"Hey, it's the Jinx!" someone called behind him with a laugh, and G'raha grimaced involuntarily before swiftly smoothing his expression into a neutral mask. Being sort of 'attraction' of the city filled with mostly adolescent students too often meant that every time he left the safety of the compound, there was someone bound to try to make themselves feel better by picking on him – he was more than used to that by now.
When he was a kit – with no one around of a similar age – he didn't understand why the older than his students would point to him and laugh, and that swiftly made him believe that there had to be something very wrong with him. Older, he came to understand it better, but it didn't help with his self-esteem issues – and after he passed puberty… Well, swiftly afterward, his reputation around the city took a nosedive, and other than occasional bullying, refusing the… less-than-savory offers and advances became a norm.
Since the woman he originally refused took such… pleasure in giving him the reputation that… he didn't like to think about – and her claims were supported by another with whom he thought he was in a relationship with – some of the men and women around the city thought it made him open to the most… disgusting ideas. As shocked by it as he was originally, especially with what they wanted or who would present things like that… Well, it taught him an important lesson about not judging a book by its cover.
Some he even tried to report – if not for himself, then for the fact that those people were in a position with students that made the thought of them having such ideas… disturbing. But who would listen to the miserable Jinx tossing accusations at some of the most respected professors of the Studium…?
There were rumors and gossip about the city that made his skin crawl something fierce even outside of that – so he swiftly learned to keep his head down, and only in the privacy of his bedroom he worked on a list – not even sure why or who would care – but the thought of those people doing whatever they wanted unchecked… was beyond disgusting.
And, honestly… what better use he had for free time…? He spent most of it helping around the compound, but with the Students being as they were since the Isle of Val disappeared, that didn't take that much time. Most of the interesting books in Noumenon that he had access to, he already read at least a few times, and other than that… Well, it left him more time to sift through the rumors and compare them to those who thought to approach him at some point.
But now, with the Warrior's arrival…
He dropped his gaze to the stall in front of him instantly, furiously fighting off the blush that wanted to spill on his face, and took a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm his stuttering heart. He was beyond confused since he woke up in his bed back in the Annex, naked and more than a bit sore… and perhaps, if not for multiple bite marks covering his body in some places, he would have been tempted to believe it was all some convoluted fantasy… But like this, he did wash and dressed quickly, then silently snuck out of the compound – heading toward the market set near the center of the city with determination.
Not to mention he could feel Senri… And, gods, but what a feeling that was….
He swallowed thickly, trying not to focus on it – because that too swiftly led his seemingly completely insatiable body to crave his lover's attention… and he did have a goal he didn't wish to get distracted from.
Over the years, he read many articles and books about their kind's mating habits – and as much as he scarcely dared to imagine himself in such a… situation – now, to be mated to a man he spent years admiring… But more than that, to be granted by fate a mate this sweet and affectionate… He had to express his gratitude somehow… And perhaps he did a bit want to get something that would not only please his match but also kind of… mark him. And by that, somewhat carefully gauge his lover's readiness to make their relationship known or not…
He was pretty sure that Senri would prefer to hide it – after all, that first day, he admitted to being so ashamed of his preferences… And because of that, despite his experiences, he couldn't bring himself to mind that – not really. But if he finds something subtle enough, perhaps his lover won't mind…
"Here you are," the deep, rumbling voice behind him was only warning before a pair of muscular arms coiled around his shoulders and the incredible heat of a taller body pressed against his back, making him nearly (embarrassingly) squeak with surprise. As his hands shot up to wrap around the forearms encircling his chest, he turned his head and downright gawked at his much taller lover, who instantly used that to steal his breath with a sweet kiss. Melting instantly with a quiet mewl of arousal at his taste, he barely noticed the silence ruling about the other stalls and nearby plaza – completely dazzled by the time Senri lifted his head but not before brushing the tip of his nose against his with a lovely, deep purr of appreciation. "What are you looking for…?" he chuckled at his dazed expression, which shook him up as his face heated up unbearably, instantly all too aware of the shock written all over the faces of the people surrounding them.
