There was something very wrong with Themis…
Or, at least, that was conclusion Alisaie arrived at after spending a few bells in the 'teens' company.
Not that he was doing anything wrong – acting almost unnaturally polite whole time (which annoyed her reminding her of her twin's manners) – but whenever not talked to, he seemed to get lost in thoughts. And if expression in his too-bright, blue eyes was any indication, those weren't very pleasant. She had to repeat to herself constantly that it wasn't any of her business… and he offered to help check out that tip… but somehow… it irritated her.
Not to mention… Gods, but he was pretty! With quite messy silver hair falling around his perfect face, those bright eyes and pretty lines of his lips, he definitely stood out when she led him through the streets of Limsa Lominsa, following upon the tip from one of the merchants. But that, she guessed, was a thing with his race. She could only assume that he choose to look like a teenager – as she had a very poor idea about how otherwise he could look this young.
Or perhaps Damon's magic…? Hythlodaeus mentioned something of the Raha's 'guest' bringing Themis back… Who was he that Damon would do that? 'Exhaust' himself even, as Hyth said. And Emet-Selch's behavior was also quite… strange. She would have to be blind not to see clear warning in the golden irises when she wanted to protest Themis's company… And his words before those door opened – of being 'Ares's friend'…
Enough said, her curiosity was eating at her something fierce – and perhaps that was why when the tip didn't pan out – as the trader seemed to overreact in his eagerness to help catch the thief and sent them on a merry chase around the bridges of Limsa – instead of returning to Rising Stones or the Annex, Alisaie suggested staying at the restaurant in the city for breakfast before doing so.
Looking quite… detached after realizing that seemingly the thief wouldn't be caught, Themis didn't protest – and though she had no idea if one of his race needed to eat – there was some sort of weird curiosity in his bright eyes when she promptly ordered food for the both of them.
It wasn't really that early anymore, so the terrace of the restaurant was quite empty around them – which she was more than thankful for when the owner himself decided to greet them and almost put on a show of welcoming 'Warrior's friends' in front of the few present patrons and insisting that anything they order is 'on the house.'
"Isn't that quite bad for the business?" asked Themis quietly when they took seats on the edge of the terrace and after quite nervous waitress took her order.
"I mean…" she shrugged slightly, leaning back in her seat and putting one leg on top of the other. "…not really? And if I read the room correctly, a lot of people here are still quite ticked off about someone here stealing from Senri. I don't know how much you know of his reputation around Eorzea, Themis, but he's quite… adored around it."
The immortal teen blinked at her a bit owlishly, folding his arms over the table between them and leaning on them slightly as something almost like a smirk fluttered over his expression. And no… she turned her gaze away because of the beautiful view over the terrace not because her face heated up considerably!
"It's somehow… reassuring to hear that," he said and when she looked back, he was staring toward the city visible over the railing with nearly a nostalgic smile on his face. "He's so similar to Ares…"
She almost crooned, seeing her chance to subtly pull his tongue about the things that were eating at her insides.
"That's what I've been hearing a lot," she said nonchalantly, keeping her expression neutral. "And after a few times hearing as well about your world before the Sundering… Quite honestly, I struggle to imagine someone like Senri in that… setting."
"Ares was… is unique," his expression lit up considerably, and she almost smirked mischievously, seeing she apparently picked his favorite topic… until almost instantly he grimaced slightly. "But our society… It always seemed like he quite… didn't fit. Our people just… couldn't understand him – and because of that…" he trailed off with a sigh, then caught her gaze with a slightly sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, miss Levellieur, I do not wish to bore you with old stories."
"Actually, I do find it very interesting," she admitted honestly, then narrowed her eyes slightly. "And, please, do call me Alisaie… miss Levellieur, especially from someone looking as young as you makes me feel old. "
He blinked at her with surprise, then smiled somewhat ruefully.
"Ah, apologies, I do forget that Elzens mature much slower… One would think you do not look much older than me," he said with some amusement and she rolled her eyes slightly.
