This Doesn't Look Like Sleeping

[Raize de Sardet]

"I am aware," he said dryly. He wasn't an idiot. He just...okay, sometimes he could be dense but in this instance he was simply attempting to make conversation and tease his brother. Even for someone lacking in humor as he was, he was still a big brother and at least attempted to poke fun at his siblings. "It's long distance communication." There was still something...satisfyingly poetic about the lonely sound of a wolf's howl and the lonely glow of the moon.

Wrestle. In the near darkness. In the winter, with heavy snow on the ground. With his little brother who was probably (he wasn't afraid to admit it) stronger than he was even without the help of his magic. Sure, de Sardet was a bit bigger than his brother, but not by much.

He grinned at Aiden's growl. Of course he wanted to! He'd almost wanted to when he arrived, but dinner plans had cut that thought short. De Sardet shifted his feet slightly and growled back, nowhere near as animalistic but just as playful and convincing. "Well, let's see what you got, pup," he teased.

[Aiden de Sardet]

There was a deep satisfaction to joining along with a howl. To celebrate a good hunt or mark his territory. Though he wasn't ready to admit that outloud just yet. He was also aware he very much had the upper hand in this scenario. Being able to see much better in the dark. His sense of smell and hearing being heightened as well as his speed and strength.

At Raizes agreement Aiden grinned excitedly. The returned growl made him chuckle as he shifted his weight in the snow. His muscles tensed again as he crouched lower to the ground and eyed his brother down like he did his prey. "We'll see who's the pup." With a more mischievous snarl he moved quickly and tackled the older de Sardet. Locking his arms around the mans waist.

[Raize de Sardet]

Aiden would always be his little brother, but he wasn't really a pup any longer. But the slight name calling had had the desired effect.

He knew he couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way. De Sardet had long since learned he didn't have the reaction time or agility that many other smaller adversaries possessed. So he didn't try to avoid the tackle. Instead, he threw his weight into it, forcing them into a roll that he managed to come out on top of. While his brother clung to his waist, he got a knee to Aiden's stomach and attempting to shove him down into the snow.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden was glad Raize didn't try to avoid his tackle. It was often times more advantageous to face an attack head on. As they rolled he moved his arms. Wrapping one around the back of rhe knee pressing into his stomach. With another growl he pushed the knee up against his chest instead to press his own weight down.

Aiden gripped his brothers leg as he turned them to slam the older into the snow. Though as they wrestled he didn't take into account the river than ran through their woods near by. The icecold river that hadn't entirely frozen over in the witer though there were chunks of ice that floated through the water. Without much thought he tackled his brother again and bit at his neck playfully.

[Raize de Sardet]

He grunted at the impact of the snow, mostly on account of it being cold more than it hurting, but it did knowck the windo out of him for a moment either way.

The older de Sardet was vaguely aware of his surroundings enough to know they were close to the river. It was more of a deep stream at this section of it, but it moved fast enough that it took quite a lengthy cold to freeze even the top. But similar to his brother, between the muffling of the snow and the growling of his wrestling companion and the wind, not to mention the darkness, he was just as unaware of how close they were.

He let out a half playful yelp at Aiden's teeth and a half laugh, quite aware his brother had the jaw strength to snap his neck considering he'd just watched him do so with a deer, but he didn't for a second imagine Aiden would do that to him. Sure, they'd traded cuts and bruises and yes, even teeth marks (he had a scar of a younger Aiden's teeth on his leg) but even when they were actually fighting, there was very little intent to hurt the other.

Still, he wasn't about to acquire more such marks. He twisted and shoved his elbow in Aiden's face repeatedly and hard until his brother let go. He scrambled backward to his feet, intent on tackling the younger man on his own terms but it took him a breath to shift his momentum.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden certainly could rip someones throat out or snap their neck with his teeth rather easily with the amount of power he currently had. Even during the day he was known to have a strong bite force. Still, he was at least aware of who he was currently wrestling with. Even when he was mad at Raize he'd never intentionally cause serious damage. This was still his brother and he loved him.

Though as he felt the elbow connect with his face he held on for a moment longer until he was shoved off by the force. That might leave a bruise. Aiden certainly could rip someones throat out or snap their neck with his teeth rather easily with the amount of power he currently had. Even during the day he was known to have a strong bite force. Still, he was at least aware of who he was currently wrestling with. Even when he was mad at Raize he'd never intentionally cause serious damage. This was still his brother and he loved him.

