out of the fire, into the frying pan

[prescind]

Who: stefan salvatore (prescind) + katherine pierce (manipulative)
What: wtfing at their surroundings, exploring, figuring stuff out
When: early september
Where: cellar door, cassandra, all around

Content Warnings: probably some language to start.

Comments

[manipulative]

Pleased by his response, she smiles and steps back into the spray, still facing and looking at him. Sometimes, Stefan knows exactly what's good for him. Her in his shirts is a blessing that she's happy to gift them both.

"To be fair, all of your shirts are my shirts." She lifts a shoulder innocently. "I just allow you to wear them."

She leans back into the spray and brushes her hands through her hair.

[prescind]

"So, are all your shirts my shirts?"

Stefan reaches and slides his fingers through Katherine's hair, getting the suds out of it. He smiles and then kisses the back of her head.

"Not that they'll fit me."

[manipulative]

She purses her lips and considers telling him no. All of her shirts are definitely not his shirts… but she thinks that's not very fun.

She hums, peering at him from over her shoulder. "They are, even if they don't fit. But that doesn't mean they can't be yours." What's hers is his—while he can't wear her clothing, he has a lot more than she's ever given anyone in her lifetime. She knows he knows that counts for something.

Turning around in the shower, she tilts her head back into the spray, keeping her gaze on him at the same time. Her lips curve up, widening. "Maybe they're shirts you can ask to come off any time you like."

[prescind]

"Oh, so you want to turn this into something that benefits you." He's not surprised. He's amused and ends up laughing a bit.

"And see, here's the thing about that though: if I ask for them back and you give them to me, you'll be naked, probably. But you'll also be down a shirt because I'd take them back."

So, ha ha. He wins either way.

[manipulative]

It's a temporary win, Mr Salvatore.

She enjoys the way he brightens. Katherine smiles up at him, wanting to press her fingers into his cheeks. She stops herself, though. Instead, she reaches out and presses a wet hand against his warm chest.

"I have a feeling you'll be giving the shirts back to me at my begging." She winks at him.

[prescind]

"You're very confident, Miss Pierce."

And Stefan knows she has every reason to be. He laughs though because he's not going to let her win that easily. He has to put up some kind of fight. Her hand presses down against his chest and he smiles, looking down.

"Oh, is that right? I'll be on my knees, asking you to take my shirts back?"

[manipulative]

"Well, I was thinking I'd be on my knees..." she bites her bottom lip and smiles, chuckling softly. "But I won't say no to you being on yours."

Katherine doesn't drop her gaze from his as she slowly slides her hand down his chest and to his belly, resting her fingers right at the crease of his hip. She doesn't go any further despite thinking about it. Teasing him after this incredibly strange and tiresome day feels like the treat she deserves.

[prescind]

"Oh, you're going to be on your knees asking for permission to use my shirts? Is that what I'm hearing?"

He doubts that's what she's going to do. But, he would absolutely like to see that sort of thing. He laughs, nodding his approval of that.

"I think you should definitely do that."

[manipulative]

Katherine scrunches up her face and shakes her head. "But you suggested something that sounded a lot more appetising."

Of course, she'd be happy to go down to her knees if it meant that Stefan fumbled and blushed furiously. But she's not going to do that immediately. Resting her hands on his bare hips, she sighs a little heavily.

[prescind]

"I did not suggest anything," Stefan tells her, tsking. He'd said something and she'd made an assumption. That wasn't very nice of her.

"I stated something that you could do and your mind ran away with what you thought I meant. Now, I think that's presumptuous on your part."

How naughty of you, Katherine.

[manipulative]

But he's surely sinking his claws into the idea, isn't he? He hardly seems upset that it was her suggestion at all. Katherine wonders if he feels silly for not being the one to suggest it.

"Well," she sighs dramatically, brushing her fingers absently against his chest, "maybe I can be persuaded to let my mind run again. Maybe even, you know..." she brushes her fingers against his hipbone, "do it."

[prescind]

"And I'm going to be the one to persuade you, aren't I?"

Stefan smiles at her, reaching for one of her hands and bringing it up and kissing each finger. He doesn't let himself look away.

