Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or locations from Gargoyles, those belong to their owners.
Author's note: This story takes place the summer following "The Journey", and though it ignores the comic's continuity, I'm using Fang's real name, revealed in Bad Guys #2.
Chance Meetings
Chapter 24
by Remtar85
"You gotta be kiddin' me."
Fang muttered that as he stood in front of a memorial to commemorate heroes in the Battle of Britain, which had taken place during World War II, the cougar-man staring blankly at it. It had been his fourth night in London and the third hanging out with the clan. Though he had met other gargoyles, Fang had grown especially friendly with Desmond and Cecily. Desmond was like a sophisticated, well spoken gentleman but with a fun sense of humor, whereas Cecily reminded Fang of Angela, but with a bit more pep and outgoing energy than Goliath's daughter, at least in Fang's eyes.
The cougar-man found their different personalities to be an amusing contrast, for they were not only obviously siblings by the same parents (even though Fang knew gargoyles didn't care about blood relations the way humans did) but also best friends and confidants, and they made sure Fang felt like part of that friendship, making him feel welcome and enjoying his company.
He had gone out to help them on patrol, managing to catch a couple of muggers and vandals here and there, but generally the city felt much more peaceful to Fang than Manhattan did, which made the mutate believe that most of the citizens knowing about gargoyles and their desire to protect people made criminals be more wary and discreet, if not outright stop committing crimes. Still, Fang couldn't deny to himself that he enjoyed getting to scare and beat down certain people and be praised for it.
On his second night with the London clan's gargoyles, they had shown him around while he helped them patrol, and they had also gone to George's restaurant for another meal, Fang once more gorging himself on good food. He had once again visited the magic shop and browsed about, but due to the large variety of objects of both real and fake magic, he couldn't decide what to buy before eventually going back to the penthouse late at night. Now on his third night in a row hanging out with his new friends, Desmond and Cecily had decided to show the mutate something special, which was the memorial of the Battle of Britain.
The memorial was of a fighter plane, with two statues of gargoyles. One of the statues Fang recognized as the same gargoyle who was in a painting at the London clan's magic shop; Griff was his name, as Leo and Una had told him. But it was the other statue that utterly baffled Fang, for it was clearly and undoubtedly Goliath.
"How the hell does Goliath get a hero statue from helping during World War II?" a confused Fang asked his two companions.
"Because the night that Goliath and his friends were here in London, he used a magical artifact called the Phoenix Gate, which allows for time travel," Desmond explained. "Goliath went back in time and brought Griff from the past to prevent him from dying back then, but they both helped out in the battle against the Nazis before doing so."
"It's why Griff hasn't aged like Leo and Una have, despite having been hatched along with them," Cecily added. "He was missing for over fifty years, but for him it was a mere second, traveling from 1940 to 1996 in the blink of an eye. Poor Griff now feels a little out of place since everyone and everything has aged so much and he hasn't, which is quite likely why he's constantly away."
"Yeesh, now we have time travel too," Fang said, shaking his head. "So where's he at right now?"
"He's traveling the world with King Arthur, helping him search for His Majesty's missing friend, the wizard Merlin," Desmond answered, and the gargoyle couldn't help but laugh at the utterly baffled look on Fang's face. "Yes, you heard correctly, Fang. King Arthur really does exist, alive and well in this era."
"King Arthur," Fang said after a few seconds of trying to process that, then he threw his hands in the air. "Sure, why the fuck not! I swear, if I hear about aliens or the Loch Ness monster next, I'm gonna cuss six ways till Sunday's left testicle."
Fang's little tirade elicited more laughter from the gargoyles. "Perhaps we should stop the tour, lest we overwhelm you past your breaking point," Desmond told Fang with a sympathetic smile.
Fang sighed and nodded. "Yes, please. Everything's starting to get a little too much to swallow. I'm not even sure what is or isn't a fairy tale anymore."
Cecily neared the mutate and casually held one of his hands in both of hers. "Maybe you could help us tend to the shop for a while? My shift starts soon, and I've been hoping to show you something."
