After delivering sniveling Keeper into the hands of the Admiral – and her solemn assurance that his punishment would be properly public and spectacular – T'senri promptly marched down the paths of Limsa and it didn't take him long to find the house Alisaie described.
If you could even call it a house, that is.
He was already surprised when his best friend told him to walk down toward the docks instead of looking for it in the Mist – the city's residential area. So far he knew the rules and customs of the port city of Eorzea, only the sailors and people working at the docks were allowed to 'live' near there – and it was hardly a place for children.
T'senri didn't know much about the customs of the Keepers of the Moon and Nico mentioned that his father 'belong' to one before settling down in Limsa Lominsa, but still… Looking at the nearly falling apart building known for containing tiny rooms for the docks ' workers – T'senri winced internally.
Similar to the Seekers, Nico – despite being fifteen – looked much younger. Which meant he wouldn't be allowed to stay in this place if any of the people who stayed there noticed him. So, most likely – while his father lived here, he left his teen son to fend for himself on the streets of Limsa – and the Warrior in thought already tried to decide on how many of his bones he was going to break for that alone – not to mention the apparent abuse the asshole added to that.
Honestly, I find this aspect of this world quite… unnerving, Senri, Ares hummed while he stopped in front of the building, looking up at it and downright scowling.
Meaning…? He hesitated, unsure about the tone of his immortal's. More than a bit hollow and perhaps a tad… desolate.
Children, my boy, the immortal sighed sadly. I have no idea what and where went wrong… to make it so people here are capable of abusing children… in more than one way, at that. This and when I understood the very concept of harming them… sexually… he trailed off with another sigh and T'senri almost winced, nearly embarrassed by the mortals and their ideas. It's… hard to imagine, that's all. Many things I could say of my times – I did – but at least children were considered precious and deemed worth protecting. Not loving – mind you, as it was so uncommon – but still, protecting.
I… don't think I understand, he admitted hesitantly. If they didn't love them… why have them, then?
Purely for procreation, Senri, Ares chuckled somewhat ruefully. Perhaps to make it easier for you to understand… I would say that our people BREED more so than had children in the sense most of the mortals seem to consider that. Since only Bond turned us fertile – and that was so permanent – one was supposed to spend centuries choosing a proper partner. Soon enough since the very concept of feelings put into that decision was so frowned upon, they decided that the idea is to look for the best match for breeding – and since many traits were even more than now likely to be inherited by the offspring, they nearly made it a competition – if you can even call it that – in 'creating' little, perfect children nearly the same way they thought of creations of our magic – for the betterment of Eitherys, he fell silent for a moment then added almost like an afterthought. Damon is a result of such union, I guess.
Oh? He grew curious instantly as he couldn't remember any of them ever mentioning Raha immortal's parents before.
No wonder, really, Ares hummed a bit reluctantly. I never met them – at least officially – and he is not fond of even thinking of them, I guess. And better don't mention them around him.
Why? You just said that abuse was an alien concept… he frowned with confusion, unconsciously shoving his hands in the pockets of his pants.
We didn't have a word for that, yes, and none would ever raise a hand at the young ones… but I guess you could say that neglect is also a form of abuse, the immortal chuckled sadly. Damon's parents… well, they had him, congratulated themselves over the job well done and went back to their respective projects – providing for his physical and intellectual needs, but nothing else. They and their peers shoved rules and customs down his throat, praised his brilliance and gift… and he adjusted accordingly, acting as if he didn't have any need for them or anyone else. And later constant boredom he suffered from before we met… didn't help much either.
That sounds… awful, he replied with a heavy sigh. I didn't have any better relationship with my father – but considering our customs… yeah, it was quite normal – but at least I had my mother. But I guess… it explains why he was as well so miffed about Raha's childhood, too.
Partially, I suppose, Ares hummed with consideration. As after we had Hades… and our other boys, later on, I always thought that he poured all of the – conscious and not – neglect he felt into making sure none of ours ever felt as he did growing up. Despite his own relationship with his parents, there's no better, more caring – and as determined in it – father than my Damon. If sometimes I wished he was a tad more… or rather had less of a tendency to spoil them rotten, as you would say, he grumbled suddenly. I swear… the number of times I had to step in and curb his ideas was simply staggering.
T'senri chuckled involuntarily at his expanse, then blinked – focusing when the door of the building opened and a man in the tattered, filthy worker's outfit walked out… then froze with his mouth open in astonishment when he saw him.
