Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not the Teen Titans, but I do own Bryson and Kenneth
A/N: Wow, sorry this one took a little while, but just as I was going to upload this chapter the site was kinda getting on my nerves and wouldn't let me even get on, so here's the forth chapter. Ever wondered what it's like to have a wizard, a dragon, a thief, and a gargoyle under the same roof? Well here's my take on it.
Chapter 4 everyone, enjoy and thanks for your reviews, keep'em comin' folks. Thanks!
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Lost and Found
Home …
A place where you go to rest after a long days hard work …
Home …
Rorek sighed as he stripped off the Red X suit he took from Kenneth while he ate in peace at school earlier that day. The silly human boy had placed the suit in his own backpack! A very unprofessional thing to do, but Rorek didn't care; it got him where he needed to be and what he had to do. It served its purpose for another night. Clipping off the cape then moving to unclasp the belt the thought that maybe what he was doing. Using the Red X suit for his own means just as his friend Kenneth was doing the same was wrong never crossed his mind.
The suit – in his opinion – was just a suit, the person behind it could be anyone, even himself. However it's main user was Kenneth Aftaka an odd name that Rorek knew to be in Elvin tongue that had a very negative meaning. Aftaka meant, "to steal" where as its counter taka meant, "to take" get the difference? A very big difference in this case and the belief that maybe this could be little to no coincidence in the teen's life was an understatement.
Kenneth was – in a sense – born to steal.
Rorek chuckled at the thought; even now he still found it funny that the very person who owned the name – and maybe even have a bit of Elvin blood in him – was oblivious to Fate's humor. It was hilarious! After the first hundred or so years of living with Malchior's curse Rorek had come to terms with it and laughed. Fate had a cruel sick twisted sense of humor, but he loved her even still.
The top of the suit came off and a white shirt was pulled up and over his head, long sleeved and cozy for the very damp night and cold weather that was brewing. The rest of the outfit went away and he hung it out to dry, but made sure that it was in a place where none of the maids and servants dared to venture in his room.
An oversized room at that …
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"My Lord Rorek, I hate to be of disturbance to you, but there is someone at the front door."
Bryson? Rorek blinked and looked at the alarm clock that rested on his nightstand raising a brow when he noticed it was already 3:06 in the morning, he tossed the suit on the bed and pulled his hair back in a low ponytail as he went to answer the door. Opening one of the double doors Rorek came face to face with his trusted butler, follower, servant, trainer, and all together friend of the ages. The gargoyle that stuck with him through thick and thin for the past thousand years stood before him.
Ears that tipped and pointed, cupped and jutted up passed the top of his head, and wings that wrapped around his shoulders and small extra hands that clasped in the front of his chest. Well kept, well trained, and well tamed fiery red-hair pulled back in a rat-tail, as well as his horns that jutted out of his forehead and curved back in line with his skill. However tipped and curled like a ram when it came to the sides of his head.
The lengths of gargoyles' horns were always the emphases of his age, and his horns were big, while his eyes that were slanted and pitch black showed his wise and gentle aging of his years. Everything was pitch black, no white, just black. Fangs on the upper and lower teeth and hands that weren't hands at all, but were sharp pointed black claws as well as his feet, with bent back knees that'll spring up and launch him into the sky.
Bryson wasn't a creature of night; he couldn't hold a concealment spell for long periods of time thus became Rorek's "butler" as a way to prevent himself from going out in the light. Rorek looked down the hall as Bryson backed to allow him to come out and close his door, "What's going on? Who's at the door?"
"Oh … wow …" both startled and defensive, Rorek and Bryson spun around to protect from the being that snuck up behind them. Bryson shooting open his wings and crouching down while Rorek glowed white, eyes and palms at the sight of his bane. The cause of his pain, and the dragon that was supposed to die within time … but never did. Malchior, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and wings clasped around his shoulders eyed the two with much amusement.
However mostly lingered on Rorek, the wizard that dared to defy him even now, the sorcerer who showed him how much he feared death, and the human that he had literally given half his heart to, "… Rorek … Bryson … how's this for a happy little family reunion. Rorek, you never aged a day in life! How DO you do it?"
