AN: Lolwhut another chapter? Was about to continue dat habit of abandoning all stories but ya knowwwww yolo :P
OKAY SO I JUST REALIZED THE LINE THINGIES WERENT SHOWING UP DERP. sorry about that.
Katarina heard a knock on the door. She opened her eyes to the orangey pre-sunset light filtering in through the window and rolled over on the downy comforter, throwing her legs over the side of the Demacian bed, sitting up. "What?" she called. "Who is it?"
She heard muffled voices and the sound of her two guards' footsteps walking away. Hah. Guards. Not that they would've done any good if she'd wanted to escape. The wooden door creaked open just a slit and a burly face poked in. "Hey," Garen coughed. Katarina scowled at him. "What do you want? Jarvan said we're not starting investigations until tomorrow." Garen nodded and said, "Yeah…but I was thinking I could let you out and show you around a bit. Might make things easier for you to find your way in the morning." She laughed. Let me out?
"I'm not your bitch. Don't treat me like a dog," she said. Garen looked confused as to whether she was being serious or teasing, but nevertheless, the Noxian assassin hopped off her bunk and pushed the door open. She caught the flash of happiness that flew across Garen's face for a split second and curbed the roll of uneasiness in her mind. Uneasiness? Not a natural feeling of a DuCouteau. Pushing past Garen, she scowled to herself. "Lead on."
Garen pulled the door shut behind them. Kat adjusted her black jacket and rested her hands on the daggers at her waist, feeling their comforting handles. "So you all do trust me, then," she said, twirling one around her index and middle fingers. "Letting a Noxian waltz down your gilded streets armed and dangerous." Slipping Garen a sidelong stare, she stuck the blade back into its sheath and grinned. He gulped very quietly and nervously. "Look," he said, "don't be getting any ideas now. I don't mean anything by this. If you'd rather just sit in your room all evening and night then be my guest."
"What could you possibly mean, Crownguard? Just how presumptuous do you think I am?" Katarina cocked an eyebrow. "Cut it with the formalities for a moment and show me your damn city." Garen tried to hide his flushed face by adjusting the collar on his cloak, and then quickened his pace forward down the hall.
Outside the Institute of War, Ezreal scurried down the stairs, muttering to himself. "Xpeke my foot," he said. "Do I look like Kassadin? Those bronze-level summoners and their wannabe LCS moves just make me feel so ughhhhhh!" He tossed his mop of blonde hair and clenched his fists. I hate the League. I hate society. I just want to be alone.
"Ezreal!" A female voice called from behind him. He whirled around. Do the gods really hate me that much?
Lux was practically flying down the stairs after him. "That was a nice match, don't you think?" She said, chatty as ever. Ezreal forced a smile in spite of himself. His angst over being forced back into the civilized world and his delayed trip to Freljord were shoved to the back of his mind in Luxanna's presence. "You weren't too bad yourself," he said graciously. "Are you back off to Demacia?" She nodded.
The light mage looked down at her feet and toed a pebble on the stone stairs. "I, ah, was wondering if you'd like to come with me," she said cautiously. "I know you aren't a fan of the city and all, but aren't a few celebrations in line? I'll buy you a drink." Ezreal looked at her eager blue eyes and found them very hard to deny. He blinked and set his jaw. I was still planning to leave tonight… He pulled at the strap of his satchel and sighed. "I suppose one flight can't hurt. Impossible to turn down a lady and some alcohol, you know," he teased. Lux smiled. "Alright! Let's get going, then."
They set off along the main road, which was well lit by both the oil lamps and the half moon overhead. Although Ezreal really wasn't much into the whole talking-to-people thing, Lux was chatty enough that the conversation rolled along easily, and the minutes between the Institute and the great gates of Demacia slipped by in what seemed to be a matter of seconds.
"Welcome home, Ms. Crownguard!" the gatekeeper called. Lux flashed a brilliant smile. "Good evening," she greeted him. Ezreal looked at the city streets with a sinking feeling. Whywhywhy did I agree to this….? Lux saw him hesitating and turned around. "Come on!" Dragging his feet ever so slightly, he caught up to her and followed again along the cobbled road.
She took him down the main street, past the bustling marketplace. Many faces and vendors greeted Lux by name, and she met each one with her luminous smile. How can this not get old after more than one day? Ezreal wondered. The familiarity and daily monotony of city life would drive him utterly insane.
As for his companion, the deeper they went into the city streets, the more she seemed to shine. He didn't really consider himself to be a "ladies' man" sort of guy, but Ezreal couldn't help but find himself interested in Luxanna Crownguard. Not in that simple, fluffy, crushy-wushy kind of way. She was always seemingly so bubbly and cheerful, but her eyes betrayed her amiable exterior. She often sat at the library chairs close to the windows on the tallest towers, and Ezreal would see her in passing staring forlornly out into the world beyond Demacia's walls. People who promised more layers, like an unexplored ruin or temple, were naturally points of interest for the Prodigal Explorer.
