RIVER

River was wrapped in her blanket, her lips parted and her hair covering half her face with the moonlight illuminating her face with a soft glow. The door to her bedroom slowly creaked open and soft footsteps padded towards her bed. "River" Rio whispered as he gently nudged her shoulder.

River woke up instantly and perched herself up by leaning on her elbows as she looked at Rio with furrowed brows. "You good buddy?" River asked in concern, the moonlight shining directly on his face revealing his tear struck face and puffy eyes.

Rio's eyes started to tear up but no tears fell, "can i sleep with you?" he asked quietly, looking down at his feet as if he was ashamed that he was even asking such a question. River chose not to ask questions, knowing if he wanted to talk about it he would. She smiled gently at him and patted the empty spot next to her.

Rio slowly lifted the blanket up and manoeuvered himself into her bed. He laid on his back and stared at the ceiling "i had a nightmare" he whispered, his voice shaking ever so slightly. But River noticed. "About what?" River whispered back gently, Rio bit his lip harshly, trying not to cry again. He sniffled before he spoke "my mom"

"what happened in it?" River looked at him "she came home... the same way she did... that day. and she greeted me and hugged me then told me to go to bed. I couldn't sleep so i went to ask her when she was coming, and she was there, holding that... tube. But instead she stood up and poured it down the sink. I asked her what it was... and she told me it was nothing and not to worry. we went to bed and when i woke up... everything was normal."

"except... i felt different, like... something was off, something was missing. And it was you... i never met you and nothing was the same." Rio finished, finally getting the courage to look River in the eyes. Rivers eyes softened at his words, her heart swelling with an unfamiliar feeling.

"i know... that you probably think my mom was really good. That she loved me and protected me from everything. and she did... i think she did love me... but she didn't let me leave the house, I used to ask her why and she would say that it was too dangerous... she didn't want anything bad happening to me. But one night, i got sick of it, so i snuck out."

"when i came back. She was sitting in the couch. She looked at me and i was instantly terrified. There was something different about her. She used to look at me like she loved me... but since that night . Every time she looked at me i was terrified? i was scared that she was going to do something to me. I was scared to fall asleep knowing she was next to me... i was scared to eat the food she gave me or drink water because she would watch me, with a... a smile that wasn't her usual smile... i don't know."

"And then one night, i had this weird feeling that she was hiding something from me, and for some reason... the first thing i did was look underneath the couch. And there was... those same glass tubes under there. More than i could count. I tried to forget about it... but then that night that she... that night was the fist time that she didn't have that weird look in her eyes, she smiled at me and it felt nice, that was the first time she'd told me she loved me in months."

Tears rolled down Rio's cheeks, River was in shock. There was a terrifying gut feeling that she had, for some reason what that man had said to her kept on replaying in her mind... it was something bigger than she thought, if Rio's mother had been taking them for months and she didn't die straight away... what was it doing to her? Why did they make her whole personality and demeanour change. Why did she go back to normal before she died?

"i'm so sorry Rio. I'm so sorry that you had to go through that" River looked at him, Rio sniffled again "i don't really remember when you found me... but i remember that you looked scared when i told you my name" Rio told her in a questioning tone, River sighed and nodded her head.

"why were you scared?" he asked "my brothers name was Rio" River muttered "was?" "yeah... he died along side my parents." River dreaded talking about Rio "how did they die?" Rio asked her, River sighed "uh, enforcers... some random people had done something up topside, but... the enforcers couldn't find the culprits so they chose my family... they left me alive to send a message to never mess with them. To make sure i feared them" River explained.

"what were they like?" "Rio was the best brother, he protected me my whole life, taught me everything i know. Taught me how to break the cycle." River smiled softly as she thought about him "what about your parents?" Rio innocently asked, River furrowed her eyebrows and her smile dropped "let's go to bed now, huh?" River looked at him and smiled softly, Rio nodded his head.

