Onyx's world was made of patterns.
Its very being was a mix of strings of those, eternally shifting, churning, and evolving. One pattern upon another, woven into the core of its being. Each ruling the beast's actions and reactions. 'Onyx' learned, aware that no other being could comprehend its existence or how it perceived the world around it.
None in this aether-bound world.
When Senri first woven it into existence with his need, its patterns were simple. Onyx's first and foremost priority was and always would be protecting its creator. And as they grew, its patterns expanded and evolved alongside the boy, if it remained more of an idea than an actual sentient being.
The consciousness arrived with a heavy toll.
Once upon a time, to protect was all Onyx knew, and being what it was, it was incapable of comprehending anything but its pattern. And until so very recently, it wasn't aware of how consuming Esteem corrupted its core. How, despite how it granted Onyx sentience, it robbed it of the ability to evolve, freezing it in its artificial rage.
Now, more self-aware as it was, it understood its mistakes… learned from them even – but before it was capable of it, Onyx was nothing more than a ball of patterns woven from emotions and ideas. From fear, anger, resentment, and hate by the time aether-bound soulstone created its artificial copy for its use. And when Esteem took residence in the higher levels of Senri's consciousness, Onyx wasn't capable of recognizing it – its patterns so similar to its own.
Similar, but different.
Esteem, the fake, was locked into the patterns it was created from. Incapable of evolution past them – it rightfully lost when it attempted its game against Senri in the outside world.
Not that Onyx paid it any mind – wasn't even capable of comprehending the idea of the 'outside' – locked into the game of 'hide and seek' with its better, pure half.
Its mask.
Until their downfall and the arrival of the consciousness.
It was never meant to become what it was now, it knew, but when their 'inside' cracked. Its core pattern demanded it to protect… and while it set to it, Esteem had the very same idea but incapable of comprehension or recognizing it – Onyx consumed it, and that twisted its patterns into something unrecognizable. Infected and corrupted it with its artificial threads.
Locking Onyx into the frost of their rage. Those patterns were painful, twisting its core into the uncovered nerve, constantly bombarded by the negative threads. Its very being became aware, open wound – and Senri showing more negative patterns down its throat made it lash out – mad with pain and constant rejection.
Most painful was the rejection of its creator.
Self-aware, yet unable to understand why Senri hated it so when all it did was what he created it for: to protect him, its core rotten away with more negative threads.
That is, until Raha and the blaze of his soul.
At first, it was terrified of him – coiling its patterns protectively around its core, assured and waiting for his upcoming rejection. The pattern of his kindness rang far too reminiscent of the previous time it let itself be lured out by an unfamiliar warmth of the knight that led them toward their downfall. And at the mere hint of it, Onyx lashed out, by then knowing that his rejection they would not survive.
Then, after the whole ordeal, their mate forced it into the merge, and tasting his patterns, it grew addicted. While Haurchefant was the warmth, Raha was the flame – and his blaze left no place for the ice entrusting its core, melting it away and letting Onyx breathe.
More, his patterns tasted of… something it could not recognize, but what made it determined to absorb them. And though it was unwilling to admit that, especially to the Ascian whose intervention it still abhorred – resentful of being separated from its creator – Onyx quite quickly learned to appreciate the new ways it was able to expand its patterns.
The senses, as the aether-bound called it, for it was something alien – used as it was to receive information and threads through the medium of Senri's senses and instincts. And now, once more able to evolve and learn, it greedily used its new senses to adjust its patterns to Raha's.
Most of all, because his threads weren't painful.
So with each whiff of his scent, each touch, and mating, Onyx was gradually adjusting its patterns to their soulmate's – this time consciously twisting its core into one matching Raha's. As it did, its understanding of the 'outside' expanded.
And – to its boundless relief – slowly but surely, its painful patterns were untangling and smoothing – gradually freeing its core.
By the day after their first true merge, Onyx had a new, utmost priority woven into its once more expanding patterns: to protect Raha. His threads were sweet, and seeing its salvation in their soothing effect, learning to imitate and absorb them, it was clear that it needed him to exist without pain. To heal.
