T'senri barely noticed it at first, drink in hand and laughing at Thancred's expanse as the Hyur seemed barely able to hide the interest with which his silvery eyes were drawn toward Raha's redheaded sister whenever she entered the field of their vision.

"She's off-limits, Than," he chortled quietly, leaning slightly against the bar counter behind his back and raising his glass against his lips. This one evening allowing himself a slight buzz as his blood shimmered with the heat of anticipation for upcoming playtime – both types of it – he dragged his eyes over the heads of his friends, involuntarily drawn toward his lover across the room – seemingly consumed by an animated chat with his sister and Alisaie that easily leaned against his side.

Most of their friends were beyond shocked to meet not only Senri's mother and sister but the three new arrivals as well. Instantly charmed by the trio of adorable kits – by now as midnight approached, safely tucked away in their respective beds with Salina's lair settled next to Ralla's – he and his mate spend a good portion of the evening explaining the circumstances to their friends. Most of them were beyond disturbed by the whole thing, with Alisaie and – maybe a bit surprisingly – Y'shtola eagerly offering their hands in helping to deal with that infernal tribe.

They both refused – of course – two of them and their immortals to boot – more than capable to handle it properly… and he was a bit more than wary to let his inner beast roam in their presence. As much as he knew they loved him – he couldn't help but doubt that anyone but his mate could truly understand his beast's true hunger. Even his beautiful, understanding mother that taught him to admire balance and reach for equilibrium… she didn't – couldn't – know of how those lessons twisted and developed in his nature during the years they were apart. How the endless strife, unwanted attention and advances, and perhaps most importunately: losing Raha, affected his soul. One day maybe he'll be ready to indulge the occasional sparks of curiosity in her dark, starry eyes when she seemed if not knowing, then sensing, those changes… but not yet.

"I have no idea what you're on about, Senri," one of his oldest friends hummed, barely managing to hold an innocent look as he raised his ashen eyebrows at him pointedly.

"Mhmm," he chuckled, arching one of his dark eyebrows at the Hyur and narrowing his ice-blue eyes just slightly. "Of course, you don't. I'm just saying, she and her kits are under my veeery strict protection, buddy. So, unless you're as serious… forget about it."

"Who says I'm not?" Thancred sighed, growing serious as he half-turned and leaned sideways against the bar next to him. "I hope you did notice, Senri… I did grow up quite a bit in the last few years. And I'm not stupid, either. Plus – perhaps after Ryne – not as… worried about the presence of kids in the picture."

"I don't question that, Than," he inclined his head slightly, then pointedly looked toward the woman again. "But you must also consider – if you're really that interested – if you somehow hurt her… Raha's going to tear you apart. And believe me – out of the two of us, and between our… guests – you do not want to really see what he's capable of when pissed off. And he just met her – and her kits – not to mention their circumstances… so, I don't think he's going to appreciate any male sniffing about her any time soon."

"Well… I'm a patient kind," his friend shrugged easily, turning back and leaning his back against the counter again. "And would have to blind not to see that she needs some… time to accommodate to Eorzea and all… Perhaps after all this mess with Fandaniel is behind us… I would have a talk with G'raha… who knows?" he winked at him over the edge of his glass, sipping his drinks as then his silvery eyes drifted back to the woman in question.

"Who knows… Maybe I'll plead your case… if you'll be truly serious, I…" he trailed off, frowning as he grew aware of a… strange sensation.

"Senri…? Something's wrong?" Thancred frowned as well, watching his expression.

"I…" he shifted a bit uncomfortably, carefully setting the glass on the counter behind him before raising to his feet. Struggling to keep his tail from flicking with agitation as the sensation gradually grew more and more intense, he swallowed thickly before smiling at his friend sheepishly. "Think I need a quick… trip to the bathroom. Be right back," he assured, then trying not to seem suspicious, headed toward the stairs leading out of the underground level of the house, this night serving as the arena for their party. Carefully soundproofed with shields so as not to disturb sleeping kits or their neighbors, when he headed up two steps at the time and the doors closed behind him… his heartbeat seemed deafening in the silence ruling on the ground level. "What the fuck…?" he gasped breathlessly, shakily heading deeper into the room that was still mostly empty but for the few couches provided by his lover for anyone who would need a moment to… cool down or simply take a break.

