Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

I don't know why the hell anyone would save me, much less give me a chance after the things I've done, but I didn't end up getting beat to death. That ironic part was that it was Right Arm that got me out, and no matter how much I reasoned that I didn't deserve any acts of kindness they made me go with them and accept help.

I'm honestly still adjusting. Apparently, I don't need to hoard random supplies in case someone either steals from me or I go months without a paycheck. I don't even get paid. I just do normal jobs that don't involve kidnapping and manipulating people, and I get to live. Honestly, I needed a minute for that to sink in when they told me.

For a while they didn't really give me specific instructions. It was more like 'help around here until we see what you're good at.'

I also found out not too long ago. I'm a medic which was just a whole new level of unexpected. It turns out I can knock people out and help them.

Despite this the slightest thing can set off my paranoia that someone here was going to do something. If someone that I was helping winced I was afraid that it would be like Scorch City where people start fights over basically everything. Step on their shoe? Fist in your face. Bump into them? Look at that. You're hunched on the ground in pain after they kneed your stomach. Start a fight when you can't fight? Now you get to be a dead body. How wonderful.

To cut it short, I've seen a lot of things that I shouldn't have, even as a kid.

That's why I was hiding from everyone on my break. Looking at my chipped black nail polish that had helped me fit in where I used to live and the brown boots that I couldn't make myself get rid of was bittersweet. While there weren't many good memories it was all I had known. Being here, I just felt like I didn't belong. I couldn't help but think that maybe I should just go back to a life of stealing, scamming, and using people. A life that was barely even a life. Consistency and safety and comfort are all weird to have or even see.

"Hi,"Someone greeted from way too close to me. Backing away, I went to leave until I saw their face. More of their eyes actually.

He looked different. A lot different. His hair had gotten a little longer, almost falling in his bruised up face. He was about an inch taller and had less of a feeling of passiveness. It wasn't aggression or something weird like dominance. I guess the word, or words, to describe him now would be older and confident.

"Hi Aris,"I greeted back. "You get rescued while getting beat half to death too?"I added.

"Not exactly, but I don't really want to go into all that,"He explained.

"Makes sense. So when'd you get here?"

"Just a few hours ago,"He answered. I nodded as we stood there in awkward silence.

"Do you want to just skip the uncomfortable small talk so you can ask or tell me whatever you were going to?"I suggested.

"Absolutely,"He agreed, heaving a sigh of relief. "That night we met, why did you save me?"

"I already told you. I don't know."

"There has to be some reason."

Thinking about his words, I replayed what happened in my head. How we had gone from dancing to me making sure he saw as little of the Crank circle as possible to getting him out.

"You were afraid. You were terrified, and for some reason that got to me. You didn't belong there, and somehow I had to make sure you didn't stay. I don't even know why, but something about you being almost frozen, your eyes wide, and the way your lip was quivering like you were going to cry, got to me. For the first time, that wrong thing that I was doing for years felt wrong. Even if I did it to live, you made me realize that I wasn't a good person. You just, I don't know, that felt different. Something about covering your ears and trying to shield you from the Crank circle seemed right even if I had always been taught to do the opposite of things like that. And something about putting my arms on your shoulders while yours were on my waist and dancing with you seemed special. I had done that so much to manipulate people, but I didn't want to manipulate you. I didn't want to sell you out. Not when you made me feel new things,"I explained.

Staring at me for a moment, he stepped forward. As he put his arms out I couldn't help but flinch for a moment. He seemed to notice as he slightly moved back.

"I don't think you're a bad person for doing bad things. Bad people don't think they did anything wrong, and they probably aren't in survival mode 24/7. You wanted to live so you can't really fault yourself for that. And while I'd like to say I wouldn't do the same I wasn't on that side of life so I'll never know. I just know that your past actions aren't all you are."

I was silent as I processed his words. Yeah. I didn't really think they were true, but he just seemed so thoughtful that I gave him a nod. As if he could read my mind his face dropped.

"Can I give you a hug?"He offered. After a moment I nodded my head. Approaching me again, he gently wrapped his arms around me. Being careful not to hurt him I tried to make my touch as light as possible. Closing my eyes, I savored the feeling of actually being touched in a way that wouldn't cause me pain. It was really different. While I don't think I would let anyone else do this, it was nice with Aris.

Pulling away, he seemed to be thinking about something for a moment. Then, he pressed his lips to my cheek like I had done him making my face flush.

The second he pulled away someone called his name breaking the little bubble we shared. Still, he stayed for a moment.

"I'll see you later? Maybe tonight?"He asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that,"I agreed. He gave me a small smile that I returned before finding whoever called for him.

Leaning against the wall, I felt my grin grow as I touched where his lips had been against my cheek. As my heart beat faster I tried to figure out what this feeling was.

It didn't take long for it to hit me.

Love.

I was in love with Aris.

So now what?