SO…. Full Circle was supposed to be a oneshot. Unfortunately, some people didn't know it was a oneshot and have asked me to continue. SO I THOUGHT… WHY THE HELL NOT? And so now here's a little more with more fluff. IDK, I might just make this a fic where I throw in all my fluffy oneshots. I changed the title, since "Full Circle" Was only supposed to be for the first oneshot anyway.
90% of this chapter was written in the ungodly hours of the morning in which no-sane person should be awake. This is also un-beta'd and hasn't be proofread so expect a lot of errors.
Double Not-Date
Main pairing: Diana x Leona
Guest starring: Ashe x Katarina, Ahri x Sona
"What was that? I couldn't hear you."
"Forget it, it's a stupid idea." Diana mumbled, trying to dismiss the idea she had suggested.
"You can't say that for sure until I hear it." Leona replied, needling Diana to repeat herself. "Come on, try me."
"Well… I was wondering if perhaps we could… go somewhere. You know… Since we're always here at the Institute of War, and I can't return to Mount Targon with you when do, but I was considering a temporary change in location… for… bonding… purposes…?" Diana trailed off, this wasn't normally the type of conversation she ever felt herself having. Even prior leaving the Solari, she was always shy and closed off. Leona had initially been the one to coax her out of her shell.
Leona cocked her head, eying Diana curiously. "Diana… Are you asking me out on a date?"
"NO! I mean… yes? I mean no. I'm… ugh." Diana harrumphed, crossing her arms, "I told you it was a stupid idea."
"By all means no! Diana, I would love to." Leona replied, beaming.
"Really?"
"Of course." Leona leaned backwards, propping herself up with her elbows to look up at the sky. It was currently late evening, the stars twinkling brightly without a single cloud obscuring the view. The two were now seated in the fields just located outside of the institute, which proved to be a perfect location for stargazing. It was a habit they had taken to many years ago, not long after they had met. Although Leona was a good fighter, intelligent and witty, she wasn't particularly good at some aspects of schoolwork. She had particular trouble remembering constellations, and Diana, who had vast amounts of astrological knowledge, had taken it upon herself to tutouring Leona on the night sky. Although there was they needed to mend between them, as a lot had happened since then, this was an activity that they easily fell back into upon the rekindling of their relationship. "I would love to, Diana. In fact, I think it's a great idea. We never did anything together when we were still with the Solari, especially since we didn't think the elders would approve very much."
"So you're saying that it was completely a good idea that I killed them all."
"That isn't what I'm saying. That isn't funny, Diana." Leona reprimanded.
"Sorry."
Leona sighed, "Although I don't condone what had occurred, I know you had your reasons. And you have explained it to me as best you can, and I do understand, but please, stop making light of it. I know you're using it as a way to desensitise yourself from what happened, but please don't do that."
Diana shrugged in response, not sure what to say. There was too much hatred and betrayal for her to truly let go of the past, but the thought of how it would disappoint Leona was bothered her just as much.
"I know you're trying, and that's what really counts." Leona said, sensing the other woman's discomfort and reluctance. "Now, what did you have in mind for this not-date?"
"Well I was thinking we could go sun gazing instead." Diana replied, a mirthful smile spreading on her face as she gratefully accepted the topic change.
Leona chuckled, "I'm sure I would be fine, but unless you want your eyes to suffer, I hope that that isn't your actual suggestion."
"I was thinking we go to Ionia the next weekend that we're free."
Leona raised an eyebrow. "Ionia?"
"Yeah, actually, I found out Ahri somehow owns some sort of lounge/club type joint or something. I hear it's kind of classy, though I was told Ahri feeds off the sexual energy of the atmosphere or something, since she's not allowed to eat people's souls through sex anymore."
"Uh huh… And how did you find all this out?"
"Heh, that's the thing." Diana rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "It wasn't exactly my idea. Um… Kat proposed the idea."
"Katarina? Are you going to finally tell me why you've been in cahoots with her lately?" Leona teased.
