To understand who we are
Chapter 1.- The therapist and the shapeshifter speak of uncertainty, music, emotional relationships and stalkers.
When Karma started her routine, she expected to have a nice meditation in the gardens of the Plaicidium. Such thoughts were broken by the sound of snoring. She found herself surprised following the noise. Walking through the gardens she didn't expect the scene she was met with.
Neeko was coiled as she slept over the laying body of Cid. She was surprised to see the snoring came from Neeko. Seeing the peaceful pair was conflicting. For one side, what were they doing sleeping the gardens? Didn't she tell them about an inn they could stay since they refused the lodgings? And secondly, they were adorable. She couldn't avoid finding herself smiling at the pair who obviously had trust in the other.
She noticed both were sleep talking.
"The game of silence…just…..stay….silent…for…a while." Cid seemed to smile as he spoke.
Neeko dreams were much simpler to understand.
"Cheese bread… have some…. Cheese bread…." She found herself smiling before clapping at the pair. The sound bringing their eyes open. Neeko stretched while smiling at her.
"Peaceful lady! Morning, Neeko was dreaming of cheese bread." She stretched herself before moving away of Cid and patting his cheek a couple of times with her open palm.
"Cid…Cid… wake up." After he started answering the patting of his cheek he opened his eyes noticing he never removed his glasses. He looked at Karma.
"Oh. Morning Karma." Neeko helped him stand up before bringing his cane. Karma chuckled at the pair.
"Good morning to both of you… why were you sleeping in the garden." Karma was expecting a sort of excuse or story. Cid was thinking on one before Neeko spoke.
"Neeko fooled guards so we could enter and sleep watching the stars!" Cid sighed as Karma looked at the pair with an eyebrow raised at their behavior.
"How did you fool them Neeko?" Neeko smiled before she made an illusion of herself appear, then the illusion faded.
"Neeko made a second Neeko to distract them!" Neeko smiled proudly of her thinking, Karma focused on Cid.
"I believe you are a poor influence on her ideas." Cid laughed.
"Who says I got any say in what she does? She is my partner, but I don't give her any orders aside of not hugging me too tightly." Neeko nodded at this and came to hug him as if to prove the previous statement.
"Neeko and Cid are Co-´om Se-Henna, we trust the other!" She spoke with a big smile at Karma.
Karma found herself looking fondly at the pair. Their trust was moving.
"Well then, seeing as I may not meditate anymore, would you two like to have breakfast with me?" The odd pair nodded at her words.
Karma took notice of a fact as she shared breakfast with the pair. Neeko ate much more than her partner did, and Cid wasn't against the idea of sharing his food with Neeko. She found it weird. The more she saw them interact the more she considered they could be an old marriage. Yet according to Cid they only had a pair of months together.
What brought so much trust between them?
"How is Riven? Did she say anything today or after we left?" Karma ponderings would have to wait as she recalled what the guards mentioned.
"Nothing much. She did request us to give her the sword she carried." Karma mused. "Quite weird really, the sword was broken in three pieces, I offered her a new weapon, but she insisted on having her own sword back." Cid nodded.
The sword of a warrior was an important and personal thing. He remembered someone who would just not let go of his sword mentioning it was all he had left.
"I believe she will be well with her own sword. She is after all the famous poster boy of Noxus. If someone can fight even with a broken sword, it would be Riven." At this Karma looked at him with curiosity.
"I been meaning to ask, you seem to know a lot of Riven. How did you come to learn of her?" Cid chuckled thinking of it.
"Well, is not a secret. Riven is well known, she is legendary in Noxus; there are names that travel all over the land like your name Lady Karma. There are others, like the name of Jericho Swain, the master tactician and leader of Noxus, Azir, the ascended that brought Shurima from the desert… Ezreal the famous explorer…. Oh and Sona Buvelle. The maven of strings." Neeko nodded at the last names.
"Cid loves Sona! But Neeko loves Cid more." He felt slightly embarrassed at that comment.
"I am a fan yes…" Neeko patted him in the back.
"We heard she was touring Ionia. We lost her last concert because we got lost. Neeko still thinks we will get to see her." Cid nodded patting Neeko in the back.
"We got cheese bread in that town remember?" It was Neeko turn to sigh.
"We could have gotten much more…" Both sighed, patting the back of the other sharing a sort of side hug.
Karma just looked at them and kept in her belief of them being a sort of old marriage. Two months don't get people so close. Something had to happen to them to get so close…
She was honestly curious of this. She also noticed how Neeko attention was now focusing in making a braid in the dark messy hair of Cid.
"Does she braids your hair often?" He made a small nod.
"She does. I have learned is easier to let her than trying to make her stop." Karma moved from her position looking Neeko fingers working expertly in the braid. Before Karma could ask Cid spoke.
"Oovi-kat tradition." Karma made a small nod seeing Neeko work with a smile in her face. She noticed it was in moments like the one she was seeing, that the Vastayashai'rei kept quiet.
"Is there other things you two do together?" Cid wondered speaking automatically what he thought.
"Sleeping, eating, we play together, we chat all the time…. pretty much everything except going to the bathroom." Karma seemed to feel surprised at this.
"Much trust between you two, wouldn't you say so?" This time Neeko spoke. She had a smile in her face.
"You are a silly peaceful lady. There are no bounds between Co-´om Se-Henna. We do everything together. Cid doesn't want to bath together though. But not worry, Neeko master in convincing." The smile in the face of Neeko made Karma actually believe the girl was set in that goal.
However, the idea of a man and a woman bathing together did seem a tad scandalous as her cheeks blushed.
"You seem to hold a lot of… the certainty of this." Neeko nodded.
"Neeko believes uncertainty is bad. It clouds judgment and stops you from actually doing things. That's why Neeko is always certain!" She smiled finishing the braid on Cid's hair.
"Done, you look cute Cid!" The other sighed feeling the braid and noticing it was like a sort of ponytail.
"Thanks, Neeko." Karma wondered the words of Neeko.
"Surely you understand that uncertainty is part of life at times." Neeko denied with a wave of her head. This time it was Cid who spoke.
"No. Uncertainty is to doubt something is possible. Is much easier to go through life with the certainty that everything is possible. We live in a world of wonders." Neeko nodded with a smile.
"The only certain thing is we can make it through anything so long as we believe it." Cid ruffled the hair of Neeko who playfully tried to take his hand away of her hair. She didn't want to take it away. Not really.
Karma looked at the pair.
"You seem confident of this. Have you never felt uncertainty during your trip?" Cid shrugged and so did Neeko. Cid spoke to Karma with a smile.
"We are always certain of one thing as we take the road." Neeko smiled with a nod after him.
"That the road will take us somewhere. We don't need to know where. The where is not important. The important is the road." She felt Cid hand ruffling her hair again this time she took his hand to stay still and held it with hers.
Karma was confused at how blindly they seemed to travel. People often went on the road with a destination set. But they seemed to just go wherever it fitted.
"You truly don't mind moving around without a destination?" Cid shrugged.
"Messages always reach me for work; it doesn't matter where I am located. So why worry of where I am going if I will move again? I am certain that I will have new work waiting on the horizon." Neeko nodded.
"Neeko is always certain Cid will be next to her. Neeko is certain she will always be next to Cid. Why worry of the uncertainty of stuff we don't know? We will end up knowing it later. So why worry? Better move forward. The only thing that can stop you from going forward is fear… and fear is born from uncertainty." She smiled softly as her grip in the hand of Cid got tighter.
"What do you plan to do now?" He asked sitting next to her.
"Neeko doesn't know. But Neeko doesn't care." She smiled seeing the night sky.
"Why?" Neeko smiled at Cid.
"Because Neeko has Co-´om Se-Henna next to her. Why should Neeko worry on what to do? I am already doing something." Cid chuckled as she proceeded to hug him.
"Hugging me doesn't count as something," Neeko smirked.
"It does. You are doing nothing by not hugging me back." He sighed and returned the hug.
"See? We both are doing something. Hugging is something." She smiled tightly keeping the hug.
"Neeko… I need air…" Neeko laughed.
"I know…" Cid sighed. She wouldn't relent.
Karma thought on her words. Fear. Fear indeed put a stop to everyone… it stopped time even. It froze people. And it forbid them of going forward. The threat of a demon of the past had frozen Ionia again…
"Neeko is certain she can make a peaceful lady smile." Karma didn't notice when Neeko was next to her. The next thing she noticed was how she saw her reflection in front of her. But her reflection was using her hands to make her mouth move upwards, a small smile.
"See? Like this! Now you do it, peaceful lady." Karma found herself mimicking the silly girl and smiling too. After this she found herself smiling more until she laughed.
It was so ridiculous. She was worrying of something she had no control over. Being afraid and worried wouldn't make finding Khada Jhin faster.
"Thank you Neeko." Karma smiled softly at the girl as she finished laughing.
