The man came into view in front of him and not rightly did it connect in his head at who it was. Instead, he was completely engrossed by the man's answer. ”No cookies?” he grunted utterly unenthused and yet with a hint of sadness. His blue eyes were having a terrible time focusing but he was doing his best. Nothing bad could seem to penetrate the force field he had put around himself and he was enjoying it. For once he didn’t feel like he had to think about things other than this sudden nagging feeling for cookies. ”Then you should go back and get more. Pronto.” He lifted his hand and did his best to snap his fingers to provide the urgency but every time he put his fingers together no snap came. Furrowing his brows he looked at him for a moment. ”Broken. Useless.” and quietly put his hand back down on his lap as the man began speaking again.

Wait how’d he know his name?

”I wasn’t but I am now.” a small pleasant smile crossed his features. ”Everything is fine now. You know you look a lot like someone I know.” he said as he shifted in his seating and right before he could put the pieces together he posed another question. ”Me? Oh. I’m looking for my rabbit.” he said nodding his head. ”White rabbit.” He held his slightly together to demonstrate the size of the rabbit and then as if sudden realization hit him, he grinned widely and broke out into a happy expression. ”oh hey, Adrian. When’d you get here?” not entirely realizing he was talking to him the entire time.

”I feel dizzy.” he said with a soft expression. Blinking against the haze he sighed quietly. ”Where have you been? I have been needing you.” as if it weren’t obvious enough. He relied quite a bit on his happier older brother. He’d been the rock growing up, the one that kept him stable in a world that felt like it was shattering beneath his feet. Adrian had been there where Farkas had not. He was the one that told him everything would be okay and so far…. Everything had not been okay. ”I’m gonna be a dad, Adrian.” he piped up suddenly. ”and I met my mate…. She’s interesting and hateful…. But I think she’s very pretty.”

”She!” He corrected his older brother with a push of his voice. ”My rabbit is a she and her name is Larkin. She’s impossibly sweet and a little naïve. You would like her.” he nodded his head. ”I mean as a friend because she’s mine.” He stated bluntly, his eyes shutting. No his older brother preferred men which were a little weird to him. How did that even work? What was so attractive to a muscular body compared to a small feminine one? And where would you even put---

His voice caused his thoughts to immediately stop and he frowned. ”I have… or do… did?” His brain felt like scrambled eggs finding it hard to find the right word. As Adrian stuck his hand on his knee a secure feeling overcame him and he immediately placed his hand over top Adrian’s. He explained that he was doing his job and he nodded and then commented on having another child. His head bobbed in a nod which made him feel a little dizzy and a sudden urge to lay down but he refrained from falling over. ”Not with Eriu.” he said. ”I saw her not that long ago too. She doesn’t seem to hate me as much as I thought she would… considering I tried to rip her skeleton out of her body.” he rubbed his head a little with his fingers. His brother knew of his problems and just how unstable his mixture was despite being a wereanimal --- goat --- He was almost the recipe to make the wolf bugger off. He never really understood why maybe it was because the whole “my older brother is my hero” ordeal.

A frown was on his face though when he spoke and as he was about to answer Adrian followed it up as to why. ”You shouldn’t be happy for me. I screwed a lot of things up in your absence.” he said. ”Fuck dad, he’s never done anything for me or you.” Despite being vocally angry towards his father it didn’t stop him from visiting him and attempting to spend time with him. Kind of. ”Speaking of should probably go visit him before long. It’s been months.”

