Caroline Forbes is nothing if not honest. It’s one of the things Elena loves most about her --
“We’re gonna what?”
Elena expels a long-suffering sigh. (A smile pricks at the corners of her mouth.) “It’s Stefan’s idea. Put it down to brotherly bonding.”
“Well, I think it’s a terrible idea. It’ll be a bust. The guy doesn’t even have friends.”
-- But Elena will be the first to recognize that she’s not always right.
*
“Is this seriously happening?”
Elena is glad to be reminded that her brother can still smile.
She rifles through her closet. “Stefan can be very persuasive.”
Jeremy is chuckling, a sound somewhere between spite and joy. “I can’t believe it.”
Elena holds a dark grey top up against her herself, glances at the mirror. “Neither can I.”
A pause as she mentally rejects the grey one, looks for something brighter instead.
Then –
“Can I come?”
*
The Salvatores’ living room is bursting with life. Which is a nice change from the usual, Stefan observes.
Of course, a huddled mass of humans from half the town’s population ‘shhh’-ing at each other in the dark is as graceful as... one would expect. But it means something that they’d try.
Stefan is proud to be (wrongfully) considered one of them.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Bonnie mutters to Elena. Stefan can virtually hear her rolling her eyes. “This is the kind of thing you do for people who’ll actually appreciate it.”
Elena exhales audibly. “Probably. But – “ Her tone is wistful. “—Damon can be surprising.”
There’s no time for elaboration, as Stefan hears his brother approaching the front door. He signals the rest of the room, which miraculously falls silent.
The second hand of the clock provides an audible pulse as they wait:
One, the expected slam of the door. Two, a breath and a pause. (It won’t be a complete surprise, the scent is overwhelming.) Three, the singsong greeting. (“Oh, Steeeefan.”)
Four, the deafening reply of the crowd. (“SURPRISE!”)
(Damon’s face is the genuine article of it.)
He composes himself quickly -- no less than Stefan would expect. Shoots a withering glare at his brother, eyebrow arching, lips mouthing a death threat of some extravagant fashion.
Stefan grins, teeth flashing. Mouths back. “You’re welcome.”
~
The day might not belong to him, but Stefan feels more complete than if it did. If anyone notices the foolish grin on the younger Salvatore’s face all night, they don’t mention it.
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timeasmymeasure
The Vampire Diaries, Salvatore brothers & co., Surprise is Not Only for the Living (2/2)
Date: 2010-11-11 08:48 am (UTC)“We’re gonna what?”
Elena expels a long-suffering sigh. (A smile pricks at the corners of her mouth.) “It’s Stefan’s idea. Put it down to brotherly bonding.”
“Well, I think it’s a terrible idea. It’ll be a bust. The guy doesn’t even have friends.”
-- But Elena will be the first to recognize that she’s not always right.
*
“Is this seriously happening?”
Elena is glad to be reminded that her brother can still smile.
She rifles through her closet. “Stefan can be very persuasive.”
Jeremy is chuckling, a sound somewhere between spite and joy. “I can’t believe it.”
Elena holds a dark grey top up against her herself, glances at the mirror. “Neither can I.”
A pause as she mentally rejects the grey one, looks for something brighter instead.
Then –
“Can I come?”
*
The Salvatores’ living room is bursting with life. Which is a nice change from the usual, Stefan observes.
Of course, a huddled mass of humans from half the town’s population ‘shhh’-ing at each other in the dark is as graceful as... one would expect. But it means something that they’d try.
Stefan is proud to be (wrongfully) considered one of them.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Bonnie mutters to Elena. Stefan can virtually hear her rolling her eyes. “This is the kind of thing you do for people who’ll actually appreciate it.”
Elena exhales audibly. “Probably. But – “ Her tone is wistful. “—Damon can be surprising.”
There’s no time for elaboration, as Stefan hears his brother approaching the front door. He signals the rest of the room, which miraculously falls silent.
The second hand of the clock provides an audible pulse as they wait:
One, the expected slam of the door. Two, a breath and a pause. (It won’t be a complete surprise, the scent is overwhelming.) Three, the singsong greeting. (“Oh, Steeeefan.”)
Four, the deafening reply of the crowd. (“SURPRISE!”)
(Damon’s face is the genuine article of it.)
He composes himself quickly -- no less than Stefan would expect. Shoots a withering glare at his brother, eyebrow arching, lips mouthing a death threat of some extravagant fashion.
Stefan grins, teeth flashing. Mouths back. “You’re welcome.”
~
The day might not belong to him, but Stefan feels more complete than if it did. If anyone notices the foolish grin on the younger Salvatore’s face all night, they don’t mention it.
Damon notices.
Stefan would never allow him not to.