Damon was brilliant… and he knew it.

His mind always ran a few steps ahead of anyone else and before he met Ares, he often found himself quite bored with his peers. Predicting their actions was so easy, oftentimes his mind edged on knowing the future – and more often than not, their people disappointed him.

Then, one day, as he strolled down the street in Amarout, a black-haired, blue-eyed immortal utterly blew his mind by falling to his knees in front of him and begging him to be his… and that was new. Instantly curious – as was his nature – he accepted. What could it hurt, after all?

Millennia later and beyond their broken world – he never regretted that.

Ares was simply unpredictable. Even for him. And by simply keeping his mind constantly engaged in trying to figure out how would he react or what he would do – too soon brought his heart into the mix. Wild and prone to vicious outbursts of rage – with a fascinating talent to boot – he was, oh, so different than anyone else he ever knew. Yet, at the same time, his utter devotion and love for those he cared for – had him mesmerized by his husband.

Ares touched upon the existence of the other creatures and simply made it better – most often not even aware of that fact. And so very few of their peers were able to look past his attitude and reputation to even see that – which for Damon only proved how special was his man, and made him even more fiercely determined to keep him – for all of eternity.

It was he who suggested to his lover – by then – to bind their souls, despite how unprecedented it was for two males to do so. The need to possess him – all of him: body, mind, and soul – was simply irresistible, even if it made others scowl and sneer, provoking his husband's temper into its vicious bite.

And again: he never regretted that.

Damon knew – if not for Ares, and later their son and a few chosen others – he would be much more dangerous to the world than anyone else. Equipped as he was in his talent, all it took to grow bored and frustrated enough with his peers to start wondering… To start manipulating and scheming – and if he has so chosen – do away with a world that bore him.

After all, in opposition to his eternal love, he had much fewer scruples. While Ares celebrated the free will of any living being – something that truly made him a formidable Azem – and somehow stood so much in opposition to his innate skill, Damon couldn't help but often times push and prod – and more often than not be right about the outcomes. And if he was – and so often better than others knew what was the best way to proceed – why wouldn't he do that…?

Maybe that was what made them so perfect for each other – while he soothed his lover's temper, Ares kept his heart from becoming uncaring. He kept him willing to acknowledge the will of others – as was his Azem's way.

But there were precisely a few things that Damon eternally disagreed with his love. Like, what his husband did for his mortal host. While logically he knew that what Ares did was right – and really, an effect of their… lack of knowledge – because that T'senri they met in Elpis was seemingly unaware of his own affliction with Esteem – yet, he couldn't help but think that world would be… poorer without his Ares. And even though he acted in compliance when his husband guiltily explained the situation – because by then, nothing could be done and why should he make his lover feel bad about doing something he believed was the best course of action at the moment? – he couldn't help but resent the idea of their end.

Not to mention… their new world was simply fascinating! So full of new and existing things to engage his interest… one mortal life seemed just too short to explore all the possibilities of that. But for Ares… well, he would do more than hide his disappointment and accept the situation.

So, while allowing Raha to adjust to their new body and their capabilities – which at the same time brought him more and more… space, so to say – he kept himself entertained by mulling over Senri's… affliction.

As he told his mortal host, he was so very far from being a specialist in the way mortals' minds worked – which, honestly, made it so fascinating – as they, themselves were built to last literal eternity. The way their new peers acted and reacted, he couldn't help but often find baffling. And though he did strongly suspect that he simply lacked the information with his host's upbringing and later isolation – still, wondering over mortals' choices and their outcomes engaged his mind something fierce.

And Senri, with his baffling rage, kept him simply… mesmerized. The fact that they did need him sane was one thing – but the whole… situation had him probe his husband for answers each night after their hosts settled in for rest – determined to figure out what exactly made his lover's mortal… tick.

And if somehow – once done – he could find a way to… fix him, he imagined it would make his own host happy.

Raha was a very special case for him – very much like Hades, though in a slightly different way.

Spending a century with him – silently watching his boy's struggles, hopes and dreams… made Damon simply enamored with his reincarnation. Aware of his upbringing, he found the fact that Raha still grew up to be so… caring – fascinating. As if to spite those who would scorn him for nothing more than the color of his eyes – his Raha always acted according to his heart and believed in others so fiercely… The immortal couldn't help but want to protect him. And now that his other special boy was safe and happy… well, it certainly gave him a goal to focus on before he and his husband were ready to proceed with their plans.

