The sensation of the mix of hot skin and chilly living crystal pressing against his stomach as his shirt was slowly pulled up while sharp teeth nibbled at the skin of his throat – was more than enjoyable to wake up to. Despite the pounding headache and his mouth feeling like they were stuffed with cotton, T'senri tilted his head with a low, pleased hum of pleasure while the small, sharp bites trailed down his throat and his hands almost automatically smoothed over the taut muscles when his lover shifted on top of him.
"Good morning, Snark," Raha's low, soothing voice – mixed with his enticing purrs – vibrated against the junction of his neck and shoulder before a rough tongue slid over his mating mark. That, combined with the crystalized fingers sneaking between their bodies and under the waistband of T'senri's pants to delicately wrap around his cock… had the Warrior painfully aroused before his half-awake, dazed mind could fully understand where he was… not that he minded, his senses drowning in his mate's intoxicating scent.
"Ra-Raha…" he rasped, then grimaced at the feeling of dryness in his mouth and the awful taste of the alcohol consumed the previous night.
"How do you feel, my love?" his lover whispered, nuzzling against his throat affectionately even while the slow movement of his hand had T'senri arch under him with a quiet mewl of arousal.
"Th… Thirsty," he chuckled sheepishly, licking his dry lips. "And my head… is killing me," he admitted with shame. Now, he had simply no idea why at the time drinking seemed like a good idea… as always…
"Aww, my poor heart…" Raha cooed soothingly, placing a delicate, fond kiss on his throat. "Let's see if I can help you with that…" he chuckled… maybe a bit evilly and before T'senri could collect his scattered wits enough to comprehend… The sudden surge of aether in his mate's soul across their bond was the only warning before a wave of deliciously soothing healing magic poured over his body… spreading from Raha's crystalized hand over his cock, and the sensation of it…
"…oh, fuuuuck… Raaaha…" he mewl-purred, almost trashing under his lover as the feeling seemed to instantly overcome his senses, stealing his breath and mind as he rutted into his lover's grip mindlessly, dying for more…
"…better?" Raha chuckled, going back to nibbling at his throat, uttering only a quiet growl as he slowly rutted his more than interested flesh against T'senri's clothed thigh while Warrior couldn't do much more than whine his name, clasping his hands around his lover's hips. He buried his flaming face against the crystal on Raha's throat, almost… embarrassed by the utterly needy sounds tearing from his throat – his headache completely gone… replaced by almost painful pressure to come at the sensation of his lover's aether pouring over his skin and nerve endings.
Yet when delicate bites climbed his throat and neared his lips, he flushed furiously and reluctantly turned his head away, refusing to let his love taste the absolutely foul flavor in his mouth. Raha laughed softly at that, then placed a fond kiss on his throat… and T'senri shouted, arching violently when the aether changed… and a delicate sparks of levin sizzled his nerves.
Before he knew what happened, his whole body throbbed, the overload simply too much to bear as he came with a choked snarl, shuddering violently and mewl-purring his lover's name breathlessly.
"Interesting," Raha whispered with a hint of amusement while T'senri flushed up to his hairline, fighting to catch his breath as his body jerked and shook in aftershocks… still more than overcharged.
"What was… that?" he gasped with wide-eyed astonishment when his lover chuckled and sat up astride his waist, bracing his normal arm by the Warrior's head while he freed his crystalized hand.
"A little bit of… lightning," Raha smirked, wiggling his dark-red eyebrows meaningfully… then he brought his crystalized fingers up to his pretty mouth and licked them with an expression on his handsome face… that somehow reminded T'senri of a kitten that got its paw in a bowl of cream… And he almost expired at the sight. "I had a lot of time to practice many different types of magic, love… And it seems some of them have more… interesting uses than I thought," he chuckled with obvious amusement at T'senri's expression. And he couldn't blame him as he had to look quite dumbfounded – simply torn between dying to taste those pretty lips and his instinctive resistance to in any way displease his mate.
That's it…! He's never drinking again!
He almost whined his discomfort, pulling his lover down against him and coiling his arms around him possessively, desperately nuzzling against the crystal on his shoulder – where his mark should be…
"I really… really want to kiss you, Raha," he grumbled a complaint, letting his right hand smooth down his lover's back to needily knead at his marvelous behind, pulling and pushing delicately to force his lover to rut against his stomach. He grinned triumphantly when his beautiful mate before long was mewling his name breathlessly, rubbing against him harder and purring his need near-deafeningly.
