Chapter 1: Surprise meeting
G'raha Tia was seething.
He laid on one of the thick, high-up branches in the middle of the Urth's Gift in South Shroud tree-tops, his wrists crossed under his head as he glared daggers at the blue sky barely visible between branches and thick foliage. His leg, bent at the knee, supported the other one, which bounced with agitation. His bow and quiver with arrows hang on a nearby, smaller branch – easy within reach, but he didn't pay it much mind at the moment. He was way too aggravated.
He realized it was high time to move toward his next goal before going back to the camp in Mor Dhona. Rammbroes probably was beyond fed up with his delay, which was one of the reasons for his growing agitation.
He did not want to go back. Not when she was there. His ears laid flat against his head at the thought while his tail curled slightly before he could think to stop it. He sighed heavily and moved his right arm from under his head to press his forearm over his eyes while a grimace twisted his lips.
Tieera Sunse was the bane of his existence for the last few years. Though at one point, they used to be friends… or so he thought. His heart lurched painfully. Once, he even considered her his best friend. Enough so that he even shared with her his biggest secret. His greatest dream.
And it backfired spectacularly.
He'd been so lonely, growing up in Old Sharlayan, scorned and shunned for his freaky eyes and too 'eccentric' attitude. So when Tieera, a young Keeper of the Moon, approached him and offered her friendship… he was beyond elated—thrilled, really.
Stupid and naïve, he thought now with another grimace. He trusted her, indeed, and she betrayed that trust in the worst possible way. And he couldn't blame anyone but himself. And her… and oh, but he did blame her. He hated her with fury as fiery as the color of his hair.
He had to admit that she played the role of a friend perfectly. He was well and truly deceived… Until she showed her true colors and ruined his reputation… even more than it already was.
It's been years since then, yet he couldn't help but still seethe with resentment.
G'raha had been fifteen years old when they met. Already a ten-year resident of Old Sharlayan by that point, while Tieera, a year older, was a new arrival to the city of scholars. He was excited to finally have someone to talk to and play games with, so he rushed into that 'friendship' headlong with boundless enthusiasm. She'd been his confidant and only friend.
So he didn't really think much about it when one evening, as they sat at the edge of the cliff in Tranquility, laughing and sharing stories, she asked him a question that would later lead to his doom. To the end of their friendship.
Shyly, with real embarrassment and veeery dark blush, he told her about… his greatest dream.
At heart, though, he would be hard-pressed to admit that out loud, G'raha was a romantic. He loved stories of grand adventures and mighty heroes, about treasures and great deeds. But most of all… he dreamed of true love.
Of finding his soulmate. Of that one, perfect person that would complete and compliment him. It was always a favorite of his in all of his books.
So without giving much thought to a strange expression on Tieera's features at the time, he launched into an enthusiastic explanation of his dream. One whiff of his soulmate's scent would steal his heart, as stories would have it. He wasn't sure what that meant, as most people's smells were barely bearable for his sensitive nose, but he trusted the stories with the fierce confidence of the youth. So with a soft voice and loudly beating heart, he admitted to her that evening that he thoroughly planned to wait for this particular person.
He wanted them to be his first… in everything. And he believed, with an unshakable conviction, that he would find them… someday.
Stupid, naïve dream of a kit, truly.
Then few moons after finishing his sixteenth year, puberty hit him like a hammer over the head, and everything changed. Tieera changed. At first, he couldn't understand it. He brushed off her attempts at flirting with a laugh. Then, when she wouldn't let go, her advances growing surprisingly aggressive and aggravating, he set out to let her down delicately, reminding her of his plans with all the gentleness he could muster. Of his dream, that didn't change even as his body suddenly, nearly overnight, developed into typical for Seekers of the Sun athletic form. His archery training only worked to make his musculature more pronounced.
She seemed to take it with grace, only shaking her head at his 'silliness,' and he breathed out a sigh of relief, focusing on his studies and training. He naively thought she understood. Up until he woke up suddenly one night to realize she snuck inside his bedroom in the Annex, climbed on top of his sleeping form, and attempted… Twelve, but he was so furious! Feeling betrayed and hurt, he didn't spare her severe berating as he tossed her out of his room. He locked his door the first time ever, and still seething, he went back to bed… or tried to, anyway.
