When temporarily left to their own devices by Venat, they settled upon the massive, stone balustrade of the bridge overlooking the incredible beauty of Elpis. Half-curling into his mate's loose embrace, Raha for a moment simply stared at the view over his muscular arm, dragging his eyes over the floating islands. Senri was strangely subdued, burying his face against his neck and he involuntarily tightened his fingers in the material of his lover's pants while one of his mate's legs rested in his lap.
"It's almost painfully beautiful," he finally muttered, closing his eyes.
"Mhmm," his lover hummed, staying utterly motionless other than his arm around Raha's waist tightened slightly.
"Do you suppose the rest of their world looks the same…?" he asked carefully.
"Probably," Senri replied, still in that uncharacteristic, flat tone that made his deep voice ring hollow.
Raha grimaced slightly and carefully curled into him deeper as he opened his eyes and peered at the area again, resting his cheek against his lover's tattooed shoulder.
While with the past versions of the immortals they played their parts – acting dumb and unaware of what was going to happen, he knew that Venat's simple question upon this bridge poked his lover's… issues something fierce. Disturbed by the appearance of another immortal who witnessed Hermes's strange behavior – Senri was spared replying, but now…
"Do you regret it?" he finally asked and felt his lover flinch. He didn't like it, but leaving his mate to drown in his thoughts about it was… unwise. "Was it worth it?"
And the long, long moment of silence told him enough to make him sigh softly and drop his head slightly, closing his eyes again.
"I regret…" his lover said slowly and he more of felt than heard his deep sigh against his neck. "…not being able to protect those I wished I could. I regret picking up that Twelve-forsaken soulstone that forced Ares to sacrifice so much for me… I regret… many things, Raha, but yeah… it was worth it," he sighed again, tightening his arms around him and nuzzling against his neck delicately. "For you… I would give and do more than that…"
"But you wish it wasn't necessary," he stated softly and Senri hesitated, then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, leaning back to gently wrap his big hand around Raha's cheek, turning his gaze toward him. "It's okay, Snark," he muttered, resting his hand over his lover's and squeezing reassuringly. "I know you never asked for any of this – and none can blame you for resenting that, love."
"But I don't," his mate sighed, leaning in and resting his forehead against his, closing his eyes. "And perhaps that's why… Well, when she asked, it felt so… weird. I used to… regret it," he said quietly when Raha hummed curiously, shifting his hand to rest against his lover's neck and delicately playing with his longish, black hair. He almost smiled, reminded of how his beautiful beast swore furiously when his bandana got scorched in the earlier mock duel with Venat – leaving his hair to fall in his eyes constantly and causing even more furious profanities, yet, he couldn't help but adore the way incredibly soft, ink-black strands surrounded the unreal beauty of his mate's features – not so secretly enjoying it more than he should, honestly. "…but now, I don't."
"Huh?" he hummed with distraction, combing his fingers through the dark strands greedily. He didn't even mind when his lover chuckled, opening his eyes and for a moment watching his expression before a slight, familiar smirk bloomed on his beautiful face and he leaned back in, dragging the tip of his nose against Raha's cheek to the edge of his jaw.
"Aww… frustrated, my Raha?" he whispered, then chuckled when he growled softly in a warning, stopping his hand and tightening his hand into a fist at the back of Senri's head, involuntarily tilting his own head when his breath sped up when that too-pretty lips trailed delicately down his throat. He stopped them at the junction of his neck and shoulder while his mate's hand that rested at his side moved between his legs to curl around his thigh… he almost whimpered, dropping his head against his lover's shoulder and closing his eyes tightly as he bit his lower lip and shifted in his seat slightly, more than instantly, painfully aroused – despite the veeery unfit place for that… but all things considered… "My poor heart," his lover purred, nuzzling against his skin as his hand climbed up, tearing a helpless groan from his throat as it curled over his groin and swiftly swelling flesh under the too-tight now material of his pants. "It's the first time we have been alone since arriving here… and as amusing as it all is – they do not understand our… needs, do they, love?" he seriously sounded waaay too amused – Raha decided – then almost expired when his mate's other hand shamelessly curled at the base of his tail, tightening slightly when he choked on a gasp, hiding his flaming face against his lover's shoulder and helplessly biting down on the material of Senri's vest to stifle an embarrassingly needy mewl of arousal.
