Wake up, ran through his head, accompanied by a strange… shove, and G'raha's eyes shot wide open. Time to go, Raha, Damon said, and it took him a good moment to remember why there was a voice inside his head as he yawned and lifted his hand, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Reluctantly because of the heat radiating from Senri's body wrapped around his back, he attempted to leave his embrace, only for his muscular arm and black tail to tighten around him possessively and muttered a grumble of complaint against his ear.

"I have to go," he sighed and, more determined, pushed at the limb wrapped around his chest, electing another grumbled complaint. He couldn't help his ridiculously wide, lovesick grin even if he wanted, melting internally. To say Senri was a cuddler was an understatement! If at the moment, no matter how adorable that was and how much he didn't really want to… he squirmed, after a moment managing to crawl out of his lover's nest and, with a last longing look toward his gorgeous body, marched across the room toward the other, smaller one with the bath, quickly gathering the discarded last night clothes. He pulled on his pants, then tunic, and as he walked back inside the bedroom wishing to get a kiss before leaving – he froze near the nest, spotting his lover's open eyes… if they were completely wrong!

A wide, crooked grin bloomed on his mate's beautiful face as he sat up and stretched, then pushed the messy mane of his ink-black hair out of his eyes – far-too-bright, sky-blue eyes with way too round pupils…

"Close your mouth, Raha," he rasped more than a tad hoarsely if his long tail swiveled with very apparent amusement, landing in his lap before he stood up and left the nest – somehow completely missing his lover's usual feline grace… and it finally clicked in his head as he snapped his mouth shut.

"Ah… Ares?" he said, clearing his throat awkwardly and quite unsure what to do with his hands, so he crossed them over his chest, biting his lower lip with uncertainty as he looked up in his lover's beautiful face when the immortal in his skin neared him, somehow in this conditions Warrior's tall figure far more intimidating than ever before…

"Mhmm," the man chuckled, clearly aware of his apprehension – if sparks of amusement dancing in his unnaturally bright eyes were any indication – then when in front of him, placed his hand under G'raha's chin and tilted his head toward him… And he hoped that his nervous twitch was not too noticeable. "It's okay, boy, I know it's going to take time for both of you to get used to us – and all things considered, I do admire your bravery, Raha – in how well you're adjusting so far."

"I just…" he swallowed thickly and let his arms fall to his sides as he exhaled loudly. "I just want to keep him safe. If you can help with that… it would be foolish to fight you, especially if what Damon told me of the stakes is… real, as absurd as it sounds."

"I wish it weren't real," a slight grimace passed over his beautiful face before he sighed and pulled his hand back, moving away and unceremoniously picking up the covers making up the nest, before marching across the room and dumping them on top of the bed. Then he sat down on the edge of it, turning his sky-blue eyes toward him with a distinctively curious look on his expression. "So… Damon told me that you lost a bet to him?"

G'raha nodded, if more than a tad apprehensive, when Ares sniggered at that.

"Ah, well… word of advice, boy: never bet against him if you aren't sure you'll win. He can't resist, but outsmarting him takes eons of experience literally, " and he laughed when he grimaced as his passenger scoffed with audible indignation at that. He felt strange… pull, and even weirder feeling of disembodied, and suddenly he was stuffed in the back of his head, seeing and hearing but not feeling any of his limbs. "Sorry, sorry…" the immortal in his lover's skin chuckled, staring at him with an almost absurdly enamored look in his bright eyes as G'raha's body moved outside of his will, nearing him.

"You do mind your manners, love, you're freaking him out," left his mouth as he saw his hand lift and flick the other man on his nose – and all of this was sooo strange.

"Again, sorry – definitely didn't mean to," Ares replied with a chuckle, wrapping his hands around his body's waist if his expression grew far more serious. "What prize are you going to demand, though?"

"His cooperation with the next stage of our plan, obviously," Damon replied, raising his… their hand and running his fingers through messy, ink-black strands while G'raha somewhat experimentally hummed with interest. "Ah, I'll explain in more detail later, but when we're free to do so and can sneak away without anyone noticing, Raha, we're going to warp to the Crystal Tower, okay? There's something I need you to make for us."

Make...? He repeated with confusion.

"Mhmm," Damon smiled, leaned in, and kissed his husband's cheek innocently enough before he startled – suddenly back in the control of his body and flushed darkly, involuntarily nearly jumping back from Ares. This was beyond baffling! Sorry, same as in your case, we're also still getting used to this, Raha, but yes, I'll need you to make something for me using your control of the Tower. I have the schema for it, and I'll explain all the details later, but for now, let's say we need a crystal vessel capable of storing souls.

