There was a cache inside T'senri's bedroom at Rising Stones that was driving him and Ares utterly mad.
He found it accidentally, going through the drawers of the dark-red desk and no matter what they tried, they could NOT get it open. Going as far as asking Hades for a favor – because it seemed so impossibly important for some reason… and yeah, Ares's younger brother didn't spare them mocking looks for that – for even him being unable to do anything about it… and grow as irritated with it as them.
That was actually funny in T'senri's opinion – at least until he involved his friends in the mystery and Y'shtola with somewhat haughty smirk told them that obviously it was locked by a personalized spell – and only person who did that, can open it now…
Then all of them grew absolutely determined to figure it out – as none could figure out who and why would do such a thing. To no result, as apparently, whatever spell was used to keep it locked – as well protected the thing from any and all harm. He knew, because, growing frustrated, he tore the whole desk apart around it, and no matter the weapon or tool he tried, the cache itself wouldn't budge.
T'senri muttered a profanity under his nose at it while tossing it a glare, then with a resigned sigh, turned his gaze back to the long mirror in front of him, for the last time self-consciously checking his appearance.
A week after dealing with Meteion – to everyone's else knowledge, anyway – he and his friends were required to make an appearance at the ceremony held in Old Sharlayan in their honor – and as used to it as he should be by now… To say he was antsy was an understatement. Ever since that day… he couldn't help but simply feel that something was wrong… Something was missing… And the fact that Ares seemed to suffer from the same affliction wasn't helping him any.
You shouldn't have cut your hair, the immortal said suddenly – sounding almost petulant.
"They were too long," he murmured with a sigh, running his fingers through the much shorter ink-black strands. Leaving them long only on one side – and braiding them in two small braids – was his only nod toward Ares's strange reluctance with the idea. "Just let it go already… You're just pissy for no reason," he pouted at his reflection, smoothing his hands over the front of the dark jacket Tataru prepared for the occasion.
Not that he blamed him – as during the last few days, the distinctive feeling of… wrongness was making him irritable and easily provoked into snapping at whoever was around him. And as he couldn't understand or explain it – he was avoiding everyone, almost hiding inside his bedroom.
Well, other than the whole 'cache' fiasco… He tossed it another glare, then shook his head and sighed, rubbing his neck briefly as for some reason… anxiety had him itch.
He was a creature of instinct… and now, all of his instincts were on fire because something seemed just… wrong. And that he couldn't figure it out… was only irritating him beyond reason!
You and me both, Ares hummed with an agreement.
T'senri sighed, rolled his shoulders trying to get rid of the uneasiness, then muttered a profanity when it wouldn't let up. Shaking his head, he headed out of his room to join his friends at Dawn's Respite – determined that after he's free from this ceremony, he'll find a way to open that Twelve-forsaken cache and perhaps then… everything would stop feeling so wrong.
Hythlodaeus gawked at his lover when out of nowhere Hades appeared inside their bedroom with a very… unusual 'package.'
"What… Who is this?" he murmured, narrowing his purple eyes at the stranger in his lover's arms when Hades walked across the room and placed the redheaded Miqo'te on top of their bed.
"I… have no idea," straightening and running his fingers through his white hair, the other immortal narrowed his eyes at the man, before turning them toward Hyth with obvious confusion in the golden irises. "I had this… insanely itchy sensation ever since we dealt with Meteion's sisters, I couldn't make sense of. Really, really annoying… So I finally gave in and jumped toward its source… and found him," he waved impatiently toward the unconscious Seeker. "For whatever reason, he was floating in between the debris of Thirteen, Hyth… and slowly, steadily draining me."
"Huh?" he scowled at that, stepping next to his lover and narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the Miqo'te. He didn't look like anything special – just another mortal – but…" How in the heavens did he survive that?"
"That's the thing," Hades muttered, sighing and rubbing his neck. A somewhat familiar sight in the last few days, too. More noticeable for his lover's usual – near customary – stoicism, Hythlodaeus couldn't help but think that both he and his brother were especially… twitchy lately. Uneasy and looking over their shoulders constantly… and beyond irritable if someone pointed it out. "It doesn't make sense… but for me, he looks like Ares."
"Huh?" he repeated, narrowing his eyes further and resting his hand on the mattress next to the mortal, he leaned in on it, watching him carefully before looking up at his lover.
"He does… in the sense that he's… his body, at least, is as bound to me as Senri's is," Hades said slowly with consideration, carefully settling on the edge of the bed and looking at the unconscious man with openly suspicious look in his golden eyes. "I figured… that's what I've been feeling – his body sustaining itself on my aether since he was in a literal… void," he shrugged slightly and looked toward him, raising his eyebrows. "What I can't figure out is who it is and why would I bound myself to a stranger… and apparently don't remember it," then he tossed a meaningful look toward the door leading out of the bedroom.