Neeko looked at her in her own image again before hugging Karma. Cid chuckled seeing Karma returning the hug. He was waiting for the expression of happiness of Karma to change. And he wasn't disappointed. The expression of happiness turned to one of awkwardness and later one of small panic as she noticed the girl didn't budge from the hug.
"Neeko? Could you release me?" This time it was Cid who laughed.
"I did warn you about the hugs." It was then that Cid was brought over to Neeko who dragged him with her tail.
"Oi! Neeko!" The tail finished her job bringing him next to her as she opened her arm to get him into the hug with Karma.
"No need to thank Neeko. Neeko willing to share hug. You don't need to feel left out Cid." Neeko was smiling mischievously.
She knew Cid didn't felt left out, surely he was enjoying being out of the hug. There was a thing no one knew, mostly no one. Cid didn't know it. But Neeko did. And it was that Cid belonged in her arms.
After a hectic breakfast and the release of the prison hug. Cid walked with Neeko to the cell to see Riven. As they went down Neeko spoke to Cid.
"Karma Sho´ma was nice." Cid nodded.
"Peaceful?" He got a nod from Neeko.
"Worry not Cid. Your Sho´ma is still my favorite." She giggled as he sighed.
"I wasn't worrying." Neeko teasingly poked his cheek.
"There is nothing bad in worrying Cid. But you shouldn't worry. You are Neeko Co-´om Se-Henna and Neeko is yours too." Cid chuckled as they walked.
He could understand why people often thought they were a couple.
It was an easy thing to see them, holding hands, walking next to the other, their conversations and comments. It wasn't so weird to consider it. But Cid didn't consider it like that. After all, Neeko was Neeko. And that was a statement of its own, it was hard to know what Neeko wanted for many, he did understood her. But he wasn't sure what Neeko was looking in the road was romance. Neither did he for that matter. He was just going around doing his work.
As they arrived in the cell Cid opened the door and found Riven making small movements while standing, it seemed as a sort of drill, as if she fought an invisible enemy. Neeko smiled as she transformed into Riven and started mirroring her movements. In the enclosed space, Riven didn't seem to care or didn't notice as she kept going.
Cid leaned against the door frame watching the pair of Riven training in tandem. Though Cid could see Neeko obviously falling behind as she wasn't really sure of the movements Riven was going for.
He smiled seeing the pair. After a while, Riven looked at Neeko and with serious expression started guiding her.
"Left foot to the side, right more in front, let your left arm straighter." Riven eyes were focused, and Cid managed to let out a softer smile seeing her eyes.
Those were not the eyes of a coward, or someone who gave up. Those were eyes with a decision and a direction. As Neeko kept struggling to keep the orders of Riven, Cid laughed.
"Is not so easy this time Neeko?" Neeko looking as Riven had an expression of panic.
"A little help?" Cid chuckled before approaching Riven.
"Riven. Ready to go then?" Riven nodded at him. While her face didn't show a smile, Cid preferred the expression of seriousness a thousand times more than the face of defeat.
Riven waited for them to walk out of the cell. As they walked Neeko tried to make conversation with Riven but found little to no answer. Small nods were Riven main way of speaking to Neeko. This made the Oovi-kat look slightly down before approaching Cid.
"Is she okay?" Cid nodded.
"Give her time." Neeko nodded with a small sigh, but as fast as it came the sadness went away as she now procured to ask him what they would do for the day.
Riven meanwhile was confused.
She looked at the odd pair who offered her a chance to be free and offered a purpose for a while. She noticed how the girl who wasn't human simply was around the man with nothing but happiness. The sole presence of each other seemed to make the other smile. As if nothing could be bad as long as they had the other next to them.
She saw them with anger. And she didn't know why she was angry.
But deep inside that sensation had a name.
Jealously. Why could they be happy? Why could they simply seem to have it all when it was obvious, they didn't have much…
As Riven pondered she felt pair of hands in her face making her smile by force. She noticed the same girl poking her fingers on her face.
"Smile Riven! We will be going to the festival!" Riven sighed and ignored the girl, swatting her hands away. She noticed the girl didn't care and spoke with the man again.
"Cid! I just noticed her hair is too short! How can I braid her hair?!" The man named Cid chuckled.
"Well Neeko… I guess you will simply have to endure it." He poked the girl cheek who puffed both cheeks at this.
"I want her to feel welcome…" Riven sighed. She didn't need to feel welcomed. She was just going to make sure the two of them were safe. That was all.
They got to pick her sword before leaving the Placidium.
The afternoon came, and Neeko was excitedly walking around the area where a festival would take place, she took into the decorations of the people of the Ionian capital, she took into their clothes and the stands they were placing. As she walked she was dragging Cid all over. Both ended up meeting a familiar girl who was just done with her stand.
"Akali!" Neeko ran towards the girl who waved at them.
"Good to see you two and….. why is she here?" Akali tone turned full of scorn as she pointed a kitchen at Riven. Neeko and Cid were surprised at how fast she brought the knife out.
"…" Riven silence only made Akali angrier before Cid intervened.
"She is with us. We are getting her out of Ionia, Karma gave us permission for it." Akali kept the knife pointed at Riven.
"She tries anything… and you will be losing a traveling partner. So keep her close to you Cid and make sure she doesn't step out of line." Riven looked at Akali with disinterest. She felt that she could bring out the broken sword and swat the little knife if she wanted.
Yet there was something about Akali that made Riven think it twice. As a predator who was seeing another one. And as she felt that, she could feel two more as she heard steps.
"Riven… I see Karma did indeed freed you." Yi carried himself with a smile.
Cid sighed noticing the smile was anything but kind. It was a smile that was daring Riven to try anything. He noticed Wukong also seemed to be ready to fight.
"No funny business Noxian." Were the words of Wukong who was crossing his arms at her.
To Cid relief, Neeko took Riven and him in a hug.
"Don't worry! We only came to have fun! Nothing funny or weird! Neeko promises!" Cid smiled nodding at this as he spoke.
"Don't worry, we will be careful." Yi nodded at this. And Cid heard the voice of Akali.
"We aren't worried about you two. We are worried about her." With those words, the conversation ended as they all took their own paths.
Cid sighed as he looked at Riven.
"Would it hurt you to try to relax Riven?" The girl looked at him with eyes full of seriousness and he sighed. He turned and started walking with Neeko.
"I see you are still in that cell…" As she walked with Neeko, Riven eyes shot open at those words. What did he mean?
"Cid?" Neeko poked his cheek.
"Yes?" Neeko smiled softly at him.
"Don't worry. Her Sho´ma is good… it will just take time." Cid sighed offering her a smile.
"Is Sho´ma the answer to everything?" Neeko giggled.
"Don't be silly. You know Sho´ma is everywhere." Cid sighed as he laughed.
"Of course, silly me." He walked with Neeko towards a stand in which a man was challenging people to throw a ball at a jar.
"Get the ball inside the jar missy and get a price." The man spoke to Cid who just sighed. He knew he wasn't exactly all that manly, but whatever. He offered the man a few coins and tossed the ball to Neeko who smiled mischievously. She looked at the jar.
"You are the better shot. Get us that prize." Neeko nodded and surprised both the man in the stand and Riven. Neeko threw the ball in what looked like an impossible arch before it fell inside the jar with no resistance.
"Oh… I guess you won…" The man proceeded to give them a small hair ornament. A barrette. Neeko smiled before walking towards Riven and in a flash putting it in her hair.
"It fits!" Riven found herself surprised at the barrette in her hair as Cid chuckled. The pair kept walking leaving a dumbfounded Riven at the feminine ornament in her hair. As she was walking she noticed a feeling of anger and turned to see a woman with long hair and armor.
"Irelia." Riven knew her from her visit to the cell when she said she would make sure she didn't leave Ionia alive.
Irelia approached her before speaking in a whisper as she crossed her.
"Lady Karma may have forgiven you. But I didn't." Riven sighed.
She didn't know why, but she took to send her hand touching the barrette that was in her short hair. It brought a weird warm. A sense of safety. To know that two people didn't seem to hate her felt relieving.
She sighed following the pair.
Meanwhile, Cid and Neeko were making short of work of the stands. Neeko seemingly had a perfect eye to get targets, and Cid had fooling eyesight under the glasses, as he had to be able to always follow the movements of the vendors on the games in which they hid stuff. The group ended up with a small assortment of prizes that Neeko took to give her. A small bracelet with a charm, a second barrette, and a candy. The other prizes were being kept by Cid inside his coat.
Riven found herself sighing at the pair. She didn't understood why they did the things they chose to do.
As she kept walking with them, she noticed Neeko seemed to avoid Cid seeing something. She didn't understood what was until she saw the piece of paper.
"Sona Buvelle…" As she spoke the name Neeko had a face of panic and Cid smiled.
