Warning for:
- violence
- implied/referenced rape
[and if you read 'Jinx' you'll recognize this ''event'', I think]

There were two distinctive, nearly polar sides to his lover's personality, and the night G'raha truly learned of both, he fell for Senri that much harder.

On one side – quite literally – his Senri was impossibly sweet and sensitive, with a knack to make him almost roll over with laughter at his tendency to snark – hence his nickname. During their stay at the edge of Mor Dhona and throughout the first weeks of their friendship, G'raha quite often caught himself snorting embarrassingly whenever about the camp Senri would comment on something and then grin gleefully at his reaction. When alone, he also tended to be incredibly excitable – which showed in a quite hilarious way his black tail would flick, constantly felling over the stacks of books filling G'raha's tent, where they spent most of their time together. And now the redhead would be quite open about admitting that his fierce blushes whenever that happened were one of the many things he found adorable about him in those first yet innocent days. And he somewhat wistfully remembered being utterly as baffled as disarmed by the notion of finding the fearsome Eikon Slayer cute.

Then, after they got together, he – and the rest of the camp – were treated to the other side of his then-not-yet lover's personality. While others backed with terror he couldn't help but be utterly mesmerized by the predator hidden behind his Snark's pale eyes.

By that point, he was quite aware – and addicted, to be frank – to the fact that Senri, during their… entanglements, showed quite a domineering streak and impossibly arousing sexual aggression, but he didn't know that that translated as well into quite… ruthless facet of his beast. He found out when one of the jealous scholars hailing from the same city as him, Sienna – who before that he wasn't even that aware of existing – incited her few admirers into giving him a beating during Senri's absence as punishment for what she apparently believed was G'raha stealing from her the attention of the Warrior. He never actually found out why she believed that if not for him, Senri would be hers… or whatever she thought the whole thing would afford her, but to say she paid for that was an understatement.

That was what ended up as a lesson for them all that you do not threaten something that the Warrior of Light considered his and get away with that – and to say he was blown away to be that… was a mild way to put it.

But it also quite made much more sense later on, while during one of their late night lazy chats, Senri somewhat gingerly told him of the way his mother would lay upon his head when growing up that there had to be a balance to everything in life – if G'raha quite quickly figured out that there was a tad more to that then only those lessons.

By the occasional chill in Senri's pale eyes whenever he would tell him of the things he witnessed throughout his journeys, he learned that nothing was quite as sure to poke at his lover's ruthless side as fiercely as the unfairness and the abhorrent misbalance of strong preying on the weaker. By his sensitivity and the natural need to protect, he figured that led to his Warrior developing the polar need to punish those whose acts went against his very nature, involuntarily creating his beautiful beast: the predator preying on the predators.

By his own miserable experiences throughout his childhood and youth, G'raha couldn't help but admire and adore that side of his mate's character as fiercely as his sweeter, gentler heart.

And since they were mated, he discovered another… side effect of it quite swiftly, too. When he accompanied his lover to Ul'dah that first day of his stay in the Rising Stones and witnessed his first execution by Warrior's hand… he was at some level quite baffled by the sheer scope of the arousal he felt with the innate chill he for the first time really felt Senri downright radiate through their impossible link. By his instinctive burn to match his lover's frost-bound temper… and likely, one of the reasons that by the end of it, he downright itched to pounce on his mate and fuck him into submission…

Most of all, because under the ice of Senri's rage, there was always heart-wrenching pain in his soul – the source of his craving to make right the blatant injustice of their broken world, and he sensed – on a level impossible to ignore or describe – that without an outlet for his lover to release that pain, what awaited was only madness.

The chasm between his lover's heart and the suffering filling their Twelve-forsaken world was just too vast, he believed, and if could do something to alleviate his mate's pain… he had no scruples or hesitation to do so.

And that was perhaps why he downright ached internally at his inability to do so when they truly discovered the Brume – slums of Ishgard.