"Ah… you think Ares had something to do with that?" he murmured, following his gaze.
"Who else…?" Hades rolled his eyes and looked at the mortal again. "Seems kind of… obvious, isn't it? Or at least, I don't know anyone else capable of altering others' memories. But why…?" he rubbed his neck again, standing up and turning toward the door. "I'll get him and…"
"He's gone," Hythlodaeus said absentmindedly, observing the mortal with life interest. "Some kind of celebration in Old Sharlayan in their name… He and all the Scions left but a bit ago."
"Ah…" Hades scowled darkly and turned back toward the bed. "Then I guess… I'll have this one explain himself instead," he said hauntingly and raised his hand, putting his fingers in the too-familiar gesture. He snapped them and the mortal on the mattress arched with a loud gasp, blinking rapidly and looking around with completely – confused? baffled? – expression on his youthful face. While he did do, both immortals stared at him with an equal surprise, and Hythlodaeus wasn't sure about his lover… but he certainly found the eye color of the mortal's irises baffling. "Who are you…?" he heard Hades gasp and watched the crimson eyes turn toward him and narrow, as the Seeker scrambled up the bed, then looked around again… clearly confused as much as they were.
"Where am I…?" he murmured in a raspy, low voice.
"Out of the void, for one," Hythlodaeus chuckled sheepishly, raising his hands in a pacifying gesture when the redhead turned his unusual eyes toward him and scowled, his eyes growing a cold, calculating look before moving between them again.
"Who are you…?" the mortal scowled even darker than Hades, then gasped as his eyes moved down – toward himself – and grew huge, as – surprisingly – he tugged on the end of his red tail… and gasped again, as if surprised it was attached to him. "What the fuck…? What did you do to me…?" he downright growled, rising his red, slitted eyes and to them as his cat-like ears laid flat against his head.
"I'm the one who is going to be asking questions here," Hades drawled through his teeth hauntingly, folding his arms over his chest and glaring daggers at the mortal. "Again, who are you? And why are you…?"
But the mortal – if he truly was one – wouldn't have any of that, instead whispering something under his breath and Hythlodaeus gasped, feeling his whole body simply… freeze, the muscles locking up as he couldn't even move his eyes, stuck staring at the man as he jumped off the bed and looked around suspiciously, then marched toward the mirror in the back of the room.
"What the fuck…?" he murmured, visibly gawking at his reflection the turned around, tugging at his tail again and grimacing. "Is this some kind of a bad joke…? What even is this…?" he turned around and leaned in, carefully observing his own face, then tugging his ear… and scowled again, then turned toward them walking across the room and stopped in front of him, looking up at him with almost… funny pout, before he cleared his throat and murmured something under his breath. Hythlodaeus exhaled loudly when his muscles unlocked, letting him breathe easier. "You look more reasonable… What sort of strange… joke is this? To turn me into this?" he mortal waved his hand toward himself impatiently, glaring daggers at him.
"I don't understand… Who are you?" he said slowly, letting his arms drop to his sides. He liked to think he wasn't stupid – and whoever that mortal was, apparently he wielded a magic capable of making them – even Hades, who still seemed… stuck, as a quick look told him – bend to his will. And that in itself was… unsettling enough.
"If you don't even know who I am, then why would you…?" the Seeker scowled, then his crimson eyes narrowed into slits. "Wait… Did one of my colleges put you up to this…? I swear, you better revert… whatever it is that you did to me, or I'll be cross," he drawled, and despite the circumstances, Hythlodaeus felt his lips twitch at the absurdity of the mortal's pout with the addition of clearly… annoyed tone.
"Did… what exactly?" he instead asked, looking him over carefully. "Whoever you are… you look like a perfectly normal Seeker of the Sun to me… other than the eyes, of course," he said with some amusement.
"…Seeker of the what, now?" the man scowled again, folding his arms over his chest and pursing his lips as he looked him over in turn, then tossed a look behind him, toward the mirror again. Then his eyes shot to him when Hythlodaeus twitched, rising his hand toward his immobile lover. "Do not move," he growled furiously and Hyth froze, blinking at the mortal with surprise at the apparent fury in the crimson irises. "Whatever you did, I want it reverted, now! And the name of whoever put you up to…" he choked… then his eyes rolled back in his head and in a blink of the eye he collapsed to the floor without another sound.
"What in the…?" Hades gasped, apparently freed from the… compulsion? He dropped his arms to his sides and glared at the unconscious mortal, but was visibly paler when his golden eyes moved to him and Hythlodaeus carefully moved around and kneeled by the form of the Seeker. "What do you make of this…?" he asked quietly when the violet-haired immortal pressed his fingers against the throat of the mortal.