Diana reddened, it wasn't as if she was embarrassed to be associating herself with the Noxian. She could associate herself with whomever she wanted. However she wasn't quite yet willing to admit that the cocky assassin had anything to do with helping her mend her friendship with Leona. Her pride wouldn't let her. "She came to me… Well anyway, she kind of brought up the idea of it suggesting that we go with her."
"With her? You two are suddenly quite close." Leona remarked with a smile, only teasing as she knew Diana must have her reasons for keeping to herself.
"What, are you jealous?" Diana smirked, "She's bringing a plus one."
"So it's a double date."
"NO! It's… not..? Yes?" Diana stuttered.
The redhead laughed at Diana's reaction. "Okay then, it's a double-not-date." Leona stood, brushing herself off. "As much as I enjoy this, it's getting quite late, and I have a match tomorrow, so I'll be taking my leave for tonight."
Diana nodded, looking up at the other warrior. Even in the dark of the night, and without donning her armour, Leona still managed to seem like she emitted a light glow herself; truly worthy of the title as the Radiant Dawn.
"Good night." She murmured, still a little unused to having to properly greet people again.
Leona seemed to pause for a moment, before kneeling again, and giving Diana a light peck on the cheek.
"Good night, Diana."
"I don't understand why we can't all travel together." Leona remarked as their ship neared the dock.
Diana shrugged, "Well, Katarina isn't exactly welcome here. I think she's taking some sort of private transportation here or something."
"Seems like a lot unnecessary preparation for just a date. This plus-one must be something." Leona commented. Diana hadn't told Leona whom Katarina was bringing because apparently she thought it would amuse Leona as much as it did her. Leona suddenly wobbled on her feet.
"You okay there, Red? You're looking like Snowdown came early this year."
Leona blinked, "What?"
"Your uh… face is a little green. And your hair is red… nevermind."
Leona snorted, "You are such a weirdo sometimes. I'm fine it's just… I'm not too keen on boats. I'll be fine soon, we're docking now anyway."
"The great Chosen of the Sun is seasick?" Diana laughed incredulously. "I didn't really expect that."
"I've lived on a mountain my entire life, I'm much happier with solid ground under my feet, thank you very much."
"I did too, and you don't see me complaining."
"Diana please."
"Just so you know, from now on, whenever you lose a match against Nami I'm going to hold it against you."
"Diana." Leona scolded as sternly as she could manage.
"Okay, okay!" Diana held her hands in mock surrender, a smile dancing at the corners of her lips, "I'll stop. We're docked anyway. Why don't you head off first and I'll grab our stuff for us okay?"
Leona nodded and gratefully made her way to the ship's gangway.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Leona inquired as they looked up at the establishment, trying to take it in fully.
"According to the address, yeah." The two were standing in front of a traditionally styled Ionian building. It was the largest building in the general vicinity, and occupied its own separate lot. "Yeah, this is a lot more than what I expected." Diana couldn't even fathom as to how Ahri could have afforded such an endeavour, but she imagined it involved the use of Ahri's skills and much coercion.
"Oh good, you guys made it here in one piece." The pair turned to see that a cloaked figure had approached them. The voice, however, was extremely recognisable.
"Katarina? Isn't that get up kind of suspicious looking?" Diana questioned, an amused expression on her face.
"Better than walking around in my full glory." Katarina chuckled in response. Katarina pulled out a set of keys from under her cloak. "These are for you guys. The lodging entrance is just around the corner, you can get up there through the lounge area, but it'd be hard lugging your stuff through all the people. We're on the third floor, you guys are first room on the left."
Diana's eyes bulged, "This place has its own inn!?"
"That and a dance club in the underground levels that opens after sundown." Kat smirked from under her hood, "Yeah, I think Ahri is just a bit kooky too. Why don't you guys go put your stuff away and freshen up. I really hope that isn't what you're going to be wearing because you would be a bit underdressed. I'll meet you two back down in the lounge."
"This place has its own everything." Diana exclaimed as they opened the door to their room. "Wow, this place is bigger than my room back at the institute. It even has its own kitchen."
Leona laughed, "Someone's excited."
"I've never been to a place like this before." Diana replied in wonder, as she walked into another room. "Hey uh… problem."
