Still pretty much abuzz with that nervous energy, somehow Senri managed to exhaust his lover, and with a ridiculously cute way, Raha grumbled petulantly, he gathered his gorgeous if limp body and marched out of the throne room in search of a proper place to let his treasure rest a bit before they're forced to go back to that infernal city. He was a tad surprised that even despite being naked, the temperature inside the Tower was quite on the pleasant side, even the crystalline floor under his bare feet.
While his redhead blissfully curled into his arms, sleepily nuzzling against his shoulder, Senri pushed open the nearest massive door with his foot, tightening his arms around him, peering through the opening with interest. It revealed a huge if empty and quite dusty room, with some hard-to-define remains of something in a few places.
I suppose that a few things would be able to survive the time the Tower was in slumber, hummed Ares with consideration in the back of his head. But taking the placement of this room and its size, I would be tempted to guess that would be the Emperor's private quarters once upon a time.
Intrigued by that statement, Senri pushed the door open wider and walked into the chamber, looking about with a live interest while Raha yawned widely and shifted in his arms, blinking with confusion at the room.
"Shouldn't we go back?" he murmured if sounding utterly reluctant, as he dragged his fingers lazily along the taller Seeker's collarbone.
"I think still a few bells until the dawn… and it's far warmer here than there," he smiled at his lover sheepishly, inclining his head to brush his lips against his cheek before looking about again. "Ares says that this probably was once the Emperor's room… but it doesn't look like anything of the furniture survived."
"I suppose… it would be more than five thousand years, right," his redhead hummed, resting his head against his shoulder and closing his eyes as he yawned again and curled deeper into his embrace. "I miss our nest…" he slurred slowly, then sighed and seemed to drift off… completely missing Senri's utterly enamored expression as he set another kiss on his mate's cheek, completely disarmed by the statement.
Actually… why not, Ares chuckled, then he felt that strange disembodiment for a moment and almost hissed with offense while the Ascian whispered something barely audibly… and suddenly their nest - one from Rising Stones – materialized in the middle of the massive room and second later he was back in control, gawking at the thing as he involuntarily tightened his arms around his mate. No point in leaving it on Braves' mercy, right, especially when I know how much those blankets mean to you, boy. Here, it would be more than safe, and you will be able to warp here whenever you want to relax outside of your other tasks.
I… thank you, Ares, he replied, feeling his face heat up considerably as he carefully neared that… wonder and somewhat hesitantly, if truly more than grateful, set his lover down into the nest, grinning involuntarily when Raha groaned sleepily and promptly curled deeper into the blankets with deep snore-purrs.
So unbelievably adorable!
You're very welcome, Senri, the immortal replied with a chuckle while he carefully gathered one of the blankets and, with care, wrapped it around his lover's body into a cocoon, then sighed and smoothed his hand delicately over the messy, red hair – loving their soft-quality – before climbing back to his feet and leaving the nest to explore the room.
After that… marathon on the throne, he should also be exhausted, but… yeah, he felt more like his whole being was filled to the brim with nervous energy that made his tail swivel constantly.
Soon, on one of the sides of the room, he found something that looked like a panel of the door. If somewhat harder to distinguish than the one they entered through, and after some careless pawing about the crystal around it, he apparently pressed something, and the panel soundlessly slid open. Peering into the opening, he grinned toothily, seeing something resembling an extremely advanced… bathroom? Restroom? He had no idea if it was supposed to have a special name in case of something belonging to an Emperor. Still, nonetheless after tossing a careful look toward his sleeping lover – making sure he was safe, of course – he headed inside and looked around with curiosity.
Whatever else was once there, it seemed that, like in the case of the bedroom, only the crystal survived, if here, apparently, that was what formed most of the… things inside. Seeing a line of different-colored plates on one of the walls, set in two rows, he walked over to it and leaned in, rubbing his chin as he tried to figure out what they were for. Nothing was written on them, so Echo was useless, but they had some strange symbols – pictures – engraved on each. Unable to resist if a tad gingerly, Senri pressed his finger against the one on top right…
…and yelped, as apparently the ceiling right above his head turned into a wide square of the shower, and he was drenched in the quite chilly torrent of water. Laying his ears flat against his head, he panicked a bit, pressing other plates in rapid succession, trying to stop the rainfall… that first got hot, then cold again, then it stopped, but he was blasted with warm air… and finally, it worked, and all stopped. Ares snickered while he stared at the plates with an offended expression, shaking the water out of his tail.
Pretty neat, the immortal said innocently, and he huffed, then turned around and marched back into the bedroom… quite quickly, before he was bound to make anything else drench him… or something.
