The smell of alcohol filled Piper's nostrils as she entered the living room of the Condor. Empty beer bottles and food wrappers were strewn across the floor. A small boiling pot of cheese fondue was on a small table in the middle of the room. The only thing missing was the people who were actually in here.
'Goddamit, not again!' Piper thought furiously as she began cleaning up. Suddenly, a small voice asked, "Uh…do you need any help?" Piper looked over her shoulder and saw Stork standing in the doorway. He had a sheepish grin plastered on his long face.
"What are you doing here?" Piper asked, "Aren't you with the others?" As Stork grabbed a stray wrapped off the floor, he replied, "I was, but I left when they started kissing each other…" Piper chuckled a bit and went back to cleaning up.
After a few minutes, Piper said, "Those guys are such jackasses sometimes! They're always leaving me to clean up after them like I'm their maid or something!" Stork gave her a sympathetic look as he turned off the fondue pot.
"It's like they don't really appreciate me or anything…" Piper muttered.
"I understand what you mean…" Stork replied. Piper looked up at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
Stork took in a deep breath before he began to speak. "When I was young, I was used a lot. Not in the sexual sense, mind you, but as a servant of sorts. The kids at school would trick me into buying them stuff and doing their homework, claiming that I was their 'friend'. But it was all a lie. They only saw me useful until I couldn't do anything for them anymore, and then they would leave."
"For so many years, I was used. When I got older, things became even worse. If I failed my orders, I would get beaten up. I was seen as only a soulless puppet in their eyes, forever to do their bidding. It drove me insane. I had never felt lonelier in my whole life. That's why…I joined the Storm Hawks. I wanted to live a life where I had friends who truly liked me for who I am…"
'I knew he was a strange one, but to be used like that is just horrible!' Piper thought sadly. As she stared into Stork's eyes, she realized how dark and sullen they look. It was if the sparkle in the young Merb's eyes had died out one day and never came back.
Piper tossed a few empty bottles into the recycling bin and said, "I'm sorry to hear that…" Stork grinned a bit and replied, "You don't have to apologize. You…didn't do anything wrong…"
"No! I should be sorry!" Piper snapped, small tears brimming in her eyes, "All this time you've been suffering while I go on and talk about my own meaningless problems! I've been nothing but a selfish jerk! I should have been friendlier with you, but instead I only shun you and ignore you! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
And with that, Piper broke down crying. Stork, who was left speechless after what had just transpired, found his will to speak as he wrapped his arms around Piper and whispered, "You didn't do anything wrong, but I'll accept your apology anyway…"
Brushing away her tears, Piper smiled at him and gave Stork a small kiss on the cheek. "THAT was for saving us yesterday against Dark Ace." Piper exclaimed happily. Stork smiled back and returned the kiss, but this time on the lips. "That," he replied, "Is for being the beautiful girl that you are…"
After a few more kisses, Stork nervously asked, "So…does this mean we would have to go on a date or something?"
"Only if you want to…" Piper replied quietly. It didn't take long for Stork to come up with his answer.
"Yes. Yes, I would like to very much!"