And we are back. More fun and drama ahead.
The instant the elevator doors popped open his brothers and sisters along with Hudson and Owen were waiting. The younger's ones breaking into a flurry of questions. Brooklyn having to tell them to can it so he could get a word in.
"Elisa is just fine. Thanks to Cora. Dr Corvo is alive, but for how long after he gets interrogated is anyone's guess." He told them.
"And Cora?" Owen asked first. Concern flashing across his usually wooden human features.
"Aye Laddie. We saw it on the computer monitors. It looked badly" Hudson told him.
"With some sleep and time I assume she will be fine. I need to go lay her down somewhere and call the rest of her clan. See which one I can get a hold of first" Brooklyn said.
Owen touched her shoulder briefly before nodding and the usually composed face returning.
"Is she really alright? We saw her get shot in the frigging face" Broadway asked in concern. His mate standing beside him in agreement.
Before Brooklyn thought to warn him Broadway reached out like Owen had his hand and touched Cora on her shoulder. Going silent and frozen and then pushing himself back in surprise. "What the hell is that?" He said gulping air.
"That's just what her particular kind of witch feels like" Brooklyn snarled. He decided he did not like Broadway trying to touch Cora at all. Even with Angela standing right there.
"Then how in the hell did Owen touch her and nothing? How are you standing there holding her and not..." Broadway broke off before he said what he was thinking.
"Owen, or more so Puck is related to the wee Lassie like the rest of her clan is. She donna have an effect on them. The Laddie is apparently unaffected by her and can carry her round." Hudson said. Wisely not adding that he couldn't have picked up and held Cora any more than the rest of the clan could right now. Not without embarrassing the lot of them and himself.
Grunting in disgust Owen gestured to one of the hallways.
"I believe you are suppose to call her clan. You can set her in one of the guest rooms for now and I'll watch after her" Owen said. Annoyance creeping in his voice. Puck was wanting out.
Brooklyn snarled low to himself and turned to follow Owen. Having to stop the rest of his clan from following. Then having to order his brothers to do so.
"Seriously. Go keep watch and leave her alone. I am dam well sure when the drugs wear off she is not going to like you in her face" Brooklyn snarled at them. Then adding more quietly to Owen, "Is it always like this around her?"
Keeping stride with Owen Brooklyn huffed and then calmed his anger. Looking over at Owen he was appraising him.
"It is unusual that out of all your clan you are unaffected by Cora's... ability's" Owen said with a grimace. "I did not think that you would be not attracted to the female of any species. But apparently I was wrong."
Stopping right there in the hall Brooklyn glared at him.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" He snarled, eyes lighting up briefly in anger.
"It meant exactly what you think it did. But no matter better that than the alternative. Cora would be extremely displeased to come around and have a bunch of goofy eyed males after her. Again" Owen said snippily.
Brooklyn would have loved to punch Owen in the face for his assumptions. But decided that personal jabs would irk him more.
"I am no more un-attracted to pretty females than you are any less likely to be Cora's father. Which that worked out how well for her family?" Brooklyn said quietly. Still walking in the direction of the guest rooms. Smirking in satisfaction when he heard Owen come to halt slamming on the breaks. Apparently pissing him off enough to make Puck rear his head.
"You little bastard. I don't know who blabbed that to you. You have no idea what happened back then." Puck snarled.
Without turning to look at him Brooklyn could sense Owen had already shifted into his Puck form. Without the spinning or light show. Puck and Owen must have always been holding back and hiding how powerful they truly are. Walking into the last guest room and ignoring the angry fae behind him Brooklyn carefully set Cora down on the soft bed. Smiling in amusement when she immediately rolled over and put an arm out to try and close the distance between them.
"Nobody blabbed anything. I have eyes and ears. Cora admitted she is more fae than anything else. She talks about her whole clan, living and dead. But not her father. She profoundly affects anyone with her powers if they aren't an immediate relative. She even set some of her distant Harker cousins off. She looks a bit like her incubi cousins. But she is as pale as can be where her mother and cousins are all quite olive or tan skinned. So who does she look like. Just who might she be omitting for their own safety?" Brooklyn sneered at him.
"Fine just keep your mouth shut and go. Don't you need to go call Colin or Patrick, if the later can be found at all."Puck snapped. Expecting Brooklyn to leave and get out of his sight.
