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[/b] The battle with the other demons was a short one as Brooklyn and Firebrand easily mowed down the lot of them using a combination of their violet colored fire breath and enhanced speed and strength. The snow was soon covered in large splotches of multicolored blood once the two gargoyles finally felled them last demon, however the pair were still drunk off of their battle high and so, in true demon fashion, Firebrand said nothing as he grabbed his younger lover by the waist and then threw him down onto the ground. The earthborn demon had just enough time to gasp in surprise before the older demon leapt upon him.\n\nBy the time the two had finally exhausted themselves, and the power surge which had overcome them, Brooklyn was a mess of a gargoyle. Sticky in all the right places, the younger demon felt a sense of contentment that he hadn't felt since the last time he and Firebrand had mated while within their luminescent forms overcome him. The rust colored gargoyle shivered and not from the cold as his mate cuddled up close to him while warbling slightly against the side of his neck. Deciding that returning to Astaroth could wait until after the post coitus bliss had faded Brooklyn found himself settling down for a small nap.\n\nOnce the younger male was fully rested, something that only took two hours at best while within Firebrand's arms, he woke to find that the battleground around them was now a little more...clean than it had been before he had fallen asleep. While it was a shame that he hadn't looted the corpses to try and find something useful Brooklyn figured that he and his mate could root through the camps he had seen while flying down here before they returned to the castle. With that plan in mind the earthborn demon wraped his tail and wings around both himself and Firebrand, he then let a small slip across his lips as he listened to the older demon sigh next to him. It was then that Brooklyn felt something pulse within his soul.\n\nTurning to look inwards the young demon felt the magical rod belonging to his king resonate within his being. This made the younger demon question several things with regards to the nature of his king's power, specifically as to the why and how the magic belonging to Astaroth had willingly chosen to reside within him when it seemed to be so ready to take him over earlier. Recalling the tidal wave which had swept through his mind and being after touching the rod Brooklyn thought for sure that he was going to go insane when the raw magic residing within had swallowed him up. Like a balled up piece of paper being tossed within the wind the rust colored demon couldn't do much as he was battered from all sides by Astaroth's powers, his attempts to build up his mental shields by focusing were completely lost to him as Astaroth's thoughts and ideals assaulted him without restraint. It was just when he felt his mind began to crack that everything came to a sudden halt. At the time Brooklyn had never been so grateful to suddenly find himself falling into the black abyss of unconsciousness as he was when darkness and silence began to eat up his thoughts, however, right before he was ready to pass out he turned just in time to see Firebrand being beaten to a bloody pulp. It was in seeing the older demon being wrestled down to the ground, his crimson blooming all around his beaten and battered body, that Brooklyn's soul and mind cried out for his mate.\n\nIt was at point when his own magical power cranked itself up to eleven against his command.\n\nThe swarm of power which overcame him snatched the younger demon from the haze of darkness back into the snowy world just in time for him to feel his mate's bellow of pain radiate within his own being. Brooklyn didn't think as he willed the power within to give him the strength to go and defend the other demon. For some reason the younger demon wasn't entirely sure of Astaroth's scepter seemed to radiate in time with his own magic giving him a strength that he hadn't felt before. Soon enough the younger demon was literally radiating with white demonic magic all across his being as his rust colored flesh was overtaken by pure ivory skin. It was just as Firebrand was about to pierced through the back that Brooklyn roared out his fury at the other demons. The roar, in turn, became a purple inferno which ate the demons surrounding the red arremer alive and the rest was literally history.\n\nTurning his gaze to look down at the older demon Brooklyn surmised that it was probably their connection with one another than helped him to control the storm that was Astaroth's magic. A curiosity soon bloomed within the rust colored demon's mind as he wondered just how far the bond between the two of them could be taken. Closing his eyes and calling out to his mate with his mind Brooklyn was not surprised when Firebrand jerked next to him. Opening his eyes to look into the confused pale golden orbs of the shorter gargoyle Brooklyn said nothing as he leaned down to roll his tongue across the front of the red arremer's face. The gentle touch soon turned into a festival of tongues being swapped together and then Brooklyn found himself being lifted up and turned around so as to face his mate as the other demon forced him to ride his lap.\n\nSeveral hours later the pair finally returned to the castle, though Brooklyn had a slight limp in his step as he walked down the hall to Astaroth's chambers. The dual faced demon lord listened to his and Firebrand's report with something akin to amusement, however that mirth quickly faded once the rust colored gargoyle finished speaking about the legion of demons which he and Firebrand had fought against. Brooklyn and Astaroth shared a look that bore no words as both realized that something would need to be done regarding this matter, yet the more pressing situation regarding the artifact which the younger demon still bore inside of himself took precedence over everything else. The demon lord quelled Brooklyn's concerns about not being able to summon the artifact back into the world as he raised his hand and then made a single summoning gesture with a finger.\n\nThe earthborn demon had just enough time to yelp before he felt something being snatched out from him. The light show which was the scepter reforming itself as it raced out from his soul to return to its master like a faithful hound was the only thing that stopped Firebrand from reacting as he watched his king do...something to his mate. Brooklyn gaped in awe as he looked down at his unblemished chest and then over to Astaroth who now held his sacred treasure into his left hand.\n\n\"This is the real power of a demon lord, Brooklyn.\" the lower mouth of the demon king spoke in a wise, yet malicious tone. \"That you were able to hold onto it for so long is an impressive feat, but never forget that power which does not belong to you will always find its way out of you.\" the warning which his king hide within his words was easy enough for the young demon to appreciate.\n\n\"Yes, my king.\" Brooklyn said before he bowed his head in deference to his liege.\n\nIt was with those words that Astaroth showered both demons with praise and then sent them about their way. Firebrand was more than a little eager to be back home with his brethren as the older demon quickly got into a small sparring match with one of the other red arremer who were all to happy to trade blows with him. For Brooklyn the earthborn demon was happy that he could return to his and his mate's room to relax for the next few days. And that's exactly what the rust colored gargoyle did as he settled in and began meditating over everything he had seen and felt while on their mission.\n\nSeveral days later Firebrand got a mild surprise when Brooklyn told him that he would be taking a few weeks to go and look into something...without him. The cherry skinned gargoyle didn't complain as the younger male was his own gargoyle and could do as what he wished, however, the older demon was somewhat taken aback when, in his attempt to follow after him, the younger male used his magic to keep the other bound in place. Frozen as he was by tendrils of liquid magic made from shadow Firebrand let out several barks of frustration as he struggled to get loose; his attempts, proving futile, made the red arremer come to despise just how much his mate's control over his magic had grown. Brooklyn chuckled as sauntered over to the shorter demon, a haughty smile centered firmly onto his face as he looked down at the other.\n\n\"Thank you.\" the rust colored gargoyle whispered as he leaned down to nuzzle his beak against the side of the older demon's face.\n\nFirebrand growled in annoyance as he watched his mate set off for the sky, his pale golden eyes narrowed in anger as he stood helpless while waiting for the tendrils wrapped around him to lose their consistency.\n\nBrooklyn frowned as he thought about what he had just done. He knew that it was wrong of him to leave his mate out of the loop with regards to what he had planned, however, the younger demon had since realized that he couldn't let the older red arremer stalk him while he put into work the ideas that swam within his head. He needed to be alone and vulnerable right now in order to attract the attention of the one that he was searching for. Of course there was a risk that his plan would get him killed, but considering the reward that hung above his head the the gamble was indeed worth the effort being spent.\n\nYet that didn't make the ache within Brooklyn's chest feel any less painful. The look of hurt which swam within the pale golden orbs of the shorter gargoyle pained the earthborn demon on a level he hadn't expected to feel again. Flying further and further away from the castle which he called home Brooklyn let out a screech when the ache of his betrayal began to sear his mind.\n\nYet he couldn't go back now.\n\nHe needed to see this through to the end.\n\nThere would be time to apologize to the older demon later once everything was settled, of that Brooklyn swore to himself.\n\nIt took him four hours before he got to the closest village within the area of Hell that the red arremer castle was located but once he was over the ghoulish settlement Brooklyn settled himself down onto the broken stone road and then enclosed his wings back behind his back. Looking around at the small settled the rust colored gargoyle realized just how homey the place felt with its black wooden houses situated in an imperfect circle around the area. The smell of blood and ash covered the area as with any place there within the demon world and yet there was also the scent of freshly killed dragon roasting from one of the houses along with the subtle sounds of unseen villagers murmuring flowing about the air.\n\nWalking by several demons who eyed him curiously Brooklyn asked them where the the local tavern was. The demons laughed at him, some calling him a fool for expecting there to be something as regal as a tavern there within their little village. Brushing the comment aside he then asked them where the best source of information regarding other demon lords could be found. A brown robed wizard stirring a cauldron outside of his small tent home told him that he would do bet searching with the city to the north a day's flight from there. The younger demon thanked the other and then went about his way, or he would have before being accosted by two twin tailed nekomanta who were looking for a fight. A quick brawl later found the other demons laughing at him and then telling him to come back around later on as it had been a long time since they had someone fun to spar with. Brooklyn made no promises but did smirk to the feline demons before setting off to the sky.\n\nFlying for a day straight Brooklyn found himself barely so much as winded when he came upon the nameless city. The bright lights of the massive township were such that the rust colored gargoyle realized that he would have become blinded if he tried to fly overhead, a fact that had probably been thought up by whoever was in charge of the place. Wrapping his wings around himself Brooklyn walked through the gates and into the place. What he found made him raise an eye in surprise.\n\nAll around him were various businesses and shops the like of which he would have only expected to see in a megalopolis back in the human world. Walking down the paved walkway the young demon gaped in surprise as electric lights hummed from various streetlights while demons of all shapes and sizes stepped passed him without a second glance. For a moment Brooklyn was almost taken aback by how...human everything seemed within the city as he entered into various businesses while searching for the information that had drawn him there in the first place. Most of the demons regarded him with little question or concern, despite his appearance, as they pointed him in the direction towards where he needed to be. Had Brooklyn not been on a mission he was sure that he would have liked to stay for a while and learn all of the small secrets and hidden nuances which made up the sprawling cityscape, alas, he had to focus.\n\nThough the bookstore that he crossed by on his search did steal away a few hours of his time.\n\nMaking his way through the darker edges of the city Brooklyn only had to kill two ogres while walking through the lightless alleyway. Unlike the nekomantas from the previous village the big lummoxes hadn't been interested in merely exchanging blows with the earthborn demon and instead sought to use his body for their own lewed desires, something for which they had told him about in no small detail. Now normally Brooklyn was a very patient demon, but if there was one thing that could set him off like a Roman candle it was the fact of someone making a comment about the use of his body for their own pleasure. While it might have meant nothing for another demon the rust colored gargoyle had long since vowed that his body, mind, and soul belonged to one demon and one demon alone. He had tried to force the pair to step off by blowing a stream of fire across the chest of the larger of the pair but the idiots hadn't taken the hint and so a short but bloody fight later found Brooklyn walking out of the alleyway with a pouch full of coins securely settled onto his side and a black eye for his troubles.\n\nA small healing whisper found his sight returning to perfect condition a minute later.\n\nWinding around several other alleyways Brooklyn finally came to the building that he had been told about. Just as he reached out to touch the door handle the young demon froze into place. Narrowing his eyes until they began to glow white the rust colored gargoyle could see the thin lines of magic which swept around the building. It seemed that whoever owned the place was wise enough to realize that trouble would come upon them and had made it so that most demons would be hexed with a mind wiping curse if they tried to enter into the establishment...unless they knew how, that is. Grabbing onto one of the red streams of magic rolling in front of the door Brooklyn focused his thoughts into forcing the energy to bend to his will. Once the magical vapor began to crackle and then turn rust in color the young demon released the stream and then reached for the handle of the door again. Pushing it the black wood barrier open Brooklyn was slightly taken aback by the words the figure who stared back at spoke.\n\n\"We're running low and stock at the moment, but don't worry, I can get you whatever you need, for a price.\" the bald demon spoke in a tone that made the younger demon's skin crawl.\n\n\"I'm not here for any physical merchandise.\" Brooklyn replied as he pulled himself into the building while closing the door behind him, mindful of his tail.\n\n\"Oh really? Then what are you looking for?\" the glowing magenta eyes belonging to the shopkeeper narrowed as they surveyed the naked gargoyle approaching him.\n\n\"Information.\" Brooklyn said calmly.\n\n\"On what exactly?\" Brooklyn gave a description of the blue winged demon that he and Firebrand had fought against earlier on and then waited. \"And just why are you looking for this demon, hmm?\" there was both mirth and suspicion within the taller demon's eyes as he gaze down at the smaller male.\n\n\"I want to know who his employer is.\" the best way to making a convincing tale was to always weave more truth than fiction into a story.\n\n\"Aren't you from Astaroth's castle?\"\n\n\"Yes.\" the fact that the other knew this made the younger demon feel a sense of both suspicion and awe, yet he kept his face neutral all the same.\n\n\"Odd that one of his servants would be looking for another demon lord.\" the silent question hung within the air like a gaping chasm yet Brooklyn was more than willing to throw himself within the pit of uncertainty if it meant finding out what he needed to know.\n\n\"I'm looking to find a demon who's going to pay me more than platitudes for my skills.\"\n\n\"Heh, typical, but I suppose that can't be helped in this day and age when even the cost of dragon's blood wine is rising through the ass.\" Brooklyn snorted as he let a small smirk spread across his face. \"Alright, say that I know what you want to hear, how do you plan to pay me for my information?\" the younger demon reached for the small pouch of coin on his side. \"Hahah, very cute, but that's not how this works.\"\n\n\"Oh?\" Brooklyn muttered while slipping the coin pouch back onto his side, his magic holding it firmly into place.\n\n\"You seem pretty young so let me give you some wisdom. If you want something from someone like me than you need to make it worth our while.\" the taller demon chuckled while his leering eyes of the demon couldn't help but look down across the rust colored gargoyle's chiseled body. The young demon felt no sense of shame as his body was gazed over by the other male, he had long since lost his sense of modesty.\n\n\"I'm not fucking you.\" those words made the shopkeeper's mouth drop.\n\n\"HAHAHAH!!! Amusing, however I'm prefer my hands to be wrapped around something a little more...delicate than yourself, though I suspect you can't say the same.\" Brooklyn said nothing as his eyes fell narrow.\n\n\"Then what would you consider a fair trade for the information I want to know?\"\n\nThe creepy smirk which crawled over the other demon's face made Brooklyn's tail lash behind him nervously.\n\n- - - - - \n\n[b]2. [/b] \"A lot has changed here.\" Brooklyn said aloud while looking down across the landscape of Manhattan. The towering skyscrapers which once littered the city seemed to have become more numerous, the air was much less clean, and the general feeling within the world seemed very hostile. Yet the hostility wasn't the same as what one would expect from living in Hell, where the sense of anger, rage, and death were obvious. Here it felt like the hand of madness was creeping closer and closer to one's throat with every passing minute, yet there was a hesitation there that kept it from grasping tight to choke the life from oneself.\n\n\nBrooklyn found the feeling to be very trite when compared to what he had been used to.\n\n\n\"It really has, B.\" Broadway answered the unintended question lingering around the edge of his rookery brother's statement. Brooklyn turned an eye to regard the tubbier male. \"You missed out on a lot while you were...away.\"\n\n\n\"Yeah! There was a terrorist attack that took down two really tall buildings while you were gone!\" Woolworth chirped happily making Brooklyn raise an eye curiously.\n\n\n\"It's a long story.\" Angela replied with a heartfelt sorrow coloring her words.\n\n\n\"I'm sure you and everyone else can fill me in once we get back to Castle Wyvern.\"\n\n\nNothing more was said as the Manhattan clan escorted Brooklyn back home, though there was an unspoken tension now residing within the two older gargoyles as they looked between one another. Ten minutes of flying found the three adults and two younger gargoyles setting themselves down upon the roof of castle, immediately the group was beset by a number of faces for which Brooklyn remembered...and a few he didn't.\n\n\n\"Brooklyn!\" the sound of his name being shouted out in chorus had the rust colored male on edge, yet he kept his breathing steady so as not to allow his instincts and magic to flare out wildly.\n\n\n\"I can't believe it. We thought you were...\" a shorter pale green gargoyle wearing goggles on top of his hairless head whispered while looking up at the towering muscular figure that had been lost for so long.\n\n\n\"I'm not so easily gotten rid of, Lex.\" Brooklyn smiled, yet his face was a mask of predatory delight as he looked down over the crouching gargoyle techie who shivered unconsciously.\n\n\n\"What happened to ye, lad?\" Hudson asked in a calm and measured tone.\n\n\nBrooklyn opened his mouth to tell the elder clan member the truth, his sense of patriarchal obedience shining through as he looked over the former head of the gargoyles, however, he stilled his words and instead looked over the weathered figure that was once one of the finest warriors he had ever known. The look of the other now was quite sad indeed as it was plainly obvious to see that Hudson was on borrowed time. Soon the old warrior would find his eternal rest in the form of an eternal stone slumber, and while that thought did nothing to stir Brooklyn's black soul...it did stir his mind in ways that he was not all that comfortable with. Ass to the fact that the oldest member of the clan was staring him down in a very calculated manner and suddenly Brooklyn found himself being put on edge. \"A lot of things, though I'm sure that everyone here had a story to share, especially those who were not present when I...left.\" the younger gargoyle turned to regard a stag gargoyle who pulled himself over to stand next to Lexington.\n\n\nBefore he could say anything more to steer the conversation in the manner he wanted Brooklyn found hands grasping his shoulders. Every volatile instinct inside of Brooklyn's being began to scream within his body and mind for him to eviscerate the older male, however, the rust colored gargoyle choked down the fires of rage boiling inside of himself as he turned to face the one who was touching him.\n\n\n\"Brooklyn, where have you been for so long?\" Goliath asked as he tightly held onto the younger male as if fearful that in letting him go he would lose the other once again. \"Do you know how...\"\n\n\n\"Would you get your hands off of me?\" Brooklyn asked matter-of-factly even as he suppressed the killing edge which surged within his core. Everyone present gasped at the cold tone for which he spoke. Goliath was actually stunned enough to loosen his grip upon the other. Brooklyn shook the taller male off of him with a simple shrug of his shoulders before speaking again. \"I'm not really comfortable with strangers touching me.\" a hiss left from out of his throat as he realized the miscalculation of his words.\n\n\n\"Strangers? Brooklyn, we're a clan.\" Angela retorted with more than a little hurt in her voice.\n\n\nThe rust colored gargoyle turned his head to regard her, his face impassive for a moment. It was only when seeing her eyes begin to quiver slightly that he let a slow smile creep upon his face. \"Yes, but it's been a while since I've been around the clan, so forgive me if seem a little uncomfortable in everyone's presence.\"\n\n\n\"What happened to you, Brooklyn?\" Broadway asked.\n\n\n\"A lot of things, actually.\" even though this was the truth the lack of a clear answer did nothing to settle the fears and concerns rising within the Manhattan clan as they looked over their once lost member.\n\n\n\"Does whatever happened to you have something to do with your casual nudity?\" a new voice asked while coming up the stairs of the castle.\n\n\nTurning to look at the new figure Brooklyn found himself raising an eye as he looked to the teenage form of a red headed David Xanatos coming to stand next to Hudson. Following behind him was the ever youthful Owen Burnett, the blonde haired butler stood beside his younger charge, his blue eyed gaze neutral, if suspicious, as he stared at Brooklyn.\n\n\n\"In part.\" at this point many within the clan suddenly became aware of how...naked the rust colored gargoyle was, and while the older generation wasn't that unsettled by the lack of clothing wrapped around Brooklyn's waist those of a younger age quickly averted their gaze anywhere else. For his part Brooklyn was completely indifferent to how his appearance affected those around him. After all, what did he have to be ashamed of?\n\n\n\"I think we all would like to hear what happened with you, as you are definitely not the same person you were when you left here.\" that piece of information instantly put Brooklyn on edge.\n\n\n\"And how would you? You were a baby when you lost saw me, Alex.\"\n\n\n\"I was, and am, more aware of what happens around me than anyone here.\"\n\n\n\"Oh really? Hah, that's fascinating.\" Brooklyn chuckled darkly.\n\n\nMoving into the main hall within the interior of Castle Wyvern Brooklyn gave a very edited version of what happened after disappeared from the castle to everyone present. He of course left out the part about his initiation into the red arremer clan, playing down the bracers clasped firmly around his arms as cursed artifacts he had needed in order to survive within the demon world. The others shared various looks of grief and sorrow for him, yet not everyone was convinced of his tale, as evident by the way hard gazes attempted to flay him and his story apart. Brooklyn ignored all of the looks and sideways comments from those who were not convinced of his sincerity since everything he was saying was the truth. Questions were answered with casual ease as the rust colored gargoyle explained as much as he was comfortable with telling to the others, he calmly veered away from topics that he didn't want to share information on with practiced grace, much to the frustration of several members present.\n\n\nIt was several minutes before the sun was to rise that Goliath called a halt to the conversation.\n\n\n\"Come, we should prepare to rest for the day.\" all of the gargoyle with the except for Brooklyn nodded and then prepared to make their way back outside to the castle courtyard.\n\n\n\"Brooklyn, we gave your place to Woolworth, so...\" Angela said cautiously while looking abashed at the taller gargoyle once everyone was outside once more.\n\n\n\"Don't worry about.\" Brooklyn waved the concern away before turning to look upon the younger child belonging to Broadway and Angela who stared back at him almost angrily at the thought of being asked to give up his place on the castle. \"I think he deserves my place more than I do at this point.\" that made Woolworth puff his chest up proudly.\n\n\n\"Are you sure? We can make a place for you next to him.\" Broadway chimed in.\n\n\n\"No.\" the sun rose before anything else could be said regarding the situation. The sound of the Manhattan clan being frozen within their stone slumber filled the surrounding of the courtyard in short order a minute later.\n\n\n\"You were expecting this, weren't you?