A/N: Next chapter! Enjoy!
Obviously
Chapter 2: Odd
The time ticked away faster than we both had anticipated. We'd ridden so many rides. Our tally was up to fifteen when we had to make our way back to the others. I sighed to myself, thoroughly exhausted as we walked. I hated fair rides. It was nice hanging out with Ben though. I couldn't complain about that at all. He'd shown me a different side of him tonight. One that I thought wasn't even possible. He was kind and caring and considerate. He didn't make fun of me for my moment of weakness. He just supported me. It was like he knew what to do to get me out of my funk. He knew just how much time to let me wallow.
Had I wallowed? I don't even know. Regardless, I had a good time with him tonight. We sat at the table, backs to the table itself. I shoved my hands in his oversized hoody and sighed softly. "You look exhausted." It was a simple comment, but all I could do was nod my head. I was exhausted. Not only from the rides, but also from the breakdown i had inflicted upon myself. "I'll be right back," he said as he stood. The instant loss of heat at my side was noticeable, but I didn't complain. I just watched him retreat and go to one of the concession booths. After a brief exchange, he returned with two drinks.
He handed me one and I smiled up at him. "Thank you," I said softly, earning a brief nod. He plopped back down next to me, resting his arm on the table behind me and reclining as he sipped his own drink. A yawn slipped out, my hand quickly going to cover my mouth as it did. He snickered beside me, my eyes cutting over to him. "Shut up..."
He only grinned in return and shrugged his shoulder. "You can lean on me if you want." I opened my mouth to protest, prepared to cite what had happened earlier was far more than enough, but he gave me a look that made me rethink that. "Before you start spouting nonsense about earlier... don't worry about it. If you're tired, you can use my shoulder until everyone gets here. No pressure, no strings."
I thought about it for a moment and his smell assaulted my nose again. I realized I couldn't fight it, so I smiled and leaned against him closing my eyes quietly. He repositioned under my weight, drawing me closer and moving my head up a little, and I didn't complain in the least. "Only because you're warm and comfortable," I murmured with a small smile.
He chuckled. "Of course." I let my hand fall to my lap, holding my drink between my thighs contently. I didn't even realize I'd drifted off against him.
X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X
I was moving. Being carried. The smell was familiar. The feeling was warm. I barely made out a couple of laughs. The vibrating in the body against mine was familiar. I imagined it was Ben carrying me as I curled up closer to the source of warmth with a small sigh. This had to be a dream, I realized. My eyes fluttered open, but all I saw was blurred darkness. I decided to close them again. It was much more comfortable with them closed. Besides, if this was a dream, I didn't want to wake up just yet. Wherever I was, I was comfortable.
I felt myself being readjusted, like I was being set down. The warmth disappeared, but only for a moment. Cold started to seep into my back and I shivered quietly. The warmth was back at my side, pulling me back against it and I sighed softly when my head hit what felt like a firm pillow. I curled my legs up onto what I assumed was the bed and drifted back off again. The only thing I heard before losing consciousness was Poe saying, "I'll drop you guys off at her place. Keep an eye on her."
X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X
I awoke later on, my eyes fluttering open, only to be greeted with the sight of my alarm clock. I grunted and pulled the covers up on me more, but then everything came flooding back to me, smacking me like a freight train. I gasped as I sat up in bed, looking down at the hoody I was wearing; Ben's hoody. My face turned red so fast I felt dizzy and ill. I ran my hands through my hair, trying desperately to remember what happened between the fair and now. Ben had gotten me a drink. He offered me his shoulder to lean on until the others showed up. He'd commented on how tired I looked.
My brows pulled together as I tried to remember more. Had he spiked my drink? No, he wouldn't do that. I didn't feel hungover or anything. I just felt really tired, emotionally. I remembered having an episode at the fair from the slingshot ride. He comforted me. We tried to get as many rides as we could.
My eyes widened. I shot my sight over to the alarm clock again. 4:30 a.m. I groaned and shoved the covers off of me to try to find my phone. It was on charge across the room. I tilted my head for a moment. I never plugged it in over there... That wasn't my charger either... I looked at the phone and saw that I'd gotten several messages from Rose, Jyn, Poe, and... I gasped. Ben! I rushed to read the messages.
From: Rose
Hey, girl. Text me tomorrow. Sorry you had a rough night. Love ya!
I sighed softly and shook my head. Next, Jyn.
From: Jyn
Feel better soon. Ben told us what happened and why you were so beat. Next time, don't push yourself. xo
I smiled at that. Always the mom. I loved her for it though. She was also so kind.
