Predatory

(Thursday Midday, August 1st)

Ben turns in his sleep, and the sheets cling to him. They're nice and warm, but they're wet. He jumps into the kneeling position, as he peeks under the thin blanket and then examines his pants. He's wet the bed. How does a high schooler—a king—wet the bed? He eyes around, before he sees the air freshener and goes to snatch the can. He sprays his bedding and the clothes he's wearing, before he hurries through his drawers, find a new outfit, and heads to the bathroom. He removes his clothes, but he still feels the pee stick to his skin. Ben steps into the shower and stares at the ceiling. He's going to have to do his own laundry, but he doesn't know how to do laundry. He doesn't even know where the laundry room is. He probably should; however, it must be someplace he's never wandered, and so he'd have no way to know how to even get there. Laundry is the maid's job. He has no business doing it, anyway. He takes a deep breath and then holds it in pain, as his hand finds the bruise on his stomach.

Ben feels the swollen skin, and he looks down at the blotch. It's gotten bigger. Did he sleep on his stomach and somehow make it worse? Normally, he heals faster when he doesn't eat. He should be getting better. Ben sighs. He'd better not be getting sick again. His immune system isn't worth the body its protecting. He steps out of the shower, runs a towel over himself, and puts on the new clothes. He uses the old shirt to pick up the soiled bottoms, before he hurries to the laundry basket and hides them in between the other clothes.

When he reenters the bedroom, he sighs at the sight of the bed. His sheets won't get changed until Monday. He eyes over it. The bed's large. He could try sleeping on the other side. Ben eyes down. He could sleep on the couch in the office, but what if it happens again? He hadn't used the bathroom before bed, and he'd used that medicine to knock himself out. Maybe that was it, but it's not like he hadn't done that before now. The only way he can ever seem to sleep is if he's either feverishly upset or knocked out. There's been times when he'd been sick that he felt too weak to move, but he still managed to hold his bladder until the busting pressure was too much to bear. He'd never wet himself then. What kind of excuse could he have now?

Ben eyes over the bed again. He could go to the store and get a new set of sheets with a new blanket. He'll put these ones in a garbage bag and set it against his laundry basket, and if anyone asks why he changed the sheets, he can just say he got tired of looking at them. He pulls out his phone and texts Travis, before he heads for the main floor and waits by the door.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice," Ben partly smiles, as King Phillip and Queen Rapunzel enter the castle. He watches as they head to the boardroom, and when Ben looks back outside, he sees King Charming step out of his car. He waits for Charming to enter the castle, before he shuts the door.

"Good afternoon," he solemnly says.

"Afternoon," Ben manages.

"Ben," he addresses. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," he frowns.

"Your text to Chad was worrying," he mentions.

"Sorry about that," Ben glances down.

"Don't apologize," he dismisses. "Just tell me what happened."

"What happened?" Ben thinks, "Well, the police showed up, so that was fun." Charming's expression fails to change, and he shakes his head, "I figured you called them."

"Ben," he starts, but the knock on the door interrupts him.

Ben moves past him and opens it, "King Florian. Thank you for coming." before he faces Charming again. "We were just about to start the meeting."

After Ben gets Sultan Aladdin on the screen, he adjusts the position of the laptop, "Can you see us alright?"

"Yes," he nods. "Thank you."

"Thank you for meeting us," Ben tries to smile. "I know you were just in town, and I feel bad that I didn't make this a time you could come in person."

"It's fine," he reassures.

"Right," Ben's frown deepens. "So, I have some news that I should have given to you after I got crowned, and I don't want to keep it from you anymore." He takes a breath and holds his abdominal, as he shuts his eyes. "Some of you might already know this." He eyes over them, "But if you don't, then you should know that I a medical condition."

"Your depression," King Florian assumes.

"Something a little more worse than that, if you believe it," Ben unsurely answers, before he faces them again. "I have hyperthermia, a high body temperature. I've had it my whole life, and the odds of me dying from it at some point is pretty good."

"You're old enough to get a prescription without your parents' knowledge," King Phillip inputs. "You can't just rely on cold medicine and aspirin."

"I do have a prescription now," Ben quietly combats, "but that keeps me from brain damage now. That doesn't keep me from a deadly temperature when I'm sick." The table somehow quiets more, and Ben shakes his head, "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I wasn't able to tell anyone." He informs, "My father worries about me keeping my title and… job. I don't know what he would do, as soon as he finds out I've told you."

"No one else needs to know," Charming supports, before he looks over the others and they nod in agreement.