"No idea," he replied honestly, the feeling the pulse under his fingers, sat back on his heels and looked up at his lover with a frown. "But if he's capable of make you immobile with mere word… he's beyond dangerous."
"Should I toss him back into the void…?" Hades murmured and moved around him, then visibly frowned and leaned against his back, looking at the unconscious mortal with another scowl. "Wait… He seems to have even more in common with Ares than I thought, Hyth. Two souls," he added softly when Hythlodaeus looked up at him with surprise. "And… think we're about to meet the other one," he murmured and he gasped, looking down again warily.
And yes, the dark-red lashes fluttered open slowly and those uncanny crimson eyes peered up through them… then the mortal grinned – and Hythlodaeus gawked, backed away from him.
"Hyth… Hades…" the man murmured, rubbing his eyes tiredly before looking around again and slowly sitting up, and running his fingers through his longish, red hair. "It worked…? Where's Senri…?" then he frowned and flinched, looking around and seemingly… very distressed. "Why I don't feel him…?"
"WHO are you, mortal?" Hades hissed through his teeth, clearly beyond aggravated by this point, and the redhead blinked, looking at him with confusion.
"I… it's me, Raha," he said, slowly standing up and looking between them, before his face grew nearly deathly pale at their identically not-understanding stares. "You… don't know…? Damon, what did you do…?" he murmured and frowned. "…Damon?"
"Who is that 'Damon,' and who are you?" he asked carefully and flinched slightly when the mortal's eyes shot toward him, and his jaw seemed to… drop?
"My… my Damon," the man gasped, pressing his hand against his chest and looking between them with wide eyes. "The soul that lives inside me… His father," he added, waving toward Hades who narrowed his eyes at him in turn suspiciously.
"My father's name was Nyx," he said slowly, glaring daggers at the man. Who in turn gawked at him with open mouth for a second before he sighed almost with resignation and looked toward the door with visible apprehension.
"You… don't know who I am?" he asked slowly, looking toward them again and paled impossibly when they shook their heads. "Or who Damon is…? Wicked white…" he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. "Where is Senri?" he asked, suddenly growing even paler.
"At a celebration in Old Sharlayan," Hythlodaeus replied automatically, then shrugged helplessly when his lover sent him a murderous look. "What…? You said it's likely Ares that made you forget who this is…" he waved toward the baffling mortal.
"Doesn't mean I want… it anywhere near my brother, Hyth," Hades growled, looking toward the man with clear apprehension.
"Sorry…" the redhead said, drawing their gazes. "I'll explain later, I swear, but I need to find Senri first," he added softly and disappeared… their way. Gawking at the spot he left for a moment, Hythlodaeus cleared his throat and frowned, looking at his lover as he raised his eyebrows.
"What the fuck…?" Hades whispered, as baffled.
What a mess…
Damon, what did you do? He asked nth time at his immortal, looking around as he landed squarely in their bedroom in Baldesion Annex. Only… the room looked cleared out of any of their things and their temporary nest was gone as well… Damon? He repeated, frowning at the lack of answer.
I… did this? When he finally replied, his immortal sounded beyond… strange. Hesitant and unsure – so unlike him, Raha froze, staring at his feet. I'm not sure. I'm looking through your memories but… nothing makes sense. Why would I…? He trailed off with a quiet sigh then chuckled sheepishly. It does look like I did this… whatever this is. As baffling as it is, you do seem quite sure your memories are correct. I need more time… to go through them. Are you sure we have to find this… Senri of yours? Suddenly he sounded beyond apprehensive.
I'm sure, he replied smoothly, narrowing his eyes at the floor. Damon… Do you know who I am?
I… think so? You're G'raha Tia and I… he trailed off again.
Raha, he corrected carefully, running his fingers through his hair and trying not to pull on them as he worked his jaw furiously. I'm Raha and I'm your reincarnation. You had been with me – living inside me – for years. Whole my life, but you had been awake since I… mated with Senri. Do you know who Senri is… or Ares?
When he didn't replied immediately, Raha exhaled slowly, dropping his arms to his sides and pushing back his growing frustration… and fear.
Because whatever his immortal did to deal with Meteion's sisters once and for all… apparently he chose not to warn him of the side effects. Like… that none remembered them. Or that he – Damon – seemed utterly confused about… well, everything.
I beg your pardon, the immortal said hauntingly. Like I said, I just need more time… to orient myself. I have you know I'm quite capable of making sense of this, mortal, as soon… as I have more information.
Yeah… what a mess…
Damon, what is the last thing you remember? He asked carefully.
I… well, I was busy with my studies and the latest project when one of my colleges asked me to accompany her on a stroll through the Amarout and since she was quite… pretty, I… he trailed off with another sigh. I agreed… but after that it gets… fuzzy.
