Disclaimer: To disclaim is to bear the shame of using another's brain to choose the names and characters and whatnot. blah. blah. blah. I claim ownership of nothing.

A/N: And we're picking up speed! Um, I now know exactly where I want this story to go, with no more hemming and hawing on my part (some times you really just need to write it out to let the weave shine), and anyway, we're nearing the homestretch-meaning action (of all various kinds and ratings). Thank you to all of you lovelies for reading and reviewing. It warms my heart.

And of course, to the lovely Ellecc for beta'ing and Katinki for pointing out when Jasper's puns are bunk. Lol. *hugs*

(o)(◌)(o)

"When I want to know anything from you, I'll tell you, you long-legged son of a—"
"If you want to call me that, smile."
"With a gun against my belly, I-I always smile."
The Virginian (1929)

(o)(◌)(o)

It was like someone had pulled the trigger. One of Jasper's hands plugged his shoulder to the floor and the other was on his neck, the thorny press of thumbnail against his Adam's apple. In Edward's vision, there was Jasper, halo-white despite the coal-black backdrop of the inferno. His mouth was suspended over Edward's for a second, and then it was as if the lines that defined him melted like ink in water.

A mouth on his. No sound. Only touch, teeth nicking at his bottom lip, fingers clawing at his hip. Taste. The slick twist of venom that stung in the back of his throat. The lap of a tongue against his. In some echo in his mind, Edward knew his shirt was ripping as Jasper pushed him back against the cliff wall. His heels were failing to gain traction as every breath was stolen before he could find his footing.

It was some moments later that Edward got his first grasp of reality. Jasper left his mouth for his neck, and Edward's took his first draught of sulfured air, one gasp and the time and place and the person—Jasper, holy fuck—set in on him.

"Jasper, mother of—" Edward sputtered, "stop." His eyes flew open. There was an entire coven of vampires above them. There was Peter and Charlotte and Millie, not to mention the mental prying that would come from Isabel. Edward brought his hands up to pull at Jasper's—but Jasper smacked them away. Jasper kissed Edward even harder, with his whole body, with knees pushing into his thighs and elbows caging him. It felt—like punishment. Edward liked it. He shouldn't. He did.

But still, Edward pushed back. He pushed back because the fury was building in his chest. Because he wasn't here to be rescued. He wasn't some fucking damsel who needed to be awoken with a rose, a bloody sword, and a kiss. Two days ago, Jasper had been fucking Maria.

He jerked his hand out and slapped Jasper.

The slap didn't have the intended effect. Jasper absorbed the strike, moving into Edward's palm rather than away from it, and then Jasper was holding Edward's hand on his cheek and just looking at Edward, breathing in and out with long gasps.

Jasper had soot in his blond hair, on the tips of his eyelashes. The laces of his shirt were completely ripped out, and Edward could see the start of the long scar just behind the knob of his collar bone. Looking at him, Edward wished that Jasper's eyes weren't red. He wished that Jasper couldn't know Edward's emotions. Edward wished he didn't find Jasper so stupidly beautiful.

Jasper was looking right back him, still holding Edward's palm over his cheek and waiting.

Edward tried making out Jasper's thoughts. He tried to center himself and discern Jasper's mind from the insanity of his own. It wasn't working. Shaking his head as if he could clear out his head, Edward asked, "Why?"

"Why what?" Jasper let go of Edward's hand.

"Why'd you come?"

Jasper's lips curled into a wry smile. "I missed you."

That stopped Edward. He'd expected some retort, like "Peter drank mole-rat and couldn't be stopped," "Millie ran out of nursery rhymes," or "Maria would have had my neck otherwise." Instead, Jasper was looking at Edward with dead seriousness, and it was galling. It was enough to make Edward want to hide his eyes or jump off the cliff again—because somehow that seemed more bearable than the pressure of this moment.

"I don't understand," Edward said.

Jasper cocked his head to side, his tongue pressed into his cheek. "You're always stumped about something."

Edward glared at him.

Jasper threw his head back and laughed, but then he shook his head. He leaned back from Edward, his top teeth pressed into his bottom lip, and said, "Stop your bosh. You keep acting you're lost between the grass and the hay. Well, cut the act. You say you're sick of being tossed around. Well, make a fucking a decision."

"I'm not pretending."

"Then making a decision shouldn't be so hard."

"Fine, we climb out," Edward said.

Jasper laughed, except this time it was bitter. "So running it is..."

