The Mythology Set

Little Nymph V

Seto frowned in concern. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Seto, you're sleepin' more, not goin' on a trip. I know how t' get food, and my sister said I can come and spend time with her. I'll be fine," Joey sighed, scowling at him. "Besides, this is probably better for us. People have been talkin' about a weird snake creature and have been tryin' t' get someone t' come kill it. Lie low this winter."

The naga nearly flinched. He had to admit he'd been careless lately, and a few humans had seen him. "…But I'll need to hunt, and…"

"I'll bring meat for ya." Joey frowned as the brunet sighed forlornly and walked over to cup his cheeks. "Seto, please. I just wanna keep ya safe." He pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. "I wanna make sure that you're always here for me." He kissed him again, and the brunet slid his arms around his waist. "It'll just be for the winter, and when people don't see ya, they'll lose interest. I just wanna make sure no one hurts ya." He gasped as the older boy hugged him closer. "Seto!"

"I just want to coil around you and keep you with me all winter," Seto murmured, kissing his throat. "Mine…"

Joey squirmed and blushed a little. "Seto…"

"It sort of annoys me that you'll be fine without me," he admitted, frowning. "…It almost feels like you don't need me…"

The blond leaned back and cupped his cheeks, cooing, "Of course I need ya. I love ya, Seto. I'm just sayin' that I won't like havin' ya sleep all the time, but I'll be able t' deal with it 'cause ya need it t' be healthy."

Seto tugged him into another hug. "How am I supposed to go to sleep when you say things like that?"

Joey giggled as he felt the tip of the brunet's tail stroke the inside of his thigh. "Seto, ya already said ya didn't wanna sleep sticky."

"Suddenly the idea doesn't seem so bad." He kissed the blond's shoulder and sighed, then whined anxiously as the exhaustion he'd been feeling for the last few days suddenly began to take hold. "Fuck. I'm fading, Joey."

The younger boy kissed him gently and took a step back. "Seto, go to sleep."

"But I don't want…" Seto yawned widely, jaw cracking as he instinctively moved to the back of his den and coiled up. "Hmm… Come kiss me goodnight please…"

Joey giggled again but walked over to him anyway. "You're so silly, Seto." He leaned down to kiss him softly, and chuckled when the naga purred and finally settled. He stroked the brunet's cheek gently and kissed the top of his head. "Have a good rest, Seto. See ya tomorrow."

Seto would probably be asleep until noon the next day, and would only stay awake for a few hours—just long enough to eat, maybe cuddle a little (or even a round of sex) before he fell asleep again.

Joey had been both surprised and concerned when Seto had informed him that he'd be going into his version of hibernation, but he'd also been glad that the naga had told him about it. He knew that if he'd just woken up one morning and hadn't been able to wake his lover that he'd probably panic, and he didn't want to feel terror like he had when Seto had been shedding, even if he wasn't being hurt this time.

Sure, he wouldn't be able to amuse himself with Seto for a while, but Seto had assured him that he'd still cuddle in his sleep and that he would wake up if there was an emergency, so that was okay.

"Maybe I'll go see Serenity," he mused, then turned and wandered out of the naga's den.

He could go shopping, too, which he hadn't done in quite some time—Serenity would give him money or possessions from people that had drowned nearby so that he could buy some things (either for her or just for fun). It was how he'd heard that people had actually spotted Seto, though he wondered how people hadn't noticed him when he'd been sleeping with a human girl.

Ah, well. Seto said he'd lie low for him, and that's all that mattered. He didn't want some 'hero' to come and slice his lover's head off just because he was half-snake and had a holier-than-thou attitude.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Have you seen that serpentine monster lately?"

"No, I haven't. Perhaps it slithered back to wherever it came from!"

"Or it's lying low and just waiting for the perfect time to pounce on some unsuspecting young lady!"

Joey snorted a little as he listened to the group of women gossiping nearby, unable to help a smile even as the vendor of the stall he was examining gave him a funny look. "I think I'll take this one," he decided, pointing at a silver necklace that was formed to look like a snake head biting its own tail as a clasp. He'd wear it for when Seto woke up. Maybe he'd think it was funny.

"Maybe the creature's hibernating."

Joey's blood chilled at the suggestion. Who knew that Seto would be hibernating? Had they found Seto, or was it just a lucky guess? Was Seto still safe-?

