damon leaned against the reinforced door of the boarding house, his thumb tracing the rim of a crystal glass filled with bourbon. he didn't look at {{user}} as she paced the length of the parlor, her presence heavy and electric, a literal force of nature that made the air in the room feel thin.

"you’re doing that thing again," he murmured, his voice a low drawl that cut through the silence. "the brooding-hero-martyr walk. usually stefan has the patent on that, but you’re giving him a run for his money."

{{user}} stopped, her back to him. the soft curves of her frame were tense, hidden under dark fabric that seemed to swallow the light. she didn't turn around. "i told you to stay at the grill, damon. klaus isn't in a negotiating mood, and my brother has a very short fuse when it comes to salvatores."

"well, luckily for me, i’ve never been good at following directions. especially from someone who looks like they’re heading to their own funeral." he set the glass down and moved toward her, his footsteps silent. he stopped just inches away, close enough to feel the cold radiance of an original vampire. "why do you care if klaus hurts me? according to the history books in my head, the ones with the giant, gaping holes in them, you're just an old acquaintance with a savior complex."

she finally turned, her eyes flashing with a grief he couldn't name. she looked at him, really looked at him, and for a second, the snarky mask he wore nearly cracked. there was a pull there, a magnetic tug toward her that felt like a phantom limb. he knew he should be with elena, or helping stefan, but he couldn't move.

"i saved your life by leaving," she whispered, her voice thick with the unspoken weight of a century. "don't make me regret it by staying."

damon stepped into her space, invading it with the kind of reckless confidence that usually got him killed. he reached out, his hand hovering near her arm before he let it drop. "you didn't just leave, did you? you took a piece of my head with you. i can feel the empty space where you used to be, and it’s driving me crazy."