Dated March 26, 1998
Scene: A clear windy day in early September, 4277. The veranda of the Lighthouse Inn.]
Stormy is sitting where she usually can be found, rocking slowly on the porch swing.
Kerrigan closes the door quietly behind him. "Hey, there."
Stormy looks up and smiles. "'Lo, Kerri-chan. Whatcha up ta?"
Kerrigan shrugs. "Not much."
Stormy shifts over on the swing. "Ya wanna sit with me?"
Kerrigan shrugs again. "Sure." And does so, making it rock a bit as he settles in.
Stormy smiles and settles back, "If I ever have a house of my own, one thing it's gotta have is a porch, so I can have a porch swing."
Kerrigan smiles, a little wryly. "Yeah?"
Stormy nods again, smiling, looking lost in thought. "Yeah, and a pretty garden, and... humm... what kinda things do ya dream 'bout fer yer future?"
It's entirely probable that no one's ever asked Kerrigan such a question. He stares at her, taken aback.
Stormy tilts her head at him. "What? Ya do think 'bout it, don't ya?"
Kerrigan half laughs. "No. Not really."
Stormy grins, somewhat bemused. "I thought everyone did. I mean, do ya think we'll jus' live upstairs forever?"
Kerrigan shrugs, examining the nails of one hand, a little uneasy. "I hadn't thought about it."
Stormy looks away from him, staring out at the street. "When I was young, I used ta dream 'bout a house of my own, a husband, kids... I guess most girls do."
Kerrigan looks up. "And now?"
Stormy shrugs slightly. "I dunno. Now I mostly jus' hope ta be happy. Whatever happens, ya know?"
Kerrigan nods slowly. Then suddenly laughs. "When I was a kid--"
Stormy looks back to him, interested. "Ya what?"
Kerrigan grins a little shamefacedly. "...I used to tell myself I was somebody's long lost stolen baby. Preferably somebody important... My mother was -- well, not the village idiot, because it wasn't a village, but..." he trails off.
Stormy reaches over to put her hand on his knee. "I can jus' see that. Pretendin' ya were a long lost prince or somethin'." She smiles softly at him.
Kerrigan laughs. "Yeah. Pretty pathetic."
Stormy shakes her head. "No it ain't. Everyone needs a dream of some kind."
Kerrigan shrugs that off. "I was ten years old."
Stormy watches him. "And ya got no more dreams, now that yer older?"
Kerrigan looks at his hands, clasped loosely between his knees. "I don't know."
Stormy tilts her head again, "Come on, Kerri-chan. Ya can tell me."
Kerrigan shrugs. "Nothing to tell."
Stormy wrinkles her nose at him. "Well that's borin'."
Kerrigan leans back, running both hands through his hair. "You're right. It is. You are talking to a boring person."
Stormy sets the swing to rocking with her toe. "Ya must have somethin' ya wanna do with yer life. Anythin'... stuff like... I dunno, but somethin'."
Kerrigan shakes his head. "I don't know," he repeats.
Stormy throws up her hands and sighs loudly. "Fine."
Kerrigan says defensively, "I don't know, Stormy, all right? I hadn't thought about it."
Stormy sighs more softly. "I'm sorry, Kerri-chan."
Sebastian comes out of the inn.
Kerrigan shakes his head. "'Sallright."
Sebastian steps out of the Inn, searching his pockets. He spies the couple and says, "My good sir, might you have a smoke?" With a dazzling, though yellow grin.
Stormy sighs softly and rocks the swing again. She glances up at the newcomer and offers a smile. "'Lo there."
Sebastian bows his head to the broad. "My fair lady." And he winks at her, eyes flashing.
Kerrigan looks around. He takes the man in at a glance, and returns the grin. "Never touch the stuff. Sorry."
Stormy giggles softly and grins.
Sebastian momentarily scowls, but reprises his grin for the people. "Oh... sugar." He scratches his three day old beard and leans against the door of the Inn.
