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]

Aria is knocked to the floor but he doesn't recoil or cower, he looks Eli dead in the eye.

"Do what you want to me, you won't make him love me less," he growls.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

"He loves me more. He's loved me since I was born," Eli hisses, his hands shaking as they close around Aria's throat.

He pushes down, pressing all of his weight onto the blond's windpipe.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Aria hadn't expected that. He thought Eli might punch him, smack him around a bit, cause some damage even, but he didn't think he'd try to kill him. Had he completely underestimated just how much Eli hates him?

... And if so... too late now.

He grabs Eli's wrists and tries to pull him off, unable to breathe and already starting to choke. He struggles and claws at his wrists, fighting for air.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

Breathing through clenched teeth, his spits drips right on Aria's face. The scratching is nothing, no more than a deer kicking when powerful jaws stab their backs. Eli's been wounded while hunting, this is nothing.

This is Aria. A bloke he's known for years, a close friend of the pack who slowly made his way into stealing Lucien away.

This could be it, this could be the end of his problem. And only Lucien is to blame for it, Eli has warned him that he would tear Aria apart. And Aria... Aria has pushed him and pushed him tonight.

"You were askin' for it saying all that bullshite. You are askin' for it..."

It's tears that flow down Eli's cheeks now, dripping on Aria's face. He can tell that it won't be long before life starts drifting away from Aria. And Lucien, will Lucien forgive him if he follows his threat?

Eli falls on his ass, his hands shaking as much as his own breath does.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

Black spots appear in Aria's vision and he kicks out, trying to get Eli off of him, but even ill he's stronger than he is. His thrashing ebbs as he loses energy, unable to draw breath. His vision starts to blur and he's about to pass out when suddenly Eli lets go.

Aria rolls onto his side, coughing and gasping for breath, one hand coming up to rub his throat whilst the other supports himself.

Eli nearly killed him. He can't believe it.

[not-a-cub.livejournal.com]

On his hands and knees, Eli's head hungs as he recoils, heading back towards the bed. He braces himself, turning into a tight, trembling ball as his back leans against the mattress.

He almost murders Aria. He almost does it.

He will if pushed. Good part of him wants to, he thinks as he sobs.

[so-far-fallen.livejournal.com]

The shock of what's happened takes all the fight out of him. All that rage turns to what it was originally - a desperate, miserable longing to be liked and accepted.

There's a silence for a few minutes, Aria is shaking as he tries to get his breath back, but once he does he looks over at Eli and starts sobbing. He draws his knees up to his chin and cries his heart out.
" I don't understand why you hate me," he sobs, "I..I..I don't understand... I just want..a...a family... that's all I want... all I've ever wanted... I'd do anything... Why won't you let me have that?... "