Beyond aroused – and simply yearning for nothing more than to fulfill his lover's needs – he pushed Raha off him, then with purely male aggression, he knew his mate enjoyed, forced him to his stomach before he could much more than gasp, and pinned him down with his weight. Nuzzling against his neck, he impatiently pushed back the waistband of his pants, internally cursing the stubborn, soiled material as his male writhed under him, clawing at the surrounding him pillows and whimpering his need.
"Shhh, my heart," he purred soothingly, placing an affectionate kiss on his neck as he shifted to reach toward the spot they kept the oil – thanking the gods for his long arms in thought. He hissed through his teeth spreading it over his aching erection, then set to carefully prepare his lover to take him, purring against his neck while Raha buckled under his weight, fighting to press against his touch harder.
"Snark…!" his lover snapped, growling in the back of his throat as he tossed him a narrowed look over his shoulder.
Chuckling at his mate's obvious annoyance, dying to be able to pacify him with a bite – not the first time cursing covering him crystallization – he mounted him slowly, carefully, trying not to lose it at the almost too-hot, too-tight squeeze of muscles around his cock while Raha went utterly pliant under him with instinctive, submissive purrs of arousal and need.
He grabbed his mate's mismatched wrists and crossing them above his head, pinned them down in a show of dominance his lover enjoyed, then freed one hand to clasp it around Raha's hip and pull him back with him, forcing him to stretch out into a tantalizing display of submission.
"…oh, g-gods…" his lover mewled into the pillows while T'senri delicately took hold of his tail at its base, letting the sensitive appendage coil around his arm possessively while he pulled back with a groan, then slammed back into the tight heat with a slight roll of his hips, growling his approval when Raha jolted under him with a choked whine, the position forcing him into an utter submission – unable to do much more than to simply take him. "…m-more… Snark, pleeease…"
"My beautiful mate, so eager…" he chuckled breathlessly, setting a smooth, steady rhythm that had his lover choke on his whines and whimpers, stretching the beautiful expanse of his back – a mix of tanned skin and blue shine of the living crystal – in a vain attempt to force him deeper, harder… which T'senri rewarded eagerly, speeding up his thrusts. With his grip on his lover's tail tearing out of him helpless sobs of overstimulation while he forced him to bend harder, making sure to slam against the spot that had his mate whine his name in a nearly musical mix of mewls and needy purrs.
Fighting his own body's furious need as each sound of his lover's pleasure and simply the sight of him like this set his senses on fire, he was barely aware of the choked snarls and groans leaving his mouth on each stoke as they grew brutal and desperate when Raha came, almost screaming his name… When the possessive grip of his tail went lax as his mate mewled his bliss, shuddering under him in aftershocks of it, he groaned and let his freed hand travel around his hip, leaning against his back harder as he coiled his palm around Raha's still twitching dick. His lover merely mewled breathlessly, shakily rolling his hips as if to get away… only to push back onto his cock harder.
Trapped between the two, it took but a few carefully measured strokes for his mate's cock to twitch in his palm with renewed interest, growing hard even as Raha whined desperately in overstimulation. Feeling his pleasure almost edge into pain, T'senri slowed down despite his body's raging need, nuzzling against his lover's crystalized shoulder and spreading affectionate kisses over it in reassurance and bid to soothe him, until his lover gasped and – whining softly – started to rock back against his cock again, mewling while Warrior tightened his hand around his dick, letting him pick rhythm and basically fuck himself between his hand and cock.
Nearly dying in the painful pleasure of staving off his orgasm while Raha gradually increased his rhythm, moaning and whimpering his enjoyment mindlessly, so utterly lost in chasing his bliss, T'senri – knowing his mate's needs and what he liked best – waited till his noises grew a keening edge, only then freeing his wrists to brace his hand between his lover's shoulder blades and pin him down harder as he set to fuck him with barely contained violence. His brutal thrusts soon had his mate whine his name and writhe until he came with a string of choked sobs of his name, chanting it over and over between his mind-shattering mewls of bliss. That was simply too much… and he came with a roar, shaking with the pure, undiluted bliss that spilled over his body in near-violent shudders and waves of heat.
