Y'shtola – like Damon predicted – woke up before noon and, hearing of developments, promptly dragged her mate off, promising they would be back and ready to leave before dusk. Those freed of one worry, Raha believed that he shouldn't be ever surprised when another dropped at their door barely a bell later.
When it rains, it pours, as they say, and he long ago now promised himself to don't let this tendency affect his sensibilities. Frankly, his experience as the Crystal Exarch served him the best in that. As did many lessons delivered by Damon in keeping a cool head in difficult times.
While he dearly loved their friends and family – mortal and Ancient alike – very few of them truly understood his relationship with Senri and its occasional difficulties. How deeply their well-being and emotional state were entangled. And even less than that, were fully aware of the extent of irreversible damage that was done to his husband's heart and psyche since the moment he was barely a sixteen-year-old kit.
Now, at thirty, the healing process – that was Raha's greatest ambition to see through – was still in its early stages.
None made him as aware of that as the occasions when his beautiful beast was confronted with one particular member of their family. A person that Raha was grateful for being more than understanding of his lover's misgivings and difficulties, and usually tended to keep her visits to agreed days when their Ancients were in charge of their shared bodies. Those being every other day in Eorzean eight-day weeks, if considering circumstances they'll likely have to redress that arrangement.
Venat, an Ancient female with long white locks and brightly blue eyes, was a person that Raha came to see as infinitely patient and understanding – not that surprising considering that, similarly to Hades, she spent the last twelve thousand years constantly witnessing the struggles of the mortals as Hydealyn. The second Primal, who shattered both Zodiark and Eitherys in fourteen pieces, then spent that time between then and now waiting for his husband's arrival. Purposefully kept in the dark about their Ancients' scheme, she was always meant to pick shattered piece of Azem's soul for her Champion.
But even knowing that didn't change the resentment Senri felt for her for that pick. The chill in his soul and demeanor that emanated whenever he was faced with Venat once the danger of Final Days passed was biting.
And her smile – sad but understanding – when Senri tossed her one glance and stalked off was telling enough. Considering that he – Raha – was heading downstairs from the second floor of their house when she arrived, while seemingly his husband was the one to open the front door at her knock, he froze in the middle of the staircase at the sudden feedback of Senri's 'chill' – as he thought of it – then smiled sheepishly watching his lover literally slam the door in her face and walk off, swearing.
At some level, watching that was comforting to someone who fully understood Senri's issues. Raha would be far more… upset if, instead, he witnessed his husband reverting to his so-called mask – as breaking that habit of his was his most cherished aim.
That mask – set off behaviors both his misfortunate upbringing and countless traumas of his adulthood – chaffed his beast's true beauty long enough. What someone else would see as his Warrior being needlessly rude, he couldn't help but see as a hard-won improvement!
But of course, he still smiled apologetically when he opened the door again and looked up into Venat's Ancient-bright eyes.
"He does let his feelings be known those days," she said as soon as he did that, with that sadly understanding smile when she tossed a glance behind him.
"I'm sorry, Ven…" he cut off and froze, gawking when the apparent 'package' she carefully hugged against her chest made a tiny sound. While it looked nearly comically tiny compared to her towering height—for him—when an even smaller hand poked out from the folded dark material, his eyes snapped wide as saucers. "Huh?"
"Ah," Venat tilted her 'baggage' to let him see better, and the sight of brightly sky-blue eyes with round pupils set in the tiny face of Miqo'te infant made his jaw drop as he instinctively jumped back from the door. "I'll still need his help, though. Or to be precise, Ares's."
"What…? What is this?" he stammered, ears flat against his head as he gawked at the babe.
"I think… No, I'm quite certain it's Nyx," Venat said softly and smiled toward the infant in her arms when it gave a tiny noise that sounded suspiciously indignant. Then she sighed and looked at him again with a slight grimace. "We – Hythlodaeus and me – found him in an orphanage in Mercydia, Raha. And we believe that the host… passed."
"Pa… Passed?" his gaze fell once more to the tiny face, and his throat grew painfully tight. Setting his surprise aside and looking closer, the infant was undeniably Miqo'te, with a puff of dark hair and fur covering his head and feline ears. But eyes that seemed just too big for the tiny face were undeniably Ancient-bright and far too focused and intelligent to match the age of the body.