And someday, perhaps, be whole once more but better.
But – as it had to reluctantly admit, shifting its patterns lazily as it observed its prey – in one, the Ascian was right. As much as the need to protect was Onyx's core pattern, so was the need to punish. And that made its current target beyond irresistible.
Finding the older male, the Asc… Damon – it corrected itself reluctantly – named wasn't a challenge. The hunt was something Onyx was created for – and thrived on. Not to mention, the tall Elzen's patterns were hard to miss – for Onyx – reeking of corruption. After years of watching those through Senri's eyes, in its current state, the sickly-looking threads called to Onyx, begging to be unwoven. At the core, the patterns – souls as the aether-bound called them – were pure and wanted to be so – but negative actions, deeds, and thoughts twisted them beyond recognition. And when the male spotted its altered form, his threads churned with the depraved desire and twisted themselves into knots that spiked Onyx's hunger.
Knowing the rules and patterns of the hunt, it chose the shape that made his mate so horror-stricken: the form of a cat-like child, if it adjusted it looks to be most appealing to the type of predator it was hunting. Reasoning the female form to be more appealing for its vulnerability, Onyx carefully kept its fangs hidden as it stopped on the path near the Elzen, looking around and imitating the patterns of fear and confusion. Choosing the paths twisting through the city's park as the one to give it the most advantage – and cover – it folded its hands in front of itself and let its eyes fill with tears as the male approached it. Internally nearly salivating at the sight of his churning threads, it kept looking around, pretending distress.
"Aww, sweet thing, are you lost?" the Elzen asked, leaning over its small form, and Onyx looked up, gasping and carefully putting on its child-like face the expression of innocent surprise. Then it nodded, letting its lower lip tremble. Even in this shape it had a sense of smell sharper than any Miqo'te could claim – sharper than even Senri's – the way male's scent swelled with arousal was for it as damning as the way his patterns dimmed with the rotten shades of lust. "Such a pretty girl in a place like this…" the male shook his head with fake worry, resting his hand over Onyx's now long, dark locks while looking around the empty paths carefully. "…where are your parents, cutie?"
At that, Onyx let the tears spill, shrugging its shoulders helplessly.
"Ah, don't cry, girlie," Elzen cooed, his patterns full of glee as he offered it his hand. "Come, I'll help you find them."
The beast wiped its eyes theatrically, nodding, and wrapped its tiny hands around the male's hand – hiding its too-fanged smirk when the Elzen swiftly tugged it between the trees. If there was at least one benefit it could see now coming from devouring Esteem, it was the fact that its 'fake' patterns let it cover its own under it, creating a thinnest shield for the effect that Raha found so interesting – reflects of others' souls. Otherwise, it doubted the male would catch the bait as easily, seeing his filth in Onyx's form.
Not that it mattered much because as soon as they were away from the eyes of any potential witnesses, it took its favored shape, and before the male could even utter a sound, Onyx pounced.
Though he woke up feeling strangely light, T'senri grumbled a string of incoherent complaints petulantly once he realized that his cute redhead had apparently wandered off… somewhere. Not far this time, as he could feel him… but considering that his body was more than eager to continue where they left off before falling asleep… Yeah, far from optimal, in his opinion.
Pouting all the way through putting on his pants, he pulled on his shirt but didn't bother closing the buttons as he padded, barefooted, out of the bedroom – beelining for his wayward mate. Though, as soon as he realized that the sensation was leading him straight to the compound's kitchen, his irritation melted away – as he guessed that likely Raha was hungry (and after their night… well, no wonder!). He sighed, running his fingers through his messy hair and internally cursing his thoughtlessness.
And in all… he cringed, thinking about how much of a failure of a mate he had been so far.
Not only the whole debacle with Es… well, the beast, apparently, but he hardly could say he took proper care of his mate's needs!
Though the mating customs were something more typical for the people of their race who resided in cities, naturally, he knew them by heart. Learning of them on his mother's lap as a kit, as part of the stories T'rhasa would tell in rare moments that he had her for himself, the idea enslaved his mind. To have his very own mate to care for and spoil… always sounded like a dream come true, appealing to his instincts something beyond fierce. And… made the way the tribe was run sound even more soulless.
