As Nature Dictates
Title: As Nature Dictates
Author: chaotic_vanity
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2300
Category: Drama, Angst
Prompt: Jacob/Edward
Summary: An exploration of a friendship between Jacob and Edward turns into something neither of them could have expected.
Warnings: SLASH. That's right. if you're not willing to be open-minded, please don't read.
Notes: I don't at all doubt this pairing is unpopular, but I thought I'd try it out. Personally, I'm a Bella/Edward shipper, but I decided to challenge myself. :D We'll see how it goes.
Written for twilightathon
"You never know when they might get too hungry to resist."
Twilight, Chapter 6
"He's coming," Jacob growled. "I can smell him."
"Edward?" Bella asked, smiling brightly for a second before relaxing her face into a frown. "Oh. You probably have to go."
It was a gloomy early Saturday afternoon, typical for Forks. Bella and Jacob stood outside, behind her house, talking. An hour ago, Jacob had appeared-moving so fast that Bella thought maybe he'd come out of thin air-and told her how much he missed her. "All those damn notes you sent me… I tried to ignore you, Bella, I really did."
Bella had laughed. "Oh, that makes me feel real good."
Jacob had laughed as well-at first. Then he'd turned serious. "I'm risking a lot by being here… but how can I stay away?" he'd asked her. Bella had rushed into his arms to hug him tightly. They'd broken apart, smiling, after a couple seconds.
They'd talked for a few minutes more before Jacob had caught Edward's scent on the wind.
"Yeah… I'm sorry, Bella, but I can't stay with him here. I've missed you… and I wish things weren't like this. But they are." He stared wistfully at his feet. Bella reached out an arm and caught one of his hands in her own. She frowned sadly.
"You could stay, Jacob, just for a few minutes, maybe. You could try to get along with him; you could try to be friends. I know you're enemies by nature, but nature can be defied. I love you, Jake, and I don't want to be apart from you. I don't want you to be hurting without me by your side, after all you did for me," she finished.
"What, so you think you owe me?" His eyes were hard.
"No, not exactly. I just… you deserve the same friendship that you gave me. You saved me, Jake. I'm not letting you go after that."
He pulled his hand away and turned, ready to leave. "You've made your choice. You'd rather be apart from me than apart from him and his family, and I'll learn to deal with that. Look, I shouldn't even be here, and now I really have to go."
"No-stay, please," Bella pleaded.
"Bella, you know I can't. Besides, how do you think your vampire boyfriend would feel to see you in my company? Hasn't he forbidden you to see me, or did just he figure I'd never dare to get close enough?"
"No, he… he told me not to see you. But this isn't the same. You came to me."
"And now I'm leaving you."
Tears sprang into Bella's eyes and she fought to hold them back. "Please, just think about it, then. Think about trying to be friends. Werewolves and vampires… I understand about the mortal enemies thing." She sighed. "But inside, both of you are still people, maybe not human people, but people nonetheless. And people give other people second chances."
Jacob snorted. "I don't think that made as much sense out of your head as it did in your head, Bella."
"Well, I don't think so either, but you get my point."
"I get it, sure, but you're wrong. Thousands of years of history are against us. He's ice-I'm fire. Vampires and werewolves are not meant to be friends."
"Don't say that," Bella whispered, but Jake forged on ahead.
"Once you've changed, you and I can't be friends."
"Don't say that!" she said, louder this time.
"He's close. I'm leaving… I'll think about it, Bella, but don't expect too much."
"Thanks." She paused, looking sad. "Jake, I love you…"
"I love you, too. As a friend, I know." Jacob leaned in quick and kissed Bella's cheek, before running off. Bella stared after him silently. She heard the sound of a car pulling into her driveway and turned to walk to the front of her house. Edward was getting out of his car as she walked up. She threw a smile on her face and went to meet him. Her smile fell as she saw the look on Edward's face.
Edward leaned up against the side of his car, watching Bella approach him. He sensed that she had just been with Jacob Black, and sighed internally. When she reached him, he took her into his arms and pulled her against his chest. She felt so right.
