He's a boy again – glaring daggers at the floor under his feet and with his hands rolled tightly into fists – and the burn at the pit of his stomach is an inferno.

'Well done,' the teacher praises his latest creation and it would be fine if not… 'Hard to believe you're related to Ares, boy,' he adds with a laugh, and other boys laugh as well while the burn becomes unbearable. He raises his golden eyes, turning his face into a mask of his Father's scowl, and with a snap of his fingers destroys the project, making sure its shards fly around and a few surprised yelps and the teacher's grimace lessens the fire inside him a bit.

And as satisfying as it is, he knows it's a mistake instantly – seeing the dismal in the surrounding him faces just below the edges of their masks. He knows that no matter what he does – his every snap – will be blamed at his brother's influence. That they would tell him – so smug and insulting – with barely veiled insinuations that Ares should have given him away – to someone 'more fitting' to raise a prodigy. And his brother will snap – as he tended to do – and only make them more confident in their opinions of him.

Any excuse is fitting to diminish the man that was better than all of them.

'Is he…?' a sweet, chilling voice sneaks in and he looks around with a frown. Everyone around him is frozen and only a small, blackened figure splits from the shadows at the back of the blurred image and joins his side with a smile that brings nothing but heavyweight inside his chest. Almost with some ill-fitting playfulness, she pokes at one of the shards hanging in the air and his scowl darkens as he folds his arms over his chest while his face heats under the mask. She notices, raising her eyebrows pointedly and that chilling smile widens. 'Or is it simply something you had been taught, Hades? Perhaps they are the ones that are in the right all along?'

'Who are you?' he snaps, even as his instincts roar to get her out, away…

'If you were raised by someone else… would it not be easier?' she continues, ignoring his outburst. 'Would it not be much more pleasant to not feel like your every accomplishment tosses a shade over your brother? Or if – for you – he changed his behavior? Fit in with them and discards his ridiculous notions?'

'They're not ridiculous,' he growls, now staring daggers at her even as something inside him curls in shame as he recognizes in her words his occasional thoughts. His childish ideas when he doesn't understand why his brother is so different and he wishes he wasn't… but…

He freezes with a frown when the thought trails off and he can't remember why… it is important…

'You don't really think so, do you?' she says with a slight smirk accompanied by the way her eyes darken. 'He preaches choices and love as these wonderful things – yet did he give you a choice for how you had been born? For his own selfishness, he condemned you to the scorn and ridicule of your peers, didn't he?'

He opens his mouth to protest… and chokes as he can't remember why she was wrong – only memories of others' laughter rolling through his mind as his arms drop limply to his sides. He frowns and his gaze drops to the floor as he tries to figure out why his insides feel like a pit filled with scorching flames even as his whole body grows unbearably cold.

'Wouldn't it be better if Ares never existed?' she whispers and the image around him changes.

'Well done,' the teacher praises, and Hades flinched slightly, looking up with confusion. His project is complete once more and his peers look on with wonder and astonishment. 'You make your parents proud, boy.'

And he scoffs, while the fire in his blood grows hotter as his limbs become numb with the chill. It's wrong but he can't remember why…

The image shifts, change again and brightens with colors as he sits at the edge of his bed and a warm hand brushes through his hair with fondness. He looks up with uncertainty and a soft, tender look in bright, sky-blue eyes calms the fire as his heart stutters in its rhythm.

'I'm sorry, little brother,' Ares whispers and leans in until their foreheads meet and close his eyes. 'If I could make it easier for you…'

'Don't be ridiculous!' he snaps, raising his hand and curling it in his brother's collar. And watching his beautiful face brighten up with a shade of his usual, crooked grin something inside him unfurls and relaxes slightly as he remembers…

'If I didn't meet Ares…?' bright, cyan eyes narrow at the question, but his father's expression grows somber and considerate – and he knows Damon always approaches his inquiries with near-painful honesty and seriousness. 'Where this is coming from…? Nevermind,' he signs and leans over his desk between them as Hades drops his gaze and curls into himself. 'I suppose it would be easier. Likely, following our peoples' customs, I would Bond to some carefully picked female… and all that.'

'So…' he whispers without raising his eyes as he swallowed thickly – as then, he would never have been born. '…do you regret that?'

