Soon past dawn, G'raha flinched when a loud, determined knock sounded at the door of his bedroom, and Damon gave him the control of their body back so quickly he almost grew dizzy.
Stall, the immortal hissed, at the same time as another, violet-haired sighed and disappeared. The fewer mortals know about this… slip, the better.
Okay, he replied miserably, then cleared his throat and smoothed down his hair and clothes, praying in thought that it was someone saying they found Senri… somehow. But if Hades was so far coming up with nothing…?
"Moment," he called out, heading toward the door and, on the way tossing a quick look in the mirror. He grimaced, seeing he looked as miserable as he felt at least, and tried to put on his face a polite smile, but while everything inside him clenched in knots in worry… and guilt, it felt impossible. He opened the door and blinked uncertainly at the unfamiliar woman – a Seeker of the Sun with short, white hair and silvery eyes. "May I… help you?"
"How long is he gone?" she snapped impatiently, and he stared, unsure how to react.
"…pardon?" he said, trying to stall as asked.
"Senri," she narrowed her eyes at him, resting her hands on her hips.
"What she means…" came a voice behind her, and when he peered around the Seeker, he saw the familiar, young Elzen. Alisaie, hands in her pockets and an unreadable expression on her youthful features, leaned against the corridor's wall, staring at her feet. She sighed and looked up, catching his stare, then pushed off the wall and joined the taller Seeker. "…we need to know what happened, G'raha."
"I really d-don't…" he looked between them, swallowing audibly and feeling the blood drain from his face and his ears fall flat against his head.
The white-haired Seeker trailed her eyes over his face, then sighed, and her expression softened slightly as her frame relaxed and she dropped her arms to her sides.
"Let's start over," she said softly, then both women exchanged glances and focused on him again. "We didn't yet have a chance to meet, G'raha, so let me introduce myself. I'm Y'shtola Rhul, and I'm one of Senri's oldest friends," she added, raising her hand against her chest, then she folded it with the other over her chest. "Alisaie, you already met," she nodded toward the shorter Elzen, then her expression grew guarded. "And all things considered – and the news since morning spreading over the city – we guess that Senri… snapped, didn't he?"
"Wha… What news?" he asked, suddenly feeling almost weak.
"The girl he almost attacked yesterday… disappeared," said Alisaie slowly, her face as guarded as her friend's. "Which perhaps wouldn't be that obvious… if not for the fact that apparently, at dawn, two members of the Forum were found dead in their homes – names Maran and Katla tell you anything?" she added, raising her white eyebrows, and folding her hands behind her back when he flinched. His eyes darted between them, impossibly wide. "Listen, after yesterday, we… all of us, made it our business to find out what made Senri snap that… quickly at the Last Stand. We make it a point to look after him… and by now, you must be aware of his issues with Esteem, yes?"
He swallowed again and dropped his gaze, curling into himself.
"Good, that will save us time explaining," said Y'shtola, and when he dared to look up, her face didn't hold the accusation he half expected. Seeing his gaze, to his surprise, she smiled, if somewhat dryly. "Anyway, we did also… hear the rumors about you and made it a point to track down their source… Hence those women's sudden… suicide tipped us off."
"Su… Suicide?" he couldn't help the disbelieve in his voice even if he tried.
"That's the news," Alisaie shrugged slightly when he looked toward her. "Apparently, each was found with a very long list of the boys and girls they abused over the years and an even more detailed description of how they ruined your reputation after you shot Maran down. Written in their blood, literally," she bounced on her heels, looking toward Y'shtola, then back at him. "And considering their shape when found… well, seems they had to feel very guilty to choose to die by bleeding out after peeling their skin off to work as the parchment for that lists…."
And she sounded so calm about it… he could only stare while Damon hummed, almost as in awe in the back of his head.
At least explains what he did at Rostra, he added, and G'raha flinched slightly. Then he cleared his throat and sighed, leaning heavily against the door he was still holding open.
"I didn't know what to do," he whispered – this true at least – staring at the ground between them as his sight grew blurry. "Yesterday he… it took him and I was hoping he… c-comes back… but…"
"It… meaning Esteem?" Y'shtola asked carefully, and he nodded without looking up.
"Took him… so it was completely in control, then?" Alisaie added, and he nodded again, tightening his hand around the door handle painfully. "Shit… That's not good," she sighed, then turned around and marched down the corridor. "I'll tell the others… and we will start to look."