When he allowed himself to think back occasionally, he thought that that was likely the first – and biggest – reason why he had never even considered challenging his sire. Even before his preferences became apparent, he had his heart set on the idea of the special person he would be free to care for… And, perhaps, his sisters had something to do with that, too… funnily enough.
When yesterday his mother mentioned Onyx… well, for her sake, he pretended not to recognize the name. He never dared to tell her the truth behind his 'imaginary friend,' knowing that as much as she adored him… it would hurt her.
He was T'rhasa's fourth kit and only male. And when he was little, his three older sisters were turning his life into a living hell. And the verbal abuse was the least of it. He didn't understand why they hated him so much – pulling his tail or ears painfully whenever their paths crossed or pushing him around. That's when he – childishly – came up with Onyx, trying to scare them into leaving him be. And they retaliated by telling him exactly why he was such a nuisance for them: because he was bringing their mom – and by extension them – shame and ridicule around the camp. Because of him, other females would laugh and call their beautiful mother an eccentric – and train her daughters more fiercely than other girls to ensure they won't 'inherit' their mother's ideas. And though at first, he didn't want to believe that – thinking they were teasing him again – he soon realized how true it was… Because when he grew upset with that and his mother saw it and tried to comfort him, he saw the nasty looks and heard the whispers… and as much as it hurt, he learned to hide his feelings. And how much the unfairness of that burned holes in his tiny heart. To the point that soon after, he earned himself the opinion of the happy-go-lucky idiot, always with a huge, goofy grin on his face. But thanks to that, his mom didn't worry, and other females didn't look at her badly for that… he kept telling himself that it was better that way until he learned to believe that.
And only sometimes – when it hurt too much – he would sneak away to 'his' spot – a small clearing nearby the camp – and wept until it felt like his heart would give out. Often, he would fall asleep like that – exhausted – and find comfort in dreaming about Onyx, not as the scary nightmare, but a big, fluffy kitten that would try to cheer him up by playing 'hide and seek.' And as he grew, so did his best, only friend… eating his sorrow and nightmares so T'senri could go on, day by day, pretending that everything was right in the world – he was fine – until the unfortunate turn of events and the number hormones did on his body.
And as every single day became a living hell, not even dreams of Onyx managed to help with the nightmares. And when he realized why he was so bothered by the females' attention – when literally all of his playmates would scorn him, not hiding their jealousy – his heart broke. Finding that he felt nothing but disgust toward the female's touch – and taught that mating was possible only between male and female – meant he had to forget his biggest dream. Not to mention how wrong it made him feel… shameful and unnatural when all the tribe's customs taught him that his only value was his ability to be useful to the females. And between the ones who pestered him daily to challenge his sire when the time came, those who tried to lure him into their bedrolls or crawl into his, and more than few who demanded that if dare leave, he had to take them with… he ended up sneaking away like a thief – in the middle of the night – saying goodbye only to his mother.
And when he arrived in Ul'dah… Well, it was only better because he didn't have to worry about anyone's opinion of him – and didn't have anyone who could be threatened to force him to play into the greedy hands of the bored daughters of Monetarists. Not that they didn't try, anyway…
Azeyma, but after all that, for the longest time, he honestly believed that he would never be able to be even friends with a female! And he hated when anyone touched him, no matter how accidentally or not.
Until Minfilia.
The Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn became his mentor and dear friend after Thancred recruited him. With Yda annoying the seven hells out of him constantly and Y'shtola – back then – either treating him as a brat or trying to put him to sleep with impromptu lectures… Minfilia somehow figured him out instantly and gave him a goal he so desperately needed. Taught him how to use his Echo and gave him a target for his boundless energy… and hunger for balance.
Though unknowingly for her, he used her lessons for his side activities long before his fate shifted again, and he had to take on the Warrior's task and mask.
Rarely as the people were granted the Echo, a few realized that it manifested with quirks. Most saw it for its most common and famous ability: the skill to speak and understand any language. And as insanely useful as it was, T'senri's Echo came with another ability – he appreciated more: the visions of the past, seen through other's eyes. Powerful enough emotions activated it, and once Minfilia taught him to control it… Well, he used that skill well.