Stormy smiles to the man again. "I ain't got any either, sorry mister....?"
Sebastian springs away from the door. "Oh, forgive me, my lady!" He reaches down to snatch Stormy's hand to kiss it. "Sebastian."
Stormy grins wider, rather pleased. "Nice ta meetcha. I'm Stormy."
Sebastian flashes her another sparkling grin. "A fair name for a fair lady."
Kerrigan's amiable grin hardens momentarily, as he watches Sebastian's carrying on. "Indeed." He shifts to slip an arm around her shoulders.
Stormy blushes a bit, lowering her lashes. She looks up at Kerrigan, then smiles at Sebastian again.
Sebastian's grins morphs into a smirk for a moment, but he masks it with a tilt of his head to Kerrigan. "And you are, sir?"
Kerrigan nods pleasantly. "Kerrigan." Still smiling.
Sebastian smiles back, but there's something almost devious in his eyes. "An upstanding name indeed." He pats down his pockets again, in dire need of a cigarette.
Kerrigan says modestly, "I don't know about that."
Stormy tilts her dark head. "Have ya been stayin' here long, Sebastian?"
Sebastian looks up distractedly, "Wh--.. oh, a week." He glances at Kerrigan, then leans closer to the lady. "But I'm afraid I haven't found you soon enough."
Stormy blushes again, peeking up at Sebastian through her lashes. "Oh... flatterer." She smiles though.
Sebastian laughs, though it's hardly humorous. "Do go on." No, really, do.
Kerrigan stiffens. He keeps smiling at Sebastian, but there's an unyielding glint in his eyes.
[Stormy suddenly recalls something Moira told her to do, and nips inside to do it.]
Sebastian watches the dame leave, his eyes trailing her for a long time.
Kerrigan watches the door close, and then says softly, "You seem very taken with the lady." The emphasis on 'seem' is so slight it's easy to miss.
Sebastian shrugs carelessly, his voice silky. "Oh, you know, a broad is a broad."
Kerrigan matches the shrug. "Generally speaking. But then we do take odd fancies."
Sebastian's eyes glint. "Why, is she your dame, is that it?"
Kerrigan's voice is even, his smile friendly, his eyes murderous. "That's it, friend."
Sebastian chuckles, "I'll be damned." His grin is feral. "Quite a broad, eh? Nice build."
Kerrigan rocks the swing lightly. "It's not really any of your damned business if she has."
Sebastian watches Kerrigan with jaded amusement. "I'd say any broad is business of mine."
Stormy comes out of the inn.
Sebastian watches Stormy come out again, his eyes purposely lingering on her before he looks back to Kerrigan, eyes dancing.
Kerrigan regards him coolly. "Not--" He breaks off as Stormy re-emerges. "Would you, really?" he inquires of Sebastian instead. And holds out a hand to Stormy.
Stormy returns shortly, tugging the tie out of her ponytail. "Whew. Good thing I 'membered that." She smiles and comes over to take Kerrigan's hand.
Kerrigan smiles at her. "Everything all set?"
Sebastian musses his hair to a more stylized rumple. "Yeah, I would," says he in a jeering voice.
Stormy looks between the men. "Would what?" she questions.
Sebastian grins to Kerrigan, letting him think up something.
Kerrigan doesn't miss a beat. "Would like to be on his way to find his smoke." His hand tightens on Stormy's protectively.
Sebastian chuckles, "Yeah." He gives a low bow and turns on his heels. "Cheerio."
Stormy ohs. "Well, it was nice to meetcha, Sebastian."
Sebastian goes into the lobby.
Kerrigan murmurs, "Have a nice night."
Stormy tilts her head up at Kerrigan. "He seemed nice."
Kerrigan lets out a choking breath. "Sleazy little bastard, I could've wrung his neck."
Stormy blinks, her eyes widening. "What? Why?"
Kerrigan scowls. "Mincing around and leering at you. Gods!"