"I'm so… sorry," he whispered numbly, not daring to look up.
"G'raha…" he flinched when the other Seeker, out of nowhere, set her hand on his shoulder. Her expression was now much softer when his gaze darted up to her face. "I do not know how much he already told you about that… but it's not the first time this has happened. Believe me, we had years of dealing with… it, and we still slip up and have no idea what can make him snap. This sort of thing… I don't believe would be fixed overnight, so I can only say.. don't let it discourage you, okay? Senri's more than worth it, I swear."
"I… know," he replied numbly, wondering why he was so nice to him when it was his fault…
"Good," she nodded, then smiled wryly, dropping her hand to her side. "Now, don't look so worried – we will find him before you know," she inclined her head, then headed after Alisaie, and he could only stare after her with his heart in his throat.
Close the door, Damon demanded, and he complied automatically, then leaned his forehead against them and closed his eyes. That, actually, can be beneficial… I wasn't aware that this sort of thing had happened before.
He also didn't know that – even having access to Senri's memories that he had a look at before… He whimpered in the back of his throat and fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around himself tightly. He missed the connection so painfully… it was hard to stand, not to mention guilt was eating at his insides every time he remembered the hurt in his… beast's eyes. If he wasn't so stupid and thoughtless…
Gods, where was he…? He wanted him back so hard that his whole body just… ached. And his heart…
We WILL find them, Raha, and then I'll have a field day making Esteem pay for this, Damon hissed with outrage, but he only curled into himself tighter, squeezing his eyes shut and praying desperately that his lover was at least safe. And if they manage to find him, that Senri can forgive him.
"What is this…?" T'sersa gasped, gawking at the two kits – that could be twins if not for an extreme difference in their coloring – after T'rhasa somewhat confidentially let her inside her tent.
"He showed up last night," the blonde whispered, holding onto her oldest friend's arm as if to support the taller brunette. "Looking like this… I called in Ralla after I woke up to keep him company while I went for you, Sersa, but you see my point now, right?"
Shocked as the both of them were to meet and learn they were siblings, T'rhasa wasn't very surprised when Senri and Ralla hit it off instantly, now giggling while admiring the collection of colorful crystals in her tent – part of it 'gifts' she kept as a memento from her boy and part Ralla's findings. Despite looking like her miniature version with blonde locks and dark, navy-blue eyes, she always thought her youngest daughter reminded her of her boy the most in character and sensitivity.
But as much as her heart grew to see them together…
"I have to leave, Sersa," she added with power toward her friend, waving subtly toward the kits. "Whatever happened to turn him like this… He was somewhere for the last eleven years. He doesn't seem to remember anything, but what if he has a family looking for him?"
She didn't dare mention that; apparently, he wasn't alone in his skin, either. And the other boy, Ares, with whom she briefly talked before calling Ralla, was even more confused about what happened than Senri but insistent that he had to get home to his parents – Cassiopeia and Nyx. She had never heard of a city called 'Amarout' that he was sure his home was near, but it's not like she knew that much of the outside world in the first place. Which made her idea quite scary, but she couldn't stay here… they couldn't stay here. She had already made that mistake once with her boy – and she remembered the results too well. And she was already thinking of taking Ralla away from this place for a while, too.
"And where would you go, with two small kits in tow, Rhasa?" T'sersa hissed quietly, worry written all over her face, but as much as she appreciated that, she set her jaw stubbornly, resting her hands on her hips. Seeing that, the fight left her oldest friend, and she sighed with resignation, running her fingers through her short, dark hair. "There would be no reasoning with you about that, I take it?" she deadpanned.
"No," T'rhasa admitted, having her eyes only on her kits now. "I've been wondering for years what become of him, Sersa, you know that. Thousands upon thousands of scenarios I've imagined… But I refuse to believe he has no one who is now worried sick for him… because that's too sad to think about," she added, looking at her, and though her sight grew blurry, she saw her friend's expression twitch. "Friends… or perhaps even a wife or kits of his own… can you imagine? I had never heard of magic that could cause someone to… regress like this or have no idea how he found himself back here… But he has to have someone looking for him."
T'sersa looked between her and the playing kits, then sighed softly and folded her arms over her chest.
"All right," she said slowly, with consideration. "Just… give me a few days, Rhasa. You had always been a good friend, and I can't stand the idea of letting you wander off alone like this."
