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Bloom had been back for two weeks before Musa found herself back in front of Riven’s door again. She stood for a minute.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five minutes, just staring at the door a foot away from her. She knew that she could knock any minute, knew that Riven wouldn’t mind letting her crash there for the umpteenth time, but that didn’t stop the little nagging voice in the back of her mind telling her that she was a bother.
A burden.
A nuisance.
Riven was just placating her, putting up with her presence. He had probably gotten tired of her constant need to escape her powers, to escape her roommates. He probab-
“Are you gonna knock on the door, or are you just gonna keep staring at it?” Riven whispered into her ear from behind her, startling Musa out of her thoughts.
“Jesus Christ Riv! What the hell?” Musa jumped, putting a hand to her chest in an attempt to settle her heartbeat back to a normal rhythm.
Riven laughed, “I’m not the one staring at my door like a weirdo. You know I gave you that extra key for a reason.” He moved in front of Musa to open the door, “Come on in pixie.’
Musa sighed, walking into the room ahead of him, “It still feels weird having a key for your guys’ room. Does Bloom even have one?”
Riven grabbed the bag off of Musa’s shoulder, “Of course she does, Sky practically flew into town to get it cut when she came back,” He placed the two gym bags onto the small coffee table in the centre of the living area, as he continued towards his dresser. He grabbed a fresh t-shirt from the top drawer. “If it makes you feel any better,” He pulled his Specialist uniform shirt over his head, “I’m pretty sure Bea still has the one I gave her forever ago.” He turned back towards Musa, still shirtless.
Musa did her best to hide the blush that was slowly creeping up her neck. Since when did Riven just casually strip his shirt off in front of her? She coughed, turning her head towards the kitchenette, “Have you thought about getting it back from her? Ya know, now that she’s back too and all?” She poured herself a glass of water from the tap, and quickly took a massive sip.
Riven shrugged on the fresh t-shirt, continuing into the living area, “I don’t know. She’s still my friend, but now that Stella and her are a thing,”
“Finally,” Musa chuckled under her breath, as she refilled her glass.
“It does seem a bit weird.” He reached around Musa to shut off the tap, “Thirsty are you?”
Musa turned to look back at him, only to find his face inches from hers. She jumped back, bumping into the counter “Jesus Riv, what is with you today?” She stepped around him, trying to put some distance between them, “Are you enjoying scaring me out of my socks?”
“Speaking of socks, take your shoes off.”
Musa paused, and turned around to look at him, “Why?” She raised an eyebrow.
“We’re doing the whole ‘No Shoes’ thing. Sky says it’ll be better for the carpet.”
“Better for the carpet?”
Riven shrugged, casually putting his hands in his pockets, “Yeah, nobody walks on carpet with their shoes on. Or,” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, puffing it out slightly, “At least that’s what Bloom says.”
Musa turned to look at him fully, “Are you feeling alright? You’re acting weird.”
“I feel fine,” He shrugged again, “Are you feeling alright though? You were standing outside for quite a while.”
“I-” Musa paused, “How do you know how long I was out there for?”
Riven slowly started moving towards her, “I saw you standing outside my door as I started coming up the hallway.” That blasted flush was creeping further and further up Musa’s neck the closer Riven got to her, “I waited to see how long it was gonna take you to knock. Waited quite a while, I might add.” He stopped a few inches away from her, “Everything okay?” He said so quietly, it was almost a whisper.
Musa took in a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and breathed out before she opened her eyes, looking anywhere but at Riven’s soft expression, “It’s the anniversary of my Mum’s death.” She whispered, trying to keep the tears that had threatened to come forward at bay.
Riven’s brow furrowed, “Why didn’t you say anything at training this morning?” She was silent for a moment. He put his hand on Musa’s cheek, and lightly pushed her face towards him, “Musa, you know I would’ve understood if you wanted to take a day right?”
Musa shrugged, still refusing to look Riven in the eye. The first tear fell, and Riven quickly wiped it away with his thumb. “I just figured if I ignored it,” another tear fell, “I wouldn’t have to feel like this.”
Riven put his other hand on the other side of Musa’s face, continuing to wipe away the tears, “Like what?” He whispered.