Edward suppressed the urge to hit Jasper again. "I'm not running. We're precariously close to an unstable volcano stream, and I'd rather not hang around to be vamp soup."

Jasper ignored his sarcasm. "I know what you feel when you look at me."

"Anger. Annoyance," Edward spit.

"And...?" Jasper cocked a brow.

Edward closed his eyes and ground his teeth. He really, really wanted to knock the knowing smile off Jasper's face. "Hate. I feel hate."

"Good, I feel that, too."

"You don't—" Jasper's thoughts—though a maelstrom—could not be described as hate.

"I don't," Jasper agreed. "Just like you don't."

Edward pressed his head back against the rock, anything to get farther away from Jasper. "Why does it always have to be like this?"

"Do elaborate," Jasper drawled.

"You're hot and cold with me."

"Well, we were in a dank ole cavern in Monterrey, but this rock"—Jasper patted the stone—"is 'bout as hot as a whorehouse on nickel night. So if you're—"

"Stop it."

"I already said what I meant."

"You missed me?" Edward spit the words at him.

"Yes," Jasper said, and his voice got soft. Impossibly soft. "I missed you. I missed your wide eyes, your nosiness, and the way your skin feels against mine." Edward had a rip along his knee. Jasper ran his finger along it, which made Edward shiver. He should have kicked Jasper's hand away but he didn't. "I like that no matter how much of a hard case I am, you see through me. It's been a long ass time since..."

When Edward realized Jasper wasn't going to finish the sentence, he asked, "Why'd you run to Maria, then?"

Jasper dropped his hand from Edward's knee. "Maria is—" Jasper cringed. "Let's put it this way. This. You and me. It's dangerous. If we're talking bad ideas, then this one is powerful bad."

"Because you ran a suicide mission to come and 'save' me?"

"For starters," Jasper grumbled.

But Edward saw flashes again in Jasper's mind. Blood in puddles. Maria's mouth open and punishment flying from her lips. Edward's eyes. Flashes that he'd seen before.

"What happened before? Why are you—?"

Edward didn't get to finish his question because there was a sudden thump, and a long thick rope fell onto the ledge.

"What the hell?" Jasper growled, spinning to face the rope.

"It's a rope."

It was like Jasper didn't hear him. He had his head craned upwards and was back on his haunches like he expected a regiment of vampires to be upon them at any moment.

Edward pulled on his shoulder. "It's not what you think." And then he pushed past Jasper, and grabbed the rope.

Jasper kept staring upward for some minutes, and only relaxed his gaze after the threat of any attack was longer imminent. "Well, do tell, then. Why is there a rope?" Jasper had both hands on his hips.

"They'd like us to come up."

"I got that. And why aren't you more concerned about this?"

"Because they're not a threat to me-or you."

Jasper wasn't saying or doing anything, but a sour sensation tingled across Edward's skin, like someone had swabbed him with acid. Edward explained in a hurry, "Your, um, suicide mission—wasn't exactly a suicide mission. Alvarado's coven knew you were coming, and were very open to the idea. They let you come in, more or less."

"They 'let' us come in."

"Well, I guess it would have been better manners if they would have invited you, but you could say our hosts have a sense of... theater."

"You mean—"

"-like I said-they're not a threat to us. The white flag is raised. Call it however you want to—but they mean us no harm." Edward gave Jasper a brilliant smile.

Jasper was looking peevish.

Edward bit his lip to stop himself from smiling. "Peter certainly put on quite the performance."

But Jasper wasn't smiling. Instead he closed his eyes, and Edward could almost sense him reaching out, sensing the emotions of those above them. After a long moment, he hissed, "There's no guarantee that we're not going to become jerky once we reach the top of that rope. It doesn't matter what yarn they spun for you."

"I can read their thoughts, Jasper."

"Like you can read mine?"

"I can... sort of."

Jasper gave him a dead stare.

"Look—I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you're going to figure it out anyway. Isabel, Alvarado's wife, is a telepath, like me—and she's not like Maria. She has golden eyes, and she wants to help me because she knows what it's like."

Jasper seemed to chew on his bottom lip for a moment before deciding. "Those are stupid reasons."

"Trust me."

"You don't trust me."

"Please."

"Why?"

Edward wasn't sure why—or maybe it was simply that he didn't have words to answer Jasper's question. Why?