"Bastard!" Rorek leapt for the dragon's throat, but Bryson grabbed the back of his shirt and swung him around so he couldn't see Malchior. The rage in his soul and mind, the opportunity to destroy and eliminate the damned lizard that condemned him to hell! Rorek struggled out of Bryson's strong grip, "Bryson! Release me at once! That monster of a beast shall not live to see another day! Let me go Bryson!"
"Master Rorek! Calm yourself this instant, no blood shall be spilt this time, hour, or place! Get your head straight boy!" the gargoyle growled deeply in his own language. Rorek heard, but he wasn't listening, instead he was still trying to sidestep Bryson and get to the grinning dragon.
Even going so far as to shove Bryson and accidentally incinerating his shirt with his heated magic, "I command you to STEP A SIDE! That dragon shall no longer be seen with a smile upon his face!"
Malchior chuckled and changed the language both were using to the language that was precise … the language where no creature could pass a lie through his tongue without twisting his words, "My, aren't we just cheery tonight."
"YOU!" Rorek snapped back to Malchior and Bryson braced for anything the sorcerers' would try, "Why in bloody hell are you here? How in the blazes did you even find my location?"
Malchior laughed and shook his head, "Simple enough my friend, all I had to do was find the biggest house on the block find out the bloke who lives in it and bingo! Here you are relaxing in the lap of luxury and unseen by the human eye in the middle of the bush. Clever you be."
"But you still have not answered why you're here." Bryson demanded still trying to back Rorek up to keep the peace that wasn't even there, it was just lingering, floating. Waiting to be snuffed out at any given moment when something was not said properly.
Malchior shrugged, "I'll discuss it once you attend to the guest waiting downstairs."
Rorek reared back and looked to Bryson, "Guest?"
"The one at the door!" Bryson's eyes shot open in disbelief, "Rorek it is the one from your schooling! Kenneth Aftaka!"
"Who?" Malchior tilted his head in confusion, but Rorek ignored him.
"Kenneth? Truly? Now what's he doing here at this late hour?" turning to Malchior, Rorek pointed and let his voice be heard, "Malchior, you shall not move from this spot, we are not finished here, Bryson. Watch him and see to it that he's well behaved while I attend to Aftaka."
With a flick of his long white mane Rorek waltzed down the hall leaving Malchior to look up at the narrowed eyed Bryson. Snorted Malchior chuckled, "Kind of bossy isn't he?"
"Keep your mouth closed, dragon." Bryson growled.
"Oh what bore."
--
Rorek rushed down the hall and took a sharp turn around the corridor to stand at the top of the grand staircase that swirled with the far right wall and stopped at the ball of the main hall. The entrance into the mansion and the two large double multicolored laminated intricate plane glass doors; looking down to see a soaking Kenneth shivering in the cold of the room and drenched from the rain outside.
Bright hazel eyes looked up to meet with ice-blue orbs and he gave a weak smile and wave, "Ae there prince charming, hope I didn't come at a bad time."
"Bad time?" Rorek repeated in disbelief as he rushed down the stairs watching his step while giving Kenneth an odd look, "Kenneth, it's in the middle of the night … no, correction it's 3:13 in the morning, what – how did you get here and why?"
Serious, Kenneth looked down and frowned deeply coughing slightly and letting himself be lead into the parlor where Rorek had no trouble draping a blanket around his shoulders and allowing for him to sit on the thousand dollar couches. The ones that Kenneth remotely remembered Rorek once threatened to cut his head off if he ever got any stains on it. Now … it was like … it didn't matter. So he went with it, sitting down Kenneth sighed and sat back, "Man, I'm sorry for doing this to you … but I was kind-a hoping your mom was here."
Rorek shook his head, "No, my mother's are still off in London, but I can help any way I can. Just tell me why you're here."
And I was stealing from this guy? Kenneth shook his head and looked off to the side where the pane windows were mercilessly pounded by the rain he ran in. Rorek sat; waiting patiently for Kenneth to start speaking and the human wasted his time for not, "My house dude … it was raided while I was going to sleep."
"What?" Rorek blinked.
