His senses snapped in place suddenly, and Raha blinked hard, licking his dry lips and trying to focus through the slight ringing in his ears. View of the ceiling welcomed his eyes and the feeling of a hard surface under his back… and the sense of familiar, soft lips trailing down his abdomen. He gasped breathlessly when long nails dug into his skin at his hips and arched with a helpless whine when a hot, rough tongue licked from the base of his cock to its tip.
"Surr…" he rasped, surprised at how hoarse he sounded while his hand shot down and his fingers fisted in strands of pearly-white locks.
"Oh," she looked up with surprise and a slight smirk on her lips. "You're back, my love…"
"Wha…" he cleared his throat, then licked his lips again. Twelve, he was so thirsty… "What happened?"
She chuckled, then, instead of answering, lowered her head and proceeded to rob him of his mind, wrapping her hot, wet mouth around his cock and setting to swallow him whole. His free hand shot up to cover his mouth and stifle an involuntary shout when he shuddered, arching against the feeling, his thoughts scattering.
Gods, her mouth… He panted harshly, trying to bite back a desperate whimper when she relaxed her throat around him, then closed his eyes with a whine when she tapped her nails meaningfully against his hips, letting him know what she wanted. Twelve… He gasped, tightening his hand in her hair and pulling her back slightly, then started to rock his hips, soon fucking her mouth in earnest.
She hummed around his flesh with appreciation, dragging her nails hard across his hips, and he almost expired. He tried to hold on, enjoying it too much, but then she began purring its vibration maddening with gradually increasing intensity. He bit on his palm, holding her head still as his hips sped up, and soon he came with a choked groan, falling against the floor limply and gasping for air as his mate lapped at his flesh with a content purr.
His mind spun when she crawled up his body with a raspy giggle, soon raining affectionate kisses across his face.
"You taste so good, Raha," she whispered, then claimed his mouth, and he whimpered, tasting himself on her tongue. He lifted his hands with effort, frowning slightly at how sore his muscles felt, and sank them in her hair, tilting her head and kissing her for a long moment, enjoying how their happy purrs mixed on their tongues.
Then he felt her soul reaching out to him, and he answered instinctively, their purrs deepening as their souls melded into each other. He drowned in the soothing sensation, the incomparable solace and feeling of safety as his senses swam when her boundless love and devotion filled his mind. He sighed, or maybe she did… it was hard to say as their senses tangled and mixed.
Surr pulled back, restoring barriers between their minds, and he couldn't help a slight pang of regret when for a moment, his mind felt just too empty without her. Yet, he wasn't surprised or embarrassed, feeling his face being wet when she broke the kiss, resting her forehead against his.
"I love you, Raha," she whispered with closed eyes.
"I love you too, my Surr," he rasped, smoothing his hands delicately across her back. "My beautiful, beloved mate."
She sighed, then sagged against him bonelessly, purring blissfully, resting her face against his throat. He smiled, wrapping his arms around her and enjoying her warmth and how her delicious scent surrounded him.
"But I think you have to go soon," she whispered, sounding almost on the verge of tears… and his mind crashed into reality.
His jaw clenched tight when he closed his eyes.
"Did I… hurt Alphinaud?" he said quietly, lifting his hand to comb it through her hair.
"No," she whispered back. "I kicked your butt before you could."
His lips tilted in a smile involuntarily, even as he sighed with relief.
"My fierce mate," he kissed her cheek, then slowly moved, sitting up as she moved with him. As soon as he stopped, she coiled around him tightly, possessively, crossing her legs behind his back as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
"He knows about us," she said in another whisper. "Looked very disturbed about that, too. But if I get it right, he came here to warn me that we've been… sloppy. That we've been seen leaving one room in Forgotten Knight."
Raha stilled, blinking hard as he wrapped his arms around her waist, considering it.
"That's… not good, right?" she said with uncertainty, nuzzling against his throat as she smoothed her hands along his spine.
