—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
Damon received the confirmation he searched for, although he knew he'd maybe overdone it a little by the fright she tried to mask but couldn't; was he to blame though, after that confession and her previous provocations? As shown by his behaviour already more than once, he wouldn't dare to actually harm her so scaring her a bit was a given method. The brunette's question about his decision was left unanswered, his eyes and mind focused on the staring person, trying to read what he could possibly want; trying to stare him off the same time with the deadliest possible look the vampire was capable of. Damon sensed the level of Katherine's fear in the moment her hand landed in his, her words additionally confirming. Also that told him that she didn't have an idea of who that person was either, giving him more reasons to worry. His hand softly pressed hers in attempt to calm her a little. ❝We'll find out.❞ He told, sending her a glance by the corner of his eyes before he began walking in direction of the man; the hand holding hers behind his back to let her walk behind him, acting as a protective shield for her — aware that it wasn't an option to leave her standing there, just in case that it's been an actual enemy and wasn't alone. The seriousness was written all over his face and accompanied his walk, yet his hold on her hand was soft, exuding a sense of calmness and safety. Observing how the male's eyes tore away and moved on the woman approaching him, Damon gave it a moment longer to see how the situation turned out. He visibly relaxed as both of them walked away, catching on how the obvious admirer got blamed for staring at Katherine previously. The Salvatore slowed his pace of walking and stepped aside, revealing her as an amused smirk formed on his lips despite his jealousy for her. ❝I guess you found yourself a fan.❞ He commented as his head turned to face Katherine, hoping that his assumptions were correct and not some kind of conspiration of possible enemies. Yet the amusement was quickly replaced by seriousness, a short glance thrown at their hands before turning his head to the front and hiding his eyes from her. ❝And regarding your previous question, I believe I already said I'd help.❝ Damon couldn't believe that these words left his lips, another time agreeing on helping her while having the opportunity to decline and kick her out even by her own offer — his priorities laid bare and with that she was able to collect more information on his feelings he unwillingly kept revealing although displaying an act of attempted coldness.

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Yet Damon didn't announce his agreement nor disagreement and didn't even question anything that might be of interest for him; not granting her the pleasure of an answer. Instead his hand reached out and lifted the pile of clothes out of her hold, ever so slightly brushing her arm, subliminally craving a touch, probably due to the memory that successfully soothed his hatred. ❝Come on.❞ He told supported by gesturing with his head in direction of the checkout, intentionally not delivering more information on what the next move was — kicking her out or not. Turning on his heels, Damon instantly noticed a pair of eyes glued on both of them, probably someone whose view he previously blocked as the brunette meant to draw maximum attention on her. As he started heading to the checkout, it took him only a few steps to confirm his assumption; the eyes hadn't left her at all. His reaction reflected once more the well-known possessiveness; jaw clenched and blue eyes stared back deadly at the male figure, ready to kill if necessary, although he surely didn't want to escalate things like that, else he'd prove even further that he still loved her.

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—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
Damon observed Katherine collecting the clothes she chose, unwillingly landing with his eyes repeatingly on the top that heatened things up between them; every time a slight feeling of regret washing over him, uncertain if it was for getting in that situation or not giving into his cravings. He only nodded to her reply, moving his eyes back onto her and sinking into the deep silence that surrounded them. It wasn't awkward, rather uncomfortable after their past conversations. Katherine provoked his curiosity with her confession, Damon's eyes narrowed until she mentioned what exactly she'd lied about; the hundred options he thought of during that small amount of time turned down as none of them was correct. The blue eyes moved on the wall, not being able to bear another look at her, cussing himself for his own naivety. He was certain that there was more than the simple need of protection at the moment she showed up, yet the more time he spent with her, the more he genuinely tried to believe that for once she told the truth and wouldn't use him anyhow. As she spoke again, his eyes instantly landed on her, his attention on maximum. Disappointment and anger flooded his system, such of a kind that only Katherine could achieve. The Salvatore's distrust visible by the way he creased his face into a unsatisfied and disappointed frown, almost showing a hint of judgement. But where did Katherine's honesty come from? Was that an attempt to gain his trust after the stunt she pulled? Or rather an attempt to manipulate him by telling him a small part of the truth, that she needed him for more than just protection, but lied about the rest? It wouldn't be the first time she wrapped him around her finger to use him, after all. ❝How generous of you.❞ The vampire commented sarcastically on the choice being his, bitterness accompanying his words audibly as he strode forward determined, intimidatingly even. Barely any distance was left between them, Damon building up an intense stare in her eyes, reading her, analysing if there's been more to that. Yet her words kept ringing in his mind, he couldn't tell the purpose of her hint, if it was to appease what he felt, or if to remind him that she didn't ever force him to anything he didn't want in their past; whatever it was, it worked. One of many memories present in front of his eyes of how Katherine fed on him; only now acknowledging how gentle she must've been for him to enjoy the danger of getting drained and fully trusting her, while he was pretty much in the same position she found herself in recently, just a pathetic human that couldn't defend themselves of such danger. Not a single muscle flinched as he searched for a confirmation or rejection of his belief in her eyes, not daring to miss any detail he could read which weren't many but considering that Katherine spilled the truth in first place for whatever reason, he decided to believe her, for now at least.

