Gliding over parts of Manhattan without being shot at and chased was pleasant enough. Brooklyn would have very happily spent the night just flying around with Cora in his arms. But he eventually felt her shiver slightly. The cold October air was not even really noticeable for him. But it seemed to affect her. Looking around he dropped down onto a rooftop near by. He didn't bother setting Cora down. But wrapped his wings around them both.
"Still weird to me that you can do that" Cora told him.
"Why?" He asked.
"Remember I said Colin and Patrick's wings don't bend like that. Neither can Gio or Antoni's. They couldn't wrap them around their own shoulders if they wanted to." Cora told him.
He had forgotten her telling him about that. No, wait he did not forget about her calling him spaghetti wings. He squeezed her lightly as he laughed.
"What?" Cora asked.
"Nothing. Do you need me to take you right home. You don't seem to be able to stay out in the icy winds for long." Brooklyn asked.
"No, I can deal with it. I just notice it sooner than you do. My kind of witch is originally from warmer more temperate climates. Gargoyles can handle a lot more swing in temperatures. But what puzzles me is none of your clan has feathers or fur lined wings like I've seen referenced in books about northern gargoyles." She explained.
Brooklyn nearly dropped her when she said that.
"You have books? About Gargoyles?" He asked in shock.
"Of course we do. The Harkers were kind enough to lend us theirs to copy for the boys when they grew up. The habit of putting pen to paper and recording family history's is very much a human learned trait. Traditionally your history is just oral history from your elders was it not? Cora asked and guessed.
"Yes, but you have actual books. Like real history books?" Brooklyn asked again.
"History, magical texts, instructional books, even some diary's from long long ago." Cora told him. Not entirely getting at what he was so excited about.
"Where? At the lodge?" He kept asking.
"Well obviously some there. But we keep copies hidden at most of the warded homes. And every clan has these kind of books. We had to get ours copied from some of the Harker's. After our family's were killed they burnt the homes too. So we learned from our mistakes and keep multiple ones. I have a bunch of copies at my favorite house too" Cora explained softly.
Brooklyn felt her shrug and her shoulders ripple. He knew exactly what it felt like to not just loose a whole clan. But their home and way of life too. She wasn't looking at him. He suspected she was doing that on purpose. Reaching down he nuzzled the side of her face and neck gently. Only for her to jump in his arms and squirm to get him to let her go.
"Put me down book nerd" Cora scolded softly. She looked embarrassed again.
"Come on, I'll take you home. Would you mind if I could take a look at those books?" Brooklyn asked.
"I am going and getting food before I die of starvation" Cora replied and squirmed down out of his arms.
Peering over the side of the buildings roof Cora looked around.
"Bingo" She said and jumped.
"Damit Cora get back here!" Brooklyn hissed at her. He had wanted to take her home and keep her safe. He couldn't follow her around at street level so early on during the night with people everywhere.
"I will not, I am getting food. What do you want?" She called up.
"I don't care! Just get back here now!" He yelled this time.
"Ha ha, ha ha, no" came her answer.
She walked into the front of the open shop and started ordering food. Ignoring Brooklyn's request, much to his grief and her amusement. She stood waiting while Brooklyn paced above.
"You know I do this all the time right. A public street isn't exactly out of the realm of normal for me to walk around." She said to him.
"You look like a nut talking to nothing" He hissed back.
"I'm not talking to nothing, I am talking to you. And its pretty obvious. Everyone else can still hear you cause you're yelling" Cora told him. Brooklyn couldn't see the shopkeepers grinning but he could definitely hear a cook or two laugh.
That's it he thought. And jumped down and went to find Cora. Feeling panicked at the thought that a couple people were looking at him. And... not running and screaming? Cora thanked the shopkeeper and turned to walk out.
"What? Like your Broadway hasn't done this before" she asked.
With a growl at her Brooklyn he stood with his arms across his chest. He was going to have a talk with Broadway and Goliath later. Grabbing food out or paying for something was ok if they weren't seen. But while the humans might know they exist direct interactions didn't always go well. And now they have the added worry if there are hunters around watching for them.
"Are you ready to go" he snapped.
"Am now" Cora smirked at him. Holding several carry out bags bundled together.
Brooklyn grunted and watched Cora jump up to a lower rooftop and then to a higher one several stories up and out of sight. The cooks and shop keepers gasping in surprise.
"That gets you and not the gargoyle?" He asked sarcastically and rolling his eyes. He leaped half way up and then clawed his way up to where Cora waited texting away on her phone.
"You have to give people more credit. They know you all exist and what you do. They will get use to you sooner than later. I look like I can pass for human most of the time, if I try. So I have been able to walk around all my life." Cora said. Still texting.
