T'senri dropped his 'baggage' into the pile of snow near the camp built by the Alliance soldiers with an indignant hiss, folding his arms over his chest and scowling darkly at the obviously confused girls, blinking up at him with their mouths wide open.
"How…?" gaped the older Garlean girl, Licinia, pale as the snow around her when she wrapped her arms protectively around the younger girl.
"Listen…" he drawled through his teeth, dropping his arms to brace his hands on his hips and narrowing his eyes at the girl. "You don't have to like or trust me… or any of my friends. After what happened here… I get that you're suspicious, Licinia. I do. But dragging your sick sister away as you did… was beyond idiotic!" he snapped, then took a deep, steadying breath when both curled into themselves and dropped their eyes with fright. He fought his temper, working his jaw as he folded his arms again, looking toward their camp with consideration.
Furious as he grew at the girl's stupid plan – despite on some level admiring her bravery as well – he was beyond glad for Ascians' way to travel and having her name – promptly leaving Alisaie and Alphinaud with the other survivors to warp to the running girls, grab them by the scoffs of their necks and warp near their camp before they could become a dinner for any of the monsters littering the snowy landscape. He didn't know what kind of sickness afflicted the younger girl, but figured one of their healers could take a look… if her older sister would stop being so Twelve-forsaken stubborn!
He relaxed his expression some – though instead of his trademark grin, went for a somber, serious look – as he sighed deeply and leaned it, offering his hand to the older girl.
"I get it," he whispered when she looked at it with a frown, tightening her arms around her sister. "I really do… I have a little sister as well," he added softly. "Were I in your situation… Trust me, I understand. But, Licinia, just… let us help her. I know how it must look for you and the others – our arrival here… But we do not mean any harm to your people, I swear. We have healers – extremely skilled ones – at our camp. I know you can hardly be expected to trust magic… but just let them take a look at her and see if they can help her… that's all. Afterward, you both can do whatever you like – leave or stay… but don't so something so stupid again, please."
She looked at him for a long moment, biting her lower lip with uncertainty, then to his relief, finally she sighed softly with resignation and nodded slowly, freeing one arm to wrap her chilly fingers around his. Trying not to grin triumphantly to not scare her, he delicately pulled both to their feet, letting go quickly.
"I… didn't mean to put her in danger," Licinia said quietly, as they both shook the snow off their clothes without looking up at him. "I thought… As soon as we left, seeing the monsters, I… regretted it… but…"
"As I said, I understand," he said, then with a wave of his hand motioned toward one of the scouts – who gaped toward them with a stunned expression at the edge of the camp. The man, tall Elzen in Serpents' colors hurried toward them, saluting at him and striving to relax his expression.
"Yes, Warrior?" he said, visibly struggling not to show his shock at their sudden appearance.
"Those girls are under my protection – temporarily," he added, nodding slightly toward the older one before turning his gaze back to the soldier. "Please, lead them to the barrack for the wounded and tell healers the younger one is sick… whether they can help or not, after that, they're free to leave if they wish," he said with power.
"Y-yes, sir!" the man saluted again, then with a polite smile turned and motioned toward the girls to follow him.
"I…" Licinia hesitated, then took a deep breath and caught her sister's hand in hers tightly, nodding slightly toward T'senri. "…thank you, Warrior," she said softly, before following the soldier and pulling the younger girl along.
He looked after them for a long moment, before he sighed, shoved his freezing hands in the pockets of his jacket and turned his eyes toward the gray, clouded sky, closed them, and exhaled slowly with relief.
They were supposed to die, you know, Ares hummed in the back of his head.
"I imagine," he whispered without opening his eyes or moving – other than shivering in the cold blow of the wind and painfully missing Raha's heat. Though he understood why they had to split apart, he couldn't help but simply wish for his warmth – bothered by the cold of this land on more than one level. "But I did… do need to save… something here."
I know, my boy, the immortal chuckled sadly, then sighed. Senri, before this… excursion, we – me and Damon – knew that this part… will be especially hard for you. But like your Raha said… what happened here is not on you. Fandaniel and Zenos will pay for this, I promise you that.
