Chapter Text
Your throat felt dry as sand paper, burning as if you swallowed a whole coup of hot lava and yet you couldn't stop tasking hasty breaths.
In the warm air around you you perceived
the smell of summer, your favorite time of the year. It could have been a nice evening, cosy and comforting but instead this once beautiful day has turned into a pure nightmare as you were forced out of your home, betrayed by the people you once called family- the people who surrendered you without hesitation.
Your legs and feet were in pain, probably bleeding at this point but stopping wasn't an option. At least not yet. First you had to reach the nearby forest which would at least give you a better chance of survival, maybe even a spot to hide and get a little rest. And you couldn't stop until you reached that place unless you wanted to die.
„Hah, still trying to run away from me? I can do this forever you know", a voice echoed in the air, not too far behind.
The voice which belonged to the person who was still chasing after you laughed, its sound mocking and yet deadly serious. You couldn't see him, everything around you was just a dark and blurred mess, nor did you a have chance to turn around. But you could feel his threatening aura coming closer, almost reaching for you with its deadly hands.
You didn't even have the strength to answer your haunter, there was no room for negotiations, no chance of mercy. Every word would just cost you more energy, a price you weren't willed to pay.
Everyone knew the story of this one man, no matter if human or demon, Locke was a name every person in Demacia has heard at least once in their life.
For humans he was a hero. A man with humour and a smile which seemed to be able to lighten up the darkest place. A man with a lose tongue, always being able to make funny jokes, making kids and even adults laugh. A man which seemed to be so good at his profession that it was almost frightening. And yet he seemed to be a down-to-earth person, the type of person who didn't care about money or reputation. Just... his own appearance some might say. Locke definitely was a man worthy the many retellings and bed time stories. At least if you weren't a demon.
Because in that case this man was quite the opposite. No bed time but horror stories were told about him. About the man who enjoyed seeing his victims suffer as long and painful as possible. The man who would grin at you, eyes unreadable and hidden behind his glasses, while he would tear you apart piece by piece. A man and exorcist which left no space for negotiations between humans and demons - he was the embodiment of death and cruelty.
„A-almost there", you gasped with your hoarse and thin voice as you finally saw the first trees appearing in front of you. Now you just had to find a spot to hide until you could pass through it and hopefully reach the border of Freljord within the next day. And then you were finally free, alone and an outcast but free and safe from the exorcist behind, stepping in the territory he wasn't allowed to hunt you anymore.
Once more you collected all your strength as you forced your legs to run faster to the place in front of you as something fast and shiny suddenly striped the side of your head just before it came to a standstill in a tree next to you.
You only watched it for a brief moment and yet was it enough to make your heart beat so fast that you feared it might explode. A nail was stuck in a tree right next to you, missing a deadly spot only by a hairs breadth and yet was it already enough to cause you a heavy bleeding wound.
Hissing in pain you reached for you head as you saw a concerning amount of blood sticking to your fingers. Now stumbling and already feeling dizzy you turned around once more as your eyes grew wide, your body suddenly feeling way heavier and almost unable to move from the sight.
In the distance you could now see a silhouette, mostly swallowed by the darkness around him but now glowing in a beautiful and yet frightening hue of blue. A tall man was appearing you, not running but slowly walking. Even from far away you could see the teeth showing grin, the grin your mother has warned you about. Coming closer with each step you also noticed something in his hand, joyful swirling it around you suddenly noticed it was a hammer while his other free hand held a bunch of nails.
„No, no!", you gasped as more tears ran down your face just before you forced yourself to keep running. From the corner of your eye you already saw him swinging that hammer just before a few more nails landed right next to you, stuck in a bunch of trees and each dangerously close to you, enveloped in the same threatening aura as him.
„Stop running from me monster", he once again addressed you, acting all friendly but you could sense that his patience was getting thinner. „I promise I will make this quick", he then added as if this would make anything better for you.
„Leave me alone", you shouted back into the darkness while you looked in panic around for a place to hide. This was the first time you spoke back to him and you hated how pathetic your voice sounded. It was hardly more than a sob, desperate and weak. And you hated how much it reflected your whole personality.
