Pairing: Ben Hardy x Reader
Warnings: Alcohol/Swearing
Summary: You and Ben have a history. The last place you expected to run into him, at a dinner with Lucy's boyfriend and his castmates, is where the two of you collide. Will it go up in flames or fireworks?
Lucy pouts, her blonde hair falling into her eyes. “Oh, come on! It’ll be fun.”
“I do not give a flying fuck. Go on your own.”
“And why’s that?” You grumble, slotting boxes into the rapidly depleting empty space of your kitchen cupboards.
“I’m nervous.” Lucy says, with far more confidence that someone who was actually nervous would have.
“Why? He’s your boyfriend.”
“Yeah, but his castmates will be there, and I want to get on with them, at the very least. Come on, you always used to be up for being my wing woman!”
“Yeah, when you didn’t have a boyfriend! What do you actually need me for?"
“Would your answer change if I told you they’re all apparently really hot?”
“No, I googled them. Don’t tell him that. So?”
You pretend to think. “Hm. Yeah, no. Still not happening.”
“When was the last time you got some?”
“Around the time you started sticking your nose into my sex life.”
Lucy brightens. “So, ages ago, then.”
You sigh, already regretting the words about to come out of your mouth. “What time?”
“YES! 7pm. Thank you, you’re amazing!” Lucy breezes out of your flat as quickly as she arrived.
You didn’t know why you were surprised. This happened all the time- Lucy appeared, invited you somewhere, you said no, and then five minutes later you’d agreed, and Lucy had vanished.
Maybe this time, you’d enjoy yourself. You swore to yourself to not leave within the first two hours- maybe Rami’s castmates would be interesting. Or, according to Lucy, attractive at the very least.
What was the worst that could happen?
Several hours later, you vow never to ask that question again. Clearly, it was tempting fate far too much.
“Lucy, what the hell is he doing here?” You hiss, scanning the room for exit routes.
Too late. You’d been spotted.
Silently, you made good use of every single swear word you knew.
“What is who doing here?”
Ah, that’s right. You’d hadn’t known Lucy four years ago, so she had no idea.
You were truly screwed. If he remembered you. Maybe he wouldn’t- it had been four years, after all, and you looked completely different. He, on the other hand, hadn’t changed at all and was still as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as he had been the last time you’d seen him. Which didn’t exactly help matters. Still, he couldn’t possibly remember you-
“Hey, Ben. Long-time no see.”
Ben grins as he kisses your cheek. “You’re looking pretty tonight.”
“And you’re just as direct as ever.” You retorted sharply, before biting your lip. “You look good too, I suppose.”
“Ah, and just as tight-lipped with the compliments as I remember.”
“I’d rather you didn’t remember me at all.” You mutter under your breath.
Lucy narrows her eyes. “You two know each other?
“No.” You answer, at the exact same time Ben responds with the opposite.
“Hmm.” Lucy sends you a look that very clearly says she’s expecting a full and comprehensive retort later, before moving to Rami’s side.
Now alone with Ben, you scanned the room for anything to look at him that wasn’t him, and finally settled on a plant pot.
“Is there a reason you’re avoiding eye contact?”
“Perhaps the green of your eyes gives me nausea.”
Ben laughs. “The claws are out tonight, aren’t they? Are you scared of looking me in the eye? Is that it?”
“No!” You snap, before realising you’ve gone bright red and still aren’t looking at him.
“So, what’s the deal? Why won’t you look at me?”
“Have you ever thought that I don’t want to?”
“We both know that’s a lie.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” You cave and look up at him, meeting his eyes.
A slight mistake, as they were still as gorgeous as you remembered them- a deep, rich sea green with flecks of blue and brown.
Don’t look at the rest of him, don’t look at the rest of him, don’t look at the rest-
Too late. You’d already done it, and you were secretly glad, even though you’d never freely admit it.
Ben was- there were no other words for it- absolutely fucking gorgeous. He was built like a Greek god. His blonde hair, slightly warmer than when you’d last seen him, was short on the sides and slightly longer on the top, a single strand falling into his chiselled face that had cheekbones you reckoned you could cut yourself on.
