My sleep was interrupted by a squirming Stefan. I groaned. "What is it?" He stiffened.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." I scoffed at that.
"Just go back to sleep."
"Today's Sunday."
"So?" As I was saying that the reason came to me. We'll be going to church. Against my will by the way. I opened my eyes. I'm still tired. I never get enough sleep. I'd go to sleep early but then Stefan would be left alone with Father.
"Father will be here soon." Stefan said. I leaned up on my elbow. Stefan had gotten off my chest and was now on his stomach on the bed. I looked at him and he easily met my gaze. I looked at the window and sighed. "Damon?" He asked, sounding confused.
"For once, thank you for waking up so damn early. We haven't been caught yet and that's a good thing. Go to your room." Hurt dashed across his features.
"But Damon- I didn't mean-"
"Father will be furious with us if he finds us this way. That's why we usually do it in your bed. Now get going!" I shoved him gently. I watched him stand and unable to watch him be so sad, I kissed his forehead. "You can use this time to take a bath and get dressed for the day."
"Yes Damon." He turned after kissing my cheek. "I'll see you later."
"Mm hm." I watched him leave and close the door. I waited a minute before curling up, going back to sleep. Not only am I still tired but I usually have to be woken up. So getting up would be strange to Father. He'd question the why of it.
"Damon Salvatore! Get up!" My eyes shot open and I scrambled from the bed at the tone in Father's voice. Not to mention he used my last name. I faced him once I was on my feet.
"Yes Father."
"Take a bath and get dressed for church." He ordered.
"Of course, Father." I made my way to the bathroom and quickly bathed and just as quickly pulled on my shirt. It was my pants that presented a problem with hurrying. It hurt. I hastily put on my coat and grabbed my hat after grooming my hair. I was quickly out of the room.
"Damon, go eat your breakfast." Father ordered. I narrowed my eyes at his back. I don't need to be told to eat. I shook my head and made my way to the kitchen. There I found Stefan dressed similarly to me. I smirked and came up behind him.
"Boo!" He gasped and spun before glowering as I laughed.
"It's not funny, Damon!"
"Relax." I told him, kissing his cheek, after making sure Father wasn't around. Stefan smiled and relaxed as he continued to eat his own breakfast. "Not sitting?"
"Would you?" I shrugged.
"Good point. We'll be getting enough of that when we get to church. You behave yourself, Stefan." He chuckled.
"I'm not the one we should be worried about." I gave him a fake laugh.
"You're not funny." I started eating and finished with a cup of coffee. Stefan grabbed for the pot to pour himself a cup. Not wanting to feel guilty, I knocked his arm away and poured it for him before he could complain.
"Thank you?"
"You're welcome?" I replied and we both laughed.
"It's time we head off to church if we want to get there on time." Father said just as Stefan took a sip of his coffee and I was finishing mine. Without question, Stefan set his cup down with a smile.
"Yes sir." He turned with that smile and left, grabbing his hat as he went. Poor Stefan.
"That means now Damon." He said. I hurried after Stefan. Damn him! I easily caught up to my brother. The carriage was attached to four horses. Midnight Shade, mine, and Lighting Star, Stefan's. As Father came out shortly after me, we got in the carriage. Uncomfortable.
We made our way to the church and got out. The first thing Father did was to make his way to his friend's sides. Gilbert and Lockwood. They went in and I stayed outside. Stefan stayed with me.
"Hey Stef, wanna see something cool?" He smiled. I got up on the corral the horses went in and started walking around the rim with my hands in my pockets.
"When did you learn to do that?"
"Lots and lots of practice."
"Teach me! I mean, will you please teach me to do that?" I laughed.
"No need to be so formal." I told him, turning to face him. I took my hands out of my pockets and was about to hop down when Mr. Fell startled me.
"Get down from there before you hurt yourself!" He ordered. I wobbled and fell forward. I stood up and brushed myself off. "Get inside."
"Yes sir." Stefan said, grabbing my hand and leading me into the church. I gave Mr Fell a tight smile.
"Sorry." Once we were inside I took the lead, gripping Stefan's hand. I led him to where I knew they kept the candy. "Sorry, little brother. Maybe next time."
"It's fine, Damon." He said, sounding not the least upset. Astounding. Stefan's matured. I kissed his forehead anyway. I turned and released his hand as I pulled down the box. I opened it and pulled out a piece.
"Look! Candy."
"Damon, put it back. We're not supposed to be here yet. You can have candy later." I huffed and opened a piece.
"Come now, Stefan. I know you like…" I looked at the wrapper. "... milk chocolate." I held it out to him. He shook his head. I scowled before stepping on his foot and shoving it in his mouth. "Eat it. You deserve it." I turned back to the box with a laugh and a chuckle. "You're a good boy. You know all the answers anyway." I picked out a piece and put it in my own mouth. Stefan tried to deny the candy but he couldn't talk well because the candy was so big. I grabbed two more pieces before turning us and beginning to guide us to the church school room. After that it'd be the service followed by the children's church for Stefan. His would be over at the same time ours was. Then we'd all go out for lunch and then finally we'd be at home… only to go back later tonight but Stefan wouldn't be able to escape to the children's church. He'd be stuck with the adults. Once that was over we would go home and it'd be time for bed.
