Coming back to the Crystarium at the tail of the group of soldiers while his friends spread out through it, all of them focused on protecting the wounded from the beasts filling the area – was an exercise in patience for T'senri.
He relaxed only when the sight of the city's gate entered his vision and only then did he unsummoned his weapon, striving not to stumble as the pure exhaustion made him fully feel all the wounds covering his body. He refused healing offered by his friends – knowing how many of the soldiers needed it more… and pretty sure none of them could help with what ailed him the most. The litany of cuts seemed like nothing compared to the silence of his Ascian and his almost painful… absence.
Not to mention feeling Raha's tumultuous emotions…
He was soaked, cold, hurt all over, and beyond exhausted… and the thought that still he wouldn't be able to simply fall in the arms of his mate once they arrive… had him ache internally. While wanting for nothing more than the comfort of his lover's heat…
He stumbled, barely avoiding falling on his face… suddenly supported by the smaller frame of his friend.
"Thanks," he murmured, blinking away the dizziness while Y'shtola wrapped his arm around her shoulders, letting him lean against her side.
"You look ready to collapse, Senri," she sighed, slowing down her step – simultaneously forcing him to do the same – as her aether-clouded eyes narrowed at him with consideration. "And somehow… the Light aether you were almost brimming with before the battle is… gone. What is going on with you? You never kept secrets from me… us."
T'senri cringed internally… carefully keeping his eyes down as he considered what to say. Without Ares's… suggestions, he wasn't sure how much or how less he could disclose without endangering their deal… and his mate's future.
Finally, he sighed softly and pulled her to a stop – hoping none of their other friends notice too soon and comes to investigate.
"There's been something… I did keep from you… and the others, Shtola," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and resting his forehead against hers with a tired sigh. "Remember – years ago – before the Banquet… I had been in a bit of a… slump?"
"Yeah…?" she murmured, carefully keeping her hands at his waist. "What does that have to do with anything? I thought that was when you finally realized how… hopeless was your crush on Thancred."
He winced, briefly wondering how many of his friends actually knew of his… crush at the time. And he thought he was so good at hiding it…
"Sort of...," he chuckled sheepishly. "But no, it was hardly about Thancred. You see… I did… kind of confessed to him – and got shot down quite… kindly, but it hurt my feelings enough to accept an invitation to join a certain expedition that at the time set up camp at the edge of Mor Dhona. An expedition that had a goal of discovering the mystery of the Crystal Tower," he sighed wistfully and straightened, opening his eyes and meeting her confused, though curious stare. "And once there… I've met someone who completely took possession of my very soul," he admitted shamelessly, though feeling his face heat up considerably.
"Oh?" she hummed, rising her white eyebrows slightly in question. "Why did you never… mention it?"
"Because it ended… badly," he sighed again, feeling his blush grow darker as he averted his eyes from hers and swallowed thickly. "I… well, it's a long story, but I lost him – and after that… talking about it hurt too much. His name was G'raha Tia, a historian specializing in the Allagan Empire, sent from Old Sharlayan by the Students of Baldesion to assist…"
"Wait, wait, wait…" she murmured suddenly, and when his gaze darted to hers, her jaw dropped slightly. "I know that name, I think… A redhead, with dual-colored eyes? Red and cyan?" When he nodded, she frowned with confusion. "I think… I've heard of him back in Old Sharlayan during my studies… Though, nothing… pleasant. Wasn't he… an eccentric kit that acted like a…"
He growled softly in a warning instinctively, narrowing his eyes at her and working his jaw slightly. Y'shtola stilled, carefully smoothing her expression – maybe realizing she stumbled upon a touchy subject.
"He was… sweet and kind," he finally said slowly, looking over her head toward the purple trees of Lakeland and pushing back the spike of his temper. One day… he'll get a hold of the people responsible for spreading rumors about his lover and causing his isolation and neglect… he will, even if he'll have to tear Old Sharlayan apart in the process… "He saw… me, for me, not the title… and he loved me, even after he saw the worst parts of me, Shtola. I do know… what kind of reputation he… enjoyed back there, and believe me – it was undeserved. He was incredibly… lonely because of that – and you are a Seeker as well, Mistress… can you imagine growing up… like that?" he asked in a soft whisper, lowering his eyes to hers again.
