I'm right here Chapter 20: Played, a vampire diaries fanfic

MissyM prompted: "Really hope you could do a chapter where Stefan wants his way and tries to play Lexi against Damon, and get caught."

"Why can't I go?" Stefan practically whines.

Damon pauses fixing his bourbon to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"We've been over this ten times."

"And it still doesn't make sense! I've been to Bonnie's house since the party."

"Yes, when Sheila is there. I called and double checked, she's out of town."

"Bonnie isn't going to risk throwing another party. She got in enough trouble last time. Plus, that was forever ago!"

Damon knocks back his shot. "It's only been 3 months."

"There's not going to be a party. We're just going to watch movies and play games and shi…" Damon shoots him a look and Stefan sighs. "Stuff."

"The answer's no, Stefan."

"You're going out that night, anyway."

"Yeah, and Lexi's going to stay with you."

"She wouldn't have to come if you let me go to Bonnie's. She's a caregiver. She'll make sure we're okay."

"I'm not leaving your fate in the hands of a 16 year old, even one with magic. Plus, you're always saying you don't get to see Lexi enough as it is."

"Yeah, but you hate her. She wouldn't have to spend the night if you let me hang out with Bonnie until you were finished."

Damon ignores him and knocks back another shot. Stefan stares at him with wide, pleading eyes. Damon lets out an irritated sigh.

"No, Stefan. The answer is no. Nej. Nee. Non. Nein. Nem. Tidak. How many languages would you like me to say it?"

Stefan pouts. "You suck."

"You're entitled to your opinion." He checks his watch. "You've spent 15 minutes bothering me with this. Have you even started your homework?"

"Uh, I mean, I got started and then Bonnie texted me…"

Damon shakes his head and points to the stairs, his hand still full with the glass. "Go. Now."

Stefan rolls his eyes then quickly vamps to the stairs before the older brother can swat his bottom. Damon knows he should follow him and make good on the promise, but he's too tired this evening. He doesn't even want to attend this council ball. They're boring and stuffy, but also generate money into their treasury. If he, one of the few vampires, one of the councils don't show up, it'll look bad for business. He plans to stay through the silent auction and then make up some excuse over Stefan needing him.

Normally, he would avoid having Lexi in his house if at all possible. But she was in the area and offered as soon as Stefan mentioned the idea of the ball. At the very least, Damon knows he'll be in good hands.

Stefan trails behind Matt through the grocery store, watching him and Tyler pick out snacks for Bonnie's. He isn't sure why he agreed to tag along when he's not even allowed at the house. It's pretty much torture. At the same time, it allows him to avoid Damon, which sounds very appealing at the moment.

"Sucks you can't come," Matt says, tossing three bags of chips into the cart. Tyler already said his father's credit card is paying for the stash. If he were paying, they'd be at the dollar store. Not that Stefan would shame him for that.

Stefan shrugs. "Just another example of Dictator Damon."

"How would he even know?" Tyler asks, picking up some marshmallows. "I mean, isn't that stupid council thing tonight? My mom has a checklist about a mile long."

"Yeah, but Lexi is coming into town. Wouldn't be surprised if she's already there. She'll be at the house all night."

"So? Don't she and Damon hate each other? Tell her that Damon said it was okay."

Stefan pauses, gnawing on his lip. He hasn't asked Damon about hanging out with Bonnie in a few days. In fact, he told him he'd stop doing so. There's no reason Lexi would have to know…

"I don't know," Matt interrupts his thoughts. "I mean, he's bound to find out you went, right? Even if she doesn't know."

"Even with Lexi here, I still have a curfew and bedtime." Stefan makes a face. "I'd have to be home well before he was. If she thinks it's okay, then she wouldn't have to tell him."

Tyler smacks him on the shoulder. Stefan squirms a little, not entirely comfortable with how buddy-buddy he's gotten lately. "I like the way you think, Salvatore."

"I still think it's a bad idea," Matt says. "You're bound to get in trouble, and then you'll just end up grounded again."

