The early morning light shined bright against his eyes, and as he walked he looked downward to regain his vision. His body ached, his shoulder still radiating the pain that it had yesterday. Why was he always so sore? He'd grown up on the streets, and in doing so his body had been trained to endure. Never before in his life had he felt so sore as when he first began attending League High, and he couldn't understand exactly why. He brought his hands to his head slowly rubbing his eyes lightly as the ground below him turned black, and as he stopped his eyes once again showed him the path that he walked. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small container. As he withdrew a cigarette from the small tin he grasped it between his lips. Reaching for his lighter he caught a flash of light out of the corner of his eye, and as he turned his attention towards it he saw her. As he watched he saw her graceful movements, and her fighting prowess. She was part of the fencing club no doubt. He looked at his watch, the time was 6:15 A.M. and school didn't start for another hour and 45 minutes. He found a spot beside a tree and sat down softly, staying in the shadows as his eyes followed the female's movements.
As he watched he found himself lost in the grace of her every move. Each step was fluent with no hesitation, each swing cut through the air cleanly and neatly. As he watched her hair danced with every movement and as she began to move faster Talon counted the swings that she made. In a matter of only a couple seconds he counted 8 and smiled at the speed which the girl possessed. He stood up slowly dropping the cigarette by his foot and began to walk back the way that he had come, but before he could get far he felt his body crumble beneath him as he lost himself in a fit of coughing. Each cough stained the ground crimson beneath him, and as he tried to regain his balance and stand he felt the overwhelming pain grip his ribs heavily. 'They're broken' he thought to himself recognizing the familiar pain that gripped him. He once again fell to his knees. He gritted his teeth heavily to hold back the tears that pushed their way through his eyelids.
He brought one of his hands slowly up and pressed on his ribs softly and grunted in pain as the slightest amount of pressure caused his body to spasm uncontrollably. 'This isn't good at all.' Talons eyes shut tight as he gritted his teeth harder and brought himself to his feet forcefully. With each step he felt his resolve weaken and the immense pain would blanket his body further and further. With every idle step he brought himself closer and closer to the ground that would catch him. As he walked he was unaware of the eyes that watched him from across the courtyard, just as his eyes had watched her only moments before.
With one last heavy step Talon felt his body give and as his body straightened he fell forward heavily his eyes shut tight thinking he would impact the ground heavily, but as it occurred the females soft and graceful hands caught him before he hit.
"Are you alright?" She asked, her ice blue eyes filled with concern.
Feeling the soft hands against his chest, Talon gasped as the air was pushed out of his body. He coughed once more sending a small amount of blood down onto the ground. As he opened his mouth to speak he felt the pain in his ribs intensify as he breathed in deep. He put one hand on the ground next to him repelling himself away from the girl. As he looked into her eyes he breathed more gently regaining his composure.
"I'm fine. Just a little short of breath." his words were slow and unsteady as he fought the urge to cough once more.
She laughed, giving him a doubtful smile, "Yes yes, all of zat bleeding must mean you're fine. You're zat boy who was fighting Xin yesterday, oui?"
"The very same. Why do you ask?" Talon looked at her breathing heavily.
"My family's friends wiz his..." She mumbled. "Even zough my family's of ze nobility, I never really liked zem city folks. Zey always zink they're so much better zan everyone else. It was actually kind of refreshing to see someone show zem zeir place."
"Nobility? I should've assumed as much from the grace of your movements." Talon looked down at the ground once more feeling embarrassed, "Xin is nothing more than glorified street scum. I would know, it takes one to know one."
She looked at him with stern eyes. "Zat's not true. You fight to defend yourself. Xin, he's ze real scum. He fights just to fight. To prove that he's better zan ze rest when he's not. He tries to pretend he's part of ze nobility when he was adopted into ze Lightshield family. Tch. What's worse is he has fallen into ze Demacian standard of zinking zat Noxus is 'orrible despite growing up zere. I don't understand 'ow someone could turn against zeir birzland."
