JP - Thanking Riven

“It’s okay, Evie.” Frisk said softly.

Leimomi had not read Evie’s journal. “You can start a new one.”

"O-o-okay…" Evie hiccuped and took the journal, hugging it against her still naked body.

That was when Riven knocked on the door, but did not step in. He merely put his hand through after opening it a little, holding out clothes for Evie. "One of the girls said to give Evie these." He said in a calm tone. "They might be a little big, but it's better than nothing."

Evie recognized that voice and stared at the door in curiosity.

Since Leimomi was closest to the door she got the clothes. “Thank you, Riven.”

Frisk had Evie pretty well covered with bandages and the blanket, but she did wonder what Evie had gone through to not be more self-conscious about being basically naked.

“You’re welcome, Miss Leimomi.” Riven said, starting to leave.

“Wait!” Evie blurted. “C-can you have him come in? Stay by the door, but come in…?”

Riven was silent for a moment. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” He said after a moment.

“Uh, just a minute.” Frisk said, taking the clothes from Leimomi and pulling the privacy curtain. She brought the clothes to Evie to help her get dressed. “Are you sure you’re okay with him being there?” Frisk had never had any problems with Riven, but he was a guy and she already knew what Evei went through the first time she was in MegaCorp and expected more of the same was done to her.

Evie had to be extra slow with her injuries, but they would eventually get her fully dressed. “Y-yes…he…he sounds like…the one that…that saved me.” She stuttered and looked toward the direction of the door. “He…he didn’t try to hurt me at all. He…he was k-kind and didn’t mind Whiskers and…it was just…relieving not to be hurt again. I w-wanna thank him.”

“Okay.” Frisk said, trying to straighten Evie’s hair with her fingers. “His name is Riven.”

“Riv…ven?” She asked, looking in the direction of the door again. “I-is it okay for him to come in now? H-he has to stay at th-the door, but…” She really wanted to thank Riven for what he did. No one else had been brave enough to stand against the bastard who hurt her. No one in that facility, anyway. There were all the things that Thrane had told her, too…horrible things that were engraved in her mind like a spreading poison.

“If you’re okay with him being here. Do you want the curtain open?” Frisk reached for the curtain, then called to Riven. “You can come in, Riven, but you have to stay at the door, okay?”

“That’s fine,” Riven called back and stepped inside. He even kept the door open in case he needed to leave for Evie’s sake.

Evie nodded at Frisk about the curtain and once it was pulled away, she stared at Riven for a very long time. This was the man that had saved her, the one that had been able to get a group of Meta Underground Members into Thrane’s facility and help her. She was very thankful, but a part of her was worried for him. If they got in it was because Thrane wanted them to…

“T-thank…thank you…” She almost whispered the words as fresh tears fell down her pale face.

Frisk returned to Evie’s side and smiled softly. “I take it you helped rescue Evie, Riven?”

Riven shrugged. “I just did what I could to help them break into that place and get her out…” He explained, trying to brush it off as if he’d not done much at all.

“B-but you carried me out of there and t-tolerated Whiskers climbing up you…” Evie interjected shyly.

“It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to help…” Riven grimaced, not used to being praised.

“You got her out. That means a lot.” Frisk told Riven, adjusting Evie’s blankets.

Riven nodded slowly, unable to look at any of them. When it came to things like this, he was strangely shy about it.

“Well, I’m glad you got her out.” Frisk said, giving Evie a gentle hug.

“You’re…uh…welcome.” Riven blushed and ice formed along his neck and dipped down into his shirt as if trying to cool the heat radiating from the blush.

Evie leaned into Frisk as she watched Riven, full of curiosity about him.

“I’ll leave you ladies be for now.” Riven chuckled and slipped out the door, gently closing it on the way.

"Riven is alright." Frisk told Evie, absently checking her vitals again.

Evie was calm about getting her vitals checked, never fighting because the only kindness she ever got was that back in Thrane’s lab. “He seems…kind.” She said and sniffled.

“He is.” Frisk jotted down the vitals on Evie’s chart and handed her a tissue. “How are you feeling now?”

“Calm-ish…? I think…” Evie said and wiped her nose with the tissue. “I’m still…still scared Thrane will...come in and…do horrible things again.”

“He won’t. He can’t get you here in the Meta Underground.” Frisk promised. “This is a safe place.”

“That’s what ev-everyone said about the village…” Evie whimpered.

“The village was betrayed from within.” Frisk said. “No one will do that here.”

“P-p…promise?” Evie asked and looked at the door with worry again.

“Yes.” Frisk promised. “Everyone is going to keep you safe.”

Evie let more tears fall down her face. “I…I…I just…just wanted to go home!” She hiccupped between sobs. “I just wanted to be home! He ruined it! Ruined it!” Sparks began to pop off her, bouncing off metal and walls.

“Evie, listen to me, it’s okay. You’re safe now.” Frisk said, slowly reaching into her medbag.

“Do you remember your breathing exercises?” Leimomi asked gently.