Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

74) Mother Mary

As promised, after a morning of laying in bed with Nameless, he walked with me to the Clinic, hand firmly in mine. I did my best not to look for them in the crowd, not wanting to freak myself out more than I already was. It had been exhausting, and for once I wanted to go into work without the urge to stab every person that came in before I saw their face.

“Remember what you promised,”He said gently yet firmly.

“I know. I’ll tell her,”I assured him.

“Good. I love you, alright? It's going to be okay.”

Throwing my arms around him, I tightly hugged him, closing my eyes as I took in his touch. Cradling my face in his hands, he made me look up at him, at his small yet comforting smile and loving eyes.

“I’ll check in on you. Okay?”

“Okay,”I nodded.

“Have a good day. Alright?”

“Alright. I love ya’.”

Barely tilting my head down, he kissed my temple, his thumbs tracing circles over my cheeks.

“I love you too.”

Reluctantly pulling away, I nodded, a silent promise that I would actually do what I said. Believing me, he gave me a small wave before going to find his partner for the day.

In the meantime, I walked inside to mine. Still setting up, she was laying one of the blankets on a makeshift bed.

Walking over to the one right in front of her and the last one that needed to be done, I picked the sheet up, brushing it out before starting at the corner. Lifting the bed, I tucked the blanket under it the way she had taught me. She's taught me a lot. So much more than I can even begin to appreciate. Not even just about being a Nurse. I can sew clothes, resolve conflicts, be patient when needed, and a lot more. I have so much to thank her for.

“I’m sorry I’m late,”I apologized.

“It's alright. We all need a little rest sometimes.”

“I wasn't sleepin’.”

“You don't need to sleep to need rest.”

Looking down in shame at her kind voice, I took a breath to keep mine from coming out cracked. Leaning against the bed I just made, I shut my eyes before slowly sitting down.

I heard her sit in front of me but stay silent, letting me figure out what I had to say.

I already know.

It's just hard to make the words come out.

“I’ve been . . . less than great lately. Kind of a bitch to be honest.”

“Don't say that about yourself,”She said firmly.

“I’ve been mean,”I slowly corrected, looking at her for approval the way a small child would their parent. When she nodded, I just kept talking. “I ain't got the nicest past. I wasn't the nicest. That's shaped me. Shaped me a lot. Made it hard to trust, hard to love, hard to accept help. I had to do a lot. Change my appearance, hang around bad crowds, hurt people. It's bad. I’m workin’ on it, but it's bad. Easy to set me back too,”I trailed off, watching for any change in her. She was as calm but ready to listen as ever. Typical Mary. She looks so motherly all the time. Motherly Mary.

“What set you back?”She asked directly.

“Two people. These guys. They hate me for some reason. Hit me sometimes. Kick me. Call me scargirl and all sorts of things. They're tryin’ to ruin my relationships too. All of ‘em.”

“I take it you don't know why?”

I sheepishly shook my head no.

“Sometimes people are just mean and miserable. Sometimes people are wrong and egotistical. They see someone they don't think they could ever be and decide that has to be bad. Because they would never let themselves be put in that position. They would just do this differently or not do that or whatever. Until they are.”

“They wouldn't survive in that position,”I explained. I’m not even being mean (even though I deserve to be). One thing you have to control in the Scorch is your mouth. You save fights for when they're needed, and it's not uncommon for those people to be a lot bigger and stronger than you. And out there, everyone's looking for a fight and everyone has experience with it.

“I’m sure they wouldn't. They don't know that though. So they're going to hurt you instead. Because they could never do it out there. They can in here though. Because you, my dear,”She said, gently cradling my cheek, “are soft when you can be. They're sharp just for the fun of it. And that makes you stronger than they’ll ever be.”

“I haven't been soft to ya’ though. To the people that matter,”I pointed out.

“I know. That's because you have people you’re allowed to be that way with when something happens. And, for the first time, whether you directly recognize it or not, your subconscious knows they're going to worry and help instead of hurt you.”

“I’m sorry, Mama,”was the only thing I could manage to choke out, my stomach churning with how easily she had put the reason I’d been snapping at everyone I love without wanting to into words. The forced realization was so much I didn't even realize I slipped up until she froze, her eyes widening as she stared at me.

“I’m sorry. I didn't-”

Cutting me off, she engulfed me in a tight hug, keeping me close and rubbing my back. Just sitting there, I stared at the open canopy as I finally took in my mom’s loving hold.

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

“Hey, grumpy.”

Rolling my eyes, I patted the spot beside me, inviting Thomas and Brenda to sit. Doing so, they got comfortable, Thomas clapping my shoulder before picking up his sandwich. Brenda offered me a smile and nod. As I nodded back, I couldn't help but notice the way their knees were brushed together as he had one hand on hers. Something that made me look over at Aris, whose hand was lightly laying on top of mine.

“Are we gonna have that probably awkward conversation?”Brenda suggested.

“Yeah. So the rumor?”I clarified.

“No, Y/N. The birds and the bees.”

“Don't be a smartass, Thomas,”I scolded.

“I can always be dumb-”

“Hey, important conversation over here,”She reminded him, lightly slapping his shoulder. Being perfectly alright with that, he just squeezed her thigh before shutting his mouth, giving me the floor that I didn't really want.

“There’s these guys that've been bullyin’ me basically. Name callin’, hittin’, the classics. One of ‘em warned he was goin’ to ruin my life. And what better way to do that than take away my relationships?”

It was sort of the dumbed down version, but I don't want to go into great detail again. It's just been so bleh, and I’m not sure how much more I can handle.

“Oh. We know their names?”Brenda questioned, raising her eyebrow as she leaned forward.

“No.”

“Anything about them?”Thomas checked.

“Appearance. And that they’re friends,”I shrugged.

“Ah. Alright,”He slowly nodded. Really slowly though. Like an “I’m going to do something that would be illegal in a normal world” way. It was the physical version of Brenda’s tone.

Yeah. This is not looking good for either of them.