Y/N’s voice was soft as they played with Ben’s hair and his ear rested against their heart.
There was a quiet lull before Ben shook his head while blushing and nuzzling his face into Y/N’s chest. The gesture was pure and caused Y/N’s heart to swell before clenching, a soft ache beginning to throb around their sternum, consuming their heart slowly.
“You are my love. You’re beautiful in everything you do and are.”
--
The day that Ben had off was perfect due to the pearlescent skies, a golden sun and a sweet breeze kissing the pair’s cheeks and engulfing them in cool air which allowed them to feel completely comfortable; everything perfect for the picnic that Ben had planned.
As Y/N was picking at the strawberries they took in Ben as he was telling a funny story from work, his face lighting up as he smiled and the sun haloing and hazing around him in the most ethereal way. It was as if he was made of heaven and gold, his smile lighting up more and more as the story progressed all the while not noticing that Y/N was completely enamoured, taking in absolutely nothing but main exclamations every once in a while. It took a moment for Y/N to realise that Ben had stopped talking and was looking at them with an amused expression.
“What?”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you hear anything I said?”
“Um, you were talking about Christian’s antics.”
“Okay you’re right but you didn’t answer the former question.”
“I’m looking at you like that because I’m in awe and in love. Also, when you smile you’re so bright that even the sun is no match.”
--
A click. Another. Then another.
Ben turned his head and saw Y/N holding the film camera close to their eye while a coy smile kissed their lips.
“What are you doing?”
A smile couldn’t be contained within Ben so it stretched on his lips along with a stunning rose blush on his cheeks, the question hanging in the air.
“Taking photos.”
Y/N’s answer came out as a giggle which was sweet and stretched their mouth wide, Ben being blown away and speechless due to the sight before him.
“Why?”
There was a moment of silence as Y/N moved closer to Ben, the soft sunlight warming the room comfortably and a lovely silence followed.
“Because how could I not? Ben when you smile your face lights up and I can’t help it. You’re mesmerising and I wish you could see what I see.”
“You really think that of me?”
“I will never stop thinking that of you.”
--
The opening of the new gallery that Ben designed was a blur of beautiful architecture, sparkling champagne in glittering flutes and the wonder of those taking in the superb artwork. The sight of Ben in his suit caused Y/N’s heart to catch in their chest before skipping a beat and feeling as if a garden was beginning to grow. Everything brightened and was sweeter as Ben slowly made his way to Y/N, the smile on his lips ethereal in a way that lit up his whole face and bunched up his cheeks; the lights hazing ever so slightly to form a halo around the architect’s head.
“So what do you think?”
Ben’s lips softly pressed against the crown of their head as he spoke, the lights twinkling and winking every so often.
“I’m speechless. Your beautiful creativity truly reflects on your work and your eye for detail.”
Ben felt his heart flutter and couldn’t stop the red flush crawling up his neck and settling on his cheeks. The long nights and the weekends that he spent to finalise the designs and the intricate details of the gallery certainly seemed to have paid off, the sounds of laughter and awe surrounding him like a warm blanket.
Y/N watched as people came up to them, congratulating Ben on his incredible work and smiling at the way his eyes lit up; thanking them and answering any and all questions they had, and squeezing his softly to show their support. The lights twinkled around the couple as they began to walk around and enjoy the art, Ben’s voice a soothing melody as he spoke of the beauty of the pictures in front of them before softly kissing the crown of Y/N’s head; their smile taking over their face and causing Ben’s heart to stutter.
“You’re breathtaking in every sense you know that?” Y/N spoke in a low tone, looking up at Ben and blinking slowly as the alcohol brought a soft rose hue to their cheeks.
He was speechless at that as the conversations around the couple faded into a soft symphony, looking into Y/N’s eyes and seeing the galaxy twinkling.
“I-I…” Ben started, his words stopping in his throat as he took in the love of his life, the person that had been there with him through everything and the person that helped him see the beauty in everything; no matter how small. They understood the late nights and the weekends, the business trips and the constant calls, they understood everything and for that he was grateful.
“I don’t know what to say.” Ben spoke softly, his voice slightly husky in Y/N’s ear causing tingles down their spine.
“You don’t need to say anything, just enjoy the love and appreciation that’s surrounding you.”
The couple continued to walk then, arms linked together as the orchestra continued to play the perfect music for the atmosphere and Ben introduced Y/N to people he worked with; his smile radiant which caused Y/N to not be able to look away.
‘Beautiful…’ Y/N thought as Ben laughed in what seemed to be slow motion, covering his mouth while his head was slightly thrown back.
