Talon was a creature of habit, Lux knew as much. While stationed in Noxus Prime, he patrolled parts of the city on paths only known to him. Here on the ship, he had adjusted to draw much smaller circles, which collided with her own path about every forty-nine to fifty-six minutes. This meant she was able to feel his comforting presence, relished in the security of his watchful gaze quite a few times during the day. He checked up on her without searching physical contact, only materializing inside their cabin when she retreated for the night. A part of her doubted that many of the sailors suspected his presence, much less drew a connection to her.
Lux's gaze wandered to the horizon where the sun, heralding an early autumn dusk, painted the clouds a rosy red.
It had been forty-eight minutes since he had last checked on her, and the mage had spent the last two minutes with gradually cloaking the connection still lingering between them. Knowing what he had always watched out for when he searched for her in Noxus Prime, she recited her mental exercises, ushering the light to break around her, to hide her from view. Two minutes later she was left as alone as she had not been in more than two months, with only her extensive knowledge of one elusive assassin to try and evade him.
Predicting his first steps was easy. He would look over the deck first, so she had chosen to hide there in plain sight, close to the railing where he would not voluntarily venture to. Her senses heightened as soon as she closed herself off from him, waiting for the shadow to make his entrance. Involuntarily, her heartrate picked up and suddenly, she wished for a solid wall instead of the open sea to guard her back, the knowledge of Talon's apprehension of water not reaching the animal part of her brain she had awoken. She did not notice any turmoil, no physical evidence of Talon's evening round stirred the crew. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited, counted to a hundred for six times before she changed locations. By now, he had surely picked up on the trail she had involuntarily left.
She snuck to the currently unoccupied quarterdeck as she felt his presence tug at her consciousness. It cost her more effort that she would have expected to block his attempt at unveiling her location, but the sneak peek had been enough to tell her he was somewhere below deck – and that he would know where to find her now as well. Instantly, she traversed to the railing, catching on to the heavy rope she had prepared. Taking a deep breath, she wound it around her hand and jumped over the bulwark. For a moment it was falling free, the fluttering of excitement in her stomach truly awakening as she glanced at the glimmering water below her. Then, the rope pulled taut, keeping her dangling in front of an opening in the ship's shell. Building momentum, she used her body weight to swing into the hole, letting go of her life-line to tumble into the limited space used to store the spare engine. She took a moment to regain her breath, knowing how it would either challenge Talon's not-fear of the open water or his visual thinking to follow her path. Without loitering any longer, she moved on to the tween deck. It smelled like oil and lighting, the crackling in the air just enough to warn her of the simmering energy stocked inside the artificial hextech-crystals stored here.
Her heart continued to beat fast as she wondered if Talon would give chase. She shook her head to clear it, gently patting the pocket of her lose pants. Of course he would, she reasoned, she had taken his candied eda-fruits and had hidden the rest of his sugary supply, which should do its part of provoking him just enough – he was almost as obsessive about his sweets as he was about his weapons.
Just for the splinter of a second, something touched her consciousness, the feeling of something incredibly dangerous setting its attention on her. In another act of great concentration, she kept that feeling away from her, not intending to give him any more hints about her location than absolutely necessary. If she was sure of one thing, than of the fact that Talon would find her; she did not need to make it any easier than it already was. After all, the ship was small.
As careful as a mouse waiting for a cat, she slunk through the dimly lit passage leading to the stairs. With bated breath, she listened carefully for eventual noises, trying to hear sounds more muffled than the snoring of sailors, the ever-present creaking of wood and the soft sloshing of the sea. As expected, there was nothing to be heard. She had to trust her instincts which told her that Talon had decided to take the stairs, intending to cut off her path instead of merely following her steps. He was not actively goading her yet, which meant she was still undetected. As soon as she heard a sailor starting to descend the stairs, steps heavy from a bone-wrecking shift, she fled down the planks, treading lightly on those she had mapped to be silent.
She ignored the occupied narrow space where the sailors had deployed their bunks, not keen on hiding between too many people. Besides, she wanted to get caught – and Talon never moved in on public places.
She chose the opposite path which led to the cuddy, mostly because its connection to the ship's bilge. At this hour of day, only a basic cast roamed about the space, scrubbed at burnt-in pots, readying the space for preparing breakfast. Nobody noticed her as she slipped by, the light hiding her form while the noises drowned out the sounds of her breathing. Her ears nearly twitched as she tried to make out any aural signs of a predator having latched on to her. In her heightened alertness, even the clanking of cutlery sounded familiar and unfamiliar at once, the pitch just not the same as the melodic chiming of Talon's cloak.
Soon, she had passed the cuddy, pressing herself through the gap in the door leading to the little pantry. Here, the kitchen's sounds were muffled, the smell of curing salt and acid overpowering the finer aromas. Ducking under a bouquet of dried rosemary, she made out the ladder reaching into the darkness of the ship's bowels.
Without hesitation, she grasped the rungs and descended into the uninhabited parts of the vessel. Her unease rose with the waning illumination and she had to force herself not to spark at least a tiny flicker to keep her company. This was as much for her as it was for Talon, she reasoned and kept her light out. Almost shivering, she forced her teeth not to clatter at the unfamiliarity of the dark stockroom. Unwilling to call to her light, she had to rely on her memory to navigate, hoping that nobody had moved any objects around.
She moved into the space between two barrels as the last remnants of giddy anticipation gave way to the claustrophobic uneasiness spreading through her. She would only need to stay here for four minutes, after that she would be free to sneak through the second entrance. She would ascend the stairs, move to the deck and perhaps she would be able to soak up a few more rays of the setting sun.
