After explaining themselves thoughtfully and carefully introducing their passengers to the present Scions – most of them mind-blown by the change of Senri's eyes when Ares briefly took over – they excused themselves and citing exhaustion, headed to their bedroom in the Annex. After a few more warning glares and Hythlodaeus's more than amused ones, both he and Hades disappeared who knows where – though, all things considered, G'raha suspected that sooner or later they'll be back.
Both he and Senri knew that soon after Damon came around out of his 'nap' and Ares recovered enough, they took over to have a chat with their son and his lover – carefully stuffing them back into the protective cocoons to keep them unaware of the topic. Considering that when they were 'released' Hades and Hythlodaeus when asked simply refused to share anything about it but the white-haired immortal somehow seemed much more… relaxed? Almost friendly – if you could call it that with his customary scowls – or at least reassured… G'raha guessed that whatever their immortals planned or knew of their future, they finally decided to include them in that – and most likely swore them to keep their mouths shut about it around their mortal vessels.
Not that they didn't understand or complained – knowing the risks all too well. And above all – Damon and Ares already did so much for them, they more than earned their trust. G'raha knew – instinctively – that whatever was coming their way, and even though it had to be big to warrant such secrecy, their immortals were doing everything that they could to help and keep them and those they cared about safe.
And honestly, the sight of Scions' expressions when Ares very sheepishly admitted to them that he came to 'quite like them' with more than a hint of amusement in his immortal, sky-blue eyes, was hilarious!
The only person missing was Alisaie after her… outburst, as she stalked out of the dining room – and he was quite… worried about her.
I'm afraid that in her case, hummed Damon with consideration when G'raha carefully settled down into their temporary nest and put Salina in his lap over the blanket – the kitten utterly refusing to part with him after he gently tried to put her in her lair and after fifth time she would scramble out of it after him, meowing desperately, he gave up and decided that until she's reassured enough she could sleep with them. With him, at least, he corrected, raising his eyes with a slight pout and narrowing his eyes at his lover as he carefully assembled his disguise (if asked, G'raha would reluctantly admit that Senri looked quite dashing in the Ascian's robes – but yeah… he was biased). I didn't make the best first impression, Raha. I was quite out of sorts after taking over so… suddenly, not to mention pressed for time. I would appreciate another chance to correct that – if you don't mind. I do like her – and I feel quite… bad about how all of this obviously distressed her.
I think she needs a moment to collect her thoughts, he replied. But in the morning, I'll find her and explain – and if she's willing, reintroduce you.
Thank you, my boy, Damon chuckled fondly, then settled back just as Senri kneeled by him carefully and put his hand against his cheek.
"Are you sure you're okay with that?" he asked softly, dropping his pale eyes to the kitten in G'raha's lap and moving his free hand to delicately pet her head – smiling briefly when Sali purred near-deafeningly and head-bunted against his fingers – before he looked up at him again. "I would… hate to do something that makes you uncomfortable, Raha."
"I admit, I believe you should wait until you're fully recovered, my beast," he replied with a smile, running his fingers through his mate's dark hair to rest his hand against Senri's neck, pulling him closer until their foreheads met. "But I feel your need, my Snark," he whispered softly. "Your hunger," he purred, holding the ice-blue gaze and smiling wider as the vertical pupils dilated and his beautiful beast peered through. "And I can hardly argue with the idea that there are people here who simply… wouldn't stop, Senri. And even if I am quite… settled with what happened to me – the thought of… kids, really, made to go through similar or worse… Well, give them hell, my beast," he chuckled and tilted his head slightly to brush his lips against Senri's, moaning softly when his mate purred and pressed harder, deeper… and the hint of fangs in the kiss had him instantly aroused. "I only…" he breathed with a slight pout when they broke apart. "…resent sleeping alone," he finished with a slight bite to his lover's almost too-pretty lower lip.
"I'll make it up to you when I'm back, my prrrince," his mate rasped, letting his now slightly clawed hand slide his side to trail tongues of fire over his skin down to his hip. And gods, but that felt incredible… The sheer arousal he felt with the additions to his lover's physiology definitely put them on top of the list of his kinks… In the last week, during their immortals' recovery, he had embarrassingly often demanded his lover to fuck him while in a 'bestial' state – and Senri didn't hide his amusement and sheer pleasure at his eagerness. That it seemed that the higher his arousal, the easier the beast peaked through… only spiced things up.
