A/N-A bit of canon Jasper, a first for me. Big thanks to Polkadotmama and Dannie for their quick read throughs. This concludes my Twilight Twenty-five!

The Twilight Twenty-Five
Prompt: Retribution
Pen name: Touchstone67
Pairing: Jasper/Peter
Rating: M

Still.

I stood perfectly still, and had for the past five hours.

Nothing on my body moved with the exception of my eyes that never ceased scanning the land around me, and my hair that blew in the strong hot wind.

I was completely drained-which was a fucking pretty hard thing to accomplish. We, as vampires, weren't supposed get drained, or tired.

Yet, as I stood there on the edge of the river, my body felt fucking tired. Although, there was no aching or hurting, other than the constant thirst that coursed through every hard fiber of my muscles, my skin, and my long dead organs.

The thirst hurt like a motherfucker.

All the fucking time.

No matter how many times a night I fed, it was there, in the back of my head. My body always called for more blood, more sweet warm fluid to flow down my throat, coating it in a thick stickiness that could never be equaled.

My fucking thirst was never quenched.

When I woke up from three days of a burning hell, and rest my eyes on the girl who I had first perceived as an angel, I screamed in despair, confusion, and thirst. While I sat against a tree, my Confederate uniform torn from my attempts to remove it during my change, the former angel sat before me, quickly explaining her plan to rule the South.

And how I was to be part of that plan.

Maria had decided I was to be the first newborn in her plan. Little did I know that her plan involved not only literally sacrificing my fucking human life, but decades and decades of my immortal life as well.

For someone ruled by emotions, for years I was somehow able to dismiss the feelings of longing for something different. Somehow, I was able to suppress the need to escape the dark war-filled life, if you even called it a fucking life, I led.

I did this by remaining busy.

I remained busy by…killing.

Humans, vampires, newborns.

Even feeding on animals was not beneath us. In fact, they were sometimes more useful to our army than I would have originally thought. Newborns were fucking strong, ferocious, and absolutely useless half the time. I had managed to control most of those in our army with my power, emitting wave upon wave of calming influences over the masses of newborns at the necessary times.

The human blood ran strong in them, giving them strength and speed. Sometimes, when time was not of the essence, we would allow them to only feed on animals. The blood of the animals was not nearly as potent to a vampire as a human's; therefore the newborns were often temporarily weakened by the watered-down blood. These times blessed me with some rest, even though it wasn't completely necessary, it was nice to be able to occasionally recuperate, even if only mentally.

Part of the reason Maria's army was so successful in her ventures to take over the southern covens was my ability to not only keep my newborns calm enough to marginally train them, but when faced with an enemy, I was able to use my power on them as well. For leverage, I could send forth emotional swells, often peaceful or soothing in nature, to the oncoming soldiers. It made it much more difficult for them to fight when their minds were telling them to surrender.

Having to control these armies was taxing, and there were always those that broke through my power. Even at my best, I was not able to cover every newborn every second. On my neck, arms, and torso I wore the evidence of the weakness in my power. Part of me bore these scars with pride, but mostly, they shamed me. Not only did they physically mar me, but mentally as well. With each bite, I felt the enemies' fear and anger. Each of these emotions that flowed in their bodies would seep into mine via their venom, making these two very powerful emotions even greater within me.

I had no use for fear. It weakened those that believed in it.

Anger, however, was very useful. As much I thrived on that feeling of power, it sometimes overwhelmed me. Little did they know, when their venom traveled into me, they only made me stronger.

They made me undefeatable.

After Netty and Lucy had been destroyed, Maria and I were alone in rebuilding her army, which had been done easily enough. Keeping a dozen or so newborns at our disposal, was not a difficult task for a vampire such as myself.

Until they outgrew their strength, or usefulness.

At first, I had no conflict in eliminating our own newborns. One by one, I would take care of them, efficiently decapitating them, removing their limbs, and throwing them into the inferno that emanated the smell of burning marble and dead flesh.

Eventually though, these sacrifices took their toll on me. Not only had we taken their human lives from them, but we were now taking their immortal lives as well. We took them from their families, their friends, their spouses and lovers.

Lovers.

Such a foreign word to me.