It started innocently enough, he supposed – numb inside as he dragged his crimson eyes over the area below the small balcony behind the Forgotten Knight, the tavern and inn of the city. When their 'tour' left the Jeweled Crozier and headed toward the lower level of the city, some very obviously inebriated citizen jeered at them to visit the tavern and learn of the true… entertainment to be had here. How the so-called 'betters' found their amusement…

The Forgotten Knight, they discovered quickly after deciding to find out what that was about, was apparently split between two levels, quite well reflecting the city itself. The upper floor was where nobles and knights were to be found – very visually jeering compared to the lower level and very obviously serving the poorer district.

The dichotomy of that was even harder driven home when they heard that during that latest attack of the Dravanians on the city, the 'better' people of Ishgard elected to fortify the Pillars – higher levels of it – leaving the poor and destitute people of the Brume to take the brunt of the assault…

And hearing that, G'raha wasn't even that surprised how not shocked he was – seeing yet another reason why he already hated this Twelve-forsaken place. And the frost he felt emanating from his lover's soul was downright biting… which he more than understood. Shared even to more than a great degree – if his insides felt more ablaze with the feeling that made his throat so tight that he could hardly breathe.

While the others – understandably subdued – settled into a quiet chat around the small, beaten-down table in the crowded area of the lower floor of the tavern, he had to sneak away in search of a deeper breath… and ended up finding this miserable sight for his effort, that only made the burn at the pit of his stomach that much hotter.

And even the falling twilight settling over the city couldn't hide the ugly truth from his eyes.

"The betters…" he growled under his breath, leaning back against the building's wall next to the door leading inside and closing his eyes as he banged the back of his head against the chilled bricks. "The noble…" that was more of a hiss than anything else. "Fucking pious hypocrites drunk on their holy war… Twelve, how I hate this place…!"

Not only their ideas barred him from being able to soothe the mind-numbing need to comfort his lover… his mate… Not only he had to watch the whole fucking day long far too many well-dressed bitches – even after Hades's brilliant ploy – look at his Snark like he was a piece of meat, more or less subtly trying to get near him… No, that wasn't enough, apparently, because those fucking noble people of Ishgard were determined to let the weakest and most vulnerable suffer for no fucking reason…! Even children, for fuck's sake!

Somewhat subtly chilling silence on Damon's part indicated that he wasn't any more impressed by this place than he was, but he still was almost ready to jump out of his skin at the sudden sound of the door next to him opening. The noise of old hinges had his ears flattened against his hair. He instinctively pressed his back against the wall and stopped breathing – even though he didn't need to open his eyes to know who followed him out, the chill of his lover's rage reaching a new level as Senri silently took stock of the area below.

"I despise this city," his lover's deep voice sounded hollow and empty near him, and G'raha only nodded, though he knew that he should say something – or more importantly, go back before someone spotted them alone or… something. This spot was far too exposed and…. He forgot all about it when his mate wrapped his arms around him securely and pulled him away from the chilly wall, burying his nose in his hair. And radiating from his body heat – so dichotomous from the frost of his rage pouring over G'raha's soul – was far too much to resist. The low, staggering sound of his purrs as he apparently thought to soothe him, though… He squeezed his eyes shut and buried his nose in Senri's chest, wrapping his arms around his waist and pressing against him tightly when a choked whine slipped his mouth, and his lover's grip around him grew that much fiercer.

This was stupid and dangerous, but…

Shield, Raha, as I taught you in Dragonhead, Damon suggested, sounding utterly cold and emotionless. But he complied with a sigh of relief, whispering the spell into the material of his mate's jacket and creating a bubble around them, hoping that nobody inside saw them heading in the same direction.

That done, he leaned away from his lover's chest. He looked up into the pale blue eyes that more than ever reminded him of ice… and he let his hand climb up to his much taller lover's neck, pulling his head down as he involuntarily almost lifted in his embrace, yearning to drown his misery in Senri's unmatched flavor and heat. Despite the so unfit place, needing to give his beast the outlet he needed for the mounting aggression and need for violence giving his frost-bound eyes glassy shine of the feral facet of his soul… And he wasn't even surprised when the second their lips met, his lover snarled aggressively, and the next moment G'raha found himself pinned against the wall, with Senri about to devour him alive.

