hey it's good to be back home again

[somanyadjectives]

[It's been a while since Stefan has been back in Mystic Falls, but he wasn't going to miss the twins graduation. He knew that coming home was going to be complicated. He was bringing his girlfriend to meet people. He was bracing himself for Damon's judgement about him dating a vampire slayer the entire ride from the airport.

What he hadn't expected, was getting ambushed at a gas station while filling up his car by a hunter.

According to Damon, there haven't been hunters in Mystic Falls in years. They knew that the school would be a beacon, but they also took precautions for that to protect the kids. Most hunters understood that they were trying to reduce deaths, rather than concentrate them. This isn't to say that Mystic Falls is perfect, but they're doing better than they used to.

Stefan doesn't kill him. He's caught off guard enough that he doesn't immediately go for the kill, and Buffy catches the hunter off guard enough that the guy decides to retreat and regroup rather than push his luck against a slayer and a vampire. This isn't, unfortunately, before he manages to plug Stefan with a few wooden bullets. And those hurt like a mother.]

Gotta love coming home.

[He groans as he sinks back against the car, trying to keep an eye on their surroundings, before glancing down at the bleeding holes in his shirt.]

I liked this shirt.

Comments

[attainathons]

( The only reason there's fumbling is because they were not planning for the amateur surgical pitstop. She helps him into the backseat, wincing as she climbs in behind him. )

Downside, I need to Google, what gets blood out of the backseat of the uninsured rental car.

( It's hard enough to explain. There might even be a dent in the side. She didn't check.

At her feet is her one giant travel tote bag filled with the books she never cracks (she chose trashy romance, surprise surprise) work folders, her laptop... and a small pocket that she pulls her second phone out of and starts to deposit the stray wood she collects.

Any time she has to dig in, she does give an apologetic, "Sorry!" But, they've both been through worse pain. )

Good thing is, I think he was trying to make his great escape, not aiming for anything heart-adjacent. He still made a mess.

[somanyadjectives]

Money. Don't worry, we can afford it.

[Or rather, he can afford it because when you're 165 years old, you learn how to max out your retirement.]

We can clean up the mess later just ... get it out, please?

[attainathons]

( Stefan, it's not about worrying for money, but, yeah, sometimes the practical things do come up. Between his deep pockets and her organizations, they'll be more than fine. )

It's the last one.

( She might retire or dry clean the tote bag, but it's not like she didn't just buy it for the first leisurely vacation she'd taken in awhile.

Looking up, her mouth forms an o-sound as she fishes the last wooden bullet and drops it into the little pouch of her bag. )

There. I think that's all of them. ( But, also, it's about what's happening inside his body. ) Is it?

[somanyadjectives]

[He nods as he moves to sit up, testing his limbs and twisting his torso to make sure.]

Yeah, that's all of them. Reminded me how much I hate getting shot.

[He then turns to look at her.]

You okay?

[attainathons]

More worried about you. The human being who shot you and tried to take me on? Made tracks.

( Nothing she couldn't handle. )

I'd say let's move the car so you can change, but, should we just go straight to Mystic Falls.

( As if on cue, Stefan's phone goes off in his pocket with a FaceTime request from his favorite brother. Maybe he's psychic. Maybe between the traffic, the pitstop, and the sudden melee Stefan is late.

Or, maybe Damon is impatient. Either way. Ring, ring, Brother. )

[somanyadjectives]

[Stefan picks up his phone and groans, his head flopping back against the window.]

It's like he has ESP sometimes.

[But he will swing his legs around, giving Buffy the opportunity to get out of frame before he opens his phone.]

Hello, brother.

[Totally going to steal your line there. Please don't mind the blood, he's doing his best to keep it out of view.]

[unforgivably]

Not a vampire power I remember.

( Save for Drusilla, who, was too crazy to call it ESP. As he shifts, Buffy scoots back.

When Stefan answers, he'll see his brother in the back office of the Mystic Grill. Clearly, he's now decided to do paperwork. )

You know, I only volunteered to look over the expense reports because I thought I'd be interrupted. Halfway through. ( Looking up, then, he squints. ) Are you in the backseat? Am I interrupting?

[somanyadjectives]

No. That honor goes to the hunter who tried to jump me when I stopped for gas.

[So that gives you the idea of the evening he's been having.]

We're not far out, but I think we might just head right to the house. Probably wouldn't look good if your brother wandered in covered in his own blood.

[unforgivably]

( Those reading glasses he wears for show, he sets those down on the desk and slides forward on the chair. )

I'll meet you there, then. ( But, they should go over. ) Activated hunter? Or, run-of-the-mill. On a scale of Ric to Connor.

[somanyadjectives]

Their weapon of choice was wooden bullets so I'm going to say closer to Ric.