"And what if it wasn't safe. What if there are hunters, or more Orfeo around. If you wander off how can I protect you?" Brooklyn demanded. His eyes glowing white for a second in anger at the idea of something happening to her and him not being able to stop it.
Still texting with out ceasing Cora looked up at him.
"Lets make this real clear. I do what I want. And if we need to be super obvious and explain things who really is going to be protecting whom? I am a witch, a frigging succubus. I can shoot fireballs. So me walking into a pizza shop around humans is not going to be the end of of my existence." Cora replied.
"You aren't stronger, faster. You can't fly. And what happens if they decide to shoot you again. You aren't bullet proof" Brooklyn snarled at her.
"Well thank god I have only seen a handful of Orfeo that have wings. And human hunters never do." Cora told him huffing and rolling her eyes.
Grunting Brooklyn reached forward and tugged her to him. Scooping her up in his arms he flared his wings out and took off. He was so angry that she wouldn't listen to him that he couldn't even get the words out.
"Dude. Not going back to castle Wyvern. Going home remember?" Cora asked dryly. She hadn't picked up on how angry he was.
"The castle is home" Brooklyn gritted out.
"Your home, I mean my home. Crap, you do remember where it is right?" Cora asked.
"Yes" He snapped at her.
Thinking that would be better to have privacy and not have his other clan members butting in when they argued. And they were going to argue. She shifted and settled into his arms more comfortably. It took no time at all for them to get to the house in forest park. Dropping down out of the sky and landing on the forest floor with a thump. He didn't set Cora back down yet. Instead still held her in his arms.
"Put me down. I have to open and shut the ward." Cora told him.
Brooklyn hesitated before he did. Following her closely. With a wave of her hand he could feel the edge shimmer as they walked through. And with the second downward wave he could sense it snap shut. He held out a claw and could feel a tingle that would have turned into a sizzle if he had kept pushing his claw out.
Cora started walking in the direction of the little house. Making a squeaking noise when Brooklyn picked her up without warning again and carried her. Pushing the door open and then kicking it shut with a solid slam that set the locks back in place.
"What the hell is going on with you?" She snapped.
Trying to turn and twist in his arms to be let down. Brooklyn could sense annoyance and not fear radiating off her. She dropped the carry out bags she held bundled and reached up and grabbed his face to turn it down to hers. He caught her wrist and firmly held it.
"You need to learn to listen" Brooklyn started out. Trying to keep his voice lowered and not yell at her.
"You need to kiss my pudgy ass" Cora snarled.
Her swearing at him caught him off guard slightly and she pushed away from him. Only managing to get her feet onto the floor. Brooklyn still held her tightly by the waist and one wrist. It felt as delicate as a bird wing in his claws. And the feeling made him anxious and panicky for some reason.
"I can't protect you if you wander off and don't listen to me" Brooklyn told her.
"I do not need protected. And I can and will act like a normal person. In fact YOU are going to have to learn to act like a normal person if you are going to walk around like a human during the day. I can blend in and become unnoticeable in a group of humans. Could you?" Cora snarled back at him.
"What does that matter?" He growled.
"Blending in can mean the difference between life or death. All our younglings are taught that. Aside from hunting skills. It's a whole thing" Cora told him.
Brooklyn snarled at her. His eyes lighting up bright white. Looking down at her he was torn between hoping she was intimidated and the desire to not frighten her. She looked back up at him. Annoyed.
"Growl all you want. You can stop being a bossy cow and eat dinner or you can dam well go home. Do all gargoyles have zero chill like you?" Cora asked.
"Males are usually extremely protective over the females in the clan. Especially over their mates" Brooklyn told her sarcasm seeping into his voice.
Cora said nothing but raised an eyebrow at him. Tapping him gently on the shoulder indicating that she wanted let go. Brooklyn didn't move what so ever. Cora sighed and leaned her head against his chest. That he was not expecting.
"I am fine. Nothings going to happen to me. You are right here in case something or someone magically got past a unplotable ward and I didn't get pissed and burn it to ash. Are you gonna calm down now?" Cora asked much more softly but with a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. Brooklyn didn't answer but did relax his arms and claws. Cora turned and then walked into the kitchen and back into the living room again with two plates. Which she set down before turning to look at the bookshelf.
"Its not abnormal for my kind to be protective of each other. Of our mates and to the extreme the protection of our children and younglings. However being told what to do just because you are male and I'm female is not ever going to work for me." Cora said with her back to him. "You know clan Macnamara is I think the only clan with a male leader that I know of. And it is most definitely the only clan where the gender balance is mostly male."
