A/N Thank you all for reviewing!

"Are you ditching school?"

Stefan looked up from his book as the front door opened and Damon sauntered in, a wide grin on his face. The elder Salvatore kicked the door shut behind him

Shrugging off his leather jacket, Damon gave Stefan a fake parental look, pointing at his brother. Stefan resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Damon wagged his finger at him, feigning a reprimanding look.

"I don't fancy going to a parent/teacher night, Stefan. I'm your guardian but-"

"Shut up, Damon."Stefan cut in, picking up another mug and handing it to his brother."Going by how you smell, you need it."

"I'm not drunk."

Stefan nodded, agreeing with his brother."You're not stumbling, and i'm not dragging you to your bed, I know you're not drunk. But that doesn't make you smell any less like a brewery. I heard your singing before I heard the car."

Rolling his eyes, Damon raised his eyebrows, accepting the mug from his brother, observing him before he looked down into the mug.

It was blood.

Human blood.

Damon shrugged, bringing the rim of the mug to his lips and took a long sip.

He made a sound of approval before looking down at his brother."Who did you drain for this?"

It wasn't an accusation, but Damon needed to know if he had to lock his brother up again.

"Nobody. I got it from the blood bank."

"So what?"Damon carried on, using the mug to point at his brother dramatically."You don't sink your fangs into the walking happy meals?"

Stefan didn't hide his disapproval at Damon's nickname for the humans, but he didn't voice it. The younger Salvatore set aside his book before he leant over and picked up his own mug.

"Only murders, rapists and other dregs of society that deserve it."Stefan replied, glancing down at the blood in his mug before looking back up at his brother."I take what I need and compel them a fate they deserve. It took a while; some didn't make it but, uh, i'm getting there."

Stefan cleared his throat before he added."It's easier."

Damon nodded along, sensing no worrying signs from his brother.

"Easier because you don't get all weepy and write in your journal?"

Stefan didn't hang his head or look guilty. He just shrugged but it wasn't a cold one, Damon noticed, it was a shrug that said he wasn't off the rails, but he wasn't hiding in the shadows. It told Damon that his brother was stable, that he didn't have to worry about Stefan going on a rampage.

Stefan looked up at his brother, almost searching for approval but at the same time silently telling his brother that he was fixing himself. Stefan didn't need saving, but he did need support.

"It works, Damon. It works for me."

Damon made a sound of acknowledgement before he let himself fall onto the couch across from his brother.

"Not brooding but not Ripper-like."Damon hummed as he propped his feet up on the coffee table, pursing his lips before he shrugged."I might like this Stefan."

"Now I can sleep peacefully."Stefan raised his eyebrow, speaking in a deadpan manner that he had mastered over the years."I was worrying myself sick that I wouldn't have your approval."

Damon huffed out a laugh, sending his brother a lopsided smirk but he didn't hurl back a retort. Instead, Damon's gaze drifted from his brother but not to something else. It seemed that he had floated off into a reverie.

Stefan was silent as he observed his brother.

Damon had a glazed over look in his eyes as he revelled in his reverie and a smile on his lips. Not a smirk, a smile. A genuine happy, content smile that Stefan hadn't witnessed in what seemed like a lifetime.

Before that moment, Stefan had become convinced that his brother had forgotten what a smile was.

"Who's gotten you so giddy?"

Damon blinked, quickly turning his head to his brother, a series of emotions playing out on his face.

"Huh?"

"You. Your attention's been caught by someone."

Damon sent his brother a blank look, but Stefan could see a glimmer in his eyes.

"What?"

"Who is she?"

Damon dragged his lower lip over his teeth, hiding a smile before he insisted."There isn't a she."

Stefan was silent as he processed his brother's words. He gave a small laugh before nodding, hands meeting in front of him.

"I-Is the person a he?"Stefan softly asked, gathering himself as Damon spluttered before he quickly added."I wouldn't care, Damon, you're my brother. I'll support you no matter who you have at your side."

Stefan gave his brother a small playful smile."Besides, at least we wouldn't be falling for the same woman every century."

"No there isn't a he!"Damon firmly said, stumbling over his words before he light-heartedly added."Though it's good to know that you'd still have my back."

"Don't be so sentimental."Stefan remarked before he thought back on Damon's words, almost smugly asking."So there is a she, isn't there?"

Damon sighed, clearly not in the mood to talk about it. He would love to tell his brother, but he didn't want to jinx anything and risk having others find out then ruin it all.

"Stef-"

"I know that smile and that look, Damon."Stefan said as he observed his brother, straightening as curiosity brimmed."It's almost nice to see you have that look."