"A crystal vessel…?" he paled involuntarily, wondering how in the world he was supposed to achieve something like that.

"Ah, for Themis?" Ares chimed in, with apparent excitement in his bright eyes, and G'raha frowned, utterly confused. "Nevermind. I'm sure that Damon would explain it to you later – now, off you go before the mortals start knocking on the doors," he sighed and waved his hand toward the door.

"I…" he hesitated, looking back and forth between him and the door, feeling his face heat up considerably and his ears fall against his head as he twitched nervously.

Ah, yes, of course, Damon chuckled somewhat sheepishly, and he felt… something inside him shrink – if that didn't feel like a good way to describe it. Tell him it's okay now to wake up Senri, okay?

"Huh?" he murmured, but then sighed and repeated that out loud, flinching harshly and pretty much gawking in astonishment when Ares winked at him, right before his brilliant eyes shifted, becoming feline and ice-blue… and only when Senri blinked slowly with an utterly adorable, owlish look on his gorgeous face, he did become aware of the difference in how they bond felt – less muted than when Ares was in control... but not as fierce as when Damon apparently let go, giving him a lesson. And… he instantly quite missed that – feeling his mate's feelings and emotions with dazzling intensity if he swiftly understood his immortal's intent, too, considering his… reaction. He was still a tad mortified about – if he put a slightly shaky smile on his face and again neared his lover's body, despite his apparent confusion leaning in and stealing a swift kiss he wished for. "I have to go, Snark."

And he wasn't very surprised when his mate purred, wrapping his hands around his face and keeping him still as he gave him a much longer, deeper kiss, utterly dazzling his senses with his addictive flavor. Before he knew it, his hands curled in Senri's dark hair, and he returned the kiss with fervor and pulled back reluctantly only at the sound of a loud knock on his lover's bedroom door. Resting his forehead against his lover's shoulder, he fought to catch his breath and not push him back to the mattress and…

"Yes?!" Senri called over his shoulder, wrapping his hand around his neck, then placed a small, sharp bite right below the edge of his collar – that now he knew was a useless trinket – sending an impossibly pleasant shiver down his spine, and G'raha exhaled slowly, trying to calm his breath and heartbeat.

"Breakfast is served, sir!" the muffled female voice sounded behind the door, and he flinched with surprise when his lover growled softly – with very audible hostility for someone who knew the nuances of his sounds…

The bitch put her dirty paws on him, Damon supplied an explanation with recognizable glee, and G'raha barely managed to bite back a snarl as an utterly too-hot sensation filled his chest. He shifted, wrapping his arms around his mate's neck, and nuzzled against his lowered ear with low, soothing purrs even as that sensation grew hotter and hotter at another insistent knock. And he knew he had to go, even if he made sure that the door of his bedroom was locked before warping – as Damon called it – to his lover's side, but they really didn't need someone to grow 'concerned' enough to likely use a spare key or something and discover an empty room. But feeling the tension of Senri's muscles and how he wrapped his arms around him, burying his nose against his chest… He knew more than anyone else, probably, how his Snark abhorred the way some bitches just couldn't resist the temptation of his beauty and ignored the very obvious way he kept himself out of the range of strangers' touch. And he had more than a right not to be touched against his will…

"Damon, " he whispered barely audibly against his lover's ear – intending for Senri to hear – and ran his fingers through ink-black hair soothingly while his mate stilled with obvious uncertainty. "Is it possible – if Senri doesn't mind, I mean – that you could make and put a spell on him that would make someone touching him with a… specific intent regret it?"

Oh…? That sounds fun. What do you have in mind? The apparent glee in his tone was hard to miss.

"Do you mind, Senri?" he whispered and wasn't surprised when his lover shook his head without looking up and him. "Let's say… That full-body itch we get when neglecting the mark is unpleasant enough for a proper lesson in manners, I think, and if the effect is delayed enough, would likely be seen as some bizarre illness… I believe if someone is foolish enough to make my Snark uncomfortable, they more than deserve it, yes?"

Definitely, Damon sniggered. And I'll be sure to make the effect properly magnified, too, depending on the level of the… intent, okay? Just give me a moment to prepare it.

"T-Thanks," his mate breathed into his shirt, curling into himself slightly.

"No need, my heart," he replied with another soothing purr, then flicked his ear playfully before leaning away to wrap his hands around his lover's inhumanely beautiful face to place a delicate kiss on his forehead. "You're mine to protect, my beast," he added softly, then, when prompted, whispered against his skin, repeating words in an unfamiliar language that Damon supplied. The aether spun visibly about his lover's body, then settled into an invisible, thinnest layer on his skin and as fascinating as it was… he straightened with a rueful smile. "But now I really have to go, okay?"