I dropped him off before going to my own class. Which was with the adults. I sat down and waited for it to end. Thankfully it didn't take long. I got up and made my way back to my brother's side. He'd finished the first piece.
"Today's lesson was brilliant-" Unwilling to listen, I handed him a second. He obediently snuck it into his mouth.
"I had my own 'brilliant' lesson." I leaned toward his ear. "It was boring." Stefan gave me a disapproving look but he was unable to speak. I gave a quick grin before dropping it at Father's call.
"Come sit with me." I followed obediently with Stefan, a prick of irritation cropping up from all the obedience I was doing lately. However, I was not foolish enough to act on it. As usual, Stefan and I sat down on either side of Father. We used to sit together but he put an end to it. Why? I was entertaining a child who had problems sitting still.
It wasn't Stefan's fault. Stefan had trouble sitting still until he was seven. To help him, I played games with him. None that required him to look away from the preacher or move from his seat. He didn't even have to talk. Father had eventually noticed, we hadn't always sat with him then, and disciplined us. Eventually he just had us sit separately. Stefan had been upset but with Father's stubbornness Stefan eventually submitted. It's been this way ever since.
The service dragged on and the standing up and sitting down was annoying but eventually Stefan left. I knew then that it was almost over. I paid some attention to the preacher every once in a while but when I noticed it wasn't a lesson I wanted to hear I tuned him completely out.
Finally I saw Stefan come back and quickly stood. Father stood and walked back to his friends. I grabbed Stefan's forearm and dragged him out of the church before handing him the last piece. He smiled and happily took it.
"Congratulations, you survived another day at church." I ruffled his hair before tapping his shoulder. "You're it!" I quickly ran. I heard laughter and Stefan was chasing me down.
"Damon!" Stefan called, clearly enjoying himself. We ran around in the churchyard playing for a bit, sometimes even being joined by the other kids, until we heard Father call out. I stopped in my tracks, Stefan ramming right into me and knocking us both down. We started laughing as I quickly rolled away and stood up before helping my brother to his feet.
"Come on boys!" Father called. I smirked.
"Wanna race?" He shook his head.
"Uh, no. I'm good." I realized that the both of us were out of breath. "Come on." He headed for our carriage and I followed him. We got in and were on our way to lunch soon after.
"What are we having?" I asked Father.
"Seafood." He replied, reading some type of document. Stefan and I talked while we were on the move. Then we quickly got out.
"Take some time to look at the menu." I told Stefan. "Try to pick something you'll know you like. There's all sorts of things. Salmon, shrimp, lobster." He nodded.
"Thank you." We went in with Father's friends, who had brought their children, as a whole. Despite how I'm friends with some of them I stayed with Stefan. We were led to some tables and Stefan sat down at the end of a table so I sat down at his side. I handed him the menu before taking a look myself. I ended up with a combo of shrimp and catfish, Stefan took shrimp and fish. I found that funny, and a bit adorable. Yes, I find my brother adorable but as he's grown older he's asked me not to call him that. So I stopped. Stefan and his silly manly pride.
When we got our plates I started eating but most of my attention was on Stefan. I don't know if he's ever had shrimp before. He looked at one, watched what I was doing – I quickly looked away, and tried to copy me before giving up for now and eating the fish instead. He was amazed.
"Hm?" I asked, turning to him.
"This fish is amazing. It's so soft and tears easily. It tastes amazing. Here, you try." I lifted my hand.
"That's your food. You eat it. You only have two."
"I'll trade one of my fish for your catfish?"
"..." He sighed. "Okay. You have a deal." He switched them and I continued eating my shrimp. "Do you need help with the shrimp?" I asked, taking a long sip of my drink.
"No! Yes." I chuckled, beaming with my laughter. He glared at me. "I knew you'd laugh at me." I shook my head.
"It's not about needing help, it's about how you answered. It's okay to need help, Stefan." I told him. I picked up one of my last shrimp. "Watch me."
"Father says a real man can handle things himself."
"I don't care and I don't want to hear it. Watch me." I peeled the shrimp tail slowly. He peeled one of his and ate it. "Of course, you don't have to peel the shrimp. Most of the tail end is edible."
"Then why don't you?"
"It was the way I was taught."
"Oh." I deliberately took my last shrimp and ate it and its tail. Then I moved onto the catfish and, since Stefan hadn't taken it, the fish. He was right. It was amazing. I picked up my drink and took another long drink. Stefan finished shortly after. I was surprised when our plates were taken only to be replaced by chocolate dessert. I looked along the table to see Father give us a smile. Everyone else had their own desserts. Father got us dessert? That's hard to believe. Stefan and I ate our dessert together. Our drinks had been refilled while we were. They began to talk while cigars were handed around the table. I watched them hand Stefan one.
"Isn't Stefan a little young to be taking part?" I asked. Father looked up.
