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violentdelightsandviolentends · 2 years ago

Text

Time.

You get shot in Colombia. Frankie, Benny, Santiago and Will all have their own ways of helping you heal.

Pairing - Santiago Garcia, Frankie Morales, Benny Miller, Will Miller x female reader

Age Rating - 18+

Warnings - Cursing, mentions of blood, gunshots

Word Count - 4329

Author's Note - hi lovely people. i loved writing this one so much oh my :( those four boys in one movie together is a dream. and i don't know if you noticed, but i have a real soft spot for will. and yes, i did photoshop ben afflecks character out of that picture. more than happy to write for any of the triple frontier boys individually - just send me an ask! as always, lots of love x

my other triple frontier fics - Tethered, Tranquility and Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Masterlist. Requests.

It’s been 6 days since you were shot.

6 days of blood, pain, sterility, stitches, hazy memories that float into your consciousness like smoke in the air.

You somehow remember it both clear as day and blurry as night.

The metallic taste of copper in your mouth, clear as day.

The searing, burning pain in your side, clear as day.

The panicked looks on the boys faces, the yelling, the frantic scrambling – clear as day.

The rest of it? Blurry as night.

You can’t remember getting home. One minute you were bleeding out on the ground in Colombia, and the next minute you’re back on US soil, lying in a bed in Houston Methodist Hospital.

You can’t remember your discharge. You fell asleep on those sterile, crinkly white sheets, and woke up in a soft bed, wrapped in a navy blue comforter that smells like Will.

All you’ve known for the last 6 days is sleep. That molten sleep that moves like molasses, warm and slow and sticky. The sun rises and sets, and you’re none the wiser. Floating aimlessly through unconsciousness, just you and your dreams.

Unbeknownst to you, you haven’t been alone for a minute since you got home. The boys have taken turns sitting by your bedside, heart rates rising whenever you stir. All of them silently processing what all of this means, for you and for them.

It was damn close. Too much blood. Pints after pints after pints of it. Pouring over Will’s hands, soaking into Benny’s jeans, slipping beneath Santiago’s boots, choking the air around Frankie where his forehead was pressed to yours, begging you to stay awake. All of them wondering the same thing – where has all of this come from? Surely one person can’t have so much blood in them. It can’t all be from her.

The Doctor said that you got lucky. Any more blood loss and you’d have lost your life too. Your surgeon said that you owed your life to whoever stopped the bleeding.

William ‘Ironhead’ Miller. He’d shoved his hand straight into the wound, applying as much pressure as he could without breaking any ribs. It was the worst thing he’d ever seen, but he was in fight or flight mode. He knew it had to be fight. He hoped you were making the same choice as you were lying there, breath rattling in your chest like pennies in a tin can.

Some would call it a miracle. Divine intervention, perhaps. You shouldn’t have survived. Scientifically, statistically, you should have died right there on that floor, in a mission gone wrong. Tragic accident. Caught in the crossfire. Collateral damage.

But you didn’t. Now, you’re half conscious in Will’s guest bedroom, enveloped by his scent. Warm, cozy, safe, and alive. You’re struggling to stay awake for more than ten, fifteen minutes at a time. It’s all catching up to you. You had to fight so hard to take each breath, that now you’re exhausted. The kind of exhaustion that sleep can’t fix. No, it’s settled into your gut, wrapped it’s limbs around your bones. It keeps you weighed down and heavy, a reminder of the trauma. You’re alive, but you’re tired. So tired.

The boys are worried. Worried beyond belief. When the Doctor told them she was happy to discharge you, reality hit the four of them like a high-speed freight train. How do they navigate this? You can’t go home. You can’t be by yourself. They’re all back on Texan soil, which means work, and family, and bills to pay, and routines to carry out. How do they factor in the woman they call their best friend, who’s currently in the deepest sleep of her life with a healing bullet hole in her side?

“I’ll take her,” Will had said. “She can stay with me, in my guest room. You guys can come over whenever you want. I have the most space, anyway.”

That was true. Santiago and Benny live in apartments, bachelor pads really, and Frankie’s second bedroom is his daughter’s room. She was only with him on weekends, but she needed a place to sleep, so that was him out of the question. Having you stay with Will made the most sense. They all agreed to come and sit with you in shifts, so Will could go to the grocery store, or for a run, or to take a shower. The Doctor never actually said that you needed twenty four hour surveillance, but the boys thought it would be best. Just in case.

So that’s exactly what they did. You’re on bed rest, and they’re all happy to play nurse for a few hours during the day, and to leave you with Will during the night. He’s been sneaking in to sleep in the armchair next to your bed. His room, a mere ten feet away, feels too far. He wants to be able to hear if you need his help. Just in case.

None of the boys quite know how to treat you. They don’t want to act any differently around you, but it’s hard not to. They haven’t seen you like that before. You, a force to be reckoned with. The backbone of the group. You, with your sharp wit, quick humor, blinding smile. You, who always seems to be a step ahead of them. You, a pillar of strength, proving yourself just as capable in this world designed for men. Lying on the ground, painted crimson, you looked fragile. Small. Frail. You looked so… innocent. So afraid. That was the scariest part for all of them – seeing the fear in your eyes. They’ve never seen that before. They never want to again.

So, they all take their different approaches. They cope the best way that each of them knows how.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

When Frankie visits, he always brings a book.

Cracking open the door, he pops his head around the frame, smiling as he sees both you and Will asleep – him in the chair, you cozy in bed. He gently squeezes the blond man’s shoulder, whispering as he wakes.

“I got her for a while. You go do what you need to do.”

Will shoots him a grateful smile and stretches his arms above his head, before padding out of the room, softly shutting the door behind him.

Frankie opens the curtains, letting the soft morning light fill the room. It illuminates your face, catches on the strands of your hair, making it glow. You look like an angel, in this orange haze. But Frankie already knew that.

Your eyes flutter open, and land straight on the broad man standing next to your bed, trusty cap sat atop his head. You smile, and his heart stops for a second. God, he’s missed that sight. All of the tension from the last week leaves his shoulders, and he sinks into the armchair next to you.

“Hi, Francisco,” you whisper, voice slightly hoarse from minimal use.

“Hi, cariño,” he whispers back. “You doing okay?”

You nod, golden smile still etched on your face. The wound in your side is a dull ache, and the psychological pain keeps washing over you in spontaneous waves. But you’re okay.

“You here to babysit me?” you tease.

He smirks, which is all the answer you needed.

“You don’t need to. I’m okay, I swear,” you insist.

He looks at you and quirks an eyebrow, the corners of his lips still turning up slightly.

“Well, you’re my baby, and I’m sitting,” he winks. “Now that we’ve established that, what do you wanna do for the next few hours?”

His abysmal attempt at a joke makes you chuckle, which in turn makes you wince, pain shooting through your abdomen. He jumps out of his chair towards you, placing a hand on your cheek gently.

“Shit, querida. I’m sorry. Are you alright? Do you need anything?”

Breathing deep and slow, you tilt your head to meet his eyes.

“Yes. For you to stop fussing. Sit down, Francisco. Your nervous energy is making me stressed.”

He exhales carefully, and presses a kiss onto the top of your head.

“Yes ma’am.”

He returns to his original place, and grabs a book from the nightstand.

“Have you read this already?” he asks, showing you the cover.

You shake your head, and he flips to the first page.

“It sounds good, actually. You comfy, cielito?”

You nod gently, holding his gaze. He flashes you one of his signature smiles – the rare, genuine, time stopping ones – and begins to read softly, in that dulcet, honeyed voice of his.

He reads to you for hours. You were only awake for 45 minutes, but he continued reading aloud anyway. Morning becomes afternoon, yellow sunlight beating through the open window. A gentle breeze blows the curtains and ruffles Frankie’s hair that is ever so slightly too long for his liking. He’d be perfectly content to read to you like this forever. He’s gotten so into the plot of the book that he doesn’t notice Will stood in the doorframe, watching with those careful eyes of his. They gleam blue in the sunlight, his golden hair glinting like citrine. He eventually catches Frankie’s eyes, and the older man makes his way over to the door, both boys talking in hushed whispers so as not to wake you.

“Has she been okay?” Will asks, eyes scanning your sleeping form.

“Perfectly fine. She was awake for about 45 minutes,” Frankie replies, pride evident in his tone.

“That’s the longest she’s been conscious since. Progress, huh?” Will smiles. Frankie can’t help but smile too. A week ago, they were huddled around your lifeless body, hands deep and bloody in your wound. Now, they’re watching you slumber peacefully, life returned to you like a gift from the universe.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

When Benny visits, he brings comfort with him.

He uses his key to let himself into Will’s house quietly, aware that you’re most likely asleep. It’s been a week and a half since everything happened, and while you’re awake more and more each day, you’re also still on bed rest.

Creeping up the stairs and peeking his head around the door that’s ajar, he finds Will sat at the end of your bed. You’re awake, but barely. The light shines from the hallway into the bedroom, and illuminates your tear stained cheeks.

Will wipes your cheekbone with his thumb gently, and moves to meet his brother. The older Miller pulls Benny into the hallway, shutting your door momentarily.

“She’s having a real bad day. The worst since she’s been home. The memories are flooding back man, they’re drowning her.”

All the colour is gone from Will’s face. He looks helpless. His brother hates it.

“I don’t know how to help her,” Will continues. “The tears won’t stop. It’s like every time she calms down, another nightmare takes her by surprise. I don’t know what to do, Ben. I don’t know what to do.”

Will’s voice is shaking, tears threatening to spill from those cerulean eyes. He has a hand fisted into the front of Benny’s shirt, as if he’s grounding himself. There’s something unsettling about seeing the calmest person in the room start panicking. Benny doesn’t like it.

“Hey, it’s okay. She’s gonna have bad days, that’s a given. Go get some fresh air, go for a drive or something. I’ve got her. I ain’t gonna leave her.”

Benny looks pointedly at his big brother, and inhales deeply. They exhale together, and Will wipes his face with the back of his hand.

“Are you sure?”

Benny nods. Will trusts him.

“Okay. Call me if you need anything and I will come straight back. I mean it, Ben. Anything.”

Benny pulls his brother into his chest, holding him for a moment. Will isn’t used to being the glue holding everything together, he thinks. It’s usually you.

Will pulls away and starts his journey down the stairs, momentarily pausing to watch Benny straighten his shoulders and clear his throat before opening your door carefully.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he smiles.

You don’t feel gorgeous. No, you feel like you’ve shattered into a million pieces in William Miller’s guest bedroom. The weight of your trauma has come crashing down on top of you suddenly. It’s suffocating and it’s choking you and no matter how many times you inhale, your lungs won’t fill with air. Tears keep streaking down your cheeks despite your best efforts to stifle them. You wonder if you’ll feel like this forever – forced to carry around the weight of surviving something that you weren’t supposed to.

Benny’s never been any good with words. So he tells you what he needs to with his actions instead.

He kicks off his shoes and shrugs off his jacket, throwing it on the chair. Then, he unbuttons his jeans and slides them off his legs, tossing them sideways with haphazard aim. The last thing to go is his t shirt, which he shucks over his head with ease, landing somewhere with the rest of his clothes. He moves across the room towards you and pulls back the comforter. He strokes your cheek with his knuckles gently, looking at you carefully to gauge your reaction. When he’s satisfied, he climbs into bed behind you, pulling you mindfully to sit in between his legs, his chest pressed to your back. He pulls the comforter back up over the two of you, and uses his arms to cage you in to him, enveloping you in his warmth.

Benny’s always run hot. You joke that he’s like a walking space heater, a radiator if you ever need one. Right now, it’s like having your own ball of sunshine, warming you gently from the outside in. You feel the safest you have in two weeks.

“Relax, baby,” he murmurs into your hair. He pulls you in tighter, and nudges your head to rest in the crook of his neck. You inhale deeply – the first real breath you’ve been able to take all day. He smells like sunshine, and salt, and sandalwood, and safety. You relax into him and let all the tension leave your body. You let go of the flashbacks, and the fear, and the chaos, and surrender yourself to Benny.

He stays with you like that for three days. He doesn’t separate himself from you more than a few inches for 72 whole hours, keeping his arms wrapped around you from behind, as if holding you together. When he gets up to go to the bathroom, he takes you with him. You stay attached for three days, skin to skin, allowing his warmth to seep into your bones, to settle your nerves. You’re convinced that no medicine could heal you the way Benny is. Science doesn’t have a match for this. It never will.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

When Santiago visits, he brings his guitar.

The first time he came to see you, right at the beginning, he sat with you for 20 minutes before he careened out of the room, gasping for air. The silence was strangling him, sending him into some sort of panic attack. Then, the guilt settled, and he felt like he’d betrayed you so badly that he couldn’t bring himself to go back in. He sat on the floor of the hallway with his back pressed against the door for 6 hours before Will returned home, concern coursing through his veins.

When Santiago explained what had happened, Will looked at him knowingly.

“You don’t have to be deathly silent, you know. You can watch some TV, turn the radio on. Frankie reads to her. Benny talks her ear off - doesn’t stop fucking rambling. I walked in the other day and he was explaining the current state of the NBA to her, team by team. She’ll sleep no matter what.”

Santiago nods, patting Will on the back lovingly before leaving, weighed down by shame.

The next time he visits, he brings his guitar.

If he’s honest with himself, he’s hoping you’ll be asleep. It’s easier to play for you if you aren’t looking at him like he hung the moon with those big, bright eyes of yours. But, lo and behold, he walks into the room you’ve made your own, and you’re wide awake.

“Hi, handsome,” you smile. “Where you been?”

“Oh, you know,” he smirks, “just caring for all the pretty girls that need my help.”

“And here I thought I was special,” you tease.

That smile of yours wraps itself around his heart, tangling in the core of him. You’ve always had that effect on the boys. One grin from you, and all of their problems melt away, even if just for a moment.

“You staying today, or you gonna run away again?”

You’re joking with him. Why are you trying to make him laugh? You should be upset, telling him that he’s a bad friend, that all of the other boys have sat with you for hours, so why can’t he?

But instead, you continue.

“I’m kidding, Santi. I get it, you know. I don’t think I’d be able to sit in a room with you lying there all half dead and helpless if the roles were reversed.”

You’re looking at him with so much understanding in your eyes that he has to choke down the tears that are trying to escape from him.

“It’s not that. It’s just – it’s my fault, bebita. You wouldn’t have even been in Colombia if it wasn’t for me. I’m the reason you got shot.”