But his mate was too right, too – between first meeting Ares and Damon, then hastily finding the past version of Hades and Hythlodaeus, and installing themselves in the 'play' they were supposed to take part in – despite knowing the outcome – and then changing the company for Venat's… now, feeling the distinctive throb at his shoulder and the slight itch under his skin, drowning in his lover's delicious scent… he became all too aware of a long time since he had him – constantly surrounded by others. Even now, his ears twitched slightly at the sounds of the voices of the immortals milling about behind them on the surface of the bridge, and… he choked on a breathless whine when Senri growled and bit him, groaning quietly as his hand tightened around his clad flesh. Whimpering softly into the black material, he shifted involuntarily, helplessly trying to rut against his lover's hand as his heart pounded between his ears furiously, drowning out all the sane thoughts.
Senri broke his bite, then growled playfully and Raha almost expired feeling the aether in his lover's soul swell, then spill around them almost at the same time as his mate shifted around him and jumped off the balustrade, pulling him along. Too dazed by the mounting need to care, he merely sighed with a mix of relief and frustration when Senri laughed softly and then shoved him down on the ground, face first, to swiftly pin him down with his weight. Though hiding his fiery blush against the crook of his elbow, Raha almost whined with relief when his lover unceremoniously tugged at his pants while nuzzling against his neck insistently with near-deafening purrs. Knowing that his sex drive was higher, didn't help much his embarrassment – but he couldn't help but simply be even more painfully aroused about the circumstances anyway, biting on the leather of his bracer when his mate rutted against his ass slowly, meaningfully.
"Do you want it, Raha?" he purred teasingly into his neck, sneaking one hand under him and curling it around his dick when it was freed from under the stifling material. Whining in the back of his throat, he rutted into the tight, hot grip mindlessly, gasping desperately when Senri laughed softly then pushed back, pulling him along and up to his knees. Pressing against his back again, his lover chuckled breathlessly, then nipped on his neck as his hand pumped his cock while he rutted into him again, tearing a string of profanities from Raha's throat at the feeling of the material of his mate's pants. "Tell me, my prince," Senri whispered on a rumbling purr, then placed a harder, sharper bite on his neck when he whimpered incoherently, using his free hand to tug at the material between their skins impatiently. "Tell me, Raha, want me to fuck you right here? My shield can slip, you know that… Then all will see how eager you are for my dick… Want it, my heart?" he chortled quietly, tightening his hand around his throbbing cock when Raha arched under him with a choked whine at the prospect, pushing back into him impatiently.
"S-Snark, please…" he whimpered, his face completely on fire but… he almost lost it when Senri laughed breathlessly, then his hand pulled back from his flesh and after a slight tug, the scalding heat of his lover's cock slid between his buttocks on the next stroke and he couldn't help himself but rise to all fours, rocking with the movement of the bigger frame against his back as he hang his head between his arms with a choked whine.
