Ah! But how it had so eternally been his weakness. That soft-heartedness. Matteo, even now, so unable to turn away from that near pitiful bleating even as the rain poured down and the earth beneath his shoes became even further muddied. Aiden, he was certain, so surely found disdain in his compassion as Alexander had so often done over the years. His own Father having at last given up berating him if only because it had become apparent to the Macedonian that Matteo so hardly cared because he desired too, rather, that compassion was so entirely part of the Frenchmans very soul. Even if it had led him to ruin far more then once and so surely would continue to do so within the future. Aiden, despite himself, moved to reach into those tangled bushes as Matteo made every effort to hold them apart. That tiny goat kid, in its panic, only further managed to ensnare itself making it all the more difficult for Aiden to attempt to free it before the Were Alpha at last managed to pull the creature free and hold it to his chest. How very pathetic that little creature was. It's tiny body shook almost violently with the wet and cold. Surely it was far too young to be alone? Matteo's silver gaze shifted briefly away from that rescued animal to eye the pasture. For all the kids near pitiful bleating, no mother goat made any effort to answer. Hmmmm. Perhaps she had been moved inside somewhere?

That momentary distraction, it seemed, was enough for that small creature to decide that it desired far more warmth than Aiden could provide from the outside of his clothing. The sodden animal so manageing so scramble down and into Aiden's shirt in search of the eternal heat his Were frame seemed to offer. That very look upon his son's face only furthering that amusement upon his own as Matteo's gaze found Aiden beneath his own soaked, dripping hair. This, it seemed, was so set to be Aiden's own first taste of fatherhood. Children, Matteo insisted, would take everything from you- starting with the body heat and personal space. That ready roll of Aiden's eyes prompted little more than a chuckle from the Frenchman as Matteo extended one finger to gently stroke the top of the small creature's head as it poked from between the buttons of his son's coat. It was....cute, he supposed. As damp and muddy as it was. The Frenchman was not un-inclined to admit that he found himself rather pleased that it was Aiden who had chosen to hold that creature rather than himself. Surely he had experienced more than his fair share of wet and dirited animals over the years that he had been forced to carry or tend to or watch over- surely it was Aiden's turn.

That small creature, however, so surely belonged back with its Mother and not within the depths of Aiden's raincoat. Matteo's suggestion that they return it to its owner prompted the men to make their way out of that field and down the long, gravel drive that led to the front of his own estate. That walk, in the rain, seemed far longer than even Matteo remembered it. The pair made their way out of those gates and onto the sidewalk then, Matteo content to lead the way towards that sizable chateau that took up the land beside his own. It was distinctly rare, in every sense, for the Frechman to call upon his neighbours and yet, Matteo had made a habit of knowing each of them to some degree all the same. Pascal was, perhaps, upon the more disagreeable end. The vampire so tending to....eye him in a way the Frenchman found unsettling at best. Pascal's continual invites to his home were so often ignored. After all, he had surely not lived so long to fall victim to a ploy as simple as that. Ah, but how well he knew how much his blood so surely...sung to that vampire! Matteo, despite his delight in such games, was hardly inclined to tempt Pascal too much. A deeper instinct, a far more....primal one, so eternally warning the fae away from such a man. The Frenchman's gaze shifted briefly back to his own son then. Matteo offeried that warning of sorts to Aiden in turn only to be met with a look both suspicious and curious from the Panther. Ah, but surely Aiden would understand in a few moments

The alcove of Pascal's verandah provided shelter from the rain in the very least. Matteo took several moments to attempt to brush some level of wetness from himself before his fist beat agianst that door. That sound seemed to echo into the silent stillness behind. The fashion in which Aiden's hand lifted to gently stroke at the goats head was hardly missed, Matteo merely allowing his eyes to lift ever so slightly as a faint chuckle hummed within the depths of his throat. His silver gaze remaining upon that door ahead.

"I saw that."

How displeased he knew Aiden would surely be to be caught out displaying that affection, subtle and fleeting though it was. The Frenchman was content to tease lightly at him all the same even despite the fashion in which that gesture, so seemingly small, prompted that faint warmth to dance within his own chest. Perhaps that touch of affection had been displayed toward a goat and yet, to see Aiden display that very thing was....meaningful all the same. Those tiny emotions, those small victories, so distinctly...pleasing to the Frenchman even if he so hardly dared breath a word of it to Aiden himself. The sudden sound of several locks being undone readily drew his attention toward that door once more as that heavy oak was at last pulled aside to reveal an impossibly long, dark hallway behind- and Pascal himself. The decidedly aged vampire dressed within an evening suit. His expression displaying his displeasure at being interrupted as his gaze looked almost scornfully at the semi-drowned men upon his doorstep. At least until he seemed to recognize Matteo beneath that rain and mud. How quickly the vampire's expression seemed to change with that recognition. Pascal quickly hid his fangs even despite the grin he offered. His voice taking on a near coaxing tone as he inquired whether or not the Frenchman had come to take up his invitation at last. Aiden's distinctly utterance beside him readily prompted Matteo's elbow to shift into the younger man's ribs. Even if that sarcasm had been,arguably, well placed. Aiden, for now, seemed content to glower toward the vampire. That sheer tension in his son's frame nothing short of palpable. Pascal, in turn, seemed to sense it as the vampires gaze darted back toward the Were. Both men so momentarily content to eye each other. Pascal's lips parted once more. The vampire daring to comment after Aiden's nationality and indeed Matteo's own...escapades that had surely resulted in his birth. The Frenchman merely allowed one eye to lift in a distinct display of his own displeasure. Aiden's presence it seemed- had irked the vampire.

