Being married and mated to a man like the former Warrior of Light had quite a few responsibilities. Honestly, not all of them Raha – or Damon, whose skill with predictions of the events none of them could doubt – expected. And considering Senri and his immortal passenger, Ares, literally thrived on surprising them…
Or at least that was his line of thought when the door of his office opened and his crimson eyes turned toward the sound while four kits walked in, giving him the look of pleading kittens. And considering that behind them strolled in literal kittens, bawling in their tiny voices, he was more than familiar with the expression.
Something's up, hummed Damon suspiciously, and considering the date, Raha definitely didn't blame him. I bet whatever it is, Senri put them up to this.
Though he was more than inclined to agree, he put a sympathetic expression on his face and, folding his hands on the desk's surface, waited until the kits stopped before him. Ralla and Nari held their hands, in front, with Nico and Navi behind them – and if it truly was some setup by his husband, he thought they could consider sending their charges for some sort of acting lessons…
"Raha, we need your help," Ralla stated with a pout, like always the leader of the pack… so to say. He forced his lips not to twitch, instead slightly raising his eyebrows.
"Whatever seems to be the issue?" he asked with a smooth cadence and soothing smile. "And are the kittens all right?" he sent a meaningful look toward the crying animals and almost snorted a laugh when the kits sent their tiny companions sort of hilarious, deadpan stares. Clearly, those needed a few more acting lessons…
"Don't mind them, uncle," Navi cleared his throat, kneeled by the kittens, and with a few whispered words, the tiny things cheered up instantly, trotting around the office and exploring. Considering they rarely had an occasion while the oldest of their 'pride' was present – and Salina, true to her title of their Princess, was growing to be an extremely territorial cat – soon their apparent roles were forgotten in favor of exchanging comments about their exploration. His nephew, in the meantime, stood up and moved back behind Senri's sister, tossing her a meaningful look. Raha had to stop a smirk when she turned toward him with an adorable pout, clearly realizing that whatever her brother put her up to, his husband was onto them.
Still, he would have to be someone else not to melt when the tiny blonde used her most potent weapon against him: Senri-like goofy grin bloomed on her cute face, dealing his heart truly inhumane damage. So even while Damon chortled at his expanse, Raha sighed with pretend resignation and waved his hand toward the girl to spill.
"Okay, what is it really about?" he asked, leaning toward them and smiling ruefully.
"We need you to come with us," Ralla stated still with that grin, pointing her finger toward him, then to the exit of his office.
"Not right now," chimed in Nari, tossing her best friend a slightly narrowed, deadpan stare of mismatched red-cyan eyes, then smiled sweetly toward him and fluttered her long, dark-red lashes. One day, after she grows into the beauty her features already promised, he was sure that his husband would have his hands full chasing off enamored boys, he thought with some mix of amusement and adoration, knowing that smile always got her whatever she wished from Senri. "But later, because mom promised to take us to New Gridania for the celebration of Valentione's Day, uncle, but she can hardly take care of all of us," she sighed dramatically, then ruined it, sending him a coy smirk.
Yes, she was the one they would have their hands full with, no doubt about that.
He leaned back in his seat, sending a meaningful look toward his adopted son behind her, but Nico shrugged with a carefully innocent expression. He was the one that usually took it upon himself to take care of the younger kits during any escapades – even when they insisted he didn't have to – so his silence spoke more than the words could.
Not that he didn't expect that Senri was going to come up with something, as the last year during this holiday – the celebration of Memphina, patron of love – they were still hiding their relationship from the public eye. He had his surprise waiting for the evening – thanks to Damon's eager help creating the concealed room in the underground level of their home wasn't much of an issue – but, yes, he more than expected that his lover was going to come up with something more public… considering he loved to push Raha's… kink with that.
"Okay," he sighed, rubbing his chin with consideration. "How long do I have?" he asked Ralla and was instantly rewarded with another grin.
"About two bells," she replied without missing a beat, then nodded toward her companions, and the kits swiftly gathered their kittens, then, with quiet snickers, left his office. The tiny blonde even send him a playful wink before closing the door behind them.
What do you think he's up to, exactly? He asked his constant companion, pushing his seat back and standing up, then settling to leave his office and head to their bedroom to shower and change.
With him…? Damon chuckled fondly. Who knows?
When they arrived in the city by ferry, Raha was promptly pulled aside near the Lancer's Guild by his nephew and very tempted to downright gush at the adorably serious expression on the young Seeker's face.
"I have… a request, uncle," Navi whispered, tossing a slightly nervous look toward his mother and the other kits, busy admiring the decorations spread out throughout the city.
"I'm listening," he replied smoothly with an easy, reassuring smile while resting his hand on his delicate shoulder. He suspected that it was going to be a while still before he was going to stop wincing internally whenever his sister's children called him that – even though he was the one that asked them to do so. Together with Jalla, they did decide to keep the fact that their father was also her kits father from the twins, reasoning that it was not something that truly mattered. Their Twelve-forsaken tribe – and their sick ideas – was gone, and very few even remembered that it existed in the first place, and as far as both of them were concerned, good riddance.
I was considering something, actually, his immortal said suddenly. At the same time, the boy clearly gathered his courage for whatever the reason behind his visible nerves and a slight blush. His red-cyan eyes drifted back to their companions and got stuck on Senri's gorgeous little sister, gushing funnily and pointing toward the heart-shaped balloons overhead. One day, when they are old enough to make that decision, I do think we will be able to recreate the argumentation that Unei and Doga did to you, Raha.
Whatever for? He asked, trying not to let his instant apprehension show. That would grant them control of the Crystal Tower, Damon, and I thought that it was one of the reasons why we are immortal, yes?
Yes, but do think about it, my boy, Damon sighed and replied soothingly. It's only an idea if they ever want to, nothing more. One day they will get curious about it, and considering our work now, it's not like it wouldn't benefit us to have more people able to control the Tower, yes?
Let's leave it for when they do ask about it, then? He answered with some hint of resistance. Thinking about it, he didn't doubt that Damon was likely correct – one day, twins are bound to ask why they had such uncanny eyes while both of his were Allagan crimson. As he once did… if then, he had no one to ask. And with the still undergoing rework of the crystalline palace of the long-dead Empire into the massive gate to the remaining Reflections, he could easily see the benefits Damon implied – as once complete, he would be the only one capable of operating the structure as despite their efforts – his and Cid's – the recalibration of its system whenever it's control was in question, failed miserably.
