T'senri, by now, had a few favorite ways to wake up – and most, obviously, involved his redheaded lover. From waking up to the sheer, unbearable cuteness of Raha's quiet snore-purrs that swiftly led him to need to express his… appreciation for his adorable mate. To the mind-blowing bliss of his riled-up prince waking him up instead – either demanding his attention or offering his…
None of these involved the door of their bedroom slamming open and an extremely upset Elzen bursting in and raining invectives at them.
Like this morning….
"You fucking moron!" Alisaie seemed too upset even to realize that they were both naked and more than… disheveled, storming in with the dark scowl on her youthful face and stopping at the edge of the nest, glaring daggers at his lover – who cringed and almost violently pulled one of the blankets around his waist, staring up at the girl with obvious confusion. T'senri yawned widely, uncaring as he wound his arm tighter against his lover's waist and smirked behind his back.
He wasn't pleased to wake up to that – obviously – but more than expected that sooner or later, Damon (and Raha) would be forced to face the consequences of making everyone forget them.
"I knew this whole plan of yours sounded too easy," Alisaie growled with fury, folding her arms over her chest and impatiently tapping her fingers against her arm. "Clone, my ass…."
"A-Alisaie…" his lover rasped, then cleared his throat self-consciously, pushing T'senri's arm to rest over his lap as he sat up. "I… We can…"
"Don't bother, Raha," she snapped, tossing him a murderous glare. "Considering when I went to sleep, I had no recollection of you… at all… to wake up to being flooded by memories… I can pretty damn well figure this out, asshole," she hissed angrily, that tapping getting faster. "And I do mean Damon, to be clear," she clarified with another glare.
"And she's hardly the only one that feels that way," came a quiet, cold voice from the direction of the door, and T'senri flinched, tossing a quick look… and yeah, Hades stood at the threshold, his sharp features an unreadable mask. Alisaie wilted visibly, turning her blue eyes toward the immortal with a frown.
"Hades…" his lover stiffened noticeably under his arm, and the Warrior sighed with resignation, shifting to sit up and running his fingers through his hair.
"Can we please have a moment to get ourselves in order before you all pounce at him?" he said quietly, arching his eyebrows pointedly at his best friend.
"I… will keep the others at bay… for a moment," Alisaie muttered with a sigh, then tossed another angry look toward Raha – or rather Damon, even though now he seemed to hardly notice her, his crimson eyes locked with bright, golden irises. "Excuse me," she added carefully after marching toward the door, and the tall immortal moved out of the way without a word. After she left, he stepped inside and locked the door, finally looking away from Raha to glare daggers at the floor between them.
"You would have me not remember you, Father?" he finally said in a hollow tone.
"I think… I believed it the best course of action, yes," the immortal living inside his lover replied in his quiet, soft-spoken manner, getting out of the nest. Before he even stood up, his body was covered in the familiar white robe as he slowly walked across the room and stopped right in front of the much taller man. "I won't insult you with excuses, my boy. Or lies," he sighed, rubbing his chin in a familiar manner when Hades looked up at him still with that unreadable expression.
"You didn't seem to remember either…?" he said slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"I didn't really survive that blast, Hades," Damon replied calmly, and the expression on the white-haired immortal's face twitched while T'senri felt his throat tighten painfully, and he focused his gaze on the back of Raha's head. Huh? "So no, I did not remember you or your brother… Even now, I only know what Ares knew of our life together."
"I don't understand," Hades frowned, looking between them.
"I… died, my boy," Damon sounded unnervingly calm about that tidbit as he carefully raised his hand and wrapped it around the back of Hades's neck, pulling him down from his impressive height until their foreheads met – and to T'senri's surprise, the tall immortal let him, closing his eyes. Soon his expression hardened into a scowl, and the Warrior frowned with confusion.
Damon is letting him see the… damage to his soul, Ares whispered in the back of his head, and T'senri flinched, biting back a whimper. It's okay now, Senri. He will recover with time – I promise you that. Last night, after you passed out, we renewed our Bond – and he regained most of himself from my memories. Eventually, he will be back to his scheming self completely.
You… he blinked slowly, then lifted his eyes toward Raha again.
Yes, we did, his immortal chortled then he felt a slight pat on his soul. So, when alone, you should be able to mate once more.
