N.B. Dear Readers,
Hope this finds you well. This is essentially a long, romantic love-scene between Jayce & Erinae. The "good stuff" begins at pagebreak 7 and continues until the end.
(I'll warn you that Erinae is technically 14. But she's also half-tiger and, well, tigers age faster than humans. Right? Or something. Just pretend she's 16 if it truly bothers you).
What have I been up to? Oh, you know. 800 pages deep into my first OC novel.
I might add to this if you want. Thinking of Ezreal x Lux.
I miss you guys.
Regards,
vO
The dreams now always began the same: cold.
Arctic blue-green stars whirling overhead, glittering in the frigid black. Bitter snow spattering his nose, his mouth.
Then hearing the Ice Witch's booming voice: Ta- Kitan, Ezreal Lightbringer! The end of the Wheel! His ears crackling in the wake of her laugh, like fizzing fireworks. Hiss.
Pulse pounding in his temples and wrists. Wanting to run. Can't. My life's not my own. Has it ever been?
Looking up from the moon-soaked tiger fur, at the kid he partially raised. The god. Seeing the shiny aura wink blue, gold, blue, gold —
Red.
Silence! A shout with deep bass to it. Silence! Leave me — leave me alone!
That's not what you want, kid, he shouts. The numbing wind shoves between his lips and crushes the words. That's never what you wanted!
No one hears him.
The burning beginning in his limbs, racing to his stomach. Dissolving him into white fragments, flinging him into the black. Like the snow.
Not her.
He looses a cry from the very bottom of his lungs but it doesn't matter. It's flying apart. All flying apart. No one in the desolate tundra is listening. No one is trying to listen. Not the Destroyer, not the Healer. Not the gods, not the Wheel —
Silence! Leave me alone! Ta - Kitan! The Wheel bur —
In his bedroom in the Noxian palace, Jayce's eyes popped open. He had a moment of blind terror in the warm sunlight — the tiger wasn't there, her fur not where he expected, not under his grasping palm. Then he remembered she wouldn't be. She had morning practice.
Today was her quarterly recital.
For pole dancing.
He settled down into his sweaty pillows with a shudder and a sigh. Quaking.
It is alright to feel fear, he imagined Soraka saying. They'd found her wandering the halls of the Noxian Palace, uncursed, some six months after — well. The fight in the Hereafter. But you are a Piltover Egghead, or were one at some point. Let us use physical evidence to call your mind back to your body.
So Jayce checked to make sure he was still there. Intact. Could wiggle his toes — check. Could feel his hardening abs pound, aching and sore from his workout. Check. The pain was worth Erinae's admiration.
Speaking of Erinae — she'd left him three tiny links of sausage and two pieces of heart-shaped toast. No muffins though. Naturally.
He could wiggle his fingers. Could suck mild spring air in through his nostrils. Check.
He saw the note sitting by the plate and swung out of bed with a groan. Still alive. I guess.
He wanted to leave the snow behind. Leave Ta - Kitan. Erin helped.
Dear Professor Fuckass, he read, and snorted. The curvy handwriting was in deep purple glitter pen, on Royal Noxian stationary. You're out like a dead log, so here's the scoop. Tall Guy paid for us four a carriage to and from Poles: A High-Class Dance Studio. He also decided to buy the entire school fancy dinner at the Ionian Fire-Grill. Did I ask him to? Hell no. So don't blame me for it or I'll eat your feet. Loser.
Love,
Your Princess XOXOXOXO
Jayce groaned again and covered his eyes. General Demetrius Falin, the wealthiest man in Noxus, was well-known for spoiling his friends. But taking an entire class of teenage pole dancers to dinner?
Sir Jayce, my reputation is already shot, so to speak, Jayce imagined Demetrius saying mildly. As is yours. Making a few more little girls happy in the world shouldn't kill us.
He's right. Jayce frowned down at the letter. Like the Wheel burning, he didn't want to think of what he meant.
How old was Erin now? Fourteen?
Didn't matter.
Besides. The pole dancing was, unsurprisingly, her idea.
He wolfed the sausage and toast, showered, shaved, plucked his eyebrows, and shrugged on a green casually dressy shirt, his go-to outfit in Noxus. Not too refined. Not too relaxed. Just enough class to make Erin's eyes sparkle.
Yeah. Any hope of General Demetrius Falin's redemption — not that he was looking for it — had gone straight out the window three days ago. He'd finally married his 19-year-old Willow-Dove and resurrected Noxian war hero Caelyn.
The nuptial was complete with foaming wolf-shaped fountains, ruby studded invitations, blue rose wreaths on the street lamps. Oh, and a carriage pulled by six huge black horses. All of Noxus had turned out and roared approval when the General planted a gentle kiss on the shaky, shivery fire-fox-demon sorcerer before the tallest cathedral, Ryland Daen.
