Chapter 5
Rumble P.O.V.
There were drips in both my arms and I just wanted to rip them out. I struggled with the uncomfortable sensation before my gaze slowly turned to Ziggs, who was watching me, cautious.
He'd been worried sick since I'd been told I was suffering depression and was given medication. He made sure I ate properly and took my pills diligently. His excessive caring was starting to annoy me slightly. I could understand where he came from, since I'd been secretive and then disappeared, but I was honestly fine.
After some meditating, getting kidnaped by Heimerdinger had actually been a good thing in my eyes. I'd started appreciating a whole lot of things. I'd try to get Tristana, and if I couldn't I'd find myself an equally good yordle to spend the rest of my life with, I wasn't just going to throw away this gift that I'd been given.
Sure, I didn't have Tristy anymore, and there was a black hole in my heart that couldn't be mended because of that, but that didn't mean I wouldn't get better. The small talk I'd had with Ziggs was still on my mind. The idea that the pills could actually help me was now urging me to take my medication properly.
I was especially happy to hear Tristana and Teemo weren't in a relationship. It made me giddy with happiness and excitement. I could be the one for her, I was sure.
I couldn't wait until I was released from hospital and I could go back out there and… live. I'd never really been bothered by staying indoors too long. In fact, quite the opposite. But there was something about being stuck on this hospital bed that had every nerve in my body tingling with desire to move about. I kept asking when I would be allowed to leave but the answers were always vague or negative. They wanted to run more tests on me or some shit like that.
On the fourth day I was particularly agitated, my limbs twitching with the need to do things. I was also in a foul mood, since they had removed the drips but they'd prohibited me from going outside. When Ziggs came in I almost snarled at his chirpiness, but he just laughed it off.
"Good news, ol' buddy!" He nearly sang, sitting on what was now his personal chair. He looked at me with a smile so radiant the sun was getting a run for its money. I huffed, not believing that anything could make this day an actual good one. "They'll be letting you go soon! Tomorrow! And we're holding a party for our favourite moody yordle!"
"What!?" I clapped my hands in excitement, so happy from hearing something so promising.
"You heard me! Prepare yourself for the fiesta of a lifetime!" He almost screamed, his eyes shining.
I was the last one to enter the place were the party was being held. The room was dark, save for the round disco ball that was spinning at the centre of the ceiling, gently illuminating the room as it spun. There were tables with food at the far end, and every yordle invited was dressed smartly. I, of course, was too. I was greeted with cheers and hugs and immediately a glass of alcohol was placed in my paw by a very keen Ziggs.
"I can't drink." I told him, thinking about what I'd been told when I was instructed on how to take my medication.
"Shhh, it'll be our little secret." He put a finger to his lips and smirked. "You deserve this one day off."
Smiling and nodding, I downed it in one whole gulp. He laughed, putting his arm around my shoulders and raising his own glass.
"To Rumble, the bestest friend a yordle could have!" He cheered, clinking imaginary glasses with his own. "Let the party commence!"
A loud hurrah was heard throughout the room and music started to play. Soon my glass was filled again and Ziggs was the responsible of pouring into his, so I figured he'd been behind the filling of mine too. He clinked our glassware together, smiling, his eyes boring into mine.
"To us, buddy, to our friendship, but especially, to you, for pulling through." He spoke over the loud music, pulling me into a tight hug. "Don't ever forget you're the strongest yordle I know."
"Thanks, Ziggs. You're great too."
"I know I am! Now, dance!" He smirked, pulling me away and pushing me into the dance floor, where I was caught by Poppy, who offered her hand to me. She looked gorgeous, her hair in an elaborate bun with two strands lose that framed her face. She was wearing a simple yet long light blue dress and matching heals. She'd always been taller than me but with those shoes she was just adding insult to injury. I beamed at her nonetheless, grabbing her paw and pulling her to me, so we could dance the slow waltz the music was playing. I felt a light pang in my heart as I thought that this should be Tristana in my hold, and that the special and first dance should always be with the one you love. But she was currently chatting to Kennen by the food tables, snacking on something, glass in her hand.
"I'm so glad you're back." Poppy said barely audibly thanks to the racket. I turned my attention at her then, not wanting to seem rude. "You've no idea what Ziggs went through just for you."
"He won't speak of it." I muttered, my foot accidentally prodding her. I apologized as she giggled.
"I'm surprised how good you are at dancing." She commented, making me spin before catching me again.