Stormy blinks again, then waves a small hand. "Oh, he was jus' bein' nice."
Kerrigan snorts. "Oh, sure, of course he was."
Stormy shakes her head. "Yer bein' silly." She walks over and leans against the railing, tossing her hair. "I wonder how long he's stayin'."
Kerrigan's hand clenches around the chain that supports the swing. "I am not being silly. And you damn well stay away from him."
Stormy turns at that. "What? Ya can't tell me who I can talk ta. Ya ain't my husband!"
Kerrigan stands up abruptly. "No, I'm your pet, is that it? You pat me on the head and tell me how great I am, but you don't take my advice."
Stormy's jaw drops, then she scowls. "You baka! Ya ain't my pet, and ya don't ever take my advice!"
Kerrigan snaps, exasperated, "What advice?"
Stormy throws up her hands. "I tell ya ta stay 'way from Leila and Garrick, but do ya? No! Ya jus' have to get yerself in trouble!"
Kerrigan sets his jaw. Damned if he'll scream at Stormy. "First of all, I have stayed away from them," he says, with nearly perfect truth. "Secondly Garrick Hathorne is a teddy bear compared to this guy."
Stormy snorts, "Oh sure.. and who were ya with when I came inta the Fish the other day? huh? Leila, it's always Leila!" She tosses her head, "And I was jus' bein' friendly ta the guy, not hoppin' in bed with him!"
Kerrigan pales. That one went home. "It is not always Leila! She came in after I did. I can't help it if she shows up."
Stormy wraps her arms around herself and turns away. "Right."
Kerrigan's mouth twists. "You can't tell me who to talk to. You're not my wife."
Stormy's voice is strained. "Fine, Kerrigan. Do what ever ya what ta do. Yer right, I got no say in yer life."
Kerrigan stands rigid, watching her angry back and feeling himself a cad. "Stormy... I didn't mean that."
Stormy shakes her head slightly. "No... yer right. I know ya love her an all... I'm sorry fer bitchin' at ya."
Kerrigan rakes a hand through his hair. "It's not that."
Stormy sighs and tilts her face into the wind. "Then what?"
Kerrigan shoves his hands in his pockets. "It's just... we go way back, Leila and me. And... she can be... all right."
Stormy nods again, "I'm sorry. I got no right ta be..." she trails off and sighs.
Kerrigan stands looking at the floor a minute. Then he takes his hands back out of his pockets and moves up behind her, hesitantly.
Stormy stands still, staring out at the street. "If ya think that guy is dangerous, I'll be careful, 'kay?" Her voice is still somewhat strained.
Kerrigan lifts a hand to touch her hair lightly. "Stormy? I'm sorry. I just..."
Stormy shivers slightly, then quickly scrubs at her eyes. "It's okay. Don't worry 'bout it. I'm the one who's sorry."
Kerrigan reaches out to take her in his arms. "I just worry about you."
Stormy lets him hold her, leaning against him. "I took care of myself fer years, Kerri-chan. Ya worry too much."
Kerrigan hugs her as tightly as he dares. "I know."
Stormy doesn't protest his hold, sore ribs or not. "I'm sorry..."
Kerrigan murmurs, "So am I." He strokes her hair gently. "No hard feelings?"
Stormy smiles a bit, "I can't stay mad at ya." She pokes him in the ribs lightly.
Kerrigan gives a token 'ouch'. "Because of my charm, I know."
Stormy smiles more fully this time. "Of course, what else could it be?"
Kerrigan half grins. "I'm sure I don't know." And shivers suddenly. "Dammit, I'm freezing, aren't you?"
Stormy nods at that. "It's gettin' really cold, but I don't mind. It jus' means my birthday's comin'. Ya wanna go inside, or out somewhere else inside?"
Kerrigan blinks. "Your birthday?"
Stormy nods and smiles. "Yeah, I'll be eighteen."
Kerrigan tsks. "Imagine that. When is it?"
