Archive of Our Own ^beta

Act I

Joy, elation, relief.

Agony, horror and grief.

The emotions ram into her so fast that Musa is left breathless as they start drowning her one after another.

For a moment she's back to being four when her powers had first latched onto others and had left her paralyzed in a playground brimming with emotion.

“Breathe.” Riven’s demand is absolute as he materializes by her side “Breathe, Musa”

Her words don't work but her body listens and she's gasping in harshly. It's the way her exhale is followed by her lungs gulping up air, the oxygen burning as it rushes through her that lets her know she’d been holding her breath.

But with each inhale, the emotions keep attacking her from all sides, cheers of a battle won, grief of fallen friends, pain of tortured fairies and horror by the controlled specialist who had cut down friends while under control.

“That's it Musa, breathe” Riven rattles her little and his grip is hard on her wrist, a place which he’s latched onto enough time that she barely takes note of it, too busy clinging to his mind. 

His worry and relief are equal parts loud, then again so is he, but right now that noise is a muffler to everything that is going on. 

In, out, steady breath-

He stiffens and her head snaps up, eyes locking with his as she realizes just what she's done, without a question or permission. Her lips part to apologize to pull back but he’s drawing closer shaking his head, his body shielding her physically the same way that his minds is

“It's ok. It’s fine” He dismisses her unspoken apology and pushes on “...We’re alive. We won” it's a reminder, a permission and she buries herself in the certainty of his emotions, uses them to build a fortress and exhales.

“C’mon Musa, we’re getting out of here. See, I’m being gentler now in your rescue, unless you want me to chuck you over my shoulder again”

His hand slides up her arm to grasp at her elbow, as he ushers her away from the field and his barb slips a smile onto her lips, but she can't bring herself to snark back. 

Not now, not when she has to rather focus on breathing in measuredly as she falls into step with him. As the mayhem of emotion falls behind them, it becomes easier and Musa finds her breathing to become more relaxed and her body feeling completely whole again for the first time in some time…

“Riven…Thank you.”

Her relief and her calm do not last long.

Bloom is gone and her departure rocks them all. 

And she’s left a letter, explanations and goodbye but Musa is not sure she understands and the thought flashes her back to a conversation she had not too long ago.

Fuck what they think. It’s your life….they will understand.

Riven may have been right on the first half but Musa took home the point for the second part. Or at least half, she understands mayhem and uncertainty of not knowing much but the grief of her lost friend makes it hard to even think.

As she reads Bloom’s words, Musa can see that while clearly rushed, Bloom is thorough and detailed. Her fire friend may be impulsive, but this is something she's clearly thought through and her points in it is something Musa can't argue against as Bloom clearly knew too when she wrote:

“-the truth of my powers, of who I am is something I should get to define. Maybe Sebastian is right, maybe the world will be better without me in it. Then again I'm not ready to listen to the words of another power hungry monster.  Either way it must be something I choose, something I decide and I can't do that if I don't have all the pieces. I think of all the girls, you’ll understand this best Musa. I know it's not fair but take care of them, even without your powers you can see best when they are not doing well, but most importantly take care of yourself. ….P.S. I know I have no right to ask this. But if you continue your training with the specialist, please keep an eye out for Sky. I love you”

The tears that have been welling up in her and gripping her tightly spill over then, as a wretched sob escapes Aisha. And Musa finds herself gravitating towards her and ending up in a huddle as they embrace each other.

But as comforting as this is, there is someone missing and her absence has left a gaping wound.

She cries herself to sleep that night.  

When she wakes again the room is light, the day having arrived a while ago. But instantly she knows her friends are all still asleep, her powers simmering in her and it's surprising that for a moment she finds comfort in dipping into her power. 

Its presence, a strange assurance in this instance, as she closes her eyes and for a moment imagines that it's a year and a half ago and she's just arrived, full of hope with Dowling as headmistress and her future a blank page of possibility ahead of her. 

She falters though as the moments tick by, the reality of the day eating away at her and Musa finally stretches and opens her eyes to a startling realization. 

She feels numb which is strange because she is acutely aware of her emotion brimming beneath her skin. But despite the undercurrent of bubbling emotion emitting from those within her vicinity there is a lack of feeling on her own part.

Bloom's wrinkled and tear stained letter catches her eye again perched on her night stand and Musa instinctively reaches for it. She read her letter as best she could but by the end her head had been pounding and her heart broken.

It feels wrong. They’ve won. All should be well, should be right. Then again Musa is not sure how it actually is supposed to be, none of their classes spoke about this spot. 

The quiet after the war. 

They’d spent a whole unit in their war strategy class about regrouping in case of a setback, examined the avenues in handling defeat but never about what comes after the win.

 Never about how to mourn friends that are gone or those who are still living yet no longer the same; or how to judge those who’d been forced to do heinous acts, how to reconcile yourself that the world you fought for, the past that you fought for, was nothing but a fruitless endeavor because that world stopped existing the moment the war began. 

As her friends slowly awaken Musa finds her power seeking them out. In the most peculiar of things she feels reassured with each friend she finds and while they are all dealing with their own range of emotions Musa finds solace. For once, the grief and relief her friends feel mirror her own so well that Musa doesn't fight it, does not try to ice them out rather let her own motions join in theirs and takes comfort that despite the heartbreak, she's at least not alone in it.

Time moves strangely for a while.

It feels wrong to sit still and yet there Musa is, not sure where to go, what to do next. She’s only a little envious of how certain Terra seems as she starts leading her life, joining the medics, and starting to date.

Aisha's heartbreak tastes familiar and Stella's grief strangely loaded, and while she comes to count Flora a true friend, Musa is unsure if the girl's silence and subdued demeanor now is just her way of dealing with things or if something more is going on.

Silva is in charge, sort of, because while there is a school to put back in order the world feels like it's splitting in half. Queen Luna is on a warpath, there is animosity growing from both fairies and blood witches. Hate crimes and protests popping up on equal part, it's strange watching their world go up in flames just as their school is done burning.

The teachers are trying, but classes don’t quite manage to capture attention when you’ve lived through a battle. Days slip into weeks and creeps closer to a month

Musa feels like she’s barely treading water when her phone lights up with a text about two weeks after Bloom leaves

R:You still want to train?

She stares at the message, the simple sentence somehow feeling too much of a dream. She doesn't realize she's just been staring until the bubble of an incoming text appears and her fingers spring into action half out of fear that Riven is going to rescind his offer.

M:Yes! Absolutely!

The words feels too small, too casual and shes grappling with what to say next as the bubble of text disappear and reappear when a message comes in

R:Tomorrow, 07h00, don’t be late, I won’t fucking be waiting around 

M:I’ll be there

She responds quickly and then fingers are typing a second message before she even realizes or can gauge if its ok to mouth off at the man who's clearly doing her a favor

M: Are you up that early?