"If I…" he started, curling into himself slightly.
Don't, Ares said softly. Just… don't do this to yourself, Senri. Believe me, when I say, you always have done the best you could under the circumstances, boy. You can have only so much control over what happens around you – about others' choices – and as much as I know it bothers you, you do need to learn to let go. You can't save everyone, Senri, no matter how you wish otherwise.
"I know," he sighed, opening his eyes and simply staring at the sky above him. "And I understand we can't… change too much, as you said. And that you won't tell me… what is your true endgame… yet. But whatever it's leading to… Ares, is it worth it?"
It is, the immortal assured in a delicate tone and he felt something almost like a gentle pat on his soul.
And trusting him as he did – after all they did for him and his mate, he couldn't help it – he relaxed and dropped his eyes, instead looking slowly over the horizon before exhaling, and without another look toward the camp, teleporting back to the twins and their task.
Ares waited, gathering and saving his strength, as he knew what he planned will require a massive amount of aether.
Even fragmented as he was, Fandaniel was still of his kind – and controlling them was always beyond… tiring.
Back in the day, he rarely got… upset enough to do this sort of thing. Usually, Damon's presence soothed his temper, and he managed to brush off the insults and suspicions of their peers. A few times that he wasn't there… well, enough said some of their fellows ended up embarrassing themselves quite… thoughtfully afterward, in many different ways.
But as he told his husband once – Senri's creativity in his punishments taught him he thought too small then. Or maybe… their world simply was so much different than what arrived next – he wasn't sure, but he truly didn't miss it.
Even despite all the flaws of this new, mortal world – he couldn't help but simply love it.
He loved Senri, plain and simple. Not like he loved Damon, obviously. But the boy was as dear for him as their Hades, at least. He knew that his eternal lover thought the same of his own host – enamored as he was with Raha… And that Damon – despite his original misgivings about it – didn't scorn his need to protect his boy.
So long they kept the timeline intact – allowing the most important things to occur – his husband believed it should be safe to change… some things. Slight, delicate adjustments… or not so much, as long as they kept their impact on the events to the minimum.
Until Senri's trip to Elpis at least.
After that, they'll be blind… and as much as he knew Damon was apprehensive about it… he couldn't help but wait for that impatiently.
Already Raha's decision to accompany his lover when he's bound to meet them put a lovely wrench in the original timeline. All things considered, there – he wouldn't be able if he did want to – unable to travel to the First as he was. But this time around… they had their plans for meeting 'themselves.'
Knowing how it went the first time around, he fully intended to warn his counterpart from – the next time and in his own timeline – stop Senri from picking up that infernal Dark Knight's soulstone. Or at least, tell him to expect the consequences it would bring along.
Not that he didn't at some level enjoy their physical changes – or at least, Damon's devious enjoyment of those. So similar to his host's, his husband found Senri's fangs and claws beyond arousing – and so different than him, Damon was never shy about what he liked.
And whatever his lover wanted, he was more than happy to do to accommodate him – always was, forever would be.
Despite him being the one to ask the beautiful cyan-eyed immortal to be his – it was Damon that was always more… daring and curious in their bed. Hardly only bed! Millennia together, taught Ares every single… kink, as the mortals called it, of his husband.
And their new bodies only added to the list – adding more than a layer of fun to their task. And more than a few, his reincarnation seemed to share – despite the boy's sometimes silly inhibitions.
Watching – and helping along whenever required – Damon's influence help his host in breaking through the years of conditioning and the results of his isolation, was beyond entertaining. And rewarding, to feel and know Senri's happiness at the way his lover grew increasingly confident in their relationship.
Again, Ares loved Senri. And a bit different than how he felt about his younger brother – while Hades was always powerful beyond compare – his boy felt for him more like a son… as weird as it sounded, considering their circumstances. And his natural protective instincts, with his host, went beyond the simple need.
For him, Senri went through and suffered more than enough for his short, mortal life.