"Mhmm," Senri sighed softly and grimaced at another knock accompanied by loud 'Sir?" before setting his expression into the usual, fake smile that fooled too many. "I'll see you soon," he added, carefully letting go of him and setting his hands on the mattress around his hips.

G'raha nodded in agreement, then leaned in swiftly and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek before warping back to his bedroom, not surprisingly instantly hearing the same knock and the insistent voice of the dark-haired maid that was designed to his bedroom yesterday.

"Coming!" he called out, and the sound trailed off instantly.

Time to face his first day in Ishgard…

They split up when their 'tour' arrived at the Jeweled Crozier, apparently, the market of this city, looking through the stalls after Senri very pointedly ordered them to make their pick of whatever they would need, saying that he was going to contact his retainers and that apparently he had far more gil to supply them with than necessary. And despite his very obvious surprise, Hades made sure to loudly whine like a spoiled kit, determined for all passersby to be able to hear him call the dark-haired Seeker his brother, before putting a nonchalant if the earnest expression on his face and leaving the rest to pretend to browse the stalls.

"Hades…? Are you okay?" he wasn't even that surprised when his brother's lover very soon joined his side with a worried look in his crimson eyes.

"Shhh!" he hissed briefly, blinking innocently when predictably – for anyone not blind – the two elegantly dressed females that pretty much stalked their group from the moment they left the manor they were staying at, somewhat gingerly neared the stall he and G'raha were standing by, pretending the interest in the jewelry and not that they almost visibly strained they long, Elzen ears to eavesdrop on them. Keeping his golden eyes focused on the redhead with a carefully sad expression – the shorter Seeker thankfully stood between him and the bitches with his back to them, hiding his utterly baffled look – he wrapped his hands around G'raha's shoulders. He leaned in, whispering loud enough against his ear for them to hear. "I'm just trying to cheer Senri up, that's all, though after losing track of Y'shtola, I doubt it possible, G'raha!"

"Y'shtola…?" the redhead muttered, and leaning back, he nodded solemnly despite amusement at how his dark-red eyebrows shot near his hairline.

"I know you weren't long with us before all that…" he added with a carefully sad tilt to his lips as he looked toward his brother's back across the market. "But they were very close… if you get my meaning," he sighed loudly, looking back at the redhead and thankfully seeing an understanding dawn in the crimson irises.

"You don't say…?" G'raha said seriously, looking toward Senri and back at him, his face a mask of indifference after barely a slight, amused twitch of his full lips. "I've heard the rumors, but…?"

"Oh, they're madly in love," Hades added with another solemn nod, keeping his ears low and his gaze on the other Seeker's face. "To lose her like that, not knowing what happened…! Can you imagine, G'raha? Senri's putting on a brave front, but for all we know, she's a prisoner back in Ul'dah, caught after we parted, and we can't even do anything about it!"

"I had no idea," G'raha said quietly, pointedly looking down between them and daring a brief look over his head, he bit back a smirk, seeing the females stare at his brother's back with nearly as disappointed as sympathetic expressions before they walked off, pointedly not looking toward him.

"Okay, they're gone," he whispered, returning to the stall and letting go of the Seeker's shoulder. "Thanks for playing along."

"…you think that enough to make them leave him alone?" G'raha added as quiet, moving next to him and pretending to consider the stocks as he pushed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. It wasn't storming like yesterday, but Hades figured it was always cold in this miserable city, with the dark, heavy clouds rolling overhead and baring the sun. He reflected his companion's pose, as that brief show was enough to make his hands beyond chilly.

"Some, I hope," he replied under his breath. "The more reasonable ones… if spun right, should be just tragic enough to make them reconsider approaching him with their… ideas, right? And it's an ideal cover for his very obvious lack of interest, too."

"Bravo," G'raha sent him a sideways, quick smile before walking off nonchalantly toward another stall, if staring after him, he almost wanted to grin at the 'very sympathetic' stare he tossed over at Senri before focusing on the stall with weapons.

"Excuse me," he heard behind him and turned with a carefully surprised expression, blinking innocently at another elegantly dressed female, almost as tall as him, with long, brown hair braided into a plait around her head and looking at him with a very 'concerned' look on her face from under an umbrella in the grip of the Elzen boy next to her that kept his eyes down on the ground. "I couldn't help but overhear… You're that man's brother?" she asked with a polite smile, subtly enough motioning toward Senri, still apparently occupied at retainer's bell.

"Quite right, miss…?" he inclined his head as politely as his hands clenched inside his pockets at the expression in her green eyes when they landed on his brother.

