Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

Switched Places

Thank you Vader_Jack for the request. I hope this is something like what you had in mind<3

I used to admittedly drive Aris a little crazy. When we were in the Maze together, I forced him to socialize a bit. Not all the time of course, but I wouldn't let him be completely friendless. I basically told him not to let a few people ruin his chances of meeting others and pulled him out of his shell just enough to get comfortable with around five of the girls.

The story when we were “rescued” was a bit different. He didn't like the not so subtle stares and remarks so I wasn't as keen to be friendly towards everyone. To some people? Definitely but I made sure to be more cautious.

When we got out with the new group, I would definitely strike up a few conversations with them, though I would always gravitate back towards Aris. No matter how many people I met, he remained my rock, my reason to keep going.

When we were betrayed and he was taken from me, that changed though. I didn't have the one who I would always fall back on. I would find myself reaching over to hold him at night only to find the space to be empty. No bed was truly warm without him, and waking up was somehow worse. There was no sweet kiss on my forehead to start my day. No early morning conversations about life. No chilly hands wrapped around mine for warmth. Everything was always just cold. It was always bleak.

I would just drag myself out of bed and get ready to keep planning to get him back. Sonya and Minho too but I really needed my spark back. I was losing a part of myself in a way I didn't know how to deal with but still had to cope anyway.

That takes a toll on a person. How could it not? Six months of fear for his safety? Six months of worry that life would be like this forever? Six months of separation from the light of my world? That's heavy, and that's not even beginning to talk about how we found him. The blood and bruises were just the cherry on top of what they did to him.

I guess after all that you just change. Or maybe in this case reversed roles.

He looks happy now, at the bonfire with Sonya and Harriet. It's nice to see him like that, smiling and laughing.

I would go with him, but I just couldn't take anymore people today. After Vince’s speech, I gave my respects and left to go watch from the sidelines, the way he used to.

Even that became too much though as I ended up needing to drag myself over to the hammocks. Not even to sleep. I just needed to decompress and clear my head.

I sat on the wooden stairs, my chin in my hands as I leaned against a beam. I didn't shut my eyes, but I wasn't particularly focused on keeping them open. I guess I just didn't care enough for thinking right now.

As I was taking in that peace it was interrupted by soft footsteps and a familiar nickname. I glanced up as Aris walked over, a small smile on his face as he met my eyes. I managed to return it as I moved closer to the beam, inviting him to sit.

He accepted the invite, taking a spot right by me. With his arms out, he offered a hug which I happily accepted, burying my face in his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. Resting my hands on his knee, I sighed as I kept myself as close as possible to him.

“Are you okay?”He asked softly, rubbing my back.

“Yeah. Just tired. Too many people. Too much happening,”I answered.

“It's okay. It happens to the best of us.”

“Yeah. It just feels like that a lot lately. You seem happy though. Warming up to everyone.”

“Yeah. That’ll probably wear off soon though.”

“What do you mean?”

He went silent for a moment, pulling me in for a tighter hug. I let him, resting my face in the crook of his neck as I wrapped my arms around him, waiting for him to speak.

“I mean it got really lonely where I was. Everything was hard. Everything sucked. Dealing with it sucked, and I didn't think I could. It's why I just tried to be you. You’ve always been so strong, and you were always my favorite. It was my one way to stay close to you. Really, actually stay close to you,”He whispered, though his words were clear as day.

“I wish we could have gotten you out sooner,”I sighed, grabbing one of his hands that was on my shoulder and placing it in mine as I rested my head back on his chest. He laced our fingers together, lightly running his thumb over my knuckles as he rested his chin on my head.

“It's okay. I’m sure things will go back to how they were in no time.”

“I mean I don't mind it that much. It's nice to see you so happy.”

“I’m happy as long as I know that you're somewhere close. That's what I truly care about. You.”

“I care about you too. I love you, Aris, in all the ways somebody can love someone,”I promised, squeezing his hand. He gently squeezed back before kissing my temple, making me smile and close my eyes as I just enjoyed the soft moment with him.