Predictably, the news of their relationship spread through the Old Sharlayan like wildfire, and before they even came back to the city they were on everyone's lips – or at least that's what they heard at the evening meal from veeery amused Alisaie.

Anyone who still remembered him from his unruly youth was apparently more than shocked to hear that the Warrior of Light very publicly and openly showed his… favor for the city's outcast – and young Elzen all in sniggers didn't hide her hope that someone would 'dare' to express their eventual misgivings around Senri. G'raha at that rolled his eyes – though feeling his face burn considerably because he wouldn't mind either – then took their kitten off her hands and marched to their bedroom, leaving his lover with a meaningful nod toward Thancred. The Hyur was uncharacteristically quiet and desolate throughout the meal and all things considered, he more than deserved the reassurance that nobody was blaming him for what happened.

I think I'll never actually figure out what exactly Lahabrea had on his mind with that whole ordeal, Damon chuckled sheepishly when he settled near Sali's lair, pushing the small furry ball for the kitten to pounce at. I can only assume that he grew desperate.

Too bad that his desperation cost Senri so much, he replied, then flinched slightly at the too-familiar sound behind his back. He turned his gaze toward it and smiled involuntarily at the sight of the lilac-haired immortal.

"Hythlodaeus," he nodded toward him with a grin and without raising from his spot while the man walked toward him, looking with apparent curiosity toward Sali.

"Please, call me 'Hyth,'" the immortal chuckled, kneeling by his side. "I hoped to catch Ares, too…?"

"Senri should be along shortly," he said, focusing his gaze on the kitten again. "He's kind of busy apologizing to his friends for the whole… situation," he shrugged helplessly with a sheepish smile.

"Oh, I can imagine," Hythlodaeus chuckled, stretching out his fingers for clearly curious Salina to sniff at. "She's adorable. Cats always were one of my favorite constructs," he added, rubbing his finger over the kitten's triangular head.

Something's up. Let me take over, Raha, Damon sighed and he gave in almost automatically. "Okay, Hyth… Spill," he said, raising his eyebrows pointedly at the immortal that flinched slightly and avoided his gaze. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened," Hythlodaeus shrugged with a sheepish chuckle then looked toward him again and sighed with resignation at his narrowed stare. "Okay… I was hoping to catch you both, I admit. To ask your blessing…" he trailed off, coloring visibly when the door opened and Senri walked in, his dark eyebrows twitching noticeably at the sight of the immortal.

"Hyth, hey," he said, closing the door behind him and walking over to them. "Did I miss something?" he frowned, looking between them.

"Apparently, Hythlodaeus here wishes for our blessing," Damon snickered before the lilac-haired man could open his mouth, making him snap them shut quickly and color even darker.

"Bless…?" Senri cut off and his eyes shifted to sky-blue as Ares took over and rested his hands on his hips, grinning widely and bouncing on his heels. "Whoa… High time, I would say," he chortled when purple eyes narrowed at him and Hythlodaeus almost pouted.

"Millennia overdue even," Damon snickered mercilessly, shifting to rest his chin on his palm as he tossed the immortal teasing smirk. "But you hardly need our blessing, Hyth. If you wish to Bond with Hades, he's more than capable to make his own decisions… and I think we made our support quite clear when we stopped you from following Lahabrea's idea, didn't we?" his gaze followed Ares while he moved around them to drop to the floor behind him. He smiled, gladly leaning back against his chest.

Bond? G'raha hummed with consideration. Do you mean like you and Ares are bonded?

Mhmm, Damon replied without letting his expression even twitch. We had a bet running for more than five hundred mortal years before sundering which one of them is going to break first. It was quite hilarious to watch them dance around each other – not to mention frustrating – but all things considered, we refused to interfere.

Why? He asked curiously.

As I told you, Raha… Our society was completely different from yours, he replied carefully. Ares was wild and determined beyond reason and I simply didn't care for others' opinions… But it takes certain daring to face the scorn of everyone around you, doesn't it? Despite our hopes for them – and seeing how well they fit together – they had to make that decision on their own, my boy.