"I…" she hesitated, then looked away with a slight blush on her face. "I admit, I never thought of that… this way, Senri. I was consumed with my studies under Motoya and only heard some… rumors of 'Baldesion's protégé,' but I didn't really… thought of it," she sighed, then met his eyes again. "Though, I still don't understand where you're going with that…? You say you… lost him, but what's that supposed to mean? Did he… die during that expedition?" she asked carefully.
"Not exactly," he frowned, with effort holding her gaze. Even now, talking about it felt… hard. "You see… by the end of it, in short, we found out that in truth he was the last living representative of the Allagan royal family – that's what his red eye marked," he chuckled humorlessly when her eyes widened impossibly and her jaw dropped slightly in astonishment. "Yeah… was quite a surprise, to be honest with you. Apparently, once the Empire collapsed, the last princess of it, somehow granted her blood for safekeeping to the man who would later become the father of the Gryphon tribe. I'm not exactly clear on the details of it," he admitted sheepishly, then sighed. "But in the end, that tribe went on through the ages, prolonging the existence of the last Allagan bloodline. Then, when Garlemald conquered Corvos, where they resided, and their people started to nose about anything concerning the Allagan technology… G'raha, the last and only, born with the Eye, was sent to Baldesion for safekeeping. I would still argue that sending a five-year-old kit alone to Old Sharlayan was quite… cruel, and if we ever end up in Corvos… I'll be sure to visit them and point it out… But I digress. There's more explaining necessary, but for now, let us say that during that expedition, we met the… people who ended up augmenting his royal blood – that was too weak after centuries, hence why he was born with only one eye of Allagan crimson – and that granted him the control of the Crystal Tower. Only those of the royal family could do it, you see…"
Y'shtola definitely wasn't stupid – he saw a glint of understanding in her aether-clouded eyes almost instantly.
"Wait…" she said slowly, scowling. "You mean… the Exarch…? He's… G'raha? But… how?"
"Again… a long story," he sighed tiredly, letting his gaze dart toward the looming Allagan structure. The procession they were a part of was already gone inside… and he hoped that his absence wouldn't cause his mate to freak out… too much. "Realizing that the Crystal Tower was simply… too advanced and dangerous for the people of our time, he… sacrificed himself, sealing it with himself inside it to wait until our technology… and people are ready for it. That's how I… lost him. That's why… I was so upset before the Banquet. I loved… I love him, more than any words could ever describe, Shtola," he admitted in a whisper, looking at her again. "He's… everything I ever wanted. And losing him… hurt too much. I couldn't find it in myself to… talk about it, so yes… I did keep a secret from the others… and you," he said slowly. "But you see… apparently, he was woken up two hundred years in the future by the descendants of Cid and his engineers. They re-opened the Crystal Tower with the sole purpose of using it to… avert the Eight Umbral Calamity… I'm supposed to die in," he finished, sighing as he let go of her, and took a step back, trying not to wobble as the exhaustion grew almost unbearable.
"That vision Urianger 'saw,'" he added, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "In truth… G'raha told him of that, swearing him to secrecy… so that you'll play along after he accidentally pulled you over the rift instead of me. Using the parts of Alexander and Omega, and his control of the Tower, the Ironworks sent him back in time and to this shard… to save me. But because they had no better idea how to get rid of the Light consuming the First, they led him to believe that the only way to do that, was to have me absorb it with my Blessing, then steal it from me and pull it with him into the Rift… to die alongside it. And because he knew me… he knew I would never agree with that – hence the secrecy. Especially if I knew who he was, Shtola," he whispered, closing his eyes and rubbing his face. "But he… forgot to shield his scent from me when I finally arrived here. So I knew… instantly. When I learned of all of this… he had quite a fight," he carefully used his exhaustion as a pretext to cover his face while lying. She knew him too well… and he refused to spill the 'detail' about their passengers. "That's why I've been so… cold to him. Then, after we came up with a better solution – to have him use the Tower itself, an endless siphon for aether, in design – we reconciled. But… I asked him to keep our relationship a secret, until we're done on this shard, Shtola. And I'm sorry… for keeping you in the dark about it. But to have him back… was overwhelming. It still is," he admitted truthfully, letting his arms drop to his sides and looking at her in earnest. She folded her arms over her breasts and looked at him with an unreadable expression. "So… please, keep it to yourself, okay? Once… we're ready to let the others know... I swear I'll make it up to you… somehow. But…"
"Senri…" she sighed, dropping her arms to brace her hands on her hips. "If it's so important to you… it's fine. I won't tell a soul. Honestly… I'm relieved," she admitted with a sigh, looking toward the looming Tower. "I thought… Well, that he's using you. And actually finally having an explanation for… all of this – yes, I'm definitely relieved. There are still some things I don't understand… but I can see you're ready to about fall on your face," she smiled toward him reassuringly, then stepped toward him closer and again offered her shoulders for support. "So more explanations… can wait until you have some proper rest," she chuckled when he wrapped his arm and leaned against her with a relieved sigh. "I imagine… you're about dying to be back with him."