"Stefan? Right you are Damon. Stefan, give it back." Stefan obeyed Father but leaned back in his chair. I could feel Stefan glaring at me. They started smoking and I pretended to.
Eventually it was time to go and everyone started getting up. I stood and pushed my chair in. Stefan wouldn't even look at me. I called his name a few times but he refused.
We got in the carriage and started our way home. Instead of his usual spot next to me, he was sitting next to Father on the other side with Father in front of me. He was staring out the window. Father chose now to be perceptive.
"Stefan? Is something the matter?" He asked. Stefan looked at Father with a smile.
"I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean to make you worry." I noticed that wasn't a yes or a no. Something he's picked up from me. Father didn't notice that.
"That's quite alright. It's just you usually sit next to your brother." Stefan's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Am I not allowed to sit next to you?" Stefan is great at manipulating Father. He's learned too well from me.
"You may choose to sit where you please, Stefan." There Stefan chose to change the topic.
"Lunch was amazing, so was the dessert afterwards. Thank you Father." Stefan said, smiling. I narrowed my eyes at Stefan's actions. He's acting strange. I knew exactly what it was. He was mad at me for stopping him from having a cigar. It was for his health! Stefan should have been the first to see through my actions! I'm always encouraging him to break the rules, as opposed to now when I kept him from breaking this one! Stefan looked back out his window and with a twitch I looked out my own window, trying to keep my poker face on. Father was clearly in the dark. He seemed like he knew something was up but not exactly what. The moment the carriage stopped, Stefan turned to Father.
"Father, can I go play?"
"Yes, Stefan. Be back in time for service."
"Yes Father." He quickly hopped out and walked out of sight. I didn't bother asking. I hopped out and walked after Stefan. Out of sight.
Stefan walked quite a ways off from our property before finally stopping and glaring off into the distance at nothing. I waited to see if he was going to keep walking but he was done. I approached him and only when I was close did I purposely snap a nearby twig with my foot to get his attention. He spun, between surprise and worry. When he saw it was me he was angry again.
"Leave me alone, Damon!" He turned and took a step away. I grabbed him and spun him to face me.
"We need to talk." I told him firmly.
"I said, back off!" He shoved me and I took a few steps back in surprise. I tilted my head. He really was mad. I shoved him back. He stumbled but quickly caught his balance.
"I'm not going to. Why are you so angry?"
"You have no idea what just happened, do you?!" He snapped.
"I'm rather dim, you'll have to explain it!" I snapped back.
"I was offered a cigar and you, my older brother, had it taken away from me! Aren't you usually the one encouraging me? To do anything?"
"It was a cigar, Stefan!"
"Exactly! A symbol of manhood!" I glared at him.
"Oh. So this is about your silly man pride! Really, Stefan?! You're not a man, you're a teenager!" In fury Stefan shoved me harder. Before I could think straight, I punched him. We froze. Stefan put a hand to his cheek. His next reaction was his breathing hitching. Then tears pooled in his eyes. I tried to pull him in for a hug but he backed up.
"Leave me alone." He said, walking away. I followed him, my own heart hurting. This is how most of our fights went down. One of us would take it too far, usually me. I felt so guilty about punching Stefan. My brother. The one I'm supposed to protect.
"Stefan, wait. I'm sorry." He kept walking, bumped into a tree, and slid to the floor. Trying not to cry. I sat down and pulled him into a hug. He struggled in my arms for a few seconds but I only held him tighter. He leaned against my chest, crying. "Stefan, I'm sorry. I-... I didn't… that wasn't supposed to happen. I love you."
"Why?"
"I lost my temper-" He shook his head. Then it's that cigar. "It's not healthy for you. Didn't you see that I also wasn't smoking?" He was quiet for a minute, tears silently rolling down his cheeks.
"No."
"You can't light a cigar with nothing. No one lit it for me and I certainly didn't. I can show you proof. I took it with me, we all did. I'm not planning on smoking it. I'm going to sell it to one of my friends. Or trade it."
"My health?"
"Yeah. I've never let you do anything I knew could hurt you, have I?" He shook his head again before sitting himself on my lap and wrapping his arms around my neck. His tears slowly stopped.
"No. You haven't. I doubt you ever will." I chuckled.
"You're right." I replied, making us both laugh.
"I'm sorry. I overreacted. I should have seen that's what you were doing. It's just… I never know why you act the way you do. It's a mystery to me."
"Stef, I'm the one who's sorry. Striking you was out of line."
"It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't-"
"We're both sorry, end of story."
"I forgive you." I hugged him tighter.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much those words mean to me. I have the perfect way to make it up to you. That cigar? I'll trade it for a bottle of moonshine and you can have the first taste."
"That'd be nice."
"Then it's decided. Would you like to actually play now?" He kissed my cheek before standing up.
"Yes, please." I stood and pecked his forehead with a kiss.
"What do you want to play?"
I'll try to keep up this pace but no promises. Today I almost didn't get it posted because of my computer. I found a way! Love you guys!