A few things carried more of an emotional impact than rape – and as unpleasant as it was to experience even this way… Well, in this case – for him – the ends justified the means, and as it allowed him to hunt down those who managed to avoid the fitting punishment by their position, fortune, or reputation, he took it for the price he was willing to pay to make it even.
And after he became known as the Champion of Eorzea and the heads of the city-states asked him what boon he wanted to be granted for saving them from Garlemald's invasion, his answer was clear and to the point: make rape punishable by death, as he refused to Champion any land that didn't see it for what it was. The worst way to violate others' freedom. And once the Eorzea became the Eorzean Alliance – in thanks for his and other Scions' work in helping to achieve that – he was granted another boon: knowing his abilities and trusting his judgment, he was granted a right to execute someone he deemed guilty of such crime without the need for proof or trial.
Likely, because by then, none but his friends were aware of his issues with Esteem. And for better or worse, the Scions unanimously decided to cover his slips of sanity – to the point that sometimes his only clue that something happened was waking up to near-deafening purrs of his beast. And whenever that happened – and he was met with unreadable expressions on his friends' faces – he learned not to ask. He trusted them – and hoped that if he crossed the line when unaware and hurt an innocent, they would put him down.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to live with himself, and they more than knew that. And…
His trail of thought cut off as he pushed the door of the kitchen open and froze as his jaw just… dropped.
"Morning, love," his lover said, tossing him a wink and turning back to his task, and not gushing at the sheer cuteness of the image he presented… was faaar beyond the scope of T'senri's measly self-control.
"Oh, Azeyma…" he sighed dreamily, stepping inside and pushing the door close behind him. He leaned against them, shamelessly admiring the pretty picture: his gorgeous redhead's delectable behind clad in deliciously tight-fitting black pants, a skin-tight red vest that beautifully matched his hair and fur… and revealed that too-familiar design of the tattoo on his mate's shoulder – that he liked to think was a good fit of his ownership over Raha's gorgeous body.
He always thought himself more a Scion than the Warrior – if he was allowed to pick.
Watching his lover's red tail flick lazily as he seemed busy with something at one of the counters, he didn't even register pushing off the door before he found himself across the room, helplessly falling into the temptation of cupping his hands around his lover's ass. And even Raha's indignant hiss and cute glare weren't enough of a deterrent as he used the turn of his head to taste those gorgeous, plush lips of his. For once thanking gods for his height, he freed his left hand, curling it around his lover's throat, and purred over his mouth when Raha arched against him with a deep mewl of undeniable arousal.
"Morning," he rasped after a long moment against his lips, more than mesmerized by the sight of fiery blush and sparks of lust in the mismatched irises. "What are you up to, gorgeous?"
And when his mate blushed darker and tossed him a somewhat shy smile and matching look from under his long, dark-red lashes…
"Nevermind…" he growled, then spun him around, pinning him against the counter as he had to taste those pretty lips again. More than drunk – and beyond addicted – on his spicy scent, he tasted heaven as he plunged his tongue into that delicious heat of his mouth. And when his mate returned the kiss with matching fervor, sneaking his hands under his open shirt and soon pawing at his back, pulling him closer… T'senri downright lost it, drowning in his flavor as he whimpered helplessly and dropped his hand to his lover's ass, holding his hips tight against him as he rolled his, trying to relieve the increasingly painful pressure. Leaning over him as he strived to devour his mouth, he gorged himself on his nearly musical noises, only dying for more.
When Raha pulled back, gasping for air desperately, he trailed little, sharp bites along his jaw and down his throat, coiling his left hand around his neck and holding him still as the instinct demanded to force him to submit. And considering he knew that his mate was stronger than him… only made that need so much fiercer.
"Break… breakfast…" his lover chuckled breathlessly, shakily curling his fingers around T'senri's shoulder blades, arching in his arms with a deep groan when he bit him harder, right at the junction of his neck and shoulder, purring his name insistently. "…oh, Thaliak… Sen… ngh…" he trailed off to a keening moan, and his right hand shot up to fist in his hair, pulling him closer as his hips rolled in his grip, half-consciously matching his rhythm.