From: Poe
Hey Rey I filled in Ben with the requirements since you lost text me tomorrow and we'll go over it if you want you owe us all wishes sucks to be you
My brow twitched on its own. I hated that the man never used punctuation. It was like trying to decode a kindergartner's text message. Every. Single. Time. I looked down at the last unread message from Ben. I wondered when his number got programmed into my phone. I didn't have his phone number before...
From: Ben
If you need anything, I'm on the couch. Sleep well.
My face heated up again as I reread and re-reread the message. Why was Ben Solo on my freaking couch!? I saw flashing lights from under my door and registered a soft sound coming from the living room. Had he fallen asleep watching TV? I swallowed hard as I quietly opened my bedroom door to see him lounging on the couch, clearly bored, as he watched the TV. I caught the profile view of him, but apparently he'd seen the movement because he sat up and turned to me. "Hey... everything ok?" I didn't know what to say. Why are you here? What happened? Sorry we lost? Did I make a fool of myself again? "Rey?" he asked tentatively.
"Huh? O-oh. Yeah... sorry."
"Go back to bed," he said gently.
I just stared at him for a moment. Bed sounded nice, but I couldn't leave him out on the couch... "You don't have to sleep out here... I have a spare bedroom," I said softly.
He just looked at me. "It's all right. Besides, it's easier to hear you call if you need something."
I blushed, but I don't know why. "Have you been to sleep yet?"
He shrugged. "Some nights I don't sleep. It's fine."
I felt guilty. Had he stayed awake because he was worried? "Did Poe put you up to this?"
Ben quirked a brow and rolled his eyes at me. "He wanted me to watch over you. We were all worried with how fast you fell asleep."
"Why didn't anyone wake me?" I asked, my voice smaller than it should have been.
"We tried. You were out cold."
"Oh..."
There were a few seconds of silence before he broke it. "Are you... feeling better?"
I looked up at him then, my eyes having fallen in embarrassment when I heard I was out cold. When I realized what he was asking, I gave him a small smile. "Much better." He gave me a lopsided grin. That grin was devastating. It was so charming and handsome and cute. "W-what are you watching?" I asked as I glanced to the TV.
Ben shrugged. "Nothing really. I was spacing out before you came out."
"Ben... why don't you try to get some rest?" He looked over at me again, his sight having drifted to the TV when I asked. "I'm fine, really. You don't need to stay up and watch over me."
Ben stared for a moment, then turned his sight back to the TV. "Easier said than done..." I walked over to the couch and he moved over so I could sit. I plopped next to him then, my eyes fixated on him. He looked exhausted. Like he was forcing himself to stay awake for my sake. I didn't like him sacrificing his sleep for me when I was sleeping so soundly. "Like I said... some nights I don't sleep. Whether you're involved or not."
I sat back against the couch and put a pillow in my lap. I gathered up what courage I had and patted the pillow, earning his attention, and an incredulous look. "I'm awake now. Try to get some rest. You lent me your shoulder; I'll lend you my lap."
"Rey, I'm fi-"
"You're not fine!" I said, louder than I'd intended. He froze for a moment, and so did I. I hadn't meant to yell at him. All I wanted was for him to get some rest. "You're exhausted..." I said softly, not looking at him. "At least try... please?" I asked, finally turning to look at him.
We stared at each other for what seemed like eternity before Ben smirked and sighed in defeat. "Fine. But only because you're warm and comfortable," he teased.
I laughed softly as his head hit the pillow in my lap. "Of course," I said gently.
He repositioned his head several times before sighing and snatching the pillow out from between him and my legs. When his head laid directly on my legs, my cheeks burned again. He sighed contently and closed his eyes. "Those pillows are made of rocks..." he mumbled.
I laughed softly. Before I knew it, I brought my hand up and played with his hair, combing my fingers through it absent-mindedly. After a few moments, I realized what I was doing, and stopped. "Don't stop." I blinked several times, thinking I'd misheard him. I looked down at him and saw him looking at me out of the corner of his eye. His eyes looked heavy, like he was almost asleep. I wanted to smooth away the dark circles under his eyes, but resisted. "Don't stop," he repeated, a little louder, his voice hoarse with fatigue.
I smiled softly when I realized I'd heard him right. My fingers combed through his dark, soft hair once more and his eyes slid shut with a small sigh. I kept running my fingers through his hair as he requested until I heard deep, even breaths coming from him. I looked down at his sleeping face. He had sharp, pronounced features, but he wasn't ugly. His sleeping face was void of lines and wrinkles. He looked peaceful. He looked like he was getting the best sleep of his life right now. I couldn't help it as the corners of my mouth slid up into a warm, affectionate smile. He was such an odd man.
