[ elena's eyes slide shut, the shuddering in her chest growing calm and steady once his mouth brushes against hers. she rises on her tiptoes, the way she has many, many times before, fingers curling into his wrists with a gentleness she thought she would lose the moment she lost what it meant to be human. and she finds that it isn't true. it's never the same. it hasn't been the same since the beast's teeth tore into her flesh.

it's right here with him, in between them. she presses so much closer to him. lingering.

his voice cuts off and her jaw locks to keep it from quivering, a lone tear spilling down her cheek. she is furious and heartbroken and sad. she hates teleios so much, sometimes, and yet she could never regret it. she would have never met john otherwise. ]

I know what you're worried about.

[ elena wouldn't need to read his mind to know it. to know john. she leans her cheek into his hand, placing a reverent, loving kiss to the heel of his palm. ] I won't make another deal. I meant that. [ her tearful eyes lift to meet his. ] But he can't stay here. We have to get him out.

[ somehow. ]