This is a gift for chibicheeberson, who asked if I would be willing to write a fic with Sean Whump instead of my usual and came up with a prompt I simply couldn't resist. So here's my take on that. Chibicheeberson, I hope I could make this into something you will enjoy. ;D Thank you for kicking my muse into gear... this ff has grown to much bigger proportions than I initially thought it would and was thrilling to write. ^,^
Also this is loosely inspired by the song 'Viking Death March' performed by Billy Talent. Ever since hearing that song I've wanted to write a Grimm ff about it and when Chibicheeberson gave me that prompt it was like my pod had found a lid. ; ) This also means that you will find a few lines of the song incorporated in the story... although the question remains, if you will be able to spot them. XD
So have fun!
GRIMMGRIMM
Two Sides Of A Coin:
They have picked their moment well. They have attacked late in the evening, when he has gone home after working non stop for days. Two of his Detectives have investigated a tough case and as their Captain it's been his part to support them and keep politicians and media off their back.
Thus after a week of this he hasn't been better off than his men, practically dead on his feet. That was when they came for him.
There have been 9 of them – safety in numbers, they say. They certainly had that... along with a well of rage and criminal energy.
Sean prides himself on being a tough, seasoned fighter but in his state and being outnumbered by this margin he has no real chance.
At first he gives as good as he gets but then a man steps into fray, who surmounts even his own impressive height of 6ft 4'! It is a snow lowen. A fierce, merciless fighter – apparently their leader – who overpowers him with no difficulty at all. The last thing Renard knows before all goes black is agony beyond measure as they beat him within an inch of his life and the face of that lowen as he looks down on him with cruel satisfaction. He knows that face...
GRIMMGRIMM
Tuesday evening Sean Renard has been abducted by a group of rogue wesen. By Wednesday around noon it is clear that something is amiss. When the Captain doesn't show up at work Wednesday morning even though he has appointments to keep Marsha, his PA, tries to reach him on his cellphone. It goes to voice-mail every time she calls, which makes her grow a bit worried. If there is something to be said about her employer's qualities, it is punctuality, reliability and perfect organization of whatever he does.
Her next stop is Sergeant Wu, something like Renard's second, unofficial PA, who is almost always up to date with the man's schedule. But even all-knowing Wu comes up empty, so in her desperation she turns to Dt.s Griffin and Burkhardt, who seem to have an almost eery connection to their Captain sometimes.
They promise to drive by their bosses' condo as soon as they heed out investigating their latest case.
Nobody jokes about their Captain accidentally oversleeping after the last stressful days. It's not even that Renard wouldn't take such ribbing with good grace but rather that it simply doesn't happen. Ever.
GRIMMGRIMM
Sean comes around to find himself in a peculiar position. He wants to jerk upright, instincts screaming at him to prepare for a fight, but strong restraints hold him in place! He represses a growl. Don't show weakness! Don't show a reaction!
Instead he takes stock of the situation. He is alone but bound by thick leather bands into a kneeling position. There's enough room to hold his upper body erect but not any more. His wrists are bound behind his back, held in place by thick iron shackles.
And then there's pain! He feels each and every bruise, cut and fractured bone they've dealt him. It will hinder him. He knows this without a doubt.
Still, he should be able tune it out if need be. The only question, will that be enough? Carefully he tests bindings and shackles... sturdy but not unbreakable, at least not with zauberbiest strength to draw back on. Carefully surveying the room – a cellar with one door, no windows and flickering artificial lighting – the Prince settles in for a wait. He needs to gather his strength and find out what his enemies want from him. That, unfortunately, only leaves facing them.
The heavy door opens with a creak, allowing a group of men to enter. Renard watches them carefully, eyes hooded, expression unreadable. Already he recognizes a few of them, which sets his blood to boil with undulated fury. When all of them have stepped in, leering and growling at him when their wesen side gets the better of them, he is absolutely sure of what they are:
Banned individuals. Banned from his canton by him, the ruler of Portland, most upon threat of death.