As he did, right now, as seemingly an utterly maddening sensation of gradually increasing vibration settled inside him in a way… oh, g-gods… Clenching his teeth so hard his jaw ached, he carefully settled down on one of the couches, fisting his hands and resting them around his hips on the black leather as he tried to catch his breath and figure out…

Oh, I do recognize the idea, Ares chortled in the back of his head something fierce. T'senri scowled with confusion, but soon he could only gasp, whimpering involuntarily as the sensation grew more and more maddening. Helplessly falling back against the backrest of the couch, he arched his back with a choked mewl of arousal, flushing up to his hairline as his right hand almost like with a mind of its own moved against his groin, uselessly pawing at his increasingly painful erection as he fought to catch his breath. Hold on, my boy… it's going to get rough, his immortal laughed mercilessly, clearly ungodly amused at his expanse.

Not really understanding – unable to even form a coherent thought as the intensity of the vibration seemingly settled right at the knot of nerves that sent jolts of lightning along his spine, growing more and more insistent – cursing furiously under his breath and choking on his desperate whimpers, he couldn't help but almost tear his pants open, coil his hand around the engorged, throbbing flesh and pump it roughly, mewling when in mere seconds he came, making a mess of his lap and the couch. But when the sensation didn't relent but only grew, setting his nerve endings ablaze – supported by his stamina – his dick nearly instantly went hard again and T'senri almost expired, whining his need across their bond as he arched mindlessly, his hips jerking as he rutted into his grip helplessly.

"You called, Snark?" his lover's clearly amused chuckle tore him out of the haze, and with effort, he forced his eyes open – not remembering when he closed them – and the sight of his mate's teasing smirk as the redhead braced his hands against the back of the couch around his head and leaned above him, had him growl in a warning, to choke on it when his lover's pretty lips tiled with uncanny daring and the vibration inside him became sooo much harder. "What's the matter, my beast?" his prince purred, then took a deep breath and sighed blissfully, moving his hands to mercilessly wrap them around T'senri's wrists and force his hands against the couch around his shoulders. "Your scent, Senri… so delicious…" Raha chuckled at his desperate whine of protest when he pulled his hands back but Warrior's hands seemed… stuck against the leather, with luminescent blue bands of aether blinding his wrists against the material tightly.

"R-Raha… you t-tease…" he mewled breathlessly, squirming and helplessly arching in a vain attempt to rub against his mate's body as his very blood sang with the need for friction on his painful cock. "What did you… do to me…?" his breath hitching, T'senri fought to collect his thoughts, uselessly straining against the bindings as his tease of a mate shamelessly tugged his pants off and then with a cheeky grin simply tore his shirt apart, sending the buttons flying as he pushed the material off his shoulders as far as his bound arms allowed.

"Just a simple… spell, my Snark," his lover chuckled, pushing his thighs apart and falling to his knees between them as the pressure of that vibration relented slightly, letting T'senri simply… gape at his mate with a fiery blush, licking his lips nervously as his prince's ruby eyes hungrily trailed over his exposed skin, to lit up with such enticingly clear desire… He couldn't help but arch slightly, instinctively preening for his mate's devouring gaze. "Gods, the beauty of you, my Sun…" Raha sighed with bliss, then too-slowly dragged his hands up his thighs and over his abdomen to rest one right above his dick while the other caught his agitated tail and let the black-furred appendage coil around his forearm possessively. "…is truly blinding," he finished with such pure and breathtaking devotion in his crimson irises, despite the fact that he was dying as the vibration seemingly returned and grew more and more intense, T'senri simply stared, his heart captive in the mesmerizing gaze.

"…Raha… P-please…" he gasped, then arched with a shout when his lover smirked and sparks of fucking lightning ran along his arm to the hand resting over Warrior's abdomen to sink in his skin and trembling muscles… and combined with that maddening sensation inside him already, he came before he realized what happened, whimpering and whining in turns as his body shook in aftershocks, completely overcharged. And when he looked down again, gasping for air desperately and shuddering violently, seeing a few drops of his seed splattered on his lover's beautiful face… had something utterly primal and primitive purr in the back of his head. And he lost it – baring his fangs at his mate in demand – when his Raha with apparent relish licked at one of those drops near his pretty mouth, then sent him a truly infuriating wink.

"Tasty, too…" his lover hummed, then with almost nonchalant air and rumbling purrs, set to lick at his cock in a carefully playful manner cleaning his flesh. Humming his approval and looking eerily like a content kitten that got into a bowl of cream… in a mere heartbeat – thrumming deafeningly between his ears – T'senri's dick grew impossibly even more aroused, his mate's sounds and obvious pleasure setting off his need to please him. And when his lover chuckled softly and his hot breath fanned his wanting flesh, then eagerly set to swallow him down… Warrior mewled mindlessly, again straining against his mate's bindings and losing his fucking mind at the unbearable heat of his prince's talented mouth.

