Let's get the story rolling! As always own nothing of League of Legends but my OC
Chapter 15: Appointment with a stylist, fear me for I am evil! And thoughts on humans
It is said women love their hair because it reflects their crown as queens, some say simply is a vanity thing, others say it shows their personality. For Cid hair was hair, and anyone could wear it and do whatever they wanted with it.
And that's the reason he was in a broom closet hiding from Lux. The latter one was looking for him armed with a comb, scissors, hair clips and many other things.
"You can't hide forever! I know this place better than you do!"
Cid let out a breath he didn't know he was holding once he heard the footsteps of Lux going away. It wasn't like he wanted to keep his hair long, no, if anything he just didn't want to find out what Lux was hoping to do.
Once everyone went to eat Cid decided to act as a ghost and moved around leaving slowly without them noticing. He was great at moving between people making them think he was there while he wasn't there anymore. So, no one really ever noticed when he tried to actually leave a messy situation.
Had prince Jarvan not been holding him he would have run away from the party back then. Well, he would have stayed because of Sona and Riven he thought to himself.
"But she is right… I can't hide forever"
As he was thinking of a plan on the broom closet the door opened and as he was thinking that Lux had found him. He felt relaxed looking at the green mass that was Zac.
"Oh! Hello Cid!"
Cid felt funny as he was hugged by Zac, he tried to hug back the huge green mass that was his friend. As Zac smiled at Cid he pointed at the end of the hallway.
"I'm guessing Lux was screaming for you… she went that way, so you should go the opposite"
As he smiled at Zac for the information he couldn't avoid asking.
"What brought you to the broom closet though?"
Zac shrugged.
"It seems Nami made a bit of a mess in the pool outside, so I thought I would help them clean up"
Noted, Nami could control water it seemed.
"Oh, best of luck Zac"
Zac smiled and waved at Cid while going away. Before being poked with a staff. Cid looked around and then looked lower and saw the yordle wearing blue he had seen before.
"Give up now! Reveal me the source of your mind reading prowess!"
As Cid was trying to understand what was going on, Lulu appeared fast while seemingly hugging him and making him put his staff down.
"Veigar! Don't go around poking Cid with your staff!"
As Cid watched the two yordles interact he noticed something immediately.
Lulu liked Veigar, and Veigar seemingly liked her back. While small and almost unseen for anyone else, Cid knew what to see and what gave it away. He smiled looking at the small yordles. His thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Veigar.
"I demand you give me the means to read minds!"
Cid chuckled.
"Sorry, I can't, is not something you can give, is something that comes with time"
Veigar seemed angry at the answer of denial.
"I demand your power!"
Cid noticed how the room suddenly felt heavy, and in a second, he found himself in a shield made by Pix
"Veigar! Cid has no magic!"
Pix was keeping Cid protected from the weight of the magic of Veigar, the powerful energies started to dissipate as fast as they came with the words of Veigar.
"What? No magic at all?"
Veigar looked at Cid, he nodded confirming his thoughts.
"No magic at all, if anything I can do this"
Cid stretched both hands in front of Veigar. He got one of his hands near the other, and suddenly made the illusion he was removing his thumb from the hand.
He noticed Veigar shudder for a second and noticed Lulu giggling. Seems one of the two got the trick.
"I see… bodily separation while interesting doesn't attract me if it only works for myself…"
Veigar seemed to be in thought, Pix was still protecting him it seemed.
"Mmm is a shame your mind-reading powers aren't magical… I guess I shall further test your skills with other minds…"
Cid smiled at Veigar.
"Feel free to visit the office if you want to chat, while I can't teach you how to read minds, I'm sure I can give you some pointers"
Veigar laughed.
"What can someone like you teach me?!"
Cid chuckled before saying.
"I know you will move your feet to the left right now!"
Veigar was about to shout him for his insolence when he took notice of it.
He had moved his left feet before speaking to him.
"Now you will close your fist, and raise it against me"
Veigar was exactly going to do that. And he did. But the fact was the human, the human without any magical talent, was expecting his next move.
