As much as he was careless of grooming earlier – before Raha knew the bliss of it – once Senri rectified it, blowing his mind utterly, they developed a habit of brushing each other's fur every few days. Mostly in the mornings – back in the First, when they still hid their relationship, before his Snark left for the day – they would settle comfortably in their nest and comply to each other's tender ministrations with true bliss.
That more often than not it led into a bout of lazy kind of lovemaking… well, he could hardly mind that, right?
One such morning, after breakfast in the dining room of Baldesion Annex where their group settled on the decision that next they'll head off to Garlemald and settle things with Zenos and Fandaniel for good, after they came back to their bedroom, Senri purred his playful demand for his affections and Raha complied with a quiet laugh. They discarded their clothes carelessly – nothing for them to do while others organized the excursion – and while his lover rested blissfully with his head in his lap, he set to tenderly brush the incredibly soft fur on his ears, more than enjoying his mate's loud purrs of appreciation and occasional mewls of pure indulgence. Not to mention the ridiculously arousing sight of Senri's unbearably beautiful face and body so relaxed as he shamelessly enjoyed his touch.
And to be able to bring his mate so much pleasure… was definitely a treat, making his heart soar with elation – and after the whole mess with that tribe… Well, it felt nice to for once settle down and simply focus on taking care of his lover's needs.
"I'm not really looking forward to that," Senri muttered lazily at some point, with his eyes closed as a slight grimace ran over his handsome face.
"Garlemald?" he replied, with his free hand rolling his mate's soft, ink-black hair around his fingers delicately while his instinctive purrs fell off when he sensed his beast's slight uneasiness. "I thought you can't wait to get your claws into Zenos, love… Which you could do at any moment…" he trailed off with a slight frown.
"Yeah…" his lover downright pouted as ice-blue irises flashed toward him through the jet-black lashes. "…I'm not allowed. Ares said that whatever happens, can't tear into that asshole… at least until that unknown time when I'm to travel back and meet them… I mean, real them, back in their time. I'm assuming that he was still alive by that point in that… another timeline," he scowled darkly and closed his eyes again.
Raha involuntarily raised his eyes from his lover's face and they drifted toward the luminescent white flower resting in the middle of the table in their bedroom – Hydealyn's mysterious gift for his mate… accompanied by even more mysterious instruction. After it lit up back in Thavnair, they knew it reacted with emotions… yet, their immortals declined all the questions about it. He knew that Damon was worried about their influence over the events… to the point of Senri meeting them. After that, according to his immortal, the gloves were off – whatever that was supposed to include.
After learning from Senri that his lover was somehow supposed to face Zodiark… he grew nervous. Because apparently, the god – the oldest and most powerful Primal – wasn't enough to faze their immortals… yet, something clearly had them careful. And that was more than unnerving.
"And Fandaniel…?" he hummed with consideration, looking back toward his mate's face. "Did he say anything about him?"
"Apparently, I'm to leave that creep to Ares's… fun," his lover chuckled evilly with a delicate shrug. "He's really… miffed with him, it seems. Not like I really care," he sighed and slowly rolled to his side, lazily nuzzling against Raha's thigh when he hummed and set to brush his other ear. "I like Hades and Hythlodaeus… still iffy on Elidibus and that whole… thing, but… eh, let them play their games," his deep voice rumbled into a purr and Raha smiled involuntarily, running his free fingers through his dark hair. "As long as I have you… I don't care," Senri whispered, and his arm wrapped around his waist.
Silent for a moment and focused on his task, he chuckled involuntarily when a thought stuck him out of nowhere.
"Well… I've been meaning to ask you something, my beast," he hummed, then trailed his fingertips over his mate's jaw.
"Mmm?" Senri purred, apparently too blissed out to do more than that, if his expression was any indication.
"Do you think…" he whispered, leaning in slightly to do so against his mate's ear as he put away the brush for a moment. "…that Zenos has a thing for you?"
"Has a…?" Senri snorted inelegantly, then rolled over to his back and wrapped his big hand around Raha's neck, pulling him down until their breaths mixed. "Aww… jealous, Raha? Think a homicidal maniac can sway my heart from you, my prince?" he snarked with a playful wiggle to his dark eyebrows and Raha pouted involuntarily.