Certainly, I had had my share of fucking, and lovers. Occasionally, a few newborns would catch my eye, their firm breasts and asses called to my dick more often than I cared to admit for a southern gentleman.

But being a man, I answered this call frequently, although never with Maria. We had a business relationship and it never progressed further than that. While on more than one occasion she indicated she wanted more than my military skills, I adamantly refused her advances. This, most certainly, would piss her off and she would briefly rethink about my usefulness, her emotions betraying her thoughts to me. I would smirk at her with a raised eyebrow and she would turn on her heel, leaving me alone once again.

However, newborns proved very useful when it came to taking care of my masculine needs. I would often take them to the woods, or wherever was convenient, ripping their clothes off in less than a second so as to quickly sink my cock deep into them. No warmth surrounded me, only cold flesh that felt gloriously tight around me as I thrust into them with more force than any human ever could. When I would reach that moment of height, that climax, obscenities would flow freely from my mouth as I clawed and bit their body during my orgasm. They all left wearing a few new wounds, lasting confirmation of our tryst.

I had even been serviced by several newborn females at one time.

And even one male.

Peter.

At first, it was only to satisfy a need, a fucking curiosity, for each other. For months, we had circled the other, testing the waters with light touches on the arms, remaining on each other a bit too long while exhibiting fight maneuvers to others, our cocks hardening as their they grazed each other.

Of course, I could read his desire, his temptation for my perfect form, my tall toned body exciting him beyond the soft curves of any of the females.

Our first time was about six months after he was turned. We found ourselves eliminating a batch of older newborns, Peter's emotions in turmoil as he quickly made his way through his assignment. I could easily feel the conflict of his heart as he began to question our life, our goal, and whatever future he might or, as he was coming to realize, might not have.

While the bodies burned, I approached him cautiously, my gift flitting out to sample the intensity of his emotions, of his anger.

All I felt was a deep, almost paralyzing, grief.

Stopping under the weight of his sadness, I watched him as he knelt before the fire, crying and mumbling. My vampire ears caught the prayers to God to save his soul, the words that begged for forgiveness for the sins he had committed, asking for justice for those he had wronged, pleading he be next to be sacrificed.

Never before had I seen a sight. A vampire praying to God, our former creator, to save his soul.

We had no souls. God would not admit us to his kingdom of Heaven, should it exist. Never would someone who had done nothing but take the lives of the innocent be allowed entrance into a land of peace and tranquility.

Although, even with those thoughts, I could not bring myself to scoff at his weakness. Instead, I found myself kneeling behind him, a comforting hand on his shoulders as they shook with tearless sobs. Wanting to relieve him of his angst, I bowed my head, concentrating on absorbing his pain and replacing it with acceptance.

"Fucking stop it, Jasper," he cried."Just leave me alone. I don't want your fucking sympathy."

"It's not sympathy," I offered quietly.

"The fuck it's not." He turned to me, suddenly furious. "I know my time is limited, I know eventually I am going to be nothing but ashes," he motioned to the bodies burning in the flames.

I shook my head, squeezing his shoulder in reassurance. "I won't let that happen, Peter. You are more than that to me."

Darting his eyes back to mine, he scanned my face for serenity. Lacking my power, he had only his instincts, his gut, to trust. "How can I believe you? How do I know you didn't tell everyone of them," he nodded to the inferno again ,"the same thing?"

Returning his look, I attempted to express truth in my voice. "You don't. You can only trust me. I realize I have not given you reason to, but perhaps someday that will change."

And it did change. For both of us.

Suddenly, his hands were cupping my face, holding me steady as his eyes gazed into mine. Scarlet irises that matched mine darted from my eyes to my lips.

Desire.

Need.

Passion.

Want.

I felt them all in such a force that it took what breath I didn't have away. My already dead heart stuttered, the hard marble cracking at the overwhelming amount of rapture that poured from his body. Feeling that from him only increased the level of my desire for him, my never ending curiosity for his body became insatiable.

Crushing his lips to mine, we met with tongues already exploring each others' mouths, tasting the venom that dripped from our fangs, some left over from our kills, but most created as a result from our craving of each other.

And how I fucking craved him.