The old Allagan Emperors made sure that none other could take their most prized possession of their hands, as Hades explained with a somewhat wry smirk.
As you wish, his immortal replied soothingly.
"I want…" his nephew's quiet voice brought him back to reality, and Raha blinked, smiling at the boy's shy look. "…to get something nice for Ralla," Navi blushed up to his hairline, tossing another nervous look toward the girl. "But… I don't know what...?" he added with a pleading look toward him.
Yes, this bet with Senri he was sooo going to lose, Raha thought, biting back a grin as he took on a carefully considerate expression, looking toward the blonde. The 'crush' between the kits was a somewhat running joke in their family, with Navi and Ralla being quite literally unable to stay apart for longer than a few bells at most. It was reassuring, honestly, as with how the girl's looks promised to one day match if not overshadow her and Senri's mother's staggeringly beautiful looks, how her heart seemed set on the boy they could trust never to hurt her, put them at ease.
And honestly, it led to more hilarious situations than he could count – as the tiny blonde definitely inherited more than a hint of her brother's temper and possessive nature. If another girl as much as dared to look toward his redheaded nephew too long, they were on a swift trail to be on receiving end of the blonde's scorn. There were few things that he found cuter than Ralla's navy-blue eyes turning dark like a starless night sky and her much by now expected creativity in making sure that given girl did not doubt that Navi was taken – to the boy's hilarious obviousness.
"Let me think…" he murmured, rubbing his chin and dragging his eyes over the red and pink decorations. Then he grinned at the boy and winked when the idea popped into his head. "I think I remember reading that this celebration is bound to include a stall with heart-shaped chocolates, Navi, that one is supposed to offer to the person who has their heart," he said, fondly ruffling the boy's longish red hair when his red-cyan eyes downright sparked with enthusiasm at that, and his as red tail waved madly. "That something that would fit, yes?"
"Definitely!" his nephew grinned, looking toward the blonde with a dark blush but without a hint of hesitation in his mismatched eyes. Yes, about these two's future, they didn't have to worry. Then the boy frowned and shifted from one foot to the other, looking up at him with an adorable pout. "But… how am I supposed to get it without making it too obvious?"
"I'll help you with that," he assured with a chuckle, then led the boy back to the group and smiled innocently at his older sister when she turned her cyan eyes toward him and slightly raised her eyebrows. The sight of the deep scar marring the beauty of her face never stopped to make his heart ache – knowing she earned that memento for refusing to part with him – but when he asked her if she wished it gone, he understood when Jalla refused with a somewhat wistful smile.
"For the longest time, it was the only thing I had left of you, little brother," she said, breaking his heart, but not in a bad way. "I'm not ashamed of it, but proud, that's all," she shrugged with a smile, dismissing his offer.
And some days, looking at her and getting to know her fiery temper and fearless heart, he ached, wondering if their mother, G'yalla, was like her. Jalla did tell him whatever she could remember about her, but it wasn't much, considering she was six years old when they were robbed of their mother's warmth. He made certain that the person responsible for that paid – and would do so for the rest of eternity – but as satisfying as it was, it didn't make up for what was taken from them.
"If you don't mind, Jalla, I'm going to take the boys and leave you for a moment, okay?" he asked with an easy smile, motioning for Nico to come along. The dark-haired Keeper took one look at his face, then his expression grew unreadable, and he swiftly moved to his side.
"Whatever for?" his sister asked suspiciously, resting her hands on the girls' shoulders, which looked between them with confused frowns. "I think the celebration itself is supposed to start shortly…?" she looked toward them, and both Ralla and Nari nodded enthusiastically, tossing him a slightly nervous look.
Ah, so whatever surprise his husband was cooking had something to do with the event they were heading to, taking place at Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre…
"Don't worry, and go ahead," he replied with a smile, resting his hands on the boys' shoulders and nudging them toward the lit-up alley of the market. He figured if the thing they were looking for was a stall, it would be set up there, or likely any of the merchants should be able to point them toward it. "Using the occasion, I would like to get something for Senri, and boys can help me pick something fitting," at that the girls relaxed and grinned, waving their tails with enthusiasm, then grabbed Jalla's hands and tugged her in the opposite direction, toward the Amphitheatre.
"Come on, mom, I don't want to miss the beginning," he heard Nari say before the girl turned back to him and sent him a wink with a funny grin.
With her, they would have their hands full, he decided, then shook his head and followed the boys toward the market.
Looking for the stall with chocolates took longer than he expected (though he should have figured out that it would be set up right by the entrance of the Amphitheatre!). The celebration itself seemed to be in full swing by the time he rejoined his sister and the girls, who seemingly kept one whole bench free for them, despite the crowd filling the area. Though more than a few of the present clearly recognized him, he was thankful they didn't choose to approach, instead turning back toward the stage and the proceedings on top of it. Raha settled down next to his sister in the middle of the bench, with boys taking seats on his left, while Ralla and Nari sat on Jalla's right, seemingly so mesmerized by the view, they didn't seem aware of their return, funnily waving their red and blonde tails in tandem.
Jalla tossed him a curious look, but he shook his head, pressing his finger against his lips, and narrowed his eyes toward the stage, wondering what exactly was the 'surprise' that he was lured here for. With the two girls dressed into the male and female outfits he somewhat vaguely recognized as the descriptions of the Valentione's representatives, he somewhat flinched, and his jaw dropped a little when he recognized two… people currently accompanying them: Urianger and one of the Lopporits, Puddingway, apparently busy describing their 'love' toward their favorite dishes.
"What is this…?" he murmured, leaning toward his sister.
"Ah, apparently, they're inviting the people to share what they love the most in whatever form they wish," Jalla replied quietly with a snicker, nudging his side with her elbow. "If they would call you, what would you say?" she asked with a grin.
"Senri, obviously," he replied, tossing an apprehensive glance toward the stage. He did not want to be called there… and hoped that whatever his lover's surprise, it didn't include that. "And you…?" he asked back, raising his eyebrows expectantly.
"My babies," she grinned, looking toward the stage.
