Chapter Text
It’d been a slow week, no activity from the Wizards and Roxy’s classes progressing nicely.
The squad had decided to have a quiet game night, with some alcohol coming into the mixture at some point.
At the moment, they were playing Truth or Dare.
In all honesty, there was very little they didn’t know about each other, but even after so long, there were still a few things that could surprise them from time to time.
Stella considered her turn, the bottle on the ground dictating that she’d gotten Riven.
The coward had chosen truth.
There were few things she could ask him that could result in anything majorly interesting.
Unless… Stella glanced towards Flora, who was leaning against Helia, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Anyone who had eyes could tell Flora and Riven had adored each other since their first year. That was obvious. At this point it was also obvious that, while they didn’t see each other as siblings, they didn’t see each other in any kind of romantic light either.
…but she would be lying if she said that she wasn’t curious about whether or not they ever had, even for a fleeting moment. Especially since she did remember one particular evening during their second year in which they’d both seemed… almost bashful with each other.
Should she?
Stella slowly leaned back against Brandon’s chest, meeting Riven’s challenging look, “Okay, I know what I want to ask.”
Riven spread his hands, “Go on then buttercup.”
“Have you ever… kissed someone in this room-” she ignored the snorts, continuing, “who wasn’t Musa?”
Riven froze for a split second, clearly flabbergasted before casting a single quick glance towards Flora, who had sunk into Helia’s arms, covering her face as she flushed.
“Listen-”
“I FUCKING KNEW IT!” Bloom shouted, slamming a hand against the ground.
Musa broke down into giggles as she turned to Riven, “What?”
“No- it- it was before we were dating obviously. It was dumb we just…”
“We were fucking up a lot with you two so we got a little drunk and we kissed to seal our depressing marriage pact.” Flora explained.
Helia chuckled under his breath before turning to Riven with mock anger, “You got a marriage pact with my girl? What happened to the bro code?”
“We were drunk, depressed and hating on love. She was obsessed with you, I was obsessed with Musa but we were fully convinced we’d just fucked everything up for good- cut us some slack man!”
They all burst out laughing, clinging to each other as they Flora somehow sunk further into the floor and Riven hid his face in Musa’s neck.
***
Flora was thinking, unable to focus on the book in her hand. She could feel the alcohol at the base of her skull, a dull thump, barely there but just present enough to make her think.
She’d freaked out on Helia.
Riven loved her. He was her person.
Did that mean something? Or did she just want a connection that her baggage didn’t impede?
She turned to him, watching him as he tinkered on one of his projects, trying to think objectively.
He noticed after a moment, meeting her gaze, “Something wrong?”
“No, I was just… thinking.”
“About?”
He’d freaked out on Musa.
She loved him. She was his person.
But how did she love him? Was her mind playing tricks on her?
“Have you ever thought… that maybe… you and I should try?”
One of his eyebrows slowly rose up as he set down his tools and fully turned to face her, crossing his arms and leaning back, “I won’t lie… the thought did cross my mind once or twice… before I really started catching feelings for Musa. You?”
“Same. Before I fell for Helia… I don’t know, maybe I thought about it in passing.” But she would’ve never acted on it even back then because she knew Musa had a crush.
“It’s weird isn’t it… if not just sad. That we’ve had so little love in our lives that now we’re doubting what we have.” Riven muttered under his breath, letting his head fall back as he sighed.
“Yeah… should we… do something about it?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know.”
Riven raised his head, inspecting her before going to join her on the small couch, sitting besides her.
“Should we kiss?” He asked, it sounded like he was asking himself just as much as he was asking her.
Flora considered, “I mean… could be like… sealing the marriage pact?” She took a deep breath, shaking off her nerves, this was her person, worst case scenario, it might be a bit gross, “Okay. I’m in if you’re in.”
Riven nodded along, “Okay.”
He leaned down to meet her halfway. It was a hesitant, yet gentle kiss, soft and slow as they both tried to figure out how they felt about it.
Seconds passed and they pulled apart, both leaning against the couch, staring at the wall before them.
“I mean… it didn’t feel… wrong.” She started hesitantly.
“But it didn’t feel right either.”
“Exactly.”
They glanced at each other before laughing light-heartily. Blushing out of embarrassment and awkwardness.
“If things were different… maybe then.” He said after a long minute.
She shrugged, bumping her shoulder against his, “Maybe in another life.”
He snorted, “Yeah, maybe in another life.”