｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

｡･:*:･ﾟ★ I'm starting to think this dinner was an excuse to draw battle lines. :*:･ﾟ☆

Riven

There's some kind of sports game playing in the background and I can hear the cheers drift through the warm room. An extension charm has clearly been used, the large sitting room being the first thing we see and the blue, green and silver colour theme just screams Irene and Silva.

Throws, cushions and other handmade nicknacks and accessories litter the room, making the otherwise cold colours spring to life with memory and meaning. Pictures of days at the beach, Sky's first day at school and countless other events have been carefully placed along the length of the wall opposite us.

To the left sliding doors have been pulled back to reveal a bustling kitchen with Silva fluttering around with a tea towel over his shoulder and slight smell of burning permeating the room.

"Oh for Helios' sake, Saul." Andreas moans. "It's pizza, it tells you on the box how long to cook it for."

Silva doesn't deign to reply and merely points a salad spoon at Andreas threateningly. It would be a rather comical sight had I not seem him throw object ranging from pencils, bananas and books to plantpots and chairs across the classroom when Dowling was stupid enough to assign him classroom days instead of field work.

The chair incident changed her mind.

I smirk slightly at the thought watching in silence as Terra and Sam greet Silva before settling on the plush sofas to watch the sporting game. Well, Sam watches and Terra awkwardly hangs around the door to the kitchen next to her father as he converses with Dowling near Andreas who now pesters Silva in the kitchen about cooking.

Helios, this is going to be awkward.

Pixie seems to be frozen beneath my arm curled around her shoulder. Mercifully, Sky stands in front of her, blocking the other's view of both of our panic.

Because I am most definitely panicking.

Everything here screams family and home and love. From the pictures on the wall to Sky's handmade pottery on the coffee table from when he was a kid. It's so strange to be in an actual home again, not just a house.

We had this once, my family and I.

I can practically see Olivia now, running through the room, begging Sky for a piggy back ride, picking the mushrooms off the pizza, maybe even pleading with Silva and Saul for a story before bed from their travels.

I feel a hand brush mine and I freeze when I realise that Octavia has gone to converse with a newly arrived Beatrix and a trailing Stella which means-

"You okay?" He murmurs and I tremble slightly at Sky's voice.

I clear my throat, nodding slightly before stepping away from the entrance before pausing after two steps. Where was I supposed to go? The kitchen where Andreas and Silva are watching Harvey and Dowling converse in the doorway? Or perhaps sit on the sofa next to the Harvey siblings and-

And fucking Musa it seems who appears to be staring at Terra with apprehension as she stares at the girl sat next to her brother.

Yeah, I'm not opening that can of worms.

I tug at my sleeves in panic. Fuck, what am I supposed to do

I could go bug my mate but Pixie looks to be happily engrossed in a conversation with Beatrix as Stella takes a seat on the sofa, clearly braver than me and entering the thick of the Harvey sibling drama. Even though she merely pulls out her phone and clicks away.

I scratch at my hands, clawing at the palms and wrist, desperately trying to ground myself as I begin to drift.

"Hey, hey." A low voice murmurs, "Take some slow breaths, everything is okay. It's just a casual thing, we can leave whenever."

I want to leave now, Sky. I wish I could say but my tongue is tied up in knots.

I feel Octavia step away from Beatrix, murmuring something to her friend before coming over to me, her steps slow and measured as she smiles at Terra and Musa. No clue how I know that but I know she's going to make it better by merely being here.

"What's going on?'' she whispers to Sky.

A pinkie links through mine and I lose a small sigh of relief.

"He's freaking out." Sky murmurs. Obviously I am, dickhead. "The whole family, crowds and people who judge him thing."

Fuck.

How does he know that?

You have triggers, and he loves you enough to learn them.

I jerk up at the sound only to feel a cold sensation rush over my hand connected to Pixie, who tries to pull away at the shadow curling around my wrist. I can feel her panic, her fear. She's no doubt terrified after what happened with Stella.

Tell her it's okay. I murmur and I see her relax with a shocked expression a second later.

I force a smile to comfort my little mate, feeling the shadows cool around the burning sensation on my wrists.

A few steadying breaths later have me nodding to Sky in reassurance, but he merely stares at me and slowly grips my left wrist. I tense at the movement, suddenly worried about what he's seen but the shadows shift to the side and Sky gives Tavi a reassuring smile before tugging me away into the kitchen.