Her breath was kept deliberately slow and she listened again. Quiet pitter-patter of tiny claws against the rough wood infused her with sudden horror – she had forgotten about the rats. Just as fast, she calmed herself. The rodents were shy animals, not intending to harm her and certainly no threat. Then her eyes widened again in the darkness. In sudden paranoia, she tried to remember if she had ever seen any spiders around. Instantly, her brain started to make out patterns in the darkness, bright webs forming right in front of her eyes. Her confidence was beginning to wane. She had neither seen nor heard any clue that Talon was indeed following her little scavenger hunt. Which not necessarily meant that he was not on her tails though, it was just a sign that Lux was not able to detect him. Which could be both bad and good.
To keep herself from thinking of tiny insects with too many legs for at least another minute, she listened carefully for any sound he would possibly make. The rustling of a cloak, the low creaking of leather, the air drag of a breeze straying around a human form.
Nothing.
Down here, every sound was muffled. Slowly, Lux closed her unseeing eyes, reminding herself that this was by her choice, that of course she could illuminate the whole room and that the little chase would reap more benefits when she did not freak out right here. She did not dare to take a deep breath. There was something lurking somewhere in the dark, yes, but she had invited said being, had prepared her path, prepared herself and now she just waited to be found like she had done so often in Noxus Prime. She would not ruin her little chase.
Slowly, Lux began to calm and her perception changed.
The muffled noises gradually became less threatening as the darkness stopped closing in on her. In the dark silence, Lux heard the whole ship sing. Planks creaking as they expanded, the different footsteps of even more differing men reverberating through the wood, the ever-present humming of the engine's powering hextech mixed to a noise that contrasted heavily with the silence she had enjoyed during the weeks traveling through the wilderness. It was not unpleasant. Her heartbeat picked up once more, anticipating returning to the inhabited parts of the ship. Another part of her brain told her to stay here, to let him catch up – but the adventurous part of her brain refused to give up, to make it too easy. Considering this environment, a chase would already be not hard.
As silent as a mouse, Lux tiptoed to the second entrance. Careful not to move the slightly ajar door, she peeked out of the storage room before crossing the threshold and moving to the stairs. She had ascended the first few steps of the stairs before she froze. Light chiming rang through the air, almost inaudible, but this was definitely a sound Talon's bladed cloak made in a sudden gust. Her heartbeat doubled its rate and the knowledge that this game of hers was coming to an end washed over her. The sound had come from upstairs, so Lux turned back – and then the quiet click of a door closing informed her that the storage room was no option anymore, leaving one overwhelming certainty. He was closing in. Talon never made any unplanned noises.
Instantly, Lux turned the only direction left, slinking into the side corridor leading to the Captain's quarters. Briefly, she placed her hand against an intricate sigil she had chalked onto the wood half an hour ago, sending a pulse of her magic inside. The dim light of the surrounding lanterns flared subtly, she would not have noticed prior to Talon pointing as much out. A small smirk flitted over her lips as she thought about the surprise the first one walking through her little trap would get. She had woven this spell for exactly this one reason, and Talon would test its efficacy. Wasting no more time, she flitted into an empty storage room. Closing the door behind her, she was already half a step upon a sturdy trunk, big enough so she was able to reach the ceiling. After another moment of awkward fumbling, the flap door opened, making way to the tween deck. Just as she gripped the edge to lift herself up, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, she became aware of something already occupying the space. A dark, crouching figure, barely offsetting against the ever-present darkness.
With a pitched and utterly undignified "eeep!" Lux loosened her grip and smashed the flap door shut, her light pulsing around the closing mechanism, sealing the lock. Her shock was real, she had expected Talon to trail behind her, not cut off her path like that. The sudden change of her role, from the one leading ahead to the one being chased into a different direction than she had originally planned, excited her unexpectedly and settled deep down in the region of her groin, making it even harder to turn away and try to escape. Talon was chasing, and he was the best, most efficient hunter she had ever met. Despite the urge to stay and wait, she was out of the door and back in the corridor half a blink later. With a flicker of her hand, the guarding-spell on the wall vanished – the likelihood of Talon crossing this path before an unsuspecting sailor would was slim, and she did not want to risk a superstitious sailor getting tangled up in something beyond their understanding.
With him so close the lower, uninhibited parts of the ship were no longer an option for her to hide in, so she turned to the more lived-in areas. Carefully, she slipped past a bulky sailor, him not batting an eye informing her of her still intact invisibility. For speed would be her ally now, she ascended the creaky stairs as fast as possible. She strained her ears as she closed in on the door leading to the deck, when a soft chirming sound reached her ears. Instantly, she retreated into the corridor she had just passed, her mind already planning out another detour. From here, she could eventually get on another level…- something dark materialized by her side, pushing her harshly through a door left ajar. She was spun around her axis and her cheek met rough wood, a solid body pressing her flat against the wood. After such a long period of being restrained, the light inside of her flickered up, licking at the sinewy hand closing around her throat. Her breath hitched as the fingers of a second hand fisted the hair at the nape of her neck, bowing her head to the side. A nose connected with the skin right under her ear and she heard a deep inhale that made her shudder with sudden, primal need.
"Not afraid yet?" Talon's voice vibrated along her tensed tendons, somehow reaching the hidden part of her only he was able to affect.
"Would you like me to be?" Lux asked breathlessly, his fingers only millimeters away from her stuttering breath.
A nonchalant huff and a firm "no," was his answer as he continued nosing her neck.
Lux closed her eyes to feel the body pinning her against the hard wood, trying to etch the sensations into her brain. "You hunted me down faster than I anticipated," she finally breathed out, forcing herself to stay put during his explorations. She found it hard to not lean into him, into the absolute sense of safety he blanketed over her like the cloak he usually wore.
She felt him smirk against the column of her throat, the light rumble oscillating along her collar bone indicating his amusement. To distract herself from the sensual onslaught, she tried to make out the dimly illuminated room – the source of which was her own light – only to see that Talon had herded her into their shared quarters and managed to shoot the bolt without her noticing. Briefly, she was surprised at how little that surprised her. She tried turning to see the tilt of his lip that would indicate smugness, but found herself unable to move, fixed by his body-weight. The only thing she saw was the dark material of his hood.
