Rated T (for violence and cursing, and it's an AU if that's not your thing…next one…maybe)
Aidan hates spending time with his family, so when forced into the family carriage by his only brother he wants nothing more than to get out and find another carriage to take his across the moors, and back to the Herrick manor house.
Aidan Herrick is a man of both looks and money, which makes him popular among the noble women. His brother Marcus Herrick isn't as lucky and when he gets to know a woman, they leave him, not only this but despite being the older son, he is looked down upon. Aidan is the favorite son, and in the eyes of Bishop Herrick he could do no wrong. Aidan is almost sure that Marcus is going to kill him, and bury him in some secluded area of the moors.
When the carriage comes to a grinding halt, Aidan finds himself surprised to face a fighting parlor. Marcus instead of waiting for the dumb-struck Aidan walks forward into the parlor Aidan not wanting to be left out of the sudden development, closely follows his brother.
The parlor stinks Aidan and Marcus stand out against the other figures in the building. Instead of being dressed in breeches, and button down tops, the Herrick brothers are both wearing clothes that most men in the club would have never seen before and probably won't again.
Marcus despite his looks seems to fit in with the rest of the crowd he clutches the fighters' tickets, and yells for his own to win. Aidan is sure if Marcus had not been dressed as a nobleman he would have fit in. Aidan, however, feels uncomfortable in the throes of people but not wishing to undermine the trip with his brother stands ring side to watch the fights.
It makes Aidan ill. He isn't much of a fighter, not saying that he can't, Aidan can defend himself his father made sure of that, but Aidan found it stronger to repress that urge. Here, however, men were fighting and spilling blood for nothing more than money. He's ready to leave until the next group gets ready to fight his brother clutches the railing more desperately than before, Aidan thought. "This must be his fight, might as well stay and leave together."
The crowd roars with excitement as the new fighters take to the ring. One is tall and lanky, it seems that he would be the most logical choice for the underdog in this fight, especially when compared to the man in the opposite corner, who is much larger, and appears to have a grudge against the smaller man. Suddenly, a bell gives two sharp rings, and the fight has begun.
Aidan is worried, as he looks at the two men fighting. Although, it really can't be referred to as fighting when the smaller man is being thrown around like a sack of flour, Aidan is sure he heard bones crack as the larger man lifted the other into the air, and thrown onto the floor with as much force as the other fight could muster. It seems the younger man, is unconscious but still the crowd roars with approval as the young fighter is continually beaten, it takes all of Aidan's control to not, jump into the ring and make sure the other is okay.
Marcus seems pleased with himself as he walks towards the exchange booth, to retrieve his funds. Aidan lies through his teeth and tells his brother, "I had fun, we should do this more often." To which Marcus scoffs and returns the carriage, and leaves his brother without even glancing back.
Aidan doesn't mind being left behind in fact he'd rather find his own way home than sit with his brother, on the long ride back home. There's a stop for travelers not to far north, he can traverse it and ask a stable boy to get a carriage to return him across the moors and home.
"Urgh…" Aidan hears a rather pitiful moan from the alley and there he finds the thin fighter from earlier. Aidan walks down the alley and bends down to check the man's wounds. Despite popular belief the last thing Aidan wants is his father's property and money instead the only thing he wants is to become a doctor. "…thank…you…" Aidan is surprised that the man before him can even produce words considering the pain he must be in, with the observation of the wounds Aidan discovers a twisted ankle, bruised ribs, a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist.
"My name is Aidan Herrick I'm going to get a carriage to return us to my home, where I shall tend to your wounds. I do not wish to hear back talk, and will help you whether you wish for it or not." Aidan can't think of anything else to say, but he can't just leave this man like this he has to do something.
"Joshua…Sawyer…" Aidan supposes that this is an acceptance of his help, and interprets it as such. He leans Joshua up against the alley wall before bringing him to his feet. The two slowly drag along the dirt path, Aidan supposes that the trip took an extra hour with Joshua limping on him, but he wasn't going to leave him at the parlor to be picked off by lord knows who.
