Shock is probably written all over Musa’s face, but there’s no way she can hide it. She wonders for a moment if she’s misheard Bella, but the woman’s cruel smile suggests that she hasn’t.
“I-I don’t understand.”
“Like I said, everything is very simple. The choice you make tells me which lines you’ll cross and which ones you won’t. Option three gives you the option of fucking your partner. All three are valid choices that I will abide by. I will give you some time to think about it, but don’t take too long.”
Musa struggles not to allow her confusion to overwhelm her. In the most basic of definitions, how can her choices be death, potential death or just sex? If it came down to it, Musa would die for Riven, she knows that like she knows her own reflection - just as he would die for her. But she won’t do so if it means leaving him in anguish because he thinks her death is his fault. Option one is a known ending - a terrible one for her, yes, but the cost for Riven is far too much and she won’t pay it even though it means he’s alive in the end.
She could go with Bella even if she knew it was likely she’d die as a result, but the potential ramifications are so high. Musa and her magic could be used as a weapon, killing countless people right along with herself, and Riven would be in danger when he came after her too. And he would come, she’s certain of that as well. Option two is all about the unknown, and even if both of them survived when all was said and done, the cost for others is so high they may never be able to live with it afterwards.
Option three…it seems so benign in comparison to the others. What’s sex in the face of death and ambiguity? Musa isn’t delusional enough to believe that there won’t be any fallout if she takes this option, but only she and Riven would go through it. And their partnership is strong enough to weather a little awkwardness, isn’t it? Her eyes flick to him once again, and she wants to entwine her fingers with his; wishes she could find the reassurance she so often finds staring back at her. Instead there’s only the empty shell of her partner that blankly watches her in return, but it’s enough to remind her what’s important. Still, she needs to be sure of a few things first.
“So let me make sure I understand you. If I choose the third option, are you going to be controlling him the whole time? Will he know what’s happening, will he remember it?” A sudden shiver runs through her as she thinks about what might happen. It’ll be bad enough that none of this is really his choice, but Musa doesn’t know if she could even do this if he continued to stare at her with those emotionless eyes.
“I’ll release him from my control, but only if you tie him securely first. He’ll experience and remember it just the way you will. I believe you’ll cooperate now that you’ve seen how easily I can make him kill himself, but I’m not interested in relinquishing my hold only for him to grab some hidden weapon and attack. And I do mean that you securely tie him, Musa. Are we clear on those terms?”
Musa nods, slightly relieved even as she wonders if Bella is aware of the knife strapped to her thigh after all. “Yes, we’re clear. And you’re really going to go away and leave us alone after?”
“Yes. You have my word that I’ll be finished with the both of you. Have you made your choice then?”
She has, but she stays silent for a few moments longer, allowing the decision to settle over her. There’s no real way to know if Bella is telling the truth about leaving them alone, but for some reason Musa feels like the crazy woman means it. The last scenario feels like the right choice even as the anxiety brewing in her stomach churns faster, and her answer is breathy when she finally gives it, unable to actually put into words what she’s planning to do to her partner.
“Yes. I choose the third option.”
“I thought you might, but I have enjoyed watching you wrestle with your conscience, Musa.”
The desire to swiftly grab her knife and throw it directly into Bella’s forehead is powerful, and Musa could do it within the space of a heartbeat but it would be too risky to Riven so she imagines it instead, briefly closing her eyes to savor the mental image.
“It’s getting later.” At Bella’s abrupt comment, Riven stands up from the bed and changes his hold on the knife, the tip pointing downwards as Riven’s arms cross his torso. Before Musa realizes exactly what’s happening, Riven has his t-shirt pulled over his head and tossed onto the floor. Seconds later he sheds his gray joggers, leaving him only in his boxer-briefs. Musa turns her head towards the window, attempting to regulate her breathing. She’s seen him in his underwear before; impossible not to when they so often share tight quarters on their missions. Even so, this time is different. This time she knows what’s coming next.
“I know your uniforms have belts and straps. Get some to tie him to the bed, and remember that if you try anything, the knife will be across his throat again but much deeper this time.”
Musa nods again and scoots to the edge of the bed. The floor is cold beneath her bare feet, and there’s no hiding the knife strapped to her thigh even in the meager moonlight still streaming through the window. Hopefully the smaller one beneath her pillow is still a secret. Musa gestures towards her leg slowly.
“I’m going to unstrap this and drop it into my bag, alright? My uniform is in it and it’s against the wall there.”
“I see it. And I know you’re going to be very careful about this, aren’t you Musa? We wouldn’t want any unfortunate damage to occur.”
“No, we don’t want that.”
