In My Dreams - Katarina x Lux
Katarina couldn't understand it.
More specifically, she couldn't understand her.
The 'her' she was thinking of was none other than Luxanna Crownguard, the Lady of Luminosity from Demacia, Noxus' greatest enemy.
When Katarina first arrived at the League, she had been greeted by her fellow Noxian champions, but none welcomed her as warmly as Lux had.
Lux would constantly check if the Sinister Blade needed help when the latter had first arrived. At first, Katarina hadn't thought much of it and just used the blonde mage for chores such as polishing her knives or washing her clothes. Even a person with half a brain would understand that they were being used, but Lux kept returning, her bubbly and cheerful attitude never once waning.
Katarina continued to disregard it until she caught the light mage waiting for her outside her dorm when she returned from a match. One would normally think that the mage was simply being her usual eager self, but life in Noxus had taught Katarina to have distrust as one of her main confiders. She had begun to suspect that Demacia had deployed this harmless-looking mage to her in order to spy on her, learn her habits, and eventually ambush her.
What further boosted Katarina's suspicions was the fact that every time she asked for the mage's reasons for wanting to help her, the mage would look away and avoid giving a straight answer, or try to change the subject entirely. Katarina was more than ready to act on her suspicions, or at least get her fellow Noxians to kidnap Lux before something happened to the redhead, but whenever she gazed at the mage, she saw the innocence in her features, and all thoughts of the Demacian trying to use dirty methods vanished in an instant.
That wasn't enough to make the assassin trust the mage fully though.
oooooooooo
Katarina had a bad match.
Not only did her team lose, but they lost in a bit of a clean sweep, with none of them being able to secure any wins over the opposing team. This added fuel to her anger. If there was anything she hated more than anything, it was losing with a whimper.
"Stupid Teemo and his traps." She cursed, replaying the smug look on the Yordle's face when she stepped on one of his mushrooms. She walked back to her dorm, making a plan to find someone who could produce a good painting of Teemo's face, pin that painting to a training dummy, and practice her Death Lotus on it. She chuckled darkly at the thought of actually executing her famed move on the Yordle, but with the scenario being nothing, if not an image, it did little to help quell her rage.
As she neared her dorm, she saw a familiar blonde waving at her excitedly. Not now, she groaned internally. "Hey Kata! How'd your match go?" Lux asked in her usual cheerful manner. Katarina had never meant for her rage to slip out at the mage, but she had a terrible day, and Lux's cheerful attitude was not helping at all.
"Why don't you drop the act already?" Katarina asked sarcastically. Lux's smile faltered. "What do you mean?" Katarina chuckled as she turned on the mage, backing her into a wall. "You thought I wouldn't notice? Me? An assassin who knows many other words for the word 'betrayal'?" Lux's cheerfulness turned to fearful confusion. "Kata? What are you-" She yelped when the redhead slammed a hand next to her head. "Spying on me for that bastard you call a king?" Katarina snarled. "I thought you Demacians would get all caught up with your 'honourable citizens' bullshit, but it seems you're the first to break that bullshit."
Lux realised that the redhead had misunderstood her intentions and tried to correct her. "Kata, I would never-" The assassin suddenly shot her other arm out and grasped the mage's throat. "Enough lies." She hissed as she leaned closer to the mage's ear. "Come here again, and I assure you that Demacia won't find your body until the end of time." Katarina leaned back, taking in the mage's fearful features. "Got it?" The mage nodded frantically, and the redhead released her hold on her neck, watching as Lux scurried away.
She went into her room. Despite having plans to unleash her rage on the Teemo dummy, adrenaline had been drained from her body, and now her muscles ached and sagged under the weight of the belts strapped around her body. The Teemo dummy could wait, she needed a nap first.
As she undid the straps of her belts, her mind replayed the threat she made to Lux. Now that she had slightly calmed down, she realised that the mage didn't deserve to be at the receiving end of her fury. Sure, her attitude could grate her nerves like none other, but she seemed genuinely confused and scared of the redhead. It was also painful watching that smile turn...
Katarina whacked her forehead lightly. By god, was she feeling guilty for what she did to the Demacian? No, she deserved it, Katarina thought, pushing the thoughts of how she had badly treated the mage to the back of her mind. She couldn't take the hint, she was asking for it.
Yet, why did those feelings of guilt keep springing back with reinforcements?
After a while, Katarina reemerged from the shower, dried up, and got dressed, she slid into her bed, pulling the covers over herself. Instantly, her eyelids grew heavy as a wave of exhaustion took over her mind. Within seconds, she was fast asleep.
oooooooooo
Katarina woke up to the painful feeling of someone slapping her face. Hard. "What the fuck?" She questioned angrily. "That finally woke you up." A familiar honeyed voice cooed. Katarina looked down, finding herself magically bound to a chair before looking at her captor. "LeBlanc." She growled. The Deceiver chuckled. "Hello, kitty." She mocked. Katarina clenched her fists tightly.
