as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[somanyadjectives]

And yet, instead of running towards the potential of something, you hopped on a plane to Scotland to hang out in a castle full of women magically engineered to kill you.

[A beat.]

And me. But also the Slayers.

[unforgivably]

You're my brother. And I haven't seen you, save for graduation weekend from Hell in over a year. And, I'm a genius, because what hunter is going to look for me over the rainbow with a bunch of vampire slayers?

( And how does he know what is actually potential and if she and him really had it.

Yeah, yeah, he hasn't actually asked. )

It didn't feel like potential.

[somanyadjectives]

Then why is it bothering you?

[Because it seems like it is. But if Stefan is wrong about that, then he'll drop it. For now, at least.]

[unforgivably]

Because, Stefan, you have Buffy and Elena has Dean. And I have the Mystic Grill.

( Maybe he held himself back, living in arrested development from a failed, but star-crossed relationship. He'd lashed out in the worst ways when it first hadn't worked with him and Elena, even went so far as to say that clearly human Elena was never meant to be with him. Invoking the sirebond, their toxicity. A few weeks later, and whatever crisis was next, he put his differences aside. But, he never came back from it. )

[somanyadjectives]

[Stefan nods, leaning back in his seat as he keeps his eyes on the road. He knows that moving on from Elena has been hard for him, and he doesn't want to judge him. At the same time, it's been years.]

Maybe. But the only one holding you back is you, Damon. So ... if it is something you want, maybe that's something you should think about.

[unforgivably]

Yeah, thanks for the advice.

( But, his brother's not wrong and it echoes Lindsey. It takes time. He thought he'd become the person he needed to be for Elena, but it was never that easy. It's hard to believe he stayed devoted to her while she slept for five years.

Maybe that's his problem. Everything underneath Rayna and the Heretics and Sybil. She used Elena as his weakness.

But, Caroline had broken through. Not Elena. Caroline and himself. Forgiving Stefan. )

You know I missed you.

[somanyadjectives]

[He glances over with a small smile, placing a hand on his shoulder as he pulls into his parking spot at the castle.]

I missed you too, brother. I'm glad you're here.