"How? Because I know how to read your mind of course"
Cid laughed at his own joke and Lulu giggled at it. Only Veigar wasn't laughing. He was focused, he needed to learn the secrets to such mind reading techniques. That way no one could hide from his absolute power.
"I demand this ability! You will teach me!"
Cid noticed his eagerness. And he thought he could actually help Lulu. A mischievous idea formed in his mind.
"Oh, Lulu can give you a few pointers, spend time with her and you will understand what I mean"
Veigar looked at Lulu and this time his previous words were directed at her.
"I demand the pointers for this ability! You will teach me"
Cid couldn't avoid noticing how Veigar wasn't so loud while speaking with Lulu… maybe there was a certain degree of affection in him after all. It seems he wasn't that far from the truth back then.
Lulu looked at Cid and made a small bow in thanks before hugging Veigar.
"Of course! We will start right now, follow me for your first lesson!"
While Lulu took Veigar and the other seemingly had problems carrying his staff keeping his balance with Lulu. Cid noticed Pix making a small thumbs up gesture at him.
"You are welcome Pix"
Pix seemingly went fast to follow Lulu as Cid decided he could walk around the institute. After all, he had a whole institute to move around while avoiding Lux, after all, Zac had pointed her direction, so that meant he could go around all the places Lux had already checked.
Meanwhile, on Ionia, the Unforgiven and the Exile were sitting in a room inside the Placidium waiting for one of the biggest members. Karma.
As they waited Yasuo could only look at her companion who had requested paper and something to write with. Yasuo thought she was making a last will of sorts as she wrote on the paper while resting on the table. After all their entry in the Placidium wasn't well taken by a part of the elders, others were curious, and Karma said she would hear their case personally.
But he took notice of the sloppy movements, and saw she was seemingly repeating the same letters…. Riven?
"You are writing your own name?"
This seemingly broke the concentration of Riven. But only for a second as she didn't even look at him before answering.
"Yeah, I'm practicing how to write…"
A week before, she would have felt ashamed of admitting her lack of ability to write, but after spending time with Cid she knew better. There was no shame in admitting she didn't know how to write. If anything she should be proud that she was working hard to learn it.
"I can see that… but why?"
Yasuo inquired noticing how Riven seemed to work her writing exercise with military precision.
"For myself… there are many things I want to learn, Cid has tons of books I'm curious about seeing"
Ah, the therapist…
"Taliyah will be fine, Cid can take care of her, trust me he won't do anything bad so just relax will you? We got enough to worry about Karma, so don't go around worrying so much"
Yasuo didn't even notice he was tense until Riven spoke. True was he was actually worried the girl would be in bad hands. But Riven spoke the truth… Yasuo took an extra pencil and paper from Riven and wrote his name.
"This is how you write my name"
Riven had to hold a laugh. Yasuo felt offended and before he could get angry Riven spoke, albeit laughing.
"Sorry… is just, you write really pretty, it reminds me of Sona handwriting"
Yasuo looked surprised at this.
"I didn't know you were friends with the Maven of Strings"
At this Riven actually was surprised before speaking.
"Well… we sort of became friends recently, she recommended me a bunch of books to read… I hope to read them once I finish the one Im reading"
Yasuo looked with curiosity at her.
"You didn't strike me as someone who would enjoy reading… or that could read… no offense"
If she had gotten offended she gave no signs of anger, and rather kept on writing her name and now the name of Yasuo too.
"No offense taken… I have been trying to practice"
Riven was calm, she knew whatever was coming she would be ready. Sure their swords had been confiscated but she was sure she could fight still. Plus she had promised Cid she would do her best. She was solving her anger issues, albeit slowly, but she was working on them.
She missed Sona and Cid. Sure it hadn't been long since they last saw each other. It had been a couple of days, but still, she found herself missing them. They were becoming a part of her life that she enjoyed. Seeing them brought her a sense of peace and made her feel… in home.
She knew that whenever she saw them they were welcoming her. She couldn't wait to see them once the situation in Ionia was solved. Hopefully. Without any battle in it.
Yasuo was surprised. Riven was taking the fact they were going to see Karma with a lot of calm. He was actually envious of the peace she was able to have. The therapist had truly helped her with her emotions it seemed. The man was an enigma for Yasuo. But hopefully, that same calm he had been able to bring to Riven would be sent to Taliyah.
