Out of Order
Chapter 5: A Summoner Has Reconnected
Talon and Quinn ran through the Shadow Isles, although Quinn had to sprint to keep up with the agile assassin. The scout couldn't count the times she came close to tripping while trailing behind him. Talon, on the other hand, hadn't broken a sweat. He glanced back at her and saw her red, heated face- the scout was clearly exhausted from running.
Talon stopped suddenly and Quinn bumped into him.
"Why… are we… stopping?" The scout asked between huffs. Quinn rested her palms on her trembling knees.
"I'm a bit exhausted…" Talon lied as he rested his back on a tree. Quinn sighed as she sat on the ground, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
"I don't know if it's a good idea to stop and rest with all these monsters roaming the forest. I think we'd make an easy target."
"I know my body's limit. Do you want to carry me if I pass out?" Talon growled.
"I think I could carry—"
"Didn't think so." The assassin cut off the girl, his back sliding down the bark. "It will just be a minute."
"Okay." Quinn nodded and collapsed on her back. Talon shook his head with a smug grin.
Just then a crashing sound came from behind the duo and Quinn shot up with a gasp. The scout glanced at the assassin with a fearful expression and her eyes gestured behind him. Talon looked behind the tree and saw a large arachnid crawling through the trees.
He glanced back at Quinn and called her over with his hand. The scout slowly crawled towards Talon, never taking her eyes off the large spider. She quickly took a seat next to him and looked around the trunk of the tree.
"I thought the other creatures roaming the Shadow Isles were intimidating. What is that thing?" She asked.
"It's the Vilemaw." Talon answered.
He yanked Quinn down into his lap when the Vilemaw looked in their direction. It let out a ear-piercing screech, making the young scout yelp. Talon clasped his hand over her mouth when he felt the ground shake. The Vilemaw dragged itself towards the tree they were hiding behind and Talon held tightly onto the scout.
"Keep still." He whispered in her ear.
The large spider stopped behind the tree and listened closely. It lowered its head and the duo watched its large fangs come from around the tree. Quinn gripped the assassin's knees harshly as the Vilemaw's breath pushed back their hair—it smelled like hellfire.
Its eight eyes jumped around, looking for any sign of movement. The Vilemaw's jaw chattered, dripping green saliva onto the grass beside the assassin and scout. The venom seared the ground and Talon kept his hand over the scout. The Vilemaw screeched again and watched carefully. It continued forward, leaving the assassin and teary-eyed scout alone in relief.
Talon waited for the Vilemaw to disappear into the fog before he let go of Quinn. He sighed and rested his head on the tree. His eyes glanced down and saw the girl's hand clawed on his knee. Smirking, he patted her hand.
"The big bad monster is gone now, sweetheart." He chuckled. Quinn quickly took her hand back with a red-faced glare.
"Heh." Quinn glanced back at Talon who was still smirking at her. "You know you didn't have to call me over to sit beside you… unless you were scared."
"Scared? Please." Talon scoffed. "I just didn't want you to get us both killed if it saw you."
"Whatever." Quinn sighed and she rested her head on his shoulder, smiling when she felt the smart-mouthed assassin stiffen. The scout glanced up at Talon. "Good thing we stopped when we did or we surely would have crossed paths with the spider."
"Y-Yeah." Talon shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt the scout press her lips on his cheek.
"And don't worry, I won't tell anyone you kept me safe." She snickered as she pressed another kiss closer to his lips.
"Well I had to repay you when you saved me from that wolf." Talon smiled as he opened his eyes.
"Actually you still owe me from when I rescued you during our match." Quinn smirked.
"When? From the fountain magic? We both died, girl."
"Isn't it the thought that counts?" Quinn pouted. Talon glanced down and grabbed her face.
"No." He said, "But I'll repay you anyway." Talon yanked her closer and kissed her roughly. Quinn tried to push his shoulders away but she gave up and wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Well this is a different sight from not too long ago." A voice laughed. Quinn and Talon both looked beside them and saw Zed and Syndra smirking. "You were both at the other's neck and now you have your arms around them."
"Where'd you come from, Zed?" Quinn asked as she let go of Talon.
"Back there. Syndra and I heard the Vilemaw screeching and decided to follow it and now… here we are." Zed chuckled.
"We were concerned that the spider would devour at least one of you. Have you seen the police girls?" Syndra asked, sitting on one of her spheres. Talon and Quinn both shook their heads.
Another screech came bellowing down the Isles and the scout quickly grasped the assassin's hand. Zed looked towards the area where the screech came from and he walked forward. Talon glanced down at Quinn, smirking. The scout took her hand back and stuck her tongue out at him.
"It's coming from the direction of the other base." Zed said as his eyes narrowed, "Let's go."