T'rhasa bit her lower lip, looking toward the kits again, then at her friend.
"What do you propose?" she finally asked.
"In a few days, we would have a group of traders leave for the nearest city-state, Ul'dah," T'sersa replied, raising her hand and rubbing her chin. "I can get you and your babes a place with them – at least that's some company and protection for the three of you. In the meantime, I can supply you with some books about the customs outside the camp so you won't be completely green about it and get someone… unkind to take advantage of you. Most Tia's that leave here, I've heard, direct their steps to Ul'dah, too… so perhaps that's the best place for you to search for answers. And the tribe will pay you for your service up until now…."
"I can't…" she started with a frown.
"That is not up to a discussion," T'sersa snapped quietly, narrowing her eyes with a warning. "If not for yourself, think of your kits, Rhasa."
"All right," she sighed, raising her hands in a pacifying gesture. "You're right, of course. Thank you, I know that's more than…."
"Think nothing of it," her friend waved with dismissal but smiled. "Now… most here wouldn't remember him, but I think it's better to keep them both here until you can leave to avoid unnecessary questions. But once you do find the answers… I expect a letter with an explanation."
"Of course," she chuckled, then, despite her frown, hugged her friend tight. "Again… thank you, Sersa, I'll be sure to pay you back… someday, I swear."
T'sersa returned the hug briefly, then cleared her throat and pulled back, waving her hand toward the children.
"Now, don't go all soft on me here, Rhasa, before you make them worried," she said, then sighed and headed toward the tent's exit. "I'll start preparing everything… and have the books delivered soon, so enjoy your babies until then, and we will speak again when I have some news."
T'rhasa nodded with a smile that fell when her friend left. She exhaled slowly and moved next to her kits, falling to her knees next to Senri and smiling reassuringly when they both looked at her with almost identical, worried expressions.
"We will be leaving, mom?" her boy asked with obvious uncertainty as his ink-black ears fell flat against his head.
"Good!" Ralla stated with more confidence, raising on her knees and wrapping her short arms around her brother's shoulders, pressing against his back. "Then I don't have to learn to hunt…."
Trust her daughter to find a silver lining… T'rhasa sighed, then tapped her fingertip against her son's cute nose.
"Yes, baby, we must find out what made you like this, right? And we can't do it here," she made sure to keep a reassuring smile on her face. "As much as I'm happy to have you back, Senri… I'm sure someone out there is looking for you. You're too cute for anything else than that," she grinned involuntarily when he pouted at that, wrapping his hands around his sister's forearms. "Who knows… perhaps you even have a nice, pretty mate waiting for you to come home…?"
"You… ah, think?" he dropped his gaze as his adorable face went completely red, and Ralla snickered, nuzzling her nose against his dark hair. "But then… what if I'm stuck like this…?" he whispered uncertainly. "I don't remember being an adult, but if you're right, mom, then wouldn't they be unhappy to see me?" he motioned toward himself with one hand.
"We will find a powerful mage to turn you big again!" his sister seemed utterly convinced about that, then pouted at T'rhasa. "Unless we can keep him like this…? I like having a brother the same age as me, mom. And he's nice!"
"That he is," she snickered, resting her hands on her kits' heads delicately and rubbing their ears with each hand tenderly. She couldn't help how her heart melted when both started purring, leaning into her touch. "But as I said, babies, we must find out if Senri has no family worried for him. And you don't have to worry, my beautiful boy, I'm sure if there is the magic that could cause it, there has to also be something to turn you back. And not to mention Ares…" she added in a whisper, then gave into the temptation and leaned in, spanning her arms around both of them and pulling them into a tight embrace.
Simply keeping him like this was all too tempting, too… The idea of having a second chance to protect him better than it ended the last time… It was alluring beyond reason, but she felt instinctively that she couldn't be that selfish. She had no idea what he had been up to for the last eleven years, but he was somewhere… and she was sure he had people caring about him – as she always hoped for him – and was determined to find them.
I do like your mom, the other boy inside him whispered, and T'senri flinched slightly, then, keeping a steady smile on his face, curled into his mother's arms deeper.
He was so confused that he had no idea what to think anymore. When his mom insisted that he left the tribe eleven years ago – and was almost seventeen then – he thought she had to be joking… until she called in Ralla, who looked so much like her, there was no denying she had to be her daughter… His sister.
