So this is how I imagined the first mission between these two would go. I know it's long but I hope you find something to enjoy. Also note that this is before any of the would have been in the League. Or at least that's how I see it.
Talon sighed in annoyance as he followed the mop of red hair down the street. He didn't feel much like talking and it seemed neither did Katarina. She walked in front of him clad in her usual leather shirt (if one could really call it that) with an exposed mid-section and matching pants. He stared at the knives hanging from her back, the twisted blades that had taken many a life. Not as much as mine though. Talon thought with a smirk.
The capital city was at least something to behold, even as the twilight began to set off in the distance. The two of them walked up a grand bridge connecting the entryway to the top section. On a normal day only the Noxian elite were to use it. Although that didn't make much of a difference as Talon still had to take steps to avoid others. Even from their middling height the rest of the city could be seen, a winding path that spiraled and divided those at the bottom from those at the top. Even at this hour Talon could tell the night life was in full swing. Part of him wished to be there as well but here he was stuck.
As if sensing his annoyance Katarina began to speak. "You know, you should be far more excited." Talon moved his brown hair out of his eyes to look back at her.
"Should I now? Explain that one to me." She stopped and turned to look him in the eye with her piercing green ones. The scar on her left eye seeming to twitch.
"You were invited to see General Swain himself! Do you not see what a big deal that is?" She placed her hands on her hips.
"Sorry, I just don't see it." Talon put on a fake smile. "But hey, at least I'm going." She knew it was fake. After all the years they had known each other, neither was surprised by his lack of concern for the most powerful man in Noxus. "Maybe someone's just jealous that they aren't the ones getting picked." Katarina crossed her arms but maintained a blank expression. After a moment she turned and the trek continued.
Near the top of the bridge Talon looked off towards the setting sun and the monorail that one could easily take from the bottom to the top. He sighed again at the unnecessary walk he had to take up here, but of course Katarina had insisted.
The two of them approached the Noxian High Command building and with little more than a nod from the guards standing outside found their way inside. Once inside, things were eerily quiet. Talon felt like the entrance was far more like an office than he expected. A fan spun slowly on the ceiling while the sun came in slits through the window blinds. A lone woman sat at a desk a few feet away looking totally absorbed in whatever paper she was writing on.
Talon began to walk forward but was stopped by a firm hand. Katarina turned to him once again. "This is as far as I go." She looked him dead on. "Try not to act too much like yourself. The General is the most powerful man in Noxus. This is an honor so act like you at least care a bit." Talon could tell that wasn't a request.
Talon lowered his gaze. "The Admiral would want me to act like a proper soldier. I'm not a soldier, or anything close to proper. But for him, I'll play whatever part is necessary." At the mention of the Admiral Katarina lowered her own gaze. Mentioning her father was always a gamble. His disappearance still saddened her after all this time despite her not trying to show it. But Talon's devotion to him still moved her ever so slightly. "I'll see you at home," With that Talon continued his walk.
"Good luck, brother." Talon paused and turned his head slightly. It was rare that either Katarina or her sister would refer to Talon as a brother. It made him feel something he wasn't used to. His lack of response was apparently enough as he heard the door open and quickly close.
Talon walked up to the woman at the desk and waited. He expected her to say "can I help you, or what can I do for you?" But neither of them occurred. She just kept writing. He waited a few more seconds before his patience ran out. "Hey, lady." The woman made a sound of acknowledgment but made no move to stop what she was doing. "I'm here to see Swain."
"You will refer to him only as the General or General Swain." She said without a break in concentration. Talon grunted.
"Fine. I'm here to see the General."
"I assume you have an appointment?" Talon made a face at her but quickly realized she wouldn't see it.
"Yes, I have an appointment." He said through gritted teeth.
"I can tell from your appearance that you must be Talon. You're late, the General won't like that." Talon was taken aback.
"How did you-,"
"You'll find General Swain down that hall," She motioned down a hall to her left and never once broke her writing stride. Talon shook his head and walked down the hall.
It took a few minutes of searching for him to find it but when he did, he was surprised it took him so long. He found the biggest and most outrageous door at the end of a hallway and knew he was in the right place. Swain, you are lucky I don't have to kill you or you'd make it too easy for me. He saw only one person standing in front of the door with her hands behind her back. She was a tall woman, almost to his own height. Her skin was a light tan with a few bandages covering parts of her face. Her eyes were a light brown and even through Noxian officer uniform Talon could tell she was very well built. But what caught his attention the most was her hair. Pure white in its tied up state.
He walked towards the door but as soon as he got close, the woman stepped in the way. "The General is in congress. He will be ready soon."
