#ben rowan

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 110: Loss & Control (long Part)

CW: Language, Crime Themes, Manipulation, little nsfw, long Texts…

Bound by obsession (musical accompaniment, if desired)

Dusk settled over the city, and it was about 7 p.m. when Dylan arrived at the motel with Ben. Miss Mai was somewhat surprised by the new guest, but Dylan clarified that he was just a good friend with whom he had a few things to discuss. After receiving his key from her, he went upstairs to his room with Ben. "I'm surprised, to be honest, I imagined it would be dirtier.“/ „'If anything's dirty, it's your place…'" / "Yeah, yeah, cut the crap, tell me what's going on."

Dylan was silent for a moment, watching Ben as he continued to look around the room, searching for any flaws. Dylan had spent a lot of time over the past few days thinking about what he wanted to say to Ben, or rather, what he wanted to ask him. "Damn it, Dyl, are you going to speak up already? Or are we going to stand here forever?" Dylan was tense, but then he took a deep breath… "You've done it again, haven't you?" A brief, uncomfortable silence filled the room. "What… What do you mean?" Ben asked calmly, turning around.

"I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about, Ben! Or do I have to recount every horrible detail again? I know what you did…" Ben took a step back. "Dylan, I…" / "Come on, just drop it. You can't weasel your way out of this now or pretend nothing happened. You struck again, didn't you? Damn it, Ben, why?" / "Hey, calm down, okay? I…" Dylan had to work hard to keep from losing his temper.

"So I have to remind you, huh? Okay… The dead man in the harbor? Strangled… The next one, on the beach, strangled… Does that ring a bell?" Ben lowered his gaze. “Dylan…” / “And finally, number three, strangled and just buried somewhere behind the town hall! And now again? Shit, Ben!” Ben knew this moment would come eventually. But not like this. He shook his head. “How do you know…” he asked calmly, without looking at Dylan. “Because I’m not stupid, Ben! Damn it!”

“I… I can explain,” Ben stammered, still tugging at his sleeve. “I don’t need a shitty explanation, you hear? Just tell me one thing… Did you have anything to do with his disappearance?” he asked him sharply. “What… What do you mean?” Of course, Ben knew what Dylan was implying. Then Dylan grabbed his sweater and slammed him against the wall with full force. Ben knew he was strong and felt the sharp pain in his back. “Who are you talking about, huh? I didn’t do anything…” he barked out firmly.

Dylan didn't have the strength to hold Ben down with his full weight for long. Instead, he let Ben down, but continued to press him firmly against the wall. "Now don't tell me you don't know anything about the guy who disappeared…" / "I… I've heard about it, but… You don't actually think I…" / "Look me in the eyes and tell me you have nothing to do with it!" Dylan said loudly, his voice trembling.

Ben saw the anger and a little despair in Dylan's eyes. But instead of telling him the truth, he fed him a lie that seemed to work. "I swear, I had nothing to do with it, damn it, Dylan!" Dylan was still staring at him sternly. "Shit, man, at least admit you killed the others, Ben, because I know it was you!" Ben felt the pressure on his chest. Then it burst out of him, "Damn it, YES! I killed those three guys… Are you satisfied now?!" Dylan's hands clenched into fists on his chest. But instead of hitting him, he pushed himself away from him.

Dylan paced the room repeatedly, a few steps back and forth, without saying a word. Ben watched him. Until he pulled him out of his thoughts, in which he seemed lost. "Dyl…" / "That… That was totally unnecessary, okay? They were innocent men." / "I know, but…" / "No buts… Why, why didn't you stop after the first time?" / "You didn't react… How… How else could I have reached you?" Dylan was silent for a moment. Because he knew exactly what he meant. "You knew perfectly well how much pressure I was under at work, and then there was the marriage. Did you think I wouldn't… Hear you? Damn it," he took a deep breath and rubbed his face. "Have you ever wondered why you were never caught, Ben?"