"Lady Effiane Vavie, sir…?" she said with a more than a noticeable hint of pride that had him ready to roll his eyes.

"Just Hades," he replied with a sheepish smile. "May I be of service, my lady?" he asked, more than thankful for G'raha's brief but easy enough lecture about the customs of this infernal city. Apparently, most of the people here stuck to some social hierarchy depending on the status of the knights with the clergy, and though he found it beyond confusing, the redhead warned to avoid insulting the well-dressed women, as that apparently indicated their position…

Some strange sort of disappointment flashed over her face before she smoothed her expression with another polite smile.

"I see… Well, it is a pleasure to welcome you to our glorious city, Hades," she said in a soft-spoken manner, folding her hands in front of her dark dress. "Is your brother enjoying his stay so far…?"

Hardly… But he put a very sad expression on his face when tossing a look toward Senri before turning to her again.

"I'm afraid that no matter the glory of this place, Senri, despite his cheery attitude, can't really appreciate it after what happened," he sighed sadly and fought not to frown when sudden recognition flared in her eyes before they darted toward his brother again.

"Senri…?" she muttered.

"Ah, T'senri, actually," he chuckled sheepishly, smiling like a fool when she looked at him with raised eyebrows and shrugged. "We're reunited but a while before arriving here, but obviously, he lets me use his given name. But again, may I help you, my lady, I'm afraid that I must go back to the task he gave me," he pulled his hand out of the pocket and motioned toward the stall meaningfully.

"Ah, apologies," she inclined her head, hardly looking apologetic at all, but he forced another easy smile instead of rolling his eyes. "But then, I must know… is he then the famed Warrior of Light we hear so much here about…?"

"Of course," he replied smoothly if honestly surprised that she didn't know.

"I see," the downright blinding smile on her face instantly made him want to swear when her another look toward Senri's back was distinctively even more hungry than before. "I admit I failed to recognize him, but if you please, tell your brother that as soon as he can accommodate to our city, my father, lord Vavie, would be much pleased to throw a celebration to welcome such a figure," she said with a smug smile he earned to wipe off her face, but instead he shook his head with another polite smile.

"I'm sorry to say, my lady, but I don't believe that my brother would be able to show a proper appreciation for such honor since he's in mourning," he lied with a tad surprising ease. "During our way here, we lost track of his beloved mate, and with the uncertainty of her fate, he's quite brokenhearted."

"His…?" the slightly owlish look on her face was swiftly covered with more than a bit stiff smile. "I… ah, wasn't aware that the Warrior is… in a relationship of such nature."

"Oh?" he blinked innocently and put a worried look on his face. "It's quite a well-known fact in Eorzea, though they aren't that… open about it, considering his fame and… many enemies, you can imagine, my lady? But he's impossibly devoted to his mate," heh, that wasn't even a lie, and the look on her face was definitely worth it. "My brother's used to keep such things and… his worry for her fate quite contained, with that on the mind. Too many would see her as a target, you see," he sighed with a properly exaggerated resignation.

"I see… Well, I wouldn't take any more of your time," she sent him another stiff smile before turning away and walking off swiftly, with the boy holding the umbrella visibly struggling to keep up.

"Making friends already, Hades?" he heard and turned to his brother with a much more sincere smile.

"Trying to," he replied with a chuckle, then sighed when his brother snickered and moved beside him, looking at the stall with jewelry.

"Did you pick something yet?" Senri asked, unceremoniously wrapping his arm around Hades's shoulders – as embarrassingly affectionate as always, but for once he didn't hiss at him with annoyance but relaxed instead.

"Not really," he admitted with a slight shrug. "And you should be a tad more… sad-looking after sooo unfortunately losing the love of your life, brother," he added in a whisper and almost snorted at Senri's utterly dumbfounded expression before his ice-blue eyes darted toward where his redheaded lover stood and back to him. "Y'shtola, Senri, your beloved… mate, remember? By few bells, half the city's bound to wish to offer you their condolences, I think."

"I… see?" he blinked rapidly, then visibly stifled a grin, hiding his face against his shoulder. "Brilliant. Thanks, little brother."

"Pff, I have to look after you," he scoffed, wrinkling his nose at the ridiculousness of the need to stop his tail from waving with unbidden enthusiasm at the praise.

He could be useful, after all!

"Now, be properly sad," he nudged his elbow into Senri's side, keeping his gaze on the stall.

"On it," Senri snickered quietly before straightening and pulling his arm back. "And you do pick whatever you need, okay? No holding back or anything as ridiculous."

"Yeah, yeah," he nodded solemnly, then sighed and headed away from him toward more interesting stalls.