Fang looked down at the tiger-like female's hands holding his own, then at her bright-eyed, smiling face. "Um... yeah, sure."
Desmond looked up at the sky, then neared the memorial and started to climb it. "Then let us depart. It looks like it's going to rain, and I'm certain that all of us fur covered folk dislike getting wet if we can help it."
Fang and Cecily followed Desmond up onto the memorial and into the air, the trio spreading their wings and rising into the night sky, which was indeed quite cloudy. As they made their way through the city, Fang kept a pensive expression on his face as he looked over at Cecily. Before long, the three had arrived at Into the Mystic and went inside. As it was still fairly early in the evening, there were some customers around, with Leo and Una tending to the place as usual. After a quick talk, the two older gargoyles bid farewell to the trio, leaving their tiger-like clan members to tend to the shop.
For some time, the gargoyles tended to the customers, while Fang mostly watched and browsed around the place, studying the various books, trinkets and knick-knacks, both real and fake, that the shop offered, sometimes making conversation with whichever of the two gargoyles wasn't tending to a customer, and sometimes having quick talks with customers as well. Eventually, the store became empty, as if often did later during the evening. Rain began falling shortly before the sole remaining customer exited the shop, and Fang, who was studying some odd talismans in the window display, hoped it stopped before he had to return to the hotel.
"Finally a break," Cecily said. "Now I have a chance to check on my little project upstairs."
"You mean the little project you've been keeping secret from Leo and Una in your usual bedroom?" Desmond inquired with a knowing smirk.
"The very same," Cecily admitted.
"And is that the thing you wish to show Fang?" Desmond asked in a lower voice.
"Yes, it is," she said, then turned and walked away. "I'll be back down later."
As Cecily left, closing the bookshelf behind her, Fang neared the counter. "So, what were you guys talking about?" he asked, having heard what they said, but he was still curious to know more.
"Oh, there are bedrooms upstairs," Desmond replied. "They're there for possible guests, and sometimes some of our clan who tend to the shop stay there during the day, so they may open immediately after sunset. Cecily told me she's doing something in the room she usually occupies, but hasn't told me what it is. And considering that she's told only me about it, it's clearly something she knows Leo and Una wouldn't approve of."
Fang chuckled. "Sounds like Cecily's got a bit of rule-breaker in her, huh?"
"You could say that, in a way."
"So, speaking of your sister," Fang said, trying to sound casual. "You mind if I ask you something about her?"
Desmond nodded. "Go ahead."
"Okay, now, I don't wanna offend you or anything, but... I mean, is it just me, or..."
"She's most definitely flirting with you," Desmond interrupted with a very casual air.
Fang looked taken aback. "Oh. Oh..."
Desmond could not help but chuckle. "Is it really that big of a shock? Honestly, what surprises me the most is that you hadn't noticed sooner, considering all the times she holds your hands or touches your arms."
"I thought she was just being friendly! So, she likes me? As in, really thinks-I'm-hot likes me?" a confused Fang asked. "But... but I'm... and she's... I mean, I know I look like a gargoyle, but still..."
"Trust me, she and I spoke about it as well," Desmond said. "I pointed out to her that you're technically still a human despite how you look. But Cecily likes that about you, as well as your personality in general. She doesn't care that you're a human."
Fang took this in, staying silent for a moment. "And what do you think about her liking me like that?"
"I'm not one to judge, my friend," Desmond told the mutate. "Especially because I've never heard of any sort of relationship between a human and a gargoyle that went beyond simple friendship and camaraderie, so I wouldn't know if it can work or not."
"I have," Fang said.
This made Desmond raise his brows in surprise. "You have? But who... wait, could it be?"
Fang nodded. "I know you didn't get to meet Goliath and his friends when they came here. But he and Elisa, yeah, they're an item. Have been for a while, far as I know."
"Oh my," Desmond uttered in a surprised tone. "That is... well, absolutely fascinating, really. It's so admirable of them to have a relationship despite being so different. Utterly heartwarming, even. I would like to hear more about it."
