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As soon as she dispelled Bunky, Frenzia knew something wasn't quite right. Her eyes were used to the dark, yes, but not like this. The "dark" looked normal, while the light felt blinding. She felt her hair start to raise, a hiss forming. Haukke Manor wasn't something to be feared, just checked up on... right? So why was she feeling so... off? Her fellow adventurers paid her no heed at first, helping themselves to the seemingly never emptying coffers. They chatted while deciding who would get what loot. "I'd never seen that last attack, had you?"
"No, it was a new one. Who knew Lady Amandine could pull out new tricks like that, even after so many passes through here?"
"Thank goodness we were all able to dodge. Since it isn't cataloged, we'll have to forewarn the other sweep teams that come through, right, Frenzia?"
"Sure... right..."
"Everything OK back there?" One of them asked, Frenzia feeling like her skin wanted to turn inside out.
"Never better. I don't need any loot, I think I'm coming down with something, or this place is giving me the creeps. See ya," she clumsily performed a quick bow and used the aether current to leave the manor, leaving three confused adventurers in her wake. Thank goodness it was twilight outside when she got there-- daylight would've been too harsh to handle, she thought. Focusing her aether, she teleported to Radz-at-Han. There were only a few people she could ask about her hunch concerning the voidsent, and even fewer among those people she actually trusted to keep to themselves about it afterwards.
She huffed up the palace steps, thanking Vrtra silently for not making her sign in and out every time anymore. She knocked on the door, praying to any god whose ass she hadn't kicked that her intended audience was here.
"Just a moment," a soft voice called. A dark haired and robed figure opened her quarters: Zero. "Ah, Frenzia. And here at such an odd hour, with the smell of the void upon you. You never come uninvited. Tell me what's happened, and quickly." Zero pulled her in, shutting the door. "Your confidence is assured here."
"Thank you, Zero..." Frenzia huffed, a migraine overtaking her. A few lamps were lit in the room, making everything too bright. "Sorry... it's..." Before the Warrior could finish, the lamps were extinguished. With only one (quickly curtained) window, the darkness washed in like a cool blanket-- allowing her to look around freely. Only one small candle remained, keeping the room from complete pitch darkness.
"Zero... How did you know that..?"
"You smell like a specific voidsent... One that hid itself in the darkest corners of even the 13th. Why were you there?"
"I wasn't, I was going through a house tampered with by the void. You know of this creature, then? What can you tell me of it?"
"I could. But it was rarely active, and even rarer to observe closely. More often you'd find dying voidsent whispering for you to kill them after being poached by the creature."
Frenzia sat in a chair nearby, the information making her head spin. Her palms ran cold, her teeth beginning to ache. "But... if you know of it, it would still be helpful to hear anything you are willing to share. I was hit by an attack by the owner of the manor, an attack nobody had ever seen before. And now..."
"Now you're feeling... different."
"...Sure."
Zero hummed in thought, finding and sitting on the bed with little trouble. Frenzia supposed she was used to the dark too. "Allow me to try something,” she spoke softly, denoting her uncertainty. “I'm going to connect with your aether, but briefly."
"...Okay."
Zero reached a hand out, her connection one of dark purple energy to Frenzia's chest. Usually this would be a bad sign, but she trusted her friend. After a few moments, Zero frowned and withdrew.
"Well?"
"I have good and bad news. The good is, I was right. You won't be permanently affected by this blight."
Frenzia felt her heart rise and drop before asking the dreaded question. "And the bad being...?"
"I don't know for certain how long your vampirism will last until it fades. I'd guess anywhere from a few days to a month."
"Oh gods... Vam...peer...?"
"Usually called a vampire," Zero specified. "Luckily, your aether is strong, and seems to have resisted the full corruption of the spell. What happened when you were there?"
Frenzia groaned, her body starting to feel itchy at recalling the memory. "The Succubus came down, touching the floor. Each person had a small purple pool appear around their feet, and small voidsent were snapping at our heels. We only had moments to move before getting caught, and regrettably, I guess I just didn't move fast enough." Frenzia looked up at Zero, who was rubbing her chin slowly in thought. "Please Zero... You mustn't tell anyone about this."
"Your friendship is sacred to me and I would never put it in jeopardy. However, if you'd like this resolved faster, we would need the help of someone who can manipulate aether, like Y'shtola. Or a healer, like--"
"--No, no. The Scions can't know about this. Especially not the twins. You know how they worry."
Zero looked away frustrated, but understanding. "...Fine. But perhaps they worry precisely because of times like these, where you help them, but they aren't allowed to help you."
Frenzia laughed, though her body was beginning to ache. "You've certainly grown adept at reading emotions and making friends, haven't you. I'm glad, Zero."
Zero’s smile danced quietly across her lips, her fingers idly reaching and touching her hair in lieu of her wide brimmed hat she used to wear. "Is that so?" She looked again at Frenzia with precision. "Vampires, in the 13th, hated any bright lights. They would feed on other voidsent by biting them, draining their life-force from them. I don't know how that would translate to you, but it's something to keep in mind. In fact..." Zero tossed Frenzia an apple, who caught it much faster than she normally would. Her tail flicked unhappily at this realization.
"Try eating that," Zero gestured. Frenzia took a tentative bite, her teeth sore and aching. It tasted like mold and hot grease. She spat it out, feeling bile rise in her throat. "As I thought... You'll need to find another way to feed."