Raha still snore-purred adorably, which swiftly melted away his annoyance, and Senri couldn't help but grin as he walked over to the other side of the room and another panel of the door.
Behind it, he found a much smaller room with some panels set by a far, crystalline wall. When he passed the threshold, the door slid closed behind him silently, but he barely noticed, walking around the area before heading toward the mysterious panel that lit up as soon as he approached. He flinched harshly when suddenly a flare of the greenish light filled the room, then scowled, ready to back out and leave… when a strange, slightly mechanical-sounding voice coming from the panel made him freeze.
"Greetings, Consort," it said in a monotone, and a screen appeared over the panel, to his astonishment showing him, in great detail, if his likeness was in a relaxed pose and with a neutral expression on his face. Naked, too, and with closed eyes. "Scan completed and updated to the system. There are 2'536 fitting attire items available to your choice, Your Majesty. The temperature and humidity suggest the end of summer, and fitting outfits have been set up at the front of the queue."
…the fuck?
Ah, it recognizes you as Raha's 'Consort,' I guess, Ares laughed at his expanse. 'Tis most likely some advanced closet… or something.
"I… see," he said, feeling completely out of place, then sighed and shook his head, hesitantly nearing the image of himself. "So… how is that supposed to work?"
No idea, Ares chuckled sheepishly, at the same time as that voice chimed in.
"Inquiry received, processing…. Preparing a presentation. Picking the first item in the queue," his… likeness didn't move, but was suddenly head to toe covered in… absolutely hideous rainbow-colored robe. Senri's jaw dropped as he stared at that monstrosity while Ares downright rolled over with laughter… or at least that's how it sounded.
I guess… that was the latest in Allagan fashion, the immortal choked out between snorts of laughter. Isn't it… cute?
"NO!" he replied with offense, glaring at the image.
"Understood. Switching to the next in the queue," the mechanical voice said, and the outfit changed… to something even more awful and as… colorful. If possible, Ares's laughter got even more intense while Senri pouted, folding his arms over his chest and waving his tail with agitation.
"I prefer something black… and much simpler," he stated with resignation and flinched when the image changed instantly.
"Preference registered and updated to the system, Your Majesty," the… Tower?... replied while he stared at the image of himself in simple enough black pants and a matching tunic with long sleeves that ended with flared-out cuffs. He tilted his head curiously and narrowed his eyes.
"And… something without those sleeves?" he said aloud, and the image shifted, the sleeves gone instantly. Raising his eyebrows while his immortal snickered, he cleared his throat and let his arms fall to his sides. "Okay… so if I want this… what then?" he asked, looking about the empty room.
"Items picked, processing…" the voice chimed, then the panel under the screen flared briefly and then slid open, revealing a neatly folded stack of black materials. "Any further inquiries, Your Majesty?"
"N-No… thanks," he chuckled at himself, then gingerly picked up the offered outfit, still somewhat beyond baffled when after unfolding, it was the same as in the image. "It is pretty… neat," he sighed, then left the tunic but pulled on the pants before startling as another wide panel of the wall on his left slid open, revealing a massive mirror.
Even more than that, hummed Ares with some strange consideration, and he frowned but then turned around and headed back to the bedroom, again smiling as the door slid open and the sleepy sounds of his lover teased his ears. Let me take over for a moment.
"Ah… okay," he said, then still freaked out a bit at that strange disembodiment, while Ares, in his skin, walked over to the nest, then kneeled by its edge, resting his hands on top of his thighs.
"Damon, love, a word?" he said, and Senri somewhat flinched, gawking from the back of their shared head with the redhead shifted lazily to his stomach and raised on his elbows under the blanket, looking up at him… them with that completely unfit for his lover, cold look in his crimson irises.
"Mhmm?" he hummed, resting his chin on top of his right palm and raising his dark-red eyebrows in expectation. "What was that yelp earlier?"
"Senri discovering the wonders of Allagan shower," Ares sniggered, brushing his hand over Damon's hair before leaning back and making a wide gesture with his hand. "But while he explored, I had a thought… All things considered, what do you think about making this place our… lair, so to say? So far, it seems to have all the necessary facilities and the way I see it – we can use a place that nobody else can access."
Damon hummed with consideration, then looked around the room with a frown before sitting up, cross-legged, and running his fingers through his hair, pushing the messy strands back from his eyes.
"I mean… I don't see why not," he finally said, leaning back on his arms. "I hardly had occasion to explore, but if you say it's… optimal, I have no reason to disagree. I set it to appear 'asleep' on the outside, obviously, and no one but Raha can open the gate, so I definitely see your point, love, plus transporting here their nest was a nice touch. I'm sure when he wakes up, my boy would be more than pleased… but then, we also have to make sure that no one tries to access their bedrooms during the night – for whatever reason – and discover our absence."
