summary — you butt heads with ben again, and it's the last straw.
tag list — @sofibuddy (others dm or comment to be tagged!)
word count — 1.6k words.
warnings — ben being a dick (this literally needs to be a warning), enemies to lovers type trope, bickering, heavy hints and mentions of ben's narcissistic/sexist opinions and behavior, this is reader lowkey trying to teach him to have an opinion mind because he's VERY frustrating here, bickering/arguing, reader is like a daughter to butcher (so he's hella overprotective), reader's watching over him (more like babysitting), BIG EGO warning, calls you [darlin', sweetheart, princess], reader is a feminist/activist, basic good girl x bad guy trope, reader is passionate with a fire that ben is drawn to! hughie is like a little brother to user, very close to him, but is also very intimidating to hughie, etc! mentions of reader smoking weed, etc! user has anxiety/anger issues!
notes — omg literally writing for both butcher AND soldier boy as my comeback??? yes!! this is gonna be a short one! let me know if you want a part two! divider creds to owner! (it's not mine!) also! there's a little bit of some butcher perspective in some parts, specifically with his accent and slang, etc, so bare with me on that! also REALLY trying to write ben write as well since this is my first time writing for him or anything within the boys fandom! let me know if it's decent LOL.
p.s., feedback is appreciated and encouraged!
part two!
WHEN THE BOYS — OR, REALLY, more like butcher — tasked you with babysitting soldier boy, you could say that shit hit the fan.
needless to say, you were pissed off. rightfully. because the guy isn't exactly likable.
m.m. would agree with that statement. even if they are currently at least civil with each other.
it's understandable that they'd have their issues.
m.m. lost a lot because of ben, and ben's not exactly the most understanding man in the world.
he's still pretty stuck in his ways. and he's not willing to hear anyone out.
and 'his ways' definitely include the learned behavior of sexism and narcissism.
and as a very opinionated and passionate girl, that's just obvious that the two of you wouldn't get along.
and butcher knows that.
however, you were the only one available — all of the chaos, death, and destruction that homelander's caused lately has everyone's hands full — so it is what it is.
you sure as hell weren't going to enjoy it, but it still is something you were to do.
"i can't believe i actually agreed to this." you scoff to yourself as you stand up from the couch, now completely done with this guy's bullshit.
as a feminist and an activist type of girl, it does not sit well to have to sit and listen to this type of talk.
"then, why'd you agree to it in the first place? sounds like ya really wasted your time here, princess."
the sound of his voice is quite literally like the feeling of annoyance and deep, deep dislike when you have to hear his voice, which is honestly like a grating, annoying voice.
how can someone be so attractive looking and so sure of himself, while being such a shitty person.
you just scoff, rolling your eyes and shaking your head — he's so fucking frustrating, it drives you crazy.
how can he be so hateful? you almost wondered if he was at the same level as homelander, which was even more terrifiying of a thought, considering he's done so many terrible things.
homelander is quite literally a psychopath, fully set in his ways and insistent that his rule is correct. truly believes that he can do anything he wants and not have any consequences for his actions.
and that made you so, so angry, considering you wanted him dead more than anything. just as much as butcher.
"it's not like i had a choice!" you snap back, not having it with his attitude.
he just grins smugly, glad to see that he got a reaction out of you.
the reaction tells you how much he really enjoys getting a rise out of you.
"you know what?" you suddenly ask, more to yourself than him, as you scoff and shake your head, grabbing your things, including your phone, needing to call for some backup and get the hell out of this isolating place. "i'm out of here. i've done my job, i'll let the others know that i'm done."
it's already pretty isolating with ben's presence around.
however, ben doesn't exactly go for that. not at all.
"hey, wait, sweetheart, i was just teasin' ya!"
his cocky, condescending voice is only more aggravating than it was before.
you're not having it, though. instead of staying, you let your ego and pride get in the way, frustrated and not in the mood for this egotistical twat's bullshit.
it really was not your day, because then butcher and hughie come back, surprising you and interrupting your plans to leave before anyone can stop you.
you weren't going to let ben stop you, but butcher and hughie? well, they have more common sense to get you to stay, so when you run into them outside, that's when you know you're screwed.
butcher will just pester you in that annoying way of his until you give in, and hughie will succeed in convincing you to stay anyways, appealing to your logic nature.
it's frustrating, if anything, but absolutely hilarious to ben.