"So pretty," his mate purred, nuzzling against his neck affectionately as his hand – oiled now – snuck between them and his finger pressed inside him slowly, tearing another round of the gasped profanities from his mouth. His legs were held together tightly by the material of his pants that was rolled around his thighs, so bracing his weight on one hand, Raha arched his back and curled the other almost painfully in Senri's dark hair, whining involuntarily as his mate worked his body into submission while nipping on his neck in small, sharp bites. Utterly mindless in the painful need for his claim and focused only on the scalding heat of the flesh now rutting slowly against his buttock, he couldn't help but growl impatiently, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. Panting harshly as his heart simply pounded furiously between his ears, he almost literally passed out when Senri growled and pulled his hand back to then push it around his chest and curl his fingers around Raha's throat, holding him completely still as he took him painfully slowly, in small, shallow thrusts that drove him to choke on his desperate, needy whimpers. "Love when you get like this, my prince," his lover chuckled breathlessly, slightly tightening his hand around his throat in a warning – forcing him to stay utterly motionless when he was seated inside him up to the hilt. "…so beautifully desperate for me…" he purred near-deafeningly, smoothing his thumb along the edge of his jaw as he rolled his hips slowly and the slight friction of the scorching intrusion was enough to have him whine shamelessly in need, instinctively coiling his tail around his lover's waist almost painfully. His dick was almost about to burst, so he freed his hand from Senri's hair to whimper when his lover instantly caught it, pinning it down with almost a mean chuckle as he rutted into him slowly, teasingly. "Now, now… tell me what you need, love…"
"You, p-please…" he gasped, straining and squirming under his weight helplessly for any sort of friction as his senses reeled in painful arousal. "P-please, Senri… Fuck me, hard…" he trailed off on a whine when his lover growled with aggression and pulled back to slam into him with a choked groan, which had him arch with a relieved gasp. "…harder," he mewled mindlessly, gasping for air desperately. "Much, much harder… please…"
"As you wish, my lord," his lover chortled, then grabbed both of his wrists and pulled his hands up, making him fall forward with a gasp and instantly crossing them to pin his arms down with one hand, while his other shot under him and curled possessively around Raha's dick when he set a brutal rhythm, pounding into his ass mercilessly and tearing a breathless string of whimpers and profanities from his mouth, disturbed by the choked mewls of his name on each hard, demanding thrust into his body. "L-like that, Rrraha?" Senri rasped on a groan when he came with a shout and his muscles spasmed around his dick.
"Mooore…" he whimpered needily, drowning in his high even as his body shuddered in the still painful need. Feeling his Warrior's hand tighten around his cock rhythmically and the way it went hard again almost too quickly – leaving him beyond dizzy – he shifted helplessly with a whimper, arching his back harder to take him deeper as Senri fulfilled his demand, sparing him none of his inhumane strength as he fucked him into oblivion.
By the time he was done with him and Raha sagged against the ground bonelessly, purring loudly his bliss when his lover pinned him down with his lax weight, he hardly minded – uncaring of anything else but Senri's heat against his back and the way their mixed scents filled his head with every shallow, shaky breath. And as his body still shook with the aftershocks, he felt his stamina finally reach its limit as he went utterly plaint under his lover's weight with a quiet, tired sigh.
"My poor heart," his mate chuckled then he barely felt him pull back and roll him over, swiftly fixing his clothes as he could only blink blearily at the perfect, bright sky above them. Somewhat lazily hoping his lover's shield did hold – he closed his eyes with a quiet sigh when Senri laughed softly and gathered him in his arms, then without missing a beat jumped to his feet and holding him tight, headed down the bridge. "Just sleep, Raha, I'll take care of you, don't worry," he purred soothingly against his ear and he curled into his embrace and drifted off with a quiet, pleased hum.
Despite his exhaustion, T'senri would lie if he didn't admit he was beyond pleased with himself when – while still holding his adorably snore-purring mate in a possessive grip – he slowly sagged against the tree in the quiet and seemingly empty spot near Poieten Oikos. Setting Raha in his lap and pulling him to rest against his chest while supporting his back, he wrapped his arms around him securely and rested his cheek on top of red hair, fighting to stay awake as his sounds had him relax involuntarily and purr at his heat.
You can just sleep, Senri, hummed Ares in the back of his head with some amusement. I'll keep him safe while you're out.
No, he replied smoothly, tightening his arms around his lover protectively and lazily nuzzling against his ears, enjoying the way his scent covered him now. Still holding the shield up and ignoring his sleepiness, he opened his eyes to blink at the surrounding greenery. Not yet, at least… Ares, I think only now I truly… understand some of what you told me before.
Like what? His immortal hummed curiously.
Of this world, I mean, he replied carefully. Beautiful as it is… there is something… weird I can't help but feel since we arrived here. The way your people act and speak… really bothers me, he admitted shyly, leaning back and resting the back of his head against the back of the tree as he peered up at the sky above them with narrowed eyes. It's like a…
…rot, his immortal sighed sadly, then chuckled weakly when T'senri flinched slightly. It's okay to say it outright, Senri. Gods my witnesses, I thought it plenty of times before. Especially before I met Damon, young as I was at the time.
Young…? He hummed with surprise.