At the quiet post-party, Erinae had patted the dove feathers stuck in her headband, then kicked Jayce's ankle and whispered If you do any of this shit for me, I'm gonna rip your balls off. Jayce had choked on his rare steak.
I told Master not to, Caelyn had murmured. The scarred hand holding the wine glass trembled, swayed. He didn't listen. His p - prerogative, of course.
True. Demetrius had nuzzled Caelyn's temple. But, dearheart, now you've got no reason to question or worry about my adoration of you.
Or Noxus', for that matter, King Ryland had added, and smiled when Caelyn blushed.
In the present, Jayce nodded to Lux and Katarina as he passed them and climbed down two sets of stairs. There was one final ball tomorrow for the wedding celebration. Then, hopefully, peace. Or as much peace as there could be in Noxus.
"Sir, l - look!" Jayce heard Caelyn's voice before he saw him.
"I see her, love." Demetrius was amused.
"But l - l - look! She's like a miniature princess!"
Jayce opened the door and paused.
A handsome, black-haired man in a dark suit leaned back against an enormous orange tiger, who was draped across the back of a priceless crimson couch. He twirled a silver pen between his fingers. It caught the colored light from the ocean-tinted window above him.
And scraggly Caelyn stood before him, holding a slightly shorter girl under the armpits. One of the Lightbringer kids. Morning Glory.
She did look like a miniature Luxanna, but with wild green eyes and white-gold hair. She spent most of her time as a white fawn. Currently, she hung from Caelyn's scarred hands as a girl, limp as a cat.
"She is indeed most regal, but you should likely unhand her."
Caelyn ignored Demetrius and whispered into her hair. "I c - can be your knight errant, even going so far as to fend off the evil cooks, should you desire more dessert. Your beauty shines as brightly as your mother's."
Demetrius sighed. "Your helpless crush on Luxanna is something I cannot understand."
"She's a princess," Caelyn sniffed. "And every knight must idolize one." The three years dead had left Caelyn slightly more addled than before, but Demetrius didn't mind.
"You know, I really worry about him sometimes," Jayce said. They all looked up.
Fuckboy! The tiger pounced on him, shoving him against the wall. The long black whiskers tickled his cheeks — Erinae's forehead brushed his elbow in human form, but she could clap heavy clawed paws over his shoulders, too. Before he could tell her not to, her prickly tongue scoured skin from his cheeks.
She was pumped.
"Rehearsal already over?"
No! The tiger licked his nose. I'm just home for no reason, stupid!
She was really pumped.
Jayce shifted. Her claws were digging into the back of his neck a little. "How long before —"
"— we depart to watch young women gyrate in ways they were never meant to?" Demetrius finished. He got to his feet with a wince. "Around ten minutes. Long enough to agonize over it and think about how I could be their father."
Does that mean I can call you 'daddy'? The tiger chuffed. Her laugh.
"Not a chance," Demetrius said cheerfully.
Caelyn was still whispering into the mini-Lux's hair. Morning Glory's eyes were widening. Caelyn's were darkening. "And you've no need to fear inappropriate advances, for I assure you I will snap their h - hands off their —"
"Caelyn." Demetrius flicked his gaze to him. Caelyn dropped her. Morning Glory turned to a white fawn and bounded away.
I told you to let Deer Meat go like an hour ago, Foxboy. Erinae looked over her shoulder at her best friend. Her black-furred ears twitched. Why you treat her like a princess and not me?
"Probably because you've got a pole-dancing recital, Erin." Jayce smiled, even after she roared into his face.
He still remembered his initial disbelief when Erinae marched up to him about four months ago. He'd been in his boxers, sipping wine and working on Sigfield Transformations.
Between him and Ezreal, Noxus was easily outstripping all of Piltover's "advances." It felt good, a sharp jab at the country that disowned the two of them.
Ezreal had taken to signing all his tech submissions to the Valoran Copyright Agency (VCA) with For the Glory of King Ryland. Jayce was thinking about it. Maybe next time.
Erinae'd been clutching a torn ad from a magazine and the wrist of Caelyn, who was shivering and cringing.
I - I - I'm sorry I showed her.
Showed her what? Jayce tried to sound gentle.
Poles. Erinae beamed. Jayce knew he was in trouble.
It was the name of the "best, highest-class pole-dancing studio in Noxus!" And yes, it offered classes for "11-13 & 14-16 year olds!"
He'd remembered he lived in Noxus now, and shook his head before helping her fill out the application.
In the present, he heard Demetrius chuckle to himself as they pulled up outside the studio. The windows were covered with svelte black screens to keep people from peeping in. Just like a strip club.
Jayce eyed the cluster of chattering pre-teens in sparkly scrunchies and tights. He sighed, though he tried not to.
Erin nudged him and whispered, "See that bitch with the red hair?"
"Me?" Caelyn asked quietly. Demetrius hid his smile.
