AN: Thank you to all those who followed/favorited/left a review! Honestly, I didn't expect this positive of a response for my fanfiction, though I suppose I'd be the worst critic of it. Too close and all that. Also, responses!

A fan: Thanks, I'm glad it could bring happiness to someone, even if it's still an evolving work. Tell me how you like this one!

Croziff: Yep, he is. Well to be fair, everything he had was ripped out from under him. I tried to underline how unruly Biglewater and, by extension, the section of Bilgewater that lives within the Institute City, has become due to the events,

StandoutAnonymous: Glad to see someone else mains the fishman like I do, what role do you play him as? Yours words are kind, and they put a smile on my face, though it is indeed a challenge to write Tahm Kench and feel like I'm not messing it up somehow, I've tried my best here but tell me what you think! I've tried checking out some of the other good Tahm stories on this site to get a grip on the way to write him, hopefully it'll show through.

Again, thanks everyone for their kind words, and I hope you all enjoy what I've got for this chapter!

Chapter 4: Watchful Eyes, New Alliances

As the day wore on in the bustling streets of the Institute of War, Tahm could be spotted by the idle passerby to be resting in the shade of a large oak tree, tucked away in one of the side-parks of the bustling main causeway, which weaved and winded its way up the hill towards the central Institute. This high traffic meant no one had the time to bat an eye to him as he sat, scanning the crowds and resting his tired body.

He hadn't spent this long in the hot sun in many a year, and that plus the constant eyes watching him and shunting crowds had left him worn, and he took the moment of respite with a thin grin. A few dappled rays of the sunshine shone through the trees, making his rings and teeth glint in the sunlight. He watched it, the glinting reflecting off his yellowish eyes with a dull gleam before he looked up, seeing how the afternoon rush had eased slightly, leaving an unsteady quiet in its wake. He sighed, heaving himself to his feet and brushing the dirt off his shirt. It wouldn't do to appear dirty while making introductions, would it now?

As he breathed in the scents around him through his glands, he sensed something different to the constant 'city-smell' he had become somewhat accustomed to, of body odour, hot cobblestones and smoke. This new smell was of wild berries and flowers, the sort of sweet kind that grew far isolated from these sort of settlements. Tahm had spent enough time in the waterways of Runeterra to know these sorts of things, and guessed this was an individual who lived isolated, among nature. As the scent grew stronger, he suddenly lurched slightly and sneezed, the subtle smell of Fae magic burning his scent glands. Agh, he always had such a negative reactions to that blasted magic, he mused to himself as he rubbed his irritated moustache. His eyes scanned the crowd and saw a group of smaller individuals wearing garb that stood out from the crowd: A young, bandaged Yordle boy trailing frayed bandages behind him, a small girl with pink hair and fake cat ears, and a young woman with purple-hued skin, a large staff and an even larger hat. He lumbered from the shade, and saw as they sat down on the grass a distance away, seemingly not noticing him.

"Lulu, why're we out here? I hate leaving the Institute when it's crowded out. It's too noisy and busy, and no-one noticed when they trip me up or push me aside..." Amumu murmured, looking at the various frayed bandages on his knees and hands.

"To enjoy the sunshine, silly!" She said with a smile, tapping him on the head with her staff, showering him with various coloured sparkles. She either ignored, or didn't notice Pix tugging on her hair lightly, who had spotted the new approaching individual. "And anyway, Annie doesn't mind it. Right?"

Annie stretched out on the grass on her back, giggling at the two's antics. "Cmon Amumu, the crowds aren't that bad. They give me and Tibbers a wide berth!" She said, picking a flower and watching it burn in-between her fingers before tossing it away. She looked up, her green eyes looking up at the fluffy clouds and sunshine as Lulu unpacked a small baskets she'd pulled from seemingly nowhere.

A shadow grew over Annie, causing her to wince and look up confused, at the same time Amumu looked up to the shadow's bearer. A large, Catfish-humanoid loomed over them, fixing them with its pus-yellow eyes , his hands resting on his leather-rimmed collar as he stood at ease, before he took off his hat, bowing it to the two of them. "Greetings, young ones." He said in a low drawl, attempting to turn his low growl into a soothing tone.

"Aaaah!" Annie screeched, jumping up and landing on the grass next to Lulu, hiding within her hair and peeking from behind her to the large catfish. Amumu stood shakily, backing away and unravelling one of his sticky bandages, holding it in one hand "W-w-who're you?" he asked shakily, attempting to sound brave with his friends nearby.

Tahm faltered slightly, a slight hurdle in his plan to come off as charming. Most youths didn't seem this shocked to see him, but he quickly righted himself and held up a clawed hand to them, stuffing his hat back onto his head. "Whoa, calm yourselves little ones, I'm not here to harm. I'm but a humble traveller, looking for some company." He said with a yellowed grin, bowing his head to them again in a small gesture of respect, though he supposed the meaning was lost. He looked to the third seated at the picnic, seeing how she hadn't reacted to him as of yet.

"My name is Tahm Kench, and I simply seek to sit with you all. Don't be afraid. Just. Let me in. "He said in his smooth, charming growl, offering an outstretched hand to them.