Dylan went to the bed and sat on the edge. Then he looked at Ben with a demanding, questioning gaze. "Probably because I was pretty good at covering my tracks? Hey, I'm not particularly proud of it, okay! I just wanted… for you to know I'm still here!" Dylan stared blankly at the wall. Yes, he knew Ben had been fighting for his attention for a long time. "Because of you, I've risked everything for the past year and a half. My marriage… My job…" Ben looked at him, somewhat confused. "Why? I…" / "Damn, are you dense? I made sure no one would find out it was you…"

Ben understood what Dylan was trying to say. Then he sat down next to him on the bed. "What did you do?" / "I was the first one involved in the investigation. With the first victim, I thought it was probably just a random thing… But then… I was always the first one called to the crime scene, then I led all the investigations and inquiries. I always insisted on being the first to get the results. Later, everything was supposed to be filed away, but…" / "You made evidence disappear." Dylan looked at his hands and nodded. "There was definitely incriminating evidence. You always left something behind, and I recognized your pattern…" / "Why…Dyl?" / "Why? Is that a serious question?" Dylan asked him, standing up again.

Ben was still looking at him in surprise. And Dylan, too, was anything but surprised by his own behavior. Then a wave of emotions washed over him. "No matter what happened back then… I had this fucking trauma, it was… confusing and I was scared. And I was surprised myself that I managed to keep this marriage with Vivien going for a few years. Hell, we have kids and… they're really the best thing that ever happened. But…" / "But what?" Dylan took a step toward Ben and looked down at him. "You're a fucking psycho, okay? You're manipulative and… unpredictable… I saw that right away and knew why you did it. And I…" He nervously tugged at his jacket. "Yeah, I'm a fucking psycho, Dyl… But only because…" / "Shut up, okay?… Shut your fucking mouth, Ben!"

Dylan took the last step forward until he was standing directly in front of Ben. His expression even more serious than before continued to look down at him. "I can't let you cause any more damage and then end up in some shithole. Seriously, I can't stand it…" / "And how do you plan to stop that?" Ben asked with a shrug. Instead of an answer, he suddenly felt Dylan's strong hands on his shoulders, pressing him down onto the bed with palpable, commanding dominance. Then Dylan climbed up and pinned him down with his hands. "What… Dylan…" / "What is it? Don't tell me this isn't what you've wanted all along? I… did all of this just for you… Just like you killed those guys because of me. You can stop taking your frustrations out on others now." Ben didn't know what else to say at that moment. He just suddenly felt a kind of relief.

From this point on, the question arises: who's the real psycho here? Dylan didn't really want to say anything more at that moment. He stood up and pulled Ben toward him by the arm until Ben was standing beside the bed, looking him directly in the eyes. He took a deep breath in and out, trying to shake off the last of his tension. Then he began kissing Ben, passionately, almost fervently. And while he did this, he started to undress Ben. No more words, only long-suppressed feelings surfaced. After they had both taken off their shirts, they landed back on the bed. "Dylan… You don't have to…" / "Don't tell me what to do or not to do!" Dylan hissed softly. The command worked, and Ben yielded to Dylan's strong yet gentle touches.

Dylan's kisses felt as if they were burning deep into his skin. The touches he gave Ben were long-held, suppressed desires that he had previously only resisted. Dylan had even started therapy many years ago, trying to cope with the pressure and this hidden inclination. But after only a few sessions, Dylan decided to stop. It only helped a little to come to terms with what he'd done. And after holding Vivien's divorce papers in his hands, he knew it was all over anyway. That's why he decided to come back. Back to Ben. Even though he knew it might be difficult.

While Ben savored his burning kisses, Dylan spoke softly. "I still have a few things to sort out here…hh, but once that's done… Let's get out of here…Okay?" Ben dug his fingers into Dylan's hair and pulled his head back slightly to look into his eyes. "What? Are you… Are you sure?" / "I know how to disappear, Ben, I…" He paused as their gaze intensified. "Okay…" Ben gasped. "Yeah, let's get out of here…" Dylan tightened his grip around him. And in that moment, that was all he wanted. His body. And to show him that he, too, was capable of controlling someone.