"You better," he cooed, tilting his head and pulling him closer until Senri leaned over him harder and without a need to explain, purred in that wonderfully raspy note and bit him, tearing a breathless gasp from his throat as his lover's fangs broke his skin. He pulled back a breath, lapping soothingly over the wound then nuzzled affectionately against his throat and G'raha almost expired, mewling his arousal and barely stopping himself from pulling him down and begging his beast to discard its plans and fuck him until he can't walk… Yes, definitely his kink of kinks, that…
"Goodnight, my sweet prrrince," his lover chuckled sheepishly, pulling back to brush the tip of his nose against his.
"Have fun, my beautiful beast," he replied, returning the affectionate gesture.
A quick, deep kiss later, his lover stood up, pulled the hood of his robe over his head, winked at him playfully, and teleported away – leaving G'raha to gush with a chuckle as he fanned his heated face, then fell back against the blankets and put one hand behind his head while with the other delicately petting purring Salina as she settled on his stomach into an adorable ball.
I know what you mean, Damon chortled, then sighed almost… dreamily, making G'raha's eyebrows twitch. Ares also can access all those changes and it is beyond… interesting.
He flushed furiously and closed his eyes, but couldn't help the slight, crooked smirk at that.
It is, isn't it? My beast has no equal, he purred proudly, then they both snickered almost at the same time.
Maran was beyond… furious as she slammed the door of her bedroom behind her and leaned against them with a scoff.
It was still her bedroom, though at dawn she planned to sneak onto the first ship she could find heading to Eorzea and leave this… nightmare behind her.
The last two weeks turned her life into a living hell. First, her best friend, Katla, fell victim to the insane Ascian who chose to attack their glorious city – not that she was truly 'broken-hearted' about that as soon after hearing the news she was simply glad it wasn't her since what happened to Katla sounded quite… unpleasant. She also quickly considered moving in on her friend's 'menagerie' of pets – quite envious of few – to be beyond… stunned to be quite spectacularly shot down by the first boy she approached. The bastard even dared to grin mockingly and state that having anything to do with someone of her reputation was beyond 'repugnant'! And soon after her own 'pets' slipped the leash and even filed an official complaint before the Forum, naming her an 'abuser'! Rapist, even!
Instead of being happy to have her… favor and guidance, the infernal brats demanded retribution and she was publicly humiliated as her collages stripped her of her rightful seat – to be soon followed by the official investigation and possible arrest! Some of her pets were quite… young, not to mention of noble birth – and their parents were quite… upset to hear about the whole thing – threatening to cease donations for the city if Studium isn't properly 'cleansed'… whatever that's supposed to mean!
And all the whispers, leering, and the… unseemly offers that now followed her around the city simply had her skin crawl! Men who earlier wouldn't dare to look at her now seemed confident enough to even swat her behind while walking by and chortle at her scoff… like she was a common whore!
Faced with all of this… unfairness, she had enough… and was determined to leave the city and her… reputation behind. She had a plan – of course – to travel across the ocean and to Ul'dah to gracefully instill herself as a tutor to one of the noble houses. She heard enough rumors about Monetarists and their… entertainment that she figured it was a perfect place for her. And a chance for a new start. She already almost finished packing before hearing a loud, rude knocking on her front door – to be faced with a group of her neighbors whose representative in a few snide remarks demanded she leaves the area – as apparently, they had enough of her presence lowering the 'esteem' of the neighborhood…! The nerve!
What did she even do to deserve all of this?!
She had some fun with the students, yeah… but that is hardly a big deal! They were all boys, by the Twelve!
Like you could really rape a man!
Maran huffed indignantly, then walked across her bedroom, intending to pack the last of her belongings. She barely felt the sudden presence behind her back before a sweet, sweet slightly raspy whisper had her freeze utterly.