Her regret though is short lived as his response is swift

R: Hey watch it pixie, have some respect for you sensei 

She snorts quietly, sending a salute emoji, sarcasm implied and he responds with one of his own, giving her the middle finger which has her shaking her head, the movement causing her to catch sight of herself in the mirror. 

She's smiling, it feels strange to see her own smiling face but there it is and Musa realizes she's excited. Giddy even.

She gets there early. There are people sparring though and it kinda shames her as she remembers Riven’s words during the last time they sparred. The specialists have been working for their spot just as hard as she had, a spot in Alfea is not easy, being a specialist is not easy. Musa had never meant to imply otherwise just… Prove her eagerness. Her intent. She watches him march closer, a box in his hands that piques her curiosity enough that in lieu of a greeting she asks

“What you got there?”

His cocky smile makes her itch to just take him down a peg but it's so surface level, because he’s here and she owes him this much, at least.

When he opens the box she's confused for a moment and then surprised at the implication of the cuffs in the box. The cuffs hurt like a bitch, but the silence after is blessed and she sighs despite the pain. She welcomes it.

“I won't go easy on you” Riven warns, his eyes dancing as he walks about her on the mat twirling his sword and Musa nods and they fall into rhythm.

“You’ve got to start moving faster”

“Not my fault you have giraffe legs”

“And not my fault you’ve never had to run for your life” Riven snarks his eyes light with mirth and joy as she dodges his attack, holding her own. She’s euphoric and thought free as she stares into Riven’s face.

“Again”

He demands and she’s happy to oblige, his reach is also her advantage, if she gets close enough he can't kick her easily. By the time they're done her arms are throbbing and the cuffs bloody, but her mind is beyond clear, the sound of her own heartbeat the only thing ringing through it. It’s nice but also strange, weird even…

She shakes off the thought and rather looks at Riven.

“So…tomorrow?”

Days go by, her training with Riven every damn morning is what has her jumping out of bed, even with the pain that has started hovering about her. 

The school gets a new headmistress, even with a royal pardon and defeating the blood witches Saul cannot be the headmaster, the optics would not look good and parents are already unsure of him being a teacher.

Headmistress Griselda is tough, no nonsense, similar to Rosalind for her demand for excellence, though a decade or two younger than either previous headmistresses. Blessedly though she doesn't believe in teaching through pain or violence. Believes that balance between positive and negative emotion is necessary much like Farah.

But her past is unknown, there are a great deal of rumors and fables that follow her about. Her magic is hard to define as she seems seldom to use it but then again undisputable as she arrives with her pet manticore in tow.

The beast is smaller as far as the creature goes but still about the size of a lion and when it first lands its dragon wing span is larger than Musa had imagined. Truth is though Musa finds herself weary at her arrival. 

The woman is tall and stunning, long dark hair and darker eyes.The first time Musa sees her, she’s sparring with Riven and she’s not sure how long the headmistress has been standing there studying them, until Riven’s staff hits her cuffs and the pain of the metal on her bleeding cuffs causes her to stumble.

She makes Musa anxious. The empath is not sure why, but ever since Musa has heard of her impending arrival something itches at her that she can’t put her finger on. Makes her moments in practice stained with something that had her on edge and feeling more and more unbalanced. The pain of the cuffs chafing with her movements often makes it easy enough to forget her anxiety and focus on the presence pushing down, the voice in the back of her mind that this reality, these cuffs, this training won't last forever.

The girls are weary, but Riven is doubly excited, so when it turns out that the woman is equally stunning as she’s masterful in dealing with enchanted creatures, he can’t seem to update Musa with the latest news of their Headmistress’s movements fast enough. 

“-and Dane said that she’ll be fundraising for a Dragon pit-”

“God you're such a simp! And a nerd!” She needles him, her words the one spot where she actually has a chance of beating him, though lately she's proud of how he seems to be holding back less in sparring. 

“Don't know what you talking about” he shrugs looking in the distance where their new headmistress is walking the ground, with Saul on one side rattling off reports, while they walk towards the raised training platform Riven and Musa are working out on. 

Riven looks excited, while Musa’s stomach drops, but she shakes her head rather focusing on Riven’s eager face that makes him look younger than he is.

“A nerd and a gossip” Musa sings

“You like the gossip, I simply indulge” Riven retorts and Musa can't help but snort

“Sure, because you telling me about how the school is talking about the number of times Kat and Terra were caught making out or how many time Stella visits Beatrix’s grave constitutes as-”

“Let's go, we’re doing a lap, clearly you don't need to catch your breath” he drops the sword and starts shoving her toward the steps, despite her protests

“Oh fuck! Wait no, I take it back you’re not a gossip, you don’t-”

“Move pixie! It's for your own good, you’ll never out hit anyone so lets work on your one strength and make sure you can outrun them.”

It’s easy to curse at Riven, and swat at him. To give chase. It's beyond freeing and dare she say it even fun, regardless of the pain that the bracelets cause her with each movement or the sidelong glance that their headmistress throws at them as they run on the other side of the moat. 

Madam Griselda specializes in magical creatures and if rumors are true she spent twenty years in Black Mud Swamp cut off from civilization leading a cult of cannibals and doing god knows what.

Musa for the most part gives her no mind. Especially as she's sure that for now, with everything Griselda has in store for them, she's safe from scrutiny about her specialism training. 

Or at least it's easy enough to pretend that maybe it's true. That her sanctuary, that is her training with Riven, is truly safe.

Riven makes it easy, he’s a whole island and she is a visitor every day seeking a refuge from the hurt that stains the rest of her life.

She’s getting good at fighting, great even but the truth is the bracelets are starting to become an issue. She loves them but their claws sinking into her have left wounds that never fully heal, there is the start of infection in her left hand, even with Terra’s salve and a spot on her right arm where the wound being reopened everyday is starting to leave a calloused hole.

At first she thinks she can handle it and for the most part she can, but she doesn't miss how Riven stares at the bracelets or rather the marks they leave 

“...Maybe you should leave them off” 

“It’s fine, let's go.”

He doesn't push. Not about her powers, not about how she’s handling them but he’s ever vigilant, she doesn't miss how he checks out her cuff scars and she’s still an empath and Riven is loud and transparent, the worry seeps out of him in spades.

She still has school and her girls, not to mention her dad but all the love and even joy that those things bring are a mess of complication.

She loves catching up with her girls in the suite each night, and looks forward to their group dinners. She’s more than happy when Saul suggests that she stay behind this summer to take a specialism class or two but all of those developments are marred by something heavy. 

The first time the girls get together to chat like old times is when they are all waiting for Terra to come back from her date. They are all truly excited for her, she deserves the happiness and somehow her getting it makes Musa feel like maybe it’ll be ok. 

