Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

My Hero (Part 7)

I couldn't do it. I thought I could. I thought it would be fine, but it's not fine. Nothing is fine. I spent all night there. I skated and hid and searched and found nothing. I did everything, and it was all for nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Still, I held my stomach as blood poured from the cut from the Shades leg. I kept the rag pressed to it as I leaned my head against the door, hating how I had failed them. I was supposed to fix it. I was supposed to get us out, and I failed. I failed, and I have nothing left. I have nothing to show for it.

Curling up in a ball, I laid there and closed my eyes. Keeping my hands to my stomach, I held my breath as the pain was spreading to every part of my body.

As it always does, the sun shone down, demanding that I open my eyes. I didn't. Even as I heard those stupid doors opening, I laid there, wondering how I could screw up so badly.

Still, the tears gave me no choice but to look at the hopelessness of the Spring. Right now, everyone's asleep and I’m here, having failed them again.

I wasn't met with that as the doors opened though. Not at all.

“Y/N?”He asked quickly, stepping in the stupid Maze. Kneeling beside me, he ignored the puddle of blood soaking his jeans as he repeated my name.

I didn't know how to speak. I didn't know what to say so I didn't say anything. I just started breaking down.

“It's okay. It's okay. I’ve got you,”He assured me, carefully picking me up. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I buried my face in his neck as I sobbed, mumbling apologies against his cold skin. “It's okay. You're okay,”He repeated.

“I tried,”I choked out.

“It's fine. It's okay. You did just fine,”He repeated, his voice slightly shaky as he laid me on his bed. When'd we get here?

“It's okay,”He promised, taking my jacket and shirt off. While in any other situation I would mind, a stab wound is a pretty good exception. “This is going to sting. Okay?”He warned as the scent of alcohol filled my nose. Nodding my head, I closed my eyes as he pressed a wet rag to my wound. Wincing at the contact, I clenched and unclenched my fists as he disinfected it. As he started to press it a little firmer I cussed before biting my lip to hold back a sound.

“No, no, no. Don't do that, okay? It's fine. You're fine,”He said gently. Taking a breath, I nodded again. “It's all gonna be okay,”He promised, getting what was hopefully all of the blood. I don't know. I was too queasy to look, my stomach twisting in knots despite the literal stab wound by my waist.

“It's not as bad as it feels. I know it hurts, but it's not too deep. Okay lovely?”

“Whatever you say,”I quietly agreed.

“It’s all okay,”He repeated, putting his hand over my fist for a moment before drying both the alcohol and the rest of the blood. When I guess he was satisfied he gently but firmly put a gauze over the wound. Resisting the urge to kick my feet and scream at the pain, I still refused to lookas more tears streamed down my cheeks.

“You're okay. You're alright,”He soothed, leaning over and kissing my forehead. “You did your best. That's all you can do.”

“But it wasn't good enough. I didn't find anything,”I whispered, leaning on my elbows to sit up. Putting a hand on my back, he helped me before sitting beside me. Resting my head on his shoulder, I closed my eyes while wondering why it was never enough.

“Look at me,”He whispered, cupping my cheeks as I turned to face him. “You did what you could. Okay? You did your best, and don't forget you're the very first person to survive all night. That means something, right? It means it is possible as long as you don't give up, and you Y/N, never give up. That's part of why I love you so much. You always have hope, even for things nobody else does.”

“I’m just tired right now. I just want to sleep,”I mumbled, my eyes now fluttering shut against my will.

“Come on lovely. Lay down,”He urged. Slowly doing so with him still keeping a hand on my back, I groaned at the stinging in my side before half giving up and laying my head on his lap. Tracing his fingers up and down my spine, I felt him write the words I love you on my bare skin.

“I love you too. I’ll love you forever,”I muttered, involuntarily smiling. Writing the words back, he promised to look after me.

And while I would usually be against that, he was the only one who could truly know what I needed.

He was the only one who knew what kind of love made everything better.