Tapping his foot nervously on the floor, Marcus sat across from you in the cafeteria of Enforcer headquarters.

Around you, people chatted as they enjoyed the food and rested. The building was impressive even by Piltover standards, with high ceilings and a glass front that kept light coming in during the day.

Flowers were planted everywhere to add some color to the white surroundings. Their sweet scent filled the air like perfume.

But Marcus had no eyes for his modernized workplace. His full attention was on you.

Calmly, you sipped your tea, legs crossed and sitting relaxed on the chair.

He wondered how you could be so calm at that moment. His whole body was as stiff as a rock and he couldn't help but keep asking himself one question.

"Why are you back?", he asked suddenly.

When his voice reached your ears, you didn't react at first.

You still remembered that squeaky, shrill voice of a boy who was about to experience his first vocal change. The man in front of you sounded completely different.

When he spoke, there was power in his words but also still a hint of childish impatience. His voice had a pleasant sound, smooth and neither too low nor too high. A raspy undertone accompanied his words, scratching the listeners ears and making them tingle.

It was a nice voice, attractive even.

This was the one last piece of the puzzle to make you realise he wasn't the boy from all those years ago.

"Hmm...", you pressed your lips together to keep from smirking again. "A lot of things have really changed..."

Annoyed, he closed his eyes and tried to remain patient.

"Answer my question."

The coffee in his mug formed slight waves whenever his foot hit the ground.

"I already have. I was transferred here."

For a long moment, he just stared at you. There was still that warm glow in the brown of his eyes whenever your gazes met. But Marcus refused to show it openly.

Yes, he was relieved to see you well. But the pent-up anger inside him was far greater.

"You know very well that I don't mean that.", he hissed.

You shrugged.

Your eyes turned away from him to take a look out the window.

"I missed you.", you mumbled.

"Bullshit!", he hit the table angrily and jumped up.

Heads immediately turned to look at you, curious eyes watching the scene.

Warningly, you glanced at him.

And it worked, his breathing relaxed and he sat back in his chair.

"We should keep this private.", you said, looking at him to make sure you were both on the same page.

His jaw tensed. He nodded.

"You just disappeared then.", he growled. "I was left all alone, with no explanation, no reason. I-I thought you died in the Undercity."

The memory made him inhale sharply. Pain lit up in his eyes, but disappeared just as quickly.

With a guilty look on your face, you reached out to squeeze his hand. But he pulled away before you could even get near him.

"Marcus.", his name tasted so strange on your tongue, so foreign and yet familiar. "Forgive me, but I couldn't help it."

"What couldn't be helped? That you left me even though we promised each other that we would always be there for each other? Or that you lied to me? Was everything a lie, (Y/N)? Was everything we had planned just a game for you?"

The bitterness in his voice made your heart contract. It hurt to hear how badly he spoke about the past, how much it had all hurt him.

You would have liked to tell him the whole truth. But this moment was neither the right time nor the right place.

Marcus first had to digest that you were back. And you had to make sure that he didn't push you away.

"All promises were made by a younger me.", you explained in a careful tone. "At that time I thought the world was perfect. I thought everything would be waiting for us and fall into our hands if we just worked hard enough for it. But it's not like that, Marcus, and it never will be. Life had other plans."

Bitterly he had to laugh.

"Other plans?", he asked with an appraising look. "And for that you leave your best friend behind? We were like siblings, my parents loved you like their own child. Your parents built me my own bed in your room!"

You laughed softly at the memory.

"And still you always slept with me in my bed...", taking a deep breath you had to close your eyes and collect your thoughts. "I am grateful to you for everything you have ever done for me. And believe me when I say that I never wanted to betray you."

"But you did."

"I know. And I'm sorry. Marcus... if only I would have the words to express how much I'm sorry for all of this."

"Don't. I let the past die long ago."

"Then we can start all over. I'm back and I'm here to stay."

"How much longer do you want to lie to me? Back in the day you were never able to lie to my face like this."

"I'm not lying, Marcus. I was transferred here to support you with the recent issues.", the look on your face softened and turned into the expression of a proud sibling. "I'm glad that you didn't turn your back on our dream."

"Tzk!", his eyebrows pulled together. "Don't say that. I was thrilled about joining the academy with you. I wanted to figure out how to beat you. But you never gave me the chance."

You smiled.

"We can figure it out now. We've got all the time in the world."

"We've got shit to settle, that's what we've got. Now stop avoiding the topic and tell me where you've been!"

With an aching pain inside your chest, you took another sip from your tea and shook your head.

"I'm afraid I can't to that.", you whispered.

His expression darkened.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

A sigh left your lips, deep and heavy.

"It means that my superiors forbade me to share this information. All I can say is that I'm part of a special project."