Ares… do you remember Ares? He asked with growing uneasiness, at the same time heading toward the door of the room.
I… don't, Damon chuckled sheepishly, sounding almost petulant. I mean, I can see him in your memories and all… apparently I told you about him and… all. But…
"But you don't remember millennia spent with him?" he whispered – utterly dumbfounded – stepping out of the room and heading toward the exit, quite glad that the compound seemed completely empty.
No, the immortal admitted hesitantly when he stepped outside and looked around, trying to decide which way to go. Not feeling Senri felt… wrong. And the idea that gave him of what exactly Damon did… was making him feel beyond nervous and worried.
When he agreed to his plan – as sure as Damon seemed to be that it was the only way to completely get rid of the dynamis Meteion and her sisters gathered over the millennia – his immortal assured him that they will survive that. Their body was immortal after all… as long as Hades was around, anyway.
And he believed him – how could he not? After everything Damon did for them and how… he forced him to rethink his ideas of heroics… He was sure that it'll be fine. Even when he insisted to keep it a secret from Senri and Ares – to not upset them with that particular part of the plan – he choose to ignore his growing apprehension and complied – because he was sure that Damon would never do something that put neither of them in danger. Not if it could harm Ares as well…
But now, his bond to Senri appeared to be gone entirely and Hades of all people seemed to not remember Damon… he was getting an idea… that he missed the loophole in that whole plan.
Well… thinking objectively, yes, I can see it, his immortal hummed with consideration. The loophole, as you call it. Breaking the Bond and erasing myself from everyone's minds would be an… efficient way to solve that whole… conundrum while sparing this… Ares's feelings. Your Senri's, too, considering they don't seem to remember you as well… if, likely, that was to be temporary, seeing as your mind and memories seem intact.
"You don't get it," he murmured, working his jaw as he headed toward the main plaza and swirling crystal of the Aetheryte then passed it and followed the path leading toward Rostra. If Senri was bound to attend some kind of ceremony, he figured it'll be held in there. He hoped, trying to figure out how to get to him of his lover didn't remember him… or anyone else, for that matter! "Without the bond between you and Ares… We won't be able to mate as well. So what good do I get out of my memory being intact?" he hissed through his teeth with annoyance.
Well… seems like a small price for saving the world, doesn't it? His immortal replied hauntingly and he scowled, narrowing his eyes at the path under his feet.
"Bullshit," he called him out, feeling growing… fury with his immortal passenger. "You would have me be the only one to remember you, don't you, Damon? After all that big talk about how you would rather kill Ares than have him watch you die… You did him one even worse than that, you bastard. And me, if you plan had worked!"
Damon didn't reply… almost sulking as he seemed to settle back.
"Pout all you like," he hissed with offense, staring daggers at the path. "But you will… take it back, you hear me? Or I swear…" he trailed off and his ears twitched slightly at the familiar sound – Senri's laugh – as his eyes shot up toward the sound. And yeah, his lover was there, looking so unbearably beautiful in the black, elegant outfit as he stood at the other edge of the small plaza in front of Rostra, surrounded by the Scions. His friends seemed almost unnoticeably separate him from the too eager crowd of people who were clearly dying to get to him – as they usually did during any of the celebrations demanding the presence of the Warrior – as ever having on mind his comfort. "He cut his hair…" he muttered numbly, staring at the blinding beauty of his man…
…that didn't remember him! Swearing in thought at Damon's… ideas… he moved away from the top of the stairs and narrowed his eyes toward his lover. In thought racing through the ideas of how to approach him, his throat tightened painfully when his gaze met for a second Alisaie's blue eyes… and she looked away, scanning the crowd with a visible boredom on her face. None of them did…
Perhaps it's for the best…? Damon whispered and he almost slapped his face, wishing he could strangle him for a second….
You're just so… dumb to say that, he replied with aggravation. Or are you scared, Damon? What Ares is going to do to you for this… I can hardly imagine, he almost chuckled when the immortal grumbled something incoherently and backed away again. Yeah, thought so…
He trailed off, feeling that gaze and with some uncertainty he looked toward Senri again, almost choking on a gasp when his gaze met narrowed ice-blue eyes. Mask of his title in place, Raha's heart decided to jump in his throat and pound furiously when Senri visibly excused himself from Thancred with whom he was talking, then holding his stare, pushed through the crowd his way – which wasn't difficult as the people respectfully stepped out of his way, as if sensing the pure… intent he could all too easily see in his beast's eyes.
He couldn't see recognition in his lover's eyes, but the all too obvious – for him, anyway – way Senri looked at him… Raha swallowed thickly, rolling his hands into fists to curb his nerves and held his beast's gaze without a flinch, caught in the snare of ice-blue eyes.
