Mine

(Monday Morning, August 19th)

"Court is in session," the judge shouts, and the room quiets. "The Auradon Police Station is accusing Adam Beast of domestic abuse of his son Ben Florian and his wife Belle Marie. Adam Beast has claimed innocence. May the representative of APS take the stand."

The black-haired officer takes a seat at the podium. "I am Officer Kolinski, badge number: four-three-four. I work in the unit of Family Protection."

Rapunzel approaches the stand. "Officer Kolinski. Can you tell us what prompted your department to open this case?"

"It was the twenty-ninth of July," he says. "My partner Officer Rinehart and I were tasked to speak with King Ben again after more calls had come in about the possible abuse."

Rapunzel nods. "How often do you get calls about King Ben's welfare?"

"Very often," he answers. "So often, in fact, that my partner and I had been assigned to start a file on him last year."

"And this last visit," she backtracks. "What happened?"

"The king's girlfriend confirmed our suspicions, and we saw a bruise the king had gotten on his stomach. We rushed him to the hospital, and he was given surgery."

Rapunzel nods. "Thank you." She looks at the judge. "That will be all."

When she returns to her seat, Mr. Droit stands from Adam's table. "Permission to approach the plaintiff."

"Permission granted," the judge accepts.

The grey eyed lawyer stands in front of the officer. "You said you started a file on Ben last year. If that's true, why didn't you investigate sooner?"

"We were still gathering evidence." He explains, "King Ben was underage. I couldn't ask him anything without his parents' approval."

"He's still underage," Mr. Droit points out. "Did the parents approve of the questioning?"

"No." He frowns. "When King Ben was crowned, he was recognized as an adult."

"But you waited until last month to approach him?"

"We had to wait for another welfare call," he tries to keep calm.

"And what did King Ben say when you checked on him last time?"

The officer hesitates. "He said he was fine."

"How many times did you have to visit him until he agreed to come forward?" Mr. Droit inquires.

"A few." He hurries, "It wasn't until after King Ben was hospitalized that he was willing to admit what was going on."

"Your Honor." He turns to the judge. "I'd like to remind the court that when police ask the same questions continuously, it can coerce people to say the answer the officer wants to hear. King Ben might have come forward, but the abuse might not even have happened."

The judge takes a minute. "Mr. Droit. Return to your seat. The plaintiff may leave the stand. I'd like to hear from Ben Florian now." Ben glances over the room, and she says louder, "King Ben. Take the stand." His eyes widen, before he strides over to the witness stand. "I'd like to remind everyone here that a royal's title is not to be used during trial." She looks over at him. "Rapunzel. Get your witness's testimony."

Ben eyes the cameras at the back of the courtroom before his lawyer approaches him. "Ben. Is it true that your father has hurt you?"

They've practiced this. "Yes."

"In what ways has he hurt you?" she asks.

Ben's frown deepens. "He punched me in the stomach last month, while I was at work. My boss saw it."

"What else?" she questions.

"He broke open the door to my room at school last year." He touches his arm. "My shoulder was already cracked, and when he grabbed me, it hurt. The doctor said it took longer to heal… My classmates took a video of it. It might still be…"

"Why didn't you tell the officers when they first asked you about it?" she questions.

Ben's eyes lower. "My mother didn't want me to." He feels his face heat up. "She always said he was emotionally sick, that it was my job to not make him mad. I thought it was my fault for saying the things I said, doing the things I do… I'm not emotionally sick like he is, so I had the responsipality to keep things from going bad."

Rapunzel comments, "You say it was your responsibility to keep things calm, because he's presumed to have an emotional disorder and you don't." She pauses. "Can you tell the court how many times you've tried to commit suicide this year?"

His voice crackles, "I've lost count." He sadly smiles. "At the spring dance I was going to jump off the roof. My father was everywhere, and I couldn't take it." He cries. "I looked at the rock of him at the front of the school, and I knew I couldn't get away from him." Ben sniffles, "If it wasn't for Chad and Mal and Audrey, I wouldn't have made it that night."