Despite originally not caring about it much – hateful as he used to be of the T'senri they met… Once they started to prepare for their… scheme after their boys returned to the Source, going over what they knew was coming…. Well, once Damon reminded him of the whole… 'Garlemald fiasco' and asked what he wanted to do about it – by then knowing his… infatuation with his mortal, Ares grew truly… enraged at the thought.
After all, they went through – and the way Senri was now so much more… stable when Raha's acceptance brought his boy to finally admit and forgive himself for what he thought – unconsciously, apparently – was using his lover's need for affection to gain his love. He didn't understand it then – and only Damon's patiently explaining what he thought all of that meant – helped him to make sense of his boy's true issues that brought along his… outbursts originally.
The biggest one – the one that twisted and corrupted the Esteem – that surprised him then so much… Now, for him, made so much more sense than it did.
And the new – calmer and stable – Senri he was still learning after the years of watching his boy snap at the slightest provocation… he couldn't help but simply adore. And feel… proud of his host.
And to know what Fandaniel planned for him – for their, his and Zenos, entertainment – had him become truly… miffed, as his boy called it.
Considering their plans for them – and their self-inflicted limitations – he knew he couldn't really make him pay as he deserved... As much as he would love nothing more than tear him and his fragmented soul to pieces…
And maybe – if he allowed himself to dwell on that occasionally – he was as well… miffed with Hermes. After the millennia and the breaking of their world… there was an aspect to Hermes's 'bet,' he always found a bit… infuriating. Despite loving their new world… if he could, he had some choice words for the immortal… unable to do so when he was still whole and didn't remember his role in all of this.
Thinking about how easily this… mess could be avoided, kind of… pissed him off.
So he waited, gathering his strength – just in case – and when the massive, fleshy tower of Fandaniel's creation activated, sending the waves of Primal's call all over the area… he was more than ready for his play.
When the chaos erupted around the mortals' camp – what they had to regretfully allow to happen – and utterly confused Senri looked around, swiftly focusing in what to do to fix the situation – Ares waited for the telltale sound behind them and sprang to action instantly when his host missed it in the commotion. Pulling back and securing his boy's soul in a tighter, safer cocoon than usual, he waited without turning… until he snapped back and mercilessly wrapped his now-clawed hand around the Ascian's throat, easily lifting Fandaniel off his feet.
"Don't move or speak," he snapped instantly, with his gift behind it, and grinned his trademark, crooked grin when the Ascian sagged uselessly in his grip. Assured of his compliance, Ares looked around then focused his aether into one, hard blast and boomed: "STOP!" with premeditation meaning all the mortals, who instantly froze.
Predictably using the loophole of it, he smiled wider seeing Damon take over his host and roll his shoulders slightly before joining him and narrowing his crimson eyes at Fandaniel, but silent as he simply pushed his mortal's hands in the pockets of his jacket and slightly bounced on his heels.
"Remember, love, we do need him alive and unaware," he finally said, tossing almost a petulant look toward the fleshy tower. "For now, at least…"
"I know," he replied with a slight nod and roll of his too-bright, sky-blue eyes before he turned them to the limp immortal hanging in his grip – his vessel's eyes wide and aware, despite his expression completely slack under the power of compulsion. "Hey, Fanny," the smile he tossed him could be at best called a snarl, but he didn't really care. "I do not know how many memories of your original life you retained… Hades told me in the case of most of you… it's not much. So, let me reintroduce myself," he hissed, carelessly dropping the Ascian to the ground, and after watching him sprawl in the snow, he kneeled next to him and wrapped his clawed hand around his jaw, forcing his gaze to turn toward him. "Name's Ares, the Azem of the Convocation of the Fourteen… and this body, that you planned to toy with and the soul occupying it… are mine," he didn't even twitch, feeling Damon rest his hands on top of his shoulders and lean to look at the Ascian around him. "Damon, my husband, that made it possible… not that you'll remember any of this… until you're no longer necessary," he sent the wide, black eyes an almost playful smirk, then tightened his hand around his face. "Because…" he added softly, with the mesmerizing undertone of his inborn gift. "…when you slip into the aetherial sea, Fanny, so sure of your win… I want you to know this… you failed. In every single way, you could… you failed. As Hermes, as Amon, and as you… all you did, all you did cause with your… stupidity… All this," he added on a growl, making a wide gesture with his free hand toward his captive's tower. "I just want you to realize how much of a failure you are… always were."