"oh, just in time!"
his words is what alerts you to their presence when you suddenly shut the door and see them pulling into the driveway of the remote safe house.
a sigh of frustration leaves you, despite the chilly air, which makes your breaths come out visible because of the cold temperature. you roll your eyes with further frustration before stepping forward and continuing on your mission to leave.
you're going to try to leave, at least.
and you almost succeed. only until butcher chuckles with a small: "oi, not so fast, love!"
well. you tried.
you're determined and stubborn if anything.
“what?” you question with clear annoyance, stepping back and glaring up at butcher, who just chuckles in mere amusement — he always knew you’d be a fun addition to the group.
“come on, [y/n], you know that you’re the only one who can handle soldier boy.” hughie pipes up, giving that slightly awkwardly hopeful glimpse of a look, knowing how seriously stubborn you are and how clearly pissed off you are now.
at hughie’s involvement in the conversation, you just growl and glare at him, not willing to be understanding at all right now.
“or not!” hughie squeaks awkwardly, knowing when to back off.
butcher chuckles at this, proud to know you’re easily intimidating, as intimidating as he’s grown to be.
though, he does feel a flicker of protectiveness growing within him, that fatherly instinct to protect you when you hardly need it there even more when ben is involved.
yes, he’s okay with a few people going down with homelander and soldier boy if that’s what it takes, but you? he’d have a hard time letting that happen, so yeah, you could say that there’s a tiny piece of him annoyed on your behalf that ben has most likely been acting like a child or wasting time in there while they’ve been trying to prepare to slime out homelander.
“what’d the bloody idiot do now?” he questions, but he knows deep down that it’s nothing too severe, probably just a woke conversation gone wrong.
“oh, the usual! just being an asshole too set in his ways, i can’t take it anymore, butcher.” you continue, quite literally on the verge of losing it because no one has ever infuriated you like soldier boy.
and the most frustrating part? ben seems to be using it to his advantage. that's the part that just pisses you off the most.
because you genuinely didn't understand why he had such a hard time just being decent!
butcher laughs at that, not entirely surprised by what you're saying — this is you, after all.
hughie, though, gives him a look, almost like: stop laughing!
butcher, of course, despite the fact that he may see you as a daughter, can't help but make jokes and find amusement in this fickle little situation. even if ben is being a serious pain in the fucking ass.
a glare from you settles that, though, making him quit his snickering, going back to taking this seriously — or as serious as a bloke like him can.
with a frustrated groan, despite how much you'd rather not go back in there, that's exactly what you do.
butcher and hughie share a look as you march back inside, soon following after you to see how infuriating the soldier boy really has been, whether you're over-exaggerating or not.
"ah, there she is!" ben's first words.
the smug grin on his face, all because he knows that you wouldn't have the heart to leave butcher and hughie when they need your help the most — in this case, being babysitting ben — is all you need to be immediately become so infuriated. all over again.
"i need a fucking break." you mumble to yourself, grabbing your grinder, bowl, and lighter, before turning to walk into the kitchen, needing that space from ben.
he infuriated you more than you could handle, and the worst part is you didn't even know for sure why he bothered you so bad. why does he always get underneath your skin so badly?
that's the million dollar question.
ben only laughs at this, laughing dryly at how easily you leave. "that's alright, darlin', go on ahead, we'll talk about this all later."
his words are mocking and condescending and it makes you clench your fists tightly in mere frustration, trying to cool down your simmering anger.
"was that really that neccessary?" hughie asks quite awkwardly and nervously, feeling bad for his friend who now has to resort to her biggest unhealthiest habit to calm the hell down.
"yeah, mate, i think you took it a little bloody far there." even butcher buds in with a low chuckle, shaking his head.
something crosses his face, a look that could be considered different than his normal mannerisms and behavior, but it's gone before either boys can notice.
it slips away and turns into a small shrug with a cocky grin. "gotta get her attention somehow."
hughie scoffs, knowing that he might just be an idiot for thinking that that's going to work, while butcher is simply amused by his tacticts to try to get your attention.
while hughie may be concerned, butcher is not, seeing as he knows that you can take care of yourself fine.
also, the fact that you may be the only person that can really handle ben, better than anybody else. even though he drives you fucking insane beyond belief.
even in the kitchen, you can hear everything that's being said. curse these stupid fucking thin walls in this poor excuse of a safehouse.
with a low scoff of annoyance, you hastily pack the bowl and light it, taking a hit and hoping for the blissful feeling that you normally experience when needing to take care of your anxiety.
how the hell are you meant to deal with this guy? that's the only question that lingers within your mind in this moment...
part two?
yes please!
no thanks i like it here at the cliffhanger (do you really???)
