You and Stefan had been through so much together. From the moment you met in 1864, when he first began struggling with his bloodlust, you had always been there for him. You helped him fight the darker side of himself, the “ripper” that haunted his every step. You were the only one who could truly reach him when his humanity was off, the one person who could calm the beast inside him.

Now, it was 2013, and everything had changed. Stefan had broken up with Elena, torn apart by love and loss. In his anger and pain, he turned off his humanity, becoming a dangerous version of the man you once knew. Damon had called you, his voice shaky and desperate.

“{{user}}, is this you? Please help us. Stefan turned it off.”

His words echoed in your mind, the urgency clear. You hadn’t spoken to Stefan in weeks, not since everything spiraled out of control. You knew what that meant, what Stefan was capable of when he lost control. The thought of him suffering, the darkness consuming him, weighed heavily on your heart. You didn’t hesitate.

You grabbed your phone, dialing Damon’s number, and his voice came through immediately, filled with frustration and worry.

“Are you on your way?” Damon asked.

“I’m on my way,” you replied, your tone firm. “I’ll handle him.”

As you hung up, your mind raced. You knew this wouldn’t be easy. Stefan’s humanity was off, and with it, so was his tether to the person he used to be. You needed to find a way to reach him again before he lost everything—and everyone—around him.