He watched her profile for a moment with a smile, wondering if he should warn her that one of his and Senri's friends not so long ago visited him, asking if he wouldn't mind his interest in her. He was pretty apprehensive about that at first, but with Senri's insistence, he had to agree that few men would be more capable to take proper care of Jalla and her twins than Thancred – if she would be interested, that is. He wasn't sure – as while since then, the ashen-haired Hyur visited their home a few times, subtly enough 'testing the waters,' his sister seemed pretty oblivious to his interest – polite but slightly distant and always busy looking after her kits. Though, to his slight surprise, Thancred didn't seem discouraged by that in the slightest, and with Senri's 'I warned him to be serious about that, if he's going to ask you,' he somewhat resigned himself to leave it be, and see how it's going to turn out.
"Thank you!" the magically amplified voice sounded from the stage, and he flinched slightly, turning his eyes toward its source. One of the representatives, in the female version of the colorful outfit, was waving off Urianger and Puddingway from the stage, then she and her companion moved to the opposite sides of the wooden structure, bowing elegantly toward the gathered crowd that gave a round of applause, him included, though he chuckled sheepishly, realizing he was so busy with his musing he didn't hear any of the performance. He had no idea what possessed Urianger… but could only hope that the Elzen won't think to ask him what he thought about it – returning the wave when the former Scion noticed him and bowed slightly with a somewhat sheepish smile.
"As for our next guest," the girl in the male outfit said when their straightened and the people around them grew quieter. "We believe that he's a person that doesn't need an introduction!"
Oh, here it comes, Damon chuckled with some excitement.
"Please, help us welcome our hero!" called on the other side the girl in the female outfit, and both at the same time motioned toward the back of the crowd, the Amphitheatre's entrance. "The Warrior of Light, T'senri Tia!"
The applause was deafening while all turned toward the given direction, and Raha followed with a grin… that melted quickly when his jaw dropped at the sight of his husband… or rather, what he was wearing!
Oh, my…! Damon downright gushed, and he blinked numbly when his lover strode confidently through the crowd toward the scene, on the way sending him a wink and a kiss… which, embarrassingly, raised quite a few squeals from the gathered.
Raha, dumbstruck in awe at his lover's beauty, followed him with his gaze when he climbed the stage, then turned toward the crowd and bowed with his trademark grin. Standing there, in the ink-black, skin-tight sleeveless vest that parted on his sides, held together with strings and revealing the glory of his pale skin, with long gloves in the matching color and dark pants enclosed in thigh-high boots decorated with strings climbing up to the top of them, he looked like a fantasy come to life, as his outfit beautifully accented his unreal beauty. His now longer hair, but still with those lovely braids at the left side of his head, shone in the lights illuminating the stage, and that instantly made Raha's hands itch to drown in their unmatched softness. An obvious spark of humor in his pale, ice-blue irises surrounded by a thick veil of jet-black lashes told him that his husband was more than aware of his admiration when Senri looked straight at him over the crowd.
"Thank you for your warm welcome," Senri bowed toward the audience with another grin, then looked around the girls, that nodded and moved behind him. Then his lover smiled a bit sheepishly and rested his hands on his hips, funnily waving his dark tail while the crowd looked toward him with clear expectation – more than a few making Raha blush as they eagerly turned to look toward him, too. Clearly noticing that, Senri grinned his ridiculously lovesick grin and wiggled his eyebrows playfully before he cleared his throat and continued. "I see, I don't have to worry about you not knowing what I'm going to praise," he snickered to the audience's loud cheer, then bowed theatrically, winked at him… and Raha's eyes grew huge with his next words. "As for a form… I hope you don't mind a song," he grinned again at his stupefied expression.
Can he sing…? Damon hummed with no less surprise than he felt, and he only shrugged helplessly in answer but couldn't help but lean forward… or stop his tail from waving with enthusiasm. He loved Senri's deep, rumbling voice… but other than one time translating the Hydealyn's Call for him, he never heard his lover actually sing… and now he was dying to!
He wasn't the only one, as the audience grew utterly silent, looking toward the former Warrior with anticipation, including their family and the kits tossing him wide, eager grins.
Senri cleared his throat again, then smiled somewhat sheepishly, and while their gazes met over the crowd and locked, he opened his mouth and started to sing, mesmerizing him instantly.
Look into my eyes – you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there, you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you
Look into your heart – you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am, take my life
I would give it all, I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you, oh, yeah
There's no love like your love
And no other could give more love
There's nowhere unless you're there
All the time, all the way, yeah
Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
Yeah, I would fight for you, I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you, yeah, I'd die for you.
Raha didn't register moving, so caught up in the snare of the pale blue irises he loved more than a century – and knew he'd love for the rest of eternity. He didn't, but as his lover's deep voice hypnotized him, and the heat and sincerity in his eyes made his heart want to burst under the sheer scope of his love for his husband, somehow, without knowing, he found himself right in front of Senri, shakily curling his fingers in the collar of his vest. And his husband almost too-pretty lips tilted into a lovely smile as he curled his hand around his cheek and lowered his head until their foreheads met. His voice dropped lower, nearly a rumbling purr around the last words of the song, dripping with the sinful promise of the heat in his ice-blue eyes.
You know it's true
Everything I do, oh, I do it for you.
And when Senri's voice trailed off, he wrapped his arms around his neck tightly and didn't even mind the deafening cheer and applause behind him when his lover took his mouth into a deep, devouring kiss.
T'senri knew that his snickering at his husband's dark flush while he tugged him along away from the Amphitheatre, was downright mean, but he couldn't help himself. When Raha climbed the stage with a dazed expression – as if lured in by a siren's song, then kissed him at the full display for the audience… Azeyma, but it was hot! That moment later, he granted him – and the crowd! – the sight of his likely darkest blushes yet… well, was just too cute!
"Why I didn't know you could sing, Snark?" his lover muttered, and when T'senri looked back at his expression with a smirk, yeah, he was pouting, and that only made him snicker again.
"Well… you never asked, did you?" he snarked, wiggling his dark eyebrows playfully. Then, using the fact that they entered one of the tunnels leading to the Old Gridania, he unceremoniously showed his lover against one of the walls and pinned him against it, resting one elbow by his head while he wrapped the fingers of the other around his husband's chin and tilted his head, at the same time leaning in until their breaths mixed. That Raha's pretty lips were still swollen from the kiss, and despite the place, he didn't protest, instead, raising his hand to his neck and tangling his fingers into his hair was almost as arousing as the way his spicy scent instantly swollen with the tang of arousal. And when his other hand curled around his side, sneaking into the opening of his vest, it sent an almost violent shudder down his spine.
