Trouble Distinctly

[Trillian]

BEN HAD FOUND a moment to himself away from Kerr to slip out and go for a walk.  It was something he often did whenever Kerr was busy with an online auction or doing something that Ben couldn\'t really do with him.  Right now he was in the middle of a heated eBay bidding that he had to keep an eye on lest he lose a perfect item of furniture for his castle in Scotland - one that Ben had visited with him recently.

His head wasn\'t really thinking anything specific as he walked, though he did find himself out in front of a particular apartment.  His timing was impeccable for it wasn\'t long before a certain teenaged youth slipped out after giving the street a furtive glance up and down.  Ichabod didn\'t see Ben, not when he was practising his Dimness - something that Kerr and he had done a lot of overseas on their trip, being invisible to the mass crowd.  Strangely, it was something Ben had the knack for, perhaps because he was a quiet soul who\'d always been overlooked when alive.

Ichabod walked and Ben followed, not really paying attention to where they were going, though the teenager was carrying some kind of green canvas bag with him.  There was a name printed on the side of the bag but Ben couldn\'t read it from here.  It wasn\'t too far along that Ichabod went inside a shop and exited fairly quickly.  Milk and bread, Ben guessed, the staple purchases that always tasted better fresh.  He turned quicker than Ichabod did, knowing the other was going to set home again, and ducked into an alley, just on the mouth of it - the only narrow walkspace available to him between two busy streets.  If he missed pulling Ichabod into it, then their meeting wouldn\'t eventuate.

He didn\'t need to worry, though he had to step out further than intended simply because Ichabod was walking on the footpath closer to the street than the walls of the buildings he was passing.  Ben moved out, grabbed his wrist with vice-like intention and hauled him into the alley.  To prevent any real sound coming out of the human he pressed his other hand upon Ichabod\'s mouth, effectively gripping the teen into a headlock.

"Don\'t scream, it\'s just me, okay?" Ben said, noting that Ichabod was still holding (with a deathlike grip) the green canvas bag that held a bottle of milk and a sixpack of bread rolls.  Rolls instead of a loaf, that was close enough to Ben\'s guess to have him somewhat smug over it.  "Okay?" he prompted again, tugging on Ichabod\'s wrist in a warning way, waiting to hear a muffled sound in the affirmative.

[pinkroses]

Every time Ichabod had to leave the apartment after dusk he was nervous, worried about who he might bump into, especially now that Many had told him that Ben and Kerr had returned from their trip. He and Mandy had been able to relax and get closer over that time when they had known the vampires weren’t around but now Ichabod was tense and anxious again. He tried to hide it from Mandy, but he wasn’t convinced he was doing a good job of it, she always seemed to perceptive when it came to feelings and he hated hiding things from her, especially when he was trying to hard to convince her to forget the idea of becoming a vampire. At least he had a job now to keep himself occupied and distracted, but sometimes it just didn’t help.

He had only left the flat tonight because he had forgotten to go shopping earlier in the day and he and Mandy needed a couple of things for breakfast the next morning. As Ichabod left the shop and began to head back home he almost began to relax, in a couple of minutes he would be home and safe again (although Ben turning up on his doorstep a few weeks ago proved that not even there was really safe).

Ichabod couldn’t let out any more than a small cry as he felt a vice like grip on his wrist, a sharp tug and then a cool hand covering his mouth. His dark eyes widened as he stared at Ben through lopsided glasses from the jerky grip Ben had put on him and his body tensed up completely. For the briefest moment he’d wished he was being mugged rather than having the fledgling find him, at least he wouldn’t have to lie to Mandy about that.

