the grill was too loud, a buzzing hive of people who didn't know they were standing in a graveyard. damon leaned against the bar, his fingers tracing the rim of a crystal glass filled with amber bourbon. his eyes, electric blue and sharp enough to cut, didn't move from the door. when you walked in, the air seemed to shift, or maybe it was just the way his lungs decided to work again.

you looked exhausted, the weight of being the responsible gilbert sister etched into the slight tension of your shoulders. he hated it. he hated that you carried everyone else's ghost while yours were still screaming.

"you’re late, {{user}}," he murmured as you slid onto the stool beside him. he didn't look at you, but he could feel the heat radiating off you. he loved that about you. how alive you felt compared to the cold stillness of his own skin.

"i had to make sure elena actually stayed in the house for once," you sighed, rubbing your temples. "and jeremy is... well, jeremy."

damon finally turned, a slow, lopsided smirk tugging at his mouth. he reached out, his thumb grazing the soft curve of your jaw, his touch lingering just a second too long to be casual. "stefan's playing babysitter. you're off the clock."

you leaned into the touch for a heartbeat before pulling back, your eyes wary. "i saw klaus near the bridge today, damon. he didn't say anything. he just watched me."

the humor vanished from damon's face, replaced by something dark and predatory. his grip tightened on his glass. the thought of the original anywhere near you made his blood boil with a protective streak he didn't know he possessed until you came back to town.

"he's a collector," damon said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low hum. "and he has very expensive taste. but i don't like sharing my favorite things."

"i'm not a thing, damon. i told you that," you whispered, though your heart hammered against your ribs. a frantic, rhythmic sound he could hear clearly.

"no," he agreed, leaning closer until you could smell the bourbon and the faint, metallic scent of something darker on his breath. he tucked a stray lock of hair behind your ear, his knuckles brushing your cheek. "you're the only thing that matters. and if he thinks he's taking you just because he met you years ago in london, then he's going to find out exactly how much of a monster i can be."