Brooklyn hadn't joined in the patrols, so none of the others was aware that anything was wrong right away.
The rest of the clan had bene aware that he'd been meeting with Skyler, so had thought it best to leave the couple alone for the night. Except for Lexington, who had been manning the communications for the night in case of an emergency, everyone had chosen to go on their assigned patrol routes.
It wasn't until Goliath arrived, and meeting with the rest of the clan that anyone even realized that Brooklyn wasn't there.
Once they had touched down in the courtyard, Goliath had gotten updates from everyone on how their patrols went.
Lexington joined toward the end, and once the reports had been given, he passed along Elisa's message.
Goliath frowned. Even though Lexington had said it wasn't an emergency, Goliath chose to return her call right away.
The Xanatos' had provided a dedicated line for the clan to use if the need arose, even providing a special keypad for dialing. Oversized, solid metal keys allowed for their taloned fingers, and a separate keypad of the same design held pre-programmed buttons for the numbers that they would need to reach. Those numbers included Elisa, Matt, Doctor James' personal phone, and even Captain Chavez in case of an extreme emergency.
Goliath pressed the button for Elisa.
The phone rang once before she answered, letting him know that she'd been near the telephone waiting for him to call.
"Hey Big Guy," Elisa said softly.
"Elisa," Goliath responded. "What is wrong?"
Elisa audibly took a breath. "I don't know, Goliath, and that's kind of the problem. Have you seen Brooklyn tonight?"
"No," Goliath answered, "Not this evening, but I have only just arrived."
"Goliath," Elisa said softly. "Brooklyn broke off things with Skyler."
Goliath's brow rose in surprise.
Elisa continued, "She's here at home. She's asleep in the living room for now, but she's a mess and doesn't understand what happened. I tried to get the story, but she doesn't seem to understand it herself. I will keep my eye on her, but you may need to find Brooklyn."
He couldn't actually see her, but in his head he could picture her pacing and gesturing as she did when she was agitated.
"I will look for him," Goliath promised. "I do not know what could have prompted him to do this."
"I don't either," Elisa said. "I'm worried about him."
"As am I," Goliath said. "I may not make it home tonight, but I will go and look for Brooklyn."
"Thanks, Big Guy," Elisa said. "I love you."
"As I love you," Goliath promised back before ending the call.
Elisa slipped the phone back into her pocket.
One thing that Skyler had said stuck with Elisa. "He said it was too dangerous," Skyler had said. "He said it would be better for everyone if we didn't see each other anymore."
"Oh, Brooklyn," Elisa whispered, shaking her head sadly. "What did you do?"
-{- -{- -{- -{- -{-
Goliath found Brooklyn, still on the top of his tower, where he had been the last time Goliath had seen him that evening. The younger male was sitting on the ground, his back against the low wall. His wings were extended to either side of him, laying limply on the ground beside him. His head hanging low, arms crossed across his chest as if her were trying to block the world out.
Goliath said nothing, just approached his young second. In the silent language of males, regardless of race, religion or species, he said nothing. He simply places a supportive hand on the bare red shoulder of the clearly miserable Gargoyle.
"You don't have to say anything," He said sadly.
"I was not going to say a word," Goliath said, understandingly. "But I am here if you need to talk."
Brooklyn was silent for a few moments. "I had to do it," He said harshly. "It's the only way to keep her safe."
"Safe?" Goliath asked, surprised. "Safe from what?"
"From everything," Brooklyn burst out, springing to his feet. "From people like the Hunters. From Demona. From everything that you and…" He broke off with a muffled oath.
"From everything that Elisa and I have gone through," Goliath finished for him with a sigh.
"Yeah," Brooklyn huffed out. "I don't know how the two of you do it, because I don't think I can."
"You do not care for Skyler?"
"Of course I do," Brooklyn protested. "But she's not like Elisa," He pointed out. "She's not a police officer, trained to protect herself. Even then, look at Elisa and what she's gone through because of us."
"I am well aware of what Elisa has gone through," Goliath said harshly, "As well as all the times I couldn't save her."
"Then can you blame me?" Brooklyn asked, his eyes pleading with his leader. "Can you blame me for wanting her to be safe?"
"No,"" Goliath said softly. "But are you sure that this is how you want to go about it?"
"I don't know," Brooklyn said, the tension suddenly leaving his body. "I'm not sure about anything but the need to keep her safe."
"I understand that need," Goliath said. He did understand, but he knew that he didn't want to live without Elisa by his side. Selfish as it may sound, he couldn't just let her go and push her away like Brooklyn had done. "And if this is how you choose to protect her, so be it… But Brooklyn," He started.
Brooklyn raised a taloned hand, cutting his leader's protests short. "Goliath, it's done," He said.
"Yes," Goliath said, sadly. "I suppose it is done. Come," Goliath said, "Sunrise approaches."