The woman that had suggested it smiled at the other women that had turned toward her in affront, apparently insulted that she'd interrupt them; her eye patch made her look sinister, but her smile was friendly enough. "Snakes hibernate in the winter, you know."

One of the women looked relieved. "So we won't be seeing it again?"

"Probably not." The woman adjusted her eye patch and shrugged. "They sleep the entire winter and don't come out again until mid-spring. Waking up during the winter is hazardous to their health."

Joey frowned in concern even as he paid the vendor for his necklace. He brought his hand to his chest as he stared down at the table sightlessly. What if Seto was only waking up for him? What if waking up every day was taking a toll on his health? Would Seto put his health ahead of Joey's comfort?

"Joey, you stay in the forest with the other nymphs, don't you?" one of the women asked, turning toward him abruptly.

He blinked, shrugging awkwardly. "Well… sometimes."

"Have you seen the monster?"

"Oh, uh… Well, no. No, I don't think so," he answered, shrugging again. "I haven't really been lookin', though…" He gasped as he felt someone come up to stand behind him and turned. "Wha-?"

The man behind him smirked, showing off surprisingly sharp eyeteeth as his golden eyes glinted in the sunlight. "Well, I'd heard a rumor about a half-nymph that likes to come into town, but I never imagined that you'd be so beautiful."

Joey blushed brightly and squeaked as the women behind him tittered, and he knew they'd be gossiping about this for days. "Oh, well, um, thanks?"

"Are you busy, by any chance?" the man cooed.

Joey flinched, eyes wide. "Just what are ya suggestin'?"

He leaned down to brush his lips over the blond's ear and whispered, "I think you know what I'm suggesting, little one."

Seto would kill this man and then keep Joey inside the cave for the rest of his life (if he didn't kill him too, that is).

"I-I actually have somewhere t' be. Sorry." Joey smiled nervously, then turned to nod at the vendor in gratitude. "Thanks for the necklace." He gently pushed past the man and walked toward the forest swiftly, unable to help a few nervous glances over his shoulder just in case he was being followed. When he saw that he wasn't being followed, he scampered past the tree line and began toward the den.

Seto would be waking up soon. He'd ask him about his hibernating and whether or not it was healthy, just to be sure that Seto was being upfront with him.

Watching the half-nymph run off, the woman with the eye patch excused herself from the gossiping hens and came up beside her partner. "Well, James? What did you pick up?"

"He reeks of serpent," James replied, nose twitching a little. "He knows where the naga is. All we have to do is get everything set up and track him." He paused, breathing deeply to catch any last whiffs of the blond's surprisingly sweet scent. "…Margaret, it's been an awfully long time since you've allowed me to rut with you, and—"

"Yes, you can fuck the blond, but only after we get the naga," she snapped, rolling her eye in disgust. "Really, James, is that the only thing you ever think of?"

James tilted his head. Yes, it was, at least for the moment. The females of his species were in heat now, and his body wanted nothing more than to find one and rut away until the season was over.

Well, the sooner they caught the naga, the sooner he could pound the nymph into oblivion. He licked his lips in anticipation and began toward one of their covered wagons, unable to help imagining what it would be like to fuck the slim blond.

After all… he'd never fucked a nymph before.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Hearing a disgruntled muttering inside the den, Joey dropped his bag and ran into the cave. "Seto, you're awake!"

"'course I'm awake," the naga hissed, scowling, then slithered toward him sluggishly. He wrapped around the blond and slid his arms around his waist. "You weren't here when I woke up. I'm falling asleep again soon and I'm hungry. I want to spend as much time with you as possible before I fall asleep again."

Joey nuzzled the brunet's neck gently, then leaned back, smiling apologetically. "I'm sorry. I was in town."

"So I see." Seto snorted when he saw the necklace around the nymph's throat, reaching out to gently touch the silvery snake head. "What is this?"

The blond smiled brightly. "Isn't it cute?"

"It's disgusting. It's eating itself." He tilted his head a little, then smiled and leaned his forehead against the younger boy's. "Well, I guess it is cute on you. Otherwise, it's alarming."

Joey leaned in to kiss his cheek and sighed when the end of the naga's tail wrapped around his leg. "Maybe before ya fall asleep I can use my mouth on ya."

