The Battle Bunny

Riven made her way down the barely lit street. She passed by under a lamp post. A multitude of insects flurried around the light source, enslaved by its luminescence. She cursed silently and bit her lip as the high heel of her right ruby shoe caught itself in a crack. She swayed unsteadily before righting herself. How does Eve move in these things? She thought to herself. The blue-skinned seductress didn't just move in them, she often fought in them too. Evelynn may have been a dangerous masochist but you had to respect the woman for her dexterity if nothing else. Riven, even after all this time, still couldn't quite get the hang of the infuriating footwear. For the third time on her way to her part-time job she considered kicking them off and walking the rest of the way barefoot. But then she would only put a hole in her stockings, and those weren't hers to begin with.

A cool gust of air blew across the park. Riven wrapped the long trench coat around her toned figure, blushing slightly at the thought of what lay underneath. How did I even end up working at Furries? The whole thing was ridiculous, but Chase was a savvy businessman. A wily coyote of sorts with a wallet packed with silver and a tongue to match it. He knew how to get what he wanted and somehow he had talked her into taking this occupation. Never in her life had she ever imagined herself working in such an establishment. But there it was.

Riven continued her way down the beaten sidewalk. She often took this route as a shortcut on her way to work whenever she ended up late or lost track of time due to her frequent matches. Chase usually cut her some slack but Riven didn't like taking advantage of his patience and she made it a resolution to show up to work on time whenever she could. She shouldn't have had to work. Champion funds were quite lucrative, but all her earnings were going to a better cause. Riven frowned and her thoughts inevitably drifted to the horrors of her experiences in the war. The reconstruction efforts in Ionia were still ongoing. Even after a decade the scars of war still remained and there was much to be done to fix the mistakes of the past.

I guess this is a form of penance as well. Riven thought to herself soberly

It was night time. Well into the evening. The moon was out in all its platinum glory, a pale disk that pierced the darkness. The silver sphere illuminated her path clearly, as if in approval of her actions. She probably didn't even need the aid of the hexaturgically powered streetlamps. The city that surrounded the outskirts of the Institute was probably the second most advanced in all of Valoran beaten only by the City of Progress itself. Riven stopped, slowing down briefly to take in the moons heavenly glory. She chided herself for dilly dallying. Riven needed to hurry or she would be late. If Diana caught her looking moonstruck the zealot would probably try to browbeat Riven into joining her moon cult.

"Beautiful moon tonight, don't you think?" A silky aristocratic voice said from behind.

Riven paused. Not many people could sneak up on her. She was startled at first but then she became extremely alert when she realized who had addressed her.

"Vladimir." She said coldly. Her tone was noticeably neutral. A man materialized from the shadow of a tree, wearing a bright red coat as was his usual attire. He had been casually leaning against its trunk. The Crimson Reaper lived up to his namesake. Riven couldn't remember an instance where Vlad had worn any shade other than one resembling blood. The man might have been handsome to Riven if not for his reputation or his eyes. She was very familiar with those eyes by now. They were the windows to the soul of a killer, and it was a career Vlad enjoyed to the fullest. Riven knew way too many monsters for her liking, and the thing that depressed her most was that she had worked with many of them in the past. She had been one in the past, though Riven had never made Vlad's acquaintance till she joined the League.

"My, you're so cold Riven", He said. "No need to be so sour. You'll work up your blood pressure if you behave that way. It's not healthy you know." Vladimir grinned in a way he probably thought was disarming.

To Riven it only came off as predatory. "Thank you for your concern." Riven turned continuing on her way. "But I am in a hurry and I don't have time to chat."

"I know you don't exactly care much for fashion Riven, but really that rag you've got draped around you is obscene. It's a shame how you cover up your form in that debauchery. A woman of your caliber should let it all out."

Was that a compliment? Riven blushed slightly at the thought of someone making a positive remark about her appearance. She wasn't accustomed to such things and barely gave them any thought. Then she remembered who she was speaking and the fact that he'd also managed to insult her at the same time.

"Allow me to be your escort for this evening." Vlad said, sweeping his leg behind him while making an elaborate bow. "As it so happens I'm heading towards the same place as you."

Rivens eyes grew wide in shock. "No. That's not-Wherever you think I'm heading you're mistaken."

"Oh am I?" This time Vlad's smirk was intended to be predatory. "Then you won't mind showing me what you've got hidden under there. Nothing scandalous I hope."

