Days had passed by since Kled explained Skaarl's importance to him, and with each passing day the two yordles explained more about themselves and where they come from. It started off as a way to have reason to not fear the person near them, but it gradually became expected. These types of conversations sifted in and out of small talk that happened as they were patrolling the borders of whatever land Kled decided was his. Which was everything, so really they were just wandering in the same old circles all day. Nero wasn't as bored of it as before. He'd realized the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed than when he'd first come across Kled and Skaarl.

Perhaps a lot more than relaxed as the sun rose; Kled was the first one to awaken, realizing he had Nero in a one-arm embrace lying up against a curled up Skaarl. Kled's first impulse was to yank his hand away in disgust at his own actions. Nero's head was laid on his shoulder, and he looked at peace, still asleep. The older yordle focused on the mage's face, and he couldn't help but give a smile. He rarely ever saw Nero's expression so satisfied. Outside of these quiet moments, he felt distant and colder. Maybe it was just what Noxus did to people. But then, how did Nero always return to his roots at the end of the day?

He had no desire to kill, no interest in bloodshed, was far from the aggressive type (conditionally)...nothing about it made sense. Kled decided that he needed more mushroom juice; it always kept him from thoughts like this. He'd been neglecting it about a week after he'd met Nero. Days and months didn't matter all that much out in the plains of Noxus, but Kled always managed to know when a week passed. Drawing tally marks in the dirt of his makeshift camp was how he knew.

"Skaarl, wake up," Kled called, "We're goin',"

"Grrfllaarg?"

"Somewhere not here. Let him sleep."

Skaarl chirped quizzically, only getting an angry tug of the ear from Kled.

"No, not patrol. I wanna just...talk."

That was odd. Kled never wanted to only talk. There was always some other motive behind it. But Skaarl, being Skaarl, didn't question a thing. She only started off from their camp after being mounted by Kled. The yordle grabbed a pack of some food and slung it on the blunt part of his axe, heading off.

Out in Nowhere...

"Think we're far enough..."

"Gaarrfleeh?"

"To where he won't find us, of course!" Kled shook his head. "Don't like eavesdroppin'. Only okay when I does it!"

He hopped off Skaarl and set the pack down, sitting near it. Skaarl stared up at the sky that seemed to be brighter than all of the other days. Well, as bright as it could be with the dust.

"So, I...I've been having some...thoughts, recently."

Kled knew in his heart that he wouldn't be able to tell what Skaarl was actually saying. But somehow, the thought of her actually understanding him was comforting. He'd probably have gone completely insane if he hadn't adopted this method sometime. And as expected, Skaarl responded with another inhuman grunt.

"No, not concerned about land right now. We'll take care'a that later." Kled waved a hand dismissively. "It's about...Nero."

Saying the name felt right.

"I've just been thinkin' about...Well, since he's one of us now an' all-"

'One of us...'

He heard himself laugh unwillingly.

"Graaaagghh?"

"EH? I just find it funny that he didn't want to leave this place! Everyone else would've wanted to...So that's what I wanted to talk about. How he doesn't want to leave. He said we make it enjoyable, that it feels like Ionia here- during the night, that is!"

The nights were always the best parts of the day, Kled felt. That was when the seriousness that came with the sun disappeared. That was when Nero's distant feeling faded away. That was when he didn't mind being so close to the older yordle.

To interrupt him from his thoughts, Skaarl chirped.

"Huh?! Do I enjoy it as well...? Well, uh..."

He put a hand to his chin. "Shucks, I can't understand what you're sayin'...might as well own up t' that."

"...Guess I do. Ain't had nights to spend others with besides you, Skaarl. Nero ain't wild- the complete opposite of that. I should've just sent him right to where he came from, but...well, you stood in my way there, and I had to deal with him. Hated ya earlier for it, but I guess...I should be saying thanks. Thanks for not letting me make that mistake. Guess you saved me again after all, huh?"

Skaarl nuzzled his neck, clicking and chirping.

"Ain't so dumb after all...ya dumbass lizard." He cackled. "And I guess I might have actually felt good about the fact he isn't leaving. That's why I laughed. It's funny because I was worryin' so much about him not wantin' t' be here...Never thought I'd give a shit about an Ionian, but I guess they've got their own ways of battlin'. Nero did say durin' one of our talks that their battles are more...mental. Spiritual. Guess I have my own battle to fight."

What battle would that be? Kled didn't quite understand it, but he felt he had something to admit to himself. Buried in him.

'I care about the bastard...'

