Chapter 21: Three Plus One

Ezreal woke up, momentarily at ease, until he remembered what had transpired only hours earlier. He yawned, sleepy, and swung his legs out of bed. Getting to his feet, he decided he would confront Lux before any hard feelings had time to fester.

Making his way towards her tent, Ezreal thought about what to say. He would apologise, of course. But what then? How did he tell her she was right about... He couldn't say it. Ezreal wanted to scream; it's not like he was ashamed, was he? Then why couldn't he say it? Ezreal tried to clear his thoughts before he entered Lux's tent - but what he saw in there did a much better job.

Lux was lying on her bed, her head in Riven's lap, who was calmly running her hands through the blonde's hair. Ezreal didn't want to interrupt what appeared to be an intimate moment between the two, but felt that he should really clear the air. "Lux!" He called out.

Lux quickly sat up as her face flushed to a bright pink. It looked quite endearing, really. Riven avoided Ezreal's gaze, clearly embarrassed. "How long were you- How much did you see?"

In spite of himself, Ezreal let out a peal of laughter. "Not long," he said. "Don't worry." He winked at Lux, but then remembered why he was there, and his face clouded over again. "I just wanted to say sorry, really. About last night." Lux raised an eyebrow; a cursory glance at Riven showed she followed suit. "And... You were right. About what you said." Lux looked stunned. "And I didn't mean all that stuff about you liking me. And I think I like... well y'know." Seeing the look on Lux's face told him she most certainly did know.

There was a short silence. Then Lux jumped to her feet and threw herself at Ezreal in a tight embrace. Ezreal noticed he had brought tears to her eyes for a second time that morning. Lux gave a strangled sob. "That's brilliant, Ezreal." Ezreal turned from Lux to Riven, who simply beamed back at him. She wasn't much of a talker, obviously. Lux dropped her voice. "And... I think there's something you need to know about me." She walked up to Riven and boldly grasped her hand. "Riven and I are seeing each other."

It was now Ezreal's turn to be stunned, or at least feign surprise. He had guessed the moment he walked in, but he let Lux have her moment. Once all was said and done, silence fell over the group once more, only, this time it was a companionable one.

It was Riven who piped up first. "So, is there anyone you like?" A shadow fell across both Lux and Ezreal's face, but it was Ezreal who answered.

"Yes, there is."

"Who?" This time Lux cut in. She couldn't help but be protective.

"You don't have to tell us, Ezreal."

"No, it's OK. I think I like Talon." Ezreal was quite surprised when the words came tumbling out of his mout;, it didn't kill him, and the world didn't end. Understating dawned on Riven's face, and she was just about to reply when a new voice chimed in.

"Champions!" It was Ashe. "I've been looking for you. We are about to begin our journey. Please meet us outside my tent to collect your supplies and form into groups. The three begin to stand up. "When you are ready, of course," Ashe hastily added, and with a twinkle in her eyes, she was gone.

"Come on." Lux said. "Let's go meet with the Avarosans." She paused. "And find Talon, I guess."

In the crowd of people outside Ashe's tent, Ezreal became separated from Lux and Riven. Just when he was loudly cursing his luck, he bumped into Talon. His heart simultaneously sank and skipped a beat. Talon smiled down at Ezreal.

"Not too angry to pair up with me, are you?" Ezreal blushed and began to stammer.

"N-no, of course not!" Regaining his voice, he continued "I think we're starting to leave. Shall we head off?" Ezreal wasn't sure how he felt about Talon. On the one hand, he had just confessed his crush on him, but on the other hand, Talon was a feared assassin. Homosexuality aside, was Talon even capable of love? He certainly seemed friendly enough, but Ezreal noticed his behaviour had been erratic ever since they met. Ezreal pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He had no reason to distrust Talon, especially as he had been so forgiving. Talon seemed to find his internal struggle quite amusing.

"Don't think too hard y'know. I don't think your brain is used to it."

Ezreal laughed, a real one, and all thoughts of betrayal left him. He walked off, following the Avarosans, in step with Talon.

Talon grimaced. His interactions with the boy were gaining his trust, but at what cost? He thought back to the night they met, how he was unable to bring down the knife. Why? Talon killed the thoughts buzzed around in his head. They were not useful.