\" Brooklyn said as the first rays of dawn washed over his muscular form.\n\n\n\"Of course, but there was a chance that I could have been mistaken. After all, I'm not used to dealing with demons.\" Alexander explained casually as he noticed how unphased the other was by the warm radiance of morning.\n\n\nThat made Brooklyn turn. \"Fae blood is very potent, even in its diluted form, if you could see me for what I am so easily.\"\n\n\n\"Yes it is.\" the red headed human admitted cooly. \"Now let's get to the point of why you're here.\"\n\n\n\"You think you know my reason?\" that made Brooklyn chuckle, though there was no mirth within his voice.\n\n\n\"I have a guess, but why don't you save us both the trouble and just tell me what you plan to do here?\"\n\n\nBrooklyn thought over that for a few moments as he stared over the lanky frame of the young heir of the Xanatos fortune. \"I want to establish a relationship between you and myself.\" That caught Alexander off guard. \"You see, I have it on good authority that things are about to happen to this world that you are not in any way prepared for.\"\n\n\n\"Do tell.\"\n\n\n\"Not until I know that I have your cooperation.\"\n\n\n\"And why do you think I should cooperate with you?\"\n\n\n\"Because it would be in your best interest not to have me as your enemy.\"\n\n\n\"Is that a threat?\" Alex asked, his eyes shimmering with iridescent color as repressed anger bubbled within him.\n\n\n\"No. It's just a fact.\" Brooklyn replied with amusement literally dripping from his voice as he watched the young man's face cloud with indignation.\n\n\n\"Perhaps we should hear him out, Alex.\" Owen, who had been completely ignored up to this point interjected before his master could lash out rashly.\n\n\nBrooklyn turned to regard the other man, his eyes narrowingly slowly as the vision of barely repressed madness shone through the indifferent manservant in the form of a wild haired figure swimming beneath his calm outward appearance. \"Listen to your keeper. He's literally got your best interest at heart.\"\n\n\n\"Fine, but let it be known that I won't stand for you try to harm anyone here within this castle.\"\n\n\nBrooklyn was silent as he let those words flow around and then through him. When he spoke again his words, while void of emotion, were clear and measured. \"Alex, I have no desire or need to harm anyone here, and I plan to keep it that way no matter what happens in the future.\"\n\n- - - - - -\n\n[b]3. [/b] \"I'm impressed that you decided to come to my side of the playing field, Brooklyn.\" the older demon with the lion-esque face said while walking beside the younger demon down the blackstone hallway. \"It's not usual for one of your kind to turn on their lord.\"\n\n\"I haven't turned on anyone, Lord Berlin.\" Brooklyn's eyes were sharp as they focused on the horned male.\n\n\"Oh really?\"\n\n\"I'm just here to try and negotiate a truce between yourself and my own king.\" Brooklyn's voice was quite firm as he spoke these words as Berlin couldn't help but nod in appreciation for them.\n\n\"I see. Astaroth has found a very good servant if you possess such loyalty in the face of what I have shown you.\" the rust colored gargoyle stopped as Berlin paused to look outside the window of the lion-beast's fortress home to the various encampment of demons which lay scattered upon the broken ground which surrounded the taller demon's home.\n\n\"While your army is rather intimidating, they are like all other armies. Beautiful and deadly, but ultimately little more than scared serfs who will abandon this place if their needs fail to be met.\" It was a cold truth that took Berlin by surprise. \"Am I wrong?\" the younger demon asked when the silence between them began to stretch longer than was comfortable. The elder demon's face became a mix of annoyance and bemusement as he snorted off to the side.\n\n\"Not at all, though I must admit that I never expected to hear such wisdom from someone so young.\" The lion-beast's eyes trailed up and down the length of Brooklyn's naked frame, linger just a moment too long on the gargoyle's impressive genitals for the rust colored demon's liking, before moving back up to his beaked face. \"You're barely what...a hundred?\"\n\n\"Older.\" it was the truth, even if he had been in something of a coma during most of it.\n\n\"I see.\" Berlin chuckled before moving away from the window. \"Tell me, what is Astaroth offering in exchange for this 'truce' you spoke of?\"\n\n\"That depends on the reason behind your sudden theft of his sacred treasure.\" Brooklyn had a guess as to why Berlin had been so eager to bother his king but he needed to hear the confirmation in order to plot out his next move.\n\n\"Does a demon need a reason to assault another?\" the lion-beast sounded almost surprised to have to explain such a thing.\n\n\"Usually not, as I have learned oh so recently,\" Brooklyn chuckled as he reached up rub a claw underneath his right eye. \"But you don't seem like a petty creature who would do such a thing for giggles. There's more to you than that.\" Brooklyn purred the last part before weaving his tail around the back of Berlin's body against his rump.\n\n\"HAH! Very nice, but I'm not that easy.\" even though he said this the lion-beast curled his own tail around Brooklyn's.\n\n\"I would hope not! It would be boring if you didn't make this something of a challenge.\" the two demons smirked to one another as they continued to walk.\n\nSilence lingered between the pair before Berlin suddenly began to chuckle. Brooklyn lifted an eye at the sudden burst of glee.\n\n\"Tell me, Brooklyn, what would you think if I said that the demon world is boring?\"\n\n\"I would say that you have a point, though from my perspective I would think that this realm is quite fascinating.\"\n\n\"Yes, maybe to one who is as young as yourself, but for an older demon this land has become nothing less than trite. The same old conquest for power that has gone on since the beginning of creation still plague this world like a curse. And while the power plays can be fun every now and again, their outcome is always the same.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\" Brooklyn inquired up to the older demon.\n\n\"Have you ever thought about why Astaroth rules over such a barren wasteland instead of someplace much more appealing?\"\n\n\"It because he enjoys the autonomy he possesses far away from the squabbles of other demon lords.\" the dual faced demon lord had spoke with Brooklyn at length about the fighting between other demon lords in the past and how such things no longer appealed to him. It made sense, seeing as death carried such a great burden to any demon with a brain, yet there seemed to be something more than Berlin was suggesting.\n\n\"That's true, in part, however, you should know that the land in which he lives grants him a certain...boon to which many are quite jealous over.\"\n\n\"Boon?\"\n\n\"Haha, I'm not surprised that he hasn't told you.\" the two demons stopped walking as Berlin maneuvered Brooklyn to look out the window once again. \"A demon lord's power does not merely come from himself, but from the land in which he rules, Brooklyn. As such, the more powerful a demon becomes the further he can extend the reach of his very will, but the same is true in reverse order. A demon lord is connected to his land as he is to it. Do you understand what that means?\" the lion-beast asked huskily.\n\nThe rust colored gargoyle took a moment to think over this new fact, his eyes casting themselves down as the ramification tried to puzzle itself together. And then, \"Are you saying that King Astaroth's land and everything that lives on it is tied with his own lifeforce?!\" the very idea seemed to somewhat ludicrous but the more Brooklyn thought about it the more it seemed that things made a lot more sense.\n\n\"Very good! You catch on pretty quick.\"\n\n\"Lord Berlin, such a thing cannot be true!\"\n\n\"Oh but it is. Let me show you.\" the lion-beast rolled his left hand out and then began to concentrate. In short order a number of demons outside began to stop what they were doing to turn and look to the fortress. It didn't take long for almost a hundred demons to begin gazing up at the blackstone walls of the keep, yet just as Berlin lowered his hand they turned to go about their way, seemingly without question as to why they suddenly were so focused on the fortress in the first place.\n\nBrooklyn gaped without meaning to as watched all of this transpire in front of him.\n\n\"This the real power of a demon lord.\" Berlin leaned down to purr gently into the earthborn demon's ear.\n\n\"Once you step on this land you become a tool of the demon who controls it, unless you are already under the control of a very power demon.\" those words made the rust colored gargoyle shiver. \"Now can you guess what this means for Astaroth, who happens to control the most dangerous demonic force within Hell?\"\n\n\"It mean...\" Brooklyn swallowed before licking his lips. \"...that he's almost invincible, so long as he retains control over that land.\"\n\n\"Exactly.\" Berlin laughed as he pulled himself away from the younger demon's ear. \"Astaroth has been sitting upon a treasure trove of power, the likes of which makes most demon lords envious, not because of where his land is, but because of who resides upon it. However, power, like all things here within this world, is very mutable. One misstep and everything could be lost or gained within a heartbeat. It's why he refuses to expand beyond his borders, despite having your clan at his beck and call and why those borders are so enclosed from the rest of the realm.\"\n\nThe lion-beast gave the younger demon a moment to contemplate what all of this meant before gently nudging him. \"Tell me, what you are trying not to say. Let it out. I won't judge you for feelings.\"\n\n\"Astaroth...has complete control over the red arremer, down to their very thoughts?!\" this statement, not to mention its ramifications, hit Brooklyn like a ton of bricks.\n\n\"Indeed he does.\" Berlin chuckled as he force Brooklyn to continue walking down the hallway. \"This is why demon lords rarely attack one another head on. A war effort isn't like what the humans up above like to play at. Down here, every move has to be carefully calculated and each movement has to be decisive and impactful, otherwise doom will be spelled for whoever the unlucky demon was. Yet, that doesn't stop some from becoming lustful for more power and therefore foolish in their endeavors to send their minions off to die in their name.\"\n\n\"That's why you chose not to attack the castle directly.\" it was more of a statement of fact rather than a dive for information at this point, seeing as Brooklyn was so shaken by what he had just learned.\n\n\"Indeed. While I won't admit it to most of my underlings, I am nowhere near as powerful as Astaroth is.\n\nThat's why I wanted his scepter. Just a touch of his power within myself could have raised my own power to great heights, as well as given me some measure of control over your people.\"\n\n\"If you had been able to control it, you mean?\" that made Berlin snarl slightly.\n\n\"Yes. It's not easy to try and challenge another demon lord's power. One needs to have a stern will and a plethora of power if they hope to be able to do such a thing, but where there is a will there is always a way. And I so wanted to make that way possible, but you interfered.\" Brooklyn suddenly knew what a fly felt like within a spider's web as Berlin reached around to grasp his shoulder, his sharp claws sinking slowly into his rust colored flesh. \"Do you know how annoying it was to have my well planned tactic foiled?\" the lion-beast chuckled with a maw full of very sharp fangs as he smiled humorlessly down at the younger demon. \"I had plotted for so long and detailed my plan out quite carefully to make it so that things would turn within regards to overtaking Astaroth, but you had ruin all that, didn't you?\"\n\nFor a moment Brooklyn felt true panic well up within him as the taller demon held him tight while staring daggers into his face. However, he couldn't let the older beast break his resolve, even if that resolve was probably manufactured.\n\n\"I...can imagine.\" the earthborn demon said as a empty smile crept along his face. \"However, since you're plan failed that means that it wasn't as foolproof as it could have been, which either means you are not as great a tactician as you think, or you need a better strategist at your side.\"\n\nUtter silence filled the hallways as Berlin blinked down at the younger demon.\n\nAnd then...\n\n\"MWHAHAHAHAH!!!\" the lion-beast's bellow of laughter was so loud that Brooklyn actually felt his bones rattling underneath his skin. \"Perhaps that is so!\" Berlin turned his head to the side and the raised a single finger in thought. \"I have been noticing that many of my plans seemed to have fallen into a pattern for which I have not been able to break, so mayhaps I need a...new mind to help me plot out my future endeavors.\"\n\"What would offer this 'new mind' if it helped you with what you needed?\"\n\n\"I can think of a couple of things, namely an alliance with Astaroth, for starters.\"\n\nWhile such a thing did sound somewhat appealing from a logistical side, Brooklyn was more than aware than his king would never consent to such a thing, not after Berlin's brash attempt to try and usurp him. The only way the dual faced demon would consent with joining forces with the lion-beast would be when the other's pelt was adorning the floor of his castle while his bones decorated the gates of the fortress he called home.\nYet that there was no sense in letting that be said aloud.\n\n\"But Astaroth is nothing but a small fry compared to what you are really after, isn't he?\"\n\n\"Oh?\" Berlin arched an eyebrow as he looked down to the younger demon.\n\n\"Mmhmm. You want something more. Something greater than all the power that this world could offer. That's why you made mention of Hell being boring.\"\n\n\"Hmm, perhaps, but tell me, what more could I want that I couldn't find down here?\"\n\nIt took Brooklyn a moment of thought as he tried to rationalize what such a powerful and cunning demon would lust after when all of a realm was not something that interested him.\n\n\"You want...another world for you own. One that would be ripe for the picking, yet would be defenseless against an onslaught of demons. You want to invade the mortal world.\" A nod from the lion-esque demon confirmed something Brooklyn had already suspected.\n\n\"Exactly.\" Berlin purred. \"But I need a great amount of power to be able to get up there. Power the likes of which few demons beside Astaroth possess. So tell me, how would someone such as myself be able to do such a thing without going to war without another demon lord?\"\n\n\"You need something equal to the power for which Astaroth possessed...or an open door invitation into the mortal world.\" Brooklyn pondered aloud.\n\n\"Heh, sadly it takes a great deal of power to move a demon such as myself topside, so the small gateways that demons like yourself could have slipped through in the past would have been useless to me and my army.\" Berlin growled as this truth slipped from in between his lips.\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"The mortal world was cut off from demonkind by the fairy king working with a traitor a long while back, so that option is not viable anymore.\"\n\n\"I can give you a way up there.\" the rust colored gargoyle said suddenly catching the lion-beast off guard.\n\"Oh? Quite a claim to make, especially given the circumstances.\" Berlin's eyes narrowed as he looked down at the smirking gargoyle.\n\n\"I have ways of making things work in my favor, especially if it means that others will keep their gaze from my king's land.\" The two demons stared at one another for a long time as the implications of such a statement weighed in upon them.\n\n\"Alright, I will...\"\n\n\"A vow.\" Brooklyn interjected, cutting Berlin off. \"I want a vow that you and your lineage will never seek to cast yourselves upon my king's land or those who reside there.\" the lion-beast hissed as those words met his ears.\n\n\"That's no small thing you ask for, as a vow made by a demon carries with it the weight of his power and life should he ever break it.\"\n\n\"I know, which is why I ask for it.\"\n\nBerlin grunted as a slow growl began to well up from out of his throat. \"I will...consider your request, however, I will need proof that you can deliver upon your claim before I do any such a thing.\"\n\n\"I already have a way in mind,\" Brooklyn admitted with a chuckle.\n\n\"Do tell.\"\n\nBrooklyn smiled up at the older male while allowing his hands to slowly begin glowing with a purple radiance. Meanwhile, watching from the rafters of the castle, a blue winged demon glared down hatefully at the younger demon.\n\n- - - - - \n\n[b]4. [/b] \"You certainly are the talk of the demon world, Brooklyn.\" the rust colored gargoyle watched the succubus standing in front of him with a slightly annoyed expression as he listened to her prattle on, yet he remained politely silent all the while she continued to speak. \"Who would have thought that one of your breed would find a way back to the mortal after we were banished from there.\"\n\n\"Are you complimenting me, or chastising me?\" the young demon asked while narrowing his eyes.\n\n\"Why do you think I would chastise such a clever creature after doing such a momentous thing for all of demon kind?\"\n\n\"Because no one else thought of it first, which says something about the elder demons of this world,\" a pursed look crossed the demoness' charmingly beautiful features as she looked up at the taller male. \"so I'm guessing that someone sent you to admonish me for being so pretentious.\"\n\n\"No one sent me anywhere.\" those words rang out very coolly across Brooklyn's ears letting the young demon know that whoever this succubus was, she was not someone who took orders well. \"I came to speak with you of my own regard.\" she chuckled cutely.\n\n\"Oh really. Are you sure you didn't come because you wanted to know how I pulled off what I did?\"\n\n\"So suspicious. That's unusual for your kind.\"\n\n\"We're not all cut from the same blackstone. Some of us know what's at stake here within this world.\" the two demon stared at each other for a moment at that. The bat winged female finally spoke up once she realized that the younger demon would not be more forth giving.\n\n\"I'm not your enemy.\"\n\n\"And yet you are no ally of either myself, or my king. And I have good reason to believe that you have no intention of being as such, so now my question to you is, what do you want?\"\n\n\"I'm just curious as to what you plan to do now that the gates of the mortal world have been thrown open once more.\"\n\n\"I don't plan to do anything.\" that made the demoness blink in surprise. \"The mortal world has no interest to me. I only showed the way forward to those who were interested because it suited my needs.\"\n\n\"How strange.\" The succubus seemed truly stunned by this declaration. \"You go through so much trouble, and yet have no drive to see such the seeds of a world's conquest bear fruit?\"\n\n\"The fruit that I'm after will only bloom much later down the line.\" Brooklyn turned his head to the side as he thought over the vision that he had had beforehand of being speared to death upon the lance of the visage which appeared within his mind's eye. \"Yet I am going to have to be very patient before it will come within my grasp.\" Turning back to the demoness Brooklyn let a small growl slip through his voice. \"And I don't plan to let ANYTHING get in my way from plucking it when the time is right.\"\n\n\"To go through all of this hassel just for something that has nothing to do with the current present must mean that whatever you are after will only come about from events you cannot yet control.\" Brooklyn grunted. \"Then would it not do to make sure that you had all the tools available to you to see that things turn out the way that you desire them?\"\n\n\"I would, but I don't plan to take any unnecessary risks in order to see this all through with.\"\n\n\"Hahah, that's very unusual to a demon say, even one so young as yourself.\" Brooklyn said nothing to this. \"Oh well, I suppose then that that you know that Berlin and several other demons have begun to war with the fae of the mortal world?\"\n\n\"I had heard such a thing before now.\"\n\n\"Does it not interest you that their victory or defeat could shift the balance of power here within our own world?\"\n\n\"Not at all.\"\n\n\"So then, you are not an ally of Berlin?\"\n\n\"Why would I be?\"\n\n\"Because you were the one who gave him the soul he needed to open more doorways up above.\"\n\n\"I did no such thing. I merely gave him information pertaining to the information he asked for in accord with an agreement held between us. What he chose to do with it has nothing to do with me.\" Brooklyn said with a bored shrug.\n\n\"You disinterest in everything happening around you truly is awe-inspiring.\" the succubus said with a scowl.\n\n\"My interest are deeper and more profound than you could imagine.\"\n\n\"And what interests are those?\"\n\n\"None of your concern.\" Brooklyn hissed.\n\n\"So cold. How do you ever keep warm with that attitude?\" she pouted almost childishly.\n\n\"I have a personal bed warmer that does the job just fine.\" Brooklyn had to mentally fight with himself to keep his blood from swimming down into his sheath as he thought of his mate. It had been months since he had seen the other and his body was reminding him that it was quite displeased with the separation.\n\n\"Perhaps\" the demoness began while swaying her body forwards towards the younger demon. \"you would like some extra company to keep you just a touch hotter?\"\n\nBrooklyn raised a hand stopping the succubus from her forward progression towards him. \"I think not.\"\n\n- - - - - \n\n[b]5. [/b] When the next punch landed square into the center of his chest Brooklyn felt his ribs literally groan underneath his flesh as air was forced from his lungs. A broken series of coughs left the rust colored gargoyle's throat but before the earthborn demon could steady his breathing another furious punch hit him in the solar plexus. Had Brooklyn had anything inside of his stomach he was sure that he would have thrown up the contents within, thankfully his captor hadn't been kind enough to give him anything to eat or drink during the several days of his torture. A twisted blessing in and of itself, but one that was born from the fact that demons could survive for a long while without physical sustenance, so long as they were allowed to draw energy from the world around them.\n\nHis captor knew this and that was why, even though his body was chained to the stone wall behind his back and his wings were nailed into said wall, Brooklyn was still able to remain conscious despite the hours of physical torture that he had been suffering through. Blinking bleary eyes ups at the larger demon who had bound him, Brooklyn couldn't help but chuckle at the other.\n\n\"Enjoying yourself?\" the older demon asked with a voice saturated with raw hatred and contempt.\n\n\"Immensely.\" Brooklyn replied with amusement coloring his words.\n\nThe blue winged hellion growled at the younger demon. Usually when he was torturing someone they succumbed to the punishment he inflicted upon their bodies within the first few hours, but not the rust colored gargoyle; it drove the white skinned demon mad as he couldn't understand just why Brooklyn refused to be broken, however, he was patient. Rearing back the older demon punched his captive within the face for the umptenth time. The sound of the bones within breaking brought a pleased smile from the blue winged demon as he watched Brooklyn's white maned cranium bounce against the unforgiving stones before dropping down listlessly.\n\nBlinking and then shaking his head to bring the spinning world into focus the young demon opened his beak to say, \"While this is loads of fun, when are you planning to let me go?\" A solid punch to the throat forced a chirp of pain to exit the bound gargoyle's lips.\n\n\"How about never?\" Brooklyn looked to say something but another punch to the jaw split his lips before words could be formed. A small well of blood spilled pooled up and then flooded down the side of his mouth onto the ground yet before Brooklyn could lick his lips another punch landed square in the center of his face. \"It's because of you that my ma...that Berlin is dead and I'm going to spend the next several weeks torturing you to show you my appreciation for your treachery before I think about killing you. However, even then I probably won't. Not when I can tear you apart piece by piece and still keep you alive to torture you some more.\"\n\n\"I think your anger is directed at the wrong demon, Rama.\" Brooklyn chuckled weakly before a gut punch made him wheeze.\n\"Oh I think I have the right bastard responsible for what happened.\" Rama hissed. \"You betrayed him.\" the blue winged demon snarled while forcing his face into Brooklyn's own.\n\n\"I...didn't betray Berlin.\" the rust colored gargoyle growled back with the same intensity. \"I have too much honor to betray someone.\"\n\n\"Honor?! What would a curr like YOU know about honor?!\" Rama grabbed the earthborn demon's white hair forcing the two to stare eye to eye at each other.\n\nBrooklyn took a moment to gather himself before he spoke. \"I know that standing by one's principals and not submitting to the fear of death is a sign of honor.\" the blue winged demon hissed as he stared into dark orbs which bore no fear. \"I also know that allying yourself with someone and not betraying them is a feat of honor, something for which I did without question.\"\n\n\"You betrayed your own master to ally yourself with mine! Or was that the plan in the beginning, huh? Did Astaroth send you here to get close to Berlin in order to stab him in the back?!\" the white skinned demon screamed as he shook Brooklyn back and forth, his dark crimson eyes glowing fiercely with unrepressed madness.\n\n\"I did no such thing.\" that made Rama snarl. \"I worked with Berlin to give him what he wanted so that I could get something in return. That he decided to kill the grandchild of the fae king and start a war has nothing to do with me.\" Rama looked to respond yet Brooklyn continued, cutting off his words before they could be spat out. \"That he and the fae king ended up killing one another in their conflict also has nothing to do with me, as Berlin never commanded me to fight with him, nor did he ask for me to help strategize a plan of attack before going forward with his plans.\" Rama flinched at that which made Brooklyn smirk. \"Perhaps you should be asking the question which you are trying to avoid.\"\n\n\"And what question is that?\" the white skinned demon whispered dangerously.\n\n\"Why did Berlin think so little of his lieutenant that he would leave him behind with such a pitiful legion of soldiers while he went off to try and conquer the human world?