"Sona? Sona will play here?" He approached Riven who offered him the piece of paper. At this Neeko looked alarmed before sighing. She looked at Riven and her eyes offered a single message.
Why?
Neeko sighed before taking Cid with her to the direction of the piece of paper. They noticed that people had already started surrounding a place in which Sona would arrive. Cid smiled seeing the place. Neeko took Riven with her a far from the people as he stood up in place.
"Why? We were having such a fun time…" Riven was confused at the tone of Neeko. It sounded worried. She wasn't sure what to say, but it seemed she worried for naught as Neeko kept making conversation for both.
"He loves Sona music. He speaks of it when someone mentions music. Neeko doesn't make music Riven! Neeko barely sings!" The girl walked in circles as she sighed.
"Cid is Neeko Co-´om Se-Henna, Riven. Cid is not Sona friend." The girl seemed to be in thought.
"What if she tries to steal him away? What if Sona plays ballads for Cid? Neeko doesn't know an instrument…"Riven had enough and spoke.
"Aren't you being foolish? So far, I have seen both of you acting like a couple. And I am honestly not understanding why are you so worried. Or what co om means." Riven words came harshly and for a moment she was worried she might have spoken out of place. To her surprise Neeko had stopped walking in panic and smiled widely.
"You speak!" She came to hug Riven who stayed still as a stone in the contact.
"I was so worried you were afraid of speaking or couldn't! But you can!" Neeko seemingly ignored what Riven spoke before she started laughing.
"I must tell Cid you speak!" She started dragging the girl who was out of balance.
As they ran Riven noticed someone seemed to look at her direction. She couldn't see much more from it as they ran towards Cid who was also approaching them, he looked relieved.
"Cid? Why are you not waiting for Sona?" Cid smiled before ruffling the hair of Neeko making her smile.
"How could I? Suddenly both of you went away, I was worried for a moment." Riven found herself smiling at the show of care of Cid for them. Her smile went away when she saw Neeko pointing at her.
"Cid! She smiled! And she speaks too!" Cid looked at Riven who looked to the side. She felt weirdly vulnerable suddenly as she got hugged by Neeko again.
"Please let's keep her!" Riven sighed before Cid spoke.
"You know she is traveling with us for a while. She can stay with us as long as she wants." Riven looked at Cid with slight surprise. She wasn't expecting that. She honestly expected she would travel with them through Ionia and then she was to be left behind.
Not to be welcomed with them…
As she was in thought clapping started to sound as on a stage Sona waved at people. Cid smiled ushering Neeko and Riven for them to try to get closer.
In amicable peace, they enjoyed the music from the maven of strings.
As the music ended, Sona waved at the people and went away, kept safe by a group of guards, Wukong and Yi with them. Cid smiled as he and Neeko were walking towards the Placidium. Riven didn't understand why as it was getting to be so late at night.
"Where are we going?" Cid and Neeko ushered for her to stay silent. She saw as Neeko made an illusion fooling the guards into following her illusion of a woman asking for help. As this happened Neeko dragged her and Cid into the inside. They once again walked to the garden of meditation.
Riven looked with surprise as the pair ended up throwing themselves in the floor.
"What are you doing?" Neeko answered the question.
"Resting of course!" She smiled as if it was obvious.
"We like seeing the stars at night." Riven nodded before she let herself also fall in the grass. Not sure what to do.
"Hey Riven." She thought that she wouldn't be getting much rest.
"…yes?" She heard Neeko giggle.
"What do you like?" Riven wondered as she lay in the grass.
"My sword I guess…" She heard Neeko giggle and Cid sigh.
"Surely you like more things?" Riven saw the sky and wondered.
As she was in thought in the grass, for a moment she forgot everything and everyone around her and just spoke.
"My sword… the moon… I like the smell fresh air has. Is not like Noxus full of smoke from the forges… I like… battlefields I guess…" She sighed speaking more to herself than to them.
"They offered me a chance to prove my own worth… the army gave me a home… it gave me a place I belonged. I wasn't a lonely girl. I was a soldier. And then I was more." She breathed as she felt a tear in her eye.
"Then I lost it. Betrayed by my own… I guess I never belonged since the start." As she felt a tear roll from her eye towards the grass she heard rustling and noticed when Neeko stood up and brought her up. She got her into a tighter hug than the rest.
"There is no weakness in crying Riven. Neeko won't tell. Cid won't either."
Cid sat next to the girl who was close to a small river.
"There is no shame in crying." The girl smiled but her eyes showed the tears.
"Who is crying? Neeko doesn't cry." The girl was trying to keep a smile and he returned the smile.
"Surely not Neeko. But you can cry if you look like me. I am known to cry a lot." He smiled as she looked down. She didn't transform and just spoke.
"I shouldn't be sad…" He sighed.
"There is nothing wrong with being sad." Neeko nodded.
"Neeko knows… but Neeko doesn't want to know it…" Cid chuckled bringing the girl in a hug.
"If you cry. I won't tell." Neeko hugged him.
The last Oovi-Kat mourned the loss of her people.
Riven wasn't sure why she returned the hug. Or why she hugged Neeko tightly as she did. But she just did that. Cid saw the scene with a small smile. He let himself up wobbly as he took his cane to give the pair a moment. He thought Riven would feel better if only Neeko was there.
The meditation garden was big; it extended itself and had a pond too. Cid found himself gathering a few pebbles of the area close to the pond, he observed them and started to throw one to make it skip in the still surface of the pond.
He smiled as he saw the ripples at the three skips he managed to make.
He looked at his own reflection in the pond and smiled. How long had it been since he felt so relaxed?
He didn't care and took another stone to throw at the pond. There was not much use in worrying of the past. It had already gone by.
As he threw the second stone this one managed four skips, he nodded at his success when he saw a stone skipping six times. One he didn't throw. As he looked at the direction it had been thrown he looked something he never expected to see so close.
The bluenette, Sona Buvelle waved shyly at him. She looked nervous, she took a pebble and pointed to the lake. A small smile in her face. Cid got the message clearly.
"You want to compete?" Sona nodded and he smiled.
"Six skips was quite the war declaration you know?" She nodded again, her smile still in place.
Cid understood right then that the shy girl was obviously competitive.
"I am not one to give a win away easily." He smiled as her eyes seemed to burn with the fire of competition.
"Girls first?" Sona nodded as she prepared her stone. She shot it, in an elegant and quick motion by flicking her wrist as she threw the stone to the lake. Cid found himself whistling impressed at the skips the stone made. He kept counting through the ripples as the stone went away of their sight.
"Twenty one…. You are obviously good at this." Sona smiled at him. Cid sighed. He would really need to focus for this one.
Not far from them, Neeko was seeing the scene with a worried face. Worried until she felt a hand in her shoulder. Riven looked at the scene too.
"I don't believe you should worry… what is the term you call him?" Neeko found herself with a small smile.
"Co-´om Se-Henna." Riven nodded.
"You been traveling for a while. I doubt Sona Buvelle can just break that bond." Neeko sighed.
"Music is magic. Music is like Neeko, music is everywhere." Neeko saw Cid focused face as he prepared to throw the stone. She knew he could manage to make it skip a lot.
"Come on… you can win." She smiled softly looking at him getting ready. Riven found herself curious of how good he was at the childish activity.
To her surprise, while the stone didn't make it a long trip, it did many skips before falling down. The skips could be seen in the ripples and Sona kept counting them excited. Twenty-three.
She clapped at him and he looked embarrassed at the praise. She looked for another stone before obviously indicating one thing.
A rematch. He nodded as she looked less shy and more confident in their small game. Neeko saw the scene and found herself walking with Riven in tow. Neeko whistled at Cid who looked at her with a smile.
"Neeko! Guess who I just met!" He spoke excitedly as Neeko laughed.
"Neeko can see her Cid. No need to present her to Neeko." The girl walked towards Sona and offered her hand for her to shake.
As Sona was to grab it, Neeko retracted it, making Sona grasp air.
"To slow music lady! Neeko too fast!" She smiled as Sona looked to find it funny before offering her hand to Neeko. As expected Sona repeated the joke.
"Oh, you learn fast music lady." As this happened Riven wondered why Neeko called her by name, while Karma and Sona were referred as peaceful lady and music lady when she spoke of them. Why did she call her by name and not the others?
She felt a tap in her arm and was met with Cid offering her a stone.
"Mind showing what you got?" Cid smiled at her and she took the stone. She wasn't sure how much she could make the stone skip.
As she threw it in the water the stone fell immediately to the bottom of the pond after making a big splash by the strength she used. The result made Cid laugh.
"I am guessing you were never one for this game." Riven looked embarrassed. She wasn't used to failure. She expected teasing or taunts, what she got was another stone in her hand.