'Never,' his father states with utter conviction and chuckles when Hades's eyes shoot up. 'As hard as it gets sometimes… As frustrating and difficult to watch our people scorn and ridicule him… Not for one second, my dear boy. Because if I didn't meet and fallen for him – I would have never known love… And isn't that wonderful enough to make up for the hardships it brings along?' a slight, familiar smirk blooms on his handsome face as he winks at him playfully and despite himself and what brought his question, Hades can't help but smile back. 'Plus… I would die of boredom, I swear.'

And he remembers why he is blessed to be born as he was: as none of his peers – as their laughs rang hollow and envious – can truly understand. As each and every look and gesture of his brother and his husband assures him he is loved – something none of them can share in or say so for themselves.

And for that alone – he wouldn't change a thing…

'Stop being difficult,' that chilling voice hisses with annoyance, and the image changes again – back to the class and the destroyed project… But Hades is an adult now and he smirks coldly at the darkened incarnation of despair.

'Told you, bitch,' he hisses, raising his hand and putting it in a familiar snap. 'You won't take from me again,' he says, snaps his fingers and she disappears.

His surroundings melt, turning into an image of his barrier and he grimaces at the cracks in it – knowing how she got through. He focuses and slowly but surely patches the cracks, barely wondering of the flow of soothing aether filling his head with a familiar reassurance.

And as the barrier swells and thickens, he wakes up…

Hades blinked slowly, grimacing at the unpleasant feeling of soaked sheets surrounding his body.

"There you are," too familiar glint of amusement barely covered the worry in the crimson irises as his father leans over him and placed his hand over his forehead. "You had me worried there for a second, my boy."

"You're… back," he croaked and winced at how hoarse his voice sounded.

"Mhmm," Damon hummed, then sighed and sat back on the edge of the mattress heavily. Hades frowned then shifted, then with effort bracing on his elbows, he lifted and looked around the small room. Themis – impossibly pale – rested, sitting against the wall, and only a barely-there movement of his chest suggested he was asleep and not… He shook his head, then winced again seeing Hythlodaeus, as obviously exhausted as the younger immortal, his upper body resting against the other side of the mattress and his face planted in the messy sheets. "They exhausted themselves," his father said quietly and Hades scowled darkly, covering the stutter of his heartbeat as he sat up slowly and reached out a shaky hand to brush strands of violet hair away from his lover's face, relaxing some when Hyth muttered something incoherently and sighed softly. "He panicked when the barrier cracked and I had to knock him out," Damon chuckled fondly and he blinked, looking down with a frown when with his movement a string of familiar crystals fell to his lap.

Understanding, he grimaced involuntarily as he picked up the – thankfully – short piece of made-by-him chain, then curling his free hand around it, looked up at his father with an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry… I was too weak," he whispered.

"Silly boy," Damon chuckled, then raised his hand and delicately flicked him on the nose. "It's been days, Hades… None else could have lasted as long as you did – and as proud as I am – It's me who is sorry, boy, for taking so long."

"But you wasted…" he started, tightening his fingers around the chain.

"…I wasted nothing," slight narrowing of the crimson eyes had him snap his mouth shut, seeing the spark of too-familiar temper in their depths. Damon's expression softened instantly and he smiled reassuringly, then pressed his hand over Hades's heart and pushed meaningfully. "Rest, my boy. Knowing the pattern now, I can support your barrier until you recover."

He sighed heavily but complied, laying back and closing his eyes. He didn't open them, hearing the movement as his father stood up, then feeling a slight shift of the mattress, he peered through his lashes and smiled somewhat ruefully seeing Damon picked up and put Hythlodaeus on the bed next to him, then walked across the room and without effort pulled unconscious Themis up to his feet, letting his body lean against him heavily. It looked almost hilarious in his mortal form, but he was too exhausted to point it out.

"I'll bring him to his bedroom," his father said quietly, then looked at him pointedly, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Rest, Hades… and do not worry, as you said, she won't take from you again, I promise you that," he added, then headed toward the door.

"…you saw it… all?" he grimaced, closing his eyes again.