That wasn't it. It was as if he was screaming that at himself. As if he was accusing himself of being heartless. He was no villain, but neither was he a hero.

'I care about Nero...'

Closer...? That name felt right. The sentence itself felt right to him. It felt good to say, like he could say it in a crowd.

'I...'

He narrowed his eyes and stood up. "We're headin' back."

Looks like they hadn't been gone as long as Kled thought. Nero was still sleeping away under the morning sun in the shade of the camp's tent. Kled felt that smile come back, and didn't realize it until Skaarl's grunts shook him from his thoughts. He didn't have enough mushroom juice for this.

Then again, he gave his flask to Nero. Only for a while, but still.

He guessed Nero was using magic of some sort. All of a sudden, Kled was happier during his nights, and adventurous during the day. He supposed he was some sort of explorer, wandering around to claim more property for himself, but now it felt like a competition. Like he had something to work for and show off. It was as if he wore a badge on his chest so bright people light years away could witness its glory. He didn't know who he was bragging to.

And then his gaze went back to Nero. He'd been staring the entire time, unaware of it.

'Confusin' shit.'

That night...

"You ever had to hunt before in your life, Nero?" Kled said, roasting something over the fire pit.

"Never, Kled," Nero responded, "I've always foraged for fruits and other things. I enjoy the company of smaller animals too much."

"Like Skaarl?"

"Whatever counts as smaller, Skaarl is not one of those things."

Skaarl seemed to tower over Nero. Kled acted as if he didn't notice a thing.

"What are you talkin' about? Skaarl's perfect size!"

"Probably because the more you eat, the bigger you get, you oaf."

"Asshole."

"Shithead."

"Bootlicker."

"Well now I'm just sad."

The two of them laughed, Skaarl trotting around both of them happily.

"...Don't get special nights like these." Kled said, looking over the cooked meat.

"Special? Because we're cooking something?"

"Ain't that special? I don't do it often..."

"I didn't say it wasn't nice, relax." Nero held his hands up in defense. "It's a Kled way of making things special."

Kled liked how that sounded. It meant that he showed enjoyment differently than other people. His main concern was where Nero got that saying from. It was the first time the older yordle had ever heard of it. A "Kled" way.

"...A 'Kled' way, huh...? I like the sound of that."

"I'd been watching how you handle things. It's unique."

"That so, huh...?"

"It's...not a bad thing, is it? I know staring is wrong, but-"

"Wait, wait, you stare?"

"Well, uh..."

"No, don't worry. I do it too!"

"You- What?"

Kled didn't know what he had started by admitting that, but things felt different now. Somehow. And he kept talking.

"It's always stolen glances. Makin' sure you're payin' attention to whatever I'm doin'. Focused on what's ahead. You never look back. That makes it easy to talk to you all the time. You don't focus on what's happened. You look for what's ahead...Maybe that's why you're bearable. You don't care as much as most."

Silence.

"I just...don't need to worry about mistakes I've made. I can continue to do what I've always done."

Kled was a man of routine. Spontaneous decisions were natural down the line, but he was content with returning to that same order in every task he did.

"You being in my life doesn't change what I've always done. You even seemed interested yourself!" He folded his arms. "So...a-are you?"

Nero seemed a bit baffled. "All of this out of nowhere...?"

Suddenly Kled was pouring his thoughts out to him. What happened that caused it...? Maybe the battle in Kled's mind was already resolved, and he'd accepted the victor. Perhaps it was still raging on- Whatever was happening, Nero wasn't aware.

Yet that smile from before on Kled's face came back. It looked stupid to Nero, really, but adorable all the same, which was...something he'd never thought he'd say about Kled. Kled, the Cantankerous Cavalier, being adorable.

"I just...you mean a lot, okay!?" Kled huffed. "And I don't want to see you leave."

Nero moved beside him. "Well, I don't have much else to leave to, right Skaarl?"

Skaarl nodded and chirped.

"Then promise me."

"Hm?"

"Promise me you won't leave."

"Why would I have to-?"

Kled rested his head on Nero's shoulder as he wrapped his arms around him.

"Nero..."

"I won't leave." Nero forced out, holding his breath.

His heart was pounding all of a sudden. He felt Kled relax and lift his head from his shoulder. Nero felt Kled's fur brush against his chin as Nero's lips joined with Kled's. One hand held the back of Nero's head while the other kept his hand tightly grasped in Kled's. Kled had finally seen the victor of his own battle, and it held the answer he'd been looking for this entire time.

'I love Nero...'

And it felt so right.