so_far_fallen | For not_a

Aria was so happy to be back at the cottage, it was a place that had been more of a home to him than anywhere else he'd ever lived in his life.

Things had been neglected in his absence, left to overgrow or rot in the ground, and the cow shed was in a terrible state. The two pygmy goats were no longer in their pen and had eaten their way through most of the vegetables he'd spent half a year carefully tending. The cows had been given food and water by the looks of it, but they hadn't been milked, grazed, or mucked out. It was the same with the hens - the hen house was filthy, and with so much corn thrown down and not cleared up the place was infested with rats. But things could have been worse.

When he'd been asked to move back into the cottage temporarily to look after Eli while he was sick Aria had almost refused on principle, but however badly Eli had treated him it wasn't enough to want to see him suffer. Besides, he knew that if he didn't accept then Lucien or their parents or even Sybil would have to do it instead and he'd never forgive himself if they got sick too.

So here he was, waiting on Eli hand and foot, and then trying to fix his beloved cottage and yard when his future-brother-in-law was sleeping.

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Eli slept off most of his day, lately. The hours passed like flashes of short spans of consciousnes; he'd open his eyes to see what was around him and then allow sickness to drag him back to resting. He dreamed. He dreamed of the things he saw when he woke up. His gilrfriend. A bright room. The back of the car. Familiar voices around him. The scent of the woods.

It was the middle of the afternoon when he finally woke up for good. Disoriented, it took a moment for Eli to recognise the bed from the cottage, the old blankets wrapped around him like a coocoon. The sheets beneath, sticking to his sweaty body.

Very slowly, he attempted to get up.

Aria was in the bathroom next door, scrubbing the place spotless. He heard the sound of movement in the next room and quickly dried his hands before hurrying to check on Eli.

"No, no, no..." he rushes to his side. "Back into bed, you're not ready to move yet. What do you want? I'll get it for you. How do you feel?"

Eli had barely managed to put a foot out of bed, but the world was once again spinning around him. He had not even needed Aria's encouragement to sit back again on the mattress.

His face sunk on his palm, scrubbing away the sweat that made his fringe stick to his forehead.

"Where's Lucien?"

And Sybil. Sybil too.

"Where's Sybil?"

"You've had canine distemper, it wasn't safe for Lucien to be here, and we couldn't risk the cubs with Sybil."

He passes him a glass of water and helps him sip from it.

"So I'm afraid you're stuck with me. "

"Distemper?" It takes a moment before Eli can fully concentrate. It seems he is struggling to separate nightmares from reality. Memories from now. Because he remembers. He remembres one of their cousins catching it. He remembers cubs dying.

That couldn't be his cubs. Nor his brother.

Aria suddenly seems to have ming reading powers and hands him a glass of water just when Eli realizes how dry his mouth feels. He takes the glass even if Aria won't let go and, starts downing large gulps of water.

"Slowly, " Aria cautions, gently. "How do you feel? "

He'll get Sybil on the phone now that Eli is conscious if he's up to it.

As always, Eli barely listens. He continues to drink greedily until he is satisfied.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he leans back, giving Aria a wary look. The kind of look a mistrusting stray cat will give to a good samaritan that wants to feed it.

"Me head is killing me."

"I'll get you some paracetamol," he says. He puts the glass to one side. "When you feel up to it you should call Sybil, she's been really worried about you."

Aria takes the digital thermometer and removes the cap, then holds it up towards Eli.
"Open your mouth, please."

Edited Date: 2015-10-17 11:37 pm (UTC)

At the mention of Sybil, he simply nods, head hanging slightly. But when Aria has the thermometer poining at his mouth, Eli weakly pushes it out of the way.

"I'm fine. I'll sleep it off."

In a way, he feels betrayed by his family, by his pack, leaving him here with Aria of all people. At the same time, Eli is aware that it makes sense, this is the only choice they have. It feels unfair, though. Another trick to force him to change his mind.

"Please? I just need to check your temperature, it will take ten seconds."

He knows the situation isn't ideal, but it's the only way to make sure the rest of the pack is safe.