He hummed with an agreement, relaxing in the back of their shared head. That did sound more than reasonable… and not the first time he was quite glad that he wasn't born in that world. The immortals' society from all he heard so far sounded beyond constricting and… boring.

Told you, Damon chuckled fondly, then focused on Hythlodaeus again. "So…?" he raised his eyebrows expectantly. "When can we expect the ceremony?"

"If he agrees…" the immortal flushed even darker, dropping his gaze to the floor. "…then after you can release Themis. Would be a shame if he missed it," he chuckled sheepishly.

"'IF' he agrees?" Ares chuckled, wrapping his arms around Damon and resting his chin on the top of his head. "Don't make me laugh, Hyth… That boy was always as smitten with you as I was with Damon. As I know him, probably even now he's crafting a careful plan how and when to ask you himself."

"Mhmm," Damon hummed with amusement, then chuckled when Sali climbed his lap to get to Ares's hand resting against his stomach and rubbed her head against it to gain his husband's attention, purring loudly when he scratched behind her ear absentmindedly. "Aren't you the cutest thing in existence," he gushed, petting the creature fondly.

"That would be you," Ares chortled, pressing a tender kiss on his neck before looking at the immortal again as Hythlodaeus looked between them with slightly narrowed too-bright purple eyes. "We're serious. If you really feel you need that, you have our blessing and full support, boy."

"Thank you," he nodded slowly and relaxed visibly, then hesitated slightly. "And… again, thank you for stopping me. I hope I'll prove… worthy of your trust."

"As far as we are concerned…" Ares said slowly and very seriously, tightening his arms around Damon. "…only thing you need to do to prove that is to love him. No more, no less. You both deserve to be happy, Hyth."

Damon nodded his agreement, then winked at Hythlodaeus playfully before slipping back into their head and letting G'raha take over. He merely had time to blink twice before he felt Senri's presence return as the immortal nodded toward them, stood up, and disappeared with a polite bow and pleasant smile.

"That's kind of cute," G'raha whispered, smiling at Sali as he rested the back of his head against his lover's shoulder. "That he felt the need to ask Hades parents for the blessing."

"Mhmm," Senri nuzzled against his neck affectionately and he couldn't help but moan softly and close his eyes feeling his Warrior's hands tug his tunic up and sneak under the material in search of the skin. One hand held the tunic up while the other trailed south and snuck under the waistband of his pants to press over the rapidly hardening flesh. Surrounded by the scent of his lover's arousal and the heat of his body, he arched in his arms with a quiet mewl of pleasure, fisting his hands in the dark material of his mate's pants. "Do you suppose I should do that too, Raha?" his Warrior purred teasingly, nibbling at his neck while his hand coiled around his cock despite the confines of the material over it and tightened rhythmically. His other hand smoothed up and down his stomach soothingly and feeling a gentle drag of the tips of his claws over his abdomen, G'raha whimpered needily, letting one of his hands shoot up behind his head and wrap around the back of Senri's neck for purchase as using it he pulled himself up in his lap, pressing against his chest tighter and freeing his tail to eagerly surround his lover's waist. Flushed darkly and more than a bit embarrassed about his body's eagerness even after spending most of the day fucking, he still couldn't help but rub against his mate's clearly interested flesh and purr loudly in an invitation. "Hmm, Rrraha?"

"Wha… what?" he gasped breathlessly, trying to remember the question.

"Do you suppose you still have some… family back in Corrrvos I should be asking perrrmision to marrry you?" his Warrior rasped against his neck, sending a near-violent shudder down his spine before chuckling and a bit awkwardly pulling him up to his feet. "Stay in your lair, Sali," he said toward the kitten when it scrambled after them and G'raha could only chuckle more than a bit breathlessly when she obediently walked to it and laid down.

