Chapter Text
It wasn’t necessarily a new thing, seeing the cousins separated, though it was rare. Very rare. They were like some sort of dynamic duo. Yes, sometimes Ben had to give in a note to his teachers explaining that he wouldn’t talk in lessons or Aiden would get held back for talking too much but, whatever the reason may be, you wouldn’t need more than two hands to count the amount of times one was seen without the other.
Whenever it did happen Aiden could usually find someone to accompany him back to his cousin, being the social butterfly that he was. It’s not like he was friends with the entire school or anything, he only really needed to hold the conversations for a few minutes. The brunette would always be the one to sit around until Aiden found him, meaning that the current situation was strange. He shouldn’t be so irritated by the stares, but he couldn’t help it.
He wanted to find his friends quickly, it was annoying how much he stuck out, all he wanted to do was go unnoticed but being a 15 year old giant?.. He already got more attention than wanted, and now he’s walking around on his own? Logistically, the eyes follow him out of confusion. Maybe a slight intimidation, but not out of malice, so he just needs to calm down… to breathe… Oh, and look at that!
No matter how short she was, the ginger hair was easy to spot. Quickly he attached himself to the back of the group, following them into the school. Taylor seemed to take notice of him first. She turned round to him with a smile across her face. “Oh hey Ben!”
“Hey big guy, psycho.” Tyler said without actually turning round, though the silence seemed to be enough to raise alarm because he and the group turned, looking at him. “Oh, what, I assumed the clown would be with you,”
He took note of the confused faces and started to write in his notepad before Ashlyn even got her question out. Again, not unseen but definitely a scarce occurrence, who could blame them. “Yeah, where is he? I needed to ask him about buying the lights during lunch - the sooner the better.”
[He’s only a few mins behind, his parents called as we left the house so I walked ahead]. To back himself up he showed Aidens most recent messages.
(sent: 07:12)
Ayyyden:
Yeeeesh Ben
I forgot how fast u walk when ur not trying to match my pace
One step in those legs is like five for anyone else!!
Wtv I just passed Cory’s Convenience Store
[attached image]
I’ll be like 5 mins if I pick up the pace.
Beeeny gave this message a thumbs up
“Oh right, thanks. I can just ask him in class anyway.” Ashlyn said as she turned ahead again, rolling her eyes at Aiden's messages - a slight smile on her face.
“Gosh, he’s such a yapper… and he's worse with you! How do you deal with it!? I fear the day he gets that comfortable with me”
“Oh you’re one to talk Ty! But I do agree Ben, you are a saint!”
Ben shrugged, smiling at the twins as they bickered, turning forward as well. He simply retreated back into his head, yeah Aiden could be annoying but he was still grateful for him. He knew Tyler was joking but he began to lose track of his thoughts anyway. Aiden was always there to fill the silence that he just couldn’t himself. Physically or mentally, he wasn’t entirely sure. He always had a lot to say (even though those things could be unbelievably irritating at times), he helped Ben be heard as best as possible, he helped to calm him down. He was the only one aware of his past, so he always tried his best to be understanding and make communication as easy as possible - the list went on. Of course he was no master at all of this, but the effort went a long way. Of course he appreciated his cousin, but he wasn’t here now.
“I was wondering where the nerd was” Tyler's voice came out lower than usual as the group came to a halt. Ben’s jaw clenched, his back went rigid - right now he was standing straighter, taller, his head raised. He was livid. He took a step forward with hands in tight fists, pulling at the skin of his palms. Who was that yelling at Logan, who did he think he was? What was in his hand, what was the look of disgust on his face for? Ben continued forward, barely aware of Tyler a few steps behind him. Questions were rushing through his head far too fast, he should calm down, he should remove himself from the situation, he knew this. He knew he shouldn’t be here but he just can’t think straight and…
Is that a bruise?
“Barron!” Oh, so that was his name, not that Ben cared. He had turned at the call, he looked frightened at being caught? No, terrified at Ben towering over him. Tyler had stopped a few feet away from them, wondering what Ben was actually doing, watching as he once again turned to Logan - scanning him over. He noticed the way Logan seemed to shiver under the gaze, drawing his eyebrows together.
