keykim wanted to see Damon be a protective/gushing big brother on Stefan's first day back at school. Combining this with an idea I had for why Elena and Stefan don't play their respective sports in this story along with some angst.

Stefan grumbles as he looks into the mirror, carefully combing his hair. Today is his 17th first day of high school. Completely unnecessary. It's not as if he's going to learn anything new. Basically, Damon is using it as daycare. Stefan is somewhere safe for 7 hours a day where everyone else will tell him what to say or do. No different than home.

At the very least his brother gave him a month to settle into their new routine before forcing him to start. Stefan delayed it a couple of times but Damon is done being lenient. It's Monday morning, he's going to school. At least his friends are in most of his classes. That's the only thing that's going to get him through this.

Stefan walks downstairs and is nearly blinded by a flash of light. He hisses, running his hand over his ring. When his eyes settle again, he finds Damon standing there holding a polaroid camera. His brother fans out the new picture.

"Jesus," Stefan mutters. "Where did you even find that thing?"

"It was in the attic. One of our many descendants must have left it up there."

"You know, phones have cameras too."

"This is a classic."

"Right." Stefan strides into the kitchen with his brother following. "Why did you even take that picture?"

"It's your first day of school. Isn't this what guardians are supposed to do? Monument the occasion?"

"One, that's like with kindergarten or whatever. I think." He admittedly hasn't been around children much, at least not in that capacity. "Two, it's not really my first day. Forgetting the other high schools you and Lexi forced me to attend, I've already been through Mystic Falls High 3 times."

Damon snorts. "Lexi made you go to high school?"

"It was apart of my rehabilitation from being a ripper."

Stefan cracks open the fridge. As usual, his choices are either blood in a baby bottle or a sippy cup. He grabs the least offensive of the latter, a blue one with no design. Stefan unscrews the top and downs the contents. Damon is still laughing over Lexi forcing him to do things. Stefan rolls his eyes. Even before he was classified as a Little, both she and Damon treated him like a child. It doesn't take much for him to fall into that role of baby brother. It's probably a good thing they don't get along. If the two put their protective sibling powers together, he'd be at his youngest state ever.

"Yeah, it's real hilarious," Stefan says.

Damon shrugs. The laughter dissipates but a smirk stays on his face. "It wasn't her place to do that, but I suppose I should thank her for it."

"You? Thank Lexi for something?"

"Again, not her place, you're my baby." Stefan bites back a smile. As annoying as Damon can be, he does love the reassurance that he's Damon's little boy. "But at least I know when you're with her, you're well taken care of."

Stefan drains the rest of the blood and wipes at his mouth with his sleeve. Damon grabs a napkin and gets the rest. Stefan pouts.

"You know, you're so insistent I act like a little kid, yet you're forcing me to go to high school. Wouldn't you rather I be strapped to your chest or something? What if these teenagers do something to my very impressionable mind?"

His brother rolls his eyes. "It's high school. The worst that could happen is you'll pick up some language which I can easily wash out." He takes the cup and tosses it into the sink. "It's like I told you. This will be good at getting you on a routine. Plus, your teachers are equipped at handling you if you drop." Damon arches an eyebrow. "Unless you'd like me to find one of those Little daycares. I'm sure they'd love an adorable little boy like you with that hair."

Damon reaches forward and ruffles his waves. Stefan smacks his hand away. Damon ignores him and fixes the mess he made.

"You're going to be just fine, Stef."

Stefan gnaws at his lip, looking up into his brother's eyes. He's brought back over a hundred years ago in his first childhood. 6 years old, Damon standing over him and fixing his hair, not unlike he is now.

"You will like the tutor," his brother told him.

Stefan made a face. "But why must we be separated?"

"Because I am older. We won't learn the same things."

Stefan pouted. "You say I'm clever. Certainly enough to learn alongside you."

Damon smiled and crouched in front of him. "You are very clever, Stef. However, you are still a little boy. One day, you will be big enough to learn what I do."

"And then we can have the same tutor?"

"Well, when you are 14, I shall be all grown up. I will not require a tutor anymore."

Stefan's pout increased. "What happens when you're all grownup? Will you go away?'

