Author note:
I would just like to say that I do not often play Dota, nor when I play have I ever done so as Anti-Mage, so I really do apologize for any in-game inaccuracies. If I have made any mistakes, I would love to hear about them.

I just really enjoy the Anti-Mage/Invoker pairing, I think it's absolutely adorable.
To be honest, I'm really just doing this for fun, so it's one of my sillier, "just for the heck of it" stories.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy! :)

Anti

"Anti-Mage," a voice resounded behind me. I shot a look over my shoulder, having to lean slightly around the base of the glowing green tower to see who was speaking. Hmpf, of course it was the damn Earthshaker.

"What, Raigor?" I asked gruffly, not wanting to be bothered. Right now I just wanted to be alone, pondering my plan for the morrow.

"Come, drink with us, my friend. We greet a new member of our ranks tonight."

"I think celebrations will be merrier without me." I turned away from him, looking out over the river.

"There are few celebrations, simply getting to know each other."

"I'll pass. I assume it's a mage of some cast, I can scent the stench of magic upon you."

"You have no idea, Anti-Mage…" He grumbled, "I thought you just wouldn't want to be caught unawares tomorrow. This man is… rather…pompous."

"If he does anything wrong, I shall simply purge this world of another disgusting creature and all will be the better for it. No drinking or socializing needed."

"But-"

"I refuse, Raigor. Leave me be."

"...Do not say I did not warn you. He might simply visit your lane upon a whim." At this I snarled back.

"What would possess him to do this?"

"He is… overly confident of himself. He has expressed wishes to control this lane, and I thought your presence tonight might deter him."

"Do not worry, I'll deter him on the morrow. Go, drink, rest. The Brewmaster awaits you." As the footsteps died away I growled into the darkness, "As the Lightning Revenant awaits me…" As if to prove this, blue shocks appeared across the horizon line.

I would be ready.

Before dawn, I woke to the slobber of a bouncing little- "Shagbark!" I shoved the happy creature off me, it's companion owls chirping happily. In it's maw it carried my boots. "Thanks, but I didn't purchase these yet… isn't it early for you to be out? Why are you here?"

The air stank of magic and I looked around suspiciously, was that mage the cause of this? Waking us all so early? Setting this precedent of early bird movements would only instigate the same in the enemy. I saw no one and removed my shoes, replacing them with the handmade ones that our shopkeeper had imbued with magic, eugh, to let us move faster.

I got up, stretching out all the kinks in my bones, with Shagbark running around happily dripping saliva in his wake. He soon left and ran back down the lane. Strange creature.

It was as I began to move carefully towards the river, peaking out over it, when suddenly I was shoved down the steps into the water. Who the fuck does that?!

I stood, shook the droplets from my head, and came face to face with a bored set of white eyes. "Greetings, purple man. I am here to claim this lane."

"Oh, fuck you." So this was the mage…

I rushed towards him, wishing I had my blades, ready to throttle him, when he grabbed me, pulling me to his chest for a second. I felt my feet leave the ground before we crashed into some foliage. "Going to watch out for the enemy anytime soon?" A voice whispered into my ear. I shivered and extricated myself from his grip, rising from the bushes he'd thrown us into. I...I hated his scent, the magic so thick about him. I hated it. And yet for one second… I felt so safe there. I looked to where we'd been, the evidence of Razor's lash on the ground.

Dammit… "I'm getting my blades," I bolted to the tower behind which my bags lay. "This bastard shall be dead before dusk..."

I crouched behind the tower, readying my blades, when long wispy blonde hair fell beside my face and I felt the mage's presence right behind me, "Leave the lane to me, Purple Man." Again, with the whispering into my ear... Goosebumps ran over my skin.

"You can leave the lane to me, I must farm, if you were interested to know anything about me."

"Yes, and I believe this is your first time mid-laning?" I blushed at this. "Yes, I see. Thinking we can go without a support now? I don't think so. And I won't." He leaned in, brushing his lips over my ear, jolting me with the slight contact, "Support you." I could hear the creep wave and I shoved him away, almost cutting him with my blades. "Hmpf," He smiled arrogantly, "Leave, Purple Man. Now. Run top, I do believe Venomancer is aimlessly slithering about, no? You should assist him."

I could not help but feel angry, so I did what I assumed was logical.

I decided to fuck with his lane by staying.

He allowed it as the creeps came in, and when they died and we had picked off Razor's miniature forces, the two sides staring each other down during the wait, I felt the mage's hand slip to my belt and suddenly it clicked open. "Whoops!" He grinned and bolted away as I fumbled to attach it again. Razor had stilled on the opposite side, cocking his head in a curious manner.

"Can you even act like an adult, you sickening mage?"

"Mage? You think me simply a mage?" He chuckled, "I am an arch-mage!"

That explains the churning low in my stomach… "Disgusting."

"No. Depraved...yes." He straightened up and gave me an assessing look, "Your name, Purple Man?"

"It is Anti-Mage, if you should know it."

"And mine is Invoker, though I would like your true name, if we are to invite death through a companionship here…" He gestured to the lane. Creeps were in the distance, and I couldn't help but hope they ran faster. Invoker. This was the man of legend, of infinite years and knowledge… and magic.

"Magina."

"An… anti-mage," His eyes widened, so expressive, and he looked as though he were explaining something very complicated, even going so far as to slow his speech, "Named…Magi-na?"

"Yes, and what name do you bear that is better than that of mine?"

"Carl."

Double take, "I apologize, but come again?"

"Carl. My name is Carl."