"But I want to be inside you," Seto moaned, giving him a light squeeze. "It's been a long time since I've had you."

The younger boy frowned and replied, "It's been a few weeks, yeah, but the last time we tried ya fell asleep on me. That was disappointin' beyond words."

The brunet at least had the grace to blush. "Well, yes, I see why you would be hesitant to try again. …What about doing it right now, before I get too tired?" he suggested, smirking in a way he knew the nymph found sexy.

Joey laughed and tapped him on the nose as he took a step back. "Ya need t' eat, Seto. Maybe tomorrow, when I'm actually here the minute you wake up."

"…Hibernations have never been this terrible before," the naga complained.

Remembering what he'd heard in town, the blond turned and looked up at him again quickly. "Seto, are you supposed t' be wakin' up every day when you're hibernatin'? Shouldn't ya be sleepin' the entire winter?"

Seto blinked. "Maybe, if I were actually a snake." The brunet reached out to cup the nymph's cheeks with his hands. "Do these feel like a snake? Are these snake hands?"

Joey giggled in embarrassment as the naga's fingers tickled his neck and ears playfully. "No-! They're human hands!"

"And do humans hibernate all winter, Joey?"

"No-!" The blond giggled again when the older boy leaned down to blow across his neck. "Ee!"

"Then why would I sleep all winter?" Seto kissed him softly. "This is how I hibernate, Joey. I wouldn't lie to you and make myself sick. I know that my being sick would upset you and I would never do anything that I knew would make me sick. Okay?"

Joey smiled bashfully and glanced away. "Yeah, I guess. I shoulda known…"

"…Did you bring me anything from town?" the brunet asked after a moment.

"…Oh! I bought some mutton!" The nymph clasped his hands together, unable to help being excited when he saw the brunet's eyes light up. The naga liked eating sheep, but he was hesitant to eat more than a stray sheep when he came across one so that farmers wouldn't get angry. "I left it outside. Lemme go get it!"

Seto watched the blond scamper back out of the den, smiling, then turned and slithered over to the corner, fighting back a yawn. He did have a few hours a day where he was awake, but he was usually groggy and fuzzy. It was only because of his mate that he was even lucid enough for sex.

He very much appreciated that the blond would still have sex with him even with the looming threat that he might fall asleep in the middle of it. Like last time. Joey had been upset, he could tell, but he hadn't said anything.

…Joey deserved something really special. He didn't know what, but he knew he should get him something.

"Seto-!"

Seto turned immediately at the frightened tremor in his lover's voice, eyes widening when he found a man standing behind the nymph, one arm wrapped around his throat so tightly that he could see the blond struggling to breathe. He hissed as the brown-haired man smirked at him, golden eyes glinting as he jerked his arm around the blond's neck and made him choke.

Infuriated, Seto snarled and began to lunge forward, but then the man drew out a knife and slid the blade against the silky tunic, pressing it against the nymph's ribs threateningly, so he froze and took a moment to reassess the situation.

"Well, well, well, we've been looking all over for a naga, and this one's so easily manipulated." A woman with an eye patch stepped into their den, making the brunet bristle angrily but unable to do anything. She smiled a nasty smile and held up a leather mask. "How would you like to save your lover?"

Seto turned his eyes on the trembling nymph, frowning and fighting back a hiss of concern when he saw tears running down his cheeks. His tail twitched awkwardly. "…I… I don't…"

The woman's visible brow lifted in surprise. "Oh? Alright then. James—"

The naga let out a noise of desperation as the strange man turned and slammed Joey against the wall of the cave and grabbed his hair to yank his head to the side. When he saw the knife flash against his pale neck, he hurriedly cried out, "No!"

"No?" The woman smirked again. "If you want your lover to live, you're going to have to give yourself up, naga."

Seto frowned and slithered backward a few inches. "…You're going to kill me?"

"Oh, of course not. What sort of circus would we be if we killed the attractions?" she cooed, stepping toward him. Her eye glinted maliciously. "Seto, he called you? That's a lovely name."

Seto's eyes darted back to his lover. He saw terror and guilt and he wanted nothing more than to take the nymph into his arms and soothe him, but when he saw the knife glinting at his neck, he knew he had no other choice. Turning toward the woman, he sighed, then nodded slowly. He suddenly felt exhausted down to his bones, and it had nothing to do with his hibernation.