Much to my relief Dowling and Silva appear to have drifted into the dining room that can be seen from the side of the kitchen and appears to span the length of the kitchen edge and the living room. Backing against the wall of pictures in the living room. From what I can see there's a rough worn wood table, full of nicks, scratches, paint and personality.

"Ah, Riven." Silva calls still very much sounding like a teacher and Andreas seems to agree if his snort of amusement is anything to go by.

Silva shoots him a withering glare before turning back to me with raised brows. "Andreas said you made brownies for after, I didn't know you baked."

"Yeah," I answer awkwardly, "On occasion."

Silva's eyes narrow and I can practically see the headmaster mindset taking over as he connects the dots. In my defence, I have been drinking less since I met Tavi, still smoking a shit load but Pixie did bring a lot of stressful problems along with her and that's excluding the external factor of the war.

"Oh leave him be, Saul." Andreas rumbles quietly as he pulls out various pizzas from the ovens. "Need I remind you that you always enjoyed the brownies I-"

"Andreas." Silva hisses and I grin slightly, sharing an amused glance with Sky who is leaning against the kitchen counter and munching on a carrot stick.

"What?" he mocks, voice rising in pitch as he smirks at the headmaster, unsuccefully swiping a crisp out of the bowl as Silva swats at his hand with the tea towel.

"No." Silva commands, jabbing a finger in his direction but Andreas merely smirks and raises his hands in surrender before winking at me and moving further into the kitchen.

He's going to the pantry, Fenriz reports and I jolt slightly, waving off Sky's look of concern at the move. He needs a break from people for a moment.

He seemed fine just now. I state, glancing in the direction of Andreas' retreating figure, doing my best to ignore how weird it is to converse with my mate's shadows.

I get the distinct impression that the shadow is humming in thought as I lean against the cupboard opposite the counter, silently watching Sky help Silva dish up the pizzas. For a second I can see what their life at the cottage would have been like as Sky grew up.

Silva making shitty meals that Sky tries to fix while fighting back smiles. I'm starting to think that family pizza night was the only night Silva was allowed in the kitchen. He seems to have burned a lot of things, the pizzas, the garlic bread, the-

I have no clue what that charred lump was supposed to be.

I think it was chicken strips, Fenriz states somewhat hesitantly.

You are rather useful to have around. I declare.

I'm pretty sure the shadow is blushing.

"Octa, Bea!" Sky calls, catching the attention of our mate and the other students still in the living room. "We're going to move into the dining room."

My gaze is fixed solely on Octavia as she walks towards Sky, a soft smile on her face that has my breath catching in my throat when her warm gaze turns to me. She's doesn't say anything, just turns to Sky and wraps her arms around his waist, tilting her head up till her chin rests on his chest and she can stare up at him. My stomachs clenches with some unknown emotion, the sight of them looking at each other with such has my chest tightening-

"Stop looking at my children like you want to bone them." I jolt at the sound of Andreas' voice, wincing as the obnoxious sound of crisps being crunched loudly echoes around our little bubble of isolation.

Andreas stares at me, glancing between the loved up couple and back to me again, all the while slowly eating from a sharers family bag of cheese and onion crisps.

I have no clue what to say.

He rolls his eyes at me and takes another mouthful, chewing with his mouth open as he says, "Octavia and Sky are mates, yes?"

I nod awkwardly, glancing over to the pair while wishing the ground would swallow me up. I'm far too sober for this conversation, for this entire evening in fact.

"But you and Octavia are mates as well, no?" He continues to munch away and I'm starting to think he's going to finish the entire bag in a matter of minutes.

I cleat my throat, "Yes." My voice is hoarse and I wince at the sound.

Way to stake a strong claim Riv.

I take it back, you lot are irritating. I hiss as Fenriz laughs at my current predicament.

Andreas' gaze once again darts between the couple and I, the couple who have pulled apart after a sweet kiss and are currently carrying large plates of pizza, crisps, veg sticks and garlic bread between them.

I get the distinct impression of being hunted as I'm left alone with Andreas who tilts his head to the side in a purely animalistic move.

The only sound in the silent kitchen is that of the oven fan and Andreas crunching loudly on the crisps.

Tugging awkwardly at my sleeves, not even the cool shadow's form can stop the burning awkwardness from festering in my body as Andreas continues to silently stare between the open doorway and back to me. I'm starting to think he's not going to say anything and in a rather brave move, if I do say so myself, I shift away from him in preparation for bolting after my mate.

