At night, as the paths cutting through the Tranquility slowly emptied, leaving the park silent and still, G'raha curled his arms and tail around his knees tightly, resting his cheek atop them with closed eyes, trying to come up with an idea of what to do.
Like for the last few bells…
The thought of going back to the Annex was too terrifying… but he had nowhere else to go. He was cold and hungry, but the idea of heading back and stumbling at the Warrior… was just too much to take.
Especially since the man already had enough time to find out about him… and his reputation. And in connotations with what happened… He whimpered quietly, tightening his arms around his legs and burying his face against his knees as his ears fell flat against his head in misery.
He never dared to talk about… that with Krile – especially with her, his only friend in this Twelve-forsaken city – but he wasn't dumb enough to believe she wouldn't hear about it… And if the Warrior complained about being… j-jumped like that… Gods, what would she think…?
Being so beautiful – not to mention his fame – the man had to be used to people falling over themselves to gain his attention… And all he heard about him in that area was… confusing. Some stories stated that T'senri was above such notions, never paying any mind to people who would try to… approach him. Others claimed he was for years involved with one of the Scions, Y'shtola Rhul, but for whatever reason, they never made it official. Others still paired him with almost every female he was ever seen with – as enthusiastic fans apparently couldn't help but speculate…
But after that kiss… G'raha swallowed thickly, curling into himself slightly and hastily chasing that memory away. No, so not going there…! Just… no!
He just couldn't, as each time he allowed his thoughts to drift to that over the last few bells, hiding in this spot – that once used to be his favorite to read when the weather allowed – curled at the base of one of the massive trees, his breath sped up involuntarily and his blood shimmered with heat… And gods, but he never had it this bad for anyone, much less for a male…!
But was it really a wonder…? He had admired T'senri for years already, helplessly in love with the idea of the hero – brave, true, and… kind. The way the stories made him sound, the Seeker was in his head, someone who wouldn't mind his freaky eyes – wouldn't see him as the… jinx everyone else did. And, yeah, probably, he did idolize him too much… He did look… spooked?... by his eyes when he mentioned them and…
"Here you are," said a low, deep voice, and he flinched harshly, freezing and holding his breath.
It was him…!
When someone walked over and carefully settled down next to him under his tree, he didn't move and didn't dare breathe.
"Listen… I'm s-sorry," the man said quietly, and his ears twitched slightly at the… strange note in his deep, rumbling voice. "I didn't mean to… I didn't realize… Fuck, I suck, okay?" the loud, frustrated exhale had him flinch, with uncertainty tilting his head and peering with one eye at the massive Seeker next to him. Staring at the ground between his feet and with his hands rolled into fists on top of his knees, long, black tail flicking with obvious agitation, and ears hugging his head tightly, he looked like the picture of misery… "I thought… it was a d-dream…" he whispered, curling into himself noticeably, and G'raha frowned, biting his lower lip with uncertainty as he lifted his head slightly and tilted it to look at the male easier. Why would he… apologize? It was him who… "I talked with Krile and…" G'raha flinched at that, burying his face against his knees again as his face blazed with a furious blush instantly. Oh, gods… there it is… "…I'm really, really s-sorry, G'raha. I am… You have enough problems without… I mean, I'm sorry, that's all. It… won't happen again, I swear. She said she thought you were gone… and already gave me another room to sleep in, so you don't have to… w-worry about coming back, okay? I didn't tell her about… that," the Seeker murmured in a tiny voice that had the redhead frown again, but he didn't dare raise his head. "And I would be… thankful if you… wouldn't mention that…? They… Most of my friends don't know that I… p-preffer m-males… and I don't want… I mean… please, know if I knew… I'm sorry, that's all," he sighed sadly, and G'raha heard him stand up, then head off… but still didn't dare to look up, as his heart pounded furiously in his throat.
"T-T'senri…" he couldn't help but say, almost wishing he didn't, when the silent steps stopped. He exhaled slowly, then gathered his courage, swallowing audibly as he raised his head and looked toward the silent Warrior, standing utterly still and not looking at him, staring at the ground between them. "…you shouldn't be a-apologizing. It's me who… I shouldn't have… k-kissed you… and all. I.. lost my head, though that's not enough to excuse… I can imagine what you t-think but…."
"Can you…?" the black-haired Seeker chuckled humorlessly, and G'raha frowned again, blinking slowly as if he didn't know better… he would swear that the Warrior seemed to blush darkly and curl his shoulders in… as if in shame? "My f-first kiss… and I messed up so bad… Can you imagine that… G'raha?"
"Y-Your…?" he gasped softly, gawking at the male as the blood drained from his face instantly. Can't be…?
The Warrior flinched visibly and shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants, narrowing his eyes at the ground while his face seemed to grow darker as he exhaled slowly, then lifted his gaze, the pale blue of his eyes showing an uncanny level of vulnerability that had G'raha's heart instantly triple its rhythm.
