When Senri grew up, other than the rest of the kits in their lair, he wasn't allowed to mingle with them or, to be frank: leave his older brother's side.
Their nook – now his, after they moved out wanting more privacy – for a time, was his whole world, with Hades and Ares as his only company. It wasn't in any way a normal upbringing for their kind… but so were they too.
To entertain him, his brothers would constantly feed him stories about their kind and history, and he never hid that his very favorite was that of the lost Allagan Clan, even if his heart ached to know they were long gone and he would never get a chance to win himself their goddess favor and the prize in the form of his very own soulmate.
As the story went, their creator, a goddess that much later came to be worshiped by humans as Bastet, woven them into existence to guard her and her temples. One Clan at first, their highest priority was to protect and mate – as dual task as their goddess nature.
Bastet, the lioness protector of Ra and his All-Seeeing-Eye, and cat-like Bast, the patron of love, pleasure, and fertility… and they, aggressive and territorial, were created into her ferocious image.
Their earliest history bound them to ancient Egypt and into one Pride… until humans greed had their goddess choose to give them the ability to Shift. Though meant to let them reason on the level with the volatile humankind, their ancestors instead elected to hide from them, seeing them as untrustworthy. In the deepest forest and mountains, they made their lairs, guarding them with the dedication once ingrained in them to protect their goddess' home. And as the centuries passed, they evolved into two distinctive Clans: Seekers of the Sun, with vertically slit eyes and gift to create, and Keepers of the Moon, with fangs and magic of destruction.
Fourteen lairs were spread all around the world, seven for Seekers and seven for Keepers… and the one to unite them under their loving goddess care: Allagan.
Bastet's favorite children were their greatest treasure, according to the stories, smaller and more intellectually inclined, championing unity and all that pertained to their goddess' softer aspect, Allag was the only one who was given the ability to Soul-Bond and to become mated to one of them by Bast's grace was the grandest honor and pleasure one of them could achieve. They were immortal then, and as humans longed for eternal life after death, for them, the idea of the perfect match in the Allagan Clan was the grandest reward of all…
…until betrayal robbed them of that possibility and granted them their goddess scorn.
When it became known that Allag can Bond not only with them but with humans as well, most celebrated the first human-Miqo'te hybrids, seeing it as their goddess plan to unite them with their neighbors and secure their existence in a world that was growing overpopulated with the Tail-less. But some elected to see it as an abomination, and under cover of the night, they raided the lair of their ruling Clan, slaying every member of it up to the last kit. And the horror of that was what had Bast turn away from them, locking herself in that lair and to this day mourning her blessed children….
…or so the story went.
After that atrocity, the Clans split, blaming each other for the tragedy. With the sharp divide between the Seekers and the Keepers, they isolated themselves, and after a time, it became apparent that without their goddess's favor, there were no more hybrids between the two possible. A few known matings over the ages never born fruit, serving as a harsh reminder of that betrayal and separating them even more fiercely.
Until their father, Nyx, the Seeker of the purest and oldest bloodline of Seekers, thought to unite his Clan with that of his polar opposite, to bring them together and show the other Clans that it was possible. Offering a truce to the leader of the Keepers' Clan also seemed to gain him their goddess favor, as he appeared to become Soul-Bonded to that leader's younger sister, the beautiful and temperamental Cassiopeia.
They mated, and when their union soon after born fruit, Ares, the very first known hybrid since the Allagan slaughter, their people rejoiced, seeing in him the chance of winning Bastet's favor. Followed by two more kits, Hades and Senri, they were seen as their kind's treasure, carefully guarded in their father's lair where their parents elected to raise them.
Hybrids, unique as they were, were able to command both creation and destruction magic, making them the most powerful and dangerous of their kind. And Ares and Hades, much older than him, grew up with their parents' lessons about how their existence is proof of their goddess's wish for their people to be united.
…until another betrayal robbed Senri of knowing or remembering them.
A simple day when they were meant to travel alongside their parents turned their lives into a nightmare when Senri, a mere toddler at the time, threw a terrible tantrum, and Ares, a teen then wishing to offer them respite, bid them to travel without them while he took care of his younger brothers. He witnessed their father's younger brother, Hepaistos, try to convince Nyx and Cassiopeia to take their kits along despite the youngest fussing, but none of them thought of that much… until their parents were slaughtered – as their uncle swore after finding and bringing back their bodies – by the group of Keepers.