About nine hundred years old… that was young, believe me, he chortled quietly when T'senri scowled at that. But, yeah… Even back then, there was something rotten under the beautiful veneer of our world, my boy. He – Damon – would be probably able to explain it better, but I guess, it has to do something with the way our people thought of themselves above the creation – and discarded the notions of feelings and individuality. Being here – nostalgic as it is – painfully reminded me why I don't miss it, boy.
But Hermes… he sighed, tightening his arms around his lover's sleeping form as he looked up again and frowned. He… what he said and what you warned us about he's going to do – did already, as that woman said… it's all wrong, too.
It is, his immortal replied delicately. Perhaps because he locked himself away here – and seeing so many of the flawed creations put down broke his spirit… but for what's it worth, Senri – we HAVE TO let it play out as it's supposed to. I know it's hard – especially when you came to like Meteion so much… but altering the events is not our goal, boy. After you – both – get some rest, we will find Venat again and proceed as planned – and only stay here as long as it takes for Damon to fill those crystals. Afterward, we will find a way to face Meteion back in your time – whatever it takes – and if possible, save her, too – but this place… This world was doomed long before your version from the first timeline set foot here, Senri. So, rest, recover… and don't think too much of what shouldn't be changed – as, like Damon said before – your world, despite its imperfections… is simply better than this one.
He felt the slight push and a familiar by now feeling of disembodiment when Ares took over, then didn't resist when his soul was wrapped in the protective cocoon.
Watching the Keeper boy curled into himself in apparent guilt, Themis raised his eyebrows slightly at the considerate expression on Alisaie's face while she rubbed her chin, before dropping her hands to her hips and narrowing her blue eyes at the boy.
He – the young mortal – approached them while they were passing through the market of the city, and while a bit distracted by the display of wares, he was tugged to a stop by the girl – then she mercilessly dragged them both into the quieter corner, and he understood what the mortal caught her attention with… He was quite baffled when she didn't simply have the boy in chains in minutes – instead looking quite thoughtful.
"And you definitely don't know who paid you?" she asked quietly, and Keeper flinched, shaking his head violently.
"No, miss…" he hesitated, then took a deep breath and looked up with an incredibly pale, scared face – and despite his misgivings, Themis sighed, relaxing his pose and trying to look as unthreatening as possible. Which didn't seem to help much with the mortal's apparent terror as he looked between them before focusing his green eyes at the accompanying him girl. "There was only a note… and gil waiting at the spot where I had to leave the cat… and nothing else, I swear! Now, too… another note slid under the door of my home and…"
"I see, I see," she sighed, waving her hand quickly to silence the boy, before turning her eyes to him and frowning. "So… we still don't know who wanted her. Thoughts, Themis?"
Quite surprised, but he frowned with consideration, folding his arms over his chest and looking between her and the thief.
"I take it, you're more interested in that unknown person?" he hummed, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"Obviously," she huffed, surprising him again when she tossed a slight, reassuring smile at the Keeper – who dropped his gaze instantly as his face colored darkly and he flinched visibly. "Nico, here, simply did what he was paid to do – which, judging by his clothes and state… he can't be blamed for," she added carefully, motioning slightly toward the boy's tattered outfit and overall… appearance that hinted at quite a neglect for someone so young. "I know Senri wouldn't," she added smoothly and the boy looked up hesitantly as hope flared on his youthful face. "But… he will want to know who is behind it, boy," she added firmly, raising her eyebrows pointedly. "So, if you can think of anything…"
"I really don't know!" he gasped, curling into himself again. "Nothing, but the place where I dropped off the cat, I swear! The note said the same spot… but it's by the docks and so many people milling about…" he shrugged helplessly, rolling his small hands into fists tightly. Themis wasn't an expert on the mortal condition by any means, but the boy definitely looked too thin, and… if looked over carefully, his tattered outfit revealed quite a number of bruises and lacerations – which seemed to add abuse to the obvious neglect. Sighing, he raised his hand and without much thought put into that, healed the boy – almost chuckling involuntarily when he flinched visibly and gasped with surprise, backing away into the wall behind him and turning his huge eyes at him with surprise. "I… t-thank you… sir," he murmured, then dropped his gaze again from his – clearly unnerved by his eyes.