"Growing up…" the male whispered, and his ice-blue irises darkened, darting away. "…I was… ah, expected to become the Nunh of my tribe. I left… because I c-couldn't. I can't… I don't find females… ah, desirable," he lowered his head with shame, closing his eyes, and G'raha blinked slowly as his throat tightened painfully. He did read of the customs ruling the tribes of the Seekers', of course… but never before did he even think of the… implications of that. Swiftly looking over the unusually tall Seeker, he could more than imagine he would be… highly pursued for the breeding role – if not for his physiology, then his unreal beauty alone – and if he couldn't… perform as such…? "I know it's not… normal or natural," the Warrior muttered, opening his eyes but staring at the ground again. "That's why I would… appreciate it if you wouldn't mention that to my friends," he sighed softly, then tossed stunned G'raha a quick, uncertain look and flinched slightly, then turned away. "So… You don't have to worry that I'll… bother you again, that's all. Goodnight, G'raha," he said barely audibly and walked away, quickly melting into the darkness ruling over the park.
The redhead stared where he disappeared for a long while, frowning with confusion. Not natural…? He had seen plenty of same-sex couples around the city over the years, and they seemed quite… happy. He was proposed by plenty of males before, too… just never got interested. And after the rumors started… gods, so long ago now… He didn't dare to accept any offers – simply knowing that after that… they weren't sincere. Didn't need more water for the mill of the gossip around the city, too…
And he didn't want… to be used again. The last lover he trusted ruined him for no reason at all – that he could think of, anyway… and to do so again would be just dumb.
He learned by now that nobody ever wanted him, not really. Not the tribe that sent him here as a kit, not Gulaf that left him to rot, and especially nobody in Sharlayan… And he so badly wanted to be wanted….
But T'senri… Did he really believe that his preferences were… unnatural? After everything he read about the tribes, he could imagine that a male born in one could think so – especially one that would be so obviously groomed toward the breeding role – but… was it really so rare in Eorzea…?
If all he heard was right, T'senri was known as the Warrior for nine years now… If he truly was so ashamed of his preferences, it would explain why most thought him… above such notions entirely.
But that also meant… he, G'raha, stole his first kiss… and, holy fuck… He buried his flaming face against his knees again with a quiet groan, battling against the instant, brutal pang of arousal. He let his thoughts drift back to that… and almost expired, mewling quietly at the memory of the uncertainty in T'senri's mouth at first – as impossibly delicious as that kiss was, now, thinking back… he could easily see his inexperience.
Even if he truly thought it a dream… for someone experiencing a fantasy, he was too… shy, too hesitant… Did he even know that was possible…?
An unbearably beautiful male like the Warrior, to be so… neglected… seemed like a such a waste… He didn't have any better idea how that worked between males… but seeing couples around the city, it did seem… doable?
He thought back to that kiss again… and his stupid heart stuttered helplessly even as his face heated up unbearably and his whole body just… throbbed, tearing a small, quiet moan from his throat.
He never before was interested in another male… but, gods, T'senri Tia was certainly a man to make one rethink one's preferences… Each of his previous female lovers was quite disappointing but perhaps…
Thaliak, who was he kidding...? The sheer amount of arousal he felt with the thought of owning his first kiss… was unbearable. The thought of more… filled his mouth with saliva, and he had to admit… the memory of all that pale, heated skin pinning him down, those scalding hot lips trying to devour him… The thought of anyone else experiencing that… Of him never experiencing that again…
Twelve, it was beyond insane… but he wanted him bad… Only he didn't know how he could ever deserve – or earn – his… consideration.
If he even could….
T'senri didn't manage to fall asleep in the new room, despite somewhat sheepishly asking Krile for more blankets and making a bit better nest… But even then, the intoxicating, spicy scent seemed to haunt him – as if it sank a hook into his brain, making him almost wish he dared to steal the sheets from G'raha's bedroom as his unruly mind suggested…
But he already messed up too badly…
He didn't lie to the redhead. Couldn't. Despite his deal with Hades… after learning from Krile that this was G'raha – her best friend she told him so much about before… he wilted internally, swearing that no matter how the Ascian was going to punish him – he was not causing that man more… troubles than he already did.
Once, under the influence of perhaps a bit too strong drink… Whom was he kidding…? All knew that he was a lightweight when it came to drinking… But getting drunk, he slipped with the story of his youth – and the females… pestering him, trying to climb him and turning his life in the tribe into the living hell… and Krile somewhat ruefully told him a story of her best friend in turn. Without names or many details, but it was so… harsh that it stuck in his head even when he sobered up (and despite a raging hangover the next day).
The story of the Seekers' kit brought into the city of scholars where he was treated as an outcast – for nothing more than his looks. Of females who thought to use and discard him – making his situation even worse the one time he stood up for himself… And though so different than his own issues, he couldn't help how that story resonated with his heart then.
