The lazy ripple of the Silvertear lake and the distant roar of the beasts are the only sounds breaking the silence when the mismatched eyes slowly drift open. One muscular body rises and stretches lazily on top of the other, a red tail flexes a few times experimentally as red-furry cat-like ears twitch at the unexpectedly loud sounds. A slight smile tilts plush lips as the eyes of vertically slit pupils turn toward the starlit sky – one iris Allagan crimson, the other too-bright cyan.
He leans over the prone figure of his lover, and delicately brushes his smiling lips against the other's as his move in a spell – for mortals a long-dead language is barely more than a whisper that has the aether writhe in the air around them. A pair of too-bright blue eyes shoot wide open and instantly meets enamored mismatched irises. Big – rough from the years of sword-wielding – hands close around his cheeks and pull him in a sweet kiss full of millennia-worth of longing.
„You do look glorious like this," Ancient-bright blue eyes shimmer with amusement and boundless devotion as their lips part and those hands drift down the back of his lover's to close around his hips. The telltale dampness between their bodies makes his lips tilt in a naughty smirk.
„No time to play," yet plush lips tilt in a similar grin as they travel down along his beloved's jaw to nip at his throat – sharpened senses feeding his mortal vessel's body with involuntary lust. „This body can't support my soul for long, Ares. Not yet."
„A shame," arms lift to wrap around his man and pull him tight against his chest, and he delicately nuzzles against the unfamiliar mark on his husband reincarnation's throat. Yet his heart stutters with terror when Damon's vessel lifts and there's a thin, red trail sipping from his nose. He is right, as always – his reincarnation's body can't handle the sheer power of Damon's soul. He feels his being barely held together by the Traveller's Ward – and almost smirks, swiftly sifting through T'senri's memories. The mortal truly believed that it was the 'Blessing' from Venat that granted him sharpened senses and heightened physical fitness – which was how they planned it. He curls his-not-his hand around his lover's cheek – pitying his mortal vessel as his too-bright irises travel across beloved features and his now mortal heart can barely handle the depths of his love. His immortal eyes privy to the sheer beauty of Damon's soul are nearly blinded by it – same as millennia ago, on the day he laid his eyes on the man of a most brilliant mind and truest heart in the whole of Eitherys.
Yet the memory of his reincarnation's crime against his and his husband's soul swiftly chases the pity away – and a hint of guilt at what their plan requires.
„Ready?" Damon whispers, taking hold of both of his hands and intertwining their fingers tightly. „It won't be pleasant," he adds, mismatched eyes full of determination even as his lower lip trembles.
„As I'll ever be," Ares answers, squeezing his fingers and closing his eyes when his husband leans in and rests his forehead against his.
They take twin deep breaths that shudder – then whisper in tandem and their now mortal bodies shake under the sheer power of the spell Damon invented millennia ago for this moment. Azem almost whimpers in grief when they fall quiet – their bodies panting harshly as their souls writhe in agony for a heartbeat... then split.
His soul cries at the true loneliness experienced for the first time in millennia and by Damon's breathless sob he knows it isn't alone.
A steep price to pay for what they need – yet necessary to save the one they love as much as each other.
„For him," his husband's reincarnation whispers in comfort, brushing his lips against Ares's, then settles against him in the same position he woke up in. „Until the next time, my love."
„For Hades. Sleep well, my heart," Azem replies brushing his lips against his lover's temple, wrapping his arms around him, and setting in wait at the back of his mortal reincarnation's mind – a silent predator waiting for his moment to strike.
A sudden movement on top of him made T'senri woke up with a gasp when his – now truly – lover scrambled off him with a squeak of embarrassment. He blinked groggily, rubbing his hands over his face as he tried to gather his bearings.
„It's not the safest place for... this sort of thing," a familiar voice drawled above him with obvious amusement, and Warrior groaned, focusing his gaze with effort on the smirk on Cid's face. Then his logical mind finally kicked in and he sat up violently, looking around after his historian. He snorted a laugh at the sight of Raha – his face almost as red as his hair as stood in the cold water of the lake up to his chest – glaring daggers toward the engineer.