Yasuo sighed. He knew Taliyah could be a handful when she wanted something, but he couldn't blame her, he had been a kid before.
"Greetings, hope you didn't wait for long"
Riven stopped writing her name for the last time before looking at Karma and nodded. Yasuo looked at her and nodded too before speaking.
"Not at all… we are sorry to be taking your time Elder Karma"
Karma chuckled before sitting in front of them.
"Not you too, I already have enough people calling me Elder Karma, or Enlightened One, feel free to call me Karma"
As Karma finished saying her words she took the paper full of names from Riven and wrote her name too.
"There, you can write my name too"
Riven smiled and proceeded to just do that. Yasuo felt surprised and actually worried the lack of decorum of Riven at been in Karma presence. The later just laughed at seeing Riven focus on writing her name, as if to not risk she could forget it.
"I came here to listen to your story Yasuo… plus a ninja might have told me Riven came to vouch for your story"
At being addressed again Riven stop her writing and focused on Karma and nodded.
"That's right…"
Karma felt the change in the aura of Riven and nodded.
"Well then… tell me what happened"
Yasuo spoke, and a part of him hoped Karma would actually listen where the other Elders chose to ignore him…
Back in the Institute, Cid was focused on his task. The task simply being choosing the real Champion from the fake. The game had been going for a while and Wukong was getting flustered at the therapist ability to find the real one.
"Okay… ready... now!"
Two Wukongs appeared in a flash and Cid pointed to the left.
"That one"
The one on the right vanished and an angry Wukong pointed his finger at Cid.
"How!? Do you have a ward in your eye?! How can you know which is the real one!"
Cid chuckled before pointing to the floor.
"The fake one doesn't look at me, his eyes look somewhere else"
Wukong made another clone and noticed. His eyes didn't saw in the direction of the therapist.
"Ah! It's true! He is looking where I was looking before I used the technique…. mmm I guess I need to perfect that for the future for observant opponents"
Cid was about to walk away while Wukong was in thought, but the monkey tail expanded and took him from his wrist.
"Where are you going? You owe me a rematch, you can't leave while you are ahead"
Actually, he could… actually, that is what everyone did.
"Well, I'm trying to avoid Lux so I'm trying to move constantly if I stay put she will find me you know?"
Wukong was in thought for a moment before clasping his hands together.
"Oh! Ahri can hide you!"
Before he could ask who Ahri was he was taken in a cloud that moved at high speeds.
"Gotta love the cloud! A faster way to move around doesn't exist!"
He had learned two things. Wukong was a sore loser, and he loved to show off.
In a faraway part of the Institute one of the vastaya was in her room. Surrounded by fluffy pillows and enjoying solitude. While she was a social creature, there were times in which she needed to be alone and think as she felt she could not speak so much. Her tails, the nine white tails surrounded her as if a protective cocoon it was.
She let a sigh escape from her lips. She lived in luxury inside the Institute walls, she was given whatever she wanted. And while that had even got her fame, she could only think of the people whose lives had been taken away… a part of her wanted to just go. But she couldn't, she had a weight to carry… at least the luxury of the Institute worked as a distraction, and while she had made a few friends she really wished she could speak her mind.
Sometimes, the weight of the memories was too heavy for her.
As she looked at a side she saw the vanity she had been given. Full of products of cosmetic nature, she used some of the times she acted as an idol. What had gotten her into that? She thought it was probably the fact that she thought it was nice being looked as something that was not a monster. Plus, the attention and applauses were great…
Still, she needed to speak her mind. But how? Not many would speak with her, even less when rumors went out of her feral nature. While not unfounded, it still hurt her that others avoided her so openly.
Maybe she could go around the garden of Zyra… she never really minded her.
Her thoughts and plans were interrupted by a crashing sound when her door fell off its hinges with a crash. For a moment Ahri hid between the pillows and her tails. When she peeked, she saw the familiar face of her friend. Kong, or as he had taken, Wukong. She saw him in the company of a frail human… truly the wind could take him away.