Aidan helps lean Joshua into the wall, and goes into the small stable. Joshua merely focuses on leaning against the wall, standing as still as possible to and trying his best not to vomit on the well dressed man, who is currently trying his best to get him help, he thinks anyway. The world spins, and he is more or less distracted by the pain that seems to be emanating from his very being.
The money Aidan pays out of pocket for a lift to his father's estate is meager compared to the money his brother wasted on the fights, so Aidan can't find himself being worried about his spending when all he needs is a ride home. However, he has to sneak one of those fighters unto his father's manor which is going to be a very complicated task, unless he tells someone, which is out of the question, if you consider that all of the servants are loyal to his father and his father alone.
A small undecorated carriage pulls up beside Aidan, and the coachman motions for Aidan to get Joshua so they can leave. It takes a moment to convince Joshua to move from the wall, and Aidan ends up more or less carrying the man to the carriage, despite the fact Joshua is trying move.
So Aidan uses all of his strength to get Joshua into the floor of the carriage. The ride to the moors is bumpy as such every jolt allows Joshua to groan out in pain. Aidan in some attempt to soothe the fighter pulls him into an embrace, allowing the jolts to be less agonizing. It doesn't take long for Joshua's inner strength to disappear after that, and he passes out against Aidan.
When the carriage comes to a halt, Aidan has to check to make sure no one can see him as he drags the other man into his home. He hands over the money to the driver, and pulls Joshua out of the carriage.
Dragging him into the house proves to be rather difficult, Aidan can't let anyone see him, he isn't the owner of the building he isn't the one who pays the servants, and he can't do anything except hide when someone walks down the hall.
It seems to take an eternity for Aidan to reach his room he presses the knob down and pulls Joshua into his arms, lightly placing him on the large four-poster bed. Aidan goes back quickly to close the door, when he knows that he's safe for the moment, he burrows under his bed searching for forbidden things his father doesn't allow him. A medical textbook gets slid out from under his bed, as well as some bandages. The wardrobe is forced open revealing a plethora of vials and herbs.
Aidan has to wake Joshua he can't set his wrist and relocate his shoulder without the other boy's cooperation. A gentle shake is all that is needed to forcibly wake the younger man. Joshua lets out a low whine of pain, which causes Aidan to cringe.
"I've got to set your arm, and wrist. It's going to hurt, so bite this." Aidan shoves a small hunk of wood into the other's mouth. Aidan grabs the boy's shoulder and tugs it forward. Joshua bites the wood so hard that it splinters, but muffles his scream of pain. "That's done. Okay? I'm going to set your wrist and then it'll be smooth sailing." Aidan mutters as he takes note of the blood escaping from the sides of the wood.
Joshua lets his head loll back his jaw locked into the wood, while Aidan shifts his wrist back into place and splints it. Aidan pulls the wood out of Joshua's mouth to reveal the deep bite marks that had been forced into the piece by pain. Out of sympathy Aidan brushes his hand over Joshua's forehead. "You did, well." He softly murmurs knocking his forehead against Joshua's out of relief that he hadn't been caught fixing him.
Aidan begins to pull himself from the bed only to be stopped by the shaking hand of the fighter. "Stay…please." Joshua pleads his voice breaking in pain, his doe-eyes searching the others with an intense fear.
"Okay, I shall stay." Aidan concedes as he sits on the bed and begins to run his fingers through the others hair. Joshua's nudges his head into Aidan's fingers as he drifts off. A sense of possessiveness fills Aidan as he watches Joshua fade out into the world of sleep.
A/N: Okay this was meant to be a thousand times longer, but I grew bored and lost the will to write this. I might continue this AU, but it's up to you guys. I had this whole big story planned but my brain died and refused to write anymore and have it make sense. So here's to hoping you enjoy it. A big thank you to everyone who reviews from the anons to the registered members your kind words make me happy to do this, thank you for your ideas and criticisms they make me a better writer, I love you all.