"Prince Sean. How nice of you to join us. Took you long enough, don't you think?"
It is the white lowen. The man steps up to him, towering above him impossibly high, while hard golden eyes regard him with contempt and revulsion. Renard is an epitome of regal calm, letting absolutely nothing slip past his shields.
"Ivor Aeldridge. If my memory serves right I threw you out of my canton, promising you a slow and painful death, should you ever return."
"Yes, well, I returned anyway. I will take your place, Renard, and together with my companions I will establish a new, better rule than that of an aberration like you. And, of course, I am curious as to how you plan to kill me... seeing as you are a bit incapacitated right now."
The Prince's eyes are chips of icy green when he cocks his head, entrapping the lowen in his stare like a predator his prey.
"There's always an opportunity. And I do keep my promises."
Hearing that cold drawl no one would guess that Sean Renard is bound and kneeling on the ground. There is a calm about him that is downright unnerving. Even though he has to look up to do so, he catches the eyes of each and every creature in the room, confronting them with a silent promise of violence and death. There's shift among the group, a ripple of fear and nervousness. Inwardly the lowen snarls in rage.
Damn the bastard Prince and his self-control!
"Down!" Without warning he backhands his enemy, delivering a brutal blow with no restraint. The impact is sudden and nearly knocks him out! His head whips around, tendons and muscles of his neck strained nearly beyond endurance!
"Let's take it down!"
These sharply hissed words penetrate the fog of pain only slowly, registering in Sean's mind with delay. He hears cruel satisfaction, an edge that sounds almost loving but is pure sadism. He swallows thickly, blood sliding down his throat while bile is just a step away from rising.
He jerks his head back when a hand appears in his field of vision but he is too slow. His chin is taken, pulled upward to make him look up and expose his throat to all assembled in a gesture of absolute domination.
"We will show no mercy on evolution's mistake!" Ivor's voice carries clearly when he turns his head to face the group. That show of confidence is like a calming balm for his companions.
"He is weak, an aberration of nature! A wesen mongrel that will never surpass his dirty heritage! Let's put his head on a stake for all to see!"
At those last words he turns back to the fallen bastard Prince, eyes alight with blood-lust.
But Sean Renard is far from defeated. He may be badly beaten and humiliated but he will wait for his chance and then he will kill this unworthy worm of a being. He looks Aeldridge dead in the eye, his own blazing with such dark intent that some of the other wesen shift and step back in fear. There are blutbaden, coyotl and shakals among others. They all take up his scent. The blood, the pain even, but also a promise of merciless revenge, contained in the smell of an unrivalled predator.
"I see we have to work on you a bit more, don't we? We cannot have you all defiant and disobedient."
Sean wills his heartbeat to slow down to a sedate pace and his face to remain emotionless. He knows, it is either this or letting terror consume him.
GRIMMGRIMM
It is on the aforementioned Wednesday at noon that Nick and Hank come across their Captain's car in the parking garage of the building where his condo is located. It is unlocked and the door on the driver's side is not even fully closed. That in itself is worrisome but what sends shivers of shared fear down their spines are blood smears on the floor!
Hank squats down to examine them more closely while Nick looks for other clues. He just searches the garage for security cameras and such, which may have recorded the very act, when Hank calls him.
"Nick, come back over here and look at the smears. This doesn't look good at all!"
The Grimm joins his partner and after taking a close look he can only confirm Hank's suspicion. They look at each other and when Nick whispers "To me this looks like these have been made by claws sliding across the floor." Hank can only nod numbly.
"This is wesen related as sure as I am a G... cop."
They contemplate if they should make this an official case or not but in the end opt for keeping things quiet. If this is as big as they think, then they do well not to pull humans into it. It is a relief that Hank and Wu are both kehrseite-schlich-kennen by now, enabling them to help Nick in his search.