"You have no idea," he murmured when they headed slowly toward the gate again. "But all things considered…"
"Don't worry," she assured with a chuckle, hugging his side slightly. "I'll help you, without raising our friends' suspicions, trust me."
"Thanks, Shtola," he sighed tiredly, letting her pull him along and focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. "You're the best."
He almost panicked after the procession of more or less wounded arrived in the city, with no sight of his lover. Only beating back Damon's near-constant 'wail' of mounting frustration and despair, he focused enough to feel his Warrior just outside of the gates, and slightly reassured by that, G'raha set about to swallow his feelings and organize the care for the soldiers.
While busy with that, he couldn't help but constantly look toward the gate, and exhale with relief when sometime later he spotted a couple of visibly exhausted Seekers stumble through it, heading toward him. Y'shtola, clearly supporting the bruised and battered Warrior, sent him a narrowed, warning stare when he rushed toward them… that had him freeze with uncertainty, suddenly remembering that he couldn't take care of his clearly wounded and tired mate – and that had a bile rise in the back of his throat.
His instincts were so on fire with pure need… he almost shook all over, rolling his hands in fists and nearly vibrating, trying to restrain himself. That the icy-blue irises of his lover seemed dazed with pain but relieved at the sight of him… wasn't helping him any.
"Warrior…" he started when they neared him, almost too aware of all the people still milling around the area in front of the gate.
"I need your help with treating him, Exarch," said Y'shtola loudly, sending him a meaningful look. "Do you have a quiet place to let him… recover?" she raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"Y-yes, of course," he tried not to look too eager as he neared them slowly then took hold of Senri's free arm and put it around his shoulders, careful to make it look as innocent as possible. Considering the change in her attitude… he had a pretty good idea why the two of them were so much later in the city than the others… but currently, his mind was so very far from dwelling on that. When Senri leaned against him with a small, quiet whimper, he fought to focus, leading them toward the Tower. "The others, skilled at healing, are helping with the wounded, and since the infirmary is too small to take care of them all… I assigned the Pendants and the Tower as the temporary extension of it. But all things considered… I have a perfect spot for him," he wasn't exactly lying – for the expanse of anyone who could overhear him – but the need to secure his mate in the safest spot he could think of – their nest – was too… overwhelming.
He did hope that he was right… and she was willing to cooperate, giving him an excuse to take care of his lover without raising too many eyebrows. He did have some sent into the Allagan structure – but in the far, far part away from 'their' room.
"Vaugtry is behind this attack," Y'shtola said, letting him take most of the Warrior's weight, but still carefully keeping her grip on Senri… to keep up the pretense. Which he was more than grateful for.
"I've heard," he admitted – whole Crystarium did, as the Eulmorean airships flew over Lakeland. "I still don't know how is he able to control the Sin-Eaters," he lied smoothly, leading them inside the crystalline structure. Damon was very specific that Vaughry had to be the last Lightwarden to fall, and they did agree to go along with their Ascians' plans… and considering that his Warrior seemed barely conscious, he couldn't ask him how much exactly he told Y'shtola. Even his thoughts and feelings felt… muddled and twisted as with each step he leaned against his side harder.
"She knows of… you," his lover murmured when the three of them were completely alone, slowly heading up the crystalline staircase. "Had to… tell her, Raha… Gods, I'm… tired…"
"Figured as much," he sighed, earning her amused look. "It's okay, my heart…" he whispered, tightening his crystallized arm around his waist and pulling him to his side possessively. Y'shtola let go of Senri's arm and he smiled at her, grateful that she didn't… comment. When pointed toward the right door, she opened it for them, barely raising her eyebrows at the sight of the interior – and he hoped that the cowl covered most of his blush. Their nest was… private and intimate, but his embarrassment was a small price for the obvious relief of his mate at the sight.
