League of Legends isn't mine and yada yada yada.
So I'm sorry this has taken so long, I wasn't actually even planning on finishing this chapter to tell the truth. I haven't played league in like a year so that kind of killed my interest and I've been trying to write other stuff, but people seem to actually like this at least a little so I figured why not continue it. There were two real factors that made me continue, one was the new champion Azir whose lore has to do with Sivir who was my main and favorite character and the other was reading Rileypls' story Riven's meaning where at the beginning they say they hate reading a story and that took so long to update it's basically dead. I hate doing that too so I figure I should at least try to finish this sometime, even though I know nobody cares about it that much, still I made a commitment so I should stick it out. (Also the story itself is very good and I recommend reading it) Now without further ado, I'm gonna stop talking and on with the fic.
Waking up in the medical bay of the Institute after her attack was something new for Riven. During her long years in training and the even longer years on the road Riven was used to waking up in pain or freezing especially after she was attacked. What the Exile was not used to, was waking up warm and numb. Slowly she sat up from the bed she was lying in. She kept the blanket that had been draped over her wrapped around her, her gauntlet and meager armor was missing and she felt naked without them. While she wasn't in pain, her whole body felt dead and noodle-like, such feelings were alien to the once pride of Noxus. She forced herself to move even though doing so only increased the awkwardness of her limbs.
"Take it easy Show Girl," a calm yet strong female voice came from beside her. The Exile turned her head to see the Sivir sitting in a chair close to her sick bed. The former Noxian Battle Mistress was just as beautiful as she had been all those years ago when the two of them had been in their strange relationship. Though it had been around five years since she left Noxus, Riven looked as if she had aged ten. Life on the road had been a tough one, going days without food or rest had left her limbs stringy and her face gaunt. Her face and body had recovered some of its' former fullness from the good meals and safe lodgings provided by the Institute, but she still felt like an ugly man compared to the beautiful woman sitting next to her.
Sivir for her part only looked a few years older than she had. She had always been a few years older than Riven, but now it seemed as if Riven was the older one. Sivir had not been on the run very long compared to Riven. The older woman had been one of the first champions to join the league when it was first starting out. Even before the Summoners Council had reached out to her though, Sivir had done little to hide herself from her former employers.
Regardless of what propaganda the Noxian government had spewed, she was not a traitor to Noxus; after all she had always been a mercenary. She fought for the gold the Noxians paid, not their foolish attempts at owning the world. For years she fought under Noxus' banners bringing herself glory and riches most people couldn't even dream of. It had been a good life, up until the Noxian High Command had decided to go against her council and moved to take Ionian, a move she had deemed foolish. When the Ionian Conflict broke out, Sivir left Noxus after giving notice as her contract stipulated she was allowed. In her eyes she had done nothing wrong, though that hadn't stopped the Noxian High Command from sending assassins for her head. Of course they had bigger problems than a single mercenary leaving their fold after their loss to Ionian had made them look foolish in the eyes of the world.
"Where am I," Riven asked slowly, even her mouth felt sluggish at the moment. "What is this place?"
"We are at the Institute of War, but more specifically," Sivir said playfully, "we are in one of the rooms in the medical wing."
"How long was I out," Riven asked tersely. Waking up in a strange place made her training from years ago kick in. Gathering information was the most important part after she checked her wounds or lack thereof.
"Only a few hours," Sivir replied not minding her tone. "From my experience, Ionian assassins coat their blades with a numbing agent to slow their targets down. One nick and their target usually falls and 'targets' usually are big brawlers built like Darius not adorable little battle bunnies like you," Sivir said flirtatiously and a shiver went down Riven's spine. When they do, the assassins move in for the kill. I'm surprised that you managed to stand after being cut, especially since from the look of you, you were used as a chopping board," Sivir noticed running a finger up and down Riven's arm. "Stop it Sivir," Riven said catching Sivir's finger, even though it sent a jolt of pain through her. "I'm not your little battle bunny anymore, not for years."
"Oh Riven," Sivir said taking the hand wrapped around her finger with both of her hands, "you will always be my battle bunny," she said with an air of finality. "As I will always be your warrior princess, that won't change no matter how many years have passed." Moving her hands back to Riven's body, Sivir continued, "still I see you've grown harder in the last few years," admiring her bicep, "these are certainly bigger and harder," then moving to her stomach, "and this is much emptier. So much so that it's going to make me cry. Though I can't say I dislike how you look now, it makes you look much more…" she said not elaborating on what she said.
"What do you mean," Riven said fighting back the warmth in her stomach that started to burn when Sivir complimented her.
"Oh I just mean that you were such a lovely child when we first met, so full of passion and fire, yet so eager to please like a puppy. Like you knew you could change the world if all you did was will it, even though your naivety would have been the death of you the moment you tried. But now, I can still tell you have a fire in your belly, but it's been tempered with failure and experience. I don't see the same little girl who would have jumped to make me smile, now I see the beautiful warrior she's become, one who could stand beside me like an equal. I will always miss that girl, but I think this woman is even better," Sivir said giving Riven an apprising look.
