Companionship

(Wednesday Morning- Wednesday Evening, July 24th)

When Ben exits his room, Chad stops him in the hall, and Ben slightly shakes his head, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm worried," he frowns.

Ben sighs, eyeing the staircase, "Chad. You're going to make me late."

"School can wait." He informs, "My dad's outside."

"I'm walking," he sternly states.

Ben tries to walk past, and he holds his shoulders, "Ben. You have to start eating."

He furrows his brows and tugs away, "Let me go."

"No." Chad shouts, "Would you just look at yourself? You're losing so much hair."

Ben cautiously eyes over him, mouth agape, before he quietly comments, "I have to get to school." and nudges past him.

The following weekend when Ben goes home, he sees his parents and King Charming in the alcove sitting area. His father asks, "How was your week?"

"Fine," Ben merely says, before he passes them and heads up the staircase. He enters his room, opens his backpack, and lays his homework across the bed.

There's a knock, and he hears Charming's voice, "Ben?" He turns to the door and watches the it slowly open. "May way speak for a moment?"

He frowns, "Yeah. Sure."

Ben sits on the bed, and Charming sits next to him, "Ben. Your parents and I are concerned about your eating."

"What about it?" he unsurely replies.

"Do you know what anorexia is?"

"Yeah," he recalls. "Why?" Charming doesn't speak, and Ben looks at him in disbelief, "I'm not anorexic."

"Ben," he tries to reason.

"I eat," he yells. "I'm not anorexic."

"Your parents say you don't eat with them, and Chad says he hasn't seen you."

"Because, there's no point," he frustrates. "It's not like it does anything, and there's more important stuff to do. I can't just eat all day long."

"Okay," Charming accepts. "But you do know you have to eat, right?"

"Yeah." Ben settles, "Of course."

There's a loud bang, and Ben opens his eyes. He hears his father yell, "You left. You left, and you didn't tell me?" Ben sits up and listens. "You were gone for three hours, Belle."

When Ben walks to the door, he hears his mother reason with fear, "I was just at the grocery store."

"That's Mrs. Potts's job."

"I wanted to try something new," she explains. "You have me here all day and night, the same food and the same activities. I just wanted to try something new."

Ben sighs, before he opens the door; however, silence fills the hall. He trudges towards the dining room, walks into the kitchen, and sees her picking up pieces of a broken plate, "Mother?" He looks around, "Where's Father?"

"Not sure," she answers. "Why?"

"I thought I heard something," he slowly states.

She sets the broken fragments onto the counter, "It was probably just me." as she eyes down in thought. "I used to be so good at washing dishes, but now…" She shakes her head and smiles at him, "I did make some orange frosting if you've changed your mind."

"I haven't," he assures.

"Alright, then." She runs her hands under the water and wipes them clean, "Oh, and honey?" She turns to smile at him, "People are starting to speculate about you and Chad. I think it best that you cover it with Snow White, before it gets out of hand."

Ben frowns, "Oh. Uh, right."

She places a hand on his shoulder, and he glances at it. "I know it's hard talking about it, but you need to control the narrative."

"The narrative?" Ben disbelieves.

"Well, yes." She laughs, "Chad's insinuated that you're a sexual predator of a homosexual nature with a blood fetish."

Ben opens his mouth to counter it's true, but the wording is too inaccurate. He sighs, "He thinks that, because that's what I told him."

"But you weren't expecting him to tell anyone else," she assumes. "So, what do you plan on telling the press?"

He shakes his head, "I can't lie. You know that."

"Honey," she starts. "The main reason you had that, eh, interaction with Chad, I don't think you could admit it to the public, not if you can't even admit it to yourself."

He takes a moment, "You need to stop calling me honey."

"Right. Sorry." She excuses, "I forgot."

Ben stares at her, "People do things for more than one reason. All I have to do tell the public one of the reasons I did what I did."

"And what reason is that?"

Snow White smiles, "King Ben. You're here to address the rumor that you're the friend Prince Chad spoke of in his most recent livestream."

He straightens up in the armchair, "Yes."

"Are you the friend he mentioned?"

Ben's heart inexplicably starts to race, "Yes." and his eyes lower. Why is he nervous? This entire thing was planned, and he's being interviewed by someone trusted. They're following an outline for the interview. It's not a trap, so why does he feel so cornered?

"In the livestream he claims blood is a sexual desire for you and that you've had his before," she informs. "Is that true?" Ben blankly stares, and she concerns, "King Ben?"

"Sorry," he apologizes. "I just need a second to phrase this right." His elbows rest on his knees, as he squeezes his left hand over his right fist. He relaxes and takes a deep breath, before he meets Snow White's amber eyes, "Chad thinks the blood is a sexual thing, because that's the only way I could describe it at the time. But now I know it's a lot more about companionship. I feel closer to the people I do it with."

"And you've done it with Prince Chad?"

"He's been my friend since," Ben's face scrunches, "forever, actually. If there's anyone I would trust enough to get that close to, it would be him."

"So, it's not something you do randomly?" she questions.

