#DIDN’T SHE WISH FOR EDWARD TO KILL HIM??? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ashcal99 · 10 months

Text

Collarbones : Jasper Whitlock Hale IV

Chapter Four

"I can see your collarbones and baby I'm scared, Never thought I'd be so unprepared"

Summary: Camila Johnson was only 16 when she was diagnosed with leukemia. By the time she had turned 17, the doctors had tried everything to save her. Her family is close to giving up hope when they hear of a doctor who may be able to help her. The only problem is, he lives on the opposite side of the country. The small family soon decides to move to the small town in Washington, in efforts to prolong her life. In doing so, her life changes forever.

Warnings: Eventual smut (18+ only), mentions of death, depression, violence, descriptions of disease and weight loss, general angst, slow burn

Words: 7.4k

A/N: Please lmk if you'd like to be added to the tag list. Hope you enjoy. Made this chapter extra long for the wait x

Soundtrack

Previous Chapter

Series Masterlist

——————

January 29th, 2005

Camila sat there, frozen in time, for what seemed like an eternity trying to process what Jasper had just admitted. So, Jasper sat there, unmoving as well as not breathing. He wasn’t sure how she was taking the new information and suddenly found himself wishing that he held Edward’s power in that moment, willing to give everything just to know the thoughts that were going through her mind. Second best, he knew that she, remarkably, held no fright towards the admission, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she lacked the simple instinct that humans should be born with. The instinct to run away screaming when someone tells you that they’re a monster and could easily kill you.

At the end of the day, he knew that was what he was. A monster. He may have changed his diet and tried to appear human, but he was far from it. He had killed people. Innocent people. He couldn’t even make the argument that his family had done the same, because their body counts were minuscule compared to his. He had fed off of human blood for nearly eighty-five years before Alice had found him. Even with his new found vegetarianism considered, he still slipped up. More than anybody else, and even though he knew that Camila was safe around him, he also knew that she had every reason in the world to fear him, and it confused the hell out of him that she didn’t.

He couldn’t help himself as he spoke, the silence eating away at his resolve. “Can you please tell me what’s going through your mind?” He asked, nervousness gripping his throat as he croaked the words out.

Camila’s eyes flashed over to him, eyebrows creased in… confusion maybe? “I don’t know… I feel like I know I shouldn’t believe you, but for some reason, I do?” She said, eyes tracing his serious expression. “Can you prove it? N-not the vampire thing, I guess, but something to prove any of it is true?” She asked.

Jasper’s mind reeled for a moment trying to think of something quickly, when an idea popped into his head. “Remember how you said I’m really good at reading emotions? Like an empath?” He asked, waiting for her nod before continuing. “It’s a little more than that. Some of us, when we turn, we get… gifts. When I was changed I could not only feel people’s emotions like they were my own, but manipulate them too.” He explained slowly, trying to find the right words.

Given the situation, he figured this was his best bet in not freaking her out any further. Eyes scanning her face to make sure that she was okay with what he was about to do, he pushed a wave of happiness towards her. He watched as the corners of her lips curved upwards, the crease between her eyebrows smoothing as her heart filled with overwhelming joy.

She didn’t know nor care why she had become so suddenly happy, but as soon as the emotion was ripped back from her, the pieces clicked together. The smile slowly dropped from her face as her mind returned to where had been just moments before. “Holy shit.” She huffed out. He was telling the truth. As soon as the feeling of joy had hit her, it was gone.

Her eyes widened suddenly. Maybe this was the explanation as to why she felt so strongly towards him. Maybe it was him all along, manipulating her feelings. “Y-you don’t do that to me often do you?” She asked nervously.

Jasper shook his head quickly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. “No. I’ve never with you before.” He rushed out, hoping to whatever god that she would believe him.

Letting out a sigh, Camila let her shoulders drop as she let herself relax back into her seat. She had no reason to think he was lying. From what she could tell, all of her feelings and emotions involving him were genuine, no matter how much she wished that they weren’t there to begin with.

“So, is the whole thing about garlic true?” She asked trying to lighten the mood. Everything had suddenly gotten much too daunting.

Throwing his head back with a bark of laughter, Jasper ran his long thin fingers through his golden curls. How in the world was she taking all of this so well? The ball had to drop at some point, right? There’s no way that everything would go this smoothly. Surely after she learned about his past and how much of a monster he really was, surely then, she would run away screaming. But that admission would have to wait for another day, because in that moment, he would give anything keep Camila as far away from that part of him as possible.

——————

January 31st, 2005

The rest of her day with Jasper had flown by, and before Camila knew it, it was the start to her second week at Forks High School. After the exhaustion of her first week, and hanging out with Jasper on Saturday, the rest of her weekend consisted of sleep and cramming in the remainder of her homework. When Monday finally came around, she was well rested, at lest as well rested as she could be.

Camila had just joined the end of the line in the cafeteria, Eric talking her ear off behind her once again, when her eyes finally met Jasper’s across the crowded room. She hadn’t seen him since he had dropped her back off at home Saturday night. Like a perfect gentleman, he had waited, car pulled against the curb and watched her figure until she had successfully made it fully inside her home, before he drove away.

Now that her eyes had met his for the first time since she had been given the opportunity to fully, well mostly maybe, process his confession, she felt a weight leave her shoulders that she wasn’t even aware was there in the first place. The rest of their night on Saturday had consisted mostly of more light hearted conversation, so now that she had been given the time to think of more questions to ask him, she had began to grow anxious of waiting.

She knew the questions would have to wait, however, but seeing his face, that alone, eased that stress and anxiety from her. Everything had happened so quickly that her mind didn’t know how to calculate what his confession actually meant, and over the remainder of the weekend her mind had time to wander. He was dangerous, that much was apparent, but somehow, she also knew that he wouldn’t hurt her. That she was safe with him.

It felt almost like a fever dream, everything happening so quickly. They had only just met, but suddenly, she couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so comfortable with another person. So comfortable with being vulnerable, and content with sharing with him what she had been so keen on keeping from everyone else. Clearly he felt the same, that much she could gather herself, given his blatant honesty with her.

Eric’s voice broke her from her thoughts as he continued his ramble on about how their trip to La Push Beach had gone and how she ‘had to join them next time’. She had to stop herself from cringing, not looking forward to coming up with another excuse in the future. She turned to him, attempting to give a reassuring smile. She didn’t want to come off rude, especially with the wide grin that was stretched across his face. He was just trying to be friendly, and that’s what she wanted. So, even if his persistence slightly annoyed her, she was still happy to have him around.

Chills ran up her spine as icy fingertips brushed lightly across her lower back, bringing goosebumps quickly to the surface of her skin. She knew who it was, of course, before she looked up, having already gotten used to the feel of his touch, but that didn’t stop the flutter of her heart as her eyes met Jasper’s once more. He had sensed her unease from across the room and had decided to come to her rescue.

“Will you sit with us for lunch today?” He asked, giving her a quirked eyebrow as well as a small smile. Alice had been pestering him since his return on Saturday to spend more time with the girl. As usual, she would get what she wanted, she already knew that of course, but that didn’t stop her from reminding him at every chance she got.

Jasper watched as the gears in her head began to turn, slowly processing his invitation, her heart sputtering at his touch. He couldn’t help his smile from growing bigger across his face, enjoying hearing the reaction he had on her heart. “S-sure.” She stuttered out, turning back to the lunch lady to pay for her tray of food. She sent a small wave and smile to the boy, Eric, and fell in stride by Jasper’s side, his hand ghosting the small of her back as he lead her to the table that held the remainder of his family.

Eric stood for a moment, mouth agape as he stared at their retreating figures. What was it with the new girls and the Cullens? Why was that family suddenly so sociable after a year of barely speaking to anybody? From across the cafeteria, the two were beginning to attract the stares from the rest of her friend group, and when she finally made it to the table, Jasper pulling her chair out for her to take a seat, the majority of the overcrowded room was practically ogling them. A fact, in which was doing nothing to ease the anxiety that had settled in the pit of her stomach.

Setting her tray down, she slowly dropped into the hard plastic seat, shoulders tensing as she took in the perfect faces sat in front of her. Camila had of course met Alice the week previous, but she had yet to meet Jasper’s other siblings. She wasn’t sure if she should feel more or less comfortable meeting the pale strangers now that she knew their secret, but the fact was, she knew and nothing would change that now.

Feeling waves of anxiety and stress radiate from Camila, he decided now would be a time to use his powers, one that he hoped she wouldn’t be mad at him for later. He hated seeing the worry in her eyes and knew that her stress was unnecessary, so he did what he could and pushed feelings of calmness and comfortability towards her as he settled into the seat next to her.

As the anxiety lifted from her shoulders, a polite smile formed on Camila’s lips. Jasper cleared his throat from beside her, gaining the attention of his siblings. “Camila this is my family.�� He gestured towards the group. “Alice you met already.” He said pointing to the pixie haired girl on the other side of Camila.

The whole family already knew of his admission, and given the circumstances he was more that content with their reactions. He hadn’t exactly known what to expect from the situation, never having dealt with anything like it before. Carlisle and Esme had been happy for him, and though this slightly unnerved him, he knew it came with good intentions. He knew what coming clean to Camila could mean for her future, for their future, but he still refused to get his hopes up. Her knowing and having the choice to ‘live’ on had no guarantee that she would make that decision, and as much as it pained him, he knew that he would never be able to make that choice for her.

Alice’s teeth shown brightly as she smiled at the girl, squealing lightly as she pulled her into a tight hug. Camila’s eyes widened, the immortal girl’s antics still surprising her despite already being on the receiving end previously. Before she was given the time to process and reciprocate the hug, Alice had pulled away and had returned to her comfortable position in her seat.

Alice was of course ecstatic, even though she had seen the whole thing happen already, because now she was free to develop their friendship. She had seen the whole thing play out and knew just how close she would grow to Camila, and like a child on Christmas morning, was practically bouncing with anticipation when he had arrived home Saturday night.

Jasper continued, stopping to roll his eyes at his sister. “This is Emmet and Rosalie.” He said, gesturing to the couple sitting at the opposite side of the table. Emmet gave a ginormous half smile half smirk to the girl, while Rosalie attempted the give a polite smile as well.

Emmet was of course laid back about the whole thing, only giving him a little bit of shit for finally finding his mate. Rosalie was surprisingly at ease with the situation, unlike her feelings towards Bella. Of course, Jasper knew why. She had always resented her immortality, having her humanity ripped away from her the way that it had been, and she wouldn’t wish that on anybody else. He knew her calm demeanor had to do with the fact that, unlike her human life, Camila had no chance of growing old. No chance of starting a family.

His heart ached at this knowledge, knowing that he would give anything he could to see Camila age into her beauty. To see her grow and start her adult life. To see her get married and have children, even if he wasn’t the one to give her that future. Unfortunately, maybe because God or whatever higher power was cruel or had a sick twisted sense of humor, she had no hope for that life.

It had been an unexpected punch to the gut to meet her mother. She was such a perfect reflection of her daughter that it was almost like he was glimpsing into that impossible future. He knew that this would be how Camila would look, given the chance. But she didn’t have that chance, and that was his best guess as to why Rosalie had refrained from giving him the same shit she had been giving Edward.

“And this is Edward.” Jasper said finally, turning to look at displeased expression of his adopted brother.

Edward had seemed slightly bitter about the situation. He obviously knew the differences between the two girls, but couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous at which the ease Jasper came by with telling Camila the truth. He himself would never wish the future of immortality onto Bella, but only wished that he didn’t have to suppress his want for the girl. He knew it was best to stay as far away from Bella as possible, hence why he had been avoiding her to the best of his abilities, but his resolve was beginning to waver.

Jasper didn’t have to deal with any of this, despite having his own struggles. Camila already knew the truth about them, and soon she would be making that decision on her own. Hell, he didn’t even have to worry about his thirst around the girl, a fact that he couldn’t help but be bitter about. Edward had always had what he considered decent self control with human blood, something that he couldn’t say the same for with Jasper, and the one person that it truly mattered for, he was at his lowest point with self control. It was cruel irony.

Despite not being able to read Edward’s mind like he could his, Jasper could feel his emotions, and he could fill in the rest himself. He didn’t want any animosity between him and his brother, but he knew that whatever Edward was feeling wouldn’t stop him from growing closer to Camila, and definitely wouldn’t stop Alice from begging him to let her spend more time with her. So that was why he had decided it was time to introduce her. What better time and place to break the ice between Camila and the rest of his family than the controlled environment of a school cafeteria? He had thought, and now, seeing the slight glare on Edward’s face, he couldn’t decide whether or not that had been a bad decision on his part.

As thoughts of anger rushed through Jasper’s mind, Edwards eyes flickered over to his. Edward’s glare softened as he processed Jasper’s internal dialog. He knew that it wasn’t his fault and he knew that it wasn’t Camila’s, but he couldn’t help how he felt. He was jealous and he was finding it difficult to hide his emotions. His eyes flitted across Jasper’s face, neck, and arms. The scars littered across his skin were a reminder to not push things with him. The crescents, nearly invisible to the human eye, were a gigantic red flag to any vampire. Neon lights that flashed bright as a warning to everyone around him to stay back or else. Although he knew that his brother would never hurt him, he also knew not to start a fight, because it would most definitely be one he would lose.

Huffing in irritation, Edward pulled out his chair, rushing to leave the cafeteria. He could try all he wanted to be civil and not start a fight, but he wasn’t about to sit there and take this torture. Over time it would get easier for him to cope, but in that moment, the wound was fresh and he needed to be far from the reminder.

Jasper sighed in annoyance, rolling his eyes once again as he let his defenses fall back down to their normal level. “Ignore him.” He muttered to the girl beside him, slinging his arm protectively around the back of her chair.

——————

“So what’s with you and Cullen?” Tyler blurted out suddenly. Camila’s head fell to look at her boots that thudded along the hallway towards their last class of the day. She could feel the blood rushing up to her cheeks and knew that it would do little to help her case if he saw the growing blush.

“What do you mean?” She asked, feigning confusion. It was a matter of time before someone started the inevitable conversation given Jasper’s display in the cafeteria that day, but she had hoped she would have a bit more time to prepare herself.

Tyler stuffed his hands into his pockets awkwardly. “Yeah, you two seemed… cozy today at lunch.” He muttered.

Camila raised her head, quirking an eyebrow at the dark skinned boy in stride beside her. “Cozy?” She asked, a hint of humor tinting her voice. Tyler was clearly bothered by this whole situation, a fact that she found humorous given the circumstance. From the fact that Tyler had asked her to prom just a few days previous, she could gather herself that he was most likely jealous of Jasper. Not that he had any reason to be. Camila had every intention to stick to her plan of staying single and as much as she was beginning to care for Jasper, she didn’t see that changing.

A scoff sounded from the boy by her side as he rolled his eyes at her teasing. “Yeah. Cozy. You sat with his family at lunch instead of us, and he was practically all over you.” He argued.

Camila laughed lightly at his words. “He was not all over me.” She argued. In fact, like usual, she had been hyper aware of every touch from the pale immortal. As usual, he had shown to be very hesitant in touching her, only giving the slight graze of his fingertips along her covered back as he lead her to the table. She of course was also extremely aware of the arm that he had slung protectively around the back of her seat after Edward’s whole display, but he had been very precise in not letting his cold skin actually touch her in any way.

Tyler groaned frustratedly. “Whatever it was, I don’t like it.” He complained.

Camila’s eyebrows knitted together. What was it with people at this school being assholes to them? The Cullen’s kept to themselves, sure, but they were never anything but polite to anyone they came into contact with. At this point, all these little comments that everybody kept making were beginning to piss her off. “And why should you not liking it mean anything to me?” She asked incredulously. Sure, she wanted to make friends, and be nice, but she was starting to become defensive over Jasper and she wasn’t just going to stand there and take everybody’s bullshit. Because that’s what it was. Complete and utter bullshit.

Tyler’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to respond in that way, never seeing her angry before. “I mean, he’s kind of creepy isn’t he? I’m just trying to look out for you. He doesn’t seem… good.” He said trailing off towards the end as he took in the expression of anger growing more and more prevalent on her face.

She had to bite back a snide remark as she tried to process how she could respond without sounding like a total bitch. An awkward silence rung between the two teens before she decided that she didn’t really care anymore. If he was going to give unsolicited advice to her when he barely knew her then she would respond accordingly. “No offense Tyler, but I didn’t ask for your shitty advice. I’m a big girl, I can look out for myself, thanks.” She said finitely.

Pushing her aching legs to move her forward at a faster pace, she let out an internal sigh of relief as the door to her calculous class came into view. Lunch had gone well, all things considered. Despite Edward’s little display, the rest of Jasper’s family had welcomed her with open arms. While the conversation mostly consisted of small talk and them asking her questions about herself, she could tell that they were all genuinely nice people.

Alice had invited her over for the following weekend, in which Camila had immediately agreed to without thinking. Now that she had been given the time to think about the implications of the invite, she realized that she would be meeting their adoptive mother and seeing Carlisle. While she knew Carlisle fairly well, given meeting him the week prior, she realized how nervous she was to meet Esme. Jasper had talked the woman up so highly, but she couldn’t help but feel her nerves eating away at her. She would be meeting his mother soon, ‘adopted’ or not and it was only natural to have that kind of reaction.

Jasper, as usual, was already seated at their assigned table by the time she had arrived to the classroom. Camila flitted to the back of the room to her seat, letting her body drop into the confines of the cool plastic, as she let out a heavy sigh.

“Are you okay?” Jasper asked, concern lacing his voice. It was normal for her be exhausted by the end of the school day, but he could also feel her anger and frustration. The feelings set off warning bells in his mind and he was immediately on alert to what had upset her.

Camila rolled her eyes, raking her slim fingers through the long dark strands of her hair. “Tyler Crowley is an asshole.” She said simply, annoyance still evident on her face as she recalled their conversation that had just taken place moments ago.

His eyes flickered over to where said boy had just entered the classroom, narrowing as he took in the sight. “What did he say?” He asked, immediately defensive over the girl.

“He apparently has an issue with you and ‘just wants to look out for me’.” She said, yanking her workbook and and pencil case from her backpack and slamming them down on the desk.

Jasper’s shoulder’s drooped at her words as he hummed in reply. He couldn’t even be mad. What Tyler said was clearly justified, whether or not Camila had realized. She should be warned about him. Just because he didn’t thirst for her blood didn’t mean that he wasn’t a danger towards her. Didn’t mean that he couldn’t hurt her, even if it wasn’t intensional. Didn’t mean that he wasn’t a monster at the end of the day.

Hearing his near silent response, Camila turned her head to see him looking down slightly defeated, eyes refusing to meet her own. “Jasper.” She said, trying and failing to get him to look at her. “Jasper.” She repeated, grasping at his hand that laid in a tight fist at his thigh.

Electricity shot through her fingers as they brushed the marble skin of his clenched knuckles, but she pushed on. “Can you look at me, please?” She asked, her soft voice contrasting the anger that had filled it just moments ago.

His amber eyes flickered up to meet hers. As much as he wanted to sulk in that moment, he wanted more to give her what she wanted. Her eyes softened as she saw the pain that filled his. They were always filled with pain, but this was different. More of an inner torment and seeing it made her chest ache.

She turned his fist over in her palm, nudging the fingers apart so she could intertwine them with her own. “He’s full of shit, Jazz. I know you would never hurt me.” She said, voice softly ringing in his ears.

The pain in his heart grew at her words. He didn’t deserve her. She was too perfect for his damned self and he knew it, but that didn’t stop him from being grateful that she was there. It didn’t stop him from selfishly wanting her. He pulled their intertwined fingers up to his lips were he laid a soft kiss on the back of her palm, thanking her for her kindness. Thanking her for her comfort.

The touch of his chilled lips on her skin sent her heart into overdrive, and knowing that he could he hear his effect on her didn’t help the blush that was creeping onto her cheeks. She had expected him to drop her hold after that, but instead, their hands remained, bound together and laying gently in his lap.

Class continued, the two working together on finishing the next page in their worksheet. Jasper of course could finish the work in less than a minute, but anything that gave him the excuse to talk to Camila he would gladly do. She sat there, eyebrows furrowed as she worked over a particularly difficult problem on the sheet. Normally, she would have no problem solving the equations, but today her mind was wandering too much. She sighed, giving up as she let her pencil clatter onto the chipped veneer of the desk.

“Do you want to come over to my house today?” She asked suddenly. Clearly seeing that she had caught him off guard, she continued. “I have more questions.” She clarified.

Jasper groaned internally. As much as he would love to avoid the inevitable conversation, he also knew that it had to happen at some point. At least he would get to spend more time with her, a definite plus. “Sure, I can just drive us after class if you’d like.” He offered. Alice had told him to drive separately to school that day, and now it was clear why. He would have to thank her later.

Camila nodded, pulling her flip phone from her bag and trying to discreetly type a quick text to her mother letting her know that Jasper would drive her home. Doing so was a bit difficult to do one handed, but she wasn’t about to take her other hand out of his grasp.

The remainder of the class trudged on slowly to Camila’s dismay. Now that she knew that she would be able to ask all of the questions that had been racing through her mind, she couldn’t seem to clear her head of them. Finally, a bell rang shrilly throughout the class, signaling the end of the school day. An unspoken agreement stood between her and Jasper as they both proceeded to pack away their belongings without undoing the grip on each other’s hands.

She wasn’t sure what the hand holding meant to him or even herself, but she didn’t exactly care. She already had to constantly remind herself of her promise to keep any romance at bay, but hand holding didn’t necessarily have to mean that. It was comforting, having his cold palm pressed against hers, and despite her internal screaming at herself that it was a bad idea, she didn’t want to pull away. So there they were, walking down the hallway, hand in hand, attracting even more stares than usual.

Camila let out a sigh as they reached the parking lot, the cool air feeling nice on her feverish skin. Puffs of vapor swirled in front of her mouth as steady breaths of hot air left her parted lips. Jasper had to rip his eyes away from the sight to make sure that he was walking in the right direction. He needed to pull his shit together. Kissing her hand had been bad enough, but he had to stop himself from thinking too much about her lips. Her soft warm plump lips. Jesus Christ, STOP.

He wished so badly in that moment that he could’ve kissed her. Regardless of the numerous bystanders. However, he knew that it wasn’t safe. He didn’t trust himself enough not to end up accidentally hurting her. He didn’t even know if she would’ve kissed him back for fuck’s sake. And here he was feeling like an absolute creep again.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, he pulled the passenger door of his car open for her. Reluctantly, she let loose of his grasp, immediately feeling an emptiness without it’s presence. She settled into the plush bucket seat, pulling her bag into her lap as he shut the door softly behind her.

Flitting quickly, or as quick as seemed human, to the driver’s side, Jasper slid in and turned the key in the ignition. Shifting the car into reverse, he backed out of the parking spot and shifted back into drive as he sped out onto the street. He internally thanked his past self for buying a manual transmission before reaching over to grasp Camila’s hand once more.

Camila let her hair fall in front of her face, hoping that the curtain of dark strands hid the smile that she couldn’t wipe away. For someone who was so adamant on not dating, she kept finding herself being giddy whenever he touched her. What was she a twelve year-old? He was just holding her hand, she shouldn’t feel like a swarm of butterflies was flying around in her stomach.

The drive to Camila’s home hadn’t taken long, and by the time they arrived at the small house, he mother’s mini van was still absent from the driveway. She had replied earlier letting her know that she was going to go grocery shopping since she had time before she had to go to work, and Camila was happy to see that she hadn’t returned yet. One less awkward interaction with Jasper and her parents would always be a good thing.

As they stepped through the threshold of the home, she found herself wishing she had cleaned her room. She hadn’t thought of the mess she had left behind before she had invited him over, albeit a small mess. Either way, she couldn’t help herself but try and hurriedly pick up the few pieces of clothing scattered around the room once they made it through the doorway.

Once she was content with her ‘cleaning’ she shut the door softly behind her and plopped down on her mattress, the springs squeaking slightly in protest. Scooting backwards until her back met the wall, she patted the empty space beside her, gesturing for Jasper to join her. On one hand, she almost wanted to sit out on the couch in the living room, as it would probably seem less intimate that way, but she also didn’t want to be interrupted by her mother when she inevitably returned home from the store. So there they were sitting side by side awkwardly on her worn out used mattress and now she didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Sensing her hesitation, Jasper spoke up. “So, you have questions.” He said, wanting to end the torture of waiting any longer. If she was going to run away screaming, he would rather it be sooner than later, because the anticipation was slowly eating away at him.

Camila sucked in a breath. “How old are you?” She blurted out. Jasper groaned, rubbing his hands down his face. He should’ve expected her to jump right to the point, but, somehow, he hadn’t. “You said it was a conversation for another day. It’s another day now.” She reasoned.

“I know. I know.” He said with a sigh. “I’m just really old, Darlin’.” He said, hoping the nickname would distract her. It didn’t.

She scoffed. “That’s not an answer.” She said bluntly.

Jasper closed his eyes, sucking in a breath as he braced for the impact of her reaction. “I’m a hundred and sixty-one.” He muttered lowly. Utter silence followed.

Camila didn’t know what she expected, if the age he had given was younger or older than she had thought it would be, but hearing him say such a precise age made everything seem way more real. She couldn’t find the words to say in response, so instead, she reached over to grasp his hand once more, letting him know that she wasn’t disgusted like he had thought.