Then he looked over himself – naked and quite... soiled – and he flushed up to his hairline, swiftly pulling the edge of the blanket over himself and glaring no less at his friend that his lover.
„Do you need something, Cid?" he snapped, with an uncharacteristically harsh tone trying to cover his mortification.
„Not especially, no," the engineer chuckled, folding his arms over his chest and politely averting his eyes. „I was heading to bathe... when I stumbled upon you. I guess G'raha didn't appreciate being... startled," by his voice, he was clearly choking down a laugh at his lover's expanse.
T'senri rolled his eyes, then cleared his throat meaningfully, raising his eyebrows pointedly when his friend looked at him again.
„Ah, alright," Cid sighed, then turned around and headed back toward the camp, waving slightly over his shoulder. „But do hurry up, boyos."
Warrior scowled involuntarily looking after him, then pushed back the blanket and got up, heading toward his historian. Raha was still so very flushed when he reached him, but he didn't resist when T'senri pulled him against his chest and rested his chin on top of his red hair while wrapping his arms around his shoulders.
„Are you okay, Raha?" he hummed, nuzzling against his lover's lowered ears.
„I'm fine," his historian sighed, coiling his arms around his waist and pressing tightly against his chest. „He just scared the seven hells out of me," he chuckled sheepishly, resting his slowly cooling cheek over T'senri's heart.
„No, love," the Warrior said with a hint of worry, lifting his hand to tilt his lover's face toward him delicately. „You have a bloody nose."
„Huh?" Raha frowned, freeing one hand to touch his face.
„It's all dried up, but..." he moved his hand into the water around them, then brushed his thumb under Raha's nose, wiping the red smear. That done, he wrapped both of his hands around his historian's jaw, devouring his beautiful face with his eyes. „So again... are you okay, love?"
„I'm more than a bit tired," Raha admitted shyly, wrapping his hands around T'senri's wrists as his handsome face flushed beautifully. „But otherwise okay... I think."
„Good," the Warrior sighed with relief, then leaned in and placed a sweet, loving kiss on his lover's plush lips. His historian purred under his mouth, swiftly sinking his fingers in T'senri's hair and pulling him into a deeper, hotter kiss, swallowing his instant, hungry growl. Petting his ear in a delicate caress while they kissed, his Raha had him hard and aching in a heartbeat, tearing a helpless groan from his throat. Forgetting anything but his addictive taste and intoxicating scent, T'senri purred insistently, dropping his hands into the water to wrap them around the tempting curve of his lover's ass – the memory of its maddeningly tight squeeze around his cock had him roll his hips involuntarily, rutting against the hard muscles on Raha's stomach. „G-gods..." he breathed when they broke apart, panting for air desperately while his lover smoothed his hands along his sides and around his hips to dig his fingers in the muscles of his ass and pull him against him harder.
„Next t-time..." his historian whispered, then swallowed thickly and hid his flaming face against T'senri's chest. The Warrior couldn't mind, almost whining in the back of his throat while his lover pulled and pushed with his grip on him slightly, just enough to cause delicious friction on T'senri's cock stuck against his historian's stomach. He let his head drop on Raha's shoulder, nuzzling against his throat affectionately and pleadingly while his hands scrambled across his too beautiful body. „...I want to f-fuck you, Snark. Can I, love?"
„Y-yeah," he stammered, almost jumping out of his skin when his lover purred, nuzzling against his chest gratefully. „...now?" His cock was definitely hoping for a yes.