"I can do that easy enough with a compulsion," Ares replied, absentmindedly toying with the bracelet around their wrist as he dragged his eyes about the room before looking back at his lover and tilting his head curiously. "And… am I wrong thinking that this is where you stashed the Scions, love?" he asked, and Senri focused his whole attention on the redhead in front of them while his full lips tilted into an indulgent smile and he nodded briefly.
"Mhmm, the safest place I could think of under duress," he said, then sighed and leaned in, resting his elbows on top of his knees. "You're thinking of releasing them, Ares?"
"I don't know," the immortal shrugged, then ran his fingers through their hair and sighed, sagging to sit back on his heels. "I mean… if they would be anyway locked in here…? They could hardly affect the events outside. And that would give us time to… sway them to our cause, yes?"
I would convince them, he chimed in, instantly more than excited.
"Senri's more than eager to help with that," his immortal chuckled, then frowned, setting a hand on top of his thighs again. "Unless you think it's unwise, love….?"
Damon hummed, clearly mulling it over, then pursed his lips and smiled. "I, honestly, do not mind one way or another… so long they don't affect the events, that is, at least for now. We already changed things quite a bit, and until I'm ready to deal with Lahabrea properly, I prefer to keep the events unfolding as they're supposed."
Lahabrea? He hummed with confusion, then hesitated. Isn't he like… one of yours?
"Technically," Ares said, then chuckled funnily, leaning in to brush his fingers against the redhead's knee. "To make it plain… Love, can you tell Senri how exactly you feel about him?"
"Huh?" Damon replied with a frown… that swiftly turned into a scowl. "Ah, Lahabrea, you mean?"
"Mhmm," his immortal nodded solemnly, making Senri utterly confused.
"I can't wait to eviscerate him out of existence," the redhead said with power… then launched into a looong and very descriptive litany of the profane ways he was considering doing so… that had even the Warrior cringe more than once.
He can go on like that for quite a while, Ares hummed at him with amusement while outside, only nodding along with a dutifully agreeable expression. So, you see… no love was lost there, Senri. For more reasons than I feel comfortable revealing now, boy, I swore to Damon that he could have Lahabrea to himself, and believe me… Puff is nothing in comparison with what that… man deserves. And we will get to him, eventually, like he said: when he's ready and when we know it's safe to do away with him. But the point being, we have very little in common with the Ascians you came to know, boy. We do not share in their ideas or beliefs, and even more so, don't believe in their end goal. All we want is to be together and eventually help you and your friends to face what's coming.
And… you don't want anything in return? He couldn't help the suspicious note in his voice. Years of conditioning were difficult to discard when he felt that they were hiding something from him… from them.
I didn't say that, Senri, and while I understand your apprehension, I can't yet disclose the details. There is… someone that saving planning all of this was our main goal. Three people, actually, that… we greatly care for, the downright cagy tone was very obvious before he sighed with some resignation, likely feeling his growing uneasiness. Let me put it this way, boy… Back in the day, we had… a family that your counterparts from the future – for us then – warned us that if we didn't follow in their footsteps, would suffer. Our son, the man whom he loved and a boy that was my… protégé, you could say. Each was destined for a fate that we found… hard to stand if we did nothing, so it wasn't really a choice. Can you understand that, Senri?
Your… son? He repeated with confusion. You could… ah, you know…?
No, the immortal chuckled at his fluster. As with you, procreation between males wasn't an option. In truth, it's my little brother, but we raised him together, and for Damon… he's a son in everything but blood, boy. We spent centuries yearning for an offspring of our own, and it… almost ruined our relationship before my mother and father, somehow seeing it, granted us that gift before slipping away into the aetherial sea. And… he was and is the light of our existence, boy, so to know his fate was… more painful than we could ever possibly allow passing. For him, Damon – in every timeline – created a spell that let us be reborn into you and change it…
But… why? He asked hesitantly.
Because… you were meant to kill him, Ares replied in a tone that had him cringe. And to know that you… a shard of me, would do so… Can you imagine? After my wish brought him into existence, that notion felt especially… unfair.
He mulled it over for a moment silently, then sighed.
I think I get it, he said, still somewhat reluctantly, but… I mean… especially after meeting Hades, I think I can understand. I never really thought about… breeding and all, but it does… hit differently, right? When someone is depending on you and… you're blood-related. I never had it with any of my sisters, considering they hated me, and can only imagine how much… fiercer is that need to protect him with actually raising him from birth… and all. So… if saving that man is the price of your help, I think I don't mind helping but… Tell me this, is he… dangerous, then? Because why else would I… kill him?
