Lost in Translation

Chapter 14: Chickenshits

———Ben———

Wednesday, May 8th, 2019

"He's kinda cute, in a brooding, doom-and-gloom kind of way," Val said with a smirk as we walked away from the training field.

"Val, come on," I said with a whine. Val was struggling to open the granola bar I had just given her. I took it from her, opened it, and handed it back.

"Thanks," she said brightly and immediately took a big bite. I hummed noncommittally in response.

"Fuck, I normally hate these things, but I'm so hungry it tastes amazing," Val said. "Today was fun, though. Kat seems pretty cool."

"Yeah, she was different from what I expected," I replied.

"No kidding. I did not expect to get my ass kicked so bad," Val said with a laugh. "I had a good time, though. Did you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Did. You. Have. A. Good. Time," Val said, enunciating each word strongly. "Sparring. With Anthony."

"I... I don't know. I guess?" I said, floundering for words.

"You looked like you were," Val said with a smirk.

"Val..." I warned, already not liking where this was going.

"Plus, don't think I didn't notice how badly you were trying to find excuses to touch him," Val said through a mouthful of granola.

"I— You noticed that??" I sputtered in dismay. I hadn't really planned on being touchy. I just... couldn't help it.

"Ben, babes, everyone noticed that," Val replied. I buried my face in my hands with a groan as she patted my back gently.

"Everyone probably thinks I'm such a weirdo. Gods, he probably thinks I'm a huge weirdo now," I said, feeling honest-to-gods despair. Val laughed and nudged me.

"It's not a big deal, I promise," she said warmly. "Plus, he didn't seem to dislike it. He definitely wasn't avoiding it."

"Really?" I asked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Val said. "He's definitely spooked about something, don't get me wrong, but his eyes were on you every chance he got." Val finished her granola bar and turned to me, but before she even got the question out I was digging through my bag for another bar.

"You really have to start packing snacks if you aren't going to eat," I chided her as I opened the bar and offered it to her.

"Thank youuuu," Val said cheerfully as she took it from me. She took another few bites as we walked in silence. I could practically hear the gears turning in her brain, and I was not looking forward to figuring out my answer to whatever she was going to ask.

"So, how ya feeling?" Val finally asked after a moment of silence.

"About?" I replied tightly.

"About training. With Anthony," Val said, gesturing to me with the half-eaten granola bar. "You got to touch him, did that, you know... give you any answers? Spark any revelations?"

"No. Yes? I don't know," I replied glumly. "I thought that if I gave into that urge, it would make it go away, but it didn't. It made it worse."

"Oh, Ben," Val said, giving me a pitying look. "He's your mate, even if it's new— hell, because it's new, that's probably not going to go away anytime soon."