Dimitri:

I didn't know how to react when I felt Damon's presence in the dungeon. I hoped I was mistaken, but I knew I wasn't; his aura was unmistakable. Damon and I haven't seen eye to eye since he beat me up and had me thrown in here. I should have known Clara was the only one who could convince him to come.

The guards opened the cell bars and placed a chair inside. Damon sat down, and as soon as he was settled, a heavy silence fell between us.

"You look like ass," he said, shocking me. I stared, wide-eyed, then chuckled.

"When guilt eats away at you, it's hard to think about yourself," I explained, and we fell silent again. What could I say? Apologizing would only anger him further.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth about Aurora? You let me believe she was right and you weren't. Why?" He asked. I knew this question was coming, but it still surprised me that he was initiating the conversation. The Damon I knew would stare until I broke, but he wasn't trying to intimidate me. He seemed genuinely ready to talk.

"I loved Aurora, despite how messed up she was. I also felt you genuinely cared for her, and I didn't want to ruin that. You barely spoke to anyone else back then—Luca, Aurora, and I were the only ones. No matter what you think now, she was once your friend, and I didn't want to take that away. I know it was wrong. I thought she could change, but she only got worse," I said. He stared, lips pursed.

"That's no excuse," he said harshly, making me flinch.

"I also felt you wouldn't believe me. Everyone saw Aurora as an angel, including you," I added. He frowned.

"From what I heard, you had proof, yet you didn't tell me. You always seem to have my best interests at heart, yet you kept it from me for selfish reasons. You thought you could make her love you by keeping her secret, right?" he asked. I frowned.

"Damon…"

"I don't need you to confirm it; I already know the truth. I wouldn't have cared if you wanted Aurora. I never cared for her like everyone assumed. All you had to do was talk to me. Even with your stupid plan with Clara, if you'd just discussed it, things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand." His voice grew louder with each word.

"You weren't exactly easy to talk to, Damon. Do you think I never tried? You never listened, or maybe you didn't care enough. I've tried countless times. What more could I do but act on my own?" I asked.

"There were countless things you could have done."

"What else could I have done, Damon?!" I screamed, my frustration exploding. Damon seemed shocked, but instead of yelling, he smiled.

"We're finally getting somewhere. Just because I don't act like I listen doesn't mean I don't hear you. All you have to do is speak, Dimitri. Why do you think Luca and I are so close? He speaks his mind and makes me listen. I've ignored him at times, but he never stops trying to get his message across. I know I was difficult in the past, and we can skip over Aurora—I've dealt with that—but I can't so easily move past this situation with Clara. You knew she was pregnant, yet you used her as bait," he muttered through clenched teeth, anger evident on his face.

"I knew he wouldn't hurt her…"

"Bullshit! He's a hunter; he kills our kind. You had no guarantee she wouldn't be hurt, but you didn't care. You put my wife and child's life in danger," he said. I frowned.

"All I wanted was to help you. I've been tracking hunters since I left, and I had a whole team; we wouldn't have let anything happen to…" Before I could finish, Damon punched me and grabbed my collar.

"You're really pissing me off with your lack of remorse," he muttered. I sighed.

"I regret that Clara was taken from me, and I know I was wrong to take her, knowing she was pregnant and deceiving her, but I don't regret trying to help you. You're my brother, even if you don't see me as one, and I'll always have your best interests at heart. If I'd known she would be hurt, I never would have taken her," I murmured, looking into his eyes.

"If you really cared about my best interests, you'd know Clara is the most important person in the world to me, and I'd gladly die to save her. Putting her in danger is one of the worst things you could do," he said. I pursed my lips.

"I didn't know how much she meant to you when I made that plan. I care for Clara now, and I'd never put her life in danger again. I know my mistakes, and I wish you'd give me a second chance to make amends," I said. He hummed, slowly releasing my collar and straightening up.

"You'll have to do a lot to make it up to me, but you can get there. You're free from the dungeon, but don't go near my wife until I say so," he declared, then paused as he was about to leave the cell. "I appreciate you looking out for me. Maybe after everything is settled, we can work on our relationship. I really want my brother back." He left, and I couldn't stop the wide smile and tears that followed.

"Thank you," I whispered.