"Hello," the Warrior said with his trademark grin, slightly bouncing on his heels. "If I might have a moment of your time…? I'm looking for someone."
"Y-yes, of course, Warrior!" the man gasped, then cleared his throat and neared him slowly with near reverence in his expression. He was a Hyur with matted, dark hair and a face that suggests overindulgence in heavy drinks – not to mention the smell that had T'senri fight with himself not to back away or gag. "How can I help…?"
"I'm looking for the Keeper who's living here… Ceki'ir Fiva, I believe his name is, and who's a father of one Nico – a lad with dark hair and green eyes," he explained, raising his eyebrows and only slightly leaning away, trying to not breathe – and not be too obvious about it.
"Ceki'ir…?" the man hummed with consideration, rubbing his chin. "Think I do know who you mean – saw the lad swing by more than once… But if it's whom I think it is… At this time of the day, he would be at the Drowning Wench, having a drink."
"Is that so…?" he frowned, pointedly looking up at the sky – day merely getting close to noon.
"If it's him you mean," the Hyur shrugged helplessly then shifted slightly and sighed. "So far I know… no other Keeper living here at the moment. And the boy looked quite… noticeable."
"I believe," T'senri barely kept the growl out of his voice, instead silently nodded toward the man, turned, and headed back up the path and to the city's tavern.
To call Nico 'noticeable' was an understatement. The kit was severely malnourished which a few days spent at Rising Stones barely managed to cover. And at that age… Well, T'senri struggled to imagine how it would go when he – Nico – hit puberty in those conditions. For him, from that time, he remembered feeling like he was always starved no matter how much he ate. The change in his body once the hormones hit was so extreme in a short period of time it took a massive amount of energy to cover the way he grew and filled out in mere weeks. He was lucky, though, as his mother loved to spoil him with snacks… and briefly he wondered where was Nico's mother and why would she allow to…
The thought trailed off as he exited the elevator at the floor of the tavern and looked around carefully. Predictably it was nearly empty of customers and spotting a dark-haired Keeper slumped over one of the tables in the back wasn't very difficult. A few waitresses busy cleaning the tables tossed the man disgruntled stares but soon froze – gaping – as he walked through the room and with a grimace of disgust at the surrounding him scent, grabbed the Keeper by the back of his collar and pulled him up off the table, scowling when the man blinked at him blearily – apparently despite the early bell drunk off his ass.
"W-wha…?" the Keeper sputtered, visibly struggling to focus his gaze on T'senri's face.
"You're Ceki'ir?" he asked with an audible growl, ignoring the swiftly gathering crowd pouring into the tavern from the surrounding it bridges. The news about his presence in the city had to already spread – and he was more than happy to properly embarrass the male to make this lesson a one that would stick.
"Who's asking…?" the man slurred and T'senri almost gagged at the stench of alcohol around him but forced his face into the too-familiar grin, if now it likely looked more like a snarl. "Wa-Warrior…" the Keeper stammered, gawking at him and going nearly limp in his grip.
"Funny thing… I found myself a one cute kit, Nico, and I heard you're his father," he drawled through his teeth, raising his eyebrows pointedly. "If I struggle to call you that, considering the way your kid seems more than a street rat than one with someone responsible for him… Not to mention covering him bruises."
"Not again…" the man rolled his eyes with a grimace, shakily wrapping his hand around T'senri's wrist and trying to dislodge it from his collar – involuntarily making the Warrior's grin widen and turn predatory. A very few dared to put up a fight against him – for obvious reasons – but the Keeper looked just drunk enough to try. And it's been ages since he was in a proper brawl.
"Ah, so you do remember my friend paying you a visit," he pointedly let go off him, resting his hands on his hips and watching with mean sort of amusement as the man wobbled while pushing his seat back and standing up, leaning heavily against the table and glaring at him. Despite his state and the look of someone who drink too much and too often, he was well-build if T'senri still dwarfed him with his height.
"And I tell ya the same I did to that Elzen brat," the Keeper scowled, pushing away from the table and almost stumbling instantly. "N-none of your business how I raise my kit."
"'Raise'?" he repeated slowly, smirking as the spectators gathered around them in a silent circle – gawking and eagerly waiting for each word. Brawls where commonplace in Limsa – he knew – but his involvement was sure to soon bring the whole city along to watch. For that alone he decided to make it a long one – to citizens entertainment if nothing else. He focused his gaze on the Keeper again, then pointedly raised his hands and cracked his knuckles, tossing him a mocking smirk. "That's how you call letting the kid fend for himself on the streets now…? Or do you mean beating up the tiny thing?"
