Prequel to Reflections
All…wow, Have I been on some sort of long vacation! I want to start by apologizing. I have not updated in so long, hopefully ya'll haven't forgotten.
Here for your reading pleasure is a short prequel to Reflections. I don't have a name for it at this point. It will more than likely serve to further confuse and confound you all. Do not worry for I have a plan…muahahahahaha. As always, please read and feedback. Hearing from you all gives me wonderful delight and a thirst to continue on this Reflections saga. I am continuing to write it and this prequel helps in guiding me. Read on and enjoy!
Usual disclaimers, Gargoyles belong to the people at Disney and Buena Vista and I own no part of them except the piece that's in my heart.-
Goliath stared out towards the horizon resting a well-muscled leg on the embattlement from which he awoke, one arm resting on his knee, one taloned hand curled under his chin. Goliath couldn't shake the remnants of his dream. While handing out the patrol assignments the others had noticed the distant look in his eyes and had insisted he stay at the castle; take the night off. Goliath had agreed and was now so deep in thought that he almost missed the sound of someone behind him.
"Hey Big Guy." Elisa strode next to him, her hands in the deep pockets of her trademark red leather jacket. She wore her classic tight fitted jeans, tiny black shoes, and scoop neck black t-shirt. Her hair was free as always, gently lifting at each breeze that swept by them. At the very top of the Eerie Building, the breeze was almost too cold. Goliath changed his position and straightened himself out, capping his wings to form a drape to shield his body from the cold. Goliath shot a sidelong glance at Elisa. Elisa kept her eyes trained on the horizon as well, occasionally peering down to the city far below their feet. Goliath almost chuckled to himself. She is ever-watchful of her city, her people. Even with her fear of heights. Goliath sighed contentedly, momentarily forgetting his earlier worries, enjoying the comfortable silence between them, the feeling of Elisa close by. Too soon his concerns prodded at his mind once again. He shifted back to his standing thinkers pose, keeping his wings capped.
Elisa noticed his position change and looked over at her friend. She felt a deep sense of pride in this being. He was so much better than most people she knew, right down to herself. Loyal to a fault, a deep seeded sense of responsibility to always do good, and so smart he stunned her at times, Goliath had evolved from being a vulnerable liability to her protector and she his liability. Elisa was thankful that with Goliath, she was only expected to be Elisa. Not the tough skinned detective fighting to be relevant in a man's profession, not the beat cop and upholder of the law, not the quasi den mother to a house hold of adolescent gargoyles, just Elisa, just herself. Often times she found herself going to Goliath subconsciously with a problem or issues to seek his advice or gain his perspective.
Being a part of the clan, and not held to the same roles and responsibilities to follow in the leaders suit made Elisa the ideal candidate for Goliath to divulge his insecurities, without fear that she'd think less of him or judge his decisions. Thiers was a comfortable give and take relationship, one that Elisa had invested hoards of time in. She'd never felt closer to anyone; had never had such a healthy relationship with any member of the male species. He knew her and didn't count her flaws against her, real or imagined. He treasured her friendship and she, his.
Elisa was now looking at his muscular frame, chiding herself for essentially checking him out. It was hard not too, when Goliath emanated strength, confidence, and intelligence. Being almost completely naked didn't make things easier. Her long enforced vacation in Avalon had served to solidify feelings for him that she had no right in feeling. He was a gargoyle, and she was human. Argument made and fight lost. She'd told herself for the last few weeks that maybe she should start to look for Mr. Right. Or at least Mr. Right Now. The idea did not appeal to her. She found she was shaking her head in disgust at the thought. Her friend needed her right now, she realized. He was so quiet and although he was not ignoring her, Goliath had most likely forgotten she was there. She stamped out the useless quibbling in her head and focused on her friend.
"Goliath," she started gently placing her hand on his huge forearm. "Do that any harder and you'll give yourself an aneurism." Goliath smiled a little at her attempt at levity and at the smirk in her features. "A penny for your thoughts?"
"I find myself constantly dreaming of the vision that Puck gave me during the Avalon quest." He said distantly. Elisa looked at him, waiting for him to say more. When nothing was forthcoming she proded him further by answering what felt like an unspoken question. "Yes, you said that in the vision we made it back to Manhattan and it had been taken over by Xanatos-or Lexington posing as Xanatos…" Elisa trailed off. She was silent a moment as she remembered about the dream, or vision as Goliath had put it. It had given her chills. Goliath had stayed silent.
