Elena marvels at the rise and fall of Damon's chest. She woke in his arms that morning and resolved to take in his unbeknownst, sleeping form. Where did they go wrong? A morning like this reminds her of a wasted past and taunts her with the prospect of a wasted future.
She had never considered quitting until yesterday. Creative writing at Whitmore was fun, but fighting was her life's passion. There was nothing quite like transforming what most regarded as the basest human function into a graceful struggle, a metaphor for life. Most opposed what she did, but none had ever blindsided her with such contempt, such hate. Her mind froths, bubbles looking suspiciously like those that oozed from Rebekah's rabid mouth.
Elena's fingers fall onto Damon's defined cheekbones. He pleaded for his "Warrior Princess," the one he accepted "just the way you are." He knows her so well that he always says and does the right thing by her, except three years ago. She expected him to be the better man then: the one who confidently sent her father a message of his own, not through crazy threats or violent flourishes, but by simply loving her in the open. Sheriff Forbes could intervene if her father did not take kindly to the message. Anything, even threats or violence, Elena would have preferred to what Damon ended up doing: turning her away and abandoning her for Santa Monica, without a resolution, explanation, or good-bye.
At least, that is where Elijah told her Damon went. The Gilberts and Salvatores were not on talking terms at the time. Elena unhappily rebounded with Elijah. We all know how those relationships turn out. Upon Damon's return several months later, Elena was past understanding him or showing compassion. Absence had made her heart grow fonder but also seethe with doubt and resentment. He knew where you were, Elena. He didn't care. He doesn't love you.
Maybe Damon did and still does. Elena thought Rebekah was at worst an awkward acquaintance, which was clearly an epic misread. Maybe everything since Damon's return that Elena convinced herself was merely friendship on his part is something more. His comfort yesterday felt too good, too right, to be just friendship. In fact, it felt like the only right thing in this crazy, hateful, fucked-up world.
Today is the day Elena stops wasting. Liquid courage pumps through her veins. She will compel Damon to talk about the last three years so they can move forward together. Maybe ply him with champagne and some red lingerie too ... First though, she will break up with Elijah.
Damon is in a fucking mess and he knows it. He has felt Elena's determined eyes on him for the past 15 minutes. One secret, selfish day, not two. He is busy obsessing about how to extract himself when an incoming video call demands their attention.
"You two, gym now," Ric slurs, waving around a Bud, his morning coffee.
Today is a good day! Elena feels invincible. Why not add career planning to the agenda? She impressed Invicta three years ago, and they rewarded her with a three-fight contract, all of which she has already fulfilled. The organization has taken awhile to establish a formal championship structure. They are only now holding a championship bout in Elena's flyweight (125 lbs) weight class. They have asked Elena to fight Tatia Petrova for the inaugural flyweight belt. OR ...
Elena could throw caution to the wind and fight for the only women's belt worth fighting for: the UFC bantamweight (135 lbs) belt, currently held by Katherine Pierce. The UFC only has that one women's weight class, and even its future depends on the pay-per-view reception of the first UFC women's fight, Kat's debut against Meredith Fell. If Elena continues at flyweight, she may never fight in the UFC. If she moves up to bantamweight, she will be fighting at a weight disadvantage. But, if Elena defeats Kat (assuming Kat defends against Meredith), Elena also dethrones Kat as the G.O.A.T. Greatest of All Time.
Kat is a dynamite hottie, but it is her fight resume that has her touted as the Greatest. Only two American women have ever medaled in taekwondo at the Olympic Games, and she is one of them. She was the women's bantamweight champion in the now UFC-owned Strikeforce mixed martial arts organization. She was the first woman to headline a major mixed martial arts event, and that event stands as one of the most-watched Strikeforce events in history. She has almost single-handedly raised the sport of women's mixed martial arts from obscurity. Of course, this is where Kat's looks help tremendously. Mixed martial arts targets a male demographic, and she gets their eyeballs squarely on her. You are an ass man? She has junk in that trunk. You are a breast man? Her fight tops barely contain her ampleness. You watch Kat fight, you are in for a show in more ways than one.
Elena sighs to herself. Clearly, Kat already has the mental edge. Elena looks at the rearview mirror and watches Damon snuggle Vicki. Damon and Vicki were going to spend a lazy day out in the snow before Ric voluntold them to help Elena train for whateverthefuck Elena decides is her next move. Damon was and is her physical edge. Very few men are willing to spar and train with women without "going easy." There is no such thing as going easy with Damon Salvatore. He challenges whomever he is working with - man, woman, or child - to possibility's edge. On more than one occasion, Damon and Elena have hurt each other during training, which only happens when elite athletes are training seriously and with intent. She rubs at the bruise on her elbow. Although counterintuitive, this bruise is a symbol of his confidence in her and her abilities.
Elena's physical edge, however, is not a secret. The UFC followed Damon around leading up to his fight with Kol, documenting his methods in a Primetime hype piece. Needless to say, many people were shocked to find that Damon and Elena train like they do. There was even a minor backlash. If Elena were another female fighter watching that hype piece, she would have booked the next flight to Mystic Falls and begged Damon to train with her.
Elena and Kat must think alike. Kat is perched on the front step of the Slayers gym, tapping a beat against the railing. When she spots Elena's SUV, "Butch Dyke" still proudly displayed on the side, she rises to her feet and rolls her eyes.
"Hello Butch Dyke. Starting training at 12 pm is a sure way to get my belt," Kat snarks, pointing to the buckle on her belt, which she had custom-fashioned as a smaller replica of her real UFC championship belt.
"What are you doing here?" Elena demands, not in the mood for Kat's games. Kat is from Florida, and they rarely cross paths, but when they do ...
"I will always be one step ahead of you. When are you gonna figure that out?" Kat replies with a riddle. She turns to Damon. "God, you're hot. When did you get so hot?" She scrapes the tip of her finger across his chest. He knows exactly what she is trying to do. She deliberately drawls her words, so he shakes his head and points to his ear just to fuck with her. She sighs and signs the one sentence she bothered to learn: "Just train me because I say so."
Author's Note: Rousey vs. Carmouche, the first UFC women's fight in real life. Feb 23, 2013.