"A… gift," he blurted out before he could stop himself, blushed even darker, and struggled to regain the control of his tail that seemed to grow a will of its own, embarrassingly coiling about Senri's thigh.
"A gift…?" his lover murmured, then frowned at the stall with jewelry they stood in front of, and tossed him a slightly narrowed look… and pouted. "…for who?"
That look on his beautiful face – with a visible hint of jealousy in the ice-blue irises – dealt inhumane damage to G'raha's heart, and not gushing at the sheer cuteness was a feat of self-control.
"Y-you," he stammered in a whisper, lowering his gaze and swallowing thickly as his poor heart went completely insane.
"Oh…?" only in his peripheral vision, he saw the flash of his grin but didn't dare to look straight at him – as like that Senri looked … blinding. Like the sun, he thought numbly, and surrounded by his heat… the comparison seemed most fitting. And while each breath filled his head with his sweet, apple-like scent – now with a tang of his own – his face was on fire with the way all too quickly it spiked his need for him… "Raha…?"
"Mmm?" he hummed, still not daring to look as his hands tightened around his mate's forearms involuntarily. He gave up fighting his tail, focusing on the other unruly part of his anatomy while feeling the heat of Senri's muscular body against his back made some very interesting – naughty – images spark to life under his eyelids. Only that let him realize that he closed his eyes, leaning back against his lover's body, and made his flush hotter, with effort keeping himself from purring… mostly.
"My Raha…" his name purred that way against his ear and, followed by a delicate nip on the sensitive shell, sent an almost violent shudder down his spine and when Senri lifted one hand and slowly wrapped it around his throat, smoothing his thumb over his Archon's mark… low, almost pained mewl of submission slipped his lips and the way his mate answered with a deep growl by his ear... Gods, he couldn't breathe! "…you're a tease, aren't you? Why you would leave your room is beyond me… but we're going to rectify that, yes?"
"Huh?" he blinked slowly, completely dazed by the surrounding him scent of his lover's arousal and the instinctive, painful need to submit to him, please him, as that hand tightened slowly over his skin.
"The frenzy, my silly mate," his lover purred against his ear, setting his nerve endings on fire, and he couldn't help but whimper, closing his eyes as his face blazed like an inferno. "So as much as I appreciate the thought… perhaps in a few days," he chuckled in a raspy note, then before G'raha knew what happened, Senri unceremoniously picked him up and shamelessly tossed his over his shoulder, snickering when he squeaked with surprise. "That's what you get for being a tease," his Warrior chuckled, embarrassingly swatting his ass before heading back toward the Annex.
"Put… put me down!" he gasped, too mortified to even look up – and at the same time… shamefully pleased by this at some level. His face completely on fire, he fisted his hands in the back of his lover's shirt, curling into himself with the mix of embarrassment and arousal at such an obvious show of ownership.
"Nuhuu," Senri drawled funnily, waving his tail enthusiastically as he petted his thigh. "Told you last night, Raha, now you're mine, and you did agree, so… get used to that and understand that I'm being very considerate of your feelings, my cute mate. Then he almost squeaked when that hand snuck between his thighs and smoothed up… "My self-control is really, really crap, Raha, so be careful… not to test it unless you wish to give these people a show," he purred teasingly, nuzzling his cheek against his hip. G'raha gasped when that hand pressed against his cock over the material of his pants, more than glad for the door of the Annex closing behind them right before that and the fact that it looked empty. Because of the moan that tore from his mouth… that he preferred others not to hear. "Azeyma, but your voice…." Suddenly he was on the ground again. Still, before he had a chance even to be glad for that – or pretend to be – he was backed into the nearest wall by the taller Seeker and found himself caged between it and the heat of his body as Senri curled his hand around his throat again. And when he instinctively went pliant in his grip with a painfully aroused whimper, his lover purred praise, shamelessly lowering his hand between them and curling it over his crotch with a fiery possessiveness in his pale irises as his eyes trailed over his face. "Could listen to you forever," he rasped, placing a small bite on his lower lip.
