(Garen - PoV)
"The brain is a delicate organ, Mr. Crownguard," Dr. Kane informs us.
"Or at least most peoples are," he adds with a side look at me.
What is that supposed to mean?
Kat snorts.
Really, what is that supposed to mean?
I look over at her but she shakes her head with a smile.
We are in the lab once more, so I can ask the doctor how Lux's recovery progresses. Dr. Kane is getting rather annoyed at my inquiries, I think.
"The rest of your sister's injuries have healed, but I do not know when she will wake. Stop asking. You will be informed the moment she does. Now go away." He makes a shooing gesture with a black-gloved hand.
Well that seems rather rude...
...
I just...
Kat grabs my wrist and pulls me out of the room, smirking.
I reluctantly let her.
I...really don't want to go. But what can I do here?
I am a soldier. I can't do anything but get in the way or accidentally break something. Again.
Dr. Kane gave me a ferocious lecture about the wall the other day, or more specifically about the sensitive equipment I could have disrupted even from outside the room.
Always fucking up on what matters, no matter how much I try to help her.
"Come on Garen, let's go spar. That should cheer you up.
Fighting is about all I am good at. Having to relearn how to fight without discarding or suppressing my emotions is an...experience. Kat has been leading me around like a bull with a flag.
We stride along the upper stone streets of the city. Walking through Noxus is interesting, I suppose. I never expected to do so without an army at my back. And certainly not with Kat at my side. Trying to stick a knife in it, maybe. Not that she doesn't still do that, mostly when we spar. Mostly.
Looking around, it is nothing like Demacia always painted it. It is so...normal. Shops and homes. Soldiers and merchants. Tradesmen and scribes. Living their lives and doing their duties.
The architecture is different, the people carry themselves differently, and there is vastly more variety. There are many ups...and many downs. I note a man bundled in rags resting in a dirty alley down below. He is ignored by all passersby.
I would say there is much to learn before I feel comfortable, but I never really felt comfortable around people in Demacia either. I spoke the words, and did as expected of me, but the only place I truly belonged was battle. Or with Lux.
Lux...
I lose myself in memories of our childhood, and before I know it, we are in Kat's estate.
Again, similar to Demacia, but different. Different architecture, different styles.
Blacks vs whites. Reds vs blues. Metal vs stone. Sharp edges vs strong corners.
I shake my head as we enter her little private arena. Focus. Kat does the thing with her hips as she walks across the private arena ahead of me. I don't understand why she walks like that, it is not very efficient, is it? She turns and smirks.
I close my eyes.
Lux.
They broke her.
Intentionally.
They tried to murder her.
My arms shake.
They watched as others tried to hurt her.
When I rescued her, they sent Vayne to kill her.
My entire body trembles.
She will never fully recover.
I Open my eyes and Roar.
I swing my sword hard enough a wave of force cuts through Kat's position, but she has Shunpo'd behind me. Predictable.
I barely twitch my body, taking the sword to my back instead of my spine, but giving her a vicious elbow to the ribs, staggering her.
Spinning, my sword swings again and she cartwheels backward, but I catch her foot, and drag her back to me, before slamming her to the ground, stomping my foot on her chest, and placing my sword to her throat.
She blinks, shocked at what happened, before laughing.
"Hah, you finally got it! You have control now! So quickly..."
She makes no move to get up, instead giving me a look from the ground that I don't understand.
"So, what are you going to do now that you have me at your mercy hmm?"
I blink at her, before removing the sword, and offering her a hand up. She sighs for some reason.
"You really do take all the fun out of things sometimes."
I thought we were training? I'd ask her to explain but she is worse than Lux. Lux would sigh and call me an idiot. Kat sometimes stabs me for "asking stupid questions."
"Hmmm," She stretches in front of me, examining herself. "I'm afraid that will have to suffice for today, I think. You did quite the number to my ribs. See?" She removes much of her top, showing the severe bruising, possibly even light cracking.
"Sorry, you have just been very predictable with that move."
She sighs again, looking disappointed before putting her top down.
"That was the point. When you were enraged before you didn't even notice, now you finally can. Next time I will kick things up a notch, and we will see how you handle it, yes?"
I nod. That sounds fair. I know she has been going easy on me while I try to get a handle on this new style. The fact before she still literally ran circles around me says a lot.