Their Clan, in mourning after such loss, agreed that Hepaistos was the best pick to lead until Ares reached maturity and came into his power. And their uncle accepted, then set to put a harder wedge between them and their mother's Clan, despite their insistence, denying them access to Cassiopeia's kits. They were 'guarded' and banned from leaving the lair, while Hepaistos set to discredit Ares as the future leader, citing the unpredictability of the hybrids.
Their eldest brother let him, carefully protecting his siblings and bidding his time.
Every generation, there were two or three kits born among each Clan that displayed a special aptitude for leadership, marked by their ability to use compulsion to command their peers. Those were believed to be granted that gift by Bast's design – as once they were the ones to most commonly be invited to attend their goddess' court – and were always prioritized for the leading of their lairs. For theirs and their generation, Ares and Senri were born with that aptitude, while Hades appeared to be completely immune to the compulsion instead.
And when despite their eldest brother's efforts, Senri was becoming an impossibly unlucky kit, with a plethora of near-fatal 'accidents' following him constantly… Well, Hades put his foot down when their baby brother was 'convinced' to swallow down poison – and since that point, he was never allowed to leave his side, raised in complete submission to his white-furred brother.
Until Ares reached maturity – which took longer than normal for their kind as it appeared to be with hybrids – and with his gift in the presence of the whole Clan forced the truth about their parents' death from their uncle. About every 'accident' and his schemes. Then Hepaistos, branded kin-killer while his name became one to match this of the Allag's slayers, was by their brother stripped of the ability to Shift, leaving him stuck in their imperfect, humanoid form and unable to hide the mark of his shame: the scar Ares's claws left on his face. Never again to know peace in one of their lairs, he was banished into the human world, to be slaughtered at sight if he ever again attempted to near any of their lairs or the hybrid brothers.
Ares taking over their Clan and setting Hades as his second-in-command, set to smooth things over between their parents' Clans and soon proved himself to be capable beyond reason: uniting all the Clans in the face of the humans' nuclear threat. When the Tail-less seemed determined to wipe themselves out of existence, squabbling over the most ridiculous things like race, beliefs, and sexuality, Miqo'te didn't pay them much mind. Without the Allagan Clan meant to unite them, and with the horror stories of mating to a human and what it could bring about, they could have left them to reap the storm of their making… until Ares convinced all the Clan leaders that clearly it was Bastet's wish for them to one-day unite with their Tail-less neighbors. That letting them perish would go against what their goddess created them for, to protect, and could serve to insult Her even more than they already did, failing in guarding her favored children.
Perhaps in stepping in and proving they were ready to serve Her, even like this, they could hope Bast would turn Her eyes toward them once more…
It wasn't pretty at first, with humans being shocked that they weren't as alone as they believed… but faced with far, far superior magic, they had no choice but to accept the 'offer' of coexistence. Setting it up took years and ended with occasional conflicts, but with the laws and rules in place, the shapeshifters once more retreated into their lairs, seeing little reason to interact with humans. Guarding their young minds and well-being against their neighbors' ideas, the use of technology was greatly banned, and other than those designed to by their task to mingle with the Tail-less, their Elders raised the next generations reverting their speech to that of their goddess, to avoid accidental brushes with humankind's ridiculous ideologies.
That's what Senri was raised to, and with the addition of his very special circumstances, he never had the inclination to leave their lair. Though seen as the potential next leader if something has befallen Ares, he refused even to entertain the notion, and his brothers – perhaps trying to make up for his upbringing – rarely found it in themselves to deny him anything. Cheerful and easy-going by nature, Senri spend his days tending to the young while carefully making himself look as incompetent as possible. In his eyes, Ares was the best possible leader for their Clan, and he wanted nothing to do with it – ever.
When he wasn't busy with the kits, he would often find himself in his nook, daydreaming about the Allag and having a soulmate, and to this idea, he decorated now his nook with the plethora of jewels – easily created with Seekers creation magic – like in the stories their people once made the Allagan lair the grandest in gratitude for their goddess's favor.