"Ha, ha." I spat out with no ill intent, I was having a blast being led by her.
"I'm being serious here. My guess was you'd be on the floor in the first few seconds. You're not a natural, I can tell, but you're doing your best."
"I hardly think treading all over you is me 'doing my best'." I hummed, trying to get her to spin around like I'd done but she wouldn't budge. She smirked at my attempt to lead.
"But, really, I mean it. I'm so glad you're safe. I feel really bad I didn't listen to Ziggs from the start." She continued, her eyes glancing at our intertwined feet as I tried my best to not get the movements wrong, failing miserably.
"What?" I asked, my focus faltering. She narrowly avoided my trampling feet.
"Not important." She waved me off. "You're back and safe and that's all that matters. Have fun tonight, it's your night."
"Yeah, thanks."
The music eventually died down and she gently pulled away from my body, smiling and waving goodbye as she offered her hand to Teemo, who, surprisingly enough, wasn't wearing a camo tuxedo. He took it bashfully and was as astonished as me when she started to lead.
I walked over to the food table, where Corki started a brief conversation in between stuffing his face with cheese. I hummed and nodded appropriately, not knowing what else to say. The music changed again and I found my eyes turning to Tristana, who was being offered to dance by Teemo.
I grit my teeth, watching as her lilac dress flowed with every movement she made, her neatly combed hair dancing with her, her smiling face directed at someone who wasn't me.
Ziggs must've noticed my sour expression, since he walked over to where I was, and, without waiting for me to hold onto his extended paw, he grabbed my wrist with his free hand, immediately spinning me around in this uncoordinated dance he thought was appropriate for the mood. He laughed as I tried to match his movements. If there was a worse dancer than me in this room, it was probably him. But, unlike me, he was okay with being bad, maybe he even embraced it.
He rolled us around the dance floor, paying no heed to the music's rhythm or how he was butchering it in his own way and cackling maniacally every time I lost my step. He seemed slightly buzzed. Oh, if only I'd known how much he was going to drink I might've stopped him.
"You should ask her to a dance." He muttered into my ear when he pulled me towards his body, so it looked like we were embracing. "Go on, now's your chance."
And he wasn't wrong. I'd been thinking about it. Get her or give up. Those words had given me a new perspective, a new idea. I just had to see what she chose. Even if I'd always choose her.
The song slowly died down and Ziggs twirled me around one last time before pushing me towards her, a sly smirk on his face that I knew very well from our teens. Blushing, I gently pulled Tristana towards me, my hand delicately touching her waist as our bodies approached each other. My heart was beating in my chest as I grabbed her paw and raised it to my lips, to kiss it lovingly as I gazed into her startled eyes. She blushed. I couldn't help but think how gorgeous she looked under the changing light and her pinkish cheeks. I was trying to show her just what I could give her. I was perfect for her. I could give her everything she needed and more.
I was the one.
"Care for a dance?" I smirked, an eyebrow raised. She nodded enthusiastically and I held her waist tighter, our paws adjusting to the new music. The slow, romantic notes hit my ears and I couldn't help the blush that was forming on my face. I was sure this was no other than Ziggs' doing, trying to set a mood. I was internally grateful as she stepped closer to me, putting her head on top of my shoulder. I was sure my heart would burst out of my chest any minute, and it only got worse as her lips nearly touched my neck when she raised her head to whisper in my ear.
"You have no idea how much I've missed you."
I held onto her tighter, my eyes widening. I pulled my head back, trying to get a better look at her face, and she lifted hers and our eyes interlocked for a few seconds, making my heart beat even faster, probably beating some world record or something. I wanted to kiss her so much, but I knew I couldn't. It was sort of a relief to think that Teemo didn't either, so at least I had that.
It was so perfect, our bodies twirling together. Even if I was pretty bad and had to concentrate twice as much as any other normal yordle, it was still magical. It seemed she didn't mind that I missed a beat or put my foot in the wrong place or forgot the order in which the steps went. At least I didn't tread on her, and I was secretly very pleased with myself about it.
But the most perfect moment couldn't last forever as the music ended and she smiled at me, congratulating me. I wanted to grab her and pull her towards me, tell her she was the world to me and that I couldn't live without her, but I just beamed back at her, watching as she made her way to talk to Poppy.
I didn't miss how Ziggs quickly slunk over to where she was and pulled her apart from the other female. They talked for a while and I pretended it didn't bother me as I went to talk to Lulu, offering to dance with her too.
