Leaning against the wall surrounding the bridge next to the Shiokaze Holstery, the inn in Kugane they were staying at, Raha looked out at the stars shimmering over the Ruby Sea. After spending most of his life in the confinement of the Tower, despite understanding the necessity for that, the breeze still felt like something new and exciting, making his tail swivel with interest as he bent forward slightly, leaning his chin on top of his crossed forearms resting on the wall.

He didn't really hear anything before a bigger frame of his gorgeous mate pressed against his back because their innate connection warned him of his approach. He smiled without taking his eyes off the sight in front of him while his lover nipped on his neck, bracing his left hand on the wall next to him, while his right unceremoniously pushed under the redhead's shirt and splayed low on his abdomen, pulling his ass back to rest snugly against his mate's dick. And feeling Senri's insistent arousal bombarding his senses, his thick apple-like scent and radiating heat surrounding him, Raha chuckled breathlessly, freeing one hand to wrap his fingers around his lover's wrist and meaningfully push his hand lower on his skin, moaning deeply when his lover complied with quiet but insistent purrs, curling his big, hot hand over his already achingly hard flesh and pulling him harder back so he could well feel the hard, clothed ridge of his cock press between his buttocks.

Years now, after he unceremoniously seduced his wonderful beast, he was still more than drunk on him. They were intoxicated on each other, and though never got bored fucking, every new taste of adrenaline and adventure spiked their need to mate, and he came to love that his lover was utterly shameless. And wondrously ready to explore their respective kinks.

Raha was only mildly surprised to discover that he got a special thrill from fucking in public spaces. With his pride in his lover's beauty, and insistent need to constantly establish his claim on the beautiful beast while all others were so keen to spike his temper with their hungry looks toward him, he felt blessed that his Senri was always ready to tend to his needs. Pah! Senri enjoyed provoking him into jealousy, even if both were fully aware that the other was as committed...

...and it was fun, too!

Even the feeling of his mate's shield surrounding them didn't really diminish his arousal any while his gorgeous male rolled his hips, slowly rubbing his dick against his ass as his hand supplied lovely, hot friction over his flesh. And purring his approval, Raha freed his wrist, moving his hand to rest it over his lover's buttock, enjoying the flexes of muscles under his palm.

More than half of the reason behind him choosing this spot while during their travel, and since arriving in the Far East, it was hard to find time and place to enjoy his mate like this, he pushed slightly back, pressing fully against his chest as he tilted his neck meaningfully, eagerly inviting his claim. He involuntarily grinned cheekily, feeling his lover's long, black tail coil like a leash around his abdomen, followed by a raspy groan before a set of sharp fangs sank into the junction of his neck and shoulder, tearing a breathless, submissive mewl from his mouth. He definitely didn't mind the hard tug that pushed his pants off his hips, instead pointedly tugging on his lover's until they followed and the thick, hot flesh pressed between his buttocks as Senri's hand went back to rest over his dick, keeping him utterly still with a grip around it as he took him, purring near-deafeningly into his skin.

Raha loved his Ancient-granted gift for more than being able to permanently adjust his body to easily take his mate's claim, useful as it was... but it definitely was one reason that was high on his personal list of its pros! And now, feeling his lover's scalding hot flesh pressing his insides almost too full, he mewled his bliss, pushing back against the intrusion. And he didn't mind when Senri stopped when fully seated inside him, pulling back from his bite to nuzzle into his neck to let him enjoy the depraved pleasure of the illusion of his claim out in the open while the streets of Kugane still buzzed with activities behind them. And he more than did, hyper-aware of the tiniest twitch of the scorching flesh pressing into him and the slow, circular motions over his dick as his ears lowered with bliss at every hitch in his mate's breath, accompanied by the sounds of footsteps and chatter behind them.

He loved every second of it, especially the feeling of being claimed and added bliss of his lover's sensations pouring over his own. When they 'played' his mate always and easily opened up his soul to him, utterly devoted and trusting, seamlessly giving him the feedback of fucking while he was fucked and the mix of it... Seven hells, but there was definitely something to be said about their Bond and its upsides! He always felt sorry for the other Miqo'te when he thought about it if they couldn't experience this to the degree he was granted by their unique state.

And as he enjoyed every sensation provided by his senses and his lover's, he pushed the back of his head into his mate's shoulder with a blissed-out groan, closing his eyes to drink deeply into their shared euphoria. Into each shudder as still nuzzling into his skin, Senri pulled out an ilm, then in and out again, adding to the mix the mind-blowing pleasure of the impossibly deep friction inside him. With each barely-there movement, his dick rubbed against the spot inside him that sent a star shower of sparks along his nerve endings, making him moan brokenly on every push and pull.

