Well will you look at that, I am still alive! Who knew?
Seriously though, I am back, and I am uploading a whole 4 chapters today! Two for this and two for the Heartseekers.
If you are here having read the first chapter ages (as in, literal months) ago, may be worth going back and reading the authors notes again, some things have changed. Chapter is the same though, so if you don't care about me ( SAD FACE :( ) you can just keep reading.
Enjoy, and I'll see you at the end of the next chapter!
Chapter 2
What the hell was he thinking? Kennen was currently pacing up and down his quarters, less than an hour until he was expected to meet, well, somebody. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, cute yordle whom he'd just saved, but time had done little to reward his confidence. Firstly, he knew absolutely nothing about her aside from the fact she'd been attacked, which given the suspicious way she'd responded was probably a cause for concern. Secondly, she had actively advised against seeing her again, and he'd done it anyway. That usually didn't bode well for dates. Thirdly, and the one that seemed to torment him the most, hadn't he just begun to realise he had a crush on Tristana? What would she think if she heard of what he was doing? Every way he looked at it, seeing this girl was bad news.
Yet in spite of this he was excited. He'd never been faced with an opportunity like this, was he really willing to throw it away because of a childish crush on a girl who already had two devoted yordles hanging off her at every waking moment? No, he would go on this date and make sure he enjoyed it. Besides, the she-yordle had hardly seemed thrilled at the idea of a date; it was perfectly possible it wouldn't go past the first, in which case he was free to hopelessly pursue Tristana. Kennen sighed, was this really what he had been reduced to? At least a date was a step forward.
The bar he'd decided to take her to was one he had spent his fair share of time at over the years. Akali had been the one to initially recommend it to him, the joint home to many foreigners who were less likely to look down upon the yordle. He figured if he was to show up with a date, this place was the least likely to give him a hard time for it. He waited patiently, watching the clock as the hand slowly ticked by, finally allowing himself to breath easy once it was time for him to leave. No more waiting and wondering, now it was time to see what would happen. It didn't take him long to reach the place, resting up against the outside wall and waiting patiently for his date to appear. After a while he began to fear he'd been stood up, which seemed perfectly possible given her attitude towards the date. But just as he began to worry he saw a familiar figure approaching, her face deadly serious. Kennen hoped to change that, smiling broadly at the she-yordle.
"I was worried for a moment that you weren't going to show." He was met with a grunt, the she-yordle averting her eyes.
"Well, it certainly crossed my mind, but you did save my life. Should we go in?" She went to push past Kennen, but he put his arm up stopping her.
"First things first, I need a name, even a false one. It is ridiculous talking with somebody if you don't know what to call them." She sighed, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly, as though unsure how much she should say.
"My name is Feykin." Kennen smiled, dropping his arm.
"Feykin, that's a nice name." Feykin blushed, trying to hide the red tint by heading into the bar, although Kennen noticed, a smile gracing his face as he followed her into the bar. It was pretty quiet, not that Kennen could ever remember the place being busy. There was the occasional merchant party that would pass by, filling the room all by themselves, but this was not one of those times. There were a couple of regulars that Kennen recognised, but mostly the few people there were travellers looking for a drink. The pair took a seat at one of the tables beneath a window. Kennen made sure Feykin was seated and comfortable before sitting himself, feeling a little awkward with the situation. Feykin chuckled lightly to herself, a sense of sympathy passing between the two.
"You know, when you suggested a date I thought you at least knew what to do." Kennen sighed, not even attempting to deny it.
"I've never really done this before, sorry."
"Don't worry about it, I'm not doing much better." The two ordered a drink and something to eat, Kennen a little surprised to find she was happy to have something alcoholic.
"What's so wrong with it? If humans can do it, why can't we?" She had argued when questioned. Kennen just put his hands up in defence.
"You are preaching to the converted, you wouldn't mind telling my friends at the Institute that some time?" Feykin furrowed her brow.
"You're a member of the Institute? I thought you said you were a member of the Kinkou?" Kennen nodded, standing up so as to place their order.
"Both actually, it's an interesting story if you want to hear it." Feykin nodded, Kennen swearing he could have seen the first traces of a smile on her face, but they were gone just as quickly. He returned not long after with their drinks, the two indulging in the beverages a little before Kennen cleared his throat to tell his story, the alcohol already having the desired effect and loosening his tongue a little.
