Chapter Text
“Well, that was rather fun. I didn’t expect to enjoy myself quite as much as I did.”
Musa smiled at Terra’s words. She was always so cautious to try new things and she was always surprised when she ended up enjoying herself. Like this afternoon when Bloom flitted into their dorm and informed everybody that they were to get dressed because Sky was waiting for them with some of his specialist friends. They were going swimming. The girls agreed immediately, craving a reprieve from the heat they were experiencing. The weather has been extremely frustrating the last couple of weeks – during the day it was hot as hell and at night it felt like the school was freezing over.
That is all the girls but Terra agreed. While the other girls got dressed Musa tried to convince Terra to join them. It took some prodding, puppy eyes and some strategic promises (like bedtime talks without earphones) but Musa was victorious. By the time Bloom called them Musa had thrown everything she could think of into her backpack and pushed Terra out of their room.
“I’m glad you decided to join us.”
Musa threw her arm around Terra and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze before wrapping her arms around herself again. In her mission to get Terra out of the door, she had completely forgotten to throw a jacket into her bag. Musa tried using her towel as a cover from the chilly wind that accompanied the setting sun, but the soaked towel only caused a severe case of goosebumps to run up her uncovered legs, over her back and down her arms.
With a huff, Musa pulled the towel from her shoulders and shoved it back into her backpack with as much force as she could manage, all while cursing her stupidity to only pack some shorts and a tank top. A tank top which was becoming damp and uncomfortable thanks to her bikini top.
“That’s a view I could get used to.”
Musa immediately straightened upon hearing Riven’s voice. She was freezing, hungry, and didn’t want to deal with his innuendos right now. She didn’t even realise he was walking behind her.
“Well don’t. You won’t be seeing it again anytime soon.”
“That’s disappointing. It was quite a nice view.”
Riven grinned at Musa as he stopped next to her.
Musa glared at Riven. “That is not the compliment you think it is.”
Riven only shrugged but his grin had turned into a frown. His eyes moved up and down Musa’s body and flicked to her backpack before he looked her over from her still wet hair to sandaled toes again. Where one would have expected Riven’s gaze to be leering it was only curious and, to Musa’s shock, slightly worried.
“What?” Musa finally asked, the exasperation evident in her voice.
“Please tell me you were digging for a jacket in that tiny backpack of yours.”
Musa quirked an eyebrow. The worry in his eyes matched the worry in his voice. Interesting, Musa thought.
She didn’t say anything though, only pinned Riven with a look. Musa was already highly aware of her mistake, especially with the cold having seeped through her skin and making her bones feel like icicles. She didn’t need anybody else pointing it out, least of all Riven. Riven who was wearing jeans and his usual leather jacket. Riven who didn’t look the least bit cold.
Musa had a fleeting thought about how it would feel if Riven wrapped her up in his arms, about how warm and comfortable she would be there. With a quick shake of her head Musa expelled the thought from her head. She had no idea where that came from.
Riven sighed and rolled his eyes, dropping his duffle on the ground and muttering to himself as he dug around inside. Musa watched as he pulled something out of it and shoved it at her chest.
“Why you girls never think to bring a jacket to anything really blows my mind.”
Riven shakes his head as he says this and Musa wonders if he is only pretending not to know or if he really is ignorant about the fact that some girls are vying to drape his leather jacket over their shoulders.
Back when Musa and Sam were still dating she would occasionally ‘forget’ her jacket in the dorm and he’d give her his, but that was not what happened today. Musa truly and honestly forgot to put a jacket in her bag. She didn’t need a guy to keep her warm. She could do that all on her own, thank you very much.
“Musa, now is not the time to be stubborn. Put it on before you freeze to death.”
Musa looked at the hoodie in her hands. Maybe just this once she could let a guy come to her rescue, Musa thought before she dropped her backpack and pulled the hoodie over her head. It was the hoodie all third years received at the beginning of the school year. The black one that they were expected to wear at all public-school functions, at home or away, to show they were representing Alfea. The one with the name ‘Specialist’ printed down the right sleeve, the words ‘Alfea 3rd Year’ printed on the left breast and the student’s name on the back.
Musa had always liked the hoodies but right now she loved this hoodie – heat enveloped her from all angles where it hung past her butt, and the sleeves reached past her knuckles. Musa gripped the edges of the sleeves and snuggled further into the heat.
Riven smiled when he saw this and started walking to catch up to their friends who had already disappeared. “You’re welcome,” he tossed over his shoulder.
Musa didn’t need to be a mind fairy to feel the smugness radiating off Riven. However, her eyes did flash purple and her chest was filled with warmth. She felt happy and relaxed. The bastard was pleased with himself.
An involuntary smile tugged at Musa’s lips as she picked up her backpack and followed Riven. She knew he hated it when she intruded on his mind and interpreted his emotions, but she wasn’t completely in control right now being half frozen and all. He would just have to forgive her this time.
But Musa didn’t think that would be a very difficult task. Not with the way he kept looking at her throughout dinner. And if Musa was still wearing a specialist hoodie with the name Riven plastered on the back, well, that was nobody’s business except her bloody own.