Benjamin Tsou (the_dancer) wrote in olympianthreads, @ 2015-02-15 11:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: ben tsou, character: hector covas, player: andy, player: chelsie |
WHO: Ben & Hector
WHAT: The Valentine’s Day Dance
WHEN: Saturday 14th, evening
WHERE: Ben’s apartment > The dance > etc.
RATING|STATUS: C for Cuteness
When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?
It was Valentine’s day. Ben would have much rather forgotten about it, but thanks to the dance, it was everywhere. All week he’d listened to people talk about it, seen the decorations being put up. There was one consolation; he definitely wasn’t the only one who wasn’t going. It did seem like a bit of a poor bribe on behalf of the administration. On the other hand, Ben was sure he would have gone anyway, if things had been different, bribe notwithstanding. He’d even had an offer of a date for the evening. He felt terrible for turning Hector down. The truth was, since they’d started talking and (he hoped it was fair to say) become friends, he hadn’t been able to stop certain thoughts about Hector from creeping through into his conscious mind. If he hadn’t had a crush on him before, well, he did now, even if it was difficult to admit to himself. And from Hector’s messages, it was a fair bet that the other boy felt the same way. ‘I think you’re interesting’, indeed. In hindsight Ben probably should have expected an invitation. Probably he would have found someone else to go with, though. Who would say no? Other than Ben, obviously. He wanted to go. In a way, he did. It had been two months since the break up, and there was no reason he shouldn’t move on, was there? But he wanted to go as himself, as the person he’d been, not a half-broken shell of himself who could barely walk between classes without having to take a break. Not the person whose head was constantly full of worries - Jun, Bones, his mother, Mena, his own injury, his future career, avenging Rory, passing his L1 finals. Ben the dancer, not Ben the cripple. Not to a dance where he would have to watch people move gracefully around him, while he limped around or sat on the sidelines. Not even with Hector. It hurt too much. By Saturday night though, he was regretting that decision. The apartment was very quiet; he didn’t know if Jordan had gone to the dance, he hadn’t dared ask. In the far distance he could hear music as the night began, an indistinguishable murmuring of happy voices. And he was alone, in his room, in sweatpants and hoodie, staring up at the ceiling. He knew he should study, or read something, or get up and do his physio, or at the very least watch TV so he wasn’t just lying there feeling sorry for himself, but lethargy was heavy in all his limbs so that even limping into the living room was too much effort. The knock on the door was very loud in the relative silence, and he started and sat up. Paranoid, frightened thoughts rushed through his mind, from the mundane to the simply outlandish - it was Jordan, he’d forgotten his keys - it was his dad, come to visit him - it was Park, he’d escaped and had come to Ben for help - it was the kidnappers, come to kill him as revenge for Park’s mistakes... Koguma shuffled out from where he’d been napping under the bed and wuffed, startling Ben out of his frozen state. He swallowed and hurried to scramble off the bed. “Stay,” he said softly, and the dog whined and laid down again. Ben had discovered since bringing him home that he was exceptionally well-trained. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised. He limped out of his bedroom and up to the door, peeking through the peep hole. On seeing Hector’s face there, his eyes widened and he pulled the door open. “Hi…” he said, trying not to stare. “What are you doing here?” --- Ben had said no to his invitation to the dance and that should have been the end of it right then and there, but Hector just could seem to let the thought go for some reason. Ben was a dancer, this was what he did. He went to dances, danced his ass off and impressed the people around him with a the grace and agility his body possessed as it moved to the music. Yes, it had occurred to the boy that maybe that’s just why the other student didn’t want to go to the dance, but that didn’t sit right. If Ben was going to get back to where he was, he needed to try and he couldn't spend his life sitting on the sidelines because of it either. That’s when Hector hatched his devious plan. He wasn’t a brave man by any measure but in this, he knew he had to try. Ben was going to that dance whether he liked it or not and Hec was going to make sure that it happened. Here was to hoping it didn’t all blow up in his face. Pulling on one of his best suits, he picked a simple tie from the closest and slicked back his wild curls. All in all he looked more than presentable for the evening. Now, just to convince someone else to get ready and not put all the effort to waste. It was a short trip to Ben’s apartment but it still seemed to take forever. Alright, he was nervous. What was the worst that could happen? Ben get mad at him and he went to the dance alone? Hector wasn’t really fond of that option but it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to him since he came to the island. A quick knock brought the other student to