Enjoy! Feel free to leave grammatical/story flow feedback! Always appreciated (Reposting this chapter AGAIN because it won't seem to stay up on Fanfiction for some reason.)
Teemo jumped a little as a particularly loud crackle of thunder rattled his tiny home. He looked up from the book in his hand and walked over to a window, only seeing ripples of rain and vagrant leaves pelting the exterior. A quick flash of lightning caused him to squint his eyes.
"It sure is coming down out there..." He said to himself before walking back over to the loveseat. With a sigh, he relaxed his muscles and looked to the low-kept flames of his hearth. Ever since he was a child, thunderstorms had always made him uneasy and tonight was certainly no exception.
Teemo lightly nibbled on his bottom lip as his thoughts drifted to what transpired earlier in the day. He still scolded himself for not being as graceful as he could have been with Kennen's unfortunate predicament. Sure he was upset that their time together was cut short, but he could only imagine how Kennen must feel. Finding out your next of kin were no longer alive years after the fact did not make for a very good homecoming.
As the thought subsided, Teemo's head slowly tilted off to the side and his eyes began to grow heavy. Just then, another loud rumble of thunder pulled him back to reality, causing a rather embarrassing yelp to escape the yordle.
"Just great." He mumbled to himself. "I'm never getting to sleep at this rate…"
Knock, knock, knock…
Teemo's ears shot up. Surely he was hearing things. He glanced to the front door.
"This storm just has me spooked-…" He was cut short by yet another series of knocks.
Knock, knock, knock…
He quickly shot to his feet and briskly walked over to the door.
Standing on the tips of his toes, he peaked through the keyhole only to see…darkness. Of course. It's nighttime, after all. Duh.
He cleared his throat, tightened the belt around his robe and opened the door.
To his surprise, a sopping wet Kennen stood before him, his arms crossed tightly against his chest.
Kennen looked to Teemo with a despairing expression, his normally shaggy auburn hair wasnow drenched and hung over much of his face.
"Kennen! Oh my-…Come in! Come in!" Teemo urged, beckoning him inside.
Kennen stepped into the small cottage, dragging his feet some as he walked. Teemo closed the door behind him and ran off into another room. "You're drenched, let me go get you a towel and a change of clothes." He called out, the shock apparent in his voice.
Kennen took this brief moment alone to examine the cozy little house. A small dining table with three chairs, as well as a rather minimalistic kitchen area made up most of the left half, while a loveseat, a coffee table, and a fireplace took up the middle. On the left side he could see a rather chaotic study area. Maps, books, and letters seemed to be scattered haphazardly around a chair and desk. From a separate bedroom beside the study, Teemo emerged, carrying a thick towel under one arm and a set of twill pajamas under the other.
Kennen looked to Teemo with an apologetic glance, a small pool of water now puddling under him. Teemo only smiled and held the towel and pajamas out to him.
"You can change in the back room. Don't worry about getting anything wet, just worry about getting yourself dry." Teemo said, giving the yordle a reassuring grin. "Then we'll talk."
Kennen took the clothes and towel before bowing his head some." Thank you Teemo…" He muttered before walking into the bedroom.
Teemo watched his friend leave the room before glancing over to the puddle left in his wake. He quietly bent down and pulled a knitted 'Welcome' mat over it, before nodding to himself. He gave a sharp sigh and ran a hand across his head. As excited—albeit confused, as he was that Kennen was here, in his home, he could not ignore the possible circumstances that lead to this late-night meeting. Whatever it was, he suspected that it wasn't good. Teemo perked as a tea-kettle, situated by the fireplace, began to whistle. He quickly removed it from the heat and brought it over to the kitchen area before pouring two cups.
Kennen's eyes darted around the small bedroom, a lone candle the only source of illumination, save for the occasional flash of lightning from a nearby window. He quickly shed his soaked purple garments and kicked them aside before rubbing his body down with the towel. After sufficiently drying himself, he wrapped his old regalia within the damp towel and held up the pajamas Teemo had offered. They seemed a bit…large for Kennen. But he was in no position to complain. He tiled his head some as he saw a sequence of what looked to be small decorative poros knitted into the pants of the pajamas, before dressing himself.
Kennen emerged from the bedroom to find Teemo sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in his hand; a second cup seemed to be waiting for him on the coffee table.
"Sorry if those are a little large on you…I need to cut back on the second helpings." Teemo said with a snicker, trying to lighten the mood some. He patted the vacant space beside him, prompting Kennen to walk over to take a seat.
Kennen let a small smirk crawl across his face, yet it was not for long as Teemo spoke.
"So…what possessed you to walk a mile through a storm at this hour?" He asked, letting concern return to his voice.
Kennen leaned forward and took his cup of tea in hand before taking a sip, his eyes fixed to Teemo. "There was… nowhere else I could think to go, to be honest. One of the guards told me where you lived…and well, here I am." He muttered, causing Teemo's ears to fall.
Kennen continued. "Shen and Akali…they both knew about my parents' death. For years they knew, Teemo…and for years they held it from me." His gaze shifted to the cup in his hand, his grip trembling some. "They claim it was for the good of the Kinkou…" Kennen's eyes narrowed some. "And perhaps it was…for I've decided to resign my place among them."