"Feed...? On...?" Frenzia coughed, sipping a water Zero had given her. Luckily, it only tasted a little bit like mud. She could handle mud.
"Try taking some of my aether."
Frenzia reached out, feeling Zero's aether again conjoined with hers. It didn't seem to sate the the hunger, but it was quieting the chills that wracked her body. Frenzia stopped, looking up to Zero. "I think it helped a bit, but what do I do? I can't sit around for an entire month. You and I both know some disaster is going to pop up before long and I'll be needed. I can't be tucked away in the dark when that happens."
"And you can't force yourself to be better in a day. Give it time. I can handle this, if you’ll trust me. I will talk to the Scions and tell them you are in my care for the foreseeable future, as we are researching more about the void. That you are very busy, and not to come knocking." Frenzia began to protest before Zero silenced her with a look. "You really think they won't come asking for you? Your loved ones? For an entire month? We need a cover story. One that isn't far from the truth."
The wind outside bristled, as if feeling her apprehension. She didn't like lying to the Scions, just... Conveniently leaving out details about when she needed aid, that's all.
"Fine. But I'd rather them not worry themselves at all."
"I won't reveal anything out of turn. They know I'm not one they can prod information from. First matters first, we need to find a way to treat your condition, somewhere away from prying eyes. Not like here. Do you have anywhere to go?"
Frenzia thought for a moment. "Old Sharlayan has a penchant for keeping to oneself, and locking oneself away for days on end to study isn't out of the ordinary. I'm certain some Sharlayan scholar has been moved to research some obscure topic for more than a month."
"Good, then I'll visit you every so often there to see what I can learn… But, Frenzia,"
"Hmm?"
"You ought to tell them. The Scions. They love you dearly and would drop every matter on hand to see you well again, you know this. So why do you hesitate?"
"Precisely because they would drop all and come. I can't worry them over something like this. I'm the Warrior of Light. Strong, reliable. They can't see me like this... Mewling kit, flustered at lamps and wishing to feed on..." Frenzia gasped, her hands clasping over her mouth.
"Frenzia?"
And wishing to feed on... Blood...?
---
Estinien's stride was troubled, his head filled with words he shouldn't have heard. He'd meant to drop by Zero's room to drop off a message from Vrtra... And ended up hearing a good chunk of private conversation between Zero and the Warrior of Light. He cursed his dragoon ways of always taking to the rooftops, regardless of how much quicker they were than stuffy and overcrowded hallways. He was just going to pop in the window like he always did, but now... Hallways and knocking avoided shitty situations like this. Luckily, he had avoided detection, and he was now on his way out of the meeting room that had contained all the Scions moments earlier at Radz-at-Han.
Frenzia has an illness then... Hrmmph, it must be serious if she can't tell the others or cure it herself. But still... Knowing what he knew, he wasn't about to betray Frenzia's wishes and tell everyone what he'd heard. However, he could tell even from his corner of the room that not everyone was buying Zero's cover story. The older three, Urianger, Thancred, and Y'shtola seemed unconvinced. Though, Urianger and Thancred had the grace not to say so, only offering support where they could if the pair wanted it. Y'shtola questioned why she wasn't invited in the first place, along with the other Arkasodara scientists. Zero had given her a look that simply coveyed a I know you know, I'll be sure tell you eventually look, to which Y'shtola sighed and added to the act, saying "Well, far be it from me to stop a dutiful pair of scholars from their research," before shrugging.
Krile noticed the twins seeming down, and inquired. They were so busy with the Garlemald rebuilding efforts still that there wasn't a way they could help, to which Zero smiled and offered them condolences. Krile had caught the look Zero had given Y'shtola, but kept quiet. But the wild card, G'raha, kept to himself the whole time-- putting his palm to his chin and keeping it there throughout all of Zero's story. He kept muttering to himself, scratching his chin idly while in thought. After everyone had started to disperse, Estinien had every intention to “accidentally” leave before he could get roped into any funny business, but literally and figuratively bumped into G'raha on his way out.
"Ah, G'raha Tia. You seemed... Preoccupied, at the meeting, is something amiss?"
"It just doesn't add up, Ser Estinien."
Estinien grumbled at the formality. "No need for 'Ser', just Estinien will do. How do you figure?"
"Frenzia hates sitting and studying for too long. She is a woman of action. She is our feet on the ground to our bookwork. Not even the Final Days changed this. What could be so important that that could change so suddenly…?"
Estinien felt his armor getting uncomfortably hot. He wouldn't unknowingly betray his friend's trust, but maybe...
"You should check on her then. Ask her yourself."
"What? But, Zero said..."
"You lived in Sharlayan for years did you not? I'm sure you’ve memorized every dusty tome in that gods forsaken library. Offer your services to her directly, perhaps she's not the type to ask for help."
G'raha eyed him incredulously. "I see.. thank you S... Thank you, Estinien. Talking about Frenzia seems to loosen your tongue nearly as much as it does mine when recounting our Warrior of Light's heroics," G'raha said with a light, teasing air.
"Hmmph. Just go," Estinien huffed. "I won't suggest it twice," But if anyone can get through to her... It's him, Estinien thought, hopping on the nearby window frame, beginning to leap away towards the palace proper. "And give her a message from me when you see her, that this is my version of 'dropping all matters' for her."