"Don't be ridiculous, Snark," he stated haughtily, then sighed when his mate chortled, shaking with it. "I mean… from what I've read of your previous encounters, he does seem quite… taken with you."
"Taken…?" Senri's booming laughter shook his form when he let go of his neck, letting him straighten and narrow his eyes at his lover's apparent amusement. Noting that, his Warrior laughed harder, then sat up slowly and still chuckling, moved around him, pressing against his back tightly and wrapping his arms around Raha's chest, pulling his back tight against the heat of his body as he nuzzled against his neck. "Sorry, love… I know you weren't there, and I have no idea how the books and stories in the future described it… but believe me, I don't think Zenos is even capable of a sex drive… He's obsessed with me because he's a pathetically sore loser, my prince," he chuckled, pressing a kiss on the mark on Raha's shoulder before resting his chin on top of his head and tightening his arms around him.
"Huh?" he hummed, closing his eyes and relaxing in his mate's embrace, resting the back of his head against Senri's shoulder and wrapping his hands around his forearm over his chest.
"When we first met… if you can call it that," his lover chuckled, rubbing his chin over his hair. "He whooped my ass twice, smugly telling me to get better… so, I did," Senri growled playfully and nipped on the sensitive shell of his ear, tearing a surprised gasp from his throat. Raha mewled involuntarily at the sensation, arching in his arms and purred his invitation when his mate's big, hot hand smoothed down his stomach and abdomen to almost tenderly pet his quickly swelling cock as he lowered his head and trailed a scorching line of sharp bites down his throat and to his shoulder. "I did… and whopped his ass twice to keep it even… and the bastard offed himself when he lost. Sure, he came back… Stubbornly refusing to die… But as begrudging respect as I had for his skill alone, Raha… he lost it, being so unbearably… childish. From what they say… he slew his own father and took the throne only to destroy his land in some insane bid… to get me to go after him… again. The Towers, Fandaniel, and all that… it's all a game for him, a hunt… for me. And I can't help but think… He's not even worth the hassle, love. With all his power, skills, and inheritance… he could be so much more… and he wasted it all to get back at me for whopping his ass. All that talk about me being his 'friend'…" he snorted inelegantly with apparent disgust and then chuckled, coiling his hand around his cock and pumping it slowly as he dragged his rough tongue over the tattoo on Raha's throat. "…is insulting, at best. I have nothing but scorn for him, love… and he's not worth even that. When I'm finally allowed to deal with him… I'm not sure I even want to, Raha… Think the best punishment for him would be letting him steam in his own filth… but I will because he's too insane to allow him to live. And now with so many under my care… I won't stand him to breathe down my neck and threaten them to get me to go after him… that's all."
Dazed by the pleasure of his lover's touch and mewling his enjoyment while Senri nipped on his skin, letting him fuck his tight grip… he merely registered his mate's next words.
"If there's one person I would be truly afraid to ever face in combat… it's you," Senri purred teasingly, then shifted them, carefully turning him around in his arms and while Raha blushed at his lover's apparent seriousness, wrapping his arms around his Warrior's shoulders, his mate brushed his lips against his cheek, before reaching for oil with a playful wink and after spreading it over his right hand, setting to prepare his body for him. Dropping his head against his shoulder with a choked whine, whimpering involuntarily as his lover's fingers sank into him and worked his muscles loose, he shamelessly rutted against Senri's stomach, more than enjoying the mix of sensations. "You, my prince, if you were serious… I would fear," his mate purred, nuzzling against his throat affectionately. "With your skills, experience, and sheer power… without even accounting for Damon… If you would turn those against me, I would fall to my knees and beg for mercy, love… And not because I adore you, my heart… but because the thought is simply terrifying."
"I see," he gasped, then cleared his throat, hearing how hoarse his voice sounded before he chuckled and nuzzled against his lover's throat. "Then… you better keep me content, my beast," he snarked, grinning gleefully when his mate chortled then nipped on his throat and pulled his hand back to wrap both around his hips and slowly impaled him on his dick, tearing a string of breathless whimpers and mewls of arousal as that scalding intrusion speared his insides. Fully seated inside him, Senri leaned back on his arms and when Raha gasped, sitting straight, his Warrior laughed softly despite his flush and sent him a sweet smile.
