The night air was slightly cool and it smelled just like it had the night he had been banished. He pulled out his lighter and a cigarette. He tucked the cigarette between his lips and put the pack away before lighting up. He took a heavy drag, holding the nearly spicy smoke in his mouth before he opened his mouth and inhaled the smoke that escaped his mouth into his nose. The relief was nearly instant. All scents were gone except for that dark herbal blend that shut everything else out in his nose and sinuses. It was almost a comfort to him to have his former clan's scent gone from inside of him. It was better that it was gone, it made him feel more stable to have it gone.

"You know ma would have killed you if she knew you were smoking." Brutus' voice was calm as he leaned against the bar's exterior. It took all of Flint's discipline to keep his expression calm and even when all he wanted to do was curse a mean blue streak out of the moon for her sick sense of humor. "She's probably already turning over in her grave. Could power the old family farm with how quickly she would be spinning." Brutus chuckled as if he were trying to lighten the tension that had appeared when he did.

Flint took a heavy drag of the cigarette deep into his lungs, happy that the herbs were blocking out his scent receptors so he couldn't actually smell his brother. He let out the smoke in a heavy exhale. He looked over the cigarette, watching the cherry glow bright red in the dimply lit area. Flint knew that he was taking an easy way out by not saying anything but he wondered if there was anything he could say to his brother. He doubted there was anything but empty platitudes and 'how have you been's that would lead to nowhere but awkward silence.

Brutus lasted longer than Flint thought he would before he let out a sigh. "Clary phoned me a few minutes ago and I almost didn't believe her when she said you were back in town but she was right. Here you are, Flint." Another sigh followed the words and Flint took another heavy drag of the cigarette, staring at it intently before looking off to the dark forest. Flint wondered how it could look practically the same as it had fifteen years ago. "She and Jared never mated, you know." Flint didn't react but he did mentally engage at the name. He had forgotten the male's name, it was strange how someone so pivotal in getting him banished from his clan had been so utterly forgettable to him. Then again it had been his family more than the male that had gotten him banished.

"Are you just going to stand there smoking or actually talk to me?" Brutus' voice had a low rumble of warning to it and Flint leaned against the bricks of the bar and stuck a hand in one of his pockets.

"Why would I talk to you? I don't know you." He kept his tone casual and he lazily turned his head to look at his former brother. Brutus actually looked hurt at the words and Flint clamped down on any impulse he had to try and placate him. Brutus had dug that hole, he was going to have to deal with the mess that it had filled up with.

"Don't be like that, Flint." His tone lowered and Flint shrugged as casually as he could manage with the feelings that were filling him up. There was just too much emotional baggage that was being dumped on him at the moment. He once again cursed Mick for forcing him to go on the mission.

"Like what? I'm just passing through." He took a heavy drag of his cigarette, inhaling the dark herbs into his nose once more. He was already cleared but he wanted to make sure none of his brother's scent came in. For all he knew that would be enough to trigger the hormonal haze that was riding his back. For all he knew that would be enough to bring his beast out to play and he really didn't want to deal with the aftermath of that.

"Look I came here to let you know that you can come home." The words made Flint freeze while lifting the cigarette back to his mouth. "We tried to find you, Flint. Two years after it happened. Jared and Clary broke up and we tried to find you, to bring you back into the clan but you disappeared. We wanted you home, we missed you. We still miss you." There was a vulnerable pain to Brutus' voice that was nearly enough to break Flint but it had been fifteen years and he had a new life. He was making something of himself. And if he had to be honest with himself, despite how tempting the offer was, he didn't think he could handle being back in a normal clan. Not anymore.

"Come back to the clan, Flint. The slate has been wiped clean and you can put your blood on the Maddock clan stone to reform your ties. We want you back home." His voice left a distinct ache in Flint's chest but he covered it up and tried to still the shaking in his hand as he finished putting his cigarette in between his lips.

"Sorry. I already have a home and a clan." His voice was even and he was both surprised and proud at how it didn't shake. He felt like a fucking mess inside. He had wondered if his brother regretted his decision, if he could go back home and now it sounded like he could but some breaks were too far gone and too old to heal properly.

