Katarina clenched her eyes before opening them to the bright rays peering through the curtains of the window. All was quiet in the room save for the ticking of the alarm. It was seconds before ringing as it always did, the Noxian extended her hand to silence it before it disturbed the white haired beauty behind her. Her throat went dry from the lack of hydration she had recently which was easily solvable with a glass of water. Careful not to awake Ashe, she slowly slipped from underneath the covers applying as little pressure as possible. Her green eyes didn't stray away from the softened features of the Frost Archer's face but were just held even after she was off of the bed.

Only if her throat hadn't been like the Shurima desert, she would have stayed longer. Katarina walked over to her bathroom and withdrew a small cup from the medicine cabinet she used to rinse her mouth with and took some water from the faucet. She twisted the knob, poured it to the rim then closed it tight but released some of the tension for Ashe's sake. She didn't like when she couldn't open or turn on things after Katarina did with the iron grip she had, so the Noxian left it loose.

Turning around, she rested on the counted till the last intake before washing it and placing it back. 'No going back after I've woken up.' Thought Katarina while she made herself back to the bed. Each time she looked upon Ashe, a feeling washed over her. It's been over five months since the start of their new adventure together. Recalling the events of their trip to Freljord, her world almost fell apart knowing that Ashe wasn't safe. It only made her feel the ghost of the pain and trauma, similar to her past experiences in Noxus. Like them was like now- she carried on with her life, living better in the light now that wallowing in utter darkness and hatred.

But the assassin couldn't believe that only in a matter of days she could get used to this simple heaven. It was barely a few weeks ago that she almost died and her world almost fell apart she felt the scars of that battle healed now but the memory there stronger than the pain of them healing.

Laying back down on the pillow stretching after last night's party and the following drunken tussle in the sheets Katarina realized she needed glass of water to clear her dry throat with a grumble of frustration she pulled herself out of the bed and onto her shaky feet and over to the sink.

Sipping the cool glass of water and leaning against the sink, she looked at Ashe who sluggishly stirred under the heap of the comforter. A soft yawn brought her eyes to open and reveal the shimmering blue crystals Katarina always admired. They looked around eagerly for her till they landed to her figure.

"Morning." Katarina spoke with a grin, sensing the familiar warmth spread from her chest to her fingertips.

Rearing up from laying down, Ashe stretched her arms and said slumping back down, "Good Morning. What time is it?"

As Katarina neared, Ashe blushed slightly when she swayed her hips. Ashe silently scolded herself from gawking too long at the Noxian. Such behavior she knew wasn't good for her, especially since she was bright red now. Katarina smirked as she sat down next to her flustered girl and pulled her closer by the waist.

"Way past the time you usually get up. Slept well?"

Ashe leaned in for a kiss and responded lazily with her lips on Katarina's skin, "Mmm...always..."

With a chuckle, the Noxian flipped them both to where Ashe rested on her chest. The other who was still very much sleepy only lowered herself to place small kisses over her skin, grazing it with her soft lips. Katarina laughed and hugged Ashe when she smiled slowly from her response. "I always sleep well with you, you know that."

"I know." the Noxian said, lifting Ashe's chin to meet her mouth. "Just making sure."

A decent knock rung the mahogany door three times before pausing for another knock. Katarina groaned and lifted herself up along with Ashe, quick kissing her before answering.

Upon answering, Katarina's scarred eyes glanced around before looking down to the person who fake coughed to get her attention. She pulled the corner of her lip into a scowl to see the small cream colored yordle who carried a grin on his face. In his paws was a neat, unbent manila letter, with a familiar blood red seal. Katarina's stomach overturned at the sight of the encircled raven symbol. Swain...

"Letter for Katarina Du Couteau!" Teemo beamed. Shame that the letter's presence dampened her mood, or else she would have greeted him differently.