The doubts he never dared to share…

"I knew it, long before the Sundering, boy," Damon sighed and he peered through his lashes toward him again but while he stood there, supporting Themis, his face was lit up with a slight smirk and devious glint in his mortal's eyes. "That teacher more than paid for that remark… as he made the mistake of approaching me instead of Ares. For that, and for suggesting you would be better off with a different family… he paid, I promise you that. And it was one of the funnier ones, too," he winked at him and Hades couldn't help the way his lips tilted into a weak smile. "But, Hades… it was perfectly normal to have such thoughts and it doesn't in any way diminish the bond between you and your brother. With one she was right – we didn't give you a choice about the circumstances of your birth and…"

"No, she was wrong," he whispered, shaking his head and closing his eyes with a quiet snicker. "All of it… was wrong. I never regretted that… dad. That I was born for you and Ares," his hand snuck over the messy sheets and curled around Hythlodaeus's limp one, lacing their fingers tightly. "And now more than ever I understand your words back then… Even with all the hardships… love's more than worth it – and I could never doubt that you loved me. And if Ares wasn't there – wasn't the way he was and is – perhaps I would never know it… and that I could never regret so she picked a wrong thing… to try to pull me apart," he finished with a quiet chuckle.

"That, she did," his father agreed, then pulled the door open, and before closing them again after them, he added in a whisper. "And you were and are our light, my boy, never doubt that. Sleep well, Hades."

"Mhmm," he hummed, tightening his fingers around his lover's and letting the exhaustion claim him, reassured his father was there to take care of him – as he always did.

After Damon gave him back their body, Raha didn't waste any time, swiftly teleporting to his lover's side and almost stumbled, his eyes shooting wide open at the sight of the sky above him.

Roiling red clouds spewed meteors raining seemingly over the whole of the Thavnair – a sight well visible from the current vintage point at the roof of one of the buildings of Radz-at-Han. And with effort tearing his eyes off the sight, he winced seeing his mate curled in, sitting on top of the statue with his arms curled around his knees, staring numbly at the sky above them. Covered in grime and soot, Senri looked exhausted, and… now he realized why he couldn't feel him – knowing his lover, he was blocking apparent heartbreak in his form.

"Snark…?" he whispered, nearing slowly and stopping right behind his back, promptly dropping and placing his knees on the low statue around his hips and wrapping his arms around his waist. His lover remained motionless even when he rested his chin on his shoulder, following his gaze up toward the mortifying view.

"It almost went bad…" his mate whispered in a low, hollow voice. "Here… if not for Ares… and his gift… only a few lost. Apparently back then, it was their magic that created those things but now it's people… Their doubts and despair twist them into monsters, Raha… Y'shtola said that… that there's no coming back from that. That their aether rots and falls apart… Leaving nothing but beasts craving the aether of others… Ahewann is no more… Gave his life to protect one of the citizens and I… can't understand it. We all panicked when they started turning but if he grabbed the man and run… instead of attacking it and getting eaten…" his clawed hand curled around Raha's forearm as his voice dropped lower with rage. "Why is it always the firrrst thing they turrrn to…?" his beast rasped and he fought not to flinch, instead silently tightening his arms around his lover. "Fucking self-sacrrrifice… Did he think that man will be thankful to live at the cost of his life…? Why…?"

"Snark… please," he whispered, nuzzling against his neck delicately as he closed his eyes when they started to burn when his lover's muscles spasmed and tightened with a need for violence. Some of his beast's rage and anguish slipped through their bond and made his heart squeeze painfully, knowing his lover balanced at the edge of another breakdown.

Flight or fight, Damon whispered in a low voice. Merge made him more stable, but without a target for his rage… He's likely to collapse into self-hatred again. Fucking mortals…

"Did Heurrrchefant think I would be glad…?" Senri growled furiously and his hand tightened on him almost painfully as the tips of his claws bit into his skin through his sleeve. "Yearrrs I wonderrred… why not jump away afterrr he pushed me…? And told me to smile with his dying breath… What rrreason I had to smile…? To watch his fatherrr collapse in grrief and rrregret that that spearrr didn't find its trrrue tarrrget…? Did he think I would be grrrateful for that?"

Raha didn't think, but feeling his mate's temper reach a breaking point, he shifted around him and swallowed his gasp of surprise as he took his mouth, brutally fisting his hand in the matted, ink-black strands and pulling on them harshly to tilt his head for access. Tasting copper as one of his fangs pierced his lower lip, he growled furiously, shoving their connection open and forcing it to expand against his lover's will. Instantly matching his rage with his fury, he pushed until Senri was forced to lean back and used it to plant himself in his lap. When his mate choked on a whine, he only tightened his hand in his hair, curling his free hand around his lover's throat and tightening it in a warning, demanding his utter and complete submission.