Though as he felt the elbow connect with his face he held on for a moment longer until he was shoved off by the force. That might leave a bruise. He seperated from the older de Sardet with what sounded like a huff but was more a sound to indicate playfullness. Aiden waited a moment giving his brother a chance to catch his breath again before Raize came to tackle him. Unlike his brother he was in fact fast enough to turn out of the way. Sending the other running into- fuck the water!

As Aiden heard the splash he rushed over to his brother. "Raize! Are you alright?!" Forget the meat right now he needed to get his brother inside where it was warm before he froze to death.

[Raize de Sardet]

In retrospect, he should have seen the dodge coming. He attempted to correct for it, but he couldn't stop his momentum in the slick snow and slush and mud. He skidded feet first past Aiden and over the raised bank. For a split second, he felt his stomach drop out from under him and then he lost all sense of direction in a splash of jarring water and biting cold.

While the impact of the snow before had simply taken his breath away, the water cut through him. In his surprise, he only managed half a breath of air and the rest of water as he went under. De Sardet flailed for a moment, still a bit in shock and then the rational part of him kicked in, along with his survival instincts. He righted himself in the current and while it attempted to drag him under and down the river, he could just manage to stand. Fumbling fingers attempted to tug the cloak off his shoulders so he could make it to the edge. "You dick..." he attempted to shout back, teeth chattering and contorting his words.

Unfortunately, he couldn't see the chunks of ice in the river, one slamming into his back. He yelped and lost his footing to the current again. At least this time he had time to take a breath.

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden rushed over to the water ignoring the comment at the momemt. With a huff he grabbed the collar of Raizes shirt first to lift him up enough until he could wrap his arm around his chest and yank him out of the water. "Come on you need to get this shit off." He grumbled as he pulled off the majority if the heavy soaking wet clothes.

The cold water stung his warm skin as he pulled his brother up to wrap his arms around his waist. Holding onto the majority of the older de Sardets weight he more or less carried his brother back through the woods to the manor. Louis was in fact waiting for him but seeing him carry a soaked de Sardet instead of a dead animal he panicked and hurried them inside the kitchen.

There was still a small fire burning but he added a few more logs as Aiden sat with his brother on the ground in front of the fire. "Go get my brother some dry clothes." He stated quickly as he pressed Raizes back against his chest and rubbed his arms.

[Raize de Sardet]

"Thanks," he mumbled, coughing and gasping for air as his brother dragged him out of the water. He felt more than a little stupid. He should have known better, that the water was right there, that this was a bad idea even in daylight. He shivered and attempted to help remove his own clothes but it was difficult to move with any coordination from how violently he was shaking. "M-m-mother will...k-k-kill us..." he observed helpfully on their trudge back to the manor. He couldn't feel is toes for most of it, which didn't help.

The warmth of the kitchen hearth was more than welcome, and so was his brother's body heat. "B-blankets," he added helpfully. Lots of blankets to dry off with first. Aiden too. He kept a vice like grip on his brother's arm, though the rest of his body wouldn't stop shaking. He wasn't quite to hypothermia, but it was close. Luckily they hadn't been that far from the manor.

"N-not my arms..." he stuttered, tugging Aiden down to hug his chest. He was more worried about warming up his core first. "Hey...Aiden? G-guess what?"

[Aiden de Sardet]

"And hot cider." As Louis ran off to get the things they asked for Aiden tugged his brother tight against him ignoring the small shivering of his own from the cold, wet man against him. "Mother won't kill us if she doesn't find out." He murmured finally to his earlier comment. Also she couldn't kill Raize if he died of hypothermia.

It was in fact incredibly stupid of them to be wrestling in the dark. Aiden knew how bad his brothers health was and still enticed him to it. He felt so stupid and guilty. Perhaps he hadn't thrown him in the water but he had the higher senses he should have known better. Blankets, two towels, and dry clothes were brought first.

Aiden grabbed a towel quickly and began drying his brothers hair and neck first before helping him out of his wet shirt to dry off his arms and chest. If Raize had been so offending by his 'mothering' earlier it was nothing compared to what he insisted on now. "Here, let's finish getting you undressed so we can dry you off and put warm clothes on." He insisted as he gently pulled his brother off the ground. The sound of his name caught his attention enough but he didn't pause. "What?"

[Raize de Sardet]

De Sardet snorted humorlessly and then found himself sneezing. Their mother found out everything. Or almost everything. She might turn a blind eye to some things but he didn't for a second believe she didn't know her youngest son snuck out almost every night. But he supposed it was a comforting thought to hope for. Not to mention if he died of hypothermia first it might be a mercy.