Even his lips look perfect. Inviting, even.
You stood your ground and frowned, raising an eyebrow. “Go to hell, Benjamin.”
“I’m sat next to you, aren’t I?”
You swear and look for Lucy, who makes eye contact with you from Rami’s side. She’s grinning. Great. She’s going to be no help whatsoever.
You slam your hand down on the bar. “Your finest scotch, sir. Neat.”
“Resorting to alcohol to tolerate me? Not very classy, is it?”
Two scotches and three shots later, you were beginning to adjust to Ben’s presence.
Until he opened his mouth, that is.
“Ben, can I ask you something?”
“Are you ever going to say anything that won’t make me want to punch you in the face?”
Lucy snorts into her drink.
You’re all crammed into a booth at this point- although you hadn’t been paying attention and couldn’t remember the name of Rami’s other friend.
“I don’t know. Are you ever going to leave someone with no explanation and not call them for four years?”
He’s baiting you. You aren’t going to take it-
“You two were a thing?!” Lucy shrieks.
Rami’s friend- you thought his name was Jim- hooted with laughter. “Ben, you liar! We asked you if you knew her and you said no!”
Ben gritted his teeth. “Obviously, Joe, I was lying.”
Ah, Joe. That was his name.
Rami clears his throat. “You know what, Luce? I’m feeling tired. Let’s head home and catch up properly there.”
“What on earth are you talking about? We’ve only been here an hour!”
Rami gives her a look that sent a message that you were not interested in deciphering in the slightest.
Lucy stands, grinning wildly. “I quite agree, babe. You look shattered, actually. Bye, guys!”
You pull your phone out almost immediately.
Y: Did you two just leave to go fuck?
L: no. maybe. ANYWAY. we left because the sexual tension between you and Ben was unbearable.
Y: What- there’s no sexual tension between me and Ben!
L: Sure there isn’t. have fun 😉
Y: Lucy, no! Nothing’s going on!
L: YET. don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!
Y: Yeah, because that rules out so much.
L: RUDE. go bang Ben or something, I’m busy.
You groan and put your phone down, knowing there’s no point in arguing with Lucy when she’s made up her mind about something. She’s completely wrong, anyway.
“Complaining about me?” Ben asks.
“Talking about how irresistible I am?”
“And what good would it do if I did admit that, Ben?” You snap.
“Well, for one, it might jolt you into realising we made a mistake.”
“Hmm. And what would happen then? Would you hop back into my bed again only to leave before the sun comes up?”
Ben leans forward, a strand of hair falling onto his forehead. “It’d be a good shag, though.”
Okay. You were decidedly drunk.
“Am I that bad of a cook? Is that why you never stayed for breakfast?” You had moved closer to Ben without realising, your hand placed delicately on his knee.
“I never stayed because if I knew that I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from falling in love with you if I did.”
Your breath hitched, barely registering Ben’s hand on your hip.
A loud clap made you both jump.
“As delicious as this is to watch, I am also going to do a disappearing act.” Joe announced.
Ben scowls but doesn’t move away from you. “Was it really necessary to make that known?”
“Well, no, but your intense eye-fucking was becoming seriously uncomfortable to watch.”
“No-one was asking you to.”
“It was lovely to meet you, Joe.” You interrupt. “Have a good night.”
Joe beams. “At least one of you has manners. Night, my turtle doves. Be safe!”
“JOSEPH.” Ben yells after him.
You laugh. “Ben, it’s okay.”
"Why? What's changed, Ben? Why should I suddenly relapse after four years of being sober from you?"
"Nothing has changed, Princess."
You snort. "And that's supposed to make me jump back into bed with you?"
"Yes. I've never once lied to you, darlin', and I don't intend to start now."
"Then we're just as much of a bad idea now as we were back then."
"Alright. I want you to do one thing for me, and then if you still feel the same, you'll never hear from me again."
You raise your eyes to meet Ben's green ones, shimmering in the dim lighting. "And what is that, pray tell?"
I know it's kind of a mess, and believe me, I had a hell of a fight with tumblr to get it to post to begin with. If you would like to see a part two then please let me know! I hope you enjoyed reading it :)