"Ala'mu!" Nicholas screamed, bursting through the door, nearly upsetting both himself and his kwami as his hat almost went flying through the air a second time. Lorr shrieked but Nicholas ignored him as the door slammed shut. Layla's gaze shot up from the TV which Nicholas now noticed was repeating scenes from the crash, as well as the flight number.

156.

His father's flight.

"Mom," he repeated, reverting to French as he slowed to approach the couch. "Please tell me that's not-"

But Layla just shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes, phone already to her ear. Nicholas silently sunk down beside her, stunned into silence. Lorr chittered something he suspected was intended to be reassuring but he couldn't hear him through the roaring terror crushing his lungs, making it hard for him to inhale.

What happened? The words flashed across the bottom of the screen; the details of the incident as well as the time (4:30 that morning), the location (just over Portugal), and the current suspected cause of the crash (unknown at this time, believed to possibly be a mechanical malfunction).

Master, I do not think it would be wise to continue observing this, Lorr tried to discourage as the barrage continue and Nicholas found himself unable to tear his eyes from the screen, as we do not know for sure that your father was amongst them.

Nicholas wanted to believe him, but one look from his mother as the phone went once more to voicemail was all it took to shatter those hopes. Ali wasn't picking up. He wasn't picking up and Nicholas involuntarily moved to yank out his own phone and try, though he knew it would be of no help and two phones trying to call at the same time would be pointless.

Lorr! he cried desperately as Layla finally gave up the fight and sat back in her chair, visibly pale and shaking and looking ready to throw up. Nicholas couldn't say he blamed her. Tell me you know what's going on! Tell me that Ab is okay and that this is just a horrible nightmare and any minute now we will wake up and Nino will still be in my arms and this insanity will never have happened!

I am sorry, Master, Lorr whispered, and truly, he sounded it. But I know very little of your world's methods of transportation. This is not a dream and I cannot sense your father's presence. He does not appear to have remained in the city.

Oh, what do you know anyway? Nicholas snapped back, standing up in a hurry, shocking both his mother and his kwami. Red surged through his brain and he gritted his teeth, trying to contain his emotions and cap the brimming anger pulsing through his veins. You're just the stupid kwami of wisdom, right? It's not like you claim to know everything about everything, is it? It's not like it's your job.

Nicholas, I think you need to take a step back and give yourself time to-

No! Nicholas yelled furiously, cutting the bird off, missing the squeak of fear from the hippogriff. No more telling me what to do! No more giving me your little speeches about 'calming down' and 'taking it slow'. My father is out there and I don't even know if he is dead or alive! I thought you were supposed to know! I thought you were supposed to help me!

I am trying to help you! Lorr protested as Nicholas backed away from the television once again and spun to storm up the stairs to his room, not catching his mother's tearful gaze as he did, mind already set on his next task at hand: finding who or what had done this in the first place and who was going to pay. You are not thinkingclearly! The grief is clouding your judgment! You are going to do somethingyou will regret! We shouldbefocusing on those peoplechasing us and howtheycould know who you are and what to do if they come back!

I've regrettedeverything since I put on the miraculous! Nicholas snapped as he threw open his door and let it smack back into the wall. Normally, he would have cringed at the amount of force he'd inflicted, but today he didn't even hear it. A gift? Thisis no gift! This is a curse! I should never have listened to you! I didn't want to be a superhero! I didn't choose this life! But you told me that it was the right thing to do! That it would help people. Save people. But I couldn't even save my own father! That doesn't make me a hero! That makes me a loser! I shouldneverhave put on this stupid necklace!

His hands fumbled for the collar of his shirt and Lorr immediately phased through his hat with a wail of protest as the boy reached for the fastener to yank the miraculous from around his neck. No! Don't take it off! Please! You don't want to do this! I'm sorry you couldn't do more to help your father but please listen to me! You will regret returning the miraculous! You won't bring him back by renouncing me! You can't help anyone like this!

No, Nicholas thought cooly, hesitating, the pendant halfway from his neck, clenched tightly inside his fist. I can't. I never wanted to anyway. I told you that. I'm not a hero. I never have been.

But what about Nino? Lorr tried again pleadingly. You did all of this to protect him, didn't you? What if what Grimm said was true and something really bad is coming to the city? Don't you want to try and protect the little m-Nino too?

You're not listening to me! Something bad has already come to the city, Nicholas spat. And it's just ripped my family apart! You don't understand that, do you? Do kwami even have families? I don't know because, just like everything else in my life, I don't know anything at all!

But that gave him an idea. Was this was Grimm had been trying to warn him about? If so, he hadn't done a very good job of it, but that begged another question; if this was what the hero had been foretelling, what else did he know that he hadn't told Nicholas? And Lorr wasn't entirely out of his mind either. Who had those people back there been? Why had they been searching for his miraculous? How had they known who he was?

