Completely ignoring whatever was going on 'outside,' Damon settled in the strange but somewhat comforting space he found – eerily reminding him of his office back when everything made sense. Leaving everything out, he, somewhat embarrassingly for his age, paced the 'room' furiously and fought to make sense of his new… situation.

To think he somehow chose to sacrifice himself – as his host's memory suggested… was so absurd; despite his intellectual prowess, he struggled to imagine what would possess him to do so. And for someone so… rude?! Forcing him out like a naughty child… the sheer nerve!

Not that he truly… knew or understood that, though, as back when he still cared, he would be shocked if one of his parents bothered treating him like a child….

No, he was bred with a purpose: born to a pair of scholars who saw him as nothing more than an interesting result of their 'experiment.' Settling with each other for the sake of the custom, his parents made him, congratulated themselves on the 'job well done,' and went back to their respective studies, only ever bothering with him if he achieved something noteworthy – and even then, seeing it as more of their achievement than his own – because whatever he did, for them, they deserved the praise for simply 'making' him in the first place.

And when he still cared… he behaved and did whatever was demanded of him, believing that perhaps one day… he would find a way to fill the aching pit inside his chest somehow.

He was brilliant – and when his inborn talent became apparent – a few could claim to garner more praise or interest than him. Yet, no matter how much time passed… that pit only grew bigger and deeper. And once the constant, mind-numbing boredom started to threaten his sanity…

…well, the thoughts of ending it – anyway – started to plague his mind.

Logically – though he was taught the same way all his peers were – eventually, he found that the idea of good and evil seemed beyond absurd and more of a constraint than anything else. The biggest problem for his mind to solve was: if he was bred for the betterment of Eitherys… why then he never felt like any of his achievements mattered? Shouldn't he feel fulfilled by simply… being?

Following their peoples' customs brought him nothing more than boredom – hundreds of years of it – as while he dutifully had to make a list of females to pick one to Bond with eventually… and he did because that was expected of him. No matter how boring each of them was, he picked them by the same criteria he was made: how their looks or talents could achieve an interesting result in the case of an offspring.

…for the betterment of Eitherys…

And, now, to learn that he somehow… discarded all of that…? How was that supposed to make sense…?

Yet, that Damon of this… Raha's memories seemed so much more… confident and… happy than he ever felt…

And when his… host so eagerly went after his lover… well, he was embarrassed to admit that at first, he didn't really understand… He wasn't naïve and had sex many times before, but… well, he wasn't sure how that was supposed to work with two males and then… Well, it blew his mind a little, possibly. And perhaps… he bolted… and all… but that wasn't really his fault…?

He was utterly confused and… angry that that man would snap at him like that… None ever treated him like that – and what was even more baffling… was the instant, brutal pang of arousal with it! That… Ares was snarling invectives at him, calling him a moron even! And he shouldn't find that… interesting.

…shouldn't think that in that bare moment, those sky-blue eyes showed more… care for him than he ever experienced before…

And he knew him… snapping back as he did… was beyond childish and immature… He more than cringed at it now, but at the same time, Ares didn't seem that… bothered by it. Didn't call him out…

And then Raha and his Senri… well, blew his mind, too… More so… his host, since he seemed… to really enjoy when…

He shook his head violently, chasing away that image, and forced himself to think about his current situation – and what to do about it.

If he was so inclined, he guessed, he could easily take over his host's body for good – Raha was only a mortal, after all. Immortal mortal, it seemed, but still, it didn't take him long to figure out that in their… relationship, he was clearly more powerful. But as his memories suggested… somehow during all this nonsense, and before he apparently wiped out his own mind, he came to regard the boy as… his son, which didn't make sense, too.

None of it did…

He sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly and somewhat ruefully, and decided to… let it be for now. He had something to focus on: the complexity of the spell… he apparently used to change and erase all hints of their existence… And as much as he still didn't understand why he would do that, perhaps if he did manage to unravel it, it would start to make more sense… eventually.

And after that is done, he would go through the boy's memory more carefully and figure out what to do with… himself. And what was more crucial – with Ares.

