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(Wednesday Afternoon, August 7th)

"Ice cream's a soft food," Ben suggests.

The nurse tiredly replies, "What happened to not liking milk and cold things?"

"That's for drinking," Ben defends. "I can have ice cream."

"Let's just start with the tuna sandwich," she negotiates.

His eyes narrow, "I don't like fish."

"If you eat it," she offers, "I can get you some ice cream. If you don't, you're just going to have to settle for the hot chocolate."

Ben picks up the plate, "I don't like the smell." He unsurely asks, "How many calories are in blood?"

"If I remember correctly, it's four hundred and thirty to four hundred and fifty per donation." Ben glances at the sandwich. "Would you rather have a pint?"

He looks at her, "Do I still get ice cream?"

She sighs and takes the plate back, "You're going to have to eat solids at some point."

"How about Nutella?" he questions.

"A peanut butter sandwich is the best I could do," the nurse informs, and Ben hunches over, resting his head in his hand.

"Let me guess," she presumes, "you don't like peanut butter?"

"Not without soda," he murmurs. "It gets stuck in my throat."

"Sticking with the blood, then?" Ben nods, and she says, "I'll get it for you."

Ben watches her leave, sighing, before he sees his phone beside him. He takes it off the charger and sees the missed call. He calls the number back and waits for the ringing to end, "King Charming? You called?"

"Yes." He hesitates, "How are you doing today?"

"Fine," Ben answers. "They're still trying to assign me food instead of asking me first."

"You kept saying you didn't know," Charming comments.

"Fine," he irritably replies. "The next time a nurse asks me what I want to eat while I'm sleeping, I'll put them on the menu."

"Ben."

He hears his frown, "I'm just saying that you can't ask me a question like that when I'm sleeping and expect a coherent answer. You don't want to know the kinds of things I dream about. It's an absolute nightmare."

"Look," Charming moves on. "I'm sorry, but I can't make it today."

"You live thirty or forty-five minutes away," Ben understands. "I don't expect you to come every day."

"It really isn't an inconvenience," Charming counters, "and I want to be there for you."

Ben thinks, "Is Chad sick?"

"Spiritually, sure," he answers. "He almost got a nurse fired, so I'm grounding him."

"What do you mean, he almost got a nurse fired?" Ben slowly asks.

"He had sex with her in a supply closet on the same day some drugs went missing."

"Drugs?" Ben questions.

"Oxycodone," he explains, and Ben quiets. "You haven't heard anything, have you?"

"Me?" Ben emphasizes. "No. No. I haven't." Charming silences, and Ben clears his throat, "Did Chad see anything by any chance?"

"He stole her keycard," Charming comments, before he pauses. "I asked him if he was using, and he got defensive."

"Did he?" Ben prods.

"Yes," Charming confirms.

"Well," Ben continues, "what do you think?"

"I think if he took them, then we'll find them." Charming concerns, "I just hope he's not too far gone. Addiction changes a person."

"Chad hasn't changed that much," Ben defends.

"He's losing faith in God," Charming contradicts. "He's an emotional wreck, and he's more confused than ever."

"Confused?" Ben inquires.

"Maybe he hasn't told you," Charming considers. "He's been questioning his attraction to girls. He told me that he's had feelings for guys. For you, for instance."

"Oh." Ben's brows furrow, "And you think this could have to do with the drugs?"

"If he's using, that could be a factor," Charming answers. "He's not in the right mindset to be making that kind of choice. I hope you can understand that."

"Oh, yeah." Ben awkwardly smiles, "I'm dating Mal again anyway, and she's always been super jealous of Chad, so…"

"Just give Chad some space, please," he requests. "I worry that talking with certain people might make him more confused right now."

"Believe me," Ben evenly expresses. "I want what's in Chad's best interest." He sees the nurse and apologizes, "Sorry. It's mealtime. I have to go."

"Of course," he agrees. "Thank you."

Ben smiles, before he hangs up and takes a deep breath. The nurse says, "I hope your phone isn't causing you too much stress."

He half laughs, "Only the people on the other end." before he sees the glass. "I thought blood came in bags."

"I assumed you'd want it warm." He takes it from her, and she questions, "Unless, of course, it's thick enough to be ice cream?"

Ben takes a sip and hums, "No. It's great."

She smiles, "I'll have the ice cream ready for you in twenty minutes." and Ben nods.

After she leaves, he sets the cup down and goes to his email. There's no way he's letting Chad's father think homosexuality is some mental illness caused by drugs. Ben sends the message, takes another drink, and then notices someone in the doorway. They have their phone held up, ready to take a picture, and he stands to his feet. He can't let them expose him; however, the IV tugs, before he recalls the metal stand he's attached to. He hears the click, meets the invader's eyes, and sees the guy lower the phone. "You look sick."

