ARISTOS ACHAION // Awesamdude X Reader

25

Things righted themselves between you and Sam after that - in fact, you might have gone as far to say that things were better than before, now that you were both on the same page entirely.

You got back to training as soon as you could, working on your spearwork even without Sam present, doing everything you could to make sure you were in peak condition before you stepped into the ring to face Ceres. Looking back, it was amazing how much progress you had made since your first session - and how much progress you were continuing to make, under Sam's guidance.

You were a big fan of this new reward system he was using to teach you - instead of pats on the back and encouraging words, successes were rewarded with sweet kisses that made your head spin.

You hadn't realized how much of a kiss-fiend Sam would become after you had shared your first under the moonlight. It seemed that at every opportunity - be it behind doorways or in secluded rooms away from prying eyes - he would insistently press his lips to yours. It wasn't just the kisses either - he would catch your hand for a split second if you passed him in the halls while he was on duty, or conveniently drop in during your mealtimes. You loved the attention of course, but it was bittersweet.

You knew why he was doing it all. Your fight with Ceres was no longer in the distant future - and if you died, those fleeting moments would be all he ever got.

So you trained, and kissed him back as hard as you could.

Though in reality, it had been about a week, it seemed like only a day or two later you found yourself back in the vestibule on the edge of the arena, your new spear in hand as you waited under the archway. You had opted out of armor again - you were more used to fighting without it, and it would just make you slower - so you could feel the breeze on your skin as it swept the clouds by overhead.

You breathed in deeply, tasting the fresh air. If you did meet your end today, it wouldn't be a terrible day to die.

A hand on your lower back brought you back down to earth. Sam. He was dressed in his warden's finery again, his trident in hand as he took his place by your side, like he had time and time before. He really didn't have to at this point - you wouldn't be trying to escape, or need a push into the arena. Still, you weren't surprised that he was here.

"Hello Sam." You said, offering up a smile.

He smiled thinly back down at you. "Hello Y/N."

You just looked at him for a moment - eyes mapping out the planes of his face for the possible last time, memorizing the gentle slope of his smile and the sparkle of his god given green eyes. He really was so handsome - even when you hadn't known him you had thought so, and you had been right. Reaching a hand up, you cupped his jaw, just running a thumb over his cheekbone.

"This feels awfully sad." You whispered.

"Well, it could be." Sam returned. "It depends on how the next hour or so goes."

Nerves swirled in your gut at his words. Your gaze turned out towards the crowd for a moment, watching as the seats filled. The caesar was in his box again, talking to one of his officials while he waited for the populous of the city to file in. He fully expected Ceres to kill you, you were sure of it. After you had killed two of his champions, he would be loathe to lose his best.

You turned back to Sam, dropping your hand from his face. He didn't let you go far though, catching your hand in his free one and squeezing gently. The motion brought you back to that night under the moon. Even though it was the same sand you had sat on, it felt like an entirely different place in your mind.

"Sam," You started. "If I do lose-"

"No." He cut you off, something clenching in his jaw. "You won't lose. We've worked so hard for this - you won't lose. You want it, don't you?"

Did you want to kill Ceres? It was a difficult question to answer - you would have preferred never to kill anyone again. But if the options were between killing to live and dying in the gruesome way you had seen so many go before, the answer was simple. It was even easier knowing that Vesapasian would lament the loss of his best killer... and knowing that you had someone to live for...

"I do." You said.

"Then you'll kill Ceres." Sam said, sounding all too sure of himself. The hand that had been holding yours dropped, going to grab at your spear and pull it from your hand instead.

You let him, confused. "What-"

Sam pressed his trident into your hand, letting go to curl your fingers around the handle. "It's not too different from a spear." He said. "And the power in it will help you have a fighting chance out there."

You looked from him to the weapon in your hand - a gift given to him by the gods. You could feel the energy of it tingling in your fingertips. This was easily the most powerful thing you had ever held.

You didn't get too long to savor the feeling though before Sam was drawing your attention back to him, pressing his forehead to yours. "You'll live." He said, speaking with such conviction that it seemed like just saying the words would cause it to happen.

You let your eyes drift shut for a moment. "I wish we had met somewhere else." You said. "I wish we had met in some far off land where things are better and we weren't saying tentative goodbyes."

You could feel Sam's shaky breath against your skin. "God." He whispered. "So do I."

You stayed like that until you heard the trumpets sound, and then Sam was pressing one last kiss to your lips before he stepped back, letting you walk out into the sand.