Chapter 13: Game

Summary:

It was a game that only so much later Raha understood.

[ARR to post EW - Explicit]

Notes:

rating: explicit

warning: smut and fluff

It was a game. With rules, he made up, and the feeling of power in the reach of his fingers was heady.

Intoxicating.

His first taste of it felt like a sip of a cool drink after a far too-hot day. Easy enough, with his uncertainty and nervousness. His fear of losing something so delicious after barely having a taste, made it easy to pretend distraction with the ancient tome open in his lap even when the heat pressing against his back had his every sense focused with sharp intensity on the body behind him.

Fighting to keep his breath even while every inhale filled his head with a tantalizingly sweet scent of apple and to keep his unseeing eyes on the page in front of him as his mind just… raced between the ideas of how to subtly – not to betray his embarrassing neediness – invite his… friend? Would-be-lover?... to indulge his hunger for more than the radiating from his body heat and scent.

But with their relationship so fresh – and frankly, with Senri's innocence, he was scared of pushing too hard and too fast and scaring him off. A mere day after the powerful Warrior of Light so surprisingly… well, blew G'raha's mind, pretty much, confessing that he was in love with him – if in not as many words… After his sweet, sensitive Senri apparently came to believe that the fact that he preferred male… company was something unnatural and to be ashamed of… Well, he had no idea what exactly he wanted and how far he was willing to go. Not to mention, despite having some definitely depraved ideas – that spiked with every breath and every time he was confronted with the vision of the male's unearthly beauty and the very idea that he would want him – G'raha didn't have a very better understanding of how it was supposed to work between two males…

So far, today, after arriving in his tent with some adorable blushes and a shy look in his pale blue eyes – even missing his customary snarkiness – Senri seems content to, after one (sweet but far too short) kiss, settle on his bedroll behind him, graciously offering his much bigger frame as his pillow – and seemed to be happy enough reading over his shoulder. Other than his maddening heat against the redhead's back, he wasn't really touching him – his hands resting on the blankets around them to G'raha's growing frustration, and he wasn't sure how to let him know… he wouldn't mind more.

Like yesterday when he pinned him down into his bedroll and with that hypnotizing – beyond arousing – aggression that seemed so natural for the black-haired Seeker, he made him come – more than once – with nothing more than the addictive flavor of his devouring kisses and the way he rubbed against him… And somehow, that felt better – more intense – than any of his earlier experiences. But now…

He absentmindedly turned the page of the book in his lap, without conscious thought letting the back of his head fall against Senri's shoulder… and fought not to freeze up when with some obvious uncertainty, his… friend lowered his head and barely audibly took a deep breath against his throat.

"You smell… so good," the slight hint of rumbling purr in Senri's deep voice sent a near-violent shudder down his spine, and G'raha swallowed thickly, letting his eyes drop shut.

"Do… I?" he murmured, feeling his face heat up unbearably, especially when his unruly tail seemed to gain a will of its own, shamelessly curling around Warrior's thigh. Sitting between his open legs, with his back pressed against Senri's wide chest… and despite the materials of their clothing in the way, he couldn't help the way his breath sped up audibly when with as easy-to-read uncertainty and hesitation, the other male lifted his right hand and – somewhat shakily – he rested it on his bent knee, above the tome spread against G'raha's thighs.

"Very," Senri replied, and his voice grew even deeper while surrounding the redhead sweet scent distinctively grew thicker and muskier… and he barely choked down a whimper as it only worked to spike his hunger so, so much higher. "Like a mix of spices… sooo tasty," his Warrior purred, and he felt a brush of his soft lips against the spot where Archon's mark decorated his skin. He peered through his lashes toward that hand and bit his lower lip with uncertainty. Then G'raha took a deeper breath and, holding it, with slightly shaky fingers, he closed the book and set it aside next to the bedroll. Apparently, that was the only invitation that that hand needed to somewhat hesitantly lower down his thigh… but biting his lip harder, he slightly spread his legs wider – a relief as his pants felt far, far too tight over his aching flesh. He closed his eyes again – his face aflame – then arched against the hard wall of muscles behind his back with a choked groan when that big hand pressed over his far too-interested flesh.