"What about it?" she asked softly. Goliath was so still, he looked like a living breathing statue. Just when Elisa thought she'd have to beat it out of him he anwered.
"I can't help but wonder if it's a future that was prevented, or if we're still barreling ahead toward it." Goliath's eyes were troubled. Elisa gently patted his forearm, relishing the feel of his velvety skin, trying to comfort him. Elisa paused and considered his words. She recalled what Goliath had told her and Angela that night after he was brought back to consciousness.
Puck, one of Oberon's Children wanted the Phoenix Gate, a magical talisman that, when used in conjunction with a magical spell, could transport the user to any time. Puck had conjured for Goliath a quasi-dream world wherein Xanatos had created Xanatopia. According to Goliath they had spent 40 years upon the magical skiff and had finally arrived in Xanatopia the "modern-day" version of Manhattan, a sovereign nation no longer a part of the United States. Their "return" to Manhattan occurred just as "Xanatos" had begun to download a program to the entire world. This would leave Xanatos with the ability to cripple worldwide governments and make him ruler of the planet. Unbeknownst to Goliath, there was no Xanatos. In fact the one responsible for the death of all the clan members was Lexington. Lexington had taken over the Xanatos' empire upon the real Xanatos death, killed Xanatos' heir, killed the entire clan, and made the humans upon the island his lab rats in order to further experiment with human/animal/machine mutations. He'd also managed to make himself half gargoyle, half machine although Goliath wasn't sure exactly how or why.
Elisa shook her head, clearing the confused haze of information overload, her blue-black hair rippling in the wind. "Goliath, our Avalon adventure ended and we're here in the present day, no Xanatopia, no crazy Lexington scheme, everyone is alive and well. Future averted." Elisa added with finality. Goliath looked over at her. Doubt in his features. "Elisa, you forget, a part of that vision included the fact the Xanatos had a son named Alexander. As we have seen, that is true."
Elisa sighed, exasperated. "Okay, so the twerp got one thing right. Goliath, it wasn't real."
"The clock tower." Goliath continued "In the vision, it had been destroyed. When Matt showed it to me, it looked exactly as it looked when the Hunter destroyed it." Goliath said quietly. Elisa sighed. She hated when he mentioned the Hunter. Jason. Elisa shook off the feeling the word brought her. She again touched him, placing her hand on his bicep. She moved closer to his huge frame. She was quickly surrounded by his warmth. "Goliath, look at me." He turned toward her, facing her. Obsidian eyes meeting chocolate brown. "It wasn't real. Puck is not a psychic that can tell you the future. I know you don't doubt Lexington and you see his incredible thirst for knowledge as an asset and not as a risk. Live in the now and stop worrying. Besides you live in the castle now, you see how Alexander has changed Xanatos. I think we're safe from any plans for Xanatos to suddenly want to take over the world." Elisa added with a smirk.
The look in Goliath's eyes hadn't changed. "Elisa, I appreciate your desire to help me. I still have doubts." Elisa raised her eye brows at this statement, surprise evident on her delicate face for an instant. "No, not about Lexington, or Brooklyn, or even Xanatos. I still feel there might have been a reason to give me that vision, something I'm missing."
Elisa sighed, exasperated. "Goliath, all he wanted was for you to willingly give the Puck the Phoenix Gate! Let it go. There finally seems to be a measure of peace in our lives. Let's enjoy it." Goliath stepped away from Elisa and looked again out to the horizon. He sighed heavily.
"I am going to down to the library to finish a volume I was reading earlier, I will see you later in the evening perhaps, with the others?" Goliath said, abruptly changing the subject. Elisa did not like that he'd essentially dismissed her and would not invite her with him to the library or at the very least finish the conversation. Elisa considered for a moment arguing with him, get him to see her point. She decided against it, and tonight she didn't really feel up to a fight with the stoic leader. Instead, Elisa stepped back and nodded. She allowed him to pass her and walk ahead of her, down the stairs. At the foot of the stairs they parted ways; a quiet good-bye from Elisa echoing in the hallway.