⍟ Broken Strings {A Chaos Theory x Male Reader Story - Ben}

𝟷. 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚔

"Hey." Ben places his hand on Y/N's knee as the van rolls up Darius' driveway, "We're here, wake up."

Y/N's eyes flutter open and adjust to the darkness outside, the only light being the headlights and the one flickering on Darius' porch.

"You think he's up?" Y/N asks as the two of them climb out of the vehicle.

"Maybe." Ben shrugs, "It's only nine."

"Well," Y/N takes a deep breath as they approach the door, "There's only one way to find out."

He brings his hand up to lightly rap on the door a couple times. The two men stand there in silence, hearing light rustling from the other side of the door.

The handle slowly turns and Y/N's expecting a warm welcome. Instead, he receives a shock prod launching at his face, which he reflexively grabs, stopping it before it can electrocute him or his boyfriend.

"Woah, hey." He chuckles.

"Darius, you're awake." Ben smiles.

"Ben? Y/N?" Darius' jaw drops and he slowly lowers the prod, "I-- what are you guys doing here?"

He looks up at Ben, surveying his tall stature for a moment, "I'm never getting used to this."

"Yeah, me neither." Y/N smirks.

Darius beams and wraps them both in a warm hug, "It's so great to see you."

"How's college?"

"Uhm, well, we're taking a little break right now," Y/N explains quickly, ushering all of them inside.

"Hey, would you look at this place." Ben chuckles awkwardly as they step inside, "This is really-- wow, great stuff, man." He goes around the room shutting off the lights and closing the blinds.

Darius glances at Y/N and confusion but the other man just sighs.

"Uh, thanks..." Darius nods and turns the lights back on, "Look, I know I haven't been in touch with you guys, or, well, anyone lately, but I--"

"I remember the view here's just..." Ben cuts Darius off as he closes more blinds, "Breathtaking."

"It is..." Darius nods slowly, "When it's not the middle of the night."

Y/N settles down on the couch and watches his boyfriend fiddle around with everything in Darius' house.

"You get much rainfall?" Ben mumbles, glancing out one of the windows.

"We've-- we've known each other for a long time," Darius flicks the lights back on and takes a seat on his armchair, "Maybe it's time for you to tell me what you guys are doing here."

"Uh, I kinda wanted to ease into it." Ben explains.

"Yeah, I think that ship might've sailed, hm?" Y/N suggests from his seat.

Ben glances at Darius who just nods, "Right, okay, uhm..."

"Here it goes, try not to... freak out. So, that night, that awful night that..." Ben pauses, his words catching in his throat.

"He's talking about Brooklyn," Y/N explains, "When the Allosaurus--"

"The Allosaurus!" Darius shoots up, "That's what this is about. You're tracking the Allosaurus too."

"What?" Ben's tone shifts in confusion.

"I saw it today." Darius explains, "I'm heading after it in the morning. You guys can come with me!"

"We're gonna need some more supplies..." He wanders off.

"I almost had it," He grumbles, "I was so close. I even called Brooklyn to tell he--"