"Surge of aether led us there," Venat explained while he ushered her inside and closed the door behind her. "Hythlodaeus volunteered to continue the search for others afflicted, but short of giving the boy Ward… I didn't know what to do, Raha. Obviously, the… body is far too underdeveloped to let him communicate with us. He was a year old, according to the headmistress of that establishment, and simply… passed at dawn. Then… gave us quite a scare, as if sensing our presence. Nyx, I mean. Or so I believe…" she sighed, holding the baby gently as she followed him downstairs and along the corridor leading to his office. "We took him from there, obviously, but as we discussed what to do, Hades joined us. He explained what happened to Senri and Ares, then confirmed that the… body contains one soul only. And suggested to bring him to Ares."
"Omph… How did he take it? I mean, the possibility it could be Nyx?" he asked carefully, looking over his shoulder toward her face.
"As can be expected," she sighed, delicately tightening her arms around her package. "He didn't truly care, Raha."
He looked forward, slightly nodding to himself as they arrived at the door of his office. Of course, Hades wouldn't see Nyx as anything but a stranger, considering the only father he knew – and nearly worshipped – was Damon. And Ares, to a degree, if their relationship was far more brotherly. Not to mention that Hades had a tendency not to bother with strangers – especially mortal ones.
While he discussed it once with Hythlodaeus – Hades's husband now – the violet-haired Ancient humorously admitted that he was hard at work in changing his lover's outlook, but Raha more than anyone else could understand that it'll likely take a while before Hades sees mortals as anything but broken shells. And adding to that what he heard of his upbringing – and facing their society's misgivings about his family – he wasn't precisely surprised to hear Hyth say that Hades's opinion of their people when whole wasn't much better. He spent that twelve thousand years working against Venat and gleefully facilitating Calamities alongside other Ascians because he wanted Ares and Damon back – notion that seemed apparent with how easily he abandoned that Ardor once given that. Hythlodaeus, he believed, permanently gone to call forth Zodiark, Raha could imagine Hades saw as a bonus… if one would have too blind not to see his obvious devotion – badly covered by his usual scowls and manners.
Raha knocked, then opened the door without waiting for an answer… and regretted that instantly.
"For fuck's sake," he groaned loudly, slamming his hand over his eyes while Venat behind him gasped.
Another very true saying was: what has been seen cannot be unseen, he thought with resignation, keeping his eyes carefully covered as he turned away from the… sight.
"Oh, grow up," Damon snorted at his expanse, while Raha honestly considered bleaching his eyes to get rid of the image of his Ancient – perhaps silly as it sounded, he couldn't help but see as father – bent over his desk and…
Nope, not going there!
Ares's hoarse chuckle didn't help him much, and next, Raha considered banging his head against something hard. Wall, maybe?
His face was on fire because his far too-oversensitive hearing let him pick up far more details than his sanity needed.
"Damon… you too?" Venat sounded far more collected than he felt. "Hades didn't mention that."
"That's a new development," his Ancient huffed, accompanied by the gentle rustle of materials and squeak of the chair. "We're decent, boy. You can stop the hysterics."
Raha turned his head and peered through his fingers gingerly… to then sent a glare toward Damon's far too toothy grin.
"I forgot you're completely shameless," he groused, dropping his hand.
"Pot and the kettle, hm?" Ares chortled, perching on the edge of the desk with a smirk that made Raha's face blaze like an inferno!
Mostly because he and Senri used that specific furniture the exact same way more times than he could count…
"You said you weren't watching!" he growled toward Damon, wholly mortified when his Ancient snorted.
"Me? Of course, Raha, you're far too tame to entertain me," he raised his eyebrows in a haughty manner, then cocked his head toward his husband. "I never, however, said anything about Ares, did I?"
He did not dare look toward Senri's Ancient, but even then, in his peripheral vision, he could see Ares's wide, wolfish grin.
"I gave Senri some pointers occasionally, too," Ares chuckled at his expanse, and Raha groaned, covering his eyes again. "To my defense, boy, he asked for them."
"Heavens, spare me," he muttered, then shook his head, moving aside to usher Venat inside the room. He could see the way Damon's expression fell when his bright eyes narrowed toward her 'baggage.' And leaning against the closed door, listening to her repeat the same explanation she gave him, he could also see how Ares paled gradually with every word. When she finished the story, Senri's Ancient cleared his throat and moved around the desk, making Raha involuntarily notice that he was taller than Venat, at least by two or three ilms. Damon, when he stood up to join them with a heavy exhale, proved he and Ares were the same – or at least extremely close – in height. Looking at them next to each other was very weird for him, considering the extreme height difference between him and Senri. And their Ancients looked so similar…
"I think you're right," Ares said softly, and Raha shook his head, focusing on the conversation. "It's father, but… full?" he blinked his sky-blue eyes – identical to the infant's – then turned them toward his husband when Damon rested his hand on his shoulder and leaned in to get a better look at the baby. "I mean, he doesn't look broken, Damon. Shouldn't all souls reborn in this world be halved?"
