Chapter Text
Valentines Day. The day where Ben was going to wine and dine Callum which would lead to long, passionate sex and will tell Callum he loves him. Only, his boyfriend was in an abandoned factory somewhere, cold and tired, hurt and lonely.
Ben slides his hand across his bed where Callum was supposed to be sleeping. But it was just a sharp reminder that Ben is the one to cause this, causing more hassle for his Callum. The freezing cold & empty side mocking him.
Ben droopy walks down The Beale’s staircase like it’s his last day on Earth ( not like Dennis is feeling the same, not methodically ).
“ Oh hello luv! “ Kathy is all smiles each morning and today, is no expectation. Ben just grunts at her and makes himself a strong black coffee - his life at the moment. How ironic?
Kathy huffs. “ oh how nice of you! No ‘Ello mum or morn’in! “ she rants. “ I dunno why I bother. “
Ben stirs his coffee much longer than necessary, with his shoulders hunched over. “ Then go away then if you can’t be arsed. “
Kathy does have the decency to look guilty. She slides her hand on her son’s shoulders and squeezes his right one, doesn’t feel him tense.
“ I’m worried ‘bout yew luv. “
Ben sighs, turning around and looking at his anxious mom. “ I’m sorry just got a lot on me mind. “
“ wanna talk bout it? “
Ben shook his head and forced a small smile. “ no. I’m f’ine. “
“ I’m sure Callum will make ya better - considering it’s valentines. “ She smiles cheekily, giving his bicep a light squeeze then leaving to open up the café. Ben breathes out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and leans against the kitchen counter. The headache forming at the front of his head again and his heart beating dully without the presence of his love with him.
“ daddy! “ The little girl squeals, running into his body and hugging his waist. “ It’s Valentine’s Day! “
Ben chuckles at her enthusiasm. “ who said your allowed a date today? “
Lexi pulled back from him and brushed her blonde hair behind her small ears. “ it’s valentines for you daddy and Callum and mummy and jay! “
Ben bit inside his cheek to keep the tears at bay. “ Yeh baby it is - I’m sure mummy is getting all dolled up ain’t she for uncle jay?”
“ hey I ‘eard that. “ Lola comes through into the kitchen shoving past Ben making herself a cup of tea. “ Why ain’t you gettin ready for school misses? “ she tickles lexis cheek.
“ I haven’t had breakfast yet. “
Lola sighs at Ben shooting him a glare. “ you could’ve given her something. “
Ben wraps his arm around his daughter giving her head a kiss. “ I’m talking to me daughter lo, ain’t that allowed? “
“ don’t start arguing. “ Lexi mumbled.
Ben shushes her softly, running his fingers through the hair locks. “ we ain’t sweetheart, just talking ain’t we lo. “ he directs it at her with a edge to his tone.
“ course. “ “Lola forces a sweet smile. “ lex go sit at the dining table for mummy. “ and off she goes. Ben takes a long gulp of his black coffee and gets his coat, phone and wallet.
“ I’m goin work. “ he off handily comments getting his keys beside the backdoor.
Lola frowns at his self involved attitude. “ ain’t you takin your own daughter to school? “
“ I ave work Lola. “ he snipes, shouting bye to Lexi before leaving.
The outside air hits him square in the face, reminding him Callum is somewhere in this freezing cold weather making his condition worse.
His phone vibrates and rings making him come out of his thoughts.
“ This better be good. “
-
Keanu stares at Callum as he eats the sausage roll Keanu hurled at him. “ why u watchin me eat? “ Callum self consciously asks him.
Keanu tilts his head to the side grinning psychopathically. “ Wondering If you gunna choke and die because of the lack of fluids or you gunna survive and I’ll have to deal with the body. “
Callum looks down avoiding the cold cause and gulps down the food in his sandpaper throat.
“ I spoke to Ben yesterday. “
Callum looks back up again, hopeful lacing his eyes. “ w-what did he say? “
“ Please don’t hurt him anymore. “ Keanu mimics Ben.
“ you shoulda seen his face. “ Keanu coldly laughs. Callum flinches at the echo, he shoves his legs higher up to his chest trying to get warm and make himself as small as possible.