"You started all of this," he said softly, turning his head slightly and almost wishing it was truly Hermes inside that body. "With your… inability to learn. To grow. To accept that death is as much part of life as everything else. With your blindness, you doomed our world… and as much as I am almost thankful for that now… I can't help but find your whole bet… almost insulting. You caved, Hermes… you gave into the despair you gave life to… and doomed those who loved you the most in the process. Meteion never deserved what your… stupid question did to her and her sisters," he whispered, narrowing his eyes slightly. "When you had the answer right under your nose… this whole time if you weren't too busy feeling sorry for yourself to see it. In her love for you… you could have found meaning. In the position you were offered… in changing the way our people thought of creations, you could have found a meaning… So many ways this could have gone otherwise if you weren't so… focused on the small things instead of seeing the bigger picture. Even after that, when you suggested the creation of Zodiark to Convocation to save us – as much as I didn't agree with it then neither do now – in all possible ways, you failed – because you couldn't even see the simplest things…" he used his free hand to wrap it around his lover's hand of his shoulder.
"Hope," Damon whispered above him and he didn't have to look at him to know he was looking down on him now, not on the Ascian. "Love. Those could have been your meaning… if you would let them."
Ares nodded slowly, tightening his hand around his husband's before dropping it to rest next to Fandaniel's head in the snow, and leaning over him with a nasty kind of smirk.
"But none of that matters anymore… thanks – in no small measure – to you, and our people, who were as blind as you. But for what you tried to do today… for trying to toy with the soul so much… better than you could ever hope to become – if you were capable of hope, in the first place – you'll pay. You won't remember it… for now, but as you go back to your mortal… toy, and tell him how his friend 'whooped' your ass for attempting this…" he let his smirk widen as he let go of his face, then raised his arm and then carefully measuring their strength, slammed it down Fandaniel's face and his ears twitched slightly at the sound of his vessel's nose breaking – not that it mattered, really, as it was dead anyway – then repeating it until the Ascian's face looked battered enough for his liking… or maybe a tad bit more than necessary. "Lovely," he hummed, leaning back and admiring his work for a second before looking up at his husband's face with a slight smirk. "Think it enough, love?"
"Matters to me not," Damon shrugged slightly with a very real disinterest as he moved away slightly, then looked around the immobile mortals. "But do keep enough power to make them unaware of this as well, Ares… after you're satisfied, of course," he sent him a sweet, reassuring smile before briefly smoothing his hand over his hair.
"Of course," he nodded back, then turned his eyes back to his prey. "You see, Fanny… we do have plans for you. That's the only reason you're still breathing… despite how Hades wished to have some… words with you as well. Learning of all of this… my brother was quite upset with you, you see. And as much as I would love to let him have you… We do need someone to die with Zodiark. And I do find it perhaps a bit poetic… since, you know, your original incarnation came up with him in the first place and all… And if my host taught me anything, nothing seems as satisfying as having one pay their dues… But, I digress… When you go back, I want you to go ahead with your plan and try to free Zodiark. Insist, that provoked by this, the Warrior is about to crush your party in that tower. After it inevitably fails… stall Zenos with destroying the last seal until Warrior arrives. And when you slip into the aetherial sea and this compulsion breaks… I want you to truly know the extent of your failure, Fanny. That all you saw as your triumphs were an illusion, we let you believe… and you're nothing more than insurance that destruction of that thing won't pull along Themis's soul. I want you to spend the time in it knowing… the true extent of the failure you are. And that in the end… we will succeed and save this star from oblivion. We will stop Meteion, no matter the cost… and save her from the results of your stupidity, if possible… but you… oh, you will know nothing but the true despair you gave life to and nursed to bloom in your damned soul. For all the suffering your useless inquiry caused… As much as you loved all life, Hermes, I hope knowing how much death you caused will be enough of a punishment," he tapped his fingers against the Ascian's bloody cheek before he stood up and narrowed his eyes at his prey's form. "Now… go back to your pet, and forget about this, Fandaniel. Do as I said, no more no less… and enjoy the time you have left scheming. Dismissed," he snapped his fingers, smirking when the immortal disappeared instantly, before turning around and wrapping his arms around Damon, then resting his chin on top of his hair as he looked around motionless mortals. "Before I fix this, love…" he whispered, nuzzling against his ear while his husband wrapped his hands around his forearms. "…and we have Senri and his friends chase after him, at the right time, are you still sure about what comes after?"
