purple.
ship: riven x reader
summary: all Riven wants is to be someone’s first choice, specifically yours. When you see him get beaten by Sky yet again, you decide to cheer him up.
word count: 1052
warnings: swearing
Riven had only ever wanted to be someone’s first choice.
The sun was harsh, beating down its heat onto unsuspecting specialists. His uniform clung to him uncomfortable, sticking to sweat at every surface. He readjusted his grip on the wooden baton for what felt like the millionth time. He could feel the heat affecting him, the sweat dripping down his forehead, his grip on his weapon becoming looser with every second. Sky was unaffected, of course he was.
It was hard to resent the boy who was like his brother, but Riven felt that resentment crawl up his throat anyway. It was an ugly feeling and more emotions came with it. The guilt and shame for wishing downfall on his best friend, but all Riven wanted was for someone to choose him.
He was never Skys first choice for anything, and he never had been.
First it was Stella, whom Sky devoted every ounce of attention and affection to. Then it was Bloom and while Riven enjoyed having her around, she would always be Skys first choice.
He wasn’t even the last choice for his parents, hell they didn’t even think of him as an option. God knows his teachers would prefer he didn’t exist. Everyone else in his life knew him and Sky as a package deal. It was no secret which boy the preferred.
The baton slipped between his fingers once more as Sky beat him to the floor. That resentment filled his chest even stronger than before, spreading through his body like wildfire the second he saw her watching. Saw her eyes linger on Sky’s tall frame as he loomed over Riven. Watched her trail her gaze over his features.
Riven was out of the ring in a second.
He purposefully ignored her. Ignored the way she made his heart leap with every little gesture. Riven was no stranger to emotions, in fact he felt everything so strongly, but never like this. Never with someone like you. It didn’t matter how much he felt for you, because Riven had never been anyones first choice and he sure as hell knew he could never be yours. You were good at school, one of the smartest girls he had ever met, and smart girls didn’t waste their time with drop kicks.
Riven could feel Sky before he heard him. He hovered behind him hesitantly, unsure whether to finish approaching or back off. It was no secret how he felt, he could hide it from everyone else as much as he wanted, but Sky always saw right through him.
“I don’t understand you. You act like you’re some amazing guy that can get whoever he wants, but then you shy away from what you really want?”
Riven knows he could try. He could get up and march over to where you sit perched beneath an oak tree to confess how he feels. He could take you on a picnic and hold your hand and tell you how beautiful you are. Then, when he tries and tries and you reject him anyway, he can be the laughing stock of the whole school.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
He’s on the defensive before he can even blink. The resentment doesn’t ease, not in the slightest, not when he can see you sitting under that stupid tree looking like the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. Not when he can see you watching them, watching Sky.
They sit there in silence for a while. Sky and Riven. One boy who had the world at his feet and one who could never imagine what that would be like. Eventually Bloom arrives and Sky takes his leave, patting Riven on the leg as he goes. The sun dips below the horizon and colour paint the sky in streaks of colour. You’re bathed in the glow of the waning sun and a new feeling settles in Riven’s chest, making its home where all gentle emotions do. His heart thrums as you stand to your feet, and for a second he thinks you’re going to follow Skys direction back to the school.
His heart stutters when your path leads directly to him.
Riven feels his heart stop as you come to a rest before him.
He’s always been observant but with you it’s something different entirely, and he feels like something is off immediately. Interactions between the two of you had been minimal. You showed him kindness when he least deserved it through small notions, and in return he cheered you up when you seemed down. To an outside it may just seem like gentle words and flirtatious remarks, but to Riven it meant a whole lot more.
Today, you’re different. Theres a bead sweat gliding down your temple and he’s not too sure if it’s from the warmth of the nervous energy that your exuding. You’re hands which are normally so gentle in their actions are clutching your bag with a strength he didn’t even know you had.
“Hey, Riv—uh Riven, sorry”
A smile works it’s way onto his face at the nickname and he purposefully ignores the way you apologise immediately for the act of endearment.
“What are you up to sunshine?”
You can feel your heart pounding in your chest, it’s a marvel he can’t hear it. You rummage in your bag for the flower you picked for him and tuck it behind his ear, desperately trying not to think about how pathetic you probably look.
“I uh, thought you could use the pick me up”
The flower is slightly wilted and wrinkled from your tight grip, but you think it looks pretty on him none the less. You know he’ll throw it to the ground the second you walk away. Know he’ll mutter something about how foolish and weird you are. Know he would never risk his reputation by wearing a purple flower in his hair, but you hold onto that hope all the same.
He watches you retreat on yourself and all too soon you’re heading up the hill towards the castle. His finger pluck the flower from his hair and a lovestruck grin settles on his face. He places the flower back in his hair right where you had placed it.
Purple was his favourite colour after all.