He would want you to, boy, and put together a… whole complex scenario to eventually lead to you slaying him, Ares replied very carefully, looking away from his lover – that kept his monolog going! – and looked at the bracelet wrapped around their wrist with a somewhat rueful smile. As for an answer, yes, he's EXTREMELY dangerous and powerful, but… so am I, Senri. So is Damon, more so, even… if provoked. My boy… my son, spent eons literally wondering about this world alone, and we believe, in that first miserable timeline, he wished for that to end by your hand, specifically. Perhaps because you're mine reincarnation was the biggest reason behind it… But the point is that since then… a lot happened between that first timeline and this one, boy. Each time you end up traveling back in time, there are ripples that… change things. Damon has a schema with all the 'twists' we learned of, as apparently each of him – precautious as my husband is – made sure to pass it along. To make it perhaps somewhat easier for you to understand, let's say… Well, in that first timeline, if I remember correctly, Raha did something… you could not forgive him, and by the time of your visit with us – alone – you hadn't been together. One of the next that stood out to me was that Raha was alone in… there – alongside his Damon, obviously – and apparently, in that timeline, by this point, you weren't born yet… Another that result we ended up meeting was… he never left Old Sharlayan, and you never met in Mor Dhona, so by this point in your life, you fell for Haurchefant instead.
Huh? Utterly baffled while trying to wrap his head around it… he couldn't imagine himself loving anyone but Raha…
Yeah… it ended poorly, Ares sighed. Not that it's anything against the man… but you, despite the fact that you apparently have quite a weakness for the kind type, well… he didn't match you, that's all.
Well… that was just too weird. And the next time he meets him… eh, it would be hard to look at him without thinking of that tidbit…?
I imagine, Ares chuckled at his expanse, playing with the bracelet. But what I mean… You're still very, very young, Senri, but you… went through a lot. We both – me and Damon – know that, and when… well, when he woke up again, and we realized that this is likely our… twist, we decided that it was for the best. Ishgard, if you were alone… would be hell for you. And for me, if I couldn't do anything… for more reasons than I can tell. But in general, that decision already changed quite a lot in your intended story, as he said. In a way, you're a tad… more vulnerable than intended. To keep it simple, you have more to lose, and by it… more others can use as leverage against you and those you care about, he trailed off, then sighed and continued. So it may be that we would be forced to change even more to keep you both safe – and while keeping you in the dark about… some aspects of those changes. I don't want you to think we're manipulating or using you… but that's what can happen, especially when we CAN'T disclose everything. Not yet, at least. And perhaps you won't believe it yet, Senri, but we do have your best interest in mind – for both of you – while still… doing what we can to realize our goals.
Saving those three men…? He whispered hesitantly.
Yes, that, Ares agreed easily. Perhaps too easily… but he tried to keep an open mind. If all of it was true… thanks to them, he had Raha, while otherwise, he would be in that infernal city alone… and that was a terrifying thought. If he imagined his lover's not being there yesterday…. That girl would have died. And you… yes, that definitely would be bad for your… mental state. But where I'm going with all of this, boy, is… sometimes I can ask you to do or don't do something and need you to comply without asking for an explanation, okay? I could use my gift… but I prefer if you would be willing to cooperate instead, even if, at the time, it wouldn't make sense. If I could, I would explain, but….
I… get it, he answered with a sigh. And if you swear that no matter what, you will keep Raha… and others under my care, safe, I will… play along, Ares, no matter my misgivings about your… kind and all.
And you, boy, don't forget, the immortal added somewhat ruefully, and he didn't know how to reply to that, earning something like an almost tired sigh. Senri… you have absolutely no reason to feel expendable. I can read your thoughts, remember? Your feelings, too. The reason why you had been… so abuzz since that… event… You DON'T need to prove anything to anyone, okay?
I have no idea… he started, then curled into himself - if you can call it that – when the immortal chuckled, then he felt something like a… gentle poke.
Don't think that I don't understand, boy. The way you had been raised… I find it abhorrent, I admit. I know it's a custom for most of the representatives of your race, but… Yeah, that doesn't mean I agree with what they taught you, he said as his tone dropped to the ice. Again, you're still so impossibly young, Senri, that it's no wonder, especially considering everything else… but you DO have value, understand? You're not a tool or a piece of meat for others to use or crave. If you ask me, you're an impossibly bright lad with a knack for finding trouble, yes, but you more than deserve to be cared for… and loved. And Raha DOES love you, there's no doubt about that.