Not knowing – or caring at this point – if his lover set up a shield, he didn't even try to contain his needy sounds, shamelessly whining and whimpering his mate's name… chanting it over and over as his so insanely skilled lover blew his mind utterly, oh, so eagerly letting him fuck his pretty mouth and soon pairing the maddening vibrations of his purrs around his throbbing dick with the return of that sensation inside him and gentle tugs at his sensitive tail. Feeling like he was going to burst and mindlessly rolling his hips between the triple sensation… the first desperate mewl-purr of his lover's name tore from his throat as the telltale feeling hit his senses and… it was a mistake as his mate instantly pulled back and with evil, raspy chuckle wrapped his free hand around the base of T'senri's cock, denying his relief.

"Now, now, Snark… not yet," he cooed when he uttered a whine of protest, mixed with profanities as he instinctively fought his lover's grip, his body almost involuntarily begging for more. "You do… need to learn your lesson, my beautiful beast."

"Which… is…?" he breathed out, trying to collect his thoughts and think of a reason behind this… session.

"Your manners, love," Raha chuckled more than a bit breathlessly, but the unbearable tease fluttered his dark-red lashes at him and pursed his bruised lips in an absolutely adorable pout… And despite his body's raging need, shuddering and gasping as his dick jerked and throbbed in the strong grip, he couldn't help but want to simply gush at his mate's utter cuteness… but he didn't dare, swallowing thickly and praying in thought, knowing his love would not take that as a compliment… and all things considered…

"Did I… ah, displease you s-somehow… my heart?" he whispered, feeling his ears instinctively lower against his head as he bit his lower lip – sudden worry tearing through the haze of painful arousal.

It was all fun and games… until he was faced with the prospect of somehow hurting or disappointing his mate. Raha was the love of his life, but even before he met and fell for him – so hard – ever since he was a kit he dreamed of being mated. Of finding his perfect match, to love and cherish. The disappointment he felt when his… preferences became apparent – making it seem completely impossible – broke his heart. But actually having him… he hated even the thought of displeasing him as much as his inner beast cringed in terror at the idea of doing something to make his beautiful master regret agreeing to be theirs. Regret accepting their… his duality – and merged, that instinct ruled all else, both knowing losing him… He wouldn't survive. Even without the bond of their immortal passengers, Raha kept him sane and whole – when without his love and kindness, he would tumble into madness long ago.

"Displease? No, my beast, you never could," his prince's expression grew more somber and earnest as he freed his tail and cock, then soothingly dragged his hot hands up and down his thighs before placing a reassuring kiss on his still more than aroused flesh, tearing a helpless groan from his throat. Then to his surprise, his lover braced against his legs and stood up slowly, then under his dazed, hungry gaze and while coloring beautifully, Raha discarded his pants and crawled into his lap, soon wrapping his hands around T'senri's jaw and raining sweet, affectionate kisses over his face. "You're perfect, Senri… just the way you are," he purred soothingly and when he couldn't help but answer in kind, his mate rested his forehead against his and sighed softly and blissfully, closing his gorgeous eyes as he made his purrs grow louder with happiness while he pressed his beautiful body against his. "Every single day since… well, since we are together, Snark… I thank all the gods for you… That you want and love me so fiercely… For your every single smile, every snarked comment… For the sensitivity of your beautiful heart and the bite of your temper… Every aspect and facet of you, my Sun… Blinds me and keeps me warm. You're mine… as I am yours – from the moment we choose each other to our very last breath… I love you, Senri," he whispered barely above his breath, then pressed a sweet, tender kiss on his lips.

"I…" he choked, but even as his throat tightened painfully and his eyes burned… his heart sang its sweet, aching song – only ever for him – and he took a deep, steadying breath… helplessly falling for him all over again. "I love you too, my prince… my beautiful, blinding Sun… G-gods… you're going to make me bawl again," he snarked with a self-conscious, raspy chuckle.

"Sometimes it's good," his lover chuckled as well, then placed another gentle kiss on top of his nose before, delicately brushing his hair back from T'senri's face. "Happy birthday, Senri," he added softly.

"Happy birthday, Raha," he breathed out, drowning in the depths of devotion in the ruby irises.

"But…" those eyes lit up with humor as his lover chuckled sheepishly, then leaned back from him and gently trailed his finger over his lower lip, then down his throat, chest, and abdomen, lifting on his knees around him to press his hand over his dick, making it instantly grow interested in the heat of his palm as he rubbed it slowly. "…that aside, my beast… back to your lesson," he sing-a-songed downright evilly, making T'senri's heart stutter furiously and triple its rhythm instantly. "As much as I adore you… You'll contain the… s-slapping to our playtime… yes?"