“What the fuck do you want Big guy? Move out the way so I can speak to Tyler-” Barron cut himself off watching as hands started to come up, slowly reaching out to his collar. Everyone stared on in confusion, this was so unlike Ben, what was he doing? Barron had never seen this kid before, was he new, what was he-
“Hey! Get off me!” Slam! “What the fuck man!” Ben threw Barron into the lockers opposite Logan. The boy’s hands had come up, grappling at the strong arms. “Shit is this about him!? Look, he’s my science partner, I was just-” He tried to look timid, he really wanted to sell this as a misunderstanding but Ben was no fool. He drew one arm back, using the other to hold him in place. Barron's head flung to the side as the fist collided with it, a bruise that would match Logan’s. It wasn’t enough.
He threw him to the floor. Tyler tried to intervene, only now realising Ben was planning on taking this much further than needed. The group hadn’t done anything initially, silently supporting the actions but now?..
Ben had lost awareness though, pushing Tyler back as he repeatedly brought his fists down onto Barrons face, bruising it. His nose had started gushing but it just wasn’t enough, there was a tear on one of his knuckles. It had been so long since he was truly able to get what he felt out, he just couldn’t stop. “Fuck, get him off me! What are you guys doing!?” He heard his name being called dozens of times but he didn’t care. There were hands on him trying to pull him off, Barron's friends? They’d been sat in the stairwell initially, Ben didn’t think they would be a problem but he wasn’t about to complain. If they wanted to fight… He got up staring down at Barron for a moment, when he turned he wasn’t able to see anyone but those bastards. “Hey man! Leave him alone, or do you want to fight the two of us?!” Ben could almost laugh. He swung his hand forward, grabbing onto the guy's face, his grip crushing. His thumb pushed back the guy's lip and fingers dug into the side of his face. His friend tried to detach them from each other but Ben simply shoved his arm back, the force enough to send both of the lackeys into the lockers.
He raised an eyebrow at them, a warning, then turned back to Barron who was supporting himself with an arm, barely stable on the ground. “We’re sorry! We’re sorry, we’ll leave Fields alone! We’ll leave all of you guys alone, just leave us alone alright!” Barron coughed as he yelled, wincing in pain. For a moment, everyone was still. Then Ben drew closer, watching the bully cower under him. He pulled his leg up, and quickly slammed it down into his chest. Barron let out a harsh cough as he collided once again with the floor. He wanted to hear it again.
“Ben!”
The world seemed to open up around him, he could register his surroundings again. He could see beyond the freaks and actually hear the voices that had been trying to call out to him from the beginning. He turned away from Barron fully, facing his friends. They were visibly shocked, Ashlyn’s eyes blown wide. Logan had a hand over his mouth and Taylor’s mouth hung open. Tyler was the closest to him, he looked like he wanted to reach out - so many emotions written across his face. But he hesitated, he didn’t want to actually touch Ben. Then he saw Aiden, he hadn’t even noticed him coming in. He was close by too actually, he actually placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder.
Ben was panting, his ragged breaths coming out long and deep, audible, his chest rising and falling harshly. “Ben…” Aiden began to speak. The tall teenager was taking in all of his surroundings, the three kids who were practically running away - all their arms flung around each other's shoulders. The blood dripping down his knuckle, the splatters on his face, the bruising. His own knuckles darkened but… His friends too, Tyler had a small bruise visible on his face - Aiden too.
But that wasn’t the worst part. He took everything in, observing the group. There Aiden was, eyes wide and face flat. Void of even an inkling of amusement, forget a smile.
They were scared. Of him.
He yanked his shoulder away from Aiden and looked at them one more time, they had all started to come closer - Tyler's hand barely hovering above his arm, Logan shivering as he approached. Quickly, he turned away and left up the stairs, shoving his hands into his pockets.
He heard his name being called, but nobody made a move to follow him.
The group watched as Ben left, not sparing them another look. Taylor had reached out as he began to leave but was stopped by Aiden. “What the fuck was that!” Tyler yelled at the blonde, his arms swinging about in distress.
“You tell me! What happened? What set him off?”
“Set him off!?” He made quotation marks with his hands.
“Tyler! Just answer him!” The twins glared at each other.
“We walked in on the nerd getting thrown about by Barron, the kid he fucking trampled by the way!”
“He’s a prick anyway.”