"Jacob was here, wasn't he?" Edward whispered.
"Yeah."
"Bella…" He sighed, breaking their contact and rubbing his forehead with his hand. "I can't stop you from seeing him, and I don't want to, truly, if he makes you happy… But I wish you wouldn't see him. He's dangerous and-"
"What, more dangerous than you and your family?"
"He's not in control. He's a young werewolf…" Edward protested, to no avail.
"I don't care how 'young' he is, Edward."
"I know."
"I'm sorry it hurts you that I see him. It hurts him if I don't see him-and it hurts him that I'm with you. Can't you both just… just…"
"You can't think of a solution?" Edward guessed. Bella nodded in reply. "It's difficult, Bella, and you can't fix this. Thousands of years of history…"
"Jake said the same thing."
"As much as it pains me to agree with a dog like that…"
Bella rolled her eyes. "Don't call him that."
This is hopeless, she thought to herself, biting her lip. Why should I be forced to choose?
"Edward… for me, is there any chance you could try to be friends with Jake? Not best friends. Not close friends. You know what? Not even friendly acquaintances. I'd settle for just not wanting to rip each other apart."
"Did he say he wanted to be friends?"
"Er, not exactly."
"Well, he has to come to me. It's up to him. I'm willing to try-for you, and only for you-if he makes… ah, the first move, so to speak."
"Okay. If he approaches you… you'll try?"
"For your peace of mind only. And don't think this will be at all easy, Bella. You don't understand everything about the natures of werewolves and vampires…"
"As long as you'll try… that's all I can ask." Bella smiled and led Edward inside the house.
&&&
Edward walked slowly through the woods one afternoon a few days later. Bella was at school-Edward was adamant about the importance of her finishing her senior year-but since the day was bright and sunny, Edward had skipped school. He was by himself, alternating between thinking heavily and avoiding all thought.
Suddenly, he sensed a figure in the trees in front of him. He frowned, and then frowned deeper when Jacob Black stepped out from the shadows.
"Werewolf," he greeted coldly, nodding his head.
"Bloodsucker," Jacob returned, grinning slightly. "I've been looking around for you. Bella said I should try to be… how shall I put this? Less hostile?"
"She mentioned something similar to me."
"Did you tell her just how impossible something like that would be?"
"Oh, I did. But I'm sure you know that Bella is just as impossible when she puts her mind to it."
"She is," Jacob agreed. "Let's be honest: I doubt I'll ever stop hating you, just because of what you are-and what you did to Bella."
"That's quite all right," Edward said, eyes glinting maliciously, belying his carefree attitude, "because I don't think I've ever hated anyone as much as I hate you."
Jacob laughed. "Well played."
"Thank you," Edward said unemotionally, without even a hint of a smile.
"You always so damn cold?"
"Are you always so hot-blooded?" Edward shot back.
Jacob laughed again.
"You shouldn't laugh; we're not supposed to get along," said Edward.
"I know," said Jacob, "Trust me; I'm trying to keep hating you."
"Focus on the whole vampires-versus-werewolves thing." At this, Jacob tried-and failed-to hold back another short bark of laughter.
"Just because we're getting along a little bit doesn't mean I like you, I guess. And it doesn't mean I want Bella with you."
"What a coincidence, because I still want Bella to stay the hell away from you."
"But she doesn't want to be with only one of us, and keep away from the other."
"She has to pick," Edward said firmly.
"I don't think she'll pick, though," Jacob told him.
Edward sighed. "I very much doubt that as well."
"She has nearly picked you, though. I'm warning you, if she chooses, and she wants to go all the way…. If you change her…"
"I know." He paused a beat, then added, "War."
Jacob nodded solemnly. "War."
They stood silent for a few moments in the darkened woods. Jake bit his bottom lip and Edward stared at the ground; both were thinking.
"We're back to being enemies, then," said Jacob finally.
"As nature dictates."