And he knew all of his sisters and half-sisters, that now his mother insisted moved to the other parts of the camp years ago and had kits of their own.
It was all just… so weird!
And Ralla was a strange one as well, if not in a bad way. She seemed happy about him – hanging onto him constantly and looking at him like she liked him. His other sisters always scowled darkly if they saw their mother spare him any attention – and were prone to irritated tantrums if they saw him around her. And he used to hate them for that – especially since they were allowed to be near T'rhasa all the time anyway, and he wasn't, just because he was born a male. The unfairness of that always made his insides clench with burning sensation… but not now because he was just too confused to make sense of anything.
If his mother thought leaving was the best option, he didn't mind if he could be with her – and Ralla, too – if he found her ideas… strange. But if she was right and somewhere out there was someone who looked for him (maybe even his mate, if he didn't really dare to believe that), he did want to find them.
And finding out why he had another boy living inside him would be nice, too… Not that he didn't like Ares so far, because though he was as confused as him, his presence was also somewhat comforting, too. At least he didn't feel alone in his strange circumstances.
I know what you mean, the boy said with a sigh, and he almost smiled at his petulant tone. As confusing as it all is… I also feel better not being alone, Senri. But I'm happy your mom decided we should leave here, I guess. It looks strange… and I swear, I have this weird feeling that I must find someone… I thought my parents, but when I tried to warp to them it didn't work…
Warp…? He asked hesitantly.
Mhmm, it's the simplest traveling magic, the boy replied somewhat smugly. My dad taught me so I never get lost, but… why wouldn't it work…? Normally, you think the name of the person you want to travel to and focus, and you're with them, but – again – it didn't work, and I'm more than worried about them… Not to mention, why am I stuck inside you…?
I don't know, either, he replied, tightening his grip around his mother's waist as his ears lowered against his head.
"Don't worry about a thing, baby," his mom hummed, petting his hair soothingly while Ralla coiled tight around his back, resting her chin on his shoulder. "A few days, and we will find out what happened to you, I promise."
And he could only hope that she was right… because he couldn't help but feel like he was missing… something very important. He just had no idea what that was.
You and me both, Ares sighed sadly.
In the end, it took them a bit over a week to arrive in Ul'dah, and to say T'rhasa wasn't very impressed with the city was an understatement.
After saying goodbye to the females they traveled with, she rested her hands on her kits shoulders and delicately nudged them forward while looking around the dirty, crowded street. The group leader left them in front of the massive gate, pointing the building across it as the inn and, according to her words, the best place to gather information because, apparently, it served also as the Adventurer's Guild.
"Hold Ralla's hand, Senri, okay?" she said, pushing them delicately toward the stairs leading up to the building. "And stay with me at all times, I don't want to lose you in the crowd. Oh, and don't talk to strangers, too, both of you," she added with a whisper, honestly uncomfortable about how much attention they were seemingly getting from the people inside as they walked in.
"Okay, mom," her boy replied resolutely, grabbing his sister's hand tight and sending a narrowed stare across the patrons taking the seats by the many tables filling the interior. "Why are they staring so much…?" he scowled, clearly as unnerved, when he pulled his sister close by his side. Ralla, looking around with huge, fascinated eyes, let him pull her along while T'rhasa led them toward the Lalafell woman behind the central counter in the back.
"Excuse me…" she started, but the female was staring no less than others, her mouth slightly open as her shocked eyes seemed locked on her boy. "Excuse me!" she repeated with more power, frowning when the woman flinched and looked up at her. "I heard that one can rent rooms here… and why is everyone staring so much?" she added louder, sending a glare toward the people around them that seemed as busy gawking at her kits. At Senri, apparently, in particular.
"Ah… sorry, miss," the woman flustered visibly, clearing her throat, then leaned across the counter, lowering her voice. "But that boy… he wouldn't be the Warrior's kit… or something?"
"Huh?" she blinked slowly, looking between the woman and her son. "What in heavens do you mean? My boy's father is… was the Nunh of our tribe."
"Then it's quite… shocking coincidence because I would swear he looks just like T'senri," the woman chuckled sheepishly, and T'rhasa flinched, looking at her with a new interest.
"…mom?" her boy whispered, tugging at her skirt, and she set her hand over his head, sending him a reassuring smile.
"'T'senri'?" she asked the innkeeper with a curious lift of her eyebrows.