I stared, open mouthed. This was the wizard above all others, the coup-de-grace, and his name…

Creeps ran past me.

Was Carl.

He had lived since nigh the dawn of time, and he was named…

"Carl! Get Anti-mage in line!" I snapped my head around to see Windrunner pass by, glaring at me. But… His name was Carl…

I don't understand how no one seemed to notice this.

"I'm attempting valiantly, Windrunner!" Carl yelled back.

Carl.

Then those white eyes flooded my vision, and I was shocked to see his face was now entirely placid. He threw me to the wave, "Farm, damn you! I have you covered!"

Oh...okay then. My heart jumped… happily?
Oh! Fuck my fucking internal organs! They don't know shit!

Another two creep waves came and passed, and in the interlude we watched Razor prowl. Then I felt a hand low on my back. Immediately, sharp tingles of magic exploded from the point of contact and I arched away, tripping down the steps once more into the water. This time, when I pulled my head from the river, coughing, I heard a familiar voice.

"Magina! What in the hell are you doing?!" Crystal Maiden. Overbearing bitch… "Get out of there! Now! I'm sorry, Carl, I didn't realize he'd be a problem."

I dragged myself from the mud at the foot of the steps, clawing up the marble only to see Invoker staring listlessly around, "No, it is fine, I have dealt with inferiority my entire life. It is no change now."

What? "Hey, no! Rylai! He threw me in!"

"Threw you in? Why would he recklessly endanger you! Carl is not the type! Get back to work or I'll make you act as our courier!" Her snarl was to be reckoned with...

I winced and crawled out, "But-"

"Just because he can mid-lane better than you doesn't mean you can act like this and make up stories, it's pathetic! Once again, so sorry, Carl." Did she bat her eyes at him?

"It is of no consequence, I can handle this well enough."
"I'm sure you can…" She was blushing. Oh how the mighty fall…

"You should return to the jungle, Crystal Maiden." He rumbled.

"Oh, yes," She turned red, "Thank you!" And bolted.

"What did you just do!?" I pointed after her, gaping.

"I made a suggestion." Invoker gave a smug smile.

"Did you mind control her, or replace her with someone, because that is not the Rylai I know and abhor." I shook the water from my head. Two fingers suddenly caught my chin, directing me to gaze up into white eyes.

"You're all wet." He muttered, and heat flushed over me, originating from his fingertips. I realized as he released me that all the water I'd been previously soaked with was gone. "There, better." I was so stunned that he was able to simply swing a leg out and catch me behind the knees, causing me to fall. Most would have hurt themselves on blades like mine, but I was skilled enough to maneuver the sharpened metal away, though having to catch myself painfully on my elbows. I grunted and he chuckled. "Oh, I'm having sooo much fun. Shall we?" He arched a brow and jerked his head at the creep wave.

I would make him suffer so very, very badly…

Carl

I smiled down at the befuddle Anti-Mage before me. He sat behind the tower, successfully defended, and sulked in front of the flames. Blue lightning crackled in the enemy territory and every now and then that fire woman meandered by, scouting for Magina and I. I sat beside him, pulling out our late dinner rations, cooking them instantly, "Here." I handed it to him with a small smile.

He took it with a look that bespoke poison.

I appreciated the sculpted muscles, remembering my first glimpse of him this morning, stretching in dawn's light.

Beautiful.

I liked playing with him, he was rather easy to fluster in such matters of the immature, though I enjoyed the intense and unshakable demeanor he presumed upon taking up his blades to fight.

But alas, now, he was blushing in the firelight.

Sexy little beast… I must have you…

The thought shocked me.

Had I ever wanted someone…?

I thought back and realized no, not in all my years. Magic had been my sole companion… I wondered what made this man so special. I observed him clinically, assessing his good physique. He was sexy, I'd give him that, but over the years I'd seen more attractive men and women. With better hair styles…. But the markings did intrigue the eye… Unfortunately again, I had to discount this as there was much better body art elsewhere. What else? The clothing? Blah. Blades? Nice, but not unique. The eyes-

Magina glanced up at me and my heart leapt.

Ahh… And there it was.

I smiled down at him and pointed my spoon right at his nose, "You know, Anti, that you have the most gorgeous eyes?"

"What, you want them? Because I'd rather stare at my own eyes than your disgustingly vacant ones." He turned away, luckily, because I knew my face had contorted for a second in shock and pain.

His eyes had called to me, and he was revolted by my own…

Angry, I teleported the food from his bowl to my almost empty one.

"Give it back, Invoker!" He growled.

"Certainly," I dipped a spoon in the broth, whispering the words I needed under my breath.

"The hell!" Magina struggled but couldn't move his arms, his eyes went wild, causing my gut to clinch and the breath to leave my lungs in surprise at how much I enjoyed teasing him like this.

"Eat." I commanded, offering him the spoon with a smile.

"Like hell I will! Like hell you'll feed me!"

"I let you farm, I protected you, now I get a reward." I leaned in, "Open up."

He clenched his jaw shut. Fine. "I can just use magic for this."

"You wouldn't dare do-" I slipped the soup in his mouth, watching as he stilled, taking the broth from the spoon. I retracted it.

"Not so bad," I gathered another spoonful, delighting in his flushed face, "Should I continue?"

"No-" I slipped it in again.

"You are so adorable," I smiled.

This continued for a while till suddenly, with the last few bites, he just accepted it with a grim expression. This of course gave me butterflies for the rest of the night, and after I let him move he practically bolted to the other side of the camp. I lay down to sleep with joy.

Tomorrow would just be oodles of fun.