Before G'raha could ask what that meant, Estinien had made it halfway across the city via the rooftops. He sighed, rumination setting in. Should he really be going against Zero's wishes? Frenzia's wishes? But what Estinien had said was right, the esteemed Warrior of Light was never one to ask for help, even if she needed it. He'd seen and experienced the effects of that first-hand. Grumbling, he made up his mind. He'd just check quickly, surely there'd be no harm in that... right?
--
It'd been about three or four days since the meeting once G'raha had finally sailed over to Sharlayan, still no sign of the esteemed Warrior of Light when he'd landed. Had she already found all the materials she needed...? Perhaps he could catch her from a rare break to go to the library and back... it'd be a simple accidental meeting, nothing more... After a few hours of looking and waiting, twilight was beginning to fall. He huffed, suddenly feeling like a schoolboy again for how foolish he'd been acting. If he wanted to visit, he would just need to go to her in person. Though it was odd, usually there's a muted, but excitable air around the campus when Frenzia stopped by, but he'd noticed none of that. No way the excitement levels would dip that quickly on their own...
He grabbed two hot cocoas from the Last Stand and calmed himself. Even if Frenzia and Zero were hard at work and had everything they needed, he could at least still help by bringing a yummy treat. As he began to approach the Baldesion Annex, he spotted Zero leaving, looking tired. "Ah, Zero!" G'raha lightly jogged with the cocoas over to her. Zero's eyes widened for a moment, then a small smirk grew.
"G'raha Tia, a surprise to see you. What brings you here on this fine evening?" She stopped and observed the covered drinks G'raha was carrying, one clearly labeled "Zero" on it. "...And is that for me?"
G'raha smiled and extended her drink to her. "Of course. I was... doing some research around, so I thought, even if I can't help, I'd might as well bring you both a beverage to soothe the weariness of endless page-searching," G'raha's ears drooped a little and he shuffled his feet before continuing. "Though, I suppose I should give you this… To give to Frenzia in my stead."
Zero's smirk grew a little wider, to G'raha's confusion. "I'm not going back there for a while. Say, would you be willing to drop it off for me? I have some matters to attend to that will keep me away for a day or two. It's too bad I couldn't see you while you were here."
G'raha was clearly missing some sort of context, but relinquished Zero's drink to her regardless. He remembered enough from his time learning statescraft that Zero was trying to leave something unsaid, but giving him an opportunity to visit-- and he wasn't about to turn that down, especially considering the strange circumstances he'd already observed. "Ah, right. Yes, a shame. Well, until the morrow. Hopefully I'll see Zero then," He was about to thank her and walk off when her expression suddenly became sullen.
"She'll need you. More than she realizes."
G'raha's heart jumped, his face instinctually turning to one of practiced calm. "...I see, thank you." His pulse and mind were racing. What did that mean? Is Frenzia okay? Why were both Zero and Estinien pushing him about this to break the rules and see her? Every thought pushed him faster towards the door and to find her. I need to ensure she's alright.
After being let in by Ojika, he autopiloted to Frenzia's usual room, a path he had committed to memory the moment she'd chosen it. Though, the lights in the hallway were... dimmer than he remembered them being. He was about to raise his hand to knock, when he heard a soft but startling sound. She was crying. His mind went blank and all manners were forgotten. He pushed his way in, panic striking a bolt through his chest. "Frenzia?"
Frenzia looked up, multiple emotions crossing her face at once. Fear, anger, confusion, relief, guilt. She didn't move, her tail puffed but still. Her ears were alert, but her eyes, they were... Brighter, shinier in the near-pitch black room. He noticed she had a loose white work shirt on and black shorts, as if she was burning up in the summer heat. "Frenzia, ah, I..." all of G'raha's sensibilities snapped back to him at once, and he rushed to explain himself. "I ah, brought you a drink for the project you were working on but. I thought maybe you were upset so I thought I--" faster than he could blink, she'd jumped up and clasped onto him, making him squeak a little, out of surprise. The force of her had nearly knocked him over.
"W...would come in..." he could feel his heart hammering in his chest so loudly, he worried Frenzia would hear it too. He kept his arms away, in case this was a mistake, maybe she just fell and...
Frenzia looked up at him, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. A stifled sniffle escaped her, and any reservations he'd had disappeared. He shut the door behind him with his foot, and set down the cocoa on a nearby shelf, encapsulating his Warrior of Darkness in his arms, squeezing tight. Frenzia let out a small sigh of relief, sniffling a little into his chest-- allowing herself to be held. "G'raha... I'm sorry..."
He didn't let go, only pulled her in tighter. "You could never do something that would require an apology to me," he whispered. "What's wrong? What's happened?"
Frenzia let out a deep uneven sigh, as if before giving a big speech. "This... Project, Zero and I are doing... it... Isn't going well," G'raha opened his mouth to speak before Frenzia continued, "And the fact that it's taking this long... It's making me feel guilty that I haven't been able to... Do the project myself, on my own... But nothing I try works, and... I know the longer it takes, the more people are going to suffer needlessly because of it."
G'raha knew a carefully worded half-truth when he heard one. Everything that was happening was bizarre. Why was the room being dark reminding him of something? Why did she hug him? Why is she so upset about a 'research project'? Whatever the reason, he sensed he needed to tread carefully.