“Will you tell me your story?” She asked, not being able to help her intrigue.

His bright gold eyes met her emerald irises. “It’s kind of gruesome.” He warned, trying his best to prolong the inevitable admission of his past, but knowing that it was just that. Inevitable.

“I want to know.” She said simply. “If you’re willing to tell me.” She clarified.

Jasper was fucked and he knew it. Anything that she wanted, he would give her in a heartbeat, but she would hate him after this. “I didn't have quite the same upbringing as my adopted siblings.” He said, reaching his free hand over reluctantly, to roll up the sleeve on the arm that she held.

She wasn’t sure how she hadn’t noticed them before, but there they were. Hundreds of crescent shaped scars shimmering lightly in the dim lighting emitted from her ceiling fan. Now that she knew what to look for, she could see the scars were scattered across every piece of visible skin. Down his arms, onto the hand that was holding hers, a few up his neck to his handsome face. “Are those… bites?” She asked incredulously.

“Battle scars.” He responded, a small smirk gracing his lips. “I was seventeen when I joined the Confederate Army.” He said, pausing when he saw her grimace. “I know. I wish I could say that I didn’t know what I was fighting for, or against, but I knew enough. I’m not proud of it.” He said hanging is head in shame.

“I was the youngest major in the Texas cavalry. All without having seen any real battle.” He continued.

Camila perked up. “I knew that was a Texas accent.” She said smirking at him, gaining a small smile in repose. Leave it to her to try and lighten the mood as soon as it gets dark.

Still, he pushed on, knowing that it was about to become a much darker conversation. “I was riding back to Galveston...after evacuating a column of women and children. When I saw her.” He said dauntingly. “I immediately offered her my aid.” He continued.

“Maria was creating an army. A newborn vampire army.” He clarified. “Our kind are at their strongest in their first year after changing. Their human blood still lingers in their veins and gives them more speed and strength.” He explained.

“Newborn armies were very common in the South, and cost a brutal battles for territory.” He continued, losing himself in the story. “Maria won them all. She was smart, careful. And she had me. I was the second in command. My abilities to control emotions served her well.” He said, looking down to the warm hand he still had clutched in his own, trying to find comfort in her touch.

“I trained her newborns. An endless occupation since she never let them live beyond their first year.” He said, cringing from the memory. “It was my job to dispose of them.” He said, voice thick with emotion. It pained him to remember what he had done. To remember their pain. “I could feel everything they felt.”

The crease between Camila’s brows deepened. It clearly hurt for him to recall these memories, and she found herself wishing that she could take that pain away.

“I thought what Maria and I had was love. But I was her puppet. She pulled the strings. I didn't know there was another way. Until I found Alice in 1948. Now she'd seen me coming, of course.” He paused, remembering that this would wouldn’t make much sense to Camila.

He gathered his thoughts quickly, trying explain the best he could. “She has visions, of possible futures. They change when decisions are made, but she knew when and where to find me.” He smiled slightly. “She saw you, even though she conveniently didn’t warn me.” He explained.

“I don't know what I'd have become without her. I’d done horrible, unspeakable things, and she helped me get past that. My family choses to feed off of animal blood rather than human blood, but it wasn’t always like that for me. I’ve killed innocent people. I’m not a… good person.” He ended his story with a sigh, unsure of how she was feeling.

Her mind was filled with conflicting emotions that he couldn’t quite place all together. “I completely understand if you want me to leave.” He said, moving to pull his hand away from hers.

Her grip tightened as her eyes shot up to his. “No, stay. Please.” She muttered. She knew how her reaction must seem. In truth, she had almost expected worse. As bad as his story was, at least he didn’t actively kill people. It was a horrible argument, she knew, but after being given the rest of the weekend to let her mind wander, she had tried to prepare herself for the worst.

Her silence was agony and he couldn’t help himself when he asked. “Can you please tell me what you’re thinking?”

Camila sighed, bringing her eyes back to his. “I’m not going to sit here and act like what you did wasn’t wrong, because it was. But I’m also not going to actively try and make you feel any worse for it. You’ve had over fifty years to regret what you did, and you clearly do. I’m not going to judge you for something that you wish you could’ve changed, not when I know you’re a good person now.” She said.

Jasper shook his head in disbelief. How was she this forgiving? It seemed impossible. He was sure she would be disgusted with him, but here she was forgiving him for something he couldn’t even forgive himself for. “How are you not terrified of me?” He asked.

She looked deep into his eyes as she answered. “I’m not scared because I know you won’t do anything to hurt me.” She said simply.

“I could hurt you on accident. Very easily.” He argued, looking ashamed. “I could crush you just by hugging you too tightly. I know you don’t understand fully, but it would be so easy that I actively have to try and not hurt you.” He said, a deep frown on his face.

Camila’s eyebrows furrowed as she brought her free hand down to trace the crescent shaped scars that littered his arm. “I don’t know what to tell you. I trust you, that’s the best answer I can give you, Jasper. You need to try and have trust in yourself.” She answered.

Jasper shook his head, baffled that she had so much trust in him to begin with. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve her. Seeing the sadness still in his eyes, she rushed, trying to find a change of topic to lighten the mood from the darkness that it had reached. “So, if you can manipulate emotions and Alice sees visions of the future, does anyone else in your family have a ‘gift’.” She asked, curiosity peaking once again.

Jasper was thankful for the change of topic, already feeling himself beginning to spiral from the continuous self hatred. “Yeah, Edward is the only other one in our family. He can, um, read minds… I know it sounds ridiculous.” He said, slightly humiliated at how fictional everything sounded.

“Oh god. That’s… embarrassing.” She muttered, her mind beginning to wander. Edward had no doubt read her mind and heard her thoughts of Jasper. Those were thoughts she didn’t even want to admit to herself and now he definitely had knew all about them.

Suddenly her mind went to his exit at lunch. Was that why he had left? Was it something she had thought that had set him off? “What happened with him at lunch today?” She asked.

Rolling his eyes at the memory, Jasper tried to form the most comprehensible explanation. “He’s jealous that I can tell you the truth and he can’t tell Bella.” He said simply.

“Bella Swan?” Camila asked.

Jasper nodded. “He… has a particular interest in her. He’s been trying to avoid her because he knows that it won’t end well, and he’s jealous that I don’t have to do the same with you.” He explained.

“Why is it different with me?” She asked, trying to ignore the implication that Jasper had an interest in her.

His eyes trailed across the bare walls of her bedroom, looking anywhere but at her as he continued. “He has a really hard time with the scent of her blood, while yours is different for me.” He said.

“Because of the leukemia?” She asked.

Jasper nodded again. “It’s more dangerous for her than it is for you because of that. It’s hard for him to even be in the same room as her. Either way it would end badly.” He explained.

“End badly how? Surely it could end in more ways than just him killing her right?” She asked. She knew the subject had to be touchy and sensitive, but she couldn’t keep herself from asking.

Here it was. The scariest topic of them all. If he didn’t handle this just right, if he didn’t use the right words, then there went his chance of a future with her. He gulped, mustering the courage to speak. “He could kill her or he could change her. Both which he doesn’t want to do.”

Camila’s eyed widened. She hadn’t even thought of that. Changing into a vampire. She wasn’t sure why her mind hadn’t gone there, but she hadn’t even considered that a possibility. She couldn’t help it when her mind wandered to what this could mean for her. He had said it like he was trying to imply something else entirely. He had to know the possible endings. Surely Alice had seen.

“Are there more possible endings for me? Futures where I don’t die from the leukemia?” She asked. She had to know. She had spent a year coming to terms with the fact that her life would be cut short, but now she wasn’t sure. She knew that her illness would in no doubt end up taking her human life, but what if she turned. What if she changed into something else where the cancer didn’t effect her anymore? What if she wasn’t human anymore? She had to know, because suddenly, after a year of withering away, she might have another option. She might have hope.

Jasper turned his eyes back to hers. This was the make it or break it moment. He sucked in a breath, feeling a tightness in his chest regardless of the fact that he didn’t need the oxygen.

And he spoke. “Yes… Alice has seen it."

Next Chapter

Tag List:

@jasper-the-beloved @parkchaeyoung1997 @bobaopal @izzyisstuff @itsmytimetoodream @soyeonrai @just-browsing101 @demirunner @dkbj14 @iloveramensm @imyelenasexual @bella7866 @ropickle @may-and-lay @breezybeesposts @emily-a13 @mamajaxx2511 @meyrryme @bertholdtswife @swagcopangeloop @idonotcareaboutyouropinion @honey132 @sakurayuki8655-blog @braveangel777 @illogic-ally @obsessed-with-pychopaths @natsvenom @iamveryholyiswear @too-many-fandoms-tbh @loser-syrus

452 notes · View notes

bless-my-demons · 9 months

Text

Redamancy: Chapter Fourteen

Series Summary: What happens when your soulmate is a vampire that struggles to maintain a diet of trying not to kill you? Common sense says run for the hills, nothing is worth your life - but my heart is whispering why not, what’s there to lose?

Warnings: None… but the angst train has left the station

Notes: If you’re one of the sweet angels that left a comment on the taglist form, it makes my heart so happy - thank you! Please forgive me for the end of this chapter

Word Count: 1860

Series Masterlist

Reader

My entire summer was spent with the Cullens. Surprisingly enough, my mother didn’t protest it one bit, something about finally making friends. I was mostly monopolized by Jasper, but Alice had her fair share of stealing me away for girl’s nights with Esme and Rosalie.

Rosalie, talk about a tough nut to crack. I think at this point I’ve finally crested the mountain of hatred she feels towards her brothers’ “mortal liabilities” and I’m solidly in tolerable territory. She doesn’t outwardly mention her distaste anymore or avoid me like the plague, which I consider a definite win. I think Emmett is partially what wore her down besides Jasper’s lack of give a damn towards his sister’s opinions.

Befriending Alice has been as easy as breathing, she’s always there and might as well have Edward’s supernatural power of mind reading. I can tell her life has been lonely in the way she attaches herself to Bella and I, Rose isn’t the most social female and Esme is more of a mother figure than best friend. I’m grateful for her nonetheless, I’m not exactly flooded with friends myself - nor is whatever this thing is with Jasper an appropriate topic of conversation for anyone outside of this immediate circle.

Emmett has managed to become the older brother I wish I had and he takes that role incredibly serious for someone that’s always the comedic relief. Over the course of the last couple of months, I’ve figured out that he’s a big hugger, and a very good one at that. I’ve also noticed that he’s become my rock in a way - never backing down from a challenge, always hyping me up, and never passing judgement.

I still haven’t cracked the code for Edward. He’s quiet and shut off from the rest, not one for casual conversation or wasting time. And when he isn’t with Bella - well that’s wasting time in the worst way. Majority of our interactions are spent in comfortable silence, Jasper tells me it’s because I’m like a magnet in the way that my energy is calmer than most.

I like to think Jasper and I don’t make his family quite as nauseous as Edward and Bella do, but I know we have our moments… like his sisters insisting we sit apart for movie night because he most definitely cannot keep his hands to himself. The smug grin he had on his face along with his hands raised in surrender as his sisters berated him still makes me blush, damn him and his stupidly attractive smirk.

All summer long I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop, for him to realize that I’m human and he’s immortal, that I’m nothing in the grand scheme that is his life. It’s partially my fault for chickening out every time the topic of us rolls around, but my anxiety tends to get the better of me. God he is a patient man though, never pushing me and always in-tune to my feelings.

I’m absolutely head over heels for him but I can’t quite force those three little words of I love you past my lips. The confession simultaneously on the tip of my tongue and clogging up my throat.

Although he would disagree heavily, Jasper Hale is not a hard man to fall in love with. He struggles with his control from time to time, but when it comes to me - I can tell he’s different. He’s quiet in a way that’s patient and at-ease, instead of the closed-off way he was initially. His smile is softer around the edges, less forced than when he was trying for the sake of his adopted mother. His touch is instinct now, no longer robotic or unsure, but softer. He’s quicker to laugh, quicker to whisper sweet-nothings in my ear that make my cheeks hurt from smiling, quicker to reach for my hand when he needs an anchor.

I’ve never been more grateful for a split second of clumsiness on my first day at a new school.

• September 13th, 2005 • Forks HS •

Jasper

“A birthday party at your house?” Y/n asks, walking beside me before first period.

“Yes darlin’, I’m afraid my sister requires your attendance.” I continue to lead Y/n down the emptying hallway with a gentle hand on her back.

“I suppose I can spare you her wrath, but only if you pick me up tonight.” She glances up at me with a mischievous smile.

“Speak of the devil…” I mutter quietly while taking a deep breath, bracing myself for the quick footsteps approaching.

“I heard that!” Alice smacks the arm not around my girl. “I need your help.”

“Help with what?” Y/n asks quietly with a wrinkle in her beautiful brow, but I shake my head already knowing what my sister needs.

As Y/n and I stop at the bottom of the stairs, Edward and Isabella approach our small group as Alice vaults over the stair railing and skips forward in excitement, a neatly wrapped gift in her hands.

“Bella! Happy-”

“Shhh!” Bella stops her, the panic and embarrassment flooding from her almost drawing a laugh from me.

“-Birthday.” She finishes, quieter this time.

Bella flashes an exasperated look over Alice’s shoulder and I respond with a calming nod.

“Alice, didn’t I say no gifts?”

“You did, I didn’t.” My sister smarts back. “I’ve already seen you open it and guess what? You love it!”

Bella scoffs exasperated, but Alice interrupts her before she can object.

“You’re going to wear it tonight, our place.” At Bella’s hesitation she adds, “C’mon, please? It’ll be fun!”

Taking my que, I pull away her hesitation and replace it with a touch of acquiescence, gently in an effort to be inconspicuous.

“Okay, alright.” Powerless to my emotional regulation.

I notice a smile quirk the corner of Edward’s mouth, my brother exuding amusement - humored by our efforts to persuade his girlfriend.

A squeal of happiness leaks from my sister, “Great! I’ll see you at seven!” Spinning in our direction to make a quick getaway, we’re stopped by Bella.

“Jasper! No fair with the mood control thing.”

“Sorry Bella, Happy-“ but I let the sentiment die on my tongue at her exasperated look. “Never mind.”

Pushing my girl and gripping Alice by the elbow, I usher them away and towards class. I may be immortal, but a smart man knows when to let the women in his life win.

• September 13th, 2005 • Cullen Residence •

Reader

Waiting upstairs per Alice’s request to keep Bella company while she finished the final touches on decorations, roping my… Jasper into helping. Wondering over to where Edward and Bella are discussing a painting, I squint at who it contains.

“Is that, Carlisle?” Bella points out.

“Yeah, he lived with them for a few decades. He described them as refined, no respect for humans of course, but respect for the arts and the sciences at least.” He pauses, glancing between us before returning his eyes to the painting. “And the law, above all, the law.”

A shiver runs down my spine at the eerie way he explains the ancient vampires.

“Vampires have laws?” Bella’s tone takes on a rhetorical tone, but Edward answers nonetheless.

“Not very many. And only one that’s regularly enforced.”

“What is it?” The question comes from both of us this time.

“That we keep the existence of our kind a secret. We don’t make spectacles of ourselves. And we don’t kill conspicuously.” A sliver of panic runs through me as Jasper’s past flashes through my mind. “Unless of course you want to die.”

“You gotta stop talking about that. I can’t even think of someone hurting you.” Bella quietly and assertively tells him.

“Bella, the only thing that can hurt me is you.” As Edward turns to her, I gravitate towards the door to give them privacy. “I don’t have anything else to be afraid of.”

“That’s not true.”

“Victoria,” My mind immediately flashes back to the ballet studio, “She’ll come for me one day, Alice will see when she decides and we’ll be ready.”

Why had I not thought of that? Of course she’d come for us, the Cullens killed James because of us.

“I can protect you, if you change me.”

I try to contain my gasp, trying not to be obvious that I overheard her request. Her request to be changed.

“It’s time! It’s time, it's time, it's time!” Alice bounds into the room and I slip down the stairs before she can tug Bella away from Edward.

Jasper with eyebrows furrowed smooths a hand across my jaw to cradle my head as I step into his arms, sensing my clashing emotions. Alice interrupts him before he could ask why by bounding down the stairs and joining us.

I spin around to lean my back against Jasper as Edward leads Bella down to the living room, Carlisle and Esme are the first to greet them.

“Sorry about all this, we tried to reign Alice in.” Carlisle jokingly apologizes.

“Like that’s even possible.” Bringing Bella in for a hug with a sweet smile, “Happy birthday, Bella.”

Jasper’s hands find my hips and squeeze, I can tell he won’t let earlier go so easily, he cares too much for that.

Alice blindsides Bella with a flash of a camera, “Found it in your bag, mind?” She asks after snapping a picture of her and Edward together.

Emmett slides past us with a mischievous glint in his expression, causing Jasper to groan as his brother slides up next to Edward.

Nudging him, “Dating an older woman, hot.” Emmett teases.

Edward elbows him right back sharply to shut him up and I wince at the force.

“What?” He tries to play it off with innocence, but we all know he’s rather full of shit and I crack a smile at his antics.

Rosalie chooses then to rip the bandaid off and give Bella the first present of the evening, a small silver package. “A necklace. Alice picked it out.” Short and to the point, she steps away to rejoin Emmett causing Bella to smile.

Meeting our eyes across the room, she waves a greeting to Jasper that he returns silently.

Alice grabs a medium-sized present with a bow, “This one’s from Emmett.”

Bella shakes the suspiciously empty box and I try to cover my laugh at the look of confusion on her face.

“Already installed it in your truck.” He’s vibrating like an excited puppy, “Finally a decent sound system for that piece of crap-”

“Hey, don’t hate the truck.”

“Open Esme and Carlisle’s!” Alice thrusts the envelope into her hands.

“Just something to brighten your day.” Carlisle tells her as Esme steps forward.

“You’ve been looking kind of pale lately.” Esme hints with a smile.

Struggling to open the envelope, she finally tears through the paper.

But it isn’t the only thing that tears.

The droplet of blood that drips down her finger halts the breath in my lungs and the world feels as though it’s standing still. That is, until a thin arm wraps around my waist and my vision blurs.

Teaser

Taglist:

@aoi-targaryen

@min-jianhyung

@pbbsl

@timelordhunterandmysterysolver

@sheerangermany

@clearwater-hoe

@blackbluerose666

@ivy-plays

@random-human02

@delightfulbluebirdstarlight

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs

@gaymazinglula

@l3ejm

@angelfuzzy2

@losa12308

@thekinkpopstandsforkrackheads

@flyawayprincess

@ropickle

@catbusloki

@deviat3dsn0wf0x

@lovesanimals0000

@unrevived

@h-naec

@cutesnakemum

@zudooms

@itsmytimetoodream

#bless-my-demons #redamancy series #jasper hale x reader #twilight #twilight fanfiction #jasper whitlock hale #jasper hale fanfiction #jasper hale #female reader insert #jasper hale x female!reader

297 notes · View notes

socialfakes · 4 months

Text

the devils in the details- luke hughes

chapter 1; part 4: lost at the lake house

nhl players x platonic!fem!reader

eventual luke hughes x fem!reader

nico hischier x fem!reader

the masterlist

Liked by lhughes_06, jamie.drysdale, trevorzegras and 1,914 others

yourinstagram | lake house days > everything ❤ tagged: lhughes_06, jackhughes, _quinnhughes, trevorzegras, jamie.drysdale, colecaufield, edwards.73, rutgermcgroarty

view all comments

edwards.73 oh what fun times we had this summer 😃

user11 where's nico?😭 | nicohischier wasn't invited 😔😉 | yourinstagram he's with family but we will see him soon 😊

jackhughes favorite memory of the summer? go! | yourinstagram hitting you in the face with a melted marshmallow 😂 | jackhughes funny because mine is when you slipped off the boat 😏 | yourinstagram slipped is not the word i would use 🙄 | colecaufield she didn’t slip. you tackled her right off the boat and into the water 😂 | trevorzegras my favorite memory was any time y/n was nice to me 😂 | yourinstagram it was rare so enjoy it

lhughes_06 my favorite part of the summer was when everyone was swimming around for a bit and we got back on the boat and abandoned them 😂 | yourinstagram dude jack & trevor were so pissed & that is why i loved it so much 😂 | _quinnhughes so that’s why you guys came running back inside that day like you were about to be killed? | yourinstagram you bet 😂 | jamie.drysdale you’re lucky i was able to calm them down 😂 | lhughes_06 thanks for saving our asses jamie 😂

Liked by user03, nicohischier, jackhughes and 5,217 others

yourinstagram | super smiley best friend and one of a kind lover 😍 tagged: nicohischier

view all comments

lhughes_06 lover?

user16 somehow knew it was nico 😏

jackhughes still can’t get over your relationship. It’s too cute honestly

bboeser 😊

nicohischier I love you 😘❤

user12 how long have you guys been together? | yourinstagram almost 2 years 😊

_quinnhughes 😊

user07 this is the first post i saw about this relationship and although I hoped for you to be with luke, I like that you’re happy

njdevils what a precious smile 😊

user13 im sorry but im in love with your boyfriend 😍 | yourinstagram me too 😊

user17 almost 2 years and you’ve kept the secret the whole time? That’s insanely impressive ☺

juliasmith he’s adorable 😊 | yourinstagram 🙄

user01 nico needs to be protected at all costs. he's too precious ❤ | yourinstagram yes I agree 😃

Liked by juliasmith, edwards.73, jackhughes and 314,209 others

lhughes_06 | wish i could go back to the umich days when feelings didn’t hurt as much 😐

view all comments

jackhughes such a happy boy surrounded by the best teammates 😊

user12 such a smiley boy. i love it ❤

edwards.73 fun times 🎉

user13 what’s the caption supposed to mean?

_quinnhughes you got this, luke. she’s just a girl | lhughes_06 she’s not though

nicohischier channel those emotions into the game and you’ll feel better. love you buddy 😊

user14 sorry to say but feelings don’t hurt any less, whether they’re the past or present. turns out you just gotta roll with the punches, pookie. sorry you’re feeling this way though. love you ❤

elblue6 come back my smiley boy ❤

juliasmith ❤❤ | lhughes_06 😊❤

user15 who’s hurting my baby? 😫 | user13 i'm thinking it may be y/n but it could be someone else | user15 oh now that you mention it, she didn’t like the post and she hasn’t commented yet when she’s usually the first to comment on luke’s stuff

user16 i miss my happy boy 😔

yourinstagram you look so cute pookie ❤

user17 guys who’s juliasmith and why does her name keep popping up everywhere?

taglist: @worldlxvlys

#fake social media #instagram au #hockey player social media #nhl #luke hughes #quinn hughes #jamie drysdale #jack hughes #trevor zegras #new jersey devils #hughes brothers #nj devils #friends to lovers

106 notes · View notes

ladyinred2248 · 2 months

Text

The Offering (Finan x Luna)

Warnings: MATURE themes, MINORS DNI

Word Count: 3.5k

Summary: Finan is spared by a female warrior on the battlefield who turns out to be Sihtric's half sister, and decides to claim her for his own.

****************************************************

Uhtred and his men had waited long hours in the cold for the enemy to arrive after Uhtred had attempted to lure Haesten out of the fortress at Beamfleot. Eventually, there seemed no point in continuing to pace the grounds and his men had grown cold and impatient. Uhtred needed to recover Skade, and Edward had ensured his support of an army though he was nowhere to be found.

“It’s been half a day.” Uhtred said.

“Maybe he’s scared of the priest,” Finan muttered. Osferth smiled to himself, he was beginning to love the company of these men.

“We leave!” Uhtred shouted to the men as he started trudging in the opposite direction with Finan, Sihtric, and the others.

Osferth stayed knelt down for a moment, and in an instant his eyes grew wide as he caught a glimpse of Haestan’s army, looking to be made of a thousand men.

“Lord!…Lord!” Osferth shouted as he stumbled to gain Uhtred’s attention.

“Run!!!” Uhtred yelled as he saw the army and they made haste in the opposite direction. Eventually, there was no distance that could be put between them. Uhtred could only hope Edward’s army was near. Haestan’s army was nearing them closely now.

“Halt!” Uhtred shouted as he and the men drew their swords. “Two lines! … shields up!”

“Surround them! Give them no escape!” Haestan commanded. “And then we’ll kill every last one of the bastards!”

“Turn!” Uhtred shouted to the men as they became surrounded. “Circle!” Uhtred commanded, bringing the men shoulder to shoulder in preparation as the adrenaline pumped through their veins.

“May the good Lord protect me. Protect us all,” Osferth said to himself and God as he looked on at the hopeless surroundings.

“We hold - We give them no ground!” Uhtred yelled to his men.

“We’ve no ground to give, Lord.” Finan answered.

“Give up Uhtred, and the rest of you will live,” Haestan exclaimed. “All I want is the Dane-Slayer!”

“What you will get Haestan, is my sword - up yer hairy arse!” Finan yelled back at him.

Haestan chucked. “As you wish. You will die on your knees!”

“Lord, where is Edward’s army? Why are they waiting?” Sihtric said urgently. What they didn’t know is that Alfred and Edward were near, but hesitating.

“I want the head of Uhtred Ragnarsson!!!!” Haestan commanded as the Danes cheered and grew closer. The fight had begun and ensued with brutality as Haestan guided his horse to the sidelines to watch, not fight.

