When the sun had just risen and the birds were chirping madly, Akali woke up again. She stretched, yawned, and performed her daily morning tasks. Sluggishly, she entered her kitchen, where just a day ago she had received the horrible news about Zed. Akali reached over to switch on the coffee brewer.
Oh wait. I need coffee beans first. Lazily, her hand felt around the counter behind her, where her bag of coffee beans usually was, only this morning it wasn't there. Akali rubbed her eyes to believe what she saw, rather what she didn't see. She paced over to her sink, where a clean coffee mug had been turned over to dry. Akali lifted up the mug, and a little pool of water that was trapped inside the cup dispersed. The events of the previous day suddenly flooded back into her brain as she remembered the nameless man who actually now had a name. Speaking of which, now that he was her responsibility, she would have to call in sick so she could keep an eye out for him.
Zevach... I wonder why he chose that name. "Zevach," she let the name fall out on her tongue. What a strangely odd yet sultry name. Akali's eyes trailed over to the couch, where Zevach was supposed to be sleeping.
Oh god. Her heart palpitated rapidly against her chest from panic as she walked over to the couch where the man wasn't. Oh shit! Did he run for it?! In her state of panic, she failed to register the footsteps behind her.
"Holy mother of what is real!" Akali nearly screamed when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Her head whipped around to meet the red fiery gaze of Zevach, whose neck was cupped protectively in the very probable event that Akali attacked again. Akali felt the familiar heat on her cheeks as she noticed his defensive stance.
"I'm sorry Zevach, but for the love of god, do not sneak up on me like that!" Her voice was gentle and demanding. "I'm not responsible for your injuries the next time you do that. Do you want to end up in the hospi-" Her eyes widened. The hospital! She hadn't called in sick yet!
"Is something wrong?" Akali wanted nothing more than to just stand there and note how adorable Zevach's confused face was, but she had a call to make.
"Oh god, oh god," she chanted as she ran to the phone. "I completely forgot to call the hospital to tell them I was taking a month off!" The phone beeped with every number she frantically pressed, and she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hello-" a voice greeted, but Akali couldn't hear the rest of the sentence because the phone was snatched from her grip. Zevach quickly shut off the phone and put it on the table.
"Are you cancelling work on the account of my injured self?" He asked.
"Well, I certainly can't leave you home alone. I mean, you don't know where anything is in this town, so you can't very well buy food for yourself. And god forbid another gang attack you again! I'm not leaving you home alone." She reached for the phone, shooting Zevach a look that said, "I dare you."
"As much as I'd love to stay home alone with you, you actually have a job. There are injured and sick people in that hospital that need you, so be on your way Akali."
Akali loudly redialed the number to taunt Zevach. "Say what you must, I am staying home. Besides, this break will give me all the rest I need."
And time away from Shen, she shuddered at the thought of him. Zevach helplessly plopped down on a dining chair, unable to conjure another reason as Akali called the hospital for a short vacation.
What should I do for this entire month? I've never been so un-busy before. The rumble from her stomach reminded her that she still hadn't eaten breakfast, so she awkwardly strolled over to the refrigerator, her stomach hungry for toast and eggs. The lack of food in her refrigerator was quite frightening, and her stomach protested by grumbling so conspicuously that even Zevach heard. Akali leaned in to the fridge to hide (and cool) her flaming cheeks. Zevach's throaty laughs made her heart flutter furiously. She inwardly composed herself and pushed herself out of the fridge.
"Since my fridge is severely lacking in anything edible, I have to go to the downtown and restock on items." Despite her stomach competing against her, Zevach seemed to understand. "I'll go change and leave in five minutes." She walked in the direction of her room, but caught herself midway. Akali turned around to see Zevach still sitting there, clueless of what to do. "Would you like to come with me?" She grinned, and he nodded furiously.
"If you're coming with me, we should wait another day for your wounds to fully heal. That will give me time to buy you new clothes, seeing as your current ones are tattered and bloody." She gestured to his shirtless self, who had traipsed around her house in nothing but bandages and Akali's old, stretched out sweat pants. "Tonight, I'll just order a pizza for the two of us. Sound good to you?"
He replied with a mute nod.
Shen was annoyed. Perhaps annoyed to the point of anger, but nevertheless he was annoyed, annoyed that Akali had invited a stranger into her own home with no one else to protect her. Although Shen knew better than anyone else that Akali was extremely capable of defending herself, he couldn't control the incessant dread that plagued his mind. It was as if it had created a nest inside his brain that attracted every feeling of doubt and anxiety. Whether Shen was at home watching television or attending a formal party, the entire situation would never leave his thoughts, even now as he sat clueless in his office.
Had he been too harsh on Akali, despite his good intention?
But then again, Akali had invited a complete stranger into her own home. She was vulnerable, especially in the comfort of her own home. The man could have been a serial killer for all he knew!
Still, Akali could uproot trees with a strike of her palm. If whoever that man was did attack, he would be dead within minutes if not seconds, no matter what hobbies he preferred to dabble in. Like killing. Or raping. Or eating other humans.