Stefan shrugs, getting away from Tyler in the process. "I think I can get away with it. I know how to play Lexi."

That's not entirely true, or even close to it. She's always been the one who takes charge. Still, she finds him adorable and loathes Damon. He can appeal to her softer side.

"I just need to give Damon no reason to think I still want to go. Which will be pretty easy."

Tyler nods, sparing a look to Matt. "You're not gonna be a snitch, are you?"

Matt rolls his eyes. "Of course not. It's your own funeral."

He grabs some dip and throws it into the cart, quickly pushing it off. Stefan raises an eyebrow, following quickly behind him. Tyler heads in the opposite direction to snag soda.

"Are you alright?" Stefan asks.

Matt nods, not slowing down. "Fine."

"You sure? I mean, it's not the end of the world. I've lied to Damon and Lexi before."

"Of course you have," Matt mumbles.

"What does that mean?"

"It's just…" Matt spares him a look, still walking. "Do you know what I'd give for my sister or mom to care the way Damon and Lexi do about you?" Stefan's mouth drops open, but he barrels on. "I know, I know. Grass is always greener and all that. But, sometimes I think you take it for granted is all."

"I…"

Stefan wants to argue, but he knows nothing will satisfy Matt. His friend is right. If he was in Stefan's shoes, he'd find it just as annoying. And still, Stefan wouldn't swap places with him. The level of independence Matt has comes from years of neglect. Lord knows, he could've ended up with an older sibling like Vicki if Damon didn't care enough. Stefan doesn't have to worry about being the adult. He has two right there, in his corner. Who does Matt have?

It'll never change how annoying Damon and Lexi are, but maybe he should learn to look out for his audience more often.

Stefan follows the plan as closely as possible. He's cordial with Damon, careful not to kiss his ass. Going too much in any direction is going to throw him off. They make it through the ride home without issue. Stefan gives Lexi a big hug when they walk into the mansion and find her there. He agrees to play video games with her almost as soon as she arrives, not even arguing when she makes it Mario Kart instead of the more violent ones that Damon somehow let slip into his collection.

An hour later, Damon comes into the game room, dressed in a tux. Stefan barely looks up from the screen.

"Looking good, big brother."

"I suppose it'll do," Damon says, picking at his tie. "Didn't bother getting anything new. These people won't notice."

Lexi smirks as she gets her kart ahead of Stefan's. "Ha!"

"Are you two even listening to me?"

"I never listen to you. Personal rule."

Damon rolls his eyes. He plucks Stefan's controller from his hand and presses pause, causing two heads to snap up at him. Stefan shifts as subtly as possible, trying to ignore the anxiety that bubbles in his stomach.

"I'll be home around midnight. Stefan should be in bed by then."

"Lexi knows the rules," Stefan argues.

"She tends to spoil you," Damon says, looking directly at Lexi. "He still needs his blood before bed."

Lexi nods, rolling her eyes. "I'm aware of the routine. It's Saturday, so 10:30 bedtime."

"Oh, so you do listen sometimes?"

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Against my better judgment."

Damon kisses the top of Stefan's head. The little brother quickly hugs him, trying to pull away but the elder keeps his grip on him.

"Be good for Lexi. Don't give her a hard time."

Stefan tries to keep his tone playful. "But you get to."

"I'm the oldest." Damon gives him another kiss. "See you in the morning."

"Bye, Day."

Damon gives one last warning glance Lexi's way before heading out the door. Stefan holds his breath, waiting for the car to pull out of the driveway. Lexi resumes the game and Stefan only half-pays attention, trying to ensure that her phone won't ding with last minute instructions. Just as Lexi's kart goes past the finish line, Stefan allows himself to relax.

"Ha!" Lexi cheers, setting her controller down. "You better not be going soft on me."

Stefan laughs, shaking his head. "No, this time you beat me of your own skill."

"Told you I could do it. No different than our Pacman battle back in Tokyo." Lexi brings the screen back to the main menu. "Wanna go again?"

Stefan pretends to check the time. "Um, actually, I have plans with friends."

