Forge of worlds - League of legends fanfic

Chapter 24 - Stuck in time

The wind of the night that hauled over the desert landscapes pulled on to Kai'Sa's darkened hair, burning the tip of her nose until it was gleaming red. With her knees pressed against her chest and her arms covering her legs, her eyes stared into the cosmos that formed a ceiling of stars and light. The moon was not shining fully this night, only partially. It had cast a pale light onto the ground, her finger, over her face. Often did she wonder if she were still part of this world, the world that lived on and grew old. Ever since she were a child, she had grown up between monsters and cord that held onto her life, if she did not pay attention to either, she could lose a battle she wanted to win so desperately, a goal that was slowly slipping through her fingers. Since she had met Ezreal, Neeko, the people of Piltover, emotions she had never experienced before had grown onto her, happiness, joy, sadness, grief. Whenever the void was cast away from a certain spot and items of the world above her had thrown books, jewellery and toys into the pits, she would go through the pages and mark one that she would read, just to spare some time and educate herself so that the time may come that she were finally able to live among the others, that she knew of something. Journals that spoke of travels through the desert, fairy tales of how princesses found their prince, families that were lost in war, but made through friendship. She learned that humans were important and were stronger as long as they fought alongside each other.
A deep sigh sounded from her, catching a strand of hair that waved into the gentle wind she stared at it in wonder, so little was left of her that could have been considered human when wearing the suit. Sometimes she would stand on top of a mountain, lean over the edge to stare down at a camp in dusk. Humans that shared laughter, drank strange substances and couples that gathered behind a tent, giggling. She did not understand what they were feeling, all she knew was that they were enjoying themselves, being among each other. How she had wished during those moments she could be part of that world again and grow up like a normal human being.
'You woke up early.' Kai'Sa gasped when the adventurer's voice would sound right next to her. She did not budge from her position, looking over her arm she stared into his heavenly blue eyes. 'I couldn't sleep.'
Ezreal took a spot next to her, his legs dangling from the ledge. For some reason it had made her pulse beat faster to have him sit so close to her. His eyes stared into the moon, the sharp features of his cheekbones, chin and nose bridge that had made him look like a statue set in stone, it made her ticklish in her stomach. 'What's keeping you awake?'
Kai'Sa shook her shoulders, pulling her arms back to mimic his pose. 'I thought I knew enough to live among humans, but even outside of my suit I felt... different.' She uttered the last word of her sentence in disgust, all she wanted for other to know that she were just like them, while it turned out that she had isolated herself that much within the void, that there was nothing left about her considered normal.
'But you are different,' Kai'Sa looked up with pain radiating from her eyes, before he would resume his sentence. 'Just like anyone else and to me, you're the normal one.'
Kai'Sa chuckled, rolling her eyes before she looked away, resting her hands in her lap. 'I'm not normal, I almost hurt your friends when they tried to be friendly with me.'
'You've mostly been on your own, there is so much that you missed about the world.'
'Time that I can't relive.' She sighed, intertwining her fingers in each.
Ezreal shook his head and closed his hand around hers. 'But you can still catch up with it.'
Warmth that did not belong to the second skin burned underneath on her own hand, where he held onto her with his. Staring at his long, slim and yet strong fingers closing onto her gloved hands pressed goosebumps against her second skin. What was wrong with her? Why did her body reaction feverish around him?
'What do you mean?' Kai'Sa asked, looking up from their hands into his eyes.
'I'd love to take you more often to Piltover or other places, so you can get back in touch with other humans,' Ezreal offered, attempting a small pinch while holding onto one of her hands.
Get back in touch with others humans, from more places? She thought to herself, imagining what more could lay outside of the borders of Ixtal, Shurima and Piltover. Would there be more jungles? Perhaps a greater city? Or land where it was cold every day, instead of the nights.
Kai'Sa stammered, not knowing what to say. If she left again, the void were sure to grow larger. 'I-I can't stay away for too long, Shurima needs me.'
Ezreal smiled out of happiness and pulled her hand over her thigh with him. 'How about this, every second full moon we meet up near the border and I'll take you anywhere. We'll only be gone for fourteen days.'
The daughter of the void pressed her lips on each other and tiled her head, squinting her lavender eyes before she happily said: 'Eight days.'
But he too knew how to play that game. 'Twelve days.'
Kai'Sa leaned in closer to him, watching every expression his face could make. 'Ten days.'
Ezreal laughed, soft enough to not wake Neeko who were still sleeping in the cave. 'Fourteen days, my last offer.'
Game, set and match. Kai'Sa had fallen for the first offer he had made and bid higher, she lost ground because she let herself get fooled with the days. She leaned even closer into him, until there was just a small space, the distance of a pinky finger, left in between them. 'You're not playing fair.'
Ezreal's lips drew from each other, gently catching onto a breath of air his eyes went from her mouth, back into her eyes before he shook his head. 'Ten days.' He mumbled out, almost breathless. Kai'Sa felt her own lungs longing for more breath the longer their eye contact lasted. Noticing the width in his pupils she giggled, cupping his cheek in her hand. 'Why do your eyes always do that?'
'Do what?' Though he heard her questions, his eyes were still staring into hers. Not a single expression was to be read from his face than something she could not read for herself.
Her tone became a soft whisper, her voice more breathless. 'Your eyes always expand when I look in them.'
As if Ezreal had finally returned from the haze that had slowly formed before his eyes he took a deep breath and closed his hand around hers, looking to the ground underneath them. 'That usually happens when you're with people you deeply care for.' Kai'sa blinked a couple of times, her other hand feeling for her cheekbones, wondering if her eyes did the same. 'Yours too.'
Silence fell in between them, Ezreal gulped one more time before he slowly dragged her hand from his cheek. 'You should really get some rest before weird things happen.'
'What if something happens?' Kai'Sa thought, her eyes looking over to Neeko. Her tail was wrapped around her body, like a dog before a campfire.
'I'm wide awake now, I'll wake you up if something odd happens.' Ezreal brushed her hair that had gotten into his face over her shoulder, pinching into her cheek as she smiled one last time towards him. He pulled her in for another kiss on her cheek, after he had pulled back he gestured towards the cave. 'Good night.'
Kai'Sa stammered once again, her breath that kept on getting stuck in her throat she composed herself, rising gracefully from the ground to walk into the entrance of the cave and take a post next to the sleeping chameleon. Ezreal no longer looked in to their direction, instead he gazed upon the horizon. Never had she felt as comfortable with anyone than Ezreal, she realised when she rested her head onto her crossed arms, staring towards the guy that had given her more chances than life anything in the world. Though the more time she spent with him, the more she felt at a time. She were nervous, more alert, her pulse would rise, it were symptoms that she had no clue what to do with. Tomorrow would be another day, Ixtal was only a few hours away from them and guide Neeko home. A whole new adventure was planned out, she would see more than just slime pits and hollow bones, rotten fruit and deceased bodies. A day where she would fight alongside her friend, protect him at all cost, while he aided her. In her heart she knew that they made a great team and fought away their lonesome moments, but there was so much more to their friendship that she could not explain. Maybe soon or perhaps never, she could not tell over the exhaustion that were made itself apparent when her eyelids blinked as if the wind blew out a candle. Yawning one more time she rubbed her cheek on her arm and gave in to the night. Tonight, she would not be alone.