The fight continued as Uhtred’s men fought one on three, four, even five men at a time. Finan said a silent prayer in his head for Edward’s army’s arrival as he brutalized one Dane after another, his arms feeling heavy and nerves shot only minutes into the battle. Despite the fatigue, Finan moved stealthily, dodging attacks and countering them with devastating blows.

Finan paused for a moment to search for Skade, remembering the end goal of this battle. Haestan sat atop his horse, staring down at them with Skade doing the same next to him on her horse. “Bloody coward,” Finan thought as he was suddenly knocked off his feet and onto the ground with force enough to surely break something. He hit the ground, and seconds felt like minutes as the fuzziness left by the impact settled.

“Ah,” he groaned as he held the side he had landed on in pain, and he slowly rolled to his back with his ears ringing. His eyes grew wide as he saw a Dane woman standing before him, presumably the one who had knocked him down, seax in hand, ready to kill him. Finan put his arms up to block, but she hesitated as she looked into his deep brown eyes. She stood there looking at him, seax drawn above him but unmoving, speechless. Finan was so confused in that moment of near death. Had they known each other? He didn’t recognize her, but thought he would surely remember a woman of her stature and beauty. He looked into her eyes and the sounds of the battle stopped for a moment as he gazed at her, standing there with such fierceness and grace. She looked young, fair skin and dark auburn locks that were braided into patterns away from her face. She was covered in blood with weapons drawn, but still held a tantalizing aura of a woman blessed with beauty and much more.

“I am…sorry,” she muttered as she shook her head, blinking multiple times, trying to wrap her head around something it seemed as she slowly stepped away from him.

Finan’s mind came back to battle, and he had begun to spring up from the ground when Sihtric tackled the woman to the ground.

“SIHTRIC! No!” Finan yelled as Sihtric put the woman in an unforgiving chokehold, both of them knelt down as she struggled to breath. “We can take prisoners, Sihtric, she is a woman!”

“Finan, she tried to kill you! She is a bloodthirsty Dane, no different than any other…” Sihtric replied as his elbow region held her throat as she struggled to break contact with him.

Osferth came to them suddenly, a wide look in his eyes as he saw the scene before him.

Sihtric saw the look on Osferth’s face and released the woman from his chokehold, to which she then fell on the ground coughing and gasping to regain her breathing. Finan had been right, Sihtric didn’t feel as if he could hurt a woman this way, warrior or not. Finan noticed that she had many injuries from the battle already thus far, though none of them fatal he imagined. He heard Uhtred yell from a distance. “Edward! It’s Edward and his army!”

Edward’s army infiltrated the conflict with great force and gave Uthted’s men relief. Finan stared at the woman on the ground for a second as she caught her breath. She seemed familiar, he thought, but couldn’t really place it, almost like a Deja vu feeling. He wanted to help her up, but stood there instead, observing her. She didn’t waste any time and stormed away from him and the others to fight men of Edward’s army, and Finan still couldn’t understand why she spared him. She looked like a force to be reckoned with as she brought men to the ground with unforgiving blows.

Finan, Sihtric, and Osferth became preoccupied with more fighting as there seemed to be no end in sight yet. Finan came closer yet again to Uhtred, seeking to protect his Lord as he remained the target. They looked up at Haestan’s desperate cries for every man to stand as Edward’s army trampled them.

Finan and Uhtred looked up at Haestan and Skade.

“She’s why we’re here Lord, take her!” Finan exclaimed. Finan resumed fighting as Uhtred and him separated once again. Haestan rode off with Skade as Uhtred got knocked down. “No!” Uhtred yelled as Haestan escaped.

Finan’s mind was brought back to the woman who had spared him on the battlefield. He searched for her, but she was nowhere to be found. He came across Osferth and found him wounded, shifting his mind to worries of his beloved friend. He brought him back to camp, making him comfortable as Osferth’s pain and anxiety got the best of him. Uhtred and Sihtric joined to check on Osferth. Uhtred desired to bring Osferth and his men back to Aethelflaed’s estate for recovery. Uhtred had failed to reclaim Skade, and for now the curse on him remained.

Sihtric returned to the battlefield, searching for any of Uhtred’s men who remained alive, but there had been very few. His eyes caught a sight in the distance. One of Uhtred’s men who had indeed survived was dragging a woman by both of her arms as she cursed him. It was the same woman that had spared Finan earlier in the battle. Sihtric trudged toward the man quickly. “Release the woman,” Sihtric demanded. “She spared my brother, for what reason I do not know, but I’d like to find out.” He said as he glared into her eyes with an untrustworthy gaze. She looked back at him with intensity, but also defeat.

“No, boy. I am claiming this warrior woman as my own!” The man chuckled. Sihtric grew angry at the man’s resentment of his demand. Sihtric didn’t realize Finan was close as he stormed past Sihtric to grab the man by the throat.

“I have already claimed this one,” Finan said in his deep, husky voice. “Hand her over.”

The man didn’t hesitate as his eyes grew wide with Finan towering over him with his hand around his throat. He released the woman and Finan released him. Finan towered over the woman as well, easily a foot or more taller than her. She spat blood as she stood there, looking weak from battle and resentful. She smirked as she thought of Finan being the one to claim her instead. She looked as if she might faint from where she stood, and Finan suddenly caught her with his strong arms.

“What is your name, little one?” He whispered, and she took notice of his deep Irish accent.

She scoffed. She had only spared the Saxon man because she felt some sort of strange connection. When she had knocked him down on the battlefield, she had meant to cut his throat. But when she looked into his eyes, he seemed almost too familiar, like kin, but not truly. She assumed by his accent who he was, for she had heard of Uhtred’s loyal men. Finan the Agile, she thought.

“Luna,” she muttered to him defiantly. “That is my name.”

Sihtric had been observing the scene before him. Suddenly, it hit him. She was one of Kjartan’s daughters. He had known her as a child, but hadn’t seen her in many years. He looked at her in awe. “Luna. We are blood… do you remember me?” Sihtric said.

“I do, Sihtric Kjartansson. I’m sad it had to come to this…” she said as she smiled up at him and chuckled a bit, wiping blood from her lip. Sihtric suddenly felt warm, and happy to see her. He had very little family, if any, which made him feel lost fairly often, despite having his chosen family with Uhtred. She sank lower to the ground as Finan held her, and sighed as she closed her eyes.

“We must get her back to camp,” Sihtric said, and Finan followed by picking her up in his arms as he smiled at Sihtric. He knew that Sihtric felt a special way about her, perhaps remembering better parts of his childhood as he suddenly seemed lighter upon finding her.

Luna’s head rested against Finan’s shoulder as he carried her, staring at the side of his face. He noticed her staring and looked down at her. “Ya all right?” He asked.

“Yes,” she whispered back to him, holding his eye contact. “Thank you.”

Something about the way she looked into his eyes made him stir. She was beautiful, even after the throws of battle. Enchantress, he thought. And more than that, a tease even. He chuckled at himself as these thoughts came to his mind. She smiled as she heard his deep laughter, not knowing exactly why he was laughing but feeling light hearted herself. What a man, she thought as his strong arms held her. She had instantly thought he was attractive. And for a moment, imagined those strong arms holding her down in furs, his hands exploring her body. She sighed.

Finan brought her back to a tent and laid her down on a bed of furs as Uhtred looked at her curiously.

Finan and Sihtric explained the experience to Uhtred as he gazed down at her. She met Uhtred’s eyes, but glanced away as the men kept talking.

“Luna, if you are Sihtric’s blood, we welcome you - if you prove to me your loyalty as Sihtric has, I will offer you my protection.” Uhtred stated.

“Thank you Lord,” she sighed. “I had never meant to be part of that battle. I am only trying to find my way - as a woman and as a warrior.”

Uhtred smiled. “It is settled then. Get some rest, you will be traveling with me and my men back to Aethelflaed’s estate for recovery.”

She smiled back at Uhtred and he walked out of the tent. Sihtric smiled at her and grabbed her hand. “Get some rest.” He said as he walked out of the tent to follow Uhtred.

She looked up at Finan, his dark eyes staring at her.

“I thought you had claimed me Lord,” she whispered at him. “You had no aversion to Lord Uhtred’s demands.” She said as she held strong eye contact with him.

“Aye,” he chuckled. “I want ya to join us and journey there, my lady. We leave in the morning.”

She laughed at his statement, his accent was so strong and thick, she rarely heard one as such. She smiled at him, and suddenly her body brought her back to the awareness of pain, shivering from the cold and also the shock following a battle. Finan looked at her and suddenly realized the state she was in. He got up from kneeling down to her, his plan to grab cloth and fresh water for her to clean her wounds. “I will be right back.” He said.

Finan walked out of the tent and Luna winced as she sat up at the end of the bed. She began to slowly remove her armor and sword belt, moving slowly as she gasped through her teeth. She threw the armor to the side, leaving a light, almost see through shift on her torso. Finan entered the tent again with a bowl of fresh water, cloth, and bandages - he cleared his throat as he gazed at her slightly undressed state, goosebumps creeping up his arms. “I’m sorry, I should have announced myself.” He said as he tried to look away and focus on setting the water and cloth near her.

“That’s alright, Lord. Thank you.” She smiled at him. He felt the top of his mouth tingle and his legs become restless at her voice. It was soft and feminine, combined with her beauty it made him feel downright lustful. He gazed at the many tattoos adorning her arms - Norse symbols, bindrunes, and the like. She began trailing the damp cloth along her wounds. Thankfully, she was more bruised than slashed by weapons in this battle, but did have a few slashes along her arms that surely needed to be dressed.

“Let me help,” he muttered as he took the cloth from her and assisted her in reaching the hard to reach places of her shoulders and upper back.

“Yes lord,” she whispered.

God, she makes me feel weak when she addresses me that way, he thought. His attraction to her was strong, and he had only known her for a matter of hours. The way she called him Lord made his cock twitch and his stomach turn. He had rarely had this intense desire so quickly in his life, which intrigued him. He tried not to gaze down at her hardened nipples showing through her thin shift as he cleaned the cuts and scratches on her shoulders.

“You’re lucky, lady” he muttered. “No wounds of yours are concerning. You should be fit to travel. Although, you might be quite sore from the bruising.” He said.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” she responded. “I will do as you command.” She said as she held his eye contact for seconds that felt like minutes. Finan nodded as he stood to turn and head toward the tent entrance.

“Lord,” she stopped him. “Where are you going?”

“To fetch us some food, lady. ” he smiled. “I will be back.”

She smiled back at him as he turned to leave the tent. She sighed and thought that this battle must have been a gift from the Gods. Reunited with her half brother whom she had loved deeply as a child. Now a loyal servant to Uhtred, whom she actually admired greatly and had finally been given the chance to meet. And a handsome Irishman caring for her as she recovered, claimed her from another man. She couldn’t wait for what that entailed. She was a strong, self-sufficient warrior - but her heart fluttered at the thought of the Irishman claiming her as his own, taking her as he wanted, taking pleasure from her…

Her thoughts were interrupted as Finan returned. She looked up at him quickly, with a smile. He smirked at her. “Come sit by the fire Luna, and have something to eat.”

She stood from the edge of the bed, reaching for her armor. “No,” he said as he took his cloak off and wrapped it around her. “You should remain comfortable. I assume you don’t have any other clothing?” He asked.

“No, lord, what little belongings I do not carry with me are back at the fortress, and I don’t wish to return.” She replied.

“Very little clothing shouldn’t be a problem,” he muttered as he stared at her deeply and winked. She chuckled as he held his hand out to hers, she joined him as he led her to the fire where the other men gathered.

Uhtred and Sihtric glanced at Finan and Luna hand in hand as they sat down next to each other to join them by the fire. Uhtred and Sihtric looked at each other with a smirk. Sihtric handed them both bread and stew.

“Finan, I heard that you claimed this beautiful woman from another,” Uhtred teased.

“No, lord, I merely saved her from the grasp of Aldmund - the old bastard grabbed her up from the battlefield and thought that she was something to claim.” Finan responded sternly.

Luna looked at him. She knew then that he didn’t regard women as property, even though she wasn’t opposed to belonging to this handsome Irishman from here on.

Sihtric looked at Luna and smiled. She looked up at him and returned the smile as she glanced back at Uhtred.

Uhtred chucked. “Yes, she is not timid nor something to own,” Uhtred said. “Unless she wants to be.”

Luna's cheeks grew hot as Uhtred teased her and Finan. She could tell that Uhtred was respectful of women as well, but that he enjoyed the kinky conversation and seeing his right hand man squirm as he noticed the obvious liking that Finan had taken to Luna.

“In that case lord, I’ll oblige if she desires me to own her. Time will tell.” Finan replied and winked at Uhtred. The men laughed as Luna shook her head, smiling.

After they were finished eating, Finan had took time to clean himself up as well, and eventually grabbed Luna’s hand and guided her back to the tent. “You need your rest lady,” he said. “We leave at dawn.”

“Yes, lord.” She replied as she took off his cloak and placed it near her bedside. He glanced at her body again and his breath caught in his throat.

“If you need anything, the men and I will be just outside.” He said sternly, trying to remain collected as he turned to leave.

“Lord, might you stay?” She asked. “I feel somewhat disturbed by the day. It would help me sleep if you were near.”

Finan nodded. “Yes, lady. I can stay.” He grabbed his bedroll and placed it on the floor next to her bed, his heartbeat feeling strong in his chest by just being near her. He took off his armor, sword belt, and boots and set them on the floor next to his bedroll. It was her turn to admire his body as he stood in just a tunic and trousers. She gazed at the many scars, the firmness of his chest and arms as his muscles contracted and relaxed with his movements. She took a moment to glance over the bulge in his trousers. He glanced at her and caught her staring at him, a slight chuckle coming from his chest.

“What is it, lady?” He asked, teasing her.

“Nothing, Lord.” She replied, her mouth practically watering. “I shall take my rest now. Goodnight Lord.” She said as she laid down, turned to her side to face the other direction away from him. She felt meek and obedient in his strong presence, his deep, accented voice only making it worse. What is wrong with me? She thought. Gods, just hearing his voice makes me wet.

“Goodnight, pretty girl.” He replied as he laid down.

Luna felt her heart as well as her core throbbing, and took some deep breaths to settle herself. She needed to rest. She eventually drifted off to sleep, listening to Finan’s breathing down below.

Tags: @gemini-mama @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @bhxrdy @valeskafics @king-alfred @persephones-journey @finanhasmyheart @tlkfaerie @mojosdumpingground

You all have inspired me with your amazing writing. Thank you for giving me the courage!

#finan tlk fanfic #finan the agile #the last kingdom #tlk fandom #tlk fanfic #finan x reader

32 notes · View notes

irrevocableloves · 4 days

Text

violent delights

twilight rewrite! edward cullen x fem!witch!reader

chapter eight: questions & theories

previous chapter ౨ৎ masterlist ౨ৎ chapter nine

summary: after edward had mysteriously rescues her, she finally gets some answers.

warnings: violence, harassment

words: 4.6k (unedited)

All that could be heard was the shudder of my quickened breaths, not even a word coming from Edward’s mouth or even the drunken men who just stared in what was perhaps confusion? Maybe fear? Just moments ago, I could read them almost instantly. Hunger was what I felt from them. The absolute need for control. It sickened me.

I wasn’t sure what Edward had done, but the boys backed up and Edward made his way back into the car. I hurried and put my seatbelt on before he revved the engine and pulled forward. I couldn’t help but gasp as the men fell over as they backed away. Then he backed up swiftly, making the sharpest turn around that swished my insides. Even then, I still felt the safest I’ve ever been.

He raced down past the building and pulled onto the street, not even stopping at the sign or even waiting for someone to let him in. Honks blared past him, but not one flinch. As he raced down the street, I took the time to study him. His jaw was clenched, his hands gripped the wheel, his expression was full of fury; it looked as if he wasn’t even breathing at all.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice squeaked. I winced hearing my voice coming out so frail.

“No.” He was fuming.

I was surprised when he’d made a complete stop at the side of the road. I didn’t realize I’d been looking at him the whole time when he finally stopped to look towards me, not even reaching my eye.

“Y/N?” he asked as softly as he could, although I could still hear the strains of anger.

“Yeah?”

“Are you all right?” His eyes met mine for a split second.

“I–I think so…” I don’t think I was. I was too shocked by it all.

“Do you think you can distract me?” he just about pleaded.

From just looking at him, I didn’t need to question his need for a diversion. But, what was there to say? The days without him had left me in a heap of depression and utter sense of boredom at school. I racked my brain of anything that seemed amusing, scratching out my search for vampires and the constant dreams I had of him that left me a sweating mess on my sheets.

“Tyler Crowley–he–um kept telling everyone he was taking me to prom? I think? I don’t really remember, I kinda tuned it out…” I admitted. I should’ve been more angry about it, but the absence of Edward had hit me a lot harder.

“I heard about that.” He seemed to be controlling his breaths.

“Really? Was I the last one to hear about this?” I tried to lighten the mood, it seemed to work when I was rewarded a slight chuckle. “If he thinks taking me to prom is making up for almost killing me, then I’ll just run him over with my car and make it even.”

I saw his mouth twitch a bit with my remark, almost forcing itself not to crack a smile. I decided to speak up again. “What’s wrong?”

“My temper. Sometimes it gets out of control.” He was whispering, ashamed of what he couldn’t control. “It’s taking everything in me not to turn around and hunt those animals. The vile, repulsive things they were thinking…”

I know. I didn’t dare speak that aloud. I felt like I was losing my mind. Could he too hear their thoughts or were they as clear as day?

“It wouldn’t help to turn around and do it… or even run them over… At least that’s what I’m trying to convince myself.”

A part of me wished that he would… hunt them down. The part of me that was completely exposed. The one that was forced to hear their thoughts. Unless I’d imagined it… but it wouldn’t have been too far off from reality.

“Jessica and Angela,” I broke the brief silence, realizing that it had been at least 20 minutes since I’d last contacted them. “I was supposed to meet them, they’re probably worried...”

Without another word, he started the engine. Yet again, racing through the streets in a blur. He parallel parked in a spot with ease, right in front of La Bella Italia. My eyebrows furrowed. From the time I’d told him about meeting the girls to our arrival at the restaurant, I never mentioned the location once.

In my swift time of thought, he’d already been opening my door.

“What’re you doing?” I asked him.

“I’m taking you to dinner,” he said as if it was so plainly obvious.

I fumbled with my seatbelt as my mind raced about as fast as Edward’s driving. Finally, I stepped out.

Just as we were entering, Jessica and Angela walked out, the both of them sighing with relief. Right as they were about to speak, they noticed the brooding, tall man beside me and their worried looks had faded, instead replaced with a red tint in their cheeks.

“Sorry I kept Y/N from dinner. We ran into each other and got talking.” Edward was the one to speak first. I was grateful. I couldn’t even bear to tell them what happened, at least not yet, I didn’t want to worry them.

“We understand, yeah!” Jessica was completely flustered along with Angela.

“Would it be all right if I joined you?” he asked. He had a way with people, one that left them absolutely breathless. The girls were left in stutters.

“Um! Y-yeah sure!” Jessica breathed. Edward smirked.

“Um, actually, Y/N, we already ate while we were waiting — sorry," Angela confessed.

“That’s okay! I’m not really that hungry anyways.” I shrugged. With all the nerves with Edward here, I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to stomach anything.

“I really think you should eat something,” Edward said in a low voice, leaning down to speak into my ear. I looked up at him, trying to cover up the fact that I was in complete awe. I simply nodded back at him as if I was in a trance.

“Sure, yeah.” I tried to say as composed as possible.

He looked back to the two girls, then spoke, “Do you mind if I drive Y/N home tonight? That way the two of you aren’t left waiting.”

Jessica and Angela looked to me for an answer. I gave them a nod with a smile. This was exactly what I needed. A night to finally ask all of my unanswered questions from my brooding savior.

“Yeah! Not a problem! See you tomorrow, Y/N/N,” Jessica chirped.

“Bye Y/N,” Angela leaned in for a hug. “And Edward, thanks for staying and taking her home.” She smiled at him. He responded back with a tight, but genuine smile.

Once they left, Edward guided me towards the entrance,holding the door open for me. My heart skipped a beat. I walked through the door, immediately being greeted by a host. Actually, only Edward was greeted by the host. Just from the look in her eyes, I knew she was instantly enamored by his presence, a feeling that was all too familiar with practically anyone that laid their eyes on him.

As she spoke, she never broke eye contact with him, not once looking towards me. I hated that it bothered me. The way she smiled at him, giggling at him once he spoke — it made me feel small.

“A table for two?” Her eye contact was still left unbroken, but when I looked towards Edward, his eyes were only on me. My breath trembled.

When she led us to a larger table, one that was meant for four, Edward spoke up, “Perhaps something more private?” He asked the host with a quick glance towards her before slyly pulling out a tip for her. Then his eyes were back on me.

“Sure,” she said alluringly, still trying to catch Edward’s undivided attention. She led us over to the quieter area of the restaurant, with a ring of small booths lined up. “How’s this?”

“Perfect.” He flashed a smile at her, one that had absolutely left her awed.

”Um-” she stuttered, “your server will be right out.” She walked away, still making glances back towards Edward.

“Wow.” That was all that I could possibly utter after that interaction.

“What?”

“You really shouldn’t do that to people.” I finally found my voice. “It’s hardly fair.”

“Do what?”

”Dazzle them like that.” I couldn’t possibly think of a word more fitting. “She’s probably hyperventilating in the kitchen right now.”

His eyebrows furrowed, which surprised me. Did he really not notice this effect he has on people?

“I dazzle people?” His head tilted to one side, his eyes full of curiosity.

“Oh, come on.” I giggled. “Do you really think everyone gets their way so easily?”

He ignored my question completely. “Do I dazzle you?”

I froze for a moment before asking, “What do you think?”

“Now that’s the real question…” He mumbled. He looked frustrated.

Thankfully, before I could even form a response, our server arrived, her eyes gleaming. Once again, another woman dazzled by just the mere presence of Edward Cullen.

“Hi. My name’s Amber and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you to drink?” She only looked at Edward and I noticed that his eyes, again, were on me.

“A Coke.” I said rather bland to the server.

“Two Cokes,” he said.

“I’ll be right back with that.” She shot him another smile, one that was completely unnecessary as his eyes still remained on me.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Fine?” I’d completely forgotten about the reason why he was here with me in the first place. I hated that. The way that every thought bolted out of my mind when it came to him, it was quite frustrating.

“You’re not a little shaken up? Dizzy, sick, cold…?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, I’ve always been pretty good at repressing unpleasant things.” And he was far from that.

He nodded. “Well, I’ll feel better once you have something in your system.”

Just after that, the server came back with our drinks and a basket of breadsticks. To make him feel better, I grabbed one to nibble on.

“Are you ready to order?” she asked Edward, her back facing me.

“Y/N?” he asked. She looked back at me uninterested. I tried my hardest to swallow my tongue.

I glanced at the menu, picking the first thing that my eyes fell to. “I’ll have the Fettuccine Alfredo.”

“And you?” She turned back to him with a smile.

“Nothing for me.” I knew it.

The server gave him a coy smile. “Just let me know if you change your mind.”

He pushed my drink towards me, nodding at it for me to drink. The waiter left disappointed.

Once the glass was in front of me, I sipped on it, forgetting how dehydrated I actually was. In under a minute, the soda was gone and embarrassingly enough, I was still thirsty.

I saw him push the other coke towards me. I gave him a smile, deciding to take small sips from it.

“Cold?” He asked.

I felt a shiver down my spine and this time it wasn’t from Edward, but from the Coke that I’d chugged and the one that I was currently sipping on.

Before I could even nod, he shrugged off his gray coat, one that looked a little too nice for a teenage boy. Underneath, he wore a casual dark blue button down with the two buttons loose to reveal a dark gray undershirt.

Once he handed me his coat, I was broken from my trance. I slid my arm into his coat, oddly, it was cold, almost as if I’d left it in my car that was drowning in snow from the night before. But in just seconds, the coat had warmed to my touch. Once it was on, I pushed back the sleeves as they were far too long on me…

“You sure you're alright? Normally a person would’ve gone into shock.” He pushed the breadsticks in front of me and I gladly served myself another.

Why was that? I couldn’t really make out a sane answer as to why my reaction didn’t amount to one of a normal person. There was truly only one answer. Him.

“I feel safe with you,” I confessed.

His head went down, his eyes to the floor with a furrowed brow.

“I’m not… good for you.” He shook his head, his eyes still facing the ground.

“Your eyes are black again.” I saw his expression change, he looked back up at me, his eyebrows furrowed yet again, but this time in a state of confusion rather than disappointment. “I noticed your moods change according to your eye color, it’s quite interesting actually. One of my new theories.”

“So there’s more theories?” He had a faint smile and I could sense that he was a bit intrigued.

“Well I’m not gonna force it out of you. Just makes me feel a bit more sane.” He nodded at my response, his smile peeking a bit more in the corners of his mouth.

“And what are these new theories?”

When the waitress came over, we both realized how close we were sitting and immediately straightened out. She set the dish in front of me and then turned to Edward.

“Did you change your mind? Isn’t there anything I can get you?” she asked him.

“No, thank you.” Then gestured towards me.

I looked around at the table, realizing I’d already finished the second coke. “Maybe just some water.” I gave her a tight smile.