Brooklyn grunted in reply.
"Wait... Are your leaders always male? I admittedly only know about pure Gargoyle clans from books." Cora asked. Grabbing the book she was looking for and turning and then handing it to him. Or trying to.
"You don't want to read it?" She asked.
"I do. I also want you to listen to me or at least pretend like you care if I think you're in danger" Brooklyn snapped back.
"I wasn't in any danger. And I do care. Other wise I would have left you a crispy critter and ignored you. Are you going to trust me?" Cora asked softly.
"Should I?" He asked dryly.
"Well if I in turn wanted to hurt you, the big bad gargoyle, that would suck for you. If you don't think you on some level trust me then I've got something else to tell ya" Cora laughed.
Cora sat down and started eating. Leaving room for him to decide what he wanted to do. Huffing he sat down next to her.
"You know I never understand it. You are so tiny and yet you eat constantly like one of us" Brooklyn said only mildly confused.
"I eat human food. Sometimes over eat human food because I don't have a mate or go hunting like a succubus or incubus normally would remember. And getting injured or being around you makes it so much worse" Cora explained. Pausing to wave a hand and a book floated off a shelf and glided over to her.
"How do I make it worse?" He asked. The confusion more than mild this time.
Cora stopped and looked at him. Tilting her head to the side. Brooklyn just looked back at her. She looked adorable he thought. In a half amused half serious way. With a sigh she reached over and gently ran her fingers over his knee and up just a few inches. Breaking out in a laugh when he startled and jumped on the couch. His wings flairing up and off his back.
"So yes I eat more human food to try and knock back that kind of hungry. And I am going to end up really fat as it is." She said sourly.
"I didn't ugh.. notice anything different" Brooklyn said mildly. Not wanting to come out and say he was ridiculously turned on by her slightest touch. But coming to think of it the draw to her was not as... dire as it usually is.
"I have been practicing to tamp my powers down as much as I possibly can. None of my clan is affected in any way, well none of my family clan. The Harkers that I am not related to I affect. But its not a problem to keep my distance when I don't live with them. And I don't hang out with other witch's all that often. Your clan I would rather not make them uncomfortable." Cora told him pausing to think. Both of them adjusting and turning to face each other on the couch better.
"Anymore uncomfortable than me just existing that is." She finished. Reaching for more pizza and then turning around to look for her drink. Then frowning when she realized that she never made one.
"Other than Hudson who have you made uncomfortable" Brooklyn said with a smile. Thinking on how flustered Cora made him and that he got a little bit of a kick out of egging his elder on about it.
"Goliath is very wary of me. And Katsumi does not like or trust me in the least bit. I suspect her birth clan is a little more familiar with different kinds of witches. Ever heard the phrase legends are lessons that ring with a touch of truth? If I was raised terribly I would be a very different witch. Not unlike what stories she has probably heard." Cora explained as she got up and went into the small kitchen. From the sounds of it she was staring a pot of coffee.
"I don't get why. You're the one that looks like a cute little cupcake. You have no idea how many times I got called a monster or a demon or the devil" Brooklyn added scathingly.
"Why? Just because you're a gargoyle? How is that remotely scary? Or even accurate to the biblical depiction of the devil" Cora asked. She came back in to the living room with coffee and some other drinks. Offering him one as well.
"Because humans can be cruel to anything that's slightly different than them" Brooklyn answered. Taking the water and it looked like... plain juice from her. He didn't particularly like coffee.
"Your kind and mine aren't any different. Why do you think I was worried about any of your clan seeing us... doing this..." she pointed back and forth. "Your clan is very different culturally and I think that Goliath would tell you to stay away from me. And wait until you guys meet a clan of Harpys or the Shea. Those even I avoid" Cora explained. Laughing a little at the end like it was a joke.
Closing his eyes and breathing deeply he caught himself before Cora caught him growling. The idea of someone, anyone, coming in between them was something his inner nature did not like. He was a male gargoyle after all. And he liked Cora a whole lot. Protectiveness and possessiveness weren't always too far apart for males like him.
"Wait you are worried about that? And what the hell is a harpy or she?" He asked. Opening his eyes again and grimacing.
" A harpy is half eagle half human looking. 100% miserable. A Shea... a banshee. Stuck up, snotty, can scream you to death and also miserable. And both clans where females outnumber males 10 to 1 or more. And yes I worry that your clan already doesn't like me because I am different, not a gargoyle. And I am way more different than many other witches, or even the younglings from my own clan because the gifts and abilities of males and females are so wildly different sometimes." Cora explained.
"I don't care what anyone else thinks about me spending time with you" Brooklyn told her very plainly.
