A warning those who may be effected: mentions of past child abuse.
This one was a request from JaneMalfoy here on ao3. So you have them to thank for this one, haha. I'm hoping I'll be able to churn out more Bree fics with the same gusto.
Please be sure to tell me what you think!
Work Text:
The sound of shattering ceramic has Bree cringing. She braces for a blow while stuttering out a hasty apology.
There's dead (ha) silence throughout the house. No one is even fake-breathing.
"Bree, sweetheart, no one is going to do that here." Bree peeks from beneath the heavy curtain of her hair. Esme is looking at her with kind and knowing eyes. The woman reaches out a hand slowly and tucks Bree's hair behind her ear. Her touch is so gentle that Bree doesn't even startle. "You never have to worry about someone hitting you or harming you. I promise," Esme vows with an assertive tone.
"I—I didn't mean to break it, Esme." Bree believes the matriarch when she says no one will hurt her. From what she's seen of this family in her short time with them, they don't cross Esme. And more important than that, they are kind to each other. Even when Emmett ribs or mess around with Jasper and Edward, there is a line. No one hurts each other here. It's not like the home she was raised in or the foster families she bounced from. Despite being 'monsters', they're gentle. Especially to her.
"Oh, I know, baby. Don't worry over it. We all broke many things in our early days. No matter what, you can't be worse than Emmett." Esme grins widely, nose crinkling as she teases her rowdiest son. Bree cracks a smile that grows even bigger when she hears an exclaimed "hey!" from the upper floor.
"Yeah, don't worry Bree. Carlisle makes sure Esme can have everything she wants. That vase wasn't even an antique. I'm pretty sure it was just from Pottery Barn." Bree tries not to let the thought of Pottery Barn being just a dispensable brand to anyone. She grew up with plastic chairs in the kitchen and a fold up table and was lucky to have season-appropriate clothes.
The Cullens' wealth still boggles her mind. She was immediately given a closet-full of clothes by Alice and toiletries from Rosalie and a laptop from Jasper. They didn't think anything of spending money on her, even in the very beginning. As much as she enjoys those things, she likes being able to regularly shower the most. And the hugs from Esme. And the calm, receptive presence of Carlisle. And the way they're all so kind.
"If you're sure," Bree says doubtfully. She begins to pull herself out of her instinctive cower.
"1000%," Esme assures. "Anyway, you're pretty strong now yourself," the woman winks.
"Sure, she's strong, but she's so tiny. Like, tinier than Alice!" Emmett booms. His raucousness has drawn the rest of the family from their rooms.
"Emmett, you know I can kick your ass," Alice says, eyebrows set in a challenge.
Emmett tuts and waggles his finger. "No, no, no. You can evade me. Probably for days. But you cannot kick my ass. Not even close to the same thing."
"It's an important distinction." Edward shrugs with a crooked grin. "But, actually, Emmett, you're not the strongest in the house right now."
Bree cocks her head. Emmett certainly looks like the strongest one. Jasper is pretty stocky, too, though. Edward was lithe and fast, but not really one for brute strength. Rosalie was certainly formidable, but Bree didn't think it could be her, either. Esme and Carlisle were simply too gentle to be the strongest ones.
"Edward means you, Bree." Jasper offers. Bree blinks. Her? Not a chance! She was barely over five feet! Jasper must sense her confusion because he goes on to explain, "the human blood still in your body from your recent turning makes you stronger than any of us right now. And because you spent your early life drinking human blood you also have that as an advantage."
Riley hadn't told her any of this. She was still very unaware of a lot of aspects of being a vampire.
"I mean, I know that's how its supposed to be, but look at her, Jas!" Emmett gestures towards Bree with exuberant hands. Bree looks down at her slight figure and skinny arms and has to agree with his assessment.
Jasper scoffs and shakes his head. "Newborns half the size of me could take me down before I was trained against them."
"You're telling me I could take Emmett down?" Bree inquires disbelievingly. She certainly felt stronger as a vampire than a human, but the very idea of taking down Emmett's hulking mass is unthinkable. He's easily 6'5".
"If you can get a proper grip around him, yeah." Jasper is grinning now like he knows what's coming next. Alice is practically vibrating beside him.
"Well I won't believe it until I see it," Emmett says stubbornly. "Try me, short stack." He holds out his arms and gestures for Bree to attack him.
"Emmett Cullen, not in my house you don't." Esme isn't even in the room, but somehow she knows what's happening. Bree shakes her head in wonder. This family is very in-tune with each other. It makes her undead heart a bit warmer.
"Yes, Esme," Emmett intones like a begrudging child, " Outside then, short stack."
Emmett is already dashing to a cleared area behind the house. Bree looks at the others. They're all bemused but unsurprised by the turn of events. They don't seem concerned at all by Emmett's determination to fight her. She knows that Emmett won't hurt her, so she shrugs and follows him outside.
He's already poised to attack when she gets to him. She tenses for a moment before lunging at him. She perches on his back and pushes down with all her might, sending him windmilling forward. A helpless cackle slips from her lips at the sight. She is strong!
"Oh, you're sneaky!" Emmett booms, turning on his heel to bulldoze towards her.
She isn't scared of Emmett. His open face is nothing like that of her father before he hit her. Emmett is smiling sunnily and laughing as he dodges her and tries to grab her waist. Bree can't help the giggle that escapes her when she slips from his grasp. He looks so bewildered as she continues to evade his attacks. There's the sound of Rosalie's laughter in the background, but Bree doesn't let herself be distracted. She hadn't fought with the other newborns when they attacked the Cullens. It was an odd rush to get to use all the power given to her.
When Emmett finally gets his hands around her hips, she throws herself towards the ground and flips her center of gravity, sending him careening into the rocky bank beneath them.
"OHHHHH! Em, she got you!" Rosalie is full-body laughing now, bent over in mirth. The sight of this tiny girl flinging her huge husband over her body is just hilarious. Alice is grinning widely as Jasper guffaws at Emmett's grumbling as he climbs up the bank. Edward is smirking. Esme, who came out to witness her son be put in his place by their newest addition, is also laughing.
"I did tell you she'd be able to," Jasper reminds his brother who is picking leaves off his now-torn shirt.
"Yeah, yeah." Emmett waves him off, narrowing his eyes at Bree. She grins, putting her hands on her hips and tossing her hair behind her shoulder. The much larger vampire shakes his head and breaks out into a good-natured laugh. "It won't last forever though, short stack!" He scoops her up in a hug, twirling her. Bree shrieks and giggles, smacking his back but also clinging onto his shoulders.
She never imagined what it would be like to have a brother, but now it seems she will have a few brothers for the rest of eternity.