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—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
Judged by Katherine's reaction to his answer, she wasn't exactly happy with it. Damon couldn't exactly tell what she possibly wanted to hear from him but obviously not what he told. Should he feel bad about it? In some way it was the truth, with a complex background he didn't fully understand himself any longer but it was the truth; he was loyal. He didn't get much time for finger-pointing, receiving a reply to his own question. Damon's teeth pressed together at Katherine's reply, unsatisfied and even mad about it. He warned her, yet the only thing she did was to rephrase the word frustration. The rhetorical question being the cherry on top; she really made it hard not to get the desire to kill her, especially coming from their habit of occasionally snapping eachother's neck. He couldn't contradict anything, the given answer actually valid in context of their game, yet not enough of a truthful answer for him and she was aware of that. The reply was left uncommented by Damon and with that obviously triggered Katherine to push it further; leaving him distracted by the sudden near and touch on his chest, just to feel his blood boil the next moment she opened her mouth. Her words didn't rise disappointment, he knew how little truth hid behind them by everything she revealed lately, not a single sentence forgotten, especially the ones filled with rage. The fire burning inside him was fuelled with pure anger for her decision to attempt to cover up the insufficient reply she'd given by blaming him for diving in that topic. Eventually enough weaknesses and emotions were shown — it was obviously time to reconstruct the wall of coldness she demolished. His jaw relaxed and facial expression eased, instead his hand formed a tightly pressed together fist, pushing every bit of anger into it in attempt to keep the caused emotions under control. ❝I wouldn't ask if I didn't want an answer, would I?❞ He retorted with a decent head tilt. ❝Although who are you to follow rules, right?❞ Damon questioned somewhat accusatory, hinting on her mantra that she broke for their game, yet still didn't play rightfully. As much as he was busy with not displaying anything that brewed inside of him, his hand almost cramping by the pressure he created, he could swear that he caught a glimpse of something far unknown in Katherine's eyes. His eyebrows furrowed of confusion and curiosity as blue eyes watched her walk away, the wondering enough to unconsciously open the previously formed fist; THIS wasn't a usual Katherine experience, she almost seemed to feel bad about something, if there was any possibility of that.