"Sla...?" he blinked slowly, then snorted involuntarily, earning a narrowed look. "That's… what this is about? Aww, Raha… I thought you like that?" he couldn't help himself but wiggle his eyebrows playfully… even as those gorgeous, crimson eyes narrowed further – and he knew he was pushing it. "I'm just expressing my utter admiration for your delectable behind, my prince. It's not my fault – really – that you have a downright edible ass, Raha," he bared his teeth in a cheeky grin.

And the fiery blush was definitely worth the visible spark of temper in those ruby eyes, he believed with all of his devoted heart. Playing with the fire of his lover's temper was by now his addiction… its blaze chasing away any hint of his own's chilling bite.

"Senri…" his lover drawled through his teeth, then let go of his flesh to fist one hand in his black hair while the other moved behind his own back, and T'senri unconsciously licked his lips with hungry anticipation when his mate gasped softly and more than a hint of pleasure on his heated, handsome face told him exactly what his prince was up to. Arching under him slightly and rolling his hips impatiently, he purred near-deafeningly, openly, and shamelessly begging his mate's claim. "T-Think… you're not getting my point, love," after a moment, Raha again caught his dick in a gentle grip and when now feeling the now oiled hand slide up and down its length possessively, he gasped then growled his approval when his lover replied in kind, then positioned against his throbbing flesh and painfully slowly took him. Feeling the unbearably hot and tight squeeze of his muscles around his cock, he whined desperately, arching in his bonds as his hands rolled into fists, itching to curl around his mate's waist and fuck that beautiful body until Raha would sing his name in his maddening noises. Already listening to the quiet gasps and mewls of pleasure as his prince finally seated himself fully on his dick, he fought his body's raging need, peering through his lashes at the utter perfection of his mate's expression. The pleasure made his full lips part in that intoxicating sounds and his cheeks colored beautifully. The ruby eyes were half-lidden in bliss and the maddening scent of their mixed arousal filling his head and lungs with every shaky inhale… Oh, Azeyma… but it was sooo hard not to spill at the sight alone!

Still half-dressed, his lover chuckled breathlessly, then leaned back and ignoring T'senri's desperate whimper, set to calmly open the buttons of his shirt, under his starving gaze pulling the material apart and letting him indulge in the beautiful sight of his muscular body, leaving it like that as he leaned in again and trailed a scorching line of sharp bites along his jaw and down his throat.

"I do… enjoy that part of our playtime, Snark, but under the right circumstances," he whispered against his skin. "When you take me, my beast… it's fun, I admit. But outside of our bedroom… I would prefer if you re-think that, okay?"

"But… I love how it makes you blush for me, Raha," he whined petulantly, nuzzling against his shoulder as he tried to rock his hips, dying for friction – but his lover easily kept him immobile, seemingly completely unaffected by the intrusion into the scorching heat of his body – that soon had the Warrior shamelessly whine and whimper for his mate's mercy. Until…

"Do you, now…?" his lover chuckled evilly, nipping less than gently on his mark on T'senri's shoulder. "Then, I guess, I'm glad I found a way to… pay you back, hm?" and suddenly that insane, maddening sensation was back with vengeance, making him groan deeply and spill instantly, mewling his submission desperately even as his dick nearly instantly grew almost more unbearably aroused. It felt… g-gods… it felt like he fucked Raha while being fucked by him at the same time and… "Let me make myself… very clear, my Snark," his mate hissed, fisting one hand in his hair while panting harshly against his shoulder, now rocking against his cock slowly and sending his senses reeling in the almost painful pleasure of those combined sensations. "From now on, every time you… do that, outside of our… trysts, expect retaliation, my beast. And believe me, the gentle start this time was… mere kind warning," he pulled back to send his dazed eyes a slightly mean smirk. "Next time… It's going to be more like this," he purred, then in a move fast like a viper bit him, at the same time as that vibration inside him seemed to reach a crescendo, sending his overwhelmed senses tumbling into another orgasm instantly as he arched with a choked shout of his lover's name. Humming in approval when he pulled back again when T'senri muttered profanities helplessly while fighting to catch his breath and collect his thoughts, shuddering violently in the aftershocks… Raha looked beyond pleased with himself when he wrapped his hands around Warrior's jaw and caught his dazed eyes into a snare of the mix of humor and affection in his crimson irises. "As I said before, it's, oh, sooo very hard to embarrass you into such beautiful, fierce blushes, my shameless beast. But this… definitely seems to be doing the job," he chortled, utterly too smug as he brushed his palms over T'senri's flaming cheeks.