"I plan to, my prince," he purred near-deafeningly, and though his muscles strained visibly as he clenched his hands in the blankets on his sides, his almost too-pretty lips tilted in a daring smirk as his heated ice-blue irises trailed over Raha's body with obvious hunger. "I'm yours, to do as you please with… always and forever, Raha. So use me as you like."
"Oh, my Snark…" he shifted slightly and coiled one hand in his hair at the back of Senri's head while he slowly rose on his knees around him, then dropped onto his dick with a choked whine, closing his eyes and biting his lower lip at the maddening sensation. At the next, he arched his back and whimpered helplessly when that had his lover's cock brush hard against the spot that sent a sizzle of lightning along his nerve endings. Hearing his mate's near-deafening purrs broken by gasps and mewls of pleasure as he eagerly set to fuck himself on his flesh, feeling it throb inside him each time it sank into him up to the hilt, he fought for each breath and to keep his rhythm even as the pressure grew steadily and clawed at the base of his spine. "…you're so… g-good…" he gasped, mindlessly raising and falling, and soon forcing himself to extend it, the swarm of sensations simply too marvelous to let it end too soon.
"A-Am I?" his lover chuckled breathlessly, arching under him slightly with each maddening stroke. "I'm… selfish, R-Raha… Nothing more… Bringing y-you… ah, bliss… I love it, more… than anything," he stammered, then groaned deeply, loudly, when Raha purred and moved his hands to his shoulders, digging his fingers into his skin as he speed up with a gasp, whimpering his utter enjoyment as his mate's flesh slid in and out of him, and his delicious heat and scent… Gods, but there was no greater pleasure than this… No matter which way, really, but fucking Senri… being fucked by him… no difference, as each felt like heaven… "…my beautiful mate…" his lover cooed shamelessly, then whined in the back of his throat, shuddering under him as he fought his body's peak. For his pleasure… oh, his sweet, caring Snark…
He opened his eyes with an effort, and was mesmerized by the sight of his mate's beauty at the threshold of his bliss, and not coming instantly was a feat… but he resisted with a mewl of painful arousal, fisting his hand in Senri's ink-black hair brutally and pulling him in a deep, delicious kiss to purr into it loudly as he sped up, at the same time lowering his free hand between them and wrapping it around his cock, pumping it until it was too much… and he mewled weakly over Senri's lips as he came, shuddering and gasping as his seed spilled over the trembling muscles on his abdomen.
Taking his clue, his lover growled near-deafeningly and in a flash shifted, pinning him down into the blankets as he rose above him and set off for his own bliss, pounding into him mercilessly and sooo soon sending his reeling senses into another mind-shattering orgasm. Merely gasping and mewling his submission, he rolled his hips to match his insane rhythm until Senri came with a snarl and tumbled onto him with a choked whine, whimpering softly as he pumped him full of his too-hot seed.
Wonderfully sated and blissed out, Raha ran his hands over his lover's back possessively, grinning like a lovesick fool while his Warrior nuzzled against his throat and shoulder with deafening purrs. Bracing his weight around him, and after his shudders subsided, Senri seemed content to stay like that… and he more than loved that, enjoying his incredible heat and scent of their mating thickening the air around them.
"But whatever comes…" his lover whispered against his throat after a while. "So long I have you… I don't care, Raha… You're my life."
"As you're mine," he sighed, rubbing his mate's ear delicately between his fingers and smiling when at that his purrs grew louder. "My beautiful Sun… I love you," he closed his eyes with a quiet hum of happiness while his Senri chuckled softly and curled into his embrace with as happy sounds.
"Love you, too, Raha," he hummed, seemingly content to rest like that, nuzzling lazily against his skin.
Don't move or otherwise react, whispered suddenly Damon, tearing through the blissful haze and though a slight frown marred his forehead, he complied almost automatically, only running his fingers through his mate's dark hair delicately. Good. Listen, my boy… While Ares takes a special issue with Fandaniel… Now, knowing Senri's feelings about Zenos… I think you may want to have a go at him more than your boy cares.