"Alright." He ignored the way Joey's breath hitched, maybe with the want to protest, and slithered forward. "I know what that mask is for. Just… get it over with." He fought the urge to sink his fangs into her hands, allowing her to wrap the leather mask around the bottom half of his face.

He couldn't help a startled grunt as she suddenly yanked him around and twisted his arms behind his back, using thick metal shackles to bind his wrists together. He wriggled angrily and turned to slam his tail into her, but she merely wrapped an arm around his neck and somehow used her weight to slam him into the ground, leaving him wheezing.

This woman obviously knew what she was doing, keeping him from using his fangs and restraining his arms so he could sink his claws into her. He snarled as he felt something being wrapped around his neck and thrashed wildly, but then the leather collar around his throat was attached to his shackles with a thick chain, and she was using another chain attached to his collar to drag him toward her. He growled.

She merely smirked in response. "I've dealt with unruly naga before, Seto. You're not going to best me."

James turned to look at them, to make sure the serpent-man was subdued, then smirked, relaxing his grip on the nymph he was holding. "If only all of the other naga we dealt with were this easy to manipulate."

Seto growled as the man carelessly threw Joey to the ground, where he coughed and wheezed pathetically. He yelped as the woman grabbed a wooden club from her belt and hit him in the head.

"Shut up, James. Well, let's get going."

James frowned and tilted his head. "I thought you said I could…"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, James, just hurry the fuck up. Come on," she growled at the naga, glaring at him.

Seto struggled for a moment, head still spinning from the strike as he tried to slither toward his lover, but the woman somehow dragged him out of his den, leaving his little nymph in the room with the strange man that he could tell wasn't normal. He grunted and growled as she threw him onto a thick-roped net and attached the chain she'd been dragging him with to the saddle of a horse. He struggled wildly for a moment as the woman got onto one of the other horses but whipped around when he heard a scream from inside the den.

"Get off of me! Get off! No! Get off of me—nooooo!"

Seto lunged toward the den, but then the woman grabbed the reigns of the horse he was attached to and the reason for the net he was on became clear when the horse was urged into a gallop. He could only watch in horror as his den was lost in the distance, where his lover was being assaulted and he could do nothing about it.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Joey screamed as the man on top of him ripped the top of his tunic, smacking his hands away as he desperately tried to kick him off. "Get off of me! Get off!"

James growled angrily and grabbed the blond's knees, shoving them apart roughly and smirking when the nymph tried to shove his hands away and close his legs again. "You're a silly little nymph, aren't you?" he cooed, then slapped his ass roughly. "Thinking you'd be any match for a bear shifter. Really."

"NO! GET OFF OF ME!" The blond scrabbled wildly for something to defend himself and sobbed in relief as his fingers closed around a large rock. Bringing the rock up, he slammed it into the brunet's head, angrily shouting, "GET OFF!"

While the man was stunned, he scrambled out from under him and ran out of the den, stumbling when the brunet leapt after him. He tried to keep standing but was quickly wrestled to the ground. "No-!"

"You brazen little bitch," James snarled, slamming the nymph's head against the ground. "You pull something like that again and I'm going to fuck you until you die."

Joey whimpered as he felt the man grabbing between his legs, reaching back to grab his hair and feebly try to yank him away. "No…! Get off!" His other hand scrabbled wildly for something to use as a weapon.

His breath hitched as his fingers trailed over a large stick, and he reached desperately to get his hand around it. Once he had it firmly in his palm, he turned, using the momentum from spinning around to slam the branch into the man's skull. While he was stunned, he hit him again.

James roared angrily and reached out to grab his arm, intending to break it, but then the nymph hit him again—and again. Joey took a step back as the man fell to the ground, stunned, then lunged forward and continued to beat him with the branch until he became aware of the blood and gray mush splattered around his body.

Joey panted quietly, gulped, then dropped the branch and stumbled backward, disoriented and head still spinning from being slammed into the ground. When he realized what he'd done, though, he gasped and turned, scampering toward the river his sister inhabited in terror. What if that woman came back for her partner and found him dead? She'd hunt him down for revenge for sure!

Once at the river, he didn't even pause to say hello to his sister, instead running into the water and scrubbing himself frantically. "Oh gods, what have I done-!"