Grinding into his lover's delectable behind as his cock spasmed with a mind-numbing pleasure and nuzzling against his neck gratefully with near-deafening purrs, slowly he sagged against his back, though carefully bracing his weight on his elbows around his mate.
"…wicked white…" Raha chuckled breathlessly, shakily lifting his crystalized hand to tenderly pet T'senri's ear – at which his purrs only grew deeper and louder with happy notes. "…think, you should drink more often, Snark," he snickered when the Warrior bit delicately in a warning at the skin available just above the edge of crystallization on his throat.
"Nope," he whined petulantly, nosing insistently at his lover's neck. "I'm still dying to kiss you, my heart," he admitted with a quiet, sheepish chuckle.
And when at that Raha laughed brilliantly, shaking with it under him… he couldn't help but hide his stupid, goofy grin against his shoulder, feeling as if his chest would simply… burst under the sheer amount of love and happiness that made his eyes burn.
Twelve… but he missed that sound…
"Love you, Raha," he gasped almost involuntarily, placing a delicate kiss on his lover's cheek, before lifting off him with a small sigh and stretching lazily, his muscles feeling pleasantly sore. He really could get used to waking up like that… He will, once they're back on the Source… and Raha will be his – to keep and spoil. "Hope when we're back home… you don't mind recreating this nest for us," he chuckled, carelessly pulling off his shirt over his head – missing his lover's surprised look when he rolled over to his back.
"You really… like it?" his mate's almost… shy voice had him blink with astonishment, tossing the shirt aside as he leaned over him and pressed a tender kiss on his throat.
"No," he whispered teasingly, then sighed at Raha's sudden intake of air. "To say I like it… would be an understatement of the Era, my heart. To say I love it… it also feels like too small of a word to express how much I adore your creation… Especially when I think you made it while thinking to hide from me… And as grateful as I am now for Damon's interference with that insane plan of yours... I want you to know… To really know, Raha… That you're everything. That no matter what comes our way… I want you by my side, forever. And when I say… I love you, that's too pale words to express my devotion to you, my beautiful mate," he sighed, blushing as he straightened and sat up with a sheepish chuckle.
Oh, that finally makes sense, hummed Ares suddenly in the back of his head, making him flinch slightly and hastily look away from his lover – instinctively resenting the idea of sharing his beauty. Like I didn't see him before… the immortal chortled and T'senri scowled, growling softly even as his mate – with slightly teary eyes – sat up and leaned against his back, nuzzling affectionately against his neck as his mismatched arms coiled around his waist.
"Ares?" he whispered with a note of amusement in his thick voice.
"Mhmm," he hummed, wrapping his hand around the crystalized wrist, pulling his mate's hand up, and placing a delicate kiss on top of his palm. "What does make sense, anyway?" he said out loud to his lover's quiet chuckle.
I was wondering for some time why in the other timeline you never forgave him, Ares said with obvious consideration. Since your love for him is so… devoted, it was… confusing me. But I guess since you never knew who he was until he almost died for you… you never saw this nest and you never had the reassurance that he did know you… Or thought of you while you were separated. Not to mention that probably… he cut off, and T'senri frowned with surprise.
"Not to mention… what?" he insisted, scowling.
That you probably… weren't in the best mental state at the time, the immortal added almost reluctantly.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, turning in his lover's arms to pull him in his lap and wrap his arms around him possessively, nuzzling against the red-white hair and taking a deep breath, enjoying their mixed scents on both of them. He really needed the shower… but there was quite a suspicious note in Ares's voice. "What's wrong with my… mental state?"
Raha twitched, blinking his crimson eyes at him owlishly as he shifted to wrap his arms around his shoulders and nuzzle soothingly against his throat, sensing his rising agitation.
That's a… complicated story, Ares sighed. And not one I thought I'll be ever sharing with you, Senri.
"I'm all ears," he drawled through his teeth, narrowing his eyes in slits as he buried his face against his lover's shoulder.
As you wish, if anything, the immortal sounded… apprehensive and resigned. Do you remember how I said that Esteem was gone from you?
"Yeah…?" he closed his eyes, suddenly feeling that he was not going to like whatever Ares was going to say.
Well, I kind of… ate it, admitted the Ascian with a slightly sheepish chuckle.
"You… ate him?" his eyes shot wide open and he stared numbly at the wall above Raha's shoulder. "What the fuck? Wasn't he like… part of my soul?"