Snatching the letter from him, she scanned the letter's seal which seemed to be freshly made only an hour ago. She felt the seal with her thumb and looked at it closely then overturned the letter to see 'Du Couteau' in very fine strokes of black ink. Katarina glanced to see that the yordle was gone or might have forgotten that he was stealthed. Either way, Katarina retreated inside to meet Ashe's pondering look.

"Who was it?"

Katarina held the letter close to her and continued to look at it while walking over. "It was Teemo...he gave me this."

Curious, Ashe slid the letter out of Katarina's hands which were frozen in place. She glanced to the Noxian, who looked at the letter with dread and conjured one of her knives from the nightstand to open it. She sliced the paper smoothly and retrieved the note inside, placing the envelope and knife aside. Ashe cleared her voice and did Katarina the favor of reading it.

Dear Miss Du Couteau,

I would like a word with you personally in Noxus. I already have a horse for you waiting by the Institute. Be here by tomorrow.

-S

Placing the letter down to her lap, Ashe looked towards Katarina. The other woman's bottom lip trembled and her eyes were stern to the paper. Instinctively the queen took hold of her partner's hands and rested hers atop of them. It was the only solution to calm the assassin's mind of stress.

Her green eyes told that she didn't want to go and a rub of Ashe's finger said that she knew. "I'll let the institute know you'll be back before dusk Sunday."

Katarina mumbled a thanks before grabbing her equipment and clothes and heading to the mirror to fix her hair. A warning shot through her mind as she fixed her collar and placed her blades in each slot. Swain only meant trouble. He and his allies. Whatever the case was she was only going to remain silent as the dangers of him knowing too much were there. Katarina looked to Ashe, who had shifted in the bed to be in the center of a flurry of paperwork scattered around her. She worked diligently with a quill in hand, marking black ink onto the paper to send back to her tribe. Ashe was too risky to even be spoken of around Noxians. Talon knew they were together and wasn't nearly as fazed as when Cassiopeia found out. No...she burned her with questions. Like every other Noxian who would have been in an affair with someone other than their own, they were always boiled to the bone for answers as to why. Her sister being from the high position she was, asked her multiple times if it was just mere business, as if the love between the Frost Archer and her was nothing.

She couldn't jeopardize anything. Maybe it wasn't about her specifically? Maybe it had to do with Noxus and her work. Since then Katarina had not dared try to go back to her homeland. It reminded her too much of the past, of where she was raised. Underneath the giant rock, was where her past remained. Untouched, remaining where her people once praised her father. Whatever Swain wanted to tell her she knew it would never be for the good of Noxian society. She slid her blades into their sheaths on her back and turned around, not wanting to look at herself any longer.

"Looking sharp as usual." replied Ashe, her eyes straying from her papers for a brief moment. Katarina let out a chuckle before bending on one knee to adjust the straps of the iron brace on her shin.

"So funny I almost laughed." she replied with a smirk. "I'm going to get some breakfast if you'd like to join. I don't know if Tal will be there or not."

The queen waved her hand. "I don't mind if he's there. Your brother is decent unlike the rest of the Noxians here. Him and Riven too."

Katarina pinched her eyebrows. Riven. That exile was hardly around them, never participating in any Noxian events or even around the same dorms. She hung around with the Demacians more like they accepted the failure she was. She wasn't even considered Noxian anymore. "Riven isn't apart of us."

"She is, you just don't accept it. She's the same as you actually. You yourself, a Noxian citizen, don't participate in the things that Swain does. Neither does her."

The assassin glared at her but Ashe's unwavering eyes told her otherwise. She didn't want to admit that Ashe was right, but her roots kept her bound to what she believed was true. Riven was no more than a wanderer now, a lowlife to the ways of her strong society.

The Frost Archer set her things aside and went to the Noxian, who was still battling in her mind. She drew Katarina's attention away with her soft touch and held her from the waist, pulling her closer to meet only inches away from Ashe's lips. The sensation make the Noxian freeze and want to close the gap, but a sly grin had the queen thinking something else. "Are you really going to get mad at me for proving you wrong? That isn't very nice of you..."

