Here is the next chapter! This one is also a little shorter than usual so i'll make up for it by talking a bit about the upcoming chapters:
1. Again, thank you everyone for leaving reviews. I have read them all and am taking them into account. There may not be room for every champion you guys want to see join the club, but I'll at least try to include every champion in the story in some capacity.
2. There will probably not be anyone joining the Manly Man Club for another 2-3 chapters. There will be another mini arc before more membership. I have three champions in mind who'll definitely joining. I'm also probably going to bump the total number of champions in the club to about 12-13. Anymore and I think I'll probably lose track.
3. Finally, I know these past two chapters have been a little more Garen-centric. He is obviously the main character, but I do want to give the other members of the Manly Man Club a little screen time as well which I'll hopefully do the next few chapters.
But Riven's room was empty! There was no one inside. Garen started snooping around, making sure Riven or his sister wasn't hiding somewhere in the room. Garen searched all around, but found nothing. "This only leaves one choice," he said aloud. He left Riven's room and sped his way back to Lux's room. With one quick stroke of his mighty sword, Garen cut down the door. He took one quick look into the room once the dust cleared and gasped. "Luxanna Crownguard!" he exclaimed.
"Garen?" She swore out loud as she hastily separated herself from Riven, whom she had been cuddling with on the couch and was just about to kiss. "This isn't what it looks like," she hastily stammered. "I was...er... Riven was teaching me some hand-to-hand combat moves in case someone challenged me to a wrestling match." Riven swiftly nodded in agreement as both women prayed that their blushing faces wouldn't give it away and that Garen would be naive enough to believe that lie.
Garen put his hands on his hips. "Do you two honestly believe I'd be dumb enough to believe something like that? I know when two people are about to kiss!" Garen wagged his finger at Lux. "I had Rammus tailing you for the past few days and he saw you two in the Garden of Confessions. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Garen, you broke your promise!" Lux gasped. "You weren't suppose to spy on me for the next month!"
"Well, I crossed my fingers that time. Just like you did the first time!" Garen retorted. "Besides, even if I did break the promise, this still doesn't excuse your behavior. Why on earth are you consorting with a Noxian?"
Before Lux could respond, Rammus came barreling into the room closely followed by the entirety of the Manly Man Club. "He is in here like I said he'd be," Jarvan said as he walked in the room. "Oh Rammus wasn't kidding. Lux and Riven really are together."
"That's hot," Pantheon commented as he entered the room with the rest of the Manly Man Club. Jayce nodded his head in agreement as Lux and Riven both hid their faces in their hands in a feeble attempt to hide.
"Can everyone please get out of my room?" Lux squealed. "I want some privacy. Everyone except Garen and Riven, get out of my room!"
"All right, the show is over," Garen said as he started to push everyone out of the room. Most of the members didn't need much persuasion and left without causing a fuss. Pantheon and Jayce attempted to hang in the room as they pleaded that they wanted to see more action. With one last swift shove, Garen was able to get rid of the duo. Finally, only Jarvan, Riven, Lux, and Garen himself remained in the room. "Jarvan, this is a family matter. There is no need for you to be here."
"On the contrary, this is also a matter of great importance to Demacia. It is imperative that I ensure the Crownguard bloodline isn't tainted. I am your prince and I will have to be here for this conversation." Jarvan stood firm.
"Fine," Garen relented. He then went over to Riven. "This is a Demacian-only discussion, no Noxians allowed," he declared as he attempted to drag her out of the room.
In a flash, Lux was up and angry. "Garen, don't be ridiculous. Riven is my girlfriend whether you like it or not and is very much a part of this." She walked over to Garen and Riven and with a sudden burst of strength, managed to pull her away. "Riven, are you ok?" Lux asked as she leaned over to give her a quick peck on the cheek."
"I'm fine," Riven insisted as Lux pulled her close and continued to fuss over her. Garen looked shocked at this display of affection. "What Noxian witchcraft have you used on my sister Riven?" he roared as he leapt into the air in an attempt to execute Riven on the spot.
Jarvan managed to keep Garen at bay with his lance. "What are you doing my prince? Can't you see what is going on? A Noxian is attempting to defile my sister. Why are you stopping me?" Garen cried as Jarvan held him back. After a few more minutes of struggling, Garen finally stopped moving. "Ok, let's try to be a little bit mature around here," Jarvan said. "How did this happen?" he gestured.