„My wonderfully naughty prince," his lover breathed against his skin, then followed Raha's breathless chuckle with a quiet laugh and scorching trail of wickedly sharp bites along his shoulder. „To feel how much you enjoy it, babe..." he growled softly, with obvious appreciation, as his hand tightened slightly around the redhead's dick, and he rutted into him harder on the next stroke.

„Gives you a kick, hm?" he chortled, arching under him to push his hand behind his head and drown his fingers in the fur-like silk of his lover's dark hair.

„Always," Senri purred insistently, then with a groan, freed both hands, bracing them on the wall in front of them as he tightened his tail around him, flexing it as he set to fuck him much harder, nearly pulling all the way out to tear choked gasps and shaky moans from him as he slammed back in, with a precision born of years of practice in mere seconds bringing him up to the brink and then mercilessly shoving him over it. Over the rush of blood in his ears as he shook in the throes of the orgasm, he heard his mate's nearly animalistic snarl as Senri drank into his pleasure, shuddering violently against his back as he set to fuck him harder, sparing him none of his inhumane strength and speed.

They stayed like that near the edge of dawn, mating furiously against that semi-tall wall up until they finally exhausted their equally unnatural stamina, and it was easier to focus on their goals in coming to the Far East.

And the next day, when Alisaie remarked with humor about Raha's especially cheery mood as they set to find a way to cross the Ruby Sea... Well, he more than enjoyed exchanging mischievous grins with his mate and blaming it on the pleasant breeze.

„Thanks," Shtola nodded toward her Ancient in gratitude, and Nemesis smiled before taking off, warping back to her husband's side. The white-haired Seeker kneeled gracefully, fixing the dress of her robe as she peered over the edge of her vintage point on the palm of the statue towering over Rhalgr's Reach. Erebus similarly set his host at the center of the area below before nodding to Rahm and then setting off in the company of his wife. She smiled seeing her mate turn and wave at her with a cheeky grin, and Shtola returned the gesture before he turned, summoned his massive, black sword, and resting it over his shoulder, set to wait, only brief flicks of his blonde tail betraying his excitement for the task ahead.

She didn't really blame him since, as promised, their excursion into Ala Mhigo was so far a tad more than boring, so after some insistent whining, they were allowed to stay behind in the Reach while Erebus and Nemesis in the shape of theirs set of with the Resistance to claim the Castrum Velodyna. Most of the fighters gone alongside them left the wounded and the innocent far too exposed for their liking, anyway, so they long decided that upon this part, one 'set' of them would stay to get between them and Zenos's arrival.

Putting Erebus against the Crown Prince would be like setting a behemoth on the poodle, and no fun at all, so obviously Rahm, with usual enthusiasm, set to welcome the Imperial Viceroy, and since he was more than enough, Shtola was fine simply watching her lover while he was 'playing.'

And while waiting, she entertained herself by musing about their peculiar state, something that she was quite literally dying to ask the 'famed' Damon about when she'll be able to.

Senri and Raha, though 'missing' their other halves, were very interesting to observe since she found herself in this predicament. So far, she could say, the only downside they were afflicted with compared to her and Rahm was their inability to warp. Not that they could either, themselves that is, as in a way they needed their respective Ancient to 'give them a lift.' And though Hades and Hythlodaeus warned them that according to what information Damon left with them, if they cross the bar of the 'too far' space separating them from their 'halves,' they'll be 'mercilessly' pulled back, though they had yet to find what exactly that bar equaled. So far, despite her and Nem quite curiously if carefully experimenting with it, and after comparing notes, at most, they felt a delicate pull with her Ancient all the way on the other side of the Source. Considering that when Damon has woven his spell into their souls, Eitherys was whole and at least double the size, they had a theory that crossing the Rift would be 'too far,' if that they didn't dare to test... yet.

With the other boys and their mind-blowing gifts, apparently another 'downside' was the fact that Hades somewhat blew her away with a nonchalant statement that as powerful and useful as Senri's and Raha's abilities were, they, too, were a mere half of what they'll be capable of when reunited with their respective Ancients. She had some idea of it, considering that Nemesis admitted to feeling at the 'peak' of her magic only when they were one, and Erebus quite agreed with that assessment. Their 'full' form could be either that of the host or their Ancient – depending on which of them was in charge, so to say – but split, their power was quite literally halved. Their Ancient's power, that is, because for them, their mortal hosts, that meant being something that she quite liked to call a 'hybrid,' still far, far more powerful than anyone else was capable of.