You have never been a fighter, never really standing your ground. After the loss of your mother you have been forced to a family which humiliated you on a daily basis. Never did you say something when they rose their hands against you. You were weak and this would probably costs your life now.
„It's nothing personal I promise", you heard him laugh and decided not to answer him this time. Instead your full focus went to a hollow trunk next to you, the first and probably only opportunity you would get to hide and collect your strength.
You had to press your hands against your mouth as you tried to make your body as small as possible, wishing and praying he wouldn't exactly pass this spot while you forced yourself to stay silent and calm down. Several minutes you stayed like this, minutes which felt like hours until you totally lost any track of time.
And for the first time in your life luck seemed to be on your side as you saw the man who was still covered in something like blue flames looking for you, getting further away from your spot until he was totally out of your sight.
„Thank goodness", you thought to yourself, fearing that even the smallest noise would draw his attention back to you but none of that sort happened. Still laying in the dirt with the tree shielding you, you once again let your hand wander over your wound, noticing that it was still bleeding in a concerning amount.
„I have to find something to bandage it", you finally came to conclusion, waiting for another few minutes to really make sure no one was around until you decided you leave your hiding spot.
You could barely crawl as you noticed in shock that your body was way weaker as you thought, and the whole world seemed to spin a little. And then there was suddenly a sound, earsplitting, echoing through the whole forest, a cry. It was your own voice you noticed a moment later, crashing onto the ground.
You could barely see it between all the tears in your eyes. But there it was, right in your left hand in front of your face, going all the way through your flesh and bones - a nail. A deep wound shackling you to the ground underneath, making it unable to move unless you would consider ripping your hand off.
Your face turned into a grimace of pain as suddenly a few more shining objects flew towards you. Already expecting the worst you closed your eyes, ready for more pain to follow but this time it stayed away. Instead you heard fabric being town and more force keeping you pinned to the ground. This time the nails didn't went through you but the sleeves of your jacket and your pants, trapping you like an animal and making it unable to move at all.
And then you suddenly saw him, appearing right from behind a tree not far from you, the hammer shaped object still in his hand as he approached you. Still slowly walking, still with the same confidence. Still with the smile on his lips as he adjusted the sunglasses on his nose.
„Finally got you", he clicked his tongue as he stepped closer. For the first time you were now able to see him more detailed. Being a man probably in his early 30s, blonde hair, tall and lean build but still athletic, sharp features, tattoos and marks all over his chest down to his arms. His wardrobe seemed more functional than aesthetic, a little worn out as well. Overall it shocked you how human he looked. Sure, he was a human after all but from the stories you heard he seemed more like a scheme being hardly more than a shadow of death.
„Please", you could only whisper as he stepped so close that he had to kneel in front of you to be able to look you in the eyes. With a rough gesture he gripped your hair, forcing your head into your neck and making you look him straight in the eyes.
Instantly your breath stayed stuck in your throat as you finally saw the shining blue eyes behind the pinkish glasses. An unreadable and cold expression laid behind his fake smile, calculating and patronising while he observed you to the littlest detail.
„Oh wow, you are a beautiful one, kinda my type", he started to talk and you couldn't tell if he was joking or not. „Well, besides the people killing part. Thats totally a red flag", he chuckled and gripped your hair harder, making you whine in pain while he played with the hammer in his other hand.
„I-I never killed anyone. They deserved it but I didn't", you hissed through bitten teeth, your gaze switching from his face to the weapon he held as his eyebrow shot up in amusement just before a deep laugh filled the darkness around you.
„Trying to be funny huh? Better leave the jokes to me", he grinned while he bend closer. Now being to close to him you could literally feel his warmth radiating from his body. You could also hear his his heart in his chest, beating in a steady rhythm, slow and calmly without any sign of nervousness or strain. In comparison to you he wasn't even out of breath in the slightest way, instead he looked scarily calm.
Many thought rushed through your head and yet you couldn't say anything. Your body felt like paralysed even so your brain. It was a strange feeling being so close to the person who would be the cause of your end. Sometimes, after hearing all the rumours about the mysterious exorcist you wondered what you looked like. Never did you expect a man just a little older than you with a confusingly beautiful face.
