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

𝟺. 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚒𝚊𝚣𝚣𝚊

Benches and trashcans are knocked over. Market stands have been left unsupervised. There's no lights on in any of the homes. It's a ghost town.

"It looks like everyone left in a hurry..." Gia shivers.

"I think those church bells were a warning." Yaz sighs.

"Smoothie!" Y/N calls out as he checks beneath the overturned crates on the ground.

He sighs when he finds nothing and moves to one of the market stands, looking between the fruit and beneath the crates. When he turns around, he bumps right into Ben.

"Y/N--" Ben pauses, taking him by the shoulders, "I've been meaning to--"

"Not now, Ben." Y/N shakes him off, "We have to find Smoothie."

"We do!" Ben reaches towards him, "I just... we haven't been--"

"Smoothie! Smoothie!" Y/N calls, ignoring his boyfriend's attempts.

Everyone suddenly freezes when they hear a familiar soft chittering nearby. Smoothie's there, standing in front of an alleyway.

He squeaks, seemingly in distress as he backs away from the dark backstreet.

"Smoothie!" Kenji beams, rushing over to him, the others right behind.

"Kenji, wait!" Y/N puts his arm in front of the other man, noticing the way Smoothie is eyeing the alley.

The group stands for a moment in suspense, looking out into the dark path when they notice the faintest growl accompanied by a swirl of warm breath mixing with the cold air.

The creature in question slowly creeps out of the shadows, revealing its glowing yellow eyes and red feathers.

Darius gasps, "Pyroraptor..."

Once its fully out of the alleyway the creature jumps up on its hind legs and lets out a horrifying screech before bolting towards the baby dino with its mouth wide open.

"Smoothie!" Kenji cries, reaching out towards him.

"Hey!" Nonna shouts, distracting the raptor just before it gets a hold of the baby.

She claps her hands and yells at the dinosaur, holding its attention as Smoothie bounds over to her and jumps into her hands.

"Nonna..." Gia gasps as the older woman shoos off the predator.

"Go! Go!" She stands her ground and the dino begins backing away.

"Is that... actually working?" Yaz mumbles.

The Pyroraptor retreats just as another raptor approaches, jumping up onto the water fall behind Smoothie and Nonna.

"Atrociraptor..." Y/N observes, "Is it here for us?"

The raptor snarls, its gaze narrowing in on Nonna and Smoothie as two more dinosaurs of the same kind come out of the shadows and surround the group.

They sniff at them before walking past, towards the Pyroraptor.

Nonna stands between the different raptors, trapped in the tense moment as they snarl and growl at each other.

"Nonna!" Darius whisper-shouts as he and the others crouch down, "Get low!"

"Low..."

Nonna gets to her knees and clutches Smoothie to her chest as the Atrociraptors advance forward. Gia covers her eyes, too scared to watch.

The raptors slowly inch closer before lunging. They jump over and around Nonna and head for the Pyroraptor, leaving the woman and the hatchling untouched.

She doesn't move as the dinosaurs begin to fight, stomping around her and sliding on the ice.

"Nonna!" Ben calls, rushing to her aid.

He weaves through the creatures and makes his way over to her, pulling her away from the fight and causing her to drop Smoothie in the process.

Y/N rushes over and scoops the baby up off the ground before following Ben away from the battle.

The others get up as well, weaving through the plaza to try to get back to the side streets.

Ben carries Nonna over his shoulder, much to her displeasure as he runs across the icy stone ground.

They reach a store front and take cover, ducking behind tables and barrels as they watch the raptors fight in the plaza.

"I don't understand..." Darius whispers, "What are those Atrociraptors doing here?"

Everyone freezes, a shiver going down their spines as they hear an all too familiar whistle echo through the quiet streets.

The Atrociraptors come to attention, flicking their heads towards the sound as two white vans pull up the street. The Handler steps out, blowing her whistle again.

The Atrociraptors begin herding the Pyroraptor towards the van, surrounding it and snapping at it when it tries to get away. They corner it, leaving it with nowhere else to go until it hops into the opened back of the suspicious vehicle.

The Handler slams the door shut once the raptor is inside, the lock mechanism flashing red as it bangs against the doors. She then opens the second van and her Atrociraptors jump inside.

It's silent as the two vans drive away. Nobody moves for a minute, waiting to make sure it's safe. When the sound of the retreating vehicles can no longer be heard they start to slowly pop their heads up, relieved with the outcome.

"Kenji." Y/N passes the baby over to his friend and his face lights up.

"I was so worried about you, Smoothie." Kenji sighs contently, letting the hatchling nuzzle into his hand.

"You had us so scared." Ben beams, taking the baby into his hands.

"Oh, Smoothie. Aw." Sammy coos, kissing up on the dinos forehead before handing him over to Yaz.

"Are you okay?" Gia tickles his chin, "Don't forget he knows how to jump away!" She chuckles.

Y/N steps away, coming to stand beside Darius and Ben as they linger by where the vans had just been.

"Did you... see what I just saw?" Darius turns to face his friends.

"Indeed." Ben nods.

"The Handler is working for Biosyn?" Darius huffs.

"That's what it looks like." Y/N folds his arms.

"Darius." Ben glances at him.

"I know! I know!" Darius sighs, "We have to go after Brooklyn."

"That's what I'm saying!" Yaz pipes up.

"Make up your mind!" Sammy grumbles.

"Brooklyn's involved with... something with Biosyn and the Broker." Darius sighs.

"Two powerhouses with deep connections to things out there we didn't even know existed." Ben adds.

"Now, with the Handler in the mix?" Darius shakes his head, "That's just... too many things for one person to take on by themself."

"Look, as capable and as smart as Brooklyn is, she's still alone. We don't even know if she knows what dangerous territory she's gotten herself into."

"And whether she realizes it or not, the only people she has to truly watch her back... is us."