Aisha and Stella to their credit throw themselves into the girl talk with much gusto, asking questions and listening attentively as Terra gushes about her date detail by detail. Looking at them in their passing around junk food and booze, they look like picturesque women of their age, looking as if the biggest issue of their life so far has been lovers and school, not wars and monsters. 

They almost look as if Musa doesn't feel how both their hearts have broken into smithereens, though the water fairy has stopped crying herself to sleep every night at least. Stella though….

They drink cheap wine, which is nasty more than anything “-when I'm queen there is going to be wine standards and a food standard” Stella decrees wincing as she swings straight from the bottle ignoring the giggles and the swat of cushions by her friends.

“I don't know maybe we just need more of Terra’s special brownies” Flora calls, eyes glazed as she stares vacantly at the ember liquid in her cup that doesn't look like wine but its her next words that really capture the rooms attention as a half smile finally graces her lips “I lost two days of summer camp memory because of her shroom cookie”

“Shroom!?” The girls chorus looking at Terra who is making a shushing motion at Flora half heartedly glaring.

“Is that what you gave Kat to impress her so much? 

“No! Ugh god Flora” Terra is blushing hard throwing a pillow that up turns chip bags and has complaints and squeals filling the air  “fine fine yeah ok fine I may have -”

“May have? You had whole business” Flora calls laughing 

“Terra Harvey who would have known” Musa teases while Terra scrambles 

“-listen we were in the boonies and - you know what, where is Bloom when you need her? She said that in California…”

The silence is deafening 

Heavy and just heartbreaking because for a moment Musa had looked for the red head. 

“Oh shit” Terra mutters and the other girls look equally pained.

A constant empty space shadowing them along.

“I miss her” Aisha whispers her confession and for a beat none of them can say anything. Their room feels too big, despite the five of them being sprawled all over the living room. 

Musa exhales through her nose, it's not just the emotions of everyone that somehow feel fragmented or hell, misplaced, it's the fact that she feels at times she can hear Bloom’s muffled voice from the other room, or swears she spies the red head just out of the corner of her eyes.

 Aisha may have been Bloom's roommate and in some ways closer but Musa had always felt if one person would always be up for anything, matching her own mischievous energy it was Bloom. 

Still as Aisha hurriedly wipes at her cheek and raises her chin to address them again, Muse selfishly feels glad that it's not her room that has an empty bed, reminding her everyday of the friend who's gone 

“-But she needed this, guys. And look she’s- she’s going after the answers that she wanted. She’d never find peace otherwise, not really”

It's a line they’ve fed each other, holding it close when Bloom action and their lack of one nips at them. Tonight though, the reasoning  feels as hollow as it is.

“She needs us with her though, you know?” Terra voices then and it's a thought that Musa can't pretend she hasn't thought of herself,

“If this takes longer we need to get her. I understand her needing to find answers and what not but, doing something for yourself doesn't mean you have to do it alone.” Stella all but barks “Just because-because she thinks that she can handle this on her own doesn't mean she actually can”

“And where would we go?” Flora asks, her question feeling monumental because the answer feels like a first step.

A step they can’t undo. A step that may not be theirs to take. But one Stella has clearly made decisions about.

“So what? We sit back and let her hang herself in the name of self discovery and saving the world? Really? She can’t just Eat Pray Love her way through the shadow realm” The blond snaps and Flora’s reels back shocked

“Stella! I didn't say we shouldn’t help her just-”

“She needs us, she shouldn't have gone on her own!” Stella pushes on her voice cracking and it causes tears to spring forth. Terra places a hand on the blonde's shoulder as a tear slips from the princess' eyes “What if she's hurt? Or dead or trapped?” 

“It’s not easy for any of us Stella. But she needed answers. They were eating at her. That's why in her letter she…” Aisha trails off but as true as that statement is it doesn’t sit well with Musa,

“…If it was one of us,” Musa begins slowly, “Bloom would have already wrangled all of us into figuring out a way to get them back.” 

She feels the shift that her words cause, acutely. Whatever trepidations the girls may have, however much they want to make peace with what happened, it's clear that they all realize one thing: they need to get Bloom back. 

“Alright, let's give her more time guys, but let’s also plan on the logistics” Aisha suggests surprising Musa at the very least “She's been gone just over seven weeks if-if she's not back in a bit more. Then we’ll go and get her”  

The others nod all quiet and pensive 

“How much more time are we thinking exactly?” Terra asks but no one has an answer.

They try to pivot the night again but their momentum is lost. It's hard to have girls talk while they are keenly away from Bloom's absence, after a bit Aisha suggests a movie and they all happily agree, hiding themselves in the blanket of the darkness.

She usually doesn't train with Riven on the weekends, but that night as they all watch a movie trying to pretend like they’re not missing friend Musa decides she’s too restless.

M: Hey I need to train tomorrow

R: I thought we agreed that we’d give your wrist the weekends to heal and besides it’s Saturday, my one day to sleep in.

His response irks her, because yes, the cuffs have been a nuisance, yes she may have had problems with getting the cuff marks to quit bleeding this week, and they do feel hot and itch something fierce right now, but she needs to train.

M: Riven…please

As Musa waits for his response she notices that Terra and Stella have both fallen asleep even though the movie is not even at its climax, Flora is starring, but her eyes have a far away glaze, while Aisha is messaging someone fast on her phone, the blue light of the screen bouncing off of her face.

She catches Musa staring and they share a fond look as they take in the state of the rest of their roommates, giggling as Flora’s eyes start to droop in intervals before she finally succumbs to sleep.

“I worry about her” Aisha mutters, staring at their newest member much to Musas surprise.

“Why?” 

The empath’s question is unexpected clearly as Aisha's eyebrows jump up “She’s been quiet, plus it's a strange time to be an Alfean” it's not the whole truth but Musa doesn’t get dwell on the water fairies comment about Flora as her friend turns her stare, 

“I'm sorry if we were too much”

And Musa is confused at the water fairies words for a moment “What do you mean?”

“Well-just I know strong emotion hurts you and it cant be easy when your emotions are also involved”

And it's not easy Musa realizes, but today somehow despite having felt everyone's emotions, despite how her own emotions were heightened. Still she… She wasn't suffocated by them. Sure she feels too wired and part of her wish she could go outside right now and just run… It’s not a bad feeling she just feels… Weird…

“It’s ok, it wasn’t too bad” she answer back to Aisha as her phone vibrates in her hand with a message that has her doing an internal happy dance 

R: fine but we’re meeting at 09:00 I deserve to sleep in a little.

And before Musa realizes it she's sending a red heart in response that causes her own heart to freeze as heat springs to her cheeks. His text bubble appears, loads for a few moments before disappearing altogether.