“I’m not saying he didn’t deserve it! I’m saying he’s not worth it! Have you met Ben!? Why ruin a perfect track record for some low life bully, and you were pathetic!” He turned to Logan “You can battle phantoms but Barron is where you draw the line!? You won't survive with others fighting your battles for you!”
“Tyler! That’s uncalled for!”
“But it isn’t wrong… Look Logan, I don’t agree with how he said it but you do need to learn to defend yourself. I mean- we all do. I can ask my parents to teach us all or something, or uhm… Would Ben…” She turned to Aiden, not sure what to ask or say in general. She didn’t want to finish the sentence at all. He had his phone pulled out, probably messaging the boy.
“Will Ben be okay?”
“Yeah, yeah don’t worry about that guy… Thanks Taylor.” He smiled up at her but the air wasn’t cleared, everyone was still clearly uneasy. “Well uhm, let’s go to class then, he might have just gone early. We can talk with him about it later, right?”
“Yeah I guess so, uhm, anyway… about the lights-”
He didn’t come to class.
Phantom Pham!
Tie(n)lure ⚾
Yeah man come see us at lunch or something we’re worried
about you or wtv 🙄…
Tay-Tay and 3 others gave this message a thumbs up
(sent: 07:46)
(sent: 08:34)
BigBen 🕰️
Mb I left
Sorry.
Speak after skl.
Tay-Tay 🤪
Are you okay!?
Were you sent home
What do you mean you left
LoGang 🤘
Please don’t apologise.
↱ BigBen 🕰️
| Speak after skl.
Bashlyn 🥊
Meet at mine then
Any time after school I really don’t mind we’re gna be there
anyway so just wait till schools out.
Make sure you come.
Tie(n)Lure ⚾
Yeah we don’t take bus so we’ll be a few minutes late but come
round whatever time we want to talk w u
Ay(he)den(se) 🤡
I’m going with Ash tho so if u wanna come straight after skl
thats fine too
Or just wait at mine now and we’ll come get you yk don’t wait
around somewhere random
It’s probably better if you go in right
Respond to my DM’s
🗸🗸(sent: 08:43)
(sent: 09:12)
Beeeny
I just got to your house.
Dw nothing else happened, I took a walk to clear my head
Came here straight after.
Ayyyden
Alright thats fine
Just chill till we get home ig
U alrt tho?
Barron deserved it
Beeeny
Yh I’m fine ig
I know he did but like
Idk im still worried ab the others
R they mad at me or anything
Ayyyden
Have you read the gc?
Be serious
Ofc they aren’t
They’re just confused
Worried asw
Beeeny
I’m gonna tell them about Shane I think
Ayyyden
Whatever you want man
Don’t feel pressured to though
U don't owe them or anything.
Btw the reason we’re going to Ash's house is to ask her parents
ab training us, we’ll fill u in later b just wanted to tell u now so u
didn’t just get it sprung on u out of nowhere
But anyway go chill out or smtn, we’ll come straight from skl
🗸🗸(sent: 09:18)
And that was exactly what he did, he let himself in and collapsed onto the couch. He picked out the ‘calm yo self’ playlist and laid his phone on the headrest above him. He set his phone to silent until 3pm, turned the volume all the way up and allowed himself to fall asleep to the peaceful music. About half an hour after school he was woken up by a multitude of notifications. Aiden has messaged him directly telling him that they’d made it back… he’d then gone to the group chat calling everyone else slow pokes which… was not taken well. Ah, so that was why it had exploded. He read Aiden's teasing ‘don't text and cycle half-wit!’ before setting his phone to vibrate.
Ben rolled his eyes and headed for the door as his song finished, still feeling a bit drowsy from the sleep. He put his phone in his pocket along with his ear phones before leaving for Ashlyn's. As promised, he was informed on the entire idea behind training with her parents. He still felt sceptical to be honest, it felt a little soon for him to be learning how to fight. Though, he didn’t feel like saying no either - anything to help against the phantoms would be useful - his knowledge of fighting with his size worked against humans, but that wasn’t what they had to deal with. At all.
So he just nodded along and let them fall back into silence until everyone else came, which only took about twenty minutes.
“Hey guys, hey Ben! Are you okay? How are you?” Taylor immediately ran up to him, bombarding with questions. “Uhm, you got hit pretty bad too… is it painful?”