"hey" River murmured, "you don't ever have to be embarrassed to ask to sleep with me ok? you don't even have to ask, just get in the bed. But i'm always here if you need to talk... i get nightmares too, I understand but just know i'm proud of you, ok bud?" River turned to him, speaking softly, her words like a blanket of safety, wrapping protectively around Rio.

Rio didn't say anything and instead moved closer to her, leaning his head onto her shoulder. River putting her head on top of his. "Thank you River" Rio said before falling asleep. River's eye brows knitted together as thoughts plagued her mind, making sure that she would not be able fall back asleep.

She couldn't stop thinking about what Rio had told her, she knew that she had to stop the serum from evolving, she didn't understand what it was or what it did. But it was ruining people's lives, ruining people. Leaving innocent kids alone to fend for themselves, kids like Rio, kids who had to watch their loved one fade away and leaving them terrified until one day they're just... gone.

it wasn't fair and River intended to fight for justice and give anyone involved with it, what they deserved.

.

River woke up to someone blowing on her face gently, her eyes fluttered open and her brows knitted together in confusion upon seeing Jinx standing above her with a cheeky smile playing on her lips. "Hey Star" she hopped into the bed and flopped back on top of River. River threw her head back and rubbed her face continuously as an attempt to wake herself up.

Jinx turned her body so instead she was on her belly and her top half rested on River, Jinx raised her hand and traced Rivers sharp jawline with her finger delicately, River looking down at her before Jinx then gently brushed away Rivers hair out of her face. Jinx cocked her head as she stared at River who was still half asleep.

"how do you look so pretty when you've just woken up?" Jinxed whispered as her pointer finger gently traced all of Rivers features "hm?" River hummed, not quite hearing what Jinx had said. Jinx smiled at her "nothing" "ok" River muttered "Caspian wanted me to tell you that he took Rio to go get some breakfast for everyone" Jinx informed, only just remembering why she was waking River up in the first place, feeling slightly bad after Caspian had told her that River usually would struggle with nightmares and always lacked proper sleep.

River nodded her head tiredly, rubbing her eyes "alright" River replied, she knew that Rio was in good hands with Caspian. She trusted him with her life, she knew he'd never let anything bad happen to Rio. River lifted up the blanket for Jinx to get into, Jinx slipped under the blanket and pulled herself closer to River.

Resting her leg over the top of Rivers legs and putting her head on Rivers chest. Jinx herself still dressed in old sweatpants and a t-shirt. River brought her hand up to Jinx's head and started to gently run her fingers through the roots of Jinx's hair. Her hair still in plats but them being extremely loose and about to fall out.

As River caressed Jinx's waist gently with her hand and massaging her scalp she couldn't help but let sleep overtake her. Embracing the soothing touches and Rivers warm body. But most of all, embracing the fact that it was River doing it. It wouldn't feel natural with anyone else, but there never would be anyone else.

Not even in a lifetime when River wasn't in it, because Jinx was certain that she would still feel an emptiness in her heart, that no other person could fill. That a lifetime without River in it, wouldn't be her life.

Jinx and River's breaths went in sync together, their heartbeats matching each other's rhythm and there chest's rising and falling at the same time. A incomprehensible feeling that only the luckiest people got the privilege to experience. Caspian and Rio had came back and quietly opened Rivers door, the two smiled knowingly when they saw Jinx and River entangled in each other's hold.

Caspian gestured for Rio to follow him to the living room, making sure to quietly close the door behind them and letting the two rest together in a rare peace. "What about there food" Rio asked "they can eat it later, when they wake up" Caspian smiled "they always do that type of stuff, and then i ask about it and they both say that they're just friends" Rio rolled his eyes and slight annoyance.

Caspian chuckled at his words, "they've always been like that, and trust me... it's always been very frustrating for the people around them who have to witness the lovey looks and cuddling just to hear them say there only friends" Caspian shook his head as he chuckled deeply.

"how long have you known River?" Rio asked Caspian "since she was twelve sooo... six years" Caspian nodded his head as he thought back to when they first had became friends. He couldn't help finding the way they became friends funny, him basically finding a random girl who was fun to annoy to him being prepared to sacrifice himself for her at any given moment, though he would never actually tell her that piece of information.