"Hm?"
Diana poked her head out of the doorframe. "There's uh… only one bed."
"Oh." The redhead looked back blankly.
"I mean… I could sleep out there if you want. We don't have to both sleep in the bed. Not that I mind sharing a bed, but if you don't, that's okay, I'm completely fine with-"
"Diana it's okay. One bed is fine. Don't worry so much." Leona cut off Diana before she could continue on rambling.
"Right." Diana nodded. The conversation trailed off as the two stood awkwardly in silence, staring at one another. "I'm going to get changed… in here… You can change out there." And with that Diana retreated into the bedroom and shut the door.
When Diana had finished getting ready, she straightened her dress feeling more than a little awkward. It had been a long time since she had worn something that could be called pretty. She even had to go out to purchase an outfit for the occasion. It almost made her feel normal, which was something that she couldn't exactly associate herself with being. She gave herself a once over in the mirror provided, before gathering the courage to knock on the door.
"Go ahead." The voice called from the other side.
Diana swung open the door to take a step out and stopped her tracks. Leona turned around at the sound of the other woman entering, and gave a small twirl. "Is this too much?" Leona asked, wincing a little. The Solari warrior was dressed in an extremely flattering red dress, with half her hair pulled up in an up-do.
Diana took a second to find her voice again. "No, you look great. You really do."
Leona laughed, "You're not so bad at cleaning up, yourself." She held up an arm, "Shall we?"
The white haired woman stared back dumbly, not sure what the other had meant. "Uh what?"
"You're supposed to take my arm, silly. Let's go."
Diana awkwardly looped her arm with Leona's, suppressing back a flinch at the sudden feeling of warmth against her side. She could feel the blood rush to her face, and she turned away slightly to hide her deepening blush.
"I feel completely out of my element right now." Leona remarked when they arrived down in the lounge. The lounge was dimly lit, not unlike that of modern Demacian lounges, with an Ionian flavour to the décor. Pleasantly mellow music could be heard, setting the atmosphere. Not surprisingly, despite it only being early evening, the entire area was packed with people. However, they had trouble finding Katarina herself. The pair looked around trying to see if they could spot a conspicuous cloaked figure, or an even more obvious Noxian assassin, but she was nowhere to be seen.
"Ah hold on." Leona said suddenly, leading them towards the platform where the music was coming from. The band on the low set stage bore no familiar faces save for one, who immediately turned her attention to the pair as they approached.
"Sona! What are you doing here!" Leona asked. The Maven didn't respond. At least, to Diana it seemed that way. Sona continued to pluck at her etwahl, even with her gaze focused on the two.
"You play here every weekend?" Leona responded, surprised.
"You can understand her?" Diana whispered, feeling extremely awkward to be seen the way she was by another champion of the League. She suddenly had the feeling that she wanted to bolt away.
Leona nodded, a distracted look on her face as she listened to the chords being played, "She says we're in a private booth-Oh! You don't have to take us there, don't you have to play?"
Sona shook her head and nodded at the band members before leaving the stage. The band easily picked up where Sona left, covering her parts of the piece with other instrumentation. Diana and Leona followed the blue haired woman through the lounge, past the low tables and the already-getting-tipsy patrons until they reached a wall of sliding doors, each appearing to be a private VIP booth.
The Maven led them to the first set of doors and opened them, motioning for the pair to enter. Leona led the way and was stopped dead in her tracks by what she saw.
"ASHE!?" She exclaimed. Diana couldn't help but burst out laughing. The look on her face was absolutely priceless.
The Freljord Queen, who had been leaning into Katarina's side, looking at a drink menu, smiled at Diana. "You didn't tell her?" she questioned, sounding quite amused.
"She told me it would be more fun to surprise me, but when she said that I was expecting a different type of surprise."
Katarina, who had be extremely focussed on the drink menu suddenly looked up and narrowed her eyes, "What did you expect?"
"Well… I'm not sure. I was expecting someone like Garen."
"GAREN!?" The assassin almost shouted incredulously, "That knucklehead!? Where the hell did you get that idea?"