Ben continues, "I want to tell the public at some point, but not now."

"How bad does it get?" Aladdin wonders.

"I should have a hospital room with my name on it," he half jokes. "I get a check up every month, and I'm hospitalized pretty much every season."

"When was the last time you were hospitalized?" Charming asks.

Ben wets his lips, "The last time?" before he scratches the back of his head. "If I remember… I don't think the last time was from fever." He folds his hands onto the table, "I think it was from when I… I fell, and…" He shakes his head, "Anyway, that was at the end of the last school year, and it was short. They stapled my head shut, and I went home."

"They didn't keep you for observation?" Rapunzel interrogates.

Ben stares at her, "I wanted to go home. My parents told them they should let me."

"They're supposed to make sure you stay awake for twenty-four hours," she counters.

"That's not recommended anymore," Charming comments. "They only keep someone awake if the symptoms are serious or the person can't hold conversation."

"An injury that serious, they should have been monitoring him," she rebuttals.

"Why are we fighting about my health?" Ben interrupts, and everyone faces him. "I'm going to die. Why are you so worried about the ifs, when there's a when?"

After a moment, Charming starts, "Ben."

"You know." Ben runs his hands over the table, "I think this is a good time for a break." before he glances over everyone. "So, if you want to talk, talk. If you want eat, eat. I'm going to use the bathroom."

After Ben gets up and heads for the door, Charming follows him into the foyer. He catches up with him, "Ben. King Ben. I'd really like to talk to you for a minute."

He turns to him, "I meant it when I said I had to use the bathroom."

"Just a second," he reassures, and Ben gives a look. "I'm sorry. That was supposed to be your moment to let everything off your chest, and instead we argued over you."

"My mother apologizes for my father all the time," Ben inputs. "I don't like it when she does it, and I don't like it when you do it. Don't apologize for Rapunzel, and don't apologize for Chad. I don't appreciate people putting words in others' mouths."

"Of course," Charming accepts.

Ben sighs, "What's your question? I know you have one."

"I would really like to just know what happened after Chad's interview."

Ben feels the leak, his eyes widen, and he hurries to the bathroom. He should be able to stop—to hold it—but he can't, and when he enters a stall, he realizes the mess that would be made if he took it out. It's too late. He feels his pants soak, and he sees the excess pee drip to the floor. His eyes water, and he rubs the tears away.

The bathroom door opens and King Charming stands in front of his stall, "Ben?" He fails to answer, and Charming unsurely inquires, "Are you okay?"

Ben speaks through a held breath, "No." and he starts to shake. "I… I waited too long."

Charming contemplates, "You told me. I should have waited to speak with you."

"It's not you," his pitch raises as he whispers. "It happened earlier when I was asleep." A moment passes, and he breaks, "I've never had this problem before."

"There could be a medical issue. Maybe the new medication?" he speculates.

"That wasn't one of the side effects."

"Ben." He hesitates, "I know you don't like going to the hospital."

"But I have to," he sniffles.

"I can drive you," Charming offers, "being your emergency contact and all."

"I have to finish the meeting first," Ben's voice strengthens. "Could you, maybe, get me a change of pants from my room?"

"Of course," he accepts.

"And make sure they're black," he remembers. "I don't want them to question it."

"Anything else?"

"A towel?" Ben answers.

"I'll be back momentarily," he reassures, before Charming leaves and Ben places a hand to his head.

He takes his phone from his shirt pocket and calls the hospital. He lets the automated message run, until he's directed to someone, "Yes. This is Ben Florian. Is Dr. Roberts available today?"

"Let me check," she answers, and Ben waits a minute. "Our earliest appointment is tomorrow morning at nine fifteen." That's over twelve hours. If he's been having to use the bathroom every two hours, then he's bound to have another accident before then. "King Ben?"

"I was hoping it would be sooner," he admits. "I've been having some inconvenient symptoms, and I'm wondering whether it's related to my new medication or not."

She pauses, "Let me see if I can reach him." before she switches the line. Ben waits, and he listens for any other sounds. Charming should probably be back by now. He really hopes no one else decides to use the bathroom right now. He's not even sure how he'd explain himself to his doctor. "King Ben. Are you still there?"

"Yes," he prompts.

"Dr. Roberts said he can make room for you at five thirty."

"That would be really great," Ben breathes in relief.

"I will confirm it," she says. "Will there be anything else today?"

"No. Thank you."

"Have a good day."

"You too," Ben replies, before the call ends and he places the phone back into his pocket.

After Charming finds the black pants and underwear, Belle comments, "Charming." He turns to her, and her eyebrows raise, "What are you doing in here?"

