A Series of Aru Shah Oneshots

I'll Always Be There (Aruden)

A/N To make up for the last chapter in Aru Shah 3.5. ;)

Aru hated being alone for too long. She'd asked Aiden to come over, but he wasn't due for another ten minutes. If she was alone for too long, she started thinking about her time at the Sleeper's again, the way he'd manipulated her and made her feel powerless...

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. She squeezed her eyes shut. A deep chill soaked into her skin, the unbelievable, infinite cold she'd endured in the Sleeper's House. She curled up under the covers on her bed, but it didn't help at all.

Her muscles locked and she lay prone on the bed with no one but her mind to keep her company. Her breath came in short, sharp pants. Each one was a second that ticked by. After an eternity, someone knocked at her door. "Shah?" Aiden called.

She couldn't manage an answer.

"Aru?" His voice sounded a little concerned now. "Are you there?"

"I--" That was all she could get out before her throat constricted with panic.

"Aru, if you don't give me an answer, I'm coming in anyway." A few seconds of silence. Then he opened the door. He started to say something, but stopped when he saw Aru.

Aiden walked to the bed. "Is it--?" He didn't finish his sentence but he didn't need to. Aru nodded weakly.

He climbed onto the bed and hugged her. "You will be okay. Just breathe. It's all you need to do."

His voice calmed her and bit by bit, she found herself relaxing in his warm embrace. At last, the memories faded to background noise. But..."Stay," she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. "Please."

"I won't leave you," he murmured back.

Aru was so tired. She'd just close her eyes for five seconds...

Aru awoke slowly. She felt warm, enveloped, safe. Opening her eyes, she realized with a start that she was lying on Aiden still. She turned her head and saw him looking back at her. The corners of his mouth tugged up. "Don't worry, you weren't out long."

What if she'd drooled on him?

"Um--" she stammered, blushing furiously. "Sorry, I--"

He touched her shoulder. "You don't need to apologize for anything."

She simply nodded, worried if she opened her mouth again, she was going to word vomit all over him. Wait...why was Aiden looking at her like that? She probably looked disgusting. She looked away and surreptitiously wiped her face with her arm. Mini would probably have something to say about that.

Suddenly, Aiden moved to a more upright position. Which meant that now, instead of lying against him, she was sitting against him. Aru was even more aware of how close he was to her. And then his hands landed on her shoulders, making her startle.

"Um," he started tentatively. "Do you mind--"

"No!" she said quickly. "Um, no. It's fine."

For a minute they just sat there. It was almost as if they were drawing comfort and strength from each other. Aru looked at him. The sunlight from the window illuminated his face until it nearly glowed. He wasn't just beautiful in moonlight, she realized.

Aru thought she could feel something lowering between them, a wall she hadn't noticed until it had fallen down.

"Aru, I..." Aiden started, but he seemed to stop short.

"Yeah?" Aru whispered back.

He shook his head and looked at her, clearly struggling to think of something to say. She leaned forward almost unconsciously. There was now barely any distance between their faces. He hesitated for a few seconds...and then closed it.

Aru's hands gripped Aiden's arms. They both held on to each other like if they let go, the world would fall apart. And all she could clearly focus on was Aiden, who kept her anchored through blizzards and earthquakes and monsters and whatever else the gods could throw at them--

No. She didn't need to think about the gods now. This moment was for Aiden, only with Aiden.

At last, they broke apart. Aru felt slightly dizzy. She searched for words but found nothing to say. Aiden looked similarly dazed. "Wow, Shah," he said at last.

She felt slightly breathless, like she'd just run a mile, but she smiled at him. "Could you...could you stay here? A little longer?"

"Yes," he answered immediately. His arms tightened around her again and she relished his warmth. "I'll always be there for you," he whispered in her ear as she closed her eyes again.

"And I'll be there when you need me," she replied.

And with that, she sank into the first real sleep she'd had since the Sleeper's house.