A short fanfic to mark my entry into the fandom. Not quite what I'd hoped, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. Read and review.

Lock, Stock, and Music
a Misfits fanfic by D.L. SchizoAuthoress

"You can be a part of our company, Stormer," Jerrica offered, clasping the younger woman's hand warmly. "How about joining the Holograms?"

Stormer's smile froze. She'd never considered the possibility of becoming a Hologram. The first thing that popped into her mind was, 'Pizzazz will be furious!'

She had quietly observed the two bands for a long time, from just about when Jem and the Holograms had burst onto the scene. It had been with jealousy and disbelief that she watched the four original Holograms get one lucky break after another in the beginning-coddled by Howard Sands, adored by Lin-Z Pierce, financed by a European countess, and the droves of movie people donating money and time to Starbright. Stormer still resented the failure of The Misfits Hit it Big, which hadn't really been that bad.

But as she'd mellowed out-and stopped buying so completely into Pizzazz's and Roxy's tough chick act-Stormer realized that the Misfits and the Holograms were more alike than anyone associated with either group would ever admit. Both Eric Raymond and Jerrica Benton were purported to run the show, but the public mostly saw Pizzazz as the leader of the Misfits and Jem as the face of the Holograms. Musically, neither Pizzazz nor Jem were the main source of talent, but they both seemed to call the shots about what songs to play or subjects to sing about.

At least with the Misfits, Stormer hadn't had to worry about impressionable youngsters getting underfoot-aside from their early semi-exploitation of Ashley, that is. The Misfits allowed Stormer to be wild and crazy, and in fact, they encouraged it and sometimes berated her for not being tough enough. The truth of it simply was that Stormer had her limits to how mean she wanted to be. But the Holograms' capacity for wild-and-craziness was even smaller than her own.

And then there were those songs! Stormer couldn't lie to herself, they didn't lack anything, musicwise, but those lyrics! Always "faith and hope and brotherly love," as Pizzazz had bemoaned on the Misfits' 'Who is She, Anyway?'. There wasn't anything wrong with sweetness and light, such as it were, but it had to stop sometime. Could Stomer bear to play back-up on endless renditions of 'Like a Dream', 'Twilight in Paris', and 'Love is Here'? And could she possibly churn out such lyrics without going insane? She wondered.

The near-synchronized clicking of several pairs of high-heeled shoes interrupted Stormer's chance to answer, and a familiar, slightly nasal voice called out, "Stormer!"

Stormer turned, and saw the impossible-the other Misfits, led of course by Pizzazz, filing into Jerrica Benton's office. Knowing how hard it must be for them to swallow their pride and come crawling to her, Stormer headed toward them, meeting her bandmates halfway.

"They don't really need you," Pizzazz stated matter-of-factly. She put a hand on Stormer's shoulder, "Please, Stormer, come back to the Misfits! We need you!"

Stormer's mouth fell open in shock. She'd heard the note of pleading in Pizzazz's voice, reminiscent of when the green-haired rock star was trying to wheedle something out of Eric Raymond or Harvey Gabor. But something was different. There was something in Pizzazz's eyes; it was an openness, a vulnerability that Stormer had never seen before. A glimpse behind the armor of attitude and contempt that revealed the truth in Pizzazz's words.

"Yeah, it's true!" Roxy chimed in, stepping forward to catch Stormer's gaze.

"Come back, Yank," Jetta begged, leaning forward and clutching Roxy's shoulders. Stormer noted with amusement that Roxy did nothing to shrug off Jetta's clinging hands, but was genuinely touched by the fondness with which Jetta called her 'Yank'.

Stormer looked at the three women. She'd known Pizzazz and Roxy for years; this was as close to an apology as they could get and still be sincere about it. Jetta hadn't been with them as long, but she was cut from the same cloth. She turned around, feeling a stab of regret as Kimber looked away from her. The younger Benton sister already knew what she was going to say, but Stormer said it anyway.

"It's true, Jerrica. You don't need me." She faced Pizzazz, Roxy, and Jetta again. "But...they do!"

"You mean it, you'll come back?" Pizzazz demanded, a bit shrilly.

"All right, yeah!" Roxy and Jetta celebrated, clapping their hands with glee.

"Yes!" Pizzazz hissed, clenching her fists and giving silent thanks.

Stormer cut in, her voice louder than usual, "I will, but you're going to have to listen to me also from now on. I'm an equal partner, right?"

"Uh, right," Pizzazz murmured, as Roxy and Jetta nodded. She never thought she'd see the day that Stormer-of all people-would stand up to her. "Right!" she repeated, more forcefully.

Her hand fell to Stormer's shoulder again, ushering her newly restored flock from enemy territory. "Well, come on, partners, let's move it!" she cried, in a tone that sounded more forced than anything.

Roxy and Jetta didn't need to be told twice. They were headed toward the elevators, and halfway there when Kimber called Stormer back. Pizzazz lingered for a second, but, realizing that the pink-haired keyboardist meant no harm, followed her quickly retreating friends. Whatever those two had to say to each other, it didn't matter to her.

END