He didn't yet know his life was about to change. That his outlook at… everyone was about to change.
Tieera started to spread rumors about him, led by anger at his rejection. Nasty, hurtful things. About how easy he was, how eager to please. How he loved to fuck. And how that night, opposite to the truth, they screwed for bells.
To his utter horror, combined with his newly developed physique, that led countless men and women to approach him for obvious reasons. With disgusting offers that had his skin crawl. He tried to explain at first, even going as far as shamefully admitting to what really occurred… but they laughed and laughed, not believing a word. And as much as he refused everyone… it soon led to some sort of a wager around the city. A game that anyone but him seemed eager to play. Or at least that was how it felt then, when no matter how many and how often he refused all the advances… it didn't discourage anyone.
Years passed, yet his label as an 'object' to screw around with stayed. Eight years, to be precise, and he came to loathe anyone who as much as gave him a second glance. He came to despise both men and women equally.
And yet, his dream never changed. If anything, he grew even more determined than ever. At the age of twenty-four, G'raha Tia – a historian of Students of Baldesion, focused on the study of the Allag most of his life – was still a virgin. He never as much as even kissed, stubbornly waiting for his special person.
Even if it kills him… as it sometimes felt if he was being completely honest with himself.
One of the reasons why he was so excited for this expedition to Eorzea, other than a marvelous mystery of the Crystal Tower, of course, was his need to get away. Get away from students' snide remarks and unwanted advances. This trip was his bid for freedom in a place where no one knew him or didn't know about the rumors and his history.
So he was pretty upset when he arrived at the harbor in Old Sharlayan, ready to sail toward his first true adventure, and saw Tieera between the scholars gathered there. As soon as she spotted him, she sent him a wink with a nasty look in her blue eyes… and he knew his hopes were dashed.
Following three weeks long voyage was a nightmare. He felt like a cornered prey with the way she would stalk him around the ship. No matter how much he tried to avoid her or scold her, she would shamelessly proposition him constantly. Attempt to touch him, making his skin crawl.
He hated her with passion, while she seemed obsessed.
He breathed a sigh of relief when they finally arrived in Mor Dhona, more than ever determined to avoid her… just to have her again sneak inside his tent this morning!
He kicked her out without mercy, swearing, and was beyond glad when Rammbroes requested him to travel to Gridania in search of the water-aspected aethersand necessary to create the means to access the Tower. He didn't even mind finding out that thing he needed to find wasn't sold in that place already for years and was directed to mine the ore it consisted of in the area called Urth's Gift… this place. He arrived to be met with a quite nasty hog he dispatched quickly with a few well-placed arrows and should be well on his way to Ixal camp, as instructed by Rammbroes's note where he would find the wind-aspected aethersand they needed next… but he found himself to be quite reluctant. He climbed up into the tree tops, on his current perch, and ignoring the guilty thought of the expedition leader's certain annoyance, he set for a nap.
After all, because of Tieera's irritating presence, he barely could catch a wink without worrying about what he would wake up to next. Her obsession truly aggravating his temper and messing with his head.
He honestly couldn't understand that. Why did she try to… force him? When he was so clear in his intentions? And why did she retaliate like that…?
Suddenly his ears twitched, straightening and greedily catching an unexpected sound. Was someone… cursing…?
He lifted his arm from over his eyes and peered between the branches and leaves, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise as his mismatched eyes winded. He wasn't alone anymore.
A girl was stalking into the clearing with a determination, and he almost snorted a laugh instantly as he observed her. She had the funniest, petulant pout on her face, clearly beyond fed up as she glared under her feet, stepping through the muck and mud filling the clearing. The Source of her ire seemed evident as, for some inexplicable reason, she decided to wear tight-high pure-white boots that, even from his perch, looked truly filthy now. Whole-time she muttered something under her wrinkled nose, probably cursing her choice.