The exit door opened and Kenni and Lastor strolled out. "Hey, mutt!" Kenni said it with a slight sneer as she moved towards him, faking several punches in his direction that he swatted at rather lazily. "Hiding out here like a creep, you mutts are all the same." She bared her fangs and hissed at him, crooking her fingers like claws as she clawed at the air between them. Her eyes were dancing with her familiar mischief and Flint raised an eyebrow as he took another drag of the cigarette before dropping the stub and crushing it under his boot. "Should kill you and be done with it. Do us all a favour."

A deep rumble of aggression filled the alleyway from Brutus and before he realized what he was doing, Flint had his brother pinned against the side of the bar with a heavy snarl. His heavy forearm was pressed against Brutus' throat as he bared his teeth letting out a growl of his own. No one threatened his clan and walked away without at least a warning. No one.

"Hey. No harm, no foul." Lastor grabbed his shoulder and tugged. "Leave the locals alone, tough guy." Flint could barely hear him over the haze in his head that demanded he right the wrong and leave Brutus with a mark that would remind him of his place and last as a warning to never threaten his clan again. Brutus was staring at him head on, his expression unrepentant and that made it all that much worse

"I'm so gunna enjoy this." Kenni said it lightly and then without warning she leapt onto his back, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck and putting him into a headlock before throwing her weight backwards. It was enough to have Flint stumbling back to not lose his footing as he grunted. He released Brutus and grabbed Kenni's arms, ready to toss her away if he fell but he managed to keep his feet under him.

"Seriously, Kenni?" He grunted it and Kenni tightened her grip on him, making him feel a bit woozy as blood flow to his brain was restricted slightly.

"Fido didn't drop when he was told to drop." She loosened her grip before tapping his cheek. "Bad dog. Bad." With that she dropped off of him and Flint rubbed at his neck with minimal grumbling. He didn't mind her interference, it was better that then to get into an all out brawl with his brother. They wanted to keep a low profile.

"You know these... creatures?" Brutus practically spat it out and Flint bristled but ultimately ignored him as he caught sight of Nalah walking towards them.

"They are vampires and I suggest you hold your tongue." Her voice was a sharp crack in the dark night, her aristocratic blood coming through on the sharp edge. She came more fully into view and lifted her chin as she put her intensity onto Brutus.

"This is a family matter." The words were an echo of Clary's and Flint just shook his head slightly. Hard to be family business when it came to those who were banished.

"This is none of your business. You best forget you saw any of us here or I will personally make your life a living fucking hell." Nalah walked right up to Brutus, meeting him head on, her entire form daring him to push her.

"Warning, mutt. She bites." Kenni snapped her teeth together and gave a cold grin at Brutus that had Nalah's chest rumbling slightly in warning.

Brutus puffed up his own chest, Flint had to give it to him, he was being stupidly brave. Then again he didn't know the damage Nalah could do. "He is my bro-"

"Not anymore. He has been banished. There is no blood tie between you as you removed him from your clan stone. There is no family business here. Walk. Away." She bit off each word as she pushed into his space, staring him down without giving a tiny edge that Brutus could try and use to bring himself to her level. Not that he could anyway, an aristocrat was an aristocrat. They were built different.

His eyes flicked towards Flint before he shook his head. "What the hell did you get yourself mixed up in, Flint?" There was a weariness to his tone and Flint crossed his arms over his chest. "Vampires and aristocrats? This is better than coming home?" Brutus shook his head, looking at Flint in disbelief.

Kenni let out a rumbling hiss. "Home? We found him half fucking dead because his 'home' kicked his ass to the curb! So take your thinly veiled judgments and fucking shove them!" She was leaning towards him, her form practically vibrating and Flint clamped a hand down on her shoulder to keep her grounded and in place.

"Kenni, stand down." Nalah's tone was deadly before she turned and pointed at the three of them. "Let's go." Kenni, although grumbling slightly, followed the direction and fell into step behind Lastor and in front of Flint. The movements they all made were done with military precision and an ease that only came with working with someone for years.

They practically marched passed Brutus and Flint turned his head and caught his eye. "I have a home. As I said, I'm just passing through." It was all there was to say to the male. He had a place to call home, a clan to call his own. They might not have had a clan stone or the formality that brought a slight feeling of comfort but it was enough.

It had to be enough.