Of Silence and Scars, Chapter 19

Just a side note for anyone reading this fanfic for the first time and wondering where the start of this tale is, it was labeled Sona x Draven until chapter 9 where I finally thought of a title. Just in case anyone was confused and wanted to go find previous chapters. Some are short, some are long. I hope you enjoy this one and comment! Thanks!

XIX Draven, Shaco and Sona crouched outside the Demacian city. They hid in a patch of trees that Draven recognized from the last time he was here. It was midday, the meeting between Noxus and Demacia would be starting any minute. The plan was to break into the same side gate as before, though they had orders no killing this time. Always had to be complicated he thought bitterly. At least Katarina wasn’t here. Shaco disappeared into an orange puff of smoke. Draven looked around, trying to spot anything that might give away the Jester’s location. What was he up to? His silent question was answered as a bang came from within the city and the two guards outside the gate turned and went inside to see what had made the noise. Draven and Sona slipped inside quickly and ducked into the nearest alleyway as the guards returned to their post. Shaco had ran invisibly down a different alley and knocked over every trash can he could find apparently, judging by the mess they passed. As if he could read their minds, he reappeared in front of them with his permanent smile and bouncing merrily from side to side. “This is fun!” He said and abruptly turned in the direction of the prison and marched off. “March, march, march!” Draven turned to Sona and she shrugged. They reluctantly followed the crazed clown deep into the hostile city. They wound through alleyways until they came to the barbed wire fence that surrounded the drab grey stone complex. At the edge of their cover, the three gazed around for a point of ingress. Shaco’s head tilted right, then he jumped in alarm and disappeared into a smoke cloud. Draven barely saw the two guards strolling towards them before Sona leaped onto him and passionately kissed him. Questioning the timing of her affection attack, but not rejecting it, Draven saw the guards pass by, avoiding looking their way. When Sona ceased, she looked down and blushed. He asked, “What just happened?” Sona signed that people get uncomfortable at public displays of affection, so they won’t look too hard at those involved. “Wow, I like the quick thinking! You’re better at this than I thought.” Sona signed she didn’t like breaking into places so he shouldn’t get any ideas. “Breaking in? Oh right…. That too.” He gave her a half smile and winked. She huffed and hit him on the shoulder, but her smile gave him ease. Shaco reappeared on the other side of the street, behind the fence already. Draven made a questioning gesture and Shaco simply waved goodbye and headed for the prison. Draven cursed and paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair. Sona watched patiently as he tried to think of a plan. He stopped abruptly and clapped his hands once, “I’ve got it! I need you to be a distraction.” She looked quizzically at him, he shook his head as he led her back into the alleyway, “I’ll explain as we run.” Arriving at the point he needed, the prison fence passed a section of housing, and on the corner of the fence sat two trash cans for the diner that sat adjacent. If he could shift those trash cans from the building to the fence, not a far distance at all, so he could cut a hole in the base of the fence large enough for them to crawl through comfortably and Darius could probably squeeze through upon their escape. The trash cans would serve as cover so no one saw him cutting, or at least minimize the view of him. Draven turned to Sona, “I need you to play music. It will distract the people who pass by visually but also cover the noise my actions will make. Can you do that?” She nodded and floated out into the street. A lovely tune wafted gently on the breeze increasing in volume and speed until the air itself seemed to sing in joy at the wondrous song of the gorgeous blue-haired angel that created such sound. She floated here and there, dancing to her tune, inviting all around to join her. They did, captivated by the music and grace. Draven’s eyes were locked on her for a moment, but his task refocused him and he crept over to the other alleyway and shifted the cover into place. Checking to make sure he hadn’t been seen, he drew his axes and imagined channeling his Whirling Death. Spinning furiously in each hand, the blades sliced easily through the fence. Resisting the temptation to let them go flying into the compound, Draven’s arms burned from the effort of controlling the high speed spin for the elongated duration he was forcing them into. Cutting in a semi-circle from the ground up, he stifled a groan as the tension became too much to bear. Blades curved closer to meeting, only a few more seconds. At last the metal gave way and fell to the dirt beyond! Ceasing the spinning of the axes he slumped against his cover heavily, panting from the effort. Regaining his composure, he slid the cut portion of the fence roughly back into place. The seams weren’t perfect, and