Like him, she was a Seeker, though her exposed skin looked a bit uncharacteristically pale. She also had veeery long, pearly-white locks, nearly reaching her waist in lush waves. She looked almost like a ghost, dressed entirely in white, with a short skirt and sleeveless, hooded vest. A relatively big, blue carbuncle followed behind her feet, chirping and swishing its three tails.
An Arcanist, then…? Adventurer, obviously, though she seemed way too delicate for such a life. And maybe too whimsical as she continued to swear at her boots. Did Rammbroes, fed up with him, send someone to collect the missing materials in his place?
She finally arrived in the middle of the clearing, staring with an unreadable expression at the downed hog, and G'raha finally caught a clear peek at her face. And by the Twelve, but she was gorgeous! Dark-purple eyes surrounded by thick, jet-black eyelashes looked out of the beautiful face of delicate features. Full, plush lips tilted in a slight pout caught his stare, and he swallowed thickly, his heart, for some inexplicable reason, suddenly speeding up considerably. He frowned slightly, rubbing his hand against his chest to calm it.
She was beautiful, yeah… but it didn't matter. He had learned his lesson by now. Beautiful women were always the worst as they went after him, expecting his gratitude for their attention. No, thanks…
When she leaned over the downed beast, clearly peering at his arrows sticking out of its hide, a devious idea popped into G'raha's mind. Soundless, he moved on his perch, sitting up and grinning as he watched the girl.
"You're too late, adventurer – and not only for the entertainment," he said smugly, biting back a laugh when her head shot up, and she looked around with confusion. "You'll find no trace of the ore which but recently lay here. Nay, not so much as a speck," still grinning, he touched a pouch attached to his belt, now containing the stuff. He almost laughed again as she peered around the tree tops, clearly trying to locate him. "Ah… no. You'll never spy me from there. For the time being, at least, you'll have to trust the evidence of your ears. Now stop squinting at the foliage and…"
"I'm not squinting, " she gasped with offense, crossings her arms over her chest, and… pouted.
Speechless, he stared as she tapped her foot impatiently… Her pout grew even more pronounced as she glared down at her boots again, swore at the spraying mud, and rolled her eyes…
Gods… but she was utterly adorable!
He couldn't help but chuckle, earning another pout from her… and he couldn't say that he regretted that. On the contrary, his heart fluttered for some reason at the sight, and he licked his lips nervously as suddenly the air itself seemed to grow too thick to breathe.
Twelve… what was wrong with him…?
Distracted, he moved his hand to rub his chin, accidentally brushing a branch next to his arm. He saw her ears twitch slightly, and her gaze shot toward him, a smirk blooming on her gorgeous lips.
"There you are," she sing-a-songed playfully, resting her hands on her hips. She bounced on her heels, her smirk growing as her eyes filled with mischief. He swallowed audibly as his heart seemed to stop for a second before it jumped, soon pounding furiously as she lifted one hand to twirl a long strand of her hair around her finger while she looked precisely toward him from under her lashes. He felt a dark blush climbing his face as he looked away involuntarily, even though logically, he knew she couldn't see him. He almost jumped when she spoke again. "Now I know where you are, stranger… So come out to play," she purred, and his heart vaulted wildly. "Come on… Don't make me force you…"
G'raha laughed a bit shakily, then, with a sheepish smile, grabbed his bow and arrows from the branch and jumped deftly to the ground, landing nearly right in front of her. He bit back another laugh when she startled, her eyebrows jumping up slightly as she sent him glare at his antics.
"Caught, it se…" he started sheepishly, then froze as a sudden blow of wind slid between the trees, serving him with a full whiff of her scent… and he was lost.
Surr stared, blinking hard as her mouth went completely dry. She carefully sniffed the air, involuntarily leaning toward the unknown Seeker with red hair and mismatched, red, and cyan eyes.
"You…" he gasped breathlessly, clearly as stunned as her. "You… are…" he stammered, looking at her with veeery wide-open eyes as his mouth moved soundlessly.
