#swain fanfiction

[zdux]

Alright Tumblr, take your pick

[multiversetravelingjournalist]

Jinx meeting Jericho Swain in Noxus, for the first time. Possibly making the leader laugh with her personality.

[noxnoctisanima]

[uhsanyahornyagain]

О господи что же это всплыло? Говно? Читос? Нет, это Саня опять написала фанфик!

Дрейсвейны, есть лёгкая похабщина

Лайк шер торшер все дела

[tragedybunny]

Have you ever wanted something, so badly you cannot breathe? - A Swain x Katarina One-shot - SFW

I read the comic and knew I had to write them again! I felt so inspired. I really do love these two and I hope you enjoy.

Based on the final issue of the Katarina comic on Webtoon. written from Swain's point of view. Swain comes to Kataria's aide as Marcus attempts to destroy his vision for Noxus. But the Empire isn't the only thing Swain is worried about, and he finds himself at a loss on how to manage the sudden longing he feels for another.

The ravens had been keeping watch over Katarina as she sat, guarding the way into his own personal chambers. She had sent word ahead that a plot was in motion, from Marcus himself nonetheless, and the rest of his flock patrolled the city, looking for the traitor. From their eyes to his mind, visions of every one of the streets they haunted and of the fiery redhead filled his senses. Nothing noteworthy at first, but then a presence before her, an argument, and Jericho Swain froze where he was standing. “Marcus,” the word left his lips as a whisper even as he was drawing on the power of the demon bound to his soul to begin traversing the Immortal Bastion at inhuman speeds. Something had been hiding him, even from Raum’s sight. The plot had thickened. 

Sound, light, and pain rocked his body causing him to falter midstride, an explosion, felt through the ravens. Marcus was desperate, and combined with whatever power he had borrowed, a power Jericho was willing to bet he knew the source of, made him incredibly dangerous. If anything were to happen to Katarina…He felt his heart shudder, something he hadn't even thought it was capable of until recent months. No, he couldn't think about that now. Unleashing the demon, he felt it spill out of his physical form, subsuming and altering it. Soldiers scattered from his path as he thundered through the dark stone halls, a vision of spectral wings and crackling energy. Through the eyes of his ravens, he watched the fight begin in earnest, violence between Father and Daughter tearing apart what was left of the bonds of family, Katarina choosing her Empire over her Blood. Later he would make time to be proud of that choice, and to tell her that, along with something else that had been on his mind. Maybe. 

Blow for blow, she matched Marcus, having grown to his equal while he wasn’t paying attention. Some might give Marcus the credit for that, or Jericho himself, but he knew that it was due to only Katarina. If Marcus had forged the blade, she had honed it, and he’d simply discovered its neglect and polished it before putting it to good use. He had never been worried about a physical battle between them, the outcome was sure to him. But this strange power Marcus had harnessed, might be a match for what Katarina herself had attained through hemomancy. He did hope she wouldn’t be mad about a little bird or two keeping an eye on Drann’s. 

That line of musing became irrelevant in moments though, as Marcus revealed his final, desperate play. Almost there, just a few more moments. “Don’t do anything irresponsibly noble, Katarina,” he muttered, seeing daylight ahead. Neither turned to acknowledge as he emerged onto the balcony that overlooked the city of Noxus Prime below. The Wolf’s Maw was in Katarina’s hands and just as he feared, she was about to take the only course of action she saw open to her. He surged forward, a storm of his ravens surrounding him, one word on his lips. “No.” The hand that had been gifted to him from Raum’s power grasped the bomb. “Your Empire needs you.” And I as well, he added silently, I need you. 

Marcus called to him, but there was no regret, no one last plea for understanding. Instead, it was a curse, full of rage and venom. Marcus truly hated him. Where had their friendship gone so wrong? They had toppled Darkwill together; fought side by side to better the Empire. Something had seduced Marcus into wanting more, no doubt Soreana with her claws dug deep into him had played a part. No matter how much he thought he’d hidden it, Jericho’s vision had revealed the betrayal to him. That’s what had driven him to finally order Marcus’s death. He’d clearly waited too long though, sentimentality for his old friend stalling his response. Later, he’d have to pick apart the conspiracy that had led to this and cost him one of the closest people in his life. A task he’d make sure was as painful as possible for those who’d crossed him. For now though, he’d settle this. 

Landing between the two of them, he sheltered Katarina behind him, the wings of Raum a barrier between her and what was to come. Despite his usually rather ruthless inclinations, Jericho wished he’d had one more moment to make Marcus see sense, but they were out of time. A flash of light, a deafening roar, and a wall of force which the demonic aura absorbed, wiped away all traces of his one-time friend. 

As the blast cleared, he let the demon retreat back inside, turning to Katarina, breath caught in his throat. Though she was unharmed as he planned, he could see the emotional toll the events had taken written across her features. There was so much he wanted to say to her, to offer her comfort, to speak of how worried he’d been, and more. Even if she would accept those words though, now was not the time or place. Instead, he offered her something more simple. “My apologies I wasn’t here sooner. He was using immense magic to obscure himself from my power. But I could see you.” 

“Grand General Swain,” she remained distant and respectful, and it oddly pained him. “He told me you had become a monster. I can see why.” He felt monstrous, his longing and desires for her nearly overflowing moments after her clash with her own father. 

Marcus had been right, he had been preparing Katarina for something. So he’d kept his power hidden from her, waiting until he was sure. Tonight had forced his hand though, but it didn’t matter, all of this had proved him correct about her capabilities. But the time he’d spent observing her through his birds, and their brief interactions, had caused him to feel things for her that he hadn’t for another in so long. “It’s true I am not the man I once was, but I took this magic to topple the tyrant Darkwill and rebuild the Trifarix. Because no one person should have total power.” Even as spoke, he watched her beginning to come to terms with what had transpired. That spark, that fight, it was what he’d come to secretly adore. “Which is why Noxus needs an assassin who can get to anyone, be it a tyrant, a king, or even me. Whatever I may become. Your intervention in Demacia has saved many lives. You have served your Empire proudly. And you have earned my trust even with my own life and death.” It was done, his fate had been left in her hands. If only he could place his heart there as well. 