„No, now it's time to wash," his historian chuckled sheepishly, then leaned away with a beautiful blush on his face. T'senri couldn't resist but lean in, but before he could kiss his lover, Raha turned his head away with a quiet snicker. Now the Warrior did whine, chasing his lover's pretty mouth to be suddenly shoved back and in his distraction, he landed squarely underwater. He pushed off the bottom of the lake, breaking the surface again, and coughed out the water he inhaled on the way down, scowling darkly at his cackling historian and brushing his wet hair back from his eyes. „Ohhh, Thaliak, your face...!" Raha crooned, swiftly backing away when icy-blue eyes narrowed into slits and the Warrior snarled. Yet unbeknownst to him, T'senri's tail whipped under the surface of the water with enthusiasm.
„You're sooo paying for that," he stated a matter-of-fact, following his prey with a sharp smirk when his historian laughed harder, then turned and jumped into the water, swimming away quickly.
G'raha groaned deeply as he sagged against his Warrior's back bonelessly, both tumbling into the blankets of T'senri's nest. While his ears twitched at his lover's blissed-out, deep purrs and his body shook in the aftershocks, he decided that he definitely didn't have a preference between fucking or being fucked by Senri. Both felt beyond anything he ever experienced before – that's for sure!
He chuckled breathlessly, then pulled back and nudged his lover's side. Senri shifted to his side, making a space for him, then once he laid down with a tired sigh, the Warrior wrapped his arms around him possessively, pulling his back tight against his chest and burying his face against G'raha's neck, tearing happy, loud purrs from his throat. He settled comfortably in his lover's tight embrace, wrapping his hand around Senri's forearm while his tail coiled around the Warrior's waist in an involuntary, possessive claim.
G'raha yawned widely, nuzzling his cheek against his lover's bicep and despite the quite early bell, feeling almost... drained. Maybe he was coming down with something...? He usually tended to be quite more energetic than today... He frowned but relaxed when Senri pressed a tender kiss on his shoulder – right over the quite visible bite mark left after the last night's... tryst.
„For a moment I thought..." his Warrior whispered against his skin, then sighed softly with a hint of disappointment.
G'raha's heart clenched slightly, but he closed his eyes and smoothed his hand soothingly over his lover's arm.
„You know it's not possible, Snark," he said delicately, stifling another yawn. Twelve, but he was exhausted...
„I know," still, his Warrior sounded at least... petulant, and G'raha smiled involuntarily, pulling his arm around himself tighter. „But then why did we pass out so... suddenly?"
„I don't know, love," he admitted, half-aware he was slurring at this point. „Maybe... it was so good... it... blew our... minds?" he chuckled sleepily, then sighed with bliss when his lover freed his arm to pull blankets over them.
He felt warm, loved, and cared for... and that was beyond soothing. When Senri wrapped his arm around him again, his deep, rumbling purrs filled G'raha's ears and soon he started to feel like he was falling away into nothing.
„Mated or not... You're mine now, Raha," he heard from far away and felt a tender, happy smile tilt his lips. He hummed with an agreement and it was last he knew before he drifted off.
Only once the door behind his little brother and his 'best friend' closed, Ares snapped – grabbing the creature's throat and pinning it against the wall – cold, ruthless rage freezing his blood when it clawed at his hand, fighting for a breath.
„Ares!" Venat shouted, grabbing at his forearm and trying to pull him back – but using his free hand he pushed her away violently, uncaring when she stumbled back with a gasp.
She couldn't understand his fury – none but one could. He focused again on a cat-like... thing wearing his face, struggling for breath in his grip.
„If your story is true," he drawled through his teeth. „You murdered my brother."
„I didn't... k-know," the thing gasped, growing near blue in the face.
„Ares, enough," a low, calm voice behind him tore through the sweet, cold song in his blood and he dropped the creature with a disgusted scoff, ignoring its gasping while his too-bright irises turned toward his husband – Damon still on his spot at the table, and though his beautiful face was a mask of calm and bright, cyan eyes were empty, Ares could feel his grief pouring over their eternal bond.
„Get this thing off my sight," he snarled toward Venat, and once she complied, leading the creature out of the room, he walked around the table, then dropped to his knees by his husband's chair. When Damon pushed it back, Ares laid his head in his lover's lap, nearly shaking as he fought to contain his temper.
