Renesmee Cullen was a firework.

Her very existence sent warm sparks across the skin of Rhydian's arm from where their fingers interlocked; the brunette's refusal to stray from his side making her entire coven uneasy.

Hours had passed since they'd let the outlier into their home; Jasper and Emmett having excused themselves shortly after, disappearing into the woodlands to feed. Rosalie and Alice were upstairs, talking quietly amongst themselves as they ruffled through what sounded like clothing - and despite hearing his name being thrown around, Rhydian didn't care enough to eavesdrop on their conversation.

The only ones left in the room were Bella, Edward, Carlisle, and Esme. The coven leader's mate threw him side glances from her place behind the kitchen island, her soft, heart-shaped face drawn into something sympathetic and pitiful. Carlisle was glued to her side, playing with the ends of her hair in a way that suggested he was deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Bella was staring blankly at the pages of a novel that she was holding albeit too tightly, too consumed in thought to correct herself. Crimson eyes flickering between Rhydian and Renesmee occasionally, before skittering to the floor when she almost made eye contact.

Edward was the only one who wasn't feigning serenity - standing erect against the wall, honey-eyed gaze trained on Renesmee as she guided Rhydian up the staircase, pointing the succulents dotted around the windowsill as she went. Images of Alice placing the plants there a few days prior travelled from Renesmee's mind and into Rhydian's, causing him to smile faintly whenever she glanced at him as though to make sure she wasn't boring him.

"What's that?" He murmured conversationally, to draw the attention away from himself, yet Renesmee's expression seemed to brighten at his input. Her smile puttering, however, when she caught sight of what Rhydian was pointing at: that being a long drape of fabric hanging from the wall behind the staircase, each layer a different shade of turquoise. The fabric also harboured the faint scent of humans, much like everything the Cullens seemed to wear.

"I - I don't know," Renesmee replied sheepishly, as though she was embarrassed by her inability to sate Rhydian's curiosity. Not for the first time since taking her hand, the blonde found himself wondering how old she truly was. A thought that must have been overheard by the red-haired male watching them avidly from the corner of the room, because his spine went rigid in away that suggested that any inquiry of Renesmee's age would harbour nothing but unease.

"They're graduation caps," It's Bella who spoke, her voice a soft, bell-like peal that caused the hairs at the back of Rhydian's neck to stand on end. Turning to see that she had stood up, book clutched against her chest in a way that the blonde assumed was a human habit. Edward trailed to his side, his concrete expression softening whenever she placed her hand on his arm as though to soothe him.

"Nessie, it's time for you to go to bed," The auburn-haired male chastised, keeping his eyes trained on his daughter only. As though if he looked at Rhydian all hell would break loose, and the blonde tried to mask his amusement at the thought. Though judging by the way the way Edward's eye twitched, he most likely knew already.

"Can Rhydian come with us? I want to show him the cottage," Renesmee pleaded, pulling him along as she descended down the stairs once more. Seeming oblivious to the way the blonde arched his eyebrow at the fact that she required sleep in the first place. After basking in the reassuring thought that he and Renesmee were by no means alike - she was too soft, surely, too malleable - Rhydian watched out for what reactions brunette's request would harbour.

Unsurprisingly, no one is particularly shocked. All of them seeming to have foreseen how far Renesmee's attachment for Rhydian had gone in the time span of a few hours.

Bella's eyebrows furrowed together for a moment, before she smoothed her expression into something more placid. "Honey, I really don't think that's a good idea -"

"No," Rhydian cut in, voice soft as he pulled his hand out of Renesmee's. Keeping his voice light as he gouged Renesmee's disappointed expression at his refusal. "You need to sleep; I'll still be here when you wake up, I promise."

Watching him for a moment, it didn't take long for Renesmee to nod and climb into her mother's embrace. Waving as Bella escorted them out of the room and into the heath where their cottage possibly resided. Edward stated after them in a way that was nothing short to loving, going rigid when he felt Rhydian's eyes tracking across his face. Meeting his gaze once the blonde made it obvious he was searching for it, blaring a single sentence through mind once he had Edward's undivided attention.