"Sen… Senri…" he whimpered quietly, fisting his shaky hands in his black shirt and holding on for dear life as his senses reeled in overstimulation.
"Just like that… sing my name, Raha…" his lover cooed and gently squeezed his hand around his painful erection, electing a string of choked sounds he asked for. "You're so cute… so sweet, my mate," the Warrior sounded near in pain as he slowly pulled his hands back, resting them on the wall around him and panting harshly as he dropped his head against his shoulder. "Run."
"Huh?" he gasped, greedily smoothing his hands over his sides and purring near-deafeningly.
"Your room or mine… I don't care, but run," his lover gritted out through his teeth, freeing him as he pushed off the wall, and G'raha swallowed thickly at the sight of his expression – near the feral intensity of his pale irises setting his heart to pound furiously. "…or I'm going to fuck you right here," he added with a grin that looked more like a snarl.
G'raha blinked, swallowed thickly… then ran!
And, perhaps despite how embarrassing that was for his age… a massive part of his heart was utterly blown away by the time he burst into his bedroom, and he couldn't help the loud, careless laugh when his lover pounced at him, taking him off his feet and pinning him to the floor.
"Naughty, naughty Raha," Senri purred near-deafeningly, nuzzling insistently against his neck while his hand tore impatiently on his pants.
"Sen…!" he gasped through his snickers, but it trailed off to a moan when sharp teeth sank into his skin, drowning his senses in need to submit to his mate's pleasure. After the whole night of fucking, he merely mewled softly when his lover growled into his skin and took him without much preparation needed. Then froze, keeping him utterly pinned down as he pulled back from his bite and as distracted as he was by the feeling of his scorching flesh spearing his insides and by the incredible heat and the cloud of his scent surrounding him… he almost missed the way his lover's nails seemed to be a tad too long and sharp when he again wrapped his hand around his throat.
"Rrraha…" the raspy note in his deep voice had him whine his painful arousal, coiling his tail around his lover's waist and trying to press back against him. Still, Senri kept him carefully immobile while he buried his face against his neck, running his free hand in small circles over his hip. "…you'rrre mine now, mate. Mine and mine alone… and the next perrrson to call you a 'Jinx' will die… slowly, painfully… Next person to hurrrt yourrr feelings… I'll tearrr theirrr hearrrts out and give them to you as a gift…."
"Would you, my beast?" he chuckled with some uncertainty – unsure of the tone in that raspy, growly voice – as he pushed his hand behind his head and sank his fingers into the soft, inky strands. "Then you would end up killing half the city… at least," he tried to make the light of it… even as his throat tightened painfully.
"So be it," his lover rasped with the strange air of finality to it, then bit him – and if his fangs felt a bit too long and sharp… he didn't register it, busy losing his mind when Senri set to fuck him with barely contained violence.
When his adorable soulmate fell asleep on top of him, snore-purring quietly, T'senri grinned at his cuteness, lazily running his fingers through the soft, red strands of his loose, longish hair and deciding that from now on, this particular shade of red was definitely his new favorite color. And that despite the hard and cold floor under his back not being that pleasant, he more than enjoyed serving as his lover's pillow.
Before going after his wayward mate, he somewhat sheepishly informed his friends that for the next few days, he would be unavailable – and of the reason behind it – and as much as he could see that they were dying of curiosity… asked them to stay clear from his match – not wishing to overwhelm his lover too quickly and scare him off. What he knew from Krile of her best friend – he intended to make the upcoming change in his and his lover's life as easy as possible: giving him the time and space to get used to the idea of being mated to the Warrior of Light before allowing his friends to swarm him.
Apparently, that was the same reason Ares asked him to keep his husband's presence a secret from Raha for the time being – reasoning that he had enough shocks for the moment. Surprised as he was at the news himself – and why Hades 'forgot' to mention Damon – he didn't need much convincing to comply. For him, it only proved how perfect his match was – but he could too easily imagine that it could make his mate… freak out.