"None of your business," the man growled, though his face flushed as he looked around the growing audience before looking toward the Warrior again and rolling his hands into fists. Then he wobbled again, moving away from the table when a nasty smirk bloomed on his expression. "I would say get your own kit to bother with… but I heard you like to fuck men," he slurred looking around the crowd again as of looking for applause… but what he got was a few gasps and all focusing on T'senri, watching for his reaction to that.
"One in particular only, to be clear," he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows playfully at the crowd and earning few laughs, before following that taking on a 'come-at-me' stance and baring his teeth in a downright evil grin. "But I'm sooo glad you said that – will make it only more fun to whoop your ass."
"I'll show you…" the man slung a fist out at him and easily avoided it, with flourish turning toward the crowd and bowing playfully – and by their cheer he knew they got the message: that this show was for them. Then, when the Keeper growled furiously he grinned, turned back to him and proceeded with the lesson in manners.
Raha downright strolled into the spot where the Garlean prince seemed busy with almost too obvious boredom swinging his scythe at the few remaining monsters in the snowy landscape and under the fiery skies. The sight was common along the places where the barrier cracked, sadly, but from the reports he was receiving since morning from other Scions it seemed to have a double effect, strangely. Some of the people witnessing it fell into panic and despair and under the leftover influence of dynamis Meteion left behind, turned into the blasphemies. Others on the other hand, swore hearing a sweet, haunting melody while watching the skies – and with some typical scholarly interest Damon suggested it might lead those to soon wake to Hydealyn's call.
He wasn't sure why it would be so, but at the moment he hardly cared – with some interest watching Zenos deal with the last of the monsters while shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
He only saw the Garlean prince once before – after they stormed the Tower of Babil – and considering at the time the man hid behind the barrier Fandaniel created… he didn't have an opportunity to see him fight – and now he had to admit he was quite disappointed.
From all the stories he read over his long, long vigil he had the idea that Zenos was a truly formidable fighter - one to match the glory of his beast – yet now, he seemed just… embarrassingly slow. He almost hoped that it was caused by the blasphemies not being much of a challenge – otherwise it would not be fun at all. He quite enjoyed the idea of facing off against the man many considered the most formidable enemy of his Warrior.
When the last beast burst in the black cloud of dynamis and the tall Garlean sheathed his weapon, Raha loudly cleared his throat and his lips twitched slightly when Zenos flinched at the noise, then turned slowly and narrowed his eyes at him.
"I know you…" he drawled, tilting his head slightly. "One of Warrior's friends, aren't you…?"
"Oh, I'm more than that," he smiled politely and nodded, carefully keeping that expression on his face when the other man pinned him with a glare – then gave him a quick once-over – and clearly didn't look too impressed by what he saw. He didn't mind that as his smile only tilted into a smirk when he pulled one hand out of his pocket and pressed it over his chest, bowing slightly. "Raha, at your service… or so I would say of I didn't plan to keep it brief," he chuckled, straightening and narrowing his eyes at the man who thought himself a match for his Senri. "And like I said… I'm more than his friend. Senri's my husband and mated lover," he added easily, pointedly using that hand now to pull back the collar of his jacket and reveal his mark with a slight smirk when his eyes widened, focusing on it. Good, he wanted his full attention.
"Is he… now?" the Garlean prince drawled, looking him over with a new interest. "A puny thing like you…? Sounds like a poor joke. But if he cares about you…" he trailed off, unsheathing his scythe again. "…perhaps I can finally get what I want…"
"Oh, he would hate if you laid a finger on me," he assured with a pleasant enough smile, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"We will see about that…" the wide, maniacal grin blossomed on the handsome face of the tall blonde then he rushed at him, rising the weapon in the strike… to pull at the full stop suddenly with a tip of a bright, aether-formed but extremely sharp katana biting in his armor at his chest when he was in reach. "Wha…?"
"He would…" Raha added softly, smiling still as slightly forced him back with the summoned weapon. "…so it's not like I can allow it."
"You're fast… I give you that," the man drawled reluctantly, resting the handle of the scythe over his shoulder but not backing away. "This actually might be more fun than expected."
"Am I…?" he sighed with exaggerated resignation, theatrically rolling his eyes while pointedly letting the aetheric weapon dissolve. "For me… you're just painfully slow…" he faked a yawn, then smirked.
