Who: Ben and Fitz What: Questioning and revelations When: 9th August, afternoon and night Where: Ben’s place, then their clearing Rating: Mid - some language and themes Status: Complete
It wasn’t really a day that Ben wanted to remember, although it had started out just like any other. He had come home from teaching his French class in a good mood, after the hurricane and attack on the guards people were scared and he had noticed that fewer attended his classes for a few weeks but now it seemed the were returning and interested in continuing their lessons, some of them were even starting to get quite good.
No sooner had he walked into his apartment, put his things by the couch and walked to the kitchen then there was a loud knocking at his door. Intrigued to see who would be visiting him at home he went and opened the door, almost getting knocked over as several men in uniforms barged in. “Mr Dubay, we need to talk to you.” One of them said. Still in a state of shock he stood there but nodded, Ben wasn’t about to invite them into the living area, anything they wanted to say they could say to him here. “We know about your abilities… that you can communicate with animals.”
“Oui, what about it?”
The man told him about the latest attack on a guard and how an animal was the cause of his death. They didn’t actively ask if he was involved in some way, if he had used his ability and had talked a wild animal into attacking the man but Ben could read between the lines, he told them the truth that yes he could communicate with animals but he couldn’t get them to do anything that was against their nature. The men seemed to be content with that answer, for the moment at least, but they told him that they were keeping an eye on him and left as quickly as they came.
Still shaken and nervous about if they had reconnected the microphones and cameras in his apartment he got out his phone and sent a message to ‘Henry’, I don’t think it’s safe here. Usual place, 9:30pm?
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‘Henry’ replied an affirmative and at the agreed upon time he was there. The cougar waited in the brush until Ben came into view. After a circled survey of the perimeter to make sure that the other man wasn’t followed Fitz stepped out atop the rock, his backpack slung over his shoulder as always. His facial hair was sporting a couple days of growth- nothing nearly as bad as when they’d met. With a soft smile he hopped off the rock and stepped up to Ben, pulling him into a nice kiss.
Blue eyes looked upon Ben as Fitz’ thumb brushed over his cheek. “Okay, tell me… what’s wrong?” The message was enough to have him worried. That anxious look when he’d entered the clearing and the slight brow furrow of concern had been the clincher that something had happened- or might happen. Everyone was on edge since the guard attack, but Ben had been pretty good about keeping his head down- after the bar fight at least. He’d been picking up habits from Fitz.
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It was good to see Fitz, it was always good to see Fitz though part of Ben wished that they could’ve done this back at his place and spent a few hours curled up together. Until he had time to go over the whole place with a careful eye, it was probably safer to not spend time together at Ben’s place. The kiss was welcomed and returned, a soft and somewhat content sigh escaping against the other man’s lips.
Hazel eyes opened and looked up at the man in front of him, hands resting on Fitz’s hips. “They visited me when I got home from work.” He started. “They wanted to know if I had anything to do with the animal attack on the guard, if I had talked the animal into it.” Which was something he would never do, he didn’t like to manipulate any animal and would only do it if he or someone he cared about was in immediate danger. “I didn’t do it, I couldn’t do it.”
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“I know.” Fitz assured him. “And I’m sure you told them just that.” Fitz moved a hand to Ben’s shoulder and squeezed it slightly. “Are you okay?” He figured it was probably a bit unnerving being questioned in his home. He brushed his hand caringly down Ben’s cheek. “They only questioned you? Didn’t touch you?” He’d kill ‘em.
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“No, they didn’t touch me.” It was unnerving to have a group of men in official looking uniforms show up unannounced , force their way into your house and ask questions, he was glad though that they didn’t ask him where he was the morning of the attack as he had spent it with Kyrie and Fitz. The gentle touches were relaxing and Ben found his eyes slipping shut again at the caresses. “But they did say that they were keeping an eye on me, I don’t think that it’s safe for you to come over until I can check everything.” Which was disappointing because he liked their quiet (and some not so quiet) nights.
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Fitz nodded. “I understand. Always better to be safe.” He’d gotten used to safe. Cautious. Wary. Alert. They always seemed to equal isolated. But at least in that moment they didn’t have to worry too much. “If you need anything. You tell me.” He nodded assuredly. “Even if you just need to meet out here to talk. I’m here for you.” Fitz leaned in a bit, soft lips grazed over Ben’s cheek as he said softly. “Because I love you.”
His heart felt like it was beating so hard it would crack his ribs. The words seemed to flow naturally despite all his worry. He loved the other man. Even with all the doubts and worry about his own motivations- which hadn’t completely gone away. Fitz did feel deeply for the volcanologist.
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Ben had learned to be cautious since starting his relationship with Fitz, he always checked to see if that cable had been replaced at the back of his TV, thankfully those in charge obviously had other things to do because it was still wrecked. He couldn’t let anyone find out that the cat that hung around his place some nights was actually his boyfriend.
It took a moment for those words that Fitz said to settling in and his head turned, almost hitting the other man in the side of the head with his nose. “You do?” His feelings were the same, although he hadn’t had a lot of experience with relationships he knew that did care for Fitz more than he had for anyone else. “Je t'aime aussi Pierce.” He whispered, telling Fitz that he loved him too, but for once using the man’s proper name.
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“I know…” He smiled softly. “And yes… I do.” Fitz took a step back to look at Ben fully. “I often wonder if it’s you, or the fact that you’re one of the very few people who know me that drew me to you. Like I was just ‘taking what I could get’ and fooling myself into thinking that it was- or could be anything more.” Fitz admitted. “But then I realized that I missed you when you left, or stayed at your own place and I was with Kyrie. Not ‘someone to be close to’, but you. And apparently I always get this goofy grin on my face whenever Key says your name- even as Oliver.” He chuckled slightly. “So, even though I was worried that I’d only fallen for the idea of someone who could know me. I realize, it’s not ‘someone’, it’s you.”
He brushed his fingers through his hair and chewed his lip slightly. “That was like, really corny wasn’t it?”
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“A bit, but it’s one of your charms.” Ben smiled, having taken a few moments to process what Fitz had said. In the beginning he was thinking along the same lines, that maybe the other man was only interested in him because he was one of the few who knew Fitz as Fitz and not as Oliver or Mew or Mr Tumbles, but over the months he had discovered that it wasn’t the case. He’d miss Fitz and often thought about the other man when he was working, planning date nights and things to do together. This wasn’t just some passing little crush.
“I am not the type who wants to spend every single night together, but leaving your and Key’s place can sometimes be hard.” He still liked his own space sometimes, and knew that Kyrie and Fitz needed their time alone together as well. A hand moved up and carded through Fitz’s hair, unsure what else he could say at this moment in time. “You’ll always have me mon amour.”
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Fitz smiled and pulled Ben in for an embrace, eyes closing as he just absorbed the feeling of being close to the other man. Nothing needed to be said in that moment, just holding each other. “You make me feel not alone out there.” He said softly as he nuzzled the other man's neck slightly.
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Arms wrapped around Fitz's chest, returning the embrace and more than content to just stand there in silence holding each other. Ben felt like he was the luckiest guy in the world at that moment, despite the fact he was stuck on this island he was holding the man who loved him for who he was and accepted every part of him, who could ask for more? At the nuzzle he tilted his head, lips brushing together. "As do you, my world is brighter with you in it.” He said before kissing Fitz softly.