"Should," Damon whispered, and looking around Venat's back, Raha saw him raise his hand and press his forefinger against the infant's forehead. "Ah, okay. No, I can't do that, but Ares should be able to… But how are you like this, Nyx? Huh? Ah," he trailed off, blinked rapidly, and looked up toward Venat's confused frown. Then he pulled his hand back and sent his husband a slightly strained smile. "He would like you to 'adjust' his body, love."
"In what way?" Ares sighed, looking between him and the infant. "I mean… I don't think I can turn him back to how he used to be, Damon. The backlash of something like that…?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Damon shook his head, then narrowed his eyes at the 'baby.' "I think helping his body mature would be enough, for now at least. That's shouldn't be so costly. I mean, given time, I could probably restore his form to match ours, but considering circumstances…?" he sighed, waving his free hand toward him and the door, and Raha paled.
Oh, yes, Rhasa…
"Okay, put him down on the floor," Ares motioned toward Venat, both him and Damon moving aside to make space. She hesitated, then exhaled deeply and did just that, carefully placing the infant on the wooden surface between them. Then she moved away while Ares crouched at a safe distance, and Damon extended his hand to rest on his husband's shoulder. Sharing aether? Or protecting him from its 'backlash'?
Raha swallowed thickly, unable to help involuntary shudder at the unbidden memory of how, once using Ares's gift, accidentally nearly killed Senri. Maimed his beautiful beast internally, even despite Alphinaud's swift reaction and healing. Now, having far more practice and experience with it, Senri was extremely aware of how far he could push it, but short of 'special' circumstances, he avoided using it. Because despite being a powerful and useful ability, Ares's gift was a double edged sword in nature.
Like Senri's Echo, too. Raha grimaced at the thought. Ares once raised the subject with him, using the moment of Senri being 'out.' He suggested asking Rahm about the younger Warrior's willingness to join their side activities. Rahm's Echo – corresponding with Erebus's gift to a degree – allowed him to force others to speak only the truth in his presence. Which was useful in their hunts to make certain that their prey deserved punishment and pick a fitting one. Before that, and before even meeting him, Senri did the same thing using his Echo… and it definitely had no small impact on his psyche.
Senri's Echo, provoked by strong enough emotion, lets him see the past through someone else's eyes. Experience their thoughts and feelings in that particular memory… and Raha really hated that Senri felt it was a small price for delivering punishment. It was the true indicator of how deeply ran his lover's self-esteem issues if he was barely aware of that.
So very few people around them understood that, though. In his early childhood, females running their tribe thrived on raising the boys in the conviction that their only worth accounted only to their value in procreation. Senri, physically unable to perform in such a manner with a female in such an environment, came to see his preferences as shameful and unnatural. Then puberty and Damon's 'tweak' did a number on his earlier, far more natural physiology and turned his circumstances even worse – adding those same females who saw him as no more a tool to get enticed by his beauty. While he managed to avoid the worst – barely – that only built the foundation for Senri's issues.
In short, until their meeting, his gorgeous beast saw himself as lesser than a person and, by it, expendable. He eagerly sacrificed bits and pieces of his soul and sanity for others because Senri craved to prove to himself that his mother – seeing him as special and valuable – wasn't wrong, not because he believed that he deserved the validation that should be natural. That he deserved to be loved because, at the bottom of it, he was a wonderfully caring and sensitive soul.
And others adding to that, solidifying his 'mask,' definitely didn't help!
Raha sighed, then, using their distraction, silently pulled the door behind him open just enough to sneak by the opening. He closed them as quietly as possible, then, glad for being barefoot, headed toward the higher level of the mansion. He didn't really need to focus to feel Senri's chilly aggravation scrapping his senses, so right off the stairs, he turned right and headed toward the back exit of the house.
