TPQ (Aru Shah) One Shots

Great Big War aftermath, I need ice cream (8)

An hour was given to the guests to go change, or do whatever they wished.

As Aru and Aiden walked back to their room, Aru asked; "Are you okay, Wifey?"

"I'm fine. Why?" Aiden asked.

"You looked kinda uncomfortable at the wedding," Aru trailed off, looking at Aiden.

"I guess I'm still not used to it," Aiden said.

One of his first memories was his dad engulfing his mom in a big, loving hug, kissing her softly. That was when he was 7. Now, Aiden was 17, and his dad was kissing another woman. A woman who wasn't the woman who left her family, and her whole life to be with him. A woman who wasn't Malini Acharya.

"Aiden?" Aru asked, putting a hand on Aiden's shoulder.

"Sorry, I'm just-" Aiden ran a hand over his hair. "I don't know, I guess I'm mad at my dad, but-"

"Do you wanna come inside?" Aru asked, as they'd reached their rooms.

"Sure," Aiden said, after thinking about it.

They entered Aru's room, and Aru put the gift that she was supposed to give the couple on the dresser, and sat on the bed.

"Tell me," said Aru.

Aiden exhaled, sitting on the bed along with Aru.

"I'm just mad at my dad. Mad at him for cheating on mom. He cheated on my mom who left her whole life for him. He just left her there, broken. He hasn't asked to see me, or anything over the past few years."

"Then why did you agree to go to the wedding?" Aru asked, she quickly covered her mouth in realisation upon saying so.

"I'm sorry, I didn't-" "It's fine, Shah," said Aiden, a soft smile pressed to his face. "But I agreed because he's my dad. And I still love him, even though he did that to mom." Aiden turned to Aru, "You know?"

"I know," said Aru.

"Maybe I should leave now," Aiden said, getting up off the bed.

"Uh, yeah sure," said Aru, getting up along with him.

"I'll see you soon, Shah." Aiden said, leaving. "See you."

Aru changed into the jumpsuit, and tied her hair into a braid. Looking at herself in the mirror she said, "Did someone bless me or something? I look pretty." She grabbed the gift she wasn't able to give before, and sprayed a little bit of her mom's perfume on her neck.

Aru decided that she'd get Aiden instead, and opened the door to find Aiden standing in front of her.

"How'd you know I was gonna get here?" Aiden asked. He'd changed into a black hoodie and jeans.

"Pandava instinct," Aru smiled.

Aiden chuckled and held out his hand for Aru to take.

Aru slyly took his hand and asked, "How do I look?"

Aiden smirked, "Like a troll."

Aru glared; "How rude!"

"I'm kidding, Shah," said Aiden.

Aru rolled her eyes, "Whatever, wifey."

Suddenly, Aiden turned to Aru and gave her a kiss. "Does that answer your question?"

Aru put her hands to her lips. "This is assault!"

Aiden put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. "Is it though?"

"It most definitely is." said Aru.

Now it was Aiden's turn to roll his eyes, "Why are you like this, Shah?"

Aru gave Aiden her iconic half smile - half smirk. "You love me for it though."

Aiden smirked. "How could I not?"

They'd gotten to the reception, and everything was normal. Aru had to admit, the food was amazing.

She'd gotten to learn that Annette was part Italian and part German, so traditional foods from both places were served. After that, she stood next to Aiden as he took pictures.

"Aiden," A voice said from behind them. Both Aiden and Aru turned around to see Annette and Mr. Acharya. "Why don't you take our pictures next?"

"Sure," Aiden said, finishing with the couple standing in front of them.

Annette walked towards Aru, and held out her hand for Aru to shake. "I'm Annette,"

"Aru." The two shook hands.

"How long have you known Aiden?" She asked.

"I was 13, and Aiden was 14. We went to the same school," said Aru. "And this is for you," she continued, giving Annette the picture frame wrapped in blue.

"Why thank you!" exclaimed Annette.

"Thanks." Mr.Acharya said simply, looking at the gift with an unpleasant gaze.

"I can take you two now," Aiden said, turning around. Mr.Acharya (Aru wondered when she was ever going to learn his name) and Annette walked to the pretty background and smiled. Aiden's dad put a hand around Annette's shoulders, and Annette smiled simply.

"Aiden," Mr.Acharya said when they were finished. "Let me take a photo for both of you," he said, gesturing to Aru and Aiden.

Aru felt her cheeks burn and Aiden looked back at her, to see if she was okay with it. Aru nodded, and Aiden passed Shadowfax to his dad.

Aru and Aiden stood in front of the pretty background, Aiden's arm around Aru's waist. Aru smiled, as she hoped she didn't look awkward.

"You two look so cute together!" exclaimed Annette.

Aru looked up at Aiden to see if he agreed, and Aiden looked down at her with a smile. Aru turned away from Aiden and let her cheeks cool off.

"Are you shy, Aru?" Aiden whispered in her ear.

Aru glared at him fiercely, "I never am and I never have been."

Aiden laughed. "Sure, Shah."

The rest of the night was fun. Aiden was busy taking pictures, and Aru was having tiramisu. Was it the best tiramisu she'd ever had? No. But it was still tiramisu so she ate it anyway.

"Are you having a good time?"

Someone asked behind her.

"Hm?"

It was Mr.Acharya.

"Uh, yeah, it's going well,"

"Look I'm going to keep this short, because you already know," he said. "Aiden needs you. Never leave him." And with that, he went back to Annette.

What. Aru was bewildered. He really said "I'm going to keep this short."

The night ended, her stay in New York was over, and Aru and Aiden were going back to Atlanta. Even so, what Mr.Acharya (Aru never learned his name) said stuck with her.

"Aiden needs you. Never leave him."

Oh well. She wasn't planning on it anyway.

And so, the next time Aiden went to visit Annette and his dad in their new house, he saw the photo of him and Aru inside the picture frame Aru gave them.

"Do you like it?" His dad asked.

Aiden smiled at the photo, "I love it."

"We're glad," said Annette. "Aru seems like a good girl. And when you're around her, you shine."

"She brings out the best in you, Aiden." His dad said.

Aiden felt the heat rush to his cheeks, and ran a hand through his hair.

"I know."