Mine, hissed something in the back of her mind, nearly making her jump. Twelve preserve… it was not something she expected rolling out of bed this morning…
He was taller than her, though with her height, it wasn't much of a feat, but at least he didn't tower over her as much as so many of the others did… and she loved it.
In a daze, swallowing thickly, she moved closer, soon nearly leaning against him while she lifted her hands, smoothing them delicately over his dark-red leather vest, their eyes locked into each other. She placed her hands on his shoulders and pulled, forcing him to lean toward her. When he did, his breath stuttering slightly, she buried her nose against his throat and took a deep breath, moaning softly when his scent filled her lungs, setting her blood on fire.
"Mine," she purred, nuzzling against his skin as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him against her harder. Her thoughts spun with every quick breath. He smelled like cinnamon and almonds, she thought dazedly, definitely her new favorite.
"You…" he breathed against her throat, and she whimpered softly, absolutely loving how his low, soothing voice dropped to a growl. "You smell… so good," he rasped between ragged breaths, his hands rising to her hips, fingers digging in as he pulled her against him. "Sooo good… Twelve, can't think…"
She hummed in agreement, understanding completely as she nibbled at the Archon's mark on his throat, dropping her hands to wrap them around his sides, digging her nails hard in the back of his vest, dying to pull him closer, whining petulantly as even pressed against him, it wasn't nearly enough.
He shook against her, as much as she did, at least. She buried against him deeper, sighing with relief when he coiled his arms around her, so tight she could barely breathe, but she didn't mind as some of the mindless need to be closer abated. She purred blissfully when he nuzzled against her shoulder, his rapid, uneven breaths slowing down, their shuddering subsiding when his insane heat sank into her skin, making her gasp softly and melt into him. Gods, so gooood…
Soon he started purring as well, low, strangely uncertain sound had her literally swoon, her own purr growing louder in answer.
Surr sighed with pure bliss.
Her soulmate was sooo absolutely perfect.
After her blood finally settled into a soft, quiet hum instead of the raging inferno, for a moment at least, she led her dazed boy toward a dry patch of thick grass she passed on the way to the clearing, forced him to sit and promptly climbed in his lap with a content sigh.
Though she supposed calling him a boy wasn't very accurate. As she brushed his hair back – gods, so soft… - observing his face, with a wide, stupid grin on her face, as she guessed he had to be at least a few years older than her.
She loved his eyes; dual-color was so unique. And his mouth, so plush and pretty, so inviting… And when he licked his lips nervously, twitching slightly as he watched her face as intently, his gaze dropping to her mouth and heating up… she thought she was going to combust when he blushed and looked away bashfully.
Twelve… so perfect…
She giggled softly, resting her hand against his cheek, and brought his eyes back to hers, melting again at the sight of pure, undiluted lust in mismatched irises. Unable to help herself, she squirmed in his lap to coil her legs around his sides, crossing her ankles behind his back, not caring that it made her skirt roll up nearly to her waist. She smirked when his gaze shot down, surely noticing by the way he swallowed audibly, and his blush grew impossibly darker.
As if against himself, his hands smoothed over her thighs above her boots, up and up, to sneak under the white material of her skirt and pull it even higher as his hands clenched around her ass, pulling her closer against him as he uttered an absolutely delicious, tiny whimper. She chuckled, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned against him, soon nibbling softly along his jaw, nearly delirious with need when she felt his hard cock press against her, only his pants and her underwear in the way of what she wanted. What she craved…
"I'm… You…" he stammered, looking in her eyes, and she purred again, loud and insistent, at the way his vertical pupils dilated, nearly swallowing the crimson and cyan of his irises. She felt the shudder that the sound sent through him and felt how his breath stuttered and his eyes shot to her mouth again, the pure hunger in their depths breathtaking. "…you're so…"
Unable to help herself, she coiled her legs around him possessively, purring at his breathless groan, at the way his hands clenched on her, fingers digging into her skin. Her needy sounds grew louder as she sank both hands in his hair, pulling him closer as she nipped delicately on his lower lip. Her eyes were wide open and probably sooo hungry when their gazes locked together, his quiet gasp teasing her lips.