"Not you. For once. That one." She bit her pinky nail, then pointed to a girl with a long sweeping curtain of dark red hair.
"Uh - huh," Jayce said into his hands.
"She's a total bitch. Real stuck up. Thinks she's the shit because she's got real parents. Most of the other girls are from Riveria's." Her voice was totally flat.
"You never told me that." Jayce's eyes widened. "Riveria? The guy who kept you —" as a slave? And not the lovey-dovey Willow-Dove kind of slave, either.
But per usual, Erin didn't give a fuck. She squared her shoulders. "Yeh. That's why the girls all look up to me. King Majesty Man Ryland his Holiness is shuttin' down the cat-houses —"
"So Riveria's moving into strip clubs. Pre-teen strip clubs. Because Ryland's leaving those legal. Because they're a big industry." Jayce closed his eyes. He was still learning to love Noxus, but…
"They're lounges," Erinae hissed.
"Uh - huh. Lounges."
Erinae flashed a sun-bright grin. "Well? Come on, dummy!"
"You're so mean to him," Jayce heard Caelyn murmur as they disembarked. "I cannot comprehend. I'd no sooner call Sir stupid than I would cut my own throat." The war hero's freckled features darkened. His eyelashes fluttered.
Another off day, Jayce thought with a sigh.
"Poor thing's just shaken from the wedding," Demetrius said to Jayce from the corner of his mouth. "Among other things."
Huh. Don't blame him. Think we all are.
"You've got to show Tall Guy who's boss, kid. Take it from me." Erin beamed and the other girls cheered and hugged her. Jayce saw crinkled vouchers for Full Dinners at Ionian Fire Grill! stuffed in their hairbands, their bags, their waistbands. Demetrius' doing.
Erinae winked and vanished inside, blowing a kiss behind her.
Jayce caught it but still felt melancholy. The sun was going down, painting everything yellow. He heard Caelyn mumble, "I'm certain we all know who's boss" into Demetrius Falin's sleeve. The black Freljordian diamonds on Caelyn's ring finger sparkled among his scars.
The three of them, too, went inside.
Jayce envied Caelyn and Demetrius and didn't want to. It wasn't the money, fame or power. If anything, their pairing was even more looked down upon.
But there was just such — safety to it. Despite Caelyn's long lapses into shivery silence, quiet crying fits every three days, deep cold depression, or distance — safety. Caelyn would always want Demetrius, in this world and every other.
Erinae was a tigress, a wildfire who sometimes didn't hear a single word Jayce said.
And she was getting older.
And that scared him.
What if she grows out of me? Out of her Defender Man? Jayce wondered. The thoughts often came at night while he watched the moon through the skylight in their room, watched the white ribbons of light slide across her black stripes.
She'd been pretty before, but now she was beautiful. Her lustrous gold hair was still growing, thick and lush, the color of an angelic halo. But the warm yellow eyes shining out from her ginger freckles were all devil. She knew it. Jayce knew it. Other men knew it, too.
The Generals knew. Jayce could tell by the way they stroked her golden hair, stroked her chin, called her a 'bright little thing.' It's just our custom, Sir Jayce. Hard to forget she's not a Willow-Dove at times.
The Willow-Doves. He'd seen them measuring her with hand gestures, making curves in the air. Chirruping in their secret language. Jayce knew just what they were doing. They could've been speaking fish-language backwards. Boys were boys. Demetrius had looked up from his book and snapped something. L'av n'to. Ven'ar'vain l'east. The boys had blushed, cringed away and murmured, Sorry, sir.
What'd you say to them?
Hm? Oh. Demetrius flushed. Translated, it means 'there are more fish in the sea.'
Direct translation?
'There are many more stars bedecking the sky, if you but turn your eyes to the east and wait.'
Oh. Jayce snorted. Naturally.
And never mind the way Ezreal had given Erinae a long, long look that left Jayce wanting to knock his teeth in. And Skylan blushed when Erinae crawled all over him. And Talon the assassin was wandering around with his slimy buddies, and —
Her tits and ass were blooming. She dragged Jayce's huge rough hand to them at least once a day for him to track the progress. They're sore. What, you think I want you to touch me? As if.
Sometimes she did it when he wasn't paying attention. So he'd look up from partition physics and realize he was kneading her firm, supple buttocks. Rubbing her while she worked through intermediate techmaturgy books of her own and Noxian news played at a mumble in the background.
A cry would build in the base of his throat. I need you, he longed to say. I want and need you. I don't know what I'd do without your laugh, smile — that weird huffing noise you do when I tell you a long story and you're trying not to interrupt me with laughing. You leaving me the worst parts of breakfast if I wake up late. The way you sarcastically flutter your eyelashes when you want something. And the way you beat up Foxboy when you're on your period. I really need you.
But he couldn't say it. Couldn't even bring himself to think it to her. So he rubbed the tight flesh until they both slipped into passion or into sleep.