So – during the days while his host slowly became more confident with his… their magic and tried to make friends with his lover's dear ones – Damon kind of… sat back and mulled over Senri's fascinating mind.

Between all the… symptoms he was displaying so far – he came to believe that he wasn't that far off with his guess that however sure his Ares was that he got rid of Esteem – there was still definitely something wrong with the mortal's… outbursts, as they called it. And with his lover's description of what exactly happened that day when Senri broke – and what that thing turned into: the rage incarnate – he believed he had at least started to get an idea of what exactly went wrong with the boy's mind.

So similar in nature to his lover – extremely protective of those he cared for, possessive to a ridiculous degree, and most of all… caring – Senri could not help but NOT take what happened with… some things in his life in stride. While Ares seemed convinced that Waking Sands was the moment that born the rage inside his boy – Damon's guess leaned more toward a different event, even earlier than that.

Supported by Ares's stories and Raha's access to his lover's memories, he examined them with a cold, calculating look and came to believe that what truly triggered Senri's… issues was unfairness. With the powerlessness and the idea that there was suffering he simply couldn't protect those he cared about – or himself – from.

Starting with the bad luck, truly, of being born in a tribe – which Damon, sadly had to admit his spell made so much worse – while his natural preferences made him simply unfit for that. Despite the enormous bravery – as he thought of it – it had to take to choose to stay true to himself and leave instead to cave into the expectations of others (which Damon not only couldn't help but admire and see as so close to one of the many reasons that kept him fascinated with his husband over the millennia) no matter how much it hurt him to do so. But what he thought was the real 'birth' of Senri's issues was the encounter with Ifrit. The fate of those he fought so fiercely to save. And later, the Waking Sands attack escalated that and that born the 'fits' of rage.

On the whole Esteem fiasco… he thought that Ares wasn't exactly correct in thinking that he got rid of it. Not completely, at least. Seeing the difference in Senri's memories of his 'rage' between the way he dealt with the scholar that threatened his lover and the later 'outbursts,' and the true… escalation of it – he came to believe that while Ares succeeded in getting rid of Esteem's self – the underlying issue made its rage mix into the Senri's soul on a much, much deeper level – and showed its bite when something or someone provoked his temper. With the scholar, Sienna, there was a cold calculation to the Warrior's rage. More of an intimidation tactic of a natural predator. His later outbursts lacked that quality – more of true fits, where if you were stupid enough to in any way threaten what Senri hold dear – it would be the last thing you did, simple as that. And in that seemingly Senri's unconsciousness wasn't 'picky' as the latest attack proved – turning against its host with the exact same viciousness.

Aware of it or not – with Damon leaning more toward not, or at least not really – the Warrior of Light saw himself as the biggest threat to those he cared about. And the broken part of his mind attempted to punish him for that.

If he was inclined to lock all of that into one word – Damon wouldn't do it because it would be just… flattening it too much – but if he did… he would say what truly triggered Senri's issues into Esteem-boosted rage, was hopelessness. Despite refusing to give up or truly acknowledge it, at some level Warrior simply knew that he couldn't protect his loved ones from everything – and the hopelessness of that idea cracked something at the deepest level of his very being. Something none of them could fix.

And if asked, Damon would say that was one of the reasons why the boy was so… obsessed with his host. And as negative as some might think that, he was inclined to think that was what kept Senri sane. Raha – what he as well found so endearing about him – was an embodiment of hope.

No matter the hardships his fate forced onto him – Raha never lost hope – in his fellow man, in the future, and better tomorrow. And in his kind, naïve way back then, he shared that gift with a soul at the brink of self-destruction. His pure love and acceptance of all facets of Senri's soul – healed it. Even when forced to leave him – he unknowingly gave the Warrior a reason to hope. A reason to believe that what he did and was forced to become meant something and had a goal: creating a better world for his beloved historian to wake up to. A hope that someday in a distant future when Raha wakes up, he'll be proud of him.

Because as sad as it was – at some level Senri simply couldn't believe himself worthy of his lover. But his memory of days with Raha was – truly – the brightest and happiest times in his life when he felt loved and accepted for who he really was – the thing that kept the hopelessness of his fate at bay.

