Surprise, Surprise...

[Kira & Lee Norris]

This is set after Bright and Dull, FYI...

Across the hall, Spies were carrying up their weapons; handing them back and forth and passing them around. Clearing up. Kira sighed, sitting down on the step of the stage. Thank God Lisle was practical. He'd reminded her to get everyone to help to clear up- and she was so relieved for it. Seamus came along her way with Ellie; who smiled at Kira, and passed over the box of weapons.
"Did you have fun on guard duty last night?" Kira asked dryly, taking the box from her and putting it back in the store with the other Warrior and Spy weapons.
"No," Ellie said honestly. "Nothing happened. Do you know how boring it is to sit around at your post and watch the enemy camps?"
"No," Kira admitted, still having not had the pleasure of guard duty herself. "But it's necessary. Anyway, it's not you tonight..."
"Who is it then?"
"Whoever I point to on the register," Kira laughed. "Which I haven't done yet..."
She turned, and walked around and up onto the stage, where the register sat. Picking it up, she turned and faced the bustling hall, which fell silent at once.
"Alright, guys," Kira called out, in a sharp, ringing voice. "Good job today. I want to see those who didn't manage to quite make a bullseye- you know who you are- for extra Training tomorrow, just to be sure. I'll put up a notice for the next session tomorrow too- just check the noticeboard; or find me if you have any questions."
She smiled briefly, then stepped down, her finger running down the register carefully. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes, and pulling a pen from her pocket stabbed it once, then again...
She opened her eyes... and her mouth.
No way.
No way.
Lee Norris and Sophie Mathieu.
Her cousin and the French tramp.
Kira could've cried.
She caught Lee's eye, and beckoned to him across the hall. He'd been on his way over anyway; an inexplicably wide smile on his face. There was a bounce in his step too- Kira raised an eyebrow, then looked around, trying to spot Sophie's blonde head through the crowd.
Maybe she'd already gone...
"Hey, Kira," Lee said breathlessly; something wicked dancing in his eye. "Kira, do you remember- ?"
"Sophie," Kira said sharply. She didn't appear to hear her. Kira groaned, and raised her voice. "SOPHIE! OVER HERE? Can I speak to you?" She waved her arm for emphasis.
Just grit your teeth and bear it, Kira.
Just grit your teeth...

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Kira felt the beginnings of a scowl, but quickly suppressed her ill feeling. Not exactly the greatest impression to make on one of your Spies, whenever you're about to ask them for a favour...
Meeting Sophie's eyes (why was she so goddam tall?), Kira kept her face carefully expressionless, and her voice as even as possible.
And she didn't even want to think about Lee's expression...
The thought of what could be going on in his mind made her blood run cold and congeal...
"I'll go straight to the point, then," Kira said, businesslike. "The two of you are next in line for guard duty at the enemy camps. So... feel up to a mission?"

[Kira & Lee Norris]

"Guard duty it is, then," Kira said calmly. "Lee, I would like you and Sophie to work together on the Monday night of the coming week; meet me in this hall at 7.40 p.m., and I'll give you instructions from there... guys, keep in mind, you will be on the nighttime shift; and all of the next day too, so I need you both to get as much sleep as possible beforehand."
She glanced back and forth between the two of them, watching Lee in particular carefully.
"Okay?"
"Okay," Lee's response was immediate, and he smiled at Sophie warmly as he spoke.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee looked around at Kira now. Did he care about Sophie hearing his news...?
Well, no, not really. After all, he had the strangest of feelings it would be public knowledge sooner or later...
"Kira, before you leave," he said quickly, because she looked ready to run. "I just wanted to ask you... do you remember that time when we were kids; I kicked you, and you fell and got mud all over your clothes?"
She froze; staring at him strangely. "Yes..."
"And how you wouldn't stop crying, because it was your favourite top," Lee continued, relieved she was already cottoning on. "So I had to fly you around for a bit- to make you stop crying."
"I started screaming instead."
"Exactly."
"Lee...?" Her look asked the question for her.
He smiled, and nodded. "I've got my memory back."
Kira's mouth opened wide, and an ear-splitting scream tumbled forth, and before Lee knew what was happened, he'd been knocked backwards onto the floor, and she was hugging him fiercely.
"Lee you're such a- you know I'm going to- oh my god, Lee-"
He laughed awkwardly, prising her off his gently. "And... er... there's something else?"
She looked up at him, her eyes like coins. "What?" A grin like a Cheschire Cat sat there; beaming at him so brightly, he felt sure he already knew.
"Me and Maddie... we're engaged."

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee felt himself blush, really pleased by Sophie's reaction. At least she hadn't dismissed him as crazy. In Sophie, it was clear he had a friend.
And he really appreciated that... especially since... you know...
"Kira?" he prompted her gently.
His cousin had gone silent, not watching him anymore, but gazing over his shoulder.
"Kira?"
Was she upset?
"Kira, are you- ?"
"For God's sake, Lee," she said suddenly, her eyes snapping to him. "Don't you know what this means?"
He shook his head uncertainly.
"I'm the only single Norris left!" Kira laughed weakly. "The only one not engaged nor married- Lee, you're getting married!" She stopped, her eyes shining at him; full of love and affection. "Congratulations."
He grinned back. "Thanks."

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Oh, crap, right, the skank.
"Sorry," Kira turned to her, beaming. "Yes, that will be all. Any weapons of choice you'd like to bring? You'll need to inform me- regulations, I'm afraid," she added apologetically.
Even though she felt more like sticking out her tongue.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Kira felt herself exhale as Sophie left the room. Good. It was just her and Lee now. But Lee's eyes followed Sophie's course across the room, a strange look in his eye.
"Thinking about your skank?" Kira snapped, turning away, all of her immediate joy at the news snapping in an instant. Was he that shallow? Did he still have those feelings?
Lee flinched as though she'd hit him. She felt his dark eyes scalding the back of her neck, and she felt herself flush in the blaze of his look.
"Lee..."
"Give her a break," he said coolly. "Sophie's a friend of mine- and she's done nothing wrong. For god's sake, Kira, I'm engaged. I'm marrying Maddie. I love Maddie."
"I know," Kira muttered, abashed. "I didn't- I don't know, I-"
"Please," he said softly, turning away. "Don't ever doubt me again."
And he left her alone; confused, and still, horribly, awfully angry.
But- why?