Slowly, his hands traveled down to her shoulders, lightly feathering over the smooth fabric of her clothing while he kept her pinned against the wall with his firm body. Exhaling, Lux closed her eyes. She knew Talon long enough to know that he, if given half the chance, would be dragging this out. She sank against him with a helpless moan, relishing the full-body-contact and the friction of their still-clothed bodies, even if she could think of nothing she wanted more than him to be rid of his garbs. His mouth returned to hers for only a moment and, before she was able to deepen the kiss, to invite his tongue to a breathtaking dance, he trailed across her cheek, moving down over the tender skin of her long neck. Lux reclined her head as far as the unforgiving wood in her back allowed, inviting him to open his mouth and lick at her rapidly throbbing pulse-point, painting a wet pattern on her too-hot skin.
Lux gasped and trembled as he shoved his hands under her shirt, spreading his fingers over her abdomen. Her hips bucked without her permission, and the friction sent a jolt of electricity up her body. His tight grip convulsing around her hips disclosed his eagerness as much as the groan against her neck did. She needed him, preferably right away, preferably without any clothes between them.
For he had a lock on her shirt, she hooked her fingers under the material at her hips, shimmying out of her loosely fitted pants and underwear in one go. Mercifully, he did not immobilize her any further but let her step out of her shoes as well. Just as Lux tilted her hip to push him away, to give her enough room to put off her shirt, he spun her around. Before she could pull his face to hers, his teeth sunk into the soft rise where her neck met her shoulder and his whole body pressed her back against the planks.
The mage closed her eyes at the sensation, her fingers wandering to his hips as he started to suckle, the slight pain mixing with the pleasure of having him just so close. "Oh light don't stop," she moaned ecstatically, the forced immobilization riling her up beyond measure.
Complying, Talon increased the suction as his teeth scraped her skin, not yet enough to draw blood. Lux grasped for his belt, partly to fumble for the belt buckle, but mostly to stabilize herself to gain enough leverage to buck into him. His answering hiss cooled her moist neck, but the shallow thrust of his hip made fire curl in her innards.
His right hand wandering under her shirt made her whimper, he had shed his gloves without her taking notice, but as he cupped the underside of her boobs and squeezed, she found herself unable to care about any telltale sounds traveling out of their cabin.
"Can I have you nude?" Lux managed to pant as her fingers skidded helplessly over his cloak, without managing to get rid of the cloth.
Talon halted his motions and Lux nearly wailed, quietening the sound to a whimper. "Anything you want," he growled roughly and began to release her, slowly, as if his body was rebelling against his orders.
Lux bit her lip but kept in place, leaning heavily against the wall. One side of her wanted to reach out, wanted to stay close to him and undo the straps of his cloak herself, but as Talon's bare fingers started working, she knew why she restrained herself.
After a short glance to the bolt locking their door, Talon shoved his hood back, revealing his face to the dim light. The intensity of his stare snared her until his fingers started fumbling with the fastenings of his cloak, the mindless, well-practiced motions even more interesting than his face. As per usual, Talon did not let the garment slide to the ground, but turned as he tugged it off of his back, neatly folding it and placing it on a chair.
"The shirt next," Lux ordered breathlessly, surprised by her own audacity. Her cheeks burned along with the lower parts of her physique as he turned his head in question, one eyebrow raised.
The brief slant of his lips said more than words ever could as he complied, his back still turned to her. Slowly, the dark cloth crumpled and slipped upwards, revealing well-built muscles flexing under scar-marked skin as her light played with the dips and swells of his back. Lux licked her suddenly dry lips as she appreciated the coordinated bulging of muscles rippling up his toned back, the effort it took for a simple task as crossing one's arms, grasping for fabric and pull it over one's head. She held her breath as his head vanished, relishing the vulnerability of this gesture. Talon's back was turned, he was temporarily blinded and allowed her to witness this. A sudden, nearly painful throb climbed up her spine and she let her own fingers slip between her folds to soothe the ache at least temporarily. Then, his head was free once more and he pushed the hair falling into his face away, casting her a quick glance. After he had folded his shirt and placed it on top of his cloak, he turned to her once more. Lux had no idea how someone could look lethally graceful while toeing their shoes off, but Talon managed exactly that.
His eyes wandered to her crotch, following the lazy circling of her forefinger with amused curiosity. "Don't enjoy yourself too much," he advised as he loosened the buckle of his belt.
Delicious pressure coiled deep in her belly and Lux nearly cried as she slowed her movements to obey, greedily drinking in as he hooked his fingers under the waistband of his pants and pushed them down, stepping out of the garment. She caught a glance at his straining arousal before he turned around once more, carefully disposing of the last of his clothes.
Lux was going mad with the desire blooming inside of her and she let go of her throbbing clit, neglecting herself because he had asked this of her. "I'd much rather enjoy you," she whispered huskily, making him pause in his movements. Lux's nerves coiled in anticipation as he, per usual, slowed down instead of speeding up, his usual modus operandi telling him to restrain himself when the situation got heady. He was completely unclothed now, the sight skyrocketing her already elevated pulse even more.
"Is that so?" He hissed playfully, turning to her in one fluid movement.
Lux nodded, beckoning him with her eyes to come closer. With another glance to the sealed door he followed the bidding, crossing the remaining distance with two surely strides. His eyes caught hers as his face closed in, stopping millimeters before their lips could touch. His nose feathered over hers, his hands spread out over her abdomen, singing her sensitive skin. The mage gasped as he took hold of her shirt and, without alleviating his stare, pushed it up. Obediently, Lux lifted her arms until he had peeled her free. He placed a short kiss on her nose and folded the shirt. While he placed the pile on a second chair, Lux unclasped her bra. The cool air on her overheated skin made her shudder.
Instead of returning to her, Talon moved to their narrow cot and sat down. One short glance was enough of an invitation for her to close the distance. Once standing in between his slightly spread thighs, she leaned forward and combed through his dark hair, burying her hands in the unruly mane. He closed his eyes, a low purr escaping his throat as she scratched his scalp, so Lux continued drawing her nails over his skin.