But… he wanted to leave me, he almost cringed at how pitiful that sounded.
Ares fell silent for a long moment, then sighed with resignation and lifted his hand out of nowhere, setting it over his lover's mouth, silencing his tirade. Damon scowled and wrapped his hand over his but stilled without pushing it back as he blinked, focusing his eyes on his… their face.
"Love, can you wake up Raha, but without letting him take over?" Ares asked, and Senri hissed with protest, but the redhead tilted his head curiously, then nodded, and the immortal in his skin nodded, then pulled his hand back and smiled somewhat sheepishly as he took hold of Damon's hand and laced their fingers tightly. Focusing his eyes on their connected hands, he lifted then placed a kiss on top of the redhead's. "He is far, far too similar to me," he said quietly, and his lover hummed with confusion. "Senri. He doesn't believe himself worthy of your boy, you know? His head is always abuzz with how much smarter, more skilled, and better Raha is than him – even when he's less than half-conscious of that. He thinks that Raha agreed to be with him only because he was… so neglected before, and that somehow means that he used that to get him. And that's why your boy wanted to leave him," with every word leaving his mouth, Senri cringed internally, utterly ashamed… because of how true that rang.
He was… nothing. Bred and raised for the role of the breeding male, he failed at that miserably. He wasn't smart or had anything going for him… by himself. His appearance, the Echo, the Blessing, all that… wasn't his choice or making. Most of the time, he felt swept in by the circumstances, simply trying to survive – and now… he didn't even have anything to offer to his mate… Who was smarter, more talented, and… when they met, so… lonely.
And he did… use that – his so apparent status of the outcast in that camp, didn't he…? It's not like he didn't notice that that second day… He used the excuse of his Echo to stay near him… so instantly addicted to his deliciously spicy scent… And Raha was kind – he always was, since that very first evening when he so selflessly offered his heat when he felt… lonely and vulnerable. When it felt… like nobody can ever see in him more than the… Weapon. And the thought that he did… was too much to resist.
And he was a predator by nature, under all the bluster… Using all the possible lies and excuses, he planted himself by his redhead's side… even if he didn't really believe that he could ever return his… interest.
Senri was the only one wrong, after all… and then Raha did, and as much as it blew him away… he did remember that his first instinct was to claim him whole every way he could. He learned each nuance of his expressions, delicate shifts in his scent, and acted accordingly – in a way… stalking him like prey, so unbearably, madly consumed with the need to please him… so he wouldn't leave him. That he would love him back, too…
…and then… he wanted to do it, anyway…
"Look at me," he heard, not even aware when exactly Ares slipped back, giving him control of their body, or when he dropped his head in shame, flattening his ears against his head. He felt that Raha was in control as well, heard it in his quiet voice, but refused to open his eyes or look up, curling his tail about himself defensively as he let go of his lover's hand and curled both of his into fists on the blanket around his legs, involuntarily curling into himself and nearly trying to make himself smaller, hoping to disappear and swearing at Ares's big mouth in thought. He flinched harshly and froze when his mate sighed sadly, and then he felt him move about before Raha wrapped his arms around his neck and rested his chin on top of his head. His throat tightened painfully, and he didn't dare move when his redhead spoke next. "I wanted you since I first saw you, Snark. Yeah… I was far too intimidated by you to really… understand it right away, but a week in… I was literally dying to have you, Senri, I just… couldn't imagine how you could want me when none else ever did… You, when you were so… perfect that I could hardly take my eyes off you. Not because of your looks," he added with a quiet sigh, running his fingers through his hair delicately. "But I won't lie and say that I didn't notice them, either, Senri, because you know I absolutely adore you… in every aspect. But you made me laugh… constantly. You were sweet and shy and so… delicate it blew my heart away. Did you ever even think, my Snark, how fiercely I wanted you to finally gather the courage to ask you… that question that made you run away from me?" he chuckled sheepishly when Senri shifted uncomfortably but couldn't help but bury his flaming face against his lover's shoulder, otherwise still not moving. "And to learn that you did because you wanted me, too… I was humbled beyond belief, Senri. None ever wanted me.. but you did, and you were so perfect… I didn't feel worthy of you. You're the Warrior of Light and the Eikon Slayer, Champion of Eorzea… and who was I to claim you? An outcast historian with nothing to his name…? So when we returned from the void… and I understood the wish of the Allag's… I thought I could prove worthy of you by following it, Snark, to prove that… you weren't wrong to love me. I said that to you already, didn't I? But…" he sighed and tightened his arms around him possessively, nuzzling against his ear insistently. "…I know now that would be wrong, love. Or rather, how wrong that would be… especially to you. You gave yourself to me so completely… I know I hurt you, Senri, and I can't even imagine how to express how sorry I am. But you never used me… or my neglect, are we clear? We were both… so lonely and vulnerable, needing to be wanted for who we are… and you gave me that gift, Snark. Without a doubt or hint of reservation, you gave and gave and gave… How could I not want you…? Not love you? Despite your… shame and insecurities about your preferences, you were nothing but open and affectionate with me… because you knew how much I needed that. Can you imagine how much that meant to me...? But that doesn't mean that you used my weaknesses, okay? I love you so, so much… and I'm so glad that they stopped me from making a huge mistake… and I swear, I'm going to find a way to make it up to you, somehow…."