"I have an appointment so beat it." She didn't move a muscle.
"As do I, but the General is in congress. He will be with you shortly." Something about the way said the last word gave him pause. A pause he wasn't use to. "You may wait here like I am." With that she moved out of the way of the door and stood as still as a statue. Talon was sick of all this already. He moved off to the side and leaned against the wall. After a moment, the woman actually broke the silence.
"Are you really going to meet the General in that?" She looked him up and down. "Your attire is completely inappropriate for this." Talon looked at himself. He was under dressed, Katarina had said as much when they left the estate. All he wore was a plain black shirt and pants, with a purple overcoat hanging down to his knees.
"Hey, soldier; keep your comments to yourself. I'm not in the army, so I get to wear whatever I please." He smirked at her and she narrowed her eyes. The silence continued for another moment before Talon saw the door swing open.
"This is outrageous. Draven is out!" A man with spiked brown hair and an elaborate mustache stormed out of the room and quickly walked down the hallway. Behind him, a giant of a man walked slowly out.
"Go handle your brother." The voice came from inside the room. The giant man grunted in return and followed the man from before. "You two. Come in." The woman walked inside and Talon followed quickly behind. "Take a seat." Whatever Talon imagined for a generals room, this was it. There was a large desk covered in papers waiting to be signed and post signature. Maps lined the walls and books were strewn everywhere. A man sat behind the desk staring at Talon and the woman as they entered the room. Talon had never seen the General in person but he expected a bit more than this.
Swain was a middle-aged man with a short cropped Mohawk. He wore a long green cloak with various designs upon it. A raven squawked upon his shoulders but it was the eyes that caught Talon by surprise. They were a piercing red, his stare seemed to look straight through Talon. Seeing everything he had ever done. Talon shook it off and took seat besides the woman in chairs placed in front of the desk. For a moment she just looked them over. He looked from Talon to the woman and then back to Talon.
"Riven," Swain began. "State your service record." The woman named Riven stood and began immediately.
"Riven, decorated in over twenty campaigns. I have been training since before I enlisted at eighteen. Ninety percent of my battles end in victory. For eight years, I have lead Tiger squad with minimal causalities, sir."
Swain nodded his head as if that was exactly what he expected. "Now, Talon Du Co-,"
"It's just Talon." Talon stated strictly. Swain raised an eyebrow.
"I was lead to believe you were a member of Admiral Du Couteau's household." Talon rolled his eyes.
"I've been living with them since I was fifteen. That was twelve years ago. But I am not one of them. And as far as my 'service record' I kill people. For you. That's it." Riven looked over at Talon as if she had just been personally offended.
"How dare you-,"
"Riven," Swain cut her off. "It's fine. I expected nothing less from someone like him. But that's what we need." Swain stood up, sending the raven on his shoulder flying around the room. He picked up a cane and began to walk around the room with a heavy limp. "I'm just going to get straight to the point of all this. It probably seems highly irregular for this kind of meeting. However that's all the point of this. What I will discuss doesn't leave this room. I hope that's understood."
"Of course it is, sir." Riven readily responded. She then looked to Talon as if expecting an answer. He scowled at her before deciding he'd better to do it.
"Yeah, sure." Swain made a noise which sounded like laughter but it was impossible to tell.
"Good enough. The two of you are the best there is at what you do. Riven, you are our finest soldier and Talon…well you know what you're good at." Talon laughed at this. "There is a man, Admiral Kallus. He was my friend for a time but now that time has ended. He's having a party, one week from today. I want you to go to the party, and I want you to end him." Talon and Riven looked at each other confused.
"Sounds like an easy job, General. Don't know why I need the soldier here."
"I hesitate to agree with Talon. However he's right. I understand the need for…assassins in a time such as ours but that's not really my field. Plus, a fellow Noxian? Why?" Swain circled back to his desk and sat down. The raven returned to his shoulder.
"Good questions. Both of them. Here's the thing: I'm starting a task force. It begins and ends with you two. I'm calling it the Crimson Elite, the finest in subterfuge and in assault. I actually considered your…associate Katarina for the position but you struck me as more effective."
"A good decision on your part, boss. I am the best."
"And there is something else." Swain's face hardened. "It may or may not come as a surprise but I have many children. Most are bastards of course, I try to keep track of them time and again. Admire which ones can climb the Noxian ladder and which fall to the wayside. But I still make a point to keep them within Noxus." He breathed deeply as if he wasn't ready to admit what was next. "Kallus has one of my daughters." Riven sucked in some air.
"The details," Swain continued. "Will all be given to you before the mission but I need to know I can trust the two of you with this."