Musa’s breath shuddered, “Like I’m drowning.” She finally met his gaze, looking into the blue eyes that she had unknowingly become so used to, “And I have no way to pull myself back up.” The first sob tore through her, and the floodgates opened.
Riven didn’t hesitate as he pulled her in towards his chest. Keeping a hand on the back of her head, he wrapped his other arm around her, and rested his head atop hers. The sobs raked through her, shaking her small frame against his. He ran his fingers through her hair, quietly shushing as she continued to cry. “It’s okay,” He whispered softly, over and over again.
Unbeknownst to Musa, the door opened. Riven quickly looked back to see Sky and Bloom walking in, not paying attention to what was in front of them. Riven batted his hand behind him, trying to shoo them away.
Bloom finally looked forward, and was instantly worried about her friend, “Is she okay?” She whispered, starting to walk towards them.
Riven kept batting his hand at them, trying not to disturb the still sobbing Musa in his arms.
Sky quietly moved forward and grabbed his girlfriend’s arm, “Maybe we should go someplace else tonight Bloom. I’m sure Riv has got this handled,” He whispered, “Right Riv?”
Riv nodded slightly, still careful not to let Musa know they had been interrupted.
Sky nodded back, “Right. Come on babe, he’s got this.” Sky slowly pulled Bloom out of the room, before turning back to look back at his best friend, “Text me later, got it?”
Riven gave him a thumbs up behind his back, before wrapping his arm back around Musa.
Sky nodded once more before walking out of the room, locking the door behind him.
Musa’s sobs started to slow down after another minute, until eventually she was no longer crying, and the two of them were just standing there holding onto one another. “God, I am so sorry,” Musa whispered after a few minutes of silence.
“Don’t,” Riven said, pulling back to look at her, “Don’t apologize for your feelings.” He gently brushed Musa’s cheek with his thumb, wiping away the leftover tears, “And don’t you dare apologize for unburdening them onto someone else. Lord knows no one apologizes to you for doing the same thing.”
Musa smiled softly, “I was mainly apologizing for getting tear stains all over your clean shirt.”
Riven laughed. “Well how dare you,” he said quietly with a smile, “I’m going to have to burn this now.”
“Shut up,” Musa laughed, shoving gently at his chest.
“No seriously, it is completely unsalvageable.”
“Stop it!” Another shove.
“I mean come on Musa I just got this shirt, and now it is completely ruined.”
“I’m gonna kill you Riv!” Musa said, shoving him again with a smile.
Riven smiled down at her, “Feel better now?” He asked, keeping his eyes on hers.
Musa was quiet for a moment, before nodding and wrapping her arms around Riven’s waist, hugging him tightly. “Thank you,” she breathed out, pressing her face into his chest again.
“Anytime pixie,” Riven whispered, placing a quick kiss into her hair before resting his head once again atop hers. They stood like that for another minute, “So, I’m gonna assume that you want to crash here again tonight?” He hesitated, not wanting to break the moment.
“If it’s not too much trouble,” Musa said into his chest.
“It’s never any trouble. Come on Muse, you know that.”
“Yeah, I know, I know, but,” She paused.
Riven pulled back to look at her, “But,” he prompted.
Musa took a deep breath, “I don’t know, there’s this little voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me that I’m just bothering you with all of my crap.”
Riven nodded, “You know what that voice is?”
Musa looked up at him, “What?”
Riven leaned down towards her, like he was letting her in on the best secret in the world, “Full of shit.”
A smile broke across Musa’s face, and she banged her forehead against Riven’s chest. “You’re ridiculous,” she laughed.
Riven felt a small swell of pride in his heart that he was the one who put that smile on Musa’s face, that he was the one who could make her laugh in one of her worst moments. “Yeah, I am,” He chuckled, wrapping his arms tighter around her, “But, you love it."
“I kinda do,” Musa admitted, looking back up at him, “I think I should get that checked out.”
“Okay!” Riven laughed, loosening his hold on her, “Do you want me to put on a movie, or what?”
