Our Hidden Blades

Beating

Katarina huffed, her heart feeling heavy in her chest. Her head felt free for the first time since she came to Demacia. Her eyes were wide and her body was flowing with new blood. She could feel it in her mind - sounds were clearer than ever. Garen's voice was in her ear, lips grazing them. "Do you like this?" He whispered, his breath warm...

Katarina smiled, her nails digging into his arm, where she'd torn away the cloth. "I do. It's... fun." Garen was smiling back at her, his eyes looking directly into hers. Her breath mixing with his, she began to shift away. Her body slowly fell back and she sat on the cold, hard dirt. Her fingers rubbed against the dirt and she felt closer to home. 

Garen sat across from her, his chest still moving quickly under the thin top he wore - just for their little "event" - as he called it. His blue eyes looked across to Katarina and he crossed his ankles. She watched his strong chest move up and down. His tanned skin, sleeked with sweat. "Exhaustion would do you in," She laughed. "I should keep you moving and you'll just collapse for me."

Garen looked aross to her, raising a brow. "You're not kidding," He laughed, "But I'd never let you go." 

The look on Katarina's face changed suspiciously. There was a new spark in her eyes, like she had somewhere else to go. He recognized it instantly.

"Ah. But you brought me here." She responded, eyeing the new scenery. 

Garen brought her to a forest - tall, dark green trees reached for the sky. The clearing they were in was rather large, but Garen let her play in the trees. She hadn't tried running just yet, though the opportunity felt... given. It felt like he would let her go, if she tried. But looking at him - looking at his eyes - she felt it wasn't what he really wanted.

That kindness that she hated about Demacians was just what hurt her the most. He gave her opportunities. He played games with her. He let her have a good time. He knew what she wanted. Maybe what she needed. "You would let me go if I wanted." She said softly, letting dirt fall through her fingers. 

"I don't think you want to," Garen replied casually. 

Katarina sighed. She didn't really. It was nice where she lived. She was easily a queen to those in Noxus. Being part of the DuCoteau family, head of her house, Katarina was the most celebrated of all Noxians. It also helped that she was, well, not a man, like Talon, and not half-snake, like Cassiopeia. 

Though Noxus was nice, she might even enjoy her life in Demacia. Chains and prison food wasn't her first option, but watching Garen, she knew how he lived. She didn't need to live it herself to know it was somewhere he enjoyed. She knew Demacia was what put the light in his eyes. She tried to blame magic for the kindness most felt. It had to be something off - she didn't see, herself, what was so great. But Garen showed her some of it. 

"Yeah... don't want to.." Katarina slowly responded, late and suspicious. She knew it was suspicious but she didn't think Garen would do anything with simply suspicious behavior. Even if she left... he would mind, but let her leave. 

 Everything was silent. The air was awkward with the sound of thoughts unspoken. Garen's eyes would wander through the soft trees of nature, the bendings of the branches, the way they smoothed out into the ground, to the ground, the dirt, the dead leaves, katarina's fingertips, her hands, her arms, her chest, her neck, her face, her lips, her nose, her eyes... Katarina would be caught, awkwardly, doing the same. Though awkwardness still lived, their eyes reflected the same thoughts and feelings. Though they knew it was more than enough to just stare into each other's eyes, it was nearly impossible to tear away. Blue eyes meeting blue, the details each could take in. 

It seemed like forever that they stared at each other, as if they were talking through their minds, but it was only seconds. A bird chirped, stopping each heart, restarting, and bringing them each back to life.