Chapter Five: Zed's Sovereign
Varus watched from above as Zed's foot tapped on the marble floor impatiently. The ninja constantly checked the clock above Soraka's door and sighed. He sheathed and unsheathed the blades on his arms to distract himself. Just then the door opened and out walked Soraka followed by Syndra, the Dark Sovereign and Zed's rumored friend.
"Alright Syndra, I suggest icing down the points of entry before stepping onto the Rift again. They are very irritated." Soraka smiled sweetly as she placed a bag of ice into the mage's hand. Syndra nodded with a pout and walked in front of the ninja. "Do you need anything Zed?"
"No, thank you, I was just waiting for Syndra." Zed said while he stood. The Master of Shadows glanced over at his friend and saw discolored splotches on her face. He quickly turned before he started laughing.
"You two have a good day, okay?" Soraka smiled cheerfully before she walked back in her office. Zed couldn't hold it in and he let out a small snicker.
"What are you laughing at?" Syndra growled as she slapped the bag of ice over her right cheek.
"I'm surprised an all-powerful mage like yourself would let the insect known as Teemo get into shooting range of you." Zed turned and began walking down the hall.
"It's a bit hard to avoid something you can't see." Syndra shot back as she followed him. "And what did you do while I was risking my life on Summoner's Rift?"
"Me? I just did a bit of meditating and sharpening my weapons." The ninja answered casually as he put his hands in his pockets.
"He reminds me Shen in a way." Varus whispered to himself while he shook his head. The archer hovered the two Ionians as they turned a corner, observing them carefully. Syndra gave icy glares to every yordle she passed.
"So, the same thing you do almost every day." Syndra rolled her eyes, "You really need a hobby, Zed."
"I have two: meditating and sharpening weapons." The ninja chuckled when his friend growled.
Varus shook his head as he pulled two arrows from his quiver and aimed at the two Ionians. They were easy targets just leisurely strolling down the hall and the archer had his mark.
"Where are you even going? You said we would relax in the garden after my match." Syndra pouted as she put her ice over her left cheek. Zed halted, crossing his arms.
"That's right. That is my fault—I was deep in thought and hadn't realized I made a promise. We can go now, if you'd like?"
"Well, of course I'd like to go now!"
Varus let his arrows fly. They pieced the backs of the two Ionians—Zed winced in pain while Syndra furiously picked up a nearby vase with her magic to counter what had attacked them. The ninja and sovereign turned, both their eyes instantly locking with the other.
"Syndra…" Zed said, "I will meet you in the garden in a few minutes. There is something I need to take care of alone." The ninja quickly disappeared into the shadows, leaving the hot-headed mage alone.
"Sure, go ahead, you big liar." The sovereign sighed as she dropped the vase, letting it shatter on the floor. Syndra continued to smash whatever she saw with her magic—paintings and coat racks were all debris now.
"How very strange." Varus whispered as he followed Syndra, "Zed left Syndra while my other subjects pursued whoever they saw first. Perhaps Zed was already in love with the dark mage?"
Syndra forced open the gates to the garden and walked inside. Varus cautiously followed behind her but kept himself high above. He watched as the mage continued her rampage on the defenseless shrubbery.
"I'm assuming she's acting out because Zed doesn't keep his promises… then again this may be partially my fault." Varus whispered to himself as he took cover in a tree behind Syndra. Luckily, she was too invested in pulling up all the flowers up to notice him.
"Stupid Zed!" The mage growled, "Why does he have to be all secretive?! He could just tell me he doesn't to be around me!"
"Are you alright, Syndra?" A soft voice asked. Varus and Syndra both turned their heads and saw Janna opening the gate. "I heard you yelling and I thought I could lend an ear."
The wind mage cautiously entered the garden, softly shutting the gate behind her. Janna took a seat on a bench close to Syndra and patted to the spot next to her with a smile. Varus noticed Syndra's vacant stare as she approached the wind mage.
"Oh boy." Varus sighed.
"Is something bothering you, sweetheart?" Janna asked, pushing her long blonde hair behind her ear. "I don't want to assume with all the uprooted flowers."
"I was angry about Zed always abandoning me but I think I'm over it." Syndra answered. The sovereign's hand inched closer to Janna's but the wind mage didn't seem to notice.
"That's wonderful!" Janna sweetly giggled, "I don't think men are worth the emotions they put us through."
Varus could see the dark mage's pale cheeks turn bright red as she watched Janna smile. He slightly shrugged before noticing movement by the garden gates. Glancing up, he saw Zed with his hands behind his back.
"Oh boy." The archer rubbed his temples. "I'm starting to think I should have just kept to myself."
"I agree. I think us women are only good enough for each other." Syndra said before swiftly grabbing Janna's face and forcing her lips on the wind mage. Janna's hands grabbed Syndra's shoulders and pushed herself away, leaving the sovereign looking mortified.