And as much as he already craved his heart… he was too scared to risk it. He wanted to have some time to woo his lover before dropping that on his head…
Feeling the body atop of him shift delicately as the cute snore-purrs trailed off, he peered down through his lashes and wasn't even that surprised when Raha met his gaze, his cyan eye was too-bright, and its pupil was too round for their kind. Crossing his arms over his chest, the immortal in his lover's skin narrowed his eyes at him with consideration, resting his chin on top of his forearms.
"You're aware that you can command Ares's magic, yes?" something almost like an amusement flared in his mismatched irises.
"I am," he sent him a brief, fanged grin before letting them retract. Then he dropped his head against the floor and closed his eyes. "Didn't plan on it… but when I heard those people belittle him… all I could think was tearing into them like a beast… and puff!"
"Interesting," Damon chuckled fondly, then sighed, and his tone grew somber. "You do realize that he was underselling the sheer number of the people here that take amusement at his expanse…?"
"Point me at them… and they're dead meat," he replied without hesitation or opening his eyes. "I killed for less."
"Oh…? Actually, I can point you toward something much more… interesting," at the distinctively cold note in a low voice, he lifted his head and looked at the immortal with slightly raised eyebrows. "He made a list, you see, Senri… Of the people rumored to use their influence in quite unsavory ways – and I believe you do understand what I mean," he smirked slightly when T'senri's expression tightened into a scowl. Yeah, with his own experiences and seeing more than enough over the years… he could easily imagine. And wasn't that yet another proof of his mate's perfection…? "And on top of that – people who had the temerity to approach him with the offers that seem quite… unnerving."
"Did he now…?" he grinned, involuntarily showing off his fangs again.
"Quite," Damon's answering grin was downright vicious. And he instantly decided that he more than liked him – even if Ares's warning that his husband was waaay more dangerous than him or Hades – and prone to be quite temperamental… made much more sense while witnessing the blaze in the mismatched eyes. "If you do not wish to include him in your side activities too quickly, I don't mind making you a copy of it… but you might want to be careful about it – considering we have quite a few things to achieve, and your name doesn't hold as much power here."
"Not a prrroblem," he chuckled, dropping his head back again. He cleared his throat and focused on pushing back the newest additions to his physiology – then ran his tongue over his teeth and smiled somewhat ruefully at the immortal, peering at him through his lashes. "Over the years, I became quite… proficient in hunting this sort of predator, Damon."
"About that, I have no doubt," the immortal said with consideration as his mismatched eyes trailed over T'senri's face. "Just be careful not to… spook Raha while going after them, my boy. He's so used to the abuse… he might take some time getting used to your brand of protection."
"I know…" he sighed sadly, raising his hand to brush his fingers against the redhead's cheek. "He's so sweet… I'll do all in my power not to hurt him, but…"
"He's stronger than you – or him – realize, Senri," Damon chuckled, wrapping his hand around his and pressing his cheek into it. He closed his eyes, and a small, wistful smile tilted his plush lips. "He needs enough time and care to… adjust, my boy. He's been alone for so long… it's going to be hard for him to get used to the idea of someone loving him."
Sounded like spoken from experience… but T'senri decided not to go there, smiling with reassurance when the red-cyan eyes opened again.
"Well… He's no longer alone," he chuckled, brushing his thumb over the soft skin. "And I'm more than determined to win his heart. Then, with time I hope, I can convince him that he's safe with me."
"Silly boy," the immortal chuckled, then lowered his head against his chest and splayed on top of him again, closing his eyes without explaining. T'senri frowned but gladly returned to running his fingers through the red strands, admiring their reflexes under the light. And he grinned involuntarily when his lover yawned widely and shifted again, looking up with slightly sheepish, sleepy eyes.
"I passed out…?" he whispered and colored darkly when T'senri's grin only widened. He wrapped his hands around his jaw, trying to understand how he could ever deserve someone so absolutely beautiful – especially feeling the pureness and strength of his soul.