And treading further onto that train of thought, now that they clearly knew who he was, why weren't they pounding down his door in the effort to kidnap him and drag him away to some double-oh, off-grid black-site hidden from every device on the face of the planet?

Take a deep breath, Master, Lorr encouraged, still eyeing the handled charm anxiously. In and out. In and out. Give yourself time to grieve. I pushed you too far and I apologize. Please, let's sit down and we can talk through this together.

You're right, Nicholas agreed, releasing his vice-grip on his pendant (Lorr sighed in relief) and taking a step further into his room where he could safely close the doors behind him and avoid being overheard by his already-distraught mother. I do need to talk this out.

Thank you, Lorr breathed.

But I can't do it here, Nicholas decided with a shudder, glancing around at the dark, and slightly cold, room. I need to go somewhere...a little more private...where I can work things out with you and with myself.

What do you have in mind? the kwami chittered worriedly.

You'll see, Nicholas replied. You trust me, don't you?

That is usually the case.

Well, then, you can trust me now. I am not going to renounce you and I know you're right. Something is definitely going on around here and it's definitely not safe for me to leave you and your miraculous unprotected. I just need to get away from here and clear my head. I can't stay, not when I can feel him everywhere. "Wings Unfurl."

Lorr nodded and chirped his consent as he vanished into the charm and Nicholas closed his eyes as the heat enveloped him. He wasted no time running to his window as he felt the anger melt away, Lorr's consciousness overwhelming him as he vaulted easily onto the fire escape and made his way to the edge of the stairs overlooking the next complex's angled rooftop.

Perhaps this is not the best night for learning parkore, Lorr advised. You are not fully in your right mind and I do not think it would be a wise option to attempt something new while you continue in this state.

I am a bird, Nicholas tried to argue back, positioning himself to lean over the edge of the railing thoughtfully. I need to learn to fly-in a sense. I don't look nearly as convincing coming in from the streets below.

Lorr sighed heftily. They say sometimes failure is the only way for the human race to learn. I do wish you would just take my word for it, but, alas, I fear your mind is nearly impossible to influence.

Good. You've noticed, Nicholas snarked, heaving himself to the edge to the escape and eyeing the leap curiously. So you can save your breath and not try then.

They say pride cometh before a fall.

I am not going to fall, Lorr. Honestly, you have so little faith in me.

It's not you that I distrust, Master. Rather, your athleticism. You are an artist, not an athlete.

Why can't I be both?

Because that is not how you were designed! Lorr cried. You are going to get yourself hurt!

I'll be careful, Nicholas assured him. If I think it's too hard, I'll back off. But you gave me this power. Don't you want me to find out what I can do with it?

I can tell you what you can do! Lorr chittered fretfully. You're a human being, not a falcon! You can't fly!

Aha! So you do know Marvel characters after all! On three then!

No, I meant an actual falcon and-

That was about the time Nicholas braced himself and finished his countdown, throwing himself violently off the railing. He was suspended in midair for a split moment and he screamed a long, betraying cry as he came down a lot harder than he'd been expecting. He threw out his hands to catch himself as his feet came down first and his knees buckled underneath his weight. He stumbled forward, nearly tumbling over himself in his haste to correct his leap. He dug in his heels and flailed for something to grab on to. His fingernails scraped against the shingles and he twisted himself over his arms, managing to grab ahold of a loose shamble and heave himself to an abrupt halt, his legs swinging wildly over the end of the rooftops.

"Whoa!" he shrieked, scrambling back up to safety and falling onto his back with a grunt, panting wildly and pulling his hood to shield his eyes and the tight, panic-stricken expression he knew he must have been showing.

Oh, my sweet gooey pancakes! Lorr cried, his voice a hundred times too high. What was that? Are you all right?

Oh...I'm all right...Nicholas groaned, blinking away the pulsing lights and the waterfall of adrenaline cascading over his veins. Just...just a little winded...that's all. Whooph.

I warned you that it would be risky, Lorr reasoned. Yet, you did not choose to heed my suggestions.

No pain...no gain, Nicholas grunted dismissively, heaving himself up, ignoring the swirling landscape below. I'm fine. I just...came down a little harder than I'd been...expecting.

That would be an understatement. Are you feeling better now, Master? Perhaps well enough that we could return to your room without any daring escapades in broad daylight?

What? Nicholas asked, his eyes already drifting past the roof to a series of chimneys four rooftops away, swooping down in just the perfect way for him to slip in between and peer out at the noisy city. You afraid I am going to do something I'll regret?