Talon started nipping at the skin of her belly, so she removed the ribbon he had tied his hair back with, stroking through the length of his hair before grasping for his jawline, bowing down and pressing her lips on his. Her eyes fluttered shut before his did. Their tongues tangled and, as Talon settled back, Lux followed, not breaking their physical connection. Soon, she loomed over him, mapping the outline of his lips with tiny kisses. A slit opened in between his lids, a tiny sliver of gold shining through. She would love to slide down his bare torso now, appreciate his perfect form with her tongue, but one hand at her hip and the other clasped around her neck kept their lips firmly locked. Lux softened and yielded into the tender touch, sprawling her palms over his shoulders, alternating between massaging his muscles and scratching the marked skin. She settled against his hardness, feeling his body up with her own, relishing the jolt of pleasure as she felt his hardness between them. The hand on her hip started to move. First it was but the thumb, circling the dip over her hipbone, then the digit wandered lower, circling a lazy pattern down her belly, her pubic mound, until he had reached where they pressed against each other.
Lux shuddered, the thrill of anticipation nearly driving her mad. She shoved her hips against him eagerly to both stay close to him and allow him to touch her where she needed it most right now. His lips curled against hers as he brushed over the newly exposed skin. Lux wanted to go mad at the sudden spark of arousal and she was sure Talon already felt her excitement wetting his thighs – and probably his thumb as well, which he drew over the part of her lower lips he was able to reach. Her eyes rolled upwards as she stretched and moaned, searching an outlet for this electricity coursing through her. She only managed to part from his lips for two seconds before the hand not playing with her womanhood snatched her back down. This time, Talon reclined fully, forcing Lux to follow him down, to melt over him like honey over bread. She nearly sobbed, for his hand in between them was forced to a standstill. Needily, she shoved herself against him, aware of his perfect cock still nestled in between them.
"You teased enough," Lux gasped, well-aware of the fact that he could and most likely would drag this out much longer than her sanity would be able to bear.
"Is that so?" He rumbled back, mocking her with gripping her hip tight and shallowly thrust against her.
She moaned at the friction, sufficient to rile her up even more, not nearly enough to alleviate the burning that had spread to her whole body, setting her aflame with lust. Instead of a verbal answer, she reached between them. The assassin's eyes closed in anticipation, his lips curling briefly to reveal his sharp canines.
Talon's eyes flew open as she did not grasp for him, but for herself. She cupped her breasts first, squeezing them as she arched her back, presenting herself like an offering to the gods. She continued kneading her right mound while her left hand took the route to where their crotches pressed against each other. His hands may be stalled, but his eyes roamed her body greedily, following the path of her left hand in anticipation. Instead of caring for him, her fingers danced over her now considerably damper feminine parts.
"It is," she finally breathed and slipped her fingers between her lower lips. She threw her head back with a groan, even though Talon's touch had been much better. Her smile gained a challenging edge. "But if you feel unable to-"
Before she could finish the sentence, she was flipped on her back, her man snarling lowly at the provocation.
Lux closed her eyes with a smile, baring her throat with a tilt of her neck. Talon accepted the invitation and sunk his teeth into her flesh. Impatiently, she rolled her hip until she felt his hot length nudging at her. The sharp nip at her oversensitive skin made her mewl and falter. "Talon," she gasped frantically, clawing at his back in desperation, sure that she would lose her mind if he did not soothe the fire scorching her inside and out.
The sting of his teeth added to the feelings slowly overwhelming her. She had never wanted anything as badly as the tip of his cock, nudging against her soaked womanhood. A wail rose from the staccato of her breath, just as she felt his hip moving, circling closer. His nose took the path up her jawline until his forehead pressed against hers. Her pure desperation decreased marginally while his breath mixed with hers.
"Look at me," Talon whispered, his hand cupping her cheek.
Lux obeyed, focusing on the piercing golden orbs he called eyes. Suddenly, she felt like having an epiphany, seeing someone else with his eyes looking down on her. Before she was able to grasp that thought and fix it in place, his plump head sunk into her heat, a little further with each rhythmic sway of his hips. She nudged her nose against his in encouragement and the assassin sighed and slid into her, centimeter by delicious centimeter, until he was buried to the hilt in her tight, wet heat.
"You feel amazing," Lux whimpered, feeling deliciously full and stretched, trying not to close her eyes at the onslaught of pleasure.
"You do too," Talon whispered against her lips, drawing her in for a deep, searing kiss as he gradually increased the pace of his thrusts.
Lux's keening cries muffled by his lips while his deeper moans threatened to rip free from his throat as he pounded her harder against the mattress. Her foot found purchase on the hard floor as she matched his movements with her own. The hard planes and ridges of his body grinding against her soft curves, the angle just perfect so her most sensitive spot rubbed against his pelvis.
"Oh light," Lux crooned, briefly closing her eyes as she began to see stars.
His thumb and forefinger cradling her chin made her eyes snap open once more, her attention drawn to the lump of his strained masseter. Lux encircled his waist with her legs as he slammed hips repeatedly against hers, the bulging muscles of his arms undulating with each movement. Her hand followed her eyes, squeezing his firm biceps usually hidden beneath his cloak. Talon's rhythm slowed, his eyes drifted close and his mouth opened in a soundless gasp for air. He was coiled like a spring beneath her, ready to explode at any second. Lux continued to feel him up, followed a slightly raised scar from his back to his flank. His arm twined around her neck to which his mouth descended once more, not able to suppress the groan ripping free from the deepest part of his soul.
Some part of Lux wound impossible tight at that sound and for a terrifying, blissful moment she stumbled at the edge before Talon pushed her over, making her pleasure burst with jolts of pure bliss shooing outwards from where their skin touched. Her fingers curled in his back with enough force to cause him pain, but Talon did not seem to notice. Her neck strained against his suddenly present hand, muffling her sob in his palm.