“You look like shit” Is Riven’s lovely greeting the next morning, 

“Rough night, not that you look much better” and he doesn’t, his hair is a mess, his clothes are not as crisp as usual and the bags beneath his eyes look almost as bad as her.

“Someday I’ll have to teach you how to properly talk to authority especially one who’s doing you a favor” and he’s right and has a point but Musa is pretty sure that if she ever started to play nice with riven he’d drag her to infirmary to look for a head injury at this point

“And hows that sir? ” he trips at the moniker and she chuckles more, trying not to focus on how her stomach suddenly clenches at his surprised but heated look. He masks it quickly frowning at the ground as though it had purposely tripped him, but she’s already feeling the grip of despair that had settled over her since last night losing its edge, 

“Some of us have guard duty ordered by headmistress and can’t just sleep whenever we want” He excuses but Musa is already gripped by the thrill that their banter starts in her and she’s not ready to let it go just yet.

“Give me a break Riven, she’s had you tripping over yourself to help ever since she’s showed up”

“Jealous much pixie? If you wanted my undivided attention you could have just-”

“Ew no- I-”

“Ok enough yapping, two laps while I set up, c’mon” he demands and though she glares daggers at him she holds her tongue as she starts to run. They fall into training, the bracelets sting feeling a little sharper and his eyes show his curiosity.

“You can ask, I’d tell you.” Musa answers Riven when she catches him staring at her again, his eyes are locked on her wrists, a hard look on his face before they bounce up to her face at her words. He stalls, taking a long swing of his water before swallowing

“I don't have to, it was friday night and If whatever you lot are going through is a fraction of what Sky is….I don't need an explanation, I may not be an empath but I'm not an idiot”

Guilt erupts in Musa’s chest not just because she's all but forgotten Sky but because it had been the one thing Bloom had asked: keep an eye on Sky.

“How is he doing?”

Riven shrugs, throws her a look that clearly states how do you think he’s doing? kicking at a pebble before picking up both his swords, swinging them about expertly as he winds up for their next round

“....He’s beating himself up. Regrets not going in their with her but also refuses to talk about, not that we do that alot, keeps just pushing himself and tells me I wouldnt understand and that he's fine ” he makes ari quotes at the last part, his voice going an octave higher in a purposely unflattering imitation.

“But you do understand heartbreak” Musa suffices for him and Riven’s movements falter and he looks at her surprised his eyes wide 

“That the thing though, with heartbreak you either dwell in it or you fucking try to move on untill you actually start to really move on..but Sky…its like, most of the time, when we’re out he seems totally fine. Like nothing has changed. Granted, Silva tried to get him to focus on training or rebuilding their house but got nothing. You’d think Bloom has left him for a routine mission rather than jump realms. Which is all fucking pretense, because it all crumbles down when he’s in our room. He can’t keep pretending.” 

He’s frustrated, that it's easy enough to see let alone feel as it rolls off of him but behind that there is also concern for his friend which is sweet. Musa feels as though she may the worst person to comment on this because truth is, dealing with grief, despite how many times it has popped up in her life has never been her forte

“Maybe that's what he needs right now, maybe pretending and using this bandage is all he can do” 

Riven grimaces though falls silent for a beat. She waits him out, because she can tell by his jerky movements that he's still not done, that h before answering resolutely 

“Bandages only work for a little bit, they don't fix things and pretending like they do, it’ll only cause the real problem to fester.”

Musa can't respond to that, Riven’s judgment prickling her a little and she can almost feel her back rising in defense

“Do you really think he’ll ever be able to just accept Bloom being gone though?”and Riven opens his mouth but falters. 

“.....It’s a breakup for fuck sake…we’re supposed to be only college kids….” he mutters under his breath but Musa now feels angry her grip on her sword tightening as she glares,

“Do you think any of us are going to be ok, Riven? Me, Terra, Stella, the suite? Bloom being gone is not a fact any of us are just going to just accept”

He doesn't shrink from her anger, does not try to talk it off or excuse his words. Rather stares and takes her heated judgment head on. He doesn't concede in the least to her but the look that slips back on his face as he breaks eye contact, rolling his, shoulders though lets her know that he too knows that Sky will probably never recover from Bloom's absence.

“None of us will be fine until she's back,” Musa admits, unable to help how her voice cracks.

Riven’s jaws clenched now though, he’s biting down on his next words and his eyes soften revealing his own vexation at the situation at hand. She holds his gaze and lifts her chin, daring him to hold back because she doesn't need him censoring around her, and doesn't need him to treat her with kid gloves. He doesn't rush to elaborate looking away from her but after another beat his eyes are back on hers as he asks

“...But what if she doesn’t want to come back?” 

She reals back as though physically slapped, hating him for giving voice to this possibility. The bracelets may be on her but her own emotions are too reactive for her to admit that its line of thought that Musa herself had wondered at but one she can’t entertain-wont.

They practice for over two hours, not that either one of them feels the time going by, both surrendering to the physical exhaustion and letting the pain of their task bury their real pain beneath it. 

As they’re cleaning up he approaches to take the cuffs off of her, she’s feeling that high again, a little giddy and floaty but also excited because the more she’d thought about last night the more she’s sure this is what helped, this training. 

She’s not sure how exactly, but lately as the cuffs come off the shudder that accompanies her powers is more exhilarating, though it may also be the pain in her arm.

Today however his calloused hands grasp her forearm to take off her cuffs and his brows furrow

“Your burning up” He mutters as he frowns at her arm “Shit Musa this is infected” and Musa opens her mouth to calm him only managing to hiss as Riven rips the cuffs off, cursing as it causes her to start bleeding again. Musa swears that for a moment she sees his hand shake before he’s gripping her arm tightly and pressing his jacket against it, glaring daggers at the wound. But she must have made a mistake because Riven has some of the steadiest hands.

“It’s fine-“

“The hell it is!”

“Riven it’ll be ok I just have to-”

“We’re going to the infirmary” He decides, his words and posture stiff while his touch is ever gentle. She tries to shrug him off but he’s not budging and it's a stark reminder of how much he’s indulging her during practice “You either walk or I will carry you” she tries to talk and he ducks as if to grab her-

“I'll walk! I'll walk ok?”

He hovers all the way in. Grumbling under his breath about responsibility for it all and how could she have not noticed that she was burning. 

Terra is thankfully not there though the second year nature fairy who does tend to her wounds keeps looking from her to Riven and back. Musa is bombarded by her curiosity the moment they enter the room and explain  

“I wore them too long” 

“Why are you wearing these?” The fairy asks and Musa just shrugs 

“They help me train better” 

Her answer is lame and clearly unconvincing especially as the fairy keeps asking if Musa needs a private room, or if she’d prefer for riven to stay outside, not quite believing Musa as she keeps insisting ‘He’s totally fine, harmless as a fly really-look I just need some som antibiotics and we’ll be good”

The fairy washes out her wounds, which hurt badly before wrapping them neatly again. Riven on his part doesn't say a word which is surprising only asking once after the fairy is done if Musa will be alright.

