(Riven POV – Hearth of Threads)
My consciousness returns slowly.
First comes sensation. Warmth, the hard ground beneath me… then sound.
It's distant at first, like I'm underwater, then suddenly, painfully clear, as a familiar shout pierces my mind.
"Loki! I won't forgive you!"
CRASH.
Something slams into the floor, followed by a chorus of shouting and scuffling, as well as the occasional curse.
'…Ah.' I don't open my eyes just yet.
Reason being… I already know.
'I'm… super screwed.'
'GS…' I ask, voice dull even in my own head. 'Please tell me you acted like I would've while you were in control. At the very least… like a sane person?'
[Answer: I accomplished the task in the most efficient manner possible.]
'…Of course you did.' I sigh internally. 'And thanks to that, I'll soon be dead.'
Assuming Hestia doesn't kill me… I'll have to survive whatever embarrassing interactions I had.
'While I continue lying here and pretending to be unconscious…' I continue, braced for the worst. 'Can you replay everything that happened?'
[Answer: Affirmative.]
Memories of everything she did while in control flood into my mind with perfect clarity.
I watch myself walk past people half-naked, enduring their judging looks.
My encounter with Freya.
And how I barged in to the shop, when I could've just stayed at the church.
Overall, it's much better than I expected. At least my pants survived the fight with Goliath, otherwise…
'So, my only real concerns are Freya… and why you didn't just stay at the church.'
[Answer: You consider Hestia home.]
'Yeah.' I admit quietly. 'Thought as much.'
GS is 100% reliable. So if something went wrong, then I'm probably at fault.
The sounds of chaos in the room grow louder.
"Hestia, get off me—!"
"Say that again, you drunkard—!"
I lie there for a few more seconds, staring into the comforting darkness behind my eyelids.
Pretending, and delaying the inevitable.
But eventually…
'It's time to face reality.' I open my eyes.
Hestia and Loki are on the floor, kicking, wrestling, and pulling at each other's hair.
Nothing out of the ordinary there.
Hephaestus stands behind the counter, rubbing her temples in exasperation, while Ais and Tiona linger near the door, just watching it all go down.
Ais probably couldn't care less, but I'm sure Tiona considers it entertaining.
They notice me first.
"Oh! You're awake!" Tiona beams, waving enthusiastically.
Ais gives a small nod.
Her gaze drills into me, as though searching for something.
"Hello to you both." I smile, returning their gestures.
"Hello to you too, Hephaestus." I add, glancing her way.
"Welcome back, Riven." She smiles, but from her gaze, I'm almost certain I'll be interrogated later.
And before I can say anything else—
"Riven?!" Hestia looks up, her eyes widening, before abandoning Loki and launching herself at me.
I barely have time to spread my arms before she crashes into my chest, wrapping her arms around me, while I hug her back.
Her grip is tight as she buries her face into my chest. Then, I feel it.
Warm moisture…
She's crying.
"I'm so happy you're okay." She chokes out between sobs, her voice breaking. "I thought… I thought you…"
My expression softens.
I squeeze her gently to comfort her as one hand comes up and softly pat her head.
"It's okay." I say quietly. "I promised you I'd always return, didn't I?"
She nods quickly against me.
"Mhm…"
She doesn't let go… not in the slightest.
And for a moment, everything else fades away… replaced with the relief, joy, and comfort of finally coming home—
"HEY!"
And just like that—
Reality crashes back in.
"You think you can just start a fight and walk away whenever you want?!" Loki snaps, stomping toward us, hair disheveled, eyes blazing with indignation.
Hestia immediately stiffens in my arms.
Her grip tightening as she turns, glaring over her shoulder.
"Go away!" She snaps. "Haven't you done enough?! You ruined my moment with Riven!"
"Oh, I ruined it?!" Loki scoffs. "You tackled me for no reason, pipsqueak!"
"You deserved it, washboard!" Hestia yells back.
"You wanna go again?!"
"I'm still holding back!"
Sparks start flying once more.
I stare at them in disbelief.
Then—
"…Ahem." I interrupt, managing to stop them for a moment.
"Loki," I begin calmly, raising a hand slightly. "I agree that Hestia is at fault here."
Hestia freezes.
Slowly… very slowly… she turns her head to look at me.
Her expression is one of utter betrayal… like I just stabbed her in the heart.
"…Riven?" She whispers pitifully, looking at me with teary eyes.
I ignore it.
"Hmph." Loki crosses her arms, looking quite pleased with herself. "Well, obviously." She tilts her head up arrogantly, cocky grin on her face as she looks at Hestia. "So? How're you gonna compensate me?"
"What do you mean, Loki?" I grin, tilting my head slightly. "Weren't you just saying we're great buds a little while ago? If we're that close, talking about compensation feels… a bit cold, don't you think?"
Loki's grin doesn't falter, but her eye twitches for a moment.
'Yeah. I know you were following me. That's why we're even here.'
I then sigh in resignation, trying to seem like the only sensible one present.