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—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
With his back leaned against the wall a thousand thoughts swirled in Damon's head, the cold touch on doing wonders in calming him down from his moment of weakness. Although it wasn't long until his thoughts got interrupted by the rattling sound of a curtain and steps approaching him, his eyes lifted to see a determined Katherine; the room instantly filling with tension again. The uncertainty about what'd follow filling his mind and replacing the previous monologues, although no wonder shown on his face. That was until she urged for the reason of his recent rejection, probably supposing due to how much of a struggle that decision was to him, that it wasn't because of Elena. Heavily Damon swallowed, his sight lowering to nearly the ground to allow himself to consider his options; skip the question and offer room for even more assumptions about his feelings, or reveal the truth as much as the situation allowed. Yet while considering, he tried to understand Katherine's reaction, such a determination for a rejection? Naturally no one liked rejections but it wasn't the first one to her, considering how the previous one was just that morning and didn't cause such a range. ❝Because I'm not willing to break my morals.❞ The Salvatore eventually spoke, his eyes lifting and immediately finding hers before he continued; ❝because I'm loyal and I'll always be.❞ His statement wasn't fully true, by everything he felt for Katherine he already broke his moral, yet that was something he concealed, holding onto the lie of not feeling anything for her just as he held onto hiding her, that much that he hadn't pronounced her name a single time ever since they were in public and someone could catch on their conversation. The reasoning for his morality part of the charade he displayed while in reality his heart and with that also his loyalty belonged to Katherine and nobody else. The eye-contact in addition to his words could almost be read as a confession — the words meant for his moral, yet were subliminal directed to the brunette. Wouldn't there only be the dilemma he got himself into; keeping up a relationship he no longer was fond of and hiding his true feelings behind the facade of the very same relationship, afraid of getting hurt again, while in the same time he wasn't certain that there wasn't something lingering in Katherine for him as well judged by her recent behaviour. But was it a risk he was willing to take? In the worst scenario, he'd get hurt and lose the last will that kept him tamed — the feeling of being loved and appreciated. The only way to find an answer to that was do dig deeper and smarten up. ❝Why that reaction? Why do you care about the reason?❞ Damon questioned, giving it a shot. His eyes stared in hers deeply, desperately trying to pull an answer out of them. ❝—and don't you say frustration. That looks different.❞ The words were a warning, knowing that she might use that card to get herself out without wasting a pass on that question.

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—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
As Katherine eradicated the reminding distance and her hands placed on his body Damon's breath stuck in his lungs, the last drop of resistance fully dried. His eyes gleamed of desire as he almost gave in, her words surprisingly considering in a moment he hadn't expected. Damon's chest rose heavily as his heart sped up, eyes sinking lower and immediately getting trapped by her lips while in the same time her words kept on echoing in his mind as if to reason with him. The inner fight within him taking place for another time, leaving him unsure if he should be grateful for Katherine's warning words or not. He couldn't wrap his mind around what was wrong and right; the past hours, the feelings she digged up, this disguise that messed with him more than he'd have expected, and on the other side the relationship he was in, stealing his brother's girl after getting his heart broken by Katherine. The raven-haired had enough reasons to feel guilty, not only to Elena for giving Katherine shelter in first place just to fall in love with her again — or rather realize that he'd been lying to everyone about his feelings to the youngest doppelganger, starting with himself, that everything he believed to feel for her wasn't meant but rather redirected, seeking for consolation for his broken heart; but mainly he felt guilty for breaking his morals by emotionally cheating and continuing to lie his way through, driven to a point in which he'd almost fully crossed the line. It wasn't an easy step for Damon, fighting his cravings for his morals and doing the right thing, although dubious if right was the correct word to describe his actions after everything that had already been done. Heavily he swallowed as he forced his eyes to lift to hers, one of his hands rising and placing on top of hers on his neck, hesitant to move. ❝I can't do this.❞ The words were forcefully pressed out of his mouth as he eventually removed the brunette's hand with his, the frustration accompanying every breath and every so tiny move. The Salvatore suffered by his own decision but it was the only one he could live with, eventually glad that it was on his hands, despite of how much both of them craved eachother. ❝Sorry.❞ The word left his lips imprudently as he took a step back and turned his back to her, the apology along with his previous reply revealing how the reason for his behaviour wasn't anywhere near Elena, if counted together correctly. For a few seconds his eyes shut, taking the time to collect himself. ❝I'll be over there.❞ Damon gestured with his head to a wall slightly angled from the cubicle, not daring to sit across her, unaware if he'll be able to make a cut again if needed. Another step forward was made, the weight on his shoulders unbearable as he turned and closed the curtain, the possessiveness over her still present, although his eyes hid from Katherine as if he'd done a mistake. Quickly his feet dragged him to the wall, getting in as much distance as possible.