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@greenplumbboblover , @dandylion240 ⭐

[yoursminehourss]

Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 86: Dusk (Part 1/3)

Tension

After dinner, Gobias said goodbye to the Altos and was about to head home. But Boyd stopped him in the hallway for a moment. “Wait a minute.” /“What is it?”/ “I just wanted to know… if you're really okay, Gobias. Since you're no longer living with us… It's different.”/ “For whom… For you or for Susan?”

“More for me than for Susan. She still makes snide remarks now and then about how great it is to finally have some peace and quiet, but you know her… I've been reading more since you left. I miss our evening conversations…” / “Okay… but I can't change it now… And yes, I'm fine.” / “I'm glad. I…”

“Boyd, you don't have to say anything else, okay?” / "Please... It's important to me to get this off my chest. I always had the feeling that something might be different about you. Otherwise, you might already be married, have children...“ Gobias rolled his eyes a little and took a deep breath. ”That's true. But it's okay the way it is now. Like I said, I'm fine!"

Boyd nodded briefly. “I just want you to know that I... have no problem with that and would like us to get closer professionally again. We need someone like you for the projects that have come up in recent weeks. And I won't tell anyone...” Suddenly, Gobias noticed that they were no longer alone in the room. “Let's talk about this another time, okay? I just want to go home.”

Boyd said nothing more. Instead, he just nodded again and gestured with his hand that he could leave the conversation and go home. Gobias was glad to finally be back in the fresh, cold air. It had become stuffy in the house after so many hours. He walked a little way… But after a few seconds, he heard a voice behind him… “Hey, wait…”.

The voice calling him was not unfamiliar to Gobias since that afternoon, so he stopped and turned around. “Yes?” Ben slowed down and walked slowly toward him. “Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop earlier… Is that a friend of yours?”/ “A colleague…”/ “Hmm… but your relationship isn't the best anymore, is it?” Ben asked cautiously.

Gobias looked at him silently for a moment. He remembered the brief moment when Ben came out of the bathroom and wasn't sure how much he had actually heard of his conversation with Boyd. “Let's just say we're no longer compatible as friends,” he said calmly and somewhat indifferently. “I see… Well, in any relationship, people can grow apart…”/ “Yes. Sorry, but I don't want to talk about him anymore. I…” /“Would you like something to drink? I live nearby… And I promise we won't talk about your… colleague.”

Gobias took a moment to think. No one was home; Ace was spending Christmas Eve with a friend's family. And even though Gobias was already quite tired, the urge to have a little alcoholic drink had been quite strong over the last few hours. “I only drink beer.”/ “Hn, okay…”

The distance was indeed not very far, as Gobias quickly realized when he followed Ben's footsteps. The many voices that had been murmuring in the Altos' living room just a few hours earlier were still echoing in his head. The cold also made him feel a little dizzy. When they arrived, he hesitated for a moment; the area was remote, somewhere near the harbor…

“Do you live here?” asked Gobias, while Ben fiddled with the garage door. "Well, let's say it's something like a second home… Because of my work as a craftsman and caretaker, I have to move around from time to time… .“ Sound of a garage door opening… ”Come on in, it might be a little dark… or do you want to freeze your ass off out here?"

Gobias took a few steps inside and looked around. The temperature difference to outside wasn't really noticeable, and the garage wasn't particularly well lit. “Okay, so where's the beer?” he asked wearily, stretching a little. “It's back there. Sorry about the mess, haha…” There was a bit nervousness in Ben's voice…

When he reached the back of the garage, Gobias was not particularly surprised. He found what he expected. A few beer bottles standing in the corner, a shabby old brass bed where Ben would occasionally lie down when he couldn't make it home… And a table with a chair. The rest was just junk and scrap that had been stored there.