Zenos scowled darkly and he took on a bored expression, looking up at the man with dark-red eyebrows lifted in expectation of his next move.
"Is that so?" the blonde said, then without a warning swing that scythe down at him… to be met with a bright shield instantly. At the same time his avatar sprung up behind him and slashed its claws toward him, which he blocked with the katana again. Then swiftly pushing back the scythe he dissolved the shield and summoned the dagger instead, digging its tip right under the edge of the man's jaw. Freezing, Zenos blinked him rapidly while even his avatar seemed unsure how to proceed, it's claws wrapped around the shiny blade. "…interesting."
"Thank you," he sent him a brief, polite smile. "My Warrior does enjoy my versatility when we spare – between other things," he chuckled with a meaningful wiggle of his eyebrows and smirked when the other man narrowed his eyes at him but didn't move otherwise. "But this is actually something he came up with in the last few moons," he added in a conversational tone, looking pointedly between the two weapons. "You see… while I had much time to master many fighting styles to the point I can switch between them seamlessly, my Senri found it frustrating to fight against – as he have a preference toward mainly melee classes. He can use magic… but he just doesn't like it. So with a typical for him instinct and intelligence, he came up with something we quite jokingly call a 'hybrid' style. He still loses…" he smirked and with a mere thought forced him to jump back as a ball of flame appeared between them instantly. "…as I enjoy it but don't share his limitations in adding magic to the mix," he chuckled, dissipating the weapons and shoving his hands in the pockets again.
Not to mention, after moons of practice against the man who had more experience than him in using to perfection their now equal inhumane strength and speed… Well, he didn't lie – Zenos was just too slow for him to enjoy it as much as he did sparing with Senri.
"I see… you'll be an entertaining prey, then," the Garlean smirked, resting his scythe over his shoulder again.
"Oh, I'm not the one who's going to be the 'prey,'" he replied smoothly, bouncing on his heels as downright devious grin bloomed on his face. "As a matter of fact, you are…" he trailed off into a whispered spell and the man froze completely, only blinking at him stupidly with astonishment. His reaper avatar still hovered behind him, only twitching slightly and Raha sent it a slightly confused look, frowning.
There's something off… about that, Damon hummed with interest, then added almost gleefully. Give me a moment to figure it out before you proceed, Raha.
As you wish, he replied, smiling at his own target.
"Now, I have to admit, I do understand why Senri sees you calling him 'a friend' so offensive," he said slowly with a smirk that had a mean tilt to it. "It indicates that despite the fact that he beat you twice, you think yourself equal to him. And your not – especially not now. Even your fighting styles are a chasm apart, honestly. You depend on the available weapons and tricks, while my beast would tear you apart empty-handed if provoked…" he hummed with consideration, tapping his finger against his chin as he neared the immobile mortal. "I remember thinking that you sounded impressive – while I read of you – managing to beat Senri not once but twice! But that's the thing with my lover…" he accented the word, with some amusement watching the familiar by now spark flare in the man's eyes. "…ah, he was wrong, though. You do crave him…" he chuckled, looking him over swiftly and raising his eyebrows mockingly. "…if likely you're too repressed to recognize lust from bloodlust… Not that he would give you the time of the day, picky as my beast is. But that… will make your punishment that much more entertaining, I think…" he shoved his cold hands in his pockets again and grinned – bright and gleeful – into the suspicious gaze. "You see… I had a nice, long think of what I'm going to do with you – even if in this timeline you and Fandaniel weren't allowed to lay a hand of the beauty of his soul… Still, even trying I find all too offensive," he admitted with a deep sigh. "…if I wish I could have seen Fanny when he told you Senri whooped his ass for trying to jump him," he chuckled at the idea, shaking his head slightly. "He didn't… not Senri, I mean," he added with a cold smirk. "Not that it's any of your business, but since you won't be able to talk about it after I'm done with you and I'm free to entertain myself until my friend is done figuring out what is wrong with that thing behind you…" he motioned with a wave toward the twitching avatar. "…let me tell you a funny story about how apparently Fandaniel bit more than he could chew when he tangled with…"
Nevermind, Raha, I'm done, Damon chuckled fondly and he snapped his mouth close instantly and tilted his head curiously. I have no idea why or how – but it seems that that thing isn't exactly a voidsent. Or at least, not fully. Twisted beyond recognition by the binding it contract its hard to see, but since my spell accounted for Zenos specifically and a 'voidsent' that it is able to even twitch…
So, what is this? And why are you so interested in that? He asked with confusion.
