Before The Storm | J. Hale & A. Cullen

1.2

Michael awoke to distant voices echoing through the house. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his face as it shone through the windows. The warmth felt nice, but the coldness that surrounded him felt much better.

The weight that accompanied the coldness reminded him of exactly where and who he was with. Opening his eyes, Michael’s gaze fell on Alice. The pixie had buried herself against his chest. Her arms were wrapped around his neck; his arms wrapped around her waist in return. What surprised Michael, though, was the arms wrapped around his own waist and the solid chest pressed against his back.

He felt a sudden blush burn across his face, warming the back of his neck as he realized it was Jasper who was cuddled into his back. He shivered as their breath tickled his neck, as they both had their faces buried into it. His blush burned brighter as he felt Alice's soft lips brush against the base of his jawline.

He knew they weren’t asleep, as their kind doesn’t do that, but they seemed relaxed and at peace. It made it even better because he realized they were willingly cuddling with him. 

They looked like they were sleeping and Michael found that he enjoyed the sight more than he thought he would. Carefully and quietly, he skillfully made his way out from between the two of them, getting off the bed before making his way into the bathroom to take a shower.

Stripping out of the white shirt and turning on the shower, Michael gazed into the mirror as he waited for the water to warm up. The claw marks on his chest and face from Paul were now healed, but they stood out more than the rest of the scars. The bite marks on his neck had also healed. He was thankful for that, but they had scarred over and were still visible.

Taking a deep breath, Michael began to envision each of the scars becoming flat and smooth with the rest of his skin, slowly returning each of them to match the different tones of his body. He watched as each scar did just that, but a few of them remained the same as he willed them to. He didn’t take his gaze off of himself until he saw movement in the edge of the mirror. As he turned, he found himself staring at the pixie girl. With a quick glance behind her into the bedroom, he noted that Jasper was still ‘asleep’. His sky-blue eyes flickered back to Alice, and slowly, a small grin fell onto his face as he noted the shock hidden in her expression.

“What’s the matter, Little Lady? It’s almost as if you’ve never seen someone use their gift before.” His voice came out as a purr, rough and husky from sleep.

Alice faintly glared at the taller male, but from the look she held on her face, he could tell she was embarrassed by his comment. A small frown unconsciously took over his grin when he realized that she wasn’t blushing; that he wouldn’t ever be able to make her blush due to her lack of blood. He was used to being around humans all the time, so the observation alarmed him. He had forgotten that her kind wasn’t nearly as human as he was. He was broken out of his thoughts once Alice spoke in return.

“I haven’t seen many gifts outside of my family. Especially not one like you just showed.” She seemed to pause for a moment before speaking again as she walked further into the room, coming to a stop in front of him. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is it that your gift is or what does it do?” Her hand reached up out of curiosity, lightly stroking his cheek that no longer held the scars that had just been there. She silently noted that it wasn’t just a visual trick, as his face was once again flat and smooth under her touch.

He stayed quiet as she approached him and he didn’t respond as she gently stroked his cheek. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he silently enjoyed the cool touch that she supplied to him. It wasn’t until she pulled her hand away from his face that he finally spoke.

“I suppose I could be called a manipulator of sorts. I can change or alter the reality that surrounds me, or us, or anyone really. I don’t use it as often as I used to, but when I do, I have to restrict myself. If I don’t, then I start to become sick.”

His breath briefly hitched as her touch drifted down his bare torso, following the path that the claw marks had previously occupied. He bit his lip as he watched her, his body involuntarily shivering at her freezing touch.

Her hand left his chest as she briefly walked around him. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she saw a few remaining scars. Her fingertips lightly traced over three circular scars on the back of his left shoulder.

"Why keep this one? What's it from?" She asked him softly as she looked back up at him.

He didn't have to look to know what scars she was talking about.

"It's for a reminder," he said as his eyes met hers. "They were caused by nails. Maybe you could ask Jazz for that story." He muttered, his tone taking on a bitter aspect toward the end.

He paused as if realizing he was saying too much. He stepped back away from Alice and her gentle touch, turning in his spot so his back faced her. He checked the temperature of the water, speaking again before she could ask any questions. “You should go hunt; your eyes are almost black. You might want to take Jasper with you; his eyes were becoming darker than yours yesterday.”

Alice barely nodded her head before leaving, knowing that it was not up for discussion and that Michael was dismissing her. She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, shaking Jasper’s shoulder slightly to gain his attention. She dared not to look back at Michael, the sound of clothes hitting the floor giving her warning of what state he was in and that she should no longer look. She watched Jasper stretch for a moment before he opened his eyes and sat up. She disappeared for a moment before returning to him with some fresh clothes in her hands. He took them with a murmured thanks, though he didn’t move his gaze from something -- someone behind her. Alice, after the confusion filled her mind for a moment, half-heartedly smacked Jasper upside his head.

“Eyes to yourself, Jazz,” She said with a small laugh when he glared at her. “He didn’t come here just to be ogled at by you; give him some privacy. We should probably go - …huh, he really was watching you yesterday. Your eyes are black now. Anyway, you and I are going hunting for a little bit, at least until he gets done.”

Changing into the clothes given to him, Jasper raked his hand through his golden hair before following his wife out of the room. Casting one last glance over his shoulder as he shut the door, Jasper’s gaze laid upon a defined back covered in a golden tan just before the door closed. He battled himself in his thoughts, wondering why he couldn’t bring himself to look away from the bare body that belonged to his childhood best friend.

If only he knew…