After looking at Raphael bending his knee to them, even Damon needed a moment to recover… so he took it, simply leaving all present, and without a word – even to his lover – he headed back into the lair. With premeditated calm, he cleared his head of any thought, any ideas, and ignoring the predictable fact that Ares followed him silently, he went back to their nook, letting him close the plate behind them as the teen simply dropped face-first into their nest and groaned with relief.

"Do you… want to talk about it?" he heard his mate ask carefully, feeling his t-shirt and jeans melt away alongside his boots, then the touch of Ares's big, hot hand soothingly smooth over his back.

"Nope," he muttered in reply into the black fur his face was buried in. "No thinking, no planning… I just want to sleep."

"Okay," his Alpha sighed agreeably, then carefully settled in the nest beside him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Damon sighed softly with relief, pushing his head under his lover's chin as he wrapped himself around his bigger frame like an octopus, taking deep, greedy whiffs of his unique, soothing scent. Before long, he was purring, enjoying Ares's heat as much as the way his shapeshifter nuzzled against his ear, petting his back in a way that made Damon melt into him.

And he realized how much he needed it – needed him – right now to stay sane. He could only imagine that Raha wasn't faring better, and he felt bad about leaving him as he did… but, for once, he didn't want his twin, but he needed his mate instead. It was new and, at some level, pretty unsettling, too.

But Raha couldn't understand how he felt right now. Ares knew how fucking overwhelmed he felt. Ares, who once united the warring Clans to lead them against humanity, who spent decades responsible for the well-being of his Clan, and who invented the freaking Coalition… that apparently, just gave themselves up to him and his twin.

Alongside the ten Pyre Houses… and he had an unsettling feeling that that was just the beginning!

"We met fucking Lucifer… the Devil himself," he murmured, breathing easier when his lover simply hummed in assent as if it wasn't a big deal. For him, probably it wasn't, though. "He hit on Senri and Raha… Then told us that if we could prove to be human-primordial hybrids, the whole Otherworld would look to us for shelter and protection. Them… angels and demons, I mean… included. But hearing that in speculative…" he trailed off and sighed deeply.

"Is very different from seeing it begin, hm?" Ares whispered by his ear, his hand never faltering in its slow, delicate slides up and down his back.

"Yeah…" he gasped, pressing his nose against his lover's collarbone. "I need… some time."

"Okay," his mate agreed, and Damon scowled, despite keeping his eyes closed.

"You're not going to be… all submissive now, right?" he deadpanned, though his insides clenched with an unpleasant feeling. Ares was silent for a few seconds, then he sighed and rubbed his chin against the top of his head.

"I don't think so, no… It's just a lot to take in, kitten," he chuckled in a low, pleasant sound, and Damon relaxed a bit, tightening the arm spanning his mate's waist. "And like you said… I do want to give you time to process all of this, Damon. I can only imagine how overwhelming it is and… I know you don't like me to say it, but you're so young… I'm here if you need me, that's all. I love you, and I want to be able to support you… And if you want me to be completely honest, I really love this… To hold you like this, I mean. For you to turn to me like this…" he buried his nose in Damon's hair and sighed with something that sounded very much like contentment.

…perhaps he should mind it, but he found that he didn't. Opening up his shields gingerly, he could literally feel Ares's happiness in the fact that he so clearly needed him… and it felt like a natural thing to lean his head away and let their lips be pulled together like magnets.

His lover's touch was still delicate and soothing when his hand wrapped around Damon's cheek, his kiss slow and steady, letting him focus only on the rhythm of their tongues lazily sliding against each other. He didn't even realize when he buried his hand in the fur-like silk of Ares's hair, simply enjoying the press of the strand between his fingers as he let himself drown out all thoughts of the day's events in his hybrid's flavor.

There was no haste or pressure here this time, no brutal arousal but a gentle heat shimmering in his blood when Ares rolled him to his back without breaking the kiss as he braced above him on his elbows. And feeling like, at least for a moment, he could hide from the world under his bigger frame, Damon relished easily submitting to his Alpha. His hands slowly but confidently explored the expanse of Ares's back to possessively cradle his ass as he spread his legs to accommodate his lover's weight between them. His mate moved his right hand to smooth it over his thigh in that soothing rhythm even as he rolled over him slowly, full-body rubbing against him until, with every slide of their hard cock pressing together, Damon was gasping and mewling under his lips.

And when he finally took him, sliding inside him like he always belonged in his body – like he was part of him he was missing - as their souls and minds entangled, he felt safe and adored like only his Alpha could make him feel.


Despite being quite cranky, when in the middle of the lunch, her and Alisaie's phones vibrated atop their table simultaneously, Jess raised her eyebrows in surprise, frowning as she pulled her device closer to her plate and unlocked her screen. Her eyebrows only moved higher as she read the pop-up.