"Try to make the stone reach the water surface in such a way it angles and skips with the water, imagine the stone as a board, you are trying for it to fall in an angle forcing to clash against the water and keep moving." As she heard the explanation she tried again.
The result was the stone skipping more times. She smiled at seeing the stone going. And going. And going.
Cid was worried at how strong Riven was when they all heard the sound of something breaking in the darkness. Coming from the direction of the end of the pond. Riven had managed to make the stone go all over the lake.
"I believe that's our sign to go away," Cid spoke with calm as he started walking away and Neeko took Sona hand dragging her with them.
"Time to flee!" Riven was dumbfounded at how far she threw the stone. She heard the whistling of Cid who motioned for her to run.
The quartet abandoned the area and made a silent promise they wouldn't speak of the accident.
This time they were forced to stay out of the garden as Karma found them as she was walking. They were given rooms and Cid sighed as he saw Neeko going in circles around his room.
"My room also had a candle like this. And a bed like that. Mine has a window though." Cid chuckled.
"You will be sleeping here then?" She nodded with a smile.
"Neeko always sleep with you." Cid knew that sounded weird for most. But true was they did sleep together all the time.
"I would prefer if you stayed in your side of the room and didn't cross to mine." Neeko smiled. Her smile showed an obvious message together with her eyes.
I heard you. I don't care.
Cid sighed as he knew those eyes perfectly after their time traveling and just motioned for the bed. She immediately jumped in as he took to tuck the sheets around her. Once in the bed and tucked with the sheets she smiled.
"Will you tell me a story?" This had become a routine for them. The few times they chose to sleep in a place, she would do the same.
Cid chuckled ruffling her hair.
"Anything for my Co-´om Se-Henna." He smiled as he took to remember a story for her.
"Ever heard the one about the aspect of war Pantheon? Its legend has always crossed the lands and even reached my ears." Neeko smiled in excitement for the coming story.
What Cid didn't know was the walls of the rooms were thin. So Riven and Sona both found themselves placing their ears next to the walls hearing him tell the tale to Neeko.
As time flowed softly in the night, Neeko eyes slowly started closing as she fought to stay awake. She knew Cid tone of voice changed when he said stories to make her fall asleep easily. She refused to sleep. Not until she could say what she wanted to say.
"Co-´om Se-Henna. Stay…." She closed her eyes holding his hand as he smiled with tired eyes. He was falling asleep too.
"I will…" Cid was in the floor holding the hand of Neeko as he was starting to fall asleep. Not knowing two girls had heard him speak. And as he was falling asleep he kept speaking to Neeko. Nothing serious nor interesting. Just letting his thoughts out in the open.
One feeling oddly lonely as she compared her situation to the situation of the pair next to her room. The other feeling warm knowing she was traveling with such a pair.
Sona was in her room with her back against the wall. In the bed with her knees close to her chest. She had just spend time with an odd group. The man seemed human enough, if anything he only looked feminine and frail judging by his physique. The girl was a Vastaya… a curious one too. She had never seen one so colorful, in both personality and looks.
They seemed to also be in the company of a soldier. Judging by her posture she was reminded of Garen firm posture instead of the graceful posture of Fiora. They were an odd group by its members. Like a sort of troupe. They had their strongman, a magician and a dancer…
She was against the wall. Trying to feel some of the warmth from the other room.
She disliked the lonely darkness and its silence. Yet she was hearing the tired magician speak. Making the dark night bearable as his voice went through the thin wall behind her.
"Did you know… that I am not lonely when you are next to me?" The eyes of Sona opened up slightly more at those words.
She pushed her ear closer to the wall to listen to him speak.
"I mean… my job was a lonely one. Much trips… seeing people… but…in the end it was a lonely thing… not having someone close to me. Like really close…" She heard him yawn. But she wanted so badly for him to keep talking until she fell asleep. She didn't want the loneliness to envelope her.
"Then you appeared… and… I don't know… I guess you are just magical Neeko… more than you know… because the loneliness just doesn't exist as long as you are here… and I am wondering at times, if I am helping you more than you are actually helping me…." She heard a chuckle coming out of him; it was obvious he was falling asleep.
"I guess… I am just thankful… of being your Co-´om Se-Henna….." Sona heard a soft sound of him sleeping judging by his rhythmic breathing.
Co-´om Se-Henna….
Were they a couple? Why was she uncomfortable at the idea of that being true?
Her thoughts were broken by the sound of someone walking in the room of the odd pair. She heard a feminine laugh. She recognized it at the laugh of the Vastaya. She heard rustling sounds indicating she was carrying him.
"Cid… I am thankful too." Sona found herself lulling herself to sleep hearing the snores of the dancer and the soft breathing of the magician.
When the morning came Karma went to check on the guests that would be leaving. She was surprised to find the room of Neeko empty and in order. She didn't think they would leave so early and without saying goodbye.
As she walked to the room for Cid she found herself surprised. Not because Neeko was there. A part of her expected her to have run away with Cid to his room. No, she was surprised of seeing Sona Buvelle watching the sleeping pair. She was sitting on the floor, her knees supporting her arms, which were holding her head in place as she saw the sleeping pair with a smile.
Karma didn't know what to say at the scene so she politely coughed earning the attention of Sona.
"Is everything fine?" Sona looked with her cheeks on flames as she nodded embarrassedly. She was dressed in pajama pants and a long shirt. Karma took to see the bed she was looking for.
Neeko was holding Cid tightly in her sleep, Cid meanwhile was with a hand over the face of Neeko trying to push her away without strength, a weird posture. Then again. The pair wasn't normal.
Speaking of which they were waking up.
Neeko was the first to wake up as she stretched and brought out Cid glasses which she carefully placed in his face.
"Cid. We got visitors! That means breakfast is coming!" Cid woke up groggily trying to push Neeko away who found herself tightly hugging him as she placed a playful kiss in his cheek leaving him blushing.
"Yeah, now, release me you reckless shapeshifter." Neeko laughed as she only increased her grip.
Sona and Karma were seeing the exchange surprised they didn't seem to care people were watching them. Cid took notice of their expressions and with his cheeks reddening slightly he spoke.
"Is…is not the first time people find us sleeping together." Neeko nodded releasing him.
"Is the first time beautiful women do." She spoke with a hint of mischief. Neeko poked Cid in his cheek as she spoke, Sona nodding before embarrassed leaving the room. Karma did likewise.
Cid sighed looking at Neeko. He didn't question how he ended up in the bed with her.
"Good way to start the morning… now I doubt she will give me an autograph." He heard the sounds of Neeko changing and was surprised to meet the sultry smile of Sona Buvelle. He immediately closed his eyes as Neeko took back her own form.
"Don't tell me you wouldn't like that…" She tried to sound teasing but Cid noticed the underlying sadness in her tone.
He stood up from the bed dressed in his clothes of the previous day. He kneeled in front of her in the bed and smiled honestly at her.
"To say no would be to lie. And I promised to never lie to you…."
"Neeko has no secrets! Not one!" Cid chuckled at her words.
"Surely you got one. Everyone does." Neeko nodded.
"Neeko has secrets. But none to you. Co-´om Se-Henna are honest to each other." She smiled brightly at him as he wondered.
"Surely you got something you wouldn't tell me." She laughed.
"Of course not! Neeko hides nothing from you now, nor never." She smiled brightly at him as he sighed.
"I guess I am not going to hide anything from you either." Neeko nodded.
"No secret between us. Always honest to the other." For a moment, Neeko looked much older as she spoke those words.
"No secrets then." She nodded at his words.
"No secrets Cid. Neeko will always be honest to you."
"Then I will always be honest too."
"I said I would always be honest to you." Neeko looked slowly downcast as she felt his hand ruffling her hair that was wild in the morning.
"And the honest thing is that while I wouldn't mind such a thing to happen… I would rather see your face every morning." Neeko eyes opened widely as she smiled and jumped from the bed towards him, tackling him into a hug dropping him to the floor.
"Cid!" She hugged him tightly before positioning herself, she knew he would push her so she took to pin his arms at the sides over his head as she smiled mischievously. Cid had hit his back in a slightly weird angle forcing a tear from his eyes.
A door opened.
"Hey you two, Karma says we should get a bath and…" Riven had opened the door and was met with the scene of Neeko pinning Cid. The therapist with the shadow of tears in his eye and Neeko smile of mischief.
As fast as she opened the door she closed it and went away as she heard Cid screaming.
"Riven! Is not what it looks like!" Riven heard the voice of Neeko laughing.
"Is exactly that!" She heard Cid screaming again.
"You don't know what she thinks she saw!" Laughing again.
"She saw us wrestling! Plus she saw me winning!" Cid screams and justifications didn't reach the ears of Riven who was covering her ears as her face was red in embarrassment at what she had seen. Or thought she had seen. She was seriously deciding to forget that start in the morning.