He’s crying now – heavy, ugly sobs crawling their way from his chest, up to his throat. His knees give out, and he sits on the side of the bed, hands fisting in your comforter.

“Santi, baby. Hey. Look at me. Please, Pope.”

Your pleading gets his attention. He looks at you with those red rimmed, watery eyes, and your heart breaks so hard you swear you can hear it shatter.

“It wasn’t your fault, Santi. I followed you out there voluntarily. We all did. You know I’d follow you anywhere. I still would. It could have been any of us that got hurt. I’m glad it was me. I wouldn’t be able to stand seeing any of you in a hospital bed. It’d break me.”

You’re crying now too, at the thought of one of the boys in your situation. The bullets, the blood, the makeshift bandages they shoved into your side, ripping their shirts and tearing apart anything they could find. You couldn’t have survived that, if the roles were reversed. You wouldn’t have wanted to.

You press your forehead to his, hands tangling in the front of his shirt. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you into his chest, needing you as close as possible.

You fall asleep like that, face pressed into him, his heartbeat in your ear. Santiago tucks you back into bed gently and takes his place in the armchair, settling down. Pulling his guitar out of the case, he tunes it slowly, meticulously, before beginning to strum the strings carefully. He picks at the strings, playing you tune after tune, only stopping to stretch his arms and crack his knuckles. He plays for you for hours, time slipping by him like sand through his palms. When you wake, you keep your eyes closed, savouring his presence for just a moment longer.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

Will doesn’t visit.

He sticks steadily by your side, day in, day out. If Frankie visits for 6 hours, Will sits with you for the other 18. When Benny holds you for 3 days, Will gets anxious, popping his head around the doorframe every few hours, checking in just in case. Since everything happened, Will’s whole universe has revolved around you. Which, he’s realising, is the way it’s always been. His whole world has always been you. He’s just been forced to confront that truth now, and it’s scaring him.

He’s suddenly aware of the fact that he almost lost you. He’s never felt fear like that before. He’s had men press guns to his temple, shoot at him from mere feet away, fight him with their fists. That’s nothing, now. He’d take that any day over watching you lie there, drenched in crimson, dripping with pain. His hands, twisted into your side, wet and slipping, trying to quell the dam that’s broken inside of you. Your eyes, looking into his, terror grasping your whole body like a cold chill. When he falls asleep at night, all he can hear is the way you said his name, like it was the last thing tethering you to the Earth.

He makes a silent vow to himself. A promise - to never let you go again. To protect you forever, no matter what. All of this trauma has just made him love you more. He’s not sure what the future will look like, for him, or for you. But he knows that right now, you need him.

And so he pours all of his love into his actions. He makes you breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and sits with you as you eat slowly. He eats at your speed, too - always doing everything at your pace. He combs your hair every morning gently, brushes your teeth twice a day carefully. He tucks you in when you fall asleep, pulling the comforter around you, keeping you safe and warm. As soon as one of the other boys leaves, he takes their place, sitting in the armchair – making sure you’re never alone. Whenever you’re awake, he listens to you pointedly, nodding and smiling. When you have a bad day, he’s right there next to you, wiping the tears from your cheeks and murmuring reassurances gently.

He watches as slowly but surely, you come back to yourself. You’re awake more often, smiling more confidently, cracking jokes and asking for laughs. The two of you are chatting like you used to, about nothing and everything. And you watch as slowly but surely, he returns to Will. The frown lines in his forehead become less pronounced, the worry in his eyes fades slightly. The smiles he throws your way are bigger, more genuine. The scales balance out again.

You’ve been in bed for two weeks when you decide to ask him for a favor.

“Hey, Will?” you query, looking at the blond man who’s currently folding laundry on the dresser.

“Yeah, sweetheart?” he replies instantly, ready to give you anything you could possibly ask for.

“Can we go outside? I think I might go insane in this room real soon,” you smile, bright and bold.

He beams at you, relief washing over him like an ocean wave. You haven’t left your bed for a fortnight. He’s offered a couple of times, but you refused, scared to leave the comfort of the safe haven you’ve created. But you’re ready now.

“Of course we can. You want me to carry you?”

His tone is light, jesting, but you know he’s being serious. Neither of you are actually sure if you can walk all the way outside.

“I can walk if you carry me down the stairs? Not sure I’m quite ready for those yet.”

He grins at you, and your heart stops. That smile of his seeps into your pores, lifts you up, sends energy flowing through your veins. You’re alive, and you’re okay, and Will Miller is looking at you like you hung the stars in the sky. You feel invincible.

Admittedly, it does take you 20 minutes to get from your room to the back patio. Will throws a strong arm beneath yours, holding you up as you take the journey step by step. When you reach the stairs, he picks you up bridal style, carrying you carefully. Before he sets you back on your feet, he nudges his nose to yours, still grinning.

The sun soaks into your skin outside, gentle breeze rippling your t shirt that you’re now realising is Benny’s. The leaves rustle in the trees, and you inhale the world, as if seeing it again for the first time. Will sits right next to you on the bench, hand holding yours tightly, fingers interlaced as if he’s worried you’ll blow away.

You glance at Will’s watch and see that it’s only 1pm. You have so much time left. So many possibilities to be fulfilled, so many people to love, so many places to see. But for now, you press yourself into the blond man’s side, settling in. You fit perfectly. Almost as if this is where you belong.

“Can’t believe I almost died without telling you I love you,” you murmur. It’s quiet, but he hears you, loud and clear.

“It’s okay,” he reassures. “You’re here now. We have time. So much time.”

“Forever,” you whisper. “We have forever.”

He turns to look at you in the hues of the bright afternoon. His blond hair is glowing gold, and his blue eyes match the sky, hopeful and full of promise. His hands come up to cradle your face, and he caresses your cheeks with his thumbs, rubbing comforting circles into your skin. He moves in closer, and nudges his nose into yours. He breaks out into a grin, and you can’t help but join him. Leaning in, he presses his lips to yours, soft and reassuring. You melt into him, running one hand into his hair, the other at the nape of his neck. He pulls you impossibly closer, until every part of you is pressed together. The sun is still beaming, and the birds are chirping, and you have time.

“Forever,” he whispers into your mouth when he breaks the kiss.

“Forever,” you murmur back. “We have time.”

You have time.

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zennjiwrlds · 6 months ago

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Hola, I'm back for more food. Can I request a poly sbg (again.) with a fem reader who is like Wonyoung from Ive (and she's an undercover singer and they all find out because they searched up her group name because they heard people *cough cough *Barron* talking about her (yummy)

CLANDESTINE | sbg gang X wonyoung!reader | m. list

tw. none/barron the stank 🤮🤮

a/n. ew barron mentioned smh!! 🙀 also i know i did this very late but uh here u go 🐢🐢,, i think it'll be a oneshot mixed w some drabbles too cuz!!

a/n#2. also new style?! 🗣️ enjoy btw!!

Being a conspiratorial idol is a struggle ━━━ for the most part of studying at a school where some ruckus or tumult occuring most of the time, a majority of times, you'd have to wear a mask when you're not that congenial nor cozy in public, although as luck would have it, you're glad none of your friends at least knew your whole idol type of experience neither your existence as an artist. thence, you're pretty much at ease hanging around them, so you wouldn't really wear your mask on.

Until a fucking guy named “Barron” whom supposedly the school's trouble maker and a mass shitty manipulator ━━━ was talking about your whole secret identity with his friends or other schoolfellows in the corridors, they were crowding the confined hallway until you came making everyone proceed to you, presumably asking for an autograph, picture, etc. though everyone eventually stopped when a schoolmaster came in your way. you expected your group of friends to be here early than you yet your expectations failed to avail. at least for you.

The following day came, you were slightly overwhelmed or easily agitated, all owing to the fact yesterday and mostly Barron. and there he was again, talking about you for the fact that he still continued till now, and shit you were literally about to throw hands for that guy until Taylor suprised you from behind, and it added MORE problems to your mind, one, your circle of friends might hear what that boy is talking about, two, they might hate you for hiding it from them, three, they'll leave you forever leaving no friends which is pretty much a skill issue, four you'll become depressed over a simple problem which is huge to you.

Nonetheless, by good fortune, class had already started as your schoolmates passed by to their classrooms along with Barron to say the least.

⠀✦

"anyone else find [name] acting completely different till yesterday?" taylor questioned the group with a hint of concern in her voice. "yeah, she seems... dull. from my point of view to say the least of it." taylor's other twin responded with a compact shrug, earning a glance from others. "maybe some problems at home?" logan muttered, placing his palm under his jaw, "nah, her fam is fine." the blonde spoke confidently, leaning back on his seat, "how are you so sure? i mean, you're not that close to her either—", "asked their parents, they're all in good terms lol"

"you can't just question her parents without her knowledge—", "already did" the boy grinned insolently while he scrolled through his rectangular device, receiving a dagger from tyler as he looked back at the group.

"i did hear something about her from Barron," Ashlyn pressed a few buttons from her device before revealing a group of people, "plus there's this one girl who exactly looks like her", "or maybe [name]'s face card is too powerful?—" , "nope, this exactly looks like [name]. you can't change my mind" Tyler debated, looking fixedly at Ashlyn's phone.

"she looks nice" ben wrote on a pad of paper, receiving a small nod from others. "but why would she hide it from us though?" the deep brown haired girl was baffled, her face scrunched up. "maybe because she doesn't have confidence in us? i don't know" the copper hair coloured girl breathed heavily to show disappointment. "okay, let's just pretend we don't know any information we just acknowledge because—" taylor explained until she was cut by a notification from the gc, along with the other people from her group. nevertheless, there revealed a picture of [name] in her artist or idol form, in addition of aiden's message; "this u? loll".

likes, reblogs, and comments are always appreciated!!!! <33

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babes4pdd · 1 year ago

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Partner Project- Ben Marshall X reader (smut)!!!!!!

A/N- I think I might be crazy.

Warnings: This is smut so please only read if you're 18+

Fluffy Smut

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Psychology was probably going to be the class that killed you, it wasn’t the concepts per-se, but the sheer amount of work you did in that class. This week was no exception as you listened to your professor announce that she had chosen the groups for your third consecutive group project. As she introduced the project you found your imagination, and eyes focused on something else. Ben Marshall was one of the cutest boys you had ever seen in your life, you had found yourself staring at him since the first day of class back in September, he had come in late, apologizing and ducking his head as he squeezed into a vacant seat in the front row, he caught your eye from across the room and grinned at you, making your cheeks heat up and your eyes immediately look down. Ever since then you have always been consciously aware of his presence, your throat drying up when you run into him in the dining hall and you blushing when he holds the door for you at the library. As you stare at him you listen to your teacher rattle off names, half listening for yours and whoever else you’ll be working with. You keep watching Ben, who has his eyes locked on your teacher and is clueless to you eyeing him up. You somehow can’t stop imagining him kissing your neck and talking you through it. Oh fuck you think.

You hear your name and jerk, feeling like you just got caught displaying your worst fantasies to your psych 301 class. You nod and look to where your teacher is pointing, grabbing your bag and moving to where the other members of your group have congregated, ignoring her voice as you weave through chairs and desks to meet up with your classmates. Suddenly you feel a wave of something and turn your head at the perfect time, watching Ben Marshall walk up next to you. Oh fuck. “Hey,” he said, smiling at you, “I think we’re in the same group I’m Ben.” Oh fuck. He was talking to you, and he was smiling at you and you were looking up at him, listening to him introduce himself like you hadn’t daydreamed about his head between your legs. You introduced yourself, hardly believing what was happening as the two of you walked together to join your group. He asked you the usual, Major and Hometown, and he sounded like he really wanted to know, not that he was just asking to ask. The two of you joined your group and you listened to the work get divided up between the six members. You say you can work on a section of the powerpoint and Ben leaps to volunteer to work with you. Something about the way he eagerly asks if he can work with you makes your stomach lurch, the idea of him being so eager to be with you is really getting you hot for him. The group breaks and he turns to where you’re packing up to leave and asks “When do you want to meet to work on it?” as he watches you put away your laptop and zip up your backpack. He continues “I’m free Sunday at like four, we can do it in my dorm if you want”. Something about the way that he says that last part, you can tell he’s so nervous about this, can tell he’s never initiated anything with anyone before. “Um, yeah Sunday is good for me.” you say. “Cool” he says, smiling and breaking eye contact with you as his cheeks flush.

You texted him that you would be at his building in ten minutes and then took a final look in your mirror, Jesus Christ, you were nervous, you ran a hand experimentally through your hair and debated changing into something sluttier, but decided against it. You walk through campus to his building, checking your phone to see a text from him telling you to text him when you’re outside. You respond and a second later he’s opening the door to let you in, greeting you with a smile. Fuck, he looks good. You think, staring at his soft copper curls and his navy sweater that’s pushed back to his elbows. He leads you down the hall, up a flight of stairs and to a wooden door that has three matching name tags that proclaim “Ben”, “Martin” and “John”. It takes him a second to open the door, and then youre inside. It’s surprisingly silent for a dorm shared by three boys and Ben must pick up on it because he answers the question you have yet to ask “One of my roommates went home for the weekend and the other is at work for the next four hours.This place is usually a fucking circus, but I made sure it’d be nice for your visit.” he’s funny, you realize, and oh god is him being funny doing things to you. You try to ignore the heat between your legs and instead follow him though the living room to an open doorway, it’s not until you reach the doorway that you realize that you’re in his bedroom, in all of its navy sheet, Jurassic Park poster glory. He kicks the door closed after you walk in “Sorry, but I only have one desk chair.” He says, “That’s ok, I don’t mind sitting on the bed.” you said softly, sinking down next to him on his twin xl, watching him open his laptop and eventually doing the same. He shifts and you feel his thigh brush against yours, making something inside you scream.

“Hey, can you double check this, I want to make sure it makes sense.” You say, it’s stupid, you’ve barely written anything, but you want to feel his shoulders lean into yours and his body radiate heat next to yours. “Yeah, let me see” he says, and you angle your screen to show him, as he reads it you lean in, trying as hard as you can to just seem like you’re trying to also look at the words written. “Yeah I think it’s really good so far, like we just need to remember-” your face is right in his as he moves from staring at your laptop to looking up at you. His eyes lock on yours and you can feel yourself blushing as he forgets what he was saying before and instead softly says “Can I please kiss you?” You nod and he moves up to press his lips to yours, he’s gentle and soft and you chase his lips when he breaks the kiss. “I really liked that.” you said softly, one of your hands coming up to brush through his soft curls as he grins. He kisses you again, hands cupping your face. “I have to tell you something.” He says, the next time he takes a breath, you nod and he continues “I really, really like you, I’ve had a crush on you since the first day I saw you.”. He seems really embarrassed by this, and you feel your thighs get hot at the sweet way he continues to hold your face.