Being openly affectionate with his older brother, he finally lifted up out of his seating and nearly tumbled right into him. Arms wrapped around his brother's torso as he eventually sunk down to where his head was in his lap. He wasn’t entirely the best at motor skills at the moment but he needed a quick layer of stability. ”I tried to kill my mate --- or maybe it was the wolf. I’m not sure. Might have been both of us. She was my ward at work and…” he didn’t realize that Adrian nor his father had any idea what it was he had done for a living but it didn’t stop him from talking. ”I watched over her and a platoon of other women. Somehow we unlocked that confusing ass bond but we hardly got along. We are like gasoline and fire, man. Utterly explosive. She’s a cat and hateful…..” his nose scrunched but he stared off to the side of his brother's body as if hanging on to him for dear life. Safety. His safety raft. ”Anyways I had a job to go get another girl named Larkin but she was different and scared. I mean all of them were scared but she was just ---. She was very sheltered by her older brother and didn’t understand a lot of things.” He was beginning to miss Larkin. Despite everything, he could really use her touchy ways right now. ” Super sweet…. Super touchy.” His voice dipped a little in disgust at the end. ”But she got under my skin and I felt terrible in taking her to a horrible fate so I hid her and tried to make my boss forget about her cause he wanted her for himself. Well I went under investigation was good for a bit but she ended up getting found and I got thrown in guardian jail and going to be put to death cause that’s a huge crime they can’t let peeps get by with obviously….. And then my cat-mate tried to save me but thoroughly pissed off about Larkin and as she released me but she said something terrible and I attacked her. I bashed her head in or tried to cause she’s completely alive now…. And I thought I killed her and and and I escaped. I’m on the run.” A criminal just as their days as kids. Unlike Adrian, his road in life took him a completely different direction than his brothers. ” My rabbit is pregnant and the wolf wants to eat it…. And ---…” he finally breathed after all of that. ”I’m glad you are here.” he hugged his brother by the waist and nuzzled his upper abdomen. ”I’ve needed you..”

He knew his brother wasn’t quite the woman chaser. Really neither was he but somehow he got a little too close for comfort with the little rabbit – or maybe it was because she forced her way in. He fucked around and ended up getting attached. He felt a bit of a low effect start to come over him now as he leaned into his brother. ”I should really go back and talk to her.” he said quietly. He knew his walking out looked terrible but it wasn’t because he was mad or was leaving her. Still, it was no excuse for it and even in his buzzed state, he could see that clearly now.

He really missed her.

”It’s okay though. I did get to meet that kid – our kid.” he said with a small smile. ”She’s something.” she had a warrior vibe about her and completely distrusting but that wasn’t something he expected less of. He was proud of Wren in a weird way even if he didn’t really get a chance to. ”I will correct everything though. Somehow. You just wait, big brother.” He almost beamed. Blue eyes wide as saucers but were burning as brightly as the crystal blue waters. However when he mentioned his father his brows furrowed. It was a big difference between the two other than the fact his brother was far more open to things that he was. ”A leopard can’t change his spots, Adrian.” he said. ”He would sooner walk out on us again if given the chance. He doesn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself because he is selfish and will always be selfish. He plays like he cares but that man is as evil as the devil himself.” It was obvious the younger brother took his father’s disappearance a little harder than Adrian did. Then again he wasn’t all that forgiving like Adrian was. In his mind, all he needed was his older brother anyway….. and probably Larkin.

He felt the patting on his back as he listened to his words. ”I don’t plan on doing it anymore.” He had been pretty celibate since Eriu until that mate of his wandered into his life… and then the rabbit. No less he had made up his mind that there wasn’t going to be any more ‘feel good’ for him. He was better off with his hand as far as he was concerned. Same went for the job. They all could go kick sand. ”It’s okay. I don’t hold it against you.” he lifted up to look at Adrian before shaking his head no. ”Okay. Yeah, I don’t really like feeling this way….” he narrowed his eyes for a moment. ”But at least that damn wolf has shut up.” He pulled away from Adrian completely and attempt to get his feet underneath him. ”So you got any lucky lad---… fellas?” He asked though he was completely focused on leaning on the tree for support. Standing was making him feel awful dizzy in a pulling in and out kind of way. He blinked several times before looking at him. ”I’ll pummel them if any have hurt you.” he gave a toothy grin though. ”Once I can stand on my own two feet though of course.”

He thought about it for a moment and then nodded. It was always going to be that hard decision one, of course, he would have to make sooner or later. He wished it was as simple as it should have been. Had it been months ago the answer would have been simple and he wouldn’t choose neither…. But he had come to learn more about himself and more about them. Each had a major impact on him and he wasn’t entirely sure he could deal with one and not the other. ”Yeah. You are right as always.” Felix said with a soft scoff. ”It is just a lot more complicated than it seems.” Far more complicated and now with the new issue of nearly murdering Lucia it was unlikely he would get back on her good side again. Maybe he just lost Lucia completely? It was an agonizing feeling to think that way. He didn’t want to lose her but the two of them were like fire and gasoline. It could be so good but so bad at the same time. He watched the grin on Adrian’s face broaden when he spoke Wren’s name and he nodded. ”I am too. It just was far from a happy meeting.” In fact he didn’t expect hugs or anything gooshy like that but the whole meeting was very --- there wasn’t much closure on his part really. He supposed he could always track her back down but his plate as it were was running a little full.