As her orgasm began to ebb, she regained a sense of her surroundings. Especially of the man still hovering above her, still lodged snugly inside her now quivering cunt. A steep crease appearing on his glabella was Lux's sign.
Still gasping, she pulled Talon closer, close enough to seal his lips with her own. He followed her movement, stretching his taut body over hers. With a twist of her hip and a shove against his shoulder, he was on his back and Lux towered above him, her hands free to roam the expanse of his defined chest.
She knew him well enough by now. "I'll look out, you can let go," she assured him with a glance to the still closed door. Talon indeed closed his eyes as he grabbed her hips, lifting her in time with his wild thrusts, the precision and control he had maintained thus far slipping away like water down the drain. Lux threw her hair back with a moan, his deep, pulsing strokes drawing out the last sparks of her orgasm.
Then, his hand was back against her neck, forcing her down to him once more. His lips brushed her ear and his arms tensed around her, his bucking hip losing every semblance of a rhythm as his teeth clenched with a suppressed sound. Lux felt his member inside of her pulse right before sticky warmth flooded her, mixing with her own release. As his tension bled away, nothing held Lux up anymore and she sunk boneless against his heaving chest, breathing hard herself.
For a long moment, only the sounds of their flying breaths breached the silence.
Peace settled over Lux as Talon started to move again, complaisantly with stroking her back feather-lightly. His head had turned enough to keep the door in his peripheral sight. The mage sighed as she settled, splaying her hand over his heart, peppering languid kisses on his shoulder. She felt exhausted, blissful and completely sated. Talon in turn looked as relaxed as he could be out of his home, the sharp beauty of his features taking her breath away.
He cracked one eye open to look at her and lift one of his eyebrows in question, but Lux shook her head and withstood the urge to bury her face in his neck. He held her gaze and continued the gentle ministrations at her back.
"I love you," Lux swore, the angles of her lips rising in a mimicry of his expression. Immersed in their own little world she felt protected, safe and utterly cherished. For a long moment, she wished for nothing more.
Then, his gaze cleared and his smile melted away even as his hold on her tightened.
Lux sighed soundlessly. The brief respite was seemingly already over.
"What is it?" The blonde asked, nudging his ear with her nose.
Talon's eyes flitted over the room. By now, Lux had learned to be patient. He allowed himself these little flights with her because he had nothing else to do, but there was still much on his mind.
Him beginning to talk proved her strategy of patience right.
"We will berth in two days," He finally mumbled.
Now, Lux's grasp around him tightened. She had managed to block out those thoughts. "What are you apprehending most?" She asked instead, trying to distract herself.
Talon snorted without humor, heralding the end of their mindless cuddling session. Still, he pressed his thumb into Lux's trapezius muscle, guiding the pressure down.
Lux groaned blissfully. "Katarina's situation?" She tried to help sorting out Talon's feelings.
He seemed to think about that for a moment, then he shook his head. Lux waited patiently, relishing the gentle massage he was affording her. Talking always seemed easier for him after sex, and all Lux had to do was wait for him to find words to express his thoughts.
"I'll assess Kat's situation as soon as possible," he finally dismissed and Lux understood what he meant. They crossed the distance as fast as humanly possible and either they had managed, or they had not. Lux also knew that Talon was sure of their timely arrival, he did not seem to have a concept of himself spectacularly failing something as important as this. He pulled her closer until she laid sprawled over his chest and he had access to the whole of her back.
"Where will you go after this?" Lux suddenly asked and as he tensed, she knew she had found the point his thoughts circled over.
"Depending on Kat's outcome," he answered after a considerable moment of silence. "Staying with her or returning to Noxus Prime. Marcus might have sent new orders for me."
Lux chewed her lip. "Will we see each other again?"
The air left her lungs at the strength of Talon's grip tightening around her chest. "If I have a say in it?" He grumbled lowly, the whisper barely audible. "Will you be returning to Noxus in the future?"
"I haven't been home in years. I don't know about my next deployment or about the situation awaiting me there," Lux explained, unable to distance herself from that knowledge anymore.
Silence settled over them once again, the former levity completely gone.
"Do you still want me, despite those challenges?" Lux abruptly asked. Suddenly, she had enough of dancing about this subject. The greatest part of their journey was over and who knew if there would be enough time to discuss matters of importance.
"Always," his answer came instantaneously, his gaze flickering with another uncertainty.
Lux rolled over until she was able to cup his cheeks with her hands, holding his gaze as soft as she held his face. "And you will always be the only one I want."
Talon did not shy away from her eyes, but he did not seem completely appeased. "How can you be so sure?" he finally grumbled.
Lux sunk her forehead against his, a smile flickering over her face. Talon, ruthless assassin, one of the world's greatest blademasters, thought about the continuation of his relationship. Her heart could hardly take the overflow of fondness for him, the crack in his usually cold demeanor encouraging her. "I don't know if it is normal for you to go through what we experienced together but, I assure you, in Demacia that is not the norm. You and me share too many memories. I will never voluntarily leave you. Even if it takes years until I see you again. Even if you chose to discontinue-"
He cut her off once again, silencing her with his lips. Lux closed her eyes against his urgent movements, offering no resistance for his tongue slipping into her mouth. With their bodies pressed tightly together, she was able to feel him harden again. With calloused hands probing her side, her back, gliding down her butt, Lux was ready to pause the conversation until after the next round. This kind of conversation was hard for Talon, she figured, and the familiar dance of their bodies offered a safe, practiced respite.
"I would never," his eyes searched for hers and he nudged her nose against hers, keeping eye-contact, "never end this. I just need to know if you will."
Lux held his gaze, repeating the whispered "never," she had already given him.
His hand had settled on the side of her hip, his thumb covering the protruding bone while his hand spread over fleshier parts. His intense stare clued her that this was not his way of weaseling out of the conversation, but a way for him to feel more confident to talk about topics he would otherwise never breach.