I do like new things and ideas to ponder, his immortal replied hauntingly and Raha snickered quietly, looking toward the malformed creature. But what is that…? I am not sure. If I didn't think it doesn't seem likely, I would dare say it is some strange hybrid of a voidsent and a mortal.
He blinked slowly at that, narrowing his eyes at the avatar. He never knew that something like that was even possible… and how…?
Beats me, Damon chuckled – clearly beyond fascinated with the new concept if Raha found the very idea of a voidsent procreating with a mortal beyond disturbing. Can we keep it?
Keep it? Now he gawked, blinking rapidly at the notion. Whatever for?
To study it, obviously, his immortal snarked, then sighed and added almost petulantly. Come on, you're having your fun – let me have mine.
Okay… but however do you want to 'keep it'? he rolled his eyes at the strange idea.
Easy… After your done with Zenos, we simply won't let it slip back to the void, Damon said gleefully. I'll bind it to this realm – temporarily at least – until I figure out how exactly it works and what is it.
Wait, bind it to this realm? Like how? He frowned, not really liking where his mind arrived at with that.
To us, obviously, the immortal sighed patiently. Not like its bound now, since so far I know you don't relish the idea – but just enough to keep it from slipping away, that's all.
No, I do not like the idea of a voidsent taking any part of my soul, thank you very much, he grumbled in turn. But do what pleases you, Damon. Anyway, are we ready?
Mhmm, have fun, his immortal chortled, whispering the created for him spell.
Raha blinked, then focused on the Garlean prince again, grinning involuntarily at the clear frustration and fury in his eyes at his immobility.
"Sorry, sorry…" he snickered, waving his hand. "Nevermind that story, I will tell you another, that will be more interesting for you going forward," he shoved his hands in his pockets and kept his gaze on the other man's eyes. "I have – or rather me and Senri do – this friend who's story inspired me as to what to do with you. You see, once upon a time he was a Warrior of Light, that friend of ours, but he and his friends made a mistake that almost destroyed their world. To stall it, his friends gave their souls, yet Hydealyn 'spared' him instead, if condemned to wander aimlessly for a century he was not very pleased with that. Especially when he was not more than a ghost – only able to watch but not be seen, touch or feel anything. Now he is better – enjoying a second chance at life – but while we spend time together, I learned much of the nightmare of his existence in that state. And that is what I have for you, Zenos. Considering you're a progeny of someone important to my friend, I'll not kill you. Considering you didn't achieve what you planned for my husband, will be your saving grace as well," he smirked, raising his eyebrows pointedly. "If you'll probably wish I did by the next century. No, instead we prepared a proper 'time-out' for you to… re-think your ideas. I'm immortal, you see, as is Senri now as well, and I feel gracious enough – considering all that – to give you a chance. Five hundred years you'll wander our world, prince, unable to be seen, touch or feel anything. You'll see the outcome of all the suffering your 'hunt' caused – and more. I'll strip you of aether until you're no more than a ghost, and none, not even me or my lover, will be aware of you. You will have only yourself for the company and enough time to either go mad or repent. One way or another, you'll no longer be a threat to anyone under our care – and who knows…? Perhaps when the time is up, you'll see the error of your ways," he shrugged carelessly, then his smirk became downright mean. "And like I said, the idea have more than one entertaining aspect, I believe. Once done with you, I'll find my beautiful beast – my husband – and have him, hoping you watch the… show. Because my man has no equal – other than me – whatever in bed or otherwise," he scoffed, then grinned and winked at the taller man. "Enjoy," he finished, then whispered the provided spell and before he was even done, the Garlean prince seemed to melt away into the scenery, leaving only the hovering in the air, malformed creature of his avatar. Seeing it, Raha pursed his lips, giving it a careful once over, then sighed with resignation. "I do hope you know what you're doing, keeping it," he muttered at his immortal, honestly uncertain.
Not really, Damon chortled, then he felt a familiar pull and found himself inside the room his immortal created for them in his mind, through the transparent part of the walls watching him walk around the thing slowly, watching each detail of its form carefully. "Fascinating," he said finally, stopping in front of it and tilting their head curiously. "Really… too bad I can't see souls like Ares and Hades do," he sighed with disdain, then crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at the strange creature. "Are you sure you don't want to take on the Reaper class, Raha…?"
