An Oath to Make

(Kat x Riven)

As requested by reader, Nyx Sigma ZERO

Riven cried out as another dagger sunk in her flesh. She had been too slow to dodge it, as she had been with two before it. But unlike the first two, which had both barely penetrated through what little armor she had, this one was a critical hit, and had pierced her deep in her left shoulder, rendering it, and it's respective arm, useless. She couldn't position it to block with her pauldron anymore.

She grit her teeth, and pulled it out, knowing it would only serve to injure her more if it stayed in. A gush of blood streamed down her chest. She cringed in pain, and clutched the wound with her other arm. It was nigh impossible to hold it while keeping her sword in hand, but she had to staunch the blood flow as best as possible.

"Hurts like a bitch, doesn't it?" Her adversity growled out. She said nothing in return, but her enemy obviously took her silence as a suitable answer and smirked.

She rolled her eyes at the smirk and sighed. She knew there was no way she would be able to fight or even defend with a disabled arm. So she dropped her sword, and clutched her arm fully, admitting defeat. However, if it was possible, her enemy seemed to grow even more furious than before, scowling heavily at her with rage filled eyes.

"What?! ...Are really going to fucking give up? Just like that? One little wound and you're going to quit? I always knew you were a coward," the redhead spat out with abhorrence and bile in every word. Riven stared her dead in the eyes, maroon eyes meeting emerald. Riven narrowed her eyes at the assassin, as the redhead moved closer to her.

"...Mock me all you want. I find no point in continuing like this. I can't defend myself, and in this state, I can barely fight. So finish it. That's what you want anyways, right? To see me lifeless on the ground?" Riven muttered.

"No," the assassin growled out. "Pick up your sword you fucking weakling, and give me a real fight. I will not accept your pity kill. Now, pick it up!"

"No. I told you, I'm done fighting," Riven returned defiantly. It only served to agitate the assassin more so, and the scornful woman charged over, dropping her own daggers to grip Riven by the clothing, lifting the warrior in front of her.

"I said pick it up. Now!" the assassin snarled. She looked to be on the verge of snapping, and Riven did not know exactly what that would entail. However, despite this, Riven had to chuckle, which was quite possibly a sure sign she was growing insane. Once she started, she couldn't control her mirth, and fell into full blown laughter.

"...What is so damn funny!" The assassin roared, equally nonplussed and irate. She shook Riven, in hopes that she could cease the perplexing laughter to no avail.

"Or what?" Riven finally managed out, after a moment of laughter. With mirth still gracing her face in the form of a smirk, she continued, "What will you do if I don't? Kill me? Were you not going to do that anyways? It's hilarious how idle your threats are."

Rather than answer the warrior, the assassin dropped Riven, and shoved her to the ground immediately after. The assassin the crouched over her and drew a knife to her throat.

"Fine. You want to me to end it? Done." With fury burning in her eyes, the assassin brought the blade down with fatal intent. Riven stilled her breath in anticipation of the end.

But it never came.

Riven could feel the blade on her skin, so much so that if she moved slightly, it would slice her neck open. It was already cutting into her, drawing a thin red line of blood. But it went no further, perplexing her. She looked up to find the owner of the blade shaking. It was as if the assassin couldn't force herself to finish.

With great difficulty, Riven whispered out her confusion. "...What are you waiting for?"

"S-shut up!" The assassin's voice was wavering now. She looked to really be struggling with the blade, as if she was fighting internally with herself. After a moment longer, she acted, throwing the knife aside and opting to strike Riven with a first instead.

The blow's impact was immediate, with Riven's head snapping to the side. She received no relief after either, as another blow came right after. The assassin continued to rain strikes upon her without focus, abusing her face and body.

After Riven was bruised and bleeding everywhere, the assassin finally stopped her assault, huffing in exhaustion.

"Kat-" Riven started, before being interrupted by the assassin's lips being pressed onto her own bloody ones. It was a messy, uncoordinated kiss, but nevertheless Riven returned it with equal force after the moment's delay of confusion settled. The two Noxians held the embrace for several minutes until they had to release, gaping for air.

Recovering first, the assassin spoke once again. "I hate you. How...could you leave me thinking you were dead like that. Do you know how much that hurt me? Do you?!" From the tears rolling down her face and the underlying tone in her voice, Riven could assume how much it hurt her.

"Katarina…Kat...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you in the dark. I just had to...find myself. And heal from some scars. I didn't intend on leaving you, I just had to," she attempted to explain. However, the assassin merely frowned at her, as if her explanation was not satisfactory.

"I don't want a bullshit apology! It means nothing to me, so don't give me that crap," Katarina protested, sounding frustrated.

"Well what do you want from me, Kat?" Riven returned, quickly becoming exasperated.

"What do I what? What I want is for you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that you'll never leave me again. Never. ...I want you to look me dead in the eyes and promise me that, Riven," Katarina requested, sounding close to pleading.

Riven was taken back by the request. She couldn't find the words to say. She didn't know if she could promise that. The last time she promised something-that she would be alright and return after the invasion unscathed-that promise went unfulfilled. She didn't know if she could find it in her to make another promise like that.

"I-I can't promise you that, Kat. I can't guarantee that I'll-"

"Shut up. Either promise me that or go away forever. There is no in between. I won't wait forever for you to stop being a coward Riven, and I won't be with you if you can't promise me that you won't ever hurt me like that again. So make your choice. You can be with me, and stay with me, or you can go, and never come back to me. If you do, I won't hesitate in killing you again."

"Ah...alright," Riven knew that Katarina was right, she has a decision to make. She knew she is being a coward; too scared to make an oath and too scared that she'll break it if she does make it. She knows that she needs to just do it. She hadn't been the same without Katarina for those months following the Ionian Invasion and she knew she couldn't do without Kat again.

So, she took a deep breath and looked Katarina in the eyes, maroon meeting emerald once more.

"I promise you, I won't leave you again, Kat. I'll always come home to you, and I won't ever leave you in the dark like that again."

With that, Katarina finally managed a slight smirk, replacing the distraught scowl from before. "Good. You better keep that promise too, otherwise I won't hesitate and will make sure that knife to the neck goes completely through. Got it?"

Riven chuckled before responding. "Yeah I got it. And speaking of which, I am sorta still bleeding at multiple locations on my body. If you don't mind, I would like for you to get off me, and to take me to the nearest medical center so that I don't end up passing out from blood loss. That would be nice."

Katarina gave a thoughtful expression, as if she was contemplating the request. "Hmm. Nah, I think I'll let you sit here for a bit. I'm still pissed at you."

Riven rolled her eyes and deadpanned. "Wonderful…"