"Maybe... That's a sign that more outside help is needed?"
"No!" Frenzia's fists clenched against him, her forehead near-banging against his chest. "You don't get it. I'm the Warrior of Light, I'm supposed to... Argh!"
G'raha didn't fully understand what was going on, but he did see now what Zero meant; Frenzia was obviously distressed. He could only hope that he would be able to help, even a little, to ease her burdens. He felt his tail begin to sway with concern. "If I may, what is it that you're struggling with that is causing you such distress...?"
Frenzia tensed up and pushed him off, not roughly but not gently either. "You... you need to leave, I'm... not safe," Her breaths became rapid, faster in pitch. "I shouldn't have touched you, hugged you, it was a mistake."
G'raha felt his heart pang with hurt at that, but didn't have the time to press it. "Not... Safe? Frenzia, you aren't making any sense. Whatever is wrong, please, tell me, I... We can help,"
"No, no, no!" Frenzia grabbed her head, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm a VAMPIRE, G'raha! I'm a monster! And no matter what Zero and I do it's not fixing it! I can't worry you all again, I just can't! Not again, not after Ultima Thule. I refuse to be the reason you all go through pain and effort just because of some stupid magic infection!" Her eyes glinted a fierce pink-red, her teeth bared showed them to be slightly sharper than normal Miqo'te fangs.
"Frenzia..." The pieces slowly started to click into place. The lights, the eyes, the frustration... He hadn't thought there was anything similar here in the source. They'd had something close in the First, but...
"G'raha, go." She nearly growled at him, before clutching her hands to her mouth. "Please." She was backing into the corner of the room.
"Wait, please... I do think I genuinely have an idea, but you need to help me first. When was the last time you fed?"
"...Fed?"
"In the First, we occasionally had attacks from sin-eaters that preyed mostly on those patrolling the Lakelands at night," G'raha noted that his words were reaching her. "Does that sound familiar?"
Frenzia refused to get any closer, but nodded. G'raha continued. "Now, this is just a guess, but when they attacked they would drain their target of their blood, and replace some of it with their aether, which would slowly transform them into what we called a 'Dracularius' over time. Eventually, we figured out a sort of countermeasure." G'raha pulled up his sleeve and held his other hand over his wrist. A thin aether barrier came over it for a small moment before disappearing. "If one shielded the Dracularius' bite area with aether before they attacked, only the blood would be taken, but there would be no aether transfer. Not the best solution, but better than being turned into a sin-eater." G'raha's eyes flicked back to Frenzia, who seemed to calm down a bit listening to his explanation.
"But... what happened to those who were bitten?"
"They'd need blood infusions, daily. But after a while, they'd be cured. They had an aversion to the sun, and we'd keep them in a dark room until they were better, and volunteers would donate blood to help. So Frenzia, please. When was the last time you had blood?"
Frenzia curled up onto the bed, her breathing finally slowing again. "I haven't... I don't want to hurt anybody..." Frenzia took a breath. "Zero has been giving me aether, but it's been... less effective, as time has gone on."
G'raha was shocked. Of course she was struggling. She effectively hadn't been eating properly for this condition for almost a week, at his estimations. Aether would only sustain her for so long before… "Frenzia, please, listen to me." G'raha used his 'Exarch' voice and presence, not one he used often since getting to the Source again. "I understand why you felt the need to keep all of us untroubled. You didn't want us to see you like this, did you?"
Frenzia pulled her legs closer to her chest. She shook her head 'no'. "I just... when you came, it was such a relief... You mustn't misunderstand, I never wanted you to see me this way either, I just... When I struggle, I think of you. How you soldiered through hundreds of years without letting a single person know who you were, just so that you wouldn't burden us. It makes me feel like I should be able to do the same, get through it on my own to not bother you, or any of the other Scions. You inspire me to work harder with not only your example, but your kindness," Her voice was beginning to shake, despite her best efforts to control it. "And I knew that, if I shared that I wasn't doing well with you all, that you'd be the first one here, ready to ease my every burden. I couldn't do that... I don't want to hurt you, or make you cry. Not again."
G'raha knew she had been majorly impacted by the events of Ultima Thule, but he hadn't realized to the extent. He did know one thing, though: and he had said it in more or less every way but directly-- that he loved her. He will always be here for her, no matter the size of the problem. And now, it appeared he needed to tell her once again. He didn't care how many attempts it took. He took steps forward slowly, taking care not to not approach her too quickly.
"Frenzia, you need to know that you are, and have been my inspiration to keep living. It isn't as simple as 'you burden me or you don't,' not anymore. I chose to, and choose to, keep living so that I can be by your side. And that has included good times and bad," he reached the side of her bed, where he stopped. Frenzia had seemed apprehensive at his approach, but hadn't stopped him. She was entranced by his words, tears falling now. "I cried that night on the ship not because you scared me, no. But from relief that we could continue living-- together. So please, don't say that you want to isolate yourself away when you have a struggle or a problem. You are living, and to live is to have struggles. But it doesn't have to be alone," G'raha knelt before his Warrior, his eyes clear. "So truly, it would be my honor to be of help to you."
--
Frenzia was silent for a moment, taking it all in. She looked at G'raha, who was so near her now. He was as handsome, kind, and considerate as always, but... Had she misinterpreted his words? That felt almost like...