Both of them silently praying Ta - Kitan wouldn't visit them in their dreams. Enough was burning without the Wheel.
Jayce settled into his seat among the other — parents?
He counted six gentlemen about his age wearing dark glasses and gave up. There were many more.
"This is sketchy as fuck," he whispered to Demetrius.
The General looked up from stroking Caelyn's throat and smiled. "Not entirely certain what that means, but I heartily agree."
One of the teachers — a hot woman with a frizzy pile of blonde hair — spotted Jayce and hurried over. "Are you with Erin the Riv?"
Jayce watched helplessly as the sunglasses men turned towards him, then murmured among themselves. The Defender wished the teacher had mistaken him from a parent. But the teacher knew better.
Oh man. "Aye. I mean, yes, I'm with her."
"Oh, goodie! She graduates top of the program tonight. I'm sure you're very proud." She reached out and tugged Jayce's ear. "She makes us all very proud."
"Ah. Thank you. I'm looking forward to it."
A smoky, sultry smile. And the woman was gone.
Jayce leaned back again and felt a stab of envy. Caelyn had his face buried meekly in Demetrius' shoulder. Demetrius traced his collarbone. I would kill for Erinae to do that for me. Just once. Just sit there and let me love on her. Without biting me. Or calling me Professor Fuckass.
Then he noticed that one nasty man in particular was staring him down. Who the fuck do you think you are, buddy? Jayce scowled back openly. The man was greasy, with thinning black hair and wrinkles all over his piggish face. His salmon lips were set in a displeased frown, and three gaudy rings flashed from his right hand.
His eyes traced Jayce's features, darted to General Demetrius Falin's, then turned towards the stage.
"Hmm. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see Riveria himself here," Demetrius mused, flipping mildly through his program. "I'd no idea he cared enough about his girls to show."
Jayce's jaw dropped. "That's him? Right there?"
"Oh, aye. I recognize him. Just as surely as he recognizes us."
I'm sitting about ten feet away from the most infamous mafia man in all of Valoran, Jayce thought. He was disgusted and awed. Then he remembered he was right beside the wealthiest man and the most famous Noxian war hero.
Yep.
Life was weird nowadays.
After Ta - Kitan. After the Wheel was supposed to burn.
The recital certainly didn't help. The first number had about twelve little girls on separate poles at once. According to the program, they were what, nine-years-old? Ten? Jayce didn't know whether to watch or not. They were very fit and put on a great show, even when one fell off the pole and smacked her face on the glittery ground. Another laughed so hard she did too.
Jayce heard a couple of the men chuckle. He felt his face burn with sympathy, even when the two fallen girls stood and beamed just as confidently as the rest of them. Laughing it off. If you were one of Riveria's girls, you had to laugh it off. Riveria was shaking his head in disappointment, jowls quivering, and clapping.
Erinae was part of the next group, 14-18. Jayce's fingers dug into his forearm. The intro song and steps were brief, Erin's golden glitter shorts vibrant. There's my little girl, he thought, and was almost sick to his stomach. He hid his eyes when the girls smacked each other's asses, bowed, and winked. The wolf-whistles hurt his ears.
Oh, gods. I'm going to die.
Caelyn startled him during the break between dances by brushing his shoulder.
"Worry not, Sir Jayce. I'll protect you from the present dangers."
Jayce glanced at Demetrius. The flash of sorrow there on the General's face felt like a stab to the gut. Poor child's still mixed up. And that has nothing to do with the wedding.
Jayce cleared his throat. "Thanks, kid."
"Aye. Very least I could do." A quiet purr started in his chest.
Another dance number. A more technical one to quiet classical music — Erinae on the center pole, slowly hefting herself parallel to the ground with one hand.
That can't be real, Jayce thought distantly. But it was. There was scattered applause from all assembled.
She maneuvered back, resting the pole between her thighs and wrists, gazing out at them. And froze.
Riveria, Jayce heard her think, exasperated. But that exasperation usually covered up uglier feelings. Criminy. That fucknut slimy gecko-raccoon come clear out of hiding. Holy fucking umbrella bats.
Come on, kid. Jayce's heart sank deeper. Erin's cheeks were beginning to burn a defiant pink. And her eyes — were they filling with tears? Come on. Don't let him get you now.
She swirled down the pole and vanished backstage with the rest of the giggling.
Jayce glanced at the mafioso. He was grinning, flicking a lighter open and closed.
I'm gonna fuckin' kill him, Jayce decided. He'd acquired the werecat accent long ago.
You've got my full support should you decide to do so, Sir Jayce. Caelyn Falin nodded.
I meant — I meant metaphorically. He heard Riveria say Erinae's name, savoring the syllables, and clenched his fists. Maybe.