"S-Syndra! Believe me when I say I'm flattered but—"
"Syndra!" Zed called from the gate, causing both Janna and Syndra to jump up in surprise. The two women fearfully looked his way and saw a dark aura surrounding him. Varus swore he could hear the metal bars crush in the ninja's hands.
The ninja slipped a shadow into the garden and teleported in—never taking his hands from behind his back. The sinister aura around him burned like a black fire as he stomped towards Syndra. Janna quickly leapt up from her seat and backed away from the dark mage.
"What was that just now?!" He snapped. Syndra's eyes narrows at the man in front of her as she got to her feet.
"Are you blind? Janna and I are in love!" The sovereign raised her voice as she pointed at Janna, who cowered behind her thin staff. Zed's piercing red gaze shot at her, causing Janna to create a small cloud above her head unintentionally.
"In love? I saw her shove you away!" Zed growled, looking back at Syndra. The more the dark mage's anger grew the more she levitated off the grass.
"You're a fool if you thought that. I just surprised the lady!"
"May I interrupt?" Janna asked as she pulled herself together. Zed and Syndra tore their glares from each other to look at the wind mage—their sudden attention made Janna jerk back. "Syndra, you're beautiful, I just don't like you that way."
"W-What?"
"She's saying she doesn't love you!" Zed lowly growled. Syndra's scowl began to fade as she let the ninja's words sink in.
"Janna?"
"Well, it was a little extreme to assume I did." The wind mage tried to crack a smile but end of her lip only twitched, "Maybe you got hit with cupid's arrow by mistake. It is Valentine's Day after all."
"Silly girl." Zed turned his back on Syndra, taking a couple of steps away. Janna took the opportunity to rush over to Syndra, grasping her hand.
"I think there was someone else hit with cupid's arrow." Janna whispered, winking as she pointing to the ninja. Syndra glanced over, her eyes full of confliction. The wind mage patted her hand, "You'll be fine. You're a good kisser."
The sovereign watched Janna quietly make her way out of the garden. Syndra looked over at Zed again before carefully walking over. The ninja kept his back towards her even when she did try to stand in front of him.
"This boy is so odd. The other men I've shot had their lips locked with a woman within seconds, but this one is peculiar." Varus tapped his fingers on his temples to get his brain into gear.
"Zed…" Syndra huffed.
"Did you consider that I may have feelings for you?"
"What?" The sovereign and archer tilted their heads. Zed faced Syndra and grabbed her shoulders.
"Don't make me spell it out for you." He sighed, "We spend almost every waking moment together."
"You like me?"
"I didn't realize it until about an hour ago. I just looked at your beautiful face and it just struck me." Zed replied.
"I understand now." Varus said as he looked down at his bow, "My magic did awaken something in Zed and that's why he reacted differently. Syndra, on the other hand, had felt nothing towards Zed. When she saw Janna, my magic took effect. I wonder if I could fix this mistake I've made."
Varus grabbed an arrow from his quiver and placed or between his bow and string. He pulled back as he aimed for Syndra's back.
"I never knew—" Syndra gasped as the arrow struck her shoulder. She looked behind her and saw nothing but the tree in the garden.
"Is something wrong?" Zed asked.
"No, maybe it was just Teemo's poison acting up again." The sovereign answered before she looked back at the ninja. As she turned and looked into his eyes, her heart skipped a beat. "Zed?"
"Yes?"
"When you realized your feelings for me, did it make you want to… kiss me?" She asked, looking down at the grass in embarrassment. Syndra heard the ninja chuckle.
"I've never seen you so shy—you always have that nasty scowl on your face." Zed smiled under his mask when she shot a glare at him, "There it is. But to answer your question, I want to kiss you more than anything."
"T-Then just do it!" Syndra demanded as she stomped her foot and before she knew it, Zed lifted his mask above his lips and pressed them on hers. She could feel his rough scar on her skin but she didn't mind. The sovereign wrapped her arms around his neck and let herself get lost in their embrace.
Varus chuckled as he quietly made his way out of the tree. He watched the two Ionians continue their kiss as he got to the gate. The archer sighed as he pushed back his blond hair.
"That was a mess." He shook his head, "But I did learn that if someone is shot and falls in love, I can reset the magic by shooting them again… that reminds me of the Noxian assassin. He was already in love with Quinn when I shot him. They weren't in the garden—I hope they didn't wander too far."
The archer quickly scoured the Halls for Talon and Quinn.
Notes: Long wait again I know, but I hope this one was worth it. I wasn't "busy" I was just playing another game and time just flew by. Also, I do not ship Janna and Syndra. I simply went into my Champion list in the client, closed my eyes, and pointed at a random one. It was almost Kalista—they are right next to each other in the list of Level 5s.
See you next chapter!