“ I’m meeting him tomorrow- 1pm. See if he has me money and if he ain’t? “ Keanu leans closer to Callum with a distant look in his eye. “ We both gunna see bye bye Ben. “
Callum pales, dropping the food wrapper onto the floor with his shaking blue hands. “ N-no you cant! “
“ I can. “ Keanu leans back again, legs spread out deliberately knocking Callum’s in the process. “ I’ll leave yew ere to rot and die alone. Then all you’ll be is a skeleton. I’ll leave ya too all the parasites and animals to feed off ya. “
Callum whimpered, face full of disgust. “ Shut up. “
“ - and Ben would be all alone wouldn’t he? “ he continued the verbal torture. “ Do you reckon he’ll kill himself? Another boyfriend dead - he wouldn’t cope. No amount of money will hurt than to have his love of his life waste away. “
Callum made a strangling noise in the back of his throat with tears rolling down his dirty cheeks. “ He - he’s paying ya just leave him alone! Hurt me instead! “
Keanu’s jaw clicked and stood up towering over the other man. Callum may be 6 foot but you wouldn’t thought so when he cowered away from the other emotionless man.
“ Your scared of me. “ Keanu announced in somewhat disbelief. “ When I’m done with you - you will be petrified of your own shadow. “
-
Ben met Keanu in the arches. Why would you met someone you’re blackmailing in their place of work. He does not know.
Keanu sits at the desk with a blank expression watching Ben walk in with a controlled face.
“ You got my money? “
Ben checked the thick brown envelope at him. “ 20grand. “
Keanu winced. “ ain’t enough I’m afraid. Looks like Callum will be seein bye bye life. “ he joked with a smile.
Ben’s hands fisted into balls charging for the man only to have Keanu roughly push him away. “ now now Benny boy. You don’t want to get too physical- I know you used to fancy me but I ain’t like that. “
Ben growled at him. “ I want Callum home - stop with this! This ain’t nowt to do with Callum this is about Phil!! “
“ I know it’s about Phil. But you’re the weaker one out of the Mitchell lot ain’t ya? “ Keanu holds the money in front of him. “ this shows that you are weak, forever the little boy in hearing aids and glasses. “
“ I want Callum home. Call this quits! “
Keanu instead got out his phone and showed Ben the video of him violently beating Callum up.
Ben couldn’t control his emotions this time, crying at Callum’s distressed grunts and whimpers as he heard every kick and punch go into Callum’s damaged body.
“ I’ll call it quits Ben - but you’ll be finding Callum and let’s say hopefully -“ he steps forward yanking the phone out of Ben’s grasp. “ - you’ll find his bones. “
Ben collapsed onto the ground sobbing into his hands flinching as the arches door yanked closed with a bang.
-
Callum groaned on the hard surface of the ground whimpering in pain. It felt like he was back in the army again, getting digs or having internal injuries from exploding bombs.
Callum shifted and felt his hand have liquid on it. He slowly moved his neck and saw dark blood on his hand, he then felt something in his side.
A metal pole had sliced through his skin and now sits 7 inches away from him covered in blood. Callum can’t move, he hurts to much and he wants ben or Chris.
Chris always made him feel better and Ben alwuss made Callum feel whole again.
Callum’s vision starts to detonate and black stars invade him.
“ Sleep soon my boy. “
-
“ Oi! Mitchell! “ Stuart calls him from the sofa when Ben walked in ignoring the older Highway brother. “ look at me. “
“ what do you want Stuart? “ Ben didn’t turn around facing Callum’s dark bedroom.
“ I know Callum is missing - Kathy thought I was entitled to know. “ he stood up now standing 9 feet away from Ben. Who slowly turned around.
“ So your chucking me out? “
“ no I want to get my bro’ther home. “
“ I’m sorting it. “ Ben immediately said.
“ And hows that going then? Giving the enemy money? “ Stuart sounded angry. “ He ain’t goin away Ben! HE’ll just bleed you dry. “
“ He’s already done that. “ Ben quietly spoke.
Stuart sighed heavily. “ Get some rest, and we’ll talk in the morning. “
Ben proper looked at him raising his eyebrows. “ And What are you gunna do bout it? “
“ I’m gunna get your money back and we’re gunna contact that scumbag back and gunna regain control again. “
“ you want - you won’t want help me. You hate me - beaten me up like a punchbag last year. “
Stuart shifted on his feet and slid his hands into his pockets. “ Ben, you’re my brothers boyfriend. You make him happy and it’s been a very long time since I seen his proper, genuine smile. You and him - you’re good for each other and I ain’t gettin in the way again. “
Ben stared at him in shock, before making an awkward small smile. “ we won’t ever be friends Stuart. “
“ I want us to be Civil. “
Ben nodded his head and still felt strange around Stuart. How they are having a proper conversation. “ I’ll see you in the morning. “
“ Night. “
Ben closed the door and sighed heavily.
Tomorrow he’ll hopefully get Callum back home.