But before he could stop himself, Edward took a step forward, sliding his hand under Jasper's jaw and pressing both of his lips against Jasper's. He licked at the bottom lip until it opened, and Edward could taste the venom on Jasper's tongue—sharp and honeyed.

When Jasper kissed him back, it was with a soft growl and yet—he was gentle. His hands slid around Edward's waist and his head swayed back, letting Edward kiss him deeper and deeper. It was slow and yet it felt so immense. There was nothing of the desperate kiss from before, just a painful sweetness that drowned Edward's whole mind.

Jasper was the one who broke the kiss. He pulled back, gasping, and looked Edward in the eyes. His lips were wet, and he pressed them together at the same time his eyes narrowed. "Hmmm..."

His breath hit Edward's lips, and it made him shudder. Edward bent forward to kiss him again.

Jasper put a finger over Edward's lips, and then he pulled out of Edward's arms, grabbing onto the rope.

"Ladies first," he said and tossed the rope end at Edward.

"What?" Edward asked, still out of breath. "You still don't trust me.?"

Jasper grinned with a wicked bow of his brows. "No, I am willing to trust you—but I have a preference for the view this way."

With a shake of his head, Edward swore and started to climb.

(o)(◌)(o)

As he heaved himself over the edge of the precipice, Edward took in the main chamber. He was surprised to find that no one was looking at him. Charlotte was holding Peter's hand, a worried look on her face, even as Peter sat, starry-eyed and all aglow. Alvarado and Isabel sat side by side on the black rock in the center of the room, with Alvarado twisting Isabel's long, dark hair in his fingers. He was obviously—aroused. There was no mistaking his thoughts. Isabel, on the other hand, was sitting stiffly, a slight frown on her face—and Edward realized it was due to Millie.

Millie was sitting with her bare legs stretched out over the lap of Ines. Ines had his arms crossed over his chest, and he was glaring at Millie.

Millie was glaring right back, her hands balled into fists. "No. I don't want a palace. Palaces are for bully-fops. Everyone is so stupid proper, and people have to bow and say silly lolly blah-blah your-royalness, blah-blah," she complained.

"Eh'fine, you choose," Ines barked.

Millie's eyes lit up. "How about a ship—with pirates?"

Ines frowned at Millie for a long second, before sighing and glancing toward Alvarado and Isabel. Isabel was nodding with vigor for him to proceed—and so the vision did.

Edward swayed on his feet as his whole world went lopsided, Ines's vision taking over his mind:

A clipper roaring over the waves filled his vision. When it crested the next wave, the spray flew up, and Edward half-expected it to hit his face.

Except that a shriek halted it.

"No!" Millie screamed amid the roar of the waves, and Edward was distantly aware when she latched onto Ines. The vision snapped away—to be replaced by the upsweep of dark song, the familiar curl of longing in his belly that came from Millie's touch. The only problem was that Millie wasn't touching him. She was touching Ines, who was projecting. The whole room was being affected.

It stopped just as suddenly.

Edward swung around to see Jasper pulling himself up over the edge in a hurry. Jasper looked a bit green—which should have been impossible, but then, he'd still been swinging on the rope as the image of the ship had been projected.

Ines was swaying from side to side, and Millie had her arms crossed petulantly across her chest. "Can't you get anything right? I said pirates! And no introductions or... prologues." She searched out the word in her mind. "Pirates from the start." Millie was thinking of the story that Carlisle had read her. "The crow's nest with raising the Jolly Roger—and swords. Machetes. And some pretty cabin boys?" Her eyes slid toward Edward. She had noticed him. "Edward can be the cabin boy!" she cried delightedly.

All eyes swung toward him and Jasper.

Alvarado took over. "And... that's enough!" He clapped his hands and said, "Millie, my dear, that was such immense fun. I think we'll have another game later. Surely, you're hungry? You had a lengthy journey to come to us. I would be shocked if you weren't famished." He had the look of a doting father on his face, even if his thoughts were undeniably apprehensive.

The coven had never encountered the likes of Millie before.

"It's already caught?" Millie asked, her eyes narrowed and her lips became a rosebud pout as she considered the offer.

"Ines will take you, unless you'd prefer to hunt, my dear."

Ines cringed.

"That would be lovely as cake," Millie agreed, hopping to her feet. "I am thirsty, although..." She trailed off, eying Edward and Jasper from where she stood, "I suspect I'm not the only one."

"Don't worry about them, dear," Isabel said. "We'll see that they're taken care of."