With Ares's Traveler's Ward in place (courtesy of him teaching it to his younger brother for their benefit), and in the case of Senri and Rahm, added benefit of Venat's, masquerading as the 'Blessing,' her lover and his Ancient stood out even among them. Of which the Niddhog, powerful as the wyrm was and so drunk on his earning for vengeance, experienced firsthand. When next they set upon Alexander, with Senri and Raha in attendance, the Eikon was quite literally mauled into the parts they needed without much fuss. Those, alongside the Omega – still whole as it was quite... torn to pieces by Erebus – preserved, their patrons calmly set to introduce Cid non Garlon and Nero tol Scaeva to each other at the wonder of the Tower, giving them plenty of time and resources to deliver what they needed: a door in reality to match those that started it all and welcome the fusion of their timeline with another as those other Senri and Raha return, bringing across their bridge and respective Ancients, permanently locking their worlds into one.

When they were chatting about it once in private – the four of them, enjoying a drink in one of the chambers of the Crystal Tower – she remembered asking the slightly 'buzzed' boys how exactly did they feel about what was coming after they were given a careful look and time to study Hades's 'diagrams' about the lives of their counterparts from that other timeline. Cuddled into one of the massive pillows in the 'relaxation' room (as they called it), Raha's crimson eyes shone with some sort of downright devious amusement when he considered it, absentmindedly petting his lover's thigh in the process.

„I mean... with apparently only 'them' being aware of the fuse, I think it's quite hilarious," he finally replied, turning his head, resting on Senri's chest to look at his lover's beautiful profile. „All I've read about his life... I mean, my counterpart, of course... sounded quite sad, so I'm quite bent on supplying him with many more pleasant memories to contend with," his cheeky grin was devilish. „That it gives me the freedom to enjoy myself to the fullest, I can hardly mind, right?"

„Same," his lover added, setting a kiss on his redhead's cheek before looking back at her and grinning his sweet, goofy grin. „If I get it all right, it's more like they'll be shoved into our reality, yes?"

„Not exactly," she remembered replying, playing with the glass of wine with her hand as she leaned back into Rahm's chest. „It's a literal fusion, boys. I discussed it at length with Nem, and we think that the moment we are ready to open that 'door,' letting in the shift in reality they'll bring, and considering the list Damon left with Hades to fulfill before that, there are some things from that reality that will override this one. We're pretty sure that no matter how far we'll get with our progress before that door is done, we'll skip dealing with the Final Days since it was underscored multiple times in that particular diagram. We need to keep going until that portal is ready, and we cross off all the goals from Damon's list since our patrons are bent on fulfilling his ideas to the letter."

„It's confusing," Rahm sighed behind her, tightening the arm that spanned her waist. „So it's more like we will be shoved into their reality, then?"

„Fused into their reality," she said with pressure, turning her head to send him a smile. „Our counterparts won't be aware, I suppose, but we're quite sure that 'scene' prepared – which is basically what Damon's list is for, his teaks to that other timeline – Nem thinks that he woven into Raha's... that other one, I mean... the 'directives' which things from which timeline will override the other. Seriously... I can't wait to meet him," she sighed, smiling sheepishly toward Raha.

„You and me both," the redhead laughed cheerfully. „I know Hades is prone to hold him in near god-like regard, guys... And I think that by itself speaks volumes! And to do all of this... it's kind of flooring to think he's my Ancient, believe me!"

„That's why you're so determined to fulfill that other list he left for you with Hyth?" his lover snarked, and Shtola looked between them with new interest.

„What other list...?" she remembered asking and getting a funny feeling when they both grinned at her cheekily, toasting their glasses and kissing before the redhead sighed contentedly and answered with a wink.

„Apparently, my counterpart, due to his sad upbringing, ended up sooo bashful it sparked a bet between Damon and Ares, Shtola. Something along the lines: nature versus nurture, and I was tasked with proving my Ancient's point."

„You... bashful?" she almost snorted at the disbelief in her mate's voice. „With the sheer amount of times, I caught you fucking in the most ridiculous places...? I was rather worried you would try to drag me in, the way you two are..."

„...crossed my mind," the devious smirk tilted the redhead's full lips, and he laughed harder when she tossed him a deadpan stare, possessively curling her hand over her mate's thigh resting against her side. „I kid, Shtola!"

„You never know with you," she snarked but grinned when they all laughed. Though she meant it because the time spent with them swiftly taught her that both appeared to lack any shame whatsoever completely.