Damon's forehead creased. He cupped Stefan's chubby cheek and gently squeezed it.

"I will never leave you, Stef."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

They never shared a tutor nor a classroom. Damon attended college a couple of times and dropped out. Stefan attempted to complete a Bachelors in the 20s, but he only made it through his sophomore year. People questioned if he was truly old enough. He left New Haven not long after. When vampires became known, he never found a need to try. Stefan doubts Damon will ever take a second crack. For sure, they'll never learn together.

Because Damon is all grown up and Stefan still that little brother.

His brother tosses him his backpack. "Let's go. You can't be late your first day."

The ride to the school is filled with loud 80s rock and Damon rambling on about his plans for the day. He's back on the town council and will likely meet up with some old buddies. Stefan feels a twinge of jealousy. They get to spend time with his big brother, while he's stuck in this prison disguised as a school.

Damon starts to pull into a parking space. Stefan frowns.

"The carpool lane is right there."

Damon cuts the engine and puts the car in park. "I'm going in with you."

"Damon! Come on, no!"

"Stef, you're a new student. I should take you to class."

"I've been here before. Come on, the last thing I need is everyone seeing you hold my hand all the way to class. I'm a sophomore, not a kindergartener!"

Damon sighs, running his fingers through his hair. Stefan pouts, widening his eyes, trying to appeal to his big brother's soft spot.

"Please DayDay," he pleads. "I'll be good."

Damon stares at him for a moment. "Alright," he concedes. Stefan grins. "But if you need anything, call me."

"I will!"

Stefan leans forward and hugs him tight. Damon kisses the side of his head.

"Be careful. Don't get up to trouble," he mumbles into his hair. "I love you."

Stefan nods. "I love you too, Damon."

He kisses his brother's cheek and grabs his book bag, jumping out and heading straight for the school. Once he reaches the door, he notices the Camaro is still there. Stefan has a feeling it'll stay there for at least an hour.

Stefan's first week of school goes alright. The classes are repetitive but at least he's around his friends. The routine is better than just sitting around or roaming town. Not that he'd ever admit to Damon that he was right.

8 days in, he stands on the quad with Matt and Tyler, throwing around a football. Bonnie and Elena sit nearby, painting each other's nails and talking about the upcoming costume party. Tyler tosses the ball towards Stefan's shoulder and he quickly catches it. He smirks, shaking his head at Tyler's arrogance. Matt is trying to get him to turn over a new leaf, but Stefan has experience with guys like him. They rarely change and if they do, it's going to take a long time.

"Salvatore!"

Stefan spins around and finds Tanner jogging over. He holds his breath, wondering what he did now. Stefan quickly learned that his new History teacher doesn't like being corrected, even when he's greatly misinforming kids. The more it annoys the teacher, the more Stefan feels inclined to push. The vein that pops out in his forehead is entertaining enough.

Tanner comes to a halt, looking him up and down. "You play?"

Stefan raises a brow. "Play?"

Tanner rolls his eyes. "Football." He gestures to the ball in his hand. "I've seen you three play the past couple of days. You're not bad."

The highest compliment Stefan has ever heard from this man. Stefan shrugs.

"I've played at a few schools. Was around when it was first invented." He smiles a little, remembering when Damon taught him the game. "I guess I know a thing or two."

Tanner makes a face. This is clearly torturing him and Stefan is alright with letting him squirm for a minute. If his teacher wants this, he has to ask.

"I suppose you heard Chester Finnigan broke his tibia."

"I did. What a shame."

Tanner's eyes darken. "So, we're down a player."

"Sounds like you guys are having a rough season."

Tanner throws his hands in the air. "Salvatore!"

Matt runs over, clapping Stefan on the shoulder. "I think what Coach is trying to say, is that tryouts to replace Chester are tomorrow. If you'd like to give it a shot."

Stefan consults a red-faced Tanner. "Is that true, Mr. Tanner?"

His teacher simply mutters, "Four o'clock. The field. Don't be late."

He storms off and Matt lets out a loud laugh, keeping his arm around Stefan.

"You really get under his skin."

"I don't have time for those games. Arrogance is not a fun trait."