Again, he wasn't naïve… He knew what his host wanted – the return of his ability to… mate with his lover – but that would mean that he, Damon, had to renew his Bond with the other boy's… passenger, and right now… he didn't want to.

Why should he…? He didn't know them – and if he was reading the situation correctly, the Damon they knew was… gone. The fact that Raha remembered him indicated that the spell he invented to erase his existence was meant to affect everyone else but them – and whatever happened afterward… Well, he had no idea what exactly happened to wipe out his mind and didn't get that far with unraveling that spell to figure out the planned outcome, but… Well, he didn't remember anything past the point of his stroll… Raha's recollection indicated that was the moment he was meant to meet Ares…

Was that… intended? Logically thinking, there were two options: either the spell was to work as Raha thought, and he was meant to die, leaving only his host remembering him. Which still now seemed quite absurd… Or perhaps – Which he guessed the boy didn't even think of – he meant to… cut himself off from Ares and everything else…?

If that was the case – re-Bonding himself to that man without having all information would be… ridiculous. Raha's memory suggested he was… absurdly in love with Ares, to the point of doing all of this, but right now… he didn't even know what love was supposed to feel like!

He was raised to follow the cold and hard logic of their people – and customs created to secure one's soul. Sometimes… his temper got the best of him, which was an embarrassing and shameful trait, that he spent almost a thousand years hiding and getting under control. With his intelligence and talent, letting emotions have reins was irresponsible, and… he knew better than that.

So… what happened to have him so enamored with that man…? To discard everything he had been taught and raised to be? Two males Bonding was unheard of… what would possess him to do so?

He stopped his pacing and frowned, then turned toward the transparent section of the 'room,' with a wave of his hand, turning into a window outside – a safe way he was learning to look out, without making his host aware, as Raha seemed quite attuned to his presence and…

He froze, gawking at the image as an embarrassingly hot blush hit his face, and – if he was inclined to admit that - his jaw dropped… a little.

He had no idea how much time had passed since he… went off, and like this, the image showed through his host's eyes that their surroundings changed – to what he recognized from the boy's memory as the bedroom he shared with his lover. But… well, they still seemed busy.

He could only see and hear – not feel – what Raha did, including his thoughts, and… well, he really shouldn't have looked.…

Despite his mortification with the whole… getting caught by Hades and Hythlodaeus and Senri's apparent lack of shame – because, yeah, his shameless beast was definitely back with a vengeance – once they excused themselves from the baffled immortals, Raha was more than glad to return to their bedroom.

That mostly looked the same – if not for the fact that his desk was apparently torn to pieces, leaving only his cache intact… And when he raised his eyebrows at his lover, Senri shrugged helplessly with a sheepish smile.

"It was driving me crazy," he admitted, moving to stand behind him and pressing tight against his back while resting his hands on his hips. Knowing his lover, Raha sighed, leaning back against his chest and tilting his head to allow him access to his throat, which Senri eagerly used, nuzzling against his skin. "I couldn't remember you… but I couldn't stop feeling everything is… wrong," his lover whispered, smoothing one hand under his shirt and drawing slow circles over his abdomen. "Thought… if I can open it, I can figure out… why. What was missing…" he rasped, sneaking that hand behind the waistband of his pants.

"I'm almost surprised that it still exists," he said quietly, arching in his arms and pressing his hand over Senri's neck, with the other smoothing over his arm. All things considered… he knew it'd take a while for his beast to settle – especially without their bond to reassure him in his claim – and he more than understood, sharing the constant need to feel him any way he could. But his Senri was – as Damon called it, a creature of instinct – and right now, he was riding the high of the need from him.

"What is in it?" his mate purred, his free hand impatiently tugging his shirt open while the other tore a groan from his throat as it curled around his cock in a tight grip.

"My treasures…" he chuckled sheepishly, still blushing as he eagerly pushed his pants down from over his lover's hand and, with near fascination, watched him pump it over his more than wanting flesh.

