soft spot || aric lesso x reader

chapter 8

a/n a short chapter 😭

**y/n's pov**

[ the night before the confrontation ]

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    you lie in your makeshift bed, staring at the ceiling. sleep eludes you, your mind racing with plans and contingencies. beside you, the necklace glows faintly, a reminder of the power and responsibility you carry.

    your thoughts drift to aric. his strength, his determination, the way he looks at you with a mixture of respect and something more. you know that whatever happens tomorrow, your relationship will never be the same.

    a knock at the door startles you. you sit up, heart pounding, and open it to find aric standing there, his expression unreadable.

    "can i come in?" he asks softly.

    you nod, stepping aside to let him enter. he closes the door behind him and stands there for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts.

    "i couldn't sleep," he admits finally. "too much on my mind."

    "same," you reply, sitting down on the edge of your bed. "i keep thinking about tomorrow. about what we're about to do."

    he sits beside you, his presence comforting. "we'll make it work. we have to."

    you nod, but the doubts still linger. "aric... what if we fail?"

    he turns to you, his eyes serious. "then we'll deal with it. together."

    the word hangs between you, laden with meaning. together. it's more than just a promise of alliance; it's a promise of something deeper, something neither of you has fully acknowledged yet.

    without thinking, you lean in and kiss him, your lips meeting his in a moment of desperate clarity. he responds immediately, his arms wrapping around you, pulling you closer. the kiss is fierce, filled with all the emotions you've been holding back.

    when you finally pull away, you're both breathless, staring at each other with a mixture of surprise and realization.

    "we'll figure this out," he whispers, his forehead resting against yours. "i promise."

    "i know," you reply, your heart full. "i believe you."

    as you lie back down, his arms still around you, you finally feel a sense of peace. whatever happens tomorrow, you know you'll face it together. and that's all that matters.