“I don’t know,” Musa said, resting her head against his chest once more, “I’m kinda loving where I am right now. I could fall asleep,” She joked.
Riven paused, looking down at the content fairy in his arms, “You could?”
“Yeah,” Musa hummed, closing her eyes as she relaxed, “It’s quite comfortable here.”
“Musa,” Riven whispered.
“Yeah?” She looked up at him fully, seeing for the first time how close together they really were.
Over the course of them becoming friends, Musa had prided herself in the fact that she was always able to read Riven, even without her powers. It was what made them such good training partners. She could always tell when he was having a good day, or if he was pissed off about something. If he was worried about one of his friends, or if he was trying to hide some kind of injury from her. She always knew.
But right now, for the first time in a long time, Musa couldn’t read him.
His gaze was searching, but for what, she couldn’t tell. She’d never seen this look on him before. He started to lean down, bringing his face closer to hers, and gently brushed his lips against hers. She was taken aback briefly, unsure of what to do, before her eyes fluttered closed and she kissed him back.
Riven pulled back quickly. “Now,” he said quietly, hesitant to break the silence, “I don’t have the benefit of being able to read people’s minds.”
Musa rolled her eyes, “I can’t read minds,” she whispered.
“So,” he continued, “Please tell me if I just fucked this whole thing up.”
Musa shook her head, still gazing up at this mystery of man before her, “You didn’t fuck this up.”
Riven nodded, “Okay good. Because you have no idea how long I have been wanting to do that.”
Musa beamed, “Well then shut up, and do it again.”
Riven smiled brightly. “Whatever you say, pixie,” brushing his lips against hers once more.
This time Musa didn’t hesitate, kissing him back in kind. Everything started slow, but months of pent up emotions started to bleed through them both, and began to intensify the moment between them. Hands began roaming, tongues began searching, and a fire started burning.
Riven kissed his way down Musa’s jaw. “Tell me what I’m feeling,” He whispered as he nipped at her ear.
“Oh I think you know what you’re feeling,” She breathed out, wrapping her arms around Riven’s neck.
He pulled away from her ear, kissing her cheek, her nose, her mouth. “I want to hear you say it,” he looked into her eyes.
Musa paused before letting her powers through, the purple gleam shining in her eyes. Riven put his hand against her cheek, “So beautiful,” he whispered. This time Musa did nothing to stop the blush that crept its way out.
Purple searched blue, “How long have you felt this?” She whispered.
“Felt what?” Riven prompted, “Come on, say it Musa.”
“This burning? Like your whole day would be ruined if you didn’t see me?”
“My whole day is ruined if I don’t see you,” He smiled, “What else?”
“I’m the first thing you think of when you wake up,” Musa whispered.
“And the last thing I think of before I fall asleep,” Riven finished. The purple haze faded away from Musa’s eyes, until all there was was the deep chocolate he looked forward to seeing, “Still so beautiful.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“I kinda figured you would figure it out,” Riven shrugged, “I wasn’t exactly being subtle about it.”
“So your whole sneaking up behind me thing, is that what you call flirting?” Musa laughed.
“Well that, and taking my shirt off in front of you, and giving you a key to my dorm, and keeping your favourite beer stocked in the fridge.”
“I thought it was your favourite?”
“Well, it is now.”
Musa laughed, “I am the worst mind fairy ever.”
“Well, not ever. I’m sure that there’s a couple out there that are worse than you,” Riven remarked, sarcasm dripping over every word.
Musa laughed, “Do you want me to kiss you again?”
“Oh, yes please!”
“Then I suggest you stop talking,” Musa stood up on her tiptoes, and kissed him.
It started off slow, gentle even, but then that fire caught light again, burning between them. Musa’s fingers found their way into Riven’s hair. Riven’s hands found their way down to the small of her back, pulling her somehow closer to him. Musa pushed herself up further on her toes, kissing him deeper. Riven kissed his way down her jaw, down her neck, until he found a spot that pulled a moan from Musa’s lips.
“Riven?” Musa said, breathlessly.
“Yeah,” He whispered, not pulling away from his new favourite spot.
“Take me to bed.”
He pulled back then, “Are you sure?”
She nodded, “Yes.”