"…oh?" Senri hummed with interest, pulling the shirt off his shoulder and nipping on the heated skin as his thumb brushed the head of his dick on each slow pass, tearing tiny mewls of appreciation from the redhead's mouth. "What treasures would you hide from me, my silly mate…? Ah, I know," he chortled quietly, then made him arch again with a groan as his other hand snuck between Raha's legs, delicately rubbing his fingers against his balls. "Pictures we bought in Limsa?"

"Perhaps…" he gasped, curling his hands around Senri's forearms, and panting for air desperately as he rolled his hips.

"I see… Open it," his lover purred right by his ear, then nipped on the sensitive shell, and he couldn't help but a whimper, realizing his intent.

"Why…? G-gods…" he mewled when his mate growled a warning, tightening his hand around the base of his cock and stilling it.

"Well, way I see it, my silly Raha… if you locked it away from me – means, you got something you don't want me to see… Which means you had to get something when I wasn't looking… or from somewhere else, entirely," he flushed up to his hairline at that, turning his head away when Senri chortled. "And… don't you want to make sure that it… survived, love? I'm sure Damon would make sure to keep safe something you think precious… but wouldn't hurt to check, right?"

"You're just going to tease me about it," he pouted, resting his head against his lover's shoulder and melting when Senri laughed softly and brushed his lips against his flaming cheek.

"Of course, my heart," he purred, tearing a helpless mewl from his throat as he started to pump his hand along his flesh again, but slowly now. "But seriously… I'm just curious because you know you don't need to be embarrassed about that with me, Raha. I admit, thinking that others find such… entertainment in picturing and drawing us together… is a bit embarrassing, but does it really matter? If you enjoy it… I would never want you to feel the need to hide it from me, love."

"I know…" he breathed, still feeling his face heat up unbearably as he arched in his arms, wrapping his tail around Senri's thigh. "I know… but it's not… ah, the pictures."

"Ohh…? Tell me," his lover chuckled, nipping on his ear again.

"You… umm, remember that girl mentioning… the stories?" he flushed even darker, clearing his throat self-consciously. "Especially the.. explicit ones…? She was… ah, right, some of them are really… g-good," he murmured, fighting his embarrassment.

"Ah, naughty Raha," his lover cooed, pressing a tender kiss on his throat. "And you would hide it from me…? Perhaps, as punishment, I'll have you read them from me, hm? In your voice…" he growled deep in the back of his throat, sending a near-violent shudder down his spine.

"Perhaps… I better show you…" he replied, pushing his arms away and turning around in his arms. "…my favorites…" his face was still on fire, but he tossed his lover a coy smirk, smoothing his hands over his chest and down to snap his belt open. "…hm?"

"Oh, that already sounds promising," Senri grinned, then gasped when without missing a beat, Raha winked and then dropped to his knees, tugging his pants down at the same time. "…could have guessed," he chortled, petting his hair while he tossed him a pout, then focused his attention on his lover's straining erection.

"I do love to make you beg, Snark," he purred, looking up as he leaned in and let the flesh rub against his cheek and wrapping his hands around his lover's hips as the blaze of lust flared in ice-blue irises.

"I have no problem beginning for you, my prince," Senri rasped, sinking his hand into Raha's hair and curling it around the back of his head. "You do know I love your pretty, skilled mouth."

"Mhmm," he hummed, then sighed blissfully at the musky scent of his lover's arousal and lazily dragged his tongue from the base of his dick to its tip, eagerly watching Senri's beautiful face when he gasped, then purred praise, massaging the back of his head. "And the way you look, my beast… is beyond addictive," he chuckled hoarsely, then tightened his hands on his skin, drowning in the depths of devotion in his lover's eyes. "So… I'm going to make you come, my beautiful Senri, and then, I'm going to fuck you until you can't walk… how does that sound?"

"Marvelous," his mate bared his teeth at him in a grin. "But I'll still make you read that stories for me later, my heart," he wiggled his dark eyebrows playfully.

"We will see," he winked, then set to swallow him down, his ears twitching with delight at his mate's deep groan and more than enjoying the way his hand fisted in his hair as the other wrapped around his face.

