ACOTAR one shots, imagines and short stories

Where You Go, I Go (Azriel x OC)

Word count: 5468

Character: Azriel and Elara (OC)

Themes: Angst

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500 years ago

The sun shone brightly over the cliff, casting golden rays onto the surface of the serene lake below. The sounds of laughter and splashing echoed in the air as Cassian and Rhysand, the embodiment of fearless youth, prepared to leap from the rocky edge. With a daring grin, Cassian launched himself into the air, performing a dizzying backflip before crashing into the water with a spectacular splash.

"Come on, Azriel!" Rhysand called from below, water glistening on his skin as he surfaced, a broad smile lighting up his face. "You've got to jump! It's amazing!"

Azriel stood at the edge, adrenaline coursing through him as he watched his friends. He felt the urge to leap, to join them in their exuberance. Just as he was about to follow, his gaze flickered back toward the group. There, lingering at the cliff's edge, was Elara.

She was stepping back, her small hands trembling slightly as she hesitated, uncertainty etched across her face. A pang of concern twisted in Azriel's stomach. He knew her well enough to recognise that look—fear and longing mixed in a way that made his heart ache.

"Elara!" he called out, his voice steady, but she didn't look up. Instead, she took another small step back, her eyes wide and darting between the water and the height of the cliff.

"Azriel!" Cassian shouted again, clearly oblivious to the growing tension. "Are you coming or what?"

Azriel hesitated, torn between the thrill of the jump and the need to reassure his friend. He couldn't leave her alone in this moment of fear.

"Where are you going?" he murmured to himself, his heart heavy. He took a step closer to the edge, keeping his eyes on Elara. "I can't just jump without her."

Azriel took a deep breath, his heart racing not just from the thrill of the jump, but from the weight of Elara's hesitation. He moved closer to her, the sun casting soft shadows across his serious face.

"Hey," he said gently, catching her attention. She looked up, and for a moment, their eyes locked, the world around them fading into the background. "You don't have to jump if you don't want to."

Elara bit her lip, glancing back at the shimmering water below, then back at him. "I do want to, Az. I just... I'm scared."

"I get it," he replied, his voice steady, offering her the kind of comfort he wished someone had given him. He could feel the familiar anxiety creeping into his chest, a shadow of the trauma that often haunted him, but he pushed it aside. "If you don't want to jump, I can stay with you. I'll be right here."

"But I don't want to be scared," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to be brave like you and Cassian and Rhys."

Azriel felt a surge of warmth at her words. "You are brave, Elara. It's okay to feel scared. Everyone does. But..." He hesitated, glancing down at his own hands, the scars and marks a reminder of his past. Then he slowly reached for her, offering his scarred hand, his fingers trembling slightly. "I'll jump with you, if you want. You don't have to do this alone."

Elara stared at his hand, a mixture of surprise and admiration lighting up her features. She had seen Azriel keep his distance from others, especially when it came to his hands. This moment felt monumental, like he was offering her a piece of himself that he rarely shared. Her heart swelled with affection and gratitude.