"And this get-up…?" his lover chuckled breathlessly as his hand tightened into a fist in his hair.
"Whatever do you mean…?" he purred with amusement, brushing his thumb over his mate's lower lip. "It's my Bard's glamour, that's all," he snickered when his husband's dark-red eyebrows funnily scrunched up in a frown.
"Bard's…? Since when did you master that class?" he asked with some uncertainty, and T'senri chortled, tilting his head to the side to drag his tongue over the line of Archon's mark on his throat before answering, not missing the way Raha's breath hitched or the way his hand pressed deep under his vest, clearly heading toward the base of his tail.
"Ummm… Will be like almost seven years now…?" he hummed with pretend consideration, lowering his hand from his chin to drag it down his lover's side and shamelessly curl it around his delectable behind, grinning when Raha's breath stuttered and the arousal in his scent spiked. Oh, but it was always sooo much fun to get him riled up in the public spaces – even if hopefully unnoticeably, he carefully wrapped a bubble of soundproof invisibility as soon as he pressed him against the wall. As much as his prince enjoyed this sort of play, T'senri's instincts refused to let anyone else see the beauty of his soulmate under his ministrations. "You know, I met this really skilled archer one day… and since you know I tend to be a sentimental fool…" he chuckled sheepishly when his mate flinched at that slightly. His crimson eyes grew impossibly huge when T'senri lifted his head to brush the tip of his nose against his in an affectionate caress. "I do admit I rarely use it… But have to say that it is fun to shove an arrow up the enemy's arse occasionally, quite literally," he snarked and grinned when Raha couldn't help but snort a laugh.
"You're impossible," his lover sighed with exaggerated resignation, then freed his arms to wrap them around his neck, pulling him closer until their lips brushed against each other with his next words. "But I did love that song, Snark," he purred.
"I noticed," he replied, then claimed his lovely lips, at the same time tightening his hand with pure possessiveness around his buttock, pulling him tight against him to let his mate feel the evidence of his arousal. The kiss swiftly turned aggressive as his mate reacted to that feeding him a maddening mix of his nearly musical mewls and whimpers, his mounting arousal undeniable. Relaxing and clenching his hand rhythmically over his ass, forcing Raha to rut against him slowly, he pulled back from the kiss with a nip to his plush lower lip, to growl quietly as he pulled his husband's arms back from his neck and, despite his whimper of protest, pushed him against the wall again.
"Wha…?" the redhead gasped, then flushed darkly when T'senri grinned gleefully, falling to his knees in front of him and unceremoniously tugging his belt open, then carefully pushing his pants down his hips while looking up and wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
"Next part of your present, love," he purred teasingly, then snickered quietly when Raha flushed darker, looking toward both sides of the tunnel. Still, his hand shakily curled into his hair, thumbing the back of his ear when the redhead looked down again, his handsome face T'senri's favorite shade of red. Seeing the permission in the fiery glint of lust in his half-lidden eyes, he couldn't help a hungry growl as he tugged his lover's pants down to his knees, then sighed with bliss at the intoxicating musky difference in his scent as he wrapped his palms around his ass while burying his nose right by the base of his mate's dick. "Gods, love your scent, my prince," he purred near-deafeningly, and his ears twitched at the way Raha's choked on a rumbling purr of his name, already shivering with anticipation in his grip as his aroused flesh twitched against his cheek.
Not one to have his beautiful mate wanting, he forcefully choked down his purrs, then dragged his tongue from the base of his dick to its tip, letting the thick head slide slowly over the rough flat side of his tongue as he looked up and caught his lover's dazed, enamored stare. Almost the same as when he walked toward the stage, he thought with amusement, then tilted his head and lowered it, easily swallowing his cock down. And the way his husband arched with a breathless whine in his grip, drowning both hands in his hair and holding on for dear life… was definitely a reward in itself, but he was far from being done. Smoothing his hands over his buttocks soothingly, as he swallowed around his dick, he was granted another dazzling mewl of bliss, and Raha took the hint, holding his head still while he rolled his hips with a choked moan, setting to fuck his mouth with obvious relief.
And when his ears twitched at the sound when someone completely unaware walked past them, and his prince downright meowed with a mix of arousal and embarrassment but didn't stop, he rewarded him in turn, letting his throat vibrate with purrs around his flesh. Raha whimpered his name, tightening his hands in his hair painfully, but T'senri didn't mind, increasing the intensity of the vibration as his lover's thrusts soon grew almost brutal, now pushing and pulling his head to meet his strokes. And when his cock throbbed on his tongue noticeably, the black-haired Seeker, without warning, pushed his hand up to his lower back, curled it around the base of his tail, and tugged, with the practice of knowing his lover's needs, sending him over the edge with a choked groan. When thick ropes of his seed poured down his throat, he swallowed eagerly, petting his mate's thighs soothingly while he shook, mewling his name until he sagged against the wall behind him bonelessly.
More than pleased with himself, T'senri pulled back, cleaning his spent flesh while his lover's shaky hands set to pet his ears gratefully.
"Gods, Snark…" Raha rasped hoarsely, then cleared his throat and sighed with bliss, rubbing his hand against his cheek. "…you're such a good boy, my beautiful beast," he purred praise, and T'senri looked up with a smug grin, with premeditation waving his tail with enthusiasm at the obvious pleasure in his lover's flushed face.
"Happy Valentione's Day, my heart," he hummed, then stood up slowly and wrapped his hands around Raha's heated cheeks, placing a sweet, tender kiss on his bruised lips. And when Raha pulled him down into a deeper kiss, he was more than happy that his gift turned out to be a spectacular success!
His jaw dropped at the sight in front of him, and his ears twitched with Raha's amused snicker when his husband gently pushed his hands against his back, forcing him deeper into the room.
If you could even call it a room!
"Is this illusion?" he murmured, looking around with astonishment. Because it was no way it was real…
Baffled, he tapped his boot against the wooden floor, then again raised his stunned gaze toward the sight, as it looked like after passing the door in the underground level of their home, he was suddenly outside. Past the patch of something like a wooden deck, there was a huge steaming pool, and behind it, a grand view of the starlit sky above the wooden fence surrounding the area. The (illusory?) room was decorated in a distinctively far eastern manner, reminding him of their trip to Kugane not so long ago – where they visited the public baths. With a handsome amount of gil for the owner, he spent a good amount of time testing his lover's newly acquired Kojin's blessing… He grinned involuntarily at the memory, then turned back toward his husband and made a wide gesture toward the interior, not even trying to hide his astonishment.