Elena caps her polish and blows on her nails. "Damon's going to let you try out?"

Stefan shrugs. "Why wouldn't he? I've played before."

Bonnie tilts her head. "Isn't there a rule about certain classifications playing? It's why Elena had to drop cheer."

He rolls his eyes. "I've played before since getting my status. I'll be fine."

Bonnie casts a doubtful look. Stefan ignores her, letting Matt keep him in his embrace as they walk off.

Tyler barrels Stefan onto the field. Stefan groans as the football pierces his chest. Tanner's voice calls out from yonder.

"You alright, Salvatore?"

"'m fine."

"Walk it off."

Matt bends down and helps him back up. Stefan's hand raises to his chest, ready to fade away an impending bruise when he hears his brother's loud mouth.

"Tanner!"

A whooshing sound and suddenly, Damon is on the field, inches away from the coach's face. Stefan shrinks into himself, as the rest of the team and hopefuls look between the two brothers.

"Mr. Salvatore," Tanner says, his voice irritated. "What brings you by?"

"Hm, I don't know. On the one hand, I really like football. I'm also not one to turn down a chance to look at cheerleaders. What was the most important one? Oh, right." His blue eyes narrow and a part of Tanner's tough guy persona melts. "You know good and well my baby brother shouldn't be on this field right now!"

A few snickers from the guys and Stefan already feels his cheeks heat up. He vamps over to his brother, trying to grab his arm but it gets shoved away.

"Do I need to bring out the school handbook?" Damon asks, his eyes still on Tanner. "Policy states, Littles cannot join sports without a doctor's note clearing them. And I don't recall sending one in for Stefan."

"He's a talented player, Damon," Tanner fires back. "He seems fine on the field."

"Yeah, until he drops and then suddenly you have a little baby tackled by a 200-pound doofus."

Matt is trying to get the rest of the guys in a drill, but he's ignored. Stefan grits his teeth, going from embarrassed to angry. Why is his brother doing this?

Tanner's façade breaks ever so slightly. "It's just tryouts."

"Yeah, well, you tried me and now, we're out." Damon glances at his brother. "Go get your stuff."

Stefan's jaw locks. He purposefully shoves his shoulder against his brother's and storms over to the other end of the field. He forces his backpack onto his shoulder and vamps out to the parking lot. Damon is at the car before he is.

"You had to do that now?!" Stefan explodes.

"Tanner needed to be corrected."

Stefan throws his arms in the air. "For what?! Finally being a decent guy and letting me try out?"

Damon shakes his head. "He's apart of the Initiative, you know? He doesn't believe in the classification system."

"So?"

"So, he was never going to look out for your best interest. It's my job to make sure someone is."

"It's football! We've played it a million times!"

"Yes, us. I can go easy on you."

"I don't need you doing that! I'm 17 years old, Damon! Regardless of my classification, right now, I'm a teenager. You can't treat me like some little kid!"

Damon growls. "I wouldn't have to if you had spoken to me about it first."

"I didn't feel I had to!"

"Everything you do, I need to know. That's the rule."

Stefan looks back at the field. Tanner has managed to get everyone back on track. The screaming brothers are far enough away from being heard. Rationally, Stefan knows this will all blow over. Someone else will do something stupid and his brother nearly killing Tanner will be long forgotten.

And still, it doesn't absolve his anger.

"It doesn't make any sense!" He snaps. "You want me to go to school, be a normal kid…"

"I never said I wanted you to be normal. You're not."

Stefan scoffs. "Gee thanks."

"That's not what I meant and you know it! At the end of the day, you aren't like the rest of these kids. Even the other Littles. You're a vampire. Your space is intensified. It is incredibly dangerous for you to be on that field."

"I don't need you making choices for me!"

"Stef, you're my responsibility."

"I wish I wasn't! I wish I wasn't your brother! I hate you!"

The three words are out before he can stop them. Damon's mouth closes and he tilts his head. Stefan breathes heavily.

"You…you don't mean that," Damon says.

He doesn't, but Stefan is too pissed to take it back. Instead, he climbs into the passenger seat and slams the door.