He didn't hear the door opening, but he froze at the loud, meaningful cough behind him, laying his ears flat against his head before he lifted it and looked back, flushing furiously under the amused, aether-clouded gaze.
"Good morning," he knew Y'shtola far too long not to recognize the extent of her amusement hidden behind the delicate curve of her lips, making her silvery eyes brim with sparks, and make her voice lilt with humor.
Raha froze in his arms, then whimpered and hid his furiously flushed face against his shoulder with a quiet, frustrated whine. And because it was more than his fault – getting his gorgeous redhead so wonderfully riled up – and despite his furious arousal, he sighed, smoothing his hand over his lover's back soothingly as he fought to get his libido under control.
"Morning, Shtola," he murmured, sending her a sheepish smile and watching her walk across the room and settle, elegantly leaning against the aisle behind him. "Sorry… My bad, I got carried away."
"Noted," she said calmly if her lips twitched delicately. "But, oh, my… something smells downright sinfully delicious," she raises her white eyebrows expectantly, and he frowned with confusion, then almost involuntarily took a deep breath… and his gaze shot behind his mate, his eyes widened impossibly at what apparently his lover was busy with before he disturbed him….
"No way…" he murmured in awe, then looked down, right into a flushed darkly face and another gorgeous, shy look in his mate's mismatched eyes. "You can cook?" he asked stupidly.
"Y-Yeah, a bit…" if possible, Raha flushed even darker, leaning back to look around him toward the amused female. "Good morning, Y'shtola. Sorry for…"
"That's it…." T'senri sighed, then caught his chin in between two fingers, delicately forcing his mate to look back at him. "Marry me?"
The adorable, owlish look in veeery wide red-cyan eyes and how Raha's mouth dropped open in his grip were just too cute!
"Huh…?" it was almost a squeak, and T'senri's lips twitched into a ridiculously wide, goofy grin.
"You are perfect…" he stated utterly seriously, then wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "…and you can cook. There's no way I'm letting such a catch slip."
And when not only his lover blinked at him, looking utterly dumbfounded, but his friend burst into a laugh behind him… it was more than worth the deadpan stare he received next when Raha flushed up to his hairline, pushing against his chest with an adorable pout.
"Don't be silly, Senri," he hissed. "We're already mated and…."
"Nuhuu," he whined petulantly and, resisting his push, leaned in to brush the tip of his nose against his mate's. "Not enough, ~cutie~! Every way I can have you, Raha, you'll be mine," he purred against his lips, and when his lover gasped softly, getting that downright maddening dazed look on his handsome face and his spicy scent thickened the air around him with his need…
"Ourrrs," sounded a rumbling growl behind him, and T'senri flinched, grimacing and looking back… to frown with confusion.
The beast was there, there was no missing its liquid darkness and empty eyes, but it was… small. Size of nearly a normal cat, it sat on the aisle very close to Y'shtola – glaring at him – but the female was looking around with a deep frown on her face.
"What was that…?" she murmured, sending him a confused glance.
T'senri looked between her and the creature with a frown, in thought, considering how to explain it… and nearly stumbled back when Raha gave him a harder shove, then, with a quiet snicker, walked around him and picked up the beast. Its instant, near-deafening purr as it curled into his mate's arms had Y'shtola flinch and look around again, then focus her narrowed eyes on Raha's arms while he scratched the beast's ear, cooing at it fondly.
"What in the heavens…?" she scowled darkly, leaning harder against the aisle between them.
"It's… complicated," T'senri sighed with resignation, leaning back against the counter and watching the clearly blissed-out creature warily… and not pouting. He hoped at least that it wasn't too obvious.
That Raha seemed so enamored with it… Well, Ares was right, being jealous of it was ridiculous, but…
"Is he… Are you holding something, G'raha?" Y'shtola drawled, looking toward his lover's face with narrowed eyes and T'senri blinked, tilting his head with confusion.