Within seconds, we were naked, our clothes torn from our bodies with vampire speed.

I lay atop him; our bodies flush as our hips ground into each other with a frenzy I had never experienced previously. Hard cocks, slickened by leaking venom, rubbed against each other feverishly in a heated pace as our hands yanked and fisted hair.

Not having to worry about hurting each other, when he begged for more, I forced myself into his embrace with a growl. Never had I felt anything so tight, so taut, as his ass around my cock.

It was not gentle lovemaking. I had never known gentle, having been a virgin when I entered the Confederate Army, my only human sexual experience was with a whore that my unit had arranged for me the night of my supposed twenty-first birthday. Little did they know I was only turning seventeen, and had barely held a girl's hand, much less had sexual relations with one.

Keeping one hand in my hair, he reached down, and began stroking himself in rhythm with my thrusts into his tight hole.

"Fuck," I moaned as I felt his hand pump himself between us. I moved my mouth from his lips to his collarbone where I began to leave wet kisses over his luminescent skin."So fucking tight," I mumbled against him.

As Peter's orgasm approached, I sensed a shift in his emotions. While lust and desire were still strong, there was an underlying feeling there, one of admiration, tenderness, and even the beginning spark of love.

Gasping when the love hit me, I drew my head back from his neck where I had been sucking on his hard skin, withholding my yearning to break his skin and mark him as I had been so many times.

"Peter?" I stuttered, my forehead on his as my hips continued to thrust into him, only their pace had slowed, and was more sensual than sporadic, the small gentle circles allowing my cock to penetrate him deeply.

"You feel it, Jasper?" he asked, his hand still working himself at an inhuman pace. Nodding, I licked my lips, wanting to taste him once more. "That's why I pray to God. I pray for him to save my soul so that we can be together someday. Some place peaceful."

"Peaceful…" I repeated quietly. It sounded so impossible. War was my life. There was no peace, no rest for my wicked embattled soul. "I can't have peace…I don't deserve peace."

Smiling, he pulled me to his lips, murmuring against them."But we can have love."

Love?

My head returned to his neck, my tongue darting out to lick his skin, the smooth texture enticing. "Bite me," he held my head tightly. "Take me as yours forever," he demanded.

Without a second thought, I sank my teeth into his marble skin, my jaw easily breaking through as he groaned; pumping his hips up into mine with such a force I almost slipped from him.

Venom, his and mine, coated my lips and mouth as I sucked his juices from him before releasing him, sealing his wound with my poison. His flavor still fresh on my mouth, I kissed his lips, letting him taste his nectar, that which had already turned so many, and killed many more.

"Jasper," he grunted as he came, his cock squirting streams of milky fluid onto our stomachs and chests. The spasms of his ass muscles around me were too much, and I quickly followed him with a cry that could be heard for miles, my own cock erupting deep inside him, filling him with my cold, seedless venom.

Never had I stayed with another after fucking them. I would always swiftly gather my items and return to camp. But with Peter, it was different. We held each other for hours, me still inside him, as we came down from our highs. Tender touches were exchanged, hands ghosting over naked skin. These touches were accompanied by words of love, promises of a future we could only imagine.

We were lovers.

I knew this because we did not leave and head back to camp, but we made love five more times that night before even remotely considering returning to our duties.

As we returned to camp separately, I ran into Maria, her nose wrinkling at the smell of sex covering my body.

"Jasper," she scolded like a mother."What have you been up to?" she smiled not so innocently.

"You know exactly what I've been doing. You asked me to do it." Her raised eyebrow encouraged an explanation."The newborns?" I hinted. "You had me eliminate the oldest batch tonight."

"Oh yes, of course. However, that is not what I was referring to." She leaned in, her nose practically touching my bare chest. "First, where is your shirt, second you reek of..." she concentrated."Peter!" she gasped, taking a step back.

I refused to hang my head in shame for my actions with my lover. Jutting my chin out, I readied myself for her wrath. Certainly, it was not acceptable for a man to be with another man in the way that we had. However, our circumstances were hardly typical, my sins were already so bloodied and deep, that having sexual relations with another man was hardly going to be what kept my soul out of heaven.

Running a finger down my chest, she reminded me."Your shirt?"