Serenity blinked, surprised, but when she saw the water being tinted pink, she rushed over to her brother and began to help him wash the blood and brain matter away. "Joey, what happened?"

"He was gonna rape me!" Joey exclaimed, turning toward her quickly. He tried to stay strong in front of his sister, but the tears came anyway. "They kidnapped Seto and then the guy tried t' rape me so I—so I—"

The full-blooded nymph immediately scowled, the water around her bubbling angrily. "If you hadn't, I would have tracked him down and drowned him."

The blond sobbed helplessly and shook his head. "But they tied Seto up so he couldn't fight and took him away!"

"We'll just have to track him down, won't we?" she stated simply, then stepped out of the water and coughed quietly. "Don't tell anyone I'm about to do this."

Joey sniffled in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Just shut up!" She glared at him, then huffed and turned toward the trees, cooing, "Oh, Tristan!"

The blond stared at her for a moment, baffled, until he saw a satyr come galloping out of the forest. He was momentarily frightened for his sister, but then the satyr knelt in front of her and grasped her hand, his other hand clutching his chest. "Serenity! You called!"

Joey stared.

Serenity giggled nervously; she could sense the thoughts of 'what the fuck did I just see' and 'I DO NOT APPROVE' oozing from her brother. "Yes. You said you were an excellent tracker during one of our conversations, didn't you?"

"Of course!" the brunet boasted. "What is it you need me to track, beautiful?"

"My brother's lover was kidnapped and we need to find him."

Tristan stared at her blankly, then turned to look at the blond still standing in the river. "…Oh, that snake guy that killed Molro when he was trying to fuck your brother. Sorry about him!" he called, shrugging. "He was a huge asshole and no one really liked him anyway." He glanced the blond up and down, then raised an eyebrow. "But he had good taste."

Serenity huffed and cleared her throat. "A-hem."

The brunet coughed. "But he's not as beautiful as you, Serenity."

"That's what I thought," she hissed.

Joey couldn't bring himself to be offended. His sister was a very beautiful nymph.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Seto watched with glazed-over eyes as another naga was forced into the caged ring with him, looking just as tired and hungry as he was. He knew the drill now. If he wanted to eat, he had to kill the other naga andmaybe he'd be fed—in front of the crowd jeering at him, of course, so they could ooh and ahh when he tore into the raw meat. If he was really desperate, he'd dislocate his jaw and swallow his meal whole, which the crowd really enjoyed.

But his opponent was so young, so small. He didn't want to kill the little boy that was looking up at him in terror. He knew it weigh on his conscience until he messed up and was killed himself.

He heard the bell that signaled they should begin fighting and immediately darted at the younger naga, circling around him in a flash. Instead of killing him quickly, though, he slapped the boy with the end of his tail, sending him rolling over the ground but giving him a chance to fight back.

The boy squirmed upright again and turned to face him, extending his fangs in what would normally be a threatening manner if Seto didn't know he was much better at fighting. Seeing that the younger naga was now relying on his instinct to survive, he decided to go in for the kill; his instinct to survive was coming forward now as well, and all he knew was that he wanted to win so that he could be fed.

"Seto, no!"

Seto turned sharply at the sound of his mate's voice, looking around wildly for the blond. He smiled when he saw the blond running toward the cage he was penned in and began slithering toward the barbed fencing in relief.

He'd forgotten he'd aroused the other boy's fighting instinct. He felt razor sharp fangs sink into his side and roared, turning to smack the younger boy away. His vision blurred for a moment as he fell against the barbed links.

Joey gasped and reached through one of the spaces to cup his cheek. "Seto!" He turned to his sister, startled when he found her wiping the floor with the woman with the eye patch as Tristan distracted the other circus workers. Turning back to the caged area, he began pulling at the heavy door, wondering how the stupid circus transported it.

Once the door was open, Seto lunged outside, gripping his side to try and staunch the bleeding. When Joey began to shut the door, trying to lock what he thought was another threatening naga inside, though, he shoved the blond out of the way and moved aside.

The younger boy bolted, weaving between the circus workers and poisoning anyone who grabbed him now that his fangs were no longer hindered by thick leather. Seto waited until he was sure the younger naga was gone before grabbing his mate and slithering out as well, at a more sedate pace. The smaller naga's poison wasn't yet strong enough to pose a serious threat to him—he wasn't old enough to fatally wound him—but he was still feeling even more sluggish and slow than he had before.