"I don't really care," he replied to his lover's question, rapidly discarding his clothes after Senri pushed him meaningfully toward their nest. When finally naked, he fell back into it with a relieved gasp and grinned gleefully when his gorgeous, naked, lover fell to all fours and with an insanely arousing raspy growl-purr spread his legs and settled between them, spreading affectionate bites over his inner thighs. "It's been more than twenty years, Snark… If they wished to know anything about me, they had more than enough time to get interested… Not to mention they didn't have to send me here alone," he couldn't help the old hurt ringing in his voice, so he covered it by running his fingers through his lover's ink-black hair and petting his ears affectionately. "You're the only family I need, my beast."

Senri sighed, then shifted, resting his cheek on his thigh as he looked up at him with a hint of sadness in his ice-blue eyes, ensnaring his and making his heart clench painfully.

"I'm sorry they didn't, Raha," he whispered softly, then pressed a tender kiss on his skin. "Despite it all… I know it still hurts, love. Whatever their reasons – and maybe we will never find out – but they had no right to do this to you. The Eye had to be protected, we know that… but they didn't have to be so unnecessarily cruel about it. But you're wrong…" he said softly, trailing sweet, gentle bites up his inner thigh and soon he had to fight not only tears at his beast's tenderness and understanding but as well choke down the growing urge to pull his too-pretty lips toward the flesh that already begged for them. "…you don't have only me, Raha… The Scions, Lyna, Ardbert, our immortals… they all adore you, my heart. And your tribe… well, they'll never know what they lost giving up the chance to know you…" he trailed off then dragged his rough tongue from the base of his dick to its tip, making him arch with a choked groan and tighten his shaky fingers in his hair desperately. "You changed and affected so many lives, Raha… They're so much poorer to let go of your beautiful soul."

"You… ah, talk too much," he chuckled breathlessly, shakily running his fingers through his hair but smiling gratefully when ice-blue irises flashed toward him with humor and affection. "I love you, Snark."

"And I'm humbled by it, my prince," his lover hummed, pressing a tender kiss on top of his cock the grinned toward him crookedly, wiggling his dark eyebrows playfully. "But you didn't balk, my lord… Does that mean you'll finally make me an honest man?"

"Technically… we're already married," he reminded with a snicker and a roll of his eyes.

"Technically," his lover scoffed and pouted at him, sending his heart to simply soar. "I'm serious, Raha… Years I've been regretting that I didn't drag your delectable behind to the altar of the Twelve the very next day after you truly became mine. I know we don't really need that now… but I want to swear in front of our friends and the whole world to love, cherish and protect you until the end of time… You deserve no less, my heart."

With his pounding heart in his throat, G'raha wrapped his hands around his lover's cheeks and simply drowned in the boundless devotion in his pale irises.

"Okay…" he whispered softly dragging his fingers over his beautiful features. "…after this mess with Fandaniel is over, Snark… I'll be more than happy to do that… but first we will travel back to your tribe so I can ask your mother's permission. She adored you," he added watching his Warrior's eyes dart away from his. "And I want you to have her there… if she approves of me, Snark. I could see in your memories how much she regretted not being able to protect you better… For that alone, I want to know her and let her know you're safe and happy with me, my beast."

"She will adore you, there's no doubt about that," his lover chuckled sheepishly, coloring beautifully and nuzzling against his thigh fondly. Then he sighed softly and smirked at him. "Now… that we're spoken for… again… may I have the honor of pleasing you, my prince?"

"Honor all mine, Warrior," he flushed darkly, letting his fingers sink into dark hair again as his lover hummed with satisfaction and shifted to wrap his too-pretty lips around the head of his cock, tearing a loud, helpless groan from his throat. Petting his sensitive ears delicately, he purred his pleasure while Senri set to swallow him down, the incredible heat of his mouth soon choking out a string of profanities and gasps from him. "…wicked… g-gods, love your m-mouth," he choked out, trying to catch his breath and mewled desperately when his lover relaxed his throat around his flesh and took him up to the hilt. When he settled down, G'raha whimpered needily, fisting his hands in his hair when he felt his somehow oiled fingers sneak around his hip and one press into him quite easily after the earlier marathon. Flushing darkly at the thought, he still couldn't resist but roll his hips shamelessly between the two sensations, gasping and whining Senri's name when he started purring with gradually raising intensity around his dick, setting his whole body aflame.

