I Never Look Away

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“Sometimes a person has to learn to make chances since circumstances change,” Damon shrugged as he looked at Michael and smiled gently. “That should make it less cramped, at least I would assume.”

“Trust me I know how that is, making up excuses so that people won’t push the issue if they think they’ve seen an injury. Luckily it’s easier to get away with it for us since we heal fairly quickly,” he offered to him. “Yeah,” he chuckled. “It helps take the edge off when it comes to the whole blood thing, some things aren’t very appealing but like anyone it’s all subjective. Coffee also helps keep our body temperature up and alcohol helps.”

“You’re right but I said them to you and frankly I’m not really up to making nice with everyone. It’s easier to keep most people at arms length which isn’t an excuse but I’d rather people hate me,” he smirked even if it wasn’t something he liked at all. It was just easier that way, easier to deal with everything when he didn’t have to really know he was disappointing anyone. 

The decision to tell Michael about what he’d experienced wasn’t a hard one but it didn’t come easily either, not with Stefan in the room. “It’s not just a promise to you, it’s a promise I made a long time ago. Because I know exactly what people like that would do to me, I’ve experienced it and frankly they’re one of the few I will not allow to threaten the place I reside. The last ones ended up having much of their hard work ruined in a fire, I’ve been hunting their descendants ever since. There’s only a few left now, they think it’s bad luck.” He heard the moment Stefan realized what he’d said, saw him watch him out of the corner of his eye but didn’t look at his brother. 

“You’re making me jealous with that invincibility you’ve got going,” Michael said. He had to wonder how many of their problems could have been avoided if they had fast healing. He looked down at his hand, the mangled mess he’d grown somewhat fond of. Maybe not - it was a lesson that was hard learned but too valuable. He couldn’t give that up.

He snorted. “I’ve been there. You’re looking at the Forever Screw Up of Roswell.”

He didn’t mind it. He was the could have been, but never, and it kept people, humans, at arms length. He never had to explain anything, never had to defend a habit. Never had to discuss why he wouldn’t do normal things that humans did. He had Max and Isobel - that was all that mattered.

“maybe if you pet him, teddy would follow you.” alex suggested and ran his head over fangs’ head, smiling softly at the wolfdog who started smiling at the pet. “he absolutely loves being pet.” that part was geared towards teddy with a smile. “he’s a protector like baymax.”

“Isn’t he working? We don’t pet working dogs. Isn’t that right, Teddy Bear?” Michael asked. With how often he brought Teddy along with him to the ranch, it was a well learned rule. Teddy nodded firmly, cheek pressed against his leg, chubbing up the apple on his face. “Oooh, like Baymax. Isn’t that cool? We love Baymax.”

“down.” alex commanded and smiled softly when fangs did what he commanded before looking at michael. “of course i did, you promised me carrot sticks and homemade ranch dressing.” he chuckled and crouched down to get to teddy’s level. “hi teddy, this is fangs. he’s really nice and likes kids. if daddy said it’s okay, would you like to meet him?”

“Hi there, Mr. Manes and Mr. Fangs,” Michael said, gently prompting Teddy, but the child stuck his face in the back of his knees. He laughed a bit, and said in a more grown up tone. “Well, it’s good to see you.”

Michael got down on one knee. “You know, I bet Fangs is as shy as you, huh. Do you want to say hi real gentle? It might be nice.”

“come on boy, let’s go find you a new friend.” alex chuckled as he ran his fingers through fang’s fur, playing one of his ears before walking further into the park and scanned the area, eyes landing on two sets of curly heads on a bench. he smiled softly and made his way towards them.

“guerin.” he called out, fist by his side to signal fangs to sit next to him. 

Michael stood back up as he heard his name, and faced Alex. He had one of the biggest dogs Michael had ever seen trudging on by with him. Teddy gasped, holding on to Michael’s legs with little fingers curled into his jeans. Michael knew what that gasp meant: big doggy, daddy. Big doggy.

[ text; ] you got a point there. sometimes homemade isn’t good but i trust you, it’s probably the best!

alex had been texting michael the entire time, getting to know the new michael and he definitely fell in the orbit again. saturday rolled around and alex is excited to take fangs out to the park and introduce him to michael and teddy.

alex has fangs right by his side when he entered the park, looking around for michael.

Michael could make all the arguements in the world about not sticking his kid with some dumb, too thick Hidden Valley ranch, but honestly it was more of the price than anything else. He could make it himself, so why not?