“You don’t have to worry. I’ve seen your power.” There she was, the incomparable Sinister Blade, unbroken by her trials. Though he would still watch over her to make sure all was truly well. “I know exactly how I’ll kill you.” She really was breathtaking. “So what now?”

“Now you go home, recover, I’ll start the search for the rest of this conspiracy.” His birds were already on their way throughout the city with new targets. “When they're found, I’ll let you know” 

“Right.” It seemed as though she waited just a little too long before turning to leave him, as though she were waiting for more to be said. Or maybe he was being foolish. Still. 

“Katarina…” The word left his lips before he could stop it, causing her to turn back. “I am… glad you’re unharmed.” His tongue felt thick and clumsy, the words coming haltingly. Imperceptibly, she’d inched closer to him, looking up, eyes full of open expectation. Gently he grasped her hand in his remaining human one, thoughts racing as she didn’t pull away. Could it be that somehow she echoed his feelings however impossible he believed it? 

“Say it,” she whispered, a prayer and a plea. 

“I think…that is to say…I….” It seemed his favorite assassin had run out of patience though as he found himself suddenly wrapped in her arms, her lips pressed to his. The world stopped, and they were lost in each other, despite the horrors of the day. 

When they parted, she smiled softly up at him. “You really thought I hadn’t noticed? I would think your best assassin would be able to observe that much.” 

"Was I so obvious," he asked, still holding her close, wanting to keep her there forever. 

"Terribly." He would've debated that; Grand General Jericho Swain was not some naive fool with his heart on his sleeve, but she started kissing him again. Then nothing else seemed all that important. 

[deannaistyping]

Petty Officer Chris Blake was not a doctor. Trained in first aid, sure. An actual, qualified surgeon? Not so much. His ‘skills’ came from logical decision-making and good advice from NAVCOM fleet medical. There was rarely a day he didn’t have contact with the actual doctors back in an office on the mainland.

This wasn’t to say Chris was underprepared for medical emergencies. He kept up his studies, frequently attended training courses when he had the chance. When Chloe was (finally) down to sleep, and Sally taking a well deserved nap, he spent his time next to the baby monitor going through textbooks upon textbooks. Papers upon papers.

Chris Blake was not a doctor.

But he was making sure he was a damn fine medic.

The first hiccup of a troubled baby pepped through the monitor. The textbooks were unceremoniously dumped on the floor in a race to Chloe, before Sally could crack her eyes open.

[jerichocopuffs]

so it recently occurred to me that I forgot to share most of the fics I’ve written over the past year on here. whoops.

this story was written for League Big Bang 2022 and expands on Swain’s backstory, focusing on his relationship with his demon Raum. more info down below.

---------------

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: League of Legends Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Jericho Swain, Raum (League of Legends), Beatrice (League of Legends), General Marcus du Couteau (briefly) Additional Tags: The Black Rose (League of Legends), Expanding on canon, Canon Compliant, Occult, Runeterran demonology, Rituals, Noxian noble family dynamics, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Conquest War, Imperialism, Non-Graphic Violence, Non-graphic death, Near Death Experiences, Visions, Demons, Demonic Possession, Faustian Bargain, Coup d'état Summary:

Jericho Swain was never one to believe in myths or fairy tales, nor was he fascinated by occult teachings. But ever since he was a little boy, he heard something whispering in the shadows. He believes it's only childish imagination, however, the whispers follow wherever his conquests lead him and he hears them after each battle. When he nearly dies in Ionia, he finally realizes that the whispers belong to an ancient and powerful demon prowling the shadows of the empire. Defeated and cast out, he sees no other option than to seek out this demon and try to wield its power for the good of Noxus.

An exploration of the relationship between Swain and his demon Raum, how they found each other and the deal they struck.

[reverieparacosm]

SO, HEAR ME OUT -

I started playing League of Legends more actively again and I started playing Swain... He is kinda HOT. He is evil, dark, old and would probably kill me. Perfect husband ❤️

I think I'll have to write some fanfiction

[swaine-apologist]

i want someone to write a fanfiction of a bunch of the nnk: wotww/dotdd characters going to olive garden. they dont even get in the building for a half hour because swaine makes the guardian of worlds put him on their shoulders so he can grafitti the sign to say "oliver garden" while esther frantically tells them to PLEASE get down theyre not even being SUBTLE and oliver zones out. meanwhile gallus is like hey guys wanna watch me make everyone's plates spin around in a platornado and all the mornstar guardians eagerly ask him to PLEASE do so while their disgruntled waiter stands 5 feet away mourning his job. aapep can't figure out why they dont have mice meals for him. cerboreas is trying to lie under the table like a normal dog but he takes up like 5 tables. they get the salad and the waiter starts grinding cheese and swaine refuses to let anyone tell the waiter to stop until there are 2 blocks worth of cheese shredded onto the salad and esther is fucking LIVID. then everyones like wait didnt we invite the conductor and you hear a rift open from the distance and he walks in with rift cerboreas on a leash like haha sorry im late i was taking the dog for a walk and guardian of worlds has to remind themself that some battles arent worth having

[lovelybrooke]

MORE Marcassin headcanons.

a/n: sorry for being gone for two months, I've been busy with life and all that jazz. Thanks for liking and supporting my stuff. Also, sorry for the weird formatting, this is the first time not writing on mobile. I've also been thinking about writing some yandere Ni No Kuni stuff, both romantic and platonic, so if you're interested, please tell me.

Marcassin has the BEST relationship with his familiars and wants you to have a good relationship with them too. Even if you have familiars of your own, he wants you and his familiars to get along well, which makes sense due to familiars being a part of your heart. If you have familiars of your own, he will try to develop a strong relationship with them as well.

He’s sensitive to the sun due to living in Hamelin, which is also why he is extremely pale. While he likes exploring with you, it’s a struggle to take him anywhere that has even the tiniest bit of sun since his sink starts to burn up immediately. You have to apply copious amounts of sunscreen to his body just so he doesn’t get a terrible sun burn.

Marcassin is insecure about his magical ability, even after becoming a great sage so he would love to help you with training or practice of any sort when it comes to magic. He thinks it’s embarrassing, but he actively seeks out your approval and praise when it comes to a lot of things, not just magic.