Not that he minded….

Desperately and blindly pulling his lover's jacket open as the kiss swiftly grew downright vicious and biting, their more common blissed-out purrs exchanged for a mix of hisses and growls, he then coiled his arms around his neck and let himself burn in the addictive scent of his mate's arousal, so unbearably sweet and delicious… Then almost choked on a groan when Senri shifted and, without breaking the kiss, hooked his big hands under his thighs, almost brutally pulling him up against his tall frame. He wrapped his legs about his lover's waist instantly and pulled back with a hiss when Senri rutted into him, sending a shock of pleasure across his nerve endings with the friction on his already painfully aroused flesh. Gasping, G'raha buried his hand in his mate's soft, ink-black hair, pulling his head toward his shoulder as he whimpered needily at another almost brutal thrust of his lover's hips.

Swearing heatedly at the separating them material, he was torn from it when Senri tugged his jacket and shirt off his shoulder and bit him with a deafening snarl, growling into his skin insistently. G'raha arched with a breathless whine at the combined sensation and then mewled mindlessly with a fiery need to submit to his mate, coiling around his muscular body tight like a vice and rocking with his increasingly vicious movements.

The need to spill built up almost too swiftly, making him feel drunk on the sensations and his lover's aggressive sounds vibrating on his skin. Soon all his senses focused on the impossible pleasure of Senri's rock-hard dick rubbing just right against his with each roll of his hips, making him whimper involuntarily in matching rhythm against his ink-black, lowered ear. With his grip on the soft hair pulling his head harder into his bite, he soon chanted his beast's name breathlessly, shakily, so close he trembled, gasping for chilly air that did nothing to cool the blaze in his blood.

Yet, they both froze when a sudden shriek tore into their bubble, and both red- and black-haired heads snapped toward the direction of it as they fought to catch their breaths. The deafening sound of his heartbeat made it nearly impossible to focus, but somehow his arousal melted away so quickly he grew dizzy when his muddled brain connected the unsettling sound to the sight of a dirt-covered tall female on the muddy street under the balcony. Yet, it still gave him a jolt of shock when his lover's soul suddenly gave him a blast of frozen rage and shoved him off, with impossible speed heading down the wobbly, wooden bridge leading to the Brume and clearly a distressed woman.

Go after him, Damon hissed unnecessarily, as he was running before he even realized, if still beyond confused as he watched his mate downright jump the woman, demanding directions before he sprinted off even faster the street behind her. Despite his passenger's hiss of protest, G'raha stopped by the weeping Elzen female with a dirt-streaked face.

"What happened?" he gasped, staring in the direction his lover disappeared into.

"My… m-my daughter," the woman choked out between heart-wrenching sobs. "My I-Ivanne so… she w-wanted to see the market, and I looked away just for a moment… Just a second and t-told her not to t-talk to strangers… Just a little moment, and they grabbed her! Four men, drunk, and when… w-when I tried to go after them, their guard hit me and… I p-passed out and n-now…. She's gone… Knew I shouldn't, because she's so p-pretty, but she's only ten… Never left Brume before, and she was so curious… I…"

"We'll get her back," he said and rushed after his lover, beelining after the rage pouring over his senses without an issue, even as his whole world shifted and narrowed to the single thought: ten? A ten-year-old girl, why would anyone…? And he prayed that what Senri's reaction indicated for him – knowing his beast's character – wasn't the truth. Because if the chill of his rage was anything to go by….

Even without their bond finding the correct place wouldn't be much of an issue – the swiftly cooling corpse of a guard with a crushed helmet was enough of a warning and indication… If he felt like he was in a dream – a worst nightmare – heading inside without missing a beat and skipping steps of the widening, white staircase. The near-deafening snarl of his beast had his ears flattened against his head and pointed out the correct doorway – but when he passed it and took stock of the situation… he froze, utterly numb inside as his heart stopped and pointedly dropped into the pit of his stomach.