'Why don't you go? Someone needs to stay and protect Cora. I have no idea how long those drugs will take to clear her system. I can't leave her alone like this. What if one of my brothers or some employee walks by and decided to check on her" Brooklyn said. His voice low and lacking patience.
If he could get Cora alone he wanted to see if she'd kiss him again. Then maybe she would heal a little faster. And that was something that he wouldn't ever do in front of the rest of his clan. Or in front of Puck for fucks sake. Now that he had conformation about him being her father. It would be just too weird considering how far they usually went once they got started.
Puck rolled his eyes and then with a last look at Cora floated back out into the hallway and in the direction of the Xanatoses family quarters. Watching him go before turning and sitting down beside Cora. She squiggled in her sleep closer to him so he picked up her head and laid it across his lap. She was so much smaller and childlike in her sleep. With a sigh he pulled his phone and texted her family. Getting no response from Patrick and then trying Colin, Gio and Antoni in turn. Colin texting back before he could even finish texting Antoni. He said he would be there shortly after sundown. That he was in the area with a friend and would be over as soon as they could physically get there. Brooklyn texted back that he was staying with her until they did. And perhaps escort them home. There was a pause and all he got was an ok. A one word answer. Lovely he thought pulling a lot from that one word. Colin is pissed that something happened to Cora.
Texting back again he said it was pretty bad. But she had healed herself for the most part. Now she was just sleeping the drugs off. And again a short to the point answer. I see. Texting back Brooklyn said he would see Colin and Gisle shortly. That should be enough to put him off, Brooklyn knew exactly what friend Colin was out with. And he couldn't blame him. It would be nice to just get to spend time with Cora. With a huff he closed the phone and ran his hand over Cora's hair and sleeping form. He could feel the almost magnetic pull of her body to his. And if she was awake and they alone and sure of no interruptions he would behave very differently than he was right now. Human hands and skin are so weird he thought as he traced lines over Cora's back gently. If he had his claws out he'd be risking cutting her if he pressed any harder.
Hearing others in the hallway he paused stroking her but didn't move. Whichever ones of his clan it was they walked by and after a short pause kept going. Grimacing Brooklyn realized in an injured state that her magic would lure in anything or anyone in the vicinity, that even meant several rooms away. And that if she was out alone she really was fresh bait. Stilling in thought he wondered how he could get her to never go out hunting again. Or at least not without him.
Brooklyn hadn't realized he was subconsciously tensing up while holding her. Cora was trying to wake her self. Lifting her head and shaking it while blinking. Her hand shot out to touch him grabbing his arm. But not burning him, holding him still while she tried to look around the rooms for whatever danger Brooklyn seemed to be sensing.
"Hey, its ok. Its just us" Brooklyn whispered to her.
"No, isssnot." Cora replied groggily.
"What do you mean, are you more hurt than I thought?" He asked quickly.
Softly hissing Cora pushed herself up and off his lap. Rubbing her hands over her face once she had sat up.
"No. I'm just tired, still slightly drugged up and hungry. I meant we sure as hell are not alone." Cora said with a huff at the end. Still speaking softly that the only one that could hear her would be Brooklyn.
Gesturing around them to the empty guest room he questioned her. Rolling her eyes slightly Cora went to stand up and then sat back down with a hiss. Brooklyn stood up to reach for her and help her before she quickly waved him off.
"At least two of your siblings and Hudson are either in the hallway or waiting in one of the rooms nearby. Puck had gone to check on Fox but he is now lurking somewhere about." Cora told him very quietly.
"What?" He asked. Getting a shrug from her in response.
"I am hungry and sore... just enough to be able to sense the life-forces around me. Hudson is napping. Your siblings are not. They are..." Cora didn't finish what she was saying. Trailing off in slight embarrassment and her face going pink.
"I had told them to go keep watch" Brooklyn finished in annoyance.
Standing up carefully she rolled her shoulders. Then her eyes went inky black and then cleared to hazel green again.
"They are keeping watch for danger, well or at least they were. You didn't specify which one." She said with a slight snarl. Not directed at him.
"You mean they think you are the danger?" He asked in confusion.
"Of course. They've seen what my kind can do and live through. All witches have their own talents and abilities. But I am different and weird even among my own kind. And now it makes them uncomfortable and they don't trust me any more than a human trusts a gargoyle." She told him with no holding back on the disappointment in her voice.