“So you must be so proud.”
Y/N blinked slowly before looking at the man in front of them, a smiling kissing their lips softly.
Omg please write some Ben Hargreeves fluff! Like he married his childhood sweetheart (and he didn't die) and them introducing their newborn to the rest of the family? I think they all just need some happiness and a reason to see each other without the world ending or someone dying -(@Anon)
Welp, someone still died, but!! It still got fluff, so I hope it doesn’t change too much from what you requested…
Also, I’m really sorry it took so long, but, as you can see, I made this one extra long as an excuse, even if it barely meets anything to make you forgive me for the delay…
Please think about taking a look at my ko-fi, or come see my Patreon, lots of love, LC.
Words: 2471
Warning: Angst, fluff. The gif is not mine, It belongs to its creator/owner.
You never actually met all of the Hargreeves’ siblings. You saw them, talked to about two of them, and had tea his the robotic mother -that served your husband as a feminine figure when he was a child- only once. Sure, you knew them. Everybody knew the Hargreeves’, they were the prodigy children of the Umbrella Academy. Ben didn’t fancy to discuss his past, neither did he like to speak about his powers. You understood, after years of marriage, you had been able to put the pieces together. The unique occasions you faced his family helped you read his personality. Klaus and Vanya were the closest siblings Ben had. Diego was too bitter now. Luther was -in his opinion- a dumbass and Allison was something he didn’t want to say out loud. After the disappearance of his brother, Five, he hadn’t been the same.
''We're going to be late for tea, Ben!'' You screamed to the house, before huffing back in your seat.
You met Ben at a relatively young age, about eight. You were not a child of the academy but lived close by. At such age, you were not yet aware of all that was going on inside their house. You used to help Ben brighten up when he wandered the streets on his free days. He would roam on the streets for hours, he did so for years before you dared to talk to him. A child with a hopeful smile and shining eyes, holding up a little card for Ben to take. That evening, you could remember, your mom baked cookies for the Umbrella Academy children.
After years and years of being friends, he ultimately kissed you. It was before he went for a mission. You could still remember the sounds of cars passing by and the wind scattering your hairs as he did so. By the window of your room with one foot already out, Ben's lips met yours, knocking your teeth with his in the process. Awkward and blushing furiously, he stumbled upon his words. Saying that he had to go and came back two weeks later to address the subject with you.
Now, the awkward first love moment was long past, and you were at your seventh year of the wedding. At the moment, you were waiting not-so-patiently in the car for Ben to get in. He stopped the car in the hallway from leaving the manor-like house you owned in London, Ontario. He did so at least two times to retrieve whatever was missing in his opinion. The thoughts of seeing his family once again stressed him out, you could understand that. It didn't mean you were happy to be delayed so much by it.
''Ben! I swear... Let's go, we're gonna be late!''
He finally arrived in the car, the lost rattle Justin had let in the house before you took him to the car in his hand. The trip was made in silence, about two hours of the boring road on the highway with classic rock music in the background and Justin’s nonsensical gibbering.
Going back to the Umbrella Academy was making you nervous. Ben had only invited six people of his family out of eight. You weren't even sure the three last knew you he was married. It was sad because, out of the six family members Ben had invited, only four came. His father had work, and nobody knew what Diego was doing at the time. Since then, Klaus and Vanya had visited twice a year, and Grace was coming every now and then for tea. Pogo was tagging along with her sometimes too. But none of the others visited, although Diego did call often. The impromptu passing of Sir Reginald Hargreeves had stumbled upon all as a surprise.
As Ben pulled up in the parking of the house, he let out a shaking breath. Your hand find it's way at the nape of his neck. Your thumbs gently tracing shapes at the end of his hair to ease him from his nervousness.
Ben finally nods, and you get out of the car, taking with you your newborn who was clutching to his rattle. Ben followed your initiative closely. The three of you walked toward the entry and Ben knocked at the door. You don’t wait long before Pogo opens the door, a small smile illuminating his face for an instant.
‘’I didn’t think you would come.’’ He says softly, embracing Ben first, turning to you and your child after.
‘’He was still my father, Pogo,’’ Ben answers to the talking monkey.
There wasn't a living soul present in the living room. Grace seemed happy to see you, her hand clutching to the tea set you offered her the first Christmas you spent alone with Ben. She doesn't seem to realize she's not alone anymore in the living room. She sings under her breath, carefully pouring tea in the porcelain gift.
''Mom?''
Ben's voice makes Grace raise her head, her plastic smile carved on her face once again. She meets the both of you with a cheerful ''Good morning children, tea?'' Your husband dismisses his mother question, but you nod happily.