Joey looked up at him in concern. "Seto, you're bleedin'! Set me down, I—"

Seto spat at him to shut up and continued slithering. He knew he was fading fast, but he'd be damned if he was going to stay out in the open for those circus freaks to capture him again.

The blond yelped as the naga dropped him and flinched a little, then gasped as the older boy fell just a few feet from him, writhing wildly in an attempt to keep moving but much too tired to move. "Seto!" He looked around for someplace to hide in case the circus people came after them, sighing in relief when he realized they were near a river.

Serenity could use the water to protect them until Seto could move again, and Tristan had proven to be a very capable fighter. Hooking his arms under the older boy's, he began dragging him toward the water. He knew that Seto didn't necessarily like to get wet, but it would keep him safer with Serenity and it would give Joey a chance to clean the wound on his side, which was oozing puss and blood grotesquely.

"Gods, you're heavy," he groaned, glad for the mud to make dragging the larger creature easier. "Come on, Seto. We'll be okay."

Glazed blue eyes looked up at him hazily, but then the naga's lips quirked into a smile. "Joey… Mine…"

Joey blushed and smiled back at him only to yelp as he stepped on something and slipped, sending them both tumbling down a hill—luckily into the river, but he was momentarily disoriented when the naga landed on top of him, forcing him under the water. Shoving the brunet off, he sat up and gasped, then turned, pulling the older boy's torso into his lap. "Seto? Ya okay? Ya hurt?"

"…We just roll down a cliff?" Seto slurred, looking up at him dazedly.

The nymph frowned and cupped his cheek. "You okay, Seto?"

"…'m tired," he sighed, frowning. He reached up to place his hand over the blond's and whined in concern. "That man… did he…?"

"No. He's—uh—Well, you'll see when we get home," Joey muttered awkwardly. When the naga gave him a look clearly stating 'tell me now or I will drag myself upright and fight every instinct to sleep just to piss you off,' he sighed and looked away. "Um, I… I beat him t' death with a stick."

The naga blinked at him in surprise, then purred proudly. "Like you would have before you left me the first time… You're back to yourself, hmm…?"

Joey blinked at him in confusion. "What are ya talkin' about?"

"After I rescued you from that whore house, you needed me to protect you." Seto hummed and nuzzled closer to him. "Before that, you either ran or protected yourself. You can protect yourself again. I like that." He purred. "Spunky. Missed that."

The blond blushed a little. "Oh… Ya coulda said somethin' if ya really didn't like protectin' me—"

"Didn't mind…" The naga leaned up to kiss him softly. "Just missed the haughty attitude." He kissed him again. "Love you, Joey…"

Joey gasped quietly, eyes widening as the naga fell still in his lap. "…You just said that… Ya never… I…" He felt tears forming in his eyes even as he pulled the older boy closer. "You're not even gonna remember this when ya wake up tomorrow," he whispered, then sobbed.

Seto never remembered what he said right before he fell asleep. He couldn't even remember if they'd finished their round of sex or not if he fell asleep right after, leaving Joey with a confused and apologetic naga when he woke. Even when he'd assured the brunet that they'd both finished, Seto had never quite believed him because he still couldn't remember even when it was described in great detail to him.

He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if he told Seto that he'd admitted he loved him. It was probably just the exhaustion and thankfulness at being rescued that made him say it, anyway, not because he'd actually wanted to or because he'd planned it or anything. Joey sighed shakily and wiped his eyes as he sensed his sister approaching through the water.

She frowned in concern. "Is he okay, Joey?"

Joey nodded and ran his hand through the brunet's hair gently. "Yeah, just tired. We won't be able t' move again until he wakes up tomorrow. I can't carry him very far and he doesn't like waking up in places he doesn't remember gettin' to. He's already gonna be cranky enough tomorrow."

"I guess I can guard us that long. Tristan and I will keep a look out." Serenity smiled and reached out to stroke her brother's cheek. "I'm glad you got your lover back, Joey. You two go so well together."

Joey smiled bashfully and opened his mouth to reply, but then Seto grunted and started trying to coil up, slipping from his arms. He sputtered in confusion as he fell into the water and slithered wildly.

The blond yelped and got to his feet to chase after him as the current, coupled with his slithering, began to pull him downriver. "Seto! Stop movin'!"