After Gobias sat down and opened the bottle, he sniffed it briefly to make sure the beer was still fresh. Then he took a sip, two, three… He drank almost half the bottle in one go. “Mmm, that's really good.” Ben looked at him and grinned a little. “When was the last time you had such a good beer, huh?” “It's been a really long time. At home, I don't drink anything but water or coffee.”

“I see. Is it not welcome at home to enjoy a bottle now and then?” Gobias took another sip to moisten his throat. “No, I just don't always need it… What about you?” Ben looked at him and shook his head questioningly. “What do you mean?” Gobias set the bottle down on the table for a moment. “When you came to the party, you weren't in a good mood.” “Oh, that… I've already forgotten about it. I just had a not-so-nice encounter with an old friend.” Gobias ran his thumb over the bottle and nodded expressionlessly. “Seems like our lives aren't too different,” he said without thinking about his words.

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@greenplumbboblover , @solorisims , @honeywinesims ⭐

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 111: Rescued?

The city lights often cause sleepless nights for some. But the lights weren't the reason Dylan couldn't sleep peacefully next to Ben. After he and Ben had exerted themselves physically for almost two hours, only Ben was the one who immediately fell asleep, exhausted. He seemed to have been on his feet all day and was now snoring soundly in the motel bed. But Dylan couldn't lie down again.

It was as if he constantly had to reassure himself that what had happened wasn't a figment of his imagination. He had had sex with a serial killer. He had had sex with the man who had been his friend since his youth, the man who had once, uninvited, taken him to another world at a party. Back then, Dylan hadn't been able to decide for himself what he wanted. Or even if he wanted anything at all. He was heavily intoxicated at the time. But this time, he was clear-headed and knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted.

For years, an inner battle had raged within him, a battle he had waged with himself. And no amount of therapy in the world could help him gain clarity about certain things. He did enjoy looking at men, but he only did it when he felt completely unobserved. It wasn't necessarily Ben's fault that this interest had suddenly arisen. It simply developed over time. And yet, Ben was the only one he secretly harbored feelings for. And all along, it was his family and his own sense of reason that held him back. Then, one day, the murders. They only happened because Ben was vying for his attention… When Dylan found out that Ben was the one who had killed these men, he was initially shocked. He could have done something, arrested him and punished him for his actions. But he didn't, instead destroying crucial evidence and protecting him.

Yet there was something that Dylan couldn't shake. This underlying feeling of doubt he had about Ben. Even when he had encountered him the day before in the old port area. And when he asked him that evening if he had anything to do with Gobias's disappearance, his answer didn't strike him as very credible. Despite everything that had happened a few hours earlier, Dylan was a cop who listened to his intuition. And to make sure he was right, or if it was just his imagination, he quietly got dressed. Ben was fast asleep, his breathing regular, his snoring loud. Dylan glanced at him one last time, mentally running through all the possible scenarios that might unfold in the next few minutes or hours.

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It was shortly after 2 a.m. when Dylan returned to the spot where, many hours before, he had watched Ben emerge from one of the old garages, most of which now served only as storage rooms. The vast area was quiet—well, not completely silent. You could hear the sound of the sea and, now and then, the cars driving far away between the high-rises. At this time of night, you used to occasionally hear music drifting from the harbor bars. But now, it was quiet.

The exterior lights on the small garage buildings were motion-activated and switched on instantly whenever someone approached one of them. An automatic mechanism, the only relic from a time when this place was bustling with activity and seemingly still functioning perfectly. Dylan gazed at the closed gate for a moment and remembered the time he had stood before it earlier that afternoon. And the feeling he had had at that moment resurfaced, now intensifying even further.

The exterior lights of the small garage buildings were motion-activated and switched on immediately as soon as someone approached. An automatic mechanism, the only remnant from a time when this place was full of life, and seemingly still functioning perfectly. Dylan gazed for a moment at the closed gate and remembered the afternoon he had stood before it, and once again an inner restlessness gripped him.

