The song How Do You Love Someone seems fitting in my head for Ben from Mercy Thompson series. I don't know how on point it is, but it feels like it'd be a song for him. He was heavily abused as a child and though I don't know if it's true I think part of that involved rape because in Iron Kissed the way he talked about how they could feel and everything felt like it was from personal experience sadly. I don't know if we'll ever find out exactly about it, but personally it'd be nice to see at least some short stories with Ben, Warren, Bran and a few others to see things when Mercy isn't around.

How Do You Love Someone

Mercy hobbled down the stairs where Ben sat starring at a computer screen. His shoulders were tensed and his fist was balled up.

Mercy frowned, "Ben? What's wrong?"

"NOTHING!" He replied quickly.

"It's not nothing when you look like you're about to take out the damn computer! Now tell me."

He started shaking and pushed himself away from the computer. Ben let out a soft sob and Mercy frowned more hobbling over to him.

"Ben..."

"It's nothing..."

She looked at the screen and froze,"Ben... Is that case on you?"

"N-no!"

She rested her hand on his shoulder, "Is that part of the reason you were so hard on Adam to stay after the Tim incident?... How you knew so much?..."

"..."

Mercy hugged him from behind, "It's okay... They can't hurt you anymore... You're okay" she mumbled against his neck.

"I know! It just... How do you do it?..."

She blinked, "Do it?"

"Act so strong? Move on from... From all of that"

Mercy smiled,"Having a good support group helped... Being to stubbern to keep seeing myself as a victim helped... Having someone understand helped a lot..."

Ben started shaking and sobbed, "How... How did you get up the courage to love Adam or anyone after that?..."

Mercy cooed softly,"You helped... Convincing Adam not to leave me... To not give up... During all that time all I wanted was to go do as Tim said. I felt broken, dirty and sometimes I still do. But...Really I didn't want to go kill myself in the river and having someone who was able to help me through that. Someone who showed that, that stupid-"

"That stupid bastard." Ben said crossly.

Mercy smiled weakly, "Yah that he was wrong."

Mercy gentlely petted his head and sighed. Ben stopped shaking and hiccuped a bit.

"But..."

"It takes time... Time and patience to get past it." Mercy said softly.

Ben nodded, "Okay... Do you think... Do you think I'll be able to get past it?"

Mercy smiled, "Ben you're a stubborn butt and you've lasted

this long. I think you'll be fine eventually."

He sat up and took a deep breath as Mercy let go of him.

"You can talk to me any time Ben..." She said smiling weakly,

"And if you find someone who's your version of what Adam is to me I'd love to met them."

He laughed weakly, "Okay Mercy... Thanks... You're the best."

She grinned and jokingly replied, "I know I am." She ruffled his hair and pointed upstairs, "I have some cookies I just baked upstairs they should still be nice and hot."

He jumped up, "Well fresh baked desserts are the best kind."

"Then go get some before Jesse and Gabriel eat them all!"

Ben ran towards the stairs and went up them two to three at the time and a "HEY LEAVE SOME FOR ME" fang throughout the house. Mercy looked at the computer and wrote down some names before shutting it off.

"A little intimidation doesn't hurt either." she mumbled tucking it in her pocket.