"Very," he sighed, burying his face against her shoulder. "That Alphinaud alone knows… that mean we really screwed up, though the fact that he came to warn you… It tells me that when we explain… it, he could be willing to keep quiet. But if there are rumors… enough that he felt compelled to do that… that's bad, yeah."
"What do we do, Raha?" she desperately tightened her arms and legs around him, shivering slightly. He purred soothingly, reaching down and wrapping his hand around the base of her tail, smoothing it along its length a few times slowly until she relaxed against him. "Maybe… maybe we should leave," she hesitated, nuzzling against his throat again. "Go somewhere else. Somewhere where no one knows us."
"I wish," he sighed, then leaned away, and when she did that as well, he framed her beautiful face with his palms, resting his forehead against hers. "But we can't, my love. We don't have enough money, not to mention they would hunt us in Eorzea."
"We could take them," she hissed, and her tail whipped with agitation against his legs. "We're unbeatable together."
He chuckled involuntarily, then kissed the tip of her nose and sighed again, brushing her hair back over her shoulders.
"If it only was that easy, my fierce mate," he whispered, then motioned with his head meaningfully. She pouted but unwrapped from around him reculantly and stood up, then sat down on the edge of her bed, watching as he pulled on his pants and boots. He grabbed his shirt, but before he could put it on, she pressed against him tightly, wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling against his chest, taking a few quick, deep breaths. He smiled, wrapping his free arm around her shoulders, and buried his nose in her hair, enjoying her smell. But… "I have to go, Surr. At least till there's still a chance that I can sneak back into my room without being noticed."
"I hate this so much…" she whispered fervently, leaning back to look at him. Her jaw was clenched tight even as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. She lifted her hand and trailed her long nails along the lines of a tattoo on his shoulder, narrowing her eyes at the design. He sighed, brushing her hair off her left shoulder, then smoothed his fingers along her shoulder blade, where though he couldn't see it, he knew the same tattoo decorated her beautiful skin.
A few moons after joining Scions, he found this design in one of the ancient books dedicated to Miqo'te's cultures and habits during their training. Specifically, in the chapter about Seekers of the Sun's old mating rituals, from before arriving in Eorzea and splitting into tribes. From before slavery under Allagan boot. It looked slightly like Azeyma's sigil, though the circle representing the sun typically was formed of tightly spiraling letters in an unfamiliar, lost tongue. They adjusted it slightly, giggling like kits, before approaching the tattoo master. Only when you knew where to look and looked close enough, you could see that his tattoo contained her name, and hers his, mixed into the spiraling text repeatedly.
At least that way, they allowed themselves to relieve their need to show off who they belonged to.
He let his hand move up and rest against her cheek when he leaned in, brushing his lips against her forehead.
"I hate it too, my love," he sighed, then moved away and pulled on his shirt over his head. "We will need to talk to Alphinaud…" he added in a whisper, wrapping his arms around her again and pulling her against his chest. "And no more trips to Forgotten Knight, as much as that pains me… We have to be more careful, Surr. This city… if word about us gets out, I mean really gets out… It'll end badly. And I do mean a death sentence level of bad."
"I know," she sighed softly, resting her cheek against his chest. "Fucking bigots."
He chuckled involuntarily, then kissed her, enjoying how she sighed softly against his lips, both of them soon purring with pleasure.
He bit her plush lower lip less than gentle before breaking the kiss, enjoying how she shivered with a tiny gasp, then let go of her reculantly.
"Goodnight, my Surr," he whispered, then headed for the door.
"Goodnight, my Raha," he heard right before sneaking out of her room, and his jaw tightened at the note of infinite sadness in her sweet voice, but he didn't dare to look back… leaving her alone already enough to bruise his tired heart.
"What do you mean they've been arrested?" she gasped, her eyes shooting wide open at their host's announcement.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mate freeze as he heard her, stopping in the middle of the stairs leading from the upper level of the mansion to the lobby, where she stood.
"What's going on?" he asked with a frown, resuming and soon joining her side, though keeping safe, hated distance.
"Alphinaud and Tataru been arrested!" she struggled not to growl, shivering as she tried to contain her instant fury and stay in character. "Lord Edmont just informed me they've been accused of heresy and thrown in prison! We have to do something, Raha!"