"That's how it's going to go, hmm?"

[manipulative]

Oh, he's bringing out the romance. Katherine smiles, scrunching up her nose. While she loves those very rare opportunities where he talks dirty, she does love it when he romances her. It sends a little tingle down her spine.

Biting her bottom lip, she nods. "I think you're the only one who can. Unless you'd like me to pull some random off the street to convince me…?"

[prescind]

"I don't think a random person off the street is going to be able to do much more than irritate you."

Or maybe amuse her so it should probably be him. He smiles and reaches for one of her hands.

"What if I asked you nicely? Would that persuade you?"

[manipulative]

That's too true. No one can irritate her the right way like Stefan can, after all.

"You can try," she smiles. That may help. Stefan asking very nicely may end with her blushing, but it's a risk she's willing to take.

"You can always wash my back again," she scrunches her nose as she considers that, "but that might not help you get me on my knees."

[prescind]

Stefan laughs and gives his head a shake. He'll wash her back because he wants to wash her back but he's not surprised at her making it a little more difficult for him.

"And what would get you on your knees?"

[manipulative]

"And tell you the answer? Tsk." Katherine shakes her head, chuckling.

After all the time they've spent together, he should know by now some of her weaknesses. Granted, he's already naked, so that's one of her many Stefan-related weaknesses that are unavailable for him to wield as a weapon.

"It's called romancing someone, Stefan. Or, as I like to call it, seducing me."

[prescind]

"But, if you tell me the answer, then I can do whatever you want me to do. Isn't that a good thing?"

No, he knows what she wants. He wants him to guess what she wants, make her enjoy what he's doing. He chuckles.

"I think, in this relationship, you're better at seduction than I am. I might just bumble it all up."

[manipulative]

"Your bumbling is very seductive," she says. For her, it is. She's very aware that he's her Achilles heel on most days.

Stefan can breathe and she'll be interested. She likes that he tries. She likes that he gives it a go. He may not be confident in his abilities to woo, but she thinks it means something that he's caught her in his web.

She smiles at him and genuinely says, "I like that you try."

That's what she finds the most alluring.

[prescind]

Well, that's enough to make him smile. He reaches for her and brings her closer to him so he can kiss her forehead.

"I think you're both complimenting me and trying to get me to try right now."

He knows her game, he knows how she works.

"Am I right?"

[manipulative]

"You might be."

She smiles at him. He could kiss her forehead a few more times and she'd feel very romanced, but Katherine doesn't want to tell him that. He's not allowed any shortcuts or hints.

She arches her brow and presses her hands against his naked chest. "Don't I deserve to be seduced every now and then?"

[prescind]

"I didn't say you didn't. I just know that I'm not very good with seduction."

He was good with being sweet and sometimes cute but he wasn't very sultry and all. It's something he's been working on. So yes, he kisses her forehead again.

"You deserve everything."

[manipulative]

"Stefan," she chuckles. Fanning her fingers out against his chest, she shakes her head incredulously. This beautiful, silly boy still doesn't get it, does he?

"You exist." Looking up at him in admiration, she taps her fingers gently against his skin. "That's enough seduction for me."

And her everything, though, Katherine imagines that's a little too tooth-achingly sweet to say. She's getting better at it, the sweet endearments, her being romantic in the same way she was five hundred years ago.

[prescind]

"Wow, sweet nothings from Katherine. That's a rare thing."

He smiles though, reaching for her hands and bringing them up so he can kiss every single finger there before he laces his fingers with hers.

"I love you too. I don't know if I believe that me being alive is seduction enough but thank you."

[manipulative]

He's lucky he's captured her hands, because Katherine was getting ready to shove him gently. She shivers and blushes at him tending to her fingers. This is romance that she enjoys… and she likes that they're being gentle with one another after this evening's events.

She rolls her eyes. Of course, Stefan doesn't think that. But that's okay—she thinks she can make him see her way with a little persuasion.

Cocking her brow, she peers up at him. "Maybe I could convince you?" Her smile widens before she bows her head and gently kisses the slope of his shoulder.