"Of course, sir! The two of us will not fail you." Riven saluted.
"Now wait a minute." Talon interjected. "Are you paying me?" Swain gave him a look that said, "of course you'll be paid, fool" Talon looked away. "Right of course. I guess I'm in."
"Good. Now you do have one week and since it is just you two I suggest you start getting to know one another. Trust is paramount out in the field. You are dismissed." With that Swain went back to looking at his papers and left Talon wondering what he'd gotten himself into.
Talon wasn't interested in talking. Riven found that out the hard way. That was made abundantly clear as the two of them set out on the carriage taking them from the heart of Noxus to Kallandra, a city a little over a half a days ride from the Capital. Talon sat, looking out the window, still not engaging Riven in any kind of conversation. This annoyed her to no end. Back with her own squad she made a point to always get to know them. She had once heard it said that a leader should never befriend those beneath them. In part this was due to said leader potentially passing over judgment because of personal feelings. And it was for this reason Riven had made a point to get to know her people.
It made the judgment even more important.
It was just the two of them in the carriage. Riven looked down at the files given to her by the General. Deciding it better to go over some kind of plan with Talon if nothing else. Surely an assassin would like to be prepared. "I'm thinking we should go over the details before we get there." Talon grunted but made no indication he was interested. "I'll take that as an okay." Riven decided to begin as she cleared her throat.
"We are attending the fortieth birthday part of Admiral Kallus. A long time server of Noxus, he and General Swain we long time friends but due to the Generals recent rise in power, Kallus has become, and I quote, 'a jealous prick' end quote."
"How did he take the kid?" Talon said. Finally deciding to get involved.
"Apparently it wasn't a kidnapping or anything like that. Kallus decided the she should marry his own son. The General obviously couldn't deny because that would be admitting that she's his." Talon finally looked back at Riven.
"Now that makes the General look like a prick." Riven widened her eyes and clenched her fist.
"Do not refer to the General in that manner, I'm sure he-,"
"Look, soldier. I don't like irresponsible parenting. Don't take it so seriously."
"A statement like that implies a lot of childhood trauma of your own." Riven watched his face closely. It was only there for the briefest of seconds but she had struck a nerve somewhere in him. She had seen enough men trying to hid true feeling in her eight years of service that virtually no one could hide from her completely. Maybe there is something to him. She thought to herself. Talon looked back out the window blankly as if nothing had happened.
"Anyway, back to the plan. I'm thinking we mingle for a good hour or so. We talk to people, find out about the girl. Find her, deal with Kallus and leave." Talon turned back to her. His face painted in disbelief. "I'm sorry, I don't usually have missions like this. I admit that I don't have the best idea of what we should do."
"Then I guess it's a good thing you have me." Talon looked up and down Riven as if he was scanning her for something. "Tell me you know how to use that?" She looked around the cabin confused.
"Use what?"
"Your body, soldier. Can you use it?" This only made her more confused than before.
"I assure you my prowess in combat is unmatched…that's not what you mean is it?" Talon nodded but he got up from his side of carriage and sat next to her.
"Here's the thing, soldier: I've killed enough people like this to know exactly how this works. You walk in that room wearing that officers uniform you got on and I assure you someone's going to be suspicious. All you have to do is get a nice dress, blend in when you can, try shaking your hips when you walk and make sure people see that face of yours. Without a doubt the most famous soldier in Noxus will draw enough attention for us to get the information we need. When we do, I kill Kallus and you find the girl." Talon leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "Simple as that."
Riven didn't like this plan. Mostly because of how laid back he seemed about all this. She hadn't had much time for dresses in her life. No, she had spent far too much time in the dirt and grime for it to even matter. And the way Talon had spoke, it was as if he wanted her to seduce someone. A gesture that seemed out of the question. Riven had no shortage of men seeking her attention over the years. It didn't matter if she was covered in blood or fresh from battle and seeking a relaxing stint in a tavern, at least a third of the time someone would try something that would generally leave them with a broken nose.
Something reminded her of the time before she was in the army. One boy, also in her training program back when she was sixteen. He had insisted that she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and after a lot of flirtatious talk he had kissed her. She remembered being so stunned that she just let it happen. He took her silence rather personally and she never found a way to properly express her feelings. He was gone soon after that. Occasionally she would see him at a distance, even today, but they never shared a glance or words after that moment. The sound of snapping fingers brought her back to reality.
"Hey, soldier, wake up." Riven shook her head then looked into Talon's eyes.
"I have seen the wisdom in your plan. I think I read in the report that Kallus is a widow anyway. Rare for a man, but still."
