When I got off work, I took hold of Benn's shirt from behind. "Come on!" I was surprised that he actually got up to follow me. As we walked to my house, I smiled up at him. Never in my life did I think i would be leading a six foot seven pirate to my house to watch a movie and relax with me. But, oh well. "You like pizza, don't you?"
"Huh? Yeah, why?" "It's supper time. Don't think i'm going to starve you." I smirked. "What do you like on yours?"
"Not a picky eater. Whatever's fine." He sat down on the end of the couch after he'd propped his boots by the door. I sat down beside him, and called in the pizza order. "...I'll run down and get it." His voice startled me for a moment, because he'd been so quite for that instant. "Huh? No, i got it for delivery." We talked for a while, laughing and just having a good time. When the pizza came, he insisted on paying, blocking the door completely. We popped in "Zombieland" and i found myself entirely comfortable with him, laughing at our favorite parts of the movie, sharing a pizza out of the box and talking like we'd been friends for forever. I had apparently fallen asleep, as i woke up at the end of whatever movie we had popped in after "Zombieland". I nuzzled whatever I was lying on, and to my horror discovered it was Benn's chest. And that I was covered up with the blanket i sobbed into during sappy romance movies...I looked up and saw Benn, completely frozen, but turning his head at that moment to look at me. "Uhhhhh..." I blushed brightly. I had a crush on Benn, but i didn't expect to bring it about just after Jolene. He chuckled. "It's fine." He stroked my arm. His hands were exceptionally rough from work. Kind of...really...really attractive...sexy. "You just kinda fell asleep and slowly worked your way over. I didn't want to wake you up, because you worked today. Then you started to shiver..." he fingered the blanket and shrugged. Good lord, i was mortified. "what time is it?"
"Uhhh...one thirty..."
"How long was i asleep!"
"...an hour or two..."
"I'm so sorry! Oh my god, i'm so embarrassed! I'm so sorry Benn! I didn't mean to...not just after She..."
"I know. i know." He smiled and chuckled. "It's ok. Really. If i cared i would have moved and gotten you up."
I realized i hadn't really made any effort to move, and quickly jumped off of him. He laughed and stood up. "I'm sorry!"
"Don't worry about it." He smiled warmly. "I'll let you go to bed." He headed for the door, but before he could leave i grabbed his arm. He turned around, surprised. "what's wrong?"
I hugged him, expecting him to just freeze, but he returned the gesture, then left.

The next day, when the red-haired pirates came in, i was almost dreading talking to Benn after my little nap last night...
When he came in, his hair was completely black, no longer just the roots where it had started to grow out. He came to his usual spot and sat down, nodding in greeting. "No longer an older man, 'eh Benn?"
He chuckled. "I didn't know it bothered anybody that much." He shrugged. "Hey, listen about last night..."
He laughed. "why're you so worried about that? It doesn't matter, Makino. You didn't offend me or make me feel awkwad or whatever else you might be thinking you did. Relax." He looked at me, and those damn brown eyes of his got me all flustered...
chocolate. Hazlenut. Coffee. Mocha. I shook my head. He chuckled at me, smirking. "Why don't you come hang out again Thursday, my parents will be out."
He cocked his head slightly. "Parents...? H...how old are you, Makino?"
I blushed, caught off guard by his question. "I...I'm 24, why?"
"Sorry. That was a little brash, but...i was just wondering..."
"How old are you?"
"30." He took a swallow of his beer. "So Thursday, then? What time?"