Amumu faltered slightly but lowered his hand, looking to Lulu and Annie before back to him. "I'm…I'm Amumu. This is Annie..." Annie gave a small, timid wave from behind the curtain of hair. Tahm grinned wider, giving her the same. "And this is Lul-" He stopped and fell of his rear as Lulu shot up to her feet, hat flying a good three feet off her head before floating back down. She turned to Tahm with a wide smile, inspecting his outfit, his smile, his skin, anything she could with curious green eyes. As she did, Pix flew around, keeping a fair distance between him and the stranger.

"Hi there! Who're you? Are you a fish or a man? Where're you from Why're you creeping over by the trees? Are you a champion? Did they eat your family and that's why you've come to League to seek vengeance?" Lulu trilled off at a rapid pace, as Annie groggily sat up, having been too close to Lulu when she rocketed upwards.

Tahm listened, frankly dumbfounded a bit at the speed the young Yorlde was speaking, He looked from Amumu and Annie to her, before adjusting his braces and smirking down at her, pressing a single claw to her lips gently. "Whoa there, excuse me my dear, but your words are lost to me when they're so rapid. Does it look like I can handle that speed? I can barely run with this weight." He smirked down at her, watching how that cracked a grin on her face and she stopped talking.

"Lulu... Me and Annie need to go.." Amumu burst out, tossing a bandage which wrapped around Annie's wrist. "Uhm..uuh… Ashe needed our help in picking out here dress for the ceremony!" He said as he stood, before looking to Tahm. "N-nice to meet you, s-sir..Cmon, Annie.." He pulled the struggling youth along with him, who barely managed to grab her bear before she was taken with him.

Tahm watched them go, before smirking slightly. He could partially smell the fear and uncertainty on the Yordle's scent, and while it wasn't a reaction he wanted in his victims, it was funny to see all the same. He turned back to the Yordle, and looked down to the food. "Since they've left, would you be so kind as to let me sit at your table?" He requested, watching Pix with an air of uncertainty.

"Oh, sure Tom!" She smiled, sitting down at watching him as he sat down with a small rumble, hands resting on his large gut as she groaned slightly. He looked to the food, reaching down at scooping up a piece of sweetbread.

"How much do you eat, sir? Food isn't the cheapest to get around here, even for us champions..." She said, looking to the street, which had become busier with the afternoon rush.

Tahm regarded her with an air of uncertainty as well, before he shrugged, resigning himself to telling her the truth. Or partial truth. "Young lady, I don't need to eat food as you and yours friends might need to… It's more the thought put into it that counts. "He said with a grin that held more meaning then Lulu caught. She shrugged, offering him a pink-frosted cupcake. "Well this contains lots of love! I made them this morning!"

Tahm regarded in before his tongue slid out, gripping it from her hand, causing her to giggle and dig in the basket for something. While she was momentarily distracted, he shot the pastry away from him with his tongue and simultaneously whipped his hat from his head, with the tongue, allowing it to spin in mid-air for a second before slamming it down on Pix, who had been buzzing annoying next to his ear, trapping the overgrown butterfly in his fine silk hat, thrashing and calling out for assistance.

Lulu looked up at jumped at the sight of Tahm wrestling with his hat, before she giggled and lifted her whittled wooden staff at him "Need some help? I sometime have to fight my hat off too! Watch! Pretroficus!" She shouted, a lance of fae energy sparking out and striking the hat, causing it to rocket up and reveal the tangled, frayed Pix, who flew over and hid in her hair. "Pix! How rude! Because of you I almost blasted Tahm's lovely hat to smithereens!" She chastised.

Tahm caught it, depositing back on his head and sniffing at the residue Fae dust before grinning, laughing his familiar cackle at Pix's unwarranted abusing.

From across the busy thoroughfare, a purple-a yellow dressed woman watched the two with an inquisitive eye, her large top hat twitching slightly as the various brass lenses changed over her eye, allowing her a magnified view of the scene.

"Who… What is that, you think, Vi?" The Brunette asked, looking towards her bored looking partner, who had been lounging in her chair, half eating a pink cupcake that had landed with a crash on their flimsy metal table.

"I dunno cupcake, a new arrival to the league? It's not often you see giant fish men talking to weird Fae socresseseseses." She shrugged, spraying crumbs across the table before putting it down.

Caitlyn huffed, the mystery of the strange humanoid puzzling her. Even if it wasn't in her best interest, she wanted to get to the bottom of the strange new appearance, and why is coincided so well with the recent tension between the city-states, even more so then usual.

"Cmon Vi, we need to move. "She got up and picked up her rifle by the leather strap, walking over and cuffing Vi upside the messy pink head. She pretended not to notice the pinkette mimicking her talking with her large metal fist as she followed, the crashing of the metal café chairs signifying her entanglement with them. Caitlyn sighed, lithe fingers pressing her forehead. Today wasn't suiting up to be a short day."

AN: Thank you for reading this strangely long chapter, what did you think of it? Was the length good, did I get Tahm and the other characters right in their dialogue/mannerisms? Any/all suggestions, ideas or criticisms are welcomed, I'm not a pro and any advice is appreciated!

Peace, Kawaiipyro