"You mean letting Raha accompany Senri to the past… or what comes first?" his lover hummed, resting the back of his head against his collarbone and relaxing in his arms.
"Both," he replied, tightening his arms around him. "Once Final Days resume… It'll get dicey, love. And after their trip to Elpis, we will be blind."
"Isn't that… exciting for you, Ares?" his husband chuckled, tilting his head slightly when he trailed his lips over his cheek delicately. "The unknown of what's coming… and doing our best for the best outcome… As apprehensive about it as I am, I do find the idea… intriguing, love. Once Zodiark is gone and Themis is finally safe to be freed… we will proceed as planned, Azem. We will have him, Hades and Hythlodaeus strengthen the aether currents around the Source to block out Meteion's song as much as possible while our boys travel to meet our past selves. Once that is done with… well, thanks to Senri's efforts as 'Fandaniel,' and after their visit to the moon, we will sit them down for a chat with our boys and explain everything they need to do to get Forum to induce them and the Scions in their deal with Hydealyn. Venat seemed to believe the escape from this star is the only option… yet, I can't help but think that would be the same temporary measure as Zodiark was… and likely, demanding no less sacrifice. Meteion must be dealt with if we want this star to survive and our mortals to thrive… and as much as I know you wish to save her, love, if it comes down to choosing…" he trailed off, looking at Ares over his shoulder and narrowing his eyes slightly.
"I know," he sighed, then pressed a tender kiss on his lover's cheek before letting go of him and looking around again. "I may need a bit of a… boost, Damon. Compelling Fandaniel was a bit more… expensive than I expected," he smiled at his husband sheepishly.
"Of course, my heart," Damon said with a quiet laugh, taking hold of the offered hand and closing his eyes. Feeling a slight, familiar pressure against his soul, Ares tightened his fingers around his hand and let him in, biting back a moan of pleasure at the connection and relishing in his lover's easily offered aether. "Take what you need, my Azem."
And for a bare second, looking at his eternal love's beautiful, focused face with a delicate, enamored smile, he wondered – briefly – how much different all of this would be if Hermes was able to see the simple fact that for him seemed so… obvious.
From the moment he laid his eyes on the beauty of Damon's soul and his curious scholar of a husband accepted him… he never had to wonder about the meaning of his eternity… Surrounded by him, their son, and friends… despite hating their society and customs, Ares was beyond content and safe in the knowledge that whatever their peoples' misgivings about him, he had those who loved and accepted him.
Now, millennia later and after everything they did and sacrificed to change what was destined to happen – his… family only grew bigger.
Hope and love, his brilliant husband said, were always there – if one was able to see it. And with them, with their love for each other and those they held dear and with the hope of saving and keeping this new, imperfect – yet, better for it – world, they were giving their own meaning to their eternal existence.
To protect – and punish – those deserving of it, as his host's soul craved the balance it brought to their world – was something he admired and could more than get behind. And while he knew that his lover simply enjoyed the exploration of their new world and examining the creatures filling it brought the pleasure of interest to his brilliant mind, he also knew that Damon found unbeatable logic behind Senri's yearning for equilibrium, same as Raha did, if in a colder manner. And between the four of them and with their friends' help, immortal and not, he had a hope they'll be able to bring their world through the upcoming crisis unscathed.
And even if Damon doubted that, maybe he can realize his ambition and save Meteion as well… righting the injustice that twisted her beautiful, innocent soul.
And that hope, the true antithesis to despair… Well, was something he knew couldn't hurt, but only help their plans.
And with that thought, he grinned involuntarily as he turned his gaze toward the mortals and using his gift, took a deep breath and set to put their plans in motion.