Beyond relieved when the roiling rage slipped under the pressure of the instinct and his mate complied, going pliant in his grip and merely mindlessly mewling under his lips. Yet, he didn't relent, growling with a raising fury as he pulled back and his narrowed eyes trailed over his beautiful face.

"You are mine," he hissed through his teeth, with his grip forcing him to lean his head to the side as he freed his throat to brutally pull on the collar of his shirt, tearing it off his mate's shoulder and uncaring about it as he shifted in his lap to press against him tightly, setting a small, sharp bite of a warning just below his jaw. His senses reeling in fury – its heady mix fueled by terror of his mate's almost-slip – he snarled aggressively as hand next shot between them and under the material of his lover's pants, in a possessive claim curling around his swiftly swelling flesh and tearing a helpless whimper from Senri's almost too-pretty mouth. "You can rage, my beast," he cooed if his voice was more of a rumbling growl than anything else while he tightened his grip both in his lover's hair and around his dick. "You can rage… but you're not slipping away from me, understood? You can't save everyone, Snark," he added somewhat softer, trailing a line of small, sharp bites down his throat and toward his mark on his Warrior's pale skin. Senri shuddered but a bare pleading mewl tore from his throat as he remained plaint in his grip. "You can't and no matter how much you hate it… it was their choice, Senri. And it was never your fault…" he trailed off, baring his teeth and sinking them into the mark of his ownership over that too-beautiful body and soul, reestablishing his claim.

Senri arched under him with a choked whine and his cock throbbed inside his grip as their connection instantly filled with his need instead of anguish. Raha purred praise into his skin, rhythmically tightening and relaxing his fingers around Senri's flesh until he mewled and whimpered in tandem, jerking and flinching in his beautiful obedience. With premeditation bringing his body to the edge of an orgasm, Raha tightened his fingers around the base of his dick at the sound of the first rumbling mewl-purr of his name, breaking his bite when his lover whined desperately in a complaint, utterly focused and lost in the painful pleasure and panting harshly while he licked a trail toward his parted mouth and almost brutally bit his lower lip.

"Rrraha…" his clawed hands coiled around his hips as his mate shifted helplessly, position making him unable to try to force friction on the flesh throbbing in his grip. So unbearably beautiful – his male in his need for him – he couldn't help but purr near-deafeningly as he took his mouth again, devouring them with barely contained fury and painful arousal when Senri moaned deeply under his lips, returning the kiss with fervor.

Assured of his compliance, he let go of his hair, smoothing his hand down his side and around him to wrap it around the base of his tail, swallowing Senri's breathless whine at the pressure on the sensitive appendage. Smoothing his thumb through the fine fur, Raha shifted away slightly, releasing his other hand from around his lover's cock to tear impatiently at the fastenings of his black pants, then his own as the pressure of the material grew too painful.

When he run out of breath, he pulled back from the kiss, yet purred teasingly when his lover moaned a complaint, trying to follow his mouth. Resuming his grip on his hair instantly, he kept him back, panting as his eyes trailed over his features hungrily. Freeing his tail next, he then trailed his thumb over Senri's bruised lips, and the way he bared his teeth at the ice-blue flushing between jet-black lashes could be barely called a smile as his body raged for him.

"Are you my good boy, Snark?" he cooed, letting that hand fall from his hair and curl around his throat again, his smirk widening when he felt how it moved when Senri swallowed audibly and closed his eyes again, nodding.

"A-always…" he gasped, then licked his lips nervously when Raha tightened his fingers just slightly, shifting to stand up off his lap, but didn't break his grip on him. Their bond wide and thrumming with his mate's need, had him drown in it, and in his own raging need to protect his heart and reestablish his claim over that body and soul.

Uncaring of anything but that, he released his hair and throat, then straightened and narrowed his eyes when his lover whined a complaint, his eyes utterly confused and dazed by lust as they shoot wide open… and he froze when Raha smirked, then raised his hand and motioned in the air between them meaningfully.

