A Series of Aru Shah Oneshots

Aru Shah/PJO AU

A/N This is based off someone's theory that Aru could be offered the amrita like Percy Jackson was offered immortality. I don't think it's very likely, but I thought it would be a really cool fanfiction idea, so here we are :D

Urvashi smiled warmly at Aru. "A great hero deserves a great gift. It has not been done before, but an exception can be made for you, Arundhati. To you we offer the amrita."

"Do you accept our gift?" said Hanuman, looking down at her searchingly.

Aru was stunned. She had the chance to be immortal. She could put as much power towards her family as she wanted. She could protect the people she loved. But...

On an impulse, she glanced to where Aiden stood, at her right. His face was ashen and although he stared at his camera, he didn't fiddle with it at all.

He looked up, meeting her eyes briefly. Panic fluttered in his gaze, so strong she caught her breath. Aiden looked like he wanted to say something but he closed his eyes and bowed his head like he was waiting for bad news.

He was so sure she'd choose this. But she was sure that she'd always choose others over herself.

Aru turned back to the devas. "I've made my decision."

Beside her, Aiden stiffened.

"Will you accept our gift, then?"

Aru squared her shoulders. "No."

YES, Brynne blasted through the mind link.

Mini's eyes were shining. The twins shared grins with her. And Aiden...

His eyes sparkled with all the constellations of a night sky. He looked too overwhelmed to speak, but she could tell what he wanted to say: Thank you.

Urvashi looked proud and Hanuman nodded approvingly, but they were the only ones who looked glad. The other devas frowned at each other. "You...do not wish to be immortal?" one said, sounding surprised.

"Well," Aru said, taking a breath, "a lot of people couldn't choose whether they lived or died in the war. Like Gandalf said, 'Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life.'"

"This Gandalf sounds very wise," Hanuman said thoughtfully.

"Do you still want a gift, Arundhati?" Urvashi asked. 'If it is within our power to grant."

"Yes," Aru said, glancing sideways at Brynne and the twins. She smiled. "I do."

- - -

Aru and Aiden sat together on the museum roof, shoulder to shoulder, watching the clouds part over the moon. Krithika didn't know they were up here, and Aru planned to keep it that way. She'd been coming up here for years, and this was the first time she'd ever shared this secret with someone.

"How are the new implements at the Otherworld Foster Care System going?" Aiden asked. He looked at her. The moon highlighted his face.

"Great," Aru answered, grinning.

"I don't think they like having kids in charge over there," Aiden said, laughing.

Aru flicked a hand airily. "They'll just have to get used to it. Brynne and Nikita can be very bossy when they want to. Plus, Sheela's masterminding most of the new plans. Hira's acting as a counselor, and I have to say she's doing a great job. All of them are. We're going to find every orphan a family and no one will have to go through what those four have, if things go our way."

They sat there in comfortable silence for a bit, watching the sky.

"You turned down the nectar of immortality," Aiden said at last. "Why?"

"Well, like I said back there...and it doesn't feel right. I'd be playing into the Sleeper's trap if I tried to take it. And I think that there's a lot more I want down here." Aru smiled at him. "We can hope. We can hurt and heal. And we can do it...together."

"Together." Aiden echoed the word like it was something he wanted to savor. He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. "I'd like that."

Heat flooded Aru's veins and she leaned further into the kiss. She felt like an ember being fanned into a bonfire.

Aru was almost scared at how much happiness she felt. She half-expected that someone would come along and ruin it like at her fifteenth birthday party.

"Hey," Aiden said, nudging her. "It's okay. It'll be okay."

Aru laughed. "How do you always know what I'm thinking?"

"Because I see you, Shah."

Aru rested her head on his shoulder. "And I see you," she said softly.

As they sat there, something blazed overhead.

"A shooting star," Aru breathed.

She closed her eyes, half-afraid that her wish would come with consequences again. But all she felt was an overwhelming sense of...peace. Stability.

When she opened her eyes again, Aiden was studying her with a half smile on his face.

"I guess you know what I asked for," Aru said.

"And you know what I want, too?"

Aru looked into his dancing eyes, where she saw the shifting heavens, and nodded.

They ended up falling asleep against each other, under a canopy of stars.