„Not a big fan of chit chat I see", he hummed almost a little disappointed as you stayed silent, only whimpering even more in pain and fright as the blue aura suddenly appeared again, followed by some nails in the air. Finally letting off of you your head almost fell into the dirt right under you.
„Guess it doesn't matter anymore. I promised I will make this quick and I'm a man to keep my word. So maybe now, some last words?", he reached for the nails, playing with them between his fingers. Eventually he tilted his head, waiting a few seconds for your response. As nothing followed another sigh left him, just before his grip around the metal tightened, making his knuckles shine white.
„Alright, guess it's time to—"
„It wasn't my family", you interrupted him, mumbling to yourself quietly and tired. Tears started once again to roll down your face, hot and burning.
„Excuse me?", the man just kneeled there, for the first time unsure what to say while his whole body arched to end your life right here and now. And yet he shoved that desire aside for a moment, as his voice asked confused, his smile slowly fading.
„The people who told you about me, they weren't my real family", you spoke up once again, your voice trembling but stronger as before.
„Of course they weren't, you pretended to be one of them to kill them one day."
„I DID NOT", you shouted at him, not angry but hurt and desperate as you forced your head up, watching him once again. You couldn't see it yourself but you knew your eyes were shining in a dangerous red, exposing yourself as the monster the world saw in your existence.
To your surprise he didn't seem shocked or scared. He didn't even flinch but instead reached out his hand to collect something from your face.
„Not sure if I ever saw a demon cry", he said thoughtful, watching the teardrop at his fingertip while he pushed down the glasses for a second as if he wanted to check if his eyes betrayed him. You shuddered at the sudden contact, not expecting him to touch you, especially not in such a gentle way.
„Thinking about it I also never saw a demon run away like this. Usually they tend to fight—", he stopped mid sentence as he suddenly arched his brows together. „What is this", he said confused and once again his finger reached for you.
This time he stayed silent for a longer time while he observed the red liquid at his fingertip until he addressed you once again but his voice was different now, it was straight forward, no hint of amusement, no time to waste.
„This wound is from the first nail, isn't it?"
You simply nodded at that, confused about this ridiculous question.
„It still hurts and won't stop bleeding", you said quietly and exhausted. You had almost forgot it from all the adrenaline rushing trough you. But now you were once again fully focused onto the pain and it almost drove you crazy.
„What about your hand", he said but it wasn't really a question. He already checked it by himself as he observed the nail in your broken flesh still bleeding and looking absolutely horrible, not waiting for any response from you.
„Shit", he suddenly said as his eyes meet yours once again. His confidence was now fully gone, his face suddenly all pale as he swallowed his spit. „This can't be", he rubbed his temples and you didn't understand anything.
„This should have healed within a few seconds, demons recover way faster than any other beings", he explained to you, almost angry about the fact he didn't understand what was going on. „Unless—", he paused, his eyes still fixed onto yours. „You spoke about your family. Who are you parents?!"
His sudden change of temper scared you, angry eyes were watching down on you. He looked so desperate for an answer.
„M-my mom was a demon but my dad he... he was human", you said quietly, voice trembling.
„And your mother killed him? Don't even dare to lie", he growled at you, eyes burning.
„NO", you screamed, now angry as well. „She loved him more than anything. They both got killed by a demon hunter. My dad tried to protect her but that woman didn't care. She killed both and somehow I managed to run away", you cried out loud, the pain of your past rushing over you like a flood.
„My mom never hurt anyone, she always taught me to be good, that being a demon isn't a curse like humans want us to believe. Not all demons are evil. You wanna kill some monsters? Go to the family that hired you, the people who looked down on me since I entered their house for the first time", you cried even more, unable to stop the words leaving you.
„People like you think they are better just because you are born human. For you simply existing makes us to monsters", you hissed at the man who sat silently in front of you eyes unfixed but wide while he stared at the ground, listening to every word with a face like a stone mask.
„This goddam world never gave us a chance to begin with and I know for you and anyone else, it doesn't matter at all. My life is worth nothing in comparison to yours. You will slaughter me, go back to the city and being celebrated like a hero once again. And no one will ever hear my side, no one will ever know that all I wanted was a peaceful life, having my own little house with a garden, maybe a dog and a cat...", you sobbed, suddenly realising that you said all personal things not just to a stranger but to the man who's mission still was to assassinate you. Shame hit you as he didn't say anything in response, followed by fear as he suddenly got up.
