Lee Sin awoke to the chilling touch of smooth stone all along his right cheek, chest, and stomach. Much of his sight was still a blur and his body didn't feel all that responsive. He remained lying face down for a moment while mentally checking over his body by feeling for every inch of his skin. Slowly he twitched his legs and then dug his knees into the stone. On either side his hands flattened and prepared to push himself up, and after a brief collection of his groggy strength, they did.

The monk groaned as he focused his vision on the runic tile underneath himself. The stone was cold to the touch but it was not lifeless-etchings of azure indiscernible words silently pulsed throughout the flooring. Lee Sin rubbed his thumb over one idly still trying to come out of his somewhat paralyzed state.

After a deep breath, Lee Sin sat up one knee and placed one foot flat before him. As the blurriness in his vision began to fade he figured out just where he was: certainly not where he thought he was going to end up. Lee Sin briefly pondered why he was back in the summoning chamber within the Institute of War. The last thing he could recollect was the burning wound in his chest caused by Zed's razors.

Of course the thought would enflame his chest once more, it felt as if the blades were still there. Lee Sin winced and grasped at his heart. The magic that had revived him left his body completely unharmed but phantom pains still lingered as a sick reminder of defeat. Simple exhaustion from the battle wasn't cured either.

Suddenly a violent explosion of electric energy exploded to Lee Sin's left. The monk shielded his face and looked on as best he could to see Xerath roaring in another fit of rage. Rather than focusing his anger on any particular figure in the room, the monolith levitated towards the large double doored exit that swung wide to the path outside.

Several robed figures meandering about stopped to witness the locus of raw energy storm out of the halls. Those anywhere near Xerath's intended direction quickly dashed out of the way to avoid becoming collateral damage. Lee Sin and the rest of the onlookers watched until Xerath descended down the stairs outside and disappeared from sight.

The injured warrior sat back on his rear and rested his forearms on his knees taking in steadying breaths trying to deal with the soreness and pains throughout his body. He was thankful Xerath didn't turn on him. The archmage's personality was just as if not more volatile than the very magic he wielded, and outside of the Rift, the raw energy he carried was considerably more dangerous being relatively unhindered.

"Alright. Get up," Lee Sin muttered to himself after his gathering respite. Sitting around on the floor would get him nowhere. Since he and Xerath had returned to the summoning chamber it had to mean Riven was around somewhere close by. Determined, the recovering combatant suppressed his body's protests and winced his way onto his feet.

Over in the corner on a stone bench he spotted a mess of stark white hair held between a pair of hands. It was easy to find her in the nearly empty but large hall. Lee Sin smiled slightly at the sight of his friend and quickly made his way over to her.

"Riven," he called out gently as he approached, the halls echoed well enough so that a near whisper could pass as an acceptable volume of conversation. "Riven, are you alright?"

Riven moaned some sort of depressing response and began rubbing her temples more with her hands. Lee Sin reached in and ran his hand through her hair.

"Feeling worn out?"

Riven nodded not bothering to look up or do much of anything else besides rub her head. Lee Sin continued to trace his fingers gently but firmly throughout her scalp. Grateful, the sore girl hummed a pained sigh before retracting her hands and looking up at Lee Sin with squinted eyes as if the chamber was much too bright. The room was, however, much more on the dim side lit only by soft blue fires burning eternally on torches patterned along the walls.

Though she felt terrible, Riven's lips curled into a small smile as she gazed upon the red bandana around Lee Sin's eyes. Her voice came out first as a croak before it evened out. "Did we lose then?"

Lee Sin nodded. "Our summoners must have agreed to surrender. I'm afraid we did indeed lose."

Riven rubbed her eyes with thumb and forefinger and groaned. "Ah, whatever. I don't care much about it right now."

Lee Sin chuckled before teasing the usually fiery woman. "Hey, the Riven I know always strives for victory. Of course you care about-"

"All I care about is this splitting headache," Riven interrupted whilst vocalizing her discontentment.

Lee Sin casually took a seat next to Riven and began idly massaging her closest shoulder while surveying the rest of the room. Bright gold armor instantly caught his attention off toward the exit. Up against the wall Leona held her finger pressed into Graves' chest as she uttered sharp, criticizing whispers. Graves simply held his hands up in exaggerated capitulation and chuckled innocently here and there between Leona's remarks. Lee Sin found the silly exchange somewhat heartwarming despite the aura of defeat pervading the room.

That emotion evoked the thought of the blue haired woman he had met. Again he pondered who she was and where she suddenly came from. He almost wanted to hurry over to the second summoning chamber in hopes of finding her but he couldn't just up and leave Riven. She could use his support just as much as he could use her company. Riven seized the unspoken offer by leaning into Lee Sin's shoulder and softly whining more about her throbbing head.

The blind monk wrapped his arm over to her other shoulder and squeezed the girl into a gentle hug while chuckling under his breath.

"Come on, let's get going. The officials will be chasing us out of here soon." With that he began making his way to his feet while pulling Riven along too. Both of them successfully stood, and just as they did, the sudden change of distribution in weight caused the aching phantom gash in Lee Sin's chest to cry out again. He winced the pain into suppression and started off toward the exit. Riven followed but seemed to struggle at keeping up with the pace. She walked with a sort of limp from more sore muscles all along her back.

Lee Sin turned back and sighed knowing he needed to do something. He noticed she was carrying her half-blade on her back slung over her shoulder and tethered by a single leather strap. Out of simple courtesy the monk grabbed the strap and lifted it over her head.

"Here, let me help you out." Riven grunted a protest but Lee Sin had already secured the weapon onto his own back.

"I can carry it," Riven complained while rubbing her eyes trusting the blind monk to lead her steps.

"Yes, well, now you don't have to. Open your eyes now, I doubt I can carry you down the steps."

"Why not," Riven started as she blinked away the blotchiness in her sight, "Are you saying I'm heavy?"

Lee Sin scoffed. "No, I just can't carry you with the feeling of a blade stabbing through my chest ever present."

Riven cocked her head as she descended the steps gingerly, her eyes trained on her foot placement. "What happened?"