T'senri never asked to look as he did, like the boy from Krile's story. While he was big and strong enough to resist when the females tried to force themselves on him, his preferences worked to… shield him from them using his emotions against him. Krile's friend didn't have that, yearning for attention and affection so much – as she told him sadly – he let them use him, hoping for more… and being constantly rejected.
All because those insane people regarded him as… jinx. It baffled him when he heard about that – and at the time, Krile wouldn't explain – but now, seeing his eyes…
Well, he was utterly confused by his eyes, honestly.
Years back, after he confessed his feelings to Thancred – and was kindly rejected by his best friend – he was so hurt… When a suspicious stranger invited him to look into the expedition that set camp at the edge of Mor Dhona… he complied. It gave him an excuse to stay away from Rising Stones for a while – and away from Thancred – not to mention, he was sure that stranger was familiar – and he once swore to make Nero tol Scaeva pay for his role in the massacre of the Waking Sands.
That day – when he wasn't there to protect his friends and later was forced to bury their bodies… took from his soul something essential – and his possessive nature couldn't stand for that. All responsible had to pay…
So he went, getting himself entangled in the mystery of the Crystal Tower – and, predictably, it, even more, wounded his soul.
Nero survived showing his face only because T'senri's friend, Cid, had the good sense to knock him out when he snapped at the sight of the Garlean's face. By then, aware of his… issues, the great engineer came up with a semi-harmless weapon that could put him down until the… episode passed. Not pleasant, but in the end, he was thankful for that – especially when it got worse.
Even the Scions – as much as he knew they loved him – by now, each was equipped with an exemplar of that weapon and knew not to hesitate to use it if he got out of control.
And each time it happened, he was thankful and cursed his Twelve-forsaken curiosity in picking up that cursed Dark Knight's soulstone in Ishgard right after the fiasco of the Banquet and the expedition.
He didn't care then about the long-dead empire – aiming only for Nero's head. By the end, he still didn't care – but when Doga perished in the void to seal the deal with the voidsent and his sister, Unei, sealed the Tower… he couldn't help but feel he failed them.
Like always…
He knew it was necessary – as the Tower was just too dangerous, and Unei never complained… But, still…
Then the Banquet when he lost everything – his home, friends, and even his Twelve-forsaken title… By the time he arrived in Ishgard, his soul was so battered when he realized that the soulstone conjured up his double – masquerading as Fray – he should have known it would end badly. He should have tossed it from the walls of the city… before it was too late.
Then Heurchefant, Ysale, and all that… and he broke down, becoming the worst danger to those he cared about.
Pah, the more he cared about someone, the more danger they were in when he snapped, and it took over.
He doubted there was anything of Esteem left in the… thing it turned into after his breakdown. He didn't really remember that but only came around to his battered friends… terrified and swearing he went after them like a mindless beast – and it took Cid's device, using multiple charges of lightning – to put him down.
He wasn't aware during the attacks – could only bemoan the results… and perhaps because of that, they didn't hold it against him as they should. No, they didn't… but learned to keep that weapon at hand because the slightest provocation could make him snap into a rage – and that… beast inside him seemed to have a special thirst for the blood of his friends. It would go after what – or who – provoked him, but done with, instantly turn against the Scions – if they were in proximity. If not, luckily, he didn't yet have a chance to find out what it would go after…
And now, to think of Hades's ultimatum…
Agreement to the Ascian's… demands resulted from the immortal saving his life – and, more importantly for him, while sparing Unei. She might be a clone, but after he already failed not being able to save her brother – and worse, forcing her to come back and save his sorry excuse of a life… He couldn't stand the thought of her dying for him, too. She was so convinced that the Source needed him… she refused to see reason until the white-haired immortal offered them a way to solve that dilemma without sacrifice. Taught them to use the Crystal Tower to siphon away the excess Light aether from his soul after dealing with Lightwardens… and when it was all said and done – the First Reflection saved and Unei alive, if still bound to the Tower – then the Ancient revealed his price: the awakening of the dormant soul of his brother locked away inside T'senri's body. And when he heard what was the supposed trigger to bring that about… He would lie if he didn't admit he was… excited initially.
Long ago, he discarded dreams about mating – knowing that his preferences made it impossible. He told himself he made his peace with that – same as with the fact that no one could ever accept the worst side of his temper. Of his nature… That the Ascian insisted that his match was male… he took with a healthy grain of salt, given up to the idea that no matter who it was, he was honor-bound to follow their agreement.
That he was quite aware of the pure power the immortal commanded… Made him careful of the punishment if he failed to do so. Not for himself but for his friends. So many gave up so much to keep him alive… he couldn't do anything to dishonor their sacrifice – no matter his misgivings with the idea.