Thank you, he exhaled with relief, shifting uncomfortably and pulling the blanket around his waist as his body instantly reacted with arousal at the prospect. Like I told him last night, the whole thing was kind of… comforting: to know that even without the bond between you and Damon, we were still as drawn to each other as always. I always thought that would be the case – but to know for certain… Well, as I said, feels reassuring. I know that especially Raha was… insecure about that.
Mhmm, Ares sighed and then chuckled funnily. Well, once allowed – don't do anything I wouldn't, Senri.
He focused on his surroundings and blinked when Hades lifted his hands and wrapped them around Raha's head; then they lit up with the shine of the aether, and the redhead gasped softly.
"It wasn't… necessary, my boy," Damon said after a moment when that shine dissolved, and Hades let go, straightening to his full height and opening his eyes.
"You're my reason to be, Father," Hades said, dropping his arms to his sides. "You and Ares. Why do I need all this power if not to keep you whole and hale? And… it would be a great disservice to both of us if you would not remember everything we kept secret from my brother," nearly a smirk ran over his expression.
Huh? Ares chimed in instantly, and T'senri snickered at his petulant tone.
"Hush," Damon had a too-familiar, devious smirk when he turned his head and tossed him a wink. Then he looked back at Hades and pressed his hand over his chest. "You're our light. Never forget that. I'll never stop being proud of the man you came to be, Hades – and to play a part in your life was and always would be the greatest pleasure of my soul. But it's time for you to live for yourself, my beautiful boy. For you and Hythlodaeus – as few can claim to be more deserving of the happiness that for you is eons overdue."
"As long as you're here to see it," his son replied, putting his hand over Damon's. "And like the mortal said: never do something as… moronic again, Father. It does not fit you," he actually grinned – and T'senri gawked with an open mouth – truly astonished as, for once, even he could see the clear similarity between them. Between him and Ares, they met in Elpis.
And when his immortal gushed near-deafeningly, he thought he understood why Hades was scowling so much, downright embarrassed and grimacing as Ares seemed to lose it instantly.
Sorry, Senri, he chuckled sheepishly after a moment. Could never help myself – when he grins, he looks so much like our father… it's melting my brain, I admit.
Silly immortal, he chortled at his expanse. If that's the case – and how similar to YOU he looks like that… he trailed off meaningfully.
It's different, Ares seemed to positively pout. But, yes, you're quite correct – I'm our father's spitting image, while Hades inherited his looks after our mother. But to see him grin… he trailed off with a dreamy sigh.
No wonder he does that so rarely, he snarked and stifled another snicker when his immortal hissed at his dig.
"But I will go," Hades said with a sigh, letting go of Damon's hand and looking toward the door behind him. "I'm guessing you'll have plenty of… dismayed guests coming along to express their thoughts about the whole thing," T'senri didn't need to see Damon's face to know he likely grimaced at that – judging by the mean smirk on the tall immortal's face. "I suppose, for me, that's enough of the punishment for you, Father," he nodded toward the Warrior and headed toward the door.
"Hades!" he called behind him and smiled somewhat sheepishly when he stopped and turned his gaze toward him while raising his eyebrows slightly in question. "It occurred to me we forgot to ask you – and Hyth – but once this all… settle down, and all… Now that I remember our plans, too, I'm going to be looking soon for a bigger, more fitting home for us and our families, and I wanted to know… Should I consider making sure we have a proper space reserved for the two of you…?" he strived to keep a carefully polite smile on his face.
"Obviously," the immortal snapped and scowled once more – but the slight color to his pale carnation gave him away before he cleared his throat and turned toward the door again. "You already more than once proven that you're too untrustworthy with your souls, so I believe I'm bound to look after you until you get better about that," he grumbled with audible annoyance – then slammed the door a bit harder than necessary behind him.
T'senri snickered mercilessly, earning a narrowed look from Damon, at which he shrugged helplessly.
"He's fun to tease," he admitted and grinned when his immortal hummed with an agreement. Then the redhead rolled his eyes at him and his expression went slack for a second, and Raha blinked slowly, then ran his fingers through his hair with a quiet sigh.
