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

𝟷𝟶. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙴𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐

"Did you hear what that guy said?" Ben sighs.

"Yeah... that boat's going to some Broker." Darius frowns.

"You think that's the boss he and that raptor lady work for?" Y/N suggests.

"Maybe." Darius shakes his head.

"But does that really matter?" Sammy chimes in.

"Yeah, man, it's over. We beat her, she's gone." Kenji shrugs.

"But how long before we're being hunted again?" Ben argues.

"Well, uh, we could... lay low. Go back to my place on the island." Yaz suggests.

"I don't know..." Sammy sighs, "That island isn't any safer than Darius' cabin, or my ranch."

"Kenji's place might be safe, but..."

"No." Y/N finishes flatly.

"No, thank you." Ben nods.

"What's wrong with my place?" Kenji frowns.

"Darius," Yasmina warns, "You're giving us that look again."

Sammy sighs, "Okay."

"Dude, we know what that look means." Kenji folds his arms.

"Sure do." Ben nods.

"Unmistakably." Y/N shakes his head.

"Am I the only one who doesn't know what that look means?" Mateo speaks up.

Darius looks back at the boat with a sigh, "Look... We could all go home right now, and hope that this is rally over, but... I don't know! Does this feel over?"

"Do you really feel safe?"

The group exchanges considerate glances, everyone unsure on where they stand.

"And," Darius goes on, "I don't know about you, but I can't sit at home, knowing that the person who put a hit on us, and killed Brooklyn, is still out there."

"I can't live another day with more guilt hanging over me."

"You're still blaming yourself for Broo--"

"No." Darius cuts Ben short, "Not anymore. I couldn't have stopped what happened." He turns to Kenji, "But, Kenji, you were right. If I was really in love with Brooklyn, I should have been there."

Sammy gasps, gripping onto Y/N's arm like she's watching a soap opera. Yasmina's mouth hangs open.

"Whaaaat!?" Ben mutters.

"Yeah." Darius sighs, "I never meant for it to happen. It just.. happened."

"I wasn't even gonna tell her. She tried to be nice about it, but it was clear she didn't feel the same way. I couldn't face her after that... I was too embarrassed."

"So, I didn't show up that night. She needed me, and I-- I wasn't there..."

"You all needed me. I-- I disappeared. I tried to hide from all the pain, but... I can't keep doing that."

"I need to show up." He looks up at the ship with determination, "I have to get on that boat and find out who's been hunting us."

"Who wanted Brooklyn dead. And... put a stop to is. All of it. Are you in?"

"I'm in." Sammy nods.

"I was never not in, sooo...." Ben gives an awkward thumbs up.

"As corny as my boyfriend is, I'm on the same page." Y/N pats him on the shoulder.

"Getting on that boat would be a very Brooklyn thing to do." Yaz smirks.

They all look at Kenji and he lets out a heavy sigh.

"Okay." He throws his hands up, "You Kon count me in too."

"See what I did there?"

"Well, I'm out." Mateo chimes in from behind, causing everyone else to jump out of their skin.

"My guy," Kenji clutches his chest, "You're still here?"

"Uh, unfortunately. Yeah." Mateo looks around uncomfortably, "You all get real vulnerable with each other."

"It's weird."

"You kids get on that ship" He smiles, "I'll make sure they get these dinosaurs somewhere safe, and away from people." He shakes Darius' hand.

"There's a mama Ankylosaurus and her new egg in one of those crates." Ben glances at Mateo, "Make sure they're taken care of?"

Mateo nods and turns to leave.

"Alright." Darius grins, "Camp Fam?"

"Camp Fam!" Y/N playfully punches him in the arm.

"WOO!" Sammy cheers.

"Sammy!" Yaz covers her mouth.

"Woooo..." Sammy whispers.