A/N: Ok. This story was the result of another challenge that I gave myself. I wanted to write a pairing between two individuals whom would battle to have a relationship with anybody, especially each other. Naturally, I've had to make some changes in order for it to work. An important change from canon is that Pompey and Leeky Windstaff changed their minds about leaving the Linear Guild. (As the rule of squickiest option must be the correct one that we had over on The Crack pairings Thread, I said that this was obviously after they realized their love for Sabine and Nale respectively.) They then broke Sabine, Nale and Thog out of prison. (I'll write a prequel about this if people are interested.) I originally only planned to write a one off for this, though I said that I'd write more if people are interested. They were. As such the fic spiralled into one of my longest fanfics to date, as well as one of the ones that I'm most proud of. So this is part one of "Allegiance" my promised Thog x Miko story.
Disclaimer: The owner of The Order of the Stick is Rich Burlew aka The Giant, not me.
Miko encouraged Windstriker to move at full gallop. They were almost at Azure City. Suddenly, she noticed a group of travellers in her way. "Stop!" yelled the blond traveller. So she dismounted and walked over to him to find out why he had stopped her. "Web!" he cried and Miko found herself trapped in a mess of sticky silk.
"Let me pass, you fiends!" Miko snarled.
"Hey!" answered Nale we're just looking for a new party member. We're not up to anything sinister."
"Then why do you have an orc with you?" asked Miko.
"My good friend Thog here is only half-orc." answered Nale, "They are a standard PC race, capable of any alignment, remember." Miko did remember that and began to look more closely at Thog. She could now see the evidence of his human blood, yet his green skin, fangs and muscular build seemed to add to it in a highly attractive way and she began to feel things that she thought were improper for a paladin of the Sapphire Guard. Yet she could not help these feelings and began to stare at the chest of this magnificent creature.
"thog happy he has cootie shot," said Thog, "'cause blue cape girl very pretty."
Miko began to blush. She found his lack of articulation endearing. "Anyway," continued Nale, "a paladin would be good for our opposite theme. You see, we need a new member to stop a chaotic evil halfling ranger/barbarian."
"I will smite evil in whatever form it takes." said Miko, "Who is this halfling."
"His name is Belkar Bitterleaf and he is from The Order of the Stick."
"I will be glad to smite that bane of existence." answered Miko.
"Then you are now one of us." replied Nale.
A/N: As I said, after some encouragement, this fic spiralled, resulting in the longest fic that I had yet written, focussing not only on how a relationship between Miko and Thog could develop, but also how Miko may have seen certain other events of the comic in slightly different circumstances. I hope that you like the result.