Damon just quirked an eyebrow in response but didn't say anything as Stefan leant forward.

"If you want, it won't leave this room."Stefan reassured his brother, as if reading Damon's mind before he leant back against the couch."So, tell me, who is she?"

Damon was silent for a few moments, observing his brother to see if he could tell him. But, after a moment of pondering, he knew that he could. Stefan was his brother, despite their altercations and Stefan's recent self-battle, they were blood.

"All right, we'll do the brotherly sharing thing but don't hug me. It's weird enough as it is."

Stefan just shrugged."Glad we agree on that."

"Great. No mushy Stefan."Damon smirked, shifting to get comfortable as he prepared to tell his brother about the charismatic blonde."Her name is Cherie."

"Cherie."Stefan quietly repeated, blinking several times as he tried to remember where he had heard it before his eyes widened."Cherie Forbes? As in Caroline Forbes?"

Damon nodded, and Stefan voiced what Damon had thought."I bet Caroline hasn't exactly been listing your good points then."

"Going by how Cherie's slapped me twice and threatened to do a lot worse if I as much as glare at Caroline i'm gonna go with no."Damon said with a fond tone, hand coming up to touch his cheek where Cherie had slapped him."I was with her last night."

Stefan's lips curled up into an impish grin.

"That's why I didn't hear you snoring last night and came home in the afternoon. You weren't in your own bed."

Stefan raised his eyebrows, making Damon roll his eyes.

"Don't be so puerile!"Damon scowled at his brother, shaking his head."This new Stefan is gonna take getting used to. We didn't do anything. We just talked and drank. Well, I did which made me thankful that vamps have a high resistance to alcohol."

"And here was me thinking you only thought with one body part."Stefan said, a grin on his face as his brother glowered at him until Stefan finally seriously added."She must be special if you were happy just to talk."

"Obviously I was roguishly charming, a girl can never resist that."

"Going by evidence, Damon, I think she's resisting. Good for her, I say because it means you're actually interested in her and not looking for a plaything."

"Of course i'm interested, Stef, I jumped at the chance just to talk."Damon wholeheartedly said, a smile showing before he caught himself and added playfully."That means i'm turning into you, doesn't it? What a turn of the cards!"

Stefan gave his brother a lopsided smile that was both playful and encouraging."You talked, yes, but did you listen?"

Damon just frowned at his brother before he nodded."Uh, yeah. Unlike you or anyone else, she's gripping to listen to. Did you know-"

"What colour are her eyes?"

"Blue."Damon quickly answered, holding up a hand before he added."But they go really dark when she's pissed off. I like that."

Stefan nodded, lips downturned as he leant back against the sofa, grabbing his mug again.

"Can I slap you before you get all mushy?"

Damon frowned at Stefan, eyes narrowed."No, but you can go-"

Damon's words were muted by the sound of the front door being kicked open, and their gazes followed as the front door flew across the foyer.

"What the hell?"

The brothers stood just in time to witness Klaus saunter in, his expression darker than usual as he looked around. His usual ocean blue eyes were almost black, and his fingers were curled into fists at his sides. Damon hid it well, but he felt wary as Klaus rolled his shoulders back and every other blink his eyes would flash amber.

"Oh, no."

The sound of heels caught their attention and Rebekah strolled in after her brother, merely glancing at where the door used to be before she sighed.

Rebekah arched an eyebrow at Klaus' back."Can you be any more dramatic?"

Damon and Stefan shared a look, knowing two Originals in their home wasn't good.

"Double 'Oh, no.'"

Klaus' head snapped in their direction, glancing at Stefan before they turned to Damon. At the sight of Damon, a growl came from Klaus that made even Rebekah stand still.

The Original hybrid stepped zeroed in on Damon, and he bared his teeth, looking like he wanted to kill Damon, bring him back then kill him again.

Damon forced a false smile on his face, gesturing to the where the door used to be.

"There's a thing called knocking now; you should try it sometime."

Damon's response was a punch to the face that sent him staggering backwards. The eldest Salvatore looked wide eyed at Klaus, wiping the blood from his face as he glowered. Damon didn't get time to regain his footing as Klaus hit him again and again, each hit making his vision going blurry.

Rebekah bounced on her heels as Damon caught Klaus' wrist before he was hit again.

"Oh, look."She smiled brightly as Klaus' eyes flashed amber, growing angrier at the defiance."The tot is in trouble now."

Rebekah's gaze followed as Damon lunged for Klaus, tackling him to the ground. He punched Klaus several times across the face just before Klaus raised his knee and brought it up against Damon's ribs. Rebekah hummed as she heard a crack followed by Damon's groan.