"Ahri! You here?! I need a favor!"
Ahri protected her ears with her tails. Classic Kong. Loud as always. She peeked at the human.
"You brought me here without knowing she was here? Don't you think that was…dumb?"
Ahri had to agree with herself, that was sort of dumb, but Kong was all about making that sort of decisions on the spot.
Wukong smiled pointing at himself.
"Fast and dumb"
He chuckled before noticing his new friend and rival didn't laugh.
"Oh right… you haven't met Yi, so you don't know about that motto… I should present you with Yi, you might be able to break his infinite patience"
Before the conversation kept going Ahri thought it was time to make her presence known.
"I'm here Kong"
Ahri got out of the pillows and her tails, earning a small chuckle of Cid and Wukong.
"Don't tell me my entrance scared you?"
She looked at her friend with angry eyes.
"How many times do I have to tell you to knock first? This isn't the wild, you can't throw my door out of its hinges every time you look for me"
Cid was impressed at how tall Ahri was, well he wasn't that tall, and Wukong was also tall. But more than their height, Cid could feel the fact Ahri wasn't someone you wanted to mess with. Wukong actually looked embarrassed before taking the door.
"Sorry…I will fix the door when I go out, but think you could hide my new friend here?"
As Wukong pointed at Cid with the door Ahri found herself observing him.
"Kong is rather kind to strangers… but I'm not, so why should I help you?"
Cid was in thought before answering with all the honesty he could muster.
"Well… you got no reason to help if anything I think I owe you an apology… it wasn't my intention to bother you, I was chatting with Wukong when he took me here. So… I apologize, it wasn't my intention to come here without an invitation. I will just try to hide somewhere else, maybe in my office"
This got Ahri curiosity.
"Office? What is your work here?"
Cid smiled proud of himself.
"Therapist, I am the new therapist for the institute"
Many memories, many words came to Ahri mind, and she found the one of therapist… just maybe.
"I see… then I guess it would be rude of me to throw you out, especially when Kong brought you here"
Cid smiled thankfully, but he took notice of her body language that she was hiding something, plus her eyes showed far more knowledge than she let on. Cid felt a shiver down his spine when Ahri looked straight into his eyes. Those were the eyes of someone who carries heavy knowledge. He wasn't studying Ahri, rather, she was studying him.
As Wukong finished placing Ahri door back in place, he smiled at his handiwork.
"Good as new, then can you let him hide here?"
She nodded smiling at Wukong.
"Sure Kong, you go on and challenge Yi, you might actually win today sparring match"
At her words, Wukong perked up.
"You will see how I will make it Ahri! Thanks! See you soon my new rival!"
Wukong left by opening the door carefully, he waved at Ahri and Cid and went out. Still, he closed the door with too much strength and Ahri was worried her friend might make the door fall again.
After a moment of silence, Ahri let out a breath she was holding when the door stood in place. She signaled for Cid to sit.
"Sit wherever you want… the room is full of space"
She let herself fall on the pillows and Cid just sat on the floor near one of the many pillows in the room. Silence reigned in the room for a moment, Cid let himself relax in the room. Sure, he was in the company of someone rather dangerous, but she wasn't seeming to want to hurt him. So, he just let himself relax.
"You seem rather carefree being with a stranger…"
Ahri words broke the silence, in the room. She had moved in the pillows, while she was resting she could clearly see Cid from the upper position on the pillows.
Cid just shrugged and observed her tails movement.
"Not much I can do… If you try anything is not like I can overpower you… not sure if you noticed, but the wind could take me away"
Cid noticed the movement on the tails of Ahri. She might not show much, but her tails were a clear indicator of her mood. And he was going to use that to understand her.
"I see… well then, tell me then therapist…what can you say of me? Aren't you scared of me?"
Cid openly chuckled while closing his eyes.
"No need for me to be scared… Wukong might not be so brilliant, but his heart is in the right place… so if he thought it was a good idea for me to be here. Then I will trust him"
Ahri was surprised at the statement. Had he that much trust on Kong? No matter how much she tried, she couldn't feel any lies on him… what's more, if anything. He was a soothing aura.
