My Heart Your Light CH6

Twilight approached quickly and painted the entire area of the Institute of War with a faint orange glow. Only a few birds could be heard as every champion was already indoors, getting ready for dinner. Well, everyone but the Might of Demacia. Garen was standing outside, in the front patio, waiting patiently for the arrival of the carriage that would bring her sister and her mysterious "friend" back to the League. Sarah Fortune joined him a few minutes later but they didn't even shared a word; at the moment the bushes seemed more interesting to watch for Garen, as Fortune kept her trademark smirk, that only grew larger once a simple carriage pulled by two brown horses crossed the gates in their direction. Garen composed himself and put his best frown as the animals came to a stop and Lux jumped off, happily giggling to someone who remains nothing but a shadow to the two outsiders. As the blond turned to face who was waiting on her, her giggling was replaced by a "oh oh", silently whispered to no one but herself.

Garen: *harsh tone* Welcome back to the League, Luxanna. I was waiting your arrival expectantly. There are some things that need to be discussed but first… *Raises an eyebrow* I want to know who accompanied you on this trip.

Lux: *Swallows hard* Brother I will tell you everything but please… please promise you won't be mad at me.

Garen: I can't make promises, not this time. You refused to tell me anything and prefer to flee from your own house by a window, leaving our parents extremely upset. You traveled for two days with someone I have no knowledge about, leaving me very concerned. I'm your older brother, Lux. I deserve some credit and I deserve to know what my younger sister is doing on my back.

Lux: *sighs* I know all of that already… But I had no choice this time. You and our parents do nothing but try to control my life. First I was forced away from home to study, then forced to join the military… And even almost forced to marry someone I don't love at all. All this for the good of our country, for the good of our family... I'm tired Garen, I'm tired of being treated by nothing more than a puppet, whose strings are pulled over and over by our King and our laws. I want to have the right to make my own choices and learn from my mistakes.

Garen: Lux, what are you-

Lux: *Interrupts him* No, let me finish. I already made my choice in life, brother, and I hope that at least I can count with your support on this. *Motions for the person in the carriage to show itself*

As Ezreal comes to view, Sarah smiles as Garen stares hard, completely surprised by the appearance of the explorer. Lux takes then Ezreal's hand in front of her own brother, as to let him know they are together.

~_~~_~_~

Katarina and Cassiopeia were sat across each other on the assassin's room. Silence filled the air as the half snake was staring hard at her sister's face, which appeared to be deep in thought. The meeting and Shyvana's plan were certainly on her mind, that her sister was sure of. But something wasn't quite right in the picture; Morgana had agreed on it as well when they shared a few words after both Kat and Shy had left the room. She wanted to ask about it so badly but she was scared of her own sister reaction, as Katarina could be as unpredictable as a lightning bolt. But to her luck or misfortune, her stares were soon enough noticed by the assassin, who turned her hard gaze to the half snake.

Katarina: What is it Cassio? I know you have been staring at me for hours now. *Crosses arms above her chest* What do you want to know?

Cassiopedia: Well sssince you asssked… There isss sssomething bothering me in thisss entire "Let'sss ssscrew the blondie" ssstory.

Katarina: *Raises an eyebrow* Oh really? Well, I'm all ears.

Cassiopeia: What happened between you and Lux that made you hate her like thisss? I mean… I don't sssee her annoying persssonality be a motive enough for you to want her nearly dead. That and being ssshe Garen'sss sssister; I fail to sssee why would you even try to harm her asss it would sssure damage you guysss relationssship…

Katarina's fist hit the wooden table hard, making it nearly crack. Cassio jumped in surprise but did her best to not let her sister notice it as the assassin quickly got up and started to pass around the room for a few minutes, only to finally stop and face the half snake as she found the will to explain exactly what was on her mind.

Katarina: I'm doing this precisely to protect my relationship with Garen. *continues before Cassio can have the chance of saying a thing* Lux knows and she threaten to tell on us. *Sighs and sits back in front of her sister again* I'll tell you exactly what happened and you can make your own judgment after that.

