#benrichardslives

[hibernationden]

@benrichardslives asked: “If I kiss you right now… will you stop me?”

she's been different, now that it's over. weird. unlike herself. cold. there's immense relief, of course, that he's not dead and that somehow, the network decided that she looks better as arm candy than as a corpse. but with it comes its own sense of mourning. whatever they had is over and she has to live with the reality of it. ben's got his kid and all the money they could need. courtney doesn't belong in that world. she's stood in the corner, leaned up against a table with her ankles crossed, cup in her hand. deeper in thought than he's ever seen her.

he asks about kissing her. she keeps her stare on his shirt instead of the tipsy, celebratory haze of happiness that fumes through the room.

fuck. really got herself in it this time. it'd be so easy to hike her knee into his crotch right now. instead, she huffs a sigh and looks up at him, half glaring, half smitten.

"you get through all that shit and then you ask before you do something like that?"

being with him can feel good. that fact bites into her like a bear trap on a wild animal's leg. but even if he kisses her, it won't be the same now. he'll have to live with all the consequences of being with a piece of shit like her.

...though, if anyone could, it's probably the rich guy who's also fucking insane.

courtney kisses him. her cup is placed to the side and that frees her up to grab him, pulling him by his jacket for leverage. half drunk and sloppy, she misses his tongue. there's been too many cameras, too many people, too much noise.

"don't fuck with me, ben." those words could sound a lot more venomous with anyone else, but with him, it's a plea whispered against his lips. "don't make me regret this." and that's what she's reduced to, begging him to only kiss her if he means it.

[fiyecrow]

@benrichardslives

[ clean ] sender helps bathe receiver [ patch ] sender carefully patches one of receiver's wounds

Fiyero's no stranger to a tussle, but ever since having Ben Richards thrusted into his life, he finds the days get more explosive- usually literally.

And, as strange as it sounds, Fiyero wouldn't change a thing. He's known the way things are run is a travesty, but he's only one man, after all, and he's not exactly one that's listened to, either. So, in his inability to change a damn thing, he's found it's to numb himself to the kinds of the things people like his father do to people like Ben.

But then he sees this man doing incredible things even before he's taken hostage by him, and for the first time in his life, the son of an exec feels like he can actually do something.

Wincing on reflex, Fiyero hisses as the alcohol touches the particularly bad gash along his upper bicep. Though, he's quick to force himself to relax. "Sorry," he utters under his breath as he looks at the water engulfing his body from the waist down.

Outside of the shoulder wound, all of the injuries he's sustained are superficial at worst. Though, the thing he's struggling with the most is the exhaustion. He's never felt so drained before, even in previous things he's helped Ben with. Maybe Ben noticed it when they returned to their hideout and that's why he's bathing Fiyero and patching him up.

But then, regardless of the why, it's appreciated.

"I don't get how you do this." The admission is gentle, but none the less sincere. "I've only been at this for a few weeks, but you...

"You're incredible, Ben."

[finalslay]

Looking at the draft for Nancy's big article, Ben's stomach twists. Nerves at the fear of what the State would do to him for speaking about the unjust, inhumane work conditions at the power plant persist, but in his heart he knows what's right.

The people have to know. The Network keeps trying to bury the truth, but they have to know.

Sometimes he wishes his moral compass wasn't so staunch. Today, as he reads the final words of Nancy's article, he's proud of it. The act won't come without consequence, but in the moment that doesn't matter. Nancy actually has contacts and colleagues fighting the power-- Ben could never be so important, but at least he could help. Maybe the victims might actually get payouts. Maybe safety conditions at the plant might improve, even if Ben can never work there again.

"It's amazing, Nance," he says, chuckling. The sound comes out wry. "You actually made me sound pretty smart, and that takes real skill."

But as the joy subsides, Ben hesitates, lips pressing together. A tentative gaze is sent Nancy's way.

"You'll have to disappear after this is published." It isn't a question. "Are you gonna be okay?"

@benrichardslives

“ c'mon, don't sell yourself short. this story wouldn't be what it is without you, ben. ” nance waves her hand in dismissal.

in this particular instance, nancy is just the messenger ; a vessel for one man's desire to help those around him and do some good. it might be her name on the by-line, but the true story, the truth behind those words, is all ben richards.

she's about to say that, too, and express her gratitude for him trusting her with all of this, but then ben speaks again and the topic shifts to something far more serious.

nancy frowns.

there is risk involved with this. that is both undeniable and unavoidable, given the circumstances, but nancy knows that it is worth it. the people deserve the truth. they deserve justice. still, admittedly though, she does worry for ben — in a way, the backlash that comes from this will be worse on him than it is her. she is used to playing with fire, used to toying that fine line that comes with writing scathing pieces about the corrupt state and the goddamned network.

“ i'll be fine, ” she replies, shrugging as if this were nothing more than an everyday conversation. “ i'll go underground for a bit until it all cools down. change my name, cut my hair. that sort of thing. ” cue the half-smile. “ don't worry about me, ben — worry about yourself instead, okay? ”

after all, she has been warned before, and it has not ever stopped her. these encounters have all just been fuel to the fire — a reminder that what she's doing is the right thing.

yes, all of that risk comes with the territory of her job, but for ben ... it is a different story altogether. this exposé will cost him terribly, will put another stain on his already damaged record.

it takes a lot of guts to do a thing like this, and nancy greatly admires the fact that he had still wanted to tell the truth, still wanted to try and let the people know about the things that were happening at the power plant.

he's one of the good ones, in a world where there doesn't seem to be so many of those left.

she reaches out, fingers brushing against the top of ben's hand, as she adds, “ you're the one with the family to take care of — this affects you a lot more than it does me. ” a pause. “ it's going to be hard for you after this, ben, and i just ... i just want to make sure you're prepared for that. ”