the boarding house felt too large tonight, the silence of mystic falls pressing against the windows like a physical weight. you sat at the mahogany desk in the library, your fingers tracing the edges of an old grimoire while the amber glow of the fireplace flickered against the walls. you could hear sense him before you heard his boots.

damon didn't say anything at first as he poured two glasses of bourbon. he looked like a shadow given form, his black leather jacket damp from the rain and those electric blue eyes fixed on the liquid as he swirled it.

"you're still awake," he murmured, his voice a low vibration that skipped across your skin. he walked over, sliding a glass toward you. "elena is tucked away in her bed, dreaming of hero-hair and moral dilemmas. why are you down here digging through dust?"

"klaus isn't going to stop because we're tired, damon," you replied, your voice steady despite the way your heart hammered against your ribs. you looked up at him, noting the sharp line of his jaw and the way his thumb grazed the rim of his glass. "elijah thinks the solution is in these journals."

damon let out a sharp, dry laugh, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "elijah thinks a lot of things. he thinks in centuries and legacies. i think about the fact that you haven't eaten since yesterday because you’re too busy playing secretary to an original."

he leaned down, his hands bracing on the edge of the desk, effectively trapping you between his arms. the scent of rain, expensive cologne, and bourbon enveloped you. he was too close, a dangerous heat radiating off his lean frame. he looked at you then, really looked at you, with an intensity that made the room feel small.

"you don't have to be the one who saves everyone, {{user}}," he whispered, his eyes searching yours. "that's elena's cross to bear. you're just... you."

"and what is that supposed to mean?" you asked, your breath hitching.

damon reached out, his fingers ghosting over your hand on the desk, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man who claimed to have no humanity left. "it means that while elijah is planning a strategic retreat, i’m sitting here wondering how many bodies i have to pile up before you realize i’m not letting anything happen to you."