"Do I… know you?" Senri's deep, rumbling voice rang with confusion when he stopped right in front of him, then looked him up and down, before his gaze focused on his eyes again and grew even more intense.
"You do," he replied, feeling his face heat up considerably and his throat tighten even harder, until he could barely breathe. And this close, every breath he managed to get was filled with Senri's distinctive, sweet scent of apples… and if he ever wondered if without the bond between their immortals they would be as drawn to each other… Now, he got his answer as Senri's nostrils flared barely noticeably and his gaze dropped down to his mouth, and barely there blush spilled on his beautiful, pale skin. "But it's pretty long story," he smiled sheepishly, looking around pointedly when his lover's eyes met his again. "And this is not very fit place for it, Warrior," he added, raising his eyebrows slightly when he looked in those intent, pale eyes again.
"I see…" the taller male hesitated visibly, then leaned in slightly and took a deep breath, then sighed softly. "You have to be wrong, though…. There is no way I would forget this…" he trailed off and his expression twitched as he looked away quickly and cleared his throat self-consciously, coloring darker as he straightened to his full height again and focused his gaze above Raha's head. "I mean… ah, I wouldn't mind hearing that story, then…?"
Damon, whatever Ares does to you, I'll fucking cheer him on, he hissed in thought at his immortal, watching his beast hide behind his mask, but not before he could see the spark of shame and vulnerability in his eyes.
Because apparently without remembering him – and all their shared – his lover was back to being ashamed of his preferences, or being so… obviously as drawn to him as he was.
"And I would love to tell you… somewhere more private," he said, then when Senri's eyes with some uncertainty dropped to his again, he smiled with reassurance and holding his confused stare, shamelessly took a deep breath and exhaled slowly with open delight. "And for the record… you smell divine," he whispered barely audibly – to avoid others who openly gawked at them overhearing – and almost grinned when Senri's ears twitched slightly, his eyes shot wide open and his blush grew impossibly dark.
So lovely… he barely stopped himself from letting his hands shot up, wrap around this unbearably beautiful face and pull him down into a kiss his cuteness simply demanded – as they really, really wanted to do – and instead smiled again and nodded toward the stairs.
"I imagine… you have responsibilities to attend to," he said quietly and cleared his throat, catching his beast's… dazed stare and almost snickered, instead striving to sound neutral. "But if you're interested… I would love to meet you later," he added carefully, watching the ice-blue irises darken and trail over his face with a mix of uncertainty and confusion.
"...where?" Senri finally breathed, looking away from him as if possible his blush grew impossibly darker.
Clearly… he couldn't remember him, but it didn't change the fact that he still wanted him… Which, in a way, was extremely… arousing, too.
Chasing the thought away as it threatened to make him blush no less than his lover – especially when he felt so many curious gazes – he raced in thought for any fitting place… then gasped and grinned with pure enthusiasm.
"Tranquility, if you will," he said, not missing the way how the ice-blue eyes shot to him mouth again, and grew heated and intent. "Don't make me wait too long, though," he purred softly, letting his eyes trail meaningfully over his Warrior's tall frame and downright bit his tongue to stop from gushing when Senri growled softly then caught himself, blinking rapidly and looking away from him with completely red face. So cute! "See you soon… hopefully," he nodded toward him with what he hoped was an easy smile, then headed toward the stairs, feeling Senri's gaze burn at the back of his neck.
This was… insane!
Agreed, Ares hummed with obvious amusement. But don't blame you… There's something about him…
Shhh! He hissed in thought at his immortal, for once completely mortified that he could read his mind.
Silly boy, he chortled at his expanse in return but thankfully backed away and T'senri exhaled with relief, glaring at his feet as he marched with determination – and no, not haste – toward the city's park. Covered by the cloak of invisibility, he used to sneak away from the party the ceremony turned into after the official speeches from the Forum and Alphinaud, they picked to represent them, he swore in thought furiously at his own… stupidity.
Of course, his friends teased him mercilessly about his embarrassing blushes throughout the whole thing, and only Thancred was… conscious enough to let him be – perhaps realizing the reason behind them. Though, now – when his disappearance will be noticed, he probably will be as likely to give him hell over that later!
But as much as he swore in thought that he simply wanted to find out how that strangely familiar Seeker could have a pair of Allagan crimson eyes… He was not in a habit of lying to himself.
One whiff of that spicy, cinnamon-almond scent had him instantly, painfully aroused and combined with the heated look in the ruby irises… Oh, Azeyma…
His face on fire again, he murmured a sting of profanities under his nose, then as he arrived at the edge of the park, he took a deep, steadying breath and dropped the invisibility as he looked around after the redhead. With some uncertainty stepping deeper in between the trees, he nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden, low voice behind him.