"Ben just asked for some spare clothes," he reassures.

She eyes the pants, "What's happened?"

"He's having some bladder issues," Charming comments. "I'm taking him to the hospital after the meeting." She nods, and he asks, "Would you like to come with us?"

She smiles, "That's very kind of you." before her expression falters.

"Belle?"

She shakes her head, "I haven't check on Adam." before she starts to turn.

"Wait," he protests, and she faces him again. "You're coming, aren't you?"

"I don't know, yet," she flusters.

"Your son could be having serious health issues," Charming asserts.

"Ben's always having serious health issues," she counters.

He pauses, "I see."

"I want to be there for him," she defends.

"Then be there," his eyes widen.

"I can't exactly leave the castle if Adam doesn't want me to, can I?" Belle pinpoints, and Charming quiets. "Adam gets sensitive and defensive. If I try to leave without his permission, he will take it personally. Believe me, that wouldn't be good for me nor Ben."

"Belle," he shakes his head. "What's going on here?"

"I don't know what you mean," she passes.

"It's not normal to be afraid of your husband," Charming counters.

"I'm not afraid of him," she insists.

"Then why can't you leave of your own God-given free will?" he persists.

She frowns, "I'm sure your Bible would agree that as the woman of the household, it's my duty to take care of my family's wellbeing. I cannot leave Adam alone, if he's unwell. If he's doing good, then great. I'll leave with you; however, if Adam needs me, you're already taking care of Ben, and I have full confidence that he will get the care he needs, regardless of whether I can be by his side or not."

"He loves you," Charming starts.

"I'm well aware," Belle replies.

"So, you can't just abandon him," he opinionates. "You know how much damage that must be doing to his mind?"

"Ben was the one that set boundaries."

"But that doesn't mean you take away your love," Charming continues. "He needs you. You're his mother. No one can replace you."

"Ben doesn't want a mother," her eyes widen, and Charming waits. "What he wants is someone he can ogle, use, and sink his teeth into whenever he wants." She tears up, "And I know it would probably be better if I just let that be me, but I don't want to do it."

Charming places a hand to her shoulder, "Belle. I know Ben wants to respect your wishes. That's probably why he made those boundaries."

"But that poor pizza boy," Belle quietly cries. "Ben ordered him specifically, so he could have him. He was just so insistent that this human had to be his, and Mal was no help either. Of course, her mother had a human she could have sex with or drink from whenever she wanted, so why shouldn't Ben?"

"Hey," Charming softly says, as he put his other hand onto her arm.

"My home is filled with predators," she whispers. "three of which are carnivores, and I'm the only human here."

"Isn't Jay human?" he reminds her.

"Jay's a confirmed sociopath," Belle smiles in stress. "He only behaves, because Mal tells him to."

"And you don't trust her," he understands.

"I don't trust her instincts," Belle corrects. "You know Ben has always had a very kind heart and understanding personality, but he's still done some very predatory things."

"He probably just needs a donor," Charming comments. "Maybe a sexual outlet, if that's a concern." He pauses, "But a person's instinct is based on their survival. If Ben is surviving, there's no reason he should feel the need to do these things."

"Ben doesn't want a donor," Belle informs, "and he broke up with his girlfriend."

"As a parent," Charming slowly explains, "it's your job to make food available for your children. You can't make them eat it, but if it's around, they'll think about it."

"You're suggesting that I get Ben a donor without his permission?"

"I'm suggesting you give him permission to eat," he frowns. "It can't be easy for Ben either. As a carnivore, he's always surrounded by food, but the law says he can't have it."

"Ben would have to sign a donor contract." She explains, "He won't do that."

"Then find a donor outside the constraints of the law," he solves.

"You think I should break the law?"

"You've broken the law when it came to Ben before," he points out. "If you're going to do it, it should be for something that benefits him. Like this."

"Ben has no control when it comes to blood," she whimpers. "What if he hurts them?"

When Charming finds an answer, a voice erupts, "What's going on here?"

Charming notices Adam enter the room, and he removes his hands from Belle, "I'm taking Ben to the hospital after the council meeting. I was asking Belle if she wanted to join."

Adam's mouth cracks, as he eyes between the two, "Well, clearly, she's in no condition to go anywhere." He pierces his blue eyes at him, "So, leave her alone." Charming nods before heading for the door, and when he looks back, Adam places a hand to Belle's cheek. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she whispers, as tears leave her eyes. "Adam. I would like to go with Ben, be with him at the hospital."