He was so boundlessly tired… sometimes, he ached even at the thought of getting up and facing the day.
But he behaved, played his role – and locked away his heartbreak deep enough to be able to function… most of the days, anyway.
So, yeah… he was excited – until he had time to think about it after coming back to the Source. And after yet another attack – waking up to battered Thancred had him reconsider, definitely… If his… beast had such a craving for his friends… what would it do to his supposed… mate?
And thinking of that made him terrified beyond reason!
And now, after finally seeing his supposed match? The cute, redheaded G'raha with mismatched, pretty eyes… He had no idea why his eyes were like that. He met people with dual-colored irises before, but Allagan-crimson as one…? With connotations of Krile's story about her best friend – it made sense in a ridiculous way… Why would the people around here be so… superstitious, though…? Old Sharlayan being the place of knowledge, it seemed quite absurd…
T'senri sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes tiredly as he slowly and more awkwardly crawled out of his makeshift nest and stood up, stretching.
He hoped G'raha did come back to the compound and would… believe that he was sorry about his behavior. He was sorry, even if he found it hard to regret that… Not really, as the memory of his taste, so sweet and delicious… Well, he could finally understand what had others so excited about kissing. He wouldn't mind more….
He shook his head, then sighed and ran his hands through his hair, and only in his shorts, walked across the room and picked up his shower supplies, clean towel, and a fresh change of clothes from his bag, then trying not to stumble, marched with determination out of the room and toward the common showers of the compound Krile showed him yesterday. With most of the Students gone, supposedly only their group (and G'raha, hopefully) were present, but to his relief, when he, with some uncertainty, peered inside the white-tilled room, it was empty. He set his things on the shelf at a safe distance from the showers, then pulled off his shorts and naked stepped under one of the shower heads, turning the water on.
T'senri sighed heavily while the water slowly heated up, resting his hands against the wall and leaning on them as he hung his head between them. Keeping his ears hugging his head to avoid the stream getting into them, he considered his options for what to do today – and none seemed appealing. Free to 'rest after their travel,' he could explore the city or… he didn't know. He was bone-deep tired, but being idle… didn't sit well with him, either. If the weather was nice, perhaps he could find a sunny spot somewhere and… His ears twitched at the sound of the door behind him open, but he didn't lift his head or otherwise move. After years of living together, he was more than used to nudity around his male friends – and hardly cared about females', for obvious reasons – so he went back to his musing… until:
"G-Good morning," he heard in a low, hesitant note behind him and fought not to flinch or tense up.
"Morning," he replied smoothly, refusing to open his eyes when the sound of another shower starting had his hands – still on the wall – roll into fists slowly.
His friends were one thing… but his fucking soulmate..? Supposed, anyway… had him want to whine as he fought himself not to look. He had no right, especially not after yesterday… but, gods, he wanted to see…
Then that scent assaulted his nose, and he barely bit back a whimper, realizing that of all available, the male picked the shower next to him… and if he only turned his head and peered through his lashes…
Fuck, his self-control was crap in the best circumstances, but this was just.. torture. Did he do that on purpose…? No way…
"I was… ah, thinking about it and… if you don't mind, I wanted to ask you… something?" somehow, that soothing note in his low voice sent a shiver down T'senri's spine, and his tail flicked with agitation before he could stop it.
"Yeah?" he strived to sound calm, straightening to his full height and reaching for the soap on the nearest shelf without looking toward him. He could behave. He refused to traumatize the Seeker even more than his yesterday's unbidden… enthusiasm had to already. He was a fucking adult and could control his impulses… mostly. That every shallow breath filled his head with an intoxicating mix of spices… Don't think about it, Senri…
"Do not take it wrong…" G'raha started carefully, and then he heard him take a deep breath and continue. "…but do you r-really think that that you… prefer males is unnatural…?" his voice gradually quieted as T'senri's spine went rigid, and his muscles trembled and tensed up. The really, really bad topic right now… "S-Sorry…" he evidently misread his reaction, and his low voice grew sheepish. "I mean no offense, truly… It's just that… It is pretty much commonplace here. I never left, so I don't know how it is in other places… But even I got my share of… offers from the other males and…"
His head snapped toward him as an unreasonably aggressive snarl tore from his throat, and before he knew what happened or could stop it, he had the redhead pinned against the wall with his hand wrapped around his throat, not squeezing but keeping him compliant as he bared his teeth at him in a warning.
"Wha…?" the mismatched eyes, truly huge, blinked at him with shock, and G'raha wrapped his hands around his wrist but stupidly didn't try to push his hand back, as instead blush spilled on his handsome face. His full, plush lips parted in a gasp as he went instinctively pliant and submissive in his grip, panting softly when T'senri leaned in until their breaths mixed.