"G’raha...?"
"Yes?"
"Do... Do you harbor feelings... for me?"
G'raha's face flushed a bright crimson, his ears perking straight up. "I... I fail to see how--! I, but..." His tail flicked erratically, almost like it wanted to escape from him.
Frenzia had been so shaken up by all of this vampire business for so long, that her laugh pealed out of her like a clear bell, only to be pock-marked by a tear stained hiccup every so often. "Raha, please! Your face!"
G'raha had started to laugh a little too at how hard she was laughing. "I didn't realize I'd be found out...!" This only sent Frenzia into a further fit of laughter.
"Raha, it's so easy to love you, how could I not?"
His jaw genuinely dropped. How could she just so casually break his entire world like that, and so confidently, too? He blushed, then smiled. "So, my feelings... are they returned then?"
"Yes, obviously. I've been trying to woo you since you dropped the Exarch act, haven't you noticed?" Frenzia was going to explain more when she was violently attacked with more hunger pains, nearly causing her to pass out. She clutched a hand to her mouth and stomach, turning away from him in case she vomited. Not that there was much she could eat anyway. Her mind wanted only one thing: blood. And lots of it.
G'raha touched her shoulder. "Frenzia..! This is most joyful news, but I need you to let me help you now. Do I have your approval? I have an idea for how we can move forward on this. But it will only work if we do it together."
She looked back at G'raha, his eyes filled with concern at her convulsion. She forced herself to calm down. She needed to trust him. He hadn't shamed her for not asking for help, only offered understanding and kindness... So she nodded.
"Okay. If we need you to feed, then you'll need food. And since you're more or less starving, you're going to need lots of it." He stood up, removing layers of clothing one at a time.
"G'raha... You aren't doing what I think you're doing, are you...?" The wild side of her head wanted to pounce on him, his veins protruding and driving her mad.
"You'll need to feed. On me."
"G'raha... This seems like a bad idea..."
"I have practice with this, and I trust you. You'll keep me safe, I know you will."
"G'raha, I'm not myself right now, I don't know if I even could stop myself. I don't want to hurt you, not now, not ever, regardless of what feelings we both confess."
"I never said I wouldn't stop you. I just know you could never hurt me. It's a fact." He had gotten himself down to black shorts and a white, button-down undershirt; as put his staff next to the bedside, he began covering himself in light aether-like shieldings, from ear-tip to tail. "You won't convert me to anything this way, and we need you to be fed so you can start to truly recover. Please, Frenzia. I'm happy and willing to let you do this so you can feel well again."
"And what if it doesn't work?" If she felt better she'd probably find herself blushing, as she had never seen so much of him at one time.
"Then we find another way."
She grumbled, finally acquiescing after feeling another hunger pain start to rise. "Fine... but you have to--"
"--Let you know right away if something is wrong. I swear it." G'raha smiled and sat next to her on the bed. "I'm going to lay down now. Take whatever you may need, alright?"
She stood up, allowing him to lay down fully. She felt her body betraying her mind, wanting to pounce on him and draw out every last drop of his sweet, delicious red. But as the Warrior of Light, she had experience in not succumbing to things that others might. She nodded. "So, I can just...?"
G'raha reached out a hand, and she took it. "Yes. I give my full consent and participation. You could never hurt me."
Frenzia breathed in and out slowly, letting her breath and mind slow. She wouldn't hurt him, she wouldn't allow herself to. But... what to do? She didn't know how to do this. There wasn't exactly a guide to drawing out blood from your newly confessed-to-lover in an effort to get better from an affliction. Her only idea was...
⚠️NSFW AHEAD⚠️ (and not edited as well as the top. Enter at your own risk)
Frenzia lifted his hand and stuck two of his fingers in her mouth. His eyes widened. This was not what he had expected.
"Ah, oh..!" Frenzia looked at G'raha, immediately freezing. He nodded quickly to affirm. "Just s...surprised me."
She let her affliction slowly cradle her brain, giving it enough control to guide her instincts, but not take her over. Her pointed teeth gently pulled along the skin of his fingers, creating a small cut on his fingertips. The first splash of real, hot blood... Her mind went foggy. She closed her eyes, using her tongue and swiping at the crimson from his fingers. She didn't mean to, but a small moan escaped with her breath. It tasted indescribably decadent.
G'raha felt the prick at his fingers, and had stifled a small gasp. She felt her tongue swirling around his fingers... And then a moan, too...! He almost commented, but decided against it. He had probably just imagined it. He had only just confessed his feelings inadvertently, he was not about to confess to the dreams he had locked away in the back of his mind about the two of them sharing their bodies. No, he wouldn't think about that, not even when she started to bob her head up and down his fingers, just like... Oh, no... Keep it together, G'raha...! Finally she let go, giving the spots a last goodbye lick. He breathed out heavily. There had almost been a disaster waiting to happen, if she had--
Frenzia took this time to climb on top of him, her tail flicking a bit before settling on around his leg. "Your taste... It's driving me absolutely insane," she whispered, leaning down to his ears.
He thanked Thaliak she wasn't perched on his groin area, or else she would have found a not-so-subtle collection of blood taking place there.
