Hunger
Jasper has no idea what he is doing Carpenter's woods. He had meant to head into that diner that’s a a few blocks from the Philadelphia museum of art, to get out of the rain. Instead he found himself heading in the opposite direction, toward Wissahickon Valley Park.
It was like something called out to his very soul and he started walking without thinking toward it. He tried to stop but it pulled at him and almost forced him to keep going. He surmises that’s probably some kind of a vampire gift, but he can’t sense any malicious intentions from it, only a sense of loss and loneliness. So, he decides to follow it against his better judgement after all it called to him so strongly and he can’t help but follow it like a fool.
His feet eventually come to a stop in Carpenter’s woods, a mile or so from the Wissahickon Valley Park. He looks around for a bit, he can hear the heartbeats and panting of pedestrians, as their shoes splash against the water covered pavement, further out and the roaring engines of cars and the sound of tires splashing against rain puddles. Their scents were being slightly dulled by the rain, the petrichor, the smell of rain on dry earth and trees has a strange way of soothing his hunger.
The rain soon becomes nothing but light drizzle with the occasional pitter patter hitting his jacket. He stands stills for a moment, unsure what he’s doing or why he is out here. Whatever pulled him here has stopped and he thinks perhaps he should just leave, but just as he was about to take a step he sees him.
Everything stops in that one moment.
To him the droplets of rain freeze in their motion, suspended in air and everything is completely silent.
His eyes were filled with puzzlement and reverence and they were so black that they made the night sky look dim in comparison. And Jasper wanted nothing more than to reach and touch him, brush the few strands of hair away from his eyes. He was so beautiful with his pale skin and black raven locks that framed his face. His heart and soul felt anchored to the being in front of him in this moment, tethered to this new plane of reality of hopes and future joys and dreams that he thought could never exist for him. It felt as if they were both frozen, sharing in this moment with only the large oak trees around them to bear witness.
And with the thought of Mine. Only Mine. He stepped forward.
He realized then that he found him.
He found his mate.
And with how Peter always described what it felt like to find Charlotte to him, but he never imagined it would be so entrancing.
He felt like everything part of his being was captivated by the vampire in front of him. He was clearly a newborn and Jasper could easily pick the aching feeling of hunger coming from him along with feeling lost and confusion as well as awe, and then finally fear.
He approaches him slowly and cautiously having a lot of experience with newborns and knowing what they are like when they haven’t fed yet. “Hello” Jasper speaks softly when he just a few inches away from raven haired vampire.
His mate just stared at him with so much longing and he felt his mate’s yearning which made him want nothing more than to embrace him. But instead he stayed where he was, “I know what’s like to be hungry” he told him.
“So, let’s get you something to eat” he continued, as he offered his hand to him.
His mate looks at him unblinking for a few moments, which felt like an entirety to jasper, before he takes his hand “Okay” his mate replies softly and his voice sounds like sweet melody to his ears.
And as soon as their hands touch, Jasper feels a quiet peace, a strange state tranquillity and silent that he hasn’t felt since he was turned.
And, for the first time he felt something he hasn’t felt in a long time, hope.
“Is that better?” His mate asks.
“Yes” he chokes out, voice filled with too many emotions.
If he could cry he thinks that there would probably be tears of joy and relief running down his cheeks. Instead, he steps closer to his mate so that there is only a breathe between them and he holds his hand over his own unbeating heart.
He wants to ask how has he done this, but right now he is more concerned with getting his mate fed, questions can come later. Besides, he has a feeling that his mate has no idea how he had done it either.
His mate then smiles at him, “I am glad” he says.
And he swore that smile made his heart start beating again. It filled him with so much warmth and comfort. He wants to spend the rest of eternity of him encased in his arms and his body flush against his own, but first...
“Stay” he tells him.
“I will be right back,” then he lets go of his hand and kisses the his forehead and takes off. He was afraid that he will be overwhelmed by the feelings of the human around once again but he delighted to realized that everything is still quiet and he can only feel his own emotions. He is astonished by the capacity of his mate's gift and he can't help but laugh with elation.
Quickly, he follows the sound of the closest heartbeat and he finds a man running toward his car across the street, with his jacket placed over his head instead of an umbrella. The man was completely alone since no else was around because of the rain. Jasper blinks and turns to see that his mate is standing next to him, having decided not to listen to him.
The corner of his mouth twitches up as he sees his mate is watching him curiously, and Jasper can’t help but liken him to cat especially when he tilts his head quizzically. He smirks and then runs to where the man just as he is about to reach his car and grabs the man and carries him back to his mate.
His mate hasn’t moved from his position and as he throws the man in front of his eyes.
His mate looks down at the man at his feet who is gasping and then looks up at him, eyes filled with worry and fright and shakes his head.
Jasper stares at him for a moment, trying to encourage him to bite the man but he just keeps shaking his head.
“No.”
“No.”
For a moment, Jasper is unsure what to do before he bends down and bite the man, only drinking a little bit, thinking that the fresh smell of blood will probably entice his mate. His mate just stares at him and then he looks down at the man who is struggling on the forest ground, with his neck torn.
Then he looks back up at Jasper and stares with so much pain and indecisiveness in his eyes. He shakes his head again but this time, the motion is barely noticeable.
“You need to eat” Jasper tells him.
He shakes his head again.
“Please” Jasper begs.
They stare at each other for what feels like eternity while the man moans and cries as he bleeds out between them.
Finally his mate nods and hesitantly kneels next to the man and digs his teeth into the other side of his neck.
Jasper stares at the raven haired vampire in wonder for a few moments, his mate despite being a newborn has incredible self control if it had been him he would devoured that man the instant he started bleeding.
After a couple of minutes of watching his mate have his fill. Jasper couldn’t resist anymore and bites the man as well.
He is thankful that he can’t feel any of the man’s emotions or pain as they drain him. It’s the first time he is eaten without feeling an incredible amount of guilt as he was bombarded by all his victim’s emotions and pain as slowly die.
When the man becomes nothing more than an empty husk. Jasper looks at raven haired vampire and he looks back at him with blood dripping down his chin looking satisfied .
And Jasper draws him in for a kiss.