\" Rama's hand slowly released Brooklyn's hair as those words pierced his mind. Seeing the other fall into distress the rust colored gargoyle smiled before going in for the kill. \"I bet you already know the reason and just don't want to admit to it, right?\"\n\n\"Shut up, you don't know anything about Berlin or his ways of thinking!\" blue feathers filled the air as Rama flapped his wings behind his back angrily.\n\n\"I know that there was only one thing that was truly important to him in the end, and that wasn't you or his soldiers.\" Brooklyn watched gleefully as Rama turned away from to shake his head vehemently in denial.\n\n\"You're wrong! Berlin was our master!\"\n\n\"But being a master doesn't mean that you have to consider those underneath you.\" Rama shivered at that. \"You've seen it before, haven't you? How he would callously throw away the lives of those who served him if it meant that a goal he desired would be reached.\" Rama shrieked at that, his clawed hands reaching up to grab his head as if to shut the words out but Brooklyn wouldn't be stopped, not even by his aching throat. \"How many times did he flippantly send a good warrior to die only to replace him or her with someone who he thought was better for their position?\" Rama's head flailed wildly as the memories swam within his mind. \"I bet he even had you replace someone who was once his second-in-command, didn't he?\"\n\n\"SHUT UP!!!!\" Rama howled before turning to punch Brooklyn in the gut.\n\nSpittle soared out from the younger demon's throat as he lost all of the air within his body. Rama watched as the rust colored gargoyle sagged against the wall, the chains binding him the only thing keeping him from completely crumpling onto the floor.\n\n\"Berlin was a righteous master!\" the older demon roared while watching Brooklyn fight to draw breath back into his lungs.\n\n\"A-are you sure?\" Brooklyn chuckled. Rama blanched at the other's laughter. \"After all, what do you think he would have done to you if he had become king of the mortal world?\" that made the older demon freeze. \"Exactly.\"\n\nBrooklyn watched as Rama crumpled in on himself like a house of card, the blue wings of the older demon slumping behind his back as all of the fight went out of him.\n\n\"Berlin was like every other demon you've known. Prideful. Conceited. And unapologetic. He saw you and everyone else as nothing more than tools to help forward his agenda. That's why he sent you after Astaroth's scepter. He wanted you to die for his cause because he couldn't be bothered to do so himself. Of course you dying wouldn't have interfered with his true goal, you know that.\" Brooklyn thought he heard a choked sob come from the other demon but he wasn't about to stop, not when he was about to get exactly what he wanted. \"Now that he's dead there's nothing left for you or anyone else here, so why not do yourself a favor and fade into the shadows where you belong?\"\n\nRama said nothing for several minutes, however when he composed himself...\n\n...he sent a fierce punch into the center of Brooklyn's belly.\n\n\"I think not.\" Rama whispered hatefully.\n\n\"And...why not?\" asked Brooklyn after getting control of his coughing fit.\n\n\"Because even though everything you said was true, I'm still loyal to Berlin.\" Rama declared before reaching forward to raise Brooklyn's head. \"And while I can't prove it, I know that you played him, and for that I'm going to see broken before I go to finish what he started.\"\n\n\"...hehe, I've heard that love will drive one to madness, but seeing it firsthand really is terrifying.\"\n\n\"Fuck you!\"\n\n\"Hehe, while I can see that such a thought has been on your mind for a while now, one, you're not my type. And two, you really should rethink what you're about to try and do.\" Brooklyn said cheekily.\n\n\"And why is that?\" Rama growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously.\n\n\"Because if you do, you just might live to see tomorrow, though I suspect that you'll be down two wings and an arm.\"\n\n\"You think you can take me?\" Rama laughed.\n\n\"Possibly, but I'm currently not feeling up to it at the moment.\"\n\n\"Then how do you...\" Before the older demon could finish Brooklyn turned his head upwards. Following his gaze Rama gaped as a pair of pale golden eyes glared down at him from the rafters with nothing less than pure hatred shining within their depths.\n\n\"Because unlike Berlin, I put a lot of faith in those who I would ask to stand beside me.\" Brooklyn chuckled devilishly.\n\n- - - - - -\n\n[b]6. [/b]Firebrand knew that something was going to go wrong when Brooklyn left to go off on his own, however he had no idea of how much so, seeing as he never really questioned the depth of the rust colored gargoyle's inherent mischievousness before then. Yet in lying back against the blackstone bed with the silken covers draped across his lower half Firebrand found himself wondering. Mostly over how much he really underestimated his younger mate and his ability to make situations come into being which made no sense to him. But again, he should have known better. Why? Because of the look into the dark colored orbs.\n\nThe older demon had long since made a play of watching how the earthborn demon he had claimed for his own behaved when he thought nobody was paying attention. The sly looks of manipulation and wonder which filled the rust colored gargoyle's face was amusing to watch as they played themselves out to whatever end the younger demon had in mind. Sometimes his mate's antics could be as simple as asking curious questions about different things related to the demon world, and sometimes they could be schemes which would lead the other into situations for which Firebrand often sighed about before slapping himself on the face.\n\nThe incidence with the forgotten library had been one that the older demon would not forget for a long time to come, despite how calm he was whenever the rust colored gargoyle would sneak off to go there. The feeling of being electrocuted after he pushed his mate out of the way as a hammer of lightning surged down from the ceiling into his body was so painful that the red arremer was sure that death was close at hand when the pain of the magical energy finally reached his collective senses. He knew nothing as he crashed onto the stone floor, save for the fact that he had saved the younger demon at the price of his own life. It was just as the chilly fingers of doom began to claw their way into his mind that the cherry skinned gargoyle was yanked back to reality by a great warmth, the likes of which no hellfire could compare. Seeing his mate glowing with a green tinted aura while whispering words that only their king had ever spoken of before Firebrand wasn't sure exactly what was going on...that was until his body began to feel invigorated with the kind of strength for which he hadn't felt for centuries.\n\nWhen two and two finally came together Firebrand realized what was being done to him, and yet instead of allowing his howling pride to stop the younger gargoyle from taking away the vestiges of his hard earned valor he instead stood back and allowed his bones and tendons to be renewed. The feel of his old aches and pains dissipating was like a balm that he never knew he needed before. No longer did the clenching pain in his leg which had been born from a hellhound ripping through his skin down to gnaw at his bones bother him. Forgotten was the deep gash in his side which had quietly scarred over after having fought off a throng of ogres wielding spiked clubs. In a manner of minutes the pain of centuries worth of fighting to live were swept away underneath the gentle light emanating from his mate's clawed hands. For minutes on end this went on and yet even when the last of his wounds that could be healed were remedied the younger demon refused to cease the flow of energy pouring out of him in steadfast waves.\n\nRealizing that the other was lost in the throes of his magical casting Firebrand did what any good demon would do in the situation. Taking his mate and then sharing his breath and tongue with him the older red arremer wasted little time as he showed the rust colored gargoyle exactly how grateful he was for what he had just done. The memory of the younger demon's tight warmth wrapped around his nubbed maleness was such that even now as he lay in their bed looking up at the blank ceiling Firebrand relished in the phantom clenching that came with burying himself deep within the tightness that was Brooklyn's rump.\n\nBrooklyn.\n\nHis mate's name was...odd for him to contemplate, if only because the red arremer tribe only gave names to those of great importance to their clan. It was one of the reasons why no one spoke it, save for their king. And why Firebrand often teased the younger demon by calling him whelp, even though he knew it annoyed the other. To say his mate's name felt both right and wrong to him was a very complex thing to admit, and yet now that the other had gone off on...whatever thing he was doing at the moment...Firebrand wondered if he should call the other by his given name more often once he returned.\n\nIf he returned.\n\nThat thought made the older demon growl.\n\nWhile he wasn't sure of it on any logical level, something deep inside told him that his mate was doing something both incredibly stupid and astoundingly brilliant at the same time. That bothered Firebrand because right after the other had left all those weeks ago he got the same feeling. And then shortly after the rumors began. When tales that a way into the mortal world had been found began to fly throughout Hell the cherry skinned gargoyle knew within an instant that his mate had had something to do with this unprecedented revelation. The younger demon was just too smart for his own good some days and now it seemed that his intelligence and cleverness had paid off in spades...and yet a deep sense of worry filled Firebrand.\n\nWhy had the other done such a thing?\n\nThe younger demon hadn't shown any interest in his old life. In truth, Firebrand wondered if the other even recalled it after all these years. Sometimes memory loss came about when a mortal soul became tainted with the corruption that was demonic magic, but Brooklyn...he seemed too resolute to allow for something like that happen. The first time Firebrand had seen him he was sure that there was something deep and unyielding within the other, but at the same time there was a determination and conviction there that swore an allegiance to a cause which would never be undermined, no matter the consequence. That's why the older demon was sure that his mate hadn't simply made a way to the mortal realm just to abandon he and his brethren. But then what in Hell was he up to?\n\nSpeaking to King Astaroth had revealed nothing about what his mate might have been conspiring, though his majesty had chided him for attempting to sneak information out of him under the vague notion of preparing to assault the mortal realm. The dual faced king, ever the pillar of mirthful indifference, had made no announcement of any kind to reach beyond his realm towards the human world. This was not that shocking to Firebrand as even during the great rush topside that seem to overcome the demon world once every ghoul and his sorcerer familiar found out that there was a way back there King Astaroth seemed only mildly concerned with the happenings which went beyond the mountains of his territory. As for the cherry skinned gargoyle himself, he honestly wasn't all that interested in going back topside. What for? The last time he had went up there he had been on a mission to eliminate a rogue magician who had thought to steal from his king; finding Brooklyn had simply been a sweet treat for which he had carefully tempted into his embrace, nothing more nothing less.\n\nNow though, Firebrand found himself being anxious and even a bit...worried for his mate.\n\nWhat was the young one up to? How had he made a way to the mortal world possible? Did he have help? Was he secretly working underneath their king's orders? But if so, what for?\n\nThese and several dozen other questions filled Firebrand's mind like a swirling thunderstorm for days without end. And even though he performed his duty to his king without question and celebrated and sparred with his brethren at any time they called out to him...nothing felt the same without Brooklyn there in the castle with him.\n\n'Firebrand.'\n\nThe sound of Brooklyn's voice stirred him from his mid doze. Popping up and then twisting his head backwards and forth the cherry skinned gargoyle tried to see exactly where the voice had come from...but the room he and the younger demon shared was empty.\n\n'Firebrand. I need your help.' the sound of Brooklyn calling out for him had the older demon throwing off the black sheet he had curled around himself.\n\nGetting up and then heading outside of the room Firebrand didn't think as he made his way to the balcony of the castle. The looks of confusion his brethren gave him were ignored as he leapt up onto a perch and then scanned the skyline for any sign of his mate.\n\n'Help. I need your help.' a snarl tore through the older demon's lips as he snapped his head to the north. Throwing his wings open Firebrand paid no attention to the red arremer he knocked back as he shot into the sky with the speed and grace of a diving hippogriff.\n\nHe didn't know how he knew, nor did he care to know why he knew, instead he followed after the resonance which echoed inside of his head as he mentally sought out his mate. The cherry skinned gargoyle paid no attention to how his nerves were literally twitching with repressed joy as soared with determined grace to wherever it was that he was trying to get to, instead he kept a single minded focus on his task. It took nearly half a day of flying to make it to an unfamiliar castle nestled deep within a valley of rolling crimson hills, yet once he got there Firebrand found himself barely at a lost for breath as he swooped down to land right in front of the castle's doors. The guards posted around the area attempted to bar his way yet his determination was as such that a simple cascade of fire born breath cleared a path forward for him with almost pitiful ease.\n\nWalking into the dark hallways the older demon found himself completely unimpressed with the tacky design that was the castle's interior.\n\n'AHHH!!!' the older demon gasped as a punch sunk into the center of his chest. But that couldn't be.\n\nLooking down Firebrand saw that he was unhurt, and yet he was sure he felt the knuckles of a combatant curl deep into his flesh.\n\n'OHHH!!' his head whipped to the side when another phantom strike slammed into the side of his face.\n\nConfusion, fear, anger, and bewilderment began to spin within the older demon's mind as he tried to figure out just exactly what in all the hells was going on.\n\n'Firebrand!'\n\nAnd then he knew.\n\nPale golden eyes lit up like a volcano exploding into existence as white hot rage filled Firebrand's mind.\n\nNo longer thinking rationally the red arremer moved through the castle like greased lightning as he sought to find out exactly where his mate was being contained. Numerous enemies fell before both his fangs and claws as he made his mad charge forward yet their existence, and subsequent demise, was no more a threat to him that a cool evening breeze. So focused was he that Firebrand barely even noticed when he found a locked door standing front of him. A voice from within, so familiar and yet reviled, brushed against his ears, however, it was the sound of Brooklyn yelping in agony which drew all of the red arremer's focus into that current moment.\n\nNot able to make a way through, even when his fiery breath splashed against the barrier of the door, Firebrand climbed up to the ceiling, made his way out of the castle onto the roof, and then found an opening which led him back inside where he needed to be. What he found after returning into the interior of the building was a sight that literally made his blood boil.\n\nChained to a wall, with spikes digging into the membranes of his wings, was Brooklyn, beaten, bloody, and battered while Rama stood before him growling in rage. Looking over the younger demon the older gargoyle now realized why the other had called out to him instead of handling this situation on his own. Stalking over so that he stood just above the two demons, Firebrand listened to the conversation to the pair right up to the point where Brooklyn lifted his beak up to direct the blue wings demon's attention towards him. There was no thought, no question, no honest plan involved as Firebrand let out a ferocious shriek before diving down to attack the ignorant piece of shit which had dared to lay a hand on his mate.\n\nWhat happened next reassured Brooklyn that he would never need to doubt the honest affection his older lover had for him as he both listened and watched as the red arrmer literally ripped Rama apart...limb...by limb...by limb.\n\n- - - - - -\n\n[b]7. [/b] Brooklyn sighing in tired relief as he felt the heat of the burning castle behind finally abate its attempt to fry his backside after about ten minutes of solid walking. It had been a long time coming but the younger demon was glad that the entire affair with Berlin had finally come to pass. Glancing back at the smoldering castle the rust colored gargoyle found himself watching the crimson flame soaked abode of the now deceased lion demon with something akin to satisfaction written across his beaked face. And yet...there was a part of him that wondered, not if he had done the right thing, he knew that what he had done had been for the overall protection of his clan, but if some new powerbase would arise from the ashes of Berlin's fallen empire to haunt him in the future. That was until a clenching squeeze from the taloned hand wrapped around his waist drew back his attention.\n\nFirebrand turned look at him, his pale gold eyes narrowing in concern even though the older demon said nothing. The younger demon smiled tiredly at his mate to reassure him. Yes. Now was not the time for this. At this point in time Brooklyn had done what he had set out to do, and as his aching body reminded him, oh so matter-of-factly, he deserved to take a moment to breath and revel in the fact that he had managed to walk away from all of this alive. Smiling at the older demon, the younger gargoyle leaned forward to nuzzle Firebrand's neck, crooning softly as he did so. Seeing that all was well with his mate the cherry skinned gargoyle turned his head back to the desolate land ahead of them, a single minded determination filling his eyes as he made his way forward while hefting Brooklyn's weight across his shoulders.\n\nFirebrand continued to walk for almost an hour before finally coming to a halt at the edge of a clump of dead blackwood trees. Settling the younger demon carefully against one of the larger gnarled trees Firebrand moved back and then flew up within the air directly above Brooklyn. Drawing in breath the cherry skinned gargoyle released a gout of crimson flame from out of his maw. A few lower demons scattered from their makeshift homes as the demonic fire created a large circle of liquid fire around the injured demon. Firebrand said nothing when he set himself down onto the ground and then plopped himself next to his rust colored mate.\n\nBoth demons watched the flickering fire in quite reverence for several moments before Brooklyn went to work whispering a spell of healing. Nothing was said between the pair as the younger demon repaired the damage for which Rama had inflicted upon him, though this wasn't to say that there was nothing to be said between them. Brooklyn was well aware that he owed his mate an explanation, but that would have to come later. Right now, the pair needed this silent moment to reaffirm that the both of them were alive and safe, relatively speaking. Leaning back against the tree that he was settled on, the rust colored gargoyle snaked his tail around the side of Firebrand's waist and then curled the sinewy appendage across the shorter male's body in an attempt to draw him closer. Seeing no reason to resist the older demon moved to place himself as close as he could to his mate, his curved face nuzzling the younger demon's white mane of hair as he subconsciously breathed in the scent that belong to Brooklyn and Brooklyn alone.\n\nWhen the pair fell asleep they would never know but by the time the circle of fire around them began to die out the pair found themselves roused to wakefulness by a chill wind sweeping across their heated bodies.\n\nCracking a closed eye to look to the side at Firebrand Brooklyn found the older demon watching him carefully.\n\n\"I'm fine.\" the younger demon offered quietly.\n\nReaching out for the other Brooklyn pulled the cherry skinned gargoyle's face in close before licking the older demon across the side of his curved mouth. The older demon release a gentle croon from the soft warm feel of the younger demon's tongue playing over his slightly bruised flesh before fully opening his maw to accept a kiss from the other. The two demons shared a tender moment as Brooklyn raised his clawed hand to begin pawing the cherry flesh that covered the older demon's body; Firebrand in turned brought his own taloned hand up to stroke his the younger demon's neck, chest and abdomen in return. The pair sat on top of the dry and cracked earth for minutes simply breathing in the unique scents of one another as they worked to re-established the bond which had been frazzled by the extended separation placed upon one another. If nothing else, Brooklyn felt that this was the one drawback to his plan that he regretted the most and deep within the dark expanse of his mind the younger demon knew that it would be a long time to come before either he or Firebrand forgave him for forcing them to be apart for so long.\n\nBreaking their shared kiss several minutes later the two demons stared at each other in quiet reverence.\n\n\"Thank you.\" Brooklyn offered as he leaned forward into Firebrand's chest to caress the shorter male's hardened pectorals with his slim tongue.\n\nThe older demon warbled a reply before gasping as the rust colored gargoyle went to work showing his appreciation for him in the most base way imaginable as he moved over and then down the length of Firebrand's muscular form.\n\nBy the time the pair were ready to fly back to the red arremer castle Brooklyn face was soaked in Firebrand's musk. Not that the younger demon minded. In actuality he revealed in the feeling his throat burning from the exercise Firebrand had given it, not to mention the thick taste which lingered on his tongue from where the cherry skinned gargoyle had inseminated his mouth with his liquid essence. That the older demon had marked his face with said essence was more of a honor than insult to Brooklyn as he knew that anyone with a nose would be able to tell who bore a claim on him.\n\nOnce the pair had finished with their physical show of affection Brooklyn stood up to stretch his lithe form for all to see. Firebrand found himself quite appreciative for the show as his greedy pale gold eyes danced across the plains of rust colored flesh which made up the younger demon's form.\n\n\"Are you going to stare all day, or are we return going to home now?\" Brooklyn asked cheekily making Firebrand warble and then take a swipe at him.\n\nThe younger demon chuckled as he took the blow to the thigh before watching as the bruise and battered Firebrand stood up next to him. Looking over the shorter red arremer Brooklyn held up a clawed hand and then filled it with green energy before offering it to the other. Firebrand shook his head and the rust colored gargoyle lowered his arm.\n\nFlaring out his wings and then taking to the air Brooklyn shivered as he felt the warm essence on his face dried onto his skin. Firebrand, seeing the subtle twitch of muscles, cackled in delight before barking out his plans for the younger demon once they made their report known to King Astaroth.\n\n\"Promises, promises.\" Brooklyn teased as he flapped his wings just a bit harder so as to moved in front of Firebrand.\n\nThe older demon cocked his head to the side at the gesture, that was right before he noted how his mate flagged his tail oh so casually over to the side. Firebrand let out a screech of glee as he stared at the tight rump which he had been denied from despoiling for several months now and soon the mated pair made a game of flying back to the castle as Brooklyn flew faster and harder to keep the cherry skinned gargoyle from reaching out to tackle him.\n\nOnce they landed back home the other red arremer grinned and hooted as they crowded around Brooklyn in an effort to welcome him back within their fold. The younger demon shared a few greetings with his brethren before growling playfully at several cheeky bastards who slapped him on the butt while making casual comments about all the fun he had had while being out on his mission. Firebrand barked a sharp cry to get the others to go the hell away before he and Brooklyn went about their way into the interior of their castle home. Getting to their king's throne room Brooklyn rasped on the blackwood door for entrance and was relieved when he and Firebrand were allowed entry. Walking inside and then kneeling before the great dual faced demon Brooklyn smiled as he was welcomed home by Astaroth.\n\n\"How did things go with Berlin, Brooklyn?\" the upper face of his king asked while the lower smiled in knowing.\n\n\"It went...\" there was a pause as Brooklyn narrowed his eyes while trying to find the exact words needed to espouse exactly how things had worked themselves out. He final settled with \"...exactly as we both expected that it would.\"\n\n\"I'm glad to hear that. I would have been disappointed to know that such a task couldn't be handled by one of my most trusted servants. Though, hopefully in the future such things can be taken care of in a more timely fashion. After all, we're going to have no shortage of enemies in the future.\" it was then that Brooklyn and Astaroth shared a look between one another. The younger demon gaped as he realized that his king was much more aware of reality than he had previously thought. \"Now then, no need to waste time, as I am sure you have other more pressing matters to see to, give me your report.\"\n\n\nArt: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/corrsk/\nArt: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/beezlebumawoken/\n\nCharacters: Greg Weisman & Capcom", "description_bbcode_parsed": "1. The battle with the other demons was a short one as Brooklyn and Firebrand easily mowed down the lot of them using a combination of their violet colored fire breath and enhanced speed and strength. The snow was soon covered in large splotches of multicolored blood once the two gargoyles finally felled them last demon, however the pair were still drunk off of their battle high and so, in true demon fashion, Firebrand said nothing as he grabbed his younger lover by the waist and then threw him down onto the ground. The earthborn demon had just enough time to gasp in surprise before the older demon leapt upon him.