"So despite you and me not seeing each other for maybe years, a few things will stay between us?" He clarified, his grip wandering to the cheek of her buttocks.
Feeling his member growing to life between her thighs made head flare over her face and rushing down her body. "Yes. Some things will stay exclusively between us," she confirmed, subtly moving against him. She had to give Talon as much, it was easier to talk like this, the knowledge that she would be able to stall the conversation with just the right tilt of her hips was calming.
Talon's face ascended to her, his mouth covering hers, tenderly at first, softly touching her, searching contact before his lips parted and his tongue swept against her instantly opening mouth. Lux sunk into the gentle movement of his impossibly tender lips, twining his arms around his neck to steady the connection. For a long moment, nothing matters besides the warm, silken touch.
The hand not resting at her bottom crept up her throat, pushing blonde strands aside. Talon detached from her, now hovering millimeters above her lips. "To clarify, I mean this," he growled lowly.
Lux grasped for his cheeks to press another wet kiss on his mouth. "I thought so," she husked with reddening cheeks.
Talon shook his head lightly, not strong enough to shake her hands away. "I mean kissing," he said hesitatingly, not looking into her eyes anymore, but a point above her brow. He breathed through his nose, as if the following words cost him greatly. "If we will not be seeing each other for years, I could understand you becoming lonely. I just do not want you to kiss anyone else on the lips."
Slowly, understanding seeped into Lux's consciousness. "Wait. Are you suggesting for me to sleep with someone else?" Speaking it out was like bathing in a bucket of cold water.
"I did not say that," Talon snarled, his gaze meeting hers briefly, "I meant that I would understand if you slept with someone to scratch an itch. I just do not want you to kiss anyone."
Lux worried her lip with her teeth. "Do you think you would get an itch that needed scratching?" She asked, her voice calmer than the felt at the notion that Talon could hold anyone as he held her. Her grip around him tightened.
Talon's shoulders twitched dismissively as he voiced a clear "no," instantly dispelling the ugly feelings threatening to spill out of her chest.
She took a relieved breath, grounding her forehead against his once more. To reassure her even more, she reclaimed his lips, stalling this much-needed conversation for another few seconds. "So… me kissing anyone would disturb you more than having a sexual affair with anyone else?" She clarified.
"It is much more intimate," Talon mumbled. "We will be apart for quite some time."
Lux contemplated his words like she usually did. Coming from someone as socially inept as Talon, much more lingered behind his words and she desperately tried to place where they were coming from. "Where did you witness such a behavior?" she asked bluntly, poking in the first direction coming to her mind.
Talon, once again, buried his face in her neck, licking over the tender spot where he had bitten her. Heat slowly crept back into her stomach and she answered with rolling her hip against him, bidding time before his inevitable answer.
"The General's wife," he finally mumbled.
The warmth in her belly vanished and for a moment she felt complied to ask him to repeat himself. She had not heard much about the deceased Lady Du Couteau, Talon had never talked about her and Lux, despite being naturally curious, had never dared to ask. Among court, she remained somewhat of a legend but, with her progeny Cassiopeia not there to keep her memory fresh, there was no reason to talk about her. "She had affairs?" She finally asked lamely, unsure of how to keep Talon talking, to peek into this aspect of his domestic life.
The assassin nodded, seemingly not as shocked as she was. "When she and the General were apart for longer periods of time. Which happened frequently."
For the first time, Lux asked herself if that might not be the conversation she wanted to have pantsless and aroused with their combined fluids staining her crotch, but there was no way of either retrieving the garment right now or cleaning herself up. "And he knew?" She asked in shock.
Once more, a nod was the answer. "As far as I know, they agreed on her only taking other women to bed, though. I don't know if they had other agreements."
"Your mother slept with other women?" She echoed, despite knowing how stupid she had to sound.
"She was not my mother," Talon instantly corrected. "And from what I gathered, it was more a power-move to cement her position, but whatever."
Lux bit her lip. "You never object when I… or anybody else for that matter… call the General your father," the mage pointed out.
Talon made a noncommittal movement with his head, finally lifting his gaze. "Your point?" He asked curtly, but not unkind.
She cupped his cheek with her hand. "I am simply interested in getting a glimpse of your life."
His gaze held hers for a long moment before he scoffed. "And I thought we were talking about us." With another glance he chose to indulge her. "Lady Du Couteau and I did not get along, that's all. The only thing more unpleasant than her being alive was dealing with the aftermath of her death. Do you really wish to continue this part of our conversation?"
"You started it," Lux appeased, still deciding if this was the moment to dig for more information.
"I just wanted to clarify…" his eyes flittered away from hers and he shook his head. "Nevermi-"
Lux's second hand clasped around his other cheek, pulling him into a searing hot kiss, canting her hip against him. Just as his tongue slipped against her lower lip, she parted from him. "I appreciate that," she gasped, "and I have no desire to kiss or sleep with anybody but you. I will not do such a thing, regardless of when we see each other again." She looked deep into his eyes and saw a great amount of relief inside of them. She nudged her nose against his, but pulled back as he leaned forward for another kiss. This was most likely her only chance to ever talk to him about them. She had opened up for him, and now he would need to give her a little piece of himself in return. "Do you really want our relationship to outlast my time in Noxus?" She could not even out her voice pitching up in the end, nor could she tame her suddenly rabbiting heart. Him implying as much was different from demanding a clear answer.
Now, Talon looked annoyed. "Did I ever give you a reason to believe otherwise?"
"If you want to…" Lux gulped dryly, but stopped herself. She knew how stupid this was, she knew Talon since almost five years, had slept with him for almost as long and formed a bond of mutual trust over the years. He had shown beyond the shadow of a doubt how deeply he cared about her and had conquered Lux's unwavering, eternal loyalty. Still, moments like this made her acutely aware of how little they had talked about the future – how much she herself had evaded every thought in that direction, especially before he knew who she really was and to where she would return to. It had seemed unfair then to demand a future and dreamy to think of one, but now he knew what he was getting himself into.