"The sooner we can get you well again the better - your cubs are due next week after all."

All he wants is to turn, to find a secluded place - maybe under the bed, against the wall - and sleep it all off. But then he thinks of Sybil, of her gentle smile and her worried face. The cubs. He needs to be strong and healthy to be around them.

He hungs his mouth open then, waiting for the thermometer.

He holds the thermometer gently under Eli's tongue for a few seconds and then removes it and checks the monitor.

"Much better. Still a little high, but better. Helena left some antibiotics for you, will you take them? "

He is not surprised the fever is lower, compared to how he was feeling last time he was up, Eli is much better. At the question over the antibiotics, he doesn't even hesitate on his answer.

"I'll take whatever it takes." Anything to get better.

"Good, I'll bring it up. And there's chicken soup for you if you can manage it. "

He probably won't realise what a big deal it was for Aria to prepare chicken, he never prepares meat. Even Lucien would have to cook for himself or order in if he wanted meat. But he knows the healing properties of a properly made chicken soup and Eli needs meat to get his strength back.

Of course the thought doesn't even cross Eli's mind. He's too bitter, focusing too much on how unwanted Aria¿s prescence is, and at the same time, how he clearly depended on the blonde to get better.

When Aria is back Eli remains quiet, thanking him as he takes the medicine from him, following Helena's instructions and taking his pills.

"You can go now. I can take care of myself."

He brings up a tea tray with soup and home made bread laid out on it along with the medicine.

"I'll leave you be, but I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything. Just call, I'll hear. "

Aria isn't thrilled with the situation either.

Eli would lie if he claimed he wasn't feeling any guilt whatsoever, watching Aria bring him his lunch, not missing the fact that he had clearly made the bread himself. It wouldn't be the first time he tried it.

But he ought to be firm, that's what a leader does.

"I mean the cottage. You can leave now."

"No, " Aria replies without hesitation. "I'm looking after you. So I'm staying. "

"I'm not asking you." Eli narrowed red rimmed eyes, scowling. "I'm not gonna fall for this manipulative crap. I'm not changing me mind about you and the cottage."

"Well you can't throw me out in that state so it looks like you'll have to put up with it until you're better, then we'll talk again. "

He takes the empty water glass and refills it from a jug.

"Besides, I genuinely would rather you didn't die and I'm the only one able to take care of you right now. "

"Don't you fuckin' give me orders." What had been a hoarse voice product of days of sleeping off his sickness, easily turned into a growl. His lips curled as Eli showed off his human, unthreatening teeth.

It's frustrating, how at peace and unmoved Aria seems as he continues going through his chores.

"I can take care of meself now."

"You can't, you're sick, and despite still not knowing what your problem with me is I'm going to make you as comfortable as possible. "

He isn't phased by Eli's aggression. This is a different Aria to the one Eli threw out of the cottage. This is a determined Aria.

"I don't need this," Eli says coldly. He is aware he is being stubborn, and it's surely a childish move, but he doesn't hesitate on grabbing the tray with the homemade chicken soup and bread and throwing it away, spilling the food all over the wooden floor.

He shifts form them, turning into a wolf. Slipping off the bed, he takes a few secure steps, but everything happens too quickly, including the shift, and its not long before Eli looses his balance and falls on his side.

Aria scowls and is about to grumble but then Eli changes and next thing he knows he's on the floor.

Aria rushes to his side, knowing it's dangerous to be close to an irritated wolf!Eli, but his concern wins out over self preservation.

"Please, Eli, let me look after you. I'll be your lackey until your back on your feet. Think of it like you're putting me in my place. I'm only thinking of you and the cubs. "

He rests his hand on his neck, gently.

Edited Date: 2015-10-18 06:31 pm (UTC)

The wolf's golden eyes are watery, and as he takes his time to close his eyes in a slow blink, he whimpers painfully. Torn, over what he understands is his rival's gentle tone and touch.

Once again he shifts, his frame turning into the one of a tall, scrawny young man in a fetal position, long limbs trembling.

"I need Luc."