"Well there were rumours…"
Katarina snorted. "I wouldn't date that idiot if he were the last person alive. I have much better taste than that," she retorted, turning up her nose.
Sona who had been watching the whole exchange interrupted with a short tune on her instrument. Katarina instantly looked towards Ashe, who merely nodded at the blue haired maiden. The musician turned and left, closing the sliding door behind her.
"She says she'll leave us to it and perhaps join us later." Ashe translated afterward.
Diana gave a sidelong glance towards Katarina, who shrugged, saying "It must be a bot-lane thing."
Ashe motioned for the arriving pair to take a seat before speaking, "We weren't sure what you liked to eat, so we haven't ordered anything for you yet. If there's anything you want from the drinks, feel free to say so, but I think what we've requested must be more than enough."
"For you," Katarina pouted.
"Just because I care about my liver doesn't mean that I can't hold my liquor." Ashe countered as she handed a menus over to Diana and Leona.
"You just embarrassed because you can't keep up with me without getting absolutely smashed."
"That was one time, and it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I just don't want it to happen again," an uncharacteristic blush dusting the archer's features.
"Who says I don't wanna see it happen again? It was pretty damn sexy, I have to admit." Katarina chuckled, leaning in to kiss Ashe on the nose. She paused as she was about to lean back in her seat again, before taking the other woman's lips in a slightly more passionate kiss.
"You two are disgustingly adorable, did you know that?" Diana piped in, "I'm practically hurling over here."
"No need to be so embarrassed about it," Katarina replied. "We're all friends here."
Friends? It was strange how the four of them came together in this manner, when many hours of their days were spent fighting each other two the death on an enchanted battle field. Each of them had 'died' by the hand of every other person present at least once during this time. It was strange how situations could occur and even the most mortal seeming of enemies could end up like this, as friends.
"I'm not embarrassed." Diana scoffed, as she felt her face heat up.
"Really, then why are you two getting so red for? Isn't this normal for girlfriends?" Girlfriends was also a strange word for Diana. She knew her relationship with Leona was more than that of friends, but could they be considered girlfriends? It wasn't exactly as if Diana lacked commitment, the term just had a sense of finality and intimacy that she wasn't sure exactly applied to her. She wondered what Leona thought of it.
"Unless…." Katarina smiled, that oh-so-cheeky grin that Diana had grown to understand was a precursor to Katarina saying something at someone else's expense. "You guys haven't even gotten down and dirty yet."
"Oh my god." Leona muttered, hiding her face in her hands. Diana's reaction wasn't much better, as she just gaped opened mouthed at Katarina, who's smile grew, almost threatening to crack her face.
"YOU HAVEN'T." She cackled with glee, getting to her feet in her excitement. "Well aren't you two adorable?"
"Katarina, stop making fun of them and order your alcohol." Ashe berated, gently pulling the redhead back into her seat.
"Fine."
Several hours later, Katarina had finished her umpteenth shot, and slammed the glass back down on the low table. The four had spent the time casually socialising. Any political or otherwise talk was quickly steered away from, and Diana actually found that she had begun to enjoy herself. However, the more drinks that Katarina downed, the handsier she seemed to get with Ashe. This last shot seemed to spark a particularly intense make-out session during which Leona and Diana awkwardly sat in silence through.
Both were extremely grateful to hear a knock at the door interrupting the other two from one another. The door slid open to let in Ahri and Sona, the former of which was carrying more liquor. "Did someone order a bottle of our finest drink?" Ahri purred, or was that her natural way of speaking, it was impossible to tell. She set the bottle down on the table, and motioned for Diana and Leona to scoot over to accommodate her and her companion.
"Everyone enjoying themselves?" She asked, leaning to the side to drape her arm over the Maven's shoulder, who responded by snuggling comfortably into the Ionian's side. Diana and Leona both looked at the sight, the question, however unasked, was implied.
"Yeah, they're together." Katarina comfirmed.
Diana shook her head in disbelief, "There are way too many secret relationships going on."
Sona smiled in response, and leaned over, tapping a rhythm on the table. Her etwahl was nearby as usual, but from her seat, it would be impossible to play it. Diana looked at Leona, expecting a translation, but only good a shrug in response. "I only understand when she's playing the instrument."