"You already did," he breathed, shakily raising his hands and wrapping his arms around his lover's back. "Yesterday, when you didn't… turn away, that meant… all. But I am… wrong, Raha, and you deserve…."
"You're NOT wrong, Senri, but the world around us is," his redhead said with power, curling his hand into Senri's hair and delicately but insistently pulling him back until he gave in and lifted his head, his face still on fire when his lover wrapped his hands around it, smiling sadly as their eyes met. "The way you are… is perfect, Snark, for me. You had been hurt… so many times and in so many different ways, and yet… you strive to protect others in ways that go above and beyond. With no thought to yourself… or your soul, you try so hard to make the world around you better. And yesterday… how could I turn away from you, my heart? Your rage… I more than share in, Senri. Somehow… I was naïve enough not to understand that something like… that is possible, but you… you knew, didn't you, my beast?" he sighed and pulled him closer until their foreheads met, closing his expressive, gorgeous eyes. "And that… breaks my heart, not only for that poor girl… but more so, for you… And I think… I think I understand it better now, Senri. The way you need to restore the balance around you. And why… you've been so hurt when we met. So… if someone used the other weaknesses, my gorgeous beast, it was me. Because I saw that hurt in your beautiful eyes the first day we met… and that was what made me want you even more… Want to know what is behind your mask… And now, knowing it – I feel blessed to be yours… because there's no soul more pure than yours, and to be able to feel it…" he shifted his grip around black-haired Seeker's face to push his hands to the back of it, tangling his fingers into ink-black strands as he tilted his head and breathed against his mouth: "…not to mention… you have no equal in bed, too…" and feeling his spicy scent swell with the delicious tang of arousal, instantly setting off his instincts to a furious life, Senri growled softly in warning, smoothing his hands down his lover's back to curl them around his ass possessively.
"…do I?" he whispered, nearly tasting his mounting arousal as he kneaded the taut flesh gently, drowning in the depth of fiery irises.
"Mhmm, definitely," his lover purred, raising on his knees and pulling him up as well, freeing one hand to move it down Senri's side and then curling his fingers in the waistband of his Tower-given pants. That now… felt far, far too tight… especially when his bare chest met his lover's heated skin. "Why would you dress, however, is beyond me…."
"I didn't think you would be up to any more… fun," he admitted, then dropped his head against his lover's shoulder, nipping on his mark delicately. "And I was… testing the Tower. Did you know it 'thinks' we're married?"
"…does it?" his mate hummed distractedly, busy tugging the material of his hips… and froze. "Wait… what?"
"Mhmm… keeps calling me the Consort and Your Majesty… and all…" he chuckled, pushing his hand between them and curling it around his lover's inner thigh, slowly moving it up as he dragged his tongue over the line of the tattoo on his throat. "Nice thought… but you didn't have to make it do that. I'm still planning…."
"I didn't," Raha replied, leaning back to meet his gaze with a confused frown on his face.
"…no?" he frowned in turn, then lifted his head and looked about the empty room. "Hey… Tower, a question…?" he said aloud, in thought, cringing at himself…
"Yes, Your Majesty?" That mechanical voice again, all around them, and felt Raha flinch in his arms. Looking at him, his lover was gawking a bit, his crimson eyes drifting about the room, clearly searching for the source of the voice. And he looked just… so funny and cute, he couldn't help but snort quietly, earning a pout and narrowed glare.
Setting an apologetic kiss on his cheek, he then cleared his throat awkwardly and asked: "Why are you calling me that...?"
"Processing inquiry… Your right to rule was acquired by the matrimony to the currently ruling Emperor, Your Majesty, " it replied, and he blinked slowly, then tilted his head curiously.
"…matrimony?" he repeated with confusion. "We didn't get married… yet, though."
