Hushed Tones

Shopping

Benji

Work the next day went all too slowly, despite how much I tried to bury myself in paperwork. Mason was editing the audio currently; said it'd take him all day 'Even longer if I get distracted' I remember him saying. Occasionally I went out for the bathroom or drink and I tried to listen in but it was likely he wore headphones.

Of course, right at five o clock, Mason knocked, he's grinning widely... Too widely... "Did something go wrong?" he sighed "My computer crashed so it's gonna be longer to edit," he admitted. I pouted my lower lip comically, so he knew I was sad but wasn't upset with him, then I rubbed my chest with a closed fist as he nodded "I'm sorry too I was close but I do have good news" he said.

He pulled out his phone and typed away for a moment before I got a notification 'You have been sent money from Mason on Cash Pass!' I cocked my head "It's the residuals from the live show recording." he said "It seemed only fair."

I looked back at my phone and opened the app to take a quick peek... 'Hot damn!' I thought "It's been out a day." I said. He nodded "Yeah those profits haven't come in just yet, but the sales are confirmed and final, call it an advance. Also call it 'you need to restock for a dog'" he said.

I winced slightly, he was right, he currently ate out of some plastic bowls, he needed a new tag, all of that. "Good point" I pocketed my phone and smiled "Practice?" I signed, he nodded "Yeah" I go slow "Going to the store with Bender. Be back in 2 hours. What do you want from T-U-R-T-L-E B-A-Y" he watched me intently then smiled "MO 'Bay chicken and a drink, you pick." he said. I was a little proud, he was doing really well.

I took Bender out to the store and got him what I needed, let him pick out some toys, we even walked downtown, it was nice. Just being with him made me feel a thousand times better than I was before, like I was safer.

I walked down the street eying each shop as we passed, there was a decent sale on so I had a bit more. Every time we passed a store, I was more and more tempted to just spend it on some good rum or something. To celebrate having Bender back. Then, I rounded a corner and almost stopped short at a new store I didn't remember from last time I was here with Sarah. A lingerie store. In the window was some white sheer underwear with brown brims, little pale flowers littered it, and there was a matching slip-over. 'That's actually... Pretty cute.' Carter always had me get black corsets with pink tassels, super cheesy crap that I never liked and he'd still complain about me.

I remember them all very vividly but this time was different, the negative comments and glares were overshadowed. I was overwhelmingly curious to know what it would be like if Mason ripped that lingerie in the window off me.

"Fuck it."

I was home an hour later, plenty of bags and dog in hand, Mason was in the living room and helped me with the bags "I'd have met you outside of you texted" he said. I proudly hauled what he allowed me to walk with to the kitchen.

I slapped down a dog bed, some food and lots of toys. Mason set out the proper bowls and filled them up "There you go potato" he murmured, going to scratch his head when Bender flinched. It wasn't the first time I'd noticed but it shattered my heart every time to remember how Carter would kick and punch him on occasion, usually when I was allowed out of the house.

Mason sighed and scratched Bender's head as he ate "..." his eyes were hollow and pained. He took a deep breath "Mason" he looked up "We're here now" I walked up and rubbed his back "Yeah but I coulda been here the whole time." he said. He kept staring down at Bender even after I knelt and hugged him "None-" I cleared my throat "None of us knew, I know, but I should have Juji." he said firmly.

I blinked and pulled back "What makes you say that?" He raised his head and took a deep breath "Nothing I just wish I did better as a friend." he said. He stood, standing me up with him, that seemed a little odd but I wasn't going to push it if he wasn't ready.

He cleared his throat and pointed upstairs "Upstairs really quick, c'mon" he grabbed the food and waved me over. We both went upstairs and I realized he must be done with the audio! I sped up a little, just on his heels.

He turned in the doorway and smirked as I tried to move past him "Someone's eager" he teased. I walked in and shoved his face out of the way "Is it done?" I signed, he pointed "Done, uploaded, and ready to post with your approval." He handed over the headphones while sitting at the computer, pulling up the audio. I sat cross legged on the bed and listened intently.

"Baby, I wanted to try something a little different tonight, is that okay?"

I shivered with his intro, he didn't really do much except crunch time and edit out my sounds (Which I figured given what he's doing). I wanted to be back there again with him wrapped around me, at the end I smiled at him. Placing the fingers of my right hand against my lips, I brought it down into the palm of my left-hand signing 'Good'. He clapped his hands together excitedly "You like it" "I do, it's very intimate, you did a great job!" I wrote.

He smiled "Am I okay to post this then? Once I do, people can buy it and listen." he said, I was hardly in it so I'm fine with that. I gave him a thumbs up and he posted it right to the site "And I'll send you the audios so you have them." he said. He insisted on that, and in a way, I appreciate it "Now... Do you want to keep going?" "Yeah, I even had another idea" he smirked at me; I recoiled my face "What?"

He shrugged "Just didn't think you'd enjoy it so much," I frowned and blushed "Are you really gonna tease yourself out of a BJ?" He swallowed and shifted so he knelt in front of me "Please forgive me" he teased; it was completely a joke but the sight of him kneeling in front of me was invigorating. It gave me a small tingle. He laughed and sat up beside me "Okay, so, the idea?" he asked, I pointed to the food "First things first, I bet you didn't leave your room all day" I said. He arched a brow and glanced at his computer "Oh shit" he murmured then took his container and sat back in his chair.

I curled up on his bed "I'm caught up on everything what do you want to watch?" I wrote as he pulled up something on the TV. He shrugged and handed me the controller "Recommend me something" he said, propping his feet up on the bed. I nodded and pulled up a show about a haunted house I wanted to rewatch before digging into my bowl.

We ate and watched the show, its naturally talented cast and well-written story whisking us through our meal. Mason nudged my arm, so I scooted over on his bed, and he joined me under the blanket "I've never seen this before, it's amazing." he murmured. I tucked my legs under the blanket with him while we got wrapped up in the show, I'd seen it plenty, but I loved Mason's little reactions.

He muttered 'No' really quietly when a main character died, he jumped a little at certain scenes, he was really cute honestly. I glanced at my phone and sighed "I'm gonna go to my room, it's late" I wrote, I went to move but he only dead weighed against me. I examined his face, completely passed out, I sigh 'At least I got him to eat before he passed out.' I thought while trying to worm out of his hold.

I carefully slipped my arm out from underneath him, lowering him to the bed, the poor thing was exhausted. It was a little hard to get out of his bed but I was able to, turned off his computer, and even tucked him in. I stared down at him a moment before leaning down to kiss his temple, he looked too sweet I couldn't not. I closed his door and slipped off to bed.