Dark on Me
Part One
x
There's no hate,
There's no love
Only dark skies that hang above
x
Clouds were gathering over the mansion, replacing the pretty summer skies with heavy and depressing ones. She noticed the sudden shift of temperature, and the turnout the wind had taken, forcing the branches to throw themselves onto every window they found. Petite fingers traced the glass, wondering if the branches were strong enough to break it and cause her pain. The cuts would come from the broken grass rather than the branches, but she wondered, would it hurt?
The men from the Dauntless Vanguard had to halt their practice, despite her older brother's inquiries that a small wind wouldn't get to them. Only, it wasn't just a small wind. She twirled a golden lock between her thin fingers, as she watched from the second floor the men hurriedly gathering their stuff and running inside for shelter. Soon after, the rain came down, washing everything in its path.
An ivory summer dress danced at her every movement, as the golden haired girl walked in the hallways, humming to herself, her song matching that of the rain. It rarely rained in Demacia. But when it did, it seemed as though the rain made up for the whole year, in just one season. The end of summer, the beginning of autumn was always like that; rainy, muddy and downright Noxian. She couldn't help it but be reminded of it each and every time it rained. The rain was her judge, making sure to bring forth memories she wished to remain buried within, never to surface again. Her past would still come back to haunt her, with every droplet that crashed on the ground.
For, six years in the past, the Lady Luminosity was a very different person.
She had finally gotten her first mission outside of Demacia, namely in Noxus. It wasn't much, all she had to do was some scouting, stay the night and return the following morning with information. Easier said than done, really. The teenager couldn't get used to the air, in the first place. It was polluted, heavy and reeking of alcohol and drugs. Then, the people. It was the first time she had left Demacia, and the cultural difference was huge. Starting from the fashion, and ending with the people themselves, it seemed as though she had stepped in a different world, one opposite to hers. Leather, chains and armour consisted of mainly every fighter's attire, while the usual people wore simple dark clothes. Of course, she had also opted for a long, black dress and a dark cloak to cover her hair, since blondes didn't belong to Noxus.
And for the first half of the day, she had managed to do her mission. Or well, part of it. Gathering intel wasn't so easy, as the people she needed wouldn't cross her path just like that. Still, she did the best she could, despite the fact that she didn't want to be there. She didn't want to be anywhere, truth to be told. After being forced to join the military, it felt as though every choice slipped through her fingers. She would not be free. She would not be allowed to do as she pleased.
Just as she was wandering on the filthy streets of Noxus, where fights would break out at every corner, she noticed droplets crashing on the ground. She mentally slapped herself, only now remembering that in Noxus, it rained quite frequently. But she was far from the tavern she had reserved a room in, and it was the beginning of a downpour. So she did the first thing that came to her mind and ran into a bar. Lux had no idea how long she remained there, savouring alcohol, and getting drunk, since she had no tolerance, but outside was still raining.
Then, somehow it happened. She had no recollection of it, no matter how much brainstorming she did. There was a man, clad in shadows, and she wasn't able to see his face, nor guess some of his features. All she knew was that he had shoulder-length hair. She ended up drinking with him since, for some reason he seemed just as lost as she was, and then... Next time she blinked, she was lying on her back in a bed, with that man hovering over her, getting undressed.
It was so different than what she expected. Hell, she didn't want to lose her virginity in a rundown tavern in Noxus, to a man whose face she couldn't even see. But she was drunk and had lost her self control long ago. Yet, it was different. He had undressed them both, and with little to no foreplay, he was forcing himself through her folds, breaking her apart.
"Stop! You're hurting me, stop this instant!" She screamed in pain, her accent slipping past his ears, as she tried with little strength to make him stop. But he wouldn't, it seemed as though he was in a trance, out of this world.
Lux screamed and bit and scratched him, but to no avail. He wasn't fazed, his pace didn't change either, and all he did was ram into her core, tearing her apart, breaking her mind and body altogether. The tears wouldn't stop falling, the pain wouldn't subdue. It was supposed to be enjoyable, right? Then where was the pleasure? Where was the satisfaction, where was the feeling everyone would kill for? Where was it? All she could feel was pain and torture. It felt as though he was continuously stabbing her in the same spot, each thrust cutting deeper into her, wounding her more, damaging her to no return.
