Chapter Text
It was midnight when Kayn woke up due to his nightmares. Again. He didn’t even try to get back to sleep. He already knew what was going to happen. Kayn wouldn’t be able to sleep back and then minutes later, he would see a red light around his room. He would feel an eye watching his back. Next was alternating between Rhaast start provoking kayn and doing nothing but staring. It had been always the same. Not that he was complaining, he enjoyed a company in this kind of moments.But needing a friend was not something an assasin should need.
However, this night there was nothing. Kayn couldn’t feel Rhaast’s presence this time. But it did not mean anything, though. He didn’t need stupid things just as a company. He did not NEED it just because he enjoyed it. He was an assassin – a shadow assassin – and he was supposed to be working alone. Knowing that he will not sleep, Kayn started thinking about his mission he’s supposed to go in the morning and how he was supposed to go to Noxus and complete it without dying or getting caught. He got used to his missions over years and almost all of the missions he went were flawless. But this one was different. When Zed explained the task, saying he shouldn’t be seen, kill or hurt. He was supposed to steal an item AND not kill,not hurt. It would be possible to someone like Kayn but when the security over there was a lot better than the camp that was supposed to protect his scythe. He was just able to take the scythe from it’s wardens almost with no trouble and they didn’t even try to protect it from falling into wrong hands. The whole Ionia would be in a different condition if Noxus just paid more mind to security back then and not now. Kayn wondered if he was the reason why they improved the security. While he was thinking, he heard the wind blow.He shaked his head before falling into the deep thoughts again and got up. He gave himself a few seconds to adjust the darkness and looked around his room. Still, there was no sign of Rhaast. Then his eyes met with the window of his room. There was nothing to do. He still had to wait at least 2 hours to “wake up” and get prepared for the mission.
He then sat back down to his messy bed. There was no way he would go back to sleep so he decided to go on a walk. He got up and opened his window as the wind blew right to his face. It was freezing outside and it seemed like it would rain. But to Kayn, it did not matter. He would be back after a hour anyway. He walked over his closet and wore something long-sleeved and climbed to his window. Just before he was about to shadow-walk out of his window, he heard a voice calling his name.
“Kayn.”
Kayn turned back to see who was calling and the room suddenly filled with a crimson light.
“Where are you going?”
Rhaast asked as he gave a small chuckle. “Are you escaping your nightmares?”
“No. I’m going out.”
“You are not afraid to sleep back, you just want to go out right now?” Rhaast asked with a mocking tone which ended up with Kayn responding him ”It is none of your business Rhaast. “
“You should take me with you.”
And just before Rhaast could say anything else, Kayn sprinted through the window and started walking in the forest.
Honestly, he didn’t remember the last time it being that cold outside. He sure got sick before due to this kind of weather but this time it was colder than ever. He could hear leafage whishing. When he looked at the sky, he could see the clouds getting ready for a storm. Even so, Kayn decided to wait until the storm starts and then go back. He kept walking in a straight way until he heard a noise coming from the bushes. He froze on his place to hear it better. He even hold his breath but he couldn’t hear it again. The noise was completely gone. He took a few seconds before moving again and as soon as he moved his feet to walk, something jumped right onto him. Kayn was better than that though, he did sense it so he sprinted to his left and dodged whatever that person – thing?- did. He quickly looked back to see who interrupted his thoughts and who he saw was no one other than Akali. She had a big and long leaf on her hand and was laughing like crazy. The only thing Kayn could do was to just wait her laughing end.
When she finally calmed down, Kayn was the first one to speak.
“ What the hell Akali?!”
“What?”
“You attacked me! Why the fuck would you do that?”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” She gave it a small chuckle. “I did not think that the great Kayn would get a heart attack”
“No, YOU would get a heart attack.” He said as he took some peebles from the ground and threw them to the girl.
“ Okay – OKAY STOP-“
“What are you even doing here in the middle of the night?”
“No Kayn, what are YOU doing here in the middle of the night? And without a weapon?”
“I sure could escape the danger if I wanted to.” A grin took place on his face. “ Really though.”
