Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

My Hero (Part 4)

Life would never be easy. It doesn't work like that. Just because you realize you have feelings for your best friend and end up being the love of each other's lives, does not make the world perfect.

I was tired. I was really, really tired. All I do is look for a way out, and all I get is nothing. The same patterns at the same times at the same sections.

"What's that look for?"He asked, glancing down at me.

"What look?"I asked quickly, meeting his gaze.

"You know what I'm talking about. What's running through that pretty head of yours?"He smiled, tracing his fingers down my arms.

"It's just that, I know it ended badly last time. Sort of. But I have another idea. One that might be crazy enough to work."

"Y/N, last time you had a crazy idea you almost died,"He stated, as if a reminder was needed.

"It'll be different this time. I'll be the only risk. Nobody else needs to get involved."

"That makes me trust this even less. Why would you want to be the only risk?"

"Aris, I think I have it. Every person that's been trapped in the Maze overnight hasn't been prepared, but-"
"Hell no,"He said before I could finish.

"I need you to hear me out. I'll be ready. I'll be on the lookout,"I assured him, sitting up and crossing my legs together.

"No. I am not going to find my lover's dead body while I'm in the Maze. Do you understand? I am not going to start skating and look down and see your blood or your bag or whatever. I won't do it,"He said firmly.

"You won't have to. I'll be okay."

"Just like you were okay last time?"

"Aris-"
"No. Listen to me. I saw you just lying there. I thought that you had left me forever. I thought you were never coming back to me, and I hated you for leaving me, and I hated myself for not saving you. I hated the idea of you not being beside me so much that in three seconds I realized I loved you. You were lying there, cold and unmoving. I couldn't even believe it was you. I didn't want to, and only when I realized your heart was beating did I feel okay enough to come back to reality. Only then did life become any kind of okay. I grieved over you for only a few minutes when I thought you were gone, and I won't do it forever. I can't,"He told me, tears streaming down his cheeks as he looked at me.

"I love you, okay? I love you, and you won't lose me,"I whispered, moving over and putting my arm around him while tracing shapes on his arms, "At the same time, we both know being a Skater is dangerous. If there's any possibility that we won't have to be trapped here every day, that we can be free, isn't it worth taking?"

"No. Not if the cost is you."

"I can't stay here anymore. I don't want to. Who would?"

"It's not that bad. We have what we need. We have food, water, shelter, a routine, jobs, people we care about, and each other. What more do we need?"He listed, this unfamiliar glint in his eye that made my stomach twist in knots.

"Aris, do you . . . like it here?"

"I mean, it's not so terrible. Maybe there's nothing for us. Maybe this is the best it gets,"He mumbled, dropping his head.

"You're a Skater. How could you say that when your job is to find our way out?"I asked in disbelief, pulling away from him.

"I don't know. It's just that it's pretty safe here. The most dangerous part is the Maze, you know?"

"So you're telling me if there was a way out you wouldn't go?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

"Then, what the hell are you saying? As a Skater, an Icer, and a friend, what are you saying?"

"I just don't think this place is nothing but bad. It's not perfect, but it's safe. We don't know if the outside world is the same."

"We are so restricted here that it's a glorified prison. We are constantly watched. We can't just go anywhere we want. We can't do so many things."

"What can't we do in here that we can do out there?"

"Do you not remember barely a week ago when we were kissing and saw a Beetle Blade barely two seconds when we pulled apart? Do you not remember how uncomfortable that was?"

"I do, but what's to say the outside world isn't monitored too? What if this place is the best we have? Are you really going to risk your life for just a chance of more?"

"You're ridiculous,"I muttered, standing up.

"Y/N, I'm not saying I wouldn't take it if we knew what's out there. If we know it was safe I would do it in a heartbeat, but while everything is the same as always and nobody knows different, I won't. I will skate in that Maze forever, and I would go if there was a sure way out, but there isn't right now. So you're plan is basically suicide. So no. You can't go."

"Then it's a good thing I wasn't asking for permission, isn't it?"

"You're not going through with this."

"You know, I thought I would be nice and be honest. I thought I would warn you that I wouldn't be coming out for a night but clearly that was a mistake,"I recognized, turning my back to him as I started walking out of his hut.

"I'll tell Harriet,"He threatened.

"Excuse me?"I asked, spinning on my heel and meeting his gaze.

"I'll tell Harriet that you're planning to leave. Then she won't let you go in the Maze ever again."

"Are you giving me an ultimatum?"

"I know when you're lying. So are you going to try and do this?"

"You're on very thin ice right now, so you better watch what you say next,"I warned, crossing my arms as I stood just inches before him. Taking in his blank expression and his head held high, it was clear he wasn't taking it back.

"Fine. Here's my ultimatum. If you stop me, I will never talk to you again. I will never, ever, ever forgive you. If I wake up tomorrow and get even a hint that you told someone, we're done. As partners, as friends, and as lovers. That is my ultimatum."

"I won't give you up."

"But you're not not going to say anything, are you?"

"I love you."

"So this is how it ends? Just like this, right here, right now?"

"It depends. Are you ending it?"

"I guess we'll find out in the morning, won't we?"

"Yeah. I guess we will."