"You are weird therapist… you shouldn't be so relaxed in the company of a monster…"
Cid opened his eyes at the words Ahri used. Because he could notice it in how her tails started to coil around her. She was called a monster before…
"Hey… want to talk about it?"
She perked up at his words. But she thought it might not be good to be open with him… even if he was a therapist.
"I promise I won't say anything to anyone… whatever we speak here I won't say a word to anyone"
She hummed in thought before nodding in approval. She used her energy to make a small fire surrounded her.
"If you lie… I won't have mercy…"
Cid just smiled.
"I won't… well let's start this, formally shall we?"
He stood up before placing his hand in front of her.
"Cid, therapist for the institute"
She smiled as she took his hand.
"Ahri, The Nine Tailed Fox"
As she placed herself comfortably on the pillows she motioned for him to sit closer.
"Don't worry… I won't bite"
She smiled showing her pearly fangs. Cid couldn't avoid but notice it was meant as an intimidation move.
"Well, you can relax. I'm pretty much bones and skin"
Ahri looked at him before pointing at his head.
"And hair… if you can call that mess over your head as such"
Cid chuckled.
"Oh right… well, let's focus on you… what do you want to talk about?"
Ahri face got serious as her tails surrounded her. She was going to expose herself, but a part of her knew she needed to be honest for the therapist to be able to help her.
"I… I feel that I'm a monster you know? My power… my power works on how I feed on the life force… I take their memories and… everything…"
Cid stood in silence letting her continue. She looked at him, and she tried to see if there was fear in his eyes, but she only found attention. She smiled a bit before continuing.
"I want to know who I am… who's my family… who I am supposed to be… but in the end, I only feel like a monster… maybe I am you know? I mean what kind of being feeds on life?"
She kept going, how her power worked, how she carried the memories of all the ones that she killed to feed herself with. She told him everything about her, she was expecting for him to go away, to get out in fear of her presence. Cid kept in silence. His focus solely on the eyes of Ahri. She never saw any flick of anger or fear directed at her.
She kept going. Speaking everything she felt, everything of her. Not hiding any detail. If she wanted for this to work she had to be honest.
"Did you know I can even make them feel emotions? I can bring fear… peace… whatever I wish for… all that is needed is for them to look me in the eyes…"
She focused her eyes on Cid and tried to make him feel fear. So, he could understand what she meant.
Cid found himself feeling a sensation he was too used. Fear… the despair of the battlefield. But he knew how to let that go away. He saw the burning land, the screams, the soldiers, and the darkness enveloping all. So, he breathed, he just started to get his rhythm to normal. And peace returned to him. Ahri was surprised at seeing his eyes, he was under her control but the words that came out of his mouth surprised her more.
"The past is long gone… and so is my fear of that day"
Cid eyes got back to normal. And Ahri couldn't avoid holding his face in her hands. She looked straight into his eyes looking at how clear they were. Her power was no more.
"…Either your tenacity is the biggest I have seen… or you truly broke free of the fear…"
Cid was feeling rather embarrassed at the way Ahri was holding him. Red-faced he answered the hidden question.
"Fear is something of the past… it can only damage me as much as I let it damage me"
She let him go away as she sat back in place.
"But… what if it never goes away?"
She asked with a slight fear of his answer.
"Nothing is invincible Ahri… Fear will go away with time… but only if you want it to be gone"
She looked his eyes. Never stopping to observe, to find a lie. To see him fear her, to see him being repulsed at her.
"You don't fear me…"
Cid smiled at her. His eyes behind his glasses were still clear. And Ahri couldn't avoid smiling.
"You don't fear me at all…"
He laughed.
"What is to fear? If anything, you are simply another survivor of this world… no one has it easy, and you know that better than anyone. After all you carry their memories, you said it yourself. Living is hard, and dying might be easy, but you will keep surviving"
She smiled. She never thought someone speaking of something personal about her would make her smile. She felt the same sensation as with Kong. He was truly nice… no hidden motives. He was just being honest.
"You are just like Kong…"
Cid chuckled.
"Dumb?"
She denied with her tails as they moved at the rhythm of her head while she chuckled at his comment.
