•Boys Like You•Hardzello•

•Trust•

Ben looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. His arms resting on the sink. He felt stupid. He stared at his face, picking out every pore, pimple and out of place hair, along with other so called imperfections.

His red eyes stung as they welled up with tears. He splashed the cold water on his face in an attempt to calm himself down from the pending anxiety attack. He heard a faint knock at the door

"Ben, you okay in there? You've been a while hun" Joe whispered

"Ye-ah, won't be a minute" Ben's voice broke, almost simultaneously he broke down. Sitting on the floor leaning up the bathtub.

"He doesn't want you. He's playing you. What would he want with someone like you?  He's going to leave you sometime. I mean look at what Gwil said! You know what he's like. You're such an idiot to think he would like you. And you thought he would actually like that weird, creepy fetish of yours? You're disgust-"

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a slightly distressed looking Joe bursting through the door. Ben didn't realise he had been hitting himself. His chest heaved with silent sobs as Joe grabbed his hands and knelt in front of the shaking boy.

"Shhh, you're okay. I'm here. I've got you."

Ben flinched

"Ben, sweetheart?"

He turned his head into his shoulder.

"Listen to me Ben, its okay. You're okay. I'm here and don't plan on going anywhere" Joe removed his hands

"If you don't want me to touch you I won't baby but you need to trust me, and calm down. I know it's not as easy as that. But deep breaths okay? Do you mind if I grab your hand?"

Ben shyly nodded, holding out his hand. Joe pulled the two of them up and slowly walked towards the spare room. He sat Ben down on the bed and made sure he was comfortable, before hurrying round to hop on the bed next to him. He laid the two of them down, gently playing with Ben's hair to calm him down.

"Shh you're okay my love, I'm here"

"N-no! You're going to leave me! You don't want me!" He panicked

"I could never. I've known you less than a week but I am utterly obsessed with you. Ignore what Gwilym said, I'm here, and unless you tell me otherwise I am not leaving your side!" He touched Ben's face slowly.

"The alcohol probably isn't helping you right now. You try and get some sleep and I promise I'll be right here when you wake up. Hold me as tight as you can I promise I won't budge."

Joe felt a tight grip around his waist and instantly felt at home. His heart aches as he felt Ben tremble against him.

"Shhhh, you're okay. I've got you" he repeated, placing his arms over Ben's shoulders.

Soon enough Ben had calmed down and was in a light, yet peaceful sleep. Joe felt guilty that he was doing this to Ben. If he hadn't have been such a prick in the past he wouldn't be hurting someone he actually liked now.

His thoughts got the best of him before he wondered if he should just leave?

"No Joe, that's ridiculous!" He thought to himself. He buried himself in Ben's chest, focusing on the rise and fall of his chest, thinking of anything but leaving Ben.

"Joe? JOE?"

Joe felt himself stir awake. He looked up to see Ben. Thank god. It was just a dream. Before he could do anything else, he reached up and grabbed Ben's face pulling him into a rough, desperate kiss.