Musa reaches her duffle bag and bends down to reach inside. It takes a minute to untangle the straps she needs and unclip the ends from her uniform, but when she’s finished she’s satisfied that she’ll be able to tie Riven as securely as Bella has demanded. Taking the knife off leaves her feeling more defenseless than she expects, considering she’s an accomplished fighter even without weapons, and the chill from the floor travels up through her body, leaving her covered in goosebumps. She stands awkwardly near the side of the bed, lifting up the straps that dangle from her fingers, waiting for her next instructions.
It shouldn’t be a surprise when Riven climbs onto the bed, but something within her starts to feel frantic when he lies on his back in the middle of the mattress, heedless of the wrinkled sheets as he stretches his arms up over his head and towards the rickety metal headboard.
“Go ahead and tie him up, Musa. Wrists together and looped twice through the spindles.”
In order to reach Musa has to get onto the bed as well, her knees bumping Riven’s torso as she leans over him and makes quick work of the knots. She’s secured plenty of prisoners before, but never Riven, and she deliberately tries to avoid looking down at him when she’s finished.
“Move off the bed, Musa. I’m going to have Riven test the restraints, just to make sure you’ve followed my orders.”
Musa does as Bella asks but it’s impossible not to watch as her partner starts to struggle within the bonds she’s made. Riven is deceptively strong, and there is a chance he could snap the straps if any of them have worn down during the time she’s used them. Their uniforms don’t last forever, and specialists tend to be hard on their equipment. Maybe Bella hasn’t thought it through, because if Riven wasn’t taken over by a Blood Witch, it would be easy for him to use his strength and flexibility to lift his legs up and over his head, putting force onto the headboard with his feet. If he pushed and wiggled long enough, he could work the headboard loose from the bedframe, and then carry it to the door for an escape, using it as a weapon until he could cut through the straps. Musa doesn’t say any of that though; Riven won’t have any desire to escape as long as Bella is controlling his actions, and even when she releases him, Musa can’t let him escape, at least until her part of the bargain is fulfilled.
“I’m satisfied. Now I suppose it’s your turn to be.” Bella cackles that strange, grating giggle once more, seemingly pleased with herself and her horrible joke, but Musa is too abruptly nervous to be angry. Riven is solidly tied to the bed and he’s breathing heavily, and everything feels devastatingly all-too-real.
“Take off your clothes, Musa. Time for you to do your part.”
Re: Riven X Musa + Fuck or Die (TW: non/dub con) PART THREE
“I-I don’t understand.”
“Like I said, everything is very simple. The choice you make tells me which lines you’ll cross and which ones you won’t. Option three gives you the option of fucking your partner. All three are valid choices that I will abide by. I will give you some time to think about it, but don’t take too long.”
Musa struggles not to allow her confusion to overwhelm her. In the most basic of definitions, how can her choices be death, potential death or just sex? If it came down to it, Musa would die for Riven, she knows that like she knows her own reflection - just as he would die for her. But she won’t do so if it means leaving him in anguish because he thinks her death is his fault. Option one is a known ending - a terrible one for her, yes, but the cost for Riven is far too much and she won’t pay it even though it means he’s alive in the end.
She could go with Bella even if she knew it was likely she’d die as a result, but the potential ramifications are so high. Musa and her magic could be used as a weapon, killing countless people right along with herself, and Riven would be in danger when he came after her too. And he would come, she’s certain of that as well. Option two is all about the unknown, and even if both of them survived when all was said and done, the cost for others is so high they may never be able to live with it afterwards.
Option three…it seems so benign in comparison to the others. What’s sex in the face of death and ambiguity? Musa isn’t delusional enough to believe that there won’t be any fallout if she takes this option, but only she and Riven would go through it. And their partnership is strong enough to weather a little awkwardness, isn’t it? Her eyes flick to him once again, and she wants to entwine her fingers with his; wishes she could find the reassurance she so often finds staring back at her. Instead there’s only the empty shell of her partner that blankly watches her in return, but it’s enough to remind her what’s important. Still, she needs to be sure of a few things first.
“So let me make sure I understand you. If I choose the third option, are you going to be controlling him the whole time? Will he know what’s happening, will he remember it?” A sudden shiver runs through her as she thinks about what might happen. It’ll be bad enough that none of this is really his choice, but Musa doesn’t know if she could even do this if he continued to stare at her with those emotionless eyes.
“I’ll release him from my control, but only if you tie him securely first. He’ll experience and remember it just the way you will. I believe you’ll cooperate now that you’ve seen how easily I can make him kill himself, but I’m not interested in relinquishing my hold only for him to grab some hidden weapon and attack. And I do mean that you securely tie him, Musa. Are we clear on those terms?”
