heavy soul

a place to breathe

As dawn broke over the horizon, casting warm, dappled light across the school parking lot, Riven leaned against his car, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. A slight breeze tugged at his hair, making him instinctively push it back with his hand. He'd arrived here before the first light touched the pavement, feeling like a kid waiting on a first date. It was strange, but last night had left him restless, a slow burn of something deeper simmering beneath his usual cool detachment.

He couldn't shake the way Ivy had looked at him, her words still echoing in his mind. When I'm with you, it feels like I can actually breathe. Her confession had been raw, vulnerable. He had seen a side of her that felt like an invitation into a world she kept guarded, a glimpse beneath the tough exterior she showed everyone else. And for once, he hadn't felt the need to put up his usual defenses. With Ivy, there was an ease that made him forget his past and the weight of the reputation he carried.

Just as he was about to check his watch, he spotted her approaching. She was wrapped up in a hoodie, hair tousled, looking like she'd just rolled out of bed. There was a sleepy daze in her eyes, and yet, as they met his, something flickered there—a spark that made his pulse quicken. He straightened up, unable to suppress the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Wow," he said, his tone playful but softened with an unspoken warmth. "I didn't think you'd actually get up for this."

Ivy shot him a look, a smirk pulling at her lips.

"Couldn't break your heart already now could i ?" she replied,

her voice still thick with sleep. She nudged him lightly as she reached his side, and he found himself wanting to pull her close, feel her warmth against him in the cool morning air. But he kept his hands in his pockets, letting the moment linger.

They both climbed into his car, the silence between them comfortable, filled with a kind of quiet anticipation. As they pulled out of the school parking lot, Ivy settled back, closing her eyes as if savoring the feeling of freedom stretching before them. The city was still waking up, streets almost empty, the sky a gradient of pale pinks and blues, and Riven felt an unexpected thrill as they drove into the unfolding morning.

"So, where are we headed?" Ivy asked after a while, her voice barely above a whisper, like she didn't want to disturb the peaceful quiet that wrapped around them.

Riven glanced at her, his eyes flickering over her relaxed form.

"You'll see," he said, giving her a grin that matched the glint of mischief in his eyes. Ivy's curiosity piqued, but she didn't press him, just smiled, leaning back again.

They ended up by the lake, the water glistening in the first light of the day, waves lapping softly against the shore. Riven parked the car, and for a moment, they just sat there, watching as the sun climbed higher, the world around them bathed in soft, golden light.

"Come on," Riven said finally, hopping out of the car and walking toward the water. Ivy followed, her footsteps light, almost hesitant, like she was stepping into something sacred. They found a spot on the rocks near the edge of the lake, the breeze cool but not biting, and Riven pulled a small joint from his pocket, holding it out to her.

She raised an eyebrow, a smile breaking across her face as she took it from him.
"A sunrise smoke by the lake? This feels... almost romantic, Riv," she teased, lighting the joint and taking a slow drag before passing it back.

Riven smirked, but there was something softer in his gaze, something unspoken that flickered in the depths of his green eyes.

"Maybe I'm just feeling generous today," he murmured, exhaling a thin trail of smoke into the crisp morning air.

They sat in companionable silence, passing the joint back and forth, watching as the sunlight danced across the surface of the lake. Ivy leaned her head back, eyes closed, and Riven couldn't help but stare, his chest tight as he took in the gentle slope of her shoulders, the way the light caressed her skin. There was something about this moment, this morning—something he didn't want to let slip away.

Eventually, Ivy opened her eyes and turned to him, her gaze soft, searching. "Riven," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you ever... do you ever feel like you're waiting for something? Like, there's this whole part of you that hasn't even started yet, and you're just... stuck?"

Her question caught him off guard, striking something deep within him. He knew what it was like to feel suspended in a life that didn't feel like his own, always trying to outrun something he couldn't name. He looked away, his jaw clenching slightly, trying to find the words.

"Yeah," he admitted after a long moment, his voice low. "It's like... like you're just going through the motions, doing what everyone expects, but none of it feels real. But then sometimes..." He hesitated, glancing back at her, his gaze intense. "Sometimes, you meet someone, or have a moment, and it's like you're alive for the first time."

Ivy's eyes softened, a faint blush rising in her cheeks. She reached out, her fingers brushing his hand. The touch was light, almost tentative, but it felt like a spark, grounding him in that instant. He didn't pull away; instead, he turned his hand over, letting her fingers lace with his, feeling the warmth of her skin against his own.

"Riv," she murmured, her voice almost a breath. "Last night... I meant what I said. You make everything slow down. You make me feel like I can just... be."

The vulnerability in her words, the raw honesty, sent a surge of warmth through him. He tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her a fraction closer, his gaze unwavering. "You don't have to try with me, Ivy," he replied, his voice rough with emotion. "I see you—all of you. And that's enough."

For a moment, they just sat there, tangled in each other's gaze, the world around them fading into nothing. The air between them was charged, filled with something deeper than words could convey, something that felt like fate binding them together in a way that was both terrifying and beautiful.

Slowly, Ivy leaned forward, her eyes never leaving his, and Riven felt his heart race, every fiber of his being attuned to her. When her lips finally met his, it was soft, tentative, a brush of warmth that sent a shiver down his spine. He closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the kiss, feeling the world slip away until there was nothing but her—the taste of her, the feel of her, the quiet promise of this moment.

When they finally pulled apart, Ivy's eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed, and Riven felt an ache in his chest he couldn't explain. She was looking at him with a kind of trust, a depth he hadn't seen before, and he knew, in that instant, that whatever this was between them, it was real. It was something he couldn't let go of.

"Tomorrow," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet conviction, "let's do this again."

Riven nodded, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah," he said, his voice soft. "Tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that."

And as they sat there, the sun climbing higher in the sky, casting them in a golden light, Riven felt a rare kind of peace settle over him, a certainty he hadn't felt in a long time. He didn't know what the future held, but for once, he wasn't afraid. He had Ivy beside him, her hand in his, and in that moment, that was all he needed.

sorry for taking so long i'll keep updating now also guys check my other story with regulus out too