He was, Ares agreed. But after Dragonsong War… After Heurchefant and Ysale… Well, Senri, he was a pure manifestation of your inner darkness – and after that, it grew… too strong. Strong enough that when you broke after returning to the Rising Stones, he took over. And if you can imagine the living manifestation of… our vicious temper – it wasn't pretty, my boy. And since his first instinct was to go after Scions – I broke and consumed him before he could do any harm. It took days… but in the end, seemed to restore your… self to what it was before.
T'senri blinked slowly, trying to wrap his mind around… that. And failing miserably.
So as I said… I imagine that in the previous timeline, your mental state – with him along for the ride – wasn't… the best, the immortal continued with a considering tone. The 'T'senri' we met… was quite different from you, if I can say so. Much more bitter and… aggressive. In a way, perhaps, miserable. But I hated him – now that I think about it, maybe unreservedly – for what he did to Hades, so you may call me biased. One way or another… He never forgave Raha for this… stunt and as far as he told Damon… they weren't together, despite it clearly… upsetting him.
"I…" he swallowed thickly, burying his nose against his lover's throat and taking a deep, soothing whiff of his delicious scent. "I… ah, thank you, Ares. For… doing that," he added, tightening his arms around his lover when Raha hummed with a questioning tone. "No… Nothing, my heart… just let me hold you for a moment," he purred, placing a delicate kiss on his shoulder.
You're… very welcome, my boy, Ares chuckled, then sighed. And… not to break the bubble, but you should go back to Pendants before one of your friends decides to check on you.
"In a moment," he whispered, smoothing his hand over his lover's back. "I should go before they check on me," he said, nuzzling against Raha's shoulder and wishing the crystallization away… yet again.
"Mhmm," his mate hummed a reluctant agreement, sitting back in his lap, then delicately wrapped his mismatched hands around T'senri's jaw and Warrior instantly drowned in the crimson depths of his eyes. "Just so you know…" he said softly, then brushed his lips against his in a delicate caress, fearlessly holding his dazed stare. "…I love you too, my Snark. And once we… m-marry, I'll be more than happy to build you… us even better… nest," he flushed beautifully, then placed another soft kiss at the corner of T'senri's mouth. "Now… let's wash, my beautiful, though smelly Warrior, so I can get a proper kiss before you leave," he snickered… and it took T'senri's dazed brain a moment to register his words… before he flushed furiously and pouted.
"…smelly?" he repeated with a dark scowl, beyond embarrassed as he pushed his… cackling lover off his lap.
"Hey… I still love you!" Raha assured with a wide grin, but scrambled away from his grabbing hands, laughing brilliantly.
And as offended as he was at the remark – a high insult for a Miqo'te – the sound had him simply… melt, almost painfully reminding him of his rash, carefree historian and the best days of his life.
"Come on, my Snark," his lover sing-a-songed, heading toward the shower and sending him an inviting, playful smirk over his shoulder… making the Warrior follow after him almost mindlessly as his heart went simply… insane.
No, there were definitely no words big enough to express his feelings for his mate – but it didn't mean he'll ever stop trying.
"Oh, yeah…" he remembered suddenly and smiled sheepishly when his lover lifted his dark-red eyebrows slightly in question after he joined him under the hot stream of water. "…can you grant me the private use of the training grounds today?"
"For you, Snark…" Raha chuckled, wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him down to brush his lips against his cheek. "…anything."
"Glad you think so," he smirked, then unceremoniously pinned him against the wall, more than enjoying his breathless gasp. "Because… I have plenty of ideas about how you're going to pay for that rude remark, my heart."
"Oh?" pretty, plush lips tilted in a teasing smirk. "Do your worst, my Warrior."
"I will," he assured with an evil chuckle, then set to execute the first payment out of his lover.
Enough said… it was a while before he eventually left the Tower.
After he returned to the Ocular from his evening rounds around the city – his mind busy considering the few small requests of the citizens and wondering if his lover enjoyed his training session he carefully avoided nearing despite his… curiosity – he was stunned when two things happened at once.
As he neared the door of the Umbilicus, intending to again check the shields around the city, he felt Damon suddenly pull back into him, without a warning taking with him his bond to Senri. A second later – as his mind simply spun at the sudden separation – someone knocked on the door to the Ocular.