Stefan shook his head, stepping forward, deciding it was enough as his brother spat out blood.

"Hey, that's enough!"Stefan called out, flashing forward to help his brother but Rebekah suddenly grabbed him, arm against his throat and keeping him still."Rebekah, what are you doing?!"

The blonde Original pouted when Stefan fought against her, and she hushed him, trapping his arms with her own. Damon recovered quickly from his broken ribs and headbutted Klaus, a smirk forming when the Original growled.

"Sorry, lover, but this is just between our brothers."

Stefan fought but it was useless, and he was forced to watch as Klaus easily gained the upper hand against Damon, headbutting him back. Kicking Damon off of him, Klaus for to his feet raising his foot and bringing it down on Damon's knee, forcing the younger male onto his back.

Klaus then reached down and pulled up Damon by the t-shirt, snarling angrily.

Damon looked dizzy for a moment before he raised his arms in surrender.

"What the hell? Fine, don't knock. In fact, don't even come around-"

He was pushed backwards, a hand shooting out and grabbing his throat when he attempted to gain the upper hand. Damon hissed when the bones in his arms snapped when Klaus turned him around. He was flashed forward, cheek pressing against the nearest wall as Klaus pinned him up against it.

"Okay, okay, I did kinda key your car but-HEY!"

Damon's eyes rolled to the back of his head as his forehead was slammed against the wall.

"Stay away from her."

Damon's eyes narrowed, confusion on his face before he glanced over at the blonde."Barbie Klaus? Fine, but i've never actually gone near her so-"

Damon snarled angrily as Klaus hit his head off of the wall again, making him see stars for a moment before he was spun around and pressed against the wall.

"I see you near her again, and i'll show you things worth than death."

Damon shrugged, still confused."Who?!"

Rebekah rolled her eyes, shaking her head at her brother who had become something similar to a caveman at that point.

"He's taking about Cherie. He's quite smitten with the girl; it's almost cute."Rebekah piped up, tightening her hold on a struggling Stefan, glaring at Damon."You better listen to him, love, my brother tends to become quite jealous and possessive when he decides something—or someone in this case—belongs to him. Nik despises sharing."

"She's right."

"What?"Damon eyed Klaus aggrievedly, rolling back his shoulders and pushing Klaus away from him."What do know about sunshine?"

Klaus took a step back from Damon, wiping the blood from his chin, a begrudged expression on his face at the nickname.

He shifted from foot to foot in an attempt to control his temper, hands behind his back as he forced a polite smile on his face.

"Cherie and I are quite familiar with one another."Klaus said, a hint of fondness in his voice at the mention of the human and he made sure to put emphasis on her name."I dare say that we've become very close friends, maybe something closer than a mere friend."

Klaus' smile widened at Damon narrowed his eyes when he drew out the last few words.

"Because of that, I find myself quite protective of the girl, so forgive me for the intrusion but i've taken it upon myself to fortify Cherie by getting rid of people that aren't good for her, and you happen to be one of them."

Damon remained still for a moment, expression blank before he began to laugh loudly. Klaus' eyebrow raised in question, and he shared a look with his sister who just shrugged.

"What is so funny?"

Damon feigned wiping tears from his cheek as his laughter died out."Oh, you were serious?"

The Salvatore brother straightened, laughter suddenly gone and his expression returned to a blank look.

"I'm sorry, you believe that i'm the bad influence? Me?"Damon pointed at himself, a disbelieving look on his face before he huffed out a laugh."Please, I look like a saint compared to you, and since you're already killing people close to her, she must mean something."

Damon turned his head in Rebekah's direction, a false smile on his face."How many friends of yours has he compelled?"

Rebekah sent a glare Damon's way, but she didn't take the bait. Instead, she tightened her hold on Stefan, giggling when Damon flinched as Stefan's bones snapped again.

"Just one."Klaus casually shrugged, nodding at Stefan, eyes returning to Damon, offering him a sinister grin."I killed the rest. I don't like it when my girls fraternise with riff-raff."

Klaus then glanced back to Stefan, lips downturned."No offence, old friend."

"Right, enough polite chit chat. Rebekah, love?"

Klaus felt a surge of gratification rush through him as his sister brought down her foot, mirroring Klaus' move from earlier, and broke one of Stefan's legs.

Stefan winced, swallowing a moan but the glassy look in his eyes proved how much pain he was. Damon grunted angrily, but he didn't make a move which made Klaus frown.

"Once more."

Rebekah happily complied, bringing her food down once more straight into Stefan's other leg, bringing him onto all fours.

"That's enough!"

Damon took a step forward toward his brother, but Klaus caught his wrist, nails slicing the skin.

