Chapter Text
There was a brisk chill in the breeze that whipped the blonde mage’s hair across her face, a sigh leaving her lips as she closes her eyes and admires the wind;
“I love it out here. You can see everything.”
The explorer at her side glanced across the pristine white city streets to the passing people. It was true you could see almost the entire kingdom from this place in the castle, thought it was so small in comparison to things he’d seen. He ran his fingers through her long locks, brushing them away from her face. She turned to him her blue eyes meeting his own.
“I’m glad you could make it, Ezreal.” She said, a smile tugging at her lips.
“I never miss anything this big. “ He responded, before lowering his voice. “You should stick with calling me Jarro. I haven’t quite gotten round to discarding the charade-“
“You said you would-“
“I know, I know” Ezreal shifted, rubbing the back of his neck and looking down. “Just… not yet.”
A frown formed upon the mage’s face and she let out a sigh. “You can’t hide it forever, it might just bite you in the ass the longer you keep lying.”
“I know.” He looked up with a more challenging stare. “but sometimes it’s safer for us if they don’t know. Afterall how many know about you-“
“Don’t.” She responded, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t make this about me because you’re afraid of confrontation. I’m so glad I met someone else I could talk to, who could understand me but you need to understand Demacia. Sometimes I wonder if you even understand yourself.”
His gaze did not advert this time, it was hard to look away from the pleading blue eyes that sparkled with so much hope as she spoke even in such a harsh tone; her expression remained soft. He felt like his voice was lost as he stared at her barely mumbling out a response.
“I know.”
She patted his should and smiled a little, “Right, c’mon ‘Jarro lightfeather’. Dinner will be served soon”
He chuckled softly as the female dispersed the tension with a soft punch to his arm, stepping away from the balcony to enter the castle once more.
Despite having been inside the castle a few times, Ezreal was still amazed by the vast halls, lined with silk curtains and plush carpet drapes. Each seemed to be adorned in various honours, with suits of armour or paintings. Amazement filled him as he walked through the halls, excitement with the mystery. Secret corridors, doors, and stairwells could be anywhere. Though he doubted he would get to see many of them at the current point in time. They arrived in the dining hall all too fast for Ezreal. The large autumnal shaded room decked with chandeliers and long ivory tables with their own candelabras and fruit bowls, ready for a good feast of people. Not everyone had arrived yet and as he looked across the faces he found there were not many he recognised. He was disappointed; he liked to pride himself on how many people he knew. His companion had briefly left his side to approach a strict looking woman still dressed in her armour. He couldn’t hear their conversation and he decided best not to eavesdrop, sitting himself down next to Luxana’s brother; Garen.
The knight looked up in surprised. “Jarro lightfeather.”
“My old pal. I finally got to come to one of your Demacian tea parties.”
“Dinner party. Indeed, they finally gave in to lux’s begging.” Responded the knight, looking down at him.
Ezreal shifted, “She really did that? Hah, well I don’t really know that many people and I was hoping you could introduce me. Lux is busy and y’know- you won’t give them quite the same bias of me~”
The knight let out a laughed and punched the blondes shoulder playfully; Ezreal winced. Sometimes the dude didn’t know his own strength.
“You obviously know Lucian being a sentinel- can’t tell if you’d have met his wife before the whole latern story-“
“I heard about that- she’s back?”
“Oho, she is and he won’t shut up about it.” Garen grinned, “normally sits across from me when they come. Do all that icky couple stu-“
He was cut off by a squawk as an eagle flew over his head, its claws reaching out as he let out another shrill shriek in Ezreal’s face. The blonde flinched.
“Valor! To me.”
Abruptly the bird fell silent and circle back, drawing his attention to the owner, a tall lanky female with medium length light brown hair pulled into a ponytail, the golden helmet she normally wore tucked under her arm as she held her gloved hand out for the bird to land on. Her hazel eyes rested on the blonde.
“He’s normally nicer.” She said, “Sometimes he squawks around magic.”
“That’s impossible here.” Garen huffed and turned to face her.
“Improbable. Not impossible.” She responded, glancing at him before meeting Ezreal’s gaze again. “We haven’t really gotten acquainted, have we? I’m Quinn. You must be Jarro; Lux’s boyfriend.”
Garen raised his brows and scoffed.
“Not officially-“ Ezreal laughed.
“but you’re always hanging out and she never shuts up about you. ” She laughed. “Garen, you can’t deny they’re in love, you know what it’s like-“
The knight looked away. “No idea what you’re on about.”
Quinn rolled her eyes. “C’mon so when’s the wedding~ you have to be in love with each other neither of you have the flowers- so just pop the question already.”
Ezreal shifted as she plopped herself down next to him, he twirled around to face her. “Flowers?”
“Oh c’mon you know, one-sided love-“
“Those old folktales.”
“They’re real.”
“No way, I’ve heard all those stories but I’ve never seen them. I think it was just made up by some heartbroken sod –“
Quinn shrugged. “Maybe you’re lucky to be able to think like that.”
Ezreal crossed his arms leaning back in the seat, watching as Valor; the bird shifted to sit on Quinn’s shoulder glaring at him. ‘Could birds sense lies? No way! That’d be stupid.’ He thought, before letting a smirk cross his face as he responded. “Not luck, I have special skills for uncovering the truth-“
“Sure genius.” She laughed as valour leapt up and cawed again flying over towards Lux.
The blond flinched and swatted the bird away despite it coming back for another playful jab. Ezreal smiled slightly as she came over to sit beside Garen.
“We were just talking about you-“ Quinn hummed as valour returned to her shoulder.
Lux’s raised her brows though a smile crossed her lips. “Oh? What’d I do this time.”
“Just wanted to know when you two plan on making it official and maybe even getting some action-“
“Quinn!” Garen’s attention shot to the female scout, in disgust.
Lux’s face turned red and Ezreal looked away. “Oh we’re not- that’s so- We’re not ready for that. “
“You can’t just kick it under the rug. You’re cute together.” Quinn smiled.
Lux giggled, shaking her head. “Well, we’re still not sure. There’s a lot of things to consider.”
Garen shook his head. “That there is. Anyway moving on we talked about the flowers.”
“Oh.”
“Yea those old folktales, I can’t believe some of you still believe in tho-“ Ezreal feel silent seeing lux’s expression drop. “You think they’re real?”
“I know they’re real.”