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

𝟻. 𝙶𝚒𝚟𝚎 & 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎

"Yeah, well, let's fix that, shall we?" Kenji proposes, "To get down, you're gonna have to come up. First, onto the roof. You're up, D."

Everyone turns their heads Darius, who looks like he's just seen a ghost. He climbs out his door, legs trembling as Kenji offers him a hand.

"No shame in being scared." Kenji reassures.

"Good!" Darius shakes his head, "Cause this is terrifying." He takes Kenji's hand and the man helps pull him up onto the roof.

"Whoa, whoa, gotta keep it balanced..." Kenji says as they start to teeter, "Brooklyn, Yaz, Y/N!" He calls to his friends in the backseat, "Shift over." The three of them slowly scoot to the left and the truck dips some more, evening out.

"Okay, D. Make your way to the tree and I'll get Ben."

Darius starts climbing down a nearby, viny tree as Kenji helps Ben up and onto the roof. He takes Yasmina and Brooklyn up next, leaving Y/N in the car with a trembling Sammy.

"Hey." He gently rests a hand on her shoulder from behind, "We're gonna be okay." He promises, even if he's not completely sure, "Kenji knows what he's doing and we're almost done."

"I know." She shakes her head slowly, squeezing her eyes shut, "I'm just... Y/N, I'm terrified."

"That's okay, Sam. So am I." Y/N smiles, "It's alright to be scared, that's what's kept us alive this long." He lets out a light, almost chuckle, but quickly straightens out his face, "Do you want me to go first?"

She takes a shaky breath, slowly nodding her head.

Y/N glances up as Kenji peers over the sunroof, "My turn?"

The other man nods and Y/N gives him a stiff, anxious smile. He gives Sammy one more encouraging pat on the shoulder before scooting over to the door and climbing out. He takes Kenji's hand, allowing the other man to assist him onto the top of the truck.

"Alright, Sammy," Kenji smiles down at her, "You are the pièce de résistance."

Sammy swallows hard and slowly begins to shift in her seat, heading towards her door. When she does, the whole truck stutters, tilting to the side. Y/N and Kenji tumble, Kenji falling off the side and latching onto a branch while Y/N's feet come out from under him and he rolls into the truck bed on his back.

Sammy begins to hyperventilate, slamming on her door as she tries to push it open, but it's blocked by part of the tree.

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay." Kenji slides down, grabbing the door as tears fill Sammy's eyes.

"What do we do now?" Sammy's lip trembles as Kenji gently shuts the door.

"She can come out this way..." Y/N leans over the passenger's side, opening the door, "I'll help her onto the roof."

Sammy gasps, looking at the other side of the truck, then back at Kenji, "Only option?"

"'Fraid so." He nods.

"I... Kon do it..." Sammy mutters in an effort to encourage herself.

"Yes, you Kon." Kenji smiles.

Y/N waits on the other side of the roof, watching as Sammy hesitantly pokes her head out of the door, "You've got this, Sam. Take your time."

She reaches up, grabbing the side of the truck and slowly pulling herself up.

"There you go." Kenji calls, "Now, onto the roof."

Y/N holds his hand out to her, and she takes a shaky breath. Sammy steps on the side mirror to give herself a little more leverage before reaching out for him.