Millie's coy smile was replaced by a flat frown. She didn't like Isabel. Her eyes are yellow like a cat's—not like Carlisle's. Not to mention, Millie knew that Isabel was annoyed by her.

Her reaction didn't last but a second, however. She patted Ines on the head even as he shirked from her touch. "Come," she said, and when Ines hesitated but a second more, she scooped him up and pranced down the tunnel and out of the chamber.

(o)(◌)(o)

As the tap-tap of Millie's footfalls faded, Isabel, Alvarado, and everyone remaining in the chamber turned to face Edward and Jasper.

"Welcome," Isabel said, standing and walking toward Jasper and Edward. "I see you two made it up the cliff in" ...she paused and Edward heard the humor in her thoughts... "one piece. I must admit, when you first fell I was worried, but as you two seemed to be doing fine on your own terms, I felt there was no need to rush you."

"Thanks for the rope," Jasper said, face expressionless.

"Jasper," Isabel dipped her chin in acknowledgment, "I've heard so much about you. I'm Isabel, and this is my husband, Alvarado."

Alvarado's patience ended at the mention of his name. "Jasper"—he leapt to his feet—"a talented one." His eyes swept up and down Jasper as if he was eying a racing horse. "From the northern coven?" Maria's find...

"Yes," Jasper answered, terse.

"And good with the newborns..." Alvarado said.

"So it would seem." Isabel was smiling at Edward.

Edward frowned back at her. Spying was impolite, but unavoidable given their talents. Acknowledging one's spying, however, clearly crossed some sort of boundary.

Isabel stifled a laugh as she heard Edward's thoughts. When both Jasper and Alvarado turned to look at her, she straightened up. "Jasper, Alvarado and I have already extended an invitation to your friends to join our coven. We would like to offer the same to you."

Jasper blanched, his mouth hanging open.

Alvarado thought this was very funny. "Ah! I can feel it. The discomfort and surprise." He gripped both of his arms and shivered. "It's like little Millie—but not err... as precise."

Isabel cut in. "No need for any pressing decisions now. I would like to invite you both to come hunting with me. It's been a while since I've fed, and I know Edward would appreciate it."

Edward turned to Jasper, but Jasper was already accepting. "Deer would be delightful," he said.

Isabel laughed.

Jasper laughed back. It would have sounded hollow if Jasper hadn't put extra effort into the accompanying smile... He was projecting trust in waves that hugged the shapes in the room. It seemed pointless. Both Isabel and Edward knew he was doing it.

Trying to follow along in their heads made Edward want to shut his eyes. It was like he was staring through too many mirrors and lenses, all refracting and reflecting and distorting. He couldn't see what was hidden. He couldn't see what was real and what was virtual. He couldn't connect dots that didn't exist.

(o)(◌)(o)

Alvarado and a few guards, including Rico, came with them. They exited out the northern side of the mountain, traveling from a cave to a carefully maintained tunnel. The reinforced adobe bricks started to smell more and more moist as the ground rose, and then Edward heard the sound of rushing water and creaking-groaning. Alvarado skipped up a set of stone steps, and then they entered a wooden building with high ceilings, and Edward saw the millstone, the levers, and outside the window, the steady turn of a water wheel. They were in a functioning mill.

"It helps to have a business," Isabel explained. "We grind maize and grains here."

"A front, you mean?" Jasper's voice sounded a touch impressed as he took in the factory.

"It's a legitimate business, actually," Alvarado said with a wide smile. "We're the most efficient mill in the whole capitol area. No infestations—rats don't like it here." He laughed. "Farmers from all over ship their crops to us—by wagon and by train—and we grind them up. We send back the bags, and the capitol gets her tortillas."

"How much we talking?" Jasper was sizing up the boxcars outside the window, not to mention the speeds of the water wheel and millstone. Even with his upper-class education, the calculations went whizzing past Edward—he wondered when Jasper had found the time to study such things.

"Enough." Alvarado's eyes glinted in the shadows. "Enough to live comfortably, not that vampires need much. I shouldn't take credit though—it was my intelligent wife's idea. She thought our rich coven could handle such an endeavor—and she was very right."

"Well, it's something to be proud of," Jasper said.

Isabel smiled politely at him. "To the forest, then? There's a good deal of wild life along the southern banks of the river. I'll have to advise you not to hunt humans along there, however. We do care for our reputation, as you can see."