Kenneth sighed, "Yeah, these weird guys … they were totally trashing my place, I didn't have the time to think or call the cops so I ran. Ran to the bus station to come here … but … they followed me to the station. I swear to god it was self-defense, but they weren't even human!"
"Who?"
"The ones that were in my house!" Kenneth snapped and Rorek sat back as the human scowled and snarled, throwing the blanket off and getting up off the wet couch. Kenneth started to pace the room, "I got nothing they want and yet they were after me like I saw some kind of murder and scared that I'll testify against them! Seriously Rorek, they were on my ass getting ready to kill me if I didn't give them ... damn man."
Rorek raised a brow when Kenneth suddenly stopped and flicked his wrist to emphasize his point. Yet, that wasn't what got Rorek to push the subject at hand, it was the sudden silence. If there was anything to identify Kenneth with, it would be his loud mouth, crazy, impulsive attitude. So with this sudden change in style Rorek stood up with him, "What were they after in your house Kenneth?"
"Never mind," Kenneth shook his head and walked to the window, "I already told you I had nothing of value for them."
"That's a goddamn lie and you know it human!"
Rorek groaned in frustration and turned to the entrance where Malchior was marching in with Bryson following trying to get him back upstairs. Kenneth blinked and turned around his body going ridged and still where he looked like a rabbit ready to run if the cat took one look his way. Right now Malchior's metallic eyes were locked on him and there was no place to run.
Cornered by the laminated window – shatter proof – and everyone else that was pouring into the room Rorek growled and glared at the dragon, "Malchior I told you to stay put up stairs!"
"Shut up," Malchior snapped, baring his fangs as a warning gesture to back off, "like I'm really going to listen to you. And you, you had it all along didn't you!"
Kenneth shouted back, "I don't know what the hell you talkin' about fool! You're the one that was holding the damn thing, you're the one that has the Red Sea Sapphire!"
"I never said what was stolen now did I?" Malchior mocked and Rorek shoved him back.
"Enough! You two know each other? Kenneth you know him?" Rorek pointed to the snarling dragon whose wings were cupped and slightly raised to show his challenge.
Kenneth gave Rorek a scrutinizing look then a glare at Malchior, "Man I've never met this nobody in my entire life."
"Oh of course you have," Malchior growled, "I'm the "fuckin' retarded baboon" from the night before. So don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about, Red X."
"Fuck you!"
RROOAARR!
Malchior, Rorek, and Kenneth all flinched and covered their ears as a loud ear piercing roar echoed through the giant mansion. Malchior spun around to snarl at the gargoyle that spread his wings wide open. However Bryson would be having none of his fights, flat out ignoring him he more than growled out his lecture, "Everybody shall hold ye tongue this instant! You're all acting like damn fools, such ignoramus I've seen in all my days, especially coming from you Rorek. Once we are all calm and collected will we find out what is going on. Starting. With. You."
Bryson pointed at Malchior, "You've done nothing but cause chaos and mayhem since you stepped foot in this house and by the gods I should throw you and everyone else out for showing such disrespect towards the ancients that have dwelled here in these lands since before either of us were born! Am I any way unclear to you all? Or shall I start making a point?"
Emphasizing on the word "point" Bryson thrust his claws in front of Malchior's face, making sure he saw the sharpness and tip-top point of every each claw. He was not playing around; every word that came from his mouth was sure and will happen if there was another hair thrown about in a spat. Malchior didn't want to test Bryson's strength after all the year's they've been apart. The gargoyle may have been old, but gargoyles had a nasty habit of surprising their enemies without even trying.
Bryson was no different, so without wanting to Malchior stood down and wrapped his wings around his shoulder hooking them into place he waltzed to a wall in the room and leaned against it. Bowing his head and saying a little chant of forgiveness in a different tongue to the spirits that floated restlessly in the halls. Rorek did the same and Kenneth just raised a brow staring at the gargoyle that was at the entrance of the parlor. He sneered, "Okay … I get that guy –" Kenneth pointed to a growling Malchior, " – and I know a bit about this guy –" he continued as he pointed to Rorek, looking up and appearing as calm and cool as before, " – but you … who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"My name be Bryson of the Necrono Clan, last surviving member of it in fact," Bryson sighed tiredly, "I am an old gargoyle with nothing left in his life to loose other then a good friend whom you know to be Rorek Aiedail –"
"Aiedail?" Malchior interrupted raising a brow at the white haired sorcerer who huffed and rolled his eyes, "Is that what you called yourself? Unbelievable."