The petite earth fairy looks startled as she answers “She-she be fine just start of an infection umm-let me see if any of the professors need to be notified”

They watch her scurry away, clearly looking for an adult. Despite the girl skepticism her answer takes the edge off of him 

“You do know she probably thinks Im torturing you” Riven deadpans

When the girl comes back she’s clearly in a huff as she mentions that the head nurse has said it was all understandable , which her tone made it clear she did not agree with. 

It’s at this point that Musa realizes that Riven is probably right, to some extent or what not and in her quest to be helpful she blurts out:

“You know this-we’re training-he does this because I asked him to…I need this ok-”

Riven and the other girl both stare at her, her partner blinking amusedly, his good humor back now that he’s been assured the infection is not deep and has not taken root

“Babe, big step for you openly discussing our kink-”

“Training! Shut up, Riven-He's honestly just training me!” Musa pleads, her head pounding with fever and her vision sees double of Riven which makes it hard to focus on what her nurse is saying.

“...I’ll just get an ointment for you to apply for the next couple of days”

She scurries up and almost runs into Riven who's hovering too close, squeaking as she ducks and hurries off, not that it even fazes Riven as he walks closer and decides to perch himself on the side of the bed.

“Not that my reputation is anything to protect, but you do realizes you just gave her the gossip of a lifetime”

Musa only groans, too busy trying to suppress the shivers coursing through her  

“This is entirely unnecessary, I could have washed this out and bandaged it myself” She tries to huff but it's hard to sound convincing, when she can now tell she was closing in on trouble not to mention how much she’s squirming in the bed trying to get comfortable. Her eyes slipping shut as she tries to take a steadying breath wishing her ears would stop ringing. 

His calloused fingers feel cool against her cheek and she gasps at the contact, her eyes flying open to see him peering at her, he’s close. His breath ghosting over her face she can clearly see the freckles of caramel dusting his cheeks. She feels so exposed, but his touch feels so good as his fingers dance up and he brushes a few strands of her hair, tucking them behind her ear.  She can’t help leaning into his touch her eyes growing heavier as he murmurs,

“…we’re not doing this again, ok pixie?”

The potion fixes her wound and her fever in forty eight hours. 

They don't talk about his words or how she leaned into him. It’s fine. Well, not fine exactly because Riven refuses to have them use the cuffs for two days after. Oh he’s more than happy to drop in on her studying in the library or just start following her if he happens to run into her in the halls, though he covers it up with enough pestering that Musa thinks checking on her is only an excuse 

“Its says dice the plants not mash them-”

“I am dicing!”

“The ginger shouldn’t be oozing like that if you were just dicing-”

She nearly turns the knife on him as he cackles. He’s only rescued when Terra pops over with Kat and Flora in tow, her roommate takes one look at Musa’s experiment and takes the knife, essentially telling her the same thing that Riven has been.

“-don’t worry we’ll fix this quickly and get you that A. We do need to give you some cutting lessons” Terra chatters away ever helpful and perky

“Yeah well I'm learning how to use the big blades, how much harder can the smaller ones be?”

“Yes because swords and knives are definitely the same” Riven snorts, shaking his head, twirling his butterfly knife absentmindedly. Fucking show off Musa thinks narrowing her eyes at his movements which just makes him sit up straighter and preen as if he is the mind fairy, reading her.

Terra clears her throat as Flora giggles while she’s rummaging in the back through a crate of what sounds like ingredients, drawing their attention back to them. 

“How's training going?”

“They’re going good.” Musa answers quickly, a little too quickly even to her own ear. She may have not mentioned the infirmary visit to them.

Riven raises an eyebrow at the assessment and rolls his eyes as Terra looks to him, and shrugs. Which seems to be sufficient as Terra goes back to chopping with Musa, trying to at least do some of the experiment by herself, not wanting to be accused of plagiarism.

“Riv, can you come and help me take this to the main table there? Terra and I hefted this up here, but I need a hand” Flora calls easily, her musical voice beckoning so sweetly.

Terra opens her mouth to offer to help not doubt, as if she’s not elbow deep into roots and plant, but before she can say a word Riven’s jumping down from his seat and heading to the back promptly

“I got it” his tone is eager “How about you focus on the experiment Ter, We don't want an explosion or Musa cutting off a hand”

“You sound like a right tool sometimes, you know that, Riv? C’mon help me with these-” Flora beacons trying to keep the peace while Musa raises a middle finger, trying not to curse or show how she actually almost does nearly cut a finger.

Her throat feels a little scratchy as she watches Riven saunter over to Flora, stupid fumes of this experiment she thinks as Flora greets him with a warm smile and soft eyes, his nickname on her lips sounding really emphasized to her ear.

It takes a beat but Musa realizes she doesn't care how eager Riven is to help Flora, or how flirty the two of them sound.

Nope, She doesn’t…Not at all….So what if Flora and him flirt or are into each other? It's none of her business, or at least that's what she keeps telling herself, holding in her powers with such a grip. 

She’s not cliche, she’s not a creep. Riven is just-just a friendly classmate- ok a friend- he’s just a friend and Flora is a close friend who she really likes. Musa is not going to let her powers get involved and mess up another of her relationships. 

Nope, not in the least.

She scrambles for a moment, like a painter trying desperately to save their work when their water cup is tipped over, Musa reels back her power as fast as she can. 

The speed which she pulls causes her to get dizzy but at least she's no longer feeling Flora and Riven’s energy too acutely as they blessedly become distant and unrecognizable echoes. 

She’s holding on to all her power with a death grip when she realizes that the loudest emotion in the room is her own sense of desperation and the sound of her own heartbeat.

She jumps on the moment. Tying her powers to her desperation and letting it overflow and deafen all else around, as she tries to clear her mind like she does before each round on the mat with Riven. Musa breathes in slowly and deeply focusing on herself and to her surprise and delight, it works. 

For the most part, she can still sense them both but between her pride and Terra’s curiosity they’re more like white noise in the distance. 

The realization that she’s indeed managing to pull back her powers entirely, causes her to be so excited that she nearly forgets about what she's trying to do with the experiment.

Her hands shake, having all of her power contained in herself. Dropping the knife, she fists her trembling fingers and exhales experimentally, watching for cracks in her control and quickly clogging the leaks.

Flora and Riven though fall into easy conversation and what Musa hears triggers a little link of connection, one she quickly severs. 

She can keep her powers in check, but they are not making it easy.

