Chapter Summary: Nick and Renard take a quiet moment for themselves, meanwhile theirs trouble brewing.

Notes:

Vinculum indissolubile – Unbreakable Bond (Latin)

Ignotum – Unknown (Latin)

The Calm Before The Storm

The next morning Nick smiled at the guards as he passed them, he pulled on a battered pair of headphones and plugged them into a busted-up tape Walkman as he exited Renard's apartment. The early morning air was cool as he pulled his hood over his headphones and began his run, it was a rare indulgence that Nick enjoyed when he could. The beat of his heart in time with his music and the adrenaline flowing through his veins, was a walm comfort to him as for a small amount of time he felt free of all things. He ran through the streets, through the forest and back through the main city, so as he found himself outside the spice shop a smile broke out on his face.

The closed sign was in the window but Nick could see Monroe and Rosilee taking stock within, feeling like a giddy kid he jumped up from tying his shoe and knocked eagerly at the window. At first, they looked up mournfully until they saw Nick, that's when smiles broke out over their faces as they hurried to open the door. Nick didn't know what had come over him as he burst forward and hugged Rosilee tightly, before Monroe joined them. Pulling him into the shop Nick found himself sat at the cutting table in the back room, coffee in one hand and Danish in the other as they joined him too.

"Dude when did you get back? You could have told us" questioned Monroe as he happily bounced around the table.

"Last night, sorry I didn't call you but it wasn't a welcome home. Sean needed me, he'd called me and left a message informing me of on of his Gladiator Lowen prides going rogue. They'd been running games for him for years but with his shift in power, their Alpha became butt hurt and greedy. He publicly spoke out about Sean and mocked him but because he was part of the department of corrections Sean had to play it carefully, that was until he took one of his Detectives and forced him to compete" both Rosilee and Monroe hissed at the implications of Nick's words.

"I arrived just in time to defend him long enough for Sean to arrive with what seemed to be the whole south Precinct of the Portland Police Department, I slipped out with none but Hank I believe his name was having seen my face. I caught up with the Alpha who was more concerned with his money while his pride were being rounded up, so much for family first" Nick chuckled into his coffee making Monroe shake his head.

"Dude he's a dead man when they get out" Nick's snort made Monroe give him a questioning look.

"That's not a worry, Sean saw to that. It seems he has a truly dark side" Nick said nonchalantly making them both look at him as he was enjoying his coffee.

"Oh, didn't you know, Sean has an Vinculum indissolubile with an Ignotum" both of them looked shocked at his words.

Ignotum's otherwise known as Unknowns were creatures of myths even among the wesen populations, wesen so old their names had been lost to time or given up by them and for good reason. Their blood lust as a species was legendary, if left unchecked they would destroy themselves and all around them, so they had willingly bonded themselves to Patrons strong enough to control their outburst but it came at a cost. The Răsplata divină was a ritual that allowed the Ignotum to tap into the power within their Patron's blood, this would allow the Ignotum to shift into a form based upon that power. The stronger the blood the greater their power.

Nick continued drinking his coffee before continuing the story,

"The alpha went for me so I engaged him, he got a few good hits in and ruined my good jacket" chuckled Nick as he pulled up his sleave showing them four nasty looking red gashes across his upper right arm and three across his right hand and wrist.

Both Rosilee and Monroe looked at him worriedly as he swatted them away as they attempted to mother hen him, it was all in jest and respect for Nick, it filled him with a sense of family he'd missed for a long time. It had been so long since the death of his family and even then, they had been running for so long Nick would admit, it had been along time since he'd truly had a happy stable home. Lost in his thoughts he missed the mischievous smile that spread over Rosilee's face as she looked at Nick, she pottered round making sure she was just out of his reach as she spoke.

"So have you let Sean know your back?" she asked playfully without looking at Nick who choked on his Danish as he tried not to blush at her meaning.

"Yeah dude, I bet he was happy to see you" Monroe added teasingly making Nick groan.

"I hate you both. Yes, I've spoken to Sean, I stayed at his place last night but not like you both think" he growled playfully back at them.

"He was dead on his feet when he finally came home last night. After cleaning up the pride, seeing to his people, checking on Hank. On top of that he'd been forced to use his Zauber gifts on Taymor to keep him in line, before going through The Răsplata divină Ritual drained him badly. He was beyond dead on his feet, so we ate and I made sure he slept. He was still out when I left" Nick explained as they both looked at him in shock.

"Zauber dude? As in Zauberbiest? The Prince is a wesen?" they questioned.

"Yeah. He's half royal, half Zauberbiest. That's why he's outcasted. His people know about it, I figured so did Taymor and that's why he pushed his luck" growled Nick at the mention of Taymor.

"It makes sense, and you're ok with that….him being a Zauberbiest? Not that I'm judging but you being and Grimm and him being a wesen?" Monroe asked as he tried to avoid sounding cruel.

"Don't worry Monroe we're cool; it was a shock but my feeling's for Sean aren't based upon what blood runs through his veins. Sean is Sean and being wesen, halfblooded or full doesn't change the person he is within. If anything, it makes us both more dangerous to those who'd try to separate us" laughed Nick as they both agreed with them.

They continued chatting on as Nick helped them put away the last few things before Rosilee, began opening up so he wished them a good day before heading out and back to Renard.

