Slippery When Wet
Damn rain. He hated it. Well, by and large he hated most things. That was partly what justice was about after all. You hated the assholes that made you need justice in the first place, and you hated the assholes who, if there were any justice-shouldn't be so damned-damned heroic. Because what the hell was he supposed to do? A pirate was a pirate. Exceptions made things complicated. And, even worse, no matter what the little rubbery bastard did, Smoker seemed to end up the one with the promotion.
Bastards.
All of them.
Especially the rubber ones.
Smoker cupped his hand over the cigar and lit it, then took a deep breath and looked up at the rain falling that he could barely see in the gathering night.
He hated rain. Especially cold rain. Especially cold rain that fell and formed ice in the cobblestones of the street that was hard to see on a dark night and if anyone had seen him fall ass over jitte they hadn't said anything. He'd hear the rumors about it though. The squeaky nose giggles. Damn squeaky nose giggles. He couldn't fault the men for having a sense of humor, though, inasmuch as he wanted to.
"Sir?" Tashigi poked her head out of the inn window, resting her arms on the frame. "Are you all right?"
"What kind of stupid question is that?" And he turned his face up to the rain because if he didn't cool the heat in his face it would look like he was blushing which he was damn well not.
"It's okay. I fall all the time. It only hurts your pride if you let it."
He'd like to have a retort. It would make him feel better. But as much of a ditz as she could be, when she was right, she was right. Still...
"I'll be back later." He shoved his hands into his pockets and started through the streets, carefully this time. Someone had to be doing something wrong in this beat up old town and Smoker intended to find them and arrest the hell out of them.
The rain kept falling in a gentle hush like it was laughing at him and he could have sworn he heard another laugh, just as quiet, from the direction of the inn but when he looked back, no one was there and the window was closed.
Smoker shook his head and went back on his way, slipping only once and where no one could even see.