Needless to say Neeko said Cid could bath alone that day, as she was apologizing for the misunderstanding in the morning. But her words weren't exactly so sorry.
"You can bath alone this time. But only this time!" She raised her finger to indicate the number.
Cid sighed as he was taking the bath. Thinking on what happened in the morning. For a moment he had been rather blunt with Neeko about seeing her face every morning. He blushed in embarrassment at this.
He didn't mean much more than that. He really liked her. romantically? He wasn't sure, after all there were details that wouldn't allow that. He was sure of something though.
He wanted to stay close to her.
In the women bath Neeko was playing with the water as Riven was washing herself and wondering if she should ask the girl on what happened in the morning.
"Neeko… in the morning you two were…" The girl answered immediately.
"Wrestling! Neeko won too!" Neeko was smiling at her victory. Riven sighed in relief.
"So you two weren't going to do anything else?" Neeko laughed as she washed her hair.
"Neeko was going to kiss Cid. That's all." Neeko spoke as she washed her hair with a smile making sure it was clean. Riven meanwhile was surprised.
"You two kiss?" Neeko nodded.
"I do. He doesn't." She spoke in that serious tone she rarely had. Riven noticed Neeko was always playful, and at times, she seemed to be serious. It was hard predicting the change.
"How does that works?" Riven asked curiously.
"I kiss his cheek when I want him to wake up. He always get embarrassed." Neeko spoke as she felt herself being clean. Riven was still with questions.
"Isn't that… sort of personal? Like a couple thing?" Neeko shrugged.
"Not really. Lots of people kiss." She spoke as if it wasn't the big deal. As she was in thought, she felt Neeko kiss her own cheek making her step back in the water at the surprise of Neeko act.
"See? Nothing special. I kissed your cheek and you are my friend." Neeko smiled as she left the bath, leaving a confused Riven on what Neeko considered normal.
"Neither of them is normal…" She sighed as she relaxed in the water.
Cid and Neeko were in their room after breakfast with Karma and her guest Sona. Riven sat both the shapeshifter and the therapist in the room so they explained to her what they were. Where they stood and what happened. She was confused and wanted answers.
Neeko simply smiled nodding at Riven, feeling happy the girl was opening up to them to ask such questions. Cid scratched the back of his head as he wondered how to explain it to Riven.
"I guess… Neeko can start." Neeko smiled and looked at Riven.
"Neeko and Cid are friends! We smile forever next to the other. That's what the title I call him means. He calls me the same way because he also smiles forever next to me." Neeko spoke with happiness in her voice.
"Isn't that marriage?" Neeko giggled.
"It can look like that. We are just openly expressing our care for the other. Neeko belongs with Cid. And Cid belongs to Neeko." Riven sighed, not having a better insight.
At this Cid spoke.
"What she means, is we do stuff together all the time. We trust each other… I guess is weird to see how we do much stuff together." Riven nodded.
"Is just… it seems rather personal. You two sleep together, she kisses you, you… well…" Riven wasn't sure what words to use.
"We seem to be joined by the hip?" Riven found the expression weird but fitting. Neeko nodded before speaking.
"We are joined by something much deeper. We are joined by emotions. But we are not couple." Cid nodded.
"Why?" At this Cid chuckled before pointing at himself.
"You know what Neeko and I got in common?" Riven shrugged.
"You two are crazy?" Cid chuckled.
"Close but not. We both like girls." Riven was about to ask when she understood.
"Oh…" Cid nodded before ruffling the hair of Neeko who smiled at it.
"I hope you don't feel uncomfortable knowing that. But Neeko is into girls. Like me." Neeko nodded.
"Don't worry Riven! You are not my type." Riven wasn't sure if she should feel offended or thankful. Seeing how she interacted with Cid. The second.
"I see… but if you two are not romantically inclined…. Why act the way you do?" Cid and Neeko laughed.
"Because we are friends Riven. There is nothing wrong in friends liking each other and doing stuff together. In the end we are just friends." Neeko nodded at the words of Cid.
"Cid likes girls. I like girls too. But that doesn't mean I can't like to spend time with Cid. Nor does it mean Cid can't be close to me without the need of being a relationship. We are friends. Friends who smile forever next to the other." Neeko went to hug Cid who tried to pry her off from him.
Riven sighed not really knowing but getting a better idea at least.
"Well… I guess I can get it." Neeko nodded before excusing herself to go outside to see if she could find cheese bread in the kitchen.
As she excused herself Cid looked at Riven.
"In the end. She is allowed to like and do whatever she wants Riven. I do the same. I enjoy her presence next to me. However, I doubt I could offer Neeko what she needs in a romance. I am not that good at big shows affections, neither giving nor receiving them. Neeko is an explosion of feelings and sensations. I believe the Vastayashai'rei must have been really expressive in their feelings." Riven nodded at the more detailed expression of Cid. She asked something she was truly curious.
"What will you do…. If she leaves? You speak as if you expect something like that." Cid nodded.
"The same I did before. Keep working and living. If Neeko were to leave me, I would be saddened by a while. But that wouldn't stop me of living my life… it would be insulting for our friendship if I were to do such a thing." Riven nodded. A small smile in her face.
"You two really care for the other don't you?" Cid nodded.
"I only want her to be happy." Cid smiled as he spoke the honest words of his heart.
"Even if such happiness was only possible by her leaving?" He nodded.
"Yes. If that is the price for her happiness, so be it. However, it would be a crime to stop her of being happy. If someone deserves to live happily is Neeko." Riven nodded.
Many others wouldn't take the extreme Cid chose to. But for him, the happiness of Neeko was the most important aspect in their friendship. Riven understood that. And maybe because she knew how hard such a thing would be is that she stood and hugged Cid.
"You are a weird doctor." She spoke as she broke the hug.
"That I am." Riven smiled. None seeing the peeking eye hid under blue hair.
Sona felt happy and conflicted. For one part. Cid wasn't in a relationship with Neeko. For the other. He seemed to hold the girl in a pedestal and obviously cared for her. Then again. They weren't dating.
Technically, she wasn't doing anything bad…
Sona knocked on the door of the room and opened the door. Making Cid smiled and Riven to nod formally.
"Greetings Sona, need anything?" The girl nodded signing at Cid. Hoping he could understand.
"I would like to take you to walk with me. If that was okay." She smiled as she hoped he got the signs.
She saw him smirk as he signed back.
"Of course. I will call Neeko and we can all go." Sona seemed to fidget for a moment before signing again.
"I was hoping a two-person act. You know. Just you and me." The comment made Cid look slightly nervous but nodded.
"Riven, I will be going with Sona for a walk." Riven nodded getting the message that he was going alone.
"Have fun." Riven waved as he went out following the excited maven of strings.
As they left Riven let herself get comfortable to clean her broken sword.
As Riven cleaned her sword Neeko was in thought in the garden of meditation.
She was sitting in the grass watching the sky. Seeing as she couldn't find cheese bread she sighed and watched the sky.
As she sighed she noticed the blue hair of Sona in the distance, but what caught her eye was the messy dark hair next to her. As Neeko focused she noticed Sona had taken Cid away.
"Is she? Is she stealing him?" Neeko decided to follow the pair.
As they walked Sona made sure to help support Cid to avoid him of using his cane. Neeko didn't got why she did that, but she did notice the girl seemed to be happy. Too happy…
"What makes her so happy." As Neeko approached them hiding as they walked she knew she needed to be careful. Cid was good at knowing when people were tailing him or acting suspiciously.
But she guessed she could still hear their conversations. She thought that until she saw them signing.
"Great…. I forgot she doesn't speak!" She sighed. She would just need to focus on their expressions.
She changed her form to look like a random passerby she saw before and walked around them. She noticed Sona smiling and how she seemed to flick her hair so Cid could look more at her eyes. The small gestures, her smiles, how she was helping him…
She is interested in him? Neeko sighed following the pair.
Sona was having a fun time with whom she deemed a magician. They managed to chat with each other signing. She had so far learned he was simply moving through work in one place to another wherever he was asked to go. Normally he was contacted through letters or people looking for him and his odd set of skills.
He also revealed he and Neeko had been traveling for two months together. This particular piece of information surprised her. They took to get into a place Karma recommended her if she wanted privacy while eating.
The place was a small tea house. It had a comfy vibe and the usual Ionian architecture. All in all it was closed and with small windows to provide light but no vision of the outside due to their location high in the walls. It looked dark but not uncomfortable by any means. If anything, it gave a better feeling of privacy.
As they went to seat in a far corner surrounded by small pillows for them to seat. Sona helped him walk. Cid looked embarrassed as he spoke.
"I… I apologize; I am not used at getting so much help… I hope you don't mind my leg." Sona waved him off as she signed.
"I love to help. That's what I do with my music." She smiled softly as she sat elegantly. An opposite of how he just let himself fall.
Sona seemed to find him funny in his actions.
