stefanged | Drift Fleet

[That simple kiss on the forehead could light up the whole room. Somewhere, deep in her brain, a part of Alex had been waiting to find out if she would be okay with this - if she could love someone who loved by different rules, and feel like things were complete. But she has any answer she could have needed now. In fact, there was no question to begin with, just a deeply buried fear after what happened that day in the bunk room.

Yes, she absolutely can, and she absolutely does. Just being close to him and hearing those words, so amazing and unexpected, is better than any first kiss she's gotten.

Grinning just as widely, she leans up to press a kiss to his cheek, before bringing her arms back up to embrace him. It's gentler this time, less desperate, and there are no digging fingers or wet cheeks. Just a brilliant smile and a pounding heart.]

We just have to keep saying sappy shit and we'll get through this. Together.

Edited 2015-11-02 22:29 (UTC)

[This is where he pulls back, if only to turn his device on so he can see her better. He can hear that heartbeat, and now that he's said it out loud...]

But it's more than the sappy shit. [Stefan takes a deep breath.] You're sure you're okay with the fact that I can't really love you like most boyfriends? Even kissing - sometimes, that's a bit more than I can do.

[Plus, there's the lingering, giant issue that he hasn't even begun to address.]

And as for Elena... I still haven't talked to her about this. Us. I think we're friends? That'll never, ever change - but right now, you're my number one. [He intertwines his fingers in hers.] I don't see that changing anytime soon, either.

[Unless I become Salvatore again, but he leaves that unsaid. She knows how much he's resisting the pull of his past life already.]

[In the faint glow, Alex smooths out the unbridled joy in her face just a bit, settling into a warm contentment instead.]

Yes, I'm okay with it. For all I flirt with people, I don't really...

[She shakes her head a little. She doesn't want to get into her intimacy issues now. It doesn't matter anyway.]

I only want what you're comfortable with. Like, I'm super attracted to you, yeah, but I love you too much to want something you don't.

[She has to smile a little bigger when she says it again. Love.]

And I totally get the Elena thing. Like... it's fine, whenever you want to tell her. She was a big thing in your life.

... Can I really call you my boyfriend?

Okay. But if that changes at any point, you tell me.

[Even if he can't satisfy those needs himself, it's all about communicating things and seeing where this'll lead. If, in the end, their goals and needs differ too much - then they'll deal with that problem (and re-adjust their relationship) when the time comes. For now, he wants this. Whatever this is.]

I'm... not sure what I'll tell her. [He smiles, though it's a bit thin.] Mostly because I don't remember why we broke up to begin with.

[He never DID get the full explanation.]

If you want? I'm sure people're already wondering - but I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with the word. Not yet, on my end.

Hey, I don't have to use it. I can call you whatever. [A reassuring smile.] You're my vampire.

You're my person.

[Oh god, it's happening. She's getting weird and mushy. Abort.]

I'm sorry, I just turn into this super gross romantic sometimes.

Hey, I happen to like super gross romantics. [He scrunches up his whole face at her, tempted to smother her in kisses and yet - and yet that's Salvatore speaking. Stefan smiles at her, as if she's the only thing in the world.]

Never apologize for something like that. I promise, I'm sure I can get way worse.

If I was a competitive person, that would sound like a challenge.

[But the smile she gives him is relaxed, matching his. Settling in against his side, she unfolds her legs and pulls out her communicator.]

Now I'll have to work extra hard to keep up my sarcastic, bad-girl persona. I can't have people thinking their captain's gone soft.

[He reaches for his communicator too, for once in his life, rather than the diary that he usually pulls out.

A small snort, particularly as he hears 'gone soft.']

Somehow, I don't think that'll be too hard. Once we hit the ground running, they won't know what hit 'em.

[She laughs, just a short happy little cackle.]

God... Wait, what did you mean you think people have been wondering? Was I that obvious?

A neon sign would've been less obvious.

[He's so teasing, so he leans over to brush some of her hair out of her face.] Not that it was a big deal. ["Or anything."]