"The next and final number is an original choreography from our finest student, one I'm sure many of you have heard of. It was a true honor to teach one of Noxus' most famous — or infamous — dancers." The teacher glanced at a notecard in her hand. Jayce had bitten his lip so hard it was bleeding. "Her natural talent and years of prior experience proved invaluable to learning."
Years of prior experience? She never told me. Never told me anything.
Riveria was looking his way again. As if Jayce were dust he wanted to brush off his shoulders. He murmured to one of the sunglasses men and leaned back, satisfied.
Demetrius cocked his head, listening. He frowned and tugged Jayce's sleeve.
" — Erin the Riv!"
Loud clapping. Shouts and whistles.
Jayce watched her stride down the walkway. His temples throbbed with every step she took
She was in shimmering blue, the light glancing off the sequins like the scales of a tropical fish. Her golden eyes were winged with black. The song dug sharp fangs into Jayce's heart and forced it to beat along.
Each movement — effortless. Fluid. Graceful. No wonder she wanted to pole dance. It looked like she was flying.
" — I don't want to come back down, I don't want to touch the ground —"
She spun towards the top, her eyes distant. Fixed on an imaginary star. Away from the leers.
What did she think was going to happen when she took pole dancing lessons? Jayce realized he was annoyed. Then realized that it didn't matter what she thought was going to happen. He should've stopped her. If I want to be her Defender Man, I should act like it.
" — Hypnotic, taking over me…"
The big band faded. She slipped down the pole. It squeaked. The lights faded and she hurried away.
They were giving her a standing ovation.
Jayce stood up alongside them. He felt hot pride and cold anger compete for space in his body. And possessiveness. And fear.
Fear?
Demetrius was tugging his sleeve again and pointing to the upper right corner of the studio, where a few of the sunglasses men were vanishing. Or more than a few.
Yeah. Duh. That's the exit, Tall Guy, Jayce thought before he could filter it. But Demetrius was used to his unfiltered thoughts.
Oh, truly? Demetrius nodded towards the upper left. The sign over here says "Exit." The one over there reads "Backstage." Perhaps that's Exit in another language, hm? The Tactician could be terribly sarcastic.
Jayce froze. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He stumbled over someone's leg in the dark, taking long steps away. The cold was coming back.
Ta - kitan, the Wheel burns, no one is listening.
The hallway was long, dark and freezing.
"Hey! Let go o'her, y'dipshit!"
"Who the hell y'think y'are, fucknuts? Put her down!"
They're like the Willow-Doves and Erinae mixed, Jayce thought in wonder. A scuffle. A few loud girly screams. Then he heard a muffled wail, followed by a ground-shaking roar. Jayce's ears rang. Something shattered.
A hissing thought-voice: You picked the wrong fucking girl to fuck with today you understand me you pieces of shit I'll eat your godsdamned feet for breakfast
"Shoot her!" Jayce heard. He ran faster, grabbing for a Mercury Hammer that wasn't there. "Shoot her! Aim for the head! The head, Bonsley!" Another roar.
Jayce hurled himself into the dressing room. Erin the Tiger stood before the girls in her class, tail twitching, fangs bared. The black dart-guns looked too hard and sharp for the frilly, sparkly clothes lying everywhere. The makeup, the glittery stuffed animals.
"Just fucking shoot!" someone yelled.
No time to think.
Jayce shoved one of the sunglasses men into another, then flicked out with his fist and broke one's nose. That man fell to his knees, howling. Jayce kicked the legs out from under the next, picked him up and slung him into the mirrors. A tinkling crash. The Defender glanced to his right — the girls and the tiger both looked equally awe-struck.
Then four of them were coming for him. He took two hits to the face and heard Erinae roar.
Or — no? I think that was me.
Kneed one in the back. Took one down with a half-assed karate chop to the throat. One with an uppercut. The fourth tripped over himself. Jayce still kicked his ribs as he fell. He felt invincible. On fire. In a good way. Not ta - kitan.
Then Skeezy Gecko Man Riveria himself stood before him, crinkly fat lips half-open to say something dramatic, ugly suit rumpled.
Jayce decked him.
Hard.
Right on the jaw.
Riveria fell back, out cold. Not dead, though. Men like that never died. Riveria took air in through his mouth and let it out with a sound like a trombone.
Jayce stood, panting. Sweat poured down his body. The howling wind and the cold. Ta - kitan! Ta - aikah Ta-mia tante! He clutched his own chest and let the panic sweep over him like a choppy river. I could've lost her. I could've lost her then and now. No checking his body right now. It was frozen fire.
The little dancers exchanged glances. Some pretty scary shit, watchin' a man break down like that. For many of them, seeing Jayce panic was scarier than the tiger and the guns combined.
One of the guys was stirring. A little girl stepped forward and kicked him in the head. "Shut it, y'scurvy asshat."
The guy shut it.
Erinae was all girl again, in fluffy blue-gray tulle, standing on her tiptoes. Gaping at him. Mouth hanging open. "You — you fuckin' saved me."