So they explain things to the Sergeant and set him up on discreetly looking through the building's camera footage while Hank will search for their Captain through Police channels and Nick will talk to his many contacts in the wesen world. Wu will also fabricate some calming and totally reasonable explanation for Marsha and the rest of the station while the three of them work on saving him from behind the scenes.
Camera footage doesn't yield any information other than time of abduction. Whoever has taken their Captain has been clever enough to deactivate the security system. The only upside: By establishing when cameras stopped working and when they started up again they can narrow down a time frame for the actual attack. Hank has been able to get a CCTV picture of the kidnapper's car but neither does it show a clear view of its occupants nor does running the plate number through PPD database generate a name. Obviously that plate has been fake one.
Nick has collected some information pertaining his bosses' abduction but all he has been able to gather is too vague to lead them to the perpetrators and more importantly to their Captain!
GRIMMGRIMM
In the end it is actually Nick's mum who mails him the last piece of the puzzle that is Renard's sudden disappearance. No matter how many allies Nick has made in the wesen world Kelly Burkhardt's net of spies still surpasses his own by far!
The text goes as follows:
Needless to say, I got your mail, son, and I looked into what you asked me to.
I have come across a man named Ivor Aeldridge. He is a white lowen and, if my contact speaks the truth, banned from the canton of Portland upon threat of death. Apparently he has recruited other rogue wesen to instigate a rebellion against Portland's ruler. I am sure you know who that is.
Aeldridge seems to have a special agenda against that Prince of yours and it has become known in certain circles that he has made his move.
If you want to save your Captain, you should hurry and look into what buildings Aeldridge has rented in the last few months. Oh, and most importantly, don't get yourself killed only because of saving some bastard royal, who is also a wesen to top it off!
I know you are shaking your head at my words and I am aware that you have grown something of a soft spot for that Prince, but don't let that cloud your judgement! Men have been killed for lesser things and now that I could finally reveal myself to you, I intent to keep things the way they are for the unforeseeable future.
There's no greeting at the end, nothing like 'take care', but Nick has learned to read between the lines concerning his mother's way of talk and behaviour.
Nick does as his mother has suggested and – calling Hank to search Police database for recent rental records – they discover that someone by the name of Ivor Aeldridge has, indeed, rented property on the outskirts of Portland. It is an old industrial building which has been rented months ago and been paid for in advance – cash it seems – to leave no traces.
Hank is not enthused when Nick says that he will go alone but his partner's reasoning is sound no matter how dangerous a plan it entails.
This is a matter of Renard's reign over wesen Portland and that means Nick has to go about this as a Grimm not as a cop. Not even Monroe will accompany him on this mission (no matter how much of a tantrum he has put up when presented with Nick's plan).
This does not mean that Hank, Wu and Monroe are no help, however. Information-wise they give him everything they can find so that when Nick sets out in the early hours of Thursday he is equipped with information about each and every wesen that is likely to turn up in the lowen's rebellion group!
At last they agree, that if they haven't heard from Nick by Thursday evening, they will set everything into motion for a saving mission of greater scale.
Nick fetches his battle-axe from the trailer and silently steels himself for what will be an exercise not only in acting but in unprecedented cold-bloodedness for him.
GRIMMGRIMM
Sean spits blood onto the floor and rolls his head slowly to regain his equilibrium after yet another punch to his face.
Aeldridge's first blow most likely fractured his cheekbone, those that have been following just furthered the damage. A moment later all this fades to the background, though, as the door flies open, practically bursting off its hinges, and there he is, the Grimm of all their nightmares!
Eyes liquid black, shouldering a battle axe, he has a coyotl grabbed by the throat and pulls the struggling beast along when he steps into the room.
Renard watches their reaction, notes which of them snarl in challenge and which draw back in fear and he is sure the Grimm does, too.
When Nicholas Burkhardt speaks up, there's no urgency in his words, no hint that he perceives any of the assembled wesen as danger or has taken note of Renard. The coyotl still twitches in his grip, going still all of a sudden when the hand around his throat tightens its hold just a fraction.