Supporting his lover's weight as Y'shtola set to carefully remove Senri's armor, he tried not to flinch or whimper at the sight of the many, many cuts and abrasions covering his pale skin.
"He refused healing," she whispered, standing back when the Warrior was left only in a pair of dark pants and G'raha carefully helped him into the nest, piling up the pillows to make his rest as comfortable as possible.
"I see," he clenched his jaw, then exhaled slowly, sitting down on his knees by his lover's side, then carefully pushed his cowl back, and looked at her. Her aether-clouded eyes traveled over his features with obvious curiosity, but she nodded slowly and as if reading his mind, headed toward the door.
"I'll help the others," she said, opening it again and looking toward him. "There's still much… I don't understand, but I promised him to keep your identity a secret… for now," she admitted, confirming his suspicions. "So… if anyone asks, I'll make up an excuse for your absence… G'raha. Just… take care of him, okay?"
"I wish for nothing more. Thank you, Y'shtola," he nodded, then focused on his mate once she sighed softly and left them alone. Only then, he helped barely awake Warrior to get his pants off, then carefully wrapped the blanket around his battered body up to his waist and rested his palms over Senri's chest, pulling delicately on his connection with the Tower to support his healing spell once he felt the sheer… amount of damage.
The external cuts and bruises were nothing compared to the internal wounds his lover seemed to suffer. Not to mention his seeming… aether depletion. All the Light that earlier nearly filled his soul to the brim… was gone. Simply… gone. He had no idea what could have caused this, but…
Connect to him, Damon demanded, reminding him of his existence so suddenly, G'raha almost flinched. He swallowed thickly, then took a deep breath, and while his lover seemingly passed out – he complied, careful to keep it gentle and delicate – as he closed his eyes and resting his forehead against Senri's collarbone, let the connection between their souls expand and instinctively lured his mate's consciousness into it.
He avoided it after that first time… but now as Senri's memories and feelings filled his being – he couldn't understand why. Involuntarily – barely aware of that – a string of breathless, blissed-out purrs tore from his throat as the images – seeming focus of his mate's unconsciousness – of their meeting and those few, too short, weeks together from his Warrior's perspective filled his head. The sheer… devotion and love those memories were surrounded with inside his lover's mind was staggering and flooring at the same time. Lost in it, feeling his heart simply… pound with the realization that he never truly understood his mate's feelings before – he barely registered Damon using his distraction with it, to probe around his lover's soul.
There you are, the immortal exhaled with obvious relief, then G'raha felt… a pull and push… and almost gasped when his connection with the Crystal Tower suddenly expanded as well.
"What… what are you d-doing?" he stammered, more than tempted to break both apart to keep his mate… safe from the greedy reach of the siphon. Senri's soul already was so… depleted.
Exactly, Damon hissed, impatiently pushing back his resistance. Both of them are… But I spent a hundred years stuffing this structure with the overload of my aether… so we can at least use it now to help them. Be a dear, Raha, and keep Senri's mind distracted. I'll get to him… but Ares is in much worse shape. It seems Senri accidentally stopped the time using Ares's gift and my husband almost killed himself to protect him from the backlash.
"What…? He can do something like… that?" G'raha's heart possessively stopped, despite his immortal sounding quite… matter-of-fact about it. Like it wasn't… anything new to him.
Back then… he probably couldn't, considering how much… more condensed the aether was, Damon chuckled fondly, even as G'raha felt him use his… soul as a conductor between the Tower and Senri's… Ares's soul, carefully pouring the aether between the two. It wasn't exactly a pleasant feeling… but all things considered, he was simply glad to be in any way able to help his lover. Feeling Senri's growing… agitation at his discomfort, he instinctively cooed soothingly, luring his mind into his own biggest, most prized treasure – his memories of falling for him and the happy days while they did not much more than indulged in their feelings for each other. Externally, the sound of his mate's blissed-out purrs had his ears twitch with pleasure, but he fought to focus on the next words of his passenger. But your world is so… fragmented and the aether here is so… thin, I'm not that surprised by this. Think of it like that, Raha… Our people – fourteen times 'denser' in the aether than a… mortal born in this world now – still couldn't resist if Ares would use his gift on them. Not that he made a habit of it, believe me… And probably on the Source – seven times rejoined as it is now – he could not pull something like that… but here? Here, on the First, the very existence is nothing more than a… pup waiting for his command. But as you see… it doesn't come cheap.