She stopped fighting back, then, just lay there like a lifeless doll, waiting for the torture to end. It did end, eventually, the same way it had begun; wordlessly, and in torment. He had said no word to her, but then again, why would he, after he treated her so? So he left, after tossing some money next to her, on the bloodied sheets.
Luxanna Crownguard was probably one of the hottest women in the whole Demacia, and there was no man who hadn't heard of her. At twenty-two, she was a strong soldier and an unmatched mage, with a big, warm heart and a smile that could melt icebergs. Luxanna Crownguard looked like a doll, with that long, golden hair and bouncing curls and big baby blue eyes, small nose and plump lips. She was short, thin but oh-so lovable. And she was always optimistic and positive, shooting lasers from her wand and killing people with her light magic. She was such a sweetheart, really.
Bullshit.
The real Luxanna Crownguard hated mostly everything. Really, there were very few things she didn't hate, compared to the endless list of what she couldn't stand. And it was no wonder that she had grown up into such a hateful person, after her life was decided by her parents, without her consent. Back when she was a child, she wanted to become a librarian, to travel the whole of Runeterra, to visit the places she had read about, to do so much, so much. Her wings were shortly cut, though, as her parents forced her into the military, with the mentality that she wouldn't be good at anything else anyways. That was when she lost her smile.
Lux had gained a mask the moment she became part of the League, probably the only decision she made on her own. She had light magic, she was a powerful mage, and she had the chance to start anew. So she decided to push away her hatefulness and put on random acts of positivity and smiles. Mostly everyone bought it, anyways.
"Lady Lux, hello!" A member of the Vanguard greeted her, as they ran into each other in the hallway.
The blonde stopped as well, returning the greeting with a sweet smile. "Hello," what a hateful house, turned into training ground.
Indeed, the mansion she had grown up in was turned into the Vanguard's training grounds and also living quarters. Since her family was specialised in combat, it seemed as the right choice. Right. And because she wasn't allowed to move out, she had to share a roof with all those monkeys in heat who tried to impress her with every chance they got, had to eat with them at the same table and had to endure those stupid stories they would tell to catch her attention. She loathed her life. Soon, she would be married to one of those cavemen, who were made up only of muscle and she would be forced to wear her mask continuously. Just thinking about that made her feel tired.
She hated this country, its tradition and mentality. She hated everything that bound her and held her down. Rules, rules and thick headedness. It contrasted with everything she was and believed in. Oh, how she hated her life.
Since she wasn't summoned as frequently on the Rift, she had her own sweet time to rot away in that mansion. But Lux would every now and then take the opportunity and accept certain missions regarding Noxus. That episode was no different. At dinner, after having to put on smiles until her cheeks hurt, her brother mentioned that a request came up, for someone to investigate a certain circle in the inner workings of Noxus. Lux was more than happy to take the mission for herself.
x
I call your name as I walk alone
Send a signal to guide me home
x
She's been part of the League for years now, and among the fake friendships, she also managed to befriend certain people, who would see through her layers of fake positivity easily. One of them was a certain redhead, an assassin as feared as she was desired by the men and envied by the women. Not that Lux cared much, as she and Katarina had been very close. So close, that she had shared a secret passageway she used whenever she crossed from Noxus onto Demacia, on certain missions. And since it was Lux's turn to infiltrate, she was more than glad that Kata had shared it with her.
"Ugh," the blonde groaned as her boot sunk in mud, while she had to walk through the forest. It was still raining, much to her wonderful amazement. She had to change into different attire, so she was wearing a loose, almost see-through blouse, fitted leather pants and military boots. She had her hair tied in a bum and a cloak with a hood thrown over her body, as she explored the wilderness of the border in the middle of the night during a downpour.
God, she loved her life.
Then again, Katarina promised to send someone to pick her up, so at least that was reassuring. With a sigh, Lux kept advancing, until she was sure she crossed the borders and was stepping on Noxian territory. The stench in the air gave it away anyways.
I missed you, what can I say. She noted to self as she scrunched her nose and walked through the forest, keeping on alert still. She didn't like Noxus, for many reasons, but if she were to make a comparison, she disliked it less than Demacia, which spoke for itself.
The woman couldn't take more than two steps towards the city, which was still far away, and she felt the coldness of a blade pushing onto her warm neck. The least she had been, was surprised, though.