"Huh?" Raha seemed surprised as he looked up at her, then his gaze darted toward him, and back to her eyes, then to the beast in his arms. And back to Y'shtola as his expressive ears lowered slightly. "You… can't see it?"
"See what, exactly?" she leaned back, then crossed her arms over her chest, clearly waiting for an explanation.
"The female is blind to my patterrrns," the beast chortled, climbing to splay across Raha's shoulders, and Y'shtola flinched visibly, looking around again with a confused frown. "Aetherrr ate herrr sight."
T'senri felt the blood drain from his face as his eyes darted toward his friend's confused stare. Then back to the beast, as his eyes narrowed into slits.
"What the fuck exactly are you?" he growled, suddenly more than unnerved to have it anywhere near his mate – especially if the fact that Y'shtola couldn't see it meant what it suggested.
"What's going on?" Y'shtola muttered, looking between them with consideration on her face.
"Told you, Senri," his mate rolled his eyes at him, then tossed his friend an apologetic look. "I'm not sure what it means and why you can't see it, but it's sort of… manifestation of Senri's soul. As Senri said, it's a long story, but…."
"Y'shtola was once stuck in the Lifestream for moons," he drawled, glaring daggers at the creature warily while his mate gasped and his eyes widened as they darted toward him, and his mouth dropped open in surprise. He didn't blame him – for obvious reasons, they kept the knowledge about that as contained as possible. "We managed to pull her out, but she lost her sight as the price… in a way. She sees aether, so if this thing doesn't have any… How can it be part of my soul? All living beings are made of aether, Raha…."
"It's not really a living being, though…?" his lover chuckled funnily, then his gaze darted toward Y'shtola, as he raised his hand and let the beast rub its triangular head against it. "Apparently it's formed out of dynamis, something that is sort of… energy created by emotions. Like aether, but much weaker and…."
"Damn, but something smells good," said Thancred, walking in with a big, silly grin on his face… then froze, gapping at the creature spread over Raha's arms. "Oh, you guys got a cat…?" Then he flinched and backed away with a gasp when it bared at him its far too-many fangs. "What the fuck is that…?"
"Move, idiot, you're blocking the door," he heard before the tall Hyur was shoved from behind, and Alisaie stomped in with a quiet snicker, then blinked and hesitated, seeing what had Thancred so stumped. "Oh… that kitten has faaar too many teeth… What the fuck is that?"
Y'shtola looked between them and Raha, then sighed with resignation and again leaned against the aisle.
"Think… You'll need to start from the beginning, G'raha," she frowned.
In the end, he was more than glad that he ended up buying far too many indigrents, as soon enough to hide his nerves while explaining his beast's appearance, while apparently all of the Scions were lured in to the kitchen, he offered to share their breakfast with them… and was still somewhat surprised when they accepted.
Soon it even turned into something of a group effort even: as while he got his hands busy with the food, Senri and Alisaie set to prepare drinks while Y'shtola and Thancred moved under the arch separating the kitchen from the dinner room, setting up the plates and utensils from the pointed out shelves. And as the more people were lured in by the commotion, he was introduced to the Scions he heard about, didn't have occasion yet to meet: Alphinaud and Urianger, then – as the last – Krile stumbled in, clearly baffled by the situation.
Enough said, by the time he settled down by the massive table, between his lover and oldest friend, he was tangle of nerves, more than thankful when Senri rested his big hand over his thigh in silent reassurance under the table, and even more for the constant heat of Onyx around his neck.
"So… it's Esteem?" Alisaie looked toward it with obvious apprehension, pointing her fork toward the beast from her spot across from him.
"It's… what you knew as Esteem, yes," he smiled ruefully, ignoring his plate to use his right hand to pet the cat-size beast. He was quite curious how did its hunt went… but refrained from asking in the current company. "But now it's quite harmless," to you, he added in thought. "After what happened… Well, Hades separated it from Senri so it couldn't take a hold of him again," he blinked innocently, and while Alisaie's blue eyes sparked with understanding, at least the rest of them seemed not to realize the lie.