“-know if Silva would like that, Riven? Or do you think Headmistress Griselda will object? Heard you’d already landed yourself in her office twice so far”

Riven chuckles and the sound has Musa swallowing hard “I was there to help not because I was in trouble-”

“Sure. We’ll pretend that's true.” Flora teases and Riven shrugs

“Look Flo-Silva would not care what you do with these but Griselda on the other hand, I think you should ask-”

Flo… Musa's just annoyed at the mention of madam Griselda's name. That’s what burns in her stomach, Musa justifies. Focus on the burning, on the pain, exhaling and focusing solely on the liquid on the bunsen burner and her breathing. Musa forces her mind to anchor on what it’ll mean if she's successful in keeping Flora and Riven out, with them being so close.

Her powers are itching to reach out now though, her moment of triumph slipping through her fingers. She wishes for the bracelets so badly her wounds be damned but no- she can do this. She’s held on this long, grasping her forearm pressing down on her bandage she focuses on the pain that springs up.

She’s completely forgotten about her experiment, but she’s once more gotten her powers in her grip.

“-There we go, Musa! Now record this reaction and pack up, Aisha needs us” Terra exclamains as she finishes, snapping Musa out of her stand off with her powers. “eh-Musa?”

“Yeah go it…Thanks Ri-Terr you’re the best” Her voice only sounds a little breathy and her hands are shaking badly. As she hurriedly tries to fill in her notes, Musa can’t help feeling guilty for having forgotten their plan and hating herself just a little for her irrational reaction towards the latest member of their group, as Flora walks back to the table offering Musa a sincere smile.

“Needs you for what?” Riven asks, dumping the box on the desk and stepping closer to Musa, “Where are we going that she has to rush?”

Musa bites her lip and focuses on the paper, unsure if she’ll be able to not spill anything to Riven. She's feeling a little light headed, not only is he so good at needling her, she knows he’s not above rilling her up if he thinks she’ll trip up that way. 

“You’re such a snoop” she mutters as she finishes the last of her sentences.

“So there is something worth talking about happening here” And Musa presses her eyes shut, cursing herself. So much for playing it cool “C’mon Muse…”

“Sorry Riv you have to sit this one out” Flora sings as she starts clearing Musa’s workstation, as if Musa doesn't hate herself enough for how she’s been feeling toward the earth fairy. She sends an extra big smile to Flora, to over compensate for the fact that her heart wants to be a bitch, she's going to make sure that stays a secret deep within her, sending a silent apology to her new friend.

Sorry Flora, I’m just a little fucked up.

As she grabs her bags and clutches them to her chest using them as a pathetic shield Kat opens the door for them, her eyes teasing as she stares at Riven while the girls exit.

“You know the Winx suite never really likes to share” which makes Riven all the more annoyed.

“What? Kat gets to come and I don't?”

“I have dating privileges” Kat tosses back but the smile of triumph on her face slips off at the way Terra stares at her, biting her lips looking extra guilty.

“Aw c’mon! Are you telling me I have to sit this out too?

“Sorry babe! I just-its nothing, if it was I would tell you. Musa’s right it's just boring research”

Both Riven and Kat scoff then, neither looking happy, with the former latching on to the morsel of information  “Research about what exactly?” and the latter grumbling “It's never nothing with you lot”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Flora asks half amused and Riven answers unapologetically.

“That no one in this entire school believes that you lot, can do nothing . It's always something, we just are always left in dark until the eleventh hours when shit hits the fan”

 None of the girls can refute the statement but none of them are willing to budge either. Finally Riven lets out a frustrated sigh and Musa bites her tongue because she finds herself wanting to tell him! A feeling which she doesn't understand at all.

“C’mon Kat, let go train, I could use an actual challenge.”

“Hey! I thought you said I was getting better”

“I said you’re no longer totally hopeless not that you are full specialist, pixie” Riven grumbles and he’s being grumpy for being left out, but the fact that he’s still being soft with her stings Musa more, as if she's not feeling guilty enough for leaving him out.

She opens her mouth just as they turn their back, walking away and it’s all she can do from calling out, because she has no right sharing this or pulling Riven into this mess.

With a frustrated sigh she turns, ready to go only to stumble as she nearly trips into Terra and Flora looking at her with amused and questioning smiles.

“....What?”

“So… you and Riven.” Terra stretches the first word out and Musa hates the giddy stutter of her heart, and the terror of hurting Flora that seizes her. Not to mention the heat she can feel inflaming her cheeks even more as she scoffs and marches on, hoping to literally walk away from this line of questioning.

“She’s avoiding us” Flora sings and Musa shakes her head, trying to convince herself that Terra and Flora are both teasing while also being strangely relieved that Flora seems happy about the possibility 

“There wasn't a question for me to answer” Musa dodges trying to bring forth another topic  “Do you think they’re right? Does the school really hate our suite?”

“Ah that change of subject was as subtle as Terra’s flirting” Flora chuckles and Musa rolls her eyes though she can’t deny it

“So?” she pushes on, not wanting to give them leeway to ask questions about a subject she’s not sure about “Does the school hate us?”

“Probably” Terra answers strongly leaving her two friends gaping “What? Ok granted they did not say hate-and we may have not been at fault but we've had our hands deep into the mess that happened. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did!” she pauses then clearly thinking about it “They probably hate Stella the most, she's the princess and she had a reputation before-”

“And love me” Flora adds easily, only faltering at the incredulous look her two friends send her. Looks which she easily shrugs off with a lift of one shoulder “What? I’m new, most people barely even know me”

Musa mulls their words over “Where am I in this hierarchy?”

“Straight in the middle, straight up average honestly” Terra teases with a smile which turns into a look of mock outrage as Musa glares at her unamused “What? I'm being honest!”

They find Aisha in a corner in the back of the library, but only after Stella drops the glamor to reveal themselves, a move that surprises them all and has Musa asking

“Is all this cloak and dagger necessary?”

“I don't know, we’re about to talk about infiltrating a Shadow realm, where the last time a portal was open, it threatened the existence and wellbeing of the Otherworld.” Stella deadpans, clearly not in the mood to play “What took you so long?”

The three newcomers begin speaking all at once their words humbling together 

“Ugh never mind.”

“....Right. Ok well- now that we got that out of the way, let me show you what I found” Aisha whispers pulling out a book and opening it, to depict a medieval painting “I won't lie and say I have all the detail hammered out yet but I think I’ve identified our way in.”

“What, into the shadow realm?” Terra clarified excitedly only to get shushed by her friends bombard with glares and demands of be quiet!

“Not into it- exactly, but at least to look in…?, At least that's how the spell is meant to be used, not for travel but to spy”

“So like a window” Musa clarifies and Aisha nods her smile turning triumphant

“Exactly!”