She ran a few fingers through his hair, stealing his hair clips and undoing his braid. His cheeks were flushed, his eyelids heavy. He was panting. She was so close. Silhouetted by the candles in the room, he felt like he was dreaming. How many times had he imagined her like this, on top of him? They both moved laboriously, as if carefully memorizing each and every individual curve before this moment could fade.
"Do... do I have your consent to touch you, Frenzia...?"
She purred into his ear, "Mmm, yes," while giving it a soft nibble, causing his back to arch. Now she was teasing.
He slowly raised the previously occupied hand and touched her lower back, causing her to shudder under his touch. He raised it slowly up her back along her spine, feeling it more closely than he should. It reminded him of why they were here like this at all. "Please, my love... I am yours for the taking..." He twisted his neck slightly, exposing it. "I am yours..."
Frenzia felt her hunger stir, the blood before had only been a treat, this was a meal. Though her less-hungry sensibilities were returning more fully, she still moved to his neck slowly. Her hungry brain wanted to bite, and she refused, planting small kisses along the side of his neck. He gasped, and she felt her undergarments start to wet. She felt his hands slide to the small of her waist and squeeze, and she moaned again against his neck. She hadn't been touched like this in so long, not so expertly by one who cared to know her like this. She breathed a hot breath, relaxing her legs and settling herself onto him properly, where she quickly felt his erection through his pants against her.
"G'raha... I... I'm going to drink from you now," she breathed, grinding herself lightly against his constrained cock. He nodded, gasping slightly at the friction against his member. It was obvious both of them hadn't been touched this way in a long time. "Is this--" She wiggled her hips against him again, causing him to sigh and blush hotly again, "--okay? I don't want you to feel..." Frenzia felt him turn his head, so she looked over. His beautiful crimson eyes sparkled, even in the dim light. He leaned forward, their foreheads touching.
"You don't realize how long I've thought this would... only ever be a dream," he panted. "Yes, this is okay. More than okay... Frenzia... I've wanted you... For so long..."
She smiled, turned and licked with the flat of her tongue across the area she meant to bite, which elicited another open mouth gasp and buck from G'raha, whose head had tipped all the way back on the pillow now and eyes had closed. "Good," she said simply, readying herself.
"P...please, Frenzia... Please..."
"Please, what, my love..?" She sucked on his neck lightly, only vaguely aware of her own boldness.
"Please, a-ah... drink from me... Bite me..."
She used one hand to grab onto the side of his hair near his left ear and the other to balance herself near the base of his neck and shoulder, and bit down. He grit his teeth and inhaled, his erection nearly bursting now from their wetting restraints. The pain was sharp and sweet, he quickly pushed his one hand up to try and undo her bra while the other palmed onto the back of her head's brown and white streaked hair. He moaned louder, feeling his precum wetting his pants more and more. "Y..Yes, yes...!"
Frenzia was filled with pure bliss, sucking and licking with unadulterated fervor. The normally harsh, iron taste of blood melted into something more sweet, closer to sugar. She moaned into him, releasing the clamp on his hair to peel off her useless undergarments and shorts. G'raha blushed, feeling her tongue along his neck again-- he finally unclasped her bra, her only releasing the seal on his neck but for a moment as she leaned up to take it off, leaving her only in her white top while quickly going back to work on the lonely spot on his neck that had been abandoned.
He was starting to feel lightheaded, he didn't know whether that was from his more than a hundred years worth of fantasies coming true or the blood loss. Possibly both. He kicked off his own undergarments, his cock bulging and grateful to be released. Frenzia felt her mind becoming fully clear again, finally, the unrelenting cloud of hunger finally starting to thin the most it had since this all started. G'raha's idea had worked. She felt him moving, and so finished up on his neck and kissed them while applying a small aether barrier with her tongue to stop the bleeding.
She leaned back, feeling his naked cock against her aching lips. "Ah, there you are..."
He smiled, his eyes half lidded. "All done... with me..?"
"Bloodwise, for now..." She licked her lips and chin, cleaning the rest off with her arm while gently gliding along her lover's length. G'raha let out a low throated moan, more precum spilling out the tip. She smiled, pushing herself softly forward and putting her lips on his. His eyes widened, this new sensation meshing with all of the other ones in a beautiful clash. Her lips were so soft, gentle compared to the sharp bite of earlier. She sucked gently on his bottom lip, taking care not to pierce. He bucked again, groaning into the air and nearly entering Frenzia with how slick they both were.
"You never cease... to surprise..." G'raha breathed out in between their kisses, some simple and gentle while others felt like they would devour the other. "I can feel my restraint slipping... Aa-ah..."
"Let it," Frenzia whispered, planting one final kiss on his lips before sitting back, and raising his cock up with one hand. "Show me everything," As she said this, she carefully slipped down onto his awaiting cock, with Frenzia punctuating her sentence with a sharp inhale. G'raha gripped onto the small of his lover's waist, gasping for each divine inch she slipped farther down. "Aah, you're in..." Frenzia panted, confirming for G'raha and herself-- though this fell on deaf ears, as G'raha was already seeing stars. He was hardly holding on by a thread at this point, his breaths sounding ragged and wild.
"You... are the most divine being to... have graced this shard..."