Not looking at you, not talking to you Locke just stood in front of you, tall and intimidating as before. The first person you ever talked to about your past, your family and wished.
You were still pinned to the ground, only able see his shoes in front of you as he started to circle around you, mumbling a few words you couldn't quite understand.
Once again you saw the blue light and this time you knew it would be your end. You probably bored him with your story, made yourself more pathetic than you already have been, probably didn’t even believe them. He asked you for some last words and you idiot told him your whole life story. You could only shake your head about this embarrassment.
„This will probably hurt a little, sorry about that", he suddenly said, this time definitely to you as you suddenly felt a sharp pain in your hand. Screaming and crying you saw the nail removing itself from your body just before it flew back to him followed by the rest around you. It took you a moment to understand you were released from the deadly trap. And... nothing else followed. No more nails, no execution. Nothing.
„I can't believe you made me the bad guy in this story", Locke laughed at you, but his voice wasn't joking. Rather disappointed and thoughtful while he walked a few steps away from you, hands deep in his pockets as if he wanted you give you some space to collect yourself. He even turned around, pretending he watched something around him while you sat up.
„You aren't going to kill me?", you asked him directly, not in the mood for any foul tricks or games while you slowly forced yourself on your wobbly legs, barely being able to stand upright.
Now turning around to face you once again he watched you intensely, his gaze feeling heavy on you and for some reason it made you feel way too self conscious and slightly embarrassed. Suddenly his grin was right back on his face as he pushed his sunglasses up which looked dangerously close from sliding down.
„At least not today", he said calmly as he slowly approached you. He must have noticed your little step backwards because this time he rose his hands, an attempt to show you his good intentions and that he was unarmed.
„No more nails or hammers I promise. Ceasefire?", he said surprisingly soft, doing small and calculated steps towards you. It was kinda comical.
„I didn't do anything, it was you chasing me", you growled, still not trusting the man who wanted to kill you just a few minutes ago.
„Hah, fair point", he scratched his neck embarrassed, still approaching until he was almost at your side.
„Don't—! Don't come any closer", you gasped, holding your hurt hand in your other while you felt like an animal in a trap once more. Your eyes were already looking for a way to escape but you knew you wouldn't even come far until he caught you again. „I'm not believing anything you are saying."
„Ah common, if I wanted to kill you I would have done it already", he laughed but it died as he noticed your expression. Instead he cleared his throat, unsure what would make you believe him.
„I promise you I ain't hurting you. Unless you give me a reason to do so like... trying to kill me. So just let me... let me check on your wounds okey? I can treat them."
„Thanks but n—", before you were even able to finish your sentence you felt your head spin and the ground coming dangerously close. Before you hit it a strong arm reached for you body, holding it with little effort and saving you from the fall.
„I know I'm handsome but there really is no need to fall right at my feet", you heard him joking next to your side just before you shoved him away, eye rolling at his comment.
„Let off of me", your voice came out weaker than intended. „I don't trust or like you and I definitely don't want your help. Just let me go and—"
„And what?", he looked at you, head tilted and arms crossed in front of his chest. „Do you even have a place to sleep or do you plan to stay right here? You might be half demon but your other side is still human and a potential target."
Right, there was no actual place you were heading to. Freljord has been your destiny just to survive, because there seemed to be no other choice. Yet you weren’t really fond to live there, you hated the cold.
But now, if Locke really planned to let you live you could maybe stay in Demacia. But even then you had no home, no family to go to and—
„Half demon?" You asked, thousands of questions rushing through your mind. „This isn't possible, half demons don't exists.“
„That's what I thought as well but the signs are speaking for themselves", Locke said while fumbling at his glasses. „It would also explain why your wounds are still bleeding and your weak and scared nature. It's kinda rare but not impossible."
You only stood there like frozen with more tears building up in your eyes. Did your parents know? Why haven't they told you? Being a demon wasn't something you were grateful for but at least it made you belong to a side. Now you were neither demon nor human, something in between. A no one, a worthless half breed.