But from what I could tell... he was a good one.
X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X
Hours passed and I must have dozed off because when I opened my eyes, Ben wasn't in my lap anymore. I don't know why, but my chest squeezed a little. I stretched silently then sighed softly, looking around at my apartment. Then, I saw him out of the corner of my eye. He was in the kitchen, fixing a cup of coffee. From the sounds of it, he didn't know I was awake yet. I gave him a small smile. He was certainly an odd one, that was for sure. Who actually stuck around and carefully maneuvered around someone else's house, trying not to wake up the sleeping one?
I walked around the coffee table and pulled up a seat at the bar, folding my arms and setting my head in them, still looking at his back. I don't know why having him here made me so happy, but it did. "How do you take your coffee?" he asked over his shoulder at me.
I couldn't help but snicker. "Cream and a couple of sugars." He walked over to the fridge and retrieved the cream, setting it on the counter, then paused and glanced over at him. I laughed and nodded my head at the cabinet. "First one on your right, directly above the coffee pot." He opened the door and retrieved the sugar. "I can make it," I volunteered, already starting to stand up.
"Are you one of those that would love to have coffee with your milk?" he teased, shooting me a grin that made my heart skip a beat. I stuck my tongue out at him. "Is that good?" he asked, showing me the cup with a light brown liquid inside.
I nodded and reached to take it from him. My fingers gently ran across his as he passed off the cup to me. I cradled it in my hands with a peaceful smile, holding it to my nose and taking in the aroma of my favorite liquid. "Thank you." I saw him nod over the steamy cup in my hands. Once he'd poured himself a cup, he leaned against the counter, facing me. "How long have you been up?"
He shrugged with one shoulder. "I woke up not long ago." I gave him a small smirk as I sipped my coffee. "Thanks..." he said so softly that I thought I was hearing things. I looked over at him curiously. What was he thanking me for? I hadn't done anything except pretty much force him to lay in my lap and get some much deserved rest. I was about to ask him to elaborate, but I heard his phone buzz in his pocket. I watched him pull it out and read the message. His face went from blank to irritated. "Poe's heading over."
"Why?" He shot a look over at him and gave me a small grin. I don't know why that look sent a shiver down my spine, but I'd wondered if I'd sent a wrong signal or something. Had I said it too eagerly? Had I given him the idea that i'd prefer to spend more time alone with him? "I mean... um... is he giving you a ride home?"
He shrugged lazily as he sipped his coffee. "Probably to brag that we lost and we owe him a wish. You know Poe."
I rolled my eyes and sipped my coffee in silence. I did know Poe. He was very braggy when he won. And he was always the one to remind you that you owed something to him, but always hated it with every fiber of his being that you reminded him when he owed you. I love him to death, but he did live by some double standards that were sometimes unbearable. I flicked my eyes up to Ben to see him staring at me over his coffee cup. Becoming self conscious, I looked down at the hoody and realized I was still in it. My face heated up quickly as I cleared my throat. "I'll throw it in the wash and return it to you..." I said in a small voice, though I don't know why. "Thanks for lending it to me last night, Ben."
He only nodded in response, sipping his coffee and averting his sight to look out the window that overlooked the city. "If you want, you can keep it. I have another one at home."
"Oh, no, I couldn't..."
"Your choice. It seems like you're comfortable in it." I bit my lip behind my coffee cup. The hoody was comfortable. And truthfully, I did like it. Not only because it smelled like him, but because it was big and warm. I was always a fan of oversized clothing, especially sweaters and hoodies. "Consider it a gift from a friend."
I flicked my eyes up at him then and saw him giving me a brief grin. I gave him a wide smile in return. "Are you sure?"
He rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Rey, I have at least five more just like it. Trust me, I won't miss it." I could only imagine his closet full of black hoodies and knew that it suited him fine. "Besides, judging by your lack of attire last night, I assume you don't have anything warm enough for winter," he teased.
I scoffed this time. "Snooping is unbecoming, Ben Solo." I sipped my coffee and shot him a pointed look. I didn't deny that I didn't have a hoody like this because I didn't. I had smaller ones, lightweight ones. I had sweaters and long-sleeved shirts. Oversized hoodies? None. He lazily rolled his shoulder at me in a short shrug, but grinned as he sipped his coffee. "When did Poe say he would be over?"
"He sent the text a few minutes ago and he said he was about ten minutes away. So... about five minutes or so?" he guessed. Darn. There wasn't enough time to take a shower. I guess I was stuck in Ben's hoody. What a shame...