Creve Coeur | Ahri x Male Reader

Chapter 11: A Much Needed Talk

(Name) POV

Music blared in my ears as cool autumn air softly blew against my exposed skin.

My eyes instinctively teared up and closed to protect themselves from the cold breeze. Forcing them open, I wiped the tears away and let out a soft breath.

Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I hummed along to the song that was playing through my ear buds.

Squinting my eyes, I read the sign of a cafe in the distance and sped up.

'"The Rift", eh?' I thought to myself and stepped up to the door.

Pushing the door open, I entered the establishment and felt a sudden wave of drowsiness wash over me as the warm air hit me. Reaching towards my ears, I took my earbuds out and stopped the music, putting them away.

"(Name)!" A familiar voice called out.

Turning to where it came from, I saw the reason of me being here.

I trudged over to the booth and slid across from Ahri, who's cheeks were dusted with pink.

"Uh, I ordered you some coffee, just how you like it." She told me with a small smile, sliding a cup over to me and taking a sip from her own.

"Thanks." I muttered, eagerly taking the cup and bringing it to my lips.

"So.." She started, staring at the table. "About that talk.."

I didn't respond for a few seconds, for I was too busy inhaling my coffee.

"Ahri," she jumped in her seat at my words, "do you like me?"

She was silent and furrowed her brows as if she was thinking it over.

My gaze drifted over to the window.

The sky was a multitude of beautiful colors. The sight of it almost initiated a daydream, but I was torn from my thoughts.

"No."

I looked at her from the corner of my eye.

"I don't know.." She continued. "I don't...think so..I hope not.." She whispered the last part, but it wasn't hard for me to hear it.

My eyes narrowed. "So the kiss meant nothing then?"

She shrunk in on herself and stared at the table, extremely embarrassed. "Y-Yes...I mean No! I mean..I don't know.."

I stared her down seriously before cracking a small smile. "I'm just messing with you."

She looked a bit confused at first, but then she reciprocated my smile with a shaky one of her own.

"I'll be honest with you," I began and she perked up, "I don't think I like you in a romantic way, and even if I did.." She leaned forward in anticipation. "I don't think I could do a relationship right now."

She fell back into her seat with a relieved sigh. "Thank god!"

"Wow, am I that unattractive to you?"

"W-what?! No, that's not what I meant! I just...relationships aren't it."

"I'll drink to that." I spoke, rising my cup.

She laughed softly, rising hers as well. We tapped the cups together and then took a sip.

"So what does this make us?" She asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Well...we are..." She then noticed the shit-eating grin I wore. "Farmers, bum badum bum bum bum bum."

She glared at me, though I could tell she was holding back laughter. "That's...not funny. You would think you'd have better humor considering you aren't that cute." She teased with a small grin.

"Cute enough for you to kiss me, obviously." I muttered, resting my chin in my hand.

"(Name)!"

"I'm kidding!"

I wasn't.

"If you don't mind me asking, why is it that you avoid relationships? Was it like a bad experience?" I asked her, genuinely curious.

Ahri stared at her cup, twirling it around and watching the liquid inside move. "Uh...promise you won't tell anyone?"

Rolling my eyes, I nodded. "I promise I won't tell anyone."

She bit her lip and finally relented. "My parents, my Dad more specifically, he uh...as kids, we always think our parents relationships are perfect, that they'll love each other and be together forever. Some times, that is the case, but other times..." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "My Dad was the picture perfect person, he loved me and my mother very much. But then came the fights...the yelling...the split."

I gasped softly, her situation was...

"They tried their absolute best to stay together for me, but sometimes you drive a car and lose control...into poles." Her hands gripped the table tightly. "There was another woman in the picture, and I guess he got tired of dealing with us, so he packed his bags, and left. Didn't even tell me goodbye. I haven't seen him in a while." She finished explaining.

I sat there with an unreadable expression. "So...you-"

"Mhmm." She didn't even let me finish. "I stay away from relationships because the one relationship I depended on as a child was destroyed right in front me. I just don't want to be hurt. My Mom is the strongest person that I know, but even me as a kid could tell how torn up she was."

I was stunned.

Our situations...were kind of similar.

"My Mom and Dad split up too." I finally said after a few seconds of tense silence, gaining her attention.

"Really?" She asked in a small voice.

"Really." I confirmed. "My Dad owns a fashion brand, and he isn't exactly home a lot. Hell, he's probably across the world talking up some secretary right now."

She cracked a small smile at my attempt of humor.

"When I was younger, my Mom just kind of walked out on me with no explanation. I was a kid left alone in that house for who knows how long before my Dad found out and sent my Aunt over."

Ahri reached over the table, placing her hand atop mine and gave me a smile.

"There was...a lot of drama after that. Fights, arguments, legal issues, the whole nine yards, but eventually, it was agreed that Aunt Jade would take care of me until I graduated from high school. I owe her everything."

"Are you still in contact with your Dad?" She asked.

Normally, a question like that would make me mad, but for some reason, this time it didn't.

"Yeah, yeah I am." I answered her question. "I actually talked to him yesterday. He tries his best even though he can't be here physically."

Ahri nodded, her smile dropping as did her gaze. "(Name)?"

"Hmm?"

"Does it ever get easier?" Her question caught me off guard, but the answer was an easy one.

"Not at all." I replied honestly. "You just get used to it after a while."

She seemingly accepted the answer and leaned back in her seat. "Hey...are we still friends after what happened?"

I snorted in amusement and reached over the table, patting head between her ears. "I just told you my origin story, we better be friends."

Her mood brightened a bit as she sat up straight. "So...we're good?"

Chuckling softly, I nodded and answered her question. "Yes Ahri-"

I flashed her a reassuring grin.

"-we're good."