"I'm just frustrated, is all. I don't know what he wants and I don't want to go." Katarina admitted, lowering her eyes. Ashe held up her chin and with her other hand, stroked back the red hair that draped from the left side of her face.

"I know. Why not have Talon come with you, then? Swain doesn't need to know he's there because he'll be outside while you remain in. If anything happens, he'll defend you."

Katarina's brows raised. Like her, Talon was a master at keeping himself hidden. They were assassins after all. Her mind eased at the thought of not being alone. There were things that the Noxian had longed most for and to have trust in someone like her brother and Ashe was something that she cherished greatly. "That...could work. He could be above the rafters looking down and he'd be there to observe whatever information Swain would give me. It's perfect!"

Ashe smiled. The other woman bit her lip and gazed hungrily to the Frost Archer who kept herself at bay. Katarina knew by her blue eyes that she teased, something that rubbed off on her from a certain Noxian.

"Are you going to use my own game against me?" Katarina smirked, wanting to touch her. Ashe only gripped her sturdy waist tighter and whispered, "I can do it better."

Laughing, the Noxian withdrew but was pulled back right where Ashe wanted her. They exchanged a kiss only the queen herself knew how to give which left the other stunned and wanting more. "Let me get ready first, and i'll head out with you in a few minutes. Care to wait?"

"Only if it involves me looking at...dat Ashe."

The irked Frost Archer flicked the center of Katarina's face with a perfectly manicured nail. The assassin flinched and rubbed the spot as Ashe spoke. "Don't use that against me."

A grin lied on Katarina's lips. "Says the one that said I look 'sharp'."

"... sometimes I hate you." She said, turning away. Katarina smirked and pulled her back.

"Are you really going to get mad at me for saying that? That's not very ni-OW!"

Over to the corner of the vastly domed mess hall, a hooded man was hunched over his meal casually scarfing it down. On the other end, Katarina entered into the Mess Hall with Ashe on her arm and walked over to the food line only pausing with her to greet a few people who passed by. Ashe simply smiled and signaled Katarina to go ahead and pick out her food while she stayed to talk. Damn, thought the assassin. Ashe was very popular now due to the events that took place five months prior. The Archer told her repeatedly that it was no big deal and that she was alright with people constantly coming to her, but from the way her eyes bounced from the people to her own she knew that wasn't the case. Now carrying two plates, Katarina motioned with her head to Ashe who quickly bowed and scurried after her.

Talon paused to look around with only his eyes then met Katarina's with a spark of delight. He adjusted himself to sit better in his chair and allowed Ashe a seat alongside his sister.

"Was wondering when you two would show up." he said.

Katarina tugged her mouth slightly and sat down, after pulling the seat with one arm for the queen. Her focus fell onto her food and picking up the fork began to eat a few bites, savoring the tasteless food in her mouth. Talon glanced up to his sister, noticing her seriousness then turned to Ashe for an answer. She motioned the hooded man to ask in which he did.

"I received a letter from Swain this morning saying for me to go to Noxus. He wants to talk, I don't know about what."

"Ah," he sighs, leaning back into his chair. "So that's why there's a horse near the Institute's grounds. When are you leaving?"

Katarina turned her head and eyes him. "After this. I need you to come with me."

Talon sat silently, hands clasped and jaw clenching. The last time he went to their homeland was several months ago. They maintained their mutual understanding when it came to their pasts. Unlike Katarina, he only went to Noxus for newfound evidence as to why their Father disappeared. Walking back in those worn out streets only brought nostalgia and inner turmoil; the thoughts leading into uncharted places. His sister's green eyes glimmered behind her mask. Only he and Ashe knew of her silent pleas and after a moment's thought Talon shook his head, chucking to himself sourly.

"You really know how to beg, Kata."

The assassin glared at him, striking down her hand against the table. The contents on top rattled upon impact, mildly startling Ashe and gained a few looks from the other tables. Talon remained guarded, eyes set motionless as a hawk. "You know very well of what he took from us. Do you honestly expect me to return there without any form of assurance?"