"I've heard you are hell bent on usurping the designated ruler in order to put up some system of ochlocracy?"
Ochlocracy, Sean's politically trained mind supplies, a form of rule instigated by a mob or mass of people... tyranny of the majority... It seems Burkhardt did his homework.
"That said, let me tell you, choosing this one to guard your door was your first stupid decision."
With an offhanded gesture he throws his captive into their middle – a ripple of muscles, a show of power – leaving him remaining where he landed, winded and coughing.
"You!"
He has to give it to Aeldridge. The tall, imposing lowen does not show even an edge of fear.
"I have heard of you. You are the Grimm of Portland. The one who befriends wesen and shies away from killing." A dark chuckle. Ivor turns around slowly to face Nick, woging and showing the entirety of his magnificent frame, the pure white fur, those piercing yellow eyes.
"A white lowen? You are certainly pretty."
Sean keeps his face completely blank, but when his captor snarls at the insult, he is certain that Burkhardt knows how to push each and every button of that man's ego.
"Yes, I am the Grimm of Portland. Which leads me to the question of what legitimation you can name for taking over this canton?"
Another chuckle, made deep and gravelly by a lowen's vocal chords.
"What do you think, little Grimm? It is the rule of the strongest that backs me up! And first I will kill this one for he is weak! An abnormality of nature that I intent to put down!"
His words drip derision when he throws a sideways glance at the half-zauberbiest, kneeling on the ground, bound, bloodied and nearly broken. Or so he thinks. Nick knows that one should never make the mistake of underestimating Sean Renard.
"We do have a problem then."
He takes a single step forward, axe still shouldered unconcernedly. In his periphery vision he notices other wesen drawing back, leaving confrontation to their leader, while the proud lowen steps up to take the challenge.
"Let's take it down!"
What happens next is not what Nick expects to:
Ivor does not strike out against him but turns to Renard, moving with lightning speed, mighty prank lifted to deliver a fatal, vicious blow! Nick processes all this in the space of a moment, knows that his own face reveals too much, even as the Prince's eyes widen a fraction before shutters fall to leave that angular face devoid of emotion. Nick makes his move, praying that he isn't too late!
Ivor feels a wild rush of triumph surge through him when deadly claws near the bastard's throat. He has taken the Grimm by surprise! He will never reach him before he has killed the aberration and levelled a path for his rule!
He can practically smell blood and gore, can nearly feel the man's throat giving way under his assault...!
Someone barrels into him, his claws catch onto something! His wrist is caught, the grip bruising, breaking!
What the hell?! That cannot be!
A single twist and bones give way. He is driven back, away from the bastard. His own snarl of pain and rage is drowned in the general cry of outrage from his band of wesen. Still they do not come forward. Damn them!
Ivor stumbles to a halt, pushes back agony, ready to fight.
But why is no attack coming?
He looks up to see the Grimm calmly standing between him and their captive. Blood drips down his arm where claws caught flesh but otherwise he is unharmed and unperturbed.
He could have killed me with his axe, if he was fast enough to reach me... why doesn't he have?
"Not such a smart move. I cannot let you do this, you know?"
Somehow his voice sounds off. There has been mocking and menace before but this...?
"I cannot let you kill him, because I have waited to do so for as long as I know what depravity Renard hides behind that noble facade. It is difficult, tough, to kill a Police Captain. And that does not even take into account that he is the bastard son of one of the seven houses."
Even Sean Renard, weathered and hardened by years of deception and intrigues, feels a sliver of doubt creep up on him. Burkhardt is good. So damn good that he cannot be completely sure of his allegiances. The wesen in him recognizes a predator, a cold blooded killer. And his accusations are not unfounded, either, aren't they? He has hurt Nick deeply once. He has ordered his aunt to be killed at the very least. Who knows how much anger has remained, hidden under what he has taken for forgiveness?
"What do you mean? What do you want, Grimm?!"
Aeldridge's growl shakes Renard out of his disquieting thoughts. He needs to stay alert, least he loses his life in this struggle for predominance!