"Cover your head, Cait!" Vi said while she scooped up Caitlyn as the Vilemaw shot a barrage of webs towards them. They hurried behind a tree but it was quickly pulled away by the Vilemaw. The large spider crushed the tree in its jaw and screeched at the women. It's claws swatted for Piltover's Finest but they ducked. Vi chuckled slightly as she looked at Caitlyn's terrified expression.
"How could you be laughing at a time like this?" The Sheriff said, panicking as the Vilemaw's fangs chattered.
"That could have been a sticky situation!" Vi laughed.
"Vi!" Caitlyn groaned. The Vilemaw growled as it readied itself for a lunge. "Run, Vi!"
Piltover's Finest jumped out of the way of the Vilemaw and it slammed face first into the stone wall of the base, smashing it to rubble. It groaned in the dust as Vi and Caitlyn quickly backed away from it. Caitlyn glanced up at Vi, her finger hovering over her busted lip.
"Vi, you're hurt!"
"Ah it's nothing, cupcake." The enforcer shrugged, grinning at her partner, "All that matters is you didn't get squashed by that bug."
"Thank you, Vi." Caitlyn smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Officer Vi! Sheriff Caitlyn!" Called a voice behind them. The two women turned and saw Quinn and the others running towards them. The ninja and assassin walked passed Piltover's Finest and over the dizzy Vilemaw, Syndra trailing behind him. Quinn stopped in front of the duo, "Are you two alright?"
"Yes." Caitlyn nodded.
"Did you two do this?" Zed asked as he pointed at the large spider.
"Yeah, man! I knocked that thing through the wall when it tried to eat Cait!" Vi snorted. Caitlyn coughed softly, getting out of the enforcer's arms.
"Yes. That's what happened." She said, yanking Vi away from the group to scold her.
"Well we better get as far away from it as we can before it—" Syndra's voice was cut off from the Vilemaw's growling. It shook itself from the rubble, fangs chattering.
"No one move." Talon said lowly, "It won't see us if we keep still."
"Syndra, get to your feet." Zed whispered, tugging her wrist towards him. The sovereign glared at the ninja but complied.
The spider turned around slowly, its eyes searching around for movement. It began to walk slowly, it's claws crushing the rocks and earth beneath it. The Vilemaw dragged itself towards the champions. They were all out of its path except for the scout.
Quinn watched in horror as the monstrous arachnid made its way toward her, but she kept still in fear that if she moved it would harm the rest of her allies. Talon's heart pounded as girl kept her ground and watched as she shut her eyes, accepting her fate. He growled, clenching his fists.
"Quinn!" He shouted as he lunged for the scout, stopped the Vilemaw in its tracks. The assassin picked up Quinn, threw her over his shoulder, and began to run. The Vilemaw screeched and began to chase them.
"Quinn! Talon!" Caitlyn, Vi, and Zed called after them.
"Should we follow them?" The sheriff asked. Before anyone could answer, trees fell in the path behind the Vilemaw, blocking it.
"Now what? If we don't go after them, they'll be killed!" Vi said.
"Move aside!" Syndra growled, shoving herself through the women. She held her hand up to the fallen trees, her fingers glowing. Closing her fist, Syndra crushed the trees into splinters. "Alright, now let's follow that scout and the love stricken fool."
"Nice job, Syndra." Zed praised her as Piltover's Finest chased after the Vilemaw. "How could you tell the assassin is in love with the scout?"
"He looks at her the way the two idiot cops look at each other."
"Talon, are you crazy?!" Quinn asked as she looked down at the assassin.
"Obviously." He growled, "Risking my life for you. It's so Demacian…"
"Hey—" Quinn glared back at the Vilemaw as it trailed behind them, smashing the forest around it. It screeched furiously, picking up its pace.
Talon quickly darted onto another path and hid in a narrow thicket with the scout. The Vilemaw halted and glanced around for the duo. Talon peaked through the bush at the monster and then looked back at Quinn, who still looked frightened.
"What a dumb spider." Talon scoffed, resting his back on the thicket. "You still afraid over there?"
"No, but I would appreciate it if you took your hands off my thighs." Quinn growled.
"What are you talking about? My hands are right here, girl." Talon said as he lifted up both of his hands.
Quinn quickly looked down and saw two ghostly claws around her legs. They slowly wrapped around tighter and a grey shadow revealed itself in front of her. A large wraith hissed at her, its hands moving to her throat. She screamed and rolled out of the thicket, shaking herself free of twigs and dirt.
Talon hurried out after her and froze when he saw the Vilemaw turning back around. He grabbed the scout's face and looked deep into her golden eyes.
"Listen to me! You have to run!" He said, "I'll distract it and you go back to the others!"
