It took her embarrassingly long time to realize Alphinaud's blunder. Too long to leave the ship and look for another more fitting their… needs.

For the travel itself they packed lightly, most of Raha's things going in the hold with other passengers baggage. Thancred and Alphinaud accompanied them in the harbor until they could board, wishing them pleasant, uneventful travel… though now that she thought about that, glint in her best friend's eyes and a bit mean tilt to his lips were pretty suspicious, but to her later woe it didn't tip her off, really… She was too excited to finally leave the scholar's city and too eagerly considering all the things she would show her beautiful mate once they reach the destination.

Raha, bless his pure heart, didn't even though about it until late at night when they settled against a wall in huge hold, shared by all the passengers… And even then he didn't seem too worried. And as she settled in his lap and leaned against his chest with a sigh; and he pulled blanket around them, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his cheek against top of her head… she didn't had a heart to break the news to him… he would realize it soon enough, she thought.

As he fell asleep and she listened to his even heartbeat, biting her lip in consideration, Surr finally realized something. Raha, being so inexperienced in all the things… privy to their kind and mating habits, probably really thought that it was her 'insatiability' that drove their bodies to crave each other since they met. She would giggle if it didn't gave her a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She did tend to be more impulsive than most, true, and her senses sharpening since meeting Mothercrystal didn't really help that much… but that wasn't really the issue.

Mating bond, as name itself suggested, had about one true goal. In normal case, it took weeks for it to settle into comfortable enough place to stop being… aggravating. Soul-mating bond on the other hand…? It took moons, if it ever did, that is… Since it's not only their bodies craving the contact, but their souls as well yearning for the union and solace it provided.

It was really only the next afternoon, when she leaned against the railing watching the waves and the horizon; Raha bracing his arms around her and resting his chin on her shoulder, that she thought he really started to get the idea about the… issue.

"Twelve…" he murmured, sounding a bit dazed. "You really smell so good, my Surr," and he nuzzled against her throat affectionately, taking a deep breath.

"Raha…" she clenched her hands on the railing, leaning her head back against his shoulder slightly and closing her eyes. "Gods…" she would say the same when his spicy smell seemed to surround her, making her mind spin… if she could catch her breath.

Probably unconsciously he moved forward, pining her between railing and his hard body, one of his hands moving to her abdomen and pulling her back against him as he started to nibble gently on her skin, his breath growing heavy and uneven… until someone coughed behind them meaningfully and he jumped away from her with furious blush. She looked over her shoulder with irritation, her heart pounding so hard… meeting disapproving gaze of some elderly Elzen woman, before she walked off down the deck, mumbling something under her nose about demoralized young people…

Surr heaved a deep sigh, leaning against the railing again, harder this time as she braced her elbow on it and her chin on her palm, pursing her lips.

"What's wrong, my love?" her mate asked softly, still slightly blushing… So cute!... as he leaned his back against the railing next to her, folding his arms over his chest and watching her carefully… and pretending that his red-cyan gaze wasn't trying to drift toward her backside.

She would giggle, if not for ominous feeling.

"Just wondering if Alphinaud did this on purpose or not… Probably not… I hope."

"Huh?" he frowned slightly and she tilted her head to look at him and bit her lower lip… heaving another sigh when his gaze immediately zeroed in on her mouth and heat up. His blush darkened and he stepped from one foot to the other uncomfortably, clearly embarrassed.

So adorable!

"Raha…" she straightened, looking for words as she swallowed hard, trying to calm her heartbeat and ignore heat raising through her body at how absolutely gorgeous his hair shined under the glaring sunlight… "Twelve… " she murmured. "This is going to be really long three weeks."

His frown deepened and he tilted his head with confusion, though his gaze drifted down along her throat, getting stuck and growing intent on the spot where her sleeveless, white shirt covered his mark. He swallowed tightly, soon closing his eyes and breathing in and out few times, then he looked away, clearly still not really understanding…

She heaved another sigh, deciding that yeah, she will have to break the news… and hoping he won't freak out too much.