And faced with the idea that he failed so badly (with Heurchefant and Ysale) and the utter, bestial rage with which he went after Thordan and his men made that twisted, broken part of his mind return with vengeance and turn against him – using his love to break what was left of his mind. If forced to guess, really, Damon would say that that part – which in some capacity gave life to Esteem beforehand – perhaps saw misguided salvation in that – if Senri couldn't protect… he could punish. If he failed as the Warrior of Light – it attempted to completely turn him into the Weapon of Light – crushing any hope he still carried. And in a blind, instinctive bid to save his soul – Esteem ended up as collateral damage.

And what all of that came down to, really, was a simple fact (he was trying to beat into his host's mind): Senri needed Raha. Without his love and the hope he brought to the Warrior's heart… Well, there was a reason why Damon believed (with all of his intellect and heart) that no matter how the previous timeline turned out in the end… it couldn't be pretty.

And now, faced with the new circumstances Ares told him about – he was more determined than ever to succeed in keeping their mortals together – and have them flourish.

After all, if there was one thing that was a complete antithesis of despair – it was just that: hope.

"Father?" the quiet voice of Hades tore him out of the reverie and he blinked with a slightly sheepish chuckle, keeping his host carefully unaware and cocooned into a protective weave at the back of their mind. "Are you… cross with me?"

Silly, dear boy… Damon sighed, and leaned against the newest addition to their hosts' bedroom – a wooden desk of a lovely dark shade of red from one of the Reflections – and smiled at his son, taking a seat across from him like he used to whenever he visited his office in the Bureau of the Architect for advice or simply to chat – now looking like he waited for scolding. It almost made him wistful of the little, immortal boy he used to be, yearning for no more than their love and acceptance like any child does of their parents, really… And who's better than him to understand their son's deed…? Despite their differences and Hades's constant annoyance with Ares's doting (which Damon couldn't help but find hilarious), the brothers were fiercely protective of each other.

While more subtle in that than his wild husband, Hades always did the best he could to keep Ares safe. Infinitely more powerful than anyone around him – Damon believed that their son found reassurance and felt grounded by his brother's teasing and the way Ares would put pins in his ego if needed.

"How could I ever be cross with you, my boy?" he asked with a slight raise to his eyebrows.

"Ares… isn't happy with what I did," Hades sighed and scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You do know him and his misgivings about free will," Damon chuckled, leaning back in his seat – another new addition from a different shard. He did need the excuse of practicing the use of his newest spell, and his son and his lover seemed happy enough to help him with that – jumping between the Source and its Reflections and marking the things for him to pull across the rift. Sadly, his mortal body limited his and Ares's ability to do that themselves… which put a slight snag in their plans. But with Ares's gift along… well, let's say Hades and Hythlodaeus weren't always fully aware of what exactly they were marking during their trips. Four Reflections down and with the fact that he made sure to tug with him across the First's fragment of Themis's self – they were one piece away from being ready to proceed. "But I believe he'll come to see it your way, Hades."

"You… ah, think so?" his son looked so adorably uncertain… Damon couldn't help but smile with reassurance and almost chuckled when Hades relaxed visibly – always so trusting in his words and mind, it kept him properly humble… most of the time.

When he didn't have a bigger fish to fry, as mortals said. This time: keeping his Ares for the rest of eternity, as it was always meant to be.

"Of course," he assured soothingly, then sighed theatrically. "To be honest with you, my boy… You saved me quite an unpleasant idea I was mulling over."

"I… did?" Hades frowned, suddenly so very eager and interested. Always so adorably wishing for his praises.

"Mhmm," he grinned and leaned across the table, reaching out his hand toward him, patiently waiting till his son rolled his golden eyes, huffed quietly but caught his hand and let him hold his hand in reassurance - only slight, delicate blush betraying his usual manners. "Since this… body is the only one living representative of the Allagan royalty and the Crystal Tower is simply too dangerous to leave be without someone able to control it… I arrived at the conclusion that we – G'raha, truly – would be forced to procreate… As you can imagine – I wouldn't find… pleasant either, in our situation. But like this… well, let's say that once Ares – and his host – hears it from that perspective, I'm sure they'll reconsider," he chuckled deviously and pulled back his hand when Hades scoffed with involuntary amusement but looked much calmer.