"Yeah, yeah, Beauty and the Beast, really cute and wholesome," Fang grumbled dismissively. "Can we get back to the here and now?"
Desmond's surprise and wonder was cut off by Fang's snippy remarks. "Oh, sorry. Yes, of course, the matter at hand. But why are you so nervous about my sister finding you attractive, Fang?"
"I'm not nervous! It's just..."
Desmond's face then changed, turning quite serious, his eyes glowing, and a guttural growl was heard in his voice as he spoke. "Could it be that you think my dear rookery sister is ugly?"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down! I'm not saying she's ugly, I'm just... that's not what I..." Fang stammered, but stopped and frowned when Desmond was unable to keep a straight face and burst out laughing. "Oh. Oh, yeah, real funny, Des."
"Hahahaha! I'm sorry, Fang, I couldn't help it," the tiger-like gargoyle spoke amidst his laughter. "But look on the bright side, at least I took your mind off of my rookery sister for a moment!"
"Not cool, man," Fang grumbled.
Desmond finally stopped laughing, but continued smiling knowingly at the mutate. "The reason you're out of sorts about this situation is entirely because Cecily's a gargoyle. Am I right?"
"Yeah. You're right, it's that," Fang said, starting to calm down a little after the scare Desmond gave him. "I mean, she's nice and all but... but, even if I look like this, I'm a human. I'm into human chicks. I've never had the hots for any gargoyle. It figures, not a single woman's paid attention to me in years, and the first one to do it ends up being not human. And aren't you gargoyles supposed to mate for life? 'Cuz I'm really not into the whole 'together forever' kind of commitment."
"Ah, you don't have to worry about that, Fang," Desmond assured the mutate. "Cecily is, shall we say, a bit of a black sheep of the clan."
"Black sheep? But she's really nice and friendly."
"I don't mean black sheep in the traditional sense of the term," Desmond pointed out. "You see, every gargoyle clan has one or two odd eggs on occasion. Gargoyles that are rather free-spirited and don't follow some traditions. Cecily's like that. She's still quite young, wishing to explore more of this world and herself. 'Live life', as she says. She's not looking for a mate, at least not for now."
"So, what you're saying is she's not interested in getting hitched, but she's interested in dating with no strings attached?" Fang asked.
"That's basically it, yes," Desmond replied. "Some of the clan have already tried courting her, to no avail, since they wish for a mate and she does not. And now here you are. Someone she finds attractive and who will only be here for a few more days, ergo, no strings attached. But if she's not your type, then what's the big deal?"
Fang hesitated for a few seconds before replying. "How the hell do I tell her I'm not interested without coming across as an absolute jackass?"
"You just be honest, Fang," Desmond said. "Go up there, knock on her door, tell her you like her as a friend but nothing beyond that. Cecily's a mature gargoyle for her age, she'll understand."
"Okay. Guess I might as well do it now," Fang said, stepping behind the counter and pulling on the bookshelf.
"Good luck, my friend. And do please let her down gently. It's best if you're courteous about it, none of your brand of humor or the brash language you sometimes use. Nobody wants Cecily's feelings to be hurt."
Fang winced at those words. The gargoyle had spoken in the same genteel, sophisticated tone he always had, but the cougar-man couldn't help but feel a certain hint of warning in the way Desmond said that. Fang didn't know if Desmond meant to sound like that or if he was just kidding as he did before. Fang even pondered if maybe he had just imagined that tone of warning in his friend's words, but the mutate definitely didn't want to anger anyone of what he knew was a clan of almost two hundred gargoyles, some of them proficient in magic. Wanting to just get this over with, Fang pulled the bookshelf closed behind him, leaving Desmond to mind the store by himself, then walked up the stairs. Once on the floor above, Fang realized he didn't know which room Cecily used.
"Cecily? Hey, Cee? Where are you?" Fang called out. The sound of a nearby door opening made Fang turn, and as he looked down a hallway, he saw Cecily peeking out of a room.