"G-gods, Raha…" Senri downright mewled his name, smoothing his thumb over his cheek shakily as he slowly rolled his hips, groaning quietly as Raha relaxed his throat around his cock, letting him slide down. He swallowed around the engorged flesh for better effect. More than knowing what drove him mad, he let his lover feel the rough texture of his tongue as he started to fuck his mouth, holding him still with the grip on his hair. Any chance he got looking up at the beauty of his mate in his shameless enjoyment, he tightened his hands around his hips. He started to purr – slowly and steadily, but with growing intensity – and soon more than shuddered with delight at the hoarse mewl-purrs of his name.

Feeling Senri's tail wrap around his neck, leashing his down as his dick throbbed in a warning on his tongue, he coiled his arms around him possessively. He took him up to the hilt, letting his purrs reach a crescendo, and was rewarded with his lover's relieved groan as thick ropes of seed shoot down his throat. And while his mate purred his bliss, petting his hair gratefully, he licked his flesh clean, more than drunk on the mix of his scent, heat, and the thought he could give his love so much pleasure.

When he was done, his insatiable mate's flesh was again more than eager. He leaned away with a cocky grin and admired the effect, rubbing his hands over his lover's thighs.

"You're so gorgeous, Snark," he couldn't help but sigh with bliss, licking his lips with relish at the sight of dazed ice-blue irises and pretty blush on his pale skin.

"And you're… the best," his mate chortled, flicking his tail around Raha's shoulders and using both hands to massage the backs of his ears. "Now… for the second part…? How do you want me, my prince?"

"Mmm," he hummed with pretend consideration, pursing his lips into a playful pout as he dragged his eyes up and down his lover's tall frame. "Let's see… you'll be my good boy, my Senri?" he purred meaningfully, letting his lips tilt into a sharp smirk when instantly his shameless beast flushed up to his hairline, and his hands stilled utterly over his head.

"As you w-wish," his lover pulled back and, not looking at him, discarded his clothes in quick, efficient movements. Raha sat back on his heels, shamelessly admiring the utter perfection of his man, feeling his tail swivel impatiently as he rolled his hands atop his thighs and only smiled with reassurance at Senri's quick, almost shy look before he turned around slowly and walked into their nest, then fell to his knees and bent forward crossing his forearms in front of him and resting his forehead on top of them.

"Perfect," he purred near-deafeningly, then stood up, undressed his disheveled clothes, and slowly joined him, smoothing his hands over his lover's muscular back as he settled on his knees behind him. Delicately pushing his tail aside, he rubbed his left hand over his mate's buttock while leaning away to reach for oil with the other. Senri shivered and gasped softly when he poured it generously over his opening, then mewled incoherently as he pressed two fingers inside him without much preamble, massaging the tight muscles loose. At the same time, he leaned over his back, rubbing his cheek against his hot skin. "You know, my beast… All the pictures we saw and stories I've read by now… I have yet to find one to show how much you enjoy letting me take you accurately. I don't know if it's because of the size difference between us… or their admiration for you that they struggle to imagine you begging to be fucked," he said with amusement.

"Bothered by it, Raha?" his lover chuckled breathlessly, arching his back to press against his touch with a quiet moan.

"No," he chortled, smoothing his free hand around his hip to wrap it around Senri's cock, pumping the flesh in tandem with his fingers while adding the third. At that, his mate groaned deeply, wrapping his tail around his back; he snickered quietly, pressing a line of small, fond kisses along his spine. "I find the idea of being the only one who truly knows you, my Snark, extremely satisfying," he purred teasingly, then shifted, leaning away, and pulling his hand back from his ass to wrap it around the base of his tail, smirking as he positioned his dick against the tight ring of muscles. "Now, imagine…" he growled softly, squeezing his hand around the sensitive appendage, and when his lover's back shot ramrod stiff and Senri whined desperately, he snapped his hips, taking him in one, hard thrust. Groaning loudly at the almost too-hot, too-tight squeeze around his cock, he let go of his mate's throbbing flesh, smoothing his free hand up his spine to wrap it around his neck, leaning forward and pinning him down almost brutally. "…if they saw you like this…" he chuckled breathlessly when his lover whimpered his name, shuddering helplessly as his body adjusted to the intrusion. He tightened his hand even more around his tail, immobilizing him, and for a moment admired the way his lover so soon went plaint in submission, mewling his need incoherently in small, choked gasps.