"He would murder anyone who would touch you… or your host, in this case," his son said with utter conviction – both more than aware of Ares's natural possessiveness – even if back then, they didn't have a word for that. Now, boosted by Senri's… yes, he could easily imagine that not going so well…

"See… silver lining, as Hyth says," he chuckled at Hades's grin at that. "Now, about that next trip, my boy…"


"Aren't you the newest Scion?" G'raha heard and his gaze swiveled toward the voice with an instant, bright grin – that froze instantly and he cursed his… naivety in thought.

Yeah, bad move, Damon whispered with a sigh while he watched the too-familiar spark of interest and 'want' in the green eyes of an unknown Elzen woman. As tall as any of her kind, he had to look up in her face, and with long, curly blond hair and quite curvy body – she instantly reminded him of the worst nightmare of his youth. She had that aura of power and self-confidence that came with knowing one's own position among their peers – a thing that despite her different coloring made him instantly think back to the woman that when… scorned, as she saw it, retaliated by ruining his reputation in the worst way.

But because it wasn't her fault – that she reminded him of that – he straightened from over the stall he was searching and sent her a polite if distant smile, trying to keep the rest of his expression carefully neutral.

"I am," he said with a slight nod but didn't let his excitement about that fact show again. "G'raha Tia, at your service," he recited with a delicate, polite bow.

Ugh, bad choice of words, my boy, his immortal hummed but before he could ask him what he meant…

"Oh…" something… nasty flared in her green eyes, but she smiled as politely and he choose to believe he had to imagine that. "I'm Povitte Suijin, it is very nice to meet you, G'raha," she said slowly moving closer to him. "I couldn't miss that you seem to be looking for something…?"

"Ah, yes," his smile turned sheepish and he turned his gaze back toward the stall. "I've been hoping to find a fitting gift for one of my friends," he lied almost smoothly, fighting not to raise his hand to the necklace around his throat.

"Oh…?" she hummed with consideration and he felt her stop by his side – consciously forcing himself not to flinch. "A very… special someone?"

"A dear friend," he said with a smile, keeping his ears and tail in a neutral position. Anyone who saw or learned of it could have later spotted the item on Senri… making it too obvious if he slipped with his real intent: just like his lover, marking his Warrior as his property. Ever since his mate put that necklace on him – he never took it off, more than enjoying the glint of possessive pride in ice-blue irises. Asked about it just this morning by Alisaie – when he explained with a fiery blush… she suggested that he should do exactly the same.

Hesitant as he was about it – she rolled her blue eyes at him and explained that if Senri did that, surely he expected G'raha to do the same – and he didn't want to disappoint her best friend, right? But she said that with such an earnest snicker and kind look… he swallowed his uncertainty and when Senri left for his daily practice, he sneaked out of the compound – determined to find something his mate could wear to show off his claim – even if others weren't aware of the meaning behind it.

"I see…" the woman hummed with consideration and maybe a hint of amusement. "Maybe I can assist you? I'm quite well known for my great taste in jewelry," she pointed slightly toward the stall he was eying – hopefully accidentally getting too much into his personal space for his liking. He moved away slightly - though out of politeness trying not to be too obvious about it. "Is it a male or a female we are talking about being the receiver…?"

Just tell her it's none of her business, Raha, Damon suggested.

Ignoring his immortal and choosing to give the woman the benefit of the doubt – he was trying not to let his earlier… experiences affect his new relationships, after all – he sent her another small, polite smile.

"A male," he admitted, then turned his gaze toward the stall again.

"Ah, then if I might be so bold as to offer a suggestion," she smiled almost with… relief when he looked at her with new interest, then she placed her hand on his shoulder and with her free hand pointed toward the far edge of the stall he ignored at first. "Earrings are all the rage, right now, G'raha… I'm sure your friend would appreciate something like that?"

"Earrings...?" he hummed with surprise, trying to subtly get out from under her hand – in thought reminding himself over and over that it wasn't her fault she reminded him of someone else – and didn't automatically mean she was the same. "Isn't that something more for women?"

"Sometimes," she giggled, pushing him slightly toward that part of the stall. "But here, if you look… they have earrings clearly designed for men – you see that there's only one of each kind, even if some look similar," when he saw that in fact, she was correct, he relaxed slightly and focused his attention on that section of the assortment. Quickly spotting an earring with a crystal in shape and color almost exactly the same as the one on his necklace had his heart flutter and instantly forget about his uneasiness about the female's presence. "Plus, I know the owner of this stall," she pointed toward the bored-looking Hyur behind it and the man instantly straightened with obvious respect, smiling politely – even if it looked quite… strained. "Mattheo, don't you offer your goods with a choice of materia to imbue?"

