Author's Note: Thanks for reading! This is my way of learning to get comfortable with gay people. I was raised to not be very tolerant, but I'm trying to move past that. Of course I'm perfectly fine with people being gay (whatever makes you happy, right?), it's just I feel awkward and get a little weirded out around gay people. I love Yordles, they're so cute, and if I can accept them being homosexual, it's a first step to being comfortable around real people in my own life. I know it's strange, but bare with me! Please take some time to review the story! Any reviews are greatly appreciated.
Written from Kennen's point of view:
'I can't believe I was so stupid. How could I have let that happen? This is so humiliating!' I thought to myself as I left the Summoner's Rift and reentered the Institute of War. I had just finished fighting in the worst League match of my life. It was another fight between my home, Ionia, and Noxus, and I was off my game from the start. It started with me forgetting to leash the Ancient Golem for our team's jungler, and things only got worse from there on out. During the laning phase I barely managed to last hit any minions; I just couldn't focus. Pretty soon I foolishly gave first blood to the enemy, and before I knew it I spent half the game out of commission. It turned into a game of me waiting to get summoned, only to reenter the battle and get myself killed again. I cost our team the match; I was the reason we lost to Noxus.
I let myself down, I let my friends down, and worst of all I let the people of Ionia down. We just can't afford any losses against Noxus. It's just not an option. That's why, when our team was returned to the Institute of War by our summoners, I ran. Shen and Akali, my Kinkou brother and sister, called out to me to turn back, but I just couldn't. I couldn't face them right now, not after what just happened. I just kept running; I needed to be alone. Soon I found myself outside of the Institute of War all together, climbing down the front steps until all that stood before me was a lonely road stretching as far as the eye could see and the dense forestry that surrounded the Institute. I decided to go into the woods, where at least I wouldn't be bothered for a few hours. I knew that eventually I would need to go back, that running wouldn't make this problem go away. Leaving for a little while would give me time to calm down and hopefully think of a way to face the world after my less than exemplary performance on the Fields of Justice.
It was hard to find my way through the woods when it was so dark out; the League match had taken most of the day, and the sun had just set a little while ago. I was careful to try and keep track of where I was going; I didn't want to get lost in the woods and have to spend a night there. I started making trail markers early on as I went, preparing for the eventuality that I would have to find my way back through the dark forest. I wasn't sure of how good of job I was doing of marking my tracks, but for now this was better than what was lying in store for me back at the Institute.
After walking for a little awhile it felt like I was going uphill. I kept on going, thinking if I could get to the crest of the hill I would eventually be able to look over these trees and find the Institute for when I wanted to go back. Continuing forward, I came a break in the dense tree cover up ahead. I ran to it, and soon I found myself at the edge of a small cliff overlooking the forest that stretched ever outwards in front of me. But it wasn't the forest below that got my attention, but the stars above. There was the most beautiful stretch of sky opened up in front of me, with what seemed liked thousands of stars twinkling against the darkness. It was as if heaven itself had revealed itself to me, and soon I found myself sitting down, back to the nearest tree, just staring up in awe. I don't know how long I was sitting there, it could have been seconds or it could have been minutes, but I was sent back into reality when I heard the sound of a bush rustling behind me.
I stood up, grabbed my shuriken, and brought it into the ready position. I wasn't about to let myself get ambushed; who knew what lived in this forest. Worse yet, I realized, it could have been one of Noxus' champions; they were just as free to roam the woods as I was. Just then a small figure emerged from the bush; it was Captain Teemo of the Bandle City Scouts. I lowered my guard; I didn't know Teemo, but he was definitely friendly, especially judging from his smile. I was relieved that I wasn't in any danger, but my relief was short lived when I knew my much needed alone time was cut short.
He came up to me and said in a chipper voice, "Hi! You're Kennen, right?"
"Yah" I replied drearily. I kept my answers short; I wasn't in a very social mood after what happened today.
"I see you found my spot. It sure is something, isn't it?" Teemo said back, cheery as ever.
"Mhm" I mumbled back in the same dejected tone, hoping he would get the message that I wanted to be alone.
"Mind if I joined you?" Teemo asked.
'Damn it!' I thought to myself, but I didn't want to ruin my relationship with Teemo right from the beginning. He was a friend to Ionia and a potential ally, so I answered, "Of course. I'm going to be here for a little while anyways."
I sat back down under the tree, and Teemo sat right down next to me, taking off his hat and putting it aside. Clearly he was trying to get comfortable. Great; I really didn't need this right now. Despite his intrusion I tried to pretend I was still alone, just so I could retain some semblance of sanity. With only the forest noises around me and the stars up ahead of me; it was simply a matter of mind over matter, nothing new to me after a lifetime of ninja training. After a few minutes I almost forgot he was there; my plan was working exceptionally well. That was, until Teemo decided to speak up.
"I saw your League match today." Teemo began, looking over at me.
'Can't I just get away from this for one second? Please! Just one second!' I screamed to myself in my head. Turning back at him, I replied to him in an annoyed voice, "Yah? What about it?"
"Everyone has a bad day every once in awhile. People learn from their mistakes and move on. You'll be a better person for it." Teemo responded, putting his hand on my shoulder and looking over at me with a smile.
"Damn it, I don't need to be patronized by you! I'm not some kid, you don't need to spout those platitudes at me!" I yelled at him angrily, pushing his hand away from my shoulder. I know he was trying to comfort me, but I was beyond caring. I didn't even want my friends around, why did he think he was welcome to be here with me?
After that we just kind of sat there for awhile, neither of us looking at or saying anything to each other. I couldn't even relax and enjoy the stars anymore, I was too focused on his intrusion into my few moments of peace before the storm at the Institute. An hour passed, maybe more, before either of us even acknowledged the others existence again. Eventually, it was Teemo who broke the silence.
"You know," he said, still looking up at the stars, "I know that no matter what happens, there will always be beauty in the world, right here. Whatever happens down here on Runeterra, the stars will always be up there, shining down on us for all to see. It's comforting, to know that no one and no thing can take that away." Sighing, Teemo then got up, looked down at me, and said, "I think you've made it pretty clear that you want to be left alone." Finished, he picked up his hat, put it on, and left.
Throughout his speech I just sat there, staring forwards, as if I didn't even notice he was still there, let alone saying anything. I didn't even say goodbye; I was just happy he was leaving. I tried to dismiss what he said, to get back to where I was when I first found the break in the trees. I just wanted things to start over, to have my alone time again. I couldn't escape him though; his words played themselves back in my head. Just when I would begin to forget they'd creep their way back in, and suddenly I'd be listening to his speech again in my mind. They seemed like a lot more than those kindergarten phrases he spouted at me before, I realized. After awhile they started to really sink in; he was right. It is comforting to know there's beauty in the world that no one could take away, not even Noxus.
I just stayed under the tree for awhile, looking up at the stars, contemplating what it was he said to me. I started to calm down, and after a little while I started to feel normal again. I screwed up earlier, but not as bad as I thought. Noxus might have won a victory, but they're a far cry from taking away all the beauty in the world, everything that I hold dear. Ionia will still be there, my brother and sister Shen and Akali from the Kinkou Order will still be there, all of it.
I...I was finally ready to go back to the Institute, to face my friends and the Ionian public. I got up, said one final goodbye to the stars, and started making my way back. Following the trail markers I made earlier, I soon made it to the gates of the Institute. I stood up straight, pushed open the doors, and made my way inside. Things were going to be alright.