Ben shrugged at her and pulled up his notes app. Yeah I didn’t actually notice in the moment, not too bad tho don't worry about it.
“Yeah you seemed like you lost yourself man, the adrenaline get to you?”
You could say that ig
“Right… well I spoke to Barron at lunch, he definitely won't try anything with you around. I don’t think you actually have to worry about getting in any big trouble, he was like… really embarrassed. He doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“Yeah, since we got in so early no kids were really around anyway, you should be in the clear. He would have to admit to bullying if he told a teacher and they can’t exactly punish you for defending someone from an absolute jerk.” Taylor shrugged at him.
“I wanted to thank you by the way! I didn’t get to before I was just uhm, shocked seeing you… like- that…” Came Logan's feeble voice, clearly feeling awkward.
“Yeah, what exactly was ‘that’ anyway… you, I mean, you were like a different person!”
Let’s go in first, I’ll tell you I swear. I just think it makes more sense to speak to them first, they’re probably waiting for us. Ben typed, avoiding eye contact with the group who shared a look between each other as they headed inside. They all walked to the sofa and sat down, though Ben stood rather awkwardly while Aiden spoke to him about whatever. Ashlyn’s parents had prepared a food platter for everyone, proving Ben to be right. Everyone had met with Emma and Mike before but this was their first time actually sitting down with them, properly talking to them.
It was awkward. Especially considering the hair thing, which they had somehow forgotten to tell Ben about, didn’t work. An uncomfortable silence filled the house before Ashlyn could bring herself to ask the question. “No, it’s fine but we could use your help with something else…”
“Whatever you need”
“Well I told Logan that you guys would be able to teach us self defence… How to fight or something, he’s been getting bullied. That’s where the bruise is from.” With that Emma began to scan the rest of the kids, Mike doing the same both adorned serious faces now.
“Tyler, What about your bruises?” Mike asked.
“You too Aiden.” Emma added.
“Oh that was just from us stopping a fight, we’re fine honestly.”
Then their gazes landed on Ben who happened to be sitting in the middle. He tried to shrink back into the couch as he turned away to face the window. “And what about you Ben?” The shock was clear in her voice, he was the most bruised out of them yet Logan was the reason they wanted to learn to fight? Yeah, it didn’t make much sense to him either. Ben turned to her for a few seconds before looking at Aiden and nodding. “Well, he’s sort of the fight we were stopping” he said pointing between himself and Tyler “he’s where we got our bruises.”
“What?!” Emma stood up, rage sewn into her features.
“Wait no! Not like that-” Tyler cut in as Ben hit the blonde in the side. “As in he fought Barron, the guy who bruised Logan. He accidentally hit us when we went to stop him.” Almost immediately Emma had sat back down, which Ben let out a breath at, visibly relaxing in his seat. He moved his hands from his lap to his knees so Ashlyn’s parents could see, trying to vouch for Tyler. Or himself. He heard a small gasp, though he wasn’t actually sure where it came from. They were bruised quite badly, some of his knuckles were cut, in fact some still had dried up blood on them - he had washed them off in the school bathroom but forgot about them by the time he was home. It must have gotten bad while he slept, or maybe on his walk?
He had a couple bruises visible with his clothes on but the majority were under his clothes. It was probably better that way, no it definitely was, he didn’t want them worrying for him over his own actions. What he did was terrible, he deserved to be in at least a little pain. It would go away soon enough anyway. “Oh.” Was all Emma could bring herself to say.
“Uhm, I can clean that off if you want, it won't take long.” Mike offered. Ben went to get his phone out, wanting to explain that he could take care of it.
“He’s not actually asking.” Ben looked up from his pocket at Emma’s smiling face, only now realising her husband had already headed up the stairs to get whatever was needed. He glared at Aiden as he heard a snort to his left.
They continued talking about training with the Banner’s as Mike wiped off the dry blood and wrapped up his knuckles. “Yeah, we really don’t have a problem with it at all but uh, all your parents are fine with this? Really?” Immediately a silence fell over them once again, every teenager trying to look at anything that wasn’t a person. “Right, just ask them first. But really, we have no problems with it at all!” Mike said through his laughter. “Oh on that note! Ben, Aiden, are there any other injuries or anything I should take care of? I don’t want to upset your parents with battered kids whenever they come back, we are your guardians when they’re away.”
