A/N

While browsing some part of the Internet that I forget (that rhymes, go figure) I came across a suggestion for Blizzard All-Stars, that Cain should be the game's shopkeeper. That idea was...awesome, I decided, and while I have nothing against buying gear from goblins, Cain would be my first choice any day. So, came up with this...so...stay awhile and read I guess.

Stay Awhile and Listen

"Hello, my friend! Stay awhile and listen!"

"No, you listen to me old man. I'm not your friend, I won't be staying awhile, and I don't want any item identification. I just want to buy a health potion."

"Mana potion?"

"Health potion!"

Raynor missed the old days, and not just in regards to his old life in the Koprulu sector. No, right now, as another pointless battle for ladder points occurred, he wished the Cyber World could be rebooted. He missed the whole experience of seeing two Kerrigans. He missed the early thrill of the MOBA battles. And right now, he missed the days when goblins ran the item stores. Because while goblins were certifiable psychopaths, he was used to dealing with those kind of people. What he wasn't used to dealing with were doddering old fools who always seemed to think an item needed to be identified.

"Health…potion…" Deckard Cain mused. "Oh, it's been so long since I've seen one of those."

"Yeah yeah, potions are redundant in Diablo III, and yes, the gods saved you from being killed by butterflies," the ranger murmured. "Just give me the damn potion."

"I imagine it might be strange for you. From what my ears tell me, you rely on medics."

"Potion," Raynor snapped, slamming his rifle down on the shop counter. "Now."

It got Cain's attention. Though as Raynor noticed, maybe for the wrong reasons. Cain wasn't staring at him. True, he had a potion in his hand that he sat down on the counter, but that wasn't what he was here for. Instead, he was staring at his gun. Quite intently.

"Oh my," the geyser whispered. "Such an exquisite weapon. Shall I identify it for you?"

"No."

"Which monster did you slay to obtain it? Or did you rely on the auction house?" Cain took the weapon in his hands, only for Raynor to yank it back.

"Only a few gold pieces, my friend. If you-"

Raynor tossed some gold onto the counter.

"Ah, so you would like it identified! Well my friend, stay awhile and-"

"You bloody idiot, that's for the potion!"

"…you want me to identify the potion?"

"No!"

Cain just stood there, still staring at the rifle. Raynor briefly wondered if he should just leave now and take the gold with him, the wrath of the dark and terrible gods of the Cyber World be damned. Then again, those same gods had replaced goblins with dullards, so any breach of the rules of their cosmic game was on them.

Dominating!

Raynor shook his head. Someone was…well, dominating on the battlefield, and he hoped it was on his team. And while Cain was ostensibly neutral, it seemed the declaration was enough to convince him to scoop the coins under the counter.

"Very well my friend," the old man said. "But if you ever have time to stay awhile-"

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." Raynor turned around, only to see Sylvanas walking in. Her hair was drenched in sweat, her armour dented, and she was covered in numerous cuts.

"Hey," she said, walking past Raynor to the counter, placing her bow on the table. "Potion, Cain," she said. "Now."

"My, what an exquisite bow!" the scholar exclaimed. "If I may identify it-"

"Potion! Now!"

Raynor shook his head and walked out, ignoring Sylvanas's exclamations.

He was here to fight. Not to stay awhile and listen.