As he finally stood before the gate, something crucial occurred to him: this gate could only be opened with a remote control, and he certainly didn't have it with him. ("Maybe I should have checked his jacket pocket first, damn it…"). He looked along the wall and realized it wasn't possible to open the gate manually. But before he could dwell on that, he suddenly heard a noise from inside. It sounded like someone was coughing… and not just a short cough, but a long, strained one. Shocked, Dylan stood before the lowered gate, and it suddenly dawned on him that his suspicion, which he'd had all along, was probably correct… To be sure he wasn't mistaken, he listened again.

Gobias stood up, poured himself some water, and drank it in one gulp. His lungs burned, and he felt as if he were being torn apart from the inside. After another coughing fit, which drained his strength each time, he suddenly heard something too. A soft knock on the garage door… Followed by a calm, yet almost worried voice. “Hello? Is anyone there…?” There it was again—the voice Gobias had heard the previous evening. It was distinctive, not easily forgotten. He gasped, coughed once more, and then fell silent. In that moment, he didn't know what to think; only one thing was clear: he had apparently been found.

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@greenplumbboblover , @dandylion240 ⭐

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 109: Frozen

It was early afternoon when Dylan arrived at Ben's house. Just before, he'd stretched his legs a bit in town and visited the winter festival. It wasn't very busy, though, and he only treated himself to a cheap coffee. The town seemed peaceful. Now that the stressful Christmas holidays were finally over and the year was drawing to a close, spring would soon bring the longed-for warm days. The closer Dylan got to the house, the more he had the nagging feeling that Ben might not even be there.

He knocked… two, three times, and called out for Ben. But as he'd suspected, he didn't seem to be home. "He's probably at work. But I can't just stand around here all the time waiting for him to come back…" Even though the air was slowly being warmed by the high sun, it was definitely still too cold to stay outside in one place for long. So Dylan decided to take a short walk around and keep his eyes peeled.

Leaving the beach to the east, you come to the old harbor with its deserted docks. Dylan remembered that it had been a bustling place just a few years ago. At least ten cargo ships sailed in and out every day. And while some of the crew ensured everything was loaded and unloaded, others went to the nearby bars and restaurants. But these closed a few years ago due to economic crises and other problems.

Dylan paused for a moment, taking in the almost ghostly atmosphere of the area. Hardly anyone ventured this far. It was easy to observe from the high-rises, though. But what was there to see besides abandoned warehouses and the old movie studio? People in the city didn't really have a reason to visit this part of Evansdale County, unless they wanted to dump some junk out here.

As he walked a few steps further, Dylan heard a rather loud clatter and an agitated voice that sounded quite familiar. "Damn it, I'll deal with that later… That's enough!" The spirited voice was unmistakable. Dylan couldn't help but chuckle to himself when he saw Ben slam the garage door shut behind him. He then stood in front of it, brushing the dust off his jacket in annoyance. But the chuckle quickly faded, and he slowly walked in Ben's direction.

When Ben noticed Dylan, he looked at him, almost startled. He hadn't expected to see him again so soon. But then he remembered that this was exactly what he wanted… his attention. “Uh, Dylan, what… How long have you been back?” / “Since last night. What brings you to this seedy neighborhood?” / “I could ask you the same thing… I just stored some work stuff here so I don't have to keep everything at home.” Dylan knew that these old garages were often used to store unwanted junk or important things that might come in handy later.

Important things or… kidnapped people. When Gobias suddenly heard another voice from outside, he froze in shock. Then he began to tremble, barely able to think straight. Another person, besides Ben, was very close. His heart was racing, and he knew that if he did something wrong now, it could endanger not only him but also the other person. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it on a face. He only heard that this person must be about his age. Gobias's body was buzzing with tension, and he faced the difficult decision of whether or not to draw attention to himself. But he had been under extreme mental and physical strain in recent weeks, so he preferred to remain silent for his own protection. Ben had threatened him several times before.