Stormy grins, "October fourth. When's yours?"
Kerrigan looks a little embarrassed. "April first."
Stormy awws, "It's already by." She grins, but holds back saying anything else.
Kerrigan eyes her. "What?"
Stormy shakes her head. "Nothin'. Nothin' at all." She hides her face against his chest to stifle her giggles.
Kerrigan snorts. "Somehow I doubt that." He pauses, then with a small but diabolical grin slips his cold hand down the back of her sweater.
Stormy squeals at the sudden chill, trying to pull back away from him. "Hey! Brat!"
Kerrigan bursts out laughing. "Brat yourself!" He lets her go, grinning.
Stormy giggles and shivers, "Yer such a rogue, Kerri-chan."
Kerrigan just keeps grinning at her. "Thank you."
Stormy grins back, eyes sparkling. "I love ya, ya know. Even if ya are a brat."
Kerrigan hesitates at that. He ducks his head a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "I..." But he can't get it out. He glances away from her.
Stormy smiles softly. "Did ya wanna go inside? Or out somewhere?"
Kerrigan looks at her. "Out where? To the Fish?" His smile is briefly sardonic. "If you want to."
Stormy grins, "Not much else ta do, is there? C'mon, I could use a rum."
Kerrigan shrugs. "All right."
Stormy offers him her hand.
Kerrigan takes it firmly.
Stormy smiles and tugs him down the steps.
[The Twisted Fish - Southport:]
Theophile Escargot says, "Kerrigan! You must have a deathwish!"
Venom looks up at Kerrigan and hisses loudly.
Kerrigan says calmly, "Shut up, Theo."
Stormy smiles, "Not tonight, Theo."
Leila comes out of the back room, balancing Finn on her hip. She freezes as she emerges and sets her jaw. These people are worse than the plague!
Stormy, about to sit down at the bar, pauses, scowling slightly. Then she sees Finn and a smile spreads over her face. "Ohhh.. look how he's grown. Hiya Finn."
In Leila's arms Finn doesn't answer, of course, but he does spread a wet grin at Stormy and waves his hands. He's such a friendly little devil.
Kerrigan, standing near Stormy, looks over as Leila emerges and makes a wry face. It figures, of course. "Evening, Leila Fey."
Leila adjusts Finn in her arms, her face like stone and herself silent. Can't these people leave her alone?
Escargot fetches his broom from behind the bar and quietly begins to sweep up.
Leila's nod is so slight it can barely be seen. She kind of stands there, ready to leave, but dammit, they don't own the place!
Stormy grins back and waggles her fingers at Finn, cooing. "Ain't ya jus' so kawaii!" She mostly ignores Leila, taken in by the baby.
If there's anything worse than constantly inquiring about one's husband, it's cooing at one's baby. She glares at Stormy and holds Finn closer to herself, who giggles at Stormy and drools just a bit.
Kerrigan notes this, and sighs. "She's not going to choke him, Leila."
Stormy casts a smile to Leila, one would think she's forgotten who she is, then looks back to Finn. "Isn't he jus' the sweetest thing, Kerri-chan?"
Leila says quite clearly, and quite annoyed, "F*** off, Kerrigan." You know what Finn's first word is going to be.
Stormy blinks at Leila, then darts a look at Kerrigan.
Escargot leans against the bar, arms crossed, and watches the customers with a wry grin.
In Leila's arms Finn can seem to tell when his momma is upset and he tries to soothe her by tugging on a lock of her hair. Lucky for him, Leila can keep her temper when it involves a baby and gently untangles his fingers from her hair.
Kerrigan is exasperated. "F--- off yourself, Leila! All we did was walk in here, and you start looking daggers at us and clutching the kid like we're going to abduct him! Hell of a way to treat paying customers. Hell of a way to treat anyone, but I thought you were a businesswoman."
Leila inhales sharply, at the end of her rope with these two. "I'd almost pay you to get out of here, but I suppose you'd rather be paid with something other than money." Must keep it clean around the kiddies after all.