Lux and Riven looked at each other and smiled. "Well, it started all the when Riven first entered the League," Lux began. "She seemed so lonely and depressed and I was drawn to her trying to help her out. As we spent more time together, I found myself more enamored with her with each passing amount. Eventually, I was finally able to gather the courage to finally ask Riven out and luckily for me, she felt the same way" Lux finished as she shyly glanced over at Riven again.
"I see..." Jarvan began silently thinking to himself. Riven took this moment to address Garen, who was pouting on a nearby chair. "Garen, I know Noxians aren't exactly your favorite people in the world, but please understand that I care for Lux deeply. I will never do anything to harm her and will do anything to make her happy."
Garen turned his back to Riven and grunted. In the meantime, Jarvan had not responded since hearing what Lux had to say. "Jarvan?" she questioned. "Is everything all right?" As she was wondering about why Jarvan still hadn't said a word, she quickly realized what was Jarvan was pondering. "Are you trying to figure out how you are going to tell the Demacian officials?" Lux sighed. "I am more than prepared to renounce the Crownguard name if necessary. I'm well aware that having a girlfriend, especially a Noxian one is definitely not what is expected of me."
Jarvan finally cracked a smile. "She really means a lot to you. I'll admit it will be a pain in the ass when I have to eventually tell everyone in Demacia about this. I certainly never expected this to happen. I was always under the impression that if I did have this talk about a relationship between a Noxian and Demacian, it would somehow be Garen and Katarina. Still, you can't help who you love. Shyvana is my fiancée and trust me when I say my advisors were appalled when they found out. I'm sure they'll be able to deal with this as well."
"So you are ok with this?" Lux hesitantly asked.
Jarvan laughed. "Yea. Besides, if you had to choose a Noxian, you could've done worse. Imagine if I had caught you making out with Draven or something." Jarvan shuddered at the thought as Lux gagged. "Come, give me a hug."
Lux and Riven both hugged Jarvan. "Garen," Lux addressed her brother who hadn't said a word. "Are you ok?"
"I don't understand," Garen shook his head. "I thought I was the perfect big brother. How did this happen? How did I have let my sister get a Noxian girlfriend without me knowing?"
"I think Garen is just jealous Lux managed to get a girlfriend before he did," Jarvan teased. Garen shot Jarvan a death-glare. "See, totally jealous."
"I'm not jealous!" Garen insisted. "I guess it is just hard for me to accept my sister has grown up. I never would've imagined that little Luxanna would have a romantic relationship, especially with a Noxian woman." Garen took a deep breath. "If being with Riven is truly what you want, then so be it. You have always been stubborn and there isn't much I can do to stop you."
Lux ran over to give Garen a hug which he begrudgingly accepted. "Thank you Garen. I thought you would hate me if I told you," she said.
"I could never hate you," Garen replied. "I'll admit when I may have greatly overreacted when I first found out, but once I calmed myself down, I realized that you'll always be my little sister. I'll support whatever decision you'll make, even if it involves potentially sleeping with a Noxian." As Lux and Riven both frantically denied sleeping together, Garen put his hand up. "Still, there is one last thing Riven must do before I can approve of the relationship. She'll need to prove her manliness! Forty push-ups now!" he ordered.
"Garen, don't be ridiculous!" Lux turned to Riven who was already down and beginning her push-ups. "You don't need to do this. We are already girlfriends."
"Noxian law dictates that I must have the approval of the male head of the house in order to court you," Riven grunted as she bent down. "Since your father is not here, that role falls upon your brother. Although I no longer serve Noxus, I still hold their traditions dear to my heart."
"Fine," Lux relented. She turned back to her brother. "I thought when you made Ezreal prove his manliness, you only made him do thirty."
"Riven gets a penalty for being a Noxian," Garen declared.
"She doesn't serve Noxus anymore. That shouldn't count." Lux countered.
"Fine. Just do thirty," Garen relented. Thirty, forty, it didn't matter. Riven was a woman and she would never be able to do that many. However, Garen was sadly mistaken as Riven was able to finish all thirty without even breaking a sweat. "Hm... I guess it is time for the next trial," Garen decided.
