Edward-Carlisle.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle gives Esme a beatific smile. "We won't be out too long. I wanted to go and introduce Edward to some of the other doctors that have started in the rotation."

A night out. Please. Anywhere. Want to run to Canada? Pick somewhere.

Carlisle has his jacket on to leave no more than a minute later.

Comments

[themidnightson]

The plea is surprising, and not unexpected.

Edward is at the door to the living room at the end of that same minute, clothing changed to something vaguely presentable for the lie given and yet not things he would mind loosing if they end up tattered due to unplanned events.

"I'm ready."

There's a casual nod to Esme.

"Try not to have too much fun without us."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle and Edward walk down the road at a leisurely pace.

It takes ten minutes of that pace to make Carlisle itch for a run, and he sprints off into the distance.

They're probably in New York.

"Thanks."

[themidnightson]

Edward doesn't mind. Mostly. He doesn't mind the running at least.
And what he does mind he doesn't mind being the solution for.
It's too complicated to want to dwell on; he just runs.


"Your welcome."

[ofthefamily]

I swear some days she is completely ludicrous.

It's the first cogent thought he's had besides relief at being able to stretch his legs and expend some energy.

[themidnightson]

At least they'd made New York before it was a cognisant.

"Has she done something new that I've missed?"

[ofthefamily]

"Probably not. She's just...Nnnngh. Difficult."

There was nothing wrong with my curtains.



She kissed me.

[themidnightson]

"She certainly seems to like taking charge."

[ofthefamily]

"In one way I can't blame her, with her being cooped up in the house for the most part while we go out during the day, but..."

Their pace slows to a walk, Carlisle shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I don't understand her."

[themidnightson]

"No, you don't," Edward agreed.

He was unhelpful and helpful like that.

[ofthefamily]

"Are you going to share?"

[themidnightson]

Edward's eyes narrowed marginally, but he was staring forward only. "Is it right to?"

[ofthefamily]

"I can't dictate ethics to you on something about which I have no experience," Carlisle returns flatly, however sincerely the commentary is.




Wincing, "A hint?"

[themidnightson]

"Because doctor-patient confidentiality is nothing like it," Edward quipped, even as quibbled with his own inner monologue of both sides. He had no choice but to live with both of their thoughts, all the time and in all facets.

His loyalty was an obvious answer.
His willingness was almost as simple, except--

She had no comfort in what he did, the way Carlisle had.
She prized her secrets, and for some of them, he was glad of that.

[ofthefamily]

"I only have to keep secret what people want to tell me in the first place, Edward," Carlisle replies quickly. "You have to put up with everything whether you choose to or not."

I'd apologize for that, express sympathy, but you might lob a rock at my head if I tried.

[themidnightson]

"I would." Because Carlisle did this to him. His powers, and this newest moral dillema. "She'd rather I couldn't hear her." Not that his tone made that even one iota of surprising.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle nods.

"Sometimes I think she'd rather I couldn't hear her either."

[themidnightson]

"You would," Edward said, before shaking his head. Esme wanted the exact opposite. She wanted him to hear her more clearly, to have him understand what Edward couldn't avoid understanding. "I think you've seen enough of her will to know if that were true, she'd have already told you. Quite loudly."

[ofthefamily]

"You may have a point."

Carlisle tries to shut Esme out of his mind for now, if for no other reason than to give Edward some quiet on that front.

"Do you want to wander somewhere in particular? Hunt? I can smell a bear from here."

[themidnightson]

"Yes."

It's a much harder note than he wanted to let out.

But it doesn't matter because he took off at the same time as the words made a sound. Easier to let go and not think about not thinking about things. Instinct over human morality, or emotion.

[ofthefamily]

They hunt for about an hour.

Sated, Carlisle is washing his hands in the nearest stream he could find.

[themidnightson]

At least Edward hadn't had any designs on wanting to keep this shirt. He'd been more recklessly antagonistic than necessary, but the fight had been worth it. And his jacket covered the worst of it.

"What would you want to know?" Beat "Hypothetically."

[ofthefamily]

"Hypothetically?"

What could make me so possibly worthwhile to her --

"I haven't -- women in Volterra were not..." Frustrated, "Partners in Volterra would bring each other screaming humans to devour. Why does she think I have any conception of this at all?"

[themidnightson]

her -- women -- partners

"Emotions are rarely logical."

Especially if the emotions' in question had no logical impetus or background except in existing overwhelmingly without causation. That part may have bothered him far more than its existing. Edward could make a list to the first unasked question without thinking, with endless reasons.

He leaned against a tree, sinking against the shadow as he looked up into the bower. "Will you tell her about that? Volterra?"

[ofthefamily]

"Maybe I should." Carlisle's normal reticence at explaining much about Volterra springs to mind again; it passes.

[themidnightson]

It shouldn't bother him.

It really shouldn't.



His golden eyes stay on the leaves, tracing the veins of to and from branches. The small things lost upon the mortal realm and and so entirely unimportant to the immortal one.

"All of it? Or just--"

[ofthefamily]

"As much as she needs to know."

She is not the one inside my head, Carlisle smiles at Edward calmly.

[themidnightson]

She'd like to be, he doesn't say.

"I like to think you would have told me eventually regardless."

[ofthefamily]

I would have.

Carlisle joins Edward under the tree, head thunking against the bark lightly.

What if I made a mistake in this? Did she truly deserve any of this?

[themidnightson]

Edward didn't sigh. It takes a few second before he glances over, reluctance edging having left the leaves to look at him.




"She's happier now."

[ofthefamily]

"That's good to know."

It's sincere, as replies go. It's not that Carlisle doesn't want Esme to be happy.

Carlisle's head shifts from leaning against the bark to against Edward's shoulder with a short chuckle. She may want more from me than I know how to give her.

[themidnightson]

This time he did. Sigh. Quiet and low.

Not sure if it was the touch or the thoughts.

"I'm positive you felt the same of me, and the situations that arose from some of my choices, a few years ago."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle smiles at the observation.

"You're right." Of course. "I just worry."

[themidnightson]

He doesn't want to be right. Because then it's best to assume with this much time all of that will change, and very likely all of this will rearrange, as well.

"It'll be fine," Edward said, lightly. "An adjustment, but fine."

[ofthefamily]

"An adjustment."

I won't apologize for turning her, even if I don't understand her.

I will apologize for any...discomfort she has caused you. It was not my intent.

[themidnightson]

"I know." It's quiet, and to all of them. He nudged Carlisle's shoulder with his own, only just jostling him without making it necessary for his head to move away.

"I'd demand written warning next time--" as much as he doesn't even want to consider the concept, but his tone is absently gentle. "--but I think you gave me all the warning you could."

Even if it didn't make it any better.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle nods, moving his head against Edward's shoulder even as it moves to nudge him.



No one can replace you, my Edward.
"I'm trying to think of anything else I feel like doing before heading home."

[themidnightson]

"I could tell you that saying that probably indicates which way your thoughts are leaning," Edward supposed in a winding, almost too lyrical fashion.

"Or I could tempt you with the fact, if we ran, we could still catch two-thirds of Coppélia."

[ofthefamily]

"I think that sounds like a brilliant plan."

Carlisle sprints off again, not caring that Edward easily passes him after a few minutes and managing to feel light-hearted again in the quiet of the outing.