After he finally passed puberty, at night, he would often find himself staring at the shimmering ceiling above his nest and praying to Bastet. Inheriting alongside Ares their father's famed beauty, they didn't miss in offers… but his heart was enslaved by the idea of a soulmate. Even each year when he went into heat, he swore his brothers not to let him soil himself in the frenzy it brought along, wishing… Well, hoping that perhaps seeing his dedication, Bast would take mercy…
…then the dreams started.
He still remembered the very first one: finding an impossibly cute redhead with gorgeous ruby eyes kneeling square in the middle of his nest, and his eyes ashine with delight at the sight of the jewel-encrusted walls. Allagan ruby eyes, and even if the male was clearly human… that instantly mesmerized Senri.
Or, to put it plainly: he was instantly, painfully smitten. And when the redhead seemed to notice him and get that impossibly adorable owlish look accompanied by fiery blushes… Even if he believed him to be the figment of his imagination brought forth by his growing loneliness… he wanted him so badly it hurt. And when the first attempt proved his hands couldn't touch him… That he couldn't hear or smell him… he, honestly, thought he was going to fall insane!
Each night, for over a year, the redhead teased his instincts with his unbearable cuteness, and while the shy looks of the ruby irises turned heated and longing… Senri knew he wouldn't settle for anything less than his fantasy's perfection. During the days he obsessed over him, so unbearably, painfully hungry for his taste… and yet, as much of torture as it was, each night he turned to sleep eagerly, dying for another tantalizing look.
Until lately, the dreams became irregular and worrisome. And when his redheaded wonder grew pale and as heartbroken as he felt whenever his hands passed through him… he ached with the need to hold and comfort him.
…and to find he was real…
Despite what he told Ares to pacify his oldest brother, he didn't really care if his redhead – and his brother – were of Allagan descent. The idea was tantalizing, yeah, but even if he was fully human… he wanted him so badly nothing mattered but getting him. And after last night's heady dream….
That was a very, very important lesson: his cute kitten was perfection made flesh, and if he thought before that his obsession with him was bad… knowing his taste brought his craving to a wholly new level!
On the off chance that he was indeed somehow a surviving Allag, however, Senri refused to insult their goddess' merciful heart in letting him find his redhead, determined to court him properly. Because as much as he wanted him, Senri needed to see those gorgeous, ruby eyes shine toward him with affection as they did in his dreams. To see that sweet, shy smiles on those pretty, plush lips directed at him… he was dying for more than to fuck him… and that was saying something!
So, armed with his brother's yesterday lessons in human language and cour… dating, as confusing as he found all the apparent extra steps, he thought himself well prepared to brave the human lair… town and from afar watch over his kitten.
…well, he thought wrong.
Shifting to a small cat to keep human eyes from noticing him as easily as the previous time, finding the nest of his redhead was quite easy. Starting at the spot he saw him last time, his sensitive nose led him right to a small human dwelling with white walls. He arrived at the gate guarding the lair – laughable as it was – right as his redhead, alongside his litter-mate, left it and, chatting animatedly, headed back toward the massive building with the ugly, concrete walls. Carefully staying out of sight, Senri followed them, internally gushing at his intended mate's cute gestures and expressions… and constant blushes when his cyan-eyed brother seemed to tease him.
Thanks to Ares teaching him as much English as possible – using compulsion to engrave each word and its meaning in Senri's head – he could pick up bits and pieces of the twins' conversation, apparently about him. And he was more than pleased to find that his kitten apparently found him attractive enough… as far as he could understand, anyway, and even his twin seemed to tease him about how jealous he was… Which, in Senri's opinion, was a good sign for his brother, considering how interested Ares was in his citrus scent.
For their kind, the scent played a crucial role in their mating, letting them pick the most compatible partner, and considering they could change their shape at will… Well, with Miqo'te mating, it was all about consent in nature. Ares mentioned that humans were apparently sensitive to the weird issues about their sexuality and gender – explaining that it took root in their religious beliefs and inability to Shift as they could. His brother warned him that in the area of their lairs territory, humans' most prevalent religion was Christianity and gave him a crash course on what to expect because of that in courting his redhead. Even if he was, in fact, in some degree a Miqo'te, his kitten was raised human, and his eldest brother laid it upon his head to respect his intended mate's upbringing unless he wished to somehow inadvertently offend him and make his redhead reject his courting. And that possibility was definitely something he wanted to avoid!