"Raha…" she started carefully, folding her arms across her breasts and leaning her hip against the railing as she turned toward him with resignation. "What you're feeling right now… it's going to get worse. Much worse," she bit her lip again with uncertainty.

"What do you mean?" he frowned again, dropping his arms to his sides.

Her pure-hearted, naïve mate… She was almost curious how long it'll last once the need to mate start to kick in…

"My love," she pursed her lips slightly, watching his gaze be drawn to her mouth again with almost amusement. "I mean our soul-bond, Raha. Being stuck on this ship without any privacy… The longer we won't be able to… mate… the harder it'll start… driving both of us to do that. It's an inbreed instinct, my beautiful, and it doesn't care about things like morality or good manners. And our bond being still so… fresh… I think it's going to get really bad."

He paled slightly with each of her words, then swallowed hard, looking away again.

"It can't be really that bad," he chuckled a bit nervously, rubbing his neck. "It's just three weeks… I'm sure we can handle this."

Surr blinked at him, then sighed softly and looked toward the horizon again.

Well… he'll realize how wrong he is soon enough...


It took few more bells, when she settled in his lap for the night and her orange smell filled his head, setting his blood on fire; that Raha truly understood gravity of her words.

In the end he was nearly proud of himself when he lasted two more days, nearly driven to insanity before he dragged her out on the deck in the middle of the night, pushed her face first against the wall in a dark enough corner, pulled her short skirt up, underwear and his pants down and pushed inside her with a snarl.

"Raha…" she whined softly, then lifted her hand against her mouth, biting on her hand to stifle her moans as he braced his elbows around her and started to pound into her furiously, biting on her shoulder to quiet his growls and whimpers as her muscles quivered around his cock. He came with a rush right after her, sagging around her with a relieved gasp and in the blissful daze.

It wasn't nearly enough, though, as he soon realized. Though it became often enough occurrence after that, by the end of the second week of their sea voyage they were crazed nearly out of their minds. To the point when most of the nights she would discard her underwear discretely, straddle him under the blankets and climb his throbbing cock, gasping softly against marks on his throat as she moved imperceptibly, both of them coming near instantly and still craving more. Their souls craving more as they didn't dare to connect on that level as dazed and unconscious as that made them for a while.

He suspected, by some disapproving looks they were given sometimes by other passengers, that they weren't as discreet as they hoped, but by the middle of third week he really didn't care; his mind and soul too starved to give a fuck about other's sensibilities.

Which led to his current predicament, sitting against the wall as she coiled around him tightly, shuddering and quivering around his cock, still so achingly hard even though by then he came inside her at least three times; only their blankets and hopefully other's sleep protecting their 'modesty.'

"Please, Surr…" he begged in the whisper against her throat, clenching his hands painfully around her hips. "I can't… anymore… please… Just… this once… please…"

She whimpered desperately, quietly, her teeth digging in his shoulder and drawing blood.

"Can't… Raha... Gods…" she murmured, lifting her head just a bit and licking at the wound; sending violent shudders down his spine. "Oh gods… I'm dying…" and she bit down again, her muscles quivering around him as another orgasm shook her body, leaving her gasping and trembling. Raha barely even noticed coming as well, biting on her in turn just in time to stifle his helpless snarl, so crazed by their torment. At this point his cock didn't even go soft, still throbbing and aching inside her. "Twelve… I can't… Raha…" she whimpered painfully, digging her nails in his shoulders, her thighs shaking around his hips and barely aware enough to keep the blankets from falling from around her.

"Please…" he whined, losing his mind in need, his soul reaching for her across their bond desperately, shuddering and jerking under her as she started to rock against him again, trying to stave off one hunger with the other… and failing miserably. "I… beg you… I need you, Surr…" he was babbling at this point, panting roughly against her throat. "Just… once… please…"

She whimpered softly and finally gave in, sagging against him limply with relieved gasp as their souls melded into each other and he knew no more, only last breathless gasp tearing from his throat, so full of relief as he drowned in her.