"Hey, Fang," she greeted him. "What brings you up here?"
"Hey. I kinda need to talk to you."
"Well then, come in," Cecily said. "I was actually going to go down later to ask you to come up here. I've been working on something and I need your help to complete it, so you may as well come in now."
"My help?" a curious Fang asked as he walked over.
Stepping aside to allow Fang into the room, Cecily closed the door behind him as he stepped inside. The bedroom looked very much like any normal room. There was the typical furniture, such as a bed, a dresser and a desk. There was a window covered with heavy dark blue curtains, and also a bookshelf next to the desk with a variety of books, some about magic, others just regular books. But what caught Fang's attention was what was near the center of the room. Two cauldrons sat on a pair of wire racks Cecily had set on the floor. The cauldrons weren't that big, about twice as large as a regular cooking pot. Something liquid bubbled inside both cauldrons, but Fang's attention was on the blue-colored flames underneath each cauldron.
"Holy shit!" Fang exclaimed. "Magic fire!"
"That's right," Cecily said with a nod. "It's a fairly simple spell, and all the heat is focused on only the cauldrons, so nothing else burns."
"That's so damn cool," Fang told her with a smile, looking into the cauldrons, unknown liquids bubbling in them. "So what'cha cooking?"
"Two different transmogrification potions," she answered.
"Ooh, the magic shape-shifting thing. What you guys thought had happened to me to make me look like this," Fang said. "I didn't know you could do magic, Cee."
"I can. So does Una, and some others," Cecily told the mutate. "After all, this shop has been in our clan for generations, and some of us start learning magic at an early age. The more magic you know, the easier it is to run the shop."
"Aah, I get it now," Fang said. "But why are you keeping this a secret from everyone except Des?"
"Because we don't sell transmogrification potions," she explained. "It could lead to all sorts of unfortunate implications, after all, such as stealing someone's identity, or pretending to be someone else for the wrong reasons."
Fang nodded. "Okay, that makes sense. But if they're such big a no-no for the shop, why are you making them?
"Because they're a gift," she answered. "From me to you."
"A gift for me?" Fang asked, then his face became serious as he realized what she meant. "You mean, as in you wanna give me a potion that's gonna turn me back into a normal human? Cee, not to sound ungrateful or anything, but I've told you guys that I don't wanna go back to being a normal human."
"I know, Fang. It's why I'm making two potions. One of them would allow you to turn back into a normal human, but the other is intended to turn you back from a human into this mutated form," she explained.
"Oh! Well, that's nice of you, Cee," Fang said. "I appreciate it and all, but I still can't see myself wanting to turn back into what I used to be."
Cecily couldn't help but smirk knowingly. "Really now? Fang, I know you love being mutated, but don't discount the fact that looking like a normal human could be good for you too. You've said that you enjoy being able to walk out in public here in London. Wouldn't you want to do that at any time? Especially because you have a son. Don't you want to be able to spend more time with him beyond staying indoors or taking him out for a flight? You could take him to and pick him up from school, go to the movies, the mall, a carnival, things like that."
Fang squatted down in front of the cauldrons to better look at their contents, letting Cecily's words sink in. "I hadn't actually thought about it that way. I guess you're right, Cee. It's just..."
"Just what?" she asked.
The mutate was silent for a moment before replying. "I guess I'm kinda intimidated about turning back to a normal human. I was a nobody back then and I don't wanna go back to being a nobody."
"You wouldn't be a nobody, Fang," Cecily assured the mutate as she stood next to him. "At least I'm sure your son would appreciate you having more freedom to spend more time with him. Just accept my gifts and you can decide later if you wish to use them or not. And besides, the potion to turn back to normal is not just for you. It's also for the others you've mentioned; Talon, Maggie and Claw. You did say that, unlike you, none of them like being mutated."
Fang's eyes opened rather wide at this, for this was another thing he had not thought of, and he figured this might be something beneficial to him in the long run. "You really are a nice gargoyle, Cee. Alright, I'll take the gift. But why do you need my help with it?"
