The days progressed well with Randall adjusting even more with the clan ever since his first patrol with Lex and Brooklyn. Xanatos himself had gotten to admire the lizard's special abilities, especially when camouflaging. The only other one he couldn't win over still was Fox, who still saw him as an evil monster.
One day, Randall had seen Lexington playing with Alex. He looked up. "Hi, Randall." He greeted. Randall flinched a bit, knowing he shouldn't be near the kid.
"Uh, hey, can't chat, just going to hang out with Brooklyn soon in the park," he stated, but Lexington waved him over.
"You want to say hi to Alex?" But Randall shook his head, feeling nervous.
"No, you heard Fox, she'll kill me if I even look at him," he argued. Lex just smiled. "She's not here right now, it probably couldn't hurt," he invited. Gulping a little, Randall did see some sense in Lex's words, so he set foot inside.
The little child was playing with blocks until he looked up at the newcomer, tilting his head. He reached up with one hand, cooing. Randall was shaking, he wasn't really good with small kids unless it involved scaring them.
"Er… hi," he said nervously, sitting down carefully. The child gave a little giggle, suddenly seeing Randall's tail then grabbing it with his little paws. This startled him a bit, but the child was gentle.
Lex laughed. "It seems he likes you," the olive gargoyle said. Randall lifted his tail from the child's grip. Alex smiled at him. "Ra-Randy!" He squeaked. Randall tensed up a little from his old nickname, surprised by the child being able to say it. Lex himself was impressed that the child remembered Randall when he only saw him once or twice.
Randall though had a question about some of the others. Owen for instance. "You know, Lex, there's that butler guy, Owen. He gives me the weird eye. I just feel like there's something nonhuman about him." Lexington laughed a bit.
"Yeah, it's because his mom's related to Queen Titania of the fair folk," he replied. Randall tilted his head. Lex then realized Randall had never read Shakespeare.
"It's from a stage play called A Midsummer Night's Dream. Maybe I can let you read it." Randall seemed interested as he nodded, until Fox saw the monster with her child. She gasped.
"Lex! What is he doing with my son?!" She cried in anger, storming in. Randall backed away from the overprotective mother, who snatched up her child. The olive gargoyle tried defending him.
"He didn't hurt Alex. I promise," he insisted. Randall nodded but Fox didn't buy it. "Don't let him near my son until I have further proof he won't hurt him," she said, which hurt Randall quite a bit but understood what she was saying, slowly leaving the room in silence, Lexington looking after him in pity, hoping that one day Fox will grow to trust him like the clan and Xanatos.
….
Brooklyn had been walking about, now off duty from his patrol when he spotted Randall standing out at the balcony, just staring out into the distance, a saddened look on his face.
The red gargoyle frowned in concern for his friend, approaching him, a gentle hand on his shoulder. Randall jumped but then settled when seeing the beaked gargoyle. "Oh, hey, Brooklyn," he mumbled.
"You ok?" Brook asked worriedly. The lizard shrugged, feeling upset for Fox not trusting him and scolding him earlier. He probably deserved it though. Brooklyn had an idea.
"Perhaps I can show you Central Park? You haven't been there yet. It's rather nice." Randall's fronds lifted a bit at the idea, so he nodded. Maybe it would do him good to get a breather away from Fox.
Brooklyn had Randall on his back and he took off from the balcony, soaring down to the park. While flying through the buildings they were unaware of red eyes watching them. The figure hummed in interest at the sight of the strangest creature not a gargoyle or human riding on Brooklyn's back. The figure then took off, following after them silently to ambush the creature for questions.
The duo managed to reach Central Park. It was a rather nice evening with warm weather. The lamps were lit up tonight casting a nice glow. Randall climbed off of Brooklyn's back, smiling a little at the many trees. The air seemed fresher here, too.