"I see," he murmured, trying to wrap his mind around it.
This was why… we originally didn't want Senri to know about his… potential, my boy, Damon sighed. Especially since his…. He trailed off, and G'raha frowned at the strange note in his voice.
"Especially since his… what?" he insisted, though suddenly he had a feeling… he didn't really want to hear the answer to that.
His… issues, admitted the immortal reluctantly, then sighed with resignation. Listen, Raha… I'm not sure if you really want to know… about that. Or if Senri would want you to know about it, to be more precise. From what Ares told me… your Warrior doesn't remember most of… it. Maybe it's better to leave it as it is.
He swallowed thickly, then took a deep breath and clenched his jaw stubbornly.
"Tell me," he said, laying down in the nest against his lover's side and nuzzling his cheek over Senri's heart.
Raha…
"Tell me," he repeated softly, then curled into his lover's side, hugging his arm around Warrior's waist. "It has something to do… with me, doesn't it? That's why you're so… hesitant, Damon?"
In part, the immortal finally admitted, after a long moment of silence. Do you remember your… favorite book, my boy? The 'Heavensward'?
"Yeah…?" he felt a slight blush spill over his face. As… weird as it felt when he read it the first – of many – times, knowing it depicted… his Senri, he couldn't help how that particular story appealed to his romantic soul. Even if now he had quite a… mixed feelings about Estinien Wyrmblood – who used to be one of his… favorites in it. But now to know what happened later… he couldn't help but scowl, wondering if the Dragoon during that was… too enamored with his Warrior – for his liking, anyway.
Silly boy, Damon chuckled fondly and G'raha blushed furiously, hiding his flaming face against Senri's shoulder. It's okay, Raha… Now, I get that it's quite… instinctive. I was not any happier to hear about that… tidbit, than you, my boy, he admitted sheepishly. But what I meant by bringing that up… The book finishes on quite a high note, not accounting for the… price this whole ordeal cost your lover. What happened with Heurchefant and Ysale… as heroic as their sacrifice for him was… they didn't consider Senri's nature in it.
G'raha swallowed audibly, tilting his head to look at his lover's beautiful, relaxed features. He was really getting a… bad feeling about where it was going. And adding to that his own plans…
Yeah… Damon said carefully. Remember the part of him… taking on the Dark Knight's class upon reaching Ishgard, and how its soulstone created… a double of him, using his inner darkness to teach him?
"The Esteem," he whispered, focusing only on his lover's face and on providing his mind with… happy, peaceful memories.
That, yes, the immortal continued, his voice growing… cold and detached. Once it was all said and done… You know him, Raha… Behind all this… cheery attitude he uses to appease others, you know him… What do you think happened… when two of his friends sacrificed themselves for him…?
There was a pit growing inside his heart.
"He would…" he whispered, growing numb and cold inside. "…hate himself. He would see it… as his failure, even if it was their… choice," now the words Ares said to him made so much more sense… He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Senri's chest, tightening his arm around him. "That's why Ares said that in the… another timeline, he never forgave me, isn't it?"
Yes, Damon said carefully. But it's more than that, I think… You see, once the war ended and he could finally… go back home, something happened. From what Ares told me, he saw his… nest – the one in the Rising Stones – as his last memento of… you. Of the last… truly happy day he had with you.
G'raha smiled involuntarily, immediately reminded of that day. Kissing on top of the balcony overlooking the Revenant Toll, then his Warrior shamelessly carrying him over his shoulder back to his… lair and indulging in him like… he could never get enough of him. Then talking about the future… of moving in with him and traveling together… up to Rammbroes's call, that changed… everything.
Sometimes – during his long, long vigil – when he let himself relive that day… he wished he never picked up that call. He allowed himself to imagine how it would… played out if he didn't… Sometimes… he wished he asked his Warrior to never go back to that camp, to forget the expedition, and… just stay with him. Even knowing all he did now, it was still one of his most… treasured fantasies.