Ben remarks, "I'm in a hospital, aren't I?" and he eyes over him before walking away.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Ben panics. "I can't have my country thinking I'm some sort of…"

"Beast?" Mal offers, and Ben stares at her. "You're different? So, what? On the Isle our differences make us stronger." She eyes up, "Well, unless you're John Smith. It turns out that when someone is willing to take you in and share their food with you, it's frowned upon for you to try to have sex with their twelve-year-old."

"He didn't know their language," Ben defends. "He didn't know she was supposed to be his sister. And he tried to marry her. He didn't…" Ben falters, "You know, you don't need to take it personally. Nothing happened."

Mal frowns, "You don't need to be raped to be violated. Being told what he's going to do to you is enough."

Ben lowers his head, "You're right." before he meets her jade eyes. "I'm sorry." He sees the TV and sighs, "Here it is." before he turns the volume up.

The news anchor announces, "Earlier today a photo of King Ben in the hospital went viral. Now, I must warn it's fairly graphic."

When the picture pops up on screen, he notices, "The blood isn't in the picture."

He continues, "Yes. It has been confirmed that this photo has not been doctored in any way. The king indeed has lost this much weight."

"I don't get why it's graphic," Mal inputs. "They can't even see your collarbones."

Ben faces her, before the news catches his attention. "This sudden weight loss has prompted many to wonder if being king is just too much stress for a teenager to handle nowadays. Snow White. Any thoughts?"

When the image switches to her, she strains a smile, "I think that if the king's busy schedule were the problem, we would have seen this start last school year. All this photo proves is that King Ben is underweight and in the hospital. I'm sure he will share the details with us once his treatment has ended."

Mal sees Ben's expression, "Are you okay?"

"I just… I don't know what they see."

She questions, "You don't think you're thin?"

"It's not that I'm not thin," Ben contemplates. "It's just… I still have so much skin where it shouldn't be, and there's no shape to it, I guess."

"You could try bulking up," Mal suggests.

He faces her, "Do you think I need to?"

She unsurely replies, "If it makes you happy."

"I don't think it would," Ben admits.

"What would, you think?"

"I don't know if anything could." He wets his lips, takes a deep breath, and meets her eyes, as tears invade his vision, "I hate everything about myself."

She takes his hand, "I can name some things I like." She partly smiles, "Your eyes hold so much wisdom, but they're hopeful." before she feels his head. "Your hair is soft."

When she moves her hand from him, Ben sees the strands of hair, "It's soft, because it's fur. Maybe I hate that too."

"But Ben." She moves his hair behind an ear, "You're so beautiful."

His frown deepens, "I don't feel beautiful."

"You're passionate and kind."

"Half of the time," Ben finishes. "Not that it matters if I can't even look at myself."

Mal takes a moment, "How can I help?"

He runs his thumb over her fingers, before he feels the family crest of the ring, "You can help me get out of here." He faces her, "If you can keep my temperature at a hundred, they'll have to let me leave."

"Ben," she sighs.

"Please," he pleads. "I can't stay here."

"You'd rather be home?" Mal doubts.

"If it means knowing my mother is safe," he insists, "then, yes."

She eyes over him, "I really don't think you need the stress."

"What about my job?" Ben reminds her. "If I keep ending up in here, I'll lose it."

"I thought you transferred your salary to your new account," she unsurely replies.

"Which means this month I should get four thousand dollars." Ben worries, "But what if my father fights against that too? What if he thinks he deserves a cut or something?"

"You're the king," Mal reminds him.

"But most royal families divide the money amongst itself," Ben debates. "What if he wants half of it to go to him?"

"You don't need to give into his demands," Mal asserts, and Ben's head lowers. "He never gave you anything. Why should you?"

"You don't understand, Mal." His hazel-green eyes meet her, "I might not be given a choice." He pleads, "Please, help me." Mal eyes over him, before she leans in and kisses him. "I forgot how hard this is."

She places a finger to his lips, "You can't bite me if you're kissing me." before she leans in again.

- Post: 06/26/2020

- Darthamster12 I understand. Thank you for your dedication. I hope the break serves you well and that you're able to come back. The alternate timeline does make things even more confusing, but if I'm following the rule that key events (like someone having a child) is meant to happen, regardless of the universe, then writing these at the same time makes it easier. Although, it does make it harder to remember what happened in which universe. I think it will become easier farther down the timeline, where things become drastically different. Anyway, I hope you're doing well.

- Sorry for posting seven or something chapters at the same time, but I keep thinking I've posted ones I haven't. I guess, I just didn't think I was at a good stopping point last week.