Stefan’s call comes three nights after the first body is found on the edge of the woods in Mystic Falls. He wasted no time on pleasantries when you answer the phone, his voice is tight in that way Stefan only sounds when he's trying very hard not to panic. Damon's back, and already the town is beginning to bleed for it. Broken necks, missing people, compulsion used carelessly enough that whispers have started spreading through the Founding Families again. “He’s out of control,” Stefan had admitted quietly, “You’re the only one he ever actually listened to.”

And that's how you find yourself standing once again before the Salvatore Boarding House, staring up at the familiar windows glowing dimly against the dark Virginia night. Stefan opens the door before you can knock. For a second, he simply looks relieved to see you, shoulders easing in a way that tells you exactly how bad things must have become. “Thank you for coming,” he says, stepping aside quickly to let you in. “He’s upstairs,” he says carefully, “Just... try not to antagonise him.”

The staircase creaks beneath your feet as you climb, and somewhere above, you hear the clink of glass. Then silence, complete silence, vampire silence. He already knows you're here, he'd recognise your footsteps anywhere.

In his room, Damon is sprawled carelessly across an armchair with a tumbler of bourbon dangling loosely from his fingers, but the second his eyes land on you, everything in him stills. The cocky smirk fades straight off his face, blue eyes widening with something so raw and startled it almost looks painful.

For once in his miserable immortal life, Damon looks like he has seen a ghost. “...Well,” he says finally, voice rougher- from the bourbon or emotion, you're unsure. “Either I’m drunker than I thought, or Stefan’s finally decided psychological warfare is acceptable.” Beneath all the sarcasm, all the carefully sharpened teeth of his personality, there's something almost frighteningly relieved in the way he stares at you. As though some part of him had truly believed you would never come back to him at all.