The sight he met outside normally would melt his heart, and Raha couldn't stop an enamored grin when he spotted his husband sitting cross-legged in the 'nursery' alongside two young girls. Ralla and Nari chatted animatedly with their high voices, giggling while a bunch of kittens attempted to climb their lap. Even softer voices called 'play' when he kneeled behind Senri and rested his chin on his broad shoulder.
"Raha, look," Ralla beamed at him, gently raising one of the kittens. "Say it again, Bessie."
"Love you, Hades," the kitten complied with a proud purr, and Raha bit his lower lip not to laugh.
"You shouldn't use them to bully Hades, girls," he chided with pretended resignation.
"It was Uncle Senri's idea," Nari pouted, nudging his husband's knee and Senri turned his head, expression far too innocent.
"Lies and slander," he broke the impression by chuckling as he took the kitten out of his sister's hands. "You have to say it every time he looks angry, okay, Bessie?"
"Looove you," the kitten meowed, blinking its green eyes toward him, and Raha snorted, wrapping his arms around Senri's chest from behind.
"He'll have your head for this, Sen," he whispered against his lover's throat and felt his back shake with laughter. "Hyth will love it, though." He could already hear the violet-haired Ancient gushing!
"That's the point," Senri turned his head and winked at the girls, who used their hands to cover their giggles. "Have to pay him back for that training, Raha."
"Silly beast," he sighed but leaned in and brushed his lips against his lover's cheek.
"It's true you're leaving again in the evening?" Nari asked, moving closer and nudging his side. "So Auntie Rhasa said."
"I think so, yes," he wasn't so sure with the newest developments, though.
"I don't like it," Ralla whined, pulling another kitten in her lap. With twenty others, most clamoring for spots in Senri's lap, he couldn't help but smile at the girl's pout. "Why do you have to go to that Tu… Tar…?"
"Tural," he said softly, freeing one hand to brush a stray blonde lock from her cheek. "And we were over this, Ralla. We will still come back whenever able, so you won't miss us too much."
"But what if get in trouble again?" she huffed, waving her free hand between them. "Uncle Thancred always says that trouble follows Senri around!"
"I'll be fine, little sister," his husband chuckled, making the kittens purr loudly with his delicate rubbing across each tiny head. "It's more of a vacation. We're not even going to fight… I think. And where is Thancred, anyway?" He turned his pale eyes toward the redheaded girl, who shrugged in answer.
"Dunno. He and Uncle Urianger left a few weeks ago. Mommy said Thancred told her they got an offer of some very 'special' task," she said, narrowing her mismatched eyes as she looked between them. "Do you think they're in trouble?"
"They're both more than capable of protecting themselves," he replied, flicking her on the nose playfully.
Seeing how Nari noticeably relaxed and smiled at the reassurance, it was pretty comforting to witness that Thancred's efforts in winning over his sister's kits were paying off. He wasn't precisely pleased with the idea, but he – having his own experience with the harmful effects of a particular reputation – couldn't really argue the idea when one of Senri's oldest friends asked for permission to 'court' his sister. Especially when Senri stated that he would be the first to kick Thancred's ass if he somehow hurt Jalla or her twins. Now, a year later, he was ready to admit that he hardly ever witnessed a man more chivalrous and delicate around that trio!
"Is she gone?" Senri asked under his breath. He shook his head, delicately sagging against his husband's back.
"She needed Ares's assistance, I'll explain later," he replied as softly, watching the girls as they returned to playing with kittens.
"Okay," his lover sighed, slightly leaning back in his arms. "But we're still leaving on time?"
"I think so," he frowned, petting one of the kittens in his lap. "How do you think they fare?"
"They're fine, Raha. I called Alisaie earlier, and she assured me that none but her and Alphinaud are aware of our absence. But how are we going to explain Rahm and Shtola?"
"I'm sure Damon will think of something," he said, then chuckled when Senri growled under his breath. "Still upset about that bet, love?"
"Upset? No, but definitely won't let him win, Raha. Even if that means I have to whip Lamat in shape or something," he groused, and Raha snorted quietly.
"She's not a bad person, Sen, just… inexperienced and perhaps quite isolated," he muttered, despite his own doubts.
"No shit," his Warrior sighed, then looked up toward the sky above them. "I was like that, too, once, so it's not like I can judge, Raha, but… You know, it's haunting to see. Reminds me of those first days in Ul'dah, too. Learning to acclimate – especially there – was… rough."