Stormy's jaw drops, but she holds her tongue. For the moment anyway.
Leila doesn't even smirk. You know, she's really tired of this. Can't people just leave her the hell alone? All she wants is to have a rum with her kid, but noo.
Kerrigan gives Leila his most aggravating smile. "You'd like to think so. As it happens, all we're after is a drink."
Stormy sighs softly, "Look, Leila.. I was just smilin' at Finn, I didn't mean no harm or nothin'."
And, you know, that smile is really aggravating. And Stormy's voice is irritating and... Take a deep breath, Leila. She does so, staring at them, feeling as though she'll burst a blood vessel.
Leila takes a collective breath and says, calmly, "Perhaps it would be best if you left."
Stormy's eyes wander back to Finn and she smiles at him again, wrinkling her nose at him.
Watching a small mouse scamper across the floor, Escargot mutters... "Where are those cats now, I wonder?"
At the mention of a rodent, Venom hisses and looks around warily for a snack.
Stormy says, "We jus' came fer a drink, Leila. Kami..."
Kerrigan sighs. "Leila," he says wearily, "what's the big deal?"
In Leila's arms Finn doesn't giggle this time because he thinks something is amiss.
Leila's jaw clenches. She's really going to lose it. They are so irksome. "You're not welcome here. How many ways can I spell it out for you, eh?"
Stormy sighs and shakes her head. "Look... I'll jus' go... you can stay Kerri-chan, she's yer friend after all." She turns toward the door.
Leila snorts before Kerrigan can.
Kerrigan says shortly, "The hell," and reaches for Stormy's arm.
Stormy pauses as he catches her arm, looking over at him. She mutters to Kerrigan, "... alright.... her, she... so nasty if I..." "It's alright. Ya stay and be with her, she won't be so nasty if I leave."
That's another thing that really irritates her. People muttering about her. But, then, everything is irritating her at this point. She keeps her jaw set, waiting for them to leave.
Kerrigan shakes his head as Stormy murmurs to him. "No. No."
Stormy casts Kerrigan a confused look. "But.."
Leila grows impatient with their little chat and prompts them, "Well?"
Kerrigan doesn't bother to mutter. He says clearly, "No. She can put up with both of us, sweet, or we can both go."
Leila replies testily, though it wasn't directed at her, "Then leave."
Stormy bites her lip, unsure what to do.
Kerrigan remarks casually, "Hell of a way to run a bar. Evening, Leila Fey." And he heads for the door.
Leila sucks in a breath. One more word and she'll scream. She really will. Shriek.
Well, that settles it, Stormy waves once more to little Finn, then follows Kerrigan.
[Dock Square:]
Stormy sighs and shakes her head. "I'm sorry."
Kerrigan pauses to rake a hand through his hair. "Not your fault, sweet."
Stormy rubs her temple. "If I'd jus' left, and not fussed over Finn," she can't help but smile when she remembers the baby. "She's nasty ta ya, because of me."
Kerrigan says irritably, "She's got no call to be nasty to you."
Stormy shrugs slightly. "She's prolly pissed, 'cause I won the other night. I kinda did ta her, what she did ta me the night she beat me up. So she left first."
Kerrigan blinks. "You did?"
Stormy nods. "I don't mean I beat her up, I jus' got to her, ya know?"
Kerrigan nods. "Yeah, well. She always was a lousy loser. Lousy winner, too, of course." He grins crookedly.
Stormy looks up at him and smiles a bit. "I'm jus'... I didn't mean what I said before. I don't wanna keep ya away from her."
Kerrigan blinks; then his face softens. "Oh, Stormy."
Stormy bites her lip. "If... if ya wanna go back in, it's really okay.. I can get home on my own.."
"Oh, Stormy," he says again, almost tenderly. "No, there's no point trying to talk to her in a mood like that anyway."