The immortal sighed, then turned his gaze toward his companion, frowning at her strange expression before she looked away and cleared her throat self-consciously, shifting uncomfortably.
"So… ideas?" she murmured.
"I think…" he said slowly, dropping his arms to his sides. "If we want that person instead, we can set up a trap…?" he raised his eyebrows slightly when she looked at him again. "Easiest would be giving them exactly what they want, I guess," he hummed with consideration, looking toward the boy.
"No way!" Alisaie scoffed, bouncing on her heels. "Senri's going to kill me if we put Sali in harm's way again! Not to mention how it would upset his sister."
"I don't mean the real cat," he said slowly, fighting a chuckle at her agitation, then sighed when she scowled darkly and looked at him suspiciously. Resigned, he closed his eyes and with a mere thought changed his appearance, almost snorting inelegantly when Alisaie downright squealed with surprise. "I can't do anything about my eyes," he added, opening them and looking up at the mortals – quite amused at their wide open eyes and mouth – gawking at him with shocked expressions.
"I didn't know…" Alisaie gasped, then fell to her knees next to him, leaning over and staring. "…you can do something like that! That's so cool, Themis!"
"Is it…?" he hummed with surprise, looking over himself with consideration before raising his confused gaze toward the girl. "It's quite a simple illusion magic, I assure you. Do I look correct?"
"You look like a talking cat, that's for sure!" she giggled in a quite pleasant manner and he was suddenly glad for his appearance hiding his blush, as he cleared his throat and looked toward the boy.
"Now… we will have use of you… Nico, was it?" When the boy nodded numbly, still staring with an open mouth, he couldn't help but chuckle – quite amused with the effect. "You'll deliver me – as I am now – to the required spot, in case they have it watched. Then we can find out who is behind this, as the lady wishes, yes? And deliver them to Senri when he's back," he added, looking toward Elzen again.
"It… ah, have to be at night," the boy stammered nervously, then gasped when he looked at him again. "Gods, this is so strange…"
"Not the strangest I saw, believe me," Alisaie chuckled, then petted him – and he fought not to flinch, feeling her touch on his illusionary fur. "I swear, it even feels real!"
"O-Of course," he scoffed, fighting with himself not to move a muscle and show his embarrassment when she downright gushed at him shamelessly, then picked him up and hugged his smaller form against her chest. He should shift back until the required time… but suddenly he wasn't sure he wanted to do that, quite honestly enjoying her delicate touches and heat. To focus on something else looked at the mortal boy again, looking him over with consideration. "We can wait until the right time… but you're going to stay with us until then, yes?"
"I… I…" the Keeper stammered, somewhat pale as he looked between them. "…I guess?"
"Good," Alisaie said, then tightening her arms around him slightly, headed out and tossed the boy a meaningful look. "I'll rent a room in the inn we can wait at since it wouldn't be too smart to let too many people see us strolling about together. And order some food, because you seriously look too thin… even for a Miqo'te before puberty," he grumbled under her nose, then, while the boy looked at the ground but followed her timidly, she leaned in and whispered against Themis's now cat-like ears. "And want to grill him about the source of all those bruises you healed. He might be a thief that stole from him, but as I know Senri… he will want to know about that."
"Mhmm," he hummed with an agreement, curling inside her arms. "I think, I'm starting to get why Ares is so fond of him… if you're right."
"Oh, I am, believe me," she chuckled, scratching behind his ear… and he purred embarrassingly, quite honestly wondering if that was one of the things his mentor enjoyed about his cat-like form… because it did feel quite nice. "Gods, so cute! Can you stay like that until it's time or is it too exhausting?"
"If it pleases you… I can," he muttered, resting his now triangular head against her forearm. Still, he was quite glad Hades couldn't see him like that – or he wouldn't hear the end of it from the older immortal. Not to mention the teasing he would be forced to endure from Hythlodaeus…! Or, gods forbid… Ares! Though, knowing him, it would be probably Damon who would be most amused by the use of magic he taught him…
"It definitely does!" she giggled again, and suddenly it wasn't so important what his family would think of that. Which as surprising as it was… he couldn't find in himself to mind.