Prompt #4 Deep
Set in 3x2 The Hybrid
Deep
He should have known. It was so predictable that is was almost funny. This ritual of theirs was always the same. He could see it coming, even if Damon was still keeping up the pretense of being firm in his decision to leave these mountains, and quickly. They should never have come in the first place, but where Stefan was concerned there was no stopping Elena. Ric knew that, which was the only reason he had brought Damon along. This treat was almost worth the danger it put them all in, he thought as he watched them both standing waist-deep in the river. Damon had his back to him, but Ric didn't need to see his face to know that he was trying to stare Elena down. This wasn't the first time that Ric witnessed such an attempt, so he was pretty sure that Damon already knew he had lost. He really couldn't fathom how he could have thought even for a second that Damon could win here. Ah, there it was. The critical moment.
Elena seemed to be pleading, radiating desperation.
This was it. Damon looked away only for a second, but it was obvious what would come next. And of course, it did.
"Okay. Okay. But we're out of here before the moon is full and I'm werewolf bait."
Ric turned and grabbed his backpack as he saw Damon gesture at Elena. Great. Now that that part was over and done with, maybe they could at least stop wasting time. When they were back on the path through the forest Ric couldn't resist any longer. He knew Damon was only a few feet behind him, so he kept looking straight ahead and kept his voice low. "You really are useless, you know."
"Thanks. Always a pleasure to help you out."
Ric chuckled. "You're in deep, my friend."
He heard Damon stop mid-step for a second and knew he had that slightly confused look on his face. "So … care to enlighten me what you're talking about?"
Ric grinned. "No."
"What, so you're just chatting to get rid of the awkward silence? Why Ric, so thoughtful of you to try and make me feel comfortable."
"Always a pleasure to help you out."
"Maybe it would be helpful if you could hint at what you're helping with."
Ric glanced over his shoulder. "You're supposed to think about it yourself, that's kind of the point. And it's more fun this way."
Damon scowled. "You know, I'm just seconds away from killing you."
"Nah, you know you wouldn't."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You're in deep." With that Ric quickened his pace to catch up to Elena.
The scowl slipped from Damon's face as he stared after Ric.