Marcassin never had a strong female presence in his life, due to not having a mother, however this does not reflect on his treatment of women once he becomes an adult. Even as a child he treated any women around him with the utmost respect. I’d like to think this is because when his father was alive, he taught Marcassin to respect anyone, regardless of gender, appearance, whatever.

I also believe that Marcassin has serious thoughts on adopting a child of his own and being a single father. Not necessarily because he didn’t want to have biological children of his own but because he genuinely loved his father looked up to him for being able to take care of him and his brother. While his father wasn’t always there for his children, Marcassin even at a young age was able to understand the care he had for him and Gascon and he wanted to be able to reflect that on his own children.

Even once he meets you, he still has these feelings. Unless you REALLY want biological children, he would like to adopt at least to children with you. If you don’t want children at all in the future, he would at least like for you to help him take care of children around Hamelin with him. He really just wants to leave a lasting effect and be there for a child, something he was robbed of at such a young age.

Marcassin takes really good care of his hair and would love for you to brush it or play with it. If you know any intricate hairstyles and offer to do them on him, he will fall even more for you. He honestly thinks doing each other’s hair it deep sign of love and he would love to do your hair and would be so gentle while doing it. He supports you in your hair journey, whether that means letting it grow out, cutting it, dying it, whatever. He draws the line at cutting his hair though.

[writingtoforgetreality]

Saturday Night Special (Jensen Ackles x Reader)

[Actors-Masterlist]

Summary: Tonight would be your first time singing on stage. And if it were not enough, you wanted to dedicate your song to a special someone. Expressing your feelings was not one of your strengths but putting them into a song? That worked quite well.

Words: 2,339

Warnings: best friend!Rob, fluff, just a cute story with a lot of fluff, so much fluff, language, in this story you wrote “Song On Fire”, (Y/L/N) = your last name

Song used: “Song On Fire” by Nickelback

If you like my work & wanna support me: a coffee would be highly appreciated ❤

Another Convention weekend. Another Saturday. Which meant that the concert would be tonight. And you had asked the Swain boys if they could squeeze you into their set list. Wanting it to be a surprise, you begged them to keep quiet for now. Practicing was done in a room separate from where the others were.

“You wrote that?” Rob asked after you handed each of them a page with the notes & lyrics.

“Yeah?” suddenly, you were unsure. “Is it bad?” now growing concerned that maybe whatever you wrote was absolute crap.

“No, oh my God, not at all. This is perfect.” he was still eyeing the words closely. “We got this, right guys?” turning around to shoot a look at the rest of the band, you saw all of them nodding. Releasing a breath you did not know you were holding, you took a seat next to them & started explaining what you had in mind for your performance.

“So, I thought that you could maybe do some backing vocals, Robbie? I think I’d be less nervous if you did.”

“Of course, no problem.” immediately being on board, the two of you arranged who would sing what. Billy, Mike & Stephen were already onto practicing the notes & from what you had heard so far, it sounded great.

“I hope I won’t mess up.” chuckling quietly, you prayed that tonight would turn out to be fine. Suddenly, Rob’s eyes shot up to yours, shock written all over his features. “What?” you asked him when he did nothing but stare at you.

“This is about Jensen, isn’t it?” he hit the nail right on the head with his assumption. Rob had been one of your closest friends & it was hard to keep something from him. A while ago, he picked up on the fact that you liked Jensen. A lot. Of course he teased the living shit out of you, but he always made sure that he was serious about one thing. That you should tell him how you felt. Every time, you had reasoned that he could never like you back. Besides, you were horrible when it came to talking about your feelings. Obviously, Rob was aware of that. But the lyrics in front of him were proof enough.

“It doesn’t matter.” looking back down to your lap to focus your gaze on something else than Rob’s face.

“Yeah, it does.” he started. “’Cause he’ll realize it’s about him.” stating casually.

“And why is that?” furrowing your eyebrows & snapping your head back up again. The man in front of you simply rolled his eyes at your question.

“I’ve told you a million times that he likes you, too.” before you had time to disagree with him, he kept going. “And Jensen knows about you liking him.”

“Wait. How?” eyes growing wide at Rob’s statement, you believed that someone had spilled the beans to him. Not a lot of people knew about your crush. And if Rob told Jensen, he would not be alive much longer to experience tonight’s concert.

“You’re not really being subtle about it, you know?”

“Am I really that obvious?” sighing loudly, you put your face in your hands. Great, you had been embarrassing yourself for the longest time & nobody had mentioned it to you.

“Only if you pay close attention. Which Jensen does.” Rob’s eyes showed sincerity. Maybe he was right. And if he was not then Jensen would not understand the song. Win-win situation, right?

~at the concert~

The last notes of the song were played & you knew that it was your turn to hop on stage in a second. Nobody of the cast had a clue about you singing tonight. Now, being backstage, your nervousness was awful. Your hands were trembling & you were scared that you would forget the words. What if you embarrassed yourself in front of such a huge audience? Yes, Louden Swain was there to back you up but still. You were the one who had to deliver perfectly.

“Thanks guys. Actually, we have a little surprise tonight. Well, it’s not so little. You guys know that a lot of the cast joins us on stage every now & then. For this concert, we’ll have a debut. Someone who has never sung in front of people before. But we know that you love her a lot. (Y/N) (Y/L/N) everyone!” Rob yelled into the microphone & when he finished, the crowd broke out into cheers. The applause was insane. Nobody knew that you were that much into music.

Taking a deep breath, you started taking the steps to the stage. The curtain opened enough for you to walk through & immediately, you were blinded by the bright lights that illuminated the stage. Yet, your smile was wide. Risking a look to the side, you saw the rest of the cast with shocked faces, all watching you. Jensen was in front & for a second, your eyes locked. In this moment, the cheering of the crowd died down & you remembered who you were doing this for. Him. His smile was enough for you. Billy nudged you slightly & handed you a guitar. Thanking him quietly, you walked over to the microphone Rob had already prepared for you. His nod calmed you down. He knew you would be just fine.