"Good. Because it looks like we're here." The two of them looked out the windows of the carriage as the Kallandra came into view. It wasn't much to look at compared to the capital but as far as party towns go, it wasn't bad. The carriage came to a stop alongside many other carriages. All of which contained people looking to get their night going. Talon moved to leave but Riven put a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, Talon, I know we have our differences but if the General is willing to make this work, then so am I." She extended a hand out towards him. Talon looked at it for a second as if he wasn't sure what to do with it. After another moment he shook her hand.
"Sure, soldier, let's do some damage." Riven smirked. I guess that's as good as I'm going to get. The two of them left the carriage and circled around to the back. They opened up the back where their clothes were being held. But there was something else. In the week after they agreed and now the General commissioned personalized uniforms for the two of them, The Crimson Elite garb. They seemed too obvious to actually wear to the party so they decided to wait and see if they would need them.
Once they were fully clothed in their actual attire Talon, now dressed in a purple and black tuxedo sighed heavily. "I'm surprised, soldier. That dress actually doesn't look terrible on you." The dress was rather simple, a sleeveless white dress to match her hair that went down past her knees.
"You look rather out of place in yours." Talon pulled at his tie.
"I am, but at least I look good. But hey, there's something you should know." Riven raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "In the interest of…transparency, I have to tell you that what you said in the carriage wasn't inaccurate. I don't remember my parents at all. My earliest memory is of stealing stuff on the streets. Hence my problem with parents. And I guess you should also know that I killed my last partner so I wouldn't screw up if I were you."
Riven wasn't going to back down from a threat like that even if they were partners now. "I'm glad we have an understanding then. The same warning applies to you." She couldn't tell from where they stood but for a moment Talon looked like he actually smiled. He quickly turned away and began to walk inside. "One more thing Talon." He turned back to her. "Blood for Noxus." He stared at her for a moment.
"Blood for Noxus. Now I think I'm going to go make some friends. I'll find you when I need you." With that he turned and walked inside.
Blood for Noxus, such a stupid phrase. Katarina had been trying to get Talon to say it for years and he always denied her. It was one of two phrases used by those in Noxus. The other being, Strength Above All. I serve the family, not Noxus. At least that's what he always told himself, yet here he was doing a job for none other than Lord Noxus himself, Jericho Swain. The idea left a bad taste in his mouth. But as a professional he knew he had to do what must be done.
The inside was actually quite a nice setup. As soon as Talon entered the foyer he was greeted to the sounds of idle conversation. Black stone tile lined the floors with a similar stone covering the walls. The walls were covered with paintings of some of the great moments in the history of Noxus. Two staircases on opposite sides of the room lead up to the upper floor, where personal rooms were likely to reside. But straight on, and where the music played loudest was where the party was to be at its heaviest.
Talon made his way past the people, and get to the meat of it all. He passed through the main door without so much as a second glance by anyone. Kallus is either very cocky or very stupid. The grand ballroom was as overdone as Talon suspected. A high circled ceiling with pictures of doves being hunted by ravens oddly enough spread into a dome. At the top was a balcony showing the top floor. The surrounding area was filled by tables filled with food and wine while the center circle of the room had people dancing. Musicians stood off to the side and Talon noticed two doors on opposite sides of the rooms. He knew he needed to check out what was within. Possibly for a clue on Kallus.
He intended to move with purpose but not to act too focused for too long. No need to raise suspicion. He'd learned not to do that that hard way. He made a point to stop at every other group of people he came across and try to look like he was in on the conversation. Even giving a fake laugh whenever the situation called for it. He picked up a scone from a nearby table but decided it better to not drink. The Admiral had taught him that one.
He reached the first of the two doors. This one had two guards standing in front of it. He decided the best way to find out just how secretive it was by trying to go in. As he reached the door, the guards made no move to stop him. He pulled the door open and was greeted to the bathroom line. He cursed in his head and moved to the next one.
The guards in front of the second door stopped him. "Authorized personnel only. Bathroom's that one." One guard pointed to the bathroom.
"Sorry, gents, I'm just looking for the Admiral. Someone said he might be here tonight."
"Keep your breeches on, he'll be here soon. I recommend you just enjoy the party and wait." Talon sneered at them but turned and walked away regardless. He returned to one of the tables and decided to enjoy the music for a moment. They had just arrived, perhaps the Admiral would show himself. Talon would make his end quick after that. He spied Riven across the hall. She looked to him questioningly but he just shook his head. He nodded in her direction and she shook her head as well. Neither had any luck. He stood up from his chair and headed over to sooth his now drying throat. There was plenty of wine but what he really wanted was just some water. He picked up a wine glass and looked around quickly. The coast was clear so he tossed the wine and filled it with water from a fountain. He felt relief almost immediately.