The splashing of water and grinding of metal accompanied their descent into the dusk.

(o)(◌)(o)

"So, what's for lunch?" Jasper asked. "Jaguar doesn't range up this far."

Isabel answered, "Not often. The occasional prodigal will make it up north, but they prefer the Mayan jungles farther south. In the highlands, there's goat, some bear, and your occasional pack of jackals, although with decline of the pine forests since the conquest, there is less and less. In the lowland swamps you can find some crocodile and alligator species, and of course"—she narrowed her eyes at Jasper—"there is always squirrel."

"There was a time when I wouldn't turn up my nose at fried squirrel," Jasper said.

Edward didn't hide his disgust at the thought. "I take it you won't be dining with us."

Jasper grinned. "No squirrel for me."

"You can wait with us here," Alvarado offered. "Edward and my wife can catch some of theirs... and while they're gone, I'll make sure our thirst is attended to, as well."

"If it's not too much of a problem, I think I'll follow them. Maybe I'll take Edward's leftovers and fashion myself a coon cap. I always wanted one."

"I see." Alvarado was looking at him like he was an utter moron.

Edward had had enough. He marched forward, pushing on the back of Jasper's shoulder. "Let's just go."

(o)(◌)(o)

Edward did not catch any raccoons, jaguars or alligators. Instead, he and Isabel corralled a small pack of deer, and dinner was had. A guard hung back, along a piling of boulders. Jasper watched with his legs hanging from a tree limb from above. He was whistling as he watched them, some country tune from a half-century before.

Edward wished he wouldn't.

Isabel was all business. She downed her deer, drank from its throat and then shoved the carcass under a rock. Edward took longer. He had to steady his mind, focus on his need—and the sense of satiation. He didn't want to focus on the taste.

"Yeah, like day-old bread—a week later, isn't it?" Jasper called from above. He had sensed Edward's disgust over the deer.

"Are you sure you don't want a nibble? Think of them like croutons," Isabel teased, scrubbing her hands together to wipe off the bits of fur.

"Is that why you do it? You're one of those new-fangled salad ladies?" Jasper hopped from the tree.

"I'm not sure I've ever been called that," Isabel said. She was fully aware of what Jasper was really asking—but she was side-stepping the question. "You should be aware... my manner of sustenance, it's not required." She brushed at the cuff of her sleeve, a smile coming on her face. "Alvarado obviously follows his own way. I only wanted to be clear. Whatever you may have heard about our coven from your..."—a series of words to describe Maria filled Isabel's head—that bitch being the loudest—"leader, I hope that you'll give us the benefit of the doubt, like we've done for you. Edward knows that I would like him to stay permanently with our coven, and I would add that I earnestly desire that you join as well."

"That's a kind invitation, especially from a coven such as yours."

"You're most welcome," Isabel said.

Jasper nodded, looking down at the dirt before scuffing his heel along the grass in a lazy way. "And what exactly would I be doing in your coven?"

Isabel smiled. "If you'd like to work with our guards, that would be wonderful."

"Newborns, you mean?"

"If you wished. We are aware of your talents."

"Hmmm... so which is it?" Jasper looked at her through narrowed eyes. "You genuinely want my talents because you're planning some massive campaign down the road and by getting me you'd be hurting the enemy and helping yourselves in one stroke—or is it that me and the kid get along real well, and you'd be damned to let an ace like him fall into the hands of another coven, so you'll keep my smart ass around to keep him steady?"

"Do you always assume the worst in people?" Isabel asked lightly.

"Got it in one, darling." Jasper winked at her, but not before his eyes flicked in Edward's direction.

Isabel laughed. "You shouldn't be so wary. I am fully aware of your doubt. I've heard it all before." She tapped her temple.

"And I've felt every last thrill and chill," Jasper answered.

"I'm aware," Isabel said. "You're mind is quite the puzzle. Yours and Millie's—most talented minds are complex to puzzle out, but normally there's some easy technique for me to see behind the facade they project, but with you..."—she crossed her arms across her chest—"it's no wonder Edward was having such a difficult time discerning his ability. He landed in the lion's den."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Jasper gave her a tight smile.

"Please do, and please consider my offer. We'd love for you to stay. My husband will have more to say. He has a grand vision for Mexico."

"Well, that sounds lovely." And he turned to face Edward. "You ready to hear the grand vision?"