By the time the two had finally exhausted themselves, and the power surge which had overcome them, Brooklyn was a mess of a gargoyle. Sticky in all the right places, the younger demon felt a sense of contentment that he hadn't felt since the last time he and Firebrand had mated while within their luminescent forms overcome him. The rust colored gargoyle shivered and not from the cold as his mate cuddled up close to him while warbling slightly against the side of his neck. Deciding that returning to Astaroth could wait until after the post coitus bliss had faded Brooklyn found himself settling down for a small nap.

Once the younger male was fully rested, something that only took two hours at best while within Firebrand's arms, he woke to find that the battleground around them was now a little more...clean than it had been before he had fallen asleep. While it was a shame that he hadn't looted the corpses to try and find something useful Brooklyn figured that he and his mate could root through the camps he had seen while flying down here before they returned to the castle. With that plan in mind the earthborn demon wraped his tail and wings around both himself and Firebrand, he then let a small slip across his lips as he listened to the older demon sigh next to him. It was then that Brooklyn felt something pulse within his soul.

Turning to look inwards the young demon felt the magical rod belonging to his king resonate within his being. This made the younger demon question several things with regards to the nature of his king's power, specifically as to the why and how the magic belonging to Astaroth had willingly chosen to reside within him when it seemed to be so ready to take him over earlier. Recalling the tidal wave which had swept through his mind and being after touching the rod Brooklyn thought for sure that he was going to go insane when the raw magic residing within had swallowed him up. Like a balled up piece of paper being tossed within the wind the rust colored demon couldn't do much as he was battered from all sides by Astaroth's powers, his attempts to build up his mental shields by focusing were completely lost to him as Astaroth's thoughts and ideals assaulted him without restraint. It was just when he felt his mind began to crack that everything came to a sudden halt. At the time Brooklyn had never been so grateful to suddenly find himself falling into the black abyss of unconsciousness as he was when darkness and silence began to eat up his thoughts, however, right before he was ready to pass out he turned just in time to see Firebrand being beaten to a bloody pulp. It was in seeing the older demon being wrestled down to the ground, his crimson blooming all around his beaten and battered body, that Brooklyn's soul and mind cried out for his mate.