"Your voice… love it like this," Senri whispered, and he barely heard him over the thrumming of his heartbeat, but he shakily raised his hand behind his head and pressed his palm against his cheek, turning his head at the same time. The black-haired Seeker met his kiss without hesitation, swiftly blowing his mind with the intoxicating taste of his too-pretty lips. With his unmatched aggressiveness, so soon G'raha could not help but mewl under his devouring mouth, letting his hand move to the back of Senri's head and curl into a fist in his ink-black hair, half-consciously trying to pull him closer. And when his… friend's hand tightened over his crotch, he whined an incoherent complaint, feeling a painful throb of the confined flesh. And as if reading his mind, Warrior's hand rubbed over the material in a way that granted his starved body the friction it so desperately begged for. Gasping at the sensation, he pulled back from the kiss with a choked groan, letting his head drop against Senri's chest again, and despite his fiery blush… his free hand shot to wrap over his friend's, pulling it harder over his erection as he rolled his hips, dying for more of that delicious friction. And Senri complied without a word – only his breath short and almost violent – curling his hand over his wanting flesh and rubbing it… just right… and… oh, Twelve… it shouldn't feel that good, had no right to… But soon, G'raha could only choke on his breathless whines and whimpers, rocking into his Warrior's touch with growing desperation as the pressure built up almost too swiftly, robbing him of any sane thoughts.

And with every movement feeling a hard ridge of Senri's cock pressing against his lower back should be unnerving… scary even, probably… but when his ears rang with his Warrior's rumbling purrs right before he lowered his head and despite the material of his vest in the way, bit him with a near-deafening growl, and as of to match it, his hand tightened around his flesh almost brutally…. G'raha arched in his arms with a keening moan, shuddering as the mind-numbing heat of release spilled through his body. Too blissed out from it, he could merely purr when Senri's other hand curled around his jaw and tilted his head, his blush beyond fierce despite the awed look in the darkened ice-blue eyes.

"You're so pretty like this, Raha," his Warrior purred as his eyes trailed over his face, and G'raha's face grew hotter as he bit his lower lip, still busy trying to catch his breath. "So pretty… my heart aches… Raha, be mine…?" he breathed, but before he could collect his scattered wits enough to answer, Senri took his mouth into a deep, scorching kiss… and soon, the only thing he could focus on was his flavor.

Not yet aware of the power Senri far too easily relented into his unfit hands with that one question, he somewhat got the better idea of it – and grew dazzled – two days after their first night together.

Hard as it became to focus on anything else than his lover – and feeling somewhat guilty about the fact that he let himself get distracted so much when the whole expedition was stuck, waiting for him – them – to find an answer to how to proceed… He reluctantly snuck out from his Warrior's tent – difficult as it was to untangle himself from his possessive grip – and headed to the labyrinth guarding the Tower, thinking perhaps on the previous scour through it, they missed something.

A few other scholars and engineers he passed on the way and inside the structure itself politely nodded toward him, then scrambled away – apparently far too mindful of the 'show' his lover delivered. The same people who earlier sneered and barely veiled their disdain for 'Warrior's bitch,' now looked too nervous even to meet his mismatched gaze. And that was… heady.

Walking down one of the empty corridors and carefully watching the carvings on the ancient walls for anything he might have missed before, he thought back to that night and to the downright feral look in Senri's eyes after he tore Sinna to nothing much more than a piece of mauled meat. And though at some level he thought he should be scared of it… all he could feel was a spike of lust as his heartbeat sped up.

For others, his Warrior played the part of the easy-going cheer, but the blatant sight of what truly hid underneath the mask… While they feared the predator, he couldn't help but crave it. That feral intensity and assurance of violence if one dared to touch what was his… dazzled G'raha with the idea that Senri was that possessive of him. And that was before they had sex… and now?

"Here you are," he heard behind him when he stopped by one of the walls, and his lips involuntarily twitched at the sound of the petulant tone. "We have to discuss your manners, Raha," his lover growled, but he didn't turn his head until he felt him press against his back, wounding his muscular arms around his chest tightly.

"Good morning, Snark," he hummed with amusement, wrapping his hands around his lover's forearms and almost melted when Senri purred and nuzzled against his ear. "I didn't want to wake you, you were sleeping so soundly."

"Excuses," the Warrior grumbled, then sighed blissfully, resting his chin on top of his head. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

Perhaps it was embarrassing to admit, but he did really enjoy how much taller his lover was than him, making it so easy to lean back into the temptation of the heat of his hard body while trailing his red-cyan eyes over the length of the dust-covered walls.