"A bit," he replied with humor, smoothing his thumb over his lower lip. "Gods… I adore you, you know?" he downright gushed, grinning gleefully when his lover blushed even darker and looked away from his eyes, so heartbreakingly uncertain… He chuckled sheepishly to draw back his gaze, then sat up slowly, forcing him up as well and wrapping his arms around him possessively, he buried his nose against his throat, nuzzling into the heated skin affectionately and hiding another grin when, with some uncertainty still, but his mate wrapped around him, resting his chin on his shoulder. And as his heart sang with absolute adoration for his cute mate, he fought to contain it – not wishing to scare him off, going too fast and too hard – and placed a delicate, tender kiss in the middle of the tattoo on his throat before leaning away to set his hands around his handsome face again. "Let's shower, eat something and then talk a bit…?" he asked quietly, brushing the top of his nose against his and melting internally when his mate shyly returned the affectionate gesture, his cheeks so hot under his palms but more than a hint of pleasure in his mismatched irises.
"If you…ah, want to…?" Raha stammered nervously, and he grinned with what he hoped was reassuring enough even as seeing him like this, so unbearably cute, all too quickly had him aroused. And by his mate's blush going darker at the swift look between them, he knew Raha could more than feel it – but determined he wanted so much more than his body, T'senri chuckled sheepishly, smoothing his hands down his lover's shoulders and his waist, nudging him delicately to raise off him.
When he stood up, he followed swiftly, flicking him on the nose playfully before he reached for his disheveled clothes.
"Very sure," he said with another grin, trying to keep his gaze on his lover's face while he also started dressing. Both done, he eagerly pulled his mate into a tight embrace, happily nuzzling against his ears when he sighed softly and wrapped his arms around him. More than enjoying how his spicy scent now carried a hint of his own in it, he pressed a kiss on top of his head before leaning back and nodding toward the door. "But if you don't mind, Raha, it would be much more comfortable if I move my things in here…?" And almost snorted a laugh at the redhead's owlish look at that.
Too cute…!
"You…? Ah, s-sure… if you like to," his mate stammered, looking at his collarbone. "But won't that make your friends realize…?"
"That you're mine, now?" he asked softly, and his heart broke when his mate nodded and then looked up with that uncertainty again. "They already know," he said slowly but with confidence as he raised his hand and sank it into the red hair, delicately rubbing his lover's sensitive ear and smiling at the way it elected a round of slightly staggering purrs as his mate closed his eyes but tilted his head into the caress. "But I didn't want to overwhelm you, my cute mate, so I asked them to give us some time to… get to know each other better before they pounce," he purred with amusement, chuckling when Raha's eyes shot wide open, and his jaw dropped at little in surprise.
"…p-pounce…?" he paled, and T'senri was more than glad that he requested the restraint of his friends.
"Don't worry," he said with humor, flicking his nose playfully again and barely stopping himself from gushing when Raha pouted at that. Really, too adorable! "If I know them – and they're like me – they'll love you instantly," and he could only hope that his lovesick grin wasn't too obvious. Then, pretending he didn't notice his mate's eyes widening impossibly and his flush worsening, he freed him and motioned toward the door. "Now… shower, my mate. After you," he winked when his lover blinked slowly, opened his mouth, hesitated, then closed them with a snap and dropped his gaze. His tail flicked slightly, then without looking up and coloring even darker, he stretched out his hand with uncertainty… and gasped softly when T'senri eagerly caught it, lacing their fingers tightly.
And the shy smile he was rewarded with for that… Azeyma, he was melting…!
Step by step, he reminded himself fiercely when his cute mate pulled him toward the door. Mating frenzy might he afforded him his lover's beautiful body, but he had a much bigger prize on his mind: Raha's love. With the determination he was famed for, he intended to win it.
And then, hopefully, his Raha will understand and wouldn't mind joining his side activities – his games – as the idea of the hunt with his mate set his soul ablaze!