"That's not true. I mean they can't be afraid of you." He told her quietly.
Cora tilted her head at him and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Watch me try and walk up and touch one of them. See how freaked out they will get. At any rate I want to go home. I am tired, sore and really pissy. That is after I speak with Corvo again." She said her face and eyes darkening again.
"No way in hell are you going anywhere near him. In fact I think Xanatos may have had him moved to another building already to get him away from Fox and the kids. And Colin is already on his way here. You can't go home alone like this. In fact I should probably take you there myself" Brooklyn mused. Not watching her face as he was talking.
"Excuse you? You are trying to tell me to do what now? And you freaking called Colin to come get me?" Cora snapped. Now seemingly fully awake. And pissed.
"Of course I am telling you that you aren't going near him. Corvo and his idiot friend tried to kill you. They ended up shooting you. And yes I texted your whole clan trying to get a hold of someone. Colin answered first" Brooklyn snapped back at her. It felt strange getting angry in his human form. Where his eyes would usually glow and tail slap the ground in annoyance it just didn't feel the same. Now he just felt like his head would explode.
"I can't believe you called them. And they weren't trying to kill me, or even hurt me. I am a witch, I am much too valuable to the hunters. They however have no idea Elisa is part Fae so they were aiming at her, thinking they'd get rid of another human in the way. I intervened." Cora said to him. Walking across the room and reaching for the door.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Brooklyn said. Putting an arm out and holding the door shut.
"Home. I don't know how you or your clan generally thinks this goes. But you literally can not order me to do anything. You don't seem to grasp how this works have you?" Cora replied acidly.
Eyes on each one of them changed colors. Hers going black and his glowing white. Of course at that exact moment the sun went down and Brooklyn seamlessly shifted into his natural form. Growing taller as he did so. The stretching sensation gave Brooklyn a moments distracting and Cora opened the door and brushed past him quickly.
"Cora, get back here. Now!" Brooklyn hissed at her. Quickly outpacing her and catching up to her in the hallway.
She didn't reply. Just huffing in his general direction. He flicked his tail out and wrapped it around her waist. Effectively pulling her to a halt, then pulling her into a corner of the hallway. She was pissed and indignant at the touch and being pulled around. Her eyes and face darkening. But she didn't say a word looking around his shoulder to the hall beyond. Equally annoyed Brooklyn flared his wings out blocking Cora's view of the hall.
"And you are not the least bit concerned that someone else is going to walk through here and see us?" She asked crisply.
"With my hearing and your sense of lifeforce? No." Brooklyn told her dryly.
"We have had the discussion before. I am not going to be told what I can and can't do. Personally or culturally that is not going to work." Cora said evenly. Or tried to. She was still pissed and it crept into her voice.
"Can I even ask? I can't stomach seeing you hurt or in danger. And the first thing you do is literally jump right into danger." he replied.
"I am just a wee bit more durable than Elisa is" Cora retorted. Slight amusement now coming out.
"Yes, this time. I've also seen you get shot and bleed for days. I just want to protect you and keep that from happening again." He said softly.
"You gargoyles and your overprotective weirdness. You know in my family Patrick and I are the over protective ones" She said.
Sighing he wrapped his wings around her and pulled her in closer.
"And when do you ever listen to orders from Patrick? Never?" Brooklyn asked.
"Not always because he can't force me to. Hes technically not the leader of my clan remember. The magic doesn't work that way. We try and work together and act like the responsible adults we are suppose to be. Just like we get along with our Harker cousins. I couldn't force them to listen to me either." Cora answered.
"What's magic got to do with it?" Brooklyn mused. Leaning forward and acting like he was going to nuzzle the side of her neck. His tail wrapping around her waist tighter.
"Hey... focus will you" Cora said. Pushing his beak away. Gently and softly because she knew how easy it was for her magic and body to distract his.
"And the magic is everything, we don't pick who is in charge. The old magic does. Its usually the oldest, most responsible and yes most magically powerful female and her mate. Traditionally a grandmother or older. Whoever is going to do the best job of leading. In our cases... it was possible that Patrick and I would have each lead a clan. In our own time. We both should have gotten to grow up. Find mates. Raise children... even had grandchildren, before it would have been our time to lead on our own. I have never had to use magic to enforce an order. And I don't think Patrick has ever tried on the younglins" Cora explained.