"My parents once told me that in my first moments of life I managed to dash both out of the womb and away from the midwife, and I've never stopped dashing since then. It was more than just simply having energy though, I spoke to countless mages across the years and none could justify it. None that is save the Kinkou, who spoke of an ancient position held by one of their order; the heart of the tempest. Long story short, I get to run around as I please, and earn respect for doing so." Feykin nodded, following along and acting with surprisingly little, well, surprise.
"Is that why you joined the Institute? You want people to respect you?" Kennen shook his head immediately before considering the question more deeply.
"I left Bandle City at a very young age and never really explored the rest of Valoran. Ionia was my home, and when the Institute approached the Kinkou asking for representatives, I was quick to jump on board. I suppose you could call it curiosity more than anything."Feykin nodded again, taking another sup of her drink. Deciding he'd said enough about himself for the time being, he tried to test the waters with some questions of his own.
"So where do you come from? I find it hard to believe you are Ionian from birth."
"Bandle City, just like any other yordle." Kennen nodded, he'd been expecting such an answer.
"What brought you to Ionia then?" Feykin shrugged, but the action looked forced and unnatural. Kennen didn't want to blow it and so he dropped the issue, but he made a mental reminder to revisit it later. Their food arrived and they ate in relative silence, seeming a little ore content with each other's company than at the start of their date. Once they finished eating they ordered another round of drinks, the alcoholic impact finally catching up on their smaller bodies as Kennen found it a lot harder to keep himself from smiling. Feykin too her credit was yet to show him a true smile, but she was clearly a little giddier than earlier. He took this as a sign that his questions may be more readily answered, and although he was probably likely to regret it later, there was one playing upon his mind more than any other.
"Something is bothering me if I'm perfectly honest, how is it someone like you is caught all alone on the road late at night, but when she is saved by some stranger isn't willing to hang around long enough to find out why he claimed he'd heard someone calling for help?" Feykin looked away, refusing to make eye contact. Something was bothering her, and Kennen really wanted to know what that was.
"This has been really nice Kennen, can we please not ruin it now?" Kennen frowned, his innate sense of curiosity refusing to let him drop the issue.
"Is someone after you?" Feykin shook her head, sighing to herself.
"It's not that simple, and I'm not about to bring you into this." Kennen shrugged, not in the slightest way content with her answer.
"Well, maybe next time then." Feykin looked over at Kennen, a mixture between confusion and curiosity crossing her face.
"Next time?"
"Well, I've enjoyed this, even if things were a little awkward. Don't you want to do it again some time?" Feykin blushed, mouth sitting slightly agape. Was it really so hard to believe that he wanted to see her again?
"No, I mean yes! Yes, this has been good and certainly, umm, different. But no I can't see you again." Kennen's stomach dropped, his mood slowly sinking through the floor at those words.
"Look, if it's about your past or whatever, I won't ask." Keykin groaned, leaning back in her chair and running her hand down her face in exasperation.
"It's not that, you've done nothing but be a perfectly accommodating, well, partner. I just can't keep doing stuff like this." Kennen looked prepared to respond, but Feykin silenced him with a raise of her hand.
"And no, I cannot tell you why." Kennen sighed, an uncomfortable silence befalling the two. They finished their drinks and managed to look anywhere in the room but at each other for a few minutes, neither having any clue how to break the ice. Eventually Feykin stood, Kennen following suit as they made their way out of the bar and onto the path outside. It was as busy as it had been at the start of the day, that is to say entirely empty. The pair walked side by side for a while, Kennen not really in any rush to leave and Feykin seeming to enjoy the company while it lasted. They reached a cross roads, Feykin stopping in her tracks. Kennen didn't want to meet her gaze, but he also didn't want that to be the last thing he did with this girl.
"Are you sure you won't reconsi…"
"Temple of the Forbidden Past." Kennen wasn't sure how to respond to the statement, conceding in his attempt at distancing himself and turning to Feykin.
"What about it?" Feykin was looking at her feet, a pinkish tint covering both her cheeks.
"If you want to find me, I'll likely be around there. Goodbye Kennen." And in keeping to her words she walked off, leaving the slightly confused but suddenly overjoyed yordle standing at the crossroads. Once he was fairly convinced Feykin wouldn't be able to see him he let his emotions get the better of him, leaping into the air and sprinting the entire way back to the Kinkou, his energy levels never higher. He still had no idea what to think of the strange girl, but at least he'd convinced her to give him a shot. It was a very good place to start.