That brought him back. The sight of her golden eyes shoved him back to consciousness. A hard but painless shove. The swirling snow went away again.
Here's my chance. Jayce beamed his best Defender smile and heard the dancers all sigh romantically. "No one hurts my little girl."
"That's the stupidest fucking thing you've ever said to me," Erinae breathed. "Wow."
Jayce was still smiling when the authorities showed up.
"Ta - kitan. I'm the Destroyer. I just vaporized part of the world." Ezreal's voice was flat.
"Hell yes you did. It was badass." Erinae's bright smile actually startled one out of Ezreal. "That was so fucking cool."
Jayce snorted. "Erin. I think the word you're looking for is 'mind-bogglingly terrifying.'"
"That's like three words. Are you stupid?" She punched Jayce in the stomach. He almost dropped the binoculars. "I bet you are."
"Gods above. It's like you fed her a sack of pure sugar." Graves shook the snow out of his hair and off his coat. "You always like this, girlie?"
"I'm pumped!" She ran past them laughing, then back, then forward, scampering through the snow. Jayce had to hide his smile. He always did.
"No, no, Sir Jayce. I insist. Caelyn and I will be on our way." Demetrius Falin shooed Jayce into the carriage, then shot him a meaningful glance. I'm well familiar with the look on your love's face. Best of luck.
Caelyn laughed quietly. Aye, that look. So painfully telling. He waved to Erin as the carriage pulled away. Erin forgot to wave back.
What look? Jayce wondered. He was still confused by the kidnapping attempt and the surreal questioning that followed it.
The police coughed and shifted, nervously eying Caelyn and Riveria with equal fear. Caelyn kept whispering, Master let me kill him there is an opportunity for great justice. Demetrius steadily shook his head. Riveria hid behind three of his men, sputtering something in an accent so thick it hurt Jayce's ears.
And to top it off, Riveria was being charged with kidnapping an exotic animal. Not premeditated assault on a little girl. Attempted theft.
Jayce shook himself. What look was Demetrius talking about?
Then he saw it.
Erinae was watching him, long golden eyelashes fluttering every now and then. Her light pink lips were still smudged with rogue, her eyes smoky from eye shadow, from the explosive sobbing fit following her near-kidnap. After the danger was over, of course.
Now the color lingered in her freckled cheeks. The pink grew warmer when Jayce shifted to look at her. "Are you gonna be alright, kid?"
"Uh - huh." She clicked her tongue. Her blue-gray ballerina skirt was tattered, her silver stockings torn. But Jayce thought — it made her more appealing.
"You sure? Why the stare? Got something on my face?" Jayce realized she was making him nervous.
Erinae's gold eyes caught the light from the streetlamps. "You're — gosh."
Gosh? Jayce wondered.
"I mean, gosh, you know? Jayce, you're like — I dunno. You're like a real hero, or something."
"Oh." Jayce blushed, too. That hit his heart harder than all Piltover's thanks following the Viktor incident. Even the parade.
"All the other girls're gonna be so fuckin' jealous. Want a Defender Man of their own." Erin's words were cherry scented in the velvet dark.
"Oh yeah?" I sound like an idiot. Those golden eyes were mesmerizing.
"Mmm. Yeah." She leaned forward and kissed him. Her words were cherry. So were her little pink lips and tongue. Warm and sweet. She bit his bottom lip, then smooched his cheek. "I've got a — a thing for heroes, y'see?"
"I see. How very interesting," Jayce said snootily. She swatted him, but it was with clear affection. She cupped his hard jaw with a small hand and kissed him harder.
He stroked her tight bottom and helped her onto his lap. A warm weight against his thighs and stomach. He buried his hand beneath the rustling tulle, felt the tight knots in her muscles. Pole dancing was rough.
And he sighed as she settled against him, chilly nose tucked to his chin. He reflected on how nice it was — the warm dark carriage, the starry night sky outside. Him wanting her. More importantly, her wanting him.
He smoothed gold hair off her neck and felt her shiver. He pressed his lips to her ear. "You were great out there. Pole dancing and protecting those kids."
"You're just saying that."
"Erin." Her name — was it cherry flavored, too? Or spring flavored? He said it again. "Erin."
"What, silly?" She giggled and kissed him, then arched her back a little. She let his thumb travel to the inside of her thigh. Rest there. A hard heavy weight. She squirmed back into him, both of them adjusting until his erection pressed to her bottom.
He heard her purr lightly and blushed. He could never get her to purr.
"Heroes, y'know…" She yawned and drifted off. His thumb made its way to her crevice, waiting at the opening of it. Jayce realized he could feel how hot and wet she was, even through three layers of dancer's undergarments.
"You were saying?"
"They're really strong." She pressed herself to his thumb. It settled onto her sweet spot. Edged back and forth, working her tight, tight body apart beneath her clothes. She tilted her head back and smiled, that slow dreamy smile Jayce worshipped.
