Lucious stood alone, overseeing the whole column from atop a large rock spire as the escorts moved to their position, lodging themselves in for the night. So far there has been nothing to write home about, a few feral beast-men, wild animals and the like, nothing his Inquisition alone couldn't handle, their scouting parties reported nothing dangerous in half a mile radius and their defenses were strong. Yet for some reasons, Lucious couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, as if calamity would strike if he let his guard down, especially after so much.
- There you are. - Ginji said, hopping from ledge to ledge to the top of the spire. - I've been looking for you.
- How are they? - The Lord Inquisitor asked, watchful golden eyes still glued to the maze of campfires.
- Haru-kun's fine. - The High Elf smiled as he replied. - He seems a bit livelier than the first time I saw him.
- Tell me about it. - Lucious chuckled, slowly sitting down, feeling the cold air brushing pass him. - He seems so familiar with us for someone who have no memory of us.
- You're worried he wouldn't be the same, aren't you? - The elf asked again, quietly, having heard his friend's doubtful tone.
Lucious didn't answer, he didn't even turn to look at Ginji, he simply nodded, slowly and shakily, hiding the warm tears rolling down his stoic face. For all of his devotion for Quetz, for all of his pride, successes and ruthlessness, the Anacondrai still couldn't get over his one greatest failure. The blond sighed, sitting down next to his friend, he reached out and caressed the older male's shaggy black hair gently, feeling his jolting as he quietly cried. Pulling himself closer to the older male, Ginji gently wrapped his arms around Lucious' quivering frame, humming the lullaby that he's so fond of to calm him as the cold with whistled around them.
***
He sleeps so soundly for someone suffering from reoccurring nightmares, Quetz thought, stroking Haru's back as he watched the teen quietly snoring into his chest, coiled into a ball under the warm and comfy blanket. The older male smiled, leaning down to place a kiss onto the boy's temple, causing him to smile and squirm in his sleep, much to his companion's relief. The Anacondrai slowly laid his head down onto the pillow, gently caressing Haru's hair as he contemplated the situation. For the moment, everything seemed well, they have enough supplies, if not more, to reach their sanctuary, and the white haired boy's condition has improved somewhat. He's still prone to waking up from nightmares, but at least he didn't go into full panic attack.
Another squirm from Haru pulled Quetz out of his thoughts, turning his gaze downward, the white haired man watched as the boy squinted his eyes, cold sweats dripping down from his forehead as he gripped at the older male's shirt. Another nightmare, the Anacondrai thought, gently wrapping his arm around Haru and pulled him close, stroking his back slowly to ease his sleep.
- Ke…to�� - Haru quietly and sleepily called out, opening his violet eyes as he felt Quetz's hand against his back.
- I'm here. - The older male replied softly, pressing his lips against the boy's snowy white hair. - Did you have another nightmare?
Haru didn't say anything, yet his frown and soft whimpering were enough for the white haired man to tell that it's true. The boy buried his face into his beloved's chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly, trying to calm his mind, to quell the raging dread plaguing his mind. It's the same nightmare every time he closes his eyes, the same dead dark elf chasing him through the petrified forests as he rushed toward the throne. Instinctively. Haru thought as he lied curled up against Quetz, he knew what that throne is and whom it belongs to, maybe that's why he ran toward it, maybe he's hoped that his beloved Quetz would be there to shield him from that horrible thing chasing him. Or maybe…there's something else.
The white haired boy yawned, rubbing his eyes in tiredness, exhausted but couldn't sleep, fearing his ghostly pursuer would return. He gripped at Quetz's shirt, the memories of the undead elf's glowing violet eyes burning with hatred seared his mind. It was more than anger, more than anything he's experienced coming from his fellow villagers, even back then they're more afraid of him and acting out of ignorance, as Lucious' put it when they were making their ways back to the main column. No one here hates Haru, the black haired Anacondrai has reassured him, no one fears him nor wants him gone and the way the people here treated him proved that it's true. Yet for some reasons, the white haired boy couldn't shake off the feeling that someone, something has always wanted just that, for him to be gone.