Lee Sin sighed and began telling her about the first run in with Zed during the match. By the time he had finished with the last description of his demise they had already traversed the steps down from the Institute and made it halfway along the long stone bridge that expanded across a bright aquamarine body of water. They finished the bridge crossing in silence whilst glancing about at the shining ripples in the water and the glistening dark blue stalactites jutting from the cave ceiling high above.

Both combatants came to a halt as they reached the crossroads at the end of the bridge.

"Feeling any better?" Lee Sin asked genuinely.

Riven's tone was enough to answer. "Not really. My head, my back, my everything, it all feels terrible."

"Mmm," Lee Sin hummed in pity. "Well, I think I know what will help. Come on, follow me."

Riven shrugged and obliged. She was thankful that their pace had adjusted to her slowed movement now that they weren't being pressured to clear out from the Institute.

"Look up, we're here."

Riven had slung her arm across Lee Sin's shoulder for support during their trek to the establishment and her gaze remained looking downward with closed eyes for most of the trip. At Lee Sin's command, the defeated champion lifted her head and eyed the big glowing sign just above the revolving glass door.

Squinting, Riven raised an eyebrow at the sign overhead. "Gragas' bar?"

"Yeah," Lee Sin confirmed joyfully, "I figured you'd be hungry, I know I am. A meal will help with your head, I promise."

Riven sighed and broke away from Lee Sin's support. She rubbed her eyes for a moment before inhaling deep and looking ahead through the doors with a burst of forced social etiquette.

"Alright. Well, let's go then," she nearly questioned.

Lee Sin nodded and took the lead by stepping into the opening of the spinning door. He made sure Riven snuck in behind him before pressing the glass forward and turning the centerpiece. A few steps brought them into a vastly different setting compared to the deadened evening streets outside.

The bar was just that but better. The establishment also served as a restaurant; many sets of tables and chairs all finely carved and crafted peppered the sculpted stone floor on both the right and left. Down at the end of the expanse were doorways that led to even more places to dine. Gragas' dive was popular enough to warrant such space, but at this hour the patrons mostly attended the bar.

Lining the 'V' shape of both dining halls was a lengthy, dark wooden bar with countless bottles lining the walls behind. The barkeep counters were stocked with various fruits and ice chests along with racks of many different glasses and grails. The actual bar counters themselves were smooth and polished, completely unmarred by any sort of flaw despite their history. The few baristas dancing about the bar positions made sure to wipe away even the slightest drink perspiration ring as per the owner's high quality standards.

That same owner appeared outside one of the bar exits with wide arms and a warm welcome exclamation. "Heeey, Lee Sin! I haven't seen you in weeks!" Gragas stated while approaching with excited haste. His soft purple coat swayed with each large step he took and the braided moustache and beard mirrored the jostling.

Lee Sin nodded as Gragas stood before him. The burly beard enthusiast took up the long standing patron's hand for a powerful shake, so much that it seemed to nearly take Lee Sin's arm off.

"Gragas, it's good to see you again-"

"Aht," Gragas interrupted with a raised palm. The deep grooves told of his long-worked history yet they were smooth, just as a successful owner's manifers should be. "We'll ditch the ol' formalities right there, yeah? How about you tell me about this dame you've brought to my modest business on the way to your seats!" The jolly barkeep started a quickened pace down the left hall expecting the guests to follow. Riven and Lee Sin tailed Gragas but were surprised at how quickly the owner could traverse the hall considering his large, filled out body type. The customers nearly had to jog to keep up making sure not to catch their hips on the backs of empty seats.

"Bar or table?" Gragas inquired without turning his head. His booming voice was easily heard despite it.

"Table," Lee Sin confirmed after checking Riven's reaction. A quick scan of her wide eyed expression signified her indifference.

Lee Sin nearly bumped into the back of the purple coat when its wearer abruptly stopped. "Very well! Have a seat here, I'll get you some menus," Gragas instructed with an open palm.

Riven hopped around the back of an ornate chair and took her place at a two person table up against a large window. Lee Sin did so as well on the opposite side of the dining surface. To their surprise, Gragas slapped down two menus whose quality matched the rest of the bar within seconds.

"Ignore the prices you two, let Gragas take care of you tonight, so don't hold back."

Lee Sin looked up from the pamphlet with concern stiffening his brow. "Gragas, you don't need to do that-"

"Of course I do!" he exclaimed, "I still owe you, the least I can do is serve you a hot meal this evening. Plus..." Gragas led on with teasing anticipation. His eyes peeked over the tips of his small orange glasses and locked onto Riven who stared back in unsure anticipation for the deliverance. "This is the first time you've brought a date to my bar."

Riven's eyes widened and she quickly found the table to be more interesting to stare at.

"Oh- it's not-" Lee started.

"Riiight, riiight, it's not a date. I gotcha. Keeping it all under wraps, I know how these things work! Don't worry—My word is as sure as this beard!" Gragas let out and uproarious laughter to which the patrons and staff were none too surprised to hear thundering through the halls. "So, what will you two lovebirds be drinking tonight? Maybe something that'll warm you up for tonight's sensual activities?"

"Hot tea," Lee Sin answered with a pained voice from behind his hand.

Riven glanced up and briefly ordered, the warm color starting to return to her face involuntarily. "Same."

Gragas nodded with a grunt. "Ah, very well. I'll return in just a few minutes then. Get those stomachs of yours ready for food fit for kings!" With that he turned heel and strode back to one of the bar entrances laughing heartily all the way. Just before he stepped into the kitchens he flashed a signature smile and a thumb-up point to one of the patrons seated at the bar. He responded by raising his mug, chuckling, then slurping a generous swig.

Lee Sin peeked from his facepalm after the laughter had disappeared fully into the back rooms. Riven glanced up and traced Lee Sin's red ribbon with a tiny smile.

"I apologize," Lee Sin started, "He's a bit wild."

Riven giggled through an exhale and grinned a bit wider. "He's certainly interesting. I've only read his Institute report and statistics list, I didn't know he'd be so... robust."

"Did you figure him a drunkard and nuisance?" Lee Sin blatantly inquired.

"...Well yes," Riven admitted flatly, "But that doesn't appear to be the case. Not in the slightest!"

"Well, the Rift is more than just a battleground for many, it's also a source of entertainment. Some participants like to create a persona for themselves and it becomes signature to them among the audience. I feel that many people tend to forget about the masses that treat the League like a sport." Lee Sin consciously made sure his frown didn't stay apparent for long.