"Yes, I guess, that's what got everyone so… mesmerized," the Lalafellin laughed, looking at her boy with a wide smile. "Your boy is a dead ringer for our Warrior of Light, T'senri Tia."
"The… Warrior of Light…?" she repeated numbly, as her eyes slowly turned toward her boy's pale eyes, but there was no recognition in them, only worry as he pressed tighter against her legs, pulling his sister closer. Clearly upset by causing such a sensation, her boy looked so distressed, she petted his dark hair soothingly, faking a smile at the woman. "That is… a funny coincidence, then, but as I said, I heard you offer rooms here? We have a long journey behind us, and my babies are tired," and scared, she added in thought, sending another glare at the gawking patrons.
"Yes, of course!" the female flustered, pushing back to look at the book in front of her on the counter. "For how long do you wish to rent a room, miss…?" she looked up, picking up the pen set next to the book.
"Mali," she said softly, still petting her boy's ink-black hair. "T'rhasa Mali, and likely at least for a few days, miss...?"
"You can call me Momodi," the female introduced herself with a smile, noting something in her book, then tossed a thinly veiled glance toward the kits. "And the little ones?"
"T'ralla… and T'senri," she replied, ostensibly ignoring the few gasps around them from those who overheard.
Yeah, coincidence… Now they surely are going to believe that…! But she needed to secure her clearly upset babies in a safe place before she could ask questions about the… Warrior and find out if it truly meant what it suggested…
"STOP staring," her boy suddenly snapped toward the crowd, and as if commanded, all turned away in a blink of an eye. She gasped and looked down at Senri, but while Ares's sky-blue eyes looked back at her, he looked as surprised as she felt. "I'm sorry… they were scaring Senri… and Ralla…" he said with a frown, then looked around again as now everyone else seemed to refuse to look toward them. "…huh?"
"Finally, you stupid…" an angry, cold voice snapped behind her, and she flinched, turned around, and her shocked gaze shot high up to an extremely tall man… with somewhat familiarly bright, though golden eyes. He stared at her boy with an open mouth. "…Ares?"
"Who are you…?" her boy… or rather the other boy inside him gasped, clearly as shocked as the man. "And why do you look like my mom?"
"Ares… what happened to you…?" the man gasped, stepping closer, then fell to one knee to look at the small boy, and she instinctively pulled Senri closer to her, growling a warning at the stranger. Too-bright, golden eyes shot up at her, and the man scowled darkly. "And you, mortal… Who are you?"
"I'm his… Senri's mother," she snapped, wrapping her hands around her boy's shoulders, narrowing her navy-blue eyes at the strange male in turn. "You – whomever you are – know Ares?" she asked suspiciously.
"I do," he replied, then stood up slowly, looking between her and her kits while her daughter gawked at him with open fascination, clinging to Senri's arm. "He's been missing, and I've been looking for him. But why is he a child?"
"We don't know," she replied, ostensibly pulling the boy protectively against herself. "He showed up like this at our camp in the middle of the night over a week ago… and doesn't seem to remember anything. Both of them… don't remember anything, including you, I assume," she added, tossing a meaningful look toward her boy's stunned expression as he kept staring at the man. The stranger looked at him as well, then sighed and ran his fingers through his shoulder-length white hair with obvious frustration.
"What a mess…" he murmured, sending her a narrowed stare, then looking at Senri again. "I'm his younger brother," he finally said, though at least his expression softened somewhat when the boy frowned. "You really don't know me?"
Ares hesitated, then shook his head, looking back at her as he bit his lower lip uncertainly.
"He does look like my mom…" he murmured helplessly, tossing another nervous look toward the man, then back at her. "But I don't… remember."
"Father's going to lose it…" the strange man muttered, and she frowned but had his bright eyes only for the boy between them. "Ares… do you remember Damon, though?"
"…who?" the boy replied, frowning with confusion, and the man scowled darkly.
"And my boy," she snapped, glaring when he looked at her with surprise. "My Senri… why is he like that? And does he have… someone looking for him?" she asked the question that was on the forefront of her mind as her fingers tightened around her boy's shoulders involuntarily.
"…someone?" the tall man scoffed with some amusement, then perhaps flinched slightly when she downright snarled toward him. "He does have… many people looking for him… miss. Other than me, his friends and his… ah, mate, turned half this world upside down looking for him."
T'rhasa relaxed slightly, then looked down with a smile and watched her boy's eyes shift to pale blue while his pupils returned to the vertical slits.