She nodded, only smiling at Edward, then took the empty glasses off the table and walked off.

“So, those theories?” He moved closer to me.

“I’ll tell you later in the car. Only if I can ask you a few questions.”

“Done,” he said immediately, I was a bit surprised.

“Why are you here?” I started.

“To have dinner with you,” he said as if it were obvious.

“No, I mean Port Angeles. It’s an hour drive – you knew I was here.”

“Next.”

“C’mon, I gotta have at least some answers if you won’t tell me the big one.”

“Next,” he repeated.

I tried hard to not look as frustrated as I actually was. I shouldn’t have. I should feel grateful and not poke my head in where it didn’t belong. But I couldn’t help the pull I felt towards him, the need to know him. Instead, I pulled my focus towards the steaming food in front of me, twisting the noodles on my fork and sticking them in my mouth. It was actually delicious.

The waitress came back with two waters without another word.

“Okay.” I took a sip of my water before speaking up again. “So… let’s say, hypothetically, someone could know what people are thinking. Read minds, you know?” I wasn’t even sure if this question was regarding me or him, but I was intrigued either way.

“Hypothetically?” He asked, amused.

“Mhm.” I nodded. “So, how does it work? How is it that someone could find another person at the right time and just know that they’re in trouble?”

“Well, hypothetically, it shouldn’t take that someone any mind reading at all to know just how much trouble you get into in a town with absolutely no trouble.” He chuckled.

I only just looked at him, waiting for him to tell me the truth or not. Just from my look, he seemed frustrated, as if he was battling a war in his mind of whether or not he should tell me the truth.

“You can trust me, you know?” Without a second thought I reached my hands towards his, but he pulled them away. My face was tinted red. I was glad his eyes were still to the floor.

“I was wrong about you.” He admitted. “You're much more observant than I gave you credit for.”

“Thought you were always right.”

“I used to be.” He finally looked at me. “But, you proved me wrong.”

He spoke up again before I could respond. “I was wrong about something else, too.”

“You’re not a magnet for accidents. No… that’s not a broad enough classification. You are a magnet for trouble. If there is anything dangerous within a ten-mile radius, it will inevitably find you.”

“And you think that’s you?” I guessed.

Just from his expression, I knew I was right. His face turned cold, in another effort to shut me out completely.

“Unequivocally,” he said.

My hands stretched across the table again as they had a mind of its own. Even as he pulled away, my hands persisted, shadowing over the back of his hand, feeling his skin with my fingertips. It was cold, like stone. Familiar. Like in my dream. Once the cold started to dissipate from my fingertips, I slowly inched my hand back…

I wasn’t the only one who noticed it. Edward looked down at where my fingertips once laid, a bewildered look on his face. To break his focus, I cleared my throat, muttering, “Thank you,” I started. He looked up at me, trying hard to not glance back down at his hand. I continued “For saving me… again…”

“Let’s hope there isn’t a third.” He said, his usual condescending self resurfacing. He placed both of his hands under the table, pulling himself back into our conversation.

“I followed you to Port Angeles,” he admitted. “I feel protective over you.” His expression seemed like he didn’t know why himself, but he continued on, “I've never tried to keep a specific person alive before, and it's much more troublesome than I would have believed. But that's probably just because it's you. Ordinary people seem to make it through the day without so many catastrophes.”

It should’ve bothered me, but it didn’t. Instead, I felt content over the fact that this connection wasn’t imaginary. He felt it to the point where he felt the need to protect me. Nothing about this was normal, but I seemed to not be fazed by it at all. So, why should I fight it? The only thing I was determined to fight was the smile that threatened to curve on my lips.

“Did you ever think that maybe my number was up the first time, with the van, and that you've been interfering with fate?" I speculated, distracting myself.

“That wasn't the first time," he murmured. “Your number was up the first time I met you."

My breath hitched. But somehow, the memory didn’t bother me anymore, not when I felt the safety I felt with him right now. Not when he’d gone beyond faith and saved me twice.

"You remember?" he asked.

"Yes." I was as calm as ever.

“And yet here you sit." There was a trace of disbelief in his voice; he raised one eyebrow.

"Yes, here I sit… because of you." I paused. “Because somehow you always manage to find me?”

He studied me, his expression guarded. His eyes flashed down to my plate, then returned to mine.

“You eat, I'll talk," he bargained.

I looked down at my now, lukewarm food, realizing how long it’s been since I’d taken a bite. I filled up my fork and ate in return for his explanation.

“It's harder than it should be — keeping track of you. Usually I can find someone very easily, once I've heard their mind before…" He glanced at me with anxiety, and I noticed I had tensed up. I forced myself to swallow, then piled up my fork again for another bite.

“I kept loose tabs on Jessica, knowing only you could find trouble in Port Angeles. At first I didn’t notice when you roamed off on your own – her thoughts were quite scrambled. Then, when I realized you’d left them, I went looking for you at the bookstore I saw in her head. I could tell you hadn’t gone in yet – you’d gone south. I searched through the thoughts of people on the street just to see if anyone saw you. I was strangely anxious…” He trailed off, lost in thought, his gaze distant.

“I drove in circles, still… listening. The sun was setting, and I was considering following you on foot. But then—" He paused, teeth clenched in sudden fury, making an effort to regain composure.

“Then what?" I whispered. He continued to stare towards the floor.

“I heard what they were thinking," he growled, his upper lip curling slightly back over his teeth. So could I, even if it was just for a moment. “I saw your face in their minds." He was struggling to compose his anger as his entire face twitched up.

His hands were now in his face to contain his fury. “It was very… hard — you can't imagine how hard it was for me to simply take you away, and leave them… alive." I was holding in a gasp. But, still… somehow… I wasn’t afraid of him.

“I could have let you go with Jessica and Angela, but I was afraid if you left me alone, I would go looking for them," he admitted in a whisper. I sat quietly, dazed, my thoughts incoherent. My hands were folded in my lap, and I was leaning weakly against the back of the seat. He still had his face in his hand, and he was as still as if he'd been carved from the stone his skin resembled.

Finally he looked up, his eyes seeking mine, full of his own questions.

“Are you ready to go home?" he asked. The waitress had come over almost immediately after Edward muttered the words.

I nodded, satisfied that I’d be the one spending an hour long drive with him, one that would further my answers to my long-awaited questions.

“How are we doing?" she asked Edward.

“We're ready for the check, thank you." He was a lot more reserved than earlier. His charming smirk had been replaced with a brooding expression, still reflecting the strain of our conversation. The waitress seemed to notice the change and looked a bit disoriented from it.

“S-sure," she stuttered. “Here you go." Before she even pulled out the check, a bill was already in his hand. He slipped it into the folder and handed it right back to her.

“No change." He gave her a tight smile, then stood up. Meanwhile, I scrambled awkwardly up to my feet.

She smiled invitingly at him again. “You have a nice evening." He didn't look away from me as he thanked her. I didn’t even bother to smile. Walking out, he was close beside me, but still careful not to touch me.

He opened the passenger door, holding it for me as I stepped in, shutting it softly behind me. I should’ve been used to this. But as I watched him circle around the car, so effortless and graceful, I couldn’t help but think of how I was so utterly astonished by him.

Once inside the car, he started the engine and turned the heater on high. I was grateful, because even in the warmth of his coat, the temporary chill of the car had left me in shivers and a cold breath. I didn’t even notice Edward weaving through traffic, as I usually did, but we were now on the freeway. That’s when he finally slowed down to a normal pace, for now…

“Now, about those theories…" he said, his usual smirk and smugness creeping its way back.

“I still have more questions,” I revealed. “Just one.”

He only nodded, staring me down, not even paying attention to the road.

“What am I thinking right now?”

He sighed. “Now that. That’s the most frustrating thing of all.”

My eyebrows furrowed as I waited for an answer.

“I can read every mind… apart from yours.”

My breath hitched. “Is there something wrong with me?”

“I hear voices in my mind and you think there’s something wrong with you?” So, I’m a double freak. I should’ve told him that I heard them too, even if it was only for a few moments… But if he could have secrets, so could I.

“How does it work?”

“Mostly, it’s like being in a huge hall filled with everyone speaking at once. It's just a hum — a buzzing of voices in the background. It’s not until I focus on one voice and that’s when their thoughts are clear.” He paused for a moment. “Most of the time I tune it all out — it can be very distracting. And then it's easier to seem normal.” It seemed agonizing.

“Why do you think you can’t hear me?” I asked

curiously.

“The only guess I have is that maybe your mind doesn't work the same way the rest of theirs do. Like your thoughts are on the AM frequency and I'm only getting FM." He grinned at

me, suddenly amused.

“So you’re telling me that my mind doesn’t work right?” I chuckled, but really, his words unsettled me. It hit a nerve, tapping into a fear I’d always dreaded might be true.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a theory… which brings us back to yours.”

I froze. Suddenly, saying it out loud made me feel foolish. Despite all my research and seemingly reliable conversations – I still felt like I was losing my mind.

He noticed my silence. “I won’t laugh,” he said, scrunching his grin into a line.

I took a deep breath before I started. “So, I ran into an old friend – Jacob Black, an old family friend of mine… His dad is one of the Quileute elders.” I noticed his expression change, his jaw clenching.

“At La Push, he told me a few old legends – I think he was trying to scare me. But, he told me one…” I was distracted by the Forks welcome sign as Edward slowed down – I should’ve known that the hour-long car ride would be cut short from Edward’s driving habits.

Right as I was about to continue onto my theory, my attention shifted to the flashing police lights and sirens as we were nearing the police station. Then, my dad’s cruiser parked right in front.

“My dad’s still here… Can you pull in?” I asked.

“That’s my father’s car in the end. What’s he doing here?”

Once he pulled in, we both exited the car, meeting Carisle as he walked down the steps of the police station.

“Carlisle. What happened?”

“Waylon Forge was found in a boat out near his place. I just examined the body.”

Flashes of images consumed me. The boat. Red. So much red. In a blur, the flash of crimson red was surrounded by pale bodies devouring the deceased Waylon Forge.

“Y/N?” A voice interrupted the images, a shake and then a cold hand on my face is what I felt before I opened my eyes.

I squinted from the flashes of the red and blue police lights. With each blink, my vision cleared and in front of me was Edward – wearing an expression I’d never quite seen from him before: fear.

And I felt it too, more than ever.

His once cold hand warmed on my face, almost tingling. But this time, he didn’t move it.

“Y/N?” Carlisle interrupted over Edward’s shoulder. “Are you feeling faint?”

“No.” I cleared my throat. Edward had finally let go, but that warmth of his touch lingered severely. “I’m fine, thank you. Just… just shock… H-he died?” I stuttered. “How?”

I knew exactly how. The images from just seconds ago flickered. My heart pounded and my breath picked up from just the memory of it. The blood. Waymond’s blood. His lifeless body being torn apart by those three figures… Vampires.

Carlisle sighed. “Animal attack.”

next chapter

a/n: i'm so sorry i haven't updated in forever ..........

tags: @measure-in-pain @brekkers-whore @rejectedbimbo @leilanileila @anothercoffeeblogx @cevans-winchester @trawberry-fire @nephilimsss @itszzmoon @astrovampie @cryingoverfictionalmen @boxofbadsenses @ttnaanj @iheartprettygurls @aoi-targaryen @disneyprincessbuffyannesummers @mystifiedgrace @ladybirdbeetle7 @celi-xxmoon @quinnieloves @valeriegraham @renesmeviolets @justicexjustice @bubs-world @eir964 @turnintoclown @tiniewife

(if ur username is here and u didn't get a notif just dm me and i'll dm u when there's an update <3)

taglist ₊˚⊹♡

#violent delights #twilight #edward cullen x reader #edward cullen x you #edward cullen x y/n #edward cullen fanfiction #robert pattinson #twilight fanfiction #robert pattinson x reader #violent delights fanfic #violent delights fanfiction

22 notes · View notes

harrywavycurly · 1 year

Note

Hi Sarah! I’m just wanting some convos between reader and her friends about husband Eddie. I know she gossips about their relationship to maybe Nancy and Robin? 😂🥰

Hiii babes!!! Oh yes of course she tells Nancy and Robin details about Eddie and their relationship! I hope you enjoy these😂💖

-find all things husband Eddie here✨

-I put a 💕 next to the convos that are with Nancy and ✨ means it’s a convo with Robin

*Robin wants all the details on your wedding night but instantly regrets it*

✨ “wait wait…you mean to tell me Eddie Munson did all that? No fucking way…” “you’d be surprised what he’s capable of.” “But he’s just…such a pushover…” “I mean yeah but that’s…outside of the bedroom.” “So what as soon as the lights go out he turns into this assertive dominant…man?” “Why did you say man like it was a question?” “Because i’ve always thought he identified as like a string bean but what you’re describing is…well no vegetable I know can do all that.” “You’re so annoying.” “So it was good then? Like better than it was before marriage?” “Oh totally better than before we were married…I don’t know why…maybe something about getting to call him my husband or something?” “I always knew you two were freaks.” “You’re the one who asked how it was.” “Yeah…I shouldn’t have done that.”

💕 “I’m going to kill him.” “What did he do now?” “He ate the last fucking bag of hot Cheetos and I don’t have a back up like I normally do because he’s making me lay off them for a bit.” “He’s making you take a cheeto break? Why?” “Fuck if I know! Something about it’s not good for me or some shit.” “I can tell you’re really mad…want to see if I have any?” “No…I just want you to tell me if it’s okay if I kill him or not.” “No you can’t kill him…you’d miss him the moment there’s a spider in the shower.” “That’s true he is good at killing spiders…damn him.” “You can always tell Wayne that Ed is being an asshole…” “i can’t use Wayne for everything…besides Wayne will be on his side he hates my hot Cheetos addiction.” “Those Munson men…what assholes.” “Right? So rude…and can’t even kill them because they’re so useful…so damn annoying.”

✨ “I’m sorry you said he did what now?” “He almost caught his hair on fire using the stove.” “Like…on fire on fire? Or it just got singed a bit?” “Oh it got singed a bit and set the smoke alarm off.” “I bet it smelled like ass didn’t it?” “It did…so from now on he has to have his hair up if he’s using the stove.” “And here I thought Steve was a fire hazard with all the product he has in his hair but turns out it was Eddie I should’ve been worried about.” “Steve keeps his hair short for a reason” “oh that makes so much sense! So it doesn’t combust!” “Exactly.” “That’s your man though…brunt hair and all.” “Yup that’s my man…gotta love him.” “I mean I don’t have to…but I get what you mean.”

💕 “Nancy! Guess what Eddie just got.” “A new hair mask?” “No…he does need one though his hair is looking a little blah.” “I liked the one he used to make his hair all shiny.” “Same it was nice…but it’s not hair related.” “Uh…new seat covers for the van?” “I fucking wish…the cracked leather is so annoying to sit on but he’s stubborn and super picky so sadly that’s also not it.” “Okay…a new guitar strap?” “God you’re not good at this…it’s a tattoo.” “Oh of what?” “He got my initial on his ring finger.” “Shut up no he didn’t.” “Oh but he did….” “Holy shit that’s…kinda romantic?” “Right? At first i was like what the fuck is wrong with you? But the more I was looking at it…it’s growing on me.” “Yeah? You gonna get his?” “Hell no…I already have a bat that matches his…that’s about all he’s getting.” “Let me see the font he used for your initial….oh that’s cute…yeah I like it.” “Yeah he said it’s mainly because he doesn’t like to wear his ring while at work so this will help keep the bitches away while he doesn’t have it on.” “Keep the bitches away? Does Eddie…get bitches?” “I mean he got me didn’t he Nancy? Edward James Munson would shock the shit out of with how many chicks are actually interested in him…so yeah he has to keep the bitches away.” “Well whatever works…is that the only one he’s getting for you?” “He has my name on his side…but yeah I think that’s it.” “I forgot about the name one…didn’t he get that when you two were broken up?” “He doesn’t like to talk about it…but yes.” “Right I forget he’s sensitive about that time in your relationship.” “He’s a sensitive little metal head.”

#eddie extras #husband eddie munson #eddie munson series #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you fluff #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x fem!reader fluff #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x wife!reader #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #Eddie Munson #my little dungeon master baby

148 notes · View notes

kanataka-san · 2 years

Text

This is all 4 parts posted in one long one shot:

(About 4k words)

“She took my mate away from me and now you want my help with some questionable child- their child. Not to mention against all of the volturi.” (E/C) eyes wouldn’t even for a second look at the vampire he once called his family that was now inside his house, focusing on what was happening outside the window.

“(Y/N) I understand you’re holding a grief towards Edward and Bella but do it for Renesme. She’s just a child.” A blonde haired male waited patiently for a response and soon he got one.

“You’re a fool Carlisle.” With that older vampire lowered his head knowing the discussion was over, so he got up from the red sofa and walked out of the dark wooden door closing it behind hearing a click.

Rest of the family that decided to come along stood near the black car waiting for an answer.

“How did it go?” Bella asked curiously.

She didn’t know what happened in the past between an unfamiliar vampire and her now husband was her fault.

“We shouldn’t have come here I told you it will be pointless.” Edward spoke up as his hold on his wife tightened, making the brunett turn her head to look at him questionably.

(Y/N) thoughts were loud, he could tell his past lover didn’t want any of cullens on his terytorry in case volturi would chase after him too and definitely didn’t want to get involved with vampire-human child that was his daughter no matter if she was a threat or not it did not involved him now, they weren’t a part of his life anymore.

Even if (Y/N) did not wish them death they were not his problem. All of them lied straight to his face breaking his dead heart even more keeping the future away from him- future he wasnt in.

Turning away from the window (Y/N)s hand went up to his cheek wiping the wet annoying feeling that ghosted his cold skin- even as a vampire he got a gift- well for him it was a curse, feeling way more than he could handle and express too many emotions at once after deconcentrating.

He was happy- they were happy- but she took it away.

No matter how much they will need him he won’t show up and save the day.

————————————————————————

(Y/N) sat on the kitchen counter with a glass of water in hand after he moved far away from the window- sure he was a vampire, his heart wasn’t beating or lungs didn’t need air- he was immortal- but nothing really changed between him and normal human being, he was as weak as one, still got emotions, needed to eat from time to time and not only blood, no vampire got eyes that looked like his.

He knew Cullens needed as much of their kind to support them but they hurt him and if a fight broke out he surely was going to die, no matter if he tried to run, they would kill him sooner or later.

Of course even now he wont be safe, they came to him and nothing will hide from Aro sight.

————————————————————————-

All of the Cullens came back home about two hours ago and everyone returned to their things to somehow keep the normality but there was something that still bothered Bella.

The newborn vampire couldn’t stop walking around in his husband’s old room thinking what exactly happened earlier.

Even if they asked for help from others that didn’t know Renesme and knew the danger of the situation, they agreed to be on their side- why wouldn’t that one help them?

“how did it went?”

Bella wasn’t expecting Jacob to show up and stop her thoughts.

“By the look on your face I don’t think it went well..” wolf shifter leaned against the door frame waiting for the answer.

“It didn’t, I just don’t know what happened. Others agreed to help but this one didn’t even want to communicate with us, he barely let Carlisle inside to talk.” brunette sat on the bed with her hands intertwined together.

“Maybe I could help?”

“How? You’re a wolf Jake, you know how we react-”

“I know, you hate the smell and all but we can always try.” it wasn’t hard to see he still got a thing for her and will do anything for his imprint.

————————————————————————

Jacob debated if he should shift or not but in the end decided it was better for him to take his bike and was ready for a trip.

Seth wanted to go too but the older boy didn’t agree, not knowing if it was safe for him to tag along.

————————————————————————

Upon seeing a small reddish house wolf shifter slowed down and stopped on the driveway then got off the bike, cautiously making his way to the front door.

His knock wasn’t the loudest but for sure hireable, so after a while Jake decided to go around and look for the vampire through the windows.

He didn’t find anything, that worried him a bit.

A wolf in Jacob picked up upon hearing the tires break, then he heard a low whine.

“Seth-”

At that moment nothing else matter. After shifting, he ran as fast as he could to where he heard the noise coming fron.

Thank fully it wasn’t that far away from where he stood earlier. On the spot, he noticed a bright colored old car and a tail of a wolf on the side. Coming closer to it, dark smoke was seen that started going off in the hood of the car.

The person that sat inside of the vehicle didn’t move- it was clear as day the accident scared him half to death.

Walking at the front of the car Jacob checked if Seth was ok and fortunately, he was- after shifting back he will get an ear full for what happened, he was sure of it.

Feeling a pair of eyes on him, Jacob looked up and was met with a pair of (E/C) orbs but small parts of them were golden watching his movement which made him freeze.

Neither of them noticed the fire starting but when they did man sitting behind the wheel grabbed the handle to open the door but it wouldn’t move.

That’s when the panic set in.

Fire started slow but it quickly gained strength spreading more on the passenger side.

Seth looked panicked as his eyes moved between Jacob and the person trapped in the car. That’s when the bigger wolf did something smaller one didn’t expect, he shifted back in his human form and tore the driver’s side door open pulling the male out of there into his arms.

Feeling warm skin under his fingertips (Y/N) opened his eyes looking up seeing a man that wasn’t there before. Using his hands, shorter male tried to get out of the embrace pushing onto the toned chest.

Jacob let him go but not completely- he didn’t want to let go. He then remember Seth is here too however he wast the only one who did.

Now it hits (Y/N). There were two of the wolves.

“shifters-”

Even if it was said in a hushed whisper both of the man heard it clearly.

Pushing away (H/C) locks bounced in the air as the vampire moved backwards shaking his head.

Before black haired male could say anything his eyes widened noticing how the sun fell onto the other making it sparkle but not as much as Cullens or any other vampire he meet did.

A vampire.

How did he not notice earlier?

His skin was surely colder, his cheeks were slightly flushed and his eyes were golden- (E/C)? Light tears showed in the corners…

How was that possible…?

Turning around, Jacob shifted back and ran forward followed by Seth that got too many questions and each of them loudly echoed in the older one’s head.

Just like that (Y/N) stoon on the side of the road alone full of questions.

Why did he got scent of Cullens on himself?

Were they that desperate to ask wolfshifters for help?

Why would shifters help vampires?

Why did a wolfshifter show up on his territory?

Why did they agree for a shifter to go to a vampire?

————————————————————————

Walking back home (Y/N) didn’t know what to think about the situation he was in.

First Cullens, the family that first lied to him and then wanted his help…

Then he met two shifters- one made his car set on fire and the other saved his life….

The warmth in his chest was distracting enough to make his emotions take control of his facial expression, leaving it half smiling and half scared- for sure looking like a psychopath or a killer that lives in the woods.

Meanwhile, Jacob stopped running, lost in the middle of the unfamiliar woods- he just saved a scared vampire and wasn’t guilty about it nor disgusted by his cold touch on his body, the eyes he looked at weren’t bloody red or that annoying golden yellow like Bellas.

He didn’t know what was going on with him.

That was when Seth found him, the smaller wolf broke him out of the trance by saying it was quite late and they needed to come back somehow before it gets too dark.

————————————————————————

Brown fur of the wolf caught the attention of Bella that sat on the light up weranda steps as Edward stood next to her, a mind reading vampire read Jacob’s thoughts knowing he had conflict in his mind. Placing a hand on his wife shoulder she looked at him, knowing something must happen.

“There was an accident and they weren’t able to talk.”

“What do you mean there was an accident? Tell me what you know.”

At that second Alice showed up, probably already seeing what would happen in the future after Jacob drove away on his bike to find the old member of their family.

“Jacob found what he was looking for but it wasn’t in good circumstances.”

After that pixie haired girl hopped down the stairs with a smile to have both wolves clothes to change into.

It didn’t take them long to get dressed and walk inside the house heading to the living room where everyone was waiting to hear the news.

“How did it go? ”

“It didn’t. Seth nearly got hit by a car just because he didnt listen when I told him to stay. Then it caught on fire and the person inside of it was trapped. I needed to step in.” It wasn’t hard to see that the younger boy was conflicted with himself so they decided to give him some time to calm down.

————————————————————————

When sun rose up and cold wind with darkness disappear from the nearly quiet forest, if it wasn’t for all the animals that lived inside it, was replaced by a wave of light and warmth signaling the start of the new day, Jacob went for a run to get back his bike and maybe meet the unusual vampire to talk just like Cullens wanted- well only if he didn’t run away already.

The journey was way longer than he thought but it wasn’t like he minded running a couple of kilometers more in the green forest.

Before he saw the red house his nose picked up a smell of fresh cooked food- meat- but nobody lives here except for the (E/C) eyed vampire he met yesterday…

That boy was really strange. What didn’t help was that neither of the Cullens shared any information about (Y/N)- well only his name.

Wolfshifter was curious, the first instinct of (Y/N) after he pulled him out of the burning car wasn’t to attack, hurt or kill the taller male but to be afraid of him, wanting to get as far away from him as possible, not feeling safe enough to stay there.

Noticing a figure in the window Jacob stopped to observe what (Y/N) is doing and it seemed that he was so focused on the task that he didn’t notice the other boy looking right back at him letting go of the spoon he was holding.

The metal meeting floor tiles brought him back but he couldn’t move from his spot, neither could (Y/N).

Comming to his senses and walking back (H/C) haired male disappeared into the next room, not long after the front door opened making Jacob speechless.