"N-No what?! I can't leave you alone with that thing!" Quinn said as she glanced back towards the Vilemaw—it seemed to be smirking down at them.
"Just go!" Talon growled as he shoved the girl away. Quinn didn't move and she watched the assassin toss some blades at the large spider, trying to get its attention. The Vilemaw looked down at him and hissed, venom dripping from its fangs.
The Vilemaw watched the assassin run in circles around it, taking a few seconds to recognize his movement. Suddenly, the monster smashed its large claw in Talon's path and causes the earth around him to shake. Talon quickly jumped on its claw, confusing the spider as it lifted up his claw to see a squashed assassin.
"Quinn!" The scout heard Caitlyn and Vi call behind her. Quinn turned and saw Piltover's Finest running towards her, their weapons ready for combat. Trailing behind the duo were Syndra and Zed.
"Is that Talon?" Caitlyn asked, lifting up her sunglasses and squinting at the assassin on top of the Vilemaw's leg. Talon jumped from leg to leg, trying to avoid the spider's snapping jaws.
"What is he doing?" Asked Zed as he walked over to Quinn.
"He was trying to protect me and now…" Quinn's voice mumbled as she turned her sorrowful look over to the ninja.
"I see." Zed said as he stepped forward and unsheathed his blades, "I suppose I should help out."
"Me too!" Vi chuckled. She held her large gauntlet behind her head and aimed for the Vilemaw's head, "Hey, ugly!"
As the Vilemaw turned, the enforcer shot off with a charged fist and rammed into its jaw. It screeched in pain, stepping back into boulders and trees. Losing its footing, the large spider fell to the ground and groaned. A large cloud of dirt covered the Vilemaw and the champions all watched for any sign of the assassin. Talon managed to run away from the Vilemaw unharmed. Quinn ran over to him and the assassin harshly grabbed her shoulders.
"I told you to run!" He growled.
"I-I couldn't leave you!" The scout shouted back.
"Watch out!" Yelled Caitlyn and shot a net towards the bickering duo.
The force of the net managed to push them away from a claw that swiped at them. The cloud of dirt lifted from the Vilemaw as it got back to its feet. Zed and Vi hurried to untie the assassin and scout from Caitlyn's net before the spider noticed them. Quinn groaned into Talon's chest as she tried to gather herself. She felt the assassin chuckle and looked up at him.
"You guys okay?" Vi asked as she untangled the net from around Quinn's helmet. The scout nodded as Zed pulled her up to her feet, never taking her eyes off the assassin. The enforcer yanked Talon up by his hood before roughly patting the dirt off his back.
The Vilemaw's jaws chattered as it stalked over to the four champions. Zed quickly pushed the scout over to Caitlyn and Syndra. Vi, Talon, and Zed readied themselves as the large monster screeched again.
Quinn hurried over to the two female champions and watched as her allies all ran in different directions in an attempt to confuse the spider. The Vilemaw's eyes shot around as it tried to keep up with each of them but it couldn't. It growled lowly before shooting webs all over the ground, snaring the three champions. Talon and Zed managed to cut the webs with their blades and escape but Vi struggled to free herself.
The Vilemaw lowered its fangs towards Vi as she tried to rip the webs from around her legs but only managed to get her gauntlets caught too. The enforcer looked back into the big black eyes of the Vilemaw.
"Oh no you don't!" Caitlyn shouted as she aimed her gun toward the spider. Lenses fell in front of her eyes as she found her target, "Duck Vi!"
The enforcer dropped back as the bullet zoomed passed her and into the Vilemaw's eye. Violet blood squirted from it while the spider screamed in pain. Talon and Zed hurried over to cut Vi free and pulled her to her feet. As they turned to run, the Vilemaw shot a jet of venom at them. The venom seared their boots down to their skin.
Quinn, Caitlyn, and Syndra hurried over to their partners and tried to pull them away from the Vilemaw but the large spider swiped a claw at them, knocking them away.
"S-Syndra!" Zed growled lowly as he grasped her burning leg. With the strength he could pull together, the ninja formed hand signs. Five shadows appeared in front of him and they unsheathed their blades. "N-no. Help the others."
The shadows could only obey their master and they all split off to assist the other champions. Zed pulled himself up, groaning at the venom eating his skin. The Vilemaw focused its other seven eyes on him as he got to his feet and unsheathed his blades.
"How dare you touch…" He grunted as he painfully took a swing at the spider's leg. He sliced its skin open and made the Vilemaw jerk back. Zed took another swing, "I'll kill you."
"Zed!" Quinn called after him as she saw the large spider open its jaws up around the ninja.
Syndra glared over at the Vilemaw and quickly moved herself away from the shadow trying to help her off the dirt. The sovereign lifted her hands and with a force of will pushed the ninja out of danger. Confused, the Vilemaw licked its fangs.