Hmm? He hummed with confusion, honestly surprised. He never met Zenos… and was more than content to let Senri handle his… fan.
First, you must understand something about us, Raha, his immortal said softly. For us, a soul is something… very precious. Back in our day, to trifle with it… was unthinkable. Ares, especially, with his… morals about free will and respecting others… freedoms and feelings, sees something like that as a grievous… insult. Which I do agree with, though I'm maybe not as… dedicated to the idea.
Raha frowned, opening his eyes and looking at the ceiling over Senri's shoulder while his thoughts simply raced while the conclusion his mind kept arriving at… had him bare his teeth in a silent snarl.
Yeah, why Ares is so… miffed with Fandaniel has to do with something that would happen in Garlemald, Raha, Damon said carefully. And as much as we try to avoid changing things too much… for obvious reasons, that we refuse to allow, especially considering the circumstances this time around. Fandaniel, to… entertain Zenos and buy them more time… will attempt to steal Senri's body… and Zenos will take it over to taunt him. Try to threaten you and the Scions while in his skin. And as amusing as I find the idea of… letting him try it and get more than bargained for… as Ares would tear his soul apart at such… insult… I managed to convince him to simply avoid the whole thing altogether. After the whole mess with the failed teleportation to Thavnair, it's too risky to allow them in any way near Senri's soul. Merged, he's more stable… and we want to keep it that way. As he said, we want to keep them alive until some point… but afterward, they're of no consequence to us, my boy. Ares has his plans for Fandaniel… but Zenos…
He's mine, he growled internally, instinctively tightening his arms around his lover's body possessively. None touched or hurt his mate and lived… none… and to think of something so… heinous and how much would it harm his Snark's beautiful soul…
Thought you'll see it that way, Damon chuckled fondly, clearly pleased. But as I said… at the right time, Raha. I'm only telling you because… he deserves more than Senri's half-hearted dismal and in this timeline, it won't happen, I assure you. I could deal with him myself… but as his mate, I believe you have the first claim on it, my boy.
And he understood more than his immortal needed to say, really. Damon might be… cold and calculating sometimes, but his love for his husband was true. Boundless and uncompromising. Senri, though a reincarnation, was still a part of Ares's soul… And clearly, his Warrior's passenger wasn't the only one that found such… offense in trifling with his host's soul.
Thank you, Damon, he replied easily, relaxing his muscles when Senri hummed with confusion. "Just an unpleasant thought, Snark… gone already," he chuckled sheepishly, closing his eyes again before his lover rose above him on his elbows and brushed his lips against his cheek.
"Good," he purred soothingly, then sighed softly and brushed the tip of his nose against his which had Raha smile tenderly and reflect it without opening his eyes. "Day's still young, my prince… and we have nothing planned. Anything you would like to do?"
"Mmm," he hummed with pretend consideration, peering through his lashes at his lover's beautiful smile before he pouted playfully and wrapped his hands around his mate's face, delicately keeping his black hair back. "I'm lazy," he stated with a bratty tone, fighting his grin when Senri's beauty lit up with a silly, lovesick grin. "And my fur still needs brushing…" he wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
"Ah, at your service, my lord," his lover purred with delight, then shifted to rain affectionate kisses over his face until he laughed softly and wrapped his arms around his Warrior's shoulders.
Forgetting about the whole conversation… for now… he focused on his lover's happiness – determined to keep him as content as possible… and Zenos… well, he'll have plenty of time to think about something fitting for the Garlean prince… after all, he wasn't worth wasting his time with his mate.
Garlemald deserved a whole line on top of his list of the places he… disliked, T'senri decided quickly, and once it was decided they broke a camp around the Aetheryte they found near the edge of the area.
Standing on top of one of the buildings and still shivering despite the jacket prepared for him by Tataru, he narrowed his eyes at the massive, 'fleshy' tower the capital of the Empire turned into. Curling his hands in the pockets and feeling the tips of his claws bite into his skin, he worked his jaw slightly dragging his eyes over the whole thing.