Frenzia blushed a little. How was it that even when he was at his most indisposed, his first instinct is still to be able to heap praise upon her? She giggled at this thought. He deserves a reward… Frenzia pulled off her shirt, leaving herself completely exposed. G'raha looked up, his eyes widening at her bare chest. "Eyes on me, now," she ordered softly, grabbing one of his palms and kissing it.
The animalistic side of him desperately wanted to start pumping into her without regard for anything else, but he knew if he did that he would not last for more than a few seconds. Her body was too engrossing, her warm insides so snugly fitting his cock, it would be over before it even began in earnest. Feeling G'raha's restraint, she indulged him by rocking her hips slowly back and forth. He sucked air in through his teeth, feeling his toes curl in relief. She felt absolutely incredible, even when teasing. He would do anything for her, anything at all. So he decided he would.
He released his hands from her grasp, putting one in between her shoulder blades and one on her ass, and sat up, catching her with his grip while still leaving them connected. "I've envisioned this for more nights than I can count, and never was there one with you doing all the heavy lifting," he said softly into her breast before taking it in his mouth.
He looked up at her as he sucked and licked at her nipple-- a cute, perky little thing. She gasped at the sensations, her eyes opening and shutting with each new nip and swirl. She put her hands in the back of his undone hair, her pussy starting to clench and twitch. It delighted him to no end to please her. He wanted nothing more than to be able to do this whenever she wished. He gently laid her down, giving each of her breasts gentle kisses before putting a hand to his lover's cheek. "I'm going to move now," he stated simply, only beginning to do so after she had nodded. They both moaned at the anticipated tension resolving into pure bliss.
Gods preserve, she was so beautiful. Every move he made he felt blessed, as if every inch inside of her had been especially sculpted for him and him alone. His whole cock was twitching with ecstasy. He looked back to his Warrior as they both moaned, and he etched her perfect body and silhouette into his memory banks, every curve, every scar, every bead of sweat. Frenzia gripped the bedsheets, feeling the full length of her love driving in and out now, his slower pace evolved into a faster one pushing her to breathe shallow breaths, her head empty besides one sentence hitting her with every crash of their bodies hitting together, I love you, I love you, I love you-- "R..Raha, I love you, I love you, Raha... Inside me, cum inside me, please," the Warrior of Light begged, feeling her body signaling that her climax was not far.
G'raha hummed in agreement, his pumps getting faster. He put his hands on her hips, squeezing them before releasing one hand to tease her hot clit. Even if he was about to finish, he wanted them to do so together. With his thumb rubbing and steady rhythm, Frenzia felt the lower half of her body start to buzz and hitch. She wasn't going to make it much longer. "Raha, I'm--!!"
He didn't even respond with words, only finding the mental bandwidth to kiss her. His moans pitched high in his throat, while his breaths were quick and shallow. As he felt his ecstacy releasing, he kept pumping as best he could while trembling against her and fumbling her name out. "Fuck, Frenzia aagh, I'm, gods, yes, F-Fren, Frenzia...!!"
This was enough-- she felt her climax hit its mark. Her body shook, her walls clenching and tightening around G'raha's cock, which only served to extend his own orgasm. They both panted for air and took quick breaths, reeling from the high of the connection they'd just felt. Frenzia was the first to recover, tempering her breathing a bit before blinking the post-coital haze out of her eyes. She pulled G'raha in, making their foreheads touch, neither of them giving a damn about the sweat. She gave him soft, lazy kisses on his face as G'raha panted softly, his own senses slowly returning to him.
"For once," G'raha smiled, "I do not have the words to describe just how wonderful of an experience that was." As he said this, small pauses had to be made as he softly returned the peppering of kisses she had been planting upon him. He caressed her cheek with his thumb, and moved away enough to see her face fully. "Tell me, my friend-- do you feel sated?"
Frenzia pouted a little, her cheeks puffing out at his word choice. "Friend..! No more kisses for you, mister," She said this quietly, as if not daring to break the moment by speaking too loudly. "...But yes, I do. I feel as if I finally have some semblance of control again. It feels... Comforting."
G'raha smiled and gave her forehead a small kiss. "Alright, alright, my mistake. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, my love." Somehow, saying it aloud still felt unreal, even though he, at this moment, was still inside of her. Butterflies caught in his throat as he tried to subtly read Frenzia's reaction to the name.
A happy hum was his reward, and another kiss on the lips-- soft and sweet. "M-mhm, that will do." Frenzia damned the small stutter that betrayed her confident front, but she wouldn't have been able to hold it for long afterwards anyway once she was rewarded with a beaming smile from Raha. "We should clean ourselves, regardless of what comes next," Frenzia posited softly, running her nails gently up and down G'raha's back.
"Right, yes..." G'raha deliberately and gingerly retreated from Frenzia's insides, his length already fairly soft, but sensitive still. Frenzia made a small sound of disapproval at the disconnection, making G'raha blush a bit once again.
⚠️ NSFW End Point ⚠️
They both cleaned themselves, Frenzia going and finishing first, while finally finding the wherewithal to turn the overhead lamp on a little bit higher to find their respective items-- though candles still held their silent vigil as the main sources of light throughout the room. Frenzia collected her pajamas from a small pack, a soft Dalmascan top and some shorts, finding she usually ran hot with her affliction. Though, after she had... Well, treated it properly, she seemed to have cooled back down to a reasonable temperature-- which in Sharlayan, meant the room was freezing. She attempted a small peep out the window in her room, finding it close to dusk and snow had begun to accumulate in a significant amount whilst they were... Keeping each other warm, she supposed.