"I can't compel you because you've been guzzling down vervain. I did think about killing you but where's the fun in that?"

Klaus rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a tut before he sharply moved Damon's wrist to the side, breaking another bone.

"I see you near her again, and i'll make you watch as I make your brother suffer."

Damon forced a smirk despite the pain and met Klaus' gaze.

"Oh, you sound jealous. Is she your sweetheart or something?"Damon asked, smirk still in place but he did want an answer which is why he added."Is she?"

Klaus didn't reply, but Damon could tell by the cloudy look on his face that he was hitting close to home.

The Salvatore brother leant closer to Klaus, lips downturned as he shrugged once more.

"If so, you can't blame her for preferring my company."

"I mean, look at me."Damon gave Klaus a lopsided smirk, sending the older man a wink."I can't fathom why she wouldn't be interested and, no offence, but you're a bit lacklustre compared to me. Looks like being almighty doesn't give you everything, does it?"

Klaus straightened as Damon yanked his hand away, snapping his bones back into place.

"Really?"

Damon rolled his eyes but played along."Yes, really."

"Is that so?"Klaus frowned, cocking his head as if Damon's words had completely surprised him."You have to forgive me for being doubtful of your claim considering your past with women. I mean, if you couldn't keep vexatious strumpets like Katerina and Elena interested what makes you think the darling Cherie will stick around?"

Damon sent Klaus a tight smile, it clear the words had gotten to him, but he smiled anyway.

"Below the belt, Klaus, you must feel threatened."

"By you?"

Klaus shrugged, hands behind his back, expression unreadable."I am just looking out for my girl, mate. What can you offer her? Safety? You have the self-control of the toddler you actually are, and a simple word from me can ensure that she'll never have to fear anything under her bed again."

Klaus huffed out a laugh, thumb tapping against the side of his hand as he verbally picked at Damon.

"Can you offer her family?"Klaus gave a genuine smile as he nodded over at his sister to waved over at them."In boxes or not, mine stick together."

"You can barely keep control of yourself, let alone your brother. What's to say you won't ruin her close-knit family like you have your own? It didn't take much to push Stefan over the edge, let me tell you."

Klaus spoke in a light-hearted manner, but his expression and dark eyes proved that he was anything but feeling but positive.

The cheap shot made Damon's eye twitch, and he took a step forward, fingers curling into a fist at his side.

"Go there again and i'll-"

Damon cut himself off as a gush of wind hit him, and Klaus was suddenly inches from his face, eyes wild and dangerous.

"What, Damon? You'll do what?"

The hybrid gave Damon a once over, lips curving up in an almost amused manner and he shook his head. The thought of Damon assuming he had a chance against Klaus was utterly laughable.

Klaus raised his head again, lips downturned as he met Damon's gaze.

"Do you honestly believe that you could take me?"Klaus asked, complacence clear in his tone as he took a step back, holding his arms out."If so, have at it, mate. Do you believe you have what it takes?"

Damon's lip curled up into a sneer, but he made no move to attack Klaus.

The Salvatore brother could read in between the lines and he swallowed the emotion threatening to spill over.

Do you truly believe you're worth loving? If so, could you keep that love?

Klaus stood silent, arms held out for no longer than a full two seconds before he let his arms fall back at his sides. The Original smirked, a loud laugh leaving him which echoed throughout the foyer of the Salvatore boarding house.

"No, you don't, do you? You know better."

"See, the thing is with you, Damon, is that you're all bark. You may be a somewhat king with your little friends, with those you know you can win but your bark turns to a whimper than you come against something superior to you."

Damon's jaw tightened, and he gave a nod, anger clear in his eyes before he finally met Klaus' gaze.

The eldest Salvatore brother sent Klaus a bitter smile, repeating his words from earlier."Is that right?"

Klaus merely nodded, smirk widening as he witnessed Damon's eyes darken but the Salvatore remained still.

"Me? I'm all bite."The hybrid stepped forward, eyes flashing amber and a growl ripping from his throat as he let his double fangs come forward."You know that which is why you stand there, it's because you know your place. I'm the alpha of you, of all your little friends and every other creature in this world."

Klaus finished his rant with a cocky smirk, eyes flashing once more before he let his human face come forward.

He stood staring at Damon, waiting for his angry lunge or an insult.

Instead, Damon's lips curved up into a broad smile and he began to laugh so hard that his shoulders shook.

The Salvatore brother shrugged before he pointed at Klaus."Except for one, mate. Cherie."

Damon's smile widened as Klaus' smug grin dropped."The whole 'i'm the all powerful Original hybrid, and everyone bows at my feet' thing didn't work, did it? That's why you're having your little tantrum."