Feeling another finger press into him, he choked on an impatient growl, holding his lover's head still as he set to fuck his glorious mouth almost brutally, chasing his high with growing desperation. And when his Warrior's purrs only grew louder and more intense, setting his body to come almost too quickly, he couldn't help but whimper and mewl his bliss as his release made his muscles jerk and twitch, rolling his hips while his lover eagerly swallowed around his flesh.

Lost in his pleasure, he merely purred his approval when Senri pulled back with a raspy chuckle then rolled him over to his stomach and pulled him back to his knees. Resting his flaming face over his crossed forearms, he purred louder feeling a hot line of affectionate kisses climb up his spine to arch his back with a quiet mewl of pleasure when his Warrior took him, nuzzling against his neck insistently as he leaned against his back tightly and set to fuck him in an even, steady pace.

"You'rrre so perrrfect, Rrraha," that rasp had him whine desperately, begging for more and his beautiful beast complied instantly, granting him much harsher, deeper thrusts while the fangs scraped against the mark on his shoulder. "My drrream-come-trrrue…" He bit down, and G'raha arched under him with a choked snarl, losing his mind at the combined sensations. In mere few more strokes while his lover growled and gasped into his skin, he came again, mewling his submission and bliss. Barely aware when Senri pulled back from the bite and set for his own pleasure, fucking him mercilessly right into another orgasm. By the time his mate collapsed against his back with deep, sated purrs, G'raha was drowning in the blissed-out haze, purring so loud and happy, his Warrior laughed breathlessly at his expanse. Not able to mind, he merely hummed with happiness when his lover rolled them to their sides and snuggled against his back tightly, nuzzling against his neck and shoulder affectionately.

"You're everything I ever wanted, my Sun," he admitted sleepily, pulling his arms around himself tighter and closing his eyes after Senri pulled the blankets over them.

"Glad to hear that," his lover chuckled, then pressed a tender kiss on his throat before settling against his back with deep, happy purrs that had G'raha's heart singing in the chorus of elated 'I love you's' and put a silly, lovesick grin on his face when he closed his eyes and relaxed in his beast's possessive embrace.

"Play?"

There were not many things that could have T'senri freak the fuck out, but suddenly hearing a distinctively female voice right by his head through the haze of a pleasant dream… was definitely that!

His eyes shot wide open instantly and an aggressive snarl started to build up in his throat… for his jaw to drop when a small, delicate paw nudged his nose with another tiny 'play?' and Sali's yellow eyes met his confused stare.

Raha shifted in his arms with his own warning growl before he saw the source of the sound and froze with a quiet gasp.

"What in the…?" he gasped, blinking at the kitten.

"Play?" she repeated, shifting her attention to his lover and rubbing her head against his cheek while he looked too stunned to react, gawking at her with an open mouth. "Papa, play?"

They exchanged confused looks over her… then gushed at the same time, almost falling over each other to pet their baby.

"This is… amazing!" T'senri grinned so hard his face was likely to split as his tail went absolutely wild with enthusiasm. "But how…?"

"Damon says it's most likely Hyth's work," his lover chuckled, rolling over to his back and setting the kitten on top of his chest. "Either as a prank… or maybe a 'thank you' for their blessing."

"Silly immortals," he sighed, bracing next to him on his elbow and running his fingertips over the kitten's soft fur. But seeing the absolutely beautiful grin on his mate's face, he mentally noted to pester Hythlodaeus to repeat this once he's ready to get his lover more kittens. "Can't wait to see Alisaie's face…" he chuckled.

"…mom?" the kitten looked toward him with an enthusiastic swipe of a small tail at the sound of the name and he froze.

"Huh?" he scowled darkly while his lover snickered mercilessly.

"You have to admit… you barely spent time with her since we have her," Raha wiggled his dark-red eyebrows at him playfully and T'senri pouted something fierce, gently grabbing the kitten, rolling to his back, and placing her on his chest.