"Then on your knees, my Snark," he purred near-deafeningly, and almost laughed when his lover's face colored darkly but he shifted obediently, bracing his hands over the low statue with a low, staggering purr of invitation. "So good, my beautiful mate," he cooed praise, unceremoniously shoving his pants down around his thighs, before following and falling to his knees behind his beautiful beast, smoothing one hand over his tail while the other reached around his hip and into the pocket of his pants, grinning involuntarily as he pulled out the bottle his insatiable lover always now carried on him. He opened it with his teeth, then groaned deeply as he spread the oily liquid over his throbbing flesh, then his hand and closed it, putting it away next to the base of the statue. He chuckled breathlessly when he pressed against his obediently waiting lover's back, impatiently shoving the waistband of his pants down from between them and nuzzling against his spine while he fought to curb himself in. He pressed his finger inside him, working the painfully tight squeeze of the heated muscles loose when they spasmed around the intrusion and his mate arched his back under him with a choked whine. Smiling as he felt his long tail curl around the back of his thighs, he tried to relive the painful pressure by rutting his wanting flesh against the back of Senri's thigh, growling impatiently as his mate's inviting purrs grew louder and insistent, while he rocked back and forth, arching his back and demanding his claim. "Such a good, good boy," he hummed with pleasure, nipping on the bumps of his lover's spine as he pressed another finger inside him on the next stroke into that mind-shattering heat.

"Yourrrs…" his beast rasped on a whimper and his tail tightened around him possessively as he lowered his upper body in a beautiful display of submission, shuddering and mewl-purring his name each time Raha's fingers pressed inside him, sounds growing more and more desperate. "…p-please… Rrraha, take me…"

"Soon," he cooed, nuzzling against his back and speeding up involuntarily when with a third finger his lover choked on his rumbling purrs, pushing back against the digits impatiently. "Behave," he snapped with a growl, and set a brutal, warning bite on his mate's skin through the black material of his shirt, tearing a surprised gasp and deep mewl from his lover as he obediently went still, if his shudders were nearly violent now. "Good boy," he cooed, breaking his bite to finally pull that hand back and pushing back from his back, curled both hands around Senri's hips. Positioning his dick against the tight ring of muscles, he hissed through his teeth pushing forward and instantly mesmerized by the sight of his flesh sinking into that beautiful body, no less than by the way his mate arched with a breathless whimper, choking on the gasps of his name while he took him slowly, delighting in each maddening ilm of scalding heat surrounding his flesh.

Only when seated inside him up to the hilt he released a breath he didn't know he was holding, then smoothed his hands along Senri's sides, up to his shoulders, and leaned over his back, nearly shaking with a need to pull back and rut into that mad heat. But with an effort he held still, growling softly in an answer to his mate's shudders and whimpers. Curling one hand around his lover's shoulder, he pressed the other over his throat, pulling his head up and tantalized by the mad rhythm of his heartbeat under his palm, he tightened it just slightly, shifting to pull back just an ilm and then grind down into him mercilessly.

"Always so good for me, my Snark," he purred when his lover mewled mindlessly and though his shudders grew and his claws dug into the statue, he remained motionless. "So… beautiful in your submission…" he repeated the movement, groaning quietly at the friction and trying not to lose his leash when Senri's muscles spasmed around his dick. Moving his shaky hand from his throat into the ink-black hair, holding for dear life, he pulled back more, then thrust into him harder… And whined in the back of his throat when Senri arched with a breathless shout and another heated spasm tore all air out of Raha's lungs. Whimpering softly, he broke, rolling his hips as he rutted into him harder, faster, tearing more maddening sounds from his beast.

Losing himself in the rhythm of pull and push, with numb fascination watching his dick sliding in and out of that scorching heat, and barely aware of his own rumbling growls and quiet snarls, he fucked him with relish until his mate choked on a string of profanities and mewl-purred his name deafeningly, then shook under him, going deliciously limp. Raha groaned at the shock of scalding spasms but held on with effort, swearing, and gasping as he set to fuck him harder, forcing Senri to whimper in overstimulation. Freeing his hair, he pressed tight against his back, promptly curling that hand around his lover's cock and swiftly stroking it into another orgasm while rutting into him furiously in a matching rhythm. And as he came and his insides clenched around his dick almost painfully, he whined and bit down on him, choking on profanities as his body couldn't take it and he spilled against his will, gasping and shuddering at the unbearable pleasure. Rutting into him slower as he fought the daze of the afterglow, he broke the bite to nuzzle against his shirt insistently, enjoying his quiet mewls of indulgence too much to quit.

Letting go off his spent dick, he lowered his hand between his legs, massaging delicately the spot right under where his cock throbbed inside him with swiftly returning enthusiasm, purring his lover's name when he gasped and bowed his back, whimpering as his flesh as swiftly grew hard under his palm.