Mostly because he wanted him so badly… he wasn't sure if he could accept his rejection. And that went against everything he was raised to be and believe in – in each living being right to choose. And, as Ares warned, humans had very different ways of choosing a potential mate to have young with, not to mention a whole bunch of misconceptions about their kind!
Honestly, he laughed himself silly when Ares's with matching amusement, told him that humans considered them… well, humans with cat-like features. His brother explained that though their neighbors had a very little idea of Miqo'te nature, apparently, the shapeshifters were long a part of their myths and legends. And those made them out to be humans able to shift into animals – mostly of one kind. To give him an example, Ares told him about something humans called 'werewolves' – humans able to turn into wolves, as the name suggested.
Apparently, the biggest misconception of all that they had was failing to understand that, in truth, it was completely the other way around: Miqo'te were animals able to Shift into anything they wanted, including the humanoid form, but not limited by it. And in their true form, they were what Bastet created them: massive feline beasts with impressive jaws full of five rows of fangs and with razor-sharp claws once intended to make the potential temple robbers re-think their ideas at the mere sight of Bastet's favored guards. Their fur, softer than the finest silk, was what eventually earned them human greed, prompting their goddess to secure them with their magic and abilities against the fate that met many of her kin's favorite creations.
Because despite their naïve beliefs, humankind was never as 'alone' in this world as their believed, but they proved themselves to be so… violent and unreasonable that most of the other creatures roaming Earth elected to stay well away from them, keeping to their respective communities. Though, one of his lair friends, a Pyre who, after befriending Ares, would occasionally visit to entertain the kits, did mention once that since the shapeshifters 'emergence,' Others leaders were watching the developments carefully, judging the humankind's readiness to find out that there was more than only Miqo'te to contend with… and perhaps one day, they would lead their people as Ares once did for them. The Pyre (vampire, as the humans apparently knew them) were hardly the only ones to visit their lair, though. Ares did always had quite a talent for making friends – and his achievements among them did spark enough curiosity among Others that he was quite often invited to attend meetings and parties among the creatures that humans – according to him – considered myths and legends… if they had any idea of them in the first place, that is.
Most, like them, were creations of gods – when those still roamed the world freely, their power immeasurable, if depending on their worshipers. That was the nature of the gods: created by a belief in them. Most of them were gone, or their power diminished as their religions dwindled over time, now often kept alive and strong by their own creations' faith in them. Many of those – like Bastet used to hold court in the Allagan Clan's lair – came to live among their children as their power waned.
And personally, Senri believed that their people missed the connection with their creator as much as they missed Her favorite children. Allag were not only Her grandest gift to their kind but also Her spokesmen and women, championing unity and bringing prosperity to their lairs. Most delicate and intelligent, with penance to look for solutions to conflicts instead of violence, they represented their goddess' softer aspect, teaching their kindred to find joy and meaning in love and care for their offspring – and in their goddess' loving care for their well-being.
…not to mention that the stories promised that there was no grander sexual pleasure than a mate from the Allagan Clan – if they – the scraps of information and lore left from that time were somewhat fuzzy as to why. If now – after having a taste of his redheaded wonder – Senri did have some growing suspicions about it.
Though he wasn't very experienced, obviously, he had the idea that what his cute kitten's spicy scent and sweet taste were doing to him… went far, far beyond anything that could be considered normal. Now he thought that perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that earlier he wasn't able to touch or taste him in that dreams… because as determined as he was to woo him properly – the last night has proven that his greatest challenge would be overcoming the mind-numbing lust that gave life to a downright blinding, aggressive need to claim him… And even knowing that – and his goals – following the twins and watching his redheaded wonder… he regretted waking up when he did. Because of how his scent spiked, turning even more mouthwateringly delicious as he was about to take his wonderfully tight ass… The way his musical voice sang for him in his ridiculously arousing whimpers and moans… The look in those gorgeous crimson irises when he pinned him down…
If Bastet designed Allag to be the pinnacle of pleasure, she was the patron of… He had no problem believing his redhead was their representative! And watching him enter that big building alongside his brother… he ached to keep looking at him and almost Shifted and bite off the head of the asshole that shooed him away.