"I want the kill! Of course I cannot simply let you establish reign as you see fit, but I may be willing to make a deal."
He lets the challenge hang in the air, waiting for signs of an attack. When all they do is growl and threaten he continues calmly:
"I get to kill the bastard Prince, you get a few concessions from me pertaining your rule of Portland."
"Why should I take you up on that? I could simply kill you. Look around, you are outnumbered! Don't you want to be an obedient little Grimm and pledge your allegiance to me so that I may spare your worthless life?"
At 6 ft 6' a fully woged lowen is an impressive sight but Nick is not intimidated... at least not on the outside. He mustn't be! All depends on if he can get his act together. No less than the Captain's life is at stake, not to mention his own. So let the games begin:
The Grimm cocks his head just slightly, liquid black stare boring into them. A slow smile appears on his face, chilling and turning utterly feral as he continues looking at them.
"Do you really think I am outnumbered by your bunch? That I could not kill you all?"
There's a touch of mocking pity. Tension mounts in the room – woging, snarling. It all reaches a crescendo when one of the blutbaden surges forward to kill him, snapping under pressure!
Renard has an open view on the events unfolding. Burkhardt waits, body poised for action, gauges speed and reflexes of the other man and finally moves with absolute precision:
It is a single, perfect swipe of his axe that ends the wesen's life, spraying them all with blood.
Decapitare...
Unconsciously Renard holds his breath. He has always known that one did well not to underestimate the Grimm but this ultimately drives home to what lengths he is willing to go... to do what...? To protect? To take revenge? He cannot be sure.
There's stunned silence in the wake of this. They are moving on a knife's edge, either steering toward death or success depending on how that bunch of rogue wesen reacts.
Nick does not give an inch. Inwardly he is coiled tight as a spring, afraid that he may well has manoeuvred them into death and disgusted at this unnecessary kill, but not on the outside. There is no other way. The lowen regards his fallen comrade without an outward show of emotion, playing it close to his chest just as Nick does.
"I see you are serious. You may have your kill. Why not get started at you being my punishing arm, acting out my will. I can be generous, if I feel so inclined."
Ivor aims for calm superiority and manages by a scrape. Nick inclines his head.
Good. Aeldridge unwittingly works on losing his cronies' support, designating himself as their lone ruler so openly.
"I am glad you see it that..."
"What do you mean, your will?!"
A male Klaustreich with an ugly scar across his face steps into the middle, a low threatening growl rumbling through his chest. In a single moment the atmosphere changes from tense to explosive as the two felines face each other.
"How dare you act as our ruler?! We didn't decide yet on who would take that position!"
Claws twitch, whiskers flicker and fangs are bared. It is a stark contrast:
An angry, agitated Klaustreich slowly circling Aeldridge, who is an epitome of calm. His stance is strong, almost regal and although he just follows his adversary with his eyes, everyone in the room can feel the power he exudes.
"Beyron, what did you think when I recruited you? That I didn't have a plan that exceeded slaying a worthless bastard? I have a vision for this city! I will make it a stronger community, that honours the old ways! Any of you, who wants to be part of that, will accept my rule, anyone who wants to challenge my reign..." He trails off, letting them imagine the rest.
"So do you want to challenge me?"
In response Beyron snarls and charges at the lowen! This time Aeldridge moves with deadly grace, showing what he can do when he isn't caught off guard like before. He ducks away under the assault and twists his body minutely. Then he attacks! Keeping the broken right behind his back his left strikes lightning fast. They all can only watch as claws tear into flesh, bury deep and twist! A strangled cry echoes through the cellar room. Beyron tries to deal a last blow but is too late. The giant lowen grabs him and throws him onto his back before his claw hits true again. With a triumphant roar he towers over his challenger, watching light leave cat like eyes as his own glow a pale yellow momentarily. Finally Ivor pulls back his hand, dripping with warm blood, and rises to full height again.
"Is there anyone else?"