Ichabod’s eyes slid shut at the tug on his wrist and he made a quiet noise of confirmation to show he understood, although the attempted nod was stunted by the firm grip on his face. He didn’t want to be standing here opposite Ben, but he had no choice in the matter, just like every other time he had come face to face with him. Despite his initial anger at Ben’s demand that he wasn’t fed from by any other vampire Ichabod had done as instructed. He hadn’t gone to Risk or been anywhere else where vampires lurked, he hadn’t even gone out to any clubs, although that was Mandy’s influence on him rather than a worry of running into any vampires. His fingernails dug into the palm of his hand as his grip tightened on the bag he held but he resisted the temptation to struggle or attempt to get away as he knew it would do no good.

[Trillian]

Ben released the hold over Ichabod\'s mouth, which gave him the opportunity to step back.  His hand left Ichabod\'s wrist as well for he figured not only would the teen not make a break for it but he was fairly sure he\'d catch Ichabod before he was out on the street again.  A few people walked by but ignored the pair of boys further in the alley, seeming as though they were having a quiet conversation, except neither of them was talking.

Ben stared at Ichabod, watching him intently.  He wasn\'t getting the same kind of bubbling resentment in his chest like he used to but now there was a fascination to be felt at Ichabod\'s behaviour, and a deep seated desire to know how Ichabod would react to particular things being said and done.

"What have you been up to since I\'ve been away?" Ben asked pleasantly enough, as though they were old friends catching up.  What he really wanted to know was if Ichabod had been to Risk.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod swallowed hard as Ben released his hold on him and opened his eyes again, readjusting his glasses with his free hand and he felt his cheeks colouring under Ben’s intense gaze. Not only could he feel them heating a little but his mouth and cheeks tingled after the pressure of the hand against his face. He always hated to be studied so intensely, and there was always something more behind the way Ben looked at him than anyone else. Ichabod knew he should feel safer with Ben than he did, the fledgling had assured him he was safe with him and Ichabod didn’t think he would risk Kerr’s disapproval, but he couldn’t help feeling on edge, wondering when Ben would decide to drink from him. Why else would he seek him out like this?

“Not much, got a job,” Ichabod murmured, his eyes flickering downwards as he spoke. He didn’t want to give Ben too much information about his private life than he had to, he especially didn’t want to tell him about Mandy, although he wasn’t sure what the pink haired woman would have told Kerr abut them, if anything.

“You… uh… did you have a good time in Europe?” he asked with a small frown, disliking the silence which only made him think about the way he was being watched. He didn’t want to hear about Ben’s trip and what he had done, but if it would fill the silence and put off the inevitable then he would say almost anything.

[Trillian]

"Yes," Ben answered without going into detail.  He didn\'t want to think about Europe now, or Kerr, he just wanted to focus on Ichabod and what was going on here.  It was easy for him to see and understand that his gaze was making Ichabod uncomfortable.  Was it his freaky silver-blue eyes or just the expression itself?  Ben very suddenly needed to be able to read minds but he couldn\'t just yet, not unless it was his sire or if another vampire sent thoughts to him.  Humans were blocked except that he could only catch surface thoughts if they were projected at him - tip of the tongue stuff, perhaps.  He\'d picked up from Ichabod before and he was receiving emotions as well.  Was it mental reception or was it observation of body language?  Ben couldn\'t properly decide but it didn\'t matter in the end, not if he knew how Ichabod was feeling.

"What kind of job?"  The answer Ichabod gave Ben would help him understand Ichabod\'s routine and the best time to catch him when he was leaving or returning from work.  As long as it wasn\'t part time in the middle of the day there was a good chance he\'d be coming home from work when the sun was down.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod’s eyes met Ben’s for a moment; there was almost a hint of defiance in that look but it faded quickly. He didn’t want to tell Ben what he was doing, but he knew it was pointless to resist. Ichabod was a coward and he didn’t want to risk getting hurt at all, not when it wasn’t necessary.

“I work for a company in town, mostly carting stuff to and from different departments, whatever little jobs they need doing,” he said in a sulky tone. He knew it wasn’t much, but it paid enough that he could contribute to rent and groceries and would do until he went to university. It was long hours but the work wasn’t difficult and Ichabod felt better being out of the house when Mandy wasn’t there, although it sucked when she was on night shifts.