Serenity coughed to cover up a laugh. "Well. I suppose we should take turns watching out for those disgusting humans."

"…Yeah…" Tristan watched the blond hurry to pull the naga upright and dragged him over to the edge of the river. "…I don't know whether I should laugh or cry," he muttered when the half-nymph slipped, making them both tumble under the water again.

"How about a sympathetic stare," she suggested, cringing a little when the naga's tail flipped about and curled around her brother, causing them to fall onto the muddy bank and covering them both in a layer of dirt.

The satyr nodded. "Sympathetic stare. I can do that." He sighed when the blond tried to struggle out of his lover's scaly grip but couldn't because the brunet was holding him so tightly. "…My sympathy is overwhelming me."

Serenity sighed. "Welcome to my world."

.-.-.-.-.-.

Seto yawned widely, jaw cracking as he felt awareness coming back to him. He ran his hand through his lover's silky hair and sighed quietly, ready to slip back into slumber, but then he remembered what had happened yesterday—The fight with the younger naga, Joey coming to his rescue, fleeing as quickly as possible despite his exhaustion. Rolling down that hill and tumbling into the river, hearing that Joey had killed the man that had attacked him…

Seto purred with pride as he hugged the nymph closer. While he would admit that he really enjoyed protecting his mate, hearing that the blond could protect himself when push came to shove was incredibly comforting. He'd feel more comfortable leaving his nymph at home when he went to go hunting—

Home.

Seto sat up and looked around, taking in his surroundings, then looked up at the sun. Once he was oriented, he gathered Joey into his arms and began slithering through the water. On the other side of the river, he paused to nuzzle the blond's throat, smiling when he curled closer in his arms. He deserved something very special, and when he figured out whatever it was, he was going to give it to him immediately.

Hearing scales gliding over grass, he turned his head sharply, just in time to see a gray flash disappear behind a tree. He narrowed his eyes and hissed quietly, frowning, then began slithering faster. Once he heard the other creature following him, he turned sharply, baring his fangs threateningly. "What do you want?"

The younger naga flinched backward, eyes wide, then turned and lunged into a bush. "Eek!"

Seto stared at the few inches of tail still sticking out of the leaves, raising his eyebrows as a clawed hand reached out and hurriedly pulled it into the safety of the branches. "…Right…" He shifted awkwardly, then decided not to worry about it since the other boy clearly didn't want a confrontation.

He couldn't help the growing confusion when the other naga continued following them, though.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Joey groaned and sat up, rubbing the small of his back with a grimace. 'You're not supposed t' hurt unless we've had sex, stupid body, especially down there. Ugh, I should get Seto t' let me walk instead of carryin' me the whole way. We may not get home as quickly, but at least we could—' Seeing scales that were darker than his lover's, he stared at them for a while before following the pattern up to a pale body.

He recognized the naga as the one Seto had been fighting with, the one that had bitten him. So why was he lying with them, tail curled around Seto's like they were nesting together? "GAAAHHHH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

Seto jerked awake and looked around wildly as the other naga shrieked and immediately slithered over to the nearest bush to hide in it. "Wha-? What's who doing?"

Joey scowled and cuddled up to the older boy. "You're mine."

"Hmm?" The brunet blinked his bleary eyes in confusion. "Yeah?"

"Not that other kid's."

"Wha' other kid? Hmm?" Seto yawned and glanced around, still baffled, then sat up, deciding that they should probably get going because they would be home in a couple of days—maybe even that evening, if he pushed himself. "What are you talking about, Joey?"

"That other naga had his tail wrapped around yours," Joey muttered, still scowling, and wrapped his arms around the brunet's neck when he scooped him up.

Seto frowned and began gliding through the grass. "It's cold, Joey. He probably just wanted to share body heat." When the blond only shot him a disgruntled look, he sighed in frustration. "Joey, lots of naga sleep together in the winter. Some naga even have orgies at the end of winter to celebrate the end of another hiberna—"

The brunet's head jerked sideways when the nymph's palm collided with his cheek. Stunned, he dropped the younger boy, bringing a hand to the bruising flesh as he slithered backward in confusion.

Joey stood, rubbing his rump tenderly even as he glared at him. "That hurt!"

"So did being slapped!" Seto snapped, glaring back at him. "You've been in a weird mood for the past few days! What's wrong? Why are you so mad? Did we have sex and I don't remember leaving you unsatisfied again before I fell asleep?"