"I hope you know I saw that." The voice came in a heavily accented tone. Not one he'd heard before.
He didn't bother to turn towards the voice. "Yeah, what of it? This is what they get for not having any empty cups." A woman moved into the edge of his vision. He figured it must be the source of the voice.
"I couldn't agree more." This got his attention. He turned to the woman. She was a tall woman with pale skin. She had short black hair that hung just below her chin but went shorter in the back, with red strands covering taking up the front. She wore a blue ankle-length dress with a black overcoat adorned with a symbol Talon didn't recognize. "If you're only trying for water, my guess is you're a recovering drunk or maybe just a fool." Talon wasn't sure what to make of that.
"I guess we're both fools then. No, I just want water because when I inevitably have to kill someone, I'd like my wits to be about me." The woman gazed at him. Obviously trying to determine whether it was a joke or not. She must have decided that it was because she chuckled. She held out the top of her hand.
"Fiora Laurent, my family is helping throw this little party of ours." Jackpot. Talon took her hand and shook.
"Talon. Hope you're not expecting me to kiss that hand." She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "You said you're family is helping throw this party?"
"Ah yes. My father the Comte de Laurent and the Admiral are old friends. We're from Demacia and despite tensions they wanted to show that there could still be some semblance of peace." She took a drink of her own water. "And what of your family? What do they do." Talon looked over to find that Riven still wandered the room but she wasn't looking his way.
"My family?" Talon was tempted to say, "they're dead" but he caught himself. Sometimes he had to remind himself that he was the Admiral thought him as his own son after a time even if Talon himself never felt the same. "My…father is an Admiral. Like Kallus. By the way, have you seen him?" Fiora looked over to the center of the dance floor.
"I believe that's him now." All at once, the sound of music was replaced by the sounds of people clapping. A short dark-skinned man stepped out in front the crowd and began to address them.
"I want to thank all of you for coming to this party of mine, at my humble abode." A obvious joke to which everyone gave their courtesy laughs. "Now I'm not going to talk forever but just a few quick things. I wanted to thank the Laurent family for helping me put this on. We know tensions are high but let this be a gesture of good faith to the people of Demacia. Second, my future daughter-in-law regrets that she can't attend the party. A foul cold has left her out of commission. She's probably sound asleep in her bed upstairs." The crowd gave a collective "aww" before Kallus continued.
"Finally I just want everyone to enjoy themselves. Let the party continue. I think I'll join this next dance myself!" The crowd clapped again and then the masses moved towards the center to dance. An idea started to form in Talon's head.
"Hey, Missy." Fiora turned to him with a disgusted look on her face. Clearly not a fan of the name. "Would you let me have this dance?"
"As long as you never call me Missy again."
"No promises. I just need to handle one thing first. I'll be back in just a minute." Fiora scoffed as Talon turned away and made his way towards Riven.
She was chewing on some meat when he approached. "I have a plan, soldier. I'm just going to need you to trust me on this."
Riven swallowed her food. "Would you like to fill me in on this plan? It had better not be…" She trailed off and went into a whisper. "To kill Kallus during the dance in front of everyone." Talon looked as her, disappointed.
"Okay, I have a plan B. Just do what you're good at and trust your betters. I got this." Talon turned to leave but Riven grabbed his collar and brought him back.
"I know you're used to working alone. I get it, but we're partners now. We have to trust each other. Neither of us is better than the other. We're equals." Talon felt something in his gut he wasn't used to. He couldn't even describe it.
"Right, soldier. Just follow my lead. You'll know the signal." With that he ran off to find Fiora again.
To his surprise, there she was. "Sorry about the wait Missy." He took her by the hand and dragged her to the dance floor. The Noxian Line wasn't the sole name of the frontline of any army. Only people in Noxus would name their chief dance. It involved a long time one on one, then it would switch partners and continue. Eventually he would get to Kallus.
It had been a while since Talon had done the dance but he knew how to make it work. He wasn't really focused on Fiora but she insisted on conversation. "So if your father is an admiral, you must have learned how to defend yourself right? Such is the Noxian way?"
"If you're asking me if I know how to handle a sword, I assure you I do. And I'm guessing you know something as well."
"Oh really? What makes you say that?" He moved his left hand to her right bicep.