'I'm at a party, I might as well have fun too', I thought, trying not to pull her off of me. Lulu had a pretty weird way of dancing. Well, she had a pretty weird way of doing a lot of things, but this was a new thing I hadn't expected. She'd circled my neck with her arms and was clinging onto me almost painfully. She chattered about Veigar and Pix as she wiggled her hips happily. I was extremely glad the song had changed and wasn't romantic anymore. I didn't want her to get the wrong idea.
After Lulu, I was officially exhausted. I'd had to drag her weight along the dancefloor as well as my own and I was drained. I made my way to a chair and sat there, watching as Kennen was now in charge of dragging the clingy female yordle around, and he didn't look at all pleased about it.
Ziggs brought me a drink and something to eat and I thanked him with a smile. He was talking more than usual, but I just thought he was excited, or happy.
"So." He got closer to me, his paws on my shoulders as he leaned in. "How was the dance?"
"Great." I exhaled contently, reclining my body against the chair.
Ziggs was up on the disco ball and shouting stuff at everyone. I honestly have no idea how he got up there but I was 90% sure he'd blasted himself up. It was hilarious the way he was in constant argument with Poppy about the probabilities of him getting down.
"ZIGGS GETS DOWN RIGHT NOW!" She yelled.
"NEVER!" He chuckled back, having the last sip of his now empty glass. He groaned, not knowing what to do with it, thankfully being wiser than to throw it at the crowd under him. He was smashed, but still had a slight smidgen of sense left in him. "GET ME SOME MORE OF THIS!"
"ZIGGS, DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE!"
"OR WHAT?"
"OR YOU WILL REGRET HAVING ENTERED THE LEAGUE."
"OI KENNEN." Ziggs diverted his attention. "LEAVE SOME CRISPS FOR THE REST OF US, WHY DON'T YOU?"
"Someone go get a ladder." Poppy growled, rubbing her temple like she was having a particularly painful headache.
I was chuckling at the scene, somewhat intoxicated myself, when Tristana made her way towards me, clinging onto my neck.
I heard a wolf whistle come from above me and I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the embarrassed and hopeful smirk spread on my face. I held onto her and pulled her back gently to look into her eyes with a questionable expression.
"I missed you, Rumble." She slurred, her face getting uncomfortably close to mine, if she were anyone else.
"Tristana…" I tried to speak to her, but she stopped me, putting a dainty little finger on my lips, a devilish smile on hers.
"Promise me you'll never go missing again."
I couldn't actually promise something like that, but I could never say no to her, so I nodded as she gently pulled the digit away from my snout.
"Good, 'cause I don't know what I'd do without you."
Was she inviting me? Or was it all in my head? I looked at her with wide eyes as she swayed her hips and rocked her head, her eyes shut. She seemed content in my arms and didn't complain or pull away when I closed the gap between us slightly.
Tristana grinned, opening her eyes slowly, as if with some difficulty. I thought she was nodding off, and it wouldn't surprise me, given how drunk she seemed. She wobbled a bit and I secured her in place, weary of her balance. She kissed me then. It was a small peck on the lips, one I knew no one had even noticed except for the celestine hanging from the ceiling. Speaking of, he'd started howling, excited, and was screaming a variety of obscenities at us.
"GO GET HER RUMBLE!" Was the mildest of his phrases but honestly I was too dumbstruck by her actions to even focus on my best friend's rude remarks. She took my paw with hers and tugged me slightly.
"Take me to my room." She whispered into my ear and I nodded eagerly, letting her pull me away.
By then, Poppy had arrived with a ladder and had already started climbing it.
"RUMBLE YOU GO, DOG! HEY, HEY! GET OFF ME! DON'T PULL MY LEEEEEG! AAAAAAAAAAH!"
"GET DOWN! YOU ARE GOING TO FALL!"
"HEEELP MEEE, A WICKED WITCH IS PULLING MEEE!"
We exited the room, the last I heard of the fight between Ziggs and Poppy being my friend screaming at me to succeed at pounding Tristana. I hoped she hadn't heard that and she didn't notice how red my ears had turned.
She led me out of the building where the party had been and then stopped abruptly, throwing herself on me. She kissed me eagerly, and all my doubts vanished. She wanted this.
"Take me to your place." She hushed, her face red, her paws clinging onto my suit.
I nodded, grabbing her waist and walking bristly towards my bed, where we could be alone. Intimate.