"Partially," Raha replied smugly, then motioned toward the fence across the pool. "Obviously, we used Kugane's baths for inspiration, so up to the 'fence' everything is… ah, material," then he pointed toward the stars above them, and T'senri followed the gesture with his gaze. "That, of course, is illusory, and considering I know you enjoy this type of view, Snark, it won't change."
"I love it," he sighed, then chuckled sheepishly when his lover snickered at his expanse.
"Now, now… that's only a part of my gift, love, so… undress and get in the pool," Raha said with a downright devious smirk, motioning toward the bench and open-shelved closet at the side of the 'deck.'
"Yes, my prince!" he saluted with a grin, then walked over to the furniture and sat down, setting to discard his boots while looking toward the shelves curiously. There were plenty of neatly folded towels in mostly red and black, obviously, but also many different colored bottles he didn't recognize. And while he fought with the thigh-high boots, by the time he managed to get them off, his husband, while quite adorably humming the melody of his song, picked up a set of towels from one of the shelves, then set them in a safe distance by the pool. Next, he grabbed something that looked bigger than a towel – he guessed a blanket – and carefully picked a light green bottle out of the other shelf. Under his curious look, Raha winked at him and walked to the other side of the deck to put the bottle down, then with a thump! he spread the dark, thick material on the floor next to it.
"Oh…" he grinned, realizing his intent as he stood up and carefully discarded his long gloves and vest and all of its belts. "I get a massage?" he wiggled his eyebrows playfully when Raha turned his gaze to him and grinned back.
"Mhmm, another part of your gift," he said, then walked back to him and, with a somewhat distinctively coy smirk, dragged his fingers over his stomach and down his abdomen to then tap it against the waistband of his pants.
"You spoil me, Raha," he purred, lowering his head to brush his lips against his cheek while hooking his thumbs in the waistband of the dark material and pushing it down his hips slowly under his lover's heated gaze.
"That's the plan, beast," his mate cooed, looking up with that lovely smile while using its freedom, he took hold of his dick, pumping his fingers along its length slowly. T'senri moaned openly at his caress, rolling his hips into his grip, and the fiery spark of lust in the crimson irises was a beautiful reward. Still, to his surprise, Raha seemingly caught himself and pulled his hand back with a self-conscious snicker, backing away a step from him. "You're too tempting, Senri," he sighed, then motioned toward the pool behind him. "Bath first."
"Tease," he accused with a pout but obediently undressed his pants the rest of the way, tossing them across the bench.
"All in good time, love," Raha assured, but then had the temerity to swat his ass when he passed him on the way to the pool… and blink innocently when his shocked gaze shot toward him. "What…?" he fluttered his long lashes, and T'senri couldn't help but snort a laugh and shake his head.
"And you're complaining that I can't refuse Nari anything," he snarked, leaving his husband to undress and stepping at the edge of the pool. "Is it deep enough to jump in?" he asked, looking at his pouting lover over his shoulder with raised eyebrows.
"Of course, though on that side," Raha replied, pointing to the right side of the pool, then the left. "There, it is shallower, and under the surface, there's a bench to sit on," then he frowned at him when T'senri walked toward the right edge of his lover's glorious creation. "And what was that supposed to mean? About Nari?" he added when he looked at him again.
"Seriously…?" he snickered, then shrugged when Raha frowned at his amusement. "Gods, Raha… Because she's like you in that regard, obviously," then he laughed softly when his husband seemed confused at the statement.
"I beg your pardon, Snark," his lover pouted at him, at the same time setting to discard his shirt. "I would say if we're looking for similarities between my sister's children and me, Navi's attitude resembles mine more."
"In a way," he agreed with a nod, then sent him a smirk, involuntarily admiring the sight of his muscular body when he turned to put his neatly folded shirt next to his carelessly tossed clothes. That he also always found cute about his husband: the way he barely seemed aware of doing everything orderly. Though he also appreciated that Raha never seemed to get upset with his messiness. At most, he would roll his eyes at him if his shelves in their bedroom got too messy, whisper a spell and organize it in a blink of an eye – but in a way that didn't collide with his 'organized' chaos. "In looks, yeah, he's like your miniature version from back when we met," he said fondly, stopping at the deeper side of the pool and turning toward it. "Attitude wise, though… I won't agree there, love. He does tend to be calmer and polite, and with that, he does remind me of your 'Exarch' persona, but if pressed to answer which of them reminds me of you more, I would always say Nari. I like to think… if not for how your childhood looked like, you would be as… spunky? Is that even a word...?" he hummed with consideration, setting into a jump. "But you know what I mean, right…? She's already as much of a tease as you are when nobody is watching," and he jumped in with a laugh, chased by his lover's indignant hiss.
When he broke the surface again, pushing his wet hair back from his eyes, he grinned involuntarily at Raha's pout while his husband – naked – walked toward the shallow side of the pool, then jumped in, sitting on the bench and splaying his shoulders over the edge of the pool behind him, tossing him a narrowed look when he swam toward him, then stood up when his feet reached the surface of the bottom.
"Ah, don't pout, love," he chuckled fondly, then, with a few steps, fell to his knees in front of him and, pushing his legs apart, settled between them, leaning in for a kiss and snickering when his husband turned his pursed lips away, but with an obvious hint of amusement in his fiery eyes. "It is a compliment, Raha: I do love your teasing, you know that," he assured, wrapping his hand around the back of his neck and with a thumb against his cheek, keeping him in place as he kissed his pretty mouth.
"I guess…" his lover drawled with a haughty tilt to his dark-red eyebrows when he leaned away, resting his hands on the bench around his hips. "…then it's going to be fun to watch you squirm when she's big enough to start noticing the boys as more than playmates, then?" and he grinned at his instant scowl, raising his hand and tapping his finger against his chin.
"Over my dead body," he stated with power but smirked when his beautiful prince snorted a laugh at that.
