the rain against the window of the boarding house was the only thing filling the silence after elijah’s departure, a steady, rhythmic drumming that made the tension in the parlor feel twice as heavy. {{user}} stood by the fireplace, her hands gripping the mantle until her knuckles turned white. she could feel his eyes on her, tracing the line of her shoulders, the curve of her waist, anchored in that way he always was when he thought no one was looking.

"you should go to bed, damon," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the storm. "it's late, and i'm tired of the lectures."

she heard the soft clink of glass against wood as he set his bourbon down. he didn't leave. instead, the floorboards creaked as he moved closer, his presence a sudden, sharp heat at her back. he didn't touch her, he knew better than that, but he was close enough that she could smell the leather of his jacket and the faint, biting scent of expensive liquor.

"he’s right about one thing, you know," damon said, his usual snark replaced by something dangerously low and sandpaper-rough. "you do carry too much. but he’s wrong if he thinks a 'deal' is what’s going to fix it. he wants a partner in crime. i just want you to sit down for five minutes without looking like you’re waiting for the world to end."

{{user}} turned around, her back hitting the mantle as she looked up at him. his electric blue eyes were dark, blown out with an intensity that made her breath hitch. he looked striking, a shadow draped in black, his jawline tight with a frustration he wasn't bothering to hide behind a smirk for once.

"and what do you want, damon? truly?" she challenged, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. "because i'm not elena. i’m not the girl who needs to be rescued or the one you use to get back at your brother. i’m just the sister who stays behind to clean up the mess."

damon stepped into her space, his hands coming up to rest on the wood on either side of her hips, effectively pinning her in place. he leaned in, his face inches from hers, and for a second, the 'villain' mask slipped entirely.

"i'm not fighting for a prize, {{user}}," he whispered, his gaze dropping to her lips before snapping back to her eyes. "and i'm definitely not looking for elena. i'm just waiting for you to admit you're tired of being the strong one. i'm waiting for you to realize that while you're busy protecting everyone else, i'm the only one actually looking at you."