A life in the shadows

12

Matteo walked back to the boarding house.
"What did she say?" Siobhan questioned as Matteo walked into the room she and Damon were in.
"I have to be back by tomorrow. She's sending in Killian. You're staying."
"Killian?" She said aghast. "I can handle things."
"Handle things?" Damon frowned at his brother. "Wait, you're here for your job or whatever?"
"Sort of. It was how I was able to slip past and come here without being dragged back."
"But you have to go back?" Damon asked.
"For a few months. Getting bit by a werewolf is the leverage Kaia needed to get me out. She can't keep me away forever because I already started."
"Leverage? You talk but I can barely understand what you say. Slow down, Matty."
"Sorry, um, there are protocols to follow, especially with a werewolf bite. It doesn't matter that I was cured from the bite because the rules say if you're bitten, you're immediately taken off assignment. But I can't be taken off it forever because you can only get off an assignment when it's finished or if you die."
"That's heavy."
"Another rule states I can't go to my human family even if they are no longer human hence why I've been away."
"What if you break the rules?"
"You don't." Matteo told Damon. "You just don't."
"And nobody's rebelled. So you're an organisation of goody two shoes?"
"It's impossible to break a rule."
"How did you get here then? If you're not allowed to go to your family?"
"He outsmarted the rules." Siobhan said proudly. "If anyone asks, he's not technically here for you, you guys just happened to have a spare room and happened to be his family. Can't help the coincidences."
"Oh. So your mission or whatever it is, is a smokescreen."
"Exactly." Matteo said.
"Sounds complicated. Why did you join whatever you joined?"
"Well that is a story I also can't tell you."
"Fine. Harmless questions. Who's this Killian guy?"
"He's this guy who totally hates Matteo." Siobhan grinned proudly.
"Why?"
"Because Matteo's better than him at everything. He always tries but he can never beat Matteo."
"And because he's in love with Siobhan but she never liked him."
"Yet another thing you got and he didn't."
"So why is he coming here?" Damon queried.
"Kaia's sending him to fill my spot for a little bit. Until I get back."
"So you're definitely coming back?"
"I'll always come back, Damon. Always." Matteo ruffled his brother's hair.
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. But Killian'll be here in an hour or so. He will be staying here."
"Why?" Siobhan asked.
"Because he hasn't got anywhere else to stay."
"There's a motel on the I-90." Damon shrugged. "And a B&B near the Grill. I'm sure they'd take him in."
"Damon, take him in. And no, you won't make him pay."
"Matteo does this thing where he's really nice to people. And it drives Killian crazy that he can't get Matty to snap. You'll see." She laughed.
"I have one more question." Damon frowned.  "How is it that Matteo can befriend Original vampires, but not a fellow goody colleague?"
"Well, honestly, I didn't befriend Klaus straight away. He tried killing me a few times at first."
"But of course, Matty sees that as an invitation to be friends."
"Damon-" Elena walked into his room paused, before smiling kindly. "Sorry, I didn't know you guys were here."
"Hello, Elena." Matteo looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Me too." She said. "Isn't Stefan with you?"
"He's with Klaus."
"You let him go with Klaus?" She judged.
"Well, it was the only way to save Damon, and it was Stefan's decision."
"Isn't Klaus supposed to be your friend? Couldn't you stop him?"
"No one can stop Klaus, Elena." He looked at her in concern. "Stefan will be fine."
"How do you know?"
"Like you said. Klaus is kinda sorta my friend. I know him."
"Also, Matteo can be kind of scary when pissed off." Siobhan told her. "He knows that."
"But he does kind of look like someone took away his teddy bear when he's angry." Damon noted with a grin. "It's pretty hard for anyone to take him seriously."
"Killian's here." Siobhan tensed as she senses him walk up to the boarding house. The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Matteo walked out of the room smiling pleasantly.
"Oh god." Siobhan groaned following him.
"Killian?" They heard Elena ask Damon.
"He's an acquaintance of theirs. He's gonna be here for a while. It's a long story." Damon dismissed, rushing to the door before the two.
"Oh god." Siobhan repeated.
"I'm looking for Siobhan and Matteo?"
"You must be Kelly." Damon smiled at him.
"Killian." He corrected, gritting his teeth. "You must be Damon."
"Killian!" Matteo finally reached the two. "Come on inside."
"I think we need to talk, first."
"We have time for that, Killian. Come on." Matteo smiled pleasantly. "This is Damon. And that's Elena."
"The doppelgänger." Killian noted.
"You've done your homework."
"Siobhan, lovely to see you." He said.
"Can't say the same, Killian." She sneered. Matteo put an arm over her shoulder as if rearing her back.
"Lets go inside."
"Just catch me up, Salvatore." Killian said.
"If you insist, Killian." Matteo smiled at him. Killian scowled. "Damon, we'll be back in an hour."
"I see what you mean." Damon told Siobhan.
"What?" Killian asked.
"None of your business." Damon replied.
"Manners, Damon." Matteo said, slightly smirking.
"Let's go, Salvatore." Killian said, a look of scorn on his face.
"Do you even know your way around town?" Elena asked.
"Don't worry, I know the basics around here." Matteo smiled. "If we get lost, we'll just call Damon."
"With what phone? You left yours behind." Siobhan scoffed.
"Yours." He smiled. She rolled her eyes and handed it over to him.
"You've been dating less than a week and you're already sickening." Damon rolled his eyes.
"You'll find someone one day." Matteo patted his brother on the back and Damon glared at him.