"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded. LeBlanc ran a hand over her face. "As you know, or rather, don't, I have been planning a revolution against Swain for a long time, and your family could have been such valuable assets." Katarina struggled slightly against her bonds. "Then what's the point of bringing me here? You know my loyalty is pledged to Swain, and as soon as I get out of here, I'll kill you."
LeBlanc ran a finger against her own cheekbone. "True, but why would I do that when I have a bargaining chip against you? I can easily use it, or more specifically, her, against you, and turn you into my little spy." Katarina scoffed. "My mother hates me and my sister is disgusted by my presence. What makes you think I have anything to lose?" LeBlanc gave an expression of mock surprise.
"Darling, those two already work for me. They tell me wonderful stories of your incompetence. Your, inadequacy." Katarina struggled even more, prompting LeBlanc to laugh at her futile efforts. "But they can be converted tonight. Pledge your loyalty to me, serve me for Noxus' better future." Katarina spat at the Deceiver's feet. "As if, I'll never bow to scum like you." LeBlanc raised a brow and muttered something about crass and undignified barbarians.
She sighed. "You just have to call me out on my bluff, don't you?" She snapped her fingers, and the sound of a door opening echoed through the now-silent room. A Black Rose member hustled in a familiar mage, and Katarina widened her eyes in surprise.
Lux looked terrified. She was tied with her hands behind her back, and her mouth was tied in a gag. Katarina stared at her for a moment before bursting into a short chuckle. "Her? Seriously? Why would I give a damn about what happens to her?" LeBlanc chuckled. "The human emotions are fun to toy with. Did you not think I could sense your guilt after your little...incident with her?" Katarina stiffened slightly, which LeBlacn quickly detected. "If you really don't care for her, would you mind if I did...this?" As she spoke the last few words, the Black Rose member handed the Deceiver a dagger, and LeBlanc plunged it into Lux's stomach, causing a muffled scream to echo from the light mage.
Katarina tried to remain still as she watched LeBlanc take the dagger out of the light mage's stomach and give her a questioning look. She questioned herself. Did she really care for Lux? Did it really matter to her if Lux lived or died? Then, in the slightest of moments, her eyes flicked down to the light mage's wound.
LeBlanc chuckled again. "It seems your heart doesn't agree with what you say." Katarina struggled even more. "No! I don't care for her!" LeBlanc gave a sigh of mock-disappointment. "Very well then, might as well just get rid of the witness." As she moved her hand to place the dagger above the light mage's heart, Katarina's mind and heart raced, replaying memories she had of Lux. Her kind smile, her cheerful attitude, her comforting presence. Many, even her mother and sister, saw Katarina Du Couteau as nothing more than a brutal, sadistic assassin. The moment she arrived at the League, Luxanna Crownguard, a person supposed to be her sworn enemy, was one of the only people to try and look past that belief.
She had helped Katarina with many things, and although Katarina was initially confused with the Lady of Luminosity's behaviour, she found herself getting used to her presence, despite being slightly annoyed at the younger woman's cheerful personality. She had found herself enjoying, sometimes even discreetly smiling at the younger woman's clumsy antics and naive beliefs. You can't hide it, a voice inside her said. You do care for her.
Just as LeBlanc's arm was about to plunge the dagger into Lux's heart, Katarina shouted, "Wait!" The Deceiver paused, turning to the assassin with a smile. "Yes, darling?" Katarina looked down, about to commit mutiny against everything she had worked for. And all for an enemy she couldn't bring herself to fully hate. "I yield." She muttered. LeBlanc smiled at her henchman. "I'm sorry, kitty. But I believe my ears are beginning to become hard of hearing. What did you say?" Katarina raised her head, glaring at the pale-faced woman. "I yield, damn you. Set her free."
LeBlanc let out a short laugh as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Very good, darling. I just need you to sign here." She passed the dagger back to her henchman, taking a clipboard with a piece of paper on it along with a quill. She forced the quill into Katarina's fingers and held the paper for her. Katarina signed her name at the place she was supposed to, and LeBlanc looked at the paper in satisfaction. "Good, good. Now kill the mage."
Katarina's eyes widened in horror. "LeBlanc! you said-" "I believe I never said anything about not killing the mage, kitty. I did say I had a bargaining chip against you, I never said any harm would not come to the bargaining chip whether you surrendered or not." Katarina could only watch as the henchman smiled and drew the knife across the mage's neck, slitting her throat. The last thing she saw in Lux's eyes was terror before they went life-less.