The topic on his father was an irritating one. It was very true he went and seen the old wolf and attempted to form some kind of bond with him but it was very strained. Felix didn’t trust the old man not like he did with his brother. His brother meant more to him than the old bastard. ”Ha. Ha. Funny.” he wasn’t amused and it was shown in his tone. Adrian gave the man a benefit of the doubt and thought time would change him. That was far from the case. If anything he was much like his old self. Washed up and selfish. ”You haven’t seen him lately have you.” probably not since even he hadn’t see Adrian in so long. ”I visited him a few months or so ago. Naturally trying to kill himself and hunt down bears.” His father was less than impressed that Felix didn’t join in his little hunt game, however, the younger wolf had more to worry about. Besides if he had gotten himself into a problem he didn’t see the old man sticking around to help him out of it.

His next set of words caused him to roll his eyes though. ”You are too sweet to cause issues.” he said as he leaned on his brother's support. He wasn’t the least bit shy about needing help, in fact, his brain was a bit too fuzzy to really acknowledge that he was leaning on him. ”And by complete biased reasons you are my brother so that trumps some measly man I don’t know.”

Adrian had absolutely no idea for Felix feeling so relieved. It was almost like he could conquer the world now. The current issues weren’t as bothersome unless of course one counted the fact he terribly missed Larkin. After he was through with his brother he was definitely going to have to head back towards Eriu’s and talk with her and figure out where all of this was going. As his brother spoke he looked at him and snorted. ”Enslavement.” he said and lifted his hand that held the tattoo just under the palm of his hand on his wrist. ”Being a hybrid dear brother protects me from nothing.” though he knew he didn’t have to explain that to him. ”I was taken, beaten, and trained by a very powerful man who had me right underneath his thumb. I didn’t like doing it if that’s what you mean.” Sure Felix had his very rough personality that could make him quite the violent aggressive person to be around but he would never willingly hurt someone. ”I was forced to do them or else I was dead. The only reason I even survived this time was that Lucia let me out. I was on death row.” but now that he was out he was going to be sure none of his co-workers – the king especially – were going to find him or Larkin. He was a lot harder to handle outside of the quarter primarily because he had been the best the boss had. He worked the land well and it would take one hell of a tracker to get him again. ”Do you think ill of me now?” his expression held concern one in which no one really got to see unless he valued someone’s opinion. Adrian’s opinion held a lot of weight for Felix…. It wouldn’t take much for his brother to break him.

It went completely over his head when Adrian spoke about not saying such things to his younger sibling. A brow arched as he stared at the older man for a moment. ”It’s not like I am a virgin.” he said. He was pretty sure he had done some wild and out there things with Larkin the times he had been with her. She had been his most recent steady partner and would likely be his last. He in no way was looking to shack up with anyone again. Though maybe the whole homosexual relations were entirely different than hetero? He wasn’t entirely sure. ”How does that even work…” he piped up. Obviously, he had no filter on his mouth on what he wanted to know and probably shouldn’t ask. As it were he probably wouldn’t like the answer. ”I mean where does--…” his brain seemed to be having a hard time processing of where things would even go.

The whole wren issue was a hard one and so he just didn’t answer back to Adrian’s statement. He probably wouldn’t ever see her again as it were he wasn’t even looking for her, she found him. He supposed if she wanted anything more to do with him then she would come at her own pace and time but otherwise it would all end with that tiny meeting. Adrian said he had been out of the loop for a while and he frowned a little. ”No, that’s dumb.” he snorted. ”Why would I chase a bear he had a vendetta with? If he wishes to get killed by the dumb thing fine. I ain’t going down with him.” aside that who would care for his little rabbit if he ended up getting gnawed to death? ”I have someone relying on me anyways. What use would I be if I ended up dying.” He leaned on his brother as they moved through the woods. It felt good almost like old times. Not that it felt good for being helped yet again out of this mess he got himself in but it felt good to be with Adrian. The two of them when they were in their younger days had many adventures and it often wound up looking like them presently with Felix hobbling from a hurt foot or some other problem the younger sibling wound up having. Despite Adrian being the friendlier of the two, the older sibling watched out for him like a hawk…. He was like a dad only he was in brother form. ”He will and won’t accept it. You know that right?” he said softly. Truthfully he didn’t care about his brother’s sexuality. If he wanted to like purple dancing dinosaurs that were fine with him because no one could replace what Adrian had done for him over the years and their father wouldn’t understand that.

