Chapter 7:

Riven sat on the bed in the guest room embarrassed with herself. She wasn't sure what she was more embarrassed about, the fact that she got caught because she was careless and didn't expect the Captain to return or because she snooped through Irelia's stuff at all. Riven knew that she must have really crossed a line; it had been hours since she had been caught and Irelia hadn't left her bedroom. Normally by now, the Ionian would be trying to force some sort of meal on her for dinner but she hadn't bothered so far this evening. She felt her mind slowly slipping towards imaging the Captain using the items she had found in the chest before forcing back on track, at least as far as she knew, Irelia didn't know that she'd looked in there and only saw her with the picture frame.

Riven laid back on her bed, thinking up of ways to apologise when she heard the Captain emerge from her bedroom and walk downstairs. The Noxian sat up and moved to the edge of her bed before standing up and reaching the door, opening it slightly to listen to what Irelia was doing. Riven wasn't intending to pry, not after what happened earlier in the day, she honestly just wanted to know that Irelia was okay. As she was about to close the door she heard a woman's voice from downstairs, speaking to Irelia, catching only the end of the conversation.

"You caught her looking through your things?" The mystery woman asked.

"Yeah, I left for my office when I realised I'd forgotten some of my reports on my desk upstairs when I found her in my room. At first I was furious but after a while I wasn't any more and even though I'd like to be, I'm not angry with her." Irelia said, a small chuckle coming from the other woman.

"You've got feelings for the Commander, which certainly wasn't part of your plan." Feelings? What plan? Riven wondered, continuing to listen in, Irelia was hesitating to respond.

"I didn't expect it to work out this way."

"It's okay to fall in love, Irelia. Even with Noxians." The mystery woman chuckled again, causing Riven to furrow her brows in confusion. Irelia has feelings for her? Is that why Irelia continues to take care of her?

"Thank you, Karma," After a brief pause, Irelia continued, "Anyway, I have to make dinner so if you'll excuse me." Riven closed the door to her room, sitting on the floor in mild disbelief. The Captain has feelings for her and there was a mention of some sort of plan that made Riven uneasy. She didn't like the idea of her being brought here to recover due to some plan, even if Irelia wasn't sticking to it.

Riven stood up, deciding to head downstairs to where Irelia was cooking dinner. Riven stood in the doorway to the kitchen for a moment, just watching the Ionian push vegetables around in the frying pan, trying to get the courage to speak and Irelia let her, not forcing her to say anything just yet.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled, just loud enough for Irelia to hear her. "I shouldn't have gone through your things," Riven continued, getting slightly louder and more confident, "I was curious and should have just asked instead of looking through your belongings." Irelia paused for a moment, putting the wooden spoon down on the counter before turning to Riven.

"Apology accepted." The Ionian smiled at her. "I didn't hurt you when I forced you out, did I?" Riven remembered the aggressive palm on her shoulder from earlier in the day, it'd hurt a lot but she wasn't going to tell Irelia that.

"No, it was fine." The look that Irelia gave her made it clear she had seen through Riven's lie but decided to say nothing, going back to the food she was cooking.

"I hope you like…." Irelia continued talking but behind Irelia, Grand General Swain stood, staring with blistering intensity into Riven's eyes. Riven returned the stare, not able to move. A loud ringing in her ears began, her breathing quickened and when Swain opened his mouth as if he were about to speak, she felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her out of her living nightmare. "Riven?" She pulled her eyes away from the spot she had been drilling a hole into; looking into Irelia's chest-nut eyes, calming her breathing that she hadn't realised had become so ragged. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah, don't worry about it." Irelia's eyes scanned her, not believing that she was really okay but letting Riven get away with it. The Ionian let her hand linger on Riven's shoulder for several moments before returning to her cooking, taking the chance to glance over at Riven in concern at every opportunity.

When Irelia had finished making dinner, the pair ate at the table together, Riven clearing her plate entirely without a fight for the first time since arriving at Irelia's home. Irelia's eyes scanned her up and down in disbelief at the lack of a fight.

"What happened? You always fight me over this. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're eating but what's with the sudden change?" What came to mind for Riven was hearing Irelia somewhat guardedly admit to her feelings for the Noxian to Karma, she didn't want to be difficult for someone who harboured such feelings for her, especially when she felt herself returning them.

"I realised you were right." Riven smiled lightly at Irelia, one of the first smiles she had given since they met, Irelia smiling right back.