I don't know what drives me to write these things but I can't seem to stop.
I just love Lex way too much.
This might be a bit cracky but that's maybe just because I got that idea while writing an RPG fanfic with my brother. He's crazy, I tell you.
I'm quite certain that pretty much no one reads in this fandom anymore, rather Skyrim than Oblivion though, but this is for all the late bloomers like me who only now happen to stumble across this game (Not that I did but my affection is resurfacing). And for those who still love Lex.
Also, this pairing drives me nuts, even though it's not even a real pairing! Or rather because it isn't.
This is so pointless.
It all happened in a flash. An agile man, clad in a dark red robe with a hood that was pulled over his face far enough that it was completely cast in shadows, had hopped down from a building to slice some poor soul's throat.
Hieronymus Lex, the Captain of the Guard, had only witnessed the crime by chance as he was headed for his quarters after a long, frustrating day at his enemies' territory, the waterfront. He had just entered the Temple District when he heard a dull thud and a gurgling scream. Ever on duty, he immediately raced towards the sound, rounding a corner to watch a wealthily-dressed man drop to the ground, revealing the culprit behind him, his gaze meeting the captain's.
But Lex wasn't intimidated. He never was. On the contrary, he was usually the one intimidating others.
"You there! You're under arrest for murder!", his voice boomed while he pointed accusingly at the criminal.
The other man let out a sinister snicker and lifted one leg to step over the dead body in front of him, taking measured strides in Lex' direction who, in response, drew his sword.
"That's right, you scum, running away is pointless."
He was aware that this wasn't surrender. His kind was too unreasonable to make wise decisions. But it didn't matter because he'd end up in prison either way.
The dark figure came to a halt a few meters away from him. He guided his hands towards his shoulders and reached behind them. Lex steeled himself for an upcoming fight but instead of daggers or swords or any other weapon for a one-on-one duel, he grabbed two throwing knives. In the shadows of his hood, Lex could detect a sneer on his lips.
The man hurled his hands forward, sending the two sharp blades flying in his direction with lightening speed. Lex noticed that they were aiming for his face, the only part of him that wasn't protected by armor, and only had time to hold up his sword in front of him in a feeble attempt to stop the inevitable collision while he inadvertently closed his eyes.
But the knives never found their target. Instead, two thuds and a loud clank sounded on the stones in front of him.
When he pried his eyes open a few moments later, they fell upon his attacker who still had his arms extracted forward, frozen in the movement.
Then his gaze wandered to the street. There lay a shield of the Imperial Legion, two knives deeply embedded in its metal surface. He frowned. What in Oblivion...?
His head shot upwards, following the movements of yet another figure that landed right in front of him, causing him to take a startled step backwards.
The stranger's back was facing him and he wore some kind of hood, too. Not another one of those pseudo-cryptic madmen who think that a hood makes them look like some sort of awesome, mysterious warrior.
"That's going too far!", a disgruntled female voice sliced through the silence and Lex realized that it came from the newcomer.
Slowly, she turned her head around to face him. Lex could see her grin as she giggled, but other than that every part of her face was hidden behind a cowl. A cowl he knew all too well. And he hated it with a passion.
"Gray Fox", he breathed, his baby blue eyes wide in surprise.
"Why, yes, my dear captain. You're welcome for the rescue.", she said cheerfully before returning her attention to the man across from them who was currently darting in their direction, a shortsword in his hand.
With one calculated movement, the Gray Fox reached behind her to shove Lex to the side and ducked the other man's attack, his blade slicing the air that her throat had occupied a moment ago, and threw her weight against his legs, sending him flying face-first against the floor. The impact caused him to let loose of his sword and he quickly rolled to the side when Lex made use of his claymore and placed a forceful strike on the ground, missing his target by mere centimeters.
"Too slow. As always.", the Gray Fox commented teasingly and followed the hooded man as he bobbed up and began climbing a nearby building. Noticing that Lex was starting to follow them underfoot, she added, "Hieronymus, you stay here, that's a direct order!"
Like hell it was.
"I command you both to get down here immediately!", Lex shouted imperiously, glaring after them.
The hooded man leaped from one building to the next, the Gray Fox hot on his heels.