"Yes, miss Suijin," the man replied with a definitely submissive bow. "And ah, for a friend of yours, I'm glad to do that for free."

"See," she grinned at him triumphantly and with a slight flutter to her dark-blond lashes. "Doesn't that sound like a perfect gift for your friend?"

Refuse, Raha, his immortal hissed in a warning. She's clearly up to no good.

You're overreacting, he replied calmly then sent the woman a slight, grateful nod and a smile, picking up the perfect crystal earring and handing it to the merchant.

"Thank you for your help, miss Suijin," he bowed slightly and smiled much more naturally when the man set to imbue the crystal with a chosen, defensive materia. "I'll be sure to return the favor, if possible."

"Oh, no need, G'raha," she smiled reassuringly and raised her eyebrows slightly. "And, please, call me Povitte… We're all friends of the Scions here, after all," she giggled again, and he honestly wondered what was so funny… but chose not to comment.

"All right… Povitte," he smiled with a hint of uncertainty, but was distracted when the Hyur handed him back the earing and almost with a strangely apologetic smile told him the price – which seemed… low for something of such beautiful craftsmanship, or at least would be back in the First – he paid with a smile of honest glee, getting quite… excited to see how his lover would react. "Again, thank you," he grinned involuntarily, then bowed again and headed back to Rising Stones, whistling a merry tune under his nose that his mate had stuck in his head.

Mortals, Damon sighed with resignation, sounding like if he could, he would roll his eyes. I hope you won't come to regret this, Raha.


The rumor caught her off guard and Alisaie almost snorted a laugh when Alys, the barmaid at Seventh Heaven asked her about it when she was passing by the tavern on her way into the Rising Stones. But since the woman looked serious… and quite worried – Alisaie scowled and asked her to repeat what exactly she heard.

To learn how her idea backfired… Had the young Scion wince, then dart out of the tavern and with a determined step head toward the market of Revenant Toll, her fiery temper having her work her jaw furiously while she searched the stalls for her target. There was only one person who would have the sheer nerve and was stupid enough to try something like this… and considering that she was already over the same thing with the bitch at least twice… her patience was out.

Finally, she spotted the tall, characteristic Elzen woman, standing at the edge of the market and chatting with a few other merchants. Good. What she had to say – the more heard, the better.

"Suijin!" she hissed with fury, stopping behind the woman and bracing her hands on her hips. All of them turned and the Elzen paled visibly at the sight of her expression.

"…miss Levellieur?" she said, backing away slightly despite being much taller. But many, many of the residents of this city knew her temper – unaware that she wasn't the one Scion they should be worried about.

"I'm done," she said slowly and in a loud, clear voice while her eyes narrowed in slits. "We were through this with T'senri and Thancred, already… and I thought you'll get smarter. I see I was wrong," she looked at the woman's friends. "Whatever she's been telling you… NO, she is NOT sleeping and will NEVER sleep with any of my friends! Not T'senri. Not Thancred. And especially NOT G'raha!" she scoffed, then glared at the woman with fury. "They all have BETTER taste than a bitch that uses her family's connections to intimidate others into letting her get away with bullshit like that!" she turned her gaze toward the woman again and pretty much bared her teeth at her in her best impression of Senri's rage. "I see you anywhere NEAR any of my male friends, you're dead meat, are we clear?! And if I hear again something as… ridiculous, you'll be in for a world of pain, bitch!"

"I have… no idea…" the Elzen stammered, backing away further and looking around as if looking for help – meeting only barely veiled sneers of her peers. Using her influence to intimidate pretty and helpless to refuse boys around the city was one thing – trying the same with Scions, famously once betrayed by Eorzea while all they did was serve another man for nothing in return… was another matter entirely.

With this alone, Alisaie was fully aware she was shredding the woman's reputation to the point of no recovery in Revenant Toll. What they didn't know – she was at the same time graciously giving her a chance to survive and escape before that rumor reaches the one person who will make her regret ever laying her dirty paws on the newest Scion – and spreading lies about it – and knowing now what she did from Krile, she couldn't help but see the parable of the situation that was sure to set off Senri's temper.