- Keto-san… - Haru quietly called out.
- Hm? - The white haired man replied, lifting his head from the pillow, the sight of his concerned amber eyes looking at him made the white haired boy felt somewhat safer.
- Keto-san. - The teen murmured unsurely. - Will the people in Sanctuary…really like me?
- Of course they will! - The older male stated firmly, pulling himself and the boy up, sitting Haru onto his crossed laps. He let the teen adjust himself, both physically and mentally, before gently lifting his chin with his fingers so their eyes could meet. - Of course they will. - He repeated assuredly, stroking the teen's snowy white hair.
- How do you know?
Haru's question gave Quetz pause, setting into him a faint yet deep pain, made even worse by those gleaming violet orbs staring into his soul. They cut so deep and clean, those eyes of the white haired teen, filled with doubt, sorrow, anxiety, things that he didn't want to see, not after Haru's been through so much. Gently, the Anacondrai caressed his beloved boy's cheek, feeling the warmth of Haru's skin, not knowing what to say or do to comfort his small companion. Yet to his surprise, the white haired boy seemed…understanding, smiling at him as he nuzzled his face against the older male's hand, though a closer look would suggest that it's but a mere attempt to ease the man. An attempt that managed to put a smile onto Quetz's face, yet did nothing to hold back his sigh, one that filled Haru with regret.
- I'm sorry. - The white haired boy murmured, gently getting off his beloved's laps, backing away toward the wall of the chamber and leaned back, pulling his legs toward him to hide his face.
What was he doing? The teen asked himself, burying his face into one of his arm, while the other shakily combed, no, clawed through his hair, gripping and pulling as if to punish himself. He's wanted nothing more than to escape the abuses and harassments by the older kids aimed at him for his mistakes, it's so horrible, so painful just to think about it. Yet now, amidst people who actually love him and care for him, his mistakes, his stupidity, his weakness, his reckless curiosity, everything he's done felt so much worse, cutting deeper into his mind and weighing heavier on his heart. It's weird, but as Haru gripped and pulled at his snowy white hair, he wished there was someone to punish him for his mistakes.
- Haru! - Quetz slightly raised his voice, making the white haired teen flinch, curling up even more as he felt the man shifting on the mattress, moving closer to him. - Haru. - He heard the man called out again, feeling his warm hands reaching for him.
- No. - The white haired boy pulled away, pressing his back against the wall, still hiding his face in his folded arms. - No… - He pleaded. - Please…no…
- Haru. Let go of your hair. - Quetz's voice was firm, commandingly so.
- No… - Haru yelped quietly, pulling himself away from the man he loved so much, even when the older male's hands reached for him. - No, please…go away. - He begged, shakily pushing Quetz away with his legs. - Please…Keto-san…please…
- Haru!
Pain coursed through the white haired boy's arms as firmed hands gripped at them, the shear pressure and force caused his finger to loosen their grasps from his snowy white hair. In a blink of an eye, Haru's wrists were wrenched apart, held tightly against the wooden wall of the small chamber, the warm, secluded retreat of both him and Quetz suddenly felt so threatening and claustrophobic. A squeal of pain and fear escaped Haru's clenched teeth as he opened his violet eyes, only to be greeted by the white haired man's hateful, raging and sorrowful eyes. His expression was a mixture of deep sadness and blinding anger, the darkness of the chamber casted a glooming, ominous shadow over his face, making the amber orbs and the fang-like teeth partially hidden behind parted, curled up lips almost seem like they're glowing.
