ACT 12
The light chime of the blue smartphone filled the quiet room, the gadget's screen lighting up and flashing the current time of the day. A low creak emitted from the bed in the middle of the room as its occupant opened her eyes and stretched over the sheets, rubbing her eyes afterwards.
Once most of her sleep was banished, Ashe reached for her phone and turned the alarm off. After doing so, she sat up and looked around the room. Her gaze ended up focusing on one of the corners of the room, where worn-out but clean rubber playmats for children can be seen. Her eyes then trailed to the old dollhouse at one side of the mats, the miniature houses placed against the wall and looking neatly kept.
It's been a long while ever since she sat on those mats and played with her childhood toys, the very memory of it making her smile a bit.
Buzz! Buzz!
Head snapping downward, she brought her cellphone up near her face and checked the reason of the vibration. She quirked an eyebrow at the message she received and opened.
Katarina: Why didn't you come home?
'How does she know?' She asked herself, eyebrows knitting slightly in confusion.
Ashe: How do you know I didn't come back to my apartment?
Instead of receiving a reply to her own response, a call suddenly came in, which belongs to the redhead she was just exchanging text messages with.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" Came Katarina's growl-like question. Despite the supposedly threatening tone, Ashe still heard the hints of worry lacing the caller's words.
"Does it matter?" She asked oh so casually as she got off the bed, heading towards the small bathroom.
Katarina snarled in irritation, annoyed at Ashe's insouciant way of speaking. "Damn it, Ashe. Where are you?"
"You wouldn't want to know, believe me."
Ashe ended the call and put it in silent, tossing the little gizmo on the bed before slipping inside the bathroom to take a shower.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Katarina held herself back from screaming in frustration as she stomped out of the elevator, pulling on her hair a bit before just tossing her red tresses back and away from her face.
Last night, after she and Lissandra spoke for a short while, she literally camped outside Ashe's apartment. She waited for her sex partner the whole night until she just fell asleep on her own, back against the locked door, which is the main reason why she's sporting a backache right now.
"Not even single text message... Who does she think she is? She didn't even call or whatever..." She grumbled, exiting the the apartment and pulling her cellphone back out of her pocket. With just a few taps, she placed the gadget against her ear and waited for the person she's calling to pick up.
"Katarina?"
"Tal, are you still at work?"
"About to exit my office, why?"
"I need a favor."
Her brother sighed. "I'm turning my computer back on. What do you need?"
"I want you to give me the current location of the person I called before you."
"This better be important, Katarina."
"Send me the address once you find it." The last thing she heard was the sound of her sibling typing, ending the call without bidding a proper goodbye.
She had just boarded her sports bike and started its engine, when she received what she asked for from Talon. Withdrawing her phone from her pocket again, she checked the address her brother sent, and along with it is a simple "Be careful." message.
Confusion filled her once she read Ashe's present location.
"What the hell is she doing there?"
In just twenty minutes, Katarina was officially driving in Zaun Avenue, catching the eyes of the people walking by and idling at the side. As she drove, she couldn't help but think of the reasons why Ashe is currently in this rundown part of the city.
Her eyes darted left and right, looking for a familiar hair color.
It didn't take long.
Katarina stomped on the brakes, her motorcycle screeching to a halt. Thankfully, cars aren't really that common in Zaun Avenue. Eyes, which are directed to the front face of a convenience store, widened the moment her attention was captured by a casually walking Winters that merely donned a pair of light blue denim shorts, a white V-neck shirt and plain blue flip-flops, her white hair tied in a high ponytail.
The redhead needed to blink for a few times for her brain to finally register that the person she's looking at is actually Ashe.
Why does she need a moment?
Well...
Why does Ashe have to look so ravishing in casual clothes anyway?
Blinking once more, Katarina revved the engine of her vehicle before driving after Ashe, who already crossed the street and was nearing a motel that seems to go by the name 'Snoozers'.
When she reached the motel and stopped just beside the neon sign, she watched as Ashe headed towards one of the units of the building. Quickly turning the engine off, Katarina kicked the stand of the two-wheeler before dismounting and running after the white-haired beauty.
Before Ashe could take hold of the doorknob of her unit with her injured, and not to mention bandaged, hand, Katarina grabbed her shoulder and lightly but swiftly spun her around. Ashe slightly jumped and nearly yelped out loud in surprise once her blue eyes met Katarina's green ones.
"Katarina!?" Ashe said her name with absolute disbelief, looking at her with a surprised look. "What are you do...-! How did you know I was here?"
"I have my ways." She replied without missing a beat.
"I think this is called invasion of privacy. Stalking, to be specific."
"I don't give a damn."
Ashe huffed, eyeing her with no trust whatsoever. "What do you want, then?"
Katarina stared...
...before suddenly pushing Ashe against the closed door and placing her lips over the blue-eyed female's. Ashe almost dropped the plastic she's holding, which contains a small carton of eggs she just bought from Braum's store.
"Kat...-!" She didn't let her name be finished, taking Ashe's lips yet again before it could properly form any audible words.