"Why does nature have to run everything? Why can't we make our own decisions?" Jacob frowned angrily, still staring at the ground.
"Are you saying you want to be friends?" Edward asked, confused.
"Uh, no, no," Jacob stammered. "Just that things aren't always fair, and it makes me mad. We should get to choose some things for ourselves, not have them chosen for us."
"Let me guess: you didn't choose to become a werewolf."
"Oh, and tell me you chose to become a vampire."
"I did not."
"And I didn't choose to become a werewolf. Somewhere, deep down inside, is the human part of you, the part that's willing to make amends, at least slightly. I have that part inside of me too. I mostly ignore it-as nature dictates-but for Bella…"
"For Bella you'd do anything, including defying your nature."
"Exactly," Jacob said, nodding.
"I know how you feel," Edward replied simply, shrugging. "I defy everything about myself to be with her… I suppose, for her, I can practice that same sort of self-control in regards to you."
"Well then, I can too." Jacob paused a moment, biting his lip, then extended his right hand towards Edward. Edward stared at Jacob's hand for a few seconds before reaching up with his own and grasping Jacob's hand in a firm handshake. They stared heavily at each other, assessing, then dropped their hands at the same time, so quickly it was as if they were scalded. Edward took an unconscious step backward; Jacob frowned.
"You don't feel how I thought you would," Jacob said musingly. "The cold… it feels… almost right."
Edward said nothing for several moments, not sure what there was to be said. Jacob waited, and eventually Edward moved. He stepped quickly closer to Jacob's body, breathing heavily, eyes locked with Jacob's, and then-
He stopped before touching the werewolf. Edward's body was inches from his companion's and his eyes locked Jacob's in an intense, unfreezing gaze. He seemed ready to pounce, to explode, to rage… but he stood still as a stone. Waiting for permission.
Jacob stood just as still as Edward, considering. He marveled at the fact that the vampire's sickly sweet scent was less revolting up close. Quite the opposite of revolting, it was haunting and provocative. He inhaled deeply and smiled, his eyes slipping closed in pleasure.
Eyes closed, Jacob felt Edward's lips tentatively touch his own. His lips brushed Jacob's once, twice, before retreating. Jacob's eyes flew open. He placed his hands on each of Edward's cheeks and pulled Edward closer, kissing him fully on the mouth. Edward moaned softly.
They kissed for what felt like eternity, tongues dueling, hands roaming, moans and sighs escaping. Jacob broke away finally, gasping for breath. They lay down on the ground, arms intertwined, heads placed next to each other. Edward placed a hand on Jacob's chest, feeling his heart race. They were still, just listening and feeling and learning.
Over an hour later, Jacob sat up. Edward sat up, too, though more reluctantly. He closed his eyes and frowned, knowing what Jacob was about to say.
"This has to be the beginning and the end of 'us'," said Jake.
"I know. I refuse to hurt Bella this way again." Silently, in his head, Edward whispered, Even as much as it hurts me to lose you.. Somehow, Edward felt Jacob knew what he was thinking. They had bonded closely, irrevocably in this short time together-the wolf and the vampire. Denying their natures, Edward and Jacob were as fierce and fast at loving as they were at hating. One touch had been all it took to unlock their passion. Enemies made ardent lovers, it seemed.
"Bella…" Jacob paused, thinking of the girl he loved unrequitedly. "Tell me you'll protect her, you'll take care of her. Forever. Promise me." Jacob's voice broke as he spoke.
"I promise. For forever and beyond that," Edward whispered fiercely.
"And promise me you'll love her."
"I'll love her..." Edward replied. "As much as I love you."
Jacob nodded once, swiftly, then leaned his head toward Edward's, placing a gentle kiss on his once-enemy's cheek. He rose quickly, leaving Edward seated on the ground, and lifted his hand in a wave.
"I'll be over to see her later this week, then. Tell her," Jacob said before he moved away, back into the darkened shadow of the trees. Edward nodded, then watched Jacob go, staring sadly at the place where the werewolf had disappeared.