[He grimaces, before glancing over to Buffy who actually physically tangled with him.]

He didn't seem Slayer strong to you, did he?

[unforgivably]

Slayer-what? To who?

( She has nothing to hide. )

Not Slayer-strong. No Wheaties were had before he tried making his mood.

( Damon leans in. )

Stefan. Why don't you use your average-sized arms to hold that phone of yours out farther, so we include everybody in the call.

( This must be the girlfriend. )

[somanyadjectives]

[Stefan smirks at his brother, before doing as requested and pulling the phone back so that Damon can see the friendly blond.]

Damon, this is Buffy. Buffy, Damon.

[unforgivably]

It's nice to meet you, finally. I've heard almost everything about you.

( As affable as she is, there's just that wrinkle above her eyebrow that chafes. Yeah, he can't blame his brother. He put him through it. They both worked for the devil. Whatever.

He slaps on a very, very polite, thin, smile. )

Buffy, the - Slayer. Buffy Summers.

Uhuh.

( It's almost a challenge. )

And we know this hunter was after... you and not after the overpowered conduit of kidnapping African bachelors.

[somanyadjectives]

Given that he ran off when Buffy made her presence known, I'm gonna say that yeah. I was the target.

[And he sighs because the drying blood is really starting to itch.]

Look, can we talk about this face to face? We still got a long way to drive and I need a new shirt.

[unforgivably]

Go ahead. Strip down at the gas station. Do the Magic Mike with hot oil, not gasoline. That might end better. For both of you.

( Well, Stefan hadn't exaggerated about his brother. )

Also be safe. Did you get a name or an alias, or do we have an unidentified hunter running around now?

[somanyadjectives]

[He shakes his head.]

He didn't give a name. Young, scruffy and male was about as far as I got. We'll see if I can come up with more by the time I get home.

[unforgivably]

Meet you there, then.

( He doesn't say goodbye, just hangs up. But, it's good to know his brother is even a few hours away. And under siege. It's like old times. )

[somanyadjectives]

[And with that he and Buffy climb back into the front seats and drive their way to the Salvatore house. Stefan pulls up to the front, and turns to Buffy with a smile.]

Damon's going to be Damon about everything, but just remember that he is one person in a sea of Mystic Falls people. And if he drives you too crazy, we can always go get a hotel.

[attainathons]

I can handle your brother. Just wait until you meet Faith.

( She lowers the window down as they pull back out from the gas station. )

How bad is he, though. In terms of, meeting the new girlfriend. ( New being relative. )

[somanyadjectives]

[He purses his lips as he drives, trying to consider how best to put this.]

Not terrible. He's just a lot to deal with and inherently suspicious by nature.

[attainathons]

Great. At what point do I go into my dating history, before he makes sure you're not hurt, or the morning after when I inevitably wake up beforehand.

( She jokes, really. She can handle Damon. But, she's heard enough to still need to confirm now. )

You know I'm not ashamed of anything. He comes at me, I'll hit back. I know a thing about dropping emotional bombs.

( Mostly, they get dropped on her. But, it's so often that she must be good at it if she cared. )

I love you, no matter what your family's like. Besides, Dawn still texts you every day, doesn't she?

( BE HONEST. )

[somanyadjectives]

Yes. But Dawn and I have a very high stakes bet going for this season of the Great British Bake Off. Kind of defeats the point if we don't talk about it.

[He sounds like he's kidding. He's really not. He's totally engrossed in cooking reality TV to bond with Buffy's sister.]

And you don't owe Damon an explanation for anything. Don't let him push your buttons. He's ... really good at that.

[attainathons]

( One she doesn't quite get. American Ninja Warrior that she good do in her sleep? Yes. The corkscrew isn't that hard! In terms of reality, it's Housewives and Top Chef. But, does she love that Dawn likes Stefan and he once saved her from a leprechaun with nefariously matrimonial intentions? Yeah. But she loves so much more about him, too. )

Everyone who mentions Damon, they talk about him like he's this Bond villain. But, fun. He's still your brother. And if he sees your happy, maybe he'll be.

[somanyadjectives]

Our relationship is complicated, and he has a hard time trusting new people.

[And sometimes, even trusting old people.]

But he'll come around eventually. It's just going to take time. And I didn't give him too much information on you because he would have spent too much time obsessing and drawing ridiculous conclusions. I'd rather him actually get to know you face to face.

[attainathons]

I get that. I'm face-to-face girl. I never got into any... apps or anything. But. Even if he doesn't trust me? You trust me. And something comes for him like they just came for you? They get the sharp end of -- well, probably the blunt end of something if they're not vampires themselves. It could be one, well-read hunter. And if not? ( She gestures, grinning and looking to him. ) This vampire country!