When morning finally came Ben went back to his dorm, ignoring the fact that his bed had been defiled by Gil and Jay and grabbed some clothes before going back to Carlos's to clean up in his shower and dress. He hopped in the shower while Carlos was still sleeping, using some of Carlos's body wash to clean off. He left the bathroom to grab his clothes off of the end of the bed, wrapped only in a towel when Carlos was just waking up. He took one look at Ben and let out a squeal hiding under his blanket blushing heavily. "What?" Ben asks coming over to Carlos still only in a towel and pulling the blanket off him. Carlos stares at him blushing and surprised.
"Ben… you… you're naked." Carlos squealed covering his eyes making Ben laugh pulling his hands off his eyes and putting them on his chest.
"You need to get ready for school. Yes, I'm naked. It isn't that big of a deal. I've already marked you; it isn't like I'm ashamed." Ben chuckled teasing him a bit as Carlos felt up his bare chest a little bit before immediately deciding he needed to take a shower that very second and stormed off to the bathroom closing the door behind him. Ben shrugged a bit chuckling to himself before getting dressed. When Carlos was done showering, he poked his head out of the bathroom.
"I need my towel, Ben…" Carlos asks, and Ben brings it to him holding it just out of reach forcing him to open the door more to snatch it up, Ben getting a slight peak at part of Carlos's bare body. Ben snickered a bit enjoying teasing his new boyfriend. He sits on the bed and waits for Carlos to come out. He darts out, in just a towel, snagging clean clothes from his drawers before darting back into the bathroom to change. Ben can't help but howl with laughter at how self-conscious he is about him or Ben being naked, getting up and going to the bathroom door.
"Carlos, you don't need to be so uncomfortable around me now. I'm not going to bully you or anything. I'm your boyfriend, aren't I?" Ben sounding genuine and quite sweet. Carlos sighed opening the bathroom door fully dressed now.
"I know… I just… I'm not sure I'm ready to be naked in front of you." Carlos admits and Ben nods taking him by the chin and kissing him reassuringly with a handsome smile. He looked down into his brown eyes before pulling him in for a much more passionate kiss, holding Carlos by the waist against him, always craving closeness. If there was one thing Ben craved most with him it was that, closeness.
"It's okay Carlos. Take your time. If you ever think I'm pressuring you into anything, stop me. I promise we can take this slow if that is what you want." Ben is being very soft and sweet with Carlos in a way he wasn't exactly expecting but he loved it. Soft and sweet Ben was probably his favorite way for him to be, other than maybe the Ben that ravaged him with kisses the night before. Carlos looked at the time.
"Alright, thank you. It's time for breakfast." He took Ben's hand and lead him out the door and down the hall. They entered the cafeteria together, no longer hold hands getting their breakfasts. Carlos opted for Chocolatey cereal and Ben decided on pancakes. Audrey, Evie, Lonnie, Chad, and Mal were all already sitting at the table eating breakfast. Immediately everyone's eyes were on Carlos. Evie let out a gasp gawking at Carlos who blinked, having momentarily forgotten the swath of marks and bruises on his neck.
"Los! What happened?!" Evie squealed out and suddenly everyone was questioning it. Audrey grinned smugly knowing exactly what happened to Carlos, in the sense that she recognized the marking and what it meant. She also had a pretty good idea of who had given them since she remembers when Ben marked her a long time ago. It was nowhere near as intense as what Carlos was sporting, however. Chad wolf-whistled at him and Lonnie only smirked. Mal and Evie, however, looked somewhere between surprised and mildly mortified.
"Did someone hurt you?" Mal asked motioning towards the sheer amount of love bites on his neck and collar area. The look on Ben's face scrunched up in frustration wanting to argue but Carlos too his hand under the table calming him. He seemed to have that kind of effect despite the fact that Ben wanted to loudly claim Carlos as his, even if he had to mark him right then and there to prove his point.
"No Mal, nobody hurt me," Carlos said calmly taking a large spoonful of cereal into his mouth enjoying it. Mal and Evie both looked confused before Audrey let out a chuckle drawing their attention intentionally.
"Carlos has been marked guys. It's an isle thing. Those aren't bruises they're love bites. Someone from the Isle has marked Carlos as theirs being in a relationship with him. It is a sign that he isn't open to being shared with anyone else. It is like marking their territory." Audrey smirked behind her orange juice at the surprise on the two girls' faces at this revelation. They looked back at Carlos.
"Who though?" Mal eyes Chad cautiously but he let out a laugh and shakes his head.
"Sorry but Carlos isn't my type. No offense." Chad says enjoying his stack of pancakes like Ben. Carlos doesn't take offense; Chad isn't his type either honestly. They look at Lonnie and she looks offended.
"I can't believe you guys would even suggest it was me. It was obviously Ben. They even came in together. I mean look at them." Lonnie argues. Ben wraps his arm around Carlos possessively and the girls both gasps again, far too easily surprised. They clearly didn't expect it to be Ben of any of them. Carlos just cuddled up into Ben's side making Evie squeal.
"Oh my god, you two are so cute together." She bubbles supportively. Carlos and Ben both flash her a smile appreciating her support. Mal, however, looks like she just bit into something sour. She doesn't approve and it was plain to see making Ben glare, her glaring back.
"Oh come on Carlos. You can totally do so much better than mister cold, bitter, and mean. I mean he can't really be your type can he?" Mal questioned and Carlos furrowed his brows stopping from eating to look her directly in the eyes.
"That was really mean Mal. I wouldn't be with him if he wasn't my type. I'm not desperate. Ben isn't the only guy who has been interested in me, I just haven't been interested back until him. Yes, Ben is my type and he isn't cold, bitter, or mean. If you think he is it's probably because you haven't given him a chance." Carlos looks at her with disappointment and Chad gives a sassy snap of his fingers in Mal's face.
"Ohhhhh! He really just told you." Chad grins looking at Mal who gives him a look of "Oh just shut up" before going back to her breakfast. Ben, meanwhile, took Carlos by the chin pulling him to look at him.
"There are other guys who want you?" Ben has a growl in the back of his voice, he is feeling a little possessive. Carlos shakes his head a bit leaning up to kiss him soothingly. He nods a bit and lets go of his chin, his arm around Carlos tighter than before. Ben had no intention of letting anyone else try and weasel in on his territory, especially his boyfriend. By the time everyone was finished eating and talking about class the bell rang and breakfast was over. Everyone gathered their things and headed off to class.
