fifty shades of stefan } { but his number came up and he was gone with the draft [1942]

[somanyadjectives]

After leaving New Orleans, without his brother, Stefan mostly sets about the task of blending in with the allied forces. He isn't bad at it - he's had many years of practice after all, and while none of them are a substitute for Damon, who knows him better than anyone, and had actually seen like he wanted to make amends and move forward instead of being trapped in the past, it's enough. It's being out among people and not feeling the need to manipulate or destroy them.

He feels like he's starting to feel like a person again. It's been a long time since he's felt something like that so he's trying to revel in it as much as he can - though not too much. Too much indulgence might make him forget the dangers that come when he forgets restraint and he never wants to become that person again.

He does, however, make frequent use of the various bars and officer's clubs that they visit on their way to ship out, hanging out and drinking with his friends and applauding loudly when the talent (usually girls) hits the stage in full swing. Most of the time the acts pass without notice, but one night he's in the middle of a bourbon when a very familiar voice takes the stage. His head picks up almost instantly, turning towards he stage with wide eyes as he takes her in.

"Diana?"

[Continued here]

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[diana_abel]

She leaned forward, lightly knocking her forehead against his temple. "There's courage in the attempt. Cowards rarely try."

But she didn't want to argue about it. Stefan had to find his own courage.

So she continued on.

"When are you shipping out? Tomorrow?"

[somanyadjectives]

"After the weekend," he says with a nod, grateful to change the subject. "I've said my goodbyes so now it's just a matter of getting on the boat and heading out to Africa." It's a big step, but it's one he needs to take. If it weren't for where he was going, he would almost be looking forward to it.

[diana_abel]

Diana smiled slightly. She thought Africa sounded very mysterious and exciting. It was a place so very far out of her reach. She could only rely on photographs and stories. Hopefully, Stefan would bring back even more stories.

Hopefully, he'd come back.

"Well," she said thoughtfully, "that doesn't give us much time, does it?"

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan plans to come back. He certainly doesn't want to end his life on the battlefield, if nothing else. He smiles a bit at the comment though, before nodding. "No, it does not. But then again, we never really do have much time, do we?"

[diana_abel]

She exhaled softly, trying to make a joke out of her genuine sadness at the reality of it. "True," she said, interlacing her fingers behind his neck. "But we certainly aren't boring."

Odd, by vampire standards. But never boring.

Diana gave him a gentle, little kiss. "But," she continued, "as a soldier, your wish is my command. I'm here to serve the troops."

[somanyadjectives]

He hums softly at that kiss, because that's one of the things he missed from their friendship, before pulling back a small smile. "Well, I hope you're not opposed to sharing a little luck with a man before he goes to war?"

[diana_abel]

Abruptly, Diana threw her head back, letting out a peel of delighted laughter. Was this the same deranged girl he'd run into back int he 1930s? Yes. That was the beauty of being what she was.

"Only you, Stefan Salvatore," she teased him. "Only you would think that I had much in the way of luck."

She nuzzled his chin, burbling with delight. "But whatever I have is yours."

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan grins a bit at her response. He knows that no one who lives on their side of the sun has much in the way of luck, but whatever can make them feel a little normal for a little while is worth it. So with that, he will lean in to kiss her soundly this time, one hand coming up to brush against her neck gently.

[diana_abel]

Her body responded instantly to his, like they hadn't been apart in...what? Ten years? It didn't matter. Diana had come to the conclusion that sharing your love with another person was natural.

Time would catch up with the idea, eventually.

But for the present, she leaned into the kiss, her fingers crawling up the back of his neck.

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan leans into the kiss and melts against her, ready to just enjoy their last night together for a while, and rekindle his relationship with someone he values highly. Almost as highly as he does Lexi. Diana keeps him on stable ground, or at least he tries, and he'll always be grateful for that.

[diana_abel]

It was a little bit funny that Stefan thought of Diana as stable. After all, there was the fact that she was quite mad.

And then there was the sudden, loud, and very angry banging on the door. "Miss Diana! The voice of the elder matron from downstairs. She didn't sound at all pleased. "Miss Diana! Am I to believe that you have company in there?"

Diana pulled out of the kiss, covering her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing. "Ears like a bat," she whispered to Stefan, not looking all that concerned that she was probably in trouble.

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan doesn't seem all that concerned either, and he glances over at her with a small smirk. "Want me to get rid of her?" he asks softly, not wanting to draw her matron's ire but not wanting to leave either.

[diana_abel]

There was, perhaps, the tiniest tinge of concern, somewhere in the back of Diana's mind. She could forgive, but forgetting was another matter. And the last time they'd been together, he'd been all too happy to rip someone's throat out.

But after a moment of internal debate, she decided she could probably stop him, if necessary.

It had to be a show of good faith. That was the only way they were going to move forward from what had happened before. So she nodded. "Please."

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan nods as he gets to his feet, before making his way to the door and popping the door open with a smile. He's still mostly in his uniform and he's quick to smile before making eye contact with the woman, quickly trying to compel her away.

"She's just giving a fond farewell to one of the boys going overseas. Don't you think you can give her a little privacy, just this once?"

[diana_abel]

She had to cover her mouth with both hands, to smother a giggle. It wasn't hard to guess what tactic Stefan had chosen. And she knew she shouldn't be laughing. Freewill was freewill, after all. But just the idea of the stern matron smiling and giving them privacy was just so...

...silly.

And, of course, under Stefan's compulsion, the elderly woman did, in fact, go a bit slack-jawed. "Of course. Sorry to have interrupted."

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan grins and response, before nodding. "Your country thanks you." And with that he will promptly close the door, holding a finger to his lips as he listens to the older woman retreat from the doorway before letting the laughter slip himself.

"I know it's a terrible thing to do, but sometimes it just makes things a lot easier."

[diana_abel]

Diana fell off the chair. It wasn't her most graceful moment, but she was just so delightedly amused that she made it look adorable, somehow. Of the many sins the two of them had committed with such an ability, it was perhaps the least objectionable.

Or so she'd believe, anyway.

More importantly, she could put any lingering doubts about his reform behind her. Not a drop of blood shed.

"You're still the cat's pajamas, Stefan."

[somanyadjectives]

"I could say the same of you, Diana," he says with a laugh as he goes to help her up. He wants until she's on her feet and steady before leaning in close again. "Now. Where were we?"

[diana_abel]

"Mmm...something about luck. And sending you off to war with a bang," she said, swishing her hips a little. "Does that sound right?"

Right or wrong, she was already snaking her arm around his shoulders.

[somanyadjectives]

He grins a bit at that, before nodding. "That sounds perfect to me."

[diana_abel]

"I wholeheartedly agree," she replied.

Before she kissed him again.

Hard.

[somanyadjectives]

And they give each other a great send off, before Stefan heads off to war. It's certainly a much better send off than he would have gotten otherwise.