“Um, hi guys. This is weird.” chuckling, the audience soon followed. “Like, I know I’m confident when it comes to panels & all…but standing here, knowing that I’m about to sing. Well, let’s just say I’m a little nervous.” your voice was shaking a little & your fans knew that it was not normal for you. Usually, you were the one to crack a joke, to throw in a sarcastic comment. Right now, though, you were stiff. “Anyway, enough of that crap.” laughing shortly. “Y’all wanna listen to some music, right?” the audience agreed loudly, whistles & cheers could be heard all across the room. “You haven’t heard this song yet. It’s an original, I wrote it not too long ago & I hope you’ll like it. This is called “Song On Fire”.” waiting for Stephen’s sign, you started off the song together. Playing the guitar quietly. And while you shakingly made your way through the first few words, you gathered yourself enough to sing the rest perfectly.

The first words that come out

And I can see this song will be about you

I can’t believe that I can breathe without you

But all I need to do is carry on

The next line I write down

And there’s a tear that falls between the pages

I know that pain’s supposed to heal in stages

But it depends which one I’m standing on

 I write lines down, then rip them up

Describing love can’t be this tough

 I could set this song on fire, send it up in smoke

I could throw it in the river and watch it sink in slowly

Tie the pages to a plane and send it to the moon

Play it for the world, but it won’t mean much

Unless I sing this song to you

 When you sang these words, you made sure to look in Jensen’s direction & again, your eyes locked. This time for a lot longer. It was as if you two were the only ones in this room. Just you & him. Pouring your heart & soul into this one song. Hoping he would realize what you really felt for him.

 I’m dying to show you

This could end happily ever after

There doesn’t ever have to be disaster

And all you have to do is sing along

 I write lines down, then rip them up

Impossible describing love

 I could set this song on fire, send it up in smoke

I could throw it in the river and watch it sink in slowly

Tie the pages to a plane and send it to the moon

Play it for the world, but it won’t mean much

Unless I sing this song to you

 Rob’s & your voice blended together seamlessly & the band managed to make this song sound like it had been one of theirs. Like you had played it together a million times before.

 I could set this song on fire

Sing this song to you

I could set this song on fire

 Light this old guitar on fire, I’d still hear the notes

Drown the melody in water, I’d still hear its ghost

Sing it with somebody else, but we’d be out of tune

Play it for the world, but it won’t mean much

 I could set this song on fire, send it up in smoke

I could throw it in the river and watch it sink in slowly

Tie the pages to a plane and send it to the moon

Play it for the world, but it won’t mean much

Unless I sing this song to you

 I could set this song on fire

Unless I sing this song to you

I could set this, I could set this

I want to sing this song to you

I could set this song on fire

Sing this song to you

I could set this, I could set this

 The last part, Rob let you sing alone & as you belted out the last words, your eyes closed briefly. Only after hearing the cheers & the clapping did you open them again. Immediately, Rob went over & took you in for a quick hug. Whispering in your ear how proud he was of your performance. That you nailed it.

“Wow, guys. Thank you.” you were overwhelmed by the response of the fans. But your adrenaline washed away when you noticed Jensen no longer watching you from the side of the stage. Still, you had a smile on your face. There was no way you could let the people see that something was wrong.

“That was (Y/N) (Y/L/N) with “Song On Fire”. Let her hear you guys!” Rob urged the audience on & again, the room erupted into loud cheers. Waving before leaving the stage, your smile fell the moment the curtain closed behind you.

“(Y/N)?” there was not even time for you to drown in self pity when a voice yelled for you. Turning around, you were shocked to see Jensen jogging up to you. His hands went to cup your cheeks. Pulling your face closer to his, your eyes closed as his lips pressed softly onto yours. Was this really happening right now? Melting into his touch, you could feel yourself getting lost in the moment. Fireworks were going off inside of you. No matter how many times you had imagined this exact moment, nothing could compare to what you were feeling right this instance. When the two of you needed to pull away for air, you found yourself staring straight into his beautiful eyes.

“God, I hope this song was about me or I just embarrassed myself.” he whispered, afraid that someone else might listen in on your conversation even though you were completely alone backstage. A sheepish smile spread across your face & you interrupted his rambling by kissing him again. If you had known that a song was all it took for the two of you to take that next step then you would have performed on stage way sooner. His hands were at your waist, yours around his neck. Standing close to each other, scared, that you might lose each other. Which would never happen. Not that you finally found to each other.

“I’m sorry.” you started apologizing to which Jensen only furrowed his eyebrows.

“What for?” he had no clue why you felt like you had to say sorry.

“I’m really not good at this entire feelings stuff.” giggling at how stupid you sounded, your eyes shot to the floor.

“I don’t know, that was pretty damn romantic.” he joked & made you laugh with his words. True. Dedicating a song to someone was probably one of the most romantic things one could do.

“Jensen?” your forehead pressed against his chest. Arms tightening around you, he enjoyed having you this close to him. Rob had told him that you liked him & after paying more attention to it, he could see it, too. Yet, he was too much of a coward to do anything about it. Because he got incredibly shy whenever you were around. You could feel him humming so you continued. “I’m actually planning on recording the song. In the studio & all. Jason offered to help me.”

“That’s gre-“ you did not even let him finish because you had another idea in your head.

“And I wanted to ask you to be a part of it.” pulling away slightly to catch his reaction, you were surprised to find a shocked face. “Of course only if you want to. I get it if you don-“

“I’d love to.” his look changed into pure adoration for you. You swore that this man took your breath away by simply looking at you. All of a sudden, Jensen started laughing.

“What?”

“This is gonna be such a cliché story to tell at upcoming Conventions.” he was right. Honestly, it would make a good plot for a movie. Shaking your head at him, you hugged him tighter again. No way in hell would you ever let him go. It took you a lot of courage to take that step & you were more than happy that your plan was successful. You were glad that Louden Swain supported your idea. You thanked Rob for being a great best friend. Finally, Jensen & you had each other. And as much as you loved the idea of it, you were sure that the fans would freak out even more. They had been shipping you for ages. After all, you guys had a connection nobody else shared but everybody else noticed. You guys were bound to end up together from the very beginning.

Published (05/06/2021) by Cathy

✨MY Ko-fi PAGE✨

Tags: @peachescream06 (thanks for your support <3)

[zdux]

Chapter One is up! It took a little longer than I was intending, but it’s posted now! 

