'2017 | Queen/BoRhap cast fanfic; time travel (complete)

𝟐𝟒.| 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝

Lucy's kitchen was bigger than average but it seemed to be small now. Neither of you said anything, you didn't know you could get buried in your own silence. He presses his lips together for a moment, studying you, then seems to make a decision. You didn't have to look at him to feel his eyes on you.

"How are you?" Ben asked as he tried to find some snacks.

For a brief moment, you considered telling him the truth. You weren't in your best place, especially now that you are out of a job and have four people to feed. You ignore that little voice telling you to be fully honest. After all, you thought, he's just being polite. "I'm okay," you said simply.

"So... you and Roger..." he started and finally found the cupboard where the snacks were kept.

"That's not really any of your business is it?" you asked in pure irony and handed the bowl to him.

"I told you when I started dating Elisa." possibly, the worst thing Benjamin could have said at that moment.

You pressed your lips together and moved your gaze to him. The corners of your mouth quirked up just the slightest to form a small smile. "You didn't have to tell me anything, I was there."

Not caring at all about what the body language specialists would say, you crossed your arms. Ben put the bowl down in the countertop, harder than necessary and it made you furrow your brows.

"You're my friend. At least last time I checked you were. I'm just trying to take care of you," he shrugged. Hardy turned over to face you and crossed his arms as well.

"I don't need you to take care of me." his words are loosening something inside. You hated it. "At least last time I checked," you repeated, your voice quickly escalating. "I was able to do that." you paused, just long enough to take another step. "Alone."

"Sorry for caring." even though you were walking towards him, he didn't move and his arms remained crossed in front of his chest. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't."

"You don't know that."

You licked your lips, Ben's gaze dropped to your mouth but he quickly found something else to look at. "Look... we aren't what we used to be anymore... I want that back but it won't happen overnight. So... I don't know." you sighed and finally realized how tense you were.

"I don't think we'll ever get that back." he exhaled. You walked closer to him and stood by his side, the small of your back leaned against the counter.

You lowered your gaze momentarily and Ben clicked his tongue. "Do you think that if that day, on the roof, things had gone differently-"

"Like if I had actually let speak?"you interrupted. The both of you shared a chuckle but unlike you, he smiled afterwards.

"Yeah but I get it... I mean, it must be hard for a radish not to talk."

You felt a smile maneuvering its way around your face but resisted. "In my defense working for Bryan fried my brain," you shrugged and gazed at him. "But... Yes. I think that we both did things that made everything take a different path and now we have to deal with it and live with the consequences."

"That can't possibly be as poignant as it sounded." he tittered, shaking his head.

You jokingly prodded him with your elbow, which only made him laugh. It has been a while since you last heard it.

"I think we should go back." you said in a low voice but didn't move. Neither did he.

"We should." he answered in the same tone; again, you two stayed there.