"The way your arms are toned, I can tell you're no pampered princess. The evenness of the muscles suggested you may even be ambidextrous with a slight favoring towards your right arm." Fiora nodded in agreement. "Furthermore," He moved his hand to her hip and thigh. She gave him a look but made no move to resist. "I can tell from this leg that you have a dueling stance to you. I also noticed it when you walk. And especially when you dance." The time to switch partners came up and for one moment Talon forgot his reason for being here. To the annoyance of others, the two of them continued their dance.
"You certainly know your stuff." Fiora chimed in. "But since I could have your hands cut off for the way you're touching me, I'll save you the examination. I am without a doubt the best duelist in all of Demacia. One day I'll be the best in all Valoran." Talon could tell that if nothing else, she believed what she was saying.
"Well that's good." Talon said. "Because I'm the best with a blade in all of Noxus." For a second, all the music faded along with everything else. A spark of curiosity hit them both. Talon knew now what had to happen and Fiora shared the same look. "If you want to see…" Fiora broke away from the dance and made a move over to Admiral Kallus. The hint of excitement in her eyes never wavering. She whispered something in his ear and the shred of excitement seemed to transfer to his face. Noxians can't resist good fight.
Within moments Kallus had ended the music to once again address the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, there has been a request for a dual. The daughter of my friend claims she has found a match worth of us all. Who wants to see a little blood?!" The crowd cheered. Kallus began to clear everyone out of the center until it left just Talon and Fiora.
"Bring me my sword!" Fiora yelled into the crowd. After a moment someone approached with it. It was a thin blade. A rapier to be precise. Adorned with a golden hilt. She leveled it at Talon. "Where's your blade? Or are you all talk?" Talon chuckled.
"I have it. It's just outside. People," Talon addressed the crowd. "Please let's leave the confines of the indoors and takes this into the cool night air. I need to grab my gear." Fiora rolled her eyes but agreed nonetheless. "I need my servant! Bring me my servant." Talon said as he began to walk towards the door. No one said anything or made a move to approach him. "I said, I need my servant." He looked right at Riven. She sighed and ran up to him. "Just do as I say, soldier and when I get it going, find the girl." She nodded as they went outside.
Talon lead the group to the carriage they came in on and quickly opened up the back. He and Riven looked upon their special uniforms and decided that now was the time. He took out her garb and handed it to her as if she actually was his servant and then he reached for her blade. Something he had to take a breath before doing. Riven insisted on using a sword almost as large as she was. It was apparently some gift from Command but Talon could barely lift it.
The thing had a foot long handle and a guard almost as long. The sword was black runestone with green symbols up and down it. Fiora came around the corner. "Please tell me that's not your sword." Talon looked at it.
"No, it's just my last trophy. Servant, help me with this." In reality, he couldn't lift it all. Riven came over and grabbed it with one hand. She hoisted it over her shoulder with a smirk on her face. Talon ignored it and grabbed his uniform. "Just one second, Missy."
"I'm going to cut you for everyone of those." Talon quickly took off his tux and put on the uniform. It was a black skin tight outfit with a red belt at the waist and red shoulder pads. It had a custom symbol and the torso with matching armored boots and gloves. There was a helmet but he left that off. He made a wide movement with his arm and the blade within it extended. He turned to Fiora.
"It's not exactly a dueling blade but someone of your skill, I'm guessing it matters little."
"It's different but I like the challenge." She reached down to her own dress and after a moment tore of most of it. Leaving a flowing mid-thigh dress in its place. "En garde!" Talon looked to Riven and nodded. She ran back inside and the sound of steel on steel filled the air.
Riven was surprised by Talon. Not only could he dance. A decent surprise for someone like him. She couldn't do the same, but his plan seemed to actually be working. No one saw her slip back inside the building and it looked like the only ones remaining inside were the sparse selection of guards. They wouldn't be a problem. Now, to the mission. Her large blade slowed her only slightly after all the time she'd spent with it. And after adorning her own uniform, she felt better than she ever had wearing the dress before. She only wished it wasn't as tight as it was in the chest. She realized she'd have to change that later.
She pushed her way back into the ballroom. She decided that guarded door she observed during the dance was the best place to start. As soon as she entered, the guards all looked to her. It was probably a red flag to come into a ballroom with a sword as big as hers. But it seemed they were unsure. None made any sudden moves. "I know what this looks like." She began. "But I truly do not want to hurt you. So," She leveled her sword towards them. "Stand aside and you won't be harmed." They readied their weapons. The hard way it was to be.
They were not any measure of a challenge. None had anything close to Riven's skill. She could block two people with one blade and outmaneuver them still. She swung in a wide arc with the back of her blade and crashed into two of them. Leaving them winded but uninjured. Another dodge and the other two went down the same. She felt no desire to kill any more Noxians than she had to.