One bitch already tried to get G'raha in her bed by ruining his reputation to the point it turned his life into hell – that one she was leaving for Senri to deal with, as she was sure he would, one day. This one – she was willing to give at least a chance… since she caught on before too much damage could be done - she hoped.

"Good talk," she huffed, sent the woman another glare then turned swiftly and headed home – for her own good, hoping that the bitch takes the clue and gets out – or at least, that if he hears about it – when he does – Senri decides that the exile between her peers is enough of a punishment.

At the same time knowing – considering the strength of his feelings toward his lover… Well, bitch better be fast in leaving – she did her best to give her at least a shot.


Awed and pretty much mind-blown, T'senri merely took the earing from his lover's hand, instantly put it in his ear despite the slight prick, and pounced, pinning his mate shamelessly against the counter of the bar in the common area of the Rising Stones, ignoring the whistles and catcalls of his friends.

Raha's fault, truly, for picking the wrong time and place to grant him something he really, really hoped for but was too embarrassed to ask… Or so he justified that to himself, eagerly devouring his lover's beautiful mouth.

That his prince after the first shock and push against his chest, melted with a tiny mewl of pleasure under his lips, soon fisting his shaky hands in the back of his shirt and pulling him closer… was unbearably hot, and had him growl his approval, tilting his mate's head slightly and dwelling into his delicious mouth deeper, barely stopping himself from rolling his hips needily to let him feel how much exactly he appreciated the thought – the claim – behind his lovely gift.

Breaking for air, he almost whimpered his need, nuzzling insistently against his lover's throat while his caring Raha laughed a bit breathlessly, flushed beautifully as he hid his flaming face against T'senri's shoulder and sooo adorably whined a quiet complaint. Sheepish, Warrior fought his body's furious need and wrapped his arms around his mate, carefully letting him cool down while nuzzling affectionately and gratefully against his lowered ears.

So focused on it, he barely registered the door leading out of the compound opening, until he heard a laugh and someone slapped his shoulder fondly. Biting back a silent snarl at the distraction, he took on a usual mask and looked at one of his friends with a grin and raised eyebrows, even if his arms tightened ever-so-slightly around his bashful mate.

"Do you need something, Than?" he asked, trying to keep up the pretense of cheer.

"I just heard the most hilarious thing, Senri," his friend chortled, leaning against the bar near them and raising his ashen-white eyebrows slightly.

"What about?" he asked though he wasn't really interested – mostly considering if Raha would mind it really much if he picked him up and carried him back to their wonderful lair… bedroom, so he could express his gratitude properly.

"Your man, apparently, is quite a player," Thancred said with a chuckle, missing completely how Warrior's lover stilled utterly in his arms – or how T'senri's eyes grew dark and glassy, his grin turning lethal. "Or so they say around Seventh Heaven…"

"Is that so?" he purred as pure frost filled his veins.

"Snark…" Raha tightened his arms around him, smoothing his hand over his back soothingly.

"Shhh, my heart," he grinned reassuringly, placing a fond kiss on his mate's ear, making sure to let his beautiful, soft Raha feel only his love and devotion over their bond – even as his blood sang with sweet, cold rage. "If it's so funny, I want to hear it," he assured his friend and his lover in a calm voice.

You're slipping, Senri, Ares warned.

Silly immortal…

"Well, apparently as I said," Thancred shrugged slightly, tossing him a conspiratorial wink. "There's this rumor circulating the city since G'raha's trip to the market today…"


Ares always found the state of Senri's mind when enraged… quite fascinating, though he wouldn't admit that out loud.

There was a certain calculating quality to some of his outbursts – and as pushed back and unable to do anything other than watch as he was – he couldn't help but almost admire his host's temper.

So similar to him – Senri didn't lose his mind to the fury, but almost calmly slipped into the frosty rage. The cold, calculating mind of a natural predator combined with the unnatural strength of the emotion… was quite something.

With his access to his reincarnation's soul and mind, he could easily follow the paths of his thoughts – and despite his reluctance… be almost in awe.

The first instinct in Senri's mind during the slip was always to secure and protect what was his – in this case, Raha, obviously. Knowing his mate would get upset… was enough to have his host diligently spend the rest of the day and evening taking care of his lover's needs up to the point that completely soothed and sated Seeker slipped into a delicate, sweet dream spun for him a few bells past midnight.