It was at point when his own magical power cranked itself up to eleven against his command.

The swarm of power which overcame him snatched the younger demon from the haze of darkness back into the snowy world just in time for him to feel his mate's bellow of pain radiate within his own being. Brooklyn didn't think as he willed the power within to give him the strength to go and defend the other demon. For some reason the younger demon wasn't entirely sure of Astaroth's scepter seemed to radiate in time with his own magic giving him a strength that he hadn't felt before. Soon enough the younger demon was literally radiating with white demonic magic all across his being as his rust colored flesh was overtaken by pure ivory skin. It was just as Firebrand was about to pierced through the back that Brooklyn roared out his fury at the other demons. The roar, in turn, became a purple inferno which ate the demons surrounding the red arremer alive and the rest was literally history.

Turning his gaze to look down at the older demon Brooklyn surmised that it was probably their connection with one another than helped him to control the storm that was Astaroth's magic. A curiosity soon bloomed within the rust colored demon's mind as he wondered just how far the bond between the two of them could be taken. Closing his eyes and calling out to his mate with his mind Brooklyn was not surprised when Firebrand jerked next to him. Opening his eyes to look into the confused pale golden orbs of the shorter gargoyle Brooklyn said nothing as he leaned down to roll his tongue across the front of the red arremer's face. The gentle touch soon turned into a festival of tongues being swapped together and then Brooklyn found himself being lifted up and turned around so as to face his mate as the other demon forced him to ride his lap.

Several hours later the pair finally returned to the castle, though Brooklyn had a slight limp in his step as he walked down the hall to Astaroth's chambers. The dual faced demon lord listened to his and Firebrand's report with something akin to amusement, however that mirth quickly faded once the rust colored gargoyle finished speaking about the legion of demons which he and Firebrand had fought against. Brooklyn and Astaroth shared a look that bore no words as both realized that something would need to be done regarding this matter, yet the more pressing situation regarding the artifact which the younger demon still bore inside of himself took precedence over everything else. The demon lord quelled Brooklyn's concerns about not being able to summon the artifact back into the world as he raised his hand and then made a single summoning gesture with a finger.

The earthborn demon had just enough time to yelp before he felt something being snatched out from him. The light show which was the scepter reforming itself as it raced out from his soul to return to its master like a faithful hound was the only thing that stopped Firebrand from reacting as he watched his king do...something to his mate. Brooklyn gaped in awe as he looked down at his unblemished chest and then over to Astaroth who now held his sacred treasure into his left hand.

"This is the real power of a demon lord, Brooklyn." the lower mouth of the demon king spoke in a wise, yet malicious tone. "That you were able to hold onto it for so long is an impressive feat, but never forget that power which does not belong to you will always find its way out of you." the warning which his king hide within his words was easy enough for the young demon to appreciate.

"Yes, my king." Brooklyn said before he bowed his head in deference to his liege.

It was with those words that Astaroth showered both demons with praise and then sent them about their way. Firebrand was more than a little eager to be back home with his brethren as the older demon quickly got into a small sparring match with one of the other red arremer who were all to happy to trade blows with him. For Brooklyn the earthborn demon was happy that he could return to his and his mate's room to relax for the next few days. And that's exactly what the rust colored gargoyle did as he settled in and began meditating over everything he had seen and felt while on their mission.

Several days later Firebrand got a mild surprise when Brooklyn told him that he would be taking a few weeks to go and look into something...without him. The cherry skinned gargoyle didn't complain as the younger male was his own gargoyle and could do as what he wished, however, the older demon was somewhat taken aback when, in his attempt to follow after him, the younger male used his magic to keep the other bound in place. Frozen as he was by tendrils of liquid magic made from shadow Firebrand let out several barks of frustration as he struggled to get loose; his attempts, proving futile, made the red arremer come to despise just how much his mate's control over his magic had grown. Brooklyn chuckled as sauntered over to the shorter demon, a haughty smile centered firmly onto his face as he looked down at the other.

"Thank you." the rust colored gargoyle whispered as he leaned down to nuzzle his beak against the side of the older demon's face.

Firebrand growled in annoyance as he watched his mate set off for the sky, his pale golden eyes narrowed in anger as he stood helpless while waiting for the tendrils wrapped around him to lose their consistency.

Brooklyn frowned as he thought about what he had just done. He knew that it was wrong of him to leave his mate out of the loop with regards to what he had planned, however, the younger demon had since realized that he couldn't let the older red arremer stalk him while he put into work the ideas that swam within his head. He needed to be alone and vulnerable right now in order to attract the attention of the one that he was searching for. Of course there was a risk that his plan would get him killed, but considering the reward that hung above his head the the gamble was indeed worth the effort being spent.

Yet that didn't make the ache within Brooklyn's chest feel any less painful. The look of hurt which swam within the pale golden orbs of the shorter gargoyle pained the earthborn demon on a level he hadn't expected to feel again. Flying further and further away from the castle which he called home Brooklyn let out a screech when the ache of his betrayal began to sear his mind.

Yet he couldn't go back now.

He needed to see this through to the end.

There would be time to apologize to the older demon later once everything was settled, of that Brooklyn swore to himself.

It took him four hours before he got to the closest village within the area of Hell that the red arremer castle was located but once he was over the ghoulish settlement Brooklyn settled himself down onto the broken stone road and then enclosed his wings back behind his back. Looking around at the small settled the rust colored gargoyle realized just how homey the place felt with its black wooden houses situated in an imperfect circle around the area. The smell of blood and ash covered the area as with any place there within the demon world and yet there was also the scent of freshly killed dragon roasting from one of the houses along with the subtle sounds of unseen villagers murmuring flowing about the air.

Walking by several demons who eyed him curiously Brooklyn asked them where the the local tavern was. The demons laughed at him, some calling him a fool for expecting there to be something as regal as a tavern there within their little village. Brushing the comment aside he then asked them where the best source of information regarding other demon lords could be found. A brown robed wizard stirring a cauldron outside of his small tent home told him that he would do bet searching with the city to the north a day's flight from there. The younger demon thanked the other and then went about his way, or he would have before being accosted by two twin tailed nekomanta who were looking for a fight. A quick brawl later found the other demons laughing at him and then telling him to come back around later on as it had been a long time since they had someone fun to spar with. Brooklyn made no promises but did smirk to the feline demons before setting off to the sky.

Flying for a day straight Brooklyn found himself barely so much as winded when he came upon the nameless city. The bright lights of the massive township were such that the rust colored gargoyle realized that he would have become blinded if he tried to fly overhead, a fact that had probably been thought up by whoever was in charge of the place. Wrapping his wings around himself Brooklyn walked through the gates and into the place. What he found made him raise an eye in surprise.

All around him were various businesses and shops the like of which he would have only expected to see in a megalopolis back in the human world. Walking down the paved walkway the young demon gaped in surprise as electric lights hummed from various streetlights while demons of all shapes and sizes stepped passed him without a second glance. For a moment Brooklyn was almost taken aback by how...human everything seemed within the city as he entered into various businesses while searching for the information that had drawn him there in the first place. Most of the demons regarded him with little question or concern, despite his appearance, as they pointed him in the direction towards where he needed to be. Had Brooklyn not been on a mission he was sure that he would have liked to stay for a while and learn all of the small secrets and hidden nuances which made up the sprawling cityscape, alas, he had to focus.

Though the bookstore that he crossed by on his search did steal away a few hours of his time.

Making his way through the darker edges of the city Brooklyn only had to kill two ogres while walking through the lightless alleyway. Unlike the nekomantas from the previous village the big lummoxes hadn't been interested in merely exchanging blows with the earthborn demon and instead sought to use his body for their own lewed desires, something for which they had told him about in no small detail. Now normally Brooklyn was a very patient demon, but if there was one thing that could set him off like a Roman candle it was the fact of someone making a comment about the use of his body for their own pleasure. While it might have meant nothing for another demon the rust colored gargoyle had long since vowed that his body, mind, and soul belonged to one demon and one demon alone. He had tried to force the pair to step off by blowing a stream of fire across the chest of the larger of the pair but the idiots hadn't taken the hint and so a short but bloody fight later found Brooklyn walking out of the alleyway with a pouch full of coins securely settled onto his side and a black eye for his troubles.

A small healing whisper found his sight returning to perfect condition a minute later.

Winding around several other alleyways Brooklyn finally came to the building that he had been told about. Just as he reached out to touch the door handle the young demon froze into place. Narrowing his eyes until they began to glow white the rust colored gargoyle could see the thin lines of magic which swept around the building. It seemed that whoever owned the place was wise enough to realize that trouble would come upon them and had made it so that most demons would be hexed with a mind wiping curse if they tried to enter into the establishment...unless they knew how, that is. Grabbing onto one of the red streams of magic rolling in front of the door Brooklyn focused his thoughts into forcing the energy to bend to his will. Once the magical vapor began to crackle and then turn rust in color the young demon released the stream and then reached for the handle of the door again. Pushing it the black wood barrier open Brooklyn was slightly taken aback by the words the figure who stared back at spoke.

"We're running low and stock at the moment, but don't worry, I can get you whatever you need, for a price." the bald demon spoke in a tone that made the younger demon's skin crawl.

"I'm not here for any physical merchandise." Brooklyn replied as he pulled himself into the building while closing the door behind him, mindful of his tail.

"Oh really? Then what are you looking for?" the glowing magenta eyes belonging to the shopkeeper narrowed as they surveyed the naked gargoyle approaching him.

"Information." Brooklyn said calmly.

"On what exactly?" Brooklyn gave a description of the blue winged demon that he and Firebrand had fought against earlier on and then waited. "And just why are you looking for this demon, hmm?" there was both mirth and suspicion within the taller demon's eyes as he gaze down at the smaller male.

"I want to know who his employer is." the best way to making a convincing tale was to always weave more truth than fiction into a story.

"Aren't you from Astaroth's castle?"

"Yes." the fact that the other knew this made the younger demon feel a sense of both suspicion and awe, yet he kept his face neutral all the same.

"Odd that one of his servants would be looking for another demon lord." the silent question hung within the air like a gaping chasm yet Brooklyn was more than willing to throw himself within the pit of uncertainty if it meant finding out what he needed to know.

"I'm looking to find a demon who's going to pay me more than platitudes for my skills."

"Heh, typical, but I suppose that can't be helped in this day and age when even the cost of dragon's blood wine is rising through the ass." Brooklyn snorted as he let a small smirk spread across his face. "Alright, say that I know what you want to hear, how do you plan to pay me for my information?" the younger demon reached for the small pouch of coin on his side. "Hahah, very cute, but that's not how this works."

"Oh?" Brooklyn muttered while slipping the coin pouch back onto his side, his magic holding it firmly into place.

"You seem pretty young so let me give you some wisdom. If you want something from someone like me than you need to make it worth our while." the taller demon chuckled while his leering eyes of the demon couldn't help but look down across the rust colored gargoyle's chiseled body. The young demon felt no sense of shame as his body was gazed over by the other male, he had long since lost his sense of modesty.

"I'm not fucking you." those words made the shopkeeper's mouth drop.

"HAHAHAH!!! Amusing, however I'm prefer my hands to be wrapped around something a little more...delicate than yourself, though I suspect you can't say the same." Brooklyn said nothing as his eyes fell narrow.

"Then what would you consider a fair trade for the information I want to know?"

The creepy smirk which crawled over the other demon's face made Brooklyn's tail lash behind him nervously.

