Of Silence and Scars, Chapter 15

Trying to get deeper into the plot line, thanks for reading this and any previous chapters! Feel free to comment below :)

XV Draven gazed into the murky brew, stagnant in his cup. Long since gone flat, he had no idea how long he had sat in the grungy dive bar in Noxus’ low town. Arriving at midday he had stopped by home and dropped some things off then reported into Swain. A short debriefing and he was sent off, no questions asked about his extra time in Ionia, which Swain surely knew about. The old bird-fiend didn’t usually hold his tongue unless something was wrong. Draven hated being kept in the dark almost as much as he hated being ignored. He mulled over how to get back at the old codger as he downed the rest of the vile liquid in one go. Talon and Katarina wandered into the bar and spotted him as he prepared to leave. Katarina blocked him as he stood, “Leaving so soon?” Draven wasn’t in the mood for games. Tired and confused with a warm bed calling him, all he wanted was to go home. But, she was a slippery sort. She might have information… “I was merely getting three more drinks! You wound me madam!” He feigned a hurt face and put a hand to his chest. Talon shook his head and mumbled under his breath. “Speak up now fellow, no need to hide your feelings of passion from Draaaaven!” That got him. Talon scowled, but held his temper in check, for now. Draven strolled across the bar and gathered the promised drinks. Returning to the table, Kat and Talon talked in hushed tones. He couldn’t make it out over the murmur of the local crowd. He sat next to Kat and across from Talon, “So what has Noxus become without it’s hero for half of a week? Burning? Riots? Did Talon finally find those man parts he has always wanted for Christmas?” Draven winked at the assassin, “You been a good boy this year?” A smirk played across Kat’s face as Talon took the bait. “After the shit you pulled in Demacia, you dare have the nerve to speak to me this way! If it wasn’t for that overbearing bear of a brother to shelter your cowardly ass I’d have killed you!” “Yea? Gather all two hundred of your cute butter knives and let’s take this outside!” Draven taunted. “Fine, but after you’re a pile of fleshy ribbons in the mud, I’ll pay that cute girlfriend of yours a visit! Show her what a real man looks like, not a boy with a freakishly long moustache.” Mocking tone instantly flipped to one of barely contained fury, Draven slammed the table, knocking over the nearby drinks. He hissed, “You will pay for that.” Katarina cleared her throat and met the two angry gazes now locked on her with her calm demeanor, “Can I get an estimate on when this pissing contest will be over? I have things to do tonight and this was not one of them.” Draven grunted, “Who’s stopping you? Go.” Katarina chuckled, “as amusing as it would be to see which of you, if not both, ended up in the obituaries tomorrow, it would be counter-productive to my goals. Now both of you put your big boy pants on, and sit down.” Talon locked eyes with Draven for a moment. Kat’s voice was suddenly as hard as steel, “Sit. Down.” The assassin complied reluctantly. Katarina turned to Draven, “Games aside we have bigger issues than your ego. Another team went missing in the Institute while you were gone.” “Which one?” “Piltover.” “Good.” Katarina sighed, “Quit being shitty for like…. 5 seconds and let me finish. Leblanc came to me saying Swain said it was none of Noxus’ concern. But she spotted Darius leaving his office later that day with a host of guards. They are bound for Shurima and she wants to know why.” Draven wasn’t sold, “Why do you even want my help? I’m awesome and everything, but you and I don’t exactly see eye to eye…” Katarina gave him a look, “And why do you think that is?” “Mostly because I’m taller than you, but you also are a huge chore and give me headaches, you have a crush and the only person that is a bigger tool than guy smiley here” jabbing a thumb at Talon, “and you’re an assassin which means you have a god complex but actually spend most of your time eating the dirt to real warriors. Take your pick, all are good options.” Sighing but not as easily goaded as her partner, she continued, “The Black Rose is offering me a good sum of money to find out why, and I thought I would offer you a portion to weasel the info out of your meathead brother. You in? Big cash, easy job.” Draven pretended to think, “Hmmmm, no. No amount of money is worth another minute of talking to you two. Have a nice day, night, whatever time it is. Later chumps!” Talon mumbled, “Told ya.” Kat shrugged, “Had to try, he is our only in. Swain’s got this on lockdown. We will just have to stalk him or Swain and find out the hard way.” He replied with lacking enthusiasm, “Woooooo…” The cold night air embraced Draven and cleared his head. Turning towards home and a warm bed, he pondered the Swain predicament. What was going on? Who was taking the champions? How did Leblanc not know what Swain was doing? Why was Darius sent to Shurima about something that happened at the Institute? A lot of questions, no answers. Awesome. Mysteries, secrecy, shadow games! It was all bullshit! Draven spat as he walked. He hated shadow operations and secrecy. Open fights, clear orders, clear enemies and objectives. That was what he liked and so much more got done on those terms. Reflecting on that, he realized he was in the wrong place to avoid that. Removing the shadows from Noxus would probably kill everyone there just from exposure to sudden sunlight. He laughed a bit at that last thought. Approaching his dark house that looked almost exactly like every other house on the street. Black, worn, ominous and plain. Grayed windows hid any lights people had on down the street, and half the street lights were out. Unlocking his house in the darkness, he cursed a couple of times until the key slid into the slit. Opening the door with a low creak, he was greeted by his favorite house guest. A life-size portrait of himself posing with his axes drawn. One was serving as a leaning post as the other hung in his hand as he brushed back luscious hair and smiled. A picture of beauty! Always made his day, he smiled. Heading into the kitchen the hairs on his neck rose. Slowly drawing an ax, he crept into the dark, open room. He saw a slight movement by the patio window on the far side of the room. The fireplace was lit and a figure was standing in front of it. Draven sheathed the ax as he saw the recognizable six-eyed bird, he waltzed towards his boss. “What are you doing sneaking around Swain?” Swain turned slightly, “I didn’t welcome you back properly. I came to apologize for that.” Draven grunted, “That’s likely.” He said sarcastically. “What do you really want?” The Master Tactician turned, “Fine. I need you to do a job, it is important and you will leave tonight. More precisely, now.” Draven was still tense from the bar and tired from travelling since the morning and didn’t need this. “Why the hell do you think I would turn around and go as soon as I got here? This is my house, not a military outpost! I came here to rest, not to take on another job in the middle of nowhere!” Swain turned back to the fire. “I understand your frustration, but I have no time for it. This is of dire importance. Darius is gone and it needs doing to solve problems that are bigger than your sleep cycle. I wouldn’t be calling on you if it wasn’t imperative that you go! And it’s hardly the middle of nowhere, you will be going to Piltover. I need you to ask about the missing, find out if any of them received threats or were acting strangely. I would send Katarina or Talon, or even consider Urgot seeing as you have the diplomatic skills of a bratty four-year old. But I need discretion, and you can deliver.” “What makes you think I will?” “I will allow you a week’s vacation when this is all over, to spend wherever… or with whoever… you please. No interruptions, open expense under the military fund.” Draven couldn’t turn down that offer, but he had to test something. “Ok, I will do it. Where is Darius by the way?” Swain stared into the fire for a long moment, “… Shurima. Investigating a lead.” Satisfied he wasn’t being lied to with that test, Draven scooped up his traveling pack he had just set down. “Any crew for me?” Swain followed him out the door, “Five soldiers and a trained diplomat, all waiting by the North Gate. Report in as soon as you have something.” “Yea yea, I got it.” Draven waved absently behind him as he strode toward the North Gate. Promise of answers and a vacation put a spring in his step. Visions of beaches and Sona filled his imagination.