The bell tower atop the Demacian palace tolled twelve times, marking midnight's arrival. Garen pulled his cloak a little tighter to ward off the chilly night air, and glanced at Katarina, who was walking alongside him looking surprisingly not bored. "Aren't you cold?" he asked, flicking his eyes to her midriff again. She crossed her arms. "These things don't bother me," she muttered. "Don't offer me your cloak; I'll burn it." Katarina tossed her long red hair over her shoulders and suppressed a shiver. Garen felt heat rising in his face and was very tempted to chivalrously throw the cloak over her anyway, but fearing for his life, decided against it.
"This place isn't as drab as I'd thought before," she commented. "Is that so?" Garen replied dryly, narrowing his eyes. Is that a veiled insult or a compliment to my city? He wondered. "Where can we get some brew?" Kat asked. "First round's on me," she winked. "O-oh," Garen stammered, "um….. theres this one place that my sister really likes. Its in the center square, by the fountain. Is that too mainstream for you?" Katarina mockingly winced and wrinkled her nose, sighing heavily. "I suppose if Luxanna would speak well of it, it can't be too bad. Probably light liquor, like you Demacians do dearly love." Garen scowled. "Hey," he shot back defensively, "don't come at us like that. Lux doesn't like 'light' liquor, anyway," he muttered. "Oh?" Katarina raised an eyebrow. "Well, in that case, lead on."
While Garen led her down the main roads to the Demacian fountain square, he wondered why the normally stoically diplomatic assassin was making what seemed to be efforts at friendliness. Why does she get to me like that? I don't have time for women. He scolded himself, shaking his head and hoping to be able to drown these thoughts in whiskey. Garen Crownguard lived and breathed solely for Demacian Justice. Nothing more. Ever.
They reached the tavern, which was called the Yellow Yordle. Kat made a face at the tavern's signboard, which showed a grinning yordle face and and bubbling barrel of brew. "After you," Garen said, shoving the door open. She slipped under his burly arm which held the door and into the dimly lit bar.
"Brother!"
An excited squeal drifted across the room, accompanied by a flash of blonde hair as Lux threw herself at Garen. She was trailed by the stench of alcohol, and her blue eyes were watery and bore a lucid expression. Garen sighed and peeled her off. "Lux, what are you doing here so late? And who is that boy?" He pointed at Ezreal, who had a mug in his slender hands. He was looking concernedly at the six empty mugs that sat by Lux's vacated chair next to him. Lux dragged Garen back to the bar, Katarina trotting behind with a bemused smirk on her face. She looked confusedly at the mugs at her place and giggled slightly, then hiccupped. "This is Ezzie," she said, patting Ezreal's bangs and disrupting his goggles. Ezreal cleared his throat. "Garen, Katarina. We've seen each other around. It's a pleasure." Garen shook his hand. He opened his mouth to address Lux, but then thought better of it. That's a conversation that can wait until she's sober. "Katarina, let's go sit over there," he said, giving Lux and Ezreal a look.
Ezreal was now very concerned with his decision-making abilities and how exactly Lux had managed to put away six half-pints of brandy in the last two hours. At one point, she had started crying uncontrollably for no reason and refused to elaborate beyond little hiccups and ***meep*** noises.
"I should probably go home soon," she said, squinting at the clock. "Hahaha….what does the little hand tell you again?" Ezreal cocked an eyebrow. "Lux, let me walk you to the palace," he offered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
He got up and helped her out of her barstool; she turned, slapping down another gold coin for her final drink. Her blonde hair reeked of alcohol, making Ezreal take a sharp breath and hold it as she stumbled/staggered/leaned on him out of the bar. She shivered in the cold blast of air that came from the opened door, clinging to his arm. He tensed up in response, but didn't shrug her off.
Walking quickly, they were soon standing outside the palace gates. "Are you coming in?" Lux asked, her voice slightly slurred. "Why would I….?" Ezreal asked. "It's late," she said, sounding confused. "I'm still going to start heading for Freljord. There are night carriages that can take me halfway before the sun pops over the horizon in the morning; might as well get that headstart on tomorrow." Lux nodded, and then looked at her feet. "Take me with you," she said quietly.
"What?!"
"Take me with you," she repeated, locking eyes with him. "I want out of here. Now." Her sudden intensity took Ezreal by surprise. "What do you mean…..Lux, I think you're drunk. Go inside," he said, a little more forcefully than he had meant. "Don't tell me what to do!" she snapped.
He took a step back. "Lux, I'm not taking you with me. No way. I travel alone." Lux didn't say anything else, but Ezreal could see her defined jawline tensing as she whirled around and turned her back to him. "Thank you for tonight. I'll see you around," she said curtly, striding down the front walk. She shoved the guard aside and opened the door for herself, letting it clonk shut loudly. Ezreal stood outside as the noise resonated in the stone courtyard, her sudden change in personality burning in his mind.
Yes? No? Maybe? Leave a review, plox :D