"Rrraha…" he rasped, then swallowed thickly, not even aware when his fangs slipped. His whole body still trembling in overstimulation, he took a few quick, calming breaths, trying to gather his bearings. "You…"

"So…" his lover cut him off, placing one hand over his mouth with a nearly evil glint in his ruby eyes. "…as you so admire, an equilibrium, my Snark. No more slaps or…" his eyebrows wiggled playfully and Warrior downright whimpered at the return of the sensation, nearly boring into that knot of nerves with an increasing quick vibration. "…be ready to indulge in this," his mate chuckled, pulling his hand back to brace it around his head and moaned deeply as T'senri's cock throbbed eagerly inside him again, mad need making it seemingly crave only the snug heat of his lover's delectable behind.

"That's hardly… f-fair," he mewled, rutting into him as much as his lover's weight and his bindings allowed.

"It is a deterrent, love," Raha grinned cheekily, soon gripping the edges of the backrest as he bounced on his dick, tearing mindless whines and desperate whimpers from his throat with his magic at the same time. "My beautiful… oh, fuuuck…" he gasped, straining as one of his hands shot down between them to wrap around his cock, pumping it in rhythm with the way he took him. His noises soon growing louder and tinged with the telltale keening edge, even as another mind-shattering orgasm clawed at the base of his spine as the vibrations grew more and more insistent, T'senri fought it, desperately mewling and almost meowing for restrain until his mate arched above him with a choked shout of his name, spilling all over his stomach as he sagged against him, with blissed-out purrs… and only then he gave in into the maddening sensation, coming again with a quiet, deep groan as his whole body jerked and pretty much turned into a heap of helplessly trembling muscles.

Merely moaning and too dazed to do more than enjoy his high, he only twitched when his lover laughed softly then took his mouth in a deep, sweet kiss, at the same time lifting off his lap.

"So… behave, my Snark," Raha chuckled at his expression after breaking the kiss, then stood up and winked at him playfully, then whispered something incoherent – making his ears twitch at the sound of the long-dead language that in his state even his Echo refused to acknowledge or translate – and when he barely blinked, the mess was gone and his clothes were back in a perfect state, covering his body. Still bound against the couch, he could merely in a mind-blown stupor admire his lover's sheer nerve as he calmly fixed his clothes, blew him a kiss paired with another charming, cheeky grin, and with a wave walked off, heading back downstairs.

Damn… Damon is definitely rubbing off on him, Ares downright cackled madly while as soon as his lover closed the door behind him, the bindings around his wrists broke, freeing his arms. Blinking numbly, he rubbed his wrists unconsciously, despite the fact that they didn't hurt… only staring at that door and trying to understand what exactly just happened. You okay, Senri?

"Did I… dream it up?" he asked, looking around the empty, silent room. Then he took a deep, steadying breath and stood up shakily… and no, he definitely didn't, considering how his whole body still nearly throbbed in the overstimulation.

Nah, his Ascian chortled, and he felt something almost like a mental, comforting pat. You just had a taste of somewhat Damon-like… humor, let's say. With some adjustments, but my husband when… ruffled, would treat me to something similar, hence why I said, I recognized the idea. And word of advice, my boy… Remember how I also said that Damon is NEVER bluffing?

"Yeah…?" he muttered, patting down his body and trying to clear the haze from his mind before slowly heading toward the door after his mate.

Well, he doesn't, Ares deadpanned and he chuckled involuntarily. And believe me, as fun as it is to toy with his temper… There are few things more embarrassing than experiencing THAT under certain circumstances. Especially in the company, his immortal grumbled, seemingly almost cringing as if remembering something. That one time when I pissed him off… well, let's just say it was a veeery uncomfortable meeting of the Convocation. Poor, naïve Themis constantly asking if I was all right… and Hades almost choking on laughter… I swear, millennia later… eh, nevermind… he trailed off when T'senri involuntarily snorted a laugh at that image. And, anyway, what I mean… Don't test him, unless you're ready to pay the price, my boy.

"And… where's fun in that?" he drawled, opening the door and after a quick, steadying breath, heading downstairs and back to the party.

Thought you'll say that, his immortal chuckled.


Notes:

Okay, so at some point [points] there would be some more one-shots coming for this universe [I can't say when as it depends on time and clarification of the ideas], but so far I THINK, it will be:

- THAT meeting of the Convocation [for laughs, mostly]
- Future fic about Ralla and Navi
- Crossover leading to Senri meeting Surr [most likely SIAW's version, if not outright Multiverse-version aware of all of the stories I've written so far, and again, for laughs]
- Christmas / New Year's special [probably next month, and in a similar spirit as Masquerade]

[just a spot for me to write down the ideas and gauge interest, so do let me know which one you find most amusing o.~]
See ya next time o/