Cassiopedia nodded, as Kat started to revive what had taken place a few months before…

- Flashback –
Was during one of those random matches between Noxus and Demacia, which the summoners enjoyed to organize once in a while for the fun of it, that Lux found the perfect opportunity to confront Katarina about her and Garen's relationship. The light mage had just found out a few days prior and sure wasn't happy. Her relationship with Garen was not the best, as they both spent most of their childhood away from each other, making it nearly impossible to make then have more than just the same blood bonding them. She saw her acceptance in the League as a start to finally really meet her own brother and create that brother/sister relationship she always dreamed to have; but all was left in the mud the minute she dared to question him about Katarina DuCouteau. Worried about the consequences that would fall upon him, Lux quickly rushed to tell her brother to put an end on it before it was too late; Garen refused to listen to her pleas and that only made her more and more upset, especially when he turned his back and told her to mind her own business.
When she walked down mid lane, she found the red haired assassin waiting for her already, as she had guessed Lux wanted to talk before the minions spawned. While Katarina did her best to be polite, the light mage was nothing more than cruel and raw, unleashing all her frustrations in the form of harsh words. The assassin had enough and called her a "brat"; Lux replied in the same tone and accused her of being a "manipulative whore" who was only with her brother to get "access to confidential information". Tired of being falsely accused, the assassin jumped for the kill, as Lux did nothing more than taunt her to do so anyways. A cat fight took place in the mid lane as the summoners quickly lost control of the situation. Knifes were being thrown and light was everywhere, as nothing more than the clash of metal and the exchange of heavy words could be heard in the field. It only stopped when Garen and the remain champions rushed from their lanes to separate both of them. After a long scold, Garen took Katarina's side to everyone's own surprise, especially to Lux, who just walked to her team spawn pool and asked to be replaced.
- End of Flashback –

Cassiopeia blinked once, twice, even three more times at her sister's words, trying to assimilate what she had just been told.

~_~_~_~

If there was a hole nearby, Ezreal would already be inside it, praying for dear life to all the gods and goddesses of every single religion of the cultures he so well knew. Garen's gaze felt like a gun was being pointed at his forehead, ready to shoot him dead at any moment. Lux's firm and warm grip on his hand sure was reassuring (sort of), as he wanted to truly believe her could save him from the wrath of the not-so-happy older brother. Sarah approached Garen and took a glance from the corner of her eye at his expression. "Priceless… fufufu", she thought to herself.

Garen: *finally snaps of his own surprise and raises his voice* Wait, wait, wait… You're telling me you've been dating this… *gestures to Ezreal* … for the last couple months and you didn't tell me?! Have you lost your mind Luxanna?! A Crownguard like you, from one of the noble houses of Demacia, having a relationship to a mere explorer from Piltover like him?! How is this even… possible!

Lux: *Furs her eyebrows* Now you're just acting like mother and father, judging someone over the city they come from and their occupation. I didn't expect that from you, Garen, especially since you've been sneaking around with Katarina DuCouteau on everyone's back. So don't you even dare to throw morality on me!

Miss Fortune: *gasps* Holy cow! Garen likes it rough I see. *snickers*

Garen, Lux and Ezreal turn their gazes on Sarah, the first one sending her a deadly glare for the comment. "Oooops…"

Miss Fortune: *Coughs and slowly starts to walk away* I didn't mean it in a pervert way I swear… *coughs again and points to the heavy entry door* I think I heard Cait calling me so… I gotta go! *runs for her life*

Garen: *even more upset than before* See what you done here? Now everyone and I mean everyone will know! *Rubs his face* I told you on the day you found out that you should stick your nose on your own business and leave my life alone.

Lux: *Completely upset now* Oh really? Good. Then you should mind your own business too. I'm dating Ezreal and I won't hide it anymore. I don't care what you think, what mother and father think nor what the King may think. It's my life, mine! And no one but me should have power over it.

Garen's self-control snaps as his right hand collides hard with his sister's cheek. Lux can feel the tears quickly forming in her eyes but she refuses to give him a weak side; she did the right thing, she was at least sure of it. Ezreal's grip on her hand had got painfully tight as she could tell he was extremely upset with Garen and himself for dragging her into all this. And right when she thought things couldn't get worse…

Garen: From now on I will no longer consider you as a sister, not even a mere comrade from Demacia. Once Jarvan finds out you disgraced yourself to this boy, you will no longer be welcome in Demacia. This… *gestures to the Institute's building* will be your new home. Enjoy the bed you made, Luxanna.