Watching then Senri slip out of the nest, careful not to jostle his lover awake – Ares would give a sigh of relief if he could – almost instantly seeing the crimson eyes drift open and turn toward his host with a too-familiar expression.

"I told him to refuse," Damon sighed, sitting up with a frown.

"Wouldn't matter," Senri replied in a cold voice, sending his husband a sweet, reassuring smile. "Raha believes in people… that's one of the things I love about him. He believes, and therefore I do… up to a point. One bitch already tried to use his kindness… and she's still breathing only because I can't teleport to Old Sharlayan… but I'll get to her eventually," Ares almost winced at that, knowing they could go anywhere they liked – if not across the rift – but knowing they'll be going there anywhere, he kept that… tidbit from his host. "Each and every person – mortal or immortal – whoever thought to use his heart against him… will pay, Damon – that I swore years ago. He's mine… to protect and cherish – until my last breath. So wherever you agree or not – do not try to stop me."

"Could I?" his husband hummed with consideration, letting his eyes drift over the Warrior as he put his clothes back on. "Or would you use Ares's gift to stop me, boy, if I would try?"

"Whatever it takes," Senri said with determination, raising his chin pointedly.

"Thought so," Damon rolled his eyes slightly and leaned back in the nest, his scholarly interest so clearly visible in crimson irises when he shrugged slightly. "You're a… baffling mortal, T'senri Tia. And fascinating, I admit. Do what you need to do, I'll make sure Raha doesn't wake up until you're back."

"Thank you, Damon," the Warrior nodded toward him then turned and left the room quietly. Ares sighed and if he could, he would roll his eyes at his husband's reaction – and settled in, knowing that later he would be required by his lover to report every thought and deed of his host.

But in the end, knowing Damon's mind like no one else – he couldn't protest – aware that by his observations, his lover was looking for a way to fix what appeared to be unrepairable: Senri's psyche and the source of his issues. Plus… thanks to Hades's 'tweak' they're going to be stuck like this for the rest of eternity… Well, it paid to have their hosts willing and accommodating. Not to mention, knowing him as he did… his husband was as furious at the mortal idiot's attempt as much as Senri, considering his weakness for his reincarnation.


Her reputation in tatters, Povitte Suijin planned to slip away from Revenant Toll in the middle of the night – cursing her stupid idea and actually wondering why the Levellieur twin reacted that strongly about her simple game. It wasn't her fault, after all, that somehow the Scions gathered some of the most handsome men she saw in her life!

And what was even so bad about her games? That boy, G'raha, was so cute… He wasn't her favorite, of course – but no matter how much she tried, the Warrior himself was simply… unreachable. And she even saw him once apparently flirting with another Scion, the haughty Y'shtola… Not to mention, gossip about them… He seemed easygoing enough, but the women around him seemed determined to keep all others away. Not that she blamed them… He was just beautiful and most of all, famous enough that if she could have him – he would be the one to keep.

G'raha was just a… curiosity. A new, mysterious Scion was the source of speculation around the market. Pretty much joined at the hip with the Warrior whenever he left the compound since arriving, she counted herself lucky when she spotted him alone. Ripe for the picking, really… And if he could lead her to get behind the protective circle surrounding the beautiful Warrior of Light… Well, she couldn't resist. Plus, he had that air of naivety about him… she found, oh, so very amusing to use – as she did, with many, many other boys that caught her eye. If not all of them were exactly willing… well, who cared about silly details like that? Usually saying that she could use the influence of her family to threaten theirs… got them cooperative enough.

With Scions, sadly, such tactics were useless. And as uninterested as all of them seemed… More drastic measures seemed unavoidable.

Her game was simple enough – carefully spread the rumors about the newest cutie to the Scions, just carefully enough so no one would think to accuse her of doing that – then when the boy returns, full of apologies about the detriment to her reputation – he seemed just the kind to bite it – having him 'make it up' to her would be easy enough. Different variations of it she already tried with Thancred and T'senri (and she still had no idea how the Levellieur simply… knew it was her – and each time arrived at her door with a more or less of a warning) to no effect… To somehow, this one time, this blowing up in her face so… spectacularly.