After seeing to the last of the injured and leaving them under the care of the Alliance's healers, Raha took a deep breath as he stepped out of the barrack for the wounded and out in the blasting cold of the blizzard outside. Though usually the cold – in contrast to his lover – didn't bother him much, the sudden change of the weather forced them to delay their attack on the Tower of Babil, as their people came to call it.
Though utterly confused about what happened earlier in the evening and seeming 'black-out' he and the whole camp experienced at some point, losing a span of time – he settled with Damon's brief explanation that there was a 'situation' he and Ares handled, then the immortal demanded he and Senri convince the others to wait through the storm… before it actually started. And he had a pretty good idea that somehow – in some way – their Ascians were responsible for the sudden blizzard. And Damon's chuckle when he accused him of that – only seemed to support that theory, despite the immortal's refusal to admit that.
From the whole occurrence, he remembered treating some of the wounded Garleans… then nothing. And whomever he asked, seemed to remember what happened only to that point – then everyone swore to have no recollection until they all came to a few minutes later, to their 'guests' safely tucked in near the biggest campfire and somehow each in a possession of Nidhana's medallions.
After that, Senri took him aside briefly and told him, that according to what they learned and Ares's confirmation and warning, inside that tower was a Primal responsible for the other towers that appeared around the Source – and keeping the Garleans in possession of the medallions was the safest route until they're able to put it down. Faced with that, he helped the others gather the survivors and then got busy helping with healing.
Now, pulling the edges of his jacket tighter around himself and fighting the wildly blowing wind carrying the heavy snowfall, he slowly headed toward the direction he could feel his lover in. Knowing his Snark's dislike for the cold, he was more than surprised that the feeling didn't lead him toward one of the other barracks, but to the edge of the camp facing the barely visible, looming monstrosity of the tower.
Narrowing his eyes as the snowflakes kept getting stuck on his lashes, Raha finally spotted the tall figure of his lover leaning against one of the poles of the wildly fluttering in wind tent set near the end of the area and once he neared, he could easily see that Senri's ice-blue irises were no less cold than the weather around them.
"Snark!" he called through the blizzard, frowning when his beast didn't even flinch or acknowledge him, Senri's eyes nearly… glassy as they stared intently at the looming tower. Finally reaching his side, Raha curled his hands in the material of his mate's jacket and shook him slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Thinking," his lover replied in a soft, weirdly monotonous tone and when his eyes finally lowered to his confused gaze, he scowled seeing how pale he was and how his too-pretty lips took a slightly bluish tint from the cold. How long was he there…? Not thinking of it much, he wrapped his arms around him securely and with a thought pushed them through the space, from the mind-numbing chill of the blizzard to the soothing warmth of the Rising Stones and their lair. "That wasn't necessary, Raha," his lover sighed, dropping his chin on top of his head.
"Not necessary, my ass…" he grumbled, tightening his arms briefly before backing away and unceremoniously pulling the jacket off his lover's wide shoulders. "Look at you!" he snapped, his tone sharper than planned because of rising worry. "You're almost blue from the cold, Snark! How long were you standing in that blizzard?"
"I…" Senri blinked slowly and his expression flashed with uncertainty as his ears twitched and lowered against his hair, still covered with the quickly melting snowflakes. "I don't… know."
"That's just stupid," he snapped, shaking his head at his mate, while impatiently and with his slight help, quickly removing his half-frozen clothes. Or that was at least how they felt. "A hot shower, now! And I don't want to hear any complaints, do you hear…" he trailed off, raising his eyes and getting caught in Senri's darkened gaze, so unbearably full of misery. "Snark…" he sighed, then growing more delicate, wrapped his hands around his lover's beautiful face and pulled him down until their foreheads met. "…what were you thinking of? What's worth this… state, hm? You know, if you'll get sick from this, I'll be very cross with you, my heart."
"Just…" his mate sighed, then closed his eyes and dropped his head against his shoulder. "Raha… if we're right and all of this is soon… going to come to a head, then did you… think what's going to the past is going to mean?"