''Where are the others?'' Grace smiles as she pours you a cup of tea, her answer is fashionably late but teasing all the same. Just like when Ben was a child.
''They won't be long my love. Sit.''
You make the living room cozy. Pogo took out one of the many blankets Reginald had for his children. He also takes out some old toys that he never had the heart to discard. Ben is lost in his thoughts as he watches you and your son play on the ground.
As massive steps are heard going up, you just understand that Luther just came back. You also know that it's inconceivable that he didn't see Ben's car in the driveway, so he did just ignore you. When you look at Ben, he prefers to smile and act as if nothing is bothering him. Justin coos, agitating his little fist in the air.
The first sibling you meet after coming back to the academy is actually Allison. She couldn't be happier to see her brother, even with the dark circumstances.
“Hey, Ben!” Your husband gets up to greet her with a hug. You cradle your baby in your arms, so Justin can officially meet his aunt.
‘’Hello honey. Who might you be?’’ Allison drops to your son’s level, adding a smile to her question in your direction. The both of you were never close, and you weren’t even sure that she knew Ben was married. Justin raises his head an awkward smile on his chubby face. A gurgle left his mouth and made Allison laugh.
Allison makes grabby hands toward the little boy, and you slowly -carefully- give him to her. You know she has a child of her own, but the feeling of uneasiness that you feel from being away from your child is always excruciatingly hard to ignore.
''I'm aunt Allison. Yes, I am!''
''I didn't know you married.'' Luther's voice made you flinch. How come a man so big could sometimes be so discreet? You sometimes forgot that they were trained superheroes.
The blond brother of your husband was taller and more built than you remembered. He was supported by the wall with his arms crossed upon his chest. Your husband lowers his head in shame, you take it upon yourself to speak on his behalf.
‘’You weren’t available at the time, being on the moon and all... ‘’
Luther’s cheek flushed bright red at your words. You didn’t mean any harm, but the truth was sometimes harsh. Justin started to whine, his rattle getting your attention back on him. Allison gave him back to you. You adjusted the baby, so you were both comfortable.
Ben gave you more space to sit next to him, his arm resting on your hips as a sign of support. You were not one to hate people, but even as a child, you found Luther tough to find pleasant. Sitting under the needlessly huge dedicatory painting of Five, you felt small. Even more because of Luther and his eyes seemingly piercing holes into your skull.
‘’How come when shit becomes interesting nobody calls me? Ben, (Y/N), darling love of mine, how are you? How is that sweet nephew of mine?’’ Klaus exclamation brought everyone to turn in his direction. He cradled the child in his arms, sitting on the ground as you did in the first place.
To say that his presence in your hospital room surprised you was an understatement. He had still his rehab bracelet and an exuberant bouquet of orange roses and Peruvian lilies. Klaus had acted deeply offended by your choice of not making him the godfather, but he looked like he was recovering now.
A little bit later, as you didn’t really like Reginald, you took Justin for a stroll in town. Going out, you crossed path with Diego, in the staircase. He greeted you with a nod, his eyes staring a bit longer than he probably intended too on Justin before he continued toward his room. You could hear Allison’s comment on his spandex costume.
‘’He’s right, I shouldn’t be here…’’ You heard Vanya mutter under her breath as Allison was trying to make her stay.
‘’Hi, Vanya!’’ You were in good terms with the woman. She was kind and sweet, it was crushing your soul to know that most of her life her father had been so awful with her.
‘’I’m so sorry about your father, Justin and I were about to go for a walk, do you want to join us?’’ The shy woman smiled at you, gratefully. Clearly, she couldn’t think of a better way to become comfortable in her own house than to hang out with the wife of her adoptive brother, literally an outsider. That just made you sadder thinking about it. You offered Vanya to take Justin and took her outside so she could breathe.
Sitting on the bench in front of the house, the two of you spoke about life. Justin was going back and front between you and his aunt happily. Vanya asked about how your life had changed now that you had a son, and you asked about the orchestra. You always loved how she played, it was mesmerizing. When Ben came for you saying that Luther wanted to pay his respect in the ward, Vanya gave you back her nephew and entered the house, leaving you alone.
The town was not so different than when you left it. It had been a long time since then, your parent had moved away, closer to where you lived, and the last memory you had of it was before going for college. A weird feeling burst in your chest. As you thought about its origin, shouting gave away the answers to your suspicion.
