So the plus to being the original PIC is that when The Take Over happened, I asked Miss Scarlett if I could participate. She agreed, so here I am.
One of my favorite weeks from the old days was a week where Miss Scarlett was on vacation. I ended up going with slash week and found one of my favorite pairings ever. Edward and Jasper. I don't remember the hows or whys of how I stumbled across this little gem, but I found Marked by Whitlock-Masen.
Marked is a collab between Naelany and SorceressCirce. It originally started out as an entry for the Tattward and Inkella contest. However, the world found itself with a new multi-chapter story.
It starts out with Edward entering Billy Black's Tattoo parlor and running into Alice. It's revealed that Edward has just gotten out of a relationship. When we meet Jasper, he's coming in for a new tattoo. Edward stays to observe, and something blossoms between the two of them.
Between the drama of Edward and Jasper together, the issues they face apart, and the problems they encounter along the way, you become addicted to this couple. The pain they face is true. And besides, how can you not love Princess (Edward) and Cuddles (Jasper)?
One of my favorite parts of the story is when Edward tell Jasper he loves him for the first time.
When I got to the kitchen, I automatically pulled everything out I would need for lunch and started preparing roast beef and turkey sandwiches. When I was finished, I simply stood at the counter, leaning heavily on it with my hands, my head bowed low as I fought to keep from crying. I ached for them, and I wanted to help them, to make them both see how none of it was their fault, but I had no idea how to get through to them.
I must have been gone longer than I thought because Jasper was suddenly behind me, and I started when I felt his hand tentatively touch me between my shoulder blades. He rested his hip against the counter next to me, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep my composure as he whispered, "Edward, are you alright?"
Taking a shuddering breath, I nodded. Even with everything that was going on, how much Jasper was hurting himself, and how worried and upset he was about what had happened to Emily, he still made sure I was okay. I turned to face him and wrapped my arms tightly around him, nuzzling his neck as I tried to keep myself in check.
The urge to tell him was stronger now than ever before, and when I felt him trying to soothe me, I knew I had to let him know. I couldn't not say it anymore - I had to let him see how I felt about him. He needed to understand that I loved him, even with everything that had happened - that I wouldn't leave, or think less of him, or...any of that.
I pulled back to look at him; the mixture of emotions I saw in his eyes strengthened my resolve. This wasn't romantic or the way I'd imagined telling him for the first time, but this felt like the right time. Placing both hands on his cheeks to hold him in place, I took a deep breath. Kissing him chastely, I smiled and whispered, "I'm fine, baby. More than fine. I'm so proud of you...you're so strong. I know how hard it was for you to tell Emily what happened to you."
He watched me in silence, his eyes filled with confusion and pain and affection and something beautiful that I wasn't sure I'd ever really seen there - hope. My quiet smile grew softer as I kissed him again and then pulled back to murmur, "I love you, Jasper..."
His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off with another kiss before shaking my head. "Don't, please. I just needed you to know, Jazz. You don't have to say those words right now. In fact, I don't want you to. I need you to tell me because you mean it and feel it, too, not because you think you have to. And if you don't, it won't change how I feel for you, baby. I realize you have things to work through...and that you may not be where I'm at yet... That's okay. I can wait."
My thumbs brushed his cheekbones as I calmed myself, cutting off my babbling before I added, "You're worth waiting for, Jasper."
He swallowed several times, his eyes searching mine for what felt like ages before he finally nodded, kissing me hard. After several minutes, he pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead against mine. He closed his eyes, and I thought I saw a smile ghosting his lips as he whispered, "Thank you..."
I must have been gone longer than I thought because Jasper was suddenly behind me, and I started when I felt his hand tentatively touch me between my shoulder blades. He rested his hip against the counter next to me, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep my composure as he whispered, "Edward, are you alright?"
Taking a shuddering breath, I nodded. Even with everything that was going on, how much Jasper was hurting himself, and how worried and upset he was about what had happened to Emily, he still made sure I was okay. I turned to face him and wrapped my arms tightly around him, nuzzling his neck as I tried to keep myself in check.
The urge to tell him was stronger now than ever before, and when I felt him trying to soothe me, I knew I had to let him know. I couldn't not say it anymore - I had to let him see how I felt about him. He needed to understand that I loved him, even with everything that had happened - that I wouldn't leave, or think less of him, or...any of that.
I pulled back to look at him; the mixture of emotions I saw in his eyes strengthened my resolve. This wasn't romantic or the way I'd imagined telling him for the first time, but this felt like the right time. Placing both hands on his cheeks to hold him in place, I took a deep breath. Kissing him chastely, I smiled and whispered, "I'm fine, baby. More than fine. I'm so proud of you...you're so strong. I know how hard it was for you to tell Emily what happened to you."
He watched me in silence, his eyes filled with confusion and pain and affection and something beautiful that I wasn't sure I'd ever really seen there - hope. My quiet smile grew softer as I kissed him again and then pulled back to murmur, "I love you, Jasper..."
His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off with another kiss before shaking my head. "Don't, please. I just needed you to know, Jazz. You don't have to say those words right now. In fact, I don't want you to. I need you to tell me because you mean it and feel it, too, not because you think you have to. And if you don't, it won't change how I feel for you, baby. I realize you have things to work through...and that you may not be where I'm at yet... That's okay. I can wait."
My thumbs brushed his cheekbones as I calmed myself, cutting off my babbling before I added, "You're worth waiting for, Jasper."
He swallowed several times, his eyes searching mine for what felt like ages before he finally nodded, kissing me hard. After several minutes, he pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead against mine. He closed his eyes, and I thought I saw a smile ghosting his lips as he whispered, "Thank you..."
There's a lot that leads up to this point, and there's a lot that comes after. Read. Fall in love with them. Feel for them.
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