the door, clearly surprised to find a man in a suit on his doorstep. “Hola,” Hec greeted with a smile. “I know you said no but go get dressed. There’s a dance going on and you’re going to be my date.” --- Ben’s mouth fell half open. “But…” the half-protest left his mouth before he could even think of an excuse. He mostly couldn’t take his eyes off the suit and the hair. He had no idea how to respond, and at first could only stand there dumbly. Finally he swallowed and cleared his throat. This was a new sensation. No one had ever tried to woo him like this before. Hell he’d never been asked out on a date before, not really. The Ben-and-Jordan origin story had a lot more alcohol and a lot less clothes in it than this situation. “You sure you want me to come?” he asked, knowing as he said it that this was a dumb question, because why else would Hector show up on his doorstep and ask him, after Ben had already turned him down? “I can’t promise to be any fun, you know.” --- An easy smile played across Hector’s lips as he took in Ben’s shocked face. He didn’t know if it was from him showing up there unannounced or how good he looked right now. He hoped it was at least a little bit of the later, this had taken quite a bit of work. Stepping passed Ben and into the apartment, he sincerely hoped that Jordan was in his room or had already headed out for the night. It would be a bit awkward to bump into him now. That didn’t deter him though, he had come her with a singular purpose and he was going to see it through. He was going to convince Ben that he should go out tonight. It would be good for him. “Or course I am sure,” he replied softly. “I wouldn’t have put on a suit if I wasn’t sure. I actually can’t remember the last time I wore one so, you should feel special. Now, I know you have to own at least one or two so go get dressed and I’ll wait right here.” Plopping down on the couch, he watched the other student. “And Ben, you’ll be plenty of fun. I know it,” Hector countered with a chuckle. --- Ben shook his head incredulously. Then something fairly miraculous happened; the first real smile he'd worn in weeks began to touch his face, the corners of his lips twitching gradually upwards despite all his reservations. It was the sheer ridiculousness of it all. He hadn't even managed a smile on his birthday, that wasn't forced by politeness, but Hector showing up at his door with a suit and an ultimatum was enough to finally wring one from him. He sighed with resignation, but the smile remained. "I have one suit, that I never wear," he corrected. "And the tie is the same one I wore to my parents wedding. But if you insist... you better wait there. Um. Help yourself to a drink, or whatever." He retreated to his bedroom and leaned against the door for a minute, gathering himself. Was he really doing this? As he dug in his wardrobe for his best clothes, he was still fairly sure the dance itself would make him miserable, but maybe it wouldn’t be all that bad. There were other things to do, after all. They could just… hang out. Have a couple of drinks - just a couple, he told himself very firmly, because there was no way he was going down that road again - and some conversation. Get to know each other better. Right. Get a grip, Benjamin, he thought as he sat on the bed to wriggle awkwardly into his trousers. They were a little wrinkled, as was the shirt he hadn’t worn since Thanksgiving, but hopefully it would be dark enough that no one one notice. He stood in front of the mirror to tie the tie, unable to get it totally straight. He was very unused to formalwear. But it would have to do. He ran a brush hurriedly through his hair and stared blankly at his reflection. Are you crazy? it seemed to say. Maybe he was. He took a deep breath before peeking back into the living room and slipping quietly around the door. “I can’t believe you talked me into this,” he said shyly. --- “I’m sure it will be fine,” Hector called from his place on the couch as Ben hobbled into the other room. He was sure it would be more than fine, actually. The thought of the other boy in a suit was one he deeply enjoyed and was a bit excited to actually experience first hand. So he sat, patiently on the couch and simply waited. Patience had always been his strong suit. There was no need to hurry things along, it just got messy that way. Going with the flow made everything a million times simpler. Upon hearing Ben’s voice, Hector was back on his feet and turning to face the bedroom a smile instantly lighting up his face. “Te ves guapo!” he exclaimed as he quickly closed the distance between the two of them. “Your tie is a little funny but it should be easy enough to fix.” Nimble fingers reached for Ben’s tie and quickly fixed the the twisted knot. Straightening the tie itself, he neatly tucked it into the taller mans vest and smiled up at him. “There, now I think you’re ready.” --- “Thanks,” Ben said, feeling his heart do a little jump as Hector’s capable hands straightened his tie. He was reminded oddly of Bones, between the Spanish words and the way he competently fixed the knot, the way Bones had almost certainly done when Ben was younger. Oh god, he thought to himself, Please tell me I don’t just like him because he reminds me of my dad… is that the equivalent of straight guys marrying girls who