"You stupid thing." Syndra growled as she formed more spheres around her. She shot one at the distracted spider, striking it in the face. It yelped in pain as it looked over at the sovereign. Syndra threw another one aimed at its eye. The Vilemaw dodged quickly and shot a web at Syndra, snaring her.
"Syndra!" Zed called out as the Vilemaw stomped over to her and lowered its fangs. The Vilemaw's fangs rubbed together and venom dripped onto Syndra's arms and body, burning her skin. Syndra, however, didn't flinch. The large spider growled as it open it's jaws around the woman. Syndra looked deep into the dark mouth of the Vilemaw and smirked. Suddenly the sky flashed a bright orange and the Vilemaw flinched away in pain. It's body shuddered and folded in on itself before it fell over, dead. An emerald aura gleamed around the champions and healed their battered and burned bodies.
Zed looked down at his legs and saw that his wounds were gone. He hurried over to Syndra and ripped the webs off of her. The ninja smiled down at her under his mask and before he could say anything, the sky flashed a bright blue.
Opening his eyes, he saw the summoning room in the Halls of Justice. Confused, the ninja looked around and saw a group of worried summers looking over at them. Zed glanced behind him and saw the rest of the champions all with the same infuriated expression.
"What took you fools so long?!" Syndra shouted under Zed. All the summoners flinched at the sovereign's rage and backed away quickly.
"O-Our crystal balls got smashed!" One summoner yelped. "A rocket came blasting into the summoning room and—"
"A rocket?!" Vi roared as she jumped to her feet, "Did this rocket happen to have a face spray painted over it?" All the summoners nodded.
"Oh, bother." Caitlyn sighed as she got to her feet. "That little menace has it out for us, Vi."
"Are you guys going to be okay?" Asked another summoner as he walked over to Quinn and Talon with Valor on his arm. The assassin glared at him as he popped his knuckles and mumbled something about a 'new arm blade'.
The eagle quickly rushed onto Quinn's shoulders and cooed happily. She giggled as she patted Valor's feathers. Quinn glanced behind the summoners and saw the shattered crystal balls on the floor and a large rocket in the wall. The rocket had a wide pointed smile and the words "Ha Ha Ha" painted on it.
"Take them to Soraka." Said an older summoner while he looked over Zed and Syndra's burns, "We should also let them rest for a couple weeks."
Zed groaned as Soraka wrapped more bandages around his legs. He glanced over at Syndra on the chair next to him, who had a long frown on her fair face—the summoners had just finished suppressing her power back to a manageable level. Across the room were Caitlyn and Vi, the enforcer had her legs all bandaged up and the sheriff had an allergic reaction to an ice pack.
"I guess we should add that to the list too?" Vi chuckled to her partner and earned a smack on the knee. The enforcer clasped her hand over her mouth to stop her yelp.
"Alright, Zed." The Starchild sweetly hummed, "Give yourself a few minutes before you start walking." The ninja nodded as Soraka got up and walked over to Caitlyn, handing her another ice pack. Zed felt Syndra tap him on the shoulder.
"Where do you think the Noxian ran off to?" She whispered.
"Don't know." He shrugged, "But he sure was in a hurry to get away from Quinn after he got his legs patched up."
"And the scout was quick to chase after him too."
"Will you stop running?" Quinn growled as she yanked Talon's arm but he just pulled her along. Her boots slid on the grass of the garden and Talon stopped abruptly, causing her to run into him. The assassin kept silent, "You're going to have to answer me sooner or later!"
"Or what?" Talon scoffed.
"Or I'll have Valor lift you into the sky." The scout threatened as she pointed at the eagle glaring at them from a tree.
"Will you stop following me?"
"Maybe." The scout answered. She held onto his wrist to keep him from trying to run again. Talon slightly turned, his eyes hidden under the shadow of his hood.
"What is it then?" He sighed. Quinn hopped in front of him and grabbed his other wrist, swinging around their hands playfully.
"Do I still make you sick?" She asked with a grin. Talon looked down at her, his brow arching.
"Let's see… you don't listen to a damn word I say, you won't leave me alone, and you're still smiling. So, yes." He smirked, "But if you were to ask if I hate you, I'd say not as much before."
"Talon?"
"What—" The assassin's body tensed as Quinn hopped up to kiss him on the cheek. He glanced over at the eagle, who hadn't taken his eyes off them since they had got into the garden. Quinn giggled as she removed his hood, exposing his flushed face. "Your parrot is watching us."
"You say that like I care." The scout giggled while she pulled him down and kissed his lips softly.
The End
I hope you enjoyed Out of Order! Thank you so much for reading! Also thank you Cornonjacob for helping me edit!
See you soon!
