The Lion Meets the Panther
He Was Changed in the 1920's
A/N: I am back fellow bad bitches! I got broken up with and been dealing with my brother getting married, along with some mental health problems, but have no fear! Your favorite author is back! Okay that may be a stretch but not the point. As stated, I do not own the Twilight franchise and I am simply using the characters for my own story and give them the personalities they deserve! Also! Happy Pride Month!
Excerpt from the previous chapter:
"They come back on Sunday, it's Friday now…. what are you planning to do?" Bella looked tired at that realization, and it was Rosalie who came to her rescue, surprisingly. "We have a day to plan. Take the rest of today to relax and go from there." Bella's lips quirk into a small smile at that, she did not expect Rosalie to come to her rescue like this…again. This was an odd pattern. How it was to be solved was another matter.
That evening seems to go by in a blink of an eye, which is saying something as most of that household was vampires after all. Alice suggested that Bella and herself should do something together. That ended up being Bella and Alice being on the couch and watching vampire movies and pointing out the contradictions. Hell, even Rosalie and Jasper joined in, amused by the creativity of the human mind. Eventually it moved onto watching the very interesting show that was Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares. (A/N: Did I forget to mention that is modern day Twilight. Not 2008, it just makes it a little easier but easier to sneak in jokes. Like imagine how much funnier Emmett will be because of knowing Vine or trying a Tiktok dance.) Of course, Esme was not happy with the consistent cursing of Gordon Ramsey, they found something else eventually. It was well with her father as it was not uncommon for Alice to invite her over to do something once and awhile. At least Alice was not as creepy as the douchebag, sorry, Fuckward.
The evening went on without any serious problems. The next day would be more taxing for the clumsy brunette. Esme was just as sweet and supportive as ever. She made sure to make Bella breakfast and anything she needed, cooking wise, she really did see Bella as her daughter after all. Bella had a habit when she planned or did anything extremely important, she wrote it down, planning everything she could. It came with the territory of loving English as a class and was thinking of becoming an author. "So…" Bella hums and scribbles something down on the paper, "We have basically confirmed that I have been under a vampire's thrall this entire time with Edward, practically." Esme's face became a grimace, not an expression too often seen of the matriarch of the family.
"Unfortunately." That was the short answer from the second tallest of the coven, Jasper, Alice's true mate. Alice fidgeted a bit next to her mate. She could not believe the audacity of her brother! Well, could she even call him that anymore? What he's playing at is dangerous and disgusting. Messing with someone's mate/lover was just something you do not pull! Along with the fact that he exposed the family to someone who's not even his mate! Then add the fact that he's an absolute twat waffle! Putting the entire coven in danger and Bella as well, she had not forgotten the whole scenario with James and Victoria. The pixie of a vampire snapped out of her internal monologue when Jasper gently rubbed her thigh, gently squeezing it, that would get her attention.
When Jasper saw that his beloved wife was going on a mini-internal spiral of guilt…and was that a little bit of anger? He stepped in before it got too bad and squeezed her thigh, it was a soft and gentle gesture, a silent asking if she was okay. Of course, he knew she was not okay, he did it often when he noticed her spiraling, it was sweet. He had known her for decades, of course he'd know exactly how to help the fluttering pixie. When her topaz- no, her eyes were a duller yellow than normal, but seemed to return to normal when her gaze met his. Alice would notice the soft beginning of a frown on her mate's lips and the slight quirk of his right eyebrow. A tilt of their head was all that was given from the taller of the pair, which the fairy…or is she more of a pixie, smiled reassuringly too as they gently take their partners hand in her own. Jasper seemed to relax, his wife was okay and no longer spiraling, good.
While this interaction happened, one too observant human, frowned. She knew Alice enough to see when she was going to panic and always saw how Jasper calmed and helped center her. Edward had never done that. He always seems to shrug off her concerns or worries. Even when she brought it to his attention, intent on coming to an understanding with the centurion. Bella's brow furrowed as she had her moment of realization after watching the mated pair interact with one another. Unintentionally a sigh left her lips, she had lost track of how many times that he shrugged her off or blatantly ignored her. In other instances, Fuckward had downright just dazzled her to get out of it. Yes, Bella was sure of that and that was in every right allowed to be angry. There was one thing that Bella had not realized during this entire ordeal. She was being watched, by someone with valid concerns.
Rosalie frowned at the tense way that Bella held herself. The way her brows furrowed, and immaculate lips pulled into a frown. They looked very soft and would not mind kissing them. No! Not the time Rosalie Hale! Though her own lips twitched, she was not stupid now that the human had pointed out that her and the bastard did not have a mate bond along with being under a thrall. Her eyebrow twitched, obviously irritated, she knew the pull, she had seen it with her sister and beloved twin. Rosalie Lillian Hale was mated or had a true mate bond to Isabella Marie Swan. She had been so stupid to push aside her feelings because…because Carlisle told her too. Carlisle did take Edward's side a lot. Not the problem, Bella, focus on Bella. "Bella." That snapped the brunette out of her little world with a smart, "Huh?" Rosalie's lips twitched slightly, fighting a smile, "Getting into your head again?" Bella's face tinted pink after a moment.