It wasn’t something he really wanted to tell anyone even when he was getting to the reckless stage of his job. He had become rather sloppy with it there in the ending. Hiding Larkin was probably the biggest and dangerous thing he could do. As Adrian held onto his tattooed wrist, Felix’s blue eyes darkened in their shades of blue. ”You don’t understand.” he said. His tone pulled away. ”They would have used you against me.” he said. ”And despite my dislike for daddy dearest, I didn’t want you two ---.” He bit his lip. ”I had to have no signs of family. I don’t even run by the last name Volkov anymore. It’s Cairo. This organization is far bigger than anything you could ever imagine. There was nothing you could have done…. Nothing anyone can do. I should have told you sooner but I thought I could handle it on my own and I just wanted to protect you like you have done for me so many times..” His brother meant the world to him and if those sleazebags would have gotten ahold of him there were no promises Felix wouldn’t do something stupid and make it out alive.

It felt good to know though that Adrian didn’t think poorly of him because of what he had done to many women. He drug them into a world of corruption and slavery. He gave his brother a small encouraging smile as he felt the tighter grip on him. ”For now.” he answered. ”At least tonight I am. I can’t promise tomorrow though.” He gave him a cryptic smile. No one knew what tomorrow would bring after all.

Oh on earth was that even satisfying? The words wanted to tumble out of his mouth and he almost let it had he not thought more of the situation. A weird look crossed his features for a moment, lips parting to speak before immediately closing again. No, no… he would leave that one alone. ”and no man has stolen your heart yet? You a heartbreaker, dear brother?” he lightly pinched at him softly but didn’t try to actually hurt him but that didn’t mean he hadn’t before. In their younger days growing up the two of them had plenty of fistfights and though Adrian was older, Felix held his own in a good handful of them. They also were rough and tumble when it came to playing in their childhood. It perhaps was what molded Felix into the rough and tumble brute he was today. He could take a pretty good beating and still wouldn’t give up…. He wasn’t so sure Adrian was the same anymore. Adrian didn’t go looking for fights like he had, half the time he was the one bailing him out of them.

”Of course, she does. She’s my rabbit.” he stated. ”I just kind of left her with Eriu…” he hadn’t explained that part or at least he didn’t remember explaining that part. Was probably weird his current girlfriend – or at least in his head anyways – was with his ex-girlfriend and both have kids by him. It was a rather messed up ordeal, true, but for now, it was where his life had led him straight back to the safety of Niwerti. He probably should have grown up as a fairy rather than a hybrid or a wolf with as much time as he had invested in spending in Niwerti. He of course though could tell when something bothered his brother and though he tried to pull off a smile, he could read the painful truth underneath it. It bothered him that their father wasn’t as open as he was. Sure Felix could be a hard ass and distant but he didn’t bash Adrian for what he was or who he liked… or loved. ”No but you are still fluffy.” he gave his brother a toothy grin. ”And I think fluffy beats menacing any day anyways. I would rather be a goat too.” he said as he looked ahead of them. ”Then maybe he wouldn’t be as lethal.” but Adrian made him feel calm and the wolf had no control over the matter.

They kept walking until Adrian forced them to stop. He tripped by the sudden lack of movement and support and gripped on Adrian. His blue eyes lift towards his brother as he soon started speaking and he corrected his stance. ”See, you don’t get the make that decision for me. I already made it. I already did it.” he said as he patted his brother's shoulder. ”You don’t get to decide on how much you mean to me. My mess isn’t yours.” His eyes closed when his brother planted a kiss on his forehead and for a moment he swayed even with his brother's steadiness. He laughed though at the momma bear and nodded. ”You always were but yeah… I will try.” that was about as much as Adrian would get him to agree to because he didn’t want him in the middle of it nor Farkas. As it were he would have to worry about the wolf breaking loose and going after his brother. Once he was able he knew the wolf would want to cut him down just like he did Lucia – or will do to Lucia. The heaviness overtook him and his expression changed a bit now that he was looking away from Adrian.