From what Ares told me, the immortal's voice tore through his reverie. Once Senri saw it for the first time after… all of that, he… snapped, you could say. Thinking that… you would hate what he became when he went after Thordan and his men… was too much. All the guilt, grief, and self-hate he was pushing away to be able to avenge them… came pouring out and his mind simply… broke. The Esteem – in a blind, instinctive bid to help him as his psyche was crumbling, became twisted and corrupted, and… took over, again he sounded matter-of-fact, while G'raha felt bile rising in the back of his throat, the image of how much… pain it would take to break his Warrior… soon had him choke on breathless sobs. We don't know how it exactly played out in the previous timeline, Raha… But that T'senri we had met back then, one I spoke with… was much different from this one, I was watching through your eyes. He never mention that part… and Ares had a theory that he wasn't even aware of that… thing. Of what the Esteem became after swallowing all that… darkness, but after hearing about this… I could easily imagine it was definitely there. Especially when he spoke… of you. When he looked at me – as similar as I looked to you – there was so much… pain and hate in his eyes, Raha… it was hard to stand. And knowing my husband and how similar they seem in that regard… I'll be painfully honest with you, my boy… I would rather kill Ares myself than ask him to watch me die… for him. And considering all that… I can only guess that Senri is even more… sensitive to that. Especially… with you. Even if he didn't remember – because seeing what… happened, Ares… took care of the Esteem and removed those memories from his mind – you and his love for you… are such an integral part of his very… being, I have to agree with my husband in his guess that if not for our… interference, your Warrior would never forgive you this… stunt.
G'raha wept quietly, shifting to bury his wet face against Senri's throat and delicately sinking his normal fingers in his inky-black hair to gently pet his lover's ear. Despite his mate's blissful purrs, his heart was simply… breaking.
His Senri always seemed so… strong and invincible. So… perfect… it was too easy to forget that he was still… a person. That under his bravery and determination, there was a gentle, sensitive heart and a man that simply yearned… to be loved. A man… who gave him that precious thing with trust and devotion so… complete, it'll never stop blowing his mind.
And he wasn't there when he needed him the most. And because of his… stupid ideas of heroics, he almost… Oh, gods…
Told you, maybe you would be better off not knowing about that, the immortal said with a much softer tone.
"I'm… so sorry, Snark," he whispered, placing a delicate, affectionate kiss on his lover's throat. "I'll… take better care of your beautiful heart, I swear. No matter what… I'll never leave you again, my Warrior."
And settling down against his lover, delicately caressing his ear while feeding his mind with the images of the loop of the happiest days of his life, he silently let his immortal passenger work. Only a small part of his mind was busy considering… what he could do to make up for all the suffering his lover experienced.
He woke up cocooned into the warmth of another body and to the intoxicating scent of cinnamon and almonds filling his head with every breath. Still, more than dazed by exhaustion when a pair of absolutely gorgeous, crimson eyes blinked at him and G'raha's expression went slack for a heartbeat for a slow, slightly trembling smile spread his plush lips a moment later.
"You had me worried there… for a second," Damon chuckled wetly, then lifted slightly to press a delicate kiss on his lips. "Never… do that again."
Ares blinked slowly, trying to collect his thoughts… then frowned.
"How… long I was out…?" he rasped, scowling at how hoarse he sounded.
"Not long," his lover said with amusement. "A few bells at most. I used… Raha and the Tower to restore your reserves. Can't have you napping that close to the game time, after all."
"You were… freaking out, weren't you?" he chuckled hoarsely when his husband pouted at that, sending him a narrowed look. Then he sighed and with effort, wrapped his arms around the smaller male. "I am sorry for worrying you, my heart," he whispered, placing a delicate kiss on his pretty lips. "The whole thing… completely took me by surprise."
"It's okay," Damon sighed softly, then curled into his embrace with a tiny, relieved sigh. "Just as long… as you're here, whole and safe… it's okay."
"I'm still… exhausted," he admitted sheepishly, placing a hand over his lover's head and delicately smoothing it over his red-white hair. "That hit was… really bad. Honestly, I didn't think I would… wake up again."
"I know," Damon peered up at him with narrowed, darkened eyes. "You're too… predictable, Ares. You could have saved an insane amount of aether if you didn't… stubbornly shield me and Raha both times."
He simply smiled, letting his head fall back into the pillows.
"I'm here to share your burdens, Ares," his husband whispered, resting his head against his collarbone.
"I know," he assured, tightening his arms around him… possessively.
Damon sighed with obvious resignation… and maybe a hint of amusement.
