Healing through fighting

Although it was easy for Artorias to see through his littler brother's bravado, he didn't call him out on it. Rudy had been through hell and back again; the fact that he was able to stand and fight at all was in no small part a miracle! Artorias shot his brother a playful grin and laughed when Rudyard accused him of getting tired. "More like I'm afraid you'll actually try to hurt me if I push you too much," he remarked, jesting of course. He knew his brother would never intentionally harm him, but it at least lightened the atmosphere and didn't explicitly voice his concerns that he was pushing Rudy's recovering body too hard. Watching the humor wash away from the mottled gray wolf's face, Artorias simply gave Rudy a knowing smirk. "Needs to know about what?" A wink to suggest he knew exactly what Rudy meant and that he had his brother's back. No, no one—especially not their sister—needed to know about their scraps out here today.

There was something that needed to be said first though. "But... if you ever feel something starting up again, maybe talking to someone might help. It doesn't have to be me or Gwyn, but... it's better than keeping it bottled inside." Artorias knew what Rudyard was going through—well, he had an inkling. He hadn't been harmed nearly as grievously as Rudy had been by Oxx, but Oxx had definitely shattered his confidence when he'd raped the young alpha. The memory still haunted Artorias, as did the realization that if it wasn't for Bowen, Artorias' last conscious memory in life would've been his adoptive brother's bulk crushing him while he emasculated him.

Art managed a more genuine smile when Rudy thanked him, and he approached his brother and lowered his head to move to nuzzle Rudy's cheek with his own. "Hey, what're brothers for? I love you, Rudy. I'll always have your back,"

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"