"Back to the subject at hand here," Rorek snapped and Malchior snorted a laugh.
"What subject?"
Kenneth cut in, "The subject where you don't say anything and let the smart people do all the talking, god you are a fucking baboon."
Malchior walked up to Kenneth, "I have had it up to my neck with you humans, what makes you so calm and collected about all this any way? You are standing in a room with a dragon, a gargoyle and a sorcerer and none of the three get along. What makes you so sure that you're safe?"
"Nothing," Kenneth challenged folding his arms in front of his chest, "I never said I felt safe, I just wanted to come here because I knew Rorek over there wasn't as he so appeared to be, he'd be the one to know more about the reason I had to kill two elves. But seeing that you're here, well that's enough answer for me, and the gargoyle? Bryson? I could give less of a damn if he was Satan himself, there's always going to be freaky shit going on in the world and it's stupid to stand here and scream about this." Kenneth sighed and looked to Rorek moving his wet hair back and asked, "So how did you know who I was?"
"It's not hard to figure," Rorek answered with a shrug, "after all you DO keep your suit in your pack."
"And I'm the retarded baboon?" Malchior sneered and Kenneth flipped him off.
"Shut it lizard-boy, I never expected to stay out late, it was all your dumbass fault."
Malchior hissed and Bryson stepped in between them again, "Alright, now that all our formalities are over with, are you sure it was elves that came after you boy?"
Kenneth scoffed, "Yeah, I know my mythical creatures alright. Besides, it wasn't hard to figure when they kept going on and on about their Queen. This Red Sea Sapphire, what the hell's so special about it?"
"It's a prison," Malchior answered, "Like I said, it's not a Sapphire it's actually a chamber, a walking holding cell that has no way out. Think of it as the perfect Jail House, where you can stuff as many prisoners as you so wish, never run out of space, and has no exit. There's not even a counter curse. The perfect bound."
"OR," Rorek challenged, earning him an exasperated glare from the dragon, "or it could be a gateway to this prison, a key to get to another dimension. Like the Duel Amulets of Hell to open the gateway to, well, hell … the Red Sea Sapphire may be the dimension itself, the key to said dimension, or a pocket that could hold many, many riches of the world. Are you still with us here Aftaka?"
Kenneth gave the wizard a dry look, "Look, all I know so far is that this thing is owned to some Queen who's out for my ass because they think I stole her damn jewelry when it was the snake standing over there that took it!"
"Dragon!" Malchior roared, "Mistake me for any other reptile again human and I'll make sure I'm the last thing you see."
"Just try it asshole," he challenged, "I can take you anytime/anyplace, think I give a damn if you're a spellcaster? Kiss my ass!"
"That's it!" Kenneth braced when Malchior tensed and looked ready to rip him to shreds, but Bryson once again played the mediator and pushed the dragon back.
"How many times am I going to have to straighten you two out?" he growled, "If I have to break up another fight with you, Malchior, as the starter I'll bound you to the wall with iron chains, am I any way unclear?"
He – Bryson – used the English and the Ancient language as a threat to Malchior who snorted and turned away to pace the room and let off some steam. So far everyone's been trying his patients, however little did he care that he was the one grating on everyone's last nerves.
Bryson sneered and turned hesitantly away from the pacing dragon to control the uncomfortable human, "Now Kenneth, I know this may seem rather odd to you, but please bare with it until we figure out how to get the elves off you. We already know why they want you and Malchior, now we have to try and convince them that neither of you have the Sapphire. Rorek, can you get in touch with the Queen?"
At this Malchior narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the wizard who nervously looked away and walked around the couch to the phone on the other side of the parlor, but that didn't protect him from Malchior's scrutinizing gaze, "You know the Elvin Queen?"
"Nothing that you need to concern yourself with," Rorek cleared his throat and turned to Bryson, "I can't get in touch with the Queen herself … but I can get in touch with her adviser."
