Kerrigan and Greymane
First meeting: Punishment
Genn Greymane. King. Alpha. Leader.
And exile.
His exile from Anchor was a temporary punishment, for starting a horrendous fight with Sylvanas. He'd been dragged over to the police station by the force's deputy, Valla, since Raynor had recieved a nasty blow to his jaw during the brawl. Her delivery of punishment had been swift and cold. Greymane had his gun confiscated, his armour removed, and then he was all but thrown out of Anchor with the words 'come back later'.
Genn was left to wander without food or shelter. At first, he grumbled and walked off, kicking a few unfortunate stones into oblivion. He wandered, and wandered, and the sun began to set. Eventually, he started to grow tired and cold. He shifted to Worgen form, thick fur alleviating the first problem. But he was still drowsy. Heroic protection wasn't comprehensive. He struggled to keep walking as the temperatures began to fall and light grew scarce, but nowhere he'd found offered even the smallest hint of protection. He sat down by a small rock, and passed out, the bruises he'd received in the brawl sapping his strength.
Kerrigan was issuing orders to her two main heroes the moment this happened.
"Zagara. The spy drone in Anchor is reaching the end of it's lifespan. Send a mutalisk to retrieve the body tonight, we don't want to raise suspicions. Dehaka. The exile has collapsed. I can sense it. Use your tunnels to bring him to me. He's an ally we could use."
Greymane awoke inside a hive surrounded by creep, with three other heroes looking over him. He tried to sit up and found that he was pinned to the floor by tendrils of... zerg. "What is the meaning of this, Kerrigan!?" He growled, still a wolf.
Kerrigan sat down "Zagara, Dehaka. You two can go for now. It would be better if I spoke to him alone."
Zagara spoke "Are you certain that is wise, my queen? He may present a risk to you if you are careless."
"Yes. He's currently weakened, and he's not stupid. He knows he couldn't hope to win in a fight against any one of us right now, and outside the battlefields, our numbers are overwhelming." Said Kerrigan.
"As you wish, my queen." Zagara exited.
Kerrigan sat cross-legged beside Greymane. "Hold on. I'm releasing your bonds." The tendrils retracted into the floor, and Greymane sat up.
"Why have you brought me here, Kerrigan? The Zerg are still feared greatly, even if you are in control of all those present in the nexus. If tensions rose between our people, it would be disastrous." Greymane shifted to a sitting position.
Kerrigan picked up a flask from the corner of the hive. It was a bit dirty, but it was sealed tightly enough that the inside was probably clean. She unscrewed the cap and passed it to Genn. "Drink that before you go on. You sound like you could use it, even if we don't get thirsty."
Greymane gulped the contents of the bottle and spluttered. "It's... just water. I was actually expecting alcohol. My throat is normally dry when I wake."
"Oh. Well, I've brought you here for a good reason. It's about our two race's relations. You are lord of the Worgen, yes?" Said Kerrigan.
"I have kept the title of Alpha. They follow my will. Thought we are few compared to some other races, we are strong. Are you proposing an alliance?" Asked Genn.
"Yes. Your people are feared just as mine are, though yours make for much better dwellers in a city. I want to be able to count on your people to aid mine if a great threat ever arises. Likewise, mine will aid yours if they are needed to." Said Kerrigan.
Greymane considered the offer "I am quite confident that the city will not betray my kind, and Raynor would never allow you to be attacked, even if he no longer sees you as a romantic interest. But allies are a welcome notion here. I- ah!" Greymane clutched his side. "Damn. Fractured bone. mustn't have noticed yesterday. Do you have a healer?"
Kerrigan inspected the area. "Well, how soon do you need to be back in Anchor to avoid making people think you've been here? I could give your wound a localised infestation to repair it, but it would be very painful. Or, I could have Dehaka call for his girlfriend. But that could take a little while, Brightwing's not easy to track down."
Greymane shifted his jacket to expose the rib "Just do the quick option. Try not to leave any of the smelly stuff on my fur, it takes ages to clean."
Kerrigan touched the area, and black matter spread across Greymane's side. Greymane clenched his teeth and nearly yelped as his bones were fused together, but he held his tongue until Kerrigan removed her hand and the infestation drew itself out, leaving no indication it was ever there.
"You'd best be going for now. Come and visit me later. I get lonely with only nonhumans for company." Said Kerrigan, as she helped the elderly Worgen to his feet.
Development: Instinct
The Cursed Hollow was currently the stage of a particularly vicious battle. Greymane and Kerrigan were taking a camp of mercenaries before the tribute appeared, but they knew it was a risky move. Samuro and Zeratul were present on the enemy team, and Lt. Morales wasn't well suited to dealing with them.
Kerrigan cut down the last mercenary and began to invoke the summoning pad left behind. "Greymane. Time check."
Greymane, in human form, produced a golden pocketwatch and flipped it open "We can't have more than a few seconds. We need to get to the middle lane to make it on time... Wait. Something is wrong. Danger nears!"
Kerrigan prepared to fight. There were no obvious signs of foes, but she felt the danger just as strongly.
A singularity spike latched onto Greymane, and was followed up with Zeratul's warp-blade.
Greymane allowed his curse to take over and did his best to eviscerate Zeratul. Kerrigan rushed to assist her ally and jumped for her target, forcing Zeratul to blink away. Greymane shifted back into human form and immediately threw a bottle over Kerrigan's shoulder.
