About this Fic:
1) In the first Isle Problems fic there was calendar inconsistences, something that a reader may not have noticed but something that would be very hard to have me deal with when trying to write consistency. So, from this point forward I will be putting the calendar date I'm following with each title. This is more of an author's tool and isn't meant to directly correlate with real-world event timelines (such as an invention of a device). Although, just as with the first fic, I'm sure it will be helpful for you to know day and time of the setting.
2) If you haven't read the first Isle Problems fic or seen the movies this fic is based on, then please do that now to avoid confusion. Thank you.
3) As with the first fic, this one will too cover serious topics. Trigger warning for psychological/emotional and physical abuse, addiction, self-harm, mood disorders and eating disorders, and mention of rape/sexual assault. Spoiler: taboo topics include masochism and incest, which doesn't necessarily mean that it will happen; however, it will be discussed... I'm not even going to get into ships. It's pretty complicated right now, but I plan to start having Mal date both Ben and Evie with all three parties consenting to the situation by the end of the fic.
4) This fic takes place over the span of the summer, and it can be read alongside Side Problems: In the Pack (will be released after first week of this fic). I will also be releasing My Name is Belle Marie soon, as her journal is mentioned in the fic. There's also this weird dream I had, which inspired me to give that health store guy a background story. What health store guy? The one where I know why Ben starts talking to him more and you don't.
5) Five... What can I put for five? Right. So, I love to know what people think of the story, so make sure to leave comments. I still haven't had anyone tell me their overall thoughts of the first fic, maybe because it ended on a cliffhanger or they thought I wouldn't read comments for a finished story (assuming you can still comment on a finished story). So, yeah. Feel free to leave as many comments as you'd like, preferably on the chapter you're talking about... Okay. I'm done now.
Nothing Else Exists
(Saturday Evening, June 15th, 2019)
When Ben fails to speak Chad reassures, "It's okay. We don't need to talk about it. We can just hang out or something."
"No." He takes a deep breath, "I want to tell you."
There's more silence, before Chad questions, "What's up?"
Ben meets his greyish blue eyes, lost for words. Chad waits this time, and Ben eventually manages, "My father isn't very good to me." He gulps, "Even when he's well, he tends to be over… critical, and…" His breath shakes, his voice rising into a high-pitched whisper, "I don't know how to make him happy." as the tears flow from his eyes again. He wipes them away, but more fall, "It's like, I get it. Okay? I'm a bad king. I'm going to ruin this country, and I'm going to be responsible for the death of every single one of my citizens."
Chad deeply frowns, "He told you that?"
Ben looks off, "Not in those words." before he shakes his head and shuts his eyes. "I'm just so tired of it." He feels his face burn from the salty tears and fever, "I wish I was dead."
"Don't say that," Chad says, before he moves in to hug him. "It's okay, Ben. No one's going to die. Not you. Not your country."
Ben takes in the sour, surgery scent, and his breathing slows, "You smell a lot better without those chemicals."
He laughs, "You have a nose like a dog."
Ben turns towards the inside of the neck, traced as he slowly goes to suck on the skin, but when he tastes the tartness he shuts his eyes and lets go of him, "Sorry."
"It's okay." Chad reminds himself, "You're upset."
"Maybe we should have dinner, order room service," Ben suggests.
"Okay," he nods. "Let's do that."
Ben notices Chad's uncomfortableness, "You don't like my steak."
Chad cuts a piece out of his chicken, "Blood just makes me squeamish."
"It's juice," he quietly counters.
Chad gives him a look, "It's blood."
Ben wets his lips, "I can have something else."
"No," he asserts. "You need some good comfort food right now. You need things that make you happy."
It takes him a moment to say, "I just have a taste for it." before he looks up at him. "That doesn't make me a carnivore or anything."
Chad meets his eyes, "I never said it did." and there's brief salience before he glances down. "So. Your father." He takes a bite of the sauerkraut, "What's up with that?"
"I feel like I've tried everything," Ben whispers, before he takes a drink of the red wine. "I just don't know what to do anymore."
"If he hurt you," Chad softly suggests, "then you could turn him in."
"No," he looks down, cutting into his steak and watching the blood flow. "I'm king. It would look like a political move." The tears intrude his eyes again, as his heart races, "He's such a good man." He meets Chad's eyes, "We're the poster family for goodness and success."
"You don't want to ruin your image," he slowly suspects.
"No one would believe me," Ben frowns, before he shakes his head and pushes the steak around his plate. He doesn't want this. He doesn't want to talk. He looks back up at Chad, glancing at his neck. He wants to jump him, bite him, and taste that tart blood flow endlessly, engulfing his senses so nothing else exists.
"I would believe you."
Ben moves his eyes to meet Chad's, "Your father wouldn't. No one else would." before he notices Chad about to speak. "We're just children. To them, our word means nothing."
"You're their king," he reminds him.
Ben takes a moment, "I don't think that would matter too much. Scientifically speaking, my brain isn't fully developed. Every choice I make gets second guessed."
Chad starts to tear up, "I've almost lost you twice now, maybe more that I don't know about." and Ben looks away. "I can't lose you. I need to know you're going to be okay."
Ben faces him with an attempted smile, "Okay as ever." before he refills Chad's glass.
"You shave your legs?" Chad notices, as they sit in the hot tub.
Ben looks down at them before commenting uncomfortably, "I don't like getting hairy."
"And shaving doesn't get you embarrassed or anything?" Chad unsurely questions.
He shakes his head, "No. Why should it?"
"Well," he eyes him, "it's a girl thing."
Ben awkwardly smiles, "This is Auradon. It gets hot."
"That's not what you said before," he slowly points out.
Ben notices him straighten up, becoming more alert, "You use lotion."
"That's an age thing," Chad reminds him. "I have a good excuse."
"It's hot," Ben repeats. "I have a good excuse."
He eyes him for a minute, "Whatever." before he looks over his bare chest and blue swim shorts. Chad forces his eyes away, "I'm going to take a shower." before he stands up to get out. "You should get dressed too. It's getting late."
"I wish we could stay here forever," Ben mumbles, as he and Chad lay in the bed.
"What about your girlfriend?" he reminds him.
Ben keeps his eyes shut as he frowns, "I don't want to go home." and when Chad doesn't know what to say he continues. "She doesn't know anything… You know."
"Yeah," Chad merely responds.
Ben moves closer, leaning his head on his shoulder, "I'm glad you came." before he takes a slow breath. "I don't know where I'd be without you."
"I'm glad you called." There's a minute of silence, before Chad admits, "I like you."
"I like you too," Ben slowly mumbles.
"Ben," Chad tries to address, "I like you, like… I love you." He doesn't respond, and Chad takes a nervous breath, "Ben?"
"You're a good friend," he manages.
"Right," Chad frowns as he slightly shakes his head. "Friend."
- Posted: 02/28/2019 (American Standard)