Disembarking the ship in Limsa Lominsa felt more like leaving one of seven hells than coming home, thought Surr with relieved gasp. As they waited for their baggage and she leaned against her mate, coiling her arms around his waist tightly and nuzzling against his chest, she really hoped her parents won't mind if they sneak away first to… sate their souls and bodies needs properly before attempting to visit them.

In their state, as Raha wrapped his arms around her as desperately, burying his nose in her hair and shuddering; she didn't though it was the good idea to try to introduce him to her parents just yet… She carefully avoided gaze of other passengers, pressing her forehead against his chest and closing her eyes tightly. Twelve, she suspected at the beginning it'll get bad, but this… She swallowed hard, shivering with terror.

Never again! And she will murder Alphinaud… and Thancred. She hoped he had a good laugh at their expanse, because she's going to…

"Surr!" she heard familiar voice call her name cheerfully and she stilled. Oh no… "We were waiting for your ship, baby!"

Seven hells and Twelve above… They were so screwed…

She untangled from Raha's arms, swallowing nervously and turned, looking up as her parents, T'meto and T'kirh reach them, and just in time because her mom immediately wrapped her in a tight hug with a squeal.

Oh gods… She watched her father's frown with dread over her mom's shoulder. Her ears twitched when Raha swallowed audibly, instinctively backing away. She didn't blame him at all… Her papa could be terrifying when he wanted to. And he definitely did now, as he stared her mate down.

T'kirh Tia was very tall for a Miqo'te, with shock of inky-black hair and same purple eyes as her. She always thought personally that he was very handsome, though most considered his features a bit too sharp. She frowned, noticing predatory wave of his fluffy, black tail and untangled from her mother's hug, instinctively and protectively moving between two most important men in her life and glaring daggers at her father.

"Stop scaring my mate, papa," she growled furiously, her ears falling flat against her head. She blindly reached for Raha's hand, grabbing his wrist and pulling him against her side, not breaking eye-contact with hard, purple stare. "If you want to be angry at someone, it's mine, not Raha's fault, so stop staring at him like that!"

"There will be time to talk about that," her father growled back, narrowing his eyes. "Where is your baggage?" he looked away with another frown, his eyes scanning the harbor.

"Don't hog him, Surr!" she was suddenly pushed away from her mate enthusiastically and she snarled at her mother instinctively, making her giggle and pat her hair quickly before she focused on very flustered Raha. He nearly curled into himself, his mismatched eyes jumping between them with clear panic. Twelve, no wonder… he had no idea how to deal with parents in general… Her heart squeezed painfully. "Azeyma…" her mom gushed with wonder, her green eyes shining like stars as she took in clearly nervous Miqo'te. She tossed quick look back at Surr and winked, before going back to staring. "You weren't lying, Surr… He's gorgeous! And these eyes… Twelve, so pretty…" her eyes shoot wide open when Raha, of course, blushed furiously up to his hairline at the praise… and she squealed with delight, wrapping him in a hug instantly and making him fluster even worse. "I adore him! Oh gods… So utterly adorable!"

"I…" he choked, staring down at enthusiastic Miqo'te wrapping around him with pure confusion on his face and then at her, pleadingly. She shrugged helplessly, shaking her head. There was no stopping her mom when she got enthusiastic about something or someone… She could already see another frown at her father's face and look of resignation in his eyes. He already knew whatever battle he wanted to pick, he already lost with T'meto clearly already in love. "It's… nice to meet you both?" she almost giggled at his slight stammer.

Then she took mercy on him, tapping her mom's shoulder.

"Mom, can I please have him back? He's still mine, you know…" she hoped she doesn't sound as nervous as she felt, still feeling her father's gaze on the back of her head. "You're making him nervous," she wasn't even sure which of them she really meant. Her mom released her mate with a giggle at his obvious fluster and went back to her husband's side, though still staring at Raha with wonder. Surr was secretly glad to see that as she wrapped her arms loosely around her mate's waist, petting his hip imperceptibly to try to comfort him. "How did you know which ship to look out for, by the way?" she frowned slightly, biting her lower lip.