Lexi raises a brow. "Really?"

"Yeah, Bonnie wanted to have me, Elena, Matt and Tyler over to watch movies, maybe play some games." Stefan continues on before she can talk. "I know we don't get much time together, but we've had these plans for a while."

"And Damon approved all of this?"

"Of course he did." Lexi lets out a soft hm. "I'll only be gone a couple of hours. I could even come back around 8:30, so we can still spend more time together."

Lexi stares at him for a moment. The anxiety returns. Damon allows Lexi to hold complete authority over Stefan. There's a chance she could shoot it all down, just so she can have more time with him. He won't be able to argue that.

She checks her watch and shrugs. "It's only 6 now. You really think 2 hours is enough time?"

"I'll make it enough. I promise, Lexi, we can still spend time together. I'll even sleep in your bed tonight."

"Well, that's a give-in regardless." She nods. "Alright, sure."

He beams. "Thanks, Lexi!"

Stefan kisses her cheek and hops off the couch, heading for the door. He pauses at the doorway, upon hearing her sigh.

"Really, Stef? You were going to play me like that?"

Stefan grips the doorway. "W…What?"

"You didn't expect Damon and I to talk beforehand?"

Stefan stares forward, biting down hard on his lip. Lexi's footsteps come closer.

"We really hoped you had surpassed this little rebellious phase but I guess we were wrong."

Stefan slowly turns around. Disappointment is written in her hazel eyes. He fidgets, guilt taking over.

"I just…I thought…"

"You thought we hated each other so much that nothing would be said?" Stefan timidly nods. "So, you thought you'd lie? And pin us against one another?"

"Lexi…"

"I'm very disappointed in you, Stefan."

Stefan lets out a tiny whimper. Lexi shakes her head.

"You're grounded for a week," she says. "You can forget going out with friends, even when there is an adult present."

Stefan frowns. "But I'm supposed to go to a party at Ty's. The Lockwoods are going to be there. Damon said I could!"

"Well, that was before you lied. I'm sure your brother will back me up."

Stefan's lips fall into a pout. "Lexi…"

"I don't like liars, Stefan. I've made that quite clear over the years. So has your brothers." She puts her hands on her hips. "What do I do to liars?"

"Lexi…"

"Stefan Antonio Salvatore."

Stefan sighs. "You spank them."

"That's right. Pants down, then boxers."

Stefan reluctantly complies. Lexi sits down and gestures over her lap. Stefan turns bright red, but lays over her knee. His legs fall straight to the floor and he rests his head on a pillow. Lexi doesn't hesitate before smacking his bottom. Stefan whimpers. He forgot how good she can thrash him.

"You're getting 20 with my hand."

"That's gonna hurt!" Stefan complains.

"Maybe it'll remind you why we don't lie." SMACK! SMACK! Stefan kicks his legs, earning him a swat on each of his thighs. "After this, you can go in the corner."

SMACK!

"Owww! Lexi, I'm sorry!" Stefan whines, wiggling.

"If you keep moving, I'm going to add on."

Stefan does his best to remain still, but it's hard! She continues smacking his bottom, making sure to hit each cheek evenly, getting his sit spot a few times. Stefan is crying after only 8 spanks, feeling incredibly young. He's half-naked over his big sister's knee, getting his bare bottom spanked. It's been a moment since he was brought over someone's lap. Usually, Damon only has to swat his bottom a couple of times.

Lexi doesn't take into account his self-pity. Instead, she continues the assault on his bottom.

SMACK!

"Do good little boys lie?" Lexi asks, laying down a sharp smack to his sit spot.

Stefan shakes his head. "N…no," he cries out. "I was a bad boy!"

"You weren't a bad boy, but you made some bad choices. That's why you have a big brother and sister." SMACK! SMACK! "To remind you how to behave."

"Are you going to tell Damon?"

"What do you think?"