The sight alone was nearly enough to make him come, as the way his dick throbbed in a warning showed all too clearly… so he tightened his grip on his self-control, taking slow, deep breaths to push back the need to pound into that too-beautiful body, as his lover's sounds begged him to do.

"Gods, you're too beautiful, my Snark," he cooed, focused on staying still.

"Rrraha, p-please…" his mate squirmed under him impatiently, whimpering when he hissed a warning, delicately tugging at his tail. "…morrre…" he groaned, shifting arms to dig his claws into the pillows around him.

At that, the beauty of his beast at full display, so eager and hungry for him… demanded a reward.

"My good, good boy," he purred hoarsely, then rolled his hips, groaning quietly at the friction and numbly admiring how his cock claimed that gorgeous body. "My obedient beast, tell me how you want me, my Sun?" he cooed, trying to ignore the mounting pressure at the base of his spine, gasping quietly each time his dick sank into that too snug, scalding heat.

"Harrrderrr… morrre, Rrraha…" his lover pleaded in that raspy note that never failed to send a near-violent shudder down his back.

"For you, anything…" he chuckled breathlessly, then pulled back his arms and wrapped them around his lover's waist, pulling out almost completely, then slamming into him with a groan. Nearly a feral grin on his lips when Senri trashed with a whine, letting him know he hit just right, then his beauty of the beast climbed to all fours, pushing back against his next thrust. "Such a good boy, Senri…." He moaned, then let go of his leash, sparing him none of his strength and speed as he set to fuck him much, much harder.

Making sure to angle just right, soon his mate mewl-purred his name desperately, chanting it into maddening music as he came, shuddering violently and collapsing again. Relishing in his bliss, Raha crooned his satisfaction, then wrapped his hand around his cock again, harshly pumping it in tandem with his brutal strokes. Before long, his lover was coming for him again, whining in overstimulation. And the way his muscles milked his flesh was just too much, tearing a snarl from him as he peaked, pumping his seed into his mate's trembling body while mewling his name.

Sagging against his back, he rained affectionate kisses over his heated skin while they both panted for air desperately. Purring near-deafeningly his satisfaction, he let his mate shift, lying down between the red and black pillows before he rested against his back and lazily nuzzled his cheek against the skin between his shoulder blades. Grinning his stupidly lovesick grin at the sound of his deep, sated purrs, he petted his hip soothingly while still riding the high of his orgasm.

"You are… really the best," Senri sighed dreamily, pressing his hand back to press it over his ass.

"I don't need the bond to know what you like, my Snark," he chuckled, pressing a tender kiss on his skin before letting himself relax and enjoy the moment.

"You know…" his mate sighed again, with his fingertips drawing small, lazy circles on his skin. "…this whole experience, in a way, was a bit… comforting…?" he said hesitantly.

"Mhmm, I know what you mean," he replied without opening his eyes. "I do hope… Damon gets his memories back when he unravels that infernal spell, don't get me wrong. That's why – mostly – I didn't want to explain the whole situation to Hades yet. Can you imagine…?"

Senri winced, then sighed sadly.

"I still don't know what possessed him to do that, though," he said slowly. "Ares's putting on a… calm front, but I think… Well, I'm pretty sure this incredibly hurts him. And to think Damon doesn't remember all the years they spent together…? That doesn't even let him – Ares – be properly pissed at this stunt…"

"I know, it's not fair," he whispered, setting another kiss on his skin. "But I think… He really thought he was not going to survive that. I still don't agree with what he did," he added quickly before his mate could protest. "And I do know your and Ares's stance on the whole… sacrifice idea, Senri, I do. But… I can somewhat understand him, too. The way he always spoke of Ares, Snark… If he truly believed that there was no other way, he wouldn't hesitate. And considering all we learned from them about their world… I think I know where this came from."