"That is both terrifying and simpler at the same time. A whole lot of terrifying. What is one of you does not want to be leader. What if you want to step down like Hudson did. What if..." He said with a gulp. "What if they changed and did something awful like Demona? They couldn't still use this magic to order the clan to do terrible things..." Brooklyn couldn't finish the sentence.
"In theory they would no longer be worthy and the leadership would shift itself. I've never seen that happen. I've never even seen a clan have a elder pair step down. It just hasn't happened in any clan I have close kin in for me, or even Patrick to be invited to. However... I do know what it feels like when a clan leader or pair dies" Cora explained. Going quieter at the end.
She didn't have to further explain how she knew. Brooklyn understood perfectly. When her mother died she must have felt it. And known what happened. Patrick must have as well. What a horrific way to know your clan and kin were dead. Worse for them because it was their own parents Brooklyn thought.
"Our clan leader picks the next leader, their own second in command. Its very different than yours. Wait does that mean you don't pick. That you have no idea?" He asked.
"Patrick and I have both guessed its Colin, Not Gio or Antoni, which is just fine by them. And why just one we don't know. Maybe because it means we really have smashed our two tiny clans into one. Or maybe one of us steps down. Or dies." She replied with a grimace.
"I am sure as hell not letting you die. Even If I have to follow you around and piss you off." Brooklyn told her. Pulling her more tightly into his arms. And selfishly wondering if they couldn't sense any different because Cora stepped down. Maybe because she had a reason to leave and join another clan.
"And drag me out of danger? Where is the fun in that?" Cora laughed.
"If you like I can suggest several other fun things that don't involve you getting shot, stabbed or chased." Brooklyn said. Laughter threatening to rumble in his chest.
Pushing him back Cora shook her head.
"Ha ha so funny. Kept it up and every member of your clan is going to notice we have a thing. No matter if we want them to know yet or not." Cora told him.
Brooklyn relaxed his grip on her and unwound his tail from her waist. Letting them both step back get space between them.
"So, you still don't want them to know we have a thing so to speak" Brooklyn asked uneasily. Unsure of what she meant by it.
"I wasn't ready to start dating, or start looking for a mate. But then we happened. I just want the chance for us to... you know, get to know each other. Be friends. Before your clan or mine starts pushing things. Or disapproving things" She replied with a frown.
"I am correct in guessing yours can't make you do anything. Even if they walked in on us?" He asked. "Because... that would not go over well in mine. In fact I don't know what the hell Goliath or Hudson would say. It just wasn't done a thousand years ago. Now... I don't know. Even the other gargoyle clans have more modern and human traditions."
The thought of just how much they would disapprove rang through his head. Not that Goliath and Elisa had room to talk. They were together a whole lot longer then they had let on. And Angela said nothing because her traditions were a mix of human and base instincts for gargoyles. In fact Angela very much approved of Elisa and Goliath dating so to speak before they became mates.
"No. And not just because I am the head of the clan. But because until a pair is actually married or mated at a clan gathering casual sex is totally permissible. A lot of females from certain clans never take a mate. And when they want eggs and younglings they go find themselves a willing male. Not too difficult in this day and age to find a human and have anonymous casual sex. At least now they aren't for the most part labeled a whore or a witch to start off with." Cora answered. Her nose scrunching up and making a face.
"They just go out and come home with egg?" Brooklyn asked in surprise. They started walking down the hall again. Colin would be here soon and they needed to go meet him.
"With egg? Oh you mean pregnant? For Harpy's that is totally normal and expected. Especially when they have so few male harpy's born. In fact if your clan or any of the other gargoyle clans does come to the clan gathering they need to not run off into the dark with every willing female. Or they are going to end up with a whole lot of bambinos they will never even know they fathered. Hell... I am going to have to write up a etiquette guide or something." Cora said frowning again.
"Are you fucking serious? They would just not tell them?" Brooklyn snapped.
"Culturally yes." Cora said. Once again frowning in disapproval. "Actually unless a pair is mated, especially if they were born in separate clans the egg, eggs, baby or babies are under the sole guardianship of their mother. The male has no rights to them. Which is extremely antiquated. But I don't know how else to work that out its not like the male can carry or nurse it. Speaking of that we should't be having any little surprises like that."