"I couldn't care less where people come from. Growing up on the streets, even in Noxus, makes you realize that we are all our own city-state, with temporary allies and enemies. The streets teach you a lot of things, they teach you lessons that you will never forget. It doesn't take money and power for people to act the way that Xin does. All that is required is a sense of superiority that some people just naturally develop. I don't believe that I'm superior to anyone around me, everyone is equal, and each is held accountable for their actions regardless of social standing." Talon's eyes turned stony as his childhood flashed before his eyes, "And I'm no exception. I fight for what I believe in, but there's no clear cut answer as to whether what I believe in is right, and I too will be held accountable for the things that I've done."
Fiora smiled. "As long as you believe in what you fight for, whezer zat fight be for honor, defence, or love, zen it can be considered right. Zat's what my fazer used to tell me."
"Your father sounds like an extremely wise man." Talon smiled slightly raising his head once more looking into Fiora's eyes, "But if a fight arose where you knew beyond a reasonable doubt that you would lose, would you still fight?" He laughed lightly, "I don't expect an answer but my answer is locked in place. Retreat, Surrender, Failure... They aren't words that exist in my vocabulary, there's no backing down, and the only end in that situation is an honorable death."
He looked down at the ground considering his last statement briefly. Fiora's laughter interrupted his thoughts, "Of course I would fight. To do any less would be dishonorable to moi."
He brought his hands to his head and rubbed his eyes softly, coughing once more. Blood once again stained the ground at his feet and he quickly glanced at the girl to his side, hoping she hadn't noticed. As he attempted to stand he felt the pain grip his ribs once more forcing him back to the ground. His eyes began to water slightly as he tried to think of an excuse for why he had to leave so abruptly.
He lifted himself painfully back onto his feet, gritting his teeth as his body attempted to crumble back to the ground. As he stood he felt his body wobble and as he extended his leg his vision went black. His body shifted heavily and he felt himself begin to fall once more but once again he felt the graceful hands of the girl catch him. Still blinded by the pain he felt his arm raise slowly and come to rest across the girl's shoulders.
"No offense, but I don't need your help. I can do this on my own." Talon's words were quiet as the pain gripped his ribs.
"Don't be stupide. Look at yourself, you can't even stand. What drives an individual to refuse help even when he needs it? Foolish pride? Feh." Fiora's voice took on an angry tone.
"Independence." Talon spoke calmly as the girls footsteps came to a halt, " I don't need anyone or anything, I've never had them before, and I sure as hell don't need them now."
"Do you truly believe zat you can do all of zis on your own?" she paused for his response. It was a slow nod. She rolled her eyes, "Zen you're nozing but a fool, destined to fail."
"Then so be it. Who are you to tell me who I am, when I don't even know who you are." Talon's voice took on a harsh tone.
Fiora grinned at Talon, "Sacrebleu! You do not know who I am? Do not fear, for I will tell you. Currently, I am not le beau garçon tousse du sang sur le sol et la coloration des vêtements d'une jolie fille."
"In Common. Please." Talon voice was shallow and hoarse
Fiora hoisted him upwards, "I said you are getting blood on my clozes."
"All the more reason for you to not hel-" Talon began to speak
"Non!" Fiora interrupted, "Zat is not possible! I will help you while you are conscious, or I will knock you unconscious and drag your derriere all over town if need be! Compris?"
"I don't know the meaning of the word." Talon looked at the ground his vision blurring
"But you understand conscious et unconscious, oui?" Fiora shouldered him properly, "Come, I will take you to ze hospital. You are not going to school in such a 'orrible condition."
With a final breath Talon straightened his legs and repelled off the girl, taking each step slowly as his vision began to blur more and more. Each passing second the pain in his ribs grew but he couldn't stop. 'Who does she think she is?' his thoughts still fixated on the girl with ice blue eyes. He spat once more, the taste of blood wetting his lips. He was only 5 yards away from the girl when he collapsed. His breathing slowly steadied.
"Tsk tsk tsk," Fiora shook her head. She walked up to Talon and loomed over him, "Zut alors. You 'ave gone and done somezing stupide: You 'ave gotten me angry."
Leaning down she grabbed Talon and surprisingly draped him across her shoulders. Fiora bluntly stated, "If you try and run, I will gut you like ze feesh you are. Is zat understood?" Talon did not respond, she continued, "If you say nothing, zat means oui." Talon remained silent. Fiora nodded happily, "Regarde, ze stupidity of some men will never cease to amaze moi!"