"Huh?" his lover hummed.

"Think about it…" he whispered hesitantly, hoping Damon wasn't listening in, still… sulking? And what idea it was for his brilliant immortal! He listened intently for a moment to see if he would protest – indicating that he was, in fact, listening – he relaxed and sighed again when he didn't hear or feel anything of his presence. "He always said that before he met Ares… he was incredibly bored, right? But I think… no, I'm pretty sure there was more to that than simple boredom, Senri. I think he was more… lonely. He's so smart – but when it comes to feelings, he gets… lost sometimes. And I think someone so intelligent… didn't fit in just as much as Ares, if in a different way. Then he met him, and I can imagine how much he turned his world upside down – challenging him to be… more than the most brilliant mind. Ares once told me that he fell in love with him because, on one look, he saw that if he could win his heart over, Damon would love him like no one else ever could. And I think… that's what I also love about him. All he did for us – all his schemes, plots, and ideas – I wasn't always happy with them, but in the end, I knew they came from the spot of care. His lessons were not always painless… but for that, I think I learned better from them, that's all. And Hades…" he sighed sadly. "…as I said, I hope Damon will get his memories back before we must tell him… everything. Otherwise, if for some reason he doesn't while everyone else do… I don't even want to think about how much it will hurt their son, right? He already lost them once… and now to have his father not remember him? And considering I had more than a few occasions to see how he is about Damon…"

"Yeah…" his lover replied softly. "Ares is more of an annoying brother – which he enjoys, I guess. But you would have to be blind not to see how admiring he is of Damon. His word is the law for him…" he chuckled suddenly. "Ares is whining."

"About?" he asked curiously.

"That we should stop gossiping, I quote, before we spook Damon," Senri whispered in a conspiratorial tone, and Raha chuckled fondly.

"Think it's fine," he assured. "I usually can tell when he's listening in. And now he seems to be still… pouting."

"Anyway…" his lover swatted his bottom, and he couldn't help but snort a laugh, nipping on his skin, before he shifted, trailing a line of small bites down his back to end it at the base of his tail, kneeling between his legs.

"Yes, I remember my promise, my beast," he purred, rubbing his hands over his thighs. "Where were we…?"

"You're going to show me all your favorites, yes?" his incorrigible mate waved his tail funnily, raising slightly and grinning at him over his shoulder. "Until I can't walk, if I recall correctly."

"Ah, yes, that…" he wiggled his eyebrows playfully, then clapped his hands over his tight ass. "Roll over then, my Snark."

"Oh…?" his lover complied, then folded his arms behind his head, peering and grinning his silly, goofy grin. "I think I like where this is going…"

"I certainly hope so," he smirked, then pulled his lover's thighs around his sides and, using his unnatural strength, pulled him down harshly, tearing a surprised, loud laugh from his mate that soon trailed off to a groan as he took him smoothly with a quiet snarl. Seated inside him up to the hilt, he freed one hand and wrapped it around his mate's cock with a sharp, playful grin. "Before I'm done with you… you'll beg for mercy, love."

"I like to see you try," Senri dared with an as sharp grin, flushed beautifully as he fisted his hands in the soft material under them and arched with a breathless whine when he leaned in and set not such a gentle bite on his stomach, while roughly pumping his fingers around his dick.

"Do you want to bet on that, my Snark?" he cooed shamelessly, shifting on his knees just enough to roll his hips slightly and, with no small amount of awe, watched his beautiful beast arch again, now with a choked shout.

"You're… on," Senri gasped, curling his hand in his hair and holding on for dear life when he laughed evilly, then set to prove him wrong.

And, predictably, he won!

Ares waited patiently until their hosts exhausted themselves. He untangled from Raha's embrace, climbed out of the nest, and headed for the shower, grimacing only slightly at the discomfort of their shared body.

"Crazy kids," he chuckled fondly, then sighed, stepping under the stream of hot water and washing quickly, thinking that opposite to what they thought… well, he owed his brother an explanation. And a warning – because if Damon does not remember… He, more than anyone, knew how much it'd hurt Hades.

