deercountry | ( CLOSED ) I JUST WANT YOU FOR MY OWN.

[ while stefan's been busy brushing the snow out of aleksander's snow-white fur, katherine's been occupied with something more important. outside on the front porch, she's very sneakily strung up some mistletoe from the rafter and hidden it in a place where stefan won't be able to see it if he was to come outside, but would be able to spot it if he was to tip his head back while swinging on the porch.

laying out a thick blanket on the porch's seat, she fluffs the pillows before she drops down into it. she has another blanket to pull up over her legs. wearing a thick coat with her hair trapped beneath a scarf, katherine waits outside for stefan to bring her the belated hot chocolate she's been stomping her feet about.

when the front door opens, she doesn't peer over her shoulder at him. smiling, she sighs and feigns annoyance. ]

How hard is it to brush the snow from a dog's coat, Stefan?

[ honestly! ]

He was covered in it!

( plus, he'd started rolling around and shaking himself dry and it had gotten snow everywhere so he'd been cleaning that up too. but, he's here now and taking in her handiwork. )

What've you been doing out here?

Freezing as I wait for you.

[ she was up to nothing nefarious!

looking over her shoulder, she smiles at him. the tip of her nose is a little pink, but katherine doesn't shiver underneath her layers. ]

And my hot chocolate.

You know, we can sit inside. There's something called heat in there.

( shuffling out, stefan hands her the hot chocolate and then looks at the swing. she's made it up quite nicely and he laughs. )

Are we going to sit out here?

Why not?

[ she cocks her brow. ]

I've never sat on the porch with a mug of hot chocolate and a man who asks too many questions before. Have you?

[ knowing him and his disney prince life, he may have in the past. this is yet another little experience katherine intends to take for herself. ]

I don't ask too many questions.

( he asks questions to get to know a person and considering they've been together for over a year, he thinks he's allowed to ask questions. )

I ask just the right amount of questions to make sure I know who I'm sitting in the cold with and having hot chocolate with.

[ still too many questions. ]

And who is that?

[ she smiles at him, cocking her brow. a year in and it's become easier to bait him with the intention to tease him. before, she would've felt highly insecure. ]

The smartest woman you know? The most beautiful? The best company you'll ever keep?

[ she'll keep complimenting herself. it actually feels great. ]

Someone who's very full of herself.

( she's got the compliments down so why does he have to add to them, hmm? he just laughs and shakes his head. )

You going to keep going if I don't stop you?

Why not?

[ she sits up a little straighter, tilting her chin up proudly. she smiles, daring him to refute her. the good thing about stefan is that even if he denies any of her comments, he doesn't mean them. she trusts him not to mean them. ]

I'm having fun. Aren't you having fun agreeing?

I am.

( so, he gestures for her to keep going, looking at her expectantly. )

So, let's hear more.

[ katherine thinks to turn the tables and compliment him, but she thinks it's better to lull him into a sense of security instead. lifting her hot chocolate to her lips, she eyes him. ]

This woman of yours is very sexy, isn't she? You can't take your eyes off of her, least of all your hands.

[ she taps her fingers against her mug, dares him to refute that. if he does, she's sure he can make a nice bed out of the snow on the front yard. ]

I think you should sit, but only if you can handle being so close to me.

( stefan chuckles and then does exactly what she asks: he sits down and makes sure he's right up against her. )

Yes, she's very sexy.

( absolutely very sexy. he's been with her for over a year and he still feels that thrill. )

[ pleased that he's sitting so close beside her (and where she had wanted him to be), she rests her hand against his thigh and squeezes. it'd been a little lonely on her very special porch swing. ]

How sexy? So sexy that your heart stops whenever you think of her?

[ her hand stays where it is on his thigh. for now. ]

( he laughs, covering her hand with his and giving it a little squeeze. )

My heart stopped a long time ago. You're the one that got it pumping again.

( considering she'd turned him and all. )

I think that's a better compliment than you stopping my heart.

[ katherine presses her lips together as she smiles, feeling a little embarrassed and flushing at his compliment. she'd thought that over the past year she had gotten used to his compliments, but it seems that he can still surprise her. ]

Stop it.

[ she looks out at the yard, not wanting him to notice that she's flushing. ]

You know, that's not fair.

( he says it lightly though, laughter in his voice. )

You can compliment me all the time but if I do it to you, you're all 'stop it' and you won't look at me. I should get to see you blushing.

Nope.

[ that's the simple answer. he doesn't get to see her blush because he's seen enough of it already. ]

You've seen enough of me blushing. [ she looks at him sternly and wiggles her finger back and forth. ] Not that I'm blushing. I'm not.

[ she is. ]

You just admitted that you were blushing.

( stefan grins. )

Wow, I can't believe I got you to admit that.

No.

[ she frowns, pressing her lips together tightly. if looks could kill, he'd be dead. ]

I said you've made me blush before. Not now—before. In the past.

And right now.

( she's glaring daggers at him and he just grins. )

Why's that so hard to admit? I like that I make you blush.

Because admitting it means that you will wield it as a weapon and be insufferable.

[ she continues to glare daggers at him, wishing that he hadn't become immune to that over the last year. she used to like being scary. now, she's like a little puppy to him. ]

So, I'm not blushing and you're not insufferable.

You're blushing.

( and he was not insufferable. he just likes knowing that he can get to her. )

The indomitable Katherine Pierce is blushing because I made it happen.

Nope.

[ she shoves at him and turns away from him on the swing. tilting her head upward, she glares out at the front yard. ]

Not blushing.

[ she is. her cheeks have "stefan salvatore" written all for them. ]

( when she shoves him, stefan laughs and doesn't try and do anything just yet. )

Why can't I see you blush? It's adorable. I love when I can make you blush.

( she was so old that he doubts she's blushed in a long damn time. )

All I wanted to do was kiss you beneath the mistletoe.

[ she tilts her head upward in annoyance, pursing her lips. refusing to look at him, she shakes her head. her skin's warm, thanks to his words. she hates that she is blushing.

if she doesn't acknowledge what he says, perhaps the blush will go away. ]

Now, I'll go unkissed.

( I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP ON WAITING UNDERNEATH THE MISTLETOE )

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