"Try to move and I will kill you." Promises the deadly Noxian assassin in the dark cramped confines of the cold metal cell. Katarina's ragged breathing ghosting over her victim's pale neck. The fiery redhead's long crimson hair cascading ominously over Katarina's scowling face, successfully hiding the Noxian noblewoman's prominent frown from the eyes of the antisocial Demacian huntress that she is currently crushing within her arms.
"Of course you will." Calmly mutters Shauna while rolling her eyes at the childish antics of the panicking Sinister Blade in the dark.
The wicked throwing knife held in Katarina's tense palm is pressed even more forcefully against the strained skin of the seemingly unconcerned Night Hunter. The fiery redhead growls agitatedly against the other woman's warm milky skin.
"S-shut up! I'm really going to kill you if you don't shut your mouth this instant!" Katarina growls with audible venom in her voice. Vayne merely raises an unimpressed eyebrow at that. The Demacian vampire's keen nocturnal vision boredly examining the sealed doors of the malfunctioning elevator that the two of them are trapped within, completely ignoring Katarina's threat on her life.
"Is that so? Because from where I'm standing you look like a scared kitten that rushes to climb on top of its owner's head after being spooked. Also, the Institute's magic won't let you harm a fellow champion, as you certainly know."
The redhead woman swears with her hot face pressed against Shauna's fair epidermis, but otherwise refrains from replying to Vayne's comment for a moment or two. An awkward silence spills inside the immobilized elevator cab as the Sinister Blade of Noxus continues fidgeting next to the unfazed Demacian with her arms wrapped around Vayne. Shauna then blinks in the darkness.
"You know.. most people would be more concerned about a vampire being stuck in a dark confined space with them than the actual darkness around them itself." Vayne drawls almost conversationally. "Their mind would be flooded with images of me tearing into their throats and hungry red eyes stalking them from the dark right about now…"
Katarina suddenly tenses. "You try biting my neck and I will feed you this throwing knife through the nose! Institute magic or not!"
Not even a moment later a loud clanking sound coming from the outside of the cab makes the red-haired woman yelp and cling to the Demacian noblewoman for dear life.
"What was that!?" Katarina shout-whispers while hiding behind Shauna as if fully intending to use the pale vampire's body as a meat shield in case things went astray. "Those Piltovian elevator-things are made to last aren't they!? There is no way they are going to plummet down with us still inside them and kill us, right? Right?!"
"I don't know. I've never had any interest in technology and hex-tech machines. I'm pretty sure that I will survive the fall thought."
"You are useless!" Katarina hisses while trying to peek towards the sealed doors over Vayne's right shoulder, the Noxian assassin's hands now shaking considerably more, Katarina's shrill tone also betraying the startled redhead's fright. "Utterly useless, that's why you have no friends."
"I don't see you being particularly popular either." Retorts Vayne.
"I'm popular! I just ignore all those people that try befriending me! Contrary to you I'm not some pathetic mutated outcast that everybody avoids." The Noxian assassin hisses hotly against Shauna's ear.
"And yet you are presently clinging to that pitiful outcast right now," Reminds her the brooding vampire in an even tone. "I wonder if your siblings know about your little phobia…"
"W-what phobia, I am only embracing you so that you won't be scared out of your mind, you weakling. I-I'm k-kind and considerate like that, hmp!" Katarina finches when another clanking sounds rings from the outside. "H-heh, you see, another silly mysterious sound! I bet that you would have pissed yourself if I hadn't been holding you right now!"
"Such a sweet and golden hearted assassin… I am so lucky to have you panting against my neck."
"E-exactly!" Quickly exclaims Katarina. "You owe me for this, you damn weakling."
Vayne's left eye twitches in anger, before the brooding Night Hunter's lips slowly twist into a crooked sinister smirk that goes unnoticed to Katarina due to the darkness.
"How about I tell you a story so we can pass the time more pleasantly until the Summoners find us?"