"Sorry..." She breathed out, which just gave Ashe a second or two to get some air, their lips connecting again. She snatched the bag away from Ashe's hand, dropping it to the bench beside them. Once the bag was out of Ashe's reach, Katarina clutched the doorknob and twisted it.
Ashe gasped into their kiss when she felt herself fall back, only for Katarina to catch her by wrapping an arm around her waist and burying her other hand in Ashe's hair.
For the second time, Katarina caught Ashe off-guard by sweeping her off her feet and carrying her in her arms. Automatically, Ashe clasped her hands together over Katarina's nape, breathing uneven as her ice-like eyes gazed up to her carrier.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ashe asked her, chest rising and falling.
"Apologizing." She answered in the simplest way possible, falling onto the bed with Ashe.
As soon as they got on the bed though, Ashe pulled her to the side, both of them rolling until the Winters female was on top, straddling her waist and looking arousingly dominant.
Katarina expected Ashe to lean down and dominate her lips like how she's dominating her body, but disappointment hit her hard when Ashe left her present position and abandoned the bed.
"What...-"
"If I remember correctly," Ashe began, her breathing somewhat steadier than before as she arranged the hiked up hem of her shirt. "Apologizing isn't this enjoyable."
"Ashe...-"
"If all you want is another round in the sheets...-"
"Yes." Katarina nodded, pushing herself off the bed and standing back up. "Yeah, you're right, I want to have sex with you."
Ashe took her gaze away, looking like she's about to sigh.
"But right now, I want to have sex with you as a form of apology." She clarified out of the blue.
Successfully, she captured Ashe's attention again, who now looked at her like she was becoming delusional.
"I don't say sorry as much as other people do, I don't bring flowers or chocolates or whatever, I don't do any of that."
"I'm not asking you to do any of those." Ashe stated with an unconvinced expression.
"I know that!" She half-growled, her face becoming a bit red without her control. "That's why I'm apologizing to you the way I know how!"
"Through sex?"
"Well, yeah, what else?"
The two of them just stared at each other for a long moment, and each second that passed made Katarina anxious. She knows Ashe can kick her out anytime. Much to her surprise though...
"I need to speak with you about something important."
"About what?"
Ashe released a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose with her bandaged fingers, which in turn made Katarina finally take notice of its state. She clearly remembers that Ashe's hand was absolutely fine the previous day. Katarina took a step forward and carefully grabbed Ashe's bandaged hand, which in turn, cut off what Ashe meant to tell her in the first place.
"What happened?" She queried, eyeing the bandages with an intense gaze.
"It's nothing." Ashe tried to quickly dismiss.
"The hell it's nothing." Katarina ignored Ashe's attempt in ending her inquiry. "Who did this to you?"
"It was me, okay? Don't...-"
"Did you...?"
Ashe stared back at her for a moment, eyes widening when she suddenly realized the reason Katarina is currently thinking about. The Winters snatched her bandaged hand away, and Katarina could only let her, for she might hurt her if she were to grip it in protest.
"I didn't try to slit my wrist, if that's what you're thinking!" Ashe immediately told her, looking at her with incredulity.
Somehow, her words made Katarina's chest feel a little less tighter. Breathing out a breath of relief, Katarina nodded in understanding.
"I thought you..." Again, she trailed off with her words.
"Clearly." Ashe sighed, shaking her head as she turned away.
For a moment, Katarina just watched as Ashe opened the door of her unit and retrieved the carton of eggs she had bought, closing the door afterwards.
"I'll be nice and let you stay for breakfast. After that, let's talk, then you can take your leave."
Katarina stayed quiet, closely spectated Ashe, who moved towards the tiny kitchen space with obvious familiarity. The way Ashe interacted with her surroundings somewhat confused her.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" She asked, brushing off her observation.
Ashe stopped and settled in placing the carton of eggs on the small counter, going around and approaching Katarina.
"It concerns this... predicament of ours."
"Predicament?"
"There's no better word to describe it, don't you think so?" Ashe remarked, leaning on the nearest wall. "I can't really consider it a relationship when all we do is sleep with each other whenever we want."
"Is there something wrong with how I pleasure you?"
"It's not that." Ashe said, shaking her head. "In fact, you're exceptional in bed."
"Thank you."
"But what I really need to talk to you about is...-"
"I know, I know," Katarina cut off dismissively. "Our little predica...-"
Katarina sounded and looked not at all worried about what Ashe is meaning to say, still looking carefree and relaxed with the whole conversation.
So, when Ashe chose to interrupt her with an unexpected statement, all of her words abruptly halted in her throat.
"I want to end this."
Those simple five words froze Katarina into a stand still, her eyes gradually filling up with shock, her heart nearly stopping before its pace began to become faster and faster.
"What?"
"What you heard was what I said, Katarina. I think I don't need to...-"
"No, wait," Katarina took a step forward, while Ashe detached herself from the wall and straightened up. "Seriously, where is this coming from?"
