Chapter Text
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
On a windy afternoon unfurls the curtains, the same color coded uniform as hers, freed from the place called a second home from hell. Sitting on the corner beside the window, the pink hue eyes flutter, her hand tingles from scribbling her notes for quite some time.
Expressing a sharp sigh, her finger press on the acupuncture point of her forehead, easing the dull pain. It seemed Sahara soaked on her sight for aeons.
An hour passed, the pen lands on the book from massaging her aching hand. A chilly yet so humid atmosphere made her wander around only for a minute. She brushes off her long pink hair from on the poorly engraved drawings wooded table and chair.
“Jinx.” She murmured, her finger taps the table and hums in a form of sigh. She cups her chin and gaze on the quiet even with the noisy traffic, these noises find peace in Kai’sa.
Tock-Tick
Tock-Tick
“That cheerleader wannabe is not around, well she should stay that way. Having her pestering around teachers is utterly ridiculous.” All-bark-but-no-bite apex blonde predator wannabe whispers to her minion, not whispering, it's an announcement.
“That crownguard right?” The girl’s voice raised from the scale of murmur to I-want-attention.
Her leader shakes her head, disgust look and tilted chin, smacks her lips as she holding out her latest fashion bag, no one even spare a glance.
She tsks sharply. Her minion doodles on her notes, the signal made her minion startled “Yeah, whatever that name is.”
Span across the room where guys cursing on their phones as they play something called “LOL but in mobile” which Kai’sa finds that a requirement of tough love to play it.
One of the guys on the professors table siting sluggishly on the table. “Where’s Lux tho? She said she’ll be beating your ass out this week. Didn't take her for a rebel now.” His head tilt to the side taking a peak on someone in the classroom then turns to one of his friends playing.
“Dude, she’s not here for weeks. Guess she’s cowering out.” He laughs smugly, defying defeat on his game.
His friend scoffed “Skill issue.”
Each of the whisper “Lux” being thrown around the room, makes her ink cut off in the middle of a sentences.
Kai’sa clapped her notebook (She wasn’t even focusing on her notes anyway.) Giving an uneasy glance at the red long pigtails, the once vibrant vibe was now hooded with a dull grey jacket.
Under the table, her legs tremble, shaking off the jittery feeling . Yet her back hunching leaning towards the table, hand infront holding something or covering something.
The wall clock placed infront, each time strikes, Kai’sa observed Jinx checks on her phone, tapping furiously on the screen. Or not.
Every 5 minutes.
What's going on inside your head Jinx?
Kai’sa gnawing inside her mouth with a frown. She watched Jinx a little longer, Kai’sa’s cocked an eyebrow when seeing Jinx a restraint but cheeky grin.
Murmuring under her breath, the bright screen displays two girls laughing as they see the camera. Kai’sa only caught a glimpse of it.
Lux? The familiar iconic pink hair is the only thing she could guess.
She overhears that name again from one of girls hanging out on the windows blowing off the steam through the modern pipe smoke.
“My guess she went into a gang or something, What ya think?” The girl inhales from the small stick.
“Heard there’s trafficking lately. Or yet she went off to leave this place!” The gossip girl leans on the closed window.
“Uhh, that’s dark? Let’s not hold onto that one.” The same girl defends herself.
“Whatever it is, someone seem to know where she is.” The girl inhales and puffs out a white air, scoffs as she set her eyes set on Jinx.
“Guess that crazy girl sold her.” She place the stick on her lips, then looks away. “After all they match each other freaks.”
Kai’sa readies herself after a quick glance at Jinx, her grip tighten her phone. The taller woman acts swiftly, the chair scrape as she stood up. All eyes onto her, frowning.
An eerily silence welcomes the room. Piercing her glare cowering the gossip girls away. “Please refrain from whatever’s out from your mouth. You're in a prestige school.”