The noise tore her out of the memory, and Shtola blinked, focusing once more on the area below. Just in time to see an armed group strode into the city, looking a tad baffled by the lack of any resistance they were welcomed with. And spotting an impossibly tall blonde with long hair behind them, she grinned involuntarily, feeling the buzz of anticipation shimmer in her blood as they neared the lone figure of her mate. She didn't need to see Rahm's face – impossible from her vintage – to be aware of the very same buzz thrumming through his soul.

He couldn't kill Zenos, knowing that sooner rather than later, Hades would step in, but she more than looked forward to the show of her mate mauling him... a tad, at least. And hopefully, the Imperial Viceroy would be enough of a challenge in the meantime to get her lover's blood pumping with adrenaline because she always more than enjoyed the results!

The gate was done sooner than they expected: almost six moons after they were done with the liberation of Doma and Ala Mhigo. The day Cid and Nero gleefully announced their work done, their patrons seemed a tad surprised with the speed of its completion, once more gathering at their usual spot atop the Tower to discuss how to proceed.

„I thought that it would take a few more years," Themis admitted sheepishly, running his fingers through his silvery hair. „Their notes indicated that Senri was twenty-eight years old, and ours is merely twenty-two... Does that mean we have six years of downtime ahead of us...?"

„I suppose it's up to us...?" Hythlodaeus sighed, folding his arms over his chest and tapping his fingers into a rhythm against his bicep. „Opening the gate will fuse the realities regardless, yes?" he asked his husband.

„That's what Father wrote," Hades replied calmly, summoning Damon's diagrams and pointedly making the required one bigger between their group. „The instructions are clear: once done with his list, open the gate and let the designed shift fuse our reality with that other one."

„How are we on that list, though?" asked Gaia with a frown, tightening her arms around Artemis's.

„Done," Hades deadpanned, summoning it next, and they all sort of startled to see all the points crossed out. „Perhaps... we were a tad too enthusiastic about those," the white-haired immortal chuckled a tad sheepishly.

„...you don't say?" his husband drawled with amusement.

„Well... it was fun," Erebus remarked, resting his arm over his wife's shoulders, and Nemesis nodded along, smiling toward their hosts, listening intently from their usual spot next to Raha and Senri on the stairs leading to the throne.

„So what do we do?" asked Themis, looking between the gathered with uncertainty. He was quite literally dying to see Ares again... if some of the notes about that other timeline a tad intimidated him, too. Knowing Damon, he had no doubt which of its versions awaits him, and though over this time he had a few occasions to interact with Alisaie, he found it a tad difficult to imagine that his counterpart dared... to get involved with her. He might be immortal, but if he thought about it... she kind of intimidated him. And he struggled to imagine what a lively and tempestuous soul like hers would find interesting in someone like him...

„I'd say we vote," Hades said with a tad wry smirk. „The path ahead is clear: either open the gate now and welcome the shift in the reality it brings or wait with it."

„Do we get a vote, too?" asked Raha from his spot, and all bright eyes turned to him.

„Of course," Hythlodaeus replied with a smile. „It will affect you no less than any of us, boys... More so, even considering that your counterparts are the only ones other than their Ancients to remember that our realities were different from each other."

„Alright," the redhead nodded, then looked over the other hosts, who nodded along dutifully.

„Then..." Themis took a deep breath and smiled, looking around the circle of the gathered. „...those in favor of opening the gate, raise your hand."

...and he was only mildly surprised to see them all do so, him included.

PRESENT / FUSED REALITY

As the flood of memories stopped, Raha didn't dare to look up in anyone's face – as he felt like his was going to burn away as he buried it into Senri's shoulder with a mortified, if quiet, groan. And his ears flattened against his head at Damon's victorious croon, not needing to look to know his Ancient was likely grinning ear to ear toward his husband.

„I win!" Damon sounded so pleased that he really felt like smacking him over the head... if he dared.

„I concede," he heard Ares reply gleefully and felt like smacking him, too.

...fucking immortals and their fucked up bets about his Twelve-forsaken sex life... what the fuck?!

And his so-called counterpart going along with it so gleefully... giving him a reputation of sex-fiend and vivid detail of how he achieved that...!

Oh, Twelve preserve...

„For what's it worth, babe..." Senri chuckled against his ear, in comfort running his hand over his back after he finally managed to stop laughing hysterically. „...at least you can't say they didn't have fun, hm?"

And he could only groan, wishing the ground would open up under him... if trying not actually to cause it!