Riven nodded and hummed in understanding. Even she imagined a much more intense version of herself when on the Rift, there she left no room for anything other than refined focus and discipline. Audiences and fan followings had never much crossed her mind.

"And..." Lee Sin began in an exaggerated low voice, "To tell you the truth, I don't think Gragas is capable of becoming intoxicated. He can down more alcohol than you would actually believe and still remain himself afterward. The man is not of this world." Lee Sin scoffed and traced a design in the wood on the table reflectively. "Or maybe he's just eternally tipsy and we've never seen his sober self..."

Riven chuckled and looked over in time to spot the talented drinker himself walking towards them with a silver platter held high. Gragas stopped at the edge of the small table and retrieved the drinks as if he was serving royalty. The bottoms of the glasses touched down evenly on either side of the table without missing a beat.

"There we are. Now, the second most important part of the meal here, what can I get either of you to eat this fine night?"

Riven clenched her teeth and hurriedly scanned the menu before her. She'd been so caught up with chatting that she hadn't even bothered flipping through the list of things to order.

"I'll have what I usually get," Lee Sin stated firmly. Though it had been a while, the choice was easily received. Gragas hummed his approval and looked over to Riven.

"And for you- wait!"

Riven nearly jumped out of her seat at the sudden roaring command. A big, thick hand reached out in greeting which Riven traced all the way up the shoulder and back to the orange moustached expression that smiled so ardently.

"Where are my manners, I never even introduced myself after all this time! As you may have guessed already, I am Gragas and I own this warm little diner."

"Riven, and yes I've known about you. I read about your participation in the Institute of War in the logs they have filed there."

Gragas chuckled with his inflating ego. The barkeep was a surprisingly nearly unstoppable force on the Rift. "And so you have. To be honest with you Riven I've read and heard about you too, I always like to keep updated on those records and within these walls word of all goings-on within the Institute float around . But that would be a rude introduction if I simply called you by name. I had to meet you properly here before I dare to prepare a meal for you."

Riven accepted the kind introductions, they showed that even Gragas' business side was entirely amiable. Truthfully it made her feel a bit guilty. Normally she'd be much more talkative but the exhaustion of the day left her too tired to do so.

"Now that we're all good friends here, what would you like for dinner?"

Riven cursed herself and paused before thinking up a quick answer. Truth be told, she couldn't even think of what the first line said on the menu at that moment. "The same as Lee Sin!"

"Mmm, good choice, I'll get to work then. I'm going to cook it myself! My chefs are good but it wouldn't compare to being made by the master." Gragas turned and bounded off the way he had come with excitement.

Her desperate exchange over, Riven breathed a steady sigh and rested her face into her hands using her fingers to rub her troubled forehead.

"So what did I just order anyway?" Riven asked from behind her hands. After a moment of not having received a response from the blind monk she removed her hands to find Lee Sin staring off in deepened contemplation. "Hey. Heeey," she called out before bumping the table top in front of her enough to make a noise without disturbing the drinks.

Lee Sin shook himself from his thoughts and focused back on his companion. "I'm sorry. Hey- about those records, all registered champions with the Institute are in there, correct?"

Riven blinked. "Well... yeah... it's mandated."

Lee Sin nodded slowly. "Could she be in there?"

"Why?" she inquired, "And why do you look so hung up on this? I figured you knew."

Lee Sin rubbed his forehead and drew in a breath trying to shake the awkward presence Riven was getting from him. "Ah. It's nothing too important, really. Anyways, how are you feeling?"

The sore warrior took a moment to assess the pain in her head quickly coming to find that she wished she hadn't done so. The hammers kept knocking at the back of her skull—in fact they had never truly stopped.

"Ugh," sighed the exile, "Terrible as ever."

"I'm sorry, Riven," Lee Sin stated genuinely. "What's got you so hurt? Do you want to talk about it? Your opponent was Wukong the Monkey King, right?"

At the mere sound of the name her lip curled as if a bad taste had flooded her tongue. Her eyes dodged to the window and a hand was raised to coddle the back of her neck. It took her a moment to decide on what to say from behind her suddenly defensive wall, but Lee Sin awaited patiently.

"It was my summoners fault," she spat suddenly. The growing dusk in her tone nagged at Lee Sin's concern further. "If her stupid tactics hadn't drove me back into battle when I was hurt I would have ended up fine. I would have came back and drove the Monkey King into the ground. I would have-" Riven was staring angrily at Lee Sin now channeling her frustration and projecting it towards him. When she realized her actions Riven instantly deflated and apologized through a sigh.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled while resting her elbows on the table and her head in her hands. A few moments passed; Lee Sin sipped his tea quietly while Riven gathered herself.

"The truth it, I should have simply fought harder. I made too many stupid mistakes and it cost me my life—And my comfort I've come to find out."

Lee Sin lowered his cup and let a few silent moments pass. Idly he brushed his thumb against the warm glass and stared into the softly rippling tea.

"It is through defeat we gain the most," he offered matter-of-fact.

The woman across from him lowered her arms, sat back, and considered the words. Somehow when Lee Sin displayed his wisdom the effect felt twice as palpable than if it had come from someone else.

Riven was about to thank him for the words when a newly familiar voice shattered the tense air surrounding the table.

"Hope you two have been starving for a few hours, " roared Gragas' defined voice as he approached the table. In his hands he carried two platters filled to their lengths with steaming vittles layered with seasonings and flavors. Each plate was set before Riven and Lee Sin to tempt them with a wafting aroma that demanded the sense of smell in positive authority.

"Thank you, Gragas," Riven responded while silently wondering how she let the generous host come up on them without her noticing.

Lee Sin nodded a hummed thank you as well and took up his fork and knife.

"Guess I'll leave you to it. Flag me down if you need anything else, or just shout!"

Riven smiled Gragas away before turning to the plate before her. A glistening slab of lamb coupled with a generous dollop of mashed potatoes and dark gravy took up a third of the plate. The rest was made up of steamed carrots and green beans, a side of stuffing, all brought together by a large cornbread muffin in the middle. Analyzing the plate made Riven realize that she was indeed quite hungry. Not even the pounding in her head would stop her from enjoying the meal.

