Chapter Text
The best lies required even a crumb of truth.
So that’s exactly what Irelia and Riven have been doing.
It started with an exasperated Diana, whose face looked constipated as she complained to Senna about Irelia and Riven’s non-stop arguing. Gwen had suggested that the two start somewhere easy, like telling each other what they liked about the other. Irelia’s face scrunched up in disgust and was about to say no until Riven nudged her- ah, the boss was looking at them with that look. The look that said ‘If-you-say-no-to-my-baby-I-will-murder-you’. Everyone had a soft spot for Gwen, and frankly, Irelia did too.
“Well, it’s certainly an option. We’ll try that out, Gwen.” Riven says to Gwen, who was staring up at them expectantly.
“Oh, wonderful! I hope it works! Now, let’s get you both started!” Gwen excitedly ushered Irelia and Riven into one of the many unused meeting rooms that the Sentinels’ base had as Diana had started drinking with Graves (which was usually prohibited but Senna would let it slide for now, Diana deserved it).
“I’ll be the icebreaker!” Gwen said, clearly excited. “Irelia, I absolutely love the way you take great care of everyone’s stomachs! You take into consideration each sentinel’s dislikes and allergies! I think that’s lovely!”
Irelia didn’t know how to respond at first. She’s been doing this ever since she was a child so she assumed this was normal. “Thank you for the kind words, Gwen.” Irelia replies at an enthusiastic girl.
As Gwen was gushing about Irelia’s ability to cook, Riven was thinking about what the girl had said. Now that she thought about it, Irelia did cater to each person’s taste. It wasn’t a secret that Irelia loved to cook, she hogged the kitchen and didn’t let anyone in until she was done with whatever she was preparing for dinner. Riven likes to think she wasn’t picky- she was a soldier and a farmer so she’d eat whatever was on the table. But she did notice that Irelia would note her food intake as well. Graves, Rengar, and herself ate like beasts (with Rango literally being one) so Irelia would make sure to give them proper healthy portions. She even went as far as to boss them around on what to look for during their hunt for food to guarantee everyone some greens.
‘Huh, cute.’ Riven thought to herself. Irelia was true to her word after all. Akshan teased Irelia about being unfriendly to which the blade dancer scoffed at and said “I am NOT unfriendly. I am a warm and caring person.” Riven laughed to herself, earning a glare from Irelia who was sitting across from her.
“Riven!” Gwen turned to her as excitedly as she did to Irelia. Riven grinned at Gwen, the girl reminding her of what a younger sibling was.
“I find the way you fight fantastic!” Gwen began. ‘Well, yeah. I would be offended if I WASN’T fantastic at fighting.’ Riven thought and raised her eyebrows at Gwen. Apparently, Irelia thought more or less the same since she was looking at Gwen curiously, her blades whirring back and forth behind her.
“You like to charge in first but you also fall back to cover for others when you see them struggling, don’t you? I adore that about the way you fight!” Gwen continued and smiled at the both of them before turning to the door. “It’s your turn now!” She said before exiting and closing the door. Silence fell between Irelia and Riven, both not knowing what to say. They both thought hard for a second to come up with what the correct thing to bring up was. Irelia in particular was having a hard time, considering she actually despised the Noxian through and through. But she did have to admit that Gwen brought up an interesting point; Riven did look out for the team. She’d move to open spaces that the others didn’t cover and stay there until someone repositions – Riven had done the same for Irelia multiple times and Irelia felt free to move. She never really noticed it but now that she had realized, she felt somewhat irked if she was being honest. It felt like Riven had gotten the better of her even though she knew that Riven was doing it for everyone.
“I don’t think this has to be said since the feeling is mutual but I absolutely despise you from my very core.” Irelia said with a frown.
“This is how you’re starting this, huh.” Riven replied with a sigh. Well, she had expected this much. “I don’t know where you got that from but I don’t hate you. I mean, why and how could I?” she said with a sheepish look on her face. Riven was fully aware why Irelia acted like this towards her and she isn’t in the wrong. Both of them had been called into war but the difference was that Riven had chosen to be part of it while Irelia was and is still being forced to war. She understood why Irelia hated her so she’s been trying to make it up to her and Ionia even if what her nation had done is irreversible. Riven never hated Irelia, no – she just wanted to get along even if it was temporarily (after all, her service isn’t done).
Irelia stared at Riven for a while, her blades floating from side to side; a tell tale that she was deep in thought. Riven wasn’t expecting anything from her for a good while since Irelia probably didn’t even perceive her outside of missions. Well, Irelia was silent most of the time anyway and only speak when asked of something (though she did get along well enough with Diana and Vayne who were comfortable to sit in silence with her during dinner).
“…. Your tea. I appreciate it… I suppose.” Irelia muttered, though she had trouble saying it out loud.
“… huh?” Riven stared at her shocked for a moment. Irelia actually said something?
“I said. I appreciate that you… brew and gather tea leaves.” Irelia said with distain present on her face. She wasn’t lying that she appreciated that Riven would do her best to get tea leaves when hunting for supplies. But to say that the brew tasted good? No, it was bearable because nothing would beat the tea she has back at home.
And so, Irelia’s first lie comes to life.
Riven beams up at her with a wide grin on her face and Irelia starts to think she shouldn’t have said anything.
“Hey, you actually did it!” Riven pokes fun at her and before Irelia says her retort, Riven continues, “I find the way that your blades show what you feel pretty funny. It’s obvious that you have much more personality that you let on but respect it.” Though she’d be lying if she said she didn’t wish Irelia would just say what she felt instead of menacingly glaring at people with her blades looking like she’d strike them if they breathed the wrong way – but she was already lying.
They’d lie again and again for many more months but who knows who would start saying more truths than lies first.