"No," he confirms. "And, you know, it's not even something I like to do. It's not something I think about doing. With some people, it just feels like a comfortable thing to do."

"Given your family's history," Snow White covers, "some people might think this is an excuse to hide a hybrid or carnivore biology. Can you reassure the people this is not the case?"

"It wouldn't matter if I were," Ben frowns. "Twenty-five percent of the population is documented as hybrids, and ten percent of people are listed as carnivores. A lot of people are hybrids, and there are resources for those people. That being said, as a royal, you would think I would have easier access to those resources. There would be no reason for me to resort to desperate measures, which is how you can be sure I'm not doing it merely for carnivorous reasons. Being that close to someone can create a bond, which is why I wouldn't do it with just anyone. It would have to be someone I trust."

"Which leads to the question," she continues. "You keep mentioning this emotional connection that happens, so how did you feel when Prince Chad said you would never have that with him again?"

"Uh." He twists in his seat, folding his hands, "It hurt. A lot." He shakes his head, "And, honestly, I didn't take it very well." He hesitates, "I wouldn't blame him if he truly decided not to be my friend again, but even the stupid arguments we get into is a lot better than the time's we've separated." He breathes, "Chad's always been a part of my life. When he's not a part of it, it feels like something's just missing." He wets his lips, "Now that I've had that closeness with him, it just makes it that much harder." Ben eyes the camera, "I don't know if he could ever understand the connection I felt, but I meant it when I said I'd give up that interaction should it otherwise mean our friendship would end. I had no intention of breaking that promise. Just having him in my life, it was going to have to be good enough." Ben glances down, sighing, before he faces the reporter again. "Chad thought that if I was still thinking about doing that with him, then I would act on it."

When Ben falters, she questions, "Did he have any reason to think you would act on it?"

Ben slowly nods, "What I mentioned before with my…" He shakes his head, "Sorry. It's still hard to believe. My attempted assault on Mal, I made it seem like I was trying to grope her or something, but that's not what happened." He pauses, "I broke up with Mal, because I thought it would be better for her; however, I was taking it hard. I could feel the distance between us, and, I suppose, for a moment I thought that if I was closer to her, it would fix that feeling." Snow White doesn't say anything, and he continues, "When I started to cut her neck, Mal used her claws to defend herself. I'm thankful for that. Doing what I had been about to do might have felt like the right thing at the time, but I know I wouldn't have felt the same connection had it not been consensual. I have no intention of repeating that mistake with anyone."

"So, if Prince Chad did decide to continue your friendship, you wouldn't try to drink any blood from him?"

"No," Ben confirms. "Certainly not without his permission."

She nods, "Now that we've covered what happened, may I ask what I feel like many people might like to know: why? If you don't need the blood, then why do you do this?"

Ben lifts a shoulder, "Why do people hug? Or kiss?" before he shifts his seating. "Look. I know this isn't a very normal thing, but to me, blood can feel warm and comforting, especially when it comes from someone you know cares about you. I don't like that it makes me feel that way, and I wish it didn't, but that's why I try not to do it that often."

"So, you don't do it that often, and you wouldn't do it with just anyone?"

"Correct," he confirms.

"So, who have you had this interaction with? Mal, I assume?"

"Uh, no." Ben uncomfortably smiles, "Mal never actually liked the idea of the blood thing. Anything I might have done to her would be completely regrettable. But, no. As far as actual interactions go, Chad went along with it once or twice." He takes a deep breath, "Um. There is someone else, who I've paid in poor attempts to feel better, and then… I mean, there was a friend last school year. I was stressed and really not taking care of myself, and he had an idea about the blood thing at the time. So, he insisted that I should have some."

"Insisted?" her eyes widen.

Ben takes a moment, "So, admittedly, it's not like I'm a vegetarian. I eat a lot of meat, actually; however, last year there were a lot of rumors about the amount of meat I ate and what that might mean, so I stopped eating meat." He sighs, "It was really bad for me. I got really tired, really irritable, and I could not for the life of me stop thinking about rare steak." before folding his hands. "Now, my friend thought that whether biological or just psychological, that it was something I needed. I didn't want to get caught in the kitchen, because of the stupid rumors, so he came up with the idea of just giving me some blood himself." Ben thinks, "He's the first person I can recall doing that with."

"And how did that make you feel?" she slowly inquires.

Ben shakes his head, "I couldn't stop myself. It felt like something that was missing was getting fixed, and I just wanted more."

"And what happened afterwards?"

His eyes lower to meet her, "I got upset. I told him never to let me do that again, and I commanded him to never ask me if I wanted to do it." before pausing. "He promised that he would never ask me again, right before he said he would be there if I needed him."

"Do you believe he gave you permission to drink his blood without asking?" Snow White unsurely questions.

"He cares about me," Ben explains, "and he knows I wouldn't ask for it. He was saying that if I needed it, he would be willing to offer himself without question. I assume he was thinking it would reduce any anxiety I had about the situation."

"He sounds loyal," she points out.