He couldn't help, but numbly wonder how many innocent citizens paid with their lives for Zenos's… insanity. Garleans held no love for the people of Eorzea – as was their right after the years of conflict – but they certainly didn't deserve… this. Suffering and having their lives and homes destroyed for one man's sick game. He held no love for the Empire, either… Not after what he saw done in Doma and Ala Mhigo… Not after Tsuyu… But this was a travesty of inhumane proportions… and could not be allowed to stand.
They will pay for that, I promise you that, boy, Ares downright hissed, as enraged by this atrocity. T'senri took a deep, steadying breath, then dropped his eyes to the camp below him, looking over the tired-looking soldiers of the Eorzean Alliance, before raising his eyes again to that monstrous… thing.
If his deal with Ares didn't hold him back, he would love nothing more than warp inside it and cut all of this short by putting Zenos down like the rabid beast he was. He hated the idea of him breathing… polluting their star with his very being. And if he even tries to lay his filthy hands on any under his care…
"Snark?" he heard before strong arms surrounded his waist from behind and Raha pressed against his back tightly. "You're freaking out the soldiers, love… and I can feel your anguish… What happened here is… I can't even find the correct words…"
"Monstrous," he whispered, closing his eyes and resting his hand over his lover's forearms. Raha didn't seem as bothered by cold… which he was almost embarrassingly jealous about but also glad, always his mate's needs his priority. "It's so… unfair," he added softly, then sighed. "All those people, Raha…"
"I know, my heart," his lover's arms tightened around him before he pulled back. When T'senri turned around and dropped his head on his mate's shoulder, he purred soothingly, running his fingers through his hair. "I know, Snark… The balance here was so… broken, I know it's especially hard for you, my beautiful beast," he whispered, tilting his head slightly to let him nuzzle against his throat and calm down slowly as his lover's scent filled his head. "It's hard to even understand… why all of this…" he trailed off and his fingers stilled in Warrior's hair. Frowning, he raised his head and looked into his lover's narrowed crimson eyes as they stared behind him, toward that tower. Almost seeing the gears behind his eyes turn furiously, he was tempted to smile… until Ares's quiet uh oh, had him frown instead. "Senri… what do you think are the chances that Zenos with all of this… is back to his old tricks?" his lover said slowly as his eyes turned to his.
"Huh?" he frowned deeper, turning his head to look toward the tower again. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… once you beat him once, he fused… no, consumed Shinryu to fight you," Raha said slowly, catching his hands in his and he was instantly more than grateful for his mate's heat, even as he kept looking toward that thing, trying to get his lover's meaning. "All those towers… we know now that they gather aether and send a massive part of it here, to this one… And we know, you and me, that you're bound to face Zodiark…" he trailed off, and when T'senri paled and his eyes shot to his lover's, Raha was white like a sheet. "Do you think…?"
"That he wants to consume Zodiark… somehow?" he whispered numbly, looking toward the tower again and back to his lover. "I mean… is that even a thing…? Isn't Zodiark like… a god…?"
"A Primal," Raha hummed with consideration even as his face went paler. "First and most powerful… but still a Primal, like Shinryu was… So, theoretically…?"
He heard Ares sigh, then his soul was pulled back and his immortal took over, carefully wrapping their fingers around Raha's chin and turning his eyes to them. His lover gasped slightly, then tilted his head in his grip, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm right, aren't I?" he hummed.
"You are," Ares sighed, then chuckled sheepishly. "This close… no point wiping your memory about that, Raha, so let me tell you this… He will try, but he'll fail. I don't know if it would be even possible for him to do, consume Zodiark, I mean… or would that tear him apart… but that's not a problem since Fandaniel is in it to screw him over and take control of Zodiark himself. Without Themis… Elidibus, who serves as its heart, I imagine any of ours could… But since we want Zodiark gone, we are going to let him do that, boy… So, keep this knowledge, both of you," he added meaningfully. "To yourself."