"Why are you even here? Oh yeah, work." Ben's body language told Dylan that he seemed a little nervous. He was never particularly good at hiding his emotions and feelings. And his question didn't sound entirely sincere either. But Dylan pretended not to notice. "Yeah, work and… other things." Ben looked at him with half-closed eyes. "Aha, did something happen? What about…" But before Ben could continue, Dylan interrupted him. "I have no business being there anymore, okay?".

"Uh… Okay. Was she upset because you didn't bring any Christmas presents?" Ben's voice was sarcastic. "Stop with that crap, okay?" Dylan snapped. "When I got to our house, I couldn't get in. A neighbor then handed me an envelope with the divorce papers… It was only a matter of time before this happened…" / "And why are you looking at me like that, Dylan? It's not my fault…" Dylan knew, of course, that Ben was right. "It doesn't matter now anyway, she's found somewhere new with the kids, she's put the house up for sale…"

Gobias was still listening intently to the conversation from inside the garage. Ben tried to give Dylan a pitying look, but he knew it wasn’t meant seriously. It seemed to amuse him more than anything. Nevertheless, Dylan remained calm. “What about you? Why aren’t you at work today?” / “Can I have a day off, too, or is that forbidden now? I was just tidying up a bit,” Ben said, nodding toward the garage. Dylan also glanced briefly at the small building, which stood in a row with the others. "And what upset you so much earlier, hm?" Dylan asked him, almost probingly.

Ben waved his hand dismissively, explaining that he'd simply dropped some of his work materials and hadn't really felt like cleaning everything up, so he'd slammed the garage door shut in anger. Dylan accepted this explanation but still glanced briefly and skeptically at the garage. "So what's the deal? Where are you staying now?" Ben asked, changing the subject. "Nowhere, I'm staying at a motel for the time being." / "At a motel? What about the Royal Inn? Hey, don't tell me you're broke?" Dylan shook his head.. "No… I'm just trying to get back to my old standard of living. Plus, there are some issues at work that need sorting out. And I think we need to talk." With these last words, Ben paused for a moment while Dylan continued walking slowly. His expression shifted to a slightly devilish look. "Okay, you want to talk? Let's talk…" / "Yeah, but don't think I'm setting foot in your dump again!" … Dylan decided to go to the motel with Ben to talk to him there. Because he felt safer there, if things got rough, than in the old boathouse.

And Gobias? He could only listen desperately as the voices and footsteps of the two men slowly faded away. After a car finally left the premises, he let out a cough he had been suppressing for minutes. A coughing fit, like the ones he’d been having constantly for the past few days. The medication offered only minimal relief, and he felt weak. And now he was gripped by fear, thinking that Ben might not be coming back for a few days, now that he'd apparently run into an old friend. From their conversation, he gathered that the two had known each other for quite some time. But what would have happened if he'd made his presence known? At that moment, he felt paralyzed, unable to stand up for himself. But he knew he had to do something. Next time, he promised himself, he wouldn't remain silent.

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@greenplumbboblover , @dandylion240 ⭐

NOTE: Some of the texts will be a bit longer in the near future, as I can no longer take pictures in the game the traditional way. There was always a character limit. Now I can elaborate a bit more in the text. I hope that's okay with you. It has to be. ^^

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 105: Weakness

Sunday evening. While most of the houses are filled with harmony and warmth, things are less cozy out here in the most remote part of town. The old garage has been Gobias's unwanted home for almost two weeks. Dirty, cold, and offering no chance of contact with anyone else. Except for Ben, who comes by now and then to bring him something to eat.

Gobias had almost completely lost his sense of time. At least as far as day and night were concerned: only when the garage door opened could he see if it was light or dark. Otherwise, the lights in the old garage burned day and night. It stank of his excrement, which he left in an old bucket that Ben emptied every time he came by. And how many times had he tried to open the door with his own hands? But he couldn't manage it… Besides, Gobias hadn't been feeling very well for the past few days.