"You are rather carefree are you not?" Cid nodded at her signs. Deciding to sign back at her, he answered her question.
"I am. There is not much use in worrying of all the details. I do feel embarrassed when people help me. I try to do stuff alone if possible." Sona smiled softly.
"There is no shame in receiving help. I surely cant do everything alone. My friend Fiora Laurent. She often helps me to keep people away." Sona seemed to have fond memories of Fiora as Cid saw her reactions as she spoke of her. But something did strike familiar to him.
"Laurent? The duelist?" Cid had heard the rumors of the invincible duelist. If rumors were to be believed, the daughter of the previous master of house Laurent was an invincible woman who fought fast and without failure. She had yet to taste defeat according to rumors.
A part of him could only feel respect at the knowledge of a woman who dedicated herself to be the best in her craft. No matter whom she fought, no matter who challenged her. According to the rumors she would always accept any duel and fight to the best of her ability. Unbeatable, like iron she would rather break first than bend against any opponent.
"Indeed. Believe it or not she is nicer than people may believe." Sona smiled with a hint of sadness. Fiora was nice. So far as you could endure her harsh comments and abrasive attitude at times.
She carried much anger with her since she defeated her own father after finding out how much she cheated in the duels.
She felt a poke in her nose and she found herself covering it with her hands in alarm, finding the smiling magician.
"Don't worry. I may not know what is on your mind. But I can see the worry in your face." He smiled at her and she found herself smiling while feeling slightly embarrassed at the contact with her nose.
She tried to act snobbish as she signed at him.
"Have you no shame? What kind of gentlemen touches a lady in such a way." She saw him laugh lightly as he signed.
"One who doesn't look like one for starters." Sona found herself smiling and feeling warm. She couldn't find herself faking anger at him. She found it unfair.
"How am I supposed to make you apologize if I can't stay angry at you? You were supposed to apologize and comment on my good looks." She smiled and felt surprised at what he spoke back at her.
"But we both already know you are beautiful, you got hair that is the color of the sky."Sona found herself feeling warm in her cheeks and she decided to focus on the menu of the teahouse. Hearing the soft laugh of the magician.
Neeko was transformed as a woman when she was in the teahouse watching Cid and Sona interact. She had a hard time getting their conversation, except for the few times Cid actually spoke. But judging from what she was seeing she could get a general idea.
It was obvious they were having a good time. She found herself smiling at seeing him relaxing. But a part of her, a small part was feeling slightly uncomfortable as she saw Sona reactions to him. Was she trying to take him away?
She found herself muttering as she played with her teacup.
"He is my Co-´om Se-Henna…mine…" She sipped the contents of her cup before sighing with a small smile in her face as she remembered fond memories.
"What's so good about tea?" She asked sipping the drink.
"To me? Nothing. To others, it is a delicacy." He spoke drinking his own cup. Neeko scratched her head.
"I am not getting the delicacy in this. I believe chocolate was much better." He nodded.
"Chocolate is much better to me too. However, you can't expect every place to have it… at least not in Ionia. Tea is much more common here. But if we move to other zones with more trade we can get chocolate." Neeko perked up at this.
"We can order a big bowl of chocolate and share it!" Cid looked at her with a smirk in his face.
"So you can take my share too?" Neeko smiled nodding.
"Of course! What is yours is mine! And what is mine is yours too!" She spoke honestly, as she offered her drink to him.
She sighed letting the teacup in the table looking again at the pair. She didn't understand why she felt so weird of seeing him with other girls. She knew her romantic interests lay with girls. But it wasn't she was fearing for him to be in a relationship and be in a couple with someone else.
It was the fear of him leaving.
More exactly leaving her behind. She knew Cid would never mind if she were to be gone away with someone else. And she thought it was unfair how easily he seemed to accept the idea of her going off with a girl. If he found it so easily. Why couldn't she do the same?
She found herself reading the menu and finding chocolate was listed.
She smiled at this and ordered a big bowl.
Sona was smiling at how much she was enjoying the simple presence of Cid. And now it was time to see if she could get to do what she wanted. She breathed before signing at him.
"Would you like to spend some time in Demacia with me? I believe you could find work there too." She smiled excitedly at him. He seemed to be in thought as he signed at her.
"I don't know… I would need to have a place that could fit three people. I can't have Riven and Neeko sleep in a park in Demacia." Sona signed at him.
"You could all stay in my home at the Buvelle mansion." She smiled and Cid could see in her eyes she wanted him to say yes.
"Normally I go and see people because there is work… are you sure?" Sona nodded as she signed and made a silent apology to Fiora.
"I believe my friend Fiora could use your help. Would you go then?" Cid sighed.
"Seems to me you already know the answer. When shall we part?" Sona clapped as she smiled brightly.
"We can all go tomorrow." She signed at him and apologized as she left gold coins in the table signing quickly she would go and prepare everything. With a quick hug, she left him.
Cid found himself chuckling as he took some of the extra gold coins and sat in a table far with a woman who was getting a big bowl. He supported himself with the cane as he walked towards her.
"This seat isn't taken is it?" The woman stayed silent, as she looked nervous. He smiled as he sighed.
"I know is you Neeko. Staying silent won't help." Neeko sighed as she took on her real form.
"How did you know it was Neeko?" She spoke looking at him with a sad smile.
He tried to ruffle her hair when she swatted his hand away, surprising him at how sharp the gesture had been. He focused in her expression as he spoke.
"I noticed someone was following me. And it didn't hurt I heard your voice saying you forgot Sona didn't speak." Neeko looked slightly sad. He wanted to hold her hand when she removed it from where he could reach.
"Neeko?" The girl looked down as she sighed.
"Cid. What are we?" The question surprised him.
"Well… we are friends. We travel together. We are Co-´om Se-Henna remember?" Neeko sighed nodding.
"Then why does it bother me when you speak with other girls?" Neeko asked with a frown in her face. Cid felt a frown didn't belong in the face of the happy girl.
"I…" He didn't want to speak. For if he did he would lie. And he had promised to never lie to her.
"I guess you don't want me to leave you alone… but you know I am not going to do that right? If… and is one huge if… Sona and I started something. You know you would still be my best friend. We would still travel together if anything I would tell Sona to travel with us, but I wouldn't send you away." Neeko nodded. She looked at her reflection in the still chocolate.
"Neeko knows that. I just don't get why it bothers Neeko." She sighed as she looked down and then noticed Cid had stood up to sit right beside her.
"I don't know Neeko. And if you don't know it I can't possibly know it either." He patted her head as she didn't swat his hand away but leaned next to him.
"Neeko dislikes this stuff. Neeko prefers much easier stuff…" Cid nodded. He agreed with that.
"What do you say we drink that chocolate before it gets cold…. And we go and invite girls for dinner? I will be your support as you flirt with some." Neeko laughed at this but nodded.
"Neeko likes that… why not take let Neeko take you for dinner?" He chuckled ruffling her hair making her laugh as he spoke.
"Do you even have money?" Neeko sheepishly looked at him.
"Neeko hoped you would lend her money." He sighed knowing she would have done that. Nonetheless, he smiled as they got closer to the other and shared the chocolate bowl between them. Both drinking big gulp, making a mess and not caring. After they put the bowl in place. Both saying the same thing.
"Hot!" Both laughed at the other whose tongue was burning. Both earning stares of the staff.
They may not know what was in the mind of the other. They may have bumps in the road. But in the end both Neeko and Cid knew something.
They cared for each other.
Riven was taking a nap in peaceful relaxation when she felt a weight fall over her. She pushed the weight aside and heard a yelp of surprise. As she opened her eyes she saw Neeko on the floor.
"You are stronger than you seem Riven! Cid has never been able to push me off." She was laying in the floor with her back meeting the floor and her face looking at the roof.
Riven sighed waking up and looking at the smiling Neeko.
"You seem happy… I am guessing you are feeling better?" Neeko nodded making Riven have a small smile in her face.
"Good. I was getting tired of you being down." Neeko laughed.
"Only you can be down?" Riven sighed.
"No one should be feeling down." Neeko smiled as she stood up.
"Neeko and Cid will go flirt with girls. Want to come?" She spoke with a smile at the question that seemed so out of place to her she found herself letting out a laugh in disbelief.
She was having troubles understanding the route her life was taking.
"I…" Neeko approached her with a smile.
"If you don't know how Neeko can give you tips! If you see a cute girl say, Fa Hasici! It means you like her, in a good way." She smiled as Riven cheeks felt slightly warm before her face became serious. As much as she could.
"I… I am okay. I am not interested." Neeko nodded patting her in the head.
"Don't worry Riven. Not everyone is as smooth as Neeko." As the girl left Riven let out a breath and fell on the bed.
"I can barely deal with her… how do Cid deals with her so much?" She sighed.
