Chess, Not Checkers

Revealing a weakness had only given Seer more to exploit, and the next thing Art knew, he was a flailing and laughing mess as Sirius hunted and manipulated every little spot he could find. The boy's legs kicked and flailed as best they could from his pinned position, but he was ultimately a trapped victim, left nearly pleading for mercy between the fits of laughter and near tears in his eyes. He gave a heavy sigh of relief once the onslaught of tickles ended, feeling the boop to the end of his nose as the Warlord's gruff voice repeated his claim over him. A single word that the brute favored above all others. It also felt like the greatest show of love and compassion Artorias could think of coming from Sirius.

Artorias was still tittering with little residual giggles as he came back down from the high of their "fight". Pushing his side back into Seer's, he took a few heavy breaths to steady his panting, reaching over to nuzzle against the larger wolf's shoulder. "Mmmmmm this is good. Thanks for this, Dad. This is the best." A content look came over the young wolf's face as he relaxed next to the Warlord he had just called his father. He had never said his thoughts out loud until now, and maybe it was thanks to the liquid courage he had in him right now. He hadn't grown up with a father and would probably never know who his real dad was. Resin had acted as a father figure when she was alive, but Sirius had always been the male role model he'd had in his life. It had always been him, and it was partly why he loved and respected the Fatalis patriarch so much. A part of him had always wanted to be like Sirius.

"Artorias"