Lee Sin sat back and loosed a satisfied sigh, his fork clanking against his empty plate conclusively. He took a moment to relinquish his sight and focus on his thoughts which lately seemed to have just been going in circles. Too many different subjects and future goals had been mulled over and set; he had plenty more to do with Riven in the coming weeks just as they had done throughout the past several months, a mental note to pay Master Yi a visit once again had been made, and now there was a massive wrench thrown into the middle of all of it. A musically apt, blue haired wrench.

The monk stopped himself before he once again tried to make sense of who she was or what she was doing on the Rift, all it did was cause more confusion and raise more questions. He'd have to save the poking for information until later. For now, Lee Sin decided to devote his attention to Riven. She deserved it, especially after he had been so rudely absentminded before the meal.

Riven shifted in her seat, glanced to the window, then looked back to Lee Sin's medallion on his forehead cloth. "Are... are you looking at me, or..."

Absentminded once again. Lee Sin broke out into a soft chuckle to play it off. "Yes. I was. You look tired."

"Just what every girl wants to hear," Riven quipped before running a hand through her naturally messy white locks.

"For a girl like you it's fitting. It means you worked hard."

"Yeah, worked hard for nothing," she grumbled. The bridge of her index finger met her left eye, rubbing gently, and projecting her exhaustion.

Lee Sin's head cocked ever so slightly and a soft smile curled his lips. "I'm pretty sure we've gone over this before. Are you being overly hard on yourself again?"

"Maybe."

"Discipline is important, wanton self-criticism is entirely detrimental."

Riven sighed hard and dropped both of her hands onto one of Lee Sin's beside his plate. Her eyes drooped to a close and her voice came out pleading. "I know Lee, I know. I can't focus on those kinds of things right now. I can't focus on anything. All I hear, and feel, is pounding in my skull." Another annoyed groan accentuated the aforementioned discomfort.

Lee Sin nodded but remained still. Riven's hands were cold he noticed; strange to him considering he was shirtless and the barroom atmosphere hadn't bothered him.

"Well, are you ready to go then? Maybe it's time you got some proper rest. We can go over the battle tomorrow."

Riven retracted her hands and prepared to stand. "Yeah. That sounds good."

"Hmm."

Both Lee Sin and Riven rose from their chairs in synchronization and slid them back in neatly before making their way back to the more open passage between the tables and chairs. As they walked Lee Sin scoured the bar hoping to catch sight of Gragas for one final thank you and goodbye before leaving. As they neared the front of the tavern he found the hearty man delivering a mug to a purple robed figure seated at the bar who shared a laugh with the master barkeep.

Not wanting to interrupt, Lee Sin simply caught the hosts attention with a wave and a smile. Riven picked up on the cue and issued a thankful wave as well while her other hand prodded the revolving exit.

"Hey- hey you come back soon, alright? Both of you! Enjoy the rest of your night you two," Gragas teased with a laugh. Lee Sin confirmed his guess as to the identity of the patron when he turned and gave a short wave. The beady blue orbs of light lining the dark cloak were intimidating, no one knew what lay behind the cover. Lee Sin and most every other champion knew him simply as Jax, the Grandmaster at Arms.

The chilled air outside wasn't anything abnormal for the extremely expansive chasm the entire city was built within. In fact, Lee Sin found the cool atmosphere on his exposed skin refreshing. Riven and her sharp breath, however, didn't seem to agree.

Both exhausted and beaten warriors walked in silence up toward the first fork in the street—one path heading straight and the other branching left. Both smooth, cut stone walkways were lit with tall metal lamps giving off a soothing blue light from an inexhaustible flame at the top. The streets were mostly empty, not a single soul stood between them and their immediate destinations.

"Well," Lee Sin began, "Are you okay to make it home?"

Riven scoffed. "I can make my way home, yes. I'm not that weak."

Lee Sin couldn't help but smile. That was the fiery personality returning to his friend after an evening of it being absent. "You're not weak at all."

The monk inhaled the fresh air and stared straight down the street. He expected Riven to start off down the path but instead she clung to his side like a friendly tomcat.

Lee Sin cleared his throat before speaking. "However, it's going to be difficult for us to split ways if you're going to fall asleep on my shoulder here."

Riven's eyes shot open and she discerned just how much she was leaning into her solid support, and of course how much his body heat contrasted from the breezeless yet chilly air. Still, she hadn't the drive to feel embarrassed, instead she dropped her head back onto the shoulder with a groan when her neck muscles started to ache again.

"Alright. Take me home then. You've got to finish our little date anyway." The prospect of the word sent butterflies through her stomach but she quickly stemmed the feeling before it became apparent. Her tease wasn't supposed to so easily backfire. "Erm, do you remember where I'm staying at?"

"Sort of," Lee Sin offered while letting Riven's date quip play off as a joke, "I've only been in the area once before to meet you about half way." With that he started off in a steady pace with which Riven kept up without problem.

As they walked Lee Sin snaked his arms across Riven's upper back just as she had done the same to his to offer better support. Soon enough they came upon another turn on their left, the straightaway side being the bright lake guardrailed by a low stone wall.

"Down here, right? Following this should lead to the residential area."

Riven shook her head. "No, I'm on the outskirts. It's faster if you follow the lake around."

Lee Sin of course trusted the instruction to be true. In respect to road traffic it certainly was considering how most of the daily action took place further inside the city away from the actual Institute. The hour was late and the city folk reacted appropriately; most of them were in their beds, around the fire in their homes, or seeking refuge at their favorite tavern.

The duo walked mostly in silence uncaring of the time that passed. As they completed the bend around the perimeter of the lake, having only passed a few denizens along the way, the chasm's wall came into view with an assortment of apartments built into the jagged rock stacked three high, each tier set further back in.

Lee Sin prepared to advance toward the first set of stairs leading into the abodes but was surprised to find that Riven was steering him down the street to their left alongside the apartments. "Isn't your residence in there?"

"It used to be," Riven confessed, "But recently I've moved. Don't worry, it's not too much further."

While he'd never show it, Lee Sin was pleased to hear that their destination was close. The aching in his chest had flared back up along with his other more beaten areas of his body from the battle before, most notably his forearms. Still, he could only imagine what Riven was feeling with the way she'd been acting throughout the night.