He sent her narrowed, warning look, and her jaw clenched involuntarily. Then, she took a few quick breaths through her nose, trying to contain her temper and relax.
He'll know what to do; he always did.
"What is this about, sir?" crimson gaze turned toward their host, her mate's expression unreadable, though she knew he was probably already thinking of a few different ways to solve it.
Lord Edmont cleared his throat, turning toward him.
"As I have been just explaining to your sister," he said. "My steward burst in not too long ago with grave tidings. Master Alphinaud and mistress Tataru have been accused of inciting heresy by a knight of Heaven's Ward, Ser Grinnaux."
Surr twitched nervously, struggling not to rush ahead and get their friends back immediately. She would fucking burn this Twelve forsaken city down if they hurt them! She had already lost so many friends… Not to mention Alphinaud was a kid! Okay... maybe he was only three years younger than her, but still! Who throws teens into prison?!
"I do not know the exact nature of the charges against them," Ishgardian noble continued. "But I suspect it may be an attempt to defame house Fortemps since we offered asylum to you and yours. But, unfortunately, not all here are happy to welcome Eorzean refugees."
"I see," Raha drawled through his teeth, his eyes narrowing, though his tone was still calm and polite. "I admit I do not know much of this city politics… If you offered a counsel, sir, it would be most appreciated."
The count frowned with consideration, looking between them.
"You should try to reach Ser Aymeric de Borel," he sighed finally. "He'll know the exact nature of the allegations leveled against them… As lord commander, I believe he may speak on your behalf to the Archbishop. Heaven's Ward answer only to his Holiness. You can find Ser Aymeric at Congregation of Our Knights Most Heavenly."
Surr frowned slightly, remembering the handsome Elzen noble Haurchefaunt introduced to them before they dealt with Shiva and later met again at the banquet in Ul'dah… before that hell went down. He seemed like a good person…
"Thank you," her mate bowed his head politely toward their host, then they exchanged glances and, without a word, headed toward the exit of the mansion, soon stepping out on a frost-covered street.
Surr waited till they moved out of the earshot of the guard at the mansion's door, moving her hand on the grimuar resting at her hip.
"Surr, don't," her Raha whispered, without looking at her, his gaze focused ahead. She twitched, clenching her teeth as she dropped her arm to rest limply at her side.
"I won't let them hurt our friends," she hissed through her teeth, struggling to keep a neutral expression. "No matter what, Raha… We're not losing any more Scions."
"I understand your feelings…" he sighed. "But we can't afford to antagonize people here. We're on thin ice as it is, Surr. We can't go back home, and we can't lose Fortemp's protection. Or put lord Edmont and his sons at risk after everything they did for us."
"But…" she snapped impatiently, sharply turning her gaze toward him.
"I know," he frowned, throwing her a warning look. She wilted, looking at her feet. "But let's see what Ser Aymeric has to say first before thinking of… more extreme solutions."
She clenched her teeth but followed at his side meekly.
Raha was stunned when they were ushered into the lord commander's office as soon as they arrived at the Congregation as if they were… expected.
He was starting to get a… funny feeling about all of this. He really hated politics, he thought, struggling with the idea of backpedaling and taking his mate with him. But, as much as he would love to… they couldn't leave Alphinaud and Tataru at this city's mercy. Not to mention they had nowhere else to go…
Ser Aymeric was a handsome man with black hair and blue eyes, and he welcomed them politely, asking them to take a seat on the chairs opposite his as he sat behind his desk, regarding them with an unreadable expression.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Warriors?" he asked, motioning with his hand for his attendant to leave them. Raha's eyes narrowed, but he didn't comment, instead watching the situation unfold.
"Our friends, Alphinaud Leveilleur and Tataru Taru, were arrested this morning," Surr said with an edge to her voice, her ears lowered considerably against her head as she twitched at the edge of her seat. A picture of the distressed maiden. "For inciting heresy, as we heard. Obviously, we want them freed… Lord Edmont suggested we should ask you to speak on our behalf with the Archbishop, Ser."