are just like their mothers? “Um.. te ves guapo también,” he added, hoping to god that he didn’t sound like a total idiot. -- Hector chuckled happily and nodded, “Perfecto! Gracias, Ben.” The words were a bit rough and had a slight Chilean inflection to them but the intention was there and that’s what mattered. “Do you have everything you need?” he questioned as he glanced around the apartment. He didn’t want to rush the other student but he also didn’t want to give Ben a chance to be the chronic overthinker he’d proven himself to be. Waiting for Ben to make sure he was ready, Hector held out an arm to him as if he were going to escort him to the dance. He could tell Ben’s knee was bugging him and by leaning slightly on Hector he could take some of the pressure off of it. “Listo? Let’s go.” --- Ben held back a laugh. It was so strange to be offered someone’s arm, practically elizabethan - except for the obvious lack of femininity in the gesture. He took the offered support, grateful for it without having to express it in words. He was taller than Hector, but he stooped so much with his limp it was hardly noticeable. They left the apartment and went down to where the dance had already begun. It was predictably garish on the inside, and couples were already spinning around the dance floor, some more competently than others. Ben turned his face away from them to focus on Hector. “Should we get a drink?” --- The duo made pretty decent time from the apartment to the student center and Hector had to admit he was impressed with just how quickly Ben was progressing. He’d been worried about the other student when Ben had told him he’d signed up for a mission, but was pleased to find him in one piece upon return. He had no doubt it wouldn’t be long before the dancer could try to begin to regain some of his range of motion and then move onto reestablishing some of the basics. He believed in Ben, Ben just needed to believe in himself and he hoped being here tonight might do that. “Si, though just punch for me. I don’t drink. That’s not weird is it?” Hector asked suddenly aware just how in the minority he was. “You shouldn’t let that stop you though.” --- Ben smiled with relief - his second of the evening. If things continued like this his jaw would get tired. “Actually I don’t much either,” he admitted. “At least not since making some pretty bad drunken mistakes. Punch sounds really good.” They made their way over to the table and Ben managed to get his hands on the ladle before Hector did. He might need support to walk but he could still pour liquid into a glass - score. Anyway he was determined not to have everything done for him. “Here,” he said handing over the glass - well, plastic cup - and tapping it carefully to his own as he met Hector’s eyes. “Cheers. And.. thanks for making me come.” --- “That’s exactly why I do not drink. I hate the numbing sensation it has on my thoughts. That’s not to say that I haven’t made my fair share of terrible drunk decisions myself. Freshman year was rough,” Hector reminisced with a smile and knowing wink. He of course, was more than willing to let Ben pour his punch for him, watching him carefully if he should need a hand but never interfering. He’d learned a long time ago to let people do things for themselves and only help if asked. It was something Pito had taught him rather quickly and he was grateful for it. “Cheers. And your are very welcome, Ben. Thank you for coming with me.” --- Ben sipped his punch gratefully. He thought about saying something about how he thought he’d quite like to remember tonight, so lack of alcohol was probably a good policy, but thought better of it. There was flirting and then there was just being outright silly. “You didn’t exactly give me much of a choice,” he pointed out instead, trying to show by his expression that he didn’t mind. “Showing up in your fancy suit. Who could resist that?” Despite his inner monologue of not to come off like an idiot, for some reason he felt positively giddy. It felt almost normal, to be doing something so frivolous as going to a school dance. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled or made a joke, and yet here he was doing all those things. --- “I was hoping the suit would do all the talking for me. I wasn’t sure that I could convince you to go otherwise. You might have shut the door in my face or something, a strange man showing up at your door late at night.” He chuckled and then paused, taking all of Ben in. “You really do look amazing tonight,” he murmured a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Taking a sip of his punch, Hector noticed the lights lower and couples flooding the dance floor as the music slowed down it’s pace. “I know this might be bold of me, and you are more than welcome to tell me no, but… would you dance with me?” --- Ben’s face fell, and he found himself glancing longingly towards the turning couples on the dance floor before tearing his eyes away. His grip tightened on his plastic cup so that it bent alarmingly, threatening to spill red liquid down his vest. “I… I can’t,” he mumbled, looking down shamefully at his feet. “I’m sorry… I just can’t.” He really hoped Hector understood that it had nothing to do with him, that he would give anything, anything in that moment to be able to dance with him, but