la belle dame sans merci | carlisle cullen

43

On the drive home, Minerva was much more animated than she had been all day. He'd never heard anyone string together so many curses into a sentence while maintaining sensibility. It was an art form.

"I have half a mind to come out as the god damn wicked witch of the west just to get these shitty pompous bastards to get off your fucking back." He'd never seen her angry before. Given the harmless circumstance, he couldn't help but enjoy it— selfish as it was. The light had flicked back on behind her eyes and it was a fire.

"Good lord, don't do that." Carlisle couldn't help but laugh, the cruel behaviour of the town's people couldn't phase him less but Minerva was well past phased, she was pissed.

"What is their issue?" She demanded, her excitement allowed him to be a little more heavy footed than generally was in her company. "Did you do like a hit and run or something?"

"No!"

"Sleep with the mayor's wife?"

"Minerva!"

"Drop a baby?"

"You're ridiculous."

"Then why do they hate you so much?" She was turned in her seat, seat belt buckled at her waist but removed from her shoulder so she could face him.

"I don't go out of my way to be liked, I suppose." Carlisle shrugged, "I mind my own business. People here hate that."

"What's the difference between you and I? Why am I tolerated and you're not?" She was furious. Her eyes were wide as saucers, hands shaking as she gestured, "I'm barely a real person. If one of us deserves to be welcome in this shit hole town, it's you!" His heart contracted in his chest. There was no keeping the wince off his face but she was too wrapped up in her frustration to notice.

Minerva was far more person than he was. To him, she was more human than not. Her heart still thundered as off tempo as the beat was. Blood rushed in her veins and flushed her cheeks in anger. Tears could cloud her vision, sleep could rescue her at night. By her standards, he wondered what exactly she classified herself. Witch, of course, but beyond that? He couldn't imagine the divinity in his passenger seat possibly seeing herself as a monster.

"I don't think I deserve it any more than you do." Carlisle said earnestly, "I think you're far more charming than I am. I blunder."

"Bullshit." She said decidedly, "How are you so cool about it?" Even if she was angry, Carlisle was glad to see some life in her.

"I have bigger fish to fry." Carlisle shrugged a little bit, "And I suppose I'm desensitized. Your friends were perhaps a bit more obvious than most."

"Friends is a strong word." Minerva said with vile on her tongue, "I've never seen Gus like that before. I didn't think he had it in him."

"You.." Carlisle didn't want this to seem like an accusation, "You broke the chair, right?"

A smile finally broke her face, "You noticed that, huh?"

"It was subtle." He allowed, the corner of his mouth lifting, "Very tasteful."

"I thought so." A yawn cut her speech and she leaned back against the door, "Christ, I'm glad all that's over." She rubbed her face as they pulled up the winding trail to her house front.

"Still no sleep, hm?" He supposed.

She shook her head, "Wanna come in?" Her tone made him feel like it was a reflex question but the look in her eye chased any doubt of the invitation. It wasn't pleading, that wasn't the right word for it but she was giving him the doe eyes, whether she meant to or not. He got the feeling she didn't want to be alone.