PROCRASTINATION.

Thanks C. Geng for editing as always.

Chapter 10

Garen paced the room rapidly. "And you only came to me now? Forty eight hours left, until Swain attacks? Kat, why didn't you come earlier?"

Katarina's eye twitched. "Listen here, Crownguard. I could've not come here at all. I could've left you to rot under Swain's rule, with no warning at all. I came here as soon as I found out, all right? Keep in mind that I could've just told you Swain was coming and left. No details. Are we clear?"

Garen sighed and sat down heavily on a chair. "I'm sorry, Kat, I just...there isn't enough time."

The redhead's emerald eyes softened slightly, and Quinn hesitantly stepped forward and placed a hand on the commander's shoulder. "Garen, we'll figure it out. You've never backed down from a war, have you? We'll win. Katarina and Talon will help, right?" She sent a threatening glare at the duo assassins.

Katarina shrugged and said, "I never liked that bird man."

Talon just scoffed but nodded.

The scout smiled sweetly. "Good."

Garen pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm probably going to be snappy for the next two days," he sighed, "Don't take it personally. Why don't you get some rest? Kat, you know where the guest rooms are. Each of you can occupy one, unless you'd prefer to share with each other."

Talon quickly interrupted before Katarina could speak. "We'll all take separate rooms, thank you," he growled, glaring at his smirking sister.

"Suit yourself," Katarina smiled demurely and led the scout and her brother up a spiraling staircase.

They soon came to a long hallway with multiple doors. "Each of these doors is a guest room. The last four doors are queen beds. The others are all singles."
Quinn selected the first room on the left, and Talon picked the room beside hers. Katarina raised her eyebrows but slipped into the room beside her brother's. It was one of the rooms with a queen bed. "Wonder why you need a room for two," Talon smirked. Katarina slapped her brother. "One more word out of that trap and I will dismantle it."
The man just rolled his eyes and slunk into his room.

Quinn sighed. A shadow swooped through the open window, letting in a cold breeze. It was relaxing, as she was only dressed in her undergarments. The wind brushed against her smooth skin.

"Oh, Valor," the scout smiled at the eagle that had entered. He cawed, settling on the end of her bed. "We need to figure out something fast," she murmured, sitting up. Quinn absently stroked her companion's feathers. "Or we won't stand a chance."

"Have a little faith in yourself, Little Bird," a rough voice snickered. Quinn frowned and turned to the darkest corner of her room. "Talon?"
"The one and only," the assassin stepped out of the shadows. "Why are you here?" The scout asked, suspicious, completely aware of her messy appearance.
Talon waved his hand. "Kat and Crownguard are arguing in her room, I can't get any peace and quiet. Say, would you mind switching rooms?"
"In your dreams," Quinn snorted, "I don't need to hear a lover's quarrel all night long."
"Oh, take pity," Talon said sarcastically. "My ears are going to fall off if I go back to my room."

The scout sighed, "You'd do well in drama class. Come on, you can share with me tonight. I'm kicking you out tomorrow, though. Val, scooch over a bit."
The bird squawked indignantly before shifting to the other side of the bed, allowing Talon to slide into the sheets.
"Thank god," the man muttered, "I'm telling Kat to move tomorrow."
Quinn grumbled, "Shut up, I actually want to sleep so I can think tomorrow."
Talon smirked. His hands shot out, running up and down her exposed stomach. "Sto-op!" Quinn squeaked. "Oh, you know I'm ticklish, you're just- don't be a bastard, you!"
She could barely create full, comprehensible sentences. "Your fault for telling me you wanted to sleep," Talon whispered against her ear.
She shuddered as his hot breath trickled down her skin.

She suddenly had a thought.

Quinn smirked devilishly as she twisted around the face him. He was wearing a pair of shorts, leaving his chest bare.
She slowly worked her hands up his chest, leaving small chills behind. Talon stiffened.
Quinn's smooth hands came to rest on the assassin's neck. "How do you like that?" She whispered throatily against his chocolate hair.
Talon didn't bother her for the rest of the night.

A heavy pounding on the door startled the scout awake.

"I'm coming in if you don't answer!" Katarina's voice sounded from the door.

Quinn called, her voice thick with sleep, "What do you want? It'd better not be an ungodly hour."

"Some woman you chose," Katarina silently muttered to her brother. Where was Talon, anyway?

The redhead opened the mahogany door and saw a sight to behold. Apparently Quinn wasn't fully conscious, because she and Talon were tangled in a heap of limbs. "Hope you guys didn't try anything funny last night," Katarina smirked. Talon was awake-his copper eyes glinted. Quinn's golden eyes widened when she realized her bed was moving. Beds were not supposed to move. Beds were also not supposed to be shirtless men.

Letting out a small yelp, the scout scrambled out of bed. Talon was much slower, sitting up in the bed and stretching. Quinn did her best to not ogle at the sight. "Relax, Kat, you and Crownguard were so loud last night I couldn't sleep."

Katarina's face burned an impressive shade of red. "We were arguing, Talon, about the war. Not that."

Quinn giggled. "Well, let's get going, I'm starving. And Garen is probably working his head off right now."

Katarina snorted. "Please, he's still conked out on the bed. No matter how diligent he looks, he's not a morning person."

"It's six thirty?" Quinn shrieked as she checked the clock. "That is an ungodly hour."

"I need coffee and aspirin," Talon groaned. "Come on, Little Bird, it's not that early-"

A deadly look overcame the scout's normally innocent golden eyes. She grabbed his loose hair and pulled. "What. Did. You. Just. Say?"

Katarina snickered. "All right, break it up, lovebirds, I'm hungry."
Quinn released the man, but not without pulling out a few chocolate hairs. "Ow," Talon mumbled. The Demacian had absolutely no regrets.