For not_a_cub

[so_far_fallen]

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.

Comments

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

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

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"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."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"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. "

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"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."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"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.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"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.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

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.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

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."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Not yet, not while you're still contagious, " he says apologetically. "I'm sorry, I can't risk him. I can get him on the phone for you? "

He offers his arm to help Eli up.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"I would never do that to him," Eli snapped, aiming another scowl at Aria even as the other man helped him up and back to the bed.

"Yeah, the phone," he panted as he sat down, almost doubling over his own lap. Sweat ran down his forehead and neck, down his back, making his clothes stick to his clammy skin.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria fetched the phone and dialled Lucien's number, putting it on loudspeaker in case Eli didn't have the strength to hold the receiver.

He then went to the bathroom and wet a cloth with cold water to dab over Eli's neck to cool him.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

Waiting for Lucien to pick up had been torture. He knows he ought to call Sybil as well, she must be worried sick, but the wolf in him is desperate to talk to his brother. To be reassured by him that everything will be okay.

And he does. As unsure as Lucien sounds at first, his voice alone is enough to give Eli comfort. It feels as good as the cold cloth stroking his skin and allows Eli to close his eyes for a moment, simply listening.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria wants to speak to Lucien as well, he misses him, but he can call later. This is Eli's time.

Instead Aria gets to his hands and knees and starts to clear the mess of soup and broken bowl that had been made when Eli threw his tray.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

Eli makes questions, all the questions he won't ask to Aria out of his own stubborness. Including why is the other man looking after him. He doesn't like it, doesn't appreciate it, and has no shame in saying that outloud even if the blond can hear him.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria scowls at the floor as he listens to Eli laying there badmouthing him to his own fiancé, but he bites his tongue and says nothing. Perhaps Lucien can talk some sense into him.

He finishes cleaning up the mess and then goes to the kitchen to prepare another tray, even though part of him thinks Eli deserves to go hungry. He brings the Eli's second supper through to the bedroom and sets it on the bedside table this time.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

Lucien is careful, is gentle as he tries to tell Eli to behave, but doesn't correct him on his words. He has no idea that he is on the speakers, that's clear.

By the time Aria returns, Eli has finished the call. He aims a dirty look at Lucien's fiance, even as he sniffs the air, the aroma coming from the dish. He is startving.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"If you throw this one I won't make you another," Aria tells him. "Though it's more than you deserve, the way you treat me."

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"You're going to bloody lecture me now?" Eli snaps.

"Try that again and I'll change my menu."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"Oh go on then, shift and attack me, that went so well for you last time," Aria snaps back.

His patience has worn so thin, he's being treated so unfairly and he can't stand it. Eli is so unreasonable like this, he reminds him of his previous husband, and he'd always promised himself that he wouldn't let anyone bully him that way again.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"Who the fuck do you think you are, talking back at me like you do? You don't even deserve to be in our pack, let alone being anywhere near our alpha."

The alpha that had now stepped down because of Aria.

Lucien would change his mind like he always did. About his position. About his mate too.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"I give up!" Aria cries, exasperated. "I don't know what you want. I've tried everything . When I'm nice to you and do as you say you accuse me of being too submissive and not worthy of the pack, and then when I stand up for myself you say I shouldn't dare talk back to you and, here's a surprise, once again I'm not good enough to be part of the pack. I think at this point I could literally save the whole family from destruction single handed and then sprout fur myself and I still wouldn't be good enough in your eyes. I'm sick of trying to impress you, I don't know what else I can possibly do!"

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

The outburst surprises Eli. A familiar feeling sprouts on his chest, the little empathy he can feel towards Aria, the understanding he once had before his views on the other man changed so drastically.

"Leave the fuck away before you finish ruining me brother's life."

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

"No. I'm not going anywhere whether you like it or not. Lucien loves me. I love him. We're happy together and you're literally the only thing making Lucien unhappy right now, you and your crazy vendetta against me. Why can't you just be happy for us?"
He hesitates for a fraction of a second but he's too angry to hold back. "You need to stop this jealous, obsessive behaviour towards Lucien. Whatever this weird, incestuous fixation on your brother is it's only going to drive you further apart the more you try to tear us away from each other, so you need to get a grip and make do with your girlfriend and your cubs and leave us alone."

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

It's a slap, being told he is the one making his brother unhappy. Even more so when Aria is the one spitting it on his face. It's enough for Eli to want to shred him to pieces. But then Aria goes on.

"Incestuos?" He is up on a jolt, which only has him wincing as once again the world becomes unstabble around him. That doesn't stop him though. Holding onto the edge of the bed to keep his balance, Eli slowly steps off it. "Don't bring Sybil and the cubs into this! And take that shite back!"

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

This time Aria makes no move to help him.

His heart thuds faster and his instincts tell him to drop it but he can't.
"Gosh, well, it must be horrible the thought of someone criticising your family," he remarks, bitingly. "It's a good thing you'd never do anything like that."
Can Eli really not see the sheer hypocrisy of his words?