"Don't move and don't speak," the absolutely mesmerizing note in that voice had her comply with a dreamy sigh, staying utterly still while a tall figure in dark robes and a mask covering the upper part of his face walked around her and seemingly looked around. "Aww… leaving on me, Maran?" he turned toward her and a beautiful set of white teeth flashed in a charmingly playful grin under the edge of the mask. "It's been what… less than two weeks…? I'm disappointed, honestly. What is it with this city…? Hardly fun when all of you give in so… pathetically quickly," he hummed, rubbing his chin before sighing.
"No matter," he said quietly, then sent her another lovely grin. "We'll just cut to the chase then, Maran. For you, I have something very, very special in mind," he assured then took off his mask and the pale-blue irises of the Warrior of Light flashed toward her with humor and anticipation when he pushed back the hood of his robes. She wasn't shocked or even capable to care – utterly mesmerized by his voice. "Now, be a good girl, and disrobe and sit down on your bed, okay?" he asked with a smile that had definitely a predatory edge but she complied without a thought, grinning back and unbearably pleased to fulfill his wishes. He was so unbearably beautiful… and Twelve, that voice…
Naked and smiling at the dark-robbed Warrior, she sat down obediently and when he handed her a very, very sharp knife with a charming smile, she took it with glee, almost shivering with anticipation to hear more of that beautiful, tantalizing raspy note in his lovely voice.
"I know by now the effect it has on mortals," the beautiful male hummed with consideration, wrapping his suddenly clawed hand around her chin and holding her still while his ice-blue eyes trailed over her face. "And I usually tend to dish out the punishment fitting the crime, I do, but you're a very, very special case for me, Maran. Years I waited to get my hands on you. Years, can you imagine? Six, to be exact. I first heard the rumors of your doing the second day I met Raha – and saw the results soon after – and by the end of it, I swore I'll tear apart the person responsible – even though I barely thought him a friend at the time. Silly of me, isn't it? But in comparison to you – if someone would even dare to do a ridiculous thing like that – my Raha is strong. He doesn't even realize how strong, can you imagine? He took years of the abuse your little game caused. Seven years of people here looking down on him, isolating him, or trying to put their dirty hands on his beautiful body… And yet, it did not change the beauty of his heart, Maran. His hope and faith in fellow man – and when he saw a beast that needed him, he didn't run but embraced it," his smile was tender and sweet… yet moment later his eyes cooled to ice and his vertical pupils dilated impossibly, and his smile grew decorated with fangs as the tips of his claws dug slightly in her cheek. "He is mine now, to prrrotect and avenge. To adorrre. But forrr yourrr rrrole, and everrry otherrr boy you everrr touched, I thought of something verrry special, my dearrr," he pulled back, straightening and flashed those impossible fangs at her in a playful grin, then nodded toward the knife in her hand. "You won't speak, only scrrream, Marrran. And when I'll snap my fingerrrs, you will feel only the trrrue terrrorrr and pain, dearrr. You'll take this prrreatty knife and starrrting from your feet and moving grrradualy up, you'll peal yourrr skin off and sing forrr me in your shrrrieks, okay?" he winked, though the light in his pale irises was hardly pleasant yet she nodded eagerly.
The Warrior rewarded her with another predatory, fanged grin then snapped his fingers… and all she knew was pain, terror, and madness before he allowed her to die.
Though originally he intended to only check on his prey and her progress, in the end, T'senri was quite pleased with the outcome, carelessly – once done with her – snapping his fingers and wordlessly asking the very aether around the corpse to consume it and her packed bags to boot. No need to traumatize anyone by finding her – and he didn't mind letting the authorities think she slipped away under the cover of the night.
Done, he teleported to the top of Rostra, sitting down as he considered his options and next targets.