"No… your heart is in the right place"
As they kept speaking Ahri couldn't avoid smiling more, and the shield her tails made had opened, they moved at the rhythm she expressed herself. And Cid could do nothing but feel she needed to talk more. So, he just stayed with her and kept chatting.
The cure for the loneliness and the dark thoughts of the mind. Is good company. As simple as that…
In the Placidium on Ionia, Yasuo was silently waiting for Karma judgment. Riven had said her part. And know all they could do was wait for her.
She sighed before speaking a question no one was expecting.
"How come you decided to speak together? As far as I know… you two hated each other"
Yasuo was surprised at the question and before he could speak, Riven spoke.
"A friend told me I should let the past go… I can't go forward without accepting my past"
Karma smiled. Those were wise words.
"Indeed… who is this friend of yours Riven?"
She smiled before speaking again.
"Cid. He is a therapist in the Institute"
Karma was surprised. A therapist that wasn't something she wasn't expecting.
"How come you met a therapist Riven? Were you asked to go with him?"
Karma admitted she wasn't perfect. She hated the fact that to all Ionia she was someone who had to be serious all the time. She had her own wishes, so she enjoyed deeply the chance of openly speaking. Plus, Riven was a breath of fresh air with how relaxed she was speaking with her.
Yasuo could only stay silent looking at the relaxed Riven.
Cid truly was someone who could help people. He smiled thinking of how he was right on leaving Taliyah in his care.
Had he known Cid had just told Taliyah to do whatever she wished to do, he might not have thought so highly of him thinking Taliyah needed constant guidance.
Karma meanwhile was feeling curious about meeting the therapist. The way Riven was describing him he was one who lacked all formalities. And that was something refreshing to know.
Back in the Institute Lux was still looking for Cid in the company of Taliyah who was biting on an apple while hearing Lux ramblings. Cid was still chatting with Ahri who was laughing openly at the stories of Cid and his experience in the institute so far. She had also enjoyed telling Cid of how being an idol worked for her.
"No way! She didn't hurt anyone?"
Cid chuckled remembering Morgana.
"No one, she left being rather happy and invited me for tea another time"
Ahri was laughing imagining the faces of everyone caught in the mess. Anyone knew better than to just mess with Morgana.
"So, about the whole idol thing, is it fun?"
Ahri openly beamed at the question.
"Is amazing! I love when people see me on the stage, they don't look at me with fear, but rather everyone is clapping as I dance and sing"
She smiled happily remembering her concert.
"It was fun, though they are something sort of for the institute and certain regions of Ionia where they don't mind me… though dying my tails on pink is a hassle, dying my hair blonde not so much though"
She pointed at the vanity full of products on the room.
"Pretty much all I need to use is on the vanity, needless to say, it takes longer to get ready, but I don't mind as long as I hear their claps… their smiles and how everyone looks happy really gets me you know?"
Cid found himself smiling at how happy Ahri looked thinking of how everyone reacts to her shows. He can't avoid thinking about how Sona is also happy when she plays. In the end, both are artists proud of their craft.
Ahri looked at her new friend. Cid was good company. If anything, she enjoyed the lack of fear of her, there was no repulsion or anything. In a way, she laughed thinking that he was a sort of combination of Kong heart and Yi patience.
The image of Kong wearing the lenses of Yi made her laugh as she imagined a mix of both.
She didn't know how long they had been chatting. After all her clock was buried between the pillows of the room.
She couldn't avoid asking him something though. Curiosity was a big side of her personality.
"Hey… why are you so frail looking? I mean, no offense, you just don't look like pretty much like every other human out there"
Cid chuckled before pointing at his leg.
"When I lost my leg and got the prosthesis, I became rather ill for a while, the result of me being sick was that I sort of ended rather frail… still surviving was better than dying you know? Don't let me fool you though, I can hold my own weight"
She looked at him and his leg. True, she could feel the lack of energy on it. Her ears went down with sadness at his leg.
"Sorry…"
Her ears got up when she heard him chuckle.
"Don't be, is not like you cut my leg, plus if I wasn't like this, maybe I wouldn't be a therapist"
She smiled and pointed at his hair. She was curious if it had gotten long like his body got frail.