Riven smiled, kissing her once more.
He picked her up effortlessly, and held her flush against him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she could feel how much he also wanted this. No powers needed.
He slowly walked them back towards his bed, careful not to trip or fall. Not once pulling his lips away from hers. He felt his knees press against the mattress. “Last chance,” he said against her lips, “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
“Riven.”
“Yeah?”
Musa pulled back to look at him, “Do not stop.”
The grin that broke out on his face was breathtaking, and Musa smiled in return, bringing her lips back down to his.
They fell back down onto the mattress.
Together.
- - - - - - - -
“Do you want this to be a thing?” Riven asked a few days later.
Musa had come over to his dorm every night that week, sometimes for a few hours and sometimes for the whole night. They hadn’t slept together since that first night, but they had made out quite a few times, and oh how he loved it. He didn’t want to ruin what this was, but he was dying to know what Musa was feeling about this whole situation.
“What do you mean?” She asked, lifting her head up from where it had been resting on his chest. They were lying on his bed together, Riven absentmindedly running his fingers along her back.
“I mean this,” he gestured between them, “Do you want this to be a thing? Like a real thing?”
Musa paused, “I thought this was a thing.”
“Okay,” Riven sat up. Musa adjusted herself, so that she was fully looking at him, giving him her full attention. “What kind of thing do you think this is?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do the girls know where you’ve been this last week? Does Terra at least know, she is your roommate after all.”
“I haven’t really been in the dorm long enough to be able to talk with them, you know?”
“Okay, but you see them at breakfast. At lunch. In class. Have you spoken to them then?”
Musa’s brow furrowed, “What are you asking me Riv?”
“I am asking you if the girls know that you have been crashing here when your powers get to be too much. Do you want the girls to know that you have been staying here, or am I some kind of secret?”
Musa took a deep breath, “Okay.” She moved closer towards Riven, taking his hands in hers, “The girls don’t know that this has been my escape, but it’s not because I don’t want them to know about whatever this is, or had been. It was because I was afraid that they would get mad at me for not trusting them with that part of me, and that they wouldn’t understand why I kept coming back.”
Riven blinked, “Why did you keep coming back?”
“Because you feel safe for me. Because you’ve never once judged me for needing a break, or needing to escape altogether. You just let me be. You’ve become my safe space. And honestly, I wasn’t sure the girls would be able to fully understand that, especially Terra.”
“Yeah, Terra hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you,” Musa said, “She’s not your biggest fan, but she certainly doesn’t hate you. She hates who you try to be though. Hates your whole ‘cooler than everything’ act. She actually misses you sometimes.”
Riven’s brow furrowed, “Really?”
“Yeah,” Musa squeezed his hands, “She misses the friendship you guys once had. And whenever she does she gets mad at herself, because she feels like she ruined it.”
“She didn’t ruin our friendship. If anything I did.”
“Well maybe you should talk to her about that, because honestly that would be a big help.”
“With what?”
“Your second question.” She paused, taking a deep breath, “I do want the girls to know that I have been staying here, that this is ‘a thing’ as you so eloquently put it. I want this to be a thing, whatever that thing may be.” Musa let go of Riven’s hands, and brought them up to his shoulders as she moved on her knees closer towards him. “I like you Riven,” she brought herself to a stop in front of him, one knee resting on each side of his lap, “I don’t know when I started to, but I do. And clearly,” The familiar purple gleam came over her eyes, “You feel the same way. So why don’t you ask me that question that has been burning in the back of your mind since you kissed me on Monday.”
Riven’s hands came to rest on Musa’s waist, “Be my girlfriend? Let’s do all that cheesy romantic shit that I know you love, like holding hands in public, or you stealing my shirts.”
“I already do that last one,” Musa laughed.
Riven smiled up at her, “But mainly, I just want to be able to kiss you whenever I want to.”
“And when do you want to?”
“When you beat me during training. When I beat you during training. When I see you in the hallway, or in the cafeteria, or walking around campus. But mainly, I want to kiss you right now.”
Musa laughed, clear and bright, “Well then what are you waiting for?”
“An answer.”
