Not All That Glitters Is Golden.

Hope never truly dies, it just fades into the shadows a little

Summary: Nick and Sean start putting pieces into place for their plan, Nick finds and ally in an unusual place and Akira Kimura send Nick a message.

The Portland weather seemed to be mirroring the growing unease within the Canton. Nick stood fresh from the shower dressed in just a towel, in front of the full-length mirror within the room. To the side of him hung a beautiful, tailored suit, Nick had been taken back when he'd seen it a few days ago, after he'd received word of Freddy's death. He'd wondered how Renard....sorry Sean, had known his size and measurements. Talking to him about the suit and other things on his mind he'd told Nick to use his first name since they were now allies. Nick was sceptical about his motives but over time he began realising that he could see in Renard the same empty void and loneliness he felt.

The more they talked the more he saw them walking the same path but from different starting points, Nick was grateful to have a kindred spirit to talk to and that was how he found himself in the situation he was in. Today was Freddy's funeral, Nick had dreaded this day and hoped to skip it and visit the grave later to pay his respects. Sean was going with a few officers under the guise of the Pd supporting the victim's family, as well as showing the Wesen of Portland he cared.

Nick's arrival Sean had confessed, had been a wake-up call for him, he'd grown so out of touch with his Canton as he did his best to stay in the shadows. After talking to his people, he'd come to realise how close he was to losing control over all he worked to keep safe, so he'd started becoming more and more of a presence. It didn't take long for the news to spread far and wide, nor did the rumours of the alliance between the Prince and the wandering Grimm who'd been seen around town.

A genteel knock at the door brought Nick out of his darkening thoughts, looking round as the door creaked open. Sean was lent against the doorframe with a walm smile on his face, Nick fought the urge to blush as he felt the Prince's sharp gaze upon his current state of undress.

" I came to check in on you, I thought today would be hard on you" Sean's words were walm and made Nick smile at the care hidden within them.

Nick had come to see the Prince in a different light, he saw a side of him that Nick soon realised not even his closest agents would have seen. Letting out a sigh he sat down upon the bed, Sean moved from the doorway and came to sit beside him. They were silent for a moment before Nick looked at him.

"I can't help but feel guilty, I should never have aloud myself to become close to anyone. It's better and safer if I'm feared and hated" Nick admitted sadly as he looked at the floor as he spoke.

"Do not talk that way Nick, without friends to keep us anchored we risk becoming something we'd come to hate" spoke Sean as he placed his hand on Nick's shoulder, as Nick smile's weakly at him.

~~*~~

The rain was falling freely from the darkened clouds, the graveside was fuller then Nick had believed it would be. It seemed that Freddy was a popular shopkeeper both in and out of the wesen world, but within their world he was a pillar of the community and in the absence of the Prince he was often turned to for advice. Seeing Monroe among the well wishes had eased Nick nerves so what but not his guilt.

Nick stood beside Sean who to his surprise, placed a protective arm around his waist and pulled him closer. Nick wasn't completely unaware of the comings and goings of the Canton, so he figured this was a move to show all present his connection to the wandering Grimm. What Nick wasn't expecting was how much his action ment to him and how comforting it felt. It also didn't go unnoticed within his people; he could see the looks his officers and Detectives were giving their captain. The wesen on the other hand seemed less cautious as they began approaching him, eventually Freddy's family approached them away from the eyes and ears of others. Sean greeted them kindly and offered them condolences both as a captain and the Canton's ruler, the eldest girl was pleasant but uninterested by them but the youngest greeted them with a smile before giving Nick a look that told him she recognized him.