"Damn Ascian…" Thancred muttered under his breath, then rolled his eyes when all eyes turned toward him. "If he could do something like that all along… why didn't he?" he asked suspiciously.
"Apparently that's why I had to… ah, find Raha first," Senri shifted uncomfortably, and his hand tightened around his thigh meaningfully. G'raha relaxed slightly, focusing his gaze on his beautiful face while his free hand downright automatically drifted and curled over his. "Something to do with how it was part of my soul and all…" his mate murmured, tossing the creature reluctant glare. Then – almost absentmindedly – he picked up a piece of tuna from his plate and popped it into his mouth… and froze, uttering a downright sinful moan of appreciation. "Oh, Azeyma… that's so good," he purred, electing a few snickers around the table… but G'raha was honestly too distracted to hear them as he couldn't take his eyes off his lover's too-pretty mouth while that lovely sound of his seemed to resonate down his spine and certain part of his anatomy swelled with unbidden interest painfully.
He licked his lips nervously, feeling his face heat up unbearably under too-many amused stares as his heart decided to jump into overdrive, and his fingers involuntarily tightened over his lover's. As if on cue, Senri's eyes trailed over his face, and he looked down quickly, trying to calm his breath.
Which failed miserably when his mate's big hand smoothed up his thigh under cover of the table, and he soon had to fight not to let his expression twitch as it curled possessively over his crotch. And despite their company… he couldn't help but slowly, helplessly spread his legs to accommodate it between them, impossibly aroused at the same time as dying from embarrassment. His pants felt faaar too tight when Senri's hand flexed around his cock, slowly kneading the wanting flesh… the sounds around him drowned in static between his ears, as his sole focus was on not uttering a sound. Staring at his plate numbly and striving to keep his breath even as much as possible… the call of his name tore him out of the haze, and he looked up toward its source, blinking rapidly as he tried to collect his scattered wits.
"I really appreciate your skill, mate, but…" Senri – the tease – leaned in toward his ear, and while shamelessly – thankfully – not stopping his hand's movement, his low, deep voice sent his overloaded senses into a spin when he chuckled right by the sensitive shell. "…I did warn you of testing my self-control, didn't I…?"
And he squeaked with surprise as he was suddenly scooped up from his chair, flushing furiously when a few of his lover's friends' laughs chased behind them while Senri marched out of the dining room.
"You are…" he started, but as soon as they passed the door, his lover took his mouth into a deep, devouring kiss and he lost it instantly, wrapping his arms around his neck desperately and drowning in his addictive flavor with a quiet mewl of pure indulgence.
He lost a sense of time or space, only realizing the shift when Senri dropped his legs to the floor and his back pressed against a hard surface. But while his mate seemed determined to eat him alive, he couldn't care, greedily fisting both hands in his hair and purring loudly in invitation under his scorching lips as his whole body throbbed with need.
G'raha almost stumbled and fell backward when the hard surface disappeared behind him, only then recognizing the door of their bedroom. Senri's hands, cupped around his ass, kneading his flesh almost brutally, held his upright, then he was backed into the room, and his lover kicked the door close behind them.
When he ran out of breath, whimpering involuntarily as he pulled back and panted, his lover chuckled, then his world spun, and before G'raha knew what happened, he was pinned down against the hard surface of the table in the middle of the room. Senri braced his elbow next to him on it, purring near-deafeningly against his neck as he impatiently tugged at the waistband of his pants.
"As delicious as it was… You're farrr tastierrr, Rrraha…" too-familiar raspy note in a dually resounding voice had him whine his painful arousal, arching under his lover's weight, and he nearly came when Senri snarled and bit him. The pinpricks of pain when his fangs pierced his skin had him mewl his submission incoherently, instinctively going plaint between him and the cold surface. Some still sane part of his mind wondered briefly when exactly the beast disappeared into his lover. Still, when his mate won the fight with the stubborn material of his pants and tugged them down to his knees, he didn't have time to think as two long fingers pressed into him without preamble, working his body into painful arousal. Following their pushes and pulls with rolls of his hips, he whimpered needily while his lover growled into his skin impatiently. Still, it felt like ages before that hand pulled back, and his ears twitched with the sound of the rustle of material. Without breaking his bite, his lover mounted him with a deep, relieved groan, sinking into him in a one, harsh stroke with power behind it that pushed all air out of his lungs on a keening shout. "Sorrry… Can't, gods… so tight…" Senri choked out a whine, pulling back to nuzzle against his neck apologetically, even as he shifted on top of him, bracing both arms around him while taking hold of his hands and lacing their fingers tightly. "Sorrry… can't…" he downright mewled, burying his face against his neck as he rolled his hips, rutting into him slowly while muttering incoherent apologies.