"Hades right, though," he said, coming closer and kneeling at the edge of the nest. "We will have much explaining and apologies to do, Snark," yet he smiled when T'senri nodded but wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and pulled him closer, purring loudly in invitation as his lover climbed his lap, loosely wrapping his arms around his neck. The Warrior used the way it made his robe roll up, eagerly pushing his hands under the material and curling them possessively around his mate's – not really, yet, but soon – tight ass, leaning in to press a small bite right in the middle of his Archon's mark. Raha ran his fingers through his hair, arching his neck to grant him greater access while shifting to press against him harder.
"You will," he said with a chuckle, slowly kneading the hit flesh under his palms while trailing his lips up his throat and along his jaw to nip at his plush lower lip. "But I can hardly wait to feel you again, Raha," he admitted on a rumbling growl, painfully aroused when his tease of the mate blushed beautifully but sent him a sweet, coy smirk, tightening his arms around his neck.
"Me too, Senri," he breathed, taking his lip between his teeth and pulling delicately. He released it with a quiet laugh when T'senri growled again, digging his fingers into Raha's skin and pulling him closer to let him feel his raging erection. "But… you'll need to be patient, my beast," he sighed with resignation when a loud knock on the door made both flinch. The Warrior tossed a narrowed look toward the sound, then exhaled slowly and relaxed his hands around his lover's delectable behind, much more delicately now massaging the heated skin.
"For a time," he warned in a whisper, pressing a swift, tender kiss on his mate's cheek.
"For a time," Raha affirmed with a sweet, loving smile and wrapped his hands around T'senri's face as his crimson eyes sparked with a hint of amusement. "And since we're both silly, sentimental idiots… What do you think of recreating the first time?" he hummed, pressing a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
"Oh…?" he grinned at the idea, a brilliant, lovesick thing, as he imagined that and saw a telltale glint of arousal in his lover's beautiful face. "I do love your brilliant mind, my prince," he chortled, smoothing his hands over his lover's muscular thighs. "While you and Damon take care of your apologies, I'll prepare everything and meet you in our spot at the Silvertear lake?"
"Sounds marvelous," his mate purred, placing another sweet kiss on the other side of his mouth before pulling back reluctantly and scrambling off his lap to head to the door.
With some slight improvements, T'senri thought with a grin, greedily admiring the temping curve of his lover's ass. After all, now he knew better than back then what his lover enjoyed the most – and was more than eager to deliver.
Considering Damon chose to let everyone remember that they forgot them, Raha spent most of the day in the back of their shared head, listening to his immortal with his usual manners, smoothing things over with their friends and close ones. Since he was responsible for it, he wanted to do that, and Raha was almost relieved to let him – as the hurt in too many eyes made him feel beyond guilty that, at some level… he felt reassured by that as well.
It was too… strange for him. After the years he spent alone… to have so many people now who cared about knowing him was… nice. More than that, but letting Damon handle the brunt of it felt better than doing it himself – as part of his soul was perhaps a bit… unnerved by it as well.
Hythlodaeus had some choice words for them – especially for upsetting Hades and the whole thing. Venat nearly squeezed the breath out of them, scolding Damon thoughtfully about his 'crazy' schemes. Themis hugged them as well, demanding that Damon never scare him like that again. Zero, in her usual, cold manner, complained that it wasn't part of their bargain – as she believed she still owed them quite a bit for freeing her of service to Zenos.
Alisaie, Y'shtola, and Thancred berated them for a good few minutes – and Damon nodded a long dutifully, taking it in with grace. Urianger and Alphinaud were more reserved, as expected, but also didn't spare them what they thought of pulling off something like that. Krile and Tataru gave them the longest lecture, swearing at their idiocy.
His family he took upon himself – curling in guilt when Jalla hugged the daylights out of him, wetly whispering her apologies for forgetting him, while her confused twins looked on, not really understanding what exactly happened. Senri's mother and sister were as baffled, but T'rhasa, after making sure that her sons were fine – berated him no less than Krile, while little Ralla coiled tightly around his legs and wouldn't let go until he assured her that nothing like that would ever happen again. Then she proceeded to insist on showing off her new 'magic,' she bullied Nico into teaching her. Amused by it, ha clapped when she briefly disappeared – resigning himself to a thought that trying to explain the difference between stealth and real magic would have to wait.