She would 100% tease him for it but in the end she would do the same for him. Just because they didn't tell each other didn't mean they didn't know.

"wait... so River and Powder have been friends for that long too?" Rio asked Caspian, Caspian nodding his head as an answer "and they're still not together" Rio pointed out, Caspian chuckled "sadly not, but they sure act like they are." Caspian commented. "So..." Rio wiggled his brows at Caspian, "what?" "who's your person huh?" Rio asked, Caspian blushed in embarrassment at the question.

"or are you lonely and sad" Rio chuckled at his own words "neither" Caspian crossed his arms over his chest and looked away from Rio. "Lame" Rio rolled his eyes and leant back into the couch. "bro how is that lame?" Caspian threw his hands up "you're a grown man and you have no life" Rio cocked his head and smirked.

"How the fuck would you know huh? ccts hmmg your a little boy and your only friend is River. That's just sad" Caspian responded "And how is that a bad thing" Rio smirked, Caspian groaned and leant into the couch. Rio chuckled and looked away as well.

"Ok they have to wake up now, i'm dying or boredom!" River said dramatically and walked to Rover's bedroom door. He didn't bother knocking, opening the door and seeing the two still fast asleep.
Jinx was now fully on top of River, her face buried in the crook of Rivers neck.

While Rivers arms were wrapped firmly around Powder, Rio couldn't help but smile, instead of doing the decent thing of quietly telling them to wake up and nudging them, instead running and jumping on top of the two. He's extra weight going on top of River who already had Jinx completely on her.

River instantly woke up and groaned, once her eyes were opened she saw Rio on top of Jinx, who had woken up from it as well, staring down at her with a large grin, "get the fuck off" River grumbled "aren't you nice" Rio said with an attitude and pushed himself off the two.

Jinx was still half asleep and had only just realised that she was on top of River and Rivers arms were wrapped securely around her, Jinx quickly got off River and sat next to her, her face was beat red out of embarrassment, she couldn't help but look at River just to see she was already looking at her with a smirk in her face.

Jinx quickly looked away which made River chuckle, Rio noticed the exchange and his face scrunched up in disgust "gross" he shook his head and walked out of the room, River sat up straight and ran her fingers through her hair to try and fix how messy it was.

The two finally exited the room, Caspian and Rio started to clap dramatically "finally awake" they spoke in sync, it being clear that they had practiced before hand, "du ser ut som en dritt" (you look like shit) River randomly said to Caspian, Caspian's face scrunched up in confusion and offence, "fuck you, your so random" Caspian shook his head and threw he bag of food at River, containing two sandwiches.

Rive laughed as she handed Jinx one of the wrapped sandwiches, Jinx instantly opening it up and taking a bite happily, River went over to the fridge and put her food in it, Jinx looked at her with a questioning gaze, "i'm not hungry right now, i'll eat it later thought River reassured. Jinx nodding her head unsurely.

Her and Caspian exchanging looks, her looking at him in confusion, Caspian giving her look that basically said he would tell her later.

She walked over to Rio and sat next to him on the couch, she tapped his knee with the back of her hand making him look at her "you ok?" River whispered, Caspian and Jinx too busy having their own conversation "yeah" he whispered back with a small smile. The group all enjoyed the innocent bliss of all eating together while sharing light hearted conversation, the sun lighting the room up with a golden hue.

River couldn't help but stare at Powder as she spoke, her presence lighting up the room with her bright smile, and the way she would move her hands passionately as she spoke, sitting on the kitchen counter with her legs swinging back and forth, each freckle seeming as it was being lit up by the sun.

"stop staring at her"

authors note
kinda ended it rushed but hopefully it's not too bad...
anyways i just loveee River and Rio, they have such a cute little relationship 🥰
buttt what's your thoughts and opinions about this story so far?
any predictions about the future or suggestions about what you would hope to happen? i would love to hear themmm! ❤️