"Did your parents know about your suicide attempts?"

Ben nods. "Yes."

"And did they take steps to get you help?"

"No." Ben settles, but his stomach clenches. "That would mean other people knowing our family wasn't perfect."

Rapunzel turns to the judge. "That is all, Your Honor."

When the opposition reaches the stand, Mr. Droit comments, "You say that you didn't come forward, because your mother told you not to. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Ben unsurely answers.

"Then what changed your mind?"

"Well." Ben thinks, "When I was in the hospital, she told me to come forward."

"Interesting." He questions, "Would you have come forward had she not told you to?"

"No," Ben answers. "I wouldn't have."

"Why not?"

"Because." Ben flusters, "I care about her."

"If you care about your mother and she was being abused," he slowly asks, "then why would you wait for her to say you can come forward instead of just doing it?"

"Well." He examines, "She asked me not to." He faces him. "I'd do anything for her."

"And?" the lawyer prompts.

"And?" Ben's eyes shift. "I love her."

"To be clear," he addresses, "do you love her in any sexual or romantic way?"

"Romantic?" Ben repeats. His heart beats faster. "Yes."

"You have romantic feelings for your mother?" he asks again.

"Yes," Ben confirms.

"And you would do anything she asks?"

"Yes," he says again.

"Would you lie for her?"

Ben's heart sinks. "Everything I said today was the truth."

Rapunzel stands. "Your honor. The witness has been more than honest today."

"Yes." The judge agitates, "I agree." She narrows her eyes at the lawyer. "Mr. Droit. Please explain the purpose behind your questions."

He frowns at her. "I'm convinced none of the witnesses aside from the APD representative have valid testimonies, as they all have romantic ties with one another."

"People who are married cannot be forced to testify against one another." She reminds him, "There's nothing in law that says people with romantic ties can't defend each other."

His head lowers. "Yes, Your Honor."

She sternly says, "Find a new approach and stop wasting my time." He nods, and she shouts, "Recess. Back in fifteen." She pounds the gavel, and people stand from their seats. Ben's father is guided into their designated chamber, and the judge widens her bright brown eyes at him. "Your Highness?" His eyes lower to her. "You may leave the stand now."

"Right." He steps down from the podium, and she steps in front of him.

"I'm not really supposed to talk to you," the judge whispers, "but you should know anything said on the stand unrelated to the current case cannot be placed into evidence."

Ben's eyebrows furrow. "Pardon?"

She sighs. "Whatever your relationship with your mother, neither of you will get in trouble today. Okay?"

He nods. "I understand."

"Good." She walks to the door behind the judge's bench.

"Ben," Charming calls, and he meets him near the front row. "Are you okay?"

He turns to his mother. "I'm sorry for embarrassing you like that."

Her brown eyes shimmer, as she touches his face. "There's no embarrassment."

A white flash covers the room, and his mother's hand falls back to her side as he notices the news crew taping them from the back. "You sure about that?"

She touches his cheek again, and he faces her. "I'm very sure."

He takes her hand from his face. That smell. He releases his grasp. "We can't do this." He meets her eyes. "I want to respect you. I can't do that this close."

"Ben." She sadly laughs. "I chose you." She takes his hands in hers. "Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

He feels his cheeks wet, and Mal voices from behind them. "Stop it." They turn towards her, and she narrows her eyes at Belle. "Clearly, he wants you to."

Belle smiles in discontent. "How many times have I told you not to eavesdrop on conversations you don't know the language of."

Mal falls silent, and Charming agitates, "No. I agree." He sternly eyes Belle. "May I speak to you outside, please?"

"Of course." Belle lets go of his hands, and Ben stares as she gets away. He strides after her, but Mal blocks the bench's exit.

"Are you okay?" He breathes quick, the cantaloupe scent still lingering in the air. "Ben?" Her jade eyes widen. "You okay?" He shakes his head, and she takes his hand, pulling him to the side of the room. He stares at the double doors. He can't let her get away. He steps towards them; however, Mal tugs him in the opposite direction and they enter the plaintiff's chamber. "Sorry." Mal catches sight of Rapunzel and the officer, and Ben watches as the door shuts. She's two rooms away now. "We have a situation."

