A Pain That I'm Used To (Stamon) (Kliles)

Dark past

Stiles stared at the fire that was flickering in the Salvatore's fireplace.

"Can I get you anything?" Stefan asked taking a seat across from Stiles.

"No thank you." Stiles shook his head.

Stefan could see his mind reeling.

"I know you're upset about what happened earlier but you don't know for sure that Klaus sent him." Stefan spoke gently.

"I know but, Klaus had Tyler looking after me. He wasn't there. And I'm more upset by the fact that I have to question if he did or not. If that guy had been a friend of Damon's and he'd told me that Damon sent him, I'd never question if he was lying. I know Damon would never do that. But with Klaus...he's such a wild card." Stiles dropped his head.

"Do you care for him?" Stefan asked.

"Who?" Stiles asked frowning up at Stefan.

"Klaus." Stefan clarified.

Stiles turned back to the fire. "I don't know. A part of me does I think. Or did. I'm not sure how I feel at the moment. I can't trust him and that bothers me."

"And Damon? Do you care for him?" Stefan pressed.

Stiles looked back at Stefan. "Between you and me, more than I am comfortable with."

Stefan frowned.

"He reminds me so much of Derek."

Stefan shifted uncomfortably.

"But yet, I feel this desire for him I never felt with Derek, you know?" Stiles looked down at his hands.

Stefan remained quiet. He didn't know how to respond to that.

"It scares me to be honest. I don't know Damon that well but I feel like he has a dark past. Not that I can hold that against him. We all have a dark past. But he's caring and yet fierce. He's extremely attractive and smart. He knows what he wants and what he believes in. I just can't help but feel so drawn to him. I've never felt like this before." Stiles fiddled with the hem of his shirt as he spoke.

"I don't want to scare you but I don't know that I've seen Damon so hung up on anyone in decades. The last guy he loved, Christopher, he hurt Damon in a way that caused him to spiral out. It's taken a long time to pull him back in." Stefan spoke with a frown embedded in his features.

"Is that you're brotherly, I'll kill you if you break his heart, talk?" Stiles chuckled.

Stefan smiled. "Not at all, more of a warning that Damon loves with his whole heart so if you can't handle that..."

"Back out now?" Stiles finished lowering his eyes to his hands again.

"You just seem very guarded and cautious. I just want you to know." Stefan gave a sympathetic smile.

"Thank you. It's been nice to get this off my chest." Stiles smiled back at Stefan.

"I'm always here if you need to talk. I know Caroline wants you and Damon to get together pretty bad so talking to her about this would be a little biased." Stefan chuckled.

"Oh, I didn't realize..." Stiles cocked his head.

"Oh yeah, everyone is taking bets on who you'll choose." Stefan winked.

"Oh great." Stiles laughed shaking his head.

"Do I dare ask who you placed your bets on?"

Stefan smirked. "Honestly before today, Klaus. But I think some current events may have swayed my bet."