"But," I continue, lifting a hand as if conceding. "I shouldn't take advantage of our deep and meaningful friendship either."
Her eye twitches again.
"How about this?" I hum, tapping my chin thoughtfully. "I'll treat you to a drink. I've got some good alcohol. That should smooth things over, right?"
The alcohol worth millions to her, is practically free to me. But compared to letting her make unreasonable demands, offering that is pure profit.
'No way an addict could ever resist.' I think calmly.
Loki studies me carefully, while I study her right back.
Then—
"Yeah…" She says slowly, nodding like she's making a huge concession. "That sounds real fair." She crosses her arms with a huff. "I guess I can be magnanimous and let it go this time."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
"You're too kind, Loki." I reply with a relieved smile. "I knew you'd understand."
We hold eye contact for a second longer.
Neither of us believing the other for even a moment.
Then, her grin widens.
'…I don't like that look.'
"But, Riven…" She leans forward slightly, voice turning almost sweet. "Best bud…"
My headache starts early this time.
"I'm kinda thirsty." She rubs her hands together. "Got anything to drink?"
'…Damn it.' I curse. 'If I said water, she's shameless enough to claim she's allergic to it.'
Even if the wine is worthless, getting scammed out of it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
I sigh.
"...We only have wine." I say slowly. "And I'm pretty sure wine doesn't really help with thirst—"
"Don't worry." Loki waves it off instantly. "It'll help."
Of course it will.
She pauses for a second, before her eyes light up in excitement.
"Actually…" She muses. "You're right. One bottle probably won't cut it."
I stare at her, lip twitching.
"…Sure." I say, forcing a strained smile. "You can have three."
Honestly, against someone like her, over wine, she'd do anything. And it's not worth the trouble.
She nods immediately, as if this was always the plan. "Sounds fair."
Then—
"Tiona and Ais are thirsty too."
I don't even need to look to know that's a lie.
"…Right?" Loki adds, glancing back at them.
Ais shakes her head without hesitation. "No."
Tiona blinks. "Huh? I'm not thirsty either—"
"Yes, you are." Loki says flatly.
Tiona opens her mouth to argue, and freezes when Loki shoots her a look. A warning and a threat.
"…I am?" Tiona tries weakly.
"Yep." Loki nods, completely serious. "You just didn't know it yet."
Tiona looks deeply confused, but Loki doesn't care. She just turns back to me with a beaming grin. "They're very thirsty."
'…Does your greed know no bounds?' I curse internally. 'Fine.'
If she wants to play like that—
"I see." I nod with a smile. "Three bottles each, totalling nine."
"Exactly!" Loki laughs. "You get me, Riven. What're Best friends for?"
Hestia still stubbornly clings to my chest, seemingly unwilling to ever let go of me again. So I simply stand up with her attached, walking toward the back room unbothered.
I grab some wine I left for Hestia to give high value customers, and return with the nine bottles.
And… a cup.
I pour a generous amount of wine into it, swirling the liquid as a malevolent grin adorns my face.
Perfect.
By the time I return, Loki's practically vibrating with anticipation.
I hand over the bottles first.
"Here you go." I say cheerfully. "Enjoy."
"I definitely will." She snatches them immediately, hugging them like treasure, completely absorbed in appraising them.
Even Tiona heads over curiously, wondering why Loki's so interested in these over any other wine.
'She took the bait.' I think, sneaking my way closer to Ais.
"Oh, Ais." I say, turning to her with a warm smile. "You said you weren't thirsty, but I figured you might want something anyway."
I hold out the cup. "So I poured you a drink in advance."
Ais looks at it, then at me, before nodding.
"Thanks." She says simply.
Taking the cup without suspicion or hesitation…
She downs it in one smooth motion.
Ais's motion is sufficient to draw everyone's attention. And once they look over… everything goes silent.
It's like the world grinds to a halt, frozen in time.
'The bomb has been planted.' I think, suppressing a chuckle.
Loki freezes, her entire body going rigid.
"Wait…" She says slowly. Even Tiona's eyes go wide. "Riven…?" She begins, but goes quiet as Ais lowers the empty cup.
For a moment, nothing happens… then a faint flush creeps across her cheeks, as her eyes glaze over slightly.
Loki's expression breaks.
"YOU GAVE HER ALCOHOL?!" She explodes, less in anger, and more in panic and fear, all joy from her alcohol acquisition evaporated.
[Warning: Extreme danger detected. Immediate retreat is advised.]
Even GS adds a warning.
'…Huh?' I blink, then look at Ais.
Her cheeks are turning red at insane speed.
And when her gaze sharpens, switching between targets, and inexplicably, locking onto me…
"Oh my…" I murmur.
'I thought her alcohol tolerance was an exaggeration.' I think sadly.
In my pursuit to get revenge on Loki, I armed a bomb… failing to consider that it'd blow before I could throw it her way.
'I really might be dead this time.' I think, as Ais's hand snakes towards her sword.
***********
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