…hers, hers, hers…
The drumming of her heartbeat filled her ears when his delicious scent invaded her nose and lodged itself firmly in her brain, to stay, to steal her mind, make it spin, as it did right now…
"Mine," she purred, delicately rubbing her mouth against his, melting into a happy goo when a soft, breathless whimper parted his lips. She fisted her hands in his hair, tilting his head slightly as she claimed his mouth, growling wildly when his taste, so insanely delicious, made her mind spin and filled her ears with static.
She swallowed his another breathless whimper greedily, using it to spear his mouth with her tongue, chasing that flavor, already addicted. He seemed strangely unsure at first, his hands shaking slightly as they wrapped around her jaw. Still, with each greedy lick of her tongue, her blissed-out purr vibrating on their lips… he answered in kind, tilting her head harder as soon his mouth devoured hers, his hungry growl sending a shudder down her spine, sending heat to coil tightly in her belly. She whimpered, drowning in sensations, when one of his hands dropped to her hip, clenching and pulling her harder against his rock-hard flesh, swallowing her moans at the friction, feeding her his groans and growls till she thought she was going to go mad.
Unfortunately, soon they ran out of air, both panting roughly as they parted, his eyes narrowed and fiery with need as he leaned closer, nipping gently on her throat, his uneven breaths tickling her skin.
"Gods…" he gasped when she tilted her head submissively, tightening her fingers in his hair and pulling him closer, primal need bubbling up in her veins, turning her blood to lava. "You're so… gorgeous… so perfect… sooo good…" his hand moved off her jaw, pulling the collar of her vest back, and she shuddered with instinctive anticipation when his teeth grazed her shoulder.
"Bite," she hissed, tightening her legs around him possessively, purring loudly in invitation… in demand… He was hers, and she needed to be his.
"W-wait…" he stammered, freezing. His other hand tightened around her hip as if involuntarily rocking her against his cock, groaning into her skin when she whined, uttering another breathy 'bite,' with desperation even she could hear in her shaky voice. "W-wait… y-your name…?"
She hissed impatiently, letting go of his hair to drop her hands to his chest, opening his vest and near violently pushing it off his shoulders as far as it would go. He gasped against her skin but didn't protest, only shuddering as she ran her nails down his chest, enjoying the tremble of his muscles under her touch.
"Y-your name…" he insisted, pulling her harder against his dick, and she whimpered brokenly as her inner muscles quivered, yearning for him.
Her soulmate… hers, finally…
"Surr," she whispered, nuzzling against his throat, nibbling down to lick at his shoulder, her teeth itching to bite down and claim him. But customs demanded he bites first… She whimpered breathlessly, shaking as she clawed at his sides, trying to pull him closer. "Please, bite… make me yours, pleeeease…"
"Surr," he purred, his breath stuttering and choking when she squirmed to brace her legs under her, soon rocking against his cock with need, her insides on fire to have him, to belong to him… Her soulmate, only hers… "Twelve… can't think… can't focus… you smell sooo good, so amazing…"
"Don't think…" she nearly snarled, panting harshly against his shoulder. Rocking into him harder, faster… Her senses were overwhelmed with need till he was the only thing in the universe. "Don't focus… be mine, make me yours… pleeeease…" she whined desperately, and she usually would be beyond embarrassed about her begging, but under the circumstances, she didn't care. She couldn't care while his glorious scent filled her head. She coiled her tail around him tightly, rolling her breasts against his chest on each needy rock of her hips, rising and falling against him and whimpering miserably when he still hesitated.
"Surr… a-are you… sure…?" he stammered nervously, twitching and straining against her, his needy whimpers and growls joining hers on each stroke on his flesh.
"Mine," she said with a possessive snarl, clawing mercilessly at his back. The spiral of heat in her belly was about to snap, and she was losing her mind… growing pretty sure she won't be able to stop herself from biting him much longer. This much of self-control was already costing her dearly—her heightened senses shimmering with raw need.