'Damon Mallory invited you to a chat room.'

In her peripheral vision, she saw Alisaie press her fingertip against the screen of her phone nearly simultaneously as she pressed 'Accept.'

Raha: …?

Alisaie: ?

Damon: I'm not moving my ass from the nest, but I thought the girls might appreciate an invitation to the movie night. At the lair.

Jess: Movie night? O.o

Raha: Is that really something that we should be focusing on right now, D?

Alisaie: You guys are having a movie night? Wtf? xD

Damon: Yuuup! We're introducing our silly cats to the wonders of cinema. And, Raha, fuck off, would ya? I'm taking a day off from all of that. I recommend you do, too, brother.

Jess: All of what? O.O

Raha: Never mind. It's a long and insane story.

Alisaie: Ah, how's Callie doing BTW?

Jess gasped, then grinned and nodded across the table at her white-haired friend. She momentarily felt bad about not asking about that earlier, but she had been… preoccupied. With certain Pyre that had failed to show up last night, leaving her waiting up until 3 a.m. before she gave up, cursing not taking his phone number. Leaving her wondering if he also regretted not asking for hers or perhaps… he lost interest for whatever reason.

Nope… not going there.

Her phone beeped with another message, making her bling and focus on the screen again.

Damon: Preoccupied with her mate, I believe :p

Jess: Oh, so who was it?

Raha: Fenris.

She gasped simultaneously as Alisaie and they exchanged baffled looks.

Alisaie: THAT Fenris?

Damon: Mhmm. The same one last time making eyes at Raha xD But he seems quite pleased with the situation as far as I can tell.

Jess: Duh! Callie's sweet and gorgeous, so yeah… xD

Raha: I'm just relieved it turned out this way. Good for them and all. Don't want to get into details here, but they're a better match than anyone could guess.

Damon: Yeah, but going back… 8 p.m. works for you? This time I'll tell the guards to expect you :p

Alisaie: Fine with me.

Raha: If you want to, we'll prepare a nook for you to stay the night. It's Friday, after all.

Jess: Sounds good, though I must return early in the morning. My brother is coming back tomorrow.

Raha: Ravi's in town? Been ages :o

Damon: Mhmm, suspiciously so.

Jess: Officially, he had been working over the summer, unofficially, my mom thinks he had been 'otherwise preoccupied,' if you catch my drift.

Alisaie: …as in: dating someone?

Raha: I would be surprised if he didn't xD But why he wouldn't come over to introduce her or something?

Damon: …don't be naïve, bro.

Raha: …? O.o

Alisaie: ?

Jess cringed, tossing her friend an apologetic smile across the table before typing.

Jess: Not my story to tell, sorry.

Damon: I'm fine with that. OK, I'm going back to letting my boyfriend spoil me – CYA in the evening! :3

Raha: TMI, D.

Alisaie: xD What's the movie, BTW?

Raha: …you're going to laugh.

Jess: ?

Alisaie: ?

Raha: 'How to train your dragon.'

She blinked, then she and Alisaie snorted at the same time.

Raha: It was a bit of a hassle to decide on the first one we want to show them, then finding a version in Arabic, with English subtitles, but yeah… You know, felt fitting, and on a side note, we had to get the Elders's approval, so animation felt like something safe to begin with. And… the theme is kind of on the nose, right?

Jess: That's for sure!

Alisaie: I LOVE Toothless, and if I think about it, he does kind of remind me of Senri xD

Raha: …har har. Anyway, gotta go. See you in the evening!

Jess bit her lower lip while her finger hovered over the screen hesitantly.

Alisaie: Is Gabriel going to be there, too?

She gasped and looked toward her friend's knowing smirk.

Raha: Dunno. Something came up last night... and I think he might be preoccupied for a while. His 'boss's' back, and though I know they're here, I haven't seen them today yet.

…oh. She tried not to grimace at the screen, but considering the next message, she must have failed.

Alisaie: He's in trouble?

Raha: Nah, nothing as simple I think. But again, it's a long and complicated story and a weird situation overall. Maybe we can explain it in the evening, will see.

Jess: OK, cya then :]

Alisaie: And thanks for inviting us! :D

Jess: That, sorry ^

Raha: It's fine. Like he said, I guess we can use a distraction right now. Have a good day, and see you later tonight o/

Jess exhaled loudly, locked her phone, and looked at Alisaie, who leaned back in her seat with a considering expression.

"Something's up," she said, and her friend nodded in agreement, then opened her mouth…

…and the loud sound of the bell cut off whatever she meant to say. They exchanged looks, then set to gather their things and eventually headed back to the classroom.

Consciously leaving worrying about what's going on in the lair of shapeshifters for later, for once, she completely missed the glares Gina and her besties tossed their way or their increasingly offensive remarks.