"I thought maybe we missed something…" he said, absentmindedly smoothing his hand over Senri's arm.

"Doubt it," his lover chuckled funnily, then the arm he was petting unfolded, and his big hand smoothed down G'raha's stomach, and soon Senri hooked his thumb in the waistband of his pants. And after how they spent most of the night… still nearly feeling his cock inside him, pumping in and out, taking him… he really, really shouldn't grow aroused as swiftly and painfully, unconsciously pressing back against his lover's hard body. "Aww… see, if you didn't so rudely sneak away…." Senri whispered against his ear, and his dexterous fingers made swift work of the fastening of his pants, then his big hand snuck under the material and wrapped around his cock in a deliciously tight grip. "…right about now…" his lover breathed when he arched in his arms with a choked groan, tightening his left hand around the arm resting over his chest while the other he shakily raised against the wall in front of him. Unconsciously leaning against it slightly, he widened his stance, gasping desperately when Senri shifted behind him, slightly and slowly rutting into his ass as his hand pumped his dick in a matching rhythm. "…I would be fucking that wonderfully tight ass of yours," his Warrior rasped, then nipped on the sensitive shell of his ear, and G'raha swallowed thickly, letting his eyes fall shut as his tail coiled around Senri's hip in a silent claim.

The thought that any of the scholars could walk into the corridor and see them… seemed very, very far away as his senses swam in the mix of sensations. Senri's sweet scent so thick around him had him pant, sniffing the air greedily as he helplessly rocked his hips against his lover's tight grip, whimpering involuntarily at the friction.

"Azeyma… you're so hot," his lover rasped, and his other hand moved down his chest, soon tugging his pants off his hips. And he really should protest… really, really should… would in a moment… He will just… G'raha moaned deeply, feeling his face blaze with a fierce blush when after some very quick fight with their clothes, his lover unceremoniously shoved him forward. He didn't really understand – too dazed as his body shook with mounting pleasure – until Senri forced him to bend forward with a whine when he grabbed the base of his tail, then took him with a snarl that resounded along the empty corridors.

The sensation of his scorching flesh pushing up into him tore a breathless whine out of his throat. He leaned against the wall fully, gasping desperately and mewling incoherently until Senri stopped, his dick buried inside him as far as it would go. His hands still tight leashes around his cock and tail, combined with the fiery intrusion, had him chant his lover's name breathlessly, shakily begging for more. Letting go of his tail, Warrior chuckled breathlessly, leaning against his back tighter and pumping his fingers alongside his dick until G'raha couldn't help but roll his hips between the two sensations, thrusting into his palm, then pushing back onto his cock. And matching his rhythm perfectly, Senri rocked against him, groaning against his neck and grinding into his every push harder. Letting him fuck himself on his flesh until G'raha moaned weakly, biting down on his forearm as the pressure to come grew unbearably. He whimpered helplessly through his nose, his movement growing jerky and erratic, and was so, so close… And Senri's distinctive mewl-purrs vibrated against his neck as his flesh throbbed inside him on every increasingly rough stroke, his bigger frame shook against his back as his long, black tail wrapped into a tight leash around his abdomen. Yet he let him pick the rhythm, let him extend the painful need to come until G'raha couldn't help but spill with a choked groan, whining in the back of his throat in tandem with the dizzying spasms of his release…

…and could only blink in a numb stupor when Senri suddenly pulled back with a quiet, choked whine, spinning him around and, to his surprise, in unnaturally fast motions, fixed their clothes, then pulled him into a thing, all-encompassing hug. Still gasping and fighting to collect his scattered wits, he buried his face against Senri's wide chest, trying to understand… then his sensitive ears twitched with the sound of the footsteps, and he stilled utterly, flushing furiously as he fought to calm his breath. And feeling how his lover still shook, and his breath stuttered against his ears, his still very hard flesh pressing into his stomach insistently… G'raha swallowed thickly and wrapped his arms around his chest, soothingly smoothing his hands over his lover's back.

"S-Sorry… I got carried away," Senri breathed against his ear barely audibly, then nuzzled against it apologetically. "Don't be… mad."

And then it fully sank in, the power he held over him.

The thought that even now, his powerful, beautiful Warrior feared his rejection… stung, and as G'raha tightened his arms around him, he swore internally that he would find a way to reassure him that nothing could make him regret being his.