"Processing… The soul signature marks you as the Consort, Your Majesty," it was a very matter-of-fact tone for a machine. He scowled, looking around and waving his tail with some… uncertain enthusiasm, before looking at his lover's tad baffled expression… which went slack for a second. He nearly pulled his hands back, seeing the crimson eyes narrow with the distinctive cold calculation.
"I see… Well, if what Raha read about is correct, then your… ah, Ceremony of Eternal Bond, was it? But then that would work as pretty much that: bonding your soul to another equals marriage, yes?" Damon snarked, then sniggered at his expression, tapping his hand against Senri's cheek. "So, I guess congratulations are in order…?" he grinned toothily when he sent him a deadpan stare from a completely red face.
He wasn't even sure why… but it just felt wrong. And he wasn't pouting… he hoped, though, if Damon's expression was anything to go by...? The immortal chuckled, then his face went slack for a second… and with the next blink, Raha's ruby eyes regained their empathetic look... if he instantly went even redder, clearing his throat and looking away.
"I… don't care," Senri said with now very – carefully – visible pout, then unceremoniously pushed his lover back into the blankets, using his surprise to crawl on top of him and bury his flushed darkly face against his throat. "It can… fuck off, because I'm still going to drag you pretty ass in front of the altar, anyway. When we can, I mean, and with the whole Twelve-forsaken world in attendance, too! So everyone without a doubt knows that you're mine," he muttered petulantly, nuzzling into his skin insistently while his lover chuckled funnily but wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Is that so…?" Raha hummed, then moved under his weight to wrap his legs around Senri's waist… and he more than liked that, hooking his hand under his redhead's thigh and pulling it higher against his side as he shifted slightly to perfectly align his cock with another, purring as he tilted his head and nipped on the skin under his lover's jaw, electing a lovely quiet moan.
"Very, very much so," he replied somewhat hauntingly, then trailed his lips toward his mate's sinfully pretty mouth. Bracing his weight around him on his elbow, he took him into a slow, lazy kiss, tightening his fingers around his thigh as he rolled his hips in the rhythm, matching the way their tongues pushed against each other. Savoring the addictive flavor on his lips and Raha's need-tinted scent filling his head with each shared breath… the swell of his lover's flesh matching his as they rocked together with growing intensity and the way his mate purred an insistent invitation under his mouth, one hand fisted in his hair and the other clawing at his ass after tugging his pants further off his hips. He broke the kiss with a gasp, then bit his lover's lower lip as they both panted for breath desperately. "Are you at all… sore?" he rasped hoarsely, trailing a heated line of bites along his jaw and down his throat.
"Not at all," his mate said… and he snorted at the far too-obvious lie, lifting his head to toss him a deadpan stare. "I'm not!" his redhead pouted, flushing furiously and averting his eyes… so unbearably pretty and cute… as he tried to sneak his hand between them unnoticeably!
He caught that hand and lifted it against his mouth, placing a kiss on each finger, wiggling his eyebrows playfully when his mate tossed him a narrowed look but flushed even darker.
"Snark… don't be like that," he murmured, pouting as he freed that hand and wrapped it around his neck, tightening his thighs around him. He closed his eyes and licked his lips somewhat… nervously, then peered at him through the veil of his dark-red lashes. "I… want you, p-please?"
"Oh, my silly mate…" he chuckled and grinned his widest, possibly most ridiculously goofy grin as he leaned in until the tips of their noses met. "…I am yours," he breathed, holding his strangely vulnerable stare. "Any and every way you would have me, Raha, and forever."
"Then…" his redhead sighed then sent him another cute pout, as that vulnerability melted away in the heat of his fiery eyes, exchanged by a mix of humor and annoyance. "…fuck me, you ridiculously gorgeous beast."
"Thought you never ask," he sing-a-songed playfully and claimed his mouth into another deliciously sweet kiss, swallowing his deep, relieved groan as he shifted over him and took him with hardly any resistance, purring praise at the way his lover moved with him, whimpering needily when he pulled back from his mouth. "We have to go back soon… but I want you to feel my dick inside you the whole day long, Raha," he whispered heatedly, raining apologetic kisses over his throat as he rutted into him insistently. "With every step, you'll think of me taking you, hm?"
"G-Gods, yesss…" his mate trailed off to a moan, undulating with him as he set a brutal rhythm, nearly bending him in half as he bit him with a possessive snarl, delighting in his redhead's gasped whine and the scorching trail of his fingers across his back… until his hand curled around the base of his tail. He growled aggressively at the sensation, curling his hands in the blankets around his lover's body as he set to fuck him harder, faster… sparing him none of his strength and Raha only chanted his name, on choked moans, taking it all and demanding more… until he nearly sang his name in that sinfully musical voice of his, trembling and gasping, and went wondrously boneless under him. Breaking his bite, he took his slack mouth into a rough, nearly biting kiss rutting into him harder as his whole body shook with the need for release, the pressure to spill downright painful. Still, soon his gorgeous lover mewled mindlessly under his lips, gasping and groaning quietly as he started to rock with him once more.