No less than him….

Still, he was surprised when he stepped out of the shower and saw Raha sitting quietly inside their nest, looking toward him with unreadable, cold eyes.

Not Raha.

"Ready to talk?" he asked softly, dropping to one knee next to the nest and carefully observing his husband's expression. There was no sign of his temper – which, as he told Raha, was not a good sign.

He could handle Damon when he got hot and snappy – but when he grew cold….

"I won't remember," he said with that unnerving, cold detachment, holding his stare when Ares's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. "I reversed the spell… I used. The end goal was to let Meteion's sisters trigger my mind into the state where… I'll use my gift to end the world around me. Raha was wearing half of the chain created by Hades to support the blast when it went off. To make sure all dynamis they brought would be extinguished. According to my calculations, I was not supposed to survive… but I did, if in a diminished state – because I spun so… much of myself into the cocoon protecting Raha's soul," he trailed off, looking away from his eyes and to the hands, he folded in his lap.

"Damon…" he whispered, leaning toward him.

"I did… listen," his lover chuckled sheepishly, and he frowned with confusion. "To their… gossiping," he added after a quick look toward his face, then looked away again… and to see him – his brilliant, confident husband – so… meek was beyond unsettling. "And… I want to remember," he said quietly, and Ares's heart nearly stopped. "I don't… don't want to be alone again, Ares."

He sighed sadly and climbed into the nest, reflecting his husband's pose by kneeling in front of him, and almost gingerly took hold of his hands, lacing their fingers tightly as he leaned in and rested his forehead against Damon's.

"Whatever you wish of me, my heart, say a word, and it's yours," he whispered in a thick voice.

"Let me… remember through you," his lover breathed barely audibly.

He didn't hesitate but freed his hands and carefully cradled his husband's now cat-like face, tilting it toward him until their eyes met.

"I give my soul to you as it is and ever will be, now and for the rest of eternity," he whispered in their native language. "I swear my heart and faith to you until we join in the aetherial sea."

"I give my soul to you, as it is and ever will be, now and for the rest of eternity," Damon replied, closed his eyes, and two huge tears spilled over Ares's hands. Just like the first time… "I swear my heart and faith to you until we join in the aetherial sea."

The connection of the bond snapped in place, and he almost whimpered at the bliss of it, wrapping his arms around his husband securely and pulling him into a tight embrace as he buried his face against his throat. Damon sobbed and curled into him desperately, and he tightened his grip around him, at the same time allowing the bond to expand and pulling him in…

"Thank… you," Damon breathed, and he didn't know if it was inside him or not – didn't care – but held him tight while his lover re-learned their life together.

When he woke up in Senri's tight embrace, Raha yawned widely and smoothed his hand over his lover's muscular arm around him, smiling when an adorable deep snore-purr rumbled by his ears.

Locking his hand around his mate's wrist, with some uncertainty, he dived in, landing square in the middle of the room Damon created for him. At first look, it seemed empty, and he scowled then gasped seeing the familiar figure appear in front of him, looking down at him with too-bright, cyan eyes.

Amused eyes and a familiar devious smirk.

"Damon!" he pounced instantly, wrapping his arms around him possessively and burying his face against his chest. "You're back!"

"I am, my boy," his immortal chuckled fondly, ruffling his hair. "Sorry I worried you so much, Raha."

"I'm still cross with you," he murmured, only tightening his arms around him. "Never do something so… stupid again, you hear me?"

"Yes, my lord," Damon chortled, then tapped his shoulder until he leaned away and looked up into his face, so familiar to his own. "Now… I also re-Bonded with Ares when you were out… so you know, don't do anything I wouldn't," he said with a devilish grin, and Raha snorted a laugh.

"Gods… I love you, you know," he said, coiling around him tight like a vice again and closing his eyes.

"I know," he missed a strange undertone in Damon's voice, too busy purring his bliss when his immortal wrapped his arms around him. "I love you, too, my boy. Perhaps… more than you can ever imagine."

"Good," he said with relief, feeling like the weight he previously wasn't aware of fell off his chest.