“I really like you too Ben,” you say, which earns you a large grin and another kiss from him. He continues to kiss you, wrapping his arm around your waist, making you lay back, him on top of you, you can feel him hard against your thigh and he kisses you again. You roll your hips against his feeling his hard dick and he groans before disconnecting from you “Fuck I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I-” you cut him off by kissing him, “No its okay, I’ve been wet since I walked into this building with you,” you say through labored breaths. He groans at that, kissing you again, licking into your mouth as he puts his hands all over you. “I’ve never done this before,” he says, “Neither have I.” You respond. “But I bet we can figure it out together.”.

He’s on top of you, the two of you making out while you work to pull off his sweater and unbutton his jeans. You unzip his jeans and go to wrap your hand around him before he stops you “Fuck, I can’t, you can’t touch me, want to wait, want to be in you. Please.” Your head goes fuzzy as you feel one of his hands come down in between your legs, pushing your underwear aside so he can slowly and inexpertly slide his fingertips through your folds, feeling how wet you are and gently exploring your cunt. “Fuck, higher, higher, yes right there.” You breathe out as he rubs circles around your clit and kisses you sweetly, god he knows how to kiss and it make your legs turn to jello. “Please, Ben, please fuck me, god please.” He kisses you again before he moves off of you to put on a condom. You hear him groan as he lines himself up with your entrance, slowly pushing himself in as he kisses your neck and whispers into your ear. “Oh my god.” he chokes as he bottoms out inside of you “I’m not going to last long, I’m sorry”. He said, his hands touching any exposed skin he could see, desperate to be close to you. You kissed him as he fucked you, tangling your fingers in his hair and scratching your nails over his back. He moves his hips slowly, picking up speed as you pull his hair harder and moan into his mouth. His mouth trails from yours and starts sweetly kissing your neck while he fucks you harder, dropping a hand to your clit to keep rubbing it in tight circles as he brings you closer to your approaching orgasm. “I’m really close.” you moan as he nods and pushes his hips into you harder, groaning a “Please” and rubbing your clit as the two of you cum together. He’s so sweet afterwards, kissing you gently and disposing of the condom before he brings you a glass of water and rubs your back while the two of you lay together in his sheets. “I really liked that. And um, I really like you.” he says awkwardly with a laugh. “I like you too.” you tell him, and you watch him smile and thank your stupid fucking psychology class for this.

#snl #please dont destroy #x reader #please dont destroy fanfic #ben marshall #ben marshall fanfic #ben marshall x reader #ben marshall smut #please dont destroy x reader #smut fanfic

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cor-byn · 5 years ago

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Maximus Confidencia Might Be Wearing Off - Ben Copper X Reader

A/N: Hello There! I haven’t been feeling well as of recent, so I wrote this incredibly short fic to cheer myself up. I hope it cheers you up as well!

Word Count: 803

Summary: Ben and the Reader have a discussion after attending the Celestial Ball together. Warnings: None :)

Y/N sat quietly in the artifact room, a book in hand, savoring the quiet she now had. Since the Celestial Ball last evening, she had been bombarded with questions regarding her and Ben attending the ball as dates.

She knew that gossip regarding dates was likely to happen from the moment the ball was announced (Hogwarts students had a bad tendency to gossip about relationships), but unfortunately for her and Ben, they were the only ones in their group who had paired off. Therefore, all the gossip had been directed towards them. Specifically her, as given Ben's quiet nature, most people sought her out to ask questions.

While she certainly didn't mind having positive attention for once (she would take someone calling her and Ben cute together any day, over being called a lunatic like her brother), she couldn't give an honestly good answer to most of their questions. The reason for this being, mainly, that she and Ben had not yet discussed the status of their relationship. Given both of their introverted natures, as well as inexperience in the realm of dating in general, Y/N doubted that they would have a conversation about their standing for quite some time. Thus, she opted to try and distract herself, settled in between the shelves and beginning to devour her book, only slightly registering the calming sound of rain tapping on the stone roof above her.

As wonderful as Y/N had found her Hogwarts adventures to be this far, she truly savored the simple moments as well.

Within meer seconds, her welcomed silence was broken by an out-of-breath Ben, who had barged in without knocking, and had shut the door quickly behind him. Y/N looked up from her book and blinked in surprise, blood rushing to her cheeks as she studied his form over.

"Ben… is everything alright?" Legitimately concerned, given the shocked look on his face, Y/N put her book aside, and stood up, meeting him just below eye level.

"I-I… Sorry. I didn't r-realize you were in here." Ben took a deep breath and backed away from the door, taking a few steps closer. "Tulip was chasing me, trying get me to tell her a-about… u-us. I managed to loose her, thankfully." He let out a relieved laugh, rubbing his neck sheepishly, his hand just barely grazing the bottom of his honey-blonde hair. How desperately did Y/N want to run her hands through it? She'd never tell.

Offering a smile, she laughed softly at his nervous demeanor. While most students found it annoying, she found it quite charming. "It's alright, Ben… I mean, the room is basically yours after all. I'm honestly intruding." Truth be told, Ben really was the only one who tended the upkeep of the artifact room. At the very least, he was the only one who bothered to dust. "Also, Tulip was trying to ask you about the Ball? People have been chasing me all day to ask." She laughed nervously, not exactly sure if she wanted to open this particular can of worms. However, she figured she better ask sooner rather than later, and risk looking not interested.

Ben sat down on the floor, back against the bookcase, beckoning Y/N to follow. She did in suit, sitting next to him, her back pressed against the wooden feature as well.

"Yes… Penny, Tulip, and Rowan have tried to interrogate me about it thus far. Honestly, I'm not sure what to tell them?" His chocolate brown eyes locked into her, studying her form over with careful detail, trying to gain her reaction.

A dusting of pink covered Y/N's cheeks, as she took a deep breath to steady herself. She had always struggled slightly with bravery. "Well, I honestly had quite a bit of fun last night… I hope you did as well. And h-honestly, I was wondering if you might be interested in going on another date sometime… with m-me?" She smiled up at him from under her lashes, feeling like she could melt in his warm gaze.

Ben broke into a smile, and in a sudden burst of bravery, picked up Y/N's hand and intertwined her fingers with his own. "I would l-love that. I was planning to ask you, but honestly I was rather scared to. Maybe Maximus Confidencia is started to wear off… But I thought Flitwick said it was permanent?"

Y/N let out a soft laugh, not ready to give up the secret quite yet. As much as she liked Ben's shy nature, she also enjoyed seeing him act with more bravery- he honestly seemed happier. "He did, but worse comes to worst, I can cast it again!"

Ben laughed softly, gently squeezing Y/N's hand gently. "I don't know what I would do with y-you."

A/N: Thanks for reading! I’ve been considering writing a much longer second part to this! Let me know if you think I should :)

#ben copper #ben copper x mc #ben copper x reader #hphm ben #hphm #ben copper reader insert #ben copper x jacob's sibling

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benscursedkid · 5 years ago

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courage

ben copper x mc!reader

a/n: for hphm fictober day one. the theme was courage (i am going by inktober day themes tho simply bc i felt it would be easier for me) so this happened! i hope the length isn’t a problem but i just quickly wrote this up in between study sessions which i now have to return to so i’m sorry it’s so late!! :((

*also: i will try to do a different character everyday with a gender neutral mc!*

*keep in mind this is extremely unedited and does not precisely follow the in-game script!!*

The breeze tickled the back of his neck, pressing chaste kisses to the skin there as he twiddled his thumbs. His heart was beating so loudly in his chest he could hear it pulsing in his ears and his face felt hot. His bottom lip remained trapped between his teeth as he paced back and forth, waiting for you to arrive.

This was a bad idea.

He knew it the second he heard your feet scrape across the ground, his eyes meeting yours. In his defense, it never really seemed like the best idea to begin with, but he’d decided he had already wasted enough time worrying over it.

The worst you could say was “no”, he knew this, but as you began to near him he realized that that’s a really scary thing to hear.

“Hi, Ben,” You say once you reach him, trying hard to ignore the fluttering of your own heart, unbeknownst to your friend before you. “I’m glad you were able to meet me here.”

The blonde just nods, doing his best to act nonchalant— and failing miserably. “Me, too. There’s actually, uhm..” He swallows, forcing the words past his teeth with a grain of salt. “..something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Oh,” You blink, not having expected this from him. Idly, you wonder what it could be. “Uh, me, too, actually.”

“You can go first if you’d like.”

“It’s okay, it can wait.”

Nodding again, more to himself now than you, he rubs the back of his neck. “Okay, well.. I was just wondering what you’re doing for the ball. You know, if you had found someone to go with yet.”

Your lips tug downward instinctually, reminding you of the fact that if this goes south, you’ll really have no one to accompany you. Not to mention make a fool of yourself...

“No,” You lament, a sigh flying past your lips. “Not yet, but.. hopefully soon.”

Of course you had a plan, someone already in mind. He should’ve known it wouldn’t be too hard for you to find a date. Save for the few first years afraid of the notorious ‘hogwarts curse breaker’, almost anyone in the school would jump at the chance to take you. Why would you want him when you could have anyone?

“What about you?” He hears you say, snapping him back from his self-deprecating thoughts. You stare at him, inquisitive and sincere. Were it anyone else he’d be shocked, but he’s used to your kindness by now. “Anyone pique your fancy?”

His face heats up and he’s sure his cheeks are pink now. “Well, actually that’s what I wanted to talk to you about..”

Your heart catches in your throat. Could it be... it couldn’t, right?

You nod for him to continue and he takes a deep breath, gathering all of his courage. He steadies himself before a spew of words fall from his mouth in a hurried jumble. “I’m terrified to do this but— you wouldn’t want to go to the celestial ball with me would you?”

He winces, preparing for the painful impact of rejection, the fateful blow of unrequited feelings... but it doesn’t come.

Cracking a single eye open, he chances a peek at your face, only to find the widest, most lopsided grin he’s ever seen setting prettily on your face. Your cheeks glow with a rosy hue and he swears it’s unfair, just how endearing the small action is.

“I’d love to be your date, Ben,” Is what floats merrily to his hears, the sound melodious and soft like sugar.

Now it’s his turn to grin, the curve of his lips nearly splitting his face in half. A breath of relief escapes him and sunddenly his shoulders feel a little lighter and perhaps the stars in his eyes a little brighter, too.

Without being able to stop yourself, you close the remaining short distance between you and press a chaste kiss to his cheek. Your own begin to burn the second you realize what you’ve done, but seeing the look on his face was definitely worth it.

Your date goes perfectly, beyond perfect even, but of course it would with you by his side. Even once he’s changed out of his fancy clothes and slithered into his bed to dream about the night he had— a dream come true in its own right —he can’t believe he was able to ask you. Who knew all it took was a little courage to go so far?

Who knew he had it in him?

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domaslut · 2 years ago

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Look at them, please… Yes, that’s Klaus Mikaelson’s quote (the Originals). That’s a little update because later today I’m going to host an event and I had nothing to post in the meanwhile! ❤️

He was already hot as a teen. I can only imagine how hot he would be now, if only JC blessed us with his presence in Mc’s life again😡🤌🏻 *angry italian noises*

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aria-xue · 5 years ago

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oh look a redraw

@/Jamcity HOW COULD YOU RUIN SUCH A PRECIOUS BEAN.

Fight me

#ben copper #ben copper x mc #hogwarts mystery #harry potter #Harry Potter Hogwarts mystery #hphm ben #hogwarts mystery fanart #hogwarts mystery oc #hogwarts mystery meme #fantastic beats and where to find them #here starts the vaguely related tags:#fight me #jam ccity why #chester davies #ben copper x reader #tulip karasu #diego caplan #felix rosier

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vastly-fixated-devotee-667 · 5 years ago

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come to me

i’ve never actually posted any of my writing on tumblr because i’ve never been into it enough to want to share it but i did this for fun and though it’d be fun to share. it's based off come to me by the goo goo dolls, and was technically written to be ben x my mc, but i made it mc-neutral (aside from the fact that it’s a female slytherin, but) for fun. i hope this is well-received, ahahah

(for clarification, anything in green is in mc’s pov, and anything in red is in ben’s. this is a slight au where it kind of takes place later than actual hphm does, and mc isnt the actual mc from the game.)

i’ll be kind if you’ll be faithful; you be sweet and i’ll be grateful. cover me with kisses, dear; lighten up the atmosphere. keep me warm inside our bed; i got dreams of you all through my head. fortune teller said i’d be free, and that’s the day you came to me.

i laid back in my chair, contemplating my life choices and why i ever thought taking this class was a good idea. divination was a bullshit concept and professor trelawney was a complete phony. at least it was an easy o, as you could basically make up any „prophecy” and trelawney would accept it.

i swirled the tea in my cup, wanting so badly to drink it. but trelawney drained it so she could help me „read the tea leaves” — whatever that means. i assumed it would mean someone was going to die, whether it was me, one of my friends, or just some random person i’d never met. whatever she was in the mood for, i guessed.

„ah, miss [l/n], how fortunate you are,” she said. “the shape — it is a bird. meaning, you will soon find freedom. be on the lookout for any good omen that might free you.”

free me from what? boredom? i guessed the future that was predicted was to be in — i checked my watch — approximately ten minutes. lucky me.

when the aforementioned ten minutes passed, i eagerly threw my books into my bag and left the stuffy, perfume-filled tower. my next class was history of magic, and that was the one class where i was always able to slip into the background and stay unnoticed. a rare instance of happiness for me.

as i stepped off the bottom rung of the ladder and turned around, i immediately ran into someone, dropping my bag and causing its contents to strew across the corridor. the both of us hastily apologized and dropped to the floor to gather my books and quills. he handed me my charms and potions textbooks, and after the commotion, it was the first time i truly looked at him. gryffindor in my year, blond, brown eyes, pale. the one who was known through gossip as the „cowardly gryffindor”. ben copper. an oxymoron personified.

„thanks,” i said. „and sorry, again. i should’ve been watching where i was going.”

„no, i’m sorry; i’m the one who wasn’t paying attention,” he said, his face flushed pink. he scratched the back of his neck. „er, i’m ben, by the way.”

„yeah, i know,” i said. „i’m [m/c], but i’m guessing you already knew that.”