"You're as bad as your mortal," he snickered quietly, then buried against him deeper. "But I guess… that's why we love you both so much. Just… don't scare me like that again, you hear me…?"
"Of course, love," he agreed readily, fully aware he was lying. Protecting his beautiful soul was… the meaning of his eternity. When it came to that… nothing was off limits.
"I can hear your thoughts, remember?" his husband drawled through his teeth and Ares chuckled sheepishly. "You're impossible, Azem. And you realize that as sensitive as he always was to your… magic, Hades probably felt that?"
He stilled, opening his eyes and looking at the crystalline ceiling above the nest. Damon was right – as always – Hades always complained about how… annoying it felt for him – as sensitive by the sheer amount of aether he was privy to – to feel him use his gift anywhere near him. Since Ares's skill bent the aether around him into… unnatural form, his younger brother described the feeling as if someone stuffed thousands of needles under his skin. Sometimes he would use it on purpose, to see his brother squirm with discomfort – though, never to cause him a real pain – just to annoy him when he got… too full of himself.
The sheer scope of this… event – would surely draw his attention, and if he felt him… Ares scowled, narrowing his too-bright eyes with consideration.
"Even if he doesn't figure out that something is… up," he finally said slowly. "The next time he sees Senri… He's bound to see all of that Light… gone."
"That, too," his husband agreed, nuzzling his cheek against his chest.
"So… what do we do?" he asked his brilliant lover hopefully, tilting his head to brush his lips against Damon's temple.
"What we always do, my heart," his husband chuckled, raising his crimson eyes to him. "We adjust accordingly. We may not be able to proceed as planned…" he hummed, lifting his hand to brush his crystalized fingers against the purple crystal hanging around Senri's throat. "But we can still… give him a proper scare. But that has to wait until you both recover from this ordeal. I adjusted the Tower during your nap… so he won't be able to access it until we're ready to give him a proper welcome. So for now… rest, my love," he added, lifting to give him a tender kiss.
"I do… always loved your devious mind," Ares hummed sleepily, closing his eyes and relaxing into the pillows. Surrounded by his lover's wonderful scent and heat… in mere seconds he felt like he was falling away into a sweet, soothing dream he instinctively knew was Damon's creation.
"I know," he thought he heard, but he was already too far gone to respond.
Seeing and feeling Ares drift off, Damon smiled then pressed another loving kiss on his lips, before carefully untangling himself from his husband's arms and sitting up next to him.
For what it's worth, I am glad that he's okay, his mortal said slowly in the back of their head.
"As am I, Raha," he chuckled, honestly feeling like a great weight fell off his chest. Azem may joke about him… freaking out – but it hardly changed the fact that he almost lost him. And he fully intended to keep him safe and secure for the foreseeable future – until he's sure that Senri's slip… won't cost him more than he was ever willing to part with.
Carefully spinning a pleasant dream for his lover to indulge in, he delicately pulled back from his mind, and after making sure that both – Ares and Senri – were safely cocooned with a warm blanket and stuffed with enough aether to make up for what they needed, he gently disconnected their souls.
Then, he delicately unclasped the necklace from around his lover's throat and brought the purple crystal in line with his eyes.
What is this? Raha asked curiously. I thought… it's just an accessory Senri especially likes.
"Oh, it's so much more than that," he chuckled, then rolling their normal hand around the crystal, stood up and left the nest, stretching their stiff muscles after the few bells of staying in near constant lack of movement. "And he likes it so much because he thinks he got it from you," he added with amusement.
Huh? Why would he…? Oh, Ares made him believe it's from me?
"You do catch on quickly," he admitted, heading toward the door and carefully pulling the cowl back over their head. "We had a very… specific plan for this," he added. "But since it seems… things may get dicey from now on, as I told Ares, we have to adjust."
I don't… understand, his mortal sighed with resignation, making Damon laugh softly at his expanse.
"Don't worry, my boy," he assured, leaving the room with the nest and his prize, and heading toward the Ocular. "Now relax, let me work and soon it'll all make sense."
If you say so, Raha grumbled but didn't resist when Damon delicately cocooned his mind and sent him into slumber at the back of their head.
For what he had to do… he needed the full, free use of their body and its connection with the Allagan structure.
"Naptime's over, Hythlodaeus," he whispered, smiling toward the crystal in his palm. "It's almost time to teach my son a lesson he will remember for the rest of eternity."