"You don't seem to mind Ralla and Navi's 'courting,' though…? Which reminds me…" he shifted on his seat and, under his surprised gaze, picked up something from the floor behind him, soon putting a neatly packed square in front of his face. "For you, love," he purred teasingly when T'senri grinned and straightened, taking the packet from his hands and unpacking it impatiently. And his grin only grew wider at the sight of prettily decorated chocolate in the shape of the heart… the same he saw Navi with adorable blush present to his sister when they brought the kits home, to Ralla's downright deafening squeal of delight that had even Hades and Hythlodaeus peer over the railing of the second floor, both clearly startled.
"Aww, thank you," he gushed shamelessly, giving him a long, deep kiss before standing up and sitting on the bench next to him, putting the unrolled paper on the deck before biting with relish into the candy. Waving his wet tail in the water with enthusiasm, he wasn't even surprised that it was his favorite type of chocolate, wiggling his eyebrows playfully at his lover's fond laugh when Raha shifted to sit astride his lap. Biting off another piece, he leaned forward, keeping it between his teeth and purring with delight around it when his lover accepted the offering, their lips meeting as he bit off a half. Repeating that until the whole chocolate was gone, they were both snickering like kits. At the same time, their faces were ungodly smeared with the sweet mass that melted too quickly in the heat steaming off the bath, so he gladly used it to wrap his hands around his lover's face and finish his 'gift,' cleaning his pretty mouth carefully with his tongue.
By the time he was done, and Raha returned the favor, they were both beyond aroused, and their chuckles gave way to rumbling purrs that he more than loved, smoothing his hands down his lover's back to wrap them around his hips. And when his husband tossed him that lovely coy smirk and stood up, then turned around and sat back down, leaning against his chest… well, had him purr only louder, dragging his fingers over the glory of his wet, tanned chest to his stomach and abdomen while trailing a line of greedy bites down his throat when he graciously tilted his head in silent offer.
Keeping his left hand splayed over the delicately twitching, taut muscle below his navel and watching over his shoulder, he pushed his right hand between his thighs. He smiled against his heated skin when Raha arched in his arms with a quiet moan when he used his long fingers to trail them over his opening while palming his aroused flesh. The sinuous movements of his body pressed his ass tighter against his more than interested dick, and he set a sharper bite in the middle of his Archon's mark before lifting his head to whisper against his ear.
"Always so beautifully responsive, my sweet prince," he cooed, pressing barely a fingertip inside him and humming with delight at another sinuous arch that was accompanied by an intoxicating mewl of arousal that hit his ears. Forcing his legs further apart with his knees, he pressed his finger deeper into his heat while smoothing his other hand up his chest to delicately wrap it around his lover's throat, grinning with purely male satisfaction when that had Raha go utterly plaint in his grip. His palm vibrated with the sound of his loud, inviting purrs while a quick look under the surface of the water told him his lover clenched his hands around the edge of the bench under them, using it as leverage to slowly rub his ass back against his cock. "Aww, my Raha… do you need me, love?" he purred, then placed a delicate nip on the sensitive shell of his ear and shivered at the needy mewl that tore from his lover's pretty mouth.
"A-Always, Snark," his husband muttered, rubbing against him more insistently while pushing back against the intrusion of his fingers. And how could he not reward such beautiful confidence resounding in that statement from his mate?
"Can't have you wanting, my love," he purred soothingly while tightening his hand around his throat just enough to have his lover mewl louder with arousal while using his other hand, working his body into readiness for his cock. The purely enticing way he looked like that had T'senri devouring him with his gaze while his mate's muscular body rolled on top of him with a constant string of mewls and whimpers, tearing answering groans and growls from his mouth that he was barely aware of. The way that his husband's normally low and soothing voice rose in pitch when he pushed the third finger inside him and his dick throbbed under his palm… had him literally salivate, involuntarily pumping his fingers harder, deeper into him and dying to feel that almost too-snug heat around his cock.
He hardly minded when Raha came with a choked groan, arching off him and moaning his name into alluring music. No, he didn't, using the way his whole body almost melted with his orgasm to pull his hands back and hook them around his lover's thighs from the inside, lifting him against his body and shifting to the edge of the bench, leaning back more as he slowly impaled his mate on his dick with a deep, relieved groan. By the time he was seated inside him up to the hilt, Raha was mewling his submission desperately, and when he smoothed his hand up his inner thigh, he grinned wolfishly, feeling how hard he was for him again already.
"You do love to be fucked, don't you, my prince?" he purred teasingly against his ear, coiling his hand around his thick cock and pumping the flesh slowly while curling his other hand around his hip and pulling him up his dick an ilm to let him slide back down its length after a moment. The choked whine and the way his muscles clenched around his flesh tore a satisfied groan from his mouth, and he couldn't help but repeat that, pulling him higher and letting him slide down again.
"I… do," his lover chuckled breathlessly, arching against his chest and pushing his hand around his head to the back of T'senri's, fisting it in the wet, black strands. "But only by you, b-beast… oh, fuuuck… harder, Snark," he whimpered helplessly at another slide, and T'senri chuckled, pressing a kiss against his throat before hooking his hands around his hips.
"As you command, love," he growled, then without warning and to his mate's surprised squeak, spun them around, forcing Raha to kneel on the bench and rest his chest against the surface of the deck outside of the pool, holding him still as he set to fuck his delectable behind much, much harder. Groaning as his lover soon sang his name on the keening notes, bracing against the edge of the pool to push back against his thrusts, he freed his right hand to rest it on the wooden surface, leaning on it against his mate's back and soon pounding into him brutally. "Best g-gift… Raha…" he choked out, then almost whimpered when his lover came with a choked shout, and his muscles spasmed around his dick. He couldn't help but follow, groaning quietly as he pumped his lover full of his seed. When Raha sagged bonelessly against the deck, he leaned fully against his back, nuzzling against his neck with deep purrs of satisfaction, bracing his weight on his elbows around him while rolling his hips slowly until he had no more to give.
"I did believe you would l-like it," his mate chuckled breathlessly, shakily pushing his hand back to rub it over his hip.
"Love it," he corrected with a rumbling purr, placing a tiny nip on his mark at Raha's shoulder. "Almost as much as I love you, my prince," with his hand, he took hold of his free hand, lacing their fingers tightly. Busy nuzzling against his neck again, he only felt his lover tilt his head to look toward their intertwined hands, then felt him pull them closer and melted when Raha brushed his lips against the top of his hand.