Ichabod cast a glance sideways as a couple walked past on the quiet pavement, then returned his gaze to Ben. “You going to do it then?” he murmured, not understanding what the point of this seemingly idle chit chat was. If Ben was going to drink from him Ichabod wanted him to just do it so that he could get home to Mandy again. So what if he wasn’t pinned up against the wall yet? It was only a matter of time, then he’d drink, then he’d disappear, like the other times.

[Trillian]

At the prompt Ben\'s eyes narrowed for a moment as he regarded Ichabod with suspicion, then they lost their edge when he nodded.  If Ichabod wanted it done right away then so be it, he was already braced for the event it seemed and had given Ben permission - more or less - to drink.

Do you want to put your shopping down? Ben wanted to ask but didn\'t bother, such things were irrelevant and Ichabod could drop it if he wanted.  The milk was a carton and not a glass, Ben had been able to tell from glancing into it.  Instead of slamming Ichabod against the wall - for such a thing was unnecessary - he stepped into the teen (but wasn\'t there a hint of flinching away, and wasn\'t it just easier to keep stepping forward and usher Ichabod to the wall anyway, using personal space?).  They ended up with Ben pressing against the mortal teen, chest to chest, groin to groin, one of Ben\'s hands on Ichabod\'s hip and the other clutching his hair on the side opposite to the side he bit into.  There was no further preamble, there was just the bite (as gentle as Ben could make it) and the drinking.

He remembered what it was like on the other side of this, the dopey warm sexual feeling that stole over him, and such a memory served to arouse him - if just a little bit - and had him grinding half-heartedly against his victim, an absent rhythm that matched the drinking, with a fattening erection making itself obvious as the minutes ticked by.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod carefully let his bag slip to the floor as he instinctively moved back against the wall when Ben approached him and found himself pinned once again, although this time by the vampire’s body rather than his firm grip holding him still. The human leant his head towards Ben’s hand when his fingers were tangled through his hair, giving him room to bite, not bothering at all to struggle or protest. It was just easier this way.

He couldn’t help but let out a soft moan as Ben’s teeth sank into his skin, feeling that sharp stab of pain before it was quickly replaced by the pleasant dazed feeling which Ichabod hadn’t properly felt whilst Ben had been drinking from him before. It had been too panicked, too rushed or too terrifying before, but now Ichabod relaxed as his hand drifted up to cup Ben’s neck on the side furthest from him and his other hand moved upwards to lightly grip Ben’s shirt over his chest. This felt more like it had with Lazarus or Kerr, more sexual and less predatory and that feeling was only increased as Ben ground his body against his. They were about the same height so Ichabod could easily feel the rub against his groin as Ben’s erection began to make itself known.

“Ben…” he murmured, pressing his body back against the vampire’s without even thinking about it and not bothering to wonder why Ben’s reaction to him seemed to have changed so suddenly. He and Mandy hadn’t been that close physically yet, neither of them wanted to rush into anything, and it felt good to have someone paying him so much attention with minimal effort on his part. So although a small part of him knew he shouldn’t react so positively Ichabod couldn’t help but respond in kind; rubbing gently against the vampire and slipping his hand up into Ben’s blonde hair, wanting the feeding to go on for as long as it could rather than wishing it would stop. He felt his body responding in kind to Ben attentions and he felt himself begin to stiffen as well.

[Trillian]

There was a sensation of floating, of freedom.  Ichabod was sating something in him far deeper than sex, it was a gnawing hunger, like a deep seated itch that was right now being scratched by someone who knew exactly what to do and where to go.  Of course pressing himself against the mortal and grinding into him awakened a different element to the feeding.  Ichabod\'s response also changed things a great deal.  It was like Ben had been missed in the time he\'d been away, like Ichabod hated it but really loved it... wanted it.