"Did your hair ended up long because of that too?"
This time he looked embarrassed.
"No… not really, I just wasn't accepted in many places of Demacia, so I just let it get long like that. I couldn't go to get a haircut"
She laughed at seeing him get embarrassed over something so silly. She looked at it and noticed how it was really long.
"Ever thought of styling it?"
Cid tensed. He saw the mischief in her eyes.
"Oh… not really, I mean I pretty much just let it do whatever it wants…"
He knew he would dread asking. But he was as curious as Ahri.
"Why?"
She chuckled.
"No reason… So, tell me, what you like of being a therapist?"
She could wait, she needed for him to be more comfortable before striking. Cid didn't know how patient Ahri could be, and Ahri herself knew she could wait for long before making her move. She would win their small duel. A duel Cid didn't even know he was in.
"I like the fact I can help others you know? After the war… I sort of felt that many needed help. And I was glad I could do that"
He smiled fondly, and he felt happy thinking of how he actually saw changes for the better on his patients, and some who even started to became friends with him. Riven, Sona, Jinx, Morgana, Nasus, Taliyah, Vayne, Yasuo, Zac, Lux, Veigar, Lulu, Jarvan, Shyvana… the truth was that he had met all of them thanks to becoming a therapist.
And he still had more to learn of all of them, but he was already on a good road of knowing them better.
"Is fun… because I get to meet many of people… and knowing I can help them makes me happy"
Ahri smiled fondly before speaking.
"See? You are just like Kong… your heart is in the right place. So even if you get lost, I'm sure your heart will always be in the right place"
Cid smiled at her kind words.
"Thank you Ahri… it means a lot to hear that"
She smiled showing her white fangs at him. But this time Cid took notice how she seemed glad of chatting. All she needed was someone to listen to her, and just do that. Listen and let her speak her doubts and fears away.
Ahri was happy with her new friend.
Ahri sensible ears picked something. Something she knew well. The voice of Lux. So, without warning, she took Cid arm and pulled him. In a swift movement, she threw him to the pillows making sure he was under them.
A moment later someone knocked on her door.
"Excuse me, can I enter Ahri?"
Ahri just hummed in acceptance. When Lux entered in the company of Taliyah she was surprised of seeing the pair together, she didn't know they were friends.
"Have you seen my friend? His name is Cid, he became a therapist for the Institute, a summoner said he saw him with Wukong, and I thought maybe Wukong came to show him to you?"
Ahri was in thought, faking to remember.
"While Kong did come, I didn't saw this therapist you speak of"
Lux sighed while Taliyah patted her back.
"There, there, we knew it was a long shot"
Lux nodded at Taliyah.
"Thanks Ahri, well if you see or know anything please tell us"
Ahri smiled at her. Before waving to dismiss them.
"Will do, have luck with your quest"
As the pair left and the door closed once again. Ahri waited until she could no longer hear their steps or their voices. After a few moments, she started digging in the pillows.
"You can come out Cid, they left already"
Cid tried to get out of the pillows seemingly gasping for air.
"How many pillows do you need?"
She shrugged before answering.
"I prefer pillows to sleep in, they are fluffier than any bed"
Cid had thought for a moment that he would disappear into the sea of pillows he had been thrown in. Ahri chuckled for a moment before speaking.
"You know… you are really light. I didn't need to use that much strength to toss you on the pillows"
Cid huffed.
"I think my prothesis weights more than me at this point"
She laughed before helping him get out of the rest of pillows. Cid huffed before letting himself relax on the pillows. A carefree smile took place on his face as he closed his eyes.
"I owe you one, thanks for not telling Lux where I was"
She chuckled and got up from the pillows. Cid was relaxing. And due to the fact, she had helped him he had lowered his guard. Otherwise, he would have been more alert to the fact Ahri had stood from the bed.
She walked to the door and placed a lock in place. As a precaution, she even moved a small table to the door to avoid any possible escape. The window of the room was high, so she doubted he would even try or could jump so high.
"Oh, do not worry about it, we are friends after all right?"