"There, up in the rocks," Riven exclaimed and pointed up toward their right. A lone apartment with a different makeup of wood and shaped stone rested easily against the chasm wall. Even further down was the beginning to an exit—a road to the surface world of Runeterra. For Riven Lee Sin found it to be extremely convenient, so much that it made an ideal place even for himself. The inn he usually rents a room in whilst visiting the city was too deep in the crowded city.

Riven broke from Lee Sin's support and dug around in her pocket while taking the first step up a long stone staircase. Her one man entourage followed step trying not to wince with the added stress on his muscles it took to elevate his body. The phantom pains were really starting to sink in.

Much to his delight, the pair soon reached the top of the staircase after evening out twice on smaller, shortened walkways during the ascent. Lee Sin waited behind the woman and looked out towards the city as she worked the lock with a slender key. The city lights were astounding—all of the dancing blue flames gave off a radiant and unique atmosphere while the warm normal fires peeking through the countless buildings assured the viewer that beneath the exotic stone exterior, a warm and familiar place would be found.

The door squeaked gently as Riven pushed it open and stepped inside.

Lee Sin drew in a relaxed breath and followed her steps, closed the door behind him, and then locked the latch and handle. Riven had already disappeared down a hallway straight ahead and off to the right with her bag and weapon, after retrieving it from her company, leaving Lee Sin the luxury to fulfill his subconscious curiosity regarding her current home.

In one word, it was modest. The living room was furnished with a single couch, a low stone table in front of it, and a wooden stand at the arm opposite of the hallway. A tall bookshelf lined the wall beside that just before a doorway that led into a tiled room, presumably the kitchen. On his immediate right Lee Sin spotted a desk and unlit lamp with lots of papers scattered about except for a designated clear space in front of the desk chair.

Riven returned a few seconds later acquiring Lee Sin's attention.

"Is it too dark in here? I can never tell," Riven questioned as she made her way back to the door Lee Sin stood beside. On the wall she placed her fingers on a knob and turned to the right ever so slightly. The light in the ceiling grew a tad bit brighter from the effort. It was then Riven cursed herself with a sharp exhale and a pass over her eyes with her fingers. She recovered and faced Lee Sin with an awkward expression.

"I mean... I know you're blind... but..."

"The lighting is good," Lee Sin responded mysteriously. The look on Riven's face only grew his smile wider as he watched her writhe in curiosity.

And then she couldn't take it anymore. "So lightning does affect your... vision, right? How?"

Lee Sin exhaled sharply through his nose amused by Riven's interest. Rather than indulge her with an answer, the monk simply approached the couch and took a seat at the end with a resounding sigh. He let his head lean back against the cushion and his arms stretch wide across the comforting stuffed fabric.

"I understand now," Lee Sin spoke while staring at the dark crème colored ceiling. "You brought me all this way so you could corner me with your interrogations." He found it difficult to hold in the laugh that crept up his diaphragm. Without even looking, physically or otherwise, he could sense Riven's withheld frustration.

"...I'm going to go shower. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," she offered while moving toward the hallway on Lee Sin's immediate left.

"But we just ate."

Riven stopped abruptly and reached over with clawed fingers as if threatening to strangle the genius on her sofa. "Drinks, water, tea—you know what I mean!"

Lee Sin beamed.

Riven sighed and continued on her path not letting her smile break out until she had entered the hallway.

Lee Sin sighed from his relaxed position and let his mind wander for a while. He thought back to the events of the rift from earlier—not of the blue haired woman, that was too much to consider right now, instead he stepped through his duel with Master Yi once more. He hadn't seen the swordsman in a while despite their friendship, most of his time went towards tutoring his apprentice, Wukong.

A faint sound of slipping paper piqued Lee Sin's trained ears snapping him from the daydream. He wasn't sure how much time had passed but Riven's shower was still running beyond the wall behind him. Above the gentle white noise of the water rushing through the plumbing he had noticed the almost inaudible sound of the parchment . Tracing its origin to the front door, Lee Sin spotted a white slip of paper laying on the hard wood flooring before it.

Lee Sin slowly rose from his seat, careful not to spike the aching in his core too much, and made his way over to the door. He quickly took up the paper and read the simple message written with exquisite handwriting aligned in the center.

The Raven has come to brood.

A tide of blood rages in his wake.

Seek the light of the righteous, Exile,

else evanesce into darkness.

The monk reread the cryptic message a few times to try and gather a better understanding. Each line only raised more questions. Suddenly he cursed himself for being so oblivious and quickly unlocked and pulled the door open half way. Too much time had passed, there was no one in sight.

Lee Sin shut the door and locked it once again before realizing the running water had stopped. Riven needed to be alerted to this message.

Determined, the monk stepped down the hallway with long strides careful not to bend or otherwise mar the paper in his hand as if it's very condition mattered. The door to Riven's bedroom was cracked slightly, Lee Sin presumed she was inside. He brushed open the door with only the unsettling and enigmatic letter on his mind.

"Riven, you need-"

"Gyah!" Riven screeched. She flipped around at the sound of Lee Sin's voice covering her naked chest with her arms. Her eyes went wide with shock at the unexpected intrusion. "Why- Sure, Lee, come on in," she joked sarcastically while scrambling for words.

Lee Sin didn't skip a beat in his voice. "Right, look at this," he instructed as he came up to Riven and held the parchment before the both of them.

"Lee I'm still- Can it- ugh, alright, what is it?" Still a bit scatterbrained, Riven fumbled for the towel on her bed behind her and used it with one hand to cover herself. With the other she grasped the bottom of the paper creating a damp thumbprint and read the message, her eyes flicking to Lee Sin's close body a few times whilst doing so.

Riven finished looking it over with a disgusted utterance. She let the paper fall to the ground as she turned back to her bed and considered how she'd finished getting dressed while expressing her distaste. "I've had enough of these messages. They don't mean anything, it's all just some ploy to try and scare me off. Even here in my corner of this gloomy cave people won't let me have a home."

Lee Sin picked the note back up and stared at the words without exactly reading them. "You mean to say there are more like this? How long has this been going on? Riven, I do not think this is something to cast aside."

"Why not? They won't do anything about it if I don't submit to them anyway."