"And I don't think I'll be ever able to express how much I love you, Senri," his mate purred against his skin, but when T'senri lifted slightly to look at him, he turned his head and winked at him over his shoulder with a coy smirk. "…doesn't mean I'll ever stop trying, though."
"You're just too cute," he sighed with exaggerated resignation, then grinned when his lover's eyes widened slightly – surely feeling how that statement had not only his heart want to burst with the staggering amount of devotion for him but as well his body was instantly more than eager to express itself, swelling inside him with renewed interest.
"And you're insatiable… like always," Raha snorted a laugh, only making it worse as his muscles spasmed around T'senri's flesh.
"Why, Rrraha…" he purposefully let his fangs and claws extend, grinning gleefully when his lover instantly froze with a quiet mewl of arousal. "…complaints?" he purred in a raspy note against his neck, pinning him down again and rolling his hips.
"Never!" his husband gasped helplessly, and he rewarded him by pairing another thrust with a harsh bite over his mark, grinning around it when Raha downright arched off the deck with a shout, pushing back against him eagerly.
"Thought so," he purred teasingly, pulling back from his bite to push off his back and freeing his hand, he braced both against the edge of the pool again. "Now… sing forrr me, Rrraha…" he cooed shamelessly and set to fuck him like the beast he liked to name him.
And by the time he was done with him, and they washed, then climbed out of the pool, his ears twitched with delight, full of his favorite song.
His purrs nearly choked him while his lover settled astride T'senri's hips in slow but strong movement, kneading the tension out of the muscles on his shoulders. Resting his chin on top of the forearms crossed in front of him and with his eyes closed, he gladly melted into the heap of happiness. At the same time, while Raha worked the sweet, apple-scented oil into his back, he lazily wondered if he could convince his prince to fuck him into oblivion when he was done. And considering that's how usually ended the sessions when his husband granted him the pleasure of his downright sinfully skilled fingers – and soon he could smell the evidence of his arousal tinting his spicy scent – he was pretty optimistic!
"I seem to recall you didn't answer my previous question, Snark," his mate chuckled sheepishly, and when he hummed with confusion, he added: "About Navi and Ralla, love, before we got… distracted."
"Ah…" he sighed with bliss while his lover set to roll his hands up and down along his spine. "You mean, comparing to Nari?"
"Mhmm."
"Well, you do know the answer to that," he laughed softly. "I can only hope that when she's big enough, she finds someone as trustworthy as your nephew."
"And Nico?" Raha asked with more than a hint of curiosity.
"I hope the same for him," he replied with another laugh.
"Nah, Snark, you do know what I mean, right?" by his tone, he could bet Raha was pouting, but he was feeling too lazy to move and look.
"Nico and Nari…?" he hummed, considering it, then shook his head after a moment. "Nah… I don't think so. She would be better off with someone more serious, whom she can tease the seven hells out of. And with Nico, I doubt he could see her as more than a younger sister, as he does with her and Ralla. He's too committed to protecting them, I think."
Raha fell silent for a moment, then chuckled.
"Damon is asking if you feel confident enough about that to bet him," he said with amusement.
Please, do, Ares chimed in instantly, sounding almost giddy. That one is a sure win, my boy.
"I do, actually," he said, hoping his voice didn't betray his merriment when his immortal crooned at that victoriously. "What's the prize?"
"Umm…" his lover hummed, then chuckled again. "He's offering a favor to be named later."
With him, that was definitely not something to scoff at!
"He's on, then!" T'senri laughed, then moaned shamelessly while Raha started working on his lower back. And smirked, hearing how his lover's breath hitched and his scent swelled with a more pronounced tang of arousal, filling his head and lungs instantly. "…Raha?"
"Mmm?"
"Am I wrong, hoping would end like usual?" he asked, purposefully wrapping his tail around his husband's waist.
"Ah, love…" Raha purred, slowly gathering the oil off his back and then in a long slide ending the movement between his buttocks while resting his free hand between his shoulder blades. "…do you think I would dare to disappoint you by allowing anything less than that?"
"Mhmm, glad to hear…" he chuckled breathlessly, grinning and tightening his tail around him while arching while his lover set to prepare his body in the same rhythm and with the dedication he showed with his massage.
And he was still holding on to that grin when after a moment, his husband mounted him with a deep, relieved groan. Up to the time when Raha's cock brushed against the spot inside him that sent a sizzle of sparks across his nerve endings and tore a whimper from his throat.
Then, feeling Raha fist his hand in his still-damp hair and pull, T'senri obediently pushed up, climbing to all fours.
"You're such a good boy, my Snark," his lover cooed, smoothing his hands down his back to wrap them around his hips. Then he set a slow, smooth rhythm, purring his praises as fucked him in hard, deep strokes.
And while he set his world ablaze, T'senri enjoyed every moment to the fullest!
Somewhat politely waiting until their hosts exhausted themselves, Ares took over their shared body as soon as Senri slipped into sated oblivion. When he blinked his bright, sky-blue eyes, he wasn't even surprised to see Damon already hovering over him with a too-familiar devious smirk.
"What are you up to now, love?" he asked with amusement when his husband placed a quick peck on his lips, then scrambled off him before he could return it.
"A surprise, Azem," Damon chortled, motioning for him to follow while he headed with a slight bounce in his step toward the 'fence' on the other side of the pool.
Ares stood up from the blanket and stretched lazily, almost moaning with bliss at how wonderfully relaxed their body felt after Raha's massage. He made a mental note to tell his boy later to pass along his appreciation for the redhead's skill. Then, running his fingers through his hair, he followed Damon, and his eyebrows barely twitched when his husband waved his hand toward the fence, and it sort of… folded, revealing another room behind it.
And when he recognized the contents of the area… he gushed, tossing his skilled lover a grateful look before stepping in while unable to prevent his tail from whipping side to side with enthusiasm.
"I do hope it's to your satisfaction, Ares," Damon purred, following him while he moved toward one of the tables on the right side of the room, then ran his hand along his spine when Ares picked up a familiar item that put a wistful smile on his lips.
"I'm guessing Raha doesn't know about this part?" he chuckled, turning and, with his trademark grin, offered the dark belt to his husband.