His voice is a deep rumble, primal and powerful. Silence greets his words. It seems the thirst for rebellion has been stilled.
"Rats, fighting for scraps!"
Renard's sneer is like a whip slash in the wake of total quiet. Disgust shows clearly in the timber of his voice and his cold gaze. Ivor moves forward, not willing to let the twisted Prince ruin his show of strength but just like that Nick is in his way, moving into his personal space. It is, more than anything, the aura of a predator surrounding him that keeps Ivor from attacking right away. On the contrary, the giant lowen stops as if he's met an invisible barrier.
"Going back on your word already?"
Aeldridge seizes him up. Another growl begins to rumble deep in his chest echoing through the Grimm's own torso as he faces Ivor head on. Finally the taller man relents, not stepping back but losing some of his threatening demeanour.
"Get on with it then, Grimm, before I decide I am bored by your little game."
Sean braces himself. No matter that they just escaped death, he is not all sure that his own is not still planned by both parties! He observes the group closely. They are eyeing the exchange with varying emotions. There is admiration and loyalty for Ivor but more and more expressions of apprehension and ire mix in. This is good. It may well be that kind of wound that will become a thorn in the side of Ivor Aeldridge. He just needs to play his cards right.
Sean uses the fragile protection Burkhardt's position provies to his own advantage, planting doubt in their minds yet again.
"He speaks about trust, but make no mistake. He's shaking your hand while he spits in your face!"
Sean is acutely aware, that the only thing saving him from a violent death right now is Nick's unwavering presence. He sees uncertainty creep into their eyes, though, and that makes this risk worthwhile to take.
Nick waits just long enough for them to get the meaning of Renard's words.
Aeldridge uses you! He will drop you the moment you have done what is necessary to establish his reign!
"Let's proceed, shall we? No sense in delaying the inevitable." In many ways Nick's statement is so much worse than Renard's. There's no emotion, only deadly intent. What will happen?
Sean isn't sure. At this point he doesn't know, if he will get a chance to survive or if he will die at the hands of his Grimm Detective and it makes his gut twist with dread no matter how well he hides the fact! Each and every injury, the pain and exhaustion, everything slides back into focus as if to mock him with his helplessness. Nostrils flared he takes a deep breath.
Show no weakness!
GRIMMGRIMM
"What is this, self-appointed prophets and their doomsday charade?"
Renard snaps waspishly, looking up into Nick's unforgiving eyes, losing nothing of his cool. If all else fails he always has his iron self control to draw back on. He may be kneeling on the ground, bound and bruised but he will be damned if he goes down grovelling at anyone's feet!
Nick chuckles darkly.
"Their doomsday charade? Certainly."
This newest slight at the group is met by angry growls and roars but Nick doesn't take his eyes off of the Prince. He studies every detail, every bruise, slash and scratch to gauge the man's strength for what is to come.
"Ours? Well, you could call it the beginning of the end, if you felt so inclined."
His gaze never strays from his Captain's as he stands for once towering over him. He watches a jolt going through him when he recognizes the phrase, green eyes holding a sudden light of understanding.
"You know what this is about, don't you, bastard? And now be a dignified Prince and face execution with an open eye."
The group of rogue wesen closes in on them as Nick almost lovingly touches his axe's blade, smearing blood already clinging to it, and Renard draws himself up to his full height, proud and erect even when kneeling on the ground. He holds himself ready as the Grimm raises his weapon. It will be a horizontal swipe just like the one which beheaded the murderous blutbad.
Renard pulls back deep into himself, preparing to tap into wesen powers and making peace with himself. He is almost sure that he's interpreted Burkhardt's words correctly but if not... well, he is prepared. Meanwhile the Grimm adjusts his stance, focusing completely on his task while never letting attention slip away from the group and Ivor.
"Prepare yourself, Sean Renard."
In his voice there is nothing left of the Nicholas Burkhardt he has known for four years now. This is purely Grimm.
Decapitare...!