"Wha…? R-Raha…" Senri whined almost petulantly, then gave in with a moan, tightening his tail around him again and rocking back against his flesh. He purred praise under his breath, resting his cheek against his spine while rolling his hips in an increasing rhythm, slow at first but soon harsher and insistent as his head swam in the heady mix of their scents.

"My Snark…" he chanted on rumbling growls, possessively smoothing his hand over his lover's cock as he took him in a rhythm that soon could be called only brutal, tearing helpless groans and mewls of his name from his mate's mouth, his deep voice hoarse with abuse. "My beautiful b-beast…" he rasped and choked on a whine when Senri whined desperately and shook, spilling his too-hot seed all over his palm, and mewling his name… begging for more or maybe for a break… he didn't know – lost in the painful need to possess him as he set to fuck him much harder, faster, mercilessly biting down on his back on each stroke and growling furiously. "…Snarrrk…"

"…oh, fuck…" his lover gasped breathlessly, shakily, but he was too lost to care.

A light but quite stinging slap on his cheek brought T'senri around and he blinked, too exhausted to do much more than stare numbly into the narrowed eyes watching his expression as his mate leaned over him with an uncharacteristic dark scowl – strangely reminiscent of Hades's… and he blinked again, trying to collect his scattered wits as he looked around with confusion.

"Wher…" he trailed off, realizing he was on his back, his ass ached like seven hells and Damon leaned over him and apparently wasn't very pleased with him at the moment but at least he was somehow – most likely by the immortal's intervention – back in their nest instead of the roof under the fiery skies. "Dam…?" he trailed off, wincing as his lover's immortal wrapped his hand – hard – around his cheeks and squeezed, narrowing his crimson eyes with a warning.

Uh oh, Ares hummed with obvious amusement. You're in trouble, boy.

"You will NOT worry my boy like that again, are we clear?" Damon hissed through his teeth, staring daggers into his face. "What happened there… is regrettable, I agree, but you'll take better care to keep the leash on your temper, boy, or I'll do it for you," the immortal snapped with a blaze of fury in his eyes that had T'senri wince and curl into himself, hugging his ears against his head and closing his eyes with a grimace.

A moment of silence, then that hand left his face as Damon exhaled slowly, then moved away from him and when T'senri peered through his lashes with uncertainty, he felt even worse seeing the expression on his lover's beautiful face.

It was still Damon – obviously – but his eyes… The immortal shifted, sitting back against the edge of the nest and running his fingers through his messy hair as his Raha's face was a mask of regret and some… painful sadness.

"I'm sorry," he whispered after a moment, catching his gaze. "I should not let my own temper slip… but it was a rough few… bells," he sighed, then rubbed his hands over his face tiredly. "When you both lost consciousness, I saw what happened, Senri, and I understand why it stirred your… issues so hard, but… Raha needs you to be strong for him, Senri – if nothing else – and you can't… collapse like you almost did there, okay? You scared him so much, he snapped… and the fact that I'm not going to heal you is going to remind you to stay in control, yes?" he drawled, dropping his hands and raising his eyebrows pointedly until T'senri swallowed thickly and nodded slowly, the punishment feeling somewhat… more like a relief than anything else.

He fucked up – almost sliding back into his old patterns and he more than deserved that pain – and all things considered, he couldn't even mind as the immortal's expression softened slightly and Damon leaned back, relaxing some more, even as his face grew somber and considerate.

"Senri… the barrier was restored before more could happen back there, pushing her back – but she is not going to quit," the immortal whispered and his hands rolled into fists in his lap. "Not after how long she waited for Eitherys to be vulnerable and to put Hermes's bet to the test."

"I… know," he rasped, grimacing involuntarily as he slowly sat up, then shakily ran his fingers through his hair and sighed softly. He was still covered in the grime of Vanaspati and what followed, though his clothes were gone. He tossed a quick, longing look toward the shower but then focused his gaze on Damon. "How is Hades?"