The “Apex Predator” lifts her eyebrow and scoffs. “So what goody shoes? Everyone knows that it's —"
One of the boys yells, “Puff some premium air outside wannabes! Real oxygen!” Some laughs, some side eyes and some points out the exit. Clearly siding the majority.
The group of girls roll their eyes and leave.
Shaking her head as they leave, warily walks her way towards Jinx to lay a hand on her shoulder.
A sharp slap cause Kai’sa to step back. Her hand tingles from it as she tilts her head watching Jinx’s look sideways with an intense gaze.
“Don’t. Need your help… Smarty pants.” A calm demeanor, holding her outburst all that control reaction, has reached Kai’sa highest level of uneasy meter.
Something changed her. No, something happened.
Without even a word, Jinx hung her head low, she shifts to snatch her satchel, hasty to leave, bumping the professor entering the room.
“Uhm! Miss Jinx class has—!”
She left.
The professor is here. Students noisily scatter around the room heading to their seats. Leaving Kai’sa gazed into the distance where Jinx left a mysterious trail.
She pauses, looking back and forth from the exit and to her chair. She sighs, as she takes her seat.
I'll talk to her later.
…
…
…
The wind softly blows her skin, the dazing dawn orange rays reflected her pink hue eyes. The windows are open as the curtains ripples while she is preoccupied by her thoughts. It's a cool comfort when she watches outside.
Without batting an eyelid, her watchful eyes hunt for any movement. Startling herself from a squirrel scampering on the other side. From the little scare, she sighs as her eyebrows increasingly form into wrinkles.
I know Jinx would come back. I know she can, not when lux-.
She can. Her palm patting her chest, hoping to calm the confusing feeling or whatever what's in the inside.
She can, she will, skipping in weeks or months when training season just came by.
Will she even come back?
…
…
Its been weeks, Should I deploy a search? Her fingers twiddling hover her phone, as she humms.
Maybe I should. She massages her temples, before she types on the group chat.
“Meet up with others and do the night’s routine would be in a group of 5, and each of you should require partners, it is a must. And when you see Jinx, or a glimpse of her red hair, call me immediately or text, better yet, track her down,and try not to hurt each other in the process. Be vigilant, the voids in the area around the playground, mall, and park have been…
She paused, then blinks at the text, looking for Jinx is an added in her to-do-list. Only if she even saw her.
Definitely too long, should I need to tell them?
Hm, definitely. She tsks, thinking how sardonic this is. She erase the “short text novel.”
Flashes back to when Ezreal complains how she text as the “mom” in the group. With his banter of “thanks mom” or “will do mom!” Often times she ignore it, yet that, became his passion trolling the young leader. Deep down, no one detest it.
“Be vigilant and be careful.” With a nod and a small praise for herself, she hits the send button. She refreshes the text before she shut her phone and set it aside. Her eyelids lay heavy and she imagines the clown emoji paste on her face.
Goodness, I do sound like a mother. Ezreal won't even consider—
She groans, massaging her temple. She gasps and shakes her head.
And I act like one! One who has head bogging children. I should work on that. How do I do that though? This less motherly thing?
Should I copy how Ezreal talks? No, he's too sassy and trendy, Soraka? She doesn't even talk that much. Maybe English lessons today were too deep with the vocabulary or wording, I can't believe I'm applying them.
…Would a mother even sound like that? Her thoughts came to a vague picture of her mother.
“Still rigid as ever aren't you?” Followed by a familiar chuckle. The voice hints amusement and… sends butterflies?
Kai’sa jerks up and looking wildly around the room. A pause, the pink hue eyes laid on the blonde vastayan leaning on the door frame with a phone on her hand. The tip of her lips lifts, it’s the signature taunt of her beauty.
“I-” a bob formed in her throat, clearing up as she shut her notes and leapt up from her chair. She sees Ahri’s knowing smirk, holding out a familiar holding an object, color case of blue with a paint like swirl of yellow.
Is that… Ezreal’s phone? No wonder I don't see his crappy reply today.