"Glad you could make it," it rang with amusement when T'senri set his features into the too-familiar mask and slowly turned around, avoiding looking into those crimson eyes when the stranger neared him.
"Who are you…?" he murmured, fighting the rising… uneasiness and that maddening… itching sensation. And when the male's scent hit his sensitive nose… oh, gods…
"A friend," the man chuckled and stopped right in front of him. Then the redhead exhaled slowly and when he spoke next, his voice grew somber. "I'm so sorry… I didn't know he will do this to you, Senri."
"Huh?" he gasped with offense at the use of his given name and dropped his gaze, growling softly in a warning as his eyes narrowed into slits. He might be inclined to admit that this man… that perhaps he was attracted to him but…
To choke on a gasp when the redhead's arms shot up and wrapped around his neck, pulling him down until their breaths mixed and…
…the fog cleared suddenly and he blinked slowly, caught in the snare of the crimson irises.
"…Raha…" he murmured, completely stiff and unprepared for the flood of emotions and memories flooding his mind.
"Damon says it'll take him… a while to revert it completely," his Raha said with a sheepish smile, petting his ear delicately. "He's not exactly at the top of his game… so to say."
Damon… Ares sounded no less baffled than he felt, even as T'senri shakily lifted his hands and carefully cradled his lover's face between them.
"Raha…" he repeated numbly, staring. "…I forgot you… How could I…?"
"All did," something sad flared in his eyes and T'senri flinched, whimpering involuntarily as he wrapped his arms around him possessively and buried his nose against his lover's throat, breathing in his scent greedily. "It's okay, my Snark," Raha sighed blissfully, with obvious relief curling into his embrace. "It's okay…"
"It's not okay," he breathed into his skin, tightening his arms around him almost painfully. "You're my Sun… how could I…? I don't feel you…" he said slowly, suddenly painfully aware of the missing connection.
WHAT. THE. FUCK?! He flinched harshly at the pure rage in Ares's voice. And he suddenly realized he wasn't the only one… Pushed to the back of their shared head almost brutally, he somehow winced when his immortal downright snarled, pulling back from Raha to wrap his hand around his jaw and glare daggers into his eyes. "What the fuck did you do, Damon? Come out and face me, asshole!"
"Easy," Raha sighed, wrapping his hands around Ares's wrist but not trying to push it back. A slight grimace run over his face before he rolled his eyes. "He says he's not going to… Unless you are going to be reasonable about it…"
"I'll show him reasonable," his immortal hissed through his teeth, then bared his teeth -including their fangs – in a fierce grin. "COME. OUT. NOW," he drawled with the push of his gift behind it and Raha's expression instantly went slack for a second, then he blinked slowly and grimaced.
"This is… very potent," Damon said and his eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. "And rude. I merely…"
"You idiot," Ares snapped, tightening his hand around the redhead's jaw. "Think I can't figure it out…? You complete, utter moron…" he trailed off, working his jaw furiously before he sighed and dropped his head until his forehead rested on Damon's. "How could you…?"
T'senri flinched at the noticeable note of hurt in his immortal's voice, then shared his obvious surprise when Damon downright hiss, prying his hand from his face and backing away, his narrowed eyes on them, before his expression grew cold and unreadable.
"Honestly… I fail to see why, now," he said quietly, folding his arms over his chest. "Apparently I was… stupid enough to sacrifice a good portion of my mind for you… and yours, and this is the thanks I get?" he scoffed, raising his chin pointedly and perhaps involuntarily waving his tail with agitation as his ears fell flat against his head. "And I Bonded myself to you…? Hardly makes sense…"
"Damon… what's wrong with you?" Ares hesitated, then slowly lifted his hand toward his face.
"I'm… confused!" the other male hissed, backing away from him. "Barely a day ago – for me – I was back in Amarout and all was… fine! I was bored, yes, but it wasn't so… confusing! Now I wake up in a strange body, forced to share it and… all of you won't stop for a moment to let me think! I've had it!" he snapped with an obvious flare of his fiery temper, then shook his head and his expression went slack for a second.
"Like I said…" Raha sighed, rubbing his temples as if fighting headache. "…he's not exactly… okay, Ares. He doesn't remember me, you… or anyone else, honestly. Whatever… happened after I was out… Let's just say, he paid the highest price for it, I think," he whispered when Ares's arm fell limply to his side. "And since all he knows about what is going on he can only take from my memories… he might need a moment to readjust."
"He… Don't remember me?" Now Ares definitely sounded hurt and T'senri saw Raha flinch and look up at him with sad smile, shaking his head slightly.
"None of us," he sighed then ran his hand over his hair. "He said… last he remembers was taking a stroll with some… woman….through Amarout, then it gets… fuzzy."