She ran to the other end of the hallway and pushed through the door. Heart pumping in her chest.
The upstairs wasn't much to look at. More paintings lined the walls and she noticed a few servants strewn about. They all looked at her but when she showed her sword, they turned away and ran. She has to be in one of these rooms. Doors and more guards lined the top floor. It would take only moments to be done with them.
After the guards were down she opened the first door. Nothing but a bedroom. By how nice it was, she guessed it was Kallus's. The second room wasn't empty but she wished it was. Two of the party goers were getting quite intimate. After a scream from one woman, the other woman told her to get lost. Riven was happy to comply.
The third room was the last in this hall. She opened it up and the person inside quickly turned to her. At first Riven wasn't even sure if it was a boy or a girl. They were bald and the figure didn't betray one way or another. But upon closer inspection Riven could tell in the shape of the face, and hands that it was a woman. Her eyes, a deep red color. A trait from her father no doubt. The woman looked to Riven. "Can I…help you?"
"You're her aren't you? Amara Westerly." The woman lowered her gaze but stood up. She was covered in a long navy blue robe.
"How do you know my name?" Amara asked.
"I'm here to take you home." Amara stared at her for a second before so primal force took over her face. Twisting it into some disgusted look.
"My father sent you didn't he? Wait, don't answer that, of course he did. He can't acknowledge I'm his daughter but he still wants to control me." Riven raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sure you're exaggerating. The General clearly cares for you." Even as the words escaped her something in them felt wrong. Amara looked out the window of her room.
"Look, this has been great but I have a ride to catch so if you wouldn't mind…" She trailed off and started walking towards the window. Riven hurriedly ran up to her and grabbed her hand.
"My orders were to bring you home. That's what I'm going to do." Amara shook free and slowly moved closer to the window.
"You don't get it do you. I bet he told you that I didn't want to be here. That I may have been taken against my will. Well I wanted to leave. Do you have any idea how hard it is living with those red eyes looking down at you all day. He kept me close. Maybe I was his favorite. But no more. I'm done with Noxus."
"What do you mean, you're done?"
"I'm catching a ship out of here. Headed to Ionia, I'm tired of living in a place where strength is the most important thing in the world. Some people are too weak to help themselves you know. But how could you. You're just some lackey." Riven didn't know how to process the words coming from someone so close to the General. "I want to wake up next to nature, in a place of peace, until my father inevitably decides he wants it for himself. Show you're not just some dog. Let me go."
"But my honor as a soldier dictates-,"
"Your honor? Noxians know nothing of honor. Where was the honor of my father when my mother died. Bet he didn't tell you that either. She was a whore, you know the story. Sleep with enough people and eventually you'll catch something. Swain was nowhere to be seen. No honor there." Riven knew she didn't have time for this. Talon could only distract everyone for so long. She had to make a choice. Her honor as a soldier or her honor as herself.
"Please," Amara continued. "It's not just me. I know Kallus and my father are enemies now. People say it's because Swain became the Noxian leader and it's all about jealousy. But that's not everything. This whole party was to show that Noxus and Demacia can get along at least for a time. Kallus saw that I hated Noxus as it is and offered to let me marry his son. But that was never the plan. He just wanted to give me a way out. My father would never settle for peace."
"Stop talking!" Riven shouted. She couldn't take it anymore. He could see the truth in her words. Whatever was going on in Amara's head she believed the words. Riven grunted and raised her sword.
"What are you doing? I won't go with you so you kill me?!" Riven wordlessly swung the sword into the ground. The blade dug itself into the floor. Amara was stunned. Riven moved her hand to the blade. She quickly jerked it back as a searing pain filled her palm. Blood sat on the blades edge and dripped heavily from her hand. She breathed deeply. Riven raised her hand to her face and smeared the blood on both of her cheeks.
"Are you crazy!" Amara shouted. Riven replicated the cut on her right leg, deeper than she intended. The blood was soaking heavily into the suit. She decided to do one more on her torso. She held the sword up and breathed deeply. One more. She leaned into the sword and the blood flowed. She cried out in agony. She shook off the pain and faced Amara.
"I am the strength of Noxus and for that I cannot let a citizen be held against her will. I will tell your father that you resisted and I had to put you down."
"You really are crazy. He'll kill you."
"I know. But if I can't keep my honor as a soldier then I at least need to be me." Amara smiled but said nothing else as she leapt out the window. Blood for Noxus. Riven hoisted the blade over her shoulder. The pain in her leg and torso flaring up almost immediately. She almost dropped it from the weight but she righted herself and stood up straight. A soldier must never forget their posture. She was grateful, if nothing else that she didn't need to seduce anyone.