Author: chaotic_vanity
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2300
Category: Drama, Angst
Prompt: Jacob/Edward
Summary: An exploration of a friendship between Jacob and Edward turns into something neither of them could have expected.
Warnings: SLASH. That's right. if you're not willing to be open-minded, please don't read.
Notes: I don't at all doubt this pairing is unpopular, but I thought I'd try it out. Personally, I'm a Bella/Edward shipper, but I decided to challenge myself. :D We'll see how it goes.
Written for twilightathon
"You never know when they might get too hungry to resist."
Twilight, Chapter 6
"He's coming," Jacob growled. "I can smell him."
"Edward?" Bella asked, smiling brightly for a second before relaxing her face into a frown. "Oh. You probably have to go."
It was a gloomy early Saturday afternoon, typical for Forks. Bella and Jacob stood outside, behind her house, talking. An hour ago, Jacob had appeared-moving so fast that Bella thought maybe he'd come out of thin air-and told her how much he missed her. "All those damn notes you sent me… I tried to ignore you, Bella, I really did."
Bella had laughed. "Oh, that makes me feel real good."
Jacob had laughed as well-at first. Then he'd turned serious. "I'm risking a lot by being here… but how can I stay away?" he'd asked her. Bella had rushed into his arms to hug him tightly. They'd broken apart, smiling, after a couple seconds.
They'd talked for a few minutes more before Jacob had caught Edward's scent on the wind.
"Yeah… I'm sorry, Bella, but I can't stay with him here. I've missed you… and I wish things weren't like this. But they are." He stared wistfully at his feet. Bella reached out an arm and caught one of his hands in her own. She frowned sadly.
"You could stay, Jacob, just for a few minutes, maybe. You could try to get along with him; you could try to be friends. I know you're enemies by nature, but nature can be defied. I love you, Jake, and I don't want to be apart from you. I don't want you to be hurting without me by your side, after all you did for me," she finished.
"What, so you think you owe me?" His eyes were hard.
"No, not exactly. I just… you deserve the same friendship that you gave me. You saved me, Jake. I'm not letting you go after that."
He pulled his hand away and turned, ready to leave. "You've made your choice. You'd rather be apart from me than apart from him and his family, and I'll learn to deal with that. Look, I shouldn't even be here, and now I really have to go."
"No-stay, please," Bella pleaded.
"Bella, you know I can't. Besides, how do you think your vampire boyfriend would feel to see you in my company? Hasn't he forbidden you to see me, or did just he figure I'd never dare to get close enough?"
"No, he… he told me not to see you. But this isn't the same. You came to me."
"And now I'm leaving you."
Tears sprang into Bella's eyes and she fought to hold them back. "Please, just think about it, then. Think about trying to be friends. Werewolves and vampires… I understand about the mortal enemies thing." She sighed. "But inside, both of you are still people, maybe not human people, but people nonetheless. And people give other people second chances."
Jacob snorted. "I don't think that made as much sense out of your head as it did in your head, Bella."
"Well, I don't think so either, but you get my point."
"I get it, sure, but you're wrong. Thousands of years of history are against us. He's ice-I'm fire. Vampires and werewolves are not meant to be friends."
"Don't say that," Bella whispered, but Jake forged on ahead.
"Once you've changed, you and I can't be friends."
"Don't say that!" she said, louder this time.
"He's close. I'm leaving… I'll think about it, Bella, but don't expect too much."
"Thanks." She paused, looking sad. "Jake, I love you…"
"I love you, too. As a friend, I know." Jacob leaned in quick and kissed Bella's cheek, before running off. Bella stared after him silently. She heard the sound of a car pulling into her driveway and turned to walk to the front of her house. Edward was getting out of his car as she walked up. She threw a smile on her face and went to meet him. Her smile fell as she saw the look on Edward's face.
Edward leaned up against the side of his car, watching Bella approach him. He sensed that she had just been with Jacob Black, and sighed internally. When she reached him, he took her into his arms and pulled her against his chest. She felt so right.