"Auntie Alisaie," he said to Sali sternly, making his mate burst into a laugh as he gasped with indignation when the kitten scrambled to get back to Raha. "That does it… I have to spend more time with her to repair the damage," he whined inelegantly, following the kitten with narrowed eyes. "Alisaie is not stealing my daughter!"

At that, even Ares burst into a laugh and it was hard to keep on a serious expression.

Sorry, boy… We're leaving for Thavnair tomorrow, remember? His immortal chortled at his expanse when he gasped with offense at the reminder and ground his teeth with irritation.

"Thavnair tomorrow, right?" his lover chuckled, keeping a carefully innocent expression even as his lips twitched when T'senri muttered a string of profanities under his nose.

"…hell!" Sali meowed happily and he wilted under the sudden glare of crimson irises.

"Language, Snark," his mate chided, pointing his finger at him in a warning.

"Sorry!" he laid his ears flat against his head and pouted again. "But seriously… it's not fair!" he whimpered, resting his cheek against Raha's shoulder.

"Don't worry…" his lover hummed innocently, pressing a tender kiss against his forehead. "…I'm sure once you're back, Alisaie won't mind sharing her attention with you occasionally," and when he sent him a glare, his tease of a mate burst into a laugh again.

Despite his lover's desperate attempts to regain their 'daughter's' favor before he had to leave after breakfast the next morning (this time the Ascian-way since he was still unattuned in Thavnair) Sali meowed 'mom!' as soon as she saw Alisaie and scrambled toward her when G'raha asked the Elzen again to watch over the kitten during his exploration of Noumenon. He honestly didn't know what was more hilarious: Senri's or Alisaie's expression at that. The girl was definitely as enamored with the talking kitten as they were… and she snickered mercilessly at the Warrior's pout no less than G'raha did.

He was still chuckling at that as he strolled toward the city's library, grinning involuntarily at the memory of his mate's adorable expression and his cute whining.

"G'raha!" sudden pull at his sleeve shocked him enough that his gaze snapped toward the woman he didn't notice approaching in his distraction.

"…Diva?" he said with a frown, slowly pulling his arm free.

"I was calling you, but you seemed… distracted," she smiled, though it didn't reach her green eyes. "I was just on my way to the next lecture when I spotted you and thought I'll say hi."

Almost at the fork of the paths splitting it between the Studium and the Noumenon, it was possible but something in her expression had him grow apprehensive and careful, even when he smiled with barely polite interest.

"Well… hi," he nodded toward her, letting his arms fall to his sides. "If that's all, I'm quite…"

"So… you and the Warrior?" she blurted out, folding her arms over her breasts. "I would never guess you were into men," she raised her eyebrows meaningfully with a slight smirk.

Someone's too obviously jealous, Damon hummed with a hint of boredom and he barely stopped his lips from twitching. His immortal enjoyed observing others' expressions and guessing their thoughts – which was funny sometimes… but he apparently found Diva lacking in entertainment value.

"I was surprised as well," he admitted with maybe a little smug smirk if he was completely honest, and shrugged when she narrowed her eyes at him ever-so-slightly. "But as you can see… Senri is a man worthy of reconsidering one's preferences," he added innocently to his immortal's snort of a laugh when she blinked at that and her expression tightened.

Score, Damon chortled.

"Now, if you excuse me," he bowed his head, intending to head toward his task.

"I'm sure he is," she drawled. "Hopefully, he'll soon see you are, however, not worthy of tarnishing his reputation, right? All things considered… he definitely deserves better than in a mere day becoming a laughing stock of the city, don't you think?"

"Deserves better…?" He hummed, narrowing his eyes at her and in a deliberately curious tilt of his head looked her over. "Like you, I presume?"

"Perhaps," she shrugged slightly, then her smirk grew as she pushed her braid back over her shoulder.

"Sorry, Diva…" he let a quite mean smirk tilt his lips. "Even if he ever got interested… you wouldn't be able to take even a sliver of his real beauty," his beast would tear her to shreds, more like. "But if it makes you feel better to dream of ever gaining his favor… be my guest," he shrugged nonchalantly and turned away to head to his goal of the day.