“Let’s walk inside… And talk”

The boy was quite far away but Jacob clearly heard what the other said.

Before he could register what he’s doing he walked inside the warm house after the vampire. Surprisingly the door didn’t get locked, that made Jacob feel at ease knowing he could walk out normally and not contrive how to escape if he absolutely needed to.

“Before you say why are you here I would like to thank you for saving me… If it wasn’t for you I-”

“Don’t mention it- it was partly my friend’s fault your car caught on fire in the first place..”

The awkward atmosphere formed creating tension in between them. Neither of them knew what to do next even if they had so many questions in their minds.

“You smell like Cullens, what’s your deal with them?” the (H/C) haired male said with a rosed brow.

“I’m helping them.”

“Why? You, despite each other, never cross the line in therytory even while hunting your common enemies… So why now?”

“The girl I imprinted on was a human but.. she chose and married a vampire I hate to the bones then she got pregnant with a child that was slowly killing her and now Volturi are involved.”

This sparked an interest in the vampire.

“imprinted… What does that mean..?”

“It’s like a soulmate, means you will do anything for that person, be whatever that person wants you to be a friend, family, lover..” At the end of the sentence Jacob’s voice got quieter as his head hung low remembering how devastated he was.

“why would she choose a vampire over somebody that is like her… ”

“She’s his blood singer- and she’s important to them and they have a daughter-”

“She may be important for them but not for me.”

“why can’t you just help them? They need you-”

Sudently (Y/N) came closer to the werewolf making the taller boy move backwards till he hit a fireplace and made him shut up.

“I guess they didn’t tell you what happened. Either way, me being there won’t change anything. I’m as weak as a human, in a battle, I’ll fall first if they come after me- which they surely will. Most importantly, that imprint of yours took away something from me that I’ve been part of for hundred and eight years. She came and destroyed it in just a couple of days… They lied straight to my face when they had her in the house. I was rarely there because I couldn’t stand the cold in that house. Even if I’m not a vampire like everyone else I could smell her, even in his car that he picked me up a couple of times. One day I had enough and left everything behind, every new lie they were prepared to tell me, every word that they told to distract me, every time they kept me away from their house on purpose… I’m not wishing them bad but I won’t help them either”

Letting out a long sight Jacob turned in the direction of the door.

“I understand. But please think about it…”

Wolfshifter opened the door then closed it behind himself, all (Y/N) could hear after was the sound of the bike engine as it moved further away from his house.

————————————————————————

Bella started worrying when Jacob didn’t came back to Cullens house and it started to become really late, of course she knew he will be ok being a wolfshifter but something deep down wouldn’t let her calm down, Edward noticed it and got worried but before he could walk up to her Renesmee scream was heard what made all the Cullens rush from various rooms in the house to where the sound came from.

They search but the little girl was nowhere to be found Bella’s eyes grew wide as did her husband.

“I-I can’t see anything.. ” shallow whisper of Alice added to the tension everyone felt forming.

Deciding to split in every direction they began to look everywhere, surely she couldnt be too far away from the house…. Right?

————————————————————————

Little girl got dragged by the material of her greenish dress seeing too many trees to count, all of them passing in a blur before her eyes that shut down quickly after she noticed the big crack in the ground and below them the river flowed as a mysterious creature jumped.

Gush of cold wind hit her pale cheeks making them rosy pink. Tears in her eyes dared to slip from how scared she was. One second she’s standing in front of the weranda steps, the other something drags her away into the dark forest away from her family.

Feeling dirt under her legs like she had just been put down, she curled up in a ball till she couldn’t feel anything standing behind her. Opening of the door made her look startled, her brown locks bouncing.

With furrowed brows (Y/N) looked at the girl in front of him before grabbing a small blanket he kept at the bottom drawer in the hallway and got out shivering as the cold air hit his body.

Spreading the fluffy blanket (H/C) haired boy wrapped it around her smaller figure, she still was wary of the man in front of her but once she saw his eyes she calmed down. Only after making sure she wasn’t too cold anymore (E/C) orbs meet the brown ones noticing the dreamy/ curious expression on her face, he shook his head then got up pulling the girl up placing her on his hip.

In the warmth of the house, Renesmee spoke up. “You’re different” this made (Y/N) tens up but didn’t stop walking.

Placing both of her small hands on older vampire’s cheeks she looked all over his face. “I like it.” she added, smiling brightly.

Deciding to ignore the things she said he asked his own questions.

“What were you doing in the middle of the woods at this hour?”

“I don’t know, something dragged me here. I was too scared to see what it was till you showed up.” placing her on the cough he noticed how her eyes never left his taller frame and her fingers fidget with each other. “you’re a strange little fella, not a human, not a full vampire either.” getting down to her level (Y/N) signalised her to do what she wanted. As she touched his cheek all the things she got through were shown to the crouching vampire that now knew who she was but didn’t pull away letting her finish the visions..

“My name is Renesmee”

“Even stranger names you have…. I’m (Y/N).”

After that Ness talked about her family and what she liked to do (Y/N) let her, he didn’t mind having a little girl in his house that talked his ears off.

Noticing her sleepy state, stronger arms pulled her up and took her to the other room then laid her down onto soft matters of his bed, covered her with a (F/C) bed sheets, then grabbed a spare pillow and some covers going to the living room and placing it neatly on the red sofa.

Going to the bathroom (Y/N) changed into pj and brushed his teeth, soon after he moved back on the sofa and fell asleep.

Three hours later (E/C) eyes felt open, looking down he saw Renesmee cuddled up to his body, letting out a soft breath (Y/N) covering her sleeping body going back to sleep.

————————————————————————

Meanwhile Cullens don’t know what to do. They searched every inch of the forest but they couldn’t find Renesmee nor smell her. Bella was even more on the edge than her husband who still tried to think rationally.

“We haven’t found any blood so she shouldn’t be injured” Jasper spoke as he was seen back.

“I don’t care about the blood, I want my baby to be here.”

“Don’t worry Bella, we will find her.” Carlise spoke softly not to anger the mother any further.

————————————————————————

When the morning came Cullens was even more stressed and worried, no Jacob and now Renesmee disappeared.

————————————————————————

In the other part of the forest (Y/N) had just woken up as well as the girl, he made her breakfast then gave spare toothbrush to let her clean her teeth and brushed her hair knowing later it will be pain in the ass to comb if she already got so many knots in them.

Hearing a knock on the door both of them turned to the hallway. Taller vampire on high alert knowing he now had the hybrid child in his territorium and if something smelled her he couldnt be able to protect her if it came to fight with more than one vampire.

“go to the kitchen”

With a nood from her (Y/N) stood up and went to see who it was before he could actually see it he smelt a strong scent of a wet dog.

Opening them widely he was met with Jacob soaked to the bone from the heavy rain that neither of the two in the house noticed. “you scared me half to death… get inside.” walking in and closing the door, a shorter male ran up to the bathroom for some towels and one of his pj completes since it was the only oversized things he got and placed them on the counter then came back with red towel in hand dropping it on Jacobs head then giving him one more to dry his body. “dry yourself then go change in the bathroom.”

Nodding wolf shifter did as he was told and disappeared behind the bathroom door.

“It’s ok, you can came here now” just like that Ness came out of the kitchen and hugged (Y/N)s leg

“What is she doing here?”

“I don’t know, she showed up last night.” (Y/N) turned to look at the other male, quickly looking away once he felt his expression change. “please wear a shirt and gave me your clothes, I’ll hang them to dry.”

A second later everything went dark, the electricity shut down. Thunder was just starting.

Renesmee fastly came up in between the two, scared. “It’s ok, just a power outage. It should come back soon… hope it comes back soon. ”

“What do you mean?”

“The heater wont work without electricity…making the whole house feel like a freezer in this weather…” hearing the worry in a shorter boy voice they didn’t waste time to gather some warmer bedspreads in one place.

————————————————————————

Sitting on a sofa covered in multiple quilts and blankets Jacob moved (Y/N) closer to his chest and vampire didn’t resist instead cuddled closer with the girl that sat on his lap not wanting to let her freeze and get warmer too. Shifter didn’t complain, liking the closeness. Remembering how Bella did the same in the mountains when she was still a human.. He didn’t know he’d ever meet such a vampire that even when changed were so human-like.

“What are you doing here anyway? My house is far away from the Cullens.”

“I didn’t drive back there after our talk… I needed time to think instead of someone that will get into my head the second I’ll come back there.”

“You’re sick of it too I see..”

Jacob turned his head to look at (Y/N).

“What’s with that look wolf boy? My head isn’t a closed book for a mind reader. He could open it and read from it any time he pleased even if sometimes it made me uncomfortable. That’s just how it is..” after the last sentence the vampire moved to place his head on the tanned boy’s shoulder looking down at the sleeping form of Renesmee.

#male reader #twilight #twilight x male! reader #twilight x male reader #twilight x y/n #jacob x male reader #edward cullen #edward cullen x male reader #carlise cullen #alice cullen #jasper hale #bella swan #renesmee cullen #twilight renesmee

444 notes · View notes

nocturneblight · 15 days

Text

“Tea with enthu”

The two found themselves on the living room couch, Sitting side by side as they continued their discussion, The device from earlier was playing music, a gentle tune sounding out from its place.

Enthu grabbed the freshly brewed pitcher on the table, precisely pouring tea into Edward’s cup till it was met perfectly at the brim, she then repeated the same action with her cup.

After pouring both, she then sat the pitcher back down and handed Edward his cup, also grabbing her own.

“Thank you for this, It’s very good” said Edward, gently sipping from the steaming tea.

Enthu nodded, “No problem, I’m glad you like it, Drink as much as you’d like” she replied, now sipping from her own cup.

Edward smiled, Thanking her once more and drinking from his cup.

“So, What are we going to discuss first? I know I’ve already explained about the whole jenecis situation but, There is still a lot to cover over” he asked.

Enthu replied, “Well, firstly, let’s talk about what your plans are. With all that has happened in the last few hours, how are you feeling? Are you planning on killing me? Going back to jenecis?”

Edward’s eyes expanded from her words,

“No no! Absolutely not! I’ve no idea to kill you now, you’re too nice! If I had known things would be like this, I wouldn’t have barged into here in the first place, Well… maybe only to shake your hand or some sort of kind gesture” he replied.

Enthu chuckled slightly, “I’m glad to hear that Edward, However, I understand your friends with jenecis. Making buds with me like this is bound to be a thorn in her side, I trust you still wish to be friends with her.” She said, explaining to him about the possibilities.

Edward nodded and frowned slightly,

“Yeah… I still want to be friends with her but after this… I don’t know how she will feel…” he replied.

Enthu gently put her hand on his shoulder, patting his back.

“We’ll find a way to solve this, I hope peacefully at best, I’ll try my best to resolve this conflict with reasoning, I might need your help in making her understand though” she said, taking another sip and removing her hand from his shoulder.

Edward slightly smiled, drinking from his cup as well.

“Thank you enthu, although, why do all this? What’s telling you to be this way? You don’t have to keep me here and try to figure out a solution, you could just kick me to the curb right now.” He questioned, looking at her.

She tilted her head, placing her finger to her face and aiming at herself.

“Why I do this? Well… it’s probably habit, I’ll admit, this situation is new to me but, well, I can’t help but think that it’ll end alright if we help each other out. Plus, jenecis means trouble for me, if we don’t resolve this issue, who knows what’ll happen.” She responded, not losing her expression.

Edward nodded, “I see, but… Don’t you realize what could happen to you? You just allowed me, a stranger, to enter. you didn’t even beat me half to death or chain me up, why not cripple my ability to possibly do harm and keep yourself secure? What if I do something terrible while you’re vulnerable?” He asked.

Enthu shook her head,

“Not going to happen, I have faith that you’re an honest person, Why else did you tell me about your plot so quickly? You didn’t want this at all, heck, you even explained to me that you’ve changed your mind about doing the deed. You could be lying but… No, Your not, your being genuine, you haven’t even tried to attack me while my back was turned or when i had a handful of plates.” She throughly explained.

Edward understood her,

“Yeah but-“

“Shush” she interrupted.

“You even gave me your necklace, without much struggle, Who would do that? Someone who trust what I said earlier about not harming it, you trust me, why shouldn’t I have faith in you?” She interrupted.

Edward went to raise his finger and rasp enthu for ordering his silence and interrupting him but, He could not deny she was right, he understood her reasoning a great deal.

“Okay you win enthu” he said humbly, Looking away quickly and drinking from his tea cup.

She smirked, “See? Right there, you didn’t even try to resist me, you’re meek! There isn’t one single bone of malice in that body of yours, is there?”

Edward grumbled a little, sipping from his tea again.

“Hey, I could be evil if I wanted too, but, meek? That doesn’t sound bad honestly, had everyone been more gentle in this world, I doubt I would have been living on the streets like before.” He replied, processing her words.

Enthu snapped her fingers, pointing at him with the other hand,

“And see now? You’re in a house and off the cold roads! All because you were meek, you let yourself get arrested peacefully, you didn’t harm anyone for food or valuables, you’ve lived a life of gentleness and it finally payed off!” She said, attempting to steer his mental thoughts into a happy direction.

“You think so?” He questioned, his right eyebrow raising to her as he turned his head.

She nodded enthusiastically,

“I KNOW so, The good prosper in life, you’ve probably heard this a thousand times over but, all you have to do is hope for the best and aim forward towards your desires, they’ll come to you in no time! I can’t recall how many times I’ve hoped for something and had it happen, while their is a lot of horrible things in this world, we just have to do our best and try not to spread that sort of influence.” She said, sounding almost religious at a point to him.

“S-sure” he replied, a bit taken back by enthu’s logic.

She got closer to him, staring him down while using her arms to give a greater explanation through body language.

“Edward, Think of world we live in, you’ve had your hand in magic as well, the things that could be conjured… the mixture of bright colors that exist, how we breathe, how we eat, the liquid we drink to stay alive. All of these things come naturally to us, are they not amazing? That creature you summoned outside of the city walls, The hare with a funny tophat, Where do you think he came from?” She asked, sounding like a theorist.

“Uhhh, My head? My thoughts? My… Imagination?” He said, not sure.

Enthu pointed both fingers at him with a big smile,

“Yeppers! Your creative imagination! Isn’t that incredible? You WILLED that thing into this life, all through your own beliefs and design, That alone is proof of getting what you seek the most, just like with everything we do, all we have to do is hope, seek, and aim for it to be real and it can be! I mean, I sound like a delirious lady but… just have faith in me and my idea! I’ll show you it in full effect someday, just wait.” She preached, oversharing her reasons.

Edward raised his finger to pause her talking, while she ignored it in her frantic speaking’s, he still had it up.

“You know what? Alright, I’ll try thinking like that from here on, see if your way of life is reasonable and what not” he replied, putting down his finger and nodding in understanding.

Enthu gently clapped her hands together, putting her tea down.

“Hooray! Glad you’re trying something new Edward, The first step is always the hardest, you know?” She responded.

Edward shyly smirked, rolling his eyes,

“Yep, sure thing” he said, taking another sip of his near-empty cup now.

Enthu smiled, knowing he was agreeing just to halt her talking.

“I know you’re just saying yes to shut me up Edward, you can’t silence me forever! I’m in your miiiiind!” She teased, gently nudging him with her much bigger shoulder.

“Yeah you are, But believe me, I’ll consider your ideas.” He explained, smirking a little.

“Thatta boy, But besides what we just spoke about. We can probably move on to the topic about your whole penumbra status, since there is two weeks until she comes back, we have time to think over how we could approach her.” Enthu said.

Edward nodded, “oh yeah! You said I was a penumbra now, So I’m gonna have to assume you have a lot of knowledge over monsters and stuff, right?” He asked.

Enthu slightly shrugged, appearing unsure.

“Well… Yes’nt” she replied, goofily.

Edward cocked his brows “YESNT?! What sort of language is that?!” He spoke, flabbergasted.

Enthu laughed “Nothing, nothing, but yeah. I’m not a pro or even expert at beasties but I do like folklore and things related to it, I can’t tell exactly what they do for a living buuuuuut, I have spent nights reading and absorbing content around them, sometimes even to put me to sleep, ya know, like a comfort thing… when I’m not paranoid awake by it that is.” She explained.

Edward looked her up and down, as if to see if she was still sane as she spoke.

“Soooo, Could you indulge me on what I have to expect with this current form of mine? Or what will be? Heck, even what you might experience from the chomping?” He asked.

Enthu giddily wiggled in her seat, doing little arm motions from joy.

“Oh yes yes yes! Okay so, this is going to be long winded but just stick with me. Okay, Fiiiirst! You most likely become hungry!” She said.

“Check, I was full earlier and still had an odd appetite for sure.” He replied.

“One down! Okay theeeennnn, You might receive strange dreams when you rest, like, REALLY odd dreams, things like anxiety’s, fears and hopes all made into a picture book that’s clear to see” she said.

Edward nodded, “Make that two down, Had a really odd dream before you clutched my hand and woke me.” He spoke.

Enthu’s eyes widened,

“Shortly after you passed out I tucked you into my bedroom, I was so panicked by what had occurred that I could only think of bed rest to soothe whatever was bothering you.” She said.

Edward’s eyes widened a bit in curiosity,

“That was your first idea? Not even to grab the dagger or concoction?”

“I felt your chest when you passed out and could sense your heartbeat so that relaxed me a little, but… you looked so worn and torn, It didn’t take long for me to think of making tea to possibly remedy your fatigue loss, within a small timeframe I already had you resting in bed with a bunch of soft things to comfort you.”

She continued without pause,

“When I brought the pitcher of tea in for you, I saw the way you squirmed and strained in bed… it was terrible, Your face kept reeling like you were being forced to do something, your limbs shook and groped at the blanket so much… I thought you could have been having a episode but thankfully you weren’t. I wasn’t planning on even touching your body at all, I don’t really like to do such a thing without someone’s consent but, I didn’t want you being in that rain all alone”

Edward’s expression softened, understanding the passion in her words.

“Rain…?” He thought to himself.

She rubbed her own neck with her hand in shyness, now looking downward from his eyes.

“Sorry about Doing that Edward… I hope you don’t think of me differently for taking such an action-“

“And why would I despise you for being nice? Enthu, I couldn’t have woken to a more better sight! That was the worst nightmare I’ve ever felt in my 22 years of life! If you didn’t hold my hand and be tender with it the way you did… I doubt I would have woken up! There is no words to describe the relief I felt when I had realized that I was swathed in a blanket from neck to toe, surrounded by pillows and plushies WITH You gently kneading my hand like that.” He throughly detailed to her.

Enthu’s cheeks dimpled as her lips curled upward in delight,

“Hehehe, Come on Edward, you’re going to make my face red with your honeyed words”. She replied, still infatuated with his compliments.

“Never! You’ve got to understand, that was the best first impression I could ever get out of someone. Such care and hospitality in an odd circumstance, It’s not common I can tell you that” he added, still going with his barrage of talking.

Enthu kept her smile wide,

“Alright alright, thank you, That meant a lot to me” enthu said, calming her shying expression.

Edward smirked,

“I’m glad it does, you’ve more than earned it” he replied.

Her face nearly exploded into another giddy fit upon hearing his words, It was like he was hitting all the right spots with every movement of his lips.

She looked down at her cup, attempting to take another drink, only to realize it was empty.

“Oh! You must be needing another cup, right? Here I’ll pour some” she said, attempting to reach for the pitcher.

With a quick movement of his hands, the pitcher entered Edward’s skinny fingers, he now held it to himself.

“Nuh uh, it’s your turn to be served” he said, raising the pitcher to her, insisting on her to relinquish her cup.

Enthu smirked,

“Okay, you’ve got me, I’ll allow it” she giggled slightly, now presenting her cup to him.

With an elegant motion, he copied what she did earlier, raising the pitcher more and more as he poured the tea from it and perfectly into her cup, filling it to the brim without spilling it.

“Ooooh! Someone’s experienced it seems, huh?” She spoke, knowing he replicated what she did.

Edward confidently placed the pitcher back down, not bothering to pour himself any.

“Hehe, Maybe” he teased, not going into detail over how he simply copied what she did.

“Thank you” she chimed, happily drinking the freshly poured tea.

He placed his empty cup down,

“That would make two then, Anymore symptoms?” He asked, continuing their previously conversation.

Enthu nearly spit-taked her tea,

“Oh yeah! Okay so…” she said, Looking up and retracing on her research over penumbra’s.

“Well, They transform after a certain time, but we already saw that soooo, make that three.” She said, recalling his previous form.

he pointed at her,

“Actually I was curios about that, Does that form have anything other than making me look ugly as heck?” He asked.

Enthu choked on her tea a little,

“Ugly as heck? Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad on you”

Edward squinted, “Black hair, on me? White irises? It. Was. AWFUL.”

Enthu did a slight wave of her hand,

“Pfffft, It was decent on you, but I’ll agree that you look much more charming now” she added, quickly sipping from her cup again to mask her smile.

His laugh lines crept upward in embarrassment,

“Charming? Hehehe” he murmured, in glee at the compliment.

Enthu brought her cup back down, showing her face once more.

“Well, that form you enter is just the first stage, sometimes it even shifts depending on how your feeling and or doing mentally, in all my findings it seems to be almost randomized to anyone except the owner of the form, they’re have been instances where the user has had control over their form, many accounts of people mastering the penumbra form have existed but it also seems those same people had the ability to swap their looks on the fly for their own advantage.” She declared.

His eyes grew,

“Woah, so I could very well control that form of mine?” He asked.

Enthu nodded,

“Yup! I’m sure it takes time but your bound to get it after living with it for so long, like a hobby you enjoy, you always improve at it the more you do it, regardless if you realize it.” She explained.

He tilted his head slightly,

“Does it come with the gut wrenching pain each time? That would really suck if it did” he asked again.

Enthu shook her head,

“That’s a good question, however, that only happened because you didn’t take any drinks from other folks bodies for along time, that FORCED the status on you, with the terrible withdrawal effects. Think of it like an addiction, something that requires its sustenance to keep its cool, time away only makes you crave more of it.” She told him.

Edward nodded,

“Gotcha, So, with three being down, any more… I dunno, possibly GOOD side effects?” He asked.

Enthu put her half filled cup down, using her hands for more body language.

Grabbing both her ears and gently tugging on them, she continued her talk.

“Heightened senses!” She exclaimed.

His ears raised,

“Hmmm-“

She pointed at both her ears,

“Hearing! You can hear the most gentle footsteps! A pen drop! The trees rustling WHILE you’re inside a house!”

He thought on it, Recalling how he heard jenecis leave her house earlier while he was in the guest room, going so far as to hearing her footsteps even outside the house.

Enthu pointed at her snout with one hand,

“Smelling! You should be able to pick up on scents much easier now” she explained.

Edward’s eyes squinted,

“That’s not a good benefit, I don’t think I wanna smell other people-“

Enthu grabbed her cup of tea and placed it under his nose, wafting the heated tea into his nostrils.

He inhaled the scent instantly, recognizing the recipe almost immediately.

“You used saccharine root in this, and, you mixed a moderate amount of sugar into it as well, also, is that- Wine?” He said.

Enthu placed the cup back down and snapped her fingers.

“Yes! It really is true! Your senses are absurd now! You got all the ingredients correct!” She explained, giddily.

Edward smiled a little,

“My goodness, I didn’t even have to think hard on what they smelled like, it all came… naturally…” he trailed off, thinking back to his first attempts at magic.

Enthu cheered gently,

“With a nose like that, You could probably sleuth out Ingredients in the floor! This is incredible!” She chimed, excitedly.

Edward kept smiling at the adoring attention,

“Is there anymore things I should know about this whole, penumbra status?” He asked, curios to his possible other powers.

Enthu snapped out of her cheery trance.

“Oh yes! Okay so, that’s five down, now, you should also have pretty much tunnel vision, like, the ability to see much better in the night.” She explained.

Edward looked up in thought,

“Ah, but it’s not night anymore, How can I tell?”

Enthu’s tail whipped around back and fourth in excitement, she then grabbed the blanket next to her,

“You’re under arrest criminal scum!” She laughed, gently placing the blanket over his body, effectively blinding him.

“Waaaah! Hey!” He yelped, panicking as she packed him under the blanket.

He heard her giggling outside the dark confines of the sheets.

“Give it a moment, your visions should kick in soon, right about…”

“Oh! Hey everything’s tinted with purple and black, I can see your silhouette in here! You’re glowing all purple, Everything else is outlined but it’s much darker.” He said, being able to detect everything in the room, every detail, every cranny and nook, even with the blankets hood covering his eyes.

He saw her body shift, moving away from his and shifting to the wall of the room.

“I’m going to try something real quick, stay right there Edward! I’m not going anywhere!” She said, now flicking a switch on the wall next to her.

“Woah! The whole room just became bright purple! Now the silhouettes are outlined in black! It’s like my eyes adapted to the color shift!” He exclaimed in awe.

She walked back over to him, still wrapped in the blanket.

She placed both of her hands on the blankets folds,

“And how about… this!”

*SHWUP*

The blankets lifted off him with the quick shift of her arms.

The bright light of purple BEAMED into his retinas at maximum capacity, like a bright purple sun

“aaaAAAAAAHH- oh hold on” he said, seeing the intensity of the light go from the power of the sun to a dimmed night light, soon turning the colors back to their natural state.

