ARISTOS ACHAION // Awesamdude X Reader

23

Alone in your cell, you couldn't stop thinking about what Ceres had said in the dining hall. There was no denying the truth in their words - in an environment like the one here in the colosseum, there was no escaping the inevitability of death. For as immortal as any of the champions seemed - even Ceres - you were living proof that they could still be brought down. No one was safe, prisoners least of all.

You had been so ready to die when you had first come here. From the moment that guard's hand had clapped around your wrist, you had almost completely given up, thinking it was the end. It should have been - Diana had killed hundreds before you had entered the ring. But here you were, with two champions blood on your hands.

Even if Ceres killed you now, you would die a killer.

It hadn't seemed so bad when you had watched Vesapasian's face change as Prosperine had died, but now, when you considered that both Diana and Prosperine had started in the same position you were in...

They had just been trying to survive, same as anyone else. They just had happened to be some of the lucky few who made it.

You turned over on your cot, staring at the three empty beds that you shared the cell with. You were honestly surprised that you were still sleeping on your own now that there had been such an influx of prisoners, but you thought that Sam might have had something to do about that, being the warden and all. Even when you weren't on the best terms he still looked out for you. You appreciated the thought, but you would have given anything for the white noise of someone else breathing right now - anything to distract you from your thoughts.

Anything to stop the memory of Diana's blood dripping down your arm from playing over and over in your head.

Giving up on sleep, you rose from your cot, wandering over to the cell door, trying the bars. You were sure that it was locked, but it was at least worth the attempt-

The door swung open with a groan, leaving you staring out at the rest of the cells lining the hall in front of you.

Well then.

You slipped out of your cell, careful to close the door so that no suspicion would be aroused, but not lock it so that you could get back in. It was after that that you hesitated - you didn't have anywhere to go. The only places you knew how to get to were the dining hall and the training room, neither of which you were particularly interested in visiting.

You could always find your way to the arena too, but you weren't sure if the scent of blood on the sand would calm your mind. Though, some open air might help.

You turned right, finding your way to the hallway that would take you to the vestibule before the sand.

The walk wasn't long, and soon enough you were stepping out into the moonlight, the familiar feeling of the white sand scraping against your feet. Above you, the moon shone down into the ring, casting the tall pillars and terraced seats in a silver glow - different than you were used to. It was almost like a different place now, an alternate version of the death sentence that it was during the day.

Even with the change in lighting though, it only took you a moment to notice him sitting there, eyes focused on the moon.

Sam also looked different in the moonlight. Maybe it was the fact that he had his head resting between his knees as he sat, but he seemed smaller, curled up in the center of the arena. The dim light made shadows stretch across his face, accentuating the sharpest points. As always though, his green eyes shone bright.

You had been right to call him handsome those weeks ago when you had first arrived - even though you had disliked him then, there was no denying it. He looked so pensive out there under the moonlight, like some statue made by one of the great artists. He made a beautiful picture, surrounded by the pillars of the colosseum, his eyes drawn up to the stars.

You hovered by the archway of the vestibule for a moment, unsure if you wanted to make yourself known. If you turned back now, you could be back to your cell without anyone ever knowing you left.

That would mean returning to the recesses of your mind though - not something you were too keen on doing. You had slipped away to calm your thoughts, after all.

On the other hand, you weren't too keen on making yourself known either, with the strange ice that had bloomed between you and Sam. You were unsure if he would be as lenient as he had before now that you had snapped at him - even though you were on speaking terms, that didn't mean you were on 'I'll-allow-you-to-be-out-of-your-cell' terms.

It would be a chance to talk to him though. Without interruption. You wanted to apologize - you hadn't, when he had found you in the training room earlier, and you should have. You hadn't been thinking when you'd gotten upset, and it wasn't his fault for any of it-

"You don't have to stand there."

Your attention was drawn back out to Sam, expecting to meet those green eyes. He hadn't turned around though, still staring up at the sky. It was clear that he expected you to join him now though.

You stepped out of the vestibule and made your way across the sand until you were standing next to him. Sam looked up at you now, simply smoothing the sand beside him, a silent invitation to sit down. You did, settling down onto the ground.

The sand was soft beneath you - something you hadn't noticed before, though you had been in the arena twice now. Then, it had seemed rough.