Bryson nodded, "That'll be fine."
Malchior growled, "Nothing to concern myself with? If I hadn't known any better Rorek, I'd suspect that you're up to a bit of no good where I am concerned."
"He's not trying to capture you within the Sapphire if that's what you're thinking," Bryson defended, "Lord Rorek is just … special … to her."
Kenneth snickered, "Special huh? You mean prince charming is getin' good with the Lady of Ladies?"
Bryson raised a brow, "No … the Queen cannot bare her own children so she adopted my Lord as the heir to her throne."
"WHAT?" both Malchior and Kenneth screamed, and Rorek held the phone's speaker.
"Silence! It's ringing!"
Kenneth shook his head, "Dude! So you are some kind of Prince Charming! All this time man … all this time … I thought –"
"The Elven Queen adopted the likes of YOU?" Malchior was tripping, "Has she lost her damn MIND? No, no, no have YOU lost your damn mind? You have half the heart of a dragon Rorek, MY heart, and still knowing that Elves and Dragons don't go together you still went with it all?"
Rorek pulled away from the phone and hissed a fast explanation; "It was a matter of war and peace at the time! My father had died by the arrow of an Elf, an accidental death! I saw it with my own eyes! Yet my people did not believe me at the time and were going to go war with the near by elfin village. The queen hadn't a daughter for me to marry – thank god for that – in order to complete our peace treaty so I had to become her son in order to save my people. Get it? Now, shut-up!"
"Don't tell me to shut-up!" Malchior argued.
Rorek snarled, "I said shut-up! – Tyron? No! No, no, no I was not talking to you I was uh … distracted."
"Tyron?" Kenneth looked to Bryson who shrugged and Malchior snorted, both answering at once.
"The Queen's adviser."
"Oh."
"…" Rorek nodded, "mm-hmm … I understand … of course … right away, but just tell Mother that I must have some time to … oh no Tyron that's not necessary, I'm fine … mm-hmm … uh-huh … right, right … okay then … alright … fine … but before you go make sure Mother gets my message, I mean it Tyron, if she doesn't I'll know. Good … alright then, bye."
"What's the deal?" Kenneth being the first to speak right when the phone left Rorek's ear, the young prince sighed and shook his head.
"Yes, she is the one that's sending out her men to take care of the problem at once … the Sapphire was actually going to be shipped to me to hold and well … give off as a gift to someone else, it's not a holding cell as Malchior believed … it's the Queen's pocket that holds all her lifetime treasures. From the day of birth to the day of death it'll be hers and since she's giving it to me …" Rorek looked up, his ice-blue eyes gleaming with pity, "it must me she's going to pass soon and expects me to find a … a …"
The spellcaster's demeanor suddenly changed to that of embarrassment and nervousness. Malchior read into the signs as well as the other two, but him and Kenneth grinned. Malchior being the blunt dragon he was chuckled, "Well now, looks like little Rorek is finally growing up. Who be the lucky dame that'll inherit all your riches and soon enough become the Queen at your side?"
Kenneth added insult to injury with laughter, "Hey Rorek, my man, think you could hook me up?"
Both the dragon and the human burst out laughing, Bryson shaking his head pitifully at the two immature creatures on either side of him. Rorek glared, "Ha, ha very funny, get up before I throw the both of you out of my home and alert the Queen's men of your break in to my humble abode."
Suddenly they stopped and Kenneth put a hand on Malchior's shoulder fringing whispers, "Oh, I think we hurt his feelings."
Malchior chuckled, "I think you're right, but do we care?"
At once they both shouted and laughed, "Hell no!"
Rorek gave up, Bryson walked over to try and consol the young prince as best he could, but Rorek was just shaking his head, "I see nothing funny about the situation I'm in … should I throw them out Bryson?"
The gargoyle shrugged, "It is not my place to decide, this is your home not mines … however … my lord if I may be so bold as to inquire about the sapphire … but … something in my being tells me that there is something else to this whole thing that just bothers me."
"What is it Bryson?"
"… In order to enter a pocket jewel do you not need the voice of the owner to do so? Or if be an heirloom, is it not impossible to break into unless the touch, the blood, and the voice of the only ones that have been chosen to possess such a realm need be the only key? Why worry about it if that is the case? No my lord, something does not add up to the Queen's sudden aggressiveness."