"Jacob was here, wasn't he?" Edward whispered.
"Yeah."
"Bella…" He sighed, breaking their contact and rubbing his forehead with his hand. "I can't stop you from seeing him, and I don't want to, truly, if he makes you happy… But I wish you wouldn't see him. He's dangerous and-"
"What, more dangerous than you and your family?"
"He's not in control. He's a young werewolf…" Edward protested, to no avail.
"I don't care how 'young' he is, Edward."
"I know."
"I'm sorry it hurts you that I see him. It hurts him if I don't see him-and it hurts him that I'm with you. Can't you both just… just…"
"You can't think of a solution?" Edward guessed. Bella nodded in reply. "It's difficult, Bella, and you can't fix this. Thousands of years of history…"
"Jake said the same thing."
"As much as it pains me to agree with a dog like that…"
Bella rolled her eyes. "Don't call him that."
This is hopeless, she thought to herself, biting her lip. Why should I be forced to choose?
"Edward… for me, is there any chance you could try to be friends with Jake? Not best friends. Not close friends. You know what? Not even friendly acquaintances. I'd settle for just not wanting to rip each other apart."
"Did he say he wanted to be friends?"
"Er, not exactly."
"Well, he has to come to me. It's up to him. I'm willing to try-for you, and only for you-if he makes… ah, the first move, so to speak."
"Okay. If he approaches you… you'll try?"
"For your peace of mind only. And don't think this will be at all easy, Bella. You don't understand everything about the natures of werewolves and vampires…"
"As long as you'll try… that's all I can ask." Bella smiled and led Edward inside the house.
&&&
Edward walked slowly through the woods one afternoon a few days later. Bella was at school-Edward was adamant about the importance of her finishing her senior year-but since the day was bright and sunny, Edward had skipped school. He was by himself, alternating between thinking heavily and avoiding all thought.
Suddenly, he sensed a figure in the trees in front of him. He frowned, and then frowned deeper when Jacob Black stepped out from the shadows.
"Werewolf," he greeted coldly, nodding his head.
"Bloodsucker," Jacob returned, grinning slightly. "I've been looking around for you. Bella said I should try to be… how shall I put this? Less hostile?"
"She mentioned something similar to me."
"Did you tell her just how impossible something like that would be?"
"Oh, I did. But I'm sure you know that Bella is just as impossible when she puts her mind to it."
"She is," Jacob agreed. "Let's be honest: I doubt I'll ever stop hating you, just because of what you are-and what you did to Bella."
"That's quite all right," Edward said, eyes glinting maliciously, belying his carefree attitude, "because I don't think I've ever hated anyone as much as I hate you."
Jacob laughed. "Well played."
"Thank you," Edward said unemotionally, without even a hint of a smile.
"You always so damn cold?"
"Are you always so hot-blooded?" Edward shot back.
Jacob laughed again.
"You shouldn't laugh; we're not supposed to get along," said Edward.
"I know," said Jacob, "Trust me; I'm trying to keep hating you."
"Focus on the whole vampires-versus-werewolves thing." At this, Jacob tried-and failed-to hold back another short bark of laughter.
"Just because we're getting along a little bit doesn't mean I like you, I guess. And it doesn't mean I want Bella with you."
"What a coincidence, because I still want Bella to stay the hell away from you."
"But she doesn't want to be with only one of us, and keep away from the other."
"She has to pick," Edward said firmly.
"I don't think she'll pick, though," Jacob told him.
Edward sighed. "I very much doubt that as well."
"She has nearly picked you, though. I'm warning you, if she chooses, and she wants to go all the way…. If you change her…"
"I know." He paused a beat, then added, "War."
Jacob nodded solemnly. "War."
They stood silent for a few moments in the darkened woods. Jake bit his bottom lip and Edward stared at the ground; both were thinking.
"We're back to being enemies, then," said Jacob finally.
"As nature dictates."