It was true, though, as despite her and Alphinaud being now twenty-one, they both still quite looked like teens – and most likely, were bound to do so for four more years.
"Did you choose to look this young?" she risked a guess instead.
"Ah? No, I did not," he shook his head slightly, then looked away from her. "I guess when Damon… brought me back, he did so basing his spell around the image of how I looked the last time we saw each other… But you would have to ask him about that," he shrugged slightly. "His talent was always quite… unique and awe-inspiring if I dare to admit that. Perhaps even terrifying of one thought of that too much…" he chuckled as if amused by an old joke and relaxed visibly, sitting back in his seat.
"He's dangerous," she said softly, dropping her legs to the ground and leaning against the table between them. "Honestly… as much as Raha seems like a perfect match for Senri… Damon baffles me," she frowned when he chuckled and caught her gaze with a slight smile.
"That's almost refreshing to hear," he raised his silver eyebrows. "Back in our day, you were most likely to hear the exact opposite – our people admiring of Damon's skills and attitude, and baffled by what he would do with Ares – to the point of most insinuating that he used his gift to have Damon accept him. It was very… frustrating," he admitted reluctantly when her eyebrows shoot near her hairline at that. "I know that… both Damon and Hades would get extremely… upset hearing of that, but sadly it wasn't a very uncommon idea. When I met Ares…" he hummed with that nostalgic air again, looking with an unseeing gaze over her shoulder. "…I was blown away but the very idea of someone like him."
"How so?" she asked quietly and watched another slight smirk flutter through his expression.
"Ah… as my looks suggest, I'm much, much younger than them – if our race matured at a much slower pace than mortals do now," he shrugged slightly and some amusement flared with his bright eyes. "Much younger than Hades, even, though he was born when Ares and Damon were already Bonded for millennia… that was quite a scandal, too, I believe… When Ares's mother, Cassiopeia, left him in their care and then she and his father slipped away into the aetherial sea… centuries later, our people would suggest that it was also Ares's doing," he sighed sadly, then dropped his unseeing gaze to the table between them. "Our society… was very different to this one mortals create – and now… I can see why Ares would be much happier than back then. As to how I met him…" he smiled somewhat sheepishly and perhaps… blushed slightly. "I was… well, I didn't much fit with my peers either. My interests… were quite frowned upon by the boys my age – not to mention my parents – and…"
"Your interests…?" she frowned, leaning forward harder.
"Ah, I found… drawing quite entertaining," he admitted as if that was something shameful… and her eyebrows shoot near her hairline as her mouth dropped slightly open. Seeing her expression, he chuckled sheepishly and shrugged helplessly. "I do imagine… now it may seem quite silly – but back then, any show of individuality was quite… unwelcome. It could cause envy in our brethren – as I was told on many occasions – and those, better avoided."
"That's… not silly, but quite awful," she scoffed, leaning back and folding her arms over her chest. "The more O hear about it, the more I think your society… sucked, quite honestly."