"It was torn by a newborn as I ripped his head from his body," I countered, lying. Truth was I hadn't been able to locate it, assuming it had been accidently tossed into the fire in our rush to undress each other.

"Hmm," she practically moaned, her fingertip circling my nipple. Reaching up, I grasped her wrist, pulling her hand from my chest.

"Maria, stop," I ordered."It's not going to happen. How many times do I have to tell you."

With furrowed brows, she looked up at me, burgundy eyes wide with anger. "Oh you can fuck Peter, but not me? You can be with a man, but not with me?" She emphasized the word 'man', her accent thickening as her confusion grew.

Debating on telling her the truth, I sighed. Looking around the camp for Peter, I found him a distance away, his stillness proof he was watching and listening to my conversation with our commander. I could sense his anxiety, his worry.

I would not betray him.

"You have it wrong, Ma'am," I immediately fell into being a solider again, giving her the power over me she truly yearned for. "He was having a difficult time with a particular newborn, I only offered my services in aiding him in taking out the newborn."

Gazing up at me, she attempted to read my face, which I kept completely empty while I sent out ripples of honesty to her.

"Fine," she sighed, turning from me."Now prepare a plan for training our next group. I need them ready to take Gomez coven in a fortnight."

"Yes, Ma'am," I answered quickly, relieved.

After she left, I looked through the darkness, my eyes landing on Peter as he stood watching me. His anxiety replaced by gratitude, and the spark of love he was letting burn. "Thank you," he mouthed to me.

I bowed my head, acknowledging his words, and accepting his spark, promising to keep it burning within me as well.

Peter remained with us for an exceptionally long time for our newborns. Normally, they lasted a year, eighteen months tops.

Peter lasted three years. This was not without my doing. I spoke highly of him to Maria, using my power to convince her of his usefulness. He was confident in a fight, he commanded others easily, and for someone without a power, he was highly admired and respected.

For three years we traveled together, following Maria's orders, taking out covens one by one in her never ending need for control, and power, of Texas and northern Mexico.

For three years, he and I were comrades in arms and lovers in body and spirit.

He was my inamorato. Mi amor.

Until she came.

Charlotte was turned by Peter almost exactly two years from the day we had first discovered each other, our first relaciones sexuales. She was beautiful, I could not deny that. She also took to becoming a vampire quite easily, although her speed and strength did not compare to that of most newborns. The looks she and Peter exchanged were those of tenderness, and affection.

I did not doubt that Peter loved me. Even with the arrival of Charlotte, I didn't doubt his feelings for me. But while I still sensed his love for me, his intensifying feelings for her quickly became comparable to those he harbored for me.

The day they left, the day I let them leave, was a dark one for me. Peter and I were performing our duties, taking out a batch of newborns that had outgrown their usefulness to Maria. When I realized the next name on my list was Charlotte, I glanced over at Peter, admiring his form as he effortlessly took out a vampire. He did not need my power to read the emotion on my face. I clearly displayed the regret and hurt I felt for him, knowing that killing Charlotte would be the most difficult of tasks for him.

"NO! No, Jasper, I won't do it. I won't let YOU do it," he grabbed the collar of my jacket, pulling me close to him, yelling in my face. "You can't."

"I have to, these are the orders." I stated simply. My heart broke for him, but it also felt relief. With Charlotte out of the picture, Peter would be only mine once again. I had grown tired of sharing him, his body only joining mine on rare occasions, while his heart was split evenly between us.

"Fuck the orders, Jasper," he spat."I fucking love her, do you understand that, I LOVE her!"

I forced myself out of his grip, stepping back, taking in his hurtful words. Certainly, I had felt these emotions from him, but he had never voiced them. Hearing his vow of love for her hurt more than I ever expected, squeezing my stone heart with each syllable.

"But…what about us?" I forced myself to look at him, his bottom lip between his teeth, his black hair hanging down, partially covering the red of his eyes. Faded blue shadows curved under his them, giving way to perfect alabaster skin.

Never had I seen a more beautiful creature.

Hanging his head, he sat on a boulder. "Jasper, my love, I will never feel for another what I feel for you."