Ben wasn\'t looking forward to the ending of the feeding either and so didn\'t drink quickly or deeply.  There was no groping, nothing beyond the rubbing that both could pretend was innocent due to their proximity, or even justify that it was happening because of the act, not because it had been their intention.

It was several minutes before he pulled back - Ichabod had donated roughly a pint, no more than what a blood bank would take from him and then offer cookies or cake.  Ichabod might be a little lightheaded but wouldn\'t be so dizzy that he couldn\'t walk.  Of course sugar would help but there weren\'t any treats with the milk and bread.  When Ben pulled back he slid and turned to one side so that he, too, had his back to the wall, shoulder to shoulder with the teen he\'d fed from as though catching his breath.  Now the throbbing in his groin was obvious and there was a guilty feeling accompanying it.

"Tell me about the night Kerr picked you up," he demanded quite suddenly.  On his last visit the topic had been Lazarus, and Ben remembered telling Ichabod that any questions would be answered.  For now, though, he wanted his own curiosity satisfied (and perhaps he also wished to be punished for what he\'d done, though this was hidden so deeply in Ben\'s psyche that he didn\'t understand the reason for his wanting to know such details).  "What you did before I walked in.  What happened afterward."

Ben had run off and Kerr had only followed a short way, then returned to his apartment.  Ben wanted to hear it all, to fire his jealousy, to hurt himself.  He thought perhaps it was simply a tie to the open wound, closure, in a sense.  It was no such thing, but he didn\'t know this yet.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod took a slow, deep breath as Ben pulled back, blinking with surprise as the cool air hit him now that Ben wasn’t pressed against him any more. It felt like there should have been more, like the feeding should have gone on for longer or been followed by something else, but no, it was just over so abruptly. And Ichabod immediately felt terrible for wishing that it hadn’t.

He looked sideways at Ben with a startle glance at the question, at first not entirely sure he’d heard correctly but as Ben continued Ichabod knew he had heard properly. He couldn’t for the life of him think why Ben was asking that, Ichabod hadn’t wanted to hear anything about anyone Lazarus had gone off with whilst they were supposed to be together. But maybe this was like Ben’s asking about Lazarus, he was just trying to make the human feel bad… but surely he didn’t want to hear it? Why didn’t he just ask Kerr?

Ichabod knew Ben hadn’t drunk that much, but he slowly slid to the ground, leaning back against the wall, both to give himself time to think and to avoid feeling dizzy later. From previous experience he guessed that the briefest details wouldn’t suffice, but, again, he didn’t know how much Ben had heard from the other side. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out where to start.

“Lazarus took me to Risk, then left me there whilst he went off… I don’t know where,” Ichabod said quietly, feeling every second like he was being judged, although he tried to remind himself that this wasn’t all his fault. “Kerr and I kind of… bumped into each other. We chatted for a bit, mainly about you,” he said, glancing up at Ben to see his reaction. Ben had been the first vampire who had drunk from him and Ichabod hadn’t forgotten that; how could he after so many reminders being forced on him?

“Then Kerr made it pretty clear he was going to take a human home, any human, that was why he was there. And I was pissed at Lazarus so… I went.” Ichabod absentmindedly played with the handles of his shopping bag as he spoke, remembering what had happened that night. He’d been feeling so rejected, used, and then ignored that the attention from Kerr had been wonderful. That feeling of being wanted, needed. And he had been Kerr’s first… Well, his first male conquest anyway. And it had been rough, but safe as well. Being thumped up against the wall as they kissed had been so similar to the way Ben had forced himself on him at first, but Ichabod had never thought that the Irish man might hurt him.

He wanted to stop speaking then, but Ben had made it perfectly clear he wanted to hear more so Ichabod hesitantly parted his lips again to speak.

“So he… he took me back to his flat and we had sex, and he fed from me whilst we… y’know.” And they had just finished when Ben walked in. Talk about timing, they had both just climaxed and were catching their breath (well, Ichabod had been, Kerr obviously didn’t need to) and then Ben had entered and left again without even finding out who Kerr was with.