The idea of disappointing his big brother is enough to send him into a fresh set of tears. He feels Lexi's rough, stinging palm throughout the rest of the spanking but most of his sadness doesn't come from the pain. Instead, the idea of Damon being upset with him. Hot tears fall down his face as Lexi finally lets up.

"D…don't call Day," Stefan pleads.

Lexi sighs. "He needs to know, Stefan."

"I…I kn…know, but not yet." Stefan sniffles, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "P…please, Sissy." Stefan cranes his neck to look up at her, his face a mess of tears and snot. "I k…I kn…" He hiccups. "I know he said he didn't want to go tonight, but he never gets to have fun. Don't ruin it because I was silly."

Lexi frowns. She gathers Stefan up in her arms and cuddles him close against her chest. He buries his head in her shoulder, sniffling once again. Lexi rubs his back.

"You care a lot about your big brother, don't you?"

Stefan nods. The salty tears hit his lips. "He does so much for me, and I'm a brat."

"You're not a brat, Pumpkin," Lexi coos softly.

"I don't appreciate him enough."

"You're a teenager some of the time, a little boy the rest. They're notorious for being a little selfish." Lexi strokes his cheek with her thumb. "But at the end of the day, Damon knows how much you love and appreciate him."

"I dunno. I keep being naughty."

"That doesn't mean you don't love him, and he knows that." Lexi kisses the top of his head. "He's going to be disappointed about tonight, but it won't change how much he loves you."

"P…promise?"

"I promise." Lexi rocks him for a moment. "I won't call him right now." Stefan lets out a sigh of relief. "I do have to tell him."

"I know."

"Good." Lexi kisses the top of his head. "You get your nose in that corner. Once you're done, I'll give you your baba and we can snuggle."

"'Kay." Stefan climbs off her lap. "I'm sorry, Lexi. I ruined tonight."

"We could've had a lot of fun, but I'll be back through soon." Lexi swats his bottom causing him to jump a little. "I still love you, Pumpkin."

"I love you too."

Stefan heads to the corner with a sore bottom, but a slightly eased conscious.

The next morning, while Lexi showers, Stefan heads into Damon's room. His brother sits up in bed, wearing his robe. Given Damon will sleep naked if Stefan isn't around, he's expecting him. The younger brother lingers in the doorway, gnawing on his lip. Damon looks up from his paper and sets it on the nightstand.

"Come here."

Stefan vamps over and climbs up onto his bed. He stays on the other side, picking at a stray thread on his flannel pajamas.

"I take it Lexi talked to you," he mumbled.

Damon nods. "I wanted it to surprise me, but that's exactly what I told her. I know you, a bit too well."

"I guess so."

"What Lexi told you stands, you're grounded. One week." Stefan bites his lip. "If I tell you no, Stefan, that's the end of it. You don't lie or try to play other adults against me."

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

"I know. That doesn't change that I am not happy with you right now."

Stefan wiggles. "Do you still love me?"

Damon pulls him closer. He cups Stefan's chin so they're looking one another in the eye. It takes everything Stefan has to not melt in his big brother's embrace.

"I am always going to love you," Damon says, his voice firm. "There's nothing you can do to make that stop."

"I give you a lot of trouble."

"Is that not what little brothers are supposed to do?"

Stefan pouts. "I'm lucky to have you. And I don't ever really show it."

Damon sighs, loosening his grip a little. "You're 17, Stef. I expect that."

"Still. I'm really sorry, Day. You take good care of me, I shouldn't be such a terror."

"I mean, I'd appreciate if you used your listening ears a little more," Damon lightly pinches the tip of his ear. Stefan smiles ever so slightly. "But, I love you. Regardless."

"You promise?"

"I promise." Damon kisses his forehead. "I know Lexi spanked you last night, so I'm going to spare your bottom. But you are going to write lines. I will not pit my big brother and sister against each other. Three hundred times."

Stefan sighs, but nods.

"Can you feed me my blood when I'm done?" Stefan asks, pouting a little.

Damon smiles, tweaking his nose. "Sure, Bunny Boy. You and I are going to spend a lot of time with each other while you're grounded. Might as well get started."