- - - - -

2. "A lot has changed here." Brooklyn said aloud while looking down across the landscape of Manhattan. The towering skyscrapers which once littered the city seemed to have become more numerous, the air was much less clean, and the general feeling within the world seemed very hostile. Yet the hostility wasn't the same as what one would expect from living in Hell, where the sense of anger, rage, and death were obvious. Here it felt like the hand of madness was creeping closer and closer to one's throat with every passing minute, yet there was a hesitation there that kept it from grasping tight to choke the life from oneself.


Brooklyn found the feeling to be very trite when compared to what he had been used to.


"It really has, B." Broadway answered the unintended question lingering around the edge of his rookery brother's statement. Brooklyn turned an eye to regard the tubbier male. "You missed out on a lot while you were...away."


"Yeah! There was a terrorist attack that took down two really tall buildings while you were gone!" Woolworth chirped happily making Brooklyn raise an eye curiously.


"It's a long story." Angela replied with a heartfelt sorrow coloring her words.


"I'm sure you and everyone else can fill me in once we get back to Castle Wyvern."


Nothing more was said as the Manhattan clan escorted Brooklyn back home, though there was an unspoken tension now residing within the two older gargoyles as they looked between one another. Ten minutes of flying found the three adults and two younger gargoyles setting themselves down upon the roof of castle, immediately the group was beset by a number of faces for which Brooklyn remembered...and a few he didn't.


"Brooklyn!" the sound of his name being shouted out in chorus had the rust colored male on edge, yet he kept his breathing steady so as not to allow his instincts and magic to flare out wildly.


"I can't believe it. We thought you were..." a shorter pale green gargoyle wearing goggles on top of his hairless head whispered while looking up at the towering muscular figure that had been lost for so long.


"I'm not so easily gotten rid of, Lex." Brooklyn smiled, yet his face was a mask of predatory delight as he looked down over the crouching gargoyle techie who shivered unconsciously.


"What happened to ye, lad?" Hudson asked in a calm and measured tone.


Brooklyn opened his mouth to tell the elder clan member the truth, his sense of patriarchal obedience shining through as he looked over the former head of the gargoyles, however, he stilled his words and instead looked over the weathered figure that was once one of the finest warriors he had ever known. The look of the other now was quite sad indeed as it was plainly obvious to see that Hudson was on borrowed time. Soon the old warrior would find his eternal rest in the form of an eternal stone slumber, and while that thought did nothing to stir Brooklyn's black soul...it did stir his mind in ways that he was not all that comfortable with. Ass to the fact that the oldest member of the clan was staring him down in a very calculated manner and suddenly Brooklyn found himself being put on edge. "A lot of things, though I'm sure that everyone here had a story to share, especially those who were not present when I...left." the younger gargoyle turned to regard a stag gargoyle who pulled himself over to stand next to Lexington.


Before he could say anything more to steer the conversation in the manner he wanted Brooklyn found hands grasping his shoulders. Every volatile instinct inside of Brooklyn's being began to scream within his body and mind for him to eviscerate the older male, however, the rust colored gargoyle choked down the fires of rage boiling inside of himself as he turned to face the one who was touching him.


"Brooklyn, where have you been for so long?" Goliath asked as he tightly held onto the younger male as if fearful that in letting him go he would lose the other once again. "Do you know how..."


"Would you get your hands off of me?" Brooklyn asked matter-of-factly even as he suppressed the killing edge which surged within his core. Everyone present gasped at the cold tone for which he spoke. Goliath was actually stunned enough to loosen his grip upon the other. Brooklyn shook the taller male off of him with a simple shrug of his shoulders before speaking again. "I'm not really comfortable with strangers touching me." a hiss left from out of his throat as he realized the miscalculation of his words.


"Strangers? Brooklyn, we're a clan." Angela retorted with more than a little hurt in her voice.


The rust colored gargoyle turned his head to regard her, his face impassive for a moment. It was only when seeing her eyes begin to quiver slightly that he let a slow smile creep upon his face. "Yes, but it's been a while since I've been around the clan, so forgive me if seem a little uncomfortable in everyone's presence."


"What happened to you, Brooklyn?" Broadway asked.


"A lot of things, actually." even though this was the truth the lack of a clear answer did nothing to settle the fears and concerns rising within the Manhattan clan as they looked over their once lost member.


"Does whatever happened to you have something to do with your casual nudity?" a new voice asked while coming up the stairs of the castle.


Turning to look at the new figure Brooklyn found himself raising an eye as he looked to the teenage form of a red headed David Xanatos coming to stand next to Hudson. Following behind him was the ever youthful Owen Burnett, the blonde haired butler stood beside his younger charge, his blue eyed gaze neutral, if suspicious, as he stared at Brooklyn.


"In part." at this point many within the clan suddenly became aware of how...naked the rust colored gargoyle was, and while the older generation wasn't that unsettled by the lack of clothing wrapped around Brooklyn's waist those of a younger age quickly averted their gaze anywhere else. For his part Brooklyn was completely indifferent to how his appearance affected those around him. After all, what did he have to be ashamed of?


"I think we all would like to hear what happened with you, as you are definitely not the same person you were when you left here." that piece of information instantly put Brooklyn on edge.


"And how would you? You were a baby when you lost saw me, Alex."


"I was, and am, more aware of what happens around me than anyone here."


"Oh really? Hah, that's fascinating." Brooklyn chuckled darkly.


Moving into the main hall within the interior of Castle Wyvern Brooklyn gave a very edited version of what happened after disappeared from the castle to everyone present. He of course left out the part about his initiation into the red arremer clan, playing down the bracers clasped firmly around his arms as cursed artifacts he had needed in order to survive within the demon world. The others shared various looks of grief and sorrow for him, yet not everyone was convinced of his tale, as evident by the way hard gazes attempted to flay him and his story apart. Brooklyn ignored all of the looks and sideways comments from those who were not convinced of his sincerity since everything he was saying was the truth. Questions were answered with casual ease as the rust colored gargoyle explained as much as he was comfortable with telling to the others, he calmly veered away from topics that he didn't want to share information on with practiced grace, much to the frustration of several members present.


It was several minutes before the sun was to rise that Goliath called a halt to the conversation.


"Come, we should prepare to rest for the day." all of the gargoyle with the except for Brooklyn nodded and then prepared to make their way back outside to the castle courtyard.


"Brooklyn, we gave your place to Woolworth, so..." Angela said cautiously while looking abashed at the taller gargoyle once everyone was outside once more.


"Don't worry about." Brooklyn waved the concern away before turning to look upon the younger child belonging to Broadway and Angela who stared back at him almost angrily at the thought of being asked to give up his place on the castle. "I think he deserves my place more than I do at this point." that made Woolworth puff his chest up proudly.


"Are you sure? We can make a place for you next to him." Broadway chimed in.


"No." the sun rose before anything else could be said regarding the situation. The sound of the Manhattan clan being frozen within their stone slumber filled the surrounding of the courtyard in short order a minute later.


"You were expecting this, weren't you?" Brooklyn said as the first rays of dawn washed over his muscular form.


"Of course, but there was a chance that I could have been mistaken. After all, I'm not used to dealing with demons." Alexander explained casually as he noticed how unphased the other was by the warm radiance of morning.


That made Brooklyn turn. "Fae blood is very potent, even in its diluted form, if you could see me for what I am so easily."


"Yes it is." the red headed human admitted cooly. "Now let's get to the point of why you're here."


"You think you know my reason?" that made Brooklyn chuckle, though there was no mirth within his voice.


"I have a guess, but why don't you save us both the trouble and just tell me what you plan to do here?"


Brooklyn thought over that for a few moments as he stared over the lanky frame of the young heir of the Xanatos fortune. "I want to establish a relationship between you and myself." That caught Alexander off guard. "You see, I have it on good authority that things are about to happen to this world that you are not in any way prepared for."


"Do tell."


"Not until I know that I have your cooperation."


"And why do you think I should cooperate with you?"


"Because it would be in your best interest not to have me as your enemy."


"Is that a threat?" Alex asked, his eyes shimmering with iridescent color as repressed anger bubbled within him.


"No. It's just a fact." Brooklyn replied with amusement literally dripping from his voice as he watched the young man's face cloud with indignation.


"Perhaps we should hear him out, Alex." Owen, who had been completely ignored up to this point interjected before his master could lash out rashly.


Brooklyn turned to regard the other man, his eyes narrowingly slowly as the vision of barely repressed madness shone through the indifferent manservant in the form of a wild haired figure swimming beneath his calm outward appearance. "Listen to your keeper. He's literally got your best interest at heart."


"Fine, but let it be known that I won't stand for you try to harm anyone here within this castle."


Brooklyn was silent as he let those words flow around and then through him. When he spoke again his words, while void of emotion, were clear and measured. "Alex, I have no desire or need to harm anyone here, and I plan to keep it that way no matter what happens in the future."

- - - - - -

3. "I'm impressed that you decided to come to my side of the playing field, Brooklyn." the older demon with the lion-esque face said while walking beside the younger demon down the blackstone hallway. "It's not usual for one of your kind to turn on their lord."

"I haven't turned on anyone, Lord Berlin." Brooklyn's eyes were sharp as they focused on the horned male.

"Oh really?"

"I'm just here to try and negotiate a truce between yourself and my own king." Brooklyn's voice was quite firm as he spoke these words as Berlin couldn't help but nod in appreciation for them.

"I see. Astaroth has found a very good servant if you possess such loyalty in the face of what I have shown you." the rust colored gargoyle stopped as Berlin paused to look outside the window of the lion-beast's fortress home to the various encampment of demons which lay scattered upon the broken ground which surrounded the taller demon's home.

"While your army is rather intimidating, they are like all other armies. Beautiful and deadly, but ultimately little more than scared serfs who will abandon this place if their needs fail to be met." It was a cold truth that took Berlin by surprise. "Am I wrong?" the younger demon asked when the silence between them began to stretch longer than was comfortable. The elder demon's face became a mix of annoyance and bemusement as he snorted off to the side.

"Not at all, though I must admit that I never expected to hear such wisdom from someone so young." The lion-beast's eyes trailed up and down the length of Brooklyn's naked frame, linger just a moment too long on the gargoyle's impressive genitals for the rust colored demon's liking, before moving back up to his beaked face. "You're barely what...a hundred?"

"Older." it was the truth, even if he had been in something of a coma during most of it.

"I see." Berlin chuckled before moving away from the window. "Tell me, what is Astaroth offering in exchange for this 'truce' you spoke of?"

"That depends on the reason behind your sudden theft of his sacred treasure." Brooklyn had a guess as to why Berlin had been so eager to bother his king but he needed to hear the confirmation in order to plot out his next move.

"Does a demon need a reason to assault another?" the lion-beast sounded almost surprised to have to explain such a thing.

"Usually not, as I have learned oh so recently," Brooklyn chuckled as he reached up rub a claw underneath his right eye. "But you don't seem like a petty creature who would do such a thing for giggles. There's more to you than that." Brooklyn purred the last part before weaving his tail around the back of Berlin's body against his rump.

"HAH! Very nice, but I'm not that easy." even though he said this the lion-beast curled his own tail around Brooklyn's.

"I would hope not! It would be boring if you didn't make this something of a challenge." the two demons smirked to one another as they continued to walk.

Silence lingered between the pair before Berlin suddenly began to chuckle. Brooklyn lifted an eye at the sudden burst of glee.

"Tell me, Brooklyn, what would you think if I said that the demon world is boring?"

"I would say that you have a point, though from my perspective I would think that this realm is quite fascinating."

"Yes, maybe to one who is as young as yourself, but for an older demon this land has become nothing less than trite. The same old conquest for power that has gone on since the beginning of creation still plague this world like a curse. And while the power plays can be fun every now and again, their outcome is always the same."

"What do you mean?" Brooklyn inquired up to the older demon.

"Have you ever thought about why Astaroth rules over such a barren wasteland instead of someplace much more appealing?"

"It because he enjoys the autonomy he possesses far away from the squabbles of other demon lords." the dual faced demon lord had spoke with Brooklyn at length about the fighting between other demon lords in the past and how such things no longer appealed to him. It made sense, seeing as death carried such a great burden to any demon with a brain, yet there seemed to be something more than Berlin was suggesting.

"That's true, in part, however, you should know that the land in which he lives grants him a certain...boon to which many are quite jealous over."

"Boon?"

"Haha, I'm not surprised that he hasn't told you." the two demons stopped walking as Berlin maneuvered Brooklyn to look out the window once again. "A demon lord's power does not merely come from himself, but from the land in which he rules, Brooklyn. As such, the more powerful a demon becomes the further he can extend the reach of his very will, but the same is true in reverse order. A demon lord is connected to his land as he is to it. Do you understand what that means?" the lion-beast asked huskily.

The rust colored gargoyle took a moment to think over this new fact, his eyes casting themselves down as the ramification tried to puzzle itself together. And then, "Are you saying that King Astaroth's land and everything that lives on it is tied with his own lifeforce?!" the very idea seemed to somewhat ludicrous but the more Brooklyn thought about it the more it seemed that things made a lot more sense.

"Very good! You catch on pretty quick."

"Lord Berlin, such a thing cannot be true!"

"Oh but it is. Let me show you." the lion-beast rolled his left hand out and then began to concentrate. In short order a number of demons outside began to stop what they were doing to turn and look to the fortress. It didn't take long for almost a hundred demons to begin gazing up at the blackstone walls of the keep, yet just as Berlin lowered his hand they turned to go about their way, seemingly without question as to why they suddenly were so focused on the fortress in the first place.

Brooklyn gaped without meaning to as watched all of this transpire in front of him.

"This the real power of a demon lord." Berlin leaned down to purr gently into the earthborn demon's ear.

"Once you step on this land you become a tool of the demon who controls it, unless you are already under the control of a very power demon." those words made the rust colored gargoyle shiver. "Now can you guess what this means for Astaroth, who happens to control the most dangerous demonic force within Hell?"

"It mean..." Brooklyn swallowed before licking his lips. "...that he's almost invincible, so long as he retains control over that land."

"Exactly." Berlin laughed as he pulled himself away from the younger demon's ear. "Astaroth has been sitting upon a treasure trove of power, the likes of which makes most demon lords envious, not because of where his land is, but because of who resides upon it. However, power, like all things here within this world, is very mutable. One misstep and everything could be lost or gained within a heartbeat. It's why he refuses to expand beyond his borders, despite having your clan at his beck and call and why those borders are so enclosed from the rest of the realm."

The lion-beast gave the younger demon a moment to contemplate what all of this meant before gently nudging him. "Tell me, what you are trying not to say. Let it out. I won't judge you for feelings."

"Astaroth...has complete control over the red arremer, down to their very thoughts?!" this statement, not to mention its ramifications, hit Brooklyn like a ton of bricks.

"Indeed he does." Berlin chuckled as he force Brooklyn to continue walking down the hallway. "This is why demon lords rarely attack one another head on. A war effort isn't like what the humans up above like to play at. Down here, every move has to be carefully calculated and each movement has to be decisive and impactful, otherwise doom will be spelled for whoever the unlucky demon was. Yet, that doesn't stop some from becoming lustful for more power and therefore foolish in their endeavors to send their minions off to die in their name."

"That's why you chose not to attack the castle directly." it was more of a statement of fact rather than a dive for information at this point, seeing as Brooklyn was so shaken by what he had just learned.

"Indeed. While I won't admit it to most of my underlings, I am nowhere near as powerful as Astaroth is.

That's why I wanted his scepter. Just a touch of his power within myself could have raised my own power to great heights, as well as given me some measure of control over your people."

"If you had been able to control it, you mean?" that made Berlin snarl slightly.

"Yes. It's not easy to try and challenge another demon lord's power. One needs to have a stern will and a plethora of power if they hope to be able to do such a thing, but where there is a will there is always a way. And I so wanted to make that way possible, but you interfered." Brooklyn suddenly knew what a fly felt like within a spider's web as Berlin reached around to grasp his shoulder, his sharp claws sinking slowly into his rust colored flesh. "Do you know how annoying it was to have my well planned tactic foiled?" the lion-beast chuckled with a maw full of very sharp fangs as he smiled humorlessly down at the younger demon. "I had plotted for so long and detailed my plan out quite carefully to make it so that things would turn within regards to overtaking Astaroth, but you had ruin all that, didn't you?"