She still couldn't believe that that'd just happened. Not only had she been confessed to, she fed from, then slept with, the man she'd been longing for ever since her time in the First. It'd all happened so fast... She suddenly felt an all-consuming, overwhelming sense of dread. He hadn't confessed to her out of a sense of necessity, had he? He would be the type to help regardless of his own feelings towards a matter, and if it meant it was to save her, he'd say anything to have her go along and be safe... The thought made her shiver in fear. She busied herself by changing the bedsheets with the spare set Zero had brought in case of emergencies, taking a small mental note in the maelstrom of her mind to thank her for that later. And to give her a stern talking to, as she had a feeling G'raha's arrival here so shortly after she left was no mere coincidence.
G'raha opened the door, a loaned pair of soft, black cotton shorts from a nearby dresser being his only clothing. Frenzia's heart skipped many beats as she sat on the freshly remade bed, her fingers moving around each other in an anxious dance. G'raha sat down next to her, his eyes flickering between her fingers and her face, before gently taking one of her hands in his own to stop her from rubbing her skin away. "My love, you're far away within your own mind. What is it?"
Frenzia looked down, away, at the ceiling, her feet. Anything but his face. She was afraid somehow that if she did, she'd find resentment there. But she could still feel his piercing gaze, unrelenting no matter how hard she wanted to slip away from it. She tried to form words, her tongue scraping and sliding within her mouth, but nothing came out. It wasn't often this happened. She was afraid.
"If you were worrying about me, I'm perfectly fine, I can assure you," he said softly, using his free hand to touch his neck and show it was clean. Frenzia smiled weakly, acknowledging that she was glad for it, but then shook her head. "I... I am afraid." The words tumbled out past her lips before she could stop them.
"Afraid?" G'raha whispered, his hand tightening around hers slightly. "Tell me more my love, what has frightened you so?" He looked her up and down multiple times, though not saying a word while she put her thoughts together.
"I... All this, I suppose," Frenzia said, gesturing by raising and lowering their entwined hands. “I worry… That I moved upon you too quickly.” She felt the words stick like thick food in her throat, her nose beginning to burn-- a surefire sign she was going to cry again, something she did not wish to do in front of him again so soon.
G'raha shivered but remained in place. He didn't immediately offer a rebuttal, but instead took the time to really contemplate her thought. He closed his eyes and tilted his head, something she always loved when he did. It meant he was really working through a thought, giving it time. She gently wrapped a fresh blanket around him from her bed as he did this, careful not to miss with her trembling hand, or pierce the silence.
Finally, his ears flicked-- a sign the thought had come to a conclusion. She sucked a breath in, waiting for everything that had just happened to fall away from under her. It wouldn't have been the first time, she thought. But it would hurt the most. I don't know if I would be able to rebuild myself again after this. G'raha opened his beautiful ruby eyes, scanning around himself finally noticing the blanket. He smiled, and leaned forward to leave a small peck on Frenzia's forehead as a thank-you, which made her body shiver with delight and guilt. It was only then he took both of his hands in her own, and spoke.
“When I had determined I needed to summon assistance for Norvrandt back on the First, it was not a decision that was made lightly. I felt as if I was jumping into a story not mine own-- making a fool of myself every time I stole away a companion of yours, and not you. Yet,” he paused, a slightly thinner smile pulling at his lips, “I could not help but feel more and more excitement at the prospect of pulling you to me. Having you be in the same room as I, instead of dreaming you there as I had done for countless days and nights. The chance of success could only increase with the process of elimination. Then, suddenly, it worked, you were there. You were really there.” His tail twipped quickly on the mattress, his chest rising and falling a little faster-- as if even recalling the memory made his heart race. “It… It is near impossible to describe how I felt. I was elated. And anxious, and relieved, and frightened. But the thing that stuck out to me the most vividly in that moment, my love,” His breath and pause pulled Frenzia's eyes to his. “Was how none of the tales that I'd memorized of your valor, battle prowess, and compassion ever could capture just how marvelously beautiful you truly are.” One of his hands raised up and held her cheek. “Of course, then you gave me a good earful,” he chuckled. “Though not nearly as long nor as harsh as Alisaie, mind you.” Frenzia smiled and leaned into his hand, letting the warmth of his palm blend into her own.
“It uprooted me, then and there. I had already been enamored by the stories written of you, but after that day and every one thereafter, you proved them all true, and so much more.” Frenzia looked up once again, his eyes pleading with hers to believe him. “so, our story may not have the cleanest timing compared to everyone else’s, but I need you to know I've wanted to do this,” he squeezed her hand, his thumb rubbing reverently over her scars.
“This,” He pulled her gently to him, her ear falling upon his chest. It was racing faster than before, but steady somehow, too. He embraced her tightly, his lips pressing into the top of her head.
“And this,” he said softest of all, pulling her back and giving her the gentlest and most loving of kiss, the kind that makes your eyes flutter shut and your heart race. He pulled back enough so that their foreheads touched when their kiss broke, And he grabbed her hand again while his tail slowly wrapped with hers where they touched. “...For more than a century. So please, do not worry yourself so. I have been yours for longer than you could ever know, there is nothing of which I am more certain.”