Expired Nepenthe: 1. Verbal || The Vampire Diaries || Damon/Jeremy || PG
Damon likes to think that after spending over a hundred years on this godforsaken planet, he’s be a master of reading body language, especially since his main occupation kind of depends on it. However, while some people are like reading a restaurant menu, others are like trying to get through a Michel Foucault essay. Jeremy is neither. His body language isn’t reading material, it’s a conversation.
So Damon notices when Jeremy’s back stiffens whenever he walks into a room. And he definitely notices when Jeremy’s usually warm doe eyes harden, even while the previous warmth lingers under the surface.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Damon sidles up alongside Jeremy at a yet another forgettable Founder’s gala. The vampire’s hand runs along Jeremy’s back, earning him a withering look, but he doesn’t move away. ‘Interesting’, Damon mentally notes. Jeremy allows his hand to rest there for a full minute before shaking his head as if in disbelief and walking away.
Damon scoffs, “what, not even a ‘go away’?” No response; he gives chase, following Jeremy through the crowd.
“Well now, I’m just going to assume then that you don’t want me to go away,” Damon reasons, “and if that’s not the case-”
He’s silenced by the look Jeremy throws over his shoulder then. It’s a calculating, wary look that’s just short of suggesting he’s about to turn around. Damon loses his own easy smile, frowning slightly and slowing to a stop, losing Jeremy to the crowd. Later in the night, he’ll make an offhand remark to Elena: “Your brother’s quite the conversationalist.” Elena will throw on the smile she always uses when she’s humouring his sarcastic quips and he’ll privately delight in the fact that he was being serious.