"Can you…" Ares hesitated, then exhaled slowly and smoothed his expression, folding his arms over his chest. "…ask him how old he thinks he is…?"
Raha's expression scrunched up into an adorable frown, then he blinked slowly.
"Says… close to the thousand," he replied hesitantly, then stepped from one foot to the other and tilted his head slightly, clearly listening. "Ah… and he does not wish to be disturbed again, with your gift, I mean. Says… when he's ready to talk with you, you'll be first to know, otherwise, you can…" he choked and blanched, looking away.
"…fuck off?" Ares guessed and for some reason – to T'senri's astonishment – he grinned, then chuckled when Raha blinked at him with surprise. "He does get… like that when he's pissed off. Okay…" he sighed, then carefully unwound his arms and wrapped his hands around Raha's cheeks, looking into his eyes while his narrowed slightly. "…Damon, I am sorry for snapping like that. If you really can't remember… I am doubly sorry for upsetting you, love. Do… take your time, and when you're ready, we will talk. But whatever you did to make everyone forget about you… Please, do revert it, okay?"
"He says…" Raha sighed and wrinkled his nose slightly. "…that he was already busy doing that when you… you know… Only, it seems like whatever spell he used was… quite complicated, and it is difficult to unravel without remembering it. So it's going to… take time. And…" he frowned, then sighed softly and put one of his hands over Ares's, squeezing slightly when his tone grew apologetic. "…to leave him the fuck alone."
As if to baffle them… Ares grinned at that again, then let go of Raha and backed away.
"Feisty, my Damon, when he's hot," he chuckled at the redhead's frown. "It's okay, Raha. I would be more worried if he got… cold and detached instead. This, I know and can work with," he winked at him when another slight grimace ran over the redhead's features. "Ah, I'm annoying him…?" he chuckled again, clearly beyond pleased with that.
"Lightly put…" Raha muttered, rubbing his temples again.
"Good," the immortal grinned and switched with him, letting T'senri take over so suddenly he blinked with surprise. Annoyed Damon means he's feeling something… and apparently, he's more than… baffled by it. That will make it easier to win him over again.
You… calmed down awfully quickly, he commented that with some uncertainty.
Priorities, my boy, Ares hummed with consideration. If he truly does not remember – and now we're not Bonded – I can hardly expect to lure him in with vinegar, right? And, honestly… In a way, it's almost amusing, the idea of winning his heart over again. Especially in THOSE conditions, he chortled funnily…
And T'senri understood only when Raha, with some uncertainty, pressed his hand over his chest, searching his eyes while biting his lower lip.
"Are you… angry, Snark?" he asked hesitantly. "I swear, my heart… I didn't know. I should have told you that the clone was a diversion and that he planned to play the real lure… But I never expected that…"
"How can I be angry at you, my prince?" he sighed with resignation, then lifted his hand and wrapped it around the back of his neck, leaning in to brush the tip of his nose against his. "You are my life…" he breathed, taking a deep breath and delighting in his spicy scent.
And when his lover downright whimpered, curling his hands in his jacket and climbing up to meld their lips together… Yeah, he understood, hearing Ares's snicker quietly – but was unable to care, eagerly devouring his lover's delicious mouth, instantly mesmerized by the pull and push of the kiss.
No, he didn't care at all… backing his prince against the nearest tree, pinning him against its rough bark and losing himself to the maddening flavor when Raha mewled under his mouth, then his hands almost desperately tugged his shirt open and hot hands greedily smoothed to his back, digging into his skin as his lover purred his need, setting his senses to reel.
Not feeling him felt… wrong, but he didn't really need that to know what his mate needed, dropping his hand between them and curling it possessively over his crotch, swallowing with relish Raha's deep moan of appreciation.
He broke the kiss, raining more over his heated face as he snuck that hand behind the waistband of his pants and wrapped it around his dick, clenching it rhythmically as their panting breaths mixed and his gaze was ensnared by the mix of pleasure and lust in the crimson irises. Clawing at his back and whimpering softly, his lover rutted into his grip, hiss desperate sounds broken only by gasps of T'senri's name…
"My Raha…" he purred near-deafeningly, nuzzling his cheek against his lover's heated one as he let his hand speed up, getting drunk on his lover's noises. "Come for me, my mate…" he cooed shamelessly, curling his other hand over the redhead's beautiful behind, kneading it insistently and forcing him to rut into his grip harder. Uncaring of anything but the musky scent of his lover's arousal, filling his head so unbearably…
He dropped his head against his shoulder and when Raha arched with a breathless whine, he bit down instinctively, purring loudly his satisfaction and need while his mate trembled, chanting his name into the most alluring music in his sweet, soothing voice.