"Who?" Lee Sin pressed on, "And what do you mean by submit?"

Riven gave a curt exhale and looked back to Lee Sin. "It's Demacia. They know all about my exile from... my homeland, and they've been trying to get me to align with them for months. Recently they've pressed more and more and frankly I'm sick of it all. They can take their stupid notes and shove them right up Prince Jarvan's-"

"Riven, they know where you live, their spies surely track you, you're being targeted by one of the largest kingdoms in Valoran."

"Both of the largest kingdoms in Valoran," Riven growled. "Thanks for reminding me." Her gaze began melting into solemnity as she traced a pattern on her quilt from afar. Speaking her situation helped bring to light the severity of her strife.

Lee Sin took a steadying breath. The blind monk realized he was starting to dig too deep. Dancing around her banishment from Noxus could be just as hurtful as bringing it up straightforward.

"I apologize if my concern feels a bit invasive," Lee Sin admitted while rubbing his forehead to try and quell the tension. "I understand that you can handle yourself and your business just fine. However, being such a close friend to me as you are, I just can't help but worry about you with something like this."

Riven's muscles capitulated allowing her shoulders and lips to droop. She uttered a final sigh before sitting on the edge of her bed and letting her eyelids fall closed. "I know," she said weakly before turning to Lee Sin with a genuine countenance, "Lee, I truly value the fact that you do worry about me. Honestly, I do. I just..." Riven searched for the right words to explain her hardship, "I just try not to think about it all. I know it's irresponsible but at this point... I don't know what to do."

The final blow from her thoughts dealt, Riven exhaled into her hands and leaned into them using her elbows as support on her knees. The towel flipped forward accidentally to reveal a forbidden half view of the side of her breast.

Lee Sin stood still for a moment going over the sudden revelations. All this time and he hadn't known about Riven's troubles with Demacia or Noxus, he foolishly believed that her past had remained buried. Only tonight he discovered that, underneath her fiery exterior and go-getting personality, Riven was locked in a decisive battle with no one there to serve as support.

The monk released a long, calming breath and approached Riven slowly. He noticed her wide eyed glances from behind her fingers but tried not to make a point of it. Gently he sat beside her and pulled at his long hair braid that was wrapped around his neck so that it balanced along his shoulders rather than falling down along his chest.

Lee Sin's hand reached for the towel that somewhat shielded Riven and tugged at the edge to wrap it further backward to cover her once more. That hand then ended up softly resting on the exile's still damp back in unspoken sympathy.

"Your situation is difficult," Lee Sin stated, still unsure of all the details. His words flowed slowly as he took time to pronounce each with honesty. "It's not something you can't overcome, however. And don't think you're ever alone—I'm right here always."

Riven shifted the towel under her arms to better hold it, and to stall for words. No matter how much time she bought herself Riven could feel that it was going to be in vain—her throat quickly clenched up and her eyes misted. Far too long she'd admired the man currently consoling her, and to hear of his genuine support for her wellbeing was enough to spark more than a few emotions.

Not wanting the target of her affections to witness her vulnerable state, Riven suddenly turned and thrust herself into Lee Sin's chest wrapping her arms around him and burying her forehead in the crook of his neck.

Slightly caught off guard, Lee Sin warmly reciprocated the embrace and slowly caressed her back with his hands. The pair shared the comforting touch for a long moment. Rather than giving into her emotion, Riven managed to steady her breathing so that no tears were shed. Her voice came muffled from between herself and Lee Sin, "Thank you, Lee."

Lee Sin hummed his affirmation and allowed Riven to pull herself back to a sitting position. From there she casually rubbed her eyes to be sure they were dry before she would look at the monk. A small blush of passion had inadvertently bloomed on her cheeks as she realized her longing for the gentle caressing Lee Sin had given her exposed back—that she was more concerned about the monk witnessing.

The dismal matters they had left off on were much too depressing. Lee Sin decided to bring up something joyous to look forward to. "So," he began with a sprightly tone in his voice, "Will you be ready for some more practice and sparring tomorrow?"

Riven smiled, ran a hand through her hair, and looked sidelong over to Lee Sin. "The question is, will you be?" The new subject had already replaced much of the gloominess lingering about her countenance.

"Of course," he answered.

"Even after today's match? Don't you feel worn out?"

He couldn't deny the lingering aches in pains any more Riven could. "I do, I'm incredibly sore—but I won't let that stop me." Lee Sin's lips curled into a teasing grin. "Are you trying to find a way to skimp out on our practice?" With that he leaned in and bumped Riven's shoulder with his as a challenge.

Riven turned with a renewed twinkle in her eye. "Never would I do such a thing! In fact, just for that, tomorrow I'll be sure to be twice as hard on you."

"Really now?" Lee Sin joked with an exaggerated bump of the eyebrows. "That's very good. I've a surprise planned for you tomorrow, in that case."

Riven's curiosity was instantly piqued, she'd even forgotten about what had her so down. By now she'd turned to sit crosslegged on the bed facing Lee Sin, her towel still held tight against her chest.

"Mmhm. I was thinking we should stop by an visit an old friend of mine. I don't think you two have met before outside of the Rift. He has a dojo in the mountains nearby on the surface, it'd do us both a lot of good to spar with him.

Riven inwardly stemmed a wave of disappointment at the thought of a third party taking up their time together. She'd get to travel with Lee Sin after all. "Master Yi, right? The swordsman?"

"That's him."

"I've only seen him around the institute, I don't think we've ever held a conversation." Riven scratched the back of her head and looked at her knee. Again she made the mistake of mentally checking for her sore muscles and of course she found that they still throbbed painfully despite the hot shower helping to make it more manageable. "I hope I'll be ready to meet him then, honestly I do feel terrible after today's battle." The exile quickly added on to her statement to defend herself from a sly remark she figured Lee Sin would respond with. "I mean, if it was just you I'd be fine, you're not so difficult an opponent. However, meeting and sparring with a master..." Riven let her words hang as she donned a challenging smile and looked back up to Lee Sin.

"Well," Lee Sin said with exaggerated taken offense, "Now I'll have to embarrass you at the dojo."

Riven scoffed with a smile and traced her knee with a finger. Both she and Lee Sin let the silence linger for a little bit simply enjoying the lighter mood.