Ahri's stiffled laughter rings Kai’sa's ears. Amused at the taller woman’s confused expression, she waves the phone. “I kinda need it, he snatched mine first so I got his, hehe.” Kai'sa snickers as she glides into classroom while her tail leisurely rests on the table.
“Anyway, tiny leader did you forget something?” she leans back on the table as her finger playfully swipe the screen upwards. Chuckling at the same confused face on the taller girl.
What? Forget? Her mind still lingered from her nickname the “tiny leader”, Kai’sa would often ask Ahri some leader advices. Ahri teased on how she looks commendable on the outside but a puppy inside. Goodness she's such a tease.
“Should I give you more some clues?”she walks towards Kai'sa, Kai’sa frozen in her place, she raised her hand in a comedic way, stopping Ahri an inch away from her. Shutting her eyes, out of remembering or maybe shyness.
“Wait, let me think uh…”she sucks her breath,her fingers tapping her head. Ahri laughs at the reference, and how forgetful she is.
“You just have one guess-hmm” her grin twisted squinting her eyes, her tail swinging in excitement.
Her eyes still shut, she placed her finger on the chin tapping it slow. “It seems like…”
Ahri, without a thought or more like curiosity, doesn't hesitate lean little close to the “tiny” leader, awaiting of her answer. Not only that, her nose picks up a scent of a hint of woods. And a little bit of a pink fruit.
Thump, the cold pumping fastens like a falling gravity.
The grumbling noises coming from the taller guardian falls deaf on the vastayan’s ears. Ahri let her eyes fall, each of the scent reminds her of the home she loves. A homesick vastayan can never waste this single time that ties to her home.
It has been a while, when this is over, I will come back home and- wait, Kai'sa? Kai'sa! How long was I quiet?
As the taller one makes weird noises as a distraction, she noticed Ahri suddenly quiet,she pictures her staring at her intensively. What is Ahri doing? And why is she close?
She can feel her ears hearting up, shutting her eyes even deeper she makes nonsense thoughts nature, hiking, leaves, woods, beach, ocean?
Then, an image of Ahri, basked in the warmth of the sun. Her pale skin contrasts with the heavy green pigment of the leaves. And a huge oak tree behind her protects her fragile skin by casting shadows, most of those made sense. Her face compressed,all she want to be squished on the darkest corner of the room, as for now she stood still. Surprisingly, finding peace through stillness but her lips spew nonsense of embarrassment, forgetting to think.
The blonde trailed off from her scent, Ok, just don't make it obvious. Let's just redirect this. Don't overthink this.
She sighs internally. Ignoring the pounding friend on her chest. “Smooth this one out, Ahri.”
She jolts her eyes opened. As so as Kai’sa.
“What are you-” Ahri sparks excitement, but a hint of pulling down high energy.
“You want to-”Kai'sa spills as gently as she can.
Thump, thump!
Oh.
Kai'sa looked down, as she saw Ahri invading her personal space, in a good way? She studies every of her fair skin, the signature whiskers on her cheeks, a nose that looks boopable, her ears cower. In a second, those purple pupil caught in naked, then smoothen out like a practiced mask.
Ahri wraps her hand on her back, her banterful smile brightens. Before she pulls herself away Kai’sa noticed a pink hue on her cheeks. Either from embarrassment or something more?
This stench of weird and “this never happened” stretches, Kai'sa breaks the stench with a sparkling spray. When she tries to speak her mouth run dry, she clears her throat “You first.”
“Uh-um I..”
Ahri looks somewhere suddenly her eyelids drowsy, her lips pouting, as if looking for something. She stretches her arms having her fingers intertwined.
Kai’sa held back on raising the brows, looking at her stammer was a first.
She's usually charming…did something happened? I mean not that thing a while ago, what was she doing? When I didn't see anything?
Her tails wags slowly, she prickles her nails, as if she's suddenly worried of her make up, she set for hours just to see her.
She's Kai’sa, just Kai'sa.