Lorr, wisely, gave no response to that, though Nicholas felt the uncomfortable shuffle of feathers as he started his catwalk to the adjacent rooftops. The kwami muttered something incoherent about responsibilities and recklessness but Nicholas didn't hear all of his reprimands and he knew by now that it was probably better to leave Lorr alone when he got like that. He was most likely just remembering his last holder and confirming Nicholas's suspicions of why she had been so much better for the hippogriff than him.

After all, it had taken him...what? Two days to blow his identity? That must have been a world record. If there was a category for least competent hero to ever walk the face of the planet, he was sure he would be taking home gold for that one.

He exhaled a deep breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he carefully made his way between the chimnies and took a seat against one, folding his arms and letting his legs dangle over the edge of the railing toward the ally below. He was at the perfect angle to see the sun peek its head through the center of the Eiffel. Below, circling and winding through the streets like little ants, the roads were congested with early morning traffic. It all seemed too insignificant from where he sat, so high up that he towered above the rest of the world. They were just ordinary citizens, going about their daily lives, never knowing what secrets lay amongst them. Truth, lies, honesty, deceit, fear, excitement, apprehension; thanks to his miraculous, he could sense all of that. It all came at him in a rush of feelings, sounds, a rush of emotion that nearly sent him toppling backward and curling up with his arms over his head in the attempt to block it all out. It was too much to bear and he felt his hands tighten around the railing as he tried to steel himself against the onslaught.

Why can I feel them? he inquired of his kwami weakly. All of them...why...if they are not bonded to you?

Humanity is a very complex species, Nicholas, Lorr answered gently. Capable of great levels of empathy and understanding. Some have the ability to understand and the desire to help those around them in any means necessary. They are naturally in tune with themselves and the needs of those they encounter. Others...are not...and, often, though why is not yet understood, my miraculous has the ability to bring that trait to the surface.

It is a terrible feeling, Nicholas remarked.

So is living without a heart, Lorr shot back. I only try to compensate for that.

Nicholas had a sharp remark prepared for that obvious low blow, but as he opened his mouth to find the words, he was interrupted by a loud thump of something dropping down from a ledge behind him. A moment later, an incurable wave of heat and red blew past him and he blinked sharply as the boy prepared to take a seat to his right.

Regaining control over his body, Nicholas scowled at the superhero and resorted once more to his leave-me-alone-right-now face. "Please don't."

Grimm froze, halfway squatting down, and shot him a confused glance.

"Please don't tell me that everything is okay or that you understand what I am going through," Nicholas elaborated. "You don't. No one does."

Grimm sighed and finished his motion, settling next to the Moroccan and folding his hands patiently. "You're right," he said, earning a surprised stare from the boy. "I don't know what it's like to lose a parent. My father has been gone from my life for years now. But that doesn't mean I don't want to help if I can."

"How did you know?" Nicholas breathed, frowning at the taller boy. "About my dad? I mean, I didn't tell you that I-"

"You didn't really need to," the dragon responded with a shrug. "I saw the news and then I saw you up here looking like you were planning on moping until kingdom come. I can put two and two together. I figured you could use some cheering up."

"I don't mope," Nicholas countered sharply. "And were you watching me? That's not cool, man."

"Did I mention I was here to cheer you up?" Grimm did not seem at all put out by the rebuke.

"You don't have to. I'm fine."

"Oh, that's good. I'm lousy at telling jokes anyway."

Nicholas squinted, getting, for some odd reason, the feeling that Grimm was somehow mocking him. Grimm smiled sheepishly and leaned back to copy Nicholas's unimpressed position. "So, I'm guessing you don't want to talk about it?" the dragon superhero guessed.

"No."

"You sure? I'm an excellent listener."

"I really don't want to talk, Grimm."

"Okay, your call. So, let's talk about something else then. You've had your miraculous for about three days now. What do you think about it?"

"I don't know," Nicholas answered, finally turning to face him. "It depends on what you know about the people who were chasing me this morning and trying to steal him back from me."

Grimm visibly paled. "What?"

"That's what I thought too," Nicholas said unflinchingly at the other hero's reaction. "But I was really hoping you could tell me that those people were friends of yours and that I didn't need to be afraid of the possibility that they...know who I am."

Grimm froze. "How?"

Nicholas flinched back. "I...I don't know. I...may have...accidentally...shown him...to a couple of people and they in turn may have...tried to kidnap me and stuff me away to Area 51."

Grimm groaned loudly. "Great. Does Paris even have an Area 51? Nevermind, that's not important right now. They didn't get your miraculous, I see. At least that is good. However, that does leave a bit of a problem if they have seen you in your civilian form."