The thought that he could forget it… this feeling, his sounds, scent and touch… was beyond absurd now, filling his soul and body with terror of almost losing him…
"My Snark… my beautiful beast," his lover whispered, running his fingers through his hair and purring loudly his pleasure… and T'senri didn't think, couldn't, breaking his bite with a snarl and brutally spinning his around, desperately pushing his pants down and pushing his hand – covered with his seed – between his buttocks as he nuzzled against his neck insistently. Raha at least didn't seem to mind, mewling his name and arching between him and the tree when he pushed two fingers inside him, working his body impatiently into submission. "…g-gods… please…" he gasped, curling his tail around him possessively as his right hand fisted in T'senri's hair… or tried to and he winced involuntarily, swearing his idea now… "It's okay…" Raha chuckled breathlessly at his apologetic whine, instead lightly flicking the braids at the side of his head. "…like it, too, my Senri…"
"It's faaar from okay," he whined petulantly, then sighed and wrapped his free hand around his lover's cheek, tilting his head until he could place a small bite on his lower lip. Then he let his fangs slip as his mate choked on a rumbling purr and tugged meaningfully at the waistband of his pants. "Aww… impatient, my hearrrt?" he rasped lazily, despite the need raging under his skin and making his dick throb painfully.
But it was more than worth it as when he worked third finger into his snug heat, Raha lost it, mewling incoherently and rocking back against his touch. His fiery eyes squeezed shut and pretty lips parted around those lovely sounds… T'senri whimpered a complaint, then tugged his pants down and without missing a beat, took him, both at the same time gasping with the mix of heady relief and maddening need.
He wrapped his hands around his lover's hips and burying his face against his neck, rutted into him slowly, groaning quietly at the sensation of the heated muscles spasming around his flesh.
"…more…" his lover purred insistently, pushing back onto his cock and he growled softly in a warning, freeing one hand to wrap it around his throat, holding him still as he instinctively demanded his submission, enjoying himself too much to rush it. Feeling his lover's defiant growl under his palm, and the way he purposely squeezed his muscles around his flesh, harshly whipping his tail against his back… Not coming instantly was a feat, and he whined a complaint but gave in, dropping that hand to his hip again and giving him what he wanted. Pounding into him mercilessly, he soon fought his body to hold on, groaning and gasping desperately while Raha too eagerly rocked back and forth, robbing him of ant self-control he had left too quickly. His rumbling purrs and mewls of his name were just… too much, too good… T'senri curled his hand around his lover's cock, pumping it harshly until Raha arched under him with a choked whine, spilling all over his hand and mewling his name so sweetly… he lost it, snarled and bit him, groaning into his skin as his dick simply burst, tearing a string of breathless whines and profanities from his throat.
Rocking into him still as he nuzzled against his neck affectionately, he purred near-deafeningly when his lover growled playfully, pushing his hand back to swat it lightly over his behind.
"Off, beast," he chuckled fondly when he shook his head, wrapping his arms and tail around him possessively instead.
"Mine," he purred louder, nipping on the heated skin on his lover's shoulder.
"Yours," his mate agreed, now petting his behind as he arched his neck to grant him greater access. "But seriously…" he trailed off to a moan when with that easy confirmation of his claim, his flesh all too quickly grew inside him with renewed arousal.
"Yesss, mine," he cooed shamelessly, settling one hand over his abdomen and massaging it insistently as he rolled his hips, taking him harder and deeper. "My prrretty Rrraha…" he rasped and bit him and grinned around it when his lover downright melted, soon purring and rocking back against his thrusts with enthusiasm. Making him miss the sudden, familiar sound behind him. "My…"
"My eyes…" someone groaned loudly, and he froze, his head snapped up, and he growled at the intruder, at the same time blushing up to his hairline. He realized he never thought of raising the shield… and apparently, neither did Raha, judging by his mortified squeak.
"Well… at least it doesn't look like he's in danger," Hythlodaeus choked on a laugh, politely looking up, though the way his lips twitched… Was better than Hades next to him, covering his eyes with both hands and downright being ridiculous.
"You mind…?" he deadpanned through his teeth.
"I definitely do," the white-haired immortal snapped back, then sighed with resignation and turned around. Hythlodaeus couldn't take it and snorted a laugh, but turned away as well. "I take… you do know him, then?"
Oh… T'senri winced, then snickered mercilessly when Raha pushed him off, flushed beautifully as he quickly fixed his pants and when he did so as well, turning toward the immortals, hid behind his back, pressing his forehead between his shoulder blades. Clearly beyond embarrassed…
And the way Ares seemingly died, laughing his ass off…
…he couldn't take it, laughing as hard, until his lover groaned out loud and pounded his fist against his back.
"You are impossible!" Raha muttered with annoyance and, well… that only had him laugh harder!