And by now knowing his body better than his own, Senri chuckled breathlessly, shakily pushing his legs off him, before without warning, rolling them over, barely aware of his groan when Raha moaned deeply as he pushed him back to sit astride him. He cupped his hands around his lover's hips and, unceremoniously pushing and pulling, bounced him along his dick, swearing under his nose as he almost spilled at sight alone. His redhead was too lost in his chase of bliss to care about his usual insecurities, utterly shamelessly whimpering his name as he rode his cock, pumping his own and his expressive eyes nearly feral in their intensity, boring into his. It took a mere few more thrusts until he came with another round of those sinful mewls and moans, covering him in his seed. And he couldn't help but follow, gasping desperately as it felt almost like dying, the way his whole body throbbed and shook with wave after wave of bliss.
"That… I'll definitely feel," Raha muttered, sagging against him bonelessly and sleepily nuzzling into his chest.
"Good," he sighed with exaggerated satisfaction, then ran his fingers through the messy, red hair. "But don't fall asleep, love, 'cause I'm pretty sure we should go… like very soon."
"Gods… I don't want to," his lover muttered petulantly, and he shook with laughter.
"Well… this is going to be a long day," he agreed, then snickered when his lover, with effort, rose on his arms, glaring at him from under his messy fringe.
"You, however, look awfully fine for all of this," he remarked with a cute pout.
"Experience," he shrugged carelessly, then sighed and pushed up from the blankets, sitting up and wrapping his arms around his mate before placing a kiss on top of his wrinkled nose. "I can pretty much go on three days without any sleep before I collapse… and sleep for the next two," he chuckled sheepishly at Raha's surprised look. "I guess once you get used to it…" he shrugged again, then pursed his lips with consideration. "Actually, since I met you, it's been probably the longest time when I slept pretty much every night since reaching puberty if I think about it."
Raha blinked slowly then his expression tightened as he wrapped his arms around his shoulders, rolling his hair around his fingers.
"…why?" he asked quietly if, by his expression, Senri was pretty sure that he already knew the answer to that, but he answered anyway, holding his stare.
"It made me feel too vulnerable and defenseless… after the first time a bitch tried to climb on top of me," he sighed and shook his head slightly, without disliking his lover's fingers. "One of my half-sisters, to boot… And since nobody else seemed… as disturbed as I felt about it, I figured… better don't sleep. Used to be harder before the Blessing, but now…" he shrugged helplessly… but if he was inclined to admit that, he loved the blaze of fury in those ruby eyes. "Though Ares says he would kill someone who would try it now," he added somewhat sheepishly.
"Good," Raha purred, then set his hand over his cheek as his eyes caught Senri's in a snare. "But only while I can't be there to protect you myself, hm?"
He melted internally but chuckled and set his palm over his lover's, leaning in to steal a kiss.
"Don't think that matters now, though, since they want to settle here for the nights," he said and snickered when his lover blinked at that owlish. "Ah, yeah… you missed that part. But yeah… Ah, and apparently, you'll have some guests here, too, my Emperor."
"Huh?" his redhead looked utterly confused when he nudged him up and out of the nest.
"I'll explain in the shower," he said innocently, directing him toward the panel on the wall.
"…shower?" if possible, Raha looked even more baffled as he gawked at him over his shoulder, then visibly flinched when Senri touched the mark near it, and the panel slid open soundlessly.
"It's… neat, you'll see," he added, carefully keeping on an innocent expression, and he pushed him inside, then, staying by the door, pointed to the row of marks on the wall. "You just have to press there."
"Oh… okay," his lover sighed and walked over to it before looking back at him with a confused frown on his handsome face. "Which one?"
"Top right," he suggested, pretending to near him slowly and barely keeping his tail in check. His lover hummed with consideration, then turned back and hesitantly pressed the pointed-out plate…
…Senri died at his yelp when – predictably now – his redhead was drenched head to toe with the cold water and – like him – panicked, pressing all the 'buttons' at once. He was still laughing himself silly when Raha, swearing, left the water pouring, then pounced, completely wet, unceremoniously tugging him under the stream despite his desperate hiss of protest or trying to get away…
…by the end of it, they were both soaking wet – as was the whole room – and laughed hysterically while the immortal in the back of his head sighed.
Silly kids, Ares hummed if his voice did sound fondly amused.