he was afraid. He was afraid it would hurt, that he would fall, that he would make a fool of himself; all of these things, the overarching fear of failure hanging over him. --- “Woah, Woah, Woah, está bien, Ben,” Hector assured him as his hand shot out reflexively and covered the other boys, taking the cup from him and setting it down the punch table. That was just a mess waiting to happen and with Ben looking so nice, a bright red stain was the least thing he needed. He may not have known Ben all that well but the fear and shame read plainly across his features, as he looked away from Hector. This was because of the knee wasn’t it. Would it be bad for Hector to push him? “May I ask why?” --- "I just...." Ben didn't know how to explain it, it was a feeling that made no sense, that was near impossible to verbalise. All his life he had moved at a hundred miles an hour, nothing had ever got in his way. He'd been able to do anything, physically, that he set his mind to, never sitting still. He'd been able to control every muscle. He'd been as light as air. His body had always done what he wanted. Now he was having to fight it, force it, and it fought back with pain. He felt heavy as lead, all the time, and it seemed impossible that things would ever go back to the way they had been. He couldn't even remember what it felt like to fly. He couldn't figure out any of this in words that anyone would understand, though. "I'll fall," he said, very low, feeling his neck heat up uncomfortably under the tie as he folded his arms and looked down at them. "I can't hold my own weight, properly. It's pathetic." --- “Do you think I would let you fall?" Hector blurted out before he could catch himself. “I’m sorry, Ben I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t my place.” Silence hung heavy between them as, Hec searched for something to say, something to lighten the mood but he just couldn’t let this go, not yet. For some reason he needed the other boy to know he was there for him. That he could do it and he would help. “It’s true you know, I wouldn’t and it’s not pathetic. Your body is healing. It’s going to take time. If you work up the courage though… I could support you.” --- "Oh." Ben felt his face heat up and his head came up to meet Hector's eyes again, his own a little wide with surprise. He hadn't even considered that, which seemed ridiculous now. "I... I guess I'm not used to... needing help," he admitted. "I didn't mean that I thought you wouldn't... I mean I'm sure you would, I just didn't think... I'm sorry." He took a breath and looked over again to the dance floor. He could see Eva dancing with Liam; she looked beautiful and graceful as always (though Liam considerably less so). He ached to join them. He looked back at Hector with nervous indecision. --- “Then don’t think of it as needing help, think of it as doing me a favor. I’ve kind of never had a chance to slow dance, is that what it’s called,, before. Sam didn’t exactly do romantic… or dances, so you’d be helping me try out something I’d wanted to for a long time.” His eyes followed Ben’s across the dance floor until the settled on Liam and Eva. He didn’t really know the girl but Liam looked like a fish out of water. Ben couldn’t be any worse at this then he was doing. “This is the last time I’ll ask you, because I don’t want to pester. If you say no, we can have some more punch, talk and simply enjoy the night. I am fine with either.” --- Ben swallowed and took a deep breath. “You’re really sweet,” he said, forcing his expression into an uncertain smile. He was still paradoxically afraid, but he knew that if he said no, he’d regret it. For so many reasons. “I would love to dance with you.” --- A victorious smile stole across Hector’s features as he held out a hand and led Ben out onto the dance floor. Usually, with Ben being taller than he was, he would have automatically looped his arms around the other boys neck but not this time. Instead his hands found Ben’s waist, leaving the older student the ability to rest his weight on Hectors shoulders. “Put as much of your weight on me as you need too. I don’t want you to put any stress on your knee,” he commented softly. Above anything, he wanted Ben to enjoy this dance. --- Ben did his best to stay calm. His heart was pounding so hard he could barely hear the music. He knew he had to relax, that it would be easier, but it was impossible to do so. His fists bunched behind Hector’s head as he tried to rest his weight on the shorter boy’s shoulders. He stumbled a little on the first step, and bit his lip hard as he had to catch himself. But Hector didn’t let him fall. He took another breath and then another step, taking weight on his good leg while letting Hector take the rest. As his anxiety gradually quietened and his heartbeat slowed, the music finally reached him. It seeped into his consciousness like a drug, he could feel it flowing through his limbs, and they remembered how to move. --- Hector felt the other boy stumble and on impulse pulled him closer, wrapping his arm around Ben’s waist for extra support. At least that’s what he told himself. The fact that he was attracted to Ben and enjoyed being close to him clearly had absolutely nothing to do with it in the least. The pressure on his shoulders made their movements awkward at