The night was cold, the chilly wind surrounding me until I was sure I was back in the hellish Scorch that changed temperatures so quickly you could get heat stroke and hypothermia in 24 hours. Nobody else seemed to notice, too busy chatting or aimlessly walking around to find something to do. Of course, quite a few were actually enjoying the fire the way I know I should. Normal people can relax and enjoy themselves. Normal people don't feel nauseous by the smallest hint of alcohol or a paranoia that someone was watching. Normal people don't suffer at the same event every single time.
“We can go if you want,”he promised, gently squeezing my hand. I managed a weak squeeze back as I gazed at the crackling fire, sparks of orange and yellow flying in the air.
“I’m goin’ to be fine,”I said firmly, leaving out the obvious. I don't want to ruin another night for him. I’ve already sucked the energy out every time we have a bonfire. And in general.
“Nameless was there when we left. She probably still is,”he suggested.
“It's fine. Really,”I promised, a shaky breath leaving me at the weather that seemed to be dropping by the second. Not even the inferno was any good.
Without a word, he unzipped his jacket. Before I could object, he took it off. With an unconditional love that was so soft it almost stung, he slipped it over my shoulders. Knowing better than to think he would accept me giving it back, I wrapped it around myself, hugging the warm fabric close to me.
Leaning my head on his shoulder, I breathed in his scent. I always thought it was cringy in books. It didn't make any sense to care about how someone smells, much less crave it.
Aris smells like . . . Aris though. Like the damp grass he’s always in, the salty air from the ocean, and pure water that he always chose over the moonshine here, a longer way of saying he chose me.
He wrapped his arm around me, rubbing my arms to warm me up. I couldn't help but smile as I closed my eyes. There was an urge to pretend we were the only ones to exist, to tune out everyone else.
That would defeat the point of being here though. Learning to like being around strangers the way others do is supposed to be doable.
“What do I smell like?”I questioned, moving closer, barely an inch off from sitting on his lap.
“Ink, medicine, and lavender,”He answered without even thinking about it.
“Ya’ know that by heart?”
“I know almost everything about you by heart.”
Yeah. He could correctly answer a question about everything I’ve ever told him. His observations were spot on from the beginning, like he saw right through me. I hated at first, and I’ll admit sometimes it does still mildly annoy me.
It's what gives me moments like this though. Knowing that he wouldn't leave no matter how tonight ended.
“I ain't ever thought I was goin’ to get to have a favorite person,”I said as though it was a confession. We both already knew my future out there was dying alone or killing until I couldn't. We both knew I didn't expect anything to change.
“I love you too,”He whispered, wrapping his arm around my waist, his grip firm yet careful, almost like protection.
Glancing across the fire, I found myself face to face with a pair of dark green eyes, their gaze fixated on me like a specimen for study. The glow of a cigarette hung out of their mouth, a casual slow death he was savoring.
Standing up, I tried to make myself go forward, to take a step towards him. But my legs were frozen in place, feet firmly glued to the ground, as I found either the cause or the excuse for the constant peering paranoia that was taking over my life.

YOU ARE READING
Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)
FanfictionShe was practically cursed to be someone to look out for since birth. Having lived her entire life in the Scorch, she was on edge, paranoid, and was always prepared to kill. Even if it made her enemies, she did what she had to to survive. Aris knew...