Riven colored once more: subconsciously wrapping the trench coat tighter around her form. "That's right. And I don't need your company or an escort. I am a Champion and am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Now that's harsh." Vlad, said rising from his bow. "I'm only trying to be a gentleman. Where's the harm in two fellow Noxians going for a relaxing stroll together?" As I said before we're going to the same place. Furries is only a little ways from here. They serve really delicious red wine. The manager there has exceptionally good taste for such a quaint establishment."

Riven nodded hesitantly. Of course Vlad would know she worked there. He was actually quite a regular customer at Furries along with a few other Champions. Graves had often made his rounds there and driven up the tab on more than a few occasions. Riven had even seen Talon once or twice but she guessed it was more for the purpose of acquiring information and using it as a meeting place to conduct his shady operations with clients. The only saving grace out of any Champions she knew was Zac and he was only there because he had been hired as the clubs 'bouncer'; a pun that had not been lost on the goofy gelatinous blob man. He must have laughed for hours before they could get him to shut up about it.

Riven thought she had managed to hide herself well enough when a customer came in that she recognized. She would often request Chayce to allow her to work from behind the kitchen or in another area of the bar. Riven didn't exactly want word getting out that she was working there. If it became common knowledge she would have had to kill herself from embarrassment. Unfortunately she had developed a sort of reputation. Riven had twisted more than a few lecherous groping hands that sought out her firm buttocks. Before Zac, Riven had been Furries unofficial security guard. Whenever some of their patrons got too rowdy or tried to carry off one of the girls Riven had sent more than a few of the scoundrels packing with plenty of broken bones to remind them to behave. People had started calling her 'the Battle Bunny'. Zac's employment was something of a godsend in that regard. He could draw some of the attention away from her finally by taking over those duties.

It was her fault but Riven still had her pride and she had developed a surrogate family of sorts at Furries. She was very protective of everyone who worked there. She was actually starting to make friends and - on a few occasions - even had heartfelt conversations with some of the girls regarding her past. From those conversations she was shocked to discover that many of her coworkers had plenty of skeletons buried in their own closets. It was comforting, being reminded that she wasn't the only person in the world lamenting their life-choices.

Chayce, Furries owner, manager, and bartender had been the biggest surprise out of all of them. She had originally pegged him as some female sex objectifying man who only cared about making a tidy profit, but he watched out for his employees, especially the girls. His employees viewed him as something of a brother or a father figure depending on who you asked. If something bad happened or they had an issue with a customer Chayce would usually give those working under him the benefit of the doubt. Chayce had an odd sort of chivalry to him; a strange characteristic for a man running a bawdy night club.

Riven and Vlad made their way to Furries. Vlad extended a bent arm as an invitation. She took it after a moment's hesitation, hooking her arm inside. Riven knew Vlad was an unrepentant murderer, so why did she feel absurdly rude when she thought of declining him? Sighing deeply, she relented, though not with-out considerable stiffness on her part. Riven walked on in stoney-faced silence while Vladimir, sensing her discomfort, smiled almost good-naturedly.

He's enjoying this. Bastard! Riven was tempted to yank her arm out of the crook of his elbow right then. She felt trapped. This almost seemed too convenient. Had he been waiting for her…stalking her even?

"Take a deep breath Riven. Your pulse is getting a little frantic. Is something on your mind", He enquired.

"No." Riven replied almost too quickly. "It's nothing. Nothing at all." Riven hated how easily he could read her. Vlad was very perceptive of others state of mind, no doubt an attribute to being a practiced Hemomancer. It was either that or he was just insightful by nature, and - being this close - he no doubt could sense the blood flowing through her veins. The thought made her feel cold even underneath the thick fibers of her trench coat.

Vladimir shrugged. "Who am I to argue? You know your own feelings better than I."

Riven did not respond. She continued on in uncomfortable silence, though Vladimir seemed incredibly relaxed himself. He even struck up a jaunty tune and whistled quite skillfully as they walked. It was odd, but his casualness somehow relieved some of Riven's tension. She began to feel less worried as Furries came into view. A neon pink sign decorated the front of the building, depicting the sultry outline of a woman wearing an animalistic outfit. The words 'Furries' was written beneath it in flamboyant cursive writing. It was good they had arrived. Rivens mind had been constantly haunted by the idea of being left as another female statistic buried in a city park.

"See?" Vladimir said. "That wasn't so bad. A friendly stroll never killed anybody." Vlad laughed breathlessly as he entered Furries, leaving Riven behind to scowl after him. She took a deep breath before following him inside. A strange foreboding came over, but it didn't have anything to do with her escort. She just had this unnerving feeling that it was going to be a long night.