"She says that we weren't really much of a secret. No one seemed to notice because people seemed to just chalk it up to me being me." Ahri translated for them. She then picked up the bottle she had set down earlier, "Now who wants some more booze?"
Katarina's hand immediately shot up, earning stifled laughter from her peers. Perhaps it was just the alcohol, but Diana found conversation flowed more naturally than she expected. It was perhaps past midnight when Ahri suddenly stood up and clapped her hands.
"Alright, it's getting late, and you guys look hammered." She declared, evidently unimpaired by all the liquor that she seemed to have consumed as well. "And as much as I wouldn't mind consummating your relationships here in my lounge, I think I might be tempted to join in and get in trouble with the missus over here, so I'm going to politely request you guys go back to your rooms before any of you pass out."
Diana stood up stretching out her limbs. She felt only slightly tipsy, having not had as much to drink as some of the others in the room. She watched as Katarina stumbled, trying to pull Ashe out of the room, who was attempting to throw Katarina's cloak over the belligerent drunk's head.
"You know you can't just waltz out there, okay? I'll come with you, just hurry up and put this on." Ashe chastised, only sounding slightly annoyed.
Katarina yanked the cloak over her head sloppily and slipped her hand in the Freljordian's, practically yanking her out of the booth.
Diana watched the spectacle with amusement until she felt a tugging at her dress. She looked down to her side to see a dazed Leona looking back up at her, her face almost as crimson as her hair. "I don't feel like I can get myself back upstairs on my own." Her voice barely above a whisper.
Diana instantly felt the blood rush to her face. The Leona before her was nothing like that she had ever seen before. Back on Mount Targon, Leona had been an intimidating figure, one that she admired from afar upon her arrival. Becoming friendly with her happened overtime, and it wasn't something that Diana kept track of, but Diana could pinpoint the first occurrence in her memories. She had been secretly out moon-gazing, as the Solari tended to punish Diana for going out late at night, when Leona had found her. Initially Diana expected to have been reported, but instead gained an unexpected friend.
She wasn't quite sure when she had begun to develop feelings for the other woman, but what she did know was that when she killed the elders in a fit of rage, she found she couldn't face the disappointment and hatred that she thought Leona would harbour for her. She had wanted very much so to fit in with her peers, but the prospect of Leona hating her had cut her deeper than anything else. At the time, never did she think that they would eventually reconcile.
Now Leona was standing before, intoxicated and practically clinging to the white haired woman's frame. She had looked so vulnerable, nothing like the heavily armoured warrior she often faced on the fields. Diana sighed, and leant downwards to allow Leona to throw her arm over her shoulder, who muttered a quiet thanks in return.
"If you can't hold your liquor, you shouldn't have had as much as you did."
"I didn't know I was this much of a lightweight." Leona whined. Diana stiffened as she felt the redhead's warm breath against her neck. "Come on Sunshine, walk with me, I can't carry both our weights by myself."
"Are you calling me fat?" The Rakkorian chuckled, sending more shivers down Diana's spine.
When they reached their room, Diana lightly placed Leona on the bed.
"I'm not helping you change." Diana stated plainly before leaving for the bathroom. When she returned, she found Leona had changed and was lightly dozing on the bed, clothes strewn in a messy heap on the floor. Diana tutted fondly before climbing into the bed next to her, keeping her back to the other woman.
A few moments past before she felt a pair of arms snake around her waist.
"I thought you were sleeping."
"I am sleeping. You're dreaming."
"You know you're really clingy when you're drunk?"
"Shut up, I'm sleeping."
"Woah there, is my snark finally rubbing off on you?" Diana felt, more than heard, Leona's chuckle of a response.
The two lay in silence until Leona quietly broke it, "Earlier, Katarina called us girlfriends."
Diana's breath hitched, the conversation returning to her. She wasn't exactly sure why Leona suddenly brought it up, unless she was mulling it over in the same manner than Diana had been.
"Yes, and?"