Ben had always been a little reluctant with fights, due to his past and his abilities as a superhero. No matter how ironic that sounded for a hardened superhero. The dispute between Luther and Diego and triggered an anxiety attack. You had to be frank, it had been a while since his last downward. He was clutching to you for dear life, Justin tenderly hugged in his other muscular arm.
''You're doing great.''
His breath was slowly becoming more relaxed, Justin was sleeping now, his small head on his father's shoulder. You detached yourself from your husband's grip to put the baby the bassinet you had transported from London.
You woke up the next morning without Ben by your side. Comotion could be heard from the kitchen so, carefully, you went that way. You had made numerous scenarios about what it could have been. None of them involved thirteen years old Five surrounded by his siblings. Ben was looking disgustedly at the sandwich his brother was fixing himself. It was a tradition that you never understood from the Hargreeves. Peanut butter on the corner of his lips, Five looked up in your direction with a frown.
''Did dad adopt a new child after me?'' He asked, making his sibling turn to look at you.
''That's Ben's wife.'' Said Luther with a harsh tone. Ben gives his brother a look before making his way to you. Trying to explain the situation.
''So you're telling me that Five created a temporal vortex to come back, that it changed his physical form from sixty-something to thirteen again?'' Ben nodded.
Your cup of tea half empty in your hand you looked at the wood table in astonishment. You were somewhat used to Ben's power, but the others were still hard to grasp. And seeing as you didn't grow up with abilities yourself, it was kind of difficult to process the news of Five reappearances.
You were enjoying the last moments of calm before Justin’s crying would oblige you to parent businesses. Five was sipping at a carton cup of coffee from the donut’s house from downtown, eating peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich in all it non-nutritive glory. You, as a new mother with strong and newly acquired motherly instincts, were horrified. Only Five was not making things easier for you to forget about him and eat your own breakfast as he was intensely staring at you.
‘’You’re that girl from down the road, ain’t ya?’’ He asked finally, his mouth half full of the disgracious sandwich. You nodded.
‘’I assume that Ben is your significant other, now, if I may ask, how did the two of you actually become…’’ He gestured the rest of his sandwich in your general direction, ‘’a thing?’’
As you opened your mouth to answer, a cry echoed in the academy, you bolted up to go see your baby. You could hear Five finish his monologue to your husband. “I never assumed that you would be the one to have the most healthy relationship of us all.”
You took your time to bring your child down to the kitchen. Changing him and making sure he was comfortable. Diego stopped glaring at Allison to face you. A small smile on his lips, he gently touched your son's cheek with a finger. Luther sunk deeper into his seat as if he was trying to disappear, Five, on the contrary, rose from his chair to see Justin better. Ben offered him to hold him. It took Five a moment before Five accepted after you guaranteed that he wouldn't snap your son's neck.
Seeing the happy smile on the teenager's lips grow, you found yourself thinking about how damaged they all were. The love they had known came from a robot and a monkey. So maybe they had troubles, but your husband's family could still work on their differences.
Before Thomas, the reader is really hippy and makes Ben a flower crown because she likes him
As bad as the circumstances were in the Glade, it didn’t take much for all the hopes you had to be gathered up and scattered around you effortlessly – hoping they would rub off on the others. Many of the boys were filled with irritation, no matter how deep inside them it was masked, but you never shared in that feeling. Instead, you basked in your high spirits and kept calm when the world you lived in had seemed to be flipped on its head.
Developing connections with more than a few boys was nothing short of a challenge; but it was one you were willing to keep up with. Your closest mates were the most carefree ones; they never minded the fact tons of the Gladers called you ‘strange.’ It didn’t bother you much, either. It wasn’t the life you chose, but since it was the only one you were to have, you endeavored to live it.
Some survived with a mentality similar to yours, but not at all times. He, in particular, would be anxious in the inside, but not so much on the outside. In a way, you sort of admired it. He tried to let the ways of the Glade roll off his back, but sometimes he was too bunched up.
That Glader so happened to be Ben.
You’d stayed up and talked to him about peaceful endings the Maze could possibly lead to one night – and though he didn’t seem as into the words you spoke as yourself did, it mattered to you that he was attempting.
Seeing as though it was hard to talk to anyone else about things like that without being scrutinized, you expressed your hope in other ways. During breaks, you liked to make trinkets that you kept close to you, since you offered them as gifts that nobody wanted.
It didn’t mess with you too bad. In fact, it went over your head – which you were aware of and were thankful for. Besides, you enjoyed your freetime, crafting away as you sat on a bench by the Deadheads. It was quiet, nature-filled, and peaceful, just how you liked it.
Nature was all you needed to make any sort of art project anyways. Your eyes were drawn to the ground in a second, looking around at the brown sticks and pretty floral life. An idea popped into your head.