[With a dramatic, joking grown, Alex collapses back against the pillow.]

Yeeeah, I kind of already told Allen how I feel about you, and it turns out he told Clay and Ino. That's what I meant that day I told you not to listen to anything weird they said.

Wait, so they've known. For a month.

[He squirms, pulling his jacket tighter over him as if that'll hide him from the outside world better. Stefan was honestly talking about their CREW, but Allen and Clay too??]

That... that actually explains why Allen was acting so weird for a while.

[She reaches up to lay a comforting hand on his arm.]

Not the extent of it. Just that I had a thing for you, and it couldn't happen. But even though they helped me get a date, I couldn't go through with it. I didn't want what I thought I wanted.

Still. You promise, if you ever do want more, you'll tell me?

[He furrows his brows at her, out of worry this time rather than the usual sass that would accompany such an expression.]

I don't care that they know. It's just... when people hear that you're boyfriend and girlfriend, there's this expectation, and I'm not going to be able to live up to that.

Edited (now with better html) 2015-11-06 21:15 (UTC)

Yeah, I'll tell you.

[A lovingly exasperated smile.]

And it's not gonna matter to them. Like, that's our business anyway, so if anyone thinks it's weird then that's on those losers.

[Just for that, he leans in and gives her a light kiss on the cheek.]

Yeah. Those losers don't know what they're missing out on.

They really don't.

[She reaches to wrap an arm across his shoulders, and rests her chin on his shoulder.]

... I almost forgot this started out with me crying.

[He makes a slight humming sound as he glances over at her.]

You were pretty wigged out by your--["nightmares"] dreams. Even if it didn't end like this, I'd still be here.

[Just like he had been these past few months.]

Honestly? I'd been on edge too. I haven't slept this long since... well, in a long time.

Hey, sleeping is a gift. Welcome it.

[She gives a dramatic yawn, and stretches out her legs and toes.]

... The castle gave me pretty sick insomnia. I woke up with the sun every morning, and couldn't go back to sleep until it was dark. And then after I died, it wouldn't let me wear pajamas. So that's why I sleep so much here. I'm catching up on three years of no rest.

I'll try to.

[He makes a slightly displeased sound as he leans into her. Stefan closes his eyes, thinking of something - anything - that wouldn't remind him of that stupid castle.]

I'm sorry it was for something like that, and not... [Not what he'd been guessing. Still, he makes a mental note about the pajamas. Maybe the next planet would have something.] Just don't sleep the whole day away, okay?

I would never.

[She gives his shoulder a teasing nudge, then closes her eyes contently.]

It turns out I've got something pretty nice to wake up for.

[Holy shit that was the sappiest thing yet. She disgusts herself.]

[He lets out a laugh.]

Is that so? Maybe you should tell him more often.

[Kiss her, some small part of his brain's saying, and it's the part of his brain he furiously wants to beat down. Salvatore would kiss her, but Salvatore's not the only decision-maker.

So he takes a breath and listens for her heartbeat, and how soothing it is - and wow, for the first time in forever, his guard's completely down.

It's weird, letting every mental defense go - but it's worth it.]

[Alex grins, and then tugs him down gently so that she can get comfortable nestled up against his side.]

Yeah?

[She makes a production out of leaning over and cupping her hand around her mouth, as if she's about to whisper a secret.]

I guess you're alright and I sort of like you.

[It's taking every ounce of his willpower to keep his composure - his entire body's shaking, because God he's not going to lose it, he's way more collected than that and--

And he can't. He can't hold it in. His laughter's so warm and rich and loud that the poor souls across the hall probably heard it.]

Only sort of? In that case... [He wrinkles his nose, as if his smile weren't betraying how he felt] I guess you're alright too.

[She grins widely at hearing his laugh. Good lord, she would kiss him right now if she could. But with that ache for contact in her skin, she instead reaches down and slowly slides her hand into his. Just feeling his fingers between her own can be enough, and it is.]

... I love you. And I'm basically gonna say that all the time now that I can.

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