"Gah!" Shen yelled in frustration as he violently threw the nearest object at a wall. Fortunately, the wall was unscathed because a certain Yordle had walked into the office just in time to catch the flying book.
"Whoa!" Using his little paws, Kennen gently placed the book down back onto Shen's desk.
"I was going to ask you to each lunch with me, but seeing as you're on a book-throwing rampage, I think I'll ask in five minutes when you're not trying to massacre a defenseless wall," Kennen said humorously.
He got a blank stare in return before a scowl emerged on Shen's face.
"It was a joke, Shen."
And the blank stare was back again.
The yordle gulped audibly. "What has you so…so tense?"
Shen snorted loudly, leaving the yordle's question unanswered.
This time, it was Kennen with a blank look on his face. "I really cannot alleviate your problems if you are going to be stubborn and remain silent."
Shen thoroughly weighed his best friend's words. He heard another frustrated sigh from Kennen.
"Akali encountered a bleeding man in an alley last night," he finally spoke, "and she brought him to her own house to heal him. Can you believe her? She might as well transform her house into a hospital if she's going to let just anyone in! It's so ludicrous how little regard she has for her own safety!"
With no response from Kennen whatsoever, Shen stared at him, hoping for a nod of agreement or something. A heavy sigh left Kennen as he looked down at the floor to think.
"Truthfully, I see no problem with this arrangement."
Shen opened his mouth, fully prepared to protest but the yordle continued his opinion.
"Taking care of people is what she has always wanted to do, hence why she became a nurse. She's an adult who can make her own decisions without anyone interfering. I think that's the least she deserves after being a puppet of her mother's plans. Besides, that woman is fearless. She can snap your neck easily and leave me petrified with a single glare."
A flustered Shen sputtered something unintelligible, but it was evident that he wholeheartedly disagreed with the yordle. After gaining some of his composure, Shen said, "Right now, she is sitting at home with a man who could be a murderer. He could be another Zed for all we know! How am I supposed to live with myself if I idly sat and watched another Zed harm her?"
Immediately, Kennen's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "I highly doubt that there is another Zed lurking the streets of the city. Don't be ridiculous, Shen."
With long strides, Shen walked over to his desk and reached for his coat. "It doesn't hurt to take precautions. History tends to repeat itself. I am marching to her house right now and demanding her to-"
"If you go to her house, then you are undermining her skills as the Fist of Shadow," came Kennen's stern reply. "The three of us trained tirelessly together, and you should know by now that she is not a typical, vulnerable woman. You need to trust Akali, and believe in the training she has received."
There was a lost look in his eye as Shen slowly slumped into his chair. "I do believe in her abilities, but I-I just don't want anyone else hurting any of us again. The pain that Zed has brought to all three of us has been almost unbearable to live with. None of us should have to go through that ordeal again."
"We won't, Shen. Do not treat Akali as if she hasn't had more than a decade's worth of training. Anything life has to thrust upon her she will persevere and emerge victorious. I guarantee that much."
Shen's gaze was glued to a corner of his desk. "I suppose you have a legitimate point. I believe I owe Akali an apology for speaking to her the way I did."
A wide (and somewhat smug) smile materialized on Kennen's countenance. "Yes, an apology would be nice. But I need to eat some lunch soon because I am starving!"
The yordle zipped out of the office with lightning speed as if the entire conversation he just had hadn't happened. With a slight chuckle, Shen put on his coat and pursued the yordle. If Kennen was so confident that Akali was out of harm's way, Shen had no other option but to exhibit that same confidence.
But why was the dread still within him?
The downtown area was busy, and every few seconds, random strangers would accidentally bump Akali on her shoulder, although the collision probably hurt the stranger more than it did Akali. Since the sidewalk was packed with people walking in different directions, Akali had to squeeze along the windows of the shops with Zevach trailing closely behind her. The items within the stores' windows all looked so enticing, especially the ice cream parlor. Perhaps she would take Zevach there on a warmer day. She snuggled deeper into her scarf as a winter wind nipped at her cold, crisp cheeks.
After walking for what seemed like an hour, Akali recognized the familiar sight of her go-to grocery store.
"Bull's Eye?" Zevach read the name of the store aloud and scoffed dramatically. "This is where you buy your necessities? At a store called 'Bull's Eye'?" Akali merely rolled her eyes in response and walked in, peeling off her gloves. She picked up a basket from a pile and proceeded forward.
"A good friend of mine helps run this store. In fact, she moved here with her band from Demacia just a year ago. She's a very kind person." Akali wandered through the huge aisles of the market, dumping in jars of sauces, packets of ramen, and other food products into the basket. She turned around to make sure that Zevach hadn't ambled off and sighed with relief when she saw him looking at dual containers of Nutella.