“How’s this for an answer,” and she brought her lips to his, kissing him deeply and slowly.
Riven pulled back after a moment, “Oh it’s pretty good. But, I want to hear you say it.”
Musa blushed, reminded of that moment days ago, “Yes. I would love to be your girlfriend Riv. Now shut up and kiss me.”
Riven beamed, “Don’t have to tell me twice.” He surged forward, capturing her lips with his own.
The door to the dormitory opened then, “I’m pretty sure I left it in he-OH!” Beatrix’s voice came from the doorway.
Riven pulled back as fast as he could, as Musa jumped up off his lap, “Bea! What are you doing here?” He looked over at his friend who was standing a few feet away from the edge of his bed.
“I was just coming to grab a book that you borrowed from me forever ago. Hey Musa,” Beatrix said with a smile, and a wave.
Musa blushed, “Hey Beatrix,” she said, sheepishly raising a hand in a wave.
“Babe! Is everything okay in there?” Stella’s voice came from out in the hallway.
Beatrix grinned wickedly, “Oh everything is great. Actually I think you should come here,” She called out.
“Bea no!” Riven stood up.
“Why, what’s going o-” Stella stopped behind Beatrix, “Hey Musa.”
“Hey Stell,” Musa said with a sigh.
“Riven,” Stella said, turning towards him.
“Stella,” Riven said, “How’s it going?”
She looked between the two of them, “What’s going on here then?”
“Oh you know, just hanging out,” Riven said nonchalantly.
“Oh you were doing much more than just ‘hanging out’” Beatrix laughed, “In fact we used to ‘hang out’ like that didn’t we?”
“Okay,” Riven said. Musa turned her face, trying her best not to laugh, “I can hear you laughing over there pixie.”
Musa turned back with a smile, “I’m sorry, but it’s kind of funny.”
“Oh it’s really funny,” Beatrix said with a smile.
“Hey Riven, are you in there?” Sky’s voice came from out in the hallway.
“Oh come on!” Riven threw his hands up in the air.
“Oh he’s in here alright!” Beatrix called out to him, “Come on in!”
“Cool, hey Beatrix. Riven, Bloom and the girls were just wondering if you’d seen…” Sky came to a stop a few feet away from Stella, the rest of the Winx dorm not far behind him, “Musa?"
“Musa! There you are,” Terra came up, hugging her friend, “Where have you been these last few days, we’ve been worried sick!”
“Uh, well,” Musa started, as Terra pulled back.
“She’s been with me,” Riven said matter-of-factly.
“With you?” Aisha asked.
“Yeah, with me.” Riven moved to stand behind Musa, putting an arm around her shoulder, “Right babe?”
“Babe?” Terra said, looking between the two of them and taking a step back.
Musa blushed looking up at Riven, before she looked back at her friend. “Yeah, I’ve been with him.”
“Oh my god,” Flora said quietly from where she stood behind Aisha, “I knew it! Bloom, you owe me fifty bucks!” She ran over excitedly, bouncing like a puppy by her friend's arm.
“What!” Musa and Riven said together.
“Ugh, fine.” Bloom reached into her bag, pulling out her wallet and handing fifty dollars over to her friend. “In my defense, I didn’t say they weren’t together, I just said they wouldn’t fess up to it.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night girly,” Flora laughed as she counted the money to make sure Bloom didn’t stiff her.
“Is this where you’ve been sneaking off to the last few months?” Stella asked.
Musa looked over, “Maybe?”
“I knew it!” Bloom cheered, “Stella, you owe me fifty bucks!”
“What is going on?” Riven whispered in Musa’s ear.
“I have no idea,” she whispered back. “Have you guys been betting on my love life?”
“On our love life apparently,” Riven added.
“Right, yeah. Have you guys been betting on our love life?”
“Just those three,” Aisha said, quickly stepping away from Flora and Bloom, “Terra and I had nothing to do with that.”
“Can you blame us though?” Bloom whined, “You have been so secretive lately, and barely around. We started wondering what was going on with you.”
“And now because of that, I’m out fifty dollars,” Stella griped, leaning her head down on her girlfriend’s shoulder.