"Nice welcome." Lux said sarcastically as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
The warm breath against the back of her neck didn't give away much, however, but the blade pressing onto her flesh, the hand manoeuvring it and the proximity of the one welcoming her in the rain surely created shivers to race down her back. But she wasn't intimidated by him, nor by his tall, lean body or the fact that his aura gave off a killer instinct. The blade didn't do as much as graze her skin, after all.
He moved closer, placing his other arm around her waist, feeling her for any possible weapons, though he knew very well she only used her wand, which, by the way, she left back in Demacia. She wasn't that strong at it, but if needed, she could do some melee fighting. The friction he created made her hood fall off her head, revealing golden locks in the dead of the night. Some locks grazed his cheek as he checked her pouch and hips, and the scent of lilac sneaked in his nostrils, nearly making him lose his footing. But he knew better than give in to carnal instincts and, after making sure she held nothing dangerous on her – aside from the fact that the blondie was danger in herself – he let go of her.
Lux grimaced as she pulled the hood back on her head, her hair already wet by the way he handled her. Turning around to face him, she glared at him to show him how displeased she was. Surely, though, he could care less.
"You're clean." The man added, with that deep and dark voice of his, blade already tucked away in the safety of the shadows, and Lux had to crane her neck backwards to steal a glance at his face.
"No, I'm completely drenched. I need a hot bath once we reach the house." She demanded with annoyance, her voice rising a few octaves, as she had to make herself heard over the sound of the rain.
Talon. She knew him, although not so well. She had no connection to him, and no reason to hang out with him either. He had joined the League about one year after she did, but he was just as he looked like: cold and unreachable. She knew about him, knew his story, but never cared enough to mind him. But standing there in the rain, so much taller than her, long hair wet and clad in dark, a sprinkle of red revealed itself as he looked at her for a split of second, Lux was very well aware that this man was dangerous.
Then again, she was best friends with one of the best assassins in Noxus, and the same person who screwed around half the population in both states.
"Can we go already? I'm cold and I'm wet." She stomped her military boot in the mud, splashing them both in the process, and then groaning some more. Talon, on the other hand gave away nothing. If he minded that he got splashed, he didn't show. Then again, he never showed anything.
Instead, he moved past her, and began walking towards the city. They were still away from it though, and Lux was becoming more and more annoyed. Those damned cloaks didn't do anything to prevent them from getting wet. Next time she's visiting Piltover, she was going to buy one of those umbrellas, or special cloaks made to be water-resistant.
Half an hour later, they reached the town, and Lux sighed inwardly, knowing she was soon going to get to the Du Couteau mansion. After she crossed half of Noxus and walked up the Grand Hill, the neighbourhood where the rich and important people of Noxus lived in. It was like a fortress, with ultimate security and similar bullshit.
Lux was walking behind Talon silently, her steps echoing on the street, the rain trying to mimic her actions. Fog rose around them, giving the streets an even more sinister feel. Then again, it didn't scare the young woman, as she had seen worse. Still, she hated walking in the rain, and she was tired. She wanted a hot bath and a glass of wine. She couldn't wait to arrive at Katarina's place.
And as expected, Talon was silent like a ghost. He just led the way, occasionally looking around when he heard sudden noises, making sure nobody would jump on them, but that was it. Lux was fine with it. It wasn't like she was looking for someone to babysit her, or treat her like a princess. Nor was she expecting him to make advances on her. Out of the many men, Talon was probably one of the few who could care less about her. And she liked this sudden change of atmosphere. For once, she could relax around someone – well, in that department, because otherwise she was still on her toes – knowing that they didn't want to court her. She looked up at his back, noticing how wide it was and how strong his arms and shoulders seemed, how steady his every step was, and how alluring the way he walked was. She didn't remember how his face looked like, but Lux figured he'd be sexy even with an ugly face. His body made sure of that.
And finally, after another terrifying half an hour, they reached the Du Couteau household. What was once a proud, illuminated place, turned into a slightly rundown and cold nest. The front yard was uncared for, the huge, metallic gates nearly falling apart as they creaked at the two's arrival, the whole house looking as though it would soon fall apart. During the time Katarina's mother was still alive, the house flourished and it was covered in lights and laughter and parties. Then, after her death, everything slowly died out. Her father disappeared nearly six years ago, soon followed by her younger sister, Cassiopeia. So it was just the two of them, Katarina and Talon, living in that house by themselves.