For a moment Brooklyn felt true panic well up within him as the taller demon held him tight while staring daggers into his face. However, he couldn't let the older beast break his resolve, even if that resolve was probably manufactured.

"I...can imagine." the earthborn demon said as a empty smile crept along his face. "However, since you're plan failed that means that it wasn't as foolproof as it could have been, which either means you are not as great a tactician as you think, or you need a better strategist at your side."

Utter silence filled the hallways as Berlin blinked down at the younger demon.

And then...

"MWHAHAHAHAH!!!" the lion-beast's bellow of laughter was so loud that Brooklyn actually felt his bones rattling underneath his skin. "Perhaps that is so!" Berlin turned his head to the side and the raised a single finger in thought. "I have been noticing that many of my plans seemed to have fallen into a pattern for which I have not been able to break, so mayhaps I need a...new mind to help me plot out my future endeavors."
"What would offer this 'new mind' if it helped you with what you needed?"

"I can think of a couple of things, namely an alliance with Astaroth, for starters."

While such a thing did sound somewhat appealing from a logistical side, Brooklyn was more than aware than his king would never consent to such a thing, not after Berlin's brash attempt to try and usurp him. The only way the dual faced demon would consent with joining forces with the lion-beast would be when the other's pelt was adorning the floor of his castle while his bones decorated the gates of the fortress he called home.
Yet that there was no sense in letting that be said aloud.

"But Astaroth is nothing but a small fry compared to what you are really after, isn't he?"

"Oh?" Berlin arched an eyebrow as he looked down to the younger demon.

"Mmhmm. You want something more. Something greater than all the power that this world could offer. That's why you made mention of Hell being boring."

"Hmm, perhaps, but tell me, what more could I want that I couldn't find down here?"

It took Brooklyn a moment of thought as he tried to rationalize what such a powerful and cunning demon would lust after when all of a realm was not something that interested him.

"You want...another world for you own. One that would be ripe for the picking, yet would be defenseless against an onslaught of demons. You want to invade the mortal world." A nod from the lion-esque demon confirmed something Brooklyn had already suspected.

"Exactly." Berlin purred. "But I need a great amount of power to be able to get up there. Power the likes of which few demons beside Astaroth possess. So tell me, how would someone such as myself be able to do such a thing without going to war without another demon lord?"

"You need something equal to the power for which Astaroth possessed...or an open door invitation into the mortal world." Brooklyn pondered aloud.

"Heh, sadly it takes a great deal of power to move a demon such as myself topside, so the small gateways that demons like yourself could have slipped through in the past would have been useless to me and my army." Berlin growled as this truth slipped from in between his lips.

"What do you mean?"

"The mortal world was cut off from demonkind by the fairy king working with a traitor a long while back, so that option is not viable anymore."

"I can give you a way up there." the rust colored gargoyle said suddenly catching the lion-beast off guard.
"Oh? Quite a claim to make, especially given the circumstances." Berlin's eyes narrowed as he looked down at the smirking gargoyle.

"I have ways of making things work in my favor, especially if it means that others will keep their gaze from my king's land." The two demons stared at one another for a long time as the implications of such a statement weighed in upon them.

"Alright, I will..."

"A vow." Brooklyn interjected, cutting Berlin off. "I want a vow that you and your lineage will never seek to cast yourselves upon my king's land or those who reside there." the lion-beast hissed as those words met his ears.

"That's no small thing you ask for, as a vow made by a demon carries with it the weight of his power and life should he ever break it."

"I know, which is why I ask for it."

Berlin grunted as a slow growl began to well up from out of his throat. "I will...consider your request, however, I will need proof that you can deliver upon your claim before I do any such a thing."

"I already have a way in mind," Brooklyn admitted with a chuckle.

"Do tell."

Brooklyn smiled up at the older male while allowing his hands to slowly begin glowing with a purple radiance. Meanwhile, watching from the rafters of the castle, a blue winged demon glared down hatefully at the younger demon.

- - - - -

4. "You certainly are the talk of the demon world, Brooklyn." the rust colored gargoyle watched the succubus standing in front of him with a slightly annoyed expression as he listened to her prattle on, yet he remained politely silent all the while she continued to speak. "Who would have thought that one of your breed would find a way back to the mortal after we were banished from there."

"Are you complimenting me, or chastising me?" the young demon asked while narrowing his eyes.

"Why do you think I would chastise such a clever creature after doing such a momentous thing for all of demon kind?"

"Because no one else thought of it first, which says something about the elder demons of this world," a pursed look crossed the demoness' charmingly beautiful features as she looked up at the taller male. "so I'm guessing that someone sent you to admonish me for being so pretentious."

"No one sent me anywhere." those words rang out very coolly across Brooklyn's ears letting the young demon know that whoever this succubus was, she was not someone who took orders well. "I came to speak with you of my own regard." she chuckled cutely.

"Oh really. Are you sure you didn't come because you wanted to know how I pulled off what I did?"

"So suspicious. That's unusual for your kind."

"We're not all cut from the same blackstone. Some of us know what's at stake here within this world." the two demon stared at each other for a moment at that. The bat winged female finally spoke up once she realized that the younger demon would not be more forth giving.

"I'm not your enemy."

"And yet you are no ally of either myself, or my king. And I have good reason to believe that you have no intention of being as such, so now my question to you is, what do you want?"

"I'm just curious as to what you plan to do now that the gates of the mortal world have been thrown open once more."

"I don't plan to do anything." that made the demoness blink in surprise. "The mortal world has no interest to me. I only showed the way forward to those who were interested because it suited my needs."

"How strange." The succubus seemed truly stunned by this declaration. "You go through so much trouble, and yet have no drive to see such the seeds of a world's conquest bear fruit?"

"The fruit that I'm after will only bloom much later down the line." Brooklyn turned his head to the side as he thought over the vision that he had had beforehand of being speared to death upon the lance of the visage which appeared within his mind's eye. "Yet I am going to have to be very patient before it will come within my grasp." Turning back to the demoness Brooklyn let a small growl slip through his voice. "And I don't plan to let ANYTHING get in my way from plucking it when the time is right."

"To go through all of this hassel just for something that has nothing to do with the current present must mean that whatever you are after will only come about from events you cannot yet control." Brooklyn grunted. "Then would it not do to make sure that you had all the tools available to you to see that things turn out the way that you desire them?"

"I would, but I don't plan to take any unnecessary risks in order to see this all through with."

"Hahah, that's very unusual to a demon say, even one so young as yourself." Brooklyn said nothing to this. "Oh well, I suppose then that that you know that Berlin and several other demons have begun to war with the fae of the mortal world?"

"I had heard such a thing before now."

"Does it not interest you that their victory or defeat could shift the balance of power here within our own world?"

"Not at all."

"So then, you are not an ally of Berlin?"

"Why would I be?"

"Because you were the one who gave him the soul he needed to open more doorways up above."

"I did no such thing. I merely gave him information pertaining to the information he asked for in accord with an agreement held between us. What he chose to do with it has nothing to do with me." Brooklyn said with a bored shrug.

"You disinterest in everything happening around you truly is awe-inspiring." the succubus said with a scowl.

"My interest are deeper and more profound than you could imagine."

"And what interests are those?"

"None of your concern." Brooklyn hissed.

"So cold. How do you ever keep warm with that attitude?" she pouted almost childishly.

"I have a personal bed warmer that does the job just fine." Brooklyn had to mentally fight with himself to keep his blood from swimming down into his sheath as he thought of his mate. It had been months since he had seen the other and his body was reminding him that it was quite displeased with the separation.

"Perhaps" the demoness began while swaying her body forwards towards the younger demon. "you would like some extra company to keep you just a touch hotter?"

Brooklyn raised a hand stopping the succubus from her forward progression towards him. "I think not."

- - - - -

5. When the next punch landed square into the center of his chest Brooklyn felt his ribs literally groan underneath his flesh as air was forced from his lungs. A broken series of coughs left the rust colored gargoyle's throat but before the earthborn demon could steady his breathing another furious punch hit him in the solar plexus. Had Brooklyn had anything inside of his stomach he was sure that he would have thrown up the contents within, thankfully his captor hadn't been kind enough to give him anything to eat or drink during the several days of his torture. A twisted blessing in and of itself, but one that was born from the fact that demons could survive for a long while without physical sustenance, so long as they were allowed to draw energy from the world around them.

His captor knew this and that was why, even though his body was chained to the stone wall behind his back and his wings were nailed into said wall, Brooklyn was still able to remain conscious despite the hours of physical torture that he had been suffering through. Blinking bleary eyes ups at the larger demon who had bound him, Brooklyn couldn't help but chuckle at the other.

"Enjoying yourself?" the older demon asked with a voice saturated with raw hatred and contempt.

"Immensely." Brooklyn replied with amusement coloring his words.

The blue winged hellion growled at the younger demon. Usually when he was torturing someone they succumbed to the punishment he inflicted upon their bodies within the first few hours, but not the rust colored gargoyle; it drove the white skinned demon mad as he couldn't understand just why Brooklyn refused to be broken, however, he was patient. Rearing back the older demon punched his captive within the face for the umptenth time. The sound of the bones within breaking brought a pleased smile from the blue winged demon as he watched Brooklyn's white maned cranium bounce against the unforgiving stones before dropping down listlessly.

Blinking and then shaking his head to bring the spinning world into focus the young demon opened his beak to say, "While this is loads of fun, when are you planning to let me go?" A solid punch to the throat forced a chirp of pain to exit the bound gargoyle's lips.

"How about never?" Brooklyn looked to say something but another punch to the jaw split his lips before words could be formed. A small well of blood spilled pooled up and then flooded down the side of his mouth onto the ground yet before Brooklyn could lick his lips another punch landed square in the center of his face. "It's because of you that my ma...that Berlin is dead and I'm going to spend the next several weeks torturing you to show you my appreciation for your treachery before I think about killing you. However, even then I probably won't. Not when I can tear you apart piece by piece and still keep you alive to torture you some more."

"I think your anger is directed at the wrong demon, Rama." Brooklyn chuckled weakly before a gut punch made him wheeze.
"Oh I think I have the right bastard responsible for what happened." Rama hissed. "You betrayed him." the blue winged demon snarled while forcing his face into Brooklyn's own.

"I...didn't betray Berlin." the rust colored gargoyle growled back with the same intensity. "I have too much honor to betray someone."

"Honor?! What would a curr like YOU know about honor?!" Rama grabbed the earthborn demon's white hair forcing the two to stare eye to eye at each other.

Brooklyn took a moment to gather himself before he spoke. "I know that standing by one's principals and not submitting to the fear of death is a sign of honor." the blue winged demon hissed as he stared into dark orbs which bore no fear. "I also know that allying yourself with someone and not betraying them is a feat of honor, something for which I did without question."

"You betrayed your own master to ally yourself with mine! Or was that the plan in the beginning, huh? Did Astaroth send you here to get close to Berlin in order to stab him in the back?!" the white skinned demon screamed as he shook Brooklyn back and forth, his dark crimson eyes glowing fiercely with unrepressed madness.

"I did no such thing." that made Rama snarl. "I worked with Berlin to give him what he wanted so that I could get something in return. That he decided to kill the grandchild of the fae king and start a war has nothing to do with me." Rama looked to respond yet Brooklyn continued, cutting off his words before they could be spat out. "That he and the fae king ended up killing one another in their conflict also has nothing to do with me, as Berlin never commanded me to fight with him, nor did he ask for me to help strategize a plan of attack before going forward with his plans." Rama flinched at that which made Brooklyn smirk. "Perhaps you should be asking the question which you are trying to avoid."

"And what question is that?" the white skinned demon whispered dangerously.

"Why did Berlin think so little of his lieutenant that he would leave him behind with such a pitiful legion of soldiers while he went off to try and conquer the human world?" Rama's hand slowly released Brooklyn's hair as those words pierced his mind. Seeing the other fall into distress the rust colored gargoyle smiled before going in for the kill. "I bet you already know the reason and just don't want to admit to it, right?"

"Shut up, you don't know anything about Berlin or his ways of thinking!" blue feathers filled the air as Rama flapped his wings behind his back angrily.

"I know that there was only one thing that was truly important to him in the end, and that wasn't you or his soldiers." Brooklyn watched gleefully as Rama turned away from to shake his head vehemently in denial.

"You're wrong! Berlin was our master!"

"But being a master doesn't mean that you have to consider those underneath you." Rama shivered at that. "You've seen it before, haven't you? How he would callously throw away the lives of those who served him if it meant that a goal he desired would be reached." Rama shrieked at that, his clawed hands reaching up to grab his head as if to shut the words out but Brooklyn wouldn't be stopped, not even by his aching throat. "How many times did he flippantly send a good warrior to die only to replace him or her with someone who he thought was better for their position?" Rama's head flailed wildly as the memories swam within his mind. "I bet he even had you replace someone who was once his second-in-command, didn't he?"

"SHUT UP!!!!" Rama howled before turning to punch Brooklyn in the gut.

Spittle soared out from the younger demon's throat as he lost all of the air within his body. Rama watched as the rust colored gargoyle sagged against the wall, the chains binding him the only thing keeping him from completely crumpling onto the floor.

"Berlin was a righteous master!" the older demon roared while watching Brooklyn fight to draw breath back into his lungs.

"A-are you sure?" Brooklyn chuckled. Rama blanched at the other's laughter. "After all, what do you think he would have done to you if he had become king of the mortal world?" that made the older demon freeze. "Exactly."

Brooklyn watched as Rama crumpled in on himself like a house of card, the blue wings of the older demon slumping behind his back as all of the fight went out of him.

"Berlin was like every other demon you've known. Prideful. Conceited. And unapologetic. He saw you and everyone else as nothing more than tools to help forward his agenda. That's why he sent you after Astaroth's scepter. He wanted you to die for his cause because he couldn't be bothered to do so himself. Of course you dying wouldn't have interfered with his true goal, you know that." Brooklyn thought he heard a choked sob come from the other demon but he wasn't about to stop, not when he was about to get exactly what he wanted. "Now that he's dead there's nothing left for you or anyone else here, so why not do yourself a favor and fade into the shadows where you belong?"

Rama said nothing for several minutes, however when he composed himself...

...he sent a fierce punch into the center of Brooklyn's belly.

"I think not." Rama whispered hatefully.

"And...why not?" asked Brooklyn after getting control of his coughing fit.

"Because even though everything you said was true, I'm still loyal to Berlin." Rama declared before reaching forward to raise Brooklyn's head. "And while I can't prove it, I know that you played him, and for that I'm going to see broken before I go to finish what he started."

"...hehe, I've heard that love will drive one to madness, but seeing it firsthand really is terrifying."

"Fuck you!"

"Hehe, while I can see that such a thought has been on your mind for a while now, one, you're not my type. And two, you really should rethink what you're about to try and do." Brooklyn said cheekily.

"And why is that?" Rama growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Because if you do, you just might live to see tomorrow, though I suspect that you'll be down two wings and an arm."

"You think you can take me?" Rama laughed.

"Possibly, but I'm currently not feeling up to it at the moment."

"Then how do you..." Before the older demon could finish Brooklyn turned his head upwards. Following his gaze Rama gaped as a pair of pale golden eyes glared down at him from the rafters with nothing less than pure hatred shining within their depths.

"Because unlike Berlin, I put a lot of faith in those who I would ask to stand beside me." Brooklyn chuckled devilishly.

- - - - - -

6. Firebrand knew that something was going to go wrong when Brooklyn left to go off on his own, however he had no idea of how much so, seeing as he never really questioned the depth of the rust colored gargoyle's inherent mischievousness before then. Yet in lying back against the blackstone bed with the silken covers draped across his lower half Firebrand found himself wondering. Mostly over how much he really underestimated his younger mate and his ability to make situations come into being which made no sense to him. But again, he should have known better. Why? Because of the look into the dark colored orbs.

The older demon had long since made a play of watching how the earthborn demon he had claimed for his own behaved when he thought nobody was paying attention. The sly looks of manipulation and wonder which filled the rust colored gargoyle's face was amusing to watch as they played themselves out to whatever end the younger demon had in mind. Sometimes his mate's antics could be as simple as asking curious questions about different things related to the demon world, and sometimes they could be schemes which would lead the other into situations for which Firebrand often sighed about before slapping himself on the face.

