Ben
(Nearly) Twenty Five. Present Day.
"You sure I can't get you something stronger mate?" Harry kept his voice low, shooting a pointed glance down the bar to where Chad was crying on Doug's shoulder.
"One of us has to be responsible." Ben grimaced, grabbing his glass of Coke and shaking his head as he took a sip, "Doug's been here longer than I have. He needs it more."
When Ben was sixteen, he could never have imagined the VK Programme would turn into this. The VKs were off the Isle. A third generation was starting to take shape, one without the label of good or evil, even if Auradon was still obsessed with family history. A lot of the Original Villains had entered into the Rehabilitation Programme, and the five year success rate was looking like it would come in around 83%.
People like Harry Hook were now so completely baked into the fabric of Auradonian society, Ben couldn't imagine how much poorer life would be if they'd remained on the Isle to rot.
Harry had had no desire to head off to university like the others - he had a better idea. When they'd been on the Isle, Harry and Gil had been roped into helping Uma run her mother's chip shop. And Harry had been pretty damn good at it. So with a lot of charm, sheer determination and a grant from Cinderella's VK Futures Fund, Hooked was born.
It was a bar and restaurant in the middle of Auradon City. The food was no nonsense comfort food, the drinks were strong, the cocktail menu bright, colourful and embodied a familiar kind of chaos. It routinely came in on Auradon's Hottest… lists, and Harry had ended up on his fair share of magazine covers as a result.
But he was still Harry. Bemused at the reaction, riding the wave just because it was there. Smouldering at every girl in sight, but unwaveringly loyal to his live-in girlfriend. Harry and Uma had finally got their shit together about a year ago, and only because Uma convinced him she was falling for one of her coworkers.
Ben wasn't jealous of their progress, he reminded himself as he set the drink down on the bar. Not in the slightest. He was happy for them.
Another dramatic wail cut through the air and Ben groaned, seriously considering switching to scotch.
Harry simply raised an eyebrow, watching Chad suspiciously, "What's his deal?"
Harry saw it all. Hooked was their group's favourite bar, so despite not being friends with Chad, Harry didn't escape the drama.
And it was always drama when it came to Chad.
He had fucked up. Again.
And the fuck ups were getting bigger.
This time he'd been caught driving under the influence. And tried to bribe the 'police officer' who caught him.
Fortunately for Chad, the town car car he'd 'borrowed' from his protection officer never left his father's estate. Unfortunately, it was Kings Adam, Charming and Phillip who found him.
He'd tried, and failed, to bribe his own father.
It was a new low.
This one hadn't made the papers at least, but Audrey was furious. Chad had spent the weekend begging and pleading and bargaining, only to be met with an icy wall silence that Mal would be proud of.
Charming was at his wits end with Chad, but running low on options that he actually thought would help the situation. Adam had plenty of solutions, starting with a stint in rehab, but they weren't popular with Cinderella.
Everyone, except maybe Chad, knew he was running out of chances.
All Chad could see was Audrey's reaction. And it was pushing him in the wrong direction.
Ben sighed heavily, unsure of just how to put all that into words, "He's Chad?"
Ben had hoped the insecurity and acting up was a phase. That Chad would realise all he had to do was screw the head and stop juggling girls and he'd be fine. But that only ever lasted a few weeks.
It was always long enough to start giving Audrey hope, but not long enough that she'd lower her walls. And when Chad was good for a sustained period of time with no pay off...shit like this happened.
"I'm serious." Harry prodded, polishing a glass as he shot another pointed look down the bar. Doug was reading Chad the riot act now, but Chad was too busy crying to hear any of it. "He's in here every other weekend picking up girls. Yet every few months the three of you book this room so he can cry about the fact Audrey doesn't love him. Why does he think a girl like that is going to give him the time of day when he's so...him?"
Ben sighed, leaning forward so his elbows were resting on the bar. He dropped his voice, mostly out of habit. Mal had made sure Hooked was impossible to bug. But that didn't mean that Leah's spies didn't try anything and everything to get in front of Audrey. "Audrey does love him. That's the problem."
"I'm not following." Harry furrowed his eyebrows, clearly questioning Ben's sanity. Ben didn't blame him. To the outside world, Audrey and Chad had nothing to do with each other beyond what was required by their royal duties.
"If Audrey didn't love him, she'd tell to do one and mean it." Ben sighed, reluctant to admit, even to himself, just how often he'd wished for that outcome. It would break Audrey's heart. Chad would tailspin. But maybe it would let them both build something better. Healthier. "But she won't. She wants him to work his shit out."
Ben paused, glancing down the bar again and wondering how the hell Chad could be in such proximity to multiple thrones and still be so reckless. "But Chad isn't quite there yet and likes to press self destruct on his life. He's my friend but he's an idiot."
Harry was quiet for a long moment, and Ben didn't think he was going to say anything else. But then Harry placed two empty glasses on the bar and filled them with something from the tap.
