena said, crossing her arms.

"Huh?" Matt looked up.

"If you're not going to tell me what's got you in the dumps, I don't want to talk to you. Go." She put her nose up in the air and Matt had to smile.

He got up slowly, hooking his finger into the bag. "Sorry Elena. Hopefully one day…" he paused, not wanting to finish the sentence. "thanks." He raised the bag, indicating what he was thanking her for before leaving.

Just as he was reaching the front door, Stefan came in. "Ah! Matt!" He said, smiling widely. Matt's heart thumped hard at that smile…until a different flash of teeth happened to invade his vision.

Damn devil-may-care-smile.

He shook it off, returning the smile back to Stefan. "Hello."

"I wanted you to come over later on. You think you could?" He asked, his green eyes twinkling beseechingly. How could Matt resist? But…

"Stefan…you're not…"

Stefan shook his head. "I don't know what Damon did to you, but I don't understand what's that gotta do between us." He patted Matt's shoulder while passing him by. "So I'll see you tonight, right? Around seven?"

"Uh…ah, yeah. Sure."

"Good. Good. See you then." Stefan shone one last smile to Matt before disappearing into the kitchen.

"See you…then…" Matt smiled.

But for some reason as he exited Stefan and Elena's one room apartment, he felt as though he should be more ecstatic. Stefan wasn't disgusted by him!

And yet….he felt nothing.