"We'll see about that when it comes to it. And we'll see how much you still like me when I am as round as I am tall if I keep eating like this" Cora laughed. Looking over the empty plate and food packages. Even Brooklyn hadn't eaten as much as she had just put down.
Hearing a ping from her phone Cora got up and excused herself for a moment. When she didn't come directly back Brooklyn worried slightly. He could still hear and smell her in the house. So she hadn't gotten too far away. She came back down the steps she no longer had the winter coat or boots on. Her steps even softer and lighter without them. Sitting back down beside him she drew her legs up under her self and opened the book that she had told him about. It was fascinating. It was about clans of gargoyles that lived in northern colder regions. With well drawn pictures and some records of dates when clans moved around and what other clans they interacted with.
"This is what made me wonder where your clan is originally from" Cora explained pointing to some of the pictures. "Your clan is extremely diverse in appearance already. And none of you have furred or feathered wings. You actually look more like gargoyles from France than Scotland. And a little like a merrow to be honest."
She leaned in with the book, her voice excited. Brooklyn was getting distracted by her closeness and the smell of her skin and hair.
"I don't have any books about french or even european gargoyles here. That's where Patrick and Colin's mother was from. I also don't have any books about merrows. Though I could always text the younglings and ask if I could get their friends to lend me a copy for you to see" Cora babbled on happily.
She started texting away. Distracting herself. Brooklyn just stared at her. Then carefully took the book and set it down on the table. Leaning in closer to her she didn't notice at first. Breathing in her scent and feeling the warmth radiate off her skin Brooklyn while interested in the books and everything she was talking about he was listening to his inner monologue instead. Her skin pale but rosy at her cheeks and lips. Crouching over her Brooklyn pushed her upper body over gently so she leaned back against the couch. Hearing her breath catch in surprise when she noticed how close he was and what he was doing. More instinctive primal parts of him were telling him to do things to her that made his eyes glow white. A stark contrast to how hers flashed dark. Shaking her head to clear it Cora looked up at him.
"We haven't exactly discussed this between us have we" Cora asked her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't exactly know what to say. We aren't going about this like either of our clans or cultures usually do are we?" Brooklyn asked. His voice husky and low.
"No, but admittedly I never dated or was looking for this with my own kind. So I... don't really know what I'm doing." Cora told him.
"Do you want this? Any of this?" Brooklyn asked her. Thinking it was better to be blunt either way it could go he wanted to know where he stood with her. Not to force something on her that she didn't want. Or get his own heart broken or pride bruised again.
Wrapping her arms around he she pulled him down closer to her. Brooklyn pulling her more onto the couch and under him.
"I was absolutely not looking for this at all. And I don't know where this is going to go. I don't know what you want out of it either. The last part is the scariest bit considering how much I want you" Cora murmured against his skin.
Her last words might have well been a ball of fire as much as it made his skin heat up and muscles tense. Kissing her he could see her eyes close and his instincts take over. With a snarl he ground himself against her. Groping and touching her through her clothing. Listening to the sounds of her voice as she made contented noises. He felt the hot water sensation pour over him. And felt his body relax with it.
"Sorry" Cora whispered sheepishly.
"For what?" Brooklyn grunted.
"I am trying really hard to control myself. And I feel like I am failing miserably." She said honestly.
Brooklyn thought she had no idea what struggling to control her self felt or looked like. He was hanging on to a shred of decency. His hormones and instincts were telling him to tear her clothing off and taste her for himself. Then push her onto her belly and take her like he would a mate in heat. Growling he could feel her tiny body squirm under his as he pushed his hips into hers. His cell phone ringing was a loud and unpleasant distraction. The buzzing at his hip angering him he tore the phone off his belt and pitched it across the room. The tiny phone shattering as it hit the wall and crunchy bits spraying everywhere. Cora slightly coming to her senses and pushing up on his shoulders.
"Why didn't you answer that? And then why did you pitch it? How do you know it wasn't an emergency?" She said startled.
"I can call them back later" was all he managed to grit out.
Pulling at her clothing Brooklyn felt some of it tear. He hoped she wouldn't get mad later. Human styled clothing is such a pain to get on and off he thought. He felt her skin shudder under his touch. Trying to force himself to remember that her skin wasn't as touch and textured and he probably could cut her quite easily with his claws. He could remember some parts of the instruction he and his rockery brothers had gotten as they ventured out of being little hatchlings and closer to adults. Things that they may feel around females. How they could and could not behave. How to most definitely not scratch up your mate by accident. That most females preferred more intimate touches to be done with mouths and not claws. He hadn't had a clue what the elder was most embarrassingly talking about then. But he certainly did now. Pushing one of her soft supple legs up higher on his hip Brooklyn heard a snap as he moved on the couch. Half frozen in panic he though he broke one of Cora's bones. But the surprised and amused face she gave him let him know that he had pushed hard enough on the arm of the couch that the internal frame broke. Cora giggled at the face that he made before pulling him down and kissing him again. Cora started touching him as well and tracing her fingers up and down his back and sides. One hand gently brushing the inside of his wing and he shuddered so violently that he dug his claws into the cushions below them and broke something else inside the couch. Metallic springs going snap and fluff coming out and making them sputter.