"Resting and recovering," Damon replied carefully, then looked him over with another narrowed look, as if considering something – which was more than unnerving – then exhaled slowly and smoothed his expression into a polite smile, before looking away from him and to the ceiling above them. "I had to sacrifice part of a chain we brought back to restore his reserves… and I know you can't really comprehend the enormity of that, Senri… but each of those crystals holds an amount of aether that… well, I would say in an estimation would be an equal to the amount of aether in a Reflection now… perhaps a tad more," he chuckled humorlessly when T'senri gasped, gawking at him, but he didn't lower his gaze. "But I'm not telling you that to awe you, boy… but to make you aware of the stakes," he added softly, then finally dropped his eyes, though now they were cold and calculating. "Dynamis being so much weaker than aether… I thought Hades is more than capable to keep her back, but I… made a mistake that almost cost me three of my boys in one swoop. Hythlodaeus and Themis nearly drained themselves trying to keep him stable to our return," he added with cold detachment at his confused look and T'senri flinched, dropping his eyes between them.

And he… Gods, now wonder why Damon was so pissed at him!

"While I do not appreciate what happened as I said, I understand, Senri, and I do not want you to feel guilty about something that was out of your control – as we know you tend to do, sadly – but you must keep your temper in check," Damon said as his voice grew more delicate. "While Hades is out, I have to support his barrier until he's able to take over again – and a moment of my distraction can have… tragic consequences, as you probably can imagine now. Luckily, this time apparently he pushed her back hard enough that she didn't attack again immediately… but she can be back any moment and I do need to have a space of mind and soul to be able to take her on. So, until Hades's back on his feet and we figure out how to best handle her until we find a way to bring the fight back to her nest – I do need you to stay calm and take care of Raha, my boy. She attacks by pinning needles into one's insecurities and doubts," he added softly and smiled somewhat sadly when T'senri gasped and looked up as his throat tightened painfully. "Plants a seed of despair in one's soul and it doesn't take much for it to bloom, Senri. That's the tricky part about the dynamis… As it apparently feeds on one's emotions – and some are more subjective to that than others," he sighed and looked away from his gaze. "I do not say you or Raha are… but your souls and emotions are so intertwined with each other – you're so dependent on the other – like I said, you need to be stronger for him, Senri – because while I stand more separated from him that Ares do with you, I love him and I do not wish to see his soul harmed. But if she is back before Hades is able to take over I do not know if I can keep her well away from Raha… and we both know, that despite our efforts – there's still plenty of insecurities and doubts in his mind for her to use against him."

Shuddering at the implication, he shifted and reached out, carefully wrapping his hand around the other man's forearm, and with a pleading look, Damon gave in, letting him pull him closer and wrap his arms around him securely.

"I'll do better, I swear," he whispered, burying his face against his lover's throat. "It won't happen again, Damon, I promise you."

"I hope so," the immortal sighed sadly, resting his chin on top of T'senri's shoulder. "You're his strength, Senri, as much as he is yours. And until this mess is sorted out – one way or another – no matter what happens, you have to remember that you aren't alone anymore. But – as if with everything else in life – that doesn't come without a price, my boy. Crumble, and he'll follow. And now… that is more dangerous than ever – for us all."

With Meteion and her despair-charged dynamis at the ready to twist their emotions to her image and Ares unable to do much else than watch during his… snap, he was the biggest liability to their immortals. As he proved today… If Raha didn't force him into submission, he would spin into one of his Twelve-forsaken breakdowns and pull his mate into a state where if she attacked…

T'senri sighed, closing his eyes and tightening his arms around his lover's body, involuntarily whimpering quietly at what he almost did to his mate.

"Raha is – despite his doubts – a hope incarnate," Damon whispered somewhat ruefully as if reading his mind but smoothed his hand over his back in comfort. "A complete antithesis to her despair… And as much as I wish we knew what is coming… we don't anymore. Now I'm as blind as you… and I admit, it might be a reason behind my temper. And for that, I am sorry, my boy – but now, you have to keep that in mind, okay? Protect his heart and soul, Senri, and the best way you can do that is by protecting yours."

"I will," he promised in a whisper, nuzzling against his shoulder apologetically.

"Good," the immortal chuckled, then sighed tiredly and his body went limp in his embrace. "Now, let him rest. I'll be watching the barrier… if she's back, we don't want her to surprise us. I put the rest of the chain inside the cache… but just in case, Ares, if she's back and I'm busy with her, you have to check on the boys later, okay?"

He felt a familiar push and watched from the back of their shared head as his immortal hummed his agreement easily, then settled his husband down comfortably between the red and black pillows, pulling the blankets around him securely.