He uttered an absolutely glorious, helpless groan, the sound ringing in her ears, and then he bit her with a loud growl. She arched with a shout, the shocking pleasure of the bite setting off the torrent of heat that rolled through her body, leaving her breathless and gasping—mewling softly against his skin while she stilled, pliant, and submitting utterly. Then, after a moment, when he growled into her skin, she lifted her hands and petted his hair and ears affectionately, purring with satisfaction when he moaned, lifting his head to nuzzle against her throat, purring so loud and insistent her ears twitched and stood up, swallowing the sound greedily.
"Mine," he sighed softly, with reverence and relief in his low voice, her eyes watered minutely. "My Surr… my beautiful mate."
"Yours," she assured fervently, earnestly, sinking her fingers in his hair and delicately pulling his head to the side. Looking at him with wonder, she leaned away, her eyes tracking greedily over his beautiful face. Mismatched eyes lidden in bliss. Soft, bruised lips parted around a low, content purr. So gorgeous… "And you're mine, my beautiful…" she blushed, blinking hard as she realized she didn't know his name.
She was always rash and impulsive, but still… Her blush darkened even more, when he chuckled, his hands clenching around her hips.
"Something… amiss?" he whispered with a teasing glint in his gorgeous eyes as he pulled her hips against his cock, groaning softly when she arched with a low whine. "Cat got… your tongue, Surr?" he purred, then lowered his head and closed his mouth around perked top of her breast despite her vest in the way.
Ohhh… he was such a tease… and she adored it already, she thought dazedly while choked moans tore from her throat. So perfect… She rocked against him eagerly, pawing at his back desperately as she needed to give him as much pleasure as he was giving her.
She cooed with satisfaction when he pulled back, gasping and growling at the friction, then giggled madly when he snarled and twisted around, soon pressing her hard into the thick grass, hovering above her on his elbows as he buried his face against her throat, rutting against her helplessly.
"For you…" he gasped against her shoulder, nuzzling against his bite. "For you… Raha, my soulmate."
"Raha…" she loved how it just rolled off her tongue, she thought, coiling her legs around his waist possessively. "My Raha," she cooed, smirking when he shuddered, curling into her as his movement sped up considerably, choked whimpers hitting her skin. She mewled breathlessly, shaking as she sank her fingers in his hair, pulling as she nibbled on his shoulder. "Mine…" she hissed, then claimed him with a sharp bite.
Her awareness shot into overdrive as something in her head snapped, barely aware of how he arched over her with a shout, stilling and shuddering violently to fall on top of her limply. His wonder, satisfaction, and pleasure flooded her senses as copper taste tinged with his delicious flavor filled her mouth.
Sooo… goood… His soul sooo strong and pure, feeling so amazing against hers. Strange, mixed images flooded her mind, but she pushed them away with determination, leaving sorting through them for later, wanting just to enjoy him at the moment.
Her Raha… her beautiful soulmate.
She couldn't help the rumbling purr in the back of her throat as she pawed on his back possessively, not minding at all that he was quite… crushing her. He chuckled sheepishly after a long moment, with such a beautiful, dark blush on his face when he lifted above her, just enough to let her breathe.
"My Surr…" he whispered, relaxing and resting his forehead against hers, closing his gorgeous eyes as they grew suspiciously damp. "I'm so… glad I've found you."
She frowned slightly but closed her eyes as well, lifting her hands and smoothing them soothingly over his head, smiling when his tiny gasp tickled her lips.
"It's more like… I've found you, stranger," she smirked mischievously when his eyes shot wide open, another dark blush chasing the last one. "Oh, this will be so much fun," she whispered against his lips, wiggling her eyebrows meaningfully. Grinned when he snorted a short laugh, his mismatched eyes looking at her fondly.
Oh, so cute… But he didn't know yet what he got himself into.
Surr giggled involuntarily, resting her hands around his cheeks and pulled him in a deep, loving kiss. She swallowed his delighted purr, the sound resonating with her own; its gentle vibration as their tongues slid against each other tenderly made her heart flutter.
So perfect, her Raha. So sweet and adorable. So absolutely delicious… She hoped he doesn't freak out too much when he finds out he just got himself mated to the Warrior of Light.