Lee Sin's voice was the first to grab the other's attention, "Hey. I just thought of it. Do you have any Kala lily oil?"

Riven looked up with a surprised expression that formed too quickly for her to hide. The extract Lee Sin referred to was a wondrous cure for sore muscles and aches, the only catch was that it had to be massaged into the body making it difficult to use alone. The implications sent Riven's imagination running loose. "Y-yeah, I think I have some."

Lee Sin sprung up from the bed and scanned the room with one hand on his hip and the other on his chin inquisitively. "Perfect. Where is it? It should make you feel much better in preparation for tomorrow."

Riven could feel her cheeks warming already. She inwardly scolded herself when she realized she was looking far too long at Lee Sin's muscular and exposed body. His toned physique casted intricate shadows among the creases of muscle thanks to the soft, dim light. "Oh. The armoire," she answered with a nod toward the large wooden closet standing several feet from the foot of the bed.

Lee Sin strode over and grabbed the knobs to the fancy dresser. To his surprise, a copious amount of clothing came tumbling outward when he opened both of the swinging doors. "Ah- whoops, I'll get it."

Riven's eyes went wide as she watched from her position on the bed. She was about to leap over to help but the monk had already scooped up most of the mess of cloth in one double armful.

Placing the clothes back where he found them, Lee Sin gently stuffed the wad of cloth back onto the second shelf in the dresser making sure to be quick so as to not identify what he was touching. Looking back down he noticed a few more bits that had fallen on the way up. He retrieved the cloth and rejoined them with the rest in just a couple handfuls until he came to the last item.

Lee Sin bumped his eyebrows in innocent surprise as he snatched up the end to what seemed like a small bunch of long, dark blue stripes of textile. "What happened to these shreds?" he questioned while holding the bunch out toward his friend.

The color instantly drained from Riven's face.

Lee Sin grabbed another end of the mess of cloth and held both of them out parallel in his fingertips. It wasn't until the dainty thin cloth drooped into a "V" shape before he realized what he was holding.

"Lee!" Riven shouted, closing her eyes and hunching forward hoping that the awkward scene would simply fade away. Never had she thought she'd be subjected to this particular form of chagrin. It all happened to quick.

The monk fumbled with the intimate wear and quickly jammed it back into the pile in the armoire. Lost in the awkwardness he slowly turned to Riven and offered a weak smile when she dared to look up from her cringing. "Right... the oil," Lee Sin said.

"Ugh," Riven sighed rubbing her face with her palms.

Lee Sin chuckled and quickly set to scouring the top shelf inside the closet. There was a variety of bottles and containers of all sorts of different products. Calmly he turned each bottle and glanced at the labels looking for the Kala lily oil.

Riven peeked up and watched silently becoming more and more intrigued at the fact that the blind monk was reading through the bottles. Quite frankly it didn't make any sense, and though Lee Sin had hinted at some form of vision many times before, she was never satisfied with the dodging answers.

After a few moments Lee Sin grabbed a bottle with an approving hum and turned back to the woman on the bed, closing the dresser doors behind him. He walked over to sit back in his spot all the while reading over the title of the bottle.

"Lee..." Riven began. The curious one already knew the answer she'd receive.

"Yes... Riv?" the monk answered playfully.

Riven gave him a raised eyebrow. "Riv?"

"You address me with half of my name," Lee Sin explained jokingly while popping the lid off of the bottle he held, "I figured I'd call you by half of yours."

The exile shook her head and controlled the smile widening her lips. "Why do they call you the blind monk when you can read letters and bottles?"

Riven received a tight lipped smile from the man before he responded. "On your stomach," he commanded, waving the tip of the bottle at her in a circular motion.

Riven would once again be forced into capitulation regarding her desire to uncover the mystery of the sightless seeing blind seer. With a defeated sigh she shuffled on her knees to face her pillows and pronounce her naked back to the monk. A small burst of bashfulness overtook her as she did so causing her to sheepishly pull back on the towel under her arms a bit more. The excited one looked back with a small blush before lying down.

Lee Sin shifted his position closer to the edge allowing Riven to rest with plenty room. He watched as she slowly found a comfortable position with her legs stretched toward the end of the bed and her arms crossed underneath the pillow. She lay looking backward with warm anticipation, half of her softened face buried in the pillow.

The monk rose and sat back down on one knee next to Riven's core. Wordlessly he brought the bottle over her back and poured a modest amount of the sweet smelling oil between the woman's shoulder blades. With the trace of the stringing liquid he made a couple passes around her shoulders and lower back before wetting his hands with it, capping the bottle, and then placing it on the nightstand nearby.

Riven shuddered when Lee Sin's warm hands contacted her exhausted body. He began by spreading the soothing extract all along her back, shoulders, and neck. The recipient of the caring massage let her eyes drift closed to focus on the contact from the one she so admired.

Lee Sin kept a steady, calming breath as he began working the oil into Riven's sore shoulders with his fingers. The soft exhalations of relief that she involuntarily released caught him a bit off guard at first with their potential double implication. That combined with the sight of her tanned, smooth body and outer portions of her breasts spilling out from underneath her chest tore at Lee Sin's calm composure. Still, he tried not to focus on the sensuality of the situation and instead on the goal of doing his closest friend a largely needed favor.

"Gentle... Lee," Riven managed to gasp in between Lee Sin rubbing deeply into her neck area and the brief moments of respite. Her commands were of course ignored for her own pleasure.

"I'm surprised to find your muscles this stiff. This is going to make you feel worlds better, I promise."

"Maybe so... ack! But it hurts... don't stop- ah!" Her words melted into an elongated moan pronouncing both apprehension and approval of the deep tissue massaging.

Lee Sin had silenced Riven's babbling by pressing his thumbs sharply into her neck.

"Right there- oh, don't stop! Lee-" Riven managed to squeak in between bated breaths.

The masseuse chuckled at the responses he elicited from the woman under his fingers. He figured that if he pointed out the severity of her tone and word choice she'd probably punch him in the jaw for the double entendre surrounding it all.