Talon cocked his head, silently urging her on to talk.
Lux gulped fresh air into her lungs, unsure if her sudden lightheadedness really based on lack of oxygen. "I could try to find a way for us to be together. Permanently," she added, gaze dropping to the dark cloth of his shirt. Her cheeks burned unfamiliarly.
His index finger wandered under her chin, tilting it up until their gazes met once more. "Without you or me abandoning our posts?" He murmured, but there was something else in his gaze Lux could not put her finger on.
So instead, she nodded.
The corner of his mouth tilted up. "If there is anyone capable of doing such, it is you," he mused and covered her mouth once more.
The conversation was not the only thing making her head spin. Lux smiled into the kiss, throwing her arms around Talon's neck in elation, a whole swarm of butterflies dancing in her whole body.
"Enough talking?" The assassin asked, already pulling her down to him.
Now it was Lux's time to nod frantically and she buried her fingers in his shaggy hair, giving him free reigns of their combined movements.
"You betrayed me!" Decius hissed lowly, not keen on being heard. His ears burned and he felt redness spreading from his cheeks to his neck.
Aarys's shoulders twitched and she looked like she had no idea why she was being scolded. She had started to sweep her hair over her blind eye, covering the milky white as well as the scar.
"You did not tell me anything about an oathsworn… and being bloodbound-"
"Oathbound and Bloodsworn," Aarys instantly corrected.
"You betrayed me!" Decius repeated, the shock still suffusing his brain. "You did not tell me anything about… wedding rites!"
"I don't know what a wedding is," the child said sullenly, still refusing to look into his eyes.
"…You betrayed me!" Was all Decius could repeat once more.
The girl pursed her lips, seemingly pondering her answer. "Listen, Decius," it was the first time Aarys spoke his name. Her uncovered eye rose to meet his gaze. "You are not strong enough to survive in the winter. I am sorry about that. Neither am I, and I have no idea how to find Sejuani. She usually finds you. And it is never pleasant. Naenia is the leader of the Starsinger-tribe, and she will take care of you. Your heart is strong, I don't want to see it bleeding over the ice!" Her eyes suddenly were all-big, the still-seeing one for once looking like belonging to a frightened child.
Decius's mouth opened and closed. "You lied to me!" He accused, knowing that he sounded like a broken toy – or a child, for that matter.
Aarys sighed. "I know I did not tell you the truth, but I feared that you would not come with Naenia if you know what she wanted of you. She said she dreamt of a lone wolf, and she thought that to be you. You can start your campaign with her, can't you?" She borderline pleaded now.
Decius took in a deep breath, trying to calm his still-raging thoughts. "You... you planned all of this! You planned to wed me off to a tribeswoman?"
Aarys lowered her head and nodded, as if accepting his judgement.
His mouth opened and closed a few times. "Being an oathsworn is a very strict obligation?" He finally decided to ask.
The girl nodded again.
He let out his breath through his teeth as his thoughts reeled. He had originally planned for a small, Ionian girl standing at the end of his endeavors, not for a strong, white-haired woman to take this place. He thought back to the timid Mitsuko the last time he had seen her, crying her eyes out about some assassin chasing her. The scar around his throat itched at the memory of his own encounter afterwards. I would rather not, the girl likes you. The words of his almost-killer resonated in his head. He had pondered so much about them, without reaching a sufficient conclusion - regardless how much Decius wanted to know more, desired to know if the small Ionian was still alive or if she had been as clever as he gave her credit for, having evaded the blademaster chasing after her. All of it had happened so long ago, there was no way for him to tell if Mitsuko was still alive. Decius cursed inwardly. He was only able to do so much, at least as a lowly foot soldier. His ears reddened as his thoughts wandered back to last night and, suddenly, he did not feel like complaining any more. This episode would require a major changing in his plans. But, if anything, he had always been flexible.
"She dreamt of a wolf?" He asked instead, to stall for time.
Aarys nodded, eager to distract from her misdeeds. "She said she dreamt of a wolf who would come to find her, and said wolf can either bring her great fortune and a litter of her own, or death to her whole clan if she refused her fate."
Decius closed his mouth.
Aarys seemed to take that as a request to go on, to justify her behavior. "Iceborn have a special connection to the ice, and Naenia is a Dreamer! She saw that the wolf's path was up to her, so she decided to embrace her future and... well."
Now, another sound died in Decius's throat, his mind rebelling against the meaning of her words. Instead of fully contemplating, he stored the most disturbing thoughts for later.
"It might take four weeks for them to even start missing me," he said instead, not wanting to elaborate any of what Aarys had said with an approximate twelve-year-old. Instead, he focused on another fact: here, in the cold and frozen Freljord, the Noxian army would not search for long. He knew how things went, if one scout went missing and was not found within a few hours' time, there would be no extended search. They were labeled as fallen for the empire. The Spearhead was a death-sentence after all. He just hoped that his mother would not be notified too fast, messages took an eternity to reach the other end of the empire. "Tell me everything about Oathbound and Bloodsworn. And explain her!" He hissed, pointing to the five-year-old child patiently sitting on a log, watching him with big, serious eyes.
"That is Naenia's daughter, I already told you-"
"Why is she following me?" Decius whispered, not keen on getting heard, even if the child did not speak his language.
"Well, you are her father now. Since Naenia's last and only Oathsworn was killed-"
"WHAT?" Decius coughed and the child's head whipped up, mustering him with her bright blue eyes. "I mean what?" He repeated, more quietly this time.
A mysterious smile danced around Aarys's lips. "Is there anything you do know about grown-up life?" She shook her head before Decius could point out this cultural difference. Instead, Aarys hummed, "I promised to explain."
Decius sighed. This would be a few long, long days indeed.
This time, Garen woke up. Instantly, he grasped for Justice's reassuring hilt, ready to face whatever - whomever - had awoken him. He did so with a low shout, an aural warning to those who dared to invade his privacy.