But he did promise Ares to behave… and he didn't want to spook his intended mate, either.
Jumping on the tall wall surrounding the building, he mulled over what to do – because apparently, animals weren't welcome in that lair – absentmindedly watching the human kits enter it easily.
How was he supposed to watch over his charges if he couldn't see them from here…? And what if his kitten again gets jumped by the volatile humans? He really should have bitten off that blonde's head yesterday as the lesson to what awaits anyone thinking to harm his redhead… He would if his wonder wouldn't deny it – as pleasing him enough to accept his claim felt much, much more important at the time… But now, what if that blonde is in there, too, and thinks to take out his misguided desire – because, yeah, Senri could fucking smell it on him, the asshole craving his kitten – and attacks him again?
But with all he learned from Ares yesterday… it made a tad more sense, he supposed. Apparently, that whole Christianity humans around here believed stated that same-sex matings are wrong. His brother shrugged it as the result of the fact that humans – unable to Shift their gender as they were – were unable to procreate with a same-sex partner, and their religion taught them that sex for pleasure alone was somehow bad. As absurd as it sounded for them – while they were taught that love and pleasure were a sure way to worship their goddess… he did figure that for those who would end up desiring a representative of the same sex, it would create a conflict that could give life to the baffling idea of attacking the object of one's lust – and it did sound like something just fitting to the humans' volatile nature.
Miqo'te were aggressive and territorial, but the thought of in any way harming a gorgeous creature like his cute kitten just… felt impossibly wrong. Compared to his humanoid form, the redhead looked small and delicate and so unbearably adorable with his blushes and huge eyes… he not only craved to claim him but, most of all: protect him. Shower him with the affection his beauty deserved and surround him with anything that would put a smile on his sweet lips.
…but how was he supposed to do that from here without somehow offending his sensibilities enough for his kitten to reject him…?
Mulling over that conundrum, he startled a bit when a sudden sound had his sensitive ears laid flat against his head. He looked with offense at the group of human females standing under his position on the wall and gushing far too loudly, pointing toward him with enthusiasm on their youthful faces.
…then, staring at them – and their human-made attires – gave him an idea… and he almost rolled his eyes at himself that he didn't think of it sooner!
If his usual humanoid shape could offend his intended mate's sensibilities… he could just change it! And if he's willing… well, there couldn't be a better place to protect him from than his side, yes?
He didn't much care about the humans' surprised yelps when he jumped off the wall, landing on the ground gracefully in Shifted form and attire matching theirs – as apparently each female wore the same set of white shirt, black skirt, and shoes. He wasn't as used to the female shape as he was to male, but it didn't really make a difference for him in the long run, so grinning, he send the girls his trademark grin in thanks for the idea, then with determination headed toward the massive building, intent on finding if in this shape his kitten would be inclined to let himself be guarded…
The commotion in the corridor outside their classroom had Raha exchange a confused frown with his twin a moment before the door was shoved open… and he was pretty sure that Damon's jaw dropped open no less than his own.
The girl that stomped in confidently inside the class had to be the most gorgeous creature in existence – and though merely two days ago he was convinced that he didn't find girls attractive… when she looked about the class, then her cat-like, ice-blue eyes landed on him and her absolutely gorgeous face – familiar – bloomed with impossibly adorable, fanged grin… he somewhat numbly figured that he wasn't gay, after all.
No, apparently, he was very, very much whatever orientation someone was when faced with a creature apparently capable of switching their gender at will…
"…holy fuck!" his twin gasped, then theatrically clamped his hand in his shirt over his heart, with a free one comically waving his face. "Do you think all of them are that gorgeous in the human form?"
The commotion following the 'girl' was apparently a crowd of enamored boys from different classes, gawking at her from the door as still with that ridiculously gorgeous, goofy grin and excitably waving her long, black tail, she headed toward him – and even their teacher, miss Griffin only looked on from her desk in front of the class with stupefied expression and open mouth.