It was constantly cold in the garage. No wonder he eventually caught a cold. When he was lying down, it was somewhat bearable, but as soon as he moved into an upright position, the coughing fits started again. A barking, deep-seated cough that caused him chest pain after many hours. On top of that, he had a headache and a slight fever. "Ugh… When is that damn guy finally coming?".

Just seconds after asking himself this question, he heard the garage door open. He no longer made any attempt to position himself directly in front of the door and try to escape as soon as it opened. Ben always managed to catch him and bring him back. "So, everything alright? I've got the things you wanted…"

Ben knew there was no need to close the garage door behind him while he was there. . Gobias was far too weak to even attempt an escape. He went to the back and placed the things he had brought for Gobias on the table. "Here, tissues, cough syrup, something for the headache, and a few more of these lozenges." Gobias stood up and went to the table, coughing. "It was about time, didn't you want to come much earlier?" / "Something came up, okay? Now I'm here!"

Gobias took the small glass that was sitting on the floor next to the chair, poured some water into it, and then took one of the headache tablets out of the tube to dissolve it in the water. He groaned in pain. "How long are you going to keep this crap up?" / "I already explained it to you: until they cooperate with me. And so far, they haven't been willing to."

"Are you demanding ransom from someone?" / "No, although that would be a pretty good idea, then I could get out of here. But it's not that simple. Now stop asking questions, okay? You're all set with this here for now. There's still plenty in the fridge." / "I stink like a polecat, I need a hot shower and a decent bed, this is unbearable!" Gobias grumbled. He was not only physically exhausted, but also mentally. And at that moment, Ben was far superior to him both physically and mentally, which is why he offered little resistance.

"A shower? It's not that necessary yet, I brought you fresh underwear a few days ago…" Gobias looked up at him silently. Then he drank the water with the dissolved headache tablet. He looked at the medication packages and wondered how long the stuff would last. He felt truly miserable and doubted that any of it would even help. "Sorry, but I have to go now," Ben said with a slight clearing of his throat.

Ben had almost reached the garage door when Gobias called after him. "It's personal, isn't it? This whole thing… you would have killed me a long time ago if something… or someone else wasn't on your mind." / "And even if it were, it's none of your damn business!" Ben growled back. "Whatever you say… *cough*… don't forget the poop bucket!"

The garage door slammed shut, and the safety latch clicked into place. A sound Gobias had grown familiar with by now. And then he was alone again. Alone with his thoughts, his pain, and his longing. He heard the ocean waves crashing against the seawall. That told him he must be somewhere on the outskirts of the city. The old crates in the garage contained nothing useful that could help him escape. But he knew he had to do something… for that, he first needed a plan.

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@greenplumbboblover , @dandylion240 ⭐

[tia-amorosa]

Outtake^^

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 80: Hooked… (Part 2, long)

cw: rough language, male sex

Ortega quickly got used to the smell in the house, which had almost knocked him over when he opened the door. “Well, if I'd known you were coming over, I would have tidied up a bit…” Dylan looked around. “I didn't expect anything else, Ben, it's your thing how you treat your place.”/ “Who's to blame for me having to live here, huh?”/ “Hey, don't give me that again.”

Ben knew that he was unfairly blaming Dylan for the situation he had gotten himself into. Gambling, bad business partners who had literally taken every last cent from him. “What are you doing now?” Ortega asked him in a calm voice. “Occasional jobs, mainly as a handyman… But that's not why you're here, is it?”.

Even though it was a lame excuse, he gave him the same answer… “Like I said… I just wanted to see how you were doing. Apparently nothing has changed since last time…” / "Since when do you worry about ME? What's with you? How's work… How's the family?“ / ”I've got a lot on my plate, too much actually, and Vivien… She's moved in with her mother for a while with the kids.“ / ”Whoops, trouble in paradise?“ / ”We've got… a few differences at the moment."