“He said he loved you, and that you were sleeping with Arles. He told me about how you were punished for what he’d told you and how you two were always arguing,” Ichabod said before stopping, staring down at the patch of ground before him. He felt guilty telling Ben that he and Kerr had spoken so much about him, and that the first few things they had said to each other were about Ben and how he was faring. Ichabod had wanted to see the blonde again, he hadn’t wanted to hurt him but it had all just… happened. And Ichabod didn’t want to hurt Ben more despite everything that had happened, so he stopped before saying that then he and Kerr had showered together and fucked again before Ichabod had gone home to Lazarus.

[Trillian]

It was funny how Ichabod\'s tale of Kerr\'s indiscretion didn\'t really affect him anymore.  He wasn\'t angry or resentful, not even numb.  It seemed like he\'d got over it.  Annoyed that he wasn\'t affected by Ichabod\'s words, he found a way to be unhappy with Ichabod\'s submission.

"What about after I left?" he snapped, looking down at the top of Ichabod\'s head, trying to make the teen think that he wasn\'t pleasing Ben enough - and he wasn\'t, in a way, though there was no way anything good could come out of what the pair of them were doing.  Ben honestly thought, however, he would be told that Kerr went back and sent Ichabod home - for that was what he believed.  Perhaps when he was told this he would find it a great excuse to calm down and then give Ichabod the opportunity to ask questions of his own - if he still had any.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod flinched at the sharp sound of Ben’s voice, squeezing his eyes shut for a brief moment before taking a deep breath and speaking again.

“We talked for a bit and then I went home,” he lied in a quiet voice, praying that Ben would see through him too easily. He didn’t want Ben angry at him and although he knew he was risking his anger by lying, he didn’t want to be the reason Ben and Kerr fought again. Maybe that was why Ben was here asking these questions, they had already had an argument and Ben just wanted reassurance, or something that he could yell at Kerr about. Either way, Ichabod didn’t think he would be happy to hear that when Kerr had returned they had carried on pretty much where they had left off… and it had been Kerr initiating most of the acts.

[Trillian]

It was what Ben wanted to hear, and the tremble in Ichabod\'s voice wasn\'t unexpected, considering he\'d been drunk from.  Ben didn\'t think twice about it and found himself not wanting to snipe at Ichabod anymore.  After being quiet for a moment, he also slid down the wall at his back and came to rest sitting beside Ichabod, mirroring the position so that both boys were sitting the same way, looking like friends.

"I told you last time that if you had questions I would answer them," he reminded, curious about what kind of questions Ichabod would ask.  Why Ben was doing this, perhaps, but that was an answer Ben would struggle with.  He\'d answer as best he could for he wasn\'t lying about the offer.  He turned his head to look at the mortal at his side and licked his lips, still tasting him in his mouth.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod was surprised that Ben believed him, but kept his eyes lowered, trying to hide his shock and stopping himself from glancing up at Ben to see if he was just playing with him. He finally let himself look towards the other teenager as he took a seat beside him and Ichabod moved his bag of groceries to the other side of his body so that it wasn‘t between them.

‘Why are you doing this?’ was the first question which leapt into Ichabod’s mind, but for now he held that one back. He didn’t know if Ben even had a good reason for following the human, continuing to feed from him, especially when it all had to be kept so quiet, so if he was going to ask something which might make Ben clam up he would ask that at the last moment.

“Why did you ask me about what Kerr and me did, and not him?” Ichabod asked after a moment. His eyes had drifted down to watch Ben’s tongue lapping at his lips instinctively before he pulled them swiftly back up to meet Ben’s silvery eyes. “And why did you ask me about Lazarus before you went?” he added with a small frown. He knew he should just get up and leave, go back to Mandy, but the offer was there and there were a few questions Ichabod wanted answered.

[Trillian]

Ben watched Ichabod move the grocery bag and thought it was interesting that Ichabod would choose to remove a barricade between them.

