Morel never liked going home.

He hated it in fact.

There was a reason he always either stayed in the Queensguard barracks or at Corona's, and it sure as hell wasn't the fact that his home was far away. If he wanted he could ask for a pair of scissors and be there in no time at all.

But being home meant dealing with his father, and that was never a pleasant experience. Even as a kid he would go off as much as he could to get away from the guy. So the few times he did come by he tried to make things as discreet as possible. He slipped in, got what he needed, and got out. Usually he didn't even bother speaking to his father. In fact he went out of his way to avoid him.

Oh, he had no doubt that he knew he was there. Titans all had some sixth sense, and the connection between their family was even stronger. But they both knew if they met face to face then an argument was inevitable. So they both would save themselves the trouble and pretend not to notice each other.

This time though, things would not go so smoothly. Because there was something he needed from the old man…

This was not going to be a pleasant experience. Not in the slightest. But he needed to do this. Especially with how everything with those damned rebels was turning out.

He sighed as he looked up at the entrance of the old fortress. This was the back entrance. The hidden one that only a handful knew about. It was charmed so only certain people could even see it. To everyone else it just looked like a pile of ruble, leaving them to enter through the more obvious gates around the front.

He made his way in, and noted just how empty the halls were. It had looked pretty busy around the front, with plenty of people going in and out of the gates. All the girls were no doubt entertaining customers or doing chores around the place. Which worked fine for him. If he could get to his father without being noticed then-

"Morel?"

He winced as he heard a familiar voice behind him. He turned around and saw a succubus woman hovering in the middle of the hall. "Uh… hey. Can you do me a favor and not tell any-"

"Hey girls! Morel is back!"

In an instant, Morel found himself swarmed by a group of mostly scantily clad females. They all smiled and cooed as they grabbed and touched him all over. Someone grabbed his arm, another was ruffling his hair, one of the younger ones was grabbing his leg, and another was pinching his cheek.

"It's so good to see you!"

"Oh, you've gotten so tall!"

"Look are you! So handsome!"

"Hey Morel, look what I can do now!"

He scowled as he was hounded from every possible direction. Most people who found out he'd grown up in a whorehouse envied him. They imagined some kind of steamy fantasy where he had his pick of women. And… that was technically true. Succubus and Incubus were known for their lustful nature, and going at it with one another was a regular thing.

But for him it had always been more like growing up with hundreds of mothers, aunts, and sisters. He was the one of the only males in their entire species, and they always tended to fawn over him as a baby as if he was their own. It didn't change even thought he was twenty fucking years old now.

"Alright! Alright!" he said yelling over all of them. "Can everybody back off for a second! I need some room to breath here!"

One of them laughed. "Look at that, he's getting all angry. You know you look like your father with that scowl on your face," she said jokingly.

Another of the younger ones tugged on his shirt. "Hey, hey, Morel. How come you look like that?" she asked, tilting her head. "Where are your horns and tail and wings?"

He sighed. "I'm not changing back because I'm not staying long." The women all frowned and booed at those words. "Look, I'm sorry. I'll come by and visit some other time. But I got some important stuff to take care of. Anyone know where the old man is?" he asked.

One of them looked worried. "You're father? You're actually looking for him? You're not planning on getting into another fight, are you?" she asked worried.

He grunted. It wasn't like he ever planned on going at it with his father. It was just something that always happened. It was like setting fuel next to fire. What the hell did you expect to happen? "I just want to talk to him about something."

Another of them hummed. "I think he was training some new recruits earlier. If he's finished up he'll be in his room, if not he'll probably be in the playroom downstairs."

Morel shuttered. He had no idea why the girls had named that place the 'playroom', because it was anything but. When his father and the others got new recruits, it meant one of two things. A group of succubus were finally of age and ready to learn the tricks of the oldest trade in history, or some foolish knight or assassin came for his head, got caught, and was about to go from enemy to employee.