"Lots of patience. Plus she is my friend, so I can deal with her more than others." Feeling surprised when she heard a voice. She looked alarmed at the door to see Cid in his usual coat and hair messy as always.
"I didn't meant…" She felt embarrassed thinking she might have said something offensive; she received a wave of dismissal with a smile.
"Don't worry. Neeko can be too much for people at times. This thing of going to flirt with girls is destined to be messy. So I need to go and make sure I am doing damage control." Riven blinked at this.
He knew this was a bad idea and still left her?
"She has the right to try Riven. Everyone wants to find love." He spoke with a soft smile as he remembered something.
"Oh, Riven, we will be going with Sona tomorrow to travel for Demacia. Don't worry of anything, nothing bad will happen so long as you stay with me and Neeko." He knew that since Riven was an exiled of Noxus the law wouldn't apply the same to her. Plus most of her fights had been in Ionia. Not in Demacia, so there should be no bad blood with her laying there.
Riven nodded at his words.
"I will be ready…. Do you need help with Neeko?" He smiled at her question.
"Don't worry, is not my first time seeing her flirt. Everything will go well…. but just in case we don't come back when the night comes, do ask Karma to send someone looking for us." Cid chuckled remembering they weren't well received in a small village after Neeko flirted with the chief daughter.
Riven didn't get much comfort from that.
Neeko needless to say, was having fun flirting with girls. Many who either didn't feel interested or just left. The chameleon sighed at this.
"Tough crowd. Neeko believes maybe Cid is trampling Neeko style." Cid chuckled at this.
"Sure I am. That's my evil plan all along, trample your style." Neeko let her tongue out at him with no malice as she smiled.
"Well, the capital is big… maybe I can try flirting with Akali?" Cid chuckled remembering the chef.
"Maybe. But she did seem more interested in me remember?" Neeko laughed this time.
"True! Her evil plan is obvious! Get to me by being with you! Such a heinous plan!" Both laughed this time, earning stares of the people who were around the odd pair who were in a side hug laughing.
As they laughed they heard a woman cough and saw Akali standing there while carrying a fish.
"I guess inviting your date for dinner is inappropriate Neeko?" Neeko giggled.
"Cid is not Neeko date today. Neeko was trying to get a date though." She smiled simply and Akali found herself with a small smile.
"Tell you what, I invite both of you for dinner and you tell me how that flirting went." Both nodded walking behind Akali.
Neeko told her as they walked inside her place on how she seemed to intimidate some girls.
"Is it because I am taller than them?" Akali shrugged as she tossed the fish into the bar for her to cut.
"No. If I had to say, maybe you are trying too hard. You need to be subtler. Like this." She approached Cid making him walk backward until he was standing in the wall. She then let her hand get to the side of his head as she smiled at him.
"Hey there… can I take you to dinner?" Cid looked at Akali and then at Neeko.
"This is aggressive too you know that right?" Akali chuckled. Before pointing at herself.
"Come on; don't tell me your heart didn't skip a beat seeing me smile at you." She was smiling as Cid laughed.
"My heart may have been skipping to fast sensing you were trying to corner me. But if you ask me you were looking prettier when you were smiling softly last time." This time Akali turned red in the cheek pushing him slightly.
"You tease! Don't go flirting with me." Neeko seeing the whole thing found herself taking notes.
"Oh! Honesty strikes points quickly… but Neeko already does that!" She was in thought what did Cid made differently to make Akali cheeks turn red.
She didn't have much time to think when she was met with a dish of food.
"Here you go. A little bird told me you liked this." Neeko eyes started to water as she brought Akali into a tight hug.
"Thank you!" Cheese bread. Cid saw it and found himself laughing. Karma must have told Akali about it.
Akali didn't have troubles prying Neeko off her. Cid considered this on how strong she had to be to do such a thing. Sure, he was weak, but even strong people had a hard time with Neeko.
Neeko proceeded to bite the bread with a smile. Making Akali nod at her ability baking.
"I am more into dishes that require cutting, but baking is easy with practice too." She spoke sitting next to Cid.
"So, what is next for you and your odd group?" Cid chuckled at the term.
"I will be going to Demacia. Sona invited me saying her friend could use the help of my services." Akali nodded slowly.
"And here I was hoping you got to meet Shen and Kennen… maybe next time you visit?" She sounded slightly hopeful and he nodded.
"I would love to visit Ionia again. Is a nice place." Akali nodded with a smile.
"Good. It would be a shame if my newest friends didn't come to visit." Cid smiled at her words. She smiled mischievously as she grabbed his coat bringing him close to her.
"Who knows, I may visit you myself…" She smiled as he looked nervous as she ended her speech. In the end, Cid just nodded and smiled albeit a bit nervously, which only made Akali smile even more at his reaction.
Neeko peeked between both of them and offered half of the bread to Cid with a smile. Cid was surprised at this.
"Don't you want to eat the rest Neeko?" She smiled offering it to him.
"No. I want to share. What is yours is mine. And what is mine is yours too remember?" She spoke with a soft smile as he took the bread, bringing him fond memories.
"Of course! What is yours is mine! And what is mine is yours too!" She spoke honestly, as she offered her drink to him.
"So can we change? I didn't like my tea that much." She spoke with a smile as he laughed.
"Sure. Whatever I own is yours Neeko." Neeko nodded thankfully as she took his drink. Smiling.
"What I own is yours to Cid. We are Co-´om Se-Henna now and forever!" He smiled drinking her tea and sighing.
"This is too sweet… how much sugar did you put in this thing?" She looked sheepishly as she ended his drink.
He took a bite of the bread. It tasted just as he expected and he looked at Akali.
"This was wonderful, thanks Akali." Neeko nodded agreeing with Cid. Akali made a small vow thanking them for their words.
The group kept chatting on how flirting worked in an amicable friendship. Cid thinking on how it was the first time Neeko shared cheese bread with him since she found out about it. As time passed the pair excused themselves with Akali wishing her a good night as they went back to the Placidium.
At night. In the gardens of meditation on the Placidium Riven was practicing her sword slashes. As she was going over her moves she found herself deflecting a sharp flying blade. As she deflected it she saw the blade move back towards it owner.
She sighed.
"Irelia." She saw the figure of the guardian of Ionia looking at her with disdain.
"I heard you are going to run away." Riven sighed looking at her. In time she would have thanked her for ending her life. That was before she remembered who she was.
"I am going with Cid and Neeko." Irelia scoffed.
"I don't care for their names. They don't know who is traveling with them… such fools." At this Riven walked forward her sword in hand aimed at Irelia.
"Don't speak of them like that. You don't know them." Neither she knew them fully. But she knew they weren't fools. And the fact Riven found herself defending them was a proof she honestly cared for them.
Irelia didn't need more to go forward to attack Riven. But their fight wouldn't not be happening. As Irelia lunged herself Riven saw a ring of energy going by holding Irelia in place when it touched her. Then she heard a scream.
"Close your eyes!" She knew that voice and chose to trust it. As her eyes closed she heard a sound of a small explosion and when she opened her eyes she saw Irelia grasping her eyes cursing at the sudden blindness enveloping her.
Riven looked at the direction of the voice and found Neeko hugging her tightly.
"She didn't hurt you right?" The chameleon was looking her all over making sure she had no injuries Riven tried to calm her down and Neeko nodded, standing in front of Riven focusing in Irelia.
As Neeko focused on Irelia, Cid and Karma walked together. Riven noticing Cid was focusing in Irelia too. As they approached her, Cid spoke.
"Sorry if I scared you. But the flashbang is quite effective at that range so it was better to make sure your eyes were closed." She nodded understanding he threw the small carcass of an item that blinded Irelia.
Riven was wondering if Cid had all sort of trinkets inside his coat.
"It's okay. She didn't hurt me either…" Karma kept walking now focusing in Irelia.
"Irelia. Attacking Riven was a direct contradiction to what I told you. Were my words not clear enough?" Irelia looked down. Her eyes already able to see again.
"Apologize." Irelia looked alarmed at this but Riven spoke.
"I don't need her apologies. We will be leaving tomorrow. So as long as she doesn't try fighting me again I am okay with that." Karma nodded holding Irelia by the arm and walking with her.
Riven found herself smiling at the idea Irelia was defeated not by her sword, but by the pair of fools, she mentioned before. That had to sting her pride.
They walked back to their rooms. Riven surprised at the fact Neeko entered her room first. Before Riven had a chance to speak Cid patted her in the back.
"She is going to make a sleepover. Don't try to stop her." She noticed Neeko dragging her sheets and a mattress getting it inside the room of Cid.
"Riven is sleeping with us tonight Cid!" Cid nodded at Neeko.
"Sure, let's go Riven." He guided her to the room as she sighed in defeat. She heard the voice of Cid.
"She is worried…. I am too for that matter. We don't want you getting hurt. You are our partner." She noticed the term and nodded thanking him in a low voice.