"Don't… push me," he growled furiously and made a mistake, letting his eyes trail south, down the expanse of a tanned, muscular body, and got stuck on the clear evidence of the Seeker's arousal. Oh, Azeyma… His gaze shot up to his beautifully flushed face when the male whimpered quietly and got stuck on those pretty, inviting mouth instead, as suddenly the air itself was just too thick to breathe…
"T'senri…" the redhead choked on a rumbling purr, blushing even darker as he visibly fought to stifle it, thinning his pretty lips… And that wouldn't do. He needed to hear that… In a numb stupor, he lifted his free hand and pressed his thumb over his lower lip, growling a quiet warning. And G'raha complied with another tiny gasp, peering at him through the thick, dark-red lashes and flushed up to his hairline as another rumbling purr passed his gorgeous lips… And, gods, but he wasn't a fucking saint…!
"Mine," he rasped hoarsely, leaning in until their mouth were but a breath apart, curling that free hand around the redhead's chin and tilting his head slightly, holding him stock still as he held on to the last shred of his leash.
"If you… w-want me…?" the male breathed, and his eyes drifted shut as his hand hesitantly, shakily climbed up T'senri's arm.
Silly mate…
"I never wanted anything more…" he couldn't help but admit, as his hand released his throat and outside of his will smoothed down the heat of his skin, to greedily wrap around his hip and hold him still as he pressed forward, pinning him against the wall with his bigger frame. And feeling his arms hesitantly wrap around his neck, fingers tangling in his wet hair… He moaned softly, trailing a line of small, sharp bites along his jaw and down his throat, using his grip on his hip to hold him still as he instinctively rutted against his stomach to try to relieve increasingly painful pressure, not even aware of his loud, insistent purrs until he choked on them when G'raha's hand tightened into a fist in his hair, pulling his head against his shoulder with a quiet groan. Did he know…? Or did he feel the pull, too…? Didn't matter as T'senri growled and bit him, groaning into his skin loudly when the redhead choked on a whine and arched between him and the wall, then mewled so sweetly…
Tightening his jaw and tasting copper on his tongue, T'senri purred loudly in pleasure, utterly focused on his mate's choked sounds as his hand moved down, following the lines of his muscles between their bodies before it coiled in a possessive claim around the redhead's cock, pumping it slowly and matching his movement when G'raha fed his starved ears with the alluring song of his whimpers, holding desperately onto his hair and shoulder as he rutted into his grip in a shameless enjoyment. And the thought that he was providing his cute, adorable mate with bliss… his lovely sounds against his ears and the way the other male soon gasped and mewled his name helplessly, had his soul so elated and his body so painfully aroused… He couldn't help but whine a petulant complaint into the heated skin, drowning in his scent… and almost passed out when G'raha shakily pressed his hand between them and returned the favor, tearing a surprised, blissed-out whine out of his throat.
He broke his bite, licked the copper taste of his lips, and lifted his head, opening his mouth… to groan as the redhead instantly pulled him down into a deep, hungry kiss, swallowing his growl at the sweet flavor. Tightening his grip around his mate's dick, he was fed a string of profanities and tasty whimpers. He savored them, rolling his hips slowly and losing his mind at the friction around his aching flesh.
When suddenly, his redhead choked on a rumbling groan, his mouth went slack under his, and his flesh throbbed in his palm, spilling his bliss… T'senri cooed with satisfaction, raining affectionate kisses over his face as his mate enjoyed his high, looking so unbearably beautiful, smelling so delicious… His soulmate, so cute and pretty… so sweet… Only his…
So busy admiring his gorgeous man, he purred near-deafeningly, nuzzling his cheek against his mate's, so wonderfully heated as G'raha shakily petted his hair, which felt… almost as good as his hand, tightening again around his wanting flesh, tearing a groan from his throat. He dropped his head against the other male's shoulder, helplessly rutting into his grip as the redhead kept petting his hair and whispering something against his ear, but he couldn't hear it through the deafening thrumming of his heartbeat. Speeding up as the pressure at the base of his spine grew unbearable, he choked out a rumbling mewl-purr of his name, chanting it desperately as the sensations seemed determined to rob him of his mind. He was so lost in his scent and touch…
…the sudden sound of the door behind him opening had him instantly snap his head toward it and utter a deafening, animalistic snarl, instinctively using his body to cover his mate's beauty from the intruder.
"What…? Senri, what the…?" male's voice registered in his head, the sight of silver hair and wide as silver eyes, but nothing more, his insides on fire with the idea of another male seeing his mate like that. He turned toward the intruder with another snarl, warning him off as something whispered, tempted, and chanted his name in a tantalizing note.
Senrrri, Senrrri, Senrrri, tearrr him aparrrt, it sang, drowning his senses in static.