"Thancred called, letting us know, of course!" T'meto laughed, sound so brilliant and pleasant.

Gods… she missed them… She just wished she had some time to prepare beforehand… She's so going to get Than for this…

"You're going to stay with us for the night before leaving for Vesper Bay, of course? I prepared your room, baby," her mom continued and Surr blanched, swallowing hard and trying not to look at Raha.

"Of course, mom," she plastered fake grin on her face, starting to sweat.

They are in so much trouble…


Surr's father was truly terrifying, decided Raha, after they arrived at her parents cottage in Limsa Lominsa's housing district, after sending most of their baggage to Vesper Bay already; and were both promptly sat at the table in their small kitchen, across older Miqo'te's. He was really sweating by then, so nervous he didn't know what to do with his hands and he felt sharp relief when Surr grabbed his hand and wrapped it in both of hers, rubbing it soothingly.

It was still so… new and… pleasant that she wasn't ashamed at all, even in front of her parents, who's opinion clearly was so very important to her.

But it also brought in a sharp focus his body's and soul's starvation for her, and it was all he could do not to whimper desperately, clenching his fingers around her hand.

Twelve… that voyage… never again…

"So, how did you two met?" her mom, T'meto, asked after serving tea and sitting down across from him, still staring… Gods… that made him so nervous… but she seemed so nice too, and looked just like Surr, but with pretty, green eyes. He felt his gaze being drawn in her cheerful stare, even if it constantly made him blush to his utter mortification.

Some impression he was making! Gods…

But he had no idea what to do. He not only didn't remember his… parents… He tried not to growl at that… But also never was in this type of situation before, with how his previous… lovers acted.

Twelve preserve… he was so screwed… And the glares her father kept sending his way wasn't helping at all… Did he already hate him? Was it because of his eyes again? Or did he do something… bad?

"Oh, I spotted Raha almost out of the ship when we arrived in Old Sharlayan with Thancred and Alphinaud, mom," said Surr easily, though he could feel her nervousness. "I asked Than to bring me somewhere where we can eat because I was starving and there was this restaurant at the harbor, Last Stand, and… Raha was there with his… friend… and I fell for him at first sight," she grinned slightly, sending him a look that made his heart vault wildly and he couldn't help but smile back, because she was so gorgeous… "Thancred noticed me staring and provoked me to walk over and introduce myself, and ask him to give me a tour of the city… it went from there," she blushed and he swallowed hard, trying to fight back his own blush and whimper at the thought of what actually followed…

Twelve… it was so hard to breath…

"And you decided to just mate right of the bat?" snapped her father making both of them still and pale. "What were you thinking, Surr? It's beyond… rude and inconsiderate to trample our customs like that!" he growled and Raha's eyes shoot wide open, staring at the man with confusion.

There were… customs? That's why he was so… upset? He bit his lip with uncertainty, looking at his mate and trying to understand. Did he… mess it up somehow? He was the first who bit her, after all…? Not that he was aware what he was doing then… And he didn't regret that at all either. She was his. Her body and soul, both. But is that… going to cause her… grief with her parents?

Surr straightened in her seat meeting her father's gaze with such a fierce determination… so glorious… Though her hands shook slightly around his when she clenched her teeth. So brave… So fierce…

Truly Warrior of Light from legends…

He swallowed hard, chasing the thought away. He still didn't know what to do with that…

"I'm sorry," he whispered finally, earning everyone's attention, and trying so hard to hold furious, purple stare of the other man. He wanted to be worthy of her… he couldn't… couldn't let her take blame for his obvious ignorance. "For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry. I was not… aware at the time… of what is mating bond or what it means. I… I bit her first, so if…"

Her mother whimpered, covering her mouth with her hand and staring at him with tears in her green eyes. Raha froze, looking at Surr with panic, not understanding what he did wrong this time.

She sighed softly, bringing his hand against her lips and putting delicate kiss on it before she pulled it in her lap.