"So...." He trails off, somewhat gruffly as he takes another handful of crisps. "You and Sky."

I pause.

"Sky... and I?" My voice is the definition of awkward and confused, and a wince flinches across my face.

Andreas hums in agreement.

"You and Sky." He nods, looking down at me with narrowed eyes as the loud sounds of his eating echo through the silence.

Andreas continues to stare at me, nodding slowly as I get the distinct impression that he's trying to convey some kind of question.

I frown.

What question is he asking? I whisper to Fenriz.

The answer laughter has me flinching, he's asking- I-, oh that's brilliant. I- ha, he wants to know- The shadow breaks off into loud deafening laughter and I quickly tune out of that conversation to see Andreas still staring at me with an annoyed expression this time.

He rolls his eyes and scoffs, "Fuckng useless." He mutters storming towards the dining room as he waves his hands in the air in exasperation.

What the hell just happened.

I move to follow him.

"Riven grab the last pizza." Andreas calls over his shoulder and I quickly pause, doing as he says.

The dining room is also magically enchanted and I gasp in shock as I enter.

"It's magnificent isn't it?" Terra says as she takes the plate of my hands, moving back to the table before I can answer.

I let out a low whistle, indeed it is. I move around the edge of the room, admiring the Greek colours on the temple-like structure we are in. It's as though the room has been carved in the side of the mountain, the back wall behind me is filled with a detailed carved mural of fairies and Damaris in the rough stone hew, while in front of me in a semi circle room lined with columns supporting a painted domed roof. The inside of the roof is filled with renaissance paintings with fairies taking the place of the typical angel images.

But the view, oh the view.

"The northern Alps," I turn to face Sky as he stands by my side, "it's Irene's favourite."

Indeed I can see why. No doubt my face is filled with wonder as I get the impression of being miles high in the sky as I look down upon the snow capped mountain range sprawled out before us. The view dotted with forests and small villages no more than specs in the distance.

"C'mon," Sky murmurs, nudging my shoulder with his. "We should get food before Andreas eats it all."

I take a seat beside Pixie, curling my pinkie through hers in a desperate need for comfort. I'm doing better now but nobody wants to have a casual, casual dinner with their teachers and people who hate them. Sky gives me an encouraging smile as he takes the seat opposite me instead of the empty one to my left.

Though I don't blame him. Andreas sits head of the table next to that chair with Silva on his left who is diligently ignoring his - ex? Is it ex? - best friend as he starts a conversation with Sky.

Next to Sky is Beatrix and then Stella who is talking with Sam on her left and Musa gives me a somewhat awkward smile from down the table on Sam's other side.

I vaguely register Octavia on my right talking to Terra next to her as I begin slowly piling slices of pizza and garlic bread on my plate.

Helios, why are there so many people here?

Dowling asks for the plate of garlic bread to be passed down to her place by Harvey at the very end of the table. Damn, I nearly forgot she was here.

For long minutes there is just the sound of eating as everyone piles food onto their plates, the sound of quiet chatter begins to flicker through as people begin talking to the person next to them. All private conversations, none across the tables.

I'm not sure I want to hear what will be said if there's a whole group-

"How are the injured specialists, Harvey?" Andreas calls from beside me, his voice bringing the room to silence.

I spoke too soon.

Harvey clears his throat, but to his credit his voice doesn't waver. "They are recovering well. As you know our healing potions don't work on Burned One injuries so they are healing the old fashioned way."

I glance between Silva and Beatrix, realising they were still suffering more than I had noticed.

"Of course," Andreas states, staring at Harvey with an odd look in his eyes. "I'm sure you'll take good care of them."

For a second his gaze drifts to Beatrix and I straighten up, trying to play off my nerves by laying my arm across the back of Pixie's chair. 5 minutes in and threats have already been made.

Tavi leans against my side a little as she keeps her head down in an attempt to avoid the drama, choosing too much on her pepperoni pizza instead.

"Beatrix will be well taken care of by Andreas." Dowling reassured him, smiling politely. "Harvey runs a tight ship and I dare say he has learned much since you have.... Been away."

And the pause in her statement has me once again tensing. I'm starting to think this dinner was an excuse to draw battle lines.