"Is he okay?" Rapunzel inquires.

"His mother got to him," Mal says in distain, before she moves Ben to the side wall and holds onto his tense shoulders. "Ben. What's wrong?" He eyes towards the door and steps forward, but she presses him back to the wall. "Talk to me."

"Let go." Ben tries to push her hands off him, but she's stronger than him.

"And where are you going to go?"

"She's mine," Ben roars, and Mal laughs at the high pitch squeak.

"You're adorable." He escapes her grasp, and she strides in front of him. "Ben. Just take a minute to think about this." He steps forward once more; however, she pushes him back, gripping onto his arms. He's shaking. "Calm down."

"She's mine."

"No, she isn't." His eyes shift to the door. "Ben." He looks at her again, and she commands, "Listen to my heart and breathe." There's the pounding, the stream of blood flowing through her veins, and the smoky scent engulfs him. "You're okay."

"You had me look after Ben so that you wouldn't be able to hurt him anymore," Charming reminds her, and Belle crosses her arms. "You knew it would be hard. You can't back down now."

"I didn't know I would be losing my husband too," she defends.

"I hate to say this," Charming says, "but you deserve better. Better than a man who held you captive. Better than a son who doesn't see you as a mother."

"Ben can't help the way he feels."

"He needs time, Belle," he insists, "and you're not giving it to him." She glances down, and he sighs. "There must be someone else you can spend your time with, especially now that you have that new job at the library."

She nods. "I suppose, there is Professor Hawthorne."

"Hawthorne," Charming repeats.

"It's so hard to find someone with the capacity to hold an intellectual conversation," she notes. "It's rather refreshing."

"Belle." Charming frowns. "I don't want you speaking with Hawthorne either."

She strains a smile. "Why ever not?"

"I don't think he's the man he claims to be."

"That didn't stop you from marrying your wife," Belle retorts.

"I'm serious, Belle." He persists, "I don't want you getting involved with him."

"Why, Charming." She meets his troubled, brown eyes. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're jealous."

"I just don't want you to get hurt again."

"Professor Hawthorne is a happily married man." Belle raises her eyebrows. "I'm not sure what you had in mind, but I reassure you no one's going to hurt me."

"You don't need to be in a sexual relationship to get hurt." Charming questions, "What happens once the truth about him gets out, and you realize that the one person you were able to connect with was no better than the man you put away?"

"Are you saying he beats his wife?" Belle opposes.

Charming releases a breath. "I'm saying you need more than one person in your life, if you don't want to define yourself by their successes and misdoings."

"I'm still waiting to hear what misdoings that would be."

Charming opens his mouth, before he sees the APD representative walking past with the first aid kit. "Officer," he calls, and Kolinski faces them. "Is someone hurt?"

"Mal," he confirms. "She was trying to calm Ben down."

"Show me." He strides towards him but then turns to hold up a hand to Belle. "No. You might upset him again."

"He's my son," she disbelieves.

Charming's frown deepens. "I'm tired of having this conversation with you." He follows the officer back into the court room, glancing over his shoulder; however, Belle is nowhere to be found. They enter the side chamber, and Rapunzel moves out of the way to let the officer attend to Mal. His eyes move to the corner, where Ben sits with his knees up to his chest, and he walks over to kneel in front of him. "Hey."

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

"What happened?" He doesn't speak. "Ben?"

"I forgot how great she smells."

"Mal?" he assumes.

"No." Ben turns his head down. "She smells like cantaloupe. I tried to resist."

"You did resist."

Ben hugs his legs harder. "Something happened when she started to walk away… I couldn't let her leave." He looks over and sees the officer bandage her neck. "Mal was in the way. She wouldn't let me go after her."

"This happened in the courtroom?" Charming concerns.

"No." Ben whispers, "It happened here."

"It's been fifteen minutes," Rapunzel says. "We're needed back in court."