A few activities later and Garen was absolutely stunned. Riven was able to do everything that he told her to do and she didn't seem to be tiring out at all. She was even able to sing the Demacian National Anthem. Garen was out of options. "I guess you are man enough to date my sister," he finally admitted. "However, if you do anything to make her unhappy, I will come after you and I will destroy you." Lux and Riven celebrated with a quick kiss as Garen looked away. "Once you two are done, I do have another question. How many people know of your relationship. Am I at least the first?"
"Well, you guys are the first to know of our official relationship. However, plenty of people knew I had a crush on Riven. Janna, Sona, Leona, Caitlyn, Vi... come to think of it, I think most of the female champions knew or had some idea," Lux admitted.
"Am I at least the first guy to know about your relationship?" Garen asked.
"Well... there is Taric," Lux hesitantly brought up. "He helped me confess to Riven."
"Taric?" Garen exclaimed. "You went to that flowery traitor? Instead of me What does he know about love?"
"Plenty actually. He was the only person in the Institute's Women Association that actually gave good advice. Do you know how tiring it got having Vi tell me to go 'Spank that booty honey!' or Janna telling me a dirty joke every time Riven walked by? It was nice having someone there to have a nice heart-to-heart conversation. I knew that I could never talk to you because if I even mentioned the word love or feelings, you'd go into super overprotective mode."
"Ugh." Groan groaned. He really hated Taric. Almost as much as Noxians. He coudl've sullied Lux's innocent mind. "Well, there is still some things I need to give you since you are now in a relationship." Garen got and left the room. He quickly returned with two books and another small package. He handed the first book to Lux. Lux took one look at the cover and was appalled. "The Bird and The Bees? I don't think this is necessary."
"Lux, relationships are a difficult thing to navigate. I know years ago I tried to read this book to you, but you refused. Since you are now a mature young lady, it is only fitting that you have this book."
"Thanks I guess." Lux really didn't want to waste any more time arguing. "So what is the other book?"
Garen looked around to make sure there was no one else in the room aside from Lux, Riven, and Jarvan. "I don't want you to think any less of me after what I'm about to give you. You may find this a bit strange. Here you go." Garen handed the second book over to Lux. Lux gasped upon looking at the cover. "The Karmasutra? Garen, why do you have this?"
Garen looked offended. "I'll have you know the Karmasutra written by the League's very own Karma, happens to be the golden standard when it comes to literature relating to sexual activities. Though it may surprise you, I do have urges and needs. I haven't exactly read it cover to cover, but I have been told that it is the best. I'm sure it'll help you two girls out in your time of need."
"I already have all three volumes, you can keep yours." Garen's jaw dropped as his book was rejected. Lux quickly realized the implication of what she said and blushed. "They were a gift. From friends," she quickly reiterated.
"I'll pretend I heard nothing." Garen finally gave the last package to Riven. Riven ripped open the package. "These are...condoms?"
Garen nodded. "Precisely. I'm still a young man and I am not ready to be Uncle Garen just yet. This is for your own safety. These happen to be the best quality Demacia has to offer, so you know that they'll almost never break. Now, I have bequeathed you my gifts. I must go to bed now. This has been a long day and I need some sleep. I have an early match tomorrow morning"
The next morning...
Garen did not have a good night's sleep. He had eventually made peace with the fact his sister was going out with a Noxian, but his mind wandered elsewhere. How was his sister able to get a girlfriend before he was? It boggled his mind. He was a manly man without peer. No offense to his sister, but he was a much more appealing specimen to the ladies than she could be. Or so he thought. So what was wrong?" As he thought about some more, he came upon another startling revelation. Only one member of the Manly Man Club actually had a girlfriend. Aside from Jarvan, no one was in a romantic relationship. Jayce had failed spectacularly in his attempts at asking out Caitlyn. Pantheon hadn't fared much better with Leona. To his knowledge, Braum, Gragas, Rammus, and Poppy all weren't in a relationship. Garen himself had made no progess with Katarina. At least he hadn't lost his crush to another woman though. Still, something needed to be done. A Manly Man Club couldn't have a success rate this low. Once Garen finished with his match in the morning, he was going to figure something out.
What will Garen try to do? Will someone in the Manly Man Club help him out? Find out next time on Garen's Manly Man Club.
