Summary: the shadow that's followed Nick since he was a child finally surfaces in Portland, now the Prince understands Nick's reasons for living in the shadows, he decided its time Nick came into the light and he was prepared to stand at his side.

Shadows Fall

Shadows began falling over the Portland skies, the dark clouds and heavy rain seemed like an omen as the air around the Canton seemed thick with fear and doubt. Renard looked up at the greying skies as he exited his SUV with a sigh before closing it, pulling his coat tighter around him he headed into the building. Renard smiled as he was met at the entrance by a smiling man, taking his coat he was them led through the sleek, modern corridors toward an open plan office that looked out of place beside the other rooms.

The older man at the desk stood as the door opened and bowed before Renard then dismissing the other man, they both sat down at the desk. A coffee was placed before them both as the older man began passing files to Renard.

"Here's all that I can find on the young man you asked about. It took a great deal of digging, he's a ghost even for a Grimm. The last official record of him was two police reports one in Rhinebeck, New York its dated March 1994. It's an accident report about a car crash that he and two others survived, I believe the survivors were his parents though their Id's may have been faked. I believe he was about fourteen at that date.

The other is dated two years later, he was the only survivor of a massacre, five bodies two decapitated and three received single shot execution style wounds to the back of the heads." the pictures in the file where gruesome and as Renard looked through them his eyes fell upon the image of a teenage boy, who's looks though a decade or so older had not changed much. He knew it was the same man who had stood before him not long ago, in full glory of the deadly predator he'd become.

"The three men were named as Soledad Marquesa, Hans Roth and Ian Flynn, there is a fourth man Akira Kimura but his body was not among those discovered. You should know that Kimura has ties to the Dragon's Tongue" explained the older man as Renard nodded and continued to read on.

"It took law enforcement weeks to discover that the remaining bodies belonged to Reed and Kelly Burkhardt." Harrison Berman sighed as he took off his glasses before rubbing the bridge of his nose, when he was doing this Renard dug through the file until his attention fell on another picture.

"Who is this?" he asked as Harrison Berman looked over the desk.

"That's Akira Kimura" he answered blankly as something in the back of Renard's mind was troubling him.

Picking up the file Renard bid the man goodbye as he headed back to his SUV and took off towards the PD, he had something he needed to check out.

Nick sat beside Freddy's bed; the sharp sounds of the heart monitor was the only sound within the room. He wasn't a religious man but he couldn't help but hope for something beyond his doing. The guilty feeling wasn't sitting right with him and it was gnawing away at his conscious. He didn't have a much of a chance to think about it more, as the door to the hospital room creaked open making Nick's attention snap towards it.

He stumbled to his feet as he saw who entered, an older woman was sobbing as she was flanked by two women.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave you all alone" Nick stammered, before they could speak Nick took his leave from the room.

Pulling up his hood he walked through the hospital, aware that one of the women had followed him out. He made sure to disappear into the semi-crowded corridor before he reached the exit and faded into the dull and miserable morning. He saw her looking round the parking lot as he stood a far distance away watching on until she returned inside, Nick let out a guilty sigh before he started walking since his bike was back at the Spice shop.

Putting his hands in his pocket his fingers brushed over something, pulling it out he'd all but forgotten the small card he'd been given the night before. Pulling out his phone he made a call.

Renard had been in his office for over an hour and he was already getting the mother of all headaches, his desk was littered with file upon file, each spilled out covering every inch. Upon the top of it was fifteen separate black and white or coloured case file pictures, some of crime scenes, some of the Detectives at their scenes and at least five were the only images he had as proof of Nick's existence. Circled in red pen was the same image of a man barely visible but still there.

It was Akira Kimura; he'd changed very little over the years but his tattoos were as visible as they were in the mug shot, he'd seen in the file. Rubbing his temple, he growled to himself when suddenly his cell rang, grabbing it growling, snapped at the voice on the other end but he regretted it after he realised who it was. Grabbing for a pad of paper close by he scribbled down an address before thanking Serena and hanging up.

Looking at it for a second, he rose to his feet and grabbing his coat he gathered up his evidence in a file he placed in his briefcase, before heading out his office and onto the streets of Portland.