LeBlanc smiled as she waved a hand, lifting the magical bonds on Katarina's hands and legs. Tears fell from Katarina's eyes as she watched Lux drop to the floor, falling forward herself and cradling the mage's body. "You...I'll kill you!" Katarina screamed as she lunged at the pale woman, only to find her hand phasing through the woman's body as if she was just an illusion. "I forgot to mention that the paper you signed, contains a pact that you cannot harm me or betray me in any way. The former is impossible, while the latter secures you instant death." The two left, leaving Katarina to her realisation of the stupid decision she had just made.
"Lux..." She wept, bringing her forehead to the mage's cold one. "I'm sorry. Please, come back."
oooooooooo
Katarina woke up in a cold sweat. The sleep did give her more energy, but the nightmare that came along with it unsettled her greatly.
Katarina sat up and thought hard. Did she really feel that way for Lux? She replayed the memories she had with the latter in her head and was shocked to find herself feeling the same way she had in the dream. I...care for her? She wondered. But what I did...All she has done for me...
After moments of pondering and consideration, she made her mind up, getting out of bed and dressing up. She was going to make things right.
oooooooooo
Lux sighed sadly as she finished the book she was reading. It was a good romance novel about two enemies who became lovers in the end. Books like these usually filled her with the hope of what she and Katarina could be, but now they served as a reality check that not everything could work out in the end.
Lux had always been infatuated with the redheaded assassin ever since she saw her in the battle between Noxus and Demacia. The way she had moved so graciously, like a dancer, distracted Lux so much that she had nearly forgotten that the assassin was her enemy. It didn't help that the redhead had winked at her playfully for a brief moment in the battle before going back to slaughtering Demacians.
When Lux heard that the Sinister Blade was coming to the League, she felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The League had a rule against champions harming other champions, so she could get closer to Katarina almost without worrying about harm coming her way, but what if she didn't like her? A week before Katarina's scheduled arrival at the League, she had pondered for a long time, undecided if she should go through with her plan of getting close to the redhead. Finally, after some therapeutic talks with Karma, she decided to go through with her plan.
The two did have some fun times together, with Lux sometimes catching a glimpse of a smile on the supposedly hardened assassin's face. Katarina had made her do chores before, but it was kind of worth it to see the smile on her face again.
But now, with Katarina's suspicions, her fantasy romance was never going to come true.
Lux got up, putting the book back into its designated shelf, suddenly feeling angry at herself for thinking she had a chance with the assassin. Grow up Lux, Her mind chided. Those romance novels were never real to begin with. Lux then went for the library's exit but was so distracted that she didn't notice someone standing in front of her and ended up bumping into them. She tried to apologise, but her voice died in her throat when she saw who the person was.
"Kata! I-I'm sorry." Lux said as she began to back away. "Lux," The redhead looked nervous for once, which was new. "I was looking for you." Lux continued to back away, but the assassin reached out and gently grasped her wrist. "May we go to a private area, please?" Lux's day had really taken a left turn. But nevertheless, she confusedly nodded her head.
Katarina led Lux back to her room. She gently pushed the mage inside and locked the door. At first, Lux became scared at the thought of the assassin deciding to end her life once and for all, but when she saw the belts of knives on the table, far from the assassin's reach, she calmed down slightly, keeping her guard up. "I just want to say I'm sorry." Katarina started, stunning the light mage. "You have done so much for me, and I treated you so badly." The assassin took a step closer to Lux, who backed away until her rear touched the table. "You've always been so kind to me, but I've never been grateful till tonight." A pale hand reached up and caressed Lux's face. "I want to say I'm sorry for how I have treated you, but one thing I've learned in Noxus is that actions speak louder than words."
Katarina leaned closer till her lips were just inches away from Lux's. Lux pinked at the distance between them and at the feeling of Katarina's hand touching her face. Her heart pounded quickly, Could it finally be happening? "May I?" Katarina asked quietly, and Lux slowly nodded her head. Without further hesitation, Katarina leaned further and pressed her lips against Lux's.
Lux had never expected Katarina's lips to be so soft. This was all like a dream. Katarina's hands gripped her hips as the taller woman pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Katarina's tongue brushed against Lux's lip, silently asking for entry, and without thinking, Lux granted it, allowing Katarina's and her tongue to engage in a slow, passionate dance.
Eventually, the need for oxygen was too great and Katarina broke away, a thin string of saliva still connecting the two together. "Lux," Katarina said breathlessly. "Will you forgive me?" Lux smiled as she leaned in and pecked the redhead's lips. "Of course I do," She said dreamily. "I love you." The two engaged in another kiss, this time having a shorter yet sweeter one before breaking away and embracing each other.
Lux leaned her head on the redhead's bosom, blushing at the intimacy the two shared before a question popped into her head. "By the way," She started, looking up at her now-lover. "What brought this up?" Katarina gave her the sweetest of smiles. "Ever since I saw you in my dream, I knew I loved you."