"Huh?" he hummed, soothingly running his fingers through the ink-black, damp hair. "What are you talking about, Senri?"
"We could stop this… all of this, from happening in the first place… right?" his lover whispered, not moving otherwise as his arms stayed hanging limply at his sides. "Even if it meant that we would never…"
He heard a sigh and felt a pull and his body suddenly wasn't his anymore.
"And leave me to be dreadfully bored… I think not," the immortal living inside him stated petulantly, though still running their fingers through Senri's hair when his lover stilled utterly, even holding his breath. "Senri… as much as I… and Ares, I'm sure, appreciate the sentiment, my boy… again, I assure you, we are quite content as we are. Truly. Believe me, after learning about all of this… we thought of it. If we so wished, we could have easily enough survived Venat's hit along Hades… but we didn't go that route. I know you, boy, and I know you have a sad tendency to blame yourself for things that are completely out of your control… but in this case, stop. Please. I know it doesn't make sense yet, and I swear that once we are able to, we will explain some parts… that will make you, perhaps, feel better about it… but, Senri, this – being with you as we are – was and is our choice. And though now it is different from how it was, I for one can say, a choice I never regretted. Getting to know Raha and you… and the Scions and all the interesting things you, mortals, get up to… is a reward I do very much appreciate. Allowed to choose again, I would still do the same thing, without hesitation, my boy," he sighed softly, then carefully wrapped their arms around Senri's shoulders and pulled him in a tight, reassuring hug. "I was… I am thankful, Senri," he added much quieter and even Raha, in the back of their shared head would frown with confusion if he could, instead listening intently. "As much as perhaps he wouldn't admit that to you… My Ares is now much happier than he ever used to be back in our day. And that – as much it cost and the struggles we went through with you two – I can't help but simply be grateful for. For trusting us and going along with our plans… for letting us save Hades, Hythlodaeus, and Themis… I hope to be able to one day repay that, somehow… if it's even possible. So do not let 'ifs' bother you, my boy," then he slipped back, seamlessly giving Raha his body back.
"You heard him," he sighed sadly, pressing a tender kiss on his lover's cold skin before backing away and going back to working on his stubborn clothes. Senri, with his eyes closed and an unusually unreadable expression on his beautiful face, let him, simply complying with his whispered commands. Finally done, he forcefully turned his tall lover around and pushed him toward the bathtub. "Now, about that shower…"
"Join me?" his mate whispered without looking toward him as he stepped inside the tub and turned the water on.
"Obviously," he rolled his eyes theatrically, trying to keep the worry out of his voice at his lover's still subdued behavior, as he set to swiftly remove his clothes. When he was naked and stepped behind his mate, he wasn't surprised when Senri turned around and engulfed him in a tight, almost desperate, embrace, pulling them both under the stream of hot water. After the cold of Garlemald, it was beyond pleasant, so he involuntarily relaxed in his lover's arms, resting his cheek over Senri's heart and melting when his mate nuzzled apologetically against his ear.
"I'm sorry, Raha… didn't want to worry you," he whispered, tightening his arms around him. "But the thought of never… knowing you… never having you… S-Scared me…"
"I imagine," he replied, running his hands soothingly over his Warrior's broad shoulders. "And yet… I know your nature, my beast… If they asked, I know you would do anything to change things… even if it meant we were never born. And I do get that, too, Senri. I feel as indebted to them as you do… if not more. Sometimes, when I think of how it would play out without their intervention… Of losing your love because of my… stunt in the First, I shudder with fear, Snark…"
"You're my life," his lover chuckled, rubbing his chin against his hair. "This last few moons… To have you back…"
"…and getting better," he added, laughing a bit sheepishly before he sighed sadly and raised his head, narrowing his eyes against the water streaming over them as he rose slightly and pressed his lips against the corner of his mate's beautiful mouth. "All we went through… all we gained, thanks to them… All I gained… you and our family… Senri… for me, nothing is more worth all of it… And whatever their endgame, if we survive, I'll gladly spend the rest of my life paying them back for it… But, as I said…" he moved his arms around his lover's neck, dropping down and pulling him along until their breaths mixed. "…if you get sick because of this, I'll be cross," he pouted, hiding his grin at the instantly there spark of lust in his mate's ice-blue irises. "So… we better warm you up properly…" he drawled, then put a delicate bite on Senri's lower lip.
