Brooklyn sat down along a mausoleum roof, one foot dangling over the edge. He had his doubts that he'd find the werewolf at the cemetery, as he figured it was far more likely to go where there was food. Goliath had the right idea that the Mutates, with their connection to the homeless in the city, might know more about it.

He let out a heavy sigh. He had long since come to terms with the fact that Maggie Reed, a founder of the Mutates, did not share the feelings that he had for her. Maggie made her choice with her partner Talon, and that wasn't easy for Brooklyn to come to grips with then.

Now he had to struggle with these feelings all over again and in such close proximity. He envied what Angela and Broadway had. He was happy for them, and far be it for him to even speak of such jealousy. However that only made it all the more painful. At times going out on patrols alone was his only respite.

His ears twitched. Something had climbed onto the roof behind him.

He turned and sprung to his feet, hunched with his wings spread out in an aggressive stance.

His pursuer froze. It was just a silver-haired Goth woman in a black coat.

He calmly lowered his wings. "Do you always make it a habit of stalking unsuspecting gargoyles? Could've at least said 'hello.'"

"I wasn't stalking!" she denied. "I just… I didn't want you to fly off is all…"

"Wait, you thought I was gonna run away from you? Why would I do that?" He looked her over again. "You're not a Quarryman, are you?"

"The hell is a Quarr—I mean, isn't it obvious? I'm used to people running away from me all the time and—" Loona tucked her hair back and was reminded that she was still in her human disguise. Of course he couldn't see why people feared her on sight.

"Whoa, seriously?"

"Yeah… You'd be surprised…"

"Jeez. The cruelty of humans really knows no bounds…"

Loona nodded and glanced away. It was probably best that he didn't know why people feared her.

Brooklyn took a less aggressive stance and smiled. "And you didn't want me to fly off. Why?"

"I just haven't seen a gargoyle before." She cautiously stepped forward and let out a disbelieving chuckle. "I didn't think you were real. I had heard about you and all, but I thought it was some kind of publicity stunt or something."

Brooklyn shrugged. He much preferred her nonchalant reaction to being called a monster.

He draped his wings across his shoulders like a cape and Loona's eyes widened. "Wow. Just how many joints do you have in those things…?"

Brooklyn sat back down and patted the spot next to him. She softly took a seat crosslegged beside him. She wasn't used to someone being this friendly to her.

"So what brings you out here anyway?" Brooklyn asked. "You got family resting here?"

"No," Loona replied. "I mean, I don't think I do. I'm not from here, as far as I know…" She cleared her throat. "God, this is embarrassing. I probably look pathetic… The cliché Goth chick hanging out in a graveyard for no reason…"

"Oh, trust me, much stranger things have happened in the last year. How long have you been living here?"

"Maybe about a week."

Brooklyn raised his eyebrows. "Then you weren't here when the Fairy King declared war on Eyrie Tower."

"Ha, only in New York." Loona paused. "Wait, you're serious."

Brooklyn smiled and nodded.

"Oh, my God!" Loona laughed. "That's crazy!"

"Oh, you wanna hear it get crazier? His half-human stepdaughter is like my landlady!"

Loona fell backwards, howling with laughter. She calmed down and caught her breath. "I knew weird stuff could be found in Times Square, but that's just… Wow!"

She sat back up and Brooklyn asked, "So if you're not from Manhattan, where are you from?"

"See, that's just it. I don't know. I've kinda… had to move around a lot." She glanced over towards downtown Manhattan. "Guess you could say this is another stop in a long line of… trying to figure myself out?"

"Mmm. I can understand that."

"Well, what about you? What are you doing in a graveyard? You live here?"

"No, just out on patrol. It's a gargoyle's nature to protect their home."

"Really? You a native Manhattanite?

"No. I've only lived here about… two years now."

"Wow. I don't think I've lived anywhere longer than two weeks…"

There was silence between them. Loona flared her nostrils and discreetly gave a long, quiet inhale to get Brooklyn's scent. To her disappointment, he smelled nothing like that foul otherworldly stench she had found in that old cellar, meaning he and his kind weren't hell-born like herself.

She pulled her coat collar up and cleared her throat. "At least it sounds like you're all good and settled in."

"Hmm…" Brooklyn glanced back at her. It didn't look like he was going to turn up anything on this patrol, so it was nice to have the company. "Honestly, I would've guessed you were in town for Thalia and Hugo's Dusk Tour."

"What's that?"

"Thalia and Hugo. They're a band. They're gonna be in town later this week and I thought you looked like you'd be into them."

Loona leaned back. "Maybe. I don't really have a radio. Or a CD player…"

"Well, if you're interested I could probably get you in."

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yeah, my brothers and I sneak into movies and concerts all the time."

"Sweet!" Loona cleared her throat. "I mean—Yeah, I'd like that. That-that could be fun…"

Brooklyn kept an eye out for anything unusual. The numerous gravestones, statues and markers were bathed in moonlight as the air was calm and the occasional breeze was soft and soothing. They both sat in silence, as it was just nice to be with someone who wasn't afraid of them. For now, they both felt safe.

"I should probably head back now." He stood back up and glanced at Loona with slight concern. "You got any friends or family you can stay with?"

"Oh, I'll be okay," Loona brushed off as she too stood back up. "I've managed this long on my own."

"Hmm… Can I at least give you a ride home?"

"What? You mean, like, flying?"

"Well, yeah." Brooklyn smiled as he unfolded his wings again. "You think these are just for show?"

Loona's heart skipped a beat. Only then that she finally saw the full scope of his wingspan, the moonlight outlining the musculature of his lean physique.

She blushed and gave a nervous grin. "I, uh… That's okay. I'm, uh… I'm afraid of heights."

"Can I at least make sure you get home okay?"

"No! I mean, no, thank you. I told you I can manage fine on my own."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Loona insisted.

She really didn't want him to see where she lived, not to mention she wasn't accustomed to being offered help.

She brushed her hair out of her face again. "But, uh… If it's okay with you, I…" She cleared her throat. "I'd be glad to see you again. Before the concert, that is…"

"Oh!" Brooklyn raised his brow. "Sure. I'd like that." He couldn't be too sure how long they were going to be on patrol, so he suggested, "Maybe about… two nights from now? Same time, same place?"

"Yeah," Loona grinned. "That's perfect!"

She walked over to the edge where she came, and knelt back down to climb over the edge again.

"Wait!" Brooklyn remembered. "I don't know your name."

"I'm Loona."

"Brooklyn."

Loona smiled and dropped back to the ground.

Brooklyn spread his wings and launched off, gaining altitude along the wind currents.

Loona watched from behind the monument as he vanished towards the city. For the first time in so long she couldn't stop smiling.