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—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
Katherine's reply to his dare almost stopped him in his tracks, her direct question being something between an offer and a challenge; fortunately for Damon he'd already reached the couch and wasn't in close range to her, otherwise he surely wouldn't be able to refuse that option. The moment his torso turned to face her again to sit down, was the moment that captured that much of his attention that he was prevented of doing anything else than staring at her, even sitting on the couch. He stood there, motionless, his eyes scanning every millimetre of exposed skin as if he'd never seen it before, following every so small leading move she made. The vampire couldn't do else than to undress her with his eyes, his mind immediately taking him further and imagining what he'd do to her; his teeth sinking deeply inside of his lower lip in reaction, nearly drawing blood. He registered her voice but it was unknown what Katherine spoke in that moment, only seconds later he could comprehend the pronounced words, yet couldn't give an answer to that. The realisation slowly sinking in on how she put on a show for him, a show that too many eyes besides his were part of. Damon strided towards her again, the steps filled with same determination as the previous time, yet for another reason. Eyes hungrily roaming over her, giving her an idea of how much he wanted her without any possibility to hide or prevent it. Yet his walk stopped in the frame of the dressing room, taking every of his strength to commit as a shield and block every pair of curious eyes that sent glances at Katherine, instead of giving in to his desires. His possessiveness over her on full display, not wanting anybody to see his Katherine. ❝The—❞ The Salvatore's voice cracked after only bringing a single word upon his lips, trying to eventually give an answer although the honest answer would be none of them. Quickly he cleared his throat, not feeling even a bit of embarrassment for his cracked voice, still occupied with the imaginations that had taken place in his mind. ❝The red one.❞ It was a decision he made without taking a glance for the tiniest moment at any of the options, unable to tear his eyes off her. He was aware that through the small distance he created again, there'd be way more struggle to keep his calmness, the self-control that was barely as thin as a hair after the past hours filled with sexual tension. ❝Or maybe none.❞ The suggestion left Damon's lips nearly in a whisper, his eyes lifting and finding hers as he took some additional steps, almost closing the distance fully.

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—ᴅᴀᴍᴏɴ
Eyebrows furrowed surprised and even curious at Katherine's reply, the Salvatore truly didn't expect to hear anything in return as clearly emotions caused by the memory were speaking for him a moment ago. The surprise was quickly overriden with tightly pressed together teeth in reaction to her words, every single one of them cutting deep and leaving him unsure if the not fully died down anger built up again or it was pure disappointment that he felt. At the blame of how she'd in fact told him that she loved him, he was sure of what he felt — anger. She couldn't be serious about the meaning of "I love you" post-coital; it's literally the same as a thank you; and as Damon couldn't remember another time he's heard it, it's been the same as if she didn't say it, or at least not mean it. He wanted to counter, but not only didn't he get the chance to because she kept on going, but also she needed to pull Stefan into the conversation which for once was contextual fine, yet it was still in such a mocking manner that for the fraction of a second the grip on her throat unconsciously tightened. The brunette's moment of honesty visibly relaxed his facial expression when he processed what she told, eyes shortly closed in attempt to hide the pain written in them, caused by getting to know just now. There were too many details Damon learned only so late, too late to do anything about it. Only as Katherine stopped talking he detected how fast her heart beat, leaving him wondering if she was that angry or was nervous that she revealed more than she probably planned to by her own fault. The question didn't receive an answer, afraid that it'd lead him to even more revelations if he dared to drop a single accusation. Just by her direct hint he acknowledged again that he had the hold of her life, the sexual tension distracting him enough that he'd nearly forgotten about it. ❝Killing you would be too easy.❞ Damon answered, obviously not giving a truthful reason for his uncontroversial decision, although she surely must've known that ending her life wasn't his goal there. Eyes moved onto his hand and the grip on her throat loosened, allowing her to breathe and move freely, as much as it was possible with him standing as close, yet instead of the hand dropping to his side, it lifted to her face and gently caressed her chin with his thumb. ❝After all you've got a game to lose.❞ He commented as he tore his eyes from following his thumb and peeked lower, giving the top she tried on a short scan before eventually returning to the view of her eyes. He couldn't tell himself if that comment was a reminder on the game itself, a way of telling her that he fairly aimed for her to be gone although he didn't, or a reminder for himself that he'd soon enough get at least a small satisfaction of his craving by granting Katherine's victory — and with that only needed to resist for some more, if resisting her would only be so easy.

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