"He is," Ben breathes. "He's very loyal, but I'm afraid to even talk to him right now. The thing is, I don't have a very good idea of why I do this or what it means, and having had that interaction with him has made things awkward for me. I don't know what to do or say now, and as easy as it might seem just to tell him this, he's also really smart and I'd rather not have another scientific discussion on what I'm feeling and why I'm feeling it."

"But you know why, don't you?" She reminds him, "It's warm and comforting?"

"It is," he hesitates, "but there's more to it than that. And, you know, I wasn't very good at explaining it to Chad, and I'm not doing a very good job of explaining it now. But I can only explain it as well as I understand it, and I really don't understand it that well. I know the basic reasons of why I do it, but that's not enough. There's a lot of people out there who have desires— or things that would simply make them feel better— who don't act on those things. The fact that I have been doing this, I now I owe people a real explanation. I just don't have one worthy enough."

Snow White nods, "Even if that's true, you've done a good job trying to explain. The only question I can think of now is about Mal. You seemed to be saying that while you were in a relationship with her she didn't consent to the blood interaction, and, still, after you had broken up with her, you had forced that interaction onto her. You say you felt distant from her, but is there more you're not saying?"

Ben stares at her, "I don't remember it." before he eyes down and bites his lip. "All I know is I had been trying to avoid her, because I couldn't stop thinking about being closer to her. I told her to stay away from me, but one day we were in the kitchen." He pauses before meeting her eyes, "The next thing I knew she had tears in her eyes and I had scratches on my cheek. Clearly, I had attacked her, and I had made myself forget it afterwards."

"Is selective memory something you've struggled with?" she concerns.

Ben takes a minute, "I wouldn't have thought so before, but I've recently remembered some other things. I'm pretty there's a lot of things I don't remember that I should."

"Mal's recently gotten out of the hospital," Snow White changes course. "How is she handling it?"

"She tried talking to me," Ben merely states. "I let her. Nothing happened."

"There's video of Mal and Evie at the theater," she prompts. "She seemed a little displaced in it. Is she doing okay?"

"I thought she was," Ben evenly expresses. He knows what she means, though. Mal went after that guy, before he even had the chance to touch Evie. "It's possible, however, that her experiences from the Isle has caused her to be unusually cautious."

Snow White nods, before she addresses, "There's also a picture of Mal kissing Evie's hand. People have pointed out that you have stated that as a romantic interaction in the past."

"That doesn't have to mean anything," Ben unsurely smiles. "Mal and Evie aren't from here. When they came here, they saw social gestures and had to figure out what it meant. They could have interpreted it as something done between people who are close."

"Well, considering their history," she informs, "many people think they're dating."

Ben's brows rise, "What if they are?"

"That would be illegal, wouldn't it?"

"No." He distinguishes, "If Mal and Evie are watching a movie and holding each other, that's romantic behavior. What's illegal is homosexual behavior pertaining to sodemy—or sex. If they're not having sex, they're not breaking the law. And I told them that, so they know not to."

"You can't know if they are, though," she puts forth.

"I would know," he strongly reassures. "They would tell me."

"You're certain of that?"

"Mal's my ex-girlfriend, Evie and I have been there for each other, and I wouldn't turn them in even if they were having sex." He nods, "So, yes, I would know."

"As king," Snow White points out, "wouldn't it be your duty to turn them in?"

Ben sits on the edge of his seat, "The sodemy law is not an enforced law. It's only there to keep high-status people in line and to prosecute low-status people who've done nothing wrong. It's a law used when no other options are available. That makes this law a joke, and if no one else is enforcing it, I'm not going to turn anyone in just for the sake of doing it."

"If you're so against this law, then why not remove it?"

Ben sighs, "I can't."

"You're king now," she reminds him. "You can create or remove any law you wish."

"Not this one." He frowns, "I'm biased, and everyone knows it." before he nods. "My girlfriend is bisexual, so I can't change the law myself."

"Mal's not your girlfriend anymore."

"But she was," he reinforces, "and I can't remove or create any laws for her benefit or disbenefit." His frown deepens, "I know at least three people, personally, who have engaged in homosexual sex, so believe me when I say I'd like this law removed; however, because I've been so trusted with this information, I've become biased. The only way to remove the law now would be to get a majority vote from the council."

"So, why haven't you gotten the council together?"

"Because. I'm pretty sure the majority of the council is going to vote to keep the law." Ben eyes the floor, "And once that happens, I can't ask for a vote for another five years."

"Be honest with me," Belle sits in the back of the limo with Ben. "How much of what you said was true?"

"It was all true." He shakes his head, "And I still felt like I was talking out of my ass."

"Well, she did ask you quite a few times to reassure the public that you're not some out-of-control carnivore, and you weren't exactly able to do that."

"Because, I am," he yells at her, before he looks off and tiredly laughs. "What other choice did I have than to talk around it?"

She looks at him, "You could have told the people what they needed to hear to have enough reassurance in the authority of their country not to question it."

Ben stares at the tinted divider in front of them, "Why do you always have to make things so political?"

"Everything's political, Ben. Everything you say, everything you do, it matters." She frowns, "You should know that by now."