He was telling the truth, I could easily tell as he continued. "But with Charlotte, I have a chance to be…normal. "

"Normal?" I laughed angrily. "You're a fucking vampire, Peter, how is that normal?" He rose and walked over to me, taking my hands in his.

"Jasper, I didn't want to tell you like this, but Charlotte and I have been planning," he hesitated, unsure how to, or if he should, continue."Planning to run away. We have just been waiting until the time was right."

"You were going to leave me?" Shocked, I stumbled backwards.

"No, no," he quickly corrected me."We were going to ask you to go with us."

I shook my head at the absurdity of his suggestion. As if I could leave, as if I could escape Maria and her hold on me. "I can't leave, and you know it."

"You can. Please Jasper," he begged."Come with us…with me." I had been so wrapped up in our conversation, in Peter, that I hadn't heard her approach until it was too late. She came up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Please, Jasper," she walked around to stand before me. "Please come with us. Peter needs you."

The look they exchanged was one of pure and utter love. The kind of love I would never know, could never even begin to hope for. Hope was something I had given up on decades ago, something that was only attainable to those that lived a different life.

Certainly not for someone like me.

"Jasper," she continued."Peter has told me about you…and him. I accept it. I believe there is no limit to the amount of love one person can have. I also believe that we cannot control who we love." Smiling, she reached out and placed her cold palm on my cheek. "Please say you will come with us?"

It was not my place. I had had Peter's love for three solid years, it was her turn with him, it was my turn to let him go.

"No," I answered, my hands clenching at my sides. "But if either of you want to survive, I suggest you go." Confused, they both stared at me."Now!" I roared.

Charlotte jumped, snapping her hand back from my cheek. Peter grabbed her hand in his, tugging her along as he began to walk backwards, his eyes never leaving mine. Obeying, she turned her back on me, offering me the perfect opportunity to take her down, to rid him of her, leaving him for myself.

But I stood there and watched them leave, watched mi amor as he whispered, "I love you," before finally turning and sprinting away from me. Even though I could shed no tears, the venom pooled in my eyes as I finally lost sight of them.

Hours later, I returned to Maria, to killing, to war…without Peter.

**~~**

Sighing, my eyes scanned the river once again. He was late, and he was fucking never late. After receiving word from him six months ago that he and Charlotte were back in Texas, I had debated on contacting him. It had been five years, five very long years since he and Charlotte had walked out of my life, out of my hell. I had continued to aide Maria, although with each kill, with each battle, I began to lose more of myself. Something was wrong with me - I ached internally, not in my marble skin or solid bone, but inside my mind and my heart. While my military skills were being put to use, it was not a path I had chosen and I wanted nothing more than to escape the death and mayhem that surrounded me every day.

Peter was back and wanted to see me.

I wanted to see him too. This I would not deny.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely heard the twig snap several hundred yards behind me. Tilting my head to the side, I called out to him. "You're late." I tried hard to hold back the smile tugging at my lips. As much as I hurt, I was excited to see him.

Instantly he was behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, snaking under my overcoat, his nose buried in my blond waves at the nape of my neck. "Jasper," he whispered lovingly. There was no sense even pretending I could resist, instead, my body leaned back into him, my hands covering his at my waist.

It was still there, his love for me poured from his body, creating an aura around him that I basked in.

"Peter," I sighed. He was home, and in my arms once again. In his hold on me, I turned to face him, smiling fully before leaning in to stake claim on his lips. They were cold, hard, smooth and fucking delicious as I brushed mine over them, reacquainting myself with his taste. When his hands moved up to my hair, holding me to him, I moaned and parted my lips to deepen the kiss, which he returned, his venom-coated tongue twisting with mine.

Parting, I gratefully looked him over. As I brushed his hair from his face, thick lashes lined his beautiful scarlet eyes, and his skin sparkled in the midday sun.

If I had any breath to take, he would be breathtaking.

"You haven't changed," I joked, grazing my fingers down his cheek to trace his lips, which spread wide in a grin.

"Neither have you, my love," he kissed me one last time before pulling away from me. Immediately, I sensed the change in his emotions and quickly adjusted my own.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I want to ask you something, Jasper," he said as he took my hand in his and led me to a nearby fallen log. Motioning for me to sit, I declined, my body already in flight or fight mode.