Talon's heart beat like a drum in his chest. Riven was taking longer than he'd hoped for. He breathed heavily. Fiora seemed no less exhausted but she kept coming. Faster and more forcefully than before. A smile never left her face. Talon had to admit he was enjoying this more than he anticipated. For all of her arrogance, she seemed to have the skills to match. What was left of her dress was in tatters, as was Talon's uniform. They had decided early on that first blood was too easy so they agreed to go until someone gave up. It was early on they both realized that would take a while. The crowd was entrapped.
Talon pushed off with his right leg and lunged. Fiora quickly blocked and struck back quickly. A normal swordsman wouldn't have even seen it coming but Talon was just fast enough. He leaned just out of the way and swung his arm in a wide arc to get some distance. She blocked but the distance was his. They circled each other for another moment but something caught Talon's eye. The moon was high in the sky now and its light reflected off something. He looked towards the source.
Riven stood near the entrance with her sword next to her. The reflection was intentional. He locked eyes with her and noticed all the blood. What happened to you? She quickly placed her finger on her throat and traced across it. The universal sign for death. Talon came back to reality just in time to avoid Fiora's jab. But it was time for this to end. He motioned towards the carriage with his head. Riven began to move.
Kallus had been in the front row of the fight the whole time which Talon hoped for. But he knew he needed a bit more time. He did the dance with Fiora until he saw Riven reach the cart. He quickly glanced back to see her conversing with the driver. His getaway was in place. Talon circled Fiora until Kallus was right behind him. He swung wildly, a move to get Fiora off balance. She blocked but had to back up more. In the same motion, Talon spun and connected his blade with Kallus's neck. For a second nobody even noticed it and that was Talon's golden moment. He pushed through the crowd to the carriage and quickly jumped to the top of it. Riven was safely inside. He tapped the top and without a pause the carriage began to move.
Blood soaked Talon's blade as the crowd was finally realizing what had happened. One thing he'd learned is that the moment right when before everyone realizes what happened is the best time to make an escape. "Oh Missy," Talon yelled as they sped off. "We'll finish this one day!" They were already too far for it to even matter how she responded.
Talon made his way into the carriage and sat himself next to Riven. He looked at her bloodied body and to the sword she held. He leaned his head back and decided he'd better get some sleep. "Aren't you going to ask what happened?"
"I trust that if you didn't get her, it was impossible. I can see that the blood on your sword and your wounds match up. No one could have lifted that but you. Meaning you took the wounds yourself for whatever screwed up reason you had. I got to kill Kallus, That's all that matters to me." With that the conversation was over.
Hours later they left the carriage safely back at the Capital. Talon helped Riven exit the cart and she exhaled deeply. "You sure you can make it back like that?" She nodded.
"I've had worse. I'll be fine. Goodbye Talon." She walked away without another word.
"One more thing." Talon said. Riven turned back to him. "It was good working with you. If Swain doesn't kill you, I look forward to this again, partner." She smiled weakly. Talon turned and left.
Talon made his way back to the estate and quickly removed his uniform. It was the dead of night now but he could hear noises from upstairs. A soft moan of sadness. He looked over to a couch near the entrance and saw Katarina sleeping awkwardly upon it. She was wearing a nightgown with a book held lazily up on her face.
He made his way towards the sound from upstairs and slowly opened the door to the source. In a lightly candled room lay his other "sister" Cassiopeia. Her snake tail hanging from the bed. He approached her as she slept without blankets, exposing her human torso and head. She had wraps around her eyes. "Is that you brother?" She whispered weakly.
"Yeah, it's me."
"Would you take off my bandages? I want to hear about your mission today." Talon nodded and removed them to reveal piercing green eyes. Utterly inhuman eyes.
"You should sleep. I'll make it short. I got hired to kill someone but I also got a partner. She was different than most. I think she will be useful." Cassiopeia's eye's flicked from his down to his chest.
"Do you care for her, brother?" It was an odd question to be sure. Not one they would normally ask each other.
"No, she's just…" Cassiopeia placed her hand on his cheek.
"I can see things now, you know. Something about this girl is different. I know it was just one time but you should tell me the whole story sometime. I don't do much but sit here."
"Will do, Cass. Goodnight." With that, he blew out her candle and we to sleep in his own bed.
So that was it. I tried to make them act as much like they do in the game in this story. It's not much to go on but hey there is is. Let me know what you think and maybe I'll do another. If it sucked, I want to know.