"It's okay, Raha," she smiled at him softly, encouragingly. "It's not any of your fault, my love," then she looked back at her father, her expression much softer and so… sad. "He's telling the truth, papa. He had truly… no idea. When need to… mate kicked in he went feral almost immediately. It's… it's my fault really… I didn't try to stop him and I got… so excited about finding him… I completed the bond without a thought to… proper mating rituals. For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry. You both know I love you very much, and normally would never do anything to… insult you. But… but he's my soulmate, papa. And I love him so much," she dropped her gaze guiltily to the cup of tea in front of her, clearly fighting back tears.

Raha couldn't help himself but pull her against his side, wrapping his arms around her and purring soothingly against her ear, petting her white locks, her misery pulling at his senses. She sagged against him with soft sigh, burying her face in his chest and taking a deep breath. It made him do the same automatically… and he regretted it immediately as her orange smell filled his head and he barely managed to bite back a whimper.

Twelve… she felt so good against him… smelled so good… He needed her so much…

"Kids this days…" her father sighed with clear resignation, but with much softer tone, making Raha's gaze jump toward him with surprise. "No respect for tradition. It's okay, Surr, I'm sorry for snapping like that," he sighed. "It's not like I didn't half-expect that, with your… temper."

"She got from you," snarked her mother with a grin, tears gone, though there was something… strange in her eyes as she looked at him now. "Don't forget that part."

"Like you would ever let me," T'kirh rolled his purple eyes, but there was clear amusement now in the line of his mouth. He didn't actually look that scary anymore like this. Raha blinked hard at the man, tilting his head with confusion, his tail flicking nervously. He also had a strange look in his eyes now, he realized, and it was making him even more nervous than anger.

He had some experience with dealing with anger… This…? He was so… confused. Why were they looking at him like that now? Did he do something wrong again?

Hesitantly, he pulled back from Surr… or tried, because she coiled around him protectively.

"Papa, mom…" she whispered, he voice so soft and sounding like she was on the verge of tears. Her parents focused on her immediately, frowning. "We found out why his… parents," she spat the word with fury. He stiffened, his jaw clenching as he buried his nose in her hair, blushing furiously. "…sent him there. They… they… wanted to… breed him!. Like… like… a chocobo! Because of his red eye… They would… steal him from me!" she moved in his arms to look at her parents, such fury across their bond. "You can say whatever you want… And I still love you so much... but he's mine! Mine! And they treated him so… awful there… whole his life! He had no one to care for him, give him affection… love him! So whatever you say… whatever the tradition… I only regret that I didn't found him sooner…!"

Twelve… he loved her so much it hurt…

He still felt bad, because her mom was crying now, holding her palm against her mouth to stifle her sobs and he was seriously too scared to look at her father again.

Really… he was such a… prize for their beloved daughter… He already made her mom cry like this…

He sagged miserably, his ears falling flat against his head.

Maybe he should have stayed back in Old Sharlayan? At least there… he knew how to deal with others. Eorzea already confused him so much...

He chased the thought away with fury, straightening and blinking hard.

Nonsense! Surr was worth that and more! So what if… her parents hated him? So long she loved him… wanted him, he could handle anything. She was worth it and she was his!

Raha coiled his arms around her possessively, sending her parents a hard stare. She was his!

"Oh, so you do have a spine," her father grinned at him suddenly, his purple eyes so much like Surr's now… "That's good. With her… You'll need that," and he laughed when his daughter huffed at him with indignation.


It was so… strange to be in her childhood bedroom with Raha. Thought of her parents behind the wall was making her quite timid too, she thought with some amusement, discarding her clothes and tossing them on the ground with relief. At least her old, single bed shouldn't be a problem since she mostly slept on top of her mate anyway. And in the morning she can show him all of her favorite places around Limsa, and maybe even show him off a little to some girls she knew around town, if he doesn't mind it much.

And if they know to keep their distance, of course.