The ride home is silent. Damon doesn't bother turning on the radio. He tries to keep his eyes focused on the road. Stefan stares out the window, his face emotionless.

It doesn't matter if he hates you. That's your job, be the mean big brother. If it keeps him safe, that's all that matters.

Damon's body doesn't ease with his peptalk. Nor when they pull up in front of the house and Stefan vamps inside. The older brother sits in his Camaro, brought back to the first time he heard those three words escape his baby brother's mouth. Hours following Lily's funeral…

Damon scans the hallway and listened out for snoring coming from his father's wing. He creeps down to Stefan's room and pushes the door open. The candle is out but he makes out Stefan kneeling on his bed, staring out the window. He's likely waiting for that angel to return.

"Stef," Damon whispers.

His brother drops down onto his stomach. Damon shuts the door and walks over to him.

"Not to worry, Father is asleep."

Stefan doesn't look up. Damon bends down and pulls up the covers. He tries to make his way to his brother's room every night. Giuseppe would whip him if he knew Stefan was still tucked in. Already, he felt the 10 year old was babied too much. Stefan is a baby, at least to Damon. This little boy truly believes angels visit him. That Father Christmas leaves the presents beneath the tree.

Before he can completely pull them up, Stefan pulls away. Damon's brows furrow.

"It's late. Time for bed."

"I know," Stefan mumbles, his face buried in the pillows.

"As I said, Father is already asleep. I can tuck you in." He leans down once more, only to have Stefan roll over. "What is wrong?"

"I don't want you to tuck me in."

Damon frowns. "I always tuck you in."

"I hate you."

Three tiny words that come out in a squeaky voice, from a little boy with chipmunk cheeks and innocent eyes. They hurt worse than a strap to the back.

"Stefan," he breathes.

"You did not come to the funeral. You missed your speech."

Damon swallows. "I told you…"

"I needed you. Mother needed you. But you weren't there."

Tears burn Damon's eyes. He lowers himself onto the bed and places a hand on his back. Stefan remains still.

"Stefan, you have to understand."

"I wish I had a different brother," Stefan mumbles. "One who would know what to say."

Damon returned to his room that night. He muffled his sobs into the pillow, hating himself. There was no regret for not eulogizing his mother's life but rather letting Stefan down. His brother forgave him two days later when Damon brought him horseback riding. Yet, the guilt has lived with him for over a hundred years.

Now, Stefan doesn't hate him for not being there. It's because he is.

Damon gets out of the car and walks inside. He can hear Stefan upstairs, blasting music. Damon doesn't have the heart to reprimand for it. Instead, he retires to the parlor and pours himself a hefty amount of bourbon.

He's trying this time, to be the brother that Stefan deserves. Making up for all those years he left him alone.

All the years he lied to himself.

Damon is still angry with Stefan for lying to him, but he's angrier with himself. Deep down, he knew there was a chance his brother lied. He didn't bother to confirm it. It allowed him time to travel, party, have the youth he was robbed of between his mother's passing and joining the war. A part of him didn't want to know. Of course if he had, he would've come home in an instant. But if Stefan wasn't going to say anything…

Damon takes a swig of his drink, then another. Selfish. He was selfish. It's no wonder his behavior confuses Stefan. 106 years he spent alone and scared. If Damon had come back sooner, all this love and protection wouldn't be foreign.

Stefan wouldn't hate him.

No, he likely would. Damon isn't a good brother. He's left Stefan numerous times. All those times Father whipped the little one and Damon was terrified he'd get it next. When they'd play hide-and-seek and Stefan hid in the study. Damon walked away each time. Not because he was afraid of Father in those moments, yet terrified for his brother's sake.

He abandoned him at the funeral. After promising Stefan he could cry, Damon didn't bother to stand by and comfort him. Even when he broke down in tears, chastising the big brother for not saying goodbye, Damon just stood there. Stefan sobbed uncontrollably. Once again, Damon didn't know what to say.

The day he left for war, Stefan hid. Damon wanted to find him but Father scolded him once more. Stefan was 14 at the time, "too old for these games". So, Damon left without saying goodbye. He wrote several letters but it took 3 months for him to get a reply from Stefan. By the time he returned on leave, it appeared to be water on the bridge.

