Sorry for the wait. There's a bit of drama in this one ;-)
If you really like this story, please review. I find it pretty hard to find the time to write, and it is always a review that makes me sit down and write. So please help me continue this story, by reviewing :-D All thoughts, ideas and so on is more than welcome. I will try to respond everyone.

This time it was a guest (lenna) who made me kick myself and write. Thank you for that, I hope you like this chapter.

The girl acted weird, when he got back late in the evening. Damon could feel her unease as soon as he walked in the door. Normally she would be asleep by now, but instead she was walking around restlessly, pretending to clean, even though the room was obviously spotless.

He headed for the couch, and threw his leather jacket on the floor. He caught her look his way, but when she noticed him watching her, she quickly resumed her meaningless task.

"Stop fidgeting."

She flinched at his words.
"Sorry," she mumbled. She stood still, apparently unsure of what to do.

Damon sighed.
"Grab the scotch and a couple of glasses. I think we both need a drink."

He leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. A wave of that bliss, that had haunted him all day, rolled over him. He heard her leaving for the kitchen to retrieve the glasses. He had to shake himself out of it, when she set the glasses on the table.
He straightened.
"Sit."

She obeyed, but she still looked stiff and uneasy.
As he poured the scotch, he nodded for her to take one of the glasses. She did so, reluctantly.

"Evviva." He rose his glass, and took a sip, but when she didn't react, he rolled his eyes.
"It's italian for cheers. It means: drink!"

It seemed like he finally got through to her. She blushed.

"Sorry." Then she lifted her glass and added. "Evviva."
She surprised him by taking a deep gulp, almost emptying the glass. He rose his eyebrows.

"Looks like someone needed it."

In the end it took only three refills to get her drunk.

Kirya could feel the liquor getting a hold of her.
This is such a bad idea.

But somehow the thought didn't make her less giddy. Damon was watching her, an amused look on his face. In her drunken state she had concluded that he probably hadn't seen the news. And now that she thought about it, she found it hard to imagine, how the fact that she was some rich kid runaway, would mean anything to him anyway. He was dead, for Christ sake!

And so am I, she realized.

The thought made her laugh out loud.

"What's so funny?" Damon was lazing back in the couch. She had to fight to get control over her laughter, and had to dry her eyes.

"It's just the fact that right now, two dead people are sitting right here getting wasted." She giggled and took another sip of scotch. Damon clearly thought she had lost her mind.

"There's what?"

"Well, we're both dead, sort of. Obviously not dead in the same way, but still."
Somewhere in the back of her head, a voice told her to shut up now, but she just kept babbling.
"I just saw it in the news today. I'm officially dead. They made a memorial and all."

"Girl, you lost me completely there. What the fuck are you talking about?" There was an edge to his voice, and Kirya could feel her stomach tighten. "I'm sorry, Damon. I just... I'm a bit drunk. I apologize." She moved to get up, but lost her balance.

He caught her in his arms, moving quick as lightning. Lifting her, he placed her gently on the couch again.
"Sit down." His voice was firm, and she obeyed, unable to meet his eyes.
"Now you will talk, coherently. Look at me."

Kirya surprised herself by shaking her head.
"No."

He grabbed her chin and forced her face up. Suddenly fear and anger overwhelmed her. She squeezed her eyes shut, and taking Damon completely by surprise, she hit him with all she had. His grip eased for a second, but then he grabbed her even harder. She gathered her thoughts. "Please, don't compel me. Please." She could feel tears start forming in her eyes.
"I'll tell you everything. Just, please..." she trailed of. She still didn't dare lifting her eyes to his. She'd heard Yuki and Bjorn talk about compulsion, and it had scared her to even imagine it. To have your actions and feelings dictated. Your free will, completely gone.

He had been quiet, while her insides were in turmoil. Now he opened his mouth.

"Look at me." She started crying for real. Slowly she lifted her head, to face him.

"Open your eyes." His voice was low but stern. She bit her lower lip. She didn't want it to happen. Didn't want him to compel her. But at the same time she couldn't resist. It was Damon. And she was just so accustomed to do whatever he asked of her. Hell, she even trusted him, she realized... And slowly she opened her eyes.

He was so close. Only a few inches parted them. Tears streaked her face.
Catching her gaze he continued:
"Kirya, I have not compelled you before, and I promise you now that I will never compel you. Okay?"

He looked straight into her eyes, like he was searching for something. It took time for his words to sink in. And then suddenly she shuttered and nearly collapsed in his arms.
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, as she sobbed against his chest.

"You know, I might already regret that statement. You're drenching my shirt." But his voice was soft as he said it, and he didn't push her away.

Kirya didn't know how long they sat like that. When her tears finally had stopped, she slowly drew back, and dried her face in her sleeve.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

Damon stood up, picking up the bottle from the table. He took a sip, before stating: "No more scotch for you tonight."

She almost laughed. "I think that's a plan."

She could still feel the alcohol in her system, but not as uncontrollable as before.
She took in a deep breath, and then started talking.

She told him everything from the beginning. How she'd run away from home and had to hide out, to escape all the people looking for her. How she'd learned to survive on the street by finding food in garbage (she blushed, when she told that bit), and how she one year almost froze to death.
Every now and then, when she couldn't find words, he just waited untill she picked it up again, or asked about details.

It was strange talking with him like this. But nice. Really nice. She found herself almost at ease, speaking of those things she'd never told anyone about.
When she was finished, they both sat in silence.

Later when Yuki came by, Kirya was fast a sleep on one couch, covered in a blanket, and Damon sleeping just as sound on the other. An empty bottle of scotch still in his hand.