Their Raven

Chapter 3

As he walked through the crowd, Damon felt eyes on him–gossiping guests and those curious about his interactions with the Mikealsons. He didn't care; the tension of the party and the weight of the brothers' attentions were wearing on him. He needed a moment to breathe, to think. So Damon headed toward the grand balcony with giant windows for doors so you can see everything inside and out. the cool night air a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside.

The balcony overlooked the sprawling gardens, the party's noise fading to a distant hum. Damon gripped the railing, the metal cool beneath his fingers as he took a deep breath. His mind spun with conflicting thoughts–Stefan's concerns, Elena's presence, and the unexpected interest from the Mikaelsons. He didn't know what to make of any of it.

"Care for some company?" Elijah's voice interrupted his thoughts. Damon didn't bother turning around, keeping his gaze fixed on the dark horizon. He could hear the door click shut as Elijah joined him outside, stepping up to the railing beside me.

"You know, I was hoping for a quiet moment. On my own" Damon said dryly, glancing sideways at Elijah.

Elijah only smiled, unperturbed. "You did storm off rather dramatically. One might think you wanted to be followed." Damon rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips despite himself.

They stood in silence for a moment, the night air cool against Damon's flushed skin. He was hyper-aware of Elijah's presence beside him, the careful elegance in the way he moved, the way he seemed to study Damon as though he were some intriguing puzzle. It made his skin prickle with unease and something else he couldn't quite place.

Finally Elijah spoke, his voice softer now. "You know, you don't have to carry everything alone, Damon. There are people who care about you, even if you don't always see it" Damon scoffed, turning to look at him directly. "You mean my brother, who's obsessed with keeping Elena safe, even at the expense of his own sanity" Or you three, with your cryptic messages and magical necklace!?"

Elijah met his gaze steadily, his expression unchanging. "I meant both, actually. But if you'd rather continue this act, you're welcome to it" Damon blinked, momentarily thrown by Elijah's bluntness. He hasn't expected that– kindness wrapped in the usual Mikaelson mystery.

Before he could respond, the door to the balcony cracked open again, and Klaus stepped through, an amused smile playing at his lips as he surveyed the scene. "Interrupting, am I?" He asked in jealousy, though his tone made it clear he didn't much care if he was.

Damon huffed, the annoyance he already had skyrocketing, "Wonderful. Just what I needed–more company" He pushed away from the railing, turning to face the two brothers, trying to keep his tone light even as frustration simmered beneath. "What's the plan here, exactly? You're all playing nice, offering dances, talking about how 'interesting' I am–what's the endgame?"

Klaus exchanged a look with Elijah before stepping closer, a predatory edge sharpening his smile. "No plan, Damon. Not really. We simply take an interest in things–or people–that catch our eye." His tone light and smooth, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made Damon's breath catch. "And you. Little Raven, have caught our eye."

Damon raises an eyebrow ignoring the nickname and not bothering to hide his suspicions and skepticism. "And that involves witches and necklaces that won't come off!?"

Klaus shrugged, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Think of it as a symbol of... protection. After all, this town is filled with many threats, old and new. It wouldn't do for you to face them alone now would it? Especially now that you're ours."

Damon let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh "Protection! Please. I can take care of myself, always have. And in not yours!" But even as he said it, he felt a twist of uncertainty in his chest. There was something in their words, something he couldn't quite dismiss, no matter how much he wanted to.

Elijah watched him carefully, his expression more earnest than Damon was used to seeing from any of the Mikealsons that he knew. "We're offering you something more than protection, 'ᛒᛖᚨᚢᛏᛁᚠᚢᛚ'. A place–among us, beside us. If you'll have it" His words hung in the air between them, weighted with meaning and desire that Damon couldn't ignore.

Damon swallowed, caught off guard by the sincerity in Elijah's voice, and the language that he spoke not knowing what it meant. He looked between the two brothers, seeing the intensity in Klaus gaze, the quiet promise in Elijah's. He thought of Stefan, of their endless battles, of Elena and the tangled web she always seemed to weave around them. For a moment, he imagined what it might be like to leave it all behind, to find something new, something that wasn't drenched in bitterness and loneliness.

But he wasn't ready to trust them yet. He couldn't be. He tensed his shoulders, forcing a smirk back onto his face. "Tempting offer, but I'm not the 'join the club' kind of guy."

Klaus only chuckled, but there was a flicker of something more in his eyes, something that Damon couldn't quite name. "We'll see about that little raven."

Damon walked past them, heading back inside downstairs to the party, but he could still feel their presence behind him as he walks down the stairs. The weight of their interest and desire pressing against his back. He pushed through the crowd, trying to ignore the lingering sense that the Mikaelson brothers were far from done with him–and that, despite himself, he might not be entirely done with them either.

                ∘•········sʚ 🩸🩸🩸ɞ ········•∘

😩😤 Chapter three is up! Been working on this all week and I'm finally happy with it. What you think? I wanted the Mikealsons to speak old Norse sometimes. I don't know if they could but I like to think there can I mean they were Vikings

ᛒᛖᚨᚢᛏᛁᚠᚢᛚ = Beautiful in old Norse