With Maran down, three names were left on Damon's list. Two girls who used his lover's hopes and discarded him once they sated their curiosity – one still in Old Sharlayan, a professor now, and another gone, but shouldn't be hard to reach with Ascian's teleportation. It was so much more useful than the normal one – allowing him to jump anywhere and to anyone he wished – though, in case of that, he needed to know the name of the person. The third name was a man – now retired professor, brief member of Students – who had the sheer nerve to attempt to rape his beautiful mate – and when he was barely a kit, no less! Barely eight, Raha thankfully didn't remember that – Damon asked Ares to make sure of that – but it didn't change T'senri's rage or eagerness to get his claws on him. That the man was as well rumored to get handsy with the younger-looking Miqo'te… well, he had a world of pain waiting for him. The Warrior already visited him once the first night, giving him especially nasty nightmares of what was to come, and made sure that the man will wither at the mere thought of touching any other child – and similar to Maran, he was letting him steam in it for a while.
He hated that there even existed people capable of something so… disgusting. Preying on children…? They deserved very, very special treatment, in his eyes. And both of their immortals more than agreed with that, truly appalled at the mere idea of such predators.
He didn't care nor want to breed – especially after his experiences in the tribe's camp. The only one he ever wanted to touch was Raha – and after asking about that shyly, his prince reacted with a shrug, stating he really didn't think of that since they were together. He raised Lyna to be a beautiful and wonderful young woman and felt fulfilled by that in that sense.
And in opposition to him now, he didn't realize they were immortal. And T'senri swore to Ares not to mention that – not yet – until the immortal tells him it's okay to do. He protested that at first – hating hiding something from his prince – and had to be sat down by the both of them, patiently reasoning with him of the possible consequences. Or the way that knowledge could change Raha's behavior, choices, and outcomes… and both swearing that as soon as they can they'll explain their reasons behind hiding that. Apparently, Ares couldn't compel him anymore to forget about anything since his merge, which meant he had to agree willingly. And hope that Raha forgives him once he does find out.
But when Damon calmly explained the whole Crystal Tower situation… he couldn't protest. The memory of that image and the very real terror of his mate at the idea of being forced to breed was very vivid… and had him agree meekly.
He also hated that it meant that now every time they'll truly mate, Ares was and is going to make sure Raha doesn't retain that tidbit – snatching it from him instantly.
But since the immortals were so ominous about the whole thing… he decided to trust them, hoping they did know what they were doing.
And considering how seemingly easily Hades and Hythlodaeus jumped in on board with whatever Damon and Ares disclosed to them of their plans and their future – he was getting a pretty good feeling that whatever was to come – was much, much worse than Fanny and his towers. Or Zodiark – as much as that still unnerved him.
Sighing, he stood up, looked around the sleeping city, and teleported to his next target of the night.
Waking up to the delicate bites trailing over his neck, tore a pleasant hum of pleasure from G'raha's throat, and without conscious thought he purred, pushing his hand behind his head and gladly sinking his fingers in the incredibly soft hair of his mate. The heat of his body against his back, snuggled against him tightly had him sigh with pleasure before he could even think to open his eyes.
"…done?" he murmured sleepily.
"Mhmm, for tonight," his lover replied in a whisper, spreading affectionate bites over his shoulder. "You'll probably hear of it in the morning, but Maran Naylor is gone."
He flinched slightly at the name but petted soothingly his mate's sensitive ear. Good riddance, as far as he was concerned. He heard of the number of boys who came forward… and that only those still in Old Sharlayan… and could only wish she suffered.
"Good boy," he purred, tilting his head and humming with appreciation when his Warrior huffed a soft laugh and then took his mouth in a deep, delicious kiss, purring loudly against his tongue as his big hand trailed down his stomach and abdomen to press over his already more than awake flesh and pull him back against his hard dick. G'raha mewled impatiently under his mouth, tightening his fingers in ink-black hair and hungrily swallowing his mate's purrs and quiet snarls.
"Does that mean I deserve a treat, my prince?" his beautiful beast cooed by his lips when they broke apart for air, wiggling his dark eyebrows playfully.
"Whatever treat you wish of me, my Snark?" he replied with a delicate bite to his lover's lip, chuckling when his mate's breath hitched and speed up considerably while his black tail curled around G'raha's hips possessively.
"I want you to fuck me, Raha," Senri whispered with a rumbling purr, rutting against his ass meaningfully. "So hard I need healing to walk in the morning… what about that, my lord?" he purred harder when G'raha's eyes instantly narrowed into slits as his blood blazed with fire at the prospect.