"Hazelnut spread with skim milk and cocoa..." His voice tapered and his eyes narrowed with thought. "I do enjoy hazelnut," he said quietly. Witnessing the adorable, yet slightly disturbing, sight of Zevach falling in love with two jars of Nutella, Akali handed the basket to him, only to have Zevach stare at it like it was a deadly spider. "Put it in the basket if you want me to buy it," she said, looking away from the basket. The basket dipped under the new weight of the Nutella jars.
"Come on," she gestured by nodding her head, "I have to go pay for these." Zevach mutely followed Akali to the cashier, where the Maven of Strings worked. Her face lit up at the sight of Akali.
"Hey." A big smile spread involuntarily across Akali's face. "This is my friend, Zevach. Zevach, this is Sona," Akali introduced. Sona's head dipped with respect and civility. Zevach's mouth dropped open in shock. Sona's head tilted in confusion, wondering if she had done something to offend him.
"Y-you're the Sona?!" Zevach's face lit up with glee and excitement. "The one from Pentakill?!" Sona exuded an aura of elation (contrary to Akali, who was currently trying to figure out how Zevach knew of Sona) as she vigorously nodded her head. "I am a huge fan of your work!"
An annoyed grunt from behind Akali caught her attention. She slowly twisted her body to see a huge line pile up behind her. Before Zevach could fan boy about Sona's band, she elbowed him hard and handed her basket to Sona. She waited for the price to appear on the screen, paid, and left, but not before wishing Sona fortune with her band.
"How did you know Sona was in Pentakill?" Akali asked Zevach as they headed home together on the same busy sidewalk. "I didn't even mention her band's name.
"A rather simple answer to a rather simple question," he replied with acuity. "The bag that I assumed was hers had a pin that said 'Pentakill' with a picture of an etwahl on it. Fortunately, I assumed correctly."
Akali scoffed. "You know what an etwahl is?"
"Of course I do. I'm a very polished and refined gentleman," he said bombastically, slightly smiling when Akali laughed.
An unnerving atmosphere washed upon the streets like smoke. Akali witnessed as people crossed over the sidewalk opposite to them, as if they too could sense the lugubrious ambiance. Suddenly, Akali felt cold, really cold, almost to the point of freezing. Her body uncontrollably shook, arousing Zevach's attention.
"Are you alright?" The concern in his eyes warmed Akali's heart, but the evil aura was still there. "No," she whispered fearfully.
Curse me for being so weak. Akali's eyes screwed shut as she tried to banish her fear, but despite her attempts, it permeated through her nerves, like a disease. Her lungs seemed to shrink as Akali futilely tried to steady her breath. Zevach slid his arm around her waist to support her body. Had she not felt so frail, she would've cherished the moment.
"You fool!" A dissonant voice followed by a deafening explosion echoed through the streets, and people frantically scurried to vacate the sidewalks. Akali stood still on the sidewalk, ignoring the frantic footsteps of fearful folks and stared down at a crack in the sidewalk. In her dazed state, she didn't even realize that Zevach was calling her name.
I know that voice.
"Akali!" Zevach desperately grabbed her shoulders and tried to shake her out of her stupor. "We have to get out of here!" By the time she came to, the streets had been evacuated save Zevach and herself. Zevach stood in front of her possessively, keeping a firm grip on her elbow.
"Hello, Akali," a venomous voice greeted. Mustering her courage, she hesitantly nudged Zevach out of the way, letting her see the culprit of the pandemonium.
"Syndra," she hissed back, meeting the heated gaze of Syndra's dark purple irises. "To what do I owe your unfortunate and unpleasant company?" Her hands had somehow found Zevach's and she gripped it for support.
"Nothing much," Syndra said monotonously, looking at Zevach. "Just thought I'd drop in and see how the runaway was doing." She noted the contempt in her voice.
"I am doing splendidly," Akali said through clenched teeth. She could feel Zevach shift uncomfortably under the intense scrutiny of Syndra. He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, unsure of what to do. Syndra's lips curved into a sneer as her eyes travelled back to Akali.
"You make very interesting friends, Fist of Shadow," her empty voice purred with sarcasm and derision.
"As do you," was Akali's curt reply. She stepped past Syndra, dragging Zevach behind her. Her brusque and rigid steps slowly became steady and relaxed. She let go of Zevach's hand and raked her hair roughly. Zevach, who had been completely silent throughout Akali's awkward encounter, finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"May I ask you some questions regarding what just happened?" Akali's head bobbed up.
"Who was she?"
She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her winter coat. How could she describe Syndra in the most unbiased way? "She's a good friend of my worst enemy." Her jaw tightened as her mind traced back to Zed.
"She seems rather…intimidating," Zevach said, struggling to find the right word. Akali's light laughter filled the grim air.
"Oh Zevach…" she sighed, footsteps crunching in the now falling snow. "She is so much more than that."
I honestly didn't know how to end this chapter. Sorry if it's a bit short, but I'm starting to feel the weight of taking 3 AP's.
I've always imagined a scene where Akali and Zed went to the market and bonded in a very cute and adorable way. ;D Also anyone get the reference to the name of Sona's store? c;
Thanks for reading, and if you want to, review. Have a great sunshiny day!