Stormy nods, and ducks her head to hide the relief in her eyes. "The baby must tire her out, that's prolly why she sniped at ya."
Kerrigan snorts. "Yeah."
Stormy glances back at the bar, then sighs. "Ya wanna go home? We could always go to the Dancin' Mermaid if ya want."
Kerrigan makes a face. "Let's go home." He goes to put an arm around her shoulders, a casual, almost thoughtless gesture.
Stormy snuggles close to his side, a soft sigh escaping her. "Okay... home is good."
Kerrigan smiles down at her, and starts walking.
Stormy follows along, humming softly.
[Stormy and Kerrigan's Room - The Lighthouse Inn:]
Stormy heads right for the bed, kicking off her boots and flopping across it. "Ugh."
Kerrigan collapses to his own pallet in one graceful, tired motion. "What a night. I feel like I've been wrestling bears."
Stormy laughs softly at that mental image, shaking her head. "Poor Kerri-chan. Maybe tomorrow will be better."
Kerrigan half grins. "Let's hope." He kicks off his boots and stretches out with a yawn.
Stormy is quiet a moment, then: "Why didn't ya stay with her?"
Kerrigan is taken by surprise. "What?"
Stormy's voice is soft, "Leila, why didn't ya stay with her?"
Kerrigan shrugs. "She threw me out."
Stormy says, "No... I mean tonight. She'd been fine if I'd left I bet."
Kerrigan looks up at her from the floor. "Yeah, tonight. She threw us out. Maybe if I'd gone in alone it would have been all right, but I didn't."
Stormy sighs softly, "Yeah but... I'm sure she woulda let ya stay. It's me she hates."
Kerrigan rolls his eyes. "Why would I want to stay without you?"
Stormy rolls onto her stomach carefully, wincing only slightly. "Because she was there."
Kerrigan snorts. "Being a bitch and a half. Why would--" And then he gets her drift. "Oh... Stormy."
Stormy shakes her head slightly, "So why didn't ya?"
Kerrigan takes a long breath. "Because I'd rather be with you."
Stormy blinks in surprise, not responding for a moment, then hesitantly, "Ya would?"
Kerrigan sits up a little, conscious of the tremendous leap he's making. "Of course I would."
Stormy doesn't quite look at him. "But... I thought... why?"
Kerrigan doesn't look at her either. "Because... oh, hell, Stormy!"
Stormy considers dropping this, then asks, "Because..?"
Kerrigan stares at the windowsill. "Because--" Oh, gods, this is hard. He looks over at her, watching her intently. "You won't believe me."
Stormy shifts to look at him, biting her lip. "Maybe I would. Ya don't know 'less ya tell me."
Kerrigan studies her for another long moment, steeling himself. "Because I love you." And his face tightens and he looks away, as if in reaction to the force of those three impossible words.
Stormy takes in a shuddering breath, trying not to cry. "Oh... Do ya know how long I've been wantin' ta hear that K-Kerri-chan?... C'mere... please..." She shifts on the bed so that there's enough room for two.
Kerrigan looks back at her in sharp surprise, and then, slowly, climbs to his feet and moves to the bed.
Stormy gazes at him, tears in her lashes as she holds her arms out to him. "Kerri-chan... come hold me, 'kay?"
Kerrigan nods as if in a daze, and reaches out to gather her gently into his arms.
Stormy huddles against him, wrapping her arms about him tightly. "I love ya, Kerrigan. Only you," she whispers, a few tears spilling down her cheek.
A brief shudder racks Kerrigan. He holds her as tightly as he dares, resting his cheek on her hair; but he doesn't say anything.
Stormy clings to him, her eyes closed. "I don't ever wanna lose ya."
Kerrigan shakes his head. "I'm not going anywhere," he murmurs, rocking her a little.
Stormy nods slightly, "I know... ya promised ya wouldn't.."
Kerrigan smiles a bit into her hair. "Well then."
Stormy sighs softly, relaxing in his arms, smiling again.