crack_van | Persona Non Grata by Rhi (PG)

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Amanda/Cory Raines
Author Website: Rhiannon's Eyrie
Why this must be read:

Rhi has a talent for taking one-shot guest stars and rounding them out to lively, full characters. Amanda and Cory Raines seemed perfectly content as an Immortal Bonnie and Clyde, so why didn't they keep going?

"Mr. Cory Raines?"

Cory, bless his heart, never blinked. He put down his cigar and commented mildly, "Only if that's something good."

"Telegram, sir. Station master said there was nobody with that name in town, but the gentleman sendin' it said to take it anyway and try'n'deliver it."

Amanda frowned then, delicately painted lips flattening as she started wondering who, exactly, could have tracked Cory here. "And how did you decide that this gentleman was Mr. Raines?" she inquired sweetly, giving the messenger her best blinding smile.

"Ain't that many strangers in town, ma'am," the kid grinned again. "And well, it's worth two bits to me if this is Mr. Raines, so I figured I'd ask."

"Two bits, hmm?" Cory grinned back at the kid, and for a long moment, they looked like brothers in mischief and pleasure. "Tell you what," Cory went on cheerfully, "I'll give you two bits anyway. Let me look at it, and then we'll decide if it's good news--"

"--and whether you're Mr. Raines?" the kid agreed with a laugh. "Sure, mister. I mean, if you ain't, he ain't in town, so I don't see where it c'n hurt."

Persona Non Grata