Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

85) Lazy Days

Aris’s P.O.V

The world was soft and warm. And by the world, I mean the blankets that I was absolutely engulfed in, thick fabric covering my entire body, and arms wrapped protectively around me. Her fingertips were trailing up and down my back, her light touch leaving goosebumps.

“Ya’ awake?”she whispered, noticing the way I tensed for a moment.

“Mhm,”I mumbled, finding my palms that were draped across my stomach. Pulling them out from under the sheets, I covered my mouth as I yawned, still not fully awake.

“Did ya’ sleep alright?”she asked softly, lightly rubbing my shoulder.

“Eventually. After you caught me,”I nodded, sitting up further to resist the urge to bury myself back in the covers. If I close my eyes, there's no way I’m opening them for another week. Even right now, they feel unnaturally heavy. I’m not going to try and put that to the test.

She opened her mouth as though there were a thousand things she wanted to say before she pressed her lips into a thin line, apparently thinking better of it.

“I’m alright,”I assured her, finding one of her soft hands. She opened her palm, letting me slide my fingers between hers. Closing them around mine, she lightly squeezed.

Her eyes look darker than usual, like she was too busy worrying about me to sleep. Knowing her, that's probably exactly what happened.

“I trust that, I do. I just worry ‘bout ya’ sometimes,”she sighed, her thumb running back and forth over my hand.

“I’ve got myself covered. Even if I have to wallow for a minute,”I promised, taking her other hand in mine. Bowing my head, I brought it to my lips, trying not to show off how badly the thought of her leaving was stuck in my head as I kissed her.

“I can wallow beside ya’ then. And,”she trailed off, slowly pulling away and reaching beside the bed. As I sat there, wondering what she managed to do now, she pulled out two paper bags and handed me one.

“What’s this?”I asked while opening it. Inside was a small collection of enough to last the day. An apple, a bag of dry cereal, a sandwich in a paper towel, and two hot dogs wrapped up. Something about it felt just a little bit medieval, probably because the assortment was so random, but it definitely worked.

“Fry’s doin’,”she credited as I pulled out Captain Crunch that I recognized from that short yet miserable time at WCKD.

“Your idea to grab it,”I pointed out.

“I just asked. It was nothin’ hard.”

That’s good. But everything feels hard today. The thought of doing anything but sitting her and eating handfuls of cereal seems repulsive.

“Can you stay in bed with me? Please?”I asked quietly, leaning against her to really sell it.

“Ya’ ain't got to look cute to convince me of anythin’,”she promised, both her arms wrapped protectively around me.

“I know. It just helps to feel like I’m doing something.”

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

Her eyes hadn't left me since I had opened mine, as though I was a danger to myself. As much as I’d like to assure her I’m not, my head's a mess right now. I can't think straight. I can barely think at all to be honest. My mind was too busy swirling with blame and sympathy, the realization that I could have done more and that there wasn't a lot I could do from the beginning giving me a headache.