Cid nodded while being comfortable on the pillows. After all, the worries of Lux had gone away, as chances, where she would not come again to check on the room of Ahri, plus chances of Wukong getting her with them, were slim… kind off. He thought that maybe Wukong would reveal his location to Lux if she asked Wukong.
"Yeah, we are friends…"
As Cid was in thought relaxing of the freedom of knowing Lux would not find him, Ahri was making sure she had all covered for any possible escape or problem that might arise. They were alone, and she could not resist the idea of playing with his hair.
Ahri was a curious being, she was always curious and eager to learn more. This had brought her to know and learn many things. But this was also a reason she loved to play pranks sometimes. While not to the same degree as Kong. Ahri noticed the tension of Cid at the question regarding his hair. And she knew in that moment she was going to style it.
As a smile made its place on her face when she noticed there was no escape, Cid was in his own thoughts. Reviewing what he learned from his friend.
Ahri… she needed company, she carried to much stuff in her head, so she needed someone who could chat with her about themes she needed to let out and listen. While Wukong would surely fit as a friend, he didn't think she would feel comfortable sharing something heavy with him.
So, he thought maybe he should offer her that chance. He felt nervous because his words could be misunderstood. He didn't want to seem intrusive to her.
"Hey Ahri… if you want to… well just chat, feel free to look for me anytime okay?"
Ahri who was done with her check of the room was surprised at his words. Her ears perked up as her tails swished in happiness at the offer. She didn't expect him to say something like that. In fact, she had called him a friend, but she didn't expect the offer of chatting anytime.
"Thank you, Cid,… that's really kind, I will hold you to that offer though"
She giggled. And Cid could only smile at the sound of her happiness. Being a therapist was all about helping others. And he felt he was doing a good job there. He moved a bit from the pillows and looked at Ahri who was smiling.
Still he could notice it by the movement of her tails. She was planning something.
"What's on your head?"
She giggled. But the difference from the first one was Cid could feel the mischievousness and he tried to immediately look for an exit.
Ahri smiled. Her new friend was observant. But she had already took action for his possible escape when he was relaxing.
"Ahri… I can't avoid noticing you locked the door… and sort of placed a small barricade"
She giggled hugging him.
"Oh… I guess it must have slipped my mind… you know what I can't avoid noticing?"
Cid gulped and Ahri laughed pointing with her tails at her vanity, she started to walk to it with Cid at her side.
"I noticed your hair could do with some styling"
Cid couldn't say anything. Not like screaming would help. So, he just sat in the chair of the vanity. Ahri smiled looking at the mirror of the vanity and poking his cheek.
"Aren't you a big boy? Look at you, no screaming nor any intent of escape"
Cid sighed as Ahri took a brush.
"Sometimes all you can do is wish for the best…"
Ahri placed her arms behind him and stood at his side. Smiling the whole time.
"Trust me, if someone knows about looking good is me"
Cid sighed once again. A bit too nervous for his liking.
"That's what worries me"
Ahri laughed once more and proceeded to use the brush. All Cid could do aside of squirming in the chair was hope for the best as Ahri proceeded to speak of term of brushes and games. It seemed she was into certain games that some summoners brought from Piltover. For her words it seemed Ezreal was an avid player, same as Sona. He would need to question Sona about that when they saw each other again.
As Ahri focused on her task of fixing and styling the mess her friend called hair. Cid was focused on noticing how Ahri seemed to relax rather easily and as he thought, she was more cunning than she let on. After all she seemed to know a bit of everyone around her, and that only proved to him how much she was looking to be part of all that. Looking to be part of the conversations.
But he did what he thought he would do. Stay silent and let her speak, let her say all she wanted without interrupting her. She needed that.
So, she let her. Plus, while he focused on her speaking he could ignore everything she did to his hair. All he knew was that it was going to be a long time…
"You are going to look fabulous by the end!"
She giggled and Cid could only sigh.
"That's exactly what worries me..."
Cut! Well this was one fun to write! Hope you like it, as always please feel free to comment and say anything you wish to tell me. I think this might be the longest chapter till date. And I honestly like the result, hope you do too! Till next time on chapter 16!
Chapter 16: Not everyone is happy, work pressure and the value of a good friend.