Clearly, that abandonment stuck with him longer than Damon wanted to believe.

He has another drink before putting it away. There's no changing his mind. Stefan will not play football. It's too dangerous given his condition. He will not let him get hurt again.

Stefan doesn't come down for dinner. Damon leaves a plate paired with a sippy cup of blood outside his door. When he returns a half hour later, both are cleared. Not a peep comes from Stefan's room.

Around 9:15, Damon heads up once more. He knocks on the door but gets no response. After three more, Damon pushes his way in. The room is empty. Damon whips around, panic filling him. He checks the bathroom. No Stefan.

He dashes down the hall to his own room and pushes open the door. Damon stills upon the sight.

Stefan curled up on his bed, sucking his thumb as tears rush down his face. Damon vamps over to the bed and sits beside him. Stefan looks up at him. His eyes are wide, face a mess of snot and tears. Damon reaches over and grabs a tissue, quickly wiping it. Stefan drops his thumb.

"Stef," the older brother whispers. "What are you doing in here? What's wrong?"

"I…I'm sorry." Damon opens his mouth but Stefan continues. "You…you're so nice to me. You…you love me…you take care of me…and…and I'm such a brat! I'm sorry, Day. I'm sorry I'm so difficult. I'm sorry for what I said. Please don't leave me!"

Stefan clings to his big brother's shirt. Damon stares down at him with wide eyes. Stefan sniffles, his voice filled with desperation.

"Don't leave me again, please. I'll be a better brother."

Stefan sobs. Damon sits there in shock for a moment. His brother is crying and apologizing…to him. Damon sat around with all this guilt-and it's still there-while Stefan beat himself up.

He lays on the bed so his face was inches from Stefan. "I'm not going anywhere," he whispers. "Ever."

"Bu…but I said I hate you."

"You can hate me as much as you want. If anything, it'll make me cling on tighter." Damon rubs his thumb to brush the tears off his cheeks. "I'm the big brother. It's my job to love you no matter what."

"I didn't mean it," Stefan wails. "I was upset. I don't hate you. I love you!"

"I love you." Damon rubs his back. "But I think you can hate me a little."

Stefan shakes his head. "Nuh uh. You're here. You take care of me."

"I left you," he whispers, his voice broken. "More than once."

Stefan shrugs and lets out a shaky breath. "You came back. You always come back."

Damon pulls Stefan onto his chest and clings tightly to him. His baby brother buries his head in his shoulder. Damon feels a few tears fall down his face. He's always felt unconditional love for his baby brother, even when angry with him. To know that Stefan has the same for him…it's terrifying. He doesn't want to fail him. Break that fragile little heart.

"I'm sorry, Stef," he says, his voice soft. "I should've been here sooner."

"You're here now," Stefan mumbles, not lifting his head up. "And you won't leave again?"

"Never ever. You're stuck with me, Bunny."

Stefan lets out a big sigh of relief. Damon kisses the top of his head.

"I know you're upset about football but I want to look out for you. It's not safe."

Stefan nods into his shoulder. "You yelled at Tanner."

Damon strokes his hair. "I'd say it was deserved. He always yells at my baby brother."

"He's a meanie."

"Yeah, he is." Damon rubs his back. "Maybe next time, I don't yell at him in front of everyone."

"Maybe," Stefan mumbles. "Less scary."

Guilt seeps through Damon once again. "I scared you?"

"No, but…you were yelling. I don't like that. I want happy Damon."

Stefan reaches up and grabs his cheeks. Damon nuzzles their noses.

"I'll try not to yell. But if someone hurts my baby, we'll have a talk."

"Can I still play football with Matt and Tyler?"

"No. But we can together."

Stefan's face lights up a little. Damon's conscious lightens. His brother resumes sucking his thumb. His eyes are heavy.

"Day?" he slurs.

Damon strokes his hair. "Yeah?"

"I don't wish I had another brother. I like the one I have."

Damon's throat catches. He tries to fix it and yet, it comes out squeaky. "Same here."

"Really? You wouldn't want a not so bratty baby brother."

Damon shakes his head. "No. All I need is you."