Chapter II
Breakfast is loud and obnoxious like it always is when Win is there. Normally the noise wouldn’t really bother Ben, but his headache is starting to return. He eats barely half of his omelet before coming to the conclusion eating anymore will make him sick to his stomach. He sips his tea and sits in silence as everyone else finishes, aware of the look Marcus kept shooting at him across the table.
Within an hour they’re back on the road again, and Ben drives for a while, wanting to take a turn before the measly amount of energy the hour of sleep gave had a chance to dissipate.
He decides only a small amount of time later after he starts drifting off into his own world that he ought to let someone else take over.
He pulls over in a little green park, and upon seeing how beautiful it is, knows that Ted will want to take some pictures while they’re here. Ben is correct, and as he gets out of the bus, he can see Ted is already twenty feet down the nearest path, with Winnie close on his heels.
“Come on, let’s go for a walk.” Marcus says with a smile, taking Ben by the hand. Their fingers intertwine as the go the opposite direction of the other.
“So, I haven’t really gotten to ask recently,” Ben starts. “How are you?”
Marcus laughs out loud, and Ben wishes he would laugh more often. It’s such an honest sound, and it cheers Ben up to know Marcus is happy.
“I’m fine, mate. Why do you ask?”
Ben blushes a bit. “It’s been somewhat hectic lately, with my stupid problems, I dunno, I suppose I haven’t really been a good friend.”
“You’re problems aren’t stupid,” Marcus disagrees whole-heartedly. “Benji, you haven’t been very well this last week, if anything, you’re just giving me gray hair, making me go mad with worry.” Marcus says lightly, not at all angry or unhappy with his friend.
“I know… I just…”
Marcus silences Ben with a quick kiss. “Don’t worry about it.” He tells the pianist softly, a reassuring smile lingering.
All Ben can do is smile weakly. He stays quiet as they keep walking, looking straight ahead of as they go.
“I’m sorry, I’m such an awful mess,” Ben mumbles, staring at the ground and still feeling rather worthless..
Marcus shakes his head and says for what seems to be the millionth time, “Hey,” Marcus says simply, staring into his eyes and to Ben’s very core. “It’s okay, honestly. God Benji, I’m just so worried.” Marcus has to stop for a moment to properly wrap his arms around Ben’s wiry frame and give him a hug.
Ben can tell. Marcus only calls him Benji when he’s upset, or concerned, or when he’s trying to calm Ben down.
“Let’s get back to bus, we ought to get back on the road. I’ll call Ted and Winnie.” Marcus finally mumbles into Ben's shoulder and lets him go.
It’s a short ten minute walk back, and when they get back to the bus, Ben sits heavily in his seat, sinking low and resting his feet on the little table.
“Hallo, you two feel like coming back now, yeah?” Marcus says into his phone after finding the proper number.
There’s silence as either Ted or Winston answer, and Ben assumes that it must be Ted—Winnie would practically be screaming.
YOU ARE READING
Demons (A Mumford and Sons fanfic)
Romance(CURRENTLY ON HIATUS)Nightmares plague the pianist and it seems like not even his best friend and lover Marcus can do anything to help. While still on the road, Marcus and the rest of the gang have to decide what to do- let Ben suffer with insomnia...