There is a moment of silence as the fairies read over the instruction of the magic and spell required, their faces growing more and more serious with each passing second.

“This is a complicated spell… What do you need for this to work?” Flora questions and Aisha is quick to hand over a note pad where her neat handwriting is scribbled “Besides our magic, we need the crystal back and this the tricky part we need an essence of the place we want to look into”

“An essence of the shadow world” Terra deadpans as she reads the list “How are we supposed to find that?”

“Yeah and the crystal was destroyed in battle and they’re not easy to come by-” Musa adds.

“None of this will be easy to do or straight forward but we have a way at least” It's hard to argue with Aisha's point 

“Ok, so we open this window and then what? Is Bloom able to climb through it?” 

Stella asks and Aisha falters, “Locating and contacting Bloom through this is not something I’ve figured out yet” 

“Hey, you’ve done a lot already and planning is not all on you, we’ll figure it out together.” Musa offers, placing a hand on Aisha’s shoulder as the others nod in agreement “I'll start taking my lunches in the library, maybe we’ll find something else on how to find Bloom through the portal in here.” 

Riven is incorrigible about the ‘secret meeting’ the next day. He pesters her for hours and then refuses to stop throwing out wild insane ideas as he guesses all the while attacking her. He has no problem multi tasking, she is barely hanging on trying to fight and keep up,

“You’ve decided to start a strip club”, 

“No Riven”

“Are y'all planning to kill Griselda too? I really like this one.”

“I kno-No Riven- god your questions are more annoying than my power”

“Think of it as training then…Are you guys planning to overthrow Luna so Stella can open a portal and bring Bloom back?”

“Riven! Enough!”

“...please tell me you snapped because you got tired and not because I hit the nail on the head”

She doubles her attack in response, abandoning her quest to answer his questions which makes him even more worried as he curses at her and keeps repeating his question, highlighting how treason is a bad idea all the while remaining far too in control of his movements.

With all his insane questioning she only manages to land a hit once on his thigh and it startles them both, Riven more so as his instincts kick in and he pins Musa down within seconds.

“Damn pixie, you got one!” he pants and it's her only consolation as she’s almost wheezing with exertion. Between the time off and Riven’s speed and one track mind today she’s at her limit

“I’m never moving from this spot”

He chuckles and as she gulps down the water greedily he immediately sets off to undo the cuffs, which cause her to wince despite her best effort, glaring at her arms, where regardless of her rotating the bands the wounds have started to dig in. 

“These are not working out well” Is his assessment but he doesn't get to say more as a new voice startles them both.

 “Torture devices rarely translate well into becoming training wheels” 

“Headmistress” They greet, jumping to their feet.

It feels  ridiculous that they didn't hear her coming considering the heels she's wearing, yet she managed to creep up on them or Musa should have heard her-the cuffs the damn cuffs! She was so used to always feeling people, she has little sense of awareness of their comings and going without her powers, she realizes.

For a beat Griselda says nothing just stares at them and Musa forces her body to remain stiff despite her desire to pull down her sleeves to cover the scars that litter her arm and the blood that has been flowing down them for sometime now.

“I saw you both end your session and come in. I'm glad the problem is not more serious through” Musa is unsure how to respond, what to say that will elicit the least bit of attention from their new headmistress, especially considering her opening comment. She grapples with words but it seems like that suits Griselda well as she has more to say. 

“You’ve done well in teaching,” She faces Riven first and the compliment throws Riven off kilter, “you’ll be a fourth year this coming fall, correct? One of our upperclassmen said,” It's a statement far more than a question, “I see you have a gift for teaching, we could really use students like you, especially now that you have true experience under your belt in both combat and teaching as a teacher assistant.”

Riven blinks speechless

“He is, he is a great teacher. And he's helped out others beside me but he's been instrumental in helping me get better ” Musa speaks up happy to support Riven for he truly deserves it

“I can see. Your fighting has much improved, so Saul tells me but then again I suppose people do tend to throw themselves into things, especially if they’re running away”

Of all the introductions she's thought she’d receive, this is not one of them.

“I looked at your class selection for fall. You’ve yet to sign up for any magical classes. It does not bode well for you. You finished the beginner and theoretical classes expected for underclassmen but did not participate in the combative ones” Griselda summarizes and Musa has to force herself to not squirm under the woman's piercing glare.

“Most mind fairies are not required to take the specialism classes as underclassmen” Musa mutters. 

“Yes, because most mind fairies are preparing for careers in stealth operations or recon. Your third year is when you have to choose, is your future on the offensive or defensive?” Griselda probes driving her point home farther “Are you looking to become a spy? Or a recon planner? I’m sorry but individuals who are meant to go into stealth fields seldom trouble themselves from learning fighting.”

Musa’s not sure what to say. What road to pick when she’s not sure of so many things. She needs fighting and the exercises, she can be a good specialist, though now she has to admit her size and build will forever mean she’ll always work twice as hard to just keep up. 

Not to mention she’s yet to really train with her powers flowing, and so far the one thing that has allowed that training to even be possible is becoming a road bump of its own.

And while she’s not ready to admit it, or examine exactly what it means; She's been relishing the moment the cuffs come off more and more. The silence they provide is great but also artificial…still, her powers still feel too big too overpowering……

“I want to fight” 

It's the one thing Musa’s sure of, the one aim she has in the haze of reality that is filled with ever changing circumstances.

Her words cause one of Griselda’s impeccable eyebrows to lift as she keeps studying Musa for a beat and the empath forces herself to steadily stare back despite her own nerve or Riven’s, though he hides them masterfully.

“Very well. Then I suggest you make time to see me before the end of this term. I have always thought myself open to unorthodox methodology and as your headmistress I may have solutions which you might find helpful.” the headmistress offers and Musa tries not to sigh audibly, nodding her head happily for the time bought. However, as benevolent of a path Griselda’s offer is she is quick to warn Musa, “But as noble as your intent may be, we are a school and if you have no intention of graduating from our programs, or learning from us I’m afraid we can’t offer you a position.”

It's a sobering thought and reminder. Alfea’ space is limited and highly coveted. Musa worked hard to get here and frankly she’s not ready to give it up.

“So… See you on the field tomorrow, pixie?” Riven’s voice may tease but his eyes are set.

“Seven, I’ll be there.”

And so their training continues.

Her momentary win at the greenhouse had been amazing, but as it was a one off, Musa ‘s worried that it won't last. The cuffs still are her best hope and now her biggest obstacle.

So she moves them onto her biceps. There is more meat there, especially now after training and she rotates how they land. Eventually she’ll have to move them again, maybe switch them to her calves and then her thighs.

With each new set of marks Riven’s frown grows heavier, his stare lingers a little longer every time he asks her how she is.