It was Klaus' turn to twitch angrily as Damon got in his face, the deathly silence from the Original making all but Damon uneasy.

"You're threatened by me, that's why you're here."Damon gave a breathy laugh as he nodded over at Rebekah."And you brought your sis with you, so you won't lose control and kill me because you know that sunshine will find out and she'll fall further out of reach than she already is."

"If I weren't a threat, i'd be even deader than I already am."

Klaus cocked his head, an impassive look on his face as he processed Damon's words and continued to stare at him.

You know i'm right because you've touched sunlight and you don't want to lose it.

The Original hybrid suddenly gave a laugh, teeth bared and wiped a hand down his face, thumb tapping against his chin as he observed Damon.

It was his signature 'i'm thinking of ways to kill you' look.

Rebekah shook her head at her brother as Klaus took a step closer to Damon. She could feel that Damon had hit a spot within Klaus, an almost weakness since his words had been truthful. Damon had been right, he had exposed something within Klaus, and Rebekah knew her brother wouldn't stand for that.

While she wanted Damon to suffer for daring to say such things, she knew her brother couldn't kill him if he did, in fact, want the girl.

"Nik..."

Klaus held out his hand, sending his sister a nod that told her he was stable.

"It's all right, little sister, I know what i'm doing."

Rebekah observed her brother for a moment before she nodded, remaining where she was, holding Stefan down.

Klaus stopped in front of Damon, pursing his lips, seemingly pondering something before he suddenly nodded, raising a hand and pointing to Damon.

"Let's say your audacious statement holds some truth, what's to say you have a leg to stand on?"

Damon frowned, puzzled as he replied with what first came to mind."Huh?"

"Maybe I was rash to attempt to kill you. It's been a waste of my time but, in my defence, I have a bit of a temper."

Damon's eyes widened, but he hid his confusion as best he could."Yeah?"

"Yes, because now that I think of it, there is no comparison."Klaus gestured to himself then Damon before he turned his attention to Rebekah."What do you think, sister?"

Rebekah's lips curved up as she gave Damon a once over, a low hum leaving her.

"Pretty, for a mere fledgeling. Good enough for the likes of a doppelgänger."

Damon sent her a tight smile."Thank you."

"You'll outgrow them, love. Nik did and look at him now. A petulant pain in the arse..."Rebekah gave him a wide smile, rolling her eyes when Klaus raised an eyebrow at her."but he's a man now and, if there's something I know about my brother, it's that he always gets what he wants. It's annoying but a trait that comes in use whenever he uses it for something other than storing his family in boxes."

Rebekah and Klaus shared a laugh before the hybrid returned his focus to Damon, dragging his teeth along his bottom lip.

"Despite the underlying insults, she is right, mate. I always get what I want in the end, and I almost feel pity for those who get in my way. Almost."

The hybrid gave a crooked smile, arms held out once more in a smug manner.

"I surpass you in every possible way, Damon, you'd do well to remember that."

Klaus let out an eerie chuckle as he patted Damon on the shoulder before he backed off.

Damon looked to where Klaus had patted him and, just to irk him, he dusted off his shoulder.

Damon bitterly eyed the Original hybrid as he stopped beside Stefan who was still on the ground, Rebekah's knee digging into his back.

"Now, if you don't mind, I have to make reservations for a dinner date."

Klaus gave a fond roll of his eyes, smirk widening which told Damon who was joining him for the dinner date.

Cherie.

"Come, 'Bekah, let's go fetch someone mouth-watering for supper."

The Original held out his hand for his sister and Rebekah took it, rising to her feet next to her brother.

The female Original's lip jutted out as she looked down to Stefan."It's sad it came to this, lover."

Klaus' face softened slightly as Stefan snapped his bones back into place, but it soon faded as he remembered Stefan had sided against him.

Klaus began to lead his sister out of the boarding house, slowing down as they passed the door that was still laying where it had landed.

"Sorry about the door!"

Thank you for reading!

I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. I wanted to show why they're both threatened by each other, especially Klaus since he is so complex, and I hope I got that across. They're usual tactics aren't working with Cherie because she cares about the person, not the powers that comes with it.

Klaus can't kill Damon because he knows it won't win points with Cherie while Damon is worried that he's second best. That and they're both alpha males that hate not having control as well as being vulnerable.

I tried to show their insecurities, if that's the right word, and I hope I did all right. Anyway, I tried my best and I re-wrote it many times, but this is the outcome.

Cherie will be back in the next chapter; this was just to focus on Klaus and Damon.

I hope you liked it!

If you enjoy this story and want to read more, please leave a review.