Ben was quiet as Rory explained what had happened, the only momentary expression change he gave was when Rory mentioned his relationship with Charlie with a facial expression that looked almost contemptuous compared to the regretful look he’d been sporting. He was half tempted to tell Rory to leave he and Charlie out of this, because it wasn’t his business, but he refrained, instead opting to be quiet until the other man finished his story. Unfortunately, none of it was doing much of anything to assuage his anger.
When Rory stood and started moving toward his bed, Ben watched him carefully. Not because he thought Rory would hurt him or anything, but because regardless of the fact that the other man had hurt his sister and one of his closest friends, Ben still believed that Rory was a decent person. That was a part of the reason he wanted to talk to him. So, if he fell, Ben still wouldn’t hesitate to help him if he needed it. He sighed a little and smoothed a hand through his hair, tilting his head down for a minute. When he looked back up, he saw the look on Rory’s face and he couldn’t help but feel a little sympathetic. Rory had always been good at that, and Ben didn’t mean just because of his illness. He’d always known just how to say, or just what facial expression to use to illicit sympathy.
Sighing, Ben tried to think of what to say next. In all the time he had known Rory, he never would have suspected him to do something like this. “But why?” he asked. The question was simple enough. “Why are you so determined to make Fiona like someone else?” he asked, frowning. Why didn’t he want to be with Fiona? “She’s a great girl and you’d be lucky to have her, so why don’t you want to be with her? I don’t understand. What about her, or what about you, makes you so determined to push her away?” When someone could offer you something great, affection and a definite want, why turn them away and never explain the real reason? It didn’t make sense. “I don’t get it.”