What Lies Beneath

Chapter 56: Not So Fragile Things

"I don't like that you dragged Matt into this."

Damon's brows narrowed as he stared at Elena, the tiny veins under her eyes slowly dissipating. He'd almost forgotten how she'd always seemed to have a problem with the way he got shit done. Most of the time no one died; case in point Matt wasn't really any worse for the wear. He'd only bit him to lure out the vamp hunters anyway and wow, imagine that it'd worked. Distraction in place and he was free to rescue her and Stefan.

"He volunteered." Damon stated. "He thought it was the least he could do considering it's half his fault you're a vampire now. Besides it worked."

She exhaled deeply and sniffled, looking around the area. "None of this is his fault. I told Stefan to save him because I was ready to die. I was okay with it. I-I didn't know what Meredith had done and I'm sure if Stefan had he would have tried harder to save us both."

He shrugged. "Whatever. You're alive-ish-and Matt is alive so everything worked out I suppose. Except for the crazy people that wanna kill us but that's just another Thursday."

He turned to walk away when she said, "I remember everything. One of the highlights of my transition; I remember everything that you compelled me to forget." Pause. "Like how you and I met first. You were the stranger that told me you wanted me to get everything I wanted from life. Damon, why didn't you tell me?"

Crap. I forgot that happens to new vampires. "Would it have made a difference back then?" When she didn't reply, he shrugged again. "I didn't think so. And I didn't meet you first. In relation to Stefan yeah but... If we're talking your little group I met Bonnie first before she knew about her powers, and I compelled her to forget."

Elena smiled as if it were almost something she expected. "If it had been her on that bridge with Matt, you'd have saved her, wouldn't you?"

He sent her a look. "Do you really have to ask me that? You know the answers." A beat. "Would it have been right? Probably not. But hey I'm a selfish dick and she knows that so... Honestly I might have tried to save Matt too just to save me from hearing her mouth."

She chuckled softly, wetting her lips. "I remembered you telling me that you loved me. That I couldn't remember because you were selfish. A part of me wishes you'd never did that because while I know it's over-so over-it's in my head and I can't get it out. It's like it just happened for me and I hate it because I love Stefan and I want Stefan, but it sort of makes me think I never really gave you a chance. The real you-whoever that is."

Once upon a time this was the type of stuff Damon had wanted to hear from her. Back when he'd convinced himself he loved her for her and not because she looked like Katherine. Back when getting rejected by her over and over was more of a game than anything else. Those days were gone though and even if he weren't with Bonnie he'd like to think he had too much self respect to keep chasing someone that obviously didn't really want him. Because even if she did on some level she wanted Stefan more, and all of his asshole-ishness aside he didn't deserved to be jerked around.

"That was a different time." He replied. "When I wanted things or at least thought I did."

Her big brown eyes softened. "I know. I'm not asking for anything Damon. I just wish it wasn't in my head."

He nodded. "I'd compel you to forget again if I could."

She rubbed her cheek. "It's okay. I do wish I'd taken the time to really see you though. I'm sorry if I was ever flip with your feelings."

Damon snorted. "I'm not as fragile as Stefan. I'm good. And it's not like you were as bad as Katherine was."

She dropped her eyes to the ground. "I'm sure she saw something in you like she liked. You're a good guy, you just have a different way of going about things and it's not always the best way. In another universe I could see myself being with you."