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.


Characters: Capcom

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