Lil and Garrison

[x-diamondlil.livejournal.com]

Garrison stops by Harry's and delivers some very exciting news to Lil.


"Alright, who tried to pinch your ass this shift?" Kane said as he sat down, noticing the telltale scowl on his fellow Canadian's face. Kane didn't envy her working in the bar, considering the yahoos that you ended up having to deal with. Fortunately, Harry himself didn't tolerate anyone pushing barriers in his bar, and the last person who had decided to cause trouble had gotten the hard end of the sixteen pound ash club that the man kept under the bar before even the X-Men in the bar could react. So Harry's got fewer of the dicks than other bars, but they still got some.

Lil's eyes shifted down to the end of the bar before flicking back to Garrison's face and rolling. "No one I couldn't handle," she told him. "Didn't slip eyedrops in his drink yet but that might be next if the little squirt of the hose I gave him doesn't cool him down." The blonde knew enough bartender tricks to keep herself out of trouble without having to resort to putting someone through a window. "Thinking about wearing my wedding ring again just to discourage anyone else from getting ideas. Or you wanna pretend to be my jealous lover?" she asked with a laugh and impish grin.

"Only if it involves making out publicly. If he gives you any more trouble, let me know and I'll arrest him for... something. I'll make up some charges." Kane leaned on the bar comfortably, eyes flickering to the television for a second. The Leafs had all but been eliminated from reaching the playoffs, and in response, had signed the son of one of the hockey thugs from the movie Slapshot. He wondered if it was justified to start cheering for the Canucks or something.

"You know as well as I do that I have no problem with public displays of affection," she replied, wiping the bar in front of him. Lil and Madison hadn't been the most discrete couple and their antics had made them the butt of many jokes during their years with the Flight Program. "And if comes locking up a jackass or letting you shove your tongue down my throat, I think I'd might just have to suffer through the latter." A little wink and she jerked her head to the stock behind her. "What you drinking tonight, Gar?"

"Suffer. See what I've come to? I miss the days of being young and pretty, and all the Beta Flight girls being after me." It was a bit of an overstatement, but not by all that much. During the program, Kane had been the subject of a few crushes from his fellow Beta Flight members. "Well, and Nigel. That was an uncomfortable afternoon. Yeah, so, I'll just take a pint of Moosehead. How's sparring with Cammie coming?"

Her smile spread while sure hands lined up a glass under the tap. "What happens when you get old. First you get wrinkles around your eyes, then lower and start to sag and no girl wants any part of that. You're gonna start giving Logan a run for the Old Man title soon." Lil chuckled to herself and placed the pint in front of him before leaning forward on crossed arms. "Cammie's good. Still working on keeping the toxic shit in but she's getting better at it. You boys having any trouble with her?"

"Nope. Logan's been doing the lion's share with her. Safer that way. She catches on quick, and has a nasty streak in her when it comes to hand to hand. Give her a couple of years of training, and you'll have one mean handful in a fight there." Kane sipped the drink, turning over the various different training programs he was involved in. "What about you? At some point, we're going to have to put together some kind of review on your progress for Heather."

She'd been about to mention Cammie's little suggestion that the two females try and tag team Logan when Kane made his own, causing her smile to slip. "Ain't it progress enough I haven't killed or broken anyone yet? I mean I've only been working on shit here since January so there's not much to tell about, really." Yes, Lil had been officially accepted as a trainee and had even been out in the field but that really didn't call for a review, did it?

"You don't think that the Hudsons are monitoring your training, Lil? Remember, the game plan calls for Alpha Flight to be reactivated this year. At some point, we're going to get the call to come home." Kane pointed out.

"Oh, I know they are. So, if they are monitoring it and therefore know everything, why do we gotta do a review?" Lil gave a heavy sigh and blew a long puff of air at a golden lock that had fallen in front of her eyes. He had a point, though; one that made her stomach tighten with both excitement and anxiety. Home for Alpha also meant facing Madison. "Whatever. Nevermind. I'll do what ever review or report or whatever. But speaking of home, you gonna head up to see Vikks for your birthday? What with her being the only woman who could stand to look at your ancient face and all."

"I have to work around that time, so she's going to come down for a couple of days. Says she wants to go shopping in New York, which is essentially me handing her my wallet and getting her to drop off what's left when she's done." It wasn't strictly true, but once Garrison had come to Xavier's, he discovered not only did he have few expenses, but was drawing paychecks from the Canadian government, the RCMP and the FBI. Because of that, they'd been able to choose not to sell their mother's house, and he covered Victoria Kane's school costs.

"Vikks is coming here?" Just like that, the storm clouds disappeared and Lil was beaming once more. "You aren't shitting me? She's really coming to visit? That bitch! She didn't say anything to me!" Biting her lip to keep from squealing in happiness like one of the girls back at the mansion, she plunked down a little plastic cup upside down in front of her countryman, signaling she owed him a drink. "Best news I've heard all day, Gar!"

"Yeah, that's what I was afraid of." Kane said sourly. "The two of you not only getting into trouble, but interspersing that with sarcastic digs at me. People wonder why visits from my family make me want to hide."

"Hey! If I keep her out shopping and at the bars then she won't be around to annoy you, will she?" Lil asked with a devious laugh. "Hmm. Maybe calling it quits with Bishop was a good thing. Sure it means I can't swing some fun for the three of us but now I don't gotta worry about any man trouble when she and I hit the clubs."

"Please do not use 'swinging', and 'three of us' in any sentences involving my sister ever again." Kane said, fully aware of exactly what kind of trouble that the women at the mansion could get up to when left to their own devices.

Her giggle turned into a full out cackle as she tossed her head back, absolutely amused with the ideas running through her brain. Also, she needed to tell Adrienne and let the brunette know Garrison's little sister was coming to town. "I promise to take good care of her," Lil purred, leaning in closer to him. "I always do. You know that. Nothing but the best. Fuck, we're gonna light up New York! And maybe I'll let you have her back for a couple hours on your birthday. If you're good."

"And people wonder why getting hammered on your birthday became traditional."