He waited.
He wasn't a patient man, but he waited.
The journey from Demacia to Noxus took time, give or take a few days. It was possible that she'd gotten a late start, that Jarvan had kept her a bit longer.
So, he waited.
Sid was surprised to see him at the tavern so often, but knew better than to pry into the assassin's business. Instead he just poured drink after drink for him, not unhappy to have such a consistent customer. He did wonder what happened to that little Demacian girl though.
At first, Talon didn't mind. He was somewhat relieved, having more time to himself and his thoughts. It was nerve wracking, but at least he knew he was certain. He loved her.
The alcohol helped ease his panic at first, lulling him into a familiar and calming haze. Without it, he was terrified. He'd never been in love before and had no idea how to deal with it. Most people saw him as a monster and he was fine with that, but Quinn was different. She loved him and all of his flaws, his scars. No one should've been able to get so deeply under his skin but she had, and had stolen the heart he didn't know he had.
It was awful, he decided, to be in love. He didn't understand how people could possibly enjoy it. All it did was distract him, fill his mind with thoughts of her and nothing else. How could anyone get anything done when they were in love?
He didn't know what would happen when he told her. Of course, she'd already declared her love for him, so he had nothing to worry about in regards to her reciprocating his feelings. But where would they go from there? It wasn't like they could make it public and tell everyone. They were still from two kingdoms bound together by hatred and that wasn't going to change any time soon. She wouldn't abandon her duties to Demacia and he wouldn't stop trying to solve the general's disappearance.
She said she'd loved him though and that had to count for something. Love was supposed to conquer all or something, at least he thought he remembered her saying something along those lines. She'd seemed so passionate when talking about her love for him, always earnest and sincere. She didn't see him as a monster or an animal, but as a man. A broken man, but a man nonetheless, one she said she wanted to be with. And he realized that he wanted to be with her, too.
Maybe they could have a future together. It seemed impossible, but he had to speak with her. To tell her that he loved her and would do anything for her and see just how much she cared for him.
But the days turned to weeks and there was still no sign of her.
She'd told him that she'd come back to him, she'd said two weeks. He could understand her being a few days late, but it had been over a month since she was supposed to return. There was nothing, no letters, no stupid bird to bring a message. Nothing.
And Talon was overcome with rage.
The drinking increased, he demanded harder alcohols from a very confused Sid who had no choice but to oblige. Fights broke out in the bar easily as he was quick to snap at the slightest provocation. Drunken and hurt, he'd tackle anyone that looked his way, nearly killing them before other patrons would intervene and pull them apart. Sid would try to kick him out, but Talon threatened his life each time, demanding another bottle to wash away the pain.
It was a horrible feeling, as if someone had reached into his chest and yanked out his heart, leaving a gaping hole to fester and bleed. The nightmares were never-ending and even there he was unable to escape the pain, her face always there.
He had to give her credit. She'd been more cunning than he'd expected. To go to such lengths to eliminate a foe, her dedication was remarkable. It would've been less painful if she'd just killed him. The pain was too much to bear. He had to put an end to it.
Determined to rid himself of this agony as quickly as possible, he secured a horse to ride to Demacia. The trip took significantly less time and he was able to arrive shortly after nightfall, knowing well that this was the best time for him to work.
He remembered these woods; they were the ones where he'd stumbled upon Quinn and Kat's first meeting. He'd saved her then, shooing his sister away to play with her Demacian toy. He clenched his teeth as he urged the horse forward. He should've let Kat have her way with her.
At the edge of the woods he dismounted and tied the horse to a tree, knowing that he'd need it to make a quick getaway. Guards would be on him quickly once he was finished and he had no intention of getting caught.
Peering through the trees, Talon was able to see the citadel and the familiar balcony he'd climbed several weeks ago. Valor was perched there, eyes alert as he scanned the horizon.
Damn, he hadn't thought about the bird.
He kept hidden in the trees, dragging his hand over his arm blade as he tried to think of a plan. Luckily for him, he didn't need one. Valor took off suddenly in the opposite direction. Perhaps he was patrolling the grounds, but Talon didn't care. He took the opportunity to dart across the open field, grateful that Demacians were too proud to have constant guards.
Scaling the wall was easy, but seeing the door in front of him made him hesitate. Would she even be there? For all he knew she could've left Demacia to hide from him. And for a moment, he hoped she did.
He opened the door without a sound, steeling himself as he walked in with a renewed determination.
The room was the same as he remembered, pictures still covering the wall, the door to the bathroom slightly cracked. Nothing had changed. Talon grit his teeth as he walked over to the side of the bed, disgusted.
She laid there peacefully, blissfully unaware of his presence. Her hair had gotten longer, nearly reaching her shoulders. And she was smiling. She was turned away from him and he could only see the corner of her mouth, but there was no doubt.
After everything she'd done to him, after she'd forced him to open up to her and manipulated him. She smiled.
Talon raised his blade as the anger boiled inside him. She deserved to suffer, to feel the pain she'd inflicted upon him.
He stepped back in surprise when she shifted suddenly, his arm wavering. She rolled over onto her other side and he was forced to look upon her face. It was true, she had been smiling, that sweet smile that caused him to falter. The smile that had thawed his cold heart.
"Talon…"
The assassin hissed at the sound of his name. She was still asleep, but her voice was clear: she was sad.
She spoke longingly, lovingly, as if she was calling out to him personally.
He stared at her in confusion, wondering why she spoke this way despite abandoning him. His eyes wandered down to her neck where a familiar chain hung, the ring dangling against her chest. Shocked, he stumbled backwards, dropping his arm.