But there was no intruder to face sword-on. No one was standing at his bedside, no one threatening him. A little bit addled, he turned his head to identify what had interrupted his usually content slumber.
His eyes were drawn to the movement first. Once more, Garen was greeted with the pirouetting form of a sooted dagger, dancing through the air before homing in between filigree fingers.
"I wondered how much more it would take to rouse you," the redheaded owner of said blade smirked, her piercing green eyes fixed on him.
Involuntarily, Garen pulled the blanket over his lap, the greatsword in his hand not completely forgotten.
"Commander Du Couteau. This can be seen as an act of aggression," he started to babble. "Leave my quarters this instant." For a moment, he thought about threatening her with consequences, but the words died in his mouth as she sheathed her dagger and placed her hand at her waist, swaying her hip to the side as if her body was her weapon of choice.
For a moment, Garen felt threatened for a whole different reason, and the blanket crinkled in his fist.
After a moment of stretched silence, long enough to bring Katarina's point across, she snickered, challenge lighting her eyes. "I won't bother you for long, big guy. Aren't you curious about what the major hides from you?" The mocking tilt of her lips was as alluring as the adventurous gleam in her eyes. He liked that expression more when she wore it on the battlefield - here, in the supposed sanctity of his quarters, he felt underequipped to deal with whatever thoughts flitted through her mind. She was an assassin of course, but she had never actively thought to cut his throat in the night's darkness. She had ambushed him, attacked him from behind, awaited him from the shadows, but she had never breached through to him when he had been asleep, at least not with the intent to kill.
Garen tried to shake his discomfort away, even though he was in his sleeping raiment and she was as clothed - or as unclothed - as she always was, figure-hugging leather, metal thorns and everything in place. "I will proclaim a formal inquiry-" the Commander started.
Katarina's laughter cut him short. "Formal inquiry!" She echoed mockingly.
Garen's gaze wandered to the door as mixed feelings clenched his gut, fear of someone hearing her, seeing her in his quarters and reaching a completely wrong conclusion. Fear of nobody seeing her, of leaving him alone in a fight that was not staged with their blades.
As always, Katarina ignored his silence. "Are you that chicken-hearted? The official way will take way too long, especially because the people here actively try to hide something. It could be much more interesting to find out now."
"Haven't you checked that out already?" Garen asked, a bit miffed that she really seemed to expect him to join her raid.
"Oh, parts of it," Katarina said mysteriously. "But I have to re-check, and for that I could really use more brawl."
"You don't seem to be the type needing anyone for anything," Garen grumbled, the grip around Justice slowly loosening.
Her smirk widened. "I never said that I needed anyone."
Garen shook his head, ready to decline whatever she was offering, but her lifting hand silenced him.
"Tomorrow afternoon, at the pendant bridge leading to the deserted accessible duct."
"Commander, I will not-"
"Garen," her stare snared him like a cobra and his mouth closed shut.
For a moment, they engaged in a staring battle, even though Garen did not know what he had to win. Nothing, most likely. With Katarina Du Couteau, there simply was no winning. At least not for him. For a moment, he violently wished to be back on the battlefield with her, a physical one for that matter, one where he was able to foresee the next steps of her deadly dance.
Her mouth opened, and Garen's gaze flitted to her red lips.
"Just come," she muttered and she did not make it sound like a question.
With that, she was gone without a trace, leaving behind a very confused man.
Garen stayed awake until the sun's first rays tickled his nose. Mechanically, he lifted himself, finally having reached a conclusion. He had no idea what kind of games Katarina played but, as he had announced often enough, he wanted to take no part in them. Donning his usual formal attire, he readied himself to face the day.
After crossing a corridor, he did not hesitate as he rapped on another wooden door. It took only a few seconds for a cleanly shaven face to appear in the opening gap.
"Captain Crownguard," his second in command instantly teared the door open and stood to attention.
"At ease, Second Commander," Garen started. "I have information that Commander Katarina Du Couteau wishes to break the Peace of the Quill. Prepare to prove as much tonight."
Without another word, Garen turned and left. With a shake of his head, he tried to dismiss the nagging guilt manifesting deep inside his chest. He had no obligation against Katarina Du Couteau, there was no reason to feel as if he betrayed her trust.
Sorry for the long wait, this chapter was like pulling teeth. I finished it this morning and had no energy to proof-read it to the death, so sorry for all remaining mistakes. I simply want to get it out of my hair. The next chapter will focus on Garen and Katarina, if that is okay for you. I really want to get the ending out before Riot throws another stick between my legs (hint: Sylas in the Freljord), but there currently are too many AUs flitting around for me to keep my thoughts focused. Srsly, I have ideas for a Battle Academia-AU, would like to expand on the PROJECT-universe, then there is the Lunar Revel, Star Guardian (I cannot get the SG-Talon-idea out of my head), maybe another one-shot similar to "Wordless", then there is this unfinished story I felt complied to write after I was bothered by too much ill-concerted stories about rape, or an unrelated one-shot about Katarina and Garen…. Urrgs. But all in due time and after I finished this story.
Another thing: I love the new quotes released through the League card-game (esp. Garen and Katarina as well as Lux/Garen and Ezreal). The relationship between Garen and Kat is pretty much canon now and Tianna Crownguard seems to know of it (Quotes - Tianna: "I… do not approve." Katarina: "I… do not care.")
Ramble: off.
Happy (belated) new year to all of you :)
101Asa: Here you go, even though I find their flirting-skills lacking ;) There will be more in the next chapter, I promise.
Spectrer: Give me another few months and I'll have the whole story tweaked just a bit more. Even though, in the grand scheme of things, Cassiopeia always acted in-character. Her goals have just adjusted, thus her attitude did as well.
Generalblood1: I always feel like I disappoint you. You always wait for conflicts that will never come (Lux's quote to Ezreal in the new card-game explains their relationship perfectly well, I think).
Turfymink: Good to know ;) See you around!
aManNamedSquid: Thank you for letting me know :)