Katarina was never one for talking.

Actions spoke louder than words, although words barely got through to her anyway. She was too busy to bother herself with the needless prattle of politics. War solved disputes, violence solved everything.

But unfortunately, High Command did not see things her way.

She was not pleased in the least bit.

"Thank you for having us. We appreciate the invitation, don't we Katarina?"

A pause.

She felt an elbow prod her on the side of her abdomen, a blow that used more force than what was necessary.

Yes, she was not happy about this turn of events.

Another sharp prod, only this time it was harder.

Her eye twitched. Her good one.

Yes, she was definitely not happy about being here.

Not. At. All.

She glared at her serpentine sister, who stared right back. Cassiopeia's pupils narrowed into thin slits, and Katarina swore she was literally piercing into her soul with that gaze. It was unnerving, but not enough to intimidate Katarina.

That didn't mean shit though. She had no say in this, and she was going to have to go through with it, no matter how agonizing it would be.

Katarina clenched her jaw. Hard. "Yes, it's a pleasure to be here," she said with a forced grin.

Cassiopeia gave her a smug smile, satisfied that her unruly sister had complied and correctly said the line they'd rehearsed about twenty times on the way here.

God, she wanted to punch her in her goddamn face.

Their hosts either did not notice or paid no mind to Katarina's unusual behavior. "It's an honor to have the Sinister Blade of Noxus and her esteemed sister visit us in here in the Freljord."

Cassiopeia laughed, a rehearsed laugh, a laugh she used as a social charm. "No, the honor is ours, Queen Ashe."

"Please, just call me Ashe," the archer said with a polite, controlled smile.

It pissed Katarina off.

"Sister," she spat through gritted teeth. "Can I be dismissed?"

Cassiopeia studied her with disapproval. "Come again?"

Katarina shot her a dirty look. "May I be dismissed?"

Her younger sister crossed her arms. "My, such manners you have."

"May I please be dismissed?" she growled, her chest burning with frustration.

Cassiopeia put a hand to her chest. "Why, of course you may, dear sister. Now go." She made a shooing motion with her other hand. "Begone."

Katarina swallowed the lump of fury in her throat and sharply turned on her heels, nearly running away from the conversation.

She absolutely hated being sent on missions as a diplomat. That was Cassiopeia's field of expertise. Her charismatic sister would have been fine without her accompaniment, even though she was a monster now, but that didn't matter. High Command ordered her to help Cassiopeia create more friendly relations with the other nations. The Freljord was just the first stop of many they would make.

She was already miserable.

First of all, it was fucking cold. Why anyone would willingly choose to live in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nothing but ice and snow was completely beyond her.

In Noxus, it was hot. Not as hot as Shurima, but it was hot. And Katarina loved it.

But here? No. Here, her nipples were icicles.

They were fucking icicles.

They would probably just fall off if she took her clothes and bra off. It was ridiculous how cold it was. She didn't even know this level of coldness existed, let alone how people could live in it all their life.

God, she missed Noxus already. Well, she missed the heat in Noxus right now, but she also missed Noxus of course.

The only thing keeping her somewhat warm right now was her feelings of anger. The three thick layers of clothing she currently had on did nothing to shield her from the weather. It anything, they just served as a reminder about how cold it was, due to them feeling absolutely useless.

"Hey, I didn't expect to run into you here."

She turned, surprise written all over her face.

"Garen? What are you doing here?"

"I was sent as an envoy for Demacia. I take it that you're also one for Noxus?" he inquired.

"Yeah," she sighed. "I don't understand why they would even send me here when they have my sister."

Garen chuckled. "I agree. You and I are both terrible at politics. We're probably just here to show off as our nation's best."

Katarina smiled.

Perhaps being an ambassador wouldn't be that bad after all.


"Wow? Really?" Katarina raised her good eyebrow. The only one she could still move.

"Yeah, didn't he tell you?" Garen looked at her inquisitively.

"No, he didn't. I'm going to punch him in the fucking face for not telling me, actually."

Garen laughed, and the sound made Katarina feel warm. Conversing with him made her forget about the cold, about everything.

Her heart suddenly stung with sadness, longing.

Regret.

Garen didn't notice. Of course he wouldn't notice. Katarina always maintained a neutral facade in public, although it could be better described as a perpetually angry expression.

But her true emotions showed in her eyes, and he knew how to read her like a book.

"Hey," he said softly. "I don't think Talon's the type of person to talk about his love life. You know him, he's pretty secretive about everything."

She let herself frown a little. Just a little. "Yeah, but I'm his sister. I mean, we're not biologically related, but we're still family."

She heard a woman scoff behind her. "Not really, Katarina."

The assassin didn't even turn her head in acknowledgement. "I wasn't talking to you, Cass. What do you want?"

Cassiopeia folded her arms, a cross look on her face. "It's nearly midnight. You two have been ot here for hours talking. I think it's time for you two to go to bed."

Katarina frowned. She didn't even realize how dark it had gotten.

Garen scratched the back of his head bashfully. "Just give us another moment. Please."

The mage huffed. "Fine. Don't take too long. I'll wait for inside." She shivered. The chill must feel worse to her because she's literally cold-blooded.

Katarina wasn't one for sympathy though.

As she watched her sister leave, she felt a large hand gently place itself on her shoulder, a hot breath on her ear as Garen moved towards her.

"Kat…"

"You know we shouldn't," she said. "We agreed, remember?"

Garen sighed. "I know, but I just want you to know that I still love you, and no one can stop me from feeling this way."

Katarina stiffened. She bit her lip to stop it from quivering. Her eyes began to tear up.

"I wish it didn't have to be this way," she whispered. She was afraid she's break down if she spoke any louder.

"Me too, Kitty Kat. Me too."

He enveloped her in his arms and she leaned into his embrace.

She wished she could stay like that forever.

She knew they couldn't.

The two turned their heads in unison as they heard a door open. "Katarina," her sister warned, "You promised."

She felt anger at her sister for interrupting them, but she knew she was right.

She reluctantly pushed Garen away lightly. "I should go."

Garen coughed awkwardly, his face flushed as he deliberately looked anywhere but at the two Noxians. "I should get going as well. I'll… I'll see you later, alright?"

Katarina nodded, watching as the Demacian rushed inside the castle.

"Kat."

She didn't dare look up at her sister.

"I'm sorry," Cassiopeia said with a soft tone, one that she rarely heard, the one that she used when she wanted to show that she really cared about her sister.

Katarina hadn't heard it in ages.

"I'm not trying to insensitive, I'm really not, but you really should find someone else."

The assassin sighed forlornly, blinking back tears. "I know."