Since morning the blonde acted as if she was possessed and more hostile than ever – but considering that an increasing number of people in their school were tossing her way considering looks as the rumors about yesterday circulated the building, Jess wasn't surprised. Gina's castle of cards she built her popularity on was getting uneven under her feet, and she would be more surprised if she weren't trying to regain footing by any means…

And watching that with some sort of a weird detachment, she couldn't help but wonder how she hadn't ever noticed it about her before that whole fallout. They'd have been 'best friends' for almost ten years... most of her life, really. So how did she get so blindsided that she didn't notice anything off before it blew up in her face?

…well, an easy answer would be that she trusted her too much. Or, perhaps, that before that, she never even thought of things like sexuality and such.

If not for that whole situation, she would also never have picked up on what apparently Damon was aware of about her brother. The way Ravi was causing trouble seemingly randomly and how his normally easy-going smirk turned daring whenever the irritated Sheriff came around, smacking him over the head or giving him a lecture.

She did wonder if her brother stayed in the city for the last few months because he was dating someone and was stupidly embarrassed about 'them' being rather 'he' than 'she' or because he was avoiding their very obviously straight Sherriff.

She wondered involuntarily if Damon – being so perceptive – had a better idea about the reason than she did. Perhaps she would dare ask… given the occasion. She felt that Ravi would refuse to share one way or another.

A few hours later, when the classes ended, and she left the school alongside Alisaie, chatting about the assignment they had been given due Monday and about the dinner tomorrow, she honestly didn't expect to see the familiar blonde again leaning against the pillar of the open gate. Perhaps that's why she stopped like her feet grew into the ground.

…or maybe that was because Gabriel wasn't alone and the accompanying him man…

…holy fuck…

The silence ruling on the plaza in front of the school was deafening as every person leaving the building froze as soon as they saw the very tall, dark-haired male dressed in an elegant suit and, despite cloudy November weather, with sunglasses that carefully covered his eyes but didn't manage to hide his unnatural, too-perfect beauty. Even after seeing Senri and his oldest brother in their humanoid forms, this man… wow.

"Holy shit," she heard Alisaie gasp. "Who is that?"

Jess had her suspicions, but she shook her head, swallowing thickly before, with sheer strength of will, she forced her feet to move toward the men who looked toward them expectantly. She felt relieved when Alisaie caught up and wrapped her shaky hands around her arm if a quick look showed her expression was completely neutral.

…should we bow or something? She was tempted to laugh hysterically at the thought as they reached the gate.

"Hey, darling," Gabriel tossed her a sheepish grin, then pointed toward his silent companion. "Raphael, my brother-in-law, wished to meet you… and sorry," he added softer, shifting uncomfortably as if unsure how to proceed.

"Ah…" she found her voice, and it failed her instantly. Despite the shades, she felt Raphael scrutinized her, though his expression was completely impassive. "N-Nice to meet you…?" she cringed internally at how lame that sounded, no less than how she outstretched her hand toward him.

"My pleasure, Miss Denson," everything inside her trembled at the sound of his voice, and her heart jumped in her throat when he caught her hand, his perfect lips curled into a smirk before he leaned in and brushed them against the top of her hand.

She damn nearly passed out!

When he repeated that whole shtick with Alisaie, she wondered if she looked as shell-shocked as her friend did or if Alisaie felt ready to combust.

She didn't feel much better when Gabriel caught her hand, then tugged her into his side, brushing his lips against her temple with a knowing smirk.

"He does have this sort of effect on people," he chuckled while she was literally unable to take her eyes off his brother-in-law. "The shock wears off, trust me… eventually. In a century or so."

And despite trying… she could hardly even imagine that!

"I wished to apologize since Gabriel told me my sudden return last night interfered with your plans," Raphael said with a pleasant enough smile… that downright melted her brain. Nope, no way I'm ever getting used to that!

"It's… Ah, o-okay," she choked out, curling her hand in Gabe's navy blue hoodie for support.

"You're too kind," the male's smile grew, and she could imagine he was well aware of his effect on everyone looking at him. But… holy fuck! "Now, if you excuse me, I'll take my leave. Gabe, remember what we discussed?" he directed his shaded eyes at her Pyre, and she felt the blonde tense, but he nodded obediently without a word. "Ladies, have a lovely afternoon," Raphael said toward them with a polite bow, then turned… and fucking blinked out of existence!

The sea of gasps followed when her jaw dropped, and Gabriel groaned loudly, then tightened his arm around her shoulders before taking hold of Alisaie's arm and pulling them both behind the gate and out of the school grounds.

"Yeah…" he said toward their dumbstruck expressions while nudging them to walk – swiftly – away from the building of the school. "Some things are about to change... If I wanted to warn you before… something like this."

"…the fuck?!" Alisaie apparently managed to 'unmute' faster than her.