Riven saw the floor of their room was consisting of the mattresses and sheets in the floor covering the floor.
Neeko was in the middle. Patting the right.
"Cid can sleep on this side! You can sleep in the left Riven! I will stay in the middle because I am the one holding the mattresses together." Neeko smiled as Riven brought pillows. To her surprise, she pushed her off to the other mattress.
"You sleep with Cid. And I sleep on this side, alone, and you don't pass that pillow barrier sound good?" Neeko nodded. Not minding the new change. The trio just let themselves fall on the mattresses. Not caring they hadn't change clothes.
The day had been emotionally long for them.
As the night flowed Sona was in her room smiling. She didn't mind the loneliness of the night thinking about how she would be having someone close to her soon. She had enjoyed her day with the magician.
She had prepared everything for their trip to Demacia.
She felt they had made a good connection in the day.
She didn't know it. But she was thinking something similar to other two girls.
"He is mine."
For in the shadows away from the sight of the city, someone who could feel the energy in a way similar to Neeko was smiling, her tails swishing in the night air.
"I found you Cid…" She smiled, showing pearly white fangs that shone in the light of the moon.
Cid, Riven, Neeko and Sona found themselves in a carriage that would take them to a special place. A mage society. Those who studied magic were all about making guilds for their talents and keeping them safe and alive. In those places, one could get help for certain actions. But there was one thing the mages kept safely in their hands, and charged high for it.
A teleportation service. One could pay up a sum to be teleported to another building of the mages. Every nation had one. But not all could send you to the same place. Ionia could get you into Demacia and Bilgewater. But it couldn't take you to Noxus.
Noxus likewise couldn't get you into Demacia and Ionia. However, it could get you to Freljord and Shurima. Teleportation was something expensive as only they knew how to do it. Rumors went around a powerful mage who traveled the land and could teleport groups of hundreds. So far the mages were only able to teleport up to six people at a time.
Not useful to send an army. Perfect for people with gold who wanted to see the world.
Cid didn't have enough funds to spend on teleport services. One client once requested his immediate appearance and paid for the teleport services. After feeling his stomach spin so many times he promised to never use them again.
At Sona insistence, he would be breaking that promise.
He sighed as Neeko enjoyed the carriage ride.
As he looked through one of the windows of the carriage, he saw the bushes and trees of Ionia for the last time. He would be saying good-bye for them until later. As he saw them, he remembered something that got him shuddering.
Neeko noticed this and spoke.
"Don't tell me you think Ahri is still following us." Riven raised an eyebrow at this.
"Ahri?" Neeko nodded.
"She is Cid stalker ever since he set a foot in Ionia." Sona looked at Neeko with curiosity. Signing at Cid.
"How did that happen?" Cid sighed.
"It all happened when we got lost in the woods."
As Cid and Neeko walked in a forest far from the road they heard rustling in the woods.
"Who's there?" Cid asked while supporting himself with his cane. Neeko eyes shot open as she looked at a pair of ears.
"Vastaya! A fox!" Neeko smiled until she was surprised at seeing the female figure revealing herself with nine tails behind her.
"Nine tailed fox…. I had never seen one before." Neeko spoke being mesmerized by the woman.
Neeko was finding her to be absolutely beautiful. As she was walking forward she tripped and saw Cid used the hooked part of his cane to make her trip. She felt anger without reason and then surprise decorated her face seeing the worried face of Cid.
"Neeko? Can you hear me now?" Neeko nodded standing up. Looking at the woman who was smirking.
"Such a shame. And here I thought you would be easy prey." She seemed to charge an orb with energy before shooting it forward. Neeko jumped to the side as Cid threw himself to the other.
The woman walked towards Cid. Neeko tried to jump at her when she suddenly found herself mesmerized again. This time standing still.
"Be a good girl and walk away will you?" The mesmerized girl nodding walking away in a direction opposite to them.
"Now seeing your little friend is gone. Mind answering a few questions? If you behave I might even give you a reward." She winked at him. He walked a step back.
"What about. No." She didn't notice when he got his hand into his coat, what she did saw was the explosion of light coming from his hand.
Cid wasn't fast. But he hoped that blinding her would give him a bit of leeway. As she heard the woman curse by releasing a growl he moved to get lost in the woods.
"I love when prey plays hard to get. But trust me. Once you see my eyes you won't be moving away!" Cid sighed as he let out a scream.
"Good luck at finding me while blind lady." He sighed. He only had five flashbangs with him. Four now.
"Who says I need my eyes to find you." Cid heard the voice coming next to him. To his surprise, the fox Vastaya was next to him sniffing the air.
"You got a particular scent. Easy to track." She smiled revealing her fangs at him. As she let her arms go to catch him, he did the only thing he thought of.
To push her away with the cane.
The result was a grunt from both of them. One from the woman who got a cane to hit her chest, and one of the weak man pushing her.
As he tried to run, he thought of Neeko. Whatever happened to her he didn't know. Nevertheless, when she saw the fox Vastaya she seemed to act as if hypnotized.
If luck got on his side, she would trip with a branch or something and get her sense back.
He found himself tripping as he saw a fluffy binding; a tail from the fox Vastaya tripped him. She walked with elegance one wouldn't expect of a woman in the forest. She smiled at him.
"For someone so weak, you really try to fight back. But enough of that, look at my eyes now would you." She smiled, and as she opened her eyes, he closed his.
She giggled. When he felt a claw digging in his arm, he closed his eyes tighter. He heard her sigh.
"This would be much easier if you just opened your eyes. I am just going to ask you a few questions." She spoke with a sultry voice. As if trying to tempt him. He refused until with a strength one wouldn't expect of her she pushed him against a tree forcing him to open his eyes from the impact that took away the air of him.
As he opened his eyes, he saw the golden orbs of the fox Vastaya who smiled. Then her face turned into confusion.
"Eh? This is a first… are you not going to comment on how beautiful I am? Or how I am unique?" She spoke with curiosity but never releasing him from her grasp.
"I… don't know what you are expecting lady… but I am not one to compliment women who just try to kill me." The fox Vastaya spoke.
"Ahri. My name is Ahri. Now tell me yours." She smiled, looking excited about reasons he didn't understand.
"Cid… and my friend you send walking away is Neeko." She nodded.
"A Vastaya like me right?" He moved his head to deny it.
"No. She is different. She is a Vastayashai'rei. She is more colorful." Ahri smirked at this as she flicked her hair.
"Surely you don't mean to say she is prettier than me." He found himself chuckling even though she wasn't releasing him.
"What? Scared of not being the prettiest girl in the woods?" Ahri smiled as she approached his face.
"Maybe I am of the jealous of type." Cid felt without options. It was then a scream came.
"Release him!" The next thing Ahri saw was a ring of energy coming the way that she avoided. She smiled at Neeko who looked angry.
"Is not fun to mess with Neeko head!" It was then Cid noticed she had a twig in her hair. She must have tripped and just got her conscience back.
"Is not good to interrupt a conversation." She smirked and as Neeko was about to say something else Ahri winked at her. Making her stand still. Her eyes clouded again.
"That will keep her in place." She smiled looking at Cid in the floor. To his surprise, she picked him up and helped him stand up.
"Can't say I understand why it doesn't work on you…. But I like that." She brought him next to her into a hug.
"Plus is nice being called lady instead of monster… and you said that without me making you do it…" She held the hug softly, he was too stunned to speak when she nibbled his ear, surprising him. He stepped back falling and she giggled.
"You are mine now Cid…" She smiled until her smile turned into a frown when many voices came from the woods.
"I guess it will have to wait… but don't worry. I will find you and pick you up so we can continue this chat... goodbye for now Cid" She smiled as she threw a kiss at him and ran away.
As she went away, Neeko eyes turned back to normal.
"Agh! Curse that fox!" She approached Cid asking him if he was okay as people from a village came to help them, while others went in the hunt of the fox woman who ate people souls.
He touched his ear that didn't have any marks as he finished the story.
"She seemingly could hypnotize people, once she did that she would take their spirits away. Ahri is dangerous and well known in Ionia." Neeko fumed as he finished the story.
"And she fights cheating! She makes you see her as the loveliest thing ever and you just obey her!" She sighed looking at Cid.
"It didn't work on you though. Why?" Cid shrugged.
"I am not sure. Neither did Ahri. But she did promise to come for me…" He sighed and let himself relax as Neeko spoke.
"She wants to make you her Co-´om He-Senna. Nevertheless, she will not! Cause you are mine!" Neeko spoke loudly making Riven smile and Sona nod kindly. Though she was thinking something similar.
"He will be mine, so she will have to be ready to try to take him away." Sona instrument was under the carriage. Waiting for her command to come to her hands and release its magic.
The journey would be short. But what would happen was anyone's game.
CUT!
This is really fun to do and it relaxes me, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I do!