While he didn't blame his brother for the accident, they were both stupid to have even considered wrestling. This time, he gave no resistance to the attention and care for his well-being. He meekly let himself be moved and stood up, only slightly more capable of helping.

"I'm...c-c-cold now," he said. Yes, that was in fact a joke.

Once dry and in dry clothes, he felt a lot better, though he still wasn't warm and his breathing was a shivering mess. He managed to cough up the rest of the river water he had breathed in. "N-n-next time...you can g-go swimming..." he grumbled and coughed again.

[Aiden de Sardet]

The comment on being cold made him pause with a half hearted glare to his brother. "Shoulda' left you in that water." He murmured teasingly as he finished drying him off. Once Raize was sufficently dry and in dry clothes he sat them down again and pulled him back to his chest. He laid one blanket over his brother before wrapping another around himself to completely cover them both. With the blankets and the heat from the fire he figured his brother should warm up in no time.

As Louis came back with the hot cider he thanked him and promised to bring back the meat before he went to bed. The man left with the wet clothes as Aiden handed his brother the cup. "Drink." He commanded softly. The comment on him taking a swim next time did work to make him snort a laugh. "Bet I could have gotten out of that water faster." He teased with a playful nip to Raizes shoulder.

"Also maybe don't charge at someone you know is faster than you." He teased again with a soft laugh.

[Raize de Sardet]

He grimaced. His humor wasn't that bad, was it? Maybe it was. Still, not enough to let him freeze to death. Oh. Right. Aiden was joking. He offered a belated shaky smile.

He felt a lot better after a bit. Especially after the cider which he didn't need much commanding to chug down gratefully.

"Probably," he agreed, twitching slighrly at the nip but still too stiff and sluggish to shove Aiden even thoigh he wanted to. "I'd still help drag you out," he pointed out. Even if Aiden was less inclined to get sick than he was, he wouldn't let his brother freeze to death. And also ideally they never did that again.

While their mother might never find out what happened, de Sardet was pretry sure she would notice when he woke up tired and miserable in the morning. If he avoided catching a cold after this, it would be a miracle. Maybe he would stay in bed and claim a hangover or something...

"Noted," he said quietly. Aiden wasn't wrong. His brother would have won that match were it not for the river. It was honestly a bit discouraging, considering he still wanted to be a soldier. He grit his teeth and took a deep breath, resolved even more that the discussion he wanted to have with his father was the roght one. De Sardet was still shivering a little but not so dramatically. "Why don't you...get that deer and then help me upstairs?"

[Aiden de Sardet]

Aiden could feel a bruise forming on his cheek from his brothers elbow. That would be fun to explain, though given his history fairly easy. He sat with his brother a while longer, starting to sweat himself under all the warmth. When suggested to go get his kill before helping Raize up to his room he nodded. "I'll be back soon." He stood up with a stretch, wrapping the blanket that had been around his shoulders around his brother instead.

He ran back out into the snow only remembering he was shirtless still as he passed his shirt hanging from a branch. Once he pulled the deer back he grabbed that as well before placing the animal on a hook and ringing the bell for Louis to come out and skin it. After cleaning off the dried blood he put his shirt back on and made his way inside the kitchen again.

"Alright, let's get you in bed." Aiden had no doubt his brother would be ill in the morning but that just meant he'd have to annoy him with care more. As he helped Raize quietly up the stairs his anxiety spiked. Expecting to see their mother waiting for them at any time. Luckily he managed to get him in his bed with a soft sigh. "Want to cuddle like we used to as kids?" He asked, mostly joking.

[Raize de Sardet]

He'd probably have a smaller matching bruise on his neck. Not that he was very worried about any of that.

By the time Aiden returned he felt warm enough despite the infrequent sniffling and coughing that he was able to mostly carry hinself to bed.

He too was anxious that they had made enough noise to wake the household but apparently Louis hadn't said anything. "You have Louis wrapped around your finger," he observed. He wasn't trying to be suggestive about it but...well he wouldn't be surprised.

"Uh..." he hesitated at the question, easing hinself into bed, one blanket still wrapped around his shoulders. He shook his head. "I think we cuddled enough. If anyone asks," he went on to add, "I was sick tonight." If he was going to get chewed out for missing breakfast he would rather not get Aiden in trouble too.

As for Raina...he wasn't sure what to tell her but he was pretty sure she would know something was up.