"I am not in the mood to listen to your bloody tales of virtue, righteousness and honor, Vayne. It's always Jarvan did this, or Jarvan did that, with you Demacian zealots. I've had enough of the pompous fool's bragging in the Summoners Rift as it is. I don't need to hear more stories about him slaying dragons and demons."
"The story I am about to tell you isn't your usual tale of Demacian vanity and my country's triumph over evil. It is an old legend about a mysterious being that found its way into our dimension a long time ago. It is a story of violence and bloodshed akin to your beloved Noxian paeans."
Katarina merely snorts. "As if a Demacian myth can hold a candle to Noxian ones when it comes to gruesome descriptions and violence. What happens to the protagonist of the story, do they get a big booboo or break a fingernail while saving the day? Do they run away from the otherworldly beast as you cowardly Demacian pansies would do in reality?"
"Perhaps," Is Vayne's cryptic reply. "You will have to let me tell you the story in order to find out."
The Sinister Blade grumbles in annoyance, but having nothing better to do than stand behind Vayne and wait in the dark she reluctantly hisses for Shauna to tell her the damn story. The vampiric huntress' concealed smirk instantly widens.
"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away-"
0000
The elevator's metal doors hiss and burn an angry crimson under Viktor's assault. The ingenious Zaunite scientist's robotic arm carefully tracing the farthest sides of each closed door. The scorching beam shooting out from the hex-tech power core that's attached to the Zaunite scientist's synthetic arm cutting through the sturdy metal alloy doors like a knife through butter. A few seconds later and the laser beam fades from existence as Viktor takes a step back and lets the two joined doors fall down outwards.
"Thank you for helping us, Viktor." Summoner *Redacted* says while smiling warmly. The brilliant inventor just nods his head.
"It was no trouble, Summoner *Redacted*" Answers the improved man. "Now if you won't be needing me for anything else, I would like to return back to infuriating Jayce."
Summoner *Redacted* chuckles good-naturedly at him. "No, that will be all." Says *Redacted* "Thank you again for taking care of this door for us. The Author's second option would have been Ziggs blowing up the entire elevator."
"Really?" Pauses Viktor. "Why not Bard or even Rek'Sai? One of them opening a portal would have made more sense than me severing this expensive-looking metal door and destroying it.
Summoner *Redacted* just shrugs at him with a tired smile. "Maybe they picked you so we could have this conversation and make this chapter longer. Can you imagine me conversing with either Bard or Rek'Sai?"
For a very brief moment Viktor imagines Summoner *Redacted* talking to the aforementioned champions, only for them to reply with feral growls or harmonious chimings. It sounded like an interesting story...
"I see.." Viktor shakes his head as if being once again disappointed by humanity. The two friends' banter, however is momentary interrupted by Vayne casually exiting from the malfunctioning elevator. The Night Hunter nods her head at the two other residents of the Institute before heading towards her private quarters. Thus, saving needless interactions and text space.
"It is quite fortunate that all those blushing women quickly noticed that Vayne was missing and alerted us to her sudden disappearance. We were able to release her fast because of that.." Mumbles *Redacted* somewhat enriching the poor backstory, and Viktor hums in agreement.
"Miss Du Couteau is still missing, however." Notes the Zaunite inventor thoughtfully.
As if on cue a soft whimper escapes from the darkness of the recently opened elevator cab. Viktor and the Summoner share a quick look before the two slowly approach the dark, shadowed opening.
"We need light." Whispers the Summoner and so Viktor slowly reaches out towards the darkness with his third synthetic arm and lets the power core that is attached to it glow faintly like a makeshift flashlight.
Katarina stares at the two newcomers with big, wet and bloodshot eyes from her current position curled up on the floor. "P-please, you have to help me," The frightened redheaded assassin whimpers as her body continues shaking uncontrollably. "Don't let the Slender Man take me."