Charming faces Ben. "It's going to be okay."

"The first interaction I had with my girlfriend in a month," Ben notes, "and I end up doing the one thing she's asked me not to."

Charming's eyes lower. "You can talk to her afterwards. Tell her you're sorry."

Ben's eyes shift. "Sorry isn't going to cut it."

When Mal exits the courtroom, the reporters circle her. "Mal. How does it feel to find out that King Ben is attracted to his mother?"

She frowns. "I already knew."

"But does it bother you?" another reporter jumps in, and the camera crew inches closer.

"Does it bother me that Ben is attracted to someone who looks like me, thinks like me, and is less powerful than me." They step back, and Mal eyebrows narrow. "No, it doesn't. Because, in the end, I'm the only person Ben is attracted to who he could legally date, and he's made it very clear that he's not breaking any laws as long as he's king."

"What's the bandage on your neck?"

Mal's expression slips as she moves her hand to where Ben had bitten her, and Rapunzel steps in front of her. "Witnesses are not allowed to speak with the press. Any questions you have will need to be asked after the trial has come to a close."

She guides her out of the press's way, and Mal whispers, "Thanks."

"Don't." Rapunzel says, "You almost jeopardized your validity as a witness."

"I didn't know—"

"I know." She settles. "That doesn't change the fact that Ben's been abused and that if key witnesses are discredited, the law may not be able to help him."

Ben marches through the hall before the press can catch sight of him, he makes it out into the bright light, and he feels the center of his shoe angle down as he falls. His heart beats hard, as he glimpses the steep, stone stairs; however, a hand grips his forearm, he's spun around, and he clings onto the person's arms. Chad asks, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Ben breathes. He's safe.

Charming clears his throat, Ben looks at him, and Chad lets go. "Here." He holds up the black sunglasses. "Put these on."

Ben glances from the sunglasses to Charming's blotchy silhouette. "Can't he just walk me down the stairs?"

It takes him a moment. "This isn't a ball. Put these on."

"But there's press."

"I don't care," Charming's voice raises, and Ben inches back. Chad places a hand on his back, and Ben glances down before moving forward. "You could have died. You need to see."

Ben takes the sunglasses, puts them on, and the expression on Charming's face is of deep concern. "I'm sorry."

"No." Charming comments, "I'm sorry for raising my voice."

"He almost fell again," Chad disbelieves.

Charming grows quiet, "I know. I should have accessed the situation more carefully."

Ben turns and sees the news vans at the bottom of the staircase. "I'm sure they got some perfect photos to share."

Charming places a hand on Ben's shoulder. "You have day blindness. There's no shame in that."

"No," Ben agrees. "What's shameful is the reason why I've been hiding it."

"King Ben," the black guy behind the counter says in surprise, and Ben awkwardly smiles as he approaches. "I never saw you here before."

"I need to make things up with Mal," he explains. "She doesn't actually like flowers." His eyes shift. "But I thought maybe some bones with meat on top." He faces him. "Is something like that even an option?"

"I don't know." He frowns. "I don't really work here. I'm just helping my dad."

"Hold on." Ben pauses. "You're helping your dad with the store, but you don't work here? Are you not paid?"

"Not old enough." He smiles. "I get a nice allowance."

Ben's eyebrows furrow. "How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

Ben gapes. "I'm sorry. I thought—"

"That I was older." He nods. "I get that a lot."

Ben's frown deepens. "Do you know what the age is to work?"

"My dad said that in other places it's fourteen," he answers, "but in the city it's sixteen. It's more dangerous here."

"There's a lot of people here," Ben agrees. "Different people think different things. Sometimes they don't like what other people think."

"And they hurt those people."

Ben's frown deepens. "Sometimes. Sometimes they're stopped before it happens."

"Not enough," a tall man opinionates, crossing his arms as he comes closer.

"This is your father," Ben slowly assumes.

"Jeremy," he commands, "go upstairs."

"But," he starts.

"Now." His father sternly eyes him, and the kid runs to the back.