„er... i probably should have known that, considering we’re in the same year. i guess i just try not to interact with slytherins much.”

i snorted. “well, yeah, we’re in the same year, but i meant you probably just recognize me because of my dad.”

he tilted his head. „your dad?”

i raised an eyebrow. „[dad’s name]? retired seeker for the pride of portree?”

he scrunched his eyebrows, then a look of realization washed over his face. „oh, that’s quidditch; isn’t it? i don’t really know anything about quidditch. muggle-born.” he flinched, obviously hesitant to reveal that information as if i were going to berate him for such a fact.

„oh. that makes a lot of sense. but you’ve not even, like, heard of me through gossip? i’m sure your friends know who i am.”

he shrugged coyly. „i don’t really have any friends.”

my eyebrows shot up. „oh. well, uh, i’d be your friend, if you’d like.”

„really? a star quidditch player’s slytherin daughter friends with the cowardly gryffindor mudblood?”

„hey, don’t call yourself that! you seem really wonderful, despite what people say. you don’t appear to be half as fearful as people seem to think. i mean, you’ve been talking to me for this long, so that’s something. besides, it’d be refreshing to be friends with someone who doesn’t want to get acquainted with me because of my dad.”

his face lit up. „then, i’d love to be your friend.”

i gave him what i hoped was a warm smile. „great! see you later, then, new friend.”

i got to history of magic class before i could be accounted for being late. maybe, just maybe, trelawney’s prophecy was right this time around.

the months flew by, and ben and i grew closer and closer each passing week within. he was the first friendship i’d made in my three years at hogwarts that didn’t end in wanting to meet my dad or anything of the like. in fact, it was steering toward ending in a whole new, completely pleasant manner.

as days passed, we seemed to get more comfortable with being not just emotionally closer, but physically closer as well. time was often spent in the tranquility of the library or the solitude of the artifact room, huddled up close to each other, sharing warmth. on numerous occasions, we’d even fall asleep in either room, slipping into nonsensical twists on our pleasant reality. while i had no way of telling the contents of his, my own dreams were filled with notions of the two of us being something more than simple friends. while at the time i never would’ve said it aloud, they weren’t exactly the kind of dreams i’d consider nightmares. far from it, actually. they could’ve even been considered prayers. prayers to the metaphorical god that was my own bravery, asking me to work up the courage to make any sort of move. yet, all i could muster was a few stolen kisses on his cheeks, nose, forehead. nothing serious. nothing that could’ve been mistaken for anything more than an exchange between close friends.

come to me, my sweetest friend. can you feel my heart again? i’ll take you back where you belong, and this’ll be our favorite song. come to me with secrets bare. i love you more, so don’t be scared. and when we’re old and near the end, we’ll go home and start again.

„lumos.” the tip of my wand lit up the face of the watch on my wrist. „nox.” 11:37. no hope in falling asleep any time soon.

i sat up and tore off a piece of parchment from the scroll nearest me. „lumos.” by the dim wandlight, i found my pen and wrote the one word „awake” in the center of the parchment, followed by a question mark. at the bottom right, i wrote a dash and a capital „[first initial]”. i strapped the note to the leg of my dad’s old owl, millie, and gave her directions to send it to ben. she complied and flew out of my dormitory.

no longer than five minutes later, she returned with another piece of parchment on her leg — a different one from the one i gave her. i unstrapped it from her and read it.

i never sleep; don’t you know? —b

i chuckled and shook my head. i tore off a new piece of parchment and scribbled down another note.

come to me. —[first initial]

millie obediently delivered the note again and returned shortly with another.

to your common room? you know i can’t get in. and i’d rather not try. not with felix rosier on duty. —b

i rolled my eyes and composed another note.

i’ll wait for you outside to let you in. please? i’m a lonely insomniac. —[first initial]

millie delivered and returned one last time.

fine. heading down now. —b

„nox.” my wandlight went out and i crept into my common room and quietly pushed open the door. hardly a minute later, ben arrived, moving swiftly so as to avoid getting caught. i impulsively hugged him to thank him for coming. we sat on the couch in the lounge, snuggled up close to each other. it was a comfortable silence, but i still felt glad when he broke it.

„why can’t you sleep?” he asked.

i shrugged. „got a lot on my mind, i guess. hard to shut my mind down when there’s so much running through it.”

„like what?”

„i dunno. things. unimportant things that still manage to worm their way into my brain. what about you? what fuels your insomnia?”

„fear, mostly. when you’re afraid of everything, it’s hard to not think of something that scares you.”

„i never really wondered until now, but why are you afraid of everything? i mean, sorry if that sounds rude, but— yeah. you know what i mean.”

„it’s mostly the entire aspect of magic. my whole life, i grew up pretty sheltered and all, but when i heard magic exists, it basically... turned my life upside down. i was already a generally anxious kid, but then this whole new, dangerous concept was introduced to me as real even though i went my whole life believing it was a fictional thing...” he cleared his throat. „sorry. i know it’s stupid.”

„no, no, it’s not stupid. i know what it’s like to be afraid.” i hesitated. „the reason my dad doesn’t play quidditch anymore is — well, for one, he’s too old, but — because he had a really bad injury during his last game. he got hit by a bludger and knocked to the ground from fifty meters in the air. he was in st. mungo’s for a few days. but it was just the amount of pain he was in... it made me extremely cautious. i avoided any situation that could potentially end in any sort of physical pain. it was bad. i’m still sort of that way, but i always felt like a coward for being so fearful. i never really realized cowardice wasn’t define by a person’s fears... but i know that now. and it might do you some good to be aware of it, too.”

it was dark and hard to see, but i could hear the smile on his lips as he spoke. „thanks, [m/c].”

i burrowed my head into his chest. „no problem, ben.”

an hour passed, and my eyelids threatened to fall like boulders on the edge of a cliff, but i willed myself to stay awake. if i fell asleep, that would almost guarantee ben getting caught being in another house’s common room.

as the time neared 2:00 ᴀ.ᴍ., i shook ben to make sure he wasn’t asleep. „hey. you probably should get back to your own common room.”

he rubbed his eyes. „what time is it?”

„1:57.”

we reluctantly stood and i walked him to the door. after saying goodnight, we wound up in a hug that lasted nearly two minutes before we came to our senses.

„ben?” i stopped him before he walked out of sight.

he turned back to me. „yeah?”

i took a shaky breath. „i love you.”

there was a pause, and my heart pounded loudly into the silence.

„i love you, too,” he said finally, and i’d never heard any sweeter poetry.

i caught you burning photographs, like that could save you from your past. history is like gravity: it holds you down away from me. you and me, we’ve both got sins; i don’t care about where you’ve been. don’t be sad and don’t explain; this is where we start again.

i tore out of the potions classroom as soon as professor snape dismissed the class. i couldn’t believe how klutzy i was, spilling my entire potion and all right onto snape’s robes. i was to have detention for two weeks, and i’d never hear the end of it from my dorm mates.

i sought out the artifact room for an escape, only to find it already in use. the crumpled figure of [m/c] sat on the floor, surrounded by photographs, some scorched around the edges. she picked up another with a shaky hand, oblivious to my presence. „incendio.” the photograph caught fire and she watched it be swallowed by the flames, flames that combated the streaks of watery tears that ran down her cheeks.

„[m/c]?” i said, causing her to jump. „what’s going on?”

she quickly wiped her cheeks on her sleeve and kicked the photographs behind her. „nothing; it’s— it’s nothing. just some old photographs i wanted to get rid of.”

i knelt down and picked up a photograph, myself. it pictured what seemed to be a young trista and an older boy who looked quite similar to her. „who is this?”

she swallowed, realizing there was probably no way out of this. „my brother.”

i sifted through the other images. they all showed the same two faces throughout the years. she never even told me she had a brother. „why are you burning pictures of you and your brother?”

„because.”

i looked her in the eye, attempting to show how dead serious i was. she’d always do this for me when something was bothering me, so it was about time i returned the favor. „because why?”

„i just... don’t want to look at them anymore.”

„why?”

„because it... it hurts to be reminded of him in such a way.”

„why?”

the tears she was holding back began to fall. „because he’s dead, ben. this was what it was like back when we were kids, and... i just don’t want to think about that. not knowing that we’ll never be able to relive the memories.”

„and you really think this is the best way to cope? you’re going to regret doing this in the future. besides, your brother would want you to remember him like this; wouldn’t he? i’m so sorry for your loss, [m/c], but, please, be rational.”

she let out a soft sob and dropped the photograph in her hand. she hid her face in her hands and i put an arm around her shoulders. it was a little bit before she spoke again. „i just wanted to be like him. but i’ve already blown it. i’ve made friends with people i shouldn’t have, and that led to saying and doing things i shouldn’t have, and—”

„[m/c],” i stopped her. „anything you’ve done in the past is irrelevant now. i’ve known you for a while now, and you’re one of — no, the nicest person i’ve met at this school. and that’s what matters right now.”

she looked me in the eye for the first time since i found her in there and whispered a small „thanks.” her eyes fell back onto the photographs that laid on the floor.

i took a breath, hoping talking about her brother might make here feel better. „what was his name?”

„jacob.”

i nodded and paused, thinking of the best way to continue. „what did he do? for a job? or was he still in school?”

„he was an auror. that’s... that’s how he died. this summer. he was dueling a powerful dark wizard when he... struck a nerve, i guess. wizard fired the killing curse, and... that was that.”

„i’m sorry.”

she shrugged with a small shake of her head. „i want to be an auror like him, though. he helped put a lot of bad people away. i want to do that, too.”

i smiled in what i wanted to come off as a supportive way. „i’m sure you will. you’ll make your brother proud.”

a smile washed across her forlorn face. „thanks.”

„[m/c]?” i said. „could you come here?”

„what’s up?” she stood.

„just, uh... just come with me.”

i led her out of the great hall where she was eating lunch and to the artifact room. i pointed out the big, black spider that rested on the chalkboard.

she looked at me, amused. „that’s what you needed me for?”

i flushed. „you don’t have any problem getting rid of them, and, well...”

she rolled her eyes. „is that why i’m your girlfriend? because i can get rid of spiders for you?”

i rubbed the back of my neck. „it’s one of the many benefits.”

she chuckled and planted a kiss on my cheek. then, she turned to the spider. „all right, you; it’s time to stop tormenting ben. wingardium leviosa.” the spider hovered to the will of her wand and she led it out to the courtyard, dropping it onto the grass. „there. you’re free to relax in your hopefully-spider-free-for-now hideout.”

„thanks.” i grinned shyly. how did i get so lucky to earn her love? „i love you.”

„i love you, too.”

today’s the day i make you mine, so get me to the church on time. take my hand in this empty room. you’re my girl and i’m your groom. come to me, my sweetest friend; this is where we start again.

i gazed at myself in the mirror, adjusting my tie for the umpteenth time. i was determined to make sure everything was perfect for such a perfect day. it was hard to believe i was actually to be marrying the one i had loved since my third year.

a knock on the door drew me out of my trance. „ben? can i come in?” it was [m/c].

i walked to the door and laid my hand on the handle, but i hesitated. „isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”

i heard her laugh. „muggles have such ridiculous superstitions. come on; just let me in.”

i drew in a breath and opened the door. the breath i took was knocked out of me when i saw how she was dressed. a flower crown composed of our collective favorite flowers rested on her head. her pastel green dress fell to her knees and she wore her usual black ankle boots. she insisted on not having too fancy nor traditional of a wedding, and i was set on doing whatever made her happy.

„what’s up?” i said.

her face fell as she remembered the reason she had come. „i miss him. i wish he were here.”

i tilted my head, wondering who she meant. then, i realized. her brother. „oh. i’m sorry.”

she stayed silent a moment, her eyes on the floor. „he was engaged before his death. the wedding never happened. and now... he’s not here for mine.” her eyes finally met mine. „this is all everything i’d imagined it to be, except for that one aspect.”

„i’m sorry, [m/c]; i really wish i could—”

she took me by surprise when she flung her arms around me. „don’t apologize. i’m thanking you.”

„thanking me?”

„my brother was never going to be able to attend. that was inevitable. i realize that. but everything else... everything else is just as i wanted. and i owe that all to you.”

i smiled modestly. „well, we had some help from penny...”

„but it’s you who’ll be standing opposite me at the alter. and that’s all i could ask for.” she released me from her grasp and took my hand. „now, what do you say we get out there and seal the deal?”

the music that played was a perfect mix of wizard and muggle music, shaped to fit ben’s and my taste. we danced amongst the other partners to come to me by the muggle band the goo goo dolls. as the rest of the world fell away and it was just him and me on the dance floor, it easily became my favorite song — our favorite song. another chapter in our history had come to a close that day, but the whole of our book wouldn’t end for a long time.

#hogwarts mystery #harry potter #ben copper #ben copper x reader #ben copper x mc #ben copper x jacob’s sibling #jacob’s sibling #hphm mc #hphm

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pinkykitten · 6 years ago

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Ben Copper Aesthetic

[i made this just for fun i dont get requests for this or anything i just genuinely love all the characters in hp hogwarts mystery the game. so i put in like a sandwich in the aesthetic cuz in the game ur most likely eating a sandwich with him lol but yeah i just do these for fun so tell me what u guys think and oh oh oh i almost forgot i chose actors for all of the characters like what if they made a movie about the game, the actor is saw for ben was alex pettyfer let me know what yall think, do u think this is a good face for him? also i write fics for hp characters plus these, and if u want a reader based on this ben then just ask me in my ask box! u have to say tho ms. writer’s ben copper or something along the lines of that]

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me-in-hogwarts-mystery · 6 years ago

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Trust, Pt.1 - Ben Copper x MC

Ship: Ben Copper x MC

Summary: A walk through Ben and Y/N’s story, from the moment they met until things get difficult.

Requested: Yes - “Hi!! I really love your fics and I was wondering if you could maybe do a fem! reader x Ben Copper?”

Warnings: Mentions of attempts at murder (?)

