[damon does not expect it to absolve him of all the things that he has done here. it's not why he shows it to her in the end, but he shows it to her because he has missed her too, because he wants to give her something good instead of constantly destroying everything around him, destroying things for her too.
he loves her so much, and he knows that doesn't ever stop him from being what he is, doing what he does when he is hurt or upset.
it's not much, and it isn't even something he did, but he is showing it to her. he can feel the shift between them and the difference so there is not the distance that has been there all along. he's missed elena (his very best friend) more than he can say, and he doesn't know how long he has on this kidnappy ship and certainly does not expect them to be able to stop the inevitable. he'll go back one day. he'll be dragged through that door back to that hell and he is so bitterly and intensely aware that he deserves it anyway, but it is not on her to figure out. it is not on her to stop.
his voice is soft when he speaks again over the rim of his glass.]
You're welcome.
[and that is a genuine, human sound too. she's always brought that out of him. decades later, it doesn't change. decades later, it doesn't. she's still his best friend beyond everything else.]
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he loves her so much, and he knows that doesn't ever stop him from being what he is, doing what he does when he is hurt or upset.
it's not much, and it isn't even something he did, but he is showing it to her. he can feel the shift between them and the difference so there is not the distance that has been there all along. he's missed elena (his very best friend) more than he can say, and he doesn't know how long he has on this kidnappy ship and certainly does not expect them to be able to stop the inevitable. he'll go back one day. he'll be dragged through that door back to that hell and he is so bitterly and intensely aware that he deserves it anyway, but it is not on her to figure out. it is not on her to stop.
his voice is soft when he speaks again over the rim of his glass.]
You're welcome.
[and that is a genuine, human sound too. she's always brought that out of him. decades later, it doesn't change. decades later, it doesn't. she's still his best friend beyond everything else.]