Matteo's own form shifted, his figure pressing ever so slightly closer to Aiden in some effort to assuage his son's concerns while drawing Pascal's attention back to himself and away from that near fist fight he could all but sense stirring upon the surface. The Frenchman was content to explain why Aiden and himself had come in the first place as he gestured toward that goat in the Were King's arms. This was hardly the first time Pascal's goats had destroyed one of his fields and indeed- he hardly anticipated it would be the last. Yet- his own disdain for goats so hardly prompted him to leave that creature to suffer. Pascal, surely, could reunite it with its Mother. The vampire's dismissal of that very idea saw a frown return to Matteo's features once more. Pascal seemed to be of the opinion that goat kid was better off as dog food, it's mother so apparently already...taken care off. Pascal's hand pushed agianst the other side of the door then, opening it further. Aiden and Matteo treated to the sight of that dining table at the end of the hall and indeed that distinctly roast goat that sat upon the end of it. How....unexpected. Matteo's eyes rose slightly once more. The Frenchman afforded little time to offer any more words before Pascal held his hand out in clear expectation for the goat to be returned.

Matteo's own lips parted once more. The Frenchman distinclty disliked the idea of tha small creature so being fed to the dogs. Surely, Pascal had another goat that could nurse it? Whatever thoughts he had however were so hardly given any chance to find themselves considered as Aiden stepped back and away from that outstretched hand with a near sudden, blunt declaration that he would keep it. Pascal shot a withering look in the process before the younger man turned on his heel, declaring they were done here.

"Aidun, I don't-"
"Your boy is lacking respect, Devereux"

Matteo's own words fell silent once more, the Frenchman turning back toward Pascal then as the vampires arms followed across his chest. The man leaning within the doorway as if something about that very situation amused him. Hmmm. How very...dislikeable Pascal was prving to be today. Matteo's hand lifted but slightly. That gesture was small and yet a clear request for Aiden to remain silent for a moment as Matteo's gaze returned in full to the vampire before him. Matteo's own voice, this time, taking on an entirely different tone. Respect. As if Aiden so needed a lesson in such a thing as that when he had been denied it for so much of his life and by so many around him. How little Pascal knew. How little he understood. How utterly Matte so simply refused to allow another, any other, to speak ill of his Aiden.

"What is that, Pascal?"
Since when does a child speak for his Father and decide a conversation is done? He is out of line. You should teach him some respect. It is the Were blood in him, they are all the same.I would let no son of mine disrespect me like that.
"He is not a child- he is a man. A man who can speak for himself. That is what I have taught him. As he said- we are done here."

Matteo so hardly waited for any further words from the vampire as he turned upon that step to stride back out and into the rain. The Fae fell into step beside his son as the pair made their way back out and onto the sidewalk with the goat in hand. Matteo, for several moments, content to merely walk in silence. Their shoes near sloshing with the weight of water they had taken on.

"Aidun. I am going to tell you not to start a war with Pascal. You are not going to listen. I have seen it already- but I shall say it anyway for i am destined to say it. Do not start a war with Pascal."

Somewhere, amidst that rain, the Frenchman felt the vaguest hint of a simper finding his lips all the same at that very future he had glimpsed but moments ago. The Fae content to say little else as the pair made their way back up the drive and at last, back into the warmth and dry of the chateau. How very irate Gregory would be to see their sodden steps! That rain jacket was quickly peeled off, along with his shoes and socks, Matteo reaching to pull off his shirt all the same, along with his soaked jeans. The Frenchman so seemingly content to wear his boxer shorts alone. The man felt far, far better now that he was free of the stick of that soaked cloth.

"There is a spare towel in the cupboard over there. Use it to dry off your new friend. She will catch a chill otherwise. She is a girl, by the way. Once she is dry you might as well have your own shower and find some new clothes. I will find some milk replacer while you do that. Then, Mon Fils, you are going to learn how to feed her."

That near baffled look upon Aiden's features so readily coaxed the return of that grin to Matteo's own, the Frenchman reaching to rest one hand upon his son's shoulder.

"You may be a man who speaks for himself- but your speaking got you a baby goat. She will need to be fed 4 times a day at least, for about two weeks. She is your goat. She is your responsibility. I will teach you how. Off you go."

How assured he was of that protest so surely about to reach his son's lips. Matteo merely reached upward to playfully ruffle Aiden's hair before teleporting swiftly out of the way lest the man attempt to swat back at him. The Frenchman so reappearing upon the other side of the living room as Aiden finished drying off his new pet before beginning to stride toward the staircase.

"Oh Aiiiiidun."

How readily that amusement found his features once more. Matteo's silver gaze near alight with impishness as he gestured toward the floor. That tiny goat so already hurriedly attempting to scamper after her new master.

"You were not going to leave her unsupervised where you? Take her with you. She is going to try and follow you all the same and shut the bathroom door while you shower, otherwise she will get lost in your room.The look on your face, I shall never forget this moment."

c'est dur d'être un dieu.