A/N: Surprise! I’m not dead (but almost). I’ve decided to make this a two-parter because if I don’t post this now, I’m never going to get it done. It’s a bit weird, a bit rushed probably, but I hope you’ll like it. :)

I raised my eyes at the piercing sound of a half-suffocated scream across from me in the Charms classroom. At first, I couldn't see anything - there wasn't but thick smoke covering the students sitting in the other side of the classroom; then professor Flitwick waved his wand and where the smoke had been two figures, one with burned hair and one with golden locks clad in thick blackness. The blond boy had a terrified look on his face. “Mister Kim, I beg you to be more careful. I shan't let this pass more than once” professor Flitwick said sternly, his forehead creased with slight worry as he looked over the blond-haired boy, while the other one bit his lip. “Miss L/N, you seem to have understood my lecture well. Would you mind helping mister Copper recover his senses?” the professor turned to me with pleading eyes. “Of course, sir” I muttered, getting up from my seat slowly just as the boy moved to the aisle. We walked side by side, and as soon as we were out of the classroom, the boy collapsed against the wall. “No!” I let out involuntarily, and he raised his narrowed eyes at me. “You're shaking terribly,” I stated, then I remembered we didn't really know each other yet. “My name is Y/N, by the way. Who are you?” “Ben Copper,” his voice was strangely squeaky, “I'm sorry. I'm just really afraid of unpredictable events”. “No worries”, I was unsure about how to approach him, as he seemed fragile at that moment. And yet, maybe distracting him could be a good method. “So, Ben, what's… um… your favourite food?” He looked at me strangely, but he was visibly glad for my change of topic. “I wouldn't really know…” And it is with a question about food, that my friendship with Ben Copper started.

~○~○~○~○~○~

“Ben! Where’s Ben?” I asked out loud, storming where all my friends, short of one, were studying next to the Black Lake. “Who cares?” Rowan looked at me with an inch of disgust on her face, then swallowed it down, hiding her face in the textbook in front of her. “I think I saw him near the Artefact Room, that's where he always hides. Try looking for him there” Penny suggested, her eyes moving between me and Rowan. Without saying anything else, I ran off. I hadn't seen him since he’d been to the Hospital Wing after the cursed ice incident. “Please be here… please…” I muttered to myself as I opened the door to the room, slowly stepping in, breathing the stuffy air that smelled of dust and old parchment. No sign of Ben whatsoever, no sign of anyone but a moist cloth that lay abandoned on the dirty floor. I felt a strange ache in my chest. I remembered his pained look when he was stuck in the ice. His freezing, starving, tired form. At that moment I would have done anything to be in his place, as I knew it was my fault and mine alone. If I had just stayed home, this wouldn't have happened. Then again, I hadn't done anything at all. It was all because of my brother. My idiot of a brother, who should have kept his mad brains under control. He should have stopped before it took such a hold of him. It had been like a drug. After the first taste, he always wanted more - and now he was probably going to die for it if he wasn't dead already. I hit the cabinet behind me with a strong fist, and I felt the wood crack, but I couldn't care less. I was blind and deaf to everything but my anger, and I didn't hear the door swing open swiftly and close with a slam. It was only when I felt a pair of eyes on me that I woke up. “Y/N? Please tell me you're okay”. “How can I be?!” I shouted, and I shoved poor Ben aside before storming off.

~○~○~○~○~○~

The days passed and I decided to pour myself in my search for the Vaults. I had to put a stopper to all that as soon as possible, and there was no other way to do it. I was in the library for the ninth day in a row, and in the last two, I had even fallen asleep there and been sent away harshly by Madam Pince, as I ended up skipping dinner and staying there until night. Not that that day had been any different. The lightest of sounds woke me from my near-sleep; I massaged my neck, sore from being in that strange position on the table, and from all the time I had spent studying, then turned my head towards the entrance, and Ben appeared in front of me. “I haven’t seen you in forever, Y/N. I’m sure something is wrong now; are you willing to talk to me?” I raised an eyebrow, still in a daze, trying to process his words. When I did, I shook my head vigorously. “Nothing is wrong. Well, nothing more than usual”. “Do you not trust me?” he asked, his voice firmer than I’d ever heard it. “Of course I do… Why do you ask?” “Then don’t lie to me, please. it almost feels like you’re avoiding me sometimes”. “I’m not”. “Is it because of Rowan? She visibly doesn’t like me very much”. “It’s not”. He sighed, then sat next to me. “I’m your friend, Y/N, remember that. I hope you see me as such. I hope you trust me, because you can always rely on me, for everything and anything, even though I’m a bit of a scaredy cat sometimes… Okay, a lot”. He let out a chuckle that I offered back, then he put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently, before standing. “I suggest you go get something to eat now”.

~○~○~○~○~○~

The months passed. Many, many terrible months. Things were getting more and more difficult, and I didn’t really know what to do. It was when I found myself faced with R that I realised the time had come, the time to choose who to trust, who to rely on, and who to beware from. And at last, I duelled them. Their face, it made me go pale. One of my best friends. The one I thought I could trust. The one who told me I could trust him. “Please, believe me, Y/N. You can trust me. I told you, I told you so many times… I would never… I don’t know… Y/N… please…” Rakepick looked at me expectantly - the choice was on me. “Please take him to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey can surely help him”. “Thank you, Y/N… you’re my friend, I would not… never…” “I’ll see you soon” I replied coldly, with the strongest resolve in my head: to clear this out.

~○~○~○~○~○~

We were alone in the cold Hospital Wing. I had walked in very late, begging Madam Pomfrey to leave, and for how reluctantly, she had acquiesced. I sat next to Ben, my eyes on my feet, his on the wall. “I thought… I thought I could trust you, Ben”. “You can. I was used, Y/N… I…” “Would you like a glass of water?” “Pardon?” his eyes shot up to me, an eyebrow slightly raised as I offered him the glass. I wanted to know the truth, I had to know the truth… “What? Are you afraid I’ll poison you or something?” I spat, biting hard on my lip. “You would never”. He grabbed the glass; if there had been a bit more light, he would have noticed that the water wasn’t entirely clear, its colour altered by the Veritaserum. I had managed to get a vial from Penny, who had stolen it from Professor Snape. Good times. “So you do assure me I can trust you, even after this? How can I be so sure? They want to kill me, Ben, they want to kill my friends. I cannot trust just anyone”. “So I am ‘just anyone’ to you? I thought I was one of your best friends!” “You just tried to kill me”. “It wasn’t me!” The resolution, the determination in that sentence at the same time assured me he wasn’t lying to me, and sounded so awfully not like Ben. Not like the Ben I had always known, at least. Had this experience changed him, in only a few hours? “Y/N, I could never hurt you. Instead, I want to help and protect you, as well as I can. I want to stop being a coward. I want to…” Then, mid-sentence, he stopped, and raised an eyebrow. “My name is Jas- Ben Copper”. He turned his head towards me, and I looked down. “You gave me Veritaserum”. “I’m sorry…” I stood, ready to storm off, but Ben took my hand, dragging me back to where I was. “You had all the right, actually. I understand”. I met his gaze, and he sat up and pulled me close into a hug. “Well then, I really don’t want to be afraid anymore”.

#ben copper #ben copper x mc #ben copper x reader #hogwarts mystery #hphm #x reader #hogwarts #harry potter #angst #gryffindor #hphm mc #ben x reader

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your-everyday-fic-writer · 6 years ago

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Why Him?

Request: Requesting a Ben Copper x MC fic! Maybe where MC had hinted that she fancies one of her friends and Rowan keeps asking about it, but Rowan eventually gets mad when MC reveals that it is Ben. Ben eventually confesses to MC and they say that they fancy him as well but they need time to figure out things with Rowan After finally convincing Rowan to meet MC Rowan apologizes. Later when meeting up with their friends, Rowan says they don’t necessarily approve but if MC is happy then they are too.

Pairings: Rowan Khanna x Reader (Platonic, Best Buds), Ben Copper x Reader (Little Crushing Babies)

Word Count: 959

Warnings: Probably none?? Maybe, like, mediocre writing??

A/N: Ok, well, not only have I returned BUT, I posted on time WITHOUT editing my schedule. And, AND, I posted it before 2 in the morning, so round of applause for me. Round of applause. Now stop it with that round of applause, cause this honestly isn’t that good and that’s disappointing. I guess I should explain where I went, so I will. At first, I went away for personal stuff, but then I came back and it was all g. Then, I left again cause I had a lot going on with school, as in final projects and exams. But, those are all over now, so yay, I guess. Right now, I’ve got stuff going on but I’m just trying to ignore it cause it’s way too stressful. Anyways, I’ll stop now.

Masterlist is here.

“Who is it? Who is it?” Rowan asked for what seemed like the millionth time.

“I’m not going to tell, Rowan!” You said, “I knew it was a bad idea to tell you I fancied someone.”

“Just tell me. Please, Y/N. Please.” They whined, dragging out the e in please.

You sighed, “Okay, okay. I’ll give you a hint.” You said. Rowan moved closer to you, an excited look on their face, “He goes to Hogwarts.”

The smile on Rowan’s face turned to a look of annoyance, “It’s not a hint if I already know that.”

You laughed, “Fine, I’ll give you another one. We’ve known him for a long time.”

“Hm.” Rowan said, tapping their chin, “Bill?”

You shook your head, “No.”

“Another hint, then.”

“He’s in Gryffindor.”

They thought again, “Charlie?”

“No!”

“Well, who could it be then?” They said, confused.

You smiled, “Ben.”

Rowan’s face went blank, “Ben?”

“Yeah!”

“Why him? Why Ben? How could it be Ben?”

“What do you mean ‘how could it be Ben’?”

“How could you fancy Ben? After everything he’s done!” Rowan said, standing up from the couch in the empty common room.

“What’s wrong with you?!” You asked Rowan, standing up so you were eye-to-eye with them, “When did it become your place to say who I can and can’t like? I don’t care if you like Ben or not, because I do!”

“That’s the problem, Y/N! You can’t like him! He’s a bad person!” They placed a hand on your arm, “I’m trying to stop you from getting more than just a broken heart. He’s dangerous, Y/N. Trust me.”

You yanked your arm from the light touch, “Of course you’d think that Ben is bad, you hate him! You blame him for what happened, but he was in a trance, and you know that! You hate him, so it’s hardly your place to say who he is. I know Ben. I know who he is, and I know that he’s good.”

“Then I can’t be around you anymore, Y/N. Whether or not you’re my friend, I can’t trust you if you trust Ben. I don’t know what he’s up to, but believe me, I don’t want to be a part of it.”

You were shocked as Rowan spoke. You couldn’t believe what they were saying, and the shock quickly turned to anger, “Fine. If that’s how you feel. I don’t want to be around you if you can’t trust me enough to make a good decision on who I like or don’t like.”

Rowan huffed, then turned on their heel and stormed towards the dorms. You watched as they walked away, then left the common room. Your hands were balled into fists as you walked down the hall, your mind kept replaying the situation, making you angrier and angrier.

How could they not trust me? You thought, And how could they say Ben’s up to something? They barely know Ben. That’s not my fault! I thought we were friends, how could they say that?

As you walked, a voice called from behind you, pulling you from your thoughts, “Y/N!” Ben said as he ran towards you, “I’m going to the Three Broomsticks. And I was wondering if you’d want to come with me?”

You smiled, “Sure. I’d love a butterbeer right now.”

Both of you walked to Hogsmeade and settled into a quiet booth near the back of the Three Broomsticks.

Ben cleared his throat as two mugs of butterbeer were placed in front of you, “So-uh-so...Y/N, I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while.”

“Really?” You asked, “Why?”

“Well, um, there’s something I want to tell you.” He said, “And...um...well...I-I like you as more than a friend...I guess that...I fancy you.” He looked down as a bright red blush rose to his cheeks.

“Really?” You smiled.

He looked up, “What?”

“Well, I-I fancy you, too, Ben.” You said, looking at your hands as you tried not to look too nervous.

Ben did the same and looked at his own hands, “That’s good, I guess.” He nervously chuckled.

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see someone wearing Y/H robes walk into the Three Broomsticks. You turned to look at them, and realized it was Rowan.

“Ben...I’m sorry, I hate to leave you, but," You sighed, “I need to talk to Rowan.”

“Why?” He asked.

“Rowan and I got into a fight earlier because I told her I fancy you. They’re one of my best friends, and I can’t leave things the way they are. I need to talk to them.”

“Don’t worry Y/N, I’m sure they’ll understand. They’re your friend, I’m sure they want you to be happy.” He smiled at you, “I’ll see you at dinner, Y/N.”

“Thanks, Ben. See you at dinner.”

You stood from the booth and made your way through the pub, thinking of what you would say to them. They were sitting alone, staring sadly at their mug of butterbeer. You stopped in front of their table, your hands behind your back.

“Hey.” You said.

They looked up, “Hi.”

“Can we talk?”

They nodded and you sat down across from them.

“I’m sorry.” They sighed, “I shouldn’t have gotten mad. It’s not my place to say whether you like someone or not. I may not trust Ben, but as long as you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”

“Thanks, Rowan.” You smiled, “So now that I’ve told you who I fancy, you have to tell me who you fancy.” You teased.

“I’m not going to tell you!” Rowan laughed.

“It’s Bill, isn’t it?” You asked.

You both laughed together. You smiled, knowing that Ben felt the same way as you, and happy that you and Rowan were still best friends.

A/N: Hey, I don’t know if you’re reading this, but if you guys have ever played Desire & Decorum (Which is iconic, so you better have) then you guys should send me Desire & Decorum requests.

#Rowan Khanna #Ben Copper #Rowan Khanna x Reader #ben copper x reader #Penny Haywood #Bill Weasley #Nymphadora Tonks #Tonks #Tulip Karasu #Barnaby Lee #Andre Egwu #Charlie Weasley #Jae Kim #Badeea Ali #Harry Potter #Hogwarts Mystery #Hogwarts

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writersmacchiato · 6 years ago

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My Boy - [Ben Copper x Reader]

For @delicrieux’s 11k celebration! (This took me forever omg)

Reader is a Hufflepuff but honestly you can just imagine any house, I don’t really specify, it was more for the aesthetic

I tried to keep Rowan gender neutral in this

—————

You liked him.

It was perhaps the way his hair looked golden in the sun, shining with a radiance that made you want to run your fingers through it.

It was perhaps the way he would smile to himself when he executed something perfectly in Charms, pleased to finally be good at something.

It was perhaps the way he would look at you, as if you, yourself, had put the stars in the sky.

You were well on your way to becoming a notorious figure at Hogwarts and he was well on his way to becoming a mere shadow that basked in your spotlight.

You and Ben were very much like the sun and the moon, but you had eclipsed and now your feelings were blossoming into something beautiful.

——

“He’s suspicious!” Rowan hissed to you during Potions, “or have you forgotten about R?”

“As if I could ever forget, Rowan,” you shoot a glare at them, frowning at the insistence that Ben couldn’t be trusted. “He’s never given me a reason to doubt his friendship.”

“That’s because you look at him through rose-colored glasses.”

“I do not!”