"Well, transmogrification potions are not easy to make. They need a few days to brew and very exact measurements of certain ingredients and the like. They won't be ready until the night after tomorrow," she said, casually stepping behind the still-squatted Fang, stooping a little to put her hands on Fang's shoulders as he looked at the brewing potions.
"As for what you can help me with them, it can wait a while," she continued, now massaging the mutate's broad shoulders. "So we could talk, maybe watch something on TV..."
Fang, who was still thinking about the potential of these potions, didn't immediately react to the gargoyle's touch. But when she began massaging his shoulders, he did react then. A little moan was audible as the massage felt good to the mutate, his mind wandering a bit as Cecily's strong hands worked the muscles on his shoulders. Before he could even realize it, the mutate's eyes were closed and he was purring audibly, which made Cecily smile brightly.
"Fang, I didn't know you could purr," she said.
Her words finally made Fang react. "Huh?!" he uttered as he stood up and turned back to face the gargoyle, backing up a few feet and looking embarrassed. "Wait, no! I don't purr!"
"You were doing it just now," she said with an amused chuckle. "Judging by your reaction, it seems like you never knew you could do it. Honestly, it's quite adorable."
"Please, don't," Fang groaned. "It's not adorable, it's embarrassing. I can't believe I just did that..."
"If it makes you feel any better, I'll take that purring as a compliment," Cecily said, trying to cheer the mutate up, patting one of his arms. "And it doesn't make you any less of a man."
Fang sighed. "Sorry, I just really hate coming across as soft or wimpy or anything like that. Just issues from when I was younger, ya know. Anyway, I almost forgot what I actually came up here to talk to you about. It's this whole flirting thing."
"Oh. Well, it took you long enough to notice," Cecily said with an amused smile.
"I just thought you were being friendly, that's all," Fang told her. "I mean, other than what Elisa and Goliath have going on, I never would'a guessed that a gargoyle could have the hots for a human, even one that looks like a gargoyle."
"I see. So there is at least one precedent that something between a gargoyle and a human can work," Cecily pointed out, still smirking playfully at Fang, and she gave him a poke on his chest. "What about this particular human? What do you think about it?"
"Ah, geez, Cee," Fang grumbled. "It's... ya know... complicated."
"I can see that," she said with a nod. "You're quite nervous now."
"I can't help it," Fang said, standing there awkwardly. "I mean, don't get me wrong, you're a nice gal and I like hanging out with you and all. But I'm still a human, so the kind of women I like are human too."
"Is that all? I don't mind it if you want us to just be friends, Fang. You don't have to be so flustered over my flirting with you," she said, then smirked teasingly once more. "Or could it be that maybe you're not very lucky with the opposite sex and the attention of even a gargoyle gets to you?"
Fang grumbled again, crossing his arms in front of his chest and looking off to the side. "Low blow, Cee."
The gargoyle couldn't help but chuckle, reaching up to gently hold the mutate's cheeks and make him turn back to facing her. "I guess that's it, then. You haven't had a date in some time, and instead of a human expressing interest in you, a gargoyle does. No wonder you don't know how to react."
"You don't need to rub it in," the mutate grumbled yet again. Fang was surprised at himself, for he was normally very brash and confident, yet here he was, all flustered around the one female that had given him attention in years. He felt very off his usual game.
"I'm just saying," she said, letting go of the mutate's cheeks. "Whatever happens, I'm happy to have met you and that we've become friends. But I won't deny that I'd really like it if we could have quality time together before you eventually have to leave London in a few days."
Fang nodded. "Yeah, I get'cha. I'm glad I met you guys too. And as for the quality time... damn, I've been going without for years, and that gets to a guy. But..."
"And I've gone without it since always, which just makes me more curious to experiment," Cecily said, smiling at Fang again. "So I guess you could say we're both rather needy. Would you at least let me know if you think I'm attractive for a gargoyle?"