The campfire they had set had lost it's flame when the wood they had gathered was fully consumed. Remnants of ash and dust were left as result, the heat of the morning sun had returned and the beams of light burned through the eyelids of the curious chameleon. She opened her eyes when it had felt like the sun was not the only one to stare down at her. Ezreal had bent over her, a grin that had almost made him look like a demon in the shadows. Neeko groaned and turned her back to him, wrapping her tail around her waist as if it were a blanket. 'Neeko sleeps for five more minutes.' A sign sounded from above and had only amused Neeko, with her eyes still shut tight she had hoped to win and sleep a bit longer, but Ezreal had other plans. He sighed deeply, what seemed obvious to anyone else that it were just an act he walked away from her spot and looked over the desert.
'I guess Nidalee will have to miss you a bit longer.' He did not have to turn around to see if she got up, the only duty that woke her up in the morning was when her best friend awaited for her. It made him wonder if Neeko had the same feelings towards her like he did with Kai'Sa, she often mentioned how she were captivated by her beauty, but her interest had gone to other women. He waved the thought aside and glanced towards Kai'Sa, who were already busy stretching herself out.
'I never knew you snored.' To release himself of the tension that he felt towards her he threw a quick joke.
Kai'Sa brushed her hair out of her face and rested her hands on her hips. 'Really? I never noticed myself.' As if he had been sincere she thought of the possibility, until she had cracked a grin. 'At least I'm not choking in my sleep.'
The adventurer's eyes widened and he pointed his finger in her direction. 'I sleep like a rose, you don't hear anything from me.' Although he knew she were finally growing comfortable around him and humans in general, it was her first response to a joke and she actually got it. Squinting his eyes almost shot he waved his finger in her direction. 'What was it again you said about not being able to adapt?'
Kai'sa shook her shoulders, brushing hair back with the flick of her hand. For a moment he was caught staring again as she took the lead and walked into the cave, her voice that echoed from out the darkness to come and follow her. With his hand resting on his stomach he was not sure if she had evolved in a single night or finally loosened up after their speech. Was this the potential he saw in her that drew him closer?
Neeko giggled, running after her on all four, the last thing that he could see of her was the tip of her tail wagging out of his vision. Still struck with amazement when she had flicked her hair at him out of sassiness, he could finally understand why he secretly did desire her. If she kept on growing more comfortable and accustomed to humans, she would slowly become the girl of his dreams and for once he did not mind the thought of that. He had nothing to lose, it was not like Lux had shown interest in him aside from the time she kissed him.

This could be fun, he thought to himself.