“If you would like to spend your time in my class gossiping about fraudulent matters, then I suggest you get out.” Professor Snape’s voice cut into you like knives, distracting you from the argument.

Rowan’s side glare as they returned to their cauldron let you know that you weren’t getting any support from them on this.

———

“I don’t know what to do, Penny.” You had gone to the popular Hufflepuff after Rowan’s dismissal, spilling out all of your feelings.

“Ben does like you...” she quietly confessed.

“He told you!?”

“No, but it’s obvious.” She said, “to everyone else, anyway.”

“Penny, what do I do? I like him a lot, but what if Rowan’s right and he really is hiding something about R?”

“If you really do like like you say, then maybe you should take the risk of Rowan being right. That’s the worst case scenario. Best case scenario, he’s the loyal Ben we’ve known since first year and you fall in love and eventually get married with me as a bridesmaid.” She said, laughing afterwards at your flustered face.

“Penny Haywood!”

———

“Ben, could I talk to you for a moment?” You stopped him after Charms, wincing at the face Rowan makes on their way out.

“Oh, sure...” his voice wavers slightly, but he follows to a secluded section of the hallway. “Nothing bad, I hope?”

“No, I don’t think so anyway.” You were stalling as you took in his features; the crease on his forehead that was always there when he was nervous, his lip as he chewed it gently, his warm eyes that stared at you pevensily.

“I like you, Ben. A lot.”

He stares at you for a moment, “I like you too?”

Oh, Merlin’s Beard.

“No, Ben,” you grab his hands, stepping closer to him, “I like you.”

His breath hitches, his hands going to grasp yours more tightly as he manages a gasp.

“You like me!?” It’s more of an exclamation of disbelief than a question, but his eyes are shining with a joy you’ve never seen before.

“I do, Ben. Since third year, actually...”

A flush had creeped up his cheeks, settling there beautifully as he smiles to himself.

“I like you, too. A lot.”

��—

The giddy feeling of euphoria hasn’t left you all week, only being fueled by the shy glances you shared with Ben. You had scheduled to go to Hogsmeade on an unofficial, official, first date that weekend. To say you were counting down the days was an understatement.

Penny had been beyond excited, probably more than you, at the news. Insisting on helping you prepare and get ready for the date.

The morning of Saturday, you stood in front of the mirror as Penny admired her handiwork. Your hair was in a pretty style, your clothing cute and comfortable. Tonks had even tagged along, laid out on your bed as she made commentary. The only person missing was Rowan, who had only nodded when you told them about the date, and you’d be lying if you said the absence didn’t sting.

“Go get em’ tiger!” Tonks encouraged.

“Tell me all about it, later.” Penny smiled.

With their parting words ringing in your ears, you descended the stairway to the common room. Rowan’s familiar head of hair was easily seen as they read a book next to the fire. Their brown eyes flicked up and stared at you for a moment, before they closed the book and sighed.

“If he hurts you, I’m first in line for punching him in the face.”

Immediately all of the tension you felt had left, relief taking over at Rowan’s compromise.

“Right after me, of course.” The smile you shared warmed your heart.

“Have fun.”

The words uttered by one of your best friends lifted a weight off your shoulders. You didn’t realize how much so until just then.

And, so there you were, about to go on a date with a boy that you had a crush on...

...for better or worse.

#im crying #this took me too long #too tired for a taglist #harry potter x reader #harry potter imagine #harry potter hogwarts mystery #hogwarts mystery x reader #hogwarts mystery imagine #ben copper #ben copper x reader #ben copper imagine #hogwarts mystery edit #deli11

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delicrieux · 6 years ago

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OCTOBER WRITING CHALLENGE. day 1, word: uncanny. ( strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way ) request: Will you do more Dark!Ben x reader imagines?

masterlist | support me

The castle feels odd. Different. As if every single detail had been tilted, twisted, yet so lightly it is near impossible to notice. The corridors appear longer. The staircases spiral into an endless vertigo. The lights are dimmer; the weather is horrid, a mixture of harsh wind slaps and cold rain. Even the ghosts are unnerved, silent, idling in corners, hoping to go unnoticed.

You clutch your books closer to your chest, shoulders squared, eyes, glistening, sleepless, though alert. You gulp. Uncanny. That’s the word you would use to describe the atmosphere of upcoming Hallows Eve. It is still but a month away and yet the whole world seems changed. You feel watched, but there is no one around. Like a helpless herbivore, doomed to suffer under the hand of the predator that is destined to eat her.

The candles spark from their heat, flicker. The lonely corridor stretches on. All paintings are vacant. The armour does not move. The homey, rustic colours of Hogwarts are faded, cold. You release a pent up breath, feeling a shiver crawl up your spine. You fasten your pace, even if just a bit. You have a gut feeling; it’s daunting.

A door creaks open to your right and cringing at the noise you spare a glance at the darkness of the room behind it. Your heart skips a beat. You stop in your tracks when your eyes connect with the kind ones of Ben Copper.

“Oh! It’s you.” You say, your voice dripping with ease. Your shoulders slump as you relax. Ben offers you a warm smile as he closes the classrooms door behind him, his wand, in a seamless motion, sparking with a locking charm that you are certain never left his lips. You raise a curious brow, your fear all but forgotten, “What are you up to?”

“Nothing, really.” His face twists with uncertainty, “I was just…practicing spells. And thinking about ways not to injure myself. You know how much I think about that? A lot.”

You crack a smile, “Well, I was just on my way to meet up with Rowan,” There is an unfamiliar flash of hatred in his eyes, though it fades before you can even register it, “and the others…” You finish slowly. “Feel free to join me?”

“Oh, uhm, I wouldn’t…want to bother. Especially if you are up to something.” He fiddles with his fingers, nervously glances to the side, “And you definitely are. Always.”

“Not always.” You counter cheerfully, “C’mon, join us? No one would mind.” You feel heat pick on your skin, “I mean, I wouldn’t. Either.”

You fail to notice his stoic expression, a marble statue without even a ripple of warmth. You are far too preoccupied watching a drunken citizen wander back into his shop. The painting is like a movie.

“Then let’s go.” Ben breaks the silence, his voice velvety, low. You blush behind your freckles. You almost always forget that he, too, can be brave and bold and straightforward. “…Lead the way.” He adds fretfully. You snicker. Ah, there, he is back to his anxious lovable self.

Perhaps the slight changes in the castle, and even in him, were just your imagination?

The two of you fall into step; their sound is swallowed by the carpeting. The corridor and its mysterious distortion… is left behind you.

requests are open!

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benscursedkid · 5 years ago

Text

Must Have Been The Wind

synopsis: ben’s just a stressed and tired college student looking for a break. strangely enough, the girl who cries in the middle of the night from the apartment directly above his might be just what he was looking for...

pairing: ben copper x f!mc reader

genre: romance, muggle!au, modern!au, f2l???

warnings: implied mentions of insomnia and anxiety if you squint, mature language (v mild)

words: 8k

tag: @badeeaswife

a/n: so this turned out longer than i expected it to be, heh heh. i haven’t seen very many modern aus or muggle aus so i hope whoever reads this enjoys!!

*inspired by the song of the same name by Alec Benjamin*

“we can talk about the noise when you’re ready

but ‘till then

i’ll say it must have been the wind”

“Hey, Ben! How was work today?”

Ben turns at the familiar voice of his neighbor, the pretty blonde girl as cheerful as ever. “It was work, Penny,” Ben shrugs his shoulders, sagging with exhaustion. “There’s not really much one can expect from a job working at a 7-Eleven.”

Penny frowns, leaning against her door frame, mail forgotten in her hand as she gives the man a once over. “You looked tired, Ben. Are you sure you should be taking the midnight shifts?”

Fumbling with his keys, his own mail hanging from his mouth, Ben shakes his head in response. “They’re the only ones I can actually make, Pen. I’m busy all day long with classes and I don't have the time for any others.”

“Yeah, but, I’m worried about you,” Penny sighs, watching the fellow blonde struggle to open the door to his apartment. “You never get any sleep, you rely solely on Mountain Dew to keep you awake, and you barely make your morning classes on time rushing out the door, you’re a full-time college student– double major… You need to take better care of yourself.”

The door finally opens and Ben allows himself a silent victory before turning to address his friend.

“I know, Penny, and thank you for caring about me,” She offers him a grin, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, worry replacing the usual brightness. “It’s just until Jae and I get things here a bit more stable, I promise.”

For a moment Penny peers at him doubtfully, but eventually trusts him to come to her if things go astray and she nods. Ben smiles at her, trying his best not to let his eyes droop too low and makes for his apartment.

“Oh, Ben?”

“Yeah?”

“Someone just moved in upstairs, so y’know,” Pointing towards the ceiling, Penny begins to retreat back into her own home. “In case there’s a lot of noise, don’t worry about it. They’ll move in soon enough.”

A tired groan escapes him, but he manages to shoot the girl a curious glance. “How do you always know everything?”

“I ask.”

“Fair,” He concedes before his door shuts behind him.

⏭

Ben is woken from his sleep by the loud sound of a crash.

Immediately, his head lifts from its place on his desk, drool already dry on the corners of his mouth and neck popping in protest of his sudden movement. He casts a long, cautious look about his apartment. Jae’s pulling an all-nighter with Badeea, their new partner assignment due first thing tomorrow, so he’s all alone in the empty space, the moonlight just managing to peek through his bedroom window.

At first, Ben’s afraid the sound came from within his own apartment and he begins to panic, his blood running cold. His mind is sifting through all the worst case scenarios out of habit, sweat starting to bead on the back of his neck. Has someone broken in? Did they shatter their windows? It is just the first floor, not exactly difficult to sneak into. Are they coming for him? Are they here to steal? Are they going to hurt him?

However, these fears are quickly quelled by another sound, this time clearly coming from the apartment directly above his.

Someone’s crying.

From what he can tell in his half-asleep state, he thinks it sounds like a woman. The sobs coming from upstairs are faint, but unmistakable. He’s had enough breakdowns in his stressful college career to know what cries sound like.

Ben ponders what’s happened to warrant the tears from the obviously upset woman. This hasn’t happened before and he’s not quite sure what to do. Briefly he considers leaving her be, knowing that sometimes in bad situations the best thing you can do for someone is to give them space. Though the sound of breaking glass worries him and with a grunt, he gets up to go investigate, despite every bone in his body telling him it’s a bad idea and begging him for sleep.

On his way out he checks the time on his microwave.

3:53 a.m.

He just got back from his shift close to forty-five minutes ago, likely having fallen asleep finishing up his classwork. Great, he’ll have to finish that when he gets back.

Taking a breath and ignoring his frantic nerves, his walks quietly to the elevator, careful not to wake up any of his neighbors. If Merula or Andre hear him at this hour he’ll be apologizing for weeks.

Once he reaches the elevator, he checks one last time for any angry complaints, before hitting the button for the second floor. As he goes up, he briefly wonders what he’s getting himself into, questioning whether someone has broken into this woman’s apartment and if he’s walking straight into his own demise.

A ding sounds upon reaching his destination and he walks down the hall to her apartment, counting each number until he finds the seventh from the right of the elevator, like his own counterpart. Without taking time for thought, in fear of backing out, he raps his knuckles against the door.

At the intrusion, the tell-tale sound of pattering feet fill his ears and idly Ben thinks of how wrinkled his clothes must be and how dark the circles under his eyes probably are. If he opened the door to that in the middle of the night, he’d probably send whoever it is straight back.

The knob twists and the door cracks open just enough for a young woman, looking to be around his age, to peak out. Upon deducing he’s likely not a threat, the door opens to allow them a better view of each other.

He doesn’t recognize you and assumes you must be the new neighbor Penny had told him about. You look as tired as he feels and this brings a small sense of relief to his mind, a tiny solace in this strange situation. Your eye bags, Ben thinks, could give his own a run for their money and your hair is disheveled and shoulders slouched low. Your oversized sweater is pulled up all the way to your chin, almost enough for you to bury your nose in it.

“Can I help you?”

Your voice is scratchy and raw and Ben is sure you’re the one he’d heard from downstairs. It’s only once he realizes this does he notice the puffiness by your eyes, clearly a sign you’ve been crying. Yet you act as if they aren’t there, looking at him wearily from your place in the doorway.

Ben shakes himself from his thoughts, a reply spilling swiftly from his lips. “I’m from the apartment below yours and I heard a noise. It sounded like something broke… I just wanted to see if you needed any help.”

Your hand itches to wipe the lingering wetness from your eyes but you refrain, shrugging (hopefully) nonchalantly. “I think your ears are playing tricks on you.”

His eyebrow furrows, unconvinced, but not wanting to pry too much. Still, he persists once more. “Are you sure? Nothing happened? I thought I heard someone…” He hesitates, wondering if he should mention the sobs he’d heard. “...someone break something.”

You gift him a shake of your head and a half-smile with no light to it. “Thanks for caring, sir–”

“Ben.”

“–Ben, that’s nice of you, but I should probably go back in,” You back up from the door and wave to him. “Wish I could tell you about the noise, but I didn’t hear a thing. It must have been the wind.”

“Yeah,” He nods to himself, suddenly wondering why on Earth he’d dragged himself up here at this ungodly hour. You’ve made it clear that whatever was going on is something you can handle on your own. Still, he wonders if you’ll be okay tonight. “Yeah, okay. Sorry to bother you.”

“You’re fine, sorry you came all this way for nothing.”

“It’s okay,” He waves off your concerns like batting away a fly. “Have a goodnight.”

“You, too.”

You close your door and Ben makes his way back to the elevator, more tired than he was before. His feet drag as he shuffles back to his apartment, practically able to hear his bed crying out from lack of use.

True to character, he takes a Mountain Dew from his fridge, making note to buy some more tomorrow at work, and takes a seat at his desk to finish his assignment.

It’s only when he crawls into bed an hour later does he realize he never asked your name.

⏭

The second time he hears it, Ben knows it’s not the wind.

It’s been two weeks since he’d gone up to your apartment that night and he hasn’t spoken to you much more since then. Penny was quick to befriend you, though Ben knows first-hand that it’s just a talent of hers. That girl was even able to befriend Talbott from 5D and in the two years Ben and Jae have lived in that apartment, he can count on one hand the amount of times he’s heard him speak.

Your name is MC, from what he gathered during his talks with Penny. Apparently, you took swiftly to Chiara and Tulip from your floor, two people Ben has only ever encountered during one of Penny’s or Diego’s house parties. He also heard that this is your third move in a year and ponders how long you’ll be staying this time.

Strangely, he finds himself hoping it’s a while.