Well, no matter – it only meant that she had a good enough reason to go back to Ul'dah – where she was originally from. Where her family held the biggest influence. This few years, her papa probably had time to cool down from his rage. She hoped… It really wasn't her fault that the stupid boy she choose for her plaything then had the nerve to cry rape right into sultana's ear! Earning the ruler's scorn was bad for business, however – so she had to be exiled to a nowhere place like Revenant Toll – free land, of sorts, where none of the laws of the city-states applied… Other than the Scions rules, apparently. Or so she explained to herself, wincing as she remembered how genuinely… upset her papa seemed… But it's not like she was the first or the last to entertain herself like that! She knew plenty of highborn daughters of Monetarists' that played those games. She was simply unlucky and picked the wrong thing to play with.

And if she manages to convince her papa to take her back… Well, she'll make sure that the moron who sold her out would pay.

Sighing deeply at her misfortune, she fixed the bag over her shoulder and trying not to cause a ruckus, headed toward the stables. Povitte was startled when someone suddenly called her name, then, even more, when she turned her gaze toward the voice and under the hood of her coat, her jaw simply dropped.

"Evening, miss," the Warrior of Light himself leaned against the pillar near the stables with such a typical for him wide, goofy grin. So unbearably beautiful… she found herself turning her step and involuntarily smiling back – if with more than a hint of uncertainty. "A late bell to be out and about for a lady…"

"Ah," she stopped right in front of him and simply… gawked, admiring his beautiful eyes. The pale blue of the vertically slit irises somehow brought thought of ice – and despite his friendly demeanor… for some reason she felt a chill slither down her spine. Did those eyes always look quite this… predatory? "I decided to visit my family on… impulse."

"Is that so?" he hummed, then his grin grew a strangely sharp edge when he send her heart aflutter pushing her hood back and leaning in as if to whisper something in her ear. So unsually tall for a Miqo'te, he was merely a tad lower than her and she couldn't help but tilt her head and listen with a pounding heart… What that her chance, finally? "Do me a favor, dear...? Take this…" he put something in her hand, but his low, deep voice rang with a strangely mesmerizing note, so she simply sighed with bliss and gratefully closed her fingers around something that felt like a hilt of a knife. "…and stab yourself exactly the same amount of times as the number of times you tried to do to anyone the same thing as you tried today with G'raha, hm?"

"Only tried or succeeded?" she asked with a smile, drowning in the ice-blue, predatory eyes.

"Both," he replied with such a pretty, pretty voice as his eyes grew somewhat colder than frost. "Start with your hands, and until the very last one, keep it non-lethal, okay?"

"For you, Warrior… anything," she grinned, so unbearably pleased with a way to entertain this beautiful man that she didn't even feel pain as she stabbed the knife through her palm. When it did start to hurt, she grinned even wider seeing the glint of satisfaction in those beautiful eyes. Giddy to please him, she cursed herself, trying to pace her stabs – after all, there were quite a few until she could fulfill his wish in full.


At the crack of dawn, Damon's patience was rewarded when his husband's host after a quick shower slipped under the blankets behind him and with a tiny, blissful purr curled around his back possessively. Quite enjoying the heat, he waited until Senri's breath quieted down and the mortal slipped away into a dreamless slumber.

"Ares?" he hummed.

"Yeah, I know," his husband sighed and curled his arms around him tighter. "It was quite… educational, my heart."

"Is that so?" he chuckled, turning around in his arms and sighing with bliss when Ares granted him a long, deep kiss. Pulling back, his lover put his big hand against his cheek and his too-bright sky-blue irises peered at him with consideration and boundless devotion, melting his immortal heart just like millennia ago.

"Yes," Ares hummed, then rubbed the tip of his nose against his. "You see… Remember how I would use my gift sometimes when pissed off, to humiliate our peers…?"

"Yeah…?" he frowned.

"Apparently, I was thinking too small, my heart," Ares chortled then pressed a tender kiss on his cheek. "Tonight, Senri actually taught me something."

"And that is?" now he was honestly curious, wrapping his arms around his husband's shoulders.

"That there's nothing quite as satisfying as having someone pay exactly as much as they owe," Ares hummed with obvious amusement then rolled on top of him and pinned him down with his weight, pulling his arms above his head.

"That does sound interesting," he admitted, then moaned when his lover chuckled then caught his mouth in a deep, delicious kiss, setting his new body ablaze instantly.

Well, explanations could wait, he decided, letting himself drown in his husband's taste. After all, they had a whole eternity to figure out their silly – and fascinating – hosts.