With waist-long locks cascading over her back like an ink-black waterfall and dressed into their school's uniform, the female version of his shapeshifter's impossibly beautiful features were slightly more delicate, and she definitely was much, much shorter in this shape... but not any less beautiful.
When she planted her hands on top of his desk in front of him and leaned in, he stared in astonishment, only after an embarrassingly long moment realizing she said something (in English!), so caught up in the mischievous sparks dancing in the pale, cat-like eyes that it took his numbed brain a looong moment to catch up with reality.
"You… like?" her voice sounded like silk and honey in his ears, slightly raspy as her fangs flashed in a tad uncertain grin while he fought to collect his jaw and gather his bearings.
"…love it!" his twin gushed before he could, and Raha instantly send him a glare, grinding his teeth when Damon grinned toothily, shamelessly clapping and completely ignoring the fact that it was his – Raha's – shapeshifter!
She blinked, then sent his brother a downright blinding grin, leaning toward him and saying something in that strange musical language. Whatever it was, it put a surprising blush on his twin's face before he grinned back and nodded eagerly, answering in the same language and gesticulating toward her enthusiastically. Raha narrowed his eyes into slits looking between them when the girl nodded along, answering briefly to his brother's apparent rant, and then grinned brightly, turning her gorgeous eyes toward him when Damon leaned back in his seat with a ridiculously pleased expression.
"What was that…?" he really didn't want to sound as envious as it came out… but fuck, she… he… was his!
"Ah…" if possible, her expression grew even brighter when she moved around the table and ignoring the whole class gawking at her – and them – she used the space between his body and the table to shamelessly plant herself astride his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing fully against his front… and Raha almost expired instantly, unsure what to do when her lips brushed his ear. That honeyed silk whispered right into it. "My… brother likes…" she leaned away, pointing toward his twin, then to her nose and visibly looking for words.
"Apparently one of her… his…." Damon trailed off, then asked something in that language toward her, and she shrugged, answering briefly before turning and burying her nose against his throat, taking swift, deep breaths (sniffing him?). "…let's say hers if she says that gender doesn't really matter to them… But apparently one of her brothers… well, sniffed me out on her fur yesterday and would like to meet," he crooned, grinning again and Raha blinked stupidly, trying to focus while the incredible heat radiating from her form seemed to skin in into his skin through his clothes… and that maddeningly sweet scent of apple grew somehow more and more pronounced by seconds, filling his mouth with saliva. Almost involuntarily curling his shaky hands around her hips when her tail wrapped around him and his chair, and she started purring by his ear…
"Can I stay… with you?" she whispered and shifted, pressing against him tighter, and he bit back a moan at how it made her rub against the part of his anatomy that was far, far too interested in her heat pressing over it. He would be beyond embarrassed about it – should be – but like yesterday, his head felt like it was stuffed with cotton when he dropped it against her shoulder, forcing himself not to push his hands under her skirt and find out if she really wasn't wearing anything under it as it felt…
"I think that's quite enough, missy," he heard over the mad rhythm of his heartbeat and flushed up to his hairline, looking up behind her back at the face of their teacher. Standing by his desk now, she grabbed the girl's shoulder… and he didn't blame her for jumping back with fright when the shapeshifter hissed with outrage, snapping her fangs toward her and only tightening her grip around him.
"Mine!" the brunette snarled, glaring daggers at the woman… and it really shouldn't make his heart flutter as it did.
Damon cleared his throat, then nudged her arm, and when the shapeshifter turned her slitted, enraged eyes toward him, he smiled somewhat sheepishly and launched into another rant in that musical language, and though the girl at first frowned with confusion, looking between them and the teacher, who looked toward her with a very real fear on her face, soon she sighed with somewhat funny resignation and with obvious reluctance untangled herself from his arms and stood up, soon turning toward the woman and bowing, looking toward his twin when she said something in that language.
"She is apologizing for her outburst, miss Griffin," Damon translated, then frowned and tilted his head curiously before continuing. "She says… in their lair, it's considered… great offense to get between… courting couple, and it's why she overreacted. Her brother… Ares?" he trailed off and waited until the girl nodded, straightened, and said more, resting her hands on her hips and waving her tail with apparent agitation. "Ah… her brother is the… leader of their lair, and he tasked her with looking after Raha… because apparently, it is very, very rare for them to find… a match? mate?... among humans…" he listened more, then smiled suddenly toward him. "I already like him… But seems when she told him in what situation she found you yesterday, brother, they don't believe humans trustworthy with her potential… mate, I suppose."