Right?
Hah, why am I overthinking?
She drops her hands on the side, she sits on the desk top and pats the small space beside her, Kai’sa eyes her invitation. She gives a sly smile and was about to wave it off. Ahri knows Kai'sa rejects offers, respectfully. “It's getting a bit cold.” She gives her a peak of a feint smile.
She rubs her arms, she's right, the chilly air stirs one of the curtains frantic, and stares at the opened windows. The sun settles gathering it's lights, hiding behind the buildings. She shrugs and walks to where Ahri sat.
Ahri nudges to the side giving her free space. Kai'sa only sat halfway, her stretched leg supporting her balance. Her hands clasped, rubbing it together. The vastayan's tail slowly wrapping around Kai'sa, then it fidgets away whenever Kai’sa moves an inch of her body, waiting for a timing.
“What colone is that? Or perfume? Whatever preference you're using.” Ahri slumps, guess the straighten back posture persona is finally resting.
“Oh, uh- "when she sneaks a look at Ahri she's completely solemn staring probably at a piece of wrapper on the floor. Perfume? All of a sudden? And stares on the setting sun. “It's actually a lotion.”
She frowns, placing a finger on her lip, and slowly turned her gaze to the tensely smiling pinked haired gal. “It's lotion?” she repeats.
“Yea, I never really used any perfumes or colognes, my father detest it, his sense of smelling is quite sensitive to him. He would always recommend something light whenever I plan on buying perfumes, Well- lotions do smell good and light comparing to those. I didn't know it could smell like perfume.” she stares at her hand and lifts it, tilting to the sides, eyeing every lines of her back hand.
“Where did you get it?” Her shoulder meets hers, the taller woman leans. Ahri does the same, staring every detail of her hand.
“In XXX department, the one beside fast food area.” She eyes one of the tails of Ahri wrapping around her waist. The raised hand, gently caress her tail. She jolts and draws her hand back to her chest, and tilts her head.
Ahri's hair serves as a veil a curtain hiding the blush. “Was that alright?” Kai’sa as gentle as ever. Ahri shrugs “I don't mind, besides you're gentle in your first try compared to others.” Ahri tucks her hair behind her shoulder, shuts her eyes, the tip of her lips cheers. As Kai'sa, reflecting Ahri cheery mood, and combs her furry tail through her fingers.
Ahri tilts her head, “Hm, I should probably buy the area.”
She snapped her head to Ahri, eyes in disbelief. “Are you considering it?”. Ahri laughs in a slightly different class. The different class shrugged her hand off “I was just joking.”
“What kind of lotion did you use?” Ahri leans, checking the hand of the “Tiny” leader. Her fingers buried on the tangled fur.
“Peach and wood.” Kai'sa scans her mind if she got the accuracy right.
I knew it. Ahri guessed it right, Peaches and woods do suit her.
Was it? It was dad who gifted it, oh right, then it's correct. Thanks dad.
“I have the lotion in my satchel, if you want to give it a try. Give me a second.” She was about to rise from her seat. But her tails says otherwise, it wraps on the waist and neck tightly a little of gentle and firm. “You're just getting warm, you wouldn't ruined my effort to pamper you up, how bout just the hand?”
“My hand?” Her tensed body melts on the warm tails. She ignores the side comment of Ahri.
“It's hand cream right?” as Ahri points to her hand, Kai'sa nods.
“Yea. It works for body too.” Kai’sa’s hand adjust for the scarf tail to loose on her neck, trying not to be choked. Ahri's lips forms a duck mouth, digesting the new witchcraft lotion.
“Applying it in the hand is way effective than just smelling it in the bottle isn't it?” Her playful tail from Kai’sa’s playing scarf, taps her nose.
“I suppose.” Her finger lifts and drew circles on her tail, but raised her hand anyway, and levels it on the nose of the curious fox.
Ahri shuts her eyes and takes a hesitant sniff.