"It did!" he chuckled, relaxing visibly and she almost slapped herself because like this… Gods, their society sucked but evidently produced quite handsome men. She heard that Senri looked very much like Ares did – and though Themis wasn't as beautiful as she imagined her best friend's immortal had to look like – he was still quite… pretty by mortal standards. And she really, really should not think like that… especially in his presence! "Anyway, one day I made… ah, mistake of setting with my drawings on a square in the middle of the Amarout – the capital of our people – and I was soon… accosted by a bit older boys who found my… hobby, you call it now, I believe?... well, unfitting. Embarrassing as it is now to admit, I got quite… upset when they took and tore some of my works – secret as I already had to keep them from my parents… And perhaps the commotion I caused over that drew Ares's attention as he was passing by. He was quite infamous for his temper and ability, but at the time I had no idea who he is – but while the other, older people who noticed the… event would simply stare and laugh… he marched in and chided those boys something fierce – uncaring of how much others scowled at him for that!" something almost like an excitement bloomed on his face and yeah… her face was on fire and she couldn't take her eyes off him. Perhaps a bit wondering how it would be to be an object of such… reverence he so obviously displayed toward the older immortal. "And when they protested – citing how unfit my interest was – gods, if you could imagine his face! Using his gift, he had them spill their own – much more… ah, embarrassing interests – and when they run away, bawling… I think what blew me away the most was that he helped me to collect the pieces of my… drawings and said…" a big, bright grin lit up his face and she was lost instantly, pretty much stopping herself from gushing. "…that they were beautiful. And that there was nothing wrong with liking to draw. That what our people say is wrong and that if someone grows envious of my… t-talent, it's their issue, not mine and I shouldn't let it discourage me from doing something that my soul finds pleasing because of what others think… And then he ruffled my hair with this big, crooked grin and left… as if it wasn't anything special! My own parents, everyone… but he…" he trailed off and seemingly catching himself, chuckled sheepishly, coloring darkly and her stupid heart went simply insane instantly. "Sorry… Alisaie, I do not mean to…"
"It's quite all right," she said almost too quickly and cleared her throat self-consciously when surprise flared in his bright eyes. "I think… I can quite understand that. My brother, Alphinaud, is also a very talented painter – but he found it… embarrassing to admit once upon a time because all expected, well… different interests of him while we grew up. And with what I know of your society now… I can imagine that hearing something like that, would be quite unique…" she raised her eyebrows slightly, hoping to bring back that apparent excitement.
"Oh… I wasn't aware…" he blinked rapidly, then relaxed again and smiled somewhat shyly… and gods, her poor heart… "But yes, that day… Well, what he said – I found quite inspiring, honestly. And he was genuine about it… well, when I later found out who he is – the infamous Azem – it… quite changed my life. To connect the man who so… selflessly stood up for me with all the unsavory rumors about him… made me consider it – and everything, really – in a completely new light. Because if our people seemed so… wrong about him, well… then they could be wrong about the other things, too," he shrugged helplessly with a sheepish chuckle. "And I become truly determined… to know him better. I did… something," he looked away quickly and she frowned slightly. "To get closer to him and have an occasion to… offer my friendship – and he blew my mind again by not only agreeing, but as well… kind of taking me under his tutelage. And he taught me many things that then seemed so… new and somehow stood completely in an opposition to what everyone else ever said to me… I couldn't help but be simply in awe… And despite Damon's original scoff at my presence – suspicious as he was, that now I know, of my intentions – somehow… They grew to be more parents for me than my own ever were. And… I can see why you would think Damon… dangerous," he added quietly, making her blink by going back to her statement. "And, please, do not mention to him I said that… but I think, you're looking at him… wrong. I know he can seem… callous and unfeeling – but as once Ares told me when I had a similar misconception about his husband… It's not that Damon doesn't feel, but he feels too much – and his attitude… is his shield. He always was and is the most brilliant soul you'll ever meet – and perhaps because of that, he doesn't really… respect the ideas of what others see as good and wrong – as for him, they're merely that: ideas. But what they and Hades told me of their efforts while I was… gone, I think more than prove it. How someone… uncaring could do so much to… save us? And as thankful as I am to… be here, I fear I can simply never find a way to repay them for what they did for me…" he sighed and dropped his gaze with a frown. "I thought, perhaps if I help you find that thief… it would be a start, but…"
"We will find him," she said quickly, clapping her hands to regain his attention and grinned when he looked up with surprise. "I'm serious, Themis, now... knowing how important it is for you, we have to! This lead didn't pan out, true, but there's plenty of others we can look into and see if we get lucky, right?"
He blinked at her with surprise, then another small, shy smile blossomed on his face – utterly stealing her heart.
"That… I would very much appreciate a chance to try," he admitted with a slight, sheepish chuckle as his too-bright eyes warmed up considerably. "And if you don't mind me saying, you're quite… surprising for a mortal."