Musa nods, slightly relieved even as she wonders if Bella is aware of the knife strapped to her thigh after all. “Yes, we’re clear. And you’re really going to go away and leave us alone after?”
“Yes. You have my word that I’ll be finished with the both of you. Have you made your choice then?”
She has, but she stays silent for a few moments longer, allowing the decision to settle over her. There’s no real way to know if Bella is telling the truth about leaving them alone, but for some reason Musa feels like the crazy woman means it. The last scenario feels like the right choice even as the anxiety brewing in her stomach churns faster, and her answer is breathy when she finally gives it, unable to actually put into words what she’s planning to do to her partner.
“Yes. I choose the third option.”
“I thought you might, but I have enjoyed watching you wrestle with your conscience, Musa.”
The desire to swiftly grab her knife and throw it directly into Bella’s forehead is powerful, and Musa could do it within the space of a heartbeat but it would be too risky to Riven so she imagines it instead, briefly closing her eyes to savor the mental image.
“It’s getting later.” At Bella’s abrupt comment, Riven stands up from the bed and changes his hold on the knife, the tip pointing downwards as Riven’s arms cross his torso. Before Musa realizes exactly what’s happening, Riven has his t-shirt pulled over his head and tossed onto the floor. Seconds later he sheds his gray joggers, leaving him only in his boxer-briefs. Musa turns her head towards the window, attempting to regulate her breathing. She’s seen him in his underwear before; impossible not to when they so often share tight quarters on their missions. Even so, this time is different. This time she knows what’s coming next.
“I know your uniforms have belts and straps. Get some to tie him to the bed, and remember that if you try anything, the knife will be across his throat again but much deeper this time.”
Musa nods again and scoots to the edge of the bed. The floor is cold beneath her bare feet, and there’s no hiding the knife strapped to her thigh even in the meager moonlight still streaming through the window. Hopefully the smaller one beneath her pillow is still a secret. Musa gestures towards her leg slowly.
“I’m going to unstrap this and drop it into my bag, alright? My uniform is in it and it’s against the wall there.”
“I see it. And I know you’re going to be very careful about this, aren’t you Musa? We wouldn’t want any unfortunate damage to occur.”
“No, we don’t want that.”
Musa reaches her duffle bag and bends down to reach inside. It takes a minute to untangle the straps she needs and unclip the ends from her uniform, but when she’s finished she’s satisfied that she’ll be able to tie Riven as securely as Bella has demanded. Taking the knife off leaves her feeling more defenseless than she expects, considering she’s an accomplished fighter even without weapons, and the chill from the floor travels up through her body, leaving her covered in goosebumps. She stands awkwardly near the side of the bed, lifting up the straps that dangle from her fingers, waiting for her next instructions.
It shouldn’t be a surprise when Riven climbs onto the bed, but something within her starts to feel frantic when he lies on his back in the middle of the mattress, heedless of the wrinkled sheets as he stretches his arms up over his head and towards the rickety metal headboard.
“Go ahead and tie him up, Musa. Wrists together and looped twice through the spindles.”
In order to reach Musa has to get onto the bed as well, her knees bumping Riven’s torso as she leans over him and makes quick work of the knots. She’s secured plenty of prisoners before, but never Riven, and she deliberately tries to avoid looking down at him when she’s finished.
“Move off the bed, Musa. I’m going to have Riven test the restraints, just to make sure you’ve followed my orders.”
Musa does as Bella asks but it’s impossible not to watch as her partner starts to struggle within the bonds she’s made. Riven is deceptively strong, and there is a chance he could snap the straps if any of them have worn down during the time she’s used them. Their uniforms don’t last forever, and specialists tend to be hard on their equipment. Maybe Bella hasn’t thought it through, because if Riven wasn’t taken over by a Blood Witch, it would be easy for him to use his strength and flexibility to lift his legs up and over his head, putting force onto the headboard with his feet. If he pushed and wiggled long enough, he could work the headboard loose from the bedframe, and then carry it to the door for an escape, using it as a weapon until he could cut through the straps. Musa doesn’t say any of that though; Riven won’t have any desire to escape as long as Bella is controlling his actions, and even when she releases him, Musa can’t let him escape, at least until her part of the bargain is fulfilled.
“I’m satisfied. Now I suppose it’s your turn to be.” Bella cackles that strange, grating giggle once more, seemingly pleased with herself and her horrible joke, but Musa is too abruptly nervous to be angry. Riven is solidly tied to the bed and he’s breathing heavily, and everything feels devastatingly all-too-real.
“Take off your clothes, Musa. Time for you to do your part.”