"What do you propose we do." he said, toning down his lighthearted gesture.

"I go to Noxus with you and as we approach the vision, you depart from me but stay around till I reach the mouth. Swain would be waiting for me from within his headquarters and from there you have a clear watch from the roof."

Ashe looked to Talon who absorbed each detail. He analyzed it from within his mind and slowly nodded. "Good strategy...I like it."

"He won't be alone, LeBlanc is sure to be there as well." Katarina warned. Her brother contracted a grin that stretched deviously along his face. "That makes two of us. When do you plan on leaving?"

"As soon as I finish. You should prepare yourself if you aren't already." she said.

Talon raised his blade strapped to his arm and stroked it along the flat edge. "You know me, I'm always ready for a fight."

Katarina nodded, wolfing down the final bites of her food. Ashe glanced at her while she stood up, clearing up her plate and placing it on top of the trash can. She moved quickly, clearing out the unwanted scraps and made her way back to the table quietly. Ashe new that look; set eyes to the floor, eyebrows pinched at the center of her face and her muscles displaying themselves in a tight manner. Her hand clenched her brother's shoulder, signaling him that it was time. Katarina met eyes with Ashe while Talon repeated the same actions. She lowered herself to Ashe's side and brushed the show white hair from her face to allow her lips to touch the pale skin of the queen's forehead. Her fingers felt until they reached the other's hand, enveloping it firm but gentle. "I'll be back soon. I promise."

"You better." Ashe whispered before letting go of her hand. Katarina looked into her eyes then cut from the gaze as she turned heels. It stung to leave her, but without pressing forward it would be hard to say goodbye, even if it was only a day. She took to Talon's side, moving quickly throughout the corridors. Katarina's mind pounded with uncertainty; she was about to go back to Noxus. She wondered how it was now after four years. Was it still the same rundown place she loved or was it overrun with soldiers? This was not how her father intended it to be.

The giant doors laying wide open to display the dusk world outside was blocked by several guards, among them was the great Minotaur Alistar. The man glanced at them and flared his nostrils and thinned his eyes suspiciously. Katarina wouldn't blame him for distrust, for the chains still cuffed on his wrists were proof of his gruff attitude towards them. From the left hand side, he observed their presence come and before long, they were blocked by a wall of armed men.

"What business have you outside the Institute, Noxians?" he said, the last word bitterly leaving his throat. Talon addressed him slyly.

"Just going to the homeland, wouldn't you like to come and pay a visit?"

Alistar's eyes stabbed through his somewhat calm demeanor and enraged he stomped the ground with such force it shook the massive doors behind him. Katarina came between the two instinctively, having one hand to her brother and the other dangerously close to the bull's nose. She felt the heavy warm breath escape through the Minotaur's pierced nostrils and focusing on his amber eyes, was weary of his actions. The giant Minotaur's senses shifted to Katarina's hand as soon as she held it forward, the notion of her callous thin fingers calming him from his heightened nerves.

"Swain ordered us," she began, fearful of the agitated bull's response now with her brother's stupid remark. The last thing they need is an angered bull and a much angrier dictator. "He gave us the instruction to leave as soon as possible for Noxus this morning. We will be back within a day."

The Minotaur glanced at the other assassin who boldly looked at him as just another challenge. Alistar saw the woman without any weapon which was odd since where she came from, they would all instantly draw a blade. He raised his ears in question to which she answered with curt nod of her head. Her hand oddly smelled of frost instead of blood which set Alistar's guard down, recognizing the peaceful smell. After a moment's thought, the bull stepped away from their path, extending his arm with another hand to his chest. "Very well. I await you, Sinister Blade."

Katarina bowed, showing Alistar respect of his consideration. He lowered his great horned head only to her, then displayed his might against Talon by another stomp from his hooves. The Blade's Shadow flinched but remained composure and walked past them without a sign of him ever showing weakness. The Noxian woman smirked and carried on towards the side of the giant building till they were well beyond the sight of any bystanders.