As he finished these words, he gave her a disgusted look and turning his back, walked inside the building. Ezreal sighed deeply and embraced Lux tight, as she finally let the tears she was holding in fall down her cheeks. Feeling as guilty as he could be, he told her gently that nothing was lost yet: they could just call it off and stay friends; she would get her dear brother back and no harm to her noble state would be done. However, and to his own surprise, Luxanna refused his idea.

Lux: *Whispers softly* If I lose you, I lose a part of me. Don't leave me Ezreal, no matter what, please… I have nothing else to hold onto.

Ezreal: *Rubs her cheek gently* I won't leave you for anything, I already told you that.... I just… I can't help it but feel guilty Lux. You just lost everything because you chose me. Won't you regret it?

Lux: *Shakes head no* I knew, right from the start, that something like this would happen. And Garen will just tell on me to save his own skin… Even if later they find out he and Katarina had something, his punishment would be not as heavy as mine. That's how things work, unfortunately. I thought I would find some support in my own brother, giving the situation. But apparently Jarvan and our parents gave him a nice brainwash… *sighs deeply*

Ezreal: He will come to his senses eventually. You're his younger sister after all; he's just "taking care" of you in his own way. He wants the best for you Lux, that's why he doesn't want you to cross the line and have issues with Demacia. Bet he just said this to scare you and see what your reaction will be.

The light mage tilted her head slightly and concluded that Ez may be right. Maybe this was all nothing but a test, like the one she did when she wanted to join the League. Maybe Garen was just testing her resolve, to see if her relationship with Ezreal was something serious or just a simple flirt.

~_~_~_~

Back into the Noxian sisters room, Cassiopeia is having hard time thinking about what to tell her sister on the matter she was just exposed to. Sure she knew Kat and Garen were a "couple" for some time now, but she was failing to see the point where her sister would agree to hurt Lux over something so… Pathetic as their fight was.

Katarina: *taps her foot on the ground impatiently* So…?

Cassiopeia: *cleans her throat* To be honessst I do sssee why you're ssso upssset about Luxanna sssaying ssshe would tell on you guysss but… Shouldn't be Garen to sssolve that little issue? Unless there'sss more to tell on thisss ssstory…

Katarina: *Folds arms above her chest, her voice darker* She fulfilled her promise Cassio. She told Le Blanc and now both me and Garen have been receiving some not-so-nice notes with threats. She has us where she wants pretty much. And all that because of that stupid brat. *punches a nearby wall*

Cassiopeia: Wouldn't it just be more efficient if you jussst went for the deceiver inssstead? I mean, she'sss the one doing all the threatsss. Ssshuting her up ssshould be your main goal, not hurting Garen's sssister.

Katarina: She was the one who started everything; she will be the one to pay. Simple as that. And don't bother telling me I'm wrong because I sure know I'm not. That blondie will pay the full price and learn what happen when someone dares to cross my path.

~_~_~_~

Dinner started to finally be served in the cafeteria, to everyone's delight. The champions were sat comfortably by long tables, each one being divided by cities, in order to avoid confrontations and bad environment during the meals. The table reserved to Noxus had Swain sat in the head, Draven and Darius being sat at his left and right sides respectively; the Demacian one had Jarvan sat in the head of it, with Garen sat on his right side and Shyvana sat on his left, in the spot Lux used to occupy before. Yes, used to. Luxanna was now happily sat next to Ezreal on the Piltover table, after everyone had agreed to let her join them for the meal. The air on the room was tense as it could be, especially after Lux and Ez had walked inside together and holding hands for everyone to see. Jarvan was particularly bothered but he did his best to not show any signs; Shyvana was watching his every facial expression carefully.

When everyone finished, the most part of the champions moved to the grand hall to hear another great perform by Pentakill. Using it as a main distraction, Garen and Kat sneaked away to his room while Jarvan was pushed to enjoy Shyvana's company for the evening. Lux, with Ezreal's help, gathered her belongings and moved to the Piltover's wing, using it as a way of showing her brother and everyone else she wasn't the little innocent girl everyone thought she was. She was a woman now, one that knows exactly what she wants for her life.