"I'm sorry but I don't think either of us will obey your orders in the near future, Lexy.", she replied apologetically.
"Stop with the games, Gray Fox!", Lex said angrily, barely registering the nickname, while he watched her chase the criminal over the city's rooftops and walls, continuing to follow them.
"I like games, captain."
The Gray Fox' behavior irritated him greatly. What was she trying to achieve with this ridiculous, insolent behavior? And much more importantly, why had she, his arch-enemy, saved him?
Why was she even female, by the Nine?
Oh well, it was another useful detail he could add to his wanted posters.
He could barely see them on top of the buildings and thought he had lost them several times but the Fox' giggle always indicated their current location, as if she was doing it on purpose to have him watch them. And even worse, she seemed to take neither the murderer nor him seriously.
Outrageous!
This woman was a pest!
Soon, panting accompanied the giggling way above the city's streets. And since no one could giggle like that while being out of breath, the sound must have come from the other criminal, much to Lex' satisfaction, although he himself was starting to become exhausted, due to running around in his heavy armor for an extended amount of time.
He stopped and bent over, placing his hands on his knees in order to catch his breath.
When the sound of his own breathing ceased, he heard nothing but the silence of the night.
Until, a few moments later, something crashed to the floor right behind him and he spun around.
There, now in front of him, lay the murderer, squirming, his hands and feet bound painfully together on his back and a gag in his mouth.
"I normally don't treat fellow criminals like this", a female voice sounded from atop the building before him and he angled his head to look at its source, his claymore clutched tightly in his hands. "but he endangered you, your eyes, so he deserves extra hard punishment. Don't let him escape, sir, although I believe at this point you're able to handle the situation yourself." She giggled and a shuffle signalized her departure.
"Stay put, Fox!", he ordered but her laughter was already consecutively echoing from all around him before fading into nothing. He cursed under his breath for having failed arresting his arch-enemy yet again. But, for some reason, he wasn't as downcast by that fact as usually.
Had she really just teamed up with him? If so, what by everything that's sacred had driven her into make that decision? No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reasonable conclusion.
Lex' gaze fell down on the man at his feet who was still struggling to get free, without success in sight.
The Gray Fox would make an adequate guard, the captain mused before mentally slapping himself. Even if she was skilled, she was the enemy and her crimes held no room for redemption.
The clanking of metal boots against stone drew his attention. With a stern expression on his face, he turned around meaningfully slow to see a guard approach him. His glance shifted to the writhing figure on the floor as he came to a halt.
"Captain, I heard shouting, is this the culprit that caused trouble?", he asked, gesturing towards the hooded man.
Lex narrowed his eyes at him. Couldn't he have shown up a minute earlier? He could have helped catch the Gray Fox! Or even just seen her to prove her existence! But no, Lex was once again the only one who knew the truth and nobody would give more credence to his words than they did so far. Which was none at all.
Ignorant fools.
The other guard whistled lowly. "Nice work, sir."
Lex nodded in acceptance and motioned for the guard to take the man away, while he heard a female voice at the back of his mind giggle at him for taking the credit. But hey, if the Gray Fox didn't exist, who could he convince that it was her that bested this foe? For once, he had no choice but to put their denial to good use. And besides, it wasn't like she had done all the work.
"Had fun tonight?", Methredhel asked cheerfully, approaching the captain of the guard with a bounce in her step. Lex turned around to eye her with a disinterested glance.
"I don't recall why I should have, citizen.", he replied bemusedly.
She smiled at him affectionately before her expression turned earnest. "I'm glad you're okay."
He raised an inquiring eyebrow. How did she know? And, why did she care? It wasn't like they had much of a relationship anyway; she occasionally decided to annoy him but that was about it. Although, there was this weird, intense stare she directed at him with increasing frequency as of late.
"You should be more careful, though. You're not untouchable, you know, even if you act like it."
He just kept gazing at her, wondering why she would say something like that.
The elf suddenly burst into a dazzling smile. And here we go again with the stare. "Watch those eyes, Lexy.", she said, nodding towards his face and turning to leave, her eyes lingering on his just a moment longer.
The nickname stirred something inside of him but he couldn't quite place it.
Although, something told him that it was better that way.
End