Quite sure, yes, he replied with a chuckle when at that Damon pouted.
"Perhaps Senri would consider that…?" his immortal hummed curiously, clearly determined to convince his lover to entertain his ideas… Raha rolled his eyes, setting down on the floor near the image and snickering at his immortal's expanse.
It doesn't even look like it should, he supplied carefully instead of arguing. It's too… twisted. Do you really want it anywhere near their souls, Damon?
"True…" his immortal pursed his lips, then sighed with resignation… then looked at the thing again, smirking. "True… but if we would fed it some proper aether, though...? Perhaps it would revert whatever Zenos or Fandaniel did to it to bind it like this…?" he instantly sounded even more fascinated, dropping his arms to his sides and downright grinning at the immobile creature.
Is that even safe? He frowned, not liking the sound of that in the slightest.
"No idea," Damon chuckled sheepishly and backed away from it, but still stubbornly reached out his hand toward it, focusing. "But I'm sure it'll be fine, my boy. One suspicious move and I'll shove it back to the void instantly, I swear."
If you say so, he sighed, rubbing his chin with consideration and watching carefully as Damon slowly, but surely poured a 'tiny' bit of his aether at the avatar, then they both gasped – in and out – when it's form instantly started to kind of… melt, it's malformed parts moving and unraveling in quite a disturbing display that made Raha's nauseous. It lasted for a moment – longer than he liked, that's for certain – but once the process was done… they both gawked at the result.
A woman stood in front of them – a tall, very pale Hyur with short, black hair and in a distinctive, Reaper-like outfit, with half of her expression hidden behind the wide brim of her hat. Also a scythe she carried on her back suggested the class… and as baffled as they both where as she hang limply in the grip of Damon's spell, clearly unconscious – suddenly Raha was no less fascinated by the development than his immortal passenger.
What is… this? He asked numbly.
Looks like a person, his immortal stated the obvious, clearly as shocked.
That she does, he chortled quietly at his expanse, then sighed. What now…? Is she alive?
Seems so, Damon sighed, then slowly dropped the unconscious woman to the snowy ground, then rested his hand on his hips and leaned over her, staring at her carefully. Seeing her chest move with a slow, even breaths, Raha relaxed some, though still gawking at the image. But like this, I would feel a tad bad to send her to the void, I admit.
You're just curious, admit that, he accused with a laugh.
Shush, his immortal laughed, then snapped his fingers and the woman disappeared instantly. Moved her to the Rising Stones. You want to look for Senri now and realize your idea?
Think he's watching…? He asked with a snicker.
I can bet he does, Damon chuckled, looking around involuntarily for their 'prey,' and obviously seeing nothing but the snow-covered landscape of devastated city.
Then that's a firm yes, Raha hummed with amusement.
There you go, Damon said, giving him back their body. Don't do anything I wouldn't, my boy… and later we will study that new arrival, yes?
"As you wish," he said with a chuckle, then teleported right to the side of his lover… which was a mistake, as right as he landed, smiling up at him – Senri blinked, then gasped and reached out to him – but despite his speed, not in time to stop something slamming – hard – against the back of Raha's shoulder. He yelped with more of a fright than pain, really, then as his eyes swiveled toward the source of the sensation, he sent a glare at the clearly stunned, dark-haired Keeper backing away from the hit. "What, in the blazes, is going…?" he managed before his lover uttered an absolutely animalistic snarl that send the fine fur across his body to bristle in alarm, and Senri pounced at the man.
Gods, but never a dull moment with you, Damon chortled and Raha rolled his eyes, sighed and then grabbed his lover by the scoff of his neck and pulled him off the Keeper – now sporting quite a few new bruises and bleeding profoundly form his nose.
"Snark, what the fuck…?" he hissed through his teeth, then blinked slowly, only now noticing the crowd surrounding them and gawking with open mouth at him – easily keeping his mate back from the man, despite his downright vicious snarls at his intended prey. Then, he looked at the Keeper again, frowning, and gasped, realizing who the man had to be. "Oh… nevermind," he chuckled sheepishly and let go of his Warrior. "Have at him," he shrugged carelessly, then sighed and while Senri pounced again, he looked around the shell-shocked crowd and raised his eyebrows slightly. "What…? If he can beat a child, I'm sure he can take the beating, too," then he pressed through them and headed for the bar in the back of the tavern, intending to wait until his mate was satisfied.