He’s only seen you a few times around the building, with his busy schedule and your free time occupied with moving into your place, it’s rare to catch either of you with a spare moment these days. On those occasions, the two of you weren’t able to move beyond nods of acknowledgement and brief pleasantries. Though, the one time he helped you carry some boxes up to your apartment, he found that he’d really enjoy getting to know you better.

At current, Ben looks up at your apartment from his place on the floor. He’d collapsed onto the floor of his room after getting off his shift early that night. Evidently, his co-worker –Ismelda?– had been asking around to trade shifts to make her sister’s wedding and for once Ben jumped at the chance for a good night’s rest. Granted he’ll have to make time to come in early tomorrow, but it’s worth it.

You’re crying again, he realizes upon further inspection. He hadn’t heard a shatter this time, but that doesn’t do much to ease his worries. Slowly, he sneaks into Jae’s room and taps on his sleeping figure, his mind already made up.

Jae groans into his pillow, burying his head further into the white cushion. Ben takes this as his que to explain.

“Hey, um– I’ll be right back, okay? I gotta go.. get something.”

His roommate simply grunts and Ben figures that’s as good a response as he’ll get from him at the moment.

This time it’s only ten past midnight when he leaves his apartment, pajamas definitely wrinkled and hair a mess, but that’s the least of his worries. Making his way into the elevator, he waits until the doors open and makes a beeline to your door, pulling nervously at his sleeves. He’s not sure how you’ll take another late night disturbance, but tells himself it’s best to make sure you’re okay before going back to bed.

After two knocks, your door swings open and you yawn before greeting your visitor.

“Ben?” You ask, the same puffy eyes and raspy voice from last time. “What are you doing here? Do you need something?”

Ben chuckles, antsy, and shakes his head. “No, well, actually I was wondering if you’re okay? I was downstairs and I– uh, thought I heard something.”

You smile at his thoughtfulness, but deny the notion nonetheless. “Nothing up here, sorry. Must have been the wind.”

“The wind, yeah,” The man hums, though it’s clear that he doesn't believe you. You don’t attempt to come up with a better excuse, however, and Ben decides that you’ll tell him when, and if, you’re ready. “Okay, well– um, if you ever need anything, I guess you know where to find me.”

“Yes, thank you,” You reply as sweetly as you can, ready to bid your goodbyes. Though as Ben turns to leave, you can’t help but call out to him. “Oh and, Ben?”

He just turns and the sincerity in his soft brown eyes catch you just a little off guard. “Thanks for caring.”

This time he’s the one who smiles, an actual, genuine smile that makes his eyes sparkle with an energy you don’t recall from last time. You can’t help but reciprocate and you wish him a goodnight before retreating back to the empty shadows of your apartment.

⏭

Ben stifles a yawn as he struggles to keep his head from falling on the counter. The store is quiet and empty, not a single person around for entertainment. The sky has long since darkened into an inky black, the clouds shielding the stars from sight. The shift is slow, but then again, he never really gets more than four customers at these hours, anyway.

He’s resting his head in his hands, preparing to lose his battle against sleep when the bell above the entrance door chimes and he bolts up right.

Certain he’ll get whiplash at this rate, he peers around the store for the wandering customer. It’s hard to see from his place by the register, but a girl is looking around, huge jacket practically dangling off her smaller figure. She has a hood pulled over her head and he’s unable to identify her, too used to the regulars, but he dismisses it and checks the time.

He has another half hour before he can go home and Ben tries his best to stay awake until then.

After five more minutes of looking around, the girl brings a handful of things to the checkout, finally pulling off her hood. He recognizes her immediately.

“MC?”

You look up from your phone, a shocked expression on your face. Despite the time of night, you don’t look as tired as the last few times he’s seen you and Ben takes that as a good sign. Your eyes also don’t seem to hide the remnants of tears, another good thing that almost has him smiling. Instead, he rubs the back of his neck shyly as a more proper greeting.

“Hey, Ben,” You offer a half-smile for the first time and it brightens up your entire face, leaving Ben a little short of breath. “I didn’t know you worked here?”

One by one, Ben begins to ring up your things, anxiously chewing at his bottom lip. He’s not used to the attention from anyone besides Penny and he’s not quite sure what to say.

“I take the late night shifts…”

“I can see that.”

“Right.”

A grimace finds its way on his face, the awkwardness of this conversation enough to make him wish the ground would swallow him whole. However, he’s rendered slightly speechless when a tiny, barely there giggle falls from your mouth. Now he’s sure his cheeks, neck, all the way up to his ears are probably dusted an embarrassing shade of pink, but he can’t really find it in himself to care too much if that sound becomes more commonplace between you.

“I don’t really see you around the building too much,” You start, examining the nutrition labels of your items with suspicious interest. “Is this where you always run off to?”

Ben shakes his head, going a little slower on ringing up your –groceries?– things. “Ah, not all the time. Most of my time is actually spent at the library, I hardly do anything but study these days.”

“Oh, you attend college here?”

“Yeah,” He’s still a little unnerved, but he’s significantly pleased with how easy conversation flows with you. “I knew going for a double major was a bad idea…”

You purse your lips in thought, taking a pause to sweep over the man before you one more time. He does look exhausted, every time you’ve seen him since moving in he hasn’t been without the company of tired eyes and a spent expression. Though, you think he could say the same for you, always seeming to catch you at the worst of times…

“I’ve always wondered what it’s like to double major, seems like it’s not for everyone.”

Ben laughs at this, dry and uneven, almost like it were an inside joke that you don’t understand. “To be honest, I’m not quite sure it’s for me.”

“Then why did you do it?”

He shrugs then, mindlessly, rotating to bagging the things you’ve bought. “I don’t know, I guess I just couldn’t decide what I wanted to do and I thought I’d do both? Even I don’t understand my logic there, but I can’t just quit now.”

You fish the appropriate amount of money from the pocket of your jacket and hand it to him. He takes it with a customary smile and starts adding your change. “Well, I think it was very brave of you. Not everyone has the courage to chase their dream, let alone two of them.”

Ben halts his calculations, his brown irises snapping up to meet yours, the question on his tongue reflected in his eyes.

“You think so?” He asks, and when he speaks his voice is so soft, so uncertain, like he has no idea what he’s doing and your heart clenches just slightly in your chest.

Maybe it’s the time of night that loosens his lips, or possibly his significant lack of sleep, but he finds that your opinion matters a lot to him for someone he hardly knows.

You nod then, the action relieving some of the weight from his shoulders and he hands you the rest of your change. “I, uh– thanks.”

“No problem.”

With nothing left to say, you’re about to head back over to your shared building when he asks you a last minute question.

“Do you go to school, too?” He stutters for a second, seemingly rethinking his decision to ask in the first place. “If you don’t mind me asking that is. I don’t mean to intrude.”

It’s endearing, you think, the way he tries his hardest not to offend you, his cheeks pinking just a smidge.

“I used to,” You say, hesitating on whether or not he deserves an explanation. Well, he doesn’t necessarily deserve one, per se, but you like him. You find that you don’t mind if he knows why. “I never finished my junior year… family troubles.”

The store clerk senses that he won’t get anything more than that, not that he cares. He’s really just happy you haven’t asked him to shut up yet.

He nods, picking his hand up off the counter to wave you farewell in lieu of an actual goodbye. You wave back, your steps a bit lighter than they were when you came in.

Likewise, when Ben stumbles into his apartment later that night and isn’t greeted with the sound of sobs coming from upstairs, he decides that he definitely wants to get to know you better.

⏭

Since that night, you, oddly as far as Ben is concerned, have taken to visiting him during his shift. You always come in around the same time –ten past two in the morning– and he’s starting to wonder if the two of you are just simply nocturnal.

You don’t ever get more than a handful of items, sometimes you don’t even get anything at all. You’ll just come in and have a seat by his checkout counter and the both of you will talk until it’s time for you to take your leave. The topic of your conversations are mindless subjects, never on the same thing for long. At first you adventured the typical subjects of favorites; food, color, movie, song, etc. However, it didn’t take long for him to grow comfortable in your presence and he’s going out on a limb here, but he thinks you feel the same way.

Now, you often times walk in with something random on your tongue, likely having been stuck in your head all day long. Ben doesn’t mind, he’s grateful for a friendly face to keep him going during his utterly boring shifts, and it’s humorous to him the things that occupy your mind.

At the current moment, you’re seated in a chair Ben has set up just for your visits, humming along to the song on the radio overhead, a bag of popcorn in hand. You had managed to convince him to stay on this one station that doesn’t play anything that came out after the 80’s, but it’s nice to see you relaxed and happier. Besides, he secretly listens to this station before you show up, anyway.

Since your first visit two months ago, Ben hasn’t heard you crying late at night more than three times. Ben hopes these sessions of yours will continue to diminish until it becomes a thing of the past, causing him to wonder if maybe his groggy state had made up the entire thing. Until then, all he can do is give you his employee discounts and hope for the best.

“Do you know this song?” You inquire, ending the comfortable silence that had enveloped you when you came in.

Ben scoffs, the familiar melody flooding his ears. “I’d be more surprised if I didn’t. Penny listens to these guys like it’s her job. ‘Can hear it from across the hall at least once a week.”

You snicker, hiding behind your hand. The ABBA lyrics flowing in your ears, providing you with a bit more energy this early in the morning. “Waterloo is nice, but I personally like Fernando a bit more.”

The blonde shakes his head fondly and you raise your eyebrow at him. “What?”

“Nothing,” He denies, the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I just thought that you’d like something less… mainstream.”

“Mainstream?” You gasp, not believing what you were hearing. You mock offense and Ben chuckles under his breath, careful not to be so loud as to disturb the customer in the back. “Well, what’s your favorite, then?”

He ponders this for a moment, but eventually he sighs, not having come to a definite conclusion. His pink lips curve into a tiny pout that’s much cuter than what you think is fair. “Truthfully, I’m more of a Billy Joel-David Bowie person.”

You want to tease him, but in truth it’s fits him well. It’s all too easy to imagine him sweeping this store, whistling along to the tune of Piano Man, and you grin at the thought.

“Don’t let Penny hear you say that,” You warn goodnaturedly and Ben shakes his head. “She won’t be as understanding.”

Ben shudders at the implication, a shiver traveling all the way down his spine. “God, no. That girl is really scary sometimes.”

Waterloo comes to its end and is replaced by the melody of Three Dog Night, accompanied by a hint of nostalgia for a time you never experienced. A mistake, you’re sure.

A memory comes to mind, one that has you pausing in your humming and Ben admires you curiously. “My brother liked David Bowie…”

Taking notice of your use of past tense, Ben halts as you kick at the dust by your shoe. Only once have you mentioned your brother in the, admittedly short, time he’s known you, but it’s not hard to deduce that it’s a sensitive subject with you. All he knows about the guy is that you don’t talk often, a fact you had stuttered out from nervousness. He knows better than to pry, but he can’t say he isn’t curious.

It’s as he’s debating on changing the topic that you pull yourself from your reverie, playfully throwing a piece of popcorn at him. It’s a half-assed effort, but Ben doesn’t complain as the snack bounces off his forehead.

Ben huffs and steals a piece to throw at you in return and within seconds you’re littering the floor with cheese powder and popcorn. A piece he throws your way finds purchase in your hair and he can’t help the laugh that tumbles from his throat, or his resulting smile when you do the same. It’s not until he hears the clearing of a throat do you cease fire long enough for Ben to actually do his job.

After a minute, Ben rings up the man’s things and hands them back to him, waving a weak goodbye to the regular and the store is empty once again. This time, it’s you who clears their throat as you ask him something that you meant to a while ago.

“Do you have any siblings?” You regard him, tilting your head out of interest. The man looks to you briefly and shakes his head. “Only child, then?”

“Yep. I always wanted one growing up, until this one family moved in next door,” He laughs as he recalls the memory of his neighbors, each one with fiery red hair. To this day he still does a double take whenever he sees someone else with the color, expecting six others to be in tough. “After that I realized I didn’t need one to be happy.”

You nod along to his words, suddenly quiet. For some reasons unknown to him, this unnerves Ben, already used to the harmonious sound of your voice and the spark in your eye when you talk about things you like. Watching you now, a look of thoughtfulness on your face, he’d do anything to know what you’re thinking.

He’s about to interrupt, to ask for himself, but you beat him to it.

“Do you ever feel lonely?”

You survey him with sad eyes, not quite glossy with tears, but he swears he can see the ones that escape when you think no one is listening. There’s a sense of vulnerability there that he didn’t expect; didn’t expect you to share with him, to allow him to see. In their depths he can see pain, too, though it’s nothing new; everyone knows that it’s loneliness’ best friend.

Idly, he wonders who put it there.

However, when you ask him this, your voice wavers, shaky and almost afraid, something he is closely acquainted with himself. You’re seeking answers for something more than just the question voiced, from someone who doesn’t have them. And, dear God, he wished he did, even if just for your sake. Never did he anticipate something like this from someone he’s only known a few months, but that ceases to matter to him as he softens at your imploring gaze.

The college student decides to answer your question, as that’s the best he can do for you at the moment.

“Sometimes,” He confesses and somehow he knows that’s not the answer you wanted. You deflate, shrinking back into your winter coat.

Not giving himself the chance to second guess himself, he reaches an arm out and tucks a stray piece of hair out of your face. His hands are clammy and his nerves are eating at him, but he thinks you’re more important right now. You look up at him like a deer caught in the headlights, but gently lean into the touch even so.

His licks his lips, which are much more dry than they were a minute ago. “But,” He murmurs, the song filtering through the speakers long forgotten, fading into background noise. You cling onto every word he says, desperate for the words of wisdom from someone with experience. “Sometimes the people I surround myself with are all I need.”

⏭

“We are not watching a horror movie,” Ben pouts as his roommate laughs, the sound filling his ears like an echo, mocking him. “You know I don’t like those!”

“Yes, Benjamin, we’re aware that you’re a baby,” Jae sniggers as the other man tosses the closest pillow at his head, the former just barely dodging it. Penny laughs, nudging her own roommate with an ‘that’s totally us’ look.

The aforementioned roommate, Tonks, takes the opening to throw another pillow at the raven haired boy, causing him to smirk, and Ben knows what that means. Thus a full blown pillow fight arises and Ben is left to pull back to the sidelines.

Feathers and stuffing is falling from the pillows and Ben decides that they’ll have to get new pillows on his next day off.

“They’re fighting again?” You sigh from his left, a fresh bowl of popcorn and m&m’s, per Tonks’ request, observing the chaos before you.