He cannot shake off the thought as the axe is swung in a single powerful stroke. Burkhardt is fast! Faster than he would ever have thought had he not seen...
With chilling clarity the half-zauberbiest realises why the younger man has provoked those wesen over and over again until one of them gave him reason to go in for the kill.
He has planned all this so that I may be able to gauge his speed level! He has killed a man simply to equip me with the knowledge to survive!
The Prince mobilises his powers, ducking down faster than any human could and breaking restraints and shackles with a mighty outward movement of his arms! A woosh of air just above his head tells him how closely he has escaped death! Intense pain flares through his body but he pushes it down, focusing on the ripple of his woge instead and on the burning rage inside. A primal roar mingling with a strangled cry of unknown origin, a little shake of his huge frame to get rid of his restraints, then he is free! He surges forward into chaos of a battle just about to begin. There's bloodshed and cries and almost overwhelming instinctual urges!
Bastard Prince and Grimm fight side by side as if they have never done anything else. A short glance reveals that Nick is already creating havoc among them. He uses battle axe, elbows and knees, every limb a weapon controlled to perfection by the Grimm. Nick is not the only one dealing damage, though. While Ivor keeps to the sidelines like a general sending his men into battle, Sean attacks with all that he's got! It is either focusing wholly on fighting or succumbing to that knot of agony that is his battered body screaming for help.
Oh no, I won't go down! I will fight, I will punish and I will get revenge!
With every moment that Aeldridge holds back he loses his cronies support and if what he sees of the Grimm holds true then Nick is only enforcing that image by driving the white lowen away from battle every time he wants to take part!
All too soon wesen known for their blood-thirst are backing away from that devil of a zauberbiest. This is not who they've beaten 'til unconsciousness a day ago, this is a hellish creature unleashed! Renard knows no mercy. Not that they deserve any! These vile creatures have once been banned from his canton for the worst of crimes – murder, torture, gorging on human flesh, you name it.
Nick sees his Captain fight and is torn. Anyone with an untrained eye would not be able to tell that the man is just burning through his last reserves but he knows better!
It is clear in the way he favours his right side just the tiniest bit or how he narrows his eyes slightly every time he puts too much weight on his left knee. Minute details revealing his true state to the Grimm, who knows him more intimately than he has ever thought possible. Renard is badly injured and he needs to protect him!
On the other hand this is something pertaining the man's rule of Portland. It is a battle he needs to fight on his own, if he is to keep a claim on power. Nick can support his Captain, can act as what Grimms once were before they descended into becoming vicious killers, but he can not keep Renard out of this battle. He can only make sure the Prince survives.
Thus Nick puts everything that he's got into fighting those wesen. Those who show signs of surrender he knocks out well and truly, those who come at him with an intent to kill meet a quick end. The Grimm sustains a few injuries himself but never does his focus slip from the task at hand... and never does he let the giant lowen get near his Captain... until the very end.
When Ivor sees his carefully made plans fall to pieces hot rage fills him! He has sent his men, killers all of them, and yet that Bastard Prince and the trice damned deceptive Grimm gain the upper hand! It is time that he himself joins the fray. He has done it once when Renard has been in better shape. He will kill him, slowly and painfully, to make them see who the true leader of this canton is!
The more often he tries to get to the Prince, though, the more often he is driven away by a fierce assault from the Grimm. The man is toying with him! Why doesn't he try to kill him, only keep him away from his boss?
The answer sends a shiver down his spine. Surveying the room already filled with numerous downed wesen it all becomes clear: Nick Burkhardt is biding time so that the Bastard and he will face each other alone! Be that as it may, he will not lose that fight!
With a growl of repressed anger he stays back, unknowingly loosing his group's support completely, and waits for his moment.
More and more wesen either seek safety in surrender or go into a killing frenzy when they realise that their cause is nil and void.