[sugarskies]

“I didn’t care that I’d left Father, I didn’t care that I’d left Hamelin or Autumnia, but I cared that I left you. I always have. Can’t tell you how scared I was when I realized you’d been brokenhearted.”

“You called me a ‘sniveling little wimp’ and walked out of the room.”

“Well, what can I say? I’ve got a bit of an attitude problem.”

After returning Prince Marcassin's belief, the team decides to spend a night in Hamelin before beginning their search for Kublai. But Swaine doesn't find it so easy to get to sleep, and it might just take a heart-to-heart with his little brother to understand why.

[noxnoctisanima]

[tragedybunny]

Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In - Chapter 5 - Let's Go Crazy

❤ Hello lovelies. I'm still working on this as you can see. Slowly but surely. I hope you enjoy. Sorry it takes so long.

Katarina Du Couteau desires only one thing in life, to make her own destiny beyond her family's legacy and manipulations. To that end, she accepts a job with Noxus Holdings, working under CEO Jericho Swain. It isn't long though before she finds herself challenged in ways she never expected and making choices that will alter her life forever.

The diner smelled like grease, fried eggs, and strong coffee, the perfect cure for a hangover from hell. Throwing on yoga pants and a t-shirt, I’d grabbed a Basilift and headed there after we’d negotiated where to meet. It was a tense few texts but eventually, we reached an agreement that we both wanted to talk it out. My stomach flip-flopped and the blazing sun outside made my eyes burn. Sunglasses still firmly in place, I followed the waitress to a corner booth and ordered a coffee while I waited for Garen. The menu promised me all sorts of glorious delights from fried potatoes to pancakes to giant omelettes. I did decide against ordering what was a very tempting looking Bloody Mary.

When Garen finally slid into the booth across from me several minutes later, I pulled the glasses off and set them aside to look at him. “Hi.” His brow was furrowed and his blue eyes were stormy.

“Hi.” I shot back just in time for the waitress to show up with the coffee pot. Bless her. I stared at him over the brim of my newly filled mug trying to understand what exactly I felt. “So.”

“Kat.” He exhaled, a sound full of frustration. “Look, I know I wasn’t completely in the right last night, but we both had a hand in things.”

“No. No way you’re laying this on me. You stormed out on a perfectly decent evening.” Anger, that’s what I was feeling. “You absolutely embarrassed me last night.”

“Oh, it’s all my fault? You’ve been pushing me away and I’m supposed to just be calm while you eye-fuck the CEO and your slimy coworkers cheer?” He snapped.

I gasped in shock, he’d never shown me an aggressive side before this. My mind whispered that maybe this was exactly what I deserved. I suppressed it and hid behind my indignation. “That is not what happened! You’re just upset I’m not doing what you want, you’re trying to control me like my family.”

“Enough Kat.” he stood abruptly as faces from all around turned to stare at us. “Clearly now’s not a good time to talk about this.

“Clearly” I gazed out the window, rage receding into heart-rending sadness.

“I’ll call.” Silence was the only response I had for him, continuing to stare out into the busy street. I heard him walk away just in time for the waitress to reappear.

I ordered a massive omelette to console my gurgling stomach and aching heart. It arrived quickly enough with a sympathetic look from the waitress that I could have done without. Eating in solitude, I scrolled my socials a bit and told myself everything was fine.

After paying and leaving a rather generous tip of hush money, I caught another Basilift back home and shambled up the stairs to my apartment. I wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep and pretend this was all a bad dream. That probably wasn’t going to happen though, and neither was kick-boxing. I was in no mood to get tossed for excessive force again. Instead, I drifted in listless, empty hours.

Morning had passed into afternoon and I paced my apartment looking for anything to occupy my mind. All I found was my own continued seething and moving pictures of the two of us out of my sight. My phone buzzed and I leaped on it, eager for the distraction or another chance to fight this out.

Talon’s signature unreadable expression greeted me along with his message. “Hey Sis. So you left the practice and now you’re too good for us? Cassie told me to write that.”

A small pulse of shame made me forget my other situation for the moment. I hadn’t thought about them much at all as I tried to navigate this new way of life. But it wasn’t the first time we had gone without speaking for a while. I had to laugh too though, the statement was absolutely typical Cassie. “Sorry, it’s been hectic.” No time like the present though, and I did still need a distraction. “Want to meet up? The Hidden Shroom, get some tapas.”

“Cassie just rolled her eyes, so yeah, I guess.” Sounded like she would be real fun tonight.

“Give me two hours.” I needed to shower and get something decent to wear. There was no way I was going to show any weakness in front of Cassie.

The Hidden Shroom was a trendy tapas and craft cocktails place in the heart of downtown Valoran City. They say that KD/A ate there after their last show in town. Usually, it’s a pretty exclusive spot that’s a nightmare to get into, but Cassie had her fangs pretty deep into the owner, so the bouncer just waved me in with an impatient look as I skipped the line and darted through the door.

The two of them were at a booth on the second floor, away from the thrumming dance floor and hectic bar on the ground level, already one drink in. I slid in next to Talon, consciously choosing to face Cassie instead of sharing the space with her. “Well, it looks like you haven’t fallen apart completely at least.” Cassie needled and I forgot for a second that they didn’t know. No one did. It only took a moment for me to decide to keep it that way.

“Jealous I’ve got the less stressful gig?” I smirked, happy to trade barbs that were mostly meaningless to me at this point.

“Whatever.” She looked back down at the menu.

A waiter carrying a single glass who looked like the type that was ‘being a server until his acting career took off” arrived. They’d taken the liberty of getting me a drink as well, a strange but pleasant surprise. Haplessly he flirted with Cassie a bit while taking our orders. Poor thing didn’t realize that was probably the only tip he’d get from her tonight.

Sitting next to me, Talon was as quiet as usual. “Thanks for the invite.” I prodded.

For a second, he gave me a teasing grin. “It’s been a minute since you thought of us, huh?”

“Sorry again.” Even if Cassie vehemently denied wanting me around we were…used to a certain dynamic, a routine between the three of us. “So what’s the latest?”