"Well… I've heard that before," she almost giggled, sending him a wink before getting distracted by the waitress arriving with their food… and missing a flare of interest in the bright, blue eyes.
"Pardon?" Raha blinked with uncertainty at the much taller immortal, trying not to gawk at his… attire. Though he still felt quite tired – and despite Senri's offer of bringing their meal from the kitchens to their bedroom – he insisted on stretching his stiff limbs instead and at least enjoying their dinner in Dawn's Respite. Soon after they settled down over their meal Hades and Hythlodaeus appeared – and not like usual but simply entering the room from the corridor leading to the bedrooms was… surprising enough. But that both sported quite… normal-looking outfits that on them looked quite… abnormal – kind of… blew his mind. But he tried not to show his astonishment… or blush furiously as each, slightest movement made that chain Senri put on him press into his skin – and as his mate demanded, toss his unruly mind right into the memory of his claim. "What do you mean he's gone?"
"And what, in the seven hells, are you wearing?" of course, his beast was much less polite – and he stifled a snort when that had Hades scowl at Senri darkly if his slight coloring gave him away as he and his lover took seats opposite of them.
"Isn't it lovely!" Hythlodaeus gushed with a grin, pointing toward himself and his dark-purple jacket with a black shirt underneath it and pants in matching colors. "That woman… Tataru?... was kind enough to offer those to us… and I think Hades looks even more handsome than usual, I swear!" he gushed at his lover despite receiving a murderous glare in return when the white-haired immortal flushed darker – and Raha had to bite his lower lip not to laugh when Damon downright chortled in the back of his head. But he did as well have to agree with Hyth – as somewhat matching his though with a mix of white and black instead – the outfit looked quite… marvelous and somehow accentuated Hades's sharp features. If he wasn't scowling so much – one could almost see the similarities between his and Senri's looks – as surprising as he found it on occasions.
Told you, Raha, and you'll see in Elpis, too – Senri's a dead ringer for Ares if one ignores the Miqo'te features, Damon chuckled tiredly. And they are brothers. If you could see my boy grin – the likeness is stunning, I swear. Though, I do admit it's a rare sight.
"It is… lovely," he admitted, dropping his gaze and poking at his meal with a fork to hide his smirk. "Just surprising, that's all."
"Well, Ares was the one who said we need to blend in," stated Hades hauntingly, toward no one in particular and Raha tossed his lover a warning look when Senri snickered mercilessly, then pushed his plate away and wrapped his hands around the cup of coffee, looking toward immortal's glare over its edge as his ice-blue irises filled with amusement.
"To Themis, though," he pointed out unnecessarily and didn't even flinch when Raha kicked his ankle under the table.
"Which brings us back to my question," he said quickly before his lover could antagonize the glaring immortal more. "Where is he?"
"Ah, Alisaie showed up in the morning," replied Hythlodaeus smoothly, bracing against the table with a slight frown. "Said something of that thief who took the cute Salina – and Themis decided to help her look into that. I was hesitant, but Hades believed it should be good for him to have something to do."
"I see…" he couldn't help how his eyebrows shoot near his hairline, anyway. Alisaie and Themis…? And she agreed to that?
Hmm… Damon hummed somewhat… funnily.
What? He asked with a frown.
Nothing, nothing… Just a passing thought, that's all, the immortal replied perhaps a bit too innocently. He was about to question him about it when suddenly his lover choked on his drink, sputtering inelegantly.
"What so funny?" he asked when Senri – coughing – still snickered.
"Ares…" he managed, grabbing a napkin from the pile in the middle of the table and cleaning the mess he made. "…being ridiculous, really. He said he wouldn't be surprised if they hook up."
"Huh? Who?" asked Hythlodaeus with a life interest.
Ah, so he thinks so, too… hummed Damon with obvious amusement.
"Alisaie and Themis," Senri chuckled with disbelieve, dropping back on his seat. "Funny, right?" he grinned, looking toward him… and frowned at the sight of his expression. "Wait… you don't think that's possible, right?"