Creaking the huge, wooden door open, Talon allowed her to step in first, and Lux was welcomed by a dark and empty hallway. She took off her cloak and hung it in the rake, like she always did and waited for Talon to close the door behind them and offer her a pair of slippers. Instead, he turned his back at her and took off his own cloak, hanging it next to hers. Lux then watched as he ran long fingers through chocolate hair, its edges curling due to them being wet. Noticing her gaze, her turned around with a frown. Indeed, his face was handsome. Chiselled, with strong feature and even stronger crimson eyes.
"What?" He mouthed with annoyance, upon realising she was not backing off.
"Slippers." The woman demanded. "I don't plan on walking around with muddy boots." He groaned at that and threw at her a pair of slippers, which were not the ones she usually wore, by the way. Not to mention, those were three or four sizes bigger than her own.
And yet, when Lux looked up, he had disappeared with the shadows. Rolling her eyes and paying him no further attention, Lux decided to head straight to the library, which was actually the room Kata spent the most time in, gazing at the fire and especially drinking.
This time too, Lux had found her in an armchair, leafing a book in a bored manner, glass of wine next to her on a small table.
"Kataaa!" She shouted in glee once she saw her best friend, and launched herself into her arms instantly. The other woman, who was a bit older than her was surprised at first but then hugged her back.
"Missed you," the redhead then said with a huge smile, but the moment water dropped on her collarbones and shoulders, she grimaced. "God, you need a towel to dry your hair. And a new set of clothes." Katarina then added as she scrunched her nose.
Lux shrugged with a grin, as she waited patiently, sitting on the armrest, while her friend disappeared in one of the rooms, appearing with a fresh set of clothes and a towel. "Thank you," the blonde added, while taking the clothes and disappeared in the bathroom.
Minutes later, she appeared in the library, and when she did, Lux noticed a new glass next to Katarina's, and the redhead was this time sharpening her daggers. The clothes she was given were similar to Katarina's, an oversized sweater, though Lux's was beige and Kata's black, some shorts and socks. She tried her best to dry her hair, but that was all she could do, and left the edges curl on their own. When she took a place in the other armchair facing the bricked chimney and the roaring fire, Lux could finally be at ease, sinking in the soft cushions.
"Feels so good to be here," the blonde then whispered, while drinking some wine. Kata's wine was the best. Period.
Her best friend chuckled at her then sipped from her glass as well. It was so late in the night, or so early in the morning, and despite the long journey, Lux felt her fatigue fly out the window. Maybe it was Kata's presence, or the fact that she was finally out of hell.
"How long are you staying?" Even if the question sounded mean, Lux knew better. Katarina was genuinely curious, as she also missed spending time with her, and besides, even strong women got lonely sometimes...
"Hmmm... I've been thinking of a couple of weeks. Got enough money on me for a whole month or so." Lux added as she pulled her legs to her chest, the navy slippers coming into view. Were those his?
Katarina's chuckle interrupted her train of thought, and the blonde looked at her best friend with curiosity. "What's the excuse this time?" Oh, Kata knew her so well!
"I'm supposed to investigate the Black Rose and its workings." She grimaced. "I'll just ask LeBlanc some unimportant details not to return empty-handed and voila."She wouldn't show it, but Lux definitely knew her way around Noxus.
And, even if she hated the city, she did like its people. Well, some of them.
"Hey Lux," as she looked at the redhead, Lux noticed she was biting her bottom lip. "Can you sleep with me tonight?" She then asked with a slight blush.
The smile she was wearing only widened. Of course, the question wasn't sexual. It only meant for Katarina not to sleep alone, after so much time. "No need to ask, silly."
A/N: Oh, looks like I'm on fire, lol. But I really like Talon, so I can't help it. And Lux is my precious baby q.q I mean, one of the mages I usually pick when playing mid. Anyways, This is the first part of the story, the second one coming up later. I know it has a gloomy feeling, but I always tried to write a story about Lux not being such a perfect, bubbly girl like everyone portrays her. Hope I didn't fail so much :D
The lyrics taken from Starset Dark on Me