“They’re fighting more than ever.” Cassie replied dryly before Talon could open his mouth.

I shrugged. I knew she wanted to bait me out and blame me, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Our parents’ relationship was a mess of their own making. “That’s what they do. Didn’t I hear that case of your’s got thrown out?” They’d been working together, big client, facing a disastrous lawsuit. They’d managed to have the whole thing scuttled.

That got a triumphant smile from across the table. “All my brilliant work. Father was so proud.”

Next to me, Talon huffed, but I elbowed him slightly and let her carry on. Once she’d been able to brag long enough she’d be easier to handle. Sure enough, after a few minutes of talking about all the documents she’d managed to get excluded to the point where the plaintiff had nothing left, she wore herself down and he took advantage to cut in. “And that’s that. How are things with you? Surviving the notorious Mr. Swain?”

My brain scrambled at the thought of him and I shook my head to chase the feeling away. “Yeah, it’s not bad. He’s tough, but I seem to know what he wants.” Cringing, I felt my cheeks turn pink at my phrasing. What the hell was wrong with me?

“And how's Garen?” Cassie asked with poisoned sweetness as she lifted her martini glass. She had never been his biggest fan.

“Great, got in the city softball league. We’re making some big plans.” The half-truths were easier to disguise than a lie, and I couldn’t give them the real truth just yet. Maybe I just wasn’t ready for her gloating. And it wasn’t like we were really broken up. At least I wasn’t sure we were. It was none of her business anyway.

A fake gagging noise was the response I received and I rolled my eyes in return. “That’s really…nice.” Talon, as usual, tried to walk the middle road between us.

I sighed, letting my exasperation get the better of me. “You know what, let’s get another round and bring this down a notch.”

“Mmhmm, I’ll pay. I know you’ve got it rough with rent and all.” Her voice was full of fake sympathy.

I chucked a neatly rolled napkin at her and laughed when it made contact. Next to me Talon gracefully looked away and pretended to see nothing. “Sounds good, I’m happy to accept your charity.”

For the next couple of hours, we ate, and drank, and snipped, and complained, and laughed. It was odd, almost like how you’d imagine a normal family could behave. I really had done the right thing by leaving, the distance was good for us. When we were ready to go, Talon enthusiastically hugged me and Cassie gave me a half-hearted side squeeze. “That’s enough, let’s not get all syrupy.” She admonished, pulling away quickly.

“Right.” I gave them one last look as we all headed for the door. “I’ll see you two around. We should do this again soon.”

Talon nodded but Cassie was already checking her phone. Too good to last I guess. The mixed emotions plagued me all the way home. I settled in for a night of trashy TV and thought hard about the bottle of wine in my pantry before deciding against it. I needed to be back on top of my game for Monday. There was no telling what would be the next project I was assigned.

Turning on one of my secret little faves, teams of five random people have to battle it out in an arena with armor pads and foam weapons. They have the best arguments and breakdowns, no team ever gets along. It served as a fair enough distraction, but as soon as I turned it off and had to face silence again, I thought of him. Anger and sadness both threatened to overwhelm me.

I unlocked my phone and thought for a long minute about what to say. Nothing came though. Despite my roiling emotions, I couldn't bring myself to own any part of that incident. I closed the app and dumped it in my pocket before heading to bed. Tomorrow, I promised myself, I would deal with this tomorrow. The time would give me clarity. Finally, before settling in for the night, I put my engagement ring in a box on my dresser.

Monday came and with it, as I predicted, another task and contrary to my promise, no conversation with Garen. This one was much less intense, simply reviewing some employee conduct policies for legality. “Nothing earth-shattering, but I trust you to get it done efficiently.” Mr. Swain had said, passing me the now familiar binder. Something was off though, his signature intensity was lacking. I was a little bewildered by how to respond to the much less formidable man sitting across the desk from me. Was it all a ruse to test new employees or had he seen some failing in me and decided to write me off? Fingers brushed against mine leaving a trail of warmth. “We will…touch base later this week.” He looked away, all attention suddenly on his monitor. “That will be all for now.”

The odd interaction was only added to my growing agitation. I dove headfirst into the new assignment rather than risk failure, if indeed his view of me was shifting. It was also my way of giving myself an excuse to put off the other pressing matter in my life. For the next few days, Garen and I still didn’t physically speak at all, instead exchanging terse texts that danced around the issue. By Thursday night I felt as though I’d run a marathon, my body worn down with exhaustion by the mental load. Finally pulling out the pantry wine , I fought tears and lost myself in another crappy show. With all my focus, including some nights at home to give me something else to think about, I’d finished reviewing the new policies that morning. On top of everything else, my day had ended with a meeting with Samira that was as joyful as ever. We’d exchanged tense barbs as we discussed how we were going to distribute work amongst our team members. Alyssa was still high on my list as dependable and she was friendly with me despite Samira, something I couldn’t say for the rest of the team. Somehow this had become our responsibility, Mr. Swain declaring it without Darius’s input, much to his clear annoyance. I’d given up trying to figure out what any of this meant at this point. We’d ended in another near shouting match over some slight I couldn’t quite recall.

Halfway through the bottle of wine, I realized I couldn’t do it again tomorrow. I was on a treadmill running myself ragged and I needed to get off, even if it left me with guilt and anxiety. My Father would’ve been livid at the notion of me taking a “mental health” day. Decision made, I sent Darius a quick text before I could waffle on it, apologizing and claiming to be slightly under the weather. Of course, he didn’t mind, Darius was the sane, firm but fair, mirror to Mr. Swain’s demanding harshness. I wondered how they’d ended up working so closely together given how opposite they seemed. Maybe he was selected in a conscious attempt at balance.

With that task accomplished, I went back to my wine, letting go and ignoring the voice whispering that I really should call Garen. With my alarm turned off, I slept hours late that morning, my body trying to recover its sense of well-being. Something close to peace washed over me as I drank my morning coffee, once I finally made it out of bed. Today I wouldn’t worry about Garen, work, or anything. I was going to think of myself only. After that, I’d figure out what came next and what I really wanted to do.