"So I've heard," said Ishgardian noble slowly, entirely focused on her, his eyes narrowing slightly before he looked away. "I'm afraid I can't help you, mistress Surr… Ser Grinnaux belongs to Heaven's Ward, Archbishop's personal guard, and those his word is impeachable. Only Fury herself could disprove his claims…"
"But…" his mate started, growing agitated. Raha sighed, stretching his hand and gently placing it on her shoulder while observing the man. She relaxed slightly, moving back in her seat, and he pulled his hand back, resting it again on the armrest of his seat.
"Let's cut to the chase," he said calmly, drawing Elzen's attention. "It's obvious to me you've been expecting us. I don't believe you would do so just to turn us away."
"That's true," the man nodded, looking between them, before focusing on Raha again, folding his hands on the desk. Miqo'te frowned slightly. He could almost swear the man looked… nervous. "I admit, I'm not sure how much you know about our city's politics..." he hesitated.
"Quite honestly, not much," Raha admitted. "Ishgard for so long being out of the Eorzean Alliance, to be one factor… Until recently, we never suspected we'll be… visiting here. I am assuming you're aware of our… circumstances?"
"I am," Lord commander nodded. "What happened in Ul'dah was reprehensible. I wish to offer my condolences on the fate of your order."
Surr twitched visibly in his peripheral vision, dropping her gaze to her lap. Raha's jaw clenched involuntarily, feeling her misery. He knew she still refused to believe that their friends were truly gone. Not that he blamed her… he also held on to the hope that somehow… they survived. And that they'll find them.
"Thank you," he bowed his head slightly. "But I'm assuming that's not the only reason you awaited us?"
"No," Elzen admitted, looking down at his hands. "As I said… I do not know the extent of your knowledge of our city, but hearing of your friends' plight… among other things… I figured we may be able to help each other."
"Among other things?" Raha repeated carefully, slightly leaning forward and narrowing his eyes. Suddenly nervous, he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and struggled not to let it show on his face. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Ser?"
"Ah, there's some… rumors circulating the city since yesterday," the man said without raising his gaze. Raha felt his back go ramrod stiff but forced himself to remain calm, even though he felt his mate's sudden panic across their bond. Fuck! They really screwed up this time… "I'm not one to judge… their accuracy or lack of it, so please, relax. But hearing about it… I've come up with the idea that might benefit all interested."
He clenched his jaw, gears in his head turning furiously as he struggled not to grab his mate's hand and run. He was too aware they had nowhere to run to… He heard people in this city were branded heretics for less, and no one would care that they weren't indeed related. To the world, they were siblings, and if the word of their actual relationship reached the wrong ears, Scions didn't hold influence here to save them. Alphinaud's and Tataru's arrest drove that point home too well.
"We're listening," he heard Surr's quiet voice, even as he felt her anger and fear bubble up at the edges of his mind, setting his nerves on fire.
Ser Aymeric cleared his throat, finally looking at them with a strange… determination in his blue eyes.
"I wish to offer you… both of you… a deal," he said slowly, articulating words carefully and with a frown on his handsome face. "I'll help you free your friends, or at least try, regardless of your agreement or not… But as I said, it may be beneficial for both sides, as long as you're forced to stay in our city."
"A deal?" Raha frowned, exchanging wary glances with his mate, before focusing on the Elzen again. "What sort of a deal?"
"You're…" the man looked down at his hands again, and yeah, he looked nervous now. "I hope this won't leave this room," he cleared his throat and then sighed. "But you're not the only ones in a… relationship that you would prefer not to discuss. Or that it was a talk in… this city. I've been under a lot of pressure lately to… marry, considering my station and city's norms."
Somehow that sinking feeling became more pronounced, and Raha blinked hard, licking his suddenly dry lips and trying not to glare or growl as his mind kept turning toward only one… explanation. One he didn't like… at all.
"I… don't understand?" his Surr whispered with uncertainty.
Ser Aymeric looked up at her, then sighed.