G'raha cleared his throat and hid slightly shaking of his hands by clenching them together behind his back – guessing who prompted his immortal to retreat like that.
"Come in, please," he called out, striving to use his most… impassive tone despite his unevenly pounding heart. Wicked white… bit it was really getting harder and harder to stand…
As he expected, Y'shtola walked in – her expression unreadable and aether-clouded eyes guarded.
"Ah…" he hummed, putting a polite smile on his lips and quite… glad for his cowl. He couldn't help the fact that she quite… unnerved him. "…may I be of service, miss Rhul?"
"Possibly, as I have a question I believe you may answer, Exarch," she said, nearing him slowly – and he fought to not back away, cursing his miserable height.
"Oh?" he pretended curiosity, his thoughts racing for anything that might have… prompted this visit. Normally she more than avoided him – not hiding her disdain for his secrecy. "If you say so… I would love to be of assistance."
"Tell me, my lord," she drawled, stopping right in front of him, bracing her hands on her hips and rising her white eyebrows expectantly. "How is it, that yesterday – after coming back from… asking you a question – T'senri was covered in your scent?" she lifted her hand and tapped against her nose meaningfully.
"I…" he choked, backing away instinctively as his face simply… blazed with a blush. Oh, gods… "I… h-have no idea what are you… talking about."
"Oh, really?" she scowled darkly, folding her arms over her breasts and narrowing her eyes at him dangerously. "Your… secrecy, my lord, is one thing, but if you think I'll let you use my friend in that way… You have another thing coming!" she hissed, almost baring her teeth at him. "T'senri certainly deserves… better."
"Shtola!" object of her… worry burst in through the massive door, probably lured in by their sudden… separation. "What in the seven hells are you doing…?"
"Stay out of it," she snapped, not taking her furious eyes off him.
"I most definitely won't," Warrior snarled, shutting the door behind him almost violently. "I don't know what prompted you to…"
"You, Senri," she twirled around toward him with a glare. "You're young and maybe don't realize it yet… but surely you know you deserve better than someone who clearly has some… ulterior motives toward you!"
Taken aback under the sheer power of her stare, Senri clearly hesitated, frowning as he looked between them with confusion.
"What are you… talking about?" he finally murmured.
"Him!" she snapped, pointing toward G'raha over her shoulder… and he shifted uncomfortably, uncertain what to do… or say. "I could smell him all over you yesterday!" at her words his lover colored visibly and his icy-blue eyes grew truly huge. "I thought your crush on Thancred was bad enough, but this just…"
"Wait…" Senri's jaw dropped and his eyes grew even wider. "…you knew about that?"
"Of course," she scoffed, though her tone noticeably became more gentle. "I'm not blind, especially when it comes to my friends. And you're… like a brother to me, Senri… So I'll not stand for this… man…" she shot him a narrowed, cold stare. "…to use your inexperience."
The silence after that was near-deafening and G'raha swallowed thickly, wondering… how to explain this without blowing up their… plans. Their Ascians' plans.
"It's… my fault," Senri suddenly chuckled sheepishly, sending him a sweet, reassuring smile. "Yesterday I didn't think to shower after leaving here… So yeah, this is totally on me."
Like… that's the issue! G'raha scowled, involuntarily sending him a deadpan stare despite his lover being unable to see that.
But before he could express his annoyance with his Warrior's statement… he felt him again, barely choking down a breathy whimper of relief when the bond snapped back into place... Even as the female present between them gasped, then turned and looked between them with obvious confusion.
"You're…?" Y'shtola frowned, her gaze going back and forth between them for a long moment. "But that's… not possible. Or is he somehow a female under that cowl?"
"Excuse me?" he involuntarily scoffed with an offense, folding his shaky arms over his chest.
"No," Senri chortled, rubbing his neck a bit awkwardly as a very dark blush spilled on his handsome face. "He's most definitely a male."
Now she tossed him a deadpan stare, clearly waiting for an explanation.
"Ah, it's a long…" the Warrior cut off turning around with surprise when the door behind him crushed open.
Lyna, with a wild look in her pink eyes and clearly fighting to catch her breath, leaned against them with a gasp.
"My l-lord…" she stammered, ignoring the others in the Ocular. "…a horde of Sin-Eaters is heading toward the Crystarium!"
It's true what they say, he thought numbly, as his lips tightened into a thin line and he dropped his arms to his sides. When it rains… it pours.