Enthu looked at him in slight nervousness.

“Are you alright? Can you see?” She asked, still holding the blanket.

He nodded,

“Yep! I thought I was definitely going to be blinded by the sudden shift in lighting but thankfully it died out to a numb little light” he replied.

Enthu made a cartoonish gesture of wiping non-existent sweat from her brows.

“Phew, I’m glad you’re okay, but this is even more exciting! Your eyes are effectively supporting your every actions! Adapting to any scenario and instantly understanding the surrounding environment! That’s amazing!” She said, joyfully.

Edward agreed, containing his excitement much better than enthu was.

Enthu stopped herself once more,

“Oh! And you should have advanced reception on textures! Here, let’s me try something really quick” she said, kneeling down to his face level and cupping both of his hands in hers.

Edward looked down at her fluffy palms, noticing the way the fur was smoothed in certain sections and others not, every groove and tuft was noticeable up close, and better yet, he could feel the tufts of her between his fingers, every fiber of gentle fur that tickled his hands.

“So? How do they feel?” She asked, watching as his eyes searched each of her palms and his fingers roamed them.

He looked up,

“Fluffy And warm! I like it” he responded, gently running his fingers on her palms.

She smirked,

“Hehehe, glad you do.” She said, trailing off a little as he cupped her hands softly and continued his rubs.

He stared back at enthu’s eyes, seeing the threads and cables inside her iris, the strings that attached her eyes into her sockets, the smaller details that made up her eyes stood out incredibly. Her bright yellowish orange eyes almost looked like they were glowing, even in the daytime lighting.

Enthu and him both let their hands off each other, she stood back up from the couch, looking down on him.

“Well, now we definitely know you have all the effects of being one of them, how do you feel, knowing this?” She asked, tilting her head.

Edward smirked,

“Great! Knowing all these cool side effects exist is wonderful! They’re all pretty much boons!” He replied.

Enthu nodded happily,

“We’ve knocked out about two things today, the whole situation going on and lots of details of what you can do with your newfound penumbra reality, I’m really glad you willingly let me test some things out with you Edward” she said, appearing more giddy.

“I thank YOU for allowing me to partake of your tasty tea! Plus you let me lodge here in your comfy bed! This has turned out much better than what it was originally going to be like” Edward explained, being grateful.

enthu nodded with a smile,

“I accept your thanks and am proud, thanks for your thanks” she replied, awkwardly.

Edward giggled,

“Well, I’d like to thank you for you thanking me for MY thanks” he responded, knowing what he just did.

Enthu laughed,

“Mmmhmm, Well guess what? I think i appreciate your thanks for my thanks after you thanked me while thanking you for Thanking… thanking- thank I mean- thank- Grrr! You tongue tying fiend!” she replied, teasingly with fake anger.

Edward chuckled,

“Haha, You can’t beat me I’m afraid, your too… Feeble… I’m afraid” he said, faking his sternness.

Enthu tilted her head to her shoulder, placing her hands on her hips.

“Pffft, Feeble wait-FEEBLE!?” She exclaimed, her maw agape, still striking the same pose.

Edward chuckled,

“Yeah, Your small non-penumbra brain can’t handle my advanced tactics, sorry, I don’t make the rules of life but penumbras are just naturally smarter and better than people who aren’t, no hard feelings” he spoke, trying to anger enthu to lash at him.

Enthu wheezed a little,

“Superiority over me solely due to your new identity, huh? I’m just a feeble minded… person, right?” She questioned, still smirking.

Edward chuckled,

“Exactly, you’re totally under control” he responded.

Enthu shook her head,

“Oh yeah? I guess you’re right about that mind control thing… I did make you tea, feed you, tuck you in, and even now, you’ve been able to berate me without reprimand, that’s some power you’ve got… Eddy~” she spoke, adding emphasis on her final word.

His eyes enlarged,

“E-eddy?”

Enthu turned her back to him, shaking her head downward and continuing her words.

“You know, that’s super sweet, you enjoy endearing names A LOT,” she said, turning her face back towards his, seeing his flushing cheeks.

“Isn’t that right? My little ed? Don’t deny it, you love it when someone uses sugary words to describe your name!” She giggled, staring directly down his eyes.

His face dimpled, his smile, uncontrollably spreading upward.

“I- i don’t know what your talking about, I-“

Edward felt his thought cut off, He couldn’t recall what he was going to say, his face resumed back to its neutral state.

Enthu nodded, her eyes shifting between a extraordinary mix of colors,

“Alright eddy, Get up from my couch in three seconds, please” she ordered, pointing at him.

Edward looked at her with his brows down,

“Why? Why three seconds? What are you-“

His body got up from the couch, he automatically moved forward and was face to face with enthu.

Enthu chuckled,

“Very good eddy! Now, raise your right hand precisely up to mine in height only” she said, raising her right hand up.

“No way! You still haven’t answered me, what in the world did you do?-“

His right hand raised itself, matching enthu’s hand in height.

His eyes shot over to see his hand as it gained a mind of its own, he tried to force it down but could not, his whole body was locked up, any strain he tried to put on it never came out, his muscles were no longer in his control.

“Hahaha, Now high-five me, Please and thank you of course!” Enthu said, bubbling with devilish laughter between her words.

Edward followed through with her command, his hand gently clapped against hers, making a decent echo through the house.

His hand still held onto hers after ramming into it, both palms shot outward with their fingers spread.

Enthu smiled at him, a cocky grin across her face.

“Who’s feeble now? Perhaps The one who just listened to me without a second thought?” She gleefully said, staring directly down his eyes.

Edward stared back at her,

“Alright you win…” he grumbled.

Enthu clapped her hand’s together mockingly.

“Say it” she issued him.

“No!”

“Saaaay iiittt”

“Never”

“Pretty please?”

“Okay fine… I am the feeble one… not you…” Edward mumbled, defeated.

“Yay for me! You’re free to go!” She chimed, freeing him from his confines.

With a small popping noise, Edward regained control of his body.

His legs gave out from under him, like they were asleep the moment he came back to control.

“Woah! Woah!” He yelped, tumbling back and falling for the couch.

“I gotcha!” enthu exclaimed, quickly lurching forward and grabbing his hand, securing her other around his back to pull him back up.

As she helped him stand straight, he eventually got his footing back and stepped around to get a feel for the floor again.

“You good Edward? Can you walk?” She asked, concerned.

Edward looked at her,

“Y-yeah, phew, thanks for catching me” he spoke.

She released her grip on him, allowing him to stretch out his arms and legs again.

“Man, what was that? You like, were brainwashing me to do what you said” he asked, confused by what occurred.

Enthu nodded,

“Quite literally in fact, that’s magic for you, the power of anything through belief. Except certain ones like that require the recipient to be dazed or shocked, hence why i teased you to get your shyness to kick in, I knew you liked it when you were treated well, your a softy.” She said, smirking again.

“Softy?” He asked, a little taken back.

Enthu dismissively shook her head,

“It’s no insult, soft people are good to be around! I’d much rather hug a pillow than a rock! Take a look at the sofa” she said, showing off the numerous plushies and pillows scattered about it.

He chuckled,

“Yeah, you have a point… But anyways! You said you simply have to catch someone off guard to take control of their actions?” He asked, curios.

Enthu nodded,

“Yup! Make them flinch, question their thoughts, make them insecure and possibly depressed and boom! They’re prime targets for mind manipulation!” She said, without a care.

Edward squinted,

“Uh… huh…” he murmured, disturbed by her odd eagerness.

She pointed at herself,

“Awww, you didn’t like high-fiving me in that state? Oh I know! You should try it on me! It’s only fair after what I did, come on, it’ll be neat!” She issued him, coming off carefree.

“So… can I just think it and it’ll occur? Orrrr…”

“Well yeah, just like every other magic but you should get me to flinch first, try to scare me” she responded.

Edward got close, putting his hands out to her face and opening his palms,

“I’m going to slap you, is that okay? Ready set-“

Enthu’s eyes expanded,

“No no wait! Slaps sting!-“

Edward slammed his palms together, just near the tip of her nose, enough to make a loud noise and slightly gust her fur.

Enthu flinched hard and closed her eyes, turning her head away, expecting the heft of his two palms.

Her eyes opened on their own, now facing him with full attention.

“Ah ha! It worked!” he cheered, looking directly into her eyes.

Enthu smirked,

“Well done! you had me going there for a second, what’s your next move though I wonder?”

Edward rubbed his chin,

“Oh! Pull out that tablet and show me what you were looking at hours ago, I think you were drawing something, right?” He asked, coyly.

Enthu’s eyes grew as her pupils decreased.

“No no Edward! Anything but that!” She squeaked, her hands now summoning the tablet from thin air and grabbing it.

“But why? I just wanna see what you were working on, it can’t be that bad” he said, slightly smiling.

“Please wait! I’ll do anything! Change your thoughts, please!” She begged, unable to stop her hand from showing her canvas.

“Hand it over” he demanded, accepting the magic tablet from her yielding hands.

“Stop don’t look at that! I’m really bad at drawing! It’s cringe! You’ll die of cringe!” She pleaded, attempting to move but being unable to.

He grabbed the tablet and stared at the screen, looking at the columns of drawings made on it, each little window opening up with the click of his fingers to show her art.

Edward mischievously opened one that was blurry,

“And what have you drawn here? Let’s see-“

His smile dropped, his brows sank and his eyes widened as an highly detailed phallus with bulging veins stretched across the screen in perfect resolution.

“This- this is… really well drawn…” he muttered, paying attention to all its details.

Enthu’s eyes were practically twitching in her sockets, flailing about to be free.

“IM NOT A DEGENERATE, IT WAS FOR STUDY-“

Edward scrolled his finger left and saw another detailed image, one depicting a similar phallus punching through a birthday cake and showing at the top of it.

As he scrolled through the album, ignoring enthu’s pleads, he continued to see image after image of artworks depicting a very similar theme.

Eventually, after seeing all there was to her artworks. Edward looked back up at her.

He simply stared, eyes wide, not judging her but adding tension to everything.

Enthu’s head was lowered, now looking at the floor.

“I may have a problem, but it’s healthy for me!” She peeped, looking back up and now using her hands to make gestures, his mental grasp off her.

She raised her hand up in clever manner, tapping her head with her pointer finger to symbolize her knowledge.

“D-did you know? T-that exploring your O-own enjoyments leads to a healthier lifestyle?” She stuttered out, trying to explain herself.

He continued to stare, not making a noise.

“I-if you commonly please yourself, it’s like self therapy! You know, loving yourself is very good for you! it releases stress, makes you happier, it can ease muscle pain, it can even help with anger management!” She explained, going into detail over the process.

Edward blinked a couple times,

“You can have it back” he said, giving to her.

Enthu swiped it instantly and vanquished it away.

“You’re really great at art enthu! I had no idea you were a realism artist! That’s look incredible! Like you literally took a photo of it!” He cheered.

Enthu stared blankly at him,

“O-oh yeah, Haha… thanks Edward, that’s really sweet-“

“Hold on, it is a drawing right? I knew someone who had a photo taken with a similar device” he asked.

Enthu shook her head,

“No no! I did draw that, it took… Numerous hours to make but I like to, draw… them… for… anatomy correction…” she mumbled, thinking back on her many hours spent drawing in fine detail.

Edward clapped,

“You’re incredible at this! I’ve never been able to make such a realistic work! It’s like it’s popping out at me! That’s some solid, explosive work right there enthu!” He chimed.

Enthu grinned awkwardly,

“Promise you’ll show me how to draw sometime? I could use some lessons from a master” he asked.

Enthu nodded,

“For sure! You cannot learn a thing you think you know so, maybe I can get better from your future works!” She replied, playing along with his mood swing.

“Alright! I always wanted to draw well!” He jeered, happily.

Enthu kept nodding her head.

“He… he really didn’t think I- Just go with it, you won’t get a second chance to cover your tracks” she thought in her head.

“Well, now that we got that out of the way, you now know how to perform a really handy magic trick! Use it wisely, only for good!” She told him.

Edward nodded,

“Of course! Thank you for teaching me it!”

Enthu glanced at the outside window, seeing the yellow sunlight extend across the streets and make a shiny glow of yellow appear.

“Oh! Today’s the special market sale!” She exclaimed, realizing it was turning towards the beginning of the morning.

Edward looked at her,

“Oh? Like the sale of fruit and trinkets?”

Enthu nodded,

“Yeah! Care to go with me? I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better” she said, offering her hand forward to him.

Edward took her hand in his,

“Oh yes! I’d like that a lot! I’m ready when you are”

Enthu nodded, releasing her grip.

“Alright then, Let’s go, we might be able to grab some special stuff before everyone gets there later” she said, now heading towards the door.

Edward followed behind, enthu grabbed a backpack off the coat hanger near her door, a loud rustling of what sounded like glass came from it.

Her hand grabbed the knob of the door, twisting it and popping the door open.

*Creak*

—————————————

Note: I’m done making more of this story for now, Hiatus activated!

17 notes · View notes

random-of-random · 14 days

Text

The Pirate Queen

Chapter 3 - The Ball

If anyone ever said pirates weren’t efficient, they should be told the tale of Alice and her crew getting ready to host a ball for a new Commodore.

Hiding anything suspicious was the easy part. The locked extra pantry was plenty enough to stow away any of the papers they needed to keep from prying eyes. Their gear was locked into trunks in their personal rooms.

What wasn’t easy was shelling out the money for caterers and extra servants to make the night perfect. While they had the money, Alice had made a fortune sailing with Sam Bellamy and then even more in her exploits, they all hated spending it on posh pricks who would more likely give them a bullet than the time of day under normal circumstances.

Most pirates on ships had duel roles. Everyone chipped in, and just like on a ship, the men dove head first into getting ready.

By the time the night arrived everything was absolutely perfect.

Three of the men would be carefully and quietly sneaking into the Fort while the rest of the town partied at the mansion, courtesy of Vicountess Somers. Their goal was it make it seem like no one have ever been there. They didn’t want to get captured, and they didn’t want to have to kill. Alice and her crew took a page from Sam Bellamy - they didn’t kill if they didn’t have to.

The men left before the extra servants arrived for the night, and Alice went upstairs to get ready. Edward stayed at the mansion, her even present bodyguard.

When he knocked at the door to her room to let her know guests arrived, he couldn’t help but smile.

“You may not be a noble, but you wear the outfits quite well.” She turned to look at him with a smile on her face.

“Let’s be honest, I look better in trousers and my jacket.”

He motioned to her dress. “I see you’ve picked your signature color.” The red dress was her most fashionable. Bright red, matching the bow weaved intricately through her hair. Instead of an updo, she wore her hair down. The black hair fanned across the red dress she had commissioned to match that bow. The dress itself was more old fashioned than she had been wearing and the corset fit just perfectly. There were no color accents except around the sleeves and chest, and was intricately woven with gold and red fabric.

“Well, I wanted to stay partly me.”

“I wish Sam could see this.” Edward said and Alice took a calming breath.

“Me too.”

“Where should I wait during dinner?”

“You’ll be next to me.” Alice said simply and Edward raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t think it’s proper to have your bodyguard sitting at dinner. Robert would faint.”

Alice laughed. “Tonight is our last night with these people. I don’t particularly care what they think and they’re not going to question a noble.”

“Sounds good, Captain.” Edward was dressed in mostly black, fine quality that most would expect of a bodyguard. “People are going to be arriving soon.”

“Alright, let’s get ready to play our parts.” She effortlessly switched into her posh accent.

There were murmurs throughout the party. The red was certainly making some heads turn. When Governor Swann and Elizabeth arrived Alice was there to greet them.

“Lady Frances, you look marvelous!” Elizabeth said with a smile. They two women held hands for a moment.

“As do you, Elizabeth.” Her dress was a light blue which paired with her quite well. Her hair had been curled delicately and put in an updo worthy of a coronation, she was sure of it.

“That is such a stunning color.” Governor Swann started. “You stand out, in the best way.”

“Thank you, Governor.” Alice replied, trying her best not to smirk. “I felt it was appropriate since the ball is on behalf of a member of the Navy. Navy blues seemed a bit too pompous, don’t you agree?”

Governor Swann searched for something to say as Elizabeth politely held her laugh behind her fan. “You look absolutely wonderful, Lady Frances.” He finally said. Safe, complimentary.

“Thank you, Governor.” From behind him she caught the eyes of James. “Please excuse me, sir. I want to wish the man of the night my congratulations.” As she made her way over, James couldn’t seem to even think. She was beautiful. James was in his Navy dress. An outfit that should send Alice’s anxiety shooting upward. Yet, she was sure she had never seen a man so handsome.

“Captain Norrington.” She curtsied and he bowed back. Alice knew that there couldn’t be a repeat of the night of the dinner. The best thing would be to treat James Norrington with civility and step away as quickly as she could.

“Thank you for your generosity with this night.” He started. “And, if I may say, you look absolutely beautiful, Lady Frances.”

“Thank you, Captain. It is a pleasure to celebrate you.” James could tell she was being more formal, putting more of a guard up. He had no right to wish for something different. To wish anything different was downright improper. “Please, enjoy yourself.” She curtsied again and turned to greet her other guests. The bow going through her raven hair caught his eye and something stirred in his memory. Just for one second a moment of fear crept into his mind, but he couldn’t, for the life of him, understand why.

As everyone made their way into the dining room, there were whispers at the fact that while Lady Frances sat at the head of the table, her own bodyguard was to her right. To her left was Governor Swann, beside him Elizabeth, and James was surprised to find himself placed next to her.

Once everyone was seated Lady Frances stood.

“Good evening. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves.” There was some murmurs of approval. “Tonight we are here to celebrate Captain James Norrington, who will not be called Captain in twenty-four hours. Now, I have only known Captain Norrington for a few short days. I could regale you all with the kindness and character he has shown me. However, I wanted someone who knows him more, who served with him, to speak here tonight. Lieutenant Groves, if you would please?”

A few seats down from Edward, Groves stood, and Alice took her seat. She knew her brain would betray her if she was forced to give a speech about James. She could hardly talk about how handsome he looks in the moonlight. She was supposed to be married. More than that, it was about to be James’ job to be in charge of hunting her and the people she cared about. The thought soured her mood considerably. More so when she realized she shouldn’t even be thinking about James Norrington. She should be wondering how we men were doing at the fort. By the time she came back into focus, Groves had finished his speech and she held up her glass in a toast before the first course.

Once the food was cleared and the band had begun to play, Alice whispered to Edward to go and be on the lookout for the returning men. The hope was they would be back quickly and efficiently. One of her men named Simon had offered to help in the kitchen. He had been a chef back in Ireland and then became the chef for her crew, and he would be waiting to move any papers to the locked pantry.

“My dear Lady Frances.” Governor Swann said as he walked up to her. “Would you honor me with a dance?” He held out his hand and she took it immediately.

“It would be a pleasure.” They danced to a lively tune. The laughter around the floor told her everyone seemed to be having a great time. She made sure they had enough stock of wine to last them, and making sure everyone was good and drunk could only help her in the long run.

As the Governor turned her she caught a glimpse of James who was dancing with Elizabeth. He was smiling, she was laughing. Alice felt a pang of jealousy go through her, but she quickly pushed that away. Any thoughts about her and James Norrington needed to stop at that moment. And, more than that, she knew he would make a great husband to Elizabeth. He was kind and gentle. When he showed emotion it was sincere. In the first night she had watched his eyes flicker to Elizabeth which such adoration. Alice knew she would be taken care of and loved. She couldn’t ask for more than that from two wonderful people.

The dance came to a close and there was a small round of applause. “Thank you for the wonderful dance, Governor.” He bowed. “If you would excuse me?”

“Of course.” He beamed. His cheeks were red from several glasses of wine and Alice found herself thinking that wasn’t a bad idea. Find a servant with the wine she took a glass for herself. When she turned back to the party she was surprised to see James walking toward her.

“Lady Frances.”

“Captain Norrington.” She acknowledged. “Are you having a good time?”

“I am, thank you.” He promised. “I came to ask if you would honor me with a dance.” She couldn’t say no. Maybe it was knowing that after tomorrow she would, hopefully, never see him again.

“I would be delighted-“ She was interrupted by Edward.

“I am terribly sorry, my Lady.” He bowed.

“What is it, Edward?” She asked.

“May I speak with you, privately?”

Her eyes turned to James. “My apologies, Captain.” She and Edward turned, heading for another room. James couldn’t pretend he wasn’t disappointed.

The study was a place she had wanted to spend more time in, if they had the time. It was dark wood with books lining the walls. Giles stood outside on guard to make sure no one came within earshot as Edward closed the door behind them.

“Is everyone alright?” Was her first question.

“Yes, everyone made it back safely.” Alice let out a sigh of relief. “They were in and out quickly, no one saw them. It’s what they found that’s concerning.”

“What did they find?” Alice asked.

“A list of spies for the Royal Navy and where they are located. Some are on Tortuga.” Her jaw clenched. “There’s also a few pirate havens that they know about. I think your Captain Norrington intends to go raid them after his promotion is made official.”

“Go, get Robert, will you?” She asked and Edward gave a quick nod before leaving. They would have a head start on anything Norrington had planned, which was key. She sat in silence for a few moments. If her mind wandered too far, she could almost feel tears threatening to spill. So, she pushed them down. Edward and Robert came back in a few minutes.

“Captain.” Robert acknowledged.

“I need you to get to the docs and get first passage that you can. You have to get to Tortuga as quickly as possible.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “Hopefully those pirate havens can be cleared out before the Royal Navy gets their hands on anyone. And make sure the right people in Tortuga know the names of the spies.”

“You can count on me Captain.”

“When you get to Tortuga send someone for us. We’ll want to leave late tomorrow night.”

“I will.”

“The winds be with you, Robert.” She shook his hand and he headed back out the door.

“What’s the plan?” Edward asked.

“Tomorrow, after the ceremony,” Alice started. “We will spend the day carefully packing, not drawing any attention. Once night falls we will gather everything up. We can’t leave a trace of us behind. Not a single piece of clothing.”

“Understood, Captain.”

“We will leave an urgent note with the Swann’s. My husband has taken ill and we were quickly recalled to England.”

“Will they believe it?” Edward asked.

Alice shrugged. “Once we’re back on the seas, it won’t matter.”

“I’ll start telling the men.” He said and she let out a soft sigh. “You should get back out there. The hostess will be missed.”

Alice seemed to clench her jaw. “I can do this for one more day.” He nodded before opening the door for her.

#james norrington #James Norrington x ofc #james norrington imagines #pirates of the caribbean

15 notes · View notes

jbuffyangel · 3 months

Text

Always Laurel: Arrow 1x20 Review (Home Invasion)

The love triangle pendulum swings violently in the other direction as Oliver makes a decision that breaks Tommy’s heart and destroys Diggle’s trust in him.

Source: @htbthomas

Does Oliver always choose Laurel? If yes, then is that a good thing?

Let’s dig in…

Merlance and Lauriver

At this point in the first season, you have probably formed an opinion on this love triangle. You are either Merlance, Lauriver, a plague on both their houses, or just don’t give a crap. All choices are valid. Everyone knows where I stand.

What I think we can agree on is this love triangle is toxic. Toxicity, I feel, that is being driven largely by Oliver Queen. But we’ll get to that in a minute. First, we need to discuss the choice Oliver makes.

Laurel is representing the Moore family and suing Edward Rasmus, an investment broker, for stealing their life savings. Rasmus hires Gunn from Angel (that’s what I’m calling him. I know his character has a name, but I don’t care) to kill the parents, but their son Taylor manages to escape. We don’t actually see how Taylor escaped. It looks he jumped out a twelve story window, but whatever.

Laurel volunteers to be the child’s temporary guardian, so Taylor stays at her apartment with Tommy. This leads to a beautiful Merlance moment and one of my all-time favorite Tommy scenes in the series. Little Taylor is grieving the loss of both his parents, so Tommy offers him some advice.

Source: @bifelicitys

Colin Donnell’s delivery in this scene is just the right mix of sadness and loving comfort. We can see the kind of father Tommy would be and it’s a beautiful sight to behold. If Laurel Lance is not in love with Tommy Merlyn already then she certainly falls in love with him in this moment.

I wish we could just leave them here forever. Safe in the cocoon of their stable, loving, and supportive relationship.

But we can’t because of Oliver.

Tommy and Laurel have lost one crucial aspect of their relationship because of Oliver - honesty. They are both lying. Laurel has failed to tell Tommy that she’s been having “friendly” lunches with Oliver (re: see last episodes “I don’t want to be on an island anymore” speech). And Tommy is keeping the biggest secret of all – he knows Oliver is the vigilante.

Source: @htbthomas

Gunn storms Laurel’s apartment to finish the job on Taylor. Tommy throws himself over Taylor’s body and I friggin swooned. Someone woman needs to give this man a baby! The daddy hotness is too much to take.

Laurel shows some impressive “daughter of a cop” moves when she breaks out the shot gun.

Unfortunately, she didn’t keep more than one bullet in the chamber. Why she didn’t check the gun the minute she got home I will never understand. I swear, this woman sometimes.

Of course, Oliver is there in the shadows as The Hood to rescue Laurel, Tommy and Taylor. Now that Tommy knows Laurel and Taylor are targets, he advises Quentin they should stay at the Queen mansion. They have wall to wall security and more importantly The Hood lives there.

