Vampire Diaries Imagines

School Night Dinner - Alaric Saltzman

The fluorescent lights of Mystic Falls High School cast an eerie glow over the empty hallways. Alaric Saltzman sat in his classroom, surrounded by stacks of papers, a half-drunk cup of coffee growing cold at his elbow. He rubbed his temples, squinting at the test in front of him, the question blurring into nonsense.

The sound of soft footsteps echoed in the hallway, followed by the familiar lilt of Y/N's voice.

"You're either grading essays or plotting the demise of high schoolers everywhere. Which one is it tonight, Mr. Saltzman?"

Alaric looked up with a tired smile as Y/N appeared in the doorway, her arms balancing a paper bag and two Styrofoam cups. She was dressed in casual jeans and a cozy sweater, her hair slightly windblown from the crisp November air.

"What are you doing here this late?" he asked, setting his pen down as she stepped inside.

"Rescuing you from the depths of your caffeine addiction and lack of sustenance," she quipped, plopping the bag onto his desk. "And no, don't argue. I've already decided you need this."

Alaric chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, watching her pull containers out of the bag. "You didn't have to do that, Y/N/N. I was planning to raid the vending machine."

Y/N gasped in mock horror. "Vending machine food? Alaric, that's practically a crime against humanity. You'd get a life sentence of bland chips and questionable candy bars." She opened a container, revealing perfectly cooked pasta. "Lucky for you, I'm here to save the day. Again."

"You're my hero," Alaric said, his voice warm and genuine as he took the container she handed him. Their fingers brushed briefly, and he didn't miss the soft smile that tugged at her lips.

Y/N perched on the edge of his desk, taking a sip from one of the cups. "I'm serious, though. You need to take a break once in a while. You're not a machine, Ric."

He sighed, taking a bite of pasta. "I know. It's just... there's always something. Papers, meetings, supernatural crises. You know the drill."

"Which is why you have me," she teased, her tone light but her eyes full of affection. "To make sure you don't keel over from exhaustion. Or turn into a grumpy old man."

Alaric smirked. "I think it's too late for that."

"Oh, please," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're charming, even when you're grumpy."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that why you keep hanging around?"

Y/N leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Maybe. Or maybe it's because I like kissing you."

Her words caught him off guard, and before he could respond, she leaned in, brushing her lips against his. The kiss was soft and lingering, her hands gently cupping his face. Alaric's hand found her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss, the world outside the classroom fading away.

When they finally broke apart, Y/N grinned, her cheeks flushed. "See? That wasn't so grumpy."

Alaric laughed, his forehead resting against hers. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you love me for it," she shot back, hopping off the desk to grab her cup.

He watched her with a fond smile. "Yeah, I really do."

As they settled into a comfortable rhythm-eating, talking, and stealing kisses between bites-Alaric couldn't help but feel grateful. Late nights weren't so bad when they ended like this.

As the pasta disappeared and their cups emptied, the atmosphere in the classroom shifted from work-driven stress to cozy intimacy. Y/N leaned back against one of the student desks, her legs swinging as Alaric cleaned up the remains of their impromptu dinner.

"Alright," he said, tossing the empty containers into the trash can. "I think you've officially saved me from myself tonight."

Y/N smirked, crossing her arms. "That's my job, remember? Keeping you alive and moderately functional."

"Well," he teased, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair, "you're doing a pretty stellar job."

"Obviously," she quipped, sliding off the desk and grabbing her bag. "Ready to go, or are you going to insist on staying here and grading until the janitor kicks you out?"

Alaric chuckled, holding the classroom door open for her. "I think I've done enough damage for one night. Let's get out of here."

They walked through the empty halls, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet. Y/N's hand brushed against his, and without thinking, he reached over and intertwined their fingers. She glanced up at him with a soft smile but didn't say anything.

The night air was crisp as they stepped into the parking lot, their breaths visible in the cool air. Y/N shivered slightly, and Alaric immediately slipped his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders.

"You're going to freeze," she protested, but her hands were already pulling the jacket tighter around her.

"I'll survive," he said with a smirk, guiding her toward their car.

The drive back to their shared apartment was filled with quiet conversation and the hum of the radio. Y/N teased him about his music choice-classic rock, as always-and he playfully countered that her pop playlists were borderline unbearable. The banter was easy and familiar, the kind of rhythm that only came from knowing someone deeply.

When they finally arrived home, Y/N kicked off her boots by the door and let out a contented sigh. "Ah, home sweet home."

Alaric followed her inside, setting his keys on the counter. "You say that like we've been gone for weeks."

"Hey," she said, turning to face him, "school is your second home. I'm just a visitor in that relationship."

He laughed, pulling her into his arms. "And yet, you bring me dinner and rescue me from my workaholic tendencies. You're basically the best roommate ever."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Roommate? That's all I am to you?"

Alaric grinned, leaning down to kiss her, his lips warm and insistent against hers. "Fine," he murmured between kisses. "You're also my lifesaver. And my girlfriend. And the reason I don't lose my mind on a daily basis."

"Better," she whispered, her hands sliding up to his neck as she kissed him again.

They stayed like that for a moment, lost in each other, until Y/N pulled away, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, Mr. Saltzman. What's the plan? Are we grading more papers, or are we actually relaxing tonight?"

Alaric smirked, guiding her toward the couch. "Tonight, we're relaxing. No papers. Just us."

She sank into the couch, grabbing a blanket and patting the spot next to her. "Good. Because if you even think about pulling out any student assignments, I'm staging an intervention."

He laughed as he joined her, pulling her close and draping the blanket over both of them. "Deal."

They spent the rest of the evening in quiet comfort, the TV playing softly in the background as Y/N dozed against his shoulder. Alaric couldn't help but look down at her, a small smile on his face. In a life that often felt chaotic and unpredictable, moments like this-just the two of them, safe and together-felt like the greatest gift he could ever ask for.

"I love you," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Even half-asleep, Y/N smiled, her voice soft. "Love you too, Ric."

And with that, the weight of the day melted away, leaving only the warmth of the woman in his arms and the peace of knowing she was his.