"Like how she and Ashe are. They really aren't faking it or playing around... you can tell them mean a lot to one another. Is that what we are? Girlfriends?" Leona asked, almost as if marvelling at the word.
"Do you want us to be?" Diana asked, turning around, silver eyes meeting a molten gold pair.
"Do you?" Leona's voice was quiet again, as if she was afraid of the response.
What did she want? Diana wasn't sure when she had first thought about it. She knew she had always felt something for her friend, but was it enough for her to make a serious commitment in a relationship? The answer was so simple, and the day's events had made her realise it even more so, that it was with no other person that Diana felt more comfortable or at ease with. The answer was so easy, and saying it had been difficult up until now, but today she felt like she could say anything.
"Yes. Yes I do."
YAY FLUFF.
You can just ignore the rest of my author's notes as I'm just going to ramble on for a bit about random crap.
I wanted to poke a little more at Diana's personality this chapter. Especially since I kept feeling like I was writing her too nice, so I tried to explore her personality a bit more. The way I was writing her just didn't feel too close to the personality I get when I'm playing her. So instead, I tried to delve around into the softer side of her personality that I seem to be giving her. I played around with it, and in my head I think Diana might be a little bit insecure. The thing is, she wasn't always the way she is now. She always felt different from her peers, always being inquisitive of the things around her, and in things that the Solari dismissed as mere folly. Being branded a heretic and cast out by the people she had wanted to be accepted by, fueled her hatred over the next few years. Although IronStylus did say that Leona and Diana did not have much prior interaction before the current canon timeline, I took some artistic liberty, of course. Leona was not raised by the Solari, although being their chosen one, she does not subscribe to their teachings as strongly as the rest of the acolytes do. She never saw the moon and its power as something to be dismissed and hidden away in history, and she doesn't cast out Diana as a result. It's something Diana is unused to, and Leona is the only one she can treat the way she does.
As for Leona herself, I don't feel like much of her personality is shaped very solidly from what I get from the game lore and VO. However, I tried to write her as a confident young woman, not quick to judge, but I also feel like she has a lot to learn as well. There are also a lot of parallels in the relationship between Diana & Leona and Ashe & Kat that I've written (Other than having a redhead and a white haired person, derp). There is the obvious of having an assassin with an understanding leader/chosen warrior, however, I hoped I managed to capture the distinct differences between them. With Diana and Leona, it's something new and unexplored for the both of them. Diana isn't used to having someone accept her the way Leona does, and so she's extremely awkward about it. I would imagine she tells more bad jokes to try and hide it.
Likewise, Ashe accepts Katarina to be the crazed killing madwoman she is. The difference is that, while Diana was almost forced into a life of hatred, Katarina has embraced killing as a part of her life. She's grown up around violence and it's something she actually enjoys. Ashe knows this and accepts all of that. Their relationship is one that is build around trust. A lot of trust is necessary because there are more facets to their relationship that are created, not just from their personalities, but from their social standings as well. They have to trust one another, as Noxus is a strong power, and Katarina has extremely high political standing within it. To be in a relationship with the queen of the Demacian allied Freljord is extremely risky, and they have to be able to faith in one another for it to even work in the first place. Also, imo Ashe is the only one that has made Kat feel this way and she gets a little giddy about it.
I tried to not make them too similar, but I think I still managed to make both Diana and Katarina into a couple of tsunfaces, but that's okay.
I also wanted to talk about Ahri and Sona a bit more too, which is why you see them more here. I'll ramble about their relationship later on in another oneshot (maybe), but this pairing was actually largely inspired by megicci's Silent, But Not Still. I suggest you look it up and give it a read because they probably do a better job of conveying their relationship than I will.
(Also innuendo is hard to write. I'm sorry for being awkward. And I'm awkward with romance. IDK WHY I DECIDED TO WRITE ROMANTIC ONESHOTS. I AM NOT CUTOUT FOR THIS. PLEASE DON'T MIND IF ALL OF THIS IS FILLED WITH STEREOTYPICAL CHEESE AND FLUFF BECAUSE THAT IS ALL I AM MADE OF. Good god, this is why I have never been in a relationship.)
