Chapter 20:
Irelia's hand connected loudly with Riven's cheek.
"You're an asshole, you know that?" Riven brought her hand up to her face, rubbing at her livid skin.
"I know." Irelia put her hands on her hips, looking away from the Noxian. The pair stood inside the Institute of War, Irelia had been a champion of the League for years now but with the constant conflict back in Ionia, she and multiple other Ionian champions were on permanent leave until further notice. After giving Riven the cold shoulder for as long as she could stand, she pulled the Noxian into a tight embrace, pressing her lips to the woman's hairline.
"I'm glad you're okay but you should have told me what you were planning. I completely lost it." And she had completely lost it, once she had seen what she thought was Riven's death, she attacked General Darius in complete rage. She had even managed to wound the General severely enough that he was forced into a retreat. It wasn't until hours later when Irelia returned to her office, finding Karma sitting at her desk waiting for her, that she was informed that Riven was actually alive and on her way to the Institute with the help of Demacia.
Riven had planned with Karma behind the Captain's back to fake her own death to give them time to get her safe refuge in the Institute of War. With multiple plans to take Riven's life coming from different sides, they had decided the safest place for Riven was to be within the Institute and the immunity it gives champions who choose to reside there. It was with great luck that the Demacian light mage, Luxanna Crownguard, had come to visit the Placidium at the same time that the Noxians planned to attack on a diplomatic mission on the behalf of Prince Jarvan IV. The light mage had used her abilities to manipulate light to cast an illusion, making people think that Riven had died after her blade shattered when she had actually rolled out of the way just in time. Her rune sword had actually shattered though which pissed the Noxian off.
With General Darius' retreat from the Placidium, accords were opened up at the Institute of War in hopes to end the invasion once and for all by negotiation. Riven had been mostly hiding in Irelia's champion quarters, not ready yet to give the fact that she was alive away to the Noxians. Only Irelia, Karma, Soraka and Luxanna knew that Riven was really alive.
There was a short knock at the door; Riven opened it, finding Soraka on the other side of it. Riven stepped aside to let her in, noticing the redness of Riven's cheek she darted her eyes to Irelia, giving her a knowing stare.
"Sorry to interrupt your being reunited but we've put off giving Riven the treatment she needs long enough." She gestured at Riven for her to remove her shirt and bandages, which she did unflinchingly. She had stripped in front of these women countless times now. "Firstly I'll apply this chemical strip, it will loosen up the layers of your skin and then I will scrape away what I can before I use the antidote that I have for the poison on your burns before we redress the wounds. It's going to hurt, a lot." She said, looking between the Noxian and the Captain then applying the chemical strip to Riven's back and chest areas.
Riven clambered into the bath which Soraka had filled with water, sitting in a pair of shorts as Soraka began scraping away at the skin on her back. The Noxian dug her fingernails into the edge of the bath, clenching her teeth as the Star Child removed her skins layers at an agonisingly slow pace. Irelia watched only for a moment before grabbing hold of one of Riven's hands, letting the Noxian dig her finger nails into her palm.
It took almost an hour for Soraka to be done with the removal of Riven's skin layers, her upper body a bright red from irritation. Irelia put her hands under Riven's arms and helped her out of the bath, wrapping a towel around her then holding her to comfort her. Soraka left the salve and bandages for Irelia to complete the wound redressing. Riven laid down on the bed, letting Irelia rub the salve into her livid skin, biting down on her lower lip hard to prevent any pained noises from escaping her lips. She wrapped Riven's upper body in bandages as gently as she could before sliding into bed beside her, holding the Noxian in her arms.
"I love you." Irelia said, causing Riven to look up at her. "I realised that when I thought you had died. It's been a long time since I felt this strongly for someone and I love you, Riven." She pressed her lips to the Noxians.
"I've never been in love before so I don't know if that's what I feel. I don't know what I feel to be honest." Irelia kissed her forehead before running her fingers through her hair.
"That's okay, take your time." The pair's cuddling was interrupted by another knock at the door, Irelia sat up, walking over to it and opening it. It was Karma.
"I need to speak to Riven, now if possible." Irelia quirked her eyebrow at the Elder as Riven sat up and put on a shirt before walking over to Karma.
"What about?"
"I don't know exactly what yet, when I know, you'll know." Irelia scrunched up her face at that, it didn't make much sense to her but Riven left the safety of Irelia's champion quarters and followed Karma down the hall anyway.