Chapter Four- Suspicions
"Angela, how nice to see you again," Mary greeted as Angela and Goliath landed.
"Hi, Mary. This is Goliath, our clan leader."
Goliath noticed that the humans seemed awed and intimidated. He guessed it was his height as he stretched out a hand to Mary. "It is a pleasure to meet humans who support us."
Mary took his hand. "There's not many of us, but we are determined to prove that you deserve to live here as much as we do. We hope that day comes soon."
"As do we." He turned to Dave and Amy, shaking hands and making small talk. He discreetly glanced at Amy as they talked. Angela was correct: Amy was very pretty and she seemed very at ease as she talked to him and Angela. It seems that Brooklyn has found someone special just has I have. I must make certain that I tell him so.
Brooklyn paced the courtyard, glancing up with each pass. He was nervous about what Goliath would think of Amy. He wanted the clan to like her, but knew he would continue to see her since the clan couldn't stop him. He looked up again to stand still as two winged shapes drew closer and landed in the courtyard.
"How was it?" he asked casually.
"It was all positive and gives hope for peace." He smiled at his second. "You have a special young lady, Brooklyn. I advise that you may want to consider telling her the truth."
"I had thought of posing it as a hypothetical question to see what she says."
Goliath nodded. "That would be a good start. If her answer is favorable…"
"Then, I'll wait a few days before telling the truth as well as prove it, perhaps right here."
"Sounds like a plan," Angela said.
Brooklyn decided to wait for an opportune time to ask Amy. In the meantime the two of them would get together for afternoon dates where they would either talk, shop, have lunch, go to the movies, or walk around the city. They did afternoon P.I.T. meetings, but only Amy went to the night ones.
The night meetings worked for Brooklyn. If enough of them were held, Amy would start wondering why he never went to them. She will eventually ask and he'll work in the hypothetical question. He hoped she wouldn't care if he was a gargoyle. He had already worked out an explanation if she got mad that he hadn't told her before.
Amy looked around the room before facing forward. Brooke wasn't there-again. P.I.T. had been holding night meetings at least twice a week for three weeks now. Their first and only scout party had been a success. Every member had suspected that gargoyles were a lot like humans and the scouting proved it. Everyone had been excited when the party relayed their findings and it strengthened their determination that gargoyles should have equal rights.
Why doesn't Brooke come to night meetings? You know, now that I think about it I never see Brooke at night. Why would that be? I like him and he likes me. We've been going out for weeks now and have told everything to one another. We have no secrets- or at least I don't. What is Brooke hiding? I won't ask yet. I'll wait a little bit, ask about having dinner together. If he makes up an excuse, as I suspect he will, I'll ask why I never see him at night and remind him that we should have no secrets. I refuse to believe that this sweet guy would want to hurt me, emotionally.
Brooklyn shifted uneasily in his seat. "No, I can't make it to dinner tonight."
The couple were on a bench in Central Park, two days after Amy made her decision, and had a pleasant afternoon watching other people and enjoying the sun when Amy asked about dinner.
Amy blinked. "Why not?"
"I just can't."
"Brooke, I don't understand. It's clear we like each other and we've shared practically everything. Why can't we go out to dinner like a normal couple?"
Brooklyn sighed softly. Seems it's time to pose the question, he thought. "Amy, let me ask a hypothetical question. What would you say if I said that at night, I'm a gargoyle?"
Amy blinked again at the sudden question before thinking about it. "A gargoyle at night?" she said slowly. "Well, it would explain why I never see you at night. Brooke, if this was true, I would be happy. I have a feeling that you're special, but I don't know why, though you being a gargoyle would certainly explain it."
"Happy, huh?"
"Absolutely. I wouldn't care if you're a gargoyle. I would still like you and would want to stay with you."
"That's good to know."
"Brooke…it's true, isn't it? You really are a gargoyle."
Brooklyn exhaled slowly. Amy was a smart girl, but of course he already knew that. He suspected that she would figure out why he posed his question. "Yes," he said finally. "My real name is Brooklyn. I've been a gargoyle all my life. Then, weeks ago, I was offered the chance to be human during the day instead of being a stone statue. I wasn't sure you would like me if you knew I was a gargoyle. I shouldn't have doubted you. I'm sorry."
"So, the family you told me…"
"Is actually my clan. My leader Goliath, his daughter Angela, my rookery brothers Broadway and Lexington, Goliath's old mentor Hudson, and a dog gargoyle called Bronx."
Amy smiled at everything she heard. "Brooke…Brooklyn. I appreciate you being honest with me. Now that I know, this doesn't change anything between us."
Brooklyn relaxed and was soon telling Amy about the adventures he and the clan had. Amy found the stories fascinating and exciting.
"Wow," she said as Brooklyn told the story of Tatiana's Mirror. "So, you were human for about half a night before."
"Yes. The fay, Puck, is the one who offered me the chance to be human now."
"Why only you and not the others as well?"
"I was lonely and was wanting a female friend. I'm not sure why he hasn't offered the rest of the clan the same gift." He glanced at the sky and looked at Amy. "Would you like to see me at night?"
"Sure. Where and when?"
"Right now. Follow me." Brooklyn got up and led the way to a section of the park that's not visited often and had a high enough spot for gliding. He was shaking inwardly as he removed his clothes, revealing the loincloth underneath. He had been wearing it since he decided to pose his question. He was shaking because he usually was alone when he changed; Elisa was sometimes present, but he had known her for years.
"I should warn you," he said as the sun was setting. "that it hurts when I change every dawn and sunset."
"I imagine it would considering you're growing wings and a tail."
"Among other things, yes." He watched the last rays of the sun disappear and he felt his fingers melded into claws. He staggered slightly before doubling over and moaning slightly as his skin flushed red and his beak and horns appeared. His hair paled to white, his legs bent while his heels traveled up and his wings and tail appeared. He stretched as he roared. He folded his wings and turned around.
Amy was staring at him with shock, her mouth slightly open. Then, a smile slowly came to her face as she came closer. "Now I see why red's your favorite color."
Brooklyn laughed. "I hadn't thought of my skin being the reason. I thought red when I saw how well it went with my hair."
"It still does even though your hair's white now. I wonder why your hair changes color, though."
"I think it's to help me blend in. A young person with white hair is a little unusual, though not for New York."
"That's true. Either way would have been fine with me. It's you yourself that I've fallen for."
"I feel the same way. I'm comfortable calling you my girlfriend."
Amy beamed as she hugged Brooklyn. He put his arms around and ran his claws over her hair. The embrace felt so natural and Brooklyn now saw why Goliath and Elisa hugged often. They eventually pulled back and Brooklyn said, "I should go home now. I'll see you tomorrow, say noon?"
"Definitely. Let's have a picnic right here."
"Sounds perfect." Brooklyn held Amy's hand for a moment before scooping up his clothes and gliding off for the castle. He spotted Angela, Broadway, and Lexington in the courtyard with Angela waving to him. "Brooklyn, what happened? We were worried," Angela said as he landed.
"I'm fine. I was with Amy."
"You told her?" Broadway asked.
"Told her and showed her," Brooklyn answered. "She said she had a feeling I was special somehow. I asked how she would feel if she knew I was a gargoyle. She made it clear that it didn't matter if I was human or gargoyle, she likes me for being myself."
"Brooklyn, that's wonderful!" Angela exclaimed, clasping his hands.
"Thanks. Where's Goliath? I want to tell him the good news."
"He's out with Elisa."