His gaze stuck on the far, far too-young naked and bloodied body splayed out between the soiled and crumpled covers on a massive bed in the center of the room… and as much as his mind rebelled at connecting the dots, at believing that this… atrocity could be real… Another snarl snapped his gaze sideways, and he stared in a numb stupor as Senri, with ease of his inhumane strength, picked up one very visibly disheveled and inebriated man and impaled him on one of the sharpened bed posts before darting to another male and snapping his outstretched arm like a twig. This one crumpled with a shriek – to join the first' – when his lover, in a flash, moved behind him and, with a well-placed kick to the back of the Elzen's knee, broke it with a loud snap. Leaving him alive and weeping, Warrior pounced on the last two who apparently attempted to summon weapons… but G'raha ignored it, utterly numb as he headed inside the room and stopped by the second man, looking down at his face – covered in tears and snot and screaming something he couldn't discern over the loud staccato of his heartbeat – then his crimson eyes drifted back to the tiny, tiny figure immobile between the sheets… and back. Without a thought, he lifted his foot and slammed the heavy boot down on the man's head, unaware of the sharp grin on his face as the skull gave a loud, disgustingly wet sound.

Grimacing with distaste, he freed his foot, then with a quick look toward his lover – blinking briefly at the downright enamored look of the ice-blue irises from the blood-splattered face. His hand drowning inside the gut of one of the still-shrieking males, G'raha darted toward the bed and, with his heart in his throat, pressed his fingers delicately against the far-too-pale throat, praying…

Move, Damon hissed, and he felt that strange disembodiment before his hands set around the small, pretty face, and the immortal in his skin started to whisper in a long-dead language, soon bringing a rosy tint back to the paper shade of the little girl's cheeks. Moments later, he was back in control, sending Damon a silent, relieved thanks as he opened and shrugged off his jacket, wrapping the thick material around the girl carefully and picking her up. Yet, he was still somewhat startled when he turned around and found his mate right behind him, staring at him with an uncommonly blank expression in his pale eyes and head to toe covered in blood.

"She… lives?" Senri rasped, staring at the unconscious girl in his arms.

"Y-yeah…" he trailed off and cleared his throat, then looked around the massacre and looked back into his lover's beautiful face before pointedly handing him the girl. Senri looked hesitant but finally exhaled slowly and gingerly took her. "I think… you might want to let Ares alter her memory, though, so she doesn't… doesn't… remember this," he took a deep, steadying breath and moved around him. "And while you do that, we'll remove the trash."

"Raha…?" he heard and looked back, his heart breaking with the sight of uncertainty in the pale eyes and soul-wrenching tenderness of his beast's touch on the girl's cheek.

And in that brief moment witnessing yet again the dichotomy of his lover's character, he knew – with the certainty of his sore heart – that he would never stop loving this impossibly beautiful man, his soul more even than the allure of his features that so tempted the others.

And it had to show in his eyes or expression because suddenly his gorgeous mate, funnily enough, flushed darkly and looked away, self-consciously clearing his throat. G'raha couldn't help but smile at that – even if it was a pale tilt, before he turned back and, following his immortal's whispered instructions, set to clean the evidence.

After they returned the unconscious girl to her mother, swearing the weeping woman to keep the whole thing a secret, Senri, when instructed by his lover, returned to their friends in the tavern, pretending nothing happened, even as his whole… being pretty much buzzed with nervous energy.

"We should head back to the Fortemps Manor," said Alphinaud soon after, looking around with confusion on his youthful face. And though Senri still wasn't his biggest fan… as his thoughts ran back to that girl involuntarily, he couldn't help how his insides tightened into knots. "Where's G'raha?" The boy asked, rising from the table and apparently trying to look over the crowded area for the redhead. When he looked back at them, Senri shrugged helplessly, just like others – striving to keep a carefully baffled look on his face.

