guardians } { of vampires and doppelgangers

[braveandstupid]

Elena: [and they're stretched out in bed and Elena doesn't want him to leave yet, but she isn't sure what to talk about either so she's just going to lay there tracing circles on his back]

Ben: [well he has a question, and it shows on his face that there is something on his mind but he doesn't want to ruin the moment]

Elena: [tips her head to the side a bit as she watches him] What?

Ben: Just trying to figure out all that crap Damon was talking about.

Elena: [okay. deep breath] Anything in particular?

Ben: Why do the Mikaelsons want... she called you a doppelganger?

Elena: On Mystic Falls there are these people called doppelgangers. Every five hundred years one pops up and we don't know why or how this happens, but ... I'm the current one.

Ben: But how is Katherine also one?

Elena: Katherine was the one right before me. And she got turned into ... we call them vampires, but other planets might have other words for them.

Ben: So she's what 500 years old?

Elena: Pretty much, yeah.

Ben: Well she looks good for 500. You going to look that good at 500 too?

Elena: [she laughs, before shaking her head] Vampires stop aging when they're turned. I am not a vampire, so I am going to get old and gray and probably be dead by the time I'm five hundred.

Ben: You and me both. But you still haven't answered my question.

Elena: Which one?

Ben: Why do the Mikaelsons want a doppelganger?

Elena: Because my blood has power. And Klaus likes having power.

Ben: What kind of power?

Elena: I don't have powers or anything. But my blood can be used in rituals.

Ben: [and he's still not getting it and just raises his eyebrow]

Elena: [deep breath] You know those spells Bonnie can do?

Ben: Yeah, the weird mystical life web stuff.

Elena: Right, well, if she put your blood into one of her spells, unless she was trying to find you or someone related to you, she probably wouldn't get much. If she puts mine into a ritual, she has way more power.

Ben: So the Mikaelsons want to do rituals?

Elena: To give themselves more power probably. I don't know what Klaus wants exactly, but he's been collecting doppelgangers for centuries. And when I popped up, he came for me, but Katherine paid a ravenger to get me off the planet and make sure I didn't come back.

Ben: And that's how you ended up with me and Dean.

Elena: Yep.

Ben: Huh.

Elena: And I haven't been back since.

Ben: Do you want to?

Elena: It's my home. [it's hard and it's complicated, but it's always been home, and she doesn't really know how to let go of that] My brother's still there.

Ben: Then we'll figure out a way to get you there.

Elena: [she shakes her head] It's too dangerous.

Ben: [ chuckles] I can handle danger.

Elena: You got caught by Stefan and Damon. They used you as bait. You get caught by Klaus, he won't see any value in you being alive - he'll just kill you to prove a point.

Ben: But now i know what I'm dealing with. If I had known, they wouldn't have gotten the drop on me.

Elena: [she shakes her head] No one survives going at Klaus. I'd rather be exiled and have you alive than try to force my way back home and have you be dead.

Ben: But what if you made him the one exiled?

Elena: And how would I do that?

Ben: You find a way to make the planet inhospitable to vampires.

Elena: That wouldn't just affect Klaus. So many people would lose their homes.

Ben: Other vampires?

Elena: [she nods] Not all of them are like Stefan or Damon or Klaus. Some of them are like Caroline. [a beat] Some of them are Caroline.

Ben: Caroline is a vampire?

Elena: Yeah. She got turned just before I left Mystic Falls.

Ben: So if they are old, maybe there's something different About them we could use instead that won't affect people like Caroline.

Elena: I don't know.

Ben: Well we got time to figure it all out.

Elena: Yeah, I guess. [she really ... is not interested in starting a war with Klaus]

Ben: [reaches up to touch her face] You still have a home, Elena. A family. You deserve it.

Elena: Jeremy can always leave Mystic Falls. Jeremy may not survive if I decide to start a war with Klaus.

Ben: And your home?

Elena: I can find a new one.

Ben: Yeah, i keep saying that too.

Elena: Or I can live without it. [sighs and rolls onto her back before looking up at him again] I can't live without my family.

Ben: Yeah, i know that feeling too. [rolls on his side] Do you want to use my ship to send your brother a message that can't be traced to you?

Elena: Maybe. Not for a bit, though. I'm not sure what Katherine has planned for Stefan and Damon, but I don't want to run the risk of screwing it up.

Ben: Well, when you do, just let me know.

Elena: I will. [pushes up to kiss him softly] Thank you.

Ben: For what?

Elena: For the offer. Most people wouldn't.

Ben: [smirks] You know by now I'm not most people.

Elena: I know. but it still catches me by surprise sometimes.

Ben: And you totally find it sexy too.

Elena: And then there's that ego to ruin it.

Ben: [laughs]

Elena: You were doing so well.

Ben: I can't help it. It's just part of the package.

Elena: Uh-huh. [sighs as she looks at the time] You should probably get back to your crew soon.

Ben: Yeah, I guess. [and he will get up and look for his pants] Anything I should know about before I head back to them?

Elena: [she shakes her head] The deal we made with Katherine didn't involve a later favor so you should be fine.

Ben: Good. And I think I have a few hours before this blood thing wears off.

Elena: So don't die and you'll be fine.

Ben: I will do my best. [and he will get dressed before sitting down to pull on his boots]

Elena: [and she will do the same with a robe, as she's probably just going to head to the shower]

Ben: So when do you want to meet up next?

Elena: I don't know. I have to do a little damage control. But I'll let you know.

Ben: [and he will think a moment] You know she killed them, right?

Elena: I figured, with the compulsion. But ... there's other stuff I have to address.

Ben: You know, you could ask Dean...

Elena: About what?

Ben: Figuring out how to deal with this stuff.

Elena: I already have. I'm not really sure if I like his methods.

Ben: Well, he can be a bit shoot first ask questions later.

Elena: Which isn't really my style.

Ben: But sometimes it's what's needed.

Elena: Well, in this case shooting them is only going to make them mad.

Ben: I still wish there was something i could do to help.

Elena: I know. But right now, this helps.

Ben: [and he will go over to her, all his clothes and weapons in place, and cup her cheek] Anytime. [and he will lean down to kiss her]

Elena: [kisses him back with a nod] I'll see you soon.

Ben: [and with that, he will head out]

Elena: [and she will go clean up]