Haru whimpered and closed his eyes shut, trying his best to turn away, his face pressed against the hard wooden wall, desperately pushing at the bed sheet with his legs as hot tears trailed down his face. He felt Quetz moving on the sheet, the grips on the boy's wrists tighten, causing him to squeal again in pain. His heart pounded wildly as he felt the man moved closer, the larger form pressing against the boy's lithe body, pinning him against the wall as rough, dried lips brushed against the side of his head, slowly moving down his face, then his neck. Tears trickled down Haru's face as he began to panic, feeling Quetz's lips on his jawline then down to his neck, slightly parted, letting the teeth below brushing against the soft, delicate skin. The boy tried to scream for Quetz to stop, for anyone else to stop him, yet all that managed to escape his gaping mouth was gagging noises, like something was choking him, preventing him from calling for help. Even his legs felt weak and heavy, his attempts of kicking the man away fell flat as he could barely muster enough strength to put pressure onto the man's side.
The white haired teen yelped again as he was thrown onto the bed sheet, the small chamber spun before his eyes in a swirl of vague shapes and colors, the only thing that's clear in that blurry madness was a pair of amber eyes burning with lust and a thirsting maw. Before he could even adjust his vision, Haru was seized by his biceps, pinning him in place as Quetz positioned himself above him, straddling him with his powerful legs and tail. The boy's violet eyes shot open in pure terror as he realize the position he's in, position the men forced him into when they violated him. Lips now clamped into skin patches of his neck, only to pull back roughly, leaving behind painful bruising marks, each causing the squirming teen beneath their owner to let out a choked up, gagged yelped. He shook his head in protest, but Quetz wouldn't stop, roughed lips pressing against Haru's throat, a tongue stuck out, dragging itself along the teen's shivering, delicate neck and teases his ear.
Haru opened his mouth in a soundless scream, then clenched his teeth tightly, then open again as he let out wordless pleading, begging for the man to stop. But his voice wouldn't come out, seemingly choked as Quetz forced him to tilt his head backward, nibbling, sucking, licking at the base of the boy's throat, urged on even more by the struggling beneath him. Panic slowly set in, as the teen's vision blurred, both from the tears and the rapid panting and gasping, feeling Quetz nibbling at his throat and collarbones, choking him while pressing his entire body against the boy's and started to grind.
- N-no! Stop!
Finally, a choked up cry managed to escape Haru's mouth, before being silenced by Quetz's lips catching his, muffling the panicked and scared sobbing. The boy snapped his head away, squeezing his eyes shut and clenched his teeth, letting out low shrieks as he felt the man's body grinding against his, triggering memories of his violation by the hands of the villagers.
Constricting arms coiled beneath Haru's arched back, pressing his body more into the man's chest while the older man pressed downward, every inch of his skin feeling the warmth and sensation of the shiver, squirming body below. Quetz's mind was a blank, completely hypnotized by the smell and taste of his beloved's soft, milky white skin as he let his lips and tongue explore the teen's exposed throat. Long, pointed ears drank in the sweet sounds of fear that's uttered with each of the motions of his lips and tongue. Longingly, they trailed up and down the delicately thin neck and throat, leaving love marks that caused the boy to let out a choked up, gasping sobs, sounds that traveled through his body, ranking his soul and settling pleasure inside the Anacondrai.
Lips clamped around the white haired boy's neck, pressing him down in a choking embrace as Quetz began to shift again. Ignoring the throbbing, squirming lithe body below, ignoring the weak, desperate hand that's hitting, pushing and clawing at his shoulder, he forced smooth slender thighs apart this his tail, temporarily letting go of his hold on the boy's windpipe. He smirked as he lifted his head to look at the terrified face below, hazy amber eyes drinking in the sight of the teary violet eyes and pink, trembling soft lips blowing out hot shaky breaths.