“And I’m fifty dollars richer!” Flora boasted with a smile, Bloom laughing along with her.
“Wait,” Musa said, silencing everyone, “So you guys aren’t mad at me?”
“Mad at you?” Aisha asked.
“Why would we be mad at you?” Stella continued.
“Musa, we just want you to be happy,” Flora spoke up.
“And if Riven is who makes you happy, then we’re happy for you,” Bloom said with a smile.
“Even you?” Musa looked over at Terra.
Terra took a deep breath, “Look, you know that I love you. And I am hardly one to be able to judge someone else for who they like,” she reached out and grabbed Musa’s hand, “Of course I’m happy for you.”
“Oh thank god,” Musa sighed, reaching out to hug her friend.
Riven smiled at the embracing girls, “She was really worried that you were going to be mad at her.”
“I could never be mad at you for this,” Terra said, pulling back. “That doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop giving you a hard time,” She said jokingly, pointing at Riven, “But I guess it can be less of a hard time.”
Riven chuckled, “I appreciate that Ter.”
“And if you ever break her heart, they will never find your body. That is a promise!”
“I believe you.”
“Good. Now that we have all this out in the open, why don’t we all get out of this room yeah? It’s getting a bit stuffy with nine of us in here.”
“I like that plan,” Beatrix said, grabbing onto Stella’s hand.
“Me too,” Riven agreed, interlacing his fingers with Musa’s.
“Yeah,” Musa looked up at Riven, “I’m good with that.”
Riven smiled, “Good.” He leaned over, gently kissing Musa with a small hum.
“Alright okay, enough of that,” Terra said, gently pushing Musa away from Riven. “Just cause I’m cool with this, doesn’t mean I want to see it.”
“Oh well that sucks for you then,” Riven laughed, pulling Musa back to his side, “Because you’re gonna be seeing a lot of this, if I have anything to say about it.” He kissed Musa’s cheek with a smack of his lips.
“Okay, enough with the PDA you two,” Beatrix said with a laugh.
“Yeah, even we aren’t that bad,” Stella joked, kissing Beatrix on the cheek.
“Oh come on, we’ve been together for all of five minutes,” Riven said, “You walked into the room quite literally after we had that conversation.”
“Really?” Bloom asked. Musa and Riven nodded, “Damn. Okay, I say we all go back to our dorm and we do like a family movie night kind of thing? Terra, you can invite Kat.”
“Yeah, and Aisha and I can just cuddle together,” Flora said with a smile, hooking her arm through Aisha’s and resting her head on her friend’s shoulder.
Aisha laughed, “Sounds like a perfect night to me. Unless you two have other plans?” She gestured between Musa and Riven.
“Actually, a movie night together sounds perfect,” Musa said with a smile.
“If she’s in, I’m in,” Riven said.
“Alright, then let’s go,” Bloom grabbed Sky’s hand, and practically bounced out of the room. The rest of the girls followed suit.
“Let me just grab this damn book I came here to get,” Beatrix said.
Musa turned around to look at Riven, wrapping her arms around his neck, “You sure you want to spend the evening hanging out with everyone?”
Riven placed his hands on his girlfriend’s hips, “As long as you’re there, I’m happy.”
Musa smiled, and pushed herself up on her tiptoes to kiss him, which Riven happily returned.
“Oh come on you two!” Stella called.
“Yeah, I just texted Isobel and D’Arcy. I don’t want to keep my sisters waiting!”
The couple pulled apart, “Coming!” They called.
Riven smiled down at Musa, placing a quick kiss on her nose. “Come on,” He said, gesturing to the door with his head. He held a hand up in between him, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
Musa laughed. She grabbed onto his offered hand, lacing their fingers together. As they began to head out, Riven quickly grabbed his hoodie off the edge of his bed, “In case you get cold,” he whispered conspiratorially.
Musa rested her head on her boyfriend’s shoulder with a content sigh. As they caught up with the rest of the group, Musa let her powers through for a moment.
“What do you feel?” Riven whispered, looking down at her.
Musa smiled softly, letting her powers fade back. “Joy,” she answered, “Pure joy.”
And the best part was, it was all her own.