...

...

You say you love me but you kiss him,
Your heart is already feeling his touch (you hide and deceive)
Even when you hang up, I see you
You deny and deny but it ends up being you.

I used to love you.

-Get Out

...

"So, what's this about Kale being your husband?"

Musa turned her head away, groaning. Rhythm was sitting on her lap, and she had her arms around him. Stroking his forehead gently, she played with his hair, fully aware that Riven was staring at her. There was no way she could escape this conversation without seeming rude, and she was stuck in a rut. "He's using you, isn't it? He's playing with your feelings so that you'll let him under your company, right?" He growled, furious at Musa's relationship with him. Musa only shook her head, holding on to Rhythm's hand. "He's been really nice and supportive. I didn't even look at his demo tape yet, but he helped Rhythm a lot." However, no matter how many positive things about Kale she told Riven, it seemed that he still didn't believe her. "Is that it? Huh? How can you invite an unmarried man into your house like that? Especially you, just because you're a single mother?"

"He was only tending to Rhythm's fever," Musa snapped back. "And just because I'm a woman, I'm automatically weak and can't tell the difference between good men and bad?"

Riven felt like telling her she should have called him, but he knew that he didn't have the right to. Looking at Rhythm one more time, and seeing how much Musa loved him, he began to feel a little jealous. Sighing, he took another look at Rhythm's face, and frowned. "Hey-I just thought this a while ago, but this kid looks a lot like me," he said, putting his face in front of Rhythm's. Sticking his tongue out, the little boy grinned, and poked Riven's cheek. Riven had never allowed anyone to poke his cheek, or do anything cute to him, but he just couldn't resist this child.

"You little-" Riven said, laughing. He swatted Rhythm gently and leaned back in his chair; the little kid was adorable. If only he had a child like that-

Wait.

Five years ago, he and Musa had spent a night together. He remembered it as the best day of his life. Kale had told him that the boy was five years old. She couldn't have possibly known Kale yet back then, because she was still training in Alfea. And every time he looked at Rhythm, Riven was reminded of himself. The way the eyes were slanted like a wolf's, the first appearance which seemed cold, the sharp define of Rhythm's jawline-it was all exactly like Riven's features. He remembered that he'd been an extremely mischievous kid when he was little, often running away from his mother, and that was exactly what Rhythm had just done. It didn't seem like this was the first time, either, looking at Musa's behaviour. Eyes widening from realization, he turned his head and looked at Musa, his body terse and as still as stone.

"This kid-this kid-can't possibly be mine, right?"

"You didn't tell me this whole time? You hid the fact that you had a child without me?"

Riven stormed into Musa's apartment, glaring at her the whole time, while she grimaced. Rhythm had wanted to go home, but there was no way that Riven would leave without getting answers. The drive there was tense and stormy, with Riven clenching the wheel tightly and Musa giving pursed looks out the window. He couldn't believe-there was no way-that he was a father now. How could he love anyone again? After what he'd done to Musa-left her alone, while thinking the whole time that she'd left him on purpose-he wasn't capable of caring for anyone anymore.

"I just-I didn't think it was the right time!"

"He's my son! He has my blood-when is there a right time and a wrong time?"

"Riven!"

"So you're saying that everything between us was done at the wrong time? Because the night that we slept together was the best one of my life," He snapped angrily.

Musa softened at his words. She was feeling weak, from relief, but tense at the same time because she'd spent years thinking about this moment. And she still couldn't believe that Riven hadn't left her alone when he found out-instead, he was coming to her house.

"Forget it. You're tired. Go take a rest."

"What?"

"I lost him for five years. I'm going to make it all up now."

"Riven!"

Musa screeched, staring at him in disbelief, while he crossed his arms and leaped on to the couch in one graceful move. She'd just woke up from a short rest to see her son and Riven running around the living room. Breathing hard, he ignored her presence. "Hey buddy, come over here. Wanna see something cool?" He asked Rhythm, grinning cheekily, while Musa knew that he was up to no good. He opened his palm, in which a purple spark lit up and floated about for a couple seconds, before turning into a dangerous, cutting-edge purple phantosaber. It glowed in the darkness of Musa's apartment, sending reddish-purple flashes across the room.

"COOL!" Rhythm said, reaching out a finger to touch it. "Can I hold it?"

"Sure. Just don't touch the purple blade. That stuff's nasty and can be a serious bitch when it comes to healing."

Musa gasped, covering Rhythm's ears with her hands while he eagerly grabbed at the hilt of the saber. "Language!" She sniped at Riven angrily, while looking worriedly at her son, hoping that he wouldn't get hurt from his curiosity. "Can I get one of these when I'm older, mommy?" He asked, looking at her with those puppy-dog eyes of his. She seethed as she realized how much he and Riven were alike, and when she saw that Riven was raising an eyebrow at her, she snapped. "Of course not. Only jerks with bad attitudes and even uglier tempers use those. If you want to become a superhero when you grow up, you'd better stick to puzzles and books."

"Awww..." Rhythm said, looking longingly at the saber, but still leapt off of Riven's lap anyway, deciding to listen to his mother.

"You know, I'm a professional superhero," Riven said, winking at Rhythm.

"Superhero my ass," Musa muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes, and cringing once Rhythm looked at her in surprise. "Mommy said a bad word!" He said to Riven, while Riven glanced at Musa chidingly. "Your mother's just bitter because she isn't as great of a superhero as me. Want me to train you? I'm very good at killing monsters, you know."

"Monsters?" Rhythm whispered. "They're real?"

"Of course. And you won't believe how many I've destroyed. But you can't be born a superhero, like I was. That was only because I'm a genius. You got to train hard and go to a special school."

"Can I go to this school, mommy?"

Musa closed her eyes, knowing exactly what Riven was hinting at. Two hours since he'd met his son and he'd decided to take over as father all of a sudden, insisting that Rhythm become a daredevil like him and enroll at Redfountain. She had considered the thought, but her son had no idea of the world of Magix yet. Of course, it would be nearly 10 years later before Redfountain would send him a letter of acceptance, but she still wondered if letting him live in Gardenia would be the better choice. It was more peaceful and safer here-she wouldn't have to worry about her son risking his life everyday-like she'd done with Riven. Sighing, she took Rhythm into her arms. "It's kinda late, Riven. Better go back to your place. Rhythm, honey, time to sleep."

"No way. I'm staying here for the night," he said, keeping his gaze focused on her.

"I don't have time to play your games, Riven-"

"Mister, can you please teach me how to fight monsters?" Rhythm said, already growing fond of the idea, and struggling from his mother's grasp.

Riven smirked, while Musa groaned.