The Ice Queen's Lover Ch.7

Jayce collapsed back onto his bed now that he was back at his lab in Piltover. His eyes slipped shut as he took a deep breath. He felt his heart race in his chest as he thought over what he had to do. His body shuddered just thinking about it: he hated the cold.

His eyes slowly opened and he blinked them. A question filled his mind: if he hated the cold so much then why was he attracted to an ice witch? He could only groan in reply and move his hands to cover his face. He was very confused and not sure what he was really doing.

He sighed and let his arms flop down to his sides. He laid there for several minutes, just staring into the metallic void of his ceiling. He lost himself in the different hues of color as he built up his resolve to go. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, sitting up. He flexed his muscles before standing and stretching out, mind wandering to plan what was needed for his journey.

Lissandra had told him minimal supplies. This told him food, warm clothes, and low-tech climbing gear. Unfortunately, this registered also as no mercury hammer. He was not fond of the idea of going to someplace as dangerous as the Freljord without his hammer but he'd have to. It was here that he started to despise his romantic side; anything for love.

He shook his head in disgust but lowered his arms. He had taken a shower when he arrived home and dressed in warm clothes so that was not an issue. He needed to pack, though he supposed that would prove little difficulty with how little he was bringing. Ignoring his issue with his predicament, he fetched a shoulder bag from under his bed; he used it on rare occasions that he went exploring with Ezreal. He laid it atop the bed and opened it. He set inside it a full change of clothes, some rope, and a few stakes to fasten into rocks. He grumbled softly to himself as he grabbed the bag before he turned from the bed and walked into his small kitchen.

Jayce went through his mental check list of foods that would take little space in his pack and that would not spoil. His mind drifted to the effects that non-spoiling food may have on his person but he quickly moved to ignore the thought. He snatched up the needed foodstuffs and slipped them into organized areas of his bag. He grabbed a few water bottles and slipped them into one of the bag's inner pockets that would keep the fluids from freezing.

He walked over to his counter by the sink and grabbed a cup of coffee. He leaned against the counter with his side pressed to the edge. He drank it slowly as he went over the contents of his bag once more. He was still uncomfortable about not having his hammer but he would make due. He shook his head and finished his coffee as he worked to carefully reorganize his bag for easy access.

He sighed and rinsed out his mug before resting it to dry. He straightened up and took a deep breath to calm his slightly frazzled nerves. He snatched up his bag and deftly slung it diagonally over his shoulders. He clenched his fists before heading into his lab. He went to his work bench and grabbed his warm combat gloves. He slipped them on before grabbing his coat and a pair of his work goggles, letting the goggles hang around his neck until he required them to protect his eyes from frozen winds of the Freljord.

He held his coat under his arm and pulled at the collar of his turtleneck as a writing pad on his desk caught his eye. He contemplated it for a moment before reaching down and dragging it across the table to him. He picked up a pen and wrote a small note explain he would be missing for a while because he was looking for something in the Freljord. He laid the pen next to the paper just in case one of his friends came over to check on him, he did not want them to get worried.

He shifted his weight as he looked around his lab for a moment. He had always been so logical in everything he did. He now found himself asking where that logic had wandered off to. Everything told him that this entire crusade for the witch's heart was foolish ridiculous yet he could not turn from his faulty quest. He could only shake his head at his actions as he stepped out of his door, locking it before taking the step of his illogical journey to his his heart's desire.

~*~J-L~*~

Ezreal chuckled softly as he watched an exhausted Quinn happily collapse into the booth across the table from him. He shook his head and pushed a drink towards her. She smiled and nodded to him as she took it as Valor settled down on the back of the bench next to her shoulder. The Demacian fed her friend a treat before looking at Ezreal.

"Thanks for meeting me, Ez. I know this place is quite aways from Piltover."

"Not a problem. I needed to come here for some supplies anyways." He replied softly as he held up a hand to thwart her apology, "Now, what did you want to see me about?"

The question made the young woman frown and her feathered companion fluff up. She grew quiet and looked about before leaning forward. She motioned for Ezreal to join her, waiting until he did before continuing.

"As you know, I just returned from a recon mission in the Freljord a few weeks ago. I stumbled upon some pretty disturbing stuff while visiting the city of Queen Lissandra."

"Really? I met her once, she seemed rather nice despite being so cold."

"It's all an act, I swear. Something really wrong is going on there and I don't like it. Dark things are hidden under the covers of that pretty city and I don't think Queen Ashe has a clue." She took a small mouthful of her drink and grimaced, "I was chased out of the city by what can only be described as a shadow guard. I fled into the tundras to head back to Demacia. While trying to get through the blizzard, I was chased, I swear I was. It was that crazy ice witch from the League. She was searching for me with not very pleasant intentions."

Ezreal shivered at the story. He was not a fan of the Ice Witch, she creeped out the more normal members of the League and even a few of the not so normal. He could not imagine such a woman chasing after him, made his skin crawl.

"What does this have to do with me, Quinn?"

"I want your help to discover what's going on in that city. Something's super fishy and I don't like it. You're the only other person I know that has the skills to help me get into that city undetected so I can get to the bottom of this. You in, kid?" The need for adventure overcame Ezreal's fear, making him smirk.

"Of course, wouldn't miss it, girl."