"I mean…" he said slowly with a shrug. "…Damon seems to agree, though."
"But… He's waaay too old for her!" his lover scowled, looking between them as if searching for understanding.
"Is that… a big deal, then?" Hades frowned with surprise, looking toward his lover at which Hythlodaeus shrugged helplessly, then chuckled at the indignant hiss from Senri.
"I'm a thousand years younger than him," the violet-haired immortal said, pointing between himself and Hades, then grinned when Senri's jaw dropped. "And if I remember correctly, Damon is about a hundred years older than Ares. For us… it doesn't really matter, honestly – considering our lifespan counts in millennia. Alisaie is what… eighteen?" he tilted his head curiously.
"Twenty-one," his mate corrected and Raha gasped. "What?" Senri frowned with surprise. "You didn't know? Elzen mature much slower than Miqo'te."
"I mean… I know that," he admitted with a sheepish chuckle. "But quite honestly, I didn't even think of that – I'm so used to seeing her as a teen…" he shrugged helplessly, then frowned. "And if you think about it, I'm actually three hundred years older than you, Snark."
Senri blinked slowly, then pouted and fell back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest.
"This… is giving me a headache," he drawled, rolling his eyes. "But physically, you're twenty-five… so let's stick with that, okay?" he grumbled under his nose.
"Ah…" he drawled with amusement, pushing his plate back and reaching for his cup. "…because it makes you older than me?"
"Well… duh, obviously!" his lover chuckled sheepishly, then wiggled his dark eyebrows at him playfully. "I enjoy the idea of being your senior, my prince."
"As you wish," he chuckled then sipped his tea carefully, before raising his eyebrows at his lover pointedly. "But going back… why do you think it would be ridiculous for them to hook up?"
Discarding the notion of the number – or recounting it in our lifespan – actually, if looking at Themis BEFORE Sundering, mentally he would be actually at the very similar age as Alisaie, added Damon somewhat hauntingly. He repeated it out loud and watched with amusement his lover frown, trying to keep his apprehension with the idea back.
"Well… still!" Senri scoffed, narrowing his eyes at him. "He is the Elidibus, though, and was around since the Sundering! And that was eons ago."
"With his mind and soul so fragmented he could hardly count as a person," added Hades softly and they both froze, turning their eyes to him. He sighed somewhat tiredly and looked away, but Raha could see Hythlodaeus move his hand under the table and could guess he most likely rested it on his lover's thigh for reassurance. "What I mean…" he cleared his throat, then his scowl was back, hiding the sudden hint of sadness in the golden irises. "…is that it's hardly fair to count that it – if he's truly… himself now. After he… spilt from Zodiark as the Emissary, he was… not himself. Each Rejoining a bit and pieces of his memories returned – and watching his confusion was… unsettling. As important as was Ares to him before that – to see him have no recollection of him was… infuriating. But as my… naps grew more frequent – and Lahabrea used his… amnesia to feed Eli… Themis his ideas – he still regained some… hints of Ares's lessons – with no idea where they came from, he assumed that his role as the Emissary was to keep the balance across the Eitherys – and did so with an unyielding determination – if his notions of it grew quite… skewed."
"And you would be okay… if Ares is right and they would grow interested in each other?" Senri asked with confusion.
"He's finally… free," Hades said softly without looking toward him. "If it's something he chooses to pursue… it's not my place to interfere, that's all."
"But he's immortal and she is not!" his lover snapped, growing a bit surprisingly agitated. "Even if ignoring the insane… age gap, as you all seem – isn't it… cruel?" he murmured, sighing and sagging against the table as if all the fight left him instantly. "I mean…I don't mean to put it that way – and sure, if they like each other… who cares about the age… but then, even long-lived as Elzens are…" he trailed off with a frown, then looked up at him. "I don't know, Raha… If he's already… lost so much and all, isn't it… sad? If he had to watch her grow old and die…?"
