Chapter Text
“You came.”
“C’mon. Let’s get you home.”
“ You actually came.”
Ricky forcefully pulled a stubborn Ben’s forearms to hoist him up, pulling Ben’s arms up around his neck.
Ben pulled his neck around to see Ricky’s face. Both so close that they could feel each others breath.
Ben took his free hand to rest on Ricky’s cheek, pulling their faces even closer than before.
“Brookie—“
“ You’re beautiful.”
Ricky jolted his head back in shock, but he quickly was pulled in once again by Ben’s arms.
“ You’re actually here.”
“Brookie, c’mon—“
“ You’re actually here.”
“Ben.”
This time, Ricky successfully pulled his face away, to quickly help Ben limp over to his bike.
“We need to get you home.”
It was all too familiar to Ricky. He had been in this situation far too often and he knew better now, to not let the words get to him.
But a part of him still believed it.
As Ricky took Ben’s hands to wrap them around his own waist, he couldn’t dare think of those words, because he had to put Ben’s needs over his own right now, as Ben needed help more than he did. If it pained him to do so, it didn’t matter because that’s what he learned.
When his bike stopped at the stairs of the fire exit at Ben’s apartment complex, he had to pry Ben’s hands off of his waist, and the boy’s head off of his shoulder. Once he succeeded in doing so, he again had to hoist Ben’s arms around his shoulders, and carefully carried him up the steep stairs to Ben’s window. Cautiously, he opened the window, to a familiar view. He attempted to lift Ben to the opening, but Ben stood up, wobbly, and declared “Gotit.. don’t worry shitty-bird” as he chuckled and snorted.
As Ben stumbled over himself, Ricky let out a sigh of relief because he finally had the chance to breathe, even if it was for a single second. Ben surprisingly managed to get himself into his room and threw himself onto his bed. Ricky squeezed through the window after him, as he had done multiple times before.
“I think— I gotta—“ Ben’s slurred speech was interrupted from a gag that suddenly came out of his mouth. Ricky rushed to Ben’s side, almost scooping Ben up to find the bathroom down the hallway. As Ben struggled with his head in the toilet, Ricky stood by his side. He attempted to comfort him, by carefully placing his hand on Ben’s back— but the thought made him flinch. His fingers quickly curled back.
He’s not— I can’t.