"You're a shit, you know that?" she raised, half irritated and half amused. Talon upturned his hands emitting the situation a common thing which got him a punch in the arm.

"What, I can't carry on a bit of humor?" objectified the hooded man.

Katarina rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that kind of humor almost got us trampled by a eight foot tall bull! Imagine Swain if we never came. He'd surely have our heads if we did not follow orders."

Talon walked steadily along the gritty cobblestone path and kicked a few stones that were in his way. Swain wasn't the one to mess with especially with such a strict and simple order. He was a murderer and Grand General. Their family have no control over anything anymore. Like as if Talon didn't know that already. They could not act so careless as long as Swain is under rule.

"You make it sound like we don't control anything anymore. Swain can't do shit to us. Remember, we're Du Couteaus, Kata."

Her fingers curled into a tight ball. Like her brother couldn't be any blinder. "Then what the fuck are we going to do, huh? Hide behind my father like he's actually there? I don't know why you're such a fool, Talon. Our name means nothing anymore. Not to Swain, not to Noxus, not to anyone."

Talon placed his hands to his hips as he took each stride with a shaking head. He let out a gutted laugh leaving the woman confused and raging. "You changed. Too much. You carried on our family name like it was your greatest pride and now you spit on it like the home we had. Why are you, your father's pride and joy, doubting yourself like a coward? Had he taught you nothing?"

"He taught me how to fear, which is something you've always been blind to. I fear what Swain can do. He can destroy us and everything we've done with one command. He sure as hell has the power to do such a thing and you're just treating it as if it were no big deal? I don't know what he wants and I fear what he has to say to me. He mocks us just by going to Noxus and seeing the destruction he's done to our work. Our family is dead, it only consists of you, me and Cass now. I can't let Swain take the only thing I have left to call home and that's what you don't understand. You're a fool Talon. You've always been one to him."

Katarina couldn't see his face. He concealed it within his hood, same with Ashe. He was always a coward and hid behind things whether it was her father or the shadows. But here, now, he was exposed within the fading day. She looked ahead of her, to find the horse flicking its tail from side to side upon seeing them. The steel from the shoes clacked amongst the rocks and several snorts contracted from the beast's mighty head as soon as her hand touched its nose. She leapt onto the steed who reared back slightly as she mounted. She drew her palm to cease the animal of its frightened behavior when Talon soothed its neck.

"I don't doubt we can't bring back the old Noxus." he whispered, voice low and unsteady. "Never doubt your father's legacy. You're his firstborn and he sacrificed his time to train you above all the others. Swain can't take that from you."

Without a sound, Talon mounted behind her and slapped the back of the horse to initiate it to a speedy gallop. Farther and farther behind them the Institute's lights shone, replaced now by a sea of brilliant stars. The night was cool, and the wind chilled Katarina's knuckles held firm to the reins. Her brother remained quiet and leaned back while she remained forward. His words played continuously throughout her mind, he was right for once. Her father, once General of Noxus and her people's leader, took his time to show her everything. She knew of her father's craft and perfected it to where it was nearly identical to his work. They laughed, cried and enjoyed each other during and that was truly something Swain could never take away. Even as a Noxian, the firstborn protects and serves if the figurehead wasn't there. She was now in charge of them and her nation's wellbeing, which was now crumbled to ruin after they fled. She couldn't avoid it. Not now.

[HEY GUYS I'M NOT DEAD YET!

So.. it's been a while since Sinister was touched and now since I finally completed this wretched chapter, I can now begin to write the other. (Oh god) Tbh i'm not all too satisfied with this chapter mostly since i haven't written anything as of February...which is a shame because I had finished this story's plot since May. It'll take a bit to get these cobwebbed gears working again but in the meantime, Sinister hype!

Songs used to write this: Mockingjay Graffiti (Catching Fire Score); Erudite (Insurgent Score)

Btw, NEW SKINS! These new Bilgewater skins will be very important for this story so stay tuned to what happens next!]