"Uh - huh?"
"And big." She laughed and slid her smooth dancer's body against his. The friction built inside him, his skin beginning to burn beneath the lake of cold sweat clinging to him. Her hair was messy and he had to smell like death. Neither of them cared. About that, at least.
She tried to pull his dick between her legs. He stifled a moan. Erin. We're in public.
It's Noxus, darlin'.
Darlin'? The affectionate name warmed his chest after months of 'fuckass,' 'dipstick,' and 'Jayce, the Great and Oblivious.'
Darlin'. Besides, we're almost there. Ryland's palace was rising into the night.
He let Erin stroke his length through his dressy jeans a few times. She kneaded his shaft in a way that Jayce found uncomfortably businesslike.
He tugged her hand away. I wanna do it the right way.
Uh - oh. We got ourselves a Demacian. The slow, hot tongue pressing his lips apart wasn't Demacian at all. Right way, my ass.
So you know I love you. That's all I meant.
He took a breath and watched her smudged face in the dark. He needed to see if her warm eyes would grow frosty or if her sexy smile would wilt. Or if she'd punch him.
But she didn't. She cocked her head. Alright, good sir, if you say so, yes, quite. She paused. Do you think Tall Guy and Foxboy know we make fun of their accents?
I heard them making fun of ours yesterday.
What? No way! Her eyes lit up. Jayce's heart melted. I'mma beat Caelyn's foxy ass!
Erin. Come on. Me first.
Beat your ass first?
No, I — Jayce buried his face in his hands and groaned. She giggled. The carriage pulled to a stop and they disembarked into the cool, spring night.
How strange did life have to be for the Noxian castle to feel like home? Jayce didn't know, but the palace did. More than Piltover ever had.
They staggered past a few Generals drinking late night coffee, who nodded and smiled.
They're telepathic. They know I'm about to fuck her. And they're totally fine with it. Jayce shuddered. The look. It was the most innocent Erinae had ever looked, with wide soft eyes and flushed cheeks. She was clutching one of his hands with both of hers. Come on, girl, you're killing me.
But you're a real hero.
Oh, man.
He somehow got them to their third floor room. His cock was throbbing so hard his lower stomach hurt. He locked the door, tossed his clothes on the dining room chair and helped her from everything but her silvery stockings.
She stood up straight. The warm lamplight played across her round breasts, the smooth muscles of her stomach. "Jayce. I'm really turned on right now. Like, dying." He waited for her to add a string of swearwords and shivered when she didn't. She was looking at him expectantly. Her eyelashes fluttered. After he froze, she picked up his hand and nuzzled it.
"You're being weird. Really, really weird." The look.
"I thought you wanted me to be nice." A little inhuman trill. She leaned onto his chest and hugged him, brushing his skin with her lips. Her face was warm on his belly. "Right? That's all you ever think. Wish Erin would call me something nice. Wish she'd let me love on her."
"O - oh."
"Love me." Her voice was a whisper. Jayce longed to check his body, to see if he still existed or if he'd been transported into a fantasy of his. But all he could feel was his dick.
He swallowed hard and rubbed the space between her shoulders. It was often sore. She moaned softly. She was ready.
"Come on." He tugged her stockings off, then pulled her a little harder than he intended into the shower stall and shut it. The stars winked through the skylight overhead.
The first cascade of ice water struck her on the back. Startled her out of the weirdness a little.
Jayce watched her light pink nipples stiffen into tight points, her supple mouth fall open. Goosebumps stippled her skin. Criminy. Thanks. I'm awake now.
You are so welcome.
The water was warming, as was the color in her body. He helped her rinse the makeup off. Her wild beauty was perfection.
You're thinking weird shit again. She paused. I like it. Don't stop.
You're really, really pretty.
And you, sir, have a magnificent cock. She abruptly bent from the waist. Her gold hair clung tight to her flushed breast. Jayce wished for a mirrored shower, so he could see her taut ass spread-eagled, too. The thoughts vanished. His swollen head — the entire length — was jammed deep in her throat.
She wanted him. All of him.
He leaned forward into the hot water with a gasp. Warmth on his muscles. Hot liquid clinging to his lower parts. He moaned and she echoed it, then pulled away. Her face softened.
Forgot Defender Man needs eased into it.
She gazed up at him with golden eyes, her wet hair darkened to a summer sunset color. The hints of red were showing through. The hot steam rose around them. She nuzzled the large hand on her head and mouthed the head of his dick, trying to pleasure him. Her agile tongue slipped beneath its turgid curve. She suckled him.
You taste good.
Jayce was moaning too hard to respond. He massaged the back of her neck, then gasped again when her lips departed from him. His cock was lying between her two soapy, slick breasts. She grinned up at him.
Come on. I'm trying to last for you.