He trudged himself and Teddy to the park, a lunch box stuffed with an ice pack, carrot sticks, and his ranch dressing, along with a few other snacks Teddy might request along the way. He set up on the bench, but quickly Teddy sat on his feet, hugging Baymax to his chest, and staring. Michael pet his shy boy’s head. “In a little I’ll help you swing, okay? Do you want to go and play?”

[ text; ] homemade ranch dressing? oh i’m most definitely there.  [ text; ] see you then. don’t be a stranger. text me or call me any time, yeah?

[ text; ] trust me guerin, you won’t be able to resist that manes face. [ text; ] best looking one of us all. [ text; ] saturday before 11 sounds good and they better be good carrot sticks.

alex could tell there was something more michael wanted to say but couldn’t and he just can’t ask him, not when he just got back to roswell.

[ text; ] only if you trained them properly and introduce them safely. we did it with my eldest nephew when fangs was young and he’s obsessed with the kids, always careful around them. he’s technically my service dog too.

[ text; ] oh yeah, you’ve got a point there. [ text; ] max, you are the most interesting thing about my school years, i noticed everything. [ text; ] he’s a wolfdog. my niece named her and he wouldnt respond to anything else but fangs. had no choice

[ text; ] never seen you take a sick day from school ever but of course, as kids we were invincible. [ text; ] yes, yes you have guerin. [ text; ] we can test it out saturday. fangs is very trained around kids, he does well with greg’s kids.

[ text; ] i wasn’t thinking fancy. i was actually thinking blanket, a hill under the night sky but that can be for another night. [ text; ] but a small hang out at the park does sound good. uh i know you never get sick since i’ve known you but is teddy allergic to pet dander? or possibly you? [ text; ] i ask because i have a dog that would love the park.

“roswell makes anyone tired.” alex replied with a sarcastic chuckle and turned his head to look down at his milkshake. “isobel did amazing, make sure you tell her that. reunion a major success, or what i’ve seen. i guess? i don’t lnow, i left after our conversation.” he mentioned with a shrug.

Damon raised an eyebrow at Max and Isobel then looked back at Michael. “Sure, soup is soup but some people get weird about left overs,” he chuckled. “I would assume that as long as you have what you need it shouldn’t matter the size of the kitchen or the location.” That was something he would judge them for and not feel guilty about it.

He frowned as he watched Michael and focused his hearing on trying to see if he could hear anything when he breathed. “Then it’s a good thing I have an interest in the medical field,” he smiled. “I think I’ll leave those to you and stick with regular alcohol,” he admitted. Despite being a vampire he’d learned to not speak about his own feeding habits that were related to what he was since it didn’t really go over well with most people.

“He and Stefan will get along well in that respect though it makes me feel sorry for us in having to deal with it,” he chuckled.

“I know I haven’t given you a reason to trust me but the last thing I would ever do is put you and them, not to mention the rest of us, in a position where we become some fucked up science experiment for the depraved,” he said. “If anyone says anything…well the threats I’ve been lobbing at you will be turned on them and it’ll look like a painful accident.” It was one of the things that he was passionate about because he knew what it was like to be used as a science experiment simply because he was no longer human. He’d be damned if he let it happen to anyone else under his watch.

“It does,” he nods. “Look, I’m not good with apologies but I do apologize for my past behavior and for being suspicious of you and your friends and your reason for being here.” 

“Is once joked about turning my trailer into her influencer, instagram hub,” Michael chuckled. “But when it comes to cooking she’s used to stretching out. Thank god Max and Is should be finding apartments soon.”

He titled his head to the side, appraising Damon for a moment. He pushed his curls out of his face, trying to get a short reprieve. “You know, we usually say we’re latrophobic. Or Isobel convinces doctors to leave us alone, because the idea of doctors... and our systems? It’s a bit terrifying. Don’t worry, Max makes a normal margarita as well. I guess it means you can ingest foods that aren’t blood?”

He forced out a small breath. They didn’t even know how different their bodies were to humans. Whatever Damon thought he knew might not even apply to them. He shook his head. “You know, it’s not really me you should be apologizing to. What you said isn’t anywhere near the worst thing I’ve ever heard, and you’re not the scariest, neither. It’s Isobel you should be saying sorry to.”

“I’m sure it also helps when everyone is on the same continent,” he mused, letting some of his own story slip in in a hint. “I’m glad you’ve found each other before you were unable too,” he nodded. “I should apologize for being so forward and pushy.”

“Same state. Well, for the most part,” Michael said. “I’m guessing you had a harder time? You’re alright. I could push you back if I had wanted to.”