Your fingers threaded against a flexible branch as you tied a small knot at the ends to connect it, making a small circle shape. Next, with care, you gently plucked a few flowers from beside you – some which were yellow and orange daisies – and tied the remains of the stems to the branch. When you finished, you were left with a crown of sorts – a flower crown.
It wasn’t anything less than beautiful. You smiled down at it, eyes grazing across the craft you had completed.
“Nicest damn thing in the Glade, huh,” a voice from above you said, to which you looked up to see who spoke the words – although you already knew.
“Quite possibly, Ben,” you replied, taking the crown in two of your fingers and twirling it.
“I meant you, but alright,” he teased, taking the place beside you.
A smirk quickly arose to your face as you turned to look at him. Then, you gazed down at your creation, and back at Ben another time.
Ben must have read your mind. “No. Uh-uh. You can wear it, but I’m not.”
“Come on!” You urged, standing up on front of him and hopping on your toes. A picture of Ben wearing the flower crown was stuck in your head in a second, and you giggled at the thought.
“Don’t you have anything better to do? Like, think about world peace?”
You rolled your eyes at his comment, but your smile remained glued to your face. Without his permission, though you knew he didn’t really mind, you placed the crown atop his head and leaned back, taking in the sight. You sighed, shrugging your shoulders in contentment. “How cute.”
He stood, touching the crown, but not enough that his fingers grasped the accessory and took it off his head. “You’re loony,” he joked, a grin playing along his lips. Something inside of you then made you want to reach out and graze them with your index finger, then putting your own lips onto them, but you knew it’d be too far.
Ben was grinning wider than he previously was— now it was more of a Chesire cat’s grin. “Are you staring?”
”Not staring. Observing,” you chimed.
“Oh,” he nodded sarcastically, taking the crown off and placing it on your head. “How cute,” Ben copied your words with his fingers gently running through your hair for only a moment. Goosebumps tickled your skin.
“Thanks...” you trailed off, staring into his features and watching him stare into yours. Then, he inched closer, bringing his hand to the side of your neck.
“The crown – it’s actually... really nice,” he complimented, almost inaudibly. “On you, anyway.”
The back of his other hand reached out to graze against the skin of your cheek, warming it. You clenched and unclenched your muscles, feeling something you barely remembered feeling ever before – nervousness.
You were going to thank him before he finally leaned in. His lips were warm and welcoming – moist, but not too wet that they didn’t feel satisfying and chaste when pressed against your own. It was a short kiss, one where the leading up to it took longer than the kiss itself, but it didn’t mean any less to either of you.
A chuckle left his mouth, leaving a warm feeling inside you. “Next break,” he began in a hushed tone, “help me make one of those. You don’t want to spend breaks by yourself, do you?”
You shook your head and agreed. It hit you then, even harder than before, that you didn’t need everybody in the Glade to stand aside you; you needed one, and Ben could now fill that space.
Request from mrs-samantha-curtis: Can I please request an imagine with Ben? Something cute like he keeps hitting on you and you finally say yes to giving him a shot? Thanks.
~
"C'mon y/n." Ben says as you both sit around the fire.
"Stop asking Ben." You say in a soft voice. It was late, or really early in the morning. You were friends with Ben, and he's always tried asking you to be his girlfriend but you never thought he was actually serious about the whole thing. He was one of those guys who'd always ask you out. He'd compliment your hair, or tell you that you were beautiful and then ask you out.
"I'm going to keep asking." He whispers. He's sitting right next to you. He's on your left with an arm around your shoulder. If someone walked by you could only imagine they'd think you were together. "You haven't actually said no yet y/n." He said, pulling you closer. You laugh and look up at him.
"I'm not going to say yes so you can just forget it." You smirked.
"How many times do I have to beg?" He asked. "One hundred times? Two hundred times?"
"A million times." You said, still smiling.
"Oh c'mon y/n."
You liked him, but you didn't know how to tell him or how anything would work in the Glade. If you guys got out, if you got your memories back, would he still want you?
"I don't know Ben." You said seriously, changing the mood.
"What are you afraid of?" He asked soothingly.
"Everything. What if you get tired of me?" You say as you look down. Ben tilted you chin up to look at him.
"I am never going to get tired of you y/n." He said. "Just give it a shot." He bit your bottom lip, and looked down at his. What the hell, why not? You leaned in and gave him a soft kiss, and he kissed you back. You could practically feel the promise he was making in the kiss, then you pulled away.
"Alright, why not." You said and saw the smile on his face grow even wider.