- K-Keto… - Haru called out, pleading with his squeaking, terrified voice. - Pl-please…st-stop…
Quetz glared down motionlessly, savoring the terror in the boy's eyes and the sight of his body, feeling the quivering of the teen's body, body that's at his pleasure to enjoy. Lust coursed through the man's body, causing his grip to tighten, his eyes to flinch, his entire body shivered with desire, manifesting into ways that he's sure the boy could feel it too. Allowing his prey just a moment of horror as realization dawned on him, the older male bent down, capturing soft lips to silence his scream, a tongue forced the boy's mouth open, allowing the wet muscle to explore the inside of his mouth freely. Haru's legs kicked and pushed at his side and in the coils of his long tail, desperately trying to prevent the older male from settling his weight in between them to no avail, but Quetz didn't budge, moaning into the forceful kiss as he pressed and grinded their parts together.
- N-no…ple-ease… - Haru's begged and panted between sobs, having been release from his beloved's kiss. - P-please…stop…please…
- Haku… - Quetz mewed quietly, softly, seductively. Lovingly. - Haku…say my name…Haku…
- Ke…to… - Haru replied, hoping that'd be enough to snap the white haired man out of his trance-like state, slowly regaining his strength as he's allowed longer respites. - Keto…please… Keto please! Stop! I don't want this! This isn't you! Stop it! Please!
To his horrors, Haru saw Quetz's expression soured, his hazed amber eyes squinted in anger, the loving smile disappeared from his lips, replaced by a threatening snarl revealing sharp fanged teeth. Before he could let out a call for help, the man's fingers have wrapped themselves around the boy's mouth and nose, pinning his head in place with their vice-like grip.
He smiled again, sadistically as he heard the muffled screaming, feeling the white haired boy's pathetic struggles beneath him as he continued to grind their parts against one another. Clawed fingers seized Haru's wildly kicking leg, the tips of their nails dug into the delicate skin, deep enough to draw blood, while the other limb was pinned in place by a coiling white tail. He smiled as tears slipped out from tightly squeezed shut violet eyes, tickling his finger as it teasingly stroke the boy's face, feeling the pathetic pushing and pinching on his chest and shoulders as he continued grinding, each time pushing up just a bit more of the silky barrier between him and his prize. Bending down, the crazed, lust-filled Anacondrai allowed his lips and tongue to molest the soft, delicate neck as his freed hand travelled upward, lifting up the boy's shirt up to his neck, sweeping away the pitiful attempt to stop him, his ears drinking in the frantic noises of panic and protest.
The older male reared up fully, unbuttoning his silk shirt in rapid succession with one hand, so eager, thirsting, so desperate with his lust that he simply ripped out several of the buttons. He ignored the banging on the door leading into their private quarter, His private quarter, as once again he bent down, clamping his lips against Haku's exposed neck, hand holding the stubborn wrist from pushing him away as he grinded, now feeling the elf's skin against his bare chest. Slowly, he rose up one last time, stopping only as he felt the force from the white haired elf's hand gripping at his chest, his amber eyes drinking in the lithe form beneath him.
Haku lied bared, his lithe chest puffed and collapsed in rapid, shallow breaths as he squirmed weakly to escape, the attempt made the Anacondrai lord lick his lips in delight. Gently yet firmly, he lifted the elf's head, tears trickling down his fingers from hazed eyes darting in panic from lack of oxygen as muffled sobs slipped through his hand. Only when the dark elf's almost limped, his sobbing all but silenced, did the white haired man relinquish his grasp from the smaller male's mouth. He watched with sadistic pleasure as Haku sucked in air in deep, shuddering breaths, coughing and gagging from his sobbing. Gently, lovingly, the Emperor caressed the elf's parted lips with his thumb, feeling the fearful trembling against his appendage before leaning down and brushing them with his own, his long, silvery white hair tickled the bruised neck as he did. Pulling back, he savored the terrified and broken look in Haku's violet eyes, smiling at his exhausted expression, before trailing his lips down the quivering chest. He allowed the elf a brief moment of respite, feeling the warm skin brushing against his parted lips with each shuddering breath, before clamping them hard onto the exposed nipple, ears drinking in the delightful scream of pain, oblivious of the swirling torrent of purple magic energy in his prey's hand, still gripping against his shoulder with blood dripping down between the fingers.