They stand at the edges of a trading post within Noxian-held territory. Both of them stand mostly-hidden in the shadows of a tree, unassuming enough that no one who happens to glance over does so twice. Zed has swapped out his usual armour for something more discreet, although his face is veiled as always.
Ezreal has not earned the right to see Zed for the exhausted, stressed, and entirely dull human that he is.
From here, they can see the hustle and bustle of ex-Ionians, Noxian militia, and even one or two traitorous Vastaya purchasing food, weapons, making secret deals where the crowds hide the vile offers they make–
And there, in the distance, what appears to be a Noxian general standing at the base of several ships docked at their coastline. He speaks with a ship captain wearing a distinctly Ionian garb, though Zed cannot make out her features from here to be sure.
The sight makes him want to single-handedly take out this outpost, but if such a thing was possible, he would have done so already. No, unfortunately, the Noxians posted here are strong, as determined to conquer and pillage and destroy as any straight from the capital. He will have to rely on slowly gathering information and infiltrating with the aid of spies.
“It sickens me.” All the rage Zed has ever harboured towards Ezreal is gone in this moment, disappearing under the overwhelming despair he feels when seeing how the Noxians still, still have a foothold in a nation that should be stronger than them. “They do not kill because they feel we deserve it. They did not attack us in self-defense. They commit utter atrocities in the name of suppressing a people who just want to survive. Our beliefs do not align with theirs, but we have never tried to harm them for it. They don’t work towards any greater good, they just want victory for victory’s sake. We deserve better.”
⋆ — It’s something he’s seen often enough before, especially in Shurima. A distinctly un-Noxian landscape (though, really, is any trait Noxian when they continue to invade further from their natural flora and fauna?) decorated with Noxian flags, Noxian merchants and soldiers, and locals who have grown rich and fat through trade. There are others, too, who sought fortune and failed and now slip between the cracks. Those are the ones with the stories, Ezreal things.”
"There are Noxian ports like this in Piltover, too. Not as big, and supposedly it's just for peaceful trade, but I always wonder about them.” It might be the only point of relation between the two men, but Ezreal feels that frustration too. He glances over (and up) at Zed, but of course he gives nothing away. Strong, immovable, impenetrable ...
Ezreal decides to focus instead on the tone of his voice when they’d spoken in his office so many months ago, when he’d caught Zed with his metaphorical pants down (the literal image in his mind is extremely satisfying, by the way).
There are many things about Zed that Ezreal thinks he will never truly understand, but fear for his homeland? A desire to protect something as precious as culture? He feels that to his core.
“Noxian borders are closer than when I was a kid, and I think the only thing holding them back is the technology gap, but I have to wonder how long that'll keep them at bay." Each time he sees a port in Shurima or the Freljord, too, he feels like this. Is there anything a single explorer can do against a crazed nation? "I don't want to lose Piltover, or Ionia, or anywhere else to these guys."