"You make it sound like we had a choice." Beatrix says sweetly, doing nothing to hide sadistic gleam in her eyes.

"Didn't you?" Dowling arches a brow at her before turning back to Andreas, dismissing her entirely.

Trixie's fake smile instantly drops at the disrespect, at being treated like a child trying to play adult. Which she is but something tells me she's never been treated this way and doesn't intend to start being.

She goes to say something but Andreas lifts a hand, effectively silencing her much to Dowling's satisfaction if her slight smirk is anything to go by before her face drifts to neutrality.

"Yea," Andreas hums, glancing between Dowling and the other teachers present. "Much has changed since I was last here."

Awkward silence descends as we all turn back to our food, eating uncomfortably, except the tension doesn't seem to bother Andreas as he continues to eat away. Sky stares at his father with an unreadable expression before catching my gaze and giving me a tight smile.

"Have you been working in the greenhouse much?" Tavi suddenly says to Stella.

The light fairy jerks ups in surprise, her back straightening into a regal pose when she notices the attention on her. I can tell Pix is somewhat hesitant about her question but is doing her best to reach out to her sister.

Doing so in a public situation somewhat forces Stella's hand but knowing the twins they would continue to avoid the problem until forced to face it head on.

"I have been spending my free periods there, and a few hours after school." Stella answers with a polite nod, but I can see the pride shining in her eyes. "It was tough treating them at first, the wounds were horrific but the benefits far outweigh the suffering, it is truly rewarding at the end of the day."

Terra's not happy. Fenriz whispers, She jealous and upset. The greenhouse was her safe place, she feels as though her home has been invaded by a bully.

A bully who is taking more open pride in work that Terra was doing as a child. I state in a knowing tone.

Progress is progress, we have to start somewhere.

I quite agree, I muse, watching as Stella and Harvey converse about the various patients under their care. Stella is doing an admirable job at becoming a healer. Yet Terra never chose to specify her course of action in the greenhouse.

Yes,Terra has her fingers in many pots. Sometimes plants, sometimes minerals, potions and elixirs. She has a vast amount of knowledge in that head of hers.

"Will Irene be joining us?" Beatrix asks Silva while leaning awkwardly around her adopted brother.

Silva pauses, noticing the way both Andreas and Trixie stare at him with identical expressions of curiosity.

He arches a brow, "Why do you want to know?"

"Because she's the only interesting person here." Bea smirks but I catch the worry hidden behind her deflection.

Silva must catch it too because he sighs and smiles politely at her.

"She shifted back a couple of hours ago and is resting in our room." He winces suddenly, "There was a lot of yelling when she realised Andreas was alive."

Surprisingly Andreas winces before muttering, "That mate of yours always scared me."

Silva smirks but stares at Andreas with an odd expression.

"How was training today?" Octavia asks Sky who looks up from eating his pizza with-

Fucking cutlery?

"I was working on hand to hand combat today, Riven was doing Archery." He gives her a soft smile, "It was pretty good all things considered."

Andreas snorts from beside me, jabbing a carrot stick in my direction.

"It would have been if this one could shoot consistently." He snarks, smirking at me and I tense but pause when I catch a flicker of guilt in his gaze.

Oh. He was teasing.

I roll my eyes but tighten my grip on Pixie's shoulders, feeling her reach up to link our pinkies and I ignore how the three males before us clock the movement. Not really in the mood for their worried judgement.

"I have no doubt you were looking for fault with them." Tavi grumbles as she swipes another slice of pizza.

Andreas snorts, "Indeed I was."

"Andreas." Silva sighs, rubbing at his forehead.

"What?" He asks indignantly and I see Sky grin at his suffering under one of Silva's lectures.

"You weren't even supposed to be teaching, not to mention you are supposed to be laying low until we work out the consequences of-"

"You worry too much." Andreas waves him off, rolling his eyes at Silva to Sky with a wink.

For the first time since they've met Sky smiles at his father and I can see Andreas falter slightly at the move, something breaking in his eyes before he clears his throat and turns back to a still lecturing Silva.

"-and they are children Andreas, they should be treated like children. They have not been raised like we were and our aim is to gradually introduce them to the world outside these walls in a safe-"

"Mon Guierre? Are you lecturing again?"

A/N: How do think Andreas should act about SkyXOctaviaXRiven and of course about the whole SkyxRiven

What are your thoughts on Riven here? Would you like more of these chapters in his POV