Raha blinked stupidly, feeling his face heat up when he looked toward the girl, and she sent him another blinding grin, stretching her finger toward him.
"You… mine, yes?" she asked, and though his face grew only hotter, he couldn't help but nod… wanting nothing more than to be hers. His. He didn't really care because at that, she grinned even brighter before looking toward the teacher and raising her chin pointedly… proudly. "See… mine! And I… protect, yes? No… touch mine!" she glared toward all the present in and outside the classroom, then… disappeared.
Or so it seemed until a black cat with pale eyes jumped on top of his desk in front of him and sat on the edge of it before turning its pale eyes toward his twin and saying something before looking at Raha again.
"She says… She's not going to disturb your lessons, but if you're okay with her staying, she's going to stay," his twin said calmly, though his voice shook with laughter when he looked toward their teacher, looking toward the cat with huge, stunned eyes. "And I suppose… Miss Griffin, good luck trying to remove her without somehow potentially insulting her brother, hm?"
He was certainly taking far too much amusement in the whole situation… but Raha would lie if he didn't admit that he had to bite back a silly grin when he somewhat hesitantly lifted his hand and delicately smoothed his fingertips over the incredibly soft, ink-black fur on the shapeshifter's head… and the enamored look of ice-blue irises when the cat pushed its head into his palm and purred insistently was definitely worth his embarrassment with the thought how… nice it was that she… he… was so determined to look after him.
The idea of no longer being scared of the assholes picking on him for his stupid eye color… was quite nice, and if it came in the package of the absolutely gorgeous shapeshifter he spent more than a year dreaming of…?
"I'm going to… discuss this with the principal," clearly defeated, the teacher sighed and turned toward the door of the classroom and headed out, muttering something under her nose. Raha hardly cared, far too enamored with his new company.
So much he was almost startled when his brother moved his chair closer to his and leaned against him with very obvious fascination observing the cat shamelessly enjoying his petting with very loud purrs.
"By the way, I realized I keep forgetting to ask, but… what is your name?" Damon asked suspiciously innocently toward the shapeshifter, and Raha froze, blinking and realizing that through all of this… he didn't even think to ask!
"…name?" the cat cut short its purring, looking between them with confusion. His brother chuckled then set his hand against his chest.
"I'm Damon," he said, then pointed toward him. "He's Raha… you?" he pointed then toward the cat.
"Rrraha," it purring reassumed more intensely than before as it again pushed its head into his palm. "My cute Raha… I'm Senri," it said, waving its tail enthusiastically, then stopped and sighed with some resignation, looking toward him with huge, pleading eyes that instantly made his heart lose its rhythm. "Sorry… may English bad. Ares teach… I learn… but is hard. I want… want… want…" the cat trailed off, hissed with apparent frustration, and looked toward Damon a tad helplessly, saying something in that musical language. Raha looked toward him curiously while soothingly rubbing her ear… and almost expired when his devious twin grinned toothily, then announced very loudly:
"She says that she wanted to tell you, Raha, that you're very, very pretty and cute, and she feels blessed that you would consider her for your… mate…" he trailed off with a snicker when he hissed and smacked him over the head, completely red-faced.
And regretted that instantly when his shapeshifter looked between them with huge, sad eyes.
"No… happy?" it asked, and its black tail sagged as its ears fell flat against its head. And that was far, far too much to bear…
"Very happy," he assured, breathing easier when that tail flicked slightly and big pale eyes focused on him. His face ablaze, he swallowed thickly but pushed through his embarrassment with determination, catching one ink-black paw into his fingers delicately. "Happy… Senri is mine."
"Yes!" it cheered up instantly, waving its long tail enthusiastically. "And… Raha is mine. Perrrfect, yes?"
"…very," he breathed as his stupid heart lost its rhythm again, and an even more moronic, surely lovesick grin bloomed on his face.
But fuck…! She… He… was just too fucking cute!