"Fuck…!" the intruder scrambled away when he pounced with a feral grin splitting his face, then hissed aggressively when he missed him by a hair. Turning toward him again, his tail whipping almost playfully, he growled, leaning in for another jump…
"What in the…?" a heated form wrapped around his back, and a sweet, spicy scent filled his head. Muscular arms coiled around his chest from behind, pulling him back. He complied smoothly, instinctively refusing to upset his mate, even as his eyes tracked the intruder's movement when pressed tightly against the wall. Silvery eyes wide as saucers followed him as his mate dragged him back, and he bared his teeth in a warning but didn't dare move, feeling the tight grip around his chest. "What the fuck was that?" a low, stunned voice sounded behind him.
"You can… hold him back?" the intruder gasped, and he growled furiously, grinning gleefully when he looked toward him with obvious wariness. "Easy, buddy… It's me, Senri… Thancred. Come on, shake out of it."
Tearrr him aparrrt, Senrrri, something in him cooed, and he snarled viciously at the intruder, tensing as an instinct to please his mate fought the need to listen…
"Shhh, gorgeous," a hot hand smoothed over his chest and stomach, and he relaxed slightly, involuntarily wrapping his tail around the body that pressed against his back. "It's all right, calm down, everything's all right, T'senri," the low, soothing voice rang in his ears and muted the whispers, slowly pulling him out of the haze.
He blinked slowly, sagging in the embrace of the arms around him, then again as his gaze focused on his friend's face.
"Than…?" he rasped, and when relief bloomed on the Hyur's handsome face, he blinked again… then winced as understanding dawned. "Oh, Azeyma…" he whimpered, curling into himself and hanging his head in shame. "So s-sorry…"
"It's okay, buddy," Thancred chuckled weakly, running his fingers through his ash-white hair, then sighed, peering around him curiously. "Don't know who you are, kid… But thanks for saving me a beating or worse," he said with a sigh, and T'senri flinched. "You good, Senri?"
"Y-Yeah…" he replied and cleared his throat, self-consciously realizing he was naked and leaned in, using the nearness of his things to pick up his towel and wrap it around his waist… or tried, flushing furiously as he realized G'raha was still wrapping his arms around him securely and pressing tightly against his back. "It's… ah, okay, G'raha, you can let go. It's over."
"What is over?" the redhead grumbled but relaxed his grip, allowing him to wrap the towel around his waist. When he pulled back, T'senri turned around, avoiding his mismatched eyes as he fought to find a way to explain… something he didn't even really understand. And almost flinched when the redhead sighed and lifted his hand against his cheek. "Nevermind… Are you really okay now?"
"I… think so?" he replied and cleared his throat again, finally meeting his gaze, growing all too aware of what Thancred walked into… and that he probably freaked his mate out with his… snap. And… that G'raha was still naked, looking so unbearably beautiful… even with a worry written all over his handsome face and wet, red hair around it… T'senri's heart stuttered helplessly, and he bit his lip, looking away from the red-cyan eyes as his face heated up unbearably, glad that he was now not facing his friend…
"I'll… ah, see you later," Thancred said behind him and left, closing the door with an almost too loud sound in the silence he left in the room.
"I guess… That's a long story, then?" G'raha hummed curiously, and his hand moved from his cheek to rest over his neck.
"Mhmm," he didn't resist when the redhead pulled his head down, closing his eyes as his forehead rested against his shoulder. "You're not… scared?"
"Not really," G'raha whispered, carefully running his fingers through his wet hair. "But I do love stories… especially the long ones," he said quietly.
And despite it all… T'senri smiled.
His soulmate was perfect… simple as that.
His arms twitched – to rise, wrap around him and pull him closer, bask in his heat and scent as they were meant to, always, as he was his, his, his… - and he froze with a grimace when whispers rose, climbing into a growl.
G'raha could hold him back when he snapped…
Tearrr him aparrrt, Senrrri, Esteem hissed aggressively, clawing at his soul. He'll brrreak us. Tearrr him aparrrt.
…but if it went after him, who would hold him back, then…?
He sighed sadly and pulled back, straightening. His eyes trailed over the redhead's features as he settled on lifting his hands and carefully cradled his mate's jaw between his palms. Ignoring G'raha's confused frown, he leaned his head in and rested his forehead against his, closing his eyes and taking a deep whiff of his wonderful, spicy scent.
"I want you so bad…" he whimpered helplessly, smoothing his thumbs over his cheeks. Too soft, too delicate… "…so bad I ache, G'raha. But you… deserve better than a b-beast. So…" his voice cracked, and he took a deep, steadying breath, shoving the whispers back, for a moment at least. "So… stay away from me,"
"I… don't understand," the male murmured, pressing his hand over T'senri's. "You're…"
He pulled and stepped back, shaking his head and dropping his arms to his sides. His ears laid flat against his head in misery. He gathered his things without looking toward the redhead and headed toward the room's exit.
"T'senri…?" he heard but refused to look toward it, painfully clenching his hand around the door handle.