Waking up alone Renard wondered if the night before had been a fevered dream, that was until the smell of coffee filled the air of the bedroom. The sounds of low-level music could be heard beyond the door, getting up stiffly he pulled on the pair of sweatpants he saw on the chair beside his bed. Knowing he hadn't placed them there the night before, he smiled at the thought of Nick's care for him. Pulling them on he shuffled toward the door and upon seeing Nick dancing around carefreely, as he placed down glasses, fresh juice and cut fruit down upon the table before he spotted him.

Nick smiled at him as he grabbed him a glass and a small item off the kitchen top, dancing over he placed a kiss on his lips before popping the item in his mouth. At the bitter taste he knew it was a painkiller, goddess he began wondering who he needed to thank for having a possible mate that was so intuited with his needs. Taking the offered juice, he swallowed the pill before pulling the younger man closer to him, pushing his nose into the joint between his shoulder and throat he breathed in the sent that was uniquely Nick.

It was a scent that smelled like home and safety to Renard, wrapping his arms tighter round him he didn't miss the small hum of happiness that escaped Nick's lips. They stood like that for what felt like an eternity safe and sound wrapped in each other's embrace, just them and not another soul within the world. Soon though Renard's light-headedness from the night before began returning, Nick noticed this and led him to the table.

"I figured that your still not feeling yourself after last night so I picked up some fresh fruit on the way back from the market" said Nick making Renard give him a questioning look.

"While you were sleeping, I indulged in an rare pleasure for me, I went out for a jog and found myself at the Spice shop so I popped in to visit them. After visiting I was on my way back here and decided to pick up something to eat" Nick explained sheepishly as he passed Renard his plate while he attempted not to blush.

Renard was grateful for the food and happy to know that Nick had been able to visit his friends while doing something he enjoyed, he knew better them anyone about how hard it was to do something you loved while looking over your shoulder constantly. He didn't miss the blush creeping up the younger man's neck, but for now he chose to archive this information for later because he was enjoying the feeling of normalcy.

After eating he and Nick moved to the couch and after putting the TV on, Nick curled up against him as they barely paid attention to whatever was on. Renard closed his eyes as he just enjoyed the peace, he felt Nick's hands as the moved up and down his arm. This caused a pleasant sensation over his skin as he moved his touch from his arm to his bare chest.

"Did they hurt?" Nick asked absent mindedly making Reand look down at him, it took a moment for him to register what he was asking.

Renard's skin was covered in what appeared to be henna like markings all over his arms, chest, back and up his neck. Like him they were elegant and a work of art, they weren't the usual ink most people would get and on Renard they didn't look out of place. Though he wasn't a man you'd expect to be inked they were there for a reason.

Once a child of Biest heritage comes of age their first markings appear naturally upon their spine, running the length from skull to tailbone in the nature of their affinity. Renard's was the darkest of his markings, it was a blueish black and shimmered almost purple. When Nick had asked him when he'd been staying with him the first time, he explained it was due to his affinity for poison and shadows which made Nick laugh.

The rest of his markings were a lot muter, almost matching the colour of his skin. He'd been gifted some from his mother's clan as he grew up and came into his gifts, others were given over time by clan member's, teachers and elders as he achieved certain goals and then he had one or two placed there during rituals, bonds and bargains like the Vinculum indissolubile which was a crimson infinity ring that wove it's way round his left wrist.

Nick was curious to know if what he understood of Biest markings was true? He'd been told that their places on the body had as much meaning as what the mark was or how they got it. He'd also been told that you'd never see a marking on the dominant wrist of a Biest because this was the most sacred place for them, for most Biest power was all they craved and romance was never an option. But for a few who found their bonded soulmate this is where their marking appears upon consummation for both of them. Nick wonder briefly if he'd ever see his mark appear upon Renard's skin but shook it off since he was getting ahead of himself.

"Depends" Renard's voice brought him out of his musing.

"The more important the mark, the deeper the connection. This can make it burn more or feel like it's been carved into our skin. Other's born out of love or affection can feel more like a connection within our cores" Renard said as he attempted to explain something Nick was an outsider too.

Nick listened intensely to his words, this made Renard feel pride knowing the man he was quickly considering his mate actually wanted to hear about all of his life. Not just the parts that suited him. They settled into a comfortable atmosphere as they opened up and shared things about their past and families.

Counsellor Jackson growled as he returned to his office, slamming his door he threw down his briefcase before he sat down on the seat. He was furious, he'd been removed from his place on the wesen council due to the Prince, now he'd been put on personal leave from his human place on the Portland Council by the mayor until his involvement with his son's activities had been looked into. Thanks to Captain Renard's arrest of his eldest son Leo.

He was getting more and more riled up by their so-called Prince's arrogance, more so now his sex pet of a Grimm had been rumoured to have returned to the City. He needed away to get back at him and knock him off his high horse without it leading back to him, that's when a conversation he and his son had a few years ago came to mind. He'd had a parolee who'd been a smug ass, whenever he'd been confronted, he'd threat them with his so-called friends. He'd worn a tattoo on his forearm of a scythe, it wasn't until sometime later his son had told him that his threat wasn't empty when one of his officers had been visited in the middle of the night by a group of scythe wielding Hässlich.

This was the first time he'd heard of the Reaper's mentioned in a long time, he'd remembered his father telling him stories of them growing up. A group of wesen mostly Hässlich that had banded together for one reason and one reason only, to rid the world of Grimm's by using their own weapons against them.

This had sparked an idea within his mind, picking up his phone he put out a call to a few of his underworld contact's hoping someone might know how to see his plan to fruition.