He really hoped it was the former… no he hoped it was neither. "Thanks." He began making his way off, heading towards his father's room. He'd rather wait there then end up seeing something he didn't want to see downstairs.

"See you later Morel! Don't be a stranger!" one of the women called, blowing a kiss towards him as he headed off.

He just waved back in response. Despite not having been here in some time, he still remembered the place like the back of his hand. He easily found his way to his father's study, though hesitated as he approached. He knew full well this was going to turn into an argument. Maybe an actual fight.

He really didn't want to do this. But he also really didn't have a choice. The boy sighed before walking up and knocking on the door. "Enter." For a moment, he just stood there. But then he steeled his nerves and pushed the door open.

Torrad was sitting in his chair, staring blankly at the fireplace as it crackled and flickered. He grunted as Morel closed the door behind him. "Must you keep up that ridiculous appearance even inside your own home?" he asked, the irritation in his voice clear.

Morel clicked his tongue. "Not staying long, so I didn't see the point…"

"Or perhaps you've just become so desperate to keep the mewmans you serve from seeing your true form that you prefer it now?" Torrad asked, not taking his gaze away from the fireplace. "Does that girl prefer your face that way? Is it easier for her to stomach the false face of a handsome mewman rather than a monster?"

Morel glared. "Corona doesn't have anything to do with it…" he said warningly. "By the way, it's nice to see you too dad."

"Of course it is. What did you come here for, boy? I can't imagine you stopped by for simple pleasantries, so let's get on with it."

Morel narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling his father already had some idea. "You remember the deal we made? The one when I left?" Torrad didn't answer, so he just kept going. "I want to change it. I need-"

"No."

"You didn't let me-!"

"The answer is no. We made an agreement. I have kept my end of the bargain, and you must keep yours. I won't change the conditions simply because they don't suit you anymore. I would think with all the 'honorable' nobles and royals you serve now you would know the value of keeping your word."

Morel balled his fist up. "The rebels are getting stronger! There's a cult out there recruiting villages! I can't keep going the way I am now!"

"Are you afraid for your life? Pointless. That's why we made this deal in the first place."

"That's not what I meant and you know it. I need to be able to keep up. I need-"

Torrad cut him off once more. "I allowed you to leave. I allowed you to play hero for your little damsel. I allowed you to serve those who hunted us and ours for centurious. I have been more than flexible in this arrangement."

"You've been flexible?!" Morel snapped angrily. "You're keeping what's mine in the first place, and you expect me to be grateful for it?!"

Torrad suddenly rose up from his seat, and glared towards his son. "Two! That was the agreement! I allowed you to keep two hearts so that you could go! Be thankful I didn't leave you with just one!" he shouted. "Two should be more than enough to conquer whatever foe the guard may rise up against!"

"Well it's not! I'm a lieutenant! I'm on the front lines, I need more power!"

"Whose fault is that?! You shouldn't have brought any more attention to yourself than necessary! It's a wonder the Commission hasn't caught on and tried to have you killed yet!" Torrad shouted. "If I were to give you another and they noticed your rise in strength, what then?!"

Morel grit his teeth as Torrad turned back around angrily. "Foolish, ignorant child! I warn you of the danger! I raise you on how to survive! And what do you do?! You jump right into the dragon's den and fight for those who'd have us slain! Hiding your true form! Taking on a fake name! And why?! Because a single wretched woman from that cursed family fluttered her eyelashes at you! To think you of all people would be tamed by a woman! It's pathetic!"

Torrad heard the sound of metal clanging, and then looked over his shoulder to see over a dozen knives hovering around him. Morel had a look of fury over his face. "You say one more word about Corona and I'll skewer you…" he threatened.

His father narrowed his eyes before casually moving the knife away from his face. "You know better than that boy. You've never once been able to beat me, and you certainly aren't in any position to do so now," he said walking towards him. "If you want the rest of the hearts back, you know the condition. Come home, and swear to stay and serve. I don't even care if you bring that women along as a pet, but-"

"I am not spending the rest of my life locked up in this hellhole…" Morel said bluntly. "Not with you. I can't take spending all of eternity hearing you bitch about mewman kind, and how unfair it all is."