Tommy: We both only want is best for Laurel. And right now that is to stay close to the Oliver. Trust me.

However, the first thing Oliver does when they arrive is leave to help Diggle track down Floyd Lawton, which infuriates Tommy.

Tommy: You are the reason why we’re here and trust me that wasn’t easy to admit.

Oliver assures Tommy the bodyguards at the Queen mansion will be more than sufficient to protect them, but when push comes to shove, he abandons his promise to Diggle to stop Rasmus. This didn’t stop Gunn from going after Taylor again at the Queen mansion. The bodyguards ended up being worthless and a hoodless Oliver Queen had to kill Gunn with a fire poker.

Was Oliver needed at the mansion to save everyone’s lives? YES. But that went down after the Lawton sting operation. Did stopping Rasmus in any way deter Gunn from going after Taylor again? No. Gunn kills anyone who has seen his face – including Rasmus. Oliver couldn’t have known that though. I’m not denying Oliver is juggling a lot of balls this episode. He has some tough choices to make, but the problem is he’s not being honest about the reasons behind those choices.

Felicity: Couldn’t you be friends with someone less complicated than your ex-girlfriend who is your ex-best friend’s current girlfriend?

It’s a lightly made comment about Oliver’s relationships outside of the bunker, but Felicity’s gentle jab packs a big punch of truth. The more Oliver says Laurel is just a friend the less anyone believes him. It’s crap. Oliver clearly has more than friendly feelings towards Laurel and he does absolutely nothing to conceal them. In fact, he’s pretty damn brazen about it.

Let’s talk the lunches. It ultimately is canceled because of Laurel’s meetings with the Moores, so Oliver meets them when he arrives at CNRI. But he comes back to Laurel’s office after they are murdered to see if there’s anything he can do.

Initially, Tommy tells Oliver his help is not required and a phone call to check on Laurel would’ve been more than sufficient. He didn’t need to stop by in person. Tommy is being very territorial and rightfully so. The vibe ain’t vibing. Then Oliver casually not so casually tells Tommy about the lunches with Laurel – which she has failed to share with her boyfriend.

Why is Laurel lying to Tommy? A lie of omission is still a lie. If she is truly “just friends” with Oliver then there’s no reason to hide the lunches from Tommy. Laurel has yet to truly articulate how she feels for Oliver, but this lie is not good. An emotional affair is just as hurtful and wrong as a physical one. Some even consider it worse, but make no mistake, an emotional affair is cheating.

As for Oliver, his feelings are plain as day. He has kept Laurel on an emotional hook for the entire season. He continually reinserts himself into her life, particularly at the moments when she’s trying her best to move on.

There was a respectful distance between the two and then Oliver decides Laurel is the person he wants to reconnect with. Why not Tommy? Their friendship could use a lot of damage control. What about Thea? Oliver can’t take her to Big Belly Burger or his mother or Diggle? There is an ample list of people Oliver can open up to if he so chooses. But instead he chooses Laurel – a choice that, as Felicity states, is complicated and wildly inappropriate.

Oliver also uses the vigilante shtick to emotionally manipulate Laurel. He can’t be honest about who he is or what he feels for her, so instead he uses The Hood to be her knight in shining armor.

Source: @htbthomas

When Laurel finds out it’s The Vigilante who saved them, Oliver notices the soft smile playing on her lips and he’s extremely pleased - almost smug. He’s used the hood to stay close to Laurel all season long. She’s hemmed and hawed about whether or not The Vigilante is a good guy, but it seems she’s solidly pro hood at the moment.

Oliver: He’s lucky to have you in his life. I know the feeling.

This conversation takes place about twenty feet from the bedroom Laurel is staying in with HER BOYFRIEND who is supposed to be Oliver’s best friend. He gently touches her arm, they hug and Oliver presses Laurel’s head to his chest, all while Tommy is listening. The way Oliver speaks to Laurel, the way he touches her, is anything but ok.

Source: @htbthomas

One of the fatal flaws of Lauriver is the writers tell rather than show. I’m a little unclear what “change” Laurel is referring to in Oliver because we don’t get scenes of them discussing anything REAL. So, we’re just supposed to accept through the course of the season Laurel has seen change in Oliver Queen.

But she doesn’t qualify what that change is. Is he more selfless? Is Oliver more communicative? Is he more honest? I don’t know what that word means to Laurel. The last time we saw Oliver and Laurel interacting on a personal level was at least 1x09 or 1x10 and those scenes were really about Laurel finally moving on with Tommy.

SO. WHY. DOESN’T. OLIVER. LET. HER. MOVE. ON????????????!!!!

Oliver is desperate for Laurel’s forgiveness. He’s so desperate for it that he uses The Hood as a way to prove he’s a different person now and to develop a relationship with Laurel he cannot otherwise have as Oliver Queen. As The Hood, there is no Sara. As The Hood, there is no betrayal. As The Hood, he can rebuild trust and find a way to stay in Laurel’s life. As The Hood, he can be the hero. If Oliver can fix things with Laurel it’s like the last five years never happened. Oliver may have a mission to save the city, but what he’s really chasing is absolution.

I’m going to harp on this until I am blue in the face and I’m nowhere near done discussing it in these final three episodes. Nothing has truly changed between Laurel and Oliver. He was lying to her five years ago and he’s lying to her now. Love based on deception isn’t love. There can be no absolution without honest confession.

Tommy: You still love her, don’t you?

Source: mymarsrevolution

This is a popular line used in Olicity fanvids, but it’s not about Felicity. It’s about Laurel. This discussion about Laurel between Oliver and Tommy is so patronizing. It’s like Laurel is a toy they are arguing over. The men get to decide who gets to “keep” her. The men decide what information she needs and who she really belongs with. This choice is neither Oliver nor Tommy’s to make. Laurel deserves the full truth and to decide for herself if she wants to be with either of them.

Source: @bj-hunnicutts

But what Oliver says is so toxically self serving it makes my blood boil. He’s inserted himself as The Hood in Laurel’s life as a sexy, leather clad, dangerous, bow & arrow wielding, romance novel, shadow figure who heroically saves her life again and again (because women hate guys like that). Oliver develops an emotional attachment between Laurel and The Hood to keep his hooks in her just enough to muddy the waters with Tommy.

Now he’s reinserting himself into her life as Oliver Queen, but just as a “friend” while carrying on an emotional affair with her. He has ZERO intention of ever being honest or having a real relationship with her. Oliver dresses it up as heroic selflessness, but if he was really being selfless – he would leave her alone completely. Oliver doesn’t want to be with Laurel, but he doesn’t want her to move on from him either. It’s selfish.

Oliver isn’t the only one lying to Laurel. Tommy is too, but we know why. Oliver’s secret is not his to tell, but there’s another reason he finally admits to in “Home Invasion.”

Source: @htbthomas

Is Tommy right about Laurel choosing Oliver? Yeah, probably. I believed that when I first watched Season 1 and I still believe it now. If she was fully committed to Tommy then The Hood couldn’t have any effect on her. If Laurel was fully committed to Tommy, then Oliver would truly be just a friend. She would tell Tommy about the lunches. Or she would say it’s not appropriate and she cannot be the shoulder Oliver cries on.

Instead, Laurel tethers herself to both The Hood and Oliver in a way that grazes the line between friends and more than friends. Those lines should always be clear if you are in a committed relationship. She is being unfair to Tommy.

But again, Laurel isn’t dealing with all the information. So, there’s only so much I fault her at this point. What Oliver is doing is very manipulative and it shows, quite frankly, that when it comes to Laurel – he hasn’t changed much. It doesn’t endear Laurel to me that she can’t see Tommy is the perfect man for her, but at this point in the season I am laying the blame for this toxic cycle more at Oliver’s feet than hers.

Unfortunately, Tommy makes the biggest mistake of his life and breaks up with Laurel. I understand why. Tommy has some self respect and knows there’s something going on between Laurel and Oliver. Tommy knows he’s competing with a mythic romance novel like persona and he feels he doesn’t measure up in comparison, which is the real reason he leaves. He’s wrong in every way possible. You don’t need to dress up in a hood and save the city to be a good man.

Tommy: I guess I haven’t changed as much as we all thought then.

He can barely get the words out as he ends their relationship. Laurel is understandably shocked and confused. This seems to be a 180 degree turn from where they were just a day ago. To say this breakup was abrupt would be an understatement.

The saddest part is Tommy truly has changed. He should stay and fight for Laurel because what they have is real and worth saving. They’ve made their own history, one that doesn’t have anything to do with Oliver Queen. (Are you feeling the Joey & Pacey versus Dawson parallel?)

But Tommy is right about something. Laurel and Oliver need to deal with their baggage, so she can find always with the right man - the man who wants a future with her and not the man trying to erase the past.

Oliver and Diggle

If Arrow is pushing us to root for a Laurel and Oliver reunion, they are doing a spectacularly bad job at it. Oliver has promised Diggle he will help kill Floyd Lawton, but in the end he abandons John and Deadshot gets away. Diggle feels betrayed primarily because well… Oliver betrayed him.

Diggle: I needed you there, man.

The choice between Lawton and Rasmus was a simple one. Deadshot was the bigger threat and the harder target to capture. Oliver can be pretty mechanical when it comes to making these types of choices, so it was surprising when he chose the corrupt investment broker over the assassin.

Four ARGUS agents died trying to capture Lawton. It really didn’t need to be a choice for Oliver. Why couldn’t Felicity call in a tip to Detective Lance and let Starling PD arrest Rasmus?

Source: bj-hunnicutts-blog

Because then The Hood couldn’t be the hero for Laurel. Oliver got to strut into the mansion and announce Rasmus was arrested, there was no longer a threat to the boy or Laurel, and The Hood was the man who saved the day. The pleased little smile on Laurel’s face, this latest rescue more proof that The Hood was a good man who cared for her, was Oliver’s reward. He scored points with Laurel. Oliver may not be cashing them in, but he’s collecting points all the same.

This does not make his actions completely altruistic, which is why Diggle is angry. John knows Oliver was trying to look good in front of Laurel and he put that desire before his friendship with John. Proving to Laurel that he’s a changed man is just as much a part of Oliver’s mission as The List. He broke his promise to John. Oliver didn’t help Diggle complete his mission to avenge his brother. Instead, Oliver continued to pursue his own.

Source: bj-hunnicutts-blog

If Oliver choosing Laurel is a good thing then why is there all this collateral damage around him? Tommy, Diggle, Lyla, ARGUS agents, even Felicity, have been hurt by this choice.

Oliver: Something to say, Felicity? Felicity: Nothing you want to hear.

This is not an accident on the writers’ part. They could’ve easily shown the scenario I posed about (re: Felicity tipping off Quentin) or Diggle understanding and supporting Oliver choosing Laurel. It didn’t have to play out like this. Remember they are the ones crafting the story here. It’s their choice.

They are doing this for a REASON. Oliver did not make the right decision in “Home Invasion.” The writers are not saying Oliver and Laurel should be together and the rest of the world be damned. Quite the opposite.

Relationships cannot exist in a bubble. Just because you love someone doesn’t give you the right to hurt people in the name of that love. We can become blind to other people's feelings and consumed by our emotions for one singular person, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Spike: Trust is for old marrieds, Buffy. Great love is wild and passionate and dangerous. It burns and consumes.

Buffy: Until there's nothing left. Love like that doesn't last.

Not a BTVS fan? Let’s try The Vampire Diaries:

Damon: I thought you broke my heart so I ripped open Aaron’s neck that is how much control you have over me.

Elena: And I'm still here, that's how much control you have over me.

Damon: Listen to us. This is toxic. We are in a toxic relationship, Elena.

Oliver isn’t consumed by love for Laurel, but he is consumed by regret. Guilt can be just as powerful emotion as love. We know Oliver hasn’t always chosen Laurel – hell we saw it in the freaking flashback this episode.

Oliver kisses Shado as she tries to teach him to be an archer. He’s been away from Laurel (AND SARA) for few weeks (months?) and he’s already kissing someone else. These are not the actions of a man deeply in love.

Oliver: There’s someone. And it’s a mile past complicated, but I can’t.

Shado: Does she know how much you love her?

Oliver: I suspect right now she doesn’t. But as soon as I’m home, she will.

The Arrow writers either have a very wacked perspective on what love, fidelity and devotion mean or they are trying to make a point. Oliver didn’t choose Laurel in the past and it led to some disastrous consequences.

But Oliver choosing Laurel in the present has also led to some disastrous consequences. So maybe, just maybe, Oliver and Laurel isn’t a good thing. True love wouldn’t leave this much human wreckage in its wake. Maybe this isn’t the “always” Oliver should be pursuing.

Diggle: The only thing that will stop me from going out that door is an arrow.

And they are using John Diggle, the man guiding Oliver on his path to righteousness, to make that point.

Stray Thoughts

HE LOOKS. You cannot beat the Stemily chemistry. These scenes are gold.

YASSS Diggle shirtless. There needs to be more Diggle shirtless.

Lyla is pissed John didn’t tell her Deadshot killed his brother. She’s going to arrest him if he continues to get in the way. Hmm… handcuffs. Has potential. *evil cackle*

Tommy also lied to Laurel about Oliver being cool with him leaving the club for a job with his dad. It’s like watching these two swirl down a toilet bowl honestly.

Oliver in a towel is always welcomed no matter how ticked off I am at him.

“I can’t explain it but it feels like my life is connected to his.” Roy and Thea are united in the hunt for The Hood. Finally these two get a storyline I care about.

The badge was a fake. This is actually a really good safety tip. Should I know what a valid badge number looks like? Feel like I should know that.

“I’m feeling like it might be time for you to move.” Preach. Does Laurel have insurance? Who pays to fix her apartment all the time? I think she’s needed a new couch like three times already.

Lyla’s code name is Harbringer. Hello comics!

Lawton doesn’t kill Diggle because he hasn’t been paid to? That is convenient, isn’t it? Come on show. Do better with valid reasons for getting characters out of jams when Oliver isn’t available.

Are we going to talk about WHY a world class assassin was hired to kill John’s brother? I feel like there’s major backstory there.

Where is Shado getting all the arrows?

“I liked who my son was when he was around you.” If Moira Queen is pro Lauriver then that’s all the proof I need to swear off that relationship. The evil spirits are coming to get me. No thanks.

Oliver has killed 26 people (that the cops know about) since returning home. Yeesh. That’s a lot.

Can you really break off a doorknob to keep someone from entering the room?

“No, Ollie is still out there!” Oh honestly Tommy, just let her go. Maybe a bullet will snap some sense into her.

Listen to the Watchover podcast reaction to 1x20!!!

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me

#arrow #arrow 1x20 #arrow reviews #merlance #anti lauriver #anti laurel lance #olicity #john diggle #oliver queen #oliver and diggle #oliver and felicity #arrow season 1 #arrow rewatch #olicity fandom #arrow fandom #season 1 episode review #season 1 episode reviews #watchover podcast

22 notes · View notes

ashcal99 · 10 months

Text

Collarbones : Jasper Whitlock Hale V

Chapter Five

"I can see your collarbones and baby I'm scared, Never thought I'd be so unprepared"

Warnings: Eventual smut (18+ only), mentions of death, depression, violence, descriptions of disease and weight loss, general angst, slow burn, blink and you'll miss it mention of sex, mention of opioids

Words: 8.1k

A/N: Please lmk if you'd like to be added to the tag list. This one is super long, hope you enjoy x

Soundtrack

Previous Chapter

Series Masterlist

——————

January 31st, 2005

Camila sat there, frozen in shock, silent for what seemed like a century to Jasper. He found himself once again wishing that he had Edward’s power. To his delight, she didn’t look horrified, just shocked. But he wouldn’t push it this time, wouldn’t push her to speak before she was ready, because her whole future hung on this one moment. His whole future with her.

Finally, she spoke. “W-who makes the decision to change that future?” She asked, voice croaking on its way out. It was the only thing she could think to ask. Every other thought had become muddled in her mind.

Jasper blinked, looking down at their intertwined fingers. “You.” He said simply, pausing before he continued. It was only fair to give her the full warning of what this could mean. “It wouldn’t be the easy solution though. It’s excruciatingly painful, changing. You would loose everything you have now. Your parents, your friends, everyone would need to think that you had died.” He explained gravely, hanging his head in shame. Suddenly, he felt wrong having this conversation. Ashamed that he was even suggesting making her give up everything. It felt selfish, because, in truth, it was.

Surprising even herself, his explanation didn’t hurt. She had spent so long preparing herself to have to say goodbye, that maybe it would be worth it to start new. Either way, she would lose them and they would lose her. What scared her is what this would mean for her and the Cullens. She knew that Alice expected a friendship to form between them. More importantly, she knew that forever with Jasper didn’t seem bad in the slightest, maybe even nice. Maybe, just maybe, she would be able to act on her feelings for him after all. Maybe breaking that promise she had made to herself wouldn’t be so bad after all.

That thought stopped her in her tracks though. What if Jasper didn’t feel that same pull towards her that she felt towards him? The last thing that she wanted to do was be a burden on him. A burden that lasted for an eternity no less. “I’ll have to think on that.” She decided, gulping as the thought of making that enteral decision settled in the pit of her stomach.

“Of course. Take all the time you need.” Jasper said. He had expected as much. He couldn’t expect her to make that decision in that moment. She had only just found out that Vampires existed and now there he was, asking her what she wanted to do with eternity. As much as the suspense was killing him, he knew that he would be willing to wait as long as it would take for her to make that choice. The prize would be well worth the wait.

Camila shook her head, trying to push the overwhelming information from her mind if even for a moment. So much had been said in the last hour that she was beginning to have a migraine, the dull pain throbbing more and more by the second. “I’m going to go grab some water.” She croaked out, her throat suddenly feeling as dry as a desert. She reluctantly let her grip on his hand loosen as she pushed herself to the edge of the mattress. Willing her sore muscles to pull her to a stand, she took a few steps towards the door into the living room.

The room blurred for a moment, her mind going fuzzy with dizziness suddenly. Stars shot around her vision as her knees began to buckle. Before she had time to process what was happening, before she had time to try and catch herself from falling, ice cold hands were on her. One on her waist, keeping her upright. The other gently cupping the base of her head and the back of her neck, long fingers sprawled across the space, keeping her head steady.

“Woah.” She said blinking rapidly. She was almost certain that it wasn’t just the dizziness that had made him a blur of speed. “How did you get over here so quickly?” She asked, confusion clear on her face.

Sending her a soft smile, he answered. “It’s a vampire thing.” He said simply.

“Ohh.” She said, nodding in understanding. She guessed there was a lot more to understand than she had realized. The whole thing had happened so quickly, she was just now getting the time to process his touch. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she hoped the embarrassment that she felt, she would be able to blame on the near fainting as well as the blush. “Sorry, I think I just stool up too quick.” She said, feeling as if the heat in her cheeks would never go away.

Jasper shook his head. “You don’t need to apologize.” He said, brushing his thumb along the exposed skin of her arm in what he hoped was a comforting manor. Dark bruises littered the pale skin, and found himself wishing, hoping that his fingerprints wouldn’t show up along with the others soon. He knew that with her sickness came bruising easily, but he dreaded the day that he would inevitably cause one of the purple splotches. “Why don’t you go and lay down? I’ll go get some water for you.” He offered, dropping his hold on her once he could see that she could hold her own weight once more.

Nodding, she lowered her gaze bashfully, slightly embarrassed that she couldn’t even do a simple task without narrowly avoiding an accident. “Thanks.” She muttered as she made her way back to the bed, lowering herself slowly onto the cool sheets.

Jasper made his way out of her bedroom, when, suddenly a burning tore through his throat. Realizing as he heard a car door shut outside, that her mother must have just arrived back from the store, he rushed forward to turn the lock and open the front door for her. A brief flash of shock crossed her face as she looked at the pale figure in the doorframe. “Jasper, lovely to see you again.” She greeted as a smile formed on her lips. “Didn’t know you were staying after driving Camila home.” She said.

He hurried forward, at a human speed of course, to help gather the plastic bags that were filled with food from the trunk. “Sorry, Ma’am, I don’t mean to intrude.” He apologized, not wanting to be a burden or make the woman uncomfortable from his presence.

Michelle shook her head, furrowing her eyebrows. “Of course not, you’re never anything but a perfect gentleman. Speaking of which, you really don’t need to help bring those in, Hon.” She said sweetly, going to grab the bags from his hands.

“Nonsense, it’t no bother at all.” He reassured, southern accent thick as he gathered the remaining bags. As he turned, seeing her shocked face, he realized that he may have been overzealous in trying to grab them all at once, halfway exposing his superhuman strength purely by accident. He hunched his shoulders slightly, trying to play off that they at least looked heavy, as he let out a light laugh. “Dad always said it should only take one trip.” He joked, trying to play it off.

She nodded slowly, letting out a soft laugh her self. “Guess so.” She said, grabbing her keys from her purse to lock the vehicle. “How is Carlisle? We have an appointment with him tomorrow.” She asked politely, trying to find conversation to fill the silence as the two made their way back into the home to the kitchen.

Dropping the bags carefully on the kitchen counter, he turned to her. “He’s good. Busy at the hospital, been taking extra shifts lately to help with a shortage of doctors.” He answered.

The woman smiled at his words. “He’s a miraculous man. I hope he’s not over working himself.” She said, slightly concerned. Jasper smiled at the inside joke, humming in response. Carlisle often had to force himself to go home when it was like this. Right before he had met Edward had been the worst timing for this. Hundreds were dying all around his from the Spanish Influenza and there he was, wishing that he could be working, helping twenty-four hours a day but knowing he couldn’t. No human could operate like that, and that’s how he needed to appear. Human.

One word in particular that she had said had stuck out, however. Miraculous. He hoped that she hadn’t meant the word in a literal way. He knew from conversations with Carlisle as well as with Camila that this is what they had been hoping for. A miracle. It hurt him to know that there would be none coming for them. Either decision the Camila would end up making, they would lose her. It was impossible to change that fact. Impossible to make the loss easier for them.

But, clearly a miracle was what they had been hoping for. Camila had told him what had happened when she had been diagnosed. The cancer had progressed too far for chemo to really have any chance of working, so they hadn’t done it. There was no point of putting her though all of that if it didn’t have a chance of working. That’s why they had moved to Forks. Not only for the cheaper cost of living, but in hopes that Carlisle could help. But Jasper knew better. He knew that Camila’s life would end soon, and there was nothing left to do to prevent it from happening.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he cleared his throat before speaking. “I was getting Camila some water when I heard you get back from the store.” He said, trailing off towards the end.

She smiled, grateful to have him there, trying to take care of her baby for her. He clearly cared a great bit for her, and she only hoped that he wouldn’t grow too attached. “There’s some bottled water in the fridge.” She told him, moving to start unpacking the bags of groceries.

“Thanks.” He answered, moving to grab one of the bottles before heading back to Camila’s room. Closing the door softly behind him, he looked up from the creaking floorboards to find her fast asleep. He couldn’t stop the smile from growing on his lips as he peered at her sleeping form. There she was, as peaceful as could be, small puffs of air leaving her parted lips.

He couldn’t stop himself from staring as he lost himself in the view. Her cheekbones were prominent, her face clearly thinned from the illness. Darkness circled her eyes, leaving soft purple rings. She was absolutely beautiful, of course, but it was obvious to his advanced eyes that she was unwell. He wasn’t sure how he had missed it before, and he wandered, now, how she had looked before all of this. What she would look like if she changed. He shook his head, needing to stop before he got carried away.

Breaking himself from his trance, he pushed forward, setting the perspiring water bottle on her makeshift nightstand of cardboard boxes. He turned, reaching to grasp the edge of her blanket before draping it softly along her thin frame, watching closely as she shifted slightly under the fluffy fabric. He turned back towards the door, deciding that he should leave, seeing as she clearly needed the rest.

“Jasper?” A soft voice broke him from his thoughts. His head shot back, looking towards the direction in which the croaky voice sounded from. Camila remained in the same spot, eye squinted as she looked at his frame from her place on the bed. “Please don’t leave.” She said, so soft that he wasn’t sure if he would’ve heard it without his advanced hearing. How could he say no to her?

He knew he couldn’t, as if he wanted to in the first place, so he just nodded his head and walked straight back to her. He eased his way under the covers, leaning slightly on the wall behind the head of the mattress, half sitting, half laying down, not wanting to ease too far into the situation, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She sighed in content, laying her head softly on his arm, and hummed a small ‘thanks’.

Pretty much immediately, she was back to sleeping. He could hear her heart rate had slowed to a steady pace, breathing mellowing back out as she sunk deeper into her sleep. The rhythm was comforting to him. Despite being in the next room, his throat still burned from the scent of her mother, and luckily for him, Camila was a nice distraction from this.

It probably wasn’t the best idea to be there alone in the first place, no one there to stop him if something bad happened. It had been one thing when him and Camila had been alone, that much he could trust himself with. Now though, Michelle was home and her blood was calling out to him. It was just a matter of time before her father arrived home from work, and then the burning would only intensify. But she was worth it. He could never say no to her. He would never be able to say no to her.

So, he remained there, unmoving for more minutes than he could count, not wanting to wake her, as she shifted slightly, moving further onto him as she rested her head comfortably on his chest. If his heart still beat it would’ve been erratic.