"Well how would we, you aren't nearly old enough to go into heat" Brooklyn said. Immediately snapping his mouth shut in a measure of embarrassment. That was something explained once to growing hatchlings. And then never again spoken about unless with ones mate and he was really not sure how those talks would go. He thought he saw a glimmer of amusement on Cora's face.
"I don't go into heat like a gargoyle or a mermaid a few times in my life. I have a cycle just like a human remember. But I had tried taking human birth control to see if I couldn't regulate it better a few years ago and save myself from being a hormonal asshole every month. Otherwise that would have been something we needed to discuss before hand" Cora explained.
Brooklyn almost stumbled over the relatively smooth stone floor when she said that. He had completely forgotten she had told him that before. And they had been having sex all over the place like a bunch of hormonal teens. Cora did break out laughing as they had resumed walking as she guessed what he was thinking. Up ahead in the hallway he could hear another gargoyle walking towards them. And there were another two around here someplace. Or should be.
"When we get a chance I think we need to sit down and talk about a whole lot of cultural differences." Cora said. Trying to keep the mirth out of her voice and sound very proper and distinguished.
"And what differences might yee be talking about lassie" Hudson called out.
"A lot of tradition and etiquette differences, I figured I might as well write it down or something for you" Cora said respectfully and thoughtfully. Brooklyn knew dam well what she meant. But also knew she must have sensed Hudson as soon as he could hear him.
"Have you seen any of the others? I told them to keep watch. Goliath and Xanatos aren't back yet either. They shouldn't have wandered off." Brooklyn gritted out. Snapping his beak shut at the end. For all Cora refused to obey Patrick she never seemed to shirk her duty of protecting her own clan, cousins or even his own clan. Very much at her own expanse. It made him want to pull her close in his arms. And his tail and wings twitched. Both in annoyance at his siblings and at the thought of holding Cora closely.
"They moved what was left of that brigard to a different facility. That way none of the hunters or that rogue clan have the chance to either find him nor know we are home at the castle again. The lassie here did such a number on him that he kept blabbering on and answering every question they asked him" Hudson told him.
"And my siblings?" Brooklyn asked again.
"I dunno laddie. I had gone looking for them myself. Afterns ya find them are you going to see the lassie home then?" Hudson replied.
"I didn't need an escort home, but apparently Colin is on his way. And I wasn't heading back to the lodge. I was heading to my cousins, clan Harker for several days before the next clan gathering." Cora explained.
"Very well lassie, I know Goliath had wanted to go with yuns to see about some books. And Xanatose was going as well." Huson told her. Unaware and not picking up on the face Cora made.
"Who said Xanatose was going?" She asked lightly.
"I think Patrick talked to them about it, and Johnathan's mother Clarrisa had talked to them today. But none of us have been able to get a hold of Patrick." Brooklyn interjected.
"He's not dead or in dire danger. I can feel that, some witches can do that. But I have no idea where he is if he is not responding to Brooklyn or the rest of my clans younglings. Which is annoying to say the least. If a single one of them didn't hear from me they would freak out in an instant." Cora added.
"Come on then. I have you go meet Colin and then the rest of us can follow you to the Harkers" Brooklyn.
Texting away Cora nodded. Brooklyn couldn't tell outwardly if she was annoyed with them or not for whatever reason. She was definitely better at schooling her behavior and emotions than he was. At not letting others know what she was thinking. However he felt like he could sense... feel? He wasn't sure if it was a side affect of her powers or if her magic was projecting and he could feel it. She seemed relieved to be leaving. But not thrilled about Colin seeing her. And he wasn't sure why. As they headed down the corridors he then wondered about where his siblings had gotten to.
"Where did you say you looked for the others Hudson?" Brooklyn asked.
"Already checked the grounds and the kitchens. Haven't gotten to the library or their rooms." The older gargoyle answered.
"And I am very sure we don't want to find them right now" Cora hiss whispered.
Raising an eyebone Brooklyn looked at her sideways. Walking between himself and Hudson and being tiny in comparison. At least Hudson was somewhat more comfortable around her Brooklyn though in relief.
"You'll see if we end up surprising them" Cora replied matter of fact.
Brooklyn wasn't sure he like the sound of that.