My heart was pounding and I was giddy. I kept glancing over at her, to make sure it was really happening and that she was still on board. She seemed excited as she chatted away semi-incoherently as we made our way towards my place. I was supporting her weight, nearly carrying her and I had to practically drag her up the stairs to my apartment.
When we finally got there, I let her go gently to open the door. This proved to be a most difficult task, with her pressing herself against the wood, singing incoherently, and my slightly intoxicated actions, making it hard for me to put the key in the lock. I got it in finally and turned it, grabbing onto her so she wouldn't fall on her face as the door swung open. She hurried to the sofa, throwing herself on it and threw her hands up, inviting me in.
I closed the door behind us, leaving the keys to a side. I frowned at the scene, slightly uncomfortable for some reason.
"Trist, you're really drunk…"
"So?" She giggled and finally managed to sit up. She forced herself to me, her arms wrapping around my body.
"Are you sure you want to do this? I can take you to your place…"
"Shhhhh." To make her point clear, she pressed her lips clumsily against mine and I watched her with wide eyes, not sure if this was a figment of my imagination or reality. "I want to be here, Rumble."
She met my lips with a kiss, and my doubts basically vanished. She wanted me. Tristana wanted me! She deepened the kiss, her tongue hungry for mine, searching my mouth sloppily as her paws unbuttoned the jacket of my suit, slipping her hands under my shirt to caress my chest.
It felt so good I couldn't help myself and hummed pleasantly against her lips, to which she chuckled in return. She broke apart and tried to stand up, nearly falling. I grabbed her as she wobbled and I looked at her, silently asking for answers.
"Bed. Now." She slurred and made me get up eagerly. She held my hand and started walking with me behind. We entered my room and I nearly didn't have time to regret the mess I'd left it in. She didn't seem to care as she shoved me towards the bed and started kissing me again, making us fall on it. I followed her lead and snuck my tongue into her mouth, making her moan.
Clothes were torn off our hot bodies hastily, but I didn't want to rush what could possibly be the best moment of my life. So far. I took the time to savour her body with my eyes and paws, eliciting sweet whines of pleasure from her.
"And you're okay with this happening?" I asked, eyeing her cautiously. I needed to know. She nodded eagerly, granted, maybe a little annoyed but continued to kiss me, before her mouth reached my neck and nipped gently at my fur, making me melt.
And her kisses strayed lower, and with that it started but that's better left untold.
The morning after, however, wasn't quite as fun. I woke up to Tristana screaming next to me.
"OH NO, NO, NO, NO, NO."
"Hnnnn?" I mumbled, forcing my eyes to get adjusted to the light in the room. I think we'd been cuddled up until she'd stirred awake.
"This didn't happen!" She yelled, getting up and pointing at me, at her, at the bed and then all around her. "We will never speak of this again. You will NEVER tell anyone. This didn't happen. Understand me?"
I propped up on my bed and scratched my chest lightly as her words started sinking in.
"What didn't happen?" I whispered, not sure what she was talking about.
She glared at me and that's when I realised she was still naked.
"Rumble." Was all she said, her tone of voice ice cold.
"Oh!" My eyes opened wide as I started remembering everything we'd done the night before. I wanted to make a comment on how perfect it had all been but it seemed out of place.
"No one will ever know this happened, understand me?"
"You're naked." I pointed out, thinking it would be a good idea to spare her some embarrassment.
"OH WELL FUCK ME!" She screamed in frustration, looking frantically for her clothes around the room.
"Yeah, I did that last night." I laughed slightly, ending it in an ample grin.
"Rumble, I'm going to fucking kill you!"
I was about to make another quick pun when she threw my suit trousers into my face.
"Ok, Tristana," I got up from my bed and walked over to her, to comfort her, but when I tried pulling my arm around her she took a step back. "Calm down. Let's talk things through."
"Need clothes first. Wait." She put on a T-shirt, and I decided not to point out it was one of mine. She found some trousers and then she sighed.
"Look, Rumble, last night was a mistake. I'm sorry. I was drunk."
"I asked you and asked you, Trist!" I groaned in protest, slamming the palm of my paw against my forehead. "I really wanted to make sure you were ok with it."
"I know! That's the worst bit!" She moaned. "Oh gods, I'm going to be sick."
"Bathroom's over there." I pointed her to it and she grunted at me.
"Forget about this, ok? It didn't happen."