"See, told you so," she said, smoothing her hand over his lovely, dark hair before looking up at the stranger again. "And this… can it be fixed?" she asked gingerly.
"If it can… I know the person who can," a small smirk tilted the man's lips as he raised his hand. "And so it happens… I have a very strict instruction to follow that will get you right to him," and with that, he snapped his fingers. The world around them disappeared in the black-purple cloud, and when she blinked next, she and her kits were… somewhere else.
It looked like a very big room, mostly in blues, with a big table in the middle, with few chairs around it. The left side of the room was stacked with a myriad of strange items, while on the right, she soon spotted a big bed… with the strangest man yet staring at them with wide open mouth. His longish red hair was a mess, like he ran his fingers through them too much, but what really caught her stare was his eyes. His left eye was feline and red, while the other was unnaturally bright cyan, with a far too round pupil. Otherwise, he looked like a Seeker – and a very handsome one at that – if he seemed somewhat too pale and almost sickly.
He stood up slowly while his mismatched eyes were locked on her son.
"Senri…?" he murmured as he neared, and she growled softly, completely confused but more than determined to keep her boy safe. The male's eyes finally seemed to notice her, and clear surprise blossomed on his features. "T'rhasa… he was with you this whole time? Why is he a child…?"
"That's what I would like to know," she snapped with a frown. "And who are you…? How did we get here?"
"Ares… is he okay?" the man ignored her, looking toward the boy as he slowly kneeled before him, folding his tightly rolled fists in his lap. "Is he… in there with you, Senri? Is he… awake?"
"I am," when she looked, his eyes were narrowed and sky-blue again as they trailed over the man's face. "Who are you? You feel… familiar."
The stranger flinched as if slapped, then his expression grew unreadable while his mismatched eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly, growing cold and calculating.
"I'm Damon… you don't remember?" he said quietly, then his plush lips tightened into a line when the boy hesitated, then shook his head slowly. The man scowled darkly, then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, soon muttering a string of incoherent words under his nose. When he stopped, his eyes narrowed into slits, and something like fury briefly flashed in his expression. "Clever bastard…" he murmured, and she hissed with offense, pulling both of her kits closer and tossing the male a chiding glare when he looked up at her with surprise.
"Language," she snapped. "They're ten, for all I care, so whomever you are… behave," she added with a frown.
"Ah… apologies," he cleared his throat and inclined his head before tossing her a sheepish smile. He stood up slowly and backed away, bowing to her politely. "Where are my manners… As I said, I'm Damon, and I hope you'll excuse me, miss Mali, as for the last few days I've been worried sick for this one," he smiled somewhat ruefully, nodding slightly toward her boy. "I'm his… Ares's, I mean, husband and…."
"My… what…?" Ares gasped, gawking at the male with a fiery blush on his face. If anything, at that, the stranger snickered, tossing him a wink before looking at her again. "And if you understand somewhat our situation, miss Mali, my host, Raha…" he added, pressing his hand against his chest with a somewhat funny smile. "…is Senri's mate."
She blinked slowly, looked between him and her son a few times, then realized… and relaxed, exhaling deeply.
"I see…" she said finally. "That's why he left so early, isn't it…?"
"Huh?" the boy under her hand looked up with a confused stare at the same time as the man across from them nodded.
"You're too young for that now," she chuckled sheepishly, tapping her fingertip against his nose before looking toward the redhead again. "Can this be… fixed? That other man… he said, if I'm getting it right, you should be able to…?"
"Normally, yes," the man… Damon sighed, gripping his hair with obvious frustration as he looked at her boy again… and pouted. And gods, but he was cute like that! She bit back a grin, striving to look innocently when he looked at her with a frown, but she thought she could definitely see what would have her boy… interested in him. "But it looks like… the person who did this to him specifically warded him off against me to prevent it."
"Huh?" she blinked, then looked down at her son and tried to smile as pale, ice-blue irises stared now at the male with uncertainty. "So… he's stuck like this?" she whispered, raising her gaze.
"Ah, no… definitely not!" the man smiled somewhat funnily, then ever-so-slightly narrowed his eyes at Senri as he rested his hands on his hips. "Ares has to… want to be big again, that's all. So… chop, chop, love."
T'rhasa scowled, then dropped her eyes to her son, and he looked up at her with pure confusion on his young face. Then he frowned and tilted his head as if listening to something and looked at the man with an almost… apologetic smile.