"I wish to ask you, mistress Surr, to pretend to be my fiancée," he said, and her eyes shot wide open as her jaw dropped.
"But…" her gaze instantly shot toward him, then back to Elzen, and she bit her lip as her tail flicked nervously. "I… can't. I can imagine what you're thinking, but me and Raha… we aren't really related… we are not! My parents adopted him when he was little, and we grew up together, but… I love him, only him! And if I ever marry anyone, it will be him, only him!"
"Surr…" he whispered, grabbing her hand and pulling it in his lap, looking at it as he worked his jaw. Trying to think over the wave of his insane possessiveness. She was his… his, his, his… always and forever… "People here…" he gritted out with effort. "They wouldn't care. They brand us heretics and put us to death before you can say a word… It happened for less…"
"As much as I lament it, that's true," Ser Aymeric said quietly. "I'm… working toward reforms and changing that, but for that to take effect… I need to stay in my position," he sighed with resignation, and when Raha looked at him again, he had an unreadable expression on his face again. "Yet my staunch refusals of… taking a proper wife from one of the Houses earned me and my… partner… unwelcome attention. I thought to take up one of the… offers to alleviate it, but after careful consideration… I do not wish for a fiancée or a wife that'll require my… attentions," he looked down again, coloring visibly. "So when I heard about… you, I thought we may help each other… temporarily at least."
"Huh?" Surr sounded truly confused, and Raha sighed, tightening his hand around hers and looking at her with a calming smile, though he didn't feel calm in the slightest.
"All things considered…" he said in a whisper. "I'm guessing Ser Aymeric here is not interested in women, my love. And in Ishgard, that's as frowned upon as… our situation. Or even worse."
"Oh," she gasped, then rolled her eyes with a pout. "Twelve, just when I thought this city couldn't suck more!"
He chuckled involuntarily, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ser Aymeric look up with surprise… and maybe a bit of relief. Raha sighed, in thought at least admitting to himself he felt… bad for the man. And perhaps he even admired him a bit… it had to be so incredibly difficult to approach them… basically strangers… with something like this.
Logically, he could see the pros of the lord commander's offer. It was bound to silence any rumors both about them and him… and his partner, whoever that was. Emotionally, though…? He hated the very idea.
He already struggled so much with being unable to love her openly… With his need to possess and claim her any and every way he could. But, to have another man claim any rights to her… even if it's not real…? The thought made his skin crawl and his ears fall flat against his head.
But they didn't have a choice, did they…? Not when his mate's safety was on the line. Protecting her was always his first and foremost priority.
He sighed again, running his free hand over his hair, then turned toward the Elzen man with a frown, tightening his other hand around hers painfully. She wilted, closing her eyes when she surely sensed his resolution.
"Let's talk details," he said with resignation.
She ended up facing off against two of the Heaven's Ward's knights in a trial of combat, taking Tataru's place and with Alphinaud at her side. Her Raha protested at first, insisting he take part in the combat, but she silenced him with one glare… needing a way to relieve her fury and frustration without breaking her image completely.
Upon their victory, and in the presence of the Archbishop and his Heaven's Ward, not to mention many of the citizens, Ser Aymeric stepped to her side, and they announced their engagement… and Surr tried not to flinch.
She took on primals and the Empire… monsters and villains… yet as the crowd exclaimed their congratulations, she was on the edge of a panic attack. She was fighting with herself not to deny furiously and run to her mate's side. Yet, even as she plastered a grin on her face, she was cursing furiously in thought.
Afterward, they headed back to the Fortemps Manor, deafening the silence between the Scions. Lord Edmont was clearly confused by the news but offered heartfelt congratulations and immediately ordered his servants to prepare a celebratory party, ignoring their denial as a sign of humility. Tataru, excited by the idea, trailed behind him, offering her help.
Surr felt numb and as if her face would crack from fake smiles when she grabbed Alphinaud by the neck of his shirt and, ignoring his stunned gasp, and servants curious gazes, dragged him toward the music room. She didn't have to look back to know her mate was following behind them.