"Sure..." Edward answered, looking back and forth between the two of them. Isabel was confident—in thought and emotion—whereas Jasper was wary as a cat.

"Well, I think I'm ready to head back," Jasper announced, and he held his arm out, palm up, gesturing from them to be on their way.

Edward didn't know how he felt. Isabel had never even asked him if he would—

Isabel's thoughts cut into his. You will stay though, won't you?

Edward balls his hands into fists. I'm not saying I'm opposed to it—there's no way I want to stick around in Monterrey, but it's not that easy. I told you about Carlisle. Maria has him trapped there, and if I don't come back... I can't just leave him behind.

We'll do what we can. I'm sure there will be an opportunity to extract your mentor.

But ahead of them—Jasper slowed his pace. His thoughts almost seemed to follow theirs. They were just clearing the trees when he spun on his heel and faced Edward. "I don't care what she fuzzy yarns she spins you—if we're not showing our shiny faces in Monterrey by the next moon, then don't kid yourself: Shakespeare is toast." And then he turned right back around and kept on walking.

Isabel and Edward both watched him as he stormed forward. Edward half-wanted to call him back, beg out the details so he could try to sort out some solution. But Isabel was watching Jasper with a thoughtful expression on her face.

She turned to Edward. He's very good at connecting those dots—isn't he?

Edward didn't feel the question required an answer.

(o)(◌)(o)

That evening, Alvarado regaled all of them with the details of his grand vision. "Volterra thinks she can rule us all from her high seat—pah!" Alvarado spat. "We have more than enough raw talent to hold them off. We have the resources of the whole continent. The New World is no longer some squabbling infant. She has arisen! There's no reason to bend ourselves to the old stone city. They only show up when it's to their benefit." His voice went high, almost squeaky. "Oh no, Aro—I think the little topaz vampires are starting to over-spawn. Those indigents drink their victims like they used to drink Tequila, and they squabble amongst themselves like they dens of thieves." Then his voice went raspy. "Yesssss, Cauis, but the over-spawning will yield some diamonds in the rough. Will be able to swoop in at the last second, pretend we're noble avengers, and then poach a few talented gems from the dragon's lair." A high-pitched, maniacal cackle was then emitted.

Edward was very confused. Carlisle had only ever spoken of Volterra in a respectful way.

Millie, Jasper, and Peter, however, looked rather impressed, if a little bewildered, by the strange voice imitations. Or perhaps that was what impressed them—that anyone would actually puppet the ancients of Volterra.

Isabel was tapping Alvarado on the shoulder. "Dear, I think our guests are wearied."

Alvarado gave his wife a very pouty face, and mentally spoke to to her in a tongue that Edward didn't understand—and then he turned right back to the group. "So what do you think?"

"You ain't planning on challenging the Italians?" Peter pronounced Italians EYE-talians.

"Oh! Not a challenge—merely a..." Alvarado tilted his head to the side as he searched out the word.

"Maturation," Isabel supplied.

"Yes!" Alvarado threw his hands up. "A maturation. A simple reestablishing of new order. The last civilization of vampires to control the continent was still practicing human sacrifice and prancing about like sparkling gods—we can't have that anymore. We need to be the leaders of a modern era! There's no reason for the Europeans to be hounding us when we are perfectly capable of policing ourselves."

"And just how are you planning to stop all the coven wars?" Jasper asked.

"We talk to them," Alvarado said.

"And if they don't like the talk?"

"Then we police," Alvarado said, his voice no longer playful. "The wars that occur in these lands are wasteful and call undue attention upon ourselves. If the covens seek to usurp the peace then they shall be crushed."

It was then that Edward saw Alvarado not as a doting husband or a quirky coven leader, but as the vampire who had indeed usurped the Aztec vampire three centuries before. There was a resonant determination to his voice—and more importantly, the flash of memories—battles, conquest. Alvarado had been planning this for ages.

"So why... now?" It was Peter who asked.

"Because now is the time—because every second not acted upon is a second wasted! Our immortality breeds inaction when it should be breeding—" Alvarado carried on with his speech, his red eyes wide and his hands frantic with their gesturing.

But Jasper's eyes were on Edward, and his thoughts were clear. Just don't be a lick surprised if you're asked to go on some of these "talks." They're going to want to know whether or not their words are heeded, you get my drift?"

Isabel made no attempt to pretend she hadn't heard. She rolled her eyes at Jasper. "You don't think I could do the same? Edward is free to help as he chooses."