"Long story short?" he sighed, freed Alisaie's arm, and ran his fingers through his golden hair, mussed as if he'd been doing that a lot in the past few hours. "Pyre about to go public."

And while they could only stare at him without understanding, a weird sort of smirk fluttered over his expression before he added:

"And not only us, so prepare for the fireworks because it's about to get wild."

About that… she had no doubt!


Raha left his lover in the Hub and, under the pretense of being tired, headed back to their nook. In there, he Shifted to his true form, then climbed up their 'cat house.' Reaching the top, a flat deck close to the ceiling of their nook, he sat on his hind legs, then closed his eyes and focused inwardly.

Since he woke up this morning, he had this… insanely itchy sensation rubbing his senses raw that didn't dissolve after he had sex with Senri. No, instead, throughout the day, it gradually increased, and considering his mounting… irritation with it, he finally gave up pretending it was only in his head.

He wasn't even surprised when, as soon as he opened his senses, something brushed them, feeling like tendrils edging against his mind, probing the shield his twin taught him to elect to protect himself. He felt a spike of anxiety coming from his bond to Senri, and he didn't doubt his hybrid would be here soon, checking on what he was doing, but his innate curiosity had him gingerly push back against those intruding… something.

In hindsight… it wasn't his smartest moment.

As if encouraged, It pushed harder, insistently, and when he instinctively balked, trying to pull back, It dug in, its tendrils turning into spikes that ravenously pierced his shield and shoved under it.

…he woke up to Senri frantically petting his fur, saying his name repeatedly, though it took him a moment to understand it as his head felt stuffed with cotton. Kneeling by him, his lover's beautiful face was white like a sheet.

"Raha… What did you do?" he whispered as his hand shakily curled in the fur at the base of his neck. He shook his head, attempting to clear it before hesitantly climbing to sit on his hind legs again.

Before he could open his maw to ask what he meant, however, something moved in his peripheral vision, and he turned his head, narrowing his confused eyes. It was his wing… but it was completely off. Feeling an inner tremor, he turned his head harder, eyeing his fur, and gasped.

Tendrils of the multitude of colors rose from his fur, churning into a strange sort of tapestry, raising and falling, though heavily transparent. They seemed to create an inch-thick aura around him and his wings. And while he stared at it, trying to figure out what the fuck was that…

…something in the back of his head purred, sounding gleeful and furious simultaneously.

Consciousness, It rumbled while his gaze swiveled to meet his lover's gaze just in time to see Senri flinch and his pale eyes grow enormous in his even ashen face. He didn't have to ask if he heard that, too. Interesting. New. More.

"…the fuck?" he breathed, helplessly looking around after the disembodied voice… hoping 'It' wasn't what he had a creeping suspicion it was.

…why did Mother Night choose that exact night – as Raphael told him after Damon and Ares left them – to have Her children submit to them?

More. More. More. It sounded insistent, happy, and angry simultaneously. Child mine, taste more.

"Chaos," Senri said numbly, and he nodded unnecessarily, feeling equally numb inside.


Notes:

I'm like... VERY hesitant to share it, but I thought - hopefully - you won't think I'm utterly insane, I guess.

The reason being, in short, I decided to attempt to publish this story via Amazon. Before you start laughing - at worst, hopefully - let me explain.

Most of us - if not all - dream of earning a living doing something we love, right? Well, for me, it always had been writing, obviously. During my recent vacation, on downtime, I read A LOT of books from a similar genre to this story, and that gave me an idea - obviously - that I feel like I'm going to regret for the rest of my life if I at least don't try, right?
This story has been special for me to work on because, other than the names, it's nearly wholly original. Something that - before - I would never believe I could write xD
So, cutting it off from FFXIV and its other influences by rewriting a lot of it [hence my silence other than FFXIV Write], it's something of a leap of faith for me, I guess.
And as terrifying! I don't even know yet if it's going to go through if I'll spare you the details, but as it might be - at some point - it's possible I'll have to take down this story from AO3, hence I felt like I owe you an explanation [and, I admit, I perhaps hope a bit that you WON'T laugh, okay?].
Currently, I'm waiting for the picture I've ordered to be its cover [and so far, it's AMAZING, believe me. Whether it goes through or not, I can't wait to show it off!]
Also, since I already have to do a lot of rewriting, correcting, etc - that version will be quite expanded. With a bunch of new, changed and extended scenes, I mean. It might take a while before I feel it's polished enough to go under Amazon's scrutiny... and verdict, I guess... but I hope you'll find it yourself to keep your fingers crossed for me! [and who knows, maybe even buy the book when it's available!]
[yeah... I'm fucking nervous!]

Until then, I'll still try to update whenever I can, and if I do have to take this down, I'll warn you beforehand.
Cheers, and have a nice day o/