Author's Note: So, I'm having a tad bit of trouble with the next song, which is why these chapters are leaking up so slowly. If I'm still stuck, I'll start posting some scenes/songs in the Deleted Scenes, so maybe keep an eye on that. One of my big issues is that I've got a plot bunny nibbling in my ear, and I'm not sure whether it's worth adding a threequel if you will. Any input from you guys would be most appreciated! Like, really... It would be great because I'm pretty stuck.
The lyrics are from the song Cherry Bomb by The Runaways.
The story title is from the song by Linkin Park.
Rated M for language, sexual content, sensitive matter, and dark themes.
It was the end of January, and Elena was dropping her bags in the suite at the hotel in Athens.
"I never want to be on an airplane again!" she exclaimed to whoever was near enough to listen.
"If the travel is what breaks you, then there is little hope for the success of this endeavour," Francis responded in a low voice. Looking around, Elena realized that they were completely alone for the first time since Mystic Falls.
"Francis?" he turned to look at her, "I was wondering about something. If Katherine was a succubus, how come she never used her powers?"
Francis smirked and was directly in front of Elena in an instant. "Because, as you may have realized, no one ever actually told her what she was."
As he walked away, Elena smiled. "You never liked her much, did you?"
Hey street boy what's your style? Your dead end dreams don't make you smile.
Jeremy watched the trembling man in front of him sceptically.
Well, this is new, he thought.
Over the past two months, they had confronted the most disgusting dregs of the earth; the worst possible creatures, human or vampire, in existence. And then, there was this guy. A terrified, shaking, snivelling wreck of a man.
Elena and Jeremy had ventured to the secluded island alone to meet with him, leaving Stefan and Francis behind to work out some logistics based on the information that they had collected. The informant was a man who had been selling himself to witches for the majority of his life. Jeremy thought of Bonnie, and couldn't imagine her using people, taking their memories or pieces of their souls, for any reason.
"Come on, man. You can do this. And we can help you." Jeremy was crouched in front of the mousy-looking man, speaking slowly and softly, while Elena watched from a few feet away.
"You can?" Jeremy nodded. "I do not want this anymore! I want to be normal again! Can I be normal again?" And he broke down, muttering incoherently into the ground.
I'll give ya something to live for, have ya, grab ya till your sore!
Jeremy turned to look pleadingly at his sister, who sighed and stepped forward, tugging off a glove at the same time.
"I'll have you know that I'm profoundly uncomfortable with this, Jeremy."
The boy only laughed. "Yeah yeah… You liquefy people's organs with a look, but this is where you draw the line?"
With a scowl, Elena shoved Jeremy out of the way and knelt down, taking the informant's hand in her own.
"Alexander? Will you look at me?"
The man sat up and looked at Elena, eyes wide and breaths coming in short gasps. Elena stroked his face, and he closed his eyes, leaning in to her touch. She leaned in close, and pulled him into her arms.
"Are you okay now?" They pulled apart, and Alex nodded. "So you'll help us?" He nodded again. "Thank you so much. Now come on, we'll get you someplace safe."
As the three made their way back to the ferry, Elena leaned close to Jeremy and murmured, "I feel so cheap."
Hello Daddy, hello Mom,
I'm your cherry bomb!
"Jenna? Alaric?" Jeremy and Elena entered their childhood home, excited to see family again.
"Jeremy, is that you?" Jenna came out of the kitchen, her face lighting up at the sight of her niece and nephew. "Oh my God!" And she flew forward and pulled both vampires into her arms.
When Elena extricated herself, she met Ric in the kitchen. He seemed confused and a little intimidated.
"I thought we were going to meet you?"
"Francis said it would be safer to plot here," Elena began. Then she giggled, "And Jeremy was homesick."
"Shut up!" Jeremy retorted from entryway.
Elena laughed and looked back at Alaric, trying to decipher the look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. Just… You seem different." He took a step forward to examine her more closely, but Elena put a gloved hand out to stop him.
"I am different," she said cryptically, and they left it at that.
Hello world I'm your wild girl,
I'm your cherry bomb!
The entire Team Salvatore ("Caroline, really, it's getting old…" "Whatever, try and find another name for us then!") reunited at the boarding house to be debriefed. In a few days' time, they would travel to London to break Damon out. Their plan seemed simple on paper, but it would take a lot of work to pull off, and everything would have to go just right.
Alaric and Caroline, who hadn't seen the rest of the group in two months, were trying to stay focused on what was being said, but they couldn't help but notice the differences in Elena. There was something scary about her, something dark that was flowing just beneath the surface, like boiling water. She was subtly authoritative, and noticeably, though probably subconsciously, possessive of Stefan.
When the meeting was adjourned, Alaric and Francis left, and the vampires retreated to their separate bedrooms. Elena only looked at Stefan on the way up the stairs and shook her head, smiling affectionately before heading to her and Damon's room alone.
After sitting motionless on the bed for twenty minutes, she leapt from the window and ran to her old home, sneaking into her bedroom and curling up on her bed before crying herself to sleep.