"As you wish, my heart," Ares said, brushing his lips against his lover's cheek, before sitting up with a grimace and pointedly giving him the control back.

That's your punishment to endure, he chuckled, then sighed with resignation. T'senri didn't complain but slowly and carefully climbed out of the nest, keeping his sounds back at the pain each movement caused. Etching it in his soul – as a reminder of how much worse could be the price of his… slip.

Raha needed him sane and capable – and he refused to endanger his mate with his… issues ever again. What happened in Radz-at-Han was a true lesson in what were the stakes of their endeavor. And as much as his inability to save Ahewann still burned… As much as he resented the very idea of self-sacrifice and all it represented… He clenched his jaw, narrowing his eyes with determination as he headed for the shower and resolved to always and ever put his mate's well-being first and foremost.

The world could burn around him… but for Raha, he'll take it and more, leashing his temper and issues along with it. And somehow… that resolve made something inside him unfurl and relax, soothing the burn of this day.

"Brilliant, as always," a deep, amused voice hummed by Raha's ear a moment after Senri's breath slowed down and Damon merely let his host's lips twitch into a barely-there smirk, more than enjoying the heat of the body coiled around his form in a tight, possessive embrace.

"He's more predictable than you ever were, Ares," he whispered barely moving his host's mouth.

"Truly?" his husband chuckled, then pressed a tender kiss on his head, before settling down and resting his chin between his ears. "I wouldn't exactly agree with that, love. If you ever demanded me to leash my temper to keep you and our boys safe… I would do so in a heartbeat."

"And grow as dull and boring as everyone else…? I think not," he chuckled when his lover growled softly and tightened his arms around him. "I kid, I kid… But when he's awake, you should have a talk with Hades, my heart. As predictably, she poked his issues something fierce."

"Hmmm… what did she go for?" Ares asked, rubbing his chin against his hair gently. "His relationship with Hyth?"

"No," he deadpanned, barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes. "You, obviously."

"Me…? Why would… ohhh... His birth?" he asked meekly, growing tense around him And now he did roll his eyes, opening them and downright pouting.

"No, my beautiful but silly Ares…" he drawled but otherwise stayed motionless. "…not exactly, at least. She went after his guilt for being so much stronger than you, love. And how that made our people suggest we should have let someone else raise him. Are you still sure you want to save her?" he added softly when his husband hissed furiously at the reminder.

As ridiculous as was the notion – back then and now – because who else than his Ares could handle their son's temper…? Powerful as he always was – Hades was a force of nature to be reckoned with and few would dare to raise a child of such ability without trying to stifle his personality. Mold him into a tool to be useful for their people instead of the wonder his soul was, shoving customs and rules down his throat until he choked on it. And his beautiful, caring Ares merely needed a look or a word to have their son behave without ever the need for such. Or – as their peers liked to insinuate – his gift.

Because Ares loved – with his wild, boundless abandon – and those in his care couldn't help but love him as fiercely. Because he refused to let their people twist his brother into the image of what they wanted him to be – and even as a boy and under the stream of ridicule and insults it was met with – Hades always knew that his brother adored him to a ridiculous degree.

And yet – like him – he never asked Ares to change.

"I'll talk with him," his husband sighed, then relaxed noticeably around him and Damon hid his smirk, simply humming his agreement instead.

Gods, but with all the scheming he was doing lately… Well, he surely couldn't complain about being bored! But – as this day reminded him all too well – where the wellbeing of his boys was at stake – the gloves were off.

Raha needed Senri – so he had to remind the boy of his priorities.

Hades could definitely use the reassurance from his brother after that bitch's assault at the sore spot despite how much time passed since then.

Alisaie seemed so… interestingly upset about not being allowed to see Themis – it was a subject to muse about while waiting for either Hades to recover or for Meteion to try her tricks again. And after Themis recovers, find out what went down during their absence to bring that about.

"And I do… want to save her if we can," his husband muttered, tightening his arms around him again.

"As you wish," he sighed with resignation, then slipped into the back of their shared head, focusing on watching over his son's barrier – to avoid his husband sensing the lie.

As logically he knew and understand Ares's sentiment for Meteion – a victim of Hermes's misguided ideas – his own priorities were as clear as ever: keep his boys safe, no matter the cost. Or to put it plainly, as his lover's host would say: if the bitch dares to touch what was his again, she's dead meat… simple as that.

Damon was done playing nice.