a close inspection could easily discern that the fence had been cut there. But a passing glance by patrolling guards shouldn’t notice anything was amiss. Signaling discretely to Sona that it was done, she began to wrap up her performance. The crowd cheered and clapped for her as she departed, waving gracefully at her company. She passed the diner and looped around the backside as to not give away the Noxian’s position. They ducked behind the diner and waited for Shaco’s return. Darius heard a faint scratching. It sounded like sandpaper on wood, a faint and rhythmic noise coming closer. Smoke flooded his nostrils and he coughed several times. Eyes watering as he lifted a hand to shelter his eyes, he caught a glimpse of a slim form standing outside of his door. The rattling of keys fill the air as the figure tried several in the lock. He recognized Shaco after the haze had lifted, “What are you doing here? Swain send you?” Shaco nodded slightly as the right key slid in the lock and slammed the bolt open. The door eased open and Darius stepped out. Shaco walked swiftly back to the door to the cell block which sat slightly ajar. Shaco led him past the stairs and down several hallways. Occasionally Shaco would pull him into a crevice or abandoned room to avoid patrols inside the complex. After what seemed like an eternity of crouching and sneaking, Darius’ back throbbed as Shaco lead him into a dark room with an unconscious pair of guards. Rows of weapons and armor lined the walls of what must have been an armory. Darius tried on several Demacian uniforms as Shaco bagged the Hand of Noxus’ gear. Standing in only greaves and boots, he threw down his fourth attempt at an armor to fit his huge frame. He sighed, “None of this pathetic armor will fit me.” Shaco chuckled, “Fat Noxian is whiny.” “I’m not fat!” “You are only one who can’t fit, you are fat.” Darius ignored him, not caring to argue with the insane if he could help it. Shaco pointed and laughed out, “I see what will fit you, fat boy!” Darius looked up and groaned, but he knew the freak was right… That would fit. Slipping into the armor of his rival, Garen’s silver and gold chest piece fit him perfectly. That was a lucky break, but also disturbing. He did not wish to compare himself to that man in any way. Shaco laughed more as Darius growled “Shut up.” Shaco raised his hands open palms facing Darius. “How about a magic trick?” “Let me guess, there’s two of you?” He said with no excitement in his voice. Shaco again disappeared in an orange smoke, then reappeared with a clone. “Oh joy, there’s two of you.” “I’ve heard that recently!” Darius didn’t care to decipher a riddle at the moment. The two jesters dawned cloaks to conceal their identities and each grabbed a hold of the bag containing Darius’ gear. Darius put on a helmet grumbling about the plan’s imminent failure. They walked casually down hallways to the back of the compound. Still avoiding the occasional guard since their disguise didn’t stand a chance at close proximity, they made it to a rusted iron door leading outside. It was a side entrance that was locked from the outside but could be opened on their end. Shaco told him to follow closely, and if anyone asks their business he was to say “Stand aside, a present for the Noxian’s” and then laugh. Entering into the world of light, Darius momentarily shielded his eyes to the sun. It blinded him completely. Days of darkness had not been kind to him. He imagined they did that so in the event of an escape any prisoner would be stunned in the exposure and would be more easily apprehended. Shaco tugged him forward. Heading for a corner of the compound, a pair of guards strode across the parade grounds generally in their direction. Upon being hailed, Darius recited the line Shaco gave him. Surprisingly, the Demacians laughed too and said “I hope it’s heavy! They could use a little character building!” Striges increasing length as freedom neared, Darius made out Draven and what appeared to be Sona gesturing to Shaco and kicking a premade hole out of the fence. Shaco slid the bag under and hopped through, clone disappearing behind him. Darius had to lay down and struggle his way through the hole while Draven pulled on him while Shaco and Sona watched for any guards that might see the ordeal. Eventually, after much grunting and cursing, the Noxian brothers stood reunited on the other side of the fence. Draven replaced the fence roughly while Darius heaved the bag over one shoulder and they slipped back the way they had come. Through narrow alleyways they crept until Shaco held up a hand to stop them near the side gate they originally entered through. They waited for nearly an hour, crouching in the cool afternoon air, waiting for something. At last Draven had a chance to ask, “What’s with the getup fan boy? Finally showing the world your love of Garen?” Darius rumbled a curse or two and cuffed Draven sharply on the head. Then a rock soared over the wall and bounced off of a nearby wall. Shaco lead them outside where the soldiers on duty lay crumpled while Urgot, Swain, and the Noxian soldiers waited. Cocking an eyebrow at Darius’ apparel, Swain beckoned them forth. They were going home.