He takes a moment, "No. You don't need the press to see you like this." before he moves some hair away from her face. She shakes, and he holds her close, "How about I get Mrs. Potts to make us some tea and cinnamon rolls?"

"I'm actually fairly hungry," she realizes.

When Charming reenters the bathrooms, he apologizes, "Sorry. Belle stopped me."

"Did you tell her?" Ben concerns.

He hands him the clothes and towel under the stall, "I told her you were having bladder issues and I will be taking you to the hospital."

Ben drops his wet clothes and uses the towel to wipe the excess from his skin, "What did she say?"

He hesitates, "Adam's not letting her come. He said she's not in the condition."

Ben puts on the new clothes, "I set an appointment for five thirty."

"Wouldn't the emergency room be more suited for this?" Charming counters, "A general practitioner isn't going to know everything."

"If it is my medication, he will know," Ben inputs, as he uses the towel to grab the clothes from the ground. He opens the stall door, "And anyway, an emergency room isn't going to know what to do with me. They're even more likely to kill me than my fever."

"And if you're right and it's not the medication?" he questions.

Ben eyes off, "Then maybe he'll say it's from the stress of being king and school starting in less than a month and having all my problems with no one to talk to."

"You know you can talk to me," he prompts.

"Not everything," Ben dismisses.

"Like the pizza boy?" his eyebrows raise. Ben shakes his head. For someone who wants to keep private matters within the family, his mother's growing annoyingly gossip-like. "I know that as a teenage carnivore—"

"Why does everything have to be about me being a carnivore?" Ben stresses. "Why can't I just be normal? A normal royal with a happy family and fair expectations?"

"I was just going to say," he frowns, "that I understand if you're experiencing desires to be close to certain people and want them in those ways."

"You're in my way," Ben points out. Charming moves, and Ben steps out of the stall, "I'm sure the council is hating me right now, so can you please manage them while I add these to my laundry?"

"Yes," he accepts.

"Thank you." Ben takes a deep breath and reaches for his stomach, as he heads out of the bathroom.

When Ben strides into the boardroom, he smiles, "You know what I love about meetings?" He sits in his seat. "All that matters is in here, so someone, please ask a question you might have."

"Did something happen?" Aladdin asks.

"That's out there," Ben points to the door, before he taps the table. "This is in here." The council stays quiet, and Ben lifts a hand. "Well? Come on. Your king's going to die. We don't know if it's in five months, twenty years, or next week. No one has any questions? I'm sure I gave you enough time to think it through."

"We've already discussed it," Phillip informs, and Ben settles. "Illness happens. It doesn't make you any less of a king, and we will help you in any way we can."

"Really?" he whispers.

"We all know someone with a medical condition," Florian agrees.

"If you're not letting it get in the way of your work," Rapunzel agrees, "there's no reason to vote you out of your seat."

Ben brings his fingers to the corners of his eyes, as he starts to cry, "Sorry." He shakes his head, "I've always been told…" before he opens his eyes. "That's really nice of you."

"What did you think would happen?" Charming questions.

"I don't know," Ben shakes his head. "My parents just—" He sniffles and tries to smile, "You know, I don't want to talk about my parents." before pointing to the door. "They're out there. I'm in here."

"That's okay," Charming accepts.

He's safe here, surrounded by everyone. Ben gulps, "Can someone pass me the lemonade? Please." Phillip reaches for the glass pitcher and passes it to him. "Thank you."

Ben's hand shakes, as he pours the pink drink into his glass, and Rapunzel inquires, "Is your medical condition what caused your depression?"

"No," Ben gulps, shaking his head. "You need more than one reason to want to die." He takes a minute, "I have a lot of reasons. I can't really say them right now."

"Are you eating enough?" Aladdin asks. "Your face looks thin."

"No." Ben's frown deepens, "I have a hard time, um, controlling how much I eat." before he lifts a shoulder. "It's easier just not to deal with it."

"A feast could do you some good right now," Florian inputs.

"I ordered a pizza yesterday," he evenly expresses, "but I've had a stomachache and I wasn't in a mood to eat it."

"Maybe the stomachache's from not eating," Aladdin suggests, and Ben eyes down.

Charming questions, "Did it start before or after your medication?"

"Before," he softly speaks. "Just a few days."

"You should tell the doctor about that," Charming opinionates.

"If there's time." Ben looks over the council, "I have an appointment later."

"But not about your stomachache?" Rapunzel assumes.

"I'd really like to not talk about it," Ben unsurely says. "It's not about the stomachache. It's not about the hyperthermia. What it is about is something that happened today, and I need to know why it happened."