"Water. For Chad. Tell him it's vodka, he won't notice." Harry busied himself with making the drink look like a vodka on ice, and then when his back was turned he tossed out, "So what's your excuse?"
"My excuse?" Ben asked, confused by the change of direction.
"Mal's my friend." Harry stated simply, tossing the dishcloth over his shoulder as he turned back, bracing himself on the bar. His hazel eyes bored into Ben, as if Harry was trying to see into his soul.
Ben barely flinched. Harry had nothing on Hades.
"So. What's your excuse?"
"There's nothing going on with us." Ben answered too quickly, he knew that. But he'd been caught off guard - it was the first time Harry had ever brought up his non-relationship with Mal. Not that they had the kind of friendship where that would come up.
Harry was Mal's friend. And Ben was sleeping with Mal. Harry owned Ben's favourite bar. That was about it.
"Barman." Harry stated dryly as he pointed to himself. "I'm not doing my job right if I don't see things."
Ben half-shrugged in agreement, but kept his eyes on the rows of bottles that decorated the bar. There were mirrors behind them, but Ben didn't need to see the lies he was about to tell reflected back at him. The silence stretched out for a long moment, and Ben wasn't sure which one of them was going to break first.
Chad let out another wail, breaking the spell, and Ben sighed heavily. Reaching up to run a hand through his hair, he admitted, "There's nothing going on. Now."
It wasn't a lie. Not exactly.
After they'd fucked on his desk at the K20, something changed. Again. But he didn't know if it was a good change.
Ben didn't know how he'd made it through dinner and networking without making a complete lovesick fool of himself. He certainly didn't know how he managed to watch her leave the event with her father, clueless as to when he'd see her again.
Luckily, he didn't have to wait too long, because she was already waiting for him when he got back to his suite.
Then he'd woken up alone. As usual.
And since then, they'd been in this weird space between on and off.
"I'm giving her what she wants." He paused, then shrugged, "Well. I'm trying to."
He didn't know what Mal wanted. He had even less clue about what was going on between them than normal, and that was saying something.
They texted constantly. Called most nights, even when they were in different time zones. They spent at least two evenings together each week, even if he still woke up alone.
But Mal was holding back again. As if she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. She wasn't receptive to his attempts to make the first move, but had no issue making them on her own. Which, if he was being honest, was a change he hadn't noticed until it happened.
In some ways, it was almost like they were eighteen again.
"So you're not on the Coke because you plan on ditching your protection detail to head over there later?" Harry's tone was clipped and almost mocking. Like he knew Ben was trying to pull one over on him and he was offended that Ben had even tried it.
And Harry...wasn't wrong.
Ben meant what he said about Doug needing the drink more than he did.
But he and Mal had been flirting all day, the messages getting progressively more heated as the day went on. Doug's message to meet him at the bar to deal with Chad came at the same moment as Mal had sent him a very detailed message about what she needed from him. So of course he was going to ditch his protection detail later, despite the fact he had a six am meeting tomorrow.
When it came to Mal, he got reckless.
Right on cue, Ben's cell started ringing. He pulled it out and Mal's name filled the screen. He silenced the call and pulled up his messages, quickly typing out a reply. Three dots appeared, quickly replaced by a message. Ben's response was instant. Harry raised an eyebrow. Without looking up, Ben replied, "This doesn't mean you're right."
Another message appeared. Another instant response.
"How many times have you ended up over there this week?" Harry raised an eyebrow, but his tone told Ben he already knew the answer. Somehow.
Ben avoided eye contact. "This'll be the third time."
"It's Wednesday."
"I'm aware."
"And yet…you still say nothing's going on."
They stared at each other for a long moment, neither one willing to give any ground.
And then Harry sighed, putting an end to their little verbal ping-pong match. "Look. Ben. I like you. But Mal and I are kind of like you and Audrey."
He threw a pointed look at Chad, and Ben rolled his eyes at the comparison. He was nothing like Chad.
When Harry turned back to Ben, the usual glint of chaos in his eyes was gone. All that was left was genuine sincerity. And maybe a little pity. "We both spend a lot of time looking at the idiot who won't get out of his own way, who knows she's too scared to make the first move, and wondering what the hell she sees in him." A pause. Then a shrug. "No offence."
Ben paused, and looked at Chad, really seeing him for the first time in a long time. Something about Harry's words had taken the wind from his sails, and now he was left with the stark reality. He let out a long breath. "None taken."
Chad was a liability. They all knew that. Things had gotten so bad that, for the last four years, Adam had hired a PR associate just for Chad.
And as a result, Ben made sure he was always careful. Tried to avoid the same pitfalls. Tried to be better. To be worthy of the power he was destined to take.
The stories that had been circling about Chad since their final years of high school scared him. It had started with the promise of dates to get girls to do his homework. But then as they got older, Chad got more...Chad. He hadn't done anything outright malicious. But he'd done plenty of stupid. Plenty of scandal.