"C'mon, Cee, that's not fair," Fang said, shaking his head. "I look like a gargoyle to you, but you don't look like a human to me. No offense."
"Okay then," she said with a smirk. "Then let me ask another way. If I was a mutant instead of a gargoyle, would you find me attractive? After all, you did say that Talon and Maggie became a couple, so what if I was a mutant too?"
"Hmm. I guess... well, comparing you to Maggie, you're definitely better looking. So, yeah, you'd be attractive as a human turned mutant."
"Aww. Thank you, Fang," Cecily said, then without any hesitation, she stepped up to the mutate and kissed his left cheek.
Fang blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "You're really trying to tempt me, aren't ya?"
"Ah, you've finally lightened up a bit," Cecily pointed out after seeing her friend chuckle. "And no, I'm not trying to tempt you. If I was, I would've given you a proper kiss."
"Mouth to mouth, eh?" Fang said. "But neither of us have what you'd call traditional mouths with traditional lips. Would a kiss even work?"
"I wouldn't know, but it sounds like a fun experiment," Cecily said with a casual shrug. "Excuse me for a minute, I need to check the potions."
As Cecily picked up a magic book and read through it as well as checking on a clock on the desk, Fang started to feel restless. He had come up here and he had let Cecily know what he wanted to say, and to his relief, she had taken it quite well. But the talk and the kiss on his cheek had gotten something to stir in the mutate and he had no clue what it was.
He kept thinking that he was fine now, in the clear, Cecily took it well, but that awkwardness kept up through the conversation and even now it lingered in him. Why was he so uncomfortable over a gargoyle thinking he was attractive, he pondered. Fang frowned, feeling annoyed at himself, for he had told Cecily that he hated coming across as a wimp, yet there he was, acting like a nervous wreck from the moment she pointed out he had purred at her touch. Why was he making such a big deal out of this? She certainly wasn't.
Watching Cecily as she brought out a box from one of the desk's drawers, he felt that unknown feeling stir inside him again, stronger than before. It made him feel, in a way, just like he had those three times he lost control and became almost feral and beastly. He wondered if maybe the mutation, the animal DNA in him, had given him certain instincts and urges more animal than human. And the more he thought about it, the more he suspected it was probable, for he felt even more restless as he watched Cecily add some unknown powder to the potions, which changed color slightly.
As she put the box away back in its drawer and returned to check on the potions, Fang fidgeted where he stood. Why was she looking rather attractive and enticing all of a sudden? Fang's mind flashed to images of Talon and Maggie together, and he gritted his teeth and shook his head. He tried to push this sudden, animalistic urge away, but the more he tried, the stronger it got, until he couldn't take it anymore.
"Oh, screw it," he growled, making Cecily turn back towards him, a curious look on her face.
And as she looked his way, Fang stepped forward, put a big hand on the back of her head and pulled the tiger-like gargoyle into a firm kiss. Cecily's eyes went wide with surprise, not having expected the mutate to have such a sudden change of heart. The kiss was rather awkward, what with their feline-like snouts, and it ended after a few seconds, leaving Cecily rather stunned.
"Oh wow. That was sudden," she said with a soft chuckle. "I guess it really was a bit of an awkwa..."
"Stop," Fang interrupted. "Just don't say anything, or I might end up changing my mind. Yeah, that kiss felt kinda weird. But practice makes perfect."
And with that, Fang tried another kiss on the gargoyle, who reciprocated in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck. Once again, it was an awkward kiss, but as the seconds passed by and they got used to the feeling of one another, they somehow made it work.
To Be Continued...
Author's Extra Note: So here we are back with Fang, and what an interesting development for him, isn't it? Well, it is for me. I wished to have Fang get himself some nice times with a nice lady, and I figured that it would be especially interesting if it happened with a gargoyle, and someone from the London clan seemed like the perfect choice. Plus it's just funny to me to have Fang of all people get flustered like a schoolboy. So while Fang's having a great time in London, next time we'll go back to Manhattan, or at least one part of Manhattan. Thanks for reading!