Raise crows and they'll peck out your eyes.

Despite being no empath, Rhydian could almost sense Edward's outrage at that very moment. It's scathing, hardening his features completely and causing his hands to ball into fists. The blonde wasn't particularly surprised by his reaction - no one likes being told how to raise their child. But the lack of discipline and boundaries they were showering Renesmee with would one day no doubt - for a lack of a better word - kick their asses.

Am I wrong though?

Before Edward could give a verbal reply, Carlisle was stepping forwards. A saving grace to the storm that would have certainly hit where it not for his input. "Rhydian, I'm sure you have a few questions for us, and I would be more than happy to answer them in my study, if that's alright."

Giving a slow nod, Rhydian tailed after Carlisle's figure as it retreated to the floor of his study. A room that seemed to harbour the same old, lingering scent as it's owner. Peering into the ribcage of the bookshelves aligned across every acre of the wall, Rhydian settled into the soft leather interior of one of the couches on her far wall. Watching as Carlisle did the same, making himself comfortable on the office chair behind a large oakwood desk.

"I'm aware that you may have some questions about our coven," Carlisle began, and even the way in which he spoke was grand. Fluid in the way in which the pages of a manuscript stemmed from its spine - old and worn, yet firm in that aspect. It wasn't hard for Rhydian to see why the Cullen coven relied upon Carlisle's beck and call.

Settling his hands on his lap, Rhydian averted his gaze for a moment. Wondering what to ask first, before choosing the most simple question that came to mind. "Why are your eyes gold?"

"Our diet is different from others of our kind," Carlisle's reply was instant, shoulders shifting as he crosses his legs at the knee. Seemingly familiar with explaining his diet to strangers, and Rhydian doesn't bother to hide his endearment at the thought. "We feed on animals,"

It was a surprising revelation, but at the same time not quite. Instead of mulling over the concept, Rhydian voiced aloud the next question that came to mind. "Why?"

The inquiry earnt a blink from Carlisle, whom of which seemed startled for a moment before collecting himself. "Pardon?"

"It's not as replenishing as human blood," Rhydian stated, placing his hands on his lap to have something to with them. "I can't say I've tried it myself, but it doesn't even smell appetising. Why do you feed from it?"

"We don't like drinking from humans," Carlisle mused, interlacing his fingers together. Silently, Rhydian took note of the unnecessary action: along with the many he had seen the Cullen coven do throughout the past hour. He could even hear Edward breathing softly downstairs. Completely unnecessary. "We've made our choice not to harm humanity as many of our kind have prophesied to doing so. To preserve our humanity, in a sense."

"That's hardly an excuse," Rhydian replied without faltering, mouth twisting into a faint frown. "Drinking from animals doesn't make you any different from a rouge who preys on humans. You are still taking a life in order to survive - what difference does it make if it's from an animal or a human?"

"I don't expect you to see things through our perspective, Rhydian - your opinion is valid, after all," Carlisle chastised, voice warm as though to show he hadn't taken offence. Something Rhydian both admired and was slightly irked by. "Just as I hope you will validate our own opinions. And while we're on that topic, I would like to apologise in Edward and Rosalie's behalf for their behavior towards you. I know they haven't been discreet about the fact that they see you as a threat."

"I won't hurt your granddaughter," Rhydian muttered, shaking his head faintly at the accusation before giving the blonde a fleeting, sincere look. Arching his spine onto the sofa below him and sighing out under his breath. "I promise that you have nothing to fear from me. I'm not your enemy."

This second promise would be both his biggest mistake, and his last.

author's note:

surprise, y'all !

sorry for the long, long wait as well as any typos this story may have - i'm writing this on my phone, so if you spot any mistakes tell me right away so i can correct them.

also - in case you can't already tell - rhydian is the embodiment of every doubt i've ever had on the cullens. thus why he opposes, criticises and disapproves on certain things they do, but they will get along better later on.

hopefully i'll update this story with more frequency in the near future - i'm trying to write chapters for the stories i've isolated and i have a few more to go, so be expecting some random updates here and there, lmao.

the next chapter is a little more wholesome, i promise :)