"Oh?" getting back some of his usual humor, his Warrior's hands smoothed down his back and curled possessively around Raha's ass, pulling him tight against his quickly swelling erection. "How do you propose we do that, my prince?"
"I might have some… ideas," he stated hauntingly, brushing the tip of his nose against his lover's as he freed his right hand to sink his fingers in the damp, ink-black strands and rub at the back of his mate's lowered against the stream ear. "Of course… if you're going to be a good boy, my Snark," he purred, then dragged his tongue over Senri's lower lip, endings it on another, sharper bite and smirking when his lover gasped breathlessly, then his big hands tightened on his body and his eyes narrowed in slits.
"I'm yours to command, my lord," his Warrior assured, kneading his flesh while slowly, gently rolling his hips and rutting against his stomach in an open, shameless invitation. "Whatever you want of me… just a word, Raha…"
"Hmmm…" he hummed with pretend consideration, slowly tightening his fingers in Senri's hair and tilting his head to the side, watching that spark turn into a blazing inferno in the ice-blue eyes, beautifully shaded by the wet, long lashes. "I think… do you remember, Snark, the first time I called you that…?" his lover's tiny, breathless gasp and instant, fiery blush – oh, so pretty on his pale skin – told him enough to make him smirk and he pulled him closer until their mouth almost met, their lips brushing with his next words as Senri's breath stuttered and sped up. "The first time you were… my good boy?" he whispered, holding his lover's dazed by lust stare.
"Y-yeah," his mate stammered slightly, then swallowed audibly as his blush went considerably darker and he closed his eyes. "You… ah, want that?"
"Mhmm," he hummed, even as his face burned no less than his mate's… but considering his mood – drastic measures were in order… Not to mention the memory had his heart triple its rhythm instantly as using the position, he dragged his tongue over Senri's throat, grinning involuntarily when his lover growled softly, then spun them around and pinned him against the wall, dropping his head against his shoulder and nuzzling on it insistently as his big hands left his ass to smooth up and down his sides.
"If you're sure…" his lover purred, then slowly backed away slightly to drop to his knees in front of him. "…hold on, my prince…" he downright chortled, kissing a scorching trail down his abdomen when Raha chuckled breathlessly, shakily sinking both hands in his mate's dark hair.
The last night they spent together before he sealed the Tower – while then his lover was unaware of his plans and he couldn't help but agonize over them – was probably their wildest, and if memory served right… also the moment his Senri took to calling him that… And when he almost got used to the endearment by now, his 'good boy' was sort of a… punishment for that – reminding him of his… destiny, as he believed then. When his only dream – his love – seemed lost to him, he couldn't help but pour his… frustration into their sex that night… going further than ever before or after in their… play.
And if his Snark more than enjoyed it… and it might have been the last moment they had before their immortals' plans take life – whatever the true stakes of it were – somehow, reliving that night seemed… almost disturbingly fitting.
"…hold on?" he chuckled, fisting both hands in Senri's hair and grinning involuntarily when his mate mewled in arousal at the rough treatment, closing his hands around Raha's hips as his wet, black tail swiveled behind him with unbidden enthusiasm. "You seem to misremember it, Snark… I'm not the one that needs to hold on," he hissed with open aggression, pressing his thumbs against the most sensitive point of his lover's lowered ears and his grin turned downright evil when his mate choked on a whine of submission. "You, however… might like to do that, my beast," he cooed, then shamelessly pulled his eager mouth when his aching erection was already dying for them. And when he unceremoniously slammed his cock down Senri's throat, choking on a growl at the incredible heat of his mouth and the vibration of his mewl-purrs on his flesh, he shifted his right hand, slightly pinching the sensitive shell of his lover's ear and purred at his desperate whimper. "After all…" he gasped, then cleared his throat, hearing how his voice dropped into a hoarse growl. "…time to play, pet."