"I wanted to hear your version," Ben said, then decided to give a little more of the nature of his reasoning.  "To collaberate."  This answer was more true of Lazarus than it was of Kerr, so he decided to present the softer side of his reasoning - and there were many sides to it for him to select from.  "It\'s a way of getting to know you, of knowing your perception.  I already know what Lazarus and Kerr think."

He wasn\'t really sure about Kerr though, but things were sweet with his sire right now.  He didn\'t want to be angry with Kerr, he liked the warmth and playfulness between them, the fact things were going easy and without argument.  It was nice to finally have something like that.

[pinkroses]

Collaborate? But Ichabod had lied to him… did that mean he was going to ask Kerr but hadn’t yet? Or Ben was lying, or had been lied to by Kerr as well and by lucky coincidence their lies had matched? He cocked an eyebrow and pushed his glasses a little higher on his nose at Ben’s comment about wanting to get to know him. That made no sense to him at all.

“But… I thought you hated me, why would you want to get to know me?” he asked with a bemused expression on his face. “Why does it matter to you what I think? I thought you’d’ve wanted to stay away from me, but you…” He kept coming back. At first Ichabod had thought it was because he just liked to bully the human, to try to get his own back, but it had changed dramatically. Something was different and Ichabod had no idea what the reasons behind it were.

[Trillian]

"I want you to stay away from Kerr," Ben spat, his gaze sharp on Ichabod now.  It was that whining, pleading weakness in Ichabod that he didn\'t like.  That tone in his voice that declared the world was unfair.  Ben wanted to tell him to suck it up, there were worse things in life.  If a little blood drinking was the worst Ben would do to him, and Ichabod even liked it, then the stupid mortal didn\'t even realise that things weren\'t so fucking bad.

"If you\'d rather I just drank from you and took off, I can do that too," he said.  "Seems like to me you were wanting me to hang around, like you liked what I\'m doing.  Don\'t pretend you didn\'t get hard, like you didn\'t hold on to me.  It doesn\'t take much to have you willing, does it?" he sneered before turning away and facing in front of him, silently fuming now that he\'d said his piece.  Wasn\'t this what he\'d been after from Ichabod?  To have him want Ben even though he didn\'t like him, even though neither of them really liked each other?

[pinkroses]

Ichabod pursed his lips, a scowl on his face. “I don’t want to go anywhere near Kerr, so no worries there,” he snapped then he felt his cheeks flushing bright red. The argument ‘You got hard first’ didn’t seem like it would hold up too well against Ben although that was what was on the tip of Ichabod’s tongue.

“I would rather you stayed the fuck away from me,” he said, “but you don’t seem to be giving me that option. And you were the one rubbing against me like that, how am I supposed to react?” he added, his tone harder now that he was angry but he was desperately trying not to raise his voice or give Ben any excuse to do more than he already had.

Staring at the ground in front of him Ichabod pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Ben was right, it didn’t take much for Ichabod to let someone get close and he hated it. He hated that Ben was able to make him feel so cheap and worthless so easily.

“What do you want? Apart from me away from your precious Kerr? Why are you doing this?” he asked quietly, not lifting his eyes again.

[Trillian]

Ben turned an expressionless gaze to Ichabod as his argument came.  Yes, Ben had been rubbing - he wasn\'t sure why he\'d done that but he was pleased that it had confused Ichabod no end.  Punishing him?  Was Ben punishing him for what had happened?  It didn\'t even seem so important any more. Thing was, Ben didn\'t want to stop doing this to Ichabod and he wasn\'t really sure why.  He answered as best he could, as he\'d promised he would.

"What do I want?  Obviously I\'m doing what I want.  And why?  Why do I drink from you?"  He stared at Ichabod for a long moment, trying to see if he could pluck the answer out of the other teen\'s face.  "Because... because it works.  What it does between us, it works."