The young Keeper looked the most uncertain, but when he reassured him that he was more than glad that he was still willing to stay with them – and was taking to his new role of the older brother with dedication (as T'rhasa assured Raha with a snicker, telling him a story how Nico apparently took it upon himself to chase off any kids whose intentions in befriending the younger kits seemed untrustworthy).
"He has rare instinct with that," the blonde whispered at the side, wrapping her hands around his arm while they watched the children play in 'their' room in the underground level of the house. "Perhaps because of his upbringing – as much as I still lament that someone could let their kit grow up as our Nico did. But after he, oh, so very seriously told me that Senri warned him of people who would like to be friends with him because you plan to take him in, he took to watch over Ralla, Navi, and Nari like a hawk, my dear boy. He's still far too skinny for my taste, but I'm more than glad to have my own boy to spoil… so when he's bound to fill out in a year, I promise you, the kits wouldn't find a more dedicated protection. And I think it's wonderful for him too, to have them to take care of – as he seems bent on 'repaying' you the honor of picking him to be your son," she snickered when he rolled his eyes at that slightly but smiled when the boy looked toward him – barely able to hide his need to make sure he saw when he swiftly stopped Ralla from toppling over after twirling too quickly. For Nico's pleasure, he nodded toward the boy with a proud grin before turning his gaze toward the amused, navy-blue eyes.
"So long he's happy, that's more than fine," he replied smoothly, then sent T'rhasa a sheepish smile. "Now that we should have more time, I hope you don't mind entertaining another favor… m-mom," he couldn't help but stammer at that slightly, but she rewarded him with a Senri-like grin, and he relaxed, exhaling deeply as he set his hand over hers on his arm. "With your blessing – and perhaps a tad of help – I wish to marry your son as soon as possible," he said quietly.
"Marvelous!" she grinned even wider, and he couldn't help but return it even as his face blazed hotter. "Ah… so cute!" she giggled at his expanse, then rose a bit to whisper against his ear. "I'll be more than happy to assist, my boy. I'm still learning of the customs outside of the tribes, true, but thinking it prudent, I had Jalla explain it to me, and a bit back, we took it upon ourselves to travel to the Sanctum of the Twelve in the Black Shroud and inquire about it. The man we met there… Azeyma, don't remember his name… but he seemed like the important one around there because as soon as they heard that I'm Senri's mother and asked on his behalf… Well, they seemed more than eager," she snickered at his slight flinch and the way his blush darkened.
"Senri's name… does have that kind of effect in Eorzea," he replied with a resigned sigh.
"Too true!" she giggled, and for a moment, he wondered if she also, by now… saw some of the art now, oh, so popular around the city-states… "Anyway, hearing about how Senri would love to celebrate their customs by swearing his devotion to you at their altar… you can imagine, Raha, they would be glad to grant you the occasion whenever you're ready to do so," she fell to her heels with a grin. "So if you decided to let me handle the preparations – with Jalla's help, of course, and I'm sure the young Alisaie and Y'shtola would be ecstatic to be the part of it – let's say… in a bit over the moon? Does that sound acceptable?"
"…moon?" he frowned with confusion.
"Be realistic, my boy," she chuckled, petting his arm fondly. "Especially now… your Ceremony will be an event, Raha. You will not wish to insult any of his many, many friends who would like to attend, yes? And the thing of that scope will take time to prepare, that's all."
He blinked slowly, suddenly feeling all blood drain from his face, and his ears fall flat against his head. Because he knew she was right – right now, Senri's fame was at its peak – as passing through the central plaza of Limsa Lominsa on the way to Mist, he was baffled by the sheer… excitement on the faces of the people who spotted him. He bolted embarrassingly – pretending not to see it, but put like that… Yes, he could easily imagine that their Ceremony would be something to make all of Eorzea – and not only here, but taking Far East, Old Sharlayan, and Thavnair under consideration as well – downright shake!
"Oh, Twelve…" he whispered, pressing his free hand over his eyes.
"There, there…" T'rhasa giggled, petting his arm in comfort. "It'll be a challenge, I admit… but my boy is more than worth it, yes?"
"That he is," he sighed, rubbing his cheek before dropping his hand and looking at her again. "So… a moon, then?"