Sometimes Bella got in her own head, she knew that, though only Rosalie and Jasper caught onto that. A quiet, "Sorry." Slipped from the lips of Bella. "Don't apologize." That was Jasper, he was a quiet and serious man, at least that is what it seemed like. Then again, Edward was seemingly very cautious about keeping Bella away from Jasper. Something was not adding up there. Jasper was a little shy and unsure as he had previously not interacted with humans as often as the rest of the coven did. However, tack on what gift he had, and it made sense, it must be exhausting to deal with that 24/7. "He's gotten into your head and you're panicking of what else he's messed with. It is a perfectly normal and valid reaction for someone who is in this kind of predicament. "Thank you, Jasper." Jasper was not expecting such a sincere response from Bella. Usually, her go too was default snarky comment, much like Rose in that aspect.
"What's the next move? They'll be home tomorrow, and it would be best to have the evening to relax before the shitstorm tomorrow." Alice snorts amusedly, typical Bella, she has been hanging out with Emmett frequently after all. "What do you want to do about it Bella? What are you comfortable with?" It was Rosalie who replied. The returning questions made the shorter girl bite her lip, a cute habit when she's thinking, least that is what a certain blonde bombshell would think after all. Jasper's lips twitched into a smile as he got a flicker of Rosalie's emotions. Esme was hiding her smile behind a hand, good naturedly of course. She could tell something was going on in her blonde daughter's brain, Rosalie had a medical degree for a reason after all. She knew how to put her mind to work. Bella blinked at that, not expecting that reaction, Edward never cared to ask that kind of question. It made her feel insignificant when that garbage can never seem to care or ask for her opinion. He just assumed and made choices for her. What someone would expect a parent to do for their child. That was a startling realization. Focus, Bella, answer Rose and get back to existential crisis later.
"Obviously I need to confront him about this, but I cannot be by myself when I do, he will try to charm or persuade me that I'm wrong." Bella's breath was shaky. It made sense, she was confronting a person she deeply, at least at one point, was in love with. "Is that something he does frequently? Try to say that you are wrong or remembering it wrong?" Jasper hums. "Yeah, why?" Bella's looked confused at Jasper's interest. "That is called gaslighting, Bella. Does he make you feel insane, or your feelings are invalidated?" Bella suddenly understood everything, and it seems like so much clicked into place. "Oh my god…" Alice mumbles, "How long has he been doing that to you Bella?" Her brown eyes focused onto the gaze of her best friend's, "Since the beginning."
"Fuck." It was Rosalie who spoke next, the tone of her just saying that one word, it sent a ripple effect into Bella's system. She had tuned out Esme's instinctual chiding of "Language." The frustration and irritation on Rosalie's perfect face made something flicker for a moment in Bella. Oh god, stop! Bella slightly shook her head, not the time! Not to mention, no way that Rosalie was into women, let alone her. She practically avoided her. However, there was a soft tone in the back of her mind that said that Rosalie would not just talk down anyone down from a panic attack or seem genuinely concerned of Bella's situation. While she did not know most, if anything, of Rosalie's change did not dissuade from Edwards' warning of that it was unpleasant and not a fond memory of Rosalie's. It is why she never asked, and Bella was never particularly close to the blonde. "We will all be by your side when you ask Bella." It was Esme. "Edward may be sired by Carlisle and my first son, technically, does not mean he will not face the consequences of his actions. It remains to be seen if Carlisle was aware of these transgressions, if he is then he too will face the consequences."
Bella froze at that. Her own mother would not even go that far. It was not a secret that Bella dated a few people back home, mainly online, but there were a few in person of course. Jasper would be the first to pick up on this of course, his eyebrows would furrow, how dysfunctional was the relationship with Bella's mother really? "Thank you." It was a heartfelt and sincere thanks from the brunette. "She speaks for us all Bella; we will not abandon you and will support you when you confront Edward." That was Alice. Bella felt overwhelmed at the support when Rosalie spoke as well, "My brother has committed crimes knowingly and has hurt an innocent person in the way while endangering our family. It does not matter that he was changed in the 1920's, his actions are unforgivable. Though while we are not close…you never deserved any of that type of treatment from him and if he does not apologize to you then I will do so. I am so sorry for my brother's foolish actions and how deeply they wound you. I believe I speak for all present that we do not hate you and welcome you into our lives, just wish it was not in this way." Poor Bella was in tears at the end, which ended in a group hug. Which consisted of Bella, Rosalie, and Bella. Thankfully that was enough, and they spent the evening trying to distract Bella from the inevitable that was tomorrow.
A/N: Well, that would end this chapter! I have also been hyper fixating on MHA so I may plan that or do a one shot of that fandom. Until the next chapter! Stay safe and know that you are valued! You and who you are, who you love, and how you identify is valid!