With that in mind, I slipped on some comfortable clothes and spent my morning with a good book before heading out on an excursion for a few new outfits and accessories. My look needed updating, another way to step away from the family business. As I returned home and put away my acquisitions, I felt my stomach rumble. It reminded me I’d eaten nothing but granola bars that morning. But in the spirit of self-care, I knew just what wanted, and it was only a couple of blocks away.

Between the towering apartment buildings in my neighborhood, and on some of the ground floors of them, were little shops and restaurants, with the odd food truck pulled over to service the crowds on these pleasant afternoons. The scent of fresh fried chicken wafted down the street as I meandered toward my destination, Birdio’s. The small takeaway joint was a hidden gem specializing in chicken any way you could want it, sandwiches, wings, and of course buckets of fried goodness. The beer in my fridge and a lot of greasy delectableness seemed to be the best way to end the day. I stepped into a line that stretched out the door and onto the sidewalk, a crowd already having taken up the small inside space. The sun warmed the concrete and I gloried in it. This really was the best idea I’d had in a long time and I was starting to feel strangely at peace. I could even start to contemplate working things out with Garen, finally admitting to myself how much I’d missed that steadfast presence over the last few days. The line inched forward and I pulled out my phone. “Hey, I miss you. Let’s meet and talk tomorrow. Come over in the morning?”

My heart thudded a little bit as I waited for a response. It didn’t take long though for a ding from my phone to end my anticipation. “Sure, but let’s be ready to really talk it out.”

No accusing, no passive aggressiveness, this was as good a place to start as any. Everything was falling into place and it felt as though the universe was on my side for once. And I was almost at the front door of Birdio’s, the heavenly smells now almost tangible.

“Ms. Du Couteau, you seem to be feeling better.” Never before had I wanted to sink into the ground and disappear as much as right then, hearing that familiar, dark voice behind me.

With horror, I turned to face him. “I…I guess I am. It was more of a headache actually.”

“Hmm, really. I thought it was some sort of mild cold Darius had said. Curious.” His expression was unreadable as he stared at me.

“Well…” I went quiet, there was no way I was going to not be fired.

After an excruciating moment of silence, he spoke again. “Relax Ms. Du Couteau, I will keep your little secret out of any official record.” A devilish smile spread across his face and I breathed a sigh of relief. “If.”

“If?” A new anxiety took over as I tensely awaited what terms he could offer.

“You let me join you in your spot in line.” He gestured to the enormous crowd that had gathered behind me by this point.

I forced myself to speak, realizing the immensity of him letting this pass. Part of me wanted to ask why, but questioning it didn’t seem wise. “Yeah, sure.” I stepped back slightly, leaving a gap for him to step into.

Instead, he stayed at a distance, studying me. He was clearly fresh from the office, suit jacket and tie absent and his shirt sleeves rolled up, allowing his prosthetic arm to glint in the late afternoon sun. “I was only joking with you Ms. Du Couteau. Use of employee personal time is entirely up to your discretion. I see I’ve made you uncomfortable though. Let me buy you dinner to make up for it.”

At this rate, he was probably thinking he'd be getting my notice on Monday. I mentally kicked myself knowing I looked like an emotional child. "You don't have to, it's fine." I added what I hoped was a convincing smile

"I insist. I'll even give you a lift back." He seemed genuinely penitent for the joke gone wrong.

"On the motorcycle?" I gave him a skeptical look.

"Would you expect anything less?" He smiled back at me and it was the most genuine one I'd ever seen from him. My mind reeled and my throat tightened.

"Fine, I accept.” He slid in line in front of me just as we were able to cross the threshold.

The smell of deep-fried delicious enveloped us as soon as we were inside. The chaos, cacophony, and scorching heat, together with the scent made me almost forget about the awkwardness between us. An ill-advised amount of chicken and fries were ordered and I thought of the Everfrost ale waiting in my fridge, the perfect accompaniment. Mr. Swain paid as promised and stepping to the side, we waited for our food

The silence that settled between us seemed strained despite no real hard feelings about earlier. "Sooooo, come here often?" I instantly regretted how cliche it sounded and nervously ran a hand through my hair.

"Not as much as I would like, I tend to be at the office late." He seemed almost like he was admitting some secret sin. As though it wasn't well known he was essentially always there.

"And yet today you're here. You must have sensed an employee being dishonest since you seem to know everything anyway." I needled him but it was fair play for earlier.

"I can still have you terminated you know. " He shot back without hesitating.

"Well let me know then so I don't bother coming in on Monday." The order was up and our little verbal sparring match was cut short. The thrill of it remained with me as we collected our prize and pushed back out into the late afternoon sun. Mr. Swain led the way to what was thankfully not actually his motorcycle but a decidedly expensive SUV.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God." I mumbled before I could think better of it.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure I have it the next time." That wicked grin was back and I rolled my eyes. "You can learn to love it Ms. ... hmm that seems terribly formal out here. would you mind if I just called you Katerina?"

The air rushed from my lungs at the sound of my name spoken by that lustrous voice. "You can just call me Kat. Everyone does." I hurried to load the food in the back of the SUV and get seated. For some reason, I found the weight of his stare unbearable.

He climbed into the seat next to me. "Kat." It was as though he were growing used to the sound of it.

"Jericho." I answered back, if this was how it was might as well make it even.

Something indistinguishable passed over his features and he began to drive. It was only a few blocks to Bastion Towers and it flew by. The car halted in the unloading area but I hesitated before getting out. "You live alone? "

"I do." There was a note of suspicion in his voice.

A notion overtook me. It didn't seem right somehow, just walking away and leaving him by himself after he had paid for everything, even if he had tormented me earlier. "Would you want to come up and have dinner together?" Hell, why not? Today was already weird enough, might as well continue with it.

"That is very kind, but you are in no way obligated." I noticed he didn't look away from the windshield.

"I wasn't thinking of it like that." I was but it didn't feel like the whole truth of it. I stood there awkwardly for a second, fingers entwining with one another to give my hands something to do. "It just might be nice to have a little company."

His neutral expression faltered. "I suppose that does sound nice." It felt like a victory. "Let me park and I'll head up to your place.”

Did I leave it a mess? I panicked for a moment but it was too late to change anything now. "Number 2019," I added, exiting and grabbing the food from the back seat.