"Raha, sound shield, please?" she asked softly after they entered the room, letting go of the teen's shirt.
"Mhmm," he hummed, and she felt a surge of aether in his soul. "Done."
She started cursing furiously, pacing from one side of the room to the other. By the time she ran out of the air, and way before she ran out of the curses... because yeah, she grew up in a sailor's city, and not only Raha could have a filthy mouth, Alphinaud was staring at her with eyes wide as saucers and blushing so dark, was she in a better mood, maybe she would find it funny.
She took a deep, calming breath and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the floor.
"Surr…" her mate whispered, standing behind her and tightly wrapping his arms around her. He sighed, resting his head against her shoulder. "That's really the best option… for now."
"I know," she hissed, still aggravated beyond words as she wrapped her hands around his arms. She looked up just in time to see Alphinaud's scandalized expression before he looked away quickly. "Oh, by the Twelve! Alphy, we aren't truly related, okay?!"
"Huh?" he blinked at her with confusion and such a dark blush she couldn't help but giggle involuntarily. "But…?"
"We're not," Raha sighed, looking up at the teen. "Her parents adopted me when I was small, that's all."
Alphinaud relaxed visibly, then frowned, dropping on one of the couches and staring at them with consideration.
"But then… why do you keep pretending? And why I never heard about it?" he said slowly.
"Because my insane father kidnapped him," she drawled through her teeth, frowning. She was really beyond fed up. "And obviously, they didn't tell anyone about it… including us."
He blanched visibly, looking away again.
"Yeah," she snarked with a sharp grin. "We thought we were brother and sister when we started fucking."
"Surr, that's quite enough…" Raha hissed against her ear, and she didn't have to look to know he was probably blushing… but at the moment, she didn't care.
"So you see," she continued with indignation. "We got used to hiding. Even our parents don't know… No one knows but you and now Ser Aymeric… and probably at least half of the city suspects it. So now I have to play Aymeric's goddamn fiancée so that we don't get fucking killed for loving each other! So excuse me for being pissed!"
"I… I don't understand," Alphinaud hesitated, swallowing thickly and looking at them with uncertainty. "What does Ser Aymeric have to do with this? And what he gets out of this?"
"That's a long story," her mate sighed, then forcefully turned her around. She refused to lift her gaze, glaring at his chest while tears burned the corners of her eyes, her ears flat against her head. "Alphinaud, if you would be so kind… and look away for a bit…?"
"I'm fine," she snapped, though her throat felt so tight that she could barely breathe.
"You're not," he said back, framing her face with his hands and lifting it toward him. She shivered at the sight of possessive fury in his crimson eyes. "Same as me…" he added, then roughly slanted his mouth over hers. She whimpered breathlessly, fisting her hands in his shirt and pulling him closer as she returned his kiss as desperately and hungry, closing her eyes and drowning in his taste instantly. His delicious scent invaded her nose and filled her lungs and head, soothing her distress… slightly. Then, after a long moment, he broke the kiss, ignoring her regretful whine as he rested his forehead against hers. "It's going to be alright, my love," he whispered, soothingly rubbing his thumbs over her cheeks. "You're still mine, no matter what others think. Only and utterly mine, my mate."
She ignored a quiet gasp behind her, completely focused and mesmerized by crimson irises.
"Promise?" she whispered in a tiny voice, feeling tears stream down her face. "I… I want to be only yours, Raha… As we promised… now and always," she tightened her hands in his shirt, soon sobbing breathlessly. "It's… all my… fault…"
"Hush," he sighed, engulfing her in a tight embrace and smoothing his hand over her hair and back when she buried her face against his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly, clinging to him as if her life depended on it. "We will survive this, my beautiful, beloved Surr," he whispered against her ear. "Like we always do. We will clear Scions name and go back home, tell mom and dad and everyone else… And then… then it'll be all over, I promise, my love."
She wanted to believe that, she did… But a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach had her cry harder, wrapping around him tightly.
"How can I help?" whispered a soft, uncertain voice behind her back, but she didn't hear it, desperately sobbing against her mate's shoulder.
