Chapter Two
Phwump.
Phwump.
Phwump.
Julian felt his left eye twitch in irritation as the seventh paper ball in ten minutes bounced off his skull.
He turned slowly, eyeing the culprit with a look that would, in usual circumstances, make his prey either a) flee, b) cry, or c) lose control of their bladder.
Unfortunately, there was no scenario in which Peter could ever be considered normal.
"I despise you."
"Aw, I love you too, darlin'. Come on, gimme some sugar!" Peter puckered his lips and slung an arm around his friend's broad shoulders.
"You're an actual, honest to god, child."
"Hey! It's not like I'm starved for attention or anything, I just... I'm a man with needs. Specifically, a need to be acknowledged at least every five minutes so that I don't have an existential crisis. See?" Peter huffed, a pout on his lips that had him looking more like a child than the centuries old vampire that he was.
"Perhaps, but I'm not the one who married you, therefore it's not in my job description."
"You take far too much joy in wounding me, Julian."
"What can I say, we all have our kinks."
"Ooh, love me daddy- ow!"
"Char, pay attention to your whiny husband." Julian kicked Peter off the end of the couch, without batting an eyelid.
"Sure thing, sweetie." Charlotte continued flicking through her magazine as she began patting Peter's head with all the enthusiasm of a dead fish.
"Does no one in this house love me?" Peter propped his chin on his long suffering wife's knee. "I can't believe I allow both y'all to live in my home. I could be throwing a playboy party right now."
"It's a rental, dumbass. That I'm paying for." Julian threw his old friend his mobile phone as it began vibrating on the coffee table. "Look Peter, your boyfriend's calling, maybe he'll give you some sugar."
Peter made a strange squealing noise that would sound more appropriate coming from a teenage girl, prompting his wife to smile, sigh, then mutter in amusement, "One day, he'll love me like that."
Whilst Julian had never personally met Major Jasper Whitlock, he had certainly heard the stories; most of which involved blood, banter, and more often that not, decapitation. Safe to say, he was happy to keep their mutual acquaintance at a distance, preferably with Peter and Charlotte in between.
Julian refocused his attention, just in time to hear Peter hang up the call.
"The Cullen's doing well?" Charlotte asked her husband, drawing her eyes away from her magazine.
"Wait- Cullen? They're called Cullen?" Julian startled, his wavy dark blond hair flying about his face like a golden halo as he turned to look at his friend.
"Yea? Didn't you know that already?" At Julian's blank expression, Peter snorted. "How the fuck has it taken you this long to find out their name?"
"I don't know, I just tend to tune out whenever you start talking." Julian shrugged, glancing at Charlotte who nodded in understanding (she had been married to the man for over a hundred years after all).
Cullen. That was a name he hadn't heard to years, specifically, since... Shit, since 1933. Dr Carlisle Cullen and his unsociable son, a young man called Edmund? Or was it Edward?
"Yeah, apparently Jasper's moved to some Podunk town in the Pacific Northwest, notable for nothing except its high percentage of rainfall, and being named after an item of kitchenware. How suitably boring." Peter continued to natter away.
"Carlisle still making them enrol in school?" Charlotte asked curiously.
The fuse in Julian's brain sparked and caused the man to bolt upright, cursing.
"Sure is, not that Jasper can really pass for-"
"Jesus."
"No, I'm Peter."
"Carlisle bloody Cullen is a vampire." Julian stared wild eyed, the red pupils bright and full of alarm.
"Julian, are you alright?" Charlotte touched his arm gently, her dark brows furrowed in worry.
"I know him - well, I don't know know him, but he - " He cut himself off sharply and straightened his spine. "He lived in my neighbourhood, him and his son, when I was still, y'know."
"A fleshbag?" Peter piped up unhelpfully and received a smack in the gut for his troubles.
"I need to see him, I need - I - I..." Julian wobbled on his legs, dropping onto the couch behind him. He stared at his companions pleadingly.
"Hey, mate, it's ok." Peter's rumbling voice was a strangely soothing comfort as his brain went into overdrive.
The chance that Dr Cullen might know something, could give any further knowledge to Julian's weak understanding of what happened to his sister. Did he know? Could he have seen something? A darker thought strayed into his conscious; could Carlisle, could his son, have been the ones who hurt, the reason she- no. According to Peter, the Cullen's were on a strict no human diet, and had been since, well, ever.
Julian had to know, had to see for himself. His oldest friends were supportive, if not a tad worried about his mental state. But they had gone their separate ways before, and this occasion was no different - well, in most regards, that is. But Peter willingly gave Julian the address, though not without shooting Jasper a quick text informing the man that his friend would be dropping by for a visit, and to please not harm him.
The three of them had been staying in Portland, so thankfully the distance to Forks could easily be covered within the hour.
"Stay safe, brother." Peter gripped his shoulder tightly, unusually serious, and after a small pause he continued, "I hope you find the answers you're looking for."