Knowing me as well as he did, he nodded in understanding.

"What?" I made no attempt at hiding my emotions, allowing them to float around me freely, my confusion, sadness, and worry clearly sitting thick in the air between us. He shook his head, trying to prevent my emotions from overtaking his, from overpowering what he wanted, or needed, to express to me.

"I," he began."No, we, want you to join us."

Confused at his request, I stared at him, waiting for more, which he gave. "Charlotte has, ah, noticed I have not been the same since I left you. She claims I have become withdrawn and sullen. That I am not the same man she fell in love with. "

"Please continue," I implored, finally sitting down next to him, resting my hand on his knee. Looking down at it, he covered mine with his own, entwining his fingers with mine.

"Jasper, without you near, I don't smile, or laugh. Even though we are not in battle, I have no sense of calm. Yes, we live a war-free existence, but my spirit knows no peace without you in my life. "

Speechless, I concentrated not on his words, but rather the feeling that hovered around them. The sense of love, wanton and genuine, besieged me, lifting my spirit higher than I had ever known.

"But-"

His finger on my lips stopped me. "Please let me finish." I nodded, and he continued."I can feel your hesitation, and I understand it. But please Jasper, understand me, and what I am asking. Charlotte may have requested I come to you, but only because she realized I cannot continue to exist without you in my life. She has witnessed my degrading life, and no matter what she has done in an attempt to console me, I have not improved. My only moments of bliss are when I remember you, recall our love making, and your dimpled smile."

At these words, I could not resist offering him my dimpled smile. "Peter," I couldn't continue. I should not have even considered leaving with him. Charlotte was still in his life. If she was his mate for eternity, where did I fit in?

While his words lifted me, soothed me beyond anything I had never known, they were still just words.

Only I knew better. My gift allowed me to know better, to read that he was telling me the truth, that his world was nothing without me in it.

"Please, my love, please will come with me," he begged. Standing, I walked to the river's edge, crouching down to dip my hand in the ice cold water. It felt wet, but no different, no colder, than my very own skin. White froth gathered around the rocks, distorting my face in my reflection, as I stared into my own red eyes.

I had few memories of my human life, barely recalling my mother and younger sister. My strongest memory was watching my father work the fields one day, the horse and plow connected to him via a thick leather strap. Sweat ran down his face as the hot Texas sun beamed down on him. Walking next to him, I had assisted him by keeping the horse at a steady even pace while he spoke to me about honor, and respect, not only to the woman I would marry, but to myself.

"Son," he said."In order to live your life to the fullest, you need three things. First, you need a good woman that will love you, and will bare you children to carry on your name. Second, no matter how big or how small, you need land to call your own. And lastly, you need respect. Respect from your wife, children, and townsfolk. If you don't have these things, son, you can't respect yourself. Remember that…" his voice trailed off as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

"I remember, Pa," I whispered into the river. I would never have a wife, or children to carry on the Whitlock name. Nor would I have land to call my own, having to be constantly on the move to remain hidden.

But respect I had. I had the respect of my enemies, and of those that followed me. However, I had little respect for myself and the life I was leading. It had not been my choice to lead this life of strife and war, but I could choose to leave it.

It would be my retribution to Maria. My justice for the life that she chose for me, forced upon my young self. She had had no respect for my human life then, but I could return the favor by leaving her command. Without me, her army would fall apart, they would implode upon themselves without my training or emotional influence.

Battles would be lost, death would come to many. Perhaps even Maria. I owed her nothing.

With an unnecessary deep breath, I stood and tilted my head up the heavens above. As I basked in the new found feeling of warmth on my skin from the sun, I closed my eyes and vowed. "For you, father."

I then turned to Peter and with one simple word, I embraced a new existence, a new lifestyle. One not full of death and destruction, but rather of possibility, respect, and love.

One of hope.

Reaching a hand out to Peter, silently asking him to accept me, I smiled before I spoke.

"Yes."

**~~**

Thanks for reading. This was my first time playing with canon (if you could call him that) Vampsper. This was not supposed to be a slash story, but when Jasper speaks, I listen.