Nick was sat staring out the window, his rapidly cooling coffee sat neglected as he was lost in thought when Renard arrived. Heading over he sat down making Nick jump as he turned to Renard with a confused look on his face. Renard chuckled to himself as the waitress came over and took his order, Nick regarded Renard cautiously but neither of them spoke until after Renard has received his drink.

" Serena contacted me, seems she's worried about you" Renard said with an amused look upon his face that puzzled Nick.

"You have quite the gift Grimm, she's no mere blushing teen. Believe it or not she's seen two conflicts from the frontlines and is one of my most trusted allies, you could even call her a close friend to me and yet she seems ready to turn even on me to protect you. This is a strange state of affairs, it seems your growing quite the following in your short time here in my Canton.

I must admit even I feel the need to aid you, but do not take this as a weakness, more like an fledgling alliance of shared interests" commented Renard as he pushed a file towards Nick.

He looked through it and was confused at the images, as he waited for Renard's explanation especially for the obviously marked man in all of them.

"His name is Akira Kimura, as you see it seems that he's been seen in many images since you arrived here in Portland. I had my people dig into a few things and it seems he has a connection to you…" but before he could finish Nick interrupted him.

"The death of my parents" growled Nick as he slammed the file down, Renard held back the shudder that ran through him.

It was only through the grace of his years within the royal courts and then his quick succession up the ranks to become the youngest police Captain to take over the south precinct, that he was able to hold back the urge to woge under the duress of the Grimm's undercurrent. He waited patiently as he watch the turmoil running through the young man before him, he watched the others around them as many became skittish.

"He's been plaguing anyone who even comes close to finding the Coin's, he's a victim of their curse. He killed his own people for them, when they came into my parents care he tracked us down first the car crash and then when they died. After the first encounter my family sent the coins on to a trusted source, but before they could do more to warn them, he attacked.

He's the reason why I hide away, the less I'm seen the safer I tried to make myself. I made it my personal mission to finish my parents work, the Coins are and evil that this world does not need. So, I made it my life purpose to return them back to the forge they were cast in, and in turn I hoped I'd one day cross paths with Kimura and right the wrongs he's cause over the years" Nick hissed painfully as he close the file.

Renard felt and anger come over him that came out of nowhere, he didn't know from were it came or why he was feeling it but he was ready to come to Nick's aid in dispatching Kimura with extreme prejudice.

Realizing that no matter what was going on or how he was feeling they needed a plan, so getting to his feet he indicated for Nick to follow him. They got into his SUV and as Nick watched the world whizzes by until they arrived at their destination. Nick was taken back when they got out just in front of a very expensive apartment high-rise in the higher end of town, quietly Nick followed behind as he took in all around them.

He watched Renard greet everyone they passed, he seemed to know them all by their given names, they respectfully called him by his surname or Captain title, though one or two whispered 'My prince or your highness' also. Getting in the elevator Renard explained that very few were permitted to know about his personal residence but he trusted Nick not to reveal its location. Nick looked at him like a fish out of water, before pulling himself together.

Nick's intrigue grew as he realised that Renard's Condo was less a condo and more the whole top floor of the high-rise. The condo was spacious and filled with artifact's and objects hinting towards his royal upbringing but still it felt empty and void of emotion. Nothing about it screamed homely, it was obvious that this was Renard's house but not his home. Nick felt a wave of empathy for him, suddenly he saw Renard with a different point of view, it seemed that the life of the Prince was as lonely a life for him as being a Grimm was for Nick.

Taking a seat on the couch he watched Renard as he moved around his home, taking off his jacket he took the drink he was offered. Renard was on the phone for most of the time he was there eventually returning it to his pocket, with a sigh and after lighting up a cigarette he sat down close to Nick.

"Your Blutbad friend has been informed, he's quite the loyal companion. He's first concerns were for you even when he was advised to care about his own self" admired Renard as Nick looked just as impressed.

"Mr. Calvert's family, his mother and sisters are being watched discreetly just encase Kimura tries anything to draw you out" explained Renard as Nick listened.

"For now, you can stay here until you can come up with a plan, we need to draw him out but with as little innocent blood shed as possible" Nick nodded in agreement as Renard pointed to his spare room and told Nick to clean up and rest before they put their plans into play.