When delicate fingers ran through his short, black hair he wrapped his arms around his husband's hips with a choked gasp. He was the wild one – the wrathful one – Damon was his rock and anchor in the storm. Always was. Always would be. Just not right now...
„I can't stand for this, Ares," his love whispered, only alone with him letting the boundless misery and grief fill his low voice.
„I know," he squeezed his eyes shut, working his jaw as for the first time in millennia his lover's presence wasn't as soothing as he needed – Damon's emotions only spiking his temper to new heights.
Not that he could blame him – not in this situation.
He was young for their race when they met and fell in love. Ares took one look at Damon's soul and he was instantly, painfully smitten. When this beautiful man agreed to do him the honor of becoming his, he was delirious with happiness. They bound their souls for all of eternity – and millennia later, Ares never regretted that.
But centuries into their bonding... they grew apart briefly, as both felt they missed something – yet were unwilling to hurt the other with their... impossible wants. It lasted until upon one of their anniversaries Ares's parents invited them into their dwelling and offered them the greatest gift of all.
Feeling they fulfilled their life purposes, they announced they were ready to slip away into Lifestream as was their race's way at the end of their journey. Yet his mother, somehow aware of the silent rift growing between her beloved son and his husband – and correctly guessing the reason behind it – made them an offer that made their immortal souls sing.
The day she placed his little brother in his and his husband's care was one of the happiest and saddest in his immortal life – as once he gained the son he was dreaming of, he lost his parents. But he could never express the depths of his gratitude for what gift Hades turned out to be.
They adored him, though Ares never hid from his brother what was their real connection. While Damon grew to be a real parental figure for the growing immortal, Ares enjoyed being the annoying – though overprotective – older brother. He was the light of their existence and made their bond grow strong again – stronger than ever, really.
And now to know that his... so-called 'reincarnation' in its ignorance slew him? It was... unacceptable!
„This doesn't... seem right," his husband whispered, combing his fingers through Ares's hair. „What he... it described, doesn't sound like our Hades at all..."
Azem opened his eyes but remained silent – knowing when Damon was thinking out loud – and letting his brilliant mind work.
„He kidnaps my reincarnation, threatens it, knowing this... thing will do anything to protect it... Challenges it to a... duel? Why...?" Damon murmured and when Ares peered up, he could almost see the gears turning furiously behind the cyan eyes he loved for millennia. „Why bother when he could simply snap it out of existence...? Our Hades is a prodigy... Venat's Ward, even powered up by her... change, wouldn't save it if he... wanted..." his irises flash with understanding and instantly Ares felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he leaned away to sit on his legs, looking up at his beloved's face as it darkened into an uncharacteristic scowl. „He didn't want to win," Damon says slowly, rising his hand to curl it around Azem's cheek. „All the... posing it described... He didn't want to win, Ares."
He clenched his jaw, raising his hand and placing it over his husband's – searching his darkened eyes for the answer he needed to act.
„We have to stop this," Damon said slowly and he nodded in agreement, raising his chin with determination while still holding his lover's hand against his cheek.
„Whatever it takes," he whispered simply, then brushed his lips against his husband's palm before getting up to his feet. „It said Hades and Hythlodaeus wouldn't remember any of this somehow. We should leave before whatever happens to them... reaches us."
„Not yet," Damon shook his head slowly, then rose to his feet. „We need to know more."
Ares scowled, narrowing his blue eyes at the closed door.
„Don't worry, love," his husband chuckled, though there wasn't much humor behind it. „I'll handle that part. It won't trust you after that outburst, anyway," he sighed, wrapping his arms around Ares's neck and pulling him in a tight embrace. „Find Hades and convince him to go along with... its plans," he whispered against his ear. Then – his next words – rang with steel. „As soon as I learn from it everything we need, we will leave – then plan and save our boy, without breaking the world... hopefully."
„We will," he agreed, returning his husband's embrace and closing his eyes.
Between his lover's brilliant mind and his skills, changing the future didn't sound that... impossible.