That belonging to him made him feel freer than anything else ever before…

So ignoring the nearing steps, he leaned away to look into his lover's eyes and brought his hand against his flushed darkly cheek, raising in his embrace until their breaths mixed.

"I could never be mad at you, Snark, I love you, remember?" he whispered, then holding his gaze, brushed the tip of his nose against his with affection. His face felt as hot, but he, with premeditation, put a coy smirk on his lips, watching his lover's dazed eyes focus on them. "And I more than enjoyed it," he purred, letting his hand move to the back of Senri's head, drowning his fingers in the unmatched silk of his ink-black hair. "Too bad…" he managed before his lover's mouth fell on his, swallowing the rest of his words.

Even when his ears twitched at the sound of some calling his lover's title and felt him freeze up, trying to pull back, he tightened his hand in his hair, keeping him close as he plunged his tongue into his mouth, tasting his addictive flavor, and only when his whimper shot down his throat, he pulled back with a delicate nip on his lower lip before freeing him.

And despite how much his face now burned, when he turned his gaze toward Cid's clearly uncomfortable expression, G'raha smiled before falling back to his heels and rested his cheek against his lover's chest, feeling under it how Senri's heart thrummed unevenly, rapidly, before he cleared his throat and turned his attention to his friend, yet tightened his arms around him securely.

He hoped this little show would help his Warrior understand that no matter what… he was proud to be his. That despite his earlier beliefs… there was nothing shameful or unnatural in the way they were together.

And, perhaps, his… efforts worked a tad too well in the end.

Soon after that, for a while, it seemed like Senri was – more or less consciously – testing the limits of his tolerance. When they were alone, it wasn't much of an issue as he more than enjoyed his seemingly constant need to touch him… but when he wouldn't curb his 'doting' during the meals they attended together with the rest of the camp… finally G'raha had to set down some rules….

…mostly because he grew somewhat worried that some of the ladies looked really ready to combust…!

…and perhaps because Senri looked absolutely adorable, pouting for a full bell after he sat him down and very seriously explained that as much as he enjoyed his… attentions, he had to have others' sensibilities in mind, too.

And maybe that was the mistake: making the clear distinction between what he liked and what was the 'proper' etiquette… because it swiftly led to his lover's development into his utterly shameless beast.

As he didn't think of it then, his Senri didn't care about the ideas of people he didn't care about. If set before a choice between their peers and G'raha's… ah, enjoyment, for his Warrior, there wasn't even a contest.

And the first time, he actually snapped and hissed at him with outrage… well, something shifted between them then, and soon his lover eagerly broke his 'rules,' apparently trying to poke at his temper. The thing he spent most of his life mercilessly pushing down and striving to keep contained... That moment, as the first surprise in the ice-blue irises instead of insecurity he perhaps half-expected, or maybe even dismal, Senri's eyes instead blazed with lust, and his Warrior pounced, dragging him back to his tent… what only pissed him off more! And he couldn't be blamed that – at the time and while riding the edge of his temper – fucking his lover into submission seemed like a good idea. That Senri let him – despite being so much stronger than him – should have been a clue, but he was… distracted. And perhaps more than a bit intoxicated with the power of this beautiful male so eagerly purring his submission and drunk on his distinctive mewl-purrs – which had to be the most arousing sound in existence…

But what's more… it made him feel that no matter what – it was okay for him to be himself… because the more spoiled or temperamental he acted, the more fiercely his lover's gaze burned with devotion.

It took him a while – and more than a lifetime of insecurities and his… issues – to understand what Senri saw in him. To really understand the reason behind all of their silly games.

To know – without any doubt in his mind or heart – that it was not about fate or others' schemes…

When they met, they were both wounded and in each other's mirror-like issues, they found what their souls needed the most. Both were so painfully lonely and needed to be wanted for who they were, they were more than a match. In his Snark's possession and blind devotion, he found himself and freedom he never imagined possible. In him, Senri found the acceptance he needed and someone who craved all the unbridled, uninhibited affection he had so much to offer.

So, yes, it was like a game…

And years later, every time his by-then husband and love of his life granted him one of his silly, enamored looks or kissed him in a way that never failed to make his heart swell with a painfully sweet, powerful emotion…

…well, Raha couldn't help but feel like he won.