When Sivir spoke her thoughts out lout Riven's heart stopped, she was almost positive that the Battle Mistress was telling the truth, her years on the road had taught her the importance of learning when people were truthful. But still she didn't know what to say to that brutal honesty of her former idol and lover. Part of her, the young girl she had thought died when she had been forced to flee Noxus, told her to jump into the woman's arms and never let her go. But something else, something warm and mysterious in her heart told her to hold back for some reason. Before the two sides could tear apart her heart and mind though the two of them were interrupted.
The door slammed open and the two grabbed their weapons on reflex, but a yellow blur tore through the room and latched onto Riven before either of them could react. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner, my match just ended. I was looking for you and then heard you were attacked by assassins when I left you. I'm so sorry. Are you hurt, do you need anything, a glass of water, more pillows? I'll get you more pillows," Lux said buried deep into Riven's stomach as she spoke a thousand words a minute before moving on to examine her state.
"Lux, Lux! I'm fine," Riven said embarrassed, but somewhat pleased though she didn't quite know why. "And you don't have to apologize, after all it's not your responsibility to take care of me. Yes I was attacked by assassins but I managed to survive them with a little help," she said gesturing to Sivir.
"Yes Luxanna, don't worry, I took care of our dear Riven while you were off at your match," Sivir said a little cool to the newcomer Riven thought, but perhaps but maybe the Battle Mistress despised being ignored.
Standing up and giving Sivir an appraising look all the while glancing between the two as if trying to solve an obvious puzzle. "I'm sorry Sivir, for interrupting, I was simply worried about Riven since the gossip always seems to be the worst," Lux said bouncily with a smile on her face, but Riven could tell that there was something false, or at least different from the smiles she had given Riven. "Thank you for taking care of Riven when I wasn't able to," she said semi-politely.
"Of course Luxanna," Sivir said never breaking from the formal tone, "I will always protect Riven, she is after all one of the few people I would call dear to me. I've invested so much with time I refuse to let anyone take her away from me."
"Why Sivir your maternal instincts are showing, I can say I never thought I would see this side of you," Lux said through her teeth, "but I am happy you are so protective of my Riven," she said as she put her arm around Riven making her message clear.
"No problem Luxanna after all we both adore Riven, but now I must be going," Sivir said excusing herself. But before either of them could reply in an instant she was right in front of Riven again and gave her a kiss on the cheek. It was quick, but warm and Riven's face grew red as Sivir stroked it, Lux instead looked as if she was having a stroke. "Goodbye my little battle bunny, stay away from assassins when I'm not around to protect you okay," and with that Sivir got up and left, though not without giving Lux a challenging look.
For a moment the two women who remained in the medical ward remained silent, but while Riven was perplexed, Lux fumed. She was about to charge out of the ward and confront the older woman's challenge but something held her back. "Do you and Sivir not get along," Riven asked softly breaking the silence. "I don't know why since I don't know your past, but I hope the two of you can learn to get along."
"We don't… dislike each other," Lux said choosing her words carefully, she didn't want to worry Riven more in her state.
"Oh I'm sorry, I guess I'm out a few years of practice being around people," Riven admitted sheepishly. "It just seemed like there was tension between the two of you, it might have been my imagination though."
"No," Lux said, "you were right, there definitely was some tension between the two of us, but we don't dislike each other normally. It's just that recently something has come up between us, something both of us care about and neither of us are willing to back down."
"Well that's silly," Riven said with a yawn, her wounds had taken more out of her than she realized and she was starting to doze. "It's not right to fight over something just because you both want it. Not worth it," she said absentmindedly.
"It's something rather important to both of us I think, something far more precious than either of us realized until someone else wanted it," Lux said giggling a bit at Riven's tired antics. She was amused that the Exile hadn't realized who the two of them were fighting over.
"Well I guess I can understand that," Riven said in her last bouts of consciousness, "maybe it's selfish, but is wish the two of you could find some way to resolve who gets it without fighting. After all, you're my only friend here while she's the only friend I still have from my past, it would be nice if the two of you could work things out and we could all be friends." And with that Riven was out like a light.
"Sweet Demacia, how could anyone leave someone as beautiful as you behind," Lux sighed admiring the sight of the sleeping Exile. The Lady of Luminosity felt alone now, there were a few doctors and medics outside of Riven's room bustling about but there were only the two of them inside. "I could do anything to you and no one would be the wiser," Lux mused as she brushed her thumb over Riven's defenseless lips. "I could, but I'll have to settle for something else," she said and kissed the cheek Sivir didn't. It was hardly satisfying to the mage, but she didn't want to take anything else without asking, "goodnight Riven, don't worry, I'll protect you from now on," she whispered. Her hands glowed yellow as she raised her staff and a soft ball of light floated toward the Exile and touched her chest. When it touched her skin, for a moment her body seemed surrounded by an orb of light before it vanished. Still Lux could sense that it was still there and smiled, knowing the object of her affection would be safe throughout the night.
Closing the door as silently as she could Lux left Riven's room and the medical wing all together, she walked with purpose now to the cafeteria where she knew she would find who she was looking for. It was a bit late for dinner so the cafeteria wasn't as packed as it could have been so she was able to find her target quickly. Lux sat down without an invitation at Sivir's empty table, the Battle Mistress always ate alone so it was easier than it could have been. "We need to talk," Lux said with all the seriousness she could muster as Sivir observed her without pausing from her meal.