Ben frowns. "Did you need to do that?"

"Protect my son from a sex demon like you?" He answers, "Yes."

"Sex demon?" he repeats.

The man explains, "You admitted to sexually assaulting people, even males: your best friend. You don't know why. It just happens."

Ben quiets, "No one ever believed me before."

"Maybe your girlfriend's protecting you," he hypothesizes. "I took a look at the cameras after my son lost all the bones in our inventory a few months back. She hypnotized him to hand over the product."

"I'm sorry."

"So, excuse me, if I don't trust you." He uncrosses his arms. "I don't suppose you'd like to make up for her robbery?"

"How much?"

He hums, "Five dollars a bone at about twenty a sack." His dark eyes pierce him. "Let's just round it up to two hundred an' call it good."

"Deal," Ben agrees. "Can you help me?"

He nods. "What can I do you for?"

Ben stares for a moment. "I need to say sorry to Mal. I thought I could turn some bones and meat into flowers, give her a… you know, twelve."

"A bouquet," he understands.

Ben smiles. "Tu parle Francais?"

He frowns. "I speak English."

Ben glowers. "I got all happy for nothing."

"Wasn't bouquet borrowed from the French language?" he inquires.

"I wouldn't know." Ben tiredly says, "I don't speak English."

"You mean, you don't like to speak it."

Ben almost rolls his eyes. "I don't have time to explan it again. I thought you watch my interviews. How don't you know?"

"Explain," he corrects.

"I'm not here to explain myself," Ben rejects. "I'm here to get my girlfriend flowers made out of meat, because I hurt her again."

"You assaulted her again," he assumes.

Ben's eyes shift. "Not sexually." He watches the man punch numbers into a calculator. "I'm not a demon."

"You're an atheist, aren't ya?" He raises an eyebrow, and Ben doesn't answer. "If you don't change somethin', one day you will."

Ben's eyes lower, and he catches sight of the sticks presented in the display case. "Are those new? I never saw that taste before."

"Homemade." He leans on the counter. "Like I tell my boy, give the carnivores more options and they won't eat you." Ben takes a knee to examine the merchandise. "We have ones with pre-cooked bones in the middle, if you think your girl would be interested."

"Uh." Ben thinks, "Yeah, but I also want the apple with peanut butter, the orange-crème filled beef, and—oh—the flaked chicken with chocolate sounds really good. They all do. I'll take two packs of everything."

"Don't know English, huh?" Ben frowns up at him, and he asks, "Is there some sort of insurance policy on dragon robbery or would you like it included in your total."

Ben gets to his feet. "Just add it."

His eyebrows raise. "Well, if we're still doing the bouquet, that's going to add up to six hundred and thirty-two dollars." Ben's smile sinks, and the manager questions, "Would you like to take something off your order?"

"No." Ben accepts, "I need it."

"You'll need to come back tomorrow for the bouquet," he warns, and Ben nods. The man rings him up, and Ben watches as hundreds of dollars slip through his fingers.

Charming knocks on Ben's door, but there's no response. "Ben," he calls. "It's time to get ready for court." He pauses. "Ben?" He knocks again. "Derek?" There's no answer. He opens the door, finds the bed, and sighs. "Ben." He walks over to it, examining the dozen or so open packages, until he touches his shoulder. "Ben."

He groans. "Go away."

"What happened?"

"I got upset about all the money I spent," Ben divulges. "I think I saved some."

"How did you go through so many carnivore sticks?"

"Doesn't last as long without all the preservatives, I guess," Ben decides. "I'm tired."

"I'm sure you are." Charming disbelieves, "It must be hard to even talk right now."

"I want to sleep," Ben says.

"You can't. You need to be at court in case they recall you to the stand." Ben releases a long, slow breath, and Charming checks his forehead. "Huh. Your temperature's normal. For you, at least. Did you already take your medication this morning?"

"I'm cold," Ben complains.

Charming hesitates, "Are you still losing weight?" He doesn't answer, and Charming nods. "Alright. Let's find you something nice and warm."