"That will be better… for both of us," he gasped and left the room, closing the door behind him silently.
As bad as he felt after it went after one of his friends… the thought that he could hurt him – his mate – had his blood run cold, and his insides clench painfully.
And the aggression it displayed toward G'raha – when he had barely a… taste of his beauty… was more than telling.
For whatever reason – he struggled to make sense of – the more he cared about someone, the more Esteem craved their blood. This time he was semi-aware during the snap – rare as it was – but if it took over…?
He shook his head, heading back to his bedroom. G'raha was safer, as far away from him as possible. Perhaps if they had met earlier… but now he was too broken, too violent for someone so… gentle, no matter what his stalker said about it.
Utterly baffled, G'raha stared at the closed door with a frown, then sighed and headed toward the pile of his clothes. He dried himself off, trying not to think about everything that happened, then pulled on his pants and sat down to put on his shoes… gasping with surprise at the sight of an extremely tall stranger standing in the middle of the room and watching him silently with the brightest, most unusual eyes he saw in his life.
"Who are you?" he uttered, gawking at those golden eyes. Otherwise, the man looked like a Huyr, if the tallest he ever saw…
"…halfway done," the man murmured, rubbing his chin with consideration, and his eyes focused on G'raha's bare shoulder… He flushed up to his hairline, squeaked, and his hand shot up, curling over the spot T'senri bit him at earlier. He could feel the contours of the bite mark under his palm and fought not to flinch when the man scowled darkly, and his uncanny eyes met his, utterly baffled. "Now, don't be ridiculous… G'raha. As… amusing as it all is, we're running out of time, and that… pesky thing will make it difficult. So… I have a proposition for you that you may find interesting."
"Who are you?" he repeated hesitantly.
"Someone… who is very interested in you getting the Warrior," the man raised his eyebrows pointedly, folding his arms over his chest. "Because you do want him…?" a slight smirk tilted his lips when he felt his face flush hotter. As confusing as it all was… He dropped his gaze but nodded barely noticeably. Who wouldn't want him…? And after getting a taste… He swallowed thickly and flinched when the stranger chuckled. "Good. Then bite him before that mark is gone, and he'll be yours," his gaze shot up, and his jaw dropped at the suggestion. His hand tightened over the thing in question as he gawked at the strange man again. Because what that suggested… was not possible. They were both male and… "It will work," the man said with confidence and as if reading his mind, raising his white eyebrows slightly. "And if you do… let's say you'll get power and skill beyond compare. What does it hurt to try… hmm?" the man smirked, nodded, and disappeared in a… black cloud. G'raha stared at the spot he left with a slack jaw, trying to make sense of it – and wondering if he was going insane.
Finally, he sighed, ran his fingers through his still-damp hair, finished putting his boots on, and stood up, dressing his shirt and making sure it covered the mark.
All of this… was too confusing, and he needed time to think. Even if that stranger was real and what he said was true… His face burned as he dropped his gaze, gathered his things, and headed back to his bedroom. He relaxed and exhaled slowly behind the closed door, setting his supplies on the table before walking over to his bed and dropping to sit heavily on the edge of it. Staring at the floor between his feet, he couldn't help how his hand hesitantly drifted toward the mark again, following the contour of it with his fingertips as he closed his eyes and shuddered involuntarily.
Any kind of 'power and skill' didn't sound even half as tempting as the idea of… mating to T'senri. Like this, he could all too easily remember his taste: sweet, maddening flavor and all too arousing aggression of his mouth. The scorching heat of his touch… But most of all, more than a hint of longing and vulnerability in his deep voice when he told him to stay away… tugged at his heartstrings something beyond fierce.
There was something more at play here that he didn't understand. And the way the Warrior went after that ashen-haired Hyur was… beyond unsettling. Considering that beyond the first surprise, the man didn't seem that… shocked about it – or about… what he walked into, as he imagined the situation was hard to misread – as if it wasn't the first time…
Perhaps he needed more information before even considering approaching the Warrior again. And that Hyur – Thancred, he said? – maybe would be just grateful enough to indulge his curiosity…
Hades ran his fingers through his hair with frustration, muttering profanities as he landed squarely in the middle of the roof of the tallest building in the city of the mortals. Under the cloak of invisibility, he looked around the pawed paths below, in his free hand rolling a small, purple crystal between his fingers.
"Time's running out, Hyth," he murmured, fighting uneasiness as his fingers tightened around it into a fist. All his power… but without the correct spell, he couldn't unlock it, no matter how he missed him… Spell only his father knew – but he was frustratingly still asleep inside his mortal host.
He tightened his jaw and scowled, dropping his arms to his sides. And – numbly – he wondered where exactly it all went wrong….