first, but it didn’t take them long to find an easy rhythm as he felt the other boy relax in his arms. If he kept smiling as much as he was tonight, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop. It would become a permanent fixture. As the music played, Hector found himself less worried about Ben and more so simply enjoying the moment. The way Ben felt in his arms, the way they swayed to the movement, the grace the other boy moved with despite his injury. The rest of the world seemed to melt away for a few moments until it was just him, a song, and the boy he liked. --- Ben was surprised at how safe he felt. For weeks it had felt as though the ground were shifting constantly under him, like he was continually balancing on a narrow beam, and any misstep might send him flying. Now, though he might not be walking on air, he was dancing. He was dancing, even if it was only a slow assisted shuffle. And he no longer felt like he was going to fall. The song ended, and some people stopped, stood apart from each other and applauded, but Ben didn’t let go. He stepped closer instead, and when the next song began, folded his arms around Hector and rested his head on the other boy’s shoulder. ---- Contentment, utter and complete contentment filled Hector as he rested his head against the other boys, his arms tightening around him. He didn’t care that other couple had separated and were leaving the dance floor. Heck, he didn’t care if they were the last one’s left out there. Right now was about the two of them. Fingers tracing idol patterns against the soft fabric of Ben’s jacket, Hector began to hum softly along with the music. It was an action he was entirely unaware of but it somehow seemed fitting. --- Ben smiled without realising, as the soft sound of Hector’s humming along to the music met his ears. Another song passed, and another, until he had quite lost track of how long they had been dancing. Eventually he lifted his head, loosening the circle of his arms and leaned back a little until they were facing each other again, but much closer than they had been before. Almost without thinking about it, he leaned in and pressed his lips softly against Hector’s. It lasted only a moment before he realised what he was doing and pulled back with a low, embarrassed noise, but didn’t take his arms off Hector’s shoulders. “Sorry,” he said, with a hitch to his voice that was almost a laugh. “Um. Lost in the moment.” --- The kiss took him completely surprise but it was far from unwelcome. It was so quick that he was afraid that he had imagined the whole thing, but Ben’s apology cemented that it had been real. “What are you apologizing for, Ben?” Hector asked, quirking an eyebrow before leaning forward and placing another quick chaste kiss on the other boys lips. “Can I say I was lost in the moment too?” he teased a smirk tugging at his lips. --- Ben’s smile widened. “I’d buy it,” he said shyly. He had changed, he realised, over the last few months, and not in the way he had been thinking up to now. Before Jordan he was sure he would never have kissed someone out of the blue like that. He quickly put Jordan to the back of his mind. He shifted, and his leg twinged - not with pain, exactly, it felt more like a warning. He didn’t want to stop, he could have happily stayed there under the soft lights all night, but a sensible voice at the back of his mind insisted that he shouldn’t push himself too hard. “I think I need to sit for a minute,” he said, low. “Not because - the kiss, the kiss was good, fine… great. Um. The other thing. You know.” --- Worried instantly clouded Hector’s face before he reminded himself that Ben would tell him if he was any sort of pain. “Because of your knee. I know. Of course, we can sit down.” Stepping back a bit from the other student, he slipped an arm around Ben’s waist, taking his weight once again as he started them towards a couple of chairs off to the side of the dance floor. “Also we need to discuss the ratings you give for kisses. If that was great, you’ve got some rather pleasant surprises coming,” he teased with a chuckle. --- Ben was sure his face was bright red even though he knew his skin would hide a blush. “You don’t say,” he said, a little breathlessly. He lowered himself into the chair with a slight wince, and looked up at Hector. “Thank you,” he said earnestly. “I.. really didn’t think I’d be able to… I know it sounds crazy.” ---- Taking the seat beside Ben, he accepted the gratitude with a simple nod of acknowledgement. “I knew you could do it. You should have more faith in yourself. You’re much stronger than you think and I don’t mean just physically.” Couples continued to dance as the music picked up pace and the lights flashed in time to the beat. Several of his friends were dancing, some well and others were painful to watch, but they were enjoying themselves. For the first time since in a while, at least for a few minutes, everything seemed to even out. “I’m glad you decided to come out.” --- “Me too,” Ben said, watching the dancers now without any self-loathing or regret. He sighed. “It seems like months since I had any fun.” He smiled. “People said this dance was Irving’s crappy bribe to make us like him, but I don’t care. It was a good idea.” --- Continued in the Valentine's Day thread and below (after the dance) |