"Kat...-"
"Listen. I know what I did last night was a really dick move...-"
"It was." Ashe muttered under her breath.
"-and I apologize! Okay? I never intended to sleep with that girl anyway! But," Katarina shook her head to try and get rid of the nerves that's creeping up on her. She felt like she's going to have an anxiety attack of some sort. "Please. Please tell me this is just your little jealousy talking right now."
Ashe deeply sighed. "What happened last night opened my eyes, Katarina. You can't do anything about it."
"Opened your eyes to what!?" Katarina sounded she was about to become hysterical, or at least something close to that.
"To the fact that what we have is nothing!" Ashe finally snapped, face morphing into a scowl-like frown. "All we have is lust! That's it! Nothing else!"
Katarina so badly wanted to throw her hands up in frustration. She can feel her anger beginning to boil in her blood, rapidly nearing the point where she busts her cap.
"What's so wrong about that?" She asked back, extremely exasperated.
Her question was rewarded with an incredulous look.
"Everything is wrong about that!"
Katarina turned away, hands brushing her hair back before covering her face as a futile attempt to calm herself down.
"Katarina, why can't you just accept that I want to end this?" Ashe questioned, somewhat confused with her reactions. "Last night is solid proof that you can easily replace me. Judging by your performances in every session of ours and how flirtatious you can be, it won't take you long to find someone that would be willing to...-"
"Stop, just stop." She started to say, shaking her head.
"-be your fuck buddy. I'm not that irreplaceable, Katarina."
"Yes, you are." She grunted out.
"You're being irrational." Ashe pointed out. "You can easily go into a nightclub and walk out with a partner for the evening. Why can't you just let me go?"
"Because!" Katarina spun around and gripped Ashe's shoulders. "I don't want to fuck anyone but you!"
"You can't just say that. You don't own me, Katarina. No one does."
"I fucking know that! But, that doesn't change the fact that I don't want anyone to fuck but you! Alright? So, don't...-!"
"Katarina!" Ashe held her face, and when she did, Katarina realized that she was trembling. Trembling because of her anger maybe? "I'm not some woman you can go to just to have sex with. I'm no whore."
Katarina searched Ashe's eyes for any hope she can hang onto.
She saw it...
Unfortunately, she doesn't know enough for her to decipher it, which is why, her answer to what Ashe just said is completely wrong.
"Isn't that what you are right now?"
SLAP!
Ashe stepped back and away from her reach, gazing at her with utter disbelief. Pale hands clenching into fists, lips mildly quivering and eyes becoming glassy with tears, Ashe spoke in a crestfallen tone.
"I always thought you were different from the others. Something that kept me from ending this sooner... Something that made me doubt the decision I'm making right now... But I guess I was wrong."
Katarina couldn't raise her head. All she could do was stare at the old carpeted floor, not possessing the courage to look up and meet Ashe's brokenhearted stare. The stinging emitting from her recently struck cheek barely even registered in her mind.
"You're the same as everyone else." Ashe practically whispered, her voice shaky. "And I can't believe I was beginning to love you."
Green eyes widened. Katarina snapped her head up and met Ashe's heart-wrenching gaze.
"...what...?"
Ashe pursed her lips in a tight but quavering line before shaking her head and turning herself away.
"Just get out..."
"Ashe..."
"Please..." Ashe pleaded in a quiet whisper. "You're the last person I want to see right now."
Katarina didn't want to leave, but Ashe was wordlessly begging her. The way her shoulders shook slightly as she cried, Katarina felt like her chest was clenching and tightening in the most painful way possible as she forced herself to face away from Ashe's weeping self. Each step she took towards the door, it pierced her very heart.
The moment she opened the door, she came face to face with the same man from the previous night.
"I can hear the princess crying." Tryndamere said, eyeing her with a narrowed gaze.
Katarina shouldered past him, gritting out, "What kind of princess is a stripper?"
It's her stupid pride that's talking. Deep inside her, she had to wonder where it's coming from now. Yet again, she received a reply she's never prepared for.
"A very damaged one."
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Author's Note: I ditched my responsibilities just to complete this chapter, so you readers better have enjoyed it! XD
I know, it's rather short. It didn't even pass 3000 words. -_-"
Nonetheless, do tell me what readers think about it. :)
Next chapter will be about Katarina trying to figure out what to do with her life. With Cassiopeia's help of course! :D
I've been thinking, and I know some of you are already expecting the sequel of "Million Reasons" once I finish this one, so I just want to say it now that it might get delayed. :3
I really want to write a different story that involves a different pairing. These are my choices: (just so you all know)
"True Love" by P!nk (Vi x Caitlyn) (AU/Modern)
"Skin" by Rag'n'Bone Man (Vi x Caitlyn)
"The Cure" by Lady Gaga (Leona x Diana)
Remember, everyone, there's a reason why the stories are named after songs. ;)
I'm sure all of you have spotted and read the title of this story within this chapter, so always be prepared when you read a story with countless possibilities waiting to be written. :P