Honestly, boy… what did you ever see in her? Damon hummed with obvious confusion.

Don't start, he replied with resignation. I can't remember anymore. I guess I was quite desperate…?

Obviously, he could easily imagine the immortal rolling his eyes.

"Like I need your permission, freak!" she snapped behind him, clearly aggravated at his dismissal, and he sighed, ignoring her and heading toward the library.

Can you, please, not mention… this encounter to Snark? He asked his immortal.

If you wish, Raha, Damon replied waaay too innocently.

And not to Ares, either! He added with power, instantly seeing the loophole.

You're no fun, his immortal almost audibly pouted. She has no right to insult you, my boy.

She's just a stupid, vain girl that has no idea what sort of retribution that can get her, Damon, he sighed, pushing open the door of the Noumenon. So, please? Don't mention it to them, okay?

Okay… his immortal finally agreed – almost too quickly. I swear I won't mention it to either Ares or Senri. Happy, now?

Deliriously, he deadpanned, smiling involuntarily when Damon scoffed with amusement.

Reassured, he headed inside and focused on his task.

To say he was surprised (or any of his present friends appreciated it) when suddenly Hades appeared in front of him out of nowhere without a warning, would be an understatement. He shaded his eyes against the blaring sunlight of Thavnair to look up at the tall Ascian and frowned at the sight of his expression.

"May I help you, Hades?" T'senri asked carefully.

"As if," the immortal scoffed, folding his arms over his chest and scowling darkly. "My father wished for me to pass a message along. Because apparently, I'm an infernal messenger now," he muttered with aggravation and he almost snorted at his expanse. "'Diva's back on the list,'" he recited with apparent boredom and lack of understanding.

"I see," it was an effort not to let his fangs or claws slip when he grinned at the immortal with predatory glee and bowed to him slightly. "Thank you, Hades."

The immortal rolled his eyes and disappeared.

"What was that about?" asked Thancred at his side. "What list and who's Diva?"

"A side project of mine, don't worry about it," he grinned at his friend reassuringly, carefully shoving his hands in his pockets.

What do you think she did? Ares hummed with obvious amusement.

Does it matter? He replied in thought, following his friends as they headed out of the village they arrive at. Enough that Damon felt the need to ask Hades to deliver the message… which – as I know my prince – means he probably swore your husband not to mention it to us. I was ready to let her off with the show yesterday but I guess it was a mistake.

Poor Raha, his immortal chortled. He doesn't understand yet how exactly Damon's mind works.

Huh? He hummed curiously.

Even if he thought to account for every possible loophole, he obviously didn't, Ares replied with obvious amusement. He doesn't understand the simple fact that letting you handle it is kindness on Damon's part, my boy. Between his intelligence and talent… you don't want to know what kind of punishment he would deliver if provoked – and he's as fiercely protective of him as you at least. I always found it quite funny how our people thought me more dangerous than Damon because of my gift and temper, letting his tendency to soft-spoken politeness lull them into the feeling of safety.

Mmm, he hummed with an agreement, looking up at the sky with an involuntary grin. I know what you mean. Out of the two of us, people never realize that it's a mercy to face me. If he was serious about it, I don't think I could ever hope to beat Raha. Between his skills, intelligence, and experience… Yeah, he would wipe the floor with me, no problem. And that's when he's calm. If he snapped into fury…? He sighed dreamily, earning surprised looks from his friends. He waved his hand carelessly with a sheepish chuckle. He's simply much, much harder to provoke.

Then he's more like Damon than I thought, Ares chuckled with obvious fondness. There were mere few who managed to provoke my husband's temper into its fiery bite, my boy. And believe me, it was spectacular!

He snickered quietly at his immortal's apparent excitement, then sighed and focused on his task – merely noting mentally to consider how he was going to make Diva pay now when he will be back in the Old Sharlayan. Whatever she did to regain her spot on Damon's list, required something special – and no, not because he was still sore that she ever laid her dirty paws on his mate's beautiful body… That was just a bonus.

And if there was a bounce in his step and his usually goofy grin carried a hint of slightly too long fangs… oh, well… details!