“Uhm, the only bruise I have is this,” the blonde pointed to his face, turning it to the side showing a small bruise just below his left ear. Ben must have whacked him there when trying to push him away. “Not painful though.”
“Okay, well don’t hesitate to tell us if it is. And you Ben?” He knew he didn’t have to tell them, but he felt bad lying. They were being unbelievably kind to him after doing something so shameful, he couldn’t take that for granted so he nodded at them, pointing to his torso.
Emma drew a breath in through her teeth, “Painful?” He nodded at her, bringing his two fingers together trying to show he meant ‘a bit’. “Yeah, makes sense, here you can use this. Keep it with you until the pain goes away” She said through a grimace, handing over a cream for pain relief, as he began to shake his head and hands she continued. “No, no honestly. We hardly have a reason to use it and we have a spare somewhere anyway.” He was still hesitant as he took it from her, opening the tub and rubbing the cream over his arms. “The bathrooms that way if you want to do the one’s on your torso as well. Honestly, be generous with how much you use, there’s a lot in the tub. It’s cheap as well.” She was smiling at him and pointing in the direction of the bathroom.
When he came back the group wasn’t talking, the Banners were in the kitchen; Emma was getting more drinks while Mike was on the phone. He raised an eyebrow at the group, questioning. “On the phone to our parents, they said it’s better they know now rather than finding out whenever they get back. Less trouble for everyone.” Aiden told him, Ben’s eyes went wide as he brought a hand up to rub his face. He sat down again on the sofa, placing the tub of cream on the table.
A few minutes later Emma came in, placing down the drinks and Mike followed in soon after. “Oh hey Ben, better?” He nodded. “That’s good, your parents asked you to stay here. They said that they’d be coming back to speak with you. Just Ben’s” He nodded, he didn't make his nerves obvious but he knew this wasn’t going to go well.
The groups staring made him snap back to reality. “So… uhm… you said you would tell us what happened with you… We don’t want to force you into saying anything but you know, a little explanation would be nice…” Oh, right. This would be lovely.
“If this is personal me and Mike can go upstairs” Emma scanned the room, she could tell this was a sensitive topic or something, she was already getting up from her chair.
He shook his head and started typing on his phone, using his speaker. “That’s fine, you should probably know since you’re my guardians. It’s easier if you’re all told once”
“You seriously don’t have to Ben.” Aiden was looking straight at Ben. He typed into his phone, this time showing Aiden alone. It’s better they know if we’re going to work together from now, can you tell them though. I’ll put my earbuds in.
“Yeah that’s fine” his music was already playing through his wired earphones. “He’s right anyway, it’s better that everyone here knows in case he’s set off again in the future.” Everyone turned their full attention to Aiden.
“But this conversation doesn’t leave this house” He smiled, sickeningly sweet. Everyone nodded along, a few verbal agreements going round.
“Alright, I know this probably clashes with everything you’ve thought about Ben before today but he has anger issues. Like extreme, much worse than the half-wit” He laughed as he spoke, but his tone was dark. “And they were caused by something related to him not speaking.” The group stayed silent but they all leaned in, curiosity unbearable. “He was in sixth grade, no, seventh? Whatever, he was twelve years old. Even then he was much bigger than everyone else his age. You’ve probably seen it for yourself at school, people tend to be intimidated by his size. But Ben’s pretty timid, as you know. Uhm, usually anyway. He never really fit his appearance, you know he loved to sing? More than anything else, it really meant everything to him. But his personality was so different from his looks and people started to bully him for it.” Now, everyone started to feel a little sick at what they were hearing.
“Well that isn’t exactly true. Some idiots offered to fix him,” he rolled his eyes as he spoke. “Offered for him to join their group, said they would teach him how to fight. Of course Ben refused to join, which is when the bullying actually started. They started to beat him up, soon enough it became a daily occurrence. They would find him around school, beat him up and then ask him to join their group. Ben said no every time.” As horrible as it was, that part was relieving to hear. That he was strong enough to turn them away again and again. Logan wished he could be that way, wished he could have just said no to Barron in the beginning. “Then it became one ‘no’ too many, their ‘leader’ took it too far.” He said in quotations, clearly mocking the leader. As he continued his voice seemed to darken more.