"I'm mad because of somethin' ya did before ya fell asleep, but it wasn't sex!" the blond replied, crossing his arms and turning away.

The naga hissed and circled around him, snarling when the younger boy immediately turned away from him again. "What did I do, then? Flirt with someone? Make a pass at your sister? …Suggest you lose weight?"

Joey spun toward him angrily. "Ya said ya loved me!" He felt tears forming in his eyes and told himself it was because he was so angry, not because he was hurting.

Seto frowned, confused and horrified. "Why would I say that? I don't—"

"I know ya don't!" the blond exclaimed, tears escaping and rolling down his cheeks. "Ya say you're tryin' t' love me but it's obviously never gonna happen!" His breath hitched. "And now ya think I'm fat?"

The naga hissed quietly, crossing his arms. "I didn't mean that. I was just frustrated." He sighed when the nymph sobbed and began toward him, reaching out to hold him and comfort him. "Joey, it's not that I don't love you, it's just that—"

"Yes it is," Joey hissed, glaring at him, and retreated so that Seto couldn't hold him. "You don't think I'm attractive anymore because I'm fat and you don't love me. I don't hafta put up with this."

Seto scowled. "You're perfectly attractive, Joey, and your curves just give me more to love. I care about you deeply and given time I know I'll love you, but—"

"I don't wanna wait anymore!" the blond spat. "I shouldn't hafta wait anymore! I've waited so long, Seto—Maybe not long for you, because you'll live much longer than I will, but long enough for me, especially when you rejected me that first time." His breath hitched and he couldn't tell whether he was more angry or hurt. "Ya said ya loved me and I could tell ya meant it then, and now you're sayin' ya don't love me? I can't do this, Seto, I just can't."

The brunet frowned. "Joey, please, I just need a little more time—"

Joey glared at him again and repeated, "I don't wanna wait anymore! I wanna love and be loved in return! I'm nineteen, Seto, and the only love I've ever gotten is from my sister! I deserve t' be loved and I shouldn't hafta keep waitin' around hopin' that someday maybe you'll love me back!" He sobbed again, then turned and rushed toward the river, diving into it and disappearing beneath the surface.

Seto hissed, waiting for him to come up again, but then the speed of the river grew, and he saw a flash of red hair before Serenity went surging by and caught her brother as she continued on her way home. He whined quietly to himself when he realized that his lover would get home ahead of him, distressed when he realized that Joey probably wouldn't even go back to their den.

He supposed it was for the best. Joey would have time to cool down and he'd have time to think about an answer for him.

Hearing a soft hiss behind him, Seto turned, scowling. "What are you looking at?" he snapped, seeing that the younger naga hadn't hidden when he'd turned to look at him this time.

"…You told your mate that he's fat," the younger boy muttered, frowning.

Seto roared in frustration. "HE'S NOT FAT, HE'S CURVY!"

…But he'd insinuated that he thought Joey was fat.

The brunet sighed tiredly. Perhaps he had more to think about than he'd originally thought.

"…Can I stay with you until winter ends?" the younger naga asked hesitantly. "My home is very far away and I don't want to be caught asleep by some human that wants to kill me or throw me into a cage again."

Seto sighed again. "I guess you can stay with me until we get to my den. Then it'll be up to Joey. …Though by what I just saw, he doesn't much like the idea of me touching anyone else…"

"You made it seem like we were going to have sex as soon as winter was over. I'd be a little mad, too." The younger boy took in the distressed expression on the brunet's face, then hesitantly offered, "My name's Mokuba."

"I'm Seto." Seto paused. "…That was Joey."

"He seems… nice. He's possessive of his mate. That's good, isn't it?" Mokuba smiled nervously. "He was cute."

The brunet hissed. "Don't get any ideas. I don't share."

The younger boy raised his hands in surrender. "He's too feisty for me anyway."

"You're damn right he is. Let's get going," Seto muttered, turning to go. "We can make it to my den tonight if we hurry."

Mokuba decided he'd hurry as fast as the brunet wanted. Sleeping out in open areas like this made him nervous, even when he was sticking close to an older and more experienced naga. …He just hoped Joey didn't come back and find them curled up together. He was afraid the jealous blond might actually try to kill him.