"I… well, he says, he doesn't know what you mean… and you must be wrong, too. That you're his… h-husband, I mean. He says… he doesn't know you, and he's far too young for such… com… commitment, too."
"Is he…?" the man's mismatched eyes widened impossibly. "Wait… how old does he think he is?"
Senri frowned… then scoffed.
"That can't be right…" he muttered, then sighed. "He says… he's three hundred years old."
"Fu…" Damon caught himself at her glare and colored prettily, clearing his throat. "Ah, sorry… I mean… Nevermind..." he sighed, rubbing his hand against his chin.
"And he says… he wants to go home," Senri continued, looking between them. "Because he's worried about his parents, mom."
She looked toward the male… and her heart sank when he paled impossibly.
"Ares…" he said slowly, his low voice growing soothing and delicate. "…your parents are long gone, love. And you weren't… aren't three hundred years old for quite… a while already. Like I said, I'm your husband, and we have been together for millennia. Long, long before this world was born…."
"Lies!" her boy snapped, unceremoniously tearing himself out of her and Ralla's grasp to point a shaky, accusing finger at the much bigger male. "You're lying! They're not gone…! They can't be…" he trailed off as his big, sky-blue eyes filled with tears, and that hand fell to his side. But when the man reached out toward him, he jumped back with a hiss. "Don't touch me! You're lying… I hate you!" he snarled, but Damon just sighed, then in a move fast like a viper, caught the boy, and though he trashed with an infuriated hiss, he enveloped him in a tight embrace, cooing against his lowered ears soothingly.
"It's okay now, Ares," he purred, rhythmically smoothing his hand over the boy's shaking shoulders when he sagged against him with a choked whimper, as if all the fight left his small body. "You can't remember now, but they had been happy, love. They choose to pass, so don't be sad about that," then he sighed and looked at her over her son's head. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you have many, many questions, miss Mali, but… If it's acceptable, I'll arrange a bedroom for you and your daughter to rest in while I have this one… cooperate and return to his correct age," he smiled wryly toward her, then startled her, calling: "Hades, if you please?"
She blinked with surprise when the familiar man with golden eyes appeared out of nowhere beside him, frowning at the sight of her son.
"What… He's still a child?" he murmured as if offended by it.
"As you see," the redhead replied with a sigh. "Esteem made it impossible for me to interfere…."
"It's gone, too," the white-haired man said, narrowing his eyes slightly toward Senri. "And Ares – and Senri – doesn't look… as they should, Father. Their souls are… completely off."
"…off?" the mismatched eyes flared with apprehension.
"It's as if… well, I thought it's only physical… but their souls are… too bright," golden eyes narrowed as he waved his hand toward the boy and sighed when Damon looked at him without understanding. "I mean… it's hard to explain if you don't see it… but there's a massive difference between the soul of a child and an adult. And his… theirs look like children's. Bright and pure…" he frowned, then tilted his head and hesitated. "Can this be… reversed?"
"Esteem did it with his gift, I'm sure, so Ares should be able to revert it," the redhead replied, but there was growing apprehension in his expression as he tightened his arms around the boy. "He has to… But, please, introduce miss Mali and her daughter to the Scions and tell them they'll need room to stay in. And that we – you, I mean – found Senri, and he's fine, but we need some time to… get him in order and all," he tossed the white-haired man a meaningful look, then sighed and looked at her. "And please… don't mention me or Ares, miss. Senri's friends don't know about us, and for the time being… we prefer keeping it that way if possible. I swear I'll explain everything later, but for now…" he nodded toward the room's door.
"If you please," the white-haired man… Hades motioned for her to follow, and she hesitated, tossing a look toward her son, curled in the stranger's arms, then when Damon smiled with reassurance, she sighed, caught Ralla's small hand in hers, and complied, walking after the tall man.
"It's so… weird," her daughter whispered, holding her hand tightly. "Are they going to be okay, mom?"
"I certainly hope so," she replied, looking toward her son with worry, then let herself be led out of the room.
Suddenly 'waking,' T'senri blinked slowly, utterly confused, and then gasped, gawking as he looked up and realized that somehow… he was suddenly in the weird man's… Damon's arms, and when his eyes darted back, his mom and sister were gone.
I'm sorry… I need a moment to think, Ares whispered, then grew completely silent, and it felt like he somewhat… retreated deeper into him.
