A few days passed. The hellish rain never seemed to end. Talon had done his best to find some food for Quinn and him, but they were both almost famished. He had found some distateful small fruits, but that was not enough.

Time went by slowly, and rather silently. Quinn was not healing fast, the lack of food making it difficult. Talon often went missing during the day, and he always came back completely soaked. But Talon never took his cloak, not even once. He always left it to cover Quinn and keep her warm.

Quinn lost her eyes in the dark metallic sky. The lightnings had stopped, but from time to time she heard the low echo of thunder. She had grown almost used to it, but she missed the blue sky and its white clouds. Here, everything was grey and brown. Like a neverending night.

The woman was worried. Talon had gone missing again, but night had fallen. Her limbs were freezing, she held on tightly to the cloak. The knives attached to it shined in the dark. With the tip of her finger, she traced the outline of a blade. She tried not to cut herself, for the weapon was so sharp. Where was her owner? Even though she knew Talon was agile and resourceful, she was scared something had happened to him. She was alone again, in the darkness of night.

Through the heavy noise of rain, Quinn suddenly heard some heavy footsteps in the muddy ground, and a few grunts. She raised, her eyes wide open with hope. She had recognised the voice of the assassin. Here he was, shirtless and soaking wet. He had taken off his shirt and had coiled up some dry branches. His cloth had kept them from the rain as well as he could.

Talon dropped the branches loudly on the cave's floor. He groaned in pain as he released the heavy weight. He gave a glance in Quinn's direction.

"You're okay?" he breathed loudly.

"Yes." timidly answered Quinn.

Even though she was shivering from the cold, she tried not to show it. Her constant weakness due to her wound was irritating her. She refused to only appear as the fallen one to Talon's eyes.

The assassin sat at the entrance of the cave, and began to prepare the branches. After a few minutes of rubbing them together, a small swirl of smoke escaped in the air. Then the wood cracked, and some light began to flicker. A flame was born, and Quinn smiled.

Talon's eyes drifted to Quinn. They had long lashes and were almond shaped. Quinn thought, the glint in them was very much like his own daggers. The warmth of the fire was slowly beginning to heat her body again. She hummed.

Talon didn't stop staring at her with intensity. Quinn blushed at that sight. She allowed her eyes to quickly roam Talon's body. It was the first time she could see him in the light. The fire emphasized his angular traits, and Quinn noticed the mutlitude of scars across his torso. He looked tired, and crouched like a tiger. His dark hair was wet, and fell on his face.

Quinn tried to sit up and clenched her fists not to let the slightest whimper escape her lips.

"You've been gone for so long." she finally said, breaking the silence.

"I've been searching for dry wood all day", he answered. "Not an easy task here."

Quinn shook her head and smiled. She was slightly uncomfortable due to his constant watching of her, but a part of her felt pleased. This man had ravenous eyes, Quinn thought he looked like a hawk. He was somehow right: the more she thought of it, the more they looked alike.

"Thank you, Talon."

The assassin fidgeted with his blade, sharpening a remaining branch that hadn't been thrown in the fire. His movements were precise and neat, he had created a perfect spike. Talon put the branch aside, and turned his face to Quinn.

"You know, I knew you were following me for a while." Talon finally said.

This time, Quinn took her time to answer and blushed.

"It was my duty." she mumbled.

Talon had a light, sincere smile.

"I don't mind. I didn't want to kill you. Was curious."

"So, you're looking for your father... Does Noxus know?" tried Quinn, slightly changing the subject.

"Like I said, I don't care about them." Talon said through gritted teeth. "This only concerns my own."

"But... Don't you have an honor to keep in Noxus?"

"Only fools pledge life to honor." answered Talon with a deep voice.

Quinn shivered at that voice. Talon was now staring at her, with that metallic glint in his amber eyes.

"And you, Quinn... Why do you value honor so much?" he asked without flinching.

Quinn suddenly looked very sad, as if the very thought was afflicting her.

"I... I don't even know why I'm telling you." She was half laughing, half holding back tears. "No one knows but me."

Talon remained silent. He wasn't forcing her to speak, but his eyes betrayed a growing curiosity. He had a slow and soft gesture that Quinn didn't expect to be coming from such a man. He gently pushed a strand of Quinn's hair behind her ear. It felt encouraging, caring... Could this cold-blooded killer behave like this to her, like no one had ever behaved?

Quinn's heartbeat increased. She was about to tell him her secret.

"When I was young, I had a twin brother. Caleb. He looked a bit like you, now I think of it." she absently smiled. "We both wanted to become Demacian knights, pledging our lives to honor, as you said. Ridiculous, I know. Kid's dreams."

Talon was listening with attention.

"But... Caleb was killed." Quinn's words threatened to choke her. "And now, I'm living our dream. For him. I must live a life of honor, in memory of my brother."

Quinn couldn't speak anymore. She had tried not to say too much, for she didn't know if she could hold herself back from crying. Talon was still watching her with those burning eyes of his.

"So... It seems you resemble me more than I thought." he admitted.

Quinn raised her head out of curiosity, and let her hair fall in front of her eyes again to hide their wetness. She didn't want to appear even more weak in front of Talon, who she was slowly growing to respect.

"Family is the only thing that truly matters to me. And loyalty. The rest can go to hell." Talon said huskily.

Talon slowly came closer to Quinn. The fire lit his predatory traits, and made his ravenous eyes even more inescapable.

"I only want one thing. Loyalty." he whispered even more lowly.

Quinn swallowed hardly. She felt her whole body getting hotter, but Talon's proximity was more to blame than the fire. The way he had said those words made her melt. He was absolutely right, they were more alike than she thought. Even more alike than most of people. Loyalty. The word made Quinn burn.

The tears soon dried in her eyes, instead of crying Quinn stared at Talon. He did not move anymore. Like a hawk, he was plunging his eyes in hers. The moment seemed to last for an eternity. Then, timidly, Quinn crept closer to the assassin. She ignored the pain in her side. Her lips were slightly parted, she looked at Talon in a new light.

Talon's chest began to rise faster, his breath becoming rather loud. Quinn knew he was holding himself back. Not trying anything without her consent. But she had noticed how thick the atmosphere had become. Everything rested on her shoulders. He was giving her the choice.

"I want the same thing..." murmured Quinn. She then leaned against Talon, and gently laid her lips on his.

Talon's breathing went erratic as he took in Quinn's act of bravery. Even though he was burning, he was trying his best not to rush anything, caring about Quinn's wound. He got a little closer, closing the gap between their bodies. Quinn felt the hotness over his hardened muscles. Talon's lips were burning too, and soon his tongue began to demand entrance in her mouth.

Quinn let it come in without resistance. His tongue soflty caressed her own, and the insides of her mouth. While he was exploring her for the first time, Talon's hand stroked Quinn's hair. Quinn closed her eyes at the touch. The feeling was new to her, her cheeks were now of a deep red.

Talon separated his lips from hers to stop and look at her. Quinn's face was lit by the fire's warmth. Her hair had fallen over her face again. But the hurt had disappeared from her. Her eyes now had the same glint as Talon's, the splendor of a hawk.

Quinn's hand laid on Talon's hard chest. She felt a few scars across his skin, some deeper than others. She adventured her fingers in her back, and gently rubbed him. A hum came out of Talon's chest.

Talon plunged his eyes into hers again, then gently dove in for another kiss. They both closed their eyes, tasting the other. Neither of them wanted this moment to stop. Even though Quinn needed rest, she didn't care. She wanted it to last forever.