"You know I can't do that, right? You can't just do this to me, Tristana."
"I know, I know!" She whined, throwing her head back, her hands rolling into tight fists in her lap. "But, please."
"This is the best thing that's ever happened to me." I mumbled, deciding to finally take the plunge. I turned her face to look at me, my paws gently resting on her chin. I wanted to coat her in light kisses, but restrained myself, taking a deep breath to calm myself. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't want this to be a one-night thing. I don't want to have to forget it, pretend like nothing's happened between us. I've been waiting for too long for my feelings to just vanish completely."
"Rumble…" She spoke, her words soft as her face scrunched up in a series of emotions I couldn't quite recognise. She seemed almost guilty, a tinge of sadness mixed in as well.
"I love you. I always will. Last night was the best thing… I couldn't have wished for it to be any different, it was just perfect. I want to do it again, many, many times. I want to live my life with you, follow you and your dreams, stay at your side."
Tears were in her eyes before I could think of other ways to voice my feelings. I was taken aback but wasted no time to wipe the droplets off her cheeks, smiling warmly at her. I hadn't expected her to be so moved by my confession. But a part of me knew, the other was hoping she'd embrace me forever and whisper that her feelings were the same.
"Rumble, I…" She started to say, but stopped herself. She closed her eyes and breathed in. When she opened them again, they were shinning with a new intensity.
"I've always known you had feelings for me. I thought it was some stupid crush, I'm sorry, I didn't understand just how deeply you felt for me. I am truly sorry."
"Wha-What?" I stammered, not knowing what she was getting at.
"I shouldn't have done this to you, I know. I wasn't trying to play with your feelings or anything. It was an honest drunk mistake. I was just so happy that you were back, and I thought that because of everything that had happened, being with me would… make it all a bit better, but I didn't… I… I should've foreseen this. Just because you want something, giving it to you briefly won't solve anything. I should've thought it through, thought about your feelings in the long run, and I'm sorry."
I opened my mouth, hoping words would come out, but they didn't, so I ended up closing it again, my brow furrowing, uneasiness pooling in my stomach again.
"Can we just… pretend this didn't happen?" She asked, her eyes pleading silently.
"You… have no feelings for me?" I questioned, my words slow on my tongue, as if I didn't really want to say them. I knew the answer of course. I'd always known. Even if we had had sex, it didn't mean anything. It hadn't meant anything to her. She'd done it out of pity, and that kind of stung the most. I had thought she wanted it, she wanted me, that maybe she felt something, and that maybe that something could grow into something else, and we could end up married with little yordle pups and happy and then die old. But no.
She'd fucked me out of pity.
Because I'd been kidnapped.
And I had been diagnosed with depression.
I wanted to be angry. I wanted to be furious, to say something to her, but I just stared at her, my expression blank, like I had no energy left.
"I… don't. But, you'll always be a very important friend, Rumble." She whispered apologetically, patting my hand uncomfortably. I had the urge to pull it away, but I couldn't be mean to her.
She was the love of my life. I couldn't just be spiteful to her, I couldn't take it out on her. If this were any other yordle or human in front of me or behaving like this, they would see the murder in my eyes. But her… I couldn't stop the bubbling feelings in my tight chest, hoping I'd do something about them.
"Just… go." I managed to say, my hands going limp at my sides. "I need to be alone right now."
"Rumble, are you okay?"
How could I be? My heart had just been shattered into a million bite size pieces and the fist that had done such an atrocity was threatening to punch me in the gut as well. But I couldn't voice the hurt, the raw emotion that was swelling up inside of me, so close to the verge of overflowing that I thought I'd start sobbing uncontrollably there and then.
"Can you… not tell anyone? About this? It'll be easier on you too."
My paws were shaking. With rage or from the feeling of being about to cry, I couldn't quite tell. Not like the reason mattered, I just wanted it to stop. I was so vulnerable in front of the person I wanted to be my strongest.
"Alright." I finally managed to say. "Fine. Sure. Yeah. You win. This didn't happen."
"You won't tell anyone, right? Not even Ziggs?"
"Tristana!" I yelled, finally sitting up, my gaze on the floor as I hadn't been able to look her in the eye for a while now. "Grab your dress and your shoes and whatever else you want and. Let. Me. Be. Alone. Now. Thank you."
"Rumble?" She asked, grabbing my paws gently. She leaned in when I looked at her and she gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "I'm sorry." She whispered, grabbing her things and leaving my room.