Quinn shifted again, this time squinting her eyes open after hearing an unusual noise.
"Talon?"
The assassin just stared, still processing the fact that she was still wearing his necklace.
Quinn squinted harder, allowing her vision to focus before her eyes shot open, wide and bright with joy, only confusing him further.
"Talon!"
She began to sit up, but Talon regained his determination, drawing his blade to her neck, causing her to freeze in terror. He wouldn't let his guard down so easily. She'd already tricked him once, he wouldn't let her do it again.
"You almost had me fooled," he hissed.
"Talon…"
Her voice was weak and shaky, the happiness in her eyes quickly replaced with fear. She glanced down at the blade, the cold steel dangerously close to breaking skin.
"You…"
He struggled to find words as he looked at her, so scared and small. He hated seeing her like that… No. No, she deserved this. She betrayed him.
"You made me think that you loved me."
"I do –"
A hiss of pain silenced her as he put more pressure on the blade. The laceration was small but it stung, a ribbon of blood trickling down her throat. Talon narrowed his eyes. This was proving to be more difficult than he'd anticipated.
"Why don't you scream?"
His victims, when he toyed with them like this, always screamed. They'd weep and beg for help, for him to show mercy, to have a heart. Yet she remained silent, trying to put on a brave face in front of him.
"Because they'll find you," she breathed.
Talon scowled, pulling his blade back for a moment. Nothing she was saying made any sense. What was the point in trying to confuse him further? What was she trying to accomplish?
Quinn kept her eyes on the blade as she reached up to touch her neck, inhaling sharply when she touched her wound, gingerly pressing her palm against it so stop the bleeding.
"Talon…"
He tensed at the sound of her voice, raising his blade again.
"Listen to me," she begged, "I'm –"
"Shut up!" he bellowed.
Quinn's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak, but it was too late. The door had burst open to reveal two Demacian guards brandishing their swords.
Without hesitation, Talon leapt over the bed, darting at the intruders. They both went pale at the sight of the assassin and one had the sensibility to scream for help, but he was quickly silenced as Talon dragged his blade along his neck. He disposed of the other just as quickly, looking down to admire his work.
Guards, he thought. She'd had guards outside her door. Waiting for him. So she really did want him dead.
"Idiot!"
Something soft hit his back and he glanced behind to see a pillow on the floor at his feet. Looking to the bed, he saw that Quinn had sat up and grabbed the other pillow, her eyes burning with frustration. She flung the other pillow at him violently, but it was easy for him to dodge. He began to make his way back to the bed, leaving behind a crimson trail as his blade dripped blood.
"You had guards," he remarked, "Did you really think a few pathetic soldiers would stop me?"
"They weren't for you!" she snapped.
Again, nothing that came from her mouth made sense. There hadn't been guards the last time he'd been here. What else could she possibly need them for?
"I'm tired of your lies, Quinn," he hissed.
He brought his blade up again, the moonlight shining on the cold steel and blood. But she didn't cower. She no longer seemed sad or hurt, but angry. Her eyes burned molten gold, even as he stalked closer to her, towering over her as bloodlust began to consume him.
"I'm not lying!" she yelled, "If you would just shut up and listen to me –"
Fed up with her defiance, Talon shoved her forcefully, causing her to fall back on the bed with a soft thump. The blade was quick to find her chest, resting just above her heart, the blood of the Demacian soldiers staining her shirt.
"You betrayed me," he said darkly, "There's nothing left for you to say."
Quinn knew that she didn't have any more time to try and talk sense into him. She needed to stop him now or he'd kill her.
He drew the blade back ever so slightly, preparing to thrust it into her, but he hesitated. As angry as he was, something about this was off. All he'd ever done was kill, no questions asked. Love was never something he was supposed to have, it didn't belong in his life. Yet there she was, eyes wide but still locked on his, staring into his soul. He felt vulnerable and exposed, another cursed side effect of this love sickness.
Quinn noticed his hesitation and, ever so slowly, reached out to take his free hand. He flinched at the touch, cursing the way his skin grew warm when it met hers. The blade remained hovering above her chest, Talon unable to move it further. He'd become paralyzed by her touch, all of those stupid emotions rushing into him at once, overwhelming him. All he could do was stare as she cautiously pulled at his arm, bringing it over her stomach.
"Talon…"
Her voice. Her sweet voice, the voice he hadn't heard in so long. God, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed it until now. A tear had rolled down her cheek and Talon was surprised to find that one had escaped from him as well.
She squeezed his hand reassuringly before pressing it down against her stomach. An unfamiliar warmth spread through his palm, up his fingertips and soaked into his veins. His brows furrowed in confusion as he looked down, unsure of what had caused this surprisingly pleasant sensation.
"Talon."
He looked back to her, watching the tears flow freely as she offered him a weak smile.
"I don't understand…" he breathed.
Quinn laughed softly, choking on her tears as she tried to blink them back. God, how he'd missed her laugh. She spoke in a gentle voice, a whisper to assure her words were for his ears only, even though they were alone.
"I'm pregnant."
Author's Note: I'm honestly surprised how many of you guys guessed this. I was trying to make it more of a shock, but you guys were just too smart I guess ^^ But hey, congrats, we made it! Plot is finally going to start happening! So let me know what you guys thought, if you loved it or hated it. I know this one's pretty short compared to the most recent ones but they should go back to being longer after this one from here on out. Thanks for all your support and I'll see you next time!