I think your husband likes you safe and sound—and not expendable. Our boy here on the other hand...

"You see monsters where there are only shadows." She shook her head at him.

Your dearest husband sees himself with a scepter, a crown, and a queen.

"Need I repeat my former statement?" She shook her head and then she turned to smile at Edward. He's grumpy, her thoughts said, give him a kiss and make it better, okay? She patted Edward on the cheek and started to walk away, but then she stopped. "Oh, and don't forget to remind him that—" Her words cut off and then only her thoughts were audible in his mind—Maria asked you to spy on his and Millie's thoughts. See how he likes the shape of those shadows.

(o)(◌)(o)

Jasper was acting like the equivalent of an emotional cactus. He was sitting at the back of the circuit of tunnels where Isabel had urged all of them to relax. Given Jasper's less than ebullient mood, Peter, Charlotte, and Millie had long since cleared out. Edward, for some dumb reason he couldn't possibly fathom, had stayed.

"You're like a vampire hedgehog." Edward scowled at Jasper.

"You're like an anteater." When he saw Edward's confusion, he added, "Nosey."

Edward almost made some bad allusion about how if ants were vampires, then—but he stopped himself. He shouldn't let Jasper's mood infect his. There was also the issue that this was the first time that he'd been alone with Jasper since the episode on the cliff—and he felt that he and Jasper should talk... or something.

With a sigh, Edward decided to cut to the chase. "So... you don't seem to like Isabel's offer?"

"What do ye think?" Jasper asked before rolling his eyes. "Better yet, tell me. What am I thinking? Go on in and fill it in for me will ya?"

"Reading your thoughts when you're like this is close to impossible. They're a big, twisted mess."

""Twisted mess, like a cyclone. That's a better image than a hedgehog." Jasper pressed his head back against the rock, looking up at Edward.

"I think you should stay—even if..."

"If what?"

"If I don't."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Well, I can't just leave Carlisle there."

Jasper's eyes turned away from Edward. "Shakespeare can take care of himself, believe it or not."

"You trust Maria not to kill him?"

Jasper snorted. "That's like trusting tears from an alligator."

"You should know. Maria told me I had to spy on you—and Millie. On your thoughts. She thought one of you was acting as a spy. Feeding information to the capitol coven." When Jasper didn't say anything Edward kept on talking. "The attack on Amilicar's coven in Monterrey was supposed to be a surprise—but he knew about it—even if he didn't take the threat seriously."

"So which one of us was it?" Jasper asked, and his voice—even his mood—barely changed at all.

"Um, well, neither—obviously. Alvarado has a talent, like you might expect. He can scry long distances. He saw the coven's preparations and sent on word."

"I see."Jasper's expression was unchanged, but there was a fast churn of memories: Maria standing aside Mazatl in the cabin, speaking in the old tongue—knowing Jasper couldn't understand half of what they were saying. Edward's guilty expression. Millie lunging for his skin. Maria's words to him as he left. "You'll be back," she'd said. So confident.

"Maria would have known about Alvarado's power—wouldn't she?" Edward asked.

"Maybe, maybe not." Jasper shrugged. "Just because she was fucking him once upon a time—doesn't mean she knew what he was thinking—or that he trusted her."

The way Jasper said the word—fucking—was with extra bitter emphasis.

Edward looked down at his feet as he said, "Why would you want to go back there?"

"I wouldn't."

"You wouldn't..."

"But that doesn't mean I want to stay here either."

"You'd leave?"

"Probably wouldn't make a difference. I'd try to hole up in the middle of some wasteland and some nosy anteater would come long and make a ruckus in the compost—and then I'd be just as bothered as I would be here—so maybe I should just stick around here. See which way the wind blows." Jasper took the moment to blow his long bangs out of his face and then he gave Edward a wry smile.

"Um, was that some weird form of an invitation? Or are you saying you'll stay."

"Come here," Jasper said. With his head back against the wall, he lazily wagged his index finger, beckoning Edward to come closer.

Edward felt a lump in his throat. "I thought you wanted to left alone."

"I thought you were supposed to be harassing me into staying."

Edward didn't say a word as he walked toward Jasper. He didn't walk to him, though. He took a spot an arm's reach away on the wall, sliding down so that his legs were flat out in front of him.

Jasper watched him, unmoving, and when Edward was finally still, Jasper shook his head, like he was annoyed, even though Edward knew he wasn't. "What did I ask you?"