"That's the spirit," she grinned, and seeing that he steeled his resolve, more than reassured that whatever the price – surviving that… event, to name but one – to be able to have Senri any and every way he could…. She was right, was more than worth it!
As if wishing to accommodate his fantasy, once he came back to the Rising Stones, showered and changed into the too-familiar attire that his immortal recreated for him with choked laughter when he stepped outside the Scions' compound and headed out of the Revenant Toll toward the east side of Mor Dhona, the gloom typical for the area melted away, leaving the grand sight of the starlit sky above him. Carefully avoiding the beasts filling the crystalized planes and heading toward 'their' spot at the edge of the lake, he couldn't help but grin with a truly enamored expression when he arrived and spotted that his beautiful lover had a similar idea – dressed exactly the same as their first night together.
Sitting on the surface of the dark blanket spread out on the sandy beach and staring absentmindedly at the calm surface of the lake, Senri looked like a fantasy come to life – so beautiful, Raha couldn't help the way his heart melted, feeling like it's going to burst under the strength of devotion filling his heart.
His dark-furred ears twitched when he approached, but Senri kept his eyes on the view while he kneeled behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his lover's shoulder and looking at the view with a smile. Feeling his as dark tail loosely span his waist, Raha tilted his head and pressed a tender kiss on his lover's neck, pulling back to smooth his hands over his shoulders.
"So much changed…" Senri whispered without moving, keeping his arms on the blanket and leaning on them. "…since that night. We suffered so much… and yet, now – I wouldn't change a thing," he chuckled sheepishly, then shifted sideways, sneaking his arm around the redhead's waist and pulling him close as he, in turn, pressed his hand against his cheek, trailing his eyes greedily over his beautiful features.
"I wouldn't, either," he admitted, closing his eyes and inclined his head until his forehead rested against his lover's. "You are my Sun, Snark," he whispered, lacking words to express the true extent of the feeling filling his heart.
"As you are mine," Senri replied, then chuckled in a raspy note and shifted around completely, kneeling in front of him. Raha snorted quietly, pulling back when his beast growled playfully, smoothing his big, hot hands down his sides to wrap them in a possessive claim around his ass. "My… but as much as I appreciate the thought behind your outfit, my prince… all things considered, I would prefer you naked," he purred, kneading his flesh with a downright evil smirk when Raha opened his eyes, arching his eyebrows at his lover as he dragged his palms over his broad chest, in turn, to rest one over his shoulder while letting the other trail to his mate's groin. He smirked when Senri groaned as he curled it around his more than interested flesh, then pouted playfully under the heat of ice-blue irises.
"You can hardly expect me to traverse Mor Dhona naked, my silly beast," he said hauntingly and gasped when Senri laughed and, in a move fast like a viper, spun him around, catching his wrists and pinning them down into the blanket as he forced him to bent forward, pressing against his back tightly as holding his hands together, he free one of his to curl it around his hip and tore a whimper out of his throat when holding him still, Senri rutted against his ass meaningfully, trailing small bites over his neck. "I thought… ah, we're to recreate…" he cut off on a mewl of arousal as his lover snuck that hand around his hip and pressed it better his legs, rubbing it in small circles over his crotch.
"Now… I know better, my naughty Raha," his mate growled softly, leaning against his back harder and forcing him lower. "So, instead, I'll take you just the way you like the most," he rasped lazily, tightening his grip around his dick and sending a near-violent shudder down his spine by letting him feel the sharp tips of his fangs. Instantly painfully aroused, he wrapped his tail around his back, mewling in submission. "Like the beast… you tamed that night, my prrrince," he purred teasingly, though it barely managed to tear through the mad heartbeat thrumming between Raha's ears. "So, hold on… because it's going to get rrrough…" he rasped, pulling than hand back and unceremoniously using his claws to tear his pants off.
"Bring it on!" he laughed carelessly, shuddering with anticipation when his beautiful beast purred louder at the challenge and hid his lovesick grin in the material of the blanket.
"Oh… do be carrreful what you wish forrr, Rrraha," his lover cooed shamelessly, then made him gasp as he swatted his ass far from delicately. "Now… let's play," he snickered, and Raha snorted a laugh, as always in his lover's dominance finding the freedom he never thought possible before the beast hidden behind the ice-blue irises claimed his heart and soul.