Watching Ahri, she smiles faintly She looks one of those red pandas sniffing the food on the internet. Ahri places a pleasant hum on Kai’sa's ears, snapping her back to reality.
“It's good?” She studies the smile plastered on the vastayan's face. It's different this time.
Ahri accidentally telling Kai'sa in her thoughts, It's better than good.
Kai’sa watched her a bit longer, the one side of her lips, forming a slight gentle lift. She's quite-
Ahri gently reached her palm, bringing it close to her nose. Her knuckles almost touching her colored lips. Kai'sa's breath made a hitch, not even the sneaky fox noticed it.
“You're cold.” She opens her eyes, she frowns in concern, she turns her backhand over, staring on the slightly pale palm.
Kai'sa only wished that different smile lasted longer, but can't help but think. Is she being a good leader or a friend to be concerned in just little things? Or…?
“Really? I didn't know.” She eyes her hand. Ahri still staring in her hand.
“Yea, and you're shaking a bit.” Her shoulder digs on Kai'sa's arm, gathering heat. Kai'sa inspects her hand a little closer, and it confirms what she said.
Maybe too much coffee, or maybe I'm nervous? A clasp brings out Kai'sa's inner world.
Ahri's hands are wrapped around her hand, rubbing it gently. As she brings warmth on her hands she took the opportunity to speak. “So, what was you're answer?” She locks her gaze directly to her pink eyes.
Oh… probably the cold and coffee. Yea, coffee seems jittery. Behind the spiraling thoughts, She managed to give a sly smirk.
“My esteemed dashing lady it seems you want to win 10 bucks from my common penny wallet. From my failing memory.” Kai'sa bows her head exaggeratedly, Ahri rolls her eyes with a gleeful smile.
“Fine, I underestimated your so O’ good memory. I'll shall reward you when the time comes. They both sneaked a chuckle. “E-cash?” she stares at the phone ,her fingers tapping on apps. Making her frown, she mumbles “It’s Ezreal’s, oh maybe I'll give you his cash? I can pay him later.” her mischievous side came to life. She eyes Kai’sa.
Is she serious?, I thought it's just a banter. Kai'sa waves her other hand off “I'm alright.” Ahri raised her brow, frowning even deeper, she adds an impromptu “And besides, I offered. Didn't I?” Which she actually did that, to help a friend.
Ahri stares at her, releasing the hand she's giving warmth, tucking the phone on the crook on her crossed arms. “Are you sure? You're not doing any sussy stunt to convince me?” She shakes her head gently. “I promise, it is not a hassle. I'm just returning the favor.
The silence was fullfilled by the car vehicles outside, and the gist of the wind.
"Actual Cash?” Ahri, still unconvinced.
Kai'sa only shakes her head to the side.
Ahri nods.
“How about this?” she raises from her seat, her ear flickers And turns her back away from her. Kai’sa dumbfounded, she blinks rapidly at Ahri. The vastayan types something fast on Ezreal's phone.
BZZT BBZT
Along the corridor, Ezreal passes by empty classrooms looking for that damn sly fox. He felt vibrations on his pocket, brought the phone out. And pressed a text coming from himself.
Ezreal(Ahri): One more step to the next classroom, I'll kill you.
Ahri(Ezreal): What? Gimmw me my phone back old hag
Ezreal: You started it, I'm finishing it, another word of that I'll kick u out from the house
Ahri: REDACTED *mature loving words*
Ezreal: I'll give it when you go home, just go home or wherever, We'll practice tomorrow.
Ahri: Without me? :( What r u planning?
Ezreal: shut ur meatbag, tomorrow is tom. Im dealing with the chorography. Not when u dragged me to being nominated.
Ahri: Aye aye captain old hag, and I didn't forced on u, I'm just charming and ur quite a pretty pity, they voted u cuz they love me.
Ezreal: f ur self
Ahri: Gladly
Ezreal: Ew. U dirty morsel.
Ahri: yes I am.