Brooklyn growled and putting his arms under Cora picked her up off the couch and looked for someplace more appropriate. However his brain just wasn't doing the thinking it needed to do as she wrapped her legs around his hips. All she had left on was the silky things female humans wore. She had her arms wrapped around his neck and was kissing up and down the side of it. With a start he realized that he could smell that she was as turned on as him. He had thought that only happened when the females of his clan went into heat and wanted eggs. Or just maybe because he didn't have a mate of his own that it was the only time of year he noticed it, when it was obvious to everyone with a mate. Dropping down onto his knees he pushed Cora onto the floor. She was already trying to unbuckle his loincloth and finally managed it. Reaching to touch him he felt her fingers close around him. Warm and gentle she could touch him so much more firmly than a female with claws could. And he decided he liked that a lot. So much that he would be done way before her if she kept up at it. Brooklyn wanted to tell her to wait a second. But couldn't get out any language other than a growl.
Brooklyn pushed both her hands off himself and above her head. Earning him an annoyed squeak from Cora. He was big enough that he could mouth his way down her abdomen and between her legs while leaving one claw holding her hands he used the other to pull of her bottom clothing before touching and tasting her like he wanted to. Cora yelped and went to push away from him. Something in his head said he probably should have asked her if it was alright. But by her continued moaning and now gentle roll of hips let him know she liked it. She also liked when he very gingerly pressed a clawed finger inside her in time with what he was doing with his mouth. Female gargoyles he was told did not like that at all. Being all too aware of how sharp and strong claws were. Brooklyn thought guiltily that Cora probably didn't know any better.
When he couldn't stand it any more he raised himself up and fit himself to her. Moaning as she wrapped her legs around his hips again. He thrust into her. Not as gentle and as softly as he would have hoped. But his instincts and hormones were taking over and demanding he take the female in his arms like any other male Gargoyle would. He felt the hot water sensation rush over him again as Cora kissed him. Watching in fascination as she orgasamed first and rolled her head back on the wood floor. The black inky color rolling over her eyes and fair patches of skin before vanishing. Her body rippling and relaxing more under his own. The feel of her softened and more relaxed body was like permission and he thrust into her harder and faster. Hearing the wood floor groan and squeak under their weight. As he came he dug his claws into the wood of the floor on either side of her head. His jaw and teeth had sank down lightly into her shoulder. Pleased her skin wasn't broken there but shocked that he was so aggressive with her.
Pulling his head up he looked down at her now worried that once he got his senses back under control he could have hurt her.
"Are you alright?" Brooklyn asked. His voice still rough and inhuman sounding.
Mmmmhhh was Coras reply. Not responding in words. Unsatisfied at her concern he pushed himself up off her body to look down and check her for injuries. Particularly her shoulder that he laid his teeth into. And her delicate parts between her legs. Grunting when he saw the smooth pale glow of her skin. Sans any marks or scars.
"Cora! Your skin?" Brooklyn asked in shock.
"Wait? What?" She asked confused.
"Look" He replied running his claws over her skin. Specifically her shoulder, her legs and belly.
"What in the hell?" Cora said. Voice breaking out in surprise. She hadn't seen her skin sans marks and scars like this since childhood. And she looked at him in shock as she sat up. Still splay legged in between Brooklyn's arms.
"You can heal, all the way?" Brooklyn asked.
"Apparently... but the effect might be more... cumulative" Cora said in slight embarrassment. Referencing the several times recently that they had been together. She had not been lying about not having or wanting a mate. Not if she didn't know even scars could be smudged and erased from her skin. Let alone just healing an injury for survival.
Still looking up and down her body Brooklyn caught sight of her pink and now very wet body between her legs as she shivered in the room air. Cooling down now after their exuberance on the floor. Growling he leaned foreword to kiss her again. Wrapping his wings around her to hold off the chill of the air on her more delicate and light skin. Frowning as his claw touched the torn wood above her head. Following his gaze that made her break out in laughter and throw her arms around his neck again. If she didn't care that he tore up the floor then Brooklyn wasn't going to worry about it at the moment either.