Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

89) A Bloody Reunion

"Don't move your arm for a while."

"Okay."

"That means no liftin' things, no catchin', no swimmin', no just twistin' it 'round,"I listed.

"Makes sense."

"If ya' do any of that, it will take longer to heal,"I said firmly, pointing at the cast on her wrist.

"I won't."

"Alright. I'll see ya' tomorrow then."

"Yep. See you then,"she nodded, sliding off the bench. The curtain swayed behind her as she left me standing there. Her head was high while her arm was close to her chest.

She's going to break every single rule immediately. Some lessons have to be self-taught. Unfortunately, they're gonna be painful. While that's not always enough to make it stick, she'll come around eventually.

"Next!"

There was nothing but the sound of people talking. Crossing my arms over my chest, I sat for just a moment while debating even calling them again. I may just give up on the entire day at this point. It's not like anyone can really blame me.

"Just gotta get this finished,"I mumbled, reluctantly getting to my feet again. Reaching for the curtain, I started to pull it back only for a hand to brush against mine. As if I had burned them, they snatched it back, still hiding behind the sheet.

"I ain't gonna hurt ya'. It's just to make sure you're alright,"I said as neutrally as I could. I still remember how pathetic everyone's gentleness was when I first got here, an attempt to hide their masks I could see right through. It was condensing, a hidden hate that would show up soon enough.

I watched a shadow grab the edge. With knuckles clenched white, the stranger opened the barrier between me and them. The people sitting behind them didn't even notice, too busy talking. All the while they were staring at the ground. Everything about them was hidden, making the only visible thing their white, sunburned skin.

"Ya' can sit for a minute. Get your thoughts unjumbled."

Closing out the rest of the world, they stepped in but still a good distance from me. Their shoulders were unnaturally tense, their chest almost unmoving. The hood hid their face well, leaving them as much of a stranger as they could be.

"People wondered where you went when you just disappeared, you know? Or figured you'd finally been killed. They were just waiting for someone to claim it,"he said slowly. His voice was low, as though he was unleashing something he couldn't put back.

"Wh-what? How do ya' know th-"
When he snapped his head up like he would change his mind if he didn't, everything around me stopped. I hadn't seen those eyes in practically a lifetime. His scar, while still faded, was completely and utterly jagged. It would change colors when the light hit it just right, from a faint pink to a raised white. I'll never be able to forget. The scream, the rage, the blood gushing on the ground before the poison finally kicked in.

"Damien,"I breathed out.

"My real name's Gabriel actually. Figured it wasn't smart to let my real one get out."

"So ya' were lyin' to me from day one,"I hummed, leaning against the wall.

"Can't be that much different than having a completely different accent. I knew you were cutting off your g's, and you told me I was insane."

"I mean at least we know this is insane. I didn't think ya'd still be alive,"I absentmindedly admitted.

"I told you the poisons were working fine,"he shrugged. Giving a familiar half-smile, he showed off his sharp canines that were natural. Maybe.