Torrad shook his head. "All I've ever done is tell you the truth. And you've seen it yourself first hand. Even the latest Queen, who I'll admit is an exception, struggles to bring about any real change. They fight her on every turn. And in a few generations her lessons will be forgotten, and it will all be as it once was."

"You don't know that…"

"Yes, I do. I've seen it."

For a moment they both just stood in silence. Morel honestly didn't know what to say to him. As tired as he was of hearing it, he knew his father had firsthand experience with how badly monsters had it. He'd heard how hard he had to fight just to survive as a child, and the lengths he had to go to just to protect when he was born. An Incubus was a threat the Commission wouldn't allow, and it was only through cunning and blackmail that he'd managed to make a safe haven for himself.

He understood why he was like this. Why he was the way he was. But still…

"They're my hearts. Not yours," Morel said plainly. "And I need them… or at least a few of them anyway. I don't want them all back, but-"

"I'll give you one more," Torrad said.

Morel scowled. On one hand, he'd expected much more of a fight. One the other hand… one wasn't going to make that much of a difference. It would give him plenty more strength, sure, but not as much as he wanted to deal with… bah, it was the best he was going to get.

"Fine."

Torrad walked over to the fireplace and then pushed in one of the bricks. The floor tile in the middle of the room suddenly moved, and up from it was a stand with a smell chest. Morel had only seen the thing once before. When he'd given up the others. Torrad turned around then then opened it, revealing five beating hearts inside.

Morel remembered how painful it was when his father ripped them out. And how creepy it was how they still moved when they were removed. Honestly it still was. He reached down and took one of them, then sighed. "This is gonna suck…" He pulled his shirt back as one of his knives floated up from his side. Once it was off, the blade sunk into his chest, making a clean cut before turning around and creating an opening.

He grit his teeth in pain as he shoved the heart into his chest, and then felt a surge of power shoot through his body. For a moment his eyes turned completely blue, and he nearly fell to his knees. He barely managed to steady himself, desperately trying to catch his breath. "Don't… don't suppose I can talk you into another one?"

"Don't press your luck boy…" Torrad said glaring. "That is the last gift you'll be given from me while you continue this foolish charade." He closed the chest and then walked back over, resetting the switch and lowering it underneath once more. "Now, since you've got what you wanted I assume you're eager to leave…"

Morel stood up straight, and then looked over the wound on his chest. It was already closing, and he could feel his body getting stronger as it readjusted to his heart. "You know, eventually I'm going to be coming back for the others…"

"If you're able to pry the others from me with just three hearts, I'll have no qualms about it. Influence and power are the only things that matter in this world."

"Right…" Morel turned around and took his leave. With three hearts he should have an easier time dealing with their enemies. He would have liked four, but there was no chance his father was going to let him have more than he did. "Bye dad…"

Torrad said nothing as his son left. After he heard the door close behind him, he grunted."Be well son…" he muttered.

Such a foolish boy. In denial about the way the world worked. So eager to go out and be a part of such a horrible system. He cursed whoever his mother was in moments like this, because the boy didn't inherit such ignorance from him. The world wasn't kind to men like them. Not to Incubus, Titans, or monsters in general.

Was it cruel to take away his hearts? His source of power? Perhaps. But the world was cruel, and eventually he would have to accept that fact. Besides, as long as he had the rest of them here, he couldn't be killed. He would be safe.

His son would be safe...

A/N: Yeah, so this was something I had been planning for a long time and finally got around to writing. In case anybody is confused, Morel is actually a Titan Class. But to keep him from being recognized (and getting killed) Torrad would rip his hearts out whenever he left. The deal for him being able to leave the join the guard and him giving up five of his hearts.

Messed up, right? Eventually he's gonna need to get to full power and want the rest of them back, so you can imagine some more father-son drama going on later! Hope you guys enjoyed!