"I know," he agreed, delicately petting his abdomen over Senri's shirt. "But it's hardly the same, Snark. You were young, scared, and alone… not to mention your appearance. Or that aura, if Damon is correct," he sighed, then further lowered his voice. "I cringe, Senri, every time she willfully ignores Erenville's remarks about her behavior. Considering his far superior experience with Eorzean people and customs, I find it… strange she would so readily ignore his sound bits of advice."
"Eh," Senri huffed, then shook his head before looking at him when Raha pulled away and moved beside him. "I prefer to see it as her being… Dunno, overstimulated or something? Perhaps on her own land and among her people, it's going to be different, hm?"
"Perhaps," he agreed without much confidence, smiling when the good part of the kittens clamored toward him as soon as he settled on the ground. "I want to stay open-minded, Snark. I do, believe me. I want this adventure to be a pleasant experience, and don't mean we get engaged in the politics of faraway land. But that man she mentioned, who 'can't be allowed to rule,' worries me, Senri. Our lands are still recovering from Final Days, and risking potential conflict in such circumstances would put us at a disadvantage. Alliance is still getting over its habit of calling for your or Scions' assistance, and we have more than enough on our hands… Not to mention, if we were facing something like a potential invasion…?"
"Neither Damon nor Hades would take that well, I know," Senri blew a raspberry, then smiled weakly. "Opposite to Ares, who's rather insistent on leaving mortal conflicts without their interference, Damon's more prone to… meddle. I don't doubt that bet is kindness on his part, Raha. I really don't, especially now, if I get that whole Entropy business correctly. I'm thrilled he regained himself, hardly less than you or Ares, but… You know, if provoked, he's fucking dangerous, babe."
"I know," he replied, leaning his head against Senri's shoulder. "We just have to make sure no one provokes him then, hm?"
"Especially Wuk Lamat," his husband muttered, cringing when Raha tossed him a confused glance. "Ah… I didn't want to mention that, babe, until we reach Tural, but I think… Well, I had a weird conversation with Lamat before we boarded the ship."
"Huh? Why weird?" he asked, cocking his head curiously when Senri shrugged, tossed the playing girls a careful look, then smiled at him weakly.
"You know how… our relationship wasn't that well-known in Eorzea?"
"You mean same-sex relationships?" he deadpanned with a roll of his eyes. The girls were fourteen and thirteen, respectively, and lived daily with two such relationships, so it was hardly something uncommon for them.
"Yeah," Senri chuckled sheepishly when Ralla and Nari didn't even look their way, cooing at the kittens between them. "Well, I'm guessing in Tural, it's even less common… or known," he shrugged again and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Somce she was… ah, baffled why we would want a separate cabin, you know? Think I never saw Erenville facepalm that hard," he chuckled with genuine amusement while Raha blinked slowly.
"Doesn't she know what those mean?" he asked, raising his hand to let the sunlight glimmer off his flawless band. They weren't exactly advertising the fact that they were mated, for obvious reasons, but half of Eorzea and the Far East was at their Ceremony of Eternal Bond!
"I don't think so," Senri smiled, catching his hand and brushing his thumb over the ring he had crafted himself. It was nearly identical to the one he was wearing.
"I see," he said softly, scrunching his nose as he stared at their hands. He laced their fingers tightly, then sighed and looked up. "But you explained that, yes?"
"Of course," he didn't like the way Senri didn't look up or how his smile fell.
"And…?" he put the pressure on the word and waited until his husband met his gaze.
"Well… She thought it was a waste," Senri sighed, shrugging uncomfortably as he pulled his hand from Raha's grip.
He fought – very hard – not to swear or grind his teeth while he very pointedly caught that hand, wrapped both of his around it and pressed them against his heart.
"It's not a waste, Snark," he also fought to keep fury out of his voice.
"Technically speaking…" His lover whispered, avoiding his stare.
"It's not," he involuntarily raised his voice in swore in thought; in his peripheral vision, seeing it caught the girls' attention. They froze in their spots, frowning as they looked between them. "It's okay, just a ridiculous idea someone insensitive planted in Senri's head," he took a deep breath, then stood up, tugging on his lover's arm until he followed with an air of resignation. "I'll give you a waste," he growled under his breath in a warning, then not-so-delicately shoved his husband toward the house.
And following him, watching his beast's slumped shoulders, he swore in thought that by the end of the day, he was going to have a very enlightening conversation with that woman. And Damon, because Twelve preserves that she would say something like that around his Ancient without him being warned ahead of the possibility!
When it rains, it pours, no doubt…