After hurrying to the elevator, I ran to my door as soon as it released me. Glancing around between the kitchen and living room I was satisfied it wasn't a total disaster and quickly put the throw blanket I'd been hiding under earlier on the back of the couch. The sight of the dining table haunted me. I hadn't really thought this through. Sitting together there felt too formal. “Like a date,” my mind accused and I ignored it, instead turning to the coffee table. Beer and a little background noise on the TV would make things just casual enough. Another thing I hadn’t thought of, what could he be reading into this? That was ridiculous though, there was no way he can mistake this, or would even want to.

The knocking at the door broke me out of my thoughts and I answered it, utterly unprepared still for this whole mess I'd started. "Hey." Brilliant opener.

Stepping inside, he glanced around making a quick assessment. "Very cozy. Again you surprise Ms. Du – Kat. "

"At some point, you'll learn I'm not just some bloodthirsty lawyer. I mean I am, but I’ve got other things going on too." It seemed we'd gotten comfortable with banter.

"I suppose I'll have to at some point, since you were so kind to invite me up. And I do hope you really didn't feel obligated. Given our roles that could be problematic." There was sincerity to his words. He was right though, it could be a risk for him to be here. Why did he even accept then?

"Of course not. just tired of talking to myself." I laughed it off. What were either of us even doing here, for that matter? “Thought maybe we can put on a movie or something." He settled on the couch while I grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge. "Hope you like Everfrost." He wrested the chicken and fries from the bag and spread it over the coffee table.

"That's perfect." He took one from my hand, our eyes locking for a second before he looked away again.

Settling next to him, I picked up the remote. "Any preferences?"

"I can’t possibly impose any further. You pick." Imposition, obligation, I was beginning to think he didn't actually spend a lot of time around other people.

"All right, but I'm painfully boring." I put on an old black-and-white movie I'd been meaning to watch. Sitting back with a box of chicken and starting to eat, I noticed he kept his posture rigid not really relaxing. The movie played and I took a few drinks from my beer in between bites. Delightful as expected but the silence and the rigidity of him next to me distracted me. "I don't bite, I promise."

"Are you sure? I've seen you and Samira go at it.” He did finally seem to settle a bit after that. "Apologies, it's been a while since I've had casual company." Was there a bit of melancholy in his tone?

So he really didn't spend much time around people. "I'm flattered you made an exception for me." It seemed too heavy to let sit without deflecting.

"I'm just trying to keep my best lawyer on staff.” He slid back into glibness as well.

"Ha. Now you're taking it too far, the flattery is too much.” I took another drink, my mind starting to react to it. “So, what do you typically do with your free time, besides chase down errant employees?"

Setting aside the box of chicken, he took a drink. "Nothing terribly exciting; read, take care of Beatrice, my bird, cook, play the occasional game of chess."

"Chess and cooking, not exactly what I'd imagined." Truthfully, I wasn't sure what to imagine his life was like in his free time. What little of it he gave himself anyway.

"Unfortunately whenever I go to the club, I have too many women throw themselves at me." With a smirk, he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and put one in his mouth.

As he was reaching for his lighter I cut him off. "No way, not in here. I rent this place and that will cost me my security deposit."

He shrugged. "It's not as though your family doesn't have money."

It was the exact wrong thing to say and I could tell my genial expression darkened. "I take care of myself."

He seemed to sense he'd misstepped and I cringed as a pleasant evening seemingly soured. "I'll take it on the balcony." His tone was conciliatory and I instantly felt awful.

"Let me grab another beer and I'll join you." There was no way I could let the CEO walk away knowing I just snapped at him. Grabbing a second one, I handed it to him as I stepped out into the cooling evening air. An apology almost came to my lips but I wasn't sure exactly what to say. His gaze on me left me self-conscious, and for the first time in a long time, I thought about the scar that ran down the left side of my face. Subconsciously, I ran a finger along it.

In silence, he passed me a cigarette and I took it, lighting it on his offered flame. This would become a habit if I wasn't careful. "The view is better from the other Tower." He walked to the edge to glance at the busy streets below. No apology passed between us, but it was like we both understood we'd been wrong and none was needed.

"Now you're just bragging." I joined him at the edge. He was right though, the better part of the sunset was blocked by the Western Tower. I took another drag of the cigarette and flicked ash into the empty bottle he’d brought with. "Too bad I've never seen it."

"I should invite you over some time." He said it almost hastily, like he wanted to rush through the sentiment.

The thought of it caused my mind to blank for a moment and I fought to regain focus. "I'll buy next time, you provide the sunset." My voice sounded thankfully normal.

"Deal ." He smiled and it was genial and diabolical at the same time.

The last of our smoke vanished in the air and we wandered back inside. Another round of beer and more chicken awaiting us. I turned the movie back on just to keep silence at bay. “And what does Kat fill her hours with when she's not at work? You keep telling me you're not always a lawyer."

"Oh nothing crazy; kickboxing, hitting the gym, the occasional good book, old movies.” I gestured at the screen. What would he make of it?

"And seeing your fiancee?" He prompted, a note of curiosity and his voice.

There was a pang of bitterness that came along with thinking of him. "Right, and seeing Garen." I fumbled around trying to change the subject. "Didn't you say you had a bird earlier?"

"Beatrice. she's a raven I rescued." He suddenly exuded affection and I could tell how much she meant to him.

We kept a steady flow of words, drinks, and natural lulls where the movie filled the silence. All the beer and chicken left me warm and drowsy, the last thing I remember was him laughing at some offhand comment I made. And then I was opening my eyes realizing I was covered in the throw blanket from the back of the couch.

Horror filled me and I sat up abruptly. The morning sun was peeping in, giving the apartment a soft glow. I threw the blanket off and glanced around anxiously to make sure he wasn't still there. Instead, I found a note on the coffee table. "Kat - you fell asleep. Hope you don't mind that I gave you the blanket. I'll lock up behind me."

All I wanted in that moment was to curl up and die so badly. But there wasn't time to be mortified I told myself, snatching up my phone from the table. Garen would be here in an hour.

[acrownforaking]

It's 3am and I'm writing s16 of Supernatural. I hate myself, but I also can't stop myself