„Is that the reason you didn't kill me? To spare the human part?", you asked hurt, fists clenched as you witnessed a few tears falling on the ground next to your feet. Unable to look up you couldn't even see his face anymore as he answered you. You felt to ashamed, the world suddenly too heavy.
„To be honest I couldn't care less about humans or demons. I have seen both sides being equally cruel", he said quietly and for a moment it felt like he was drifting away in thoughts, maybe remembering something he didn't want to.
While he kept talking he once again moved closer to you, pulling something out of his pockets which looked like a piece of fabric as he suddenly put his finger under your chin. Ever so slightly and with a gesture which was both, painful and comforting at the same time, he forced you to look him in the eyes, this time without any glasses in front of them.
„I am just an excorist and definitely not in the position to compare our life's but from the things you said to me earlier, the pain I saw in your eyes... I know it was real", he said quietly, his eyes still locked onto yours. „My mission in this world is to exterminate the causes for pain and evil, not to punish the sufferers."
Lost in his words you noticed a little too late the stinging pain at your temple as he dabbed the fabric carefully on your wound, soaked in whatever kind of medicine he carried with him. A painful whine left you but for some reason you didn't push him away, instead you just stood there motionless letting him do this thing.
„I bet you are already pondering about sites, aren't you? No real human, no real demon must... be a hard to be stuck in the middle", he laughed as he suddenly let off of your face to hold his open hand right in front of yours.
Without even asking you understood what he referred to. Quietly and still staring you laid your wounded hand into his, the sudden contact and sight caused a strange and unknown feeling in your insides. In comparison to yours was his hand all scared and rougher looking. It was easy to tell how hard he physically worked. Yours were way more delicate, almost fragile looking and... ripped open that you could even see the bone.
For a moment he seemed to be lost in the sight, not in a good way but rather shocked about the consequences of his attack. Due to his reaction and his previous statement that full demons heal faster, was this probably the first time he saw something that awful at a somehow human person.
It was a strange sight seeing him so quietly, an expression of regret slowly visible in his face. The man who wanted to kill you, the man you heard so much about, causing you sleepless nights and a life in constant fear. It still felt surreal, almost laughable that this „monster" was the first person you could openly talk to since your parents were gone.
„There is no place I belong to anymore", you continued the conversation, gaining a surprised look by him.
„Wrong", he chuckled while his gaze went back to your hand and finally he started to treat it. „The middle is also a place. We don't have to chose from only black and white. Grey is also an option", he said soft just before he added: „this might hurt a bit... again.“
„Ouch—", you whined but you couldn't even be mad at him with that silly smile on his face.
„Told you so", he mocked you, blinking at you which caused a little heat to your face. You tried to ignore it and just went on.
„Even if that's so is there still no place I can go to. The people in the Demacia will probably know about me already. Such things never stay a secret for long. You might not be my enemy anymore but there are other demon hunters which won't give me the chance to explain myself. And you even said yourself I'm a potential target so being among demons doesn't seem to be save either."
Finally being done with your hand he put another bandage out of his pocket as he wrapped it around your skin carefully, a moment of silence filled the airs as he just stood there, staring between you and your hand.
„Come with me", he eventually said and from the look on your face you knew he wasn't joking. And yet you couldn't believe him. An exorcist having a half demon as companion? That could only be a joke. Unless there was something he didn’t tell you yet.
„That's... ridiculous", you said sharply, trying to hide the pain in your voice. Somehow it hurt declining this request. It felt wrong pushing him away but it also felt wrong staying by his side. That man was still a stranger, no matter if exorcist or not you still had no reason to trust him. And what would he even gain from that?
„Then at least until your wounds healed a bit. I took care of them so they don't get infected but you should still see a doctor. That's way easier with me by your side." And there it was again, that stupid grin which knew he had already convinced you.
„Fine but— only until it's better, Locke", you shoved him aside, saying his name like an insult and ready to finally leave this place as you suddenly noticed you had absolutely no idea how to get back.
„This way", he grinned even wider, pointing into the opposite direction as he put on his glasses again, a hand running through his hair which made him look a annoyingly effortless cool.
„And please… call me Corvin“, he winked at you. „Locke is more of a business name.“