"With pleasure, my beautiful beast," he said slowly fisting his hand in his lover's hair as he shifted around him, pressing hard, brutal bite on his lover's shoulder that had Senri mewl-purr his name on that wonderfully raspy note instantly. Forcing him to his stomach without breaking the bite and pulling him back to his knees, he grinned with delight when he pulled back to reach for oil and saw claws dig into their blankets. Beyond aroused, he placed a fond kiss on his mate's back while spreading the oil over his fingers. "Hold on my, Snark… It's going to get rough," he promised with an evil chuckle, then bit him again as he set to prepare his body to take him.
"I'm yourrrs, my lorrrd," flash of fangs over his shoulder and that rasp had G'raha almost salivating, getting a bit rougher already than planned as his cock jerked and throbbed impatiently. "Claim me, Rrraha…" he growled, eagerly pressing back against his fingers.
"Don't mind if I do," he chuckled breathlessly, shakily, then coiled his hand around the back of Senri's neck and the other around the base of his tail, and did just that, slamming inside his lover with a choked snarl while his beast roared, arching his back under the onslaught and mewling for more. "You're a such good, good boy, my Snark," he groaned deeply at the sight and the sensations, then grinned widely and set to fuck him just like he wanted.
And if by the time he was done with him, Senri passed out with blissed-out purrs of appreciation, he was more than proud of the outcome – setting down in his arms with a quiet, content snicker as he winked at Salina whom his lover seemed to entice to keep a safe distance through… all of that. When his lover passed out the compulsion broke and she trotted toward him through the blankets with a soft meow of compliant, soon purred loudly as she settled against his chest and went to sleep.
Blissed out at the surrounding heat and scent, he pulled his beast's arm around himself tighter and drifted off into a doze.
The knock at her bedroom door tore Alisaie out of her musing and she narrowed her blue eyes at them, then sighed and sat up on her bed.
After breakfast – where Senri and Raha were conspicuously absent – she left for the market to kill the time and soon after came back and locked herself away in her bedroom to think about the newest developments.
She liked to think she wasn't stupid enough to not connect the fact that 'Fandaniel' seemingly showed up again right the night after the Warrior returned to the city – though most citizens didn't realize he was even gone as they covered his disappearance. She already suspected earlier he had to have something to do with that – considering the type of rumors surrounding the targets of seemingly completely random attacks. These nightly activities resuming this specific day only confirmed that – and she wasn't disturbed about that, only growing frustrated with the sheer number of the things that Senri was apparently keeping from her!
"Come in," she called, sitting on the edge of her bed and putting one leg on the other.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Alisaie," she wasn't even especially surprised when Raha walked in with a sheepish smile and his arms wrapped around Salina. "If you could spare a moment…?"
"I'm not angry at you, Raha," she sighed with resignation, motioning toward the space next to her. Still, with that smile, he sat down, and carefully put the kitten in his lap. "Where's Senri?"
"Still asleep," he said, looking at her earnestly and she just couldn't find it in herself to find even a spark of anger at him… and was almost angry about that.
"So…" she drawled, dropping her gaze to Sali and reaching out to pet her ear delicately. "…all this time you were 'possessed,' too? Why hide it…? I mean after I knew about Ares…?"
"It's… complicated," he sighed, closing his hand around hers gently, forcing her to look up and met his apologetic gaze. "It's not that we didn't trust you, Alisaie," he said quietly, holding her gaze. "It's just… well, for one Ares is incredibly protective of Damon and he wouldn't have him revealed until he was sure there would be no… rash reactions to him first, since in that case he could wipe it away and start over, as harsh as it sounds. We planned to introduce all of you to him one after another, carefully, but then Fandaniel showed up with his towers… and we got quite distracted from that, I admit. You have to understand something, Alisaie," he added softly with another earnest look… that completely disarmed her. "As unbelievable as it may sound… we – both me and Senri – owe them more than we can ever repay. And we… love them."
"Huh?" she scoffed, pulling her hand back delicately and folding both in her lap. "Ares I can somewhat understand… he's at least funny. And polite," she added meaningfully, narrowing her eyes when a slight grimace ran through his expression at that. "And you can actually see when he takes over," she finished with her own slight grimace.