"I'm still worried about your weight," Aladdin detours. "If your stomachache is causing you to further restrict your food intake, you need to take care of it so that you can eat."

Ben stares at the laptop screen, "What?" Charming rephrases in French, and Ben faces Aladdin. "Look. I know I'm underweight. My doctor told me, but I'm not that thin."

The room falls silent with gaped expressions, and Aladdin mentions, "You do realize my wife just got out of the feeding clinic?"

"What?" he frowns.

"Jasmine is anorexic," he divulges. "She just got home today."

"Is she better?" Ben takes interest.

"Honestly," Aladdin frustrates, "she's still very quiet, and I'm very worried."

"Sorry," he apologizes.

"This isn't about my wife," he dismisses. "This is about you. I can only see your face, and I can still tell you've lost weight."

"Yes," Ben irritably agrees. "I lost weight."

"You're underweight," Aladdin reminds him. "Are you unable to see that?"

"I have a friend who's anorexic," Ben frustrates. "I know what it looks like, and I don't look like her."

"Her?" Aladdin repeats. "Ben. You're not a girl. You're not going to look like her."

He darts up, stretches over to shut the laptop, and then sits to eye over the council, "Would anyone else like to talk about this?"

"He was just worried about you," Phillip reassures.

"I don't care," Ben stresses. "I'm tired of people telling me that the only things I want are the things I can't have." His eyes shift, and he places a hand to his forehead, "You know, I don't even know what I'm saying at this point. Can someone help me talk? Please."

After a minute, Florian questions, "If you aren't here one day, who's going to take your place to rule?"

Ben thumbs towards Charming, and he explains, "I would be acting as regent for Chad."

"Do you really think Prince Chad's equipped to rule an entire country?" Phillip concerns.

"Chad is a people person," Ben defends. "He will want to do what's best for them, and he will feel… responsible for them." He glances down, "That's more than I can say for me. Knowing that an entire country was counting on me didn't keep me from trying suicide." He faces them, "But Chad wouldn't leave them like that. So long as he has people counting on him, he would want to live for them."

"I know you didn't want to talk any more about your health," Rapunzel starts, "but are you still suicidal?"

"I don't know," Ben admits. "I did get a part-time job, and my boss is making me get, uh, grief council for my semi-deadly illness." He shakes his head, "She told me to make a list of things I wanted to do before I died." He thinks, "One of this week's was to tell all of you about this, and I did that." His frown deepens, "Another was to talk to Tyler, but I guess he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Who's Tyler?" Phillip inquires.

Ben eyes down, "Just a guy." before he recalls his face and scent. "He brought the pizza I'd bought." No one speaks, and Ben continues, "It was new and nice, and now if I try talking to him again, he's going to call the police on me."

"For what?" Rapunzel responds.

"Well," Ben hesitates, "I've been lacking companionship, and I didn't think he really cared… but I broke down, and I guess I came on a little strong? I don't know."

"He would be turning you in for attempted assault," she assumes.

"You're king," Florian mentions. "Your word will mean more than his."

"I have a history of assaulting my girlfriends and close friends," Ben counters. "I've said it on camera. It's my word against my word. His just adds to it."

"You said girlfriends," Phillip points out.

Ben quiets, "Yes."

Phillip pauses, "May I ask about my daughter?"

"Audrey," Ben starts. "I might have threatened her once or twice. There were a lot of times I dismissed her thoughts or feelings, because she was trying to get me talk about mine." He wets his lips, "One time I was going to do something really bad, but my mother stopped me." The council observes Phillip's quietness, and Ben reassures, "It wasn't sexual… Actually, she might have felt it was, but it's not what I was doing." He continues to stare at the table, and Ben apologizes, "I really am sorry."

Phillip faces him, "Prince Chad said in his interview that it doesn't matter if you're sorry, you're still going to do it again."

Ben pauses, "He's right. When I'm upset and there's someone I like, I turn to them to feel better. And because I'm upset, I'm not thinking about how they feel."

He tears up, "Did you threaten her not to tell me?"

"No," Ben's frown deepens. "Audrey is just that nice, where she was afraid that if she told you and Aurora that you'd talk to my father." He pauses, "She was scared of what would happen to me, if she told you."

"She was scared for you?" he repeats.

"Yes," he simply says.

"You hurt her," he stresses. "She should have come to us."

Ben observes his sadness, "I agree. I don't care what would have happened to me. I would have deserved it, and she deserved to be able to tell you."

-Posted: 01/13/2020