For a given definition of easy at least. Most people don't heal as fast as I do from being practically flayed. But I agree it is good motivation. Collecting the skin afterward to sell to "contacts" seems a bit much though...
"So what next?" I ask her.
"Well, we need to clean up." She gives me another odd smile. "I suppose we could always-"
She is interrupted by the sound of a bell, announcing a visitor at her door.
"Oh? Now who could that be..."
I follow her to the entrance hall. I do rather like her manor's decoration. Perhaps because it doesn't remind me of home at all?
She seemed to appreciate the comment when I mentioned it before and invited me to stay. She appeared surprised by my choice of room, however. I hope I did not offend her somehow. Lux or Jarvan used to tell me what to do for these sorts of things.
She checks a spyhole beside the door before opening it, seemingly surprised by who she sees.
"Cass? What are you doing here?" she asks.
"What, can't I visit my big sister?" the long-legged, raven-haired woman wearing what would be a scandalous dress in Demacia asks, slipping past Kat to enter the manor.
So this is Cassiopeia? Kat hasn't spoken of her much, and I haven't had time to ask, being focused on Lux and my training.
"Oh, and your new boy toy is here as well? Wonderful!" Cassiopeia's analytical gaze locks onto me. It feels almost like she is attempting to dissect me with her eyes.
"Cass. Don't." Kat's voice has a note of warning in it, as she narrows her own eyes at her sister.
Don't? Don't what?
"Oh come now sister, no need to be rude. I just wanted to see what has gotten you all wrapped up. Usually your interests are so..disposable." The supposedly younger woman is walking around me, gazing at me in a way that makes me rather uncomfortable. Leering perhaps? I notice she does the strange walk as well, swaying her hips.
"You may be family, but if you keep pushing I may give you a demonstration." Kat's voice practically drips with malice, her hands straying to the hilts of her favorite knives.
What in the hells is going on between these two? Lux and I certainly snipe and each other, but the thought of either of us ever speaking to each other like that...gods.
The black-haired woman turns and pouts at Kat. "Now now, no need to be so unreasonable sister. We could always share?"
"You have never shared a toy in your life," the redhead retorts.
"Oh, I don't know," she turns to look at me again, that odd smile on her face, "For a big enough prize I might be willing to learn," she claims, almost purring like a cat.
Kat sighs. "Enough, Cass. Did you have something you needed or are you just here to try to steal my things as usual?"
Cassiopeia gasps, clutching at her bare chest, the neckline of her dress plunging all the way to her belly.
"Steal your things? Why you wound me, dear sister, I would never!" she denies.
Kat does not look at all amused. "Uh-huh. Like my favorite brush. My hair dye. Dozens of my daggers. That Shurima khopesh. Several of father's gifts. My first girlfriend. My second girlfriend. My fourth girlfriend." Kat is really glaring now. What the hells, is this normal? "Any of this ringing a bell?"
"Hmm, nope. No idea what you are talking about. Are you sure you didn't just misplace them?" Cassiopeia appears completely unrepentant.
Kat rolls her eyes.
"Well you can "misplace" yourself somewhere else. I am not letting you steal this one, I promise you a few daggers will be "misplaced" somewhere you will not appreciate if you try your shit."
"Really, dear sister, no need to get so worked up, I was only looking." She releases a put upon sigh. "You have a point though, I should get back home, I have a dinner to prepare for. Do let me know when the official welcoming for our new friend is going to be? I will be happy to accompany you," She says, winking at me.
Kat glares as she slowly makes her way out the door with that overly exaggerated walk, hips swaying back and forth.
"Ugh, I know she is family but, well, Cass and I have certainly never had the relationship you and Lux do." She hesitates, before looking at me. "I admit, I envy it, at times. The care you show for her, and that she seemed to have for you. I can't...I don't know anyone, that I am that close to, that it would affect me the same way. If Cass was in that bed? I wouldn't be happy, certainly, but."
She shrugs. Brushing her hair from her face.
She sounds...lonely.
She hesitates, and opens her mouth to continue when we hear a vibration.
Frowning, she retrieves her communication mirror. I glance over her shoulder as she activates it, showing, Dr. Kane!
"Ah, I got both of you, good. The patient is waking up. You may return now if you promise not to break anything!" he speaks, glaring at me.
...One time!
"I swear it!"