She supposed that once they arrive in Waking Sands, Minfilia will want to test and train her mate immediately… she wasn't one to waste any available resource, even one forced on her… Surr almost grinned at the thought; she couldn't wait to see their faces when they realize how brilliant her Raha is .

She maybe lacked some knowledge with her upbringing… not that her parents didn't try to educate her properly, but she just found it so boooring… But even she could pick up at how naturally smart and intelligent her mate was.

Before long, Minfilia will be thanking her, she was sure of that!

"I'm sorry, my Ra…" she turned to him to apologize for spilling everything about his…parents…Not that they deserved the title… but was stopped when he pulled her against him, as naked as her, and slanted his mouth over hers, swallowing her words and breathless whimper when his taste filled her senses.

Gods… so good… so delicious…

She coiled around him immediately, sinking both of her hands in his hair and pulling him against her harder; her mouth growing aggressive and hungry when he whined softly against her lips. When his hands shoot down to cradle her bottom, she jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist and rocking her hips with demand, her tail coiling around him.

He made few blind steps, sitting down on her bed heavily without breaking the kiss, his fingers digging in her skin when he pulled her up and impaled her on his cock, gasping in her mouth. She arched with a whimper, shuddering at feeling him so deep inside her, fisting her hands in his hair desperately.

"I love you," he whispered, trailing bites down her throat. "So much… Surr, I love you so much…" he chanted breathlessly as she squirmed around to brace her knees around his hips. "My mate… my love.. my everything… I love you so much…"

"I love you too, Raha, so much it hurts," soon she was weeping, raining soft kisses across his face and throat, and untangling his braid to comb her fingers through his hair and pet his ears affectionately; so moved by tenderness and pure love in his soothing voice. "My beautiful, perfect, precious mate. I love you so much…" she coiled her arms tight around his neck and caught his pretty lips in another kiss, this so much sweeter and loving, as she moved on top of him slowly and tenderly, swallowing his moans and whimpers. Soon tasting salt of their mixed tears as their souls melded into each other, so perfect...

Their peak didn't slam into them, but spilled over their mixed senses in slow, soothing waves. They both just sighed softly with pure relief, and she broke the kiss, resting her forehead against his, their content purrs mixing together when she smoothed her hands affectionately over his hair, ears and shoulders; and felt him do the same in turn.

Surr smiled softly, still so touched by it… He was so sweet, her Raha, so tender… Every time she thought about how boundless was his need to give and receive affection… Twelve… she wanted to cry just thinking about his childhood…

"Surr? What's wrong?" he whispered softly against her throat, for sure sensing her sadness. He leaned away, framing her face with his hands and looking at her carefully, so worried…

How can anyone not love such a beautiful, sensitive soul as his? How his… mother… no… the bitch who gave him life, which is probably the only good thing she ever did… how could she look into this absolutely gorgeous eyes that showed his beautiful heart so clearly… how could they ever do this to him? How any of his guardians… any of people in Old Sharlayan look at him and see anything else than how good, pure and strong he was? How?

It really boggled her mind.

"It's okay, my beautiful," she hummed finally, pushing his hands away from her face delicately to pull his head against her shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her cheek against his as she combed her fingers through his hair tenderly. "Everything is okay now, my love. You're safe now and I'll never let anyone hurt you again, I swear. My beautiful, perfect Raha. I love you so much, so much…" she sighed softly, nuzzling her cheek against his, then kissing it gently.

He exhaled slowly, closing his arms around her and pulling her close, wet drops falling on her shoulder and making her want to whimper.

"I'll deserve you, I will," he whispered hotly, burying his face against her neck. "No matter what… I will."

"You already do, my Raha," she assured softly, running her free hand soothingly up and down his spine. "I'm yours and you're mine. Now and forever."

"I don't, not yet… but I will, I swear, Surr…" he curled around her so desperately and she sighed sadly.

But that's okay… That's alright… She's didn't mind spending the rest of her life convincing him how wonderful he is… how precious… how beautiful… in and out…

And maybe someday she will believe herself that… that she deserved him, too…