"…more…" he didn't care, the slight burn working his body into even fiercer arousal until he couldn't breathe, whimpering and moaning as he pushed back against each too-slow stroke of the scorching heat, taking him with increasing rhythm. Tightening his fingers around his lover's painfully – and anchor in the storm consuming his senses – he choked on another shout when Senri complied with a rumbling groan, pinning him down harder as he sped up, soon fucking him with nearly animalistic snarls.
The first orgasm rolled through his body violently, stealing his breath and mind as he tumbled over the edge with a keen of his mate's name. Shuddering helplessly as he fought for a breath and drowning in his high, his senses reeled in overstimulation when Senri shifted, pushing off his back and set to fuck him even harder, faster, inhumane in his sounds and feral intensity. And more than enjoying the onslaught, it took his body mere few moments to peak again, making him melt into a boneless heap of trembling muscles and too-loud purrs of bliss, dazed with pleasure while his beautiful beast took him.
And when a tantalizing mewl-purr of his name rang through his head, he gave in without a thought, opening his senses to the delicate but insistent push, and his world suddenly expanded. Utterly confused and dazed, he barely registered when his lover pressed against his body tight again, slowing down but not stopping as he took him in long, slow thrusts, his rumbling purrs full of glee. He barely noticed because everything around him shifted, and suddenly all he could see were strange… strings, tangling, and churning, formed of the multitude of colors and downright dazzling in the unearthly beauty.
"What…?" he gasped, trying to collect his scattered wits.
"Do you see, Rrraha…?" his lover purred near-deafeningly, nuzzling into his neck insistently as the insane heat of his bigger frame shifted and rolled against his back, tearing a string of helpless groans and gasps from his mouth as his rhythm grew rougher, his cock taking him in strong, sharp thrusts. "My worrrld… My patterrrns… You'rrre such a good mate… My gift forrr you, mate. Imporrrtant forrr mating…" his dually resounding voice sounded nearly drunk on bliss, but he didn't have space to wonder as his eyes rolled back into his head as he came so hard his senses fizzled out, chased into the abyss by a raspy groan.
His overloaded senses drowning in his high, T'senri sagged against his lover's back, panting harshly, though mindful of his weight, burying his nose against Raha's neck and rumbling on purrs of appreciation.
It took him embarrassingly long moment to realize that his lover apparently passed out – and hoping that it was a good thing – he chuckled sheepishly as he gathered him off the table and moved them into their nest, curling his arms around him possessively and smoothing his hand over his back until Raha flinched slightly with a quiet moan, curling into him slowly and soon his pretty, dazed eyes met his enamored stare and a sheepish smile when he looked up, blinking owlishly.
"Sorry, I got a tad too… excited," he blurted out with a fiery blush, leaning his head in to brush his lips against the corner of his lover's gorgeous mouth.
"Senri…" his mate sounded like he was confused, but considering he raised his hand and sank his fingers into his hair, pulling his head down against his shoulder, he complied easily with a near-deafening purr, biting down on the heated skin. "…you're so beautiful, my beast, it takes my breath away," Raha slurred slowly, coiling his arms around his head, pulling him closer until he rolled them over, carefully settling on top of him. "I love you, my Senri," his redhead purred, then tugged his shirt off his shoulder impatiently and bit him in turn.
And he would more than love to answer in kind… but his senses drowned in the torrent of his lover's emotions, and he gave in with a quiet mewl of indulgence, losing himself in his soul.
And if a quiet, satisfied – if rumbling – laugh ran through his head, he was too far gone to care.