*Ezreal blocked you*
Ezreal pulls the good finger flipping on the screen, with a smirk of victory. Being Ahri in her phone is not that bad. He pressed the buttons of the phone making screenshots of the conversation. Good blackmail material. And by chance he hears the familiar voices that he wished it's not them. He leans to the side the door wide open, he sees the two leaders engaging a good conversation.
Damn it, the old hag. Ooh! is that Kai'sa?
He squints, then suddenly something clinks in his mind and his face drew a “Tasting a lemon first time” face. “ohh? making that choerography, I'll give you that.”
He sprints away from the classroom before Ahri would actually kick his ass.
Ahri turns around with a smile, a “I have a plan” smile to Kai’sa, “How about I'll take you in a dinner or a amusement park themed food?”
Kai'sa was about to ask, Ahri was first to answer the question.
“You can reject money, but you can't reject me.”
Of course i could never. She never dares to say that out loud. She felt the bruise ache beating weakly on her heart.
“There's nothing stopping you? is it?”the short sigh turned into a hearty laughter. Ahri just wags her tail giving a squinted smile.
“Then let's practice.” she gets herself off the table. She turns her eyes to the old wall clock. Kai'sa conjoined her fingers together, stretching her arms up, like a cat awaken from sleep.
“Ok then I'll set the music up.”She placed the phone on the teachers table, As Kai'sa drags the tables and chairs and tables to have some space.
As she searches the song, behind her mind, it made Ahri dumbfounded. That's it? food? Then what does she like? Hotpot?sushi?how about a burger?
While Kai'sa fixes the screeching furnitures, Was that a date? Did I just agreed to that? Does friends do these things right?
A date? Did I just ask her to go a date with me? Ahri strangely types fast the title song on the search bar.
“Why am I nervous?“ they can't seem to control it. Most especially the older leader.
“Blue Valentine”
Ahri pressed the title track, pushing all the emotions away inviting cold. It's just practice, nothing more. Not when-
Into the view, it's the lovebirds, she left them. Xayah on her bloodied knees, her arms around Rakan, laying pale. Not them. I can't be like them.
A tug gently hits Ahri's back, her eyes agape. That was silent I didn't- her fingers freeze as the screen loads a dotted circle waiting for the song to pop out.
“Blue valentine?” Her warm breath tickles her ears, making Ahri turn her head to her. Kai'sa leaning in, looking on the loading screen.
“It's a song trend from ticktak, Ezreal has been bugging me to dance with the music in it, dancing for the school’s anniversary. Like he wants to be a kpop star or something.” She rolls her eyes. “He can't be stop with the streaming thing he does-
She's shaking. Hearing barely a glimpse of what Ahri said, she only nods and laughs whenever, every minute she peaks glances at the pale palm. Is she cold?
“I can't believe in his audacity.”she deepen her voice, trying to sound like the blonde prick “let's go tickets here and there, can I pay you with my remaining allowance. What am I? the manager of your life? No!-” she realizes she rambles too much about Ezreal's life. “Tsk! Anyway the internets-” she swipes down to refresh the freezing screen.
The taller guardian placed her hand on the phone of the rambling fox, Ahri's fingers clutches the phone. Her eyes still,and panned her head on the pink hue eyes of Kai’sa.
“How about we warm up?” She giving her a loving gaze, Ahri's fingers relaxes. Staring at her a little longer erases the shadows on her mind. She tilts her head to the side, unintentionally pouting.
“Like that basic exercises?”. She placed the phone a top of the table. The taller guardian shakes her head laughing, hand reaching on the blonde’s hand, she fingers sliding on her cold palm.
She's really cold. Kai'sa catches the slow gaze of the slit purple eyes, staring at her own hand.
She's warm. She stares at each vein of her chiseled hand.
She lifts her hand guiding them on the mini spotlight. She placed the cold hand on her shoulder. The other hands, warmth and cool meets. The cold one laying lightly on the warm’s palm