At last only three men remain. The half-zauberbiest turns slowly to face his adversary. He is panting but doesn't try to hide the fact. Instead he shakes out blood-smeared hands in an unconcerned gesture, making droplets of blood build a crimson pattern on the floor. He pins Ivor with an intense stare, green eyes telling of bloodshed and violence.
"Here we meet again. If I remember correctly I promised to kill you. As I said before, I keep my promises."
His normally smooth drawl has been turned gravelly by the zauberbiest coming to the forefront but that only makes his words sound all the more sinister.
Aeldridge looks as if he wants to snap out a response but in the end he goes for slowly circling Renard, leaving Nick to watch apprehensively as the two begin their deadly battle.
Despite their respective injuries they are frighteningly even matched. The lowen is healthier on a general scale and a tough fighter but Renard has always known how to practice self-control beyond the average. Seeing the zauberbiest now not even Nick can detect that the last day has left any traces on him. Renard has well and truly detached himself from any ailments, leaving his mind free from debilitating pain and enabling cold rage to fuel his actions.
Claws meet fists, kicks, punches and elbow checks are exchanged! Neither is stupid enough to waste energy on talking. Renard gains even more wounds but Ivor is not far behind. His Captain deals out damage on a scale beyond what Nick has thought possible! This is what seeing Portland's ruler mete out justice is like!
Still, the man is tiring and it is an irrevocable fact that he ignores his bodily limits. Renard needs to end this fight quickly! He needs to...!
Just as he thinks that, Ivor gains the upper hand!
"Noo!" Nick cannot stop the sound from escaping, when he sees claws of the lowen's left paw bury deeply into his Captain's shoulder! For a moment time freezes. Nick wants to surge forward into battle and Ivor's eyes are alight with crazed triumph as he stares down on Renard, whose face is for once contorted with pain. Slowly he sinks to his knees.
Then, before either Grimm or lowen can do anything, the zauberbiest grabs Ivor's throat with his right, pulls him toward himself and lays everything he's got left into a punch with his other hand! A purely primal roar rips from his throat as his fist buries itself deeply and brutally into his enemies stomach. Both know immediately that something vital has torn inside. Aeldridge opens his mouth in a silent scream as their positions reverse themselves. The Prince rises up until he towers above his former captor, still clutching his throat in a bruising grip. Never do his eyes leave those of the lowen as light fades from them.
Sean does not need to say anything. His unforgiving gaze says it all as he forces Ivor Aeldridge to look up at him upon dying.
Down on your knees you don't look so tall...
"I asked you to stop but you still wanted more. Now face your punishment."
Only when Ivor is kept upright solely by Renard's grip – no life left in the once mighty lowen rebel – the Prince does let go; only when turning human again upon death do Ivor's claws leave Renard's battered body.
It is over... finally over.
Standing there victorious Nick sees a man beaten within an inch of his life but still fighting, still strong, while the Grimm in him recognizes a seasoned warrior worthy of his respect.
No one says a word. Nick simply steps over to a small table and retrieves his Captain's personal affects, put there by Aldridge and his group, while the other man regains his equilibrium.
Among the things are his cellphone and a handkerchief, still pristine despite everything. A few other things join the assembly, stored in the Grimm's pockets for now. Finally he goes back to the Prince, first handing over the handkerchief, giving him opportunity to clean his hands off blood – his own as much as that of his enemies – then he hands over the phone.
"You want to make a few phone calls because of this?"
The Grimm encompasses the room full of downed wesen in a sweeping gesture. He does not ask, if he is okay or other such things. They both know fairly well in what state Renard is right now. He nods silent assent, lips compressed to a thin line. Opening his mouth would mean moaning in pain, or maybe even screaming... he isn't all that sure at this point. He cannot let that happen, though, so he scraps together his last ounces of self-control, steels himself and finally makes those calls his Detective has hinted at. Nick uses this opportunity to text Hank, Monroe and Wu to tell them that he's got everything under control and their Captain, or in Monroe's case the Prince, is safe.
30 minutes later Renard's men have arrived to do... God knows what… and they are ready to leave that hell hole of a place.