“Differences, I see…” Ortega continued to look around the room, this time somewhat more absentmindedly, in order to organize the words in his head. “She found out a few things that I couldn't keep to myself any longer…”/ “What things?”/ “I think you know what I'm talking about…” Ben thought for a moment. But then he remembered what had been weighing on Ortega's soul for a long time. “Did you…”/ “I told her the truth, yes.”/ “Oh man, Dylan, really… that was 20 years ago and it was a stupid thing to do by me, okay?”…

Dylan was tense as he slowly turned to Ben. “A Stupid thing? That's quite an understatement, you know…” / “Man, Dylan, we were both really drunk…” Ortega narrowed his eyes and pointed his thumb at himself. “I, I was drunk, you knew exactly what you were doing…”/ “I apologized to you a dozen times for that, what's the point now?” Dylan bit his lower lip to control himself.

Dylan sat down and all the memories of that time came flooding back. “I just shouldn't have gone to that damn party with you back then…” / “Then I probably would have fucked someone else! You knew I was into guys, and you were my best friend and in a really good mood that night.” He looked up at him for a moment. “Maybe, but you know why I drank too much that night…” / “There was trouble at home again,yeah, i know…“.

Once again, there was an awkward silence in the room. “After that evening, you didn't talk to me for months.”/ “I didn't talk to anyone else either, Ben! Instead, I tried to come to terms with it somehow…”/ “And then you met Vivien… Be happy.”. Dylan shooked his head “No… No, our relationship was… Always difficult. Not just because of that.”

Ortega didn't stay in his chair for long; he stood up again and continued talking frantically but coherently. "I worked longer and longer hours instead of being there for my family. I wanted to distract myself from everything as best I could… especially with work. But I had… I kept having my weak moments, Ben…“ / ”Did you… cheat on Vivien?“ / ”I could have… but no, I didn't. I just didn't always do what I should have done as a boss… And you…“ / ”What… What about me?"

Ortega turned back around and looked expressionlessly into Ben's eyes… “I just want to get rid of this fucking pressure, Ben!” Dylan said loudly. After a short pause, he continued, “At some point… At some point, I didn't care what you did, but it did something to me that… isn't right… Please… You have to help me get out of this”… Ben looked at him somewhat stunned and with a questioning look. Then Dylan fought against the unpleasant urge…

After Dylan kissed Ben more or less spontaneously, he took a deep breath, as if he had been holding his breath for quite some time. Then Ben looked at him. “Are you sure you want this? I don't know what dark place you're in right now, but…” He stroked Dylan's face. “You know I would do anything for you…” Ben's words gradually silenced Dylan's churning stomach… But not his body.

With another, almost demanding kiss, Ortega showed Ben that this was exactly what he wanted at that moment… even though something inside him still resisted it. But he managed to block that out and give in to what was really driving him… Curiosity and guilt. And even though Ben didn't know what was really going on inside him, he didn't care at that moment. He had loved Dylan for a long, long time. And it wasn't long before hewas standing in the room with his shirt off too.

Ben pulled him close with his strong hands, kissed his neck, bit him lovingly… It was something Ortega had only experienced before during sex with his wife, but it was different. The smell, the strength in Ben's body. He breathed in tremblingly and whispered, “And you would do anything for me?” / ‘Mhm’ / “Then be so kind and… Don't treat me like a raw egg!”

A man wouldn't be a man if he couldn't cope with extreme conditions. So Ben challenged Dylan by taking him by the hand and leading him outside to the rear platform. There were no prying eyes here, just him and Dylan, who was willing to risk everything. And his body and soul were literally crying out for this risk…

A few hours later. Dylan hadn't slept for almost 24 hours. This became apparent after Ben had finished playing his “program” with him. Completely exhausted and unable to stand on his feet, Dylan collapsed into his bed. And Ben? He watched him silently, lost in his own thoughts.

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@greenplumbboblover , @solorisims , @honeywinesims ⭐