Teemo's eyes widened with shock. "What?!" Teemo piped. "Kennen…that's…" He trailed off for a moment, trying to find the right words.
"A big deal. I know." Kennen murmured in response. "Teemo…can I tell you something?" Kennen looked back to his friend.
Teemo nodded slowly, shifting in his seat some. "Of course Kennen, always!"
Kennen's nose wrinkled before he spoke, a glassy look returning to his eyes. "Coming back to Bandle City…seeing you again…learning of my parents…being here now. It's satisfied a void I've felt in myself ever since I left Bandle City all those years ago." He paused for a moment, a single tear trailing down his cheek. "Resigning from the Kinkou…I feel like I should be regretting that right about now. But I don't." Kennen grew quiet, his gaze falling back down to his cup of tea.
Teemo stared at Kennen, a perplexed, yet sympathetic look on his face. "Well, Kennen…I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a rather dramatic turn of events." He rested a hand on the yordle's shoulder, prompting him to look back at him. "But regardless, you'll always be welcomed here. Always. Reasons be damned." His grip on Kennen's shoulder tightened.
This brought a small smile to Kennen's face, who quickly wiped away at his moist cheeks, yet that that did little to help the steady stream that now poured from his eyes. He gave a sniffle and turned his face away from Teemo who suddenly scooted closer.
"Thank you…" Kennen whispered.
He suddenly felt a tender hand guide his face back around to face Teemo who then used that same hand to wipe away the tears from his eyes.
Kennen's cheeks flushed red at the gesture and he simply stared at Teemo, unsure of how to respond.
"What are friends for?" Teemo murmured back, also blushing slightly. He diverted his gaze to the fireplace, a timid smile crossing his face.
Kennen followed his gaze to the hearth before taking another sip from his cup, then placing it on the table. The two sat in silence for a time. Kennnen briefly glanced to Teemo before slowly letting his head rest against the yordle's shoulder. Before long, a light snore began to escape him.
Teemo turned his head to the yordle resting against his shoulder and smiled, letting a content sigh escape him as he took another sip from his cup.
Kennen awoke to a pleasant smell in the air. His eyes peaked open to find himself laying across the same couch he had fallen asleep on, his body hidden under a comfy blanket, and his head cushioned by a small pillow. He leaned up with a light groan and stretched his shoulders some before perking up significantly upon seeing a wholesome meal of ham and eggs set out on the coffee table before him—it still looked warm, too. Kennen gave a soft sigh and shook his head, a smile creeping across his face. No doubt this was Teemo's handiwork.
Just as he was finishing his meal, Teemo walked through the front door, a toothbrush hanging from his mouth. The scout held up a finger to Kennen before peaking his head outside to spit.
"Mm, sorry 'bout that. Good morning!" Teemo said in a cheerful voice.
"Morning Teems!" Kennen responded, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched Teemo shuffle around the house.
"Breakfast was good enough, I hope? I tried setting your garments out to dry, but they're still pretty damp." Teemo pointed a thumb to a neatly folded stack of clothes on the dining table. "I hope those will suffice? Still might be a little big..." He muttered as he shifted through drawers and cupboards before giving an 'ah' as he located a small pocket watch.
"It was filling, thank you! And…don't worry about my ninja garb. I don't suspect I'll be needing it anytime soon." He said in a soft tone.
Teemo gave Kennen a light frown before slipping the watch into his pocket and placing his green scouting cap atop his head before making for the door once again. "Meet me out back when you're all dressed and ready…I want to show you something before we leave for City Hall-...". Teemo paused. "You…do still want to go to the meeting, right?"
Kennen pursed his lips some before giving a nod. "I have a few more things I need to say to Shen and Akali before they return to Ionia." He muttered.
Teemo nodded once. "I understand. Make haste, then!" He said before skipping out of the door.
Kennen gave a sigh. He had forgotten that Teemo was a morning yordle. He was not.
With a long yawn and a few stretches, he shed the poro-covered pajamas Teemo had given him and swapped them for a rather ordinary set of clothing consisting of—a pair of slacks, a tunic, and a pair of old leather boots which all fit surprisingly well.
Kennen stepped outside and looked around. Teemo's cottage seemed to be a bit isolated from the rest of the homes in the surrounding area and appeared to sit at the top of a small hill. He glanced up to the surrounding trees to see them all glowing a bright gold—no doubt because of the sun rising behind them. He trotted his way to the back and gave a sudden gasp. There Teemo stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the great Guardian's sea, the sun just peaking over the horizon.
"Wow…" Kennen said, stopping next to Teemo.
Teemo smirked and gave a knowing nod. "Beautiful, ain't it?"
"Should I even ask how you managed to snag a place with a view like this?" Kennen asked.
"You could say being a high ranking officer in the Scouts has its perks. In other words, hard work and lots of ass kissing, I can assure you." Teemo said, a rather impish snicker following.
Kennen rolled his eyes and grinned. Despite the likely doleful events that were about to unfold once they reached City Hall, he had to admit that this was a great way to start a new day.
I should have the next chapter up within the neighborhood of two days.