Chapter Text
Callum tries to ignore the shouting but 1. Its kinda loud and 2. It’s Ben.
It’s been a few weeks since Callum warned Ben off, told him it’s his word against Ben’s and no one would believe Ben. Much to Callum’s surprise it seems to have worked. Apart from the odd passing eachother in the square, Callum hasn’t spoken to Ben and Callum’s stress levels have subsided somewhat on that front (but wedding stress was quickly taking over).
This is the first time Callum has ever heard Jay be so angry at his sort of brother/best friend and despite his desire to stay the hell out of anything to do with Ben Mitchell, he can’t help but to strain himself to overhear what it’s about.
“I run this business proper Ben, I told you no and you did it anyway!”
“It was foolproof, they’re dead Jay, didn’t think anyone would notice”
Odd. Callum debates just leaving but…..
“well it wasn’t, don’t you think the fact that half of the old ‘owners’ of the cars on our lot are also 'customers’ of the funeral parlour that I also run wouldn’t attract suspicion”
“no?”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“Sorry?”
“fuck sake Ben, what happened to partners, sticking together”
“I’m doing this all for us, me, you, Lola, Lexi”
“bollocks, just get out Ben”
Ben storms towards the exit, Callum makes himself look busy polishing a Coffin but looks up at the exact wrong time, catching Ben’s gaze. Ben looks angry but also upset.
“what you lookin at?"
Callum doesn’t respond, just holds his hands up in a placating manner and lets Ben leave.
_______________________
Whitney is filling in for a shift at the Vic so Callum stops in for a quick pint, Jay was in there tonight, still with a face of thunder, complaining to Ruby about something (probably Ben) so Callum decides to call it a night.
Passing by the park, he see’s a forlorn figure on the swings swigging from a bottle. It’s dark but he just knows it’s Ben. He should leave well alone but Callum has been making stupid decisions lately, one more won't hurt, so he heads towards him. As he approaches, he notices Ben has his glasses on, rare sight these days so to announce his presence he says
“Nice glasses”
He feels stupid immediately, doubly so when Ben looks up at him, smirk on his face and just raises an eyebrow.
Callum waits for whatever smart comment Ben has for him but nothing comes, just awkward silence. As he is an actual idiot Callum tries to fill it.
“Jay is in the pub, looks pissed, you had a falling out?”
“You tell me? You were listening in at the parlour were you not?"
“Not intentionally, you were kind of loud mate.”
“Mate? We’re mates now are we? Last I remember you were warning me off.....”
“look, don’t make a big deal of this, I thought you looked like you could use someone to talk to…”
“and St. Halfway can’t help but come to my rescue. It must be exhausting keeping the holier than thou act up when we both know you are anything but…”
“right, forget it, was stupid of me to bother….” and Callum starts to walk away.
Ben just stares after him but after a moment shouts after him “wait, Callum”
Callum stops but doesn’t turn around.
“company wouldn’t be the worst thing, even yours.” Callum can hear the smirk is back but he turns around anyhow and sits next to Ben.
“so, the glasses?”
“Got something in my contacts didn’t I”
“You seemed upset earlier”
“me and Jay had a bit of a disagreement as you heard. I don’t like falling out with Jay”
“I’m sure he will forgive you for whatever you did, he thinks the world of you” adding with a grin “god knows why though”
Ben gives a small smile back but then adds “hey, how do you know it was me that did something, could ‘ave been Jay”
Callum doesn’t answer that, just rolls his eyes and Ben relents
“Ok, yeah, I did something dumb. Used some of your ‘clients’ details on some log books”
“What. the. fuck. Ben!”
“Don’t you start too, I had enough from Jay”
“I rely on that job, it’s about the only thing that is going well in my life, don’t drag the funeral parlour into your dodgy nonsense”
“I told him I’m sorry!”
“but you never seem to actually mean it, it’s just a word Ben”
Ben keeps quiet and Callum, although mad, doesn’t make a move to leave. It can’t be called a companionable silence but neither man seems to be in a rush to leave.
Ben might be pretty drunk but after a few moments his mind catches up with the last conversation “so engaged life not going well then?”
“it’s great and I don’t want to talk about it with you”
“‘it’s just and I quote ‘funeral parlour is the only thing that is going well in my life’…….
It IS great Callum tells himself. He loves Whit but that feeling of loneliness just won’t go away. Helping people at work when they are at their lowest point does give Callum purpose, he knows he helps. He is good at it, much better at this than being a soldier. Callum moves the conversation on from Whitney.
“You have stayed away, as I asked, so thanks?”
“You growing a pair was fine an all Cal, kinda hot actually, but to be honest with you, I’ve had a lot going on. Tormenting you has been pretty far down my to-do list of late.”
“Yeah?”
“Haven’t you heard, I am getting a little Brother or Sister”
“congrats?,.....how?”