Akali sighed as she sat on the ground and a few seconds later Kayn joined her. Most of the times they were hanging out was by coincinde and it wasn’t a lot. But they both knew that the other wouldn’t attack them so there was a strange friendship going on between them. She spoke again as she found her comfortable way to sit.
“Well, I was out with some friends and they thought it was a good idea to leave me asleep in the top of a tree.”
“Why were you on the top of a tree?”
“To hang out.” They kept quiet for a few seconds. Then akali spoke as she smiled again. ”Well, I told you why so now you have to answer me.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Oh” The grin on her face was gone now. Instead, there was a ‘really?’ expression. “ Just that?”
“Yeah “ He answered with a weak smile.
Kayn then looked at the sky. The rain seemed to get closer yet there still wasn’t a single drop of water. Then akali spoke again.
“I gotta go or else they might start to look for me.” She gave a quick look around and took out a dagger from her waist pack. It was a silver one with a green handle and even Kayn couldn’t deny the fact. It was beautiful.
“ Just in case. I heard some other people were around these days.” As she handed it over to Kayn.
“What? Really?” He asked with a curious look.
“Yeah. Don’t tell anyone though. I wasn’t supposed to know that.”
“Welp, thank you. I wonder what is it. Master Zed didn’t tell me about that.”
“Neither did Shen. I just came to overhear it.”
Kayn sighed. There was nothing to do there and all he wanted to do was take a walk.
“ I might as well go back then.” Akali gave him a nod and disappeared into the blue.
He didn’t really wanted to go back. If it was important then he would sure hear about the stranger right? Zed sure must have been thought of acolytes going out at night. He would have warned them if it was important. But even did the student had the permission to go out at night? He was sure being counted as a student there. Just a little walk, he thought. Then he would go back. Yes that was the plan. After placing the dagger to a comfortable place, he made his way. He was going in the same straight path because he did not want to tussle with the bushes and some wild plants. After around 15 minutes, he felt a drop of water on his forehead. Finally, he thought it was never going to rain. But the rain was faster than he thought so he quickly made his way back to the temple. He walked until he heard a sharp noise coming from a close distance. He was somehow sure it wasn’t Akali this time. She would never do the same trick twice. It took kayn a few seconds to understand the danger of the situation and he was quick about it. He made his way just in the woods and started running as he took his shadow form. He was so focused on going back that he’d only realize the sharp pain on his ankle when he stopped running to climb back to his room. Still, he made no noise and slowly entered the temple from the walls. He wasn’t sure if Zed would notice or not but the only thing he cared was to go back to his room. He slowly and silently walked back to his room and closed the door behind him. He took a look of himself from the mirror. His hair and clothes were all wet from the rain and now he needed to dry his hair.
As he took a clean towel from his drawer, he felt an eye watching his back and heard a voice laughing.
“You are back I see? Did you fall to a river or something?”
Kayn didn’t find Rhaast’s comment worthy enough to respond so he just used the towel to atleast absorb the water from his hair. When he was done, he sat on his bed and took his left ankle on his right knee. He could see a deep cut thats allowing it to bleed and it did not look very normal. It was clear that whatever attacked him missed the shot but it was obvious there was something in the weapon that caused him to start feeling dizzy. Maybe it was poisonous. If only he had a weapon other than a single dagger, he would have fought back instead of running. But no. He had nothing with him and that single dagger would mean an invitation to his death.Especially when he didn’t know his enemy. While he was thinking, he could feel Rhaast watching him from behind. He chose to ignore him just like he always did. He didn’t need to hear his ‘jokes’ right now. Thinking waybe he should take a shower, Kayn got up in a sudden to prepare his clothes and he was lying in the ground the next second. He didn’t even remember falling. His head was spinning like crazy and Kayn found himself unable to get up as he fell once more.
“Kayn.”
Rhaast was the last thing he wanted to deal with in this kind of situation. “ What would mighty Rhaast like to say?” The sarcasm was dripping from every single word as Kayn made another move to get up and failed.