I am fine, Sir Jayce, she sniffed. Jayce heard her think in the back of his mind, I wonder if Foxboy talks like I do in bed. Hmmmm. Opposites.
Erin, what the fuck.
Shhhh. She slid his cock all the way up and flicked her tongue against the tip of it, then down to the base of it. Jayce's entire body tightened. The hot water. Her desire. Then up. Her pert tits were a tight hot canal, punctuated by her light pink tongue flicking at the end of him. Just come already.
But —
I want you to. I really, really want you to. She squeezed her flesh around him, molded to him, took his head into her mouth and sucked hard. Please?
He fountained into her. The roar filled his ears, but in a good way. And the pain and tightness left his muscles, replaced by calm mountain coolness. Refreshing. He told her this.
"Jeez. You make it sound like you got blown by a pine tree."
"Alright, Erin. Fair enough." He laughed. "I — I love you."
"No need to hesitate." She dried her hair, her body. "I love you too."
"Really?"
"Yes, stupid." She eyed him. "Fine. Yes, darlin'."
That was what mattered. Ta - kitan or no.
Jayce opened his eyes to find Erinae asleep on his chest, thumb squarely in her mouth. His first thought – I hope she was eighteen – filled him with shame.
Erinae startled awake. The stared at each other until Erinae shook her damp hair and leapt away from him.
"Sorry, I –"
"It's fine."
"No, no. You look like my older brother."
Jayce blinked. Women had said he looked like a lot of things, from King Jarvan to the devil himself. Brother was a new one.
This just keeps getting weirder and weirder. I should invest in some Weird-B-Gon.
The thought almost made him snicker and would've - if everything hadn't been so weird.
"Oh. Well. What happened to him?"
"He joined the Demacian military and I never heard from again. I actually came to the League looking for him. Didn't count on freezing to death with Jarvan IV underneath a fishbowl."
She laughed. Jayce snorted at the idea of the prince in a fishbowl – blub, blub, blub – then chuckled. Soon both of them were cackling. And they shouldn't've been.
Part of what Jayce loved about Erinae was how she moved so gracefully. Moved from lover to princess to friend.
That's the best advantage of loving one like them, Demetrius Falin had once told him. Jayce didn't know if he meant half-animals, children or both. Having a true friend.
Jayce watched her nibble the gourmet crackers and cheese and flip through a techmaturgy textbook. Her eyes were drawn to Ezreal and Jayce's portrait, shaking hands at a conference.
Jayce cleared his throat. "Hey."
"Hmghphzt?"
"Tall Guy was saying something about — about a look on your face."
"Oh, that." She dusted the crumbs off her hands and set the snacks on her bedside table. "Yeh."
"Yeah?"
"In the animal kingdom," Erinae began in her snooty voice. "There are great big animals and tiny ones. Sometimes the tiny ones realize a big one is nearby and make necessary adjustments to their behavior."
"Ummm."
"And that said large animal has domain over us, whether through emotional fulfillment, feeding us, or sex." She snatched his hand and stuck it beneath her pajama shorts. "Like this. See?"
"I think so." His fingers brushed her shower-soft skin.
She shivered. "That tickles."
"Sorry."
"No you're not," she murmured, then gasped. Jayce felt himself grow hard again. She was snuggling nearer to him for warmth and letting his finger invade her body. It was welcome. Jayce gently traced circles around the hot center of her lust, reveling in how wet she was. Just his hand and she was soaked.
Her muscles tightened when he slipped a finger in her. He soothed her with whispers until she relaxed, then slipped another finger inside, working her apart.
He knew she'd let him do whatever he wanted. That was why her pleasure was of utmost importance.
She watched his face. "You always look so serious, Defender Man."
"You mean a lot to me. A lot." He kissed her and edged inside her slowly, softly. She was tight. Gods, always so tight. He never knew how she managed to let him in but she did. And she did most of the moving, to avoid either of them being hurt. Her body clenched and shivered around him.
He felt the internal shudders that mean she was close. He kissed her deep and slipped a finger to her clit, rubbing there. Her climax flooded both of them with warm water. His was a heartbeat later.
And now that the sharp desperate edge of his lust was taken off, he could savor it. The way their bodies fit together. The way their fluids mingled. Her arms flung around his neck, her golden hair tickling his nose — all of it.
He pulled out with a sigh.
Oh, that look.
The light in her gold eyes said she'd always love him, no matter how many times she called him a dipstick. She settled and let him fold her beneath his arm. Warm. Safe. For both of them. She wants me, Jayce thought. It made him feel good.
She yawned. "Hey."
"Yeah?" He was expecting an I love you, dipstick.
Instead she said sleepily, "You hear they're closin' down the Institute of War?"
He blinked. "What?"
But it was too late. His tigress was already asleep in the arms of her Defender Man.
Jayce closed his eyes and prayed the burning Wheel wasn't waiting for him in his dreams. Or for her.
Especially not for her.
Ta - aikah.