"You were right. I guess I really needed this," the lizard monster said with a sigh, walking about. Brooklyn grinned but wanted to know what had been bothering him. Randall noted that look in his eyes then told him about the incident with him, Alex, and Fox. Brooklyn put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. It will take time, like how it is with my clan and the humans. But someday she'll accept you for who you are like Lex. But there's someone I have to tell you about. Not all of our enemies are human. Her name is Demona; she was once Goliath's mate. She had left us when betraying her clan." He said. Randall's eyes rounded. "What happened?" He asked in surprise.
That was when they heard a rustling in the trees, and Brooklyn smelt someone familiar, eyes glowing. "I can tell him myself, dear Brooklyn…" purred an evil voice. Randall's fronds shot up at the sight of a tall female gargoyle with fiery red hair, carrying a dart gun. She smirked sinisterly.
"Get away from us, Demona!" yelled Brooklyn. She put her hand on her hip. "Oh? I only wish to talk to your interesting new friend."
Randall felt his nerves tingle from her voice that felt like it washed over him, keeping him from running away, as well as the gleam in her eyes. He shook himself. "No, I don't want to hear anything from you! Brooklyn told me you betrayed the clan!"
Demona looked at the red gargoyle with a growl before suddenly shooting her gun. A dart shot out, and Brooklyn pushed Randall away, wincing from it hitting his shoulder. Randall's eyes widened in fear, seeing his friend collapse unconscious for a second time after the previous Quarryman encounter. He stood protectively near his friend as Demona stepped closer.
"Now he's out of the way, I can tell from my view of when I left his weak leader," she said darkly. Randall readied himself for a possible battle should it get messy. "Ok. But no lying." He snapped since Demona looked like that type of liar to him.
Demona proceeded to tell him her story; of how she claimed of Goliath betraying her to side with the humans and staying with Elisa. Randall couldn't help but feel similar to Demona, at how the same thing happened between him and Wazowski. His hardened features softened just a bit.
"So you can understand, Lizard, of how I've suffered all these years? But you probably couldn't." She snarled. But to the gargess's surprise, he nodded his head.
"In a way, I do. I had gone down your path too, Demona. But acting out of revenge sent me into banishment. I still want Sullivan to hurt. But I'm waiting for the right time." Demona suddenly got a little smile on her face.
"Hearing your story, Randall, it makes me see how alike we are. Perhaps I can offer you a place at my side at my company, Nightstone Unlimited. I can help you go back to your world and help gain revenge on your former friend. But you will have to leave Goliath, and especially him. You can't have revenge and friendship together," she said dangerously. "You must choose."
Randall trembled, glancing back and forth. He felt tempted to go with Demona at this point. She had offered him a way home. But that would mean giving away the secret of the Monstropolis doorways, and he couldn't do that with someone like her. And Brooklyn; he really did enjoy being friends with him and the clan, even if it meant revealing his terrible past one day. He just needed to wait for the right moment to do so.
He turned back to Demona, who was getting impatient. Plus, Brooklyn was starting to wake. "Well?" She demanded harshly. Randall sat down with Brooklyn, growling. "No, Demona. I'm going to stay with Brooklyn. I now see what the clan sees you as; cold, unforgiving, dangerous. Now get out of here!" He spat. This made Demona hiss fiercely.
"Don't think you've seen the last of me, Randall Boggs. But I can warn you that there are worse enemies than me in this world since you chose the clan. Watch your back, for they will want to take you away and squeeze your secrets out of your body…" she warned in a deadly tone, taking off into the night and giving out a banshee-like howl. Randall shuddered from it.
After a time, Brooklyn woke from his drug. Randall was somewhat relieved that the red male didn't hear him admitting he was evil while unconscious.
Randall helped him sit up and Brooklyn asked what Demona had been doing while unconscious.
"Demona tempted me into joining her. I refused her offer, though. She probably would've wanted to demand all that I knew about Monstropolis." Brooklyn smiled a bit.
"Glad you didn't choose to side with her, for she is tricky as well as dangerous," he said. Randall smiled back.
"We should probably get back, or Goliath would send the whole clan to find us," Brooklyn then told him after letting the drug effects subside a bit. The lizard agreed, and he got up onto Brooklyn's back and they flew back to the castle together, their friendship stronger than ever after this encounter.