"He said he needed a tad of fresh air a while back," Hades hummed, then stood up as well, using their familiar height to join Alphinaud's search before looking down at him and tilting his head slightly.

"I had to miss him," he lied, pointing overhead – since he made sure to come back to the building from the side of its upper level.

"Yeah, he rather headed that way…." Tataru pointed toward the direction of the back door of the tavern. "Shouldn't we look for him?"

"He's an adult," he shrugged carelessly, standing up and seeing a flare of understanding in his brother's golden eyes before Hades pointedly nodded along and moved away from the table, visibly scowling at the inebriated patrons in the way. "Come on, he knows the way back probably better than we do, and it's already late," Senri added, following behind him and waving at Alphinaud and Tataru.

"I'm staying here," the Lalafellin started, and he raised his eyebrows with surprise. "I think it's the best place to gather information – with the people milling about. Perhaps I'll hear something about our missing friends."

"As you wish," he replied, then sent her a pointed look. "But do be careful, okay, and don't hesitate to call me if you're in trouble."

"Obviously," she laughed, jumping off her seat and heading toward the barkeeper – likely to rent a room, while Alphinaud frowned with worry and looked about again.

"It really doesn't feel right to leave him behind," the Elzen said, and for that alone… Well, Senri felt some of his resentment toward the young prodigy melt if he still put his usual mask on his face as he wrapped his hands around the boy's shoulders and, despite his indignant huff, directed him toward the door.

"Believe me, Raha's more than capable to take care of himself," he said, nudging the Elzen behind Hades, breaking the crowd toward the staircase leading to the higher level of the building.

"If you say so…" Alphinaud didn't sound convinced but finally relaxed when they headed out, then shook up, pushing his hands in the pockets of his dark-blue jacket as they stepped out on the frost-covered street. "Heavens, but it's always so cold here."

"Tell me about it," Senri hummed with an agreement, then huffed into his palms before following his example and showing them in the pockets. "I already more than miss Rising Stones," he admitted honestly, for more reasons than they likely knew.

"I wasn't there long… obviously," Hades said next to him and matched his stride as they headed toward the mansion. "But I have to agree there, brother. So far… nothing pleasant about this place."

"Mhmm," he hummed with a nod, looking up at the starlit sky… when his linkpearl beeped – as planned – and he stopped with a carefully baffled look on his face as he picked up, stopping the others with a gesture. "…yes?"

"Ready and waiting," his lover's voice sounded cold and detached – indicating that Raha wasn't in control right now. "Lead them back to the mansion, go to your bedroom, ensure you're seen, then warp to us."

"Ah… okay," he replied smoothly in an easy tome, disconnected, and tossed the others a slightly sheepish smile, pointedly rolling his eyes. "That was Raha. Apparently, he got sick and headed back before us."

"Oh," Alphinaud frowned but also relaxed visibly, and when he started walking, his step was much brisker. "A tad rude, though glad to know he's safe… But should I check on him when we're back?"

"He said he's going to sleep, so maybe in the morning?" he suggested innocently, following behind him and exchanging a look with Hades.

"He's a skilled healer by himself," his brother scoffed, smirking when Alphinaud tossed him a surprised glance. "And I doubt he needs your help."

"Ah… very well," the teen raised his chin pointedly, starting forward, but Senri nodded silently toward his white-haired brother, and Hades winked at him, both taking near identical neutral expressions when they neared the guards at the archways leading to the Pillars. And Senri would be very inclined to admit that he very much enjoyed the way his brother, seemingly in a flash, learned his expressions and seemed inclined to play along without the need for explanation – for now, at least.

While they silently headed toward the mansion, he had to fight himself not to rush – beyond eager to find out what had his lover so… mysteriously insistent that he – and Damon – had an idea of how to deal with others in this city that had similar ideas as those… trash, as his mate called them, and that he needed Senri to buy him time away from everyone without raising too many eyebrows. And considering how swiftly he was learning to appreciate their… passengers' skills – especially at that – he could hardly contain his impatience. Because the look in crimson eyes… well, had his inner beast purr something beyond fierce!