"… Then what do you suggest?" Rorek blinked ignoring the joking and laughing "idiots" behind the two.
Bryson going the same shrugged, "I will come back to you on that one once I've found a reasonable explanation, but for now … we can only guess."
"Right."
--
He wasn't real …
He couldn't be …
But he felt so authentic …
His breath on her neck, his words that whispered enticingly into her ear and his touch … his touch … it was alike an aphrodisiac. Something she couldn't get enough of, and wanted more and more of with every passing moment he held her. His arms around her waist holding her so tight to his warm embrace making her feel his steady beating heart. Syncing with her own, eyes closed letting her hands see and feel everything around her.
She couldn't get enough …
They were so close …
He was so warm …
She was so ready …
For what? She could hardly, coherently think what it was she was ready for, but she knew she was ready for anything that would come their way. Whether it is their families that absolutely refused their union. Or it is for the next step in their hellfire, whirlwind of a relationship that'll never end. She was ready … but with the grin on his face she knew he wasn't going to make things easy on her.
No …
It wouldn't be his "style" so to say to just give her what she wanted …
He'd make her beg for it … and she wouldn't have a problem, but he was making it so hard for her to even speak with his hands. His roaming, curious, teasing, mocking hands that owned her … held her, controlled her, and commanded her to do his bidding. She was his puppet, and he was her master … that much was clear.
Her breathing hitched, when he tightened his grip on her and gently, and oh so slowly backed her up against the near by wall. She gasped, but he quickly silenced her with a kiss, what better way to muffle her pleasurable sounds that will for sure echo through the whispering walls? Not that she mind, oh-no, she encouraged him and responded so willingly. The friction in her gut becoming too much to bear …
She was heated, he could feel it, but he wanted her to burn and scream his name. Knowing exactly how to get what he wanted from her, he slyly traced a hand down her side feeling ever curve of her body and stopped when he came to the beginning of her long flowing gown. Inch by sneaky inch he raised it up higher and high until he was able to teasingly massage her inner thigh. Going higher … and higher … and then –
--
With a gasp Raven shot up from her bed and stared wide eyed into the brightly lit room with the sunlight of the gloomy day glistening in through her watered down window. Biting down on her lower lip the half-breed shook her head and stared at her lap where the white book laid after she knocked off of her. The dream … it was precisely that … it was all just a dream … Raven sucked in a shaky breath and laid back down in her bed facing the bright morning. Making sure that she stayed awake after such a vivid dream …
Vivid dream … Raven snorted, It could be hardly called that … it felt more like I was … I was … she shuttered, she didn't even want to relive the moment. It was all to real, he – whoever he was – was all too real feeling and the emotions … they were strong.
Quite obviously the man was the dominant and possibly a power crazy type, the one that always runs the show. While the woman … well … it was also quite obvious where she stood … but the point was who were they exactly? Raven hadn't a clue who the couple was … hadn't any idea where it was taking place. However the time … Raven suspected something from the old ages.
An age where everyone still went around holding swords and shields and it was every woman's dream to be with their Prince Charming. Or to be whisked off into the sunset and up on cloud 9 with their lover, the times where magic facts, and religion collided. Then the question of WHY she would dream something so … so … "explicit" was another thought.
What made them so special, what made the moment so special, and what was so wrong about it? They were hiding … Raven thought blandly, bringing Malchior/Rorek's book up to rest near her head as she clutched it close to her person … their families … that was a reason … but what made their union so imperfect? What were their noble backgrounds? A classic Romeo and Juliet story … but what makes this story different? Why the hell is it so special that I have to be the one to relive it for them?
Too many questions and not enough answers, Raven growled and got up. Going back to sleep wasn't something that was going to happen it was already early in the morning and a new day of wonders. A new day to become a female version of Robin and obsess over finding out just what the hell is going on in life!
--
Freaky dreams, Prince of Elves, a gargoyle with a bad feeling, and a Thief with a suspicious outlook on the realm of the mystics, this can not end well … we'll just have to see, later peeps.
L8er Daez