The incidence with the forgotten library had been one that the older demon would not forget for a long time to come, despite how calm he was whenever the rust colored gargoyle would sneak off to go there. The feeling of being electrocuted after he pushed his mate out of the way as a hammer of lightning surged down from the ceiling into his body was so painful that the red arremer was sure that death was close at hand when the pain of the magical energy finally reached his collective senses. He knew nothing as he crashed onto the stone floor, save for the fact that he had saved the younger demon at the price of his own life. It was just as the chilly fingers of doom began to claw their way into his mind that the cherry skinned gargoyle was yanked back to reality by a great warmth, the likes of which no hellfire could compare. Seeing his mate glowing with a green tinted aura while whispering words that only their king had ever spoken of before Firebrand wasn't sure exactly what was going on...that was until his body began to feel invigorated with the kind of strength for which he hadn't felt for centuries.

When two and two finally came together Firebrand realized what was being done to him, and yet instead of allowing his howling pride to stop the younger gargoyle from taking away the vestiges of his hard earned valor he instead stood back and allowed his bones and tendons to be renewed. The feel of his old aches and pains dissipating was like a balm that he never knew he needed before. No longer did the clenching pain in his leg which had been born from a hellhound ripping through his skin down to gnaw at his bones bother him. Forgotten was the deep gash in his side which had quietly scarred over after having fought off a throng of ogres wielding spiked clubs. In a manner of minutes the pain of centuries worth of fighting to live were swept away underneath the gentle light emanating from his mate's clawed hands. For minutes on end this went on and yet even when the last of his wounds that could be healed were remedied the younger demon refused to cease the flow of energy pouring out of him in steadfast waves.

Realizing that the other was lost in the throes of his magical casting Firebrand did what any good demon would do in the situation. Taking his mate and then sharing his breath and tongue with him the older red arremer wasted little time as he showed the rust colored gargoyle exactly how grateful he was for what he had just done. The memory of the younger demon's tight warmth wrapped around his nubbed maleness was such that even now as he lay in their bed looking up at the blank ceiling Firebrand relished in the phantom clenching that came with burying himself deep within the tightness that was Brooklyn's rump.

Brooklyn.

His mate's name was...odd for him to contemplate, if only because the red arremer tribe only gave names to those of great importance to their clan. It was one of the reasons why no one spoke it, save for their king. And why Firebrand often teased the younger demon by calling him whelp, even though he knew it annoyed the other. To say his mate's name felt both right and wrong to him was a very complex thing to admit, and yet now that the other had gone off on...whatever thing he was doing at the moment...Firebrand wondered if he should call the other by his given name more often once he returned.

If he returned.

That thought made the older demon growl.

While he wasn't sure of it on any logical level, something deep inside told him that his mate was doing something both incredibly stupid and astoundingly brilliant at the same time. That bothered Firebrand because right after the other had left all those weeks ago he got the same feeling. And then shortly after the rumors began. When tales that a way into the mortal world had been found began to fly throughout Hell the cherry skinned gargoyle knew within an instant that his mate had had something to do with this unprecedented revelation. The younger demon was just too smart for his own good some days and now it seemed that his intelligence and cleverness had paid off in spades...and yet a deep sense of worry filled Firebrand.

Why had the other done such a thing?

The younger demon hadn't shown any interest in his old life. In truth, Firebrand wondered if the other even recalled it after all these years. Sometimes memory loss came about when a mortal soul became tainted with the corruption that was demonic magic, but Brooklyn...he seemed too resolute to allow for something like that happen. The first time Firebrand had seen him he was sure that there was something deep and unyielding within the other, but at the same time there was a determination and conviction there that swore an allegiance to a cause which would never be undermined, no matter the consequence. That's why the older demon was sure that his mate hadn't simply made a way to the mortal realm just to abandon he and his brethren. But then what in Hell was he up to?

Speaking to King Astaroth had revealed nothing about what his mate might have been conspiring, though his majesty had chided him for attempting to sneak information out of him under the vague notion of preparing to assault the mortal realm. The dual faced king, ever the pillar of mirthful indifference, had made no announcement of any kind to reach beyond his realm towards the human world. This was not that shocking to Firebrand as even during the great rush topside that seem to overcome the demon world once every ghoul and his sorcerer familiar found out that there was a way back there King Astaroth seemed only mildly concerned with the happenings which went beyond the mountains of his territory. As for the cherry skinned gargoyle himself, he honestly wasn't all that interested in going back topside. What for? The last time he had went up there he had been on a mission to eliminate a rogue magician who had thought to steal from his king; finding Brooklyn had simply been a sweet treat for which he had carefully tempted into his embrace, nothing more nothing less.

Now though, Firebrand found himself being anxious and even a bit...worried for his mate.

What was the young one up to? How had he made a way to the mortal world possible? Did he have help? Was he secretly working underneath their king's orders? But if so, what for?

These and several dozen other questions filled Firebrand's mind like a swirling thunderstorm for days without end. And even though he performed his duty to his king without question and celebrated and sparred with his brethren at any time they called out to him...nothing felt the same without Brooklyn there in the castle with him.

'Firebrand.'

The sound of Brooklyn's voice stirred him from his mid doze. Popping up and then twisting his head backwards and forth the cherry skinned gargoyle tried to see exactly where the voice had come from...but the room he and the younger demon shared was empty.

'Firebrand. I need your help.' the sound of Brooklyn calling out for him had the older demon throwing off the black sheet he had curled around himself.

Getting up and then heading outside of the room Firebrand didn't think as he made his way to the balcony of the castle. The looks of confusion his brethren gave him were ignored as he leapt up onto a perch and then scanned the skyline for any sign of his mate.

'Help. I need your help.' a snarl tore through the older demon's lips as he snapped his head to the north. Throwing his wings open Firebrand paid no attention to the red arremer he knocked back as he shot into the sky with the speed and grace of a diving hippogriff.

He didn't know how he knew, nor did he care to know why he knew, instead he followed after the resonance which echoed inside of his head as he mentally sought out his mate. The cherry skinned gargoyle paid no attention to how his nerves were literally twitching with repressed joy as soared with determined grace to wherever it was that he was trying to get to, instead he kept a single minded focus on his task. It took nearly half a day of flying to make it to an unfamiliar castle nestled deep within a valley of rolling crimson hills, yet once he got there Firebrand found himself barely at a lost for breath as he swooped down to land right in front of the castle's doors. The guards posted around the area attempted to bar his way yet his determination was as such that a simple cascade of fire born breath cleared a path forward for him with almost pitiful ease.

Walking into the dark hallways the older demon found himself completely unimpressed with the tacky design that was the castle's interior.

'AHHH!!!' the older demon gasped as a punch sunk into the center of his chest. But that couldn't be.

Looking down Firebrand saw that he was unhurt, and yet he was sure he felt the knuckles of a combatant curl deep into his flesh.

'OHHH!!' his head whipped to the side when another phantom strike slammed into the side of his face.

Confusion, fear, anger, and bewilderment began to spin within the older demon's mind as he tried to figure out just exactly what in all the hells was going on.

'Firebrand!'

And then he knew.

Pale golden eyes lit up like a volcano exploding into existence as white hot rage filled Firebrand's mind.

No longer thinking rationally the red arremer moved through the castle like greased lightning as he sought to find out exactly where his mate was being contained. Numerous enemies fell before both his fangs and claws as he made his mad charge forward yet their existence, and subsequent demise, was no more a threat to him that a cool evening breeze. So focused was he that Firebrand barely even noticed when he found a locked door standing front of him. A voice from within, so familiar and yet reviled, brushed against his ears, however, it was the sound of Brooklyn yelping in agony which drew all of the red arremer's focus into that current moment.

Not able to make a way through, even when his fiery breath splashed against the barrier of the door, Firebrand climbed up to the ceiling, made his way out of the castle onto the roof, and then found an opening which led him back inside where he needed to be. What he found after returning into the interior of the building was a sight that literally made his blood boil.

Chained to a wall, with spikes digging into the membranes of his wings, was Brooklyn, beaten, bloody, and battered while Rama stood before him growling in rage. Looking over the younger demon the older gargoyle now realized why the other had called out to him instead of handling this situation on his own. Stalking over so that he stood just above the two demons, Firebrand listened to the conversation to the pair right up to the point where Brooklyn lifted his beak up to direct the blue wings demon's attention towards him. There was no thought, no question, no honest plan involved as Firebrand let out a ferocious shriek before diving down to attack the ignorant piece of shit which had dared to lay a hand on his mate.

What happened next reassured Brooklyn that he would never need to doubt the honest affection his older lover had for him as he both listened and watched as the red arrmer literally ripped Rama apart...limb...by limb...by limb.

- - - - - -

7. Brooklyn sighing in tired relief as he felt the heat of the burning castle behind finally abate its attempt to fry his backside after about ten minutes of solid walking. It had been a long time coming but the younger demon was glad that the entire affair with Berlin had finally come to pass. Glancing back at the smoldering castle the rust colored gargoyle found himself watching the crimson flame soaked abode of the now deceased lion demon with something akin to satisfaction written across his beaked face. And yet...there was a part of him that wondered, not if he had done the right thing, he knew that what he had done had been for the overall protection of his clan, but if some new powerbase would arise from the ashes of Berlin's fallen empire to haunt him in the future. That was until a clenching squeeze from the taloned hand wrapped around his waist drew back his attention.

Firebrand turned look at him, his pale gold eyes narrowing in concern even though the older demon said nothing. The younger demon smiled tiredly at his mate to reassure him. Yes. Now was not the time for this. At this point in time Brooklyn had done what he had set out to do, and as his aching body reminded him, oh so matter-of-factly, he deserved to take a moment to breath and revel in the fact that he had managed to walk away from all of this alive. Smiling at the older demon, the younger gargoyle leaned forward to nuzzle Firebrand's neck, crooning softly as he did so. Seeing that all was well with his mate the cherry skinned gargoyle turned his head back to the desolate land ahead of them, a single minded determination filling his eyes as he made his way forward while hefting Brooklyn's weight across his shoulders.

Firebrand continued to walk for almost an hour before finally coming to a halt at the edge of a clump of dead blackwood trees. Settling the younger demon carefully against one of the larger gnarled trees Firebrand moved back and then flew up within the air directly above Brooklyn. Drawing in breath the cherry skinned gargoyle released a gout of crimson flame from out of his maw. A few lower demons scattered from their makeshift homes as the demonic fire created a large circle of liquid fire around the injured demon. Firebrand said nothing when he set himself down onto the ground and then plopped himself next to his rust colored mate.

Both demons watched the flickering fire in quite reverence for several moments before Brooklyn went to work whispering a spell of healing. Nothing was said between the pair as the younger demon repaired the damage for which Rama had inflicted upon him, though this wasn't to say that there was nothing to be said between them. Brooklyn was well aware that he owed his mate an explanation, but that would have to come later. Right now, the pair needed this silent moment to reaffirm that the both of them were alive and safe, relatively speaking. Leaning back against the tree that he was settled on, the rust colored gargoyle snaked his tail around the side of Firebrand's waist and then curled the sinewy appendage across the shorter male's body in an attempt to draw him closer. Seeing no reason to resist the older demon moved to place himself as close as he could to his mate, his curved face nuzzling the younger demon's white mane of hair as he subconsciously breathed in the scent that belong to Brooklyn and Brooklyn alone.

When the pair fell asleep they would never know but by the time the circle of fire around them began to die out the pair found themselves roused to wakefulness by a chill wind sweeping across their heated bodies.

Cracking a closed eye to look to the side at Firebrand Brooklyn found the older demon watching him carefully.

"I'm fine." the younger demon offered quietly.

Reaching out for the other Brooklyn pulled the cherry skinned gargoyle's face in close before licking the older demon across the side of his curved mouth. The older demon release a gentle croon from the soft warm feel of the younger demon's tongue playing over his slightly bruised flesh before fully opening his maw to accept a kiss from the other. The two demons shared a tender moment as Brooklyn raised his clawed hand to begin pawing the cherry flesh that covered the older demon's body; Firebrand in turned brought his own taloned hand up to stroke his the younger demon's neck, chest and abdomen in return. The pair sat on top of the dry and cracked earth for minutes simply breathing in the unique scents of one another as they worked to re-established the bond which had been frazzled by the extended separation placed upon one another. If nothing else, Brooklyn felt that this was the one drawback to his plan that he regretted the most and deep within the dark expanse of his mind the younger demon knew that it would be a long time to come before either he or Firebrand forgave him for forcing them to be apart for so long.

Breaking their shared kiss several minutes later the two demons stared at each other in quiet reverence.

"Thank you." Brooklyn offered as he leaned forward into Firebrand's chest to caress the shorter male's hardened pectorals with his slim tongue.

The older demon warbled a reply before gasping as the rust colored gargoyle went to work showing his appreciation for him in the most base way imaginable as he moved over and then down the length of Firebrand's muscular form.

By the time the pair were ready to fly back to the red arremer castle Brooklyn face was soaked in Firebrand's musk. Not that the younger demon minded. In actuality he revealed in the feeling his throat burning from the exercise Firebrand had given it, not to mention the thick taste which lingered on his tongue from where the cherry skinned gargoyle had inseminated his mouth with his liquid essence. That the older demon had marked his face with said essence was more of a honor than insult to Brooklyn as he knew that anyone with a nose would be able to tell who bore a claim on him.

Once the pair had finished with their physical show of affection Brooklyn stood up to stretch his lithe form for all to see. Firebrand found himself quite appreciative for the show as his greedy pale gold eyes danced across the plains of rust colored flesh which made up the younger demon's form.

"Are you going to stare all day, or are we return going to home now?" Brooklyn asked cheekily making Firebrand warble and then take a swipe at him.

The younger demon chuckled as he took the blow to the thigh before watching as the bruise and battered Firebrand stood up next to him. Looking over the shorter red arremer Brooklyn held up a clawed hand and then filled it with green energy before offering it to the other. Firebrand shook his head and the rust colored gargoyle lowered his arm.

Flaring out his wings and then taking to the air Brooklyn shivered as he felt the warm essence on his face dried onto his skin. Firebrand, seeing the subtle twitch of muscles, cackled in delight before barking out his plans for the younger demon once they made their report known to King Astaroth.

"Promises, promises." Brooklyn teased as he flapped his wings just a bit harder so as to moved in front of Firebrand.

The older demon cocked his head to the side at the gesture, that was right before he noted how his mate flagged his tail oh so casually over to the side. Firebrand let out a screech of glee as he stared at the tight rump which he had been denied from despoiling for several months now and soon the mated pair made a game of flying back to the castle as Brooklyn flew faster and harder to keep the cherry skinned gargoyle from reaching out to tackle him.

Once they landed back home the other red arremer grinned and hooted as they crowded around Brooklyn in an effort to welcome him back within their fold. The younger demon shared a few greetings with his brethren before growling playfully at several cheeky bastards who slapped him on the butt while making casual comments about all the fun he had had while being out on his mission. Firebrand barked a sharp cry to get the others to go the hell away before he and Brooklyn went about their way into the interior of their castle home. Getting to their king's throne room Brooklyn rasped on the blackwood door for entrance and was relieved when he and Firebrand were allowed entry. Walking inside and then kneeling before the great dual faced demon Brooklyn smiled as he was welcomed home by Astaroth.

"How did things go with Berlin, Brooklyn?" the upper face of his king asked while the lower smiled in knowing.

"It went..." there was a pause as Brooklyn narrowed his eyes while trying to find the exact words needed to espouse exactly how things had worked themselves out. He final settled with "...exactly as we both expected that it would."

"I'm glad to hear that. I would have been disappointed to know that such a task couldn't be handled by one of my most trusted servants. Though, hopefully in the future such things can be taken care of in a more timely fashion. After all, we're going to have no shortage of enemies in the future." it was then that Brooklyn and Astaroth shared a look between one another. The younger demon gaped as he realized that his king was much more aware of reality than he had previously thought. "Now then, no need to waste time, as I am sure you have other more pressing matters to see to, give me your report."


Art: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/corrsk/
Art: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/beezlebumawoken/

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