The bottle hit Samuro squarely in the face, bursting into flame. The Blademaster was instantly replaced with three identical images, but without hesitation or delay the King of Gilneas and the Queen of Blades ripped the left image apart, Kerrigan pulling it in with her combo and Greymane jumping in as a Worgen to finish the target, raking his claws across the Orc's chest.
Samuro dissolved into dust.
Zeratul had chosen that exact moment to re-engage, appearing behind Greymane. But it was as if the duo knew he was coming. Even before he appeared, Kerrigan had been moving her wings to stab at his eventual location, Greymane rolled away into human form, barely evading the cleave Zeratul made. He brought up his gun and shot Zeratul in the arm, distracting him long enough for Kerrigan to finish him with Ravage.
Greymane was still wary of further attacks, but none of his senses indicated enemies were near. He shifted back to normal and began to summon his mount.
Kerrigan called to him "You have some very sharp instincts. Maybe even better than the swarm's, since your body isn't as tough. Good fight, Genn."
"Thank you, Kerrigan. You saved my life with your reflexes. And if anything, your control of your form is even more impressive. Now, our team needs us!" Genn rode off into the brush, closely followed by Kerrigan.
Friendship: Justice
Kerrigan could sense Greymane's approach long before she saw it. There was no question that Greymane was coming to The Black Circle, but why?
Kerrigan waited outside, using her powers to make sure the Zerg didn't attack when her ally arrived. Greymane came into view riding a Dire Wolf, of all things. It padded up to the edge of the creep on the floor, and firmly stopped.
"Interesting choice of mount" Kerrigan commented.
Greymane got out of the saddle, and then dispelled the Dire Wolf. "Being a more powerful wolf means the weaker ones will obey you. Even if you're in human form. Have you been lonely?"
Kerrigan raised an eyebrow "Not overbearingly. Zagara's actually good company. But I do appreciate the chance to have a conversation about anything human. Anything troubling you?"
Genn frowned "A little. It's about... It's about Liam."
"Liam? I haven't heard that name before... But they clearly mean a lot to you. Are they in trouble?" Asked Kerrigan.
Greymane sighed "Liam died a long time ago. He was my son."
"You have my sympathy. It hurts to lose a person you care about. Hypocritical coming from someone who killed so many, I know. What happened?" Kerrigan's voice dropped a little of the normal tough formality.
"I... No, I'll tell you. Gilneas had been sealed away for years. It was to ensure the curse of my people did not spread. However, one day we were attacked by Sylvanas and her forsaken. It was a massacre, without mercy. We were completely unprepared for any kind of fight. There were more deaths than can be counted. Sylvanas came for me personally, and it was just as one-sided. Liam took the killing blow so that I might escape... But where is justice? It's been so long since then... And Sylvanas' actions still go unpunished. I... Well, the fight that got me thrown out for a day two weeks ago wasn't started by accident." Explained Genn.
"You tried to kill her?"
"Without regret. I wanted- still want her to suffer. I wanted to break her bones and burn her wretched corpse. But... I hesitated. She'll just come back. Liam will never have his justice. It's... hard to accept that I failed."
Kerrigan placed a hand on Genn's shoulder. "This place can do some nasty things. I once hated someone just as much. A man called Arcturus Mengsk. I think I'd kill him too if he were here. But this place has been even worse to you."
"I can't kill her. It won't do anything but make it worse, I know. I am old enough to know not to start a bitter, everlasting bloodbath. But... I want to scream. I want my son back. I want justice. I suppose I needed to vent to someone before I actually went and did something stupid."
"I can't bring Liam back, but I can give you justice. Or rather, Tyreal and Raynor can. Raynor can arrange a trial if I ask him to, and Tyreal will know exactly what Sylvanas deserves. And based on what I know of her, that isn't too much. Shall we go?"
The trial of Sylvanas was unlike a normal court hearing. Tyreal had simply placed a hand upon Sylvanas and said "Loss of life. Loss of family. Saviour of her people. Yet destroyer of uncountable, consumed by revenge, and unjust to her allies..."
The four other people in the room, Raynor, Kerrigan, Greymane and Kael'thas were struggling to hold in their own contributions. Greymane and Kael'thas would have argued for weeks without eating or sleeping for this case. In the end, it was up to Tyreal.
Tyreal held up a hand "My judgement is complete. Sylvanas, a great deal of lives are owed to you, and a great deal were taken by your hands. You have suffered more than most mortals, but have caused more suffering than most. You lost your own family, and felt no remorse in taking family from many others. As such, I will give you something you seem to lack. It will cause you more pain than anything you have ever endured, but it will provide you more joy than you could ever imagine. Emotion, Sylvanas. You will feel the emotions of all you have interacted with until now. You will understand everything you have done like no other. Prepare yourself."
Tyreal placed a palm on Sylvanas' forehead. The reaction was instantaneous. She stumbled backwards with a small, neutral whimper. "I... feel... oh, gods, Alleria..."
Tyreal turned to the rest of the room. "She will live. She will be overwhelmed for the moment, as so many others have their say in what she should feel right now. This moment will be unforgettable. I expect she'll need some time to process it. But as of now, she is perfectly neutral in the eyes of law. So Greymane... do not attempt further revenge. She's already suffered for her crimes. Court adjourned."
Author's notes: So I have wanted to see Greymane given justice for Liam for quite a long time. And it wasn't really a request I could give to anyone else (Hey, can you put your favourite character on trial for genocide? Thanks!) This was in the works prior to the Kerrigan request, but I wouldn't mind doing something with Gul'dan as well if you want.