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

𝟷. 𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕

Y/N drives Gia's car down a windy hill. Sammy sits beside him, instructing him on where to go as Kenji lounges in the back seat with Smoothie sitting on his chest. They hit a bump, Sammy cheering with glee as Kenji fumbles to keep a hold on the baby dino.

Y/N chuckles at the reactions, "I'm surprised the road to BioSyn is this bad."

"Seriously!" Kenji leans forward, "Knowing Dodgson, I would have thought it'd be paved with, like, golden solar panels."

"Maybe they don't want people getting into their dinosaur sanctuary so easily." Sammy suggests, both men nod in consideration.

"...or out." Kenji takes a moment to realize.

"We shouldn't dwell on that yet." Y/N shakes his head, dispelling the idea, "We've still got time before we get there."

"...Actually, there's this new thing Yaz taught me--" Kenji pauses, glancing at Sammy, "Oh! Sorry, I-- I shouldn't have... uh..."

"Just cuz we broke up doesn't mean you have to act like Yaz doesn't exist." Sammy reassures, "What'd she teach you?"

Smoothie coos as they hit another bump.

"Nah." Kenji waves it off, "I was just gonna make a dumb joke about her teaching me to talk about my problems." He scoffs, "Never mind."

"Why, Kenji Kon," Sammy smirks, "Are you about to get vulnerable, right now?"

"What!? No! Forget it! Uh-uh." Kenji leans back stubbornly.

"Don't tease him, Sam." Y/N chuckles, nudging her, "You know how long it took for me to get him to open up to me?"

"I'm not teasin'." Sammy denies, "I'm here for it. Let's try this... what'd you call it? Tall...king?"

Kenji shakes his head before his expression falls serious, "It's just... Look, how the heck are we gonna convince someone like Lewis Dodgson to let us take Bumpy out of here and back home?"

"Last time I saw him, I was just a kid, and I was trying so hard to impress my dad. Dodgson's just like him. Manipulative, deceptive..."

"Selfish! Only cares about himself and what he wants!" Sammy continues the list, pausing when she realizes what she's saying, "...sorry."

"Don't be." Kenji gives a small, tight smile, "You're exactly right. People like them don't care about who they hurt." He strokes Smoothie gently, "And I would do anything to make sure Smoothie and Bumpy have the kind of life they deserve."

"We know you would." Y/N smiles at him through the rear-view, "We would too."

Sammy nods at this.

"Good." Kenji looks down at Smoothie, "That's the plan, then."

"That's what makes you one of the good ones, Kenji. You really care." Sammy compliments, her tone slowly shifting to be more mischievous, "That and your sick rapping skills!"

"Oh, word? How about I spit a few rhymes then?" Kenji ̶o̶f̶f̶e̶r̶s̶ threatens.

"Please, no." Y/N chuckles, "I will crash this car."

"No, no, I insist!" Kenji prods.

"Oh, I would love that, but it looks like we're here!" Sammy directs their attention to the road ahead, "Too bad! Next time!"

Kenji grins to himself as Y/N pulls up to the site, rolling to a slow stop. The three of them marvel at the dinosaur enclosure in front of them accompanied by two BioSyn vehicles.