And Ben was always worried that the next time would be the time he accidentally went too far. Pushed too hard. Got with a girl who was too drunk. Made the wrong promise to the wrong person.
Everyone in royal circles knew it made Ben and Audrey more cautious. More wary and protective of their own images. They overcorrected to make up for Chad's shortcomings. Growing up, everyone told them it was a good thing. That they were protecting their Crowns.
But maybe it wasn't a good thing.
Maybe it was stopping them from…everything.
…
Fifteen minutes after returning from the bar with their drinks, and with Harry's words fresh in his mind, Ben found his window.
Chad was about to pass out, which meant they were safe in the knowledge that if they handed him over to his protection officer, he'd fall asleep on the drive home and stay out of trouble for the night.
Ben and Doug poured Chad into the Range Rover, out back, out of sight of the paparazzi, and headed back to their private room.
Ben grabbed Doug's arm right before they went back inside. "Give me a minute." He always had his wallet, cell and keys on him. The only thing still in the bar was his jacket. And he didn't really need that where he was going, "I'll get you back in there."
"No you won't." Doug laughed, looking at him like he was crazy. He clapped Ben on the back and turned to block the doorway so that Lancelot couldn't see their faces. "Tell Mal I said hi. I'll keep Lancelot busy."
"You saw her yesterday," Ben laughed, but his smile was genuine. Doug always had his back. No matter what kind of chaotic situation he and Mal landed themselves in. Just as he turned to leave, he caught Harry's piercing stare from the other side of the bar.
We both spend a lot of time looking at the idiot who won't get out of his own way...
...
The next day.
Ben had tried to push the meeting with Cogsworth, Lumiere and Doug, all thoughts of courting dances from his mind when he'd headed over to Mal's apartment that night.
They didn't have plans. They never made plans. They just went with it.
So when he'd text her asking if she was up for dinner and a movie, making it the fourth night he'd spent with her in a row, she'd sent him back the menu for a restaurant she wanted to try. He'd pick it up on his way over.
If he squinted, if he looked at it in isolation, it was almost domestic.
And as he lay on her sofa, watching the latest movie in a series about world saving superheroes, Mal laying between his legs and with her hands folded under her chin, resting on his chest...it felt natural.
Normal.
Home.
Harry's words from the night before echoed in his mind.
We both spend a lot of time looking at the idiot who won't get out of his own way...
"Cogsworth wants me to dance at my ball."
The words came from nowhere. Mal stiffened in his arms, and Ben felt her withdrawing. Deliberately, he kept his tone light. Kept tracing patterns up and down her arms. Tried to keep it...light.
"I don't want to." He added quietly.
"Of course you don't, you hate dancing." Mal forced out, and Ben fought the urge to groan. Mal didn't look at him as she added, "These are the things we do for our Crowns."
Every time he thought things were changing, something would happen. They'd get closer, and closer, and then Mal would spook. Half the time he didn't even know what caused it. And, well, he was too chicken to go after her.
Even now, despite his talk with Harry, he balked at the thought someone would suggest he was abusing his power. Despite the fact that Mal outranked him, and had for years.
The fear of being labelled a Chad, of being a disappointment, ran that deep. Mal swore Audrey and Chad would work it out eventually and there would be no charges pressed in between times. But she never mentioned their relationship.
Sometimes Ben wondered if she knew they wouldn't work, but wanted to keep him around until then. Not that he saw how he could possibly feel like this about someone else. Or if it was some kind of 'you couldn't see your own future' deal, and Mal didn't know how to take the risk.
He wanted to tell her he didn't mind dancing with her.
He wanted to tell her he didn't want to be Auradon's Most Eligible Bachelor anymore.
He wanted to tell her to stay.
But he didn't know how to.
So instead, he cupped her chin and leaned forward, capturing her lips. Mal held back for a moment, but when he made to pull away she placed her palms on his chest and followed him.
He knew this kiss.
It was an apology. It was a goodbye.
A let's make the most of tonight kiss.
He wasn't surprised when he felt her reach for his belt, or the way his body reacted when she reached for him.
When he woke up tomorrow morning - alone, he always woke up alone - they'd be on an off swing.
At least this time he'd know what caused it.
He shouldn't have said anything.
…
"I'll be gone when you wake up."
Ben tried to let Mal's whispered admission slide. Tried not to hold her tighter. Nipped her collarbone so she wouldn't see the frown he struggled to suppress or the Beast that flashed behind his eyes.
Shifted his weight so that he was pushing her further into the mattress. Focused on the way she leant into his touch. The way she clawed at his arms as she tried to anchor herself to him.
One roll of his hips was all it ever took to distract her from thinking about after. Was all it took for him to pretend he didn't care.
Just like every other time since they were eighteen, he pretended her words didn't hurt him.
He focused on the present. Because, with Mal, that's all that was ever guaranteed.
She was here with him now.
And one of these days, he'd make her stay.