"I think… you scared him," he hesitated, awkwardly trying to free himself from the male's embrace as his face heated up unbearably. He smelled very nice, in any case… Like cinnamon and almonds, so tasty… His face was getting even hotter, and he didn't dare to look up, clearing his throat self-consciously.
"He needs a moment?" the man asked, and his voice was nice, too, so low and somewhat… soothing, but he didn't let go of him, and he was honestly getting freaked out… a bit. "Senri…?"
"Y-Yeah, he said so," he said, then pushed his hands against the man's chest. "…let go, p-please?"
"In a moment, okay? I mean you no harm, my boy, but… Raha's pretty upset, so if you are okay with that… he would like to talk to you?" Damon sighed softly, and T'senri flinched, then his gaze darted to his weird eyes, and as he remembered what the man said earlier… his stupid heart stuttered nervously, and he bit his lip with uncertainty.
"You mean… my m-mate…?" he stammered slightly as his face grew hotter and his ears lowered against his head.
"Mhmm, he was very, very worried about you, Senri, but he doesn't want to scare you, either," the redhead replied carefully but with a sweet, reassuring smile on his face. He was very pretty, too… "So only if you're okay, I'll let him take over…?"
He blinked slowly, then, with his heart in his throat, nodded, fisting his hands in the man's dark-red shirt. His eyes widened impossibly when his cyan eye dimmed, and its pupil thinned to match his red eye. His expression also changed from warm reassurance to uncertainty and almost… fear? The redhead shifted, sitting on the floor, and pulled him in his lap, wrapping his arms around him almost desperately as he buried his nose in his hair.
"You weren't joking… that you used to be small," his voice sounded shaky. "Gods, Senri… I'm so, so sorry…" he almost whimpered, curling around him tightly, and he swallowed thickly, unsure what to do. Then he shifted slightly, trying to get a look at the man's face.
"You're… Raha?" he asked, finally getting a glimpse of teary, red-cyan eyes.
"Y-Yeah…" the man breathed shakily, then brushed his thumb over his heated cheek, smiling uncertainly.
"And… you're mine?" he said to make sure, tightening his hands in his shirt.
When the redhead nodded, he couldn't help an excited squeak, waving his tail enthusiastically.
"You are pretty!" he stated with a grin, and the man's mismatched eyes widened impossibly… then he snorted a laugh, getting even prettier!
"Gods… you're so cute like this," Raha visibly fought to calm down, then sighed and smoothed his hand over his hair delicately. And chuckled at T'senri's pout.
"I'm not cute," he scowled, though his face grew even hotter as he thought he didn't mind… if he said that. And couldn't find it in himself to mind when Raha snickered for some reason, brushing the tip of his finger against his nose.
"If you knew how ironic it sounds from you…." he whispered, then sighed again and leaned in, resting his forehead against the boy's shoulder. "I missed you, Senri," he breathed, and because his voice was shaky again, T'senri frowned with worry but wrapped his arms around his head, petting his red hair as his mom did whenever he was scared or sad and purred, nuzzling his cheek against his mate's throat with uncertainty.
He was very happy that his mom was right and that he did have someone… miss him, but he wished… he could remember him. And perhaps that he wasn't so freaking big, too…
When Raha snorted suddenly, he blushed furiously, realizing he had said that out loud.
Oh, Azeyma, but he was a moron…
"Don't worry... soon enough, you'll be even bigger," his mate chuckled, then leaned away, and his eyes trailed over T'senri's face with an impossibly tender expression in them that had his heart stutter again. "Now, until Ares has time to... think, what would you like to do, Senri? Without leaving this room," he added quietly when the boy sat back and looked around the unfamiliar space.
"…explore?" he hesitated, tossing a curious look toward the left side of it, with many different things he didn't recognize stacked on the shelves.
"Explore it is, then," Raha smiled reassuringly, nudging him to stand up, and T'senri complied, almost twitching with impatience while the redhead stood up. "Go ahead," he chuckled, motioning toward the shelves, and he pouted, rolling his eyes at him before grabbing his hand in both of his.
"Together, silly," he chided, pulling him along. "Otherwise, it's not fun."
"As you wish," Raha said softly, brushing his free hand over T'senri's hair, and he grinned at him before getting distracted by the strange... machine?... on one of the shelves. And by his distraction, missing utterly the downright enamored, lovesick grin on his mate's face.