Without meaning to, they had had more physical contact in the past twelve hours that they had ever before. He knew he should stop himself, knowing that he should keep the barriers between them strong. Not wanting to accidentally hurt her, but he couldn’t help himself as he wrapped his arm securely around her frame. He couldn’t help but embrace her as she did the same to him, even if she wasn’t fully aware of it.

He could feel his feelings for her grow by the second, vaguely aware that they were teetering on the edge of love. He knew it was ridiculous, having only known her for such a short amount of time, but he couldn’t help it. Others in his family had explained the feeling to him before, so he was aware of the fact that it all moved much quicker for his kind. Vampire’s mated for life, and if he felt like this with her already, if Alice had truly seen them together, in love, in the future, he knew he was completely and utterly fucked. He knew, in that moment, that if she did chose to die, to let her illness take her away from him, he was done for.

——————

February 1st, 2005

Camila’s second appointment had been scheduled for directly after she finished with school, and she was grateful that she wouldn’t miss her daily calculous class with Jasper. She had come to enjoy the short forty-five minute class, having the excuse to see him everyday. On top of this, she had spent yet another lunch break at the Cullen table, by the request of not only Jasper, but Alice as well.

After her conversation with Tyler the day previous, she had been more than happy to take them up on their offer. Tyler had deliberately avoided her between classes that day, and if it was either him being jealous or him just avoiding her all together because of her outburst, she didn’t care.

She just couldn’t bring herself to give a fuck anymore. Did she really need friends that shit on other people like he had done to Jasper anyway? Okay, so maybe he hadn’t completely shit on him, but he had been rude, and tried to pass it off as caring for her. Fuck that. If he wanted to remain friends, then he could apologize. Her relationship with Jasper, whatever that relationship entailed, wasn’t going to change on account of the Tyler’s ‘concern’.

So she had graciously excepted their invite at lunch, and luckily for her, Edward had been absent from the table, having chosen to sit at another with the company of Bella Swan. Camila chose not question his antics, not even in her head, as she knew that he would be able to hear her thoughts, but she couldn’t help of think of Jasper’s words. Either way it would end badly. The words sent an uncomfortable chill down her spine, but she would ignore it. It wasn’t anymore her business than her and Jasper were Tyler’s.

Her and Jasper. The new information he had given her had been cycling through her mind ever since. A chance at forever with him. It scared her. She knew how she felt towards him, and she knew that those feelings were only growing stronger, and if she was being honest with herself, they scared her. Scared her that he wouldn’t feel the same way for her. In truth, she didn't know what to do. Her only hope was to wait and see how things would pan out. To hope for the best.

After a long day of school work and overthinking everything Jasper had told her, by the time her appointment with Carlisle had rolled around, her head was throbbing. She wasn’t sure what she was hoping for him to say as they sat there in the waiting room with her parents. Wasn’t sure what she was hoping for him to do once he had seen the results of her latest run of tests, but what she did know was what she hoped he wouldn’t say. She hoped that he wouldn’t suggest anything expensive.

It was clear that her parents held too much hope in him. Too much hope that he could fix what was wrong with her, but she knew better. She knew that she would die soon. She had known that since the day she had been diagnosed. It had been a gut wrenching feeling that she couldn’t shake, despite being told that there was a chance that she could get better. She knew better than to believe it, than to hope. Jasper’s words had only confirmed that for her.

So she did hope, with every fiber of her being that he would do what was best and not dig them an even deeper financial hole than they had already dug themselves. Of course, once he had sat them in his office, tried to make small talk, attempting to soften the blow of the bad news, he had confirmed what she had already known. The tests had all come back unanimously. “Three to five months.” he said, face grave as he delivered the information.

Her father drooped in his seat, defeated, but determined not to cry. To hold himself together for his wife and daughter. Her mother almost immediately shook with silent sobs, small squeaks leaving her lips as she attempted to breath through the tears. Camila, however, remained unmoving in her seat, face blank of emotion. She had expected as much. Maybe a bit more time, but not by a lot. So she had a little bit less time to make her decision, so be it. Oh well, better not to drag it out anyway, right?

Maybe it made her seem heartless, but really, she was just tired. Tired of trying to be sad about her life ending. There was only so long you could be upset, knowing it would end soon anyway, and she had already been given enough time for that. The months following her diagnosis had been bad enough as it was. Loosing her friends. Loosing her boyfriend who she had thought loved her. She had already been pushed to that breaking point, so to hear that her pain and suffering would end soon, one way or another, was not the worst news she could hear. What pained her was her parent’s reactions, and she knew that they were both trying the best they could to not upset her more, so she tried her best to ignore that pain.

She had always hoped that maybe they would try for another kid once she was gone. They had both been so young when she was born, so it was entirely possible. She knew the past year had been torturous for them too, but in an entirely different way. So, was it that bad for her to be thankful that they would be able to start their healing even easier than she had hoped for? To maybe start new? She didn’t think so.

Carlisle had been solemn as he continued delivering the news to them. The news that there were no treatments that would help her at that stage. The news that the meds she had been taking had not been working to slow the progression of the cancer like they had hoped. The news that her liver was beginning to show signs of deterioration. The news that their daughter’s body just wasn’t sustaining her life the way that it should.

“The best thing to do in this situation is to try and make her as comfortable as possible.” He said, face laced with sadness. “We can up her pain meds. This should not only help with the pain, but also the shortness of breath that you’ve been reporting.” He said, addressing the last part to Camila as he gave her a soft, sympathetic smile. They no longer had to worry about the risk of addiction, only to ease her discomfort. And when the time came, that she was on her last branch of life, they would move her to hospice and start administering morphine on a regular basis. And then she would be gone. Easy enough she supposed. Definitely a cheeper route than chemo or radiation therapy, so she couldn’t complain.

The car ride home had been silent. She didn’t know what to say and clearly neither did her parents. The pain was palpable in the atmosphere, so much so that she was glad when they arrived home. Glad to be able to be alone in her room. Give them the space they needed to feel all that they needed to feel without having to try and be strong for her benefit.

So, that’s what they did. They felt. She could hear her mother’s sobs through the thin walls of the home. Hear her father trying to comfort her to no avail, and eventually hear his quiet sobs as well. Sleep had not come easy that night, so abnormally, she had been awake when the light tapping started tat her window.

She had thought she had been imagining things at first, maybe hallucinating from the lack of sleep in the past day, but then it came again. Tap tap tap. Slowly, she rolled out of the covers of her bed, inching her way towards the window, where she ripped open the thin curtain. Her body jolted as a small squeal left her lips, clutching at her chest for dear life. “Jesus. You’re going to give me heart attack one of these days.” She complained, unlatching the lock on the creaky frame of the window. Using all of her strength to pry it open, she stepped back aways to let Jasper climb through into her bedroom.

“What did I tell you, Darlin’? The name is Jasper. You should know this by now.” He teased, smirk deepening his dimples as she rolled her eyes at him. “Carlisle told me how it went today at the hospital, hope you don’t mind him breaking HIPAA and all.” He said, the smirk dropping from his face as he raising his hand to brush a stray piece of hair from her face, resting a comforting palm on her cheek after.

She blinked, not having it in herself to even try and stop her racing heart. “I would’ve ended up telling you anyway.” She answered, not looking away from his amber eyes.

“I know.” He muttered. “Come here.” He said, pulling her gently into his chest. He knew what she needed. Despite her hard exterior, her emotionless reaction that Carlisle had informed him of, he could feel her emotional pain. What caused it, knowing how soon she would die, knowing that there really was nothing to cure her, or seeing her parents in pain, he didn’t know. Either way, she needed the comfort, and that he could give her.

She buried her face in the fabric of his hoodie, letting tears that she didn’t even know she had flow free. She didn’t know exactly what she was crying about, not caring enough to try and figure it out. She only knew that he was holding her, and that was enough. So that night he stayed. Stayed until the early hours of the morning when she awoke to dress for school. Stayed and held her in his arms as her tears left stains in the fabric of his clothes. Stayed as she clenched that very same fabric in her fists, refusing to let go as sleep finally overcame her.

Sure, the burning in his throat was twice as bad, because he had missed his hunting and two more humans were sleeping just down the hallway, veins pumping full of sweet smelling, temping blood. But in that moment he didn’t care. He would endure anything for this girl and he knew it.

——————

February 3rd, 2005

The next few days had gone by slowly. Her parents had yet to bring up what had happened at the hospital. Whether that was because they couldn’t handle it, or because they thought it would upset her, she didn't know, but she was happy to avoid the conversation. The drive to school had been as if the whole ordeal hadn’t happened. Like she hadn’t listened in as her parents sobbed themselves to sleep. Like she couldn’t see the red puffy eyes of her mother’s that were left there as evidence.

Her mother had smiled her best smile and tried to make conversation. “So, you and Jasper seem to be hanging out quite a bit.” She commented, causing a blush to creep up to Camila’s cheeks. Camila hummed in response, trying her best to hide the redness in her face as she looked out of the window, suddenly very interested in the trees blurring past. Seeing that she wasn’t going to verbally reply, she continued. “I like him. He’s very polite… and cute.” She said, wiggling her eyebrows her eyebrows as she nudged her daughter’s shoulder.

Camila let out an exaggerated groan, running her hands over her warm face. “Mom, please.” She begged.

Michelle gasped dramatically. “What? I’m just making conversation.” She said teasingly.

“Please, anything but this topic.” Camila complained, the words muffled by her hands that remained in front on her face, trying to block her mother’s view of the red tinted cheeks.

“Ohhh…” Michele sighed out. “You like him, don’t you?” She asked. She already knew the answer of course. It was obvious, if only to her. She knew her daughter and she could tell how she felt towards the boy.

Camila sighed in relief as she dropped her hands, Forks High School coming into view. She gathered her things in her lap as the car came to a stop, turning to address her mother once more. “Bye, Mom. I love you.” She said pointedly, earning a chuckle from the woman as she opened the door.

She made her way inside the building, and as soon as her boot clad feet touched the smooth tile of the hallways, an arm slung around her shoulder. Her body immediately tensed, feeling the warmth coming from the touch. She looked up to see his face, Tyler Crowley. “Hey.” He said, nonchalantly.

She raised an eyebrow at him expectantly. Surely, that wasn’t how he was going to start the conversation, right? He couldn’t be serious, surely not. He grimaced, seeing her slight glare. “About the other day…” He said, scratching at the back of his neck awkwardly. Camila gestured with her hand, urging him to go on. What was he five? Did he seriously need someone to hold his hand while he was apologizing?

He cleared his throat. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t butt in to your business.” He said, seemingly gritting his teeth as he forced the words out.

Camila nodded her head slowly, pulling herself out from his uncomfortable embrace. “You’re right, you shouldn’t.” She said simply. “That being said, don’t do it again, okay?” She asked.

He nodded, giving her a tight lipped smile, as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Promise.” He said, giving her a tight lipped smile.

Camila nodded her head curtly. “Good.” She said, and that was the end of that. Despite his apology, she didn’t exactly want to be around him in that moment. So, she had opted instead to talk sit next to Angela during class. Camila hadn’t gotten the time to talk to the girl much that week, much to her dismay, but luckily, her history class didn’t have assigned seats, so she took the opportunity and ran with it.

“Hey.” She called out, setting her things down on the desk as she pulled out the chair next to the girl.

Angela looked up, seemingly startled by the sudden attention. “Hi, Camila.” She said, sending her a bright smile. “I haven’t seen you around much, how have you been?” She asked sweetly.

“Just busy with being at a new school and all. How about you?” Camila asked politely, giving her a kind smile. Angela had always been nothing but sweet to her, seemingly a genuinely nice person.

Angela beamed in response. “Oh you know, crazy busy too. The school paper and twin brothers keep life interesting.” She said, giggling fondly at the thought of the two toddlers. Her smile remained as she leaned over slightly, dropping her voice to a whisper. “You seem to be busy with Jasper Hale more than anything.” She teased.

God, how many people were going to bring him up? Was she that obvious? Was it that clear to everyone how she felt for him? She hoped not. “Shut up.” She said, nudging Angela’s shoulder with her own, not even attempting to hide the blush that had found its way back on her face.

“Oh come on.” Angela said, smile still shining bright. “You’ve got to see the way he looks at you.” She said.

The words had sent Camila’s heart into overdrive. “Looks at me how?” She said, eyebrows furrowing as she looked down to her hands, spinning the rings that hung loosely off of her fingers.

Angela scoffed playfully. “Like you’re the only person in the room.” She said simply. Camila’s heart clattered against her ribcage. He didn't do that, surely not. Did he? “Has he asked you to prom yet?” She asked expectantly.

Shaking her head no, Angela looked disappointed. “Has anyone asked you yet?” Camila asked, trying to change the subject away from her and Jasper.

“I keep thinking Eric’s going to ask me, then he just... doesn’t.” She said, letting out a disappointed sigh.

Camila perked up in her seat. “You should ask him.” She suggested. Angela’s eyes shot to her, a skeptical look plastered onto her face. “Take control. You’re a strong independent woman.” She reassured.

“Bella said the same thing.” Angela answered, dropping her eyes down, suddenly very interested in her chipping nail polish.

“See?” Camila asked brightly. “So you know it has to be true then.” She said finitely. Angela gave a soft, teetering smile and nodded.

The remainder of the class they spent taking turns reading through sections of their history book together, jotting down notes as they went. Once they were done with this, they moved on to their homework, finishing that fairly quickly as well. Angela was a good work partner. She took things seriously enough to get done with things fast, but also wasn’t too serious that she couldn’t hold basic conversation.

By the end of the class, Camila had promised to accompany her and Jessica with dress shopping for the prom next week. She wasn’t sure how she had been coerced into it, but knew it had something to do with her lack of ability to tell her no. She was just too nice, it was hard to reject the offer. As much as she was not looking forward to spending time with Jessica, Angela made up for it.

Like the day previous, she had opted to join Jasper at lunch. She was beginning to grow accustomed to the stares. They had to lose interest at some point, right? Surely the whole ordeal couldn’t be that interesting to them. Yeah, maybe they were attracting more today because Jasper currently had his arm slung around her shoulder, but that didn’t really give them the right to ogle. Sure, this time his arm was actually around her and not just the chair, but it was comforting. It helped ground her thoughts that had been racing all day and the coolness felt nice against her feverish skin.

Edward, again was absent from the table, having joined Bella once again at a table of their own. A fact she was grateful for as she didn’t want him to be able to read her thoughts in that moment. Her thoughts that were swirling with Jasper. It was embarrassing if she was being honest. She couldn’t seem to get him out of her mind, and she wasn’t exactly keen on the idea of admitting to herself why that was.

Alice perked up suddenly in her seat, turning to address the girl next to her. “Camila, I almost forgot. They’re doing blood typing in biology class today. Carlisle said you should skip out on it since you bleed a lot easier than most.” She explained, giving her a bright smile. She turned her gaze to Jasper momentarily, raising her eyebrows. “Jasper can drive you home if you’d like, right Jazz?” She asked expectantly.

Jasper rolled his eyes playfully at his sister. “I’d be happy to.” He said, smiling down at Camila.

A low snicker sounded from across the table. “Yeah, you’d be happy to.” Emmett muttered. A loud thwack sounded from under the table, followed by a groan of pain. “Okay, okay. No more teasing, Jasper. I got it.” He said, leaning down to hold his leg as he glared at the golden haired immortal.

Camila couldn’t stop herself from laughing at the whole ordeal. In fact, she often found herself not able to hold back her laughter with the group of vampires. She was comfortable with them, able to be much more open than she ever had before. She had nothing to hide with them. It was exhilarating, being able to be herself.

A shrill bell rung out across the crowded room, signaling the end of their lunch hour. Jasper reluctantly removed his arm from her shoulders, pulling himself to a stand and opting instead to offer his hand to the girl. She excepted the invitation, letting him help pull her to her feet as she slung her backpack onto her free arm. He did the same, grabbing both of their mostly untouched trays of food, and dumping them in the trash bin on their way out of the cafeteria.

Hand holding had become a normal thing for them over the past few days, always finding themselves in need of some form of physical contact from each other. Camila chose not to read too far into this, not wanting to become expectant of what his feelings for her were. So, they walked hand in hand, making sure nobody watched as the divided from the crowd to exit through the front doors and into the parking lot. A plus to attending such a small school compared to the last high school she had gone to, not as many adults to notice when a couple of students slipped out for the remainder of the day.

The drive to her home was a short and silent one, both teens opting to bask in the comfortable silence as he drove, winding down the woodsy roads. Once they arrived, he pulled up to the curb, putting the car in park as he turned to her. “Do you want me to walk you in?” He asked, the corners of his mouth pulling up slightly.

Camila’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You’re not coming in?” She asked, shoulders drooping in disappointment. She had grown so accustomed to spending time with the amber eyed teen that she hadn’t even questioned it, assuming he would spend time with her in her room like they had repeatedly in the past week.

He shook his head lightly. “I’m sorry, Darlin’. Your mother’s home, and I haven’t hunted for a while…” He said trailing off, ashamed of his confession.

Camila smiled to him, leaning forward to plant a quick peck to his cheek, shocking even herself as she did so. Her lips tingled from the touch as she pulled back, offering a small smile. “It’s okay, Jazz. Promise.” She assured him, gathering her things as she moved to exit the car.

“I can come by later tonight if you want, after I fix my whole… situation.” He said, catching her attention once more.

She turned back to him. “Only if you want to.” She said.

He grinned brightly at her. “I’ll always want to, Darlin’.” He said, smile not leaving his face as he watched her turn away and head towards the house. He sat there, unmoving as he made sure she made it safely inside. Waiting until she was out of view before he raised his hand to his cheek, feeling where she had left her kiss. Feeling the phantom burn of her warm plump lips on his icy skin.

——————

Jasper had come through with his promise that night, of course. This time the tapping on her window had sent her heart racing for a completely different reason altogether. Like always, as soon as she had laid her eyes on his face, all the stress from her day had lifted from her shoulders. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought that he had been using his powers on her, but no. That was just the effect that he had on her.

Oddly enough, even though it was nearly midnight, she wasn’t tired. She had taken some of her pain meds once she had gotten home from school and had almost immediately knocked out. So there she was, wide awake, Jasper by her side, hand in hand as what had become their usual.

“How was hunting?” She asked, looking up to see that his eyes had returned to their normal golden color.

He smiled to her. “Good, got a grizzly.” He said casually, causing her eyes to widen in shock.

“Like, a grizzly bear?” She asked incredulously. He nodded, laughing lightly at her shock. “Guess you weren’t lying about vampires being crazy strong.” She muttered.

“You should see Emmet. Grizzlies are his favorite.” He said, laughing like it was some kind of inside joke.

Camila took the bait. “How come?” She asked, urged on by pure curiosity.

Jasper paused for a moment, trying to think of the best way to tell the story. “Probably has to do with the fact that a bear is why he was changed.” He started, watching her face intently as he continued. “He had been mauled by one in 1935, when he was still human. Rosalie had been the one to find him and bring him to Carlisle. They’ve been together ever since.” He finished.

Camila stared up at him in awe. “That’s actually really cute.” She admitted. “Not the whole almost dying thing, but him and Rosalie.” She corrected herself. “Was that how it was with everyone else. Were they dying too?” She asked, curiously.

Jasper hummed. “Some of us. Carlisle is the oldest, he was changed in 1663. His father had been a pastor, leading hunts for vampires. Carlisle ended up taking over for him at some point, and of course, unlike his father, he was intelligent enough to find a real coven. In the chaos of it all, he ended up getting bitten and left there, bleeding in the middle of the street. He hid in a cellar for the transformation and had tried killing himself at first.” He paused, hearing the soft gasp that left her lips. “We’re pretty indestructible though, he didn’t want to be a monster. Didn’t want to feed off of humans. That’s when he figured out that our kind could survive off of animal blood.” He ended.

Camila sat there in awe of the story. “Woah.” She muttered, eyes still wide. “Talk about superhuman self control.” She said, astounded. “Who was next?” She asked, not being able to put an end to her curiosity.

He smiled at her, glad to see that the whole story was interesting to her, and hoping that it might also in some ways help prepare her for what was to come. “Then, was me, although it would be almost eighty-five years before I met Carlisle.” He said, pausing as he let her recall his story. “Then was Edward.” He continued. “He had been dying of Spanish influenza in 1918 in Chicago. He was being treated in the hospital where Carlisle was working at the time. His mother had been sick also. She had begged Carlisle as she died for him to save her son. So, when nobody was looking, he took Edward home, and changed him. Gave him a second chance at life.” He explained.

He sat there for a moment in silence, seeing pure interest and awe written on her face. “Then was Alice.” He continued. “She’s a big mystery. She has no memory of her human life. No idea how she was changed. She was alone for about twenty-eight years until she found me and brought me along with her to live with Carlisle in 1948.” He explained. He had of course briefly explained this part already, so he moved on to the next.

“Then was Esme.” He continued. “She had met Carlisle briefly when she was sixteen when she had fallen out of a tree and broken her leg. He moved soon after, but he found her again about ten years later. She had been married to a man who abused her and had a child with him. The baby ended up dying only a few days later, it was a lot more common back then. She had been distraught as you can imagine and tried jumping off of a cliff. They thought she was dead when they brought her into the morgue, but Carlisle could hear that her heart was still beating. They got married a few years after she changed.” He finished.

Camila sat there for a moment, soaking in the stories that had just been told. It was all so fascinating, she couldn’t help but feel astonished. She had, of course, already known that Carlisle was an astonishing person, but now everything had been upped by ten. He had selflessly given so many people a new life. Given them a second chance. It all made sense. That’s why she had been given the option. Unlike his family, she had been given the time to make the choice for herself. Given the opportunity at that second chance. One that she definitely wouldn’t be taking for granted.

“What about Rosalie?” She asked, suddenly realizing that he had left her story out.

He stayed silent for a moment, contemplating what he should tell her. It felt wrong, telling her story, with how intimate and private it had always seemed. With how hard Rosalie had taken the change compared to everyone else. “She was changed in 1933. Carlisle had found her bleeding out in the street… It’s really not my story to tell. Her ending was particularly brutal.” He said, trailing off as he remembered her pain as she had told him the story. “I’m sure she’ll tell you one day.” He assured her.

She nodded understandingly. “If I do make the decision to change, then I would be a part of your family too?” She asked, somewhat timid of the topic. It scared her in all honesty. What if they ended up hating her? She didn’t want them to end up resenting her for her choice. She didn’t want to feel like a burden on them. To feel like she was an outsider. Like she didn’t belong.

Jasper stayed silent for a moment before he answered, feeling her worry and fear, wanting to make sure he used the correct words. “Yes, you would, but we would understand if you wanted to leave. We wouldn’t want you to feel trapped.” He explained, voice soft.

Camila shook her head at his words, brows creasing as she looked deep into his eyes. “It’s not that.” She assured him. “I mean, they barely know me…” She hesitated. “What if they don’t like me? You all have been a family for so long, I don’t want to get in the middle of that.” She said, the corners of her mouth turning downward as she admitted her fears.

“Camila.” He said softly, cupping his hand gently on the back of her neck, letting his thumb brush her cheek lightly. “They’re all going to love you.” He whispered. It pained him to hear her so unsure of herself. He may have been biased, but he couldn’t imagine a person hating her for the life of him.

“How do you know that though?” She asked, resisting the urge to lean into his touch for comfort as her heart hammered in her chest.

“Well, two things.” He started, beginning to get lost in the emeralds of her eyes. Feeling as if they had been pulling him in, refusing to let him go. “Alice has seen it, and I’m fairly certain that it would be impossible to not love you.” He said, voice barely audible as he finished. For a moment he wasn’t sure if she had heard him, and if he was honest, he wasn’t completely sure if he wanted her too.

Although it wasn’t exactly an admission, it felt like the biggest one of them all. The implication that he was falling for her. Because that’s what it was, love, he knew it. Sure, it felt ridiculous, only having known her for such little time, but didn’t stop his cold un-beating heart from feeling that way for her. There was no logic, no understanding. It just was, and if it wasn’t love yet, he knew that it would develop into love. There was no doubt in his mind.

Thoughts swirled in her head as she processed his words. He hadn’t exactly admitted anything to her, but that didn’t stop her heart from reacting like he had. She stared into his eyes for a moment more, before, without even realizing it, she began to lean into his touch, their faces inching closer and closer by the second. He was leaning in as well, she realized, drawn in towards each other like magnets.

He watched as her eyes fluttered closed, forcing himself to freeze as their noses brushed, his eyes clenching shut with the effort to restrain himself. “Jasper.” She whispered, warm breath fanning his lips as she tried to regulate her breathing.

His eyes remained closed as he rested his forehead to hers, feeling the warmth in her touch. Trying to find the strength to pull away. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He whispered.

“Please don’t make me beg.” She answered, voice soft and thick with emotion.

And that was it. He knew he wouldn’t have it in himself to say no, and as the words left her lips, he gave in. Gave in to the temptation and closed the gap between them as he crashed his lips to hers, trying with every ounce of his body to be gentle as he sunk into her. Her lips burned into his, feeling as if they would leave a mark that would never heal over.

The feeling was like nothing she had ever felt before. Sure she had kissed before, she had even had sex before. But this, kissing Jasper, felt like the most intimate thing she had ever been a part of. Their lips moving softly together, in sync like they had been made for each other. And maybe they had, because it sure as hell felt like that.

Next Chapter

Tag List:

249 notes · View notes