He was not supposed to remember – by Ares's compulsion – but taught by the experience of the previous timeline, his brother left a loophole in it, just in case. Which – surprise, surprise – proved more than the right thing to do, as apparently, there were consequences to meddling with time. Baffling as it was, their – Ares's and Damon's – counterparts from the future back in Elpis insisted that there were… unpredictable side effects to the spell making them reborn into their mortal reincarnations.
The latest one was apparently the fact that their hosts were born thousands of years ahead of schedule – but they carefully added that timelines before it had a different… quirk compared to how it was supposed to go – which, cautious as he ever was, led Damon to include him in their plans, then have his brother compel him to forget – unless certain point in time would pass without their awakening.
And he was more than glad for that – barely securing Hythlodaeus's crystal before it would perish alongside the dragon's eyes, Lahabrea got himself caged inside. Good riddance, as far as he was concerned… finally remembering why he hated the Speaker.
But that also led to him being stuck… stalking his brother's mortal host – and as annoyingly stubborn as T'senri was – trying to push him toward the desired outcome.
Now, a mere step away… he was growing impatient. He knew he shouldn't approach G'raha – risking spooking the boy and having him… resentful toward what he needed of the mortals – but his inborn ability warned with every look toward the Warrior that that thing inside him was growing increasingly… concerning.
Esteem, a broken and twisted part of T'senri's soul, was a pesky issue he needed to be gone… but couldn't remove without risking unpredictably affecting Ares's dormant soul, possibly making it even worse and more dangerous.
And as the most crucial part of this… timeline approached – as stated, time for them to wake up was running out. And if he was inclined to admit that, he was growing quite… desperate.
If G'raha doesn't take the bait… and T'senri again decides to be stubborn… Before it was too late, he needed something to shove them in the right direction.
Their hosts, willing or not, he – and this world – needed Ares and Damon awake, and he needed that to happen now… And like mortals said: desperate times called for desperate measures. Giving T'senri the deadline was a mistake; he could see it now. That only allowed his brother's host too much time to think and grow stubborn. It allowed Esteem too much time to twist and grow even stronger, perhaps sensing that if Ares wakes up, he'll make short work of it. Or at least that's what suggested how it seemed to grow… agitated there for a moment. He could see it sinking its claws into T'senri's soul when he seemed to be about to give in… And that didn't bode well for his plans.
Knowing him enough by now to see that he did more than inherit Ares's protective nature, he knew that he wouldn't let that thing go at his… 'mate' – especially not at him – but they didn't have time for pleasantries anymore. Arrival in this city marked the page in this play where he had to step in – or risk losing everything… And as adamant as was his brother about the free will – and laid it upon his head thickly – he more than leaned toward his father's idea about it: it was fine and well until someone's 'free will' threatened something he held dear – like in this situation. Ares can be angry at him later… so long he was awake to do so.
But what to do…?
If he knew his brother's host, after all that, he'd grow determined to keep well away from his match – thinking to keep him safe. During their… encounter, he apparently couldn't help but follow the inborn instinct… and that was promising, but if G'raha balks and has the mark healed, they'll be back to square one…
…which meant the best course of action would be to have them together, alone, and unable to get away until they… complied with his needs. And that should be easy enough to achieve. Not to mention, he had just a perfect place in mind…
And perhaps a tad mean smirk tilted his lips when he set the fingers of his free hand into a snap when the other tightened slightly around the purple crystal – but well, no one was there to see it.
One moment he laid down in his nest – in thought going over the reasons why he had to stay away from G'raha and steeling his resolve to do so – and the next, he felt a… jolt?... and when suddenly something landed squarely on top of him with a quiet 'oomph!' he gasped. His eyes shot wide open, darting toward it… and his haw dropped when a familiar pair of mismatched eyes blinked at him owlishly from under a messy mane of red hair as the male seemed as shocked as he felt.
"What… happened?" G'raha flushed darkly and scrambled away, looking around them. His eyes grew even bigger, getting stuck on something across the massive, unfamiliar room of smooth, black walls – without a door or windows anywhere in sight.
T'senri sat up slowly and followed his gaze, involuntarily growling at the unmoved by it in the slightest Hades standing by the far wall and regarding them with an unreadable expression in his too-bright eyes.
"I've changed my mind," the immortal haughtily said at him, then, with a wave of his hand, motioned around them, toward the empty room but for T'senri's makeshift nest under them. "You know what I want, Senri… and unless you comply, you're not getting out of here, simple as that. Ah, and don't even try using magic to leave," he added, almost like an afterthought, now openly smirking when T'senri felt all blood drain from his face and his ears fell flat against his head. "This is my domain, mortals, and unless you give what I require… Well, you can imagine, I believe," With a mean sort of amusement in his sharp features, he waved his hand and disappeared.
"What's… going on?" the redhead muttered, hesitantly nudging his shoulder. "Who was that? What does he want? And where are we…?"
"Fucking Ascian…" he growled furiously, then buried his face in his palms with a groan.