"Well, what can we do about it?" Nicholas inquired, sitting up now, invested in hearing the more experienced hero's words of wisdom. "It's not like we can change time or anything."

"No," Grimm agreed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Sadly, we cannot. This will take a bit of time to sort out on my part, especially now since I was going to suggest we begin the first stages of our plans tonight. But no matter, we can simply adjust for this outcome. I can deal with those people after you. Does anyone else know about your kwami?"

Nino, Nicholas's mind flashed but he immediately shied away from that thought as he caught the slightly dangerous look in the boy's eyes. A shiver danced his spine and he opened his mouth to inquire just what Grimm meant by deal with, but the words that came out were entirely different. "No, no one. I haven't told a soul."

Grimm's eyes narrowed momentarily before he made the first moves to stand and Nicholas hastily scrambled to do the same. "Very well," he replied. "If that is all and you are sure that you are well, then I will be on my way to hunt down your hunters. An interesting turn of events, if you ask me." He grinned and pulled his cape closer as he made himself ready to leave.

"Uh..." Nicholas fumbled to compile his thoughts. "I don't...what..what should I do now that I...my father...I don't-"

Grimm held up a hand to silence his jumbled attempts. "You do not need to do anything for now. Go home. Be with Nino and your mother. They need you more than anything right now. Let me handle this. I will let you know once I have handled the situation and it is safe to meet again. Oh, and Nicholas? One more thing."

The golden hero was heading toward the apartment complex now and he paused upon hearing his name, twisting back to face the other hero with a slight frown.

"Life doesn't always play fair," Grimm went on. "You can follow the rules but that doesn't mean everyone else will. Sometimes you have to take a chance to find out how great you really can be."

Nicholas smiled ruefully, thinking of all the insane feats he had attempted (and in some cases; accomplished) since putting on Lorr's miraculous for the first time. But no matter how much good he felt he had accomplished, he kept circling back to one ultimately terrible possibility: Was his attempts to change himself into a hero what got his father killed? The reports said mechanical failure, but he didn't buy that for one second. It had been deliberate. He just knew it.

"I tried that once," he said slowly, twisting back on the balls of his heels, making sure he was in full range of the dragon before going on. "I tried that once and I lost everything because of it."

Grimm frowned now as well. "'Everything'?" he echoed. "How can you claim to have lost everything when you have a little brother and a mother who both love you dearly? No, you have had tragedy in your life. No one would deny that. But you haven't lost everything, Nicholas Lahiffe. Not yet."

Nicholas didn't respond.

Grimm took a step closer and then, when the boy didn't run screaming the other way, he took another, extending his fist to the teen and smiling gently. "I know you don't trust me and I get that. You don't know me and yet I am asking you to throw away everything you know to help me. I admire your courage and I want you to know, everything I am doing, I am doing to make the world a better place. A safer place. A place where what happened to your father will never have to happen to anyone else. That is what I am fighting for. And you can back out now if you want. It's grown more complicated than I had anticipated. I wouldn't blame you if you were too scared to go on. I would probably do the same thing in your shoes. The decision is yours alone. I won't try to persuade you. You need to do what is best for you and for your family."

Nicholas stared, first at Grimm and then down to the fist and then back up to him. "I..." he took a long, intentional breath, squaring his shoulders and bringing his eyes up to meet the taller boy's. "I don't think I want to give this up," he confessed, gesturing to his entire getup. "You were right before, when you said this was me. It is. It just took me a while to see that for myself. And you are right about everything else as well. I need to protect my family and I will do whatever I have to to do that. I want to be a superhero and I want to help you, Grimm. Whatever it takes."

Grimm blinked. "Really?" He sounded shocked.

Nicholas returned his smile and then carefully brought his fist up the other boy's so that they knocked gently. His very first-fist bump. "Really, dude. Whatever you're planning, I want in."

There was no disguising the beam on the red hero's face now.

"But," Nicholas warned, dropping his hand and backing away to frown seriously. "There is one more thing I think we should talk about before this is all said and done."

Grimm looked confused.

"No more of this Nicholas Lahiffe business," the shorter boy explained. "I can't protect this city if everyone knows my true identity. I have to become something-or, rather, someone-else. Someone who will never lead back to my family or anything from my past."

"I see," Grimm commented, standing back and folding his arms with a smirk. "And what exactly are you intending the world to know you as then if not Nicholas Lahiffe?"

Nicholas grinned as he pulled the rim of his hood down over his head, feeling his hat melting in with it beneath and the gentle coos from Lorr as the name once more rolled to the front, this time with a lot more certainty than he had felt before while reading through a list of names on a sheet of paper.

"Nicholas Lahiffe may be who I really am, but he is not all of me. From now on, you can call me Griffon."