"That's not Damon's fault, and he is apologizing for being rude the other day," he sighed, wrinkling his nose delicately. "He says…"
Alisaie raised her eyebrows pointedly with a deadpan stare and his expression went slack for a second before his eyes narrowed at her slightly, missing completely the… usual warmth and kindness typical for Raha. There was a certain cold calculation to this gaze – as if in a blink of an eye he was observing and judging her every slightest move or twitch of her expression. And somehow, instinctively and instantly, she understood that out of the two – this one, Damon, was waaay more dangerous than Ares.
"As I was saying," he said slowly, his cadence betraying the switch. His was less hesitant, missing Raha's sweetness and though there was a warmth to his expression, she couldn't help but think it was a play to soothe her instinctive uneasiness as she leaned away from him unconsciously. "I did not mean to be rude, Alisaie. What happened with Senri was… unexpected, threw me off, and since I had to take over under duress – I was aggravated – and I'm sorry I took it out on you when you were already upset about Raha's… condition. I do hope you find it in yourself to give me another chance since I do like you… not to mention you're dear to my host," he said slowly then tilted his head slightly… curiously, and his eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. "I do know it is not my place to say… but I find you fascinating for a mortal."
"Excuse me?" she scowled, folding her arms over her chest to hide their slight shaking.
"No offense, of course," he chuckled quietly, dropping his gaze to the kitten in his lap and petting Sali's head softly while she seemed utterly content to sprawl in his lap. "My knowledge of the mortals' customs and cultures is wholly based on whatever Raha read or heard over the years, I admit. It is vast, but I still tend to get some things wrong. Ares is much more skilled with… let's say, people skills. Not only because of his gift, obviously, but more because of his personality. I find it incredibly amusing that he seems to fit with you, mortals, more than he ever did with our own people. You celebrate individuality our people scorned and he missed so dearly. For that alone… I do not miss our world," he looked up and caught her stare in a snare. "Yet, try as I may, I fail to understand why anyone ever would consider you lesser to your twin," he hummed with cold interest. "Alphinaud may be skilled, yes… But you took one look at me and figured out what even Raha struggles to understand… and he did inherit a massive part of my intelligence, there's never a doubt about that," he chuckled, tilting his head curiously again. "So tell me, Alisaie… Do you understand now why Ares is a better option to introduce to mortals first?"
"You're more dangerous," she whispered numbly, caught in that stare.
"I am," he smiled at her like a proud teacher to the student. "I do not share my husband's morals. I do not share Raha's kindness. Our world bored me, and if I didn't fall for Ares… I would wipe it out of existence without remorse – especially if I knew that one coming after is so much more… interesting. As terrifying as you find Azem's gift… mine is worse. Provoked, I would destroy this world and remake it as I please… Yet, I don't, because I love Ares too much to ever hurt him by betraying his ideals. I love Hades, Hythlodaeus and now I love Raha – and Senri – because they keep me feeling as much as Ares does, if in different ways. Yet as kind as they are – as loving – they're blind to that. Everyone always was – except for Ares – and he keeps me honest. And you took one look at me… and I could see that knowledge in your eyes… So, again, I find you fascinating, Alisaie Levellieur… and I hope you'll excuse my poor conduct before," he nodded toward her, then his expression went slack for a moment again, and when he next blinked she knew it was Raha in charge now. She let go of a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Sorry,' he smiled sheepishly, his gaze again kind and emphatic… And it hit her – why she knew that instantly – because in Raha's eyes… the lack of empathy of his immortal passenger was simply… glaring. "He wanted to have a word to apologize," his gaze alone told her he had no idea what exactly Damon said.
And she didn't know how she felt about being like that finding her 'fascinating.'
"It's… okay," she cleared her throat and dropped her eyes to Salina. "He's… something."
"He is, isn't he?" he chuckled and when she looked up there was clear admiration in his expressive eyes. Then a slight nod and he smiled at her. "He says if you want to I can tell you what exactly were we up to since… me and Senri learned of them…?"
"Sure," she replied with only a slightly fake smile and settled down to listen.