“well Cal, when two people love each other very much….”
“Shut up, you know what I mean”
“Sharon is preggers”
“em, wow”
“Yeah”
The thing is, Callum knows enough about Phil and Ben’s relationship and Ben's line of thought, to know this isn’t a good thing as far as Ben is concerned. Phil will be hoping for a Son who turns out the ‘right’ way. Callum knows it, Ben knows it, the whole square will know it.
“and Bobby is back, promised mum I would look out for him”
Ben has no great love of the Beale side of his family but his mum, well he can never say no to his mum. Bobby is a confused and if Ben’s honest, a slightly scary individual. Ben is the last person that could write someone off for killing someone at a young age but there is something about Bobby that doesn’t sit quite right with Ben.
“so Mr Highway, finding the time to wind you up……….”
“yeah, sounds as if you have had your hands full”.
It’s getting colder but Callum doesn’t want to leave yet. Ben is just in a shirt, no jacket and is clearly starting to feel the cold, the alcohol won’t have helped. Callum has the urge to take his coat off and give it to Ben, until he realises what a dumb idea that would be and the delight Ben would have in teasing him about it. Still….
Ben stops Callums train of thought with “I never said thanks....for lying to the Police for me”
Callum frowns, his anger from having to do that had subsided but Ben had to bring it up, he eventually replies with a scoff “I’m not sure thanks is appropriate when you blackmailed me into it”
“was hardly blackmail……well, maybe a tinesy bit” and Ben at least had the decency to look a bit sheepish “….but you know I didn’t mean it, I promised I wouldn’t out you and I won’t”
“You say that, but any time it is to your advantage, you threaten me again”
Ben doesn’t answer immediately. He is clearly more sober now than when Callum arrived. He wills his face into the most sincere look possible (a stretch for him) and says.
“Look, I was in a tight spot and needed your help. You would hardly have done it willingly but I would never have gone through with it. As I’ve said, you don’t fuck about with that.”
“I might have”
“might have what”
“done so willingly. If you came to me and honestly asked for my help”
Ben just raises his eyebrow again, clearly not believing it.
“and if I’m honest with myself, I knew it was an empty threat. You wouldn’t do that to me Ben”.
“So why do it? lie to the Police for me”
“you know why…….
“Do I? You have done everything possible to avoid me after…….”
Callum didnt want Ben to say what they did. That would be too much like acceptance so cuts him off with “I know, I’m sorry. I was ashamed. Ashamed and confused”
Ben couldn’t help but flinch and masks his face quickly, but not quick enough for Callum not to notice
“no Ben, geez, sorry, not ashamed it was you, ashamed that I cheated. That’s not the kind of bloke I want to be. I do love Whitney and I am going to marry her and give her the life she deserves”
“and what about what you deserve Callum, you really think that will make you happy?”
“yes I do. I have managed all these years and will manage again. You were strictly a one -off”
Ben can’t muster the energy to take offense, he knows Callum means what he says but he also knows it will never work like that for Callum, it never does. He is setting himself up for a very lonely life with Whitney. Callum has shown him kindness tonight, more than he probably deserves so he is not going to pressure him, Ben is all about the long game with his Dad and he can play the long game with Callum too, stick close enough to him that he can be there when Callum needs him - 'cause he will.
“so you actually do want to be mates then Callum?” Callum just shrugs in reply so Ben continues “why do I need you as a mate Callum, I have Jay”
“people can have more than one friend Ben, it’s not unheard of…..and Jay is pretty pissed at you right now”
Callum remembers he is also supposed to be pissed at Ben, dragging the Funeral Parlour into his schemes but he can’t seem to care. Ben crashed into his life, shook it around and he has felt oddly bereft of his presence the last few weeks.
“I’m not going to tone myself down just so I can be mates with you Callum, you know that right? You can’t even say the word gay and you really think you’ll be happy with me telling you about what or who I’ve been up to?”
“don’t know until we give it a shot? I like you Ben. You're funny when you are not being cruel. You can be nice and thoughtful when not scheming… and I think you are trying to help me in your own twisted way.”
“well after that glowing endorsement of my character, how can I refuse? I guess my friend circle has doubled.
“trigonometry was never my strong point Ben but I don’t think two people can be a circle.......”
Ben just laughs, “you know, I think this could work...... mates it is” and Ben puts his hand out to shake it but Callum pulls him into a hug.
“I’m more of a hugger”
They both hold on a little longer than a Bro hug should be and with that Ben knows that this is not the end of the gay conversation by a long shot. He will try it Callum’s way, will try the mate’s route but he knows, deep down, that round two is still most definitely in their future.
He watches Callum leave with a smile on his face but he is Ben Mitchell and must have the last word
“Oi Loverboy! so you think the glasses are hot then?”
Callum just flips him off and carries on walking.