"I don't own warm clothes," Ben whispers.

"No. The courtroom will be warm enough with all the people," Charming counters. "I meant, you might warm up with some hot chocolate until then."

"Not blood?"

"If you'd like," Charming considers.

Ben pulls the covers tighter. "I'm really tired."

"The chewing sticks are for exercising your teeth," Charming comments. "You're not going to gain as many calories from it as it says."

"Can you just tell the judge I'm sick?"

"Not if you're not," Charming answers. "Sorry."

Ben murmurs, "I feel sick."

"You're going to until you recover."

"You mean, the eating thing," he assumes.

"Are you ready to talk about why you're doing it?" Charming asks.

"I'm too tired to talk."

"Very well." Charming moves over to the dresser. "I'm picking your outfit. You have thirty minutes to dress yourself."

Ben feels the heavy clothes drop on him. "If I don't?"

Charming frowns. "Then someone else can do it for you." He sees the guard in the corner chair. "Derek." He doesn't move, and Charming strides over to shake his shoulder. "Derek. Wake up."

He opens his eyes and sighs. "I didn't."

"Fall asleep in a carnivore's bedroom?" Charming finishes. "Yes. You did." He rubs his eyes. "You can't watch Chad and Ben at the same time, can you?"

"They keep opposite hours."

"I understand." Charming frowns. "You need time to sleep."

"I'm sorry, sir. I know you were counting on me while Bernard's out sick."

"Have you heard anything?"

"Only that he's stinking up the servant's washroom," Derek mentions. "Must be some case of stomach flu… well, except that he's been eating like crazy."

"Probably trying to keep things solid," Charming dismisses. "I'll call him tomorrow."

When Chad enters the room, he frowns. "Come on, Ben. Seriously?"

He walks over to him, and Ben opens his eyes. "Thirty minutes, already?"

"Yeah." Chad pulls the covers off him. "And it looks like I'm dressing you."

"You?"

"My dad thought you would be more if I did it." He unties the drawstring of the pajama pants. "Probably thinks I'm not interested in you now that I'm dating Carlos."

Ben's pants are pulled down, and he watches Chad stare at his underwear. "You know when you were trying to set boundaries before? I don't want you looking at me."

"When was the last time you changed your boxers?"

"When was the last time I took a shower?" Ben irritably replies.

"Three days ago," Chad answers, and Ben closes his eyes. "I can change them for you, maybe grab some wet wipes."

"Yeah, and maybe you can give me a hand job too." He keeps his eyes closed. "I don't want to be touched, Chad."

"So, just the pants, then," Chad concludes. "Lift your legs up." Ben does as he's told, but they're heavy; however, despite his legs shaking, Chad managing to slip them on. "You're going to need to sit up now. Ben slides his legs off the bed, stands up to button his pants, and then sits back down. "Do you need me to take your shirt off too?"

"I'm tired," Ben complains.

"Lift your arms." Ben lifts them up. "Higher." He raises them above his head, Chad takes the tank top off, and Ben lowers them. "I'm not done." Ben raises them again, and Chad takes a bottle from his coat before spraying Ben's armpits.

"What's that?"

"Deodorant. What else?" Chad argues, and Ben's arm's start to weigh down. "Just slip this on, and we'll call it a day."

Ben moves his arms through the button up. "Can I sleep now?"

"Not until we get to court." He buttons Ben's shirt and then grabs the tie.

"I don't like ties."

Chad stares at him. "You always wear ties."

"I hate ties."

"Okay." Chad finds the black jacket. "Slip this on then." Ben does as he's instructed, and Chad smiles. "There. A little dry shampoo, and you will be good as new."

He starts to walk away, and Ben says, "Hey." Chad turns back, and he takes a moment. "Thank you."

Chad eyes over him. "It's okay, Ben. Really. Just… try to get better."

"Better?" Ben repeats.

Chad takes a moment. "Your breath still smells like blood, by the way. You're going to want to use mouthwash." He lingers in the doorway before nodding, turning to leave.