A/N: Hey guys Neoslate here with different creation since I've gotten stuck on my Fiora FanFic (funnily enough with a scene similar to this). As always write a review if there are any spelling/grammar errors you can find or if you just outright enjoy this. I hope this ain't a oneshot but I can't always be thinking about Fiora so there should be more being put into this story in the near future :) and of course last but not least I hope you enjoyed it! :)

Prologue: Impatience

Leona stared down momentarily at the small cup and the deep orange liquid inside as it was placed down in front of her. She proceeded to briefly thank the slight waitress before impatiently turning her attention to the bandaged companion in front of her. His enchanted clay mask remained passive as it usually did though she knew it would mirror his expressions once their conversation started. He was thin but the wiry muscles hidden beneath the bandages that covered nearly his entire body gave away the hidden strength she knew he possessed. Though despite the uniqueness of his apparel one thing about him drew her attention. His left eye and the area around it was displayed due to the large chunk missing from his mask and she could see the results of the terrible burns he must have suffered. A single, silver iris filled with seemingly unending wisdom studied her in return as she finally took a sip of the tea that she ordered.

"For you to understand why I abandoned the Solari," he began, "You must understand the nature of secrets I was entrusted with... and why."

"And what were they Elias?" the young woman hissed quietly, careful to not attract the attention of the other customers in the small tea shop.

"The so called 'Champion of the Solari'," he reflected, "was little more than the glorified assassin for some old priests that had closed their minds off to a truth given to them on a-"

"You're starting to sound like Diana," Leona interrupted loudly.

The clay mask took a reflective, almost guilty expression as he stopped himself from returning the rude gesture.

"I could never cond-"

"Don't defend her, traitor!"

"I'm-"

"Do you even know what it's like?! To have friends, family, teachers, everyone, just slaughtered like they were nothing?! Filth like you cou-" Leona just about yelled, the poison in her words apparent to all in the cafe.

The deep timbres of Elias's voice rose to match hers as his hand slammed on the table, the sheer force spilling the tea everywhere. "I NEVER forgot them!" The expression on his mask was one of pure hurt as a tears began to well in the one eye he had left. The cafe became as silent as a grave as every person turned to watch the scene unfolding.

The Radiant Dawn looked as if she'd been slapped as she noticed the faces of the customers staring at the two League Champions. Her gaze returned to the angered man standing in front of her. He was imposing now, his tall, lean figure causing his shadow to silhouette him against the light filtering in through the front window. It would have been a frightening sight if not for the deep sadness showing on his mask.

"They were my friends too... my family..." His voice was hushed now, no more than a whisper to her but he corrected himself and his voice returned to his usual authoritative tone. "This is not a subject to be discussed in public. If you ever wish to learn the truth come see me at my apartment in the Institute."

Leona then watched him turn and walk toward the door, leaving a small, leather pouch of coins on the front desk as payment for the tea they both were unable to drink. Taking one last glance over his left shoulder he stepped out into the street and seemed to disappear into the crowd due the breakneck pace at which he walked. She tried to shake herself from the shock of what just happened as she pondered the recent argument. This moon worshipper wasn't cold and hateful like the Avatar he revered. Beneath that mask hid emotion, sadness and pain. He was human, just like her. And just like her, he was hurting.

She sensed a soft touch on her shoulder and it woke her from her train of thought. Looking up she saw the waitress that had served her minutes earlier staring at her with a look of concern.

"Are you ok Miss Leona?" she asked with a worried tone. Realising that the waitress had been trying to shake her from dazed state, Leona beamed back a smile that she had perfected due to the celebrity she had received her whole life.

"Yeah I've been through worse ha ha," joked the Radiant Dawn jubilantly. Slipping a pouch of coins rivaling that of the one on the counter into the young waitress's hand, she quietly gave her apologies for the scene she had caused and stood up from the table. She had realised her mistake and now she knew that she had to apologise to the shy, masked man. She rushed out the door and into the busy street leaving a shocked audience inside the cafe as her head shot left and right, eyes scanning every inch of the roadway and footpath to no avail. He was gone and she visibly slumped as she hailed the nearest form of road transport. Climbing into the small horse drawn carriage, she flipped a coin to the driver and nodded to the colossal building that overlooked the the small city. The carriage lurched toward the Institute of War and she thought about how she would word her apology as a lone cloud proceeded to cover the sun, steeping the street in shade.