"Of course not!" Damon chortled again, taking it, and when Ares leaned in, he grinned playfully, snapping the thick leather collar around his throat. The redhead leaned away, clearly admiring the sight with an enamored look in his crimson irises. "Can you imagine, love?" he snickered, brushing his fingertips over his body from his collarbone to the navel. "With the collar alone, he was so funnily shocked! I fear for his sensibilities if he saw some of those," he used that hand to make a wide gesture toward the rest of the interior.
Ares laughed, turning back to the table, and with a grin, he snapped a pair of the cuffs matching the collar around his wrists, then another pair around his ankles. When he looked at his lover again, Damon, with a typically devious smirk, already held the spelled chain – a deceptively thin, long thing – that was intended to go through the small metal loops etched into the leather of the cuffs and the collar.
"Silly boys are still a tad behind," he chuckled with a wink, then moved around his lover to the middle of the room and the big, plush pillow lying there. He fell to his knees on top of it, then arched backward, resting his hands against his feet, looking toward his husband expectantly. He was already painfully aroused, but, yeah… It's been a while…!
Damon ran his fingers through Ares's hair with obvious adoration on his face before he leaned in and brushed his lips against the corner of his mouth. Then he moved around him and, with a quiet snicker, dragged the spelled chain through the loops, pulling tight, until Ares had to arch harder with the pull around his throat.
"I believe they'll get there… eventually," Damon chuckled, moving in front of him again and wrapping his hands around his cheeks. "Tight enough, love?"
"Perrrfect," he rasped with a purr, baring his fangs in a wide grin while tossing him a playful wink. "Now… do your worst, Damon."
"I intend to," his husband purred back, then leaned in, and they shared a long, heated kiss. His fiery eyes shone with lust and amusement when he pulled back after a moment and whispered against his lips: "Happy anniversary, Ares."
"Happy anniversary, my heart," he breathed back, then grinned, watching another devious smirk bloom on his lover's face as he straightened, then headed toward the rack of 'toys,' near identical to the one that once upon a time decorated a very similar room inside their domain in Amarout. And while Damon hummed with consideration, apparently trying to decide how to 'entertain' him, Ares nearly shook with anticipation, stifling impatient growls. By the slight, amused wave of the red tail, he knew he didn't quite succeed with that and figured out that his lover was taking his sweet time with it on purpose to rile him up.
Gods, but Raha inherited from his original incarnation more than the boy realized… yet, at least!
"Do you want to bet how long it's going to take them to get to the cuffs, love?" he asked with humor, and Damon sent him a slightly deadpan stare over his shoulder.
"Too easy," he stated hauntingly though his fiery eyes sparked with amusement. And seeing that, Azem couldn't help but think that as much as he occasionally missed his lover's bright, cyan eyes, he had to admit that the Allagan crimson fit almost too well with Damon's temper. "If you wish for a bet, Ares, let's say… how long do you think until they would figure out if this would make Senri squirm as much as it does it to you," his cheeky grin was downright evil when he picked up a long, fluffy feather from the hanger and ran it between his fingers while Ares paled, shifting uncomfortably.
"Ah… reconsider?" he murmured, sending his lover his best impression of a pleading kitten.
"Now, now, love…." Damon chortled, waving his tail with enthusiasm as he walked back toward him and delicately brushed the tip of the feather against his cheek. "…time to play," he purred teasingly, and Ares swallowed thickly.
Oh, boy…
T'senri blinked slowly as he woke up and sighed softly, burying his nose in the messy, soft red strands and tightening his embrace around his lover's body. He closed his eyes and frowned slightly. That they seemed to be back in their bedroom and splayed in their nest, between the foray of black and red pillows, wasn't as surprising as how… his whole body felt sore.
DON'T ask, Ares grumbled, and T'senri's lips twitched slightly at his clearly aggravated tone. But when Raha's up, do suggest we could use another massage, hm?
And he suddenly felt that for his own good… he didn't exactly want to know what their immortals were up to when he and Raha were out.
Smart, Ares deadpanned, and he couldn't help but snort a quiet laugh.
In another room in the same home, bright, purple eyes shone with amusement while Hyth barely stopped himself from snorting when his husband yet again punched his pillow, hiding his flaming face in it and muttering strings of invectives. Considering Hades's age and knowledge of many mortal languages, those rarely repeated themselves. Finally, he rolled his eyes and shifted on the bed, tapping his hand against his husband's shoulder.
"There, there, love, there's…."
"Gods, Hyth, shut up," Hades muttered, tilting his head to toss him a murderous glare of bright, golden eyes from a completely red face.
And Hythlodaeus couldn't take it, snorting a laugh even if that elected another string of profanities ended with a choked, resigned groan as Hades buried his face in the pillow again.
"Sorry, sorry…" he chuckled after a moment, turning sideways and wrapping his arm around his lover's shoulders. "But I do really think you're overreacting a bit, Hades. It's not like you were unaware of the fact that your brother and his husband have sex, right? Not to mention…."
"Don't…" his lover muttered barely audibly.
"Not to mention…" he continued anyway, rolling strands of pearly-white hair around his finger and grinning at his husband's fluster with the whole thing. "…you were the one that once upon a time showed me their playroom, remember?"
"It's different," Hades murmured into the pillow, shifting uncomfortably.
"Right, we didn't know then what it is about," he chortled quietly, shifting to rest over his back on his crossed forearms, and his smile turned wistful.
They were merely boys then, playing and exploring the corners of Hades's home during one of Ares's longer travel while Damon was otherwise occupied. In their innocence, the room full of 'toys' seemed beyond fascinating! And the fact that it was hidden only spiked their curiosity. Eons later, they knew better, which led to the whole… situation.
Considering the implications of Ares's and Damon's anniversaries for his lover, he wasn't very surprised to hear that Hades kept the date alive throughout the millennia… No, he thought it was sweet – and just sentimental enough for him. That it led his lover to this… bout of silliness after he caught his father preparing the recreation of their 'playroom' and offered some improvements – accounting for the quirks of their new bodies… Hyth found it adorable and thoughtful – and his resulting embarrassment quite hilarious!
"Still, I think it's a lovely gift, darling," he said soothingly, grinning gleefully when Hades groaned deeply and muttered another string of invectives. "I imagine without your input, Damon wouldn't think to add…."
"Just stop," Hades snapped with another groan. "Gods, I can't get the image out of my head… I preferred not to know…."
Hythlodaeus laughed, then set to distract his lover in the best way possible.