"But why?" his lover whispered, wrapping his hand around Ares's wrist. "So many of yours… sacrificed themselves for it…"
"That's why," Ares smiled sadly, then let go of him and turned his bright, sky-blue eyes toward the sky above them. "Zodiark… it was nothing but a temporary measure, boys. At best. If Hydealyn wouldn't strike him down and caged him, ours in their blindness would sacrifice more of us to bring back the world that was all but dead… That should have been left behind if they were able to take the lesson of it to heart and move on. And now, as glad as I am for that… seeing this new, beautiful world that came after… It's time to free them," he whispered with a sad note. "All of those who surrendered their souls to bring him about… They deserve peace, boys. They deserved to be reborn – someday, perhaps – and be allowed to enjoy this world… with all of what is good and bad about it. And live… instead of being a part of that… thing," he dropped his gaze to Raha who was looking at him with slightly narrowed eyes, and smiled reassuringly. "That's all, boy… Zodiark must die."
"I get that," his lover said slowly with a nod. "When put that way… I do, Ares. But it isn't all, is it…? A temporary measure, you called it… against what?"
"That, my boy…" the immortal chuckled fondly, then dragged his eyes above his head, over the horizon. "…is something for us to know and for you to find out… later. Once Zodiark is gone, my brother and friends are safe… We will talk again and tell you both all, I promise you that," he caught Raha's gaze again and winked at him before letting T'senri take over again.
"So…" he cleared his throat, then sighed and looked back to the Zenos's tower. "…it sounded like we're getting close to their endgame."
"Looks like it," his lover hummed, then wrapped his arm around his waist and pressed against his side, offering his heat when he shivered again at the harder blow of the wind. T'senri purred with appreciation and gratefully wrapped his arms around his mate, resting his chin on top of his head. "Senri… whatever comes after, we are staying together, yes?"
"Of course," he said with conviction, nuzzling against his ear delicately. "Always and forever, Raha."
"No, I mean…" his lover leaned away slightly and raised his head, and when their eyes met, his crimson irises shone with determination when he raised his chin pointedly. "…when you head to the past… I'm going with you, Snark. Whatever comes… we face together," he added with a stubborn glint in his eyes that told him there wouldn't be changing his mind before his plush lips tilted in a slight, smug smirk. "I have to watch over my beast, after all…"
"Whatever you desire," he sighed with a bit of resignation, then chuckled and pressed a kiss on his pretty mouth. "I wouldn't have it any other way, anyway, my prince."
"Good boy," his lover praised with a quiet laugh, then flicked his ear delicately. "Now, let's get off this wind, my Snark, before you freeze off any of my favorite bits."
"Gladly," he shivered theatrically, earning his mate's snicker. "Where to, my heart?"
"Doesn't seem like we will be needed at least until morning," his lover said with a meaningful smirk, wrapping his arms around T'senri's neck and pulling him down until their breaths mixed. "So… let's find a more private spot to teleport away and head back to our nest, love? I can see you need some… warming up."
"Oh, my Raha… always so caring," he purred near-deafeningly with pleasure at the prospect, then sighed and placed a delicate kiss on the tattoo on his lover's throat. "Thank you," he added softly against his skin, knowing this offer for what it was… What his beautiful prince was truly aiming for…
"Your heart is mine to protect, my beast," Raha whispered, running his fingers through his hair gently. "Now and for always. What Zenos and Fandaniel did… It's not on you… not in any way," he tightened his arms around him possessively, protectively… "It's their choices… that they are going to pay for, we will make sure of that, Senri. And bring back the balance your soul craves…" he added, pressing a tender kiss on his cheek before backing away and smiling with reassurance when T'senri straightened and cleared his throat, feeling how it tightened painfully. "Now… let's go, Snark… I find, I'm in a mood to fuck you," he chuckled when at that T'senri felt his face heat up considerably. Still, he grinned and wrapped his fingers around his mate's chin then placed a fond kiss on his beautiful lips.
"I'm yours," he purred teasingly, then delicately bit his lower lip and his grin widened impossibly when Raha's gasp fanned his mouth. "But… I find that I am in a mood to play, Rrraha," he rasped, letting his fangs elongate and watch a fiery spark of lust spark into those crimson irises.
"Even better, my beast," his lover bared his teeth at him in a silent challenge. "I'll enjoy taming you… again."
"Can't wait," he replied smoothly, his anguish gone in the heat of those fiery eyes. In the flame of his mate's soul – scorching and blinding.
His very own Sun, truly… Even the chill of this place didn't stand a chance in its glorious heat.