After another minute of forcing her neck muscles to loosen and relax, Lee Sin pulled away and relinquished the painfully pleasurable grip he had. Riven let out a long, uncensored sigh and lay with closed eyes breathing slightly faster to make up for all the long breaths she held during her endurance. As if to make up for the rough massage, Lee Sin began a series of long slow strokes across her upper back with his fingers sending a teasing and chilling sensation down the exile's vertebrae.

Gently he then began working his thumbs into the surface of Riven's body making sure to give each length the same attention from her outer shoulders all the way down to her lower back. Now much less painful, Riven remained in her state of elevated alleviation while giving into the sensation akin to a finger painter lovingly mixing dozens of colors into the canvas of her back.

The careful strokes across her overworked body soon relaxed the exile into deeper and deeper levels of calm. Thoughts of eliciting a "thank you" or other such genuine approval flashed through the tender one's mind here and there but nothing was actually conveyed. She simply couldn't—only the sound of her breathing and gentle cries could be uttered. The massage had her in a trance.

Soon enough the recipient had drifted into a blurred consciousness between the realm of the awake and that of dreams. Her mind effectively shut out all other stimuli besides the attention she was receiving and the sound of the rhythmic breath from the one giving it to her. Her breathing grew more and more rapid, against the pillow her cheeks flushed hot, and her legs began to squirm. The buildup of all the sensual attention poured over her body transformed relaxation into arousal. Finally she couldn't stand it any longer.

The exile gave into the hot passion her body had stoked. She flipped around onto her back and grasped for Lee Sin's exposed body which was just in reach. Riven pulled the culmination of her innermost desire on top of her sensitive figure and locked her lips with his. The touch sent shivers through her core that served as further fuel for the fire raging in her core.

In between passionate, audible kisses she nearly begged for her lusting to be fulfilled, "Stay with me, Lee. Please, stay with me tonight." Riven didn't even wait for a response—instead she continued the barrage of kisses.

Her exhalations melted into sultry moans encouraged by the excitement procured from Lee Sin's hands exploring her tender breasts and smooth belly. Her own hands clawed at Lee Sin's muscular back until they reached his waist where they found it easy to remove his layered clothing. Her own bottom wear effectively disappeared as the embrace became more and more heated.

Riven's rapid breathing, fed by the adrenaline of the moment she'd desired for so long, reached a long pause marked by a resolute gasp when her love's prodding between her legs finally concluded its teasing and slipped inside. The captive breath was released and refilled intermittently in quick succession as she felt herself stretching more and more to encompass the entirety of Lee Sin's pulsing arousal.

At long last she could give into the powerful emotions she held for the blind monk. Here at the pinnacle of physical affection there were no more barriers to hide behind. Riven wanted to cry out her declarations of love for the man in her arms, but she simply couldn't form words. Instead she brought her lips again to his stopping only to mewl lovingly after every few thrusts into her core.

The blazing love pronounced by her soft cries and moans mixed with the raw sensation building between her thighs made for a caustic mixture that threatened to explode any second. Riven pulled her lips away, gasping, and letting her head fall back into the pillow. Her fingers dug deeply into the powerful frame on top of her as the motions below increased in pace and intensity. Riven's vision blurred into swirling shades of light grays and whites behind her eyelids as a gradual fire erupted from her most sensitive focus all the way up her arching back. A conclusive moan evolved into a wild vocalization marking the beginning, long lasting length, and exhausting end of her gratifying apex.

All other senses were forgotten, Riven was left bathing in warm afterglow. Relieved of the contact below, she drifted off into a mellow slumber just after receiving some hint that Lee Sin was to sleep beside her.

As the sun rose on the surface, deep below the grassy plains and rocky hills amidst the largest cavernous city in Valoran, the inhabitants of the exotic city rose to attend to their day. City folk bustled and moved through the streets bringing the greatest sense of the new morning with them. Despite the direct absence of the sun above, the large community still operated as if the warm rays had done the work in ushering in the new day.

Up above in the lone apartment at the edge of the surrounding chasm, the sounds of the metropolis did not reach the slumbering swordswoman. Eventually, she awoke on her own terms aided only by her own slow moving will to rise to consciousness.

Riven's eyes blinked open with more effort than it should have taken and focused on nothing in particular. A wide smile slowly appeared on her lips as she recalled the vivid images in her head surrounding the past night's events.

Laying on her side, Riven reached out with one of her hands for Lee Sin. A spike of surprise returned a large portion of her consciousness when she found that she was alone amongst the sheets. It was then she noticed her other arm had fallen asleep in an awkward position underneath her side. Through the tickling onset of needle pokes on the appendage, she traced its length extending downward all the way to her hand which had slipped under her night shorts and rested warmly between her legs.

Slightly confused, the exile propped herself up with that elbow and used the leverage to fully rise to a sitting position. A brief chill nipped at her naked chest, calling for the free arm to cover herself. Slowly, she retrieved her other hand and stared at the glistening fingers wet with arousal. Riven sighed at the thin, drooping strings of passion connecting from finger to finger and finally pieced together that the experience she recounted had been only but a dream—a deeply colored dream with lewd external influence. A feeling of disappointment overtook the woman briefly, but then it evoked a confusingly layered sense of disappointment for feeling disappointed.

Riven shook the conflicting feelings away and awkwardly stood up, feeling rather uncomfortable due to her soaked nightwear. She looked around the room with a curled lip, still fighting through a case of morning grogginess. Keeping her soiled hand from touching anything, she hurriedly tiptoed over to her dresser and flung open the door. Her dry hand reached in and fumbled for some new clothing that'd go under her normal wear for the day when eyes caught sight of the thin, dark blue lingerie Lee Sin had mistaken the night before. Deep inside she conjured a fantasy about wearing them just in case the moment called for such attire during her trip with Lee Sin she'd be embarking on today. Soon enough, she shooed the daydream away with a huff and quickly collected her usual outfit for the day: a brown cloak, white top, and matching waistcoat.

The early riser snatched up all of the clothing in her arm and was about to leave the room when she stopped suddenly at the closed door. Just where was Lee Sin anyway? Cautiously, she worked the door open with her good hand and peered down the hall. She heard no sound out of place but did spot a filled sock resting on the arm of her couch and poking out into sight. Riven shifted her armful of attire to cover her chest and stepped into the hall. A couple silent tiptoes later and she shouldered her way into the bathroom to clean herself up and prepare for the day after a quick morning shower.