"Why does nature have to run everything? Why can't we make our own decisions?" Jacob frowned angrily, still staring at the ground.
"Are you saying you want to be friends?" Edward asked, confused.
"Uh, no, no," Jacob stammered. "Just that things aren't always fair, and it makes me mad. We should get to choose some things for ourselves, not have them chosen for us."
"Let me guess: you didn't choose to become a werewolf."
"Oh, and tell me you chose to become a vampire."
"I did not."
"And I didn't choose to become a werewolf. Somewhere, deep down inside, is the human part of you, the part that's willing to make amends, at least slightly. I have that part inside of me too. I mostly ignore it-as nature dictates-but for Bella…"
"For Bella you'd do anything, including defying your nature."
"Exactly," Jacob said, nodding.
"I know how you feel," Edward replied simply, shrugging. "I defy everything about myself to be with her… I suppose, for her, I can practice that same sort of self-control in regards to you."
"Well then, I can too." Jacob paused a moment, biting his lip, then extended his right hand towards Edward. Edward stared at Jacob's hand for a few seconds before reaching up with his own and grasping Jacob's hand in a firm handshake. They stared heavily at each other, assessing, then dropped their hands at the same time, so quickly it was as if they were scalded. Edward took an unconscious step backward; Jacob frowned.
"You don't feel how I thought you would," Jacob said musingly. "The cold… it feels… almost right."
Edward said nothing for several moments, not sure what there was to be said. Jacob waited, and eventually Edward moved. He stepped quickly closer to Jacob's body, breathing heavily, eyes locked with Jacob's, and then-
He stopped before touching the werewolf. Edward's body was inches from his companion's and his eyes locked Jacob's in an intense, unfreezing gaze. He seemed ready to pounce, to explode, to rage… but he stood still as a stone. Waiting for permission.
Jacob stood just as still as Edward, considering. He marveled at the fact that the vampire's sickly sweet scent was less revolting up close. Quite the opposite of revolting, it was haunting and provocative. He inhaled deeply and smiled, his eyes slipping closed in pleasure.
Eyes closed, Jacob felt Edward's lips tentatively touch his own. His lips brushed Jacob's once, twice, before retreating. Jacob's eyes flew open. He placed his hands on each of Edward's cheeks and pulled Edward closer, kissing him fully on the mouth. Edward moaned softly.
They kissed for what felt like eternity, tongues dueling, hands roaming, moans and sighs escaping. Jacob broke away finally, gasping for breath. They lay down on the ground, arms intertwined, heads placed next to each other. Edward placed a hand on Jacob's chest, feeling his heart race. They were still, just listening and feeling and learning.
Over an hour later, Jacob sat up. Edward sat up, too, though more reluctantly. He closed his eyes and frowned, knowing what Jacob was about to say.
"This has to be the beginning and the end of 'us'," said Jake.
"I know. I refuse to hurt Bella this way again." Silently, in his head, Edward whispered, Even as much as it hurts me to lose you.. Somehow, Edward felt Jacob knew what he was thinking. They had bonded closely, irrevocably in this short time together-the wolf and the vampire. Denying their natures, Edward and Jacob were as fierce and fast at loving as they were at hating. One touch had been all it took to unlock their passion. Enemies made ardent lovers, it seemed.
"Bella…" Jacob paused, thinking of the girl he loved unrequitedly. "Tell me you'll protect her, you'll take care of her. Forever. Promise me." Jacob's voice broke as he spoke.
"I promise. For forever and beyond that," Edward whispered fiercely.
"And promise me you'll love her."
"I'll love her..." Edward replied. "As much as I love you."
Jacob nodded once, swiftly, then leaned his head toward Edward's, placing a gentle kiss on his once-enemy's cheek. He rose quickly, leaving Edward seated on the ground, and lifted his hand in a wave.
"I'll be over to see her later this week, then. Tell her," Jacob said before he moved away, back into the darkened shadow of the trees. Edward nodded, then watched Jacob go, staring sadly at the place where the werewolf had disappeared.