"I do think you're a bit… overthinking this, love," he said delicately, smoothing his hand over his shoulder. "No one says that they'll… fall in love and all – it's simple fact, that despite her looks, Alisaie by our standards is an adult – of still before puberty – and considering her life experience… I would say more mature than many her or… our age. If – by chance – she finds Themis attractive, and chooses to pursue that – as Hades stated – I don't think that's our place to judge or say it's wrong or right for them."
"And anyway, if it did end up with them falling in love, I do not believe she would 'grow old and die,'" snickered Hythlodaeus, drawing their surprised looks. "What? Let's say – theoretically – they would and Themis would decide to Bond himself to her… I don't need Damon's brilliance to assume that would quite… extend her lifespan to match his," he shrugged carelessly.
True, Damon hummed with consideration. For all means and purpose – it would most likely made her as 'immortal' as he is.
Raha blinked slowly, then repeated it to Senri who at that relaxed visibly.
"Well… that changes things," his mate muttered with a strange glint in his eyes, then grinned at him his ridiculously goofy grin. "Then I hope they do hook up!"
"Why sudden change?" he frowned, narrowing his eyes at his lover.
"Just…" Senri looked away quickly, flinching as his ears lowered against his hair considerably. "…dunno. Sounds romantic, I guess…?" he shrugged, fluttering his lashes at him with a bright, innocent smile… that had him downright scowling, knowing it too well.
"Ah, I guess because you're immortal, too?" hummed Hythlodaeus with amusement and Raha jumped in his seat, gasping and looking toward him with shock when Senri hissed at him with aggression. "What…? You didn't know?"
"Snark…?" he turned his eyes toward his lover and raised his eyebrows at his guilty expression. "…it's true?"
Don't be angry at him, Raha, his immortal sighed with resignation. We swore him to keep it a secret from you – and whenever you figured it out on your own, Ares was wiping it out from your mind. We thought it better… if you don't know, but I guess at this point…
"What at this point?" he scowled, digging his gaze in the contents of his cup as his fingers tightened around it.
At this point… after you're back from Elpis, all bets are off, my boy, Damon whispered with a steel quality to his voice. Whatever happens there… shouldn't affect this timeline – and anything and everything we will have to do to survive… I guess, it's better for us of you know that as long as Hades is around, your bodies wont die – no matter what kind of damage they'll take. But your souls… are another matter entirely, my boy, so if it's any reassurance – and as apologies for keeping it from you… Know this, Raha – with your sad tendency to self-sacrifice, it is BETTER, because with your bond being so much like ours – if something happened to you, you WOULD pull Senri along into an aetherial sea. And because Ares to save him intertwined their souls so tightly… we, both of us, would join you – and opposite to you, we wouldn't be reborn, my boy – not like you would, eventually. That's why, when he learned of it, my Hades used his magic to bind your bodies existence to his aether – so we wouldn't leave him again…
He blinked, staring at the tea in his cup numbly as he felt all blood drain from his face.
"Raha… I'm sorry," Senri whispered, touching his shoulder delicately. "Please, don't be… mad…" he trailed off when Raha slowly put his cup away and without looking at him, pushed his seat back and stood up, then bowed slightly, politely, and headed back to their bedroom without looking back. "…Raha?"
"Just… leave me alone for a bit," he said over his shoulder, then closed the door behind him and leaned against them, closing his eyes and exhaling slowly.
Raha? I really am sorry… Damon started carefully.
"Shut up," he murmured, then opened his eyes and working his jaw, headed to their bedroom. "Just… let me think for a moment."
And for once, the immortal fell silent, backing off.
And also – for once – he didn't really care or felt guilty about being rude to him. He entered their bedroom, then slammed the door behind him – but it didn't help any with the sudden, fiery feeling clamping around his throat and making his eyes burn.
Because even living inside his head, knowing his every thought and feeling… apparently none – not even Damon – trusted him when he swore not to ever leave Senri again. And that… stung.