He shoots you a quick glance before humming his response. “Well, if you count pillow fighting ‘fighting’.”

“What other kind is there?” You grin and Ben doesn’t fight the one spreading his own lips apart.

Tilting his head in a rare moment of snark, he gestures to the bowl in your hand. “The popcorn kind.”

“Touché,” You surrender with a chuckle, going back to admiring your neighbors. “Are they always like this?” Laughing, you offer the bowl to him.

Ben caves and grabs a handful, earning a sharp glare from you, though the both of you know there’s no legitimate malice behind it. “Yeah, when you put them together.”

“Wow,” Is all you can say as the two of you continue to eat the popcorn for what was supposed to be a joint movie and ‘get to know the new girl’ night, unbeknownst to the others.

“You think this is bad, you should have seen Diego and Barnaby’s party in July,” He whistles low, recalling the night from last year, a grimace painting his face. “Man, that was insane. Or New Year’s! Honestly, I’m surprised Binns hasn’t kicked them out, yet.”

Sparing him a glimpse, you make no move to join in the battle that’s taken up residence in his living room, albeit beginning to wind down. “I take it you don’t like parties?”

The question has him fidgeting a little, taking his bottom lip between his teeth and twiddling his thumbs. “I’m, uh, not good with groups.”

You nod, taking a leap. “Then thank God two isn’t a crowd.”

His eyes snap to you, but you ignore the look on his face as Tonks points an accusatory finger at you both.

“Hey! Don’t eat all the popcorn, you fiends!”

...

Ben snaps awake when he registers movement to his left as you get up from where you’d been sitting beside him. He wipes the drool from his chin as you head into the bathroom and he takes a quick scan around the room.

Everyone is still there, sitting on the sofa, asleep. Jae’s snoring is the only other sound in the room aside from the credits of their third movie. Penny has fallen asleep on his friend’s shoulder and Tonks is spread out across the rest of the couch, head resting on her lap. The glare of the television reflects off the bubblegum pink of her hair and Ben stifles a laugh. Though, it’s not something he sees frequently and it does bring a hidden smile to his face.

Even if Penny had threatened to spill something into all their drinks to watch Pretty in Pink, he does appreciate their companionship, and he’s glad that they can still find the time to have fun together.

Ben reaches for the remote to shut off The Breakfast Club, Jae’s pick, and checks the time on his phone.

1:27 a.m.

Running a tired hand down his face, Ben debates waking up his friends to seek the comfort of their own beds or leaving them be to sleep on his couch. He’s about to wake up Jae to ask his opinion when you reappear from the bathroom.

Even from his place on the couch he can see the tear stains on your cheeks, the moonlight the only thing aiding his vision as it casts a glow upon your face. You pause when you see him awake, surely knowing you’ve been caught, but you stride back over to your seat and wrap yourself back up in the blanket.

Without much thought, Ben offers you more of it and you take it gratefully. Sniffling, you look anywhere but at him and he wonders why it hurts so much.

Rubbing the back of his neck, a nervous habit, he glances around to make sure the rest of their friends are still asleep before going to question you. When all appears well, he opens his mouth, but you beat him to the punch, something he realizes isn’t so unusual with you.

“I should probably head back,” You say, providing a small, mirthless smile, and shuffling under the blankets. You pass the rest of them over to him and head for your phone by the outlet in the tiny kitchen. “I’m meeting with someone in the morning about maybe being my roommate so…”

He nods on instinct, getting up to walk you to the door, remembering you mention something to him earlier. “Yeah, uh- Rowan, right?”

He doesn’t know why it matters, why he’d said it, but you give your confirmation, anyway. “Yeah. Rowan.”

He can’t help but fidget with his fingers, not quite sure what to do with his hands as you shrug on your coat. Words are failing him, nothing forming or stringing together right as he goes about asking you about what happened. Every time he’s caught you in the past, you brush him off, which Ben isn’t sure is healthy. He’s aware you’re probably not comfortable talking about it with him, and that’s fine, but he can’t just let you walk away while in a bad state of mind. This is especially considering you’ve been a very welcomed outlet for him these past months, helping his handle and manage all his stress, something he’s immensely thankful for. He’s just not sure how to return the favor when you won’t let him…

His cheeks feel hot now and he’s positive that were there better lighting in the room you’d be able to see it. For once, he is grateful for the darkness of night.

“You don’t have to, you know. If you don’t want to,” You send him a puzzled look and he sighs, fearing that he’d have to explain. “It’s late and we’re all tired, so you– er, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I know it’s not necessarily a long journey or anything, but you can sleep on the couch if you want, or you can have my bed if you’d prefer that.”

He’s cringing internally, already anticipating your rejection. He was too nervous, too jittery, and now you’re not going to want to come back. Why would you, when all he does is interrogate you and ask questions you don’t want to answer?

You take ahold of his hands that he hasn’t left alone since you got to the door and pull his attention back to you. There’s a smile on your lips when he looks up from his shoes, something that looks out of place on your tear stained face, but still enchanting nonetheless. He’s rendered speechless by the strength he finds in you and you wrap your arms sagely around his neck.

Ben freezes for a moment, not sure if this is real or not, but when you don’t pull away and he doesn’t wake up back on the couch, he realizes that he is indeed awake. With a start, he goes to snake his own arms around your waist and you grin against his neck. After a few more seconds of reveling in each other’s embrace, you pull away and you don’t look quite as sad anymore.

“Thank you,” You whisper into the void, silence surrounding you like a mist. You almost go to pull him into another hug as he lets out a breath of relief, finding the action more endearing than you probably should. “But I couldn’t do that to you.”

“It’s fine,” He assures, one hand still lingering on your hip, seemingly going unnoticed by him. “You know you’re always welcome here.”

The words I know are on the tip of your tongue, ready to fall off, to be said and heard, but you swallow them. Instead, you just smile wider, hoping that he senses this is nothing to do with him and that regardless of whether you stay or don’t, nothing is his fault. However, he’s stubborn, something not a lot of people know, and you know full well that his habit of blaming himself is almost as bad as yours. You know that, right now, with your decision made, there’s nothing you could say to convince him otherwise.

That alone has you close to reconsidering.

Still, you’re stubborn, too, and insist. “You’ve got enough on your hands with the three of them,” Gesturing over to your other friends, still asleep on the sofa, you open the door and bid your goodnight. “Don’t worry about me, Ben, I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, yeah, alright. Goodnight then, MC.”

Your heart breaks just a little for him as he closes the door, no mistaking the solemn expression on his face as he does so. It clicks shut and you sigh, asking why you always have to ruin things for yourself.

“Goodnight, Ben.”

⏭

The door to his apartment creaks open as he tumbles in, his muscles begging him for sleep. Thankfully, he finished up his coursework during his shift tonight and he has nothing left to do other than crash and attempt to get as much sleep as he can before his 8 a.m. class.

The place is eerily silent when he closes the door behind him, the sound of Jae’s loud snores absent, something he’s become accustomed to hearing upon his return home.

Walking around, he manages to spot a note taped to the fridge and he walks over to read it.

Ben,

staying at billingsley’s tonight, assignment due tomorrow.

be back later.

-J

With a sigh and a shrug, he tosses the note and grabs a glass of water before heading to bed. Grabbing one from the cabinet, he does his best not to fall asleep before reaching his room. He never likes being home alone after a shift, something about the complete and utter silence always unsettles him.

He’s ready to go to sleep, skipping putting on pajamas and going straight to bed, when he’s met with a familiar sound, one he hasn’t heard in a while.

It’s you, and you’re crying again.

A curse leaves his lips and his chest feels tight. You’re crying, again, and he doesn’t know what to do. He still doesn’t know why you’re always up at this hour or what it is that makes you cry, but he swears if he has to hear you suffer one more time…

His hands itch for a plan, something to do to help you, make you feel better, but his mind is blank. If you hadn’t confided in him all the times before, what makes this time any different? I mean, why would you let him in this time? Even so, he decides, there has to be something he can do, because Ben knows that the whispering of the wind doesn’t sound like heart wrenching sobs and a promise broken by empty words.

With nothing else to do, he trusts his instincts and goes with the first thing that comes to mind.

Dragging one of the chairs from their poor excuse of a dining table, he walks it over to where the sound is loudest, figuring that must be where you are. Pulling his phone from his pocket and grabbing the bluetooth speaker off the counter, he climbs up onto to chair and pulls up a song the two of you heard on the radio a few days ago during his shift. He places the speaker as close to the ceiling as he can and takes a breath.

He knows how weird this must look from an outside point of view, hell this is weird to him, but it’s the only thing he can think of. He doesn’t know if this will work at all, quite frankly he’s pretty sure it won’t, but he has to try, right?

He closes his eyes for a second and hopes against hope that the walls are thicker than he knows them to be before pressing play.

As the music of Lean On Me begins to play, drifting smoothly throughout the dullness of his apartment and the voice of Bill Withers fill his ears, the crying ceases. He allows the song to play, wondering and wishing that you can hear it and know what it means. He’s never been the best with words, or expressing himself, but he hopes this conveys the message for him.

Seconds pass and he doesn’t hear anything, he just stands there in silence, holding the speaker up to the roof. No sound comes from your apartment and he wonders if maybe you’re ignoring him, or perhaps you went to sleep. Just as he’s starting to think that maybe he fucked up, there’s a knock at his door.

He puts the speaker down, but doesn’t turn it off on the off chance that you’re still upstairs listening to it, and walks over to his door. His first thoughts are that it’s one of his neighbors, here to complain about the noise at three something in the morning. Merula, possibly, or Andre. He’s not really sure which one he prefers.

Though, when it swings open, that’s not what he finds.

You’re there, hair and eyes wild as you regard him. As he expected, there are fresh tears in your eyes, though this time you don’t bother hiding them or wiping them away. You simply stand there, regarding him with a frown tugging your mouth down in a somber expression. You’re in your pajamas, wrinkled and much too big for you, but you don’t seem to care much about how you look right now. Instead, you look at him, a desperate plea dying on your tongue and his mind hurls to a stop.

Without a word, you throw yourself into his arms and this time he doesn’t hesitate to reciprocate the hug, pulling you closer into him. Ben holds you like porcelain, afraid that if he squeezes too tight you’ll break. He cradles you to him, delicately, like one would a distressed child. A few more tears slip from your eyes, dampening the shoulder of his shirt. He doesn’t care.

You stay there like that, in each other’s arms where both of you feel the safest, door wide open for anyone to see while the song reaches its crescendo. As the music fades and the speaker goes quiet, you pull away, but stay nestled against him.

Ben takes this opportunity to speak, deciding to hell with it and saying something he should have said a long time ago.

“Look, MC, I’m not playing tricks on you, okay. You’re always welcome to come in, no matter what time it is or what you’re here for. You can stay here for an hour or two or three or however many you want when it’s too quiet in your apartment or the space feels too big or if you just need a friend,” The words are out in the open now, and distantly a voice in his mind is yelling at him, telling him to stop while he’s ahead, or more accurately, before he’s too far behind, but he can’t. The words, they tumble from his mouth one by one, unable to stop himself. “I’m sorry for always bothering you. I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but you don’t have to. I’m here if you just want company–”

“Ben–”

“No, you need to hear this!” He pushes on, knowing that if he stops now, he’ll never be able to bring himself to do it again. “We can talk about the noise when you’re ready, but ‘til then…” He sighs, not wanting to give you an out, another excuse to bottle things up, but he knows pushing you won’t do any good either. “...it must have been the wind.”

Your breath catches in your throat, your own words from months ago echoing back in your ears. It sounds fake, even to you, though you always knew it did. There was just nothing else to be said at the time… but there is now.

“It’s not the wind,” You hear yourself say, the words leaving your mouth in a rush, like it was something you had to get off your chest. It is.

The shock you see in his eyes is expected, but the way they begin to soften the longer he looks at you with those gorgeous, sincere brown irises of his gives you the push you need to finally tell him everything.

“That first night you came to my house, the crash you heard was me being a klutz and dropping a picture frame,” You admit sheepishly, the night from all those months ago something you’ve tried not to think about since it happened, though it’s easier said than done. “It wasn’t really the frame that I was upset about as it was the picture in it.”

Ben reaches for your hand, giving you a patient nod to continue. “It’s the last picture I have of my brother and me. I was already stressed with the move and being reminded of things just didn’t help.”

“MC,” Ben whispers, careful not to scare you or make you feel pressured. His tone is soft and light, kind, and you appreciate it in this moment. “What happened to your brother?”

You gulp, dreading saying it out loud, it always makes it feel more real that way. Though it’s not like you doubt the truth in it, anyway.

“He went missing almost two years ago,” The confession causing new tears to sting your eyes, already red and puffy from minutes ago. You ignore them, having grown used to their company. “Nobody knows where he is, how he went missing in the first place, how he’s doing, if he’s even alive…”

“Sometimes I like to call his cellphone, just to hear his voice again when I’m sent to voicemail, though I’m not really sure why I keep doing it. I know it only makes me feel worse,” You shake your head and tears drip onto his shirt. Ben pulls you to him for another hug and your arms wrap around his waist as you tuck your head into the crook of his neck.

“Is that why you haven’t gone back to school?”

You nod, not moving from his hold. “He wasn’t just my brother, he was my best friend, and now that he’s gone I just… I don’t know what to do. He always had all the plans and he always knew what to do when things went wrong, but he never told me what to do if he disappeared.”

“It’s not fair,” You find yourself growling, surprised at the anger, the resentment in your voice, though should you be? He left without a single word and really, what are you to do about that?

“I know, you’re right,” Ben agrees, wishing more than anything that he could help you, that he could fix it, but he knows he can’t. He can’t bring your brother back, he can’t give you closure or any sort of explanation other than: “It’s not fair.”

You sniffle, seeming to have run out of tears for now, or water in your body. Though, you can’t deny that the support of the blonde man before you doesn’t play a big role in that. “Sometimes… sometimes it’s just really hard not to feel completely alone.”

“You’re not,” Is what comes out of his mouth and the persistence behind it is not something he’s used to in himself, but he can’t dwell on that right now. “You’re not alone, MC, I can promise you that.”

“I know,” Those words, they’re not just something you wish were true now; now you know and can say with full, complete confidence and honesty that you believe. “Now I have you.”

And when you pull back to smile at him, a little broken but hopeful for the first time in what feels like forever, and press your lips softly against his, you know that so long as you have him by your side, you have nothing to worry about.

“we can talk about the noise when you’re ready

but ‘till then

i’ll say it must have been the wind”

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