She starts to despise the limitation of the cuffs and then hates herself for these thoughts because she knows it's actually her powers which are limiting her. She means to see Griselda the following week, but the truth is she’s a little terrified. She has no plans beyond Alfea and Musa doubts she ever will.

Riven is great at not snooping in regards to personal matters usually. Doesn’t mean he doesn't wonder and even worry for her, Musa thinks. His lips may be sealed about this subject but his mannerism speaks volume.

She’s getting better, knows it not just by the way that Riven keeps pushing her but also because Saul mentions it in passing. 

He spends god knows how long watching one morning, the pair of them not realizing he’s been there until the cuffs come off and Musa is hit with immense pride.

“You might just become the first specialist fairy in Alfean history and do both sides justice… Keep at it. And keep doing what you're doing, Riven.”

For the first time ever Musa feels a unique feeling bloom in Riven, something akin to… Fondness? Tenderness? And bashfulness? Mixing with pride and self satisfaction that runs so deep. 

He gives her a contact high that has her smiling like an idiot as she stares at him while he watches Sauls retreating back.

When he turns to her his smile is equally huge and when they lock eyes they burst into a set of disbelieving laughter.

“Yeah, yeah… Don't get cocky now that you have a fan club”

Riven teases as he usually does trying to get control but Musa shrugs and says anything, because nothing can touch her right now.

“I think he’s here to see you as much as me, that TA position was a serious offer from Griselda” it's heartwarming seeing him become self conscious at the mention of the assistant position. 

He doesn’t say anything, shows even less. But the way his eyes light up, the spark of mischief that seems to always be there shifting to something close to hope and the nonchalant way he tries to wave her off all make her feel so soft.

He’s a seasoned warrior, they’re no longer kids exactly and she’ll never admit it out loud but Riven’s bravado about his fighting skills are well earned. 

It's because of these moments, like when he becomes excited as a kid on christmas at the mention of being trusted to teach, or when he consciously slows down to walk her through steps without sounding condescending, that Musa understands why Riven chose Alfea versus enlisting in the solarian army.

He’s a warrior not a soldier.

A protector through and through. His instinct is to nurture and defend rather than destroy. He has a warped code of ethics and conducts, one he’s uniquely built for himself but one he sticks to. He’s shit at making friends but loyal to a fault with those who are his friends.

It’s why he understands and does not question her bond with the girls, also why he’s been nothing short of Sky’s shadow these past few months. 

She can tell now what sort of night Sky’s had by looking at Riven every day. A deep frown means a row between the two boys, snarky greeting is a good night,  big circles under Riven’s eyes mean a restless night and on days that Riven has no greeting at all it means that the night was beyond bad.

Riven has rescheduled their training only a handful of times in the beginning of their arrangement to help Sky, but lately it's become more frequent. 

Musa doesn't mind much, as it gives her time to go help Aisha research. Though she should probably use this time to speak with Griselda, but for now Bloom takes precedence, Musa justifies.

However, the hours upon hours researching in the library is harder work than it seems. The information is vast, their goal singular, while critical, has equally vast parameters and the margin for failure is huge.

Still seeing Sky and Riven train from the library window late into the night or early hour, seeing how Sky’s eyes have lost all its life and the circles in his face that somehow look gaunt and aged versus his jacked body is a good reminder that it's not just her and the girls who want Bloom home, who need Bloom home.

She's seen the blond specialist from afar and while he offers her a tight lip smile that doesn't reach his eyes the two times he catches her staring, he never approaches and rather gives her a wide berth. This suits her well, because despite all the progress she has been making the one time she gets too close to him the utter despair eating at Sky brings her to her knees.

The man is not only burning hopelessly, he’s also pissed marching toward the barrier, going past her in such a fury he doesn’t even see her. 

She spots Riven running out of the school moments later as she tries to pull herself together, faltering as he spots her fighting to get control of it all.

But Musa waves him off, motioning him towards where Sky had disappeared to “The barrier-” she croaks out, able to breathe as she puts all her training in place, Sky’s bleak void haunting her less with each step he takes. Musa doesn’t think she’s ever seen Riven so terrified.

“Go!”

Riven doesnt need her to repeat and takes off. She doesn't see either one of them until the afternoon of the next day neither looking that good. Sky looking like a walking corpse and Riven looking worse for wear.

At first she tries to speak with him about it, but Riven’s not interested. 

He arrives at their training all pent up aggression hiding barely concealed pain on his best friend's behalf.

When she tries to leave room open for him to talk or vent with a small “Hey how’s Sky?” he shuts her down fast

“I don't know why don't you tell me?” He deadpans, not giving her an inch to talk “Look I'm here to train so either let's go or go back to your scheming friends I don't need any more help from the Winx suite thank you, he’s in this mess because of one of your friends. And besides you have a winx suite secret meeting and I have roommate stuff. Hypocritical much” 

Musa has three separate snide remarks on her tongue but she bites them down. Because she doesn't need to be an empath to know what he’s feeling, she’s terrified for her friend too. 

So She lets him vent, doesn't take his harsh words to heart because she can feel the worry he has for Sky, worry that is not misplaced in the least.

Besides Riven never pushes about her powers and Musa never asks about Sky, it works out nicely for them. Usually.

“Riven, you can only be there for Sky right now. That’s it. That’s all you can do”

Something settles in Riven then.

Their training is only a little strained by their spat but it's brutal. Riven’s not holding back and Musa’s hanging on for dear life. Pulling on every ounce of understanding she has to not take it personally when Riven flattens her out and then demands “again”, or feel too proud that she manages to land four sharp hits on him due to his heightened emotion and lack of being able to focus each time barking “again” and “again”

They end the night both sprawled on the training mat the sun long gone, both having missed dinner, both physically and emotionally drained. Her body and muscles vibrating beneath her skin, though adrenaline is pumping through her at such a high level, feeling so powerful that she swears she can fly.

She nearly jumps at the feel of his cool fingers as he reaches over to take the cuffs off, mesmerized as he winces with every move, his hair sticking in part to his sweaty brows and his labored breath becoming visible in short puffs in the cool night air. But the frown between his eyes is gone, and at least for this moment, Riven’s not in pain.

He’s unfairly broken and so beautiful she thinks, feeling her chest tighten as he falls back and locks eyes with her.

She can’t look away and neither does he. As they sit there beneath the blanket of stars, for one moment Musa feels suspended; as if the world has halted and there is nothing but Riven and her simply existing in this universe,  which is nothing more than a torrent of energy buzzing around them. 

A moment of nothing but bliss.

An owl hoots in the distance and the trance is broken. And quietly after a small “I'll see you later” Riven get up and begins collecting his things, but as he turns something shines by his feet and a realization clicks for Musa

He’d taken the cuffs off. Her magic is coursing through her and yet…

There is nothing but her and her own emotions.