"I'm right here."

"No, you weren't," Jasper said, grabbing his arm and yanking him over, "but now you are." And Edward was knocked so that his head was more or less in Jasper's lap with his bicep awkwardly twisted in Jasper's grip.

Edward glared at Jasper.

Jasper batted his lashes at him. "One might get the impression that you didn't like me."

"Maybe I don't."

"Sure about that?" Jasper asked, and then his fingers so softly slid down either side of Edward's face, stopping only when they reached the dip in his chin, and then his thumbs came up and traced the curve of Edward's bottom lip. It was enough to make Edward swallow at the sudden dryness in this throat.

"Sure you don't like me?" Jasper asked again, his voice dark like a spell.

"I'm sure," Edward answered. "Very sure." Although his voice was almost as low and thick as Jasper's. He was still staring at Jasper when he realized what he wanted—that he couldn't take it any more—that he could take, too, if he wanted to. That's when he pushed himself up.

Jasper's eyes were looking directly into his. They were red—just like his own, and yet Edward thought they looked more human for it. Jasper was trying to hide it—beneath the anticipation and desire there were confusion and a touch of fear. Jasper had no idea what Edward was going to do. There was only his wavering hope.

Edward leaned forward. He wasn't sure why he did it, but he kissed each of Jasper's eyes, pressing a soft brush of his lips against each lid. Next he kissed his nose, and trailed his lips along his cheekbone, until his lips were at Jasper's ear. He whispered, "I really shouldn't like you, should I?"

"Pretty stupid," Jasper whispered back.

"You are such an asshole."

"Come here."

This time, Edward did.

Edward threw his knee over the other side of Jasper's lap so that he was straddling him, and then one of Jasper's hands was on his neck and another was fisted in his air. Edward was grabbing back, locking Jasper in place so that he couldn't leave. So that he had to stay. So that Edward could keep kissing him and kissing him and kissing him until his head spun like crazy and Jasper's mind was melted into his.

Edward wasn't even sure how the laces got undone—or how Jasper ended up on his back, sprawled back along the curve of the cavern wall. But there was Jasper's skin beneath his fingers, the planes of his chest rising and falling beneath Edward's hands. There was the new and profound sensation of a hard muscles and ribs and nipples against his own—but it didn't feel alien at all. Edward grabbed Jasper and pulled him tight against him. Not wanting to let him go. Wanting to feel possessed and wanting to possess. Maybe it was Jasper's power—completely uncensored and wildly out of control as it was—and Edward magnifying it by being so lost in his head.

Either way, Edward was going mad with the feeling of Jasper's body grinding against his. He couldn't get enough. Hands that pinioned his hips and shoved him up and down even as their mouths chased one another's.

Edward knew that at some point—probably at the point where his fingers started to tear at fabric—he said, "I need more skin," and Jasper was bobbing his head and pushing them apart and Edward was kicking off a trouser leg. The drop in temperature blanketed his body and then it was gone, disappearing just as fast when Jasper pulled him toward him.

He was in Jasper's lap again and they were pressed together. Delicious friction as Jasper length rubbed against his, up and down, Edward pushing up and down on Jasper's shoulders while hands squeezed at his ass.

They were moving faster and harder, and then Jasper's hands were squeezing so hard, pulling Edward against his chest, that Edward thought he was going break in two—except that he didn't. Instead of pain there was pleasure, the sudden slickening of their abdomens and the slow slip and slide of their movements up and down. Rise and fall, until that last gasp fled from Edward's lips.

When Jasper stilled, Edward bent down and kissed the start of the scar on his back.

Jasper shivered and then his finger came up and pulled on Edward's chin, guiding him back so that they could look each other in the eyes again.

"I'll stay if you'll stay," was all that Jasper said.

(o)(◌)(o)

A/N: If you like awesome repartee between dudes who like dudes, go read McFearless by teambella#s. It begins with her one-shot that won best comedy in the SBS2.0 contest and continues into emo-hilarity. It makes me stoopid happy.

Next, it's not Twilight, but like... it's AH. The Student Prince ( http: / archiveofourown . org/works/91885) is about a boy who ends up being the Prince of Wales roommate at St. Andrews. It's Arthur/Merlin but like... you can imagine Edward and Jasper pretty easily in their place if that's what you need. Fayjay is one of the top slash writers out there. She's is so funny and smart and who doesn't want to read a modern fairytale come to life?