It worked for Ben, anyway.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod blinked in confusion at Ben’s answer. That didn’t tell him anything at all and made no sense. He glanced up at Ben, searching his face for any other clue as to what he meant but he got nothing from the expressionless mask Ben put on.

“It works? What the hell are you talking about? You sneak up on me, feed from me, mess with both of our minds and keep it all a secret. How can that possibly be described as working?” It definitely didn’t work for Ichabod. Ben could feed from anyone, he could get that sexual feeling from Kerr, Ichabod could see no reason for the blonde needing to seek him out other than malice.

[Trillian]

Ben was quiet at Ichabod\'s outburst and merely sat by the mortal, looking at the wall opposite, studying the pattern of bricks as they marched alongside one another, like a troop of sandstone and rust.  It took him a while before he said anything, and only did so when it seemed Ichabod was ready to say or do something, perhaps even to make noise about leaving.  He did have milk to go into the fridge after all, and it had been almost twenty minutes since Ben had first stopped him to drink from him.

"I think it works," he said finally.  "It\'s not going to stop working that way, anyhow, so you might as well get used to it.  I expect there\'ll be a time when you\'ll want me to bite you, and it\'s not going to be too far away."  He looked at Ichabod now and dared him to oppose the prediction, though he almost wanted the teen to - more conflict would be normal.

[pinkroses]

Ichabod stayed silent, staring at Ben, waiting for a response, any kind of response, but he got nothing. He glanced away, at his bag and curled his fingers around the handles, wondering what he should tell Mandy about why his 5 minute trip to the shop had taken so long and was about to stand up when Ben finally spoke. He glanced towards him with surprise and shook his head slightly.

“No, I won’t ever want you coming near me,” he said, although Ben’s words did make his stomach turn over with worry. He was already have way right, Ichabod hadn’t wanted it to stop today, maybe that would soon lead to wanting it to start. But Ichabod was determined not to let it happen. The teenager scrambled to his feet, tightening his grip on his bag once more and warily watching Ben to see if he would try to stop him from leaving.

“I have to go. I was supposed to be home ages ago,” he said, immediately hating the way that it sounded like he was apologizing to Ben for having to go. He tried to tell himself he was just giving an explanation so that Ben wouldn’t try to stop him, but it definitely didn’t sound that way in his head. He took a small step away and then hesitated, turning his eyes back to Ben. “If it works so well, why are you so afraid of Kerr finding out?” he asked quietly, his body a little tense as he waited for Ben’s response, hoping it wouldn’t be a violent one.

[Trillian]

Ben stood when Ichabod finally did, unhurriedly.  He wasn\'t going to stop Ichabod going anywhere but liked the way there was a seeking of permission, almost.  It couldn\'t have been any sweeter if Ichabod had asked him if he could go now.  Then those words came out his mouth.

"It\'s between us," Ben said warningly though if his heart had a beat it would\'ve skipped one at Ichabod\'s words.  It wasn\'t like he gave such a thing away in his expression however, masking it with anger.  "Do you really want him fighting all your battles for you?  Still?" he sneered, looking down his nose as he let his gaze roam Ichabod to his feet and back to his face.  "Go home, eat something, and keep your mouth shut."

[pinkroses]

Ichabod’s eyes stayed on Ben’s face as Ben looked him over, stopping himself from fidgeting under that cold gaze. He hadn’t been intending to tell Kerr, but it was somewhat comforting to know that Ben was still worried about it, despite his mocking words and tone. Apart from telling Kerr Ichabod could see no other way to stop this, but for now although he didn’t want it to continue, it wasn’t hurting him. If Kerr found out God only knew what Ben would do to him. All Ichabod would do for now was hope Ben would desist… but it felt good to know there was another option.

He couldn’t help but curl a lip in a sneer that mirrored Ben’s for a moment at the vampire’s orders, “Whatever you say,” he said in a mocking tone before turning and heading out of the alleyway towards his and Mandy’s flat.