“ You sould have taken me with you. What happened?” Rhaast sounded more concerned now. Why would he be concerned though? It was a free opportunity after all. Someone else finishing the job and Rhaast just making use of it. Kayn closed his eyes. He gave himself some time adjust. He needed to get up and find someone. He didn’t expect the poison, or whatever it was to be that strong. It wasn’t like anything he has ever endured before. He hardly opened his eyes and made another attempt to get up. This time he was able to at least sit on his bed. He felt like he was going numb.
“Hold me.”
Yes ,another attemp to capture my mind, Kayn thought. Rhaast was sure trying to take advantage of the situation but Kayn wasn’t going to let him. He looked at the scythe thats almost touching his feet. " No." He wasn’t weak. Not yet. Kayn made another attempt to get up but faile and fell. Again. He could feel his consciousness slipping away every second. Then he found himself unable to talk in someway. He knew he needed to find someone. But no one would be visiting his room at this time of night. There were also no signs of Zed’s shadows. Losing like that? He felt so weak. So easy to attack. So hopeless. So dumb for being caught unarmed. All these became panic in seconds. He didn’t want to die like this. No. There had to be way. Maybe he wasn’t dying. Maybe it was only to put him in some sleep for a few hours. But what about Rhaast?
“Stop panicking.”
Kayn then suddenly felt some force getting him up to his feet. His walls were not compeletly down yet. Rhaast would have broken them the second he had chance. But he was standing? Kayn felt like he wasn’t in charge of his own body yet it was still his. He could feel anything going on but was unable to perform any act other than watching. It wasn’t helping about his panic. Then he figured it out.
“ Rhaa..s…t” His body didn’t make any noise but Kayn was sure Rhaast heard him. He was still feeling the effects but it seemed like Rhaast was taking good care of it in Kayn’s body, probably benefits of being a darkin. Was this how it felt like to be consumed by the darkin? It was probably not. Nothing unusual was going on other than becoming the second person in your own body.
“Calm down. Your body would mean no use to me in this state anyway.”
Kayn couldn’t make sense out of what was happening. Rhaast was controlling his body but not fully taking it? Why was he doing that? He tried to rise his walls back. But in this kind of state, no mortal would be able to do it. Then Kayn spoke again.
“Let me go!” His voice was thin but he did sound angry. However the only answer he got was an unimpressed “Patience is a virtue did you know that?”
Rhaast showed no intention of hurting Kayn so far and finally moved again. He wasn’t in a free state for a long time and it actually felt great. Finally out of his prison, Rhaast wanted to show everyone who was the boss but no. It was for the later. He had another thing to do. He sat on the bed and held Kayn’s ankle to take a better look at it. It was sure poisonous and it was strong that even Rhaast kind of felt it but it wasn’t something he couldn’t deal with. It would take less than a minute to heal this kind of small cut but making it without affecting Kayn at anything made it longer, probably almost half an hour. Rhaast felt Kayn’s presence falling off assuming he wasn’t conscious- Rhaast would be suprised if he was-. Then he lied on the bed and waited the wound to heal and the poison to get lost. Rhaast had been thinking about so many things lately which mostly involved Kayn. Ever since Kayn took Rhaast, his world was better. No, he wasn’t out of his prison but he was able to view the world again after such a hard time Rhaast couldn’t tell how long. He assumed it was more than the could guess. Yes they were bitter to each other at first but as the time went on, they became some sort of friends none of them would admit if asked. He still wanted to be free back then and he still wanted now. But not in the same way. He wouldn’t take the risk of being free costing Kayn’s life. He couldn’t understand what changed his mind but he sure grew some affection to Kayn over time and he was sure Kayn did as well. They had some strange trust going on between them and it was undeniable. And how anxious Rhaast felt today when he watched Kayn fall. It was something he hadn’t felt for quite long time and it was proving everything right. Rhaast waited more for Kayn’s ankle to heal fully, closed -locked- the window and finally returned to his prison. He would deal with Kayn’s questions and his doubts tomorrow.